1 January, 1685.- . . . I heard that one Baily of Jereswood had got his indytment, and was to suffer the nixt weik. I desir to be instructed by this, and to know the end of all thes trubls and commotions.

2.-I had a new proposition anent Tan. and my Elizabeth. I was spok to also anent Whthch. [Whythauch].

3.-L. Lilias resolvd to begin her jurnay the nixt weik.

5.-I mett with young Tan. at Dyk. He spoke to me anent my daughter Lis.; which I did shift and declin by al fair means. I was much pressd by him. I look to the Lord to be ridd of this snare. What can be the occasion of it, whether fra the young person, my friend, or whether from others? I have an utter aversation from it.

7. We took jurnay this day from this place with Lillias, and cam to Elgin at night; visited Dumfermlin at his hous. We took too much libertie with him and Duffus at night in drinking. Oh! I am as a beast before Thee, that I sud return to thes abominations which once I have renunc'd and seim'd to escape. This is the ill which I oft fall and relaps into.

8. I had letters from Edinburgh giving notice of som Circuit Court to be held at Elgin by a coram of the Councel, Errol, Kintor, and Sir Geo. Monro, anent irregularities. What the Lord wil bring out of this I know

not.

14.-Ther was great appeiranc of trubl to the cuntrey. Oh! the cloud that hangs over it, over the famely and my relations. . . . I visited Duffus; saw the proclamation anent renuncing and disclaiming the murdering principls.

17.-I heard that the Bishop was requird to call in al the ministers in his diocie, with elders and beddells, to give account of irregularities.

18. Die Dom. The heretors and militia, horse and foot, wer cald to convein to attend the Committee of the Councel at Elgin. I spoke to Mr. William Falconer] anent my concerns, and found him straitnd and shey to

me.

20.--I went eastward to provid hors for the Militia who wer to attend the Lords.

21.—I heard the Lords were come to the Boge, and wer to I went to the Bishop; spoke with him of my own affairs.

be in this day.

Let the Lord

keip me from sinful means and shifts, or trusting in them. . . . I went with the Bishop to the water syd of Spey. They wer reaceavd at Elgin with al solemnitie, and disposd into their lodgings.

22. They held Court this day. Mr. Todd preacht to them, and after that they went to the tolbooth.

24. The Lords had purposd a voluntari cess to be granted by the district. Many repind and grudgd at it, blamnd nonconformists for thes consequents.

25.-Ther was great appeirance of trubl and storm upon the cuntrey.

26. Die Dom. I staid this day at Elgin, and heard Mr. Ja. Straq". and Mr. Marshal of Invernes. I desir to consider ther doctrin and positions laid. Alas! ar not such given in wrath? Ar thes the Lord's messengers,

servants?

27.-Ther wer persons imployd to examin elders, and to take up delations, &c. I lodgd in William Brodie's hous at Elgin, and cald in for som provision. I had no favour with the Lords; found them look stern and squint to me.

28. We heard they desing sever fynns. They ordourd the calling of som from Ross and Bamfe, som Monroes, som out of Sutherland, ministers in Bamfeshire. They brought in one or two from Spey side.

29.-The adress for the cess was subscrivd by al heretors. Our nighbors and countrey men wer much violent and prejudgd, and did al they could to persuade to severiti. "Ceass from man, whos breath is in his nostrils;

wherein is he to be accounted ?"

30. They were preparing lybels against al that wer given up. I din'd with the Lords. . . . I consulted the Advocat, Mr. R. M'Kenie. 31.-The Mr. of Forbes returnd to Brodie for som dais. He had no credit with the Lords as to me. I got my lybel. I askd leave to goe hom til Monday.

1 February.—I am fild and possest with fears of loss, danger; bot am not afraid of sin, or snars, or temptations. There was a bond for the peace subscrivd one of thir dais, which I cannot justifie or warrant my taking. Alas! how easily am I overcom with ani thing, and broght over. A bond to live ordourly, to apprehend vagrant ministers, not to suffer them to live on our ground, and many such things as thes ar.

I continoud in this toun many dais. My wiffe cam to Toun, and appeird

before the Lords. I was cald to ansuear to my libel. I disound frequenting conventicls without my own hous. This is to declin fynns and punishment. Is there ani guilt in this befor God? albeit it had bein that I be ashamd of Thee before men, befor this adulterous and sinful generation. Oh! what is becom of al my resolutions? . . .

One of thir dais also I was fynd in two thousand pound Sterlin, or 24,000 lib. Scotts. The world has bein my idol, and the love of it, and covetusnes, the root of much evil, and the Lord justlie may punish in this. . . . I find al men estraingd; no favor from them. . . . We heard of the sicknes of the King; and som few dais after, we heard of his death. What may be the import of that the Lord knows. . . . We heard of the King's burial, the maner of his death. . . . The Mr. of Forbes also went South. . . . I heard of the appointing an new Parliament by King James the 7 ; and new members. I heard of the arreast and desing on anie money I had at [the] South.

Ther fell jarrs in betwixt me and Main. I desir to be humbld for it. I heard som suspected him of melancholy. Sal I be the mater of his exercis or troubl, or he of mine. . . . We had meitings apointed anent election of Commissioners to the Parliament. I fear a snar to my selfe in that by taking the Test.

Ther was debate anent election of Commissioners.

Moortoun cam hom

to that purpos. I declind to take any vote, because I was stil a pannel. I was minting to have some testimonie from the clergie and Bishop of my loyaltie and regularitie. Let not that be a snare to me, for I am easilie ensnard.

I went east to have visited D. Gordon. Spey was great. I cam on Saturday to Kinedor; staid sermon there; and cam hom at night. I was purposd to have taken jurnay south, bot hearing the Parliament was adjournd til 23 April, I staid som dais.

INDEX.