Report from the 'committee of bills'. The committee has considered a petition from...

Report from the 'committee of bills'. The committee has considered a petition from the magistrates of Perth concerning an act of the parliament sitting at St. Andrews, on 10 [sic] February 1646. By this the general commissioner for the time and his deput[? ies] were ordered to deliver 400 bolls of meal for distribution to the poor people of Perth employed on the works and fortifications of the town. Patrick Ross, the 'commissr deput', delivered only 128 bolls; for these he accounted to Lord Humbie, who sent in an account to parliament. The petitioners accept that the nonpayment was accasioned by the plague then afflicting the town, but now ask for either the outstanding 272 bolls or a money payment of £10 a boll. The committee, having seen the original act, the certificate from Ross and the account book submitted to parliament by Lord Humbie in November 1646, gives its opinion that the petition should be granted. [Signed by ? J. Hay]. [Endorsed, in two different hands]: 1. 'Report from ye Bill[? s] In favor of ye burgh of Perth for 272 bolls maill'. 2. '1649 7 August'. Dated at Edinburgh. [See Acts Parlt. Scot. vi, pt. 1, p.595a. Parliament was prorogued from 4 February to 3 November 1649].