Anent the act for justices of peace and constables'. Petition to parliament by the...

Anent the act for justices of peace and constables'. Petition to parliament by the commissioner for the stewartry [territorial division under the jurisdiction of a steward; the jurisdiction extending over such a territory] of [? Kirkcudbright] and the other commissioners who have submitted lists of suggested justices of the peace 'in these shires'[blank]. They ask that the act of 1617 [Acts Parlt. Scot iv, pp.535-541] concerning justices of the peace and constables may be renewed, ratified and revived and commissions granted to themselves and to others who present lists, containing warrants for those chosen as justices to administer justice, impose and exact fines from delinquents, and deal with any other matters set down in the act. They object to the clauses of 1617 by which justices of the peace have to account to the Exchequer for fines imposed, and the Exchequer may decide and grant fees to the constables for their 'pains and expenses'; they declare that these enactments have made the measure ineffectual. They therefore ask that the clauses should be rescinded, and that these powers should revert to the justices of the peace, who should report directly to the parliament or committee of estates. Since parliament will be unable to enact these changes during the current session, the petitioners ask that in the meantime the justices of the peace and commissioners may be permitted to proceed according to the act of 1617. [Endorsed, in two different hands]: (1) 'The estaites of parlt approve the within wretten report'. [Signed]: Loudoun Can[cella]rius, 29 June [?1649]. (2) 'Commission [? be/for] the justices of peace', 29 June [?1649]