Series 2 > Rentale Dunkeldense

INTRODUCTION
xix
of St. Andrews.1 It is evident that the deans collected
fines ; but this oleum peccatorum was assigned by Bishop
Brown to parochial uses,2 and there is no mention of such
items in their accounts. We find the dean of Angus,
however, paying a small sum under this head to the bridge
fund.3 The accountants, again, do not give particulars of
the testaments which were confirmed.
The episcopal lands north of the Forth were united in
the barony of Dunkeld : those south of the river in the
barony of Aberlady. The serjeant or officer of Dunkeld,
proper, was in charge of a district which may be defined
by reference to his accounts. He took in the dues of money
and kind, handed over a considerable sum to the bishop,
received allowance for the usual arrears and remissions,
made payments to the steward on occasion, settled debts
of a miscellaneous character, and delivered live stock which
was required for the kitchen. There was a large consump¬
tion of fowls : the wedders seem to have been sold or
commuted ; while the salmon were far more numerous
than the actual requirements of the household demanded,
and were not, in fact, all levied.4 Various entries, particu¬
larly in the accounts of the steward, show that quantities
of dried fish were imported from the east coast. A second
officer, the serjeant within the bounds of Tybbirmuir, was
charged with similar duties in a region which included the
remaining lands north of the Forth, excepting Auchtertool.
There a bailie acted ; but he gives only one account, and
that incomplete.
The steward was specially concerned with domestic
affairs; and it is interesting to note that Myln himself,
when the accounts open, had already acquired practical
experience in the department.5 Sums of money were
1 e.g. Rentale S. Andree, 118. 2 P. 305. 3 P. 297.
■* P. 42 : mutton for the household was supplied by the shepherds.
* P. 272.