Series 3 > Minutes of the justices of the peace for Lanarkshire, 1707-1723

xxiv MINUTES OF JUSTICES FOR LANARKSHIRE
during the period of the religious persecutions. Various
expedients were resorted to: in 1677 the Council ap¬
pointed special commissioners to deal with the ‘ unchrist¬
ian and factious careage of sundry persons who not only
withdraw from the worship of God in their owne paroch
kirks, but are guilty of keeping seditious meetings and
other disorders of that nature.’1 Further, appointments
were made of special Justices of the Peace with the powers
of sheriff depute 2 for dealing with ‘ intended conventicles,’
‘ vagrant ministers ’ or ministers who preach ‘ without
allowance of their ordinance,’ ‘ intercommuned persons,’
all who have attended field conventicles or who have been
guilty of illegal marriages or baptisms ; all who ‘ shall
contemptuously disobey the discipline and censures of the
Church.’ 3 As these special Justices of the Peace were to
hold court once a week besides keeping their eyes upon all
suspected of religious nonconformity, the office of Justice
of the Peace was no sinecure. For Lanarkshire William
Nimmo and William Cochran of Ruchsoyle were appointed
in 1679 sheriffs depute for Upper and Lower Clydesdale,
Nimmo getting a commission as Justice of the Peace for
‘ proceeding against delinquents.’ 4 They were actively
employed and were paid for their services 5 : one of their
inquiries was concerned with those who took part ‘ in the
late treasonable opposition to a party of His Majesty’s
Forces in Lesmahagow by calling all the feuars and
commons of Old and New Monkland, town and parish of
Lesmahagow, parishes of Carmichael, Pettinain, Carluke,
Dalserf, and Douglas, and ascertaining their accession to
a late field conventicle at Cumberhead, in Lesmahagow
paroch—what was said there and who wounded or beat
any of the king’s soldiers or took them prisoners.’ 6
1 R.P.C. (3rd Series), v. 213; vi. 147.
3 Ibid. vi. 151-154.
3 Ibid. vi. 180.
3 Ibid. vi. 151.
1 Ibid. vi. 149, 646.
6 Ibid. vi. 162-163.