W\^ ¦

/

©nig an Jbg 3Leat

THE

Cijurtfj^s 0f Saint Baltrr^ir:
qAULDHAME, ¦
WHITEKI%K, TYNINGHAME,
TRESTONKI%K.

a. L 3aitc|)te.

Semina 7-eru?n.

CHDtnbursI)'
J. MOODIE MILLER, land 2 LINDSAY PLACE,
1883.

Edinburgh :
Printed by J. T. Peddie & Co., York Place,
FOR
J. MOODIE MILLER.
London, .. Hamilton, Adams, & Co,
Cambridge, . . . Macmillan & Co.
Dublin, . M'Glashan & Gill.
Glasgow, . James Maclehose.

T{51

PREFACE.

HERE is neither room nor reason for a long
preface : a book of this kind tells its own
story. The grave, the gay, the lively, the
severe, has each its place upon the page — not far
apart, but interwoven each with each : events now
historical side by side with memorials of a quiet
life — of how men lived, and loved, and died.
The centre figure is the noble family of Hadding
ton. A little spot to the west of the present house
of Tyninghame still marks where a garden has been.
Near this, the village church, with its two Gothic
arches and sculptured stones, whose history is lost
for ever : its graveyard now a green field, whose turf
no doubt covers many curious relics of the past.
The Record, which gives this book more than a
local interest, has no doubt a chequered history. At
the date of the Battle of Dunbar the Bell and Church
Bible were taken to Tantallon, and, when even that

6 PREFACE.
stronghold was not any longer a place of safety, to
the Bass — which never was annexed by force of arms
to the land of the Saxon. But there is no mention
of the Record : who knows but that it may have been
buried somewhere until the storm was over. Be that
as it may, here it is and as it is.
Pallida Mors, aequo pulsat pede, pauperum tabernas
Regumque turres. O beate Sesti !
Vitffi summas brevis spem nos vetat inchoare longam ;
Jam te premet nox fabulasque Manes ;
Et domus exilis Plutonia.

CONTENTS.

PAGE.
I. — Introduction,  9
II. — Auldhame,  18
III. — Whitekirk, . . . . . . .26
IV. — Tyninghame,  46
V. — Prestonkirk,  124
VI. — Records of Tyninghame, . . . 137

ERRATA.
Page 6, on third line from foot, for "summse" read "summa."
Page 20, on fifth line from foot, for "Henry VII." read "Henry
VIII." Page 33, on eleventh line from top, for "took" read "touk."
Page 39, on sixth line from foot, for "bell" read "hand-belL"
Page i,t„ on fourth line from top, between the words "soaking"
and " with," insert "it."
Page 71, on top line, between the words "ejected" and "from,"
insert the words " at the Revolution."
Page 83, on sixth line from foot, for "hollow" read "howe."
Page 95, on sixth line from foot, for •" parturient " read
" parturiunt."

great aeai 01 tiic iiiytii nas gann-n-Ta iv^un^ liivii .^x..^.^.
In our own day, ecclesiastics are sorely puzzled to
tell whether they were Presbyters or Bishops. I would
rather look upon them as having a life and work not
so clearly marked as either of these lines of ecclesias
tical polity — the types of an apostolic age in Scotland.
The Bass, Zona, Inchkeith, Saint Baldred, Saint Co-
A

INTRODUCTION.
[HE question — Who was Saint Baldred ? has
had various answers. It is not our purpose
to say much of him, but of places which
have a traditional connection with him. It is gener
ally agreed that he lived about the end of the sixth
century. This fact is historically important. There
were at that time, in other parts of Scotland, men who
have left their impress upon its history. We may
set aside, as at least doubtful, the stories that are
afloat as to their connection with each other. For
example, that Saint Columba of Zona paid a visit to
Saint Mungo of Glasgow, upon which occasion they
exchanged croziers ; or that Saint Baldred was a dis
ciple of Saint Mungo. There seems to have been in
such men a conscious or unconscious co-operation for
good in that dark and barbarous day. No doubt a
great deal of the myth has gathered round their lives.
In our own day, ecclesiastics are sorely puzzled to
tell whether they were Presbyters or Bishops. I would
rather look upon them as having a life and work not
so clearly marked as either of these lines of ecclesias
tical polity — the types of an apostolic age in Scotland.
The Bass, lona, Inchkeith, Saint Baldred, Saint Co-
A

lO INTRODUCTION.
lumba, Saint Adamnan — what a strange history con
nects itself with these places and persons! Others
were, no doubt, working on the mainland, leaving their
names upon rocks and streams, and mountains and
rivers — upon days which to this hour are down in the
calendar in perpetual memory of their doings amongst
men. These rock dweUings, ruled and disciplined by
such influences, were resting places for truth and holi
ness in embryo in a dark and troubled day. The
religious life of all nations has been cradled in the
storm. " It affords an exalted and tranquil pleasure to rest
in the shadow of such ruins — to search with a filial
affection, in the faint remembrances of the ages, for
the venerable, but, alas ! fading forms of the fathers
of that faith which is the evidence of the things that
are not seen. Here, upon this hill, which skirts the
southern shore of lona, can I trace out the long way
adown the stream of Time, by which the piety, the
precepts, and the practice of an unspotted Christianity
flowed purely from the original Fountain, making the
wilderness to bud, and these deserts to blossom like
a garden. I can see them coming ! — not counting
their lives dear unto themselves — clad in the armour
of purity and innocence, to contend with strong seas
and barren shores ; not afraid, but trusting that the
might of that God who rules the ocean and protects
the frail canoe and its saintly burden, will also subdue
before them, and put to sleep, the stormier passions
of untaught savage men. I see them coming ! — the
leader and his twelve undaunted associates and dis
ciples ! Happy number ! Like those of old, who, by

INTRODUCTION. II
the power of the weakness of God, trampled upon
strength, and, under the ignominious sign of the cross,
conquered the honourable world ! They approach the
shore ! — they land I The meek have taken possesion
of the unknown rock upon which their sandals tread.
The cross — emblem of self-denial, agony, and shame —
carries the armour of an invisible panoply. Onward
advances the sacerdotal host. The isles obey — king
doms are conquered — their word has gone out into all
lands — the sun shines forth in his mid-day splendour ;
but onward still, for the Sun of Righteousness knows
and needs no rest. Here then we sit, and on the
shores of this narrow bay, and from a few rude stone-
heaps, by the power of the invisible over the immortal
spirit, evoke from the grave of ages the reality — the
body that Jias been, by the flitting ghost which yet
piously lingers around the dust of its old habitation.
Here let us fondly, joyfully, and gratefully build up
our monuments to the past I A change comes over
the vision ! Seven centuries roll away, and the unseen
has given place to the visible. Towers, arches, altars,
crosses, buttresses, and palaces have covered the iron-
bound coast of the island of Columba's cell. The rocks
in the Bay of the Wicker-Boat are forgotten in the
gorgeous tombs of the Lords of the Isles. The simple
faith which was built upon the Rock of Ages is ob
scured by a mortal homage, offered in a magnificent
cathedral, built upon the sand ! Behold it, then, nod
ding to its downfall ! That cell of unhewn stones,
where the Culdees worshipped the Father who seeth
in secret, has been overshadowed by a toilsome and
stately pile, and by crumbling chapels built up in the

12 INTRODUCTION.
ostentation of the broad day, to be the mausoleum of
princes, rather than the altars of God. It is all well
— well for us to look upon these things and learn ;
for each speaks, both the cell and the cathedral, with
an impressive language, and each tells its own teach
ing, and its own story. The pure faith, of which
Columba, about thirteen centuries ago, was the North
ern Apostle, lives and prevails, and by the power of
its child-hke simplicity, shall conquer the world ; while
the magnificent monuments of a visible Redeemer,
though only seven centuries old, have already crum
bled." — Rev. Mr Richardson, an Episcopal Clergyman,
who came from America expressly to visit lona.
There is little reference to Saint Baldred in any
history of Scotland. In old books he is called " the
Apostle of the Lothians." " Impelled," says Bishop
Leslie, "with an ardent desire for propagating religion,
he devoted himself to the Picts, and instructed them
in the way of Christ.'' Simeon of Durham says that
" the boundaries of his pastorate embraced the whole
land which belongs to the monastery of Saint Balther,
which is called Tyninghame — from Lambermoor to
Inveresk, or, as it was called, Eskmouthe." He se
lected the Bass as the spot from which he went forth
on his mission. One says that he was commissioned
by Saint Kentigern ; another, with more probability
— for at that time the Lothians were a part of the
kingdom of Northumbria — that he came from the
Diocese of Landisferne, and therefore was a Saxon,
and called " Sax, bold in council." How long he lived
upon the Bass before he began his mission is not
known. Boece says that he was of Scotch extraction,

INTRODUCTION. 1 3
and exercised his office in a district which then formed
a part of Pict-land in Scotland — the Lothians, which
took its name from Lothus, a king of whose doings we
have no record.
In the Breviary of Aberdeen — one of the earliest, if
not the earliest work which issued from the Scottish
press — the following passage occurs : — " Being emin
ently devout, he renounced all worldly pomp, and,
following the example of John the Divine, resided in
solitary places, and betook himself to the islands of
the sea. Among these he had recourse to one called
the Bass, where he led a life without all question strict
and contemplative, in which for many years he held up
to remembrance the blessed Kentigern, his instructor,
in the constant contemplation of the sanctity of his
conduct." " In those days," says Bede, " people never came
into a church but only for hearing the Word and
prayer. All the care of these doctors was to serve
God, not the world — to feed souls, not bodies ; and
if any priest entered a village, incontinently all the
people would assemble, being desirous to hear the
Word of Life."
Such was the man — the real Saint Baldred, let us
hope ! How much higher than the saint of monkish
legend who came into existence some centuries later !
The stories of these saints, though historically worth
less, are amusing, if nothing more. It is told of one
— Saint Serf — whose monastery was in an island in
Loch Leven, that he had a reputation for the neatness
of his miracles ; as, for example, when a rough fellow
was charged with stealing and devouring a lamb, and

14 INTRODUCTION.
denied the charge, the animal bleated forth the story
of its wrongs from the guilty stomach of the thief.
Of the monkish legends connected with Saint Bald
red, I may tell three. At one time a rock stood mid
way between the Bass and the shore. It impeded the
navigation of the rude crafts of these days, and was
the cause of many wrecks. Saint Baldred had com
passion upon these ancient mariners, so he seated
himself upon said rock, and at his nod it moved to
the nearest land. It is called Saint Baldred's Cobble
to this day. There is another rock on the coast oppo
site Tyninghame, which is said to move in the storm.
It is called Saint Baldred's Cradle.
He is said to have died in the year of Christ 606.
There was a dispute between the parishes of Auld
hame, Tyninghame, and Prestonkirk, as to which
should have his body. There was a lengthened con
ference, but they could not agree. At last, by the
advice of a holy man, they spent the night in prayer.
In the morning three bodies were found, in all respects
alike, each in its winding sheet, prepared for burial.
Ten centuries after this time, John Mair or Major,
born at Gleghornie — afterwards a doctor in the Uni
versity of Saint Andrews — who must have daily seen
the Bass and Auldhame with his young eyes, writes
that there is no greater difficulty in believing this
than in believing the dogma of transubstantiation.
There are those who believe in neither. As to the
latter, it was not even hinted at, says Dr M'Crie, till
the tenth century.
But there is something in this neighbourhood which
looks into a remoter past — indeed, pre-historic. In

INTRODUCTION. 1 5
the little bay at Seacliff" stands a rock called the
Ghegan. Its height from the sea level is about
twenty-three feet on the one side, and twenty-nine
feet on the other. Here, exposed to all the fury of
the storm, was found the outline of a human dwelling,
thirty-nine feet by thirty-six feet. Countless bones
of animals — oxen, sheep, goats, hogs, deer, dogs, rats
— bone implements, combs, ornaments, needles, arrow-
points, and fragments of earthenware, more or less
rude. In a little cave on the adjoining mainland is a
flat stone, conjectured to be a sacrificial altar. Some
years ago the sand was removed all round it, and a
complete skeleton was disclosed, with many other dis
connected bones that seemed to have been scattered
around the altar — "Our bones are scattered at the
grave's mouth." There is a tradition that at one time
a blood mark was visible upon that stone.
"In the month of May 1831, a cave was discovered
on the rocky shore at Auldhame, about twenty feet
above high water, which was with apparent justice be
lieved to have been occupied by Druids and Pagan
priests, as a place of sacrifice. This cave is twenty-
nine feet in length by twenty-eight in extreme breadth.
Its height in front is twenty feet, gradually diminish
ing to three feet at the inner end. At its mouth
stands a large stone or altar, four and a-half feet high,
placed on a stratum of pavement three feet above the
soil. A skeleton of an infant was excavated from
beneath the altar, and on one side of the cave a second
skeleton was found. Limpet shells, bones of extinct
animals, and charred wood were spread over the floor."

l6 INTRODUCTION.
— " Early Inhabitants of East Lothian." — Haddington
Courier, 1870.
There are various caves marked in Scotland, by an
unbroken tradition, as devotional cells — the cave of
Saint Columba on the shore of Loch Killesfoot, in
North Napdale, with an altar and font and cross ;
the cave of Saint Ninian in Wigtownshire ; of Saint
Moloc in Holy Island ; Saint Serf at Dysart ; Saint
Rule at Saint Andrews.
Some years ago, near Scoughall and the coast, the
ploughshare turned up a large number of stone kists,
in 'some of which were numerous bones, also black
ashes of burned wood. There was no mark of the
chisel upon any of the stones. All these kists pointed
towards the east — the rising sun. If the dead bodies
were deposited in these at full length, they must have
been of short stature. All this belongs to the pre
historic period ; and, therefore, we can only conjecture
— was this a common cemetery, or a battle-field in
which men were buried where they fell .? So much
for these nameless graves. There are no doubt many
such places in Scotland.
"There are two great divisions in the character of
these remains. In some the bodies seem to have been
put into coffins or chests made of slabs of stone.
Sarcophagus was the name given to the stone coffin
when its use among the ancient classical nations
was discussed ; but our later archaeologists have kept
the native name of kists for these found in Britain.
They are of many grades of elaborateness : some are
boxes of mere rough slabs, held together by the sur
rounding earth : in other instances there is a trough

INTRODUCTION.

17

hollowed in a great stone. The other method of dis
posing of the dead is by burning, and preserving a due
portion of the ashes in an urn. These urns are very
numerous, and have been objects of much research and
discussion. Sir Thomas Browne, musing over some
burial urns and their contents, says — 'Who were the
proprietors of these bones, or what bodies these ashes
made up, is a question above antiquarianism — not to
be resolved by men, nor easily, perhaps, by spirits, un
less we consult the provincial guardians or tutelary
observators.'" — Burton's Scotland, vol. i.,p. 106.

AULDHAME.

HE ruin at Auldhame is all that remains of a
house of the Douglas. The faded shield
upon it corresponds apparently with that
upon Tantallon ; and, failing other evidence, these
shields help in fixing historic dates. There was a
church at Auldhame, no doubt near the graveyard ;
for "one generation passeth away and another genera
tion Cometh, but the earth abideth for ever." There
are entries of burial in the Records of Tyninghame in
1 6 19. Long after this date the proprietor of Seacliff",
Mr Colt, was interdicted from tearing down the wall,
or in any way interfering with the ground ; but at an
after date that cemetery — the sleeping-chamber of the
weary — was turned up by the ploughshare ; and so of
another spot, as will afterwards appear. This had no
doubt been a place of burial from the time of Saint
Baldred. It is well to think of this now and then, and
admit that all was not good which came with the
Reformation. Such an act would never have been
dreamed of in pre-Reformation times. The following
has various lessons : it relates to Cockburnspath : —
" May 17 12. Wodrow notes at this time a piece of bad
taste on the part of Sir James Hall of Dunglass, whose

AULDHAME. 1 9
family had in recent times acquired by purchase that
ancient possession of the Home family. The old
burial-place of the Earls of Home had been turned by
Sir James into a stable ; and he resisted both the
clamour of the public and the private remonstrance
of the aggrieved family on the subject. Because
the minister shewed some dislike to him on this ac
count, he is very uneasy to him. An English tourist
visited Cockburnspath in 171 1. He found that Sir
James had gathered off" all the grave-stones from the
churchyard, to give scope for the growing of grass.
He had made the nave of the church a stall for his
coach horses, and dug up the graves of the dead,
throwing away their bones, to make way for a pave
ment for his horses. He has made the choir a coach
house, and broken down the great east end wall to
make a great gate to let his coaches in. The turret
is a pigeon-house, and over this new stable he has
made a granary. There is also a building called an
aisle adjoining the north side of the church, which is
still a burying-place, in which Sir James keeps hay
for his horses, though his own first lady, who was
daughter to Sir Patrick Home, and his only son, lie
buried there." — Domestic Annals, vol. iii„p. 370.
The broken flags which lie in the old court-yard of
Auldhame were, it may be, seats for the wanderers, or
as they were called, vagabond or randie poor, when
they sunned themselves in the favour of the rich.
Somehow, Lazarus and Dives go together in this
world ! " The poor ye have with you always," said
the "Man of Sorrows." The lion on the old stone
gate looked down upon the lady fair upon her mount-

20 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
ed steed, and the man in rags — so passes the glory of
the world !
" Life and thought have gone away.
Side by side.
Leaving doors and windows wide —
Careless tenants, they !
All within is dark as night ;
In the window is no light ;
And no murmur at the door.
So frequent on its hinge before !
Come away ! — no more of mirth
Is here, nor merry-making sound :
The house is builded of the earth.
And now falleth to the ground.
Would they could have stayed with us ! "
Tennyson.
Before leaving Auldhame, I must take a passing
glance at a name which was well known in the time
of James VI. and Mary of Guise — Sir Adam Otter-
burn of Auldhame. He had a good deal of diplomatic
work in his day. In 1534 he was one of the com
missioners sent to arrange a treaty with England for
the putting down of reiving or pillaging on the border.
It was drawn up in London, nth May 1534, and was
to hold during the joint lives of the two and one year
thereafter, but was broken before the ink which signed
it had well dried. The same Sir Adam Otterburn, in
IJSS. was in waiting upon his royal master, when two
ambassadors arrived from Henry "VII. with some
books containing the heads of the Reformed Faith,
which James refused to look at, but passed along to
his ghostly counsellors, who of course condemned
them — a gift of religious books, pungent every page

AULDHAME. 21
of them with Attic salt, from Henry VIIL, De
fender of the Faith — an old title peculiar to the
King of England, as Catholicus to the King of
Spain, Christianissimus to the King of France, and
Apostolicus to the King of Hungary : conferred by
the Popes of Rome ; conferred by Leo X. on Henry
VIIL for writing against Martin Luther, dated the
Idesof October 1521. Yes! there it is — Henry VIIL,
Defender of the Faith ! — that royal Bluebeard, with
his string of concubines, all of them too good for him :
one of them a noble heart, whose married life was an
ever- enlarging tide of bitter, bitter tears — nay, of a
sorrow so absorbing that tears would not come — a
" killing sorrow." What a sad thing an ecclesiastical
conscience sometimes is I — the swindler, the cheat, the
scoundrel, who will take endless favours from his fel
lows, and smile ! — who will send the dagger with the
full sweep of his arm into that part of life which is
most tender, most sacred, and smile ! One word but
faintly tells what he is — a villain ; and such a type is
not yet quite so rare in the world as the dodo. But
let us get out of the shadow of Henry VIIL, Defender
of the Faith ! One day, early in his ministry, when
the wearied Christ sat at a wayside well, "there came
a woman of Samaria to draw water." She had lived
with five husbands in succession, and was now living
with one who was not her husband ; and yet the end
of the story is plain enough. She had an ecclesiastical
difficulty about where to worship ! God is just ; and
no emergency can blazon deeds or consecrate a crime.
Otterburn afterwards became Provost of Edinburgh,

22 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Knight of Redhall, and had various work connected
with these times.
The small parish was bounded by what is now
known as the Pilmuir Burn, and was formally an
nexed to Tyninghame June 20, 1619. From 1560
till 161 8, Auldhame belonged to no parish. The in
habitants worshipped in the White Church, as it is
called. The evidence follows — When Mr George
TurnbuU was translated from Alloa to Tyninghame,
20th September 1699, among other curious papers
found in the box, and inspected by the Presbytery,
which was always done on these occasions, were the
following — the documents themselves have vanished,
but the inventory remains : — " Sett and Inventer of
the Annexation of the Kirk of Auldhame to Tyning
hame, as also of the Old Locality of the Stipend of
Tyninghame, and some other evidents, ut infra (as
below). "Ane Presentation be my Lord Halyrood House,
to Mr John Lauder to the Parsonage and Vicaradge
of the Kirk of Auldhame, dated 20th July 161 8.
Item : Collation be John, Archbishop of Saint An
drews, to Mr Johne Lauder to the Parsonage and
Vicaradge of the Kirke of Auldhame, dated 20th July
1618. Item : Collatione be Johne, Archbishop of
Saint Andros, to the said Kirk of Aldhame.
" Tack be the New Colledge of Saint Andros to Mr
John Lauder of the Teind Barn and Yeard, as the
same were possesst be the Lairds and Ladies Bass, to
the minister of Tyninghame for the space of nineteen
years, dated 6 December 1619. Item : Inhibition, at
the minister of Tyninghame's instance, against the

AULDHAME. 23
Laird of Bass, founded on the Act of Parliament
1617, for providing communion cups, cloaths, and
elements, dated 26th May 1621. Item: The Old
Localitie, payable to the minister of Tyninghame, by
way of minute." We will have abundant proof in a
little while that the Lady Bass, who was a Hepburn
of Wauchton, did not readily forget the loss of the
Teind Barn and Yaird.
"At Edinburg, the twentie day of December, the
yeir of God 1614 yeirs, the Lords of Counsell under
written, the nobill and potential Alexander, Erie of
Dunfermling, &c., at the instance of Mr John Lauder,
Minister of Tininghame Kirk, against Robert Lauder
of Bass, Dame Isobell Hepburn, his mother: the
Moderator and Brethren of the Exercise makin men
tion that, whereas the said pursuer is Minister of the
said Kirk and Parochen of Tininghame, for serving
the cure thereof, and that it was decreit that he
should have four aikers of land of the vicars', per-
sonnes', or bishope's teinds, lyin maist contiguous to
the said Parish Kirk, designat to him for sik like, con
form to the Act of Parliament maid thairanent, at the
quilk glebe the said pursuer has alreadie possesst by
him thre aikers, wants of his designation as yet ane
aiker and ane quarter of ane aiker of his said manse ;
and albeit the haill viccar land, personne land, and
bishoppe land, lyin nor-west the said Pariche Kirke
of Tininghame, out of quilk the saide gleib and mans
oucht to be designat, aither pertine to the saides
George Lauder of Bass, Dame Isobell Hepburn, his
mother, Robert Lauder, portioner of Tininghame —
nevertheless, nather will the sades George Lauder,

24 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Bass, Dame Isobell Hepburn, his mother, nor the said
Robert Lauder, condescend nor agre fourth of the
quilk of their lands the superplus of the said gleib
should be designat ; nather yet will the said Modera
tor and Brethren of the Exercise of Dunbar pass and
designe the said superplus, injurin the said purseuar,
being deprived of a great part of his said manse and
gleib, to his serious hurt and skaithe, without remeid
be provyded.  The said Robert Lauder, and Mo
derators, and remanent defenders, and the curators of
the said Robert Lauder, Bass, he and his for their
interests, being lawfuUie summonit, and three tymes
callit, and not compeirit : The richtes, resonnes, and
allegations of the parties compeir, and as said is, have
seen and understood, and being ripelie advysed, the
Lords of Council fynds and declairs that the super-
plus of the said pursuer's lands shall be designat for a
mans and gleib, extending to ane aiker and half, ane
aiker or thareby, oucht and should be designat furth
out of the viccar land, and failing the viccar land to
compleit the said aiker and half aiker, all the landes
whatsoever be within the said Parische to be designat,
aye and until their be ane compleit and sufficient
gleib designat to the purseuar, containing four aikers
of land ; " and failing this, " Decernes and ordains
to desyne quhatsomever being kirk land in the Par
ische, conforme to the Act of Parliament." — Cetera
desunt. Previous to this former annexation, as has been al
ready stated, Auldhame belonged to no parish. When
Sir John Auchmuthie was in 1615 proclaimed with a
view to marriage, the question was referred to the

AULDHAME. 25
Presbytery of Dunbar, which decided as his residence
was in Scoughall, and as Auldhame had not been
planted since the Reformation, he should be pro
claimed in the Church at Tyninghame ; which was
accordingly done on the 30th July ; " the quilk day
the bands of mariadge betwixt Jhone Auchmutie,
Laird of Skugall, and Isobelle Setoune, daughter of
Sir William Seatoun, in Haddingtoune, war pro-
claimit in the Kirk of Tyninghame, according to the
ordinance of the Presbytery." Sir John Auchmuthie
afterwards became proprietor of Gossford. In 161 7
the following entry appears in the Tyninghame Re
cords: — "the qlk day, being the 23rd of Mairche, the
year of God 1617, as said is, ane bairn baptizit to
Jhone Auchmutie, Laird of Skugall, ane daughter,
lawful named Isobelle. The said Jhone Auchmutie
being in England, the bairn was presented to Sir
William Setoun, witness ; Thomas Stewart, husband
to the Ladie Perth ; the Lord of Lauderdaill ; and
the Maister of Fentoune."

WHITEKIRK.

if^BT is at least doubtful if this should be called a
church of Saint Baldred. Dr Stuart, in his
preface to the Book of Deer, calls it one of
the foundations of Saint Baldred. The evidence is
wanting. I called his attention to this point : he said
he would look into it again. In a few days was the
announcement of his death ! Those who knew even
a little of the gentle, scholarly man, will long remem
ber him. He had the Records of Tyninghame for some
time in his possession, and pronounced them exceed
ingly curious, as containing a minute picture of the
doings of a Scottish hamlet in the 17th century.
The track of Saint Baldred seems to have been a-
long the coast, landing at Tyninghame, where he
established a college.
At a very early period Whitekirk was a dependency
of Holyrood. That Abbey was transferred from its
old site near the Castle in 1 128, and among other
lands given to it were, " et Hamere et Fordam cum
suis rectis divisis, et Hospitale, cum una carucata
terrae" — i.e., Whitekirk and Fordam, with their re
spective rights, and the Hospital, with a carucate of
land. A carucate of land was as much as a plough
could till in one year — about 100 acres.

WHITEKIRK. 27
The origin of the name Whitekirk is somewhat
doubtful. Dr Stuart is of opinion that it takes its
name from the fact that it was built of stone, as the
Candida Casa, or White Cottage, of Whithorn. The
name of Whithorn was translated by the Saxons into
Whit-aern. Saint Ninian was buried here, 432 ; and
pilgrimages were made to his shrine from all parts of
Britain. At the Reformation the revenue from that
source was dried up. James IV. paid it frequent
visits. From a document, however, which will after
wards be given, it may be inferred that the name
Whitekirk implies an allusion to an undoubted fact,
that it is called the White Chapell. The field opposite
is called the " Lady's Hill " at the present day.
'' Opus Scoticum, wooden buildings. — The custom of
the Irish to use wood as materials for their buildings
obtained for it in the time of the Middle Ages the
title of the Scots' style. Our own Records have many
examples of the use of the term Scotic as equivalent
to Gaelic and opposed to English ; as in a deed dated
in 1253, relating to the boundaries of Kingoldrum,
one of these was a march, 'que Scottice dicitur
morgue buche ; ' while another boundary, with the
name of Hachelt Mithoner, is translated into English
as Midfield — 'quoad Anglice dicitur "Midfield.' We
have an earlier instance in the same register, where
the lands of the Abbey of Old Montrose are conveyed,
with the addition, 'que Scottice Abthan vocatur.'
The distinction first appears in the History of the
Venerable Bede, when he described the church erected
by Saint Finan in A.D. 662 at Landis-ferne — 'quam
more Scottiorum non de lapide, sed de robere secto

28 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
compositum est atque hirundine texit.' It appears
from many passages in the lives of the Irish saints
that churches of wood or hurdle work continued to
be erected in Ireland in subsequent times ; and it is
plain that in the twelfth century the custom was still
regarded as ' Scotic,' as we learn from Saint Bernard's
description of the oratory at Bangor, built by Saint
Malachy, 'de lignis quidem lae vegatis,' which is
styled ' Opus Scoticum pulchrum satis ; ' and some
what later, when Saint Malachy began to build an
oratory of stone at Bangor, 'instar eorum quae in
aliis regionibus constructa conspexerat,' the native
objections took the shape of resentment against stone
buildings, as a novelty, 'quid tibi visum est nostris
hanc inducere regionibus novitatam.' 'Scoti sumus,
non Gain.' Ailred, the biographer of Saint Ninian,
tells us that the saint brought with him from Gaul
workmen who could erect a church after the Roman
fashion. Besides the White Church of Saint Ninian,
on the shore of the Solway Firth, we have other White
Churches in Scotland. In East Lothian was the
Church of Hamer, or Whitekirk, one of the founda
tions of Saint Baldred ; and in Aberdeenshire was the
White Church of Buchan. All of these churches
were much resorted to by pilgrims, probably from
feelings associated with their early foundations, and
reverence for the founder." — Stuart's Preface to the
Book of Deer.
The property Fordham has a very old name, which
has changed from time to time — Furde, Whitekirk,
Peff"erside, Newbythe.

WHITEKIRK. 29
The following paper will throw some light upon the
early history of Whitekirk : —
" Account of the origin of the Church at Whitekirk,
extracted from the documents in the Library of the
Vatican at Rome."
" History of the Chapell of our Lady at Fairknowe,
in the East Lothians of Scotland. — In 1294, when
Edward First of England had defeated the Scots
army near Dunbar, many of the army fled into that
castle, then commanded by Black Anne, Countess of
Dunbar, who, seeing the numbers within so great that
the place must soon be surrendered, rather than fall
into the hands of the enemies made her escape in
the night, in order to have gone to Fife. But she
receiving a hurt getting into the boat, and the wind
being against her, was obliged to be landed on that
part of the shore nearest to Fairknowe, to which she
was carried. The English, however, ravaging the
country, they were obliged to halt while a party of
them past, during which time, being in great agony,
she prayed to the Holy Mother, when an hermit came
and told her, if she had faith, drink of that holy well,
and she would soon find ease ; which she did, and had
no sooner done than she was perfectly recovered from
all bruises, and made whole.
" Near the Abbey building is a fine spring of the class known
throughout Scotland as ' wishing wells,' which has always borne
the name of ' Holy Well.' It had the usual virtues and wishing
powers ascribed to it. A pretty little pillar with a cross upon it,
which has been mistaken for one of ancient date, is scooped out
into a small basin to catch the drip of the water. It was erected
by a Bishop Brown when residing at Saddel in the beginning of
the present century, to replace an older one that had formerly

30 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
stood there. Beside it flows a stream that is called Altnam
Manach, the Monk's Burn ; and this, with the spring, no doubt
formed the water supply of the monastery. A short distance
along the shore to the south is another spring, which goes by
the name of Lady Mary, so called in honour of a noble lady of
the house of Saddel, who, according to tradition, would drink
no other water. On several eminences near Coldingham stood
a number of crosses. The modern names are, as of old. Cairn-
cross, Friar's Cross, Applincross, Crosslaw, Whitecross." —
Notice of Saddel Abbey, in Kintyre, ArgylesUre, with its
Sculptured Slabs— Captain T. P. White, 1868.
" This miracle she made known to Andrew de For-
man, Prior of Coldingham, and in the year following she
built a chantrey in honour of our Lady, and endowed
it with 40 merks a-year for ever.
Andrew Foreman was a younger son of the Laird of Hatton,
and had many and various high offices. He was Prior of the
Isle of May, 1498; Bishop of Moray, 1501 : Prior of Pitten-
weem and Coldingham, Commendator of Dryburgh, Archbishop
of Bourges in France, 15 13 ; after much opposition, Archbishop
of Saint Andrews, 15 14. He died and was buried at Dunferm
line, 1522. Pitscottie, in his "History of Scotland," gives the
following account of a banquet given by the Pope and cardinals :
— ^" When the dinner came, the Pope and his cardinals placed
and sat down according to their estate. Then the use and cus
tom was that at the beginning of the meat he that aught the
house and made the banquet should say the grace, and bless
the meat. And so they required the holy bishop to say the
grace, who was not a good scholar, and had not good Latin, but
began rudely in the Scottish fashion, in this manner, saying,
' Benedicite ! ' believing that they should have answered ' Domi-
nus ! ' but they answered ' Dans ! ' in the Italian fashion, which
put this noble bishop by his intendiments, that he wist not how
to proceed forward ; but happened out in good Scotch in this
manner, the which they understood not, saying — " To the devil
I give you all, false carles, in nomine Patris, Filii, et Spiritus

WHITEKIRK. 31
Sancti.' 'Amen !' quoth they. Then the bishop and his men
leugh. And the bishop shewed the Pope the manner that he
was not a good clerck, and his cardinals had put him by his in
tendiments, and therefore he gave them all to the devil in good
Scotch ; and then the Pope leuch amongst the rest."
"The great number of miracles performed at this
well were so numerous, that in 1309 John Abernethy,
with the assistance of the monks of Melrose, procured
a shrine to be erected, and dedicated it to the Holy
Mother. In 141 3 there were not less than 15,653 pil
grims of all nations, and the off"erings were equal to
1422 merks. In 1430, James First, king of Scotland,
being a good man who loved the Church, built the
Abbey of the Holy Cross at Edinburgh, and took the
Chapel of Fairknowe into his protection, added much
to it by building houses for the reception of pilgrims,
called it White Chapel, where he often went, and made
it a dependent on his own Abbey of the Holy Cross.
"In 1439, Adam Hepburn of Hales built a choir all
arched with stone, agreeable to the mode of Peter de
Main, and so it continued in great prosperity as a place
of sanctity until the year 1540, that the cup of ven
geance was full, and heresy covered the North. Oliver
Sinclair, being poisoned with the letters wrote to his
master by that infamous wretch, his uncle Henry VIIL
of England, asked leave of his king to build him an
house near the White Chapel, which the other too
easily granted ; in building of which he pulled down
the pilgrims' houses, and made use of the stones for his
own house. Times growing worse instead of better,
and the great men longing to enrich themselves with
the Church Lands, as their neighbours in England

32 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
had done, notwithstanding the great eff"orts of that
apostolical man. Cardinal Beatoun, and many more
now saints in Heaven, the pilgrims were no more safe.
The off"erings, as well as all the other lands, then
valued at 750 merks annually, were seized, and the
shrine was beat to pieces. That holy church also was
made a parochial church for the preaching of heresy,
and by them called Whitekirk."
Such is the story from the Vatican. Here is some
thing from the Professor of Oriental Literature in
Saint Andrews, the university city — the patron in other
days of Tyninghame. The author is William Ten
ant, whose poem, " Anster Fair " still lives. The lines
which follow are from " Papistry Stormed ; or. The
Dinging Doon of the Cathedral : " —
" The steir, strabush, and strife.
Whan, bickerin' frae the Brochs o' Fife,
Great bangs o' bodies, thick and rife,
Gaed to Saint Andros toune.
And wi' John Calvin in their heads.
And hammers in their hands, and spades.
Enraged at idols, mass, and beeds,
Dang the Cathedral doon ! "
Andrew Fairservice thus moralized upon the Cathe
dral of Glasgow after it had survived the general
" strabush and strife : " —
"Ah! it's a brave kirk! — nane o' yer whig-ma-
leeries, and curliewurlies, and open-steekhems, aboot
it. All solid, weel-jointed mason-wark, that will stand
as lang as the warld — keep hands and gunpowther aff"
it. It had a'maist a doun-come lang syne at the Re
formation, when they pu'd doun the Kirks o' Saint
Andrews and Perth, and thereawa', to cleanse them

WHITEKIRK. 33
o' Popery, and idolatry, and image worship, and sur
plices, and sic like rags o' the muckle hure that sitteth
on seven hills, as if ane wasna braid aneugh for hir
auld hinder end. Sae the commons o' the Barony,
and the Gorbals, and a' aboot, they behoved to come
into Glasgow ae fair morning to try their hands on
purging the High Kirk o' Popish nick-nackets. But
the townsmen o' Glasgow were feared the auld edifice
micht slip the girths through siccan rough physic, sae
they rang the common bell, and assembled the train
bands wi' tock o' drum. By good luck, the worthy
James Rabat was Dean o' Guild that year, and the
trades assembled and offered dounricht battle to the
commons, rather than their kirk should coup the crans
as they had done elsewhere. And sae the bits o'
stane idols were broken in pieces by Scripture war
rant, and flung into the Molendinar Burn ; and the
auld kirk stood as crouse as a cat when the flaes are
caimed aff her ; and a'body was alike pleased. And
I hae heard wise folk say that if the same had been
done in ilka kirk in Scotland, the Reform would just
hae been as pure as it is e'en now, and we wad hae
mair Christian-like kirks ; for I hae been sae lang in
England that naething will drive't oot o' my head
that the dog-kennel at Osbaldistone Hall is better
than mony a house o' God in Scotland."
One more quotation. It is from a foot note — vol.
ii., p. 336, Burton's " Scotland."
" Certain English sailors invaded the Church of
Whitekirk, on the coast of East Lothian, where was a
shrine of the Virgin, endowed with costly gems.
One man snatched a ring from the Virgin's image so
D

34 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
rudely as to mutilate the finger it belonged to, when
forthwith a crucifix fell from above, and dashed his
brains out. It was on account of the particular form
in which this shrine displayed its miraculous powers,
that the celebrated .^neas Sylvius, Pope Pius IL,
thought it would be a suitable recipient for his thank
fulness on the occasion of his landing in Scotland.
After a stormy, perilous voyage, he made a pilgrimage,
accordingly, from which he frankly admits that he had
anything but benefit in the flesh, whatever else he
gained. In fact, the walking ten miles thither and ten
miles back, bare-footed, on the frozen ground, seems
to have given him a chronic rheumatism, which held
by him till the end of his days.
Carlyle hits off" the character of .^Eneas Sylvius in
two words — " oily, diligent iEneas."
" Oliver Sinclair lieth at a house within two miles
of Tantallan, with threescore horsemen, as I am in
formed, to be in wait to catch up me or some of my
servants, if we stray too far out of the bounds of the
Castle." Sinclair, it appears, had devised a shrewd
commercial speculation. He was one of the English
prisoners on parole, who could only obtain absolute
freedom by paying a ransom, which he was not able to
afford, but if he could catch the ambassador, he
thought he might thus have an equivalent to off"er for
his own person. At this date Sadler, the English
ambassador of king Henry, who had got accommoda
tion, after much trouble, in a corner of Tantallon
Castle, writes — " And whereas your lordship desireth
to hear how I am entreated, I assure you there was
never so noble a prince's servant as I am so evil en-

WHITEKIRK. 35
treated as I am amongst those unreasonable people,
nor, I think, never man had to do with so rude, so in
constant, and beastly a nation as this is ; for they
neither esteem the honour of their country, nor their
honesty, nor yet their duty to God, and love and
charity to their Christian brethren : wherefore your
lordship may easily conjecture what a pleasant being
I have here. And thus, my very good lord, the Lord
of Hosts keep you in health and increase of honour,
and send me shortly to have the fruition of your most
gentle company, out and from the malice and danger
of this rude and beastly nation, that hath no manner
of respect, no consideration to honour nor honesty." —
State Papers, Henry VIII.
"Among other weaknesses the king was detected in
making a favourite of a certain Oliver Sinclair. This
person he appointed to command the expedition.
He was raised upon a platform, and began to read his
commission. The leaders received it with an indigna
tion that brought them together in angry talk, forget
ting all discipline and caution. Such was the defeat
at Solway Moss." — Burton's Scotland, III., 83.
Sadler adds — "To be plain with you, I see none
among the nobility that hath any such agility of
wit, gravity, learning, or experience to take in hand
the direction of things ; so that the king, so far as I
can see, is of force driven to use the bishops and his
clergy as his only ministers for the direction of his
realms. They be the men of wit and policy that I see
here." This in 1 542 — but a great deal has happened
since then.

36 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
" Strange that such difference should be
'Twixt tweedledtim and tweedledee!"
A clergyman who takes a natural interest in the
government of his own country, and dares openly to
speak his mind, albeit in due time and place, has
Scylla on the one side and Charybdis on the other.
There is no tyranny on earth more intolerable nor
unscrupulous than that of the mob.
In said 1542, or a little before that date, mourning
clothes were first worn in Scotland. About the same
time the king was in search of a wife. As advised by
his commissioners he went to France, but the lady did
not please, and this was not pleasing to Mary of Bour
bon. We are told that she afterwards renomtced the
world and turned religious !
It is recorded that on the death of James I., his
widow, desirous to have her boy removed from the in
fluence of Chancellor Crichton, pretended that she was
about to set out on a pilgrimage to the church of
Saint Mary, Whitekirk, but turned her course west
ward to Stirling, with the infant king in a chest.
Oliver, who lived in the smile of his royal master,
did not transmit wealth to his posterity. "July 16,
i7o3.-^Given by the session to ane distressit woman,
descendit from the Sinclairs of Whitekirk, 11 lb. los."
And so the whirligig of Time brings it revenge !
As to the visit of .^Eneas Silvius, it is plain that he
must have crossed the Tyne by the bridge at Linton.
There was no bridge over the Tyne at Tyninghame
till long after that date. There were stepping-stones,
— then a boat, upon which not a little money was spent
in what is called "beating the boat" — then a wooden

WHITEKIRK. 37
bridge ; and as these were not the days of Macadam,
there is a frequent entry in the Book of Tyninghame
for cart-loads of whins from " the Law," to lay upon
the bridge at Tyninghame.
The oldest part of the church is probably the porch.
It was enacted by Parliament in 1621 that "the houses
in Edinburgh, instead of being covered with straw,
deals, or boards, should henceforth be covered with
slates, lead, tiles, or thack-stones." The roof of the
east end of Whitekirk Church is covered with thack-
stones. The church itself has evidently been patched
and changed in countless ways. Till the union of the
parishes in 1760, the choir or east part was all that
was used for worship. There was a cross wall at its
west end, under the arch. The aisle was apparently
unused, as it is stated in the Presbytery Records,
" 2nd July 1746. — The minister reported that it was
proposed to convert that part of the church which is
between the porch and the steeple into a granary " —
a purpose which was interdicted by the presbytery,
and we hear no more of it. For a long time after the
Revolution the school was kept in the west end of the
aisle. "20th September 1691. — The session appoint
James Wricht to open and take up his school in the
west end of the church." The entrance was from
what is now the window. Said school was in 1698
placed outside the church. "July 16. — Debursed to
workmen at putting up of the school-house, viz. — to
David Couper at putting on the roof, and making
couples, and putting up the chimley, 5 lb. los. ; to
John Thomson for mason-work, 3 lib. 3s; to Andrew
Inglis and John Lermonth for their theiking of it.

38 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
2lb. 2s. ; for nails to the smith for a chimley, and
others at the same work, iilb. los. ; for ane cartful of
lime to cast the chimley, iilb. los. The which for
said school-house, that the session hath been at the
cost in paying workmen out of the poor-box. Sir
William Baird of Newbythe hath gifted the forsaid
house, together with ane yaird at the back theirof,
belonging to the said house, to be ane school-house
in time coming; providing always the forsaid kirk
session shall be held in time coming to uphold the
same when it is needful." The whole price was in
modern money £i, 8s. 2d.; and of this a third was
spent upon the chimney. There is no mention of
stones in connection with the mason-work, nor of a
window. This- latter was put in a few years after
wards. In 1675 the minister at Tyninghame reports
to the presbytery that the children were taught in the
kirk for want of a school. This was also a house for
the schoolmaster, for he lived as well as taught in it.
It was urged by the presbytery year upon year before
this date.
The parishes were united in 1760, on terms of won
derful equality — even the two beadles were continued.
At that period the Haddington gallery was built. The
wood-work of the front of that gallery was the old
family pew of the church at Tyninghame. The church
was entirely re-arranged in 1832, when the pseudo
transept was built. - The Seacliff" gallery was then per
petrated. There was at one time a rickety old pew,
upon four wooden pillars, in which was a high-backed
chair, called Jirker. It was a frequent injunction to
the boys from a worthy old elder — "Noo, laddies, ye

WHITEKIRK. 39
manna middle wi' Jirker the day." When the church
was re-arranged at the above date, two feet of earth
were removed over the whole area. That earth was
full of bones and was driven out to fatten the adjoin
ing field ! A great many of the skulls had what
seemed sword cuts upon them. The bell and weather
cock were the gift of Sir John Baird. "January
6th, 1697. — Cam forth from Edinburgh a bell, with a
gilded cock and globe, for the steeple of Whitekirk, all
the free gift of Sir John Baird of Newbythe, one of
the Lords of Session, and heritor here in this place.
January 7. — To Alexander Russel for repairing the
steeple and hinging the bell, 2olb." Sir John Baird
was a well-known judge. A number of manuscript
volumes, containing his decisions, are in the Advo
cates' Library, Edinburgh. "January 24. — To Robert
Wilson for carriage of the bell from Edinburgh, 2lb. 8s.;
for nails and ironwork to the bell-house, 61b. 4s." The
bell-house was often used as a lodging for the night
for the homeless poor. Not a few pauper children,
who "sair burdened the box," were born in the bell-
house at Tyninghame. "March 21. — Session met,
and ordains that whoever shall desire the great bell to
be rung to any burial, must pay for the same ten shil
lings Scots, and the one half thereof belongs to the
beadle for ringing the said bell — the other half to the
poor." The party ringing the bell went a little bit
ahead of the funeral procession.
Two volumes of the Records of Whitekirk were
destroyed when the house of the schoolmaster was
burned, in 1760. Among other old papers were two
volumes containing their doings before the Revolution

40 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
The following minute of presbytery relates to "The
Widows' Row:" — "5th December 1750. — MrBuchanan
represented that the session of Tyninghame, when
they gave an account of the poor of their parish, and
state of the funds for their maintenance, in the year
1745, by appointment of the Presbytery of Dunbar, at
the desire of the Justices of the Peace for this county,
in order to the concerting of a plan for erecting a
public poorhouse, added thereto as their opinion —
' That whereas the parish of Tyninghame is well pro
vided in poorhouses, sufficient to lodge all the poor
of it, both pensioners and others who may need the
benefit thereof, built several years ago at considerable
expense out of the poor's money, the Earl of Hadding
ton having given the area, and likewise ground for
yards adjoining ; and that they have funds, part
whereof are mortifications, sufficient for the mainten
ance of all the poor they can reasonably be supposed
at any time to have ; for these reasons they cannot
join in the erection of a workhouse for the poor of the
county ; and that if any scheme shall be found for
that purpose, they will be obliged to decline from it ;
that according to their former opinion, and for the
reasons thereof above mentioned, the said session has
now resolved not to accede to the scheme for erecting
a general workhouse for the maintenance of the poor,
and to notify their declinature.' "
A silver medal was struck on the occasion of the
union of the parishes, which still exists. On the one
side is a figure of a church, in clear-cut lines ; round
the margin are the words " Whitekirk " and " Tyning
hame ; " on the other side two hands clasped in amity

WHITEKIRK. 41
— underneath, "August 23, 1761." The following is the
extract from the Book of Teinds : — " loth December
1760. — Union heritors, Lord Haddington and Oliver
Colt of Oldham, Mr Baird, Newbythe, in terms of Act
of Parliament, William and Mary, 1690." Till that
date St Andrews paid 200 merks, which then ceased.
There was not a little unwillingness to the union on
the part of the parishioners of Tyninghame, which did
not die out for a long time. There was also a persistent
and most natural objection on the part of Mr Baird to
the burden which the new order laid upon him. His
part of the church was in all respects in thorough re
pair — keep rough hands and powder off" it. It was of
the most durable kind, stone roofed. The population
of the entire parish was 600.
It was decerned " that the glebe and yard then be
longing to the Kirk of Tyninghame be valued, and
the price or value to be but thereon stocked, and in a
capital bearing interest, as an addition to the stipend
of the united parishes, conform to the laws and daily
practice of Scotland."
VALUATION.
Tyninghame, 6512 pounds Scots ; 100 pounds cess.
Auldhame, 1760 pounds.
Newbythe, 3460 pounds.
" The church at present standing has been for the
most part built in the 14th century, with the altera
tions made with a view to the accommodation of the
increased parish in the i8th century. It is to be re
gretted that the church is so closely environed with
a stone wall that it is impossible to obtain a satisfac-
E

42 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
tory view of its proportions. No doubt the excessive
masonry is a relic of the 'resurrectionist times.' A
wall of half the height would be quite sufficient here,
as it is found to be in many other places ; while the
improvement in the appearance of the church and
neighbourhood would be very great. The beauty of
the church has also been destroyed by the removal
of the transepts, although a pseudo transept has been
erected in place of the original work, leaving the
porch in undue prominence in the composition. The
low, square tower, surmounted by a corbelled para
pet, is very characteristically Scotch, resembling the
top of a 'keep tower' — the impress on the general
Gothic features of a warlike nation, more familiar
with castles than churches — whose churches militant,
moreover, were not unfrequently required to be pre
pared for defence. The general plainness of the
details throughout — the plain, corbie -stepped gables,
the massive buttresses, and the heavy tower, give the
church a sombre and rude appearance, unusual in
churches of this date. A marked exception is the
porch, which is of stone, as are the few remaining in
Scotland. It is placed near the south-west corner —
the usual position — and has a stone roof, and the
corbie-stepped gable so familiar in the ecclesiastical as
in the military and domestic architecture of Scotland.
The tall proportions of the archway which forms the
entrance to the porch gives it an elegance which
relieves the general character of the details. The
arch mouldings present the usual congeries of filetted
rounds and alternating hollows of the middle Gothic
style. These are continued down the jambs or quasi

WHITEKIRK. 43
shafts, having moulded capitals and bsses. The hood
moulding round the arch has terminated in carved
dupstones, now too much decayed to be deciphered.
The diagonal buttresses are enriched by shallow
niches and brackets. The small canopied nich and
corbal are said to have been found lying loose, and
to have been inserted over the arch at the alteration
of the church. This, probably, contained a statue
of the Virgin, to whom the church was dedicated.
The roof internally is groined with diagonal vaulting,
having boldly-moulded ribs meeting in a carved boss
at the apex. Along the sides are stone benches. The
inner doorway is square-headed, with the usual round
and hollow mouldings. This door is also surrounded
by a canopied niche and brackets. Compare this porch
with that of Dalkeith Church, recently restored, which
is of about the same date. Dalkeith Church was built
in 1384." — Thomas Arnold.
The north transept, or Haddington Gallery, was
then built. The front of that gallery was from the
old family pew at Tyningham. The church was in
1832 nearly in all respects as at present. In the
course of re-arrangement there was found, in what
was called the baptismal seat, to the right of the
pulpit, a large flat stone, under six inches of earth.
Thomas, Earl of Haddington, was desirous to have
it inserted in the north wall. There is a minute of
heritors gifting it him. It now lies in the graveyard.
¦ It has evidently had an effigy of bronze or other metal
inserted into it.
The key-stone of the arch under the steeple has
two embossed letters upon it — X T, which may mean

44 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
" Christ the chief corner-stone ; " or it may be the
St Andrew's and Maltese Cross combined, which Dr
Stuart says sometimes happens.
There is a slab in the north wall to the memory of
John Aitchison, blacksmith in Whitekirk, with a vase
or urn, on the lid of which is a butterfly about to take
wing from a serpent. Near this is another handsome
marble slab, erected by his brother officers to Major
Baird, who died from wounds received in the Ashantee
War.
SACRED
TO the memory op
MAJOR WILLIAM ARTHUR BAIRD,
Captain in the \znd Royal Highlanders,
Who was dangerously and severely wounded at Amoaful, in
Ashantee, on 31st January 1874, whilst leading his men into
the bush to gain touch with the left column of attack,
And died in the hospital ship Victor Emmanuel, 5th March 1874,
at Sierra Leone, on his passage home.
This tablet is erected to his memory by his brother officers, who
deplore his loss.
He was born on the 31st October 1834.
As the types for the above were being set came
the notice — " Died at Dunblane, Rev. William Ross,
minister of the first charge, Haddington, late chaplain
of the 42nd Royal Highlanders." Many will long re
member the day on which Mr Ross preached in the
Church of Whitekirk, and the exquisite grace of his
tribute to the goodness and bravery of Major Baird.

