Kirx-Session Recorps oF IroncRAyY, 1691-1700. 137 
to know that a sentence of corporal punishment was passed upon 
him. 
SABBATH- BREAKING. 
There are, of course, many cases of Sabbath-breaking and 
working on a fast day in the records of Irongray, but there are two 
which deserve some notice, one of Sabbath-breaking on principle, 
the other Sabbath-breaking by proxy. In 1698 the session tried 
to find out why Jean Douglas in Ingleston did not attend ordi- 
nances. After much enquiry they discovered that “she had made 
ane oath (when the Presbytery had her before them for abusing 
Mr Sinclair) that she would never hear one of the Presbytery of 
Dumfries again. Whereupon the session (though they were fully 
persuaded of the insufficiency of her plea, the oath undoubtedly 
being unlawful) delays consideration of the matter.’’ 
The other case concerns Mrs Maxwell of Beoch, whose “ de- 
fections and miscarriages before the courts in the time of persecu- 
tion ’’’ have already been noted. Her servant, Susanna Stewart, 
was accused of having taken on the Sabbath day a horse to 
Corswado in Lochrutton “ and all the furniture wherewith he had 
harrowed on Saturday on him.’’ She pleaded that she had done 
so at her mistress’s command. At next meeting of the session 
Mrs Janet Maxwell denied this, till confronted with her servant, 
who told the session that her mistress had importuned her to say 
she had done so in ignorance. “ Whereupon Janat broke out in 
many passionate, foolish, and impertinent speeches, and justified 
the matter as she was able.’’ It was determined to rebuke her, 
and “ put to the vote rebuke her publicly before the congregation 
or before the session ; it was carried rebuke her before the session 
in regard that she is a little crack-brained, and if she were made 
to appear before the congregation probably it would make her 
worse.”’ 
“(urs CUSTODIET ?”’ 
Drunkenness was another frequent offence in Irongray. The 
session itself was not free from this sin. John Edgar, an elder, 
had to be rebuked “for his unbecoming carriage, viz., his being 
given a little in excess to drinking when he goes to Dumfries.”’ 
They thought fit to call him and lay it home to his conscience, 
“which being done he acknowledged that through the weakness 
of his head a little ale would discompose him, but that he never 
