from the firft yere of the raign of King Henry the Sixth forthwardes, I have omitted to make eny collections of thofe latter tymes, because I find from that tyme the booke called the red booke of the faid towne to begin and continue yerelie the election of officers, admitting of foreyners by fine and fome other things. But ther accompts neglected and the reft not altogether in the fame order and manner as it is in the former parts of the faid Black Booke yet fairer written and kept fo as in both may be feen in a fort the order and manner of government and election of officers within the faid towne for above two hundred and threefcore yeres saving some difference in the tyme of King Henry the Seaventh and fithens by enlarging of ther letters patents in the tyme of that noble king. I have taken this paynes to gather out of that book brieflie that which followeth, That thereby inftede of the fubftance fome fhadow or refemblance of that old book may remayne for those which fhall fucceed. And yett I wold not have that Black Book by this means to be caft away or not regarded appering old and ragged, but rather to accompte of him the more in that he doth proceed from your auncient predeceffors, and afford him that favour to let him have abode amongeft you, where he may reft fafelie. Soe you may make use of him long to produce him to warrant and geve creditt to my reports out of him (if need fhall be) in the mean tyme let this my abbreviations out of the fame book hereunder written fuffice to give you a taft of fuch of the chief matters conteyned in that book as might well be gathered out of the fame.

P. 187.

"GEORGE AUSTEN."

the open mercate on the mercate dayes. Tickner of Wonerfh the like.

"Conftitution, that noe inhabitant fhall keep hoggs, unles in his owne ground (except boares), upon payne of 2d. every mercate day, and id. every other day: in cafe any rescue againft the officer, the party offending shall pay 20s.

"Repealed 31 Eliz.

"17 Hen. viii. Ordered, that artificers fhall keep their mercate here from ten till two of the clock.

"20 Hen. viii. The mayor commandeth in the king's name, That victuals brought to the mercate be good, lawful, and wholesome. That noe perfon regrate or foreftall the mercates. That noe common poulterer buy any victuals in the mercate before eleaven of the clock, That noe baker buy any corne untill xi of clock. That every man fell by lawfull weights and meafures, and that they be affifed by the king's ftandard. That butchers bring the fkins of their beasts and sheep to the mercate, and lay the fame openly dureing all the mercate. That the bakers make good bread, and of full weight according to the affize. That the brewers make good and wholefome ale, that they fell none till it be tafted by the aletafter. That he fell a gallon of beft ale for 1d, and stale ale for 2d. That the tiplers fell by lawful measures and fett out their ale fignes.

"24 Hen. viii. That noe alehoufe keeper fhall keep arry man's fervants att any unlawfull games, upon payne of xijd. for every offence.

66 25 Hen. viii. That noe craftsman fhall fett up his occupation in this towne, unlefs he fhall take an house, and beare lott and fcott, upon payne of xld. And every housholder that upholdeth fuch perfon to pay xld. That noe inhabitant lay any duft or dung in the high street, upon forfeiture of iid." P. *198.

4 Eliz. This yeare the plague was in the towne.

"Mem. Alfoe that in this tyme of the plague the mercate - houfe was builded, with the clock and dyall, and Mr. Elliott, mayor, îndowed the fame with a tenement in Wonersh of xs. by the yeare above all charges, towards the mayntenance and continuance of the fayd clock for ever.

"16 Eliz. A tenement in the parish 3 B of

"Ibid. Tymothie Chapman fined ijs. because he is prefented to be a common Drunkard and haunter of innes and alehouses, to the evill example of the king's people, &c.

"Ibid. William Figge and Richard Browne, conftables of the towne of Guldeford, for neglecting to execute the ftatute made for the punishment of rogues and vagabonds and fined each ijs.

"Ibid. George Burges, fhomaker, for kepinge continuall disorder in his houfe in the night tyme to the trouble and difturbance of his neighbours, and for kepinge a woman fervant in his houfe fufpected of lewed and evill be. havior, &c. fined xijd.

"Ibid. Five perfons to pay ijs. for figne pofts and ftanderds." Because they have figne pofts and ftanderds ftanding and hanging on and uppon the high streete.

"Ibid. Three perfons, Vintners. Because they fell wynés at exceffive price, contrary to the ftatute, and feverall tymes corrupt. And alfo taking exceffive gains, &c. To pay, one 5s. two others 2s. each.

"Ibid. Seven Shoemakers, because they do fell fhoes not well made and makinge mixture of leather in fhoes and, botes contrary to the ftatute, takinge exceffive gaine; two paid viijd.; two other iijd.; three other ijd.

"Ibid. Eight Fyfhers all y yeare, because they fell falte fifhe, forreigne and other fortes of fish as well in the tyme of Lent, as at other tymes not wholefome for mens bodyes, &c. annoyinge the highe-ftreete by pouringe water, to pay xviijd. &c.

