No. IV. Edinburgh, 3 Aug. 1652. Ante mer. Sess. 19. Act concerning admitting Expectants to their tryals, and Ruling Elders to act in Presbyteries and Synods.

The General Assembly having out of their earnest desire of the Peace and Vnity of this Kirk, condescended upon an Overture of Peace, and not onely propounded it to some Brethren who were here, opposite to the Publick Judicatories of this Kirk, But also in pursuance of that end, Ordained the said Overture to be presented, and offered by the several Presbyteries or Synods, to all in their respective bounds, who have Protested against, and Declined, or consented or adhered unto the Protestations and Declinatours made against this and the preceding General Assembly, and the conditions therein contained, to be required of them; And considering the great prejudice like to arise to this Kirk, by encreasing of our unhappy Differences and Distractions, if young men shal be admitted into the Ministery, which shall still blow the fire of contention, and continue in avowed opposition to, and contempt of the Publick Judicatories, Therefore Ordains Presbyteries to take special care, that upon the calling of any Expectant to a particular charge of the Ministery, before they admit him to his trials, they require him under his hand, to passe from the Protestations and Declinatours against this and the preceding General Assembly, if he hath been accessory to the same, and to promise and give assurance, that he shal abstain from holding up Debates and Controversies, about matters of Differences in this Kirk, since the Assembly 1650, in Preaching, Writing, or other wayes. Vpon the performance whereof, the Presbyterie shall proceed to his trials; if not, in that case, the Presbyterie shal forbear to proceed until the next General Assembly leaving liberty to the Presbyterie and Congregation for planting of the place otherwise. And the Assembly Ordains and requires, that Presbyteries be not sudden to lay by such young men as at first refuses or scruples to perform these conditions mentioned, but that pains be taken upon them to convince them of the reasonablenesse thereof, and to perswade them to embrace them, and to give them a competent time for that effect.

Likeas the Assembly considering the prejudice of Elders coming to Presbyteries for strengthening a faction in opposition to the Publick Judicatories, Ordains, that Presbyteries shal require the same things fore-mentioned of every Ruling Elder that comes to sit and act in Presbyteries; and in case of his refusal, shall not admit him to act as an Elder in the Presbyterie, but require the Kirk Session from which he is sent, to make choise of, and send another, who for the Peace of this Church, shal agree to perform the conditions required.

No. V. Act for putting in execution former Acts and Constitutions of Generall Assemblies, anent trying, admitting, removing, and deposing of Church Officers, censuring of scandulous persons, receiving of penitents, and debarring of persons from the LORDS Table. Edinburgh 3 August 1652. Post meridiem. Sess. 20.

The Generall Assembly, considering the obligations that lyes upon all Ecclesiastick Judicatories and Ministers within this Land, by the commandment of GOD, and our Covenants and Engagements taken upon us, before GOD and the World, (whereunto they resolve, in the power of the LORD’S might, constantly to adhere) and to shew themselves faithfull and zealous in all their administrations for the LORD, and for advancing the Work of Reformation; and particularly, considering that the condition of this time doth require in speciall wayes, that in trying, admitting, removing and deposing of Church-Officers, censuring of scandalous persons, dispensing of Ordinances, receiving of penitents, the Rules of the Word of GOD, and Constitutions of this Kirk, be diligently put in execution, and accuratly observed.

Therefore,

The Assembly Ordains, That Presbyteries and Synods, in admitting of Persons to the Ministery, be accurate in their tryals, according to the Order prescribed in this Church, that none be admitted to the holy and high function, but such as are qualified according as is required in the Word of GOD, and Constitutions of this Kirk, both for knowledge in the mystery of godlinesse, and abilities to teach and convince the gainsayers, as also in conversation and godlinesse, that they lay hands suddenly on no man, nor be partaker of other mens sin; and for this end, that every Presbyterie be careful to have gathered together such Acts of Assemblies as concerneth the triall of Ministers, and have them before them, whensoever any person is called to any place of the Ministery, and is upon his trials.

2. Ordains that Presbyteries and Synods, in their respective bounds, make conscience, that such Ministers as are found either ignorant and not apt to feed the people of God with knowledge and understanding, or erroneous in their judgment in matters of Religion, or are scandalous in their life and conversation, and are not examples unto their flocks in godly and holy walking, or disaffected to the work of Reformation, be censured according to the degree of their offence, and Acts of Assemblies. And for this end, that they be frequent and accurate in visitation of Kirks, and therein make consciencious use of the rules prescribed for visitations, and of such Acts of former Assemblies, as holds forth the duties of Ministers, and the grounds and causes of censure.

3. Ordains that, where Ministers lawfully deposed, are unlawfully admitted, and not according to the Order prescribed in the Acts of Generall Assemblies, or intrudes themselves into places, Presbyteries and Synods make use of that power and authority which Christ hath put in their hands, to remedy the same, and to censure such disorders and enormities, as they deserve, And that people be not accessory unto, or concurring with any Ministers that are deposed, in intruding themselves into places, nor give them any countenance that does so, as they would not draw upon themselves the wrath of God, by contemning and despising Christs Ordinance of Discipline, And that no Presbyteries or Synods proceed to open the mouths of, or re-admit unto the Ministery, any deposed Ministers, but according to the Order prescribed in the Acts of Generall Assemblies, As they will be answerable unto the General Assembly.

4. Ordains that Sessions be carefull that none be admitted to be Elders in Congregations, but such as are in some competent measure able and qualified with knowledge of Religion, and understanding of the duties of their Calling, for discharging the duties of that Office, and of a blameless, Christian, and godly conversation; And that before any be admitted to be an Elder, the Persons name that is designed, be publickly intimate to the Congregation the Lords day before, that if any have any thing to object against him, they may present the same to the Session or to the Minister. And that if any Elder be found negligent in the duties of his charge, and continue so after admonition, or scandalous in his life and conversation, or to be a neglecter of the worship of GOD in his Family, he be removed from, and purged out of the Session.

5. Ordains that Sessions and Presbyteries be carefull, and make conscience by all means to censure impartially all persons of whatsoever rank or condition, that are scandalous, either in things of the first, or in things of the second Table, according to the Rules and Order which Christ hath prescribed in his Word, and to proceed to the highest censures, with such as are grossely and obstinately scandalous, or are ignorant, and contemn, and continuedly neglect the means of knowledge, as publick and private catechizing, &c. after they are made inexcusable by sufficient means used to reclaim and gain them.

6. Ordains that Ministers and Sessions in Congregations be carefull, as they will be answerable to Christ Jesus, to debar from the Lords Table, all such persons as are found not to walk suitably to the Gospel, and being convinced and admonished thereof, do not reform; As also all such as have not knowledge to examine themselves, and to discern the Lords Body. And that for the more orderly performing of this, the Minister in examination of the people, have some of the Elders alwayes with him, and represent unto the Session such as are found grossely ignorant, that by order of the Session they may be debarred.

7. That Presbyteries and Sessions make conscience, that such persons as are found scandalous, and are under censure for that cause, be not received nor absolved from their censure, unlesse they give such satisfaction and evidences of their repentance, as are expressed in the Acts of the Assemblies, concerning the receiving of penitents.

J. Makghie.

No. VI. Declaration of Assembly. Edinb. 5 Aug. 1652. Ante mer. Sess. 23.

Right Honourable, right Worshipfull, and Worthily respected,

We, being met in Edinburgh at the time appointed by the former Assembly at Dundee, of purpose to study the healing of begun breaches in this Kirk, were interrupted at our first down-sitting, and hindered from constitution of the Assembly by our Dissenting-Brethren their offer of Propositions and desires to be granted by us, which could not to any good purpose, either be debated or effectually granted, as was required, before the Assembly was constitute, and the Judicatory fixed. Which short delay of our answer, till we were in capacity to answer, was met with a Protestation, prepared before hand, for a declinatour of the Judicatory, and all the Commissioners of Presbyteries, as freely chosen as any were, and sent forth from all parts of the Kingdom. In which Protestation wer contained many grievous and unjust aspersions upon us and others (who dare not pass from the possession of yearly Generall Assemblies; which being in former times interrupted, was purchased at a dear rate, before it was recovered) and all this was presently put in Print, to the great disadvantage of us, and mis-information of all the Kingdom. After the Assembly was constitute, a conference was offered by us, wherein some from us desired, That to the intent we might joyn the better for promoving the Work of Reformation, legall bars hindering us from peace, to wit, Protestations on the one hand, and Censures inflicted, or which might be inflicted, on the other hand, being removed. They should give assurance to forbear to trouble the Kirk, by holding up debates on the matter of our late Differences, about the managing of Publick Affairs. But after conference, finding no ground of hope for present agreement, we have made the same offer to all them who adhered to the Protestation, whether in the Town for the time, or not, as our Act452 (the Copy whereof is with these come to your hands) at more length doth declare, and granted unto all, time to advise till the second Wednesday of November next to come. And now because our Dissenting Brethren have the advantage of the Press for the present, and are too diligent and painfull in gathering of hands and subscriptions to their Protestation, of young men or elder, masters or servants, without any tryall of their qualification, to make the world think, that the generality of the godly (as they in their Papers presume to call themselves) and that in great number do stand for their divisive way, Therefore we thought it our duty to write unto you all, who love the Union and Peace of this afflicted Kirk, that by your counsell, conference, and all other godly means, so many as in your bounds, Ministers, or others, are upon this divisive way, which tendeth so much to the hinderance of the Work of Reformation, and peace of the Lords distressed people may be timously reclaimed, and moved to accept the peaceable offer made to them by the Generall Assembly, and the rest within your bounds may be keeped free from this uncouth separation, that it grow not greater, and that difference of judgment about the managing of publick affairs in our late troubles, which occasioned this unhappy rupture, may be no prejudice to our joynt acting in Ecclesiastick Judicatories, for keeping the Liberties thereof, and the peace of this Kirk, which at this time doth so much call for communion of counsels and actings: Wherein as you shall prove instrumentall, you shall be found to do a work of service unto GOD, of love to your Mother-Kirk now distressed on all hands, most suteable to your Covenant and Profession, and contributive as to your peace, comfort and credit in this life, so to the furtherance of your reckoning in the day of the LORD.

