More Medieval Laws (Statutes) of Berwick-upon-Tweed Guild

This follows on from James Evans article about the Statutae Gildae (Guild Laws); here are my translations of a few of the Guild laws.

Note that these laws are of the laws of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Guild; other guilds probably had similar laws but may have had other laws different to those of the Berwick guild.

In the first 2 examples below, each law is stated in medieval Latin, followed by medieval Scots, then comes my translation, for the third law, I could find only the Latin in a 19th century book..

Law 5        Of trespass by a brother of the Guild against another

 

We have ordained that if any of our brothers trespass against another through slander, walking from the guild, or duelling in the guild, or coming to the guild, he shall pay 40 pence the first time, the second time, the third time.

 40 pence was a huge fine, it would have bought 40 chickens or 30 gallons of ale.

Law 10    Of forfeits belonging to the Guild light

If any urinate in the entrance of the guild or the wall of the guild, he shall pay 4 pence in compensation.

Law 21   Of Burgesses being without a horse

 

We ordain that any burgess having £10 in goods shall have in his stable a seemly horse worth at least £2. And if he be deprived of his horse by any chance, death, sale, gift, or in any other manner, he shall within 40 days provide another.    If not, he shall be fined eight shillings to the Guild.

More Medieval Burgh Laws of Berwick-upon-Tweed

Saturday 23rd May was the date of the annual general meeting of The Court of Deans of Guild of Scotland and was held in Berwick this year as part of the Berwick 900 festival. 

A Dean of Guild was originally the head of the Guild in a Scottish royal burgh but over the years the role developed into a burgh magistrate responsible for enforcing burgh law and resolving trade disputes; in the 19th century they became responsible for enforcing a burgh's building regulations; a process that’s now carried out by the Council.

The Court of Deans of Guild of Scotland incorporates the Guildry organisations of Aberdeen, Arbroath, Ayr, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Brechin, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Lanark, Perth and Stirling.

Nowadays, the Court’s role is both charitable and ceremonial. The Lord President of the Court of Deans of Guild of Scotland for 2014/2015 was Captain James Evans, who was Chairman of the Guild of Freeman of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

The Presidency rotates each year over the 11 localities. My tiny part in this year’s celebration was to translate some of the laws of the burghs and the Guild into modern English.

There's much more to learn about Leges Quattuor Burgorum (the Law of the Four Burghs) but here are my translations of a few of the laws. In the examples below, each law is stated in medieval Latin, followed by medieval Scots, then comes my translation.

Law 9    Of merchandise that arrives by ship

 

All merchandise that arrives by ship shall be brought to land except salt and herrings which shall be sold on board.

Law 16 Of strange merchandise

 

 No strange (non-burgess) trader may buy wool, hides or other merchandise outside the burgh, unless it’s from a burgess.

Law 20 Of making of cloth and dyeing of wool

 

 Only a burgess shall buy wool to dye or make into clothes or to cut up.

Law 36 Of annual rent of brewers

 

 Whosoever will brew throughout the year will pay the alderman 4 pence, and for half a year, 2 pence.