Transactions. 45 



in all, namely in Ministers, and such as bear function in the 

 Kirk, we think all kind of broidering unseemly, all Begairies 

 of velvet in Gown, Hose or Coat ; all superfluous and vain 

 cutting out, steeking with silks ; all kind of costly sowing-on 

 of Pasments, or sumptuous and large steeking with silks ; all 

 kind of costly sowing or variant hews in shirts ; all kind of 

 light and variant hews of clothing, as red, blue, yellow, and 

 such like, which declare the lightness of the minde ; all 

 wearing of rings, bracelets, buttons of silver or gold, or other 

 finge metal ; all kind of superfluity of cloth in making of 

 hose ; all using of plaids in the Kirks by Readers, or Minis- 

 ters, namely in time of their Ministry and using of their 

 office ; all kind of souning, coating, doubleting, or breaches 

 of velvet, satine, taffaty, or such like stufFe ; costly guilding 

 of whingers and knives ; silk hats of divers and light colours. 

 But we think their whole habit should be of gi-ave colour ; 

 as black, russet, sad-gray, sad-brown, or searges, worsat, 

 chamlet, grogram, syles, warsat, or such like. To be short, 

 such as thereby the Word of God be not slandered through 

 their lightness or gorgeousness ; and that the wives of 

 Ministers be subject to the same order." — (Calderwood's 

 History.) From this it will be seen that the home-made 

 dark-gi'ay cloth in which the clergy clad themselves was not 

 altogether of their own choice, or necessitated by their pov- 

 erty, but was worn as obedient sons of the church. 



The pulpit costume of the preacher was by no means a 

 matter of indifiference, or left to his own selection. As gowns 

 of various colours, but generally gray, continued to be worn 

 in the pulpit, and w^ere thought unbecoming the graveness of 

 the profession, the Synod of Dumfries in 1696 passed a re- 

 commendation to the following effect: — " The Synod, consider- 

 ing that it's a thing very decent and suitable, so it hath been 

 the practice of ministers in this Kirk formerly, to wear black 

 gowns in the pulpit, and for ordinary to make use of bands, 

 do therefore, by their act, recommend it to all their brethren 

 within the bounds to keep up that laudable custom, and to study 

 gravity in their apparel and deportment every manner of way." 



