Series 1 > Records of a Scottish cloth manufactory at New Mills, Haddingtonshire, 1681-1703

xvi THE NEW MILLS CLOTH MANUFACTORY
margin ‘ this scored by consent.’ Evidently the ‘ scored out ’
portion was a further censure on Maxwell, since the follow¬
ing words can be traced, ‘ and that some are apprehensive
that Mr. Maxwell,’ the remainder being unreadable.1 The
managers themselves were bound by stringent rules. If
they attended a sederunt late, they had to pay a fine vary¬
ing in amount according to the period of absence.2 It was
further agreed that ‘ any of there number undertakeing any
particular to be done by them betwixt and there next meet¬
ing, if they shall faile to doe the same they shall forfait
foure shillings Scotts.’3
Related to the conduct of business, there are some inter¬
esting side-lights on the social customs of the period. A
general meeting of the company was held ‘ in John Littles
back shop,’ another at Hamilton’s Coffee-house £ after the
burials,' sometimes later on at other coffee-houses (as for
instance the High Coffee-house), and sometimes at the Hall
of the Company.4 Apparently the seventeenth century
shareholder was no more regular in attending meetings than
is the modern one; but while it may sometimes happen that
a board of directors rather rejoices in a ‘ thin meeting,’ the
New Mills managers felt somewhat injured, as is shown by the
following minute : ‘ We have had two generall meetings att
quhich not above 4 men were present, and for which cause
it were fitt some effectuall course should be taken for more
punctual! keeping.’5
It would be an interesting psychological study to ascertain
how it so often happens that the most sedate men unbend
over a horse deal. It was so at all events with the New Mills
managers. First they sold ‘ a cropt horse ’ for £1 sterling.6
1 Minutes, April 14, 1703, p. 344.
2 §§22, 118. 3 § 125.
4 §§ 47. 73 5 March 25, 1702, p. 296. Just as many meetings are now held
at Cannon Street Hotel.
5 §§ I30and 131. 6 § 215.