Diligent servant

“The following extract comes from the Minute Book of the Baker Trade of Dundee dated from 1554-1643,” says Innes Duffus, archivist to the Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee.

“Transcribing this will have taken about a couple of months by the time I have finished and it will then go on the Nine Trades web site.

“Alexr Nicol sone to Andro Nicol umqll Indweller in the Kirktown of telling and is becom prentise & servant to David Scrymgour Baxter burges of the sd Burgh & Janet Tailzer his spouse & the lonest liver of them tuo during the sd space of zeirs and serving of sevin complet zeirs nixt efter his entrie to the services Quhik entrie mad & began the samen day the fyften day of Apryl 1652 zeirs and from thence the sd Alexr Nicol sal remaine ane leil trew & diligent servant & prentise to the said David Scrymgour and Janet Taizler his spouse & sal nether heir nor sie her skaith but sal advertise them therof lyk as the sd David & his spouse be thir pntts obleidges them and everie on of them tuo to learne & instruct the sd Alexr Nicol in the sd Craft the conditions therof and sal not hyd nor conceal from him nothing of the poynts therof according to ther knowledge And Lykwayes and his sd spouse oblidges them to delyver to ther prentises ane sax penny loaff off everie backing it sal happen them to beak during his prentiship and Sicklyke the said Alexr prentise forsaid sal not comitt fornication nor adulterie nor mariage under the pain contenit in the Acts maid theranentof befir the qlk Acts & Remanent Acts… The sd Alexr be thir pntts submits himself & oblidges himself to obtember & obey the samen in all poynts most willinglie and lykwayes the sd David and his spouse oblidges them to furnish the sd prentise meat & drink during the sd space…”