1583, Apr-June
17 April 1583.
Proclamatio, Sonday mercatis.
The provest, baillies, dene of gild, thesaurer, and ane pairt of the
counsall ordanis proclamatioun to be maid that na nychtbouris of this
burgh haud or repair to ony Sonday mercatis at Tranent, Mussilburgh,
Dalkyth, or vtheris, vnder the paynis contenit in the actis of parliament
and payment of ane vnlaw of xli.
19 April 1583.
Proclamatio, Sabboth Day.
Ordanis proclamatioun to be maid discharging all Sonday Mercatis
within this burgh, all catchpulling, rolling, playing, drinking and taverning,
and siclyk, in tyme of Sermoun on Sonday, or doing ony thing that may
tend to the breking of the Sabboth day.
22 April 1583.
Decreit arbitrall betuix the merchants and craftismen.
At Halieruidhous, the xxij day of Appryle the yeir of God jm c fourescoir thre yeiris, we Robert Fairlie of Braid, Sir Archibald Naper of Edinbellie, knicht, and James Jhonestoun of Elphinstoun, juges arbitratouris
chosin for the pairt of maister Michaell Chisholme, Androw Sclater, Jhonn
Adamsoun, and William Fairlie, baillyeis of Edinburgh, maister Jhonn
Prestoun, dene of gild, Mungo Russell, thesaurer, Jhonn Jhonestoun,
Robert Ker, younger, Henry Charteris, Jhonn Moresoun, William Mawle,
Jhonn Harwod, Jhonn Robertsoun, William Inglis, Alexander Naper,
William Nesbet, merchants, being on the counsall of the said burgh, for
thameselffis, and in name and behalff and as commissioneris for the haill
Merchants, indwellares of the said burgh, on the ane pairt; and Jhonn Cokburn of Ormestoun, maister Robert Pont, provest of the Trinity College, and
maister Dauid Lyndesay, minister of Leith, juges arbitratouris chosin for the
pairt of James Fergussoun, bower, Jhonn Bairnisfather, tailyeoure, twa of
the craftismen, being on the counsell of the said burgh, Gilbert Prumrose,
deykin of the chirurgeanes, Jhonn Watt, deykin of the hammermen,
William Hoppringill, deykin of the tailyeoures, Edward Galbrayth,
deykin of the skynneris, Edward Hairt, deykin of the goldsmythis,
Adam Newtoun, dekyin of the baxteris, Thomas Diksoun, deykin of the
furroures, Androw Williamsoun, deykin of the wrichts, William Bikertoun, deykin of the masouns, James Vr, deykin of the flescheouris, William Weir, deykin of the cordineris, Thomas Wricht, deykin of the wobsteris, William Cowttis, deykin of the walkeris, and William Somer,
deykin of the bonnetmakeris, for thameselffis, and in name and behalff,
and as commissioneris for the haill Craftismen, indwellaris of the said
burgh, on the vther pairt; and the richt potent and illuster Prince, James,
be the grace of God, King of Scottis, oure Souerane Lord, oddisman and
owrisman, commonlie chosin be avyse and consent of baith the saidis
pairteis, anent the removing of all questiouns, differences, and contrauersies, quhilks ar or hes bene betuix the saidis merchants and craftismen
concerning quhatsomeuir caus or occasioun quhairvpoun debaitt or questioun did aryse in ony tyme betuix thame; and thairvpoun, baith the saids
pairteis being bund, oblist, and sworn to stand, abyde, vnderly, and fulfill,
the decreitt arbitrall and delyuerance of ws the saids juges and owrismen,
but appellatioun, reclamatioun or contradictioun, as at lenth is contenit in
ane submissioun made thairvpoun; baith the saidis pairteis clamis and
greiffis gevin in be thame, with the ansueris maid thairto, and their richts,
ressonis, and allegeances being hard, sene, and considerit be ws, and we
thairwith being ryplie avysitt, efter mony sindrie conventiouns and
metings, with lang travellis tayne heiranent, hes, all in ane voice, accordit,
decernit and concludet vpoun the heids and articles following:
Electiouns.
First, to tak away all differences quhilks hes bene heirtofoir concerning the persouns quha had the gouernament of the town, thair number,
power, or authoritie, and maner of thair electioun, it is fynallie accordit
and decernit thairvpoun as followis:
Maiestrats.
The maiestrats and officemen, sic as provest, bailyeis, dene of gild,
and thesaurer, to be in all tymes cuming of the estaitt and calling of merchants, conform to the acts of parliament; and gif ony craftisman, excerceand merchandice, sall for his guid qualiteis be promovit thairto, in
that caise he sall leif his craft and nocht occupy the sam be himself nor
his seruands during the tyme of his office and sall nocht return thairto
at ony tyme thairafter quhill he obtene speciall licence of the provest,
bailyeis, and counsall to that effect.
Decreit arbitrall. Counsall.
