| Contract dated 4 August 1643. Having accused his wife of incontinency, Lord Abercrombie assaulted an elder and the kirk beadle of the parish of Abercrombie, who were sent to summon the lady to appear before the session. At a meeting of the Presbytery of St. Andrews held on 1 August 1649 , it was resolved to summon Lord Abercrombie to their next meeting to answer for the assault and for his scandalous intemperance and other miscarriages. On 12 September he appeared before them, confessed his faults and promised amendment, and also that his wife should go to the session of Falkland and clear herself of the scandal alleged against her. He subsequently acknowledged, in a letter to the Synod of Fife, that this scandal was quite groundless, and had been invented by himself. The matter was referred to the Presbytery of Cupar, which body, at a meeting held on 17 January 1650, appointed him to appear in the church of Falkland on a Sunday forenoon after sermon and declare his guilt before the congregation. He was ultimately publicly censured by the Church. Meanwhile the baptism of his child had been delayed till the scandal had been cleared, and it did not take place till 30 April 1650, the child being presented, in the absence of Lord Abercrombie, who had by that time left the country, by the laird of Kilbracmonth, who bound himself to satisfy for anything that might thereafter be objected against Lady Abercrombie anent the scandal at Falkland. |