800th Anniversary of the Burgesses of Guild of Aberdeen

The motion

That the Parliament congratulates the Burgesses of Guild of Aberdeen on the 800th anniversary of the charter granted to the Burgesses of Aberdeen by King Alexander II; understands that, although the earliest records refer to the burgesses in the 12th century, it is the Alexander II charter that conferred further powers on the burgesses to form a guild; further understands that, from the time of the charter, Aberdeen’s Burgesses of Guild have remained an integral part of the council in Aberdeen, upholding the town’s laws and customs and have even been called on to defend the Royal Burgh; recognises that, in the 15th century, Burgess Robert Davidson was an active member of council and well-connected socially and, though he was a known rogue and in all probability involved in the piracy of the cargo of the Thomas from Dick Whittington, he is primarily known for his actions in raising an army including burgesses to face the invading forces of Donald, Lord of the Isles, on the field of “Red Harlaw” in July 1411 and, although Aberdeen’s forces prevailed, Provost Davidson died defending his town; further notes that, when the city came under attack again in the 16th century, prior to the elections of 1525, Aberdeen’s council resolved that none of the prominent gentry of the countryside were to hold any influence over the course of the ballot and that, on the night before the election, the town was attacked by 80 armed men led by Alexander Seton of Meldrum, John Leslie of Wardis, William Leslie of Balquhain, their servants and families, all connected by blood or marriage to Provost Collison; believes that the attackers were determined but were eventually forced into retreat after having inflicted heavy casualties on the Burgess Guild brethren in the town and, as punishment, Collison’s tacks of lands and fishings were not extended and the blame for “murther, slauchter, mutilatoun, and hurting” was laid at his feet; acknowledges that, during the Jacobite campaign of 1745-46, Aberdeen was occupied by Sir John Cope’s government troops and, after they left the city, taking all the arms and munitions, a rebel council was elected and started to raise support for the Jacobites until February 1746, when the Duke of Cumberland marched into the city and ousted the rebel council; notes that Burgess Guild records in the charter room of Aberdeen Town House show Cumberland’s appointment as a burgess and, on the opposite page, those Jacobites who were made burgesses are deleted; recognises that what it considers the illustrious history of the Burgesses of Guild of Aberdeen will be honoured at a dinner marking the 800th anniversary of the Alexander II Royal Charter on 27 February 2015, and wishes the burgesses all the best for the centuries to come.

No recorded vote on this motion. Most motions are never debated, and many that are debated are agreed without a division. Vote records are published from 2011.

SNP 19 Con 4

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

No contribution in the Official Report cites S4M-12123 by reference.