SCOTLAND.
325
gold or silver work unless it be first shown to them to has been stolen (the libertie of our Soveraine Lordis cunyiehous alwyis exceptit)." This gave them the entire regulation of the trade, separating them finally from all association with the to melt any see whether
it
"hammermen"
or
common
Ac/ and SiaUite of
the.
smiths.
Town
Council of Edinburgh in favour of the
Corporation of Goldsmyths, August 20, 1591.
"The samm day
the Provost bailies
and
counsell,
and Adame
Newtoune, baxter, Cudbert Cranstoun, furrour, William Blythman, flescheour, Thomas Weir, masoitn, Robert Meid, wobster, William Cowts, walker, Thomas Brown, bonetmaker, of the remanent deykins of crafts being convenit in counsall anent the supplicatioun gevin in before thame be George Heriott, deykin of the goldsmythis, for himselff and in name and behalff of the remannet brether of the said craft."
The tenor of these articles, which were agreed to, referred to the taking of apprentices for a term of seven years, that every master shall have served his apprenticeship, and three years over and above, to make himself more perfect therein, and have given proof to the deacon of the craft of his experience both in workmanship and knowledge of the fineness of the metals, etc. Only those admitted by the deacon and masters were to work, melt, or break down, or sell any gold or silver work, under penalty of twenty pounds, or imprisonment. That no goldsmith melt any work without first showing it to the deacon to see whether it was stolen, nor gild any lattoun or copper work. By the foregoing enactments it will be seen that only three marks are referred to, namely, the goldsmith's mark, the deacon's mark, and the town mark -the first was the initials of the maker's name, the second the initials of the deacon's name, and the third the castle, indicating the city of Edinburgh and nothing is said about a variable letter. The first mention of it we find in the Minutes of the Goldsmiths' Company is in September, 1681, when a small black letter a was ordered to be the letter for the ensuing After this the letter is ordered annually in alphabetical order, from to Z, in cycles of twenty-five years, omitting the letter J. In many cases the letter is stamped at the top of the page with the identical punch used for the plate.
year.
A
CHARTER OF INCORPORATION. A.D 1687. James VII. This Charter, incorporating the Society of Goldsmiths of Edinburgh, dated November 10, 1687, ratifies the letters patent of James VI, of January 3, 1586, in every respect, and amplifies their power in many instances, such as granting them the privilege of an Incorporated Society, with power to acquire, purchase, possess lands, etc., enact statutes and laws for the regulation of the trade, etc.