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or kindness of them. Yet efter consideration against thes discouradgements, I desired to serve the Lord in it and yeeld; but feared myself and them: that they might expect some thing from me that I had not in me, and that I might fal in a snar, for I am facil: yet 1 besought the Lord to guid my spirit in the things I knew not.

14. I heard the Ladi Grant's errand was anent the Witch which wes letten loos and her hous: she prest me to goe with her husband to fitch: my facilnes is great, and therfor I would desir the Lord to ridd me of such lyk employments.

17. I receaved letters from London and Edinburgh desiring me to repair to London. I could not know what to answer or resolve. But the morrow being the Lord's day, and a day wherein Aldearna ar to be humbld for obtaining ane honest faithfull minister to ther parish, I desired to concur with them in the exercyss of the day, and to joyn this exigent of my doubtfulnes, praying him to clear my mind. . . . The Lord doth humble

me in my [son, and my daughter, and my servants, and my mother.] 22.-Col. Lockhart b [was married with the Protector's sister's daughter.] 23.-Craigstoun did communicat to me his purpos of marriage with Seaforth's sistar." [I observed the man's imprudence.]

This day I intended to plant and graft trees, and was a little employed therein. I desird to have my sinful affection pardond in going about thes natural things. I wryt to Mr. Thomas Hogg,d and exhorted him to faithfulness; and desired to be informed anent Mr. Hari Forbes.

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24. I wryt to Mr. Thomas Urquhart disuading him from embracing ani employment in the south; and to Mr. Hugh Anderson anent his embracing Cromartie, and committs both thes cases to God.

26.-1 heard that D. Dumbar was taken, and lyk to suffer for the murther which he committed upon the Engl. at Inverness. I was desired to interpos for him: But I disclaimd and denied it, yet I found my hart apt to favour and pleasur men.

The parish of Auldearn, in the presbytery of Nairn, Nairnshire.

Col. William, afterwards Sir William Lockhart of Lee, married Cromwell's niece.

See p. 124, note d

4 Mr. Thomas Hogg was settled the previous year as minister of Kiltearn, in the presbytery of Dingwall, and shire of Ross

and Cromarty. His name is still remembered in the parish for his zealous ministrations and sufferings.

Mr. Thomas Urquhart, minister of Dipple, in the Presbytery of Elgin, afterwards transputed to Essil; but deposed in 1663 for Nonconformity.

f He became minister of Ellon.

4 March. I desird to examin the sins and ignoranc in the servants, in my [mother, in my daughter, in my son], the securiti of my own

hart.

I received letters from Cassills litle encouradging me for the London journey, but inviting me south. This I spread befor God, and desird to wait until he cleard up mor of his mynd theranent.

6. I went to Inverness quher the Lord was with me in ridding me of the snares quhich I feard by D. Dumbar Grang's bastard, and I do acknowledg the Lord in it.

9. We had a session in Dyk wher I met with much gross wickedness and obdurdnes.

b

I read Jhon Gilpin's relation against the Quakers, and my soul was cast doun under the greatnes of that delusion quherwith such are tempted.

11. Die Dom. This day in Session again I was overtaken with a passionat word in calling Jh. Anderson, Wili Craig's man, a drunken beggar, befor the Session. My fault was greater than his, for which I desird to be humbld.

I desired to mourn for the great abounding of profanity, uncleanness, drunkenes, lying, perjuri, swearing, Saboth-breaking, ignoranc, and impenitencie, and slighting of sin and the wrath of God, which is in thes lands and in thes places. Lord learn me to lay it deeplie to hart!

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19. My Mother grew infirm and distempered both in her bodie and mind, and discouered her temptations, exerciss and truble to me. I desired to be affected with it, and with my Sister held it up to God.

22. Craigston was contracted with Seaforth's sister, L. Barbara.d

23. On the 21 the smyth brunt his feet, and the smythi was brunt. I did se and obseru the Lord's holiness, and that man's rashness and presumption. Oh that it may tend to humble him!

24. Grang was vehement to haue me goe to Inverness to deprecat the

John Kennedy, sixth Earl of Cassillis, a zealous Presbyterian and Covenanter.

John Urquhart of Craigston married Lady Barbara, daughter of George, second Earl of Seaforth. Her name is not mentioned in the Peerage. Her husband, on the death of his two brothers, Sir Thomas and Sir Alexander Urquhart of Cromarty, became representative of that family, and was knighted by Charles the Second, 14th Katherine, daughter of Dunbar of Grange. July, 1662, (Douglas's Baronage, p. 163.)

This refers to a tract by John Gilpin of Kindale, in Westmoreland, entitled The Quakers Shaken, or a Firebrand snatch'd out of the fire; being a relation of God's wonderfull mercie extended to J. Gilpin." London, 1653, 4to.

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cruel and shamles manner of Dav. Dumbar's death. I hearknd not unto them, and desired to examin what the Lord alloud me to doe. He was of my flesh, albeit wicked and sinfulli begotten: it did reflect on and humble me which befell him. I obserud and spoke of it to my Mother how the Lord was punishing that sin of uncleannes and leudnes among us, and particularli in the posteriti of that man, her brother. He that was lykest to himself, and quhom he loued best, the child quhom he had begotten in his lust should be broght to such a remarkable death for so foul a fact. . .

