"Maister James Macqueine's" successor suffered still more acutely from the eternal lack of pence. "October 22, 1620.--Given to George Davidsone, scholm{r.}, for reiding and singing in the kirk, at his request, 40s." "November 19.--Lent to Mr George Davidsone, scholm{r.}, out of the box, 18s." "July 15, 1621.--The said day George Foster his penaltie given to George Davidsone, schoolmaister and reiddar, becaus of his povertie." "September 16.--George Davidsone, schoolmaister, earnestlie desyrit somqt for his support out of the penalties, seing he had few bairnis in the school. Given to him 20s." "October 7.--Given to George Davidson 20s. of Thomas Greivis penaltie, the uther twentie given befor in respect of his reiding and singing in the kirk, he being verie puir, having ane familie." Soon the minister addresses plaintive appeals to the church in behalf of the said schoolmaster, and at last the climax comes. "December 1, 1622.--The minister earnestlie desyrit the elderis to have ane cair of George Davidsone, schoolmaister, now in great distress, being somqt distract in his witt, and desyrit that George Shortus, officer, wald cause some ane waik ilka nicht with him, and that the minister and he wald go from hous to hous for his support. The elderis promeisit to help, and to caus utheris to help." "December 8.--The minister desyrit bothe the elderis themselfs to help George Davidsone, and to caus utheris, he being almost now weill againe, seing he wald go over to Fyff againe. They promeisit to do the same. Maister Johne (the minister) reportit that he hyrit ane man on his owin expenss to go to Fyff for his father and brother to come to him--viz., Patrick Watson--and that he gave him 20s., and that his father has now come." "December 15.--The minister desyrit the elderis to help George Davidsone, being now well, praised be God! Given be the minister and elderis out of their purss, 45s." The schoolmaster's departure is, however, delayed, for in the following year, 1623, his name appears again. "March 9.--Given to George Davidson, 20 lib." "November 23.--This day collect at the kirk doore, for George Davidsone, being to depairt, 50s. 8d." Assistance to cripples constituted a repeated charge on the church funds. "May 28, 1615.--Collect 4s., qlk was given to ane crepill." "Mairch 31, 1616.--Given to the belman for carrying ane puir cripple man off the toune, 6 lib." "June 21, 1618.--Given to Jhone Finla 3s. for carrying away ane crepill." "February 11, 1638.--Given to Alexander Storie, wricht, for ane pair of stelts to Henrie Caning, crepill, 4s." "September 23.--Four shillings given to carray away a crepill. We could get nane in the toune to carray away this crepill the morn, becaus of their business."