and inequaliti, and an insupportabl burthen. 3. The end and use of it, the Lord knowes, or what it will produce. But I desir to reverenc the Lord's providenc in it, and to be subject; and committ the case of the land and euent to God.

21. Mr. Jhon Cuming cam to me, and spok of his presentation to Aldern.* I did express good will to him, but told him he knew I differd in my judgment from the constitution of the present church government, and, therfor, could not adviz him, but left him to get his direction from God and his own conscience. He said, he would adviz with his brother Mr. Wm., but had no scruple in his own conscience.

26.— . . . I heard Will. Dunbar had beat his wyf, and fled to tak on to be a soldier of Franc. I desir euen to be instructed in this...

30.-Die Dom. We spok of thacking the kirk. I took liberti to speak of it; let it not be sin to me; and wrot anent hether to E. M. I heard that Caldcot's son, Patrick Innes, had wilfulli killd Charles Innes, his oun brother, from emulation anent the mother's lov to the one mor then the other. I desird to consider this sad accident, and be instructed.

August 12.-Torwoodlie was with me al night. In the morning I spok to him of the deadnes, decay, and barrennes amongst us, and how just it wer with the Lord to bring us low as he had lifted up.

18.-I kept at Dyk with the elders in distributing to the poor. The minister spok to me of thes who were disconform, and said they had the doctrine and ways of the Donts. [Donatists] and Cathari. I did deny this, and said they had nothing common with them, but wer sound and orthodox, excep in the maiter of government. He said, Som preachd becaus of that word: "Wo to me if I preach not." I said, I feard mani preachd for lov of ther stipends, and could be content to quit preaching so that they had ther livlihood. He said, We had a sound, abl ministri. I said, We had a naghtie, unfaithful ministri, that mad no consciens of ther calling, and the teaching and winning in of souls I spok ferventli, and my heat hinderd my judgment. Lord! mak that poor man see how lit ground he has of peac or -,b and mak me sie the sin and evels of this generation.

I did efternoon goe to Findorn, wher wer som preparations

I could discern and see litl of God, goe or doe what I will.

Tho. Gordon cam heir at night. He told me that Mr. Geo. Meldrum, and Mr. Menzies, and Mr. Mitchell did communicat with one another in Sacrament and prayer in secret, and did not approue the strictnes of others.

21. Mr. Jhon Falconar cam heir this night. The Lord helped me with some inlargment and sens of a lifles dead ministri, and the public defection. 22. The sherif, yesterday, cam to me, and told me his purpos of mariag; and desird me to meet with him this day and his freinds at Mon. I heard Mr. Nath. Martin and Mr. J. Steuta wer at Aldern, and preached against hearing thes ministers, and answerd ail objections. Oh! I fear my self on the one hand and the other.

23. I heard som of the silencd ministers wer at Insoch.

24. The minister[s], Mr. Nath. Martin, Mr. J. Stut, and Mr. J. Park went by uncald for me. I fear my self, becaus thes men's compani ar not dearer to ine.

28. I was cald efternoon to meit with Grang and others, anent the sherif's affairs. I was prest to be cautioner for the sherif for a greater sum then I intended. Let not this be a snar to me. I desir, in som measur, to do it to the Lord; if, by our help, the poor yong man, throgh His blessing, may be helped.

31.-The sherif and Grang took journey this day south. I heard of great opposition which Grante's freinds made to his mariadg with Leathin's daughter.

Sept. 5.-I was burthend with the sin of the plac, frequent theiving and stealing; and I held it up to God that he would restrain it, and discouer, and lead me to search and find it out, if it seimed good to him.

18. Mr. Jhon Cuming and his brother's son, Patr., cam to me. I heard of Mr. Hutchison, and was glad. I perceavd Mr. Jhon inclind to tak Aldern, thogh with som reluctanci. I would not advis or desir him; but left it to him. Onli I said he should get al the furtheranc from us that we could, if he enterd.

19. This day was veri foul, and the Lord seemed to threaten to destroy the fruits of the ground. Mr. R. Gordon and Col. Innes was heir. I heard the confusions which wer at London about religion; presbytery against

Mr. John Stewart had been minister of a parish in the Presbytery of Deer, from which he was ejected after the Restoration

for nonconformity. He was afterwards, for some time, imprisoned on the Bass.

presbytery, Croftoun and Baker, and the meeting of seueral opinions and sects diffring much from another; ther boldnes in upholding and keiping ther meetings, and the forbearanc that al got. I desird to consider this, and be exercisd with it, and instructed.

28. I heard Brey was heir this night, and Mr. Rob. Gilespi," the son of the good Mr. Geo. Gilespi. I had conferenc with them anent the estat of the kirk of God in other places; and alac! so desolat and wast as it is laid. 29.—Mr. Gillespi and Brey staid al this day also. I found my oun declining and securiti creeping on. How am I shaken as to former principls. How far short do I com of others in zeal, nay, and censur them that goe ani thing beyond myself. I desir to be humbld under this; the land's decay, and the decay that my soul is falling in. Lord! rais me up, and grant me, for Thy nam's sak. From the conscienc of my infirmiti, nigardlines, earthlines, straitnedness, and that for my effairs I straiten my self, I purposd, if the Lord would giv strenth, and grac, and constanci, and an honest sound hart, to lay by som money for such uses from tym to tym, and not to touch it to other uses. Lord! tak snars out of my hart, and way, and inlarg my hart to Thee, and in Thee: Wherof this mark shall be a sign and memorial. 30.-Bray and Mr. Rob. Gilespi went henc. I might hav profited mor by them then I did.

