5th. Forcop, already explained, but of such arbitrary and unequal exaction as fully to warrant the definition of Dufresne, “Forcop, Forcapium, exactio, tributum haud debitum, per vim et contra jus captum.”
6th. Wattel, the Fee of the Underfoud, paid or estimated in grain.
The Land-male or Rent of Tenants or Tacksmen consisted of—
1st. Cost, or victual—generally paid in a commutation of two-thirds of malt, one-third of meal.
2nd. Flesh—paid in cattle or live stock, at a conventional estimate of 2 or 3 head to each Last of nominal quantity.
3rd. Pennyworths—an equivalent in grain, butter, oil, or other produce of the lands, in case of deficiency of the other payments.
The parochial exactions (all of Scottish origin) are summed up with a quaint acknowledgment of omnivorous rapacity; “And all this supra, is præter the Skattmarts, Wrack, Waith, Hawkhens, Chetry, Balliatus, and uthir profittis and Revenues that may happen ony maner of way.”
The relative share of the Odaller and Tenant in these new parish burdens is not expressed, but both must have looked back with regret to the worst of their ancient rulers, and watched with dismay the rising tide of Scottish oppression which was slowly but inevitably sapping their rights and overwhelming their liberties.
Of the taxes, rents, and assessments of the Rental, only a very small part was payable in money, and every coinage seems to have been current, though at an exchange often and arbitrarily fluctuating.
The rest of the Debts and Duties, as they were called, were paid in kind or produce, and measured by the Pundar and Bysmar—the Can and Barrell—the Cuttel and Pack—the native Standards and Instruments respectively of weight, capacity, and extent. The correctness and uniformity of these instruments was guarded with jealous care by the Thingmen, and the Wardthing of every Parish elected a Lögrettman or Lawrightman to watch the measuring of its debts or duties by the Underfoud, and to take charge of its Standards, which were from time to time compared and corrected in presence of the Thing, by reference to a Common Standard of each kind of instrument of mensuration. Each of these common Standards was more solemnly authenticated by the Common Seal, or the signature or mark of the Lawman, by authority of the Lawthing, and severally kept by one of the Lawrightmen of four different districts, honoured by law or custom with their custody. This system of inspection, counter-checks, and separate guardianship, effectually precluded fraudulent or ignorant tampering with the Weights and Measures of the country, till virtually cancelled by the violence of the Donatary and his agents in superseding the Lawrightmen.