25.-Die Dom. This day at my home coming, I took occasion to speak to Jhon Dumbar, Boig's son: and after I had labourd to bring him to som sight of sin, and of his danger and guiltines, I found the Lord softli

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b

and enquired at him, If he remembered the couenant that he made with God in his baptism; and if he wer willing to renew it, and to enter in a more solemn strict covenant to be the Lord's? He said, with all his hart. Whether with hand held up to God, and with strong desirs, he accepted the Lord's offer, and subscrived with his hart and soul to be the Lord's al his days? He professed, he would tak the Lord to be God, and be content of that for his portion in the world, and willingli would quit al. . . . I exhorted him to walk like his new master, [to] remember that he was not his own now, but the Lord's: with som other word I dismiss'd him. In testimonie and token of his sincer adherance to his oblation and bargain, and of his dependence on the al-sufficiencie, truth, and mercie of God as the foundation of the couenant, he has subscrivit this with his hand.

Die Dominica, 1 Apryl 1655.-Mr. Wil. told me off the ordour which cam to rais ther Synod, and forbidding them tos itt. He ask'd opinion. I desird to bewail our differences which made thes troubles the wors to beare.

2.-Jhon Cuming was verie stuborn. I was forst to send for two troupers to Calder to aprehend him. He thretn'd and belied out much violinc against me

3. The troupers aprehended and took Jhon Cuming and Gregour away to Inverness. I acknowledgd the Lord. . . . This day Major Strang and his Cornet din'd, and staid al night with me. Ther was some conferences among us tending to good; but my oid so ill, that I can goe about noe dutie wherein I fail not: and corruption cleavs to me.

• David Dunbar, executed for murder at Inverness, was the natural son of Alex

Short-hand in MS.

ander Dunbar of Grange, the author's maternal uncle.

R

4. Efter Major Strang and his Cornet remou'd, I remembered some hard words betwix the Cornet and me, wherein he disclaimd the official ministers among us: and thoght ther calling and ordination none. My hart rose at this, and I testified against him as I could; let the Lord forgiv infirmiti, and confirm me in his truth, and piti our darknesses, and sanctifi them to us.

4, 5, 6 of this month of Apryll wer bitter rogh cold days, and the season was unkindli and uncouth: In this I desir'd to acknowledg the Lord, and to be instructed.

Ther cam troupers this night to us of Cap. Dale's. They did not quitt stopp, but disturbed our minds.

The next day was appointed for a nomination of a minister to Auldearn. I desir'd to seek the Lord to order and direct that matter as he had begun to doe, and to guid ther spirits and myn in the action. . .

The elders of Aldearn for gaining concert and concord, yeelded to deffer til next day ther nomination. I desir'd becaus I had mov'd this and was the author of it, that I might not repent in the faith of his providenc. I rest and committs the matter to him.

10. I heard of the contempt which others had of the honest, poor Earl of Sutherland, and that they wer setting themselves against him in the firth of Dornach; and could not but be affected at it. I commended him and his simpliciti to God. . .

I heard of the act for repaying what we payed to Ministers that prayed for the King. This I desird to mourn under, that he would caus me to understand, and judg aright. I with P. C. returned from Inverness. We had much troubl anent troupers, and other things. I committed the matter to God.

11.—Wil. Cuming told me that ther wer seueral broken men in the hills watching for the Englishes. A poor prisoner whom I had known in Holland came in by me, who had lost his sight and his legs in prison. Oh what a miserie does warr expos unto! . . . He said he was of the hous of Haining, and his father was master [of the] household to the Queen of Bohem. He said that the love of the King and countree did engadge him.

John, tenth Earl of Sutherland, called, from his benignity and affability, "The good Earl John." (Douglas's Peerage, by Wood, vol. ii., p. 576.)

Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, daughter of King James the First.

Oh, did he suffer so much for such causes, and shal not I be willing to suffer for Thee farr mor, if thou call me to it!

12.—I heard that the English ishud forth an act that al thes who payd stipends to Ministers that prayd for the King should pay it again to the Commonwealth. I desir'd the Lord to giue me understanding of this providenc, and to guid my spirit and the spirits of his people in it.

13.—This day they did move that the E.a should seek Argyl's [daughter in marriage.]

Lord! I know not who shall com efter me, nor for whom I lay up thes things, whither for a wise man or a fool. Therefor learn me not to be disquieted in gathering and laying up, whyl I know not who shal enjoy it. Learn me, Oh Lord! to lay up where it cannot be taken away.

14.-I heard off Moynes, his premonishing Lethin to redeem the loan. This day my old servant, and my father and grandfather's, Jhon Willand, was removd by death in the evening; and I heard of it just as I was going to prayer in the famili: I desired to be exercysd with it, and to read my mortalitie and my distanc from hom why I am heer. The end of the righteous man is peac: such was his end; and in this went farr beyond me, that he never did soe much wrong to ani other, as I had don in my place. Whyl they ar removd who ar the best; as there is non of his qualiti and age lyk him in this platt of land; shall I not consider, and lay it to heart? Lord, learn me to be instructed! Scarce are ther ani living now in thes bounds, which had been heer in my father or grandfather's tym, which was but yesterday. Oh, so soon does one generation pass and another com! so doe our days glyd away lyk the stream, or lyk a shaddow; nay, nor are there, in our days, servants lyk thos who were of old, in the days of my grandfather. This I desire to be humbled under, and to lay it to hart.

I heard of something that had fallen out betwix som of the Earl of Murray's men and one of Granghil's. I was affected with the corruptions, hastiness, wilfulness of men, and how the Lord did punish men by their own iniquitie.

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15. Die Dom. This day, as I was kneeling down to publick prayer in

George, sixth Earl of Caithness, who was married at Roseneath, September 22, 1657, to Lady Mary, third daughter of

Archibald, eighth Earl of Argyll. (Douglas's Peerage, vol. i., p. 100.)

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