Subscribed in name and at command of the Generall Assembly, by

No. VII. Declaration by Ministers and Elders(Protestors) against the lawfulness of Assembly 1651. To the Right Reverend the Ministers and Elders met at Edinburgh the 24 of November 1652.

Whereas we have not onely been patients and defenders in the differences that have lately arisen in this Church, but willing and ready to embrace all opportunities for removing them: And for that end upon an Overture made to us the last Winter, have since that time forborn to act authoritatively, and in the capacity of Commissioners from the Generall Assembly 1650, (which delegation we conceive to be still in force, untill the next lawfull free Generall Assembly.) And notwithstanding grounds were given to us when that Overture was made to expect the like from you, Yet ye did assume to your selves that authority, and acted accordingly, which hath very much heightened our differences. And forasmuch as at the late Meeting of our Brethren in Edinburgh upon the ________ day of July last; We did earnestly desire that they would forbear to constitute themselves into a Generall Assembly, (which had they been pleased to grant, might through the Lords blessing have proved an effectuall means of peace.) So now we being met together, and understanding that you are to meet upon the ________ of this instant: And we being still desirous of peace and of an union with our Brethren in the Lord, and to entertain with all due respect, the endeavours of some godly and reverend Brethren for this effect. We do earnestly beseech you by the love you bear to the peace of this Church, and by your desires to heal the breaches thereof, that you will presently declare, that you will forbear all acting as Commissioners of a Generall Assembly, so long as endeavors and conferences for Union shall continue (as upon your condescendence we hereby do declare the like concerning the Commission of the Gen. Assembly 1650.) And that you will presently interpose with others of your judgment in the respective Synods and Presbyteries, not onely that supposed censures may be looked on and accompted as no censures, But that they do not proceed to put in execution any of the Acts of the late Meetings at Dundee and Edinburgh, against Ministers, Elders, Professors, and Expectants; or to do any other thing not already determined by uncontraverted Assemblies; which we are confident shal be the practice of Synods and Presbyteries that are of our judgment. If the Lord shall convince and incline your hearts to this motion, whereby we may be in a fit capacity to confer together for removing our differences; In that case our opinion is, that by mutual consent, some time may be appointed for our seeking the Lords face, for the further knowledge of his controversie with us, and for our direction in the way of Union in him, that we may in love and sobernesse of spirit speak of these things which may conduce for the healing of our breach; then which, nothing is more sincerely and seriously desired by us. But if this motion may not be hearkened to, and there be a proceeding in these things which are so grievous to us, and burdensome to the consciences of many of the Lords People and Ministers, we cannot forbear to warn you, that we shall be constrained to vindicat our selves and others from such usurpation and persecution by the use of all lawful and possible means for our own defence, and for preservation of the truth and liberties of this Church.

Subscribed in the name of the Ministers, Elders, and Professors met at Edinburgh the 11 of Novem. 1652, By

Sic subscribitur,Samuel Rutherfurd.

No. VIII. Edinburgh, 26 November, 1652. Post meridiem. Session 5.

The Commission of the Generall Assembly having received upon the 14 of this instant a Paper presented to them by my Lord Wariston, Mr Robert Trail, Mr John Sinclar and George Dundasso of Duddingstoun, and subscribed by Mr Samuel Rutherford, in the name of some Ministers, Elders, and Professors met at Edinburgh upon the 11 of November, and having taken the same into serious consideration, do return this Answer thereunto.

Although we being unwilling to enter upon any debate or inquiry who have been the Agents in raising, continuing, and heightening the late differences in this Church (being more desirous to have these differences and distractions that have followed thereupon removed, and the memory thereof buried) yet we may say that our Brethrens vigorous activity therein all along hath been conspicuous enough to all who have been looking upon the matter. And as we will not question the willingnesse and readinesse of our Brethren to embrace opportunities for removing these differences, nor whether for that end they did forbear the last year to Act Authoritatively, and in the capacity of Commissioners from the Generall Assembly 1650, (which power they had assumed to themselves, it being expired and extinct by the Meeting of the Assembly 1651, by vertue of the indiction of the Assembly 1650,) and that upon such an Overture made to them as they mention (which yet seemeth to us not to be wel consistent with their Answer given by them upon the ________ day of ________ 1651 to the Paper presented to them from the Provincial Assembly of Lothian) so we remember wel that the Commissioners of the Assembly 1651 though having no lawfull call and Authority, did notwithstanding from that time mentioned by our Brethren for preventing the heightning of differences, not onely forbear acting any thing in that capacity, but even abstain from so much as meeting to adjourn, untill the time of the Generall Assembly near approaching, they behoved to meet in that capacity, for determining the place of that Assembly ensuing, which had been left in the indiction under the uncertainty of an alternative, by reason of the times, which was the onely thing they acted, and could not in reason be accounted a cause of heightning the differences. Further as the Commissioners of Presbyteries met in Edinburgh in July last could not hearken to our Brethren, desiring them not to Constitute themselves into a Generall Assembly without unfaithfulnesse in the trust committed to them (they being Commissionated to that very purpose) and without apparent and inevitable danger of present loosing the liberty of the Publick Judicatories and Government of this Church, especially considering the posture of Civil affairs in the time: So we see not how the forbearing thereof could have been a means of a right peace; we still conceive, as hath been constantly held in this Church, that a lawfull Generall Assembly, such as that was, is the most Soveraign means under God to heal any ruptures and distractions that are in the Church; likeas we find that it was the endeavour of the said Assembly to the outmost of their power to compose the present differences, and unite the distracted Members of this Church, and accordingly did condescend upon such Overtures as they possibly could perceive to be most conducible to this end.

Albeit we cannot but signifie our just grief at the unjust reflexions and aspersions cast upon us and other preceding Publick Judicatories of the Church, partly indirectly, partly directly in the narrative of this Paper, and conceive it had been more sutable to the Profession of so earnest desires of Peace and Union expressed therein to have foreborn them, yet not doubting of the reality of the desires themselves, we do heartily entertain those with all due respects. And being for our part most desireous of Union with our Brethren in the Lord, we are willing to condescend so far as possibly we can in the trust committed to us, and with a good conscience by any means to attain that end: And therefore do declare, that we shal not at this Meeting, nor hereafter before the third Wednesday of February, Act any at all in prosecution of any Censure against our Brethren which are already pronounced, or which may be incurred by them by vertue of any acts of the two last Gen. Assemblies at Dundee and Edinburgh, relating to the late differences: And although as to the execution of the Act of the late Assembly for regulating the Admission of Elders to Vote in Presbyteries and Synods, and of Expectants to their trialls for the Ministery; we must leave these Judicatories to that discretion and prudence that the exigence of their severall conditions requires, yet we shal interpose with the respective Presbyteries and Synods that they may, during the space abovementioned, sist, and not proceed further in any of the foresaid censures: And that we are content and willing that betwixt and the day foresaid there be a Meeting at a time to be appointed, before our parting hence, between some of us and some of our dissenting Brethren in such a number and such a way as shall be most convenient, considering the case of the time, for holding forth to them so far as we can, and the Lord shall assist us, light in the matter of their differences from the Publick Judicatories, and for searching into further knowledge of the Lords controversie with us, and speaking in love and soberness of Spirit in such other things as may conduce for healing our breach. And it shal be matter of our earnest desires and Prayers to the God of Peace (as we doubt not but it will also be in our Brethren, if they embrace this way) that he may be graciously pleased so to blesse these endeavours, that the issue may be a clearing of His ways to us all, an healing of our wounds, and an uniting of us in himself, to serve him with one consent, in doing or suffering joyntly for His Cause and Honour, whatsoever shall be his holy will.

As for that Certification in the close of the Paper, as we conceive that it might been well spared, so we shall say no more to it but this, That we are confident that this Commission and the other late Publick Judicatories, having a calling and being constitute according to the order of God, and constitutions of this Kirk, are very far from usurpation; and that both the by past carriage of the respective Judicatories Publick and Private doth clear them, and our carriage shal clear us before God and the World from that grievous aspersion of persecution, the uncharitablenesse and injustice whereof we heartily pardon, and pray the Lord to pardon in our Brethren.

J. Makghie.

No. IX. Edinburgh, 27 November, 1652. Ante meridiem. Sess. 6.

The Commission of the Gen. Assembly hath appointed, Masters Ro. Blair, James Wood, David Forrest, Andrew Honniman, James Sharp, and the Moderator Mr David Dickson, in case the conveniency of his health and affairs can permit, to Meet at St Andrews the first Wednesday of January next; and there to attend such of our dissenting Brethren as shall come to them, and to confer with them upon the particulars expressed in the Answer to their Paper.

Jo. Makghie.

No. X. Edinburgh, 27 November, 1652.

Whereas our earnest Desire and Overture for sisting the present Differences to make way for an Union, hath been met on your part with no small heightning of the Differences, by your Actings in matters contraverted, betwixt the time of our giving in an Overture and your giving answer to it, and by your refusing all and every one of our just desires and asserting the authority and Acts of the late pretended Assemblies and Commissions thereof, and by your declaring the unpossibility of any further condescendance on your part for Union, then hath been already held forth in the Acts and Overtures of the late pretended Assembly at Edinburgh: And you having also dissolved your Meeting before the return of an Answer to us, or hearing what we had to say to you in reference to your Answer and to the authoritative appointment subjoyned thereunto; We are necessitated to Declare unto you that we are not instructed to call any Meeting for Conference with you in this case of so unsatisfactory an Answer: And that we are free of any concessions conditionally offered on our part.

Subscribed in the Name of those who were appointed by the Meeting of Ministers, Elders, and Professors to present the Overtures, and receive the Answer. Sic sub.Mr Robert Traill.

