TRANSACTIONS. a 
as their “auncient enemies.” “July, 1640.—John M‘Courtie, re- 
mitted by the Presbytery to the censure of this Session for his 
often falling into sin with Isobel 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, petitions the 
Session for liberty to use and exercise his calling of piping and 
playing, undertaking not to play at all to any of the Jnglish. 
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 
Mr 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 affairs 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 
concludiug, 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) How 
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 family 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) 