WHITEKIRK. 45
The vestry at the gate was originally designed
for a guard-house, 1819. "Mr Wallace produced to
the meeting accounts of several sums laid out by
him, amounting to ;^i 14s. 6d., for advertisements, &c.,
anent dead bodies being removed from the church
yard." Many curious reminiscences of this place
and these times are still afloat. The consumption
of herring, with village tuppenny ale, during the night
watches was considerable.
There is an interesting spot on Whitekirk Hill — a
little God's acre. At one time it was marked by a
heap of stones, brought probably from various places
by various hands, each to attest the nobleness of
the martyr's grave. These stones were in great part
removed to build the dykes of an adjoining field.
Here Blackadder, who had so long been a prisoner
in the Bass, made his last public appearance in East
Lothian. A large conventicle met there in May 1678.
They were interrupted by a party from the Bass. The
deputy-governor, Charles Maitland, came upon them
with sixty men, and ordered them to dismiss, which
they refused to do. The soldiers were surrounded,
deprived of their arms, and put to flight. One of
these was shot.
Crichton, in his Life of Blackadder, 1826, says —
" There are still two graves on this hill, supposed
to be of those who fell in this aff"ray. P"ive of the
conventiclers — namely, George and James Learmont,
Robert Hepburn of East Fenton, Temple and Bryson
from Dunbar — Sheriff of Knowes, and a number of
others, were declared fugitives."
We now turn our steps towards Tyninghame, noting

46 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
as we cross the bridge over Peff"er, the following : —
¦'30th May, 1676. — Mr George Lauder represented
to the brethren that the bridge of Whitekirk being
ruinous, and the kirk-session being resolved to help
it, in respect the heritors neglected it ; but being
unable to do it effectually," and so on to ask help^
which was given. For a long time most of the roads
and bridges on the highway were built and upheld by
substantial help from this source ; also harbours and
bulwarks, as they are termed, such as that at Dunbar
and North Berwick.
One of the legal uses of money left "for pious uses''
was the building of bridges. " 1661. — Our Sovereign
Lord and Estates of Parliament took into considera
tion a supplication from 'the poor burgh of Whithorn,
shewing that, through the ruin and decay of their
harbour, they are deprived of the only means of
subsistence they had;' and ordains ane contribution
and ordinar collection to be made at all the parish
churches, both burgh and landward, within the sheriff"-
doms of Galloway, Nithisdale, Teviotdale and Lanerik,
for repairing the harbour."

TYNINGHAME.
|E pass through or alongside of Tyninghame
Wood, planted in 1705 under the instruc
tions of Thomas, sixth Earl of Haddington,
and his wife, Helen, sister to the first Earl of Hope
toun. " The first notable attempt at planting was by
Thomas, sixth Earl of Haddington, about the time
of the Union. From a love of common country
sports, this young nobleman was called away by his
wife, a sister of the first Earl of Hopetoun, who
desired to see him engaged in planting, for which
she had somehow acquired a taste. The domain
they had to work upon was a tract of low ground
surrounding their mansion-house of Tyninghame, and
composing part of the coast of the Firth of Forth
between North Berwick and Dunbar. Their first ex
periment was upon a tract of about three hundred
acres, where it was believed that no trees could grow
on account of the sea air. To the marvel of all. Lord
Haddington included, the Binning Wood, as it was
called, soon became a beautiful sylvan domain, as it
continues to this day. To persue his lordship's recital :
' I now took pleasure in planting and improving ; but

48 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
because I did not like the husbandry practised in this
country, I got some farmers from Dorsetshire. This
made me divide my ground ; but as I knew the cold
ness of the climate, and the bad effects of the winds, I
made stripes of planting between every enclosure, some
forty, fifty, or sixty feet broad, as I thought best. . . .
From these Englishmen we came to the knowledge
of sowing and the management of grass seeds. After
making the enclosures, a piece of ground that carried
nothing but furze was planted ; and my wife, seeing
the unexpected success of her former projects, went to
another. There was a warren of nearly four hundred
acres, vastly sandy, near the mouth of the Tyne. A
gentleman who had lived some time at Hamburgh,
one day walking with her, said that he had seen fine
trees growing upon such a soil. She took the hint, and
planted about sixty or seventy acres of the warren.
All who saw it at the time thought that the labour
and trees were thrown away ; but to their amazement
they saw them prosper as well as in the best ground.
The whole field was dead sand, with scarce any grass
on it. Nor was it only so poor on the surface, but con
tinued so some yards down.' " — A Treatise on Forest
Trees, in a Letter, &c. Edinburgh, 1761.
At a turn of the road near Whitekirk Bridge is what
is called the Ganger's Bush, where one of that profes
sion was said to have been killed ; but my story is not
of him. One evening a divine from Dunbar, mounted
upon a nag called Dunnie, was hastening homewards.
At that spot his nag picked up a stone. As he pulled
it out there was a tug at his tail. " Avaunt thee, witch !"
he cried, and galloped homeward. But this was not the

TYNINGHAME. 49
end. Next evening, when about to dine, he was told
that a beggar would see him, and would not go away
unless. The parson went to the kitchen. " Woman !
did not I tell thee to begone?" "Aye ; but I'm a puir
body ; ye maun help me to a nicht's quarters." " Did
not I tell thee to begone ?" second time, and more
emphatic. Nothing short of boldness would do now.
" Ma man, ye were na sae crouse when I had ye by
the coat-tail in Binning Wood last nicht ! "
By the way, there were gay doings at Tyninghame
in 1679, 3-t the baptism of this earl, as witness the fol
lowing from the family household book : — For dinner :
of fresh beef, six pieces ; mutton, sixteen pieces ; veal,
four pieces; venison, three legs; geese, six; pigs, four;
old turkeys, two ; young turkeys, eight ; salmon, four ;
tongues and udders, twelve ; stewed chickens, eight ;
chickens in pottage, ten ; lamb, two sides ; wild fowl,
twenty-two ; pigeons, baked, roasted, and stewed, one
hundred and eighty-two ; roasted hares, ten ; fricassed
chickens, eight ; chickens in pottage, ten ; hams, three."
And for supper : " Roast mutton, two pieces ; mutton
in coUops, two pieces ; roasted pigeons, twenty -six :
hams, six ; ale, sixteen gallons ; rolls, one hundred ;
loaves, one hundred and twenty-four."
In the time of David, the "sair saint," about the end
of the 1 2th century, the privilege of sanctuary was
granted to several churches : among these were Inner
leithen, Wedale, or, as it was called, Woedale, in the
Stow, and Tyninghame. This means that if any man
committed murder, or a serious wrong of any kind, if
he could find his way within the place called "sacred,"
F

so CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
which varied in distance from the church so designated,
and especially if he could reach a flat stone beside the
altar, he was saved from the avenger of blood. Cosmo
Innes, in his book on " The Middle Ages," has an ex
haustive chapter upon this. The charter is as follows :
" Whoso, for escaping peril of life or limb, flees to the
said cell, or comes within the four crosses that stand
around it, of reverence to God and Saint Marchutis,
I grant him my firm peace." Again, in granting the
same privilege to Innerleithen, Malcolm IV. ordains
that " the said church, in which my son's body rested
the first night after his decease, shall have a right of
sanctuary in all its territory, as falls to Weedale or
Tyninghame." King Malcolm is universally said to
have died a virgin, and yet in a donation of his to
the Abbey of Kelso we have the words, " I also give
orders that the foresaid Church of Innerleithen, in
which the corpse of my son rested the first night after
his death." — Scotichronicon,.-g. 134.
Of the sanctuary of Tyninghame no charter is known
to exist ; but of the fact there can be no doubt. What
was called the church "girth" seems to have varied.
The stool was called Firth or Fertre, a place of peace,
or shrine of relics. To violate the protection of that
was an un pardonable crime.
"A.D. 941. — Casting off the fealty which they had
sworn to Edmund, the Northumbrians chose as their
own king Anlaf, King of the Norwegians. He came
to Hampton (Southampton) and besieged it ; but pre
vailing nothing, he marched his army to Tamworth,
and having pillaged the whole country, he was on his

TYNINGHAME. 5 1
return when he was encountered by King Edmund, and
they immediately would have joined in battle had not
the two archbishops, Odo and Wulstan, appeased them.
So peace was made, and Wathling Street was fixed as
the limit of each kingdom. Immediately after having
burned and plundered the Church of Saint Baldred, in
Tiningham, Anlaf died The son Sihtric, also named
Anlaf, reigned in his father's stead.
" A.D. 943. — When Elfgiva, the holy queen of King
Edmund, gave birth to Edgar, Saint Dunstan (at that
time Abbot of Glastonbury, but afterwards Bishop of
Winchester) heard voices singing on high, and saying,
' Peace to the Church of the Angles in the time of our
Saint Edmund and the boy now born I' In the same
year King Edmund, after having overcome by force
King Anlaf, the son of Sihtric, gave credence to his
professions, and received from him the holy laver (bap
tism), and afterwards stood for King Reinold while he
was being confirmed by the bishop. Constantine, King
of the Scots, died A.D, 845. King Edmund ravaged the
land of the Cumbrians, and after having reduced it for
himself, he gave it into the keeping of Malcolm, King
of the Scots." — Chronicle of Melrose, p. 98.
At a very early period the Church of Tyninghame
was a dependency of Saint Andrews. There is at pre
sent a Chair of Humanity in that university. It must
have had another designation at one time, as complaints
not a few are made by the parson of Tyninghame that
he is being starved. The Archbishop of Saint Andrews
had for a long time an unlimited civil and spiritual jur-

52 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
isdiction. His titles were all but innumerable, one of
them being Lord Tyninghame.
All that remains of the old Church of Tyninghame
are two Norman or Normanesque arches. " Speaking
roughly," says Cosmo Innes, "we may assign to the
Norman all the 1 2th century." He calls these arches
" a beautiful remnant." They now enclose the burial-
ground of the noble house of Haddington — all that
remains sacred to the dead of what must at one time
have been a large graveyard, in which men buried
their dead from the time when Saint Baldred planted
a college there till the union of the parishes. One
cannot pace that green grass field without thinking of
the lines of Shelley :
" There's not an atom of you earth
But once was living man."
If the dust of the saints is dear to the Divine Father,
is it too much to say, " requiescat in pace" — let it rest
in peace ? The Rev. John Clunie thought it his duty
to complain to his presbytery when it was proposed
to put a granary in his church ; but there is no protest
on his part when, from the period of his appointment
to the united parish, future interments were stopped,
and ultimately every stone was torn up and buried.
The scene at the grave in the play of Hamlet had its
counterpart, as some can tell, at the hame on the banks
of the Tyne.
Hamlet — That skull had a tongue in it, and could sing
once : how the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were
Cain's jaw-bone, that did the first. murder ! This might be

TYNINGHAME. S3
the pate of a politician which this ass now over-reaches ; one
that would circumvent God, might it not ?
Horatio — It might, my lord.
Hamlet — Or of a courtier, which would say, ' Good mor
row, sweet lord ! — How dost thou, good lord?' This might
be my Lord Such-a-one, that praised my Lord Such-a-one's
horse when he meant to beg it, might it not ?
Horatio — Ay, my lord.
Hamlet — Why, e'en so ; and now my Lady Worm's chap-
less, and knocked about the mazzard with a sexton's spade.
Here's fine revolution, an we had the trick to see't. Did
these bones cost no more the breeding but to play at loggats
with 'em ? Mine ache to think on't.
Hamlet — There's another : why may not that be the skull
of a lawyer ? Where be his quiddits now, his quillets, his
cases, his tenures, and his tricks ? Why does he suffer this
rude knave now to knock him about the sconce with a dirty
shovel, and will not tell him of his action of battery ?
Hamlet — Whose was this ?
1st Clown — A whoreson mad fellow's it was ! — Whose do
you think it was ?
Hamlet — Nay, I know not.
1st Clown — A pestilence on him for a mad rogue ! he
poured a flagon of Rhenish on my head once. This same
skull, sir, was Yorick's skull, the king's jester.
[Hamlet takes skull.
Hamlet — Alas ! poor Yorick I — I knew him, Horatio : a
fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy. He hath borne
me on his back a thousand times ; and now, how abhorred in
my imagination it is ! — my gorge rises at it. Here hung those
lips that I have kissed I know not how oft I Where be your
gibes now ? your gambols ? your songs ? your flashes of merri-

54 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
ment, that were wont to set the table in a roar? Not one
now, to mock your own grinning ? quite chap-fallen ? Now,
get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an
inch thick, to this favour she must come : make her laugh
at that !  Pr'ythee, Horatio, tell me one thing.
Horatio — What's that, my lord ?
Hamlet — Dost thou think Alexander looked o' this fashion
i' the earth?
Horatio — E'en so.
'Tis now many years ago, but the copyist of these
lines knew one who made his name in the legitimate
drama. He had deeply studied all that was great in
Shakespeare. He was called from an engagement in
the City of the West to see his mother die ; and there,
in that little room, the Hamlet of the stage knelt,
holding the old withered hand, soaking it with real
tears. Vanitas, vanitatis ; omnia est vanitas.
In all this there is nothing designed to give even a
moment's pain to anyone living ; but " 'tis true, and
pity 'tis 'tis true."
O Sorrow, cruel fellowship,
O Priestess in the vaults of death,
O sweet and bitter in a breath
What whispers from thy lying lip ?
' The stars,' she whispers, ' blindly run ;
A web is woven across the sky ;
From out waste places comes a cry,
And murmurs from the dying sun :
' And all the phantom. Nature, stands —
With all the music in her tone.

TYNINGHAME. 55
A hollow echo of my own —
A hollow form with empty hands.'
And shall I take a thing so blind.
Embrace her as my natural good ;
Or crush her, like a vice of blood.
Upon the threshold of the mind ?
— Tennyson.
In a recess behind the arches there is a figure, appar
ently of an abbess ; but it gives no history. Nor have
the three shields — one blank — told their secret.
Tyninghame gave to the Church men of some note
in their time. In 1296 William Spott, parson there,
submitted himself to Edward IL, and for this act got
back his property, which had been confiscated. 1354.
— Patrick de Leuchars (afterwards Bishop of Brechin)
was minister at Tyninghame, He was made Bishop
of Brechin in the same year, and some time afterwards
Lord High Chancellor of the kingdom. He was en
gaged in redeeming King David, and in adjusting the
money for his ransom. He was in Parliament in 1373.
In short, he was an active politician, with a marked
regard to himself, during the whole of David's reign.
1494. — George Brown, afterwards Bishop of Dunkeld.
Archbishop Hamilton, of Saint Andrews, annexed
Tyninghame to his see in that year — "the lands of the
barony of Tyninghame, with the right of patronage."
In 1628 the Earl of Haddington received a charter
under the Great Seal of the lands and lordship of
Tyninghame. As to the connection with Saint Andrews, so far as
Tyninghame is concerned 'twere better it had never

56 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
been consummated. At the General Assembly of
1565 the people appealed by petition in these terms:
"That they paid their tithes to the New College in
Sanct Andros, and wanted not the less the ministrie
of the Word, and ministration of the sacraments. The
Rector of the University, and Maister Jhone Douglas,
Maister of the said College, promeised to satisfie the
complainers." The Record Book of Tyninghame will act as our
guide-book in much that follows. It extends over a
period of nearly forty years, and comes to a some
what sudden end at the date of the battle of Doonhill
— that ill-fated day, in the merning of which Oliver
Cromwell, at early dawn — with a heart up till this
time full of fear lest he should be driven into the sea :
with ships all ready in the harbour to save him from
utter ruin — looked towards the advancing foe, saw
that "some one had blundered," piously ejeculated.
"The Lord hath delivered the enemy into our hands,"
and — all know what followed.
The Record speaks of villages every one of which
has disappeared ; not even the old roof-tree remains.
The present village of Tyninghame is not much more
than a century old. The old village surrounded the
church, or, rather, was a little to the west of it. Fishers'
Houses, another village, stood on the way to the sea.
Peffersyde, at the mouth of the Peffer, had its tailor,
and blacksmith, and cordinar or sail-maker. When the
Record begins, the landowners were three in number.
The Lady of the Bass held Tyninghame ; Sir John
Auchmutie, Scougall and Auldhame ; George Jack
son, Lochouses. Robert Lauder was what is called

TYNINGHAME. 57
" portioner " of Tyninghame. The name of the Lady
of the Bass was Isobell Hepburn, a daughter of the
old house of Wauchton, and widow of Lauder of the
Bass. Her son was for many years a minor, and her
ladyship acted upon the practice of Lady Teazel—
" You know. Sir Peter, I ought to have my own way,
and what is more, I will." There must have been
some lively scenes between her and Maister Lauder.
He must have had many a "thundering No! point
blank from the mouth of a woman." At one time she
is accused of causing her servants to work on Sunday;
at another, of causing bread to be baked for her on
that day, and sent to Edinburgh early on Monday
morning. But matters came to a crisis ; for, at a visi
tation of the presbytery, her grieve is solemnly cen
sured for having called a meeting of the elders by
instructions of Lady Bass, without the authority of
the minister. Ultimately, a fortitude which was un
moved by every assault of the ecclesiastical battery,
was overcome by a thing which is said to have no
bowels of mercy — anatomically in the position of what
James Hogg called a distasteful character—" nather a
held nor a wame — a perfect zoophyte."
"Apud Halyrudhous, secundo Decembris 1628. —
Inter alia, Forsameckill as the King's Majestie being
informed that George Lawder of Bas, and Dame
Issobell Hepburne, Ladie Bas, his mother, doe stand
rebellis and at the home, at the instance of diverse
their creditors, and that notwithstanding thairof they
peaceablie bruke and injoy some of thair rentes, and
remain within the Craig of the Bas, presooming to
keepe and mainteane thame selffis, so to elude justice
G

58 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
and executioun of the law : his Majestie wes thairupon
moved by his letter direct to the Lords of his Privie
Counsell to give strait ordour and command that
charges sould be direct for delyuerie of the Bas, ap
prehending of the rebellis and committing thame to
waird within the Tolbuith of Edinburgh, thairin to
remane, ay and until they sould give full satisfac-
tioun to thair creditours, and procure thame selflSs
relaxt from the processe of home : ffor obedience
whairof the said Lords have caused charge the said
Laird and Ladie Bas to compeir before thame to an-
swere upoun thair rebellioun, with certificatioun if they
failyed the said Lords would proceid agains thame
with the most rigorous executioun and under the
greatest panes that the lawes of the kingdom in such
a caise would allow. And the saids Laird and Ladie
Bas compeirand be Mr Alexander Hepburne, in-
dweller in Edinburgh, he produced a petitioun sub-
scryved with their hand, purporting thair hard and
desolate estait, and testifeing thair readie willingnesse
to give unto thair creditours ententment, if the saids
Lords would be pleased to graunt a warrant unto
thame for thair saulf repaire to the burgh of Edin
burgh, to deale with thair creditours without danger
of the law: which petitioun being read and considderit
be the saids Lords, and they being willing to grant to
the saids Laird and Ladie Bas all the favour that may
enable thame to give ententment and satisffactioun to
thair creditours, which is the cheefe motive and end of
His Majestie's proceiding against thame: Thairfoir the
Lords of Secreit Counsell has gevin and grantit, and
be the tennour heirof gives and grants full power,

TYNINGHAME. 59
libertie, and warrant to the saids George Lawder of
Bas, and Dame Issobell Hepburne, his mother, to re
paire to the burgh of Edinburgh, and other pairts of
the cuntrie, to meit and deale with thair creditours, for
giving unto them satisffaction, without trouble, chal
lenge, or impediment to be made to thame, or anie of
them, be whatsomevir persoun or persouns, until the
twentie day of Februar nixtocum : discharging heere-
by all shirreffs, Stewarts, proveists, and baillies within
the burgh, and all others His Majestie's judges, officiars
and ministers of the lawes, aither in burgh or land,
and messengers-of-arms, of all taking, apprehending,
wairding, or arreisting of the saids Laird and Ladie
Bas, or anie of thame, be virtew of anie letters of
horning, caption, or arreistment direct thairupoun ;
discharging thame thairof, and of thair officers in that
pairt, until the said twentie day of Februar nixtocum :
provyding always that the saids Laird and Ladie Bas
make thair addresse to the burgh of Edinburgh, for
dealing with thair creditours anent thair payment and
satisffactioun, betuix and the twentie day of Decem
ber instant, otherwise this warrand to be void, of no
strength, force, nor effect, from thenceforth and for
ever." — From the Registrum Concilii Secreti, 1628-9,
foL 67.
It is difficult to believe that the instructions of
Charles I. were disinterested. He was most anxious
to get "the auld craig back again." loth November
1626, he instructs the President of Session " that you
cause prosecute our right concerning the Bass with all
expedition, for effectuating of that end you have from
us."

6o CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
The connection of Lady Bass with Tyninghame
ceased in 1621 — that memorable year of drought and
consequent famine. The property then passed into
the hands of John Murray, afterwards Earl of Annan-
dale, who retained it until it came into the possession
of Thomas Hamilton, 1635. Murray does not seem
to have resided at Tyninghame. He was represented
there by Sir William Bailzie, afterwards Bailzie of
Lochend, near Dunbar. John Murray presented a
bible for the use of the church at Tyninghame, which
still exists. It is known as Barker's Bible. The date
of the Old Testament is 161 1 — of the New, 1617.
The title page of the Old Testament is wanting : that
of the New is as follows : — " The New Testament of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, newlie translated
out of the original Greek, and with the former transla
tions diligently compared and revised. By His Majes
tie's special commandment appointed to be read in
churches. Imprinted at London by Robert Barker,
printer to the King's Most Excellent Majestie, anno
Domini, 1617." Under this, and in faded ink, above
a representation of a lamb upon the altar, IMS.
The preface is interesting. Among other curious
things, there is a quaint emblematical tree of the Fall,
and history of the tribes, from Adam to the blessed
Virgin Mary ; ships, dolphins, towers, et hoc genus
omne. The following minute no doubt relates to that
bible: — "Nov. 2, 165 1. — Two pounds eight shillings
given to Johne Nisbett, debursed by him for bringing
out the mort-cloth and church bible out of Tantallon,
and carrying them from thence in and out of the
Bass." The battle of Dunbar had to do with that.

TYNINGHAME. 6 1
Murray also gave a bell, and the writer of these pages
knows where that bell is. For this present he got the
following vote of thanks : — " 17th April 1625. — Item :
it was ordainit that all thir premiss suld be registrat
in the Session Bulk as is heir sett doune, and lykwys
to be registrat that the bell and kirk byble was sent
be Johne Murray, ane of His Majestie's bed-chalmer,
and Laird of Annandale and proprietor of the lands
of Tyninghame, ad perpetuam rei memoriam, as it is
heir sett doune and registrat, to his perpetual com
mendation and praise."
The large bell of Saint Giles is a re-cast of an old
one, date 1460. Upon the latter was the expressive
inscription, " Defunctos plango, vivos voco, fulmina
frango ;" signifying, "I mourn the dead, I call the
living \i.e., to prayer], I dispel the thunder." There
was an old notion that thunder was so dispelled. So
late as 1852 the Bishop of Malta ordered the church
bells to be rung for an hour, to allay a thunderstorm.
The history of bells would be interesting. The weight
of sorrow they but feebly typify — who can tell that .-'
" The heart knoweth its own bitterness : " in nothing
is man more alone !
There is a touching story connected with the history
of the second Earl of Haddington. His first wife was
Catherine Erskine, a daughter of the Earl of Mar ;
and of the fragments of parish papers still existing,
one or two are very tender. They are illegible as a
whole, but are without doubt bequests of money to
the poor. Such phrases as " the dear Lord whom I
love," and "for the peace of my soul," are quite dis
tinct. She died as Lady Binning.

62 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Figures are proverbially dry reading. A ledger is
not attractive if the balance is dead on the wrong side.
This from the house-book of the Dowager Countess
of Mar is capable of being made pictorial : —
" 1638, April 21. — To ane little boy for two books
of the Covenant, I2s. May 16. — To ane blind singer
wha sang the time of dinner, 12s. May 25. — For ane
bell to Lord James, i8s.; for ane powder horn to him,
4s. 6d. ; for raisins to Lord James and Charles, los.
June. — To William Shearer, his wife, for ane pair hose
to Lord James, ;^3 ; paid for contribution to the Con
federate Lords, £4 ; to ane old blind man as my lady
cam fra prayers, 4s. Edinburgh, July 18. — For a peri
wig to Lord James, ;^8, 2s. July 19. — Ane pound and
ane half-pound of candles, 6s. July 21. — Ane pound
raisins to keep the fasting Sunday, 6s. 8d. July 27. —
Given to the kirk brodd as my lady went to sermon in
the High Kirk, 6s. Stirling, August 17. — To my lady
to give to the French lacquey that served my Lord
Erskine when he went back to France, 4s. August
25. — Lent to my lady to play with the Lady Glenorchy
after supper, 4s. September i. — For making a coffin
to Catherine Ramsay, who deceased the nicht befoir,
20s. ; for two half pounds tobacco and eighteen pipes
to spend at her lykwake, 21s.; to the belman that
went through the toun to warn to her burial, 12s.; to
the makers of the graff, 12s. 4d. September 8. — To
twa Highland singing women, at my lady's command,
6s. September 23. — To ane lame man called Ross
who plays the plaisant, 3 s. ; paid for ane golf club to
John the Baun, 5s. November 9. — To Andrew Erskine
to give to the poor at my lady's on-louping, 12s. De-

TYNINGHAME. 63
cember. — Paid to John who brought ane dwarf to my
lady, I2S. January 23, 1639. — To my lady as she went
to Lord Belhaven his burial, and to visit my Lady
Hume, ;^5, 8s. February. — To Charies the nicht he
was married to give to the poor, ;^ 5, 8s. 3d. February
23. — Paid for ane pound of raisins to my lady again
the fastin Sunday, 8s. June 11. — To Thom Eld, sent
to Alloa for horses to take my lady's children and
servants to the army, then lying at the border, 2s.;
paid to Lady Glenorchy for aqua vitae that she bought
to my lady, 6s. ; paid for carrying down the silver work
to the counting house to be weighed and delivered to
the toun treasurer of Edinburgh, los. August 23. —
Paid for twa pair sweet gloves to Lord James and Mr
Will. Erskine, .£"3. September 9. — To Lord James to
play at the totumwith John Hamilton, is. 4d.; to my
lady as she went to dine with my Lord Hadington
(for vails to the servants), ane dollar and four shillings ;
paid in contributions to Edward the fool, 12s.; paid to
Gilbert Somerville for making ane suit clothes to Lord
James, of red, lined with satin, £7, los. Nov. 29. —
Paid to the Lady Glenorchy her man for ane little
barrel of aqua vitae, £1. May 27, 1640. — To ane man
who brocht the paroquet her cage, 4s. June 15. — To
ane poor woman as my lady sat at the fishing, 6d.
August. — For tobacco to my lady's use, is. March 4,
1 64 1. — To blind Watt the piper that day as my lady
went to the exercise, 4s. March 6. — Given John
Erskine to buy a cock to fight on Fastern's Eve, 6s.
June 8. — To ane masterful beggar who did knock at
the gate, my lady being at the table, 2s. November
15. — Given for two torches to lighten my lady to Court

64 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
to take her leave of the King, 24s. Feb. 21, 1642. —
Sent to Sir Charles Erskine to buy escorsi de sidrone
and marmolat, £S, 6s. 8d. March 21. — To ane woman
clairshocher (harper) who usit the home in my lord his
times, I2s. August 10. — To John Erskine to buy a
bladder for trying a mathematical conclusion, 
December 7. — Paid for three nicht mutches to my Lord
Buchan, £3, 12s. January 13, 1643. — For ane prog
nostication (an almanack), 8d. Feb. 17. — For dressing
ane red four-tailed coat of Mr William's, is. 8d. Feb.
1 3. — To my lady in her own chamber when the valen
tines were a-drawing, £10, 12s. 4d. April 13. — To Mr
William Erskine to go to the dwarf's marriage, 7s."
By a second marriage the Earl of Haddington was
united to Lady Jane Gordon, the niece, and probably
the name-child, of the ill-fated Countess of Bothwell.
The following extracts will tell the story of her hus
band's fate : —
" 1 2th January 1 640. — The bands of marriage betwixt
the Earl of Hadingtoune and Lady Jean Gordon pro
claimed. 29th March 1640. — This day my Lord and
Lady Hadingtoune being in the kirk, and being the
first Sabbath day in the toune. loth May 1640. —
This day the sacrament of the Lord's Supper celebrate.
Guide order keipit at all times — praise be God. The
Earl of Hadingtoune and his lady being present. 5 th
July. — The Earl of Hadingtoune and his lady in Had
ingtoune. 23rd August 1640. — My Lord being at
Dunglas, and my Lady Hadingtoune in Dunbar and
Lochend this day, and one day or twa before. 30th
August. — Upon the said 30th day of August, about
four or five hours at evening, was that unhappie and

TYNINGHAME. 65
lamentable exigence of the blowing up of the hous at
Dunglas by powder, to our great grief and sorrow, and
of the hail countrie, for thair the trulie nobile and
worthie Thomas, Earl of Hadingtoune, departed this
lyfe, and his twa brethren. Colonel Arskeine and James
Keith, and sundrie worthie gentilmen of gude qualitie,
as Sir Alexander Hamiltoun, younger, and Ingleston,
and many honest and trustie servants, as Ninian
Chirnsyd, Alexander Cuninghame, John Johnson, with
sundrie uthers. Upon the ist September 1640, Tysday,
Alexander Cuninghame and John Johnstone buried at
twalve hours. Item. — The said ist day of September,
the Earl of Hadingtoune, of worthy memorie, and his
brother Robert, and Maister Patrick and Colonel
Arskeine, buryed at efternoon, toward the evening.
Upon the seventeen day of September 1640, Wednes
day, the Lady Hadingtoune removat from this toune,
with her family, to Edinburgh." There is not another
reference to her. All this in nine short months.
" She by the river sat, and sitting there
She wept, and made it bigger by a tear."
" Life is but a meeting and a parting,
A glimpse into a world that might have been."
The story of the blowing-up of Dunglas has been
variously told. General Leslie had to go to England,
and the Earl of Haddington being appointed to watch
the movements of the English at Berwick, went to the
Castle of Dunglas. His two brothers, whose names
appear in the minute, seemed to have mixed familiarly
with the people, as their names often appear as wit
nesses to baptisms. Sir Alexander Hamilton, younger,
H

66 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
was son of the Laird of Innerwick, and a stone in the
graveyard of that parish marks where he was buried.
But probably the most sad interest connects itself with
Colonel Erskine, the brother of Lady Binning. There
are two versions of the following old song. I prefer
the one subjoined, as it is given in Percy's Relics.
The subject of the ballad was Anna Bothwell, daugh
ter of a Bishop of Orkney, who was raised to a tem
poral peerage, with the title of Lord Holyroodhouse,
the lover was Sir Alexander Erskine, third son of John,
seventh Earl of Mar. He perished in Dunglas Castle,
August 1640, and the lady died of a broken heart.
" Amongst the killed was Colonel Alexander Erskine,
a younger son of the late Earl of Mar. He was a hand
some and gallant soldier, originally in the French
service, and is noted as the lover whose faithlessness
is bewailed in Lady Anna Bothwell's lament, —
" I wish I were within the bounds
Where he lies smothered in his wounds.
Repeating, as he pants for air,
My name whom once he called so fair.
No woman yet so fiercely set,
But she'll forgive, though not forget."
Chambers' Domestic Annals.
" Balou, my babe, be still and sleepe.
It grieves me sair to see thee weipe ;
If thou'st be silent Ise be glad.
Thy maining maks my heart ful sad.
Balou, my boy, thy mother's joy.
Thy father breides me great annoy.
Balou, my babe, lie still and sleepe.
It grieves me sair to see thee weipe.
" When he began to court my luve.
And with his sugred words to muve.

TYNINGHAME. 67
His faunings fals, and flattering cheire
To me that time did not appear :
But now I see, most cruel hee
Cares neither for my babe nor mee.
" Lye still, my darling, sleep a while.
And when thou wakest sweetly smile :
But smile not as thy father did
To cozen maids. May God forbid !
But yett I fear thou will gae neire
Thy father's hart and face to beire.
" I canna chuse, but ever will
Be luving to thy father still ;
Whareir he gae, whareir he ride.
My luve with him doth still abyde :
In weil or wae, whareir he gae.
Mine hart can neire depart him frae.
" But doe not, doe not, prettie mine.
To faynings fals thine hart incline ;
Be loyal to thy lover true.
And never change her for a new :
If gude or fair, of her have care.
For woman's banning's wondrous saire.
" Baime, sin thy cruel father's gane.
Thy winsome smiles maun eise my pain :
My babe and I'll together live.
He'll comfort me when cares doe grieve :
My babe and I right saft will ly
And quite forget man's cruelty.
" Fareweil ! farewell ! thou falsest youth
That ever kist a woman's mouth !
I wish all maides be warned by me
Nevir to trust man's curtesy ;
For if we doe but chance to bow.
They'll use us then they care not how.
Balou, my babe, lie still and sleipe.
It grieves me sair to see thee weipe."

68 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
The well-known, and not less known than grotesque,
Zachary Boyd, improved the occasion in " Four Letters
of Comfort for the Deaths of the Earle of Hadding
toune and of the Lord Boyd." Of the " Four Letters
of Comfort," printed at Glasgow at the close of the
year 1640, the first relates to a catastrophe which
caused the death of Thomas, second Earl of Hadding
ton, two days after the battle of Newburn. This
nobleman had succeeded his father in 1637, and
attaching himself to the Covenanters, had been made
colonel of one of their regiments. On the occasion of
their marching into England under General Leslie, the
Earl was left behind to garrison Dunglas Castle, near
Cockburnspath, in which there was stored a consider
able magazine of powder. He was also under orders
to watch the motions of the garrison of Berwick. On
the 30th of August, however, about mid-day, when the
Earl was standing in a court of the castle, surrounded
by several gentlemen, to whom he was reading a letter
he had just received from General Leslie, the magazine
blew up, and in an instant one of the side walls over
whelmed him and all his company, with the exception
of four, who were thrown by the force of the explosion
to a considerable distance. The body of the Earl was
found among the rubbish, and was buried at Tyning
ham. With the Earl there perished Robert Hamilton,
his brother; Patrick Hamilton, his natural brother; Sir
John Hamilton of Redhouse, his cousin-german ; Sir
Alexander Hamilton of Innerwick, and Alexander his
son and heir ; Sir Alexander Erskine, fourth son of
the seventh Earl of Mar, brother-in-law ; Sir Gideon
Banks of Lochend ; James Inglis of Ingleston, and

TYNINGHAME. 69
John Cooper of Gogar, with about eighty persons of
inferior rank.
His book of rhymes was at one time well-known
from extracts. The book itself is still in manuscript,
or rather only one copy exists, which is chained. Let
it remain so — it is meant to be pious. Here is a little
chip from the soliloquy of David on the death of
Absalom : — ¦
" Oh Absalom ! my son, my son ! oh Absalom ! my son !
If thou hadst worn a periwig, this would not have been done."
Or again, —
" There was a man whose name was Job,
Who lived in the land of Uz,
And he had a wife had a gift of the gab.
As may happen to any of us."
The " Words of Comfort " are few, but well chosen.
We have room for only one letter : — " To the Right
Noble and Religious Lady D. Christian Hamiltoun,
Lady Boyd. Madame, — Many reasons oblige mee to
wish your La. comforts ; yea, and to pray earnestly
for them. Your Lord, whom you have faithfuUie
served hitherto, will bee to you a husband, a son, and
a brother. He himself will fill the room of all those
that he hath taken from you. By his doings hee hath
been taking away your earthly roots and tenons which
might have fastened your heart to the ground. When
these whom ye loved best on earth are above with
him whom ye love above all things, your heart will the
more freely mount towards your true home. Wha
should not desire to be with Christ, 'the chiefest
among ten thousand.'' This will help your desire

70 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
when yee remember that those whom yee loved best
are ever in his companie. A few days will join all the
godlie together to their head, Christ in heaven. What
have we here but toil and trouble ? Wherefore came
we hither but to make a voyage to the heavens ?
What is our life but the heat of the day in a vineyard
of pains. At death we receive the pennie. Our life
is a warfare ; at death we receive the pay."
Thomas, third earl, was not quite thirteen years of
age when his father was killed. In 1643 he married
Henrietta de Coligny. He was a mere boy, and she
a very young girl. They came to Tynninghame after
spending the honeymoon in fair France, and this is
how the Church welcomed them : — " 18 August 1644.
— Upon Wednesday the commissioners from the pres
bytery — Mr John Dalyell, minister of Prestonkirk ;
Mr Andrew Stevenson, minister of Dunbar ; and Mr
Robert Lauder, minister of Whitekirk ; and the Laird
of Smeaton — to speak to the Earl of Haddingtoune
anent some three or four Frenchmen, Papists. The
minister represented the same to the presbyterie be
fore. My lord promised to put them away to France
againe Martinmas neist, whereunto the presbyterie ac
quiesced, seeing thair was no hope of their conversion."
The whole picture looks ridiculous now : it was not a
thing to smile at then. But take a look into the fu
ture. John Dalyell, minister of Prestonkirk — thy two
sons are found drowned in the Tyne at thy gate !
They were "youths of good expectations," but that
did not save them ! Andrew Stevenson, minister of
Dunbar — thy life was not one of downy ease at Dun
bar, but rough sailing all through ! Robert Lauder,

TYNINGHAME. 71
minister — when ejected from Whitekirk, the box with
all the poor's money was in thine hand! The box
was afterwards found, but it was empty ! Robert ! it
was " box et preterea nil ! " Isobel Lauder, his wife,
restored the box in that condition, and for this act the
minister provided a "lock and chimney for her house,"
which luxuries were to be paid for by anyone who
took the house after she was done with it : 1701. As
for the Laird of Smeaton, he had a wife who caused
him much sorrow by the violence of her temper, and
the emphatic castigation of an English boy ; but that
story is a long one, and will keep for a little. It occu
pied the Presbytery of Dunbar for upwards of two
years. Yes, the poor sinner was sat upon all that
time! And yet there was a moral courage in these days
which one cannot help respecting. It has not always
been so. Be not offended, gentle reader, at the follow
ing harmless story: — Not a century ago a minister
was introduced into a parish in Perthshire, not far
from where the kings were crowned of old. He carried
with him to the manse, as the companion of his single
blessedness, a fiddle — nay, two fiddles. This would
never do. A fiddle in the manse ! An innovation !
Where is this to end .¦' — that is the question. If a man
shaves away his beard, what guarantee have you that
he will leave a hair upon his head when he has done
with the implement ? The kirk-session waited upon
him, remonstrated, or rather were about to. He pro
duced a violoncello, played a tune upon it — name not
given, say the " Reel of Tullochgorum " — and then
said, " Now, what harm is there in that .'' " The an-

72 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
swer was characteristic enough — " Oh, sir, we dinna
object to that ava. It's the wee sinfu' fiddle we object
to ! " The little fiddle must be silenced — brave words
these ! — but the big fiddle may play any tune it
pleases. Yes ! there is a wide difference
" 'Twixt tweedledum and tweedledee."
We have called Thomas, third earl, a boy at the
date of his marriage. His son was even younger : he
was scarcely seventeen.
The parish was divided into seven parts. Two
elders were set apart for each district : thus they went,
after the manner of the early apostles ; and not with
out reason, as in an emergency two were better than
one. Their duty was to tell all that happened to the
minister, and to take care that the people attended
the examinations in the church, which were during
summer time on a week day, and during winter after
dinner service on Sunday.
It may interest to have a general idea of any Sun
day in this little church on the banks of the Tyne.
Minister, reader (generally the schoolmaster), clerk
(what we would call beadle — i.e., one who acts as ser
vant in giving alms to the poor), and gravedigger, who
had frequent grants of shoes, which were only to be
used when digging graves. He is occasionally remon
strated with for using them at other times. An iron
bracket was fixed to the pulpit for the sand-glass.
"13 September 1640. — Given this day to the smith in
Peffersyd twentie shillins, for makin ane iron to sett
the glass in." (There was also a sun-dial in the spire.)
The sermon was supposed to last till the emptying of
the upper bulb into the lower — i.e., one hour.

TYNINGHAME. 73
The coins of other countries were objected to in the
collection. "23 Febrvary 1640. — The minister dis-
chairget the people to give ill curreners." A box full of
them was sometimes given to the minister "to see what
he could mak of them" when in Edinburgh. Records
of Whitekirk, August 18, 1730: — "The minister and
elders did receive from John Lermond, son to the de
ceased William Lermond, who was kirk-treasurer, the
poor's box; and the poor's money therein was compted,
and there was in the box of good current money, at the
present rates, ane hundred and ten pounds of whit-
money. In turners there was of current coin islb.,
los. lod. ; in Scots half-merks, I2lb. ; in doyts and ill
copper money, 2lb., 4s. 2d."
Three bells were rung. The forenoon service began
at 8 A.M., after the second bell. Prayers all read —
generally Knox's Liturgy. It is a piece of extrava
gant inaccuracy to say that read prayers have always
been, or were then, an offence in Scotland. But what
of the scene in the High Church, Edinburgh, in which
Jenny Geddes figured .¦¦ Jenny kept a- greengrocer's
stall in the High Street, and her objection on that
occasion was not to read prayers, but to Laud's Lit
urgy, which was offensive because the man was held
in just abhorrence in Scotland. If one half which was
told of him is true, he was a villain of the darkest
type. True, Jenny had tripped in her time ; but soil
ing another " does not make oneself clean."
This in 1637 ; but let the curious come a little nearer
the present day by a hundred years, and then smile if
they please at "the claims of long descent." 1735. —
" There lived at this time in Edinburgh a man named
I

74 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Robert Mein ***** who boasted that the
pious lady usually called Jenny Geddes, but actually
Barbara Hamilton, who threw the stool in Saint Giles's
in 1637, was his great-grandmother.'' He projected a
sanitary scheme for the city of Edinburgh. "The
projector appears to have first explained his scheme
to sundry gentlemen of consideration — as, for example,
Mr William Adam, architect, and Mr Colin Maclaurin,
professor of mathematics, who gave him their appro
bation of it in writing — the latter adding, ' I subscribe
for my own house in Smith's Land, Niddry's Wynd,
fourth storey, provided the neighbours agree to the
same.' Other subscribers, as the Countess of Had
dington, agreed for her house in Lawnmarket. One
lady, however, came out boldly — ' Mrs Black refuses
to agree, and acknowledges she throws over!' " — Domes
tic Annals, iii., p. 593.
Laud's Prayer-book was used for the first time 23rd
July 1637, and here is the entry in the Tyninghame
Book, 15th October 1637 : — "Item: The minister shew
to the elders that there hath been impediments and
resistance maid to the reading of the service-book at
Edinburgh, as they heard and knew, and that some
urged the imposing thairof as yet ; and lykwise shew
to them that the presbytery were to give their suppli
cation against it, and therefor demandit of them what
wold be thair pairt herein. They answereit that they
would lykwise concur to thair power to supplicate
against the imposing of it ; and desyrit the minister
to be commissioner, some of the gentlemen promising
to be present to assist the minister.''
" Before the time that the service-book was to be

TYNINGHAME. 75
brought into Edinburgh, anno 1637, Lady Binning
sent for me and told me that some friends had advised
her that some dayes before it should be read she
should change her seat in the church ; but she added,
' That is some denying of my testimony to the truth !
I have resolved to continue in my seat, and when it
is read to rise and goe out ; ' and she desired me to
advise with some honest ministers if they approved of
her resolution. At that time much of her neck and
shoulders were bare. She said, 'It is a wonder that
you or any honest man should look on me or stay in
my company, for I am dressed rather like a strumpet
than like a civill woman ; but the truth is, I must
either be thus dressed or my lord will not suffer me
in the house ; ' and while she thus said, the tears did
not drop but run down, so as she was fain no to take
notice of them." — Memorable Characteristics, by John
Livingstone. So much for Edina, Scotia's darling seat ; and what
of the Queen of the South, Dumfries .? " Two minis
ters at Dumfries, who had been preachers before Pre
lacy was abolished, gave displeasure to the populace
by using the Book of Common Prayer. On a Sunday
early in this month a party of about sixteen mean
men, living about four or five miles from Dumfries,
who disowned both Presbyterian and Episcopalian
ministers, and acknowledged none but Mr Houston,
came and dragged these two gentlemen out of the
town, took from each his prayer-book, and gave them
a good beating, after which they were liberated and
allowed to return home. At an early hour next morn
ing the same party came into the town, and burned

76 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
one of the books at the Cross, on which they affixed a
placard containing, we presume, a declaration of their
sentiments." — Domestic Annals, vol. iii., p. 65.
Laud's Book was condemned by the Assembly, 6th
December 1639.
The address to the king from the Glasgow Assembly
contains these words — " But our comfort is that truth
is the daughter of Time, and although calumnie often
starteth first and runneth before, yet veritie followeth
her at the heels, and possesseth herself in noble and
loyal hearts, where base calumnie cannot long find
place." For a considerable part of the period over which
these Records extend there was morning service each
day at 8 o'clock. The members from the Presbytery
of Dunbar to the famous Glasgow Assembly of 1639,
were John Dalzell, Prestonkirk ; Patrick Hamilton,
Innerwick ; John Lauder, Tyninghame ; and Hepburn
of Wauchton, ruling elder. After John Lauder's re
turn we have the following minute of session: — "17
Mairch 1639. — It was concludit by the minister and
session that public prayers suld be in the kirk every
morning, except Tuesday and Friday for preaching
and expounding the Scriptures, and suld begin at
Genesis and go through orderly ; and this to be inti
mate to the people the next Sabbathe publiklie, that
the people may come to the prayers or preaching, and
begin at aucht hours." This arrangement was sus
pended during the harvest and draif. "6 October
1639. — Item : the said day the minister intimate out
of the pulpit to the people to come to publik prayers
in the morning on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday,

TYNINGHAME. 77
and Saturday, and on Tysday and Friday to the
preaching, as they did before the harvest this guid
while bygaine, seeing now bothe the harvest and draif
were perfectlie endit. The prayers begun on Monday,
6 October. The minister being at Dunbar on Tysday,
at command of presbytery, preached there at baptism
and marriage. Prayers heir that day, and preaching
begun heir again on Friday. 3 November. — The
Earl of Hadintoune and Sir Patrick Hamilton, my
lord's uncle, being in the kirk. Upon the fife day of
November, being Tysday, 1639 yeirs, about 7 houris
in the morning, Elizabeth Haitlie, spouse to Maister
Johne Lauder, minister at Tinninghame, departit this
life. The said day ane son baptizit to Mr Johne
Lauder, minister at Whitekirk. Witnesses — Alex
ander Lauder, Robert Lauder, John MacDougall.
Upon the 6 day of November, Wednesday, 1639, the
said Elizabeth Haitlie, spouse to Mr Johne Lauder,
was buryit, many gentlemen and people being present.
Upon the 19 day of December, being Thursday, 1639,
Maister Andro Stevenson was admitted minister of
Dunbar. 29 December. — The minister urgit verie
earnestlie familie exerceis, and desyrit the elders to
begin, which they promeisit to do." This means that
the elders went from house to house, and conducted
family worship when no member of the family was
able to do so. This instruction was rigidly carried
out for a number of years.
The communion was administered once a year.
There was a preparation service on afternoon of the
Saturday, but no Fast-day in connection with the
communion. During the Wars of the Covenant there

78 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
were innumerable Fast-days ; and so long as James
VI. lived there was an annual thanksgiving for his
delivery from the Gowrie Conspiracy, 5th August
1600. In 1 62 1, the first of three years of drought and
famine, we have a curious entry — " Sept. 2. — Intima
tion maid of the fast to be keepit for seasonable
weather and gude harvest, and ane abstinence from
meat and drink every Sabbath." Again — "Sept. 16.
— Intimation maid againe of the abstinence."
There were few seats in the church, and on one
occasion, when the seats were re-arranged, the min
ister complains that the heritors and principals — i.e.,
chief families — were encroaching, and not leaving
"room enough on the floor for the women." The
Records of Aberdeen shew that one part of the oflSce
of the beadle was to go through the church, a long
stick in hand, sometimes with tar upon it, to awaken
the sleepers, and to poke up the women, and remove
the shawl which they made to cover their entire
heads before they went comfortably to sleep. In
more modern times it was not deemed in the least
peculiar for a member of the congregation to stand
up for a little when the drowsy god threatened to
overpower. Sometimes the parish fool was of use
on these occasions. A clergyman in a small parish
in Forfarshire was well known for his exhausting if
not exhaustive preaching. His subject had for some
Sundays in succession been Joshua. One Sunday
the parish fool had provided himself with an abun
dant supply of peas, which he discharged from a point
of advantage in the gallery. Remonstrance from the
pulpit was met with the encouraging response —

TYNINGHAME. 79
" Gang ye on wi' Joshua ; I'll keep the beggars
wauken ! "
Numerous are the stories of repartee between pulpit
and pew. So far as we know, the following has not
yet appeared in print, although it may have : — Church
not far from Edinburgh — clergyman not an Apollo
in eloquence — warm summer's day — congregation as
if asleep. Minister, indignant — " Brethren, try to keep
awake ! take an exa'mple from that poor idiot ! " the
parish fool, to wit. Parish fool retorts — "'Deed, sir,
if I werena a fule, I would be asleep tae ! "
Sometimes a consequential bodie in the eldership
advances an opinion. Pews are emptying — preacher
is doing his best : no matter — he is met at the base of
the pulpit stair by the old Cerberus. " Nae better the
day, sir ! Man, could ye no get something guid oot
o' books ? " Or, lastly — and this of George Gilfillan
of Dundee, from his own lips, and others' too :^A
priggish little man, whose mission was to do the work
of James Buccan, tailor and beadle in Tyninghame,
gave an unasked advice one day. " Blockhead ! carry
up the Bible ! " — 'twas done.
The poor beadle in Tyninghame, James Buccan,
a tailor, very poor, but apparently consequential, was
an object of intense dislike: his proximity to the
Tyne was an unfortunate circumstance for him. One
part of his office was to collect the penalties from
those who had fallen into sin. He frequently asks for
a part of these in respect of his poverty.
The payment of this penalty ultimately became a
matter of bargain. The old beadle in a parish in
Kincardineshire was wont to tell of the attempts of

8o CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
a culprit to bid down the penalty to as low a figure
as possible, at last throwing down the sum in very
small coins, with the indignant utterance — "There's
yer siller ! Ye're mair mercenary than godly ! "
Here is a somewhat expressive entry : — " White
kirk, 1 69 1. — After prayer session mett. The which
day Isobell Virtue satt for the third time, and humbled
herself, confessing her sin, and promeising, through
God's grace, reformation ; whereupon the minister ab
solved her in the manner following — 'According to
your repentance, so be it to you.' " This is frequent
in the volume. According to the Records of Sten
ton, a penitent in such cases " is restored to the peace
of the Church." The legal phrase, to "assoilzie,'' is
well known : it means to purify, to take away the soil
or dirt.
The cloak with which Buccan serves in the church
gets threadbare, and one is provided by the kirk-
session. It is called a " juip," but he must claim no
wages until he has paid it in service. Sometimes he
gets a pair of shoes, and in the first page of the Book,
161 5, we have Nota — a word which occurs only twice;
on the other occasion it relates to his going to Edin
burgh to subscribe the Covenant — "That in all the
gatherings for the poor there is the price of ane pint
of ale, that collect which is set doun in the session-
books, because of the pains which the clerk of the
kirkmen taks in going thrice aboot the toune, and
ance efternoon. This custom of giving sae mickle to
the beadle has been ust of aid in this parish."
Sometimes the beadle was allowed, as part of his
salary, to take so much grain from each barn floor.

