Be it kend till all men be thir present letters

Be it known to all men by these present letters, 

ws Deacons Maistres and freemen of the Masons within the realme of Scotland with express consent and assent of Wm Schaw Maister of Wark to our Souane Lord ffor sa meikle as from aige to aige it has been observit amangis that the Lairds of Rosling has ever been Patrons and Protectors of us and our priviledges likeas our predecessors has obey’d and acknowledged them as Patrones and tectoris 

We Deacons, Masters, and Freemen of the Masons within the realm of Scotland, with express consent and assent of William Schaw Master of the Work, to our Sovereign Lord, whereas from age to age it has been observed among us, that the Lairds of Roslin have ever been Patrons and Protectors of us and our privileges; so that our predecessors have obeyed and acknowledged them as Patrons and Protectors, 

while that within thir few years throwch negligence and sleuthfulness the samyn has past furth of vse whereby not only has the Laird of Rosling lyne out of his just rycht but also our hail craft has been destitute of ane patron and protector and overseer qlk has genderit manyfauld corruptions and imperfections, baith amangis ourselves and in our craft 

Although within these few years through negligence and slothfulness the same has passed forth from us, whereby not only has the Laird of Roslin been out of his just right, but also our whole Craft has been destitute of a patron and protector and overseer, which has caused many corruptions and imperfections, both among ourselves and in our Craft, 

and has given occasion to mony persones to conseve evill opinioun of ws and our craft and to leive off great enterprises of policie be reason of our great misbehaviour wtout correction whereby not only the committers of the faults but also the honest men are disapoyntit of their craft and ffeit. 

And has given occasion to many persons to conceive evil opinion of us and our Craft, and to leave off great enterprises of policy by reason of our great misbehavior, without correction, whereby not only the committers of the faults but also the honest men are disappointed with their Craft and profit. 

As lyikwayes when divers and sundrie contraversies falls out amangis ourselfs thair follows great and manyfald inconvenientis through want of ane (Patron and Protector) we not being able to await upon the ordinar judges and judgement of this realme through the occasioun of our powertie and langsumness of process for remeid qrof and for keeping of guid ordour amangis us in all tymes cumyng, and for advancement of our craft and vocatioun within this realme and furthering ofpolicie within the samyn 

Likewise, when various controversies break out among us, there follow many and great inconveniences through want of a patron and protector, we not being able to wait upon the ordinary judges and judgement of this realm through the occasion of our poverty and slowness of the process for the remedy whereof, and for the keeping of good order among us in all times to come, and for advancement of our Craft and vocation within this realm and furthering of policy within the same. 

We for ourselves and in name of our haill bretherene and craftismen with consent foresaid agrees and consents that Wm Sinclar now of Rosling for himself & his airis purchase and obtene at ye hands of our Souane Lord libertie fredome and jurisdictioun vpone us and our successors in all tymes cummyng as patrons and judges to us and the haill fessoris of our craft wtin this realme quhom off we have power and commission sua that hereafter we may acknawlege him and his airis as our patrone and judge under our Souerane Lord without ony kind of appellation or declynyng from his judgement with power to the said Williame and his airis to depute judges ane or mae under him and to use sick ampill and large jurisdictione upon us and our successors als weill as burghe as land as it shall pleise our Souerane Lord to grant to him & his airis.

We, for ourselves and in name of our dear brethren and craftsmen, with consent aforesaid, agree and consent that William Sinclair, now of Roslin, for himself and his heirs, purchase and obtain at the hands of our Sovereign Lord, liberty, freedom, and jurisdiction upon us and our successors in all times coming, as patrons and judges to us and the whole predecessors of our Craft within this realm, from whom we have power and commission, so that hereafter we may acknowledge him and his heirs as our patrons and judge under our Sovereign Lord, without any kind of appeal or declining from his judgement, with power to the said William and his heirs to appoint judges, one or more, under him and to use such ample and large jurisdiction upon us and our successors, as well in boroughs as land, as it shall please our Sovereign Lord to grant to him and his heirs.

William Schaw, Maistir of Wark.

William Schaw, Master of Work.

Signed:

• Edinburgh – Andro Symsone  Jhone Robesoune – Edinburgh – Andrew Simson, John Robson.
• St Andrews  –  ……….. – St Andrews – …u
• Hadingtoun  – P. Capbell takand ye burdyng for Jon. Saw,  J. Vallance, William Aittoun – Hadington – P. Campbell, taking the burden for Jon. Saw, J. Vallance, William Aittoun.
• Achiesone Heavin – Georg Aittoun  Jo. Fwsetter    Thomas Petticrif – Achieson Haven – George Aittoun, Jo. Fwsetter, Thomas Petticrif.
• Dunfermling –  Robert Pest – Dumfermlin – Robert Pest.
• Thomas Weir mason in Edr. Thomas Robertsoun wardane of the Ludge of Dunfermling and Sanct Androis and takand the burding upon him for the brethren of the Mason Craft within they Lwdges – Thomas Weir Mason in Edinburgh, Thomas Robertson warden of the Lodge of Dumferling and Saint Andrews and taking the burden upon him for the brethren of the Mason Craft, within their Lodges,
• and for the Commissioners efter mentionat viz. David Skowgall Alexander Gilbert and David Spens for the Lwdge of Sanct Androis Andrew Alisone and Archibald Angous Commissionaris for the Lwdge of Dwmfermling – And for the Commissioners, after mentioned vizt. David Skougall, Alexander Gilbert, and David Spens for the Lodge of Saint Andrews, Andrew Alisone and Archibald Angone, Commissiary for the Lodge of Dumfermlin, 
• and Robert Baize of Haddington with our handis led on the pen be the notaris underwritten at our commandis because we can nocht write. – And Robert Baize of Haddington with our hands laid on the pen by the notary underwritten at our commands, because we can not write.
• Ita est Laurentius Robertsoun notarius publicus ad praemissa requisitus de specialibus mandatis dict. personarum scribere nescien. ut aseruerunt testan. manu mea propria. – Laurentius Robertson, notary public, with special powers given by people who can not write, so they bear witness by my own hand.
• (Ita est) Henricus Banna(Tyne) connotarius ad premissa (de mandatis) antedictarum personarum (scribere nescientium ut aseruerunt teste) manu mea propria. – Henricus Banna (Tyne), notary assistant in charge of the above persons, who can not write, so they bear witness by my own hand.