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■m 


THE    LIFE 

OF 

MR    ROBERT    BLAIR, 

MINISTER  OF  ST  ANDREWS, 


CONTAINING 


HIS   AUTOBIOaRAPHY, 

FROM  1593  TO  1636, 


WITH 


SUPPLEMENT   TO    HIS    LIFE,    AND    CONTINUATION    OF 
THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  TIMES  TO  1680, 

BY  HIS  SON-IN-LAW,  MR  WILLIAM  EOW, 

MINISTER  OF  CERES. 


EDITED  FOR  THE  WODROW  SOCIETY, 
FROM  THE  ORIGINAL   MANUSCRIPT. 

BY  THOMAS  M'CRIE,  D.D. 


EDINBURGH: 
PRINTED  FOR  THE  WODROW  SOCIETY. 

MDCCCXLVIII. 


J41IK8  WALKER,  PRIKTER,  6.  JAJfES'S  COURT,  EDIKBUKCH. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Page 


Preface  by  Editor, 

Life  of  Robert  Blair — 

I.  The  Autobiography, 

II.  Supplement  by  William  Row,  containing  the  History 
of  his  Life,  which  may  be  called  the  History  of 
the  Times,  especially  from  the  year  1643,  unto  the 

DAY  of  his  death,  ANNO  1666, 

III.  The  Continuation  (by  the  same  Author)  of  the  History 
OF  THE  Times  after  IVIr  Blair's  death,  Aug,  27.  1666, 
TO  1680,  


Ill 


500 


APPENDIX. 

No  1.  Continuation  of  the  Life  of  Robert  Blair,  by  his  son, 

James  Blair, 585 

No.  2.  Letters  of  Robert  Blair, 596 

Index, 599 

Facsimile  of  Blair's  handwriting,              ....  xiii 
Woodcut  of  Blair's  Monument  in  the  old  church-yard  of 

Aberdour, .  xxii 


ERRATA. 


Tafte  112,  line  14,  after  1G77,  Dr  Lee's  MS.  supplies  the  blank  on  this  page  as  fol- 
lows, "  has  on  his  coat  of  arms  the  Moor's  head." 

„     228,  line  7,  dele  Unslodyke. 

464,  line3,/orMr  John  M'Millan,  reac?  Mr  John  M'Michan. 

„  471,  last  line  of  foot  note, /or  author  of  "  Memoirs  of  Scotland,"  read  author  of 
"  Memoirs  of  the  most  material  Transactions  in  England,  for  the 
last  hundred  years  preceding  the  Revolution  in  1688." 

"  51 7,  4th  line  from  foot,/OT-  apparently  in  the  handwriting  of  the  transcriber,  read 
in  a  hand  different  from  that  of  the  transcriber.  All  the  notations 
on  the  margin  of  Dr  Lee's  MS.  ai"e  in  the  same  hand,  but  different 
from  that  of  the  copyist. 

„  555,  1st  line  from  foot,  for  son  to  Mr  William  Carstairs,  read  son  to  Mr  John 
Carstairs. 


PREFACE  BY  THE  EDITOR. 


In  presenting  the  ample  Memoirs  of  Robert  Blair,  contained  in 
this  volume,  it  may  appear  very  unnecessary  to  prefix  any  prefa- 
tory sketch  of  his  life.  Several  reasons,  however,  render  this  de- 
sirable. The  reader,  before  dipping  into  the  volume,  may  wish  to 
know  something  of  the  character  and  general  career  of  the  man  about 
whom  so  much  has  been  written.  It  is  of  importance,  too,  to  con- 
nect together,  in  a  few  sentences,  the  main  facts  of  his  life,  the 
thread  of  the  narrative  being  somewhat  broken,  in  consequence  of 
its  having  been  treated  by  different  hands,  each  of  whom  has  added 
some  incidents  omitted  by  the  rest.  And  we  have  thus  an  op- 
portunity of  stating  a  few  additional  facts  gathered  from  other 
sources,  which  could  not,  with  so  much  propriety,  have  been 
thrown  into  the  shape  of  scattered  notes  at  the  foot  of  the  page. 

Robert  Blair  was  the  youngest  of  four  sons  of  John  Blair,  "  a 
gentleman  living  in  the  towm  of  Irvine,  and  grandson  of  Alexan- 
der Blair  of  Windyedge,  a  brother  of  the  Laird  of  Blair,  the  ancient 
and  honourable  family  of  that  ilk."*  (Life,  p.  112.)  His  mother 
was  Bessie  Mure,  of  the  equally  "  ancient  and  honourable  family 
of  Rowallan."t  This  venerable  relative  reached  the  patriarchal 
age  of  a  hundred  years.  The  precise  day  of  his  birth  has  not 
been  recorded,  but  he  was  born  in  Irvine  in  the  year  1593.    He  had 

*  The  Blairs  of  Windyedge  were  connected  with  the  Blairs  of  Giffordland,  a  family 
which,  Robertson  says,  "  is  generally  understood  to  be  a  cadet  of  the  family  of  that 
ilk." — Mobertsoii's  Ayrshire  Families,  i.  100. 

t  We  have  not  been  able  to  ti'ace  this  connection  between  Blair  and  the  fa- 
mily of  Rowallan.  It  appears,  however,  that  the  lamilies  had  intermarriage  at  an 
earlier  period.  Sir  William  Mure  of  Rowallan,  who  died  about  1348,  had  a  daughter 
married  to  the  Laird  of  Blair. — (^Historie  and  Descent  of  the  House  of  Hoiralhme,  by 
Sir  William  Mure,  41.  Glasgow :  1825.)  Jean  and  Hugh,  the  names  of  two  of  Blair's 
children,  were  common  in  the  Rowallan  family.  His  grandson,  James,  who  was  pro- 
vost of  Irvine,  had  on  his  coat  of  arms  the  Moor's  head,  which  is  the  crest  of  the 
Mures  of  Rowallan.     (See  Life,  112,  with  the  blank  supplied  in  the  Errata.) 


VI 


PREFACE. 


three  brothers,  John,  James  and  William,  the  two  eldest  of  whom 
rose  to  be  chief  magistrates  of  Irvine,  while  William^was  first  a 
regent  in  the  University  of  Glasgow,  and  afterwards  became  the 
nihiister  of  Dumbarton.  The  early  years  of  Kobert,  the  subject  of 
the  following  memoirs,  are  graphically  described  by  himself  in  his 
Autobiography.  It  appears  from  the  records  of  the  University  of 
Glasgow,  that  he  entered  college  in  the  year  1611*  that  he  was 
laureated,  or  took  his  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  in  1614;  and  that, 
after  having  taught  for  two  years  as  assistant  in  a  public  school,  he 
succeeded  his  brother  as  one  of  the  regents  of  the  college  in  March 

lG16.t 

During  the  same  year  in  which  he  was  appointed  regent,  he  re- 
ceived license  as  a  preacher  of  the  gospel.  And  at  this  period 
of  his  life  the  following  anecdote  is  recorded  of  him  by  Robert 
Fleming,  which  it  is  rather  strange  should  have  been  omitted  both 
by  himself  and  his  biographers : — "  Upon  his  first  coming  forth 
to  preach,"  says  Fleming,  "  he,  by  a  remarkable  providence,  had 
^h  Bruce  [Kobert  Bruce  of  Edinburgh]  to  be  his  hearer ;  and 
as  I  heard  himself  declare,  it  was  his  desire  to  have  the  judgment 
of  so  great  a  man  upon  his  discourse,  whose  censure,  he  said  he 
would  never  forget,  it  had  been  so  much  blessed.  It  was  this : 
'  I  found,'  said  he,  '  your  sermon  very  polished  and  digested,' 
(which  was  indeed  easy  to  one  of  his  parts),  '  but  there  is  one  thing 
I  miss  in  it,  to  wit,  the  spirit  of  God ; — I  found  not  thatJ  This 
grave  Mr  Blair  did  often  speak  to  others,  which  then  took  a  deep 
impression  upon  himself,  and  helped  him  to  see  it  was  something 
else  to  be  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  than  to  be  a  knowing  and 
eloquent  preacher."  f 

*  Stevenson,  in  bis  printed  Memoirs  of  Blair,  (p.  9,)  has,  in  his  blundering  way, 
ni:i<lc  Blair  say  that  he  "  entered  to  the  College  of  Glasgow  about  the  year  1608." 
The  editor  of  an  Irish  edition  of  Stevenson's  Memoirs,  (Belfast :  1844,)  not  aware  of 
this,  blames  |>oor  Blair  for  what  be  never  wrote : — ■"  Blair's  memory,  in  resjiect  of 
dates,  hud  failed  hiui  in  his  old  age,  when  eompiling  these  notices  of  his  early  life." 

t  Row  states,  that  he  was  "laureated,  anno  1 613."— (Zf/e,  112.)  This  must  be 
a  mistake,  as  we  have  derived  the  above  facts  from  the  registers,  through  the  kind- 
ness (if  l)r  J.  Seaton  Keid,  Professor  of  Church  History  in  that  university. 

J   Fullilbn).' , if  the  Scripture,  377.     Ed.  1681. 


PKEFACE.  VU 

It  does  not  appear  what  particular  branches  he  taught  while 
regent  in  the  Univei  sity  of  Glasgow  *  ;  he  usually  signed  himself 
professor  of  moral  philosophy.  Of  his  success  in  the  art  of  teach- 
ing his  memoirs  aiFord  us  little  opportunity  of  judging ;  but  we 
have  fortunately  the  grateful  testimony  of  one  of  his  pupils,  from 
which  it  may  be  inferred  that  it  was  at  this  period  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  that  high  celebrity  for  learning  which  he  enjoyed 
among  his  contemporaries.  Robert  Baillie,  in  dedicating  to  him 
one  of  his  treatises  in  1646,  testifies,  in  the  following  warm  and 
enthusiastic  terms,  his  obligations  to  his  old  tutor  and  regent : 
"  When  I  look  back,  (as  frequently  I  do,  with  a  delightful  remem- 
brance) towards  those  years  of  my  childhood  and  youth,  wherein 
1  did  sit  under  your  discipline,  my  heart  blesses  the  goodness  of 
God,  who,  in  a  very  rich  mei'cy  to  me,  did  put  almost  the  white 
and  razed  tablet  of  my  spirit  under  your  hand,  after  my  domestic 
instructions  which  were  from  mine  infancy,  to  be  engraven  by 
your  labours  and  example,  with  my  first  most  sensible  and  remain- 
ing impressions,  whether  of  piety  or  of  good  letters,  or  of  moral  vir- 
tue :  What  little  portion  in  any  of  these  it  hath  pleased  the  Lord, 
of  his  high  and  undeserved  favour,  to  bestow  upon  me,  I  were  un- 
grateful, if  I  should  not  acknowledge  you,  after  my  parents,  the 
first  and  principal  instrument  thereof.  I  cannot  deny  that  since 
the  eleventh  year  of  mine  age  to  this  day,  in  my  inmost  sense,  I 
have  always  found  myself  more  in  your  debt  than  in  any  other 
man's  upon  earth."J 

In  1623,  having  been  involved  in  a  dispute  with  Dr  Cameron, 
the  learned  Principal  of  the  university  of  Glasgow,  and  "  being  now 
wearied  of  teaching  philosophy,"  he  accepted  of  a  call  to  the  minis- 
try at  Bangor  in  Ireland.      The  particulars  connected  with  this 

*  Livingstone  states,  "I  was  then  under  the  oversight  of  precioiis  Mr  Robert  Blair, 
who,  for  two  years,  was  my  Regent  in  that  college,  and  having  got  some  ground  in 
logick  and  metaphysick,  and  the  subtilties  of  the  schoolmen,  ane  vain  desyre  to  be 
above  my  equals  set  me  to  great  pains." — {Life,  of  John  Livingstone.  Select  Biogra- 
phies, edited  for  Wodrow  Society,  i.  132.) 

t  Tabula  rasa. 

X  Dedication  to  Historical  Vindication  of  the  Government  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land.    London :  1G46. 


VIU 


PREFACE. 


part  of  his  history  are  detailed  at  length  in  his  Autobiography. 
After  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  cross  the  Atlantic,  which  the 
reader  of  his  life  will  find  graphically  described,  we  find  hina  again 
in  his  native  land.     He  had  been  invited  to  become  minister  of 
the  Scottish  Church  at  Campvere,  but  "  his  averseness,  after  so 
nianie  sea-crosses,  to  accept  any  charge  over  sea,  made  him  reject 
that  motion  without  farder  enquiry,"  *  and  he  was  admitted  as 
colleague  to  Mr  William  xVnnand  at  Ayr,  in  July  1 638.    After  some 
scruple  as  to  their  commission,  he  and  his  Irish  brethren  were  al- 
lowed to  take  their  seats  in  the  fiimous  General  Assembly,  which 
was  held  in  Glasgow,  Nov.  21,  of  that  year  ;  and  there  we  find  him 
vindicating  himself  in  what  Baillie  calls  "  a  brave  extemporall  ha- 
ranii-ue,"  from  insinuations  which  had  been  thrown  out  against  his 
loyalty,  connected  with  the  causes  that  led  to  his  leaving  the  Uni- 
versity.    Here  too  his  feelings  were  subjected  to  a  severe  trial,  by 
the  proposal  which  was  made  to  translate  him  to  the  more  influential' 
town  of  St  Andrews,  "  Si)Ottiswood,  his  arclidean  and  doctors  having 
ran  away,  where  there  were  three  colleges  very  corrupt,  and  the 
body  of  the  town-people  addicted  to  Prelacy  and  the  ceremonies" 
(Life,  p.  156.)     His  biographer,  "William  Eow,  has  said  very  little 
about  this  "  act  for  transportation,"  but  it  seems  to  have  cost  all 
the  parties  concerned  in  it  no  little  trouble.     On  the   petition 
being  presented  by  the  Commissioner  from  St  Andrews,  Blair  was 
called  on  to  express  his  mind,  when  he  said,  "  I  confess  I  am  in 
the  hands  of  this  Assembly  ;  but  I  protest  heir,  in  God's  presence, 
that  /  had  rather  lay  down  my  life  than  he  'separate  from  my  flock  at 
Ah\''\    Baillie  has  preserved  the  particulars  of  the  case,  which  we 
may  give  in   his  own  homely  but  emphatic  language  : — "  There 
fell  in  this  day  a  most  pitiful  contest ;  the  toun  of  St  Andrews 
supplicat  for  Mr  Robert  Blair  to  be  their  minister ;  the  toune  of 
Aire,  with  tears,  deprecated  that  oppression  :  ]\Ir  Robert  himself 
most  carnestlic  opposed  it ;  for  beside  the  great  burden  would  fall 
on  him  in  that  toun,  and  the  fatall  unha[)piness  of  that  ministrie, 

•  Baillie's  Letters  and  Journals,  (Rannatyuc  edition),  i.  31. 
t  Titi'rkin'b  Hecoids  of  the  Kirk  of  [Scotland,  187. 


PREFACE.  IX 

he  was  so  f'arr  engaged  in  affe(jtion  with  Aire,  by  the  success  of 
his  ministrie,  and  the  largeness  of  their  charities,  as  any  minister 
could  be  :  yet  St  Andrews'  earnestness,  and  the  noblemen  of  Fife 
their  importunities,  the  public  good  in  provyding  that  seminarie 
toun  with  a  good  man,  militated  much  against  the  provest,  John 
Stewart's  tears,  and  Mr  Robert's  prayers  :  It  was  referred  to  a 
committee  that  night  in  my  chamber,  Cassillis,  Lindsay,  the 
Moderator,  (Henderson),  and  a  number  of  other  noblemen  and 
ministers.  However  much  my  heart  pitied  the  case,  (and,  if  it 
went  through,  it  was  a  most  dangerous  preparative  to  rent  any 
man  from  the  flock  his  soul  was  bound  to  and  others  to  him,  to  be 
fastened  to  the  unhappie  people  of  our  great  tounes,)  yet  I  could 
not  bot  testifie  my  old  experience  of  Mr  Blair's  great  dexteritie ; 
yea,  greater  than  any  man  I  know  living,  to  insinuate  the  fear  of 
God  in  the  hearts  of  young  schollars.  Thus  my  testimonie,  out 
of  experience,  furthered  much,  both  that  night  in  the  committee, 
and  the  morne  in  the  Assemblie,  the  man's  transportation."  It 
was  carried,  however,  by  a  narrow  majority  of  four  or  five  votes, 
that  he  should  be  sent  to  St  Andrews.  "  It  went  hardlie,"  says 
Baillie,  "  for  the  pitifull  complaints  of  John  Stewart,  craveing  at 
leist  a  delay  till  Aire  might  be  acquainted  with  this  motion,  and 
prepared  to  give  in  their  reasons  against  it,  did  move  raanie,  yet 
not  the  half;  so  the  same  Assemblie  pleased  and  grieved  exceed- 
ingly that  toun  by  taking  from  them  at  once  two  ministers"  (An- 
nan having  been  deposed)  :  "  yet  they  have  keeped  still  Mr  Blair, 
almost  by  force  ;  else,  how  unwilling  soever,  he  had  gone  away, 
for  he  makes  conscience  to  obey  the  Assemblie  in  all  their 
commandments."*  The  people  of  Ayr  succeeded  in  detaining  him 
among  them  till  the  following  year,  when  he  was  peremptorily 
ordered  by  the  Assembly  to  go  to  St  Andrews.  Here  he  exer- 
cised his  ministry  with  great  success,  till  ejected  in  1602. 

During  this  period  Blair  took  an  active  share  in  all  the  public 
movements  of  the  day,  and  contributed  largely,  by  the  sagacity  of 
his  counsels,  and  the  moderation  of  his  spirit,  to  promote  the  welfare, 
*  Baillie's  Letters  and  Journals,  i.  173. 


PREFACE. 


ami  con.^oliaate  the  peace  of  the  Church,  lu  1640  he  was  sent  to 
London,  ak)ng  with  Henderson,  Baillie,  and  others,  to  attend  to  the 
aftlurs  of  the  Church  during  the  formation  of  the  treaty  of  peace. 
After  the  death  of  Henderson,  in  1646,  he  was  appointed  Domestic 
Chaplain  to  the  King.  "  None  so  fit,"  says  Baillie,  "  for  the  educa- 
tion of  the  King's  children,  both  in  piety,  learning,  and  good  man- 
ners. The  man  is  so  eminent  in  piety,  wisdom,  learning,  gravity, 
and  moderation,  that  I  think  his  employment  would  bring  a  bless- 
ing to  the  royall  family  and  all  the  kingdome.*"  An  anecdote 
connected  with  this  portion  of  his  history  is  recorded  on  the  au- 
thority of  Mr  William  Vilant  of  St  Andrews,  Avho,  after  stating 
"  that  scarcely  did  he  [ever]  know  a  more  rare  conjunction  of  these 
thino-s  more  eminently  shining  in  any  one  minister,  than  in  JVir 
Blair,  viz.,  eminent  piety,  prudence,  and  learning,  and  a  most  peace- 
able, calm  temper  of  spirit,"  "  tells  us  that  in  Oliver  Cromwell's  time, 
when  he  was  called  before  theEnglish  Council,  they  intended  to  take 
his  place  and  pension  from  him  as  King's  Chaplain ;  but  he  made 
such  a  wise  appearance  before  them,  that  their  preses  said  to  the 
rest,  *  It  is  well  that  this  man  is  a  minister ;  for  if  he  were  not  a 
minister,  he  might  vex  us  all  with  his  great  wisdom  and  policy ; 
therefore  let  us  not  take  his  pension  from  him,  but  let  him  keep  it.' 
And  so  they  dismissed  him  with  great  respect."  t 

In  the  unhappy  quarrel  between  the  Resolutioners  and  Protesters, 
Blair — though,  from  the  "  moderation"  of  his  character,  inclining  to 
the  general  policy  of  the  Resolutioners — adopted  a  middle  course, 
and  attempted  to  act  as  a  peace-maker.  He  and  the  learned  James 
Durhamexcrted  themselves,  unsuccessfully,  but  Avith  themost  praise- 
worthy zeal,  to  effect  a  union  between  the  contending  parties.  As 
too  often  happens  in  such  cases,  his  well-meant  efforts  at  reconci- 
liation only  excited  jealousy  and  misconstruction.  To  use  his  own 
homely  expression  on  the  subject,  he  was  "  cuffed  upon  both  haffets 
by  them."  In  a  letter  addi-essed  to  Baillie,  March  23.  1652,  after 
an  (virncst  exhortation  to  peace,  and  recommending  that  all  former 

•  Baillie's  Letters  and  Jomiiiils,  ii.  414. 
t  Wodrow's  Analcfta,  iii.  91. 


PREFACE.  XI 

debates  and  determinations  be  quite  laid  aside,  he  adds,  "  If  unit- 
ing on  such  terms  may  be  had,  they  are  accursed  that  would  hinder 
the  same,  by  seeking  satisfaction  for  what  is  passed.  For  my  own 
part,  I  think  I  see  evidentlie  enough  some  things  amisse  utrinque ; 
bot  I  would  prefer  one  act  of  oblivion  herein,  lest  new  debating 
exulcerate  our  sores."  *  Baillie,  who  was  a  violent  partisan  on  the 
side  of  the  Resolutioners,  seems  to  have  taken  this  letter  in  very  ill 
part.  "  Worse  hardly  can  be  than  an  accursed  man :  I  groan  at 
such  horrible  terms  for  no  cause  at  all,  bot  sober  dutie  in  the  fear 
of  God."  And,  with  all  his  love  and  veneration  for  Blair,  amount- 
ing almost  to  idolatry,  "  being  sore  grieved  with  this  expression," 
he  says,  "  I  wrote  sharp  back  to  him  a  long  bitter  letter."  Dur- 
ham was  equally  severe  on  poor  Baillie,  for  he  said,  "  that  who 
would  be  against  such  a  union  were  not  worthie  to  sitt  either  in 
Presbyterie  or  Synods."  "  To  this  terril:>le  reflection,"  says  Baillie, 
"I  said  no  more,  but  simplie.  Brother,  this  requires  no  answer." f 
It  has  been  justly  remarked  by  a  late  writer,  who  has  done  ample 
justice  to  both  sides  of  this  sad  controversy,  that  "  it  is  evident 
that  Blair  was  cordially  united  with  Durham  in  the  honourable 
work  of  mediation,  and  that  nothing  prevented  their  success  but 
the  obstinate  and  inveterate  animosities  of  both  parties."  % 

On  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  the  subject  of  our  memoirs, 
though  he  had  taken  an  active  part  with  the  friends  of  the  mo- 
narchy, and  was  now  in  infirm  old  age,  was  too  honest  to  his  prin- 
ciples as  a  Presbyterian,  to  be  allowed  to  retain  his  charge  in 
peace.  He  was  more  especially  an  eyesore  to  Sharp,  with  whose 
ultimate  designs  it  did  not  comport  to  see  a  leader  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  occupying  the  town  which  he  hoped  soon  to  call 
his  archiepiscopal  seat.  Through  the  influence  of  this  unhappy 
man  he  was  subjected  to  various  annoyances,  which  issued  in  his 
being  obliged  to  leave  St  Andrews  in  September  1661 ;  and,  after 
having  been  confined,  by  the  orders  of  Council,  first  to  Mussel- 

*  Baillie's  Letters,  iii.  175.  t  Ibid.  iii.  1S3. 

X  Beattic's  Histoiy  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  during  the  Commonwealth,  251. 
Edin. :  Whvte  &  Co.     1842. 


xii  PREFACE. 

biir^Wi,  and  at'terwiuds  to  Kirkcaldy,  where  he  spent  three  years 
and  a  half  in  comparative  quiet,  he  removed  to  the  Castle  of  Cous- 
ton,  in  the  i)arish  of  Aberdour,  where  he  died,  August  27,  1666, 
in  the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age."* 

Such  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  life  of  a  person  w^ho  was,  by  his 
contemporaries,  "  reckoned  one  of  the  wisest  men  in  the  nation."  f 
Unfortunately,  few  or  none  of  his  writings  appear  to  have  been 
committed  to  the  press.  It  was  probably  owing  to  his  high  repu- 
tation for  "  wisdom,"  that,  "  when  the  General  Assembly  resolved 
upon  a  new  explication  of  the  Holy  Bible,  among  others  of  the 
godly  and  learned  in  the  ministry,  Mr  Blair  had  the  books  of  Pro- 
verbs and  Ecclesiastes  assigned  to  him  for  his  part."  But  we  are 
informed,  on  the  same  authority,  "  he  neglected  that  task  till  he 
was  rendered  useless  for  other  purposes,  and  then  set  about  and 
finished  his  Commentary  on  the  Proverbs  in  1666."  |  This  is 
confirmed  by  Row,  who  informs  us  under  the  year  1663,  that  when 
lurking  in  Kirkcaldy,  "  all  this  while  by-past  he  was  not  idle ; 
for  he  was  perfecting  his  Annotations  on  the  Proverbs."  {Life, 
p.  457.)  His  Commentary,  though  completed  and  prepared  for 
the  press,  has,  however,  never  been  published  :  the  manusci'ipt  may 
still  be  extant,  and  we  would  fondly  hope  that  the  present  publi- 
cation may  lead  to  its  discovery.  (See  Life,  p.  403.)  Baillie, 
writing  in  1641,  speaks  of  another  work  undertaken  by  Blair: — 
"  Think  not  we  live  any  of  us  here  to  be  idle  :  ]\Ii-  Hendersone  has 
readie  now  a  short  treatise,  much  called  for,  of  our  Church  Dis- 
cipline ;  ^Ir  Gillespie  has  the  grounds  of  Presbyterial  government 
well  asserted ;  Mi-  Blair,  a  jJertinent  answer  to  Hall's  Remonstrance; 
all  these  are  readie  for  the  presse."  §  Henderson's  "  Government 
and  Order  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,"  and  Gillespie's  "  Assertion 
of  the  Government  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  in  the  Points  of 

•  "  16GG,  Aut,t.— Mr  Robert  Blair,  Icate  minister  of  St  Androus,  (being  deposed 
because  he  did  not  acquiesce  with  Epis(!0]iacy),  depairted  out  of  this  life  at  Cawston, 
in  the  parish  of  Aberdowre,  being  living  there  for  the  tyme,  and  was  intciTed  Augt. 
.....  at  Aberdowre,  in  the  day-tyrae."— Zawo/ifs  Diary,  241. 
t  Wodrow's  Analecta,  iii.  i)2. 

}  HdwIc's  Scots  Worthies;  Art,  Mr  liohert  Blair. 
§  BaiLiie's  Letters  and  Journals,  i.  303. 


PREIACE.  Xin 

Ruling  Elders,"  Sic,  are  well-known  treatises  ;  but  of  Blair's  "  per- 
tinent Answer,"  if  it  was  ever  published,  we  have  not  been  able  to 
obtain  any  information.  The  famous  "  Answer  to  a  Book  entituled 
an  Humble  Remonstrance,  by  Smectymnuus"  is  known  to  have 
been  the  joint  production  of  five  divines,  the  initial  letters  of  whose 
names  compose  the  above  strange  noni  cle  guerre  ;*  and  it  is  highly 
probable  that  the  appearance  of  that  treatise,  which  was  published 
in  1641,  and  led  to  a  protracted  controversy  between  the  Smec- 
tymnuan  divines  and  Bishop  Hall,  the  author  of  the  Remonstrance, 
may  have  induced  Blair  first  to  postpone,  and  finally  to  suppress 
the  Answer  which  he  had  prepared.  With  the  exception,  there- 
fore, of  his  Autobiography,  now  for  the  first  time  printed  as  it  was 
written  by  himself;  a  few  fugitive  pieces  of  Latin  poetry,  pre- 
served by  Row  in  his  Continuation ;  and  a  Preface  to  the  posthu- 
mous treatise  of  Durham  on  Scandal ;  the  literary  remains  of  Ro- 
bert Blair,  once  so  famous  for  his  wisdom  and  learning,  may  be 
said  to  have  been  lost  to  posterity. 

In  personal  appearance,  Blair  is  represented  as  "  a  man  of  a  not- 
able constitution,  both  of  body  and  mind — of  a  majestick,  awful, 
yet  amiable  countenance."  f  We  are  not  aware  that  any  portrait 
of  him  exists.  The  curious  reader  may  be  gratified  by  the  follow- 
ing specimen  of  his  handwriting,  taken  from  the  letter  given  in 
the  Appendix,  p.  598. 

In  spirit  and  in  manners,  as  well  as  by  descent,  Robert  Blair 

*  Neal's  History  of  the  Pnritans,  vol.  ii.,  ch.  viii. 

t  Livingstone's  Mem.  Characteristics.     Select  Biogi-aphies  of  Wodrow  Soc.  i.  324. 


^iy  PRKFACE. 


wius,  in  tlie  true  sense  of  the  word,  a  gentleman.     Courteous  and 
polite  in  hi.s  address,  calm  and  moderate  in  his  temper,  he  took 
the  fancy  of  Charles  I.  at  the  Conference  at  Newcastle,  in  1646, 
while  some  of  his  brethren  offended  the  dignity  of  the  monarch  by 
their  nide  simplicity.     In  his  later  years,  he  had  acquired  suffi- 
cient wealth  to   purchase   a  property  of  some    value    in    Fife.* 
A  foolish  anecdote  has  been  frequently  told  of  him,  by  writers 
unfriendly  to  the  Presbyterians,  which  we  notice  only  to  contra- 
dict.     It  is  alleged  that  when  Charles  II.  paid  him  a  visit  at  St 
Andrews,  during  his  brief  sojourn  in   Scotland  about  the  year 
1650,  Mrs  Blair  being  about  to  hand  him  a  seat,  her  husband  said, 
"  Hold,  my  dear,  the  young  man   can  lift  a  chair  for  himself." 
This  piece  of  wanton  rudeness  is  so  totally  at  variance   with  Mr 
Blair's  character,  and  his  uniform  respect  for  royalty,  that  the 
story  bears  on  its  front  the  evidence  of  spuriousness.     The  reader 
who  doubts  of  this  may  consult  the  scene  described  in  the  Life, 
pp.  1(S6-188.     An  imputation  much  more  injurious  has  been  cast 
on  him  by  the  writer  of  the  Memoirs  of  Sir  Robert  Spottlswood, 
the  Lord  President,  who  was  executed  for  high  treason  at  St  An- 
drews in  1646.     That  author  charges  Blair,   "  the  fanatical  minis- 
ter of  the  place,"  with  having  incited  the  provost  to  prevent  Sir 
Robert  from  speaking  on  the  scaffold,  and  asserts  that  the  Presi- 
dent  having   taunted  him,    by    saying   he   would  not   have   his 
prayers,  because  "  God  had  sent  a  lying  spirit  into  the  mouth  of 
the  prophets,"  Blair  "grew  so  extremely  in  passion,  that  he  coiUd 
not  forbear  scandalous  and   contumelious  language  against   Sir 
Robert's  father,  [Archbishop  Spottiswood],  who  had  been  long 
dead,  and  against  himself,  who  was  now  a-dying,  which  this  mild 
gentleman  took  no  notice  of,  having  his   mind  fixed  upon  higher 
matter8."t     The  unprejudiced  reader  will  find  a  very  different 

•  "IGCO.— About  Witsonday,  Mr  Robert  Blaire,  minister  of  St  Aiidrous,  bought 

Clcmiont,  in  Fyfc,  from  one Robeitsone,  eye  to  the  deceassed  Robert 

Taylour,  Bomctimc  provcst  of  St  Andrews :  it  stood  him  about  eghteinc  thousande 
markus  Scots." — Lamont's  Diary,  157. 

t  See  Memoirs,  quoted  in  Notes  to  Kirkton's  History,  by  Charles  Kirkpatrick 
Sharpe,  Esq.,  p.  20.  The  same  story  is  repeated,  with  some  Tariations,  in  the  Spot- 
tiswoodc  Mi^.pllniiy,  vol.  i.  204,  where,    however,    we    are   also   informed,  that  Sir 


PREFACE.  XV 

version  of  the  story  in  the  plain  narrative  of  Row.  So  far  from 
Sir  Robert  being  prevented  from  speaking,  it  appears,  that  "  in 
his  railing  discourse  to  the  people  on  the  scaffold,  among  other  things 
he  said,  that  the  saddest  judgment  of  God  upon  people  at  this 
time  was,  that  the  Lord  had  sent  out  a  lying  spirit  in  the  mouths 
of  the  prophets,  and  that  their  ministers  that  should  lead  them  to 
heaven  were  leading  them  the  high  loay  to  hell."  And  what  was  the 
reply  made  by  Blair  to  "  this  mild  gentleman  ?" — "  Mr  Blair, 
standing  by  him  (as  he  was  appointed  by  the  Commission  of  the 
Kirk),  in  answer  to  this  only  said,  '  It's  no  wonder  to  hear  the  son 
of  a  false  prophet  speak  so  of  the  faithful  and  honest  servants  of 
Jesus  Christ' ;  which  did  so  enrage  the  proud  and  impenitent 
spirit  of  Spottiswood,  that  he  died  raging  and  railing  against 
Christ's  honest  and  faithful  ministers,  and  his  covenanted  people." 
(Life,  p.  179,  180.)  With  all  his  gravity  and  dignity  Blair  could 
be  occasionally  facetious ;  and  one  curious  sally  of  his,  character- 
istic of  the  freedom  used  by  ministers  in  these  primitive  times,  is 
preserved  by  Wodrow,  who  allowed  nothing  to  escape  him  : — "  Mr 
Blair,  after  he  had  been  a  while  at  St  Andrews,  observed  many 
people  go  out  of  the  church  a  little  before  the  pronouncing  the 
blessing ;  and  after  some  pains  taken  to  reform  them  from  this 
evil,  one  day  after  prayer  he  told  them  he  had  but  one  word  to 
speak  to  them  after  the  psalms,  and  desired  them  to  stay.  When 
the  psalms  were  done,  he  said,  '  Now,  the  prettiest  man  and 
woman  among  you  all  rin  first  and  fastest  from  the  blessing !' 
This  had,  it  seems,  more  influence  on  them  than  all  his  former 
pains,  and  they  much  refrained  afterwards."* 

Blair  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  warmly 
attached,  was  Beatrix  Hamilton,  who  died  in  July  1632,  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-seven.  In  1635,  he  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage with  Katherine  Montgomerie,  daughter  to  Hugh  Montgo- 
merie  of  Braidstane,  who  carried  over  a  colony  of  Protestants  to 

Robert  "  inveighed  much  against  the  Parliament  of  England,"  which  is  not  very  con- 
sistent with  his  being  prevented  from  speaicing. 
*  Wodrow's  Analecta,  vol.  ii.  66. 


xxl  I'KEFACE. 

Iivlaiul,  iruin  the  neighbourhood  of  Beith,  and  was  created  Vis- 
count of  Ardcs  in  1G20.*  By  his  first  wife  he  had  three  children, 
.lames,  Jean,  and  Robert.  The  two  sons  died  before  their  father. 
His  daughter  Jean  siu'vived  liira,  and  was  married  to  Mr  William 
Row,  minister  of  Ceres,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  Conti- 
luiation  of  tlic  Life  of  his  father-in-law,  contained  in  the  present 
volume.  By  his  second  wife  he  left  behind  him  two  sons,  viz., 
David  and  Hugh.  David  Blair  became  one  of  the  ministers  of 
Edinburgli,  and  was  father  to  Mr  Robert  Blair,  minister  of  Athel- 
staneford,  and  author  of  the  well-known  poem  entitled,  "  The 
Grave,"  who,  again,  was  father  to  the  late  Lord  President  Blair 
of  Avonton.  David  was  also  father  to  Archibald  Blair,  who  be- 
came minister  of  Garvald,  and  was  father  to  Dr  Robert  Blair,  Pro- 
fessor of  Practical  Astronomy  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh. 
Hugh,  the  other  surviving  son  of  Mr  Blair,  was  grandfather  to  the 
celebrated  Dr  Hugh  Blair,  one  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh,  and 
Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Belles  Lettres  in  the  same  University.! 
Thus,  the  subject  of  the  following  memoirs  was  grandfather  of  the 
author  of  "  The  Grave,"  and  great-grandfather  of  Dr  Hugh  Blair, 
and  Lord  President  Blair.  It  may  be  added,  that  Blair  had  a 
daughter  by  his  second  wife,  Catharine,  who  was  married  to  Dr 
George  Campbell,  minister  of  Dumfries  at  the  restoration  of 
Charles  H.,  and  Professor  of  Divinity  in  Edinburgh  University, 
after  the  Revolution. 

It  now  remains  to  say  a  few  words  regarding  the  present  work. 
Many  may  be  familiar  with  the  "Memoirs  of  the  Life  of  Mr 
Robert  Blair,  printed  for  Andrew  Stevenson,  Writer,  Edinburgh, 
1754,"  12mo,  pp.  128.  In  his  Advertisement  to  this  work,  Mr 
Stevenson,  who  was  the  author  of  the  well-known  "  History  of  the 
Church  and  State  of  Scotland,"  observes,  "  that  the  first  and  only 
part  of  the  following  Memoirs,  wrote  by  Mr  Blair,  having  been  in- 

•  Kobcrtson's  Ayrshire  Families,  iii.  233.     Eow  has  called  hiui,  apparently  hy  mis- 
tnke,  "  Lairil  of  Bnsliie."— (Zj/p  of  Blair,  136.) 
t  Hill's  Life  of  Dr  Hugh  Blair,  12,  13. 


PREFACE.  XVll 

tended  chiefly  for  his  own  family,  and  made  out  by  him  at  a  time 
of  life  when  the  faculties  of  the  mind  use  to  be  on  the  decline,  the 
same  must  be  supposed  to  want  that  correctness  and  accuracy 
which  it  might  have  had,  if  the  worthy  author  had  prepared  the 
same  for  the  press  in  his  younger  years.  To  prevent,  as  far  as 
possible,  all  misconstruction  on  this  account,"  he  adds,  "  I  have 
taken  the  trouble  to  compare  my  copy  with  several  others  which 
I  have  seen  of  these  Memoirs,  and  particularly  with  a  copy  of  both 
Parts,  in  the  hands  of  Mr  Blair's  grandson,  which  he  avouches  to 
be  genuine ;  and,  not  satisfied  with  this,  I  offered  mine  to  be  re- 
vised by  that  gentleman  and  his  friends,  who,  no  doubt,  have 
greater  liberty  to  wiprove  upon  the  original,  than  any  other.  But 
this  they  have  not  thought  fit  to  take  the  trouble  of;  so  that, — 
after  patient  on-waiting,  for  this  pur^Dose,  a  considerable  time,  and 
repeated  solicitations  to  publish  this  Life  from  many  to  whom  I 
had  imparted  my  design, — I  now  bring  it  forth,  with  these  varia- 
tions only : — First,  Because  what  is  here  written  doth  not  contain 
a  full  relation  of  the  author's  life,  but  only  some  of  the  most  mate- 
rial passages  thereof,  I  chuse  to  give  it  the  additional  appellation 
of  Memoirs.  Next,  Whereas  Mr  Blair  divides  his  Part  into  chap- 
ters, several  of  which  seem  only  breathing-places,  or  stops,  I  follow 
the  writer  of  the  Second  Part,  who,  more  naturally,  divides  the 
same  into  Periods.  And,  lastly,  I  have  ventured  to  make  a  few 
alterations  in  the  style,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  adapt  the  same  a 
little  more  to  the  modes  of  expression  used  in  the  present  age  ;  but 
these  alterations  are  inconsiderable.  Doubtless  the  following  Me- 
moirs might  have  admitted  of  more  amendments ;  but,  such  as  they 
are,  I  am  persuaded  that  all  lovers  of  piety  and  useful  history  will 
reckon  them  highly  acceptable,  and  a  monument  due  to  the  me- 
mory of  '  precious  Mr  Robert  Blair,'  as  an  eminent  divine, — his 
intimate  cotemporary,  (^Livingstone^ s  Life  and  Characteristics,  pp.  5, 
28,)— did  fitly  call  him." 

The  public  were  certainly  indebted  to  Mr  Stevenson  for  having 
furnished  them  with  an  edition  of  these  ^lemoirs  at  a  time  when, 
so  far  as  Blair's  family  at  least  were  concerned,  they  might  other- 

h 


XX  PREFACE. 

juster  taste  of  modern  times  forbids  all  such  "  intromissions  "  with 
the  matter  or  manner  of  ancient  writings,  as  was  practised,  without 
scruple  though  with  the  best  intentions,  by  our  worthy  fathers  of  the 
last  age.  The  only  alteration,  therefore,  on  Avhich  we  have  ven- 
tured relates  to  the  spelling,  which,  as  we  found  it  to  vary  in  dif- 
ferent MSS.,  and  frequently  in  the  same  MS.,  we  have  throughout 
modernized,  faithflilly  retaining,  however,  all  the  words  of  the 
original,  and  giving  the  Scottish  terms,  where  these  occurred,  in 
their  native  guise. 

The  Manuscript  which  we  have  adopted  as  the  basis  of  the  pre- 
sent edition,  is  a  quarto  volume,  written  in  a  very  minute  hand, 
preserved  in  the  Signet  Library,  Edinburgh.  In  the  opinion  of 
Mr  David  Laing,  Keeper  of  the  Library,  to  whom  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  free  use  of  the  MS.,  and  much  valuable  assistance  in 
our  researches,  it  is  the  genuine  autograph  of  William  Row,  Blair's 
son-in-law.  This  is,  beyond  all  doubt,  the  most  authentic,  as  it  is 
the  most  accurate  and  complete,  manuscript  of  Blair's  life ;  in  all  pro- 
bability, it  is  the  copy  which  Stevenson  found  "  in  the  hands  of  Mr 
Blair's  grandson,  which  he  avouches  to  be  genuine."  *  Various  other 
manuscripts  of  Blair's  life  are  still  extant,  copied  from  this,  and 
from  one  another,  which  are  more  or  less  correct  and  complete. 
Some  of  these  have  been  collated  with  the  Signet  Library  copy. 
More  particularly,  we  have  collated  the  Autobiography  of  Blair 
with  a  MS.  formerly  in  possession  of  Robert  Wodrow,  the  his- 
torian, and  now  belonging  to  the  Advocates  Library,  in  Edin- 
burgh. Occasionally,  also,  this  part  has  been  collated  with  another 
MS.  in  the  possession  of  Robert  Pitcairn,  Esq.,  from  which  we 
have  adopted  the  headings  or  contents  of  the  chapters.  The  con- 
tinuation we  have  copied  from  Row's  own  copy  compared  Avith 
another  in  the  Free  Church  College  Library,   and   a  third  be- 

*  IVIr  Laing  has  since  informed  me  that  the  manusci'ipt  formed  part  of  a  vohime  sold 
by  Messrs  Ballantyne  and  Co.  in  the  library  of  the  Eev.  Dr  Blair,  in  April  1816. 
According  to  the  sale  catalogue,  No.  094,  the  volume  contained  a  printed  copy 
of  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  "  with  the  original  IMS.  subscriptions  from 
the  Parschin  of  Ckres,  in  Fife,  comprehending  the  barony  of  Struther  and  Craig- 
hall,  &c. ; "  hut  this  had  been  taken  out  of  the  volume  before  it  was  acquired  by  the 
Library. 


PREFACE.  XXI 

lono'ing  to  J.  T.  Gibson  Craigj  Esq.  These  two  last  mentioned 
MSS.  begin  only  at  the  second  part  of  the  Supplement,  and  pro- 
ceed no  further  than  Blair's  death  in  1666.  But  from  these 
sources  we  have  been  enabled  to  supply  the  want  of  a  leaf  in 
Row's  copy,  amounting  to  nearly  a  sheet  of  letterpress.  (Life,  p. 
449.)  Finally,  we  have  had  the  advantage  of  consulting  another 
MS.  in  the  possession  of  Dr  Lee,  Principal  of  the  University 
of  Edinburgh,  (formerly  belonging  to  Dr  Jaraieson  of  Edin- 
burgh, and  to  Gordon  of  Earlstoun),  a  beautiful  copy,  appar- 
ently taken  from  the  Signet  Library  MS.  From  this  we  have 
been  enabled  to  supply  several  passages  in  the  latter,  parti- 
cularly at  the  close,  where  the  writing  has  been  completely 
worn  away.  To  all  these  gentlemen,  the  Wodrow  Society  stands 
deeply  indebted  for  the  frankness  with  which  they  granted  the 
use  of  their  respective  manuscripts,  in  order  to  carry  on  and 
complete  the  present  edition  of  Blair's  Life.  And  with  all  these 
MSS.  at  our  service,  we  flatter  ourselves  that  we  have  succeeded 
in  presenting  to  our  readers  a  perfect  transcript  of  this  valuable 
work. 

The  first  part  consists  of  the  Autobiography  of  Blair.  This, 
though  written  at  a  late  period  of  his  life,  and  bearing  some  evi- 
dence of  the  garrulity  natural  to  old  age  and  the  superstition  com- 
mon to  the  times,  must  be  regarded  as  a  valuable  accession  to  the 
memoirs  of  the  period.  One  cannot  help  regretting,  however, 
that  instead  of  dwelling  at  such  length  on  some  of  the  minor 
incidents  in  his  private  history,  he  did  not  enter  more  largely 
into  the  public  events  of  the  period,  in  which  he  took  such  an 
active  share. 

The  Supplement  to  the  Life,  beginning  at  p.  Ill,  and  occupying 
the  greater  part  of  the  volume,  was  written  by  Mr  William  Row, 
minister  of  Ceres,  and  son-in-law  to  Robert  Blair.  He  was  grand- 
son of  the  famous  Dr  John  Row,  the  reformer  and  coadjutor  of 
Knox,  and  son  of  John  Row,  minister  of  Carnock,  whose  "  History 
of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland  "  forms  one  of  the  Wodrow  Society's  pub- 
lications.    Several  facts  in  his  personal  history  will  be  found  in 


XXU  PREFACE. 

this  volume.  After  being  employed  for  two  years  as  assistant  to 
his  father,  he  was  admitted  minister  of  Ceres  in  ]  644.  Here  he 
continued  to  labour  till  1665,  when  on  a  sentence  of  suspension  by 
Archbishop  Sharp  being  intimated  to  him,  he  took  leave  of  his 
congregation.  (Life,  p.  474.)  Subsequently  he  took  advantage 
of  the  indulgence  granted  after  the  battle  of  Bothwell  Bridge,  and 
was  allowed  to  preach  in  his  parish,  but  not  within  two  miles  of 
the  parish  church.*  This  liberty  he  did  not  long  enjoy.  The  in- 
dulgence was  recalled,  and  we  find  him  in  June  1680  summoned 
before  the  Privy  Council,  chiefly  "  in  regard  that  the  place  of  his 
meeting  is  within  a  mile  of  the  parish  kirk,"  and  discharged  from 
preaching  in  that  place.  To  this  sentence  he  "  silently  submitted,'' 
in  the  hope  of  being  allowed  to  preach  in  his  "  dwelling-house,  or 
other  houses  of  the  parish."  (Life,  p.  573.)  Thus  he  seems  to 
have  been  employed  till  the  Revolution,  when  he  was  restored  to 
his  former  charge,  19th  May  1689.  His  death  appears  to  have 
taken  place  sometime  between  the  years  1697  and  1700,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Thomas  Halyburton. 

In  his  sentiments  on  public  questions,  William  Row  appears  to 
have  exactly  coincided  with  his  father-in-law,  for  whom  he  enter- 
tained the  highest  veneration.  While  he  approved  of  the  Public 
Resolutions,  he  was  inclined  to  moderation,  being  dissatisfied  with 
the  violence  of  both  parties.  Of  this  controversy  he  has  given  a 
full  account,  and  it  is  characterised  by  singular  candour.  His 
opinions  of  the  leading  characters  of  the  times  will,  of  course,  be 
variously  estimated.  A  devoted  royalist,  he  seems  to  have  never 
forgiven  Cromwell  for  his  usurpation;  he  seldom  gives  him  any  other 
appellation  than  "  that  old  fox ;"  and,  in  our  day,  when  a  better 
opinion  of  the  man  at  least  has  come  to  be  entertained,  a  painful 
feeling  is  excited  by  the  remark, — "  that  old  fox  died."  (Life, 
p.  335.)  Of  Archbishop  Leighton  his  estimate  seems  to  have  been 
very  low ;  and  Archbishop  Sharp  he  can  never  mention  without 
unqualified  aversion.  His  calling  him  so  emphatically  "  that  Sharp," 
reminds  us  of  Dr  Colville's  compliment  to  the  future  Archbishop, 
*  See  Mr  Laing's  Notices  respecting  William  Row,  prefixed  to  Row's  Ilistorj-,  Ivi. 


PREFACE.  XXlll 

when  giving  him  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  on  his  admission  as 
regent  to  the  University  of  St  Andrews,  in  1661, — "  Satis  est  te 
esse  Sharpium."*  Row's  strong  Presbyterian  leanings  appear  in 
his  never  by  any  chance  giving  Sharp  or  any  of  his  compeers  the 
title  of  bishop  ;  it  is  uniformly  "  prelate,"  or  "  archprelate."  At 
the  same  time,  being  an  indulged  minister,  he  shews  little  favour 
towards  Cargill  and  the  Cameronian  party. 

But  with  all  these  peculiarities,  which  may  by  many  be  deemed 
blemishes,  the  Supplement  by  Row  cannot  be  denied  to  be  a 
valuable  accession  to  our  historical  resources.  Rude  and  unpolish- 
ed as  it  is  in  style,  and  pretending  to  be  nothing  beyond  a  plain 
chronicle  of  events,  it  furnishes  us  with  much  new  information 
while  it  confirms  what  is  old.  This  remark  applies  particularly 
to  a  large  portion  of  the  Supplement,  embracing  the  general  his- 
tory of  the  times,  which  has  never  before  been  published.  The 
"  Continuation  of  the  History  of  the  Times  after  Mr  Blair's 
death,  1666,  August  27,"  beginning  at  p.  500,  also  written  by 
Row,  is  entirely  new,  having  never  before  been  printed  in  any 
shape.  The  same  may  be  said  of  the  "  Continuation  of  the  Life 
of  Robert  Blair,  by  his  son,  James  Blair,"  which  we  have  given  in 
the  Appendix,  p.  585,  but  which,  for  the  reasons  there  assigned, 
we  consider  to  have  been  written,  in  part  at  least,  by  his  son 
David.  We  may  here  observe  that  this  conjecture  is  confirmed 
by  Stevenson,  who  states  in  his  advertisement  to  the  second  part, 
that,  "  his  youngest  son,  Mr  David  Blair,  one  of  the  ministers  of 
Edinburgh  after  the  Revolution,  had,  with  the  assistance  of  his 
mother,  and  others  of  his  father's  acquaintance,  added  some  other 
things  memorable  concernins;  him." 

In  short,  whether  we  consider  the  comparative  obscurity  of  the 
period  embraced  by  the  present  volume,  particularly  that  of  the 
Commonwealth;  the  curious  and  interesting  facts  collected,  or 
rather  scattered  throughout  the  narrative ;  or  the  open-hearted 
candour  that  pervades  the  whole,  stamping  it  with  the  evidence 
of  genuine  authenticity  ;  we  have  no  hesitation  in  ranking  the 
*  Lamont's  Diary,  165. 


XXIV 


PREFACE. 


present  as  one  of  the  most  important  of  those  contributions  which 
the  Wodrow  Society,  now  brouglit  to  a  close,  has  been  honoured 
to  make  to  the  historical  literature  of  our  country. 

It  only  remains  to  make  a  parting  allusion  to  the  present  aspect 
of  the  monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  Robert  Blair  in  the 
old  churchyard  of  Aberdour.  The  editor  can  attest,  from  personal 
observation,  the  fidelity  of  the  sketch  appended,  which  has  been 
taken  by  his  friend  ^Ir  Rowand  of  the  Free  Church  College 
Library.  He  found  the  stone  exactly  as  described  in  the  Life,  p.  496, 
"  erected  upon  the  side  wall  of  the  (old)  Kirk  of  Aberdom' ;"  but 
the  wall  is  mouldering  away  piecemeal,  and  the  monument  Avith 
its  simple  inscription  is  sadly  effaced ;  so  that  unless  measures  are 
speedily  taken  for  its  preservation,  even  this  memorial,  which 
was  all  that  "  was  judged  fit  and  convenient  to  be  put  upon  his 
tomb,  by  reason  of  the  iniquity  of  the  time,"  will,  in  a  few  short 
years,  be  entirely  obliterated,  and  the  fragments  may  soon  have  to 
be  sought  for  among  the  nettles  and  brambles  of  the  ruined  build- 
in£x  to  which  it  is  attached. 


LIFE 


OF 


ROBERT    BLAIR 


LIFE  OF  EGBERT  BLAIR. 


THE  AUTOBIOGKAPHY. 

CHAPTER  I. 

FROM  HIS  BIRTH  TO  HIS  LAUREATION — 1593-1613. 

Having  met  with  great  variety  and  vicissitudes  of  conditions  in 
my  lifetime,  and  drawing  now  near  to  the  close  of  it  (my  seven- 
tieth year  being  almost  expired),*  and  having  had  experience  of  the 
constant  care  and  kindness  of  my  unchangeable  Lord,  I  think  my- 
self obliged  to  leave  some  notes  concerning  the  chief  passages  that 
have  occurred  to  me  in  my  pilgrimage,  tliat  my  wife  and  children, 
at  least,  might  have  these  to  be  a  memorial  of  the  Avay  that  I  kept 
in  the  world,  and  that  they  may  be  the  better  furnished  to^answer 
the  calumnies  and  reproaches  that  have  been,  and  possibly  may  be 
cast  upon  me ;  and  that  so  much  the  more  because  this  hath  been 
often  required  from  me  by  my  near  relations,  and  some  others  also. 
To  begin,  then,  with  my  younger  years,  my  father  (of  whose 
piety,  when  I  came  to  some  years,  I  got  certain  information,  how 
much  he  was  addicted  to  prayer,  and  how  tenderly  he  walked, 
refusing  to  enrich  himself  by  buying  commodities  from  pirates,  as 
his  neighbours  did,  being  twice  spoiled  at  sea  by  pmites)  was  taken 
from  me  the  sixth  year  of  my  age ;  and,  at  his  interring,  I  used  my 
bairnly  endeavouring  to  be  in  the  grave  before  him.  And  so  being 
*  Mv  Blaiv  was  born  at  Irviue  in  1593. 
a2 


4  Liri-:  OF  iionKHT  ijlatk.  [1599. 

the  youngest  of  six  left  upon  the  hands  of  a  widow  mother  not  well 
furnished,  :ind  hcini;  then  only  civil,*  till  many  years  thereafter  the 
Lord  showed  her  mercy  imder  the  ministry  of  his  worthy  and 
famous  servant,  Mr  David  Dicksonf  (for  she  lived  near  fifty  years 
a  widow  after  my  father's  death);  being,  I  say,  so  left,  the  Lord 
early  owned  me,  and  l)egan  to  catechise  me  in  the  seventh  year  of 
my  age.  U])on  a  LonVs-day,  being  left  alone  in  the  house  through 
indisj)osition,  the  Lord  caused  my  conscience  to  reflect  upon  me 
with  this  query,  ^Vhcrefore  servest  thou,  unprofitable  creature  ?  I 
not  being  able  to  answer,  looking  out  at  a  window,  I  saw  the  sun 
brightly  shining,  and  a  cow  with  a  full  udder.     I  thought  with 

•  Only  civil,  that  is,  only  decently  and  outwardly  virtuous. 

t  David  Diekson,  or  Dick,  was  the  only  son  of  Mr  John  Dickson,  a  pious  and 
wcaltliy  merchant  in  Glasgow.     He  is  suijjjosed  to  have  hecn  bom  in  1583.     After 
finishing  his  studies  at  the  University  of  Glasgow,  he  was  admitted  Professor  of  Philo- 
sophy, n  situation  wliich  he  held  for  eight  years.     In  1G18,  when  in  the  3oth  year  of 
his  age,  he  was  ordained  minister  of  Irvine,  where  he  laboured  with  much  acceptance 
and  success.    Having  refused  conij>liancc  with  the  Perth  Articles,  imposing  the  cere- 
monies of  the  Englisli  Church,  he  was,  on  the  9th  of  January  1022,  summoned  bvLaw 
Archbishop  of  Glasgow,  before  the  High  Commission  Court.     Dickson  appeared  but 
declined  the  authority  of  the  court  in  ecclesiastical  mattei's.     The  result  was  that  he 
was  doi.rived  of  his  charge,  and  banished  to  Turriff.     In  that  remote  locality  he  was 
not  idle,  being  employed  in  ]ireac]iing  every  Sabbath  by  the  minister  of  the  parish. 
Yielding  to  the  solicitations  of  the  Earl  of  Eglinton  and  the  town  of  Irvine,  the  bishop 
granted  him  liberty  to  return  to  his  old  charge  in  1()23.    Here  he  continued  to  labour 
with  increased  ardour,  i)reachlng  every  Monday,  the  market-day  of  Irvine,  for  the 
benefit  (.f  the  rural  population  ;  and  great  numbers,  particularly  from  the  neighbour- 
ing j.arish  of  Stcwarton,  attending  on  these  occasions,  the  residt  was  the  "famous 
Stfwarton  revival,  which  lasted  from  1G25  to  1G30.     After  the  renovation  of  the  na- 
tional covenant  in  1(;3S,  the  i-eoplc  of  Aberdeen  having  proved  refractoiT,  Dickson 
accomimnied  Alexander  Henderson  and  Andrew  Cant  on  a  mission  to  th.at  city,  and 
engaged  with  them  in  disputing  witli  its  learned  doctors,  in  behalf  of  the  covenant 
In  1(;42  he  was  aj.pointed  Professor  of  Divinity  in  the  Universitv  of  Glas^-ow    from 
whence  lie  was  aftenvards  translated  to  the  same  ollice  in  the  University  ofEdin- 
hurgh.     In  the  contest  between  the  Kesolutioners  and  Protesters,  he  took  the  side  of 
thet..rmer;  but  he  lived  to  see  alibis  anticipations  overturned  at  the  Restoration 
when  he  was  ejected  from  his  oflice  by  the  monarch  whom  he  had  laboured  to  restore' 
and  cnf.ssed  that  his  brethren,  the  Protesters,  had  been  "  the  truer  prophets."    He 
.bed  in  December  1002.     David  Dickson  was  a  man  of  no  ordinary  talents  and  theo- 
logical ucpiirements.     He  is  the  author  of  various  works,  among  which  his  Truth's 
V.ctnrj-  over  Error,  and  his  Thwapcutira  Sacra  are  best  known.    His  poems,  of  which 
he  composed  a  considerable  number,  nrc  remarkable  chiefly  for  their  pious  simplicity, 
M.ch  a.s    hat  well-known  pi.ce,  beginning  "  O  mother,  dear  Jerusaletn."     See  Sele 
IJioKraph..  printed  by  Wod.  Society,  vol.  ii.  p.  :,. 


1599.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  5 

myself,  I  know  that  sun  was  made  to  shine  and  give  light  to  the 
world,  and  that  cow  was  made  to  give  milk  to  nourish  me,  and  the 
like ;  but  being  still  ignorant  wherefore  I  was  made,  I  went  pensive 
up  and  down  that  gallery  wherein  I  was ;  then  perceiving  neither 
young  nor  old  upon  the  streets,  nor  hearing  any  noise,  I  did  re- 
member that  the  whole  people  used  often  to  meet  together,  in  a 
very  large  house,  called  the  kirk,  where,  no  doubt,  they  were  about 
that  errand  and  duty  which  I  had  not  yet  laid  to  heart.  Shortly 
thereafter,  upon  a  Lord's-day,  a  stranger  (I  learned  thereafter  that 
he  was  an  English  minister,  censured  there  by  the  bishops,  and, 
going  for  Ireland,  was  waiting  at  Irvine  for  passage)  entering  the 
pulpit,  his  countenance  and  his  band,  the  like  whereof  I  had  not 
formerly  seen,  drew  my  eyes  to  gaze  upon  him ;  and,  while  I  am 
thus  taken  up,  he  uttered  these  words :  "  But  as  to  me,  it  is  good 
to  me  to  draw  near  to  God."*  These  words,  being  the  text  whereon 
he  was  preaching,  he  very  often  repeated  in  his  sermon ;  and  every 
time  my  heart  was  much  affected  therewith.  I  consented  to  that 
truth,  and  heartily  approved  it,  and  thought,  verily,  the  Lord  had 
given  me  the  answer  of  the  query  that  my  conscience  had  made  a 
little  before ;  and  though  it  be  now  sixty-three  years  since  that 
time,  the  countenance,  carriage,  and  voice  of  the  speaker  remain 
fresh  upon  my  memory,  and  these  words  have  been  most  sweet 
unto  me,  so  that,  in  the  very  entry  of  my  public  ministry  (as  I  had 
vowed  before),  I  handled  that  text. 

From  that  day  forth,  I  durst  never  play  upon  the  Lord's-day, 
though  the  schoolmaster,  after  his  taking  an  account  of  the  Cate- 
chism, dismissed  us  with  that  express  direction,  "  Go  not  to  the 
town,  but  to  the  fields  and  play."  I  obeyed  him  in  going  to  the 
fields,  but  refused  to  play  with  my  companions,  as  against  the 
commandment  of  God.  As  I  remember  these  early  mercies  of  the 
Lord,  so  I  remember  my  early  sins.  Not  long  after  the  former 
passages,  in  a  time  of  rioting  (commonly  called  the  holidays  of 
Yule),  perceiving  what  liberty  some  elder  than  I  took,  to  the  end 
I  might  play  the  fool  the  more  boldly,  I  feigned  myself  to  be  drunk, 

*  Ts.  Ixxiii.  28. 


6  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1604. 

being  as  fresh  as  at  any  time.  Also,  forgetting  my  duty,  I  stayed 
at  play  till  after  supper  time.  Being  challenged  hereof,  and 
threatened  to  be  corrected,  to  escape  coiTection  I  feigned  that  I  was 
mourning  at  my  father's  grave,  and  so  I  escaped  and  set  my  mother 
a-niourning.  These  things  I  easily  then  digested,  till  the  twenty- 
third  year  of  my  age,  when,  reading  holy  Augustine's  Confessions, 
I  observed  how  he  in  his  old  age  laid  to  heart  his  childish  faults — 
such  as  breaking  into  orchards  and  stealing  of  apples ;  not  for  any 
want,  having  abundance  thereof  in  his  father's  house,  but  lest  he 
should  be  inferior  to  his  comrades.  Though  I  was  free  fi'om  that 
temptation  and  sin,  yet  I  was  thereby  set  to  work  to  ponder  the 
paths  of  my  youth :  for  sinful  self-love  is  so  strong,  that  though  thy 
Word,  O  Lord,  gives  clear  warning  of  the  heart's  deceitfulncss 
above  all  things  and  desperate  wickedness,  yet  we  do  not  believe 
the  same  until  we  feel  and  find  the  same  actually  breaking  out  in 
our  lives. 

About  this  same  time  thou  wast  pleased,  O  Lord,  to  visit  me 
with  a  deadly-like  disease  of  a  bloody  flux,  whereof  my  father 
not  long  before  had  died  ;  and  Avhen  all  prescribed  means  were  to 
no  effect,  thou  wast  pleased,  O  gracious  God,  to  suggest  to  me 
a  mean  whereof  I  made  use  with  the  privacy  only  of  an  old  ser- 
vant, which  at  first  seemed  outright  to  kill  me ;  but  being  '  after- 
wards cast '  *  in  a  deep  sleep  full  twenty-four  hours,  I  wakened 
perfectly  recovered,  and  called  for  meat,  which  I  had  not  before 
tasted  at  all  twenty-three  days.  But  after  this  the  corruption  of 
my  nature  did  break  out  in  contention  and  unrullness  toward  my 
two  sisters  ;  and  then,  O  Lord,  thou  didst  cast  me  into  a  sudden 
and  short  sickness,  and  after  the  recovery  from  it  thou  madcst 
me  to  detest  all  strife  and  contention ;  and  so  growing  up  to  the 
twelfth  t  year  of  my  age,  when  the  time  came  of  celebrating  the 

♦  Wodrow  MS.,  and  MS.  of  1715. 

t  Tliis  age  may  seem  to  us  to  have  l)ecn  somewhat  premature  for  approaching  tlie 
Lord's  table.  Instances,  however,  of  admission  at  this  early  age  were  by  no  means  rare 
in  former  times.  It  is  curious,  too,  to  notice,  in  an  act  of  Assembly  in  IGOO,  intended 
"  to  correct  divers  and  great  inconveniences  arising  bj-  the  untimeous  marriage  of  young 
and  tender  persons,"  an  order,  •'  that  no  minister  presume  to  join  in  matrimony  any 


1613.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  7 

supper  of  the  Lord,  I  was  admirably  taken  with  the  sermon  that 
day,  the  text  being  in  the  Song  of  Solomon  ;  and  being  appointed 
to  stand  by  the  minister  with  my  Psalm-book  in  my  hand,  I  was 
greatly  ravished  in  my  spirit  with  the  first  exhortation  at  the 
table,  and  desired  earnestly  to  communicate ;  but  having  gotten 
my  breakfast  I  durst  not ;  for  it  was  then  a  generally  received 
opinion,  that  the  sacrament  behoved  to  be  received  fasting.  *  Also, 
at  the  second  exhortation  being  greatly  moved,  f  I  secretly  la- 
mented that  my  bodily  breakfast  did  bereave  me  of  a  soul  break- 
fast and  banquet ;  but  in  the  third  exhortation,  observing  these 
words,  "After  supper,"  I  thus  reasoned  within  myself:  Did 
Christ  and  his  disciples  celebrate  this  sacrament  after  supper,  and 
can  it  be  a  fault  in  me  to  celebrate  it  after  breakfast  ?  Sure  it 
can  be  none,  and  so  at  the  next  table  I  sat  down  and  communi- 
cated. This  was  thy  work,  O  Lord,  to  thy  poor  child,  to  make 
me  thy  covenanted  and  sealed  servant.  About  this  time  the  min- 
ister giving  order  that  Mr  Welsh's  Catechism  slioidd  be  publicly 
repeated  in  the  kirk  before  sermon,  both  before  and  after  noon,  I 
was  made  choice  of  to  repeat  all  the  answers.  Thus,  O  Lord, 
thou  wast  pleased,  who  hadst  a  mind  to  make  me  a  public  orator 
for  thee,  to  cause  me  timeously  pronounce  words  whereby  thy 
people  were  edified. 

In  this  time,  profiting  well  in  my  bairnly  studies,  I  was  fitted 
to  go  to  the  College  of  Glasgow,  where  I  appeared  to  be  inferior 
to  none  of  my  fellow-students ;  and  lest  I  should  be  puffed  up 
with  my  proficiency,  thou,  O  Lord,  wast  pleased  to  visit  me  with 
a  tertian  fever,  which  did  exercise  me  fuU  four  months,  to  the 
great  detriment  of  my  studies.  Thereafter  I  remember  no  re- 
markable thing  till  the  fourth  year  (which  was  the  twentieth  year 

persons,  in  time  coming,  except  the  man  be  fourteen  ycirs  of  age,  and  the  woman 
twelve  complete." — Calderwood's  History,  \\.,  24. 

*  This  was  a  reUc  of  Popish  superstition,  which  had  lingered  behind  in  the  practice 
of  the  people,  but  which  received  no  countenance  from  the  discipline  of  the  Reformed 
Chiirch  of  Scotland. 

t  In  Wodrow  MS.  it  is  :  '•  Also  at  the  second  table  being  greatly  moved  with  the 
exhortation. 


8  Tji-K  or  iioniAiv  hlaiij.  [1G1.'5. 

of  my  life)  ;  then  I  remember  that  I  could  not  willingly  want  the 
exercise  of  my  body  by  archery  and  the  catchpole,  and  lest  I  should 
be  at  a  loss  thereby  in  my  studies,  I  chose  every  other  day  to  for- 
bear one  meal  of  meat ;  but  perceiving  that  not  to  be  a  sufficient 
recompense,  I  resolved  to  watch  at  my  studies  every  other  night. 
And  to  carry  this  quietly  without  being  perceived,  I  coiUd  find 
no  other  room  for  the  purpose  but  a  chamber  wherein  none  was 
permitted  to  lie,  by  reason  of  apparitions  in  the  night  season  ;  yea, 
I  myself  had  therein  seen  a  spirit  in  likeness  of  one  of  my  con- 
disciples,  Avliom  I,  having  a  lighted  candle  in  my  hand,  and  suppos- 
ing verily  it  had  been  that  boy,  chased  to  a  corner  of  the  chamber, 
where  he  seemed  to  hide  himself;  but  when  I  offered  to  pull  him 
out  I  could  find  nothing.*  Yet  in  that  same  chamber  I  resolved 
to  spend  my  waking  nights,  and  did  so  the  whole  summer,  and 
was  never  troubled  nor  terrified  a  whit.  And  though  I  was  car- 
ried on  herein  only  by  an  ardent  desire  of  prosecuting  my  studies 
diligently,  yet  thou,  O  Lord,  hadst  another  design,  even  to  fix  my 
faith  on  thee ;  for  this  thou  taughtest  me  that  devils  were  chained 
with  chains  of  darkness,  reserved  to  the  judgment  of  the  last  day, 
so  that  they  could  not,  nor  durst  not,  once  appear,  far  less  molest, 
without  thy  permission;  and  that  if  thou  permittest  any  such 
thing,  thou  wouldst  make  it  work  for  good  to  one  devoted  to  thee, 
whom  thou  hast  taken  into  protection.  But  withal,  thou  taught 
me  then  how  necessary  it  w^as  to  pray  seriously  and  fervently,  and 
to  live  always  as  under  thy  onlooking  eye ;  and  so  during  that 
time  I  studied  the  one  night  without  any  fear  or  the  least  distrac- 
tion, and  the  other  night  I  slept  very  sweetly.  Glory  to  my 
blessed  Protector  for  ever ! 

*  Very  likely  there  was  nothing  to  find ;  still  it  was  no  small  proof  of  personal 
courage  to  make  the  attempt,  in  those  days  when  kings  were  witch-finders,  and  whole 
parliaments  trembled  at  a  ghost  stoiy. 


1613.]  LIFE  OF  llOBEKT  BLAIR. 


CHAPTER  n. 


DURING  HIS  ABODE  IN  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  GLASGOW — 1613-1623. 

Having  now  finished  my  course  of  philosophy,  under  the  discip- 
line of  my  brother,  Mr  William  Blair,  I  took  only  some  few  days 
to  recreate  myself  with  my  friends  in  the  country,  in  hawking  and 
hunting,  and  speedily  entered  into  a  very  laborious  task ;  for  I 
was  engaged  beforehand  to  be  an  assistant  to  the  aged  and  de- 
cayed schoolmaster  of  Glasgow,  who  had  under  his  discipline  above 
three  hundred  children,  the  one-half  whereof  were  committed  to 
my  charge,  where  I  remember  no  remarkable  thing,  save  that, 
being  outwearied  with  the  toil  of  the  day,  I  oft  went  to  bed  with- 
out supper,  not  for  want  but  for  weariness,  making  conscience  of 
my  employment.     At  that  time  Mr  Robert  Boyd  of  Trochrig  * 

*  Robert  Boyd  of  Trochrig  was  one  of  the  noblest  charactei's  of  his  day — combining 
the  best  qualities  of  the  gentleman,  the  scholar  and  the  Christian.  But  his  lot  was  cast 
in  an  evil  time,  when  none  of  these  virtues  were  of  any  avail,  without  a  slavish  sub- 
jection to  the  arbitraiy  will  of  a  despot,  incompatible  with  any  one  of  them.  Descended 
fi-om  the  Earl  of  AiTan,  regent  of  Scotland,  his  father,  James  Boyd  of  Trochrig,  had 
been  archbishop  of  Glasgow.  Having  finished  his  course  of  philosophy  and  theology 
under  the  celebrated  Andrew  Melville  and  Rollock,  Robert  went  to  France  in  1597, 
where  he  became  acquainted  with  the  learned  Rivet,  who  used  to  call  him  his  alter  ego 
— his  second  self.  Such  was  the  extent  of  his  learning,  that  it  has  been  said  of  him, 
in  the  quaint  language  of  those  times,  "  he  was  more  eloquent  in  French  than  in  his 
mother's  tongue  ;  more  eloquent  in  Latin  than  in  French ;  more  eloquent  in  Greek 
than  in  Latin."  He  was  ordained  to  the  ministi-y  in  France,  where  he  married  a 
i'rcuch  lady.     The  Continental  divines  soon  discovered  and  highly  appreciated  the 


10  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [IGlj. 

being  sent  for  by  King  James,  came  to  be  principal  of  the  College 
of  Glasgow.  At  the  heariun;  of  his  inaugural  oration  I  was  not  a 
little  refreshed  and  upstirred.  Therein  he  moved  a  doubt  and 
question — that  seeing  he  was  a  gentleman  of  a  considerable  estate, 
whereupon  he  might  live  competently  enough,  what  caused  him 
embrace  so  painful  a  calling,  as  both  to  profess  divinity  in  the 
schools,  and  to  teach  people  also  by  his  ministry  ?  His  answer  was, 
that,  considering  the  great  wrath  under  the  which  he  lay  naturally, 
and  the  great  salvation  purchased  to  him  by  Jesus  Christ,  he  had 
resolved  to  spend  himself  to  the  utmost,  giving  all  diligence  to 
glorify  that  Lord  who  had  so  loved  him.  I  thought  with  myself, 
There  is  a  man  of  God,  there  is  one  of  a  thousand  ! — who  am  I, 
in  the  very  entry,  to  weary  of  painfulness  in  serving  my  Lord, 

merits  of  the  yoimg  Scotsnican.  In  1590,  lie  was  appointed  professor  of  belles  letti'cs 
in  the  College  of  Montauban  ;  but  that  noble  champion  of  Protestantism,  Du  Plessis 
Momay,  did  not  rest  till  he  had  secured  his  services  as  professor  of  divinity  in  his  Uni- 
versity of  Saumm-,  -nith  a  salaiy  of  £G00  a-year.  This  office  he  continued  to  hold, 
with  great  applause,  from  IGOG  to  1614 ;  when,  on  the  earnest  solicitations  of  James  VI. 
— who,  to  do  him  justice,  was  always  anxious  to  have  men  of  learning  about  him — he 
was  called  over  to  Scotland,  and  appointed  principal  of  the  College  of  Glasgow  in  1615. 
At  the  same  time  he  became  minister  of  Govan.  Here  he  laboured  with  great  suc- 
cess for  six  or  seven  years  ;  and  during  that  period  many  young  men,  afterwards  emi- 
nent in  the  Church,  such  as  Blair,  Livingstone,  and  Baillie,  were  trained  up  under  his 
care.  "  He  was,"  says  Row,  "  a  very  learned  and  well-gifted  man,  and  yet  one  of  the 
most  humble,  modest,  and  meek  men  that  was  in  the  ministiy,  in  all  this  kingdom."  But 
neither  the  piety  of  the  minister,  the  eminence  of  the  scholar,  nor  the  amiable  disposi- 
tions of  the  man,  could  atone,  in  the  eyes  of  James  and  his  courtiers,  for  his  opposi- 
tion to  "  Prelacy  and  the  ceremonies."  The  good  man,  hearing  of  the  reports  which 
the  bishops  sent  up  against  him  to  his  Majesty,  shrunk  with  sensitive  delicacy  from  the 
threatened  storm,  retired  to  his  estate  of  Trochrig,  and  wrote  to  his  fi-icnd  Dr  Rivet, 
earnestly  soliciting  some  emplopncnt  abroad.  His  friends,  anxious  to  retain  his  valu- 
able services,  procured  his  appointment  as  princii)al  of  the  College  of  Edinburgli,  and 
he  was  actually  admitted  in  1622,  but  only  suffered  to  continue  two  imnllis.  HisPre- 
latical  opponents,  envious  of  his  popularity  as  a  preacher,  informed  against  him  as  a 
ringleader  of  the  Nonconformists  ;  whereupon  his  majesty  wrote  letters  to  the  magis- 
trates, rating  them  severely  for  admitting  him,  and  charging  them  to  remove  him, 
"  unless  he  conform  iotalli/."  He  was  afterwards  called  to  the  ministry  in  Paisley ; 
but  this  being  at  that  time  a  "  nest  of  Papists,"  as  Row  calls  it,  he  was  actually  driven 
out  of  the  town  "  with  stones  and  dirt."  Grieved  in  spirit,  he  retired  home,  ^^•here  he 
contracted  a  disease  which  baffled  medical  skill,  and  he  died  at  Edinburgh,  July  5. 
1627.  His  chief  work  is  a  large  commentary  on  the  Ephesians. — Life  of  Boyd,  Wocl- 
row  MSS.,  printed  by  the  Maitland  Club.  It  has  been  said,  I  know  not  on  what 
authority,  that  he  died  in  Carrick,  January  1627.— Bannali/nr  Uliscrl.,  i.  285. 


1G15.]  ,  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  11 

though  In  a  meaner  employment  ?  From  that  day  my  heart  was 
knit  to  that  learned  and  holy  man,  in  whose  hand  the  Lord  had 
put,  as  it  were,  the  key  of  my  heart  to  open  it  to  the  Lord,  when- 
ever I  heard  him  in  public  or  private.  I  profited  little  by  others  ; 
but  he,  as  sent  from  God  to  me,  spoke  words  of  eternal  life,  whose 
lessons  I  carried  away  written  in  my  heart,  and  thereafter  did  write 
them  in  paper  for  mine  own  use. 

After  two  years  I  was  admitted  to  be  a  regent  In  the  College  of 
Glasgow,  not  without  opposition  from  Archbishop  Law,  who  had 
promised  the  place  to  another,  having  a  purpose  to  detain  me  in 
the  charge  I  was  in,  and  having  a  son  under  my  discipline,  (for  as 
yet  I  had  not  laid  to  heart  the  controversy  about  Church  govern- 
ment ;)  but  herein  the  j)rincipal,  Trochrig,  and  the  regents  would 
not  give  way  to  his  motion.  Being  entered  to  this  charge,  my 
elder  colleagues,  perceiving  that  I  had  some  considerable  insight 
in  Humanity,  *  urged  me  to  peruse  all  classical  authors  ;  and  I, 
hearkening  to  the  motion,  began  to  peruse  the  most  ancient  frag- 
ments, and  read  over  all  Plautus.  But  the  Lord  being  displeased 
with  this  design,  diverted  me  thus :  Having  the  charge  of  the 
library,  I  fell  upon  the  ancients  who  are  called  fathers,  especially 
Augustine,  who  had  another  relish  with  me,  and  who,  in  his  Con- 
fessions, inveighs  sharply  against  the  education  of  the  youth  in 
heathen  writings.  I  therefore  betook  me  to  the  reading  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  and  the  ancient  fathers,  who  breathed  out  much 
piety  ;  yet  even  then  I  perceived  our  reformed  divines  much  purer 
according  to  the  Scriptures ;  yet  I  resolved  to  peruse  these  an- 
cient monuments,  beginning  at  the  eldest,  wherein  I  made  consi- 
derable progress  in  the  hours  I  could  spare  from  my  charge. 

In  the  midst  of  that  year  (1616)  I  was  called  by  the  presbytery 
to  the  public  exercise ;  and  having  made  the  exercise  upon  the 
Wednesday,  the  burden  was  laid  upon  me  to  preach  the  very  next 
Sabbath  in  the  College  Kirk.  Some  of  the  hearers,  better  ac- 
quainted with  God  than  I,  after  some  years,  told  mc,  that  in  that 
my  first  sermon  the  Lord  spoke  to  their  hearts ;  whereat  I  greatly 

*  HumaiuUj,  the  Latin  language. 