TYNINGHAME. 8 1
This mode of collecting tribute caused not a few
lively scenes, in which the beadle was not always the
hero. And so, too, when tithes in grain were payable
at the manse. "John," said the recipient of salary in
this form, " there was a lot of chaff in your bag last
year." " 'Deed, sir," was the response, " we get a lot
o' chaff frae you ilka Sunday, but we've jist tae be
daein' wi't ! "
Cowper's lines upon tithing time in England are
well known.
Probably the old building behind Whitekirk Church
was at one time connected with the church as an
ecclesiastical teind barn, although at a more mo
dern date it was used for that purpose by the pro
prietor of Newbythe. The faded figure on the west
corner favours this supposition. This is only a guess,
however, as these stones were sometimes found in
the field adjoining, and stuck in at random. The
figure above the porch of the church was found in the
graveyard. The schoolmaster was miserably paid. One leaves
because he has no scholars. He tells the session that
" the bairns are dissolvit " — " since there's no one here
I'll dismiss you all ! " Another goes mad after having
been sat upon by the presbytery for "raising some
nots" — i.e., giving some opinions of his own upon
some Scripture whilst he acts as reader in the absence
of the minister. Having thus become "distractit in
his wits," his father is sent for, money is voted for
clothes to him, he goes to Fife — which, as all men
know, is a kingdom by itself — and we hear no more
of him. One applicant for the vacant office was re-
K

82 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED,
jected because he was not suflficiently acquainted with
the languages.
To have a Latiner or two was an object of ambition
in the schoolmaster, and pride to the parish. George
Gilfillan was wont to tell of a proud parent, whose son
had become a Latiner. Gilfillan thought he might
safely test him in penna. The youth went to work —
"Penna, a pen ; genitive, penno, of a pen ; '' and so on,
all wrong. "What think ye o' that, sir } I think we'll
mak a minister o' him!" "Quite right," said Gilfillan;
" he'll be a great gun ; he's a blunderbus already ! "
When the minister was absent at Saint Andrews on
duty, which sometimes happened for three months at
a time, the reader conducted the services. Sometimes
he is engaged in the church at Dunbar, which was
then collegiate.
Much of the time of the kirk-session was occupied
in compelling the people to observe the Sabbath. The
office of searcher was separate from that of beadle in
towns such as Dunbar. As the parish was quite as
much dependent upon the herring fishing as upon the
produce of the soil, every precaution was taken to
prevent the landing of fish on Sunday, They were
allowed to set their nets on Sunday, but not to haul
them. "8 September 1639, Sunday. — Gude order
keipit be the seamen at the draife ; no herring brocht
in nor nets hauled, but only nets set at efternoon."
" 39 August 1635. — The session appoints some of the
elders to go to the seaside at efternoon, to see that
there be na mercat in herring ; and the minister to be
with them efter the efternoon, to see guid order keipit."
Yes ! should any fishwife feel prompted to violate de-

TYNINGHAME. 83
corum by recommending her wares to the tune of
"Wha'll buy ma caller herrin'. New drawn frae the
Forth," she had better take reckoning before-hand of
the position of the clock — make sure that the minister
and elders are engaged in the devotions of the sanctu
ary, or shriving frail sisters, and not dodging behind
some convenient eminence, with eyes and ears attent.
During the period of the draif the population of the
parish was much increased, and on one occasion there
was an outbreak of Sabbath desecration at Dunbar,
Tyninghame, Whitekirk, and North Berwick, which
so baffled the session that it was referred to the pres
bytery, whose advice was something like this — that as
the culprits were numerous, the minister should give
a general denunciation of Sabbath breaking. Dean
Ramsay, in his story-book, tells of a Highland laird
whose wishes in a certain matter had not been com
plied with. " He did not swear at anybody in par
ticular : he jist stood in tae middle o' tae road and
swore at lairge." A good deal of ecclesiastical pow
der has gone off in this way ; but Mother Church got
ease — " a yaith relieved her."
As to North Berwick — who does not know that long
ago there was a somewhat unusual meeting in the Auld
Kirk there ; that "Auld Hornie " was the preacher ;
that the witches were the audience ; that he spoke
with "ane hollow voice," and made a very pointed
appeal to his audience thereafter, and then retired,
leaving a very decided atmosphere behind him. How
long that atmosphere remained is not recorded. At
a much more modern date, spirits were found stowed
away there ; but how long they had remained, or to

84 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
whom belonging, was never known. It were a curious
ethnological enquiry how long the echoes of "ane
howe voice" from such a quarter lived, and, if they
were unheard for a time, was it only to awake and
gather volume by this pause for more diablerie ?
There seems for a long time to have been a current
idea that the Sunday ended at sundown on that day,
till ultimately culprits were informed from the ecclesi
astical tribunal that the number of hours in a Sunday
was twenty-four — that in point of duration it had
nothing peculiar about it. The masons employed in
building the old house of Tyninghame were found
hunting Connies — i.e., rabbits — on Scoughal Links, but
escaped the fire, as they did not belong to the parish,
but were from Edinburgh.
Sometimes the decisions of the kirk-session were
narrow enough. An elder was accused of " yoking
ane cairt and driving nets to the sea on Sunday."
His plea was that he had told his servant to take the
nets " on the back of ane horse ; " but he denied the
yoking of the cart. It was proved, however, that he
had " yoked ane cairt," and had not taken the nets in
the other form. So he had to get down upon his
knees and beg forgiveness. Sandie ! thy usual caution
had deserted thee that time ! — an extemporized pan
nier would have saved thee ; but a cart ! — this will
never do. The tape must be put down somewhere :
the tailor has it ready in his pocket. A cart on Sun
day with nets is anathema maranatha ! So, albeit it
is not pleasant to give in, you must bow !
When any parish was vacant, proclamations of

TYNINGHAME. 85
bands were made in the two adjoining parishes. This
was done 25 th October 16 18.
The things pronounced criminal were various, espe
cially on Sunday. Here are a few with day and date:
— "Searching heads" — not theological heads, but bona
fide heads, or rather mala fide, bad in faith — fortalices:
Innerwick, 17th September 1645. "Hair cleaning
appears to be a favourite Sunday occupation in all
parts of the country ; and it is one of the commonest
occurrences in walking through the streets to see
groups of women — it being wholly a feminine prac
tice — operating on each other's heads with most praise
worthy diligence, and a gravity of countenance we
were never able to imitate." — Roberts' Autumn Tour
in Spain. 1st April 1649. — Assault in the kirk: one
dearly-beloved brother pitches another dearly-beloved
brother over the gallery during divine service. Dun
bar. — Riding on a tree. 13th August 1661. — Making
guids meat for the guidman — i.e., taking the cream off
the milk to be in readiness for the guidman when he
returns from the ministrations of Mr Andrew Steven
son. Opening a shop on Sunday, 12th February 1660.
It is recorded that corporal punishment ensued — in
deed, the lash was an institution in Dunbar : it was
the scorpion with which bad boys and impure men
were chastised — this not in a solitary case, but in cases
without number. Playing Turners on Sunday, iSth
May 1660. Fighting in the kirk on Sunday, 13th
June. Tyninghame. — Speaking about herring-nets,
on Sunday, 12th September 1619, allowed to set nets
for herring on Sunday, but not for lobsters ; and this,
I suppose, because the latter is slower in its move-

86 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
ments. The Acts of Parliament of 1661 shew the
temper of the time with marked emphasis. Act 18
inflicts a fine of ;£^io Scots for every case of salmon
fishing, or hiring of shearers and using of merchandise
on Sunday ; and the going of salt-pans, mills, and
kilns on that day incurred a penalty of £20. Act 19
— " Each person who shall blaspheme, swear, or curse,
and whosoever shall drink in excess, shall be liable
in the pains following : — nobleman, £20 ; baron, 20
merks ; gentleman, heritor, or burgess, 10 merks ;
yeoman, 40s. ; servant, 20s. ; toties quoties'.' Digging
for sand eels on Sunday. Carrying water in ane unfit
time on Sunday, 14th February 165 1. Playing at
nine-holes on Sunday, 12th May 1650. Burning pea-
shells on Sunday, 30th September 1649. Yes! when
the shadow of the great Battle of Doonhill was in the
heavens, the minister and elders at Tyninghame were
directing the artillery of the Church against a boy who
had been caught in the act of burning shells on Sun
day ; and when Oliver Cromwell was all but bowled
into the sea, the minister and elders were passing sen
tence upon a sinner for playing at nine-holes with
" ane rowball " on the Sunday.
The state of the crops is a matter of much interest.
Here is one of many entries — 26 September 1641. —
The said day rain at the efternoon and the Saturday
before, and on the Monday. No leiding-in till the
Wednesday nicht, the 29 day, and nain that day but
fra ten hours back ; and nane fra Wednesday at even
ing till Saturday, 2 October; but meikle corn led that
day. "All the knowis teindit and therdit almost, and
all the rest of the white corn of Tyninghame almost

TYNINGHAME. 87
therdit. All their wheat and much beir led before,
viz., the last week ; all my white corn led the week
before, and some much sooner, viz., the beir made into
malt. This day all my beans bound and stukit."
And the session had its implements of torture at
hand. It had its stool of repentance — rather an im
posing piece of mechanism, and not cheap, as times
went. " 5 February 1643. — David Nimmo, wricht,
from Linton, compeirit and desyrit payment for mak
ing and repairing the stool for repentance. The min
ister and elders herewith advised, delivered out of the
box eight pounds and six shillings to his son, and
twentie shillings to James Paterson, mason." The
mason-work consisted of a stone-and-turf mound, to
give due elevation to the stool and those who sat upon
it. The accommodation in Aberdeen was upon a
much larger scale : there was room for seven. The
man and woman satisfied on separate days ; and the
punishment of the man was generally double that of
the woman — sometimes much more. Tears were use
ful in mitigating the sentence. Money was sometimes
tried, and on rare occasions — as when the poor-box
was empty — accepted, but always with a caution that
this was not to be used as a precedent. What were
called visible signs of repentance did not always mean
this. Sometimes the frail sisters "put their plaids
about their heids, coming doun over their faces, so
that almaist nane of the congregation culd see thair
faces, or know what they were ; quhairby they maid
no account of thair coming to the stool, but misre-
garded it altogedder ; " and James Riach took an
artificial method of shewing repentance, for he was

88 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
found to "mak ane mock of repentance by putting
sneishen in his eyes to mak them tear," and "by
laughing upon several persons in publik." Sometimes
they tried to steal away from the stool during the
sermon, but were emphatically recalled. The date of
the stool of repentance in the Church of Biggar, Lan
arkshire, is 1694. It is cracked. The jougs are still
at the door of that venerable old church, which, as re
novated, is one of the finest pieces of architecture in
Scotland. The following is from a tombstone : —
" Here lies a man whose upright heart
With virtue was profusely stored ;
Who acted well the honest part
Between the tenants and their lord.
Betwixt the sands and flinty rock.
Thus steered he in the golden mein ;
While his blythe countenance bespoke
His mind unsullied and serene.
As to The Bruce the Flemings proved
Faithful, so to the Fleming's heir
Wardlaw behaved, and was beloved
For justice, candour, faith, and care.
His merit shall preserve his fame
To latest ages, free from rust,
Till the Archangel raise his frame
To join his soul among the just.
ALEXANDER WARDLAW,
Chamberlain to
The Right Honorable the Earl of Wigton,
Died March 1721, aged 67.
Hoc 7nonumentum posiiit
James WA^xii^Kyf, flens pHus."
All this is very pleasing — the blythe countenance,
the mind unsullied and serene, the honest part between

TYNINGHAME. 89
the tenants and the laird — no factor's snash when the
sinews of war are weak, but a face with a beautiful
glow on both sides of it. Here is another stone — put
them side by side. It takes us to covenanting times
— Christ's covenant. The stone at which Old Mort
ality — i.e., Nathaniel Paterson — was engaged, clearing
away the moss, and giving a sharper angle to the
letters — heart full of the words, " Dear in God's sight
are his saints' death : " a silent man, when Scott paid
a visit to the manse of Dunnottar, and no doubt to
the old castle there, or all that remains.
" Here lyes John Stott, James Aitchison, James Russel, and
William Broune; and one whose name we have not gotten; and
two women whose names we know not ; and two who perished
coming down the rock — one whose name was James Watson,
the other not known ; who all dyed prisoners in Dunottar Castle,
anno 1685, for their adherence to the Word of God and Scotland's
covenanted work of reformation. Rev., 11 c, 12 verse."
There were two pairs of jougs in Tyninghame — one
at the church, and the other at the Cross ; and this is
how it happened ! — " 15 October 161 5. — Maister John
regrated that there war sae many railers in the toun,
especiallie women, and that they troublit the session
sae aft : earnestlie desyrit that the civil magistrat wad
concur in punishing of them, and that jogis micht be
maid at the kirk door, wherein the delinquents micht
be put." It is plain that the ladies of those days were
not all the " ministering angels '' of the poet's dream.
They were often emphatic in speech — given to what
is called "banning;" and, unless restrained, used their
fingers without stint, after the fashion of the Highland
proverb, "The deil tak' the shortest nails." One of
L

90 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
them on a Sunday, at the Kirkstyle, just at the "loup-
in'-on-stane," nearly brought one of the elders to an
untimely end ; and they made the home life hot
enough sometimes — "27 April 1639. — Janet Horn,
spous to James Wricht, accusit for scolding. She was
ordainit not to be heard again, otherways to be put in
the jougs, and handlet most seveirlie." Again — " 23
October 1642. — John Bryson's wife, in Scougall, to
be warned next day to the session for flyting with her
husband, and abusing him by her unreverent speeches."
The penalty for speeches of that kind was " 20s. toties
quoties^' or to be " put in the jougs."
But the ladies had a marked grievance in reference
to the signing of the Covenant. "4 Mairch 1638. — I
subscrybit the Covenant at Edinburgh." This was a
renewal of the old Confession, with the abjuration of
Episcopacy and certain political professions. It was
signed 1st March and subsequent days, in the Grey
friars' Churchyard, and copies were sent for signature
to every county and parish in the kingdom. "2 April
1638.— The which day the fast weel keepit, praised
be God ! " — an ejaculation frequently inserted. " The
Covenant read and sworn to, and subscrybit by all
men that were present." It is plain that in this parish
only men signed the Covenant.
And then the minister has his church meetings and
provincial assemblies, sometimes in Haddington, some
times in Edinburgh, once in Dunbar, to which his
brother in Tyninghame generally goes with him as
ruling elder. One year it was doubtful if Robert
could go, as his horse was " croichet, and not yet per
fectlie haill."

TYNINGHAME. 9 1
The Record is minute in particulars of births, mar
riages, and deaths. One day there is quite a fight in
the church at the "pulling off the glove." The culprits
are fined, and " handlet most seveirlie." Another day
the beadle gets an allowance for " pouther tae shoot
the doos, because they filet the seats." The year 1637
was one of much sickness. " 30 April 1637. — Thirtie-
three people prayed for in the kirk."
From this date we are often taken far beyond the
boundaries of the parish. " Upon the 1 5 day of Sep
tember the Marquis of Hamilton cam by frae Berwick
to Dalkeith." "20 January. — We conveined at Wauch
ton." " 17 March. — Intimation maid to the people to
come to the mustering at Beinstone Mure on Thursday
next at ten hours, especiallie all that had subscribed
the Covenant, and were to stand to it." " 19 May
1639. — Many soldiers heir this day, going to Dunse
Law, wha cam yesternicht, and did abide heir in this
toune about eleven or twelve days." " 26 May. — This
day Mr James Rowe, minister to Montrose his regi
ment, preiched heir befor noon, and Mr John Lauder
efter noon, many soldiers being present — both Mont
rose his regiment and many westland soldiers, wha
heard the Word attentivelie and reverentlie. They
removit from this toune on Wednesday nicht, being
the 29 day of May." " 20 June. — The Scottishe camp
removit from Dunse Law, and came to Dunglas. Ane
peace was concludit on the Tysday, praised be God!"
" 26 April 1640. — The Earle of Argyle in the church,
having come fra the court this way." 26th July, min
ister is appointed to go for a short time with the legion.
The people are exhorted to be on their good behaviour

92 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
during his absence. He is to act as chaplain to the
regiment of East Lothian, commanded by the Laird
of Wauchton — a Hepburn — and his son, who acts as
lieutenant-colonel. On the 9th August he preaches
in the field beside Chously, in the parish of Langton.
There was another like expedition in 1641, which is of
peculiar interest, as it touches an event of a most
marked character. "4 July 1641. — Upon the 5 day
of July 1 64 1, Monday, according to the directions of
the presbyterie, I took journey to England to the
camp, and came to Durhame saiflie, praised be God,
upon the 7 of July, Wednesday, between three and
four in the efternoon, accompanied all the way be
George Raeburn and John Philip, my servants for the
time I was there. Upon the 6 day, Tysday, I met
with Mr Robert Lauder, my brother, be the way, wha
cam frae the camp the said 5 of July, Monday, having
been thair ane month before, as he was ordainit be
the presbyterie. Upon the 19 day of August 1641,
Thursday, the mutinie at Durhame. Upon the 20
day of August 1641, Fryday, we mairched with the
armies fra Durhame to Newcastle. Upon the 21 day
I abaid at Morpeth all the nicht, having come in the
evening ; and cam to the camp on Sunday at noon, in
the fields ; and marched with the camp beyond Wear,
and lay in the fields that nicht in the camp, 22 August.
Upon the 23 day the armie lay betwixt Wear and
Tweed about four miles south Tweed. Upon the 24
day of August, being Tysday, the armie crossed the
Tweed, and cam to Hirstel-law that nicht, beside
Coldstream. Upon the 25 day of August, sermons of
thanksgiving through the armie, my text being 126

TYNINGHAME. 93
Psalm, I, 2, 3 verses." The words are these — "When
the Lord turned again to captivity of Zion, we were
like men that dreamed. Then was our mouth filled
with laughter, and our tongue with singing ; then said
they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great
things for them. The Lord hath done great things
for us, whereof we are glad." " Not far fra this place,
at this time twelve months bygane, the armie passed
Tweed to England, and before at Chousley we had
throughout the haill armie ane solemn fast." Of the
texts given upon special occasions during the Wars of
the Covenant, there is not one from the New Testament.
What would men of the present day think of the fol
lowing: — "May 22, 1692. — The which day the minis
ter read from the pulpit a proclamation for a national
fast to be kept every last Wednesday for five months,
from May to September inclusive, for the success of
their majesties' forces by sea and land, and especially
for the preservation of the Protestant religion." "Upon
the 9 of August 1640, my text befor noon being upon
the 102 Psalm, at the 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 verses
thairof — ' Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry
come to thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day
when I am in trouble : incline thine ear unto me : in
the day when I call answer me speedily. For my
days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are
burned as an hearth. My heart is smitten and with
ered like grass, so that I forget to eat my bread. By
reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave
to my skin. I am like a pelican of the wilderness : I
am like an owl of the desert. I watch and am as a
sparrow alone upon the house top. Mine enemies re-

94 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
proach me all the day, and they that are mad against
me are sworn against me. For I have eaten ashes
like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, be
cause of thine indignation and thy wrath : for thou
hast lifted me up and cast me down. My days are
like a shadow that declineth, and I am withered like
grass ; but thou, O Lord, .shalt endure for ever, and
thy remembrance unto all generations.' " And then
the text — "Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon
Zion : for the time to favour her, yea the set time, is
come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones,
and favour the dust thereof So the heathen shall
fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the
earth thy glory. When the Lord shall build up Zion,
he shall appear in his glory. He will regard the
prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
This shall be written for the generation to come : and
the people which shall be created shall praise the
Lord." These Records speak of choosing a "pertinent text"
from which to preach. Could words more pertinent
have been made had he devised them for the occasion .''
Or, again — "Mr John M'Bain, minister at Dirlton,
preached at efternoon the said day, his text being the
15 chapter of Jeremiah, at the 13 and 14 verses —
' Thy substance and thy treasures will I give to the
spoil without price, and that for all thy sins, even in
all thy borders. And I will make thee to pass with
thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not ;
for a fire is kindled in mine anger which shall burn
you up.' Upon the said 2 ist of August, about six
hours at evening, twa men being execut, wha were

TYNINGHAME. 95
shot at the post, for the mutinie at Durhame — ane of
my Lord Kerr's regiment, and another of Dunferm-
ling's regiment ; and at evening the armie disbandit."
The following is Boyd's description of the victory at
Durham : —
" Thus stood the case ; but God of Heaven at last
Fought for the Scots : so that their foes, aghast.
Did flee with fear, like hindes before the hounds ;
Then back, not/ace, received most shameful wounds.
The cupping-glass was needful there to be ;
For Scots broadswords had skill to scarifie
Their backs and shoulders (of this make no doubt).
That rotten blood and humors micht come out !
But they, aghast, did run in squadrons thick,
Abhorring much such rough Scottish physick :
They would have given their houses and their lands
To have been out of such chirurgeon's hands.
They spared not spurs — to flee they were not slack ;
Great fear them made like cancers to go back.
Thus having spent their courage and their pouther,
The Scots them scutcht both upon back and shouther :
Clusters of stroaks most fiercely on them fell.
Which made their heads to sweat and backs to swell.
Black clouds of reek, with a red, fiery flood,
Were sene, with garments tumbled into blood.
Our Scottish bals like whisking winds did whirl.
With wanton puffs their rough heads for to curl.
So God arose most swiftly us to help
Against our foes, and brak their hairie scalp ! "
Monies parttirient nascitur ridiculus mus. In this
battle only four or five men were killed ! I
" Upon Thursday nicht, 26 August, Wauchton's
regiment cam to Dunbar, and I cam to Cockburns
path with Mr James Wricht, minister thair, that nicht;
and upon the morn, being the 27 of August, Friday, I

96 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
cam to Dunbar, and about eleven hours in the fore
noon I maid ane exhortation to Wauchton's regiment
in the kirkyaird of Dunbar ; and so the regiment was
disbandit ; and I cam to Tyninghame saiflie that
nicht at seven hours at evening, and preached on
Sunday, 29 August."
Such is the record. We do not know who were the
audience in the kirkyaird ; but it is not at all likely
that the Rev. Andrew Stevenson, minister of Dunbar,
was there. He was ordained to Dunbar about five
months before this ; but " a great deal had happened
since then." Andrew was a Trimmer : the evidence
for that is overwhelming. He had made up his mind
to die Vicar of Bray, and he acted accordingly. An
drew could pepper boys for riding on trees or playing
chuck-farthing on Sunday ; but he yelled out dread
fully when anyone touched his own toes. Andrew on
one occasion comes to the presbytery to tell his tale
of woe — some one had wronged him ; but the audi
ence was not responsive, and so the name rarely ap
pears in the minutes after that time. And so also of
his successor, Thomas Wood. These residuaries were
not popular. " The bulk of the people worshipped at
Spott so long as he lived." He was an Episcopalian
— minister of Dunbar, and also at the same time
Bishop of the Isles. This is undoubted, strange
though it seem. There are several communications
from him in that capacity, or, more properly speaking,
with that designation, in the Presbytery Records.
Andrew had an ordained assistant, who was also
tutor to young Lochend. He gets into disgrace for
"playing at the gouff;" also "for making lords of

TYNINGHAME. 97
the lawing and fining them," which seems to have
been a species of high jinks, such as Sir Walter
Scott describes. He thereafter disappears, to be
heard of no more. He was the last collegiate minister
of Dunbar.
The kirk-session of Dunbar had a somewhat length
ened remembrance of whatsoever doth offend. In
1659 it rebuked and fined in ^^20 Scots a woman who
had fallen into sin with a trooper of Cromwell's army,
eight years before !
And now imagine a lapse of some five years : the
following extracts will tell their own story: — "6 April
1645. — Efter the blessing, something read from the
committee anent ane public mustering of this pres
byterie upon Thursday nixt, on the Gallow Green,
Dunbar, and of the Hadingtoune presbyterie on
Glaidsmuir." Times had changed ; and Montrose,
formerly the hero of the Covenant, had turned royal
ist. His reasons for doing so were of the most selfish
and degrading kind. He sainted it and sinnered it in
turns. It is a useless waste of soap, hard as you may
work, to attempt to whiten the Ethiopian. The
manifesto of Napier in favour of Montrose is not his
tory. Personal appearance is not all that is needed
in a true man. O ! these poets are the true seers
after all — " Kind hearts are more than coronets.
And simple faith than Norman blood."
"7 September 1645. — This day the pepell dissolvit
at the blessing, in regaird of ane false fray of James
Grahame's armie coming farder eist, as was supposit,
and not far from thir pairts all this last week — ane
M

98 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
coming to the kirk door and crying that his armie
was at hand. Nae preitching at efternoon " ! 1 1
"II September, Thursday, David Leslie maid his
rendevous with the Shyres of East and West Lothian
on Glaidismuir ; his horsemen being about 4000 and
5000, besyd some horsemen sent suthe, and dragoons
having come to Scotland on Setterday last fra Eng
land. David Leslie his horse-troopers mairched south
toward Teviotdale and Mers upon Friday the 12 Sep
tember, towards James Grahame his armie ; and on
Setterday, the 13 September 1645, James Grahame's
armie defaitt utterlie at Philiphauche, praised be
God ! " A small obelisk now marks the centre of
the field : upon it is the following inscription — " To
the memory of the Covenanters who fought and fell
on the field of Philiphaugh, and won the battle there.
A.D. September i, 1645."
Before closing these Records, it may interest to give
some extracts about the burning of witches. The first
Act in the Scottish statute book was passed in 1 563,
to this effect — " That all who used witchcraft, sorcery,
necromancy, or pretended skill therein, and all con-
sulters of witches and sorcerers, should be punished
capitally " (Erskine's Institutes, page 706).
23rd Sept. 1630. — Susanne Chancellor, daughter of
the Laird of Shieldhill, was accused before the Pres
bytery of Lanark of consulting with charmers, and
" burying a child's clothes betwixt three lairds' lands
for health." By penitently presenting herself on her
knees before the reverend brethren, she was saved
from the due punishment. — Records of Presbytery of
Lanark.

TYNINGHAME. 99
There are occasional references previous to the fol
lowing dates, but the years 1649 and 1650 were "the
boys for bewitching them." John Knox was a chief
agitator for the statute of 1653, and his opinion corres
ponds with that of Luther, who said he would burn
every one of them, advancing a delicious bit of circular
reasoning — there must be witches, because the Bible
says, " Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live " ! And
when the penal laws against witchcraft were being
repealed in 1736, the Dissenters, who professed to
represent the Church of the Melvilles, protested, and
advanced as one special reason for leaving the National
Church that it had fallen from this infamous practice.
The years 1649-50 were busily employed in witch
searching and burning. "17 September 1649. — Janet
Nicolson execut and brunt at Hails for witchcraft.
7 October. — Public intimation out of the pulpit if any
within this parish have anything to say against Agnes
Angus, to compeir at Staintoun, quhan they sail be
wairnit. 25 November. — Item: According to the ord
inance, he intimate out of the pulpit if any had any
delations against Agnes Raleigh, in East Barns, sus
pect of witchcraft, and apprehendit there for that, they
come to the session of Dunbar upon Tysday, or the
presbyterie on Thursday next. On Monday the
witches at Wittinghame brunt, being three in num
ber. 9 December. — Intimation maid out of the pul
pit of ane Helen Hunter, fugitive from Ormistoune,
suspect of witchcraft. Item : Intimation maid from
the pulpit anent Patrick Yorston and Christian Yors-
ton, in Wittinghame, if any in this parish either knew
or have any delations against both or either of them.

lOO CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
that they show it to the kirk-session. 6 January 1650.
— Some of our pepell confronted with some witches in
Prestonkirk parish. 13 January. — Item: The minister
demandit the elders if they knew of any suspect of
witchcraft, and shew them that they were to search
diligentlie such as are delated be the witches at Pres
tonkirk parish, when the searchers cam. Upon Tys
day ane man in Wittinghame brunt for witchcraft.
Upon Wednesday, the 23 of January, six people at
Staintoune parish brunt. 3 February. — Item : Re
ported that the searchers of the witches were not yet
returned from the southe, and in the meantime that
Agnes Kirkland and David Stewart shall be appre
hendit ; and George Shorthous promised to advertise
his son, Robert Shorthous, in Tranent, to cause ane
of the searchers in Tranent to come eist here when
they should come fra the southe. On Thursday, the
2 day of February, Agnes Kirkland and David Stew
art, bothe of this parish, were imprisoned. Wednesday.
— I went to Dunbar, being ordained thairto, whair ten
witches were execut. 10 February. — This day the
session sett doon orders aboot the watching of those
that are apprehendit for witchcraft nichtlie, appointing
ane roll of all the parishe to be taken up, and six to
watch everie nicht, and twa everie day thair, tyme
aboot in order, qlk accordinglie was done. 24 Febru
ary. — James Kirkland in Scoughall, and Johne Cowie
in Aldhame, desyrit to send up thair folks to watch b)'
course ; promeisit to do the same, but desyrit that if
any in thair bounds shuld be apprehendit for witch
craft, that my Lord Hadingtoune would watch as it
fell them by course, whereunto they agreed willinglit

TYNINGHAME. lOI
Appoints as before that those that falls to watch, ane
elder shuld watch everie nicht with them thair, tyme
aboot, which was done hitherto, and promeisit to con
tinue. Upon the 20 of February the searcher in Tra
nent cam and found the mark on those that were
suspect of witchcraft, and shortlie thairafter they con-
fessit. 3 Mairch. — Item : Ordains the watch to be
keipit preceisely, and ane elder to watch everie nicht
in turn with them, qlk they did, and promeisit to con
tinue. The minister shew his diligence in going to
those suspect of witchcraft, both in the day and nicht-
time, in examining of them, and in praying for them,
both privately and publiklie, and performing all the
other duties recognisit or practised in such cases, qlk
the session heartilie and unanimouslie acknowledge
and approved. Upon Tysday, the ist Mairch, the
pepell given up be Agnes Kirkland and David Stew
art, both in this parish and Prestonkirk parish, con
fronted with them, and did pass from some and stand
by others. 10 Mairch. — Item; Public intimation
anent fugitives from the parish of Bara, suspect of
witchcraft and adulterie : thair names were read. 29
Mairch. — Appoints the watch to be better keipit,
qlk they promeisit to do. 31 Mairch. — Item: Because
the commission anent the witches was not as yet
come, it was thocht gude to have ane cair of them
still. The elders shew it was hard to get pepell to
watch all the day, albeit the watch was preceisly
keipit all the nicht ; and thairfor it behoved them to
tak something out of the box, or rather to borrow it,
to give to some wha had watched this eight days bye-
gane — viz.. Robert Nisbet and George Ker, given to

I02 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
them 3lbs., and efter the burning of the witches. 7
April. — Item : The minister shew to the elders anent
David Stewart and Agnes Kirkland, that now the
commission to put them to assize had come eist to
our hands, and that some that were appointed and
put in the same did meet heir on Setterday, and ap
pointed all things to be done, and in what manner ;
and Tysday next to be the day wherin to put them
to an assize ; and thairfor to appoint the watch to be
well observed this twa nichts to come, and all the
elders and honest men to be present on Tysday, wher-
unto they consentit. 9, Tysday, 1650. — David Stew
art and Agnes Kirkland were execut. 14 April. —
George Shorthous intromits with what belongs to
Agnes Kirkland ; promeisit to the session 1 2lbs. out
of Agnes Kirkland's readiest gudes and gear, and find
the box lykwys, if by any means he culd."
"July 1688. — An old woman at Dunbar having
threatened some people who refused to give her
money, and ' some evil accident befalling them shortly
after,' was seized, and tried before a commission. She
at first confessed, but afterwards retracted; neverthe
less, the commission condemned her. She was re
mitted back to Dunbar, to be burnt there if her judges
pleased." — FountetihalF s Decisions.
So far as is known, the last execution for witchcraft
in the county was that of Marion Lillie, in the parish
of Spott, April 1703. This parish has, however, an
old story of a very sad kind connected with it, which
we give from a somewhat rare book entitled "Memoirs
of Scotland, by David Crawford of Drumsay, late His
toriographer for the kingdom of Scotland ; " —

TYNINGHAME. 103
"About the latter end of September 1570, Mr John
Kellar, minister of Spot, near Dunbar, came into
Edinburgh, being seized with a terrible remorse of
conscience, judicially to confess a crime which could
never have been otherwise proved against him. He
had been married, before he had got into orders or
possessed a benefice, to a neighbour's daughter in the
county, who had brought him but a slender portion,
yet such as his circumstances at that time obliged him
to look upon as a tolerable fortune. To balance this
want of money, she had wit, and was extremely hand
some. She was a very little woman, but well shaped,
and, in short, had all the good qualities which could
endear a wife to her husband. He was so far from
being sensible of her merits that he was frequently out
of humour, and often behaved himself very harshly to
her ; whilst she, out of respect for his person and char
acter — for he was reputed to be at once a pious man
and an eminent preacher — still strove to forget these
injuries she daily received at his hands, and carefully
concealed them all from the world. All this, however,
could not better her condition, for he still remembered
that she stood in the way between him and wealth,
which he proposed to himself by a second marriage
with the Laird of  daughter (for so he owned in
prison). Fully determined at last to rid his hands of
such an obstacle— upon a Sunday morning, as she was
saying her prayers upon her knees, he came softly
behind her, clapt a rope, which he had kept all night
in his pocket, abooit her neck, and after he had stran
gled her, tied her up to an iron hook which a day or
two before he had purposely nailed to the ceiling of

104 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
the room. This done, he bolted his gate, and crept
out at his parlour window, stept demurely to church,
and preached a most excellent sermon." He con
fessed the murder to the schoolmaster of Dunbar, was
" strangled and brunt " at the Gallowlee, and his ashes
thrown into the air, 4th October 1 570.
Mr Lauder lived long enough to see the restoration
of monarchy and introduction of Episcopacy in Charles
II. He died 29th April 1662 ; but it is quite plain
that he wrote no minutes after the Battle of Dunbar.
No doubt his connection with Lord Haddington stood
him in good service. His brother in Whitekirk was
not so lucky. He and the schoolmaster, who is called
a clandestine schoolmaster, named White, disappear
entirely from the scene — let us hope to that Broad
Land where the peer and the peasant, the lofty and
the lowly, join hands for ever in the One Eternal
Presence. There is only one entry about witches about this
date — "21 July 1661. — Given for candle to watch the
witch, IIS." In the Records of the Presbytery of
Dunbar, there is only, so far as appears, one reference
to witches — "At Dunbar, last day of May 1652, ap
points a reference to be maid to the synod anent
advice concerning witches, what shall be done be the
ministers concerning them." These extracts are given
in order to show the general feeling upon the subject.
The searcher referred to as coming from Tranent
was probably John Kincaid. There were at that time
two well-known searchers — the forenamed and George
Cathie, who resided near Glasgow.
In 1650 the Presbytery of Biggar called on the Pres-

TYNINGHAME. 1 05
bytery of Haddington, as well as the civil power, to
secure Cathie's services whenever they were required.
In 1657 five women from Dunbar and nine from
Tranent were burned simultaneously on the Castle
Hill, Dunbar. All confessed their alliance with Satan,
with its usual concomitants.
A book at one time of high authority upon witch
craft was written by Mr John Bell, minister of Glads-
muir, dated 1705. He says — "The witches' mark is
sometimes like a blue spot, or a little tet or red spot,
like flea-biting. Sometimes, also, the flesh is sunk
and hollow ; and this is put in secret places, as among
the hair of the head or eyebrows, within the lips, under
the armpits." Mr John Kirk, minister of Aberfoyle,
describes the mark as "a small hole, horny and brown-
coloured, through which mark when a large brass pin
was thrust till it was bowed, the witches, both men
and women, neither felt a pain, nor did it bleed."
John Kincaid was unusually busy at this time. He
received from the minister and elders of Stowe for the
" broding of Margret Durham, 61b," 1649. The Town
Council of Forfar paid much more in 1661, when he is
still alive, besides making him a burgess. His col
league Cathie condemned as witches twelve people in
Crauford-Douglas upon the evidence of a lunatic.
The finding of the mark was a piece of horrible
brutality. The poor wretch was stripped naked, tied
to a post, and this brazen pin was used in various
ways and paf ts of the body ; and when nature was all
but exhausted, and he or she could cry no more, that
was the mark. Doubtless, very many confessed at
the threshold of this ordeal, as Jedburgh was not far
N

I06 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
away, and Jeddart justice is somewhat peculiar — it
first hanged a man, and then made an effort to dis
cover whether or not he was guilty. Ah, me ! we are
a long way from the millenium ! There is still a great
deal of unused coal in the bowels of the earth, and a
great part of the world is too green to burn ; and the
devil is to have a long period in chains antecedent to
that — and if he is chained just now, the chain must be
of endless length : he might as well be at large. It is
quite unnecessary to order the ascension robe just yet!
The expenses connected with witch-burning must
have fallen somewhat heavily upon the session funds.
The following is the bill for two poor victims in Kirk
caldy. They were burned on the sands there, as the
kirk-session records attest — 1633.
Extraordinary Disbursements for William Coke and
Alison Dick, witches : —
In primus — To Mr John Millar when he went to Prestoun for a
man to try them, . . . £2 7 o
To the man of Culross when he
went away the first time, . 0120
Item — For cales for the witches, . .140
Item — For purchasing the commission, . 030
I tem — For onetogotoFinmouthforthe Laird
to sit upon their assize as judge, 060
Item — For harden to be jumps to them, 3 10 o
Item — For making of them, . . .060

Summa, Kirk's part, ^17 10 o Scots
In primus — For 10 loads of coals to burn them, ;^3 6 8
Item — For a tar barrel, . . . . o 14 o
Item — For towes,  060
Item — To him that brought the execu
tioner,  2 18 o
Item — To the executioner for his pains, 8 14 o
Item — For his expenses here, . . . o i6 4
Item — For one to go Finmouth for the
Laird,  060

Summa, Toun's part, £\^ i o Scots

TYNINGHAME. 107
The two towns in Haddingtonshire most in reputa
tion with the devil seem to have been North Berwick
and Tranent. The inditement against John Fean or
Cuninghame, schoolmaster, Prestonpans, was arranged
under twenty heads. Of these — " Thomas Temple,
while lying in a close bed in Prestonpans, he was con
veyed to North Berwick to a convention of witches ;
assembling with Satan to keep back James VI. ; being
with Satan at North Berwick, and opening graves and
dismembering Bodies ; opening a lock in the house of
David Seton, younger, in Tranent, and for opening
the gate of the said house while the key was upon the
table ; and also for opening a lock in the house of
David Seton's mother, by blowing in a woman's hand
at the fireside ; having moudiewart feet on a purse
given him by Satan ; being at North Berwick with
Satan ; chasing a cat at Tranent for raising a wind, as
ordered by Satan at a conventicle at Bumberholes ;
receiving his commandmends from Satan to deny
God, give his faith to the devil, to persuade as many
as he could to his society, and to destroy men by sea
and land, with corn, cattle, and goods."
loth March 1607. — In causa Isabella Grierson —
"Adam Clark in Prestonpans being lyin in his bed
with his wyffe, and his servant woman being in ane
uther bed, she, in the likeness of her awin cat, accom
panied with ane great number of other cats, in ane
devilish manner entered within his house, where they
made ane great and fearful noise and trouble, whereby
the said Adam, &c., apprehended sic ane great fear,
that they were like to gang mad : at the whilk time
the devil, in the likeness of ane black man, appeared

I08 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
in the house after ane fearful manner." — Pitcaim's
Criminal Trials.
Before passing from this subject, one more quotation
— from the Records of Innerwick, 1612. The one
Scotch play of Shakespeare, with its marvellous weird-
ness — Macbeth — was not published till 1623. So far
as my reading extends, the following stands by itself:
no poet wrote it — a plain, unvarnished story.
The Records of Innerwick begin at a very early
date. The first and somewhat disconnected volume
is entitled "The Acts and Procedure of the Kirk-
Session of Innerweike, since the admission of Patrick
Hamilton." This Record, written by himself, begins
13th July 1608, and ends 13th November of the same
year. There is also another Parish Record, which
begins 13th July 1608, and ends 28th December 1614.
The minutes between these dates are extremely inter
esting, though very fragmentary. There is a chasm
between 1614 and 1641. The Patrick Hamilton of
1608 was a lineal ancestor of Thomas, the first Earl of
Haddington. He was a member of the famous As
sembly of Glasgow in 1638. He died in 1640, and
was succeeded by Mr William Forbes, who for some
years kept matters in a very lively condition, and then
went to Fraserburgh. There was quite a village of
kirk-houses at Innerwick.
" 2 June 1612. — The quilk cpmpeirit Jenat Lyttstar,
givin in ane complaint upon Patrick Neilsone and his
wife as sclanderers of hir and of Agnes Smith and
Cristian Grant : ordains hir to compear ye nixt session
day, and them to be wairned to that effect. 20 June
1612. — The whilk day compeirit Patrik Neilsone, being

TYNINGHAME. 109
ceited as ane sclanderer of Jenat Lyttster, spous to
Johne Chansler, and he affirms that it was no sclander
quilk he spak, bot that it was all treu ; and depones
this, quilk he will avow till his death — That he coft
ane cow from Jhon Chansler upon Martinmas day,
161 1, and efter she was brocht hame, Jenat Lyttster,
spous to the said Johne Chansler, was verie angrie at
the selling of ye said cow, and efter that ye said cow
wald not niffer, ye said Patrik Neilsonne's wyf callit
Caterin Gray, to milk her, quhil she was haddin for
twa or three days ; and efter Patrik's wyf toik of ye
milk, she swatt twa serks continually everie twenty-
four houris, until ye cow was brunt ; and thairefter ye
swettin stayit somewhat, bot yit she had nae appetyt
to hir meat, and had also ane sair swett, altho not in
sic great messour as befoir. Farther deponis that be
twixt Martinmas and Youle he saw upon ane nicht —
ye doer being steikit, and all fast — Jenat Lyttster
standing over him in ye bed above his wyf, and wad
have bereifit his wyff of ye bairne that was in hir
airms ; and he saw ane fyre biggit on upon ye harth,
beside ye chimlay ; and that with Jenat Lyttster was
Agnes Smith, Christian Grante, and Jenat Hendrie,
standing upon ye flowar ; and whan he saw them, he
cried, ' Lord be in this house ! ' With that Jenat
Lyttster lop upon ye floor, and they went all away in
ane instant.
" Caterin Gray, spous to Patrik Neilsonne, deponis
all ye premiss to be of veritie : as also that sche hard
ane of them say, quhan Jenat Lyttstar com in ower ye
bedd, ' Tak ye the bairn, for she loves ye bairn best ; '
and Crystian Grant answerit, ' God forbid ! for sche

no CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
lovis it better than all hir geir.' Farther, that sche
walkenit hir gudeman, and said, ' Wofull man, quhat
are ye doin, and they reifin your bairne ? ' and Jenat
Lyttster loikit in his face like ane hellcat, and also
said, ' Lord, what number of crimes are heir ! ' Far
ther, ye said Patrick deponis that about the commenc
ing of Mairche last bypast, quile Cristen Grant was
coming out of ye Skateraw, and ye said Patrick goin
down, he deponis that he said to hir, 'What is this you
has done to be in my hous under the silence of nicht,
accompanyit wi Agnes Smith and Jenat Lyttster and
Jenat Hendrie, to have taken away my bairn ; and
has wrakit my wife, so that she sweettes continuallie ? '
She answerit again that sche nevir did hir harme in
word nor deid, and that she suld come up and bring
her something : and he depones that sche cam up and
gave twa fische to Patrik Neilsonne, which she bad
give to his wyff. Efter the getting of ye fische, and
eitting of them, sche left hir sweitting, and begouth to
eat whair sche could eat nane of before, and so sche
left hir setoune and seiknes. Also, Caterin Gray de
ponis by this that ye said Crystin gave her ane piece
of rou'n tre befor sche gave hir ye fische, and bad hir
keep it continuallie in hir pow : as also sche gave to
ye said Caterin Gray ane tother piece, which she bad
hir keep in hir kist; and was upon Saunt Helen's day.
This ye said Caterine depones to be of veritie, and
this ye said twa deponis, Patrik Neilsonne and his
wyff, Catrin Gray, before the Session of Innerbuik
Church, day and place foresaid, and promeises to abyd
therein to the end. The session remitts this to ye

1 1 1 TYNINGHAME.
nixt session to be dealt with, because of ye gravitie of
ye matter."
Read with this the witch scene in Macbeth: —
Act IV. Scene i.— A Dark Cave. In the middle a Cauldron,
boiling.
Thunder. Enter Three Witches.
1st Witch — Thrice the brinded cat hath mew'd.
2nd Witch — Thrice and once the hedge-pig whin'd.
yd Witch — Harpier cries, 'Tis time, 'tis time.
1st Witch — Round about the cauldron go ;
In the poison'd entrails throw. —
Toad, that under coldest stone
Days and nights has — thirty-one —
Swelter'd venom, sleeping got —
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot.
All — Double, double toil and trouble :
Fire, burn ; and, cauldron, bubble !
2nd Witch — Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake ;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting.
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.
All — Double, double toil and trouble :
Fire, burn ; and, cauldron, bubble !
So far as appears, this grave matter was never again
considered. At least, no further reference crops up in
the Records ; and it may be hoped that the weird
story of Patrick and his spouse was found on investi
gation to have no more stable foundation than the
vagaries of a disturbed imagination. If so, it affords
satisfactory evidence for thinking that among the

112 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
members of the Kirk-session of Innerwich, at a period
in our national history when the mere denouncing of
a woman as a witch was enough to send her to the
stake, there were men of sufficient good sense, not to
say humanity, to ridicule the notion that three of their
humble fellow -parishioners were gifted with super
natural powers, who could find their way through
stone walls and into lockfast places at pleasure, and
cause one of their unlucky neighbours to " swatt twa
sarks continuallie everie twenty-foure houris."
Aberdeenshire, 1597. — "Isobel Cockle took from the
cows the power of giving healthful milk, making them
give a poisonous stuff instead. She also prevented
good milk from "yirning." Horses had fallen under
her touch. Men against whom she had pronounced
evil words took deadly sickness in consequence, or
suffered decay in their wordly means. Her house
being ruinous, the proprietor, Alexander Anderson,
had come in her absence, and was proceeding to mend
the roof; and finding he had uncovered her pantry,
where her valuables lay, she said — ' I shall gar thee
forthink it, that thou has tirret my house I being frae
hame,' and glowrit up at him. Immediately Alex
ander's speech went from him, and he retired to bed
sick, and could get no rest or sleep. Under the threats
of his son, she was induced to come and charm this
sickness away from him, and give him ' droggis,' that
his speech came to him again. By the confession of
the recently-burnt Thomas Lees, Isobel Cockie had
been second to himself in the infernal dance at the
Fish Cross, ' and because the devil played not so
melodiously and weel as thou cravit, thou took his

TYNINGHAME. II 3
instrument out of his mouth, then took him on the
chafts therewith, and playit thyself thereon to the
haill company.' Isobel was condemned." — Domestic
Annals, vol. i. p. 280.
And so, as the old song goes, there was a time in
Scotland " When witches and warlocks their cantrips did try.
To wheedle awa the drap milk frae the kye."
" December 31, 1643. — Compeared Janet Broun, and
being posed if she used charms, she confessed that she
did charm two several persons — viz., James Hullock
and Janet Scott, but no moe." The words of the
charm are these —
" Our Lord forth raide.
His foal's foot slade ;
Our Lord doun lighted.
His foal's foot righted ;
Saying : Flesh to flesh, blood to blood, and bane to bane,
In our Lord his name."
" Being posed who learned her the foresaid charm,
answered ane man in the parish of Strathmiglo." —
Session Records of Markinch.
The rowan tree was the most approved charm
against cantrips and spells. "A plaited branch of
rowan tree was," says Jamieson, "sometimes placed
over the byre door." Sometimes it was worn about
the body. It was deemed safe to play under the
rowan tree : see the fine old song, " O ! Rowan Tree."
Who Saint Helen was is not very well known.
There was a church at Old Cambus dedicated to
Saint Helen. We have also Saint Helen's Chapel,
Berwick, and Saint Helen's Well, Melrose.
O

114 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
In the year 1612 the minister of Innerbuik had
other work to do than discharging ecclesiastical pepper
at culprits for searching heads on Sunday, and other
heinous crimes too numerous to mention.
All over Skye we have the rowan tree in lonely
glen or wild hill-side, where all human dwellings have
only left a few rude cairns to tell that there men and
women once lived and suffered, and bowed in dumb
awe before the Unknown God, and no doubt looked
sometimes into an even yet remoter past, when every
grove had its idols, and every mountain-top its temple.
" Strong Son of God ! Immortal Love !
Whom we, that have not seen Thy face.
By faith, and faith alone, embrace,
Believing where we cannot prove.
Our little systems have their day —
They have their day, and cease to be ;
They are but broken lights from Thee,
And Thou, O Lord ! art more than they.
Thou seemest human and divine —
The highest, holiest manhood Thou !
Our wills are ours, we know not how —
Our wills are ours to make them Thine."
Pennant, in his "Tour through Scotland," states
that farmers placed boughs of the rowan tree in their
cow-houses on the second day of May, to protect their
cows from evil influences. The rowan tree was used
in various forms towards this end. Mr Train, writing
in 1 8 14, says — "I am acquainted with the wife of an
anti-burgher, who procured these charms and used
them." "The belief in the potency of the rowan
tree," says Farrar, " may be traced from the interior
of Africa, not only in Egypt and Arabia, but also

TYNINGHAME. I I 5
onwards uninterruptedly into Palestine and Syria,
Assyria, Persia, India, Thibet, Siam, the Philippine
Islands, China, Japan, and Siberia ; also westwards
into Asia Minor, Greece, Italy, and other countries."
The rowan tree was held sacred among the Druids,
and is often found among their stone monuments.
The couplet is known to many —
" Rowan tree and red thread
Put the witches to their speed."
" Lest witches should obtain the power
Of Hawkie's milk in evil hour.
She winds a red thread through her horn,
And milks through roun tree night and morn :
Against the blink of evil eye
She knows each antidote to ply."
It may interest the curious to have a few more
scraps from the old Records of Innerwick. They
were made out after much weary labour.
" 13 day of July 1608. — It is thocht guid that the
elders of the said sessione of Innerwick sail continow
as if befoir until ye first day of January nixt to come.
Item ; it is ordainit that ye sacrament of ye Lord's
Supper sail be ministrat with all possible diligence,
and the examination to begin ye nixt oik [i.e., week]
for that purpose ; and the elders within thair awin
bounds, with the maisters of the families, to give up
the naims of the persons apt for communication within
thair bounds, that they may be examinat. 27 day of
Julii 1608 yeirs. — Ye sessione being conveinit, appoynts
ye sacrament to be ye nixt Lord's Day, since ye pepill
are examinat. The qlk day, it being reportit be the
minister that the greatest pairt of the pepill are igno-

Il6 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
rant of the Comands and very many of the Beliefs, ye
session ordains every one that sail not have the Com
ands betwixt this and the first of May, sail pay thair
penaltie. The whilk day, for remeid of the fait of
ignorance, ordains that nea mariage sail be maid or
parteis proclaimit untill baith the parteis also recite
ye Lord's Prayer, ye Belief, and ye Comands, or ells
pay [i.e., consign] five libs that they sail have them
befor the accomplishment of the mariage, qlk, if it be
not done, they sail forfeit. Item : It is ordainit that
the persons quha gives up thair names to be proclaimit
sail find cautoune, ilk every ane of them, for thair own
pairts, under the pain of the fyne of fife lib, that they
sail accomplish the bond within fourtie days ; and in
ye meantyme they sail live without just offence or
scandell." "Upon the 19 day of Mairch 1619, the qlk day
compeirit Euphemia Wolf, and confessit that she had
fallen in fornification with ane man quha had forcit
hir in the Brunt Banks, twentie days efter Lambes
befor 1619, coming out of Dunbar upon ane Friday.
The signs of him war that he had blak spruttings of
ane baird, he was ryding on ane quhyt hors, he had
broun claiths and black passaments on him. He cam
fra Dunbar, wairt her on the road towards the Lochis,
aboot the going doun of the sonne, and while she cryit
she alleges she could find na help. He refusit to tell
hir his name ; and he bad hir, in case she was with
chyld, come to NicoU Kellie's upon Martinmas day,
and he suld meet hir ; but she could not win, as she
allegit." There is something mysterious here. Eu
phemia Wolf had formed an alliance with one who

TYNINGHAME.

