BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 207
Golf was a farourite amusement of the citizens of Perth during the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries; so much so, that the younger portion of the
community could not withstand its fascination even on the Sabbath day. In
the kirk-session records is an entry-2d January 1604-in which the “visitors
report, that good order was keeped the last Sabbath, except that .they found
some young boys playing at the gowf, in the North Inch, in the time of preaching,
afternoon, who were warned then by the officiars to compear before the session
this day.” They accordingly appeared ; and the ringleader, Robert Robertson,
was sentenced (‘to pay ane merk to the poor;” and ordained, with his
companions, ‘( to compear the next Sabbath, into the place of public repentance,
in presence of the whole congregation.” ‘
Early in the reign of James VI, the business of club-making had becpme
one of some importance. By “ane letter” of his Majesty, dated Holyrood
House, 4th April 1603, “William Mayne, bower, burgess of Edinburgh,”
is made and constituted, (( during all the days of his lyf-time, master fledger,
bower, ebbmaker, and speir-maker to his Hieness, alsweill for game as weir ;”
and in 1618 the game of golf appears to have been so generally in practice,
that the manufacturing of balls was deemed worthy of special protection.
In “ane” other letter of James VI., dated Salisburyl 5th August of the
above year, it is stated that there being (( no small quantity of gold and silver
transported zeirly out of his Hieness’ kingdom of Scotland for bying of gof
balls,” James Melvill and others are granted the sole right of supplying that
article within the kingdom, prohibiting all others from making or selling them
for the ‘( space of twenty-one zeirs.” The price of a ball was fixed at (‘ four
schillings money of this realm ;” and for the better tryell heiroff, his Majestie
ordanes the said James Melville to have ane particular stamp of his awin,
and to cause mark and stamp all suche ballis maid be him and his foirsaidis
thairwith;’ and that all ballis maid within the kingdome found to be
otherwayis stamped sal1 be escheated.”
From this period the game of golf took firm hold as one of the national
pastimes-practised by all ranks of the people, and occasionally countenanced
by royalty itself. (‘ Even kings themselves,” says a writer in the Scots Magazinc
tfohre 1S7o9c2ie,t y“ doifd Endoitn dbeucrlginhe Gthoel fperrsin tcoel yb es pionfrot;r maendd tith awt iltlh neo tt wboe dlaisspt lecarsoiwngn e1
heads that ever visited this country used to practise thb golf in the Links of
Leith, now occupied by the Society for the same purpose.
King Charles I. waa extremely fond of this exercise ; and it is said that,
when he was engaged in a party at golf on the Links of Leith, a letter was
delivered into his hands, which gave him the first account of the insurrection
and rebellion in Ireland. On reading which he suddenly called for his coach ;
Chronicle of Perth, privately printed for the Maitland Club, 1831, Ito, p. 69. From the
lame curions record we learn that foot-ball was also a favourita amusement of the Perth Citieens ’ This practice is still continued.