He was given a cupboard of silver gilt plate made by the Edinburgh goldsmiths Edward Hart, Thomas Annand, George Heriot, Adam Craig and William Cokky.
[6] In July 1585 he was asked to provide the "foul-clengers" on Edinburgh burgh moor, who disinfected plague victim's goods, with a staff topped with a wicker taper.
Three got in fight in a tavern, one was stabbed, and as returned to Leith and their ship they were attacked by a group of Spanish sailors, survivors from the Armada shipwrecks.
Beeston and the English ambassador William Ashby had an audience with James VI on 7 June at the Palace of Holyroodhouse seeking an enquiry and justice.
[10] James requested that Edinburgh town council give Beeston his three captains, and the English ambassadors an "honest banquet" in Nicol Edward's new house.
[12] On 18 February 1590 Fairlie, with Edward Galbraith, John Johnston, and Andrew Sclater, the town's master of work, was asked to survey St Mary's Chapel and its lands in Niddry's Wynd.
[16] Fairlie was also tasked with Michael Chisholm to buy the food for a banquet given by the burgh to the Danish ambassadors, which was held in the lodging of Thomas Acheson, master of the mint, at the foot of Todrig's Wynd on 24 May.
[17] In August 1593 the burgh council sent him to Prestonpans to assess a ship belonging to Thomas Hallis which was impounded because the passengers from London were infected with plague.