Vol 6 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

—Transactions. 25tions, rending tlio name of God asunder, are to be delivered overto the Session for a deserved measure of punishment. Aug. 22.James Moffat and James Wilson to search next Wednesday forcursers." We have also private parties dealt with, and the natureof their punishment. " R. S., for habitual cursing and drunkenness,to declare his repentance next Sabbath, and is enacted underthe penalty of banishment not to be found in the like sins. M.IB., for cursing her husband, to sit two days in the pillar. J. T.,sword sharper, to be rebuked for ordinary cursing." We comenext to a matter that caused much excitement all over the countryat this time—the crime of witchcraft ; and from the records herethe Session seems to have had its feelings far more under controlthan in many other places. "Jan. 17, 16.50.—The minister is tointimate that whosoever person shall brand any man or womanwith the common upcast of witchcraft, unless they have pregnantand warranted grounds, shall have the sharpest kirk discipline.Jan. 5, 1654.—R. S. deponed that he heard M. C. say to AgnesJ. ' That the devil rode on her back seven years, and that she wasbut a dyvour,' or witch." The sin of talking scandal seems tohave been put down with a firm hand at this time, and the variouspunishments meted out are of a kind fitted to keep unruly tonguesin order." Thos. JNIeik, for slandering Agues Fleming, is ordainedinstanter to stand in the gorgets (a sort of pillory with an iron ringfor the neck) at the Trone till 1 2 o'clock, and thereafter upon hisbare knees to ask her foi'giveness at the Mercat Cross." " JanetJardine is enacted, under the pain of twenty pounds, never henceforthto be heard scolding."" Catherine Purdie, for calling BessieHarper a lewd lown, debusht, mainsworn glutton, filthy lown andthief, wabster's get, skemland stablerakei-, and praying ane blacksight to Bessie and her bairns, to be rebuked from the body of thechurch." A departure from virtue such as is now commonlybrought before the Divorce Courts was dealt with as follows :" Allan Cunningham, for adultery, is ordained to appear before tliePresbytery in sackcloth, and there confess his fault, and thereafterbe remitted to the Session. John Black, for the same offence, tosit seven Sabbaths in sackcloth, and the first and last to standbarefooted at the church door between the second and last bell."For a departure from virtue for the fourth time on the part of aAvoman, she is ordained " to be carted from the town." Absencefrom worship was a frequently recurring subject before the Session,