128 KirkK-SESSION RECORDS OF IRONGRAY, 1691-1700. 
Our records begin soon after the Revolution Settlement, when 
Presbyterianism became the doctrine and discipline of the Church 
of Scotland by law established. They run without a break nearly 
through the whole of the last decade of the 17th century, from 
June 11, 1691, till January 7, 1700. They deal with the whole 
ministry of Mr John Sinclair (1691-1693) and the opening years of 
the ministry of Mr James Guthrie. 
From Scott’s “ Fasti’’ we learn that Sinclair was the son of 
the minister of Ormiston, and afterwards of Delft, in Holland. 
He was of a melancholy disposition, and given to mathematical 
studies. From the minutes I can add another piece of infor- 
mation—he wrote a most illegible hand. Perhaps Scott included 
that too when he mentioned he was a mathematician. At first 
sight his records look not unlike algebraical problems. During 
his ministry, in addition to the ordinary cases of discipline, such 
as uncleanness, swearing, Sabbath-breaking, etc., we have two 
peculiar sorts of cases before the session—(1) accusations of 
witchcraft, and (2) confessions of apostasy during the persecution. 
WITCHCRAFT. 
It is said sometimes that ministers and elders encouraged such 
accusations, but the Irongray records rather point the other way. 
Most of our cases are either non-proven or not guilty. They 
only occur in Mr Sinclair’s time. Perhaps Mr Sinclair had a 
taste for investigating psychical phenomena, and Mr Guthrie had 
not. Perhaps the people found it was not a fly to which the 
session of Irongray rose readily. Mr Sinclair was hardly a 
month in the parish (July 16, 1691) before a namesake of his, 
Janet Sinklar, was before the session on the charge of slandering 
Drumpark’s wife with witchcraft. 
“1691, September 24.—David Muirhead of Drumpark and 
his wife, being called before the session and examined anent ane 
strife betwixt them and Janet Sinklar, submitted themselves to 
the will of the session. Janet Sinklar also submitted to the will 
of the session for saying that she doubted Drumpark’s wife of 
murder and witchcraft, and is appointed to receive a_ pul lick 
rebuke before the congregation.”’ 
Simultaneously there was another and more _ successful 
accusation before the session. 
“1691, August 30.—William Anderson in Hall of Forest, 
