Gazetteer of Scotland

INTRODUCTION. sxlx
the judgments of the magiftrates of thefe boroughs were made fubject to the
review of the chamberlain of Scotland, and the Court of the Four Boroughs,
the curia quatuor burgomm. This court was compofed of certain burgeffes
from the towns of Edinburgh, Stirling, Berwick, and Roxburgh,* who were,
appointed to meet annually at Haddington, to delibei - ate and determine in
all matters reflecting the common welfare of the royal boroughs. Upon the
fuppreffion of the office of chamberlain, the power which he poffeffed, and
that of the curia quatuor burgorum, was transferred to the
VIII. Convention of Royal Boroughs. This court was conftituted in
the reign of James III. and was appointed to be held at Inverkeithing ; but it
does not appear that it met earlier than 1552. Since that period, its conftitution
has been confiderably altered, not only by fundry ads of parliament, but alio
by its own decrees. At prefent, the Convention meets annually at Edinburgh^
and confifts of two deputies from each borough. The lord provoft of Edh>
burgh is perpetual prefes, and the city clerks of Edinburgh are clerks to the
Convention. It commonly fits four days. From the inftitution of the Court
of Four Boroughs, the powers of the Convention may in part be collected.
■They chiefly refpcct the efiablifhment of regulations refpe L fting trade and
manufactures ; and to this effect the Convention has eftablifhed, and from
time to time renewed articles of ftable contract with the town of Campvere.f
As the royal boroughs pay afixth part of the fum impofed a3 a land-tax upon
the counties of Scotland, the Convention js empowered to confider the Hate
of trade and revenues in the individual boroughs, and to affefs their refpective
proportions according to their abilities. This court alfo has been in ufe to
examine the conduct of magiftrates in the adminiftration of the borough re-
venues, although this property falls under the jurifdiction of the Court of Ex-
chequer ; and to give fanction, upon particular occasions, to the town coun-
cil of boroughs, to alienate a part of the borough eftate. The Conventioa
likewife confiders and arranges the political feits or comtitutions of the differ-
ent boroughs, and regulates matters concerning elections brought before
them.
IX. Baron Courts belong to thofe who hold baronies of the crown ; and
are held by a baron-bailie or judge, under fome other title fimilar to the
courts of royal boroughs ; but their authority extends in civil cafes only to
caufes not exceeding forty {hillings fterling, and in criminal cafe,s to petty
actions of affault and battery; and, in the latter cafe, the punifhment is not to
* When Berwick and Roxburgh were taken by the Englifh, Lanark anej
Linlithgow were fubftituted in their place,
f Maitland's Kiftory of Edinburgh.