Subject_1 DECISIONS of the LORDS OF COUNCIL AND SESSION, reported by SIR JOHN LAUDER OF FOUNTAINHALL Subject_2 SUMMER SESSION. 1687.
The Magistrates of Edinburgh v. The Fleshers and Vintners
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July 6.—The Magistrates of Edinburgh, on a general complaint of the extortion of the markets, having convened the Fleshers and Vintners before them, and on their declarations, (not on oath,) finding they had transgressed, had fined them: whereon they gave in a bill to the Lords, representing, where there is no law, there can be no transgression; and that there is no standard set for the price of vivers; and if they buy dear, they must sell accordingly. The Magistrates gave in an answer by way of bill, showing how the Fleshers do extortion, forestall, and regrate, by taking all the parks and inclosures about Edinburgh, so that they scarce suffer any to furnish but themselves; that it is notour they buy beasts as cheap as ever; that they cheat us by blowing their meat, and render it unwholesome, to make it seem fat; that they make the Act of Parliament 1681, for selling by weight, impracticable, by the trick of casting in bad pieces, and bones not belonging to the piece bought: That the Vintners do not observe the printed prices and table of wild fowl, in buying them from the poultrymen, but give what they crave, and exact triple again; and have them so bound up, that, till they be served, the private families and burgesses can get nothing; that they buy prohibited bread, neither of weight nor fineness conform to the standard, and get a dozen for 8 pence, which they sell at 12 pence; and in sugar, they take at the rate of 24 pence for the pound, which stands them but 8 pence; and yet they make up their ounces so small that they lose nothing of their 16 ounces: and even so in their measure of tobacco, &c.: and if the Lords liberated them from their fines, the Magistrates will notice them no more: and the fines come not to their use, but to the poor.
It was referred to Carse; who having reported it on the 29th of July, the Lords refused the Fleshers and Vintners' bills, and remitted them back to the Magistrates of Edinburgh, whose procedure they approved. Vide 19th July 1687.
Vol. I. Page 464.
July 16.—The Privy Council allows the landwert Fleshers to bring in their meat to Edinburgh all the days of the week, and that the Town appoint them slaughter-houses at the North-loch side; and discharges the Town, or the Edinburgh Fleshers, to exact any imposition from them. This, on the matter, dissolves the Fleshers of Edinburgh's seal of cause from being a deaconry, or corporation. And some think the Baxters' seal should be also cassed and annulled, and all permitted to bring in bread every day; as the Maltmen are discharged to incorporate into a deaconry. See Acts 121 and 122, Parl. 1540.
