A question suddenly occurs in my mind. Is there ever a distinction in such Session records between fornication and rape? I'd think that some of the consorting with the "Inglish" might actually be the former... but since the Cromwellians were actually an occupying force at the time the civil authorities probably would not have had the ability or inclination to proceed. The Kirk probably couldn't do anything about the English either, but I wonder if some of the "guilty" women were actually victims? Ken Cuthbertson In a message dated 4/18/2010 12:10:30 P.M. Mountain Daylight Time, jbundy48@verizon.net writes: Hi Listers, At this point the handwriting and spelling make a real change, obviously a new clerk. I like his handwriting better than the previous clerk, but he wrote in a very tiny style. I may need stronger reading glasses. Jim Bundy Page 90 Jun 12 1653 The whilk day Hew Caldwell being summoned for neglect of familie exercise compeared confessed the same and that because he judged himself not able to doe it the session did rebuke him and did exhort him to doe as he could whereunto he did bind himself by promise The whilk day Janet Smith being summoned for scandalouse caredge with some Inglish by drinking with them in the tyme of sermon compeired acknowledging the same was sharply rebuked by the session and exhorted to forbear their company hence forth The whilk day compeared Isobell Smith who was somoned for scandalouse cariedge with Thomas Arthour purged hirself of fornication the session did think fit to rebuike hir sharply and to exhort hir to forbear his felowshipe The whilk day Agnes Blackwood being summoned as suspect of fornication compeared acknowledging that she was with chyld to an Alexr Mackduffe who lives in Galoway the session suspecting hir dissimulation referd the mater to further tryall Delations July 29 1653Adam Clerk suspect of fornication wt Agnes Mongersland James Mourchland for drunknes at Air The whilke compeared Adam Clerk being somoned as suspect of fornication with Agnes Mongersland and she also being somoned both compeared confessing the same and is ordained to acknowledge ther sinn publickly before the congregation which both did The whilk day compeared James Mourchland and being accused of drunknes at Air denyed the same is refered to further probation Marion Adam as suspect of fornication with ane Inglishman ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AYRSHIRE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message