The obligations of the guild burgess are given pretty fully in the oath which he took at his admission. In 161 1 Stevin Gordon, who had previously been admitted a burgess, gave his great oath on his admission to the Guild to be leill and trew to his maiestie burghe and friedome of this burghe ueuir skaith thair wairis Thair pro?'eit forsea Leall and well counsel] give quhen it is askit Scott lot watche walk and ward with the Inhabitantes thairof no Lordschip saithseat agains the libertie and preuilege of this burghe That he sall nocht governe unfriemenes guidis nor geir vnder cullor of his awin cheis nor elect na persone to be pronest nor bailleis of this burghe bot burges and burges sones t This in substance was the oath taken by burgesses of all classes down till 1819; when the Convention of Royal Burghs declared for its abolition.