24. I did see the Bp. of Rossa buried this day, and attended it. This I owe to al men, as I am cald to it. Thorntoun I heard preachd the Erle's funeral, and said, that it was a judgement to hav such men removd as the Bp. and the Erle. Is not this to tak Thy nam in vain? I heard non of the funerals; speciali becaus I was stumbld at Thorntoun's conversation, name, and the application of his doctrin, which I hav oft heard.

25.—I heard of the death of good Mr. Th. Ross."

27.- . . . Petgauni cam heir and spok to me anent the laufulnes of paying the Cess seing the act declars the caus to be to suppres the feild meitings, and so religion and the gospel. I said, I held it lawfull. 1. It's laid on by a lawful authoriti. 2. The magistrat neids not tell, nor ar we bound to know the caus. 3. Priuat subjects ther obedienc in paying tribut must not depend on ther satisfaction anent the caus and the way of imploying it. For then litl - 4. Quhil exampl and precept to pay tribut to the Romans, quhen heathen,.usurpers, oppressours of the peopl and worship of God. The Apostl. "Render tribut to quhom tribut is due. To Cæsar the things that ar Cæsar's." 5. It's not ours; it's the magistrats. 6. Albeit we knew -, would we not giv or part with som to sav the rest? 7. They would mak mor gain by our refusing to pay then by our paying; nay, they would be content men refusd: they would mak that a pretext to swallow up all. 8. Feu Duties, Teinds, Stipends, albeit we know, nay they declar, and it is manifest, for what end they seik it, and it's payd to intertain corrupt men and corrupt. . Mani other motivs and reasons may

be thoght on and adduced for defending the lawfulnes of paying this Cess. But I suspect my judgment, least it may be blinded, and fear to suffer, and lothnes to incurr the danger, may darken my mind and cloud the conscienc.

29. I read Musc[ulus] his Life, and, in his Com. Places, of Magistrates. He gives them power in religion to mak laws, and allows not a co-ordinat power to ministers and church officers in the matters of religion, but seims to be Erastian. I was humbld and exercisd on this, and desird to be kept from errour, and could not consent to this doctrin. What were our cace if

• John Paterson, Bishop of Ross.

Mr. Thomas Ross, minister of Tain, died of fever, 13th January, 1679. Wodrow's MSS., vol. xcix., 4to., no. 31, where

is an account of some of the expressions which he uttered before his death.

• Short-hand in MS.

we alloud this to Magistrats? Alac! to whom shall we give this power? to ministers, to parliaments, to judicatours civil? If the Lord secure not religion, what power on earth can, or will secure it? We have seen all means unsufficient and weak. Lord! pity my ignorance and unstedfastnes; for I am shaken. Mr. J. Hepburn I found my self censuring his extending his voice, and his

a

31.-I reaceavd a letter from my L. Argyl and returnd ansuer.

Feby. 1.-Alexander [Brodie] of Balnamoon broght me letters from the South: That the K. of Franc was preparing armies and fleets, and intended to inuad us, hauing made peac with all ther neighbours except Brandeburg : The farther discoueri of the plot, and Godfrey's murther: The great darknes in London in the day tyme.

4.—I was exercisd in my spirit with the sense of the universal corruption of the earth, and of thes lands, and how mani — a I hav sein broken with mistaks, errour, delusion, stepping asid, weakneses: Straqn., Kerr, War, Swentoun, Mr. J. Menzies, Ruth., Thes at Aberdeen, Craighail, Dundas, Freuchies, L. Ruthven.

6.—The Ladi Marr and her daughter, Ladi Marquis] of Douglas, and others with them, cam heir. I found great weaknes in the act of worship befor and efter dinner.

7.- Rori Menzi, the E. of Seaforth's brother, din'd heir. He told me the buisines of the supposd witchcraft about Redcastel, and cleared himself and his wyf and al his of it. . . .

11. I found much desertion in the famili morning worship, and my speich and tong fail. I falterd in my speich, that I could hardly speak. I desir to consider this and be instructed; for it seems not to be merli a natural infirmiti. It's tru, Zachari was smitten dumb in the tyme of the publick worship becaus he beleevd not. Thou mayst now justli smit me. But Thou told him why Thou [didst] smite him. Lord! vouchsaf a word to teach me by Thy spirit, and let me not be without understanding. The impediment in my speech grew in the efternoon. . . . Newhall and his goodson cam heir and others. My speech faltered much.

Short-hand M.S.

b Lady Mary M'Kenzie, eldest daughter of George, second Earl of Seaforth, and relict of John, ninth Earl of Marr.

e

Lady Barbara Erskine, eldest daughter of the preceding, by the Earl of Marr. She was married 7th September, 1670, to James, second Marquis of Douglas.

14.-I heard ther had an ordour gon to tak Fouls, and Mr. Dunnoon and send them south: That E. Seaforth had sent a testimonial anent Fouls. 18.-... This day Mr. Walter Dunoon past by, being taken by the E. of Seaforth on the 12, and sent from shir to shir. My soul greived that this should be the first act of that yong man's lif. Lord! overrul and turn it to good.

21.- My son went to sie Leathin, and Mr. Ja. Urquhart cam heir. He performd famili worship. He told me that Mr. Jhon Heburn escapd nar[ow]li at Keith: That Thornton and Kemphorn had a parti to apprehend him : That the Bishop had procurd an ordour to tak him and som others.

