Incorporation to Lodge All trades during the medieval period in Scottish towns aspired to become officially accepted by the local government. This was done by passing the 'seal of cause' (obtaining a charter from the town council which appended the town seal). Trades who managed to obtain such a charter became an 'Incorporation' (something like an English guild). The advantages of this for the trade was that they gained a political voice in how the town was governed. This meant that they could try to influence decisions made in governing the town. It is however, important to be aware that these incorporations were in a minority and that other groups (merchants and some members of the aristocracy) would always dominate the political landscape.
ods of apprenticeship and other working practices. 6. Morals and religious observance were also promoted. The stonemasons (and their close associates the Wrights) of Edinburgh were granted a Seal of Cause in 1475 and the documents lays out their duties and responsibilities. This ‘charter’ was granted before the Scottish Reformation (1559/60) and religious life was dominated by the Roman Catholic Church. At this point it is extremely important to remember that the Reformation in Scotland was quite different than that which taken place in England. Henry VIII declared, in 1534, that he alone should be the final authority in matters relating to the church in England.
In exchange for a limEvery incorporation had its The English Reforited voice in the affairs of a town each trade own different signs, tokens mation was in part dyincorporation had to nastic (Henry VIII wantand words . . . . accept responsibility ed a 'suitable' heir), pofor a range of other litical (Henry VIII wantmatters relating to their trade. E.g. setting ed control of parts of society controlled by rates of pay, duration of work periods, the church) and financial (he realised the length of apprenticeships and religious ob- value of church and other possessions he did servance. We shall return to the latter point not/could not control). During the processes in a later post. of taking control of the Roman Church, in England, Henry seized all assets, and this inThe functions of Incorporations can be sum- cluded suppressing bodies that in anyway marised as follows: supported the Roman Catholic Church. That included guilds which were one of the 1. Incorporations existed only in Burghs 'underpinning' organisations of the church (towns). structure. In short, he killed off English guilds and stole their money! 2. They represented members of a trade to promote their economic interests. There have been thousands of books and articles written on this subject but for this post 3. This required involvement in Burgh poli- the point is simply this: in England the existtics. ing order was swept away - monasteries and other Roman Catholic institutions were abol4. This frequently led to disputes with Mer- ished. Their land, property and money bechants, the Crown and other Incorporations. came the property of the English crown. 5. Incorporations tried to control the quality of work of members by setting wages, periCross Keys April 2020
The Reformation in Scotland was quite different and had very different outcomes. In
