We have now the first hint at public conveyances in Scotland in a
letter of the king, encouraging Henry Anderson of Trailsund to bring a
number of coaches and wagons with horses into Scotland, and licensing
him and his heirs for fifteen years ‘to have and use coaches and
wagons, ane or mae, as he shall think expedient, for transporting of
his hieness lieges betwixt the burgh of Edinburgh and town of Leith ...
providing that he be ready at all times for serving of his majesty’s
lieges, and that he tak not aboon the sum of twa shillings Scots money
for transporting of every person betwixt the said twa towns at ony
time.’
A patent was granted for the establishment of a glass-manufacture in
Scotland. The business was commenced at Wemyss, in Fife, and, about
ten years after, we find it, to all appearance, going on prosperously.
‘Braid glass’--that is, glass for windows--was made, measuring three
quarters of a Scots ell and a nail in length, while the breadth at
the head was an ell wanting half a nail, and at the bottom half an
ell wanting half a nail. It was declared to be equal in quality to
Danskine glass. The glasses for drinking and other uses not being of
such excellence, it was arranged that some specimens of English glass
should be bought in London and established in Edinburgh Castle, to
serve as patterns for the Scotch glass in point of quality. For the
encouragement of the native manufacture, and to keep money within
the country, the importation of foreign glass was (March 6, 1621)
prohibited.--_P. C. R._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1611.