12  LIFE  OF  liOBEKT  BLAIll.  [1(31(3. 

wondered,  and  was  stii'red  up  to  follow  after  the  Lord.  That  year, 
upon  an  evening,  having  made  a  dangerous  visit  to  ensnaring  com- 
pany, when  I  returned  to  my  chamber,  and  went  to  my  ordinary 
devotion,  the  Lord  did  let  out  so  much  displeasure  and  wrath,  that 
I  was  driven  from  prayer,  and  heavily  threatened  to  be  discoun- 
tenanced and  deserted  of  God.  Hereupon  I  had  a  restless  night, 
and  resolved  to  spend  the  next  day  in  extraordinary  humiliation, 
fasting,  and  mourning  before  the  Lord  ;  and  towards  the  evening 
of  that  day,  I  found  access  to  God  with  sweet  peace,  through  Jesus 
Christ,  and  learned  to  beware  of  such  visits  and  company.  But 
then  I  did  run  into  another  extremity,  towards  such  as  were  pro- 
fane and  irreligious — of  rudeness  and  incivility.  Holy  Lord  !  how 
hard  a  thing  is  it  to  short-sighted  sinners  to  hold  the  right  and  the 
straight  way  ! 

Some  days  after  this,  being  in  conference  after  dinner  with  wor- 
thy Mr  Dickson,  my  elder  colleague — once  my  master  when  I  was 
a  novice — I  perceived  that  the  very  same  day  wherein  I  was  so 
retired,  he  also  was  that  same  way  employed ;  whereof  did  arise 
betwixt  us  most  entire  friendship,  and  a  covenant  of  mutual  re- 
membrance one  of  another  frequently  before  the  Lord.  About 
that  time  I  learned  that  it  was  my  duty,  not  only  to  teach  my 
scholars  according  to  the  laws  and  customs  of  the  college,  but  also, 
according  to  the  law  of  God,  and  to  teach  them  piety  ;  and  from 
that  time  forth  ray  reproof  had  more  weight  with  them  than  the 
rod  had  formerly. 

At  this  time  I  observed  little  controversy  in  religion  in  the  Kirk 
of  Scotland ;  for  though  there  were  bishops,  yet  they  took  little 
upon  them,  and  so  were  very  little  opposed  until  Perth  Assembly.* 

*  This  Assembly  was  held  at  Perth,  25th  August  1618.  "  It  was  not  made  up," 
says  Row  "  of  commissioners  sent  from  presbyteries,  but  of  bishops,  doctors,  deans, 
and  such  ministers  as  were  the  bishops'  followers.  Then  the  king  had  his  commis- 
sioners, and  there  were  sundry  noblemen  and  gentlemen,  who  were  written  for  by  the 
king  and  bishops  to  keep  the  said  Assembly  ;  and  sundry  commissioners  sent  from 
presbyteries  were  not  called  upon,  neither  got  they  any  vote  there,  the  moderator  not 
knowing  what  they  would  say.  The  Bishop  of  St  Andrews  (Spottiswood),  usurped  the 
place  of  moderator  ;  and  when  some  modestly  spoke  that  Icets  should  be  made,  and 
out  of  them  a  moderator  chosen  by  votes,  he  answeied,  '  This  toune  wherein  we  are 


1618.]  LIFE  OF  ROBEUT  BLAIR.  13 

I,  hearing  that  some  innovations  were  to  be  introduced  *  at  that 
meeting,  which  was  attempted  before  at  a  meeting  at  Aberdeen, 
and  at  another  at  St  Andrews,  but  nothing  could  there  be  conclud- 
ed ;  but  great  preparation  being  made  to  carry  a  conclusion  of 
enacting  kneeling  at  the  communion,  with  some  holidays,  &c., 
that  meeting  being  appointed  in  August,  the  college  vacation  being 
then,  I  resolved  to  wait  upon  it  to  see  how  matters  were  carried. 
In  the  entry  of  that  meeting,  there  was  some  contest  about  presid- 
ing and  moderating  the  Assembly.  The  Archbishop  of  St  An- 
drews, t  who  opened  the  Assembly  with  a  crafty  sermon,  pretended 
that  presiding  belonged  to  him  of  right ;  but  ancient  wortliy  men 
opposed  it,  affirming  that  it  was  against  the  liberty  and  freedom  of 
a  General  Assembly  in  Scotland  that  any  should  intrude  into  that 
place,  and  that  still,  in  all  Assemblies  since  the  beginning  of  the 
Reformation,  the  moderator  was  elected  by  the  suffrages  of  the 
members  of  the  Assembly  ;  as  also,  that  no  pretended  Assembly 

is  in  my  diocie ;  let  us  see  wlao  will  take  my  place  over  my  head.' " — Row's  Uist., 
p.  315. 

*  These  innovations  were  actually  introduced,  and  are  commonly  called  the  Five 
Articles  of  Pertli.  They  were :  kneeling  at  the  sacrament ;  private  communion  ;  private 
baptism ;  confirmation  of  children;  observance  of  festivals  or  holidays  in  commemoration 
of  the  birth,  passion,  resurrection  and  ascension  of  Christ,  and  the  effusion  of  the  Spirit. 
The  king  very  plainly  told  the  Assembly  in  his  letter,  that,  though  he  had  asked  their 
consent  to  these  Articles,  they  were  not  to  suppose  that  he  considered  this  necessary. 
"  This  were  a  misknowing  of  your  places,  and  withal  a  disclaiming  of  that  innate  power 
which  we  have  by  our  calling  ti-om  God  ;  by  the  which  we  have  place  to  dispose  of  things 
external  in  the  Cliurcli  as  we  shall  tliink  them  to  be  convenient  and  profitable  for  ad- 
vancing true  religion  among  our  subjects.  We  will  content  ourselves  with  nothing 
but  a  simple  and  direct  acceptation  of  these  Articles  in  the  fonn  by  us  sent  unto  you." 
— Booke  of  the  Univ.  Kirk,  iii.,  1146. 

t  John  Spottis^^■ood,  who  was  first  minister  of  Calder,  and  then  archbishop  of  Glas- 
gow, but  made  archbishop  of  St  Andrews  in  1G15,  in  the  room  of  Archbishop  Glad- 
stanes,  who  died  that  year,  and  chancellor  of  Scotland.  He  fled  fi-om  Scotland,  after 
the  covenant  had  been  sworn  in  1638,  exclaiming  :  "Now  aU  that  we  have  been  doing 
these  thirty  years  bypast  is  at  once  thrown  down  !"  He  died  at  London,  November  26. 
1639,  just  in  time  to  escape  witnessing  the  total  overthrow  of  his  favourite  Church 
polity  in  Scotland.  Spottiswood,  though  haughty  and  imperious,  and  frequently  giv- 
ing way  to  unseemly  bursts  of  passion  against  those  who  thwarted  him  in  his  projects, 
cannot  be  said  to  have  been  of  a  sanguinary  or  cruel  disposition.  His  history  has 
been  admired  for  its  moderation,  but  is  chargeable  with  gi'oss  misrepresentation,  and, 
being  a  postliumous  work,  is  suspected  of  interpolations. — See  Index  to  M^Crie's  Life  of 
Melri/h;  ii..  548. 


11  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIK.  [1618. 

had  fixed  the  privilege  of  presiding  upon  bishops,  that  had  crept  in 
contrary  to  the  ancient  constitution  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland.  Not- 
withstanding all  this,  the  archbishop  usurped  the  place,  against 
which  some  of  the  brethren  gave  in  a  protestation  in  writing.  Some 
days  there  was  a  disputation  ;  Mr  William  Scot  of  Cupar,  Mr 
John  Carmichael  of  Kilconquhar,  and  IMr  Alexander  Henderson 
ofLeuchars,*  reasoning  against  the  innovations;  Drs  Lindsay ,t 
Gladstanes,  |  and  Philip,  §  making  answers,  such  as  they  were. 
They  never  offered  any  reason  for  the  change  but  the  king's  wiU, 
(his  letter  being  read  several  times),  except  one  argument  offered 

*  Mr  William  Scot  and  Mr  John  Carmichael  were  the  intimate  friends  of  Andrew 
Meh-ille,  and  must  now  have  been  old  men.  The  former  wrote  an  "  Apologetical  Narra- 
tion of  the  State  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,"  lately  printed  by  the  Wodrow  Society. 
Alexander  Henderson  afterwards  tlistinguished  himself  as  the  hero  of  the  second  Re- 
formation. 

t  Dr  David  Lindsay,  who  was  at  this  time  minister  of  Dundee.  He  was  made  bishop 
of  Brechin  in  1G19,  and  afterwards  bishop  of  Edinburgh  in  1634. — lioiv's  History,  pp. 
242,  32,").  He  Avas  the  intimate  friend  of  Mr  James  Nicolson,  who,  after  accepting  the 
bishopric  of  Dnnkeld,  fell  into  a  state  of  remorse,  which  brought  on  his  death.  Lind- 
say set  down  in  Latin  verse  the  last  words  of  his  friend,  which  were  expressive  of 
pungent  remorse  for  having  accepted  the  bishopric,  and,  among  the  rest,  Nicolson's 
exhortation  to  liim  not  to  haunt  the  court,  and  to  eschew  all  the  king's  emplojmients. 
"  But  neither  his  grief  nor  his  admonition,"  says  Calderwood,  "  have  wronglit  any 
good  eflect  upon  Mr  Da\-id ;  for  he  hath  made  no  scruple  to  accept  upon  him  the 
liisliopric  of  Brechin,  and  to  defend  all  the  corruptions  and  innovations  it  pleased  King 
James  to  obtrude  upon  our  Kirk." — History  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  vi.,  672.  Dr 
Lindsay  wrote  several  Avorks  on  the  subject,  as,  "  Eesolutions  for  Kneeling  at  the 
Communion,"  8vo,  London,  1619  ;  and,  "  An  Account  of  Perth  Assembly,  with 
a  Defence  thereof,"  4to,  London,  1621. — Charterls'  Short  Account  of  Scots  Divines, 
IVudrow  ]\ISS.,  vol.  lii.  4to,  no.  2,  p.  8. 

t  Dr  Alexander  Gladstanes  was  the  son  of  George  Gladstanes,  archbishop  of  St 
Andrews.  He  studied  at  the  University  of  Oxford,  and  in  1612  was  appointed  arch- 
deacon and  first  minister  of  St  Andrews,  although  he  had  entered  on  the  study  of 
theolog}'  only  three  years  before.  So  late  as  1612  his  father  had  continued  to  act  as 
first  minister  ;  but  in  that  year  the  archdeanery  was  separated  from  the  archbishoprick, 
(Acts  Pari.  Scot.  iv.  493.)  While  in  this  situation,  the  conduct  of  young  Gladstanes 
was  far  from  being  irreproachable.  In  December  1G15,  the  year  in  wliich  his  father 
died,  Archbishop  Spottiswood  found  it  necessaiy  to  advise  him  to  "  follow  his  calling, 
and  l)ehave  himself  with  greater  gravity,"  and  not  to  be  "  a  company -bearer  with  com- 
mon folks  in  drinking.''  He  continued,  however,  archdeacon  of  St  Andrews  till  the 
overthrow  of  Prelacy  in  1C38,  when  he  ^^•as  deposed  by  the  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews ; 
and  the  case  coming  before  the  General  Assembly,  that  Court  confinncd  the  sentence 
of  the  Presbytciy  ;  upon  which  he  declined  the  authority  of  the  Assembly,  and  pro- 
tested— Life  of  Archbishop  Gladstanes,  in  Wodroiv's  Bioyraphical  Collections,  i.  293, 
315,  546. 

§  Dr  Ilcnry  Philip,  minister  at  Arbroath.— iioic's  History,  p.  269. 


1018.]  LIFE   or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  15 

by  Dr  Lindsay,  which  was  easily  blown  away.  The  reasoners 
against  kneeling  once  asked  whether  their  opponents  urged  the 
gesture  of  kneeling  in  reverence  to  the  elements  of  the  sacraments, 
yea  or  nay  ?  It  was  answered  by  Dr  Gladstanes,  "  Not  as  to  the 
elements,  but  as  to  holy  signs ;"  at  which  answer  a  great  number 
of  the  Assembly  murmured  as  a  most  dangerous  and  superstitious 
conceit,  yea,  his  very  partners  that  stood  with  him  showed  their 
displeasure  ;  and  yet  the  very  act  concluding  for  kneeling  carries 
the  same  notion  in  the  bosom  of  it  not  obscurely.  In  the  midst  of 
the  disputation,  the  archbishop  burst  out  in  these  words  :  "  This 
matter  shall  not  be  carried  either  by  arguments  or  votes ;  if  it  were 
but  we  bishops,  with  his  Majesty's  commissioners,  we  will  conclude 
and  enact  the  matter,  and  see  who  dare  withstand  this." 

Matters  being  thus  carried,  I  had  then  no  doubt,  nor  ever 
doubted  since,  on  what  side  truth  stood.  Yea,  then  I  perceived 
that  Prelacy  itself  was  the  worst  of  all  corrupt  ceremonies,  and 
was  then  fixed  in  my  judgment  never  to  approve  their  way,  it 
being  destructive  to  the  purity  of  the  Gospel.  This  change  in- 
troduced persecution,  yet  nothing  so  hot  and  violent  as  that  which 
now  is  incumbent   on  the  Kirk  of  Christ.*      From  that  time  I 


*  This  was  Avi-itten  in  16G3,  when  the  persecution  under  Charles  II.  was  "  incum- 
bent," or  lying  heavily  on  the  Church  of  Scotland. — Both  ministers  and  private  Chris- 
tians were  exposed  to  trouble  for  not  conforming  to  the  Perth  Articles.  On  June  the 
8th,  1G20,  an  act  of  the  Privy  Council  was  passed  for  "  a  proclamation  for  keeping  the 
acts  of  the  last  Assemblies  of  the  Kirk,"  in  which  every  minister  i\'ho  violates  the  said 
acts,  it  is  stated,  does  so  under  the  pain  of  being  "  called  and  convened  before  the 
Lords  and  others  of  the  High  Commission,  and  other  oi'dinaiy  judges  of  the  Ivirk, 
and  to  be  punished  by  deprivation,  suspension,  confining,  and  warding,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  said  judges  of  the  Kirk  :  And  every  other  person  that  shall  refuse  to  come 
into  the  kirk  and  to  hear  preaching,  the  days  [holidays]  particularly  above  written, 
imder  the  pain  of  payment  of  the  sum  of  thirteen  shillings  and  foui7)ence,  as  a 
penalty  modified  to  be  taken  of  them  and  every  one  of  them  that  shall  so  transgress 
(totics  quoties) :  And  siklike  for  every  person  that  sliall  refuse  to  communicate  in  the 
reverent  manner  that  is  prescribed  by  the  acts  of  the  said  Assembly,  iinder  pain  of 
payment  of  the  sums  of  money  after  specified,  according  to  their  ranks,  qualities  and 
degrees  ;  that  is  to  say,  every  eaid  imdcr  the  pain  of  an  hundred  ])Ounds,  every  lord 
under  the  pain  of  an  hundred  merks,  eveiy  baron  or  laird  under  the  penalty  of  fifty 
jiounds,  and  every  other  person,  of  whatsoever  rank  or  dcgi'ee,  under  the  pain  of 
twenty  pounds  or  less,  at  the  discretion  of  the  judges  before  wliom  they  shall  be 
called,   convened,  and  punished  in  manner  foresaid,  without  favour :   And  the  said 


16  LIFE  OF  KOBEKT  IJLAIK.  [1618. 

studied  the  controversies  about  lord  bishops  and  their  ceremonies, 
and  was  still  more  and  more  confirmed  against  them  as  weighty 
coiTuptions.  About  that  time,  looking  for  a  book  in  my  jircss,  1 
lighted  upon  another  which  I  was  not  seeking,  called  "  Petronius 
Arbiter."  This  book  I  heard  some  commend  for  an  excellent 
Latin  diction,  both  in  prose  and  metre,  and  upon  tliis  account  I 
bought  it,  but  until  that  day  I  had  never  read  any  part  of  it ;  but 
then  where  it  opened  to  me  I  fell  a  reading,  and  did  find,  under 
the  veil  of  most  elegant  words,  the  most  base  matter ;  and,  still 
upon  my  feet  standing,  I  turned  over  and  looked  one  or  two  other 
places,  and  still  I  found  filthy  poisons  sugared  and  gilded  with 
very  ornate  words.  I  thought  with  myself,  if  anything  in  the 
world  be  the  devil's  bait  to  defile  and  entangle  souls,  this  is  one 
eminently  ;  and  wishing  that  there  had  been  no  more  copies  of  it 
in  the  world,  I  went  to  the  fire,  and  with  my  tongs  I  lifted  out 
the  best  burning  coal,  and  laid  in  this  book  in  the  place  of  it,  lay- 
inn;  on  the  burninfy  coal  above  it.  I  learned  thereafter  that  this 
Petronius  Arbiter,  the  writer  of  the  book,  was  called  Arbiter  be- 
cause he  was  Arbiter  deliciarum  Neronis ;  that  is,  the  inventor  and 
master  of  wicked  pleasures  to  that  monster  of  cruelty  and  filthi- 
ness,  the  Emperor  Nero  *.  O  with  how  great  circumspection 
ought  we  and  others,  especially  young  ones,  to  consider  what 
books  they  have  or  read,  lest  unawares  they  swallow  down  soul- 
poison,  which,  as  poison  to  the  body,  though  it  be  vomited  up 
again,  yet  leaves  always  a  hurtful  dreg  I 

Not  long  after  that,  I   met  with  a  most   rare   and  admirable 

pains  shall  be  taken  up  and  applied  to  pious  vses." — Wodrow  MSS.,  vol.  xliii..  folio, 
no.  95. 

*  Caius  Petronius  united  talents  of  a  high  order  with  softness  of  manners  and  the 
love  of  sensuality.  IIa\ing  fallen  under  the  displeasure  of  the  tyrant  to  whose  vices 
he  had  pandered,  he  was  condemned  to  death.  Petronius  became  his  own  execu- 
tioner. He  opened  a  vein,  then  closed  it  up  again,  losing,  at  intervals,  a  .small  quan- 
tity of  blood,  "  as  if  not  in  a  hurry  to  leave  a  world  which  he  loved ;"  his  friends, 
during  this  operation,  all  the  while  endeavouring  to  entertain  him  with  grave  dis- 
courses on  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  interspersed  with  recitations  of  ga)-  and  lively 
pieces  of  poetiy.  Such  was  tlic  writer  wliose  talents  recommended  him  to  thf  liuour 
of  Nero,  and  to  the  praise  of  Pope  in  his  Essay  on  Criticism:— 
"  Fancy  and  art  in  gay  Petronius  jAease  ; 
The  schohir's  loaiMin--  with  the  courtier's  case." 


1619.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  17 

merc}',  wherein  I  tasted  abundantly  of  the  Lord's  loving-kindness 
that's  better  than  life,  and  somewhat  of  that  joy  that  is  unspeak- 
able and  glorious ;  and  thus  it  was :  One  of  my  colleagues, 
through  indisposition,  not  coming  to  the  table,  I  made  him  a  visit 
after  supper,  and  finding  him  distempered  by  a  crudity  in  his 
stomach,  I  entreated  the  favour  to  send  for  wine  and  milk  to  be  a 
posset.  He  knowing  that  then  I  could  scarce  taste  wine,  yielded 
to  my  motion,  providing  I  would  drink  thereof  myself:  but  the 
college  servants,  not  being  well  skilled  in  posset-making,  put  in 
too  little  milk  for  allaying  the  strength  of  the  wine.  Hereby  it 
came  to  pass,  that  having  taken  a  draught  thereof,  and  finding  no 
hanii  for  the  present,  two  hours  thereafter,  being  in  bed,  I  was 
cast  into  a  burning  fever,  and  having  never  felt  the  like  of  that  in 
all  my  life,  I  presently  apprehended  death  to  approach.  I  was 
the  more  capable  of  this  apprehension,  because  from  the  twelfth 
year  of  mine  age  I  had  very  frequent  meditations  of  death,  where- 
upon it  was  settled  in  my  breast  that  I  would  never  see  thirty 
years,  and  then  I  was  about  five  or  six  and  twenty.  The  burning 
heat  still  increasing  (as  it  uses  to  be  in  a  diary  fever,  for  meeting 
with  the  like  thereafter  by  reading  Fernelius,*  I  learned  that  the 
access  of  the  day-fever  is  most  violent,  inflaming  the  vital  spirits), 
I  concluded  that  I  would  not  see  the  sun  ao;ain  risino*,  though  the 
night  then  was  very  short,  it  being  in  the  month  of  July.  At 
this  time  I  was  not  at  all  dismayed  ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  I  began 
to  rejoice  greatly  upon  the  consideration  that  shortly  I  might  be 
rid  of  sin  and  sorrow,  and  was  fair  before  the  wind  to  arrive  where 
holiness  and  glory  dwell,  to  enjoy  God  eternally.  And  though 
that  scorching  fever  was  burning  my  body,  yet  the  love  of  God 
burning  more  fervently  in  my  soul  made  me  to  feel  no  pain  at  all. 
It  was  not  possible  to  my  tongue  then,  nor  my  pen  now,  to  ex- 
press the  great  gladness  and  exulting  of  my  spirit.  I  extolled  my 
Lord  and  Saviour,  yea,  I  sang  to  him,  especially  the  16th  Psalm, 

*  John  Fenielius  was  a  medical  writer  of  great  ability  in  his  time  ;  there  are  many 
editions  of  his  Univei'sa  Medicina,  sive  Opera  Medicinalia,  ])rinted  at  Paris,  Lyons, 
and  Geneva,  between  1567  and  1645. 


18  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1619. 

for  I  felt  within  me  that  which  is  written  in  the  end  of  tliat  psalm  : 
"  Thou  wilt  show  me  the  path  of  life  ;  in  thy  presence  is  fulness 
of  joy  ;  at  thy  right  hand  there  are  pleasures  for  evermore."  And 
thus  I  reasoned  :  If  I  be  so  full  now  of  joy  and  pleasure  in  God, 
even  in  this  vale  of  tears,  how  infinitely  greater  shall  those  joys 
and  pleasures  be  w^hen  the  soul  shall  be  elevated  and  enlarged  to 
enjoy  God  eternally,  without  any  interruption,  world  without  end ! 
When  I  had  been  some  hom's  entertained  in  this  banqueting 
house,  the  banner  of  his  love  being  over  me,  there  bm'st  out  a 
great  sweat,  which  did  wet  not  only  my  body  and  shirt,  but  the 
whole  clothes  about  me  ;  the  vehemence  of  the  fever  was  abated ; 
and  I  perceived  by  the  abating  that  the  time  of  my  perfecting 
was  not  yet  come,  which  caused  me  to  sigh  many  love  sighs,  and 
the  vehemence  of  my  rejoicing  also  abated.  About  the  sun  rising 
I  fell  asleep  for  about  an  hour  or  two  ;  and  about  six  o'clock, 
when  I  began  to  stir,  not  being  flilly  awakened,  I  thought  at  first, 

0  what  a  pleasant  dream  have  I  dreamed  !  but  when  I  was  fully 
wakened,  I  considered  all  the  passages,  and  how  I  had  shifted  my- 
self, having  a  clean  shirt  lying  at  my  head,  and  that  yet  all  was 
wet  about  me,  and  so  that  it  was  no  dream,  but  a  real  manifesta- 
tion of  the  loving-kindness  of  the  Lord.  TVTien  I  arose  I  found 
my  body  much  shaken,  and  that  the  fever  was  not  quite  gone  ;  yet 

1  resolved  to  ride  about  two  miles  to  the  Kirk  of  Govan,  where 
the  blessed  man  of  God,  j\Ir  Robert  Boyd,  did  preach ;  and,  in 
time  of  the  first  sermon,  I  had  another  access  of  that  fever,  which 
ended  in  a  sweat ;  and,  in  the  time  thereof,  I  had  a  renewed  re- 
joicing in  God,  though  not  so  high  as  the  former.  After  both 
sermons,  in  our  returning  to  the  towoi,  I  opened  to  the  man  of 
God  how  it  had  been  with  me  in  the  night.  He  told  me  that 
that  was  not  the  daily  fare  of  the  people  of  God,  but  a  delicate 
reached  to  me  from  the  hand  of  my  heavenly  Father,  to  strengthen 
my  faith,  to  make  my  hope  lively,  and  to  prepare  me  to  endure 
temptation  and  affliction  for  his  sake  cheerfully  and  courageously : 
as  also,  that  I  should  not  frequently  expect  the  like,  but  lay  it 
up  as  an  earnest  of  the  glory  that  is  to  be  revealed  at  the  appear- 
ance of  Jesus  Christ. 


1622.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  19 

About  that  time  I  was  now  and  then  invited  and  employed  to 
preach  publicly,  which  I  did  willingly,  and  thereby  became  accept- 
able to  the  godly  people  of  that  place ;  as  also  to  the  people  of 
Stewarton,  a  parish  in  Cunningham,  where  the  Lord  had  a  great 
work  in  converting  many.  Numbers  of  them  were  at  first  under 
great  terrors  and  deep  exercise  of  conscience,  and  thereafter  at- 
tained to  sweet  peace  and  strong  consolation.  I  preached  often  to 
them  in  time  of  the  college  vacation,  residing  at  the  house  of  that 
famous  saint  the  Lady  Robertland,*  and  had  much  conference 
w^ith  them,  and  profited  more  by  them  than  I  think  they  did  by 
me ;  though  ignorant  people,  and  proud  secure  livers,  called  them 
"  The  daft  people  of  Stewarton."  IVir  Robert  Boyd,  of  whom  I 
have  formerly  made  mention,  came  from  his  house  in  Carrick  to 
meet  with  them  ;  and  having  conferred  with  them,  both  men  and 
women,  he  heartily  blessed  God  for  the  grace  of  God  in  them. 
The  Countess  of  Eglinton  did  much  countenance  them,  and  per- 
suaded her  noble  lord  to  spare  his  hunting  and  hawking  some 
days,  to  confer  with  some  of  them  whom  she  had  sent  for  to  that 
effect.  His  lordship,  after  conference  with  them,  protested  he 
never  spoke  with  the  like  of  them ;  he  wondered  at  the  wisdom 
they  manifested  in  their  speech.  As  many  of  them  as  were  able 
to  travel  went  to  the  Monday  market  of  L'vine  with  some  little 
commodities  such  as  they  had ;  but  their  chief  intention  was  to 
hear  the  lecture  that  ended  before  the  market  began,  and  by  their 
example  many  of  that  parish  (their  minister  encouraging  them  to 
it)  and  out  of  other  parishes  went  thither,  whereby  the  power  of 
religion  was  spread  over  that  part  of  the  country.  I  bless  the 
Lord  that  ever  I  was  acquainted  with  that  people,  and  for  the 
help  I  had  by  interchanging  letters  with  blessed  ^Mr  Dickson  after 

*  Lady  Robertland's  name  was  Fleming.  Livingstone  describes  her  as  "  one  deeply 
exercised  in  her  mind,  and  who  often  got  as  rare  ontgates  ;  a  gi'eat  help  to  the  poor 
people  of  Stewarton  when  they  were  awakened  ;"  and  he  adds :  "  After  she  had  at- 
tained, for  many  years,  to  as  much  assurance  and  stability  as  any  in  her  time,  yet  I 
found  her  in  Edinburgh,  about  winter  16-19,  in  as  great  doubts  and  darkness  as  e;'er 
liefore  ;  but  many  battles  brought  many  xictoYiea"— Livingstone's  Characteristics,  in 
Select  Biographies,  Wod.  Soc.  Pub.  i.  347. 

b2 


20  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1622. 

he  left  the  college.  1  was  helped  hereby  to  relieve,  according  to 
my  power,  them  that  were  in  need,  and  to  sympathize  tenderly 
with  such  as  I  knew  to  be  tempted,  and  lying  under  heavy  pres- 
sures of  conscience,  whereby  I  still  learned  more  of  the  wicked 
wiles  of  Satan  and  of  the  blessed  ways  of  God. 

In  the  sixth  year  of  my  profession  in  the  college,  many  faithful 
ministers  being  put  to  suffering  for  Perth  Articles,  formerly  men- 
tioned, I  conceived  that  suffering  might  also  be  my  lot,  whereof  I 
got  special  warning  by  a  grave  and  gracious  French  minister, 
whose  name  was  M.  Basnage.*  He  was  sent  from  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  French  Protestants  to  receive  contributions  in 
Scotland,  as  another  was  sent  for  the  same  j^urpose  to  England, 
both  which  w^as  approven  by  King  James,  to  be  employed  for  the 
use  of  the  distressed  and  besieged  Rochelle.  t  This  gracious  man, 
coming  to  Glasgow  to  receive  the  contributions  gathered  there, 
took  me  aside  and  told  me  he  had  carried  himself  indifferently  to- 
wards the  parties  that  were  in  our  Kirk,  lest  he  should  have 
marred  the  errand  he  had  come  for ;  but  now,  having  done  his 
work,  he  might,  and  did  more  freely  declare  what  and  whom  he 
liked  and  misliked.     He  told  me  he  had  heard  well  of  me,  and  did 

*  Benjamin  Basnage  was  pastor  of  the  French  Protestant  church  at  Carentan  or 
Quarentin,  and  distinguished  himself  hy  his  zeal  for  the  civil  and  religious  liberties  of 
his  country,  which  v/ere  inseparably  conjoined.  In  1622,  Basnage  was  employed  by 
the  General  Assembly  of  Rochelle,  which  was  a  civil,  not  an  ecclesiastical  body,  to 
make  collections  in  Scotland  to  aid  the  town  of  Eochelle,  the  strongest  bidwark  of 
the  Reformed  party  in  France,  wliieh  was  then  besieged  by  sea  and  land,  and  suffering 
gi-eat  privations.  For  his  activity  in  this  service  he  was  ejected  by  the  king  from  his 
chm-ch,  and  forbidden  to  sit  in  the  National  Synod  till  1C31,  when  he  was  graciously 
re-admitted  by  his  majesty,  who,  "  having  a  particular  respect  unto  the  most  hiunble 
petitions  of  this  Assembly,  gave  him  leave  to  take  his  place  and  vote  in  it." — Quick's 
Si/n.,  27i.  If  our  Scottish  General  AssembUes,  as  some  allege,  provoked  persecution 
by  their  refractory  disobedience  to  royal  mandates,  the  French  Protestant  Synods  may 
be  said  to  have  invited  it  by  their  tame  submission. 

t  The  author  is  mistaken  in  saying  that  King  James  approved  of  the  succours  sent 
to  the  Protestants  of  Rochelle.  On  the  contrary,  he  would  not  allow  anybody  to  speak 
about  them  to  him,  prohibited  his  subjects  from  assisting  tlie  Refonned,  and  called  them 
rebels. — Ilistoire  de  I'Edit  de  Nantes,  tom.  ii.,  p.  40L  His  subjects,  however,  thought 
othenvise,  and  sent  veiy  large  supplies  to  their  suffering  brethren.  Edinburgh  and 
Glasgow  were  very  liberal  on  this  occasion.  In  August  1622,  M.  Basnage  gi-anted  re- 
ceipts, for  £80.424,  6s.  8d.  Scots;  and  in  June  1632,  for  the  further  sum  of  £23,237 
18s.  6d.  Scots,  all  from  the  Church  of  Scotland. — Life  of  Boyd. 


1622,]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  21 

believe  it  to  be  so ;  but  withal  assured  me  that  the  bishops  and 
their  faction  were  sore  displeased  with  me,  and  that,  in  his  judg- 
ment, ere  a  year  were  turned  about,  I  would  see  the  effects  thereof 
(as  it  came  to  pass  indeed) ;  but,  withal,  he  encouraged  me  not  to 
fear  what  they  could  do  ;  exhorting  me  that,  when  I  was  troubled 
by  them,  I  would  come  to  France,  where  I  would  be  very  wel- 
come, yea,  and  the  more  welcome  for  my  suffering  under  their 
hands  ;  assuring  me  that  I  should  no  sooner  come  but  I  should 
have  a  place  in  a  college  to  teach  philosophy  till  I  learned  the 
French  language,  that  so  I  might  serve  in  the  holy  ministry  there. 
But  before  I  enter  upon  that  trouble  I  underwent  at  Glasgow, 
it  is  expedient  to  declare  how  the  Lord  prepared  me  for  the  same, 
what  lets  and  rubs  I  met  with  in  the  service  of  the  Lord,  and  what 
encouragements  and  fiirtherances  I  had  from  himself  in  several 
steps  and  degrees.     And,  first,  I  declare  that  I  did  find  great 
sweetness  and  easiness  in  worshipping  the  Lord  for  some  consider- 
able space ;  so  that  I  did  not  apprehend  nor  forecast  any  great 
difficulty.    Satan  was  bound  up  from  tempting,  and  my  corruptions 
from  outbreaking;  and  much  sweetness,  as  it  were,  milked  in  from 
the  Lord,  his  tender  love  heartening  me  in  his  ways  before  I  did 
find  difficulties.     But  when  I  began  to  set  closer  on  duties,  as,  in 
special,  to  the  sanctifying  of  the  Lord's  day,  I  did  meet  with  such 
opposition  by  the  wandering  of  my  own  mind  and  injections  from 
Satan,  that  the  more  I  aimed  at  watchfulness  and  circumspection 
the  less  speed  I  came,  and  was  further  from  gaining  my  point  than 
when  I  endeavoured  it  less.    I  was  put  to  a  nonplus,  and  knew  not 
what  to  do.     To  slack  my  endeavours  I  durst  not,  and  to  bend 
them  more  I  could  not ;  and  when  I  endeavoured  it,  I  was  beaten 
back  with  loss,  and  so  for  some  space  I  walked  in  heaviness.     At 
my  first  awaking  I  knew  the  Lord's  day  from  another  by  the  oppo- 
sition I  met  with  before  my  eyes  were  opened.    A  Christian  friend, 
even  my  german  brother,  who  had  been  my  regent  and  teacher  in 
philosophy,  finding  me  in  this  case  by  my  frequent  sighs,  inquired 
what  ailed  me — was  I  in  doubt  or  fear  about  my  soul's  salvation  ? 
I  said,  "  I  am  not.     I  have  Christ  to  be  my  righteousness,  and  by 


'I'l  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1622. 

his  merits  I  hope  to  be  saved."  "  A\niat  can  trouble  you,  then  ?" 
said  he.  I  answered :  "  This  troublcth  me,  that  I  cannot  get  the 
Lord  my  God  served  cheerfully  and  constantly,  especially  on  his 
o\Mi  day,  as  sometimes  I  have  done,  or  at  least  seemed  to  myself" 
to  do."  He  laboured  to  encourage  me,  and  to  chide  me  out  of  that 
heaviness.  But  that  took  not  effect ;  I  did  lie  under  it  till  on  a 
Lord's-day  wherein  I  had  been  not  a  little  perplexed  in  private,  as 
I  was  entering  the  place  of  pubHc  worship,  the  Lord  spoke  to  my 
soul  by  his  Spirit  out  of  the  71st  Psalm :  "  I  wiU  walk  in  the 
strength  of  the  Lord,  and  will  make  mention  of  thy  righteousness, 
even  thine  only."  Hereby  great  light  shined  within  my  soul,  dis- 
covering the  ignorance  and  darkness  wherein  I  was  walking ;  as, 
first,  that  when  the  Lord  took  me  by  the  arms  and  taught  me  to  go 
rejoicing  therein,  I  observed  not  that  it  was  the  Lord's  secret  up- 
holding and  furnishing  from  step  to  step  ;  but  I  thought  I  had 
gotten  a  habit  and  stock  of  grace  in  my  keeping  that  would  suffice 
to  carry  me  through  all  difficulties.  And  then,  secondly,  I  looked 
upon  this  as  mine  own,  which  no  doubt  highly  provoked  the  Lord 
to  blast  my  endeavours,  and  to  withdraw  his  gracious  assistance, 
that  so  I  might  learn  better  what  I  was  and  what  was  mine  own, 
to  wit,  weakness,  folly,  wandering,  deadness,  backsliding,  &c. 
Then  did  I  see  that  the  stock  and  store  of  my  strength,  whereby 
to  walk  with  God,  was  not  committed  to  my  keeping,  nor  at  my 
command,  but  in  thy  hand,  O  Lord  !  who  didst  Avithdraw  that  thou 
might  embrace.  Then  compared  I  with  the  Scripture  now  cited 
that  which  often  occurs  in  Holy  Scriptures :  "  The  Lord  is  my 
strength  and  my  song ;  he  also  is  become  my  salvation." — Exod. 
XV. ;  Ps.  cxviii. ;  Isa.  xii.  By  these  and  the  like  passages  of  Holy 
Scripture,  the  Lord  did  teach  me  then,  that  the  stock  and  strength 
of  sin  was  within  myself;  yea,  that  I  carried  about  with  me  a  body 
of  sin  and  death,  a  bitter  root  of  sinning,  sin  abounding  and  break- 
ing forth ;  and  that  when  the  Lord  quickened  the  soul,  putting  in 
the  life  of  God  tlicrcin,  and  putting  down  sin  from  reigning,  yet  it 
remained  and  sought  to  reign,  and  frequently  prevailed ;  so  that 
the  new  creature  was  assaulted,  hurled,  and  haled  as  a  captive — 


1622.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  23 

• 

hindered  in  doing  good  and  hurried  away  to  evil;  and  that  strength 
to  resist  was  to  be  looked  after  from  a  Preserver  and  Deliverer. 
Yea,  I  perceived  then  that  sin,  that  seemed  to  be  dead,  had  too 
much  of  vigorous  life ;  which  appeared  most  evidently  when  the 
spiritual  law  accurately  urged  obedience  according  to  what  is 
written,  Kom.  vii.  8,  where  the  apostle,  bearing  the  person  of  a 
combatant  in  this  warfare,  saith :  "  Sin,  taking  occasion  by  the 
commandment,  wrought  in  me  all  manner  of  concupiscence.  For 
without  the  law  sin  was  dead.  For  I  was  alive  without  the  law 
once ;  but  when  the  commandment  came,  sin  revived,  and  I  died." 
Then,  O  Lord !  thou  was  pleased  to  humble  thy  servant,  and  to 
drive  me  out  of  myself,  to  teach  me  not  to  trust  in  myself,  but  in 
God,  who  raiseth  the  dead. — 2  Cor.  i.  9.  Then  began  I  to  learn 
the  truth  of  that  Christian  paradox,  and  better  to  understand 
the  meaning  of  it  (see  2  Cor.  xii.  10)  :  "  AVlien  I  am  weak,  then 
am  I  strong."  The  Lord  gives  a  proof  of  his  strength  and  power 
where  he  makes  a  discovery  of  weakness,  according  to  verse  9th : 
"  My  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness ;"  and  so  way  is  made 
that  the  power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  such. 

If  any  think  this  was  no  great  manifestation  of  an  important 
truth — for  who  that  knows  any  thing  of  God  can  be  ignorant  of 
this,  that  every  good  duty  must  be  performed  by  strength  and  fur- 
niture from  the  Lord  himself? — I  answer.  It  is  one  thing  to  know 
a  truth  naturally,  ("  what  they  know  naturally,  as  brute  beasts,  in 
those  things  they  corrupt  themselves" — Jude  10),  or  by  a  gift  of 
common  illumination ;  to  know  it,  I  say,  notionally,  so  as  to  dis- 
course thereof  both  accurately  as  to  the  matter,  and  elegantly  as 
to  the  words.  This  many  graceless  students  and  gifted  persons 
attain,  and  yet  the  Lord's  Word  will  pronounce  of  such  a  one : 
"  He  is  proud,  knowing  nothing,  but  doting  about  questions." — 1 
Tim.  vi.  4.  Yea,  he  may  be  a  great  disputant,  as  the  following 
verse  doth  intimate.  A  great  deal  of  this  brain,  frothy,  foamy 
knowledge  cometh  to  little,  yea,  to  nothing ;  it  pufFeth  up,  and  is 
but  a  witness  against  him  that  hath  it,  though,  through  God's  bless- 
ing, it  may  be  very  useful  to  edify  others.     This  difFereth  essen- 


24  LIFE  or  ROBEKT  BLAIH.  [1622. 

• 

tially  in  kind  or  species,  as  I  may  say,  from  the  right,  time,  and 
saving  knowledge  of  God. — See  1  Jolm  ii.  4,  iii.  0,  iv.  8.  The 
Scripture  aboundeth  herein.  This  true  and  spiritual  knowledge  is 
aifectionate  and  practical ;  as  it  floweth  from  the  Spirit  of  grace, 
so  it  carries  with  it  a  stream  and  current  of  holy  affections,  and 
stirreth  up  to  endeavours  and  earnestness  in  holy  practice.  A 
little  of  this  I'eacheth  very  far.  Now,  according  to  this  distinction, 
no  doubt  I  knew  fonnerly  this  truth  naturally  and  notionally,  but 
as  to  the  aifectionate  and  practical  knowing  of  it,  upon  good 
grounds,  it  appeared  to  me  then  a  new  lesson  and  a  great  light  to 
order  my  conversation  aright,  out  of  a  stock  and  stoi'c  of  the 
strength  of  God,  influencing  the  soid  from  time  to  time,  as  felt 
necessity  eai-nestly  sought  the  same.  Hereby  I  understood  to 
purpose  what  is  written  in  Isa.  xl.  29-31 :  "  He  giveth  power  to 
the  faint ;  and  to  them  that  have  no  might  he  increaseth  strength. 
The  youth  shall  be  faint  and  be  weary,  and  the  young  men  shall 
utterly  fail ;  but  they  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  renew  their 
strength ;  they  shall  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles ;  they  shall 
run,  and  not  weary ;  and  they  shall  walk,  and  not  faint ; "  viz. 
(that  is  to  say),  when  quick  witted  and  well  gifted  persons  shall 
sit  up  from  duties,  and  fall  away  possibly  both  from  profession  and 
practice,  the  weaker  witted  and  meanlier  gifted,  resting  upon  the 
strength  and  furniture  of  the  Lord,  shall  persevere  in  profession, 
and  abound  in  the  practice  of  holy  duties.  This,  through  God's 
blessing,  proved  to  me  a  great,  long,  and  strong  stroke  of  the  oars, 
to  set  me  forward  in  holy  duties  for  a  considerable  time,  wallving 
in  the  strength  of  the  Lord,  in  self-denying,  and  magnifying  the 
grace  of  God  and  his  gifted  righteousness.  But  my  gracious 
Lord,  who  intended  to  lead  me  on  in  holy  practice,  according  to 
Gospel  principles,  by  process  of  time  suffered  the  great  help  and 
assistance  gotten  by  what  hath  been  even  now  mentioned  to  drink 
in  and  to  decay.  Then  was  I  put  hard  to  it  what  to  do  next.  I 
found  no  stock  in  my  own  hand  to  trade  with,  and  that  strength 
and  furniture  from  the  Lord  did  not  flow  in  as  of  late.  When  I  was 
put  to  tlvis  restless  pause,  and  was,  as  it  were,  out  of  all  ways,  then 


1G22.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  25 

the  words  of  our  Saviour :  "  I  am  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and  the 
life :  no  man  cometh  unto  the  Father  but  by  me,"  (John,  xiv.  6), 
'  were  suggested  to  me.'  *  Then  was  I  thus  rebuked  and  upbraided : 
What  meanest  thou,  dark-minded  man,  to  live  as  if  the  Desire  of 
all  nations  were  not  come — as  if  the  Light  of  the  Gentiles  were 
not  shining  ? — to  live  as  if  He  were  not  published  and  proclaimed, 
in  whom  it  pleased  the  Father  that  all  fulness  should  dwell,  and 
out  of  whose  fulness  we  are  to  receive  even  grace  for  grace  ?  for 
though  thou  be  oft  tliinking,  oft  speaking  of  Christ  and  to  Christ, 
yet  thou  art  not  directly  making  him  the  way — that  is,  the  guide 
or  leader — the  new  and  living  way  unto  the  Fatlier.  What  mar- 
vel that  the  strength  and  power  of  the  Lord  influence  not  thy  soul, 
seeing  thou  makest  so  little  application  and  address  to  God  by 
his  Son.  Though  thou  seemest  to  know,  yet  thou  considerest  not 
that  all  power  in  heaven  and  in  earth  is  given  into  his  hand.  And 
as  it  was  of  old  with  his  shadow,  Joseph  in  Egypt,  all  garners  were 
shut  or  opened,  all  sacks  were  filled  or  emptied,  all  comers  and  seek- 
ers were  roughly  or  gently  dealt  with  at  his  direction  and  pleasure ; 
so  now  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  all  petitioners,  all  traders,  are  to 
come  directly  and  expressly  to  the  man  in  whom  the  fulness  of  the 
Godhead  dv/elleth  bodily,  and  all  the  disbursements  and  outgivings 
to  traders  and  handlers  in  this  kingdom,  come  through  his  hands. 
Thus  was  I  rebuked  and  chided  into  Jesus  Christ.  This  was  to 
me  as  the  discovery  of  a  new  world.  I  began  to  lament  that  so 
many  like  myself,  who  had  fled  from  the  pursuing  wrath  of  God 
to  Christ,  his  satisfaction  for  them  to  the  justice  of  God,  had  fled, 
I  say,  to  his  atonement,  in  order  to  their  reconcihation  and  abso- 
lution from  sin,  and  were  therein  exalting,  extolling,  and  setting 
him  on  high,  yet,  in  order  to  their  sanctification,  knew  little  or 
nothing  what  use  to  make  of  him. 

Then  began  I  in  a  serious  way  to  study  his  person,  his  nature, 
his  offices,  and  the  several  parts  thereof;  how  he  is  made  to  us  of 
God  not  only  wisdom  as  the  great  promised  prophet,  righteousness 

*  Wodrow  says  on  the  margin  of  his  cop}- :  "  These  four  words  are  not  in  the 
original ;  but  the  sense  not  being  complete  without  them,  they  stand." 


2l0  l-IFJB  OF  ROBERT  BLAH!.  [1622. 

a8  our  justificr  and  absolver,  but  also  sanctification  as  our  king  to 
reign  in  us,  and  working  that  which  is  well-pleasing  in  his  sight. 
Then  looked  I  upon  his  human  natu.re,  wherein  he  was  sib  *  to  us ; 
and  so  "  unto  us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a  Son  is  given,  and  the 
government  shall  be  upon  his  shoidder." — Isa.  ix.  6.  "  And  this 
man  shall  be  the  peace,  when  the  Assyrian  shall  come  into  our 
land,  and  when  he  shall  tread  in  our  palaces." — Micah  v.  5.  And 
so  being  made  like  one  of  us,  partaking  of  flesh  and  blood  with 
the  children,  "  both  he  that  sanctifieth  and  they  who  are  sanctified 
are  all  of  one :  for  which  cause  he  is  not  ashamed  to  call  them 
brethren," — Ileb.  ii.  11.  Comfortable,  then,  was  the  consideration 
of  his  human  nature,  wherein  he  is  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our 
infirmities ;  for  upon  this  ground  we  are  exhorted  to  come  boldly 
to  the  throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace 
to  help  in  time  of  need.  And  so  our  Saviour  was  made  fit  to  be 
a  sacrifice  to  satisfy  for  sin,  and  our  familiar,  f  to  whom  we  might 
have  recourse  for  sanctification  to  help  us  against  all  temptations 
as  our  need  requireth ;  seeing  "  for  this  purpose  the  Son  of  God 
was  manifested,  that  he  might  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil." — 
1  John  iii.  8.  Now,  as  the  consideration  of  his  human  nature 
proves  thus  comfortable  in  order  to  our  sanctification,  so  also  his 
divine  nature  ;  for  the  child  that's  born  to  us,  the  Son  that's  given 
to  us,  his  name  is  "  The  mighty  God,  The  everlasting  Father." 

Wlien  our  spiritual  enemies  are  terribly  mustered  up  before  us, 
and  impudent  Satan,  as  god  of  this  world,  claimeth  an  indepen- 
dent supremacy  (for  this  is  one  of  his  stratagems  against  heartless 
sinners,  to  bear  in  temptations  with  such  importunity,  as  having 
uncontrollable  power  both  to  command  and  compel),  then  he  is  to 
be  knocked  on  the  head  with  that  divine  word  as  a  sword :  "  The 
God  of  peace  shall  bruise  Satan  under  our  feet  shortly." — Rom. 
xvi.  20.  But  especially  the  kingly  office  of  Christ,  in  order  to  our 
sanctification,  is  most  considerable,  and  that  both  in  order  to  our 

*  Sib — nciiv  of  kin. 

t  Our  familiar ;  that  is,  our  friend.  In  some  copies  it  is  erroneously  written  '•more 
familiar." 


1622.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  27 

enemies,  Satan,  sin,  the  world,  and  death ;  and  in  order  to  our- 
selves, as  a  victorious  King  to  reign  in  us,  through  the  abundance 
of  his  grace,  to  make  us  kings  and  priests  to  the  Father. — Eev.  i. 
6.  Wlien  sin  offers  to  reign,  and  really  does  much  prevail,  he  not 
only  exhorts :  "  Let  not  sin  reign  in  your  mortal  bodies,"  (Rom. 
vi.  12),  but  also  (verse  14),  upon  his  royal  word,  and  out  of  his 
princely  power,  determines  the  case — saitli  to  aU  that  have  fled 
for  refuge  to  him :  "  Sin  shall  not  reign  nor  have  dominion  over  you : 
for  ye  are  not  under  the  law  as  a  covenant  that  curses  the  sinner, 
but  under  grace  that  supplies  and  supports." 

And  so,  now,  when  the  fulness  of  Christ  and  the  riches  of  Christ 
were  made  patent  as  a  well-furnished  magazine  and  an  inex- 
haustible storehouse,  O  gracious  God  !  how  sweetly  and  satisfy- 
ingly  did  this  refresh  the  soul  of  thy  poor  servant !  I  saw  then  that 
the  sacrifice  once  offered  for  sinners  remained  still  to  be  a  strength- 
ening feast,  whereupon  we  are  exhorted  while  we  live :  "  Let  us 
keep  the  feast." — 1  Cor.  v.  8.  Wliile  thus  I  was  feasting  on  and 
with  Christ — looking  on  him  as  King  and  Lord,  and  drawing  virtue 
from  him — I  perceived  that  as  Christ  had  an  inward  kingdom,  con- 
sisting of  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  (Rom. 
xiv.  17),  and  this  kingdom  is  within  us  (Luke  xvii.  21)  ;  so  also 
that  he  did  administrate  his  spiritual  kingdom  externally  in  go- 
verning his  house,  which  is  his  Church,  by  his  appointed  servants 
and  officers,  the  government  being  on  his  shoulders. 

This  put  me  to  a  new  examination  of  the  point  of  Church  go- 
vernment, considering  first  the  Scriptures,  and  then  authors  who 
debated  these  questions.  In  searching  the  Scriptures  I  did  find 
that  our  Saviour,  upon  several  occasions,  did  forbid  and  discharge 
lordship  and  domination,  even  to  his  extraordinary  commissioners 
(Luke  xxii.  24-26;  Matt.  xx.  25,  &c.) ;  and,  consequently,  to  aU 
that  shall  bear  office  at  any  time  in  his  Kirk.  And  in  these  pro- 
hibitions these  things  are  remarkable  :  First,  The  prohibition  in 
the  Gospel  of  Luke  was  given  out  at  the  celebration  of  the  sacra- 
ment of  his  supper,  Christ  our  Lord  giving  to  his  disciples  their 
sacrament  upon  it ;  secondly,  It  is  observable  that  in  both  the  Evan- 


28  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1622. 

gelists,  where  our  Saviour  discharges  domination  and  lordshij)  in 
Kirk  officers,  he  asserts  and  allows  civil  and  kingly  government, 
and  the  titles  of  honour  due  thereunto,  and  thereby  refutes  that 
conceit  that  goes  too  current — "  No  bishop,  no  king ;"  and,  thirdly, 
It  is  remarkable,  that  with  the  discharging  of  domination  in  Kirk 
office-bearers,  he  discharges  also  titles  of  honour,  to  be  assumed 
by  them,  or  to  be  given  to  them,  saying  expressly  in  Luke,  "  It 
shall  not  be  so  with  you."     Also,  the  Apostle  Peter  (on  whom 
especially  the  hierarchy  is  builded)  dischai'gcs  this  domination,  say- 
ing :  "  Neither  as  being  lords  over  God's  heritage,  but  being  en- 
samples  to  the  flock." — 1  Peter  v.  3.     And  wherever  bishops  are 
named  in  the  New  Testament,  no  other  thing  is  meant  than  pas- 
tors, presbyters,   or  ministers  ;   so  that  bishop  and  presbyter,  in 
the  language  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  is  nothing  else  but  two  names  of 
one  and  the  same  office,  which  is  confessed  even  by  the  learnedest 
of  the  Prelatic  party,  and  is  so  manifest  from  the  1st  of  Philippians, 
and  the  20th  of  the  Acts,  that  it  cannot  be  denied  but  with  great 
impudence  ;  and  therefore  it  is  that  the  wiser  sort  of  the  Prelatic 
party,  not  vexing  the  Scriptures  to  find  their  original  there,  betake 
themselves  either  to  the  authority  of  the  civil  magistrate,  or  to  the 
ancient  custom  of  the  Kirk,  or  to  the  good  end  for  which  this 
superiority  of  bishops  was  ordained.     But  none  of  these  can  be 
a  ground  sufficient  to  found  their  superiority  upon,  much  less  their 
sole  power.     As  to  i\iQ  first  of  these,  it  may  justly  be  counted  a 
profane  conceit  to  imagine  that  Christ  hath  not  ordained  and  insti- 
tuted the  substantial  of  a  government  (whereof  the  office-bearers 
therein  are  a  principal  one)  how  to  govern  his  house  and  kingdom  ; 
and  it  contradicts  the  perfection  and  sufficiency  of  Holy  Scripture. 
And  wdio  will  think  the  man  a  wise  governor  of  his  house  that 
leaves  it  to  the  servants  to  choose  rulers  over  them  without  his 
direction  and  appointment  ?  As  to  the  second,  of  pretended  anti- 
quity, first,  it  is  no  absurdity  to  caU  every  substantial  change,  after 
the  closing  of  the  canon  of  Scripture,   a  corrupt  novelty ;  and, 
secondly,  it  is  well  known  to  all  conversant  in  the  writings  of  the 
ancients,  that  the  change  at  first  was  very  small,  yea,  that  for  near- 


1622.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  29 

ly  four  hundred  years  the  person  to  whom  the  name  of  a  bishop 
began  to  be  appropriated  had  nothing  above  the  presbyter  but 
ordination,  as  Jerome  witnesses  in  his  time.  Thereafter,  as  purity 
decayed  and  corruption  increased,  more  was  added  from  time  to 
time,  till  it  came  to  the  height  it  is  now  at.  As  to  the  third,  to 
wit,  the  end  for  which  this  superiority  was  by  men  ordained,  viz., 
to  keep  unity,  it  is  the  truest  plea  of  all  the  rest,  but  very  weak 
and  insufficient.  For,  as  learned  Whitaker  observes,  disputing  the 
question,  the  remedy  proved  worse  than  the  disease  ;  and  in  very 
deed,  granting  once  the  expedience  and  lawfulness  of  a  lord  bishop 
over  a  diocese  to  keep  unity  therein,  and  of  a  primate's  grace  to 
keep  unity  in  a  kingdom,  it  cannot  be  denied  that,  upon  the  same 
ground,  it  is  fit  and  necessary  that  there  be  a  universal  bishop  and 
pope  over  all  the  churches  and  kingdoms  of  the  world,  as  the 
learned  author  now  cited  acknowledges.  The  truth  is,  that  the 
denomination  of  bishops  has  been  the  greatest  ground  of  division 
and  contentions  that  ever  was  in  the  Christian  world.  And  here 
it  is  very  considerable,  that  when  the  chosen  vessel,  the  blessed 
Apostle  Paul,  in  the  4th  of  the  Ephesians,  is  exhorting  to  unity, 
and  gathering  arguments  to  promote  the  same,  if  it  had  been  the 
mind  of  the  Lord  to  appoint  the  superiority  of  bishops,  and  to  bless 
that  as  a  means  to  preserve  unity  in  the  Kirk  of  Christ,  it  had  been 
an  opportunity  there  to  suggest  the  same  ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
he  showeth,  that  after  apostles  and  evangelists,  who  were  ex- 
traordinary commissioners,  and  in  that  wherein  they  were  extra- 
ordinary none  were  to  succeed  them,  he  nametli  only  "  pastors  and 
teachers  for  the  perfecting  of  saints,  till  we  all  come  to  the  unity 
of  the  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God,  unto  a  per- 
fect man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fulness  of  Christ ;" 
where  it  is  plain  that,  according  to  the  wisdom  of  God,  it  is  not 
the  lording  superiority  of  a  prelate  over  a  province,  or  primate  over 
a  kingdom,  or  a  pope  over  all  the  churches  of  the  world,  that  is 
the  mean  to  keep  unity ;  but  that  it  is  the  blessing  of  Christ  upon 
the  labours  of  his  sent  pastors  and  teachers,  jointly  acting  and 
carrying  on  the  work  of  the  ministry,  that  doth  perfect  the  saints. 


30  LIFE  OF  llOBEKT   BLAIK.  [1622. 

bringing  them  to  unity,  and  making  them  to  grow  up  to  the  strength 
and  stature  of  the  grace  of  God. 

This  discourse  may  seem  a  digression,  and  going  out  of  the  way 
to  meet  \\dth  a  friend,  or  rather  an  adversary ;  but  in  very  deed  is 
no  digression.  For  studying  sanctification  and  the  progress  of 
holiness,  as  belonging  to  the  kingly  office  of  Jesus  Christ,  where- 
by he  reigneth  in  his  people,  destroys  in  them  what  is  oj)posite  to 
his  kingdom,  bringing  up  their  hearts  to  a  growing  conformity 
■v^^th  him,  they  being  his  apprentices  in  this  work,  and  he  still  to 
them  master  of  work  ;  while,  I  say,  I  am  about  the  study  of  the 
inward  part  of  his  kingdom,  I  saw  it  incumbent  on  me  not  to 
slight  his  kingly  government  of  his  Kirk,  and  to  search  it  from 
the  register  of  his  own  will ;  not  neglecting  the  learned  writings 
of  the  most  able  disputants  on  the  controversies  arising  thereon, 
whereby  I  attained  what  here  I  have  set  down.  And  here  I  pro- 
fess and  protest,  as  I  attained  anything  of  progress  in  piety  from 
the  influence  of  the  grace  of  Christ,  I  also  attained  to  further  con- 
firmation of  the  truth  of  the  government  of  his  Kirk  by  his  ap- 
pointed officers,  and  not  by  other  intruders  and  usurpers,  to  whom 
I  durst  not  give  the  accustomed  titles  of  honour,  being  undue,  and 
prohibited  of  the  Lord,  as  well  as  the  usurpation  itself,  as  has  been 
formerly  said.  And  though  I  saw  many  who  were  clear  enough 
against  that  usurpation,  yet  made  no  scruple  of  giving  '  titles  of 
honour'*  to  the  usurpers,  following  that  maxim,  Loquendmn  cum 
vulgo,  sentiendum  cum  sapientihus — "  We  ought  to  speak  as  the 
common  people  do,  but  think  as  wise  men  do" — I  durst  not  follow 
that  loose  principle,  albeit  I  knew  that  was  the  way  to  hasten  on 
trouble ;  and  I  was  herein  confirmed  by  what  is  written  Job  xxxii., 
at  the  end,  where  that  grave  though  young  moderator  of  the  con- 
troversy betwixt  Job  and  his  friends,  reproving  them  both  as  in- 
jurious to  God,  and  mutually  one  to  another,  (and  this  his  reproof 
is  not  censured  by  the  Lord,  though  he  censm'cs  both  Job  and  his 
friends),  this  Elihu  saith  :  "  Let  me  not,  I  pray  you,  accept  any 
man's  person,  neither  let  me  give  flattering  titles  unto  man  ;  for  I 

*  "SYodrow  MS. 


1622.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  31 

know  not  to  give  flattering  titles  ;  in  so  doing  my  Maker  would 
soon  take  me  away."  In  his  eyes  the  giving  of  undue  and  flattering- 
titles  was  no  trifling  thing,  that  needed  not  to  be  stuck  upon  ;  in 
doing  so  he  feared  destruction  from  God,  and  so  did  I  also.  Honour- 
able titles  are  indeed  due  to  them  that  are  honovu'ed  with  civil 
honour  by  a  king  or  state,  which  is  the  fountain  of  honour ;  but 
persons  interdicted  hereof  by  the  sovereign  Lord,  King  of  kings 
and  Lord  of  lords,  who  authoritatively  gives  out  indispensable  laws, 
both  of  giving  and  receiving  of  honours  and  the  titles  thereof,  and 
hath  said  of  Church  officers,  "  It  shaU.  not  be  so  with  you,"  (hav- 
ing, in  the  words  immediately  before,  allowed  both  power  and 
honour,  with  the  titles  thereof,  to  be  called  "  Benefactors,"  Gracious 
Lords,  or  your  Grace),  may  neither  require  nor  admit  the  same, 
nor  may  others,  by  so  flattering  them,  harden  them  in  their  usurpa- 
tion. 

But  now,  to  proceed  in  opening  up  the  steps  of  practical  light 
wherein  the  Lord  did  lead  me  in  these  times,  I  thought  with  my- 
self thus  :  Having  found  opened  to  me  the  mystery  of  Christ  in 
order  to  a  full  satisfaction  for  sin,  as  also  his  kingly  office,  in  order 
to  carry  on  sanctification,  and  so  made  to  me  "  aU,  and  in  aU,"  I 
concluded  that  there  was  no  more  ado  but,  in  humble  sincerity,  to 
foUow  on  that  way  ;  and  then,  that  I  might  better  know  how  it  was 
with  my  soul  from  day  to  day,  having  heard  of  the  practice  of  some 
diligent  Christians,  who  daily  took  brief  notes  of  the  condition  of 
their  souls,  marking  both  what  failings  and  escapes  they  were  over- 
taken with,  as  also  what  speed  they  came  and  progress  they  made 
in  the  ways  of  God,  I  followed  the  same  course,  in  some  passages 
using  a  dark  way  of  writing,  and  kept  it  up  about  sixteen  years  ; 
so  that  every  Lord's-day  the  notes  of  the  preceding  week  were  con- 
sidered and  laid  to  heart,  and  at  the  end  of  every  month  the  notes 
thereof  Avere  j)erused,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  a  view  taken  of 
the  whole.  By  this  strict  course  I  perceived  some  new  obstruction 
to  arise,  whereat  I  was  not  a  little  afflicted,  having  before  thought 
that  the  discovery  made  to  me  of  the  riches  and  fulness  of  grace  in 
Christ  should  have  reached  further  without  any  stop  or  let.     Thus 


32  I^IFE  or  KOREIIT  BLAIR.  [1622. 

was  I  aoain  put  to  a  stand  with  great  soitow,  wondering  what 
woukl  be  the  outgate.  Sometimes  I  thought  deeper  humiliation 
for  not  improving  a  discovered  Christ  would  clear  the  way  to  me  ; 
another  time  1  thought  that  more  diligence,  and,  when  ordinary 
diligence  carried  not  the  matter,  extraordinary  would  do  it.  But 
still  the  obstruction  remained,  to  my  great  astonishment.  While 
I  am  thus  perplexed,  that  great  oracle  of  God  so  often  set  down  in 
Holy  Scriptures,  "  The  just  shall  live  by  his  faith,"  sounded  loud  in 
my  ears.  This  put  me  to  a  search  through  the  Scriptures,  where  I 
did  find  great  weight  laid  on  that  grace  both  in  order  to  our  justi- 
fication, as  also  to  our  sanctification.  But  I  was  not  satisfied  with 
what  I  did  read  commonly  in  our  divines,  who  described  rather  the 
high  degree  and  effects  thereof  attainable  in  this  life,  but  gave  not 
a  description  of  It  that  agreed  to  the  nature  of  that  grace,  and  all 
the  deo;rees  thereof:  but  when  that  Treatise  of  Faith  came  forth 
penned  by  Ezekiel  Culverwell,*  a  London  minister,  (his  notion  of 
faith  is  that  same  that  Is  now  published  by  the  Westminster  Cate- 
chism, penned  by  the  divines  of  both  kingdoms)  ;  I  was  thereby 
much  satisfied  and  confirmed  by  his  uptaking  of  the  nature  and 
notion  of  faith. 

By  this  study  of  the  nature  of  precious  faith,  especially  that 
oracle  formerly  mentioned,  I  learned  first  that  nominal  Christians, 
or  common  professors,  were  much  deluded  In  their  way  of  believ- 
ing ;  and  that  not  only  Papists,  who  place  faith  In  an  Implicit  assent 
to  the  truth  which  they  know  not,  and  that  It's  better  defined  by  Igno- 
rance than  by  knowledge,  (a  way  of  believing  very  suitable  to  Anti- 
christ's slaves,  who  are  led  by  the  noses  they  know  not  which  way), 
'■  were  hugely  herein  mistaken,' f  but  also  secure  Protestants,  abusing 

*  "  Ezekiel  Culvei-well,  educated  in  Emmanuel  College,  Cambridge,  was  some  time 
i-ector  of  Stambridge,  in  Essex,  and  aftenvards  vicar  of  Felsted,  in  the  same  county. 
When  in  the  latter  situation  he  was  prosecuted  for  nonconfomaity.  In  the  year  1583 
he  was  suspended  by  Bishop  Aylmer,  for  not  wearing  the  surplice.  He  was  a  man  of 
gi-cat  piety  and  excellent  ministerial  abiUtics,  and  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of  the 
celel)rated  Dr  William  Gouge,  when  a  boy  at  school.  Ilis  sister  was  tlie  Doctor's 
mother.  lie  is  classed  among  the  learned  writers  of  Emmanuel  College,  and  was 
author  of  '  A  Treatise  of  Faith,'  1033  ;  also  '  A  Eeady  Way  to  Kemember  the  Scrip- 
tures,' 1G37." — Brook'' a  Liven  nf  the  PiirlliDia,  iii.,  512. 

t  Wodrow  MS. 


1622.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  33 

the  description  of  old  given  of  faith,  that  it  is  an  assurance  or  assur- 
ed knowledge  of  the  love  of  God  in  Christ.  This  assurance,  indeed, 
no  doubt  is  attainable,  and  many  believers  do  attain  and  comfort- 
ably enjoy  it,  as  our  divines  from  the  Holy  Scriptures  prove  un- 
answerably against  the  Popish  doctors,  who  maintain  the  necessity 
of  perpetual  doubting,  and  miscall  that  Christian  comfortable  as- 
surance of  the  Protestants'  presumption.  But  notAvithstanding  it 
is  true  of  a  high  degree  of  faith,  yet  it  agrees  not  to  all  the  degrees 
of  saving  faith ;  so  that  hereby  many  gracious  sound  believers, 
who  have  received  Jesus  Christ,  and  rested  on  him  as  he  is  offered 
to  them  in  the  Word,  have  been  much  puzzled,  as  if  they  were  not 
believers  at  all.  But,  upon  the  other  hand,  many  secure,  un- 
humbled  misbelievers,  who  have  not  believed  in  the  Lord's  holiness 
and  hating  of  sin,  who  have  not  believed  how  self-destroyed  they 
are,  out  of  self-love,  without  the  warrant  of  the  Word,  conceit 
themselves  to  be  beloved  of  God ;  and  that  the  formerly  mentioned 
description  of  faith  agrees  well  to  them.  Secondly,  I  perceived 
that  many  who  make  right  use  of  faith  in  order  to  their  justifica- 
tion, made  not  directly  use  thereof  in  order  to  sanctification.  But 
then  I  perceived  that  the  living  of  the  just  by  faith  reached  further 
than  I  formerly  conceived,  and  that  the  heart  is  purified  by  faith. 
If  any  think.  What !  knew  I  not  till  then  that  precious  faith,  being 
a  grace,  was  not  only  a  part  of  our  holiness,  but  did  set  forward 
other  parts  of  holiness  ?  I  answer,  I  did  indeed  know,  and  so  accord- 
ingly made  use  of  faith  as  a  motive  to  stir  up  to  holiness,  according 
to  the  apostle's  exhortation :  "  Having,  therefore,  these  promises, 
dearly  beloved,  let  us  cleanse  ourselves  from  all  filthiness  of  the 
flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holiness  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,"  (2  Cor. 
vii.  1.)  But  I  had  not,  before  that,  learned  to  make  use  of  faith  as 
a  mean  and  instrument  to  draw  holiness  out  of  Christ,  the  well  of 
salvation,  though  it  may  be  I  had  both  heard  that  and  spoken  that 
by  way  of  a  transient  notion ;  but  then  I  learned  to  pur[)ose  that 
they  who  receive  forgiveness  of  sins  are  sanctified  through  faith  in 
Christ,  as  our  glorious  Saviour  taught  Paul. — Actsxxvi.  18.  Then 
I  marvelled  not  that  my  progress  met  Avith  an  obstniction  for  not 

C 


34  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIK.  [1622, 

making  use  of  faith,  as  hath  been  said  for  sanctificatiou.  Then  I 
perceived  that  in  making  use  of  Christ  for  sanctification,  without 
direct  employing  of  faith  to  extract  the  same  out  of  him,  I  was  like 
one  seeking  water  out  of  a  deep  well  without  a  long  coixl  to  let 
down  the  bucket  and  draw  it  up  again  ;  or  that  I  was  like  a  child 
that  opened  the  mouth  to  the  teat  or  pap,  but  did  not  lay  the 
tongue  about  the  top  or  nipple  thereof,  and  that  milk  rather  did  run 
into  the  mouth  than  that  there  was  kindly  sucking.  Then  was  I 
like  one  that  came  to  the  storehouse,  but  got  my  provisions  reached 
to  me  as  it  were  by  a  window ;  I  had  come  to  the  right  house,  but 
not  to  the  right  door.  But  by  this  '  new'  *  discovery  I  did  find  a 
patent  door  made  for  provision  and  furniture  in  and  from  Christ 
my  Lord.  So,  blessed  Lord,  thou  trainedst  on  thy  poor  servant 
step  by  step,  suffering  difficulties  to  arise,  that  greater  clearing 
from  thyself  might  flow  in.  About  that  time  I  was  employed  to 
preach  by  my  own  brother,  who  had  been  my  master  and  teacher ; 
and  in  the  doctrine  speaking  to  the  point  that  now  I  have  been 
uttering,  he,  after  sermon,  in  conference,  asked  whence  and  how  I 
learned  that  doctrine ;  for  he  did  not  remember  that  ever  he  had 
heard  or  read  that  point  before.  I  told  him  that  I  had  especially 
learned  it  from  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  that  I  was  put  to  a  stand 
and  a  nonplus  till  I  learned  it,  and  that  I  was  confirmed  therein  by 
that  notable  treatise  of  Mr  Culverwell's,  formerly  mentioned.  He 
told  me,  thereafter,  he  had  made  use  of  that  treatise  to  purpose, 
both  for  himself  and  his  flock. 

I  hoped  then  to  make  better  progress  with  less  stumbling ;  but 
not  long  after,  encountering  difficulties,  I  wondered  what  discovery 
Avould  next  clear  the  v>'ay.  Then  I  found  that  the  Spirit  of  holi- 
ness, whose  immediate  and  appropriate  Avork  was  to  sanctify,  had 
been  slighted,  and  so  grieved.  For  though  the  Holy  Spirit  had 
been  teaching,  and  I  had  been  speaking  of  him  and  to  him  fre- 
quently, and  seeking  the  pouring  out  of  the  same,  and  lu'ging 
others  to  seek  the  same,  yet  that  discovery  appeared  to  me  a  new 
practical  lesson ;  and  so  I  laboured  more  to  crave,  cherish,  and  not 

*  MS.  of  1715. 


1G22.J  LIFE  OF  EOBEllT  BLAIR.  35 

grieve  or  quencli  the  Holy  Spirit,  praying  to  be  led  into  all  truth 
according  to  the  Scriptures  by  that  blessed  guide ;  and  that  by 
that  heavenly  Comforter  I  might  be  comforted  in  all  troubles,  and 
sealed  up  thereby  in  strong  assurance  of  my  interest  in  God. 

About  that  time  the  Lord  set  me  a  work  to  stir  up  the  students 
who  were  under  my  discipline  earnestly  to  study  piety,  and  to  be 
diligent  in  secret  seeking  of  the  Lord ;  and  my  gracious  Lord  was 
pleased  herein  to  bless  my  endeavours.  But  then  the  teaching  of 
philosophy  became  irksome  and  grievous  to  me ;  it  Avas  as  sand 
betwixt  my  teeth.  I  began  to  think  that  sort  of  labour  and  study 
more  prejudicial  to  piety  and  walking  with  God  than  any  manufac- 
ture or  handiwork  was ;  for  I  thought  therein  the  mind  was  moi'e 
free  to  contemplate  the  Divine  Majesty,  and  to  meditate  on  holy 
duties,  even  when  the  hand  is  busied  with  external  labour ;  but  to 
be  reading,  meditating,  and  teaching  philosophic  notions,  distracted 
the  mind  more  from  divine  contemplations ;  and  yet,  for  all  this,  I 
durst  not  slack  my  hand  from  a  diligent  performance  of  my  duty 
herein.  Being  thus  pinched  and  perplexed,  my  gracious  Lord  was 
pleased  to  support  me  by  teaching  me  that  duty  in  a  lawful  calling- 
was  service  acceptable  to  God  through  Jesus  Christ,  when  his  im- 
mediate service  was  not  slighted,  but  conscionably  performed ;  see- 
ing the  apostle  (Col.  iii.)  exhorteth  Christian  servants,  that  what- 
ever they  do  in  their  employments,  to  do  it  heartily,  not  as  to  men, 
but  as  to  the  Lord ;  for,  saith  he :  "  Ye  serve  Christ  the  Lord." 
Secondly,  I  was  encouraged  herein  that  I  was  taught  to  intermix 
holy  ejaculations  to  God  wdth  all  my  reading,  meditating,  and 
teaching  of  philosophy.  And,  thirdly,  This  comforted  me,  that  I 
had  access  also  to  teach  the  grounds  and  urge  the  practice  of  true 
piety ;  and  so  I  got  the  residue  of  my  time  and  labour  there,  which 
was  not  long  after  this,  patiently  and  comfortably  endured. 

About  this  time,  after  Perth  Acts  were  ratified,  kneeling  at  the 
communion  began  to  be  strictly  urged,  and  many  fliithful  ministers 
were  deposed  from  the  ministry  for  not  obeying  the  said  acts,  as 
Mr  Henry  Blyth,*  the  minister  at  Holyrood  House ;  Mr  Richard 

*  Spottiswood,  archbishop  of  St  Andrews,  (1G19)  having  gone  to  Court,  procured  :i 

C2 


30  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1622. 

Dickson,*  minister  at  the  West  Kirk ;  Mr  David  Foster  ['  Forres- 
ter/] t  minister  at  Leith ;  Mr  David  Dickson,  minister  at  Irvine, 
and  many  others.  At  Glasgow,  kneeling  at  receiving  the  elements 
was  so  hardly  pressed  that  the  Archbishop  Law  removed  from  the 
Lord's  table  some  students,  being  well  known  to  be  godly  young 
men.  Hereat  Trochrig,  principal  of  the  college,  accompanied 
Avith  the  masters  of  the  college,  went  to  the  archbishop,  and  with 
great  liberty  did  admonish  and  reprove  him  for  driving  from 
the  Lord's  table  godly  young  men  whom,  doubtless,  Christ  made 
Avelcome ;  telling  him  withal,  that  the  table  was  not  his,  but 
Christ's,  and  that  he  had  dealt  in  the  matter  as  imperiously  as  if 
he  had  been  removing  his  horse  boys  from  the  by-board.     The 


wan-ant  and  command  fi-om  the  king  to  Law,  archbishop  of  Ghisgow,  to  hold  the  High 
Commission  Com-t,  and  depose  Mr  Bl3'th  and  Mr  David  Forrester  of  Leith  from  their 
ministry,  and  to  banish  Mr  Blyth  to  Inverness,  and  Mr  Forrester  to  Aberdeen.  Arch- 
bishop Law  was  rehictaut  to  do  this,  feeling  some  struggles  of  conscience  at  the  thought 
of  treating  in  such  a  manner  men  who,  he  was  convinced,  were  faithful  and  honest ; 
but,  upon  receiving  a  second  letter  from  the  king,  he  held  the  Court  of  High  Commis- 
sion, and  proceeded  against  these  ministers  according  to  the  king's  will.  After  Mr 
Blvth  had  continued  for  a  long  time  in  his  ward  at  Inverness,  he  was  admitted  minis- 
ter of  Eccles,  not  far  from  Berwick.  "  Thus  he  is  far  removed  from  Edinburgh,  and 
put  in  a  place  (as  the  prelates  thought)  scarce  capable  of  pwitanical  principles,  hard 
upon  the  border." — Row's  History,  pp.  323,  324.  Eow  describes  him  as  "  an  honest  and 
holy  man." — Ibid.,  p.  258. 

*  In  1619,  Mr  Dickson  was  called  before  the  High  Commission  by  the  Archbishop 
of  St  Andi'ews ;  and,  for  not  celebrating  the  communion  according  to  the  Articles  of 
Perth,  and  condemning,  in  particular,  the  act  of  kneeling  in  receiving  the  elements,  he 
was  removed  from  his  ministry,  and  warded  in  the  Castle  of  Dumbarton. — Row's  Ilis- 
torj/,  p.  320.  Here  he  was  detained  some  years,  and  was  never  siifiered  to  return  to 
his  flock.  About  the  same  time,  Mr  Hogg  of  Dysart  was  banished  to  the  Orkneys  for 
the  same  offence.  Ai'chbishop  Law  having  been  employed  to  confer  with  them,  Mr 
Hogg  said  to  hini  that  "  they  must  answer  before  the  Judge  of  heaven,  who  had  a 
higher  commission  ;"  when  the  bishoj)  replied :  "  It  is  lang  to  that  day,  and  ye  must 
suffer  in  the  meantime ! "  The  archbishop  having  threatened  to  close  his  mouth  and 
banish  him,  "  I  shall  be  as  ready,"  said  the  minister,  "  by  God's  grace,  to  suffer  as  you 
to  persecute ;  and  one  day  will  declare  whether  you  do  well  or  not."  "  We  shall  be 
doing  till  that  day  comes,"  replied  the  archl)ishop. — Scot's  Apologetical  Narration,  p. 
2G9;    Wodrow  MSS.,  vol.  xliii.,  no.  94. 

t  As  is  stated  in  the  note  pi-eceding  the  last,  Mr  Forrester  was  at  this  time  deposed 
from  liis  ministry,  and  banished  to  Aberdeen  by  the  Court  of  High  Commission.  After 
continuing  for  a  long  time  in  his  ward,  he  was,  by  the  influence  of  Sir  William  Alex- 
ander of  Menstric,  afterwards  Earl  of  Stirling  and  Secretary  of  Scots  affairs,  a  cousin 
of  his  wife's,  restored  to  his  charge  at  Leith. — Row's  ITiMonj,  p.  323. 


