[673] James V., cap. 22. Nicholl's History of the Scotch Poor Law, p. 12.
[674] James V., cap. 74. Nicholl's History of the Scotch Poor Law, p. 16 seq.
[675] The child taken as an apprentice had to remain under the control of his master or mistress for a much longer time than in England—the boy until he was twenty-four and the girl until she was twenty-eight.
[676] James V., cap. 149. Nicholl's History of the Scotch Poor Law, p. 27.
[677] The Act of 1579 was not generally well executed. At the convention of Scottish boroughs held in Aberdeen July 1580, representatives of certain towns were deputed to ask his Majesty to take measures "for taking of ordour with euery parochyn to landwart for sustening of thair awin pure people and impotent personis according to the act maid in his Grace last Parliament quhilk hes bene as zit neglected, without the quhilk unpossibill it is to the burrowis to tak ordour thairanent, being oppressit with ane greit and infinit nomber of strang and extraordinar beggeris nocht born nor bred within the saidis burrowis." Marwick, Convention of Scottish Boroughs, I., p. 102. In some towns however measures were taken. In Glasgow as early as 1575 badges were provided for the town beggars, and the rest were banished. Marwick, Extracts from the Records of the Borough of Glasgow, I., p. 457. Occasionally also payments were made from the town chest to particular poor people both before and after 1597. Thus the following entries occur in the borough accounts:
Aug. 10, 1577. Item to Andro Duncane for his support to mend him of his hurt, xiijs. iiijd.
July 10, 1578. Item to Serjand Steill in almous to help to cure his leg, xls.
Oct. 9th, 1584. Item gewin to Barbara Ramsaye ane pure wowman with mony barnis in almous, xxs.
1612. Item gifin to ane young man quha was rubbit of his pak, xls.
In 1597 also before the Act of that year was passed a committee had been appointed in Glasgow "for reasoning anent the ordour and lawis concerning the puir folkis." Ib., pp. 463, 467, 472, 477 and 187.