117

was not " in sheep's clothing." She was afraid to " go
to Nicoll Kellie's : " had there been the will, she would
have winned ! I
" 27 day of December. — The quilk day ordains sax
mae to be chosen, boith for the helpin to gather the
collectioune to the pure, and also to the visitation : —

INNERWEIK.
Thomas Sampson.
Lachie Bischop.
twa elders.
George Sherie.
Robert Purvis.

Thurston.
John Chissam.
Patrik Cowane.
Thornton.
Alex. Furd.
Robert Denham.

Thir names being given up be ye sessioune, are ap
poyntit to be manifest be thair names to the hail par-
oschin, to see gif ony man knawis ony impediment in
the contrar, and gif thair be, to report to the sessioune
on Tysday. The quilk day, the sessioune being con
veinit, ordains Bartell Gellatly to be wairnit for setting
ane hous to unlawful persons.
" Ultimo — Aprile 1609. — The quilk day the sessioune
ordains twa out of everie lordship to meet aboot the
devyding of the kirkyaird dyke, the 27 day of October,
and thair names are — for Innerweik, Adam Hering ;
Jon Lauder for Thornton ; Crystopher Fried and
George Wallace for Thurston ; for the Muris, George
Gray and Robert Purvis.
"27 Mairch 1619. — The quilk Margret Nicolson
compeirit, being citet, and is comendeit to mak hir
publik repentence for hir sclanderous words to the
elders ; and in caiss of ye lyk, sche is content to stand
twa houris in the jogis. 2 April 1619. — The quilk

Il8 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
day William Rudpeth compeirit, it being proven that
he strak Agnes Gallatly on ane Sabbothe day, quilk
was the brekan thereof; is ordainit to pay half ane
merk, and mak publik repentence in ye kirk."
"The General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland,
holden in Glasgow the 8th of June, the year of God
1610 years, in presence of the king's majestie's com
missioners, viz. : —
The Earl of Dunbar, My Lord President.
The Archbishop of St Andrews, My Lord Secretarie.
Of the Nobilities.
Earls Montrose, Lothians, &c.
Of the Ministry — Presbytery of Dunbar.
Mr Edward Hepburne, Prestonkirk.
Mr Johne Lauder, Tyninghame.
Mr Thomas Hepburn, Oldhamstocks."
Innerwick looked well after the box. " 23 April
1609. — The quilk day ye sessioune ordains George
Wallace to keip the key of the box." The form of
ordination is not given ! At one time it was custom
ary to " ordain " the beadle by giving him a bit of the
bell-rope. This was sometimes laid upon the table of
the presbytery upon the induction or ordination of a
clergyman. Sometimes the tongue of the bell was
also laid upon the table.
" 1610. — About the end of Januar the Scottish Sec-
retar, Sir Alexander Hay, came from the court with
sundrie directions, and among the rest for the habite
of the senators of the College of Justice, advocats,
clerks, and scribes : which was proclaimit in the begin
ning of Februar, viz. — that the senators of the College

TYNINGHAME. 1 19
of Justice should wear a purple robe or gown in judg
ment and in the streets, when they were to meet or
were dissolved : that advocats, clerks, and scribes sould
wear black gounes in the Judgment Hall and in the
streets; and that they begin betwixt and the 15th
Februari. Sic lyke it was ordeanned and published
by proclamation that the provosts and bailiffs of
burghes, and their counsellors, shuld wear black when
they sate in counsel or judgment: that ministers shuld
wear blacke cloths, and in the pulpit blacke gounes :
that the bishops and doctors of divinitie sould wear
blacke cassikins syde to their knee, blacke gounes
above, and a blacke craipe about their necke ; and
that betuixt and the ist of Marche, upon the iSth
Februari, the Lords of Sessioun and the bishops putt
on their gounes and came down from the Chancellor's
lodgings. The people flocked together to behold
them. The bishops were ordained to have their
gounes with Lambard sleaves, according to the form
of England, with tippets, and craips about their craigs,
which was performed." — Calderwood, vol. viii., p. 44.
There are not a few entries in the Records of Dun
bar that the box has been tampered with by the elder
in waiting ; and for a long time one of the civil magis
trates there takes his place along-side the elder at the
plate on Sunday. Who knows but that in those days
there was something special about the money relation
between Church and State in Dunbar ! There can be
no doubt that for some years the minister of Dunbar
was Bishop of the Isles. The ecclesiastical history of
Dunbar would open up some matters of importance
alike to the antiquarian and the chronicler.

120 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
"A.D. 1179.— Reinard, the first Abbot of Saint
Thomas the Martyr in Scotland, and Adam, the par
son of Dunbar, died. Alina, Countess of Dunbar, died
on the thirteenth of the kalends of September." —
Chronicle of Melrose, 137.
"A.D. 1209. — Ralph, the priest of Dunbar, accepted
the cure of Eccles."
"A.D. 1232. — Patrick, the venerable Earl of Dunbar,
invited his sons and daughters, his kinsmen and neigh
bours, to spend the Festival of our Lord's Nativity
happily together. When four days had been thus
occupied, he was seized with a severe illness, where
upon he summoned A, Abbot of Melrose, his friend
and kinsman, and received extreme unction and the
dress of monk at his hands ; and thus, bidding a last
farewell to all, he died upon the day of Saint Sylvester,
31st January, after having held the earldom for fifty
years, and was buried in the Church of Saint Mary at
Hecclis. He was succeeded by his son Patrick, a
sturdy knight, the king's nephew." — Chron. Mel.
"Bishop Wishart witnesses two charters without
date : ist, A grant of a piece of land by Patrick, Earl
of Dunbar, ' to God and the saints of the Isle of May,
and the monks there serving God ; ' 2nd, A grant of
a cow yearly to the same monks from the same noble
man." — Scotichronicon, 171.
That Dunbar has a legal claim to a collegiate min
istry as of old, would perhaps be to say too much ;
but that that parish has been stripped of much which
was doted to it is beyond dispute. Its grammar
school was at one time one of the most important in
Scotland. What has become of its endowments ?

TYNINGHAME. 121
But it is now time to end. One more episode, and
that a very touching one : it is about a child. At a
meeting of the session, 17th Nov. 1644, "the minister
reportit anent a man named Ogilvie, otherwise called
Choppins." I suppose the latter name was owing to
the fact that he wandered up and down the country
hawking measures for the home-brewed ale, which was
the staple drink. The minister at Prestonkirk long
after this had numerous meetings with his heritors
about the state of his malt-barn. It is called "a bake
house and brew-house." Choppins died in a byre at
Tyninghame, leaving an orphan child some three
months old ; and there are not a few entries about
this bairn. Janet Home was to have "sax pounds
and ane lade of coals, to ' nourish ' him," and so on ;
but it died, and here is the entry : — " This day Chop
pins' bairn was buried. This bairn was manteined by
our sessioun and pepill since the first November, ex
cept 8 merks received from the minister and sessioun
of Dunbar, for help to the said bairn. Item : The
minister shew to the elders that he had yet in hand
4 merks not yet debursed of that money, whereof
given to Janet Home for drink and bread to the folks
that cam to the funeral, 6 shillings ; to Alexander
Skugall, clerk, for making his graff, 1 2 shillings ; for
ane winding-sheet to the said bairne, 10 shillings ; to
David Nimmo, wricht, for ane kist for the said bairn:"
and so we have all things done decently to the " mither-
less bairn ! " The mitherless bairn ! Was ever any
thing more touchingly put than the following! — the
author a weaver, too — how exquisite the weft ! — Tom
of Inverurie. Try it now and then, just to bring out
P

122 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
all that is deepest in thy nature, O reader ! whoever
you may be ! — for one touch of nature makes the
whole world kin ! The diadem may hide a troubled
brow — the star may glitter o'er an aching heart.
" When a' other bairnies are hushed to their hame
By aunty, or cousin, or frecky grand-dame,
Wha Stan's last an' lanely, and naebody carin' ? —
'Tis the puir doitit loonie — the mitherless bairn !
The mitherless bairn gangs to his lane bed,
Nane covers his cauld back, or haps his bare head ;
His wee hackit heels are as hard as the airn ;
An' lithless the lair o' the mitherless bairn.
Aneath his cauld brow siccan dreams tremble there
0' hands that wont kindly to caim his dark hair ;
But morning brings clutches a' reckless an' stern.
That lo'e na the locks o' the mitherless bairn.
Yon sister that sang o'er his saftly-rocked bed
Noo rests in the mools where his mammie is laid :
The faither toils sair the wee bannock to earn.
An' kens na the wrangs o' his mitherless bairn.
Her spirit that passed i' the hour o' his birth
Still watches his wearisome wand'rings on earth —
Recording in heaven the blessings they earn
Wha couthilie deal wi' the mitherless bairn.
O speak him na harshly— he trembles the while :
He bends to your bidding, and blesses your smile !
In their dark hour o' anguish the heartless shall learn
That God sends the blow for the mitherless bairn ! "
"And he took a little child, and set it in the midst of them : and
when he had taken it in his arms, he said unto them. Whosoever
shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me ; and
whosoever receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."

TYNINGHAME. 1 23
" Take heed that ye despise not these little ones ; for I say
unto you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face
of my Father, which is in heaven."
"And it came to pass that the beggar died, and was carried
by the angels into Abraham's bosom."

PRESTONKIRK.

HE Mission Church of Saint Baldred — said
to have been his home during the last years
of his life. Chalmers, in his " Caledonia,"
says that there is here a well of purest water known
by his name ; also a pool in the Tyne called " Saint
Baldred's Whiri."
In the ninth century the church is named in the
Saxon Chronicles Ecclesia Saint Baldred. It stood
on the site of the present church.
There is a curious old ruin at Markle, in connection
with which is the legend that in one of the numerous
battles between the Picts and Saxons, victory favoured
the latter, because the cross of Saint Andrew appeared
in the sky. The place was from that day called
Markle — i.e., the miracle. Saint Andrew was the pa
tron saint of Scotland, and his cross was the symbol
of victory at home and abroad.
The Earls of Dunbar held the whole parish and pa
tronage of the church. In 1392 Earl Patrick founded
a collegiate church in Dunbar, and made Linton a
prebend. There is much dispute as to the origin of
the name Linton — whether it comes from the Lynn of
the Tyne, or from the sacred season of Lent.

PRESTONKIRK. 125
There was at one time a chapel at Waughton. The
proprietor was a Hepburn, and therefore a staunch
covenanter. The square tower is Saxon. The church
as at present is externally void of everything that can
attract or please the eye. A man somewhat famous
in his time, Gilbert Rule, was indulged in this parish
after the restoration of monarchy. The Earl of Had
dington and Sir Robert Sinclair, with others, invited
him to preach in a meeting-house which they fitted
up for him at Linton bridge. He did not remain long.
He was kidnapped in Edinburgh, and sent to the Bass
for baptizing the child of a near relative.
Here is a story so unique in itself that it is given
almost word for word from the Records of Dunbar
Presbytery: — "28 February 1675. — The minister re
portit that there is a great clamour of the people anent
a riot at Smeaton between Sarah Riddel, spous to
Patrick Hepburn at Smeaton, and James Drew, servi
tor upon ane Antony Broune, an English lad, who is
said to have been kicked most cruelly three times, to
the great hazard of his life ; and that the general
rumour is that the said Antony is deid — at least can
not be found since ; and that the minister and kirk-
session in this place were by the general voice of the
people blamed for not taking notice of the riot in
representing it to the civil magistrate, especiallie seing
the person that suffered is a young man without friends
in this nation ; whereupon the minister and session,
judging it a matter criminal, and so not concerning
them, were very unwilling to act anything, fearing lest
they might incur any suspicion. Seing the said Sarah
absents herself from publick and divine service of God

126 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
in this church, yet they thought fit to desire the min
ister to go to Smeaton, for whom they have a very
great respect, and acquaint him with the said riot, who
was supposed to be ignorant of the same ; and to
cause search for said Antony Broune, and produce
him publiklie, to stop the clamour of the people."
Search is made : minister goes to Edinburgh to con
sult Lord Advocate — Dalrymple of Hales, to wit —
who was also an elder in Prestonkirk, as appears from
the minutes. "Dunbar, 5 October 1675. — The Laird
of Smeaton, from the reference that the general voice
that his lady had kicked an English boy three times,
to the danger of his life, the boy is now found to be
alive, and for verification theirof was publiklie shown
to the whole pe'ople conveined in the kirk, and pre
sented to the sheriff-depute sitting in judgment at
Haddington : therefore he desired this to be registrat
in their book, and wished an extract from the clerk."
About the middle of the 17th century a great part
of Linton was " ill brunt." A collection was made in
all the parishes by order of the Bishop of Edinburgh.
Mr Andrew Meikle, the inventor of the thrashing-
machine, died here. The theological arguments against
anything artificial in winnowing grain are well known.
It was called " makin' wind," and therefore an inter
ference with the course of nature.
There was a foot-bridge over the Tyne, with a chain
at each end to prevent carriages from crossing, except
when the water was high.
The school was held in the church, in Bothwell's
Aisle, but always unwillingly, and until such time as
another place was found.

PRESTONKIRK. 1 27
Each worshipper had to bring his own seat, or erect
a permanent one upon the approval of the session.
The stool was inconveniently handy when a quarrel
arose during the service — not a very rare occurrence.
A favourite amusement of the boys was to " coup "
the seats, and leave the occupants upon the floor.
The little rascals ! But this was not the only thing
which interfered with the decorum of the sanctuary.
The dogs were sometimes troublesome in pastoral
parishes. Not a long way from Prestonkirk, and in
the memory of at least one still living, as it neared
the Amen there was generally a rush for the door,
with an extemporised row by the way, on the part of
the shepherds' dogs. To prevent such an exodus, the
minister required the people to sit during the beati
tude. One day a stranger officiated, and was puzzled,
as he held up his hands to bless the people, that all
kept their seats. " Jist gang on, sir," said the beadle,
" we're cheatin' the dougs."
" 20 October 1616. — It is ordanit that nane within
this congregation bring in with them to the kirk ony
messanes or doggis in time of sermon, ather on the
Sabboth or on week days, under the pain of 4s., to be
payit by whatsoever personne contraveinand, to the
use of the poor." — Kirk-Session, Aberdeen.
But the dogs in Prestonkirk were not the only cul
prits, if there were in that church dogs as above. " 7
Mairch 1697. — The minister compleined that many
made a great disturbance in the kirk by going out
before the blessing ; therefore orders that the north
door be lockit by the officer till efter the blessing, and

128 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
that he stand at one door, and his son at another, and
suffer none to go out until the blessing is said."
About this time there was a somewhat lively passage-
at-arms between the schoolmaster and the minister or
kirk-session. It issued in the question of fact as to
whether said schoolmaster had called an elder or fellow
Christian a cur carle, or souters houlet. He pleaded
guilty to the one appellative, but point blank denied
the other. No doubt the schoolmaster often arrested
it on his lips, or whispered it in the ear of friends. The
matter was so far from big that he might have called
his accusers ecclesiastical tomtits, or something equally
insignificant ; but it is not so recorded.
For a long time the communion was administered
in this parish on two successive Sundays. There is a
frequent entry in the Records of Tyninghame to the
effect that Mr Lauder was at Prestonkirk, where he
preached on the second Sunday of the communion.
"25 April 1679.— The minister gave an old Act of
the session, 1647, that none should lie in the church
yard talking idly, or lie sleeping befor or betwixt
sermons." " 19 May 1703. — Rules for the management of the
school : —
"ist. The school must be conveinit at seven in the
morning, and dismissed at five o'clock in afternoon.
"2nd. The master must pray with his scholars morn
ing and evening, when he convenes the school, and
dismisses. " 3rd. He must cause his scholars get the catechism
exactly and distinctly by heart, and hear them repeat
the same on the Saturday forenoon.

PRESTONKIRK. 1 29
"4th. He must gather his scholars on the Sabbath
morning before sermon, and pray with them, and then
take them to the church with him, when, after he hath
sung a psalm, the catechism must be repeated by two
of them — one asking and the other answering.
" 5th. He must enjoin such as can write to write the
sermon, and on Monday morning cause his scholars
give an account of what they mind theirof, and subjoin
some pious exhortations and advices to them.
" 6th. He must punish severely any vice that any of
them may be guilty of, such as banning, swearing,
lying, fighting, and the like.
" 7th. He must discharge them to play too near the
water, or within the churchyard.
" 8th. He must not leave the school but on a neces
sary occasion, and then he must acquaint the minister.
" 9th. He must not grant the vacancie without ac
quainting the session, and they are to judge when and
how long ; and then some of the scholars are to give
evidence of their proficiency in their learning.
" loth. Censors must be appointed for the observa
tion of the manners of the rest, and there must be
examination once every week.
" nth. Those that learn Latin must be accustomed
to speak it."
This in Scotland — in the hamlet on the banks of
the Tyne. And now for the Queen of the South —
Dumfries, on the banks of the Nith.
"June 1724. — The council were fortunate enough to
secure the services, as a rector, of the Rev. Robert
Trotter, A.M., who by his learning threw a bright
lustre over the schools. On his induction he had to
Q

I30 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
subscribe twenty conditions, some of which were in
effect as follows : — During the summer half-year, be
ginning on the 1st of April, the teacher, under- teacher,
and children, were to enter the school at seven o'clock
each morning, and continue there till nine : the rest of
the hours being from ten till twelve and two till six —
forming altogether eight hours daily, except on Satur
days, when the school was closed at noon. In winter
the morning classes were omitted — the course of study
remaining in other respects the same. After such
lengthened hours during the week, the children might
have been permitted to remain away from drill and
out of harness on the " Lord's Day ; but, no ! — it was
anything save a day of rest to them. Rule number
four required that the teacher, his usher and the pupils,
should be present at the school each Sabbath morning
by nine o'clock, at the ringing of the steeple bells re
pair to the church, the master going before, his assist
ant bringing up the rear ; that they should return to
the school again at one o'clock, proceed to the church
again, go back to the school after worship, and there
be catechised on the lectures or sermons they had
listened to ; and then, supplementary to all this, two
scholars were selected each Sabbath to repeat or read
the Larger or Shorter Catechism in the church, in the
intermission, to such of the congregation as chose to
remain. In accordance with the seventh rule, the
under-teacher was enjoined to put fresh rushes on the
floor once a-month, ' for preventing the spoiling of the
children's cloaths.' We learn from other regulations
that on Candlemas Day literal candles, as well as
other gifts, were brought as offerings by the children

PRESTONKIRK. I3I
to their teachers ; and that the Latin scholars were
required in their converse with each other to speak
exclusively in that tongue." — McDowell's History of
Dumfries. It may interest to read along with the above what
follows, from the statutes of the great school of Saint
Paul's, London, founded about the beginning of the
sixteenth century —
" The children shall come into the school at seven
of the clock, both winter and summer, and tarry there
until eleven ; and return against one of the clock, and
depart at five. In the school no time in the year they
shall use tallow candle at the expense of their friends.
Also I will that they bring no meat and drink, nor
bottle, nor use in the school no breakfasts nor drink-
ings in the time of learning, in no wise. I will they
use no cock-fightings, nor riding about of victory, nor
disputing at Saint Bartholomew, which is but foolish
babbling and loss of time." There is a protest against
modern Latinity in the following — "All barbarity, all
corruption, all Latin speech adulterate, which ignorant
blind fools brought into this world, and with the same
hath destained and poisoned the old Latin speech and
the veray Roman tongue which in the time of Sallust
and Virgil was used — I say that filthiness and all such
abusion which the later blind world brought in, which
more rather may be called bliterature than literature,
I utterly banish and exclude out of this school." —
Dibbin's Biblomania, i., 15.
William Murray, schoolmaster in Whitekirk for forty
years previous to 1809, was a lexicographer. The
school-books of that day would be curious. Here are

132

CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.

a few definitions from his book. We may explain
that the words are said to be " the same in sound, but
different in signification."

Able, powerful
Abel, a man's name
A bell, a thing to ring upon
Appeach, to accuse
A peach, sort of fruit
Beach, the shore
Beech, the beech tree
Bitch, a she animal
Baird, a proper name
Beard, a man's beard
Bared, made naked
Celery, a garden herb
Salary, a thing to live upon
Cock's-comb, on a cock's head
Coxcomb, a vain fellow
Dial, to tell the hour
Deal, a board
Dale, a valley
Damn, an oath
Dam, to confine water
Dame, a lady
Dragon, a beast
Dragoon, a soldier
Envoy, a public minister
Envy, ill-will
Fillip, a jerk with the finger
Philip, a proper name
Flea, an insect

Flee, to run from
Gall, bitter substance
Gaul, a Frenchman
Harry, a proper name
Hairy, much hair
Airy, much wind
Hogg, a proper name
Hogg, a swine or beast
Itcii, a disease
Hitch, to move
Imposture, trick
Impostor, the tricker
Laird, Scotch landlord
Lard, swine's fat
Lees, dregs of anything
Lease, of a farm
Leese, to lose anything
Noise, outcry
Nose, part of the face
Peter, a man's name
Petre, saltpetre
Papa, father
Papaw, a plant
Queen, on the throne
Quean, a base, dirty woman
Soul, a person's soul
Sole, the sole of the foot
Sole, a fish

As to cock-fighting, the following from the " Life of
Tytler," the historian, is curious : — " Drinking tea at
Woodhouselee one night, we waited for some time for
Mr Mackenzie's appearance. He came in at last,
heated and excited. 'What a glorious evening we

PRESTONKIRK. 1 33
have had ! ' We thought he spoke of the weather,
which was beautiful ; but he went on to detail the in
tense enjoyment he had had in a cock-fight. Mrs
Mackenzie listened some time in silence: then looking
up in his face, in her gentle voice she exclaimed — ' Oh,
Harry ! Harry ! your feeling is all on paper !' "
A few years earlier a main was fought in the kitchen
of the Assembly Rooms between the counties of Lan
ark and Haddington, of which there is a vivid picture
in Kay's Portraits.
At the cock-fights in schools, the dead or defunct
birds became the property of the schoolmaster. These,
no doubt, were given to the schoolmaster at Tyning
hame, along with " the women's penaltie for fornica
tion," for " his better help." These sin penalties were,
as a general practice, applied to secular purposes — not
given to the godly poor. The minister of Applecross,
in Ross-shire, in his account of his parish, 1790, states
that this was the practice in that parish.
"The schoolmaster's income is composed of 200
merks, with payments from the scholars of is. 6d. each
for English, and 2s. 6d. for Latin, and the cock-fight
dues, which are equal to one quarter's payment for
each scholar." — Domestic Annals, vol. iii., p. 269.
" The Dumfries town council made the following
arrangements for the observance of Fastern's Eve : —
' That at Fastern's Eve, upon the day appointed for
the cocks fighting in the schoolhouse, the under-teacher
cause keep the door, and exact no more than twelve
pennies Scots for each scholar to bring in a cock to
fight in the schoolhouse ; and that none be suffered to
enter that day to the schoolhouse but the scholars,

134 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
except gentlemen and persons of note, from whom
nothing is to be demanded ; and what money is given
by the scholars to be paid to the teacher or under-
teacher for his trouble ; and that no scholar, unless he
please, shall furnish cocks, and that he have admission
by paying two shillings.'" — McDowell's Dumfries.
There are those still living who were present at a
cock-fight on a Sunday in a large room — shutters
closed, lighted candles — in the residence of a country
gentleman, the descendant of one who won his spurs
in India : this also in Haddingtonshire. The practice
of shoeing the poor birds with steel spurs was not un
known there and then.
A benevolent lady left a sum of money, the interest
of which was to be paid to the preacher of an annual
sermon against cruelty to animals. The great orator,
Dr Chalmers, on one occasion preached that sermon
in the Tron Church, Edinburgh. His description of
the excitement of a fox-hunt is a piece of word-paint
ing which forces the conclusion that it is by an eye
witness. "As regairds cock-fechtin'," said a pawky
divine in Dundee, " at certain seasons they'll fecht
whether ye will or no ! " The phrase to " die game,"
and such like, are evidently from this practice.
Kay's picture of the match between Lanark and
Haddington hes before us, and is a curious light upon
the time which is not far behind us. Underneath is
the couplet —
" Thus we poor cocks excite our skill and bravery,
For idle gulls and kites that trade in knavery."
Among the spectators are Sir James Baird of New
bythe ; William Hamilton, Esq., of Wishaw, afterwards

PRESTONKIRK. 1 35
Lord Belhaven ; M'Leod of Drimnin. In allusion to
this contest Kay adds — "It cannot but appear surpris
ing that noblemen and gentlemen, who upon any other
occasion will hardly show the smallest degree of con
descension to their inferiors, will, in the prosecution of
this barbarous amusement, demean themselves so far
as to associate with the very lowest characters in
society "
We pass from this subject with one more extract.
William Machrie, a fencing-master in Edinburgh, pub
lished an essay upon " The Royal Recreation and Art
of Cocking." This book is still considered curious.
At the sale of the Laing Library in 1879, it brought
£2 I2S. It is dedicated to the nobility and gentry,
who are informed — "The sport of cocking is improved
to a great height : 'tis as much an art as managing of
horses for races or for the field of battle ; and though
it has been in vogue all over Europe, yet it was never
esteemed nor practised but by the nobility and gentry.
It was kept up only by people of rank, and never sunk
down to the ranks of the commonality, where the art
of managing this fierce and warlike bird had been
either lost or slighted." And here is the finale — " I
am not ashamed to declare to the world that I have a
special veneration and esteem for those gentlemen
within and about this city who have entered into a
society for propagating and establishing the royal
recreation of cocking ; in order to which they have
erected a cock-pit in the Links of Leith : and I ear
nestly wish that their generous and laudable example
may be imitated to that degree, that village may be
engaged against village, city against city, kingdom

136 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
against kingdom — nay, the father against the son,
until all the wars in Europe, wherein so much blood
is spilt, be turned into that of the innocent pastime of
cocking." But this is long ago, and we have changed
all that, indeed ! " Si monumentum quaeris circum-
spice." And now to end for the present. There are count
less matters which are barely touched upon — side
lights of which there is only a glimmer — in this little
volume. The advice to keep back what has been in
the mind of the writer for a long, long period, has
been faithfully acted upon. To paint the living man
ners as they rise is a charm : to attempt, however
unsuccessfully, to call back the dead past, and give it
voice once more, is not labour for nought and in vain.

[mxh 0f % $mm of %pan^^KmL

I 6:5.
14 May 161 5. — The qlk Janet Shortus, servitrix to
Mr Alexander Knowis, summonit, bit compeirit not.
Item : Janet Shortus, spous to Patrick Bennet, in
Tyninghame, sclanderer of the said Janet Shortus,
servitrix to Mr Alexander Knowis, summonit, com
peirit not ; being callit, ordains them bothe to be
summonit to compeir the nixt day. Item : William
Gaitgude, sclanderer of Janet Utterson, callit on, com
peirit ; and being accusit for calling Janet Utterson
ane witch, confessit the same, and withal alledgit that
the said Janet called him ane thief Item : Janet
Utterson callit on, compeirit ; and accusit for call
ing William Gaitgude ane thief, at lenthe confessit.
Baithe the said parteis removit and callit in severallie,
the sessioune ordains the said William, being heavilie
rebuikit, to mak publik satisfaction the nixt day befoir
the congregation, and to pay ane merk ; and the said
Janet, heavilie rebuikit, was ordainit to do the lyk.
Item : Ordains that if ever the said Janet be hard
againe, if the play be motionat be hir, or if she mak
R

138 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
ane answeir again, she sail not be hard, and sail pay
double unla; and ordains that if ane play be motionat
against hir, she sail hold hir peace and come to the
minister and complein. Item : Ordains Thomas Airthe,
cautioner for Robert Lauder, to produce Robert Lauder
his penalties peremptorlie this day aucht dayes, uther-
ways the said Thomas suld be enforcit to pay it him
self The said Thomas promeisit to bring it.
Nota. — That in all the gatherings or collects to the
pure thair is the price of ane pint of aile given to the
belman everie Sunday. That collect, whilk is written
and set doune in the sessioune bulks, because of the
painis qlk the clerk of the kirkmen taks in going
thryce about the toune, and ainis efternoon : this
custom in giving sae muckle to the belman has been
usit of aid in this pariche.
The quilk day the twa Janet Shortusys severallie
callit, compeirit, and accusit of sclandering utheris,
were bothe convict ; and being vehementlie rebuikit,
the sessioune ordainis them to satisfie publiklie nixt
Sabbothe, seing their sclander was publik, and ilk ane
of them to pay ane merk. The qlk day Johne Foster
and Johne Bog satisfeit publiklie for yr not coming to
the examinatioune and communion.
May 28. — Collect, 4s., qlk was given to ane crepill.
Item : The said day gathered at the kirk door, to
give ane physician — viz., George Adamson, in Dunbar
— for curing Agnes Tailzeour, in Peffersyd, 40s., qrof
28s. given to the pottingar, and the rest to the said
Agnes Tailzeour, dauchter to Marion Peacock, in Pef
fersyde. fune 4. — Lent to Andrew Johnson, belman, 5s.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 1 39
June II. — The minister in Saint Andrews. The
schoolmaister red in the kirk to the pepill.
June 25. — Ordainis everie elder to go his day aboot
through the toune, to see quha is absent fra ye kirk in
tyme of preiching ; and the Laird and Ladie Bass to
be desyrit to caus the officer to go with them, and
poynd the absents.
July 16. — Compeirit William Jacksonne, William
Huhitson, and Henri Shortus, and compleinit upon
Janet Shortus for sclandering him for steiling ane
clok out of Hadingtoune : ordains Janet to be sum
monit to the nixt day.
July 23. — James Neilsonne reportit that William
Jakson had agreeit with Janet Shortus and hir dochter.
The sessioune, in regaird that the sclander was privat,
and was not publik, thocht it was not a thing pertein-
ing to them, and therfor was contentit.
July 30. — The qlk day the bands of mariadge be
twixt Johne Auchmutie, Laird of Skugall, and Isobel
Setoune, dauchter to Sir William Seatoune, in Hadin
toune, was proclaimit in the Kirk of Tyninhame, ac
cording to the ordinance of the presbiterie.
Ye first of August ane sermon for ye king's majes
tie's delyverance fra Gowraye's conspiracie at Saint
Johnstoun. August 6. — The sessioune halden : James Knowes
and Thomas Skougall, in Tyninghame, compeirit ;
and being severallie accusit for leiding hame of lint
on the Sabbothe day fra the Loche, answeirit that it
was in the evening, at the sone going to. Thomas
Skugall confessit his fait ; but James Knowis was
somequhat obstinat before the sessioune, affirming

I40 CHURCHES .OF SAINT BALDRED.
his fait to be small or nain. Thomas Skugall being
rebuikit, was ordainit to satisfie the kirk the nixt
Sabbothe as ane Sabbothe-breaker, conform to the
Act abousheit ; and ordains James Knowis to com
peir befoir the presbiterie on Thursday nixt for his
obstinacie befoir the minister and elders.
August 13. — The minister, some of the elders and
the officer to go with him to the harbour when the
boats cam in, to arrest the herring and the geir if any
should come in on the Sabbothe ; quilk they did, and
poindit some.
September it. — The Laird of Skugall and strangers
with him in the kirk.
October 18. — The quilk day some of this pairishe,
players at the football in Spott, wha past up in time
of the efternoon sermon out of Tyninghame, and
played efter the efternoon sermon, being callit on,
compeirit ; being accusit, confessit thair fait, and
affirmit and also protestit that if they had knawn it
to have given offence to the minister and elderis, they
suld nocht have gaine thither ; to whom it was an
sweirit that they offendit God in sae doing. Being
earnestlie rebuikit, they promeisit amendment. The
session, seing them verie penitent, considering uther-
wayes that they resort to the kirk at uther tymes, and
inactit themselfs to pay double penaltie, and to satis
fie publiklie if they did the lyk in time coming, they
were demitted ; utherways the minister wad have sent
them to Spott to satisfie thare.
October 25. — The quilk day Marin Hogg, spouse to
Johne Crawford, smythe in Tyninghame, and Marin
Shortus, spouse to Richard Scugal, in Tyninghame,

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 141
sclanderers of uthers, and calling uthers common thiefs,
on the hie-gaitt, being callit on, compeirit — being be
foir summonit. Marin Hog, accusit heirof by calling
hir neichbour ane theif, and hir mither ane witch,
maist maliciouslie, she denyit : also ordains them
baithe, being vehementlie rebuikit, to bring in wit
nesses nixt day, wherein if boith or any of them fail-
yeit, they suld be halden giltie. Item: Maister Johne
regrattit that thair war sae mony railers in the toune,
especiallie women, and that they troublit the sessioune
sae aft : earnestlie desyrit that the civill magistrat wad
concur in punishing of them, and that jogis micht be
maid at the kirk door, qurin the delinquents micht be
put. November 12. — The quilk day Maister Johne spak
the elderis anent the schule, earnestlie desyring them
that had bairns to send them, seing the harvest was
past, and the corns all in, during quilk time some ab-
stractit thair bairns, to the great damage and skaithe
of Archibald Wilson, schoolmaister. The said elderis
promeisit, wha had bairns, to send them, and suld
move uthers to do the lyke.
November 19. — Being ane of the days of thanks
giving for the gude harvest appointit be the last Pro
vincial Assemblie at Edinburgh. The quilk day, the
session keipit ordains William Gaitgude, in Tyning
ham, and his wyfe ; James Anderson and Thomas
Wilsonne thair, to be summonit for prophaining the
Sabbothe by covering thair stackis.
November 22. — The quilk day James Anderson,
foderman to ye Ladie Bass, and Thomas Wilsonne,
callit on, compeirit ; and being accusit, ordains them

142 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
to pay ye penalties of Sabbothe-breakers, and to mak
publik satisfactioune befoir the congregatioun nixt
Sunday, and to pay twa shillins for their not compeir-
ances the last day.
November 30. — William Gaitguid satisfeit his wyff
sick. 1616.
Januar 7. — The minister being in Saint Andrews,
nae preachin, but readin.
Januar 14. — The quilk day ane bairn baptized to
Robert Lauder, portioner, of Tyninghame — ane sone,
lawful named Robert Lauder. Witnesses: Mr Patrick
Hepburne, of Smetoune ; Mr Alexander Knowis, in
Tyninghame ; George Wachope, in Gleghornie ; and
Robert Jacksonne, of Eister Lochhouses, and William
Dalwell. Januar 21. — Johne White receivit to be belman.
The sessioune conveinit, ordainis the gysaris at Yule
being callit. Alexander Jaksone, Patrick Bassindean,
Patrick Prestoune, James Forbes, and Jonnett Bennet,
Marin Sheries, Marin Nisbet, callit on, all compeirit,
except Alexander Jaksone, quha was not at hame,
and Patrick Prestoune, and being accusit for thair
superstitious doings and abominations, confessit thair
fait, and said they knew not it would have so offended
the minister and elders, and that they did it over
rashlie. As for the women forsaid, they confessit that
they did gang to some houses in the toune to see the
gysing, but that they were not gysars themselves, for
they did not put on men's clothing, and the sessioune

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 1 43
was misinformit concemin them. The persons for
said removed, the minister and elders consulting quhat
kind of satisfaction suld be injoinit to the men, thocht
guid to seek the advyce of the presbiterie thairanent,
and desirit the minister to report thair answer to the
next sessioune ; and as for the women — they were
heavilie rebuikit be the minister and elders, and they
promeisit never to do the lyk, and shew signs of re
pentance for going to see the gysing.
Februarie i\. — Robert Whyte, in Tyninghame, was
delatit to the sessioun for prophaning the Sabbathe
day by threshing. Ordains him to be summonit to
the nixt day.
Februarie 25. — Maister Johne reported the presbi-
terie's advys anent the gysars, quilk was to take thair
promeis of amendment in tyme coming, and mak the
said delinquents to find caution under the pain of
twentie lib. — everie ane of them — that if ever they
did the lyk, they suld ilka ane pay 26 libs., and suld
satisfie publiklie in linnen claiths, and suld underlie
uther censures of the Kirk accustomed to be inflicted
upon sik transgressors; and appointit intimation heir
of to be maid to the pepill, that if any of them did fall
in the lyke they suld maist seveirlie be punishit, seing
it was ane notabil fait ; and also, Maister Johne shew
to the elders that unless the said persons had been
young and fulish lads, they wad have been seveirlie
censurit. The said delinquents callit on compeirit,
and war ordainit as said is, and being maist vehe
mentlie rebuikit be the minister, humblie confessit
thair oversight, and shew outward signs of repent
ance, and protested that they cam but to twa or

144 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
three obscure houses in the toune. Thay fand cau
tion under the penalties forsaid — to wit, James Neilson
and Robert Valance, quha inactit themselfs for the
men afoirsaid. Item : Intimation maid to the pepill
anent guysing the nixt day, that if any suld practeis
it they suld be seveirlie — and that justlie — censurit
and puneisht. This was done that nain suld pretend
ignorance, but abhor sik abominations and supersti
tions. The quilk day George Richeson, servitor to
William Wolf, callit on, compeirit, and accusit for
prophaining the Lord's day, by carrying ane laid :
answeirit that his maister, William Wolf, kend aboot
it, and allowit it ; utherways, if they had not con
sentit heirto, he suld not have transgressed. To
quhom the minister answeirit, that he suld raither
have obeyed God nor man. Being removit; callit in
againe, he was ordainit to mak publik satisfactioune
the nixt Sabbath befoir the congregation, and his
maisters to pay the penalties, and the said George's
ane penalties also.
Mairch 17. — Issobel Nepier, in the parische of Pres
tonkirk, compeirit, and stoppit the proclamation of the
bands of mariadge betwixt Johne Gilpatrik and Mag
dalen Grandsheir, the said Johne Gilpatrik being also
present. The said Isobell being demandit why she
desirit the said bands to be impedit, she answeirit that
he had maid hir ane promeis of mariadge oft before,
for she did beir ane bairne to him. The said Johne
denyit that he maid hir ane promeis. The parteis
removit, the elders, unacquainted with the lyk case
befoir, thocht guid to refer it to the presbiterie ; their-
for, apud acta, ordainit the said pairteis to compeir

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. I45
befoir the presbiterie the nixt day, querunto baith the
parteis consentit.
Mairch 31. — Given to the belman for carrying ane
puir cripple man off the toune, 6 lib.
The pepill on the suthe syde of Tyne water, with
the Knowes Miln, war ordained to come to the exa-
minatioun againe efternoone, qlk they did ; and the
Sabboth day preceeding, the pepill in the parische
that were not as yet comit to the examination, to come
peremptorlie the nixt Sabbothe day at efernoone.
April 14. — The qlk day intimation maid to the
pepill to come to the communion the next Sabbothe
day. April 21. — The qlk day the sacrament of the Lord's
Supper celebrat. Given among the puir in the par
ische be the session, 3 lib. 7s.
April 28. — The sessioun appoints the non-communi
cants to be tryit and summonit. Item : The said day
Johne Airthe, sone to Thomas Airth, in Tyninghame,
and Jonet, servatrix to ye said Thomas Airthe, being
suspect of fornication ; and being wairnt, lawfullie
callit on, compeirit — first ye said Jonet ; and accusit
of fornication, confessit hir fait with the said Johne
Airthe. Johne Airthe also callit, compeirit ; and ac
cusit of fornication with ye said Jonet Watsone, con
fessit ye same. Being rebuikit heavilie — having fallen
in ane elderi's houss, being also Syster bairnis — being
earnestlie exhortit to repentance, and efter many ex
hortations usit to them severallie be ye minister, they
war ordainit to satisfie according to ye order — to wit,
thre Sabbothes, several on ye pillar, and to pay ac
cording to ye Act abousheit; and ye said Jonet begins
S

146 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
ye nixt day. Item : Ordainis the saids pairteis to
separat prima quoque tempore. Thomas Airthe pro
meisit to remove ye said Jonet out of his hous this
day, qlk he did.
May 12. — Jhone Gilpatrike and Magdalen Grand-
cheir, thair bands of mariadge proclaimit the third
time — the 40 dayis being expyrit qlk was given to
Issobell Nepier to purseu him befor ye commissaris at
Edinburgh, quhen they compeirit befor ye presbiterie.
Item : Maister Jhone heavilie compleinit yt ye last
Lord's Day the Sabbothe was prophainit be sundrie
pepill, as he was informit, by yoking thair cairts about
10 or II houris at evene, and led wair fra the see, to
ye dishonour of God and evill example of utheris. For
redress heirof in tyme coming, it is ordainit be the
said Maister Jhone and elderis present, that quhaevir
sail yok to leid wair on ye Sabbothe befor ane hour
efter midnight, or until 12 houris at even be past, sail
make publik satisfaction in the kirk, and pay 20s.
toties quoties; and also ordains publik intimation
heirof to be maid.
May 26. — The qlk day intimation was maid out of
pulpite anent ye excommunication qf Mr Peter Blon-
dill, Frenscheman, servitor to ye Erie of Home, qlk
was done in uther kirks also. Item : Intimation maid
out of pulpite anent ane collection to ye peple in ye
Pottar-raw of Edinburgh, to be gathered ye nixt
Sabbothe day.
June 9. — The qlk day ye not-communicants callit,
compeirit ; and accusit for not communicating, con
fessit yr fait : heavilie rebuikit and earnestlie exhorted
to repentance, ordains them to satisfie publiklie on

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. I47
thair kneis before ye peple ye nixt Sabbothe, and to
pay ye penaltie of fornicatoris. They promeisit in
tyme coming nevir to abstaine. Jhone Foster was
maist heavilie rebuikit, seeing he abstainit befor. He
alledgit yt he was ignorant, and durst not come to ye
examinations ; to qm ye minister answeirit yt ane
special caus of his ignorance was his seldom resorting
to ye kirk. He promeisit amendment. Cirstaine
Hog alledgit yt she was not at hame that day. Jhone
Michelsone's wyf affirmit that she micht not come
becaus of hir yong bairne. Item : This day Alex
ander Davidson seairchit ye towne, and delatit some
persons absent fra ye kirk in tyme of preiching : or
dains them to be summonit to compeir befor ye session
ye nixt day.
June 16. — The persons — absents from the kirk —
delatit ye last day, callit, compeirit ; and accusit of
absence fra ye kirk ye last day, answeirit yt they war
not often absent. Ye saids persons removit and callit
in againe: being rebuikit, promeisit amendment: being
earnestlie exhortit be ye minister, wer demittit ; and
if it happenit yt they were found absent againe, they
suld satisfie publiklie, and pay double penaltie — qrto
they agreit.
June 23.^Marin Skile, in Tyninghame, compleinit
upon Betriche Nysbett thair, that the last Sabbothe at
efternoone, quhen ye said Marin was in the kirk hear
ing Godis Word, naebodie being in hir hous, the said
Bitriche did come to hir hous, and did steal and take
away ane sheete, qlk was gotten the day therefter in
hir house — also ane paire of sheets and some uther
claiths ; and therfor desyrit the session to examine

148 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
hir, and bring hir to ane confession. The said Bitriche
being sumonit, callit on, compeirit ; and examined
anent the said mater, confessit yt she was absent fra
ye kirk, bot altogedder denyit that she steald any
claithis fra the said Marin. As for the sheet qlk was
fund in hir hous, she affirmit that she coft it fra ane
pure woman, and did give 6s. for it. The minister
and elderis earnestlie desyrit hir to confess, shawing
to hir that if she wald come to ane confession, seing
thair was many appearances that she had taken the
said claithes, that great skaithe wald come to hir, hir
conscience wald accuse hir if she were giltie, she wald
be callit to ye kirk, and accusit be the said Marin as
ane theife, and banishit ye towne for ever. Notwith
standing, she constantly denyit. The minister and
elderis, heavilie rebuiking hir for hir absence fra ye
kirk yt day, referis hir to ye civil magistrat, to be far
der tryit. Some of ye elderis reportit that this day,
in tyme of preiching, the said Bitriche Nisbet was
gathering powis and lobsteris at Skugall sea. The
said Betriche heirof accusit, confessit the same, qrupon
she was injoynit to make publik satisfaction to the
kirk, and to pay ane penaltie, bothe for ye said fait
and for hir former absence. As to publik satisfaction,
she was qtent to make it, bot refusit to pay any penal
tie in regard of hir great povertie. The said Betriche
also delatit some persons quha wer at ye sea at the
same tyme, gathering besyd hir — to wite, Alexander
Ker and James Cuninghame, in Peffersyd. Ordains
them to be summonit to ye nixt day.
July 9. — Ordains James Cunninghame and Alex
ander Ker, in Peffersyd, to be summonit befor ye