No. XI. Observations upon the Answer of the Commission of the pretended Assembly, to the Overture of the Brethren who dissent from the Publick Resolutions: As likewise upon their Letter to Presbyteries.

It is to be observed, that the scope of the Overture made by the Protesters is, That all claims to power and authority from the controverted Assemblies at Dundee and Edinburgh upon the one hand, and all controverted power, as derived from the General Assembly 1650 on the other hand, being laid aside during endeavours for union; as likewise all Censures, or Acts enjoyning Censures for the late differences since the said Assembly 1650, at which time this Kirk was of one judgment, and all Papers against these controverted Assemblies not yet published, being also for that time suppressed, There should be a friendly Conference agreed on by mutual consent, for searching into the Lords Controversie against the Land, and for removing our differences. The Brethren who stand for the Publick Resolutions are so far from wayes of peace, as they refuse all conferrence, except they Treat and confer as the lawful Representative of this Kirk, and be cloathed with their Commission and Authority; and therefore their Answer to the Overture is returned in the Name, and by the Authority of a Commission of the Kirk, and a Committee is, by Act of the pretended Commission, appointed for that purpose, viz. Their Moderator and some Brethren of the Presbytery of St Andrews.

2. In that Act the said Committee is limitted in their conference to the particulars exprest in the Answer to the Overture.

3. The Answer to the Overture, not only refuseth all things demanded by the Protesters, as previous and preparatory to a Conference, but also maketh the end of the Conference (which was modestly and fairly exprest for both in our Overture) to be, to hold forth light to the Protesters in the matter of difference from the Publick Judicatories, and (as the Letter to Presbyteries expresly beareth) that the dissenters from the Publick Resolutions may be brought up to unite with the Publick Endeavors of this Kirk, and so the state of the difference betwixt them and us, is now again (upon what considerations, or expectations I shall not descant) made as wide as it was before, when all the Malignant party was in Arms to protect them therein.

4. The Answer asserts and justifies, not only the Calling and Constitution, but all the Acts and Proceedings of the late pretended Assembly and their Commissions, and condemneth all Testimonies against the Publick Resolutions, and the said pretended Judicatories.

The said Answer declareth, That no Agreement is to be expected upon other terms then the late pretended Assembly at Edinburgh did propose; for the Answer doth affirm that they have found that the said Assembly hath endeavored to the utmost of their power to compose the present differences, and did condescend upon such Overtures as possibly they could perceive most conduceable to that end.

Now, these Overtures, by them mentioned, do require an express passing from all our former Testimonies, and that in time coming we shall never give any Testimony against the Publick Resolutions, and other late corruptions and novations brought into the Church, for it is required to be set under our hands, That we shall not hold up debates by preaching, writing, or otherwise, for any thing which doth concern the late differences that hath arisen in this Church: So that we may not give Testimony or declare our Judgements in any case, but must either be altogether silent in these things, or else conform our language to the judgment of the pretended Assembly, and if any Minister or Elder cannot in conscience comply with these Overtures, though they be men eminent for gifts and graces, and have been very useful and profitable servants in the Lords Vinyard, and differ in nothing in judgment with their Brethren in the Confession of Faith, Directory for Worship and Government, yet they must be cast forth as unsavory salt, because they cannot agree to a Novation which never was heard of before in this Church, and which themselves in their Vindication grant to be indeterminati juris. The same severity is enacted against expectants to the Ministry, and they must be debarred for his sole cause, though they were never so wel qualified. If this be not Usurpation and Tyranny, the Prelats are very excusable for their carriage.

6. Observe how their Answer to us, and Letter to the Presbyteries is stuffed with carnal policy, and very far from that simplicity and candor which becometh Ministers of the Gospel. They say, they are desirous to have the memory of our differences and distractions buried, yet with the same breath they give out sentence, That we have not only been agents, but active agents, and vigorously active; and affirm this to be conspicuous, not only to some, but to all who have been looking on the matter. But were it so, what need was there to tell it? If they would have these things buried, why did they assemble so frequently this Summer, to dig them out of their grave? Were it not greater ingenuity to tell the truth (as some of their number do) that these Publick Resolutions must stand as the Authority and Warrant for the Body of the People, to rise all in Arms (without making distinction of Friends and Enemies to the Lord his Work and People) and associate among themselves, and with Forreigners, when they shall land with the King. They say they will not question whether we did, from a desire of removing differences, forbear to act in the capacity of Commissioners from the General Assembly 1650, yet in the very next words they do expressly question it, and say, It seemeth not to consist well with our Answer to the Synod of Lothian. This is but a seeming inconsistency grounded on a real mistake; for the Overture mentioned by us is not the same with that proposed by the Synod of Lothian, neither for the Matter, Persons, Propounders, or the time of making thereof: It was a more equal Overture then that from the Brethren of Lothian, for it did not condemn the Authority of the Commission 1650, more then that of 1651, as that from Lothian did; and it was propounded at a Conference with some of the Brethren of the Presbyterie of St Andrews; and that diverse moneths after the Overture made by the Brethren in Lothian: If our Brethren had been well advised they had spared this reflection. They say, they absteined from meeting so much as to adjourn the Commission, and that to prevent the heightning of differences til the time of the Assembly did approach that they behoved to meet. I will not say, as our Brethren do, That I will not question if it was for that end they did abstein, and then follow it with a contradiction; I do plainly and ingenuously profess, That I think it was another reason which made them abstein: It was a clear case to all who conversed with them at that time, That fear of interruption by the English, and drawing prejudices on their persons, made them abstein, until the Malignant party (their penitents and correspondents) began to have power and favour, and procured some under-hand assurances for their security. And it may be well remembred, that their Meeting at that time in May, before their Assembly, was coloured with specious pretences, of using endeavors for union with the Dissenters from the Publick Resolutions; yet here they plainly tell us, that the express end was, To determine the place of the ensuing Assembly; to which I do readily give credit: for they slighted the sending advertisement to us, and would not delay one fourtnight at the earnest desire of some few of our number, that were present at that Meeting. They say, they could not delay to constitute themselves into a General Assembly without unfaithfulness, notwithstanding they know that it was agreeable unto the practice of diverse Gen. Assemblies, to adjourn without constitution, and no prejudice at all to their Liberties, as was represented to them at the same time. They say, that it hath been constantly holden in this Church, That a lawful General Assembly (such as this was) is the most sovereign mean to heal ruptures and distractions in the Church. If they take out these words “such as this was” which they have foisted in to destroy the Text, their own consciences will bear witness to us, that we are of the same judgment: But to say, That a pretended Assembly, made up of such as have brought in Novations and carried on a course of Defection, and continuing therein without Repentance, is a Soveraign mean to heal ruptures and distractions, is so far contrary to all reason and experience, as it hath proved to be a main cause of the evils and troubles of this Church, as is declared by the General Assembly 1639, in their Act of the 17 of __________. They do without cause, resent, That the Narrative of our Overture doth cast upon them reflections and aspersions, and yet all along their Answer they make it their study under the covert of Albeits, Althoughs, and Parentheses to abuse us with Calumnies. They declare, That they shall not at this Meeting, nor hereafter, until the third Wednesday of February, act in prosecution of Censures already pronounced, or which may be incurred by their Brethren; and that they will interpose with Synods and Presbyteries for the like. But what Sophistry is there here to delude the world, or rather to mock their Brethren? For, first, They act what they had a mind to act, in reference to matters in difference; and then after their Meeting is dissolved, and no sooner, they declare to us they will act no more at that Meeting, nor hereafter, till the third Wednesday of Febr., and that is the time of their next Quarterly-Meeting. 2ly, This seeming forbearence to act during that time, is not general, but limitted to the matter of censures. 3ly, That’s clog’d with another limitation, for, say they, We must leave Synods and Presbyteries to that prudence and discretion which the exigence of their condition shall require, for putting in execution the Acts for debarring Elders from Voting in these Judicatories, and Expectants from the Ministry, which themselves the last year did accompt to be no small Censure, in the debarring Malignants from trust; but how much more in this case, which hath great influence to corrupt the Ministrie and Judicatories. 4ly, Their expressions which they chose in their Letter to the Presbyteries and Synods, are such, as do rather incite to Censures, then prohibit; for they insinuate a dislike of their former moderation in Censures, which (they say) is well known to them, and to all men. 5ly, They well knew by the Conference which we had with them in July last, that it was not their Censures we feared, or much valued, but that we desired that both of us might be in the accompt of either in a fit capacity to confer together, and not they looking on us as Delinquents at the bar, and themselves as our Judges; otherwise we see not to what good purpose we should meet. 6ly, The time, place, way, and number of Persons (which indeed is least of all) ought to have been agreed upon by mutual consent; yet even in these smaller matters they must keep a state, and authoritatively enjoyn all, without the giving us the least intimation of their Resolutions, till they were risen and the Meeting was adjourned. In the close of their Paper they would fain vindicate themselves from persecution, but they would consider, that justified defection endeth ever in persecution of the witnesses against it. Some, who at the begining of this Defection, abhorred the very supposition of troubling any godly Brethren who differed from them in judgment, within some moneths were perceived to make no great scruple to help forward the persecution; others, who called it a persecution the last year, to debar Malignants from Civil and Military Trust, will have it this year no persecution to debar godly and faithful Elders, from Trust in the Kirk; and able, gracious and well qualified Expectants, from the Ministry: Conjunction with Gods Enemies, is alwaies attended with persecution of his Friends; and experience may teach us, that large Charity to Malignants will dry up much former love to Gods People. Mans heart is deceiptful above all things. I say no more, but I desire heartily to pray the Lord, to forgive them the deed and thing, who storm so grievously to be told of the name of persecution.

