Hall marks on gold & silver plate

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HALL MARKS ON PLATE.
"
And in lykwyis that thai were havely hurt be the dayly mercat
maid throw the hie street in cramis and on the baksyde the toun in
haichhng and hammermennis werk pertaining to thame of thair
craft in greit dishonour to the burgh and in braking of the auld
gude rule and statatis of thair craft and upon uther skathis that
thay sustenit in default of reformatioun."
"
it was ordered there should be no
Whereupon oppin mercat
usit of ony of the saidis craftis upon the hie streittis nor in cramis
upon buirdis," etc.
"
That upon ilk Settirday eftir none tua or thrie
of the worthiest maisters and maist of knowledge of the said craftis,
quhilk sail haif powar with ane officiar with thame to pas serch and
se all mennis work gif it be sufficient in stuff and workmanschip,
gude worth and hable work to serve the Kingis liegis with and quahir
it beis fundin faultive to forbid the samyn to be sauld under the
paine of escheitt." Also it is advised and concluded by
the Lords
of the Articles, " That henceforth there be in each burgh of the realm
where goldsmiths are, one deacon and one searcher of the craft, and
that each goldsmith's work be marked with his oiun mark, the
deacon's mark, and the mark of the town, silver of the fineness of
eleven penny fine, and gold of twenty-two karats fine."
GOLDSMITHS' MARKS.
A.D. 1489. Another statute to the same effect was ordained. By
this each goldsmith was to have one special mark, sign, and token.
His works were to be of the fineness of the new works of silver of
Bruges, and there was to be a deacon of the craft, who was to examine
and mark the works.
PENALTIES FOR FRAUD.
A.D. 1555. "Forasmuch as there is great fraud, etc., it is ordained
that no goldsmith make in work nor set forth either his own
or other men's silver under the just fineness of eleven penny fine
under the pain of death and confiscation of all their goods and
movables ;
and that every goldsmith mark the silver work with his
own mark, and with the town's mark; also that no goldsmith set
forth either his own or other men's gold, under the just fineness of
22 karats fine, under the pains aforesaid.'"
POWER OF SEARCH.
A.D. 1586. Letters under the Privy Seal by King James VI in
favour of "the Deacon and Maisteris of the Goldsmyth Craft in
Edmburgh," Jany. 3, 1586, which empowered them to search for gold
and silver, and to try whether it were of the fineness required by
former Acts of Parliament, and seize such as should be deficient.
" That it shall not be lawful for any, except the masters of the craft.