Series 6 > Perth Kirk Session books, 1577-1590

112
THE PERTH KIRK SESSION BOOKS: 1579
ance for his fornication this day xx dayis, and his cautionar Patrick Justice
youngar18 yet according to the first act to remain cautionar.
Quhilk day also comperit Thomas Ramsay and Elspat Tailyor and desyrit
thair bannes to be proclamit befoir mariage, and for the performance of
the sam the said Thomas has fund Jhon Rynd youngar cautionar under the
pain of ten pundes, and lykwayis the said Elspat hes found hir father Robert
Tailyour under the lyk pain, and Robert Tailyour is becum caution to releif
the said Jhon Rynd. (M)19
Comperit George Buy and promisit at Fastensevin to fulfill the injunctionis
of the kirk for his fornication.20
Comperit Jhon Eldar and promisit to depasche him of Bessie Davidson,
fornicatrix, within ane fourtein dayis under the pain contenit in the act of
them that ressaves vitious persones.21
Comperit Margreat Gall and confessit hir fornication with Preveis Maccau-
pery22 and submittes hir self to the disciplin of the kirk thairfoir.
Sexto Februarii 1579
Comperit James Ross, Patrick Inglis, [and]23 James Moncreif, and testifiet
that Eling Pitscotty duelt nocht in the parochion of Perth, but that hir duel¬
ling was in Loukarty parochion.24
[34] None Februarii 1579
Comperit Jhon Spens and confessit his fornication with Ane Robertson
18 ‘To be pund’ is crossed out.
19 That is, the bride’s father has agreed to liability for the penalty, though Jhon Rynd remains
caution for Thomas Ramsay. For the law of relief, Encyclopedia of the Laws of Scotland iii,
491; Gloag and Henderson, Introduction to the Law of Scotland, 225.
20 Given the date of Fastingseve, Shrove Tuesday, he will be reconciled in time for the Easter
communion. See 24 Nov. 1578, 20 Jan. 1579.
2' Bessie Davidson is apparendy unrepentant and perhaps excommunicate, so householders
are forbidden to receive her into their homes.
22 The clerk opts for ‘Macarbary’ on 9 Feb.
23 Omitted.
24 If this is the case, the session would probably write to the minister of her home parish to
determine whether she were in good standing before allowing her marriage to William
Inglis. Since the marginal ‘M’ beside their entry at the top of this page (from the last January
session meeting) indicates that they did marry, the concerns of the three men complaining
here of her stranger status seem not to have been borne out. Moncrief may simply have
been seeking rehef from acting as her caution on grounds that she was not of the parish.
Ross’s relationship to the couple is not clear.