"OUR SOVEREIGN LORD, with the advice of the estates of this present Parliament, has ratified, approved, and confirmed, and by the tenor of the said act, ratifies, approves, and confirms the Charter and Infeftment granted by his Highness' dearest mother, under his great seal, making, constituting, and confirming the town of Portsoy in free Burgh of Barony, of which Charter the tenor follows –

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MARY, by the grace of God, Queen of Scots, to all faithful men, both clergy and laymen, in all her dominions, greeting. Know ye that, with advice and consent of our well beloved cousin and guardian, James, Duke of Chatelherault, Earl of Arran and Lord of Hamilton, Protector and Governor of our Kingdom, for the maintenance of good government and prosperity in the town of Portsoy, lying near the sea, in the lower part of our county of Banff, pertaining hereditary to Sir Walter Ogilvy of Boyne; for the reception and entertainment of our lieges who come either by sea or land to the said town, and for the general benefit, improvement, and good government of our Kingdom ; as well as for the good, faithful, and gratuitous services rendered to us by the said Walter ; we have made, erected, and created, and do hereby make, erect, and create the said town of Portsoy, with its pertinents, lying in the thanedom of Boyne, in our foresaid county, into a free Burgh of Barony for ever,

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with free and full power, authority, and licence to the present and future inhabitants of the said burgh to buy and sell in the same, wines, wax, woollen and linen cloth, broad and narrow, and all and sundry other kinds of merchandise, and also grant to them to hold and to have bakers, tailors, butchers, fishsellers, and all other necessary tradesmen belonging to a free Burgh of Barony,

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and also grant the said burgh free burgesses, who  in all time coming shall have full power annually to elect ,bailies of the said burgh , and all other officials necessary for governing the same, with power further to the burgesses and inhabitants of the said burgh for ever to have and to hold a market cross, and a market every week on Wednesday, with a free annual fair on the day of the holy Archangel Michael (Michaelmas Day) and for eight days thereafter,

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and to receive, intromit, and likewise to dispose of tolls, customs, and all dues which belong, or which are in any way distinguished as belonging to a free fair, and also to use and enjoy for ever the liberties , powers, and privileges and privileges belonging, or in any way by the law and custom of our Kingdom held as belonging, to a free Burgh of Barony.  

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The said town of Portsoy with its pertinents (we give) to hold and to have to the said Sir Walter Ogilvy of Boyne, his heirs and assignees, and to the bailies, burgesses, and inhabitants of the said burgh, from us and our successors, for a free Burgh of Barony, with all and sundry the privileges, liberties, and concessions aforesaid, for ever, freely, quietly, fully, entirely, honourably, well, and in peace.

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In testimony of which we have caused to be affixed to this present charter our great seal, before witnesses: - The Most Reverend Father in Christ, John, Archbishop of St. Andrews; our well beloved cousins, Archibald, Duke of Argyle, Lord Campbell and Lorn, and William, Lord Ruthven, our Privy Seal; our well beloved friends, Mr. Thomas Majoribanks of Ratho, Master of our Rolls and clerk of Register and Council; John Bellenden of Auchnoul, our Clerk of Justiciary; and Alexander Livingstone of Donipace, our Chancellor.

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At Edinburgh, this fifteenth day of the month of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred and fifty, and the eighth year of our reign."

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Banffshire Reporter, 22nd. September 1876: -"According to the best translation we can obtain of the “Charter of Portsoy”