before the Counsel for absence from the host. I heard of petitions by severals for the Parliament's sitting in England; petitions anent removing D. K. [Duke of York] from Court and England; anent his being a Papist recusant; of a Parliament in Irland; the King's expect [ation]s of great soums from them; the forfaulter of 29 mor heritors, who wer at Bothwel; proclamation against Cameron and others; of a new paper of theirs, which I could not relish, nor conceive to be sound, and agriable to the principles of either Christian religion, or Presbytry.

16. I desir to seek counsel and direction from the Lord as to the ordouring of my conversation aright, according to His Word, and as to our present jarrs and differs with Cowbin.

Miltoun went to Lethen; and I gave him in comission to speak to him of several things concerns this bussines.

We had advertisment that Cowbin was building at his hous. I cryd to God for direction. I advertisd Granghil; conveind the tennents; and on the way we wer stopd, upon knowledg that the report was false. I desir to aknowledg God in this, in that he prevents.

I heard Urkney was neir his last. I was cald to goe to him that night; yet I staid at hom til the nixt morning.

17.—I staid this day also, until I should hear som further account of my freind. I find a great deal of prejudice and ill will from men. I desir to be helpd to sie God, and his hand, and to have his peace and favor throu Jesus Christ.

I heard that Cowbin and his men wer in arms, the last night at the new hous.

18. Die Dom. I was this day again cald to Elgin, and told that I could not overtak a word of D[onald] Campbell. O that I wer learning to die! Let the consideration of what fals out, excit and sturr me up to secur his peac and favor. I writ a line to J. U. [James Urquhart] at Lethen to mind the caic of our family, that the Lord might sanctifie his trials, and give the right use of all that we ar lying under. The children continoud unwel, Kat., Eliz., Girl, Margt. This is God's hand immediatly. I am also folloud with unkindnes and trubl from neighbours. . . . I wrot to A. D. [Alexander Dunbar] to com to the famely, that it might not be without som remembrance of God's name. I went towards Elgin; halted a litl at Tho. Gordon's; and found, when I cam to the toun, Urkney was removd. I am traveling

to death, but finds litl preparation for it. I heard that he died weil, and that he had given satisfaction to persons about him. Oh! for grace to live so as that the end may be comfortabl.

19.-Seing Innes, Grang, and others cam not, friends who wer ther advisd and orderd som things concerning the burial, and appointed Thursday to transport to Aldearn, and Fryday nixt for the burial. I found much unsoundnes in my oun hart, and rottennes, and that which may humbl. We satt up dispatching letters til near one o'clock in the morning.

20. I had account of the Mr. of Forbes his being sick, and that my daughter and he both wer lying of a feaver.

21.—I went afternoon to meet with the E. of Murray; found him at the Walkmil. I told him, that I heard he was our partie as to our affairs with Cowbin. . . . He quarrelled at my calling the tennents to lead petts, as if it wer a convocation. Let the Lord make my way straight befor him. The Earl said, He would not medl with either of us.

22. Thursday. We mett at the bank head with Cowbin and his friends. I desir to aknowledg God in his Providence, that ther was no heat or sturr among us, we ending in appearance fairlie, and appointed a new meeting. ... After our meeting in the evining, we went al to the water syd to attend our friend's corps from that to Auldearn. The water was verie great; it pleasd God that al passd without hasard. I cam hom at night. Mr. J McKilican had prayd in the famely eir we cam hom.

23. This was the day of the burial of Donald Campbell. He was caried from Auldearn to Calder. I heard that som shires had represented to the Councel how unpractical and contrar to law the model was.

I visited the Ladie Calder, and cam hom at night. I cald at Penick by the way. I had a word of warning from Mr. J. U. [James Urquhart] anent reforming the famely, looking to dissordours.

24. My wiffe went to Darnway. I got advertisment to a burial of Cowbin's daughter, a maid, who had bein long sick.

25. Die Dom. I read Dickson on Ps. 84. "How aimabl ar Thy tabernacles." . . . A. D. [Alexander Dunbar] on Math. 6. 33. "Seik first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, [and] all other things shall be added [unto you].". . . In the evining we went doun to Cowbin to the young woman's burial.

26.-Tho. Gordon was dispatched to Putachie, and the footman. Let

the Lord visit that hous and famely. . . . I went doun to visit the moss, and parted the petts. They had stolen many of them. I desir to be taught patience, humilitie, moderation to suffer wrongs.

27. We enterd this morning to the leading of the petts. Albeit I be apt to be intent on thes things, yet ther is one thing necessar. Let the Lord help to know dutie. I had occasion to writ to Ila, to the Laird of Calder, by an express his Ladie was sending. I had letters from the South anent my affairs with Cowbin. I could not be satisfied with the account I had from my uncl, nor the consultation.

28.-Cowbin's brother made interuption to the leading of the petts. 29.-We had letters from Putachie anent the condition of that famely. I spok with Lethen of several affairs.

30. This day, morning, we heard from Putachie of the continuing siknes of thes two young persons. Let the Lord sanctify this trial. I went to Elgin upon affairs which concern Urkney. Let the Lord ordour and direct my way. I met Grant by the way. I heard of Mr. Cameron and his brother, and several other persons being kild in the West: That ther had bein an engadgment betwixt them and som of the King's forces: That one Hakston was apprehended. I desir grace from God to construct aright and interpret al God's providences. We met on Urkney's affairs. We found matters in dissordour. I suppd at Colin Innes, where I had litl satisfaction by reason of the companie.

