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they left a wheen o' their religious pictures and the stool of repentance was amongst the spoil, but ye'se no get my bairn to set upon a thing as high as a hen-bawk, and ilka body to be glowring at him.
Mess. John Woman, I told you formerly that any who refuses submission to the government of the church, is liable to excommunication; and that we are to put the law in execution against adultery and fornication, or the sin thereof lies partly on our head.
Mith. As for your sin of adultery, I hae naething ado wi't; I ken my son is a fornicator, an ye can neither mak him better nor war nor he is, there's nae man can keep a standing in their ain hand--fortune I mean; if it be a sin let him confess't and forsake it, and we's pay the buttoek-male and mak nae muckle about it.
Mess John. Good wife, you need not think your son will pass so, more than others that have been before him, he must actually come before the congregation three Sabbaths, before he he absolved from the scandal, and get the benefit of any church privileges like an honest man.
Mith. Indeed, mess John, my son will never set his hips upon't; if he maun come before you, I'se gar him stand a bit back frae't and hear what ye hae to say about fornication, twa harmless free bodies passing their tryals to see what they can do, ye that's Whigs may mak enough o't, but I think nae muckle about it.
Mess John. Woman ye may go home and see what you have to do; ye have a very bad tongue; it's not you we are to take an account of
Mith. Ay, ay, ye that's mini ters and modest fouk may say sae, but if my son had tane as good tent of his tail, as I can do of my tongue, there had nae been sae muckle about it; a wheen sill louns kens na what they were made for, or how to guide a thing when they get it.
Mess John. Put her out, she's going to speak baudy.
Mith. O ay, stir, I'se gang out but I'll hae my bairn wi' me.
Mess John. We must first ask some few questions at him, there is no harm can come on him here.
Mith. For as good company as you think yourselves, I wad rather hae him in anither place.
John's kept in, and his mother is put out.
Mess John. Well John, you must tell us whether this child was gotten before ye was married, or since; for I suppose by the time of the birth it is much about the same time.
Jock. Hout ay stir, it was gotten lang or I married.
