An act of parliament was passed to prevent horses being exported, it
being found that so many had lately been taken to Bordeaux and other
places abroad, as to cause ‘great skaith’ by the raising of prices at
home.
* * * * *
There has been a feeling of rivalry between Perth and Dundee from time
immemorial, and it probably will never cease while both towns exist.
At a parliament now held by the Regent Moray, the representatives of
each burgh strove for the next place after Edinburgh in that equestrian
procession which used to be called the _Riding of the Estates_. A
tumult consequently arose upon the street, and it was with difficulty
that this was stilled. Birrel relates how the Regent was ‘much troubled
to compose those two turbulent towns of Perth and Dundee,’ and that ‘it
was like to make a very great deal of business, had not the same been
mediate for the present by some discreet men who dealt in the matter.’
Due investigation was afterwards made (January 9, 1567-8), that it
might be ascertained ‘in whais default the said tumult happenit.’ It
was found that ‘James Wedderburn and George Mitchell, burgesses of
Dundee, and William Rysie, bearer of the handsenyie [ensign] thereof,’
were no wise culpable; and they were accordingly allowed to depart.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: DEC. 27.]
Alexander Blair younger of Balthayock, and George Drummond of Blair,
gave surety before the Privy Council for Alexander Blair of Freirton,
near Perth, ‘that Jonet Kincraigie, spouse to the said Alexander, sall
be harmless and skaithless of him and all that he may let, in time
coming, under the pain of five hundred merks; and als that he sall
resave the said Jonet in house, and treat, sustene, and entertene her
honestly as becomes ane honest man to do to his wife, in time coming;’
besides paying to her children by a former husband their ‘bairn’s part
of geir.’--_P. C. R._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: DEC. 31.]
‘Robert Jack, merchant and burgess of Dundee, was hangit and quarterit
for false coin called _Hardheads_, whilk he had brought out of
Flanders.’--_Bir._ ‘Fals lyons callit hardheades, plakis, balbeis,[50]
and other fals money,’ is the description given in another record,
_literatim_.
[Sidenote: 1567.]
The hardhead was originally a French coin, denominated in Guienne
_hardie_, and identical with the liard. It was of debased copper, and
usually of the value of three-halfpence Scotch; but further debasement
was oftener than once resorted to by Scottish rulers as a means of
raising a little revenue. Knox, in 1559, complains that ‘daily there
were such numbers of _lions_ (alias called _hardheads_) prented, that
the baseness thereof made all things exceeding dear.’ So also the
Regent Morton increased his unpopularity by diminishing the value of
hardheads from three halfpence to a penny, and the plack-piece from
fourpence to twopence.[51]
Robert Jack had probably made a sort of mercantile speculation in
bringing in a debased foreign _hardhead_. The importance attached to
his crime is indicated by the payment (January 28, 1567-8) of £33, 6s.
8d. to George Monro of Dalcartie, for ‘expenses made by him upon six
horsemen and four footmen for the sure convoying of Robert Jack, being
apprehended in Ross for false cunyie.’
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1567-8.