The magistracy of Stirling have, at various periods, exerted themselves to receive, with befitting honour, the descendants of those royal personages, who formerly rendered their castle the scene of a permanent court. James VI., of whose boyhood it was the well-remembered scene, visited the town, in the course of the tour which he performed through his native kingdom, in 1617, after he had been fourteen years absent in England. The Council Register yet bears witness to the exertions of the civic dignitaries on this occasion. On the 12th of May, they ordained ‘the treasurer to buy some leaves of gold to gilt his Majesties armes on the croce,’ and statuted that ‘the Burrow Yett’ (that is, the gate of the town, at what is called the South Port) and also the bridge, should be repaired, preparatory to his Majesty’s arrival. On the 26th of May, they appointed ‘Mr Robert Murray, (commissary of Stirling,) to mak and deliver the speech to the Kingis Majistie, at his first entry in the towne, conform to the direction of the counsell.’ On the 15th of July, they authorised the Treasurer ‘to borrow £100 for the townes use, agains the tyme of his Majesties cumyn;’ they soon after borrowed five hundred merks, besides, to be a _propine_, or present to the king. Charles I. was the next royal personage who honoured Stirling with a visit. On the 13th of May, 1633, ‘the Provest, Baillies, and Counsall, being convenit, concludis and agreis for a propine aganis his Majesties cuming to yis town, viz., a silver cup, to be maid in gude fassioun, sett with a cover overgilt with gold, at the sicht of the magistratis, on ye townis chairges, to be payit out be thair Thesaurer, quhilk sall be allowit to him in his comptis.’ On the ensuing 4th and 8th of July, it is observable, from the Register, that the whole of his Majesty’s household were admitted burgesses gratis. Among the number, which is not a small one, were William, Lord Bishop of London, (the famous Laud,) William, Lord Bishop Elect of Hereford, and John, Bishop of Ross.