I visited the Ladie Moortoun. I perceivd her knowledg and tendernes grow. . . . I spok to her concerning her husband's and her own goeing south I heard the Privie Counsel had taen the test on their knees. Some had their own distinction and exception. I heard from William Duffe that the E. Katnes was restord to his father's estait.

5.-I went nixt morning to Mon[aghti]; compted with som of the tennents. . . . I was purposd to have gone to Miltoun at night, bot turnd with my wiffe to Burgie. She was verie unweil there that night. We heard that ther was scruples amongst many concerning the test; that the ministers of Aberdeen wer against it; and som in our own countrey.

6.—My wiffe returnd hom. I went to Mon[aghti] again, and had the tennents working at the miln.

I got warning concerning my daughters their cariage and way. I desir to be helpd to make a right use of it. O that I could sie and take with my own evils, and that the Lord by his Spirit would convince and com in our harts, the harts of my daughters, that the Lord would com, and set his stamp and mark on them!

7. I ended compts, and did som bussines with Miltoun in the fornoon. . . . 1 returnd to Mon[aghti], where the tennents wer at work at the miln, and cam hom at night.

8. I heard the ladie Westfeild was neir her last. . . . I had appointed a Court against Monday with tennents.

9.- Die Dom. I read Dickson and Mr. James Urquhart's lectur on 14 Ps. A. D. was heir with us: [preached] on Rom. 3. 24., "Being justified,” &c. . . . We heard in the evining that Burgie's ladie was removed. We heard that she dyed weil. The Lord has his oun hidden ones.

10. My wiffe went to Forres to tak inspection to the bodie of the ladie Westfeild. I heard mor of her savourie death and blessed end.

11.—Mr. James Urquhart was heir with us this day. Oh! so litl use as I make of such company. James McLean spok to me of a purpos he had of marriage with a daughter of the deceist Cumming of Ernsyd.

13. This day was the burial of Burgie's ladie. We heard that at their Sinod they had declind to take the test, and had gott it to advise. I heard som of them had reasond against it. . . . Grant and his ladie cam hom. I observd his libertie of speich of Bishops. O for a right principl! The Bishop and Grant had som mistak together, and debate concerning one Mr. Scott.

I heard of som further riots comitted by Coubin, on the road goeing south. Let the Lord deliver me from unreasonabl men. Jo. Cumming, Logie, spoke to me of Ja. McLean's purpos. I declind to medl in it.

14.-I heard that Forbes had gone by, homward. I was trubld at this also. . . . We had som purposes of sending two of our children to Aberdeen. . . . I found mor aversnes to goeing South. I look to God for counsel in this also.

15.-I heard my coosin, William Brodie, was come from Edinburgh, and gone to Lethen. I had letters from my uncl concerning bussines. I heard of the continuance of his sicknes and weaknes. . . . We wer purposing to send two of the children to Mrs. Gordon at Aberdein.

I had desird Mr. Ja. Urquhart to com, bot he excusd his not coming. A. D. cam at night. I heard that most of ther Sinod was like to refuis the test. I heard of jarrs betwixt my Lord Forbes and his sone. I desir to be humbld in this. I sud not expect to sitt down on anie thing here. I heard furder of the extravagancy of young Cowbin on the road. I desir not to take pleisur in evil, or in anie thing of hurt to him, albeit he sud be my enemy. I wait for the Lord's bringing me thorou my trubl with him.

16. Die Dom. I read Mr. James Urquhart's lectur, and Dickson on the 18 Ps. I was avers from having company com heir on this day. Let the good, wise, holy Lord ordour it aright in his providence, and help me to keip his way. A. D. on 41 Isai, 10: "Fear not, for I am with thee," &c. 17.—The tennents hors cam from Mon[aghti] to lead stones. I desir to examin this whether right or wrong. Oh! my corruptions does blind me, and mislead me. I was in the querralla in the evining. My wiffe was purposd to goe with the children the length of Putachie.

18.-Coltfald was heir last night. I took not occasion to warn and examin or enquir into his way. O that the Lord wad sturr up in me that indignation and hatred against sin, which I ought to have, that nothing might byasst me to the approving, conniving and sparing it in anie! I spoke to him of other maters, but nothing of his state to God, of his evil wais or

courses.

20.-My wiffe took journey to Putachie, and Lisie and Girse wer to goe thence to Aberdeen. I spoke a word to them; exhorted them to their duty;

warnd them of the il and danger of following vanity and lusts. They went to Mulbenn that night.

27.-I heard of changes in the Session: that Tarbett was made King's] Register; Haddo, President; Boin on the Session that Argyll was off, and out of his places.

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a

1 November. I went eastward towards Innes and Elgin. . . . I was communing with Miltoun anent our comon bussines in Cromartie's affairs, and on south goeing. I sie nothing fixd or setld heir. I heard that they wer pressing the test evrie where: that the Bishop of Edinburgh and preachd against the sinn, as he cald it, of detaining the Kirk lands; for which we might be punishd with the removal of the gospel. I heard that several brughs wer lying waste without magistrats, becaus of the test.

2.-I staid at Elgin this night, wher I have reason to be ashamd. I went in to Kenneth M'Kenzie's with other friends, coosing William, Windihils, B. Brodie and others, and did exceid by wine. O that the Lord would once redeim from al his iniquities! I staid with B. Brodie al night.

