Hi Jim, It certainly sounds as if Marian Neill tried to abort her child, though I can't guess what the "dentes" were that she swallowed - some kind of herb, potion or drink? As for "Johne Smith had no base met" is she or the session perhaps saying that he had no "base" intention - i.e. wasn't part of the abortion scheme? As for the next phrase, it may be that the session finds her sin “heinous” and “tables” her punishment for further consideration? Having seen a couple of samples of the writing you're dealing with, Jim, it's wonderful how you manage to pick the sense out of it all. Best regards John Jim Bundy wrote: > Hi Listers, > > I have a question re this page: > > Am I correct in thinking that Maren was trying to abort the chyld? And that "Baynous tabis" was a kind of Latin legal term for this offence? > > Jim Bundy > > > > > Maren Neill being delate & sumondit for fornicaon wt Johne Smyth compeired confessing that she was wt chyld to the sd Johne Smyth And that she took some dentes to put back the child, bot yt Johne Smith had no base met, the session finding her sine Baynous tabis her censure to consideration In the meantime recommend her to diverse elders to be spoken to effectually for being ing of hir to the sense of hir sine > > Johne Smith sumondit for foron wt Mare(n) Neill compeired and confessing is ordained to acknl his sine in the publick place according to order, bot befoir to be conferred wt by elders for convinceing him of his sine