Scottish Buughal Life. 93 



Cliurch than those implied by the appointment of the beadle and 

 the upholding of the fabric. In the year 1580, at the Michael- 

 mas election, they appointed six " eldaris to the Kirk," to hold 

 office for one year ; but this appears to be a solitary entry of the 

 kind. If they did not appoint the minister they regulated his 

 income; in 1602 they stipulated to pay the Rev. Robert Glendin- 

 niug £100 a year. And they did their best, according to their 

 light, to secure him a congregation. An Act of the Council 

 passed in 159G imposed a penalty of forty pence on all persons 

 who should '' ban, sweir, curs, raill, or speik any evill or profane 

 speichess contempteuselie, or flyte on the gait " (brawl on the 

 street). It further directed that all the inhabitants should attend 

 the Church services twice every Sabbath, " befoir and efter none," 

 and should also " convene to the examinationis ilk day being 

 advertissit," under a like penalty of forty pence for every 

 absence. The " examinations " would be special diets fixed for 

 the catechising of the flock by the minister ; but there were regu- 

 larly, in addition to the Sabbath services, two preachings on week 

 days. ^Vednesdays and Fridays. 



The Council also appointed the schoolmaster, and sometimes 

 they conferred (he office on the parish minister. Mr James Dodds 

 was one of these reverend pluralists ; and the Council and com- 

 munity, in whose name the appointment runs, undertook to pay 

 him as schoolmaster a salary of twenty merks, with £3 additional 

 for " chalmer maill," that is house rent, and he was to receive a 

 (quarterly fee of 12d "'of ilk toun bairn that he leiris" (learns). 

 A minute of slightly later date, and relating to the incumbency of 

 a successor, shews that the recovery of the fees was sometimes a 

 matter of difficulty. " And the toun bairnis to pay thair quarter 

 feis afoir the terme, and gif they pey nocht within ten days efter 

 the terme, the said James to expell thame furth of the scule." A 

 successor in the ministry, Mr David Blythe, was also the school- 

 master, and it was stipulated that he should have under him " ane 

 sufficient learnit doctor " as assistant. But the Council did not 

 find the dual appointment satisfactory, and after a trial of sixteen 

 months they dischaiged him '• as schuill Mr, in respect they haid 

 fund him insufficient to wait thairon, because of his office of 

 ministrie and uthir effairis." 