1651. Excerpts from the Chronicle of Fife; being the Diary of John Lamont of Newton.

Jul. 16.—The Generall Assemblie satt att St Androus, where the Lord Balcarresse was comissioner for the K. Majestie. At the meiting of this Ass. Mr Andro Cant, m. in Aberdeine, preached in the forenone, on Heb. 12, v. 12, 16, and Mr Robert Douglas, m. att Edenbroughe, in the afternone, in Ps. 122, 6, 7, 9. The said Mr Robert was chosen moderatour. The 20 of Jul. being Sunday, the Ass. meet at night, (upon the defeate Cromuell had given our people about Dunfermling), and did adjourne this Ass. till the 22, to Dundie. The forsaid night, at St Androus, ther was a protestation given in by Mr Samuel Rutherfoord, m. of St Androus, subscribed with 21 or 22 severall hands of ministers, protesting against the lawfulnes of this Ass.; alleadging it was corrupt, ill constituted, and not frie. The names of some of the protesters were these, viz. Mr And. Cant, Mr Ja. Gutherie, Mr Pa. Gillespie, Mr Sa. Rutherfoord, Mr Alex. Moncriefe, Mr Will. Oliphant, Mr An. Donaldsone, Mr Jhone Hart, Mr Ja. Sympsone, Mr Jho. Meingzes, and on Mr Neasmith. The day appointed, they meet att Dundie, where the proceedings of the comission of the former Gen. Ass. was approven; a warning, appointed to be read in the severall churches; the westland remonstrance (before spoken of) condemed and declaired against; a letter penned to be sent to the K. Majestie; Mr Ja. Guthrie, m. of Stirling, Mr Pat. Gillespie, m. of Glasgowe, Mr Ja. Sympsone, m. of Airth, neare Alloway—thir three were deposed; Mr Neasmith suspended. Some of these things brought against them were, that they did publicklie preach and speake against the proceedings both of the church and state, and were ring leaders in the meater of the remonstrance and protestatione; for the rest of the protestors, the Commiss. of the Ge. Ass. was appointed to deale with them, and, give they could not be convinced, to processe them. Mr Rob. Ramsay, m. of Glasgowe, was appointed Principall of the colledge ther. Mr Jho. Heart, m. of Dunkell, did supplicatt the Ass. that his name might be taken out of the said protestatione. This Ass. did ryse the 1 of Aug. 1651. More, the planting of the church of Newburne was referred to the presbetrie of St Androus; and Chancelour Campbell (anent the meater of adulterie), referred to the comission of the kirke. A fast appointed to be keiped throwe the kingdome, Aug. 31, 1651.

Sept. 3.—The Scots armie that went from Stirling to England, was routed by Cromuell and his forces near Worcester, The Kings Maj. escaped with the Duke of Buckkingam. Duke Hamiltone taken and wounded, and within some dayes after deyed; Earle of Rothis, E. of Kelly, E. of Laderdaile, taken and placed in the Tower; Louetennant-Generall Leslie, Middelton, Mungomrie, Pitscottie, Vandruske, with several other nobelmen and gentelmen, both Scots and English, taken; 400 or 500 officers taken, (amonge which were Lundie and Ardrosse), 6 or 7 thousand prisoners, a great manie killed; 9 ministers taken; 9 crirurgions and 30 of the Kings servants taken, with armes, bag and baggage.

Oct.—The greatest pairt of the protesting ministers against the lawfulnes of the Gener. Ass. 1651, mett at Edenbrough, with a purpose to anull the said Ass. holden at St Androus and Dundie. Mr Jho. Livistone was chosen moderator; they sat about 16 or 18 dayes. They resolved to continue the commission of the Ge. Ass. holden and appointed 1650, bot not the comission appointed 1651.

Dec.—Mr George Haliburtone and Mr Alex. Rooge, ministers of St Jhonstone, were silenced by the English garisone there, and discharged to preach, because, (as they alleadged), they preached up the Kings interest, notwithstanding of his defeate att Worcester.

1652.

July 25.—Some of the Gener. Major Deans regiment of foot, wha lay att Largo and Levin, (viz. 2 corporalls), did challenge Mr Ja. Magill, m. of Largo, (after he had ended sermon and said the blissing), before he came foorth of the pulpitt, for praying for the prisoners in England, and saying that they did suffer for righteousnesse sake, they affirming they suffred for unrighteousnesse; bot after some words passed by them, he answered them he wold be foorthcoming for what he had spoken before a competent judge, and in time and place convenient: for he did not acknowledge them, and so left off. Some dayes before this, they did beginne to quarter some of ther foot upon him and Mr Alex. Moncriefe, m. of Sconie, (this being the first time that ministers quartred ether foot or horse in this shyre). Also, some of the English did pull downe the stoole of repentance in severall churches they came to, as in Kirkekaldie and Kennowhie; they did sitt also in them in some places, wher they came in time of sermon. More, they did challenge severall other ministers for praying for the king, and some other things, as Mr Colen Edem, m. of Enster, and Mr Geor. Hamilton, m. of Pitten-Weyme. Jul. 1652, some of Coll. Berries regim. took backe also some north country ministers that were going to the Generall Assemb. at Edenb. that sate 21 of this instant, under pretence they were ryding upon the Sabath, and brought them to Cuper, and caused them pay 40 sh. Sterl. amonge them. When they came to the church of Largo, some of them did sitt ordinarlie (for contempt) in the stoole of repentance. May 24, 1653, the said Mr George Hamilton was badlie used att Pittenweyme (on a Tuesday), by some of Fairfax regiment of foot, so that he was forced to brake of his sermon, because he refused to ansuer them in publick; att which time ther was a great uproare in the church there; and after they came foorth, they affixed a peaper upon the crosse and every eminent place in the towne, tending to defame the said Mr George, calling him a ridicoulous parson, not regairding what he said, and that they wold hold him so, till he made good his promise, which was to dispute with him.

Aug.—This yeare the Generall Assemblie of this kingdome satt att Edenbroughe, where Mr David Dicke, professor of Divinitie att Edenbroughe, was moderator. (It sat downe Jul. 21; it rose August the 5.) The ministers, for the most pairt, that did protest against the last Generall Assemb. at St Androus and Dundie 1651, did protest also against this as unlawfull, unfrie, and corrupt. About 65 hands of ministers did subscribe this protestation. In the first rowme was Mr Andro Cant, Mr Samuel Rutherfoord, Mr Robert Traill, Mr Ja. Guthrie, and Mr Patricke Gillespie, wha were deposed by the last Ass. did subscribe it also. More, about 80 laicks and others did put ther hands to it also; it was printed, as also the Ass. ansuer to it. This Ass. allowed the protesters a certaine time to come in and to passe from ther protestation, viz. to the 2 Wedensday of Novemb. 1652, otherwyse apointed synods and presbetries to proceide against them with the censurs of the kirke. They apointed Mr Andro Louthian and Mr Andro Pitcairne for to goe to Caitnes. Also a fast to be keiped through the wholle land the 2 and 3 Sabaths of Sept.; also 3 acts for promoveing the knowledge of the grounds of salvation and observing the rules of discipline.

Sept.—A visitatione of the universitie (appointed by the English), satt att St Androus; the measters being called, did insinuate as mutch as that they were not fullie satisfied with ther power; they enquired for the names of the measters, which they receaved, and for the names of the students, which they did not receave, because not present. They gatt ther rentall also, with a sight of the books of the foundation, as also an extract of the act of the universitie, appointing all that were graduat to subscribe the covenants. They desyred that no vaking place in the colledge be filled till they were acquainted. They lodged at James Suords house. They went from thence to Aberdeine, where they deposed Doctor Guilde, and established Mr Jhone Row, minister ther, principall of the colledge. (The said Mr Jhone, with Mr Menzies, not long before, had turned anabaptists, and did refuse to baptize infants att all.)

1653.

Feb.—Mr Patricke Gillespie, minister of Glasgowe, (bot deposed by the Generall Assemblie), was admitted by the English to be principall of the Colledge of Glasgowe. (A litell time before this, Mr Jhone Row, minister of Aberdeine, was admitted by the English to be principall of the Colledge of Aberdeine.)

Jul. 20.—The Generall Assemblie satt downe att Edenbroughe, the which day Mr Robert Douglas and Mr David Dicke, both ministers of Edenbroughe, did preach. After the sermons ended, they mett in the ordinary place of meitting, and after Mr David Dick, moderator for the time, had prayed, he began to call the rolle; in the meane time, ther comes in two Louetennant Collonells of the English forces, and desyred them to be silent, for they had some thing to spake to them: So one of the Louetennant-Collonells began to aske them by what authoritie they mett?—if by authoritie of the late parliament, or by authoritie of the commander of the forces in chiefe, or if by the authoritie of ther late king? The moderator desyred that those that were not members of that Assemblie might remove, that so they might give a modest answer to these gentlemen. He desyred further, that all the names of the members of that Assemblie might be given him. The moderator replied that they could not give them, because ther names were not called; bot if he wold have a litell patience till they called the rolle, he sould have them. He ansuered, if it were not longesome he sould doe it. So the moderator beganne at the presbetrie of Argile, to examine ther comission; hire the English officer replied that that wold prove tedious, so that he could not waite upon it, bot desyred them to remove and to be gone; and, if they wold not, he had instructions what to doe. Upon this the moderator, in name of the Assemblie, protested that they were Christs court, and that any violence or injurie done to them might not hinder any meitting of thers when convenient occasion sould offer itselfe. He desyred they might pray a word before they dissolved. The moderator beganne prayer, and after he had spoken 5 or 6 sentences, the English officer desyred them againe to be gone; notwithstanding, the moderator went on in prayer, bot was forced att lenth to breake of, so they arose and came foorth. All this time ther was a company of English footmen in the kirke, waiting upon them, and a troupe of horsemen att the Port. After the ministers were come fourth, they were gairded on both hands up the way (by the said footmen), to the Whyhouse, where they were caried alonge to the Port, and from thence to the Quarrell-holls, where they made them to stand. The English required againe for all ther names; they said they were most willing, so they told all ther names. So the moderator protested againe att the said place. After ther names were wretten, they discharged them to meite againe, under the paine of being breakers of the peace; and that they might send for ther horses and be gone presentlie; for (said they) that they knewe they had ther horses in the towne. The moderator ansuered, that most of them had come from the other side of the water, with a purpose to stay a fourtnight, and for that cause had sent backe ther horses. Upon this, the English desyred them to goe backe to Edenbroughe and lodge ther all night, and to be gone before eght a cloke in the nixt day; and discharged that not above two of them sould be seine togither, and that they sould send ther names and ther lodging place to the court of gaird that night. So upon the nixt day, they went away to ther severall homes, and did not meite any more att that deyet.