The counsall to consist of ten merchants, to witt, the awld provest,
foure awld bailyeis, dene of gild, and thesaurer of the nixt yeir preceding,
and thre merchants to be chosin yeirlie to thame, and als to consist of awcht
craftismen thairof, sex deykins and twa vther craftismen, makand in the
haill the said counsall auchtein personis, and this by the officemen of
that yeir, to witt, the provest, bailyeis, dene of gild, and thesawrer.
Electioun in generall.
And as to the maner of thair electioun, it is first generallie accordit
and agreit, that na maner of persoun be chosin provest, bailyeis, dene of
gild, or thesawrer, suppose thai be burgessis of the burgh and habill
thairfore, without thai haif bene ane yeir or twa vpoun the counsale
of befoir. And anent the counsale, the awld maner of gevin in of
tikketis be the deykins, owt of the quhilk the twa craftismen wer
yeirlie chosin, to be abrogatt, ceise, and expyre in all tymes cuming,
swa that the saids twa craftismen sall be chosin yeirlie, without ony
ingevin of tikkets, indifferentlie, of the best and worthiest of the craftis,
be the saids provest, bailyeis, dene of gild, thesaurer, and counsale allanerlie. And nane to be on the counsale abone twa yeir togidder, except
thai be officemen, or be vertew of thair offices be on the counsale. Sicklyke,
anent the lyttis of the bailyeis, thay sall nocht be deuydet nor cassin in
foure ranks, thre to euerie rank, as thai were wont to be, bot to be chosin
indifferentlie, ane out of the twelff lyttis, ane vther owt of allevin lyttis,
the thrid owt of then, and the fourt out of nyne lyttis. Anent the deykins
that nane be electit deykin, except he that has bene ane maister of his
craft twa yeir at the leist; and that nane of thame be continewit in thair
offices of dekyinschip abone twa yeir togidder. Last, in generall, that
nane haif vote in lytting, voiting, or electing of the provest, bailyeis,
counsale, deykins, dene of gild, or thesaurer, bot the personis heirafter
following in maner after specifeit.
Electioun in speciall of Deykins; Decreit arbitrall. Electioun in speciall of deykins.
And to proceid in the said electioun, it is fund guid to begyn at the
cheising of the dekins of craftis, quhilks are fourtein in number, to witt,
chirurgeanis, goldsmyths, skynners, furrours, hammermen, wrichts,
masons, tailyeouris, baxteris, flescheouris, cordinaris, wobsteris, walkere,
bonetmakeris. Swa the deykins now present sall stand and continew
quhill the thrid counsale day befoir the awld tyme of electioun of the
new counsale, quhilk wes on the Wednisday nixt preceiding the Feist of
Michaelmes; vpoun the quhilk thrid counsale day, the provest, bailyeis,
and counsale now standand, extending to nynetein persouns, and fra
thyne furth yeirlie and like yeir the provest, bailyeis, and counsale, constitute of the said twenty-fyve persouns, sall call in before thame the
saids deykins of craftis, euerie aue seuerallie, and inquyre thair opinioun
and jugement of the best and worthiest of thair craftis. Thairafter, the
saids provest, bailyeis, and counsale, sall nominat and lyitt thre persouns
of the maist discreit, godlie, and qualifeit persouns of euerie ane of the
saids fourtene craftis, maist expert hand, law boreris of thair awin craft,
burgessis and friemen of the burgh of Edinburgh, quhairof the awld
deykin sall be ane, and caus delyuer thir names to the deykins, euery
ane according to thair craft; quhilk deikins on the morn thairafter sall
assembill and convene thair craftis and everie craft be thameselffis furth
of thir names sall elect ane persoun quha sall be thair deykin for that
yeir; and vpoun the nixt counsall day after the said electioun the awld
deykins, with sum of the maisteris of thair craftis, sall present the new
deykin to the counsall quha sall authoreis thame in thair offices.
New counsale of deakens.
Nixt, to proceid to the electioun of the new counsale. The said day
of presenting of the new deykins, the provest, bailyeis and counsall, now
standand of nynetein persouns, and fra thine furth, the said day yeirlie,
the provest, bailyeis and counsall, of twenty-fyve persouns, sall cheise
furth of the saids fourtene deykins sex persouns to be adioynet with the
new counsall for the yeir to cum and to haif speciall vote in lyiting and
chesing of the provest, bailyeis, and counsall; and the sam day, the awld
sex deykins quhilk wes vpoun the counsale the yeir preceding, to be removet, and haif na forther vote for that yeir, except sum of thame be of
the number of the new electit deikins.
New counsell of merchands and craftis.
Thairafter, vpoun the Wednisday nixt preceiding Michaelmes ilk yeir,
the provest, bailyeis, dene of gild, thesawrer, and ten merchants of the
counsale, and the saidis sex deykins and twa craftismen, and in the haill
twenty-fyve persouns, and twenty-sex voits be ressoun of the provests
twa votes, ordinarlie standand at all tymes, sall convene and cheise the
new counsale, to the number of auchtein persouns, to witt, the awld pro
vest, bailyeis, dene of gild and thesawrer of that yeir, and the saidis
sex deykins to mak threttein persouns thairof, and to thame to be chosin
thre merchants and twa craftismen, and thir persouns to be callit the
new counsall. And gif ony persoun of the merchants chosin vpoun the
new counsall happinis to be putt on the lyte of ane vther office and promovet thairto, ane vther sall be chosin in his rowme be the saids provest,
bailyeis, and counsale.
