THE TOWN OF PAISLEY:

In 1597 the Queen of James VI. visited Paisley. On this occasion the Abbey and ap proaches underwent some repairs. An order of Town Council, dated 8th July of that year, is as follows:-"The quhilk day the said Bailies and Councill, understanding perfectly that the Queen's M. is to be shortlie in the place of Paslay, and in respect thereof for decoration of the kirk and portes of said burgh in sic sort as may be gudlie done for the present, they haf concluded that there be ane pyntour sent for to Glasgow for drawing of some draughts in the kirk as sal be thocht maist necessar for the present. Secundlie, that ane wricht be conducit wi for bigging and mending and repairing the portes of said burgh."

Peats seem to have been extensively used for fuel in those times, and the cutting of them was superintended by one of the bailies, who received for this duty 6s 8d per day. There seems to have been occasional disputes over the peat casting, and we find that in July, 1601, John Wilson was fined 40s for attacking Bailie Vanse and trying to put him into a moss-goat." It was occasionally found that there were people who neither bought peats nor cut them and yet were well supplied. The Town Council therefore enacted that any one convicted of peatstealing was to be put in the stocks for a whole day; and, if he were twice convicted, he was to be banished the town. The first notice that we find of coal in Paisley is in a charter of one of the Stewarts, dated 1294. In 1653, the Town Council enacted that certain old coal-pits in the Gallow Green should be filled up.

HISTORICAL SKETCH.

III.

In 1601, there existed in Paisley the horrible disease of leprosy, a different complaint from the plague before mentioned. People afflicted with it were obliged to leave the town, and allowed to return only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 11 and 1 o'clock. They were only permitted to visit a certain portion of the town, and were not permitted to enter any house, but to have clappers to call the people out to them. Any one admitting them into his house, or eating or drinking with them, was to be fined 20s. Whilst the leprosy was in the town it was found difficult to get a quorum at the Council meetings; it was, therefore, enacted that those councillors who absented themselves from the meetings, of which they were apprised the night before, should be fined; and, as there was a prac tice of inordinate talking during the business of the Council, it was further enacted that all those who should speak "unspeired" should be fined.

In 1602 the neighbourhood was again visited by the plague, and the magistrates enacted the most stringent regulations to prevent it entering the town. All persons that had unenclosed land adjacent to the gates were ordered to build a wall on them, that no person could climb over. None of the inhabitants were allowed to admit any one into the town through their yards. There were then five gates to the town-one at the Bridge, one at the foot of Saint Mirin's Wynd, one in the High Street, one in Moss Street, and one in the School Wynd. The gate at the Bridge and the one in the High Street were guarded each by a man with a sword and Jedburgh staff," who was under a penalty of 13s 4d should he absent himself. These gates were locked at 9 o'clock at night, and opened at 5 o'clock in the morning; the gates in Saint Mirin Street and Moss Street were only open from 8 till 9 in the morning, and from 4 till 5 o'clock afternoon; the gate in School Wynd was built up. A stranger was not allowed to enter the town without permission of one of the bailies; nor was any one allowed to receive a stranger, or give him lodgings, without permission from one of the bailies.

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In September, 1602, Gavin Stewart, burgess of Paisley, was called before the Presbytery on a charge of having fallen upon his knees before Martha Pinkerton and craved the health of Gavin Ralston, younger, of that Ilk. Gavin Stewart appeared and coufessed that he had said "It is said that thou hast taken the health of this man, Gavin Ralston, fra him, the which if thou has done, I pray thee, for God's sake, give him again." But he denied having humiliated himself before her, either "on his knees or lifting off his bonnet." Both Gavin and Martha

THE TOWN OF PAISLEY:

were summoned to appear in the "Kirk of Paisley," the last day of that inst., for further trial.

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On the 19th January, 1604, the Presbytery summoned several people before them for rejoicings held at the New-Year. Robert Aiken and Robert Millar had 'superstitiouslie behaved yamselves be ringing of girdills." Henrie Paslay, Robert Paslay, Robert Patoun, and James King had "efter ane profane and godles manner behavit yamselfis in disagysising yamselfis," and James Andro had "usit superstitious playis a little before Yuill."

