_5th October 1576._—It is statut and ordanit be the provest, baillies, consell, witht consent of the communitie present for the tyme, being conuenit on the gill court day, and that na burges of gild nor dekin of craft quhatsumeuir withtin this burght, be fund werand ane plaid fra the feist of Sanct Martein nixt to cum in ony time thairefter withtin the burtht, under the pain of fourtie s. to be uptakin onforgewin fra the persouns apprehendit wering the said plaid efter the forsaid feist of Sanct Martein, and the plaid to be gewin to the hospitall to thair support, that ar pleset thairin. _6th June 1621._—The said day the prowest, baillies, and counsall considdering the inciuill forme of behaweour of a great manye wemen in this burght, of gude qualitie, quha resortis both to kirk and mercat with thair playddis about thair headis, and be thair exampill the meaner sort of wemen vses the samen forme of incivilitie, quhilk gewis offence to strangeris and occasioun to thame to speik reprochefullie of all wemen generallie within this burght; for remeid quharof, it is statute and ordanit that na wemen within this burght of quhatsumeuir rank, qualitie, or degrie they be of, presvme or tak vpon hand to resort to kirk or mercat with thair playddis about their heidis, vnder the paines following, to be exactit of the contravenar without fauour, _toties quoties_: viz. xiii. sh. iiij. d. of the wyiff of ilk burges of gild, and sex sh. aucht d. of ilk craftisman, and this act to be intimat out of the pulpit of baith the kirkis on Sonday nixt, and thaireftir to hawe effect and executioun in tyme comeing.[23] In view of what the old writers point out, that the early dress of the Irish people bore a close resemblance to that of the Scottish Highlanders, the description given by John Derricke in 1581 is valuable as attesting the prevalence in his time of the two forms of the dress—the kilt and the trews. It runs thus:— THE IRISHE KARNES APPARELL MOSTE LIUELY SET OUT. With Jackettes long and large, which shroude simplicitie: Though spitfull dartes which thei do beare importe iniquitie. Their Shirts be verie straunge, not reachyng paste the thie: With pleates on pleates thei pleated are, as thicke as pleates maie lye. Whose sleues hang trailing doune almoste unto the Shoe: And with a Mantell commonilie, the Irishe Karne doe goe. Now some emongest the reste, doe use an other weede: A coate I meane of strange device, whiche fancie first did breede. His skirtes be verie shorte, with pleates set thicke about, And Irishe trouzes more to put their straunge protractours out.[24] Sir Walter Scott, writing of the verse, makes this comment:—