"Ibid. Nine Cookes to pay xviijd. &c. because they ufe cookery in their houfes, dreffinge all manner of flesh and fish, and taking exceffive gaines, and fometymes that which they knowe to be unwholesome for men, &c. and fleshe in Lente.

"Ibid. Five butchers to pay iiijd. &c. because they be common butchers and fell bull beef not bayted, and other flesh not holsome for men, &c.

"Ibid. Eighteen wollon drapers to pay ijd. &c. for fellinge falfe wollen cloth, falfe coulors, and takinge exceffive gain.

"Ibid. Seven mercers fined, for fellinge lynnen cloth, &c. at exceffive prices.

"Ibid. Five Loaders fined, because

they frequent loade and drive horfes loadinge to and fro the mills to the common annoyance of, &c.

"Anno x Car. i. Six perfons to pay vid. each. Fishers. Because they annoy the ftreete by cafting of fish water, and fufferinge their boardes to ftand in the ftreete, to the great annoyance of the king's people.

"Ibid. Three Barbers, viz. Henry Horner, Roger Lewis, and Mofes Jennings, to pay iiijd. because they cafte haire and water into the high ftreete, to the greate annoyance of the kinge's fubjects.

Ibid. Five Millers to pay. for carryinge and recarryinge of grift thro'. the towne to the greate hurt and damage of the paved streete.

"Ibid. Henry Wheeler for his house. beinge on fire, to the greate danger of his neighbours, to pay 38. 4d. John Killinghall for the like, 38. 4d.

"Anno xiv Car. i. Five Millers fined 2s. 6d. for carryinge and recarryinge of grift thro' the towne to the greate hurt and damage of the paved street.

"Ibid. Abraham Saunds for laying of ftrawe in his houfe dangerous for fier. Fined vjs. iiijd.

"Anno xxii Jac. i. A Brazier made free, there being a want of that trade, His name John Killinghall, Holy Trinitie. The towne not well furnished and supplied with pewter, braffe, &c.

Disfranchifements.

"Anno x Jac. i. Henry Smith, one of the corporation for his contempte and diforder'd behaviour towarde the mayor and approved men of this towne, difmiffed and disfranchifed.

"Anno xvi Car. 2. 1664. John Mills, malfter, for faying that Mr. Canfeild, one of the magiftrates was a lying knave, and that neither Mr. Mayor nor he the faid Mr. C. and the rest of the company should father their lyes upon him. Sufpended from the office of bailiff.

"Anno 6 Jac. i. Thomas Tompfon, the elder, one of the corporation of Guildford for keeping an alehouse disfranchised.

A Conftable put out of his Office for Misdemeanour.

"Anno xi Jac. i. Hugo Loart un. conftabular. valde fuit ebriet. temp. nocturno [Decembris] Et qd. pmilit quendam Jacobum Mabanck ipm Hu3 B 2

gonem

་

EXTRACTS FROM THE LIFE OF
ROBERT FERGUSSON.

R OBERT Ferguffon was born at Edinburgh on the 5th of September 1750. His father, William Ferguffon, who in his youth had difcovered fome propenfity to the ftudy of poetry, maintained a refpectable character in the humble station in which he found himself placed. He ferved an apprenticeship to a tradesman in Aberdeen, and about the year 1746 came to Edinburgh, in order to folicit employment. Having been engaged as a clerk by feveral different makers, and thefe too of various occupations, he at length procured the office of an accountant in the British Linen Hall, in which he continued till the time of his death.

"Young Ferguffon was of a conftitution fo extremely delicate, that he was incapable of attending the school till after he had reached the fixth year of his age. He was then fent to a Mr. Philps, who at that time refided in Blackfriars Wynd; and under his tuition was qualified for attending the high school in the fpace of little more than fix months. While he continued at this excellent feminary, the infirm ftate of his health prevented him from giving the proper attendance: yet by means of his fuperior capacity, aided by a generous fpirit of emulation, he excelled moft of his companions. It was during thefe intervals, in which the delicacy of his frame confined him at home, that he first discovered a relifh for books. He gratified his tafte by the eager perufal of fuch works as chance threw in his way: and his interrogations concerning any fubject which attracted his attention, often puzzled thofe much older than himfelf."

P. 3.

"During his refidence at St. Andrew's, Ferguffon began to turn his attention to the ftudy of poetry, and wrote feveral copies of verfes, which attracted the

particular notice of the profeffors, as well as that of his fellow-students. Here he alfo formed the plan of a tragedy on the ftory of Sir William Wallace; of which, when he had finished the two firft ads, he relinquifhed the defign; becaufe, as we are told, he had feen another dramatic poem on the fame fubject, and was apprehenfive left his fhould be regarded as a mere copy. This seems a very inadequate reafon: authors who write on the fame fubject are not under tl:e neceffity of stealing from each other.

"Whether any particular æra of the life of this renowned warrior may af ford matter for a regular tragedy, appears fomewhat doubtful. His life was glorious and eventful; but it prefents few dramatic incidents which could be rendered interesting by any writer whofe genius does not bear a refemblance to that of Shakespeare." P. 6. .

