Statistical tables relative to the city of Glasgow, with other matters therewith connected online

Monteith, and others. As a plausable compendium of the whole, the
following may be taken : " The Tree is emblematical of the spreading of the
gospel, its leaves being represented as for the healing of the nations. The
Bird is also tj-pical of that glorious event, so beautifully described under the
similitude of the winter being past, and the rain over and gone, and the time
of the singing of birds being come, and the voice of the turtle heard in our
land. Bells for calling the faithful to prayers were considered so important in
matters of religion, that the rite of consecration was conferred on them by the
dignitaries of the Romish church. As to the Salmon, it may refer to the
tradition of the Lady's marriage ring being lost, and afterwards found in the
mouth of a Salmon, at the prediction of St. Mungo, in the year GOO ; or it
may have reference to the stajtle trade of the to^ai, which was fishing and
curing salmon from a very early period. A Society of Fisliers \vas formed in
the year 1201, when Malvoison was Bishop, being III years before the Stone
Bridge was built. These persons lived in a row of houses fi-onting the river,
which was called the Fishersgate till the Bridge was built, when the name was
changed to Bridgegate. Salt for curing the Society's fish liaving been sold
in the vicinity of the Fishersgate, gave name to the Saltmarket-street.

1563 Dearth : — In this year there was a general dearth in the county, approach-
ing to a famine. In Glasgow articles of provision were more than tripled
in price. In Scotch Money, a boll of Wheat, cost Six Pounds ; a boll
of Meal, Four Merks, a boll of Oats, Fifteen Shillings, an Ox to draw the
Plough, Twenty Merks, and a Wedder, Thirty Shillings.

1566 Jibing Henri/ Darnley. — In this year the husband of Mary Queen of Scots
came to this City, on a visit to his father, who resided in a liouse on the east
side of Limmerfield, a little south from the new Barony Church : a part of
the south wall of which is still preserved. As the king was taken ill, the
Queen came from Stirling to see him in this house ; where she resided till
he was so far recovered as to be removed to Edinburgh, this unfortunate
prince was murdered near Edinburgh on 10th February, 1567, being less
than two months after the splendid baptismal ceremony of his son, after-
wards James VI. of Scotland and I. of England.

1568 Battle of Langside : — Mary Queen of Scots, having effected her escape
from Lochleven Castle, repaired to Hamilton, where she wiis joined by the
Earls of Argyle, Eglinton, Cassilles, Rothes, and others, who marched
with tlieir forces to destroy the Regent ^Murray, and to re-establish the
Queen in her Royal authority. The Regent at that time was holding a
Justice Court in Glasgow, and was soon joined by tlie Earls of Glencairn,
I\Iontrose, ]Marr, and Monteith, with the Lords Temple, Home, ami Lindsay,
a great number of the citizens of Glasgow, and as strong a re-enforcement as
circumstances would admit. Having taken an advantageous position on a hill
near the village of Langside, about two miles south of Glasgow, the armies
met on 13th May; the Queen's forces being defeated, the Regent returned to
Glasgow, where he offered up public thanks for the victory, and was sumptu-
ously entertained by the Magistrates and Council. Having expressed his
obligations to the Deacons of Crafts, he desired to know if he could be of use
to any of them. On this, Matthew Fawside, Deacon of the Bakers, in-
formed his Highness that the Corporation which he represented, hadli berally



168 APPENDIX.

yr.Ans.

supplied thp .army witJi Bread ; that the mill at Partick, belonged to the
Crown, and that the Tacksman exacted exorbitant multures, oil this, the
Regent gave a grant of the Mill and Mill lands, to the Bakers.

1569 ]Vin.e: — The Town Council enacted that Wine should not be sold dearer
than eighteen pennies scots for a scotch pint.

1j7"2 High Churcli : — The High Church was tii-st opened as a Presbyterian place
of worship (strictly so called,) iu this year, Mr. David Wemyss, Minister.

1j/7 Pansli of Govan: — A CrowTi Charter u-as given to the College this year,
of the Parsonage and Vicarage of the Parish Church of govan, with the
Tiends, &c.

1578 Earl of Lennox made Lord Provost :— On 30th September of this year,
Robert Stewart Earl of Lennox, the immediate successor of Matthew, the
Father of Henry Darnley, husband to INIary Queen of Scots, was entered
a Burgess, and in the same year elected Lord Provost of Glasgow.

1581 Confession of Failh : — The Confessiou of Faith was subscribed in this
City by 2250 persons ; the subscriptiou pajwrs -were carried from house to
house by the Elders. It would appeal* that the population was then chiefly
confined to the High Street, Gallowgate, Trongate, Siiltmarket, Bridgegate, aud
Stockwell Street, as the names were all collected iu these Streets.

