V.-Act of THE DEACON CONVENERS HOUSE OF GLASGOW IN FAVOUR OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE Cordoners ther, AND RATIFICATION THEREOF BY THE PROVOST, BAILIES, AND COUNCIL OF GLASGOW.

(Revised with Original by James D. Marwick, LL.D., Town-Clerk, Glasgow, January, 1881.)

AT Glasgow The thirty day of September jm vjc nyntie Three years (30th Sept., 1693) The Whilk day The Provost Baillies and Council of the said Burgh being conveened Anent ane Act of Recommendation made and granted be the Deacon Conveener, Deacons and Remanent Members of the Deacon Conveeners house of the said Burgh in favours of Andrew Mainie present Deacon of the Cordoners of the samen Burgh and Remanent Members of the said Incorporation for themselves and in name and behalf of the Poor thereof; of the Whilk Act the Tenor follows At the Crafts Hospital of Glasgow the last day of Jun jm vjc nyntie and three yeares. The Whilk day the Deacon Conveener, Deacones and remanent members of the Deacon Conveeners house of the said Burgh being conveened Anent the Petition given into them bye Andrew Mainie present Deacon of the Cordoners of the samen burgh and remanent members of the said Incorporation for themselves and in name and behalfe of the poor thereof Makeand Mention That where be Contract past and perfyted betwixt the said Incorporation of Cordoners of Glasgow and the Cordoners in Gorballs dated the Eightein of day December jm vjc sixtie eight yeares Containing severali heads articles and clauses thereintill And particularie the said Incorporation of the Cordiners of Glasgow Grants only Libertie be the said Contract to the saids Cordoners and Shoemakers in Gorballis To stand in the mercat of Glasgow vpon the mercat day for selling of their shoes and vthers thereontill for payment be ilk ane of them of the soume of Eighteen shillings scots yearlie for their mercat dewes Yet notwithstanding therof the saids Cordoners and Shoemakers in Gorballs and there servants contrare to the said Contract and Liberties of the said calling And several other Cordoners strangers living about this Burgh comes into the samen Not only upon the mercat day Bot also vpon other dayes and tackes

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measures of the Burgesses and Inhabitants feet and makes shoes and other work to them Wherethrow the said Incorporation of Cordoners of Glasgow are heavily wronged and prejudged be the encroachment of the Cordoners in Gorballis Express contrare to the words and meaning of the said Contract and custome of the rest of the Incorporationes of the crafts of Glasgow And will terminat to the ruine of their Trade and occasion many debates not only amongst themselves Bot also betwixt them and strangers. Craveand therefore the said Deacon Conveener Deacones and remanent members of the said Deacon Conveeners house to consider the premissis And if they should find the desire of the said petition reasonable To Represent the samen to the Proveist Baillies and Toune Counsell of the said Burgh That they may Discharge the saids Cordoners and Shoemakers in Gorballs and all other Cordoners vnfreemen and strangers and their servands in all tyme hereafter from comeing in to this Burgh on any day whatsomever and tackeing measures of any persones feet within the samen for makeing of shoes boots slippers or other Cordoner work to them or bring in the samen to the imployers That they may try the sufficiencie or insufficiencie of the work and to pryce the same accordinglie (And when they are not pleased with the work and pryce thereof they returne the samen back to the makers Whilk is the same Libertie the Cordoners of Glasgow have themselves) Except upon the mercat day To be presented and sold in the publict mercat and sighted there before they be sold or taken into any houses as to the sufficiencie of the work To be tryed be the Deacon of the said Incorporation of Cordoners of Glasgow and his Masters conforme to use and wont That the Leidges may not be prejudged vnder such paines and penalties as the said Deacon Conveener, Deacones and members foresaid should think fit As the said Petition beares Whilk being tacken to the said Deacon Conveener Deacones and remanent members foresaid their consideration And after mature advyce and deliberation had be them thereanent They find the desire thereof most just and reasonable And that the Cordoners in Gorballs and all other Cordoners vnfreemen and strangers Be obleidged to performe what is desired be the said Petition And they Discharged to doe any thing to the contrare therof in tyme comeing vnder the paine of fyve

