Historical summary of the Roger Tenants of Coupar

founded. In 1454, one twelfth part of the town
and lands of Coupargrange, belonging to the
Abbey and Convent of Coupar, is set in tack
for a period of seven years to William Roger,
one of the husbandmen inhabiting the Grange. 2
He paid yearly a money rent, distinguished as
mail or silver mail, of 10 lib. Scots, a ferme
victual consisting of twelve chalders of barley,
and twelve dozens of poultry (gallinas), czim
debito seruicio et consueto^ The Grange at this
time is divided into nine tenements consisting
of two eighth, and seven twelfth parts set to
2 Registrant Assedationum, &°c, B. Marie de Cufiro, 1443-
1538. "Farming in those days required but little capital, and
farmers were regarded more as bailiffs or servants, accountable
for the profits of the land at an annual sum, than as having any
property of their own." Such is the account given by Williams
{Law of Real Property, p. 9) of the condition of the English
rural tenant. In Scotland I fancy the case was not very differ-
ent. Professor Innes makes frequent allusion to the humble
condition of the " poor tenant," in respect of whom, he tells us,
an Act was passed in 1449 which ordains " For the safety of
the puir pepil that labouris the grunde, that all tenants having
tacks for a term of years shall enjoy their tacks to the ish of
their terms suppose the lords sell or analy (alienate) their
lands." " Lord Kames," he continues, " has recorded how
generation after generation of Scotch lawyers tried to defeat
this beneficent provision, and how, at last, the equitable prin-
ciple prevailed." (Scotch Legal Antiquities,^. 120.) The very
oldest description of rural tenancy, we learn from the same
authority, is from a rental of Kelso of 1290.
3 Reg. Assed., &°c, B. Marie de Ctipro, 1443-1538, fol. 3. b.
Gen. Reg. House.