Towards the end of the seventeenth century seven years of bad weather and failed crops resulted in a famine so severe that a fifth of the Scots population – about 200,000 people – were reduced to begging. The death toll was staggering. Some believed the country had been cursed because of the persecution of the Covenanters, others that they were being punished because James VII had been ousted from the throne. The writer Patrick Walker recorded the scene.
These not unheard-of manifold Judgements continued seven Years, not always alike, but the Seasons, Summer and Winter, so cold and barren, and the wonted Heat of the Sun so much withholden, that it was discernible upon the Cattle, flying Fowls and insects decaying, that seldom a Fly or Gleg was to be seen: Our Harvests not in the ordinary Months; many shearing in November and December, yea, some in January and February; The Names of the Places I can instruct: Many contracting their Deaths, and losing the use of their Feet and Hands sharing and working amongst it in Frost and Snow; and after all some of it standing still, and rotting upon the Ground, and much of it for little Use either to Man or Beast, and which had no Taste or Colour of Meal.
Meal became so scarce, that it was at Two Shillings a Peck, and many could not get it. It was not then with many, Where will we get Silver? But, Where will we get Meal for Silver? I have seen, when Meal was all sold in Markets, Women clapping their Hands, and tearing the Clothes off their Heads, crying, How shall we go home and see our Children die in Hunger? They have got no Meat these two Days, and we have nothing to give them.
Through the long Continuance of these manifold Judgements, Deaths and Burials were so many and common, that the Living were wearied in the Burying of the Dead. I have seen Corpses drawn in Sleds, many got neither Coffin nor Winding-sheet …