Biggar and the House of Fleming

THE COMMERCE AND TRADE OF BIGGAR. 353
that are too apt to settle down on the brows of the sons and
daughters of toil. Biggar some years ago commenced a great
movement for the amelioration of the condition of farm servants.
Public meetings were held and addresses delivered by Dr
Guthrie and others, at two Biggar Fairs, which had the effect
for a time of drawing public attention very generally to the
subject, but unfortunately the movement so auspiciously begun
has not been sustained, and for the present may be said to have
been abandoned.
Thursday, " dies Jovis," is the day expressly mentioned in
the original charter constituting Biggar a burgh of barony, on
which the weekly market of that town was to be held. We are,
therefore, surprised to find, that when the General Assembly
of the Scottish Kirk fixed on Saturday, the 26th of July 1G45,
to be observed as a solemn national fast, for the purpose of
craving a blessing on the Parliament about to assemble at St
Johnstone, and of giving thanks for the victory gained by
Fairfax in Northamptonshire, the Presbytery of Biggar, in
making arrangements for the fast, decided that, " because Sat-
terday is ye ordinar day of Biggar mercatt, it was recommended
to ye baillies of Biggar to discharge ye mercatt for that day."
Nay, in the charter of 1661, reconstituting Biggar and Kirk-
intilloch burghs of barony, it is stated that their market days
were changed from Sunday to Saturday.* The weekly market
of Biggar, as well as its annual fairs, have, for a long period,
been held on Thursday. On market days the farmers, and
other portions of the rural community, visit Biggar. Grain, meal,
potatoes, and other agricultural produce, are disposed of, the
news of the district are discussed, the progress of rural labour
on the different farms is reported, bank business is transacted,
farming implements and household commodities are purchased,
and the wants of the inner man are supplied by a due modi-
cum of refreshments in the " Crown," the " Commercial," or
the " Elphinstone Arms."
At the fairs and markets of Biggar, in the olden time, one
of the most notable and gratifying spectacles was the ample array
of the products of female industry that was then displayed.
* Previous to the Reformation it was a common practice throughout the
country to hold markets on Sunday, as well as to engage in various sports and
pastimes.
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