[1581/10/76]¹

Ratification and confirmation of the fair of Dalkeith

Our sovereign lord and three estates of this present parliament, understanding that the market day of the town and burgh of Dalkeith has been held weekly in times bygone, past memory of man, on the Sunday, which is the Sabbath day, and now because of the reformation of the religion the people resorting thereto stops greatly the hearing of the word of God, therefore, our said sovereign lord, with advice aforesaid, has altered and changed the said market day of the said town and burgh of Dalkeith from the Sunday to be held weekly in time coming on the Thursday, and for supporting of the said town and inhabitants thereof, have affixed, assigned and granted a fair yearly to be held in the said burgh on 10 October in all times coming, with all freedoms, privileges and commodities likewise and as freely as any fair day is granted to any burgh of barony within this realm; and also decrees and declares that it shall be lawful to all our sovereign lord's lieges repairing and resorting to the House of Muir with sheep, cattle or other goods on Thursday, to bring the goods that shall remain unsold the said day thereafter on Friday to the said burgh of Dalkeith, there to be sold for furnishing of our sovereign lord's lieges, in respect of our sovereign lord's lieges own repairing and resorting thereat; and ordains letters of publication to be directed hereupon in the appropriate form.