Sept. 12.—Mr George Hamiltone, Mr Collen Edem, Mr Robert Bennet, and Mr David Guthrie, all ministers of the presbetrie of St Androus, were caryed by some of the English forces of Collonell Berries regiment of horse to Edenbroughe prisoners, because the day before, being the Sabath, they had prayed for the King. They returned the 20 of Sept. upon condition either to returne to Edenbroughe within a fourtnight, and to give assurance to the judges that they sould not pray any more for the King, or else to expect sequestration.

Sept. 27.—The provinciall assemblie of Fyfe satt att St Androus, where Mr Robert Blaire, minister of St Androus, was moderator. Mr Samuell Rutherfoord presented a peaper to the moderator, relatting to the sinns of the ministrie, bot it was not accepted; upon the refusall of it some words passed betuixt Mr Samuell Rutherfoord and the said Mr Robert Blaire, anent the publicke busines. About the close of this meiting, two English officers came in to the place where they satt; the judicatory enquired if they had come in with a purpose to sitt and voice with them? they ansuered, not; bot onlie they were commanded to come in to heare and sie, and that they acted nothing in prejudice to the comon-wealth. They ansuered that they had not so mutch as once nominated the comon-wealth since they satt downe; and that they (meaning the English officers), were the first that spake of the comon-wealth and not the assemblie. They appointed a visitation for Cuper and Creiche, and some brethren to corresponde with Angus and Stratherne.

1654.

Jan. 14.—Being Saturday, ther was a preparation sermon for a thanksgiving preached att Sconie, in Fyfe, for the continuance of the gospell in the land, and for the spreading of it in some places in the Hygh-lands in Scotland, where, in some families two, and in some families one, beganne to call on God by prayer. Mr Samuel Rutherford, minister in St Androus, preached on Saterday.... Observe, that on the Saturday, Mr Samuel Rutherford had this expression in his prayer, after sermon, desyring that the Lord wald rebuke presbetries, and others, that had taken the keyes and the power in ther hands, and keiped out and wold suffer none to enter (meaning in the ministrie), bot such as said as they said.

Apr. 4.—The provinciall assemblie of Fyfe satt at St Androus, where Mr Patrick Scougall, minister of Louchars, in the presbetrie of St Androus, was moderator; they did not mutch; the meiting was adjourned for a fourtnight; they rose the 6 of Aprill.... They appointed a fast to be keiped by this shyre on the last Sabath of May, being the 28 day of the month; which was done accordinglie by many. The causes were left arbitrary for every minister in his owne congregation.

Dec. 3.—The fast (appointed by the provinciall of Fyfe, at Kirkekaldie, 1654), was intimat at Largo by Mr James Magill, minister, to be keiped the following Sabath at Largo, viz. the 10 of Dec.; the causes were not reade, onlie he named them: 1st was the contempt of the gospell and breach of covenant; 2d was the great burdens and pressors that lay upon persons in the land, both in body and spirit; 3d was the small proficiencie in knowledge under the meanes and ordinances; the 4th was ane ordinance emitted by the Lord Protector Cromvell, and delivered to Mr Patricke Gillespie, when he was att London, this instant yeare, 1654, for the benefit of universities and preachers in Scotland: this being the titell of it; which, att on dash, did overthrowe the discipline and government of the church of Scotland by sessions, presbetries, and assemblies. The forsaid Assemblie gave a testimonie against this ordenance, which was appointed to be reade in sessions, and to be insert in the severall session bookes of the shyre of Fyfe.

1655.

Apr. 3.—The provinciall assembly of Fyfe met att Kirkekaldie, wher Mr James Wood, minister of St Androus, was chosen moderator. This meiting was adjourned to the first Tuesday of July, at which time they appointed ther meiting att Cuper. Ther was no more done att this meiting, bot a moderatour chosen, and the assemblie adjourned. This was occasioned by ane order emitted by Gen. Moncke, comander in chiefe of the English forces in Scotland, discharging all publicke meitings; so that Major Davesone, with some other English officers, came in to ther meiting, and did showe them that he was comanded to hinder them from meiting, or else to scatter them when they were mett; and after some conference betwixt the said Major Davisone and Mr James Sharpe, being moderator of the preceiding assembly, they dissolved, and mett no more att that time.

General Monke, Coll. Syler, and other English comissioners for universities in Scotland, (for so they desinge themselves,) emitted ane ordinance, bearing date Mar. 26, 1655, discharging all persons whatsoever to pray, in their publicke prayers or sermons, for the King, viz. Charl. the 2, as they wold not be censured as the comissioners thought fit; and withall discharged any to pay any maner of stipend to such ministers as sould transgresse hirein.

October.—This month the greatest pairt of the ministery in Scotland (if not all) left of to pray for the King in ther publicke prayers. May 1660, at his returne, they began againe to pray for him.

1652. Excerpts from “A Diary of Public Transactions and other Occurrences, chiefly in Scotland, from January 1650, to June 1667, by John Nicoll.”

4 Maii 1652.—Thair wes ane Synod Assemblie haldin at Edinburgh, quhairin thair wes much divisioun among the ministrie, namelie, be ane sequestrat number in the Presbyterie of Lynlithgow, quha wer evir contentious; and quhairas in that Synod the proceidingis of the Generall Assemble, haldin the yeir preceding, at Saint Androis and Dundie, wer ratifyed and approven by this Synod; yit a few of these within the Presbyterie of Lynlithgow did dissasent, and protestit aganes the lauchfulnes thairof, and urgit that thair dissasentis sould be registrat and recordit.

Besyde these, great errouris did creip into the church, and men war not aschamed to tak upone thame the functioun of the ministrie, without a lauchfull calling, and to preache, mary, and baptize, and offering publict disputes to mantene thair errouris. Witnes sindry Englische trouperis quha oppinlie taught in the Parliament Hous. Lykewyse ane Mr [Alexʳ] Cornuell, minister at or besyde Lynlithgow, quha did mary pepill privilie, sum of the women haiffing husbandis on lyff, and sum of these men haiffing ane or twa wyffes, and baptized old pepill, for the quhilk he was under the sentence of excommunicatioun.

21 Julij.—The Generall Assemblie met at Edinburgh, and sat doun, continuing thair sitting till Thursday the fyft of August 1652, of quhilk Generall Assemblie, Maister David Dik was chosin moderator. At this Assemblie, much debait, contentioun, and divisioun, evin by thame quho assumed to thame selffis the name of the Godlie pairtie; continuing, as of befoir, to protest aganes the procedingis of this Assemblie, as wes practized in the former Assemblie haldin at Santandrois and Dundie; putting in and out in the roll of the Godlie such as thai pleasit, not allowing ony to be of thair number quho wald not go along with thame in every thing, for that wes the marrow of the matter, being moir quick sighted then Elias, quho saw not one of the sevin thowsand quhome God haid reserved to himself; blowing up the fyre of contentioun; sending throw the cuntrie to draw of sum sevin or aucht of the ministrie to joyne with thame, making this accompt, that gif thai could get fyve or sex of the moist eminent men af, they cared not for the rest of the ministrie; professing also at thair conference, and utheris of thame in an oppin Synod, that thai wald never unite with the maist pairt of the ministrie of Scotland; flinging filth upone the faces of thair bretherene; and much moir of this kynd.

Aganes these protestatiounes gevin in by the Dissenting bretherene, the Generall Assemblie emitted ane Answer, &c.

1653.

Weddinsday the 20 of Julij, the Generall Assemblie convenit at Edinburgh, quhair thair wes twa sermoundis, ane befoir nune be Mr David Dik, the uther eftir nune be Mr Robert Douglas. Eftir both sermoundis, the Assemblie satt doun in thair ordinarie places of assemblie in the New Kirk of Edinburgh. Being placed, the Inglische commanderis pat ane gaird to the dures of the Assemblie; and sum of the commanderis with the gaird enterit in the Assemblie hous, demandit by quhat autoritie thai did sitt, or quho gave them that autoritie, or gif thai haid thair power from the Parliament of England or Commounwelth. Mr. David Dik being Moderatour, desyrit that a lytill space mycht be grantit to the Assemblie that thai mycht give ansuer. The Commander causit double his gaird, and commandit thame presentlie to ryse and dissolve thair meitting, and committit sum of thame to the gaird; thaireftir careyit mony of thame af the toun to the Borrow Mure, quhair straitlie thai wer commandit to go af the toun upone thair heichest perrell gif thai sould dissobey.

The morne thaireftir, being Thursday the 21 of Julij, a proclamatioun ischued out, proclamed at the Mercat Croce of Edinburgh, dischargeing all privat meetings of the ministrie, &c.

1654.

23 August, 1654.—Thair wes sum of the ministrie, callit Remonstratoris and Protestatoris, convenit in Sir Archibald Johnnestounes hous for ordoring sum of the Churches effaires, and censuring of sum of thair bretherene of the ministrie; quhilk being schawin to the Generall, they war dischargit, and commandit to dissolve thair meeting by ane Lievtenant Colonell Gaff, quha threatned thame gif thai sould sit ony langer, prohibitand thame to meit agane in such a manner as at that tyme they did, and that na twa of thame sould convene togidder in ony tyme thaireftir; quhilk command wes presentlie obeyit. It was alledgit, that the caus of thair meeting wes anent ane Commissioun, alledgit brocht doun at this tyme with Mr Johne Meinzeis and Mr Patrik Gillespie, granted by the Lord Protector to ane certane number of the ministrie and reuling elderis, for purging of the ministrie of the Kirk, and to do all thinges necessar, as the Generall Assemblie. Quhilk Commissioun (as wes alledgit) these of this meeting resolvit not to obey nor countenance, nor yit to be memberis of that commissioun, bot rather to suffer then to acknawledge it; and the ressoun (as wes alledgit be thame) was, that it wes gevin out by ane civill Judge, and, as the commoun brute was among the pepill, ane unjust usurper.

