'..VO A. jD, i 2t>-2. 



cc. 22, 37, 44, Herrings and other fifli, corn, beans, peas, fait, and 

 coals *, were ordered to be fold ' at the bray' alongfide of the veflei 

 bringing them, and nowhere elfe : and they were nor to be carried on- 

 fhore when the fun was down. Any burgefs, who was prefent at a pur- 

 chafe of herrings, might claim a portion of them for his own confump- 

 tion at the original coft. 



c. 27, Brokers were eleded by the communi; y of the to\vn, and their 

 names regiftered. They paid annually a tun (' dolium') of wine for 

 their licence. 



c. 28, No regrator was allowed to buy fifli, hay, oais, cheefe, butter, or 

 other articles, brought into the town for fale, till the bell rang. 

 cc. 29, 41 , No merchandize was allowed to be fold anywhere but in the 

 common mai-ket, where they were to pay toll, 



c. ^7,, The government of the town was declared to be by a mayor, 

 four provofts (' prsepofitis'), and twenty-four counfelors. 



The court of the Four burghs in Scotland confifted of reprefentatives 

 from Berwick, Edinburgh, Rokfburgh, and Striveline (or Stirling), 

 whofe province it was to judge of all matters concerning commerce, 

 and the conftitutions and cuftoms of the burghs ; fo that it was a board 

 of trade and police f. 



The Chaviherlaiy! s court in Scotland appears to have alfo had a jurif- 

 diction over the burghs, and the infpeftion and regulation of many mat- 

 ters coniiected with the trade and general police of the kingdom. The 

 chamberlain made periodical progrefles through the whole country, and 

 carried with him ftandard weights and meafures, in order to prove thofe 

 kept by the magiftrates of the towns ; and it was his duty to prevent 

 thofe, who took up goods for the king's ufe at the king's price (which 

 thus appears to have been under the fair market price) from taking 

 more than was wanted for the king in order to get a profit to them- 

 felves, and alio from defrauding the merchants of their due payment. 

 From ihe regulations of this court we learn, that infpedtors were ap- 

 pointed to examine, and certify by their feal of office, the quality and 

 quantity of cloth, bread, and calks containing liquors ; that other offi- 

 cers, called troners, had the infpedion of wool ; that the falmon filhery 

 was carefully regulated, and filhing during the night, or while the fal- 

 mon were not in feafon, was prohibited, &c. :f: 



• This 13 the carlieft mention of the uTe of coals of the Slaiuta gthU and Iter camcraiii, as piiblidicd 



ill Scotland ; but, as they were carried to Berwick by vSkeiic along with the Rrgiam majcfiulcm. The 



by water, it is uncertain, whether they were dug origin of the court of the four buiglis and of the 



in England or Scotland. chambeilain's court cannot be difcoveied. We 



\ In the year 136.S Lanerk and Linlithgow find them cllabliflied before the year 1291: \_Ry- 

 were fubllituted for Berwick and Rokfburgh, then lefs Placifn pur!, pp. 147-15 1 ] and, as we may be 

 in the hands of the Engli(h ; and Hadington, pretty well alFurcd, that they could not originate 

 though not one of the four burghs, was appointed during the eonvulfions, which diflrafted the king- 

 to be their place of meeting. [Shni; /. 15+ a.] dom after tiie death of Alexander III, we may 

 Sec below under tlie year 1466. prcfume, tli;it they are at kail as old as tlie reign 



J The particulars of the commercial and muni- of that king. 



cipal police of Seotl.iiid are given upon the faith , 



