Preface

The materials for the History of Dundee, contained in the earliest Town Council records, are known to be so copious and interesting that it has always been a subject of regret that none of our industrious local historians have thoroughly examined them, and presented the result to the public. I first had an opportunity of judging their value about ten years ago, when I prepared from them some lectures upon the Municipal and Social Life of Old Dundee. The subject having excited some attention, I was led to consider it more closely, and became so interested in the old records as to be easily influenced by the persuasion of friends, in especial by the late Bishop Forbes, to devote my leisure to the examination of them, and to the production of this work. Mr. Hay, the town clerk, to whom we are indebted for the publication of the interesting "Charters and Writs of the Burgh," most courteously afforded me all facilities for prosecuting the undertaking, and not only gave me access to the valuable records in the town's archives, but also placed in my hands a careful transcript of the earliest volumes of the Burgh Register, which was made under the supervision of his predecessor, Mr. Kerr. These volumes have evidently been at one time subjected to rough usage, and some portions are wanting. The earliest date is 2d October, 1553. There is a blank from July 1570, to September 1579; and another from October 1582, to March 1587. In rebinding the first three, probably within the last forty years, many of the loose leaves have been wrongly arranged, which makes it somewhat difficult to follow the entries in their proper order. The volumes are now in good condition. The writing is beautifully executed, and, although in part much faded, it is on the whole so legible that the transcription has been made with great accuracy.

Tuppence A Bale was filmed in Dundee during the mid 1980's and is the only film showing a Stower carrying Jute on his back. It's also in colour which is fantastic! This unique video is another part of Dundee History!

I at first proposed to print the records chronologically, as has been done with those of some other burghs, but a careful consideration convinced me that this would not be a very satisfactory arrangement, as many of them are short, detached, and intermixed references, which could hardly prove intelligible, and would not be of special historical interest, unless those relating to each other were conjoined in regular sequence. The method which I then adopted of condensing the materials into separate articles, arranged, with marginal dates, in a narrative form, implied a considerable amount of labour, but I felt that this should not be grudged if it would have the effect of developing their proper meaning and realising their full value. I have found in contemporary annals—in the Acts of the Scottish Parliament, especially in that portion of them which was lately printed from the volumes found in the London State Paper Office, in the recently published volumes of the Register of the Privy Council, and in other historical authorities, general and local—many references to the burgh which throw light upon its history and records, and have embodied them also in the narrative; and I have printed in the appendix some interesting and important additions derived from original documents. It has been my endeavour to retain as far as possible the quaint and pithy language of the old writings, but I have considerably modernised the spelling—this being so irregular as to be frequently confusing— excepting in the case of words of antiquarian or philological interest, which I have invariably printed as they are written, giving explanation of their meanings in notes, when such seemed necessary.

Besides the important service which Mr. Hay has rendered me in the prosecution of the work, I have received assistance from other friends, which I desire to acknowledge, especially from the Rev. Walter Macleod, the Rev. R. R. Lingard Guthrie, Mr. William Blades, Mr Henry Foley, Mr. Patrick Anderson, and Mr. Alexander C. Lamb; also from those two intelligent antiquaries whose deaths the public have lately deplored—Mr. James Neish of Laws, and Mr. James Duff, our venerable townsman.

The century over which the municipal records used in this volume extend, was a time of peculiar interest in the history and social development of our country, and it was followed by a period equally productive of important results. It would be instructive to trace the vicissitudes and progress of Dundee down through this later time. What I have already done, however unworthy it may be of the subject, or short of my endeavour, has, at least been undertaken without prejudice, and prosecuted with earnest care; and if it should be found to have fulfilled in some respects the proper purposes of a local history, I shall feel myself encouraged to proceed with the congenial task.

