ACT of PARLIAMENT, In Favours of the Incorporation of the Woollen-Manufactory at NEW-MILNS.  
At Edinburgh, the Fourteenth Day of June, 1693 Years.  
OUR sovereign LORD and LADY, the King and Queens Majesties, and the Estates of Parliament, Considering the great advantage that arise to other Nations, and particularly to our Neighbour Nation of England, by the erecting and carrying on of Manufactories, especially those of Cloth, which do not only serve them at home, but vast quantities thereof, are to their great advantage exported; Besides the employing and plenteously maintaining a great number of poor People: As also, that some attempts have been made to erect the like Manufactories in this Kingdom, and several Laws and Acts of Parliament made for the encouragement and cherishing such as should erect the same, Which Manufactories have nevertheless not attained the wished effect: And now seing that divers of their Majesties good Subjects,( notwithstanding of the discouragements that hitherto have happened) have already entred into a Contract of Society and Co-parthery, for erecting and carrying on a Manufactory at New-milns, and advanced a considerable stock for that effect, and have also agreed that the said stock shall remain mortified for the ends foresaid: And their Majesties and Estates foresaid being willing to give all due encouragement for advancing so generous and profitable an undertaking. THEREFORE their Majesties and Estates of Parliament, not only Declare the foresaid Society and Co-partnery to be a Manufactory; but also erects the saids Partners and Society unto a free and lawful Incorporation, with all privilege usual, to be called in all time coming The Incorporation of the Woolen-Manufactory at New-Milns in the Shire of Haddingtoun, and to have right to, and brook and enjoy all the privileges and Immunities provided in favours of Manufactories, by the former Laws of this Kingdom. AND FURTHER, Their Majesties and Estates foresaid, Do hereby Enact and Ordain, That the principal Stock already advanced, by virtue of the foresaid Coutract of Society, with the foresaids Lands of New-milns and Houses acquired, and the Houses and others built and to be built thereon, with the Ware-house and Hall in Edinburgh, shall remain in all time coming, as Mortified, for carrying on the said Work, without prejudice always to any of the saids Partners, or their Successors to assign, transfer, or convey their shares of the said Stock, and the others foresaid, in whole or in part, with the burden always of the mutual Obligements of the said Contract, or to their Creditors to affect the same by legal Diligence, with the burden foresaid; and the Manufactory having retention of all Charges which shall be expended by the Society, in the defence of any Action, to be intented at the instance of Creditors, one or more for affecting the said stock of any of the Co-partners, according as the saids expenses shall be given up, under the hand of the managers for the time. And to the effect that such conveyance may be the more easily expede, It is hereby ENACTED, STATUTE AND DECLARED, That the foresaid Stock, Materials and Profits thereof, with the Heretages, Lands and Houses built, and to be built thereupon, and Ware-house and Hall foresaid, and the Rents and casualties of the same, shall be Transmissible by the saids Partners, or any of them, for their respective interests, either in whole or in part, by a simplo Translation or Assignment, to be recorded and insert in the Books of the said Society, as well these keeped in England, as the Books keeped in Scotland, and Signed by the Granter, before two Subscribing Witnesses, and an extract thereof subscribed in like manner by the Keeper of the said Books in London and Edinburgh, is to be delivered to the Purchaser, without any Disposition, Charter, or Infeftment thereon, any other Registration than aforesaid, Intimation, or any other Formality required by the Law and practic of this Kingdom, Hereby Declaring, That such a Translation or Assignment, so to be recorded and inserted in the saids Books, with the foresaid extract thereof, shall be as valid and effectual Rights to the receivers, as they had all usual Deeds and Evidences expede thereanent in the common Form of Law: The saids Books and Records being always made patent to the lieges, when ever and as oft as required. AND FURTHER, Their Majesties and Estates of Parliament, Do Statute and Ordain, That all Materials, Instruments and others whatsoever needful and useful for the said Manufactory, to be imported, whether in foreign Vessels, or these belonging to this Kingdom: As also, all Cloths, Stuffs, Stockings, or other Work made by the Incorporation of the said Manufactory, and exported, shall be free of Custom, Excise, and all other public deuce, for the space of twenty one years, next after the date of this present Act. And forasmuch as by the fortieth Act of Parliament, One Thousand six hundred sixty one years, It is provided, That any Stocks employed for erecting and entertaining Manufactories, shall be free of all private and public Taxes. Therefore their Majesties and Estates foresaid, Do Statute and Ordain, That the Stock of the said Manufactory advanced and to be advanced, and profits thereof, and all Land and others acquired for the use of the same, and Houses built or to be built thereon, shall be free of all Cesses, Supplies, Taxations, Excise, or other public burdens, imposed during the space foresaid. As also, That the Malt, or liquours made of Malt, or other Strong Waters whatsoever made use of for the Masters and Servants, or others employed in the said Manufactory, within the Town or Lands of New-milns, and consumed within the bounds foresaid, shall be free of all Excise for the space of twenty one years after the date hereof: As also, that the saids Lands and Houses, with the whole Inhabitants thereof, be free of all quartering of Soldiers, either local or transient, and of Levying of Soldiers, during the standing of the said Manufactory. And for the further encouragement of the said Work, Their Majesties and Estates foresaid, hereby Declare, That it shall not be lawful for any Military Officer or others, to inlist any of the Servants belonging to the said Manufactory, although willing to engage as Soldiers; And that it shall not be lawful to any person or persons whatsomever, or any other Incorporation or Manufactory, to entertain in their private Service, or for the use of any other Manufactory, any of the Servants belonging to the said Manufactory of New-milns, until they first serve out their time comform to their respective agreements; And that the saids Partners shall have power to call back and retain any of their saids Servants, wherever they can be found: As also, Their Majesties and Estates foresaid, Do Declare that a Testificat upon Soul and Conscience, under the hand of the Masters and Clerk of the Society, Declaring that such a Servant belongs to the Incorporation, shall be sufficient to oblige any of their Majesties lieges, Officers or Soldiers, whether foreign; or these at home, to deliver up the saids Servants, under the Penalty of an hundred pounds Scots. Requiring hereby the respective magistrates in Burgh or Landward, to secure the Persons of these Servants: As also, to administer Justice against such as refuse to deliver them back, till till they make payment of the said Sum of an hundred pounds Scots, and deliver up the Person or persons belonging to the foresaid Corporation. And further, It is hereby Statute and Ordained, That all the Regiments, troops and Soldiers of the Scots Establishment, shall be obliged to furnish themselves with clothes of the product of this Kingdom, Discharging hereby any licence or Dispensation to the contrair. And lastly, Their Majesties and Estates foresaid; Do hereby empower the saids Partners to appoint a bailie from time to time, with power to the said bailie to keep and hold Courts within the saids Lands of New-milns, for punishing of Crimes and Delinquencies committed by their own Servants, or others upon the Ground, and to decide any difference falling out betwixt the saids Servants, and in case of Delinquencies, to Imprison and impose and exact Fines, according to the Laws of the Kingdom: And for that effect, the saids Partners to Elect, Nominat and appoint Clerks, Serjeants, Dempsters, and other Members of Court requisite, with all other Immunities, Powers and privileges granted in favours of bailies of Barony and their Courts. Extracted forth of the Records of Parliament, by George Viscount of Tarbat, Lord Mcleod and Castlehaven, &c. Clerk to their Majesties Parliament, Councils, Registers and Rolls,  
TARBAT.   

Edinburgh, Printed by the Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson, Printer to their most Excellent Majesties, Anno DOM. 1694.