Source material transcribed from:© Scotsfind L.L.C.

The Presbytrie Booke of Kirkcaldie
Being the Record of the Proceedings of that Presbytery from the 15th Day of April 1630 to the 14th day of September 1653
Edited by William Stevenson, M.A., F.S.A.SCOT.
Minister of Auchtertool, Kirkcaldy

Some interesting and amusing entries in the book written in old Scots.

DYSERT, March 24, 1642
Compeired Isobell Dick, also Thomas Jack, David Tullus, Elspett CRUICKSHANK, Elspett Reid, Isobell Kinnear, witness aganest the said Isobell Dick in the mater betwixt hir and Patrik Mackenzie, all admitted and sworne, deponed as follows -

Thomas Jack deponed that Elspett CRUICKSHANK said to him that she being in Leyth resaved ane letter from Patrik Mackenzie to delyver to Isobell Dick, bot befoir she came out Leyth, Isobell Dick hirself come to Leyth, to whom she gave the letter thair and thairafter she saw him and hir together in William Cambells houss in Leyth, and that this was the last weik ; as also deponed that she said that since Mertimes she knew the said Patrik and hir wer in bed togither in Isobell Dicks houss. The whilk day also compeired the said Elspett CRUICKSHANK., who deponed that she being in Leyth got a letter from Patrik Mackenzie to delyver to Isobell Dick, whilk she delyvered to Isobell Dick in Leyth as said is, and sent the said Isobell to Patrik Mackenzie in William Cambells houss ; as also that she and Isobell Kinnear being in Isobell Dicks houss sitting at the fyre togitber since Mertirnes last hard Patrik Mackenzie in the bed in Isobell Dicks houss, and that he stayed thair twentie dayes befoir Candelmes ; also that Elspett Reid let in Patrik Mackenzie at the foir yett, and she speired at hir who it was, and she anserit that it was Patrik Mackenzie, and then Isobell Dick rose and went to him and that she was put to lye on the backsyde that night. Isobell Kinnear deponed that she and Elspett CRUICKSHANK being sitting at Isobell Dicks fyre since Mertimes, she hard the said Patrik Mackenzie in Isobell Dicks bed. David Tullus deponed that he hes sein Patrik Mackenzie dyvers times in Isobell Dicks houss. Elspett Reid deponed that she opened the yett of Isobell Dicks houss, and lett in Patrik Mackenzie thairat, within this half year. The Presbytrie continews thair judgement until the nixt day.


KIRKCALDIE, March 31, 1642
The whilk day ... . Compeired David Tullns, witness aganest Isobell Dick, who according to his oath deponed that about a year bygone in Januar, he saw Patrik Mackenzie in Isobell Dicks houss, standing befair the fyre with his coat off, and his petticoat on, and his mulls of his feete, as also that in bearsyde time last, he carried ane letter from Isobell Dick, blank on the back, and delyvered it to Patrik Mackenzie in William Forresters tavern in the head of the Cannoongait, and brought the anser thairof back from him to hir ; also, that in sumer last he saw Patrik Mackenzie sitting at the board with his nyt bonnett on his head writing. Item that in October last she sent him over to Patrik Mackenzie to tell him she was troubled be the Presbytrie for him, who retumed this anser that he was also troubled for the present, bot he should come over to hir schortlie.

Also Elspett CRUICKSHANK further deponed that she, Elspett Reid and Isobell Kinllear and one Harie Tane, being all sitting at Isobell Dicks fyre, hard Patrik Mackenzie in Isobell Dicks bed, and the said Harie Tane said he wold goe and tak the adulterer out from the whoore, bot they wold not let him ; also that she saw Patrik Mackenzie upon ane Sunday in the morning in summer last pisheinge out at Isobell Dicks windo. All persons being called agane that had anything to object aganest Mr Patrik Gilespie aither in his doctrin or in his lyff and conversatioun to compeire and be hard...

KIRKCALDIE, Julii 21, 1647
The whilk day ..... Compeired Mr James Mercer to anser for his alledged drunkeness whilk he still denyes. Compeired witnesses for probatioun in the said mater Mr William Thrift, James Bumlie, Alex CRUIKSHANK, John Heggie, Margaret Young Elspeth Lyall, who being all admitted and sworne deponed as follows: - Mr William Thrift deponed that he could not say he was in drink ; all the rest deponed alyke except Alexr CRUIKSHANK who deponed that he thought aither he was in some drink or else sick. The Presbytrie appoynts to writt to the Presbytrie of Dunkell what they had tryed whilk also was done.