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Juſt. Yours or no ſir, when you told me you got it, if you ſhould get it wi' a beggar wife at the back of the dyke, what's that to the purpoſe; when it's of your getting you moſt maintain it.
Jock. O! yes, ſtir, am no refuſing to gie ⟨creſt⟩ and meal to maintain it, but my mither winna let me to the black ſtool.
Juſtr. Why not go to the black ſtool, when guilty of ſuch an action as deſerves it? if you have any reaſons why you ſhould not go, argument in the ſeſſion, and clear yourſelf, if you can.
(John's mither enters, and addreſſes herſelf to the ſervant laſs, thinking the was the Juſtices lady.)
Indeed miſtreſs madam, if ye were a kintry goodwife, like myſel, I could tell you a' about it, but you that's gentiles, I canna uſe freedom wi' you cauſe I hae nae Latin. But waes me, wi' that's poor fouk is born to mony fealins an back ward it's this lad is my ſon, an am his mither, he has had the foul fortune to get a byſstart wean, nae doubt but we hae been gilty o' ⟨his⟩ muckle, an ne'er a word about it; a what ⟨ſay⟩ ye madam?
Off goes the laſs, ſaying, Foul fa' the wife or I was never guilty o't.
Juſt. Well goodwife, what is the reaſon but ⟨ye⟩ let your ſon give ſatisfaction to the kirk.
