46 Transactions. 



Commuii Li)t't. The Trades Galleries began to be erected in the 

 year IGIU. The Smiths, in snpport of their claim to their gallery, 

 declared they once had an extract of an Act dated about the year 



1612, allowing their trade to build their loft. The Wrights 

 founded on an Act of vSession, dated 4th August, 1636, which they 

 produced, with others. The Weavers declared they had lately the 

 extract of an Act granted by the Session in the year 1655. The 

 Shoemakers produced an Act of Session dated the year of God 



1613, likewise another of date 27th September, 1655. In regard 

 to the Tailors' Loft, the following interesting old Act of Session 

 was produced. The minute proceeds — " Adam Wright, Deacon of 

 Taylors, produced ano Act of Session, dated the 9th day of 

 Feby., 1610, which (the register not being now extant quherin 

 it was) is here insert as follows : " 



"The 9th daj' of Februarie, 1610, the Minister and Session 

 Ijeing convenit in the Kirk of Drumfreis, the cpihilk day George 

 Lorimer, Deacon of the Tailzoris, in name and behalf of the 

 remnant of that Graft, desyrit libertie to build ane Loft, for the 

 use of the Tailzoris of Drumfreis in time of Divine Service, in that 

 part of the Paroch Kirk of Drumfreis quhair lang befoir ye said 

 Craft had obteint libertie to build ane Alter of Saint Anna, as the 

 warrant granted by the Counselle of the saide Burgh the yeir of 

 God ane Thousand fy ve hundred and fortie seven, therein producitt 

 be the said George in parchment, at length purportes. To the 

 quhilk desyre the Provost, Baillies, & Session fuUie condescendit 

 all in ane voyce Avithout contradictioune, j^roviding allwais that 

 the sd Loft come not furtlier without the pillars within the bodie 

 of the Kirk above the space of ane feet and ane half, or thairby, 

 wn the quhilk boundis the tirst furme of the said Loft miglit 

 stand, and no more." 



For the Glovers it was alleged there were several Acts in their 

 favour, and one extant in the Session Register dated 25th May, 

 1654. And the FJeshers founded their right on an Act of Session 

 dated 17th March, 1659. 



The lofts were not then arranged in the church continuously 

 and symmetrically as now, but each stood by itself with its own 

 stair. One is described as being supported on " three stoops," 

 and that they were not regarded as integral parts of the building- 

 appears from the terms of a Minute of Session dated. February, 

 1638. Absentee seatliolders were not tolerated by the Session ; 

 their seats were liable to be taken down or otherwise disposed uf ; 



