Chapter X

_Social Condition of the Nation in the
Fourteenth and ♦Fifteenth Centuries._

♦ “Fifthteenth” replaced with “Fifteenth”

⭘ Origin of the Scotch Parliament; admission of the
Representatives of the Burghs; import of certain Phrases;
Functions assumed by Parliament; the Judicial Committee of
Parliament; the Lords of the Articles――Attempts to establish
a Court of Supreme Jurisdiction; Proceedings of the Judicial
Committee and of the Lords of Council――Church Courts

⭘ Power of the Nobles; rise of new Families during the War of
Independence, but Robert I. increased the feudal power and
privileges of the Nobles; Subsequently they entered into bonds
with each other and marriage alliances, which often led to
lawless proceedings and anarchy; All the efforts of James I.
and the succeeding Kings failed to restrain their oppressive
lawlessness

⭘ Deplorable State of the Nation――The small-landed Proprietors
and Tenants greatly oppressed

⭘ State of Agriculture――The Crown Lands; the Tenants and
Occupiers of these Lands――Church Lands

⭘ Condition of the Tillers of the Soil――Causes which led to the
emancipation of the Bondmen and Serfs

⭘ Burghal Communities; the Border Burghs; Characteristics of the
People of the Borders

⭘ The Northern Burghal Communities

⭘ Burghs of the Central Region of the Kingdom; Burgh Rents
――Custom of the Burghs――Number of Sheep in the Country――The
Earl of Douglas and others evaded the payment of Custom, and
often seized the Money in the hands of the Collectors――Revenue
of the Crown

⭘ Commerce of the Kingdom――Seasons of Dearth――Description of
Imports

⭘ The Coinage; depreciation of the Currency; value of Scots
Money at the end of the Fourteenth Century, and at the end
of the Fifteenth

⭘ Characteristics of the Daily Life, and the Laws of the Burghal
Communities――The Chamberlain’s Court: Inquisitoral System of
Inspection; Ale Tasters, and Official Fixers of the Price of
Food and Goods; Forestallers and Regraters――The Burgesses of
Guild

⭘ Position of the Craftsmen; Acts of Parliament touching them;
mode of incorporating the Craftsmen, illustrated from the
Records of Edinburgh――State of Mechanical Skill

⭘ Cities and Burghs of the Church

⭘ Defence of the Country; Military Habits of the People; Armour
and Weapons; the Organisation of the Army――Tactics of the
Scots――Introduction of Artillery

⭘ Probable Population of the Nation――Roads and Inns――Defective
Sanitary Conditions; Pestilence――Lack of Medical Science

⭘ Drinking Habits; Chief Festivals――Rural Sports and Games

⭘ Sumptuary Enactments: Dress of the different Ranks of Society;
Household Goods; Ornaments and Plate

⭘ Price of the staple Necessaries of Life――Condition of the
Vassals, Tenants, and Labourers on the Crown Lands――Wages of
Workmen

⭘ The State of Crime――Beggars, Sorners, Oppressors, and
Vagabonds were numerous; Modes of Punishing them; Defects
in the Administration of Justice――Functions of the Sheriff:
Murder, Robbery, Rape, and Theft; Custom of saving Criminals
from Punishment; Various forms of Punishment; Penance――Crime
in the Burghs――Social Vice

⭘ Architecture――Castles, Churches

⭘ Wealth of the Church; Monasteries; Nunneries; Friars;
Hospitals

⭘ Religious Feeling of the People: Avowed Motives for assigning
Money and Property to the Church――Pilgrimages; Processions;
Relics; Sunday――Conclusion of the Chapter