The Scottish Parliament Before the Union of the CrownsRait, Robert S. (Robert Sangster)
History
The Scottish Parliament Before the Union of the Crowns
Rait, Robert S. (Robert Sangster)
Scotland. Parliament -- History
Although we know that burgesses were present at the Cambuskenneth
Parliament, we possess no information as to what towns they
represented. The first list of burghs in the Acts of Parliament
refers to the Council held in 1357 to arrange about the ransom of
King David II, and it includes the following towns:--Aberdeen,
Crail, Cupar, Dumbarton, Dumfries, Dundee, Edinburgh, Haddington,
Inverkeithing, Lanark, Linlithgow, Montrose, Perth, Peebles,
Rutherglen, Stirling, and St. Andrews. From 1367, we have,
occasionally, records of the election of burgesses to the Committee
of the Articles, and these give us our only information regarding
representation. (Cf. pp. 26-33.) We subjoin the first known date
of the representation of any burgh at a regular meeting of the
Estates in Parliament assembled. It must, of course, be understood
that this list does not, in any way, pretend to completeness;
the material is incomplete, and, in most cases when burghs are
mentioned, up to the sixteenth century, it is only in connection
with the Lords of the Articles.
FOURTEENTH CENTURY:--Aberdeen, Dundee, Montrose, Linlithgow,
Perth, Edinburgh, Haddington (1367).
FIFTEENTH CENTURY:--Inverness (1439); Stirling (1449); St.
Andrews, Cupar (1456); Lanark (1467); Peebles (1468); Elgin,
Banff, Ayr, Irvine, Dumfries, Wigtown, Kirkcudbright, Selkirk,
Jedburgh, Dunbar (1469); Forfar, Crail, Kinghorn, Inverkeithing,
Dumbarton (1471); Brechin, Rutherglen, Renfrew, North Berwick
(1478); Rothesay (1484); Forres (1488).
SIXTEENTH CENTURY:--Glasgow (1560); Tain, Nairn, Lauder (1567);
Kintore, Pittenweem (1579); Kirkcaldy (1585); Burntisland (1586);
Dingwall (1587); Cullen, Culross, E. and W. Anstruther (1593);
Dysart (1594).
SEVENTEENTH CENTURY:--Inverurie, Bervie, Kilrenny, Lochmaben,
Annan (1612); Sanquhar (1621); Dunfermline, New Galloway (1628);
Dornoch, Arbroath, Queensferry, Whithorn (1639); Fortrose,
Inverary (1660); Kirkwall (1667); Stranraer (1685); Campbeltown
(1689); Wick (1690).
In addition to these, Berwick-on-Tweed was represented between 1469
and 1481, Cromarty from 1660-72, and Findhorn in 1648.
Representation of the shires does not begin till 1593; but between
that date and 1617, we find nearly all the counties represented.
Argyleshire, however, does not appear till 1628, Sutherland not
till 1633, and Kinross not till 1681.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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