Lytts of maiestrats.
Thridlie, to proceid to the chesing of the lyttis to the maiestrats and
office-men, sic as provest, bailyeis, dene of gild, and thesawrer. Vpoun
the Fryday nixt thairafter, thair sall convene the said new counsall of
auchtein persouns, and the awld counsall constitute of twelf persouns,
viz., ten merchants and twa craftismen, the said new and awld counsall,
makand twenty merchants and ten craftisman, and in the haill threttie
persouns, by the provests od vote; quhilks persouns solemnatlie protesting befoir God that thai sall cheise the persouns quhome thai fynd maist
meit, without favour, hatrand, or ony kynd of collusioun, then sall begyn
and cheise the lyttis to the said maiestrats and office-men, to euerie ane
of thame thre lyttis; that is to say, to the provest twa lyttis with himself; to the four baillies, euery ane of thame thre lytes, the awld bailyeis
nocht beand ane except thai be new chosin thairto; to the deyne of gild,
twa lyttis with himself; and to the thesawrer, twa lyttis with himself;
quhilks haill lyittis sall be of the ordoure and calling of merchants, as
said is.
Election of maiestrats.
Fowrtlie, to proceid to the electing and chesing of the said maiestrats
and office-men. Vpoun the Tyisday Tyisday nixt after Michaelmes yeirlie, thair sall
convene the saids threttie persouns of new and awld counsall, and with
thame the rest of the deykins of craftis quhilks ar nocht of the counsall
extending to awcht personis, the haill personis swa convenand extending to threttic-aucht personis, by the provests od vote, thairof twenty merchants and awchtein craftismen; quhilks personis sall begyn at the lytis
of the provest, and euerie ane in thair awin rank gif thair votes to sic as
thai fynd maist meit for the weill of the town, according to thair conscience
and knawlege, but feid or favour; and on quhome the greitest nomber of
votes sall fall, that he be sworne, resauet, and admittit provest for that
yeir; and swa to proceid throw the lytes of the baillies, dene of gild, and
thesawrer, quhill the said electioun be compleitlie, endet. The saids
prouest, baillies, dene of gild, thesawrer, and counsale, electit as said is,
makand in the haill twenty-fyve personis, thay onelie, and na vtheris,
sall haif the full governament and administratioun of the haill commounweill of this burgh in all things, as the provest, baillies, and counsale
thairof, or of ony vther burgh had of before, of may haif heirafter, be the
lawes or consuetude of this realme, infeftments and priveleges grantit to
this toun be our Souerane Lordis maist nobill progenitouris; exceptand
always thir cawssis following, in the quhilks the haill fourtene deykins of
of craftis sall be callit and adioynit with thame to gif thair speciall vote
and consultatioun thairinto, to witt, in electioun of the provest, bailyeis,
dene of gild and thesawrer, as said is; in setting of fewis, or ony maner
of taks, attoure the yeirlie rowping on Mairtymes evin; in gevin of benefices and vther offices in burgh, in granting of extents, contributiouns,
emprwnts, and siclyke; bigging of commoun warks; and in disponing of
the commoun guid abone the sowm of twenty pund togidder.
Wairning of the deykins and counsall.
Prouyding neuirtheles that the deykins nocht of the counsale or ony
of thame, beand personallie wairnit to that effect and absenting thameselffis, swa oft the last deykin or ony vther that wes in lyte with him
that yeir sall supplie thair rowme; and thai beand personallie wairnit,
and absent, the rest comperand sall haif power to proceid. Gif ony of the
provest, bailyeis, and counsall be absent, the rest quha ar present sall
cheise ane vther in thair rowme.
Conventiouns; Dene of Gild may conveyne his counsell.
And to avode all suspitioun that hes rissin in tymes past, throw the
particulare assemblies and conventiouns, and convocations, contrer to the
acts of parliament, and to the trubill of the quyett estaitt of this burgh,
it is agreit and concludit, that nather the merchants amang thameselffis, nather the craftis and thair deykins, or visitouris, sall haif or mak
ony particulare or generall conventiouns, as deykins with deykins, deykins with thair craftis, or craftis amang thameselffis, far les to mak privat
lawes or statutes poind and distreyngyie at thair awin handis for transgressiouns, by the avyse and consent of the provest, bailyeis, and counsale.
Exceptand alwayes, that the dene of gild may assembill his brether
and counsall, in thair gild cowrts, conforme to the ancient lawes of the
gildry and priveleges thairof; and that ony ane craft may convene togidder amang thameselffis for the chesing of thair deykin at the tyme
appoyntit thairto and in maner before expressit, making of masteris,
and tryell of thair handiewark allanerlie: And gif ony brether or deykins
of craftis sall find owt or devyse ony guid heids that may tend to the
weill of thair craft, thay sall propone the sam to the maiestrats quha sall
sett fordward ane act or statute thairvpoun and interpone their authority
thairto, as it bees fund reasonable.
