Series 6 > Perth Kirk Session books, 1577-1590

THE PERTH KIRK SESSION BOOKS: 1584
275
1584
[196] Sexto Januarii 1584
Absences: Andro Moncreif, Andro Jhonston
Comperit Anton Gib and Janet Stanhouse and desyris thair bannis to be
proclamit. Cation for him, Jhon Peblis, for hir George Pur[ves]' Terme Fast-
erend Evin.
Comperit Thomas Findlay and Margret Randy and desyris thair bannis to
be proclamit. Cation for him Jhon Lammerkyn, for hir Walter Ruthven.
Terme Fasterand evin.
Jhon Lammerkyn, deacon to the wobstaris, being inquirit quhy he had na
licht to the wobstaris seat, answerit it was becaus the wind cumming in at
the south kirk dore sufferit tham not to shaw licht, and offerit willingly iii £
to change the same that thair lichtis may burn.2 (Lammerkyn)
Quhilk day forsamekle as ane gret abuse and sclander hes risin throw the
convening of gret multitudes and banketting in tyme of contractis and banis
of mariage giffin up befoir the kirk, it was ordanit that na contractis of
mariage suld be receavit on the Monunday in tyme of assembly, bot that
onyday or ony tyme of the day the parties to be contracit with thair parentis,
or ony twa nerest of thair kyn the parentis being dead or ony ane of thame,
pass to the ministeris chalmer or ony uther part assigned to thame be the
minister, and thair befoir the minister and twa eldaris gif up thair bannis
and thairafter that the twa nerest of the kynred of the parties contractit cum
on Monday immediately thereafter following and thair in presence of the
haill assemblie ratifie the contract foirsaid, and thene act thame selfis under
the paine of ten £ ilkane of thame that the bannis giffin up as said is salbe
performit within xl dayis thairafter following, (contractis)3
2 It is unclear whether the websters planned to repair the door, contribute to the erection
of a south porch, or screen their lamps. The kirk’s present structure was dictated by Robert
Lorimer’s notion of restoration, rather than any intention of restoring its sixteenth-century
state; however, there is a stone arch visible on the west side of the south transept where
there was probably at one time an external door. It would have opened into the transept
at a point where the roof (then steeply sloped) would have been very low, suggesting that
the websters’ seat was not particularly exalted. Were the wind blowing eastward, a light at
the end of the seat near the door would easily blow out.
3 On the kirk’s efforts to curb traditional festivities at the contracting of marriages, see BUK
i, 343 (1575);Todd,‘Profane pastimes’. Comphance was slow in coming: see 25 Oct. 1584,
24 May 1585, 8 May 1587.