In 1633, plans were made for a new one-off tax on house-rent, or -mail-, intended to pay the stipends of Edinburgh's clergy. At the request of Charles I, full power and commission was given -for passing through the whole city and trying of what mail every tenement, dwelling house, low tavern, cellar or chamber-, and an inventory was taken, which survives in manuscript form in the Edinburgh City Archives. While it would seem that the tax was never actually collected and so was a failure in terms of municipal fund-raising, it left an incredibly detailed record of the socio-economic and...

This book brings together for the first time all 260 surviving documents issued by, or in the name of, all the Scottish bishops of the twelfth century, when written acta first appear in Scotland. Every Latin text is printed in full, preceded by an English summary and followed by an explanation of the date ascribed to each document and, where appropriate, textual notes and comments. Originals are described in detail: endorsement, physical condition and seal. The sources are archives in Scotland and England, the Archives Nationales, the muniments of four private owners and the copies made by...

In the summer of 1650, an English army led by Oliver Cromwell crossed the River Tweed and invaded Scotland. Within less than a year, Edinburgh had fallen to the invading force and Presbyterian ministers across the Central Belt either fled to safer ground or remained to preach against Cromwell's agenda. The invasion brought with it ideas of a new religious settlement, a reorganisation of the civil administration of Scotland and a large body of men that needed housing, food and discipline. The Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale was one of the most senior ecclesiastical meetings in Scotland to face...