I heard Tho. Glas['s] wyf was brought to bed befor her tym; and [it] appeired he had fallen with her ere he maried.

Oct. 1.-I warnd the minister that Tho. Glas['s] child was gotten in whordom long befor mariag; and that he should, if he thought fit, suspend the baptism of his child; but he did not think this fitt.

Cath. Collace was heer this night. I conferrd with her on her lot by a wicked husband; her perplexiti, not grudging to bear, but solicitous to know dutie. I was dark, yet I promisd to com to Insoch, and sie Mr. Tho. Hog, and confer with her. Let the Lord giv light. I observ the Lord's providenc in yoking that child of His and such a croce.

5.- ... Ther cam one Mr. Pringl, which cald himself a deposd minister. He insinuated his condition. Yet I feard whither he was what he profesd. But I look to God, for I need grac to discern and to guid me.

Mr. Robert Gillespie, the son of Mr. George Gillespie, one of the ministers of Edinburgh, was at this time sought after

by the government for holding Conventicles. He was the first person who was imprisoned on the Bass for this offence.

6. I did goe to Elgin with the sherif. It was his head court; and a great compani was with him. This is a vanitie under the sun, that is seated in the hart of man. We did also meit and end the conditions of his mariag with Sir Lod. Gordon's daughter.

16. Mr. Al Fordice and his wyf, Anna Meldrum, cam heir. I read a lyn from Mr. Geo. Meldrum. He desird that the Lord's work in that plac might be rememberd. This was exercis to me, to reflect on the Lord's work in that plac some tym befor, and now marrd. I desir to be instructed about this, and to wryt of it to Mr. Geo.

21. I heard that the man who cald himself Pringl, and a deposd minister, was a counterfit.

24.- I heard of the death of old Cantra,a and desirs to be instructed, and was cald to his burial against the 26.

26.-Colloden cam heir, and desird me to recomend him to the President. I was straitnd in it; yet I desird not to displeas man, and yeelded. Lord! [let] it be noe snar to me. I ouerreach myself oft in desiring to pleas men, and to promot that which concerns them. Oh! that I had that cair to pleas the Lord.

31.-I did visit Mr. T. Hog, and Cath. Collace, and spok of her lot, and what was fittest for her to doe. Loth was I to advis to part with a husband. I should hear him first, and labour to remov impediments of ther agriement. The Master of Duffusb did visit me. I did sie the danger of irreuerent speaking befor God, and vaunting my oun spirit as prayer. Oh! teach me to pray, and giv the spirit which teaches to pray.

November 5.-Die Dom. The E. of Sea[forth] cam heir, and din'd. Our communication was litl savrie. . . . He went from this befor sermon.

8. I did speak betwix Jhon Ross and his wyf, Cath. Collace. Litl understanding hav I to discern, or to judg betwix them. But I depend on God for light from heaven.

12-Die Dom. I heard Mr. Wal. Kind. was to preach, and questiond if I should goe, and whither I should hear weak men that tak all out of other men's books. I cannot ans" this. It is tru they should be fitted as weil as cald; yet I desir to stoop to evri mean whereby I may be edified, wer it reading quhair I can get noe other. . . . He spok good words, and such as, could I appli them, wer sound and wholsom.

Dallas of Cantray.

b James, 2nd Lord Duffus, succeeded his father in 1674.

17.-I heard that Al, Waristoun's son, had brok, and throgh cheating, lying, and wrong ways. My brother and others had sufferd much by him. I desird to consider this, and be instructed. 1. The son of such a father. 2. Of such hopes and expectation. 3. His affliction is not so much as his sin. 4. Others disapointed of him, that for lov to his father, had born favour to him. The woman he defild, and took as his wyf, taken hom by her father. 5. I desird to learn what this said to my poor brother. He said and writ to me that it had almost ki'd him. Lord! unfold this providenc. 25.-Braco cam heir. I detained him til Monday. Let it be noe snar or For hea I heard again of the death of the good Lord Ruthven, and [that he] died in som distemper of melancholie, and his effairs not in good ordour. I desird to consider, and observe, and be instructed. He told, that divers of not conform ministers wer letten preach in the land: That the Bishop of St. Andrews cam with 500 hors to the burial of Elcho. Latherdal's loosnes.

sin to me.

26.-Die Dom. Braco was with me, and I knew not how to converse with him. I heard Haddob was made a lord of session.

27.-Mr William Falconer cam heer, and spok of his selling his salmond fishing. With his insinuations I was almost intangled in a desir to bui. But the Lord prevented me.

Decr. 8.-Heer cam the sherif, Mr. Jhon M'Culikan, and Mr Robt Gilespie. I reverenc God in this providenc. We ar litl the better of the best companie.

9.-Spini dind with me, and I spok betwix him and my unel Francis, anent the teinds, but agreied not. Spini spok bitterli of the honest disconform ministers, and of indulging them. I cannot see good in thes things.

10. Die Dom. I read anent the Accomodation betwix conforms and not conforms. Oh! my darknes and instablnes, and doubtfulnes. Let the Lord send out light and strenth to guide me, and mak me discern.

a

11.-I went to the burial of the goodwyf of Newtoun.

12. This day I was at the baptizing of the E. of M. his son Francis. 13.-Mr Ja. Urquhart was heer this night.

14. The L. of Grant dind heir.

Short-hand in MS.

b It was not till June, 1680, that Sir George Gordon of Haddo was made a Lord

The L. of Calder and Leathin writ to

of Session. In 1682, he was raised to the peerage as Earl of Aberdeen, and appointed Lord Chancellor of Scotland.