25.-I heard of the death of Alexander Deuison in Elgin. He had com out of prison from the rest who wer put in for not hearing. He confest he feined himself sick that he might be taken out. His death was remarkabl, not without suspicion of wrong. Let the Lord tri the truth, and caus me to gett instruction.

1 Nov.-I heard the Duk Latherdaill and the Counsel had wryten to the L. Huntli and the Clans to be in readines, with 40 days leav, to com to Stirling on aduertizment, and insinuating som commotion.

5.-Mr. Jhon Stewart preachd, and baptizd two children at Penick yesterday. I scarr at thes things. Lord! guid and teach me, that I stumbl not. Mr.Jhon Stewart was heir al night. He told me that as the Apostles went about exhorting and confirming the brethren, so wer they now at this tym cald to that duti.

13. I heard the L. Huntli had put his highlandmen in a postur to be readi to march. Alace! who is so forward for Thee?

14.-Andro Livingstoun cam heir from Edinburgh, and told me Mr. JaUrquhart had latlie preachd at Air: that Conventicls wer ryf in the south and west, but ther had bein no rufl. Ja. Ru [? Row] was put in prison for not opening to the major of the Toun. Rothes was against the Presbyterians and Conventicls, becaus Latherdaill was for them. Lord! overrul thes confusions.

19. The Ladi of Leathin returnd. She expostulated with me that I heard at Fordice an conform minister, and especiali my son. I said, I could not quit my liberti. I held it lawful to hear, especiali on an journey, and having noe occasion of privacie, and retirement, or hearing of others.

2 Dec.-Die Dom. My son went to hear Mr. James Urquhart at Penick. It's tru I did think it had been best and fittest for Mr. James to hav spoken in one or other of our houses rather then in Penick; but I reverenc the Lord's providenc and renounces my oun witt. . . . I was discouradgd in the familie exercis at noon, becaus few of the famili wer present, being at Penick, and also being conscious of my oun weaknes.

Spini cam to me in the efternoon, and diuerted me from caling the children together. Lord! imput it not to me. lle told me of the Lord Doun's mariag concludit with the Dutches of Latherdail's daughter, and Lorn with the other daughter. I desir to be instructed by this. This man's societi is readi to blunt and dull me. Lord! guard. He told me ther

was no hop of an indulgenc: The Duk was goeing to the west: The Prine of Orang was returnd: The Bishop's letter to my son to produc his infeftment and taks: His peremptorines: The priest said the grace quhen the Bishop din'd in the Bogg: And his purpos to reduc the Bailiri, and reform the Commissariots. I am apt to be shaken at thes things.

7. I reaceaud a letter from my brother. He told me my purchasing of land was much talked of among the great men. They said, I might spare a fynn.

14.-I did meit at Aldern betwix Grant and Mr. Hugh Ross and Plusc., and visited Mr. James Urquhart, who was sickli. He told me the King had bein seiking a divorc from the Pope, and that - Mr. Th. Hog had offended at Mr. James his teaching in Mr. Adar's kirk at Air. Lord! piti me that sees not ani evel in that. I cam late home; and the next day was appointed for a meeting betwix Al. Hay and Baili Brodi's daughter. 15. We did meet on Al Hay's mariag with Margt. Brodi, the Bailie's daughter. It did tak effect.

17.-I heard of the Deuil's appearing to som Quakers in Irland, and giuing ilk one of them a foul, and promising them succes and inlargement and gifts. I desird to consider this duli, and to be taught of God. 18.-This day the L. Doun was married to Ladi Cathrin Talmash.

My

son went to sie the children at Darnway, quher they kept the day with som smal companie. Lord! turn it to Thy glori, and the good of this

29. Mr. James Urquhart refused to com on the Saboth day heir, for fear of bringing me to troubl.

Januarie 1, 1678.--I heard that Al" Chisolm had som purpos to apprehend Mr. James Urquhart. . . . Mr. James Urquhart cam to me. Our conferences might hav profited me mor then they did.

3.-Collonell Innes returnd from Cromarti, and told som passages of the riot and disorderlines of the yong man Cromarti his beating Newhall, and another in the place, and tym of sitting in Court: Newhall's marriag.

Short-hand in MS.

Lady Catherine Talmash was the daughter of Elizabeth, Countess of Dysart, in her

own right, the Duke of Landerdale's second wife, by her first husband Sir Lionel Talmash of Helmingham in Suffolk, Bart.

4.—I had a desir to hav Mr. James Urquhart exercis once in the week heir, becaus I am, throgh the tyms, detaind from hearing him on the Lord's day. I commit this desir and motion to God, to guid and to answer it. . . . I read a litl in Boil [Boyle] of the love of God. Lord! kindl and direct my hart in it.

5. I heard Milton was disquieted anent the baptizing of his children. He was willing that the minister of Birney should baptiz his twins, his two daughters, but declind Mr. Horn. I said, I thoght that noe cace of conscience, but humour and recentments, and they wer alyk to me. I greive for the snars he is in. In him I sie my own darknes, dubiousnes, staggering.

I had advertizment from Donald Campbell of the death of the Tutor's second son, slain by the M'Leans.