In 1604, each suitable person in town had to attend at the gates in rotation from five in the morning till ten in the evening, or be subjected to a fine of 20s. Scots. The population of the town at that time could not have been more than 800. On the 12th of October of this year, a certain George Ramsay was in attendance at the bridge gate, when Sir Neil Montgomery of Langshaw, with some friends and servants, rode up. Sir Neil, not being a resident of the town, and not having a "testimonial," could not be

admitted without consent of the authorities. The gate-keeper, accordingly, leaving the visitors outside, sought instructions from the Bailies. Having returned with all speed with the necessary consent, he threw open the gate for the strangers to enter, not anticipating any harm, when Sir Neil alighted from his horse and kicked the gate-keeper "on his head, womb, and divers other parts of his body, and especially hurt and wounded him in his head to the effusion of his blood." For this offence Sir Neil was brought before the Bailies and fined ten pounds Scots. The very day before this assault was committed, the Town Council had enacted that "he that shall happen to give his nibour the lee shall pay a fine of 40s, and he that gives his nibour a drye cuff shall pay five pounds, and the committer of bluid ten pounds.

In 1806, the son of Lord Claud received the title of Earl of Abercorn, and the same year he was present at a Court of the Bailies and Council, when a number of persons were convicted of breaking into "yairds.' Several of them were fined in five pounds and put in the stocks from ten till twelve, and the younger portion of them sentenced to be taken to the Market Cross with a paper on each of their heads, on which was written the nature of their crime, and whipped by the parents to the effusion of blood.

In 1607, Andro Hamilton delated John Hall. before the Presbytery "for profanation of the Sabbath day by keeping of a green every Sabbath at afternoon, with piping and dancing." For this offence the said John was summoned to appear and answer for the same.

From the PAISLEY HERALD.

1608-April.-Item, it is concluded that ane silver bell be made of 4 oz. weight, with all diligence, for ane Horse race yearly to be appointed within this burgh and the bounds and day for running thereof to be set down by advice of my lord Earl of Abercorn, Lord Paisley and Kilpatrick.

Act setting downe ane hors Raiss.

Apud Paisslay, decimo tertio die mensis, maij. 1620. The quhilk day Andro Crawfurde and Jon Algeo, zounger baillies of ye burghe thairof, with the counselle of the samyn, being convenit in the tolbuith of the said burt, with advyse of one nobill and potent erle, James, erle of Abercorne, &c., proveist of the] said burghe, for ordour taking with sundrie thingis concerning the commoune weill of the Bamyn, and namelie, adent the conclusioune of thair bell race and efterschot, quhilk was of auld set doune and not effectuat. Thairfoir, it is now concludit and ordanit be the saidis baillies and counsell, with advyse and consent fair said, that same in tyme cuming, thair bell race so rwne on the saxt day of Maij in manner following, viz.-To be start at the gray stane callit St. Connallis stane, ane fra that richt eist to the lytill house at the calsayend of Renfrew, and frae that the hie Kingis way to the Walnaik of Paislaye, and quhat horse first comes over a score at [ ] Renfrew, sall have ane dowoill aingell,* and the horse and maister yairof that first comes over the scoir at the said Walnuik of Paislay, sall have the said bell with the said burghe's armes yairvponn, for that zeir. Togidder with the rest of the gold that salbe gevin in with the said bell, in manner following (except ane dew-bill aingell that salbe given to the second horse and his maister yat comes nixt over the scoire to the foirmest; and to that effect the saidis baillies and counsel present and to come, with advyse of thair said lord proveist, obleist yame to give in zeirlie with the said silver bell, the pieces of gold following, viz. the said lord proveist ane dowbill aingell, the saidis baillies and counsell ane vther dowbill aingell. Lyikas the noblemen haifand landis within the parochin of Paislay, as my lord Sempill, ane singell aingell, my lord Rose, my lord of Blantye, L

