Some Incidents in Troqueer Parish. 157 



take advice anent popish and episcopal! recusants who contemnes 

 the censure of the Church." They are "referred to the com- 

 missione for the Kirk." On " severall publick masses being 

 keeped within the bounds, viz., Kirkconnell, Shambelly, and 

 several uther places," they write "to their Matries [Majesties] 

 advocatt." In 1697 "being Informed that there are Traffiquing 

 priests going up and down the country seducing people to the 

 popish Religion, ' ' they " cause publick Intimation of a recent Act 

 against them " to be made, and desire the people to report them 

 and the holding of masses. In 1700 they request the magis- 

 trates to give them warrants for their apprehension (" not a 

 few labouring to seduce many of the most ignorant of the 

 people ") and do secure Mr James Innes and incarcerate him in 

 the tolbooth. In July, 1701, they are desired by the Commis- 

 sion of the General Assembly to make up " an account of the 

 popish children yt care might be taken for their instruction in 

 the protestant Religion in pursuance of the Act of Parliament 

 made thereanent." The Troqueer list is to include " all papists 

 older and younger," and be compiled by Mr Nisbet and Mr 

 Hutchison. 



With delightful naivete, in October, 1702, "fearing the 

 danger of the increase of popery, together with the obstinacy of 

 papists in their perverse principles, they resolve to take some 

 pains on them for their conviction, and accordingly appointed " 

 two ministers each to visit respectively the Earl of Nithsdale, 

 Kirkconnel and Carruchan, and Bishoptoun. The last they find 

 "Tenacious and stiff in maintaining his popish prin[cip]ll. " 

 Their search for priests brought an action by the Earl of Niths- 

 dale against several brethren and sympathisers " as guilty of a 

 pretended ryot committed by them or through their influence wch 

 if the sd Earle prevailed all attempts hereafter for supressing 

 of Poperie and discovering popish priests will be in vain," and 

 which costs them a considerable sum to defend. Again they 

 ask the Commissioners to consider " that our grievances be 

 represented to Parlia[men]t anent the non-execution of good laws 

 made against Popery, irregular baptisms and marriages, ' ' and " to 

 propose yt ane act be made for inflicting some civill penalties 

 on persones Excommunicat. " They are urged in 1704 by the 

 Commission " in all your sermons to your people, frequently and 

 plainly inform ym of the pernicious heresies, Idolatries, and 