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 149
presbiterie because they did not produce thair penaltie
for thair Sabbothe-breaking, as they wer injoynit ; for
the qlk Maister Jhone wald not accept of thair satis
faction untill ye penaltie was laid downe first.
July 21. — No preiching, ye minister being in Spot ;
quha preichit thair be injoynment be ye presbiterie.
July 28. — The said day ye minister and elderis
qveinit. Compeirit Patrik Thomson, greive to ye
Ladie Bass, and compleinit on Alison Fowler, spous
to George Key, gardiner in Tyninghame, that she had
slanderit him, and callit him commone theif, and yt
he had stellin claithis and naperie fra the ladie. The
said Alison being summonit, callit on, compeirit ; and
being accusit, answeirit yt it was of veritie he did ye
same, and yt she wald not go fra ye words she had
spokin, and yt she wald prove ye same befor ane judge
civil. The said Patrik answeirit yt he was maist hearti
lie content that it suld be tryit to ye uttermost, aither
befor ye kirk or court, for he protestit yt he was inno
cent, as it was lyklie, being thocht to be ane honest
man. The persons forsaid being removit, ye minister
and elderis, qsidering yt ye said AHson baid be ye
slander, and offered hirself to prove ye same befor ye
court (the said mater being a criminal caus, and not
pertaining to ye discipline of ye kirk), referis ye said
mater to ye court of civil judge, ordinar, qrunto baithe
ye pairteis qsentit, and promeisit yt at ye nixt court it
suld be handlit.
August 4. — The said day intimation maid to ye
peple to resort to ye kirk ye morn, being ye fyrst of
August, to give thanks to God for ye preservation of
ye Kingis Majestie, qlk they did. The said day ye

I50 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
session haldin. Robert Jakson, of Eister Lochouss,
being demandit quhy he was absent thre or four
session days bygaine, he excused himself Ordains
Jas. Kirkwood, William Browne, in Skugall ; Thomas
Craig, in Peffersyd ; and Patrik Tempill, in Belpotis,
to be spokin for not keiping ye session sa weill as
neid were.
August 1 8. — Alexander Jakson and William Aiche-
son, yonger, being summonit, callit on, compeirit; and
accusit for playing at ye nyneholis befor ye efternoone
sermon ye last Lordis Day, they answerit yt they playit
bot little, and being fund fait with, they left off; con
fessit yr fait, and promeisit never to do ye lyk in tyme
coming. Ordains yt if ever they be fund playing
againe at any tyme forbidden, they sail mak publik
satisfaction, and pay ane penaltie. Item : Ye said
day compeirit Patrick Traill, tasker in Tyninghame,
and compleinit on Alisone Trottar that becaus he tuik
ane bonnet fra hir sone for pels qlk he had gatherit
(ye said Patrik being keiper of ye peis), she came to
him and slanderit him, in presence of some peple, be
calling him knaif and theif The said Alisone callit
on, and accusit, answeirit yt she was in ane great rage
and anger for missing her sone ; and yt also he callit
hir witch carling. The said pairteis being demandit
if they had witness to prove ye same, answeirit yt
Michael Nicolsone and his man wer present, unto
quhais testification baithe of ye pairteis referrit them-
selffs againe ye nixt day, and thairfor wer ordainit to
be wairnit to depone as they hard and saw. Maister
Jhone desyrit ye elderis to take cair that ye peple
micht come to ye kirk, being now harvest, becaus

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. I 5 I
thair wer mony absent, and especiallie women. This
the elderis promeisit to tak care of to powar.
September 22. — Elspethe Neilsone callit on, com
peirit ; and accusit for byding fra ye kirk, answeirit
that she was to come, and yt she did follow ye said
George Shortus to ye kirk, and yt she was seldome
absent, and promeisit amendment in tyme coming.
October 6. — Compleinit Patrik Thomson upon Jhone
Fergisone, yt befor noon, immediately efter ye first
sermon, quhen he was going over ye kirk style, ye
said Jhone revylit and miscallit him, by calling him
knaif befor some peple ; qrfor ye elderis ordainis him
to be summonit to ye nixt day.
October 13. — Na efternoone sermon, ye minister
being in Witinghame ; quha preichit thair upon
occasions. October 20. — James Dewar callit on, compeirit ; and
accusit for prophaining ye Sabbothe by threshing,
answeirit yt he did thresh bot a verie short space —
twa or thre singlis — in his necessitie : confessit his
fait, and, being heavilie rebuikit, ordainis him to satis
fie ye Kirk according to ye order, and to satisfie in
ye penaltie ; and ye session promeisit to handill so
mickle ye mare gentillie becaus he confessit his over
sight humbly, and did compeir willinglie at ye first
wairning, and pled ye thruthe : he offerit himself alto
gedder to ye will of ye session. The said day Maister
Jhone shew to ye elderis and some utheris present
that Mr Alexander Knowis and he wer on Fryday
last with ye Laird of Wauchton and Mr Edward
Hepburne, minister at Prestonkirk, with otheris, visit
ing the gaits betwixt ye held of Pencraik and Hed-

152 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
derwick-burne ; and that they had appointit the gaitt
betwixt ye west syd of ye held of Pencraik to ye
standing-staine to be repairit be the parisches of Tyn
inghame and Quhitkirk ; and that the said gaitt was
to be devydid betwixt them and us ; and shew to them
yt it was maist meit yt everie twa husband-lands of ye
parische suld furnish out ane man to ye said effect,
and to have them in readiness within a short tyme ;
utherwayis that ye iustices of peace wald charge them
with ye king's letters, seing they had full powar.
October 27. — John Fergisone callit, compeirit, and
Patrik Thomsone also— ye said Patrik affirming that
Jhone Fergisone had callit him knaif and theif Jhone
Fergisone answeirit that he had callet him knaif first,
qlk Patrik Thomsone denyit, affirming yt Patrik Thom
sone had done him wrong yt day in pinding his hors,
being onlie grazing on ye stubble ; and also denyit yt
he callet him knaife. The session qsidering the said
mater, efter many questionis and answeiris maid to
baithe the saidis pairteis — qsidering them bothe uther
wayis to be honest men and diligent heiraris of the
Word, and that they behavit themselfis humblie befor
the session ; qsidering, also, that thair flyting was not
hard be many (for few of ye peple going fra ye kirk
tuik held), thocht gude to agre them presentlie, qrunto
baithe the saidis personis at lenthe agreit — the said
Jhone first be taking ye said Patrik be ye hand, and
he him in lyk maner.
The said day, also, Maister Jhone shew to ye elderis
that, according to the practice of uther kirks, he was
to give up the naimis of the pure within the parische
that wer to tak badgis — as naimlie, Jhone Hude and

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 1 53
Adam Richeson, creple — againe the first Tysday of
November nixt, to ye justices of peace, and that they
behovit to resolve about ye form of ye badgis ; to ye
qlk it was answeirit be some of ye elderis that ye
Ladie suld be advertisit in that mater, and if she culd
not be advertisit (in respect she was in Fyfe) befor
ye said day, that it suld be according to ye fashion of
uther badgis, and ye naim of the parische suld be
written thairon. The said day Johne Quhyt, belman,
reportit that he had receivit 8s., being ane pairt of
Margaret Sinclairis penaltie (for she came to him with
it, and desyrit him to present it befor ye session), and
desyrit yt ye minister and elderis suld let him keip it,
becaus of his povertie, qrunto they qsentit.
November 17. — Item : Ye fourteine day of Novem
ber, being Thursday, compeirit Agnes Bryson, some
tyme servitrix to Jhone Auchmutie of Skugall, befor
ye presbiterie of Dunbar, as she was injoynit be
Maister Jhone, because she was dwelling in Aldhame
befor — ye peple of qlk bounds for some yeiris befor
war in use to resort to ye Quhyt Kirk — and confess
hir gilt of fornification in Skugall ; qrupon the pres
biterie, upon hir confession, ordainis hir to compeir
befor ye session of Tyninghame, and thair to satisfie
ye Kirk, according to ye order, qlk she promeisit to
do. The minister summonit the said Agnes to com
peir befor ye presbiterie, to ye end it micht be knawin
in qlk of ye kirks she suld mak satisfaction, seing
Aldhame was ane parishe by itself, not plantit be ane
minister thair since the Reformation of religion ; yet
seing ye woman deponit yt she committit yt offence
in Tynninghame parische — in Skugall, viz. — ye pres-
T

154 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
biterie ordainit hir to satisfie thair. Intimation maid
to ye peple to provyd something againe ye nixt day
to ye peple in Couppar of Fyfe, quha wer gretlie en-
damadgit by fyre.
November 24. — The said day ane thanksgiving for
the gude harvest, and for ye maist seasonable wether
bygain, qlk thanksgiving was appointit be ye last
General Assemblie at Edinburgh.
December 29. — Maister Jhone declairit yt he had
given 3 lib. to ye bursaris in ye new colledge in Saint
Androis, according to ye ordinance of ye Provincial
Assemblie last halden at Edinburgh, qlk was to be
given yeirlie. As also 3 lib. to ye peple in Coupper
of Fyfe, and 6s. for badgis. Item : Ye minister de
clairit yt he had given 40s. of ye said 3 lib. to ye bur
saris out of his awn purs and proper monayis, becaus-
he was lothe to take any of the penalties for ye pure
of ye parische, in regard of thair povertie at that tyme.
Maister Jhone also demandit ye elderis if they knew
anything to be takin order within the parische. They
answerit they knew nothing, bot they suld try out to
yr powar. Item : Ye minister earnestlie exhortit
them to be faithful in yr calling, and to mark sik as
behavit themselfs disorderlie.

i6i7.
January 12. — No preiching, the minister being at
Saint Androis about ye better provision of ye kirk of
Tyninghame. February g. — The minister and elderis qveinit befor

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. I 55
ye sermon at nyne houris, compeirit George Chalmeris,
servitor to ye Laird of Skugall, being callit on for for
nication, comittit with Agnes Brysone ; confessit his
oversight, being accusit, and said yt he was readdie to
satisfie ye kirk maist willinglie, desyring in ye meine-
tyme that he micht sit bot ane Sunday on ye pillar, for
qlk caus he suld give ye greater penaltie to ye pure.
The minister was verie lothe to grant heirunto, seing
he affirmit yt he nevir did it to any except to ane man
befor; and yt it was ane evill preparative, seing uthers
micht desire ye lyk : yit, being informit of ye great
necessitie of many pure in ye parische, and seing ye
said George verie penitent in all appearance, ye elderis
all quha were present qsenting heirto, was enforcit to
resaive him that day ; and ordainit him presentlie to
go to ye pillar, and presentlie to pay 3 lib. ; and efter
ye sermon resaivit, and payit befor his going to ye
pillar ye said 3 lib.
March 2. — Intimation efter ye sermon be ye minis
ter yt he wald begin ye examinations ye nixt Sabbothe
at efternoone, and thairfor ordainit ye peple betwixt
Mr Alexr. Knowis his hous and ye Water Wynd to
prepare themselfs against ye nixt Sabbothe ; and yt
he wald go forward in examinations everie Sabbothe
in order, till ye haill parische were examined. Item :
Intimation maid out of pulpit be ye minister yt ye
brethren of ye presbiterie had ordainit that quhasoevir
within thair bounds wer to be maryit, and to have
thair bands proclaimit according to order, that befor
any proclamation of thair bandis of mariadge, baithe
the personis or pairteis suld come to ye minister and
elderis in session, and give up thair naimis thair befor

156 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
ye session, and also consigne sik ane pecuniall soume
as sail be injoyned to them be the session ; and ye
said pecuniall soume to be deljA^erit to ye pairteis
efter ye mariadge, in caise ye mariadge be perfyt
within 40 dayes efter proclamation, if thair be not
fornication befor mariadge ; utherwayis, in ye said
caises, and if ye mariadge be not perfyt, ye said pecu
niall soume to remaine to ye use of ye pure, or to be
imployit adpios usus, at ye discretion of ye minister
and elderis.
March 9. — The qlk day Richard Dunce and Robert
Richesone, in Tyninghame, and George Ker, with
Robert Hay, in Skugall, being summonit and callit
on, compeirit, and accusit of breaking ye Sabbothe
on ye last Lordis Day, by going to Skugall tymeous-
lie in the morning, and thair coft ane cow fra ye said
Robert Hay, and brocht hir hame in tyme of preich
ing. They answeirit that they thocht to have come
to ye kirk, bot ye cow brak fra them and ran away,
and so the tyme was spent or they culd come. To
qm it was answeirit that it was evill done to mak any
merchandice on ye Sabbothe, and also to byd fra ye
kirk was double wrong. Being rebuikit and exhortit
to repentance be ye minister, they wer ordained to
satisfie ye Kirk publiklie ye nixt Sabbothe, according
to order, and pay ane penaltie of Sabbothe-breakers.
Item : James Cunninghame and Alexander Ker, in
Peffersyd, being summonit and callit on, compeirit ;
and accusit for setting thair netis the last Sabbothe-
day at efternoone, answeirit yt they thocht it to be
leasome, seing they brocht in na fische to sell, bot
onlie set thair netis. The minister at lenthe informit

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. I 57
them yt it was ane break of ye Sabbothe. Being
heavilie rebuikit and earnestlie exhortit to repent,
they confessit thair oversight, and were ordained to
satisfie publicklie ye nixt Sabbothe, and to pay as
Sabbothe-breakeris according.
March i6. — The qlk day, all ye elderis being pre
sent, compeirit James Knowis and Thomas Skugall,
in Tyninghame, and compleinit upon Jonet Yorstone,
spous to Thomas Lauder, that the said Jonet had
afifirmit the said James, or els ye said Thomas, had
stollin hir hen, qlk she wantit. The said Jonet callit
on, compeirit ; and accusit heirof, answeirit yt she
spak not so, bot that she said to them imediatelie
efter she wantit hir hen that they had staine to hir
some henis oft befor in thair yairds, and that appar-
entlie they had sa done with this hen, qlk she wantit ;
bot denyit that she callit them steallaris thairof
James Knowis affirmit ye qtrair, qlk she denyit. The
minister and elderis qsidering the matter, seing thair
was na witness to depone qt was among them, and
seing they wer nichbouris, thocht gude to agre them
thair presentlie : the said Jonet confessing befor them
that they wer innocent, James Knowis and Thomas
Skugall forgave hir ; and so they went away gude
friends. Item : Ye minister shew to ye elderis that
he told ye presbiterie of them quha on ye night of
Mairche drew swords and quhingeris, and raist ye
peple of ye towne to red them and hold them sindrie,
seing they notoriouslie brak ye Sabbothe as aften
befor as that day came yeirlie about (sik tumultis
was usuallie maid efter drinking) ; and that ye breth
ren of ye presbiterie had ordained the personis that

158 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
that day prophanit ye Sabbothe to compeir befor
them in Dunbar on Thursday nixt, qrof some wer
parishionaris of Dunbar and some of Tyninghame ;
and yt Mr James Home, minister of Dunbar, was or
dainit to caus sumond them of Dunbar parische — viz.,
Robert Sinclair, son to Jhone Sinclair, in Dunbar, and
Robert Yong, wricht in Belhaven ; and Mr Jhone
Lauder, minister of this parische, to caus sumond
Jhone Airthe, son to Thomas Airthe, in Tyninghame.
Jhone Quhyt was ordainit be ye session to sumond
him to compeir at Dunbar Kirk againe Thursday nixt
at II houris, and to remain thair qutill he suld be
callit on.
March 23. — The qlk day, being the 23 of Mairch,
the yeir of God 1617, as said is, ane bairn baptizit to
Jhone Auchmutie, Laird of Skugall — ane dauchter,
lawfull naimed Issobell. The said Jhone Auchmutie,
of Skugall, being in England, the bairne was pre
sented be Sir William Seton. Witnesses : Francis
Stewart, husband to ye Ladie Perthe, the Lord of
Lauderdaill, and the Maister of Fentoune.
March 30. — Alexander Patersone, accusit of keiping
ane bairne unbaptizit in his hous, begotten in fornica
tion be the Gudeman of North Berwick, yonger, an
sweirit that they wer presentlie to satisfie ye kirk of
North Berwick, and wer to begin on Sunday nixt, and
that ye bairne was to be baptizit on Sunday, or els on
Tysday at ye fardest ; for ye mother of ye bairne,
being ye Laird of Skirlingis dauchter, was in his hous
twa dayis or thre dayis syne, quha shew to him that
they wer willing to satisfie, and that with all possible
diligence the bairn was to be baptizit. The session

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. I 59
ordainis him to pass to ye minister of North Berwick
efter Sunday or Tysday nixt, and bring ane testificat
fra him and his session, of thair repentance and satis
faction at the least begune, as also of the baptism of
ye bairne, or els they wald not suffer him to keip the
bairne any longer in his hous, bot suld also caus him
to pay ane penaltie, seing nather of the parents had
satisfeit, nor yet begun to satisfie ye Kirk, nor yet was
the bairne baptizit, qlk aucht to be done without long
delay. The said Alexander promeisit that qlk was
appointit be ye session with diligence.
March 27. — The peple in ye Knowis, Kirkland Hill,
Knowis Miln, Belpots, came to ye examination at
efternoone. April 20. — Intimation maid to ye peple in Skugall
and Peffersyd to come to ye examination upon Wed
nesday. Item : Intimation maid out of pulpite to ye
peple to come everie Sabbath to Hallowmas to ye
kirk at efternoone, to ye efternoone sermon.
May 4. — The said day the sacrament of ye Lordis
Supper ministered. The sermonis weil keipit be the
peple, bothe in ye morning befornoone and efternoone,
praisit be God ! Given to William Acheson for reid-
ing and singing at ye communion, 12s.
May 1 1. — The said day intimation maid to ye peple
out of pulpite to provyde something againe ye nixt
Sabbothe, according to thair powar, for the relieving
of Jhone Mure, in Dunbar, and some utheris, wha was
takin be ye Turkis on the sea, and deteinit be them
in prison, seing thair was ane collection to be maid
throughout all ye kirks in the qtrie to this effect.
May 18. — Collect at ye kirk doore for relief of them

l6o CHURCHES OF SAINT BALD-RED.
that wer takin be ye Turkis, 5 lib. 1 8s. 4d. ; the spe-
ciallis, or richest of ye peple, being absent, quhas
portionis were also to be socht fra them.
June 8. — The said day the session haldin efter ye
efternoone sermon. Ane act was maid that quhaso-
ever suld resaife any person giltie of fornication within
thair hous without ane testimoniall fra ye minister of
ye parische qrfra they came last, beiring that they
had satisfeit ye Kirk quhair ye offence was comittit,
that they suld pay sik ane penaltie qlk ye minister
and elderis suld injoyne them, according to the gude
and lovable custome of uther parisches ; and siclyk if
any within the parische suld resaife in thair houss any
bairn or bairnis unbaptizit, suld pay ane penaltie in
lyk maner : and therfor thinkis gude that intimation
be maid heirof out of pulpite the nixt Sabbothe to ye
peple, that nane pretend ignorance. Item : Marin
Jhonstone delatit for not comunicating: being wairnit,
caUit on, compeirit ; and Besse Gamel in lyk maner.
Marin Jhonstone answeirit that hir bairnis wer lying
sik of ye fever, and so could not come ; confessit hir
fait, and promeisit amendment in tyme coming. Besse
Gamell answeirit yt she was aid and siklie, and came
not therfor to ye examination, nor to ye comunion :
being rebuikit, promeisit to amend, and to come to
the kirk, to the heiring of ye Word, declairing hir
sorrow. Ordainis them bothe to satisfie ye Kirk pub
liklie ye nixt Sabbothe befor ye pulpite, qn they suld
be callit on be ye minister befor the pronuncing of ye
blessing ; qlk they promeisit to do.
June 15. — The said day, efter the efternoone ser
mon, ye minister and elderis qveinit. Elspethe Cud-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. l6l
bert, Elspethe Quhytsone, Margt. Lacoit, and Elspethe
Neilsone, callit on, compeirit ; and accusit for break
ing ye Sabbothe by spreading of muck, answeirit that
thair pleuche was to yok tymouslie ye morn, and that
it was a little befor ye sun setting, and that they thocht
it a thing not altogedder unleasome. Being instructed
be ye minister of yr fait — naimlie, of ye break of ye
Sabbothe — and of ye wrathe of God anent Sabbothe-
breakeris, at lenthe confessit yr offence, and submittit
themselfs to any appointment of ye session. The
session heirwith advisit : ye saids pairteis removit and
callit in again, ordainis them to satisfie ye Kirk pub
liklie on yr kneis ye nixt Sabbothe, leist utheris suld
do ye lyk ; and also pay ane penaltie, according to ye
order ; and yit promeisit to mitigate ye pecuniall
soume, according to yr humbill repentance, and ye
signis thairof befor ye peple.
June 22. — Item : The said day the minister shew
to the elderis present how that the last Sabbothe,
about ye sun-setting, Jhone Airthe, sone to Thomas
Airthe, in Tyninghame, had abusit Alexander Davie-
son and his man also in the said Alexander Davieson
his hous, efter drinking, by sherning him, and therefter
coming furthe by manacing to stryk him ; and that
he struik Robert Shortus, the said Alexander his man.
The session ordainis the said Jhone Airthe to be sum
onit to compeir ye nixt session day at efternoone.
The towne searchit, and therfor ane gude auditor
bothe befornoone and efternoone ; and yrfor ordainis
everie ane to search his day about.
June 29. — The said day the minister and elderis
qveinit. Compeirit, Alexander Daviesone and Jhone
u

1 62 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Airthe, callit on ; and being demandit anent the mater
abov written, referit themselfs baithe to ye witnesses.
The pairteis removit, ye witnesses wer callit on — to
wit, Jhone Nicolsone, in Dunbar ; Robert Ewart, in
Tyninghame; William Quhytsone, thair; and J s. Yong.
They all compeirit, and wer earnestlie desyred to tell
ye treuthe in that mater. Everie ane of them being
severallie examined, all deponit severallie, and thair
depositions agreit — to wit, that Jhone Airthe desyrit
Alexander Daviesone to sell him aill. Alexander
Daviesone said he wald not, becaus he saw thair was
some appeirance of ane pley betwixt him and some of
his companie. Thairfor Jhone Airthe rais up and said
he suld put ane quhinger through baithe his cheikis,
bot as yit drew not ane quhinger, for ye rest held him.
Alexander Davieson, seing this, drew his quhinger first,
appeirantlie to defend himself, qlk maid the said Jhone
Airthe to be ye mair incensed against him, qrupon he
drew his quhinger, and manacit ye said Alexander
Daviesone, threatening to stryk him gif he had not
beine deteinit. And therefter Alexander Davieson
his man, Robert Shortus, striking the said Jhone
Airthe, almaist dang him downe to ye ground, and
Patrik Temple also, quha was redding. Also they
deponit that befor ye said Jhone Airthe rais up to
stryk ye said Alexander, that thair was bitter and
many despytfull words uttered be theme baithe, be
caus Jhone Airthe wald have had aill, and Alexander
Davidson wald not sell it to him. The pairteis and
witness also removit: the minister and elderis present,
after long reasining, considering that it was the Kirkis
pairt only to meddle with taking order for prophana-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 163
tions of ye Sabbothe, and that the injurie done be any
of them to uther did appertein to ye civil magistrat.
The elderis thocht for the maist pairt that they suld
baith satisfie the Kirk publiklie as Sabbothe-breakeris,
albeit that Jhone Airthe his offence was far greater
then Alexanderis was. Alexander Daviesone did
draw his quhinger also, and so suld not be altogidder
wytless. And that in the tyme of thair satisfaction
the minister suld aggravat Jhone Airthis offence mair
nor the uther to the pepill : and yrfor wer ordainit
bothe to satisfie ye Kirk quhen they suld be requyrit,
and to pay sik a penaltie as suld be injoyned to them
— Maister Johne in the meinetyme promeising that he
wald seik the advys of the presbiterie heiranent, quhid-
der Alexander Daviesone suld satisfie as a breaker of
ye Sabbothe or not. Robert Shortus also, servitor to
Alexander Daviesone, callit on, coi'npeirit, and referit
himself to ye deposition of ye witness abousheit ; and
deponit that Jhone Airthe had done him wrong — that
he schot him to ye grund, and hurt his cheek a little,
qlk thing the witness affirmit also to be treu. Patrik
Tempill also, befor ye minister and elderis judged
anything in the said mater, being callit on, compeirit
not. Elderis absent — William Browne, James Kirk
wood, Patrik Tempill.
July 20. — Maister Jhone desyrit ye elderis to caus
ye pepill to resort better to ye kirk ; and ordains
Jhone Quhyt, clerk, to go to ye pepill beyond the
water, especiallie in the twa Gaitsyds, and wairin them
to resort better to ye kirk, in naim of ye minister and
elderis — utherwayis, if they mended not, yt he wald
summon them befor ye session ; and ordainis Thomas

1 64 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Craig to caus the pepill in Peffersyd resort mair
frequentlie. August 3. — Intimation maid to ye pepill out of
pulpite to resort to ye kirk on Tysday nixt, being the
first of August, to heir ane sermon, and to give thanks
to God for the kingis majesteis preservation from
Gowrie his conspiracie. The minister earnestlie ex
hortit them to come for the effect forsaid. The said
day, also, Issobell Wood callit on, compeirit ; and ac
cusit for railinge and flyting with hir nichbour, Agnes
Robesone, spous to Patrik Watson, in Tyninghame,
shephird to Robert Lauder, confessit the same, bot in
the meinetyme affirmed that ye said Agnes did in lyk
maner to hir, and did cast stainis at hir. Thomas
Neilsone and George Shortus, quha hard thair flyting,
demandit heiranent. The pairteis being removit,
affirmed yt they did bothe flyt and rail against uther,
bot Isobell Wood was loudest and maist outragious,
and did cast stainis at ye uther, and compell hir to
leave ye gaite and pass into ane hous. The minister
and elderis ordainis them bothe to satisfie ye Kirk
pubhklie on thair kneis befor the pulpite ye nixt Sab
bothe befornoone, and pay ane penaltie, conform to
ane Act anent flyting above- mentionat ; and that
Maister Jhone suld aggravate ye said Issobellis fait
befor ye pepil, becaus it was greatest.
August 17. — The said day given to ane yong man
out of ye box, callit David Tullois, quha offred him
self to be school-master, 12s. ; bot being not so weill
qualifeit in literature as the parochin and Mr Jhone
desyrit, he was demittit, being examined be ye min
ister anent his qualifications in ye Latine languadge.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 1 65
September 14. — Intimation maid to ye peple this
day out of pulpite befornoone to provyd something
against ye support of Jhone Ogillvie, ane gentleman
in Angus, recomendit be ye king his Majestie and the
Councill and Bishop of Saint Androis, quha had his
houss and movable geir brunt by ane sudden fyre.
September 28. — The said day intimation maid to ye
pepill anent ye odious vyce of drukenness, according
to ye Act of Parliament maid thairanent.
October 12. — The qlk day intimation maid of new
anent ye excomunication of George Lawder and Marin
Bassindeine, according to ye ordinance of ye presbi
terie, qlk was also out of pulpite in rest of the kirkis
of the presbiterie of Dunbar. The said day the min
ister and elderis at efternoone conveinit. Maister
Jhone shew to ye elderis yt he had causit sumond
Alexander Jakson, sone to Patrik Jakson, and Robert
Shortus, servitor to Alexander Daviesone, for fecht-
ing upon ye last Sabbothe at nicht. Alexander callit
on, compeirit; and demandit how he durst break the
Sabbothe by fechting, answeirit that Robert Shortus
had done him wrong, and foucht with him ; to qm it
was answeirit that he did ye said Robert the first
wrong, and that he brak his heid, and that he wald
not let him alone. The said Alexander answeirit yt
he hurt him also. The minister heavilie rebuikit the
said Alexander Jakson for his disolut behaviour. The
said Robert Shortus calht on, compeirit not. Maister
Jhone also shew to ye elderis that he had causit Jhone
Quhyt cite the maisonis quha wer bigging the Ladyis
hous to compeir befor ye session, becaus he hard that
ye last Sabbothe at efternoone ye saidis maisonis wer

1 66 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
playing at ye golf, as he hard reportit, in tyme of
preiching at efternoone, and some utheris with them.
They being calht, compeirit ; and being demandit
quhy they had prophained the Sabbothe by playing
at golf, and that notoriouslie in tyme of preiching,
they answeirit severallie yt the preiching was ather
done or neir endit befor they went to the lynkis out
of ye towne. Being demandit quhy they came not to
ye kirk, answeirit that they had some necessar occa
sions qlk drew them away, and that they resortit
cairfullie since ye coming to this towne, thir many
Sabbothis bygaine, to ye heiring of ye Word, bothe
befornoone and efternoone ; and confessit they had
overseine themselfis and done amiss in not coming to
ye kirk at that tyme. Altho they did not begin to
play befor ye pepill came out of ye kirk, bot wer in
the way qn they saw them come furthe — they lippen-
ing, indeid, yt ye preiching had beine endit befor yr
going out of ye towne — promeisit by God his grace
never to do the lyk. The forsaid personis removit.
The session qsidering that they had confessit yr over
sight, and that they wer cairfull heireris of ye Word
in tyme bygaine, being indwellers in Edinburgh, and
indeid during yr abode with us was gude exampHs to
many in our qgregation in heiring of ye Word, and
behavit themselfis without offence to our knowledge,
except in this particular. Being callit on, they wer
rebuikit, and at lenthe be ye minister informit of yr
oversight, qlk they confessit. They wer ordainit in
tyme coming — during thair residence, at least, with
us, and exhortit also qn they suld be in uther placis —
not to use pastyme on the Sabbothe, and to qtinew

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 1 67
cairfullie in ye heiring of ye Word. They promeisit
not to use any pastyme on ye Sabbothe againe, and to
heir the Word everie Sabbothe, bothe befornoone and
efternoone, as they had done except that day — qrin if
they faillit againe, they were qtent to be censurit with
all rigour to the uttermost.
October 19. — The Lairdis of Bass, Wauchtowne, and
Skugall being present with uthers.
October 26. — Given to Andrew Stone, wricht, 22s.,
and 2s. to his man, for mending and repairing the
stoole of repentance.
November 2. — Given to ane pure honest man, quha
had ane sair hand, 6s.
November 30. — The said day Mr James Macqueine
promeisit to enter to ye schoole ye morn, qlk he did
— viz., the first of December.
December 7.— The bandis of mariadge betwixt Mr
George Greir, minister at Hadingtoune, and Mary
Lauder, sister to Robert Lauder, portionar of Tyning
hame, proclaimit ye first tyme. The said Mr George
qsignit according to order.
December 21. — The qlk day the bandis of mariadge
betwixt Mr Greir and Mary Lauder proclaimed the
third tyme, quha wer maryit in the kirk of Hading-
towne the same day.
I 618.
January 18. — The said day Letters of Horning red
at ye kirk doore by Archbald Wilson, messinger, that
the parishoneris micht conveine, and stent themselfis,
and make payment of the money qrin they suld be

1 68 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
stentit, within ten dayis, for getting of basings and
lavoris for ministration of ye sacrament of baptisme,
and of cupis, tablis, and table claithis for ye com
union, according to the Act of Parliament.
February i. — The qlk day the parishoneris of Tyn
inghame — viz., Robert Lauder, portionar of Tyning
hame, in naime and behalfe of the Richt Honorable
Issobell Hepburne, Ladie Bas, and also for himself;
James Kirkwood, in naime and behalfe of the Richt
Honorable Jhone Auchmutie, of Skugall ; Robert Jak
son, of Eister Lochouss, for himself; James Neilsone,
for himself and for Marin Douglas, lyfrenter of the
landis of Green-spott, and bridgis Eister and Wester —
with the elders of ye kirk of Tyninghame, conveined in
y£ kirk of Tyninghame (being befor chairgit be virtue
of our Soverane Lordis letteris, raisit be Maister Jhone
Lauder, minister, for providing of basingis and lavoiris
for the ministration of the sacrament of baptisme, and
of cupis, tablis, and tabill claithis for ministration of
the holie comunion, according to ye Act of Parliament
last haldin be his Majestie, with advys of the Estaitis
of this kingdom, at Edinburghe, the 28 day of June
1 6 17), and thair stentit themselfis in the soume of
sevine schore sexteine pundis fyve s., usual money of
Scotland — everie husband-land being stentit to fifty s.,
and ilk ane of the personis foresaid to pay according
to the landis possessit be them, and thair tenimentis
lying within the said parochin ; and the said money
to be delyverit ather to the said Mr Jhone Lauder,
minister, or to any uther person or personis withe him
quhom they and he suld think meitt ; and to be payit
be everie ane of them prima quoque tempore. Provid-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME, 1 69
ing alwayis that if the said soume of sevine schore
sexteine pundis, fyve s,, wer not aneuche for obtaining
of the forsaids basingis, lavoiris, cupis, tablis, and table
claithis, in that caise they wald conveine, and stent
themselfis again in alls money as wer inlacking. Item :
The said stentoris findis of husband-landis within the
parishe thre schore and twa, and stentis every hus
band-land to 50s. Husband-landis pertaining to the
Laird and Ladie Bass, 48 landis and ane half land —
viz., the Mainis of Tyninghame, twentie ; in the town
ship, 16 and ane half pertaining to them; the Knowis,
four; Kirkland Hill, four; Insche, twa; Wester Loch
ouss, twa : suma of money to be payit be the Ladie
Bass, sex scor pundis, ane pund, fyve s. Scougall, 8
husband-landis : suma, 20 lib. Robert Lauder, thre
husband-landis and ane half : suma, aucht pundis, fyf-
teen s. Robert Jakson, of Eister Lochouss, twa landis :
suma, fyve pundis. Marin Douglas, twelfe aikeris of
land, or ane half land, twentie-fyve shillings. Suma
totalis, sevine scor sexteine pundis, fyve shillings.
The said day the session ordainis that Mr James
Macqueine, schoolmaister, sal have of everie baptisme
40d., and for everie mariadge half ane merk — viz., for
ye proclamation 40d., and of ye mariadge 40d, — for
his better help.
March 8. — Ordainis ye wemenis penalties that co-
mits fornication to be given to Mr James Macqueine,
schoolmaister ; and ordainis him to reid in the kirk
everie Sabbothe, and to make the bairnis answeir the
Catecheis, the presbiterie being forseine heirof Jhone
Cuming, William Gudefallow, and Jhone Shoriswood
were ordainit be ye presbiterie of Dunbar to satisfie
X

170 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
the Quhytkirk, Prestonkirk, and Tyninghame kirk, in
linnen claithis.
April 19. — The minister and elderis thocht gude
that somthing suld be given to Jhone Quhyt, clerk,
to help him to buy ane clok or juip, qrwith he micht
serve in ye kirk.
April 26. — The qlk day Maister Jhone shew to some
of ye elderis qveinit that he had caust sumond Marin
Bruce, spous to Hugo Foster, in Tyninghame, to com
peir befor ye session for hir misbehaviour to George
Foster, in Ravinsheuche, and his mother; for stryking
of George Foster the Sabbothe-day preceiding ; and
also for miscalling hir nichbouris, and for hir misha-
viour to hir husband. The said Marin Bruce callit on,
compeirit not. The minister and elderis, qsidering
qt was best to be done in the said mater, thocht gude
that the minister, with twa or thre of the elderis, suld
pass to hir, and admonish hir, and exhort hir to amend
ment, and to leive in peace with hir husband and nich
bouris — the minister having also often admonished hir
befor. This they thocht meitt to be done, becaus she
was in danger of going mad, or putting hand on hir
self, for she seimed to be besyd hirself; and therfor
thocht it not meitt as yit to enter in process with hir,
nor handill hir according to ye censure of ye Kirk.
May 3. — Maister Jhone shew to the elderis that
anent ye vagabound beggers — viz., that for repressing
this disorder, and for better reliefing of ye pure within
paroshins, that there suld be ane man or twa in everie
parishe chosen and hyrit, quha suld keip ye parishe,
that na vagabound suld beg within the same, bot that
they suld tak them to the nixt burrowis ; and that

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 171
everie hous in the parishe suld be staintit for his
allowance that suld keep ye bounds ; and yt ye pure
within ye parishe suld have badgis, and be interteinit
at hame within ye parishe ; and if they beggit in uther
parishes except in thair awn, they suld be sent hame,
and get nothing. The session and honest men, efter
ye sermon, being conveinit for yt effect, thocht gude
to superseid ye said mater quhill they saw qt uther
parishis did, and quhill the Ladie was first spoken.
May 24. — Comunion celebrat.
June 7. — The said day reportit that some women in
Tyninghame, being ye Ladies windisteris, did spred
muick ye last Sabbothe at efternoone, about sun-set
ting. Ordainis them to be wairnit to ye nixt day.
June 14. — The qlk day, at efternoone, the minister
and some of ye elders qveinit, and the windisteris
being callit on, compeirit ; and accusit for breaking
the Sabbothe by spreadding of muick, confessit the
same, alledging also that Jhone Davie, greive to the
Ladie, comandit them. Ordainis the clerk to wairn
Jhone Davie to compeir befor ye session ye nixt day.
June 21. — Given to Andrew Storie, wricht in Tyn
inghame, sex s. for making and setting up ye com
union tables. Given to Jhone Finla 3s. for carrying
away ane crepill. The said day, also, Robert Hay, in
Skugall, and Besse Richesone, in Quhytkirk parishe,
proclaimit ye second tyme, becaus the woman quha
impedit the proclamation of thair bandis and the said
Robert Hay wer agreit — the fortie dayis, also, qlk wer
given hir- to prosecut him befor the comessaris, being
now expyrit.
July 5. — Item : Jhone Davie callit on, compeirit ;

172 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED,
and being demandit quhy he comandit ye abov-written
to spred muick on ye Sabbothe, and so to break the
comandement of God to keip ye Sabbothe holie, to
do na maner of work therein, the said Jhone answeirit,
and aflSrmit qstantlie that he bade them not spred it
on ye Sabbothe, bot to have it readie spred againe ye
morn or ye pleuchis did yok. Ordainis the said Jhone
Davie and the women to compeir againe ye nixt day.
Item : Ye minister deelarit to the elderis that thair
was ane man callit Jhone Kersame, quha, as he aflSrmit,
was of na certain parishe, bot was coming to ye draife,
his wyf being with him : coming to Alexander Pater
sone his hous in ye linkis, she was delyvr of ane bairne
thair. He said he was of purpys to go to Dunbar, bot
his wyf was delj^r befor he culd come thither in ane
hous of Alexander Patersonis, in Fisherhouss, and that
he desyrit Maister Jhone to baptis his bairne, and yt
he shew to him ane testimoniall of his mariadge in
Ingland, Maister Jhone shew to ye elderis that he
had advysit him to go to the presbiterie on Thursday
to se qt they wald appoint in that eirrand,
July 12, — Jhone Kersame forsaid compeirit, and de
syrit earnestlie that his bairne micht be baptizit, qlk
was lying in Fisherhouss, The session ordainis him
to compeir befor ye presbiterie upon Thursday nixt.
July 19. — The session, efter ye sermon befornoone,
qveinit : compeirit, Jhone Kersame forsayd, and shew
to ye minister and elderis that, according as he was
appointit be the session, he went to the presbiterie
upon Thursday last (the said Thursday last Maister
Jhone was not present, being in Edinburghe). The
said Jhone Kersame producit ane letter fra the pres-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 1 73
biterie to Maister Jhone anent ye said eirrand, quhair-
of the tennor fallowis : —
Brother Maister Jhone, — The beirer heirof (Alexr.
Paterson, caution), to produce ane testimoniall of his
lawfull mariadge — at leist, that the woman quhom he
has maryit was ane singill quhen he tuik hir out of
the Stow of Weddill ; and to give you contentment
anent his comunicating and keiping gude order in
tyme coming. Our advys is, this being done, or at
the leist, sik order being takin as ye can best for
warrand to yor awin consience, to baptise the bairne.
Sic subscribitur, Mr Patrik Hamilton, clerk to the
presbiterie for this day.
The said Jhone Kersame also producit ane testimo
niall of his mariadge in Ingland, qlk he also shew to
the presbiterie. Item : The said Alexr. Patersone
compeirit befor ye session, and offered himself to be
caution for ye said Jhone Kersame, for qtsoevir thing
the session wald injoyne him to do. The minister
and elderis qsidering the premiss, ordainis the said
Jhone Kersame to go to ye Stow of Weddell, and
bring ane testificat fra ye minister at ye kirk of Stow,
bothe of his honestie and also of his wyfis ; and this
testificat to be brocht to the session betwixt this and
the fyfteine day of August nixt to come. The said
Alexr. Patersone became caution and securitie befor
ye session for ye said Jhone that this suld be done
befor ye said day, under the peine of threttie lib., to
be payit be ye said Alexr. in caise of failyer herin.
The said Jhone Kersame also faithfullie promeisit
that he suld settle himself in some place quhair he
culd gett best occasion, that he suld comunicat and

174 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
keip guid order. He shewed, also, yt he dwelt some-
tyme befor in ye parishe of Dumbar. The session
thocht gude yt his bairne suld be baptizit efternoone,
efter ye sermon. The said day at efternoone ane
bairne baptizit to ye said Jhone Kirsame — sone, law-
full, named Johne. Witness : Alexr. Patersone, Jhone
Gothra. August 2. — The said day ye windsteris, spredderis
of muick, and Jn. Davie, gave satisfaction to the Kirk,
as they wer ordainit.
August 5. — Sermon for the kingis Majesteis delyver
ance fra ye consperacie at Saint Jhonstone.
August!^. — Efter ye efternoon ye session qveined :
compeirit Jhone Kirsame (for qm Alexander Patersone
became caution under ye paine of 30 lib) and producit
ane testificat fra ye minister of ye Stow of Weddell,
qrof ye tenor follows : —
To ye minister and session of ye kirk of Tyning
hame. — Loving brethren, — Ye beirers, called Jhone
Kirsame and Isobell Lillie, his spous, remainit heir
with us, and we knaw nothing bot he was honest and
his wyf baithe, for they ar lawfullie maryit. I remem
ber they remainit in this towne ye space of four yeirs,
and we knaw nothing bot honestie to them, of na
claimis yt we knaw off, for he has shawin to me his
testification yt he is maryit sen he came out of our
parochin ; and sa I know no impediment to them.
No more ; bot comitis you to his Majesteis protec
tion, this twentie-aucht of July. Sic subscribitur, your
loving brother in Chryst, James Michelsone, minister
at ye Stow.
September 6. — The qlk day reportit that twa millaris

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME, 1 75
in ye Knowis Milln wer carying laids ye last Lordis
Day, and so prophainit ye Sabbothe. Ordainis them
to be sumonit to compeir befor ye session ye nixt day.
Item : Ye said day, ane bairne baptizit to Jn. Arnot,
smythe, in Lin towne. (Maister Edward Hepburne,
minister at Prestonkirk, having departed this lyf, Jn.
Arnot producit ane testificat fra ye elderis of Preston
kirk.) His sone, lawfull, naimed Thomas. Witness :
Patrik Arnot, in Lintowne, with some utheris.
September 13. — The qlk day ane bairne baptizit to
Jhone Auchmutie of Skougall — sone, lawfull, naimed
Jhone. Witness : the Erie of Wintown, the Viscount
of Lauderdaill, the Maister of Faintowne, Sir Johne
Hoome of North Berwick, Sir William Fairlie.
October 25. — The said day George Arnot and Mar
garet Whyt, in the parishe of Prestonkirk, and Walter
Craig and Crysten Lyl, also in the parishe of Preston
kirk, according to the ordinance of the presbiterie,
gave up thair naimis to be proclaimit, and wer pro
claimit ye first tyme ; and wer also proclaimit in
Wittinghame kirk, according to ye ordinance of ye
presbiterie, and qsignit according to order.
November 8. — The qlk day the minister and elderis
qveining, thocht gude that thre lib. suld be given to
Jhone Whyt for his waigis, and that na mair suld be
given him out of the collect daylie befor Michaelmas,
seing he getis everie Sunday i6d. The efternoone
preiching left off till ye spring.
November 15. — Given to Maister James Macqueine,
schoolmr, 6s. 8d.
November 29. — The qlk day ane small auditor in
respect of ye vehemencie of ye wether.

176 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Upon the first day of December, being Tysday, ane
thousand sex hundrethe and auchteine yeirs, ane
bairne baptizit to Robert Lauder, portionar, of Tyn
inghame — ane sone, lawfull, naimit George. Witness :
Maister Patrik Hepburne, of Smetone ; Maister Geo.
Greir, minister at Hadingtoune ; George Hepburne,
sone to Sir Robert Hepburne of Aderstone ; Alexr.
Lauder and William Lauder in Dumbar,
December 6. — Ane small auditor in respect of ye
foulness of ye weather.
December 27. — The said day ye minister desyrit
James Kirkwood, in Skugall, to caus the peple in
Muttonhole to resort to ye heiring of ye Word, being
now thair parishe kirk. James Kirkwood answerit yt
he suld use diligence to caus them come, the dayis
now falling langer, qn they culd win over Peffer. The
minister also desyrit ye elderis to caus ye peple besyd
them to resort to ye heiring of ye Word. The said
day also intimation maid to ye peple to prepare some
thing againe ye nixt day for ye help of William
Ferrier, in Dumbar, quha had ane bark castin away
besyd North Berwick, seing thair was collections to
be maid for him in all ye kirks of ye presbiterie.

1619.

