(e) Wine and shortbread (or burial bread).

It was not, be it mentioned in passing, a very unusual thing for some of the company to enter the barn again, and undertake the “services” a second time.

The natural consequence of all this is obvious, but to a certain extent the situation could be saved by the use of a private receptacle called the “droddy bottle,” into which the liquor could be poured to be taken home, or at least carried outside. Before partaking of each individual “service” it was solemnised by the minister offering up an appropriate prayer, a clerical task which must have been trying in the extreme.

As instancing the prodigality of preparation in the way of food, notice may be taken of a funeral in the parish of Mochrum, where two bushels (160 lbs.) of shortbread were provided, and it is quite unnecessary to suggest that the supply of spirits would be in proportion.

The following account of funeral expenses, drawn from a Wigtownshire farmer’s book of expenses in 1794, may here be included, as it affords an excellent illustration of how the expenses of an ordinary funeral were swelled by the amounts paid for alcoholic liquor:—

Mrs G.—One gallon brandy £0180
15 gills gin 076
Six bottles of wine 0170
One gallon rum 0160
To the coffin 150
To the mort-cloath and grave digging 020
To bread 059
J. C. for biding and walking and other attendance 040
J. S. for whiskie and ale at sitting up 031

Of the expenses of funerals in a higher rank of life those incurred on the deaths of Grierson of Lag and his third son, John Grierson, afford full and interesting information. Mr John Grierson, third son of the Laird of Lag, died early in 1730, and to one Jean Scott the purveying of the meat and drink considered requisite for the friends attending the funeral was entrusted. The bill came to about £160 Scots.[36] When the Laird himself died, on the last day of the year 1733, there was a repetition of the feasting and drinking at the house of the deceased, at the kirkyard, and at an adjoining house, which had evidently been requisitioned for the accommodation of several of the gentlemen, among whom were Lord Stormonth, Sir Thomas Kirkpatrick, Maxwell of Carriel, and others who had come from a distance to assist. The account begins two days before the death of the Laird, and ends on January 14. In round figures the cost of the meat and drink consumed at the Laird’s funeral came to £240 Scots.

The following are the detailed accounts:—[(75)]

Accott. of the Ffunerals of Mr John Griersone.

1730.To Jean Scott.
Feb. 23rd.2 bottels clarit to these as set up all night wt ye corps £030
do.1 bottel of brandy for do. 016
Feb. 24th.1 bottel of clarit when the sear-cloath[37] was put on 016
do.1 bottel clarit when the grave-cloaths was put on 016
do.At the in-coffining where the ladys was, 1 bottel clarit, 2 bottels white wine, and 1 bottel Cannary 062
do.In the beg room wt the Gentelmen before the corps was transported—2 bottels white wine 030
do.When the company returned—10 bottels clarit 0150
do.2 bottels brandy for Gentelmen’s Servts. 030
do.2 bottels clarit to Sir Robert’s Servts. 030
Feb. 26th.1 bottel clarit to Sir Robert’s Servts. 016
March 2nd.1 bottel clarit to Sir Robert’s Servts. 016
March 4th.1 bottel clarit to Sir Robert’s Servts. 016
March 5th.In the two rooms when at meat 22 bottels clarit 1130
do.ffor the Servts. and Gentelmen’s Servts., 4 bottels of brandy 060
do.at night when the Gentelmen returned—25 bottels of clarit 1176
do.2 bottels brandy to Rockhall wt bottels 030
March 6th.2 bottels clarit at dinr wt Sr Walter Laurie and Cariel 030
do.Ale from the 23rd of ffebr., till this day 1196
do.To 1 baccon ham 090
do.To a rosting piece of beef 066
do.To a rost pigg 026
do.To 2 rost gease 030
do.To 1 rost turkey 040
do.To a calf’s head stwed wt wine and oysstars 036
do.To 2 dish of neats’ tongues 080
do.To 2 dish of capons and fowls 060
do.To a passtie 070
March 6th.To a dozn. of tearts 060
do.To 2 dozn. of mincht pys 080
do.To 1 quarter of rost mutton 036
do.To rost veal 036
do.To 1 barrel of oysters, 6 limmons, and other pickels 040
do.To eating for Tennents and Servants 100