66 Transactions. 
grievous oppressions of the peasantry. It is often amplified by 
the addition ewm multuris et sequelis, specifying that the multure 
dues of the baron’s mill and the swcken, as we call the population 
thirled to the mill. These rights are the subject of very fre- 
quent transactions. The neighbours fought not only with the 
miller, who was the universal enemy, but with each other as to 
their rowme and order of service. One curious point of the service 
of the sucken was the bringing home of the mill-stones. Con- 
sidering that there were few or no roads, the simplest arrange- 
ment was to thrust a beam or young tree through the hole of the 
mill-stone, and then for the whole multitude to wheel it along 
upong its edge—an operation of some difficulty and danger in a 
rough district.” 
The doings in connection with the mills in this town, in times 
not far distant, fairly well illustrate the above passage. The 
burgh lands, as well as the kirk lands, were thirled to the mills, 
and the Town Council were careful that the possessors of these 
lands should not evade the thirlage. On the 11th August, 
1652, the Council appointed a committee to see ‘The hail growin’ 
cornes of the Towne and Kirkland this present croppe, And 
make Inventorie thairoff and give in to the Toun Counsell both 
of ye quantity of the lands and of the possessoris thairof.” The 
inhabitants of the town also were required to have their 
malt ground at the common mills, and not only so, but 
they must not purchase ground malt which had _ been 
ground at any other mill. The following are examples 
of the Council’s dealings in this matter :—‘ 24th January, 
1645. The Provost, Bailys, and Council, Considering that 
Edward Newall has taken malt bye the Toun’s Milns be his 
own confessione, Ordains him to pay five merks and double 
multure to the Taxmen.” 3d December, 1646—‘ It is ordained 
that whosoever resets or receaves grund malt whilk are not grund 
at the Towns Milns Sall pey the double multure to the Tacksmen 
farmers and Tacksmen, And pey Ten punds unlaw Conforme to 
the former acts thereanent.” 11th April, 1687—‘“ The Councell 
Discharges the hail Inhabitants of the Burgh of bringing in or 
brewing of grund-malt from the country, to the prejudice of the 
Touns Milns under the pain of being flined in the value of the 
malt and loseing their Priveledge of Burges-ship.” The Council 
at another time, agree with the Tacksman of the Mills, to allow 
“Tlk discoverer of resetting or bringers in of ground malt ane 
