The books bear to contain the names of all persons received as Apprentices to a merchant or craftsman with the duty of their entry silver, conform to Decreet-Arbitral set forth by the King's Majesty (James VI.) upon all differences between the merchants and craftsmen, conform to the Act and Statute of the Burgh. The portion of the Decreet-Arbitral bearing upon Apprentices and their entry silver is engrossed at the beginning of Volume I.
The dates are those at which the indenture was booked, but when another date is given in brackets, it is that of the indenture itself. Two paragraphs in the Record explain the absence of entries of Apprentices between certain dates, viz.—" 10 April 1639.—Na consel all this times in respect of the trubells and in respect of the King's Schippis lyand in the road of Leyth, who come here upon the day of April last."
"21 January 1646.—Na Court all this time since the 25 day of June last, in respect of the great infection of the seikness of the plague and pestilence."