31.-Ther was som thing done anent Bogholl's affairs. I sie that man disquiets himself in vain. How soon does the Lord cutt the throat of a man's hopes!

1 August. The last night I was tossed al night with defluxion and the toothach. How easily can the Lord marr al outward comforts! We spok somewhat of our affairs with Cowbin. I went to Moortoun; spok with the Ladi anent her father's alienation and unkindnes to me. She regretted thes mistaks, wisht me to goe yet to Innes. I find aversion from it. She reflected on her brother his carriage, as unbecoming, and being a stain to religion.

We comund a marriage betwixt old Baili] Brodi in Forres, and one Hamilton, the Ladie Mortoun's woman. I sent Windihils to excuse the disappointment of the meeting with Cowbin. When I cam hom I found a call from Putachie, and their earnestnes to have us over.

3. This day we made out, both my wyff and I, towards Putachie. I desire to commend the famely to God. Let him also ordour and direct our way. I waited on the E. of Murray in the morning. I found him reservd and straitnd. I desir to aknouledg God in al that I meit with. I heard that Innes elder was goeing to Darnway to the E. of Murray, and was cald for, in ordour to the model of the militia. . . . We wer al night at the mills of Towie. We heard by Kat. Watson that our friends wer somwhat recoverd. . . . We mett with young Bellendalach at Whytlumms; visited Leslie by the way; and cam before evening to Putachic. We found the Mr. verie weak and low; ther condition was mor dangerous than we apprehended. They wer both dull of hearing.

5.—I heard Mr. Duncan Forbes had bein there with them, bot staid not; only went to a roum and prayd. . . . The young persons wer not in cace to hear or receave a word from him thorou ther sicknes.

...

10. I heard som accounts what the shires in the South were doeing anent the modl. I heard of Park's quarrels against me. I desir to giv him no ground of offence; al I intended was to be securd. I cam away from Putachie this morning, and cam to Elgin at night. I heard that the E. of Murray was gone. I had purposd to have sein him.

I

11.-Most of the gentlemen of the shire wer gone over Spey with the E. of Murray. . . . I did sie great appearance of carying on the modl. cam hom towards evening.

14.-I read Calvin on a part of 50 and 51 of Jeremy. . . . Al Dunbar, the Sheriff's brother, was heir. . . . Granghil and Glasach wer heir. I was invited to a christning of Glasach's child to morrow. I would fain have declind it; yet I yeilded. Let it be no snar to me. Mr. Jo. Stewart spok to Lethen and me anent Aik [in]wais affairs, and the mariag betwixt Duncan Forbes and ther daughter; pressd me to do somewhat. We ended som affairs concerning our friend Miltoun, in taking on us som of his debt.

15-I... went to baptism of Glasach's daughter, Girsel. I staid at Granghil. I wait for light, counsel, and direction from God in al things. My L. Doun cam ther. I was afraid of his company; would have bein away how soon he cam; and told Granghil I was not frie to stay, and I feard ther companie. I was som thing unweel when I cam hom. I desir to be humbld befor God for the evil of my ways, my sinful complyance with ill company, and corrupt evil practices. Dumfail was heir, and

was verie extravagant. O! "let not my soul taste of ther delicats." I was purposd to writ south to the E. of Murray, and am willing to tak away all mistaks with him, so far as I can by lawful means.

18.-I went to Forres this fornoon. Famely prayer is neglected in the morning when I goe from hom. The Lord reform and correct al that is out of ordour.

This day was appointed for ordering the model. The meiting not being frequent it was delayd, and a new apoint[ed] on Thursday nixt com eight days. . . . I was much overcom, and taken by heat and passion with my coosing Miltoun. Oh! for the servitud, slavery, and bondage that I am under to that lust. Let not the Lord give me up to the power of it, but forgiv, and subdue, and cleanse, and purge. I got a letter from the young Lady Innes anent Moy; which I answerd. I mett with the old Laird Innes. I desir to love and wish him weil, albeit he has requytit ill the kindnes of my deir father to him, and his famely.

This evening was Jo. Brodie in Forres maried the 4th tym with Hamilton, the Lady Moortoun's woman.

20.—I heard of chalanges against Mr. A. D. [Alexander Dunbar], and my keiping him, his goeing to conventicls. I desir to know and understand the Lord's will and mind.

22.-Die Dom. I read Dickson on Ps. 97, 98, 99, and 102 Ps. . . . Alas! they ar gone out of this famely who made conscience of spending Sabbaths. . . . Sanders Dunbar, the Sheriff's brother, was heir. I wearie and keip not out to the end of the Sabbath. When sal it be my delight?

23. I heard that Cowbin's new hous he put up was left without any indwellers. I desir to aknowledg God in that ther is anie abatment of their violence and forwardnes. . . . I am apprehensive when Park coms hom he may sturr up Cowbin furder against me.

24. I went to Granghil. I heard with greiff and sorrow that that night of our publick meiting at Forres, Granghil cam hom drunk. Let the Lord forgive, and reform, and give repentance.

25.—I went this day to Forres to the publick meiting anent the model of the militia. . . . The mater of the militia had almost caried, had it not bein jarrs betwix Highlands and Lowlands. . . . I was chalenged by

a Blank in MS.

b

The name in MS., a contraction, illegible.