The book Arran; - Cook Clan

166 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
but they suffice to exhibit the Session as a sort of earthly
Providence. But both in Kilmorie and Kilbride we have
information as to the circulation of bad money, a fair amount
of which found its way into the church collections. In 1722
a M'Master in Kilmorie is ' fined in a great sum of money
for venting false money coined by one Grigor ' ; and the
Kilbride treasurer in 1731 enters an ' exchange of eight
shillings sterhng bad : gott half value.'
In 1793 we are informed that there are only twelve on the
Kilbride poor's roll, supported by quarterly collections.^
There was in addition a sum of £40 drawing interest for
relief in cases of scarcity, which depend we see upon the
weather, or in other extraordinary emergencies, while the
Dvike's ' pensioners ' had meal from the factor. Kilmorie
had forty on its roll supplied from quite inadequate weekly
collections supplemented by ' country charity,' for ' the
people, according to their abilities, are very charitable and
attentive to real indigence.'
In the spring of 1746 Kilbride Session were serving out
badges to ' real objects of charity ' entitling them to beg
without obstruction or molestation. It is worth noting that
nothing appears in the records of the years 1745-6 to suggest
that aught unusual was convulsing the country. But the
Session Records in general are curiously silent about the
business, so that the Arran elders are no exception. Still,
their cautious reticence is to be deplored.
While Prince Charles Edward and his Highlanders are
making the political welkin ring, the Kilbride elders are
pursuing their even tenor in suppressing ' imprecations '
and like nuisances. In particular there had developed a
loose practice in some quarters of persons themselves taking
their cows to pasture early on the Sabbath morning, instead
of employing the proper herds, so that this occupation became
an excuse for neglecting church ; while children were
' Old Slatiitical Account.