[1581/10/38]¹

Against superfluous banqueting and the inordinate use of confections and sweetmeats

²Our sovereign lord and his three estates convened in this present parliament, understanding the great excess and superfluity used in bridles and other banquets among the mean subjects of this realm, as well within burgh as to landward, to the inordinate consumption not only of such stuff as grows within the realm, but also of sweetmeats, confections and spices brought from the parts beyond sea and sold at dear prices to many folk that are very unable to sustain that cost; for staunching of the which abuse and disorder, it is statute and ordained by our sovereign, with advice of his said three estates, that no manner of persons, his subjects, being under the degree of prelates, earls, lords, barons, landed gentlemen or others that [are]³ worth and may spend in yearly free rent 2,000 merks money or 50 chalders of victual, all charges deducted, shall presume to have at their bridles or other banquets, or at their tables in daily cheer, any sweetmeats or confections brought from the parts beyond sea, and that no banquets shall be at any upsittings after baptising of bairns in time coming, under the pain of £20 to be paid by every person doer in the contrary, as well of the master of the house where the effect of this act is contravened, as of all other persons that shall be found or tried partakers of such superfluous banqueting and escheating of the sweetmeats and confections apprehended, for which the provost and bailies within burgh and the sheriffs, stewarts, bailies, lords of regalities and their bailies to landward shall appoint searchers, to which searchers open doors shall be made of whatsoever house they come to search, under the pains to be esteemed culpable in the transgression of this act if they refuse; and the offenders being apprehended, to be taken and held in ward until they have paid the said pecuniary pains, to be employed the one half to the benefit of the ordinary officers and searchers and the other half to the poor of the parish.