COUXTY OF STIELIXG. 145 



1147. No doubt the district shared the benefits which flowed 

 from the superior style of agriculture introduced by David, and 

 sedulously carried out by the monks in the various monasteries 

 founded by him. The condition of the district at a more recent, 

 but still remote period, maybe illustrated by the statement that 

 in 126.3 the sheriff of Stirling was employed in repairing the 

 ancient park, and in constructing a new park for King Alex- 

 ander III., for which he was allowed £80 ; and twenty years 

 later there was an allowance for two park-keepers, and one 

 hunter of wolves at Stirling ; and for the expenses of four 

 hundred perches of pjalisade round the new park, and for 

 mowing and carrying hay and litter for the use of the fallow 

 deer in winter. 



In the arrangement of " metts, measures, and weights " for the 

 kingdom, Stirling had the custody of the standard pint, which 

 was to weigh of the water of Tay 41 oz. or 2 lbs. 9 oz. In 

 the reign of James II. it was ordained that "a general measure 

 be observed, according to the pint and quart formerly given to 

 the burgh of Stirling, for one universal standard, whereof each 

 firlot to contain 18 pints, and of this pint, quart, and firlot 

 three standards to be made, and given to Aberdeen, Perth, and 

 Edinburgh." It was likewise ordained that " the wheat firlot 

 shall contain 21 pints and a mutchkin of the Stirling jug, and 

 that the firlot of bear, malt, and oats shall contain 31 pints of 

 the same." The jug is now in the Smith Institute. It is made 

 of brass or yeltine, and weighs 14 lbs. 10 oz., and on it is the 

 lion rampant. It was lost in 1745, but was recovered by the 

 Rev. Alexander Bryce of Kirknewton, in the garret of a tinsmith 

 in the town. In 1826 it was, by authority of the town council, 

 sent on loan for an exhibition of ancient scientific articles at 

 Soutli Kensington. 



Stirling is remarkable for the number of its hospitals. One 

 was founded by llobert Spittal, tailor to King James V., who 

 left an endowment for the support and relief of decayed 

 burgesses. Another was founded in the year 1633 by Robert 

 Cowane, merchant in Stirling, for the support of twelve Guild 

 brethren ; and this property has greatly increased in value, a 

 good deal of the land having been feued. A third was founded 

 in 1725 by John Alhin, writer in Siirling, who "mortified" 

 30,000 merks for the maintenance and education of the cliihlren 

 of i)Oor tradesmen. 



Toward the close of the sixteenth century, Stirling had l)L'come 

 a manufacturing town, and a kind of worsteil stull" called shalloons 

 was nude, quantities of whicii were exported to the low coun- 

 tries. Early in the eighteenth century the manufacture of lartan 

 was begun, and it tlourished till about 1760, after which it 

 declined ; but later in tiie century the manufacture of carpets 



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