Заборонений ліс

           Businessbeganwithlongprayersandprelectionsdeliveredtohisaddress.TheModeratorconstitutedthecourtwiththeformalityofaLordofSessionandthesolemnityofaministerfencingthetablesattheCommunionseason.HeannouncedthatthematterforexaminationwouldbelimitedtothechargeofassistingtheKirk’senemies.ThepriorchargeofwitchcraftpreferredbytheministerofWoodileeagainstcertainparishionerswouldberelegatedtoalaterday,sincethePrivyCouncilonhismotionhadissuedacommissiontoinquireintothemachinationsoftheDevilinthatparish,namingasitsmembershimself,theministerofBold,andtheLairdofKilliequhair.This,thoughtDavid,explainsthepricker.Mr.Muirheadaddedthathehadmovedinthematterattherequestofagodlyelder,knowntoallofthem,EphraimCairdinChasehope.

           ThecourtwascomposedofthetwoscoreofministersinthePresbytery,andonlyMr.Fordycewaslacking,forhewasoncemorestretcheduponabedofsickness.Asitwasonlyapreliminaryexaminationtherewerenowitnesses,sincetheobjectwastogivetheaccusedachanceofstatinghiscaseandsonarrowtheissuetobeultimatelytried.TheModeratorreadaloudswornstatements,towhichnonameswereappended,thenames,asheexplained,beingreservedforthetimewhenthecomplainantsshouldappearinperson.ToDaviditwasobviousthat,thoughoneofthestatementswasbyasoldierofLeslie’s,theothersmustcomefrommembersofhisownflock.