Salt-foot controversy

REPLY TO CANDIDUS. 31
Gawin, about to commence his bucolical career, was
an ample dower ; not to forget the generous dona-
tion of the grey steed, — the lordly possessor of he-
reditary trophies of ancient valour, armour, pennons,
and ensanguined banners, won by the illustrious
Allantons of departed memory, at the battles of
Dundalk, Morningside, and elsewhere, dwindles
down into the humble owner of a scanty farm, some
stots, and " four moderlesse calvis !"
The rank and condition of the family is easily
gathered from the testament without any commen-
tary. It may be only observed, that the entire
household plenishing and furniture, — the boards
upon which they reposed their hardy limbs, after,
in many cases, but a hopeless wrestling with a stub-
bom and ungrateful soil, where some of the com-
mon fruits of the earth never arrive at maturity, —
the platters, trenchers, and salt-vats, &c. affording
but slender means of appeasing the cravings of an
appetite not a little exasperated by the vicinity to
the keen air of the Shotts, — clothes, vessels, &c. &c.
every thing within the walls of the steading, amount-
ing to the mighty value of forty shillings, at that
time the price of the common military implement,
a cross-bow, a friar's cloak, or of the homely uten-
sil, a morter and pestle, adapted for an ordinary
family.*
* " Item unum le corsbow, price xl* j Item ane biasing mor-
tar cum le pestell, price xl 8 ." Origiaal confirmed testament of
the Vicar of Govan, in the year 1552 j where also are noticed.