James Stewart

At the table

Ale quality was strictly regulated

In cities, burgh officials known as ale-tasters were appointed to inspect ale quality and enforce prices to ensure fair trade. These officials took an oath to appraise batches without showing favor or fear to any brewer.

What people wore

Saffron-Dyed Shirts and Waterproof Coatings

Highlanders commonly wore a long linen shirt dyed with saffron as their primary garment, sometimes coating the fabric with wax, tallow, or even tar to make it damp-proof.

Getting around

Travelers relied on guides and land routes

Travelers often required local guides because defined roads were scarce, and they frequently crossed open, unfenced land to reach their destinations. journeys for royal justice circuits typically progressed at a rate of about 20 miles per day.

What it cost

Earnings of Workers and Servants

Unskilled laborers earned between £5 and £10 per year, while skilled workmen typically earned about 6d per day. Farm workers often earned no more than half a shilling (6d) per day, and many servants were paid as little as six shillings annually plus board.

Music

Church music and the Reformation impact

In the early 16th century, Scottish churches commonly used organs, while high-status occasions featured trumpets, shalms, and clarions. By the mid-16th century, the Reformation led to the removal of organs and the disbanding of choirs in many churches.

Daily life

Beer for All Ages

Because clean water was difficult to secure, everyone, including children, drank a weak, home-made barley beer instead of plain water.