1581 dtbedrdl. — The kirg having appointed Mr. Robert Montgomery to be
archbshop, the people, considering him erroneous in doctrine, and loose in
morals, opposed his entry, by getting Mr. Howie to go up to the pulpit to
preach, at the time the archbishop was to have been inducted. Sir Mathew
Stewart of Minto, provost of Glasgow, being desirous to execute the king's
order, went to the church, and desired Mr. Howie to break ofiF his sermon,
which refusing, he was pulled out of the pulpit; in the struggle some hair
was pulled out of Mr. Howie's beard, several of his teeth knocked out, and
his blood ehed ; on this, Mr. Howie denounced the judgment of God on
Sir Mathew and his fam'ly. M'Ure says, that in less than 70 years, this opulent
family was so reduced, thit Sir Mathew's offspring subsisted by charity. There
is a valuable portrait of Mr. Howie, in the possession of the Trades' house
of Glasgow.

1583 Collector for the Poor: — On .30iA Au^st. — A Collector was appointed
for the first time, to stand at the Laigh Kirk door to receive alms of Town's
folk that go into the said Kirk to hear preaching.

1583 Banquets: — November Wlh. — Elders or Deacons present at Banquets, to
pay a line of eighteen-pence.

1583 Respecting Banquets. — Nov. 14th. The session enacted, that there should be
no superfluous gatherings at banquets or marriages, that the price of the dinner
or supper should be 18d. ; and persons married should find caution to that effect.

1583 Attending Sermon : — Kovember 2St/i Tliat tlie Booth doors of Merchants

and Traffickers, be steaked on Wednesdays aiid Fridays in the hour of Seruion,
and that Masters of Booths keep the hour of preaching, under the penalty
of ^20, without a lawful cause admitted by the Session. The Flesliers were
censured for killing Flesh iu time of the Preaciiing on the W'eek days.

1583 Christmas Keeping : — December 26tk. — Five persons ^vere appointed to make
public repentance, because they kept the superstitious day called Zuil. The
Baxters to be enquired at to whom they baked Zuil bread.

1583 Session Register. — The first session register began at this period.
1584—85 Celebration of the Communion. — The communion was celebrated once this year
in Glasgow, and for several years after it was twice celebrated. 117, 18
and 19, it was celebrated once a year during three Sundays running. 1620, it
was celebrated once a-year, during four Sundays running. 1621, '22, 23, 24,
the communion was celebrated once a-year, duriog three Sundays running.
1626", and from this to 1631, it was celebrated once a-year, during four
Sundays running. 1652, the communion was again celebrated twice in the
year ; the first time, it was given three Sundap running, and the second
time, two Sundays running. 1633 to 1637, it was twice given, and two
Sundays running at each time. 1638 10 1646, it was only once given, and
two Sundays running. During the troubles in the btter end of the reign
of Charles I. and the greater part of the reign of his successor, Charles H.
the communion was but seldom administered in Glasgow; and not at all in
1646, 47, 51, 52, 53, 58, and 59. 1660 to 1676, the communion was
occasionally gi-ven once in the year. From 1693 to 1705, it was regularly
given once a-year.

1585 Lejters' House. — October 20th. — The .Se.«iRion ordains some to visit the
JLeper folk's hou^-, or hospiU'l, beyond tiie Brig, to see how the same may be



APPENDIX. lOO

Years.

reformed ; and appoints the Water Balllie to give the rental of the Lepers*
House this day eight days.

1586 jiJulUry.— The session enacted, that the punishment for adultery, should
be, to satisfy 6 Sabbaths at the pillar, bare-foot and bare-legged in sackcloth,
also to be carted through the town.

1586 Excommunication.— July 14th. The session enacted, that a man excommuni-
cated for relapse in adultery, upon tryal of his behaviour, is relaxed in manner
following: he is to pass from his dwelling-house to the Hie kirk, every
Sunday at six in the morning, at the first bell, conveyed by two of the' elders,
or deacons, or any other two honest men, and stand at the kirk door
bare-footed, &c. with a white wand in his hand, bare-headed, till after the
reading of the text, and then, in the same manner, to repair to the pillar till
the sermon be ended, and then go out to the door again, till all pass from
the kirk, and after this, be received.

1586 Pipers Prohibited -.—December 22d.— Persons are prohibited from going
through the To^v^l with Pipes on St. Thomas's Eve. Contravenors to be put
m prison without meat or drink, and to appear at the old Pillar on Sunday next.

1586 Pews in Churches -.—October 20th Ordains the pulpit stones to be removed

with all expedition, and to cause lay them in ranks for the women to sit upon.
(It does not appear that there were any pews in the churches at this time.)

1586 divorcement .—May 13