Excerpts from Principal Baillie’s Letters. The following supposed to be wrote to Mr Christopher Love, beheaded on Tower-Hill for corresponding with Argyle and Mr Baillie. Perth, Friday, December 20th, 1650.

Reverend and Beloved Brother,

The letters of our friends there to Mr Douglas and to Mr Jameson, [i.e. Mr Baillie,] also two to the general assembly, the one of an old date, the other since the defeat at Dunbar, came but lately to our hands. For fear of your hazard then, we thought it expedient to communicate them but to a few. At first were called together, the Lord Chancellor, the Marquis of Argyle, the Earls of Cassils and Lothian, with Mr Douglas, Mr Blair, Mr Jameson, and Mr Wood. One and all were very much refreshed and encouraged by the two publick most gracious and seasonable letters. The answer of them was remitted to the next meeting of the commission of the church the last of this month, where we purpose to make more publick use of these, if we shall then find it stand with your safety. In the mean time, Mr Jameson was appointed to give you some short account of affairs here, which be pleased to receive.

The whole eight days before the defeat at Dunbar, the Lord had so disposed, that, to the apprehension of most in both armies, a victory seemed to incline to our side; when, contrary to all appearance, the Lord, by our own negligence, had overthrown us. We have still lien under that stroke, not so much by any active prosecution of the enemy, as by the Lord’s hand now upon us, our divisions. A strong party in the north, whom we have excluded from our army for the late engagement, did put themselves in arms without publick order. It cost us some time before we could quiet them. That danger was scarce over, when another party in the west, whom we have permitted to rise, and from whom we expected ready and happy service against the enemy, fell in ways of their own, to our great and long disturbance, which we suppose Cromwell long before this has caused print. Very ______ answers were given, both by the church and state, as you will read here in the copies subjoined: A while, notwithstanding, they pursued in their diverse way. The enemy fell on them, and put them to a total rout, whereby he enlarged his quarters now where he pleases be-south Forth. However our grief and shame for this defeat be great, yet the loss of men was much within 100, and the prisoners are not so many; and among neither, any men of note, but Col. Ker, who is a prisoner. Strachan, indeed, the author of all this mischief, had before foully betrayed his trust, and since has gone unto the enemy.

These mischiefs have laid us now lower in the dust before the Lord. On Sunday next, the 22d of December, we have a general humiliation, most for contempt of the gospel, the fountain of all our plagues. On Thursday thereafter, the 26th, we have another, for the sins of the King’s family, old and late, which we fear may have influence, in the Lord’s controversy with us; yet for all this, we have not cast away our help and confidence in the Lord; but with more vigour than ever we purpose, with all possible diligence, to make use of all the remainder of our forces. The parliament the other week did call together the commission of the church, to be resolved how far it was lawful to employ, in this case of extreme necessity, these who, for some time, and while we had choice of men, were excluded from the service. The unanimous answer by them present you have here subjoined. By the blessing of God this may be a greater beginning of union among ourselves, and of a more happy acting against the enemy, than formerly. There are, indeed, some among us against the employing of these who before were excluded; but we hope that in a little time this shall change; so much the more, as in very few, in whom it is greatest, there yet appears the least inclination to comply with the enemy. And to guard the better against this evil, the church, the other day, passed the subsequent act, which the parliament is about to confirm, with a severe civil censure against all transgressors. After our foresaid applications to God on the 22d and 26th of this instant, we have appointed to crown our King, the 1st of January, at Scone, the ordinary place of our old coronations; and thereafter, so soon as we are able, to march with the strength of our nobility and gentry to Stirling, where it will be resolved, whether to go with the body of our army to England, leaving such a party here as to keep and guard the passes of Forth against the enemy; or, with the body of our army, to attend Cromwell here, and to send Massey to England with some thousand horse and dragoons. To the former the most part incline; but you with the next shall be acquainted with our conclusions. But, in the mean time, the necessity is apparent for the extraordinary diligence of our friends there to procure to us their possible assistance in this our so necessary undertaking for the common safety. The particular way we are thinking on, I leave to another letter sent herewith, and to the instructions given to the bearer, C. B., whom we have found a faithful, wise, and diligent agent for your desires to us, and whom we hope shall be no less such for our desires to you. We have great need of your earnest intercession with the Lord of Hosts for his powerful concurrence with us in this our great extremity. Expecting this duty of love from you and our dear brethren, I add but this one word, that the brethren there would be careful, as we have been, and purpose still to be, to lay, at this their new beginning, such foundations for their army and parliament, that the leading men in both may be firm and zealous to preserve the covenant, and our former principles, entire without violation; also, if it shall seem good in the Lord’s eyes to bless our mutual endeavours, that our friends there may be zealously conscientious, that what progress was made in the assembly of divines for the reformation of religion be not lost, but procured, until a final conclusion, and all be ratified by King and Parliament.

Your brother, and servant in the Lord, Jameson.

The following letter [dated 2d January, 1651] was at first designed for Mr Dickson, but was enlarged and sent to Mr Spang.

Reverend and Dear Brother,

I sent the inclosed to you by Mr R. Ramsay, thinking you would have been at the meetings of Stirling and Perth, whither I was resolved not to go, notwithstanding of many earnest intreaties to the contrary; yet, after the dissolving of the meeting at Stirling, I followed to Perth, upon sundry letters from Stirling to me for that effect. Your absence was not well taken by many; though I verily think your presence would not have had more influence on the remonstrants than that of Mess. Douglas, Blair, Cant, Rutherford, Durham, Wood, and others, who could in nothing prevail with them. Of the whole matter, as it comes in my mind, I will give you a simple account, but to yourself alone, and after to the fire; for as in all the meetings I was silent, and a mere spectator, except one forenoon, wherein I in some things declared my mind, so I would desire to meddle as little as may be with this unfortunate strife.

After the woful rout at Dunbar, in the first meeting at Stirling, it was openly and vehemently pressed to have David Lesly laid aside, as long before was designed, but covertly, by the chief purgers of the times. The man himself did as much press as any to have liberty to demit his charge, being covered with shame and discouragement for his late unhappiness, and irritated with Mr James Guthrie’s publick invectives against him from the pulpit. The most of the committee of estates, and commission of the kirk, would have been content to let him go; but finding no man tolerably able to supply his place, and the greatest part of the remaining officers of horse and foot peremptory to lay down, if he continued not; and after all trials, finding no maladministration on him to count of, but the removal of the army from the hill the night before the rout, which yet was a consequence of the committee’s order, contrary to his mind, to stop the enemy’s retreat, and for that end to storm Broxmouth House as soon as possible. On these considerations, the state, unanimously, did with all earnestness intreat him to keep still his charge. Against this order, my Lord Wariston, and, as I suppose, Sir John Cheesly, did enter their dissent. I am sure Mr James Guthrie did his, at which, as a great impertinency, many were offended. Col. Strachan offered to lay down his charge, being unwilling more to be commanded by D. Lesly. Some more inclined to do so; but all were quieted by this expedient.

Mr Patrick Gillespie, by his diligence with some brethren of the west, had procured a meeting at Kilmarnock, of some chief gentlemen and ministers of the sheriffdoms of Ayr, Clydesdale, Renfrew, and Galloway, where he persuaded them, for the present necessity, to raise a strength of horse and dragoons, as they had designed in their association, but far above the proportion of any bygone levy. This conclusion obtained, he persuaded next to put all under the command of four Colonels, the likeliest men to act speedily against the enemy, Ker, Strachan, Robin Halket, and Sir Robert Adair. They made their account to make up the old broken regiments of these four to the number of 4000, beside volunteers. With this voluntary offer, Mr Pat. Gillespie, Sir George Maxwell, and Glanderston, rode to Stirling. However many did smell, and fear the design of a division, yet the offer was so fair, and promises of present acting so great, that easily, even by the Chancellor and Mr Robert Douglas’s procurement, they obtained an act of state for all their desires. By this they stopped all men’s mouths, and forced them of Renfrew and Carrick to join with them. The committee of Renfrew seeing the vast expences of the enterprise, (for the first rigging out would amount to 500,000 pounds, [£41,666:13:4], and the daily charge to 4000 or 5000 lib. upon the shires foresaid), were generally averse from the motion. My Lord Cassils kept off Carrick; Galloway also did disrelish the matter; but the committee of Clydesdale, consisting of a few mean persons, who were totally led by Mr Patrick and Sir John Cheesly, being very forward; the committee of Kyle and Cunningham being persuaded by Mess. J. Nevo, Gabriel Maxwell, and a few more ministers, the act of state supervening, quashed all farther opposition. All of us in our pulpits, myself as much as others, did promove the work. In a very short time 3500 horse are got together, with hopes, by volunteers, to make them above 5000. We were all in expectation of ready and happy acting, by infalls on the enemy’s quarters. But behold how all our hopes were soon most miserably blasted! Col. Strachan’s scruples were not only about David Lesly’s command; for in this his friends had procured him ample enough satisfaction, getting assurance, from the committee of state, that David Lesly should gladly permit the forces of the west to act apart, and never trouble them with any of his orders; but Strachan’s scruples went much higher. Since the amendment of his once very lewd life, he inclined much in opinion towards the sectaries; and having joined with Cromwell at Preston against the engagers, had continued with them to the King’s death. At that time, by Mr Blair, and our commissioners at London, he was somewhat altered; yet not so far as to join with us in covenant, till, by the great labours of Mr Ja. Guthrie and Mr P. Gillespie, his doubts were so far satisfied or smothered, that he was brought to content the commission of the church for that and divers other scandals against him: yet it seems that importunity has made him profess large as much compliance with us as his heart did yield to. His eminent service, first against Pluscardie, and then against Ja. Graham, got him the church’s extraordinary favour, to be helped with 100,000 merks out of their purses, for the mounting him a regiment; the greatest offering which ever our churchmen made at one time. This did not a little lift his spirit, and get him the far best regiment in the army. With the western recruit, it became stronger than any two regiments in the kingdom. At this time many of his old doubts revive upon him; which, by the knavery of his Captain-Lieutenant, Govan, and frequent messages of his late friends, Cromwell, and these about him, became so high, that though extraordinary pains were taken upon him, yet he would receive no satisfaction, so far as to act any thing against the enemy, except there might be a treaty. And it appeared therein, that Cromwell was not willing to retire, upon our assurance not to molest England on the King’s quarrel, whom he professed to be so far fallen from all his right to England, that, for his wrongs to Scotland, he ought at least to be banished the land, or made a perpetual prisoner.