February 14. — Upon the nynt day of Februari, being
Tysday, 1619, ane bairne baptizit to Robert Jakson,
of Eister Lochouse — ane sone, lawfull, naimed Patrik.
Witness : Jhone Auchmutie of Scoughall ; Jhone Dik
sone, in ye Abbey of Hadingtoune ; Patrik Diksone,

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 1 77
his sone ; Maister Alexander Knowis : Johne Hog, of
Dunglas. February 21, — Given to Maister James Macqueine,
schoolmr, 40s., according to promise.
March 7. — The qlk day George Craig, and Jn. Craig
his sone, Rob. Wallan, and Jhone Skugall, and Alexr.
Jakson, wer callit on (being befor wairnit) and accusit
for prophaining the Sabbothe by hauling yr netis on
ye Sabbothe at efternoone, and setting them on Setir-
day at efternoone. They confessit yr oversight, and
affirmit yt they feirit evill weather ; to qm it was
answeirit yt they suld not have sett yr netis on Setir-
day. Being rebuikit shairplie, removit, and callit in
againe — ordainis them to satisfie ye Kirk publicklie
the nixt Lordis Day befornoon, on thair kneis, befor
ye blessing, qn they suld be callit on ; and also to pay
the penaltie of Sabbothe-breakeris.
March 14. — The peple fra ye eist end of ye towne,
on ye nether syd of ye gaitt to ye Water Wynd,
examined. Margaret Hamiltone, accusit for miscall
ing George Shortus, being ane elder, and earnestlie
rebuikit, confessit hir oversight, and said she did it in
hir passion and anger. Ordainis hir to come ye nixt
day befor ye elderis, and ask the said George Shortus
humblie forgiveness.
March 21. — Intimation maid to ye peple, fra ye
Smiddie Wynd to ye eist end of the towne, togidder
with Lochouss, Ravinsheuche, and Fisherhouss, to
come to ye examination at efternoone ; ye peple in
Skugall and Peffersyd on Monday, at ten houris ; and
the absents to come quhen they suld be advertysed.
Ane intimation maid to ye peple to come on Friday,
Y

178 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
at ten houris, to heir ane sermon for preparation, and
to come on Sunday nixt to ye comunion.
March 28. — The qlk day ye sacrament of ye Lordis
Supper was celebrat. Gude order keipit, praisit be
God! April 4. — Margaret Hamiltone compeirit to ask
George Shortus forgiveness on hir kneis. She did
ye samin, and the said George also forgave her.
April II. — No preiching, the minister being in St
Androis. The said day ye Laird of Skugallis sone,
callit Jhone, being half yeir aid or therby, was buryit
in Aldhame.
May 2. — The minister also shew to the elderis that
the bishop, at the last Provinciall Assemblie, haldin at
Edinburghe the twentie of April 16 19, ordainis everie
minister to bring yr contribution for ye students of
ye new colledge in Saint Androis, and everie minister
to give it to ye moderator of the presbiterie quhair he
dwellis, that it micht be sent to Saint Androis. The
minister shew to ye elderis that ye kirk of Tyning
hame was ordainit to pay thre lib. yeirlie. The elderis
wer unwilling to grant thairto. The minister shew
them that everie kirk was appointit to pay, and that
he wald give 20s. out of his awin purse to that effect,
seing thair was little in the box, and many puir in the
parishe. They grantit thairto, bot with some regraits.
May 9. — The said day takin out of the box 34s., and
6s. of Jhone Walker's penaltie ; and Maister Jhone
gave 20s. out of his awin purse to make out thre lib.
to be given for ye qtribution to ye studentis in the
new colledge at St Androis.
May 16. — Maister Jhone shew to ye session yt yr

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 1 79
was a great prophanation of ye Sabbothe comittit be
some personis, bothe in this parishe and Qtkirk, with
North Berwick parishes, by playing at ye football on
Sunday last, at efternoone, in Skugall linkis, efter ye
efternoone sermon ; ane great number of behalderis
being thair at the said pastyme, that came out of
divers pairtis nixt adjacent ; and also drinking in
Skugall efter ye pastyme. Ordainis therefor the
playeris of this parishe to be tryit, and to be wairnit
to compeir befor ye session ye nixt day.
May 23. — Maister Jhone shew to ye elderis that he
knew not as yit perfytlie qua wer players of this
parishe at ye football in Skugall. Some answeirit yt
few of them wer of this parishe, except ane or twa.
The minister shew to them that he had advertysit the
ministeris of North Berwick and Quhytkirk heirof,
that order micht be takin that ye lyk prophanation
were not comittit. Given to ane pure man, lying sik
in Patrik Jaksonis, being ane coupper in Tranent, los.
His wyff came befor ye session and earnestlie desyrit
it, being in great necessitie.
June 6. — The said day Maister Jhone shew to ye
elderis that he was to speik the Laird of Skugall anent
ye playeris at the football, as also anent the drinking
in Skugall, that ye Laird wald concur with ye session
for order taking therewith ; as also in causing ye peple
in Muttonhole to come oftener to ye kirk, to ye heir
ing of ye Word.
June 13. — The playeris at the football in Skugall,
and drinkeris there, with the peple in Muttonhole,
referrit to the Laird his presence, seing this day he
was absent.

l8o CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
June 20. — The minister compleinit that the peple
resortit not so frequentlie to the heiring of ye Word
as they aucht, especiallie thir two Sabbothes last ; and
for this caus desyrit the elderis to searche the towne
thair day about (qlk they promeisit to do), and to de-
laitt the absentis — and Alexr. Davidson to begin the
nixt day. The minister also desyrit earnestlie the
Laird of Skugall, personallie present, to caus the
peple in Muttonhole, and the rest of the peple of his
bounds, to come to ye kirk — especiallie them in Mut
tonhole, seing they wer now of this parishe — seeing
the pepill of Skugall came sufficientlie. The Laird
answeirit that he was verie willing that they suld come,
and that it was ane great fait they came not so fre
quentlie as they aucht ; and therfor, in presence of ye
minister and elderis, he ordainit James Kirkwood to
advertys them that they come to ye kirk everie Sab
bothe, and yt they that wer qvict of absence, without
ane lawfull excus, suld pay 6s. everie persone, toties
quoties, to be put in the box, seing they micht now,
the farest of them, the dayis being lang and the
weather fair, come everie day. Item : Anent ye foot-
balleris : becaus thair was bot twa of them, and was
sorie that they suld have offendit, that they was to be
exhortit not to do the lyk in tyme coming ; qlk if they
did, or any uther, they suld be censurit with all rigour,
and satisfie as Sabbothe-breakers. Item : The Laird
promeisit to concur with the minister anent order
taking with drinking in Skugall, on the Sundayis at
efternoone, that it micht be refrained.
July 1 1 . — The qlk day ane fast was solemnizit, qlk,
praisit be God ! was weill keipit be the parishoneris.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. l8l
The caus of it was the extraordinarie dreuthe ; and in
respect that last yeir God punishit this countrie by
abstracting the herring draif, that it wald please God
to bless it this year ; and the great neglect in heiring
Gods Word, and small effect thairof in pepillis hairts,
and litel obedience thairto in thair lifis and conversa-
tionis, qlk appeirs to be ane caus of ye forsaids judg
ments, togidder with the abuse of ye creaturis.
August I. — Intimation maid to ye pepill to come
to ye kirk on Thursday nixt, being the fyft of August,
to heir ane sermon, and to give God thanks for ye
kingis Majesteis deliverance fra the qspeiraccie at St
Johnstone ; qlk they did. Item : Given to Maister
James Macqueine, schoolmaster, 4s., seing thair was
verie few bairnis at the school. The said day the act
of the secreite counsel, anent the restraining of idill
and vagabound beggaris, was red at ye kirk door, in
presence of ye parishoneris.
August 29. — The qlk day given to Maister James
Macqueine, schoolmaister, 24s., and los., being Cristen
Stories penaltie, according to contract maid with him.
The qlk day ye minister compleinit on Wm. Richisone,
in the Knowis Milln, that the last Sabbothe, at efter
noone, he caryit ane laid fra ye milln to ye castill.
Ordainis the clerk to summon him to ye nixt day.
Item : Jhone Huid and his wyf compleinit on Alexr.
Jaksone, that when the pepill wer going to ye kirk,
befornoone, that the said Alexr. Jaksone did miscall
him, and cast stainis at him and his wyf Ordainis
the said Alexr. Jaksone to be wairnit to ye nixt day,
and the said Jhone Huid and his wyf to compeir befor
ye session also ; and ordainis Jhone to caus the witness

1 82 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
quha did heir and see them to compeir ye nixt session
day, qlk he promeisit to do.
September 5. — Jhone Huid and his wyff callit on,
compeirit ; and being demandit if he had brocht his
witness with him, answeirit that he had brocht them
— viz., William Haddin, in Tyninghame, and Jhone
Michelson, in Peffersyde ; quha, being earnestlie de
syrit to tell the treuthe in that mater, baithe deponit
that quhen Alexr. Jakson was coming to ye kirk,
Jhone Huid spak'somthing to him about hering netis,
and therefter Alexr. Jakson gave evill wordis — Jhone
Huid not standing far fra the kirk-style ; and yt the
said Jhone spake something to him again qlk was not
gude, bot they wist not qt it was ; and that therfor
Alexr. Jakson did cast stainis at him and at his wyff
verie bitterlie. Alexr. Jakson callit on, compeirit ;
and being accusit of miscalling the said Jhone Huid
and his wyS, and for casting stainis at them, answeirit
that the said Jhone Huid callit him ane common thief;
qlk the said Jhone Huid altogidder denyit. The saids
pairteis removit ; and being heirwith advyst, ordainis
Alexr. Jakson to prove that Jhone Huid miscallit him
againe ye nixt day; and therfore ordainit them baith,
apud acta, to be present ye nixt day, qrto Jhone Huid
agreit ; bot Alexr. Jakson went furthe in passion and
anger, qrat the minister and elderis wer verie grievit.
September 12. — Jhone Huid callit on, compeirit, and
was absolvit becaus of his compeirance, yet rebuikit
becaus he spak about his nets on ye Sabbothe, qn he
suld have been thinking on heavenlie things, and pre
paring himself to heir Godis Word, as also becaus he
spak something to Alexr. Jakson qlk commovit him.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 1 83
It was reportit that Alexr. Jakson was past off ye
towne in ane ship to ye His, and therfor was enforcit
to leave off process against him.
September 19. — William Richesone, in Knowis Miln,
callit on, compeirit, and accusit for his prophaining the
Sabbothe by carying laids, answeirit that it was against
his will if he culd have escaped, and alledgit it to be
in caice of necessitie, and that it was at the sun setting.
Ordainis him to be present againe ye nixt day, to ye
end that it micht be tryit before yt tyme quidder he
was urgit to break ye Sabbothe or not, or if he did it
of his awin accord.
September 26. — Given to Maister James Macqueine
25 s., in regaird of his povertie, and in respect he was
to go hame to ye Northe ; in respect, also, of his read
ing in the kirk.
October 3. — The said day Wm. Richesone callit on,
compeirit, and accusit for prophaining the Sabbothe,
humblie confessit his oversight ; being informit be ye
minister, befor the session, anent his break of ye fourt
comandment, submittit himself to ye ordinance of ye
session. Ordainis him to satisfie publicklie ye nixt
Sabbothe, and to pay ane penaltie according to ye
act abousheit. Item : Ye said day, the Laird of
Skugall and his ladie being in the kirk, and the
morrow being to take journey with their familie to
London, qr they wer to remaine that yeir till Lambes
nixt, the minister desyrit the Laird to give comand to
his tenants in his bounds to heir the Word, and to do
thair deutie as effeirs, qlk he did.
October 17. — The quilk day Mr James Macqueine
schoolmaister, desyrit earnestlie some support, that he

1 84 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
micht pass to ye Northe, seing thair was few or na
bairns at the schoole. The session heirwith advysit,
Ordainis thre lib. to be given to him.
October 24. — The minister thocht gude, with advys
of ye elderis, that, seing now the tymes was come to
leave off preiching at ye efternoone the nixt day, as it
was to the end that the pepill micht be the better
instructit, and the Sabbothe keipit, that thair suld be
examination at efternoone, and that the parishe suld
be devydid in sevin pairtis (and so the minister suld
examin all in sevin Sabbothe-days), and suld continew
till Pasche nixt, and wald follow this cours everie yeir,
God willing ; and everie elder to have ane cair to caus
the pepill among qm they dwell to come to the kirk
for that effect, and ye absentis to be callit befor ye
session, and order taken with them as effeirs ; and
intimation heirof to be maid ye nixt day.
November 7. — The qlk day the pepill fra the eist
end of the towne to the Water Wynd came to the
examination at efternoone, and keipit gude order,
praisit be God !
November 14. — The quilk day the pepill fra the
Water Wynd, in the Hard Gaitt, and west syd of the
towne to the Kilne, came to ye examination at efter
noone. November 21. — The pepill on the north syd of the
towne to ye Smiddie Wynd came to ye examination,
and keipit gude order, as they did the dayis pre
ceding, God be praisit !
November 28. — The pepill in Knowis, Kirklandhill,
twa Gaittsyds, Knowis Milne, Belpots, came to ye
examination, and gude order keipit, praisit be God !

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 1 85
December 19. — The pepill in the eist end of the
toune, fra ye Smiddie Wynd, togidder with Lochouss,
Ravensheuch, and Fisherhouss, examined. Gude order
keipit, praisit be God !
December 26. — The absentis of ye former qrters
examined. The last of December, 1619, George
Davidsone enterit to be schoolmaister. Item : It
was shawn to the minister that Robert Barie, hynd
to ye Ladie Bass, was carying peitt laids out of
Beltane befor ye preiching. Ordainis Jhone Whyte
to sumond him to compeir befor ye session ye nixt
day.
1620.
January 2. — The said day the pepill in Skugall and
Peffersyd came to the examination at efternoone, and
keipit gude order, God be praisit ! Item : The minis
ter exhortit the elderis and honest men to hand, that
the vagabound and sturdie beggaris micht be restrainit
according to the act of the secreit consell, and yt they
wald have ane cair of ye pure within the parishe, and
that they suld tak on the badges, that they micht be
kend, Reportit that Andrew Law, being ane agit
man greive to ye Ladie Bass, was lying deidlie sik in
ane hous. Ordainis to adverteis ane of the hostlairis
to furnish him in drink and breid for a tyme, and out
of ye box they suld gett payment, seing he was in
great necessitie, being ane honest man. Ordainis also
the Ladie to be adverteisit heirof
January 9. — The qlk day the pepill in the bounds
z

1 86 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
of Aldhame came to the examination, and keipit
gude order, God be praisit !
January 23. — The qlk day William Sked, servitor
to Jhone Fergisone, callit on, compeirit, and accusit
for not coming to the examination, answeirit he thocht
shaime, because he was ignorant ; to qm it was replyit
that he suld the rather come to gett knowledge. Efter
rebuke and exhortation, the said William promeisit
amendment. The minister and elderis ordainis him
to heir the Word diligentlie and attentivelie, and to
keip the examination ; and in caise of absence againe,
he suld mak publik satisfaction, and pay ane merk.
Ordainis to sumond Jhone Foster and Cristen Liddell
for not coming to the examination, being maist ignor
ant of any in the parishe.
January 30. — The said day given to them that fur-
nishit drink to Andrew Law, being in great necessitie,
14s. 4d.
February 6. — Collect at the kirk door 46s., for ye
peple yt had yr geir brunt in Aldcamus.
February 13. — Mention maid be ye minister to ye
session anent the election of Thomas Shortus, in Ald
hame Links, to the office of ane elder; qrto the session
agreit, and thocht gude that intimation thairof suld be
maid to the congregation the nixt day out of the pul
pite, according to order.
February 20. — Intimation maid out of pulpite to ye
peple anent the election of Thomas Shortus to the
office of ane elder.
April 16. — The qlk day the communion ministered.
Gude order keipit. Sermon of preparation being upon
Friday befor, being the 14 of Apryl 1620. Given to

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 1 87
Alexander Daviesone for furnishing Andrew Law
drink for a certaine tyme, 6s., and to utheris 2s. for
furnishing him. Item : The said day some pairteis
befor ye sermon reconcilit that wer at variance.
April 30. — The minister desyrit Js. Kirkwood to
caus the peple in Muttonhole to resort more frequent
lie to the kirk, seing the laird was not now at hame
in Aldhame to caus them to come. The said James
promeisit to do diligence.
May 7. — Collect at the kirk doore for the Scottish-
men lying in Algiers, taken by the Turkis, 31b. 17s. 4d.
May 28. — Intimation maid to the peple to come to
ye kirk the morn at ten houris, becaus the brethren of
the presbiterie come to visit the kirk, God willing.
May 29. — ^The quilk day, being Monday, all the
brethren of the presbiterie, Mr Thomas Hepburn ex
cept, present. Jhone Lauder maid ane sermon — Job.
33, 22 ver. to 29 ver., being the text. The kirk visitit,
and God praisit. The particularis are conteinit in the
presbiterie buik.
June II. — Intimation maid to ye peple to provyd
sumqt againe the nixt day for the support of Chairles
Hoggart, ane pure man and cordinar, quha wants ane
hand, being recomendit to the pepllis charitie be ane
letter fra ye kingis Majestie, and be the Archbishop
of Saint Androis. The said Chairles also compeirit
befor the presbiterie.
June 25. — Ordainis everie ane of the elderis to
searche the towne thair day about, qrby gude order
was keipit.
July 2. — The qlk day schoolmr red befornoon, the
minister being in Dumbar, quha taucht thair befor-

1 88 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
noon, being requestit be the minister of Dumbar,
being absent in regard of his urgent affairis in Edin
burghe, and also appointit be the presbiterie. Item :
The minister preichit at efternoon.
July 23. — The qlk day George Foster, being sum
onit and callit befor the session, compeirit ; and ac
cusit for breaking ye Sabbothe in hurting Robert
Grant his sone, in Tyninghame, with ane row-bowle
on the face, answeirit that he did it negligentlie, and
was sorrowfull, thairfor, that he suld have done so :
submitted himself to the disciplin of the Kirk. The
minister and elderis herewith advysit, in regaird that
he brak and prophainit the Sabbothe by playing,
albeit it was efter the efternoone sermon, ordainis
him to satisfie ye Kirk publicklie on his kneis befor
the pulpite, qrunto he grantit.
July 30. — Many exhortations given to ye peple be
the minister not to play on the Sabbothe, seing this
way they prophainit the Sabbothe. Item : Intima
tion maid to the peple to come to the kirk on Set
terday nixt, being the first day of August, to hear
ane sermon, and to praise God for the king his
Majesties delyverance fra the conspiracie at Saint
Jhonstone. August 6. — The qlk day Alexander Cunyngham,
servitor to the Laird and Ladie Bas, satisfeit befor the
minister and elderis, according as he was injoynit be
the presbiterie at the last visitation of Tyninghame
kirk, for qvening some of the elderis at the Ladie Bass
comand. Item : George Davidsone, schoolmaister,
satisfeit befor the session, as he was injoynit be the
presbiterie on Thursday last, for ane offence comittit

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 1 89
be him for raising some nots upon ane chapter red
be him befor ye peple in the ministeris absence.
August i3.^Maister Jhone desyrit the elderis to
search the toune thair day about, that peple micht
the better resort to the kirk ; and the elderis that
dwell not in the toune to caus the peple among
quhom they dwell to resort more frequentlie ; qlk
they promeisit to do.
August 20. — The qlk day intimation maid to the
peple that wer to fey sheareris in Lintoune, to come
hame to their awin parishe kirk to heir the preichings,
seing it was unlawfull to prophane the Sabbothe any
way. The minister regrated that abus in feying of
sheareris on the Lords Day.
September-^. — The Laird of Bas, Skugall, &c., being
present. September 24. — Given out of the box, for ane wind
ing sheitt to ane deid corpis qlk came in on the sands
of Aldhame, 30s.
October i — William Ross and Robert Barie, hyns
in Tyninghame to the Ladie Bass, and Jhone Civeis,
with his wif, hyne to the Ladie Bass, being sumonit,
callit on, compeirit William Ross and Robert Barie,
and accusit for sheiring corne the last Lordis Day at
efternoone, confessit the same. Being very heavilie
rebuikit be the minister, seing the lyk was not done in
the parishe since his entrie to the ministrie, they an
sweirit that they shore verie little, and bot ane short
quhyle. Being removit and callit in againe, after
many exhortations given to them be the minister,
and threattings also, they wer ordainit to mak pub
lick satisfaction the nixt Sabbothe-day, befornoone, on

igo CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
thair kneis, befor the pulpitt, and pay everie ane of
them ane merk. They alledgit that they culd not
utherwayis do, seing bothe they and thair wyfis and
servants wer in the Ladyis service all the week. The
minister answeirit if he had knawin that they had
neidit he suld have spoken the Ladie about ane day
in the week to them and utheris to sheir thair corne
in. Item : Jhone Civeis callit on, compeirit, and ac
cusit in lyk manner, answeirit that he did sheir nain,
bot laid up twa bund sheivis upon twa stookis, and
that he went to visit his cornis, and did gather a few
peis. The said Jhone Civeis also accusit for not resort
ing oftener to the kirk, answeirit that he was old and
culd not sit long becaus of his sicknes oftentymes.
Referis his censure to ye nixt day, and ordainis his
wyf to compeir also, qlk he promeisit to do.
October 8. — Jhone Civeis callit on, compeirit not.
His wyfe callit on, compeirit, and excusit hir husband,
affirming yt he was lying sick. She accusit be the
minister for prophaining the Sabbothe be sheiring,
denyit the same, affirming that neither she nor hir
husband did sheir any, but went furthe to visit thair
corne, and referrit him to the witnessing of the saidis
Robert Barie and William Ross. The saidis personis
callit on as witness in the said matter, and being
severallie demandit if Jhone Civeis or his wyf did
sheir, or bothe, they answeirit that Jhone Civeis did
bind twa sheivis qlk wer lous at the stouk, and that
his wife did gather verie few peis, in thair judgment
scairclie sex. The said woman earnestlie rebuikit for
seldome coming to the heiring of the Word. She pro
meisit amendment. Being removit, the session heir-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME I9I
with advysit — being callit in again — that seing the
said Jhone Civeis was ane sick agit man, and scairclie
able to come to ye kirk, suld be admonished to keip
the kirk if it suld pleas God to give him any healthe,
and his wyf was admonished and earnestlie exhortit
to resort to the kirk, to the heiring of the Word, with
the peple in the familie ; utherwayis they suld be
vigorouslie censurit, and pay double penaltie if she
amended not ; qrunto she grantit. She was also ad-
monishit not to gather any peis, or to do the leist
work neidleslie on the Sabbothe ; qlk if she did, she
suld be censurit severlie.
October 22. — Given to George Davidsone, scholmr,
for reiding and singing in the kirk, at his request, 40s.
November 19. — Lent to George Davidsone, scholmr,
out of the box, i8s.
November 26. — Small auditor in respect of the ve
hemence of the weather.
December 3. — The session haldin. The minister
shew to the elderis that thair was ane great outcast
betwixt James Neilsone and his wyfe, Cristen Nisbett;
and qras the said James had heavilie complainit to
him of hir misbehaviour, that order micht be takin
with hir, having castin out oftentymis befor, and being
oftentymis bothe admonishit be the minister to agree
ment and peace among themselfs, were now agreit ;
and, therfor, the said James desyrit that the minister
suld not summon hir to compeir publicklie befor the
session, bot suld admonishe hir yit ainis againe, shew
ing to hir that if she did disagree again she suld be
wairnit befor the session, and be inactit to pay 10 lib.
toties quoties, and suld pay for this tyme also if she did

192 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
disagree againe. James Neilsone, being present, desyrit
the same ; the elderis heirto qsentit.
December 17. — Reportit that Matthew Bell his man
caryit bread to Edinburghe the last Sabbothe day.
Ordainis him to be sumonit againe the nixt day.
December 31. — Matthew Bell his servand callit on,
compeirit, and accusit of Sabbothe-breaking, confessit
the same, his maister also, Matthew Bell, being present.
They baithe affirming that they wer wytless, seing
they wer urgit be the grieve, quha had receivit ane
lettr fra the Ladie to send in some bread to Edin
burghe. His maister and he bothe being giltie, re
buikit, and informit their dewtie : qtinuis thair censure
till the nixt day, and ordainis Maister Jhone to speik
the Ladie thairanent.

I 62 I.
January 7. — Jhone Fergisone, Alexander Marshall,
Alexander Browne, George Hepburn, servands to the
Ladie Bass, callit, and accusit for byding fra the kirk
on ane Sabbothe-day twentie days or thairby, being in
Jhone Fergisone his hous in tyme of preiching. Be
ing befor sumonit, they compeirit, except Alexander
Browne, quha was not in the towne at this tyme ; they
confessit thair oversight, and shew that they culd not
weill utherwayis do, becaus they had receivit ane letter
fra the Ladie that morning qlk requirit ane present an
sweir to be sent to Edinburghe, and that they went into
Jhone Fergisone his hous to wrytt it. Shewing also
that they keipit the kirk at uther tymis, and suld keip

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 193
gude order in tyme coming, and suld be gude exemplis
to utheris in coming to heir the Word, God wiUing.
The session heiron advyst, they were heavilie rebukit
and informit of thair dewtie be the minister, and wer
ordainit to qfess thair oversight, qlk they did ; and if
evir they did the lyk they suld underly double censure
and penaltie ; qrto they agreit, shewing some evidentis
of thair repentance. Alexander Browne ordainit to
compeir also.
January 28. — Small auditor, in respect of the vehe
mencie of the weather. Given to George Davidson, be
advys of ye session, for his service in the kirk, 30s.
February 4. — Given be the Ladie Bass, for penaltie
of hir servand quha brak ye Sabbothe, 1 8s. Item :
The sevint day of Februar 1621, Jhone Lauder, some
tyme bailzie in Tyninghame, sleipit maist sweetlie
in the Lord, and depairtit this lyfe at thre houris in
the efternoone, being Wednesday, and was buryit on
Friday nixt, the nynt day of Februar, in the kirkyaird,
many peple being at the said buryiall.
March 4.— Intimation maid to the heritoris, elderis,
and parishioners to qvein the nixt Sabbothe-day, and
stent for ane bell to be hung in the stepill.
March 11. — The said day Jhone Auchmutie, of
Skugall, Robert Lauder, Robert Jakson, James Neil
sone, and the elderis qveinit, and all, without any
opposition, agreit and consentit for the obteining of
ane bell, and wer willing to have the landis in the
parishe stentit for this effect ; and yit befor the stent
thocht gude that the Laird and Ladie Bass suld be
spokin, to se gif they wald ather baithe, or any of
them, come to the said stent, or els send comissionaris,
AA

194 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED,
ane or mae, for them, Utherwayis, if they wald not,
at qt tyme the ministers, gentlemen, and elderis thocht
meitt, they wald conveine, and stent the haill landis of
the parishe, and wald rais letters thairon,
March 30. — The session keipit, the minister exhortit
the elderis to be tymouslie present in the kirk on Sun
day nixt, and to attend cairfullie that gude order micht
be keipit ; qlk they promeisit to do, God willing,
April I, — The qlk day the comunion celebrat, Gude
order keipit, praisit be God ! Intimation of ane fast
and publick humiliation maid be the minister to the
peple, to be keipit this day fyfteine dayis.
April 8. — Intimation of the fast and publick humil
iation, to be keipit this day aucht dayis. Crystine
Patersone, wyfe to David Bee, in Knowis, being
sumonit, callit on, compeirit, and accusit for not
comunicating, qfessit hir oversight, afifirming some
dryness betwixt hir and William Millar, in Knowis
The minister promeisit to agre them if they wald be
reasonable. Ordainis hir to satisfye publicklie, on hir
kneis, before the pulpitt, the nixt Sabbothe, and to
pay ane merk. Being rebuikit, and exhortit to repent
ance, she was dimittit.
April 15. — Maister Jhone demandit him that sair-
chit the towne if he fand any drinking, or sitting in
houss, or byding fra the kirk, answeirit he fand nain,
praisit be God ! Item : Intimation maid of Jhone
Gillane (sometyme Laird of Buttrdeine) his relaxation
from the sentence of excommunication, being befor
ane recusant.
June 3. — The minister compleinit of some women in
the towne that resortit seldome to the kirk to heir the

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 1 95
Word, as Margaret Knowis, spous to Robert Skugall ;
Margaret Miltone, spous to Robert Quhyte ; Marin
Shortus, spous to Richard Skugall ; Cristen Liddel,
spous to Jn. Finla ; and also Alison Skugall, with
utheris. Ordainis them to be wairnit to the nixt day.
June 10. — The said day the women absents fra the
kirk, callit on, compeired. All accusit for seldome re
sorting to the heiring of the Word, answeirit that they
did not qteme the heiring of the Word : promeisit
amendment. Being earnestlie rebuikit, they wer or
dainit to resort in tyme coming befornoone and efter
noone, qlk gif they did not, they suld be ordainit to
satisfie publicklie, and pay the penaltie of Sabbothe-
breakeris, toties quoties ; qrunto they all agreit, and
promeisit not to be absent.
June 24. — Intimation of ane fast to be keipit thir
twa nixt Sabbothis throughout the haill kingdome,
and the causis thairfor shewed to the pepill at lenthe.
July I. — The fast keipit.
July 8. — The fast keipit. Item : The minister posed
the elderis severallie if they knew of anything to be
taken order with in the dayis of the fast, if any baid
fra the kirk, if abstinence was maid fra meitt, drink,
and pastyme, and if the peple behavit themselfs Cris-
tianlie ; answeirit that they knew of no disorder, bot
that gude order was keipit, praised be God ! alwayis.
July 15. — The said day George Foster his penaltie
given to George Davidsone, schoolmaister and reiddar,
becaus of his povertie.
August 12. — The minister shew to the elderis that
he had causit wairn Robert Skugall, servitor to James
Neilsone, befor the session. Callit on, compeirit, and

196 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
accusit of carying netis to the sea in ane cairt, be
yoking hors efter the efternoone sermon, confessit the
samin, bot did it, as he alledgit, with his maister his
directions. James Neilsone, present, answeirit yt he
bade him not yoke ane cairt, bot cary the netis on ane
horsback. Ordainis the said Robert to satisfie pub
licklie the nixt Lordis Day. Item : Thomas Airthe
compleinit on ane man quha brocht salt from the
Panis to this towne this day, befor sermon, to sell, to
qm presentlie the minister past, and George Shortus;
the officer, with him, arrestit the salt, and put it in
Rot. Quhyte his barn, that nain of it micht be sold
that day. Takin fra him 12s. to the pure. The min
ister promeisit to advertyse the minister of the Panis
to caus him come and satisfie publicklie.
August 26. — James Neilsone, accusit for comanding
his man to pass to the sea with netis in ane cairt, the
said James denyit he comandit him, except only to
carie them on horsback ; to qm the minister answeirit
that the last day he confessit he bade him yok the
cairt, qlk some of the elderis testifieit. The brethren
present ordainit the said James to remove, to be cen
sured, and ordainis him to sit down on his kneis befor
the elderis and ask God forgiveness, and to pay twentie
s. to the box ; qlk bothe he did, and the session was
qtentit. Given to ane pure man, being ane scollar, 6s.
September 2. — Intimation maid of the fast to be
keipit for seasonable weather and gude harvest ; and
ane abstynance to be maid everie Sabbothe in harvest,
seing thair was verie great drouthe for the present,
thretening great dearthe and famin.
September 9, — The fast solemnizit.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME, I97
September 16, — Intimation maid again to the abstin
ence everie Sabbothe in harvest. The elderis qvenit,
given out of the box to Jhone Quhyt, clerk, according
to promeiss, three lib., to get him clothis to serve in
the kirk, and that he suld gett no more for ane yeir
and mair. Item : George Davidsone, schoolmaister,
earnestlie desyrit somqt for his support out of the
penalties, seing he had few bairnis in the school. Given
to him 20s.
October 7. — The qlk day the elderis qveinit. Robert
Wallan, and Alexander Maccewan, ane of the Ladie
Bass feyit shearars at Lintoune, being callit upon,
compeirit, and accusit for Sabbothe-breaking by fecht
ing. The said Robert Wallan alledgit that he was
provokit be the said Alexander Maccewan, sheirar, and
was enforcit to come, sore against his will, and drew
ane sword to the said Alexander Maccewan. The
said Alexander accust heirof, confessit the same, and
was ordainit to satisfie publicklie, being heavilie re
buikit ; and ordainis the said Robert Wallan to satisfie
lykwise. Item : The minister earnestlie desyrit the
elderis to search the towne diligentlie, that the peple
micht resort to the heiring of the Word, and that
George Shortus, officer, suld poynd the absents, seing
it was appointit at the last court that the officer suld
put in execution the actis and ordinances of the kirk-
sessions qn he suld be desyrit ; for at my Lord of
Annandail his last court the minister desyrit the same,
qrunto the bailzie — viz., James Bailzie — willinglie
grantit. The session thocht gude that mention heirof
suld be maid publicklie out of pulpitt the nixt Sunday
to the peple, that nain pretend ignorance.

198 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
[About this time Lady Bass ceased to have connec
tion with the parish. The estate of Tyninghame
passed into the possession of John Murray, one of the
favourites of James VI. He was brother of Sir James
Murray, who held the estates of Annandale. John
Murray succeeded to these estates in 1636. He went
with the king to London when he was crowned. At
that time he was a privy counsellor, or rather, as
another minute has it, " of his Majestys bedchamber."
He was then Viscount of Annandale and Lord Murray
of Lochmaben. He had a charter to the lands of
Haikheuch and Caerlaverock, 20th February 1623 ;
also of the palace of Dumfries of said date. He was
created Earl of Annandale by patent, dated at White
hall, 13th March 1624. He married Elizabeth, daugh
ter of Sir John Shaw, knight, and died in London
September 1640.]
The minister earnestlie, befornoone, desyrit the
peple, and exhortit them to keip the abstinence for
said everie Sabbothe during the tyme of harvest.
Given to George Davidson 20s. of Thomas Greivis
penaltie (the uther twentie given befor) in respect of
his reiding and singing in the kirk, he being verie
puir, having ane familie.
October 14. — The weather being verie tempestious,
the minister earnestlie exhortit the peple to repent
ance, to keip the Sabbothes — the weather being verie
vehement four dayes befor, and this day, and was
lyklie to qtinew for thre dayes following and more —
his text being the i Joell, 10 ver., 11, 12, 13, 14 ver.
The peple wer exhortit to keip the abstinence, the corn
for the greatest pairt being out, and verie little led.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 199
The intimation maid of the former act — naimlie, anent
the poynding of absentis be the oflficer — causit the
peple to come frequentlie to the kirk at efternoon.
Marginal note. — At this tyme the famin began ; for
the vehement rain began the 3 day of Octr., and lastit
till the tent day without intermission. Famin for thre
yeirs continuit, viz., 1621, 1622, 1623.
Item : Reportit be some that Alexander Maccewan
was fugitive; the minister desyrit that if any within the
parish had anything belonging to the said Alexander
that they wald keip it for his penaltie, to be given to
the puir ; it was reportit that Robert Ewart had some
thing of his. Ordainis George Shortus, officer, to arrest
qtever Robert Ewart had belonging to the said Alex
ander Maccewan, and his feyes for his sheiring in
Thomas Yunges hands, greive to the Ladie Bass. The
said George Shortus promeisit to do the same if his
feyes for sheiring was as yit unpayit.
October 14. — The minister exhortit the peple to re
pentence. George Shortus searchit the towne.
November 11. — Given to Jn. Quhyt, clerk, to help to
buy his gown, 20s. Item : To Johne Hude, quha was
to go to the hospitall of North Berwick.
December 2. — Reiding and prayers, the minister being
appointit to preiche at Dumbar at comand of the pres
biterie and earnest desyr of the minister of Dumbar,
quha was of purpose to have preichit heir, bot was
impedit. December 9. — The 11 day of December, Tysday,
Robert Ewart and Helen Lumsdaile maryit at Spott.
They gave to the schoolmr and clerk los. heir.
December 16. — The minister earnestlie exhortit the

200 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
peple to resort to the efternoone sermon as yet, in
respect of the dearthe and greater appearance qrof
The minister exhortit the peple to abstaine fra pas
tyme and gaming on the Sabbothe.

1622.
January 6. — Maister Jhone shew to the elderis that
he had causit sumond Jhone Faas, servands millers in
Knowis Miln, to compear befor the session for grinding
corne upon the Sabbothe. As he had been callit on,
compeirit, and accusit heirof, denyit the same, and
promeisit not to grind on the Sabbothe at any tyme ;
bot that earlie on ane Sunday, at morn, befor day, they
did grind some little quantitie upon necessitie, that they
did not use to do it, nether suld do it at any time heir-
efter. Being removit, and callit in, ordainis them not
to grind corn at any tyme in the Sabbothe, qlk if they
did they suld pay 20s. toties quoties, and mak publick
satisfaction befor the parishe, qrto they agreit. Befor
thair departure the minister shew to them how it was
a breake of the Sabbothe to grind at any tyme, and
earnestlie exhortit them to abstein. They answeirit
that they did abstein, and suld, God willing, in all
tyme heirefter keip the Sabbothe to thair powar. He
exhortit them lykwise to come to the heiring of the
Word frequentlie, qlk they promeisit to do. Item :
The minister, befor the blessing, earnestlie exhortit the
peple to abstein fra pastyme and gaming on the
Sabbothe, and to continue, as they did, fra the same,
seing of aid and many yeirs the peple of this parishe

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME :20I
wer much given thairto, and thairfor, and for uther sins,
as the qtemp of the gospel, etc., God had punished the
peple. Item : The minister exhortit the elderis to
cause the peple of Muttonhole and Peffersyd to come
to the heiring of the Word, seing it was thair pairts to
hand heirto, being both elderis and honest men, qlk
they promeisit to do, and to be cairfull of yr coming to
the kirk. The elderis lykwis demandit if they knew
of anything to be taken order with in the parishe,
answeirit they knew of nothing, praisit be God !
February 17. — Intimation maid to the pepill to
bring thair collections for the Rochell the nixt day.
The minister exhortit them heirto earnestlie be many
rasins. Febry. 29. — Earnest exhortations maid to the pepill
anent yr contributions to the Kirk of God in France.
Collect this day efter the sermon threttie pund 8s. 2d.
March 3. — Qtribut this day at ye kirk door, to the
Kirk of France, 3 punds lis. lod.
March 10. — The minister earnestlie exhortit the
gentlemen and elderis present to have ane cair for the
schoolmaister, quha instructit the youthe, and red and
sang in the kirk. They promeisit to have some cair of
him, and ordainis Sir James Bailzie to be spoken heir
anent, being factor for my Lord of Annandaill heir,
seing the schoole had no provision for ye present. The
Ladie Bass did give befor four bollis of victuall for the
schoole, desyrs Sir James to be spokin be the minister
that my Lord of Annandaill wald do the lyke. Maister
Jhone promeisit to speike Sir James heiranent, and
lykwys to wryt to my Lord of Annandaill for this
effect, if neid beis. BE

202 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
March 24. — This day Maister James Home, minister
at Dumbar, preichit heir, and Maister Johne, minister,
preichit at Dumbar.
April 7. — No preiching but reiding, the minister
being in Edinburghe in persewing ane pairt of his
stipend fra the Laird of Spott, and costis, they having
ane thowsand merks in thair hands, qrof the minister
reseivis the annuell — being put in thair hands be the
New Colledge. The minister was persewing for ye
principall sowme and annual rents.
April 21. — The comunion ministered.
April 28.— Intimation maid to ye congregation to
keip the fast the twa nixt Sabbothis, being the twa
first Sabbothis of May, in regard of ye dystress of ye
Frenshe Kirk, and uther Reformit Kirkis ; the abund
ance of sin ; and that it wald please the Lord to qtinue
with us His gospell in his Maidjisties dominions.
May 12. — The fast weill keipit befornoon and efter
noon, praisit be God ! [There is a blank here from
19th May till 17th Nov., leaf cut away under minute
of 1 2 May ; the other side of said leaf is blank.]
November i7.^Intimation maid out of the pulpitt
of the thanksgiving to be keipit the nixt Sabbothe
for the peace of the Kirk of France, efter twa yeirs
persecution, according to the ordinance of the Provin
ciall Assemblie, haldin on Tysday last, being the 12
of November.
December i. — The minister earnestlie desyrit the
elderis to have ane cair of George Davidson, school
maister, now in great distress, being somqt distract in
his witt, and desyrit that George Shortus, officer, wald
cause some ane walk ilka nicht with him, and that

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 203
the minister and he wald go from hous to hous for his
support. The elderis promeisit to help, and to caus
utheris to help.
December 8. — The minister desyrit bothe the elderis
themselfs to help George Davidson, and to caus utheris,
he being almost now weill againe, seing he wald go
over to Fyff againe. They promeisit to do the same.
Maister Johne reportit that he hyrit ane man on his
owin expenss to go to Fyff for his father and brother
to come to him — viz., Patrick Watson— and that he
gave him 20s., and that his father has now come.
December 15. — The minister desyrit the elderis to
help George Davidson, being now weill, praised be
God ! Given be the minister and elderis out of thair
purss, 45s.

1623.

January 12. — Intimation to the pepill who have ane
cair of the pure wtin thair awn parishe, for the Justices
of Peace have appointed everie parish to find thair
awen in respect of the famine ; and if any parishe in
this presbiterie wer not able to susteine thair awin
pure thair, thay suld have license to seik through the
boundis of this presbiterie.
January 26. — Collect 4s., given all to Thomas Harvie
in Tynninghame, being ane aid honest man tailyeour.
February 2. — James Kirkwood complained to the
session on Jn. Michelsone and Patrik Mershell, in
Peffersyd, for bringing of fishe fra Dumbar the last
Sabbothe (and so prophaint the Sabbothe) to Peffer
syd. Ordains them to be wairint the nixt day.

204 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
February 23. — Patrik Mershell and Jn. Michelsone
satisfeit publicklie, and payit the penaltie wt some
mitigation. Marchg. — Given to George Davidson, 20 lib. [Blank
from 30th March till 19th October. Space is left, so
I suppose minutes have not been copied from the
scroll.] October 19. — This day Johne Whyt, clerk, buried.
November 23. — This day collect at the kirk doore,
for George Davidsone, being to depairt, 50s. 8d.
November 30. — Wm. Hay desyrit to be schoolmaister.
The minister and elderis forwith advysit : qtinues the
answer till this day 1 5 dayis.
December 14. — The session haldin, Wm. Hay com
peirit again and spak anent the school : qtinues till
this day 15 dayis.

1624.
November 28. — The session being qvenit, the minis
ter demandit the elderis if they knew of any thing to
be takin order withe ; they answeirit that they hard
that the cairts wer ower soon yokit the last Sunday at
nicht to go leid wair fra the se ; utheris affirmit that
they wer not yokit till ane efter midnicht, qrupon ane
act maid that nane within this parishe sail yoke thair
cairtis betwixt twelfe houris at even on Saturday, and
twelfe houris at even, or ane efter midnicht, on Sunday
following at the soonest, becaus the Sabbothe contains
24 houris alsweil as the rest of the dayis of the weik,
and ane holy rest aucht to be keipit all the 24 hours ;

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 205
and ordains this act to be intimate publicklie the
nixt Sabbothe, that nane pretend ignorance under
the pain of publick satisfaction and paying ane great
penaltie, as the session sail think expedient, toties
quoties.

625.

January 2. — The session haldin, Alexr. Johnson,
Patrik Wood, and George Foster, and Patrik Bassen-
den, callit on, all compeirit, except George Foster.
The saids persons callit on and accusit for troublin
James Neilsones hous, singing at the doore, being
dronk. Patrik Bassenden affirmit that he was not at
drink wt them, bot coming by hard them in the hous
asking meitt, and he came to them. James Neilsons
wyf callit on, compeirit, and demanded heiranent,
answeirit that Patrik Bassenden did no harme, bot
stayit them fra doeing, for he was comeing fra Preston
kirk, and hard them be the way, and yt the rest, at
thair outgoing, pullet down the hallown. Being de
mandit qr James Wilson, hir husband, was, she an
sweirit that he was not at hame at the tyme. The said
Alexr. Johnson and Patrik Wood denyit thair dronk
enness, and alledgit they came nigh the hous and talkit
a quhile wt hir, and as ane of them was going out,
touching the hallown, it fell down. The session, qsi
dering the saids persons to be loose in qversatione, and
given to drinking, being removeit and callit in again,
ordainis the said Alexr. Johnson and Patrik Wood to
pay, ilk ane of them, 3 lib. for thair dronkenness, if

206 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
they be able, and to seik the concurrence of the
civile magistrat for payment thairof; and if they
suld refuse, being unable, to speik the civile magis
trat that they micht be utherwayis punishit. Patrik
Bassenden was dismissit, and George Foster ordainit
to be wairnit to the nixt day.
January 9. — The session haldin, George Foster
callit on, compeirit, and accusit of the particulars
aboushewit, answeirit yt he was not wt them at the
drink, bot was coming into the toun fra keiping of his
hors, and heiring them in the hous, came in to them :
to qm it was answeirit that James Neilsones wyff
compleinit most heavilie on him, and more on him
than any of the uther twa quha wer censurit the last
day. The said George Foster behavit himself stu-
bournlie and proudlie befor the session, and was
offendit, and therfor apud acta ordainis him to com
peir befor the presbiterie on Thursday nixt.
March 13. — The elderis qvenit, and qsultit anent
the hinging of the bell in the stepill, sent be the Richt
Honourable Johne Murray, ane of his Maijesties bed-
chalmer, and heritor and proprietair of Tyninghame,
wt the pertinents. They all thocht gude and expe
dient and necessir that the bell suld be hung in the
stepill, seing thair was heir now present ane honest
man, David Bell in Couper of Fyff, ane verie expert
and skilful wricht, quha was willing to hing the bell,
and therefor appointit that Robert Lawder and the
minister suld speik Sir James Bailzie, and that
Robert Jakson and Mr Jhone suld speik Sir Jhone
Auchmutie, heritors, heiranent; lykwise Robert Law
der and Robert Jakson, heritoris, present ; and the

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 207
haill elders thocht it expedient that the money qlk
was qtribut for obteining communion cupis, tablis,
and tablisclothis and covers, basings for baptisme,
suld be presentlie takin and spent upon the hinging
of the bell, so far as it wald extend to. [The sowme
that was stentit and obtenit for the use forsaid is
sevine score sexteine punds fyve shillingis.] The
minister having chairgit them all wt letters, and
obtainit ane decreit against the Ladie Bass befor the
Lords, and therfor agreit wt David Bell, wricht, for
hinging of the bell, and obtaining all things necessar
to it. The gentlemen and elderis present thocht verie
meitt to be done, becaus the parishin had the often use
of the bell and seldome the use of the uther ; yet wt
this qdition : that als muche money suld be gatherit
and stentit againe for cupis, tablis and tableclothis, &c.,
as was stentit and gatherit befor, qhen occasioun suld
serve ; and, therfor, they ordainit the said Mr Johne,
minister, to produce the said sevin score sexteine
pounds fyve shillingis, to be bestowt on timber, iron,
and master -work, and paying of the craftsmen and
uther necessars for hinging of the bell. The said Mr
Jhone Lawder, minister, did produce all the saids
moneyis, qlk was all bestowit upon the hinging of the
bell, and some more,
March 20. — The qlk day Robert Lawder and the
minister reportit that they had spokin Sir James
Bailzie, quha was heartlie content that the bell suld be
hung primo quoque tempore wt all expedition, and that
the money forsaid suld be bestowit upon the hinging
of the bell, and that als much money suld be gathered,
and the heritors stentit, for communion cupis, &c., as

208 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
is above specifit — viz., sevin score sexteine pounds
fyve shillings — qn occasion suld serve, and qn it suld
be thocht expedient.
Robert Jakson of Lochouss, and the minister, lyk
wys reportit that they had spokin to the Laird of
Skugall, Johne Auchmutie, quha was weill qtent
that the bell suld be hung, and that the money
above mentionat suld be bestowit that way in respect
of the present necessities.
March 27. — The minister and session qvenit, and
thocht meit that ane new pulpitt suld be built in the
kirk, seing the minister compleinit of the pulpitt.
They agreit wt Alexr. Storie, wricht, for making of
ane new pulpitt ; and if thair suld be more money
than wald extend to the hinging of the bell, that it
suld be takin to help to build the pulpit ; qrto the
haill session agreit.
March 28. — Twa or thre dayis maist tempestuous
weather that ever was sein — the sea filling far higher
nor ever was sein befor in this age, the weather being
so tempestuous,
April 17. — The minister and Robert Lawder, and
some of the' elders, who did often oversee the work of
the bell and pulpitt, and quha did deburse the moneyis,
shew to the session that the haill expenses of the bell
did extend to 1 59 lib. 8s. 6d., and so did exceid the
sowme qlk was stentit and collectit for the communion
cupis, &c., be 3 lib. 3s. 6d.; for the haill sowme qlk was
stentit for the communion cupis, &c., was 1 56 lib. 5s.,
als is to be seine in this session buik, the first day of
Februari 161 8, in the stent maid be the minister and
heriters, as is thair at lenth specifeid.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 209
The minister did pay the said 3 lib. 3s. 6d. out of
his awin pocket.
Item : It was fund efter reckoning that the expenses
of the pulpitt did extend to 59 lib. 4s. ; qlk 59 lib. 4s.,
withe the forsaids 3 lib. 3s. 6d., as said is, the said Mr
Johne Lauder, present minister, did pay out of his
awin purse, for the better decorment of the kirk, ex
tending in all to 62 lib. 7s. 6d., and desyrit no recom
pense, bot did give the soume frelie of his awin accord
to so gude ane use.
Item : It was ordainit that all this premiss suld be
registrat in the session buik as is heir sett doune ;
and lykwyse to be registrat in the session buik
that the bell and the kirk Bible was sent be Johne
Murray, ane of his Maijesties bedchalmer, and Lord
of Annandaill and proprietar of the lands of Tyning
hame, ad perpetuam rei memoriam, as it is heir sett
doun and registrat to his perpetual comendation and
praise. April 24. — The Lords Supper celebrat. Gude order
keipit at all tymes, praise to God !
May I. — The minister demandit the elders if they
knew of anything to be takin order with ; they answerit
that they knew of nothing, praised be God ! Item :
If they knew of any not communicants. Ther wer
nane to thair knowledge, bot suld try farder.
May 3. — Ane bairne baptisit to Robert Lauder, por
tionar, of Tyninghame — D.L.N. Mary. Witness : the
Laird of Smeton, elder ; Patrik Whitlaw of that ilk,
and Mr James Sydserf of Ruchlaw.
May 29. — Intimation maid out of the pulpitt be the
minister to absteine from drukenes, utherwayis if any
CC

2IO CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
suld be fund giltie thairof suld be ordainit to pay thre
punds toties quoties.
This day reportit that John Jakson was not to pro
ceid in mariadge wt Helen Bassenden, bot that the
mariadge was given over, and thairfor qfiscats to the
use of the pure, and uther pious uses, the 40s. qsigned
be him, according to the order maid thairanent.
Ordainis everie elder to sairche the toune thair day
about in tyme of preiching, and in Skugall — to begin
the nixt day.
July II. — Betriche Nysbett was compleinit upon,
that she past to Skugall sea in tyme of preiching, to
gather powis thair. Being befor summonat and callit,
and accusit of Sabbothe-breaking, altogedder denyit ;
and seing it culd not be gottin for certin, ordainis hir
to keip the kirk everie Sabbothe, utherwayis she suld
be censurit wt all rigour. She promeisit to keip the
kirk everie Sabbothe orderlie.
Item : Some of the elderis compleinit on Cristen
Kellie, spous to John Fa, in Knowis Miln, that she
did verie seldom resort to the kirk upon the Sunday.
It was answerit be David Be that she was diseast in
hir legs, and micht verie hardlie travell. The session
ordainis David Be to go to hir, and advertyse and ad
monish hir, in the name of the session, to resort to
heir the Word ; utherwayis they wald cit hir befor
the session.
July 17. — The session ordains Js. Patersone to be
wairnit to the nixt day, for coming to the gaitt to
fecht with Alexr. Skugall.
July 24. — James Patersone callit on, compeirit, and
accusit for drawing ane quhinger on the Sunday to

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 211
fecht with Alexr. Skugall, answerit that when he saw
his mother bleid he culd not conteine himself Yit he
submittit himself to the will of the session. Ordainis
him to sit doune presentlie on his knees and ask God
forgiveness before the kirk-session, qlk he did, craving
pardon for his offences.
July 31. — Item : This day the fast keipit befor and
efternoon, in regard to the famin and pestilense in
England, and for a gude success to the Kingis navie
and forcis be sea and land.
August 7. — The fast keipit and solemnizit.
August 28. — The session haldin, the minister was
heavilie greivit becaus in the mornin some boatis came
in wt heirin, and began to sell. They desyrit George
Shortus, officer, and some uthers, to go wt him to the
heavene to poynd the delinquents ; and the minister,
wt some of the elders, to go eist at efternoon to se the
Sabbothe keipit, qlk they did. The minister attendit
the heavene till twelf houris at evene, and sufferit no
herring to be sold all that tyme. James Kirkwood
reportit that twa boatis came in Skugall bounds, and
ane of them was ane boat of North Berwick, the uther
of the Blakness. The minister promeisit to advertyse
the minister of North Berwick to send them bothe
to mak them satisfye, or to be unlawit ; and as for the
uther, to tak sik order as we micht. The minister re-
provit Js. Kirkwood becaus he took not all these her
ring and qfiscat them to the use of the pure.
September 18. — To ane pure young man, being ane
ministers son, 6s. 8d.
September 25. — James Buccan, clerk, desyrit als
muche money as to buy ane shoole and spaide to

212 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
maik the graifs thairwt, and the shoole and spaide suld
stand in the stepill qtinualHe, and suld be onlie ap
pointed for that use ; qrto the session grantit and gave
him 24s., and the spaide and shoole to be bocht at
Hadinton, the 2nd of this instant.
October 9. — Bessie Mathisstone, spous to William
Gemmell, compeirit. Being callit on and accusit of
Sabbothe-breaking, by sheiring of corn, she qfessit
that she shore some, bot verie litel, and ane short
quhyll befor the sun-setting. Being heavilie rebuikit
and exhortit to unfainyed repentance, ordainis hir to
satisfie the Kirk publiklie the nixt Lords Day, and to
pay ane merk.
Item : Jonet Bennet, spous to Alexr. Bee, callit on,
compeirit, and accusit of sheiring of corn on ye last
Lords Day, denyit the same altogedder, and protestit
that she had never sik ane intention nor thocht, and
by Godis grace suld never do that wrong. Js. Cous-
land callit on, and accusit for his absence fra the kirk
and session the last day, answeirit that he was at
Quhitekirk, having occasion to be thair; being accusit
for sheiring of corn, denyit the same, and affirmit con-
stantlie that nane in Peffersyd, except Bessie Mathis
stone, did sheir any corn at all, and that she did sheir
verie littel. Being earnestlie exhortit to keep the kirk
as became, he was demittit.