26.-Leathin cam heir. We spok of the Lord's providences over us in tym past, how low we had been broght, and yet deliverd again, and again, that we ow ourselves to Him, . . . and all that we ar. We spok of former troubls on this poor church and land. Leathin said, It was litl matter of our particular in comparison of the gospel, the work of God, and His Son's kingdom. We spok of my son, children, and the danger they might be in, if the evel tyms break out.

March 6.—I was doubtful if I should bigg the ducat this year, in regard of the fear of troubl, and that I had not al things readi. Let the Lord ordour my way aright.

7-I heard Mr. Colin Falconar was presented to the Bishoprick of Galloway.

13. I heard that the Duke Hamilton had receavd a precept on the Exch, but the King countermanded: The Duke of York was to declare himself a Protestant: That Latherdal was purposing to retyr.

14.-Young Gordonstoun cam heir, and staid this night. He told me that Duke Ilamilton had noe court favour.

17.-I and my son went earli towards the meeting with the Mr. [of] Forbes, and was all night in Innes. I heard of the Duke of York and his Dutches ther going beyond sea to Holland. Lord! turn it to good. I heard. . . . that Mr. Walter Dunoon was set at liberti in Fyff: The King of France was using the Protestants hardli. I desir to be rightli affected with these things.

Sir John Munro of Foulis.

b

Kenneth, fourth Earl of Seaforth, who

had just succeeded his father of the same name: See p. 407.

22.-Milton returnd heir from Edinburgh. He told me how graciousli the Lord dealt with the passengers which were sent away; what kindness the Lord made them meet with in England.

24.—I heard that my two great grand-children, Glassach's sons, Jhon and Al, were both dead, and the mother in danger. . . . Mr. Tho. Ross['s] wyf cam heir and spok of her condition. Lord! keip me from stumbling.

26. Cromarti cam heir, and soght to borrow monie. I did sie litl caus to yeild to it. Yet efter I had soght direction from God, I yeilded to treat, I getting his papers in pledg. Examin my hart if ther be ani deceit in me; and Lord! purg it out.

27. Mr. Tho. Ross['s] wyf and her daughter was heir, and spok of taking the mother with her.

April 3.-Jhon Grant of Moynes cam heir, and spok of his effairs with me. I sie how uncertain outward things ar. They tak wings and flie away. Sanctifi this instanc and exampl of vicissitud and chang that I sie in him. 8 April.-Don. Campbell, Simon Fraser, Miltoun, cam heir late. heard that ther wer som kild at a conventicl about Lenrick. Som honest ministers were taken. . . . Torwoodlie wryt to me that the gospel had fredom amongst them for the time; but dark was the cloud over our head. Ther apeard no visible help, if it cam not - I desir'd grac to consider thes things, and to be instructed.

a

10. I read somthing of Baxter's Cure of Church Divisions, and was humbld under the darknes and divisions on the spirits of men, even godli

men.

12.—I heard Mr. James Urquhart's wyf remaind veri infirm, and in danger. I desir to sympathiz with them.

14. The vessels went out with the victuals. Let the Lord bless and be with them.

16.-Dr. Gordon cam heir, and shew[ed] me a speech of Shaftsberrie's,b quherin he pointed at Scotland, Irland, and the Protestants abrood, "the litl sisters that had noe breasts," &c. and pointed at the tyranni and arbitrari gouernment usd and exercisd in Scotland; and they could expect noe better in England. This raisd my spirit a litl, and I thoght I might declin to

19-I desir to lament and mourn under the divisions in the church, and Short-band in MS. Anthony, Earl of Shaftesbury.

in the land, and particularli that our church societies and communion is so broken, that we cannot meit together and enjoy the ordinances of prayer, sacrament, and hearing.

20.-Die Dom. I desird to set apart this day to the Lord for supplication and humiliation.

This day the Sacrament was giuen in Dyk. But non of this famili did communicat.

21-I did goe to the burial of James Spenc[e's] son at Kilflett; and from thenc veiud the bounds betwixt the town of Elgin and Milton with Major Heburn; and cam at night to Aslisk.

22. We did meit with the Toun of Elgin at the Moss. Innes and Commissar Stewart did accept the commission. The town would not com in til the stons were sett quhair they thoght fitt, and unless Milton submitted to themselves, which had bein a taking the guilt upon him of removing a march stone. This, in the confidence of his innocenci, and in abhorrence of such a crym, I would not consent to.

28. Eliz. Forbes was heir. She told me that Main had diswaded her from communicating at Kinloss, and said non had don it but Wm. Crombie's wyf, and it is known what befell her. This afrighted, and was sadd; yet she went, and found peac and comfort in it.

May 5.-I heard that the Bishop of St. Androes was kild. It greivd my soul to hear that ani professing reall grace should fall in such an act. I abhor it perfectli.

20.-Innes, Kilraok, Leathin, Spini, Mr. Hugh Anderson, cam heir. I found my ill disposition to continue to bodili infirmiti, and of mind also.

I did disclaim that act which was laid against the Bishop, and said I would hav rescud him if it had bein in my power; that the taking away his life would do mor harm to religion than ever his life had don or could hav don; and I wish that that parti which wer thoght to hav hand in it might emit som testimoni against it and send to al the reformd churches.

22.-Sir G. Monro cam heir; Mr. Blar's son. I heard of John Spreul being taken: Mr. Wil. Hamilton's death: many of our great men sent and cald to Court.

26. The strangers went from me, and Hugh Blar.

30.—I heard of the L. McDonald his insurrection and taking arms, and marching into Argyll. Lord! learn me how to be rightlie affected with this publick bold insolenci.