[A1608/5/3]¹

Procedure: commission

Regarding boots and shoes

Forasmuch as the estates of this kingdom convened in the month of June 1605, having considered the great and extraordinary dearth and prices raised upon the boots and shoes through all parts of this country, to the great hurt and prejudice of all estates of persons, for remedy whereof they gave commission to the magistrates of each burgh, and to one or two gentlemen of the shire who should be adjoined to the said magistrates by the lords of privy council, to take trial yearly of the prices of all rough hides and of the difference of the price between the rough hides and the tanned hides, and so keeping the ground of the said difference proportionally, to set down reasonable prices upon the boots and shoes, with penalties upon the shoemakers who shall contravene, raise or heighten the said price, as an act of the said estates made thereupon at length bears; which act has not as yet taken effect nor execution in any part of this kingdom, the magistrates within burgh pretending excuses that the gentlemen of the shires were not adjoined to them according to the tenor of the said act; for remedy whereof in time coming and that this shameful abuse used by the shoemakers may be removed, the estates presently convened have adjoined and by the tenor hereof adjoin the barons and gentlemen underwritten to the magistrates of the burghs following for putting of the said act to execution, they are to say: John Napier of Merchiston and James Foulis, apparent heir of Colinton, for the burgh of Edinburgh, Sir William Seton of Kylesmure, Master Patrick Hepburn of Smeaton and [...] Livingstone of Saltcoats for the burgh of Haddington, [...] Dundas of that Ilk and Sir John Bruce of Kincavel for the burgh of Linlithgow, Sir Archibald Stirling of Keir, David Rollock of Powis and [...] Muschett of that Ilk for the burgh of Stirling, Sir Matthew Stewart of Minto and [...] Stewart of Castlemilk for the city of Glasgow, Sir John Wallace of Carnell and [...] Campbell of Cessnock for the burgh of Ayr, [...] Blair of that Ilk and [...] Mowat of Busbie for the burgh of Irvine, [...] Semple of Fulwood and Aulay MacAulay of Ardencaple for the burgh of Dumbarton, [...] Clapen of Carslogie and Robert Arnott of Newton for the burgh of Cupar in Fife, John Wemyss, chamberlain of St Andrews, and Andrew Wood of Strathuthy for the city of St Andrews, [...] Graham of Claverhouse and James Durham of Pittarrow for the burgh of Dundee, Archibald Dundas of Fingask and Master John Moncrieff, sheriff depute of Perth, for the burgh of Perth, [...] Forbes of Tolquhon and [...] of Auchinhuive for the burgh of Aberdeen, [...] Ogilvie of Carnousie and James Ogilvie of Blerak for the burgh of Banff, Nicolas Dunbar of Bogs and John Innes of Leuchars for the burgh of Elgin, David Ross of Holme and Rory MacKenzie of Ardafailzie for the burgh of Inverness, [...] Douglas of Bonjedburgh and [...] Rutherford of Hundelie for the burgh of Jedburgh, Sir John Charteris of Amisfield and [...] Murray of Cockpool for the burgh of Dumfries, William MacLellan of Auchlean and [...] MacLellan of Nunton for the burgh of Kirkcudbright, [...] Lockhart of Lee and [...] Bannatyne of Corhouse for the burgh of Lanark, to the which barons and gentlemen and to the magistrates of the particular burghs whom with they are adjoined as said is, the estates presently convened give power and commission, express charge and direction to convene twice every year within the said burghs in the months of June and November and about the midst of the said months and to take trial of the prices of the rough hides and of the difference of the price between the rough and tanned hides, and so keeping the ground of the said difference proportionally, to set down reasonable prices upon the boots and shoes, with penalties upon the shoemakers who shall contravene, raise or heighten the said prices; and that the said commissioners be careful and diligent to see this act receive full effect and execution according to the tenor thereof in all points.