THE GANNET. 37 



Edinburgh, there is a " commission by Pope Alexander vi. 

 to the Prior and Archdeacon of St. Andrews, to investigate 

 a claim by the prioress of North Berwick against Ptobert 

 Lauder of the Bass, and rector of the parish of the Bass, 

 for certain barrels of grease of geese, dated 10th May, 

 1493."^ The following interesting "Excerpts from the 

 Books of John, Duke of Lauderdale, respecting the price 

 of Solan Geese, from 1674 to 1678," were communicated 

 to the History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Chib ^ by Mr. 

 Piobert Eomanes of Harryburn, Lauder : — 



"THE BASS.— John, Earl, afterwards Duke, of Lauderdale, was in 

 1671, March 3rd, Captain of the Bass. 

 ,, August 21st, Keeper of the Bass. 

 , , September 7th, Governor of the Bass. 



1674. " By pryce of SoUen-geese of the Bass, 1674. The accomptant 

 charges himself with the pryce of 1118 SoUen-Geese, sold for 

 1 lb. 8s. 4d. each score, p. contract accordinglie, dated 10th June, 

 1674, ..... £79 3s. lOd. sterling." 



" To the climber of the Bass in full of his fee, waige, and allowance 

 for the year and season 1674, and for some other small necessaries 

 and charges that year, p. discharge upon the back of the contract 

 accordinglie, . . . . £11 12s. 2d. sterling." 



1675. "By pryce of 1060 Sollen-Geese, as the product of the Bass the 

 season 1675, sold for 1 lb. 9s. 2d. sterling each score, p. contract 

 accordinglie, dated 11th May, 1675, . . £77 5s. lOd." 



" To Charles Maitland in the Bass for his expense when he went 

 to London with Sollen-Geese, p. his Grs. Order and his Receipt, 

 dated 19th October, 1675, ... £20 Os. Od." 



1676. "By pryce of 1150 Sollen-Geese as the product of the Bass for 

 1676, sold as above, p. contract 24 May, 1676, . £83 17s. Id." 



1677. " By pryce of 985 Sollen-Geese sold at 1 lb. 9s. 2d. each score, for 

 the season 1677, p. contract accordinglie, . £71 16s. 5^d." 



1678. "For the Sollen-Geese in the Bass for year and season 1678, 

 Charles Maitland is settled with, and here is the agreement made 

 with him thereanent :— 



'At Edinburgh, the 10th day of May, 1678, it is agreed upon 

 and consented to betwixt Sr. William Sharp of Stonyhill on the 

 ane part, and Charles Maitland, son to Robert Maitland, keeper 

 of the Bass, on the other part. That is to say the said Sr. William 

 Sharp setts and letts to the said Charles Maitland the whole 

 Sollen-Geese of the Bass for the season 1678, for the sum of three 

 score fifteen pounds sterl., to be payed to the said Sr. William 



1 Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. vii. p. 88. = md. vol. vii. pp. 90-92. 