Contents

INTRODUCTORY
EARLY HISTORY
THE TOWN COUNCIL
THE MAGISTRATES' COURT
PRIVILEGES AND DUTIES OF BURGESSES
WOOLSELLING AND CLOTHMAKING
THE FLESH MARKET WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
THE SUPPLY OF COAL
REPAIRING HOUSES DESTROYED BY THE ENGLISH
PUTTING AWAY BEGGARS AND VAGABONDS
THE FIRST PROTESTANT CONGREGATION IN SCOTLAND
ST. MARY'S CHURCH SUNDAY OBSERVANCE
PUNISHMENT OF DRUNKENNESS AND NIGHT REVELRY
PUNISHMENT OF BLASPHEMY AND EVIL SPEECH
PUNISHMENT OF FORNICATION AND ADULTERY
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
BARTERS
THE PRICE AND QUALITY OF ALE
CLEANSING THE TOWN
THE HARBOUR
THE FERRY
FERRY-PORT-ON-CRAIG BOATS
CONTEST WITH PERTH REGARDING RIVER RIGHTS AND PRECEDENCE IN PARLIAMENT
CHAPLAINRIES AND MONASTERIES
WILLIAM CHRISTESON, THE FIRST ORDAINED MINISTER
ADMINISTRATION OF THE EFFECTS OF PERSONS DYING
THE VICTUAL MARKET
HUCKSTERS, CHAPMEN, AND CADGERS
SELLING SKINS AND HIDES
CANDLEMAKERS
THE DISPUTES REGARDING THE RIGHTS OF NEIGHBOURING PROPERTIES
ST. FRANCIS' WELL
THE BURN AND THE TOWN MILLS
PITRERRO, BALDOVAN, AND FINTREY MILLS
WARDING THE TOWN - WEARING ARMS - BLUID WITW
CLAIM OF THE CRAFTS TO BE REPRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT
QUEEN MARY AND DUNDEE. PROVOST HALIBURTON'S REBELLION AND GOOD SERVICE BELLIGERENT AND PIRATICAL SHIPS
THE HOWFF
TOWER OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH
THE TOWN WALLS AND PORTS
THE HOSPITAL
SOME TROUBLESOME WOMEN
A LAWLESS COMMENDATOR
THE ROTTEN ROW
COMMON RIGHTS AT CRAIGIE AND AT THE MAGDALEN GREEN
THE MARKET CROSS
THE CROSS CHURCH
THE EAST CHURCH
THE MINT IN DUNDEE
A PEACEFUL SEASON
THE GREAT ARMADA
A PROCLAMATION OF SUNDRY ACTS
MARRIAGE OF JAMES VI.
THE QUEEN'S DOWRY
DAVID GRAHAM OF FINTREY
AN INGENIOUS AND SUCCESSFUL ADVENTURER
JAMES ROBERTSON, FIRST MINISTER OF THE SECOND CHARGE
THE BELLS IN THE CHURCH TOWER
WITCHCRAFT
PROVISION FOR SUPPORT OF THE POOR
MEETINGS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND OF PARLIAMENT IN DUNDEE
THE REGULATION OF THE CRAFTS
THE EQUITABLE PUNISHMENT OF OFFENDERS
INDIGNITIES OFFERED TO MAGISTRATES DURING A TIME OF DISORDER
THE PRISON
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TREASURER .
ROBERT HOWIE, AN ENERGETIC MINISTER
GILBERT RAMSAY, READER
DAVID LINDESAY, SCHOOLMASTER, MINISTER, BISHOP
ROBERT NAIRN AND JAMES GLEG, SCHOOLMASTERS
THE JANITOR
THE MUSIC SCHOOL
PUNISHING OFFENCES COMMITTED OUT OF THE TOWN
HELPING THE NECESSITIES OF OTHER PLACES
TESTIMONIALS TO PERSONS GOING ABROAD
THE WEDDERBURNS, TOWN CLERKS
SIR JAMES SCEYMGEOUR, CONSTABLE AND PROVOST
DISCONTENT OF THE COMMONS WITH THE BURGH GOVERNMENT
PATRICK RAMSAY, KEEPER OF THE STEEPLE AND CLOCK
THE PLAGUE
THE EXACTION OF A LADLEFUL OUT OF ALL CORN SACKS
WILLIAM WEDDERBURN, FIRST MINISTER OF THE THIRD CHARGE
ROBERT STIBBLES, READER AND VICAR
AN EDINBURGH BURGESS AND THE DUNDEE BAILIES
A TRAVELLER WHO SPOKE TOO FREELY ABOUT SCOTLAND
DIVERSE VENIAL OFFENCES
THE LIBRARY
PREPARATIONS FOR THE RECEPTION OF JAMES VI. IN THE TOWN ALEHOUSES
NARROW THOROUGHFARES
COLIN CAMPBELL, MINISTER
A WOODFIE
A RASH BAILIE
JOHN DUNCANSON, MINISTER
THE FRIARS' MEADOWS
THE PLAYFIELD—ITS REVELS AND MIRACLE PLAYS
QUESTIONS OF NEIGHBOURHOOD
THE RENUNCIATION OF EMOLUMENTS
ASSESSING TAXATION
WILLIAM HUNTER OF BALGAY AND THE COUNCIL
THE TOWN CLOCKS
GRANT OF SHERIFFSHIP TO THE MAGISTRATES .
A SEARCH FOR A MINISTER
ANDREW COLLACE, MINISTER .
A LONG IMPRISONMENT
THE NATIONAL COVENANT
CHARTERS GRANTED TO THE BURGH BY CHARLES I.
THE TEINDS OF LONGFORGAN
THE MAGISTRATES APPOINTED ADMIRALS-DEPUTE
TROUBLES WITH LORD DUDHOPE
MEN AND MONEY WANTED FOR THE ARMY IN IRELAND
ROBERT JOHNSTON'S LEGACY TO THE TOWN
IMPROPER CONDUCT TOWARD MAGISTRATES
THE PACKHOUSE
MUSTER AND LEVY OF FENCIBLE MEN
AN EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH
THE MARQUIS OF MONTROSE AND THE TOWN
THE APPROACH OF ANOTHER ENEMY
ALEXANDER WEDDERBURN ON AN IMPORTANT MISSION
FIRST IMPOSITION OF EXCISE DUTIES
THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE KING
MAINTENANCE OF THE ARMY
THE SOLDIERS OF THE PERIOD
FEELING IN FAVOUR OF THE YOUNG KING
CHARLES II. IN SCOTLAND
THE TOWN BESIEGED AND STORMED BY MONK