Commissioners.
Item, as twicheing the commissioners in parliament, generall counsall,
and commissioneris in conventioun of burrowes, it is thocht guid be the
commonaris that in all tymes cuming the ane of the saids commissioneris
for the burgh of Edinburgh sall be chosin be the said provest and baillies furth of the number and calling of the craftismen, and that persoun
to be ane burges and gild brother of the burgh, of the best expert and
wise and of honest conversatioun.
Auditouris.
Item, it is agreit, that the auditouris of all the townis comptis sall
heirafter be chosin of equall number of merchants and craftismen, be the
provest, bailyeis, and counsall.
Auditouris.
Item, it is agreit, that the auditouris of all the townis comptis sall
heirafter be chosin of equall number of merchants and craftismen, be the
provest, bailyeis, and counsall.
Gildrie.
Item, toward the lang controuerseis for the gildrie, it is fynallie, with
commoun consent, appoyntit, agreit and concludet, that als weill craftismen
as merchants sall be resauet and admittit gild brether, and the ane nocht
to be refusit or secludet thair fra mair nor the vther, that being burgesses
of the burgh, als meit and qualefeit thairfore; and that gild brother to
haif libertie to vse merchandice. Thair admissioun and tryell of thair
qualeficatioun to be in the power and handis of the provest, bailyeis,
thesaurer, and counsall, with the dene of gild and his counsall, quhilk sall
consist in equall number of merchants and craftismen, gild brether, nocht
exceiding the number of sex persouns, by the dene of gild himselff;
and that na persoun, of quhat facultie soeuir he be, sall bruik the
benefice of ane gild brother, without he be resauet and admittit thairto
as said is.
Burgesses, Crafts; Extentis.
Item, that na maner of persoun be sufferit to vse merchandice or
occupy the handiewark of ane frie craft within this burgh, or yitt to exerce
the libertie and privelege of the said burgh, without he be burges and
frieman of the sam.
Item, becaus the merchants and craftismen of this burgh ar now to be
incorporat in ane societie, and to mak ane haill toun and ane commoun
weill, it is thocht expedient and concludit to abrogatt the former custome of devyiding and setting of extents, quhairin the merchants payet
foure pairts and the craftis the fyft pairt; and thairfore it is agreit that
as thai watche and waird togidder, swa in all extents, emprunts, contributiouns, and the lyke subsideis to be imposit vpoun the burgh, merchants
and craftismen to beir the burding and chairge thairof indifferentlie owerheid, according to thair habilitie and substance, throw the haill quarteris
of the toun, without diuisioun of the rollis in merchants and craftismen in
ony tyme cuming. The extentouris sall be of equall number of merchants
and craftismen, aucht personis of the ane calling and aucht personis of
the vther, to be electit, sworne, and resauit be the provest, bailyeis, and
counsale, owt of the maist discreit and skilfull of all the town, voyde of
all partiall affectioun and hatrand; and that na persoun vsand the tred
of merchant or craftisman, and occupeand the fredome of the burgh and
habill to pay ony extent, nocht beirand the office of provest or bailyeis in
the meanetyme, sall be ony wayis exemit fra the reall and actuall payment thair of.
Collectioun; Prenteissis; burgesschip, Collectoures.
Item, as the haill body of the towne, consistand of merchants and
craftismen, dois beir ane commoun burding of watcheing, wairding, extenting, and of the lyke publict chairges, haiffing ane commoun guid
proper to nane, swa neidfull it is for making ane equall vnitie and cheritabill concord, that thair be in the haill toun bot ane collectioun and ane
purse, nocht peculiar to any bot commoun to all, off the haill dewteis
and casualiteis callit the entres syluer of prenteissis, upsettis, owlkliepenneis, vnlawes and siclyke, to be collectit in all tyme cuming and
resauit baith of merchants and craftismen and put in ane commoun
purse; and to that effect the merchants to tak and haif prenteissis, als
weill as craftismen, and to be astrictit and oblist thairto, and na prenteissis alwayes to be resauit of ather of thame for schorter tyme nor the
space of fyve yeir compleitt. And for the better knawlege to be had
heirof, and for obseruing ane guid ordour in collectioun of the sam, that
thair be ane commoun buik maid and keipit be the commoun clerk of this
burgh present and to cum, quhairin the names of all prenteissis to merchants and craftismen, the name of their maister, day of thair entres, and
space of thair prenteischip, sall be insert and buiket, for the quhilk the
clark sall haif at thair buiking of ilk persoun sex penneis, and for the owtdrawcht twelf penneis; quhilk buik sall be to the prenteis ane sufficient
probatioun of his entres and ane chairge to the collectowris of the said
dewteis. Gif ony man be ane prenteis heirafter and nocht putt in the
said buik his prenteischip sall be to him of na effect. Alswa, be ressoun
euerie industrie is nocht of lyke valour and substance, it is declairit quhat
ilk rank or degrie of prenteissis sall pay, to witt, the merchant prenteis
