‘The Face of Ane Perfyt Reformed Kyrk’: St Andrews and the Early Scottish Reformation

Abstract

With supreme self-confidence the St Andrews kirk-session declared on 31 May 1564: Seing it hes pleased the gudnes of the Eternall, our God, of his meir mercy, to deliver and reduce us furth of the bondage and yok of Antecrist, to the lycht of the Ewangell of Jesus Crist be plenteows prechyng of the same; so that the face of ane perfyt reformed kyrk hes beyn seyn wythin this cite be the space of fyve yearis, the sacramentis deuly ministrat, all thingis done in the kyrk be comly ordor establesched, disciplyn used and resavit wythowtyn contempt or ony plane contradiccione of ony person’.

‘‘None Must Meddle Betueene Man and Wife’’: Assessing Family and the Fluidity of Public and Private in Early Modern Scotland

“…17 Any wrong doing was to be reported to their local Session so that the sinner could repent, removing the stain from the ''godly community.'' 18 In Aberdeen, in 1604 the Kirk Session admonished the masters of servants, to delait [inform upon or accuse] faithfully their servants and apprentices that keeps not the kirk on the Sabbath day, both before and after noon, or are inordinate livers, nightwalkers, drunkards, harlots, tuilyeouris [quarreler or fighter], disobedient, or rebellious to their masters, or players at golf, bowllis, kyillis [a games of skittles or nine-pins], or any other pastime, on the Sabbath day, which the masters promised faithfully to delait to the sessioun by their hands upheld.'' 19 Masters and mistresses who failed to exploit the privacy of the household to monitor their charges on behalf of the Kirk faced disciplinary measures.…”