everie

ane of thame are willing, for the uphalding of the said bell race, zeirlie to give in ane single aingell yairvnto, and everie awner of the horse that rwns to produce ane singill singell of gold to the said baillies befoir the foir, the horse be drawen out lyikas all the awnneris of the horses that sall happen to rwne zearlie salbe obleist to be present within the burt of Paislayc, dayes at leist befoir the said raice day, and thair to be ready, with their ryderis befoir ten houris befoir nowne, and the ryderis to be weyit at the trone of the said burt of Paislaye [ ] stane weyit; quhair the maisteris or vthers haif and power of thame, salbe present with the rydaris in the tolbuithe of the said burgh to fing up thair names, casting of the days for thair places of outleiding and the wandhandis. And becaus this present zeir is so far spent, it is concludit be the said Lord Proveist and vther Noblemen, with advise of the saidis Baillies and Counsell of yis burt, that the said bell raice be rune the first day of Junij nixtocum, fray the gray stane, callit St. Connallis stane, to the said lytill house, and fra yat to the Wallneuk of Paislaye, as said is haifand yair horse always dyetit in the said burt, in manner foirsaid.

And quha happen to wone the said bell, keipand yair wecht in manner above written, being weyit again at the said trone, sall have the said silver bell hung at his horse heid, and ye gold foirsaid. With this provisioune, that the maister of the horse, or onie vthers haifing power of him,' salbe actit as principall, with ane sufficient burgess man as cautioner for him, conjunctlie and severallie, for productioune of the said bell to the saidis baillies of Paislaye, als gude as he sall resave the samyn, with what augmentatioune pleist him to adde yarto zearlie apoun the said saxt day of Maij befoir nyne houris in the morning, and quhatever horas beis not keepit and dyettit within the said burgh, the space foirsaid befoir the said day, and led fra Paislaye to the starting place, they sall not be sufferit to runne in tyme cuming, and quhatever horse winnis the said silver bell three zearis togither, the maister owner yairof sall have the said silver bell to himselff conforme to the manner of vther burrowes.

Item, it is concludit be the saidis baillies and counsall of the said burt, with advyse of my said lord proveist, that ane efterchot raiss sall be run zeirlie infall tyme cuming, fra ane scoir at the sclaittis of Ellirslie to ane vther scoir at the Calsayheid of the said burt of Paislaye, be horse of the price of ane hundreth merks, ryddand with the wecht foirsaid, for ane furnischeit saddill, quhilk sall be seirlie present, be the saidis baillies of Paislaye, present and to cum, at the scoir at the said calsayheid. And quhilkis of the saidis horses sall happin to cum first over the said scoir at the said calsayheid, the awner yairof sall have the said saddil, stok yairof, and covering; and the awner of the secund horse that sall happin to cum secundlie over the said scoir sall have the furnischeing of the said saddil then presentit. The ryders alwayis of the saidis horses keipind thair wechtis they war weyit of befoir thair furthdrawing an no other wayis.

1620-June 1.-The bell race run and won by Hew Crawford of Cloberhill, and found James Maxwell cautioner for producing the bell on the 6th May next, under a penalty of 100 punds.

1622-May 8.-The bell race and cup run and won by an Noble Lord, Robert Lord Boyd, John Earl of Cassells, John Earl of Wigton, John Lord Lindsay, Robert Lord Boyd, Mr James Hamilton of Westport, Commissair of Glasgow, and James Hamilton of Aikenhead, were made Burgesses; and George, servant to my Lord of Abercorn, made Burgess.

18 July 1659. The quhilk day the Baillies and Councill taking to their considerationc and thoughts ane desire presented unto them be William Greinleis, merchand, from diverse burgesses and heritoris of the town, and in their names desiring the libertie of ane horse raice, and that the Baillies and Councill would be pleased either to buy ane sadil and graith thereof, or to permit them to do it. They have concludit that there sall be two hors raices (if any will be pleased to run) upon the morne after the fair day called St. James Fair, the first to be for the sadil graith, the expenses of all not exceeding vi lib money and ilk man that runs to give in his xijs to be the second raiss; and that none sall run at the first rais of horse that sall exceid the price of ane hundredth merks money; and that after both there sall be ane foot raise for ane pair of small white hose,