I heard from Edinburgh that ther was fear that the Parliament was cald for imposing the Service Book: That Latherdal had taken a remission. I hav befor this been complaining of my dimsightednes, and indiscerning, aptnes to stumbl, cannot sie things that differ in the maiter of conforming and not conforming. Reaccaving the ordinances from them or other, forbearing to hear thes quhair I livd has bein an exercis; but what will I do if the Servic Book and Ceremonies com. I sie befor hand my facilnes, dimsightednes, fear of danger, reasonings; and thes reasons that mak me retain thes ministers will inclin me to the other corruptions.

November 1.-James Heburn cam to me anent his son. I did sie his son's letters to him, which did import som good affections. . .

I heard Mr. Donald was to preach the next day. I was in doubt whether I should goe to the kirk and hear him. Lord! giv me direction, for I am nothing edified by him. Yet he is in the place of a minister. Lord! does that warrand me to hear him?

2. Die Dom. I did read Cotton's Answer to Williams, That evri Antichristian opinion in a church, doth not subvert the Church, nor doth not evacnat the church estat, as the High places in Judah: ... David's bringing the ark in a cart efter the manner of the Philistines. . . . Israel borroud silver and gold quhen they cam out of Egypt; so from Babilon got cups and vessels for the Temple, &c. Though Prelats tread doun, they do not extinguish the tru Church. Ordination by Bishops polluts, but doth not destroy the essens of ordination.

This day, becaus Mr. Donald was to preach, I did stay at hom, partli becaus he is not such as he ought to be, partli to avoid som offene of others.

6.-Efternoon my grandchild, Catherin Dumbar, was maried to Mr. Charles Gordoun. I did sie vain mirth and plentie. . . . Mr. Colin Falconar exercisd.

23.--Die Dom. I heard from Edinburgh, that God had raised up Duk Hamilt[on] and som others to doe, or aim to doe, somthing against incroachments on the liberti of the subjects, and to hav things represented to the King by the Parliament: That Polworth had spoken frieli against trampling the liberti and privilidg of Parliament under foot: That the Provost of Edinburgh was to be questiond.

Mr. Don. M'Pherson preachd. I desird to be silent for he hes litl discerning. Whatever weaknes be in him, Lord! let it not hinder me or ani of thin from making a right use of thy word, and profiting by it.

25, 26.—Mr. William Thomson was with me, and Mr. Charles Gordoun. I worshipped with Mr. Will. in secret. . . . I warnd him a lit of that which was spoken of his conversation.

30.-Die Dom. I heard yong Mr. William Falconar should preach, and I was in doubt if I should hear him, because I had knowen him an ignorant and unsufficent person, and unfit for that work. 2. And had heard of his high conformiti with prelaci and all the corruptions in England. 3. His disaffection from thes that fear God in this land. 4. Ther was som thoghts of bringing him in to this parish, and therfor I did conceav it my duti at this tym to withdraw, and not to giv him countenanc or ground to expect or look for this.

a

1 Decr.—I heard of the commotions in Badenoch, betuix McIntosh and McPherson; and Grant soght counsel, being requird by the Sherif Deput. I diswaded him to medl, except to adviz them to peac.

5.-Cath. Collace was heir. I heird she was going south; and I desird to suppli her, for shee had nothing.

13.—The Ladi Leathin yonger, cam heir. I perceavd they minded to put away Mr. Will. Thomson, and to tak Mr. Alr Fraser.

21. Die Dom. Yong Mr. William Falconar preachd this day: "Great is the gain of Godlines," &c. The discours was general, and sound, polishd language, but all affected. I could not discern the doctrin nor the person. Naughtie men may have a "form of sound words." What should my duti be in this cace?

31.-I did go to the burial of Mr. David Dunbar's wyf at Kirkhil. ... I spok to the Bishop anent an helper to Dyk, and anent Mr. Lindsey. He promisd fair; but I can not lay b Innes told me of the Ladi Wigtoun's death, and his son's going south. I desir to be instructed by this: That the godli "ar taken away from the evel to come."

[The MS. Diary for the next two years, from January, 1674,
to February, 1676, is not preserved.]

William Falconer, who was ordained in England, became his father's successor, as minister of the parish of Moy and Dyke, in September, 1674: he was ejected in 1690.

b Short-hand in MS.

с

Anne Ker, grand-daughter of Robert, first Earl of Roxburghe, was the wife of John, fourth Earl of Wigtoun.

1676. Feb. 27.-Die Dom. Jhon Brodie died this day; his wyf, and 2 children, or 3, having died few days befor. . . . This is the second poor tenant that I did intend som thing for, and they did not enjoy it, but wer prevented by death.

March 2.-I met with Mr. Jhon M'Culicam, and he told me he had preachd at Elgin, and the Bishop had heard it.

8.-I heard the E. of M. his blustering against Ja. Help. [? Hepburn] for conventiels. Ther cam mani poor; and our land is a suarm of poor.

12. Die Dom. I heard of the commission to E. Murray], Seaf[orth], Duffus to fyn conventicles; against supplying those who wer intercommund. 17.—I heard mass was frequent in Strathdoun, Inverness; and I desird to be burthend with it. Sir George Munro and his Ladi cam heir. He told me, that the sam seueriti was usd against the Nonconformists in England and Irland, that was usd heir, and as it took effect in England, it would fare with us. Lord! guid my spirit, understanding, wil, affections, actions, cariag, as to the publick, anent meetings with the nonconformists, and the leauing others. I heard how il seuerals agreed with ther wyfs: B. of St. Androes and his wyf: and what they said one of another, objecting, adulteri and incest the one, and witchcraft the other.a

19. Die Dom. I read Harl on the Covenant of Grace: the fulnes in Christ Jesus for al doubts, deceits, errours, weakness, fears, defects, to ansuer al objections.

