CHARTER GRANTED BY THE MASONS OF SCOTLAND

TO SIR WILLIAM ST CLAIR IN 1628.

Beit kend till all men be thir present letters ws the Deacones 
Masteris friemen of the Maissones and Hammermen within the kingdome 
of Scotland That forsameikill as from aidge to aidge it has been 
observet amangis us and our predecessors that the Lairdis of Rosling 
has ever been patrons and protectors of us and our priviledgis 
Likeas our predecessors has obeyit reverencet and acknowledget them 
as patrons and protectors qrof they had letters of protection and 
vtheris richtis grantit be his Maties most noble progenitors of 
worthy memorie qIkis with sindrie vtheris of the Lairdis of Rosling 
his writtis being consumet and brunt in ane flame of fire within the 
Castle of Rosling in an ..... The consumation and burning qrof being 
clearly knawin to us and our predecessors deacons maisteris and 
freemen of the saidis vocations, and our protection of the samyn and 
priviledgis thereof (be negligence) and slouthfulness being likely 
to pass furth of us where throw not only wald the Lairdis of Rosling 
lyne out of their just richt but also our hail craftis wald haifbene 
destitute of ane patrone protector and oversear quhilk wald engenner 
monyfald imperfectionis and corruptionis baith amangis ourselves and 
in our craft and give occasione to mony persones to conceive evill 
opinioun of us and our craft and to leave af many and grit 
enterpryces ofpolicie whilk wald be vndertaken if our grit 
misbehaviour were suffered to goe on without correctioun  For remeid 
qrof and for keeping of good ordour amangis us in all time coming 
and for advancement of our craft and vocation within his Hienes 
kingdom of Scotland and furdering of policie yaireintill the maist 
pairt of our predecessors for themselves and in name and behalfe of 
our bretherene and craftsmen with express advice and consent of 
William Schaw Maister of Wark to Hienes umqle darrest father of 
worthy memorie all in ane voce agreit consentit and subseryvet that 
William Sinclar of Rosling father to Sir William Sinclar now of 
Rosling for himself and his airis should purches and obtain at the 
hands of his Majestie libertie freedome and jurisdictioun upon us 
and our predecessors deacons maisteris and freemen of the saidis 
vocation, as patrones and judges to us and the haill professors 
thereof within the said kingdom qrof they had power and commission 
sua that they and we micht yairafter acknowledge him and his airis 
as patrone and judge under our Soverane Lord without any kind of 
appellation or declinatour from thair judgement forever, as the said 
agreement subscryvet be the said Mr of Wark and our predecessors at 
mare length proportis  In the whilk office priviledge and 
jurisdictioun over us and our said (voca)tioun the said William 
Sinclar of Rosling ever continuit to his going to Ireland qr he 
presently reamanes sen the quhilk (time) of his departure furth 
ofthis realme there are very many corruptiounes and imperfectiounes 
risen and ingennerit baith amangis ourselfis and in our saidis 
vocatiounes in defect of ane patrone and oversear over us and the 
samyn  Sua that our saidis vocatiounes are altogether likely to 
decay And now for safety thereofwe having full experience of the 
efauld good skill and judgement whilk the said Sr William Sinclar 
now of Rosling has in our said craft and vocatioun and for 
reparation of the ruines and manifold corruptiounes and enormities 
done be unskilfull persones thereintill WE all in ane voce have 
ratified and approven and be thir presentis ratifies and approves 
the foresaid former letter ofjurisdictioun and libertie made and 
subr be our brethrene and his Hienes umqle Mr of Wark for the time 
to the said Williame Sinclar of Rosling father to the said Sr 
William whereby he and his airis are acknowledget as our patrone and 
judge under our Soverane Lord over us and the haill professors of 
our said vocatioun within this his Hienes kingdom of Scotlande 
without any appelation or declinator from their judgements in ony 
(time hereafter) forever  And further we all in ane voce as said is 
of new have made constitute and ordainit and be thir presentis makis 
constitutes and ordanes the said Sir William Sinclar now of Rosling 
and his airis maill our only patrones protectors and overseers under 
our Soverane Lord to us and our successors deacons maisteris and 
freemen of our saidis vocatiounes of Masons hammermen within the 
haile kingdome of Scotland and of our haille priviledges and 
jurisdictiounes belonging thereto wherein he his father and their 
predecessors Lairdis of Rosling have been in use of possessioun thir 
many aidges bygain with full power to him and them be themselves 
thair wardens and deputis to be constitute be them to affix and 
appoint places of meeting for keeping of good ordour in the said 
craft als oft and sua oft as need shall require all and sundry 
persones that may be knawin to be subject to the said vocatioun to 
be called absentis to amerciat transgressuris to punish unlawes 
casualities and vtheris duties whatsomever pertaining and belonging 
or that may fall to be pait be whatsomever persone or persones 
subject to the said craft to aske crave receive intromet with and 
uplift and the samyn to their own proper use to apply deputtis under 
them in the said office with clerkis seruandis assisteris and all 
other officers and memberis of court needfull to make create 
substitute and ordain for whom they shall be holden to answer all 
and sundry plentis actions and causes pertaining to the said craft 
and vocation and against whatsomever person or persones professors 
thereof to hear discuss decerne and decyde acts duties and sentences 
thereupon to pronunce  And the samyn to due execution to cause be 
put and generallie all and sundrie other priviledges liberties and 
immunities whatsomever concerning the said craft to doe use and 
exerce and cause to be done and exercet and keipit siklyke and als 
freely in all respects as any vyeris thair predecessors has done or 
might have done themselves in anytime bygane freely quietly well and 
in peace but any revocatioun obstacle impediment or again calling 
quhtsomevir.
In witness of the qlke thing to thir presenttis wtin be Alexander 
Aikinheid servitor to Andrew Hay wrytter we have subt thir nts with 
our handis at . .
The Ludge of Edinburgh. - William Wallace decon   John Watt  Thomas 
Patersone

The Ludge of Glasgow. - John Boyd deakin.       Robert Boyd ane of 
the mestres.
Hew Douok deikon of the Measounes and Vrichtis off Ayre and George 
Lid(ell) deacan of quarimen and nov quartermaster.
The Ludge of Stirlinge. - John Thompsone   James Rind
The Ludge of Dunfermlinge. - (Robert Alisone one of the masters of 
Dunfermling)
The Ludge of Dundee. - Robert Strachoune master Robert Johnstone Mr 
of (-) David Mesone Mr of (-)
Thomas Fleming wardane in Edinburgh and Hugh Forrest with our hands 
att the pen led be the notar under subd for us at our command 
because we cannot wryt.  A. Hay notarius asseruit.
Robert Caldwell in Glasgow with my hand at the pen led be the notar 
under subscrywand for me because I cannot writt myself. J. Henrysone 
notarius asseruit.
I John Serveite Mr of ye Craftis in Stirling with my hand att ye pen 
led be the notar under subscryvand for me because I cannot writt J.  
Henrysone notarius asseruit.
I John Burne ane of the mris. of Dumfermling with my hand att the 
pen led be the notar under subscrywand for me at my command because 
I cannot writ myself.  J. Henrysone notarius asseruit.
David Robertson ane of ye mesteris Andrew Welsone master and Thomas 
(W)elsone varden of the sed Ludg of Sant Androis Andrew Wast and 
David Quhyit maisteris in Dundee with our hands att the pen led be 
the notar under subscryvand att our commands because we cannot 
writt.  Thomas Robertson notarius asseruit.