and sic kynd of people as wer wont to extent with thame and ar nocht
vnder ane of the said fourtene craftis, to pay at his entrie the day of his
builking to the said collectioun thretty shillings, and at his vpsett or end
of his prenteisschip fyve pund. The prenteis to ane skynner, chirurgeane, goldsmyth, flescheour, cordiner, tailyeour, baxter, and hammerman,
at thair entrie and buiking to the said collectioun twenty schilling, and
for thair vpset fyve pund. The prenteis to ane masoun and wricht at
his entrie threttein schillings foure penneis, and at his vpsett thre pund
schilling aucht penneis. The prenteis to ane wobster, walker, bonet
maker, furrout, at his entrie ten schillings, and for his vpsett fiftie schillings. And thir dewteis to be taine by thair owklie-penneis, and dewteis
of thair burgeschips. And to caus all persouns to be mair willing to
enter thameselffis in prenteisschip with the burgesses and friemen of the
burgh, this privelege is grantit to the saids prenteissis that thai sall pay
ua mair for thair burgesschip to the dene of gild bot fyve punds by the
dewteis foirsaids. And in augmentatioun of the said collectioun, quhen
ony persouns sall happin to be maid burgessis of this burgh quha wes na
prenteis to ane merchant or craftisman, frie burges of the said burgh, or
hes nocht compleitt his prenteisschip, sall pay to the said collectioun at
his admissioun the doubill of the haill prenteis or entres syluer, vpsett
and buiking, by the dewtie payet to the dene of gild for his burgesschip
or gildrie, quhilk is twenty pounds for his burgesschip and fourtie pund
for his gildrie; the privelege alwayes of the bairnis of burgessis and gild
brether nocht beand preiugeit heirby, quha sall pay the awld and accustomat dewtie to the dene of gild allanerlie. Thir dewteis and collectiouns, or casualiteis of entres-syluer, vpsets, owlklie-penneis, vnlawes
and siclyke, to be resauet in all tymes cuming of all merchants and
craftismen indifferentlie, putt in the said commoun purse, and imployet
be the advyse and command of the provest, bailyeis and counsall, for
support and relief of the failyeit and decayet burgesses, merchants and
craftismen, thair wyffes, bairnis and awld seruands, and vther puir
indwellaris of the towne. The provest, bailyeis, counsall, and haill
deykins, euerie yeir after electioun of the maiestrats, sall cheise the
collectoures of the said dewteis and casualiteis of equall number of
merchants and craftismen, and to devyse and sett down sic guid
ordour as thai sall find meit and expedient for the perfyte and reddie
inbringing thairof. And last, the said collectouris sall mak yeirlie
compts of thair intromissioun thairwith at the tyme of making of
the townis compts, and sall find sufficient cawtioun at thair admissioun for compt, rekning, and payment. Item, It is ordanet that
baith the saidis pairteis, merchants and craftismen now present and
thair successoures sall inviolablie obserue, keip, and fulfill this present
apoyntment and decreitt arbitrall and euerie heid, clawse, and article
contenit thairin. Likeas, his Maiestie and the saidis Juges willis and
ordanis thame with willing bairts to put in obliuioun all bypast enormiteis, inbraice and interteine luif and amitie, and as thair ar of
ane citie, swa to be of ane mynd; then sall thai be acceptit of God,
stop the mowthis of thame quhilk tuik occasioun be thair diuisioun to
sclander the trewth, then sall thai be mair habill to do our Souerane
Lord acceptabill seruice and haif ane standing and florisching commounweill, and, fynallie, his Maiestie and the said juges will estem thair lang
travellis fruitfullie bestowet.
Certification of the sett.
Attowre, his Maiestie and the saidis juges ordanis the practize and
executioun of this present appoyntment and decreitt to be and begyn after
the day and daitt heirof, and to continew and be obseruit and keipit as
ane perepetuall law in tyme cuming; and quhasoeuir contravenis the samyn
sall be reput and haldin ane trubler of the quyett estaitt of the commoun
weill, incur the note of infamy, and foirfalt and tyne thair fredome for
euir; and vtherwayes to be persewit and pvnist as seditious personis,
conforme to the lawis of the realme, with all rigour and extremitie. And
ordanis thir presents to be ratefeit and approvit in his Highnes nixt parliament, and in the meynetyme the sam to be actit and registrat in the
buiks of counsall and sessioun and to haif the strength of acts and
decreitts of the lords thairof, and that thair authoritie be interponit thairto and letteres and executoriallis to pas thairvpon in forme as efferis. And
for acting and regestring of the samyn, makis and constituts maisteris
Jhonn Sherpe, Jhonn Prestoun, Thomas Craig, Jhonn Skene, owre procuratouris, coniunctlie and seuerallie, in vberiore forma; promittendo de
ruto. In witnes quhairof, the saidis juges and owrisman, togidder with
the saids commissioneris, in taikin of thair consents and acceptatioun of
the premissis, hes subscryuet thir presents with thair hands, as followes,
day, yeir and place foresaidis. Sic subscribitur: JAMES R. ROBERT FAIRLIE
of Braid, [etc.]
