[55] Primo et principaliter, iuxta predictos modum et ordinem, est ordinatum quod nullus electus ad consilium cuiuscunque conditionis gradus pre-eminentiae sive status alium non electum ad consilium seu in consilio Regis sibi consiliarium vel assessorem aut alia de causa adducat. [56] "Comparentibus tribus Regni statibus apud Edinburgh, omnes comites nobiles et barones ac libere tenentes dicti regni...." The omission of the burgesses seems to have attracted the attention of Sir John Skene, who in his edited volume of the _Acts_ (temp. Jac. VI) includes the formal revocation in the proceedings of the Parliament of 1437-38, and prints, instead of the somewhat less emphatic words of the original, a statement that the revocation was sanctioned by "the haill three Estates of the Realme, sittand in plane Parliament, that is to say, the Clergie, Barrones, and Commissioners of Burrowes." [57] In 1445, three burgesses, along with fifteen of the clergy and barons, attest the erection of the lordship of Hamilton; but there is no further evidence of their being present or taking any part in the parliament of that year. [58] From 1467 to 1482 the numbers of the Lords of the Articles were from three to five representatives of each Estate. During the struggles which marked the end of the reign of James III, and before his son had succeeded in asserting the royal power, we find burgesses forming a very small proportion of the Committee of the Articles. The numbers are instructive: YEAR CLERGY BARONS BURGESSES 1483 6 6 4 (_Acts_, ii. 145.) 1485 6 6 3 (_Acts_, ii. 169.) 1488 9 14 5 (_Acts_, ii. 200.) 1489 8 10 4 (_Acts_, ii. 217.) 1491 10 10 3 (_Acts_, ii. 229.) On the other hand in 1503, under the strong rule of James IV, six clergy, six barons, and seven burgesses were chosen (_Acts_, ii. 239). [59] The final form assumed by the Courts of the Four Burghs and the Hanse Burghs. [60] It was next employed in 1581. [61] Randolph to Cecil, 3rd June, 1563, _Foreign Calendar, Elizabeth_. [62] Proclamation of James VI, July 1578. [63] _Acts_, ii. 289. [64] Robertson, app. iv. This is the only evidence that we possess to show that the burgesses chose their own representatives. [65] In the speech quoted _supra_, pp. 38-39, King James ignores the Lords of the Articles altogether. [66] _Miscellany of the Maitland Club_, iii. 112-18. [67] Afterwards the first earl of Haddington. [68] "Humble Supplication of a great number of the Nobility and other Commissioners in the late Parliament," _State Trials_, iii. 604. Cf. also Row, _History of the Church of Scotland_, pp. 365-66 (Wodrow Soc.). [69] _History_, vi. 87.