Broadside entitled 'A Description of a Kirk Treasurer. Or an Elegie on John Couper'

Commentary

This memorial notice begins: 'CURST Judas did this Office first begin / He, bare the Bag, and kept what was therein'.

It is now difficult to know whether 'John Couper the kirk treasurer' was ever a real person, as no concrete details are given in the text and he is now largely untraceable. The text does talk about John Couper's deeds but it also goes on to rant about the excesses of churchmen in general. They are accused of spending money on hackney cabs, women and fine ornaments, and only giving spare money to the poor!

Broadsides are single sheets of paper, printed on one side, to be read unfolded. They carried public information often for entertainment, such as memorials and eulogies. Cheaply available, they were sold on the streets by pedlars and chapmen. Although many of the people are now lost to researchers, their stories offer a valuable insight into many aspects of the society they were published in.

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