The Incorporation of Hammermen
THE Incorporation of Hammermen is a very old civic Corporation
in Edinburgli. Although its records go no further back
than 1582, it is nevertheless true that the hammermen were
at first created into a Society or Incorporation by a "seal of cause"
or charter from the Town Council of Edinburgh, on the 2d day of
May 1483.

The Incorporation of Goldsmythis
THE Goldsmiths were originally included in the Incorporation
of Hammermen. At what time they became separated
from that body is not now known, as there seems to be
no authentic record of the occurrence. It is likely, however, to have
been a short time before they obtained from the Town Council a Seal
of Cause in their own favour, on the 20th day of August 1581. The
Seal of Cause granted to the Hammermen, was at so early a period as
1483, being ninety-eight years previous to that of the Goldsmiths.

The Incorporation of Baxters
The origin and history of the Incorporation of
Baxters, or Bakers, very little is known in the present
day.but it is thought that they were formed around 1443.

The Incorporation of Fleschouris
The origin of this trade appears to pre-date 1483

The Incorporation of Mary's Chapel
THE Incorporation of Mary's Chapel, which at first included
only the Wrights and Masons, is at the present time the
strongest, most important and most flourishing of all the
civic organisations of former days. Its seal of cause dates back to the
15th October 1475. After that time the trade of the Coopers was
added on 26th August 1489.

The Incorporation of Skinners and Furriers
THE Skinners (which included the crafts of the Furriers and
the Glovers) would appear to have taken precedence of most,
if not of all, of the other Trades Incorporations. The first
record of their existence is to be found in a document written in
mediaeval Latin of date the 12th January 1450.

The Incorporation of Cordwainers (Cordiners)
THE word Cordwainer (or Cordiner, as it was eventually called)
was derived from the word Cordovan, a kind of leather
made of goats' skins in the city of Cordova, in Spain.
The Cordiners were, according to Maitland, at first erected into a
fraternity or Incorporation, by a Charter from the Town Council of
Edinburgh, on the 28th July 1449.

The Incorporation of Talzouris
THE charter of tlie Incorporation of Talzouris or Taylors (now
Tailors), dates so far back as the 26th day of August 1500.
Nevertheless, there is abundant evidence to prove that its
existence as a Society was antecedent to that date.

The Incorporation of Wobstaris
THE Websters, or Weavers, of the City of Edinburgh, having,
in the year 1475, petitioned the Magistrates and Town
Council to erect them into an Incorporation, their request
was at once granted.

The Incorporation of Waekaris
THE Members of the Craft of Waekeris, or Waulkers, as they
are now called, on the 20th day of August 1500, obtained
a Seal of Cause from the Provost, Magistrates, and Town
Council of the period. The business of the Waulkers might be
said to consist chiefly in the dressing of cloths,
the working-in of wool, or of fur, to make felt, etc. Hence
the Craft of Sheermen (Scissorsmen) was engrafted upon it. And on
the 13th September 1672, the fraternity of Hatters became incorporated
with the Waulkers. In the Council Register of the City,
there is a Seal of Cause to the Hatters on 18th February 1473.

The Incorporation of Bonnet-makers
THE Bonnet-makers, whose Craft was originally included in
the fraternity of the Waulkers, on the 31st of March 1530,
petitioned the Town Council of Edinburgh to give them a
separate Charter of Incorporation. This the Civic Corporation readily
consented to do.

The above information was taken from the book, "The Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh", by James Colston published in 1891.

I intend to compile a list of antiquarian books that can be obtained through the Internet Archive and will add to this as time permits. You should note that in some of these book are extensive records mostly written in the Old Scots language.

"History of the Incorporation of Cordiners in Glasgow" by William Campbell 1883

"The Baxter Books of St. Andrews".

"Burgh Laws of Dundee with the History, Statutes and Proceedings of the Guild of Merchants and Fraternities of Craftsmen" by Alex. J. Warden 1872.

"The Weavers' Craft being a History of the Weavers' Incorporation in Dunfermline" by Daniel Thomson 1903.

"Paisley Weavers or Other Days, The "Pen' Folk", by David Gilmour 1876.

"Old Glasgow Weavers", by Deacon Robt. D. M'Ewan 1908.

"The Perth Hammermen book" (1518 to 1568) by Colin A. Hunt 1889

"The Hammermen of Edinburgh and their altar in St. Giles Church; being extracts from the records of the Incorporation of Hammermen of Edinburgh, 1494 to 1558" by John Smith 1908.

"History of the Hammermen of Glasgow; a study typical of Scottish craft life and organisation" by A Gardiner 1912.