1622.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  ?,7 

archbishop  was  so  incensed  with  this  free  admonition,  that  his  pas- 
sion hindered  his  expression  for  some  space ;  but  so  soon  as  he  had 
recovered  himself,  he  uttered  his  indignation  in  very  high  words,* 
which  occasioned  the  removal  of  that  shining  light  from  the  college 
of  Glasgow ;  for  he  said,  "  I  will  not  sit  in  Rome  and  strive  with 
the  Pope."  But  in  the  end,  the  archbishop  magnifying  Perth  As- 
sembly (where  kneeling  at  the  communion  was  concluded)  so 
highly,  saying  that  all  things  there  were  carried  upon  so  weighty 
grounds,  I  was  forced  (none  of  the  rest  there  present  having  seen 
that  Assembly)  to  say  something,  viz.,  that  the  moderator  of  that 
meeting  said  openly,  in  time  of  the  disputation :  "  This  matter 
shall  be  carried  neither  by  arguments  nor  voices  ;  if  there  were  no 
more  than  we  bishops  and  the  king's  commissioner,  we  will  con- 
clude the  same."  The  archbishop,  though  he  acknowledged  that 
it  was  true  which  I  uttered,  yet  he  poured  out  his  indignation  upon 
me  by  very  injurious  words ;  and  thereafter,  though  he  spared 
not  to  commend  my  parts  out  of  measure,  yet  when  I  was  pre- 
sented to  any  charge  he  opposed  the  same.  Yet  he  attempted 
nothing  against  me  till  after  the  retiring  of  Trochrig,  that  Mr  Ca- 
meroujt  coming  for  a  time  into  his  place,  set  the  archbishop  against 

*  As  a  specimen  of  the  "  high  words,  in  which  this  prelate  indulged,  we  may  give 
the  following  from  notes  of  a  sermon  he  delivered  on  John  ii.  17,  before  the  Provin- 
cial Synod  of  Glasgow,  April  4,  1620 :  "  Whereas,"  he  said,  "  the  zeal  of  the  house  of 
God  ate  up  Christ,  now  the  zeal  of  the  people  eats  up  the  Ivirk ;  and  as  Christ  was 
crucified  betwixt  two  thieves,  so  is  his  Kirk  now  betwixt  Papists  and  Schismatics. 
The  zeal  now  is  blind  and  for  by-respects — that  they  may  get  credit  with  people  and 
the  purse  filled,  as  Judas  got  the  bag ;  and  as  Diogenes  would  be  singular,  by  bathing 
in  snow  and  water  in  \\'inter,  that  the  people  came  flocking  about,  pitying,  and  crying. 
Come  out.  But  Plato,  more  learned  than  himself,  said,  '  Good  people,  go  home ;  let 
him  alone,  and  he  will  come  out  of  his  own  will.'  They  will  say  that  they  suffer  for 
I'ighteousness,  even  as  Dioscorus,  when  he  suffered  for  heresy,  cried  out,  '  I  suffer  for 
righteousness'  sake ! '  He  then  took  God  and  his  angels  to  witness,  that  the  things  iu 
question  in  our  Ivirk  were  neither  commanded  nor  forbidden  in  God's  Word,  but  left 
indift'erent.  He  took  it  upon  his  salvation,  that  they  were  but  trifles  that  all  the  strife 
was  for,  and  that  the  pamphleteer's  pamphlet  (meaning  the  Nullitij  of  the  Perth  As- 
sembly) that  called  kneeling  idolatry,  was  but  a  false  lie." —  Wodroio  3ISS.,  vol.  xliii., 
no.  94. 

t  The  life  of  Dr  John  Cameron  presents  a  series  of  vicissitudes  seldom  experienced 
by  the  mere  student.  He  was  born  about  the  year  1580,  in  Glasgow,  "  in  our  Salt- 
Mercat,  a  few  doors  from  the  place  of  my  birth,"  says  Robert  Bailie.  Having  acquired 
the  French  language  from  Andrew  and  William  Kivet,  who  were  his  fellow-students 


38  Llt'E  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G22. 

mc ;  l)iit  before  I  set  forth  that  matter,  it  shall  not  be  amiss  to 
premise  something  concerning  that  very  learned  man,  and  what  it 
was  that  did  irritate  and  provoke  him  so  against  mc. 

and  comijanions  in  the  University  of  Glasgow,  lie  went  to  France  in  IGOO,  and  became 
professor  of  theology  at  Sedan ;  but,  devoting  himself  to  the  study  of  divinity,  he  ac- 
cepted a  ministerial  charge  at  Bourdeaux,  in  conjunction  with  his  countiTtTiian,  Gil- 
bert Primrose.  While  in  this  situation,  he  and  his  colleague  became  involved  in  a 
strange  quan-el  with  the  Government.  Orders  having  been  given  to  disarm  the  Pro- 
testants of  Bourdeaux,  the  consistory  became  alarmed,  and,  dreading  a  general  massacre, 
suspended  all  meetings  for  public  worship.  One  of  the  elders,  however,  an  advocate 
of  the  name  of  Saint- Angel,  felt  so  aggrieved  at  the  suspicions  thus  e^dnced  of  the 
designs  of  Government,  that  he  entered  a  complaint  against  the  two  Scottish  minis- 
ters before  Parhamcnt,  representing  them  as  "  imbued  with  the  maxims  of  their  coun- 
try, according  to  which  no  distinction  was  made  between  absolute  authority  and 
tyranny."  The  consistory,  on  the  other  hand,  considering  this  an  undue  interference 
with  ecclesiastical  liberty,  suspended  the  recusant  ekler  from  communion,  on  the 
ground  of  his  contemning  the  discipline  and  disturbing  the  peace  of  the  Church.  The 
Parliament,  of  course,  took  the  part  of  the  advocate,  and  ordered  the  consistory  to 
open  the  churches,  and  conduct  the  public  worship  as  usual.  The  ministers,  to  avoid 
this,  retired  from  the  city. — Hist,  de  VEcUt  de  Nantes,  tom.  ii.,  p.  188,  et  seq.  The 
Government  never  forgave  Cameron  for  this  offence ;  and  though  he  was  afterwards 
called  to  be  professor  of  divinity  at  Saumur,  we  find  the  king  insisting  on  his  removal 
from  the  countiy,  and  telling  the  Synod  of  Charenton  that  "  it  was  liis  will  and  plea- 
sure that  those  two  gentlemen,  Mr  Gilbert  Primrose  and  Mr  John  Cameron,  should 
not  be  preferred  to  any  public  office,  either  of  pastors  in  the  churches  or  professors 
in  the  universities,  not  because  of  their  birth  being  foreigners,  but  for  some  private 
reasons  of  State  relating  to  his  service." — Quick's  Synodicon,  p.  101.  In  1621,  he 
came  to  London,  and  was  introduced  to  James  VI.,  who,  finding  him  iavourable  to 
Prelacy  and  the  ceremonies,  made  him  principal  of  the  College  of  Glasgow,  in  the 
room  of  Boyd  of  Trochrig.  His  sapient  majesty  seems  to  ha-\'e  thought  that  the  fame 
of  the  doctor's  learning  would  carry  aU  before  it,  and  it  is  curious  to  find  the  man  who 
suffered  for  M-itnessing  against  religious  despotism  in  the  person  of  Louis  XIII.  con- 
descending to  become  its  tool  in  the  person  of  James  VI.  It  is  strange  to  hear  BailUe 
saying :  "  I  had  drunken  in,  without  examination,  from  my  master,  Cameron,  in  my 
youth,  that  slavish  tenet,  that  all  resistance  to  the  supreme  magistrate,  in  any  case, 
was  simply  unlawful." — BuiUie's  Letters,  vol.  i.,  p.  188,  4to.  James,  however,  being 
disappointed  in  his  exj)cctations,  was  proportional)ly  incensed  at  "  the  dolts  and  de- 
ceivers," as  he  called  his  agents  in  Scotland ;  and  Cameron,  smarting  under  his  fail- 
in-e  and  the  king's  displeasure,  before  he  had  been  two  years  in  Glasgow,  returned  to 
Prance,  only  to  meet  with  fresh  calamities.  Venturing,  in  the  time  of  civil  war,  to 
preach  up  his  tenet  of  non-resistance  at  Montauban,  he  was  suspected  of  currying  fa- 
vour with  the  king,  and  insulted  in  the  streets.  Poor  Cameron,  when  assailed  by  one 
oi  the  mol),  in  a  fit  of  classic  heroism,  opened  his  breast,  crying  ''  Strike,  villain !" 
when  the  fellow  immediately  knocked  him  down,  and  would  have  IdUed  him,  had  he 
not  been  saved  by  a  woman.  He  was  compelled  to  flee  to  a  village,  where  he  fell  sick 
and  died  in  1025,  at  tlie  age  of  forty-six.  Bayle  represents  him  as  "  a  man  of  great 
parts  and  of  an  excellent  memory,  very  learned,  a  good  philosopher,  good  humoured, 
liberal,  not  only  of  his  knowledge  but  his  purse,  a  great  talker,  a  long-winded  preacher, 


1  G22,]  LIFE  OF  llOBERT  BLAIR.  3!) 

The  college  wanting  a  principal  for  a  year,  about  the  time  of  the 
laureation,  Mr  Cameron  came,  being  sent  from  the  Court,  where 
he  was  then  residing,  to  bring  that  college  to  conform  to  Perth 
Articles,  as  we  learned  thereafter.  When  we  were  leavmg  the 
town,  he,  knowing  that  his  main  work  would  be  to  persuade  me 
(being  somewhat  confident,  upon  some  essay  he  had  made,  to  pre- 
vail with  the  rest),  hearing  that  I  intended  a  journey  to  the  north, 
to  visit  the  faithful  servants  of  Christ  who  were  there  confined  by 
the  Prelatic  High  Commission ;  he,  thinking  the  work  would  be 
the  harder  to  prevail  with  me  after  I  had  met  with  these  worthies, 
set  himself  to  mar  my  journey,  offering  that,  if  I  would  stay  some 
days,  he  would  go  the  length  of  Aberdeen ;  but  suspecting  he  had 
no  real  intention  for  Aberdeen  (as  the  event  proved),  I  earnestly 
entreated  him  to  hold  me  excused,  seeing  I  was  engaged,  and  some 
company  at  Edinburgh  were  waiting  upon  my  coming,  who  were 
to  go  all  the  length  of  my  journey,  and  farther.  So  I  following 
the  intended  journey,  those  who  had  promised  to  go  along  with 
me  being  hindered  by  weighty  causes,  I  did  find  unexpected  com- 
pany, and  therein  very  sweet  passages  of  divine  providence,  all  the 
time,  from  day  to  day ;  my  spirit  was  much  refreshed,  observing  the 
Lord's  guiding  :  and  when  I  anived  at  these  sufferers,  their  com- 
pany and  conference  was  to  me  admirably  refreshful,  especially  at 
Turriff,  where  Mr  David  Dickson  was  confined,  and  at  Inverness, 
where  Mr  Eobert  Bruce  was  the  second  time  confined.*    That  an- 

little  read  in  the  fathers,  inflexible  in  his  opinions,  and  somewhat  troublesome." 
Bishop  Hall  pronounced  him  "  the  most  learned  man  ever  Scotland  produced."  While 
in  France,  he  propagated  with  success  new  views  concerning  universal  grace,  which 
his  disciples,  Amyrald  and  Testard,  as  usual,  carried  farther  than  their  master,  main- 
taining that  Christ  died  for  all  men.  His  theological  lectures  were  printed  at  Saumur, 
in  three  volumes  4to,  1G26.  His  remarks  on  the  New  Testament,  entitled  Myrothe- 
cium  Evanrjelicum,  Avere  printed  in  1G33.  His  "  Examination  of  Popish  Prejudices 
against  the  Eeformed  Religion"  deserves  a  better  translation  than  that  "  Englished 
out  of  French,"  Oxford,  1626. 

*  Bruce's  ministry  there  appears  to  have  been  eminently  blessed  of  God.  "  June, 
29,  ]  700. — The  memoiy  of  that  man  of  God,  Mr  Eobert  Brace,  is  sweet  to  this  day  in 
this  place  (luveniess.)  He,  in  the  days  of  King  James,  was  confined  to  this  town, 
where  the  Lord  blessed  his  labours  to  the  conversion  of  many  brethren  in  the  town 
and  country  about ;  for  midtitudcs  of  all  ranks  would  have  crossed  several  ferries 
every  Lords-day  to  hear  him  ;  yea,  they  came  both  from  Ross  and  Sutherland.     The 


40  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1623. 

cient  heroic  servant  of  Christ,  considering  how  long  a  journey  I  had 
made  from  Glasgow  to  visit  him,  being  estimated  one  hundred  and 
forty  miles,  did  impart  to  me  the  memorable  passages  of  his  life  in 
a  large  book,  wherein  was  set  down  what  hard  and  sore  exercise 
his  soul  had  met  with,  both  before  his  entry  to  the  ministry  at 
Edinburgh  and  after,  affirming  that  he  was  full  three  years  so  as- 
saulted and  disquieted,  that  he  never  said  "  My  God,"  but  he  was 
challenged  and  questioned  for  the  same  :  as  also  the  strong  conso- 
lations whereby  the  Lord  had  comforted  him,  among  which  two 
were  most  eminent,  whereby  he  said  the  Lord  strengthened  him, 
before  he  fell  under  the  king's  displeasure.  Also,  therein  was 
contained  choice  letters,  either  written  to  him  or  written  by  him. 
Li  my  return,  I  also  met  with  sweet  passages  of  divine  provi- 
dence, some  being  dro^vned  in  rivers  about  that  same  time,  and 
others  killed  by  robbers.  Returning  to  Glasgow,  I  heard  that 
Trochrig  was  sick  in  his  own  house  in  Carrick,  whereupon  I  made 
haste  the  next  day  to  visit  him,  who  made  me  very  welcome. 

Mr  Cameron,  who  had  stayed  all  this  time  at  Glasgow,  hereby 
took  a  strong  prejudice  that,  in  this  my  journeying  first  to  the 
north  and  then  to  the  south,  I  was  carrying  on  a  design  (as  I 
learned  thereafter,  when  his  fury  broke  out  against  me),  negotiat- 
ing amongst  ministers  who  were  disaffected  to  the  innovations  which 
had  lately  crept  into  the  Kirk  of  Scotland ;  whereas  it  was  my 
ordinary  practice,  in  time  of  our  vacation,  to  visit  gracious  minis- 
ters and  eminent  Christians,  that,  by  their  conference  and  fellow- 
ship, I  might  be  edified  and  set  fonvard  in  the  good  ways  of  my 
God. 

The  vacancy  being  ended,  that  learned  man  began  his  prelec- 
tions, all  which  I  took  with  my  pen.  At  ibst,  in  private  he  did 
much  insinuate  himself,  and,  by  his  discourses,  laboured  to  per- 
suade me  to  conform  to  the  late  Acts  of  Perth.  I,  with  as  gooc! 
discretion  and  modesty  as  I  could,  answered  his  arguments,  so  that 
still  we  parted  fairly.     About  that  time  came  to  my  hands  "  The 

memory  of  the  just  is  blessed." — Extract  from  the  Diary  of  John  Brand,  minister  at 
Borroivstounness,  from  1600  to  1727,  p.  100. 


1623.]  LIFE  OP  ROBERT  BLAIR.  41 

History  and  Acts  of  the  famous  Synod  of  Dort,'"  together  with 
"  The  Anti-Synodal  Writings  of  the  Belgic  Remonstrants."  Both 
these  I  perused  diligently  in  my  night  studies,  and  that  so  much 
the  more  diligently  because  that  I  conceived  Mr  Cameron  was 
most  able,  both  in  our  public  disputes,  which  we  had  weekly,  and 
in  private  conferences,  wherein  he  was  very  communicative,  to 
dissolve  (resolve)  doubts  on  that  subject ;  seeing  lately  he  had,  in 
a  public  dispute,  confiited  Tilenus,  who  had  fallen  into  the  Armi- 
nian  faction.*  So  I  being  invited  to  that  weekly  disputation  to 
oppugn  the  thesis,t  did  unexpectedly  meet  with  Mr  Cameron  and 
the  French  student  who  maintained  the  thesis — their  defence  of 
election  for  foreseen  faith.$  Being  herewith  surprised,  I  knew  not 
weU  what  to  do,  partly  because  I  had  not  will  to  fix  them  upon 
that  point  by  my  opposing  of  it,  thinking  that  perhaps  the  argu- 
ment in  hand  had  rather  driven  them  to  what  they  had  said  than 
that  they  were  settled  in  that  judgment ;  and  partly  because  the 
arguments  I  had  thought  upon  were  frustrated.     In  this  my  doubt- 

*  Daniel  Tilenus,  a  native  of  Silesia,  bom  in  1563,  was  iirofessor  of  cli-\-inity  at  Se- 
dan. He  was  among  the  first  opponents  of  Anninius,  but  afterwards  adopted  his  views. 
Cameron  had  a  public  dispute  (he  calls  it  "  a  friendly  conference")  with  Tilenus,  while 
in  France. —  Walch.  Bibliotheca  Theol.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  544.  But  he  aftenvards  embraced 
the  tenets  of  that  professor,  who,  as  Wodrow  says,  "  was  an  enemy  to  the  Presbyterian 
form  of  government  and  discipUne,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  what  formed  Anninius' 
doctrine  ;  and  it  was  aftenvards  smoothed  and  improved  by  our  Cameron,  Amyrald 
and  others  in  France,  who  generally  bear  the  name  of  New  Methodists,  and  have 
many  followers  at  this  day." — Life  of  Boyd,  p.  106.  Tilenus  was  a  violent  and  un- 
fair adversary.  Andrew  MelviUe  was  much  annoyed  by^him  when  he  taught  with  him 
at  Sedan.— Z)?-  M'Crie's  Life  of  Melville,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  290,  304,  305. 

t  The  thesis,  according  to  the  ancient  practice  in  schools  of  divinity,  was  a  Latin 
exercise  on  some  qiiestion  of  theologj',  such  as,  "  Was  Christ  the  eternal  Son  of  God  ?" 
after  the  reading  of  which,  some  student,  appointed  for  the  purpose,  oppugned  it,  by 
adducing  the  objections  of  adversaries,  to  which  the  author  of  the  thesis,  who  was 
called  the  respondent  or  defendant,  was  expected  to  reply  on  the  spot. 

X  That  is,  he  found  Mr  Cameron  and  the  French  student  defending  the  doctrine,  that 
believers  are  elected  in  virtue  of  their  foreseen  faith.  Cameron  was  more  than  sus- 
pected of  loose  views  on  various  points  of  theology,  and  too  fond  of  speculating  on 
them  all.  Much  of  tliis  may  have  been  owing  to  his  extreme  vanity  and  loquacious- 
ness. He  coidd  hardly  endure  to  hear  anybody  talk  but  himself,  and  ^\'hen  inteiTupt- 
ed,  would  frown,  and  say,  with  indignation :  "  Don't  interrupt  me  ;  let  me  speak." 
His  scholars  admired  him  almost  to  idolatiy.  It  is  said  of  Amyi-ald,  that  he  imitated 
him,  not  only  in  his  speculations,  but  in  the  peculiar  twist  of  his  head  and  his  Scotch 
accent,  so  that  the  king  of  France  once  took  him  for  a  foreigner.     Bayle,  art.  Cameron. 


42  I^IFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G2;>. 

ing  what  to  do,  I  admonished  the  defendant  that  the  famous  Synod 
of  Dort  luid  hitcly  determined  the  contrary  of  what  he  asserted. 
To  tliis  the  preses  rcphed,  Tupolles  argumentis,  omitte  testimonium  * 
So  I  was  necessitated  either  to  be  dumb  or  to  dispute  against  what 
they  held,  and  so  I  continued  till  the  ringing  of  the  bell  ended 
the  dis})ute.  Many  being  present,  hearers  of  what  had  passed, 
reports  did  fly  through  the  towai  hereupon — some  affirming  that  Mr 
Cameron  and  the  French  student  or  theologue,  who  was  his  dis- 
ciple, had  maintained  openly,  in  disputation,  a  point  of  Arminian- 
ism  condemned  by  the  Synod  of  Dort ;  others  said  that  I  had 
openly  charged  them  to  have  done  so.  This  coming  to  the  ears 
of  Mr  Cameron,  he  resolved  to  have  a  new  public  encounter  with 
me,  wherein  he  would  baffle  me,  and  I  purposed  to  dispute  no  more 
with  them.  So  at  the  next  occasion,  in  the  entry  thereof,  I  was  in- 
vited to  dispute.  I  prayed  to  be  excused,  seeing  I  had  taken  up  the 
whole  time  the  last  day ;  and  being  the  following  day  invited  also,  I 
declined,  using  the  former  excuse.  In  the  end,  there  cometh  to  my 
chamber  a  student  of  theology,  who  had  been  under  my  discipline  in 
philosophy.  He  told  me  he  was  sent  by  the  rest  of  the  theologues  to 
entreat  me  to  dispute  the  next  day.  I  asked  why  they  were  so  de- 
sirous to  have  me  disputing  again.  He  told  me  that  they  w^ere  all 
wearied  of  disputing  so  long  upon  the  same  thesis,  which  they  had 
declared  to  the  preses,  and  he  had  answered  that  he  would  never  give 
them  new  theses,  till  I  should  dispute  again.  I  having  formerly  a 
jealousy  that  there  was  a  snare  lying  in  the  frequent  inviting  me  to 
dispute,  I  was  confirmed  therein  by  Avhat  this  young  man  had  said  ; 
yet  he  urged  me  Avith  his  request  so  pressingly,  assuring  me  that 
my  refusal  would  very  much  grieve  all  the  young  theologues  in 
whose  name  he  had  come,  that  a  promise  was  extorted  from  me  ; 
and  when  the  day  came,  I  proceeded  in  the  argument  wherein  the 
ringing  of  the  bells  had  interrupted  me.  The  defendant  would 
neither  retract  what  he  had  the  former  day  asserted,  nor  yet  w^ould 
directly  defend  it.  I  was  forced  to  recapitulate  the  whole  argu- 
ment I  had  used  the  last  day,  together  with  their  answers.  At 
*  •'  You  excel  ill  arguments  ;  don't  niiud  aullioritics." 


1G23.]  '  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  43 

this  the  preses  was  so  enraged  that  he  uttered  words  of  passion. 
I  thinking,  as  the  truth  was,  that  I  was  very  unequally  yoked  with 
a  man  so  famous  abroad  and  so  much  respected  at  home,  and  by 
myself  as  much  as  by  any  other,  thought  it  not  fit  to  insist  further, 
but  to  come  off,  saying  tliese  words  :  "  I  will  not  dispute  conten- 
tiously."  The  preses,  not  willing  to  part  with  me  so,  framed 
against  me  a  dilemma  thus :  "  You  have  either  charo-ed  us  with 
contention,  which  would  be  a  proof  of  your  arrogancy,  or  yourself, 
which  is  '  would  be'  an  evidence  of  an  evil  conscience.  Answer  to 
this,"  says  he.  While  I  am  rising  to  answer,  one  of  the  ministers 
of  the  town  gently  laid  hold  on  my  gown,  saying  :  "  Sit  still,  and 
answer  nothing  ;"  to  whom  I  answered  quietly  :  "  Sir,  if  I  answer 
not  discreetly,  bear  yom*  witness  against  me,  and  spit  in  my  face  ;" 
but  to  the  preses  I  said  :  "  Sir,  my  speech  neither  charged  you  nor 
myself  with  contention,  but,  by  yielding,  I  laboured  to  prevent  the 
occasion  thereof."  ]\Iy  answer  was  commended  by  them  who  sat 
by,  especially  by  him  who  requested  me  not  to  answer.  But  the 
preses  added  injurious  and  menacing  words,  till  the  rector  of  the 
university,  Mr  Robert  Scot,  a  grave  and  learned  minister  of  the 
High  Kirk  of  Glasgow,  publicly  reproved  and  conti'adicted  him. 
Then  one  of  the  French  theologues  craved  leave  of  the  rector  to 
dispute.  When  all  was  ended,  when  the  principal  and  regents  had 
conducted  the  rector  to  the  college  gate,  I  went  forward,  and  re- 
quested the  rector  and  those  that  were  with  him  to  stay  a  little  ; 
then  I  requested  them,  Avhen  matters  were  recent  in  their  me- 
mories, to  declare  whether  I  had  given  any  just  cause  to  that  great 
wrath  and  reproachful  menacing  speeches.  They  with  one  con- 
sent answered,  to  their  best  observation  I  had  given  no  cause ; 
only  one  of  them  added  :  "  It  seemeth  there  is  some  other  thing 
among  you  which  we  know  not ;"  and  he  guessed  rightly,  for  that 
learned  man,  not  gaining  his  point  in  persuading  me  to  conform  to 
the  Perth  Articles  by  privy  conference,  thought  himself  affronted ; 
and  being  of  great  passions  as  well  as  of  great  parts,  he  coidd  not 
contain  himself  from  violent  outbreaking;. 


44-  LIFE  OF  ROBEKT  BLAIR.  1623.] 

But  then  Mr  James  Roberton,*  who  was  iny  senior  colleague, 
rested  not  to  txvavel  betwixt  us  till  a  reconciliation  w^as  made  ;  but 
something  fell  out  shortly  that  rankled  this  reconciliation,  and  it 
was  this  :  At  a  meeting  of  the  moderators  of  the  university,  before 
they  entered  upon  the  affairs  to  be  considered,  one  of  the  minis- 
ters, who  was  dean  of  the  faculty,  asked  jSIr  Cameron,  If  at  any 
time  in  the  Christian  Church  before  this  age,  the  keeping  of  the 
day  of  Christ's  nativity  was  questioned  ?  He  answered,  "  Never ;" 
and  confirmed  his  answer,  citing  Augustine's  Epistle  to  Januarius, 
affirming  that  it  was  kept  through  the  whole  world.    I,  having  lately 
read  that  epistle,  observed,  then,  that  In  It  there  was  no  mention 
of  the  nativity-day  ;  yet,  waiting  to  see  if  men  of  learning  and 
years  there  present  would  make  any  answer,   for  a  time   I  was 
silent ;  but  at  last  I  said  :    "  I  trow  Augustine  makes  no  mention 
of  the  nativity-day  In  that  epistle."      Whereupon  that  man  (of 
Avhom  it  was  said  that  he  knew  not  what  It  w^as  to  forget)  rises 
hastily,   and  laying  hold  on  that  book,  (for  it  was  in  the  room 
where  we  were  convened),  turns  to  the  place,  thinking  to  convince 
me,  but  finding  himself  mistaken,  he  still  reads  on,  till  he  who 
asked  the  question  came  to  look  upon  the  book.     Then  suddenly 
throwing  it  together  with  some  Indignation,  said :    "  I  wonder  that 
Augustine  did  forget  this !"     Before  he  spake  these  words  some 
of  those  that  were  present  looked  upon  me  as  the  barbarians  did 
upon  Paid  when  the  viper  w^as  upon  his  hand,  thinking  that  the 
present  reading  of  the  place  would  confound  me.     But  I,   who 
uttered  the  matter  conjecturally,  (though  I  knew  It  certainly),  I 
looked  also  not  confidentlike,  neither  while  he  was  searching,  nor 
after  he  had  found  his  mistake.      But  all  this  availed  not ;    for 
though  he  concealed  his  wrath  at  that  time,  yet  he  showed  his 
malice  and  hostility  within  a  few  days. 

While  I  had  withdrawn  myself  out  of  the  town,  lest  in  the  time 
of  these  superstltlously  abused  days,  some  debate  should  be  there- 
about, he  '  tried'  who  of  all  those  who  had  been  my  scholars  loved 

*  Son  of  Koberton  of  Eaniock,  an  advocate,  and  at  the  Kestoration  raised  to  the 
bench  by  Charles  11.,  under  the  title  of  Lord  Bedlay. 


1623.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  45 

me  least ;  and  finding  one  fit  for  his  purpose  (not  long  thereafter 
he  was  taken  for  theft  of  books,  and  was  laid  in  the  bishop's 
stocks,  whence  he  made  an  escape,  leaving  upon  the  stocks  a 
paper,  confessing,  under  his  hand,  that  the  judgment  of  God  was 
upon  him  since  that  Lord's-day  wherein  he  was  seduced  to  inform 
against  Mr  Robert  Blair ;  which  paper  a  friend  sent  to  me,  being 
then  in  Ireland),  he  called  to  him,  and  employed  him  to  search  my 
Dictates  on  Aristotle's  Ethics  and  Politics,  and  to  bring  to  him 
what  he  found  either  of  magistrates,  laws,  or  obedience.  Some 
places  capable  of  wi-esting,  John  Gardner  (for  that  Avas  his  name) 
found,  and  presented  them  to  JSIr  Cameron,  and  he  to  the  arch- 
bishop, where  three  or  four  more  were  drawn  upon  this  plot,  their 
oath  of  secrecy  being  taken.  But  one  of  these  thinking  it  a  per- 
nicious-like plot,  and  that  his  oath  given  was  unlawful,  sent  me 
information  of  the  whole  business.  Wliereupon  I  prepared  my 
apology  in  writ,  and  being  questioned,  did  read  from  writ  mine 
answer  to  all  the  excepted  places  that  were  wrested  against  me,  so 
convincingly,  that  both  the  magistrates  of  the  town  and  ministers 
being  present  were  satisfied,  in  such  sort,  that  one  of  the  ministers 
standing  up  in  the  meeting  (even  one  who  had  been  drawn  upon 
the  plot  against  me),  said  :  "  Would  to  God  King  James  had  been 
present,  and  had  heard  what  answers  that  man  hath  given ;"  and 
the  archbishop  himself  told  Mr  James  Roberton,  that  King  James 
himself  would  be  satisfied  with  my  declaration,  and,  after  some 
space,  did  write  to  my  elder  brother,  minister  at  Dumbarton,  to 
hinder  me  to  go  out  of  the  country,  and  that  shortly  I  should  be 
planted  in  a  considerable  charge,  even  in  the  town  of  Ayr ;  but 
before  that  letter  came,  I  had  followed  a  call  that  came  to  me 
from  a  nobleman  in  the  kingdom  of  Ireland,  whereof  hereafter. 
Yea,  IVIr  Cameron  himself,  before  that  matter  was  determined, 
perceiving  my  inclination  to  demit  my  place  (he  and  I  meeting 
privately  in  his  chamber)  dealt  A\ath  me  in  a  seeming  earnestness 
not  to  relinquish  my  charge  in  the  college,  promising  to  be  my 
cordial  friend ;  for  now  (said  he)  he  perceived  that  both  my  parts 
and  tenets  would  make  way  for  my  rising.     But  being  now  wearied 


4G  LIFE  OF  ROBEIIT  BLAIK.  1623.] 

of  tcachlup;  pliilosophy,  and  considering  in  how  dangerous  company 
I  was,  and  not  trusting  the  fair  promises  that  were  made  to  me, 
I  resolutely  refused,  and  so  demitted  my  place  in  the  college,  to 
the  great  grief  of  my  fellow-regents,  the  students,  and  good  people 
of  Glasgow. 

Notwithstanding  all  this  evident  clearing,  yet  this  calumny  did 
follow  me ;  and  when,  many  years  thereafter,  I  was  transported 
from  the  ministry  at  Ayr  to  the  ministry  at  St  Andrews,  by  the 
famous  Assembly  at  Glasgow,  in  the  year  1G38,  the  book  written 
against  that  Assembly,  called  "  The  King's  Large  Declaration," 
sets  a  note  upon  the  act  of  my  transportation,  that  I  was  expelled 
the  College  of  Glasgow  for  being  disaffected  to  monarchical 
government.  But  by  the  good  providence  of  God  it  came  to  pass, 
towards  the  beginning  of  that  Assembly,  that  a  gentleman,  a  ruling 
elder,  having  heard  a  surmise  of  my  business,  desired  openly  to 
be  satisfied  therein,  I  being  a  member  of  the  Assembly.  There 
had  I  a  better  occasion  of  vindication  than  ever  I  expected  on 
earth ;  for  we  were  in  the  place  where  that  matter  was  first 
handled,  and  many  were  present,  especially  Mr  Robert  Baillie  * 
and  Mr  George  Young,  who  were  eye  and  ear  witnesses  of  all 
that  business,  and  did  verify  before  that  Assembly  all  the  main 
articles  of  the  relation  before  mentioned.  The  whole  Assembly 
was  fully  satisfied,  and  the  gentleman  Avho  moved  the  scruple 
against  me,  at  the  parting  of  the  Assembly  that  day  would  needs 

*  The  celebrated  Robert  Baillie,  author  of  the  well-known  Letters  and  Joumalfi, 
and  afterwards  principal  of  the  College  of  Glasgow.  In  164G,  Avhen  he  dedicated  to 
Blair  his  "  Historical  Vindication  of  the  Government  of  the  Church  in  Scotland,"  he 
thus  recalls  the  memory  of  his  youthful  days,  and  pays  a  high  tribute  to  our  author : 
"  When  I  look  back,  as  I  frecjueutly  do,  with  a  delightfid  remembrance  towards  those 
yeai"s  of  my  childhood  and  youth,  whei'ein  I  did  sit  under  your  discipline,  mv  heart 
blesses  the  goodness  of  God,  who,  in  a  very  rich  mercy  to  me,  did  put  the  almost 
white  and  rased  table  of  my  spirit  under  3'our  hand,  after  my  domestic  instructions, 
wliicli  were  from  mine  infancy,  to  be  engra\en  by  your  labours  and  example  with  my 
first  most  sensible  and  remaining  impressions,  whether  of  pietj^  or  of  good  letters,  or 
of  moral  virtue.  What  little  portion  in  any  of  these  it  has  pleased  the  Lord,  of  his 
high  and  imdescrved  favour,  to  bestow  upon  me,  I  were  ungrateful  if  I  shoidd  not  ac- 
knowledge you,  after  my  jiarents,  the  first  and  principal  instrument  thereof.  I  cannot 
deny  that,  since  the  eleventh  year  of  mine  age  to  this  day,  in  my  inmost  sense  I  have 
always  found  myself  more  in  your  dcl)t  tliau  in  any  other  man's  upon  earth." 


1623.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  47 

be  acquainted  with  me,  and  thereafter  entertained  friendship  with 
me ;  yea,  which  is  much  more,  the  penner  of  that  formerly  men- 
tioned book,  Avhich  had  that  scandalous  note  against  me,  to  wit, 
Dr  Balcanqual,  dean  of  Durham,*  the  year  after  that  Assem- 
bly,t  Ibeing  at  London,  waiting  upon  the  commissioners  of  the  great 
treaty,  the  said  doctor  sent  his  servant  to  me,  to  entreat  that  I 
would  appoint  some  place  where  he  might  wait  upon  me,  to  satisfy 
me  anent  that  note  against  me  in  the  book  penned  by  him,  pro- 
mising to  declare  to  me  who  had  misinformed  him  therein ;  to 
whom  I  returned  this  answer,  that  his  whole  book,«and  all  the 
contents  thereof,  were  under  public  agitation  by  the  honourable 
commissioners  of  both  kingdoms,  by  whose  united  consent  (as  he 
knew  well  enough)  that  whole  book  was,  one  of  these  days,  to  be 
condemned,  with  aU  the  contents  thereof,  and  he  to  be  declared  a 
public  incendiary  (and  this  was  ratified  by  the  Parliaments  of  both 
the  nations ;)  and  that,  therefore,  I  might  not  follow  any  private 
transaction  for  my  own  satisfaction ;  and  yet  I  sent  him  thanks 
for  his  offer,  and  wished  he  might  see  his  errors  in  other  things  as 
well  as  in  that  for  which  he  had  sent  to  me. 

Albeit  these  thinsfs  fell  out  not  at  one  time,  but  there  were  near 
twenty  years  between  the  beginning  and  the  end  of  what  has 
passed  in  this  last  discourse ;  yet  I  did  find  it  expedient  to  join 

*  Dr  Walter  Balcanqual  was  the  son  of  Walter  Balcanqual,  one  of  tlie  ministers  of 
Edinburgh,  distinguished  for  his  opposition  to  the  despotic  measures  of  James  VI., 
and  whom  Boyd  of  Trochrig,  in  his  Obituary,  describes  as  "  a  good  man  and  straight." 
His  son  the  doctor  may  have  been  "  a  good  man,"  but  he  was  far  from  being  "  straight." 
In  IGIG  King  James  sent  him  as  commissioner  to  the  Synod  of  Dort,  to  represent  the 
Churches  of  Great  Britain  ;  though  it  appears  he  had  no  commission  from  the  Cluu-ch 
of  Scotland.— //(■«<.  Motuum,  p.  100.  If  he  appeared  as  a  Calvinist  at  Dort,  he  amply 
atoned  for  it  by  his  subsequent  exertions  to  put  do-\\Ti  Cahinism  in  Scotland.  Created 
Dean  of  Rochester  in  1624,  and  Dean  of  Durham  in  1639,  he  lent  himself  to  become 
a  tool  in  the  hand  of  Ai'chbishop  Laud,  and  was  the  author  of  the  "  King's  Large 
Declaration,"  a  book  in  which  the  Presbyterians  of  Scotland  were  folscly  and  calum- 
niously  represented,  and  which,  in  order  to  escape  the  odium  of  the  pastjuinade,  was 
published  in  the  name  of  the  unfortunate  monarch.  Dr  Balcanqual  died  at  Chirk 
Castle,  Denbighshire,  on  Christmas-day,  1646.  He  compiled  the  statutes  of  Heriot's 
Hospital,  now  printed.— Z(/e  of  Boyd,  2G0;  Chartcris  Account,  Wodrow  MSS.,  lii.,  2. 
There  is  a  full  account  of  Balcanqual  in  Dr  Steven's  Life  of  George  Heriot. 

t  On  the  margin  :  "  1639,  after  tlie  pacification  at  the  Birks  of  Benvick.  The  next 
year,  1640,  when  our  anny  was  in  England,  the  long  treaty  began." 


48  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  1623.] 

together  all  these  jjassages — one  part  clearing  another.  But  now, 
to  return  to  my  fore-mentioned  trouble  at  Glasgow :  Though  I 
was  expecting  to  share  in  the  troubles  of  the  time,  and  was  not  a 
little  prepared  and  encouraged  to  undergo  the  same  patiently, 
liaving  lately  been  partaker  of  the  consolations  of  the  suffering 
servants  of  Jesus  Christ,  yet  I  was  surprised  both  In  the  measure 
and  manner  of  my  trial.  Not  only  Archbishop  Law  was  incensed 
against  me  for  testifying  what  I  heard  and  saw  at  the  Assembly 
of  Perth,  and  had  opposed  my  entry  to  the  minlstr}-,  having  had 
a  call  from  several  congregations  within  the  land ;  but  the  Lord 
was  pleased,  also,  for  my  correction  and  humiliation,  to  raise  up 
an  eminent  learned  man,  who  was  greatly  incensed  against  me  for 
not  being  satisfied  with  his  persuasions  to  yield  to  that  sinful  con- 
formity, to  be  a  sharp  adversary  ;  he  thinking  that  I  intended  the 
aiFronting  of  him  in  the  passages  formerly  mentioned,  which  (the 
Lord,  the  searcher  of  hearts,  knoAvs)  was  far  from  my  thoughts. 
Being  thus  surprised,  and  having  none  at  hand  to  consult  with 
(the  messenger  that  I  sent  to  my  brother  to  hasten  him  to  me 
deceiving  me),  and  this  being  my  first  apprentice  essay  in  public 
suffering,  I  was  not  a  little  astonished.  The  closest  friend  I  had 
at  hand,  by  Avliom  I  had  gotten  the  intelligence  of  the  plot  against 
me,  advised  me  to  make  an  escape,  and  not  to  appear ;  but  I  ab- 
horred the  motion,  seeing  that  was  the  way  to  betray  my  inno- 
cence. And  the  Lord  established  my  heart  with  confidence,  that 
he  would  clear  my  innocence  and  integrity ;  and  so  I  made  ready 
my  apology,  keeping  within  my  chamber  the  Avliole  day.  There- 
after I  went  to  dispossess  some  worthy  persons  of  some  misinfor- 
mations made  to  them  by  my  adversaries,  and  some  of  them,  by 
the  notable  testimony  they  gave  unto  me,  comforted  me  not  a 
little  ;  for  the  praise  and  commendation  of  worthy  persons,  which 
at  another  time  might  be  the  ground  of  dangerous  temptation,  is 
very  comfortable  in  time  of  trouble  and  trial. 

That  which  burdened  me  most  was,  that  being  acquainted  Avith, 
and  beloved  of,  many  gracious  people  In  the  land,  they  would  be 
much  grieved  for  my  trouble,  and  that  others  might  fear  that  I 


1623.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  49 

had  run  Into  great  absmxlities.  This  held  me  waking  a  whole 
night,  being  under  great  vexation.  It  is  a  sad  thing  to  be  made 
a  gazing-stock  and  a  matter  of  tallying  to  good  and  bad.  Ah ! 
Lord,  even  when  we  seem  to  be  prepared  for  doing  or  suffering, 
how  far  are  we  from  it !  When  thou  seest  it  meet  to  suffer  pain 
and  loss,  but  especially  reproach  (innocency  and  integrity  being 
overwhelmed  and  oppressed  with  calumny)  to  assault  us,  this  is 
more  bitter  a  great  deal  than  simple  death.  '  When  thou,  O 
Lord !'  *  seest  It  meet  to  bring  on  trouble  and  trial,  thou  wilt 
make  it  to  be  so  in  effect ;  and  this  brings  matters  so  about  for 
the  purging  and  fining  of  thy  servants.  Thou  wilt  have  them,  as 
it  was  with  the  blessed  apostle  (2  Cor.  I.  8),  pressed  out  of  measure 
and  above  their  strength,  that  they  may  learn  not  to  trust  in 
themselves,  but  in  God,  who  quickeneth  the  dead.  Was  the 
chosen  vessel  that  had  carried  the  name  of  Christ  so  long,  and 
with  so  great  success,  '  only'  yet  about  the  learning  not  to  trust  in 
himself,  but  in  the  living  God  ?  and  behoved  he  to  be  pressed  be- 
yond any  stock  or  store  he  had  received  ?  If  so,  how  can  younger 
apprentices  think  themselves  hardly  dealt  with,  If  they  be  squeezed 
under  their  trials  ?  They  need  not  wonder  If  all  their  gifts  and 
graces.  If  all  their  experiences  and  consolations,  not  only  shrink, 
but  even  sink  under  them,  when  they  offer  to  rest,  trust,  and  rely 
thereon.  In  love  to  the  soids  of  thy  servants,  thou  wilt  not  en- 
dure that  spice  of  heart  whorlshness,  that  thy  gifts  be  rested  on 
rather  than  thyself.  Thou  wilt  make,  O  Lord !  for  this  effect, 
that  neither  the  sun,  moon,  nor  stars  of  graces,  gifts,  or  experi- 
ences, appear  for  some  days,  that  so  the  Lord  himself  alone  may 
be  run  to  and  rested  on.  And  thus  the  Lord  is  pleased  by  trials 
to  fine  the  faith  of  his  servants,  teaching  them  to  trust  alone  In 
him  who  quickeneth  the  dead,  as  the  place  now  cited  holds  forth. 
Gifts  and  graces,  examples  in  others,  and  experiences  In  ourselves, 
may  be  pinnlngs,  as  it  were,  in  a  wall,  to  further,  encourage,  and 
advance  our  faith ;  so  may  also  the  diligent  use  of  the  means  and 
ordinances  of  life.     All  these,  tliough  In  their  own  place,  may  and 

*  WodrowMS. 
D 


50  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  1623.] 

do  prove  useful  to  our  faith  and  living  thereby ;  yet  if  Ave  offer  to 
make  all  of  these,  or  any  of  these,  the  object  for  our  soul  to  rest 
or  rely  upon,  in  order  either  to  our  salvation,  our  sanctification,  or 
outgate  from  trouble,  they  are  not  able  to  support  and  bear  up  the 
weight.  As  pinnings  laid  in  to  be  foundations,  these  all  will  be 
crushed,  for  they  are  out  of  their  own  place  and  office.  The  Lord 
Jehovah,  in  whom  alone  is  power — the  Father,  I  say,  in  his  Son 
and  Spirit — without  partners  and  colleagues — will  be  the  only  ob- 
ject of  our  faith  to  rest  on.  For  this,  see  Ps.  Ixii.  2,  5,  6  ;  and  in 
all  these  verses  compare  the  word  only  with  the  word  truly  in  the 
first  verse,  and  thence  we  will  learn  that  we  do  not  truly  wait, 
trust,  or  hope  in  God,  when  we  do  it  not  only,  excluding  from 
being  the  object  all  means  and  helps,  outward  and  inward.  But 
this  is  not  all  the  Lord  intends,  when  he  brings  his  servants  under 
such  pressures,  with  the  healing  and  fining  of  their  faith,  which  is 
more  precious  than  gold ;  he  intends,  fiirther,  in  relieving  them 
from  the  pressure,  to  let  out  his  strong  consolations ;  and  yet 
further,  he  fits  them  thereby  to  comfort  others  with  the  consola- 
tions wherewith  he  had  comforted  themselves. 

The  day  that  I  left  Glasgow,  the  minister  of  Stewarton,  ISIr 
William  Castlelaw,  in  whose  pulpit  I  had  often  preached,  coming 
in  the  night  before,  resolved  to  go  with  me  to  Dumbarton ;  that 
day,  I  say,  I  was  so  sweetly  comforted,  that  the  most  part  of  the 
way  (it  being  ten  miles)  we  did  cheerfully  sing  psalms.  But  be- 
fore I  went,  I  staid  some  days  at  Glasgow,  having  got  advertise- 
ment from  the  archbishop  that  he  was  to  inform  the  king's  majesty, 
but  withal  desired  me  to  come  and  see  the  letter ;  which  I  did, 
and  was  satisfied  therewith.  This  letter  was  carried  by  my  Lord 
Alexander,  who  had  studied  imder  my  discipline,  who  also  made 
this  return  to  me,  that  his  majesty  took  little  notice  thereof,  seeing 
no  cause  to  be  offended.  The  archbishop  also  told  Mr  James 
Robcrton  that  he  perceived  that  this  whole  matter  flowed  fi-om 
spleen  in  Mr  Cameron  ;  yet  before  I  left  the  town,  I  went  to  his 
chamber,  and  peaceably  took  leave  of  him ;  and  as  long  as  he  lived, 
I  made  conscience  to  pray  for  him,  that  his  great  gifts  might  be 


1623.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  51 

useful  to  the  Church  of  God,  fearing,  if  I  had  omitted  that  duty, 
that  I  might  also  harbour  spleen  against  him.  How  much  of  his 
estimation  he  lost,  and  how  sore  he  was  tossed,  even  to  his  dying 
day,  I  like  not  to  report,  lest  that  should  smell  of  spleen. 

About  that  time  I  received  a  comfortable  letter  from  Trochrig, 
who  had  gotten  a  call  to  be  principal  of  the  College  of  Edinburgh, 
to  profess  divinity,  and  to  preach  in  one  of  their  kirks.  But  there 
was  so  great  resort  of  gracious  people  and  eminent  persons  to  his 
preaching,  that  other  ministers,  especially  Dr  Forbes,  *  who  there- 
after became  the  first  bishop  of  Edinburgh,  moved  with  envy,  pro- 
cured a  letter  from  Court  to  the  CouncU  of  Edinburgh,  so  that  he 
was  removed  from  that  charge  to  his  own  private  habitation.  One 
thing  further  I  may  not  omit,  that  the  day  after  I  demitted  my 
charge,  having  nominated  a  successor  who  was  received  without 
competition  or  trial,  there  came  to  me  a  gentleman  called  James 
Hamilton  of  Kirktonholm,  who  told  me,  that  if  I  had  a  mind  to 
stay  it  might  be  easily  compassed ;  but  I  prayed  him  to  speak 
no  more  of  that.  Then  he  told  me  he  had  a  commission  to  me 
from  the  Lord  Claneboy  in  Ireland,  patron  of  the  kirk  of  Bangor, 
in  the  county  of  Down,  craving  my  pardon  that  he  had  con- 
cealed it  so  long,  telling  me  the  reason — because  he  had  not  will 
that  I  should  leave  that  place,  where  I  was  so  well  beloved  of  all 
the  people  that  feared  God ;  but  I  rashly  and  unchristianly  repelled 
that  motion,  telling  him  that  I  had  an  invitation  to  France  (for- 
merly mentioned),  which  I  intended  to  follow.  Hoav  I  was 
diverted  from  the  one,  and  inclined  to  the  other,  it  is  not  amiss  to 

*  Dr  William  Forbes  was  bom  at  Aberdeen  in  1585.  His  father  was  of  the  family 
of  Corsindae,  and  his  mother  was  sister  of  an  eminent  physician,  Dr  James  Cargill. 
He  was  educated  at  Marischal  College,  and  resided  for  some  time  at  several  of  the 
Continental  universities,  and  at  Oxford.  He  Avas  successively  minister  at  Alford,  at 
Monymusk,  and  at  Aberdeen,  and  in  1G18  was  appointed  principal  of  Marischal  Col- 
lege. He  was  aftenvards  for  some  time  minister  of  Edinburgh  ;  but  his  zeal  for  Epis- 
copacy rendering  him  unpopular  in  the  capital,  he  gladly  accepted  an  invitation  to 
become  again  one  of  the  ministers  of  Aberdeen.  He  was  nominated  as  first  bishop  of 
Edinburgh  on  the  creation  of  that  See,  and  was  consecrated  in  February  1G34,  but  did 
not  long  sm-vive  his  pi'omotion.  He  died  suddenly  on  the  11th  April  1634.  Dr  Ir- 
ving's  Lives  of  Scotish  Writers,  ii.,  1-10  ;  Spalding's  History  of  the  Troubles,  i.,  24  ; 
Gordon's  Scots  Affairs,  iii.,  241. 

1)2 


52  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G23. 

declare.  In  my  daily  prayer  to  God,  that  he  would  be  pleased  to 
dispose  of  me  according  to  the  good  pleasure  of  his  will,  at  the 
close  of  my  prayer  I  did  find  myself  as  sensibly  rebuked  as  if  one 
standing  by  me  had  audibly  said,  "  Thou  fool :  thou  art  taking 
the  disposing  of  thyself,  not  submitting  to  me  ;  thou  must  either 
preach  the  Gospel  in  Ireland,  or  nowhere  at  all." 

Being  thus  often  rebuked,  I  found  myself  bound  in  spii'it  to  set 
my  face  towards  a  voyage  to  Ireland  ;  and  yet  was  not  persuaded, 
for  all  this,  to  desire  to  settle  there,  loathing  that  place,  and  han- 
kering still  after  France.  And  so  much  for  the  second  period  of 
my  life,  wherein,  though  I  studied  brevity,  I  could  not  more  briefly 
despatch  it. 


1623.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  53 


CHAPTER  III. 


HIS  VOYAGE  TO  IRELAND,  ADMISSION,  AND  FIRST  YEAR  OF 
HIS  MINISTRY  THERE  AT  BANGOR. 

Although  I  was  presented  to  sundry  charges  in  the  ramistry  In 
Scotland,  and  had  an  invitation  and  a  great  inclination  for  France, 
yet  the  sovereign  Lord,  who  hath  determined  the  bounds  of  our 
habitation,  thrust  me  over  to  Ireland  altogether  against  my  inclina- 
tion ;  and  thoughl  seemed  to  myself  to  submit  to  the  will  of  God,  yet 
I  retained  much  of  a  will  opposite,  so  deceitful  is  the  heart  of  man. 
Passing  from  Irvine  by  sea,  in  a  fair  day,  towards  the  sun  setting, 
I  passed  by  Arran,  writing  in  my  note-book  that  day's  observa- 
tions ;  but,  in  the  night,  a  contrary  wind  arising,  I  was  very  sea- 
sick. In  this  sickness  the  tempter  raised  an  inward  storm  against 
me,  and  shrewdly  objected  calumnious  accusations,  which  I  could 
not  for  the  present  answer  ;  but  admitting  they  were  true,  fled  for 
refuge  to  God's  mercy  in  Jesus  Christ.  But  when  the  storm, 
both  outward  and  inward,  was  calmed,  I  found  these  objections 
most  groundless  and  impudent  lies.  Landing  in  a  place  where 
Irishmen  had  been  at  their  cups,  and  all  things  smelling  of  a  root 
called  ramps,  *  I  was  confirmed  in  my  prejudice  against  that  land. 
Yet  the  next  day,  travelling  towards  Bangor,  and  meeting  with 

*  Rampions "  This  is  the  Allium  ursinum,  a  species  of  wild  garlic.      Uiavc  found 

it  growing  in  the  vicinity  of  Carrickfergus." — Reid's  Hist.  ofPres.  Church  in  Ireland, 
i.,  101. 


54  LIFE  OF  ROBEllT  BLAIR.  [1623. 

some  Scotch  gentlemen,  by  way  of  conference  I  discoursed  to  them 
the  most  part  of  the  last  sermon  I  had  preached.  They  heard  me 
most  earnestly,  and  invited  me  to  their  dwelling ;  but  I  holding  my 
way,  met  unexpectedly  with  so  sweet  a  peace,  and  so  great  a  joy 
of  spirit,  that  I  perceived  the  Lord  welcomed  me  to  that  land.  I 
behoved  to  stay  a  little,  a  mile  about  Carrickfergus,  and,  lying 
upon  the  grass,  to  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  who  was  the  same  in  Ire- 
land which  he  was  to  me  in  Scotland.  The  next  day,  as  I  was 
approaching  to  Bangor,  remembering  that  there  was  an  aged  man 
in  that  charge  to  Avhich  I  was  called,  it  was  suggested  to  me  that 
the  old  man  was  sick,  and  would  not  rise  again.  I,  not  knowing 
whence  that  suggestion  came,  did  sharply  upbraid  myself,  that 
notwithstanding  my  habitual  unwillingness  to  settle  there,  I  was 
yet  devising  odious  ways  how  to  settle  ;  but  when  I  came  to  my 
lodging,  the  first  thing  that  was  told  me  (without  any  inquiring  of 
mine)  was  the  very  same  thing  which  was  suggested  to  me  by  the 
way.  Hereby  conceived  I  that  therein  the  Lord  was  clearing  the 
way  of  my  entry.  Yet  gave  I  not  over  plodding  to  obstruct  my 
settling  there ;  and,  for  that  effect,  I  resolved  to  be  very  plain 
with  the  noble  patron  who  had  given  me  the  invitation,  showing 
both  what  challenges  were  made  upon  me  of  disaffection  to  the 
civil  power,  which,  through  God's  mercy,  I  had  fully  wiped  away, 
even  in  the  eyes  of  those  who  were  mine  adversaries ;  as  also,  that 
I  could  not  submit  to  Episcopal  government,  nor  any  part  of  the 
English  Liturgy,  which  there  was  in  use ;  to  see  if  either  the  for- 
mer or  the  latter  woidd  cause  him  relinquish  his  invitation.  But 
at  our  meeting,  when  I  was  prefacing  what  befell  me  at  Glasgow 
lately,  he  (having  heard  of  a  minister  that  was  present  at  that  dis- 
pute formerly  mentioned,  and  thinking  that  that  had  been  all  the 
matter)  interrupted  me,  saying,  "  I  know  all  that  business  ;"  and, 
for  the  other  point  he  said,  that  notwithstanding  my  judgment  in 
these  things,  yet  he  was  confident  to  procure  to  me  a  free  entry  ; 
which  shortly  came  to  pass,  and  so  all  my  devices  to  obstruct  my 
settling  there  did  vanish,  taking  no  effect — the  counsel  of  the  Lord 
standing  fast  in  all  generations.     Yea,   the  wisdom  of  the  only 


1623.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  55 

Wise  overruled  all  tliis,  both  to  procure  me  a  freer  and  safer  entry 
to  the  holy  ministry  ;  as  also,  that  when  trials,  after  some  years, 
came,  neither  could  patron  nor  prelate  say  I  had  broken  any  con- 
dition unto  them,  seeing  I  honestly  opened  myself  at  the  very  first. 
Being  invited  to  preach  by  the  patron  and  sick  incumbent,  *  I 
yielded  to  it ;  and,  after  three  Lord's-days,  some  ancient  men  of 
the  congregation  came  to  me  in  name  of  the  rest,  showing  that 
they  were  edified  by  the  doctrine  delivered  by  me,  entreating  me 
not  to  leave  them,  promising  that  if  the  patron's  offer  of  mainte- 
nance were  not  large  enough,  they  wiUiugly  would  add  thereto. 
But  I,  slighting  their  promise  (being  too  careless  of  competent  and 
comfortable  provision),  made  no  scruple  to  acquiesce  in  the  first 
offer  made  to  me,  having  no  mind  of  a  family,  but  to  live  a  single 
life,  with  one  boy  or  two  to  serve  me.  But  of  the  former  part  of 
that  speech,  importing  the  congregation's  call,  I  laid  great  weight 
upon  it,  and  it  did  more  contribute  to  the  removing  of  my  unwill- 
ingness to  settle  there  than  anything  else.  Also  the  dying  man 
did  greatly  encourage  me,  and  professed  great  repentance  that 
ever  he  was  a  dean,  speaking  more  peremptorily,  and  terribly  con- 
demning them,  which  I  never  durst  to  do,  either  before  that  or 
since.  But,  withal,  he  charged  me,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  as  I 
expected  his  blessing  upon  my  ministry,  not  to  leave  that  good 
way  wherein  I  had  begun  to  walk  ;  and,  therewithal,  stretching 
out  both  his  arms,  drew  in  my  head  to  his  bosom,  and  laying  his 
hands  on  my  head,  blessed  me.  The  house  being  kept  dark  for 
the  sick  man,  some  within  hearing  his  speech,  and  comparing  it 
with  his  former  ways,  gave  out  that  it  was  not  he  that  spoke,  but 
an  angel  sent  from  heaven.     I  refuted  that  conceit ;  f  but  I  cor- 

*  The  patron  was  Lord  Claneboy  ;  the  "  sick  incumbent,"  Mr  Jolin  Gibson,  clean  of 
Do\\^l,  but  resident  at  Bangor. 

t  The  "  conceit,"  which  Blair  here  refutes  has  found  its  way  into  the  account  of  the 
inteniew  given  by  Robert  Fleming.  Mr  Blair  "  found  the  dean  was  lying  sick,  and, 
though  a  naughty  man,  he  made  him  not  only  welcome  ui)OU  his  visit,  but  encouraged 
him  to  hold  on  his  way,  and  told  him  he  was  to  succeed  him  in  that  charge.  Yea,  he 
spoke  so  unlike  himself,  and  in  a  strain  so  diiTercut  from  what  was  nsual  to  him,  that 
a  gentlewoman  standing  by  said  to  some  others,  '  An  angel  is  speaking  out  of  the 
dean's  bed  ;'  thinking  it  coidd  not  be  such  a  man.  '—FuljilUng  of  the  Snipiures,  vol. 


56  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G23. 

dially  ficccpted  his  exhortation  and  blessing.  Within  few  days  his 
death  followed. 

But  before  I  set  forth  my  admission  and  solemn  entry  to  that 
ministry,  it  is  not  amiss  briefly  to  take  notice  of  the  state  of  that 
l^art  of  Ireland.  The  most  part  of  the  considerable  lands  in  Ireland 
were  possessed  in  ancient  times  by  the  English ;  but  the  civil  wars 
in  England,  between  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster,  did  draw 
from  Ulster  (the  northern  province  of  Ireland)  the  able  men  of  the 
English  nation,  to  assist  their  own  faction  in  their  wars  at  home. 
Hereupon,  the  Irishes  in  Ulster  killed  and  expelled  the  remnant 
of  the  English  out  of  that  province,  and  molested  all  the  rest  in 
Ireland — Ulster  being,  in  their  conceit,  like  the  thumb  in  the 
hand,  which  is  able  to  grip  and  hold  against  the  four  fingers — 
Leinster,  Munster,  Connaught,  and  Meath.  The  civil  war  ending 
in  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  King  Henry  VH.,  the  suppressing 
of  the  Irish  rebels  was  not  much  laboured  by  the  English,  partly 
through  seditions  at  home,  and  partly  through  wars  with  France 
and  Scotland,  tiU  the  reign  of  that  happy  and  excellent  Queen 
Ehzabeth,  who,  as  she  was  a  blessing  not  only  to  England,  but  to 
all  the  Reformed  nations  and  Kirks  in  Europe,  so  she  did  much  to 
finish  that  rebellion  which  yet  was  not  fuUy  extinguished  (the 
Scots  West-Islanders  sometimes  joining  with  the  Irish  rebels,  and 
sometimes  acting  for  themselves  against  the  English)  till  King 
James,  of  famous  memory,  his  receiving  of  the  crown  of  England. 
These  wars  lasting  so  long,  the  whole  country  did  lie  waste ;  the 
English  possessing  some  few  towns  and  castles,  making  use  of 
small  parcels  of  near  adjacent  lands ;  the  Irishes  staying  in  woods, 
bogs,  and  such  fast  places.     In  the  reign  of  King  James,  that  de- 

i.,  4?.5.  Dr  Tieid  has  subjoined  a  copy  of  this  "  naughty  man's  "  epitaph  ;  and  one 
wouhl  he  inclined  to  suppose  that  another  angel  was  speaking  out  of  the  dean's  grave, 
'•  thinking  it  could  not  he  such  a  man."  "  Heir  lyes  helowe  ane  learned  and  reverend 
Father  in  Code's  Church.  Mester  John  Gibson,  sence  refonnatione  from  Popary  the 
first  dcane  of  Do%\ti,  send  by  his  majestic  into  this  kingdom,  and  received  by  my 
Lord  Claneboy  to  be  preacher  at  Bangor.  At  his  entry  had  xl.  communicants  ;  and 
at  his  dcpavtour  this  lyf  23  of  Junij  1623  left  1200 ;  being  of  age  C3  years.  So 
Christ  was  his  advantage  bothc  in  Ivf  and  death." — RciJ's  Pres.  Church  in  Ireland, 
I.,  103. 


1623.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  57 

solate  laud  began  to  be  planted  both  with  English  and  Scots,  the 
northern  Irishes  remaining  not  only  obdured  in  Popish  superstition 
and  idolatry,  but  also  in  their  idleness  and  incivility.  The  parts 
of  Scotland  nearest  to  Ireland  sent  over  abundance  of  people  and 
cattle,  that  filled  the  counties  of  Ulster  that  lay  next  to  the  sea  ; 
and  albeit  amongst  these,  Divine  Providence  sent  over  some  wor- 
thy persons  for  birth,  education,  and  parts,  yet  the  most  part  were 
such  as  either  poverty,  scandalous  lives,  or,  at  the  best,  adventu- 
rous seeking  of  better  accommodation,  set  forward  that  way.*  The 
wolf  and  widcairn  w^ere  great  enemies  to  these  first  planters ;  but 
the  long  rested  land  yielded  to  the  labourers  such  plcntifid  in- 
crease, that  many  followed  the  first  essay ers.  Little  care  was  had 
by  any  to  plant  rehgion.  As  w^ere  the  people,  so,  for  the  most 
part,  were  the  preachers.  This  was  the  main  cause  of  my  unwil- 
lingness to  settle  my  abode  there.  Yet  In  the  very  next  parish 
there  was,  before  my  coming,  a  very  godly  man — Mr  Robert  Cun- 
ningham ;t  and  in  the  county  of  Antrim,  ]\Ir  John  Kidge,^  a  gra- 
cious man  at  the  town  of  Antrim.     There  had  been  in  Carrickfer- 


*  Tliis  melancholy  account  of  the  first  Scotch  and  English  settlers  in  Ireland  is  cor- 
roborated by  the  MS.  history  -written  by  the  Eev.  Andrew  Stewart.  They  are  repre- 
sented as  having  been  "  generally  the  scum  of  both  nations" — "  all  void  of  godliness" 
— "  abhoiTcd  at  home,  insomuch  that  'going  for  Ireland'  was  turned  into  a  proverb* 
and  one  of  the  worst  expressions  of  disdain  that  could  be  invented,  was  to  tell  a  man 
that  '  Ireland  would  be  his  hinder  end.'  "  Dr  Reid  naturally  enough  obseiwes,  "  it  is 
probably  a  little  overcharged."  One  would  hope  so,  for  the  picture  is  most  deplor- 
able ;  but  Stewart  was  nearly  contemporaiy,  and  had  the  best  means  of  infonnation. 

t  Mr  Robert  Cunningham  was  a  pious  and  amiable  man,  beloved  by  all  his  brethren, 
and  highly  useful  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel.  He  had  been  chaplain  to  the  Earl  of 
Buccleuch's  regiment  in  Holland ;  but  afterwards  went  to  Ireland,  and  on  9th  Novem- 
ber 1615  was  admitted  to  the  ministiy  at  Holywood  by  Bishop  Echlin.  Before  Blair's 
coming  to  Ireland,  Mr  Cunningham  had  been  strongly  tempted  to  conform,  but  on  re- 
ceiving further  instruction  on  the  controverted  points  irom  our  author,  became  a  finn 
Presbyterian. —  Wodrow  MSS.,  vol.  Ixxv.,  no.  3.  p.  61.  We  shall  hear  of  his  death 
afterwards. 

J  Mr  John  Ridge  was  a  native  of  England  ;  left  that  country  to  escape  from  cere- 
monial impositions  on  conscience ;  was  admitted,  through  the  patronage  of  Lord 
Cliichester,  to  the  vicarage  of  Antrim,  7th  July  1619  ;  deposed  by  the  Bishop  of  Dowti 
for  nonconformity  ;  and  came  over  to  Irvine,  where  he  died,  "  A  veiy  humble  man," 
says  Livingston,  and  so  charitable  that  "  I  heard  him  say  he  was  once  in  a  part  of 
England  where  he  wearied  exceedingly,  because  he  could  notfind  in  it  an  object  of  charity." 
— Characteristics.— Sckct  Biographies,  Edited  for  Wod.  Soc,  vol.  i.,  328. 


58  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1623. 

o-us  a  gracious  and  able  man,  IVIr  Ilubart,*  under  the  protection  of 
tlie  old  Lord  Chichester,  who  had  been  lord-deputy  of  Ireland,  and 
carried  secret  favour  to  godly  men,  ]\Ir  Cartwright  having  been  his 
tutor  in  his  younger  years ;  but  he  was  dead  a  little  before  my 
coming  over.  My  acquaintance  being  made  with  Mr  Cunningham 
of  Holywood  was  comfortable  to  us  both,  and  grew  to  such  inti- 
macy that  we  frequently  visited  one  another,  and  sj)ent  many  hours, 
yea,  days  together,  in  godly  conference  and  calling  on  the  name  of 
the  Lord.  But  the  case  of  the  people  through  all  that  part  of  the 
country  was  most  lamentable,  they  being  drowned  in  ignorance, 
security,  and  sensuality. 

The  old  man,  Mr  Gibson  (of  whose  encouraging  me  I  spake  be- 
fore) being  dead,  the  Lord  Viscount  Claneboy  (who  of  a  gentle- 
man became  a  knight,  thereafter  a  viscount,  and  died  Earl  Clan- 
brissel),  procured  my  admission  to  the  ministry,  having  before,  at 
my  desire,  informed  the  bishop  '  Echlin'  f  how  opposite  I  was  to 
Episcopacy  and  their  Liturgy ;  and,  for  fear  he  had  not  been  plain 
enough,  I  declared  the  same  myself  at  our  first  meeting.  Not- 
withstanding he  was  most  willing  I  should  be  planted  there,  say- 
ing :  "  I  hear  good  of  you,  and  will  impose  no  conditions  upon 
you ;  I  am  old,  and  can  teach  you  ceremonies,  and  you  can  teach 
me  substance.  Only  I  must  ordain  you,  else  neither  I  nor  you  can 
answer  the  law,  nor  brook  the  land."  I  told  him  that  was  contrary 
to  my  principles ;  to  which  he  rej)lied,  both  wittily  and  submis- 

*  Mr  Hubart  or  Iliibard,  was  another  English  minister,  who  officiated  for  some  time 
in  a  nonconforming  congregation,  formed  in  1G21  in  Southwark,  London,  but  op]n-ess- 
ed  by  the  intolerant  measures  then  adopted  against  nonconformists,  retreated  to  Ire- 
land with  the  members  of  his  congi'egation,  and  settled  in  Carrickfergus.  He  died  two 
years  after,  and  his  flock,  on  losing  the  shepherd  whom  they  had  followed,  returned 
to  the  vicinity  of  London,  and  chose  as  his  successor  Mr  John  Canne,  famous  for  his 
"marginal  notes"  on  the  Bible — Brook's  Puritans,  iii.  517;  Wilsons  Dissenting 
Churches  in  London,  iv.,  124. 

t  Stevenson,  in  his  printed  edition  of  this  Life,  has  hiserted,  by  mistake,  the  name 
of  Knox,  bishop  of  Raphoe,  as  the  prelate  to  whom  Blair  applied  for  ordination. 
There  is  no  name  in  any  of  the  MSS.  which  we  have  seen  ;  and  it  is  manifest,  as  Dr 
Reid  remarks,  that  it  must  have  been  Echlin,  bishop  of  Down,  "  as  appears  not  only 
from  the  context,  but  also  from  the  entry  on  the  diocesan  roll  of  1G33  [IC23  ?],  in 
which  Blair  is  set  forth  as  having  been  ordained  bv  this  prelate." — ReicVs  Ireland,  i., 
103. 


1G23.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  59 

slvely,  "  Wliatever  you  account  of  Episcopacy,  yet  I  know  you 
account  a  presbyter  to  have  divine  warrant ;  will  you  not  receive 
ordination  from  Mr  Cunningham  and  the  adjacent  brethren,  and 
let  me  come  in  amongst  them  in  no  other  relation  than  a  presby- 
ter?"    This  Icoidd  not  refuse,  and  so  the  matter  was  performed. 

Being  thus  entered,  I  remembered  my  resolutions  while  I  was  at 
Glasgow,  to  wit,  that  whenever  the  Lord  opened  a  door  to  me  for 
the  holy  ministry,  if  I  failed  of  that  diligence  which  I  used  in 
teaching  of  philosophy  to  a  few  students,  I  could  not  be  answerable 
to  God  when  weightier  things  are  to  be  taught  to  so  many :  and, 
indeed,  the  charge  was  very  great — above  twelve  hundred  come 
to  age,  beside  children  that  were  to  be  instructed.  I  saw  that  pub- 
lic preaching  would  not  do  it,  though  I  was  in  public  four  times 
every  week,  having  variety  of  matter  and  method  in  all  these.  I 
saw  the  necessity  of  more  plain  and  familiar  instruction ;  for  it  is  a 
mockery  to  examine  people  without  previous  instruction.  I  re- 
solved, therefore,  to  go  out  among  them,  and  spend  one  day  every 
week,  and  sometimes  two,  and  spent  as  much  time  as  my  bodily 
strength  could  hold  out.  Shortly  after  I  fell  upon  this  way,  the 
Lord  was  pleased  to  visit  me  with  a  fever.  Some  that  maligned 
this  painful  way,  said,  somewhat  scoffingly,  they  knew  I  could  not 
hold  out  as  I  began.  But  within  a  few  days  the  Lord  raised  me 
up  again,  and  helped  me  to  continue  that  way  during  all  the  time 
that  I  continued  in  that  ministry.  About  that  time,  before  I  went 
to  dwell  in  the  manse,  continuing  in  that  lodging  wherein  I  first 
began,  I  cannot  forget  a  notable  delivery  my  gracious  God  be- 
stowed upon  me  from  a  very  imminent  danger.  It  was  upon  Sa- 
turday wherein  I  had  sitten  close  all  day  reading,  meditating,  and 
writing,  till  it  was  very  late.  The  day  being  very  cold,  a  fire  had 
been  kept  on  a  brick  hearth,  so  that  the  heat  had  gone  through  the 
brick,  and  had  entered  upon  a  joist  that  went  directly  under  my 
bed.  A  little  before  I  was  ready  to  go  to  bed,  my  candle  failing 
while  I  was  searching  a  considerable  place  of  Scripture,  I  called 
for  another  candle,  which  the  mistress  of  the  house  refused,  en- 
treating me  to  go  to  bed.    But  my  importunate  insisting  compelled 


CO  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1623. 

lier  to  go  to  the  room  under  my  chamber,  where  the  fire  was 
begun.  She  crying  to  me  that  it  was  all  fire  beneath  me,  I  pre- 
sently raised  the  bricks,  and  with  her  help  quenched  the  fire,  and 
giving  thanks  to  God,  went  to  bed  and  slept  sweetly.  The  de- 
livery was  the  sweeter  upon  this  consideration,  that  there  was  all 
that  night  a  strong  northern  wind,  and  the  house  wherein  I  lodged 
being  higher  than  the  neighbours,  and  situated  upon  the  north 
end  of  the  town,  so  that  if  the  fire  had  prevailed  against  it,  no 
human  skill  nor  power  could  have  preserved  the  most  part  of  that 
town.     Thanks  be  to  the  Lord  for  that  great  mercy ! 

In  the  first  year  of  my  ministry  I  resolved  not  to  pitch  upon  a 
book  or  chapter  to  go  through  it,  but  to  make  choice  of  such  pas- 
sages as  held  forth  fundamentals  (most  material  and  important 
points  of  religion),  and  to  close  this  course  wuth  one  sermon  of 
heaven's  glory,  and  another  of  hell's  torments.  Wlien  I  came  to 
meditate  on  these  two  points,  I  was  the  whole  day  kept  in  such 
perplexity  that  I  coidd  not  fix  either  upon  matter  or  method. 
When  night  was  approaching,  and  I  had  come  no  speed  at  all,  and 
was  like  to  desert  that  subject  in  great  sorrow  and  perplexity,  I 
threw  myself  upon  my  bed,  there  to  pray  and  meditate.  But  then 
my  spii'its  being  spent  I  fell  asleep  for  a  little,  and  suddenly  wak- 
ing, my  eyes  gushed  out  with  tears,  and  presently  both  matter 
and  order  broke  out  with  clearness,  so  that  I  fell  a  discoursing, 
first  upon  the  one  subject,  then  the  othei',  and  retained  the  same 
till  publicly  I  delivered  w^hat  then  I  discoursed.  Not  only  the 
people  were  much  afifcctcd  wdtli  this  doctrine,  but  my  learned  and 
judicious  patron  entreated  mc  that  the  next  Lord's-day  I  would  re- 
peat over  these  same  two  sermons,  only  altering  the  order  of  them, 
and  preaching  before  noon  of  hell,  when  all  the  people  were  present 
(for  some  that  dwelt  far  from  the  kirk  returned  home  after  the 
first  sermon),  and  of  heaven  in  the  afternoon.  I  commended  the 
overture,  but  prayed  to  be  excused.  He  wondering,  asked  my 
reason.  Then  was  I  forced  to  open  up  how  it  had  been  with  me, 
while  I  meditated  on  these  subjects,  and  that  I  durst  not  under- 
take that  repetition,  having  nothing  in  writ  of  that  which  flowed 


1623.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIK.  61 

to  me  with  such  celerity,  and  remained  only  until  I  had  delivered 
It.     That  nobleman  hearing  my  excuse,  accepted  it. 

The  first  time  I  celebrated  the  Lord's  supper  I  was  distempered 
upon  this  '■  the  following'  occasion  :  The  noble  lord,  my  patron, 
would  communicate,  and  his  lady,  both  of  them  kneeling  :  where- 
upon I  went  to  him,  and  reasoned  the  matter  ;  but  we,  not  accord- 
ing therein,  parted  with  sorrow.  I  resolved  to  delay  that  work 
until  another  time.  But  his  lordship  remembering  that  his  pew 
joined  to  the  upper  end  of  the  table,  it  being  so  close  that  only 
one's  head  could  be  discerned  in  it,  offered  not  to  kneel  providing 
he  received  within  his  own  pew ;  which  I  yielded  to.  But  this 
thorny  dlsceptatlon  so  much  discomposed  me,  that  to-morrow,  when 
I  began  the  sermon,  I  was  so  far  deserted  for  half  an  hour,  that  I 
was  like  to  leave  the  pulpit  and  desert  the  work  of  that  day ;  but 
the  Lord,  in  great  mercy,  helped  me.  For,  preaching  upon  the 
words  of  the  institution  of  that  sacrament,  1  Cor.  xl.,  and  hand- 
ling the  words,  "  This  cup  is  the  new  testament  in  my  blood,"  as 
soon  as  I  began  to  discourse  of  that  new  covenant  or  testament,  I 
found  new  light  and  life  flowing  in  upon  my  soul,  enlarging  it, 
and  opening  my  mouth  with  comfort  and  courage ;  and  with  that 
assistance  went  to  the  table  and  administered  the  sacrament.  The 
action  being  ended,  my  patron  and  his  lady  called  to  me,  and  pro- 
fessed their  great  satisfaction  ;  especially  the  lady  declared  she  had 
seen  or  heard  nothing  like  that  day's  sei'vice,  and  from  that  day 
forth  proved  my  most  tender  and  real  friend. 


62  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1624. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


CONTAESriNG  SOME  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  SUCCESS  OF  THE  GOSPEL  IN 
THE  NORTH  OF  IRELAND,  AND  SOME  OTHER  PROVIDENCES. 

Many  things  considerable  escape  my  memory  after  so  long  a  time, 
not  having  by  me  the  notes  and  observations  I  then  made,  liaving 
but  now  sent  for  them  that  I  may  be  helped  herein.  But  I  can- 
not forget  that  memorable  passage  that  occurred  to  me  in  the 
second  year  of  my  ministry  in  Ireland.  There  being  a  great  crop 
upon  the  ground,  the  harvest  proved  very  bad,  especially  in  that 
parish,  which  was  very  large,  being  six  miles  of  length,  and  the 
most  part  of  it  good  arable  land.  The  soil  being  for  most  j^art 
strong  clay,  feU  out  ordinarily  to  be  later  ten  or  twelve  days  than 
the  neighbouring  places.  They  had  got  in  the  most  of  their  corns 
ere  the  weather  brake.  But  after  that,  for  a  whole  month,  there 
were  so  great  rains,  that  in  the  parish  of  Bangor  there  could  be  no 
inning.  Whereupon  we  resolved  solemnly,  by  humiliation  and 
fasting  a  whole  day,  to  seek  His  fice  to  avert  the  threatened  famine. 
When  the  day  appointed  came,  great  rain  was  poured  out  from 
morning  to  evening,  so  that  the  Lord  seemed  at  first  to  answer  us 
by  terrible  things,  thrusting  out  our  prayers.  I  had  before  that 
day  conferred  with  the  most  ancient  and  expert  husbandmen  in 
what  case  then-  corns  were.  They  answered  that  the  whole  was 
in  great  danger  by  reason  of  the  great  growing  in  the  stacks,  almost 


1624.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  63 

a  finger  long,  and  that  if  the  weather  fell  out  never  so  good  the 
third  part  would  be  lost.  But  our  gracious  God  was  pleased  that 
night  after  the  day  of  our  humiliation  to  send  so  mighty  a  drying 
wind,  which  blew  foil  twenty-four  hours,  that  houses  were  in  danger 
of  being  overthrown,  and  some  were  in  effect  blown  down.  All 
the  corns  were  so  thrown  down  and  fully  dried,  the  growing  there- 
on snibbed,  that  in  two  days  following  (the  people  labouring  night 
and  day  without  intermission)  the  whole  corns  were  got  in.  These 
two  days  I  with  two  neighbouring  ministers  were  continuing  our 
supplications. 

When  I  returned  home,  perceiving  the  whole  fields  bare,  I  ask- 
ed these  same  husbandmen  with  whom  I  had  formerly  consulted, 
what  loss  of  corns  there  was.     They  answered  that  in  their  judg- 
ment there  was  not  one  sheaf  of  corn  lost,  the  Lord  had  dealt  so 
exceeding  mercifully  with  them.     The  neighbouring  parishes  find- 
ing their  uncovered  stacks  smoking  for  heat,  did  in  time  of  that 
great  wind  throw  them  all  down,  and  set  them  up  again,  and  so 
were  partakers  of  our  mercy.     The  wise  landlord  of  these  lands, 
and  the  whole  inhabitants,  were  so  sensible  of  this  mercy,  that  they 
gave  glory  to  the  Lord,  who  is  the  hearer  of  prayer,  and  a  pre- 
sent help  in  time  of  need.     This  notable  act  of  Divine  Providence 
did  not  a  little  endear  me  to  the  whole  flock ;  and  that  Avhich  is 
far  more,  prevailed  with  very  many,  beside  their  private  praying, 
to  set  up  family  prayer  in  their  houses,  as  formerly  I  had  been  urg- 
ing, both  in  public  doctrine  and  private  instruction.     There  was 
among  them  a  devout  person,  the  head  of  a  family,  who,  upon  this 
experience,  and  some  others  that  he  privately  met  with,  took  up 
an  erroneous  opinion,  that  there  was  need  of  no  other  mean  to  be 
used  but  prayer,  whatever  ailed  soul  or  body,  young  or  old,  corn 
or  cattle.     This  I  learned  by  consulting  the  man  (knowing  him  to 
be  skiUed)  concerning  my  horse,  which  at  that  time  was  not  well. 
He  said  I  needed  not  to  use  any  other  help,  but  to  go  to  my  cham- 
ber and  pray  for  him.     Finding  this  error,  not  without  some  diffi- 
culty, I  got  him  convinced  that  it  was  a  tempting  of  God  to  ne- 
glect other  means. 