1626.
February 12. — The session haldin,- Mr Hen. Millis,
schoolmaister and reiddar, desyrit support of the par-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 213
ishe, that he micht pass away, as the bairnis were dis
solvit fra him, and ane uther entrait in his roume — viz.,
Johne Ferguson.
[Blank from 12 Feb. 1626, till 18 March 1627.]

1627.
March 18. — The minister demandit the elderis if
they knew of anything to be taken order withe ; they
answeirit that they knew of nothing, praisit be God !
March 25. — Pasche day. Collect los.
April 8. — Comunion celebrat.
April 22. — The said day Robert Quhyte, in Tyning
hame, callit on (being before wairnit) and accusit for
not comunicating, answeirit that he was at variance
with Alexr. Sleigth. Being heavilie rebukit thairfor,
seing he micht have agreit with the said Alexr., and
being exhortit to earnest repentance, he was qtent to
agre, and to do qtever suld be injoynit, and promeisit
never to do the lyke in tyme coming, and that he suld
comunicat at the first occasion. He was ordainit to
make publick satisfaction befor ye qgregation, and to
pay 20s. Item : James Thomson, in Muttonholl, ac
cusit for the lyk fait in absenting himself fra ye com
union, answeirit that he was at variance wt ane man
at North Berwick, The minister informit him of his
dewtie, being ignorant ; and being heavilie rebukit and
exhortit to unfainyed repentance, ordainis him to sat
isfie publicklie, and to do all things injoynit to Robert
Quhyt, seing they were bothe in the same fait.

214 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
The said day Alexr. Cuninghame, George Lauder,
and Johne Airthe, nominat to be elderis.
May 15. — Ane bairn baptisit to Robert Jackson of
Eister Lochous — S. L. N. Gideon. Witness : Gideon
Bailzie, Robt. Lauder, Mr Alexr. Hepburn, pedagogue
to the said Gideon Bailzie.
[Blank till 13 July 1628.]

1628.
July 20. — My Lord Hadingtone being in Edinr.
Intimation to collect the nixt day for the pepill in
Leithe. Aug. 17. — The minister demandit of the elderis if
they knew of anything to be taken order wt, seing
thair wer heir many pepill at the draif in taking of
hering. They answeirit that they knew of no disorder,
praisit be God ! and that the kirk was weil keipit bothe
befornoone and efternoone this day and the last day,
and that thair was no Sabbothe-breaking be the draif-
ers or uthers.
Aug. 24. — Great rain and great spaitt water. Text
I Joel, 10. The twentie of August, being Wednesday
befor, verie windie. Skaithe bothe be sea and land.
The draife removing : ane great take befor.
Ane fast intimate to be keipit the next Wednesday
throughout all Scotland, in barroun tonnes, and in
landwerds throughout all Scotland on Sunday. The
causes, besyd the four causes of the preceding fast,
the distress of the city of the Rochell ; to pray God
for it, and for the hastie release thairof, and for season-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 215
able weather to the harvests, in regard of the unseason
able weather befor.
September 7. — The qlk day thair was 25s. given for
a winding sheit for a man quha came in Peffersand,
and was buryed the last week.
Intimation maid out of the pulpit anent the election
of the persons foresaid to be elders — Alexr. Cuning
hame, George Lauder, Johne Airthe, Thomas Neil
sone, and John Neilsone. Item: Given to ane stranger,
being ane Transelvanian, i8s. He was supportit be all
the kirks of the presbiteries.
September 14. — Hadingtone and all his family in
the kirk. Mr Broune this day preichit befornoon.
September 23, being Tysday, ane bairne bapteisit to
Robert Lauder, portioner, of Tyninghame, in the yeir
of God 1628— S.L.N. Patrik. Witness : the Laird of
Smeton, elder ; Patrik Hamiltone, Robert Hamiltone,
Robt. Jaksone, George Pringall, Johne Livingstone.
November 9.— The minister shew to the elders that
James Andersonewas before the presbiterie on Thurs
day last ; and becaus he compeirit not in linnen clothes
on Sabbothe, he was ordainit to come againe to the
presbiterie at thair next meeting. The ten day of
November, Thomas Nicolsone, son to David Nicol
sone, in Tyninghame, buryit. Died of the pox, being
12 or 14 years auld, of gude expectation, if God had
qtinuit his lyfe.
The 12 day of November, at even, twa men in the
Knows, taskers to David Bee and James Millar thair,
comeing fra Prestonkirk, fra the barne whair they
did thrashe daylie, dyet in the water besyd Preston
Milne, on horseback, and wer fund on the morne — the

2l6 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
ane of them callit Js. Robesone, the uther Thomas
Yerston — the said Thomas Yerston buryit at Whit
tinghame, and Js. Robisone at Prestonkirk — the water
being greater then ordinar.
The 15 day of November ane man of Rotardame
buryit, his ship being cast away besyd Skugall, the 14
day of November, in the nicht, about ane in the morn
ing ; the rest of the men being safe.
November 30. — Intimation maid of a thanksgiving to
be keipit the next Sabbothe for the gude harvest, ac
cording to the ordinance of the Provinciall Assemblie.
December 21. — No preiching, bot reiding, the minis
ter being at Whittinghame wt his brother Alexander.
The said 21 day, Alexander Lauder, my brother,
depairtit this lyff, and sleipit maist sweetlie in the
Lord, betwixt sevin and aucht houris at nicht, at
Whittinghame, in my Lord of Whittinghame his hous,
and was brocht doune in ane hors litter to Tyning
hame upon Tysday, the twentie-third of December,
to his buryall besyd his father and brother ; many
accompanying him, bothe gentlemen and utheris.

1629.
January 4. — Robert Ewart compleinit on Alexr.
Jakson becaus he slanderit him, calling him a thief.
The said Alexr. compeirit, being sumonit and callit
on, and accusit heirof, and being rebuikit, afifirmit he
wald byd be the same, and prove it. The session
referis the same to the court and the civill magistrat,
that if it wer provin thair the magistrat micht punishe

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 217
the said Robert Ewart ; and if utherwayis, the said
Alexr. Jakson micht be sent back fra the court to the
kirk-session, and punishit as ane slanderer of the said
Robert Ewart. Heirwt the saids pairteis wer bothe
content, so they wer dimittit, efter admonition given
be the minister to them bothe.
January 11. — This day James Fairlie preichit, the
minister being at Edinr, at comand of the presbiterie,
to assist Mr Js. Home, minister at Dunbar, anent the
tryall of ane woman suspect of witchcraft in the parish
of Dunbar — viz., Issbell Yong, in Eist Barns.
January 26. — No examinations at efternoone, the
minister being at Prestonkirk, quha preichit thair at
efternoone, and was lykwyse at the buryall of Mr
Johne Dalwell his eldest son, being four yeirs auld or
thairby, January 28. — Wednesday, Mr Thomas Hepburn,
parsone of Auldhamestockis, buryit at Auldhame-
stocks ; the minister, wt sundrie uthers, being at his
buryall. February 19. — George Forest and Jeane Lauder,
sister to Mr Johne Lauder, minister at Tyninghame,
maryed. February 22. — The elders qvenit, the minister socht
James Andersone his penaltie fra Johne Airthe, quha
was securitie and caution thairfor. The said Johne
offerit ffour merks. The minister refusit to tak the
said ffour merks ; yit, by pluralitie of votis, it was
qcludit that the said ffour merks suld be resavit, in
regard of the said Js. Andersone his povertie. The
said four merks put in the box. The minister also
demandit from Johne Airthe ten merks, promeisit for
DD

2l8 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Js. Neilsone his buryall in the kirk. Sore against the
minister his will he was buryit thair, or ony uther
ather, seing the minister had debarret many fra
buryall in the kirk quha wer in use to bury befor in
former tymes. Johne promeisit to have it reddie,
seing the said James Neilsone was his father-in-law.
April 12. — The session haldin, the minister de
mandit the elderis severalie if they knew of anything
to be takin order wt ; they answerit that they knew of
nothing, praisit be God !
May 10. — Intimation of the comunion to be cele
brat, God willing, the nixt Lords Day — the sermon to
begin on Seturday nixt, betwixt 3 and 4 at efternoon
(exhorts the pepill to keip gude order), and the morn
ing sermon on Sunday to begin at six houris in the
morning. May 1 7. — The comunion celebrat : gude order keipit
at all tymes, praised be God !
Item : Given to Alexr. Storie 6s. for seiting the
tables. Item : To Johne Fergison, reiddar, 12s.
Item : The not communicants, if any be, to be tryit
and qvenit befor the session.
June 7. — -The session qvenit, it was ordainit, as often
befor, that everie elder suld searche the towne everie
Sunday befornoon and efternoon, thair day about, and
to delate the absents fra the preitching to the session,
that they may be censurit ; and to begin this day, qlk
they promeise to do.
June 14. — The said day James Fairlie, in Eist
Barnis, schoolmr thair, preichit heir befornoon and
efternoon, the minister being at Auldhamstocks, quha

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME, 219
preichit thair at the comand and ordinance of the
presbiterie, August 30. — Item : The said day ane bairne bap
teisit to Christopher Waltone, mariner at Dysert, and
husband to Issbell Lauder, sister to Mr Johne Lauder,
minister of this parishe — the said Christopher not
being in thir quarteris, and the said Issbell being heir
visiting friends, and being delyverit in hir brother Mr
Jn. Lauder his hous. The said bairne S.L.N. Robert.
Witness : Robert Jakson, Mr Geo. Jakson, Jn. Gilbert,
wt utheris. The said bairne presented be Geo. Lauder,
hir brother. The said day ane great profanation of the
Sabbothe, bothe be the fisheris at the draife and the
countrie pepill, at efternoon, fra four houris at evene,
especiallie efter the efternoon sermon, to the great greife
of the minister and uthers weill affected personis — the
breake being bothe at Dumbar and heir at Tyninghame
sea syd, at Skugall, and at North Berwick.
September 6. — The elderis qvenit, mention being
maid to them be the minister of the last dayis
Sabbothe-breaking, appoints tryall to be maid bothe
anent the sellers and buyers of herring that day. It
was answerit that the delinquents were verie many,
that hardlie disciplin culd be usit against them all, and
that it was extraordinarie. Ordanis tryall to be maid
so far as culd be, that the delinquents micht be de
latit to thair awin ministers and sessions, and sent
heir, or utherwayis to be censurit according to the
order of the Kirk, and disciplin thairof
Item : Mention maid anent the collect for the pepill
in Lithgowshyrre, qrby ane gentilman of surname
Pollok was utterlie impoverished.

220 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Item : Anent the collection and qtribution for pepill
in Lithgow. Ordanis also the elderis to searche the
towne everie Sabbothe befor and efternoon (and Airthe
to begin againe this day), seing the pepill came not so
frequentlie at efternoon as neid wer.
September 13. — This day Mr William Browne, pyd-
agog to Robert Hamiltone, sone to the Earle of Had
ingtoune, preichit befor and efternoon, the minister
being at Dunbar, quha preichit thair befor and efter
noon, at comand of the presbiterie, for Mr Johne
Home, minister at Dunbar, being sick.
September 19. — Archbald Thomson, ane pure creil
man, buryed.
October 4. — The minister regraitit to the session
that he culd not gett sik quarrente to punishe the
prophaners of the Sabbothe in tyme of draife, the 29
of August last, thair being so many delinquents, and
that he socht the advyse of the presbiterie heirin
some presbiterie dayis since, and thair advyse was,
if no uther order culd be had, to denunce the judgment
of God against them, and to show to them out of
Gods Word the danger of Sabbothe-breaking, if they
repent not and amend not ; qlk the minister faild not
to do accordinglie, and did censure lykwys those of
this parishe that wer faltie.
October ii. — Mr Alexr. Hamiltone, presentit to the
kirk of Hadington, preichit befornoon.
October 20. — Ane bairne bapteisit to James Rip-
pethe, tincklair — S.L.N. Archbald. Witness: Archbald
Eliot, George Lauder, David Berry. He producit ane
testimonial of his lawfull mariadge and honestie fra
Grenla, in the Mers.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 221
October 28. — Item : 40s. of Alexr. Jaksone his pen
altie for feighting sent doune be my Lord of Hading
toune to the box, to be employid ad pios usus.
December 13. — This day, ane bairne of my Lord of
Binnings — viz., Alexr. — being sex quarteris auld or
thairby — was buryed.
December 27. — The weather being verie vehement.

1.630.
January 3. — James Andersone callit on, and accusit
for not adhering to his wiff, and resorting to hir, afifir
mit that he did not desert hir, nether was of mynd to
do so, bot repentit of his former ill cours, and that he
did resort to hir, and suld qtinue so doing, God willing,
and that hir sister being in the hous wt hir, wt qm he
culd not well agree, was the caus of his strangeness
to hir. The session assured him that if he did not
amend they wald assist the woman to intend process
against him befor the comissers.
January 24. — This day the bands of mariadge be
twixt Mr Johne Lauder, minister of this parishe, and
Elizabethe Haitlie, proclaimit the first tyme.
February 7. — The said day Mr Johne Lauder and
EHzabethe Haitlie wer maryed at Wittinghame, at
efternoon. Mr Alexr. Douglas preichit heir befor
noon, and at Wittinghame efternoon. She came to
Tyninghame on Friday therefter, the 12th of Feb
ruari 1630.
May 2. — The sacrament of the Lords Supper cele
brat : gude order keipit, praised be God ! at all tymes.

222 CHURCHES OK SAINT BALDRED.
Given to Johne Fergisone, readder, I2s.
August 8. — Alisone Makmathe callit on, compeirit,
and accusit, answeirit that she came to dwell wt hir
sister a quhyll, hir maister and mistress being in the
Tolbuithe in Edinburgh. Ordainit hir to produce a
testimonial fra Edinburgh betwixt and this day aucht
dayis, or els to go of the towne ; qlk she promeisit to
do, and was dimittit.
August 15. — Alison Mackmathe producit ane testi
monial fra Mr Johne Maxwell, minister at Edinr.,
qlk was allowit be the session.
August 22. — The said day the minister earnestlie
desyrit the Earle of Hadingtone to caus his servants
attend the heavene, lest the Sabbothe-day be pro-
phaned be inbringers of herring, seing thair wer gude
store of herring takin. My Lord promeisit to do the
same. Thair was littel or no prophanation, praised
be God !
September 5. — The qlk day the session haldin, the
minister demandit if thair was anything to be takin
order withe. James Kirkwood shew to the elderis that
he had resaifit ane letter fra his maister, the Laird of
Skugall, desyring the session to appoint ane place in
the kirk for his aid seitt, seing his servants in Skugall
and Aldhame had no seitts as yet in the kirk. The
minister and elderis, qsidering this, thocht gude to
take the advyse of the presbiterie heiranent, if it can
not be agreit upon be the pairties themselfs having
interest. The session thocht • that the seitts in the
southe syde of the kirk micht be qvenientlie altered,
wt thair faces to the pulpitt and thair backs to the
west, and standing in order befor another, qlk wald

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 223
make far more roome for ma seits, and the pepill
micht heir more qvenientlie and attentivelie — my
Lords tenants having any thre seitts in the first
roume, and the Lairds tenants ane to the doore.
September 26. — The qlk day the elderis qvenit, the
minister shew the elders that he desyrit George
Skugall, Rot. Skugall, and Alexr. Skugall, in Tyning
hame, and Rot. Ewart, to be at the session wt the
elders, seing the thre seitts nixt William Mercer his
seitt in the south syd of the kirk ar possessit be them.
The minister shew to them that if they wald be con
tent to have thair seitts turnit about, wt thair faces to
the pulpit, they wald the better heir the Word, the
kirk suld be the better dividit, and the Laird of
Skugall his aid seitt being pairtit in twa halfifis, wald
be Sett be this menis convenientlie, and not more
roume takin up nor they have presentlie. The said
George and Alexr Skugallis compeirit not, qrby they
gave evidence and declairit thair unwilHngnes. The
said Rot. Skugall, present, refusit lykwis to have his
seitt any wayis alterit. The minister then shew to
them — viz., to Rot. Skugall and Robt. Ewart — that if
the presbiterie came to visit the kirk, apparentlie they
wald ordaine this to be done, as is above writtin.
Rot. Ewart was indifferent heirin,
October 17. — The qlk day the minister spoke to the
elders againe anent the seitting of the Laird of Sku
gallis aid seitt, for his tenants in Aldhame and
Skugall, and callit on George Skugall and Rot. Ewart
and Rot. Skugall. The said George compeirit not,
the uther two compeiring. James Kirkwood renewit
his suit anent the Laird his seitt. Rot, Skugall and

224

CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED,

Rot, Ewart showed themself somqt unwilling to have
thair seitts altered, seing they wer aid possessions ; to
qm it was answeirit that thair possessions of ferme
land in this parishe was bot verie small. In the
meanetyme compeirit Niniane Chernsyd, commis
sioner fra the Earle of Hadingtone, shewing that my
Lord was verie willing that the Laird of Skugall his
seitttis suld be sit and placet in the kirk as the min
ister proposit — viz., that the seittis in the suth syd
of the kirk suld have thair faces to the pulpitt — if by
so doing the kirk suld be better saited, and more
roume maid. Bot if the minister and session suld
think this not to be expedient nor qvenient, his Lord
ship suld be content that the Lairds seitts suld be sett
as the minister and elderis suld think most fitting and
expedient ; and that his Lordship suld comand his
tennents to obey qhatever the minister and session
suld appoint and decerne heirin, seing his L. was
assurit that they wald do nothing heirin but qt is
most qvenient to be done ; seing the minister had
declairit to his L. the whole staitt of this matter and
busines, and the Laird of Skugall lykwys.
October 24. — This day Mr William Browne preichit,
the minister being in the Mers, and his wyff wt him,
visiting hir mother and friends.
November 14. — Ane thanksgiving intimat this day,
to be keipit the nixt Lords Day, for the gude harvest,
as it was appointed be the Provinciall Assemblie.
November 21. — Item : The elderis being qvenit, the
minister shew to them that he had desyrit Robert
Ewart, George Skugall, and Robert Skugall, to come
to the session, that they micht heir and se quhat course

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 225
suld be takin anent the seitting of the Laird of Skugallis
seits, seing he was ane heritor in the parishe, and had
many lands thairin, and lykwis his tenants having no
set seitts as yet wtin the kirk. The saids Rot. Ewart,
George Skugall, and Robert Skugall compeiring, the
minister did declair and shew to the elderis all present,
and to them at lenthe, that it wald tend to the order
ing of the kirk if the seittes in the suthe syd of the
kirk wer seit as is above specified. The elderis being
all poseit, wer of the same, wtout qtradiction, provyded
alwayis that the honest men to qm the seittis belongis,
being but pure mein men, be not put to chairgis by
translating thair seittis ; bot they feirit, if this suld be
done, that thair suld not be roume aneuche in the floor
of the kirk for the women.
Robert Ewart and George Skugall were qtent that
qtever cours the minister and session suld take herin
they suld not oppose, seing my Lord of Hadingtoune,
thair maister, was qtent herewithe ; bot Robert Sku
gall did not yeild heirto. The minister and elderis
thocht meittest yet to advyse quhar the Laird of Sku-
galls seitts micht be most qvenientlie seit, to the Lairds
contentment and consent of all pairtis, if it be possibil.
The minister promeisit yet to speak the Laird heirin,
and to shew him quhat was done, and in name and
behalf of the Laird of Skugall was qtentit. The saids
Robert Ewart and George Skugall desyrit that they
micht be adverteisit quher thair seittis suld be alterit
or removit, that they micht help to sett them againe.
The minister answeirit that befor thair seitts be alterit
or removit they suld heir the decreit of the session
heiranent, qrto they agreit. EE

226 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Item : Intimation maid to the pepill that the Shorter
Scotshe Catecheis and the examination is to begin
(God willing) the nixt Sabbothe,
December 26. — The elderis qvenit, ane act maid
against mashing or brewing upon Sunday, at even
ing, or any tyme of the Sunday, under the paine of
threttie s,
163I,
January 16. — The qlk day the session haldin, George
Fisher compleinit on Alexr. Jakson, that he had slan
derit him by calling him ane theiff, by stealing ane
sheep fra Alexr. Hude. The said Alexr. callit,- com
peirit, and denyit that he slanderit, for he said he spake
no thing bot the treuthe, and that he wald prove it.
The session refers it to the civil magistrate, to be tryit
be the court ; qrwithe baithe the parties wer content.
The 25 day of Januar, Tysday, 163 1, ane baime
bapteisit to Mr Jn, Lauder, minister at Tyninghame
— S.L,N. Johne. Witness: the Laird of Smetoune,
yonger ; Mr Lauder, Robert Jakson, Js. Preston, Mr
Alexr. Douglas, Johne Dougall, Alexander Cuning
hame. He was bapteisit be Mr Jn. Dalwell, minister
at Prestonkirk. The said Johne Lauder was borne on
Thursday last, the twentie of Januari, at sex houris at
nicht or thairby,
January 30. — This day, by advyse and command
of the session, given to the smythe for mending the
kirk door lock, and the iron qlk holds the water to
the baptisme.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 227
February 27. — This day being fule weather, and the
water great in regard of the rain.
April 3. — The minister posit the elderis severallie
if they knew of anything to be taken order withe ;
they answeirit that they knew of nothing, praised be
God ! Ordains ilka elder thair day about to searche
the towne, as it was often ordained befor, and Johne
Airthe to begin this day at efternoon.
April 17. — The minister desyrit the elderis diligent
lie to qsider anent the placing of the Laird of Skugall
his seittis, seing it was long delayed. Item : It was
fund be the session and minister that it had beene
weill done that the seittis in the suthe syd of the kirk
wer turnit wt thair faces to the pulpitt, or to the eist ;
bot seing the awiners of the seittis wer not willing
heirto, and seing if the seittis wer not maid shorter
the roome in the middell culd not be sufficient for the
women, therfor the session thinks meitt, and resolves
and decrees, till better course be taken wt all the seittis
in the bodie of the kirk, that the seitt qlk standis far
dest west, exceptane in the north syd of the kirk, be
removit to the suthe syd, and be placit betwixt Rot.
Ewarts seitt, nixt the kirk door, and ane of the Laird
of Skugall his seittis placit and seit in place thairof,
seing the said seitt qlk is ordained to be removit per
tains to no man wtin the parishes, the session ther
for having powar to place it quhair they please ; and
lykwys decrees and ordainis that the uther seitt per
taining to the Laird of Skugall be placit in the suthe
syd of the kirk, betwixt Rot. Skugallis and Rot.
Ewarts seitt — viz., betwixt Rot. Skugallis and be eist
Rot. Ewarts seitt — and the seittis to be thus placit be-

228 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
twixt and the nixt Sunday ; and therfor the minister
desyrit the saids Rot. Skugall and George Skugall,
and Alexr. Skugall, brother to the said George Sku
gall, and Rot. Ewart, all personalie present, to come
on Wednesday nixt to see the seittis thus seit and
placit as said is ; qrto all the saids personis at lenthe
agreit and willinglie consentit, and promeisit to be
present the said day in the kirk, to assist and concur
for seiting of the said seits (God willing) as is abou
sheit. The minister and elderis thocht this decreit
anent the seittis to be verie equitable, becaus the
parishe being devydit in four pairtis. The Earl of
Hadingtone hathe thre pairtis, according to the hus-
bandlandis, and the Laird of Skugall ane pairt ; and,
thairfor, in bothe the syds of the kirk the Earl of
Hadingtone and his tenents aucht to have thre seittis,
and the Laird of Skugall ane, even to the stepill, if
they please to plant and seit seittis throughout all
the kirk.
Item : Given to Johne Fergisone, reiddar, 9s.
April 24. — Given to a man with a testimonial, rob
bed by pyratis, 9s.
May 22. — The qlk day the comunion celebrat: gude
order, praised be God ! keepit at all tymis. Given this
day to Johne Fergisone, reiddar, 12s.; to Jas. Bucane,
6s. ; to Alexr. Storie, wricht, for seiting the furmis and
tablis, 6s.
August 14. — The minister desyrit that the elderis
wald have ane speciall cair that thair be no Sabbothe-
breaking in regard of the draife.
August 21. — Reportit be some of the elderis that
Alexr. Jakson was come in the morning wt some her-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 229
ring, and that some pepill in the toune coft them — bot
thair was few of them ; and that some sett nettis on
Setterday at nicht, and cam in this morning, bot had
no herring. The minister answeirit that those pepill
quha did sett on Setterday, against the order maid,
did qt in them lyis to move the Lord to put away the
draife, and not to bliss it, and that he wald delate
them to the admirail ; and ordainis Alexr. Jakson to
be wairnit to the presbiterie, becaus it is ordainit that
this yeir all breakers of the Sabbothe, by selling or in-
bringing of herring, sail be callit befor the presbiterie,
becaus the civill magistrats wer not so cairfull heirin
as need wer, and did not punish the breakers of the
Sabbothe so severlie as they demerit.
August 28. — Intimation maid to the pepill to pro
vyde something for the distressit pepill of the Palat
inate, against the nixt Sunday and this Sunday come
fyfteine dayis.
September 4. — Collect for the distressit pepill of the
Palatinate, 32s. The minister desyrit them earnestlie,
quha have not brocht thair contribution this day, to
bring it against the nixt day, or els he wald come to
thair houss that brocht not.
September 11. — Collect for the distressit pepill above
mentionit, 16 punds 3s. — my Lord of Hadington having
alreaddie given, at Edr., for this effect, thre hundrethe
merks. September 2t,. — The minister shew to the elderis that
Alexr. Jakson compeirit befor the presbiterie, and was
ordainit to give to our box qt he gatt for his herring
qlk he brocht in on the Sabbothe-day above mentionit,
and qt he afifirmit he gatt bot thretty shillings (qlk the

230 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
said Alexr. Jakson producit before the session, and was
put in the box), and promeisit not to transgres in tyme
coming. October 23. — The 20 day of October, being Tysday,
ane extraordinarie great spait water — great raine hav
ing fallin on almost all the nicht befor, and that day
exceidinglie. It overflowit all the bankis.
Upon the twentie-ffourt day of October, my Lord
of Hadington remivit fra Tyninghame to Edinr., wt
his family, being Monday
October 30. — The fourt day of Novr., being Fryday,
ane great spait water, neir als great as the uther.
November 6. — Upon the ellevint day of November
163 1, being Fryday, Alexr. Jakson and Robert Nicol
sone dyed in the creek, as they were riding through
the creek to Dumbar — at the foot of the creek, the sea
coming in — and were brocht to Tyninghame late at
evene, and wer bothe buryed on the morn, the twelf
day of November, Seturday.
November 20. — The qlk day the minister compleinit
and regrated to the session that some pepill had pro
phainit the Sabbothe, and done wrong to thair neich-
bours, at the laikwaik of Isbell Hude, qlk was on the
Sunday at nicht, be hurling cairtis togidder in the
towne, and casting water on Johne Jaksons hous, and
that he had caused wairne George Foster and Johne
Ewart, quha wer delatit as guiltie. Bothe the saids
George Foster and Johne Ewart callit on, absolutely
denyit the same, and afifirmit that Jonet Dunse and
Isbell Foster, and some that wer wt them, did make
some ryott, so far as they hard. Ordains them to be
wairnit to the nixt day.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 23 1
The said day compleinit Johne Ewart on Alisone
FowUar, spous to George Ra, that in David Nicolson
his house, that the said Alison spake some words efter
Alexr. Jakson his deathe, pairtlie sclanderous against
the said Alexr. Jakson, now depairtit this lyff, and
pairtlie propheticall against him — viz. : that he suld
die the same deathe and suld go the same gaitt that
Alexr. Jakson did, becaus they trick hir gudman in
the nicht wt peis, and compleinit of him to the civill
magistrat. Being demanded if he culd prove that be
famious witness, answeirit that he culd ; and therfor
nominat Andrew Strong, Patrik Bassindean, Margt.
Huntar, Adam Skugall, Manus Clerk. Ordains him
to come again the nixt day, and to bring his witness
wt him.
November 27. — Jonet Dunse and Elspeth Foster
callit on (being twa yong lasses) and accusit for using
ryot that nicht quhen Isbell Hudes laikwaik was.
They afifirmit that they did no wrong that nicht, nor
usit any ryot, but went further, and came in againe,
and hard some bairnis making din in the gaitt, and
that they came in againe. Being demandit quha ther
wer, answeirit they culd not tell, becaus the nicht was
mirk. Efter many questions and answeris and threat-
tings to them, referris it to farder tryall ; and if they
will not confess, referris it to the court, to be tryit
thair for the wrong done to honest men for hurling
some of yr cairtis togidder ; and if they be qvict thair,
they and the persons that wer wt them suld returne
to the session, and be censurit for prophaners of the
Sabbothe. December 11. — Margt. Huntar callit, compeirit, and

232 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
being demandit qt she hard Alisone Fowllar say qcern-
ing umqll Alexr, Jakson and Johne Ewart, she an
sweirit, that the said Alisone, being at variance wt
umqll Alexr. Jakson for the peis, as is above written,
said that it is weill done to hant gude companie, and
it is weill done to parents to bid thair bairnis to weill
— bot wald answeir no more. The said Margt. Hun
tar rebuikit becaus she wald say no more. She was
demittit till she suld be wairnit againe. Robert Ewart
lykwyse afifirmit that Alisone Fowllar said to his wyff:
If I burne befornoone for thaise speichis, Margt. Hun
tar will burne efternoon.
December 25. — Anent the ryott at the laikwaik : re
ferris it to be tryit be the court, seing we culd not gett
notice perfytlie quha maid it ; and in the mater the
session thocht gude to make publick intimation of the
dyscharge of sik ryottis in tyme coming out of pul
pitt ; and lykwise the minister rebuikit out of pulpitt,
in audience of all the pepill, sik ryottis at sik times
— or any disorder — qlk is rather a tyme of mourning
nor of mirthe ; and promeisit, if we wald gett perfyt
knowledge of the comitters of sik disorders and ryottis,
they sail be callit before the presbiterie, and censurit
seveirlie, and punished.
Manus Clerk callet on ; and being demandit quhat
he hard Alisone Fowllar speik anent umqll Alexr.
Jakson and Johne Ewart to Margt. Huntar, answeirit
he hard hir say nothing bot this : God send everie ane
gude end : it wer weill done for parents did thair chil
dren hant gude companie ; to qm it was answeirit that
he spake utherwayes in his hous, qr she confessed that
she said Jon. Ewart, Robert Ewart his sone, his nech-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 233
hour, wald go the same gaitt. This the said Manus
Clerk denyit.
Item : Adam Skugall callit on, compeirit, and being
demandit quhat he hard Alisone Fowllar speik, he an
sweirit that he did not tak tent nor gude heid quhat
she spake, for he was at the fyresyd wt companie, and
she was in the chalmer wt Margaret Huntar. Being
rebuikit, he was ordainit, and Manus lykwyse, to com
peir againe the nixt session-day, and the rest of the
witness to be present wt Andrew Strong.

1632.
January 8. — This day Alexander Cunynghame com
pleinit of ane foule lye — yea, infamious libell — maid
against his wyff, and some honest women in the towne.
Thre wer suspectit to be the authors : George Shortus,
Alexr. Storie, and William Sandie — at the leist, as he
alledgit, it was first hard of them, bot quhidder they
wer the authors of it he culd not certainlie avouche.
The minister told the session that he spak the presbi
terie yranent, and that thair advyse was, that all dili
gent tryal suld be usit, and wairne the pairties suspect
to com heir befor the session ; and therefor ordains the
persons forsaid to compeir the nixt day.
Januajy 15. — The session haldin, George Shortus
callit on, coiripeirit, and accusit for making ane ryme
on some honest women in the toune, he absolutlie
denyit ; and being demandit of quhom he hard it, an
sweirit he hard it of some bairnis in the towne, bot he
knew nothing of it. Alexr. Storie also callit on, com-
FF

234 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
peirit, and accusit heirof, qstantlie denyit, and offerit
to undergo any punishment suld be infiicted on him
if it wer proven against him, and that the common
word was that umqll Alexr. Jaksone maid it. William
Sandie callit on, constantlie denyit that he had any
thing ado wt the maiking of it. Ordains them to
compeir againe quhen they suld be wairnit for this
effect. January 22. — Robert Ewart compeirit, and com
plainit upon Jeane Ra, dauchter to Alisone Fowlar.
The minister shew to the session that Rot. Ewart
came to him and desyrit that he micht be wairnit to
the session this day, and that becaus this busines was
now in hand he had causit the clerk warn hir. The
said Jeane Ra callit on, compeirit. Robert Ewart
afifirmit that she spoke ill and despytfull words in the
milne against his sone, George Ewart, quha is now
depairtit this lyff: that quhen ane said in the milne
that George Ewart was deid, she said the devill did
wiche him ; and that William Morton, miliar, hard hir
say thir words, quha is now heir present. The said
William Morton was desyrit be the minister to tell
quhidder she spake thir words or not. He hard no sik
thing, bot some ether hard speichis betwixt them.
Margt. Ewart spake more hardlie to the said Jeane
than she did to hir. Refers it to farder tryall.
Item : The said Jeane Ra being accusit that she
suld have said to Rot. Ewart his wyff: If hir mother
be burnt befornoon, Margaret Huntar wald be burnt
efternoon. She answeirit it was treu she spoke these
words ; that hir meining was, that hir mother spake
no words bot the words qlk Margt. Huntar spake

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 235
quhan they did challenge — and they qfessit themselfs
that Margaret Huntar spake no words bot these qlk
wer collerabll — and so hir mother was no witche more
nor Margt. Huntar is.
Item : Anent the infamous libell : ordains Johne
Jakson, tailyeour, to be wairnit to the nixt day, seing
it was alledgit he hard somqt of it off the pairties for
said, and that he hard some of it. Ordains that he
micht tell off quhom he hard it.
Item : Ordains Johne Kirk, in the Knowis Miln, to
be sumonit to the nixt day, for breaking the Sabbothe
by carying of ane laide upon the Sunday.
Item : The minister earnestlie desyrit the elders
that, seing Alisone Skugall was lying bedfast, and was
extremelie puir, having nothing, that some cair micht
be had of hir, and therfor ordains James Buccan, clerk,
to go about the toune and parishe for provisions to
hir weeklie until she ather be restorit againe, or de
pairt this lyff. The haill elders allowit of this course,
and qsentit heirto, seing the portion she gettis out of
the box is not sufficient to intertaine hir ; and ordains
Jas. Buccan to begin the morn, qlk he promaist to do.
January 29. — The minister shew to the elders that,
anent Alisone Fowlars busines, he had told Robert
Ewart and his sone the advyse of the presbiterie as is
abousheit, and therfor demandit of him quhidder he
wald insist or not ; and the said Robert Ewart and
his sone sayd they culd not get hir speiches provin
bot by ane witnes, seing she denyit. That therfor he
had desyrit Robert Ewart and his sone, Johne Ewart,
to come to the session this day, and lykwyse had
caust wairne the said Alisone Fowlar, and Jeane Ra,

236 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
hir dauchter, to compeir lykwyse, that this busines
among them micht be brocht to some qclusion ather
by farder insisting into it, or by agrement.
The said Robert and Johne Ewartis callet on, com
peirit, and being demandit qt they wald do farder in
the mater anent words betwixt Alisone Fowlar and
them, they answeirit that, seing they culd not gett hir
words perfytlie provin as they thocht, they wer wil
linglie qtent to agre, or to do qtsoever the session wald
injoyne. The said Alisone Fowlar lykwyse being
callet on, compeirit, and demandit qt she had to say
against Johne Ewart or Rot. Ewart, answeirit that she
had nothing to say against them, bot onlie that umqll
Alexr. Jakson was yerie severe against hir husband
and hir qn he was alive, and that Johne Ewart forsaid
tuik great pairt withe him, and allowit the said umqll
Alexr. Jakson in his severitie against hir husband and
hir ; bot now she had forget all quarrellis, and did
forgive the said Johne. To qm the said Johne Ewart
answeirit that he allowit Alexr. Jakson in nothing
against hir husband, George Ra, and hir, bot in that
quhairin he had just cause and occasione, as all the
pepill knawis. The minister exhortit them to peace
and love, as became neichbours and Cristianis ; and
in end bothe the pairteis, in presence of the session,
wer content to take cache utheris be the hand, and
promeist to agre as became Cristians in tyme coming,
God willing. The said Alisone desyrit the saids Ro
bert and Johne Ewarts to forgive hir if she had uttered
any rashe speiches ather against his sone or him.
They did forgive hir, and tuik hir by the hand, and
she them lykwise.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 237
Being demandit if they had anything to say against
Jeane Ra, they answeirit they had nothing to say
against hir, nor to accuse hir off; and so they wer
dimittit. Johne Jakson callit on, compeirit, and demandit if
he hard of the libell maid against the honest women
in the towne, answeirit that he hard of it of some
bairns in the toune ; to qm it was replyit, that if he
hard it of some bairns in the towne, and spake of it,
and had some of it per them, if he tell not of quhom
he hard it he sail be thocht guiltie of it himself as ane
of the authoris, and be callit befor judgis. He answeirit
he hard it first of Jonet Mersone, spous of William
Merser, and that she hard it first of some bairnis in
the towne. Refers it to farder tryall.
February 4. — The minister invayit out of the pulpitt
against makers of infamous libellis, and threattened
sever punishment against the authoris thairof if they
culd be knowin.
The elders being qveined, some afifirmit (quidder
trewe or not it is not knawin) that umquill Alexr.
Jakson had great hand in the making of it. The
minister answeirit that if he was innocent heirof it was
a great fait to slander the deid, and thairfor referis yet
to farder tryall.
Item : James Robesune, in Aldhame Links, callet
on, compeirit, and accusit for prophaining the Sab
bothe by taking and chasing of cunnings in the efter
noon the first of Januar, answeirit he slew bot ane
cunning, and did it in verie short tyme, seing he was
to send ane pair away upon the morn ; and that he
nevir did the lyk befor, nather suld do the lyke heir-

238 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
efter, God willing, on the Sabbothe. The elders heir-
withe advyst, seing he was newlie come to the parische.
Being rebukit by the minister, ordains him to ask God
forgivnes on his kneis befor the session (qlk he did),
and to pay the pryse of that cunning qlk he tuik to
the pure ; and if ever he did the lyke againe, he suld
be censurit wt all rigour, and suld satisfie publicklie ;
qrto he agreit.
The minister and elderis appoints James Buccan to
go throuche the toune and parische again, and seik
intertainment for Alisone Skugall, seing she is in great
necessitie. The said James promeisit to qtineu in
getting intertainment to hir fra. nichtbouris in the
parische. February 12. — Sumonds red at the kirk-door for
valuation of teindis.
Johne Kirk callit on, compeirit, and accusit for cary
ing ane laid on the Sabbothe-day, he answeirit that
the Setterday all the nicht was foule and great rain,
and he caryit away ane laid tymouslie on the Sunday
at morn. He promeist never to do the lyke. Being
rebukit, ordains him to satifie publicklie the nixt Sun
day. Being demandit if his maister knew thairof, or
comandit him to do it, he answeirit that his maister
nether bade him nor knew thairof

^^?il'

May 26. — The said day, at efternoon, ane bairne
baptised to Mr Johne Lauder, minister at Tyning
hame, be Mr John Dalwell — S.L. naimed Alexander.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 239
Witness : Robert Lauder, Mr George Jakson, James
Diksun of Belchester, Alexander Cunyghame. The
Lady Gosfurd and uthers present befor and efternoon.
Upon the 23 of May, at twa in the morning, he was
borne. June 2. — Item : This day James Fa his wyffis seit
placet in the kirk be advyse of the session.
June 1 3. — The king came to Seatoun fra Berwick.
June 16. — Reportit be Alexr. Cunyghame that qras
thair was ane outcast between George Shortus and
George Foster, and qras George Foster compleinit
upon George Shortus that the said George did miscall
and slander the said George Foster and his mother,
and was to sumon him heirfor, if the session thocht it
meitt, befor them ; that now they wer all perfytlie
agreit, and that they wald not trouble the session wt
it, for the said Alexr. Cunyghame shew to the session
that he did tak painis to agre them, qrwt the session
was Weill qtentit.
June 18. — The auchteine day the Parliament ridden
the first day at Edinr.
June 28. — June 28, being Fryday, the Parliament
ridden the last day.
July 15. — -Upon the fyfteine day of July 1633, being
Monday, the king came fra Seatoune to Innerwick,
and upon Tysday, the sixteine day, fra Innerwick to
Berwick. July 28. — Agnes Merser, spous to Mr Alexr. Douglas,
buryed at Wittinghame.
August 18. — The said day ane Thomas Wilson, ser
vant to Thomas Nicolson in Tyninghame (being about
17 or 18 yeirs aid), being callit and brocht befor the

240 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
session, and accusit of rape, at lengthe qfessit the
same, as he did yesterday, being examined be the
bailzie, minister, and chamberlane. He was put in
the stokis and ward againe ; and ordains the presbi
terie to be spoken anent him againe, and to come be
for them, and the civil magistrat to be advertisit, that
justice may be usit and execut against him according
to the haynousness of his crime. He was heavlie re
buikit, and exhortit to earnest and unfainyed repent
ance. The minister shew to him, at great lengthe, the
greatness of his sin, and how great neid he had to re
pent, and to beg for mercie fra God, that his soule
micht be saife.

^^35-

April 12. — This day collect at the door lo lib. 5 s.,
for James Wilsons bairne — ^the mother of the said
bairne being now dead ; whereof 6 lib. given to Andro
Hais wyfe for fostering the said bairne the first quar
ter, and the rest to be keipit to the nixt quarter for
the same effect. The elders being convenit, Alexr.
Skugall, Johne Ewart, and George Skugall, being law
fullie summond, compeirit, and accusit of prophaning
the Sabbothe be fechting, the said Alexander especi
allie, he answeirit he cam furthe with ane swaird, bot
drew it not, neither did wrong to any man. To whom
it was answeirit, that he caused the pepill to conveine
and to mak ane tumult in the toune, and wad have
drawn his swaird if he had not been haldin, and thair
for orders him to satisfie the Kirk publicklie the nixt

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 241
Sabbothe-day, and to pay is. Item : The said George
Skugall, brother to the said Andrew Skugall, and
Johne Ewart, callit on,' compeirit, and accusit of Sab
bothe-breaking, by fyting, answeirit that they cam
furthe, indeed, but did nae ill. To whom it was an
sweirit that they did what they culd against uthers,
but was not suffered. Ordains them to satisfie pub
liklie the nixt day, and to pay, ilk ane of them, los.
Item : The said day the minister nominat befor the
sessioune William Merser, James Fyfe, Alexr. Bee in
Knowis, and George Shirla, to be elders with the rest,
because the number of the elders was now become
few. He demandit the elders if they thocht this ex
pedient : they all agreet thereto, and did nominat
them lykwise ; and thairfor ordains intimation of the
election to be maid out of the pulpitt the nixt Sab
bothe-day, if any man have anything to say in the
contrairi ; and if no impediment be maid, to be ad
mitted the nixt Lords Day.
April 19. — To Alexander Sherrie, to buy poudder
with to shett the dowes in the kirk, becaus they filet
the seitts, 6s.
June 14. — Johne Hay, adulterer, began to satisfie in
linnen claithes.
June 28. — Ane bairn baptezit to the Laird of Furd
his falconer ; the mother thairof, Marin Learmonth —
D. unlawful. Witness : sundries honest men in Furd.
July 19. — My Lord of Binning and uthers in the
kirk.

GG

242 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.

1636.

July 17. — Thair dyet of the pox this yeir in Tyn
ingham, fra the 24 of June to this day, ane dochter to
Andro Rae, ane sonne to WiUiam Messer, ane sonne
to Thomas Denman, ane dauchter to Patrik Baxter,
ane dauchter to Alexander Lauder, ane dauchter to
William Rae, ane dauchter to Mr Johne Lauder — all
within four yeirs aid or thairby.
August 7. — Ane publik fast keipit for ane gude
harvest. James Kirkwood compleinit on Johne Kirkwood,
his sonne, that he is suspect of fornication with ane
woman in his hous. Ordains them bothe to compeir
befoir the session this day aucht dayis.
August 21. — The minister compleinit on twa bots
in Pilmuir, wha cam into Skugal bounds — viz., the
Powart Poole —with herring. Ordains the minister of
Whytkirk to be advertised to summon them heir.
October 11. — The said day the fishers in North Ber
wick parish compeirit, and accusit of Sabbothe-break
ing, answeirit that they brocht in verie few. The
minister answeirit that they wald have come better
speid if they had keipit Sabbothe. Ordains ilk bot to
pay 24 shillins, becaus it was found they had but few,
and they promeist never to do the lyk again.
November 6. — los. 2d. given betwixt the reiddar and
clerk. [This was the practice at marriages also.]
December 23. — Taken out 'of the box this day, and
distribut, 6 pounds 8 shillins. Of thair is 20s. of the

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 243
money of the men that perished by sea — the rest of
thair money was bestowed upon thair burial ; and or
danis that if any of thair friends or children, or any of
thair neighbours, or any that belong to them, shall
come heirafter to seik any money which pertainit to
them, in that case 20s. which is now distribut to the
pure shall be given to them again out of the box.

1637.
Febniarii 19. — This day distribut among the poore
8 pounds left be William Gourla, to the gude example
of uthers, and his perpetual commendation, he being
but ane young servant chield. 16. — James Fairlie
buried after the efternoon sermon.
April 30. — This day threttie and thre pepill prayed
for in the kirk.
May 21. — Mr Thomas Eliot began to read and sing
in the kirk, being received to be schoolmaster and
reiddar. May 28. — No preitching but reiding at efternoon,
the minister being at Whitekirk, wha preitchet there.
June 25. — Item : This day, Johne Jackson and his
wyfe being callit before the sessioun, and ordainit to
satisfie before the pulpit on Sunday nixt, publiklie,
before the congregation, and to pay 20s., for scolding
and flyting upon ane Sabbothe — viz., this day 1 5 dayes
— with Thomas Dennam, when the pepill were coming
over the kirk style, whereby they gave great offence.
Item : As often before, ordainis the elderis to search

244 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
the toune thair day aboot, in time of the preitching,
and delate the absents everie Sunday.
August 6. — Intimation maid out of the pulpit to the
pepill to bring contributions nixt day to Thomas Ram
say, in Kirkland Hill bounds, for buying ane hors ;
the said Thomas being verie puir, and having many
children. August 13. — Upon the seventeine day of August,
Thursday, the Earl of Hadingtoune took journey to
London; ane tempestuous day, being much rain, the
water heir that nicht being verie great.
September 24. — This day some of the elders com
plainit on some pepill in Muttonhole, wha prophainit
the Sabbothe-day by sheiring. To be wairnit nixt
day. December 3. — Given to ane poore woman at the
Knowis, callit the Daft Lady, 5 s. Ane bairne bap
teisit to Alexander Ritchison, nolt herd, in Tyning
hame. Item: This day William Broune, webster, and
Janet Home, callit on, being lawfullie wairnit, for flyt
ing on the hie gait, and slandering utheris. Being
convicted, and heavilie rebuikit, ordainit to satisfie
publiklie, or else be put in the jogis if they suld refuse
to satisfie, and to pay ane penaltie according to the
order.
1638
Upon the 23 day of Januari, being Tysday, Mr
Cornelius Ramsay, and Jane Lauder, sister to Maister
Johne Lauder, were maryit at Elshenford be Maister
James Carmichael.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF -TYNINGHAME. 245
Feb. 1 1. — Given to Alexander Storie, wricht, for ane
pair of stelts to Henrie Caning, crepill, 4s.
Septem. 23. — Four shillingis given to carray away a
crepill. We could get nane in the toune to carray
away this crepill the morn, becaus of their business.
October 28. — The minister exortit the pepill to stand
to the Covenant alreadie subscribed, and to subscribe
nae uther.

1639.

Feb. 17. — This day nae preitching but reiding, the
minister being in Dumbar, and preichit thair, being
ordainit be the presbiterie.
Mairch 11. — The said day it was concludit be the
minister and sessioune that publik prayers suld be in
the kirk everie day in the morning, except Tysday
and Friday, for preitching and expounding the Scrip
tures : and suld begin at Genesis, and go through or
derlie ; and this to be intimate to the pepill the nixt
Sabbothe publiklie, that the pepill may come And
the prayers or preitching to begin at aucht houris.
April 14. — Janet Home, spous to James Young,
wricht, accusit for abusing hir husband by ill-speaking
and scolding : she was ordainit not to be heard again,
utherwayes to be put in the jogis, and handlet most
seveirlie. April 28. — The communion celebrat : guid order
keipit, praised be God ! Maister Alexander Living
stone, pedagogue to young Goskie, preichit at efter
noon. John Kirkwood being relapse in fornication, having

246 CHURCHES. OF SAINT BALDRED.
setten six several days, receivit at the morning efter
the preiching, before the celebration of the sacrament
of the Lords Supper.
June 30. — Given to George Cuming, smith in Peffer
syd, 32 pence for mending the lock of the box, and
causing it to open and steek. This whole week foul
wether. July 28. — This day ane bairn bapteisit to Thomas
Drummond, tinklair, wha produced ane testimonial
of his lawful marriage, his wyfe lying in the Bellhouse.
The minister shew to the elders that ane honest man,
Gilbert Kennedy, having ane famous testificat, com
peirit befor the presbiterie and desyrit support of all
the kirks, he dwelling in Galloway, and having his
hous and all his gudes brunt, with aucht persons dwell
ing thairin. The presbiterie referrit him to the kirks
within the presbiterie. The sessioun, seing his case
was pitiful, delivers to the minister 30s. to be given to
him upon Thursday nixt.
August II. — Upon Tysday nixt the General As
semblie did sit down in Edinburgh.
The General Assemblie did rise upon Friday, at
seven hours at evening, being the 30 day of August
1639. Upon Setterday, the 31 day of August, the
Parliament ridden at Edinburgh, and began to sit.
September 8. — This day gude order keipit be the
seamen at the draife. No herring brocht in, nor her
rings haulet ; but onlie nets set at efternoone. The
minister raid to Edinburgh that day, and returned on
Wednesday at nicht.
Upon the third day of November, being Tysday,
1639 yeirs, about 7 hours in the morning, Elizabeth

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 247
Haitlie, spous to Maister Johne Lauder, minister at
Tyninghame, departit this lyfe. The said day ane
Sonne bapteisit to Maister Johne Lauder, minister —
lawfullie, naimed James. Bapteisit be Maister Robert
Lauder, minister at Whitekirk. Witness : Alexander
Lauder, Maister Robert Lauder, John MacDougal.
Upon the 6 day of November, Wednesday, 1639,
the said Elizabeth Haitlie, spous to Maister Johne
Lauder, was buryed, many gentlemen and pepill
being present.

