@ Forfarian, the Weavers in 1681 had four mortcloths of different sizes, the charges for hire for each being graded. Weavers were also fined for non-attendance, without good excuse, at the funeral of a brother weaver, from his house to the kirkyard, no half-measures allowed. The mortcloth charges included an officer who accompanied the same & returned it safe & sound.
Just checked the Maltmen who also had their own mortcloths so presumably the Guilds all did.
"The present generation can hardly understand the use of a mortcloth & as little could the present generation have realised that so soon after their time, it would be so completely disused.
The coffin was usually carried to the grave covered by a pall or mortcloth."
Old Glasgow Weavers, 1908.
Bests,
Skoosh.
The use of the mortcloth is better explained in "The Incorporation of Maltmen, Glasgow!" In 1654 one Frederick Hamilton was paid to bring back from Holland as much velvet to make a mortcloth, £36, 16/- a further £46, 4/- was spent on silk for fringes the same & £10 1/- to a Margret Gray for making these plus £1 13/4d to have them fixed, also £2 2/- for two wallets for the same. The Maltmen had a selection of a dozen mortcloths for hire in 1622 for use of departed Maltmen, their aged people, their wives & young children!
The incorporation also hired out its mortcloths to strangers, a profitable sideline.
The keeping & hiring of mortcloths, from time immemorial, was reserved to Kirk Sessions of Parishes but the Trades House, the Merchants House & Incorporations had their rights confirmed by the Supreme Court.