6. Die Dom. I staid at hom. Examin the grounds and forgiv infirmiti. Learn me to be rightli exercisd under thes solitari Saboths, and this withdrawing from the publick, at this tym. . . . I desir to hav the sam thing on my hart this day which I had the last day, the poor desolat handful that for Him expos themselves to the utmost danger; that they may hav counsel, shelter, acceptance; that as to ther differs I may hav light, strenth, fortitud, stedfastnes, soundnes of mind, and affection.

10.-I heard from Edinburgh of the death of Robert Innes of Moortoun. . . . It was wryt to me that they wer inquiring for Mr. James Urquhart. Lord! cover and hide him.

11. My son did goe, and my daughter, to Moynes, to sie El Innes, and to comfort her anent her brother's death.

12.-I heard of the expedition against field conventicls by Athol, Murray, Marr, Cathnes. Lord! look doun. . . .

16.-I heard of the fall of a daughter of the E. of Dalhousie with Will. Lockhart, good Baili Rob. Lockhart's son, and of her end.

21.-Grang cam to Granghil, and told me, that Mr. James Urquhart had conventiels at Main's hous several days, week days and Saboths, and He warnd me, and told he behovd to summonds them for his oun exoneration. Lord! I know not what to adviz. . . . Grang told me that mani of my freinds had been ther.

a Short-hand in MS.

22. I visited Elz Innes at Moynes, and found her verie infirm. found her complaints against Calder. I desird to be greivd for ani thing amongst them that irritats and separats them. I visited the E. of Murray's children at Darnway. In the evening I cam home, and expostulated with my Son for his anger the last day. He condemnd his anger, but said, He wonderd why I should lay that charg on him. He perceavd mor dinn for

a

24. The Lord Duffus and his Ladi cam heir. I heard that the men of Fyf had taken band that they should not keip field conventiels: And that Cesnok and others had com to the Counsel from the West and had offerd to hear for the peace, but that the Counsel had refusd to accept it, and they had made ther rendevouz at Glasgow, the 26 instant: That Mr. Mitchell who attempted to kill the Archbishop had been executed.

27.--Die Dom. This day, the King's forces and host under the E. of Lithgo, Mar, Athol, Glenarchi, Airli, and others wer to be in Glasgow for suppressing the west. I desird to simpathiz with them.

31.-Spini cam efter noon and visited me. He told me that the Bishop had said, The That the Bishop was addicted to his oun opinions, and would tak noe counsel. Befor he got the rufl from the Lo. Huntlie, he was clear that papists wer loyal subjects, and might be imployd by the King to suppress nonconformists, but since, he had changd his mind. That the Earl of Murray would com north immediatly, and he thoght it might [be] for the conventiels and Mr. James Urquhart. He said, I was blamd for all the conventicls in this countree. I leav this on God.

2 Febr.--Leathin din'd heir. He told me he feard the oppression of the mighti, so that he was rather content to quit his right then to involv himself in troubl, for he expected noe justic. Ther's great appeiranc of such tyms coming. I heard ther was evel determind against Mr. James Urquhart.

7.-Miltoun was heir, and spok to me of the mariage to his daughter with Jhon Hay, and that he had us'd mor austeriti then was fitt, and she was somthing avers from it. I reprovd this, and said, she should not be compeld.

11.-Miltoun cam heir, and told me that Pluscardine had chargd him befor the Counsel; and soght counsel. Litl know what to adviz him to in soe euel a tym. Let the Lord giv him and me also sound counsel.

12. I heard that Mr. Th. Hog and Mr. J. McKelican wer sent to the Bass.

16.-Jhon of Inverloghti cam heir, and told me [that] the Bishop had said, that al the West countree wer coming in and swallowing thes scrupls which they had stuck at. The Earl of Murray had written, that ther work was not so difficil as it was thoght: That ther wer forces to be sent north. L. of Grant cam heir, and Leathin, and Milton, anent the charg that Pluscardine had given him to goe south.

18.-Grant prevaild with Pluscardine to pass from the charg against Milton for appeiring befor the counsel.

24. Die Dom. I heard that Wariston's two daughters wer maried on Coul and Mr. Roderik Menzie. I desir to aknowledg the Lord in that providene. I heard also that the E. of M. was violent: [that] ther should som hors be sent heir.

27-I was at Innes all night. This day Park and Don. Campbell from Edinburgh cam hom to Elgin, and Coul maried on Wariston's daughter. I heard what desolation was don in the west countree, and what they wer resolving to doe anent the pursuing of thes bounds.

28.-Pluscardine cam to Innes to me. I know not if his condition merits piti; but his sinfnl temper, and his natural distemper of mind, and his miseri, may al mov pitie. But he was extravagant. Jhon Brodi, my servant, was readi to hav quareld with him for speaking ill of me; but I reprovd Jhon, and did bear his follie. This night I had a dream: That Petgauni and I coming to a water, he ridd in and fell doun: that I saw him not again, Thes ar the imaginations of my mind. Lord! I look not to them but to Thee.

7 March.--I past a part of the efternoon with the Ladi Leathin. She askd what I thoght of privat baptism. I told, I did not hold it unlawfull. She said, In regard of the superstitious opinion of papists, who say that it is necessar to salvation, she held it duti to testifi against it.

a Sir Alexander Mackenzie, second Baronet of Coul, after the death of his first wife, Jean, daughter of Sir Robert Gordon of

Gordonstoun, Bart., married for his second wife, a daughter of Sir Archibald Johnston of Warriston.