‘There was ane calf calfit at Roslin, with ane heid, four een,
three lugs [ears], ane in the middle, and ane on ilk side, twa
mouths.’[96]--_Sinclair of Roslin’s MS. additions to Extracta ex
Chronicis Scotie._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: JUNE.]
A number of French Protestants having at this time taken refuge in
London in great poverty, there was a collection in Edinburgh for their
benefit, one person being commissioned to go ‘through the Lords of
Session, advocates, and scribes,’ and another ‘to pass to the deacons
and crafts,’ in order to gather their respective contributions.--_R. G.
K. E._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: AUG.]
The General Assembly declared its mind regarding the dress fit for
clergymen and their wives. ‘We think all kind of broidering unseemly;
all begares[97] of velvet, in gown, hose, or coat, and all superfluous
and vain cutting out, steeking with silks, all kind of costly sewing on
passments[98] ... all kind of costly sewing, or variant hues in sarks;
all kind of light and variant hues in clothing, as red, blue, yellow,
and such like, which declare the lightness of the mind; all wearing of
rings, bracelets, buttons of silver, gold, or other metal; all kinds
of superfluity of cloth in making of hose; all using of plaids in the
kirk by readers or ministers, namely in the time of their ministry, or
using of their office; all kind of gowning, cutting, doubletting, or
breeks of velvet, satin, taffeta, or such like; all silk hats, and hats
of divers and light colours.’ It was recommended to the clergy, that
‘their whole habit be of grave colour, as black, russet, sad gray, or
sad brown; or serges, worset, chamlet, grogram, lytes worset, or such
like.... And their wives to be subject to the same order.’
[Sidenote: 1575.]
It is rather curious that any such sumptuary regulations should have
been required for the Presbyterian ministers, or even their helpmates,
as, according to all accounts, their incomes for the first forty years
after the Reformation were wretchedly narrow and irregular. The thirds
of the old benefices assigned to them by Queen Mary’s act were far from
being well paid. In the pathetic words of a memorial they presented to
Mary in 1562, ‘most of them led a beggar’s life.’ They were as ill off
under the grasping Morton as at any other time. The proceedings of the
General Assembly of 1576 reveal that some were compelled to eke out
their miserable stipends by selling ale to their flocks. The question
was then formally put: ‘Whether a minister or reader may tap ale, beer,
or wine, and keep an open tavern?’ to which it was answered: ‘Ane
minister or reader that taps ale or beer or wine, and keeps ane open
tavern, sould be exhorted by the commissioners to keep decorum.’--_B.
U. K._
* * * * *
Towards the end of this year, the Regent Morton was at Dumfries,
holding justice-courts for the punishment of the Borderers. ‘Many
were punished by their purses rather than their lives. Many gentlemen
of England came thither to behald the Regent’s court, where there
was great provocation made for the running of horses. By chance my
Lord Hamilton had there a horse sae weel bridled and sae speedy, that
although he was of a meaner stature than other horses that essayit
their speed, he overran them all a great way upon Solway Sands,
whereby he obtained great praise both of England and Scotland at that
time.’--_H. K. J._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1576.