How small these contributions were may be seen from the records of the town and parish of Banff. In 1624 the condition of the poor at Banff was discussed during the visitation of the presbytery, and the "haill eldership promised to have ane faithfull cair for provisioune of thair awne poore and to purge ther bounds of vagabond beggares." No improved method of relief was reported at the next visitation, but the "minister and eldares" again promise to look after the poor[685]. In 1631, however, some arrangement was actually made. No one was to give alms to strange beggars, and the town poor were to be relieved in their homes. But, in order to secure this result, provision was made only for twenty poor, although the population of the town probably numbered nearly two thousand[686]. It seems likely that this was about the amount of assistance granted in Banff throughout the century, for in 1673 it is noted that twenty-seven poor received assistance from the kirk sessions, and in 1691 only twenty-five[687]. This relief was so insufficient that beggars abounded; in 1633 £3 6_s._ 8_d._ was paid "To Willie Wat, scurger for outhalding the poore[688]"; in 1642 vagrant beggars were to be put in the "theiffis hoill" until the magistrates had time to see them well scourged, while in 1698 and again in 1742 the system of badged beggars was adopted[689], which is itself an admission of the insufficiency of the relief afforded by the parish. [685] _The Annals of Banff_, W. Cramond, II., pp. 23 and 25. [686] _Ib._, I., p. 65. The population of the parish of Banff was 3000 in 1775, and in 1797 the town numbered 700 less than the parish. The poor relieved in 1631 were possibly all town poor, but the figures of 1673 and 1691 refer to the whole parish. [687] Extracts from the Kirk Sessions minutes, _Ib._, Vol. II., pp. 49 and 61. April 14th, 1673, "Distributed poor's money: May 5, £12. 2_s._ 4_d._; Aug. 5, £12. 0_s._ 4_d._; Nov. 2, £13. 0_s._ 4_d._; Feb. 2, £13. 12_s._ Ten are Seatown poor and seventeen are town poor." "Nov. 17th, 1691, Distributed to the poor £10. 16_s._ Number of poor: 8 town's poor, 4 Seatown poor, 6 landwart poor and 5 protemporarious." [688] _Ib._, I., pp. 74, 86. [689] _Ib._, pp. 168 and 213. 1698, May 21. "The magistrats and Counsell appoynt bages for such poor as is thought convenient to beg through the towne and ordain the drum to goe thorrow the towne inhibiting to relive any poor except those who have badges." [Sidenote: 7 _c_. The relief of the poor in Aberdeen.]