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Dates:
1100 - 1400
Title:
Selling meat and drink in towns
Introduction:

This law attempted to ensure that those selling ale, bread, meat or fish in the town sold to all customers equally and that they kept no more than 4 pence worth of goods for the use of the household. Hucksters were petty traders who bought goods and resold them in small quantities. Note that use of the feminine form of brewer for those who sold ale.

Document:

Of sellaris of met and drynk [Of sellers of meat and drink]

All brewsters who sell ale and they who sell bread or meat or fish and all hucksters who buy and sell commonly shall sell to all men both going and coming and they shall hold no more in their house for the use of their household if any man will buy it than is worth 4 pence overnight, and all the rest shall be available to all men passing and coming who will pay for it. And who does the contrary and is convicted shall pay for his fine 8 shillings.

All broustaris the whilkis sellis ale and thai that sellis brede or flesche or fysche and all hukstaris the whilkis byis and sellis communly, sal sell til al men als well gangand as cummand what somevir, and thai sall halde na mare in thair house to the oyse of thair hushalde gif that ony man wil by it bot to the value of iiii d. oure nycht, and al the layff sall be common till al maner of man passand and cummand for thair payment. And wha dois the contrare of this and tharof be convict he sal pay to his forfalt viii s.

Media:
Source:

Ancient Laws and Customs of the Burghs of Scotland, Vol. 1.1124-1424 ed Cosmo Innes (Edinburgh: Scottish Burgh Records Society, 1868), Leges Burgorum, no.68, p.33. Translation by E. Ewan

Tags: law baking retailing
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