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Trades Hall, Aberdeen
Preface
WHILE holding office
among the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen a few years ago, I had
frequent opportunities of scanning their interesting old records and
other documents, and I had not gone far in my perusal of them until I
discovered that they contained a considerable amount of material fitted
to throw light on the trading customs, and the social and religious life
of the community from the fifteenth century downwards.
It was also an agreeable
surprise to find that, notwithstanding the many vicissitudes through
which so many of our local institutions have passed, the records of the
Trades, including the documents belonging to the monastery of the
Trinity Friars, were in an excellent state of preservation; and it
occurred to me that, as a new generation has now arisen, having little
in common with the old burgher life, a historical account of these
ancient societies might prove acceptable, not only to the existing
members of the Trades, but to many others who take an interest in the
different phases of early burgh life.
In estimating the
position which these craft guilds held in the community, it is necessary
to bear in mind the large proportion of the population that came within
their jurisdiction. The families, journeymen, apprentices, and servants,
as well as the craftsmen themselves, were all subject to the authority
of the deacons and masters of the different crafts, and amenable to the
laws and statutes enforced under the powers conferred by Royal Charters,
Seals of Cause, and Acts of Council; and taken at a moderate
computation, these classes would represent about two thirds of the whole
community. The history of the craft guilds, therefore, ought in no small
measure to reflect the conditions of life among the great bulk of the
industrial classes; and if this volume helps to a better understanding
of the guild life of our own community my object in collecting the
historical information in this volume will be fully accomplished.
To the many friends who
have assisted me in various ways I take this opportunity of returning my
best thanks, more particularly to Mr. P. J. ANDERSON, Secretary of the
New Spalding Club; Mr. A. II. MUNRO, of the Aberdeen Town House; and Mr.
J. P. ED.IIO\D, and to the CONVENER, MASTER OF TRADES HOSPITAL, DEACONS,
and BOXMiASTERS of the various Trades who so readily afforded inc access
to the books and documents under their charge. To Mr. ANDREW J. GIBB,
Mr. E. W. JAPP, Mr. C. CARMICHAEL, and Mr. GEORGE WATT, I am also
indebted for assistance in connection with the plates and drawings.
E. B.
ABERDEEN, October, 1887.
Contents
PART I. MERCHANT AND
CRAFT GUILDS.
-
Chapter I
Introductory—Etymology of "Guild"—Origin of Guilds—Greek and Roman
Guilds—The Different Classes of Guilds—The Guilds and
Municipalities—Conflicts among the Guilds
-
Chapter II
Continental Guilds—France— Italy— Portugal— Holland— Germany—
Norway—Russia
-
Chapter III
London Guilds—Royal Commission of 1880—The Guilds and the
Municipality—Grades of Membership—The Great and Minor Companies
—Trust and Corporate Income
-
Chapter IV
Craft Guilds in Scotland — Edinburgh — Glasgow — Stirling — Perth
—Dundee
PART II. THE RISE OF
THE ABERDEEN CRAFTS.
-
Chapter I
Special Privileges of Craftsmen—Early Trading Charters—Trades of Old
Aberdeen—The "Wise Men of the Craft"—The Deacon-Convener —List of
Deacon-Conveners
-
Chapter II
The Crafts and the Church—Before the Reformation—Pageants and
Miracle Plays—Abbot and Prior of Bon-Accord—Offerand of our Ladye—Corpus
Christi Day—Order of Precedence—Robin Hood and Little John—Religious
Processions—The Reformation Period —Cordiners' Altar--After the
Reformation
-
Chapter III
Differences among the Burgesses—Representation at the
Council—Composition and Entrant Dues—New Charter of Privileges
-
Chapter IV
The Common Indenture—Renewal of Differences—Election of
Magistrates—Convention of Royal Burghs—The "X"
-
Chapter V
A Fourteen Years' Litigation—The Composition—The Funds of the
Trades—Decision by the House of Lords—Settlement of the Dispute
-
Chapter VI
Constitution of Aberdeen Crafts—Jurisdiction—Seals of Cause—The
Freedom—Burgess' Oaths—Patrimony—Rates of Composition" Mastersticks
or Essays"
-
Chapter VII
The Craftsmen as Citizen Soldiers—Providing Arms—The Rebellions of
1715 and '45
PART III. THE SEVEN
INCORPORATED TRADES.
-
Chapter I
Introductory — Formation of Separate Societies — The Litstars —The
Barbers—The Masons—Exclusion of Burgesses of Guild
-
Chapter II
The Convener Court — The Old Registers —Convener Court Book —
Statutes of Convener Court—List of Office-Bearers
-
Chapter III
Dr. William Guild and the Trades—his Literary Work--Signing the
Covenant—Notes on Trinity Monastery—Gift to the Trades—Trinity
Chapel
-
Chapter IV
The Bursars' House—Action in Court of Session—Financial Statement
-
Chapter V
Trades Hospital—Charter of Administration—Decreet of
Declarator Patron—Master of Hospital—Lists of Patrons, Masters of
Hospital, Assessors, &c.