1640.
Januarii 12.— -The said day the bands of mariage
betwixt the Earl of Hadingtoune and Lady Jean
Gordon were proclaimit pro primo.
Januarii 26. — Intimating ane solemne fast, to be
keipit the nixt Lords Day throughout all this land,
about the great common business of this kingdome.
Februarii 2. — The Laird of Scougal and his ladye
being in the kirk. The fast weil keipit, praise be
God! Februarii 9. — Item : The additione to the Covenant
subscrybed this day ; and they that do not subscrybe
this day, to subscrybe the nixt day.
Februarii 23. — Collect 8s. 4d„ wherof much ill ciire-
ners. Ordainis James Buccane to receive Johne Kirk-
woods penaltie, for ringing the bell to the prayers and
sermone on week-dayes.
\_ Mairche 29. — This day my Lord and Lady Hading-

248 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
toune in the kirk, and being the first Sabbothe-day of
my Ladys being in the toune.
Aprili 5. — Intimation maid of ane solemn fast to
be keipit the nixt Lords Day, and sermone to be on
Friday for preparation, and for stirrin up thair affec-
tiounes. The causes of the fast are for the troublis
imminent, and that the Lord wald give a blessing to
our lawful and honest desires.
Aprili 12. — Mr Robert Lauder was chosen to go
to . Pebellis with the minister, to keep the Provinciall
Assemblie thair, as ruling elder from this parishe.
Aprili 19. — -To Andro Sherrie, for cutting of ane
seitt, 5 s.
Aprili 26. — The Erie of Argyle, Hadingtoune, and
uthers in the kirke.
Mail 'i. — Maister Alexander Craig, chaplaine to the
Erie of Hadintoune, preichet this day at efternoone.
Maii 10. — This day the sacrament of the Lords Sup
per celebrat — guid order keipit at all tymes, praisit be
God ! — the Erie of Hadingtoune and his ladye and
whole familie being present. Item : Sir Lewis Stewart,
Maister George Winram of Libertoune, with uthers.
Maii 1 7. — Item : Given out of the penalties to Alex
ander Sherrie, wricht, for mending and translating the
pulpitt, ane dollar. Item : To him for maiking ane
comunion tabill, and maiking some furms. Item : For
ane braid daill to be the tabill, and carriage of it fra
Dumbar. Item : To James Patersonne, for mending
the kirkes floor.
Maii ^i. — Mr Alex. Craig preiched beforenoone, the
minister being in Dumbar, wha preichet thair and min
istered the Sacrament in the morning, and hard thg

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 249
sermoune thair befornoone, and preiched heir at efter
noone ; the Erie of Dumfermling being heir befoir and
efternoone, with the Erie of Hadingtoune, being com
fra the court this way.
Junii 14. — Collect this day to ane honest man fra
Musselbrughe, wha had his hous and all that he had
burnt. Item : Forbids anie playin or pastyme on the
Sunday, under the paine of calling befoir the sessioune,
and censur thair as Sabbothe-breakers. Item: Ordains
the toune to be searched everie Sunday, and the ab
sents in tyme of divine service to be delated to the
sessioune to be censurit.
Junii 21. — Ane solemn fast intimate, to be keipit
this day aucht dayes (God willing), that the Lord wald
help this land, and give ane blessing to the lawful and
religious enterprises of this Kirk and kingdome.
Junii 28. — The fast solemnlie and orderlie keipit.
Julii 4.- — This day ane act maid for the puneishing
of drukenness — that if any be found dronk he sail pay
four merks.
Julii 5. — The Erie of Hadingtoune and his ladie in
Hadingtoune. Julii 16. — Intimation maid for ane private collect
and contribution for the publik business.
Julii 26. — Alexr. Cuninghame reportit that Maister
Robert Lauder and he, with Maister Elliot, had gath
ered alreaddie aucht score pounds, and that my Lords
familie had given guid example to the rest of the
congregation, praisit be God ! [Here follows what
is already given as to the blowing up of Dunglas.]
September 20. — This day the minister producit Mr
Andro Steviesonne (the minister of Dumbar) his re-
HH

250 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
ceipt of our private collectioune in this parische for
the publick business — videlicet, 212 merkis gnd 40
pence. September 27. — This day verie rainie and foule.
The sessioune halden, ordains Maister Robert Lauder
(absent this day) to be present as ruling elder for this
parish to Innerweik, upon Thursday neist, at the ad-
missioune of Maister Williame Forbes thair, being the
first day of October ; and lykwise, the said Robert
Lauder to go to the Provinciall Assemblie as ruling
elder, with the minister, agane Tysday come aucht
dayes, at Edinburgh, being the sax of October. The
said Robert his father being present, shew to the ses
sioune that his Sonne (God willing) was to keip the
meeting at Innerweik, and the AssembHe at Edin
burgh, at the tymes appointed.
October 11. — Fast keipit for ane gude harvest, se
ing littel corn led as yet.
October 12, being Monday, at twa houris at nicht,
my mother, Alisone Caldclaithe, depairtit this lyfe at
Hadingtoune (I being present with her), and was
brocht to Tyninghame on the 1 3 day of October, at
nicht, and was buryit at Tyninghame the 14 day,
being Wedensday.
October 14. — Leiding in the Knowes, and that day
leiding begun all the rest of the weik. Much corn
led, praised be God !
October 20. — Maister Robert Davisonne, minister at
Staintoune, and Elizabethe Lyle, maryed at Stain
toune, at 4 hours efternoone, being Tysday, be Maister
Alexander Douglas, minister at Wittinghame.
November 8. — Intimatioune of ane solemne fast, to

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 25 1
be keipit this day aucht dayes (God willing), for ane
gude success to the Parliament of England.
November 15. — The fast weel keipit.
November 19. — I preichet at Dumbar befornoone, at
the fast thair ; Maister Andro Steviesonne, minister
thair, in the morning, and Maister Johne Sinclaire at
efternoone, according to the ordinance of the pres
biterie, seing the last fast was ordainit to be keipit
in burghs upon the Thursday lykwise.
November 29. — Sir Patrik Hamiltoune and David
Mac Cullo being in the kirk.
December 20. — Given to Alexander Landers wyfe
(he being in the camp), in respect of hir great povertie,
twenty-four s. 164I.
Januarii 3. — Given to Agnes Richisone (hir bairne
being still vehementlie diseaset, and hir husband at
the camp), 20s. to buy cures.
Januarii 24. — Item : James Buccan, clerk, desyrit
that he micht have his wages for ringing the bell
quarterlie, and that he may have 2 merkis everie
quarter. The sessioune consentit thair for.
Februarii 28. — The minister show to the elders
that Maister Andro Steviesonne, minister at Dum
bar, desyrit everie minister to demand thair several
sessiounes what help they wad mak for building of
ane bridge at West Barnes. The minister exhortit
them to help so guid a work to thair powar, and
desyrit to shew thair answeir to the presbyterie.
Thair answeir was, that our gentrie were not dwell-

252 CHURCHES OF SaInT BALDRED.
ing in the parishe for the present ; but as many as
were abel of the congregatioune to do any guid
thairin, wald not refuse to help according to thair
powar, seing they thocht it very expedient that ane
bridge suld be upon the water thair.
Mairch 7.— Item : James Smith, in the Knowis,
and Johne Fa, Knowes Miln, were receivit to the
office of ruling elder publiklie befoir the congrega
tioune, according to the order of the Kirke. They
gave thair oathes (by holding up thair hands) to be
faithful. Mairch 28. — Intimation maid of ane publik fast,
to be keipit (God willing) this day aucht days, the
fourt of April, that the Lord wad be pleased to put
ane happie end to the business in hand bothe in this
natioun and in England.
April 4. — The fast weil keipit, praisit be God !
Johne Jacksone and his -^^ callit on, compeirit, and
accusit of fighting and brawling, and using threatening
words, submitted themselves to the sessioune. Johne
Buccan compeirit, and did forgive them, and they did
ask ¦ him forgiveness ; yet, becaus they gave publik
scandall by speiking some ill words to Johne Buccan
on the Sabbothe, and menacing him, thairfor ordains
them to ask God his forgiveness publiklie befoir the
congregation the nixt Sabbothe.
April 25. — Maister Robert Lauder was chosen to
go as ruling elder to the Provinciall Assemblie at
Lithgow. He promeised to go if his hors sail be abel
to ryde — being croichit, and not yet perfectlie haill ;
but it sail be against his will if he go not, and sail
use all means that he go to the Assemblie. Item : It

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 253
was appointit and enactit that nain sail sett any cot-
houses to any woman that hath fallen in fornication,
without the advice of the sessioune, and their consent
thairto, because some tak cot -houses and abyd and
remain idyll ; and that nae young women that may
seik be receivit in cot-houses, nor nae cot-houses be
let to them, without the consent and approbatioun of
the kirk-sessioune. Item : That nain be receivit to
the parishin, either servants or uthers, without suffi
cient testimonials from the parishe in which they
dwelt. May 9. — The minister read ane directorie from the
committe anent twa runaways from the camp.
June 20. — This day Maister Patrik Livingston, son
of the Laird of Saltcottis, .preichet heir. The minister
preichet at Whitekirk, fore and efternoon — Maister
Robert Lauder, minister at Whitehirk, being in Eng
land, at Durhame, at the camp.
[From this date till 5 September see above.]
September 5. — Given to ane poor scholar (being a
ministers dochter), 5 dollars.
September 12. — Item: Robert Lauder gave to the
sessioune ane dollar (which was put in the box this
day), which was gotten fra ane botshipping that brocht
in herring on the Sabbothe befoir my returning. Item :
Ordaines the minister at North Berwick to be adver
tisit to summon to our ane sessioune ane botshipping
in Castel-Toune, for selling herring in Scougall bounds
on the Sabbothe-day. The schipper is ane Johne Jak
sone, in Castel-Toune. The bot belongs to William
Fergusone, in New Mainis.
November 28. — This day Robert Hutchiesone, being

254 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
ordainit befoir to come to the sessioun for not being in
the kirk in tyme in the efternoon — in breaking of the
fast, answeirit that he keipit the kirk at all tymes as
weil as anie in the toune, and that when the searchers
came to his faithers hous he was coming away ; and
that he drank but ane pint of aill with ane man that
was not ane parishioner heir, and that he did not the
lyke befoir, and promeisit never to do the lyke againe;
and that he cam to the kirk shortlie efter the third
bell. Being rebuikit, ordainis him to pay ten shillins,
and his neichbour that was drinking with him to pay
ten shillins, utherwayes the minister of Prestonkirk to
be adverteisit to summon him befoir us, and be hand-
let with ; wherunto Robert Hutchiesone answeirit that
he cam to the kirk with him, and keipit the fast, as
said is. The elders ordain the abousheit penalties.
December 5. — Intimation maid of collect the nixt
Lords Day for ane pure honest woman, spous to um-
quhile James Freeman. He was slain in Ireland, and
quarteret, as is alleget, for mainteining the Scottis
Covenant. Item : Twa merkis taken out of William
Fergusonnes penaltie, for paying the clerk of the Pro
vinciall Assemblie for Tyninghame kirk. The minister
everie yeir, almost since the act was maid, had given
the same out of his aine purse, and was verie lothe to
tak it at this tyme, if the elders had not brocht him
theirto.
1642.
Januarii 9. — Thanksgiving weil keipit, praisit be
God ! for the happie closen of the Parliament, and

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 255
that all the judicatories again wer set up, and a com-
missioun appointit for the planting of the kirks. The
thanksgiving to be throughout all the kingdome.
Februarii 27. — Intimation maid of the efternoon ser
mon, to begin nixt weik.
Mairch 6, Tuesday, Maister Robert (my brother)
his sonne named Robert, being about ane yeir auld
or thairby, was buried at Whitekirk ; wha deceisit the
sevinth of Mairch, at sevin hours in the morning.
Mairch 20. — Intimation maid to the pepill to col
lect the twa neist Sabbothes to the distressed pepill
that cam fra Irland, according to the directiones of
the counsell in private, which was read publiklie.
Mairch 27. — Collectioun for Irland pepill : the Erie
of Hadingtoune being in the kirke, wha gave verie lib
erally thairto. He cam with his foulks to Tyninghame
the twentie -four Mairch, Thursday. Item : The said
day ane bairne bapteisit to James Gillies, in Lochouses
(but now in Ireland with Colnel Munro his regiment)
— sonne, unlawful, named Johne. Witnesses : George
Skugall, Alexander Hude. The said bairne was pre
sentit to be bapteisit be Thomas Johnsone, in Eister
Lochouses. Ordains all baptisms of bairns within the toune,
which are on the Sabbothe-day, to be at efternoon
(except in some cases whair thair is nae efternoon
sermon, then the baptisme to be in the forenoon, or
on week-dayes), because the sessioun finds that the
pepill in the toune, when the baptisme is in the fore
noon, come not so tymeouslie and frequentlie to the
kirke at efternoon as when the baptisme is at the
efternoon sermon.

256 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
April 3. — Johne Nicolsone, in Knowis, compeirit,
and accusit for hauling some lines in the water on
ane Sabbothe-day, in the morning, confessit he hauled
some few,^ but suld never, God willing, do the lyke
againe, and offerit to do whatever the sessioun wad
enjoin him ; and likewise he affirmit that he was
desyrit the nicht before to get some fish to ane
banquet. The minister and elders, seing him peni
tent, and submitting himself humblie, alledging that
he did not get four shillings worthe of fishe, ordains
him to pay penaltie, presentlie, four shillings, and to
maik satisfactioun on his knees before the sessioune ;
and lykwise ordains, if ever he suld do the lyke
againe, to pay the penaltie of the breach of the Sab
bothe, and to maik satisfactioun befor the whole con
gregation, on ane Sunday befornoon ; wherunto he
willinglie consentit.
April 24. — This day intimation maid of ane solemn
public fast the nixt Lords Day, the first of May, for
the distress of Ireland, and for ane happie conclusion
to the English Parliament.
Item : This day Maister Robert Lauder chosen com
missioner to the Provinciall Assemblie at Dalkeith, 3
May nixt.
May I. — The Provinciall Assemblie halden at Dal-
keithe the third of May, being Wedensday, at evening.
May 8. — Upon the third day of May my Lord Had
ingtoune went to Melrose.
June 1 2. — The kirk of Tyninghame, for interest heir
of, first callit before the commission at Edinburghe —
the new colledge at Saint Andros, and the heritors,
being lawfullie summonit for this effect.

ll.Bi*^ V».IM~H"

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 257
June 25. — The said day ane puir man (David Hird,
fra Dysart) compeirit before the sessioun, shewing that
he had brocht ane letter fra the minister at Dysart to
the minister heir, bearing that this David Hird keipit
ane bairne in his hous at Dysart (which bairne he
brocht heir with him), and that Cataran Caram was
the mother of the bairne, and Maister George Jack
sonne father ; and they knew not if the bairne was
bapteisit or not. The said David Hird desyrit that
the sessioune wad cause the said George Jacksonne to
tak the said bairne off his hands, and to have ane cair
of said bairne, and desyrit to have said bairne bapteisit.
The session cajinot advise, not hearing heiroff until this
tyme, and being lothe to meddle herein, seing it wad
import suggestion of incest. Befoir anything be done
heirin, refers all dealings heirin to them re Integra,
according to the order of the Kirk in sik cases.
Julii I. — Given something to David Hird, wha brocht
the bairne from Dysart, in respect of his povertie.
Julii 10. — The minister shew to the elders that David
Hird was departit out of thair bounds, and left the
bairne behind him ; for nane of the toune or parishe
knowing heirof, at the least not suspecting his inten
tion, he went to Lochouss, and laid down the bairne
thair, few being at hame thair at that time. They
sent up the bairne to Tyninghame, for they wald have
nothing to do with said bairne. The minister shew to
the elders that the bairne was presentlie with Margaret
Ewart, in Tyninghame. The minister demandit what
suld be done furder with the bairne, and how it suld be
susteinit, seing we culd not suffer the bairne to perishe
for lak of some meintenance ; and the minister lyk-
II

258 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
wise shew to the elders that he shew all the estate of
this business to the presbiterie, and that he shewed to
them the letter which David Hird brocht to him fra
the minister of Dysart : that thair advyce was to send
ane letter to the minister of Dysart, which according
lie he did, and had received ane answeir, bearing that
they suld use all dilegence to send over the man again
to us, or else his wyff ; but they culd not examine them
befoir the sessioun conveinit, which wald be this Sab
bothe, but nae sooner.
The elders desyrit that if heirefter the father of the
bairne sail be discoverit, in that case what was de-
pursed be them sail be refund it be the parents.
September 4. — Presbiterie to meet at Dumbar to heir
Maister Thomas Hepburn, wha was presented to the
kirk of Aldhamstokis.
Item : This day intimation, befoir the blessing, of
ane public fast to be keipit the nixt Lords Day, the
eleven of this instant, and Wedensday thairefter, the
fourtein of this instant, according to the ordinance of
the General Assemblie in Saint Andros. The causes
of the fast are : —
19. Gross ignorance and abounding of wickedness
among the greatest part, securitie and mere formalitie
among the best, unthankfulness in all.
2° . The sward raging throughout all Christendome,
but more barbarouslie in Irland, and daily more threat
ened in England, through the lamentable division be-
twene the King and his Parliament, tending to the
subversion of religioune and peace in all the thre
kingdoms. 39 . That God may graciouslie bless the supplica-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 259
tion of the Assemblie to the Kings Majestie, and thair
motion to the Parliament of England, for unitie in re
ligioune and uniformitie in kirk government, and all
uther meins which may serve for promoting of so guid
a work, and the advancement of the kingdom of Christ
everie whair.
42 . That God may powerfullie overturn all wicked
plots and desyns of Antichrist, and all divisive motions
against the cause of Reformatioun and the so-much-
longed-for union betwene the King and Parliament.
59. That God may bless the harvest.

1643.

Januarii 22. — I preiched at Dumbar. The minister
shew to the elders that three distressit women (having,
come fra Irland) desyrit support.
Februarii 5. — This day the declaration of the com
mission against the trew petition was read and ex
plained. This day the sessioun halden ; David Nimmo, wricht
in Lintoun, compeirit, and desyrit payment for making
and repairing the stole for repentance. The minister
and elders herewith advysit ; — deliverit to him, out of
the box, aucht pounds, and sax shillings to his sonne,
and twentie s. to James Paterson, mason.
Mairch 5. — Upon the six day of Mairch 1643, Mar
garet Kemp, dauchter to the Laird of Balgone, was
buryed, wha departit this life upon the third day of
Mairche, aboot twa efternoon.
Mairch 26. — The minister shew to the elderis that

26o CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
the council had given warrand for relief of some honest
men in Beithe, taken be the Turks at Ealie, wha were
in great bondage.
April 23. — The pepill of Scougall examined ; and
upon the 25 April, Aldhame and Muttonhole, and all
the absents examined.
April 30. — This day the sacrament of the Lordis
Supper celebrat. Gude order keipit at all times, God
be praisit !
May 14. — The minister preachit at Prestonkirk in
the morning, and ministered the sacrament of the
Lordis Supper thair ; and preachit heir befornoone,
and preachit at Whytekirk efternoone, efter the com
munion thair.
May 21. — Given somewhat to uncouthe poor.
December 21. — The neichbours met at efternoone
anent the choosing of twa or three for the fourt man,
but could hardlie agree.
December 31. — Intimation of ane publik fast to be
keipit the Lordis Day nixt, for ane success.
1644.
Januarii 4, 1644. — This day I preiched at Edin
burgh, in the East Kirk, at comand of our presbiterie.
I cam to Hadintoune on Fryday.
Januarii 7. — Ane companie of soldiers being in the
kirk, come fra Fyfe. Ane merk to Elspethe Duns
sonne, lyklie to be crepill. 20 shillings given to his
mother, to be given to the man wha promeised to do
diligence to cure the said.; to be given for drogis.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 26 1
Januarii 9. — Agnes Valance, dochter to Johne Val
ance, in Tyninghame (being about 4 yeirs auld), was
buryet ; being weil that day sche dyet. It was lyklie
she was poysonned by eating poysonable herbs.
The said day George Dickson and Thomas Finla
designit for the camp : going away with Alexander
Bruce and so 25 men, if they will accept him for ane,
seing Alexander Bruce is ane officer and ane com
mander of this regiment.
Januarii 21. — James Kirkwood gave to the session,
to be put in the box, in name and behalf of George
Hay, in Scougall, tasker to said James, 7s., because he
came not with his companie tymeouslie to the kirk
that Lords Day his wyffe was buryed, as he aucht to
have done, seing the minister reprovit him for the
same. James Kirkwood answeirit for him that the
said George was sorie for it, and that the puir suld
have his 7s., for the collect that he and others that
wer with him suld have given. He said that the days
were short, and they had few to carry hir corpes, and
the pepill did not conveine so tymeouslie as he ex-
pectit, and this was the caus.
Item : This day publik intimation maid to all those
wha wer desyrit to go to the camp, to go with all ex
pedition ; utherwayes, if they suld refuse or postpone,
they would incur great danger, besyd thair fait.
Januarii 28. — Ane proclamation red publiklie anent
fugitives fra the camp.
Februarii 11. — I raid to the commission to Edin
burgh, and cam hame Setterday.
Februarii 18. — Intimation maid of ane publik fast
for the armie, to be keipit on Wednesday nixt (God

262 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED,
willing), according to the ordinance of the commis
sioners of the General AssembHe,
Februarii 21. — Fast weil keipit, praised be God ! "
Februarii 24. — Ane extraordinarie storm, and won
derful heich wind out of the north-eist, with sum snow,
from ffour hours in the morning till aucht hours in the
evening. Mairch 3. — The letter anent the excyse was ex
plained, according to the ordinance.
Mairch 20. — I went to Hadingtoune, to Edinburgh,
to the comission, and returned to Hadingtoune on
Thursday at nicht. This day given to twa men, Jews
or Armenians, quha producit ane testificat fra Edin
burgh, I2S.
April 9. — Mr David Robesone admitted minister at
Dumbar, helper to Maister Andro Steviesonne thair.
I preiched at his admission, being ordainit be the
presbiterie. April 21. — This day the Marquis of Huntlie his
excommunication, with his adherents, intimat, accord
ing to the ordinance of the commission of the General
Assemblie. His adherents are : Alexander Irvin of
Drum, younger ; Robert Irvin, his brother ; Sir Johne
Gordon of Haddo ; William Seatoune ; William Inneis
of Tippertie ; Maister James Kennedie, servitor to
the Marquis, and Thomas Hay, servitor to Sir Johne
Gordon. (17. — The pepill conveinit at Beinstoune Muir, in
airms, that orders micht be given anent going to
Dumfries ; and the gentilmen wer ordainit to meitt
at Hadingtoune on Friday nixt.)
April 28. — Provinciall Assemblie at Dumbar.

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 263
May 5. — Intimation of the excomunication of Lud-
ovik, Erie of Crawford ; Robert, Erie of NiddesdaiH ;
Johne, Erie of Montrose ; James, Viscount of Aboyne ;
Francis, Lord Ogilvie ; Johne, Lord Herreis.
October 14. — Marin Skill, wha cam fra the camp in
England, was ordainit to be keipit close in hir hous,
at the west end of the toune, becaus of the suspicion
of the pestilence.
October 18. — Robert Nisbet and his wyff went eist,
to try if it was trew which was reportit of thair sonne,
Patrick Nisbet — naimlie, if he was lying sick of the
pestilence betwixt Butterden and Rentoun, for it was
reportit be twa or thre. The minister did counsel the
honest men in the toune to cause watche the toune,
that they micht come into the toune no any uther but
according to order, seing the said Robert Nisbet and
his wyff went away be nicht, by our knowledge. This
was done on the 1 8 day of October.
19 day, being Setterday, Robert Nisbet and his wyff
cam back againe. That it was not Patrik Nisbet and
his sonne, as was reportit, wha was come fra the camp
and was fallen crepill of his legis, and was sik of the
fluxes, and was not abel to come any farder — but was
free of the pestilence ; and that the pepill of Aldham
stokis parishe and Coburnspethe had ane cair of him,
and did send him meit and drink. This Robert Nis
bet was sent away to be ane soldier from Alexander
Hude, in Wester Lochouses : they were to send for
him thither, if for sikness he culd be brocht thither.
The said Robert Nisbet and his wyff did bring ane
pass from the Laird of Blaikbum, that they did come
near nae suspectit place (the pest being presentlie at

264 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Aldhamstokis). They were receivit upon the sight of
their testificat, and let into thair hous again. They re
portit that the said Robert Nisbet did obtain licence
at the camp to come hame, in respect of his infirmitie,
and that he had been in ane byre, betwixt Butterden
and Rentoune, ten days and mair ; for feir of the pest,
the pepill thair wad not tak him into any hous.
The minister and neichbours of the toune resolvit
to send him some support, if he suld live ; but he de
partit this lyff within sum days therefter.
October 20. — Intimation of ane publik fast and sol
emn humiliation, to be keipit throughout all this king
dom, and at our armies both at hame and abroad,
upon the 27 day of October (being the Lords Day
following), and upon the 30 day of October therefter
(being Wedensday), for the troublis of this kingdome,
by unnatural contremen and uthers ; and lykwise in
regard of the plaig of pestilence threatened, and en
tered in some places alreadie. Publik intimation maid
to collect for some souldiers that war come fra New
castle to Scotland, to go to the Northe, that claithes
may be coft to them, according to ane letter sent be
the Lords of the Comittee at Edinburgh on Thursday
last, and ordainit to be intimat this day in our several
parishe kirks.
Intimation maid to the pepill anent the sikness
among beastis, callit the routing evil — that nain prac
tice the curing of it by making ane graiffe and yerding
or interring ane quik beast in it, under the paine of
taking on them the crime of witch chairming and
witchcraft, seing the same was laitlie practised at
Whittinghame parishe, and some uther places : thair-

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 265
for, intimation maid heirof in all the parishes of this
presbiterie, according to the ordinance of the presbi
terie, that nain pretend ignorance in tyme coming ;
which if any personne or personnes sail practise, they
sail be judged giltie of chairming, as said is.
[In the course of 1629, Isobell Young, spouse to
George Smith, portioner, in East Barns, in Hadding
tonshire, was burnt for witchcraft. She had been
accused of both inflicting and curing diseases ; and
it appears that she and her husband had sent to the
L^drd of Lee to borrow his " curing stone " for their
cattle which had the " routing ill." This refers to the
" Lee penny," an old charmed stone set in a silver
penny. The stone was declined, but water in which
the penny had been dipped was sent.
Here is another cure — from the far North : " I saw
my cousin in one instance administer to an ailing cow
a little live trout, simply because the tradition of the
district assured him that a trout swallowed alive by
the creature was the only specific in the case." —
Millar's Schools and Schoolmasters?^
Item : Ordains the toune to be keipit nichtlie, for
danger of the pestilence. Item : Ordains Marin Skill,
wha laitlie cam fra the camp, to be keipit within hir
hous, and ordains the clerk to go through the toune
for meitt and drink.
Upon the nyneteen day of October, being Setter-
day, Newcastle was taken in be our Scottishe armie
thair. 27. — Collect for the soldiers claiths. Fast weil
keipit, praisit be God !
30. — Fast weil keipit, praisit be God !
KK

266 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
November 3. — This day ane thanksgiving keipit
befoir and efter noone, for the intaking of Newcastle
Mr Johne Halyburtoune, chaplaine to the Laird of
Furde, preiched at efternoone. Given to ane minister
fra Irland, 28s. Item : Ordains ten punds of the last
days collect to be taken to Edinburghe, for buying of
claithes, and the rest to be imployed in helping to
buy ane new boat for the water.
November 22. — Ogilvie, commonlie callit Choppins,
dyet suddenlie in James Fa his byre this last nicht
(having been in this toune and about it twentie dayes
since, being for the maist pairt indweller in Dumbar),
and was buryit the said 22 day. The minister having
conveinit some of the elders, and consulted what to do
with the bairne, agreit to put the said Ogilvies bairne,
alias Choppins bairne, to nurse to Jenet Home — the
bairne being ane son of ane quarter aid or thairby.
The minister was discontent with those that receivit
hir within the toune, being now burdened with fend
ing and manteining. The minister and the elders
present agreit to give to Jenet Home, sex punds
everie quarter, and ane laid of coles in the quarter ;
and this to be taken out of the box, or els to make
ane contribution thairfor, seing it was most necessarie
to have ane care of the bairne, and not to suffer it to
perishe. December 8. — Alexander SkugaH, in Tyninghame,
was chosen clerk for ane month, and if he sal be fund
qualified and meet to deschairge the deuties of that
calling, to be contineuit ; utherwys not. The minister
desyrit, in regard of the pestilence in the Merse, James
Davisone, in Wester Gaitside, micht be advertesit not

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 267
to lodge strangers, and to leive of brewing and selling
of aill for a tyme ; and James Smythe, in Knowes,
ruling elder, to adverteise him heirof
December 15. — Intimation maid of the pulpitt that
nain receive into thair houses any fra Newcastle, or
the camp, except they have ane pass, deulie sub
scribed be whom it effeirs, that they are fre of the
pestilence — and notwithstanding the passes, to be
keipit apairet for a tyme ; and if they have no pass,
that they be not receivit at all within the toune or
parishe — at the leist until the nichbours of the toune
and parishe conveine theiranent, that they may be
put to some place from uthers for a tyme, until
danger of infection be past. Ordains James Davi
sone not to receive strangers, nor sell aill, utherwys
he shuld be severlie punished.
December 29. — Thomas Elliot, schoolmaister in this
parishe, and Crystian Raebaird, in Whitekirk, pro
claimit.
1645-
Januarii 12. — Collect for pepill of Leith, taken be
the Turkis.
26. — I went from Hadingtoune to Edinburgh, to
the Provinciall Assemblie, being desyrit to assist our
commissionars thair.
Februarii 9. — Upon the aucht day of Februarii, be
ing Setterday, Thomas, Erie of Hadingtoune, about
ten hours at nicht, departit this lyfe verie Cristianlie
and peacablie, and upon the fyfteen of Februarii,
being Setterday, was buryed in the Abbey Kirke.

268 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Mairch 9. — The minister exhortit the pepill to char
itie in this times, and desyrit them not to wearie in
welldoing, and thankit God for what was done.
July 6. — This day the ordinance of the presbiterie
anent penney brydallis red be the minister pubHkHe
to the congregatioun befornoone, befor the blessing,
that nain pretend ignorance — the sum whereof is this :
That the pepill conveinit on bothe syds to ane penney
brydall sail not exceid the number of 20, and that
the brydall lawing sail not exceid ten shillings Scottis
money for everie person, ather man or woman ; and
that thair be nether befor nor efter dinner any pyping
nor dancing, that no bawdie sangs nor filthie speiches
be used, nether any excessive drinking, or any uther
lascivious behaviour, profanitie, or debocherie be used
be any personne, altho not invited, conveined thairto ;
and lykwise permitts and ordains everie minister in
thair bounds, with advyse of the session of the parishe,
to use yet farder restraint of the said abuses upon new
and urgent occasions, according as they think fit to
do within thair awin parishe, as they will be answeir-
able to the laws of the Kirk and kingdom ; and for
the better effectuating heirof ordains everie minister
and kirk-sessioune, in the parishe kirks of thair awin
bounds, at the taking up of the pairties to be pro
claimed, to tak sufficient securitie, be payment or
caution, as they sail see fit in thair several parishes,
under the pain of twentie pounds Scottis monie, that
they sail obey this whole act as weel as any uther act
of the Kirk maid anent mariadge, with certificates
that whosoever suld fail in any point heirof, the said
soum sail be confiscate, and imployed for the use of

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 269
the poore of the parishe, without any defalcation upon
any pretence whatsoever ; and if any sail refuse to
give security as said is, in that case the benefit of the
proclamation sail be denyit till securitie be given
thairanent. These presents sail be the ministers
warrant ; and if any sail go about to ilude or shiste
this act, upon whatever pretext, they sail not onlie
be censured as contraveiners theirof, but also further
punishit as prophane mockers of the discipline of the
Kirk ; and farder, ordains that everie minister and
sessioune tak strik account of everie personnes obedi
ence to this act the first sessioune-day efter any such
mariadge sail be solemnized, certifying them that, at
the visitation of the kirk, according to the Act of As
sembHe, ane account sail be socht of them thairanent ;
and if they sail find any personne, whatsoever rank or
degree, presume to mak any opposition heirto, direct-
lie or indirectlie, that incontinent they sail tak notice
of him, and delate him to the presbiterie, with certifi
catioun that, according to the act of the General As
semblie, halden at Edinburgh in May 1644, he sail
be cited be them befoir the commissioner of the late
General Assemblie, as a personne perjured and dis
affected to the present Reformation and late Coven
ant maid thairanent ; and ordains this act, efter it is
communicate to the sessioune of the kirk, and pub
liklie intimat to the pepill, to be insert and registrat
in the sessioune-buik, that nain pretend ignorance.
The minister and sessioune ordains this act to be
strictlie observit. Dated at Dunbar the 19 June 1645.
July 10. — The Erie of Hadintoune returned with his
family from Melrose.

270 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED,
July 20. — Given to Robert Ewart, in Tyninghame,
for curing James Brown his leg, 3 lib. 4s. 4d.
Item : The minister exhortit the elders to caus pay
the excyse, as was appointit, and not to neglect, uther
wys they wald be put to the home.
August 3. — Given to Thomas Neilsonne, to buy ane
hors, seing he had ane hors deid latley, and fallen abak
in meins, 20 lib.
September 28. — Given out my Lady Binnings monie,
40s. to Johne Milne and his wyff, being inclosed in thair
hous near ane month, suspect of pestilence.
October 19. — This day the publik thanksgiving weil
keipit (praisit be God !) for that notable and great
victorie — never to be forgot — at Philliphauche, when
James Graham and his forces were utterly routed and
overthrown. We thank the Lord God of our salva
tion, through Jesus Christ, thairfor for ever.
October 14, at nicht, Hadintoune ill brunt.
November 21. — The minister shew to the sessione
that, according to the ordinance of the Kirk, 5 pounds
was to be given be the kirk of Tyninghame, to be
payit to the bursar at Saint Andros yeirlie ; qrunto
the session agreit, and 5 pounds was presentlie taken
out of the readiest of the penalties and delyverit to
the minister, to be delyverit to the presbiterie. The
bursar is Maister James Dalrympill, sone to umqll
Maister James Dalrympill, minister at Staintoune.
December 12. — After the efternoone sermon, the ses
sion halden: it was concludit that ane mortclothe shuld
be bocht, and if they culd get sufficient moneys, to bye
ane other worse ; and that they shuld begin to collect
on Monday come aucht days, and the maisters of

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 27 1
families to be first begun at. Ordains, lykwise, order
to be taken with the kirk-style, and for making ane
calsey upon the gaitt befor the kirk-style.
December 26. — The elders declairit that they had
maid grate progress with the mortclothes, and war to
go on farder ; and were not to troubill servants, seein
they were removabill fra term to term.
Efter sermon, the session halden. The minister de
mandit the elders (seing he cam fra Edinburgh yester
nicht) severallie quhidder the pepill did abstain from
work, or did work in their calling on Yoole-day as on
uther dayis. They answeirit that thair was no keip
ing of Yoole, ather be feasting or playing, or abstain
ing from work idillie, bot that all the pepill wrocht as
on uther dayes of the weik in thair callings, and that
they were all mindit to have yokit thair pleuchs, ex
cept they had broken them or spilit the land ; and
that the thow was bot neulie begun that day, and the
day verie roughe. They affirmit that all the pepill, so
far as they culd know, were all workin ; and if the land
had been for tiUin, they suld have yokit thair pleuchs,
if the pleuchs any way culd have maid red land, and
inacht themselfs under any penalties the minister wad
injoine to do the same ; afifirmin also that thir sundrie
yeirs bygane sundrie of them did yok thair pleuchs
that day, quhan it was not frostie, qlk the minister
knew to be trew.
1 648-
February 6. — This day the bands of mariadge be
twixt the Richt Nobill Johne, Erie of Hadintoune,
and Lady Cristen Lindsay, proclaimit the first tyme.

272 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
and lykwyse in the kirk of Halyrood House pro
primo. February 13. — The minister shew that the Laird of
Craig was directit to give the moneys for the orphans
and widows, and ordains Johne Pringill to go to the
Laird of Craig and receive thair monies, wherunto he
grantit. 16, Wedensday, being ane ordinar day of examina
tion, ane bairne bapteizit to Adam Mershall in Ravens
heuch, shepherd thair.
Mairch 19. — The sessione conveinit: some of the
elders being absent the last day at efternoon, being
rebuikit this day, promeisit to keip guid order in tyme
coming — some of them shewing excuses for thair ab
sence the last Lords Day at efternoon. All the elders
this day present.
April 2. — Producit ane act from the presbiterie anent
the payment of the clerks feys for the books of the
Assemblie, and for the propositions and declarations
and catechisms. The sum extends to fife punds, 4
shillins, 2 penneys, qrunto the sessioune grantit (and
delyverit the same sum to the minister, seein he had
debursed it alreaddie), seein it was the ordinance of
the Assemblie and presbiterie, and practise of all the
kirks. April 16. — Given to Margret Cuna, spous to umqhll
Cristopher Hardie, in Muttonhole, being at the point
of death, twa merks — wha was beddral thes ffour
yeirs bygane, and blind, being always publiklie pray
ed for.
April 30. — This day distribut thretie bulks among
the pepill of this parishe — to the most considerable

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 273
families of this parishe — anent privat worship and
mutual edificatioune. Pryce of ilk buik, 2 shillin.
May 7. — Intimation maid to them that war heir of
my Lords familie, to come to the examination on
Tuesday nixt.
May 20. — The minister severallie poseit the elders
if they knew of anything to be taken order with :
answeirit that they knew of nothing, except that
William Hays wyff and Janet Yorston war at vari
ance. It was thocht meet to wairn them to come to
the sessioune, that they micht be agreit.
20, Setterday. Item : Twa elders appointit gather
the collect, and thre to attend the tables and serve,
and ane to stand at the entrie of the table and ane
uther at the foot thairof, that the pepill micht come
and go from the table quietlie and orderlie.
May 25. — The Erie of Hadintoune with his ladie,
and my Lord Crawford and his ladie, cam to Tyn
inghame. December 2. — Mr Johne Dalyell, yonger, and Mr
Thomas Dalyell, sons to Mr Johne Dalyell, being
bothe of singular expectation, were buryed, to the
great grief of all gude Cristians among whom they
lived.
1649.
Mairch 25. — Intimation to the pepill on the upper
syd of the Smiddie Wynd to come to the examination
on Monday at 9 hours, and the absents fra the thre
quarters abousheit, on Tysday at 9 houris ; and from
the Smiddie Wynd to the eist end of the toune, with
LL

274 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED,
Lochouses, Ravinsheuche, and Fisherhouses, on Wed
ensday ; and on Friday, Knowis and Kirklandhill,
Knowis Mill and Bellpotts,
Mairch 25. — The minister compleinit that Agnes
Arnot had not maid hir satisfaction for hir ill words
against Johne Airthe : answeirit that, seein she was
ane foolish woman, and rash, he was content to agree
them. 1650.
May 12. — Intimation maid for singing the new para
phrase of the Psalms for the Kirk yeirlie, according to
the ordinance of the General Assemblie, and commis
sion thairof, and allowed and approved be the council:
to be practeised the nixt Lords Day in the kirk.
Johne Quht, and Alexr. Bee, younger, and Alexr,
Wallace, delated for playing nineholes the last Sab
bothe at nicht Ordains them to compeir on Wedens
day nixt befor the sermon.

" The history of the Authorised Version of the Scot
tish Kirk is interesting. Thomas Sternhold, Groom of
the Robes to Henry VIII. and Edward VI., a zealous
Reformer and strict liver, was so scandalised at the
amorous glees and catches sung at Court, that he set
about turning the Psalms of David into English metre,
in the hope thereby to lead the courtiers to sing them
instead of their own lewd and ribald sonnets. If in
this he was grievously disappointed, still his righteous
labour was not in vain. His work made glad the heart

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 275
of the masses of Englishmen of his day. It rapidly
became popular, and in 1652 'The Whole Booke of
Psalmes collected into English Metre, by T. Sternhold
and J. Hopkins, and others, conferred with the Ebrew,
with apt notes to sing them withal,' appeared bound
up at the end of the Book of Common Prayer. But
gradually the metrical version of Sternhold and Hop
kins became obsolete, and at length, in consequence
of the complaints made of it, the House of Commons
in 1643 recommended the version of Francis Rous, a
native of Halton, in Cornwall, to the consideration of
the Assembly of Divines at Westminster. Rous, who
in that year was Provost of Eaton — ' the old illiterate
Jew of Eaton,' and ' the old Presbyterian Provost of
Eaton,' as the Royalists styled him — was himself a
member of the House of Commons in the first and
later Parliaments of Charles I., and under the Com
monwealth sat for Devonshire in 1653, and for Corn
wall in 1656, and in the House of Lords in 1657. He
was also one of the few laymen appointed by the
House of Commons to sit in the Assembly of Divines
at Westminster. The first edition of his Psalms was
published in 1641, the second in 1643, and the third,
as corrected and amended by various committees of
the House of Commons, and afterwards revised by
the author, in 1646, when (in the month of April of
that year) the House ordered ' that Rous' Psalms and
no other shall be sung in all churches and chapels
within England, Wales, and Berwick-on-Tweed, after
the first of next January.' The Lords concurred. It
is this edition which became the basis of the Author
ised Version of the Scottish Kirk, the first edition of

276 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
which appeared in 1650, with the title, 'The Psalms
of David in metre, newly translated and diligently
compared with the original text and former transla
tions, more plain, smooth, and agreeable to the text
than any heretofore. Allowed by the authority of
the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, and
appointed to be sung in congregations and families.
Edinburgh, Evan Tyler.' This Authorised Version,
which was taken in great part from Rous, at once
superseded the ' Old Paraphrase ' of Lekpreuik in
Scotland ; but in England the people clung to the
collection of Sternhold and Hopkins until, at the
beginning of the i8th century, it was finally replaced
by the ' New Version of the Book of Psalms, exe
cuted by Nathan Tate and Nicholas Brady.' It had
become impossible any longer to continue the popular
use of the archaic translation of Sternhold and Hop
kins, and many other circumstances also rendered the
acceptance of Tate and Brady's trivial and degrading
New Version almost unavoidable. Rous' version was,
however, partially adopted in England, and is said to
be still pertinaciously used by some Anglican congre
gations. It is most unfortunate that the amended
edition of 1646 was not generally approved, in which
case the necessity would possibly never have arisen
for introducing the dull and jingling doggerel of Tate
and Brady into the Book of Common Prayer. It is
difficult to understand, indeed, why the third edition
of Rous' version did not at once become popular, since
the version of Sternhold and Hopkins was already
falling out of use. The two are very alike in their
manly simplicity and vigorous harmony, and in the

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 277
closeness with which they follow the noble prose
translation of the Book of Common Prayer, which is
their chief merit. They lack refinement of metrical
expression, and are often almost unintelligible in their
rough and literal rendering of the Hebrew text ; but
they are never feeble, or dull, or bombastic, while
many of the stanzas are wonderfully fine, and reflect
with sustained skill and inspiration the sublimity of
the Royal Psalmist of Israel. Rous' version differs
from that of Sternhold and Hopkins chiefly in having
been composed a century later. Its language is 'more
plain and smooth,' but its essential characteristics —
the merits which appeal direct to the heart of an
earnest and religious nation- — are the same."- — Times.
In recent discussions upon the use of forms of
prayer in church worship, there was an inconceivable
ignorance of the genius and history of Presbyterian
ism. One would have fancied, from the language
used by not a few, that such a work as the Book of
Common Order had no existence. The ugly words,
"following divisive courses," et hoc genus omne, were
freely used. Let us take a glance at one or two of
the undoubted facts of the case. The Assembly of
Aberdeen — take note of the place ! — in 1616 ordained
that there should be " ane uniform order of liturgy or
service sent down to be read in all kirks on ordinary
days of prayer, and every Sabbath-day before the
sermon, to the end that the common people might
be acquainted therewith, and by custom may learn to
serve God rightly.'' A committee was appointed "to
revise the Book of Common Prayers contained in the
Psalm Book, and to sett down ane Common Service

278 CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
to be used in all time hereafter, quilk shall be used on
all times of Common Prayer, in all kirks, when there is
exercise of Common Prayer, as likewise by the minister
before the sermon when there is no reader,"
For well-nigh a century the Church of Scotland had
used a liturgy not much less ornate than that of Eng
land, and not of binding obligation upon the clergy
— room was always left for what is called free prayer.
There were many congregations in which it was not
used. It was neither prescribed nor proscribed. The
whole matter is admirably put in a recent work of
scholarly accuracy upon all the matters handled by
the accomplished author. He says —
" The bell having been rung an hour before, was
rung the second time at eight o'clock for the reader's
service. The congregation then assembled, and en
gaged for a time in private devotion. The reader
took his place at the lectern, read the Common
Prayers, and in some churches the Decalogue and
Creed. He then gave out large portions of the
Psalter, the singing of which was concluded, and
next read chapters of scripture from the Old and
New Testaments, going through in order any book
that was begun, as required by the First Book of
Discipline. After an hour thus spent, the bell rang
the third time, and the minister entered the pulpit,
and knelt for private devotion ; he then began with
a " conceived " prayer, chiefly for " illumination," as
in other Reformed Churches, He next preached the
sermon, and then read or repeated one of the prayers
in the Liturgy for all classes and conditions of men,
or extemporized one conform to it, concluding with

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME 279
the Lord's Prayer and Creed. After this there fol
lowed a psalm and the benediction. Between 161 8
and 1639 the usage continued, with these differences :
that in some parts of the country the minister's salu
tation was lengthened into a preface, there was an
additional prayer, and the Lord's Prayer was used
at the end of the prayer before sermon. The recital
of the Creed was omitted by many of the clergy." —
Sprott's Introduction to the Book of Common Order.
Such was, no doubt, the order of service in the
church of the hamlet on the banks of the Tyne.
" Yes, if the intensities of hope and fear
Attract us still, and passionate exercise
Of lofty thoughts, the way before us lies
Distinct with signs, through which, in set career.
As through a zodiac, moves the ritual year
Of England's Church. Stupendous mysteries !
Which whoso travels in her bosom eyes
As he approaches them with solemn cheer.
Upon that circle traced from sacred story
We only dare to catch a transient glance.
Trusting in hope that others may advance
With mind intent upon the King of Glory,
From His mild advent till His countenance
Shall dissipate the seas and mountains hoary.
Monastic domes ! following my downward way,
Untouched by due regret I marked your fall !
Now ruin, beauty, ancient stillness, all
Dispose to judgments temperate as we lay
On our past selves in Life's declining day :
For as, by discipline of Time made wise.
We learn to tolerate the infirmities
And faults of others — gently as we may.
So with our own the mild instructor deals —
Teaching us to forget them or forgive.

28o CHURCHES OF SAINT BALDRED.
Perversely curious, then, for hidden ill
Why should we break Time's charitable seals ?
Once ye were holy — ye are holy still ;
Your spirit freely let me drink and live.
Why sleeps the future as a snake enrolled
Coil within coil at noon-tide ? For the w8rd
Yields, if with unpresumptuous Faith explored.
Power, at whose touch the sluggard shall unfold
His drowsy rings. Look forth ! that stream behold.
That stream upon whose bosom we have passed.
Floating at ease, while nations have effaced
Nations, and Death has gathered to his fold
Long lines of mighty kings — look forth, my soul,
("Nor in this be thou slow to trust),
The living waters, less and less by guilt
Stained and polluted, brighten as they roll.
Till they have reached the Eternal City, built
For the perfected spirits of the just "
— Wordsworth.
" Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels, and have not charity, I am become as sound
ing brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and un
derstand all mysteries, and all knowledge ; and though
I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and
have not charity, I am nothing,
" And though I bestow all my goods to feed the
poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and
have not charity, it profiteth me nothing,
" Charity suffereth long, and is kind ; charity envi-
eth not ; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
" Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her
own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil ;
" Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth ;

RECORDS OF SESSION OF TYNINGHAME. 28 1
" Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all
things, endureth all things.
" Charity never faileth : but whether there be pro
phecies, they shall fail ; whether there be tongues, they
shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish
away. " For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
" But when that which is perfect is come, then that
which is in part shall be done away.
" When I was a child, I spake as a child, I under
stood as child, I thought as a child ; but when I be
came a man, I put away childish things.
" For now we see through a glass, darkly ; but then
face to face : now I know in part ; but then shall I
know even as also I am known.
"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three ;
but the greatest of these is charity."

Printed by '^ . T. Peddie & Co., Edmhurgh,

3 9002