Hall marks on gold & silver plate

Scotlautr.
EXTRACTS FROM STATUTES AND
ORDINANCES,
WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES,
OF THE DEACON AND MARKING PLATE.
A.D. 1457. In the reign of James II (Scots), a Statute was
passed for " the reformation of gold and silver wrought by Goldsmiths,
and to eschew the deceiving done to the King's lieges, there
shall be ordained in each Burgh where Goldsmiths work, one understanding
and cunning man of good conscience, who shall be deacon
of the craft; and when work is brought to the Goldsmith and it be
gold, he shall give it forth again m work no worse than twenty
grains, and silver eleven grains line, and he shall take his work to
the deacon of the craft that he may examine that it be fine as above
written, and the said deacon shall set his mark and token thereto,
together with the said Goldsmith's and where there is no Goldsmith
;
but one in a town he shall show that work, tokened with his own
mark, to the head officials of the town which shall have a mark in
like manner ordained therefor, and shall be set to the said work."
In 1473 it was enacted that places were to be appointed in Scotland
wherein goldsmiths should examine the gold, and when sufficient
" set their <strong>marks</strong> thereto."
GOLDSMITHS. ^lARKS APPOINTED.
A.D. 1483. James III. In the records of the Town Council of
the year 1483, we read that the goldsmiths, with other trades, under
the general title of hammermen, presented a petition complaining
of certa"n irregularities :
" In the first thair complaint bure and specifyit that thay war
rycht havely hurt and put to great poverty throw the douncumming
of the blak money, walking, warding and in the payment of yeldis
and extentis quhilkis thay war compellit to do be use.