Charter given by Mary Queen of Scots 16th April
1556
From the Registers of the Great Seal and Privy council
A Copy of this is to be found in the Convener’s Book
1695 - 1827
Letter of Craftsmen
Mary by the grace of God to all and each of our leiges & subjects to whom these
Letters patent shall come, Greeting.
Be it known that We, understanding that our most noble ancestors, Kings of Scotland,
having consideration and respect to the state and policy of our Kingdom, and that without
honest Craftsmen, a well ordered Republic cannot long Subsist: On that account therefore,
they Gave or Granted many and diverse privileges & immunities to the craftsmen of the
Burghs and Cities of our Kingdom. Viz. That they should especially make choice both of skilful
persons as inspectors of their own Crafts and deacons for visiting & examining all the Crafts,
that no extortion in the Leiges of our Kingdom, might be drawn into precedent, but that each
Craftsman, should work & labour diligently each in his own Craft without fraud or decit
cunning or over reaching – And that they Should appoint certain Statutes, fines &
punishments and more over by the same execution demand against delinquents in their own
Crafts, such things as were agreeable & consonant to reason & equity, & that person
wronged by tradesmen of this description, should be indemnified at their Cost. Besides they
granted to honest Craftsmen who must be free Burgesses of the Burghs, privileges and
powers, to navigate and use Merchandise, in the same manner as other Merchants of our
Kingdom are wont to do, with Sundry other privileges, rights and habilitees, Granted to them
under the great Seals of our most noble progenitors, seen & considered by us by which
however in virtue of an Act of Parliament held in the last Month of June, in the year by gone,
for certain causes expressed and agitated in the same parliament, an ordinance of reduction
existed, that no Deacon from that time should be chosen within the burgh, but that the
Provost and Bailies & Council should make choice of Craftsmen, the most upright and best
skilled in their own Craft, and that these persons should be called visiters, each of his own
Craft, that they might be chosen at the Festival of St Michael yearly, and that no Craftsman
should bear office within the Burgh in future, excepting two to be chosen yearly in the Council
of the Burgh with diverse other restrictions. As more fully contained in said act of Parliament –
And we receive nothing of the Causes and reasons which led to said Act of Parliament to be
carried into effect.
We repone them to use and to have Deacons of their Crafts who shall have suffrages
and votes, in electing the office bearers of the Burgh, and shall use and exercise the same
right, providing they shall be found habite and fit for that purpose, and shall audite accompts
of the common good and shall be part of the same Auditors and shall convene and make
lawful Statutes and Ordinances respecting their own Crafts, for the Maintenance of the divine
law at their Alters, And they shall navigate and use Merchandise of every kind within and
without our Kingdom, as shall seem most convenient for them, And with all sundry priviliges,
abilities rights and usages, granted & bestowed upon them by us and our Most Noble
progenitors as used and possessed by them in times past, notwithstanding the said act of
Parliament and the penalties whatsomever contained in the same, and the same we dispense
with by these Letters patent – Moreover by these presents, we ratify and confirm all the
priviliges, liberties, and abilities, given and granted by us & our most renowned projenitors, to
the Craftsmen in times past, to be used & exercised with the same vigis and effect in future as
they formerly enjoyed without any change – Wherefore We order & command all & sundry our
Leiges & subjects formerly mentioned, that neither you nor any of you throw any obstacle or
impediment in the way of the said Craftsmen, in the enjoyment possession & use of the
priviliges liberties & abilities before written, and that ye presume not to do so in future,
notwithstanding the Acts the Statutes commands or proclamations, whatsoever made or to be
made to the contrary, or any penalties contained in the same. Which they or any of them
might incurr or committ against her Majesty on that behalf –
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The above Charter of Queen Mary to the Trades of Scotland is dated at Stirling the
16th April 1556. And the Parchment copy is lodged in the Box belonging to the General fund of
the Nine Trades of Dundee.
Translated from the original by the Revd Dr Peters, Dundee years 1873
Letter of the Craftsmen of the Kingdom of Scotland
1st March 1564
Mary by the grace of God Queen of Scotland, to all her faithful subjects to whom
these Presents shall come with wisheth health. Be it known, that forasmuch as we understand
that our royal Ancestors the kings of Scotland, in the times in which they lived, had always a
reference in their Edicts to the welfare of the common wealth; and to the proper administration
thereof. And they (our Ancestors) being thoroughly persuaded so much the Arts and useful
Vocations contribute to the glory and prosperity of kingdoms made it a rule to give them every
possible encouragement.
With this in view; they confirmed various priviliges on the Artisans of the burghs and
cities of our kingdom; and it was specially exacted that good order should be maintained
among those to whom such priviliges were granted: that they should make choice of
Deacons, whose office it should be, to superintend and inspect those over whom they
presided in their respective vocations and to see that no extortion under colour of law, was
practised by them upon the people. They (the Deacons) were to enquire into the conduct of
those under their superintendence, and to take care that they were diligent in their vocations,
and free from deceit and fraud in their transactions – and persons found guilty of unfair
dealing were to be punished with the utmost severity of law. On these conditions, the
priviliges granted to Corporate bodies were to be continued to them.
