Stage-coaches were at this time advertised as to go from ‘the George
Inn without Aldersgate’ to sundry parts of England thrice a week; to
Leeds, Wakefield, and Halifax once a week, charge 40s.; to Durham and
Newcastle, once a week, charge £3; and ‘to _Edinburgh in Scotland_,
once in three weeks, for £4, 10s.’--in all cases, ‘with good coaches
and fresh horses on the roads.’[178]
* * * * *
During this year, the people of Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other
considerable towns, were amused in succession with the performances of
a horse brought from England, ‘wha, being trained up in dancing and
other conceits of that kind, did afford much sport and contentment to
the people, but not without gain, for none was admitted to see the
dancing without twopence the piece, and some more.’--_Nic._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: OCT. 1.]
A supplication was this day given in to the Town Council of Glasgow
by one Robert Marshall, shewing that he was willing, if permitted,
to exercise the calling of a house-painter in the city. The Council,
having had it represented to them that there was ‘but one the like
within this burgh, and not ane other in all the west of Scotland,’ gave
Robert permission to wash and paint houses to any who pleased to employ
him.--_M. of G._
[Sidenote: 1658.]
This gives a curious idea of Glasgow two centuries ago. The magistrates
had a little before this time induced a printer to come from Edinburgh
and settle amongst them. The man does not seem to have succeeded, for
in May 1660, they give him fifty merks, ‘to help to transport his guids
and flitting to Edinburgh again.’ A few months after this date, Robert
Sanders was encouraged to set up a printing-office in Glasgow, with a
pension of £40 a year, ‘he to print gratis anything that the town shall
employ him to print.’ In 1660, they caused a plasterer to be sent for
from Perth, ‘to come here for plastering of Hucheson’s Hospital.’--_M.
of G._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: NOV.]
The lamentations, of which we have seen several examples, over the
depressed condition of Scotland under the English tyranny, are
repeated at this time by a man of moderate and sagacious character,
the Rev. Robert Baillie. He says: ‘The country lies very quiet; it is
exceeding poor; trade is nought; the English has all the moneys. Our
noble families are almost gone: Lennox has little in Scotland unsold;
Hamilton’s estate, except Arran and the barony of Hamilton, is sold;
Argyle can pay little annual-rent [interest] for seven or eight hunched
thousand merks [of debt]; and he is no more drowned in debt than public
hatred, almost of all, both Scotch and English. The Gordons are gone;
the Douglases little better; Eglintoun and Glencairn on the brink of
breaking. Many of our chief families’ states are cracking; nor is there
any appearance of any human relief for the time.’[179] It may give some
idea of the reduced state of the nobility during these evil days, that
the allowance made by the English government out of the sequestered
estates of the Balcarres family for the earl, a minor, and his younger
brother, was only ten pounds a year![180]
Nicoll, adverting to the same time, says: ‘The condition of this nation
of Scotland yet remains sad, by reason of poverty and heavy burdens.’
The crop of the year ‘was very poor by reason of the spring-time, whilk
was very cold and weety the space of many weeks.’ The price of victual
was consequently for this year double what it had recently been.
[Sidenote: 1658.]
A Mr Tucker, who was commissioned by Cromwell in 1656 to introduce
order into the customs duties of Scotland, has left a report from which
we obtain particulars as to the trade then carried on with foreign
countries. Notwithstanding that duties were in those days imposed
equally on exported and imported goods, the revenue of Leith port was
only £2335; that of Aberdeen, £573; Glasgow, £554. The respective sums
drawn from these ports, for imports only, in 1844, were £631,926,
£76,259, and £551,841. Other ports were in proportion, though not
uniformly; thus Burntisland, which is now merely a ferry harbour, then
drew nearly as much revenue as Glasgow. The native shipping, consisting
of vessels of from twelve to a hundred and fifty tons, was in not
less marked contrast to that of our day. Glasgow had only twelve such
vessels; Kirkcaldy, an equal number, but not one above a hundred tons;
Dundee and Anstruther, ten; Burntisland, seven; Wemyss, six; Dysart,
four. The extreme narrowness of the resources of Scotland is strikingly
shewn in these facts, and makes us the more disposed to wonder at the
comparatively great sacrifices which the people had been making for
many years for the sake of their church and for its promotion in other
lands.
At the same time that so great poverty prevailed, there was such a
protection to life and property as had never before been known. It was
not, we believe, without cause that the famous Colonel Desborough, in
a speech in the House of Commons (March 17, 1659), made it a boast for
his party, that ‘a man may ride over all Scotland, with a switch in his
hand and a hundred pounds in his pocket, which he could not have done
these five hundred years.’[181]
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1659.