punch made in the council-chamber, in order and to the end and
effect of drinking his majesty's health at the cross; and for
pleasance to the commonality, the magistrates were wont, on the same
occasion, to allow a cart of coals for a bonfire. I do not now, at
this distance of time, remember the cause how it came to pass, but
come to pass it did, that the council resolved for time coming to
refrain from giving the coals for the bonfire; and it so fell out
that the first administration of this economy was carried into
effect during my provostry, and the wyte of it was laid at my door
by the trades' lads, and others, that took on them the lead in
hobleshows at the fairs, and such like public doings. Now I come to
the issue and particulars.

The birth-day, in progress of time, came round, and the morning was
ushered in with the ringing of bells, and the windows of the houses
adorned with green boughs and garlands. It was a fine bright day,
and nothing could exceed the glee and joviality of all faces till
the afternoon, when I went up to the council-chamber in the
tolbooth, to meet the other magistrates and respectable characters
of the town, in order to drink the king's health. In going thither,
I was joined, just as I was stepping out of my shop, by Mr Stoup,
the excise gauger, and Mr Firlot, the meal-monger, who had made a
power of money a short time before, by a cargo of corn that he had
brought from Belfast, the ports being then open, for which he was
envied by some, and by the common sort was considered and reviled as
a wicked hard-hearted forestaller. As for Mr Stoup, although he was
a very creditable man, he had the repute of being overly austere in
his vocation, for which he was not liked over and above the dislike
that the commonality cherish against all of his calling; so that it
was not possible that any magistrate, such as I endeavoured to be,