[1581/10/38]¹

Aganis superfluus banquetting and the inordinat use of confectouris and droggis

²Oure soverane lord and his thre estatis convenit in this present parliament, understanding the greit exces and superfluitie usit in brydellis and utheris banquettis amang the meane subjectis of this realme, alsweill within burgh as to landwert, to the inordinat consumptioun not onlie of sic stuff as growis within the realme, bot alswa of droggis, confectouris and spiceis brocht from the pairtes beyond sey and sauld at deir pryces to monie folk that ar verie unabill to sustene that coist; for stanching of the quhilk abuse and disorder, it is statute and ordanit be oure soverane, with advise of his saidis thre estatis, that na maner of personis, his subjectis, being under the degree of prelatis, erlis, lordis, baronis, landit gentilmen or utheris that³ worth and may spend in yeirlie fre rent twa thousand markis money or fiftie chalderris victuale, all chargeis deducit, sall presume to have at thair brydellis or uthir banquettis, or at thair tabillis in dalie cheir, onie droggis or confectouris brocht from the pairtis beyound sey, and that na banquettis salbe at onie upsittingis eftir babtizing of bairnis in time cuming, under the pane of twentie pund to be payit be everie persone doar in the contrair, alsweill of the maister of the hous quhair the effect of this act is contravenit, as of all uthir personis that salbe fund or tryit partakeris of sic superfluus banquetting and escheting of the droggis and confectouris apprehendit, for quhilk the provest and bailleis within burgh and the schireffis, stewartis, bailleis, lordis of regaliteis and thair bailleis to landwert sall appoint seircheouris, to quhilkis seircheouris oppin durris salbe maid of quhatsumever hous thai cum to serche, under the panis to be estemit culpable in the transgression of this act gif they refuis; and the offendaris being apprehendit, to be takin and haldin in waird quhill thei have pait the saidis pecuniall panes, to be employit the ane half to the behuif of the ordinar officiaris and sercheouris, and the uthir half to the puir of the perrochin.