punds scots money To be exacted aff the Cordoners in Gorballs and all other Cordoners vnfreemen and strangers their servants or any of them toties quoties they shall happine to contraveen the premissis in any tyme comeing And that it shall be Lawfull and in the power of the said Deacon of Cordoners and his masters and their successors in all tyme hereafter To seize vpon all work brought into this Burgh Except upon the mercat day as said is contrare to this present act To be applyed for the use of the Poor of the Cordoners of Glasgow And Recommends to the Proveist Baillies and Counsell of this Burgh Not only to Ratifie the said Contract past betwixt the Cordoners of this Burgh and Gorballs Bot also thir presents in the haill heads articles and clauses thereof vnder the penaltie above-written; as the said act bears. Which Act and Recommendation and desire thereof being read in presence of the said Magistrates and Council was by their Act Dated the Twenty-eighth day of september instant Recommended to John Anderson Late Provost, John Waddrop Baillie The Dean of Guild, and Deacon Conveener to be considered be them, and to give their opinion thereof to the said Magistrates and Council at their next Meeting. And Whilk persons forsaid having accordingly met and considered the said Act, They be their Report Declare they Find the Desire thereof Just and Reasonable. Whilk Act and Recommendation with the said Report Being tacken to the said Provost Baillies and Council Their Consideration and after Mature Advyce and Deliberation had be them thereanent They for them and their successors in Office have given and Granted and hereby gives and Grants To and in favours of the said Incorporation of the Cordoners of Glasgow what is desired thereby and not only Ratifies the foresaid Contract of Agreement Betwixt the Cordoners of Glasgow and Gorbels in manner foresaid and act of the Deacon Conveeners house above mentioned in the haill heads articles and clauses thereof. But also ordains the samein to take Effect and be put in all Due Execution in Time coming against the Controveeners thereof conform to the Tenor of the samein in all poynts under the pain of five pund Scots alse oft as they shall be apprehended contraveening the premisis or any part thereof By and Attour the Apprehending the work frae these who shall happen to contraveen and confiscation of the samein for the use of the Poor of the said Cordoners in Glasgow. But

prejudice to the Burgesses Inhabitants of this Burgh to goe to the Gorbels that the Cordeners thereof may take their measure for making any shoemaker work for themselves and bring in the samein when made Be themselves or Servants upon any Day of the week they please Except sundayes and ordaines the Clerk to give out Extracts hereof.

Extractum &c., Sic Subscribitur.

VI.-LETTER OF GUILDRY.

G. ANDERSON.

AT the burgh and city of Glasgow, the 6th February, 1605 years. Forasmuch as the whole inhabitants within this burgh and city of Glasgow, burgesses and freemen thereof, as well merchants as craftsmen, having duly considered and deeply weighed the great hurt, interest, damage, loss, and skaith, which their haill commonweil, these many years by-gone, have sustained, by strangers and unfreemen using and usurping the privileges and ancient liberties of this burgh, as freely as the freemen and burgesses, indwellers within the same; and partly, by some mutual contraversies, and civil discords, arising amongst the said freemen and burgesses, anent their privileges, places, ranks, and prerogatives; by the which occasions, not only their trade, traffic, and handling, has been usurped by strangers and unfreemen, as said is, to the great depauperating of the haill inhabitants within this town; but also, all policy and care of the liberties of this burgh has been overseen and neglected, to the great shame and derogation of the honour of this burgh, being one of the most renowned cities within this realm; and having found the only causes thereof to be for the want of the solid and settled order amongst themselves. Therefore, and for remead thereof in time coming, and for conforming of themselves, the said burgh and city, to other well reformed burghs within this realm, and for the common-weil and particular profit of the haill inhabitants thereof, in their own ranks, and posterity, in all time coming; and especially to the advancing of God's glory, and better ability to serve our sovereign lord, the King's Majesty, and for settling of peace, concord, and amity, among themselves, as faithful

Christians, and loving citizens; and their assistants of both the ranks, and whole body of this town, after many meetings and conventions, long disputation and reasoning, concerning their quietness and standing thereof, having nominate and chosen, now, William Anderson and Thomas Mure, baillies; Matthew Turnbull, Robert Adam, and James Bell, John Dickson, William Stirling, Archibald Faulls, James Inglis, James Fleming, George Muir, and Thomas Brown, for the haill merchant rank, and their assistants; John Anderson, bailie, Robert Rowat, Mr. Peter Low, Duncan Semple, James Braidwood, John Scott, deacon, John Muir, skippir, Mr. Robert Hamilton, William Muir, flesher, and James Fisher, maltman, for the haill craftsmen and their assistants; and the right honourable Sir George Elphinstone, of Blythswood, knight, provost, Mr. David Weems, Parson of Glasgow, Mr. John Bell and Mr. Robert Scott, ministers thereof, as oversmen and oddsmen, mutually chosen, betwixt the said merchants and crafts, in case of variance; the saids persons having accepted the said matter in and upon them, being several times conveened to treat and reason upon the said matters, concerning the common-weil of the said burgh, after long reasoning had thereintill, for the better advancement of the said common-weil, and settling any controversies that may fall out thereafter, betwixt any of the saids ranks of merchants and craftsmen, and their assistants and successors, and the better enlarging of both their liberties, freedoms, and privileges, whereby they may live, in time coming, in the fear of God, obedience to His Majesty, and in good love, peace, amity, and concord, among themselves, so as both states may flourish afterwards.

After great pains, long travelling, and mature deliberation, heard, seen, and considered, and ripely advised, by both the states of the saids merchants and craftsmen, and their assistants, has concluded, that there shall be, in all time coming, a dean of gild, and a deacon conveener, with one visitor of the maltmen, whose elections, statutes, and privileges, as follows:

Ist, That the dean of gild shall be always a merchant, and a merchant sailor, and a merchant venturer, and of the rank of a merchant, and shall be chosen yearly by provost, baillies, council, and deacons of this burgh in time coming, and that fifteen days