[1587/7/21]¹

Commission toward the establishing of a universal met, measure and weight

²Our sovereign lord and three estates convened in this present parliament, moved by the general complaint of all his loving and good subjects, but specially the poor farmers and labourers of the ground, give, grant and commit full power and commission of parliament to his trusty and well beloved councillors and others after-specified: they are to say, Master David MacGill of Nisbet [and Cranstoun-Riddel], his highness's advocate, Master David Carnegie of Colluthie, Robert Fairlie of Braid, Sir Archibald Napier of Edinbellie, knight, general of his highness's coin-house, John Arnott [of Birswick], commissioner of Edinburgh, William Fleming, commissioner of Perth, Robert Forrester [of Boquhan], provost and commissioner of Stirling, and Hugh Campbell [of Loudoun], provost and commissioner of Irvine, or any seven, six or five of them jointly, the said lord advocate being one, to convene in his lodging within the burgh of Edinburgh as often as they shall think expedient between now and 31 August 1587, and after sight and consideration of the laws and acts of parliament made concerning mets, measures and weights in time past, and grounds whereon they have proceeded, having regard to equity and indifference, to set, make and establish a met, measure and weight which shall be common and universal amongst all our sovereign lord's lieges, to buy, sell, receive and give out, and to present the same to his highness and his privy council between now and 1 November 1587, that the same may be notified to all our sovereign lord's lieges with all convenient speed and diligence thereafter as the said commissioners will answer to his highness upon their obedience; and that letters be directed to charge and compel hereto, if need be, in the appropriate form.