KIRKCUDBRIGHT IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 1B iss 
purposes. We have an example of this in connection with the 
plague or pest, which visited the town in 1585. On the 9th of 
March of that year (1586 according to our present reckoning) 
it was ordered for “ paying of the clengeris thair feis awand 
thame be the toun ’’_« clengeris ’’ being « persons employed 
to use means for the Tecovery of those afflicted with the plague ”’ 
—every burgess, tacksman, and possessor of the skairs of land 
of the Borelands, Milnflat, and “land beneth the toun ’’ were to 
pay two. years’ “maill,’’ or rent of the said lands in advance. 
Little time was allowed them to make arrangements to meet this 
call, for the money was to be paid over to the collector “ betwix 
and the morne at evin.”? [py cases where payment is not made, 
the skairs are to be declared “vacand and in the tounis hands,’’ 
The descriptions of boundaries in the case of property 
transactions are interesting as helping us to a notion of the 
extent and form of the town at that period. «“ Common gaits,’’ 
“common streits,’? or “hie streits ’’ as they were synonymously 
called, ran from the Market Cross to the Moat, near the 
harbour ; from the Cross to the Meikle Yett, or gate of the town, 
east of the Selkirk Arms Hotel; from the town to St Mary’s 
Isle, by way of the Meikle Yett ; another from the Cross to the 
Isle, and a “common vennel ”’ branching off in the direction of 
the Isle, some way east of the Market Cross. The name of the 
Moat still survives, although its use is not apparent. It is 
probable that it had served a defensive purpose in connection 
‘with the harbour. This view is strengthened by the circum- 
Stance that the Convention of Burghs made a grant to the town 
in aid of the repair of the Moat and Haven. 
THIRLED TO THE Latrp’s Mitt: Monopottrs. 
On 15th November, 1580, we find this entry: (the Bailzies, 
Counsall, and communitie of the said burgh, at desyre of the 
Rycht Honbll. Thomas M‘Clellane of Bombie [who was Provost 
in 1576; builder of the castle, father of the first Lord Kirkcud- 
bright], oblisses thame to bring thair cornis, malt, and uthir 
Stuffe to the myln callit the New Myln, and pay their multuris. 
usit and wont, sa that the said myln be sufficient in wattir, wark- 
men, and all uthir necessaris, and [accessable ?] to all the town 
Tequyring thame.’’ And if the mill shall be found to answer 
these conditions—the matter being tried by “half ane disone of 
