In Scotland a teind () was a

tithe A tithe (; from Old English: ''teogoþa'' "tenth") is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government. Today, tithes are normally voluntary and paid in cash or cheques or more ...

derived from the produce of the land for the maintenance of the

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

. It is also an old lowland term for a tribute due to be paid by the fairies to the

devil A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in various cultures and religious traditions. It is seen as the objectification of a hostile and destructive force. Jeffrey Burton Russell states that the different conceptions of ...

every seven years. Found in the story of

Tam Lin Tam (or Tamas) Lin (also called Tamlane, Tamlin, Tambling, Tomlin, Tam Lien, Tam-a-Line, Tam Lyn, or Tam Lane) is a character in a legendary ballad originating from the Scottish Borders. It is also associated with a reel of the same name, also ...

as well as in the ballad of

Thomas the Rhymer Sir Thomas de Ercildoun, better remembered as Thomas the Rhymer (fl. c. 1220 – 1298), also known as Thomas Learmont or True Thomas, was a Scottish laird and reputed prophet from Earlston (then called "Erceldoune") in the Borders. Thomas ...

. Teind is a Scots word for tithe, meaning a tenth part.

Scottish Reformation and the Thirds of Benefices

Teinds had been used to support the living expenses of clergy. On 15 February 1562 the

Privy Council of Scotland The Privy Council of Scotland ( — 1 May 1708) was a body that advised the Scottish monarch. In the range of its functions the council was often more important than the Estates in the running the country. Its registers include a wide range of m ...

regulated the collection of a third of the teinds for the stipends of ministers of the reformed church and the expenses of the royal household. A survey was made of rentals and revenues received by clergy. The resulting "Books of Assumption" is a record of the wealth of the church of Scotland at the Reformation and reveals the names of many secular or laymen owners who then owned former ecclesiastic properties. The detailed record also reveals the variety of agricultural produce, fishing, and coal or lime produced on the lands. On 1 March 1562

John Wishart of Pitarrow Sir John Wishart of Pitarrow (died 1576) was a Scottish lawyer, courtier, comptroller of the exchequer, and rebel. Career He was the eldest son of James Wishart of Cairnbeg in the parish of Fordoun in Aberdeenshire. His grandfather, James Wisha ...

was appointed comptroller and collector-general of teinds. A "Collectory" was established to manage the Thirds of Benefices. In this capacity he became paymaster of the reformed clergy, many of whom resented the scantiness of their stipends. According to John Knox, the saying was current, "The good laird of Pittarro was ane earnest professour of Christ; but the mekle Devill receave the comptrollar". Wishart appointed a kinsman

George Wishart of Drymme George Wishart of Drymme was a Scottish landowner, lawyer, and a financial administrator for Mary, Queen of Scots. Family background George Wishart was kinsman of John Wishart of Pitarrow. His lands were at "Drynne", "Drymmie" or Drymme, also ...

as a sub-collector of Thirds of Benefices from Forfar and Kincardine, and his account includes payments made by

Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legitimate child of James V of S ...

, to Knox and his servants, and to

David Rizzio David Rizzio ( ; it, Davide Rizzio ; – 9 March 1566) or Riccio ( , ) was an Italian courtier, born in Pancalieri close to Turin, a descendant of an ancient and noble family still living in Piedmont, the Riccio Counts di San Paolo e Solbrito ...

. Extracts from the accounts of the Thirds of Benefices, the records of Collectory between 1561 and 1572 were published by

Gordon Donaldson Gordon Donaldson, (13 April 1913 – 16 March 1993) was a Scottish historian. Life He was born in a tenement at 140 McDonald RoadEdinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory, 1912 off Leith Walk in northern Edinburgh on 13 April 1913 the so ...

. Much of the money or produce collected went towards the expenses of the royal household and guard. In 1563, John Knox complained that "the gaird and the effairis of the kytcheing wer so gryping that the mynisteris stipendis could nocht be payit". The accounts record wine, beef and mutton, and cheese bought for the royal household. Coal from Wallyford in East Lothian was sent to the Palace of

Holyroodhouse The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh ...

for Mary, Queen of Scots, and some was shipped to Aberdeen when she visited. Some entries relate to the

Chaseabout Raid The Chaseabout Raid was a rebellion by James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, against his half sister, Mary, Queen of Scots, on 26 August 1565, over her marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. The rebels also claimed to be acting over other causes ...

of 1565. John Wishart, a supporter of Mary's half-brother Lord James was replaced as Collector by

William Murray of Tullibardine William Murray of Tullibardine (died 1583) was a Scottish courtier and leader of the Clan Murray. William Murray was the son of William Murray of Tullibardine (d. 1562) and Katherine Campbell, daughter of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy (d. 1513 ...

. Subsequently,

Adam Erskine Adam Erskine, Commendator of Cambuskenneth, was a Scottish landowner and courtier. Career He was a son of Thomas Erskine, a younger son of John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine. His father's wife was Margaret Fleming, later Countess of Atholl. He was ma ...

Cambuskenneth Cambuskenneth ( gd, Camas Choinnich ) is a village in the city of Stirling, Scotland. It has a population of 250 and is the site of the historic Cambuskenneth Abbey. It is situated by the River Forth and the only road access to the village is alo ...

, was Collector General.

Robert Vans-Agnew Robert Vans Agnew (4 March 1817 – 26 September 1893) was a Scottish Conservative Party politician. At the 1868 general election he unsuccessfully contested the Wigtown Burghs. Vans Agnew was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wigt ...

, ''Correspondence of Sir Patrick Waus'', vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1887), pp. 299-300.

References

{{reflist Fairies Scots law legal terminology Personal taxes Taxation in Scotland History of the Church of Scotland Scots language Economy and Christianity Christian law Giving History of taxation in the United Kingdom Legal history of Scotland Political history of Scotland Abolished taxes Monarchy and money 2000 disestablishments in Scotland Tithes Scottish exchequer

Scottish Reformation and the Thirds of Benefices

See also

References