What was Johnie's misdemeanor? 1698 Kirk session

[goldie61]

From the kirk session minutes of Strathaven 1698.
A couple of words here I'd like help with please.
I have an idea what it is, but would like a second opinion.

The phrase 'to go off the place' is interesting.
Presumably he wanted to leave Strathaven to go and live in another town, and needed confirmation he had been a member of the church in Strathaven? A bit like a character reference.
He was lucky they gave it to him.
Poor Johnie!

May 1 (16)98

Johnie Cochran
Compeard Johnie Cochran, seeking a testimoniall, being to go off the place, the
sessione rebuked him for his custome of  … ving when he was young, and ta..
him ingadged not to do so in tyme coming  and Appointd the Clerk to give his testi-
moniall forsaid,

[Zefiro]

theeving (thieving)

[Karen McDonald]

The other word looks like it ends in "s". But ta*s..? 

[GR2]

Theeving (= thieving) is correct.

The other word is 'taks' (literally = takes). The session 'taks him ingadged' not to do something. In other words it accepts his engagement (no doubt fortified with an oath) not to steal again.

It was usual for people leaving the parish to ask for a testimonial or testificat from the session so they could give it to the session of their new parish. It would state that they were not under censure by the kirk etc. Sometimes they are mentioned in the session minutes, but most aren't.

Going off the place does not imply he is leaving under a cloud. It just means he is going elsewhere, probably for work.

[goldie61]

Thanks everybody for your replies.
I thought it must be 'theeving', but wanted unbiased second opinions.
It would have been even more interesting to see what he had been thieving!
I started in 1695 with these kirk session minutes, and didn't find any other reference to him. Perhaps even further back, or there may be nothing else about it at all.
It made a change from the usual items in kirk session minutes!

Thanks for the pertinent information GR2. I wonder where he went?
Being called 'Johnie' as opposed to 'John', makes him sound quite young, but I have really no idea how old he may have been, or which of the several John Cochrans around Strathaven at this time he may have been.