Transactions. 27 



as their "auncient enemie?." "July, 1640.— John M'Courtie, re- 

 mitted by the Presbytery to the censure of this Session for his 

 often falling into sin with Isobol Wright, they are ordained to 

 resort to the pillar in sackcloth the ensuing Sabbath, and there, in 

 face of the whole congregation, cancel and destroy the paper which 

 they brought from England of their unlawful marriage and disclaim 

 the same and for ever dishaunt her company. John Maxwell, one 

 of the elders of the Session, for accompanying his brother over the 

 march to their unlawful way of marriage contrair to the discipline 

 of the church, is removed off the session, and ordained to pay 

 twenty punds to the poor." " John Laurie, piper, i)etitions the 

 Session for liberty to use and exercise his calling of jiiping and 

 playing, undertaking not to play at all to any of the English. 

 The Session notwithstanding, conceiving his way of living to be 

 useless, have unanimously discharged him henceforth to use the 

 same, and to take himself to some honester way of living." It 

 may be conceived that boycotting would be unlikely to exist 

 amongst neighbours at this time, but such undoubtedly was the 

 case, for we find the Session (April 29, 1647), giving "liberty to 

 IMr John Corson and Mr Cuthbert Cunningham to speak with the 

 Lord Herries, notwithstanding he be excommunicate, in respect 

 they have sundry business of good with his lordship. Also grants 

 the same liberty to Robert Newall anent his artairs with Maynes 

 and John Maxwell of Mylnstone." I simply lay these extracts 

 before you as of antiquarian interest, and forbear, as contrary to 

 our custom, to criticise in any way their religious bearings. They 

 are matters that concern our good town, and serve to throw light 

 upon a chapter of our history of no mean importance. Before 

 concluding, permit me to read you the duties laid down to elders 

 of the church. Their position at this time seems to have been 

 particularly onerous, and the scale of Christian duty and obser- 

 vance no mean one. Their duties were to enquire as they went 

 through their several quarters every quarter of the year : (1) Hoav' 

 the master of the family behaves himself. If his wife walk orderly. 

 If children and servants are obedient. (2) If children be trained 

 up in their learning and honest trades. (3) If they be kept from 

 profaning the Sabbath, and brought to the public worship. (4) If 

 the little catechise be in every femily and exactly learned. (5; If 

 there be family worship, and the word read therein ; and if in 

 each family there be a bible and exhort to private worship. (6) 



