THE WRATH OF THE KIRK

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 111, 6 November 1937, Page 27

THE WRATH OF THE KIRK

The ancient registers of the various Scottish Presbyteries contain much quaint information, and give us, at the same time, some idea of the rigorous discipline maintained by the "Kirk" in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, says the "Manchester Guardian."

There abound instances of persons doing penance in sackcloth, or "linen cloths"—sheets-rfor what seem to us ■very trivial offences while, on ;the other hand, a : man who had killed another generally escaped-with a comparatively slight penalty. Small was the' value placed upon human life at that period, . Thus, George Thompson, for killing Andrew Clark, was ordered by the Presbytery of Glasgow to make Jiis repentance six several Sundays in .sackcloth, ■"ay, till he be found peni'•tent," and to pay £4 (Scots). John Provant, for working on Sunday, was .ordered, to pay 10s to the treasurer of his ' church; Margaret ' Brotherstone, who watered her cabbages on that day, "arid Agnes Gourley, who was reported ■to'have laid'a charm on cows, so that the milk did not produce cream, were adjudged to repent in sackcloth.

Witchcraft being fully credited at that time, it was no light offence to call a person an old witch. Mary Martin, for applying the term to one of ,her neighbours,. was ordered to stand on the following Sunday at the church door ,from the ringing of the second

bell to the ringing/of the third, and after the sermon to "sitt downe upon her knees and crave pardon." ,

For playing his pipes on Sunday, Mungo Craig was to be excommunicated, and four men who appeared and confessed their fault, in dancing 'the sword dance on that day, and in playing superstitious games at Christmas time, were ordered to do penance in sheets. ...■ . : >- ; • ; .-.'..-,. '' , ■■. -~

The seme sentence; for two Sundays running, was noted for Annie Young for' absenting herself from church upon one occasion, and being disobedient to. the voice of the. minister and elders, who thrice summoned her, to answer for her conduct. She. had ;also to find a surety that she would never do. the like again, under pain of 10 marks. . , ■•- ; , .'■>.■

Another culprit was summoned for his "contemptuous shearing of the grass in the kirkyard," and a third, a miller's wife, for profaning the Sabbath by holding a candle to Walter Pinkerton while he set the mill going. Joan Cadye, a servant maid,' was called before the Sessions for disguising' herself in- male attire. Margaret Dickson, summoned for using strong language, confessed that she "did utter this fearful imprecation, The diyell sweepe away such persons out of town.'" For this fault Margaret was fined 40s, and she made her repentance in public.