Grampian Club > Scotland, social and domestic

336 Scotland, Social and Domestic.
cated to saints called forth the frequent exercise of
ecclesiastical discipline. Christ's Well, near the village
of Doune, Perthshire, greatly reputed for its healing
virtues, was held to be especially remedial during the
Sundays of May. To prevent " pilgrimages " being
made to it in May, the Kirk-sessions of the neighbour-
hood made persistent but fruitless efforts. The fol-
lowing deliverance on the subject was passed by the
Kirk-session of Falkirk in 1628 : —
" It is statute and ordained that if any person or per-
sons be found superstitiously and idolatrously after this
to have passed in pilgrimage to Christ's Well, on the
Sundays of May, to seek their health, that they shall
repent in sacco * and linen three several Sabbaths, and
pay twenty lib.t toties quoties, for ilk fault ; and if they
cannot pay it, the baillie shall be recommended to put
them in ward, and to be fed on bread and water for
aught days."
In 1652, the Kirk-session of Auchterhouse dealt with
a woman for carrying her child to a well in May. The
minute is curious : —
"Sunday, 2nd May, 1652. — Margaret Robertsonne
was brought before the court for carrying her child to
the Kirktowne Well, and washing her daughter's eyes,
saying,—
' Fish beare fine, and fulle beare gall ;
All ye ill of my bairn's eyen ye will fall.'
Being accusit of this, confessit shoe did so, and that
Janet Fyffe learned her ; for ye qlk. ye minister is to
acquaint the Presbyterie of it before shoe be further
examined."
* Sackcloth. f Pounds Scots.