This case stems from a disputed election for the Dean of Guild of Cupar in 1766. Robert Munro and John Stewart stood as candidates. Munro claimed to have won the election. The town council decided that the other candidate, Stewart, had actually won. On appeal to the Court of Session, however, the court determined that Munro had won the election. The court did not award Munro costs and fees related to the litigation. Munro then petitioned the town council for reimbursement of his expenses. The town council agreed to make a donation to Munro. A few members of the town council, objecting to this donation, sought to stop the payment in court. Munro contended that the Court of Session did not have jurisdiction over the royal burrows with respect to administrative and revenue matters.
Mungo Brown, Supplement to the Dictionary of the Decisions of the Court of Session (1826), pg. 628