Gt  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G24. 

The  knowledge  of  God  growing  among  that  people,  and  the 
ordinance  of  prayer  being  precious  in  their  eyes,  the  work  of  the 
Lord  began  to  prosper.  Mr  Cunningham  of  Ilolywood  helped  us 
very  much,  and  his  little  parish  was  a  good  example  to  ours  ;  we 
preaching  often  the  one  for  the  other.  Some  days  we  agreed  also 
betwixt  ourselves  to  celebrate  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper 
eight  days  in  the  year — four  in  his  and  four  in  mine  ;  so  that  pro- 
ficients in  both  did  all  these  times  communicate  together.  About 
this  time  Mr  James  Hamilton,  *  a  learned  and  godly  young  man, 

*  James  Hamilton,  nephew  to  Lord  Claneboy,  was  educated  for  the  ministry  in 
Scotland,  though  at  this  time  he  held  only  the  situation  of  steward  or  agent  to  his 
uncle.  He  was  settled  at  Balwater,  or  Bally  waiter,  aboiit  1G25,  hut  was  destined  to 
see  a  little  more  of  life  than  generally  falls  to  the  lot  of  a  "  painful"  minister  in  the 
county  of  DoN^Ti.  Deposed  by  Bishop  Leslie  for  declining  to  subscribe  the  canons,  he 
came  over  to  Scotland,  where  he  became  minister,  first  of  Dumfries,  and  finallj'  of 
Edinburgh.  He  sat  in  the  famous  Glasgow  Assembly  of  1638.  Having  been  deputed 
with  some  others,  iii  March  1644,  to  superintend  the  administration  of  the  covenant 
in  Ireland,  he  had  the  misfortune,  on  his  return,  to  fall  in  with  the  noted  Alaster 
Macdonnell,  the  Popish  ally  of  Montrose,  who  was  scouring  the  seas  in  a  frigate,  called 
"  the  Haqi,"  and,  with  several  other  prisoners,  was  carried  to  Castle  Megi-ie,  or  Min- 
garie,  iu  the  island  of  Ardnamurchan.  There  he  lay  in  a  filthy  dungeon  for  ten  months, 
including  a  dreaiy  winter,  during  wliich  time  his  fellow-prisoners,  Mr  Weir,  and  Mr  Wat- 
son, his  fother-in-law,  sunk  under  the  hardships  and  privations  to  which  they  were  sub- 
jected. It  is  a  wonder  that  he  escaped  with  his  life  ;  for  Alaster  hekb  him  as  a  hostage 
until  Arg}de  should  deliver  up  his  fixther,  old  Coll  Kettach  ;  "  and  the  trath  is,"  says  a 
record  of  these  sad  times,  "  Argjle  had  not  old  Coll  now  to  deliver,  for  having  hina  his 
prisoner,  and  a  wicked  man  (I  doubt  not)  that  deserved  death" — ha\'ing,  besides,  says 
another  stoiy,  a  great  indignation  against  all  the  clan,  specially  against  old  CoU — in  the 
end,  he  "hanged  him  over  the  ship  side,  betwixt  Inverkeithing  and  Kirkaldy  ; — so  he 
was  both  hanged  and  dro-\\nied."  Hamilton,  however,  was  released  in  May  1645,  after 
which  he  was  translated  to  Edinburgh,  where  he  continued  to  labour  fifteen  years.  Here 
we  find  him  an  active  man  among  the  Ilcsolutionei-s,  the  losing  party  in  1G51,  when 
Scotland  was  laid  at  the  feet  of  the  infamous  Monk,  and  on  28th  August  of  that  year 
"  on  Thursday,  in  the  morning,"  he  is  surprised  by  five  hundred  horse,  along  with  the 
whole  Committee  of  Estates,  and  of  the  General  Assembly,  then  sitting  at  Alvth, 
(formerly  Elliot),  in  Angus,  stript  of  all  they  had,  carried  to  Bronghty,  and  shipped  oflT 
to  the  Tower  of  London.  Among  the  prisoners  is  "  Mr  James  Shaqie,  minister  of 
Crail,"  who  contrives,  by  cringing  to  Cromwell,  to  get  home  next  spring;  while 
Hamilton,  more  honest  in  his  loyalty,  has  two  years  of  it.  In  1G62,  the  same  Mr 
James  Shai-pe,  having,  by  cringing  to  Charles,  become  Archibishop  of  St  Andrews, 
our  Mr  Hamilton,  not  choosing  to  turn  so  quickly,  is  expelled  fi"om  his  church,  retires 
to  Inveresk,  and  dies  on  the  10th  of  March  1666.  Take  his  portrait  by  a  friendly 
hand  : — "  Naturally  of  an  excellent  temperament  both  of  body  and  mind — always  in- 
dusti-ious  and  facetious  iu  all  the  several  provinces  and  scenes  of  his  life  ;  he  was  de- 
lightfid  to  his  friends,  yea,  beloveil  of  his  enemies.     Bold  for  truth  ;  though  naturally, 


1624.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  65 

being  a  daily  hearer,  showed  much  tenderness  and  ability.  Being 
then  chamberlain  to  the  Lord  Viscount  Claneboy,  his  uncle,  ISIr 
Cunningham  and  I  put  him  to  private  essays  of  his  gift,  and  being 
satisfied  therewith,  invited  him  to  preach  publicly  at  Bangor  in  his 
uncle's  hearing,  he  knowing  nothing  till  he  saw  him  in  the  pulpit ; 
for  we  feared  he  would  be  unwilling  to  part  with  so  steadable  and 
faithful  a  servant.  But  having  heard  him  publicly,  he  put  great 
respects  upon  him  that  same  day  ;  and  shortly  thereafter  '  Mv 
Hamilton'  entered  to  a  charge  in  the  holy  ministry,  wherein  he 
was  painful,  successful,  and  constant,  notwithstanding  he  had  many 
temptations  to  follow  promotion  which  he  might  easily  have  attain- 
ed ;  but  the  Lord  graciously  preserved  him  from  these  baits,  and 
made  him  very  successful  and  instrumental  in  setting  forward  the 
work  of  the  Lord,  both  in  his  own  charge  and  elsewhere  also,  when 
he  got  a  call. 

The  second  time  when  I  did  celebrate  the  supper  of  the  Lord, 
being  mindful  how  much  my  heart  was  enlarged  the  former  time, 
and  bonds  being  taken  off  me  when  I  fell  to  speak  of  the  new 
covenant,  I  fell  seriously  about  the  study  thereof,  and  that  so  much 
the  more  diligently,  because  little  then  was  written  thereof.  And 
coming  to  Scotland  shortly  thereafter,  I  conferred  thereon  diligent- 
ly with  Mr  David  Dickson,  who  was  then  studying  and  preaching 
on  the  same  subject. 

Having  declared  how  gracious  the  Lord  hath  been  towards  me, 
and  that  people  he  sent  me  to,  I  shall  next  show  how  the  murderer 
Satan  visibly  appeared  to  a  wicked  man,  stirred  him  up  to  stab  me, 
and  how  mercifully  I  was  delivered  therefrom.  I  was  spending  a 
day  in  family  humiliation,  and  was  come  to  the  mid-day,  when  one 
comes  to  the  gate  and  knocks.  Now,  I  had  given  order  before- 
hand that  if  any  knocked  at  the  gate  that  day,  none  should  open 
but  myself.  When  I  opened  I  saw  two  men  standing  without ;  the 
one  whereof,  being  a  rich  man,  was  chief  constable  of  that  parish — 

and  in  his  own  things,  amongst  the  mildest  sort  of  men  ;  rich  in  learning,  intelligent, 
judicious,  great  in  esteem  with  the  greatest  and  wisest." — Reid,  ii.,  52,  481 ;  Lamonfs 
Diary,  41  ;  Balfour's  Annals,  iv.,  315. 

E 


66  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1624. 

the  other  was  a  tenant  of  his.  Their  errand  was  to  show  me  that 
the  tenant  had  a  bairn  to  be  baptized,  (for  I  baptized  none  till  first 
I  conferred  with  the  father,  and  exhorted  and  instructed  him,  as 
need  required.)  When  I  had  spoken  what  I  thought  necessary, 
and  was  ready  to  turn  into  my  house,  the  constable  dismissing  the 
other,  told  me  he  had  something  to  say  to  me  in  private.  I,  look- 
ing upon  him,  saw  his  eyes  like  unto  the  eyes  of  a  cat  in  the  night, 
and  did  presently  conceive  that  he  had  a  mischief  in  his  heart ; 
yet  I  resolved  not  to  reflise  what  he  desired,  but  I  kept  a  watchful 
eye  upon  him,  and  stayed  at  some  distance ;  and  being  near  to  the 
door  of  the  church,  I  went  in,  and  invited  him  to  follow  me.  As 
soon  as  he  entered  within  the  doors  he  fell  a-trembling,  and  I  a- 
wondering.  His  trembling  continuing  and  growing,  without  any 
speech,  I  approached  to  him,  and  invited  him  to  a  seat,  wherein 
he  could  hardly  sit.  The  great  trembling  was  like  to  throw  him 
out.  I  laid  my  arm  about  him,  and  asked  what  ailed  him ;  but  for 
a  time  he  could  speak  none.  At  last  his  shaking  ceased,  and  he 
began  to  speak,  telling  me  that,  for  a  long  time,  the  devil  had  ap- 
peared to  him ;  first,  at  Glasgow,  he  bought  a  horse  from  him,  re- 
ceiving a  sixpence  in  earnest,  and  that  in  end  he  oifered  to  him  a 
great  purse  full  of  silver  to  be  his;  making  no  mention  of  the 
horse,  he  said  that  he  blessed  [buyed  ?]  himself ;  and  so  the  buyer, 
with  the  silver  and  gold  that  was  poured  out  upon  the  table 
evanished.  But  some  days  thereafter,  at  his  own  house,  he  appear- 
ed to  him,  naming  him  by  his  name,  and  said  to  him  :  "  You  are 
mine  ;  I  arled  you  with  a  sixpence,  which  yet  you  have."  "  Then," 
said  he,  "  I  asked  his  name,  and  he  answered,  '  They  call  me  Nicol 
Daunus.'"  (I  suppose  he  repeated  evil,*  and  that  he  should  have 
said,  Nihil  damns).  Being  thus  molested  with  these  and  many 
other  apparitions  of  the  devil,  he  said  he  left  Scotland  ;  but  being 
come  to  Ireland,  he  did  often  also  appear  to  him ;  "  and  now  of  late 
he  still  commands  me  to  kiU  and  slay  ;  and  often,"  said  he,  "  my 
whinger  hath  been  drawn  and  kept  under  my  cloak  to  obey  his 

*  Tliat  is,  {If.  {ncorrrctli/. 


1G24.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLATR.  07 

commands ;  but  still  something  holds  my  hand,  that  I  cannot  strike." 
But  then  I  asked  him  whom  he  was  bidden  kill.  He  answered, 
^'  Any  that  comes  in  that  way,  but  the  better  they  be  the  better 
service  to  me,  or  else  I  shall  kill  thee."  When  he  uttered  these 
words,  he  fell  again  a-trembling,  and  was  stopped  in  his  speech, 
looking  lamentably  to  me  designing  me  to  be  the  person  he  aimed 
at.  Then  he  fell  a-crying  and  lamenting.  I  showed  him  the  hor- 
ribleness  of  his  ignorance  and  drunkenness.  He  made  many  pro- 
mises of  reformation,  which  were  not  well  kept ;  for  within  a  fort- 
night he  went  to  an  ale-house  to  crave  the  price  of  his  malt,  and 
sitting  there  long  at  drink,  as  he  was  going  homeward,  the  devil 
appeared  to  him,  and  challenged  him  for  opening  to  me  what  had 
passed  between  them  secretly,  and  followed  him  to  the  house,  pull- 
ing his  cap  off  his  head,  and  his  band  fi'om  about  his  neck,  saying 
to  him :  "  On  Hallow-night  I  shall  have  thee,  soul  and  body,  in 
despite  of  the  minister  and  all  he  will  do  for  thee."  The  man, 
being  exceedingly  terrified,  sent  presently  for  me,  and  told  me  as 
is  here  presently  set  down.  Being  driven  to  his  bed  by  this  terror, 
when  I  came,  his  wife  told  me  with  what  amazement  he  entered 
the  house  bare-headed  and  his  band  rent,  saying  he  had  hardly 
escaped.  He  entreated  me  for  Christ's  sake  to  be  with  him  that 
night  wherein  Satan  had  threatened  to  carry  him  away.  I  in- 
structed him  the  best  I  could,  and,  praying  with  him,  promised  to 
be  with  him  that  night,  providing  he  would  flee  to  Christ  for  refiige, 
and  not  to  me,  who  was  but  a  weak  and  wretched  creature. 

I  intended  to  have  spent  the  day  before  that  night  wherein  I 
was  to  be  with  him  as  I  had  done  that  day  when  he  first  came  to 
me,  and  thought  to  have  killed  me  ;  but  when  the  day  came,  I  had 
no  mind  of  my  resolution  till  it  was  near  night,  and  being  in  great 
doubt  what  to  do,  I  went  to  my  chamber  in  great  heaviness.  I 
durst  not  break  or  slight  my  promise ;  and  how  durst  I  go,  being 
so  unprepared  for  so  pitched  a  conflict  ?  Being  thus  humbled  before 
the  Lord,  I  was  encouraged  to  go,  trusting  in  his  gracious  goodness 
who  is  the  preserver  of  men  against  the  wiles  and  violence  of 
Satan.     And  so  coming  about  daylight  going,  I  called  to  one  man 

e2 


68  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1624. 

of  that  village  who  was  under  the  reputation  of  a  godly  man,  and 
an  elder  of  the  congregation  :  to  him  I  imparted  the  whole  matter, 
desiring  him  to  convene  the  people  of  that  village,  and  to  tell  them 
no  more  but  that  I  would  stay  that  night  in  the  house  of  the  sick 
man  with  them.  I  began  with  prayer,  and  thereafter  expounded 
the  doctrine  of  Christ's  temptations,  closing  with  a  prayer  and 
singing  of  a  psalm,  and  after  that  did  the  like  upon  another  passnge 
of  Scrij)ture,  and  after  that  another,  stiU  intermixing  prayer  and 
singing  tiU  towards  the  morning.  All  this  time,  my  chair  being 
close  by  the  sick  man's  bed-side,  when  I  uttered  anything  which  he 
did  not  understand,  with  his  hand  he  laid  hold  on  my  arm,  request- 
ing me  to  say  that  better.  I  hearkened  to  him,  and  laboured  to 
do  so.  In  the  morning  he  took  great  courage  to  himself,  defying 
Satan  and  aU  his  works.  Thereafter  he  recovered,  behaving  him- 
self better,  and  was  charitable  to  the  poor ;  but  I  was  never  satis- 
fied with  him  continuing  still  ignorant.  In  end  he  sickened,  and 
therein  seemed  very  penitent.  The  last  time  I  saw  him,  I  asked 
at  him  whether  Satan  had  ever  appeared  to  him  after  that  night 
wherein  I  continued  with  him.  He  answered,  "  Never,"  taking  the 
Lord  witness  thereof,  and  shortly  thereafter  died.* 

In  the  former  discourse  I  made  mention  of  an  elder  of  the  con- 
gregation ;  and  indeed  we  had  discipline  thei'cin  by  elders,  and 
deacons  for  the  poor ;  and  as  long  as  we  got  leave  to  exercise  dis- 
cipline that  way,  the  Lord  blessed  his  own  ordinance  for  edifying 
of  the  people.  To  this  purpose  I  shall  only  relate  one  instance. 
There  was  a  cunning  adulterer  who,  living  long  in  that  sin  before 
I  came,  and  continuing  still  therein,  did  bribe  the  bishop's  official 
to  conceal  his  wickedness ;  but  one  day,  I  preaching  on  the  parable 
of  the  sower,  and  speaking  of  the  thorny  ground,  how  the  seed  of 
the  Word  was  choked  by  the  cares  of  the  world  and  the  sinfid 
pleasures  of  the  flesh,  he  came  to  me,  confessing  his  sin  with  many 
tears,  and  desired  to  be  admitted  to  the  public  professing  of  his 
repentance.     The  elders,  being  acquainted  with  this,  required  him 

*  Similar  instances  of  the  species  of  mania  above  described,  some'ivhat  resembling 
that  of  RavailUc,  were  not  uncommon  at  that  period. 


1624.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  69 

to  appear,  which  he  did,  sore  weeping  several  days,  to  the  gi-eat 
edification  of  the  whole  congregation,  and  lived  thereafter  a  re- 
formed man  in  the  rest  of  his  life.  And  so,  also,  sundry  others 
willingly  submitted  themselves,  until  a  proud  youth,  the  son  of  a 
rich  man,  falling  into  scandal,  proved  refractory,  and  appealed  to 
the  bishop,  whereby  this  order  of  our  discipline  was  broken.  But 
this  young  man,  in  the  very  flower  and  strength  of  his  youth, 
being  heir  of  a  considerable  estate,  was  cut  off  by  death,  leaving 
no  succession,  and  a  brother  of  better  behaviour  filled  his  place. 
I  remarked  that  after  the  bishop's  oflEicial  had  wrung  the  discipline 
out  of  our  hands,  compounding  with  the  richer  sort  for  money, 
and  sending  the  poorer  to  public  penance,  as  they  call  it,  I  never 
saw  a  blessing  following  that  work,  nor  edification  to  the  people 
thereby ;  yet  the  Lord's  husbandry  prospered,  the  Lord  thrusting 
out  more  labourers  to  his  harvest,  as  shall  be  declared  in  the  next 
chapter.  Here  is  to  be  insert  the  great  fever  I  had  in  my  new 
house  at  Bangor.  * 

*  At  p.  59,  Blair  speaks  of  a  fever  that  lasted  only  "  a  few  days,"  and  "  before  I 
went  to  dwell  in  the  manse."  But  this  was  evidently  different  from  "  the  great  fever'' 
which  he  here  speaks  of  having  "  had  in  my  new  manse  at  Bangor."  Very  probably 
he  meant  to  have  inserted  it  from  the  "  notes  and  observations"  which  he  mentions, 
p.  62,  as  not  having  by  him  at  the  time.  Some  of  these  notes,  in  reference  to  this 
fever,  are  afterwards  given  by  Row  in  his  supplement. 


70  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1624. 


CHAPTER  V. 

CONTAINING  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  LORD's  MAKING  USE  OF  THE 
MINISTRY  OF  MR  JAMES  GLENDINNING,  IN  ORDER  TO  PREPARE 
SEVERALS  FOR  CONVERSION,  AND  OF  HIS  BACKSLIDING  ;  AS  ALSO 
OF  SOME  DEVICES  OF  THE  BISHOPS  TO  BREAK  THE  GOSPEL 
MINISTRY  IN  THE  NORTH  OF  IRELAND. 

About  that  time  I  heard  of  one  James  Glenclimiing,  lectm'er  at 
Carrickfergus,  who  got  no  small  applause  there  for  a  learned  man. 
I  longed  to  hear  him,  and  in  a  morning  I  passed  from  Bangor  to 
Carrickfergus  by  water ;  and  hearing  him,  I  perceived  he  did  but 
trifle,  citing  learned  authors  whom  he  had  never  seen  nor  read. 
After  sermon  I  waited  on  him,  and  communed  with  him,  freely 
asking  him  if  he  thought  he  did  edify  that  people  ?  He  was  quickly 
convinced,  and  told  me  he  had  a  vicarage  in  the  country,  to  which 
he  would  retire  himself  quickly.  This  man  was  neither  studied  in 
learning  nor  had  good  solid  judgment,  as  appeared  quickly  there- 
after ;  yet  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  serve  himself  of  him.  Wlien  he 
retired,  as  he  had  promised  to  me,  to  preach  at  Oldstone,*  there  he 
began  to  preach  diligently,  and  having  a  great  voice  and  vehement 
delivery,  he  roused  up  the  people,  and  wakened  them  with  terrors  ; 
but  not  understanding  well  the  Gospel,  could  not  settle  them 
nor  satisfy  their  objections.!     Within  a  mile  to  that  place  lived 

*  Near  the  town  of  Antrim. 

t  "  This  man,"  says  Stew.art,  iu  his  MS.,  "  seeing  the  great  lewdness  and  ungodly 
sinfulness  of  tlie  y)eople,  i)rciichcd  to  them  nothing  but  law,  wrath,  and  the  terrors  of 


1624.]  LIFE  OP  ROBERT  BLAIR.  71 

Mr  John  Ridge,  a  judicious  and  gracious  minister,  who  perceiving 
many  people  on  both  sides  the  Six  Mile  Water  awakened  out  of 
their  security,  and  willing  to  take  pains  for  their  salvation,  made 
an  overture,  that  a  monthly  lecture  might  be  set  up  at  Antrim, 
and  invited  to  bear  burden  therein  ISIr  Cunningham,  Mr  Hamilton, 
and  myself.  We  were  glad  of  the  motion,  and  hearkened  to  it  at 
the  very  first,  and  came  prepared  to  preach.  In  the  summer  day 
four  did  preach,  and  when  the  day  grew  shorter,  three.  This 
monthly  meeting  thus  beginning,  continued  many  years,  and  was 
a  great  help  to  spread  religion  through  that  whole  country.  Sir 
Hugh  Clotworthy  was  very  hospitable  to  the  ministers  that  came 
there  to  preach.  His  worthy  son  (now  Lord  Viscount  Mazareine),* 
together  with  his  mother  and  lady,  both  of  them  very  virtuous  and 
religious,  did  greatly  countenance  this  work. 

God  for  sin  ;  and  in  veiy  deed  for  this  only  was  he  fitted,  for  hardly  could  he  preach 
any  other  thing."  This,  however,  was  likely  the  very  thing  which  the  people  needed ; 
just  the  John  Baptist  pi'caching  necessary  to  awaken  them.  "  But,  hehold  the  suc- 
cess," says  the  same  writer,  who  was  an  eye-witness ;  "  for  the  hearers  finding  them- 
selves condemned  by  the  mouth  of  God  speaking  in  his  Word,  fell  into  such  anxiety 
and  terror  of  conscience  that  they  looked  on  themselves  as  altogether  lost  and  damned, 
as  those  of  old  who  said,  '  Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we  do  to  be  saved  ?  '  I  have 
seen  them  myself  stricken  into  a  swoon  with  the  word  ;  yea,  a  dozen  in  one  day  carried 
out  of  doors  as  dead ;  so  maiwellous  was  the  power  of  God,  smiting  their  hearts  for  sin. 
And  of  these  were  none  of  the  weaker  sex  or  spirit,  but  indeed  some  of  the  boldest  spirits, 
who  formerly  feared  not  with  their  swords  to  put  a  whole  market  town  in  a  fray ;  yea, 
in  defence  of  their  stubbornness,  cared  not  to  be  in  prison,  and  in  the  stocks ;  and, 
being  incorrigible,  were  as  ready  to  do  the  same  the  next  day.  For  a  short  time  this 
work  lasted,  as  a  sort  of  disease  to  which  there  was  no  cure,  the  poor  people  lying  un- 
der the  spirit  of  bondage ;  and  the  poor  man  who  was  the  instrmnent  of  it,  not  being 
sent,  it  seems,  to  preach  Gospel  so  much  as  law,  they  lay  for  a  time  in  a  most  deplor- 
able condition, — slain  for  their  sin  and  knew  of  no  remedy.  The  Word  they  coidd  not 
want,  and  yet  the  more  they  heard  it  the  more  they  could  not  abide  it,  as  Paul  says." 
"  A  most  deplorable  condition,"  certainly,  but  not  nearly  so  much  as  flom-ishing  their 
s\\-ords  in  the  face  of  "  a  whole  market  town,"  and  expiating  for  the  drunken  brawl 
by  being  laid  "  in  the  stocks  !  " — Wodrow  MSS.,  vol.  Ixxv.,  no.  3  ;  Reid,  i.,  107. 

*  Sir  John  Clotworthy,  aftenvards  first  Viscount  Mazareine,  or  Massareene,  is  well 
known  in  the  history  of  Ireland  for  his  ardent  attachment  to  Presljyterianism,  and  the 
cause  of  civil  liberty.  The  student  of  English  history  will  also  be  familiar  with  his 
name  and  character,  as  a  prominent  member  of  the  Long  Parliament.  He  was  one 
of  nature's  noblemen,  one  of  the  few  whose  names,  when  the  history  of  that  period 
has  been  written,  will  be  found  honourable  exceptions  to  the  degeneracy  of  this  age 
and  order.  "  Lord  Viscount  Feirard  is  tlie  present  representative  of  this  ancient  fa- 
mily, and  the  title  of  Lord  Massareene,  having  been  for  some  time  dormant,  is  once 
more  revived  in  his  eldest  son." — Rcid,  i.,  109. 


72  LIFE  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIU.  [1G24. 

Mr  Glendlnning,  who,  at  the  first,  was  most  ^lad  of  this  conflu- 
ence, when  his  emptiness  began  to  appear,  began  to  be  emulous 
and  envious.  Yet  both  the  brethren  cherished  him,  and  the  people 
carried  good  respect  to  him,  yea,  they  were  bountiful  to  him,  until 
he  was  smitten  with  erroneous  conceits.  He  watched  much,  and 
fasted  wonderfully,  and  began  publicly  to  affirm  that  he  or  she  after 
they  had  slept  a  little  in  bed,  if  they  return  themselves  from  one  side 
to  another,  could  not  be  an  honest  Christian.  This  rigorous  para- 
dox his  hearers  did  bear  with,  in  respect  of  the  rigorous  course 
he  took  with  himself.  But  when  he  began  to  vent  other  conceits 
privately,  condescending  upon  a  day  that  would  be  the  day  of 
judgment,  and  that  w^hoever  would  join  him  in  a  ridiculous  way 
of  roaring  out  some  prayer,  laying  their  faces  on  the  earth,  would 
be  undoubtedly  converted  and  saved,  some  judicious  gentlemen  to 
whom  he  imparted  this  folly,  loving  him  dearly,  because  he  had 
been  at  first  instrumental  of  their  good,  resolved  not  to  let  him 
come  in  public  with  these  conceits  in  his  head;  and  presently 
posted  away  one  to  me,  requesting  me  with  all  expedition  to  re- 
pair to  them.  The  day  being  then  at  the  shortest,  and  the  jour- 
ney considerable,  I  made  such  haste  to  obey  their  desire,  that  I 
stayed  not  so  much  as  to  break  my  fast,  and  yet,  ere  I  could  reach 
them,  the  night  was  fallen.  AVhen  I  came,  I  found  him  in  a  reli- 
gious family,  who  had  taken  him  in  with  his  family,  (his  own  house 
a  little  before  being  burnt  down  with  a  sudden  fire).  There  were 
there  also  some  judicious  persons,  all  waiting  upon  him.  I 
found  him  so  fixed  in  his  erroneous  conceit  that  he  laboured 
to  persuade  me  to  join  therein  with  him.  He  had  fasted  I 
know  not  how  long,  and  we  being  all  set  down  to  supper,  they 
all  expected  that  my  persuasion  would  have  induced  him  to 
eat,  seeing  heretofore  he  had  always  hearkened  to  my  counsel. 
To  induce  him,  I  told  him  that  I  was  yet  fasting  for  his  sake,  and 
if  he  Avould  not  eat  with  me  I  would  fast  with  him.  But  this 
availed  not.  I  entreated  the  company  that  they  would  eat  while 
I  discoursed  unto  them.  After  supper,  I  was  left  alone  with  him, 
only  his  wife  sitting  by.     He  asked  me  if  I  would  beheve  he  was 


1624.]  LIFE  OF  liOBEFvT  BLAIR.  73 

in  the  right,  if  his  foot  could  not  burn  in  the  fire  ?  I  answered,  if 
he  offered  to  do  so,  I  would  be  confirmed  that  he  was  a  deluded 
man.  But  before  I  had  spoken  out  these  words,  his  foot  was  in 
the  midst  of  the  fire,  holding  the  lintel  with  both  his  hands.  But 
I  pulled  so  hard  that  I  threw  both  him  and  myself  in  the  midst  of 
the  floor.  This  noise  drew  in  the  gentlemen  who  had  retired. 
Some  of  them  were  angry  that  I  had  pulled  him  out,  thinking  that 
the  heat  of  the  fire  might  have  helped  to  burn  away  his  folly. 
There,  in  presence  of  them  all,  he  thus  conditioned  with  me,  that 
if  ere  to-morrow  I  were  not  of  his  mind,  he  was  content  to  be  for- 
saken as  a  deluded  man.  I  accepted  the  condition,  so  we  parted ; 
but  I  behoved  to  lie  in  bed  with  him.  His  wife  revUed  him  for 
his  delusion,  whom  I  silenced  with  a  rebuke.  Being  laid,  he  pre- 
sently fell  asleep ;  but  I  having  fasted  all  day,  and  remembering 
the  condition  that  was  made,  continued  watching  and  praying. 
There  was  not  an  hour  passed,  when  his  wife,  who  lay  in  another 
room,  came  in  muttering  that  the  matter  was  revealed  to  her,  and 
that  the  day  of  judgment  was  presently  coming.  He  hereby 
awakened  triumphantly,  did  leap  out  of  his  bed,  saying,  "  You 
will  be  next."  I  who  had  not  so  much  as  warmed  in  the  bed, 
being  somewhat  astonished,  did  rise  also.  While  I  was  putting 
on  my  clothes,  my  flesh  did  a  little  creep  and  quake ;  but  being 
clothed,  I  was  confirmed  to  encounter  these  deluded  enthusiasts, 
though  there  had  been  an  hundred  of  them. 

I  thought  the  best  way  to  confute  them  was  to  set  them  a-work  to 
open  the  revelations,  putting  no  doubt  to  find  some  absurdities  and 
contradictions  therein.  They  entreated  me  presently  to  write  to 
their  Christian  friends,  lest  they  should  be  surprised  by  the  coming 
of  that  day.  I  calling  for  paper,  took  the  pen  in  my  hand,  as  though 
I  intended  to  write  ;  and  asked  first  at  him,  then  at  her,  and  catch- 
ing a  contradiction  in  their  speeches,  threw  away  the  pen  and  pa- 
per, and  rebuking  them,  said,  "  Will  you  not  yet  see  your  folly?" 
But  he  inviting  me  to  prayer  did  himself  begin.  I  stood  to  see 
his  new  way  (formerly  mentioned),  whereby  he  thought  to  con- 
vert me.     When  I  saw  and  heard  the  absurdity  thereof,  in  the 


74  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  [1624. 

idle,  roaring  repetitions,  requiring  him  in  his  Lord's  name  to  be 
silent,  I  kneeled  down  and  prayed  with  humble  confidence,  hoping 
to  be  heard.  A  gentleman  that  lay  in  the  room,  surprised  with 
fear  and  sweating  in  his  bed,  (supposing  that  the  woman's  mutter- 
ing had  been  the  apparition  of  a  spirit),  when  he  heard  my  voice 
at  prayer  adventured  to  rise  and  join.  Yea,  his  roaring  before  I 
began  had  awakened  them  who  lay  at  some  distance,  and  so  all 
jointly  continued  a  space  in  prayer.  When  I  had  made  an  end, 
111"  Glendinning  takes  me  apart  and  confessed  he  saw  now  he  was 
deluded,  and  entreated  me  to  see  how  the  matter  might  be 
covered  and  concealed.  I  called  the  gentlemen  to  hear  his  con- 
fession. They  being  very  glad,  I  warned  them  that  the  matter 
was  not  yet  at  an  end,  as  the  event  proved ;  for  he,  falling  from 
error  to  error,  did  run  away  at  last  to  see  the  seven  Churches 
of  Asia.  Always  *  we  thanked  God  for  what  was  done ;  and  I 
calling  for  bread  and  diink  to  refresh  myself,  went  to  bed,  and  so 
did  all  the  rest,  f 

That  which  I  observe  out  of  all  this  discourse  is,  what  a  deep 
design  Satan  had  herein  against  the  work  of  God  in  the  county  of 
Antrim ;  for  he,  knowing  that  this  man  was  very  instrumental 
in  rousing  up  many  out  of  their  security,  thought,  by  deluding 
him,  to  shake,  if  not  to  crush,  that  blessed  work.  But — O  the 
wisdom,  the  power,  and  goodness  of  God ! — except  his  OAvn  wife 
(of  whom  few  had  any  good  opinion  before)  there  was  neither 
man  nor  woman  that  stumbled  or  fell  at  his  fall ;  ^but,  on  the  con- 
trary, were  thereby  guarded  against  delusion,  magnifying  the 
word  of  God  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  learned  to  work  out  the 
work  of  their  salvation  in  fear  and  trembling,  not  doting  upon  the 
bodily  exercise  of  watching  and  fasting,  whereby  that  man  thought 
to  cry  up  himself.  And  now  having  lost  this  one  man,  the  Lord 
thought  it  fit  to  give  unto  us  three  gracious  and  able  men.     First, 

*  AluKujs,  however. 

t  The  garrulity  of  age  is  somewhat  apparent  in  this  long  account  of  poor  Glendin- 
ning, who  was  evidently  a  lunatic,  and  we  might  have  reduced  it,  as  Stevenson  has 
done,  into  a  few  sentences ;  but  the  plan  we  have  adopted,  of  giving  the  manuscript 
entire  as  it  stands,  forbids  such  freedom ;  so  we  have  allowed  Mr  Blair  to  tell  out  his 
story  in  his  own  way. 


[1624. 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  75 


Mr  Henry  Colwart,*  who  came  over  with  Mr  Hubart  (formerly 
mentioned),  and  was  entertained  by  a  godly  lady  at  Broadisland, 
being  an  helper  to  an  ancient  minister  there,  IVIr  Edward  Bryce.f 
After  Mr  Glendinning's  departure,  he  was  brought  to  Oldstone, 
where  he  laboured  diligently,  and  did  bear  burden  at  the  monthly 
meetings,  being  a  man  of  a  fervent  spirit  and  of  a  vehement  de- 
livery in  preaching.  This  variety  of  gift  glorifies  the  Giver ;  for 
his  next  neighbour,  Mr  Ridge,  (formerly  mentioned),  as  he  was  in 
his  carriage,  so  in  his  doctrine,  grave,  calm,  sweet,  ordinarily  pres- 
sing some  weighty  important  point  to  good  purpose.  The  Lord 
was  also  pleased  to  bring  over  from  Scotland  Mr  Josias  Welsh,| 

*  Heury  Colwart,  or  Calvert,  was  an  Englishman,  and  was  admitted  to  Oldstone  in 
1G30;  but,  instead  of  being  allowed  to  prosecute  his  labours  in  peace,  he  was  de- 
posed, with  many  others,  by  Bishop  Leslie,  for  refusing  to  subscribe  the  canons,  and 
came  over  to  Scotland,  where  he  and  his  friends,  by  preaching  what  Traquair  was 
pleased  to  caU  "  nothing  but  foolish,  seditious  doctrine,"  helped  the  Covenanters 
to  overthrow  canons  and  bishops  and  all. — Reid,  i.,  115-221.  He  was  admitted  minis- 
ter of  Paisley,  where  he  died. — Lwlngstone's  Char.,  Select  Biogr.,  vol.  1,  329. 

t  Edward  Biyce,  or  Brice,  A.M.,  was  for  many  years  minister  of  Drymen,  in  Stir- 
lingshire (Livingstone  says  also  of  Dumbarton).  But  his  opposition  to  the  famous 
expedient  of  "  the  constant  moderator,"  cost  him  his  living.  He  was  one  of  two  of 
the  Synod  of  Clydesdale,  who,  after  all  the  rest  had  yielded  to  the  menaces  of  the 
Earl  of  Abcrcorn,  and  received  Archbishop  Spottiswood  as  their  moderator,  "  mainly 
opposed  it,  and  would  never  condescend,  but  spake  publicly  against  it  in  bitter  tenns." 
— Balfour's  Annals,  ii.,  22.  Taking  refuge  in  Ireland,  he  was  admitted  by  Bishop 
Echlin  to  Broadisland,  where  he  laboured  "  with  great  success,"  from  1613  to  1636 
when  he  was  deposed  by  Bishop  Leslie  for  non-subscription  to  the  canons,  which  re- 
quired kneeling  before  the  elements,  &c.  The  good  old  man  returned  home,  op- 
pressed with  the  thoughts  of  being  obliged  to  resign  his  beloved  ministry  ;  but,  before 
any  steps  could  be  taken  by  Leslie  to  cany  liis  sentence  into  effect,  he  had  resigned 
both  life  and  office  into  the  hands  of  "  the  Bishop  of  our  souls."  "  He  was  an  aged 
man  ere  I  knew  him,"  says  Livingstone,  "  and  came  not  miich  abroad.  In  all  his 
preaching  he  insisted  most  on  the  life  of  Christ  in  the  heart,  and  the  light  of  the  Word 
and  Spirit  on  the  mind,  that  being  his  own  continual  exercise." 

J  Josias  Welsh  was  the  younger  son  of  the  celebrated  John  Welsh,  minister  of  Ayr, 
and  Elizabeth,  third  daughter  of  John  Knox.  He  was  educated  at  Geneva,  and,  on 
his  return  to  Scotland,  was  appointed  professor  of  humanity  in  the  University  of  Glas- 
gow. His  opposition  to  Pi-elacy  foi-ced  him  to  leave  this  situation,  and,  complying 
with  Blair's  advice,  he  went  to  Ireland  about  1626,  and  was  ordained  minister  of 
Temple  Patrick  by  his  relative,  Knox,  Bishop  of  Kaphoe.  Howie  says  :  "  He  was 
commonly  called  the  '  Cock  of  Conscience'  by  the  people  of  that  country,  because  of 
his  extraordinary  awakening  and  rousing  gift.  He  was  one  of  that  blessed  society  of 
ministers  which  wrought  that  unparalleled  work  in  the  north  of  Ireland  about  the 
year  1626,  but  was  himself  a  man  most  sadly  exercised  with  doubts  about  his  own 


76  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1626. 

the  son  of  Mr  John  Welsh  (that  famous  man  of  God,  who,  both 
in  Scotland  and  France,  was  rarely  instioimental,  both  for  con- 
verting and  confirming  the  souls  of  the  people  of  God).  A  great 
measure  of  that  spirit  that  wrought  in  and  by  the  father  rested 
also  upon  the  son.  I  meeting  with  him  in  Scotland,  and  perceiv- 
ing of  how  weak  a  body  and  of  how  zealous  a  spirit  he  was,  ex- 
horted him  to  haste  over  to  Ireland,  where  he  would  find  work 
enough,  and,  I  hoped,  success  enough.  And  so  it  came  to  pass  ; 
for  he  being  settled  at  Temple  Patrick,  became  a  blessing  to  that 
people.  He,  being  under  great  exercise  of  spirit,  spake  vehe- 
mently, to  convince  the  secure ;  sweetly,  to  comfort  the  cast 
down.  Also,  the  Loi'd  brought  over  to  Lern  the  ancient  servant 
of  Christ,  Mr  George  Dunbar,*  who  was  deposed  from  the  minis- 
try of  Ayr  by  the  High  Commission  in  Scotland,  and  by  the 
Council  was  banished  to  Ireland.  So  careful  was  the  Lord,  and 
bountiful  towards  that  plantation  of  his  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
that  whoever  wanted,  they  might  not  want.  In  that  place  the 
Lord  greatly  blessed  his  ministry.  All  these  three  now  men- 
tioned, as  they  laboured  diligently  within  their  own  charges,  so 
were  they  still  ready  to  preach  at  the  monthly  meetings  when 
they  were  invited  thereto.  So  mightily  grew  the  Word  of  God, 
and  his  gracious  work  prospered  in  the  hands  of  his  faithful  ser- 
vants ;  the  power  of  man  being  restrained  from  offering  to  oppose 
the  work  of  God. 

About  that  time  I  perceived  Echlin,  bishop  of  Down,  privily  to 
lay  snares ;  being  unwilling  openly  to  appear,  the  people  generaUy 

salvation  all  his  time,  and  would  ordinarily  say :  '  That  minister  was  much  to  be 
pitied,  who  was  called  to  comfort  weak  saints,  and  had  no  comfort  himself.' " — Scots 
Worthies,  p.  95.  He  was  deposed,  but  restored  again  to  the  ministry,  and  died  a 
young  man,  23d  June  1634.  The  reader  will  afterwards  meet  with  an  interesting 
account  of  his  closing  scene.  He  was  the  author  of  a  small  catechism.  His  name  is 
still  held  in  the  highest  respect  in  the  north  of  Ireland  ;  and  in  Scotland  he  is  known 
as  the  father  of  the  eminent  and  faithful  John  Welsh,  minister  of  Irongray,  whose 
perils  and  escapes  during  the  persecution  under  Claverhouse  form  a  most  wonderfiil 
episode  in  that  eventful  history. 

*  George  Dunbar  was  twice  turned  out  by  the  Scotch  bishops — was  for  some  time 
a  prisoner  in  the  castle  of  Blackness — went  to  Ireland,  and  was  deposed  in  1634 — re- 
turned to  Scotland,  and,  in  1038,  was  admitted  minister  of  Calder,  where  he  died. 


1G2G.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  77 

approving  and  commending  the  labours  and  success  of  his  ser- 
vants. And,  first,  he  wrote  to  me  to  be  ready  to  preach  at 
Primate  Usher's  *  triennial  visitation.  He  himself  was  then  In 
England,  but  in  his  room  were  two  bishops  and  a  doctor,  his  sub- 
stitutes and  delegates.  If  any  ask  how  I  durst  countenance  these 
Prelatic  assemblies,  how  I  did  countenance  these  meetings,  the 
ensuing  discourse  will  declare  ;  but  it  may  be  rather  wondered 
how  these  Prelatic  meetings  did  countenance  us,  knowing  our 
judgment  and  practice  to  be  opposed  to  them  and  their  way  ;  and 
it  would  be  also  considered  that  we  were  not  then  under  an  ex- 
plicit sworn  covenant  against  them.  Before  the  appointed  day 
came,  he  sent  me  word  that,  as  another  was  to  supply  that  place, 
I  might  lay  aside  thoughts  of  It :  his  message  by  word  thus  con- 
tradicting his  writ,  that  he  might  leave  me  in  an  uncertainty,  and 
might  pick  a  quarrel  against  me  at  his  pleasure.  My  meditation 
was  upon  the  first  verse  of  the  4th  chapter  of  the  Second  to  the 
Corinthians  :  "  Therefore  seeing  we  have  this  ministry,  as  we 
have  received  mercy,  we  fiiint  not."  Beside  other  points,  I  speci- 
ally Insisted  to  show  that  Christ  our  Lord  had  instituted  no  lord 
bishops  In  his  Kirk,  but  presbyters  and  ministers,  both  to  teacli 

*  James  Ussher,  archbishop  of  Annagh,  primate  of  Ireland,  and,  according  to  Bayle, 
"  one  of  the  most  iUnstrious  prelates  in  the  seventeenth  centnrj-,  as  well  Avith  respect 
to  his  piety  and  other  virtues,  as  his  prodigious  erudition,"  was  the  son  of  Mr 
Arnold  Ussher,  clerk  in  Chancery,  and  nephew  of  Heniy  Ussher,  previously  arch- 
bishop of  Annagh,  and  was  bom  in  Dublin,  January  4th  1580.  His  great  talents  and 
acquirements,  at  a  very  early  period,  appeared  in  a  dispute  with  Fitz-Symonds,  an 
Irish  Jesuit,  and  led  to  his  appointment  of  professor  of  divinity  in  the  University  of 
Dublin  in  1607,  when  only  twenty-seven  3-ears  of  age.  In  January  1625,  he  was 
elevated  to  the  archbishopric  of  Armagh,  and  during  his  administration  of  that  See,  he 
manifested  as  much  zeal  against  the  Papists  as  moderation  towards  the  Puritans  and 
Presbyteiians.  His  profound  acquaintance  with  history,  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  ap- 
pears in  his  invaluable  writings,  which  throw  much  light  on  the  Pojiish  innovations, 
and  shew  the  real  antiquity  of  the  doctrine  recovered  at  the  Reformation.  In  1640 
he  went  over  to  England,  from  whence  he  never  returned.  During  the  unhappy 
troubles  which  led  to  the  execution  of  the  King,  and  the  erection  of  tlie  Common- 
wealth, Ussher  exerted  himself  with  praiseworthy  zeal,  but  without  success,  to  re- 
concile the  contending  parties.  Holding  himself  moderate  and  liberal  views  with 
regai-d  to  the  government  of  the  Church,  he  proposed  a  plan  for  accommodating  the 
differences  between  Episcopacy  and  Presbytery,  which  neither  party  could  be  induced 
to  adopt.  He  died  at  Rygate,  March  21.  1656,  aged  seventy-five  years,  and  was 
buried,  by  Cromwell's  orders,  with  great  magnificence,  in  Westminster  Abbey. 


78  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G26. 

and  govern  his  Kirk,  and  proved  this,  first,  from  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures ;  secondhj,  from  the  testimonies  of  purer  antiquity ;  and 
tliirdly,  from  the  famous  divines  that  have  been  seeking  reforma- 
tion these  thirteen  hundred  years  ;  and,  lastly,  from  the  modern 
divines,  both  over  sea  and  in  England  ;  closing  all  my  proofs  with 
the  consent  of  learned  Dr  Uslier,  thereby  to  stop  their  mouths  ; 
and,  finally,  I  closed  with  an  exhortation,  that,  seeing  the  truth 
was  proven  so  clearly  and  undeniably,  they  would  use  moderately 
what  power  custom  and  human  laws  had  put  in  their  hands.  And 
so  they  did  indeed,  neither  questioning  me  nor  any  other ;  only 
the  Bishop  of  Drummore,  one  of  the  delegates,  being  brother-in- 
law  to  Primate  Usher,  spake  to  me  privately,  desiring  me  also  to 
be  moderate  towards  them,  as  they  had  not  questioned  me,  and  so 
bade  me  farewell. 

This  snare  being  broken,  the  crafty  bishop  fell  to  weaving  an- 
other more  dangerous.  He  knowing  that  one  of  the  judges,  the 
Lord  Chief  Baron,  who  came  yearly  to  that  circuit,  was  a  violent 
urger  of  English  conformity,  did  write  to  me  to  make  ready  a 
sermon  against  the  next  assizes.  This  was  the  more  dangerous 
because  the  judges  were  to  communicate  that  day,  it  being  Easter- 
day.  I  came  prepared  by  prayer  and  meditation,  committing  the 
matter  to  the  Lord,  who  had  all  hearts  and  mouths  in  his  own 
hand.  The  Scottish  gentlemen  there  present,  waiting  upon  the 
judges,  told  one  of  the  judges  that  they  wondered  how  they  com- 
municated on  the  Lord's-day,  being  taken  up  with  civil  affairs  the 
whole  Saturday.  He  answered,  that  he  wished  it  was  otherwise  ; 
and  said  further,  that  if  any  were  prepared  for  a  sermon*  that 
day,  he  would  procure  a  hearing.  They  assured  him  (I  knowing 
nothing  of  the  matter)  that  the  preacher  appointed  for  the  Lord's- 
day  would  preach  the  better  then,  if  he  preached  upon  the  Satur- 
day also.  When  some  were  sent  to  me  for  that  effect,  I  wondered 
at  the  unexpected  motion,  but  durst  not  refuse,  there  being  three 
or  four  hours  for  meditation  before  the  hour  appointed  for  the 
sermon.     Upon  the  Lord's-day  I  resolved  not  to  take  notice  of 

*  That  is,  for  preaching  a  sermon. 


[1G27.  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  79 

their  communicating,  neither  was  it  expected  from  me.  So  when 
I  ended,  I  went  to  my  chamber,  and  they  to  their  work,  which 
was  ended  in  the  eighth  part  of  an  hour.  After  the  afternoon 
sermon,  made  by  the  curate  of  the  place,  one  of  the  judges  sent 
for  me,  and  desired  private  conference  with  me  in  his  chamber. 
He  told  me  he  was  well  satisfied  with  the  Saturday's  sermon,  and 
more  with  that  which  I  delivered  on  the  Lord's-day  ;  "  for  there," 
said  he,  "  you  opened  a  point  that  I  never  heard  before,  viz.,  the 
covenant  of  redemption,  made  with  the  Mediator  as  head  of  the 
elect  Church."  He  entreated  me  to  go  through  the  heads  of  that 
sermon.  Then  he  opening  his  Bible,  and  I  mine,  we  considered 
all  the  points  and  proofs,  turning  to  all  the  places  cited,  and  read- 
ing them  over.  He  was  so  well  satisfied  that  he  protested,  if  his 
calling  did  not  tie  him  to  Dublin,  he  would  gladly  have  come  to 
the  north  and  settled  under  such  a  ministry.  In  end  he  told  me 
I  would  be  sent  for  to  supper,  warning  me  that  his  colleague  was 
violent  for  English  conformity.  He  entreated  me,  if  he  asked 
any  captious  questions  at  me,  that  I  would  answer  them  very  cir- 
cumspectly. I  was  sent  for,  and  used  very  courteously  and 
kindly,  without  any  captious  questions  proposed  to  me  ;  and  so 
the  only  wise  God,  to  whom  I  had  committed  myself  and  the 
work  in  hand,  brake  this  snare  also,  bringing  me  off  with  comfort 
and  credit.  Yea,  I  had  hereby  this  advantage,  that  the  godly 
judge  mayor,  after  that  conference  he  had  with  me,  sent  for  the 
bishop  to  his  chamber,  and  in  presence  of  the  Master  of  Airds 
(who  thereafter  related  this  unto  me),  charged  him  to  lay  down 
his  evil  wiU  against  me,  yea,  to  have  a  care  that  no  harm  nor  in- 
terruption should  come  to  my  ministry  ;  and  if  any  came,  he 
would  impute  the  same  unto  him,  and  hereof  took  the  master 
witness. 

When  Primate  Usher  came  back  to  Ireland,  my  patron,  desirous 
that  I  should  be  acquaint  with  him,  took  me  in  his  company,  where 
a  meeting  of  the  nobihty  and  gentry  of  Ulster  was  to  be,  where 
he  received  me  very  kindly,  and  desired  me  to  be  at  his  table  while 
I  was  in  town.     The  next  day  coming  to  dinner,  I  met  with  the 


80  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  CLAIK.  [1G30. 

English  Liturgy  in  his  family  ;  but  I  came  not  again,  leaving  my 
excuse  with  my  patron,  that  I  expected  another  thing  in  the  family 
of  so  learned  and  pious  a  man  than  the  reading  of  the  Liturgy. 
But  he  excused  the  matter  by  reason  of  the  great  confluence  that 
was  there ;  but  he  entreated  me  that  I  would  be  at  the  pains  to 
come  to  TrodafF,*  where  his  ordinary  residence  was,  where  he 
would  be  more  private,  and  at  leisure  to  be  better  acquainted 
with  me.  I  obeyed  the  desire,  and  was  made  welcome.  He  was 
very  aifable  and  communicative.  In  conference  he  desired  to 
know  of  me  what  my  mind  was  concerning  the  nature  of  justifying 
and  saving  faith.  I  told  him  my  mind,  that  I  held  the  accepting 
of  Jesus  Christ  as  he  is  offered  in  the  gospel,  &c.  With  this  he 
was  well  satisfied,  confirming  the  same  in  a  large  discourse,  clear- 
ing the  matter  by  the  similitude  of  a  marriage,  wherein  it  is  not 
the  sending  or  receiving  of  gifts  that  made  the  marriage,  but  the 
accepting  of  the  person.  Hereby  I  was  much  refreshed.  From 
this  he  passed  on  to  speak  of  ceremonies ;  tried  my  mind  therein, 
saying  that  he  was  afraid  that  our  unsatisfiedness  therein  might 
endanger  our  ministry,  and  it  would  break  my  heart  if  that  succes- 
ful  ministry  in  the  north  should  be  interrupted  and  marred. 
"  They  think,"  said  he,  "  to  cause  me  stretch  out  my  hand  against 
you ;  but  all  the  world  shall  never  move  me  to  do  so."  When  he 
had  drawn  forth  my  mind  thereanent,  he  said,  "  I  perceive  you 
will  never  be  satisfied  therein ;  for  still  you  enquire  what  ought  to 
be  done.  I  confess  all  these  things  you  except  against  might,  yea, 
ought  to  be  removed,  but  that  cannot  be  done."  I  replied  that  I 
had  read  all  those  arguments  used  by  Mr  Sprint,  in  a  treatise  en- 
titled "  Cassander  Anglicanus  ;  or,  A  Necessity  of  Conformity  in 
case  of  Deprivation  ;"  and  I  had  seen  all  these  fully  answered  in  a 
treatise  entitled  "  Cassandra  Scoticanda  ;  or,  A  Necessity  of  Non- 
conformity in  hope  of  Exaltation."  Our  conference  being  ended, 
he  dismissed  me  very  kindly,  though  I  gave  him  no  high  styles  at 
all,  and  proved  thereafter  very  friendly  when  trouble  came  on  us 
— as  will  appear  in  this  subsequent  discourse. 

*  Or  Tredaff,  the  ancient  name  of  Droglieda. 


1030.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  81 

After  all  the  former  helpers  we  had  from  the  Lord,  Mr  John 
Livingston  was  sent  over  to  us.  He  was  a  man  of  a  gracious 
melting  spirit,  and  was  desired  much  by  godly  people  about  Tor- 
phichen,  where  he  had  preached  as  a  helper  to  another,  but  was 
still  opposed  by  the  bishops.  But  old  Bishop  Knox*  of  Raphoe 
refused  no  honest  man,  having  heard  him  preach.  By  this  chink 
he  and  sundry  others  got  entrance ;  and  being  settled  at  Killin- 
chie,  the  Lord  was  pleased  greatly  to  bless  his  ministry,  both 
within  his  own  charge  and  without  it,  where  he  got  a  call.  But 
he  continued  not  long  there,  trials  hasting  upon  us.  Lilvcwise  Mr 
Andrew  Stewart,t  a  well-studied  gentleman  and  fervent  in  spirit, 
was  settled  at  Donagore,  and  prospered  well  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord.  But  his  ministry  was  of  short  endurance,  he  dying  in  the 
midst  of  our  trials. 

*  Andrew  Knox,  bishop  of  Eaphoe,  was  of  the  same  family  witli  the  Scottish  Ee- 
fonner ;  conseqnently  Welsh  was  his  relative.  The  bishop  was  educated  at  Glasgow, 
and  was  minister  first  of  Lochmnnoch,  and  next  of  Paisley.  In  160G  he  was  made 
bishop  of  the  Isles  by  James  VI. ;  and  in  1622  was  translated  to  the  see  of  Raphoe, 
where  he  died  7th  November  1G32. 

t  Mr  Andrew  Stewart  came  over  to  Ireland  after  Mr  Welsh,  in  1627,  and  was 
settled  minister  of  Donagore.  He  died  about  the  same  time  Avith  Josias  Welsh.  An 
interesting  account  of  the  closing  scene  of  this  excellent  minister  is  given  in  Fleming's 
"  Fulfilling  of  the  Scriptures." 


82  LIFE  OF  KOBEKT  liLAIR.  [1630. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CONTAINING  AN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  AVONDEKFUL  GEOAVTH  AND 
INCREASE  OF  THE  GOSPEL,  AND  OP  SEVERAL  ATTEMPTS  OF 
SATAN  AND  OTHER  ENEMIES  TO  BREAK  THE  SAME,  WITH  THEIR 
SUCCESS  THEREIN. 

At  this  time  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  protect  our  ministry,  by 
raising  up  friends  to  us,  and  giving  us  favour  in  the  eyes  of  all  the 
people  about  us.  Yea,  the  Bishop  of  Down  himself  used  to  glory 
of  the  ministry  in  his  dioceses  of  Down  and  Connor.  Yet  we 
wanted  not  exercise  enough.  Some  of  the  conform  clergy,  by  let- 
ters, provoked  me  to  a  dispute  about  that  wherein  we  differed  from 
them  ;  but  a  modest  answer,  how  unsafe  it  was  to  do  so,  did  satisfy 
them.  After  that  there  was  sent  a  dean  to  reside  at  Carrickfergus, 
to  counteract  and  bear  us  down  ;  but  some  of  us  waited  on  him, 
and  putting  some  civilities  on  him,  invited  him  to  concur  with  us 
in  the  monthly  meeting  at  Antrim.  We  did  not  expect  he  would 
yield  to  the  motion  ;  yet  by  our  visit  and  invitation  we  obtained 
this  much,  that  he  proved  no  unfriend  to  us. 

As  for  the  Papists,  they  became  very  bold  through  the  land, 
by  occasion  of  the  match  intended  betwixt  Prince  Charles  and 
the  Infanta  of  Spain ;  so  that  In  every  shire  they  set  up  their 
old  convents — even  in  the  city  of  Dublin  itself;  and  so  the  rebel- 
lion, that  after  some  years  followed,  and  the  bloody  massacre  that 
they  made,  had  not  the  rise  of  it  from  any  pressure  that  was  on 


1G30.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  83 

them,  but  rather  from  the  great  indulgence  used  towards  them. 
The  Irish  priests  generally  were  ignorant  dolts,  living  in  whoredom 
and  drunkenness ;  yea,  one  that  came  from  Rome  with  pardons, 
and  had  gotten  a  great  deal  of  money  thereby,  when  he  was  brought 
to  my  Lord  Claneboy,  in  whose  land  he  was  taken,  scarce  under- 
stood Latin.  Yet  two  L'isli  friars,  who  had  been  trained  up  in 
the  University  of  Salamanca  in  Spain  gave  us  a  defiance,  provok- 
ing us  to  a  dispute.  The  particular  heads  were  condescended 
upon,  and  time  and  place  appointed ;  but  when,  at  the  appointed 
day,  I  came  to  assist  ]\Ir  Josias  Welsh  against  these  two  friai's, 
for  all  their  bragging  they  appeared  not.* 

We  had  also  an  assault  from  the  Separatists.!  Some  of  that 
faction  at  London,  hearing  tell  that  there  was  a  people  zealous  for 
the  Lord  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  came  to  Antrim,  where  our 
monthly  meetings  were,  and  there  set  up  their  dwelling,  thinking 
to  fish  in  these  waters.  They  thought  that  zealous  people 
would  seek  after  them,  and  did  not  call  to  any ;  but  therein  they 
were  frustrated  of  their  expectations.  Seeing  they  came  not  to 
the  public  worship,  none  there  did  own  them,  or  take  any  notice  of 
them,  till  the  minister  of  the  place  sent  some  judicious  Christians 
to  confer  w4th  them  about  some  practical  cases  of  conscience,  who 
made  their  report  to  the  minister  concerning  these  persons,  that 
they  thought  they  understood  not  such  proposals,  nor  could  they 
at  all  discourse  concerning  the  points  by  them  proponed ;  only 
they  fell  a-jangling  against  the  Church  of  England.  The  next  day 
I  came  there,  the  minister  of  the  place  desired  me  to  go  with  him, 
that  we  might  confer  with  these  people.  We  did  find  them 
rude,  and  somewhat  uncivil ;  what  they  held  they  could  not  teU 
well,  or  else  they  kept  up  and  concealed  themselves.  Yet  in  end, 
they  began  to  essay  whom  they  could  seduce ;  and  with  one  of 
great  tenderness  they  prevailed  not  to  communicate  with  us  ;  but 
immediately  thereafter  the  Lord  did  smite  him  with  distraction, 

*  Blair  aud  his  friends  do  not  aijpear  aftenvards  to  have  met  mth  auy  more  oppo- 
sition from  this  quarter. 

t  Dr  Keid  thinks  that  these  Separatists  were  probably  of  the  Baptist  persuasion. 

f2 


84  LIFE  OF  ROBEKT  IJLAIK.  [1630. 

from  the  which  he  no  sooner  recovered,  but  he  abhorred  the  sedu- 
cers. So  careful  was  the  Lord  to  preserve  his  people  within  our 
charges  from  all  sort  of  seducement. 

That  blessed  work  of  conversion  was  now  spread  beyond  the 
bounds  of  Down  and  Antrim,  to  the  skirts  of  neighbouring  counties, 
whence  many  came  to  the  meeting,  and  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
supper.  I  being  at  a  time  invited  to  assist  Mr  Josias  Welsh,  it 
fell  to  my  share  to  preach  upon  the  Saturday,  and  the  afternoon  of 
the  Lord's-day.  When  we  are  entering  the  church  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  Lord's-day,  we  perceived  that  there  would  be  large  as 
many  without  the  church  as  within  it,  and  most  of  these  were 
come  out  of  other  counties,  hindered  to  be  there  on  Saturday  by 
the  great  rising  of  waters.  At  our  entry,  when  they  jjerceived  the 
house  to  be  filled,  so  that  they  could  not  enter,  '  they'  began  to 
lament  that  for  all  the  pains  and  hazard  they  had  been  at  in  pass- 
ing deep  waters,  they  were  now  excluded.  Being  moved  with 
compassion,  I  resolved  to  stay  out  with  them,  and  making  choice 
of  a  fit  place  where  we  might  be  accommodated,  even  the  court  of 
a  castle  hard  by,  I  taught  them  as  the  Lord  furnished  me :  and 
when  those  that  were  within  had  received,  they  giving  way  to  us, 
aU  did  communicate,  and  I  closed  with  the  doctrine  of  tlianksgivino; 
in  the  evening.  Having  thus  once  oftener  than  I  intended  spoken 
in  public,  I  was  far  from  thoughts  of  being  employed  that  way  on 
the  morrow  ;  but  the  Lord  thought  otherwise. 

The  people  having  entered  very  early  upon  the  Monday,  fearing 
the  throng,  and  staying  there  some  hours  before  the  appointed  time 
of  preaching  came,  some  of  the  elders  of  that  parish  requested  me 
that  I  would  go  in  and  read  some  place  of  Scripture,  and  give  some 
notes  thereon,  till  the  appointed  preacher  came  in.  I  w^as  hardly 
persuaded  to  yield  to  this  motion  ;  but  they  would  take  no  naysay. 
While  I  am  about  this,  the  minister  of  the  place  being  ready  to 
enter  in,  the  people  that  w^ere  without  (the  most  of  them  being  the 
people  that  had  heard  me  before  in  the  castle  court),  not  using 
many  words,  laid  hands  on  him,  and  carried  him  away  to  the  same 
place  wlicre  1  exercised  yesterday,  sending  an  elder  to  me,  to  tell 


1630.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  85 

me  that  I  needed  expect  no  other  speaker.     This  message  wonder- 
fully astonished  me  ;  for  I  thus  reasoned,  ShaU  so  many  gracious 
souls,  who  have  been  waiting  since  day-light  for  the  word  of  the 
Lord  to  be  ministered  to  them,  be  thus  dismissed  and  frustrated 
of  their  expectation  ?  and,  on  the  other  hand,  how  can  I,  who  had 
already  adventured  a  little,  offer  to  go  to  the  pulpit,  whence  much 
at  that  time  was  expected,  especially  some  eminent  persons  being 
present  ?  Some  that  marked  my  countenance  observed  (as  they 
told  me  thereafter)  that  all  the  blood  went  out  of  my  lace  in  a 
moment ;  and  no  marvel,  for  I  was  in  a  perplexed  anguish  what  to 
do.     At  last  I  was  encouraged  to  adventure,  and  in  my  preface  be- 
fore prayer  (that  which  I  never  durst  do  neither  before  that  time 
nor  after  it),  I  promised  a  blessing  li'om  God  unto  them  that  would 
seek  it,  and  open  their  hearts  unto  it,  seeing  neither  art  nor  in- 
dustry had  any  place  or  part  in  this  work.     After  incalling  upon 
the  name  of  the  Lord,  and  earnest  wrestling  with  him  for  his 
presence,  I  read  a  place  parallel  to  what  I  had  entered  upon  stand- 
ing below.     The  Lord  so  carried  on  that  business,  that  in  the  entry 
there  was  offered  to  me  only  one  proposition  to  speak  of,  and  no 
more  was  presented  to  me  till  I  was  closing  that  point,  in  the  very 
last  comma  of  the  sentence,  and  then  was  another  edifying  point 
suggested  from  the  text,  and  so  another  still,  till  the  glass  was  run. 
In  aU  this  I  was  but  the  voice  of  one  crying.     There  was  a  promp- 
ter that  suggested  to  me,  even  He  that  sent  me  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel.    But  when  the  hour-glass  was  ended,  three  points,  all  weighty, 
concatenated  together,  were  offered  to  me,  the  uttering  whereof 
was  almost  (as  I  suppose)  as  much  as  all  the  rest.     Closing  with 
prayer,  I  hasted  to  my  chamber,  that  I  might  meet  with  nobody, 
but  that  I  might  hide  me  in  my  chamber,  and  spend  some  time  in 
admiration.     I  feared  applause,  whereas  nothing  of  mc  was  there 
but  a  voice.     Yet  I  was  surprised  as  I  was  stealing  away  by  that 
ancient  minister,  Mr  Bryce  of  Broadisland  (who  had  been  earnestly 
invited  to  preach  at  that  diet,  but  obstinately  refused).     He  per- 
ceiving the  haste  I  was  making,  cried  after  me,  "  Of  a  truth  the 
Lord  was  with  you ;"  and  I  turning  cried  to  hiin,  "  Sir,  (iod  for- 


86  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIK.  [1G30. 

give  you  your  l^ackdrawing."  I  hid  me  in  a  chamber  till  I  was 
called  to  dinner,  and  all  the  time  sat  silent,  except  when  something 
was  asked  at  me.  After  dinner,  I  overheard  an  honourable  person 
in  conference  with  another,  wishing  that  the  speaker  had  spoken 
till  sunset,  the  hearing  whereof  di'ew  me  out  of  that  room. 

The  next  time  that  I  was  invited  to  the  like  occasion  in  that 
county,  where  people  had  a  great  zeal  and  a  vehement  appetite 
which  could  not  be  satisfied,  I  was  sore  tempted  to  be  wholly  silent, 
I  saw  such  readiness  in  people  to  give  great  applause  to  instru- 
ments, and  the  great  hazard  of  receiving  and  admitting  the  same. 
But  dear  ]\Ir  Cunningham  offered  to  chide  me  out  of  this  snare, 
approving  my  jealousy,  but  reproving  my  backdrawing.  I  had  in 
my  haste  vowed  not  to  set  my  feet  in  that  pulpit  at  that  season, 
yet  I  yielded  standing  below  to  be  doing  somewhat,  which  as  I 
learned  thereafter,  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  follow  with  no  small 
blessing.  The  people  so  hung  upon  us  still  desirous  to  have  more ; 
no  day  was  long  enough  ;  no  room  was  large  enough.  Then  said 
I  in  the  hearing  of  many,  "  Our  tide  has  run  so  high,  that  there 
will  be  an  ebb  ;  no  doubt  a  restraint  is  near,  our  trials  are  hasting 
on." 

Another  assault  Satan  made  upon  us  by  an  English  Conformist, 
called  Mr  Freeman,  a  strong  opinator,  who,  falling  upon  Arminian 
books,  drank  in  their  opinions,  and  began  boldly  to  propagate  the 
same.  This  man  having  a  strong  body,  able  to  watch  and  fast,  made 
himself  very  plausible  by  a  seeming  strictness  and  austerity  of  life. 
Thereby  he  did  insinuate  himself  in  the  affections  of  people,  invit- 
ing them  to  conference,  and  singing  of  psalms.  Being  thus  much 
followed,  he  vented  his  opinions  not  only  by  preaching,  but  also 
by  spreading  of  papers,  one  whereof  had  this  inscription  "  Of  the 
Three  Generations  of  Noble  Christians."  Many  copies  of  this  were 
spread  among  the  people,  some  whereof  came  to  our  hands.  And 
being  asked  what  was  my  judgment  concerning  the  same,  I  an- 
swered, "  All  these  three  generations  of  noble  Christians  might 
be  among  ignoble  heathens,  and  that  there  was  nothing  of  Christi- 
anity therein  but  the  product  of  self-flattering  nature,  no  expres- 


1G30.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  87 

slon  holding  forth  any  thing  of  Christ,  or  of  his  grace,  or  of  the 
sanctifying  Spirit."  Yet  this  man  went  on  drawing  disciples  after 
him,  having  his  person  and  practice  in  admiration.  His  patron,  a 
generous  gentleman,  Mr  Kowlie  (who  thereafter  was  killed  by  the 
Irish  rebels),  invited  him  to  go  to  one  of  these  monthly  meetings 
at  Antrim.  He,  undertaking  the  journey  with  his  patron,  gave 
out  confidently  that  he  would  confute  and  silence  us  all. 

The  ministers  meeting  there  hearing  of  his  brags,  with  one  con- 
sent designed  me  to  encounter  him.  I  having  gotten  cold  by  the 
way  travelling,  was  taking  a  sweat  in  my  bed.  Some  of  these 
brethren,  sent  by  the  rest,  told  me  what  was  to  be  done,  assuring 
me,  that  unless  his  brags  were  laid  by  a  disputation,  to  which  he  had 
provoked  us,  the  whole  people  where  he  lived  would  follow  him  in  his 
erroneous  way,  to  the  great  prejudice  of  the  Gospel.  I  went  with 
them  to  the  Castle  of  Antrim,  where  his  patron  and  he  were  waiting 
for  the  disputation.  Wlien  we  came  to  it,  he  woidd  choose  both 
the  matter  and  manner  of  procedure.  The  matter  was  the  decree  of 
reprobation,  and  he  to  oppugn.  We  told  him  that  another  method 
was  better,  but  we  gave  way  to  his.  His  first  argument  he  brought 
being  easily  answered,  and  retorted  back  upon  himself,  the  second 
had  the  same  issue;  but  he  keeping  still  his  jocund  humour,  telling 
us  that  he  was  cominc;  on  with  the  strength  of  his  aro-uments. 
But  then  the  Lord  did  smite  him  with  such  confusion  that  he 
spake  nonsense,  so  that  the  scribe  could  set  doAvn  nothing  of  it. 
All  the  hearers  were  sensible  of  this,  and  some  fell  a-laughing. 
His  patron  turning  to  me  said,  "  You  know  what  he  would  be  at ; 
set  you  it  in  order,  and  give  an  answer  to  it."  To  whom  I  replied, 
"  How  can  I  know,  seeing  he  knows  not  himself?"  "  But  now," 
said  I,  "  seeing  it  is  late,  and  ye  all  see  him  in  confusion,  let  him 
recollect  his  thoughts,  and  we  shall  meet  in  this  place  the  next 
morning." 

That  night  I  went  a  mile  off  to  visit  a  friend,  and  at  the  ap- 
pointed time  returned  to  the  place  appointed,  where  I  did  not  find 
him,  and  so  going  to  his  chamber,  I  found  him  there  with  his 
patron.     I  found  him  writing  out  arguments  from  an  Arminian 


88  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  1630.] 

nutlior — Grevincliovius,*  as  I  remember.  I  snatching  tlie  book  out 
of  his  hand,  said  to  him,  "  Now  I  perceive  yoiu'  siibdolous  deal- 
ing ;■'  and  so  I  began  to  catechise  him,  and  asked  him  if  he  beheved 
that  all  events  came  to  pass  according  to  the  determined  counsel 
of  God ;  to  which  he  answered  by  a  flat  denial,  bringing  a  blasphe- 
mous confirmation  of  his  answer.  Then  said  I,  "  Know  you  not 
that  it  is  written,  ^  He  hath  determined  the  times  before  appointed, 
and  the  bounds  of  their  habitation,  that  they  should  seek  the 
Lord?'  but  you  say  you  would  take  a  course  of  your  own,  and 
would  not  seek  the  Lord ;  behold,  how  you  blaspheme  and  contra- 
dict the  Scriptures  !"  His  answer  was,  that  what  I  cited  as  Scrip- 
ture was  nowhere  written  in  the  Bible.  Perceiving  his  gross  and 
bold  ignorance,  I  desired  his  patron  to  cast  up  Acts  xvii.  26,  27. 
This  being  done,  he  could  say  nothing  but  that  he  thought  that 
there  had  been  no  such  thing  in  the  Scriptures.  Then  said  Mr 
Eowlie,  "  We  need  no  more  disputation,  I  see  evidently  his  erro- 
neousness  and  ignorance  in  the  Scriptures.  ^Ii*  Freeman,  I  have 
followed  you  too  long — here  I  renounce  you,  and  will  have  no  more 
to  do  with  you."  So  he  and  I  were  left  alone  to  confer  together, 
where  I  told  him  that  when  I  saw  some  of  his  papers,  I  perceived 
that  he  was  evil-grounded  in  religion ;  and  by  what  now  had  ap- 
peared both  yesternight  and  to-day  it  was  now  manifest.  He 
thanked  me  that  when  others  did  laugh  at  him  yesternight,  I  did 
not  so,  but  spake  still  to  him  meekly  and  gravely.  But  then  I 
dealt  plainly  with  him,  and  told  him,  that  perceiving  him  to  be  of 
a  melancholic  temper,  though  he  had  carried  hitherto  jocundly, 
yet,  when  he  should  lay  matters  to  heart,  he  might  be  in  danger  of 
destruction ;  or,  if  he  carried  still  jocundly,  that  he  was  in  hazard 
to  become  loose  and  openly  profane.  He  oflTered  no  answer,  but 
showed  by  his  smiles  a  waiving  of  my  warning.  The  ground  of 
my  apprehension  was,  because  I  perceived  he  knew  nothing  of  the 
grace  of  Christ ;  and  the  event  followed  sadly,  for  he  being  de- 
serted of  the  people  who  formerly  admired  him,  turned  more  dis- 

*  Nicolas  Gvevincliovius,  a  diviue  of  the  17tli  ccntun',  who  wrote  against  Amcsius. 


1630.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  89 

solute,  and  at  last,  as  I  was  credibly  informed,  fell  into  mischie- 
vous practices.  * 

The  Gospel  thus  flourishing  by  the  ministry  of  his  servants  be- 
fore mentioned,  no  public  opposition  being  made  thereto,  aU  Satan's 
devices  proving  abortive,  he  was  at  last  let  loose  to  devise  a  perni- 
cious device.  There  being  many  converts  in  all  these  congrega- 
tions, the  destroyer  set  himself  mainly  against  the  people  of  Loch- 
learn  by  this  stratagem — he  playing  the  ape,  did  upon  some  igno- 
rant persons  counterfeit  the  work  of  the  Lord.  In  the  midst  of  the 
public  worship  these  persons  fell  a-mourning,  and  some  of  them 
were  afflicted  with  pangs  like  convulsions,  and  daily  the  number  of 
them  increased.  At  first  both  pastor  and  people,  pitying  them, 
had  charitable  thoughts,  thinking  it  probable  that  it  was  the  work 
of  the  Lord ;  but  thereafter  in  conference  they  could  find  nothing 
to  confirm  these  charitable  thoughts — they  could  neither  perceive 
any  sense  of  their  sinfulness,  nor  any  panting  after  a  Saviour.  So 
the  minister  of  the  place  did  write  to  some  of  his  brethren  to  come 
thither,  and  with  him  to  examine  the  matter.  Coming  and  con- 
ferring with  these  persons,  we  deprehended  it  to  be  a  mere  delu- 
sion and  cheat  of  Satan  to  slander  and  disgrace  the  work  of  the 
Lord.  And  the  very  next  Lord's-day  one  of  my  charge,  in  the 
midst  of  the  public  worship,  being  a  duU  and  ignorant  person, 
made  a  noise  and  stretching  of  her  body.  Licontinent  I  was  as- 
sisted to  rebuke  that  lying  spirit  that  disturbed  the  worship  of 
God,  charging  the  same  in  the  name  and  authority  of  Jesus 
Christ  not  to  disturb  that  congregation  ;  and,  through  God's 
mercy,  we  met  with  no  more  of  that  work,  the  person  above  men- 
tioned remaining  still  a  dull  and  stupid  sot.  All  this  was  so  noto- 
riously kno^\^l  that  Primate  Usher  got  word  of  it ;  who,  the  next 
time  I  saw  him,  said  to  me,  I  had  reason  to  bless  the  Lord,  who  had 
assisted  me  so  confidently  (as  he  was  pleased  to  word  it)  to  conjure 
that  lying  spirit. 

Yet,  for  all  this,  a  matter  of  accusation  was  made  against  us,  as 

*  Blair  and  his  friends  do  not  appear  to  have  been  aftenvards  troubled  with  attempts 
to  introduce  Arminian  tenets  anionp;  them. 


\)0  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1680. 

if  we  had  taught  the  necessity  of  a  new  birth  by  bodily  pangs  and 
throes.  The  instrument  fitted  for  this  accusation  was  Mr  Harry 
Leshe,*  who,  being  a  violent  and  vain-glorious  man,  envied  the 
credit  and  respect  the  ministers  of  these  two  counties  had  of  all 
good  people.  It  fell  out  so,  that  Mr  Livingston  and  I  were  both 
in  Scotland  together,  after  some  years  absence,  visiting  oiu'  friends 
and  doing  our  affairs.  In  our  return,  both  of  us  were  invited  to 
assist  an  aged  and  infirm  man,  who  was  about  the  celebrating  of 
the  supper  of  the  Lord  at  the  Kirk  of  Shotts.  There  being  a 
great  confluence  of  zealous  people  there,  Mr  John  Maxwell,t  one 
of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh,  who  was  gaping  for  a  bishopric, 
entertaining  correspondence  by  letters  with  the  above-mentioned 
Mr  Leshe,  they  so  dressed  the  matter  betwixt  them,  that  the  said 
Maxwell  carried  a  letter  from  Leslie  to  the  Court,  containing  the 
calumnious  accusation  formerly  mentioned.     The  timorous  Bishop 

*  Heniy  Leslie,  dean  of  Down,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  a  man  of  consider- 
able erudition,  but  a  most  violent  and  bigoted  Episcopalian.  He  succeeded  Echlin, 
bishop  of  Do^\^l,  October  1635,  and  proved  an  active  supporter  of  Wentworth  in  all 
his  measures  against  those  who  had  sworn  the  covenant.  He  lived  till  near  a  hundred 
years,  and  died  not  long  after  the  Kestoration  of  Charles  H. 

f  John  Maxwell  was  a  native  of  Dumfries-shire,  and  first  settled  at  Mortach  in 
Banffshire,  whence  he  was  removed,  in  1G20,  to  occupy  tlie  church  of  the  venerable 
Robert  Bruce,  who  was  banished  to  Inverness.  In  1633  he  was  made  bishop  of  Ross 
by  Charles  I.,  and  afterwards  a  Privy  Councillor  and  extraordinary  Lord  of  Session. 
In  1637,  when  some  of  his  majesty's  counsellors  wisely  urged  him  to  yield  to  the 
wishes  of  the  nation,  in  regard  to  the  Liturgy  and  Book  of  Canons  imposed  by  Laud  ; 
"  to  all  this,"  says  Balfoiu",  "  the  bishops  blowing  tlie  bellows,  and  still  cr}-ing  fire  and 
sword,  especially  Mr  Jolin  Maxwell,  bishop  of  Ross,  (one  that  did  favour  Rome  too 
mitclij,  suggests  it  to  be  a  shame  for  his  majesty  to  recede  from  what  he  formerly  had 
determined." — Annals,  ii.,  2G3.  Spalding  gives  a  curious  account  of  his  flight  to  Eng- 
land. Some  boys  having  made  a  bonfire  of  the  service-books  which  he  had  placed  in 
his  church  at  Ross,  he  got  alarmed  :  "  He  had  soon  done  with  sennon,  and  therefore 
hastily  goes  to  horse,  and  privately  disgiiised  he  rode  south,  and  to  the  king  goes  he 
directly.  A  veiy  busy  man  thought  to  be  in  bringing  in  this  service-book,  and,  there- 
fore, durst  not,  for  fear  of  his  life,  return  to  Scotland  again." — Trouhlcs,  p.  47.  "Fear 
of  his  life  !"  He  was  in  much  more  danger  from  the  Papists,  "  whom  he  did  favour 
too  much."  Exalted  to  the  bishopric  of  Killala,  he  proved  an  active  instigator  of  the 
persecution  of  the  Presbyterian  ministers  in  Ireland  ;  but  during  the  rebellion  in  that 
countiy,  was  "  stricken  down,  and  left  with  many  Mounds  as  dead,  by  the  hands  of 
the  Irish,  with  whom  lie  had  been  but  too  familiar." — Badlies  Hist.,  Vindication,  p.  2. 
After  escaping  the  fury  of  tlie  Irish  rebels  he  retii-cd  to  Oxford,  and  died  in  1646.  A 
poor  life  indeed !  He  was  the  author  of  "  Sacro-Sancta  Regum  Majestas,"  which 
called  fortli  Rutherford's  reply  of  "  Lex  Rex." 


