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420 Gaelic Society of Inverness.
'^ July lOtli, 172G.—The Session imderstanding yt jt are a
great many stragglers and vagabonds come into tliis Parisli without
testimonials, as also a great many dissolute and unmarried
women from different parts of the kingdom, commonly follow
the soldiers at the Barrack of Ruthven, and are sheltered in some
houses in the Parish, where they and the soldiers have frequent
mettings, and very often upon the Lord's day, to the great scandal
of religion, and profanation of ye Sabbath : Therefore the Session
think it necessary to apply to the Civil Judge that all such as
shelter such women and vagabonds shall be condignly punished,
and fined in twenty pounds Scots toties qnoties, and this to be intimated
from the Pul])it."
A week later the Decreet of
follows
the Bailie is referred to as
:
'' July \^h, 172G.— This day it is informed yt the Session
had applied to the Baillic, in pursuance of a former resolution
anent vagabonds and strangers coming into the Parish witi)Out
testimonials, and that the Baillie hath passed a Decreet of ten
pounds Scots toiies quoties agt all person or persons that shall
harbour such vagabonds for three nights successively, which Act
was this day intimated from the Pulpit that none pretend ignorance."
We have next the complaint of an alien settler at Ruthven,
against his Highland Janet, who had— probably from incompatibility
of temper—failed " to do him ye duties of a mai-ried wife."
^^ September 2tSth, 1726.—This day Donald Rotson, in Ruthven,
compeared before the Session, and gave in a complaint before
the Session against Janet Gi'ant, his married wife, showing yt ye
said Janet hath deserted him some time ago, and that he cannot
prevaile with her to return to him, or to do him ye duties of a
married wife, and entreats the Session would summond her before
them, and prevaile with her to be reconciled to him, or els give a
reason why she will not. The Session, considering yt ye course
that said Janet has taken is a manifest perjury and breach of her
marriage vows, and yrfor is ground of scandal and offence, do
appoint her to be summond to next Session ; meantime, that the
Minister and Donald M'Pherson, of Culinlin, converse with her yr
anent and make rejtort."
It is subsequently recorded that the rebellious Janet was
ultimately persuaded by the Session to retiu'ii to her disconsolate
Donald. Alas, however, for the vanity of Donald's wishes !
Nearly six years later the long-suliering mortal appeared before
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