Reasons, however, having been given in, it was afterwards thought advisable to
make some new regulations anent Corporate bodies; and in a parliament held in the hall of
the burgh of Edinburgh, in the month of June in the year of our Lord one thousand five
hundred and fifty five, it was ordained, that deacons were not to be elected for burghs, but
that a Provost, Baillies, and councillors were to be chosen for burghs: these were to be men
of integrity and sound principles; and were to give every encouragement to trade, and useful
vocations. It was also ordained, that Inspectors or Visitors of the different trades should be
appointed, who were to take an oath that they would perform their functions with impartiality.
All these office bearers were to be chosen annually at the feast of Saint Michael. It was also
enacted, that of persons holding the situation of tradesmen in burghs, two only were to be
chosen as counsellors for the burgh: to these were added various other restrictions; all of
which are particularly mentioned in the Act relating to this matter.
It appears however that this act has been productive of various inconveniences; and
reasons have been brought forward against it which have determined us, after the most
mature deliberation, to set it aside, and to make in its place a new act, with regulations better
adopted to promote the interests of the burghs of our kingdom. Our Royal pleasure therefore
is, that all the priviliges, and immunities, granted by our most noble ancestors to tradesmen
and artisans, contained in Acts which are in the possession of keepers of antiquities and
priviliges, should again be restored to them and that the laws which confer these priviliges are
not to be abrogated, unless very urgent reasons of state can be assigned for doing so. And
thus the discontents of our merchants, and artisans, who judged themselves aggrieved by
these laws will cease; and satisfaction and happiness be diffused among our people.
Just and weighty reasons therefore, having been laid before us; we in the full
exercise of our reason and discretion; and having advanced beyond the age, at which it is
lawful for us to settle matters of state namely one and twenty years; do of our own proper
motion, and by our royal order, repeal and nullify all those Laws made by our royal ancestors,
and all points and clauses contained in the same, which have been judged inimical to the
interests of trade and useful Artificers, We ordain therefore that it shall be lawful for trades to
elect Deacons to preside over them: whose office it shall be, to viset and superintend
Artificers of every description.
These Deacons are to have all the powers that they possessed before that act,
referred to above, was made which set aside their office. They are therefore to possess and
to exercise all requisite powers for preserving good order among their respective trades, and
they are empowered to take such measures as are necessary for enabling the Corporation
over whom they preside to bear their necessary burdens. It is our pleasure therefore, that all
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and every privilege, liberty and custom, granted by our royal ancestors in Charters, or other
Documents to Corporate bodies; or which these bodies have heretofore enjoyed, shall now be
possessed by them; which priviliges they are to use, to exercise and retain, in all time coming
for their profit and advantage: and they are not to be obstructed by any Act formerly made, or
by any clauses in said act, in the enjoyment of these priviliges; for all such Acts and clauses
we now repeal, and nullify.
Furthermore, by our royal order, we ratify and approve all priviliges, liberties,
customs, and grants, bestowed upon Corporations in any former Act, or Acts of our royal
ancestors: as also all priviliges, which they at present are in possession of; or which they
have at any former time enjoyed, with full power to retain, to enjoy, and to exercise these
priviliges, in the same manner as they have been exercised by those who have possessed
them at any former period, without the least degree of fear, or hesitation: and these priviliges
are to be enjoyed by them in all time coming, without restriction, or limitation.
Wherefore we command and enjoin, upon all our liegemen, and subjects, to whom
these presents shall come, that they presume not, in all time coming, to disturb Corporate
bodies, by any impediment, molestation, or obstacle, in the joyful possession and use of their
liberties, and priviliges; which liberties, and priviliges, are not to be encroached upon by any
subsequent Acts, or Deeds, or by any clauses in these Acts or deeds; and all persons who
shall act contrary to these presents, or oppose our will as therein expressed, shall incur by so
doing, the displeasure of our high majesty.
In testimony of which thing, we order our great seal to be affixed to these presents:
done at Edinburgh, the first day of the month of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand,
five hundred and sixty four; and in the twenty third year of our reign.
This is a true copy of the original Charter of the Incorporation sealed with the great
seal, copied, compared, and wrote by me, Notary Public; agreeing in every respect, with the
original, nothing having been by me, added or subtracted therefrom; which could in the least
degree, alter the Charter, either in word, or substance: witnessed by my subscription, and
sign manual as directed. Robert Croyn Notary Public with my own hand.
Translated from the original by John Warden year, 1873
The parchment copy of this Charter dated Edinbr 1st March 1564 is lodged in the
General fund Box of the Nine Trades of Dundee
Innes A. Duffus
Archivist to the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee
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