1G32.]  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  91 

of  Down,  getting  an  inkling*  of  this,  thought  it  time  to  bestir 
himself,  and  presently  suspended  four  of  us — Mr  Dunbar,  Mr 
Welsh,  IVIr  Livingston,  and  myself  Whereupon  I  presently  had 
recourse  to  Primate  Usher,  speaking  somewhat  of  an  appeal  which 
I  never  intended  to  make  use  of  But  he  presently  did  write  to 
Bishop  Echlin  to  relax  that  erroneous  suspension  ;  which  forth- 
with was  done.  So  for  a  season  we  went  on  in  our  ministry,  till 
a  letter  came  from  Court,  the  narrative  whereof  was  that  accusa- 
tion formerly  mentioned,  requiring  the  examination  of  the  truth 
thereof,  and  to  censure  accordingly.  The  bishop  knowing  per- 
fectly the  falsehood  of  that  accusation,  and  concealing  the  contents 
of  his  majesty's  letter,  (which  was  most  just  and  fair),  took  an- 
other way — cited  again  us  four — urged  us  to  a  subscription.  We 
in  defence  answered,  that  there  was  neither  law  nor  canon  in  that 
kingdom  requiring  the  same.  Notwithstanding  he,  out  of  his 
cruel  fury,  proceeded  to  the  sentence  of  deposition.!  Primate 
Usher  being  acquainted  with  this  was  sorry,  but  said  he  could  not 
help  us  ;  but  desired  us  to  make  our  address  to  the  two  Lord  Chief 
Justices,  who  then  under  his  majesty  governed  that  kingdom.  I 
repairing  to  their  lordships  received  this  answer,  that  there  was 
no  remedy  to  be  had  but  from  the  king  himself,  to  whose  ears  that 
misinformation  had  come ;  and  so,  by  the  earnest  persuasion  of 
my  brethren,  was  I  persuaded  to  undertake  a  journey  to  England. 
This,  and  some  more  toil  that  befell  me,  was  revealed  to  me  ere  it 
cai9ie  to  pass ;  but  I  concealed  it  from  all  flesh,  save  my  dear 
friend  and  brother  Mr  Cunningham,  who  was  sorry  when  I  opened 
it  to  him,  and  afraid  also  ;  but  when  I  told  him  the  manner, 
and  promised  to  him  to  act  nothing  thereupon,  but  would  follow 
the  rule  of  the  revealed  will  of  God  in  his  Word,  he  acquiesced, 
and,  in  process  of  time,  did  see  the  event  which  I  foretold  him, 
even  the  recovery  of  our  ministry  after  the  compassing  sea  and 
land. 

*  LMnff,  hint.  t  On  tlic  margin,  "  May  4.  1632." 


92  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  1632.] 


CHAPTER  VII. 

CONTAINING  MR  BLAIR's  JOURNEY  TO  LONDON,  IN  ORDER  TO 
PROCURE  LIBERTY  TO  HIMSELF  AND  OTHERS  TO  PREACH  THE 
GOSPEL,  WITH  HIS  SUCCESS  THEREIN  ;  AND  HOW  AT  LAST  HE 
WAS  DEPOSED  AGAIN. 

While  I  am  about  my  journey  to  England,  I  was  much  censured 
in  the  judgment  of  some  wise  men,  who  seemed  to  know  best  the 
times.  What  meant  I,  said  they,  to  go  to  Court  to  complain  of 
what  bishops  had  done,  that  faction  domineering  so  much  at  Court, 
especially  in  all  matters  that  appertained  to  the  Church  and  minis- 
ters ?  Who  there  would  appear,  or  durst  once  open  their  mouths 
for  those  that  are  disaffected  with  Ej)iscopal  government  ?  Albeit, 
I  had  with  me  letters  to  the  Scottish  noblemen  who  were  at  Court, 
and  was  well  acquainted  with  my  Lord  Secretary  for  Scotland,* 
his  eldest  son  having  been  my  best  beloved  scholar  at  Glasgow ; 
yet  I  did  forecast  all  the  difficulties  before  mentioned,  and,  not- 
withstanding, resolved  to  bestow  charges  and  pains  to  seek  redress, 
committing  the  event  to  him  who  is  a  King  over  kings,  and  Lord 
over  lords  and  courtiers,  who  hath  all  hearts,  mouths,  and  pens  in 
his  hand.  I  had  but  one  answer  :  "  The  king  is  the  ordinance  of 
God,  as  a  refuge  under  God  for  the  oppressed.  We  had  used  all 
other  means,  and  ought  not  to  neglect  the  highest.     If  our  desii'e 

*  Sir  William  Alexander  of  Meustrie,  afterwiirds  Earl  of  Stirling. 


1632.J  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  93 

were  granted — to  wit,  that  the  truth  of  the  information  given  to 
his  majesty  against  us  might  be  tried — we  had  gained  our  point ; 
and  if  refused,  we  had  endeavoured  our  utmost  duty ;  satisfying 
our  own  consciences,   and  refuting   them   who   say,   ordinarily^ 
They  leave  and  forsake  their  ministry.     So,  setting  forth  with 
some  merchants  who  were  to  bring  commodities  from  England, 
though  I  was  not  used  to  long  journeys,  and  they  were  yearly 
accustomed  wdth  the  like,  yet  I  endured  the  travel  much  better 
than  they.     They  wondering  that  I  never  complained,  neither  by 
day  nor  night,  which  they  often  did,  did  ascribe  the  same  to  the 
better  errand  I  was  about,  and  to  the  many  prayers  poured  out 
daily  to  God  to  prosper  my  way,  and  to  grant  me  success  therein  ; 
and,  indeed,  they  were  a  praying  people  for  whom  I  undertook 
this  labour,  praying  night  and  day  for  the  liberty  of  Gospel  ordi- 
nances.    At  my  house  two  nights  were  spent  every  week ;  and 
they  that  did  bear  chief  burden  therein  were  not  above  the  rank 
of  husbandmen,  and  yet  abounded  in  the  grace  and  spirit  of  prayer, 
as  I  found  by  experience  after  my  return,  and  spent  many  a  night 
with  them  in  that  exercise  ;  and  other  parts  were  not  short  of  this, 
but  abounded  much  more,  even  those  who  yet  enjoyed  the  benefits 
of  their  own  pastors.     Towards  the  entry  of  that  journey,  I  was 
suddenly  saluted  with  the  pain  of  the  gravel  in  my  kidneys,  while 
I  am  riding  upon  the  highway,  so  that  I  was  forced  to  stoop  and 
lie  upon  the  very  curche  of  the  saddle.     No  one  of  them  that  were 
with  me  knew  what  I  meant  in  so  doing ;  but  my  heart  cried 
earnestly  to  the  Lord,  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  spare  me  till  I 
Avas  better  accommodated  for  it.     This  was  no  sooner  spoken  than 
granted. 

Shortly  after  my  coming  to  Court,  which  then  lay  at  Greenwich, 
the  king's  progress  being  begun,  I  was  promised  by  the  Earl  of 
Stirling,  that  if  my  petition  was  sent  to  him  by  the  king,  I  should 
get  a  speedy  despatch  according  to  my  mind,  without  expense 
either  of  time  or  money.  He  promised  the  more  liberally,  because 
he  never  expected  it  would  be  sent  to  him.  But  I,  thinking  that 
the  vv'hole  difficulty  lay  therein,  bended  up  all  the  earnestness  I 


94  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1632. 

could  of  prayer  and  dexterity  of  endeavours  to  have  It  carried  so  ; 
and  so  it  was  carried.     I  liereat  was  overjoyed,  so  that  I  did 
readily  exult  and  leap  for  joy.     But  when  the  fearful  man  fainted 
in  performing  his  promise,  fearing  Bishop  Laud  more  than  God,  I 
was  much  dejected.      In  Greenwich  Park  thrice  I  fell  to  the 
ground,  praying  fervently,  though  briefly,  almost  in  the  same 
^'ords — submitting  all  my  enjoyments,  yea,  my  life  itself,  for  en- 
joying the  liberty  of  Gospel  ordinances.     And,  after  the  third 
time,  my  great  heaviness  was  removed,  my  prayer  taken  off  my 
hand,  and  (as  I  conceived)  granted,  though  I  saw  then  no  probable 
means  how  to  attain  the  same  :  but  the  thoughts  of  the  Lord  are 
not  as  our  thoughts,  but  as  the  heaven  is  higher  than  the  earth, 
so  are  his  thoughts  above  our  thoughts.     The  means,  I  thought, 
would  undo  my  business,  to  wit,  the  Secretary  of  England,  was 
the  Lord's  means  to  do  the  same ;  but  1  was  put  to  great  pains 
and  charges  in  following  the  progress  to  the  new  forest  at  Bewly, 
where  I  lay  in  the  fields  all  night,  not  without  danger  of  my  life, 
the  Lord  making  an  Irish  gentleman,  who  was  j)ut  to  the  same 
shift  with  me,  my  guard  in  the  night,  when  robbers  beset  us. 
This  time  and  place  the  Lord  made  choice  of  to  bear  through  my 
petition,  when  no  bishop  was  with  the  king  ;  yea,  his  majesty,  per- 
vising  the  draught  penned  by  the  secretary  in  answer  to  my  peti- 
tion, did  with  his  own  hand  Insert  a  clause  which  I  durst  not  peti- 
tion, viz.,  that,  if  the  information  made  to  him  proved  false,  the 
informers  should  be  punished.     This  caused  me  highly  to  commend 
the  king,  assuring  all  men  to  whom  I  had  occasion  to  speak  there- 
of, that  there  was  not  a  more  just  prince  in  all  the  earth,  he  being 
rightly  informed.    I  had  occasion,  many  years  after,  of  waiting  upon 
his  majesty  at  Newcastle,  as  the  minister  appointed  by  himself  to 
his  own  family  in  Scotland,*  to  relate  this  history  to  him,  wherein 
he  took  great  satisfaction,  and  was  thereby  put  from  a  great  pas- 
sion wherein  he  had  been  at  something  that  had  offended  him  in  a 
book  he  had  been  reading.     The  secretary's  servants  told  me  that 

*  Mr  Blair  was  appointed  King's  chaplain  in  Scotland,  after  the  death  of  Alexander 
Henderson,  in  1646. 


1G32.]  LIFE  OF  KOliERT  BLAIK.  95 

their  master  had  been  put  to  more  pains  than  in  any  particular  of 
that  kind,  and  that  his  majesty  had  taken  more  inspection  thereof 
than  of  any  such  thing  since  he  came  to  the  crown :  the  reason 
whereof  was  this,  that  being  at  the  hunting  so  far  from  London, 
he  had  no  bishop  with  him.  The  first  draught  of  the  letter  by  the 
secretary  was  to  Primate  Usher ; — to  that  he  would  not  set  his 
hand.  The  second  draught  was  to  the  lord-justice ; — neither 
would  he  sign  this.  The  secretary  marvelling,  asked  his  majesty 
to  whom  it  should  be  directed ;  the  king  answered,  "  To  Strafford." 
And  when  that  third  draught  was  presented,  then  was  inserted  the 
clause  formerly  mentioned.  Wlien  this  letter  was  delivered  to  me, 
the  Secretary  Cook  sent  me  word  he  was  sorry  that  I  was  put  to 
so  great  cost  and  pains  in  following  the  matter,  and  whereas  his  fees 
were  £5  sterling,  he  would  have  none  of  it ;  yet  my  foolish  lavish- 
ness  gave  to  his  servant  two  Jacobuses,  having  given  him  one  be- 
fore ;  so  glad  was  I  (having  but  three  pieces  besides)  to  be  gone 
with  my  answer  as  it  was  :  so  hasting  to  London,  and  thence  also 
with  the  like  haste. 

In  my  return  I  wronged  my  good  gelding,  riding  up  with  an 
English  knight  towards  Chester,  to  get  intelligence  from  him  of 
the  Swedish  success  in  Germany.  In  the  afternoon  my  horse  was 
so  beaten  with  galloping  so  much  in  the  morning,  that  I  thought 
he  was  lost.  Being  afflicted  with  this,  I  entreated  the  Lord  to  par- 
don me,  and  to  help  me  forward  in  my  journey ;  which  was  no 
sooner  done  but  the  Lord  sent  rain,  whereby  the  way  was  moist- 
ened, and  so  my  horse  did  ride  cheerfully  enough.  The  next  day, 
forgetting  myself  and  the  dependence  I  should  constantly  keep  on 
the  Lord,  I  began  foolishly  to  dote  upon  the  goodness  of  my  com- 
plexion,* whereby  I  endured  that  sore  travel  without  any  trouble ; 
but  there  passed  not  an  hour  when  I  wearied  so  much  that  I  was 
not  able  to  keep  my  cloak  upon  my  shoulders ;  and  when  I  had 
laid  it  down  upon  my  horse,  and  yet  was  not  able  to  sit  upon  my 
saddle,  then,  lighting  down,  I  tried  if  walking  would  refresh  me, 
and  not  being  able  to  walk,  my  conscience  did  upbraid  me  :  "  What 
*  Complexion, — constitutiun. 


96  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G32. 

is  now  become  of  thy  good  complexion,  whereon  thou  wast  even 
now  doting  ?  "  Upon  this  rebuke  I  drew  my  horse  to  an  advan- 
tage,* and  getting  up,  not  without  some  difficulty,  throwing  my 
cloak  over  my  face,  I  bewailed  this  folly  in  forgetting  the  God  of 
my  strength,  and  incontinent  my  weariness  evanished,  so  that  I 
went  on  my  way  cheerfully ;  and  meeting  Avith  a  sUenced  minister 
on  the  way,  by  his  conference  I  was  not  a  little  refreshed.  Also 
the  delivery  I  met  with  on  Solway  sands,  when  the  guide  cried, 
"  The  sea  is  upon  us,"  was  very  comfortable  to  me,  my  horse  out- 
riding a  nobleman  and  sundry  gentlemen's  horses,  who  were  in  the 
company.  And,  at  last,  coming  to  Dumfries,  the  Scottish  air  and 
diet  were  comfortable  to  me.  Passing  to  the  port,  I  had  a  desire 
to  visit  Mr  Kutherford  at  Anwoth,  and  Marion  M'Naught  at 
Kirkcudbright  ;t  and  not  knowing  how  to  compass  both,  when  I 
came  near  the  parting  of  the  way,  I  laid  the  bridle  upon  the  horse's 
neck,  entreating  the  Lord  to  direct  the  horse  as  he  saw  meet. 
The  horse  took  the  way  to  Kirkcudbright,  where  I  did  find  them 
both  whom  I  desired  to  see,  and  was  greatly  refreshed  with  their 
company.  The  next  day  being  a  day  of  humiliation  in  that  place, 
I  was  entreated  to  supply  the  place  of  the  aged  pastor,^  (ISIr  Ru- 
therford being  sick).  Glad  was  I  to  hear  the  notion,  having  been 
silent  for  thirteen  weeks.  So  did  I  bear  the  burden  of  that  day, 
and  was  much  refreshed  with  that  labour ;  and  thence  passed  *to 
the  port  the  next  day. 

One  thing  of  importance  hath  escaped  me  which  befell  me. 
Wliile  I  was  at  London,  towards  the  middle  of  July,  lying  at  the 
Strand,  in  the  house  of  Thomas  Livingston,  about  two  of  clock  in 
the  morning,  in  my  sleep  was  represented  to  me  my  dying  wife, 
in  aU  the  circumstances  and  persons  that  were  about  her,  when 
thereafter  it  really  came  to  pass.  Being  astonished  herewith,  I 
awakened  and  did  leap  out  of  my  bed,  putting  on  my  clothes 

*  An  advantage, — a  convenient  place  for  mounting. 

t  Of  the  celebrated  Samuel  Kutherford  it  is  needless  to  give  any  notice  here. 
Marion  M'N aught  is  one  of  those  good  women  to  whom  Rutherford  addi-esses  several 
of  his  well-known  letters. 

t  Mr  Kobcrt  Glendinning. 


1632.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  97 

quickly,  that  I  might  pour  out  my  heart  in  prayer,  but  first  laid 
hold  upon  my  bible,  and  purposing  to  turn  to  my  ordinary  reading 
to  see  what  the  Lord  therein  woidd  say  to  me,  the  book  opened 
in  the  Prophecy  of  Ezekiel,  and  mine  eyes  presently  fell  upon 
these  words :  "  Son  of  man,  I  take  from  thee  with  a  stroke  the 
pleasure  of  thine  eyes ;  but  thou  shalt  neither  weep,  mourn,  nor 
lament."     And  presently,  shutting  the  book,  I  said,  "  It  is  enough. 
What  the  Lord  showed  me  in  my  sleep,  as  by  a  vision,  now,  by 
his  own  Word,  he  speaks  to  me,  being  wakened."     And  presently 
kneeling  down,  I  humbly  craved  of  the  Lord  submission,  patience, 
and  comfort  under  his  correcting  hand ;  for  I  supposed  the  thing 
had  been  actually  done  when  it  was  so  vively  *  represented  unto 
me.     After  prayer,  my  spirit  was  calmed,  quieted,  and  somewhat 
comforted.    My  Lord  could  do  me  no  wrong,  and  would  do  me  no 
harm,  and  would  make  aU  things  Avork  together  to  advance  my 
happiness.     So  the  following  of  my  business  calling  me  that  day 
to  Oatlands,  where  the  Court  lay,  while  my  horse  was  made  ready, 
^  and '  I  got  out  of  the  city,  aU  was  kept  quiet  within  me ;  but 
when  I  came  to  the  highway,  my  sorrows  were  renewed,  and  the 
bitterness  of  my  mind  increased  upon  this  ground,  that  I  had  made 
an  idol  of  a  gracious  companion,  and  had  so  provoked  the  Lord, 
in  removing  her  to  himself,  to  smite  me  so  grievously.     When  I 
had  spent  above  two  hours  riding  slowly,  and  mourning  with  a 
covered  face,  this  was  suggested  to  me  as  sensibly  as  if  an  audible 
voice  had  spoken :  "  The  person  thou  lamentest  is  neither  dead 
nor  sick ;  but  the  Lord  hath  shown  to  thee  what  he  is  to  do  in 
due  time.     Hereby  I  was  still  and  settled  for  the  present.     If  any 
of  my  relations,  reading  these  things,  shall  stumble,  that  both  now 
and  heretofore  I  have  mentioned  what  hath  been  revealed  to  me 
of  events  to  come,  seeing  revelations  are  now  ceased,  and  we  are  to 
stick  close  to  the  revealed  wiU  of  God  in  the  Scriptures,  for  their 
satisfaction  I  answer  as  follows :  That  if  an  angel  from  heaven 
should  reveal  anything  contrary  to  the  Scriptures,  or  offer  to  add 
anything  to  that  perfect  rule  of  faith  and  manners,  he  ought  to  be 

*  Viveli/,  vividly. 


98  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1632. 

accursed,  and  much  more  if  any  man  on  earth  should  offer  to  do 
the  same.  This  accursed  way  of  revelation  we  leave  to  Papists 
and  other  sectaries.  But,  in  the  meantime,  it  ought  not  to  be  de- 
nied that  the  Lord  is  pleased  sometimes,  to  his  servants,  especially 
in  a  suffering  condition,  to  reveal  some  events  concerning  them- 
selves and  that  part  of  the  Church  of  God  wherein  they  live ;  in- 
numerable examples  whereof  might  be  produced,  and  not  a  few 
^vithin  this  same  land;  as  to  the  blessed  martyr  Wishart,  Mr 
Knox,  Mr  Davidson,  Mr  Welsh,  and  Mr  Patrick  Simson  of  Stir- 
ling. This  I  wi'ite  under  protestation  that  I  compare  not  myself 
with  these  I  have  now  mentioned. 

But  now,  to  return  to  where  I  left, — passing  the  sea  quickly  and 
prosperously,  I  landed  within  the  parish  of  Bangor,  Avhere  I  was 
received  with  great  joy,  especially  when  they  heard  that  I  had 
brought  with  me  a  just  and  favourable  letter  from  the  king's  ma- 
jesty. The  poUticians,  who  had  censured  my  going  as  vain  and 
to  no  purpose,  were  silent,  and  thought  there  was  something  in  it 
that  they  understood  not ;  but  godly  people  were  saddened  for 
this,  that  he  to  whom  the  letter  was  directed  was  yet  in  England 
and  not  like  to  come  over  in  haste  ;  and,  indeed,  he  came  not  for 
almost  a  twelvemonth.  And  yet  this  was  no  loss  to  us,  but  rather 
advantage ;  for  this  letter,  though  it  did  not  take  off  the  sentence, 
yet  did  weaken  the  same,  putting  the  matter  to  a  new  trial,  so 
that  we  went  on  teaching  our  people ;  only,  pi'oiJter  formam,  I 
went  not  up  to  the  pulpit,  but  stood  by  the  precentor. 

At  last  that  magnificent  lord  *  coming  over  to  that  government, 

*  This  was  Wentwortli,  aftenvards  Earl  of  Strafford,  who  was  at  this  time  appointed 
Lord  Lieutenant  of  Irehind.  Stewart  describes  him  as  "  a  man  of  mighty  state  and 
wit,  but  exceeding  perv^erse  against  all  godliness  and  the  professors  thereof." — Wodroiv 
MSS.,  IxxT.,  3.  The  Scottish  settlers  in  Ireland  do  not  appear  to  have  been  troubled 
for  nonconformity  till  his  time.  Little  did  Blair  know,  when  he  applied  to  him  for 
relief,  the  character  of  the  man  with  whom  he  had  to  deal.  Proud,  -sindictive,  and 
tyrannical,  he  had  now  commenced  those  intolerant  proceedings  for  can-j-ing  into 
execution  the  plan,  formed  by  Laud,  of  crushing  nonconfomiity,  and  assimilating  the 
Church  of  Ireland  to  that  of  England,  which  issued  in  his  being  aiTaigned  for  high 
treason  before  the  English  Parliament,  and  beheaded  on  Towerlull,  May  12,  1641,  in 
the  forty-ninth  year  of  his  age. 


1632.]  LIFE  OF  ROBEKT  BLAIR.  99 

I  went  to  Dublin  and  delivered  his  majesty's  letter,  which  he 
utterly  slighted,  telling  me  that  he  had  his  master's  mind  in  his 
bosom ;  he  reviled  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  menaced  me  to 
come  to  my  right  wits,  and  then  I  should  be  regarded.  I,  per- 
ceiving the  violence  and  rage  of  the  man  *  (which  he  thereafter 
excused  to  be  affected,  and  not  real,  to  draw  forth  the  pride  of  a 
Puritan),  came  no  more  to  him,  but  went  to  that  learned  man  often 
mentioned,  Primate  Usher,  who,  when  he  heard  how  that  lofty 
man  had  answered  the  king's  letter  and  abused  me,  his  eyes  wa- 
tered for  sorrow. 

I,  returning,  found  our  friends  celebrating  the  supper  of  the 
Lord,  who  were  exceedingly  grieved  that  the  king's  letter  had  no 
other  effect.  Yet  the  hard  usage  I  met  with  had  some  good  effect ; 
for,  after  some  space,  that  wise  and  generous  man,  Sir  Andrew 
Stewart,  t  making  a  visit  to  the  lord-deputy,  commending  his 
other  actings,  convinced  him  that  he  had  not  done  well  to  use  so 
roughly  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  bringing  his  majesty's  letter. 
Further,  he  inquired  if  that  man's  carriage  had  provoked  him. 
The  lord-deputy  confessed  that  the  man's  usage  had  been  very 
modest,  humble  and  courteous.  "  But  now,"  saith  he,  "  let  us  help 
it  the  best  way  we  may ; "  and  so,  according  to  the  advice  of  the 
said  noble  Sir  Andrew,  he  -wrote  to  the  Bishop  of  Down,  That  he 
was  pleased  to  grant  us  a  time,  to  wit,  six  months.     This  came 


*  "  The  inofoice  and  rage  of  the  man." — ^Wodrow  has  supplemented  this  vAih  a  curi- 
ous piece  of  informatiou :  "  Mr  John  M'Bride  told  me,  that  he  had  it  fi-om  unques- 
tionable hands,  that  Mr  Robert  Blair,  after  he  had  gone  to  Court,  and  procured  the 
king's  letter  to  the  Deputy,  Strafford,  (of  which  see  liis  Life),  came  to  Strafford  with 
it,  who  stormed  and  rugged  at  it,  and  fell  a-cursing  and  swearing  before  Mr  Blair.  Mr 
Blair,  with  a  great  deal  of  authority  and  majesty,  and  a  cheerful  countenance,  with 
his  eyes  lift  up  to  heaven,  said,  '  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord ! '  which  so  stnick 
the  deputy,  that  he  turned  silent." — Wod.  Anakct.,  i.,  127. 

t  Sir  Andrew  Stewart,  aftenvards  Lord  Castlestewart,  a  zealous  patron  of  the  Presby- 
teiians  and  Nonconfonnists  in  Ireland.  Straffbi'd  writes  of  him  to  the  king  in  1C38  as 
"  an  absolute  Separatist,  which  moA'es  not  me  to  hke  him  the  better,"  and  not  far 
from  "  signing  and  swearing  their  covenant,  if  he  were  in  place."  "  The  heir-apparent 
of  this  ancient  title,"  says  Dr  Reid,  "  has  latterly  embraced  the  Roman  Catholic  vc- 
ligion — a  sad  apostacy  from  the  faith  of  his  Irish  ancestors." — History  of  the  Preshy- 
terian  Church  in  Ireland,  i.,  177. 

g2 


100  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  1634.] 

when  all  our  hopes  were  gone.  *  The  first  that  told  me  of  it,  who 
had  heard  the  letter  read  at  Antrim,  I  thought  him  dnmk,  when 
the  man  was  fasting — he  used  so  great  diligence  to  come  to  me. 
After  this  for  three  nights  I  slept  not  at  all.  The  first  of  these 
nights  was  wholly  spent  in  admiration ;  the  second  in  praises 
to  God,  with  such  of  my  charge  as  used  solemnly  to  pray  with 
me  ;  the  third  (the  letter  being  now  delivered,  and  we  fomially 
iree  to  act  our  public  ministry),  I  coidd  not  rest,  remembering 
that  the  next  day  was  the  ordinary  day  of  my  lecture  at  Bangor, 
and  I  was  then  distant  from  it  fourteen  miles,  or  thereabout. 
So  I  arose,  and  stole  away  from  the  rest ;  but  ere  I  could  reach 
Bangor,  there  was  there  assembled  a  great  congregation,  not  only 
of  my  own  flock,  but  out  of  neighbouring  parishes  also.  They  all 
being  overjoyed,  the  sermon  I  preached  laid  a  profitable  weight  on 
their  hearts,  preaching  on  the  words  of  Hezekiah :  "  What  shall  I 
say  ?  he  hath  both  spoken  unto  me,  and  himself  hath  done  it ;  I 
shall  go  softly  all  my  years  in  the  bitterness  of  my  soul." — Isa. 
xxxviii.  15. 

I  cannot  here  omit  what  Mr  Josias  Welsh  told  me  as  we  were 
coming  the  night  before  from  the  bishop's  house.  "  Now,"  says  he, 
"  I  remember  what  your  blessed  wife"  (for  six  months  before  that 
she  was  perfected,  ending  directly  as  was  showed  to  me,  sixteen 
months,  at  London  in  the  Strand)  "  told  me  at  Bangor,  when,  in 
your  absence  at  London,  I  did  visit  her.  After  some  other 
speeches,  she  uttered  these  words  :  '  Let  none  who  call  upon  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  doubt  but  all  of  you  who  are  now  silenced  shall 
have  your  full  liberty  to  preach  in  your  owti  pulpits ;  but  (said 
she)  it  Avill  be  but  for  a  short  time.'  I  then  (said  he)  was  offended 
at  her  peremptory  words,  knowing  her  otherwise  to  be  most 
modest ;  but  now  I  perceive  she  knew  more  of  the  mind  of  God 
than  we  did."  I  told  him  that,  before  she  sickened,  she  was  fore- 
warned that  her  end  was  come,  and  sickened  the  next  day.  This 
laid  a  weight  upon  me,  that  so  fervent  a  supplicant  had  not  seen 
the  event  which  she  foretold  to  him.  But  this  I  quickly  coiTected, 
*  On  the  margin—"  May,  1634." 


1634.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  lOl 

with  the  consideration  of  her  far  more  glorious  enjoyment.  Mr 
Welsh  did  find  the  truth  of  that  prediction  quickly  in  himself;  for 
he,  preaching  a  few  sermons  in  his  own  pulpit,  '  came  to  his  blessed 
rest.'  * 

The  six  months  granted  to  us  were,  through  God's  blessing, 
well  improven,  and  the  people  made  more  progress  in  the  ways  of 
God  than  ever  before.  Wliat  joy  there  was  when  the  four  silenced 
ministers  preached  together  at  the  monthly  meeting,  can  hardly 
be  expressed.  And  when  the  time  was  well  near  expired,  that  excel- 
lent gentleman,  who  before  was  instrumental,  had  procured  a  new 
prorogation  for  other  six  months,  the  warrant  whereof  was  come 
to  my  hands  ;  but  that  violent  man.  Bishop  Bramhall  f  of  Deny, 
with  all  importunity  extorting  from  me  a  dispute  about  kneeling 
in  receiving  the  Lord's  supper,  (wherein  he  succumbed  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  conform  clergy,  denying  that  the  Papists  were  idola- 
ters in  adoring  the  host  in  the  mass),  procured  from  the  lord-de- 
puty the  recalling  of  his  second  letter ;  and  so  all  hopes  of  longer 
liberty  were  cut  off.  We  closed  with  solemn  celebrating  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  supper,  and  delivered  up  our  peoj)le  to  the 
great  Bishop  of  our  souls,  from  whom  we  had  received  our  charge. 
And  being  convened  the  third  time,  we  received  a  sentence  of 
deposition ;  at  which  time  I  cited  the  Bishop  '  Echlin '  to  appear 
before  the  tribunal  of  Jesus  Christ  to  answer  for  that  wicked  deed.| 

*  Row  has,  instead  of  these  ■words,  an  "  &c."  Wodrow  says :  "  The  words  which 
follow  came  in  the  original,  being  interlined  and  confused  a  little  with  the  heads  of 
other  letters,  and  the  -write  being  old  and  paper  bad,  can  hardly  be  read,  but  seem  to 
be  these  :  '  to  his  blessed  rest.'  " 

t  Bramhall  was  Straiford's  domestic  chaplain  when  he  came  over  to  Ireland,  but 
was  promoted  to  the  bishopric  of  Deny,  in  the  room  of  the  learned  and  pious  Do\vii- 
ham.  He  was  a  man  of  talents  and  acquirements,  but  such  a  violent  Churcliman,  and 
so  like  Laud  in  his  temper,  that  Cromwell  styled  him  "  The  Canterbury  of  Ireland." 
When  the  venerable  Bishop  Bedell  proposed  the  scheme,  which  lay  so  near  his  heart, 
of  instructing  the  native  Irish  through  the  medium  of  their  own  tongue,  Bramhall 
opposed  the  measure,  maintaining  that  tlie  Irish  were  "  a  barbarous  and  degi-aded 
people,  unworthy  and  incapable  of  instruction." 

J  A  full  account  of  the  proceedings  will  be  found  in  Dr  Reid's  Uistory  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  in  Ireland,  i.,  185,  186.  Nothing  very  striking  occurred  till  the  con- 
clusion, when,  on  the  bishop  urging  him  to  appeal  from  him,  Blair  said :  "  Well,  see- 
ing ye  so  much  urge  upon  appellation,  I  will  appeal  indeed ;  and  hereby  I  do  appeal 
to  the  tribunal  of  Christ  my  Lord,  to  whom  I  labour  to  be  faithful ;  and  there  I  cite 


102  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1634. 

To  which  he  replied,  "  I  appeal  from  justice  to  mercy."  "  But," 
said  I,  "  your  appellation  is  like  to  be  rejected,  seeing  you  act 
against  the  light  of  your  conscience."  Shortly  thereafter  he  sick- 
ened; and  when  the  physician,  Dr  Maxwell,  came  to  him,  and 
inquired  what  ailed  him,  he  was  long  silent  (as  also  he  had  been 
silent  for  many  days  before  he  took  bed)  ;  and  at  last  with  great 
difficulty  he  uttered  these  words :  "  It's  my  conscience,  man." 
To  which  the  doctor  replied :  "  I  have  no  cure  for  that."  This 
report  the  doctor  made  to  the  old  Viscount  of  Airds,  who  dis- 
charged him  to  report  the  same  to  any  other.  But  his  daughter- 
in-law,  the  Lady  Viscountess  of  Airds,  *  yet  living,  being  then 
and  there  present  when  the  doctor  made  the  report,  replied :  "  No 
man  shall  get  that  report  suppressed ;  for  I  shall  bear  witness  of  it 
to  the  glory  of  God,  who  did  smite  that  man  for  suppressing  of 
Christ's  witnesses." 

you  to  appear,  that  you  may  answer  for  your  ill  deeds  of  this  kind,  and  for  what  ye 
are  now  going  to  do." 

*  This  Viscountess  of  Airds  was  Lady  Jane  Alexander,  daughter  of  William  Alex- 
ander, first  Earl  of  Stirling,  whom  Blair  mentions  before  as  the  Secretary  for  Scottish 
Aifairs.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  the  second  Viscount  Airds,  or  Lord  Mont- 
gomery, she  man-ied  Major-Gen eral  Monro,  for  several  years  commander  of  the  Scot- 
tish forces  in  Ulster,  after  the  rebellion  of  16il.  She  died  in  1670. — Reicfs  History  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Ireland,  i.,  p.  186. 


1634.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  103 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

CONTAINING  SOME  ESSAYS  IN  ORDER  TO  GET  LEAVE  TO  PREACH 
THE  GOSPEL— HIS  DISAPPOINTMENT  THEREIN AND  UNDER- 
TAKING WITH  SEVERAL  OTHERS  A  VOYAGE  TO  AMERICA. 

Having  tlius  essayed  all  lawful  means  to  enjoy  the  liberty  of  the 
ministry  in  the  stations  wherein  we  had  been,  and  all  endeavours 
failing,  I  thought  good  to  try  what  might  be  done  in  a  more  pri- 
vate way ;  and  knowing  that  there,  farther  up  the  country,  lands 
might  be  had  at  a  very  easy  rate,  by  laying  out  two  or  three  hun- 
dred pounds  sterling  in  the  hands  of  some  landlord ;  and  not  doubt- 
ing but  industrious  people  would  follow  me  to  labour  the  same,  I 
resolved  to  go  two  days'  journey  to  try  what  might  be  done  that 
way ;  and  that  so  much  the  more,  because  even  some  of  those  who 
had  a  hand  in  oppressing  me,  sent  me  word,  that  if  I  would  accept 
a  benefice  within  the  bounds  of  a  British  plantation,  they  would 
be  so  far  from  envying  it,  that  they  woidd  be  instrumental  in  pro- 
curing of  it.  To  these  I  answered,  that  I  was  not  solicitous  of  a 
benefice ;  that  if  I  might  be  permitted  in  a  remote  place  to  preach 
to  a  few  persons  who  would  follow  me,  I  hoped,  through  God's 
blessing  upon  my  private  means  and  industry,  to  subsist  comfort- 
ably enough.  But  I  heard  no  more  of  that  motion  from  them. 
Yet  I  determined  to  hold  on  my  intended  jom'ney ;  but  the  only 
wise  God,  who  foresaw  the  murder  and  massacre  that  was  to  be 


104  LIFE  OF  KOEERT  BLAIR.  [1635. 

committed  ere  long,  made  all  these  parts  I  did  look  upon  so  despi- 
cable in  my  eyes  (though  reaUy  the  land  was  good,  and  seemed  so 
to  myself,  having  been  once  there  before),  that  if  I  woidd  freely 
have  never  so  much  thereof  I  would  not  have  accepted  the  same. 
There,  Avhere  I  was  not  known,  on  Saturday  at  night,  coming  where 
a  parson  had  been  very  busy  gathering  in  his  teinds,  mine  host 
said,  "  I  would  do  weU  to  help  the  parson  to-morrow ;"  to  whom  I 
answered,  "  If  the  parson  himself  did  invite  me,  I  would  not  refuse 
him."  And  so  being  invited  by  him,  I  promised ;  and  hearing  that 
they  were  accustomed  only  to  one  sermon,  when  I  ended  my  ser- 
mon in  the  forenoon,*  I  told  them  that  I  reserved  the  rest  of  the 
matter  till  the  afternoon.  Both  the  people  and  parson  came  and 
heard  attentively ;  yea,  some  of  the  people  blessed  God  heartily. 
But  the  parson  was  afraid,  when  he  heard  thereafter  that  I  was 
silenced ;  so  I  perceived  that  the  Lord's  design  in  that  journey 
was  that  some  souls  should  be  edified. 

After  this,  considering  how  precious  a  thing  the  public  liberty  of 
pure  ordinances  was,  I  thought  it  no  wonder  that  many  of  the 
English  nation  were  adventuring  to  America,  and  thought  it  a 
course  worth  the  following.  And  opening  my  mind  to  John  Liv- 
ingston and  Mr  John  M'LeUan,  and  some  worthy  persons,  inconti- 
nent a  considerable  number  appeared  who  offered  to  adventure 
with  us  ;  yea,  John  Stewart,  provost  of  Ayr,  assured  us  to  be  part- 
ner with  us.  The  Lord  also  raised  up  the  spirits  of  some  to  be  at 
the  charges  of  building  a  considerable  ship,  providing  that  I  would 
put  in  for  a  small  part  thereof.  While  we  were  upon  our  prepara- 
tions, I  having  the  charge  of  three  motherless  children,  and  going 
to  a  new  plantation,  found  it  expedient  to  look  after  a  wife  fit  for 
me  and  that  undertaking,  and  presenting  the  matter  before  the 
Lord  often,  he  made  choice  to  me  of  one  who  was  the  daughter  of 
a  godly  mother,  having  six  elder  sisters  already  married,  all  in  re- 
putation for  godliness,  herself  being  of  good  report,  and  no  stranger 

*  The  copy  from  which  we  have  transcribed  wants  what  follows  from  tliis  to  the  end 
of  the  chapter.  The  omission  is  supplied  from  a  copy  among  the  Wodrow  MSS.,  vol., 
xviii.,  (juarto,  no.  8,  pp.  CO-63,  which  was  collated  with  the  original  MS. 


1635.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  105 

to  me,  having  received  the  word  of  God  often  from  my  mouth,  and 
conferred  with  me  privately  when  there  was  no  such  design  or 
occasion.  Thereafter,  I  found  her  a  lover  rather  of  the  substance 
than  show  of  religion,  of  whom  I  now  say  no  more  than  that  the 
Lord  gave  to  me  by  her  nine  sons  and  a  daughter. 

About  that  time  there  came  to  us  an  English  gentleman,  whose 
name  was  Mr  Winthrop,  from  New  England.  This  understanding 
gentleman  being  the  son  of  the  governor  of  that  plantation  to 
which  we  intended  to  join  ourselves,  was  a  man  of  excellent  parts, 
being  a  great  traveller,  not  only  in  the  west  but  in  the  eastern  parts 
of  the  world  also — this  man,  I  say,  did  earnestly  invite  and  greatly 
encourage  us  to  prosecute  our  intended  voyage.  The  godly  peo- 
ple in  these  parts,  as  many  as  were  hopeful  possibly  to  follow  us, 
were  glad ;  but  others,  whom  either  poverty  or  the  backwardness 
of  the  company  they  were  tied  to  made  utterly  hopeless,  were  very 
sad.  Among  these  a  gracious  woman,  married  to  a  gross  churl, 
grieved  so  exceedingly  that  she  could  neither  enjoy  the  means 
wherein  her  life  was  laid  up,  nor  yet  had  hope  to  follow  the  same ; 
one  morning  pouring  out  her  heart  to  God,  pathetically  declared 
her  desire  to  be  dissolved,  and  was  answered  inwardly :  "  Then 
come  away  to  me ;  thou  shalt  be  welcome."  Hereupon  sending 
for  her  most  familiar  friends,  she  joyfully  told  them.  Speaking  in 
parables  (which  was  her  grave  ordinary  way  of  expression),  she 
said,  I  am  sent  for  to  the  court,  the  King  hath  sent  for  me ;  I  loathe 
the  country  life,  I  can  live  no  longer  here  away ;  I  sent  for  you  to 
take  leave  of  you."  Pier  gladness  made  them  very  sad ;  for  her 
society  was  very  upstirring  and  delectable.  She  set  all  things  in 
order  in  the  house,  and  by  that  time  was  sick  enough  for  her  bed. 
The  hearing  of  this  drew  many  to  visit  her ;  to  whom  she  dis- 
coursed excellently,  night  and  day.  At  this  time  I  was  absent, 
attending  that  rare  gentleman  now  mentioned.  The  young  Clrris- 
tians,  waiting  upon  her  that  was  sick  of  love,  had  no  mind  to  re- 
strain their  speech  till  an  ancient  Christian  warned  them  of  the 
danger  thereof,  which  shortly  thereafter  appeared.  She  who  had 
been  sailing  with  a  prosperous  wind  and  a  full  pressed  sail,  for 


106  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1635. 

ordinary  rejoicing  in  Christ,  and  delighting  to  walk  in  his  way, 
having  then  spoken  much  and  bled  very  much,  did  meet  with  such 
a  tempest  of  temptation  as  for  the  present  time  seemed  to  over- 
whelm and  overthrow  her ;  so  that  for  a  time  she  was  like  a  giddy 
traveller,  who,  mistaking  the  airts,  turns  to  the  west  for  the  east ; 
but  she  returned  to  her  former  stability  ere  I  could  reach  her. 
And  after  that,  for  two  days  and  a  night,  I  being  still  with  her,  she 
had  for  every  hour  a  new  combat,  declaring  to  me  the  assault,  the 
wrestling  against  it  and  the  victory  over  the  same.  And  so  I  saw 
in  that  very  precious  person,  after  a  constant  and  well-grounded 
peace  for  several  years,  without  any  considerable  interruj^tion,  in 
end  a  fierce  fight,  in  the  beginning  whereof  the  adversary,  taking 
the  advantage  of  her  long  speaking  and  empty  brain,  foiled  her 
lamentably.  But  in  the  progress  of  that  bickering,  she  obtained 
as  many  victories  still,  by  the  dint  of  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  the 
Word  of  God,  as  she  lived  hours,  and  finally  was  foughten  into  the 
very  gates  of  heaven,  where  she  obtained  the  full  and  final  victory. 

While  the  ship  is  a-building,  my  wife,  big  with  her  first  child, 
was  desirous  to  see  the  vessel,  and  finding  a  deep  step  as  we  came, 
we  were  advised  to  return  to  our  lodging  by  another  way.  Pass- 
ing through  the  river  at  a  ford  we  had  not  tried  before,  we  met 
with  a  type  of  our  future  voyage,  and  hardly  escaping,  obtained  a 
great  delivery.  In  the  middle  of  the  river,  the  ground  proving 
false,  the  hinder  part  of  the  gelding  fell  down  in  a  hole,  so  that 
she  was  set  down  upon  the  water,  and  though  both  the  current 
of  the  river,  the  ebb,  and  the  wind  were  all  one  way,  yet  the  Lord 
fixed  her  till  I  spurred  out  the  horse,  leapt  down  from  him,  and 
so  laid  hold  on  her  riding  skirt,  which  had  it  been  but  one  inch 
farther  distant,  she  had  gone  down,  and  I,  in  rescuing,  had  likely 
followed ;  but  the  Lord  brought  us  safely  through,  and  no  harm 
followed  thereon. 

We  had  sent  two  of  our  number,  a  minister  and  a  gentleman,  to 
go  from  the  west  of  England  to  try  that  land,  and  to  bring  us  a 
certain  report ;  but  the  one  of  them  trying  the  sea  a  little,  and  ad- 
vismg  thereafter  with  a  physician,  was  scared  from  pursuing  the 


163G.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  107 

matter  any  further.  Yet,  upon  the  reports  they  brought  us,  we 
continued  our  preparations.  But  ere  the  ship  and  all  things  were 
ready,  not  only  the  spring,  the  fittest  time  to  set  forth,  but  the 
most  of  the  summer  was  spent ;  and  when  we  set  forth,  a  faint- 
hearted master  did  find  out  shifts  to  delay  us,  first  affirming  that 
we  wanted  some  necessary  cordage,  for  which  we  behoved  to  run 
over  to  Loch  Ryan  in  Scotland.  While  we  were  there,  we  saw 
Bishop  Sydserf  coming  from  Wigton,  where  he  had  deposed  Mr 
Rutherford,  and  fined  and  confined  Earlston  and  some  other  gentle- 
men. This  gave  all  Scotland  an  alarm ;  for  now  every  bishop, 
having  got  up  a  High  Commission,  with  a  small  quorum  of  their 
own  creatures,  could,  in  one  harvest  (for  no  time  was  excepted), 
fine  and  confine  at  their  pleasure  (no  limits  being  set  to  them),  in 
an  arbitrary  way,  the  lieges  throughout  the  whole  kingdom.  This 
was  the  preamble  of  the  great  troubles  that  after  followed. 

The  cordage  being  gotten,  the  faint-hearted  man  pretending 
there  was  a  dangerous  leak  in  the  ship,  prevailed  with  us  to  go  to 
the  Kyles  of  Bute,  there  to  search  our  leak.  But  there  we  per- 
ceived the  leak  was  in  himself.  The  Lord's  intent  was  that  some 
people  there,  in  Bute  and  Cowan,  should  hear  the  Word  of  God 
from  us,  where  also  we  received  from  them  the  best  commodities 
afforded — as  apples,  honey,  and  the  best  sort  of  bread  they  had. 
Our  ship  was  here  put  so  fast  on  ground  that  for  sundiy  days  she 
did  not  float.  This  being  done  by  the  treachery  of  the  master,  we 
therefore  dismissed  him,  having  another  more  experienced  than  he 

to  take  the  charge.     So  at  last  the  time  being  far  spent,  the 

day  of  August,  we  thence  set  forth,  being  in  all,  beside  their 
sailors,  about  one  hundred  and  forty,  having  beside  our  sea  pro- 
vision, two  years'  victual  for  the  land.  In  the  entry,  we  met  with 
this  discouragement,  a  deal  of  our  bread  not  weU  baken  was  spoiled, 
so  that  we  behoved  to  cast  it  overboard.  We  were  so  eager  for 
our  purpose,  for  which  we  had  prayed  so  much,  that  we  could  not, 
or  rather,  would  not,  see  the  Lord  crossing  our  designs. 

Having,  through  calmness,  hardly  passed  the  sound  of  Ratchly 
in  the  Mull  of  Kintyre,  the  Lord  sent  us  a  fair  and  strong  gale  of 


108  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1636. 

wind  for  many  days.  When  we  had  passed  the  back  of  Ireland 
and  entered  the  great  ocean,  O  what  mountains,  not  waves,  of  sea 
did  we  meet !  The  swellings  of  the  sea  did  rise  higher  than  any 
mountains  we  had  seen  on  the  earth,  so  that  in  the  mid-day  they 
hid  the  sun  from  our  sight.  Then  fell  I  sick,  being  troubled  with 
a  great  thirst,  so  that  I  could  eat  nothing  but  wasted  apples,  till 
at  last  some  of  our  company  persuaded  me,  holding  me  by  the  arms 
to  visit  all  the  passengers  in  their  several  quarters.  In  one  of 
them  I  was  urged  to  take  some  stomach  water,  which,  through 
God's  blessing,  proved  effectual  for  my  health. 


THE  END  OF  BLAIR  S  AUTOBIOGRAPHY. 


SUPPLEMENT 


BY 


MR  WILLIAM  ROW. 


SUPPLEMENT, 


ADDED  TO  THAT  PART  OF  THE  HISTORY  OF  MR  BLAIR'S  LIFE 
WHICH  WAS  WRITTEN  BY  HIMSELF,  COMPILED  BY  MR  WILLIAM 
ROW,  HIS  SON-IN-LAW,  ANNO  1676,  TEN  YEARS  AFTER  HIS 
DEATH,  CONTAINING  THE  HISTORY  OF  HIS  LIFE,  (WHICH  MAY 
BE  CALLED  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  TIMES,  ESPECIALLY  FROM  THE 
YEAR  1643),  UNTO  THE  DAY  OF  HIS  DEATH,  ANNO  1666, 
AUGUST  27th,  WITH  CONTINUATION  OF  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE 
TIMES  AFTER  MR  BLAIR'S  DEATH. 


PART  I. 

This  length  the  Author  proceeded  Avriting  these  brief  notes,  record- 
mg  the  most  remarkable  passages  of  divine  providence,  and  thank- 
fully acknowledging  God's  fatherly  leading  him  in  all  the  most 
difficult  paths  of  his  life  and  pilgrimage.  But  he  being  prevented, 
first  by  sickness,  and  shortly  thereafter  by  death,  in  the  year  1666, 
the  only  wise  God  thought  it  not  meet  that  he  should  write  the 
History  of  the  rest  of  his  life,  but  that  it  should  be  done  by  some 
of  his  near  relations,  though  do  it  who  wiU,  it  will  be  very  unlike, 
yea,  and  evil  suited  to  that  which  is  written  by  himself,  even  as 
the  writer  of  the  Supplement,  either  his  head  or  heart,  is  as  different 
from  the  author's,  as  his  Supplement,  from  that  which  was  done  by 
himself.  Yet  though  the  reader  should  cry  out,  this  evil  suited 
Supplement  is  like  that  of  the  Poet's  "  Humano  capiti  cervicem 
equinam  jungere,"  &c.,  still  in  great  weakness,  but  iu  some  measure 


112  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1623. 

of  sincerity  according  to  my  information,  first,  and  thereafter  to 
my  observation  and  certain  knowledge,  I  write  the  History  of  the 
rest  of  my  father-in-law  his  life. 

He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Irvine,  in  the  year  1593.  His 
father  was  John  Blair,  a  gentleman  living  in  the  town  of  Irvine, 
son  to  Alexander  Blair,  the  good-man  of  Windyedge,  who  was 
brother-german  to  the  laird  of  Blair,  so  that  Mr  Blair  was  in  near 
relation  to  the  ancient  and  honest  family  of  that  illc.  His  father 
had  four  sons,  the  eldest,  John  Blair,  provost  of  Irvine  ;  the  second, 
James  Blair,  provost  of  Irvine  ;  the  third,  Mr  William  Blair, 
minister  of  Dumbarton  ;  the  youngest  was  the  author,  Robert 
Blair.  His  mother  was  Bessie  Muir,  out  of  the  ancient  and 
honourable  family  of  Kowallan,  which  is  the  cause  that  James 

Blair,  her  grandchild,  present  provost  of  Irvine,  1677  * 

****** 

The  time  of  his  life  may  be  divided  into  six  periods.  The  first 
period  is  from  his  birth,  anno  1593,  to  the  twentieth  year  of  his 
age,  when  he  was  laureated  in  the  College  of  Glasgow,  anno  1613. 
In  that  first  period  is  declared  how  the  Lord  very  graciously,  yea, 
early,  began  his  good  work  (Phil.  i.  6),  in  him,  and  how  it  was 
carried  on,  (moving  him  by  his  own  good  Spirit  to  communicate 
in  the  twelfth  year  of  his  age),  notwithstanding  of  obstructions  and 
some  interruptions  in  that  period ;  and  surely  that  wit  were  more 
than  ordinary  weak  and  sinfully  censorious  that  would  carp  at  his 
observing  and  recording  these  obstructions  and  interruptions  of  the 
good  work  so  early  begun  by  his  early  sins  and  the  out-breaking 
now  and  then  of  nature's  corruption,  considering  how  he  was 
moved  thereto  by  Augustine's  example,  and  what  excellent  use  he 
makes  thereof  for  our  edification. 

The  second  period  of  his  life  is  from  his  entering  into  his  charge 
in  the  school  of  Glasgow,  to  his  going  to  Ireland  and  entering  into 
his  ministry  at  Bangor,  anno  1623.  This  period  has  many  re- 
markable things,  First,  it's  declared  how  the  work  of  God,  not 
only  the  profession,  but  the  power  of  religion  was  spread  over  the 
*  A  line  and  two  words  are  here  quite  illegible. 


1623.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  113 

north  country,  especially  by  Mr  Cunningham,  by  the  powerful 
preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and  the  Lord's  inward  exercising  of 
discipline  upon  consciences  by  the  work  of  his  own  Spirit  backing 
the  preaching  of  the  Word  by  honest  unconform  and  anti-prelatic 
men ;  while  bishops  and  conformists,  idle  shepherds  under  them, 
did  neither  faithfully  preach  the  word,  nor  exercise  outward  dis- 
cipline ;  apostacy  and  persecution  then  growing,  especially  after 
Perth  Assembly,  which  was  anno  1618.  Secondly,  Most  remark- 
able is  that  most  edifying  and  heart-searching  discourse,  page  21  to 
page  35,  which  may  be  called  one  of  Mr  Blair's  Michtams*  wherein 
is  declared  how  the  Lord  carried  on  towards  a  perfection  his  good 
work  in  him,  by  gradual  outbreakings  of  practical  gospel  light,  and 
gradual  outlettings  of  gospel  grace  ;  where,  take  notice  (that  I  may 
gather  some  few  of  the  top  flowers  of  that  rich  garland,  a  few  of  the 
berries  of  that  saj)py  cluster).  First,  How  he  was  made  to  see,  and 
humbly  to  acknowledge  how  he  was  strengthened  with  might  in  his 
inner  man,  to  walk  and  go  in  the  ways  of  God,  according  to  the 
riches  of  his  glory.  Secondly,  How  he  was  taught  to  make  use  of 
Christ,  not  only  as  our  High  Priest  made  of  God,  to  be  our  righteous- 
ness, for  our  justification ;  but  also  to  make  use  of  Christ  as  our  king 
for  sanctification,  being  made  of  God  to  be  our  sanctification  as 
well  as  our  righteousness.  Thirdly,  How  he  was  led  on,  not  only 
to  make  use  of  faith  in  order  to  justification,  but  directly  to  make 
use  of  faith  for  sanctification.  Fourthly,  Not  only  to  make  use  of 
faith  as  a  meansf  to  stir  up  to  holiness  by  believing  these  motives, 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  word  makes  use  of  for  stirring  us  up 
to  holiness,  but  to  make  use  of  faith  as  a  mean  and  instrument  to 
draw  holiness  out  of  Christ,  thus  to  be  daily  perfecting  holiness, 
Christ  dwelling  in  our  hearts  by  faith,  we  being  taught  of  God 
rightly  to  employ  and  make  use  of  Christ  and  to  give  our  faith 
both  meat  and  work,  as  is  illustrate  by  three  similes,  page  34. 
Fifthly,  How  he  was  led  up  to  a  high  step  or  pitch  of  practical 

*  The  allusion  is  to  those  psalms  to  which  the  title  Michtam,  or  Golden,  is  prefixed, 
to  denote  their  singular  excellence. 

t  In  MS.  it  is  "  motive,"  evidently  by  mistake. 

H 


114  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  CLAIR.  [1623. 

holiness,  to  discern  how,  when  and  wherein  the  Holy  Ghost,  the 
Spirit  of  holiness,  was  grieved,  being  slighted ;  and  how  he  was  in- 
structed and  learned  a  new  practical  lesson,  not  only  not  to  slight 
and  so  to  grieve,  but  to  be  more  in  craving  and  cherishing  the 
Holy  Spirit ;  and  not  only  so,  but  more  directly  to  employ  the 
Holy  Ghost,  his  sanctifier  and  comforter.  Now,  while  I  look  and 
muse  upon  all  thir  gradual  outbreakings  of  practical  light  and 
gradual  degrees  of  practical  growing  holiness,  I  think  they  are 
consonant  unto  the  gradual  steps  of  the  Apostle's  climbing  prayer 
(Eph.  iii.  14,  20),  as  the  observant  reader  cannot  but  perceive. 
Lastly,  Observe  how  he  was  put  to  it  more  diligently  and  accu- 
rately to  study  Christ,  his  natures,  his  offices,  especially  his  kingly 
office ;  and  how  that  led  him  to  study  Christ's  government  of  his 
own  house,  which  is  laid  on  no  monarch's  or  parliament's  shoidders 
but  his  own  :  where  we  have  a  most  famous  testimony  given  and 
left  by  famous  Mr  Blair  against  Episcopacy,  ceremonies,  and 
conformity  ;  and  not  only  against  the  sinfid  dominion  and  tyranni- 
cal usurpation  of  prelates,  but  against  giving  to  them  flattering  and 
sinful  titles  of  honour  prohibited  by  Christ. 

The  third  period  of  his  life  is  from  his  demitting  of  his  charge 
in  the  College  of  Glasgow,  and  going  to  Ireland,  anno  1623,  to  the 
time  of  his  being  suspended  from  his  ministry  at  Bangor,  anno 
1631,  in  the  thirty-eighth  of  his  age ;  where,  mark  what  is  set  down 
as  a  proem  to  this  period,  viz.,  that  as  he  had  declared  how  and 
by  what  steps  and  degrees  the  Lord  prepared  him  to  undergo  his 
trouble  and  sufl^crings  at  Glasgow,  so  there  he  declares  how  the 
Lord  made  that  trouble,  being  his  first  apprentice,  especially  in 
public  suffering,  to  work  together  for  his  good,  the  Lord  thereby 
fitting,  furnishing,  and  strengthening  him  patiently  and  faithfully 
to  endure  greater  trouble,  and  more  public  sufferings  for  the  name 
of  Christ  and  the  Word  of  God  ;  and  yet  he  humbly  and  self- 
deniedly  acknowledges,  that  though  the  Lord  had  been  preparing 
him,  and  training  him  up,  yea,  that  he  seemed  to  himself  to  be  not 
a  little  prepared  and  encouraged  for  suffering,  yet  that  he  was  sur- 
prised both  in  the  measure  and  manner  of  his  trouble  ;  and  that 


1624.}  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  115 

even  when  we  seem  to  be  prepared  for  doing  or  suffering,  we  are 
far  from  it.  But  that  which  is  most  remarkable  in  that  excellent 
passage,  p.  49,  is  this, — to  learn  this  practical  lesson,  namely,  what 
use  we  should  make  of  all  gifts,  yea,  of  all  graces,  of  all  experiences 
In  ourselves,  of  aU  edifying  examples  in  others,  of  all  our  own  con- 
solations, and  being  made  partakers  of  the  consolations  of  other 
sufferers  ;  and,  finally,  of  the  diligent  use  of  the  means  and  ordi- 
nances of  life,  in  order  either  to  our  support  under,  or  comfort  in, 
or  outgate  from  future  trouble  and  greater  sufferings  :  First,  ne- 
gatively, that  we  must  not  make  all  of  these,  or  any  of  them,  the 
object  of  our  faith  for  our  souls  to  rest  or  rely  upon  them,  in  order 
either  to  our  salvation,  or  sanctification,  or  delivery  from  trouble ; 
yet  positively,  to  make  use  of  all  these,  or  any  of  them,  as  motives 
or  means  to  further,  advance,  and  strengthen  our  faith,  that  so 
they  may  prove  useful  to  our  faith  and  patience,  that  gradually  we 
may  ascend  to  the  highest  class  of  Christ's  followers,  and  learn  there 
the  lesson  anew  to  bring  forth  fruit  with  patience  in  the  time  of 
greatest  trouble,  sufferings,  or  persecution.  But,  notwithstanding 
of  all  this  excellent  use  of  all,  or  of  any  of  these,  yet  the  Lord  our 
God,  even  the  Father  in  his  Son  and  Spirit,  must  be  the  only  ob- 
ject of  our  faith,  our  souls  only  resting,  trusting,  and  relying  on  him 
for  all.  This  is  most  clearly  illustrate  by  him  with  this  notable 
simile  (and  most  happy  was  he  in  his  similes) :  Small  weak  pinnings 
are  very  useful  in  building  of  a  wall  to  strengthen  it,  and  make  it 
stand  straight,  but  if  they  were  laid  for  foundations  they  would  not 
be  able  to  bear  the  weight ;  even  so  our  experiences,  gifts,  graces, 
consolations,  &c.,  may  be  made  use  of  as  pinnings,  but  must  not  be 
laid  as  foundation  stones ;  for  none  other  foundation  can  be  laid 
than  that  which  is  laid  already,  a  sure  foundation,  even  that  tried 
stone,  that  precious  corner  stone,  Jesus  Christ. — Isa.  xxviii.  16, 
wutli  1  Cor.  iii.  11. 

In  this  third  period  of  his  life,  First,  Observe  several  passages 
of  providence,  whereby  he  was  heartened  and  encouraged  for 
his  journey  to  Ireland,  not  only  by  the  company  of  godly  per- 
sons, and  a  comfortable  letter  from  Trochrig,  but  especially  by  the 

II  2 


116  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1624. 

Lord's  answer  to  his  prayer  of  faith  in  a  very  sensible  way,  and 
by  suggestions  from  his  Spirit,  pp.  51,  52.  Secondly,  How  he  was 
encouraged  and  charged  to  settle  in  that  charge  of  the  ministry  at 
Bangor,  not  only  by  the  hearty  call  of  the  patron,  but  of  the  whole 
people  after  he  had  preached  there  several  times  ;  yea,  being 
charged  in  the  name  of  Christ  so  to  do  by  the  old  man  who  had 
been  in  that  charge,  professing  great  repentance  for  his  being  a 
dean.  TJiirdly,  Observe  his  honest  and  straight  dealing  before 
his  admission  to  that  ministry,  not  only  with  the  patron,  (avIio  by 
his  letter  invited  him  over,  and  gave  him  the  call),  but  with  the 
bishop  himself,  plainly  and  fully  declaring  how  opposite  he  was  to 
Episcopacy,  their  Liturgy,  and  all  the  Ceremonies.  Fourthly,  Take 
notice  of  his  honest  and  cleanly  entry  to  that  ministry,  and  withal 
of  the  bishop's  humble  condescension  in  the  manner  of  his  ad- 
mission or  ordination,  and  of  Mr  Blair's  prudent  and  honest  ac- 
cepting thereof,  having  not  only  the  advice  of  holy  ]\Ir  Cunning- 
ham, and  the  rest  of  the  adjacent  brethren,  but  their  concurrence 
in  the  action  as  the  prime  actors.  Lastly,  Observe  his  painfulness 
and  diligence  after  his  admission  in  that  charge,  and  his  prudent 
carriage  in  his  preaching ;  and  that  his  preaching  might  be  for  edi- 
fication, his  diligence,  as  previous  and  preparatory  to  pubhc 
preaching,  in  more  private,  plain,  and  familiar  instruction  of  per- 
sons, one  by  one  in  families,  before  more  public  catechising  of 
sundry  families  together,  and  both  these  to  fit  and  prepare  people 
in  the  public  congregation  to  understand  preaching,  and  make  use 
of  it  in  their  lives  and  conversations.  Now  the  Lord,  that 
directed  him  to  use  this  rational  and  prudent  method  in  going 
about  the  duties  of  his  calling,  did  not  a  little  bless  his  labours,  by 
making  his  ministry,  after  some  space  of  time,  successful  and  fruit- 
ful, as  appeared  by  that  people's  high  estimation  of  the  worth  and 
usefulness  of  family  exercise,  especially  of  prayer. 

After  his  settling  in  the  ministry  at  Bangor,  the  Lord  blessed 
him  with  an  helper  meet  for  him  ;  and  though  he  had  been 
courted  by  others,  yet  the  Lord  inclined  his  heart  to  this  blessed 
choice ;  for,  coming  over  to  Scotland  and  to  Edinburgh,  the  Lord 


1624.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  117 

directed  him  to  make  choice  of  a  young  gentlewoman,  Beatrix 
Hamilton,  then  living  in  Edinburgh  with  one  of  her  sisters.     She 
had  three  sisters,  all  of  them  rare,   godly,   wise,   and  prudent 
women ;  Marion  Hamilton,  married  first  to  a  religious  man,  Bar- 
tholomew Fleming  ;*   Bessie  Hamilton,  married  to  Mr  Richard 
Dickson,  a  godly,  meek,  faithful  minister,  deposed  by  the  bishops, 
imprisoned  in  Dumbarton  Castle,  thereafter  minister  at  Kiuneill, 
aU  his  days  faithful  and  honest ;  Barbara  Hamilton,  wife  to  John 
Meine,  merchant,  a  godly  zealous  man,  and  a  sufferer  under  the 
old  bishops  for  non-conformity  to  Perth  Articles,  especially  for  not 
keeping  Yule,  &c.      Thir  four   sisters  (whose  mother  was  also 
Hamilton)  were  out  of  an  old  family  of  that  name,  viz.,  the  laird 
of  Bardowie.     Mr  Blair's  wife,  though  the  youngest,  and  died  first, 
yet  was  nothing  inferior  to  her  sisters,  whereof  two  lived  long 
after  her.     She  was,  by  the  testimony  of  all  that  knew  and  were 
acquaint  with  her,  a  very  gracious,  modest,  wise,  prudent  and 
beautiful  woman,  every  way  meet  to  be  a  minister's  spouse  and 
helper ;  which  Mr  Blair  found  to  his  great  satisfaction  and  comfort, 
as  some  Notes  written  by  him  mentioned,  cap.  iv.  initio,  (which  by 
patrimony  came  to  my  hands,  and  are  in  my  custody),  do  often 
testify,  where  he  often  declares,  that  when  he  was  in  any  soul 
trouble,  or  heaviness  of  mind,  she  was  most  comfortable  company 
to  him,  especially  in  secret  prayer  together.     And,  as  he  declares, 
p.  96,  how  he  was  troubled  about  her  in  his  sleep,  so  in  these  Notes 
he  declares,  how  when  he  was  in  any  great  danger  of  soul  or 
body,  her  soul  was  troubled  for  him  at  home ;  two  times  espe- 
cially, first  in  January  1626,  he  was  in  great  danger  riding  in  Holy- 
wood  sands,  and  at  that  same  instant  her  soul  was  troubled  for  him 
at  home,  and  put  to  pray  for  him  ;  secondly,  when  he  was  engaged 
in  that  single  combat  with  the  devil,  mentioned  p.  67.      The  next 
morning  when  he  came  home  she  said  to  him,  "  My  heart,  where 

*  Bartholomew  Fleming  was  a  merchant  in  Edinburgh.  Liv-ingston's  ^vife  was  the 
eldest  daughter  of  this  marriage.  After  the  death  of  Mr  Fleming,  Marion  Hamilton 
was  man-ied  secondly  to  Mr  John  Stevenson,  who  removed  with  his  fomilyto  Ireland, 
and  settled  at  Malone,  near  Belfast,  in  the  end  of  the  year  1633. — Livingstone's  Life 
in  Select  Biograph.^  i.  150,  151. 


118  LIFE  OF  ROBEllT  BLAIR.  [1626. 

have  jou  been,  -what  have  you  been  doing  all  night  ?  All  this 
night  I  was  troubled  for  you  ;  I  thought  I  saw  you  fighting  -with 
the  devil."  "  Well,"  said  :Mr  Blair,  "  this  night  the  Lord  em- 
ployed mc  as  a  weak  instrument  to  bruise  liis  head,  and  he  has 
been  nibbling  at  your  heel  aU  night." 

In  the  4th,  5th,  and  6th  chapters,  the  author  gives  you  an  account, 
especially  of  his  more  public  actings  and  labours  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  of  the  spreading  of  that  good  work  by  the  joint  la- 
bours of  his  brethren.  In  his  Notes  mentioned  p.  31,  and  cop.  iv. 
initio,  p.  62,  he  records  his  more  private  actings  and  carriage  in  his 
family.  First,  How  much  he  was  in  private  prayer  with  his  yoke- 
fellow; and.  Secondly,  That  he  kept  family  fasts  for  private  humi- 
liation, and  how  the  Lord  blessed  that  exercise,  even  when  he  was 
dull  and  deadened  in  secret.  Particularly  February  8,  1626,  he 
says,  "  This  being  a  day  for  private  humiliation  alone,  I  could  do 
nothing ;  only  I  concluded  the  Lord  worthy  still  to  be  sought. 
Entering  with  the  family,  exceeding  dead  and  duU,  I  resolved  to 
pass  the  first  prayer  in  few  words ;  but  I  could  not  end,  my  heart 
(honoured  be  thy  Majesty  !)  melted  so  wonderfully.  In  the  whole 
course  thy  Majesty  graciously  assisted,  Jer.  iii.  1.  That  kindness 
which  were  unlawful  to  be  shown  among  men  where  the  most 
entire  bands  should  be,  yet  the  Lord  shows  to  us.  O  more  than 
wonderful !"  Thirdly,  His  Notes  testify  how  much  he  was  in  secret 
duties  and  exercises,  viz.,  in  heart-searching,  soul-humiliation,  and 
self-judging  meditations,  observing  the  frame  of  his  spirit  daily, 
and  constantly  remarking  the  very  first  beginnings  of  declining, 
and  aU  the  distempers  of  his  soul.  And,  if  at  any  time  he  appre- 
hended the  beginning  of  declining,  by  intermitting  his  good  course 
of  constantly  remarking  and  recording  of  his  soid's  estate  and  con- 
dition, how  quickly  did  he  recover  and  re-engage  his  soul,  lament- 
ing his  intermission  and  loss  thereby !  and  then  presently  he  found 
the  Lord  restoring  his  soul,  Ps.  xxiii.,  3,  by  these  soul-rectifying, 
soul-restoring  influences  of  his  Spirit  of  adoption,  whereof  see  two 
instances  recorded  by  him :  First,  In  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1626  he  says, '"  How  easy  a  thing  is  it  to  fall  from  a  good  course,  how 


1626.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  119 

hard  thereafter  to  recover  my  experience  in  this  case  is  clear.  O  my 
leaving  off  remarking  my  state  !  What  decays  !  How  many  diffi- 
culties have  I  found  in  taking  it  up  again !  Lord  forgive,  and  now 
help,  make  up  my  loss  for  thy  Christ's  sake  !"  Secondly,  In  Novem- 
ber that  year :  "  O  gross  omission !  O  miserable  backsliding  !  bring- 
ing sensible  loss,  great  discouragements  for  myself  and  my  flock, 
especially  29th  of  October,  when  I  had  the  communion  to  celebrate 
without  help,  many  strangers  with  a  great  appetite  being  present. 
My  heart  burst  before  I  entered,  and  thou  graciously  didst  assist. 
Thou,  O  Lord,  madest  me  to  preach,  and  effectually  to  feel  that 
thy  yoke  is  light  and  easy.  When  we  are  yoked  by  the  one  side, 
there  is  no  kindly  drawing;  when  the  burden  hangs  upon  the 
houghs,  it  is  heavy  ;  hoist  it  up,  it  is  lighter.  Thy  help  was  sweet 
and  sensible  at  entiy  and  ending,  and  all  honoured  be  Thou.  More 
tempted  shortly  thereafter  than  for  a  long  time  before;  Satan, 
sensible  of  his  harm,  was  diligent  to  make  up  his  loss. — The  27th 
day  being  appointed  for  a  private  fast ;  no  preparation ;  greatly 
borne  aback,  and  all  the  company.  At  night,  thy  Majesty  gra- 
ciously helped  me  up  and  held  me  up.  I  felt  the  lightness  of  thy 
yoke.  Magnified  be  thou  for  ever ! — 28tli  day :  Thou  wakened 
me,  O  Lord,  graciously  musing  in  my  very  sleep  of  the  power  of 
the  sacrament, — the  matter  that  raised  me  up  the  day  before.  In 
wrestling  we  should  strive  to  make  use  of  the  sacrament,  whereby 
our  communion  with  Christ  is  sealed  up.  Blessed  be  thy  Majesty  ! 
When  I  get  access  to  thy  Majesty,  my  heart  is  enlarged  for  thine 
'  services,'  and  flies  through  them.  I  find  it  a  notable  help  to  re- 
new daily  the  covenant."  Many  such  like  favours  might  be 
gathered  out  of  his  Notes. 

As  he  was  a  most  painful  and  an  accurate  observer  in  all  secret 
duties,  so  especially  in  secret  prayer.  Whatever  trouble,  trial,  or 
difficulty  he  met  with,  whatever  duty,  work,  or  voyage  he  under- 
took, it  was  with  him  as  with  David  and  Elias,  Ps.  cix.,  4,  "  But 
I  to  prayer ;"  James  v.  17,  "  In  his  prayer  he  prayed,"  or  "  With 
prayer  he  prayed."  See  some  instances  : — "  Feb.  19,  1626.  jSIy 
Bible  being  lost,  and  sought  diligently,  could  not  be  found.   When 


120  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  [1627. 

it  was  given  over,  it  was  casten  in  my  mind  to  crave  it  from  God, 
and  an  engagement  if  he  would.  As  I  was  speaking  this,  it  was 
brought  to  me.  Blessed  be  thou  who  helped  me  !  Honoured  be 
thy  Majesty  in  thy  Christ ! "  Especially  before  the  celebration 
of  the  holy  communion  he  was  a  man  of  many  prayers  ;  and  then, 
with  Elias,  "  with  prayer  he  prayed  to  God  ;"  and  in  his  prayer  he 
prayed  for  his  flock,  family,  wife,  children,  and  for  himself. 

When  he  was  to  make  any  visit,  or  to  undertake  any  journey 
wherein  he  had  more  special  reason  to  apprehend  danger  or  hazard 
to  soul  or  body,  before  his  fixing  upon  or  undertaking  it,  he  was 
much  in  secret  prayer.  See  one  remarkable  instance,  when  he 
was  thinking  on  his  visit  to  Primate  Usher,  and  on  his  journey  to 
Tredaff,  mentioned  p.  79:  "  The  16th  of  May  1627,  praying  in 
the  church  alone,  about  supper-time,  and  particularly  craving  di- 
rection for  our  voyage  to  Trodaif,  I  thought  I  heard  a  voice  nam- 
ing me  with  an  Irish  accent,  and  saying  somewhat  more,  which 
I  understood  not ;  and  thinking  that  one  was  calling  me,  I  arose 
suddenly  but  could  find  none.  My  Lord  direct  and  defend  me, 
for  thy  Christ's  sake  ! " 

Especially  on  the  Lord's-day,  he  did  most  narrowly  and  accu- 
rately observe  the  various  frame  and  posture  of  his  spirit,  accord- 
ing as  the  Lord  did  either  reveal  or  let  out  of  himself,  or  withdraw 
and  hide  himself.  But  whatever  he  found  in  secret,  yet,  ordinarily, 
he  was  assisted  in  public ;  for  the  which  he  always  praised  God. 
Instance: — "May  21.  Sabbath.  Facilis  descensus  averni,  sed  revo- 
care  gradum^  &c.  Easy  intermitting  of  good,  but  hard  recovery. 
Lord  help !  Lord  help  me  to  aim  at  the  rule !  Blessed  be  thy 
name  for  assistance  from  above  in  public !  Lord  help  and  give  di- 
rection for  our  journey  to  TrodafF."  See  the  answer  of  their 
prayers  anent  this  journey,  p.  80. 

As  for  that  fever  he  had  in  his  new  house  at  Bangor,  mentioned 
in  the  end  of  the  fourth  chapter,  what  befell  him  before  and  in 
the  time  of  that  great  fever,  take  it  as  it's  recorded  in  his  own 
Notes  :  — "  Great  distractions  this  summer,  especially  by  my 
building,  and  yet  thou,  O  Lord,  didst  assist  me   in  public ;  but 


1627.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  121 

in  private,  great  decay.  When  the  winter  communion  came, 
great  fears  of  great  desertion,  which  thou,  O  Lord,  overcame 
graciously,  and  gave  a  singular  measure  of  thy  presence  to  me 
and  them  that  were  seeking  the  Lord ;  so  that  we  all  upon  the 
Monday  together  drew  waters  out  of  the  wells  of  salvation  with 
joy.  Blessed  be  thy  great  and  glorious  name !  Some  strength 
remained  some  days  thereafter.  When  I  began  to  decay,  then 
thy  Majesty  visited  me  with  that  fever  which  I  took,  Decem- 
ber the  5th,  1627.  O  Lord,  when  thou  wast  chastising  me,  even 
then  thy  Majesty  did  graciously  manifest  thyself  to  me  three  se- 
veral times,  in  the  last  whereof,  blessed  be  thy  holy  name !  that 
song  was  made  in  Latin  which  begins.  Nemo  me  lachrimis"  &c. 

After  his  recovery  out  of  that  dangerous  fever,  he  prefixed  this 
title  to  that  song  : — 

CARMEN  FUSUM  IN  IPSO  ^STU  RELAPSE  FEBRIS,  QUO  SE  TUM 

MORIRETUR,  CHRISTI  AMORE  IN  CORDE  DIFFUSUM, 

AMICIS  TESTATUM  VOLUIT. 

Anima. 
Nemo  me  lachrimis,  nemo  mea  fimera  planctu, 
Misceat,  emersi  lachrimarum  e  valle  profunda. 
Oi-phanns  ad  patrem  pervcni,  O  patria  tecta ! 
Tam  variis  cumulata  bonis :  ibi  conspicor  ulnas, 
Christe,  tuas  pansas  pro  me  prius  in  crucis  ara 
JVIi  patulas,  Itetus  vocor :  irnxo,  inlisereo  :  salve. 

Cheistus. 
Praeco  mei  verbi,  dixit,  lUiXvyiio.'fx  cuncta 
Qua  te  mortalem  cruciarunt  perpete  cura, 
Victor  conjeci,  nunquam  nocitura  in  abyssum  : 
Ingredere  optati  coelestia  guadia  regni ! 

KeSPONSIO  ANIM^  ADMIKANTIS. 

Hunc  ego  si  potiii  tantum  sperasse  triumphum 
Tene  meas  andisse  preces  spectasse  labores, 
Ardoresque  aniraoe,  lamentaque  perrepisse. 

ClIEISTDS. 

Vidi  namqiie  dedi :  mea  erant  hajc  nunc  tua  sunto  * 
Eu  diadema,  stolam,  atque  throni  tibi  largior  usum, 
Me  sequere  ex  templo  ccmes  solennia  spousa3. 

*  The  five  preceding  lines  are  omitted  in  the  MS.  from  which  we  print.    They  have  been  supplied  from 
a  MS.  belonging  to  J.  Gibson  Craig,  Esq ,  and  have  been  blundered  in  the  transcription. 


122  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1627, 

ReSPONSIO  ANIMiE  ADMIRANTIS. 

