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Act in favour of the hatmakers of Edinburgh

Our sovereign lord and estates of parliament, considering that it has pleased God, by the virtue and industry of diverse skilful hatmakers within these few years within this burgh of Edinburgh, to bring that trade and calling to a greater perfection and more considerable than it has been in any year bygone, whereby the same has so flourished and grown to a greater number of workmen than has been in preceding ages, and for the maintaining thereof and giving occasion to workmen to strive daily to a greater degree of perfection in the said calling of hatmaking, and for eschewing the great hinderance and prejudice which may follow by the growth of unskilful people therein by the occasion of lack of good government among them, therefore his majesty and estates of parliament, for the further advancing of that calling and trade within Edinburgh and whole kingdom, and for the reformation of disorders therein, the better serving of the lieges of the realm and bringing of the said trade to a greater perfection, give and grant full power and liberty and privilege to the said hatmakers of an overseer and quartermaster yearly of their own calling to be elected, nominated, chosen and given to them by the provost, bailies and council of the said burgh of Edinburgh.