KIRKCUDBRIGHT IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 139 
with confirmation by the Lords of Council and Session), con- 
ferred on the trades the right of electing deacons, as for the first 
time ; the reason alleged on this occasion being that insufficient 
work was put out by many craftsmen and better supervision was 
necessary. 
A Note oF Luxury. 
The services of the dyer, or “ litstar ’’ as he was then called, 
seem to have been much in request, if we may judge from the 
number of accounts which one “ Wm. Quhitford,’’ of that craft, 
sought to recover, for the “ litting ’’ of “ blew woll’’ and “ reid 
woll.’?. The hair powderer was another minister of fashion 
who found custom, more or less extensive. On 3d May, 1581, 
William Wilson, “in Sanct Johnne’s Clauchane,”’ as surety for 
James Wilson, “ powderar in Kirkcudbryt,’’ is found indebted 
to John Johnstone, Dumfries, 24 lbs. weight of fine powder, and 
12 Ibs. of another quality. 
A MarrRIAGE CONTRACT. 
In 1580 Janet Lintoun, widow of William Hay, and now 
Mrs Dungalson, is the pursuer in an action of a rather curious 
nature. She sues James Lidderdale of St Mary’s Isle 
ior the sum of £40, being half the expense incurred in “ lofting ”’ 
or putting a second storey upon a portion of “the Place,’’ or 
mansion hoyse, agreeably to a bargain made in the pursuer’s 
own “ buith,’’ or shop, in or shortly after the year 1572. She 
had undertaken “to loft the hall, the laich hall, and the 
chalmer of the Place;’’ and she now set forth that she had 
spent on this work, in buying timber and paying “warkmen’s 
feis,’’ the sum of fourscore pounds, of which defender was due 
to her the half. Lidderdale, to whose oath the claim was 
referred, “ made faith that he promeist the same, bot condition- 
allie, gif his sone, Jon Lidderdaill, suld haif completit 
marriage with umqll Agnes Hay, hir dochtar, qlk wes nccht, 
becaus of hir deceis, and sa he wes nocht undir forder promeis.”’ 