-
Chapter VI
Relics and Reminiscences of Old Trades Hall—Inventory and
Description of Antique Chairs —Collection of Portraits—New Trades
Hall
-
Chapter VII
Hammermen Trade—The Crafts Associated as Hammermen—Seals of Cause—"Tryar
of Gold and Silver "—Statutes of the Trade—
Essays—Mortification—Prosperity
-
Chapter VIII
Baker Trade—Bakers' ,Marks—Price of Wheat and Bread—Seal of
Cause—Statutes—Essays —Convictions
-
Chapter IX
Wright and Cooper Trade—Masons—Coopering in Aberdeen—Seals of
Cause—Essays—Funds
-
Chapter X
Tailor Trade—Seal of Cause—Statutes—Admission of
Females—Upholsterers—Hours and Wages—Strike, 1797—Trust
Funds—Property
-
Chapter XI
Shoemaker Trade—Appointment of Searchers—Seal of Cause—Prices of
Boots and Shoes, 1586—The "Schoon Mercat"—Hides and Bark
—Statutes—Cobblers —Corners—Property
-
Chapter XII
Weaver Trade—Early Mention—Price of Work—Old Aberdeen
Weavers—Statutes—Essays—Property
-
Chapter XIII
Flesher Trade—Appreciatores Carnum—Early Regulations—Seal of Cause
—Price of Beef and Mutton, 1576—Flesh Market—Statutes Amalgamation
with the Six Trades
-
Chapter XIV
The Burgh Reform Movement—Abolition of Exclusive Trading Privileges
—Rights to Property Reserved
-
Chapter XV
The Funds of the Seven Trades—Tables of Entry Monies—Widows'
Fund--Supplementary Widows' Fund—Trades School
APPENDIX
See also...
Edinburgh Guilds and Crafts
A Sketch of the History of Burgess-ship, Guild Brotherhood, and
Membership of Crafts in the city by Sir James Marwick, LL.D. (1909)
PREFACE
To tell in his own words
the circumstances under which Sir James Marwick entered upon the
preparation of this work, it is only necessary to quote two passages
from his “ Retrospect,” printed a few years ago for the use of his
family and intimate friends. Referring to the proposal of the Town
Council, in the year 1868, to confer on the Baroness Burdett-Coutts the
freedom of the city of Edinburgh, “ if this were found to be consistent
with constitutional usage,” Sir James says: “ The proposal was a novel
one, in support of which no modern precedent could be cited, so I was
requested to apply such antiquarian and constitutional knowledge as I
possessed to the solution of the question. It was quite understood that
my report would be accepted, and that if it was in favour of the
appointment of a woman as a burgess, and if the Baroness were so
elected, the precedent would no doubt be followed by other burghs. Going
back to the oldest extant burghal records, I satisfied myself that women
had been burgesses, though not guild sisters, and I so reported, stating
the grounds of my opinion. It was accepted, and the Baroness received
the freedom.” At a subsequent part of the “Retrospect” the following
paragraph occurs: “The investigation which I found it necessary to make
in 1868 as to the early practice of the Royal Burghs of Scotland in
regard to the admission of women as burgesses led me to continue my
investigations as to the main condition of membership in these early
communities; the power which burghs assumed to regulate the conditions
of burgess-ship and to admit burgesses; the privileges which such
admission conferred; the right which the v burgess possessed of
disposing of his heritable property; the rights of his widow and
children in regard to succession in heritage and in moveables; the
rights of burgesses in the election of their own magistrates; the
constitution of merchant guilds; the claim of these guilds to represent
the entire community ; the position and right of craftsmen, and their
struggles with the merchant guilds. On these and other branches of the
burghal law, as illustrated specially in Edinburgh, I had written and
printed off for the Burgh Becords Society the sheets of a work on
‘Burgess-ship, Guild Brotherhood and Membership of Crafts in Edinburgh,’
carrying the subject down to 1584-5, and had made progress in the
completion of the work when the negotiations with Glasgow and my
settlement in that city prevented further progress.”
When the foregoing was written, Sir James seems to have been under the
impression that the printing of the book was stopped at the time of his
removal to Glasgow, but in this respect his recollection was not quite
exact. Continued at intervals and under obvious disadvantages, it was
still going on in 1878, as is shown by a reference on p. 114 to the
second volume of the Privy Council Register, which was published that
year. It must have been after this that Chapter II. was completed, and,
with the exception of a couple of sheets, printed off. A first proof of
the remainder of the book, chiefly made up of extracts from the Town
Council Registers down to the year 1872, had been obtained and was
waiting revisal for the press and the writing of a connecting narrative;
but at this stage the printers, seeing no early prospect of the release
of their type in the ordinary way, took it down, thus removing at least
one incentive to speedy publication.
Subsequent to his retirement from the Town-Clerkship of Glasgow, the
completion of the book was one of the objects which Sir James had in
view; but other undertakings had precedence, and at the time of his
death the print remained in the condition in which it had been left
about thirty years before. Though the work was not so complete as the
author intended to make it, and though nearly one-half of the pages
required to be re-set, the information brought together was considered
too valuable to be longer withheld from publication, and arrangements
were accordingly made for the book being issued. Access to the MS.
Council Registers was readily granted by Mr. Hunter, Town Clerk, and,
with the assistance obligingly rendered by Mr. Jarvis, of the
Town-Clerk’s Office, the Revd. Walter MacLeod, Edinburgh, was enabled to
collate the unrevised proofs with the original record, thereby ensuring
accuracy in the extracts. The late Mr. Adam, City Chamberlain, had
furnished the statistics derived from the Guildry Accounts, and his
successor, Mr. Paton, has been kind enough to supply a few supplementary
particulars.
The portrait forming the frontispiece is from a photograph of the Author
taken about the time the book was written.
R. RENWICK.
Glasgow, April 1909.
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