14 May 1583.
Electioun of the counsall of the craftis.
[The provost, bailies and council,] for obedience of the decreitt
abitrall gevin be the Kingis Maiestie and arbiteris specefeit thairin, betuix
the merchantis and craftismen, and for executioun of that pairt of the
sam bering that the counsall of the town, by the prouest, baillies, dene of
gild, and thesaurer, sall consist of ten merchantis and aucht craftismen,
thairof sex deykinis and twa vther craftismen, as at lenth is specifeit in
the said decreitt, nominat, votit, electit, and chuse Gilbert Primrose,
chirurgeane, deykin, Johnne Wat, deykin of the hammermen, William
Hoppringill, deykin of the tailyeouris, Edward Hairt, deykin of the goldsmythis, Edward Galbrayth, deykin of the skynneris, and Thomas Diksoun,
deykin of the furroures, to be of the counsall of this burgh quhill the tyme
of the new electioun appoyntit in the said decreitt and conform to the
sam in all poyntis, quhilk personis comperand acceptit the said offices and
gaif their aythis for lawfull administratioun thairof.
Precept, thesaurer, counsall buird.
In consideration that the number of the counsall is augmentit.
ordances Mungo Russell, theasurer, to caus inlairge the counsell buirdis
with formes and clayth efferand thairto.
25 May 1583.
Electioun of collectouris of the casualiteis.
[The bailies, council, and deacons of crafts] electit, nominat, and chuse
Edward Galbrayth, skynner, and James Merchell, merchant, collectouris
of the dewteis and casualiteis of the entres syluer, vpsett, owklie penneis,
and vnlawes, mentionat in the decreitt arbitrall gevin and pronuncet be the
Kings Majestie and certane arbiters betuix the merchants and craftismen
of this burgh, conform to the said decreitt in all poyntis, and this quhill
the tyme of the new electioun appoyntet to be at Michaelmes nixttocum.
Registering of decreit arbitrall.
The foresaid baillies, dene of gild, thesaurer, counsell, and deykins of
craftis, for thameselffis and haill body and community of the town, als
weill merchants as craftismen, makis, constitutes, and ordanes Mr. Jhonn
Scherp, Mr. Thomas Craig, Mr. Jhonn Prestoun, assessouris, and Mr. Jhonn
Skene, procuratour fiscall, or ony twa of thame, thair procuratouris to
compeir before the lords of sessioun and counsale quhatsumevir day or
dayes convenient, and thair in name of the prouest, baillies, and counsell
for the merchants, and of the said deykins of craftis for the haill craftis,
on the ane and vther pairts, to consent to the regestering of the decreit
arbitrall gevin be the Kings Majestie and arbitouris specifeit thairin
betuix the merchants and craftismen, in the buikis of counsale, interponing
of thair authority thairto with executioun to follow thairvpon in maner
specifeit in the said decreit.
Banist craftismen, Kinlos, commissioneris to the Kingis Grace.
29 May 1583.
[The bailies and council] directit maister Jhonn Prestoun, Jhonn
Robertsoun, and Jhonn Watt to pas to the Kingis Grace in Linlythqw
with ane lettre of the town, and to report his Maiesteis ansuer agane
anent the craftis childer quha ar banist, and anent the townis effairis
with the Abbott of Kinlos, gevand the saidis personis thair power and
commissioun heirto.
31 May 1583.
Precept, thesaurer, ministeris stipendis, chairge, collectour.
The foresaid prouest, baillies and counsall, with the haill deykins of
craftis, ordanis Mungo Russell, thesaurer, to pay to Jhonn Broun, collectour of the kik annuellis, the sowm of ane hundreth threttie pund ane
shilling ane penny ob., to be delyuerit to the ministeris for compleitting
of thair stipendis the yeir of the said Jhonns compt.
4 June 1583
Act for obedience of decreit arbitrall.; Gildrie.
