Series 6 > Perth Kirk Session books, 1577-1590

108
THE PERTH KIRK SESSION BOOKS: 1578
The assembly desyris earnestly the bailyeis to interpone thair authority to
thair gift of thair hospitality and the gift to be producit befoir tham to this
effect, that all thinges may proceid with ane ordour.106
[30] Decimo quinto Decembris 1578
Becaus Thomas Dundy hes maid no diHgence being summoned pro secundfo]
to prove sik thinges as wes admittit to his probation in his libel aganisViolat
Robeson his spous, the assembly hes thot gud that he be summoned pro
tertio ad probandum.
Comperit Gilbert Robertson and sayis Thomas Rollok bad him put on the
devilles cot.107
Gilbert Robertson, William Mertein, Thomas Rollok, Thomas Jak, [and]
Jhon Macbaith confess that thai hauf transgressit ane act maid in the assembly
of minister and elderis and ratifiet be the provost and bailyeis of bailyeis [sic]
in that superstitiously thai passit about the town on Saint Oberttes evin
disguisit in pyping and dansing and tartorchis108 beryng, for the quhilk thai
submit tham selfes to the disciplin of the kirk.
22 Decembris 1578
Comperit Jhon Dow and Janet Flint and desyrit thair bannes to be proclaimit,
and for performance of the same the said Jhon hes found Jhon Bunch
caution under the pain of ten pundis, and lykwayis the said Janet Flint hes
found William Mitchell caution under the lyk sowm, to wit, x
29 Decembris 1578
Quhilk day109 Duncan Robeson, merchant [comperit]110 and becam caution
under the pain of ten pundis to [the] puir of money for Thomas Makky
that he suld fulfill the injunctionis of the kirk that was to be injoint to him
for his fornication.
106 This entry is bracketed and a large ‘X’ is written in the margin. The session requires the
aid of the town baihes to collect money owed to the hospital.
107 Robertson is charged with wearing the costume of the devil in the baxters’ play for St
Obert’s Day. The devil was one of a number of worrisome characters in the hammermen s
play as well: see Mill, ‘Perth hammermen’s play’, 146-153.
108 One of several Scots spellings for ‘torches’. It is important to note that this festivity
occurred after dark, which made it all the more sinister to contemporaries concerned
with illicit activities in an era without street lighting.
109 ‘Patrick Justice youn[ger]’ is crossed out.
110 Omitted.