Me  stola  lucida !  me  thronus  aureus,  aut  diadema ! 
Istane  me  dcceant !  stygia  do  faice  profunda 
Feccati  vix  elapsum !  O  subsellia  Eegis  ! 
Ima  pedum  subsellia  pone  ;  ibi  mi  locus  esto  ; 
In  soliis  sedeant  sancti,  ct  qui  dogmata  sacra 
Signarunt  fidei  pretioso  sanguine  testes. 

ClIRISTUS. 

Cur,  Dens  omnipotens,  vasta;  qui  pondera  molis 
ITulcio,  sustinui  ut  vermis  ?  panamque,  pudoremque, 
Atque  iram  Patris  horrendam,  infernique  dolores  ? 
Nonne  ut  vermiculos  fccdos  de  faucibus  Orci 
Ereptos  mihi  sei-varem,  eveheremque  ad  honorem 
Natomm  Summi  Patris,  indelebile  regnum. 
Mortalis  pater  optaret  soboli  ut,  sine  damno 
Alterius,  regno  eximio  unusquisque  fruatur. 
Hoc  jjotis  est  pra^stare  mens  siiper  omnia  felix  ; 
Hoc  ego  vivificus  meis  vult  fratribus  esse 
Spiritus,  £eternum  nobiscum  ut  regna  capessent. 
Annon  h£ec  populum  docuisti  voce  sonoi'a  ? 

Anima. 
Ista  quidem  docui,  ista  amplexus  speque  fideque, 
At  nunc  cum  presens  videam  quanto  intervallo ! 
In  verbo  promissa  olim  et  mine  praestita  distent 
Victrbc  spes  mihi  \'icta  jacet,  et  fi'acta  stupore, 
Jam  milii  facta  fides  merum  evanescit  in  actum. 
Hem  !  quid  agebamus  ?  quid  mirabamur  inepti  ? 
Quanta3  nos  tenebras,  O  caligo  quanta  tegebat ! 
At  nunc  discussis  umbris  to  sole  nitente 
Sim  quod,  Cliriste,  velis  sequar,  et  quo  duels,  Jesu ! 


This  song  lie  did  translate  into  English  for  the  use  of  his  wife 
and  friends,  that  understood  not  Latin,  in  form  of  a  dialogue  be- 
twixt his  soul  and  Christ. 

Soul. 
Let  none  lament  about  my  bier. 

Let  none  for  sorrow  shout ; 
Out  of  the  dreary  vale  of  tears, 

My  soul  hath  swattered  out. 

An  orphan  to  his  father's  house 

Is  come,  where  Christ  I  see. 
With  arms  stretch'd  out,  as  on  the  cross, 

IMe  to  embrace  sweetly. 


1627.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  123 

I'm  oall'd,  I  run  with  haste  and  joy, 

To  thee  O  Christ  I  cleave  ; 
Such  pleasiire  is  thee  to  enjoy, 

I  can  thee  never  leave. 

Christ. 
O  welcome  preacher  of  my  word ! 

Sin  that  did  so  sore  a'cx  thee, 
Ti'iumphing  on  the  tree  as  Lord 

I  dro^vn'd  in  my  death's  deep  sea. 

Come  enter  now  the  palace  pleasure, 

To  reign  for  aye  with  me  ; 
Possess  what  thou  look'd  for  at  leisure, 

In  all  eternity. 

SO0L  (wondering.) 
Could  I  such  triumphs  once  look  for, 

Could  I  forecast  this  case  ? 
That  my  poor  suits  and  troubles  all. 

Thou  would'st  so  well  embrace  ? 

My  toil  and  troubles  manifold, 

Lly  supplications  all. 
My  burning  earnest  desire  of  thee. 

My  tears  that  oft  did  fall. 

Christ. 
Did  I  not  know  what  I  did  give  ? 

Thereof  no  jott  I  mist ; 
All  these  were  mine,  and  these  be  thine, 

To  make  thee  tnily  blest. 

Now  follow  me  and  thou  shalt  sec 

The  nuptials  of  my  bride. 
The  spouse  which  I  purchas'd  to  me, 

With  blood  shed  from  my  side. 

My  trophies  all  thine  own  thou'se  call. 

And  breuk  *  them  aye  with  me, — 
The  robe,  the  throne,  the  cro^vn  royal, 

Ne'er  to  be  tane  fi'om  thee. 

f 

Soul  (icondenng.') 
A  robe  for  me  !  for  me  a  throne  ! 

A  royal  crown  for  me ! 
How  can  it  weall  become  such  one, 

Scarce  out  of  misery. 

*  Enjoy. 


124  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1628. 

Who  in  the  loathsome  lake  of  hell, 

The  sink  of  sin  I  mean, 
Did  lately  stick  and  sink  full  ill, 

And  now  outdi'awn  have  been. 

The  lowest  footstool  of  thy  throne, 

And  worse  if  any  were, 
Might  Avell  suffice  for  such  an  one, 

To  have  a  low  bench  there. 

Thy  saints  and  martyrs  who  did  seal 

Tliy  sacred  tmth  with  bluid  [blood]. 
Such  robes  and  thrones  would  set  them  weall 

At  meeting  in  the  cluide  [cloud], 

Christ. 
Wliat  is  the  cause,  thinks  thou,  that  I, 

The  God  omnipotent, 
(Who  by  my  i^ower,  right  worthily, 

The  heaven  and  fiimament 

Of  all  the  world's  huge  globes  sustain'd), 

As  worm  the  Father's  ire 
Did  bear  ?  and  feel  the  fearfid  pain 

Of  death  and  hell's  hot  fire  ? 

Was't  not  that  I  to  me  might  take 
These  worms  and  wi-etches  vile  ? 

Pluckt  out  of  hell's  hot  fiery  lake- 
Poor  captives  and  exiles. 

Was't  not  to  advance  eternally 

Adam's  lost  sons  to  be 
Right  noble  heirs  of  God  Most  High, 

For  ay  to  reign  with  me  ? 

A  father  to  his  children  all 

Right  heartily  could  wish 
That  each,  without  another's  fall, 

A  kingdom  might  possess. 

They  can  but  wish,  and  oft  do  miss. 

Not  so  my  Father  shall ; 
I,  with  my  spirit,  do  join  in  this. 

Unto  my  brethren  all ; 

That  they  may  reign  most  gloriously 

With  us  the  Trinity. 
Did  not  thou  teach  the  same  boldly 

Into  my  chair  for  me  ? 


1G20.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  125 

Soul  (accepting.) 
I  taught  the  same,  indeed  I  know, 

The  same  I  did  embrace 
By  faith  and  lively  hope :  hut  now 

How  altered  is  the  case. 

Whate'er  before  the  Word  did  promise, 

Wlien  now  it's  felt  and  seen, 
Passeth  by  infinite  degrees 

All  that  conceived  hath  been. 

My  hope  with  having  ovei'come  • 

Is  cast  into  a  trance. 
My  faith  now  by  fruition 

Breuketh  the  whole  substance. 

Below  what  were  we  wretches  doing, 

Or  what  admire  we  thus  ? 
What  misty  veil  of  ignorance 

Did  so  o'ershadow  us  ? 

But  now  these  clouds  so  dark  and  gross 

Scattered,  O  Christ !  by  thee. 
Call  when  thou  wilt  I'll  follow  closs 

Where'er  thou  leadest  me.* 

By  this  song,  and  the  translating  and  enlarging  of  it  after  his 
recovery  out  of  that  fever,  you  may  perceive  what  sweet  manifesta- 
tions and  divine  raptures  he  had  then,  and  in  what  an  excellent 
frame  his  soul  was  into  in  the  time  of  that  fever,  and  for  some  space 
after  his  recovery.  But  his  Notes  lead  me  to  observe  that  ordinar- 
ily after  such  manifestations,  divine  raptures,  and  lifting  him  up  on 
high,  he  met  with  saddest  downcastings,  desertions,  obstructions, 
interruptions,  occasioned  especially  by  his  intermitting  his  edifying 
exercise  of  remarking  and  recording  both  God's  ways  towards  him, 
and  his  ways  towards  God.  For,  notwithstanding  that  God  did 
then  shed  abroad  his  love  in  his  heart,  yea  the  love  of  Christ  con- 
strained him  to  sing  and  rejoice,  and  to  triumph  over  sin,  death, 
hell,  and  the  grave ;  yet  shortly  thereafter  see  a  dark  cloud,  some 
degrees  of  laziness  and  security  creeping  on,  &c.,  so  that  his  song 

*  The  above  lines,  more  remarkable  for  their  piety  than  their  poetiy,  are  yet  a  fiiir 
specimen  of  the  wretched  doggrel  in  which  almost  all  writers  of  that  period  indulged. 
The  Latin,  though  not  so  lame  as  the  translation,  is  also  very  faulty,  and  much  infe- 
rior to  similar  pieces  written  in  the  days  of  Andrew  Melville. 


12G  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1629. 

is  turned  into  a  lament.  Yet  quickly  he  recovers ;  and  his  soul 
being  restored  lie  again  changes  his  notes.  February  1629,  he  says, 
"  How  often  shall  I  fall  back  from  the  profitable  exercise  of  remark- 
ing my  ways,  having  casten  it  away  now  long.  Help  me.  Lord,  to 
be  humbled  for  it,  and  help  me  to  it  again  for  thy  name's  sake." 

"  I  was  in  some  measure  prepared  for  thy  holy  table,  to  which 
I  went  at  the  spurs  both  in  soul  and  body.  Thy  Majesty  helped 
me  in  the  sermon  afternoon,  to  stir  up  to  the  new  song.  Psalm 
xcviii.,  wdierein  thou,  O  Lord,  madest  my  tongue  as  the  pen  of  a 
ready  writer.  The  minister  at  the  table  made  me  as  welcome  as 
the  heart-blood  of  Christ  could  make  me." 

Again,  thereafter,  Feb.  19,  he  laments  and  bemoans  himself  thus: 
"  Woe  is  me  for  the  idleness  of  my  natural  heart;  1.  Idle,  2.  Vain, 
3.  Wicked,  4.  Exceeding  stiff  and  strong  in  evil.  But  O,  how 
good  art  thou  who  challenged  shaq^ly,  humbled  quickly,  and  let 
me  find  the  truth  of  Tuesday's  doctrine,  making  all  things  work 
together  for  my  good.  But  never  shall  any  find  the  good  of  coun- 
ter-poisons until  they  first  find  the  evU  of  it." 

As  this  was  the  Lord's  way  with  him  after  clearest  manifestions, 
sweetest  raptures,  &c.,  a  cloud,  something  of  an  eclipse,  degrees  of 
dullness,  deadness  and  security ;  so  we  may  see  it  has  ever  been 
the  Lord's  way  with  those  devoted  to  him,  admitted  to  most  inti- 
mate communion,  yea,  to  sweetest  fellowship  with  himself.  So  with 
David,  Psalm  xxx.  1-7.  But  see  the  dark  cloud,  and  him  darkened, 
troubled,  praying,  crying,  lamenting,  &c.,  verses  7-10.  But  see 
him  changing  his  note  quickly,  verses  11-12.  So  with  Paul,  2 
Cor.  xii.  3-6,  and  verses  7-9,  (and  it  is  a  certain  truth,  that  after 
saddest  temptations,  and  Satan's  buffeting  of  Mr  Blair,  with  most 
horrid  temptations,  he  got  sweetest  manifestations,  yea,  divine  rap- 
tures, Avhicli  he  thought  not  lawful  for  him  to  utter ;  once,  espe- 
cially after  saddest  buffeting,  which  he  would  never  tell,  nay  not  to 
his  most  intimate  brother,  Mr  Dickson).  So  with  the  spouse. 
Cant.  iv.  16,  and  v.  1,  with  v.  2,  3,  &c.  And  this  is  a  case  worthy 
of  the  disquisition  of  casuists,  when  the  Lord  thus  deals  with  his 
friends,  yea,  with  his  best  beloved  ones,  that  in  a  short  time  they 


1630.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  127 

have  so  many  changes — lifted  up,  casten  down,  shined  on,  over- 
shadowed, quickened,  deadened,  praising,  lamenting,  blessing, 
cursing,  &c.  O  how  many  changes  had  he  in  one  month,  Feb. 
1629  !  as  many  as  Jeremiah  had  in  the  20th  chapter  of  his  Prophe- 
cies. In  March  that  year  he  was  visited  with  a  sad  sickness  where 
he  has  this  note :  "  Exceeding  sick,  then  I  said. 

Ad  Bodium,  ad  Scotum  et  reliquos  proficiscor  amicos, 
Face  prociil  qiii  nunc  teri'ena. 

But  thou,  O  Lord,  rebuked  the  sickness,  and  the  third  day  I  went 
up  to  the  house  of  the  Lord  on  the  Sabbath,  where  thou  helped  me 
to  speak  in  thy  name,  not  being  well  able  to  stand." 

Whenever  he  felt  any  wearying,  discouragements  or  fainting, 
he  was  thereby  stirred  up  to  more  frequent  prayer,  greater  dili- 
gence and  painfidness,  and  that  helped  him  up  again  to  a  new 
song  of  praises.  In  May  that  year  his  note  is,  "  Notwithstanding 
of  thy  assisting  me,  yet,  wearying  of  my  charge  and  life,  fainting 
exceedingly,  yet  thereby  drawn  to  more  frequent  prayer.  Blessed 
be  thou,  O  Lord,  for  ever !  Thou  hast  been  very  good,  and  wilt 
be  better  than  ever  thou  wast  in  thy  Christ.  Be  thou  magnified 
for  ever !"  O  !  how  variously  was  he  exercised  and  tossed  this  year, 
1629,  ending  it  as  he  did  begin  it ;  for  in  the  close  of  it  he  says, 
"  Facilis  discensiis  averni,  sed,  ^r.  Help  me,  O  Lord,  to  remark 
my  estate,  how  thy  Majesty  deals  with  me  ;  little  fruit  yet  of  the 
removing  of  my  child  Elizabeth  ;  little  preparation  for  Holywood 
communion  ;  yet  thou,  O  Lord,  helped  me  to  urge  spiritual 
matter,  then  graciously  teached  my  heart  at  thy  table  ;  but  there- 
after great  deadness  and  faints,  greater  than  almost  ever  I  re- 
member. I  could  not  rejoice  with  the  congregation  in  singing ; 
yet  at  last  thou  helped  me  to  make  use  of  the  doctrine,  and  to 
speak  pertinently  to  the  estate  of  sundry  di'ooping  saints."  June 
24.  1630,  his  gracious  wife,  (so  sometimes  he  did  call  her),  Beatrix 
Hamilton,  brought  forth  twins,  two  daughters,  the  eldest  bap- 
tized Marion,  who  died  shortly  thereafter,  the  younger  baptized 
Jean. 


128  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIK.  [1G31. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
1631. 


The  fourth  period  of  his  life  was  from  the  time  of  his  being 
suspended  from  the  exercise  of  his.  ministry  at  Bangor,  anno  1631, 
to  the  time  of  his  settling  In  his  ministry  at  St  Andrews,  anno 
1639,  In  the  46th  year  of  his  age.  This  period  of  his  life  was 
more  troublesome  than  any  before.  It  was  a  continual  tract  of 
troubles,  one  cross  after  another,  and  several  sorts  of  crosses  at 
one  time.  He  was  suspended  in  harvest-time,  1631.  He  gives 
you  an  account  of  the  occasion  and  pretended  cause  thereof,  and 
how  Immediately  thereafter  that  erroneous  censure  was  taken  off, 
and  how,  upon  the  4th  of  May  the  next  year,  1632,  he  was  de- 
posed, p.  101. 

The  first  censure  being  immediately  taken  off  again,  was  only 
the  Lord's  warning-piece,  to  awaken  and  warn  him  to  arm  himself 
against  the  second  censure,  which  proved.  Indeed,  a  wounding- 
piece,  a  very  heavy  cross,  and  great  trial  for  two  full  years.  And 
it  appears  evidently  by  his  short  Notes  written  In  the  Interim, 
First,  That  he  looked  upon  the  first  as  a  warning  and  an  awakening 
shot ;  and.  Secondly,  That  the  Lord  helped  him  rightly  to  Improve 
it  for  preparing  himself  and  his  family,  his  flock,  and  other  Chris- 
tian friends  for  the  great  trial;  Thirdly,  More  particularly,  M^e 
may  see  his  very  great  diligence  and  painfulness  in  secret.  In  pri- 
vate, but  especially  in  public.  In  preaching,  praying,  catechising, 
visiting,  and  in  spiritual  and  holy  conference ;  and  in  all  these 


1G31.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  129 

duties,  the  Lord  furnishing  and  strengthening  him  both  in  the 
Inner  and  outward  man,  the  time  of  the  interim,  which  was  eight 
months,  but  especially  the  last  four  months. 

First,  As  for  improving  the  warning  to  awaken  and  arm  himself 
against  the  trial,  we  see  from  his  Notes,  that  in  the  time  of  that 
interim  he  was  more  than  ordinarily  before  in  secret  prayer,  often 
checking  himself  for  swearness,  laziness,  and  loving  of  his  bed  too 
well  in  the  morning,  though  he  did  early  waken,  and  that  he 
prayed  not  only  for  his  family,  but  for  his  flock,  more  particularly 
and  earnestly  (James  v.  17,  oing.  "  in  his  prayer  he  prayed,"  or  "  with 
his  prayer  he  prayed"),  than  ever  before.  Secondly,  To  awaken 
and  cheer  up  his  heart  he  did  in  secret  sing  psalms  to  God ;  he 
did  much  delight  in  and  was  often  refreshed  with  reading,  medi- 
tating, and  singing  of  psalms  in  secret,  especially  the  23d,  3od, 
71st  psalms.  In  this  he  found  great  sweetness,  and  that  the  heart 
was  the  better  seasoned  all  the  day.  Thirdly,  Throughout  the 
day  he  aimed  at  living  as  one  in  covenant  with  God;  yea,  in  his 
ordinary,  common  and  civil  actions,  and  affairs,  he  studied  to  have 
an  eye  to  God,  with  whom  he  was  In  covenant.  And  this  he  re- 
cords as  one  of  his  experiences.  That  lawful  actions  done  without 
an  eye  to  thee,  O  Lord,  are  as  luany  steps  leading  away  from  thee. 
He  was  challenged  and  troubled  if  at  any  time,  though  In  the 
week,  he  had  entertained  too  much  worldly  conference  either  In 
the  house  or  riding  by  the  way.  And  then  he  did  always  strive 
to  denounce  and  keep  up  a  constant  war  against  all  sin  and  every 
lust,  saying,  "  Lord  give  me  amends  of  the  body  of  sin.  I  find 
one  lust  help  another.  My  Lord  help  thou  me  against  them  all," 
&c. 

In  his  prayer,  or  with  prayer,  he  often  prayed  with  his  wife, 
and  for  her ;  especially  he  was  most  fervent  In  his  prayer  (James  v. 
16,  orig.  "  working  prayer")  for  her  In  the  time  of  her  labour ;  and, 
having  gotten  a  gracious  answer,  he  used  to  say,  "  The  prayer  of 
faith  (James  v.  15)  is  more  prevailing  than  any  witchcraft;  the 
one  sets  only  Satan  a-work,  and  the  other  sets  God  a-work." 
Hence  Luther  used  to  say  that  there  was  a  kind  of  omnipotence 

I 


130  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1631. 

in  prayer.  As  common  and  unedlfying  conference,  especially  with 
a  minister,  did  deaden  and  distemper  him,  so  spiritual  edifying 
conference  did  recruit  and  cherish  him,  whether  in  riding  or  at 
meat.  He  used  to  say,  "  I  love  my  meat  the  better  because  it 
comes  through  the  hands  of  Christ,  the  mediator  of  the  blessed 
bargain."     Psalm  iii.  5. 

2.  As  for  his  very  great  and  prudent  diligence,  especially  in 
public,  in  preaching,  praying,  &c.,  in  the  time  of  this  interim,  as  pre- 
vious and  preparatory  to  and  for  his  trial,  from  these  his  Notes,  we 
see  the  Lord's  guiding  him,  and  his  prudence  in  his  diligence,  mak- 
ing a  right  choice  of  the  subject-matter  of  his  preaching,  for  fixing 
and  furnishing  his  own  and  his  people's  hearts  against  any  trial 
coming  on.     For  having  renewed  and  sealed  up  his  personal  cove- 
nant with  God,  he  resolved  to  preach  that  most  comprehensive  doc- 
trine of  the  New  Covenant  more  largely  than  before,  and  to  dwell 
upon  that  subject,  which  indeed  is  the  sweet  marrow  of  the  ever- 
lasting Gospel.    And  as  he  was  much  in  secret,  wrestling  with  God 
for  light,  direction,  furniture,  a  blessing  upon,  and  acceptance  for 
his  work  in  public,  and  for  a  suitable  walk  according  to  the  rule  of 
the  covenant ;  so  his  prayer  of  faith  wanted  not  gracious  returns, 
as  appears  by  thir  two  short  notes  :  First,  upon  December  the  24th, 
1G31,  "  Give  me  light.  Lord,  in  thy  covenant,  that  I  may  teach 
others  the  same,  and  walk  accordingly  to  thy  honour."     Secondly, 
on  the  Sabbath,  December  the  25th,    "  Thy  word  sweet  in  my 
heart  and  mouth ;  a  lively  opening  up  of  thy  blessed  covenant." 
And  in  January  next  year,  Sabbath :  "  My  sweet  Lord,  blessed 
be  thou  for  thy  covenant  which  I  got  dwelt  upon  to  thy  glory !" 
O  !  but  it  became  him  well  to  preach  the  new  covenant,  and  to 
open  up  the  secret  of  the  Lord  to  his  people.     AU  that  knew  him 
well  and  his  peculiar  gift,  acknowledged  that  he  was  in  his  own 
element  when  he  was  on  that  subject,  wherein  he  delighted  most, 
and  oftenest  dwelt  upon  it,  especially  before,  at,  and  after  the  cele- 
bration of  the  communion. 

As  for  his  praying,  either  secret,  private  or  public,  in  the  time 
of  this  interim,  it  was  always  the  prayer  of  faith  ;  and  often,  yea 


1G32.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  131 

ordinarily,  a  working  prayer,  earnest,  importunate,  fervent  and 
effectual.     With  prayer  lie  prayed  for  a  sick  kirk,  James  v.  15-17, 
especially  in  public.     In  his  prayer  he  wrestled  with  God  for  the 
enlargement  of  the  kingdom  of  Christ  throughout  the  whole  world. 
This  is  often  recorded  in  his  notes  ;  but  aye  the  nearer  to  the  time 
of  that  stroke  and  trial  his  and  his  brethren's  diligence  did  increase 
more  and.  more,  especially  about  the  time  of  the  celebration  of  the 
holy  communion,  as  in  other  places,  especially  in  Holywood,  as  ap- 
pears by  his  Notes.     "Feb.  19,  Sabbath, — Holywood  Communion. 
Neither  painfulness  in  preparation,  nor  great  feeling  of  any  work 
in  my  soul.     But  O  !  what  plenty  of  the  word  there.     In  three 
days  ten  sermons.    O  how  kind  and  liberal  art  thou !  How  strength- 
ened thou  thy  people  by  thy  covenant !  Blessed  be  thy  name." — 
"  Feb.  20.  Thou  wast  highly.  Lord,  lifted  up  in   the   sanctuary. 
Thou  hast  ascended  on  high,  &c.      My  soul  was  cheerful  in  thee. 
Praised  be  thy  holy  name  !  We  were  afraid  that  the  number  of  the 
ministers  should  have  marred  the  work ;  but,  blessed  be  thy  holy 
name,  it  was  not  so  !  Honoured  be  thou  in  thy  Christ !" — "  21.  How 
joyfully  did  my  soul  sing  in  private  to  thee  this  morning  !"  And 
"  March  1,  Sabbath, — Thy  Majesty  did  thy  own  work  by  sundry 
mouths.     Thy  name  be  blessed  !  Blessed  are  they  that  dwell  in  thy 
house,  they  will  ever  be  praising  thee.     How  joyfid  made  thou  thy 
servant  with  the  light  of  thy  countenance,  and  how  comfortably 
helped  thou  me  to  speak  on  Ezekiel  xvi.  60  :  '  Nevertheless  I  will 
remember  my  covenant  with  thee,'  &c.    Thy  Majesty,  having  over- 
come me  with  thy  loving  kindness,  has  laid  upon  me  a  great  con- 
viction of  laziness  and  unthankflilness,  that  if  it  be  not  helped  by 
thy  covenant,  thou  will  discover  my  nakedness  and  emptiness  to 
friends  and  foes."     Where,  observe,  that  he  preaching  upon  the 
covenant,  made  good  use  of  his  doctrine  in  his  walking  with,  before, 
and  after  God,  Gen.  v.  24,  and  xvii.  1,  2 ;  Deut.  xiii.  4 ;  and  in 
his  more  private  walk,  Zech,  x.  12  ;  so  that  all  his  strength  and 
furniture  against  temptations  and  for  duties  came  by  the  covenant ; 
all  misses  were  mended,  and  all  wants  supplied  by  the  covenant ; 
all  deadly  dangers  prevented,  and  all  favours  and  mercies  confer- 

i2 


132  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G32. 

red  by  the  covenant.  O  !  but  it  was  to  him,  as  a  free,  everlasting, 
well  ordered,  sure,  so  a  soul-satisfying  covenant,  all  his  salvation, 
and  all  his  desire,  2  Sam.  xxiii.  5,  with  Song  iv.  9.  10. 

About  the  middle  of  March  1 632,  he  was  informed  of  the  letter 
that  came  from  the  King  against  them,  mentioned  p.  91.  First, 
He  got  word  in  general  that  a  new  storm  against  them  was  rising. 
The  night  immediately  following  was  spent  with  some  brethren 
till  the  break  of  day,  for  preparing  and  arming  of  them  to  sustain 
the  charge,  and  ride  out  the  storm.  Then  the  next  day  being  in- 
formed of  the  King's  letter  he  said,  "  Then,  Lord,  thy  Majesty 
must  be  our  king,  Ps.  Ixxxix.  18."  But  the  third  day,  March  17, 
by  the  way  his  horse  ran  from  him,  and  he  was  put  to  his  feet 
alone,  his  clothes  being  heavy  with  rain.  In  that  passage  he  saw 
a  type  of  his  approaching  trial  and  troubles,  and  so  was  helped 
thereby  to  lay  the  matter  better  to  heart.  18th  March,  Sabbath, 
the  doctrine  jumping  *  well  with  his  matters,  he  was  cheerful  at 
night,  blessing  and  praising  the  Lord.  The  next  day  he  got  spi- 
ritual liberty  in  prayer,  the  day  being  spent  with  others.  On 
Tuesday  20th  March,  (which  ordinarily  was  his  week  sermon  day), 
a  part  of  his  text  was  Rom.  xv.  23,  "  But  now  having  no  more 
place  in  these  parts."  This  made  him  yet  to  lay  the  trial  more  to 
heart ;  and,  on  the  next  Tuesday,  his  text  was  Rom.  xv.  30,  31. 
That  day  he  was  greatly  refreshed  to  see  such  abundance  of  tears 
among  the  people,  and  said,  "  Blessed  be  thy  name  who  made  me 
to  rejoice  !  O  pre})are  me  for  the  trial  coming  !"  All  the  month 
of  April,  as  the  trial  drew  nearer  and  nearer,  so  the  more  sweetness 
was  milked  in  unto  his  heart  from  the  Lord,  which  made  praises 
more  abundantly  to  flow  out  from  heart  and  tongue ;  and  both 
these  furnished  and  animated  him  to  more  and  more  painfulness 
and  diligence,  so  that,  for  a  number  of  days  together,  he  preached 
in  several  parts  on  several  texts,  aU  very  suitable,  such  as  Acts 
ix.  IG,  "  For  I  wiU  shew  him  how  great  things  he  must  suffer  for 
ray  name's  sake."  In  the  end  of  April  he  celebrated  the  com- 
munion immediately  before  the  trial ;  and  after  his  great  pains 
*  Jumping — agreeing. 


1632.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  133 

and  diligence  in  catechising  the  people,  and  preaching  oftener  than 
ordinarily  at  that  solemn  and  remarkable  time,  he  has  thir  notes  : 
"  My  time  is  short ;  I  thank  thy  Majesty  who  gives  me  a  mind 
and  occasion  to  be  busy.  How  gracious  hast  thou  been,  O  my 
Lord,  this  communion  time  !  more  afraid  for  it  than  formerly  ;  yet 
because  men  were  challenging  thy  work  and  workmen,  my  soul 
claimed  the  greater  right  to  thee,  and  expected  the  greater  help 
from  thy  Majesty.  Also,  Lord  Jesus,  because  in  thy  banquet  the 
last  wine  was  the  best,  my  soul  claimed  the  performance  thereof." 
And  so  it  came  to  pass  ;  for  he  having  meditate  on  that  text,  John 
i.  29,  "  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God,"  &c.,  and  doubted  nothing  of  the 
handling  thereof,  yet  immediately  in  the  morning  the  next  day  he 
was  forced  to  take  another  text,  Is.  Ixvi.,  till  the  midst,  wherein 
the  Lord  was  graciously  pleased  to  assist  him,  to  the  wonderful 
great  satisfaction  of  the  people ;  and  so  was  he  assisted  in  the  ex- 
hortations at  the  table,  and  likewise  the  Monday  following,  &c. 
Thereafter,  this  note,  "  Then  for  the  next  Sabbath  I  was  in  greater 
fear  by  reason  of  the  former  assistance,  for  so  ordinarily  have  I 
been  exercised  with  temptations  of  that  kind  ;  but  never  spoke  I 
so  in  public  as  that  day.  O  what  melting  in  the  prayer  with  great 
length  and  liberty  !  what  zeal  gavest  thou  in  preaching,  pointing 
out  that  Lamb  of  God  !  As  also,  upon  the  Monday,  altering  of 
necessity  the  text  I  had  meditate  upon,  and  handling  these  words, 
Philip  i.  27,  28,  thy  Majesty  gave  gracious  assistance.  O  what  a 
strange  mourning  was  among  the  people  !  what  strange  trances 
had  sundry  women,  and  what  abundance  of  tears  were  shed ! 
Lord  prepare  me  to  bear  thy  sweet  cross  patiently  and  comfort- 
ably." Thus,  he  having  preached  many  farewell  sermons,  imme- 
diately thereafter,  upon  the  4th  of  May  1632,  he  and  other  three 
ministers,  Livingstone,  Welsh  and  Dunbar  were  deposed.  See  p.  91. 
They  being  assured  by  Primate  Usher  and  others  that  there  was 
no  remedy  to  be  had  but  from  the  King  himself,  after  earnest  deal- 
ing and  persuasion,  Mr  Blair  undertakes  a  journey  to  Court  to  sup- 
plicate the  King.  The  sum  of  the  petition  was  this,  That  they 
might  be  tried  in  what  was  informed  against  them,  and  if  found 


134  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1634. 

guilty  they  reflised  no  punishment,  but  otherwise  ;  they  petitioned 
that  for  simple  nonconformity  they  might,  in  respect  of  their  Scots 
breeding,  be  forborne  in  such  a  barren  place  as  the  north  parts  of 
Ireland.  He  gives  you  an  account  of  his  journey,  tedious  on  wait- 
ing, good  success  at  last,  and  of  his  return,  and  of  Strafford's 
slighting  his  Majesty's  letter  ;  and  last,  of  their  continuing  deposed 
till  May  1G34,  pp.  92-102. 

While  he  is  lying  under  this  heavy  load  and  sad  public  trial, 
being  common  to  him  with  others,  both  ministers  and  people,  the 
only  wise  Lord  was  pleased  sadly  to  exercise  him  mth  a  domestic 
and  personal  heavy  rod  and  trial ;  for,  about  the  middle  of  Novem- 
ber 1633,  his  dearly  beloved  and  gracious  yoke-fellow  was  removed 
by  death  ;  and  thus  the  Lord  did  take  from  him  the  desire  of  his 
eyes  with  a  stroke,  as  He  had  forewarned  him  of  it  at  London, 
July  1632,  p.  96.  She  died,  being  much  desired  and  lamented  by 
all  that  knew  her.* 

She  left  behind  her  three  children,  James,  Jean  and  Robert. 
His  daughter  was  sent  to  be  educated  with  her  aunt,  Marion 
Hamilton  in  the  Strone,  at  the  iron  furnace  of  MUton  of  Belfast. 
Her  two  sons  were  boarded  with  !Mr  William  Cockburn,  school- 
master in  Bangor,  married  to  his  wife's  niece,  daughter  to  Mr 
Kichard  Dickson  and  Bessie  Hamilton.  Mr  Blair  at  first,  the 
wound  being  green,  did  carry  pretty  soberly,  with  a  great  measure 
of  Christian  patience.  But  thereafter,  finding  the  smart  of  the 
wound  in  the  want  of  such  a  gracious  and  faithful  yoke-fellow  and 
burden-bearer,  by  Avhose  prayers  and  sweet  Christian  converse 
with  him,  he  had  been  so  often  refreshed  and  supported,  he  had 
much  ado  to  bear  up  under  the  load,  which  proved  to  be  a  load 
above  a  burden,  his  stroke  trysting  with  the  public  burden  and 
trial. 

In  February  1634,  the  deposed  ministers,  and  some  religious  and 
zealous  professors  in  that  part  of  Ireland,  having  no  hope  to  be  de- 
livered from  the  Bishops'  tyranny,  had  some  purpose  to  transport 

*  Here  Row  has  introduced  an  epitaph  on  Blair's  wife,  written  "  by  a  rural  pen." 
It  is  not  considered  worth  while  to  print  the  doggrcl  lines  of  this  rural  poet. 


1634.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  135 

themselves  to  New  England,  but  resolved  first  to  send  a  minister 
and  a  gentleman  to  the  Governor,  to  try  the  condition  of  the 
country,  and  to  agree  for  a  place  to  settle  in.  They  pitched  upon 
Mr  John  Livingstone  and  William  Wallace  to  go  straight  to 
London,  that  from  thence  they  might  go  to  New  England  with 
the  first  ship  that  went  in  the  spring,  and  return  with  the  first 
conveyance.  But,  however  the  Lord  did  accept  and  approve  of 
their  intentions,  yet  he  wonderfully  stopped  their  design.  For  Mr 
Wallace  not  coming  at  the  time  prefixed  to  Grames-port,*  where 
INIr  Livingstone  was  waiting  for  him,  (during  which  time  the  wind 
was  favourable),  and  after  his  coming  the  wind  turning  contrary 
for  fom'teen  days,  they  did  not  reach  London  before  the  first  ships 
went,  the  first  ships  being  gone,  three  being  to  go  within  fourteen 
days.  Had  they  gone  with  the  first  ship  that  loosed,  they  had 
gone  forward ;  but  the  ship  wherein  they  were  being  retarded, 
(the  skipper  staying  to  do  some  business)  after  they  had  been  at 
sea  some  few  days  a  storm  and  contrary  wind  arose,  so  that  they 
were  forced  to  come  to  an  anchor  in  Plymouth  for  the  space  of  ten 
days  ;  and  then  Mr  Wallace  fell  sick,  and  was  averse  himself,  and 
advised  by  physicians  not  to  go  forward  ;  and  the  ministers  and 
others  in  Ireland  had  resolved  that  Mr  Livingstone  should  not  go 
alone.  It  was  so  ordered  by  providence  that  they  both  returned. 
Not  long  after  their  return,  Mr  Blair  and  the  other  three  deposed 
ministers  got  their  liberty,  and  were  restored  in  May  1634,  accord- 
ing as  his  wife  had  foretold  to  Mr  Welsh  when  he  was  in  London, 
p.  100. 

Shortly  after,  on  the  23d  of  June  that  same  year,  the  Lord 
called  home  worthy  Mr  Welsh,  about  seven  months  after  ]\irs 
Blair's  death.  Messra  Blair  and  Livingstone  hearing  of  his  danger- 
ous sickness  the  Sabbath  before,  came  to  him  to  Temple-Patrick 
in  the  night  time.  He  had  many  gracious  and  edifying  expres- 
sions, as  also  wrestlings  sometimes.  One  time  when  he  had  said, 
"  O  !  for  hypocrisy  !"  Mr  Blair  said  to  the  great  company  of  Chris- 
tians there  present,  "  See  how  Satan  nibbles  at  his  heel  when  he  is 
*  Stevenson  spells  it  Grooms-port.— X?/(  nf  Livmjstone,  p.  20. 


136  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1635. 

going  over  the  threshold  to  heaven."  A  little  after,  Mr  Livingstone 
being  at  prayer  at  his  bed  side,  and  the  word  "■  Victory  "  coming 
out  of  his  mouth,  he,  '  Mr  Welsh,'  took  hold  of  his  hand  and  de- 
sired him  to  cease  a  little,  and  clapped  both  his  hands  and  cried 
out,  "  Victory,  victory,  for  evermore  !"  and  then  desired  him  to  go 
on  in  prayer,  and  then  Avithin  a  little  expired. 

The  six  months'  liberty  granted  by  the  deputy  to  ISir  Blair  and 
the  other  three  (which  Kberty,  and  time  of  that  second  interim, 
was  nobly  improven  to  the  great  advantage  of  the  people,  and 
growth  of  the  good  work  of  God,  in  and  among  them)  being  ex- 
pired ;  though  the  deputy  was  willing  to  grant  other  six  months, 
yet  Bishop  Bramhall  did  depose  and  excommunicate  them  in 
1634,  and  did  hunt  out  his  pursuivants  to  apprehend  them.  Yet 
notwithstanding  of  this  hot  persecution,  Mr  Blair  did  constantly 
preach  ordinarily  in  his  own  house,  which  was  kept  and  ordered 
by  a  discreet  old  servant,  Christian  Honett,  and  frequently  in  other 
houses,  among  his  intimates  and  relations,  but  most  often  in  Holy- 
wood  ;  and  sometimes  he,  and  likewise  the  rest,  did  go  into  their 
kirks,  and  convene  the  people  near  unto  the  kirk,  and  as  they 
had  done  when  they  were  deposed,  4th  of  June  1632,  so  now 
again  he  prayed  with  the  people,  and  after  one  had  read  a  chapter, 
he  discoursed  thereon. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1635,  ]\ir  Blair  began  to  think  of 
a  second  marriage,  and  after  seeking  the  Lord  his  direction,  lead- 
ing and  guiding  in  so  important  a  business,  the  Lord  inclined  his 
mind  and  will,  yea  determined  him  to  make  choice  of  a  well-born 
(as  they  use  to  phrase  it)  gentlewoman,  Katharine  Montgomerie, 
daughter  to  Hugh  Montgomerie,  laird  of  Busbie,  in  the  west,  who 
after  the  sale  of  these  lands,  went  to  L'eland,  and  there  made  jiur- 
chase  of  the  lands  of  Ballishary,  and  others.  This  gentleman  had 
many  daughters,  one  married  to  holy  Mr  Cunningham  of  Holy- 
wood,  another  to  ISIr  Hamilton,  minister  at  Killileagh  in  Ireland, 
and  Ballantrae  in  Scotland.  Her  father  was  out  of  the  house  of 
Eglinton,  her  mother  out  of  the  house  of  Glencairn.  Her  sisters, 
some  of  them  were  very  eminent  for  grace,  wisdom,  virtue  and  pru- 


1G35.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  137 

dence,  but  IVIr  Blair's  wife  excelled  them  all  in  all  these  and  other 
qualifications  adorning  wives,  1  Peter  iii.  3,  4.  After  the  mar- 
riage was  agreed  upon,  and  they  were  contracted,  Mr  Blair  came 
over  to  Scotland  and  was  much  in  Edinburgh,  where  he  acquainted 
his  first  wife's  friends  and  relations.  Albeit  his  purpose  of  marriage 
with  his  second  wife  in  Edinburgh,  Mr  Blair  kept  many  private 
meetings  (so  were  these  meetings  cahed  then,  which  now,  anno 
1676,  are  called  Conventicles,  oclioso  nomine),  in  private  families, 
where  some  few  eminent  Christians  convened,  and  spent  the  time 
mostly  in  prayer,  with  fasting  and  humiliation  of  soul,  the  bishops 
then  being  in  their  ruff,*  and  persecution  waxing  hotter  ;  Perth 
Articles  t  being  urged  and  other  innovations  plotted  and  much 
feared.  Yet  the  persecution  then  was  nothing  so  hot  and  violent 
as  now ;  for  then  the  bishops  (especially  Spottiswood)  were  more 
moderate,  and  dealt  with  the  King  for  moderation,  and  did  strive 
to  keep  off  innovations,  such  as  surplice,  liturgy,  &c.,  and  did  de- 
pose very  few  of  the  nonconfoi'uiists  ;  for  in  the  province  of  Fife 
there  were  only  two  deposed  ;  and  then  they  never  challenged  de- 
posed ministers  for  public  preaching  and  assisting  at  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  communion.  And  that  was  the  cause  why  in  these 
times  there  were  no  meetings  in  the  fields,  yea,  no  great  and  ^ro- 
miscuous  meetings  in  houses,  but  only  private  meetings  of  eminent 
Christians  ordinarily;  and  when  it  could  be  had,  they  had  a  minister, 
one  or  more,  with  them  as  occasion  served,  but  often  private  Chris- 
tians convened  for  prayer  and  conference. 

]\Ir  Blair  was  often  in  WilHam  Kigg  |  of  Athernie's  house,  and  in 
his  first  wife's  relations'  houses.  In  April  that  year  he  came  over  to 
Athernie  in  Fife,  where  ordinarily  William  Kigg  then  lived.  He  was 
earnestly  invited  by  Athernie  to  go  with  him  to  his  uncle's  house,  to 
assist  at  the  celebration  of  the  communion,  whereunto  he  conde- 
scended.    The  burden  of  the  whole  work  was  laid  on  him  by  the 

*  Rujf,  or  rnlf,  Scot. — rest,  quietness, 
t  Articles  on  ceremonies  agreed  to  at  Perth  in  1018. 

X  Rigg  was  bailie  of  Edinburgh,  and  for  some  time  a  jjrisoner  in  Blackness  for  refus- 
ing to  communicate  kneeling. — Livingstone's  Charactenstics.     Select  Biofjr.  vol.  i,  343. 


138  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1635. 

honest  infirm  old  man,  Mr  John  Row;  so  he  preached  the  Saturday's 
sermon  on  Isaiah  Ixiii.,  15,  16,  &c. ;  Sabbath  before  noon  on  Ephes. 
iii.  14,  15,  16,  &c. ;  he  served  seventeen  tables  in  the  afternoon,  on 
the  57th  Psalm  ;  so  easy  a  thing  it  was  for  him  to  preach  often,  and 
that  upon  short  advertisement,  having  a  strong  healthful  body,  and 
a  good  composure  book.  There  were  at  that  communion  in  Carnock 
very  many  people  from  Edinburgh  and  the  east  nook  of  Fife,  for 
at  this  time  kneeling  was  vehemently  urged  ;  and  honest  and 
godly  professors  that  did  not  consent  unto  the  apostacy,  and  were 
not  involved  in  the  national  perjury  of  these  times,  they  did  flock 
unto  communions  where  not  only  the  minister  of  the  place  was 
antiprelatic  and  unconform,  but  unconform  deposed  ministers  were 
employed ;  it  being  the  opinion  of  the  then  bishops,  that  though 
they  deposed  a  minister  from  his  benefice,  and  discharged  him  the 
exercise  of  his  ministry  in  the  parish  where  he  served,  yet  they 
did  not  unminister  him,  and  therefore  did  not  quarrel  his  preaching 
and  praying  in  public,  or  assisting  at  the  celebration  of  the  holy 
communion.  Shortly  after  the  diet  of  this  communion,  Mr  Blair 
returned  to  Ireland,  and  thereafter  was  married  May  12,  1635. 
After  their  marriage,  the  first  time  they  went  to  visit  her  father, 
going  from  his  first  wife's  sister's  house,  at  the  iron  furnace  of 
JNIillon,  [Malone],  they  both  met  with  a  remarkable  passage  of 
providence,  yet  they  got  a  merciful  delivery  out  of  a  most  deadly 
danger ;  for,  riding  the  water  of  Belfast,  it  being  thicker  than  he 
apprehended,  his  horse  being  almost  at  swimming,  his  wife  was 
carried  oiF  the  horse  and  down  the  river,  which  Mr  Blair  kuew  not 
until  he  saw  his  wife  carried  down  the  water  with  the  current  of 
the  stream,  but  the  stream  not  being  violent,  being  sea  water,  or 
rather  the  fresh  water  joined  up  with  the  tide,  she  was  carried  down 
softly  floating  above  the  superfice  [surface]  of  the  water.  Mr  Blair 
perceiving  his  wife  in  this  fearful  hazard  and  danger,  immediately 
quitting  his  horse  and  going  down  the  brink  of  the  river  a  little, 
did  put  his  life  in  his  hand,  (resolving  rather  to  hazard  his  own 
life  than  to  be  a  spectator  of  the  loss  of  his  newly  married  wife's 
life),  by  riding  into  the  water  to  the  shoulders,  till  he  approached 


1635.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  139 

near  his  wife,  and  putting  out  his  staff,  she  gripping  it,  he  did 
puU  her  to  him,  and  so  both  were  preserved,  Ps.  xviii.  6,  16,  and 
xxxvi.  6. 

Here  I  cannot  but  insert  the  laudable  testimony  which  Mr  John 
Livingstone,  minister  at  Killinchie,  gave  unto  all  these  famous  and 
worthy  ministers  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  unto  the  professors 
there.  Take  it  in  his  own  words,  as  it  is  in  the  History  of  his  life, 
written  by  himself: — "  Among  aU  these  ministers  (speaking  of  their 
montlily  meeting  at  Antrim,  mentioned  by  Mr  Blair,  p.  71),  there 
was  never  any  jar  nor  jealousy,  nor  among  the  professors,  the 
greater  part  of  them  being  Scots,  and  a  good  number  of  gracious 
English,  all  whose  contention  was  to  prefer  others  to  themselves ; 
and  also  the  gifts  of  the  ministers  were  much  different,  yet  it  was 
not  observed  that  the  hearers  followed  any  to  the  undervaluing  of 
others.  Many  of  these  religious  professors  had  been  profane  ;  and 
for  debt,  and  want,  and  worse  causes,  had  left  Scotland ;  yet  the 
Lord  was  pleased,  by  his  word,  to  work  such  a  change.  I  do  not 
think  there  were  any  more  lively,  experienced  Christians  than 
were  these  of  that  time,  and  that  of  good  numbers,  yea,  and  of  per- 
sons of  good  outward  condition  in  the  world.  Being  but  lately 
brought  in,  the  lively  edge  was  not  gone  off  them  ;  and  the  per- 
petual fear  that  the  bishops  would  put  away  their  ministers,  made 
them,  with  great  hunger,  wait  on  the  ordinances.  I  have  known 
them  that  have  come  several  miles  from  their  own  houses  to  the 
communions,  to  the  Saturday's  sermon,  and  spent  the  whole  Satur- 
day's night  in  several  companies,  sometimes  a  minister  being  with 
them,  sometimes  themselves  alone,  in  conference  and  prayer,  and 
waited  on  the  public  ordinances  the  whole  Sabbath  day,  and  spent 
the  Sabbath  night  likewise,  and  yet,  at  the  Monday's  sermon,  not 
troubled  with  sleepiness,  and  so  not  to  have  slept  till  they  went 
home.  Because  of  their  holy  and  righteous  carriage,  they  were 
generally  reverenced,  even  by  the  multitude  that  they  lived  among. 
Some  of  them  had  attained  such  a  dexterity  of  '  expressing'  reli- 
gious purposes  by  resemblances  of  worldly  things,  that,  being  at 
feasts  and  meals,  they  would,  among  themselves,  entertain  a  spi- 


140  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G3G. 

ritual  discourse  for  a  long  time,  and  the  other  professed  that, 
though  they  spoke  good  English,  they  coidd  not  understand  what 
they  said.  In  these  days  it  was  no  great  difficulty  for  a  minister 
to  preach  or  pray  in  public,  such  was  the  hunger  of  the  hearers, 
and  it  w^as  hard  to  judge  whether  there  was  more  of  the  Lord's 
presence  in  the  public  or  in  the  private  meetings."  * 

In  winter  1635,  the  deposed  and  excommunicat  ministers 
perceiving  no  appearance  of  liberty,  either  to  preachers  or  profes- 
sors, from  the  bondage  of  the  prelates,  they,  with  a  number  of  the 
north  of  Ireland,  and  some  few  of  Scotland,  now  fixedly  resolved 
(as  they  had  attempted  before)  to  transport  themselves  to  New 
England.  Others  of  their  friends  resolved  to  follow  them.  They 
had  gotten  letters  from  the  Governor  and  Council,  fuU  of  kind  invi- 
tation and  large  promises  of  good  accommodation.  They  built  a  ship 
near  Belfast,  called  Eagle  Wing,  (Exod.  xix.  4.)t  about  115  tons. 
They  were  minded  to  have  set  out  in  the  spring  1 636,  but,  through 
difficulties  that  use  to  arise  in  such  undertakings,  in  preparing  the 
ship,  and  their  other  accommodations,  it  was  September  following 
before  they  set  sail.  They  were  in  all,  to  go  j^fissengers  at  that 
time,  about  140,  of  whom  the  chief  were  Messrs  Blair,  Living- 
stone, Hamilton,  Maclellan,  Stewart,  provost  of  Ayr,  Archibald 
Campbell,  David  Garven,  &c. ;  among  whom  was  one  Andrew 
Brown,  of  the  parish  of  Lern,  born  deaf  and  dumb,  who  had  been 
a  very  vicious,  loose  man,  but  when  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  make 
a  change  in  several  of  that  parish,  a  very  sensible  change  was 
found  on  him,  not  only  in  forsaking  several  of  his  loose  courses, 
but  joining  himself  to  religious  people,  and  all  the  exercises  of 
God's  worship,  both  public  and  private,  and  ordinarily,  morning 
and  evening,  would  go  alone  to  prayer,  and  used  to  weep  at  ser- 
mons, and,  by  such  signs  as  those  who  were  acquainted  with  him 
understood,  would  express  many  signs  of  the  work  of  God  on  his 
spirit,  so  that,  upon  his  earnest  desire,  with  the  consent  of  all  the 
ministers  that  vised  to  meet  at  Antrim,  he  was  at  last  admitted  to 

*  See  Livingstone's  Life,  in  Select  Biographies,  TTW.  Soc.  ed.  vol.  i.  p.  143. 
t  "  I  l>are  you  on  eagles'  icings,  and  lirought  you  unto  niysellV 


163G.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  141 

the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  Mr  Blair  (as  the  rest  of  the 
ministers  that  Avere  to  go)  was  abundantly  clear  that  the  Lord 
approved  their  intention  and  undertaking,  and  was  as  much  in 
making  of  preparation  as  any  of  the  rest ;  yea,  during  all  that  time, 
Mr  Blair,  and  they  that  were  in  his  first  wife's  sister's  house,  where 
he  dwelt  with  his  wife,  spent  one  day  of  the  week  in  fasting  and 
prayer,  for  a  blessing  on  their  undertaking.  Yet,  not  only  Mr 
Blair,  but  Mr  Livingstone  also,  before  their  outsetting,  often  said 
that  it  gave  them  in  their  mind  that  they  would  never  go  to  New 
England.  Li  August  that  year,  1636,  all  the  rest  of  the  honest 
ministers  were  deposed ;  *  and  in  that  same  month,  Mr  Blair's  wife 
brought  forth  her  first-born  child,  baptised  William ;  and,  about 
five  weeks  before  that,  in  the  latter  end  of  June,  Mr  Livingstone's 
wife  brought  forth  her  first-born  child,  called  John.  These  two 
worthy  wives  and  holy  women  married  their  husbands  when  they 
were  deposed,  and,  so  as  to  their  outward  condition  in  the  world, 
in  a  suifering,  sad,  and  desolate  condition,  with  a  resolution,  not- 
withstanding of  their  desolate  and  needy  condition,  to  go  with 
their  husbands,  Christ's  suffering  servants,  and  his  ambassadors  in 
bonds,  whithersoever  the  Lord  called  them  to  preach,  and  so  to 
spread  the  gospel,  though  it  were  by  sea  and  land,  even  to 
America. 

But  to  return  to  that  famous  sea  voyage  :  They  had  much  toil  in 
their  preparation  to  so  great  a  voyage,  and  many  hindrances  in 
their  outsetting,  and  both  sad  and  glad  hearts  in  taking  leave  of 
their  friends ;  for  they  found,  in  the  midst  of  mutual  grief,  their 
hearts  often  well  refreshed,  both  in  public  and  private.  That  Avhich 
grieved  their  friends  whom  they  left  behind  was,  that  they  could 
neither  be  ready  to  go  with  them,  which  was  their  earnest  desire, 
neither  could  they  heartily  pray  to  God  for  a  prosperous  voyage 
to  them ;  yea,  some  of  them  prayed  that,  after  the  Lord  had  caused 
them  to  go  down  to  the  sea,  and  tossed  them  a  while  in  the  depths, 
he  would  bring  them  back  again,  &c. 

*  These  were  Messrs  Bryce  of  Broadiclantl,  Ridge  of  Antrim,  Cunningham  of  Holy- 
wood,  Colvert  of  Oldstone,  and  Hamilton  of  Bally  water.— i^ejJ,  i.  188-194. 


142  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR. 

At  last,  on  the  9th  of  September  163G,  they  loosed  from  Loch- 
fergus,  but  with  contrary  winds  were  detained  in  Lochryan  in 
Scotland,  and  grounded  the  ship  to  search  some  leaks  in  the  Kyles 
of  Bute ;  yet,  thereafter,  they  set  to  sea,  and,  for  some  space, 
liad  fair  weather,  till  they  were  betwixt  three  and  four  hundred 
leagues  from  Ireland,  and  nearer  the  bank  of  Newfoundland  than 
any  part  of  Em'ope ;  but  if  ever  the  Lord  spoke  by  his  winds  and 
other  dispensations,  it  was  made  evident  to  them  that  it  was  not 
his  will  they  should  go  to  New  England.     For,  first,  they  for- 
gathered with  a  mighty  hurricane,   out  of  the  north-west,   that 
broke  one  of  the  great  master  joists  made  to  go  cross  the  middle  of 
the  ship ;  there  were  no  waves  there,  but  mountains  of  waters,  as 
the  poet  said.     Well  did  they  then  understand  and  get  experi- 
ence of  what  is  written.  Psalm  cvii.,  23-29.     They  sprung  a  leak 
that  gave  them  700  strokes  of  water  pumped  in  the  half-hour  glass, 
yet  we  lay  at  hull  a  long  time,  to  beat  ovit  the  storm.    In  the  time 
of  the  vehemency  of  the  storm,  he  that  was  at  the  rudder  and  the 
pilot,  came  wringing  his  hands,  and  with  a  lamentable  voice  cried, 
"  Now  God  have  mercy  upon  us  all,  for  we  are  all  gone  !  the  ship 
will  not  answer  the  rudder ;  it's  either  broke  or  dung  off*  the  hin- 
ges ;  butt  heaven  there's  no  safety  for  us."    Mr  Blair,  hearing  this 
sad  alarm,  and  desperate  lamentation,  being  led  to  the  door  of  the 
cabin,  where  he  lay,  (for  he  was  often  sea-sick),  and  holding  a  tail 
of  a  tow  in  his  hand,  lest  he  should  have  been  tossed  to  and  again, 
did  most  confidently,  and  like  another  Paul,  (Acts  xxvii.  22),  ex- 
press such  hopes,  that  rather  than  the  Lord  would  suffer  such  a 
company  in  such  sort  to  perish ;  if  the  ship  should  break,  he  would 
put  wings  to  all  their  shoulders,  and  carry  them  as  on  "  eagles' 
wings"  (Deut.  xxxii.  11)  safe  ashore.    One  of  the  company,  a  ship- 
wright,$  hearing  Mr  Blair  so  confidently  and  prophet-like  express 
himself,  to  the  great  encouragement  of  all,  steps  out,  saying,  "  I  will 
venture  my  life  for  the  safety  of  all  the  rest ;  for  if  some  one  do  it 

*  Duvg  off]  Scot. — driven  off. 

t  But  heaven,  Scot. — without  or  besides  heaven. 

X  In  a  MS.  Life  of  Blair  this  person  is  called  "  Andrew  Agnew,  a  godly  passenger." 


163G.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  143 

not,  infallibly  we  are  all  gone."  So  they  did  tie  him  about  the 
middle  with  clothes  and  ropes,  as  he  desired  and  directed  them, 
and  gave  him  and  tied  to  him  such  instruments  and  materials  as 
he  desired  and  they  judged  necessary  and  convenient  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  then  did  let  him  down  to  the  rudder,  holding  in  their 
hands  a  large  rope  tied  about  his  middle.  This  man  did  so  fix  the 
rudder  on  its  hinges,  that  it  not  only  served  them  all  the  while 
till  they  came  ashore,  but,  after  this  voyage,  the  ship  made  a 
Spanish  voyage  with  that  same  helm.  Thus  the  Lord  delivered 
them  out  of  that  deadly  danger. 

One  morning  the  master  and  company  came  and  told  them  it 
was  impossible  for  them  to  hold  out  any  longer,  and  although  they 
should  beat  out  that  storm,  they  would  be  sure  to  forgather  with 
one,  two  or  three  more  of  that  sort  before  they  would  reach  New 
England.  After  prayer,  when  they  were  consulting  what  to  do, 
Mr  Livingston  proponed  an  overture,  wherewith  he  was  perplexed 
thereafter,  viz.,  that  seeing  they  had  the  Lord's  warrant  for  their 
intended  voyage,  however,  it  be  presumption  to  propone  a  sign  to 
him,  yet  they  being  in  such  a  strait,  and  having  stood  out  some 
days  already,  they  might  yet  for  twenty  hours  stand  to  it,  and  if, 
in  that  time,  he  were  pleased  to  calm  the  storm  and  send  a  fair  wind, 
they  might  take  it  for  an  approbation  of  their  advancing,  otherwise 
they  should  return.  To  this  they  all  agreed ;  but  that  day  and  the 
next  thereafter,  they  had  the  sorest  storm  that  they  had  felt.  So 
all  ahnost  began  to  think  of  returning  ;  only  Mr  Blair  was  not  yet 
fully  resolved  and  clearly  determined  to  retm'n.  Whereupon  they 
all  resolved  to  lay  it  over  upon  Mr  Blair,  that  if  he,  after  seeking 
of  God  by  earnest  prayer  did  still  continue  resolute  to  go  forward, 
they  should  do  so,  but  if  he  were  moved  to  be  of  their  mind,  that 
they  should  presently  turn  sail.  Mr  Blair,  hearing  that  the  deter- 
mination of  so  great  and  important  a  question  or  case  was  wholly 
devolved  over  upon  him,  to  be  decided  by  him  alone,  did  fall  into 
a  fit  of  fainting  or  a  kind  of  swarf,  *  but  shortly  recovering,  he  was 
determined  to  be  of  their  mind.     So  all  of  them  resolved  and  took 

*  Swarf,  Scot. — swoon. 


144  LIFE  OF  ROBEUT  BLAIR.  [163G. 

it  for  granted  that  it  was  the  Lord's  will  and  mind  that  they  should 
return ;  so  that  the  next  morning,  so  soon  as  they  saw  day,  they 
turned  and  made  good  way  A\'ith  a  main  cross  of  a  little  fore-top- 
sail; and  after  some  tossing,  they  at  last  came  to  Lochfergus,  whence 
they  loosed  November  the  third. 

During  all  this  time,  amidst  such  fears  and  dangers,  the  most 
part  of  the  passengers  were  most  cheerful  and  confident.  Some 
of  them  said  that  they  never,  in  all  their  days,  thought  the  day 
60  short  as  all  that  while,  though  they  slept  some  nights  not 
above  two  hours,  and  some  not  at  all,  but  stood  most  part  in 
the  gallery,  astern  of  the  great  cabin  where  ISIr  Blair's  and  Mr 
Livingstone's  families  lay  ;  for  in  the  morning,  by  that  time, 
every  one  had  been  some  while  alone,  and  then  at  prayer  in  their 
several  societies,  and  then  at  public  prayer  in  the  ship,  it  was  time 
to  go  to  dinner ;  and  after  dinner  they  would  visit  their  friends  in 
the  inner  room,  or  those  betwixt  the  decks,  or  any  that  had  been  sick ; 
and  then  public  prayer  afternoon  did  come,  and  after  that  supper 
and  family  exercises.  Mr  Blair  was  much  of  the  time  weakly,  and 
lay  in  the  time  of  the  storm.  Several  of  those  betwixt  the  decks 
were  sickly  ;  one  aged  person  and  one  child  died  and  were  buried 
in  the  sea.  One  woman,  wife  of  ISIichael  Colvert,  brought  forth  a 
child,  whom  Mr  Livingston  baptized  the  next  Sabbath,  and  called 
him  Seaborn.  Mr  Blair's  wife  went  a-board  with  her  young  son 
sucking  her  breast,  yet  the  Lord  gave  her  such  measure  of  health 
and  strength,  and  a  willing  mind  to  take  up  the  sweet  cross  of 
Christ  daily,  hourly,  yea  momently,  (while  she  with  her  sucking 
young  chUd  were  sadly  exercised,  and  grievously  tossed  in  the 
depths),  that  she  had  mUk  enough  for  the  child ;  so  that  by  this 
ISlr  Blair  could  not  but  evidently  see,  and  doubtless  did  acknow- 
ledge God's  good  guiding  him  in  his  choice,  wealling  *  out  for 
him  a  second  helper,  very  meet  for  him  now  in  his  sad  yet  sweet 
though  suffering  condition.  But  the  child  all  the  time  they  were 
at  sea  was  very  sick,  so  that  his  mother  often  feared  his  death  ; 
and  that  which  occasioned  the  child's  sickness,  in  all  probability, 
*  WealUng,  or  rvaUnr/,  Scot. — choosing,  selecting. 


1636.]  LIFE  or  ROBEPwT  BLAIR.  145 

was  tills  :  When  they  went  aboard,  the  child  was  but  recovering 
of  the  small  pox,  so  that  the  cold  sea  air  had  weaned  the  child. 
It  pleased  the  only  wise  Lord  to  twist  in  this  small  ply  in  Mr 
Blair's  rod.  After  they  had  turned  sail,  and  in  a  short  time  made 
good  way  homeward,  although  they  could  not  imagine  what  to  make 
of  such  a  dispensation,  yet  they  were  very  confident  that  the  Lord 
would  let  them  see  soon  what  that  would  abundantly  satisfy  them. 
When  they  came  near  to  Ireland,  they  began  to  consult  what  to  do 
for  the  future.  The  major  part  inclined  to  set  to  sea  again  the 
next  spring,  beseeming  themselves  that  they  set  to  sea,  the  winter 
approaching;  but  Mr  Blair  said,  that  though  he  was  the  last  man  that 
was  induced  to  return,  yet  they  having  made  a  fair  offer,  not  only 
of  their  service,  but  of  themselves  to  God,  to  spread  and  propagate 
the  gospel  in  America,  and  the  Lord  had  accepted  of  their  offer, 
yea,  and  of  themselves,  he  thought  they  had  done  enough  to  testify 
their  willing  mind  to  glorify  God ;  and  for  himself,  he  for  the  pre- 
sent resolved  never  to  make  a  new  attempt,  seeing  the  Lord,  by 
such  speaking  providences  and  dispensations,  had  made  it  evident 
to  them  that  it  Avas  not  his  will  they  should  glorify  him  in  America, 
he  having  work  for  them  at  home.  All  the  company  of  passengers 
hearing  ISIr  Blair  thus  express  himself,  both  ministers  and  others 
were  of  his  mind.  That  which  most  grieved  all  of  them  almost 
was,  that  they  were  like  to  be  signs  and  wonders,  and  a  very  mock- 
ery to  the  wicked,  who  did  laugh  and  flout  at  their  enterprise. 
Bat  Mr  Blair,  after  much  sad  exercise  tliereanent,  at  last  very 
confidently,  as  he  had  foretold  (when  they  were  in  greatest  danger 
by  the  rudders  being  broken  and  dung  off  the  hinges)  their  de- 
livery and  safety,  so  now  when  they  were  to  go  ashore  did  as  con- 
fidently assure  them,  that,  though  the  wicked  among  Avhom  they 
lived  did  flout  at  their  enterprise,  yet  that  the  Lord  should  so  bow 
and  incline  their  minds  that  they  should  be  glad  of  their  return, 
and  welcome  them.  For  he,  lecturing  on  Psalm  Ixv.  7,  which  was 
their  last  lecture  at  sea,  and  his  ordinary  text  for  lecturing,  said, 
"  As  the  Lord  has  given  us  a  wonderful  proof  of  his  omnipotence 
and  kindness  to  us  in  stilling  the  noise  of  the  seas  and  the  noise 

K 


14G  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLATR.  [1637. 

of  their  waves,  so  shall  the  Lord  as  evidently  give  us  a  proof  of 
his  sovereignty  and  dominion  over  the  unruly  spirits  and  tempers 
of  wicked  people,  in  stilling  and  calming  the  tumults  of  the  wicked 
people  to  whom  we  are  going,  '  and'  among  whom  we  are  to  live 
a  space."  And  the  Lord  fulfilled  the  word  of  his  servant,  so  that 
not  only  they  were  not  mocked  but  welcomed,  even  by  the 
wicked  ;  yea,  the  prelates  and  their  followers  were  much  dismayed 
and  feared  at  their  return.  But  neither  the  prelates  and  confor- 
mists, nor  they  themselves,  knew  that  \vitliin  a  year  the  Lord 
would  not  only  root  out  the  prelates  in  Scotland,  and  after  that 
out  of  England  and  Ireland,  but  make  some  of  them,  especially 
Messrs  Blair,  Livingstone  and  Maclellan,  &c.,  to  be  very  instru- 
mental in  the  work  of  reformation. 

Their  outward  means  were  much  impaired  by  this  sea  voyage 
and  blessed  disappointment ;  for  they  had  put  much  of  their  stocks 
in  provisions  for  a  plantation,  and  somewhat  in  merchandise,  which 
they  behoved  to  sell  at  low  rates  at  their  return,  and  had  provided 
themselves  with  some  servants  for  fishing  and  building  of  houses, 
whom  they  behoved  to  turn  off ;  and,  lastly,  much  of  their  house- 
hold stuff,  and  many  of  the  ministers'  books  were  spoiled  with  sea- 
water  in  the  time  of  the  grievous  storm.  They  came  ashore  at 
Lochfergus,  where  they  embarked ;  and  that  same  night  Mr  Blair's 
young  son,  William,  died,  so  that  he  was  persecuted  to  the  death 
by  the  prelates  and  their  followers.  In  this  the  Lord  heard  his 
mother's  prayers,  who  often  prayed  that  he  might  not  die  at  sea, 
nor  be  made  meat  to  sea  monsters.  Mr  Blair  went  and  dwelt  at 
the  Strone  in  Belfast,*  in  the  house  of  one  Archibald  Millar. 
Mr  Livingstone  returned  to  his  mother-in-law's  house.  They  both 
preached  each  Sabbath  that  winter  as  they  had  done  before,  not- 
withstanding the  hot  persecution  of  the  prelates,  by  sending  out 
their  pursuivants  and  others,  their  emissaries,  to  apprehend  them. 

In  February,  1637,  one  Frank  Hill  of  Castlereagh,  who  yet  used 
to  come  some  Sabbaths  to  their  meetings  in  Mr  Blair's  and  Mr 
Livingstone's  houses,  being  in  Dublin,  informed  the  State  against 
*  Dr  Reid  thinks  the  correct  reading  is  ''  Strand  of  Belfast." 


1037.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  147 

Messrs  Blair  and  Livingstone.  Order  was  given  for  their  appre- 
hension. One  night  one  Andrew  Young,  a  servant  of  Mr  Barr's,* 
who  dwelt  hard  by  Mr  Livingstone's  house,  overheard  a  pursuivant 
calling  to  a  stabler  to  provide  against  to-morrow  morning  two 
horses  to  him,  and  another,  because  they  had  order  to  go  to  the 
north  and  bring  up  two  Scots  deposed  ministers.  This  Andrew 
immediately  goes  to  another  stabler,  prepares  a  horse,  and  rode  all 
that  night,  and  in  two  days  after  brings  them  word ;  so  that  Messrs 
Blair  and  Livingstone  went  out  of  the  way,  and  came  over  to  Scot- 
land. When  they  came  to  Irvine,  to  Mr  David  Dickson,  they 
learned  that  some  good  gentlemen  of  that  country  had  been  with 
him,  having  heard  that  they  were  come  to  Scotland,  and  had  de- 
sired him  not  to  employ  them  to  preach  for  fear  of  the  bishops, 
they  being  then  upon  the  urging  of  the  Service  Book,  lest  they 
shoidd  take  occasion  thereby  to  put  him  out  of  his  ministry.  "  But," 
said  honest  Mr  Dickson,  "  I  dare  not  be  of  their  opinion,  nor  follow 
their  counsel,  so  far  to  discountenance  these  worthies,  now  when 
they  are  suffering  for  holding  fast  the  name  of  Christ  and  eveiy 
letter  of  that  blessed  name,  as  not  to  employ  them  as  in  former 
times  ;  yea,  I  would  think  that  my  so  doing  would  provoke  the 
Lord  so  that  1  might  upon  another  account  be  deposed,  and  not 
have  so  good  a  conscience."     Upon  the  other  hand,  Messrs  Blair 

*  The  proprietor  of  the  iron  furnaces  at  Malone.  "■»  He  was  an  extensive 
merchant,  and  traded  under  a  special  license  between  Scotland  and  Irchmd.  He 
was  particularly  obnoxious  to  Wentworth,  who,  in  a  letter  to  Laud,  in  the 
year  1637,  bitterly  and  satirically  complains  of  his  misrepresentations.  '  There  is 
one,'  says  he,  '  Mr  Barr,  a  Scotchman  by  nation,  whose  person  your  Grace  once 
saw  before  you  at  the  Committee  for  Irish  AfiPairs  at  my  last  being  in  England.'  He 
then  describes  him  as  '  scarce  so  good  as  a  petty  chapman,'  though  he  '  ])retends  to 
be  a  merchant,'  and  had  got  a  special  license ;  as  '  leaping'  between  England  and 
Ireland,  '  like  a  jackanapes  betwixt  two  stools ;'  '  who  holds  every  inward  intelli- 
gence with  some  here  who  wish  me  ill ;'  and  as  procuring  access  to  the  King  in  Eng- 
land, to  whom  he  was  whispering  continually  something  or  anotlier  to  my  prejudice  ; 
boasts  familiarly  how  freely  he  speaks  with  his  majesty,  what  he  saith  concerning  me, 
'  And  now,  aiitpkcseyour  inajestij,  ea  werde  mare  anent  your  debuty  of  Yrland.'  " — Reid,  i. 
235.  "We  find  LesUe,  the  bishop  of  Down,  in  a  letter  to  the  Lord-deputy  of  Ire- 
land in  1638,  speaking  of  Barr  as  having  joined  in  the  "  conspiracy"  in  Scotland,  as 
he  designates  the  religious  movement  thei'C  at  that  time,  because  he  was  a  notable 
nonconfonnist,  and  had  been  lately  in  Scotland,  and  had  fled  from  Ireland  for  fear  of 
the  High  Commission. 

K  2 


148  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G37. 

and  Livingstone  were  very  unwilling  either  to  occasion  his  trouble 

or  dissatisfy  any  of  the  gospel  men  of  the  country  ;  but  he  urged 

them  with  such  grounds  that  they  could  not  refuse  to  preach  in 

Irvine,  or  else  where  they  got  a  call.     Mr  Livingstone  went  to 

Lanai'k  to  his  father.     Mr  Blair  abode  at  Irvine,  and  sometimes 

visited  the  Earl  ofCassillis  and  others  in  that  country,  but  always 

was  employed  either  preaching  in  public  or  in  private  meetings. 

The  26th  of  March  that  year,  lGo7,  the  communion  was  celebrated 

at   Irvine,   where  Messrs  Blair  and  Livingstone  were   employed. 

Many  resorted  to  this  communion  even  out  of  Ireland,  out  of  the 

parishes  Bangor  and  Killinchie ;  their  wives  and  some  of  their  eldest 

children  with  their  mothers  came  over. 

All  the  rest  of  the  honest  deposed  ministers  were  forced  to  flee 

out  of  Ireland.     ]\Ir  Cunningham  came  to  Irvine,  and  died  there, 

29th  March,   1637.     He  had  many  gracious  experiences  of  the 

Lord's  goodness  to  him,  and  great  peace  in  regard  of  the  cause 

of  his  suffering,   and  spoke  much  and  well  to  the  Presbytery  of 

Irvine  who  came  to  see  him ;  and  a  little  before  he  died,  his  wife 

sitting  on  a  low  bed  where  he  lay,  and  having  her  hand  upon  his 

hand,  he  was  in  prayer  commending  his  flock  of  Holywood,  and  his 

dear  acquaintance  and  children  to  God  :  and  at  last  he  said,  "  O 

Lord  I  commend  unto  thy  care  this  gentlewoman,  who  is  now  no 

more  my  wife ;"  and  with  that  he  thrust  away  her  hand  with  his 

hand ;   and  after  a  while  he  slept  in  the  Lord,  and  was  buried  in 

the  burial   place  at    the  kirk   of  Irvine.      Mr    Blair    wrote  his 

epitaph,  which  is  engraven  on  his  grave  stone  in  the  kirk-yard  of 

Irvine. 

Hie  Cunninghami  recubat  Robert! 
Corpus.     O  qiialis  genius  latebat, 
Quamque  divinus  fragili  involutus, 
Pulvere  in  isto  ! 
Acrius  nemo  intonuit  superbis  ; 
Nemo  dejectos  magis  erigebat ; 
Sed  Dei  laudes  celebrando,  vicit 

Scque  aliosque.*  ' 

*  Some  weeks  after  Cunningham's  death,  his  persecutors  in  Ireland,  either  not  aware 
of  tlie  event,  or  througli  a  barbarous  malignity  which  would  wreak  its  vengeance  on  the 


1637.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  149 

After  Mr  Blair  liad  abode  some  space  of  time  at  Irvine  with  his 
two  brethren,  where  also  were  many  of  his  near  relations,  his  wife, 
with  the  children  of  his  first  marriage,  came  over  from  Ireland  to 
Irvine.  In  this  short  sea  voyage  Mr  Blair  got  a  third  proof  of 
the  Lord's  merciful  and  gracious  providence  in  preserving  his 
wife,  and  delivering  her  out  of  these  deadly  dangers  (two  whereof 
are  mentioned  before  in  Belfast  water  and  the  long  sea-voyage)  ; 
for  she  and  his  three  children  were  in  greatest  hazard  of  beinc: 
drowned  at  the  bar  of  Irvine.  Mr  Blair,  with  his  brethren  and 
others,  standing  in  the  kirkyard  of  Irvine,  did  see  the  great  hazard 
that  the  boat  was  in,  but  little  knew  he  that  his  dearest  wife  and 

dead,  summoned  him  before  the  High  Commission  at  Dublin,  and  fined  him  for 
not  appearing.  This  could  not  touch  the  good  man  now  reposing  in  the  grave, 
but  it  proved  a  source  of  hardship  to  his  widow  and  numerous  children.  This  appears 
from  a  petition  presented  by  his  widow  to  the  Parliament  of  Ireland  on  this  subject, 
which  is  deserving  of  being  preserved,  as  illustrating  the  intolerance  exercised  towards 
the  Presbj'terians  in  Ireland  at  that  period.  The  petition  is  as  follows  :  "  The  humble 
Petition  of  Isabel  Montgomerie,  relict  of  Mr  Eobert  Cunningham,  late  preacher  at 
Holywood  in  Ireland,  with  her  eight  fatherless  children.  To  the  Commissionar  his  Grace, 
and  to  the  Honourable  Court  of  Parliament,  Most  humbly  she^^•ing,  That  your  Suppli- 
ant's late  husband  (a  man  who  for  his  painfulness  in  his  ministiy  and  holy  conversa- 
tion, was  had  in  estimation  even  by  his  enemies)  being  cited  some  five  weeks  after 
his  death  to  compear  before  the  High  Commission  Court  at  Dublin  in  Ireland,  for  his 
adherence  to  the  National  Covenant  and  Confession  of  the  Faith  of  the  Kirk  of  Scot- 
land, was  fined  iia  twenty  pounds  sterling  for  not  compearance,  notwithstanding  sure 
information  given  to  that  Court  of  his  death ;  upon  the  which,  they  and  their  officers 
did  lift  all  the  cows  and  horses  which  did  remain  for  maintenance  of  your  Suppliant 
and  her  eight  children,  amoimting  far  above  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds  sterling,  and 
drove  them  some  twenty  miles  away,  until  I  found  surety,  under  the  pain  of  forty 
pounds  sterling,  to  pay  the  said  sum  at  a  certain  day,  or  else  to  produce  an  acquittance 
of  the  same  from  the  High  Commission  Court,  which  did  cost  your  Suppliant  more 
charges  nor  my  small  means  could  well  afltbrd,  and  yet  I  am  not  freed  of  the  danger 
thereof.  As  also  because  of  your  Suppliant's  iirm  adherence  to  the  Covenant  of  Scot- 
land, warrants  did  lately  issue  out  for  my  aj^prehension,  and  forced  me  to  forsake  the 
place  of  mine  abode,  together  with  my  fatherless  children,  and  I  am  now  constrained 
to  live  in  this  kingdom  without  certain  residence,  separate  from  my  children  and  all 
means  of  sustentation  :  Which  extraordinary  hard  measure  done  to  me  (as  to  many 
hundreds  more  of  our  nation)  for  adherence  to  our  covenant  made  with  God,  I  do,  in 
all  humility,  remonstrate  to  your  Grace  and  this  honourable  Court  of  Parliament,  en- 
treating that  such  ciying  sins  of  oppression  against  the  widow  and  the  fatherless,  and 
many  moie  of  this  nation,  may,  by  your  Grace  and  Honours,  be  manifested  to  the 
King's  Majesty  for  redress  of  yoxu-  Suppliant,  and  others  who  arc  in  like  case  and  v\)- 
pressed  for  the  same  cause  ;  and  I  with  my  eight  fatherless  children  sliall  ever  and 
earnestly  pray  that  his  majesty  may  long  and  happily  reign  o^•cr  us." — Wodrow  3ISS. 
vol.  Ixii.  folio,  no.  52. 


150  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1637. 

children  were  in  it ;  yet,  notwithstanding,  he  prayed  earnestly  for 
their  preservation,  and  "  the  prayer  of  faith  saved  them,"  James  v. 
17  with  15.  They  lay  all  that  night  at  the  bar,  and  next  morning 
the  Lord  his  God,  to  whom  he  prayed,  brought  safely  to  him  his 
wife  and  children.  For  this  merciful,  yea  wondei'ful,  cast  up  pro- 
vidence, Mr  Blair  heartily  blessed  his  good  and  gracious  God. 
All  this  summer  Mr  Blair  had  as  much  preaching  in  public,  and 
exercises  in  private,  as  ever  before,  mostly  at  Irvine,  and  partly  in 
the  country  about  Irvine,  and  in  Edinburgh.  For  at  this  time 
the  bishops  were  hot  upon  the  chase  urging  the  Service  Book  *  upon 
the  ministry.  This  occasioned  many  private  meetings,  and  the 
godly's  often  speaking  one  to  another  (Mai.  iii.  10,)  in  all  the 
corners  of  the  land,  but  especially  in  Edinburgh.  In  this  sum- 
mer Mrs  Blair  brought  forth  her  second  son,  baptised  David,  in 
Irvine. 

