singing-women, at my lady’s command, 6_s._ September 23, to ane lame man callit Ross, who plays the plaisant, 3_s._ Paid for ane golf-club to John the Bairn, 5_s._ 9th November, to Andrew Erskine, to give to the poor at my lady’s onlouping, 12_s._ December, paid to John, that he gave to ane woman who brought ane dwarf by my lady, 12_s._ [Edinburgh], January 23, 1639, to my lady as she went to Lord Belhaven his burial, and to visit my Lady Hume, £5, 8_s._ February, to Charles [son of the countess], the night he was married, to give the poor, £5, 8_s._ 3_d._ February 23, paid for ane pound of raisins to my lady again’ the fasting Sunday, 8_s._ June 11, to Thom Eld, sent to Alloa for horses to take my lady’s children ane servants to the army then lying at the Border, 2_s._ Paid to the Lady Glenurchy for aqua-vitæ that she bought to my lady, 6_s._ Paid for carrying down the silver wark to the Council house, to be weighed ane delivered to the town-treasurer of Edinburgh, 10_s._[83] August 23, paid for twa pair sweet gloves to Lord James and Mr Will. Erskine, £3. September 9, to Lord James to play at the totum with John Hamilton, 1_s._ 4_d._ To my lady as she went to dine with my Lord Haddington [for vails to the servants?], ane dollar and four shillings. Paid in contribution to Edward the fool, 12_s._ Paid to Gilbert Somerville, for making ane suit clothes to Lord James of red lined with satin, £7, 10_s._ November 29, paid to the Lady Glenurchy her man, for ane little barrel of aqua-vitæ, £3. May 27, 1640, to ane man who brought the parroquet her cage, 4_s._ June 15, to ane poor woman as my lady sat at the fishing, 6_d._ August, for tobacco to my lady’s use, 1_s._ March 4, 1641, to Blind Wat the piper that day, as my lady went to the Exercise, 4_s._ March 6, given to John Erskine to buy a cock to fight on Fasten’s Even [Shrovetide], 6_s._ June 8, to ane masterful beggar who did knock at the gate, my lady being at table, 2_s._ [It was then customary to lock the outer door during dinner.] November 15, [the countess having visited Edinburgh to see the king], given for two torches to lighten in my lady to court, to take her leave of the king, 24_s._ February 21, 1642, sent to Sir Charles Erskine to buy escorse de sidrone and marmolat, £5, 6_s._ 8_d._ March 21, to ane woman clairshocher [harper] who usit the house in my lord his time, 12_s._ August 10, to John Erskine to buy a bladder for trying a mathematical conclusion. December 7, paid for three white night-mutches [caps] to my Lord of Buchan, £3, 12_s._ January 13, 1643, for ane Prognostication [an almanac], 8_d._ February 17, for dressing ane red four-tailed coat of Mr William’s, 1_s._ 8_d._ February 13, to my lady in her own chamber, when the Valentines were a-drawing, £10, 12_s._ 4_d._ April 13, to Mr William Erskine, to go to the dwarf’s marriage, 7_s._ 6_d._’ * * * * * [Sidenote: JULY 20.]