The foresaidis baillies, counsall, and deykins of craftis, being of guid
will and mynd to obey and fulfill the sentence and decreitt arbitrall gevin
be our souerane lord the Kingis Maiestie and the juges arbitratouris
chosin betuix the merchants and craftismen of this burgh, after consideratioun of sic heidis and articles contenit in the said decreit as aucht
and suld be putt to present executioun without delay, hes devyset and
sett down for the better obedience of the sam the ordour following,
quhilk thai ordane and commands to be obseruit and keipit be the haill
inhabitants of the said burgh. First, anent the article of the gildrie, to
bring and reduce the said gildrie to the first institution thair of swa far
as may be after swa lang confusioun of all things and to mak distinctioun
betuix ane gild brother and vther singill burgessis quha or nocht callit to
that estaitt and honour within burgh, it is declairit, statute, and ordanet
that na maner of persouns bot thai that ar swa resauet and admittit in
the societie of the gild brether, top or sell in smallis any maner of wyne,
walx, wad, spycereis of all sortis, clayth of silk, gold, syluer, or ony forane
or owtlandis clayth of woll (exceptand alwayes thir claythis following, to
witt, lynning freis, kelt, Yorkschyre clayth, cairsayes, and all sort of
schrynking clayth quhilkis sall be commoun to all burgessis), dischairging
and inhibiting all persouns sempill burgessis and vtheris qubilk ar nocht
gild brether to tred, occupy, exchaynge, top, or sell in smallis fra this
day furth the wairis and merchandice before writtin (exceptand as said
is) vnder the payne of escheitt thairof, and that na gild brether vse the
tred of topping and selling in smallis of sic grof waires as efferis nocht
to the honestie of ane gild brother, bot specially of thir wairis following, to
wit, oylie, saip, butter, fruitt, fegs, raisins, plowmdames, eggis, fische, vinagar, or sicklyke, vnder the payne of fyve pund swa oft as thai failyie. And
for the better knawlege to be had of sic persouns as ar nather gild brether
nor burgessis and yit vsurpis the liberty and privileges of this burgh, it is
thocht guid, statute, and ordanet that the baillies be thair quarteris, with
the dene of gild and four of the counsell adioynet with thame, sall call
in before thame the haill inhabitants of this burgh to schaw and produce
thair tikketts of burgessschip and gildrie. and sic as ar nocht frie to be
discharget of all vsing of the liberteis of this burgh in tyme cuming
quhill thai be maid frie, vnder the payne of twenty pund swa oft as thai
failyie, and that thai fynd cawtioun heirvpoun.
Owlklie penneis.
Item, anent the article concerning the owlklie penneis, vnlawes,
vpsetts, entres syluer and siclyke, it is thocht guid, statute, and ordanet
that all gild brether vsand the tred thairof sall pay four penneis owlklie,
all burgessis vsand merchandice with the gild brether that vsis nocht the
tred of gildrie to pay owlklie twa penneis, and all craftismen levand be
thair handiewark allanerlie, and all vtheris of lawer calling to pay owlklie
ane penny; and thir owlklie penneis to be collectit, tayne, and vpliftet
quarterlie, begynnand the first quarter at Lambes nixt, and to be imployet
for sustening of the faillit and decayet burgessis and fremen, thair wyffis,
bairnis, seruands, and vther puir of the town, conform to the said
decreitt.
Anent the valawes of this burgh quhatsumeuir, it is thocht guid that
vpoun the counsall dayes, Wedinsday and Fryday, at counsale tyme, ilk
baillie, sall be his quarter gif in the names of sic persouns as he hes
vnlawet, the sowm of the vnlaw and caus thairof to be insert in ane
buik ordanet for that purpose, and according to the chairge of the said
buik sall delyuer to the collectour of the vnlawes other the vnlaw or
a sufficient poynd thairfore; and gif the baillies failyie, to pay the sam ot
thair awin purse.
Persons not burgessis.
Item. Becaus it is speciallie provydit in the said decreitt that nane
sall occupy the liberty of the burgh bot sic as ar frie burgessis, and vnderstanding that the greitt multitude of jurnaymen or taskmen of the craftis
ar na thing ellis bot idill vagabund persouns, bund to na maister,
trublers of the quyet estaitt of this commoun weill, polluting the sam
with all wikketnes, and beris na buriding with the towne bot ar verray
hurtfull to the honest nichtbouris burgessis and frie craftismen of the
sam; thairfore the saidis prouest, baillies, counsale, and deykins of craftis
commandis and chairges, in our Souerane Lords name and thairis, that
na sic persouns remayne within this burgh bot depesche thame selffis
furth thair of vnder the payne of pvneissing of thair bodeis as vagabunds
conform to the acts of parliament. Siclyke, it is statute that na maner
of persouns mareit or vnmareit quhilkis ar nocht frie burgessis occupy
ony craft within this burgh without thai be bund to ane maister as ane
feyit seruand for meitt and fie for yeir or half yeir quha sall ansuer for
him to the magestrats as law will, with certificatioun to the saidis persouns
and thai failyie thai sall be tayne and putt in wairde, thair to remayne
vpoun thair awin expenssis ay and quhill thai find cawtioun other to enter
thame selffis bund as said is to ane maister within xxiiij houris, or ellis to
desist and ceis and nocht to be fund within this toun vnder the payne foresaid and payment of ane pecuniar payne at the will of the magestrats.
Item, anent the prenteissis, it is statute and ordanit for the better
executioun of the said decreitt, that na persouns tak or resaue ony
prenteissis to be bund to thame without thai enter thair names in the
townis prenteis buik and pay the dewteis of ane prenteis, vnder the
payne of fyve pund to the maister resaver, and that sic prenteissis sall
nocht bruik the prevelege of ane prenteis in his burgesschip.
x Junij 1583. This act wes proclamet at the mercat croce be sound
of trumpett be Rychert Tyning, messinger; witnesses, Mr. Jhonn Scrogy,
George Kirkwod, Jhon Broun, Thomas Scheves.
7th June 1583.
