THE CHURCH OF LINLITHGOW.
Ecclesict Antigua. By the Rev. John Ferguson. (Oliver and Boyd. 7s. 6d. net.)—In this book we have the story of the church of Linlithgow (dedicated to St. Michael), with its chapels, chantries, and endowments, told by its minister, who now singly represents what must have been, in pre-Reformation times, a numerous body of clergy. There were no less than twenty-six altars. The details which are given of these foundations are highly interesting. The High Altar had an endowment of .42 9s. 6d. ; the Altar of the Virgin (founded by the town) £6 us. (This is as far as is known.) But these emoluments were much exceeded by others. The Altar of the Holy Trinity, for instance, was endowed with about £24, an amount which must be multi- plied at least by ten to bring it up to modern value. It is a very significant thing that the High Altar was the poorest of all. The town authorities exercised a strict rule over these foundations ; and had plenty of work to do, for the chantry priests were an idle set. Mr. Ferguson has much to tell us about the history of his church, about the material structure, which has had many vicissi- tudes and has not escaped the restorer, and about the succession of its ministers. It is curious to find that stipends. are still reckoned in North Britain in quarters and bolls. The Linlithgow stipend consists, we are told, of two hundred and twenty-three bolls of meal and a hundred and sixty-three quarters of barley. Our readers may calculate this amount for themselves. If it is a net sum, without rates and Land-tax, it is considerably above the average of English benefices.
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