Bannatyne Club > Excerpta e libris domicilii Jacobi Quinti regis Scotorum, MDXXV-MDXXXIII [1525-1533]

'J'he office and duties of the Comptroller of Scotland are de-
scribed in the " Discours ParticuUer d'Escosse," drawn up for the
information of the French Court, in 1559, in the follo-wing terms :
" Le Controlleur est receuueur general des droicts appellez le
propriete ; la quelle gist ez fruits, rentes et reuenus ordinaires
des duchez, comtcz et autres terres et seigneuries qui sont pro-
pres a la couronne, soient vniz ou non vniz a icelle ; le reuenu
des quelles est contenu ez roolles de Teschequier
Aussy ect ledit controlleur et receuueur general de toutes les
grandes coustumes de toutes et chascunes villes, portz et haures
de ce royaume." The fluctuating and uncertain revenue de-
rived fi-om these sources was apphed in the first place to the
Royal Household, under the administration of the ComptroUer ;
and in a Court Uke that of Scotland, striving to cover real po-
verty with a shew of splendour, we are not surprised to meet
with enactments of the legislature repeatedly and vainly at-
tempting to secure the " inbringing of oure souerane lordis pro-
pirte and casuaUteis yeirUe to his chekker, sua that his thesaurar