The book Arran; - Cook Clan

THE CHURCH AFTER THE REFORMATION 147
a beaten man, and in disgust he entered the Church of
England, in which country a living worth £200 a year was
found for him, it may be strongly suspected through the
influence of Dr. Johnson.
II
The intimate chronicles of the island are written in the
Kirk Session Records of the respective parishes. The
earliest volume for Kilbride begins its entries on December
21, 1704, and closes on August 3, 1749 : the volume to follow
has disappeared. Kilmorie has some fragmentary entries
for 1702, including a meeting of Session in the King's Cave
on October 26 of that year, and thereafter the Record con-
tinues in excellent condition, some of it beautifully written,
until May 1729. From this date till 1762 there is a gap, with
the exception of a few loose leaves engrossing meetings in
1736-37, but from 1762 the Minutes are continuous. Meetings
in the King's Cave, it may be observed, are fairly frequent
it was a central though draughty place.
In all such records throughout Scotland there is a sad
similarity. Occupied for most with the frailties of human
nature they paint a picture in which the shadows are too
extensive and too deep. The figures who pass in review
before the senate of elders are mainly sinners or ' objects '
in poverty ; the first in person for trial and judgment, the
second in name for charitable assistance. Nor are the
members of the court themselves necessarily held to be above
suspicion ; even the judges are subjected to judgment. An
entry taken at random gives an example of this self-examina-
tion, while disclosing the preliminary stage in a Session
process :
' The minister appointed a privy censure concerning
the carriage and behaviour of the members of the Session,
and finding nothing in their conversation but what was
suitable, therefore exhorted them to their duty. The elders
being inquired if there was any scandal within their re-
;