Series 6 > Perth Kirk Session books, 1577-1590

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THE PERTH KIRK SESSION BOOKS: 1577
25 November 1577
(3) Compeirit Katren Cutbert and Thomas Paterson and promisses to
accompleis the marrage contractit betfween] tham, for accomplisment
quhairof Jhon Wood and Thomas Byrn war caution.87
9 Decembris 1577
(4) Becaus that Thomas Paterson and Katrin Cuthbert contractit mariage
and the said Katrin will not accompleis the samyn, thairfoir desyris the
bailyeis to puind Thomas [sic] Wood quha wes cautionar for the said Katrine
for x £ according to the act.
(5) Quhilk day it is ordanit that Elin Ramsay salbe puneist as ane fornicatrix
and William Bawand to be put in the tolbuith quhill88 he pay xiii s iiii d for
not exhibiting of the said Elin conform to the act.89
(6) Quhilk day comperit Thomas Mackie and confest his fornication with
Alison Gudaill, and the said Thomas being demaundit gif he wes heirtofoir
mareit, he ansuerit that he wes mareit and his wyfis name wes Marion
Wobster, but sche wes deid vii yeirs
16 Decembris 1577
(7) Quhilk day compeirit Marion Henderson and confesses hir fornica[tion]
with William Blare [and] confesses also that Thomas Henderson hir father
hes ressaifit hir in hir hous and hes not exhibeit hir to the kirk, and also
that sche hade carnal deal with Thomas Bissat of befoir. And becaus sche
sayis that sche offendit in the parischon of Kfinnoull]90 and thairfoir as sche
alledgis sche suld mak hir repentens thair, ordainis the said Marren to bring
hir testimonial91 fra the minist[er] thair upane this day xx dayis.
87 A carrot after ‘tham’ points to no insertion; perhaps the scribe meant to include the date
of the contract.
88 Until.
89 That is, she failed to appear before the session when ordered; Wilham Bawand (Bowen) was
her cautioner.
90 The end of the parish name is missing because of a torn edge; the nearby parish of Kinnoull
may have been the place.
91 A testimonial was a document signed by the minister of the parish indicating in this case
that repentance had duly been performed in the kirk there. Testimonials were also required
for travelers or people moving home to verify standing in their parish of origin, particularly
if they wished to receive communion in the new parish. People often presumed that stran¬
gers without testimonials were offenders trying to evade discipline in their home parishes,
or sinners who had been excommunicated and banished, and accordingly declined to
receive or offer them hospitality of any sort. The minister of Kinnoull was William Rynd,
son of Patrick Rynd of Perth and master of the Perth grammar school (Fasti iv, 218-19).