"Though he was never very remarkable for his application to ftudy, yet he performed with a fufficient fhare of applaufe, the various exercises which the rules of his college prefcribed. The calm and even tenour, however, of an academic, life was but ill calculated to afford him much fatisfac tion or enjoyment. His natural propenfity to mirth and gaiety often caused him to relax in his exertions. He bore a principal part in a thousand youthful frolics; many of which are ftill remem bered at St. Andrew's.

"What amufed himself tended to difturb the quiet of others. His mifdemeanors were either fo frequent, or of fuch a kind, that, after a refidence of four years, he expofed himself to the difgrace of a formal expulfion from the university. The eloquence of Dr. Wilkie was powerfully exerted in his behalf, but without producing the defired effect: the other members of the Senatus Academicus were by no means difpofed to liften to his arguments; and the imprudent youth was accordingly difmiffed." P. 8.

"About two years before his return from college, his father died, leaving his family in a state of poverty and dejection. He now found himself without any prefent employment, and with out any fixed refolution concerning his future purfuits; a fituation dangerous beyond all others to a young man of a fervid imagination.

"Some

"Some of his friends advised him to devote himself to the ftudy of medicine; but he declined following this advice, because, according to his own account, he fancied himself afflicted with every disease of which he read the defcription. A fimilar anecdote is related of John Bois, one of the tranflators of the Bible in the reign of King James VI.

"He had a maternal uncle living near Aberdeen, a Mr. John Forbes, who was in pretty affluent circumftances. To him he paid a vifit, in hopes of procuring fome fuitable employment through his influence. Mr. Forbes at first treated him with civility; but, instead of exerting himself to promote his interest, suffered him to remain fix months in his house, and afterwards dismissed him in a manner which reflects very little honour on his memory.

His clothes were beginning to affume a threadbare appearance; and on this account he was deemed an improper gueft for his uncle's houfe. Filled with indignation at the unworthy treatment which he had received, he retired to a little folitary inn that stood at a fmall distance; and having procured pen, ink, and paper, wrote a letter to his unfeeling relation, couched in terms of manly refentment. After his departure, Mr. Forbes feems to have relented: he dispatched a meffen-, ger to him with a few fhillings to bear his expenses on the road. This paltry prefent the lowness of his funds compelled him to accept. He fet out for Edinburgh on foot, and with much difficulty reached his mother's houfe. The fatigues of the journey, added to the depreffion of his mind, produced fuch an effect upon his delicate conftitution, that for feveral days he was afflicted with a fevere illnefs. When he began to recover ftrength, he endeavoured to confole his grief by compofing a poem on the Decay of Friendship, and another Against Repining at Fortune." P.9.

"In 1774, his friends prevailed upon him to compose an elegiac poem on the death of Mr. Cunningham, who as a paftoral poet has obtained confiderable celebrity. It was published for the benefit of the unfortunate author, who was then verging towards that ftate of infanity in which he at length closed his miferable existence. As he was then incapable of fuperintending the prefs,

fome of his friends kindly undertook that office.

"This was the laft of his productions. His body being now emaciated with difeafe, and his mind totally unhinged, his relations began to obferve in his behaviour fomething of an infantine caft: he talked in an incoherent manner, and frequently manifested an entire vacillation of thought.

"Of perfons in his condition some leading object generally engroffes the attention, to the almoft total exclufion of every other: the power of judgment is fuperfeded, and that of imagination ufurps its place. Religion prefented itself to Ferguffon; and this he made the conftant theme of his difcourfe. Between his cafe and that of Collins, as well as of Smart, a very evident dif tinction obtains. He was approaching towards the laft ftage of mania; whereas they were only vifited with that 'depreffion of mind which enchains the 'faculties, without deftroying them, and leaves reafon the knowledge of right, without the power of purfuing it'." P. 23.

"He died on the 16th of October 1774, after having continued about two months in Bedlam. Such was the life, and fuch the lamentable death of Robert Ferguffon, a youth whom nature had rendered capable of nobler exertions; a youth whose misfortunes cannot fail to command our pity, though his mifconduct may expofe him to our cenfure." P. 30.

"His reputation refts almost folely upon the merit of his Scotifh compofi. tions. He is to be ranked, not with Pennecuik and other writers of the fame clafs, but with Ramfay, Rofs, Burns, and Macneill. Though his mind was lefs comprehenfive than that of Burns, and though he is in fome mcafure a ftranger to the delicacy and fenfibility which characterize the beautiful productions of Macneill, yet in all the eflential qualities which conftitute a poet, he is equal if not fuperior to Ramfay and Rofs.

"The popularity of his Scotifh poems is a strong proof of their intrinfic merit. In that part of the ifland where their beauties can be properly understood and relished, few productions of a fimilar defcription have been fo universally admired. They are read by people of every denomination; and their native charms are fuch, that they

cannot