This  summer  several  ministers  in  Scotland  were  charged  to  buy 
and  receive  that  new  infamous,  I  had  almost  said  Popish  Service 
Book,  which  stirred  up  great  thoughts  of  the  hearts  of  them  that 
feared  God  throughout  all  the  land,  and  occasioned  a  great  tumult 
especially  in  the  High  Kirk  of  Edinburgh,  by  some  zealous  and 
holy  Avomen  mostly,  at  the  first  attempting  to  read  that  doleful 
Service  Book  obtruded  upon  the  Kirk  of  Scotland  by  the  prelates 
and  their  followers.  The  true  rise  of  that  blessed  reformation  in 
Scotland  began  with  two  petitions,  one  from  Fife  and  another  from 
the  west,  which  met  together  at  the  Secret  Council's  door  at  Edin- 
burgh, the  one  not  knowing  of  the  other.  After  that,  about  the 
20tli  of  September,  a  great  many  petitions  from  several  parts  and 
corners  of  the  kingdom  were  presented  against  that  Service  Book. 
These  being  denied,  the  number  of  the  petitioners  and  their  de- 
mands increased  ;  for  they  desired  not  only  exemption  from  that 
Service  Book,  (which  was  a  great  deal  worse  than  the  liturgy  in 

*  This  was  the  cclcbnvted  Service  Book,  prepared  by  Archbishop  Laud,  expressly 
for  Scotland,  and  containing  numerous  alterations  on  the  English  Book  of  Common 
Prayer.  The  title  of  this  obnoxious  publication  is,  "  The  Bookc  of  Common  Prayei", 
and  Administration  of  the  Sacraments  and  other  parts  of  Divine  Service,  for  the  use 
of  the  Church  of  Scotland.     Edinburgh,  1637." 


1637.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  151 

England),  but  from  the  five  ceremonies  of  Perth  and  the  High 
Commission  Court.  And  these  things  being  denied,  they  desired 
also  freedom  from  Episcopacy,  the  book  of  canons,  and  of  ordina- 
tion, which  being  denied,  they  humbly  supplicate  for  a  free  Parlia- 
ment and  General  Assembly.  When  all  these  were  still  denied, 
the  number  of  the  petitioners  so  increased,  that  in  some  sort  they 
were  the  whole  body  of  the  land  ;  so  that  it  was  not  only  Primores 
regni,  but,  in  effect,  the  collective  body  of  the  kingdom ;  not  only 
the  better,  but  the  far  greatest  part  of  aU  ranks  and  degrees  that  did 
often  protest  against  the  actings  and  proclamations  of  the  CounciL 
Matters  being  thus  in  great  confosion,  and  no  appearance  of 
pranking  *  of  them,  or  of  any  settling  of  them  and  harmony  be- 
twixt the  Council  and  the  petitioners,  (who  humbly  and  peaceably 
continued  very  long  supplicating  for  a  reformation),  INIr  Blair's  old 
inclination  for  France,  and  his  hankering  after  it,  mentioned  p.  52, 
began  again  to  revive.  He  could  not  but  think,  "  I  being  thrust 
out  of  Ireland,  and  matters  being  thus  in  Scotland,  and  having 
such  an  inclination  to  France,  (p.  53),  now  is  the  time  that  I  must 
at  least  attempt  to  go  to  France,  the  Lord,  by  these  speaking  dis- 
pensations, says  it  to  me."  ]\Ir  Blair,  therefore,  (as  he  thought 
then),  following  the  Lord's  call,  did  attempt  to  go  over  to  France 
to  preach  the  gospel  there,  where  there  are  no  prelates,  and  where 
he  would  be  the  better  liked  of,  (and  so  in  a  greater  capacity  to 
glorify  God  in  winning  of  souls),  because  he  was  persecute  by  the 
bishops  in  Ireland,  and  sadly  threatened  to  be  worse  dealt  with  by 
the  prelates  in  Scotland ;  for  Bishop  Spottiswood,  hearing  of  his 
coming  over  to  Irvine,  vowed  that  he  should  not  get  leave  to  stay 
in  any  of  the  King's  dominions.  He  had  an  invitation,  and  was 
earnestly  dealt  with  to  go  over  and  to  be  preacher  to  Colonel 
Hepburn's  regiment  in  France.  He  condescending,  was  shipped 
in  Leith  Road,  to  be  carried  to  France  with  a  number  of  soldiers 
that  were  levied  in  Scotland  by  the  officers  of  that  regiment,  who 
came  to  Scotland  to  levy  a  recruit  for  their  regiment.  But,  as 
when  he  did  go  down  to  sea  attempting  to  go  to  America,  many 

*  PranJcing — arranging. 


152  LIFE  OP  ROBEET  BLAIR.  [1637. 

laboured  to  dissuade  him,  and  many  prayers  were  poured  out  to 
God  to  bring  him  back  again  ;  so  now,  all  his  relatives  in  Edin- 
burgh Avere  against  his  going  to  France,  yea,  when  he  was  gone  to 
the  ship,  prayed  he  might  be  brought  back  again ;  and  it  seemed 
their  prayers  of  faith  availed  much,  (James  v.  15,  16). 

That  which  occasioned  his  return  and  quitting  that  voyage  was 
this  : — There  was  embarked  with  him  a  number  of  soldiers,  some  of 
them  Highlandraen,  that  were  to  go  passengers  for  the  recruit  of 
Hepburn's  regiment.  These,  especially  the  Highlanders,  were  most 
profligate,  and  desperately  wicked  men.  Mr  Blair  being  necessi- 
tated to  be  near  them,  (as  another  Lot,  "  was  vexed  with  their  filthy 
conversation,  for  he,  dwelling  for  the  time  among  them,  in  seeing 
and  hearing,  vexed  his  righteous  soul  from  day  to  day"*),  he  thought 
he  was  in  a  kind  of  Sodom,  or  in  a  corner  of  heU.  But  at  last, 
when  he  began  to  rebuke  them  for  swearing  and  cursing,  one  of 
the  Highlanders  pulled  out  his  dirk,  vowing  to  stab  him,  but  the 
Lord  hindered  him,  as  he  did  the  other  whom  the  devil  tempted, 
and  he  undertook,  to  stab  Mr  Blair,  p.  66.  This  made  him  pre- 
sently resolve  to  go  ashore,  and  quit  this  French  voyage  ;  so, 
calling  to  the  skipper,  or  shipmaster,  he  desired  that  he  might 
be  set  ashore,  not  imparting  to  him  his  fixed  purpose  of  not  return- 
ing. As  he  was  coming  doA\Ti  from  the  ship  to  the  ship's  boat,  he 
was  in  great  hazard  of  going  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  but 
mercifully  preserved  ;  for  his  foot  sliding  upon  the  ship's  side,  he 
did  fall  down.  But  the  Lord  provided  one  of  the  tows  of  the 
ship  (which  providentially,  yet  accidentally,  was  hanging  near  by 
the  place  where  he  was  falling),  to  be  the  mean  appointed  of  God 
for  his  preservation  ;  for  he  catching  hold  of  that  tow,  did  hang  by 
it  upon  the  ship's  side.  I  have  heard  Mr  Blair  tell  that  when  he 
was  hanging  on  the  side  of  the  ship,  he  had  this  reflection  on  that 
cast  of  providence,  saying  in  his  heart,  "  I  have  often  read  and 
preached  that  the  good  angels  are  ministering  spirits  sent  forth  by 
God  to  serve  and  preserve  them  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation  ;t 
but  though  I  knew  that  truth  notionally,  now  as  to  the  prac- 
*  2  Pet.  ii.  7,  8.  t  Heb.  i.,  last  verse. 


1637.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  153 

tical  and  experimental  knowing  of  it,  it  is  a  new  lesson  to  me. 
Now  I  see,  and  by  experience  find  that  to  be  true  which  is  writ- 
ten, Ps.  xci.  11,  12,  '  For  he  shall  give  his  angels  charge  over  thee 
to  keep  thee  in  all  thy  ways ;  they  shall  bear  thee  up  in  their  hands,' " 
&c.  Without  all  doubt,  though  it  cannot  be  proven  from  Scripture, 
that  every  one  has  a  tutelar  angel,  yet  it  is  certain  that  the  good 
angels  do  many  good  offices  to  the  people  of  God,  especially  to  his 
ministers  and  ambassadors,  which  we  do  not  see,  and  do  not  re- 
mark or  know ;  especially  when  we  are  in  hazard  and  dangers  in 
our  infancy  and  old  age  especially.  See  Isaac  Ambrose,  his  War 
with  Devils  and  Communion  vnth.  Angels.* 

Mr  Blair  being  thus  preserved  coming  ashore,  came  immedi- 
ately from  Leith  to  Edinburgh,  and  to  John  Mein's  house,  whose 
wife,  Barbara  Hamilton,  was  his  first  wife's  sister.  Glad  were 
they,  and  aU  his  first  wife's  friends  and  relations,  of  his  return, 
and  looked  upon  it  as  the  answer  of  their  prayers  and  a  gra- 
cious cast  of  providence.  That  worthy  wife,  B.  H.  '  Barbara 
Hamilton,'  brings  to  Mr  Blair  paper,  pen  and  ink,  saying,  "  Write  a 
Supplication  to  the  Secret  Council,  and  humbly  petition  them  in 
your  own  name,  and  in  the  name  and  behalf  of  others  in  your  con- 
dition, for  liberty  to  preach  the  gospel  publicly,  wherever  ye  get  a 
call  from  honest  ministers  or  people,  and  we  that  are  wives  shall 
put  it  in  the  treasurer's  hand  as  he  goes  in  to  the  Council."  Where- 
unto  Mr  Blair  condescended,  and  delivers  his  supplication,  written 
with  his  own  hand,  to  her.  The  first  Council  day  immediately 
following,  there  convenes  a  great  number  of  the  religious  matrons 
in  Edinburgh,  drawn  up  as  a  guard  from  the  Council  house  door 
to  the  street.  They  agreed  to  put  the  Supplication  in  the  hand  of 
the  oldest  matron,  Alison  Cockburn,  relict  of  Mr  Archibald  Row. 
When  the  treasurer,  Traquair,  perceived  the  old  Avoman  presenting 
to  him  a  paper,  suspecting  that  it  was  something  that  Avould  not 

*  The  treatise  here  referred  to  was  the  production  of  the  •\vcll-known  Isaac  Ani1)rose, 
author  of  "  Looking  iruto  Jesus."  The  first  part  of  it,  "  War  with  Devils,"  which  is 
dedicated  "  To  Jesus  Christ  the  Eternal  Son  of  God,"  is  a  practical  treatise  on  Satan's 
temptations,  founded  on  Eph.  vi.  12.  He  was  a  pious  and  ingenious  writer  of  the 
Puritan  school,  and  at  one  time  very  popular  in  Scotland. 


154  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1638. 

relish  with  the  Council,  he  did  put  her  by,  and  goes  quickly  fi'om  her 
towards  the  Council  house  door,  which  being  perceived  by  B.  PI., 

she  appears  and  pulls  the  paper  out  of  the  old  weak  woman's  hand, 
and  coming  up  to  Traquair,  did  with  her  strong  arm  and  big  hand 
fast  grip  his  gardie,*  saying,  "  Stand,  my  Lord,  in  Christ's  name  I 
charge  you,  tiU  I  speak  to  you."  He  looking  back,  replies,  "  Good 
woman,  what  would  you  say  to  me  ?"  "There  is,"  said  she,  "  a  humble 
supplication  of  Mr  Blair's.  AH  that  he  petitions  for  is  that  he  may 
have  liberty  to  preach  the  gospel,  &c.  I  charge  you  to  befriend 
the  matter  as  you  would  expect  God  to  befriend  you  in  your  dis- 
tress and  at  your  death  !"  He  replied,  "  I  shall  do  my  endeavour, 
and  what  I  can  in  it."  Mr  Blair's  supplication  was  granted  by  the 
Secret  Council ;  and  so  he  had  liberty  not  only  to  stay  in  Scotland, 
but  to  preach  the  gospel  to  any  congregation  where  he  got  an 
orderly  call.  By  this  narration  you  may  perceive  how  the  Lord  in 
this  time  stirred  up  and  animated  the  spirits  not  only  of  men,  espe- 
cially of  the  nobles  who  were  magnates  et  primores  regni,  and  of  the 
ministers  of  the  gospel,  but  even  of  holy  and  religious  women,  who 
as  they  first  opposed  the  reading  of  that  black  Service  Book,  June 
23,  1G37,  so  the  Lord  made  them  instrumental  in  many  good  affairs 
for  the  promoting  of  the  blessed  Reformation ;  the  Lord  making 
use  of  weak,  siUy  and  contemptible  instruments,  that  he  might  get 
all  the  glory  and  praise.     See  Philip  iv.  3;  Rom.  xvi.  1,  3,  G.f 

Those  of  all  ranks  and  degrees  that  were  commissionate,  and  did 
convene  at  Edinburgh  for  supplicating  the  Council  and  for  protest- 
ing against  the  proclamations,  especially  the  ministers,  considering 
that  the  Lord's  greatest  controversy  with  them  was  the  breach  of 

*  Gardie,  Scot.,  arm. 

t  The  "  religious  matrons"  of  Scotland  frequently  appear  on  the  stage  at  this  event- 
ful period  of  our  history.  Actuated  by  the  heroic  spirit  which  tlie  female  sex  has  often 
displayed  in  cases  of  emergency,  they  not  only  served,  as  on  the  ahove  occasion,  in  the 
capacity  of  a  "  guard,"  but  even  ventured  to  resist  the  military.  They  were  particu- 
larly formidable  to  obnoxious  or  renegade  clergj^men,  whom  they  treated  with  little 
ceremony.  A  band  of  such  heroines  as  Bai'bara  Ilaniilton,  "  with  her  strong  arm  and 
big  hand,"  were  not  such  "  silly  and  contemptible  instruments,"  as  Row  has  called 
them,  or  as  we  may  suppose,  judging  from  their  representatives  in  these  degenerate 
days.     Sec  note  on  next  page. 


1638.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  155 

the  National  Covenant,  made  and  often  renewed  in  King  James 
his  time,  by  authority  of  the  King,  Parliament,  Council,  and  Ge- 
neral and  Provincial  Assemblies,  they  did  in  March  1638,  very 
solemnly  in  the  Greyfriars'  kirk  in  Edinburgh,  renew  that  National 
Covenant,  and  thereafter  throughout  the  kingdom  most  solemnly. 
Mr  Livingstone  was  immediately  sent  post  to  London,  with  several 
copies  of  the  Covenant  and  letters  to  friends  that  were  well-wish- 
ers to  the  work  of  reformation.  Mr  Eleazar  Borthwick  was  at 
London  before  him  for  that  same  end  that  ^ir  Livingstone  was 
sent.  These  two  informed  friends  and  some  of  the  Ens;lish  nobi- 
lity  how  matters  went  in  Scotland,  viz.,  that  through  the  whole 
kingdom  or  kirk  of  Scotland,  except  the  Secret  Council  and  some 
of  the  nobility,  and  except  Papists  and  some  few  who  for  base  ends 
adhered  to  the  prelates,  the  people  universally  entered  into  Cove- 
nant with  God  for  a  reformation  of  religion  against  prelates  and 
the  ceremonies.  Not  long  after  the  renewing  of  the  National  Co- 
venant Mr  Blair  got  a  hearty  and  unanimous  call  from  the  town 
and  parish  of  Ayr  to  be  their  minister.  The  place  was  vacant  for 
Mr  WiUiam  Hanane  *  formerly  minister  there,  being  a  conform  and 
Episcopal  man,  (as  the  bishops,  especially  Spottiswood,  chancellor 
and  archprelate  of  St  Andrews,  hearing  of  the  renewing  of  the 
Covenant,  did  immediately  flee  into  England  or  elsewhere),  so  did 
Ml-  Hanane  run  away  from  his  charge  before  he  was  summoned, 
accused  or  censured,  his  conscience,  the  Lord's  deputy  within  his 

*  Mr  Hanane,  alias  Hannay,  alias  Annan,  was  deposed  by  tlie  General  Assem- 
bly of  Glasgow,  1G38,  Dec.  14,  Scssio  21,  along  with  four  other  ministers. — Balfour's 
Annals,  vol.  ii.,  p.  312.  Bailie  gives  the  following  graphic  accoimt  of  his  treatment 
by  the  women  of  Glasgow  : — "  At  the  outgoing  of  the  church,  about  tliirty  or  forty  of 
our  Jionestest  women,  in  one  voyce,  before  the  bishope  and  magistrats,  did  fall  in  rayling, 
cursing,  scolding  with  clamours  on  Mr  William  Annan  ;  some  two  of  tlie  meanest  were 
talcen  to  the  Tolbooth.  All  the  day  over,  up  and  do^vn  the  streets  where  he  went,  he 
got  threats  of  sundiy  in  words  and  looks ;  bot  after  supper,  when  necdlcsslie  he  vnW.  goe 
to  visit  the  bishope,  he  is  no  sooner  on  the  causey,  at  nine  o'clock,  in  a  mirk  night,  with 
three  or  four  ministers  with  him,  bot  some  hundi'eds  of  inraged  luomen,  of  all  qualities, 
are  about  him,  with  neaves,  and  staves,  and  i^eats,  but  no  stones :  they  beat  liim  sore ; 
his  cloakc,  rufte,  hatt  were  rent ;  however,  upon  his  cries,  and  candles  set  out  from 
many  windows,  he  escaped  all  bloody  wounds  ;  yet  he  was  in  great  danger,  even  of 
kil/infj." — Letters  and  Journals,  i.  p.  21. 


156  LIFE  OF  EGBERT  BLAIR.  [1G38. 

breast,  accusing  and  condemning  him.  ISIr  Blair,  finding  the  call 
clear,  hearty  and  unanimous,  accepted  of  it,  and  followed  it  as  the 
Lord's  call  to  the  exercise  of  his  ministry  among  that  people.  So 
]\lr  Blair  was  received  there  by  the  Presbytery  and  town  of  Ayr. 

About  this  time  IVIr  John  Livingstone  got  a  call  from  the  parish 
of  Stranraer,  which  he  embraced.  ]\ir  Blair  being  minister  at  Ayr 
and  Mr  Livingstone  at  Stranraer,  several  of  their  friends  in  Ireland 
came  and  dwelt  in  Ayr  and  Stranraer.  Ayr  being  one  of  the 
ports  whence  they  sail  to  Ireland,  and  Stranraer  being  within  four 
miles  of  Portpatrick,  many  of  the  Christians  in  Ireland  came  over 
to  their  communions  in  great  number.  At  one  time  came  five  hun- 
dred. They  brought  over  their  children  to  be  baptised.  Twenty- 
eight  children  were  baptised  at  one  time  in  Stranraer. 

After  the  renewing  of  the  Covenant,  the  collective  body  of  the 
kingdom,  all  ranks  and  degrees,  entering  into  covenant  with  God 
for  reformation  of  religion,  and  against  bishops  and  the  ceremonies, 
the  King  was  pleased  so  far  to  yield  to  the  just  desires  of  the  Cove- 
nanters, that  he  did,  by  his  authority,  indict  a  free  General  Assem- 
bly to  convene  at  Glasgow,  November  1638,  referring  all  matters 
ecclesiastic  to  the  Assembly,  and  matters  civil  to  a  parliament  to 
be  indicted.  At  this  famous  Assembly  which  excommunicate  the 
bishops,  and  established  religion  according  to  the  pattern  in  the 
mount,  Mr  Blair  was  by  an  act  of  that  Assembly  transported 
from  Ayr  to  St  Andrews,  as  he  himself  relates,  p.  46.  But 
ISIr  Blair,  being  most  unwilling  to  remove  from  Ayr,  where  the 
Lord  had  begun  to  bless  his  labours,  and  to  go  so  far  from  his 
Christian  friends  and  acquaintance,  from  the  west  to  the  east  sea 
bank,  spoke,  and  did  Avhat  he  could  to  impede  that  transportation, 
but  nothing  could  avail.  The  most  discerning  and  judicious  men 
of  that  Assembly,  thought  Mr  Blair  the  meetest  man  to  fill  the 
vacant  place  at  St  Andrews,  (Spottiswood,  his  archdean  and 
doctors  having  run  away,  fearing  the  General  Assembly's  censure), 
where  there  were  three  colleges  very  corrupt,  and  the  body  of  the 
town  people  addicted  to  prelacy  and  the  ceremonies,  it  being  the 
see  of  the  arcliprclatc.     These  reasons  that  moved  the  Assembly 


1639.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  157 

to  enact  Mr  Bltiir's  transportation,  did  mostly  render  him  unwilling 
to  obey  the  act ;  so  Mr  Blair  stayed  at  Ayr  until  the  next  General 
Assembly,  1639. 

In  that  year,  1639,  the  King,  being  highly  displeased  with  the 
proceedings  of  the  Assembly  1638,  did  through  all  England  declare 
the  Covenanters  rebels,  against  whom^he  would  use  a  more  power- 
ful way,  as  was  threatened  in  the  last  proclamation  which  was  fiilly 
answered  in  a  large  Protestation,  (see  the  printed  paper),  and  in- 
stantly did  levy  an  army  to  invade  Scotland  and  subdue  the  Cove- 
nanters, setting  up  the  royal  standard  at  York.  When  it  was 
certainly  known  that  the  royal  army  was  marching  towards  Scot- 
land, the  King  himself  being  in  the  army,  accompanied  with  many 
of  the  nobility  and  gentry  of  England,  the  Covenanters  thought  it 
high  time  to  bestir  themselves,  and  to  prepare  for  a  defensive  war. 
They  levied  an  army,  *  came  near  the  border,  encamped  on  Dunse- 
law,  the  royal  army  lying  at  the  Birks  of  Berwick  on  Tweed's  side, 
a  little  above  Berwick.  The  king  was  graciously  pleased  to  con- 
sent unto  a  happy  pacification  ;  j  so  both  armies  returned  without 
one  drop  of  blood  being  shed.  ]\ir  Blair  was  one  of  the  ministers 
of  the  Covenanters'  army.  While  he  was  on  his  journey  towards 
Dunse-law,  where  the  King  was,  looking  to  his  upper  garment,  he 
was  made  to  remember  that  word  which  he  had  spoken  to  a  bigot 
conformist,  and  which  now  the  Lord  did  fulfil  and  confirm.  Is. 
xliv.  26.  This  conformist,  hearing  that  IMr  Blair,  when  he  was  at 
London  commissionated  by  his  brethren  that  were  suspended,  had 
put  on  a  cassock,  which  is  a  part  of  their  canonical  habit,  (because 
he  could  not  have  access  at  court  to  the  courtiers  to  whom  he  had 
letters  of  recommendation,  in  his  own  habit,  which  was  the  habit  of 
Puritan  ministers,  as  they  were  then  called ;  the  cassock  being  in  it- 
self a  grave  and  suitable  habit  for  a  churchman,  Mr  Blair  put  it  on, 

*  "  A  very  gallant  army,"  says  Balfour,  "  esteemed  to  be  betweeu  26  and  30  thou- 
sand horse  and  foot,  of  which  they  made  Sir  Alexander  Lesley  of  Balgoney,  knight, 
general."  He  adds,  that  the  King's  army  was  not  12,000  men,  horse  and  foot. — 
Aniials,  vol.  ii.  p.  324. 

t  The  articles  of  pacification  or  treaty  between  the  King  and  the  Covenanters  are  to 
be  found  in  Balfour's  Annals,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  327,  328.  They  were  signed  by  the  King's 
Majesty,  and  then  by  the  commissioners  on  both  sides,  Jxme  the  19th. 


158  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G39. 

and  by  that  means  got  access),  did  deride,  and  Islimael-likc  mock 
and  persecute  Mr  Blair  after  lie  retm-ned  from  court,  saying,  "Pray, 
you  Mr  Blair,  what  will  you  now  do  Avith  your  canonical  coat?  What 
use  will  you  make  of  it  noAv  ?"  jSIr  Blair  replied,  "  I  will  keep  it 
seven  years,  and  every  year  sim  it  and  give  it  the  wind ;  and  after 
seven  years,  I  will  make  it  over  again  in  another  mode,  and  wear  it 
when  you  and  the  like  of  you  will  be  forced  to  run  away,  not  daring 
to  appear."  This  word  thus  spoken  did  the  Lord  fulfil ;  for  the 
seventh  year  after  his  return  from  London  was  1G39  ;  and  Mr  Blair 
being  to  march  with  the  army  to  Dunse-law,  took  the  cassock,  and 
made  of  it  a  long  four-tailed  coat,  and  rode  in  it  to  Dunse-law, 
where  no  bishop  nor  conformist  durst  appear.  * 

One  of  the  articles  of  the  pacification  concluded  at  the  Birks 
of  Berwick  was  that  armies  on  both  sides  being  disbanded,  all 
matters  civil  should  be  referred  to  the  Parliament,  and  ecclesiastic 
to  the  General  Assembly,  which  both  were  instantly  indicted  to 
convene  at  Edinburgh,!  Traquair  being  commissioner  to  both. 
This  General  Assembly,  1639,t  (Mr  David  Dickson  being  mode- 

*  Baillie  gives  a  very  interesting  account  of  the  Covenanters'  anny  as  they  en- 
camped on  Dunse-law.  "  It  would  have  done  your  heart  good,"  says  he,  "  to  have 
casten  your  eyes  athort  our  brave  and  rich  hill,  as  oft  I  did  with  great  content- 
ment and  joy,  for  I  (quoth  the  wren)  was  there  among  the  rest,  being  chosen  preacher 
by  the  gentlemen  of  our  shire,  who  came  late  with  my  Lord  of  Eglintoun.  I  fur- 
nished to  half  a  dozen  of  good  fellows,  muskets  and  picks,  and  to  my  boy  a  broad- 
sword. I  carried  myself,  as  the  fashion  was,  a  sword,  and  a  couple  of  Dutch  pistols 
at  my  saddle  ;  but  I  promise  for  the  offence  of  no  man  except  a  robber  in  the  way  ; 
for  it  was  our  pai't  alone  to  preach  and  pray  for  the  encouragement  of  oiir  countr}-men, 
which  I  did  to  my  power  cheerfully."  Speaking  of  the  soldiers,  he  says,  "  the  siglit 
of  the  nobles  and  their  beloved  pastors  daily  raised  their  hearts  ;  the  good  semions 
and  prayers  morning  and  even  under  the  roof  of  heaven,  to  which  their  drums  did 
call  them  for  bells  ;  the  remonstrances  veiy  frequent  of  the  goodness  of  their  cause  ; 
of  their  conduct  hitherto,  by  hand  cleai-ly  divine ;  also  Leslie,  his  skill  and  fortune, 
made  them  all  so  resolute  for  battle  as  could  be  wished.  We  were  feared  tliat  emu- 
lation among  our  nobles  might  have  done  harm,  when  they  should  be  met  in  the 
fields  ;  but  such  was  the  wisdom  and  authority  of  that  old,  little,  crooked  soldier,  that 
all  with  an  incredible  submission,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end,  gave  over  themselves 
to  be  guided  by  him,  as  if  he  had  been  Great  Solyman." — Letters  and  Journals,  vol.  i. 
pp.  203,  211-214. 

t  According  to  the  8tli  article  of  the  treaty,  the  General  Assembly  was  to  be  indict- 
ed on  the  (ith  of  August,  and  the  ParUament  to  meet  on  tlie  20th  of  the  same  month. 

J  This  Assembly  sat  eighteen  days,  fi'om  the  12th  of  August  to  tlie  30th.  The 
King's  Commissioner,  Traquair,  continued  with  the  Assembly  to  tlie  end  of  the  session, 


1  639.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  1  5i) 

rator),  did  challenge  Mr  Blair  for  not  obeying  the  act  of  the 
Assembly  of  Glasgow,  by  transporting  to  St  Andrews,  and  per- 
emptorily command  him  instantly  to  transport  to  St  Andrews,  in 
obedience  to  the  former  act  at  Glasgow ;  but  to  encoui"age  him 
cordially  to  obey  the  act,  the  Assembly  did  transport  Mr  Samuel 
Rutherford  from  Anwotli  to  St  Andrews,  to  be  principal  of  the 
New  College  there.  But  Mr  Rutherford  altogether  refused  to 
transport  to  St  Andrews,  to  that  place  in  the  New  College,  unless 
he  were  also  admitted  to  be  Mr  Blair's  colleague  in  the  ministry 
there,  only  receiving  stipend  as  principal  of  the  New  College.  Mr 
Blair  came  to  St  Andrews,  August  1639,  and  brought  with  him 
the  three  children  of  the  first  marriage,  and  David  of  the  second 
marriage,  born  at  Irvine,  April  the  10th,  1639  ;  and  Mr  Ruther- 
ford about  that  time  came  also.  In  the  time  of  this  General  As- 
sembly, 1639,  there  feU  out  a  remarkable  passage  of  providence 
relating  to  Mr  Blair,  and  tending  much  to  his  credit  and  reputa- 
tion. On  a  Lord's  day,  when  the  most  part  of  the  members  of 
that  Assembly  were  convened  in  the  Great  Kirk,  Avhere  the  As- 
sembly sat,  '  after  the'  ringing  of  the  third  bell,  word  comes  that 
the  minister  appointed  to  preach  in  that  kirk  was  not  to  come. 
The  Earl  of  Rothes  hearing  this,  and  looking  '  through'  the  kirk 
upon  several  of  the  members  of  the  Assembly,  called  to  Mr  Blair, 
saying,  "  We  are  trysted  with  a  disappointment ;  we  are  told  that 
the  minister  appointed  to  preach  here  is  not  to  come  ;  sir,  I  know,  if 
you  please,  you  may  supply  the  place  by  lecturing  or  preaching, 
or  if  it  were  but  reading  Scripture  and  praying.  I  entreat  you,  do 
something  to  keep  us  together,  for  now  the  third  bell  being  rung, 
we  will  get  no  place  in  other  kirks."  Mr  Blair  replied  nothing,  but 
went  to  the  lettren  and  took  the  Bible  from  the  reader,  and  read 
over  again  the  chapter  that  he  was  reading,  which  was  the  51st 
of  Isaiah,  and  lectured  upon  that  whole  chapter  most  pertinently, 
&c. 

and  assented  to  all  their  acts ;  although  when  he  went  up  to  the  court  in  England,  he 
denied  with  heavy  oaths  that  he  had  assented  to  any  thing,  and  exaggerated  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Covenanters,  representing  them  as  tending  to  the  destruction  of  the 
fundamental  laws  of  the  kingdom,  and  the  overtln-ow  of  monarchical  government. 


160  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1639. 


CHAPTER  X. 
1639. 


THE    CONTINUATION    OF    THE    SUPPLEMENT,    AVHICH,    FROM    THE 
YEAR  1643,  MAY  BE  CALLED  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  TIMES.* 

The  fifth  period  of  Mr  Blair's  life  was  from  liis  coming  to  St 
Andrews  and  settling  in  liis  ministry  there,  1639,  to  the  time  of 
his  being  summoned  over  by  the  Parliament,  1661,  to  appear  and 
answer  to  these  things  they  had  to  lay  to  his  charge. 

The  King  returning  from  the  Birks  of  Berwick  after  the  pacifi- 
cation with  his  army,  but  very  much  diminished,  multitudes  of  them 
being  dead,  whereas  there  was  not  one  of  the  Covenanters'  army 
either  sick  or  dead,  (which  was  judged  a  wonderful  cast  of  provi- 
dence, that  about  30,000  men,  beside  boys,  pedies,t  lackeys,  &c., 
abiding  together  for  some  weeks,  not  one  of  them  was  either  sick 
or  dead)  ;  immediately  after  he  came  to  London,  the  bishops  being 
highly  displeased  that  he  had  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the 
Covenanters,  these  rebels  never  ceased,  until  they  forced  the  Isang 
to  burn  the  Articles  of  the  Treaty  by  the  hand  of  the  hangman,  in 
the  most  public  place  of  the  city  of  London.^    Immediately  there- 

*  This  title  we  give  as  it  appears  in  the  MS.  from  Mhicli  we  print, 
t  Pedies,  foot-boys. 

t  This  was  done  at  Cheapside  Cross,  the  King's  chief  advisers  being  Laud,  arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  and  tlie  Earl  of  Strafford,  deputy  or  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland. 


1G40.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  161 

after,  the  clergy  promising  great  assistance,  they  persuaded  the 
King  to  act  contrary  to  all  the  articles  of  the  Treaty,  and  to  think 
of  a  new  war  and  army  to  invade  Scotland  and  subdue  these  rebels ; 
and  so,  contrary  to  the  articles  of  the  treaty,  there  was  a  company 
of  English  soldiers  sent  down  to  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh,  and 
General  Ruthven  made  captain  of  the  Castle.  Thereafter  the 
King  began  to  levy  another  army  to  Invade  Scotland  ;  the  Cove- 
nanters resolving  not  aye  to  play  after-games,  and  still  to  be  wise 
behind  the  hand,  (having  levied  a  strong  army,  and  having  pub- 
lished to  the  kingdom  of  England  the  grounds,  motives,  and  rea- 
sons of  their  undertaking),  did  prevent  the  King's  invading  of 
Scotland  by  their  going  in  unto  England.  Mr  Blair  was  sent  out 
1640,  to  go  into  England  with  the  Lord  Lindsay's  regiment.  The 
Covenanters'  army  lay  some  time  at  Chousley-wood,  not  far  from 
Dunse,  (where  the  army  had  leaguered  *  the  year  preceding), 
till  the  rest  of  the  army  came  up.  When  the  whole  army 
rendezvoused,  it  was  found  that  they  wanted  powder  and  provi- 
sions. This  produced  suspicion  that  the  expedition  might  be  de- 
layed for  that  year.  One  day  when  the  Committee  of  Estates  and 
general  officers,  and  some  ministers,  whereof  Mr  Blair  was  one, 
were  met  in  the  Castle  of  Dunse,  (where  the  year  preceding  Gene- 
ral Leslie  had  his  quarter),  and  were  with  prayer  poured  out  to 
God  consulting  what  to  do,  an  officer  of  the  guard  comes  and 
knocks  rudely  at  the  door  of  the  room  where  they  were  considting 
and  seeking  God  by  earnest  prayer,  and  told  that  there  was 
treachery  discovered ;  "  for  I  going,"  said  he,  "  to  a  big  cellar  in  the 
bottom  of  the  house  to  seek  something,  have  found  some  barrels  of 
powder,  which  I  apprehend  is  laid  there  to  blow  us  all  uji."  After 
search,  it  was  found  that  that  powder  had  been  laid  there  the  year 
before,  when  the  army  decamped  from  Dunse-law,  after  the  paci- 

Balfour  justly  remarks  on  this  flagrant  breach  of  good  faith,  that  "  his  Majesty's 
honour  never  received  a  greater  wound  than  it  did  by  his  assenting  to  so  unworthy 
and  dishonourable  an  act,  as  in  so  scurvy  a  way  to  disclaim  and  disown  his  own  con- 
cessions, signed  by  his  o^vn  hand,  before  so  many  famous  witnesses  of  both  nations." 
— Annals,  ii.  328. 

*  T^agvered — encamped. 

L 


102  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1640. 

fication  at  the  Birks  of  Berwick.  Now  the  Lord  having  provided 
the  army  with  powder,  by  causing  them  find  treasure  in  their  own 
sacks,  Gen.  xliii.  23 ;  the  Earl  of  Rothes,  (who  was  honoured  of  the 
Lord  to  be  one  of  the  prime  instruments  of  the  work  of  reforma- 
tion), Lord  Loudon,  Mr  Alexander  Henderson,  and  Mr  Archibald 
Johnstone  *  returned  to  Edinburgh,  and  within  few  days  brought 
back  with  them  meal  and  cloth  to  be  tents,  by  the  gift  of  the  well- 
affected  people  there,  which  sufficed  the  whole  army.  The  20th 
of  August  1G40,  the  Covenanters'  army  passed  Tweed  and  were  in 
English  ground.  They  met  with  no  opposition  till  they  came  to 
Newburn,  where  there  is  a  ford  of  Tyne  above  Newcastle.  On 
the  south  side  of  Tyne  the  English  army  had  made  fortifications 
and  entrenched  themselves  to  impede  our  army's  passing  Tyne; 
but  our  cannon  being  planted  on  the  other  side  did  quickly  beat 
them  from  their  trenches.  The  English  running  confusedly  out 
of  their  fortifications,  emboldened  our  army  to  cross  the  river. 
The  first  troop  that  crossed  and  drew  up  on  the  other  side  was 
rencountered  with  a  troop  of  coriassiers,  t  armed  cap-a-pie,  that 
appeared  like  a  brazen  wall,  against  them  that  had  no  arms  save 
their  swords,  carabines,  and  pistols.  Yet,  O  wonderful !  it  pleased 
the  Lord  of  hosts  to  strike  these  so  well  armed  and  mounted 
Englishmen  with  such  a  panic  fear  that  the  very  first  charge  made 
them  all  run.  Some  of  them  did  not  halt  till  they  came  to  Dur- 
ham. They  running  who  were  judged  the  strength  and  pith  of 
their  army,  the  whole  army  was  quickly  put  to  a  most  confused 
and  shameful  rout.  There  did  the  Lord  evidently  demonstrate 
himself  to  be  the  Lord  of  hosts.  The  English  ai-my  being  routed, 
Newcastle  immediately  is  rendered  to  the  Covenanters. 

The  Covenanters'  army  having  seated  themselves  in  Newcastle 
as  their  head-quarter,  the  Committee  of  Estates,  with  the  army, 
sent  an  humble  petition  to  the  King,  and,  after  another  petition, 
followed  the  treaty  at  Eippon,  and  thereafter  the  calling  of  the 
English  Parliament  in  November.      The  Committee  of  Estates, 

*  Afterwards  Lord  Warriston. 

t  Coriassiers — Cuirassiers,  horsemen  armed  -with  a  cuirass. 


1640.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIK.  163 

with  the  army,  now  quartered  in  and  about  Newcastle,  did  send  up 
to  London  Mr  Blair,  to  attend  and  wait  upon  the  Commissioners 
of  the  great  treaty,  (p.  47),  when  the  large  treaty  was  concluded. 
The  Covenanters'  army,  now  in  and  about  Newcastle,  as  they  were 
orderly,  so  they  were  devout.  It  was  refreshful  to  hear  and  see 
them ;  for  upon  their  march,  when  they  came  to  their  quarters  at 
night,  there  was  nothing  to  be  heard  almost  through  the  whole 
army  but  singing  of  psalms,  and  praying  or  reading  of  Scriptures, 
in  their  tents  and  huts ;  and  though  this  army  was  much  in  this, 
yet  the  army  at  Dunse-law,  the  year  preceding,  was  more  in  it, 
whereof  I  myself  was  an  eye  and  ear  witness ;  there  being  with  the 
army  many  ministers  and  probationers,  and  a  multitude  of  devout, 
yea  religious  persons.  *  In  the  army  1640,  was  Captain  Ellis'  f  com- 
pany, who  were  all  come  from  Ireland.  They  were  all  water  lap- 
pers.  Judges  vii.  5-7,  and  bible  bearers.  I  believe  since  the  days 
of  the  reforming  kings  of  Judah  there  was  never  such  two  armies. 
And,  indeed,  in  all  our  meetings,  both  within  doors  and  in  the 
fields,  always  nearer  the  beginning  of  the  work  there  was  more 
dependence  on  God,  and  more  tenderness  in  worship  and  in  walk- 
ing ;  but  through  process  of  time  thereafter  we  still  declined  more 
and  more.  That  day  the  Covenanters  came  to  Newburn,  General 
Leslie  and  some  others  stepped  aside  to  Haddon  on  the  Wall;  where 
old  ]\irs  Finnick  came  out  and  met  them,  and  burst  out  saying, 

*  This  accoant  is  confimied  by  Baillie,  who  was  present  with  the  army.  "  Had  ye 
lent  your  ear,"  says  he,  "  in  the  morning,  or  especially  at  even,  and  heard  in  the  tents 
the  sound  of  some  singing  psalms,  some  praying,  and  some  reading  Scripture,  ye  would 

have  been  refreshed For  myself,  I  never  found  my  mind  in  better  temjjer 

than  it  was  all  the  time  fi'ae  I  came  from  home  till  my  head  was  again  homeward ;  for 
I  was  as  a  man  who  had  taken  my  leave  from  the  world,  and  was  resolved  to  die  in 
that  seiwice  without  return." 

t  "  Captain  Fulk  EUis  was  eldest  son  of  Edmond  Ellis  of  CaiTickfergus,  an  English 
colonist.  He  and  his  company  joined  the  Scottish  forces  in  resisting  the  anns  of 
Charles  in  1640,  and  were  at  the  battle  of  Newbuni.  He  shared  in  the  supplies  for- 
warded to  the  different  companies  of  the  anny  from  their  respective  parishes  in  Scot- 
land. He  returned  to  Ireland  after  the  rebellion  ;  and  was  Captain  and  Major  in  Sir 
John  Clotworthy's  regiment  of  foot,  and  is  believed  to  have  fallen  in  action  near  De- 
sertmartin,  in  the  county  of  Derry,  in  September  lG-t3.  His  descendants,  of  the  same 
name,  still  reside  at  Carrickfergus." — Reid's  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Ire- 
land, i.,  254. 

l2 


1(34  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR,  [1041. 

"And  is  it  so  that  God  will  not  come  to  England  to  reform  abuses 
but  with  an  army  of  22,000  men  at  his  back !"  The  army  was  well 
accommodated  and  provided  for.  In  England  they  got  meat,  and 
in  aU  the  parishes  of  Scotland  whence  they  were  sent,  there  were 
voluntary  contributions,  money  collected  and  sent  to  them  to  buy 
their  clothes ;  so  tender  were  they  and  unwilling  to  oppress  the 
English  where  they  had  their  quarters.  * 

It  was  at  this  time,  while  the  army  lay  in  and  about  Newcastle, 
that  the  Earl  of  Montrose  kept  secret  correspondence  with  the 
King  by  letters,  contrary  to  an  act  of  the  Committee  of  Estates 
and  Council  of  War,  with  the  army ;  which,  when  it  was  found  out, 
he  deserted  their  meetings,  vowing  to  cause  Scotland  swim  in 
blood  if  he  were  not  avenged  on  the  Lord  Lindsay  ;  for  he  defend- 
ed his  writing  to  the  King,  alleging  he  did  but  what  the  Lord 
Lindsay  did,  in  writing  to  the  Marquis  of  Hamilton,  his  brother- 
in-law.  But  Lindsay  replied.  That  what  he  wrote  he  did,  (according 
to  the  act  of  the  Council  of  War,  shew  his  letters  to  the  General, 
and  sent  them,  they  being  allowed),  not  in  a  clandestine  way,  as 
Montrose  did,  but  avow^edly.  This  did  so  stir  and  enrage  the 
proud  spirit  t  of  Montrose,  that  he  proved  transfuga,  %  and  in  end  a 
most  cruel  and  bloody  enemy  to  his  mother  kirk  and  country. 

The  large  treaty  being  concluded,  the  King,  now  the  third  time, 
grants  a  free  General  Assembly  and  Parliament  to  Scotland  for 
settling  of  all  matters,  as  well  ecclesiastic  as  civil.  The  General 
Assembly  did  sit  in  summer  1641.  They  convened  at  St  Andrews 
July  20.  The  Earl  of  Wemyss  was  the  King's  Commissioner. 
!Mr  Blair  did  preach  at  the  opening  up  of  this  Assembly.  The 
King  did  write  to  the  Assembly  a  gracious  and  comfortable  letter ; 

*  In  a  letter  written  by  the  General  and  Committee  of  War  of  the  Covenanters' 
army  at  Newcastle  to  the  Earl  of  Lanerick,  lately  made  Secretaiy  for  Scottish  Affairs  in 
the  room  of  the  Earl  of  Stirling,  lately  deceased,  they  say,  "  Our  behaviour  to  those 
that  are  in  Newcastle  can  witness  our  intentions,  which  is  to  live  at  peace  with  all,  and 
rather  suffer  than  oflcnd.  We  bought  all  with  our  money,  and  they  extortion  us  to 
the  triple  value."— iJaZ/bwr's  Annals,  ii.,  392,  303. 

t  Row  had  originally  written  "  the  devilishly  proud  spirit ;"  but  upon  farther  reflec- 
tion he  appears  to  have  considered  the  word  "  devilishly"  would  scarcely  do,  as  it  is 
cancelled  in  the  MS. 

X  Transfuga,  a  turncoat,  a  deserter. 


1641.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  165 

unto  the  which  the  Assembly  returned  a  suitable  answer.  The 
Assembly  was  transferred  to  Edinburgh,  July  27.  Thereafter 
our  army  came  home  from  England  in  a  most  peaceable  man- 
ner. Shortly  thereafter  the  King  came  down  to  Scotland  in  Sep- 
tember, and  was  present  in  the  Parliament,  and  ratified  all  the  pre- 
ceding work  of  reformation. 

In  October  1641,  while  the  King  was  in  Scotland,  the  Irish 
rebellion  broke  out.  Many  of  the  religious  people  in  the  north  of 
Ireland,  where  Mr  Blair  served  in  the  ministry,  had  left  Ireland 
that  same  year  when  the  deposed  ministers  were  forced  out  of  it 
by  pursuivants  hunted  out  to  apprehend  them.  Others  left  it  1639, 
when  the  Deputy  urged  upon  all  the  Scots  in  Ireland  an  abjuring 
of  the  National  Covenant  of  Scotland  (which  commonly  was  called 
the  black  oath),  *  and  so  they  were  free  of  that  stroke  of  the  rebel- 
lion. Many  who  took  that  black  oath  were  murdered  by  the 
rebels.  They  that  lived  nearest  the  coast,  over  against  Scotland, 
escaped  for  the  most  part,  and  sundry  fled  elsewhere  from  these 
parts.  It  was  observed  that  the  stroke  on  the  north  of  Ireland 
increased  by  degrees.  At  first  they  thought  it  a  hard  case  that  they 
were  not  sure  to  enjoy  their  ministers.    But  thereafter,  when  their 

*  The  following  is  a  copy  of  this  oath :  "  I, do  ftiithfiilly  swear,  profess,  and 

promise,  that  I  will  honour  and  obey  my  sovereign  lord,  King  Charles,  and  will  bear 
faithful  and  true  allegiance  xmto  him,  and  defend  and  maintain  his  royal  power  and  au- 
thority ;  and  that  I  will  not  bear  arms,  or  do  any  rebellious  or  hostile  act  against  him, 
or  protest  against  any  his  royal  commands,  but  submit  myself  in  all  due  obedience 
thereunto ;  and  that  I  will  not  enter  into  any  covenant,  oath,  or  band  of  mutual  de- 
fence and  assistance  against  any  persons  whatsoever  by  force,  without  lus  majesty's 
sovereign  and  regal  authority.  And  I  do  renounce  and  abjure  all  covenants,  oaths 
and  bands  whatsoever,  contrary  to  what  I  have  herein  sworn,  professed  and  promised. 
So  help  me  God,  in  Jesus  Christ."  In  May  1639,  by  a  proclamation  from  the  Lord 
Deputy  and  Council,  all  the  Scottish  residents  in  Ulster,  above  the  age  of  sixteen  years, 
were  required  to  take  this  oath,  upon  "  the  most  severe  punishments  which  may  be 
inflicted  according  to  the  laws  of  this  realm  on  contemners  of  sovereign  authority;" 
and  magistrates  received  commissions  to  administer  the  oath  in  their  respective 
districts,  and  were  directed  to  proceed  in  the  most  summary  manner.  Those  who 
refused  to  swear  it  were  treated  with  every  kind  of  severity  short  of  death  ;  and  the 
the  Lord  Deputy  declared  that  he  would  prosecute  all  who  refused  to  take  it  "  to  the 
blood,"  and  drive  them  "  root  and  branch,"  out  of  the  kingdom.  The  consequence  was 
that  many  fled  to  Scotland,  and  so  many  of  the  labouring  population  left  the  country, 
that  it  was  difficult  to  obtain  a  sufficient  number  to  reap  the  harvest.— -ReiV/'s  History 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Ireland,  i.,  2'14-24;9,  257. 


ir,(5  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1642. 

ministers  were  deposed,  that  was  found  hard  to  be  borne.  But 
then  the  ministers  were  forced  to  flee  the  country,  and  hirelings 
were  thrust  upon  them;  and  when  that  had  continued  some  time, 
and  they  thought  hardly  a  worse  could  come,  the  black  and  bloody 
oath  comes  ;  and  after  all,  the  bloody  sword  of  the  rebels ;  and  yet 
after  all  this,  they  complained  that  they  thought  the  oppression  and 
insolence  of  the  Scots  army,  that  came  over  for  their  aid,  was  worse 
nor  the  rebellion.  That  army  from  Scotland  for  suppressing  of  the 
Irish  rebels  came  over  to  Ireland  in  April  1642,  being  commanded 
by  General-Major  Monro. 

Those  of  the  north  in  Ireland  sent  over  Commissioners  to  the 
General  Assembly  1642,  petitioning  for  ministers  to  be  sent  to 
them.  The  Assembly  thought  it  not  fit  to  loose  any  from  their 
charge,  but  for  four  or  five  years  thereafter  ordered  eight 
ministers  in  the  year  to  go  over  for  visiting  them,  two  together 
for  three  months,  &c. ;  and  in  the  meantime  some  godly  and 
able  young  men  to  be  dealt  with  to  go  over  for  settling  there ; 
and  that  these  ministers  might  establish  elderships,  and  with 
the  ministers  of  the  army  that  went  over  with  Monro,  try  and  ad- 
mit ministers.  These  ministers  that  were  sent  over  by  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  used  for  most  part  to  sepai-ate  themselves  for  diverse 
parishes  in  several  parts  of  the  country,  there  being  such  a  great 
number  of  vacant  parishes,  yet  so  as  the  one  would  visit  the  places 
where  the  other  had  been.  Mr  Blair  was  appointed  by  that  As- 
sembly 1642,  to  go  for  Ireland  to  visit  his  parishioners  in  Bangor, 
and  others  in  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  in  obedience  to  the  appoint- 
ment did  go.  He  found,  a  great  alteration  and  change  to  the  worse 
in  Ireland ;  many  that  were  civil  before  having  become  exceeding 
loose ;  yea  sundry  who,  for  any  thing  could  be  perceived,  had  true 
grace  declined  much  in  their  tenderness;  so  that  it  seems  the 
sword  openeth  a  gap  and  makes  every  body  worse  than  before — 
an  inward  plague  coming  with  the  outward.  Yet  some  few  were 
in  a  very  lively  condition.  For  the  most  part  of  all  these  three 
months  he  preached  every  day  once,  and  twice  on  the  Sabbath. 
The  destitute  parishes  were  many.    The  hunger  of  the  people  was 


1642.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  167 

become  great,  and  the  Lord  was  pleased  extraordinarily  to  furnish 
and  assist  him.  Often  they  met  in  the  fields  ;  the  confluence 
of  people  was  so  great  that  no  house  nor  kirk  could  contain  them. 
One  day  ISir  Blair  preaching,  a  great  multitude  convened,  and 
knowing  that  many  among  them  had  taken  that  black  oath,  he  did 
very  pithily  and  pathetically  lay  out  the  guiltiness  of  taking 
that  oath,  and  their  hazard  and  danger  by  reason  thereof.  There- 
after he  charged  them  whose  conscience  accused  and  condemned 
them,  to  separate  themselves  from  among  those  that  were  not  in- 
volved in  that  grievous  provocation ;  which  the  people  willingly  and 
immediately  did.  The  guilty,  separating  themselves,  stood  on  his 
left  hand  ;  and  after  he  had  again  thundered  and  threatened  them, 
and  exhorted  them  to  repentance,  '  he'  did  hold  out  mercy  and  par- 
don upon  the  terms  of  the  covenant.  And  after  the  guilty  had  will- 
ingly, and  with  great  expressions  of  grief  and  sorrow,  confessed  the 
same,  JNIr  Blair  did  receive  them  as  sincere  penitents  to  be  admitted 
to  the  communion.  Some  old  experienced  Cliristians  yet  alive  (an7io 
1677)  declared  that  in  all  their  lifetime  they  never  heard  the  gos- 
pel so  powerfully  preached  and  pertinently  applied — threatenings, 
promises,  exhortations,  motives,  means,  conserves  and  cordials  ; — > 
and  that  they  never  saw  such  commotion  and  heart-melting,  with 
greatest  abundance  of  tears  among  hearers,  both  guilty  and  inno- 
cent, so  that  it  may  be  truly  said  that  they  gathered  together  to 
that  place  and  drew  water  and  poured  it  out  before  the  Lord,  and 
said,  "  We  have  sinned  before  the  Lord,  yea  against  the  Lord",  1 
Sam.  vii.  6.  Such  hyperbolic  expressions  of  greatest  abundance 
of  tears  drawn  out  of  the  fountain  of  contrite  hearts  you  have. 
Psalm  vi.  6,  and  cxix.  136. 

Mr  Blair  came,  ordinarily,  the  night  before,  to  the  place  where 
he  was  to  preach  the  next  day,  and  commonly  lodged  in  some  re- 
ligious person's  house,  where  they  were  often  well  refreshed  and 
comforted  with  their  family  exercise.  Usually  he  got  no  more 
time  but  before  he  went  to  bed,  to  fix  upon  and  make  sure  the 
place  of  Scripture  he  was  to  preach  on  the  next  day.  Then  rising 
in  the  morning  early,  being  alone,  either  in  a  chamber  or  in  the 


1G8  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.   ^  [1642. 

fields,  at  the  appointed  time  they  went  either  to  a  kirk  or  the 
fields ;  sometime  thereafter,  dined,  and  rode  some  five  or  six  miles 
more  or  less,  to  another  parish.  Sometimes  there  would  be  four 
or  five  communions  in  the  three  months'  time.  They,  both  minis- 
ters and  professors,  had  many  sweet  and  soul-refreshing  days  of 
the  gospel  then  and  there,  and  some  solemn  and  high  Sabbath 
days,  the  like  whereof  Mr  Blair  seldom  had  in  St  Andrews.  Likest 
to  these  days  were  some  communion  Sabbaths  on  the  north  side 
of  Fife,  in  those  parishes  where  Mr  Blair  assisted  at  the  celebra- 
tion of  the  holy  communion,  especially  betwixt  1650  and  1660 
years.  After  the  Assembly  1647,  the  Assembly  sent  no  more  for 
visits  to  L'eland,  because,  by  that  time,  several  godly  ministers 
were  settled  in  the  north  of  Ireland. 

Mr  Blair,  at  his  very  first  coming  to  St  Andrews,  and  settling 
there,  finds  the  burden  of  that  congregation  very  ponderous,  and 
only  not  bone-crushing ;  for,  besides  that  it  was  very  numerous, 
the  common  people,  in  the  landward  round  about  the  tovm,  were 
very  ignorant,  and  the  gentry  and  citizens  were  not  only  profane 
and  dissolute,  but  very  superstitious  and  highly  prelatical ;  and  no 
wonder  it  was  so,  they  dwelling  even  where  Satan's  seat  was,  and 
where  Satan  dweUeth,  (Rev.  ii.  13).  After  Mr  Blair  had  for  some 
time  wrestled  with  his  unsupportable  burden,  he  began  to  think 
what  way  he  might  be  eased  at  least  of  a  part  of  the  burden.  This 
set  him  upon  a  contrivement  of  getting  a  part  of  the  spacious 
and  numerous  landward  parish,  (viz.  that  part  lying  south-west 
from  the  town,  namely,  the  two  Ladornies,  Lathones,  Lathober, 
Civigstown,  Vicarsgrange,  Craigtown,  Dinnork,  &c.),  erected  in 
a  new  parish,  quitting  some  vicarages  that  belonged  to  the 
Archdean's  stipend,  (Mr  Blair  contenting  himself  with  the  modi- 
fied stipend,  never  meddling  with  what  properly  belonged  to  the 
Archdeanrie,  such  as  entries  of  those  that  were  the  Archdean's 
vassals,  or  other  casualties,  that  made  the  Archdean's  stipend  a 
considerable  rent),  and  evicting,  by  law,  some  teinds  and  vicarages 
of  these  lands  within  that  new  parish,  and  of  some  lands  lying  in 
the  cast  end  of  the  parish  of  Ceres,  which  formerly  were  of  the 


1463.]  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  169 

landward  parish  of  St  Andrews.  Having  thus  gotten  some  sti- 
pend allotted  to,  and  legally  ratified  by  Act  of  Parliament  for  that 
new  parish,  Mr  Blair  resolved  (following  the  practice  of  others, 
both  ministers  and  religious  heritors),  to  deal  with  all  the  rest  of 
the  heritors  of  the  parish  of  St  Andrews,  and  with  the  citizens 
and  all  the  heritors  in  the  east  neuk  of  Fife,  or  elsewhere,  for  a 
voluntary  contribution  for  building  of  a  new  kirk  and  a  manse. 
He  made  choice  of  John  Martin  of  Lathoness,  (a  forward  and 
zealous  man  for  the  late  reformation,  and  so  good  a  work),  to  go 
along  with  him  to  receive,  keep,  and  be  accountable  for  what  was 
gotten.  Mr  Blair  did  contribute,  but  would  neither  keep  nor 
meddle  with  the  moneys  contributed  and  collected.  After  the 
kirk  was  builded  at  Cameron,  and  the  glebe  bought,  JSIr  George 
Nairn  was  ordained  minister  of  the  parish  of  Cameron  in  the 
year  1646.  Mr  Blair  preached  at  that  ordination,  and  moderate 
the  whole  action.  Thus  Mr  Blair  got  himself  eased  and  disburden- 
ed of  a  considerable  part  of  the  weighty  burden  of  that  landward 
parish. 

The  actings  and  affairs  of  kirk  and  estate  in  the  years  1643  and 
1644,  &c.,  were  many,  various,  and  Aveighty,  in  Scotland  and 
England,  and  ]\'Ir  Blair  much  concerned  and  employed  therein  in 
both  kingdoms.  In  the  beginning  of  August  1643,  the  General 
Assembly  convened,  unto  the  which,  and  Convention  of  Estates, 
Commissioners  were  sent  from  the  two  houses  of  the  Parliament  of 
England,  namely,  John,  earl  of  Rutland,  Sir  WiUiam  Armine, 
baronet.  Sir  Henry  Vane,  younger,  Thomas  Hatcher,  and  Henry 
Darley,  esquires ;  and  from  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  Messrs 
Stephen  Marshall,  and  Philip  Nye,  ministers.*     Their  earnest  de- 

*  Of  these  commissioners,  the  most  (listinj!:iiished  were  Sir  Henry  Vane,  Mr 
Stephen  Marshall,  and  Mr  Nye.  Sir  Henry  Vane  is  described  by  Baillie  as  "  one 
of  the  greatest  and  ablest  of  the  English  nation." — (^Letters  and  Journals,  ii.  89). 
He  was  active  in  procuring  the  framing  of  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  and  af- 
ten^'ards  became  a  leader  of  the  Independents.  Subsequent  to  the  Restoration,  hav- 
ing been  excepted  from  the  general  indemnity  granted  to  such  as  had  been  concerned 
in  the  civil  war  against  Charles  I.,  he  was  publicly  tried  and  executed.  On  the  scaf- 
fold he  behaved  with  the  utmost  intrepidity,  entei-taining  the  confident  persuasion  that 
death  would  prove  to  liim  a  passage  to  eternal  felicity. 


]70  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1643- 

sires  to  the  Convention  and  Assembly,  respective,  were  thir  espe- 
(.jally : First,  that  the  two  nations  may  be   strictly  united  for 

Mr  Stephen  Marshall,  who  was  at  this  time  lecturer  at  St  Margaret's,  "Westminster, 
is  descril)C(i  by  Baillie  as  "  the  best  preacher  in  England,"  ii.,  148.  The  same  author, 
in  a  letter  to  Mr  Simeon  Ashe,  minister  at  London,  dated  December  31,  1655,  thus 

•wTites : "  I  am  soiTy  Mr  Marshall  is  a-dying :  he  was  ever,  in  my  heart,  a  very 

eminent  man.  His  many  sennons  on  that  verse  of  John  viii.  36,  '  If  the  Son  make 
you  free,  you  shall  be  free  indeed,'  I  have  oft  pressed  him  to  make  public.  He  was 
the  preacher  now  living  who  ordinarily  most  affected  my  heart.  I  wish  you  press- 
ed him  to  let  so  many  of  his  papers  be  published  as  may  ...  Mr 
Marshall  long  ago  lost  the  hearts  of  our  nation.  He  was  the  main  instrument  of 
that  National  Covenant  with  God  and  among  ourselves,  which  wont  to  hing  on  the 
walls  of  your  churches :  It  will  hing  ever  before  the  eye  of  God,  the  prime  Covenanter." 

Letters  andjournak,  iii.  302.   Mr  Marshall  died  in  November  1655,  and  was  interred 

in  the  south  aisle  of  Heniy  VII.'s  chapel.  But,  in  16G1,  his  body  was  taken  up,  along 
■with  many  others,  by  express  command  of  his  Majesty,  for  the  part  he  acted  in  the 
time  of  Charles  I.  and  Cromwell,  and  buried  in  the  churchyard  adjacent. —  Wood's 
Fasti  Oxonien.  part  i.  p.  371.  Marshall  does  not  appear  to  have  renounced  his 
Presbyterian  principles ;  but  he  employed  his  influence  in  the  Westminster  Assembly 
to  obtain  the  consent  of  the  Assembly  to  the  legal  toleration  of  the  Independents. 
"  The  Independents,"  says  BailUe,  "  with  Mr  Marshall's  help  were  very  near  to  have 
carried,  by  canny  conveyance  of  some  propositions  in  the  matter  of  church  censure,  a 
fair  and  legal  toleration  of  their  way." — {Letters  and  Journals,  ii.  260.)  Again  he  says, 
"  At  last  they  did  give  us  a  papei-,  requiring  expressly  a  full  toleration  of  congi-egations 
in  their  way  everywhere,  separate  from  ours.    In  our  answer,  we  did  flatly  deny  such 

a  vast  liberty Here  Mr  Marshall,  our  chairman,  has  been  their  most 

diligent  agent  to  draw  too  many  of  us  to  grant  them  nuich  more  than  my  heart  can 
yield  to,  and  which,  to  my  power,  I  oppose." — {Ibid.,  ii.  343.) 

Philip  Nye,  who  was  related  to  Stephen  Marshall,  having  been  married  to  his  daugh- 
ter, was  also  a  distinguished  nonconformist.  After  having  entered  into  holy  orders, 
his  nonconformity  exposing  him  to  the  censure  of  his  Episcopal  superiors,  he  retired 
to  Holland  about  1G33.  Keturning  in  1G40,  he  became  soon  after  minister  at  Kim- 
bolton,  in  lluntingdonsliire.  Upon  his  return  to  London  from  the  mission  on  which 
he  was  on  this  occasion  sent,  both  houses  of  Parliament  took  the  Covenant,  of  which 
he  was  the  zealous  assertor ;  and  at  the  taking  of  it  he  addressed  the  audience  on 
its  nature  and  waiTantableness.  About  this  time  he  became  rector  of  Acton,  near 
London.  In  the  Westminster  Assembly  he  was  at  the  head  of  the  Independent 
party.  He  appears  to  have  been  no  favourite  of  Baillie's,  who,  in  a  letter  to  Mr 
Spang,  dated  September  22,  1643,  thus  writes : — "  20.  The  Sabbath,  before  noon, 
in  the  New  Church,  we  lieard  Mr  Marshall  preach  with  gi'eat  contentment.  But, 
in  the  afternoon,  in  the  Grey-Friars,  Mr  Nye  did  not  please ;  his  voice  was  cla- 
morous ;  he  touched,  neither  in  prayer  nor  preaching,  the  common  business  ;  he  read 
much  out  of  his  paper  book :  all  his  sermon  was  on  the  common  head  of  a  spiritual 
life,  wherein  he  ran  out,  above  all  our  understandings,  upon  a  know-ledge  of  God,  as 
God,  without  the  Scripture,  without  grace,  without  Christ.  They  say  he  amended  it 
somewhat  next  Sabbath." — Letters  and  Journals,  ii.  97.  He  died  in  the  parish  of  St 
Michael,  Conihill,  or  near  it,  in  London,  in  September  1672,  and  was  buried  in  the 
upper  vault  under  part  of  the  Church  of  St  Wn:\\txQ\.— Wood's  Ath.  Ox.,  iii.  966. 


1643.]  LIFE  OF  ROBEET  BLAIR.  171 

their  mutual  defence  against  the  Papists  and  prelatical  faction,  and 
their  adherents,  in  both  kingdoms.  2.  That  both  churches,  in  the 
two  kingdoms,  may  be  brought  into  a  more  near  union  and  con- 
junction, in  one  form  of  church  government,  one  directory  of  wor- 
ship, one  catechism,  &c.,  and  the  foundation  hiid  of  the  utter  ex- 
tirpation of  popery  and  prelacy.  3.  They  desired  (as  an  effectual 
mean  hereunto)  their  brethren  of  Scotland  to  raise  a  considerable 
force  of  horse  and  foot,  for  their  aid  and  assistance,  to  be  sent  pre- 
sently against  the  papists,  prelatical  faction,  and  malignants,  &c. 
4.  For  the  more  firm  settlement  of  the  union,  and  as  the  most 
ready  and  effectual  means  thereunto,  they  desired  that  both  na- 
tions enter  into  a  strict  union  and  league,  by  way  of  a  solemn  co- 
venant, to  be  sworn  by  both  nations. 

The  result  of  the  debates  and  consultations  betwixt  thir  Com- 
missioners and  the  Committee  of  Assembly,  whereof  JVir  Blair  was 
one,  was  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant ;  and  when  the  draught 
thereof,  at  last  agreed  unto,  was  read  in  open  audience  of  the 
whole  Assembly,  our  smoking  desires  for  a  more  strict  union  and 
uniformity  in  religion  betwixt  both  the  nations,  did  break  forth 
into  a  vehement  flame  ;  for  it  was  so  unanimously  and  heartily 
embraced  (so  sincere  was  the  kirk  of  Scotland  in  this  grand  affair), 
with  such  a  torrent  of  most  affectionate  expressions  as  none  but 
eye  and  ear  witnesses  (whereof  the  ^vriter  was  one)  can  conceive. 
Some  of  the  oldest  ministers,  when  their  vote  was  asked,  their  joy 
was  so  great  that  tears  did  interrupt  their  expressions.  Mr  Blair, 
among  other  things,  said  that  when  he  sometimes  pleased  himself 
in  his  hypothetic  reveries,  a  solemn  covenant  for  reformation  of, 
and  uniformity  in,  religion,  in  the  three  kingdoms,  was  to  him 
mensura  voti* 

Dr  Calamy  says  that  Nye  had  a  complete  history  of  TJie  Old  Puritan  Disscnteis  in  MS., 
which  was  burnt  at  the  lire  of  London. — (Calami/s  Ejected  Ministers,  ii.,  29,  30). 

*  Mensura  voti — the  heiglit  of  his  wishes. — The  English  Commissioners  were  at  first 
for  a  civil  league,  and  tlie  Committee  of  the  General  Assembly  for  a  religious  one.  But 
a  draught  of  the  Solemn  League  embracing  both  objects  was  submitted  for  consideration 
by  Alexander  Henderson.  Having  been  unanimously  agreed  to  by  the  three  committees, 
— one  fi-om  the  State,  one  fi-om  the  General  Assembly,  and  one  from  the  rarliament  of 


172  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1644. 

When  the  Convention  of  Estates  got  the  army  raised,  which  was 
earnestly  desired  for  the  aid  and  assistance  of  the  Parliament,  and 
Avhen  in  the  end  of  the  year  1643  they  marched  into  England,  Mr 
Blair  was  appointed  by  the  commission  of  the  Assembly  (whereof  he 
was  one),  to  go  with  the  army  and  to  be  minister  to  the  Earl  of 
Crawford's  regiment.  After  the  conjunction  of  om*  forces  with  the 
Parliament's,  Mr  Blair  diligently  attended  his  charge,  performing 
all  ministerial  duties  to  that  regiment,  until  the  month  of  July  1644, 
he  came  home  to  his  charge  at  St  Andrews,  shortly  after  that  won- 
derful victory  obtained  over  Prince  Kupert  and  his  numerous  army 
in  Long  Marston-moor.  *  He  came  to  St  Andrews  late  at  night, 
and  that  same  night  his  wife  was  brought  to  bed  of  a  son.  Jidy 
28,  there  was  a  solemn  thanksgiving  in  Fife  for  the  victory  at 
Long  Marston.  f  Mr  Blair  being  an  eye  and  ear  witness  of  that 
battle  and  confused  conflict,  (for  at  one  time  both  the  armies  were 
fleeing),  and  being  in  no  small  hazard  and  danger  while  he  exhort- 
ed some  of  them  that  fled  to  stand,  he  did  pertinently  and  patheti- 

Eugland, — it  was  immediately  brought  to  the  General  Assembly.  Row's  account  of  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  there  received  is  confirmed  by  the  statement  of  Baillie.  "  From 
that  meeting,"  says  he,  "  it  came  immediately  to  our  Assembly,  in  the  which  at  the  first 
reading,  being  well  prefaced  ^\^th  Mr  Henderson's  most  gi-ave  oration,  it  was  received 
with  tlic  greatest  applause,  that  ever  I  saw  any  thing,  with  so  hearty  affections,  express- 
ed in  the  tears  of  pity  and  joy  by  very  many  grave,  wise,  and  old  men.  It  was  read  dis- 
tinctly the  second  time  by  the  Moderator.  The  mind  of  the  most  part  was  speared,  both 
of  ministers  and  elders  ;  Mhere  in  a  long  hour's  space,  eveiy  man  as  he  was  by  the  Mode- 
rator named,  did  express  his  sense  as  he  was  able.  After  all  considerable  men  were 
heard,  the  catalogue  was  read  and  all  imanimously  did  assent." — Letters  cmd  Journals, 
ii.  90.  It  was  also  very  favourably  received  in  England.  When  it  reached  London 
"  it  was  so  well  liked,  that,  Friday  the  1st  of  September,  being  sent  to  the  Assembly 
of  Divines,  it  was  there  allowed  by  all,  only  Dr  Burgess  did  doubt  for  one  night.  On 
Saturday  it  passed  the  House  of  Commons,  on  Monday  the  House  of  Feers."— Ibid., 
ii.  99.  It  was  sworn  and  subscribed  by  the  Westminster  Assembly  and  House  of  Com- 
mons ;  but  "  the  little  House  of  Lords  did  delay  for  sake  of  honour,  as  they  said,  till 
they  found  our  nation  willing  to  swear  it  as  it  was  formed."— Ibid.,  ii.  102. 

*  In  Yorkshire. 

t  After  this  victoiy  obtained  over  Prince  Rupert's  army,  a  letter  was  addressed 
by  the  Earl  of  Lindsay,  dated  from  the  Leaguer  before  York,  July  6,  to  the  Committee 
of  rarUaracnt,  conveying  the  intelligence,  and  earnestly  desiring  that  Scotland  would 
unite  m  solemn  thanksgiving  to  God.  The  Parliament  on  hearing  this  letter  read, 
onhiined  it  to  be  sent  to  the  Commissioners  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  that  there 
should  be  a  general  thanksgiving  to  God  for  so  great  a  yktorj.~BaJ/our's  Annals, 
11.  214,  215.  J  J  y 


1644.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  173 

cally  preach  at  St  Andrews  on  that  day  appointed  to  be  kept  as  a 
day  of  solemn  thanksgiving. 

In  August  that  year,  the  Earl  of  Montrose,  (of  whom  before, 
p.  164),  after  his  imprisonment  in  the  castle  of  Edinburgh,  and 
enlargement  upon  hopes  of  better  carriage,  did  gather  together 
a  handful  of  cursed  cut-throats.  The  most  part  of  them  were 
bloody  Irishes,  come  over  from  Ireland,  under  the  command 
of  that  bloodthirsty  monster,  Alester  Mackdonald.  *  With  these 
and  some  few  unnatural  countrymen,  he  advances  towards  Perth. 
To  oppose  and  resist  him,  there  were  hastily  and  confusedly 
gathered  together  out  of  Fife,  Angus  and  Strathern,  multitudes 
both  of  horse  and  foot.  These  he  routed  Sept.  1.  Many  were 
killed  in  the  flight  in  the  common  moor  of  St  Johnston. 
It  was  both  fearful  and  terrible  to  see  the  flight  and  fear  of  all 
sorts.  The  Lord's  angry  countenance  might  have  been  seen  in 
making  his  own  Israel  to  flee  and  fall  before  these  Irish  rebels, 
nothwithstanding  of  many  and  great  advantages  of  horses,  cannon, 
number  far  exceeding  the  enemy.  Thereafter,  September  13, 
at  Aberdeen  there  was  a  hot  conflict,  but  at  last  ours  were  put  to 
the  rout,  and  many  killed  near  and  within  the  town  of  Aberdeen. 
In  this  very  sad  time,  October  1,  the  Synod  of  Fife  conven- 
ed at  Cupar.  Mr  Blair  was  appointed  to  preach  before  the  sitting- 
down  of  the  Synod,  though  he  was  not  ISIoderator  of  the  preced- 
ing Synod,  as  the  fittest  minister  to  speak  a  word  in  season  both 
to  ministers  and  people,  in  a  time  of  so  much  wrath,  and  the  Lord's 
hot  displeasure  against  his  covenanted  people.  His  text  was  Job 
xvii.  8,  9  ;  he  had  both  a  thundering  and  comfortable  sermon, 
wherein  he  was  Boanerges  to  hypocrites,  backsKders,  apostates  and 
covenant  breakers,  and  Barjona  to  the  upright,  innocent,  righte- 
ous   and  those  that   in  a  time    of  defection  have  clean  hands, 

*  Alester  or  Alexander  Mackdonald  Macgillespic,  the  son  of  Col.  Archibald  Mac- 
gillespic,  was  Major-General  to  the  Earl  of  Antrim  ;  he  was  a  devoted  adherent  to  the 
Marquis  of  Montrose,  and  by  his  zeal  and  activity  in  his  service  rendered  himself  ob- 
noxious to  the  Scottish  Parliament,  which  on  March  8,  1645,  ratified  an  act  of  Coun- 
cil for  apprehending  and  detaining  Col.  Macgillespic  and  his  sons.  Alester  had  come 
over  to  Scotland  about  this  time  with  2500  renegades  from  Ireland. — Baillie's  Letters 
and  Journals,  ii.  217. 


174  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1645. 

and  have  not  defiled  their  garments  in  a  defiling  time.     O  !  but 

that  was  true  of  him  which  he  wrote  of  holy  Mr  Cunningham, 

Acrius  nemo  intoniiit  superbis  ; 
Nemo  dejectos  magis  erigebat.  * 

Mr  Blair  was  chosen  Moderator  of  that  Synod  ;  there  was  drawn 
up  by  that  Provincial  Asseml)ly  overtures  for  humiliation  and  re- 
formation of  the  shire  of  Fife  ;  also  that  Assembly  ordained,  Octo- 
ber 20,  the  Lord's-day,  and  Tuesday  and  Thursday  following  to 
be  kept  as  days  of  solemn  fasting  and  humiliation.  October  19, 
our  army  in  England  being  separated  from  the  Parliament's  forces 
after  the  battle  at  Long  Marston  took  in  the  town  of  Newcastle. 

After  that  Montrose's  forces,  being  much  increased,  had  beat 
ours  several  times,  (Feb.  2, 1645,  at  Inverlochy  they  beat  Argyle's 
army  ;  May  9,  at  Alderne,  after  a  hot  conflict,  wherein  many  of 
the  Irishes  were  killed,  our  forces  were  routed  by  the  treachery  of 
Hurrie  f  ;  July  2,  at  Alford,  a  party  of  ours,  commanded  by  Baillie 
was  routed)  ;  a  Parliament  was  called.  They  first  sat  at  Stirling,  | 
and  ordained  a  great  levy.  July  24,  the  Parliament  sat  down  in 
Perth,  our  army  being  much  increased,  being  near  the  town.  The 
Commission  of  the  Kirk  also  convened  at  Perth  ;  Mr  Blair  was 
chosen  by  the  Commission,  and  ordained  to  preach  at  the  opening 
up  of  that  session  of  the  Parliament.  July  26  and  27  being  the 
Lord's-day,  were  kept  as  days  of  solemn  humiliation  by  the  members 
of  Parliament  and  Commission  of  the  Kirk  in  the  town  of  Perth, 
and  by  the  whole  army  lying  at  Forgandenny.  All  the  army,  both 
horsemen  and  foot,  had  sermons  in  the  fields  in  twelve  or  thirteen 
several  places.  On  the  Sabbath  day,  July  27,  ]\Ir  Blair,  after  he 
had  preached  in  Perth  in  the  forenoon,  the  members  of  Parliament 
and  Commission  being  hearers,  he  came  out  in  the  afternoon  to  the 
army,  and  preached  to  Crawford's  and  Maitland's  regiments,  to 
whom  he  had  been  minister  in  England,  they  being  now  recalled  and 
joined  with  other  forces  at  home.     Li  his  sermon  he  told  that 

"Nouc  thundered  more  ten-ibly  against  the  proud  ;  none  more  sweetly  comforted 
those  that  were  cast  down."— Sec  p.  148. 
t  Colonel  Sir  John  Ilnrrie. 
X  They  sat  down  on  the  8th  of  July Bal/our'a  A  nvaU,  iii.  292. 


1645.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  175 

brigade  that  he  had  learned  that  they  were  become  very  dissolute 
and  profane ;  he  assured  them  that  unless  they  repented,  and  that 
very  speedily,  there  was  a  sore  stroke  ordained  for  them,  and  that 
though  the  Lord  had  honoured  them  to  stand  at  Long  Marston, 
when  many  fled,  and  then  covered  their  head  in  the  day  of  battle, 
so  that  though  they  were  often  charged,  yet  very  few  of  them  were 
killed,  not  above  three  of  Crawford's  regiment,  yet  now  they  should 
not  be  able  to  stand  before  their  enemy,  yea  they  should  be  routed 
and  killed.  He  said  that  he  expected  that  they  woidd  like  well 
of  his  freedom  with  them  because  that  they  knew  that  he  loved 
them,  and  that  when  he  was  with  them  in  England  he  had  a  care 
both  of  their  souls  and  bodies.  This  sad  threatening  and  com- 
mination  was  shortly  thereafter  fulfilled,  August  15,  at  Kilsyth ; 
for  at  that  woeM  battle  Crawford's  whole  regiment  was  cut  off 
almost  wholly ;  all  the  officers  were  killed  except  Crawford,  who 
wonderfully  escaped  their  bloody  hands,  and  the  major  who  served 
on  horse.  IMr  Blair  at  that  time  was  at  home  in  St  Andrews  with 
a  trembling  heart  (1  Sam.  iv.  13).  Wlien  the  company  of  the 
new  levied  regiment,  commanded  by  the  laird  of  Cambo,  marched 
out  of  St  Andrews  to  join  with  the  standing  forces,  some  few  days 
before  the  fatal  day  at  Kilsyth,  Mr  Blair  desired  them  to  wait  for 
him  at  the  West  Port,  that  he  might  pray  to  God  for  them  and  with 
them.  But  when  he  came  as  soon  as  he  could,  finding  that  they 
were  gone,  he  thought  it  was  malum  omen.  ]\Iany  of  that  regi- 
ment were  killed  with  Cambo  their  commander.  * 

After  that  sad  defeat  of  all  our  forces  in  Scotland  at  Kilsyth, 
there  was  great  fear,  consternation  and  confusion  in  Fife.  There 
were  several  meetings  of  the  heritors  of  the  shire,  and  all  the  mi- 
nisters at  Cupar  and  Kennoway.  At  last  they  resolved  to  have 
a  rendezvous,  September  4,  at  the   Thorn  in  the  moor,    above 

*  The  Scotch  army,  both  at  Tippermuir  and  Kilsyth,  was  to  a  large  extent  com- 
posed of  levies  from  Fifeshire.  Accordingly,  we  find  that  in  an  act  of  the  Scottish 
Parliament,  passed  Feb.  1846,  auent  recruiting  the  anny  in  England  with  10,000  foot, 
Fifesliire  is  expressly  excepted  from  the  act,  on  the  ground  of  the  great  loss  which  that 
part  of  the  country  sustained  at  Tipperauiir  and  Kilsyth,  and  the  former  gi-cat  le\'ics 
made  from  it. — Balfour  s  Annals,  iii.  372. 


