ACT, For a New Election of Magistrates in the Town of Edinburgh.  
Edinburgh, the fifth day of April, 1689.  
THE which Day, the Meeting of the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland, taking to their Consideration, the great Invasions that have been made of late years, upon the Privileges of the Royal Burrows, particularly these of Edinburgh, in the Election of their Magistrates by Re-commendations, and Nominations made by the late King, in an Arbitrary and Despotic way, contrary to the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom; so that the present Magistrates and Council of the said Burgh, are not their true Magistrates and Council, by them freely Elected, but plainly such as have been (at least by progress) imposed by the aforesaid Court-methods and practices: And the Meeting of the Estates Considering, That the Constitutions, Liberties and Privileges of the said Burgh, being so far violated and perverted, the only natural and just way to Restore the same, is to allow and authorise the Incorporation itself, and whole Members thereof, to whom the said Liberties and Privileges were originally granted, to make a new Choice and Election of Magistrates and ordinary Council; Therefore the said Estates, Do hereby Authorise and Require, Sir James Rocheid and Aeneas Mcleod, present Town Clerks of Edinburgh, to conveen the whole Burgesses, who has born, and does bear Burgage-Duty, and are liable to Watching and Warding within the City (excluding from this number, all Honorary Burgesses, with the Townservants, Pensioners, Beed-men and the like,) to meet upon Wednesday next, the tenth Instant, at eight a Clock in the morning, in Saint-Geils-Church, with continuation of days, to the effect, that the said Burgesses, and each of them may give in their subscribed Lists of Twenty five persons, to be the Magistrates and ordinary Council of the said Burgh, according as the plurality of Votes shall determine, and that they give in their Burgess Tickets to the Clerks timously, that they may be Enrolled before the diet of Election. And the Estates Do Nominat and Appoint the persons after-named of their own Number, viz. The Lord's Barganie and Belheaven, Sir John Maitland and the Laird of Ricartoun, Mr. James Ogilvie and Mr. James Smollet to be present, and to see the foresaid Election made; and Appoints the foresaids' Magistrates and Council, so chosen, to continue until the first Tuesday after Michaelmass next, that then, and on that day, a new Election for the ensuing year, of both Magistrates, Council and Deacons of Crafts, may proceed in all Points, conform to the Sett and Decreet Arbitral, pronounced by King JAMES the Sixth; The Lists of the Magistrates then to be Chosen, being always made of such who are capable to be Elected, with power to the persons , to Issue out, and publish all Orders necessary for this effect. And it is hereby Declared, That the Magistrates and Council to be Chosen by Warrant of this present ACT, as said is, shall be repute, and holden als lawful and sufficient in all respects, as if they had been truly and duly Elected at Michaelmass last, conform to the aforesaid Sett, Customs and Privileges of the Burgh in all Points. And Ordains the present Magistrates to continue till the said new Election be made: And Appoints these Presents to be immediately Published at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh, by Macers, or Messengers at Arms, in the usual Way. Extracted out of the Records of the Meeting of Estates, by me,  
JA. DALRYMPLE, Cls.   

Edinburgh, Printed in the Year, 1689.