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DIARY

OF

ALEXANDER BRODIE OF BRODIE.

M.DC.LII.-M.DC.LIV.

DIARY OF ALEX. BRODIE OF BRODIE.

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AVID, the elder son to Alexander Brodie of that Ilk, my grandfather, was born in the year 1558, lived seventy-four years, and died in May, 1627.

David Brodie his son, my father, was born in the year 1586, and died in the forty-sixth year of his age, 22nd September, 1632.

I Alexander, his son, was born on the 25th July, 1617. I was sent into England in anno 1628, being little more than ten years old, and returned in anno 1632, in which my father, of precious memory, deceased.

I was married the 28th October, 1635. My dearest wife deceased the

12th August, 1640, when [I] was twenty-three years old.

I went into Holland twice for the King, in anno 1649 and 1650.

I was entred on the Session the same year, 1650; and again, after much resistance and reluctancy, I took the place on me in January, 1658. Let the Lord turn it to his glory, mine, and his people's good.

Grissel Erodie, my daughter, was born on 2nd October, 1636.

James, my only son, was born 15th September, 1637.

William Brodie, my uncle, died in September, 1650.

The early harvest [was] in the year 1652. All [was] shorn and in'd within the last of August, or thereby.b

Elizabeth Innes, eldest daughter of Sir Robert Innes of Innes, and widow of John Urquhart of Craigstoun.

"In Julij, 1652, the cornes being new rype, much of them was shorne; and, in the beginning of August, het harvest

This harvest, 1652, was such as never man can remember the lyke, all the corne being gottin in without rayne, and lang befoir the usuall tyme. The lyke harvest was in our nychtbour natioun of England." (Diary of John Nicoll, pp. 98, 100, 101. Edin. 1836.)

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The English came to Murray and crossed Spey 1st December, 1651. Glencairn and the Highlanders begun their Insurrection 10th August, 1653, and Lorn with them and Seafort. Oh, the works of God are strange, marvellous and upright! They burnt Leathen's land 20th January, 1654.

The late harvest and great inundation of water was 1653.
Die Sabbati, 11th September, 1563.-A great speat.

30th October. A great storm of snow and frost. Grangehill's corns and some others were out. Earl Seafort declared for the King, and Kenmure. August, 1659.-He swore to disclaim the King and his race, and for the Commonwealth.

11th December, 1655.-A great storm of wind and snow, which did much harm.

My daughter was married,b 7th September, 1654.

My grandchild, Katharine Dunbar, was born on the 7th August, 1655. I made journey to Roseneath on the 14th of that same month.

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Mr. John Brodie died 7th January, 1655.

The beloved Mr. Joseph died 27th October, 1656.
My grandchild, Florence [Dunbar] was born on the

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I desire to note it among the remarkable passages of the Lord's providences towards me, that, in my passage to Edinburgh, 6th December, 1657, the horse, falling in the water of Urie in the evening, where the water was so deep, the frost so great, the difficulty so insuperable, that yet, 1. That same did not befal myself, for I was near to it, and why might he not have reserved it for me? 2. That the boy who was at the same time on the ice, and had that same horse in his hand, yet he was safe. 3, That the beast also was safe; and being on a Sabbath-day, and I travelling, it was a matter that might give offence. Further, I looked on it as holding forth some danger to me in the taking employment on me,

The author of the Diary.

b Grissel Brodie to Sir Robert Dunbar of Grangehill.

Mr. John Brodie was Parson of Aldearn, and Dean of Murray, in 1624, under Episcopacy; continuing Minister of Aldearn, under Presbytery, till his death in 1655, (Shaw's History of the Province of

Moray.) He was the uncle of the author of the Diary.

Mr. Joseph Brodie, another uncle of the author of the Diary. He was instituted as Minister of Keith, 27th June, 1631. He was present at the General Assembly held at Glasgow in 1638; and was translated to Forres in December, 1646.

that I should meet with exercise in it. Oh, keep both from superstition, ignorance and inadvertency! That same voyage I entred again on the Session, but with much reluctancy.

a

My sickness, ague, and great defluctions were this year, 1657.

The welbeloved Laird of Innes, my dear father-in-law, did take his Cancer in the Month of January, 1656.

A great flood of rain was this year, and began about the 1st of September, 1658. The Inundations were so great, that there has not been seen greater here this age.

13th September, 1658.—I did begin my Harvest.

3rd September, 1658. Oliver, Lord Protector, died; and on the same day of the month was Dunbar foughten, 1650, and Worcester, in 1651.

17th November, 1658.-The old Laird of Innes, my father [in-law] died; and let his memory and name be had in sweet and everlasting remembrance. He was buried upon the 19th of November.

7th May, 1659.-Richard's Parliament was broken, and the Commonwealth introduced again.

July, 1659.—The King's party did appear for him under General-Major Massie, and others.

28th of July. My son was married with Lady Mary Ker; and, on the 31st July, 1659, she did subscribe her covenant to and with God, and became his, and gave up herself to him.

In July, this year, and August, were great floods and inundations of water, which did threaten much prejudice to the land, and to my own poor people.

As one of the Lords of Session.

b Sir Robert Innes of Innes, the first baronet, and (according to the computation of the family historian), the twenty-fourth Laird of his house: a man of extraordinary virtue and reputation. He married Lady Grizzel Stewart, daughter of James, Earl of Murray,

James Brodie, only son of the Laird of Brodie, married Lady Mary, the fifth of nine daughters, of William third Earl of Lothian, and Anne Countess of Lothian, in her own right.

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