APPENDIX

THE BOOK OF THE CHURCH
GIFTS BY GEORGE OF SPALDING TO THE CHURCH
THE ENGLISH OCCUPATION OF THE TOWN IN 1547-8
MISSAL LEAVES AND OLD WRITINGS IN BOOK COVERS

This Book may be downloaded here in pdf format (37Mb)

Old Dundee
Ecclesiastical, Burghal, and Social Life prior to the Reformation by Alexander Maxwell, FSAScot (pdf)

The first 187 pages are about the Church and its time of change and then you get the second part of the book...

Burghal and Social Life

CHAPTER I.

THE OLD BURGH.

Its situation and surroundings—Division into wards—Population—Its streets and houses—Obstructions to traffic—Cleansing and drainage—The supply of water—The burn maintained in purity—Herb and flower gardens— Cornfields—The junction of rural and urban life—Domestic animals.

CHAPTER II.

BURGHAL GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OP JUSTICE.

The privileges of burgesses—The Town Council—The commons or crafts—Disputes with the Scrymgeours regarding their Constable rights—The Burgh Court—Honour shown to magistrates—Juries— Arbitration—Hector Boece acting as a “forespeaker” in the Court—His connection with Dundee—His position as a historian —Appeals from the Burgh Court to spiritual courts— Cursing and its corporeal effect—Jurisdiction of the magistrates beyond the burgh—The courts of barons.

CHAPTER III.

THE SUPPLY OF FOOD.

Forestalling and regrating the markets—The exportation of grain prohibited —Buying agricultural produce—The Castle mill and its water-gangs— Erection of the horse-mill and wind-mill—The millers’ multure—Troubles with millers—Fixing the weight of bread—Insubordination of the baxters—Animal food—Value of oxen—The supply of fish—Sales of salmon—The flukers and the Flukergait—Maltmen and brewers.

CHAPTER IV.

BURGHARS' HOUSES.

