King’s Mess (The)

An extra mess of rice boiled with milk—or of almonds, peas, or other pulse—given to the monks of Melrose Abbey by Robert [Bruce], the feast to be held on January 10th, and £100 being set aside for the purpose; but the monks were bound to feed on the same day fifteen poor men, and give to each four ells of broad cloth or six ells of narrow cloth, with a pair of shoes or sandals.