3.—I desird to be humbld for my excess yesternight. Let the Lord forgive and cleans, and enter not into judgment with me. I went to Innes anent som affairs of my uncl Joseph, and my oun. I found the old man in great rage and distemper at Miltoun. I endeavourd to allay and shew him the evil and prejudice, and what reflexion it wad be upon him. I exhorted him to patient bearing, and laying asid his humour and passion.

4-I was to goe to Spynie this morning. I had no pleasure or complacency in ther company. Let the Lord deliver me from snares. I staid a short whyl ther, but descended into no particulars. I heard that he was goeing to Aberdeen to offer the test to the Bishop of Aberdeen. I heard of the wikednes of som of his sons.

5.-I heard of the death of the old goodwiffe of Relucas.

7.—I had purposd to have gone to the burial of Mr. William Cuming's mother, the old Relucas['s] wiffe; but my wiff's condition could not permit me to goe: her feaver and distemper continued, and her weaknes was verie great.

8.-Spynie was heir with me. I had letters this or the nixt day from Edinburgh, and a call to goe south about the 20 of November. . . . I had

A word here is apparently omitted by the Author.

from Edinburgh the new acts of the last parliament; which I perused. I heard that Argyll was quitt out of favor.

10.—I am taken up about my accomodations and thoughts of building, and am apt to take satisfaction and pleasure in thes things.

11.-Grange and his ladie cam heir to visit my wiffe, and Mr. Jo. M'Kilican. He apprehended that most of the present time's ministers would com in and take the oath; once goeing wrong it was not easie to halt or stay; and that God wad not honor them. . . . He staid with me al night. . . . I heard that Mr. Tho. Hog thoght that a prison was preferabl to libertie at this time. It pleasd the Lord that my wiff's sicknes was somwhat abated.

12. I was desird to com up to Lethen anent doeing somwhat for our honest ministers. I had a letter from Ja. Fraser enquiring after my wiff's condition.

15.-I went to Leathen, and spoke somwhat with him and Petgauni concerning the honest ministers their provision.

16.-I was troubld with the cold, and a speat of reum, and defluxion. How many inconveniences is this liffe and stat subject to! . . . I had letters from Edinburgh importing a new call to goe South. . . . I heard of that sens wherin Argyl had taen the test, and the Bishops' and Counsel's explanation of it. Our Bishop was at much pains to have al engadged in taking it. . . . I heard also that Argyl was put in the Castl

18.-Jo. Hepburn was heir. I went to Forres at Windihils' desir, to meit with the Bishop. I spok to him anent my bussines with Cowbin. He spok to me anent my affairs with him. . . . I heard that Argyl had bein committed to the Castle; but was set at libertie: that D. H. [Duke Hamilton] had refuisd the T. [test]: that Lethgow and Glascow wanted a counsel becaus of the T. [test].

24.-I cam to Kineder at night; compted with the tennents; heard that the greater part of the ministers of Edinburgh had taken the T. [test], and that the rest wer laid asid from their charge.

25.—I did som trifls among the tennents. I was in doubt what to doe with Mrs. Gordon anent the boat. She was in arrear with me, and yet I have no will to take the boat from her. Let the Lord direct and inclin my hart to things that are equal. The Bishop cam not this day to Kineder. I went to Petgawnie at night. Oh! my wonted frame of drusines, and slippi

nes, and securitie, was upon me. When sal Sathan's bonds be brok, and the poor prisoner sett at libertie, and delivered from his bonds. I found mistaks betwixt Petgawnie and his wiffe with Ja. Hepburn. I wishd them to lay them asid; it is not seasonabl to keip them up.

26. This day was rough and stormie. I met with the Bishop at the Kirk of Spynie. Windihils had no fridom to goe to the hous, or to eat, drink. I dare not condem him, or justifie my self in my own greater latitud. . . . I visited the old ladie Lethen, and Glengerak's famely at Kilboiak, be the way, and cam hom lait.

28-I had a new call from Edinburgh by my uncl. I had account of Argyll's condition, hasard, and caus. I spread al befor the Lord. My wiffe mentiond it as fitt to sett apart a tym to entreat the Lord.

I heard of the marriage of the Lord Forbes with the old Ladie Eight. . Granghil and his son cam heir. I heard from him that Kilraok was speaking for an accomodation betwixt Cowbin and me. I desir to slight no opportunitie or mean, but would gladly embrace peac with my neighbours on anie reasonabl terms.

1 December. I had a letter from Moortoun, shewing that Tarbet had desird that we should not stur, or com South anent Cromartie's affairs, til the 20 of January. . . . I mett with the Bishop, bot ther appeird no way to setl us. . . . The Bishop had gott commission from the Council to offer the T. [test] to the Sheriffs of Murray and Nairn. I found many of my friends avers from my goeing South. . . .

2. I wrat to Mr. Ja. Urquhart, concerning Argyl's caice, to be communicat to T. H. [Thomas Hog].

3. I went to Calder; saw Argyll's indytment. I cam away nothing cleir or resolvd as to my journay, bot that I cast al over on God and His providence. . . . I visited Mr. James Urquhart and his famely. I found him distemperd, crasie, and unweil. . . . I cam hom lait.

4. Die Dom. I heard that Calder had gott citation befor the Council to present Bray, and was resolved to sett out. I heard ther was fears of the E. of Argyll: that Sir Geo. Lockhart had refuisd to plead for him.

6.-I went to visit Spynie. I heard of Argyll's defences and vindication against his libel. Oh! what is this land reserved for? . . . Lethen cam heir. He and many of my friends wer not cleir in my South-goeing

8.-This day I sett out from my own hous. I roll over my burdens,