Strachan’s axiom and debates put the whole army and committee of the west in such confusion and discouragement, that all acting against the enemy was impossible. But the matter stood not at this point. In our debates, at the time of the engagement, our publick professions were, of our clearness to fight against the English sectaries, for vindication of the covenant, and the King’s just rights, on the parliament’s grant to us of some few desires. Mess. J. Guthrie and Jo. Livingston their whisperings a little in the ear to the contrary, were not then audible. It was strange to me thereafter, when I heard Wariston and Mr Guthrie speak it out, that it would take a long debate to clear from the covenant, the lawfulness of an offensive war against Cromwell and his party; yet in a short time it appeared, that the quarrel of the King or covenant, or any quarrel tending to war with the English, became to divers more questionable than it wont to be. Whether a fear of the troubles of war, or a despair of conquering the King to the publick, or their own personal interests, or a desire to keep the government, not only in the form, but in the hands it was in, or truly judgement of mind, drew men to those changes of former professed principles, I cannot say; only a great deal of zeal was begun to be practised against all who did smell in any excess of favour towards the King. What strict acts of kirk and state were made against malignancy. What numbers were cast out of their charges in the church, state, and army. What bars were put to their re-admitting. You know too much pleading was for the justice of beheading the King, whatever fault was in the actors. Mr Guthrie and Mr Gillespie’s debates were passionate against the proclaiming of the King, till his qualifications for government had first been tried and allowed. You may remember the labour was taken to hinder the addresses to the King; and how like it was to have prevailed, had not the reason, authority, and diligence of Argyle, overswayed it; and, for all that could be said, the voting of Mess. Guthrie, Gillespie, Hutcheson, and Durham, that no commissioner should be sent till a change in the King should appear; and when it was carried to send commissioners, I will not forget the great study of some to make their instructions so rigid, that few had any hope the King would ever assent to them; and when, above hope, the King had yielded to all the commissioners had required, the industry of these same men to get new instructions posted away to Holland, which, had they come thither before the King’s imbarking, were expected by all should have ruined the treaty. Yet when, by the extraordinary favour of God, the King was brought into Scotland, to do what either kirk or state had required; and, upon this agreeance, the noise of Cromwell’s march towards us was grown loud, Sir John Cheesly, Hopeton, and Swinton, kept off, by their debates in parliament, the raising of our army so long, that we were near surprised; and when our army was got together at Leith, the same men helped, by their continual cross-debates, to keep all in confusion. Their strange affronting of the King at Leith; the putting of him to a new declaration; and, when he stuck but at some hard expressions, concerning the persons of his father and mother; their procuring from the kirk and state that terrible act of disclaiming his interest of the 13th of August; that same night, without the kirk’s knowledge, printed it, and sent it to Cromwell with a trumpet. All these things bred jealousies in the observers, what the intentions of some men might be; yet all was dissembled, till after the defeat at Dunbar these intentions broke out in their actions. So soon as they saw it probable that they were to have a force to be ruled by themselves alone, it became their work to have that army so great, and the other at Stirling so small, as they were able.

Then, in these meetings with Mr Gillespie, where Sir John Cheesly and some three or four burgesses did meet oft and long, propositions of a strange and high nature were in hand, as Robert Lockhart, who sometimes was present, did show to Argyle and others. The first vent of their motions was at the provincial synod in Glasgow, where Mr Patrick, Mr Hutcheson, Ker, Strachan and others, with much night-waking, brought forth that strange remonstrance of the synod, where Mr Patrick, obtaining a committee to consider the sins procuring the wrath of God on the land, did put such men on it as he liked best, and by them the framing of the draught was put upon himself, who quickly begat that pretty piece which I sent you. It doubtless had been the subject of more discourse, had it not been drowned in the subsequent more absurd one on the same head in the name of the army; for at the very first, it fell on the face of the general assembly and parliament, and condemns both for their first treating with the King, and for the renewing of it in a second address; but most for closing of it without evidence of his real change. Then these most bitter invectives against the state, for which Mr Patrick had used so high language with you and Mr Douglas, in face of the commission, at length are all brought in, with large additions, to any thing was then heard. I have oft of late regretted to see the judicatories of the church so easily led to whatever some few of our busy men designed, but never more than in the particular in hand. I am sure the most of that writ was without the knowledge of the most, and against the sense of many, of the brethren. Yet all was voted, nemine contradicente, except honest Mr W. Russel, Mr R. Ramsay, and Mr Jo. Bell, spoke a little to some words, but on the matter let all go. Fearing what was in hand, I could speak but little. The night before I expected nothing more should have been pressed but a keeping out engagers from the army. I loved not to appear in contradiction to some violent men; yet my heart being against their conclusion, I was, after much soliciting and prayer, brought to a necessity of contradicting, and had thought on some reasons for that point to have been mainly proponed for my dissent; although I doubt not but my impatience and canker had broken out, if I had heard, which I had never dreamed of, their invectives against the treaties; but the Lord, in a very sensible way to me, carried it so, that neither the synod was troubled with me, nor the peace of my mind by them. I once inclined to absent myself, and had indeed gone out, but behoved to return, not daring to take that course; but behold, when I was ready to go to the synod at that diet when the remonstrance came in, my Lord Cassils sent his man to call me to speak with him at his lodging. While we are a little serious about sundry of the publick affairs, I found that more time had gone than either of us had observed, and telling him that my absence from the synod might be mistaken, I took my leave, and with all haste I got up to the church; where I found, at my entry, that all the debates on that paper were closed, and after thrice reading, it was going to the vote. I adored divine providence, who truly beside my purpose, but much to my content, had given me a fair occasion to say nothing of a writ, whereof I never heard a line read. This, for the time, and since, was a satisfactory ground for my silence, to my own mind, in that remonstrance which brought to the consenters, let be the contrivers, but small credit; the commission of the church having so far disavowed it, as for no request they could be induced to countenance it towards the committee of estates; but Mr Patrick behoved to present it himself, without the company of any from that meeting, which would have made a noise, had not the second remonstrance filled the ears of the whole kingdom with a louder sound.

Mr R. Ramsay and others had pressed that for removing of jealousies from many who were then speaking their doubts of some mens intentions, that the officers of the army should put forth a declaration of their designs. To me the motion savoured not. Since the raising of these forces were allowed by the states, all declarations from particular officers seemed needless; yet, on the synod’s motion to Colonel Ker, a declaration by him and his fellows was promised, and presently gone about by Mr Patrick and the chief associates then present. But, as Mr Patrick told us, it was laid aside by the advice sent them by Wariston from Stirling, and Mr James Guthrie, betwixt whom and them the posts then and thereafter ran very thick night and day, not so much on that ground, he told us, that they thought it illegal for such private persons to make publick manifestoes, as for that, as I suspect, which he told us not.

About this time, the King’s head was filled by some unhappy men about him, especially Dr Fraser and Henry Seymour, with many extreme fears. After the affront at Leith, they had raised suspicions in his mind, which, upon the defeat at Dunbar, were increased, but, by the separate rising in the west, brought near to the head of a design to break the treaty with him, and agree upon his expenses with Cromwell. Upon these motions, the malignants in the north stept in, and, by the forenamed persons, began a correspondence for the raising of the north for his present service, under the conduct of Middleton. So many noblemen were on this unhappy enterprise. Crawford was given out for its head and contriver, albeit he professed to me his opposition to it. Lauderdale knew of it; but he has said so far to me, that I believe him he opposed it to his power. However, the thing was so foolishly laid, and the King, by the counsels of these about him, was so various in giving order for that rising, sometimes commanding and then countermanding to rise, that all the party was put in a confusion; yet, by the information of these foresaid fools, the King being put in fear, that Lorn, going timely to bury a soldier, was drawing together his regiment to lay hands on him, contrary to his former resolutions; he took horse with some two or three, as if it had been to go a kawking, but crossed Tay, and stayed not till he came to Clowe in Angus. By the way he repented of the journey, and meeting with Lauderdale at Diddup, and Balcarras coming from Dundee by accident, was almost persuaded by them to return; yet, by Diddup and Buchan he was kept in Clowe. But when he came to that miserably-accommodated house, and in place of the great promised forces, he saw nothing but a small company of highlanders, he presently sent for Robert Montgomery, who was near with his regiment, and without more ado, did willingly return, exceedingly confounded and dejected for that ill-advised start. When it was first blazed abroad, it filled all good men with great grief, and to my own heart it brought one of the most sensible sorrows that in all my life I had felt. Yet his quick return of his own accord, and his readiness to give all satisfaction for that failure, and his kind receiving by the committee of states, among whom he ever sat after his return, (though never before), turned our grief suddenly into joy, his absence not lasting above two full days. Yet all men were not so soon satisfied.

