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Old Ecclesiastical Records of Badenoch. ^23
^^ December 6th, 1728.—The Session finding that it is a
common practice foi- people to contract in order to matrimony upon
the Saturdays, by which they frequently sit up in Change-liouses,
and incroach upon the Lord's day. The Session do enact yt none
shall be contracted upon the Saturdays within this Parish in time
coming, and that tliis may be intimated from the Pulpit, that none
pretend ignorance."
In tlie following year, it is recorded that " ^Mary Kennedy in
Benchar, while being reproved for her sin, uttered several foolish
and impertinent expressions." Mary appears to have been a
regular Jezebel, and we are told that she " gave such great offence "
tliat she was there and then bodily " seized " by the redoubtable
Ivi'k officer, brought before the Session, and sentenced
in sackloath next Lord's day and be rebuked."
" to stand
Li the beginning of 1729 we come upon an entry, indicating
the extent to which the Kingussie Session had anticipated the
famous Forbes Mackenzie by at least a century and a half
" January 6th, 1729.—Kenneth Macpherson, changekeeper,
in Balnespick, compearing was examined anent his entertaining
severals in his house upon the Lord's Day, and found he was
guilty of the forsaid abuse, and likewise yt it has been a prevailing
custome in the Parish for people to assembler together in
Taverns, especially after divine service, to remain till late at night.
The Session for preventing such an abuse do enact yt all changekeepers
within the Parish be henceforth discharged from giving
to any person yt may frequent yr houses on the day forsaid above
a cha])ine a piece as they shall be answerable."
With all the zeal of the Session what strikes one as remarkable
is that if the delinquents confined themselves to the moderate (1)
allowance of " a chapine a piece " on the " Sabbath " they might
apparently, without any fear of being subjected to the punishment
of standing in the " publick place of repentance," indulge to their
heart's content in the most liberal ])otations oi " aquavitie " on
any other day of the week.
We have next the judgment of the Session anent what is
termed the ".scand'ilous abuse of gathering nuts upon the
Sabbath."—
" August \lth, 1719.— The Minister understanding that it is a
common practice in this Parish with severals, especially with
children and servants, to prophane the Lord's Day hy fre(|uenting
the woods and gathering nuts upon the Sabbath, made })ul>lick
intimation from the Pulpit, that if any person or persons, young or
old, should be found guilty of said scandalous abuse, that they
!