Baillies, nichtbouris, absent fra the day of law
Ordanis the baillies to bring and produce before thame on Wedinsday
nixt the names of the nichtbouris with ane vnlaw of xviij s. of all thame
that wes absent and without airmour and awaittet nocht vpoun the
baillies on Wedinsday last at the day of law betuix the laird of Apillgorth
and Alexander Baillie of Littilgill, or ellis a sufficient pledge for the said
vnlawes, and that thai poynd with all diligence.
14 June 1583.
Tailyeour, burges gratis.
At the request of the Kingis Maiestie, grantes and admittis Phinlaw
Tailyeour, laquay to his Maiestie, burges of this burgh gratis, and ordanis
his name to be insert in the lokkit buik, and his aith of burges to be
resauet.
College.
[The bailies and council granted the receipt of 600 merks Scots, being redemption
price of an annual-rent of £40 Scots, which sum is "to be employet vpoun the
commoun wark of the erectioun of ane college in the Kirk of Feild."]
26 June 1583.
Election of Broun, collectour
[The provost, bailies, council and deacons of crafts, "maid and constitute,
electit and chuse Jhonn Brown, thair procuratour, factour and collectour, in thair
names, to collect, inbring, and resaue the haill rent pertening to the guid town
quhilk pertenit of before to the prebenderis of St. Geillis Kirk, Kirk of Feild, and
Freiris Predicatouris of this burgh, with the haill restis."]
28 June 1583.
Registring of the vnlawes, clerkis.
The foresaid prouest, baillies, and counsell and [deacons of crafts,] for
the better chairge to be maid and gevin to the collectoures of the vnlawes
at the making of thair compts, fyndes it necessar that ane register be
maid quhairin thai ordain their commoun clerk present and to cum to insert
all the vnlawes to be delyuerit to thame be the baillies and thair officiaris,
and becaus the regestring thairof and putting of the sam in guid ordour
will be verray tedious and paynfull, thairfore ordanis the said collectouris
to pay to the commoun clerk for his lawbouris foure penneis of ilk
vnlaw registrat and insert be him in the said buik.
Admissioun of friemen to craftis.
The foresaidis prouest, baillies and counsale, with avyse of the haill
deykins of craftis, for the better knawlege ta be had of all maner of
persouns admittet to any craft as frieman thairof, that he may pay his
vpsett to the collectouris appoyntet thairto, hes agreit, statute, and
ordanet that in all tymes cuming sen the gevin of the decreitt arbitrall
ilk deykin of craft bring and produce with him before the counsall all
persouns admittet friemen to their craft, gif vp thair names to be insert
in the commoun buik for payment of thair vpsett, and this to be done
the nixt counsell day after thair said admissioun, vnder the payne of payment of the vpsett be the deykins failyeing heirinto of thair awin
proper purse, with als mekill for thair vnlaw in brekking of this present
ordinance.
Extent of iijm merk.
The foresaids prouest, baillies, counsall and deykins of craftis, vnderstanding that in this last generall conventioun of the estaitts haldin at
Halyruidhous in Apryle last thair wes grantet to our Souerane Lord,
for payment of his Graces dettis and vther effairis, ane generall extent of
twenty thowsand pund to be tayne of the haill realme, and conform thairto
thai ar chairgeit be his graces lettres to extent thair nichtbouris for the sam
and for thair pairt of the kirkis thrids quhilk is deduceit in the kirks sowme,
as at lenth is contenit in the said lettres vnder the signet, and siclyke foreseying that the wark of the College at the Kirk of Feild new begwn is
habill to leif of and decay, and swa the gift of the erectioun thairof sall
expyre be vertew of the clause irritant contenit thairintill, without the
sam be supportet be the guid town by the sowmes gevin thairto; for the
quhilkis caussis, to witt for payment of thair pairt of the said extent and
support of the said wark, thay haif agreit and consentit that ane generall
extent of thrie thowsand markis be sett and vpliftet of the haill burgh
and inhabitants thairof, and that extentouris be chosin for setting of the
sam conform to the decreitt arbitrall gevin betuix the merchants and
craftismen of the said burgh.
Compositio, Ker, chairge, collectouris.
Anent ane kirk annuell of ane merk pertening to the guid town, and
sumtyme to the prebenderis of the alter callit Iconii Saluatoris in Sanct
Geills Kirk, to be vpliftet furth of the landis in the Kowgaitt of vmquhill
Dauid Hereot, baxter, now pertening to Robert Ker, younger, componit
and agreit with the said Robert that he sall pay to the collectour the
sowm of four merk in full contentatioun of the haill byruns thairof, and
to mak thankfull payment in tyme cuming.
Commissio. Nicoll, Wilky.
Names and constitutis James Nicoll, merchant, and Jhonn Wilky.
skynner, thair commissioners to pas to the Kings Grace in Sanct Androis
and gif ansuer to his Maiestie anent the lettre sent to the town desyring
thame to be cawtioners for fulfilling of his Maiesties pairt of the contract
to be maid with ane Ewstachius Rogh, mynour, anent the setting of the
mynis.