The Constable leasing a mansion—John Scrymgeour’s lands sequestrated—A house rented for the lady of Dudhope—The town house of a landed man —Securing the “bairn’s part” of household goods—Effects of a burgess forfeited for treason—Disputes regarding plenishing —Inventories of furniture and household gear—Customs observed in tenancy—“Firehouses.”

CHAPTER V.

DRESS.

The durable attire of burgesses—Clothes appointed for servants—Restrictions upon the dress of women—Distraining clothes for rent—A legacy—Difficulty in obtaining clothes of fine quality—Ornaments worn by women— A merchant’s wealth sometimes hung about his wife—Jewels laid in pledge —Silver belts and silk purses—Two families contending for the possession of jewels—The widow’s gold buttons.

CHAPTER VI.

ARMS.

Erection of butts for archery—An archery contest—Bows and bowstrings— Artillery and the armament of ships—The arms of fencible men—Swords and armour—Preparing for a wapinsebaw—A disturbance at the wapin-schaw—Inhabitants called to arms—The “waige of a man of weir.”

CHAPTER VII.

THE RIGHTS AND PROPERTY OF CHILDREN.

Appointment of curators—Heritage and “bairn’s part” of goods—The protection of minors from fraud—The board of children—Disputes regarding heirship—Families having two children of the same name—Bargaining with a lawyer for the pursuit of heritage—A mother buying her son’s goodwill— The succession to the lands of Ballumby.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE SOCIAL POSITION OF WOMEN.

Restrictions upon a woman’s choice of a husband—An apprentice prohibited from marrying without consent of his craft—A marriage contract— “Tocher-guid”—Hand-fasting—Enforced marriages—Divorce—A wife’s right to property—Prodigal wives—A woman of dissipated habits— Profligate neighbours—Unchastity and immorality.

CHAPTER IX.

THE HOUSEHOLD.

Domestic servants making double promises—Their fees and bounties—Deserting their service—Unreasonable mistresses—The terms and conditions of men servants—Simple domestic usages—The common living apartment— A housewife of the period—The household of a leading burgess.

CHAPTER X.

COMMERCIAL INTERCOURSE BY LAND AND BEA.

The Guild of merchants—Their booths—Travelling merchants and fairs— Mercantile confidence—Distraining for debt—Sureties—False coin—Bartering—Adventuring money and goods—Imports—French merchants— Disputed freight—Ships at the port—Damage by stress of weather—A tax is imposed on the Tay ferry boats.

CHAPTER XI.

CRAFTSMEN.

Burghal rights and privileges of the crafts—Their corporations—The Clothmaking industry Spinning, Weaving, Fulling, and Dyeing—Bonnetmakers — Tailors — Skinners or Glovers—Baxters—Masons — Wrights— Slaters—Smiths—”Warkmen of the Shore,”

CHAPTER XII.

OFFENCES AND THEIR PUNISHMENT.

Evil speech—“Mispersonation”—Slandering—Violence of viragos—The tolbooth beads—The cuck-stule—“Stroublance" —Penance in the Church— The stocks—The Bailies’ unlaw—The “leech-craft"—Offences committed under night—The tolbooth made “a house of fence"—Wearing swords— Combats—Offenders from landward—“Assythment for birde wite”— Fraud—“Pickery”—Theft—Reset—Banishment—Whipping—Burning on the cheek—Death by drowning.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE.

The houses of burghers and craftsmen—The value of money in the sixteenth century—Rents, wages, and prices—Necessaries and luxuries—Use of wine and ale—Temperate habits—Clothes—Schools and education—Printed books—The working day and meal times—Observance of holidays— Customs associated with festival days—The Fairs—Processions—The Playfield—Miracle plays—Sports and pastimes—The Meadow—Revels and games of chance prohibited—Conclusion.

Auld Dundee II : Around & About

The Compt Buik of David Wedderburne
This is the first book issued which contains authentic details of the imports, exports, and home trade at a busy Scottish seaport during the eventful period between 1587 and 1630. It thus covers sixteen years before the Union of the Crowns, and twenty-seven years after that event, in all, forty-three years of Scottish mercantile life, in a time of political and national transition. David Wedderburne was a Dundee Merchant.