Sundry of them who had been on the plot, fearing a discovery and punishment, flew to arms; Lewis Gordon, Ogilvie, Athol, and others, under Middleton’s command, putting out a number of fair pretexts for their rising. This might have destroyed all; yet, by God’s mercy, all was quickly quieted. D. Leslie, with all his horse, marched towards them; the King wrote earnestly to them to lay down. The committee of estates sent a fair act of indemnity, and so without more ado they went home. Mr James Guthrie had well near marred this peace; he moved Middleton’s summar excommunication. Mr R. Douglas, and most number present, were against it; yet Mr James and Mr Patrick, by two or three votes of elders, obtained it. And though the committee of estates, by an earnest letter, intreated Mr James to delay a little the execution, yet on the next sabbath he executed the sentence to the regret of many.

When the northern storm was ended, the western winds began to blow the louder. I told their declaration was kept in by advice from Stirling, as many thought, to make vantage of the new failings at court; for these were looked on with a greedy eye, and exaggerated to the height of truth. When, with a great deal of expenses and trouble, our forces in the west were levied, and present action against Cromwell promised and expected, their very first march is to Dumfries, the farthest place they were able to chuse from the enemy’s quarters. The pretence was to attend the motion of the enemy coming from Carlisle; but when the party which went from Edinburgh to fight them, neither in the going nor coming, was looked upon, nor any good at all done by that long march, but the hazarding the country, and the spoiling of a number of noblemen and gentlemen of their saddle-horse, and lying still at Glasgow, while Cromwell took up Glasgow. This made it visible they had some other thing in hand than to mind the enemy. By their earnest missives they had brought Wariston from Stirling to Dumfries. There, after some debate, the draught of the remonstrance is brought to some perfection, you see. It seems one main end of both remonstrances was to satisfy Strachan, and for that end they came up well near to his full length about the King and the state, the malignants and England. For in this last paper they are clear in condemning the treaty as sinful, and notwithstanding of it to suspend the King’s government till he should give satisfactory evidence of his real change, whereof they were to be judges, who were never like to be satisfied, although they were never like to be troubled with the judging of these signs; for the King who had started away upon the suspicion of these things, upon the sight of them in an army-remonstrance, was not like to stay: so on this escape the government of the kingdom, and the distribution of the royal rent in new pensions, all the former being void, fell in our own hand; and if the king should have ventured to stay, then an effectual course was moved to be taken with him to keep him from joining with malignants, which could not be but by a strong guard or imprisonment; albeit this was needless, if the course against malignants had been taken to put them out of all capacity to hurt the people and cause of God; for this could not be but by executing, forfaulting, and imprisoning of the chief of them, as we thought fit.

As for our present state, so many and gross faults were pressed against Argyle, the Chancellor, Lothian, Balcarras, and others, that in all reason they behoved to be laid aside, and our state modelled of new; so that no active nobleman should have any hand therein; and as for England, they might rest secure of our armies, not only till church and state should agree on the lawfulness and expediency of that war was found, but also a clear call from England should appear; and if we could not mar the one, and Cromwell the other, yet we behoved to move nothing of bringing this King to England, whom we had found unmeet to govern Scotland, and though thereafter he should change never so much to the better, yet it was injustice for us to meddle with a kingdom not subordinate to us. Thus far the remonstrance went on, and closed with a solemn engagement on all their hearts, if God blessed their armies, to see all these things performed. I have oft marvelled that Strachan remained dissatisfied for all this; for I verily think, whatever he or Cromwell could have desired in Scotland, would easily have followed upon the former premises.

While these things are a-doing at Dumfries, Cromwell, with the whole body of his army and cannon, comes peaceably by the way of Kilsyth to Glasgow. The magistrates and ministers fled all away. I got to the isle of Cumray, with my Lady Montgomery, but left all my family and goods to Cromwell’s courtesy, which indeed was great; for he took such a course with his soldiers, that they did less displeasure at Glasgow than if they had been at London, though Mr Zachary Boyd railed on them all to their very face in the High Church. I took this extraordinary favour, from their coming alone to gain the people, and to please Strachan, with whom he was then keeping correspondence, and by whom he had great hopes to draw over the western army, at least to a cessation with him; as indeed he brought them by his means to be altogether useless; though, on a report of their march towards Edinburgh, he left the west in a great suddenty and demi-disorder.

So soon as the remonstrance was perfected, and all present at Dumfries professed their assent to it, except Strachan, conceiving it to be too low for his meridian, Mr Patrick and Mr John Stirling, with some of the gentlemen, went along with it to Stirling, and Wariston in their company. The commission of the kirk refused to meddle with it; only Mr Robert Douglas wrote to the presbyteries to send to the next meeting at Stirling, with their commissioners of the church, some more of their number, of greatest experience and wisdom, to advise in matters of great importance. The committee of estates, by Wariston’s means, at their first presenting, put no affront upon it; but what was a very dangerous error, gave too good words to the carriers; and, to allure them to action against the enemy, increased their forces, by joining with them the dragoons of Niddisdale and the Lennox; and overseeing also the feathers which they had drawn out of the Stirling’s wing, the putting them in hopes to get the Stirling’s nest, which made them march quickly west to Partick, in order to Stirling, thinking that Lesly and Middleton should have been in others flesh in the north: but to their open discontent, the northern storm being composed, and D. Lesly returned to Stirling, they turned their heads another way.

When, after my return to Glasgow, I saw their remonstrance, and Cromwell’s letter thereupon, on the occasion of Strachan’s queries, requiring a treaty, which at that same time he sent his prisoners, Mr Jaffray and Mr Carstairs, to agent, I was sore grieved, but knew not how to help it; only I sent the copies of all, with express bearers to Argyle and you at Inverary, and to the Chancellor at Perth, and Mr James Ferguson at Kilwinning, with my best advice to you all, and resolved myself to keep the next meeting of the commission on the call of their letter, to declare my dissent, if I could do no more. But behold, the next presbytery-day, when I am absent, Mr Patrick causes read again the commission’s letter, and had led it so, that by the elders votes, the men of greatest experience and wisdom of our presbytery were the two youngest we had, Mr Hugh Binning and Mr Andrew Morton. Then when it was pressed that I might be but added to them, it was, by a vote, refused, upon supposition it was needless, being clear I would doubtless go howsoever. These despiteful votes wrought so on my mind when I heard of them, that I resolved not to go, for all that could be said to me by many of the brethren; yet the clerk of the commission, at the moderator’s direction, writing a pressing letter to me from Stirling, I went along to Perth; where, by God’s good providence, I have staid since for many good purposes.

At the meeting of Stirling, there was a conference appointed of the chief members of the committee of estates, and commissioners of the church, on the remonstrance; wherein there were many high words about it betwixt Wariston and Mr R. Douglas, Mr R. Ramsay and Mr P. Gillespie, Mr James Wood and Mr James Guthrie, and others. No appearance there was of any issue. The time of parliament at Perth drawing near, the King, by his letter, invited the meeting of church and state to Perth. The desire of many was but to have some agreement before, if no other way were possible, as none appeared, that the remonstrance might be laid aside, and much of the matter of it be pressed in an orderly way by the commission of the kirk, and the forces of the west be joined with these at Stirling; since, for so long a time, they had acted nothing apart, and never like to act any thing for any purpose alone. The remonstrants were averse from these motions; so all was laid aside till they came to Perth: at which time a new conference was appointed, and four whole days kept in Argyle’s chamber. I then, and thereafter, was witness to all, and little more than a witness; for not being a commissioner, I thought meet to be silent. For the one side, Mr Patrick and Wariston spoke most; for the other, Argyle, the Chancellor, the Advocate, and Mr Douglas: but Mr Wood spoke most, and to best purpose. Mr Rutherford and Mr Durham said some little for sundry points of the remonstrance. Mr James Guthrie, most ingenuously and freely, vented his mind; for the principal point, (as he avowed he had oft before maintained), “That the close of our treaty was a sin, to promise any power to the King before he had evidenced the change of his principles; and the continuing that power in his hand was sinful till that change did appear;” though it was visible, that every day the kingdom languished under these debates, which impeded all action. There was no remedy. By no persuasion the remonstrance could be taken up; yea, the gentlemen gave in a petition to the estates at Perth, in the presence of the King, urging the answer thereof; from which petition they would not pass: yea, when they were most earnestly dealt with to conjoin their forces, all that could be obtained, both by publick and divers private entreaties of their best friends, Argyle and others, there was a willingness to join on two conditions: The first was, an express laying aside of the King’s quarrel in the state of the question; the other, to keep none in the army of Stirling but according to the qualifications in the act of parliament. When in these two all of the gentlemen and officers were found peremptory, the conference on Friday, the fourth day of it, was broken off as fruitless; though for their satisfaction, the parliament had been shifted from the Wednesday to the Friday, and from the Friday to the Tuesday again, for all the issue of blood, and starving, that was every day visible over the kingdom. Before the meeting, the remonstrants had a solemn meeting at Glasgow, by Mr Patrick’s call, where, the subscribing of the remonstrance was much pressed on the great committee of gentlemen and officers, by the ministers, who sat apart in the tolbooth, and called themselves the presbytery of the western army. That subscription was generally declined, and by no persuasion any more could be obtained, nor a warrant, subscribed by Crosbie, the president of the committee, to some few commissioners, to present the remonstrance to the state. Mr Robert Ramsay, sore against my mind, offered, in his own and my name, once and again, to come and debate in their presence, with the brethren, the injustice of that remonstrance. This offer was told them in the committee. All the answer it got was, that no man was excluded to come and propone what they pleased. Upon such entertainment we let them alone. Here it was where Strachan, before having laid down his charge, was commanded to go no more to the regiment; but he told them expressly, he could not obey. Some would have been at laying him fast, for fear of his going to the enemy; but lest that Ker and many more should thereby have been provoked, they let him alone. Govan, for his known correspondence with the enemy, was cashiered, and their scout-master Dundass also. Sundry of the officers were suspected to be of Strachan’s principles, albeit the most went not beyond the remonstrance.