21.—Mr. James Urquhart cam heir. My buisines hinderd me from speaking much with him, albeit I had maiters of importanc anent the tyms. He said he was loth that I should suffer for intertaining him. Lord! keip me from shriuking at that, for to shrink at it wer to be ashamd of Thee, and deni Thee. . . . He would not stay at night.

22.—My nephew, Donald Campbell, cam hom, and told me that the Bp. of St. Androes and Hattoun had often desird that I might be cald for and fynd; and Seaforth had withstood. Let me be accepted of Thee, and be guided by Thee in Thy way, and com of me whateuer Thou sees good. . . .

a These reports seem to countenance some of the statements contained in the scurrilous invective, the "Life and death of Mr. James Sharp, Archbishop of St. Andrews."

Charles Herle, a puritan divine.

Sir Charles Maitland of Haltoun, brother of the Duke of Lauderdale, was at this time Treasurer-Depute.

23. Mr. William Ross cam heir from the South, and told me he had bein put on an expectation to be minister at Sterling, but the Bishop of St. Androes declind him. I heard from him, that the Bishop of St. Androes mentiond me for conventicls. My Lord Argyl was forc'd to quit Mr. William Cuming, becaus he had not an approbation from the Bishop. He said the Bishops, in their judgment, wer thoght Arminian. They were at a great height.

24. This day, about one in the morning, my great-grand-child Jhon Abercrombie, Glasack's son, and my brother's grand-child -,a Both's daughter, wer born. My neis [neice] was in great danger of death and distemper throgh pain. . . . Jhon Abercrombi was this day baptizd. I being occasionali at Dyk, I did go and hear, and was witnes to his admission in to the sacrament of baptism. I heard that Kilr[avock] had fallen out with Crom[arti] at Tarbet's hous, and had appeald him to the combat. This was a great greif to me, especialli

-b

25.-I was cald to Geddes to sie the Ladi Kilraok. She was affected with the sad b Lord! shew us all Thy mind by this rodd, for we

ar al concerned in it.

I heard the Ladi Duffus, on the 23rd instant, maried yong Gordonstoun.d It was not without reflections. 1. That such a person as she should doe it so abruptli. 2. Without the consent of . I did sie human frailti in

it. We ar as an earthen vessel, not of iron that can bide a fal, but the least chapp dashes and breaks us, even not the bodi onli, but the spirit, and that even of thes that hav tru grac.

I cam hom at night, and spok with Mr. James Urquhart, and found he had not mind to speak the next day. I told the Ladi Kilr[avock], her mother had said she would not hear one of the nonconform ministers, except she could hav noe others. I said, that I would rather [be of] the opinion with som, it was better to say, It wer best to hear the conform ministers if we could not have occasion to hear the nonconform, for they were the best. . . . She spok to me to help to pay Mr. T. Hogg's st. [stipend]. I was willing, but I desird that

Blank in MS.

b Short-hand in MS.

e

Margaret, eldest daughter of William, eleventh Lord Forbes, and relict of Alex

ander Sutherland, first Lord Duffus, who died 31st August, 1674.

a Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun, son and heir of Sir Lodovicus Gordon of Gordonstoun, Bart.

26. Die Dom. I desir'd to be duli affected with the burthens of the day: that I am deprivd of publick worship. Is my staying at hom alloud by Thee? What manner of man is in this place, the Lord knows. My stumbling at him is one caus that straitens me. Tri and search, lead and bear me up, and strenthen for Thy Son and glorie's sake.

30.-I was cald to a meeting betuix Petgauni and Spini anent the bu[y]ing of Coldhom. . . . Som of my friends drew me in to D. Brodie's chamber, and took a drink of wyn or two. I doe from my hart acknouledg the Lord in restraining me from taking mor then was fitt; for euen to that sin I had within myself a temptation. I went to Petgauni at night. I spok to him to beware of thes feild meetings, and exprest my judgment against separation.

31-This night, yong Burgiea maried the Ladi Westfeild at Grang hous in Burgie.

April 2.-I purposd to have heard Mr. Jas. Urquhart, but he spok not that day. I hear he forbears, least he should bring me into inconvenienc. Lord! open my eys, and mak me know what Thou calls me to, and requirs, that I may hau strenth to obey: whither Thou approues the forbearance, or me in consenting. Give me to be wis as a serpent, and also innocent as the dove, that I may not separat thes duties which Thou hast so inseparabli joind.

10.—I did sie a letter of my L. Argyll to the E. of M. on my behalf. Lord! keip me from trusting to the freindship of men.

12.--I heard my uncl Francis was sick. I desird to simpathiz and be instructed, and to hav him in remembrane to God-ward, and to advertiz Mr. Ja Urquhart to visit him. Dr. Gordoun cam heir. I spok with him anent discourses, tal-bearing, quhairin he did vindicat himself.

13.-I did goe earli to see my uncl at Baliuat. Efter ordouring somthing which concernd ther matters, Mr. James Urquhart prayd. . . . Ladi Grant cam by, and visited him. I heard of the breaking out of the highland men of Lochaber, on Badenoch, Strathspey, Urquhart, and other places. I desir to be made to sie God in it, and let the Lord who bounds the raging sea, put a bound to the rage of thes barbarous men.