26 TRANSACTIONS. 
and a few particulars of how it was met are of interest at the 
present time, when means to fill our churches are often discussed. 
“ Jan. 28, 1641.—The Session, resenting the great slackness and 
remissness of certain persons in resorting to God’s house, but more 
especially those of the Landward Parish, have, for remeid thereof, 
statute and ordained that every gentleman of note in the parish 
shall pay for every day’s absence from the kirk thirty shillings, 
tottes quoties. Also the lady Elshieshields, the Lady Craigs, &c., 
to be summoned for not haunting the kirk, and everyone of 
the inhabitants of Kelton is fined for absence.” Akin to the sin of 
not attending worship, although more trivial, is the following: 
“The minister to intimate to the congregation that henceforth 
when they address themselves either to the Sabbath or week-day 
sermon that they walk not in the churchyard inventing worldly 
thoughts, but go into their seats, that so their unbecoming carriage 
be prevented, and the Lord less dishonoured than hitherto.” I 
may also cite a few things that are forbidden as sinful. “Thomas 
Richardson purgeth himself, but paid twelve shillings for playing 
at cards.” ‘John Clerk Taylor, for being observed to shave 
sundry of this burgh on the Lord’s day in the morning is com- 
manded that he be not found in the like breach of the Lord’s day 
under the penalty of ten pounds.” ‘A woman for gathering cale is 
fined and set in the pillar, and the year after this May games are 
forbidden and Dorothy Herries and Marion Hairson for going to 
St. Jargon’s Well on the first Sunday in May in ane superstitious 
way to fetch the waters thereof, are ordained to acknowledge their 
offence in the body of the church on Sunday.” There are also a 
few remarks about the poor that may prove interesting. “The 
minister is desired yet, as oft before, to intimate that the most 
part of the congregation are sparing (and many give nothing at all) 
to the great necessities of the poor, and the magistrates will be 
enforced to take course with those who withdraw from so pious a 
duty. The minister is to intimate on Sunday to the deficients in 
the necessary duty of charity to the poor that their names hence- 
forth shall be read out publicly, to their great disgrace.” I cannot 
close without a few remarks as to the feeling towards our neigh- 
bours over the border. There seems to have been little goodwill, 
which may possibly be accounted for by the fact uf some of the 
burghers having been taken captive, yet at times there seems a 
race feeling at the bottom of it, as if they recognised the English 
. 
