Of  the  quhilk  obligatioun  the  tennour  followis. Be  it  kend  till  all
men  be  thir  present  letters,  we,  Alexander  Arbuthnot  merchand,
and  Thomas  Bassinden  imprentair,  burgessis  of  Edinburgh  :  That
forsamekill  as  oure  Soverane  Lord,  with  avise  and  consent  of  his
rycht  traist  cousing  James  Erll  of  Mortoun  Lord  of  Dalkeyth,
Regent  to  his  Hienes  his  realme  and  liegis,  hes  grantit  us,  not
onelie  licence  for  imprenting  of  the  Bybill,  bot  als  hes  causit  us  be
avanceit  of  the  pryces  of  a  greit  nowmer  of  the  same  Bybillis  afoir
hand,  for  furthering  of  the  werk, — and  that  be  contributioun  of
parrochynnaris  of  the  parroch  kirkis,  inbrocht  and  collectit  be  the
laubouris  and  diligence  of  the  Bischoppis  Superintendentis  and
Visitouris  of  the  Dyoceis  and  cuntreis,  according  to  ane  ordour  and
aggrement  maid  betuix  thame  and  us,  allowit  and  authorizit  be  the
Regentis  Grace. And  in  respect  that  the  werk  hes  not  yit  takin
effect,  in  respect  of  the  impedimentis  occurring,  as  alsua  that— sen
the  conditioun  making,  the  souirtie  fund  be  me  the  said  Alexander
Arbuthnot  is  departit  this  lyff,— it  hes  plesit  the  Regentis  Grace  yit
to  grant  unto  us  the  space  of  nyne  monethis  following  the  last  day  of
Marche  instant  for  wirking  and  performing  of  the  said  werk,  within
the  quhilk  space  we  have  promittit  that  the  werk  salbe  accomplissit,
and  the  bukis  deliverit  to  the  debursaris  of  the  said  avancement  and
contributioun,  conforme  to  the  said  aggrement; — thairfoir  to  be
bundin  and  obleist,  and  be  the  tennour  heirof  bindis  and  obleissis  us,
conjunctlie  and  severalie,  as  principallis;  David  Guthre  of  Kincaldrum,
Williame  Guthre  of  Halkertoun,  Williame  Rynd  of  Kerse  and  James
Arbuthnot  of  Lentusche,  as  souirteis,  conjunctlie  and  severalie   for


TJiomas  Bassandyne. 