A. D. 1209. 375 



1 209 — The great number of Englifh inliabkraits in the burghs of 

 Scotland, has ah^eady been noticed, and alfo the probability that their 

 comparatively-greater proficiency in manufactures, was the caufe of their 

 being invited and encouraged to fettle in them. That the burghs had 

 now made fome confiderable progrefs in manufaclures and trade, and 

 confequently in opulence, is evident from their contribution of fix thou- 

 fand marks *, to the fum of fifteen thoudind, given by William king 

 of Scotland, together with a refignation of his claim upon the counties 

 of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Weflmereland, as a portion with 

 his two daughters, contracted to the two fons of John king of England f, 

 when the nobles (or landed men) paid ten thoufand, and the clergy no- 

 thing. \_Fa;dera, V. i, p. 155 — Scotichron. V. i, p. 52, ed. Goodnll.^ It 

 may be prefumed, that the Scottifh burghs bore their fliares in like 

 manner in the two payments made by William to Richard I. 



1210 — Perth, which maybe confidered as the capital of Scotland, 

 was before this time called a king's burgh, and was now favoured with 

 a charter by King WiUiam, prohibiting (according to the contraded 

 policy of the age) all merchant-ftrangers from carrying goods to any 

 part of the fhire of Pertli but the burgh, where they were obliged to 

 fell them by wholefale, and to lay out the proceeds in the commodities 

 of the country ; only between Afcenfion day and Lammas ftrangers 

 were allowed to fell cloth by retail in the market, and alfo to buy cloth 

 or other goods. It alfo grants to all the burgeffes of Perth, except weav- 

 ers and fullers, the privilege of being gild-brethren ; and they alone 

 are authorized to manufadure dyed or {horn cloth in Perth, and no- 

 where elfe in the fhire. But thofe who formerly had a charter for manu- 

 faduring, are not bound by this reflridion X- 



* As the only ufe of money is to enable us to Geo. Ill, c. 102, § 11 : but it has varied in the 



obtain what we want, it is evident that the only courfe of ages. 



rule for eftimating the real value of any fum, is to f The terms of the conttaft can never be com- 



compare it with the quantity of neccifary articles pletely or accurately known, unlefs the copy of it, 



which it can purchafe. Tried by this ftandard, fent to the pope by Alexander II, the fon of Wil- 



the value of fums mentioned in hillory, which found \\?Lm, \_FisJtra, K i, /. 235] Ihall be brought to 



very trifling in modern ears, will olten be found light. But they are partly to be found in a fub- 



very gieat. The prices of corn in Scotland, dur- fequent agreement of Henry III kiiigol England, 



ing the reign of William, are not known, but in and Alexander II king of Scotland, ^FaJera, V. 



that of his grandfon Ale)fander ill, 6,000 marks i, />. 375, or RyUy Viae. pari. p. 1613 and by the 



(or 4,coo pounds of fih ei) would purchafe charge made by Henry III againft Hubert earl 



240,000 bolls of oats at 44/, the higheil price ; of Kent. [ jl/. Paris, Addit. p. 152.] In failure 



or 60,000 bollsofwheatati6i/,theordinary price; of fulfillmeut of the contraft the money was to 



or 48,coc bolls of wheat at zod, thehigheft price ; have been returned 5 but Henry III was continual- 



[IFyntouiii's Oiygynale Cronyhil of Scodand, V, i, p. ly poor; and Alexander was put off with lands in 



4C0.] Soon after the death of Alexander, corn Northumberland, Cumberland, and Wellnif reland, 



was Itill cheaper in England, efpecially in the weft of the trilling value of /200 a-year. [Fadera, V, 



and north parts, the price of wheat being from %d i, pp. 375, 400.] 



to i6j/the quarter. \_Triveii Annates, p. 266. — j The charter here referred to was apparently 



Sioius yinnales, p. 7^\2, ed. 1600.] The Scottifli given by King David to Englifh, and perhaps 



llaiidard boll is at prefent equal to fix Englifh Flemifli, raanufaflurers : and thus we may account 



llandard bufliels, as fixed by atl of parliament, 37 for the exception of weavers and fullers, who may 



havr 