"170  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLATR.  [1645 

Kirkaldy,  of  all  the  well  affected  noble  and  gentlemen  in  the  shire, 
to  see  what  could  be  done  for  the  defence  of  the  shire.  Some  few 
ministers  were  appointed  to  attend  upon  them  for  their  advice  in 
cases  of  conscience.  Mr  Blair  was  one  of  those  ministers  who  did 
attend  that  meeting,  who  did  freely  declare  his  judgment  that  it 
was  unlawful,  because  sinful,  to  treat  with  Montrose,  or  to  send 
commissioners  to  him  upon  any  pretext  never  so  specious.  While 
thir  matters  were  in  agitation,  word  came  that  a  party  of  the  ene- 
my were  approaching  near  Dunfermline.  That  meeting  concluding 
nothing  for  the  defence  of  the  shire,  nay,  not  against  a  small 
straggling  party,  Mr  Blair,  with  almost  all  the  ministers  in  the 
east  end  of  Fife,  went  over  to  Dundee.  The  inhabitants  of  that 
town,  in  April,  did  most  gallantly  resist  Montrose's  forces,  who  un- 
expectedly fell  on  them  with  fire  and  sword,  until  a  party  of  ours 
came  to  their  aid.  Thereafter  they  fortified  their  town.  Thither 
did  sundry  gentlemen  and  ministers,  with  their  families,  in  this 
saddest  time  resort,  expecting  and  longing  for  that  strong  party 
of  our  cavalry  from  England,  who  were  sent  for  and  commanded 
by  David  Leslie.  IVIr  Blair  abode  at  Dundee  but  some  few  days. 
After  he  had  preached  in  Dundee  on  the  Lord's-day,  leaving  his 
wife  and  children  there,  he  came  over  to  St  Andrews  to  visit  his 
flock,  resolving  to  stay  with  them  for  their  comfort  and  encourage- 
ment in  so  sad  a  time  of  ofreatest  hazard  and  danger.  About  this 
time,  September  11,  the  Lord  of  hosts  began  to  look  on  his  otvti 
people  in  Scotland  with  pity  and  compassion,  "  his  soul  being 
grieved  for  their  misery,"*  and  hearing  that  the  enemy  had  re- 
proached him.  For,  when  Montrose  heard  that  David  Leslie 
with  4000  horse  and  1000  dragoons  were  on  their  march  for  our 
aid  and  recovery  of  the  kingdom,  he  said,  "Though  God  should  rain 
Leslies  from  heaven  he  would  fight  them," — nothing  doubting  of 
the  victory  ;  which  being  reported  to  JMi-  Blair,  he  said,  he  nothing 
doubted  of  the  victory,  Montrose  having  in  a  manner  reproached 
and  defied  God  himself,  the  Lord  of  hosts.f     Neither  did  his  hope 

*  Judpcs  X.  15,  16. 

t  It  IS  allowed  by  all  parties,  that  success  had  so  infatuated  Montrose,  as  to  lead  him, 
through  the  flattevinR  imagination  that  nothing  could  withstand  his  militarj-  skill  and 


1645.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR,  177 

make  him  ashamed,  for,  September  13,  our  forces,  command- 
ed by  Genei-al-Major  David  Leslie,  in  a  misty  morning,  were 
near  Montrose's  forces,  leaguered  in  Philiphaugh,  ere  they  were 
discovered.  The  enemies'  leaguer,  *  being  on  advantageous  ground, 
compassed  with  dikes  and  ditches,  Montrose  resolved  to  fight 
our  forces  in  that  same  ground.  When  our  forces  approached 
the  enemy,  that  Lord  of  hosts  that  sent  that  mist  and  fog  to 
hide  and  cover  our  forces  as  with  a  cloud  from  the  enemy's  scouts, 
until  they  had  passed  them,  that  same  Lord  did  dispel  and  scatter 
the  fog  and  mist,  so  that  David  Leslie  and  the  rest  of  the  com- 
manders, with  our  noblemen  that  escaped  at  Kilsyth,  resolved 
presently  to  charge  them,  which  they  did  with  such  courage  and 
resolution,  that,  notwithstanding  the  disadvantage  of  the  ground, 
they  routed  the  enemy,  killing  many  of  them,  and  pursuing  them 
ten  or  twelve  miles  to  Peebles.  Many  were  killed  in  the  rout. 
Prisoners  taken  of  note  were,  Sir  Robert  Spottiswood,  president, 
Sir  John  Hay,  lord  register.  Sir  William  RoUock,  Nathaniel  Gor- 
don, &c.  Montrose  himself  escaped  with  200  horse  to  Athole. 
Not  above  ten  of  ours  were  killed,  f 

prowess,  to  neglect  that  prudence  and  those  precautions  ■which  the  uncertainty  of  con- 
tinued success  in  military  operations  renders  so  necessary.  "  It  seems  Montrose," 
says  Baillie,  "shall  prove  fatal  to  the  King ;  his  victories  hitherto  have  been  powerful 
snares  to  his  hard  heai't.  A  little  more  continuance  in  this  disposition  is  like  to  undo 
him." — Public  Letter  of  Baillie,  London,  Aug.  10.  1645,  in  his  Let.  and  Journ.  ii.  305. 
Gordon  in  his  "  Britane's  Distemper,"  writing  the  same  yeai',  says,  "  This  was  the 
greatest  eiTor  that  Montrose  had  committed  from  the  beginning  of  the  war,  that  he 
proceeded  after  the  victory  with  too  much  confidence,  and  trusted  too  much,  as  it  seems, 
to  his  happy  fortune,  and  the  more  to  bring  his  careful  Aagilance  asleep." — (P.  156.) 

*  Leaguer,  i.  e.  encampment. 

t  Baillie  states,  that  "  above  a  thousand  were  buried  in  the  place ;  whereof 
scarce  fifteen  were  ours." — Letters  and  Journals,  ii.  321.  Gordon,  in  his  "  Britane's 
Distemper,"  (p.  160,)  draws  a  dark  picture  of  the  severity  with  which  the  Cove- 
nanters' army,  on  this  occasion,  ti'eated  their  enemies  ;  but  he  admits  that  the 
Irish,  to  whom  no  quarter  was  sho^^^l,  "  were  too  cruel,  for  it  was  eveiywhere 
obsei'ved  that  they  did  ordinarily  kill  all  they  coidd  be  master  of,  without  any  mo- 
tion of  pity,  or  any  consideration  of  humanity  ;  nay,  it  seemed  to  them  there  was  no 
distinction  betwixt  a  man  and  a  beast,  for  they  kiUed  men  ordinarily  with  no  more 
feeling  of  compassion,  and  with  the  same  careless  neglect  that  they  kill  a  hen  or  capone 
for  their  supper.  And  they  were  also  without  all  shame,  most  brutishly  given  to  un- 
cleanness  and  filthy  lust.  As  for  excessive  drinking,  when  they  came  where  it  might 
be  had,  there  were  no  limits  to  their  beastly  appetites  ;  as  for  godless  avarice  and  merci- 
less oppression,  and  plundering  of  the  poor  labourer." — Ibidem,  161.    Gordon  alleges 

M 


178  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1645. 

After  this  most  sweet  and  seasonable  cast  of  providence,*  the 
Committee  of  Estates  did  meet  in  several  places,  namely,  at  Perth, 
September  20,  at  Dunse  in  the  beginning  of  October,  at  St 
Andrews,  October  14,  to  consult  about  the  affairs  of  the  state, 
and  ordering  of  their  forces,  Montrose  beginning  again  to  gather 
new  forces  in  the  north.  Also,  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk 
convened  at  Perth  and  St  Andrews,  to  consult  about  the  affairs  of 
the  Klrlc,  especially  taking  order  with  malignants  that  had  com- 
plied and  joined  with  Montrose.  The  Committee  of  Estates  con- 
vened at  Glasgow,  October  20,  especially  because  that  Avas  the 
day  and  place,  which,  by  proclamation,  Montrose  had  appointed 
for  holding  of  the  Parliament,  which  he  had  indicted,  and  which  he 
had  vowed  to  keep.  Our  forces  were  gathered  to  Glasgow  then, 
when  some  of  the  prisoners  taken  at  Philiphaugh,  viz.  Sir  William 
RoUock,  Sir  Philip  Nisbet,  &c.  were  executed.  The  Committee 
of  Estates  at  Glasgow  did  indict  a  Parliament  to  be  holden  at  St 
Andrews  the  last  Wednesday  of  November.  The  Committee  of 
Estates  came  again  to  St  Andrews,  November  13,  to  prepare  for 
the  Parliament's  sitting  there. 

November  26,  the  Parliament  sat  down  in  St  Andrews,  the  pest 
at  this  time  and  some  months  before,  being  in  Edinburgh,  Leith, 
and  several  parts  of  Lothian,  the  Lord  smiting  at  one  time  both 
by  sword  and  pestilence,  Amos  iv.  10.  The  Commission  of  the 
Kirk  did  also  sit  there  at  that  diet.  Several  prisoners  taken  at 
Philiphaugh  were  brought  to  St  Andrews  before  and  in  the  time 
of  the  Parliament,  and  kept  in  the  Castle  to  be  judged  by  the 
Parliament.  !Mr  Blair  did  often  preach  before  the  members  of 
Parhament,  and  did  pray  in  the  Parliament  House  at  their  several 
sessions.  lie  did  take  much  pains  to  take  away  the  differences 
betwixt  the  two  parties  or  factions,  viz.,  the  Hamiltons  and  Camp- 
that  quarter  was  promised  to  such  of  them  as  surrendered  their  anns  ;  but  Sir  James 
Turner,  wliowas  on  tlic  spot,  affirms  that  no  quarter  was  promised  to  the  prisoners. — 
Memoirs,  p.  7i.    They  had  all  been  active  in  the  Irish  massacre. 

It  is  impossible  to  sympathise  in  this  sentiment,  without  placing  ourselves  in  the 
circumstances  of  our  Scottish  ancestors  at  this  trying  period,  when  all  that  was  dear 
to  them  as  men,  and  sacred  to  them  as  Christians,  was  at  stake. 


1646.]  LIFE  OP  ROBERT  BLAIR.  179 

bells,  and  to  reconcile  those  of  them  that  were  members  of  that 
Parliament,  viz.,  Argyle,  Crawford,  Lanerick,  &c.  He  brought 
them  together  in  his  lodgings  and  did  effectually  deal  and  mediate 
betwixt  them  at  several  meetings,  but  still  they  parted  in  worse 
terms. 

He  did  often  visit  the  prisoners  in  the  Castle.  Of  them  all 
he  was  best  pleased  with  Nathaniel  Gordon,  who,  besides  that  he 
was  deeply  engaged  in  that  wicked  way  with  Montrose,  was  very 
vicious  and  profane  otherwise.  The  Lord  so  blessed  Mr  Blair's 
dealing  with  him  that  he  was  much  convinced  and  humbled  for 
his  wicked  ways,  professing  very  seriously  repentance  for  the 
same.  After  many  debates  in  Parliament  about  the  prisoners, 
and  the  escape  of  the  Lord  Ogilvy  *  out  of  the  Castle,  January  7, 
1646  ;  upon  the  17th  of  January  three  of  the  prisoners  were  be- 
headed at  the  cross  of  St  Andrews ;  first,  Nathaniel  Gordon,  who, 
after  he  had  subscribed  a  paper,  (wherein  was  contained  his  earnest 
desire  to  be  relaxed  from  the  sentence  of  excommunication,  to- 
gether with  his  confession  of  his  sins,  especially  of  shedding  inno- 
cent bloods,  and  joining  in  that  wicked  course,  &c.),  Avas  by  Mr 
Blair  relaxed  and  received  as  a  member  of  the  Kirk.  Thereafter 
upon  the  scaffold  he  gave  great  satisfaction,  not  only  to  Mr  Blair, 
(whom  the  writer  did  hear  say  that  he  hoped  his  soul  was  in 
heaven),  but  to  all  good  and  godly  men,  by  confession  of  his  sins, 
and  especially  of  that  wherefore  he  was  condemned ;  and  when  he 
M^as  to  lay  down  his  head,  he  left  his  worst  wishes  to  his  friends  if  they 
should  strive  to  revenge  his  death.  The  second  was  Sir  Robert 
Spottiswood,  who  died  far  otherwise.  In  his  railing  discourse 
to  the  people  on  the  scaffold,  among  other  things  he  said  that  the 
saddest  judgment  of  God  upon  people  at  this  time  was,  that  the 

*  Gordon  thus  describes  the  manner  of  Lord  Ogilvy's  escape  :  "  By  the  help  of  his 
mother  and  his  sister,  the  Lady  Lethendy,  being  of  a  witty  and  masculine  spirit,  he 
escapes  the  danger ;  for  this  young  lady,  leaving  her  mother  in  the  other  room,  to  hold 
the  keepers  in  discoiu'se,  desires  leave  to  go  in  and  see  her  brother,  who  feigned  himself 
sick,  and  in  her  habit  he  came  forth,  leaving  her  to  represent  the  person  till  he  were 
out  of  danger  ;  by  which  means  he  was  conveyed  away  and  set  at  liberty." — Britane'a 
Distemper,  p.  168. 

M  2 


IgQ  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G46. 

Lord  had  sent  out  a  lying  spirit  in  the  mouths  of  the  prophets, 
and  that  their  ministers  that  shoukl  lead  them  to  heaven  were 
leading  them  the  high  way  to  hell.  Mr  Blair  standing  by  him  (as 
he  was  appointed  by  the  commission  of  the  Kirk)  in  answer  to 
this,  only  said,  "  It's  no  wonder  to  hear  the  son  of  a  false  prophet 
speak  so  of  the  faithful  and  honest  servants  of  Jesus  Christ ;"  which 
did  so  enrage  the  proud  and  impenitent  spirit  of  Spottiswood,  that 
he  died  raging  and  railing  against  Christ's  honest  and  faithful 
ministers  and  liis  covenanted  people.  The  third  was  Mr  Andrew 
Guthrie,  Avho  died  stupidly  and  impenitently.  These  two  were 
bishop's  sons  ;  mali  corvi  malum  ovum* 

February  4,  the  Parliament  closed.  All  the  members  of  the 
Parliament  staid  in  the  to\ATi,  partly  because  the  next  day  was  ap- 
pointed to  be  kept  as  a  day  of  solemn  hmniliation  through  the 
whole  kingdom,  and  partly  because  the  Lady  Lindsay,  thereafter 
Lady  Boyd,t  was  to  be  buried,  February  6.  All  the  members 
of  Parliament,  especially  the  noblemen  and  gentlemen,  were  invited 
to  the  burial.  Mr  Blair  (who  was  well  acquaint  with  that  eminent 
Christian),  came  to  her  burial  and  wrote  two  epitaphs,  one  in 
Latin,  and  another  in  English ;  for  as  he  was  eminent  in  all  litera- 
ture so  he  was  one  of  the  best  poets  in  his  time.  But  he  did  not 
delight  in  poetry,  neither  did  he  nourish  his  vein ;  but  it  will  be 
worth  the  while  to  make  a  collection  of  his  few  poems. 

In  March  this  year,  there  was  presented  to  the  Committee  of 
Estates  a  dangerous  and  seditious  bond  under  the  name  of  a  Humble 
Kemonstrance,  &c.,  framed  by  the  Earl  of  Scaforth  and  his  adhe- 
rents in  the  north,  containing  seven  articles ;  the  first  whereof  con- 
tained an  invitation  to  the  King  to  come  to  Scotland,  &c.  Tlie 
Commissioners  of  the  General  Assembly,  whereof  Mr  Blair  was 
one,  did  emit  a  declaration  against  this  bond,  March  30.     See  the 

*  "  Birds  of  an  ill  nest." 

t  The  niiiiilcn  name  of  this  ladj--  was  Christian  Hamilton,  being  the  eldest  danghter 
of  Tlionias,  first  Earl  of  Haddington.  She  -was  first  married  to  Robert,  ninth  Lord 
Lindsay  of  Byres,  and  after  his  death  to  Robert,  sixth  Lord  Boyd.  She  is  one  of  those 
eminent  Christians  of  his  acquaintance,  whose  memory  Livingstone  has  preserved  in 
his  Memorab/e  C/i(varlc>istir.t. 


1C46.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  181 

printed  paper.  Meanwhile  Seaforth  had  an  army  of  five  thou- 
sand for  to  effectuate  the  ends  contained  in  his  Eemonstrance. 
He  did  not  join  Montrose,  (who  all  this  while,  since  the  victory  at 
Philiphaugh,  Avas  raging  and  ranging  in  the  north,  on  Speyside, 
about  Inverness,  &c. ;  M'Donald  with  the  Irishes  infested  Ar- 
gyle's  bounds;  OgUvy  with  the  Atholers,  and  other  highlanders, 
infested  the  Stormont ;  the  Gordons,  with  Lanerick  and  Lindsay 
infested  the  north,)  partly  because  he  thought  to  get  the  whole 
praise  of  the  work  to  himself,  as  also  because  proud  Montrose  did 
but  slight  him  when  he  joined  with  him  the  year  before,  being 
puffed  up  with  so  many  victories. 

David  Leslie,  in  the  end  of  the  preceding  year,  returned  to 
our  army  in  England,  leaving  considerable  forces  under  the  com- 
mand of  Middleton,  whom  the  Parliament  at  St  Andrews  made 
general  over  all  the  forces  in  Scotland,  he  being  then  looked  upon 
as  a  religious,  honest  and  valiant  commander.  In  this  spring  time 
Middleton  took  the  fields  and  divided  his  forces,  for  the  suppression 
of  the  several  parties  of  the  enemies.  He  himself  marched  to  the 
north  to  regain  those  strongholds  which  the  Gordons  had  possessed 
themselves  of,  which  he  quickly  did,  and  routed  the  Gordons  in 
the  fields.  About  this  time  the  house  of  Kincardine,  Montrose's 
own  house,  was  taken  in  with  several  other  strongholds. 

Our  forces  thus  prevailing  in  Scotland  over  several  parties  of 
several  sorts  of  enemies  at  home,  the  Parliament's  forces  in  Eng- 
land did  so  far  prevail  over  the  King's  army,  that  they  being  often 
beaten  in  the  fields,  the  King  had  no  standing  army  to  keep  the 
fields,  so  that  he  was  forced  to  betake  himself  to  Oxford,  where 
he  was  hardly  besieged  by  the  Parliament's  forces.  The  Parliament 
thus  prevailing,  began  to  quarrel  with  our  Commissioners  at  London, 
and  to  speak  far  otherwise  than  their  Commissioners  did  at  Edin- 
burgh 1643 ;  for  they  would  not  only  reserve  to  themselves  the 
ultimate  appeal  from  General  Assemblies,  but  were  altogether  un- 
willing to  settle  Presbyterian  government,  except  in  a  way  of  their 
own,  which  indeed  was  not  Presbyterian  government.*    Likewise, 

*  This  is  nothing  more  than  what  might  have  been  expected  from  the  character  and 


132  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1646. 

they  were  very  highflown  in  their  demands  in  reference  to  the 
Kin"-.  They  would  have  the  militia  absolutely  taken  from  the  King 
and  his  posterity ;  and  though  he  had  offered  to  come  in  with  his 
ordinary  train  to  treat  with  them  himself,  they  refused  to  accept  of 
him  till  first  he  should  subscribe  such  articles  as  should  be  sent  to 
him,  and  then  render  himself  as  a  prisoner.  Our  Commissioners 
did  not  agree  with  them  in  these  and  other  particulars.  During 
the  time  of  tliir  and  other  debates  betwixt  the  Parliament  and  our 
Commissioners,  the  King  is  still  besieged  in  Oxford  by  the  Parlia- 
ment's forces,  (our  forces  all  this  while  lying  in  and  about  New- 
castle, Durham,  and  the  northern  parts  of  Yorkshire),  so  that  at 

sentiments  of  the  parties  who  composed  the  Parliament.  Baillie,  speaking  of  the 
setting  up  of  the  Presbyterian  form  of  Church  government,  thus  describes  them : 
"  The  Independent  party,  allicit  their  numbers  in  the  Parliament  be  very  small,  yet 
being  ])rime  men,  active  and  diligent,  and  making  it  their  great  work  to  retard  all  till 
they  be  first  secured  of  a  toleration  for  their  separate  congregations ;  and  the  body  of 
the  lawyers,  who  are  another  strong  party  in  the  House,  believing  all  Church  govern- 
ment to  be  a  part  of  the  ci^dl  and  ParUamentary  power  which  nature  and  Scripture 
has  placed  in  them,  and  to  be  derived  from  them  to  the  ministers  only  so  far  as  they 
think  cxpcilient ;  a  third  party  ot  worldly  profane  men,  who  are  extremely  affrighted 
to  come  under  the  yoke  of  ecclesiastical  discipline ;  these  three  kinds  making  up  two 
parts  at  least  of  the  Parliament,  there  is  no  hopes  that  ever  they  will  settle  the  govern- 
ment according  to  our  mind,  if  they  Mcre  left  to  themselves." — Letters  and  Journals,  ii. 
336.  The  "  way  of  their  o^vn"  in  which  they  were  willing  to  establish  the  Presbyterian 
Go\ernment,  was  simply  by  subjecting  the  Church  Courts  to  the  review  of  the  Civil. 
"  The  Parliament  will  have  a  court  of  Civil  Commissioners  erected  in  every  shire,  on 
pretence  to  m.ake  report  to  the  houses  in  every  new  case  of  scandal,  but  really  to  keep 
down  the  power  of  the  Presbyteries  for  ever,  and  hold  up  the  head  of  Sectaries." — Ibid. 
ii.  348.  In  a  letter  dated  London,  March  6,  1640,  the  same  writer  remarks,  "  They 
[tlie  House  of  Commons]  have  passed  an  ordinance  not  only  for  appeal  fi'om  the  Ge- 
neral Assembly  to  the  Parliament,  for  two  ruling  elders,  for  one  minister  in  every 
church  meeting,  for  no  censure  except  in  such  particular  offences  as  they  have  enu- 
merate ;  but  also,  which  vexes  us  most,  and  against  which  we  have  been  labouring 
this  month  bygone,  a  court  of  Civil  Commissioners  in  eveiy  county,  to  whom  the  con- 
gregational elderships  must  bring  all  cases  not  enumerated,  to  be  reported  by  them, 
with  tlieir  judgment  to  the  Parliament  or  their  committee." — Ibid.  ii.  357.  He  says 
again,  "  The  P<)j)e  aiul  tlie  King  were  never  more  earnest  for  the  headship  of  the 
Church  than  tlic  jjlurality  of  this  P.arliamcnt."— //;«/.  ii.  300.  It  is  thus  evident,  that 
neither  princijilc  nor  inclination  would  have  led  the  Parliament  to  establish  fi-ee  pres- 
byteiy.  They  miglit  have  been  overawed  to  establish  it,  but  they  would  never  have 
voluntarily  done  it.  There  is  much  truth  in  what  Baillie  states,  with  great  simplicity, 
"  Had  our  army  been  but  15,000  men  in  England,  our  advice  would  have  been  fol- 
lowed quickly  in  all  things;  but  our  lamentable  posture  at  home,  and  our  weakness 
here,  makes  our  desires  contemptible." 


1G46.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  183 

last,  fearing  to  be  taken,  he  resolved  to  make  an  escape  out  of 
Oxford  and  to  come  in  to  the  Scottish  army;  and  so,  April  27, 
in  a  disguise  he  escaped  out  of  Oxford,  riding  before  a  gentle- 
man, Asliburnham,  in  his  servant's  garb,  with  his  portmanteau  be- 
hind him.  He  came  directly  to  our  army  at  Newark  of  Trent. 
When  his  near  approach  was  known,  the  Earl  of  Dunfermline  was 
sent  by  the  General  to  convey  him  to  the  army.  Wlien  the  King 
came  the  General  Leslie,  and  General-Major  David  Leslie,  upon 
their  knees  received  him.  He  told  them  that  he  would  concreditt 
himself  to  them,  hoping  that  the  Scots  had  no  mind  to  prejudge 
him  of  his  royal  prerogative,  and  were  not  against  monarchical 
government,  and  that  they  only  desired  to  have  religion  esta- 
blished, and  that  he  had  been  misinformed  anent  their  desires 
and  intentions,  &c.  Upon  the  6th  of  May  he  was  conveyed  to 
Newcastle  with  great  joy  of  the  whole  army ;  and  the  Laird  of 
Garthland  was  presently  sent  to  Edinburgh  to  acquaint  the  Com- 
mittee of  Estates  with  the  King's  coming  in  to  our  army  and  his 
coming  to  Newcastle.  Shortly  thereafter  commissioners  were  sent 
to  him  from  Edinburgh — Callender,  Lanerick,  Balmerinoch,  and 
Humbie,  and  Mr  Eobert  Douglas  ;  and  the  King  sent  to  London 
for  some  of  our  commissioners,  viz.,  for  Chancellor  Campbell  and 
Mr  Alexander  Henderson  to  come  to  him.  It  was  then  hoped  that 
the  King  would  be  moved  to  consent  to  all  the  articles  of  the  treaty 
at  Uxbridge.* 

*  To  settle  the  difference  between  the  King  jxnd  the  Parliament  of  England,  and 
his  Scottish  subjects,  sixteen  commissioners  from  the  King  met  at  Uxbridge  with 
twelve  appointed  by  the  Parliament,  attended  by  the  Scottish  commissioners,  on  the 
30th  of  January  1G45.  The  Scottish  and  Parliamentary  Commissioners  gave  in  their 
demands,  which  related  to  religion,  to  militia,  and  Ireland.  But  the  King's  Commis- 
sioners not  satisfying  them  with  regard  to  any  of  these  points,  it  ^^'as  found  impracti- 
cable to  come  to  any  agreement.  Lord  Loudon,  in  a  letter  to  Lord  Warristou,  dated 
London,  February  25,  1G45,  explains  the  dilEculties  wliich  prevented  that  treaty  from 
being  brought  to  a  successful  issue,  and  which,  indeed,  rendered  all  negotiation  be- 
tween the  King  and  the  Covenanters  so  utterly  hopeless.  "  The  treaty  at  Uxbridge 
was  broken  off  on  Saturday  last  withoiit  any  agreement.  That  which  was  chiefly  in- 
tended by  those  who  did  treat  for  the  King  was  to  make  objections  and  cast  in  ques- 
tions to  divide  the  two  kingdoms,  as  will  appear  liy  the  papers  passed  between  us, 
which  are  not  yet  transcribed,  and  are  to  be  sent  by  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale's  servant, 
who  is  to  go  from  home  to-morrow  or  next  day.    The  propositions  for  religion  stick 


15 1  Lli'li  OF  K013EKT  BLAIE.  [1646. 

The  King  sent  from  Newcastle  a  proclamation,  which,  May 
2-4,  was  proclaimed  at  Edinburgh.  With  it  came  a  letter  from 
the  King  to  the  Committee  of  Estates.  The  smn  of  both  was,  that 
after  so  long  an  interruption,  he  would  heartily  apply  himself  to 
the  counsels  and  advices  of  the  Parliaments  of  both  kingdoms, 
and  study  to  settle  religion  according  to  the  advice  of  the  divines 
of  both  kingdoms  ;  also,  that  lie  had  written  to  all,  both  at  home 
and  abroad,  by  sea  or  land,  having  commission  from  him  to  lay 
down  their  arms,  disband  and  render  their  garrisons.  After  this 
proclamation,  and  the  King's  letters  to  Montrose,  Seaforth,  the 
Gordons  and  M'Donald,  there  was  a  cessation.  But  before  the 
proclamation,  yea,  even  after  the  King's  coming  to  Newcastle, 
Montrose  did  assault  Inverness,  and  the  Gordons  fell  in  upon 
Aberdeen  and  killed  many  of  our  forces  whom  Middleton  left 
there,  when  he  marched  north  for  the  relief  of  Inverness.  Middle- 
ton  killed  many  of  them,  and  chased  them  all  to  the  hills.  It  was 
observed,  that  the  place  where  Montrose  was  defeated  was  the 
same  place  where  the  year  before  he  had  killed  so  many  brave 
gentlemen.  (Isaiah  xxxvii.  29.)*  Now,  after  the  proclamation, 
Middleton  was  prohibited  to  attempt  any  thing  against  the 
enemies.    The  Gordons  presently  did  lay  down  their  arms.     Mon- 

most,  and  were  most  vehemently  opposed,  and  the  greatest  length  they  will  come  to 
was,  a  pretended  limitation  of  bishops,  of  whom  they  are  so  tender  as  they  were  scarce- 
ly content  '  to  pare'  tlieir  nails,  so  as  the  bill  for  removing  Ejiiscopacy,  '  and  for'  the 
Covenants,  the  Directory,  and  Presbyterial  government,  are  all  flatly  refused  ;  nor  is 
there  any  satisfaction  given  to  onr  other  demands  concerning  the  militia  and  Ireland." 
He  then  adds  :  "  The  present  posture  of  the  Parliament's  armies  betwixt  the  old  and 
the  new  model,  and  the  news  of  Montrose's  success  in  Scotland,  have  been  no  further- 
ance to  our  agreement ;  for  the  counsels  at  Oxford  depend  no  less  on  success  (although 
a  very  imcertain  gi-ound  to  build  on)  than  the  justness  of  what  is  demanded,  and  till 
both  kingdoms  be  in  a  right  posture  for  war,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  we  shall  obtain 
a  happy  and  well  grounded  peace,  and,  therefore,  our  next  care  here  '  shoidd  be'  to  use 
all  iiossible  speed  to  strengthen  our  armies,  remove  differences  betwixt  the  houses  and 
members  of  Parliament,  that  being  united  amongst  ourselves,  all  may  go  on  the  moi-e 
cheerfully  and  unanimously  for  carrying  on  of  the  cause  wherein  I  entered,  God  will- 
ing, to  employ  my  utmost  endeavours,  and  improve  my  interest  and  credit  Avith  both 
parties  ;  for  I  ftnd  our  common  enemies  have  no  less  confidence  in  our  divisions,  than 
in  fl,eir  own  strength."— .  IFoc/roir  MSS.  vol.  Ixvii.  folio,  no.  32. 

The  passage  here  referred  to  is  ;  "  Because  thy  rage  against  me,  and  thy  tumult 
IS  conic  up  to  mine  ears,  therefore  will  I  put  my  hook  in  thy  nose,  and  my  bridJe  in 
thy  lips,  and  I  will  turn  thee  back  by  the  way  by  which  thou  earnest." 


164G.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  185 

trose  kept  himself  within  the  quarter  assigned  to  him  by  Middle- 
ton. 

In  the  beginning  of  June  1646,  the  General  Assembly  convened 
at  Edinburgh.  !Mr  Blair  was  chosen  moderator.  This  Assembly 
appointed  three  ministers,  viz.,  Mr  Blair,  the  moderator,  Mr 
Robert  Douglas,*  and  ]Mr  Andrew  Cant,t  to  repair  to  the  King  at 

*  Robert  Douglas  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  ministers  of  liis  day,  and  the  leader 
of  the  Church  of  Scotland  after  the  death  of  Alexander  Henderson  in  164G.  He 
acted  for  some  time  as  chaplain  in  the  army  of  the  celebrated  Gustavus  Adolphus 
of  Sweden,  by  whom  his  character  and  talents  were  held  in  high  estimation.  Upon 
his  return  to  Scotland  he  was  admitted  second  minister  of  Ivirkaldy  in  1630,  and 
thence  was  transported  to  Edinburgh  in  1641. — (Extracts  from  Records  of  Synod  of  Fife, 
232).  At  the  coronation  of  Chai-les  II.  at  Scoone,  he  preached  and  conducted  the  re- 
ligious part  of  that  ceremony.  In  1669  he  became  indulged  minister  at  Pencaitland, 
where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age  in  1674,  and  was  buried  in  Edinburgh.  Douglas 
was  a  Eesolutioner  in  sentiment,  but,  being  a  man  of  moderation,  was  less  disposed 
to  push  his  ovm  views  than  some  others  of  that  party.  "  I  have  known  you,"  says 
Baillie,  in  a  letter  to  him  abovtt  the  Western  Remonstrance,  "  keep  the  Commission 
from  going  the  way  of  some  peremptory  men ;  howsoever  I  have  been  grieved,  at 
other  times,  to  see  you  let  things  go  Avith  them  which  I  supposed  was  contrary  to 
your  mind.  If  at  this  time  you  suffer  yourself  to  be  drawn  over,  or  to  connive  at  such 
an  insolent  passage,  I  think  you  will  contribute  to  give  our  Kirk  and  State  a  wound 
which  in  haste  wiU  not  be  gotten  remedied." — Letters  and  Journals,  iii.  110.  Wodrow 
describes  him  a  "  truly  great  man,  who  for  his  prudence,  solidity  and  research,  was 
equalled  by  very  few  in  his  time." — History,  i.  p.  225. 

t  Andrew  Cant  was  born  in  the  year  1584.  He  was  educated  in  King's  College, 
Aberdeen,  where  he  became  a  teacher  of  Latin  in  1614.  Soon  after,  he  was  appointed 
minister  of  Alford;  whence  he  was  translated  to  the  church  of  Pitshgo.  In  1639  he 
Avas  removed  to  Newbottle,  and  in  1640  to  the  New  Town  of  Aberdeen,  where  he  be- 
came professor  of  theology  in  Marischal  College.  Here  he  continued  until  the  resto- 
ration of  Charles  H.  Baillie  informs  us,  that  when  in  1661  "  Rutherfiird's  Lex  Rex 
was  burnt  by  the  hand  of  the  hangman  at  the  cross  of  Edinburgh  and  St  Andrews, 
himself  confined  to  his  chamber,  his  stipend  sequestrated,  and  himself  cited  before 
Parliament,  Mr  Andrew  Cant,  preaching  against  Mr  Rutherford's  hard  usage,  was 
accused  before  the  magistrates  of  treason.  He  demitted  his  ministry,  and  came  to 
his  son  at  Liberton." — Letters  and  Journals,  iii.  447.  In  1663  he  was  formally  deposed 
from  his  charge  by  the  Bishop  and  Synod  of  Aberdeen  ;  and  died  not  long  after,  aged 
79.  He  was  interred  beside  the  west  wall  of  the  churchyard  of  St  Nicholas  in  Aberdeen, 
where  his  tombstone  yet  remains. — (  Gordon's  Scots  Affairs,  ii.  1 65).  Cant  was  a  zealous 
Covenanter,  and  held  in  no  small  estimation  by  his  party.  In  1638  he,  with  Mr 
Dickson  and  Mr  Henderson,  were  sent  by  the  Tables  on  a  mission  to  Aberdeen  to 
promote  the  cause  of  the  Covenant,  on  which  account  they  wei-e  termed  by  their  op- 
ponents, "the  apostles  of  the  Covenant."  Speaking  of  this  deputation,  Gordon  says, 
"  The  most  part  of  the  Presbytery  of  Deer,  by  Mr  Andrew  Cant's  painstaking,  (who 
was  then  a  member  thereof),  had  subscribed  before,  so  had  the  most  part  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Alford  done,  (from  whicli  Presbytery  Mr  Andrew  had  been  not  many  years 
before  transplanted),  by  his  means  and  influence  being  fetched  in  to  the  Covenant." 


18(5  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIU.  [1610. 

Newcastle,  to  concur  with  IVIr  Alexander  Henderson  and  others 
there  to  treat  with  the  King ;  for  as  yet  he  was  little  changed 
from  what  he  was,  not  laying  to  heart  the  blood  shed  within  his 
kingdoms  by  himself,  and  wicked  men  clothed  with  his  commis- 
sions, reftising  to  subscribe  our  covenants,  nor  willing  to  settle 
Presbyterian  government  in  England,  &c.  When  these  three 
ministers  got  access  to  the  King  in  that  large  room  of  his  lodging 
where  he  did  eat  and  hear  sermon,  which  they  called  The  Presence, 
the  room  w\as  presently  filled  with  several  sorts  of  people,  Scots 
and  English,  to  hear  and  see  their  reception.  Mr  Andrew  Cant 
being  the  oldest  of  the  three,  and  aye  very  forward  and  zealous, 
being  of  a  fiery  temper,  did  take  upon  him  first  to  speak  to  the 
King,  and,  beginning  very  briskly,  insinuating  a  challenge  against 
the  Khig  as  favouring  Popery,  was  interrupted  by  JVIr  Blair  say- 
ing to  the  King,  "  Sir,  we  judge  this  neither  a  fit  time  nor  place  to 
speak  to  your  Majesty."  The  King,  looking  earnestly  to  him,  said, 
"  That  honest  man  speaks  wisely  and  discreetly ;  therefore  I  ap- 
point you  three  to  attend  me  to-morrow  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  fore- 
noon in  my  bed-chamber."  When  they  came  to  the  King  at  the 
time  appointed  in  his  bed-chamber,  the  King  resolved  first  to  speak 
to  them,  but  beginning,  as  Mr  Andrew  Cant  conceived,  to  speak 
favourably  of  Papists,  was  interrupted  by  him  saying,  "  I  tell  you 
that  we  have  often  heard  that  ye  favoured  Papists  and  Popery, 
and  now  we  hear  it  from  yourself."  The  King's  passion  was  so 
stirred,  that  he  pursued  Mr  Andrew  Cant  to  a  corner  of  the  room 
with  a  stern  countenance,  saying,  "  I  hope  to  stand  to  the  Protes- 
tant religion  when  it  may  be  ISIr  Cant  will  flinch  from  it."  ISIr 
Blair  again  interposes,  saying  to  the  King,  "  Sir,  are  there  not  abo- 
minations in  Popery  that  your  soul  hates  and  abhors  ?"  The  King 
rc[>lied,  (taking  off  his  hat),  "  I  take  God  to  Avitness  that  there  are 
abominations  in  Popery  which  I  so  much  abhor,  that  ere  I  con- 

— //'It/.  1.  85.  Besides  wliat  lie  wrote  ngainst  these  learned  doctors,  he  pubHshed  a 
trenlisc  on  "  The  Titles  of  our  blessed  Saviour."  His  son  Andrew,  minister  of  Lihcr- 
t<m,  ronformed  to  i-relaey,  and  was  afterwards  translated  to  Edinburgh,  and  made 
Prinripal  of  tlic  College.— .dccou^/  of  the  Learned  Men  and  Writers  in  Aberdeen,  Wod- 
row  M:iS.  vol.  lii.  4to,  no.  3,  p.  24. 


1G46.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  187 

sented  to  thein,  I  rather  would  quit  my  crowns,  yea  I  would 
rather  lay  down  my  life."  Mr  Blair  replied,  "  Sir,  that  is  enough 
to  us  as  to  that." 

In  the  beginning  of  July  our  army  in  England  emitted  a 
declaration  for  clearing  of  themselves,  especially  to  the  Parlia- 
ment in  England,  being  suspected  by  reason  of  some  letters 
intercepted,  written  by  the  King  to  the  Earl  of  Ormond,  shewing 
that  he  was  to  come  in  to  the  Scots  army,  and  that  they  and 
Montrose  in  Scotland  would  join  with  him  against  the  Parliament. 
Also  the  army  did  supplicate  the  King  for  subscribing  the  Cove- 
nant ;  to  the  which  the  King  returned  a  general  fair  answer,  but 
nothino;  anent  his  subscribino'  of  the  Covenant.  All  the  month  of 
July  was  spent  in  treating  with  Montrose  and  the  rest  of  the 
rebels.  That  treaty  was  carried  on  against  the  mind  of  the 
greatest  part  of  the  honest  ministers  in  Scotland.  None  was 
more  against  it  than  ]Mr  Blair.  Notwithstanding,  it  was  con- 
cluded that  Montrose,  and  some  others  that  were  excepted  out  of 
the  pardon,  should  depart  out  of  the  country,  their  forces  being 
disbanded,  '  and'  thatM'Donald  should  return  tolreland.  Montrose 
got  till  the  first  of  September  to  prepare  himself  to  go  to  France. 
In  the  meanwhile  he,  even  he  that  had  shed  so  much  blood  of  the 
Lord's  covenanted  people,  was  permitted  to  live  peaceably  in  the 
bosom  of  the  kingdom  at  Old  Monross  [Montrose],  many  of  the 
Malignants  *  and  profane  people  flocking  to  him. 

AH  this  while  ]SIr  Blair,  with  the  assistance  of  IVIr  Henderson, 
(for  these  two  the  King  liked  best),  did  most  earnestly  and  press- 
ingly  deal  with  the  King  to  satisfy  the  just  desires  of  the  Kirk 
and  Estate  of  Scotland,  and  to  agree  to  the  articles  sent  to  him 
from  the  Parliament  of  England ;  but  he  obstinately  refused  both. 
In  the  beginning  of  August  some  noblemen,  with  others  of  the 
English  Parliament,  did  come  to  the  King  with  the  propositions 
of  peace  agreed  upon  by  the  commissioners  of  both  kingdoms,  en- 

*  The  Malignants  or  Prelatisis,  -were  those  who  fiivourcci  tlie  measures  of  the  Court, 
whose  oliject  was  to  supplant  Presbyteiy  by  Prehicy,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  invest 
the  Crown  with  absolute  power. 


183  Lll'Ii  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1646. 

trcatino-  the  King  to  sign  the  same ;  but,  notwithstanding  of  the 
most  earnest  request  of  our  commissioners,  Argyle  and  Loudon, 
and  a  supplication  from  the  magistrates  of  Edinburgh,  with 
Afessrs  Blair  and  Henderson,  and  some  others  upon  their  knees, 
with  tears  falling  from  their  eyes,  entreating  and  beseeching  him, 
yet  did  he  refuse.  This  made  no  small  stir.  Argyle,  Loudon, 
with  the  Earl  of  Dunfermline,  returned  to  London. 

August  18,  the  Committee  of  Estates  convened  at  Edinburgh. 
To  them  some  queries  from  our  army  were  proponed.  1.  If  the 
Parliament  shall  require  the  King,  what  shall  be  our  carriage  ?  2. 
If  an  army  come  from  the  Parliament  to  the  north  of  England 
what  shall  be  our  carriage  ?  3.  What  shall  be  done  anent  the 
removal  of  our  army  out  of  England  ?  At  this  time  the  Commis- 
sion of  the  Kirk  gave  in  a  Remonstrance  to  the  Estates,  insinuating 
their  dislike  of  the  agreement  made  with  Montrose.  In  this  Re- 
monstrance they  did  entreat  the  Estates  to  keep  fast  the  union 
with  England.  The  Convention  of  Estates  dissolved,  not  answer- 
ing the  queries.  They  sent  nine  commissioners  to  the  King,  three 
noblemen,  Duke  Hamilton,  (who  the  day  before  the  sitting  down 
of  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  was  received  to  the  Covenant  by 
!Mr  Andrew  Ramsay),  the  Treasurer,  and  CassilHs,  three  barons, 
and  three  burgesses,  yet  again  to  desire  the  King  to  sign  the  pro- 
positions of  peace.  He  still  refusing,  Mr  Blair  returned  to  Scotland 
with  thir  nine  commissioners. 

August  11,  Alexander  Henderson  being  sick  and  over-burdened 
with  sorrow  and  grief,  came  to  Edinburgh  and  died  there,  August 
the  19th.  No  sooner  did  the  King  hear  of  the  death  of  worthy 
Mr  Henderson,  who  was  his  chaplain  in  Scotland,  but  he  resolved 
to  confer  that  pension  on  Mr  Blair,  saying  to  his  secretary,  the 
Earl  of  Lanerick,  "  I  know  I  will  be  importuned  to  confer  this 
pon.^lon  on  some  one  whom  it  may  be  I  like  not  very  well,  therefore 
presently  draw  a  patent  in  favours  of  Mr  Blair,  for  I  think,  he  is 
pious,  prudent,  learned,  and  of  a  meek  and  moderate  calm  temper." 
News  hereof  first  came  to  Mr  Blair  attending  his  charge  at  St 
A  luliows,  l.y  James  Snoide,  provost  of  St  Andrews.     His  news  was 


1646.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  189 

not  very  acceptable  to  Mr  Blair ;  but  when  his  patent  came  to  him 
and  he  was  invited  to  come  to  Newcastle  to  attend  the  King,  and 
to  officiate  at  court  as  the  King's  chaplain,  he  had  some  scniples  that 
made  him  demur  and  delay  to  return  any  answer,  or  to  repair  to 
Newcastle,  resolving  to  do  nothing  in  that  most  important  affair 
imtil  he  had  by  prayers  and  supplications  wrestled  with  the  Hearer 
of  prayers,  to  know  the  Lord's  mind  in  the  thing,  and  until  he  had 
advised  with  some  honest  ministers  thereanent.  After  some  space 
consulting  with  Mr  David  Dickson,  (who  for  many  years  had 
known  him,  and  with  whom  he  had  been  most  intimate,  see  p.  12), 
he  encouraged  him  to  accept  of  the  employment,  and  to  repair  to 
Newcastle.  Among  other  things,  he  said  to  him,  "  When  ye  at- 
tempted to  go  to  America  to  preach  the  gospel  there,  ye  did  there- 
by hazard  the  loss  of  all,  and  did  indeed  lose  much  of  your  worldly 
means,  (see  p.  146).  Now  the  Lord,  by  this  cast  of  providence,  is 
saying  to  you.  Ye  shall  lose  nothing  at  my  hand ;  the  way  to  save 
your  life  or  means  is  to  lose  them."  Mr  Blair  being  thus  encourag- 
ed, and  considering  how  honest  and  straight  a  man  ^Ir  Henderson 
was,  (with  whom  he  grew  very  familiar  and  intimate  at  Newcastle), 
who  had  accepted  of  that  place  and  employment  before  him,  not- 
withstanding that  it  was  a  place  of  many  snares  and  temptations, 
did  after  some  considerable  space  of  time  repair  to  that  weighty 
charge  at  Newcastle,  whom  the  writer  of  the  Supplement  found  at 
Newcastle  when  he  came  there  minister  to  the  governor,  Sir  James 
Lauiselles  [Lascelles],  his  regiment,  about  the  middle  of  October. 
Mr  Blair  was  faithful,  and  very  diligent,  and  painful  in  this 
weighty  charge  and  difficult  time.  For  family  exercise,  he  prayed 
twice  every  day  in  the  King's  house,  before  dinner  and  supper  in  the 
Presence,  the  King  and  all  the  court  attending  the  diets.  On  the 
Lord's-day  he  lectured  and  preached  twice  before  and  after  noon 
in  the  Presence,  besides  his  earnest  dealing  with  the  King,  (with 
whom  he  had  many  debates  anent  prelacy,  liturgy  and  set  forms, 
ceremonies,  &c.,)  in  secret,  to  condescend  to  the  just  desires  of  his 
Parliaments.  In  his  public  preaching  at  court,  he  was  abundantly 
free,  plain  and  particular,  though  he  used  no  apostrophe,  nor  point- 


100 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1646. 


od  out  the  King  with  his  finger  as  some  others  did,  which  did  irri- 
tate the  King,  whereas  he  confessed  that  Mr  Blair  by  his  way- 
gained  ground  on  him.  One  day  after  prayer,  the  King  asked  ISIr 
Bhiir,  If  it  was  warrantable  or  right  in  prayer  to  determine  a  con- 
troversy ?  He  replied,  that  he  thought  he  had  determined  no  con- 
troversy in  that  prayer.  "  Yes,"  said  the  King,  "  you  have,  for  you 
knoAV  it's  a  controversy  amongst  orthodox  divines,  whether  the 
Pope,  the  bishop  of  Rome,  be  the  great  Antichrist  or  not,  and  in 
your  prayer  you  have  determined  the  controversy,  praying  against 
him,"  (as  ordinarily  he  did),  "  as  the  great  antichrist."  To  this  Mr 
Blair  answered,  "  Sir,  to  me  it  is  no  controversy,  and  I  am  sorry 
that  it  should  be  a  controversy  to  you.  Sure  it  w^as  no  contro- 
versy to  your  father  of  happy  memory,  the  learnedest  of  princes, 
who  A\Tote  against  the  Pope  as  antichrist."  This  silenced  the  King, 
for  he  was  a  great  defender  of  his  father's  opinions,  and  his  testi- 
mony had  more  weight  with  him  (as  Mr  Blair  knew  well)  than 
the  testimony  of  any  divine.  Besides  his  constant  preaching  at 
court  on  the  Lord's-day,  on  some  week-days  he  preached  in  the 
town  in  St  Nicholas'  church,  at  the  desire  of  the  ministers  in  the 
garrison,  and  of  the  magistrates  of  the  towm,  some  whereof  were 
devout  and  well  inclined,  but  some  of  them  favoured  too  much  the 
Independent  way ;  others  in  that  toi^Ti  were  led  aside  with  the 
Ai'minian  errors.  Mr  Blair  did  labour  in  his  preaching  and  praying 
to  reclaim  them  from  both  these  ways.  After  much  debating  with 
the  King,  anent  the  government  and  liturgy  of  the  Church  of 
England,  he  got  the  King's  promise  that  he  should  read  Jus 
Div'uium  Regiminis  Ecclesiastici,  &c.,  penned  by  the  London 
ministers.* 

In  tlie  beginning  of  September,  some  articles  w^ere  condescended 
upon  by  the  Estates,  to  be  sent  up  to  our  commissioners  at  Lon- 
don :  1.  That  Presbyterian  government  be  settled  before  our  army 

•Tlic  title  of  this  treatise  is,  "Jus  Divinum  JRegiminis  Ecclesiastici;  or,  the  Divine 
Right  of  Church  Government  Asserted  and  Evidenced  by  the  Holy  Scriptures.  By 
sundry  ministers  of  Christ  within  the  city  of  London."  It  must  be  distinijuished  from 
another  treatise  entitled,  "Jus  Divinum  Ministerii  Evmigdii ;  or,  the  Divine  Right  of 
the  Gospel  Ministn-.     Published  by  the  Trovincial  Assemblv  of  London  1654." 


1646.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIE.  191 

remove  out  of  England.  2.  That  the  Parliament  do  nothing  in 
prejudice  of  our  King  his  lawful  authority  or  posterity.  3.  That 
our  army  be  paid  of  all  their  arrears  before  they  remove.  But 
before  thir  articles  came  to  our  commissioners  they  had  agreed 
with  the  Parliament,  anent  the  removing  of  our  army  and  render- 
ing of  the  garrison  towns,  and  that  for  the  payment  of  the  arrears 
due  to  the  army,  the  one  half  thereof,  viz.,  £200,000  sterling, 
should  be  presently  paid  to  the  army,  and  that  they  should  have 
the  public  faith  of  England  for  as  much.  September  17,  there 
was  a  Convention  of  the  Estates.  Little  was  done  there  because 
of  the  approaching  session  of  the  Parliament  in  Edinburgh,  in 
November. 

The  grand  debate  and  controversy  at  this  time  betwixt  the 
Parliament  of  England  and  our  commissioners  there,  was  anent  the 
disposal  of  the  King's  person,  our  commissioners  craving  and  plead- 
ing a  joint  interest  in  him  as  King  of  Scotland,  and  consequently 
a'Vote  in  his  disposal,  they  by  their  vote  of  Parliament  denying  the 
same.  The  question  was  accurately  disputed  on  both  sides,  both 
by  word  and  in  print.  Many  pamphlets  came  abroad  anent  this 
debate.  Some  of  the  English  were  full  of  acrimony  and  invective, 
but  disallowed  by  the  Parliament.  In  end,  the  Parliament  of 
England  did  pass  a  vote,  that  when  our  army  removed,  the  King 
should  come  from  Newcastle  to  Plolmby-house,  fifty-five  miles  on 
this  side  London.  All  that  our  commissioners  could  obtain  was, 
that  the  King  should  be  with  them  in  honour,  freedom  and  safety. 
This  unreasonable  vote,  denying  unto  Scotland  a  joint  interest  or 
vote  in  the  disposal  of  their  King's  person,  made  all  honest  and 
right  hearted  men,  noblemen,  ministers  and  others,  jealous  of  the 
bad  designs  of  the  Parliament  and  of  their  army^  especially  against 
religion  and  the  King ;  and  this  did  not  a  little  commove  them 
that  attended  the  King  at  Newcastle,  and  stirred  them  up  yet  to 
deal  most  effectually  with  the  King  to  subscribe  the  covenant,  to 
secure  religion  according  to  the  National  and  Solemn  League  and 
Covenant,  and  to  subscribe  the  propositions  of  peace  agreed  upon 
by  commissioners  of  both  kingdoms,  &c.     None  was  more  ear- 


192  LIFE  or  llOBERT  BLAIR.  [IG-AG. 

nest  and  instant,  and  did  more  rationally  and  efFectually  deal 
with  the  King  to  condescend  to  the  most  earnest  entreaties  of 
those  that  loved  him  best,  than  Mr  Blair ;  but  still  lie  continued 
as  before,  being  obfirmed  and  principled  *  against  any  thing  that 
could  be  spoken  or  preached  unto  him.  About  this  time,  Mr 
Blair  despairing  of  prevailing  with  the  King,  and  weighed  and 
bound  in  spirit,  came  liome  to  Scotland,  to  visit  his  flock  and  family 
at  St  Andi-ews,  about  the  convening  of  the  Parliament. 

In  the  beginning  of  November  the  Parliament  did  sit  do\^^l  at 
Edinburgh.     At  this  time  there  were  great  thoughts  and  impres- 
sions of  heart,  yea,  and  great  searchings  of  heart,  for  the  divisions 
of  this  Parliament.     There  were  two  great  factions  in  it,  viz.,  the 
Hamiltons  and  Campbells.     The  duces  factionum  were  the  Duke  of 
Hamilton  (who,  lately,  to  strengthen  their  faction,  was  received  to 
the  Covenant)  and  Argyle.    The  Ham.  [Hamiltonians]  endeavour- 
ed, at  least  seemed  so,  to  get  our  army  to  stay  still  in  England,  until 
Presbyterian  government  were  fully  settled  there ;  or,  if  our  army 
came  home,  that  the  King  should  come  home  with  the  army.     The 
Commission  of  the  Kirk  at  that  same  time  convened.    The  designs 
of  the  Hamiltonian  faction  were  looked  on,  by  the  plurality  of  the 
commissioners  of  the  Kirk,  and  the  other  faction,  as  most  dangerous, 
yea,  destructive  to  religion,  the  King,  and  both  kingdoms.     At 
the  first  down-sitting  of  the  Parliament,  all  things  threatened  dan- 
ger to  religion,  and  a  breach  betvdxt  the  kingdoms,  imbruing  them 
again   in  blood,  which  moved  some   sincere,  honest  members  of 
Parliament  to  make  a  motion  for  a  fast,  or  day  of  humiliation,  to 
be  kept  by  the  Parliament.     It  was  (though  with  a  difficulty)  ob- 
tained that  they  should  spend  half  a  day  (they  that  were  not  cor- 
dial for  it,  pretending  they  could  spare  no  more  time)  in  preaching, 
praying,  &c. ;  which  being  accepted  of  by  the  Commission  of  the 
Kirk,  since  no  more  could  be  obtained,  they  set  about  it  cordially 
and  sincerely.     They  appointed  Messrs  Blair  (moderator  of  the 
Commission)  and  Douglas  to  preach  the  very  night  before  the 
diet.     After  this,  the  Lord  so  ordered  business  in  the  Parhament 
♦  Oli/inned,  Lat.  ohfinmtus,  resolved,  obdurate  ;   Principled,  i.  c.  fixed  in  liis  tenets. 


1647.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  193 

that  honest  and  right-hearted  men,  that  wished  well  to  religion, 
King,  and  both  kingdoms,  were  encouraged,  and  plotters  and  poli- 
ticians were  disappointed.  In  end,  the  Parliament  assented  to  the 
votes  of  the  English  Parliament,  anent  the  removal  of  our  army 
out  of  England,  anent  the  payment  of  their  arrears,  and  (in  case 
the  King  still  continued  to  refuse  to  satisfy  the  just  desires  of  his 
Parliaments,  for  the  security  of  religion  and  the  peace  of  the  king- 
doms) anent  the  King's  going  to  Holmby-house.  They  resolved 
that,  if  the  King  would  not  subscribe  the  Covenant  and  proposi- 
tions, that  the  kingdom  should  be  governed  as  these  six  years 
bypast. 

The  Commission  of  the  Kirk  first  gave  in  to  the  Parliament  a 
Remonstrance,  and  thereafter  emitted  a  Warning  which  was  read  in 
all  pulpits,  both  tending  to  the  holding  fast  our  Covenant  and 
League  with  England,  and  showing  the  danger  of  bringing  the 
King  to  Scotland  unless  he  secured  religion  and  the  peace  of  both 
kingdoms. 

All  business  being  thus  accorded  and  ordered,  in  January  1647 
our  ParHament  did  yet  again  send  up  commissioners  to  the  King, 
viz.,  Lothian,  Balcarras,  Frieland,  Garthland,  and  William  Glen- 
dinning.  The  Chancellor  being  come  from  London  did  join  with 
them  at  Newcastle.  Their  commission  was,  that  the  King  would 
yet  be  pleased  (so  sincerely  desirous  were  all  honest  men  of  his  wel- 
fare and  happiness)  to  subscribe  the  Covenant  and  propositions,  and 
heartily  join  with  his  Parliaments  for  the  advancement  of  the  work 
of  reformation  of  religion  in  his  kingdoms.  The  King,  as  oft  be- 
fore, refused  either  to  subscribe  the  Covenant  or  propositions. 
He  was  desirous  to  have  come  to  Scotland  with  the  army,  hoping 
to  make  a  strong  party  there  for  his  designs.  But  both  Parlia- 
ments having  concluded  his  going  to  Holmby-house,  he  intended, 
in  a  disguise,  to  make  an  escape  (as  was  thought),  but  could  not 
get  it  done.  Being  challenged  by  the  first  guard  he  came  towards, 
he  retired  again  into  his  bed-chamber. 

About  this  time  ^Ir  Blair  returns  again  to  Newcastle,  especially 
yet  ftirther  to  deal  with  the  King ;  and,  though  the  courtiers  at 

N 


X94  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G47. 

Newcastle  thought  that  the  King  would  never  give  him  his  coun- 
tenance, he  not  only  being  a  leading  man,  but  moderator,  in  the 
Connnission  where  such  votes  passed,  especially  auent  the  King's 
going  to  Ilolmby-house ;  yet  the  King,  when  he  came  to  court, 
not  only  gave  him  access,  but  received  him  very  pleasantly ;  and 
though  the  room  rushed  full  to  hear  and  see,  &c.,  yet  they  were 
much  disappointed,  for,  at  that  time,  the  King  was  not  serious 
with  ;Mr  Blaii',  but  did  heartily  laugh  at  some  things  that  passed 
betwixt  them ;  so  that  they  wondered  both  at  the  King's  calm 
temper,  patience,  and  condescension,  and  at  Mr  Blair's  moderation, 
^^^sdom,  and  prudence.  But  shortly  thereafter,  the  King  calling 
Mr  Blair  to  his  bed-chamber,  they  did  at  length  debate  all  business. 
Mr  Blair  laboured  to  convince  the  King  that  he,  still  refusing  to 
satisfy  the  desires  of  his  Parliaments,  and  the  most  earnest  en- 
treaties and  requests  of  honest  men  and  his  most  loyal  subjects 
that  loved  him  best,  and  the  Parliament  of  England  having  passed 
such  votes  in  reference  to  him, — matters  standing  as  they  were 
(Jdc  et  nunc),  his  Parliament  in  Scotland,  and  the  Commission  of 
the  Kirk,  could  do  no  otherwise  than  they  had  done,  unless  they 
would  have  endangered,  not  only  religion  and  his  person,  but 
made  an  open  breach  betwixt  the  kingdoms,  and  imbrued  them  both 
in  blood  again.  "  Now,  therefore,"  said  Mr  Blair,  "  seeing  there 
is  yet  an  open  door,  as  you  love  the  honour  and  glory  of  God,  the 
settling  and  security  of  religion,  your  own  safety  and  welfare,  and 
the  good  and  peace  of  your  kingdoms,  hearken  to  the  desires  of 
thir  Commissioners  that  now  last  are  sent  unto  you."  Especially 
^Ir  Blair  urged  the  King  with  all  earnestness,  arguments,  and 
motives  that  he  could,  that  he  would  subscribe  the  Covenant  and 
abolish  Episcopacy  out  of  England,  and  then  he  doubted  not 
but  that  our  army  and  all  honest  men  would  espouse  his  quar- 
rel against  his  enemies  in  England,  and  venture  their  lives 
and  fortunes  in  his  quarrel.  The  King  to  all  this  answered, 
That  he  could  neither  subscribe  the  Covenant  nor  abolish  Epis- 
copacy, the  liturgy,  nor  the  ceremonies  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, because,  at  his  coronation  in  England,  by  his  great  oath, 


1647.]  LIFE  OF  EGBERT  BLAIE.  195 

he  was  bound  to  defend  all  these  in  England.  In  end,  he 
said,  ere  he  wronged  his  conscience  by  violating  his  corona- 
tion oath  he  would  rather  lose  his  crowns,  yea  his  life.  Mr 
Blair  asked  what  was  the  tenor  and  form  of  his  oath.  The  King 
said.  That  he  swore  to  the  utmost  of  his  power  to  defend  and  main- 
tain, in  England,  Episcopacy,  &c.  JSIi'  Blair  replied.  That  he  had 
maintained  and  defended  all  these  to  the  uttermost  of  his  power, 
yea  so  long  and  so  far  that  now  he  had  no  power.  "  Yea,"  said  IVIr 
Blair,  "  I  think  the  surviving  Bishops  in  England,  if  they  have  any 
true  love  to  you  or  to  your  honour  and  re-establishment  on  your 
throne,  should  liberate  you  of  your  oath." 

The  time  prefixed  for  the  removal  of  our  army  and  the  surren- 
dering of  the  garrisons  approaching,  the  Parliament  of  England 
sent  to  Newcastle  some  commissioners,  viz.,  Pembroke,  Danby, 
Monteagle,  Mr  Harrison,  &c.  with  some  ministers,  Messrs  Mar- 
shall, Caryll,  &c.,  to  attend  the  King  in  his  journey  to  Holmby- 
liouse.  Likewise  the  Parliament  of  Scotland  appointed  Lothian 
and  Garthland  to  wait  on  the  King  until  he  came  to  Holmby- 
house.  With  these  English  commissioners,  Mr  Blair  had  many 
conferences  and  debates,  especially  with  the  ministers  ;  for  at  this 
time  there  were  many  and  great  presumptions  of  the  deceitful  and 
double  dealing  of  the  English  in  the  matter  and  grand  business 
of  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  and  though  there  was  an 
honest  Presbyterian  party  in  England  that  wished  well  to  religion, 
King,  and  both  kingdoms,  yet  the  leading  party  in  the  Parliament, 
and  especially  in  the  army,  had  no  mind  to  settle  Presbyterian 
government,  nor  the  other  parts  of  uniformity ;  and  that  the  army 
designed  no  good  for  the  King,  though  they  had  engaged  that  he 
should  be  with  them  in  honour,  freedom,  and  safety.  Yea,  IVIr 
Blair  had  great  fears  and  strong  jealousies,  especially  of  the  bad 
and  wicked  designs  of  the  English  army  against  religion,  the  King, 
and  the  peace  of  the  kingdoms ;  which  made  Mr  Blair  yet  again, 
at  last  shortly  before  the  removal  of  our  army,  most  urgently  and 
affectionately  deal  with  the  King,  that  yet  (after  his  second,  yea 

thii-d,  &c.  thoughts,  after  his  more  serious  and  deliberate  pondering 

n2 


19G  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1647. 

and  weighing  all  things)  he  would  subscribe  the  Covenant,  abolish 
P^plscopacy  in  England,  that  so  he  might  march  to  Scotland  at- 
tended by  our  army,  &c.  The  King  still  refusing,  and  Mr  Blair 
upon  his  knees,  with  tears  entreating  and  pressing  him,  at  last  the 
King  said  to  him,  "  ]Mr  Robert  Blair,  I  know  you  love  me,  and 
earnestly  desire  my  soul's  salvation,  and  my  welfare  and  hajjpiness, 
which  makes  you  so  earnest,  but  this  I  will  say,  if  ever  I  grant 
that  to  any  man  which  you  so  earnestly  now  entreat  for,  you  shall 
say  that  I  am  not  an  honest  man."  !Mr  Blair  entreated  the  King 
not  to  speak  so,  wishing  that  some  others  might  have  more  power 
with  him,  and  better  success ;  and  so  !MJr  Blair  took  leave  of  the 
King  with  a  sad  and  sorrowful  heart,  his  heart  trembling  for  reli- 
gion, King,  and  the  peace  of  the  kingdoms. 

January  30,  aU  our  army  was  on  the  north  side  of  the  Tyne, 
according  to  the  articles  of  agreement,  for  the  fulfilling  whereof 
six  hostages  were  given  by  us.  In  the  forenoon,  our  cavalry 
marched  through  the  town  of  Newcastle,  estimated  to  be  6000, 
in  view  of  the  English  commissioners.  In  the  afternoon.  Gene- 
ral-major Skippon,  appointed  by  the  Parliament  governor  of  New- 
castle, entered  the  town  with  a  troop  of  horse.  Shortly  thereafter, 
two  foot  regiments  entered  the  town  and  relieved  our  guards  at 
their  several  posts,  and  the  King's  house  in  the  head  of  Pilgrim 
Street.  So  our  army,  according  to  the  articles  of  agreement,  ren- 
dered up  the  King  and  the  garrison  of  Newcastle.  Upon  the 
morrow,  being  the  Lord's  day,  the  Eang  refused  to  hear  sermon, 
because  the  English  ministers  refused  to  read  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayers.  While  our  army  is  on  their  march  homeward,  the  garri- 
sons of  Berwick  and  Carlisle  were  rendered  up,  the  fortifications 
whereof  the  English  promised  to  slight,  that  they  might  be  no 
ground  of  jealousy  betwixt  the  kingdoms.  The  King  took  journey 
to  llolmby  the  3d  of  February,  conveyed  with  200  horse.  Our 
army  were  all  in  Scots  ground  about  the  10th  of  February.  The 
army  was  disbanded  at  several  places  most  fitting.  Only  five  foot 
regiments  and  fifteen  troops  were  kept  a-foot,  commanded  by  Ge- 
neral Leslie,  Lieutenant-general  David  Leslie,  Middleton,  Hep- 


1647.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  197 

bum,  for  the  subduing  of  the  Gordons,  (who  all  this  while,  though 
it  was  given  out  that  Robert  Leslie  was  sent  from  the  King,  with 
a  commission  to  cause  them  lay  down  arms),  kept  themselves  to- 
gether, and  committed  acts  of  hostility  in  the  north  ;  and 
McDonald's  bloody  Irishes  who  infested  Argyle's  lands.  The  new 
modelled  army  mustered  in  Leltli  sands,  February  18.  Shortly 
thereafter,  they  march  north  against  the  Gordons,  who,  upon  the 
report  of  our  army's  approach,  betook  themselves  to  their  houses 
and  strongholds,  which,  in  a  short  time,  with  little  pains  or  expense, 
either  of  blood  or  treasure,  were  all  taken  in.  After  business  thus 
settled  in  the  north,  Middleton  is  left  there  "v^dth  a  considerable 
party  and  garrisons  In  the  strongholds.  The  rest  of  our  army 
marches  to  Argyle's  bounds  in  May,  against  M'Donald,  where  they 
had  the  like  success,  that,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  they  had  in  the 
north.  In  August,  the  body  of  our  army  retm'ns  to  their  winter 
quarters  be-south  Forth,  where  they  were  to  be  quartered  so  long 
as  they  were  to  stand. 

IVIr  Blair  after  his  return  to  Scotland,  and  his  flock  and  family 
at  St  Andrews,  in  the  beginning  of  May  did  take  journey  to 
Aberdeen,  where  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  was  to  sit.  At  that 
session  of  the  Commission  (whereof  Mr  Blair  was  moderator)  se- 
veral scandalous  ministers  were  censured  ;  and  as  the  army  a  little 
before  had  ordered  civil  and  military  affairs,  and  procured  peace 
in  the  north,  so  now  the  Commissioners  of  the  Kirk  ordered  and 
settled  ecclesiastic  affairs  there.  Wlien  Mr  Blair  left  St  Andrews 
there  were  some  fears,  yea  beginning  of  the  infection  of  the  pesti- 
lence, one  or  two  dead  in  the  to\vn.  But  when  he  returned  he 
found  his  family  removed  out  of  the  town,  and  though  his  family 
was  in  great  hazard  and  danger  of  being  infected,  yet  It  pleased 
the  Lord  to  preserve  them.  Mr  Blair  preached  to  the  people  that 
were  judged  free  of  the  infection  upon  the  street  at  the  market- 
cross,  and  did  visit,  and  preach  to  the  people  that  were  Infected 
or  suspected  in  the  fields.  But  it  pleased  the  Lord  so  to  rebuke 
that  sad  rod,  that  there  did  not  many  die  either  in  the  town  or 


198  L"'^  ^^^   KOBEUT  BLAIR.  [1648. 

fields.*  After  his  family  were  freed  of  their  fears,  in  the  begin- 
in«-  of  Auo-ust  he  went  to  Edinburgh  to  the  General  Assembly. 
lifr  Blair  did  preach  at  the  opening  up  of  that  Assembly  on 
1  Cor.  xi.  17,  18.  Matters  thus  ordered  and  settled  in  Scotland, 
the  fjvcc  of  aifairs  is  for  altered  in  England.  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax 
declares  himself  general  of  the  independent  amiy— takes  the  King 
out  of  Ilolmby-house,  and  carries  him  along  with  the  army  ;  and  in 
a  short  time  that  independent  sectarian  army  overawes,  yea  com- 
mands not  only  the  King  but  the  Parliament  and  city  of  London, 
and  ruled  all  as  they  pleased.  AH  that  summer  and  winter  fol- 
lowing they  carried  the  King  from  place  to  place,  till  at  last  he 
was  brought  to  the  isle  of  Wight  and  there  made  prisoner ;  and  it 
was  ordained  by  Act  of  Parliament  that  no  more  addresses  should 
be  made  to  him.  As  that  sectarian  perfidious  army  defaced  all  in 
the  Kirk,  so  also  in  the  Estate ;  for  they  turned  enemies  to 
monarchical  government.  This  winter,  in  the  Committee  of 
Estates,  there  were  great  debates  betwixt  the  two  factions.  The 
Ilaniiltons  would  have  had  our  little  army  disbanded,  and  a  new 
modelled  army  levied  for  the  relief  of  the  King.  The  other  faction 
carried  it  by  plurality  of  voices,  that  the  army  shoidd  stand  tiU 
the  10th  of  March  1648,  and  for  ease  of  the  country  the  oflScers 
did  quit  the  third  part  of  their  pay. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1G48  there  was  great  diversity  of 
judgments  in  Scotland,  concerning  the  managment  of  affairs  in 
Estate  and  Kirk.  Some  thought  that,  seeing  the  army  and  Parlia- 
ment of  England  had  so  used  the  King  and  favoured  the  independent 

*  As  one  evidence,  among  others,  that  might  be  given  of  the  ahmn  which  the  pesti- 
lence created  in  this  country  in  former  times,  the  following  extract  from  the  Records 
of  the  Kirk  Session  of  Montrose  may  be  quoted  : — 

"  Because  of  ane  fearfull  pestilence,  entered  into  the  citie,  inlarging  and  spreading 
itself  daylie,  destroying  and  cutting  down  many,  which  occasioned  ane  scattering  and 
outgoing  of  all  the  members  of  the  Sessione  to  landward  for  their  saiftie :  Thairforc, 
Tlicrc  was  no  Sessions  nor  collections,  in  this  our  burgh  of  Montrose,  betwixt  the 
last  of  May  ICA8,  and  the  first  of  February  1G49. 

^^  Inch  Session  was  kccpcd  in  church  yeard,  everie  ane  standing  ane  distance  from 
ane  otlicr. 


1648.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  199 

sectarian  party,  an  army  should  be  levied  to  relieve  the  King  and 
suppress  the  independent  sectarian  party.  Others  were  against 
any  levy  in  the  mean  time.  Our  commissioners  at  London  being 
slighted  by  the  Parliament,  after  they  had  gone  to  the  Isle  of 
Wight  and  spoken  vv^ith  the  King,  in  the  beginning  of  the  year 
came  to  Edinburgh. 

In  February  there  was  a  frequent  meeting  of  the  Committee 
of  Estates  and  Commission  of  the  Kirk.  In  the  Committee  of 
Estates  the  question  was  debated  anent  a  levy.  Our  Commis- 
sioners (of  whom  the  Chancellor  Campbell  *  was  one  who  went  to 
the  Isle  of  Wight,  and,  as  was  suspected,  there  undertook  to  the 
King  that  an  army  should  be  levied  for  his  relief),  and  the  Hamil- 
tons  were  very  forward  for  an  army  for  the  relief  of  the  King  and 
the  suppressing  of  the  sectaries.  This  question,  as  a  case  of  con- 
science, being  propounded  to  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk,  where, 
with  the  ministers,  there  were  several  noblemen  and  others  as 
elders,  their  judgment  was,  that  as  yet  there  should  be  no  breach 
with  England,  nor  any  engagement  till  first  several  articles  of 
agreement  betwixt  the  two  kingdoms  were  looked  to  and  kept, 
and  tin  first  religion  were  secm'cd  by  the  King,  and  some  malig- 
nants  at  home  taken  order  with ;  but  the  Parliament  being  to 
sit  down  in  March  nothing  was  concluded. 

The  Chancellor  was  selected  preses  of  the  Parliament  that  con- 
vened in  March.  He  and  the  rest  of  our  commissioners,  with  the 
Hamiltonian  faction,  were  still  earnest  for  an  army  to  be  levied. 
Argyle,  with  other  noblemen  and  gentlemen  were  against  them 
and  their  courses,  fearing  hazard  and  danger  to  religion.  The 
Commission  of  the  Kirk  sitting  at  this  time  did  emit  a  Declara- 
tion, shewing.  That  all  that  the  King  had  granted  to  our  Commis- 
sioners, at  their  conference  with  him  at  the  Isle  of  Wight,  was  de- 
structive to  the  Covenant  and  welfare  of  religion ;  that  still  he 
thought  himself  bound  to  defend  Episcopacy,  &c.  The  Parlia- 
ment, after  much  debating,  concluded,  that  not  only  the  kingdom 
should  be  put  in  a  posture  of  war,  but  that  there  should  be  a 
*  John  Campbell,  first  Eajrl  of  Loudoun,  Lord  Chancellor  of  Scotland. 


200  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1648. 

strong  army  presently  levied.  There  was  a  considerable  party  in 
the  Parliament  of  noblemen,  viz.,  Argyle,  Cassillis,  &c.,  gentlemen, 
commissioners  from  shires,  and  some  burgesses,  that  did  protest 
against  their  courses.  The  Parliament  did  emit  a  Declaration, 
shewing.  That  the  present  levy  and  engagement  was  in  pursuance 
of  all  the  ends  of  the  Covenant,  the  suppression  of  sectaries,  as 
well  as  for  the  relief  of  the  King.  But,  in  the  meantime,  knov^m 
malio-nants  and  enemies  of  the  Covenant  were  countenanced  and 
employed,  yea,  the  greatest  malignants  that  had  been  with  Prince 
Rupert,  viz..  Sir  Marmaduke  Langdale,  Sir  Thomas  Glenham, 
&c.  These  two  were  privately  advised  by  some  that  were  most 
forward  for  the  engagement,  to  surprise  and  take  the  toAvns  of 
Berwick  and  Carlisle,  (contrary  to  the  articles  of  agreement  be- 
twixt the  two  kingdoms,)  which  they  did  with  the  assistance  of 
some  of  our  forces,  and  yet  the  Parliament,  in  the  printed  act  of 
levy,  did  make  the  taking  in  of  these  towns  by  the  malignants  of 
England  one  of  the  causes  of  that  levy.  The  Commission  of  the 
General  Assembly  answered  the  Parliament's  Declaration  by  a 
large  Representation,  shewing,  That  they  were  not  satisfied  anent 
the  grounds  and  causes  of  the  war,  &c.,  and  wrote  letters  to  all 
the  Presbyteries  that  they  should  not  anyways  countenance  or 
concur  with  that  engagement,  nor  do  anything  to  advance  the 
same.*     The  Parliament  did  elect  the  Duke  of  Hamilton  o^eneral 

o 

*  This  mcctinf);  of  the  Commission,  was  a  little  before  the  election  of  Commission- 
ers by  the  rrcsbyteries  to  the  General  Assembly.  "  It  was  moved  by  some  in  the  Com- 
mission that  something  might  be  written  to  Presbyteries,  requiring  them  to  choose 
none  but  such  as  were  against  the  engagement;  but  this  was  opposed  and  refused 
by  the  Commission  as  savouring  of  a  prclimitation  of  the  Assembly,  and  all  that  was 
dune  was  a  letter  written  to  Tresbytcrics,  giving  them  an  account  of  the  Commis- 
sion's proceeding,  and  exhorting  them  to  their  duty,  and  to  choose  able  and  foithfiil 
men."— Wodrow  MSS.  vol.  xxxii.  4to,  no.  13,  p.  1.  The  gi-ounds  upon  which  this 
Kirk  objected  to  this  engagement,  as  stated  in  the  Pariiamcnt's  Declaration,  were, 
1.  That  the  object  of  it  was  to  rescue  the  King  from  his  imprisonment,  and  restore 
him  to  the  exercise  of  his  royal  i>owcr,  vithout  so  much  as  asking  from  Mm  any  security 
for  rrlifjion,  although  he  declared  himself  as  much  for  Episcopacy,  and  as  strongly  op- 
posed us  ever  to  tlic  Solemn  League,  which  the  Clunch  regarded  as  the  palladium 
of  lier  liberties.  2.  Tliat  the  conducting  of  this  war  had  been  committed  chiefly  to 
tliosc  who  were  indilTcrcnt  or  hostile  to  the  securing  of  religion.  As  loyal  subjects,  and 
warmly  attaclicd  to  monarchical  government,  they  were  anxious  for  the  safety  of  their 


1648.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  201 

to  the  army,  and,  in  the  beginning  of  May,  did  du*ect  a  letter  to 
the  several  Presbyteries  conjuring  them  to  think  well  of  their 
proceedings,  and  to  preach  and  pray  for  the  army.  Thereafter 
adjourned  the  Parliament  to  the  first  of  June. 

In  the  latter  end  of  March  Mr  Blair  was  called  over  to  Fife, 
upon  an  occasion,  even  in  the  time  of  the  hottest  debates  betwixt 
the  Parliament  and  Commission  of  the  Kirk  anent  the  present  en- 
gagement. His  judgment  and  opinion  thereanent  was  moderate. 
For  whereas  some  few  were  altogether  against  any  engagement 
upon  any  terms,  and  others  were  altogether  for  the  present  engage- 
ment, as  it  was  stated,  ISIr  Blair  did  steer  a  steady  and  even  course 
betwixt  these  two  dangerous  extremes  ;  for  he  was  for  an  engage- 
ment for  the  relief  of  the  King,  suppressing  of  the  sectaries,  &c., 
but  first  aU  other  ways  of  treating  and  friendly  dealing  being  used 
with  the  Parliament  of  England,  and  especially  religion  being 
secured  by  the  King,  according  to  our  Covenant,  and  the  Kirk 
getting  satisfaction  anent  the  lawfulness  of  the  war,  the  causes 
thereof  being  cleared.  The  Parliament  did  sit  down  again  in 
June.  Many  supplications  from  presbyteries  and  several  shires 
against  the  engagement  were  read  in  Parliament,  together  with 
several  answers  from  some  presbyteries  to  the  Parliament's  letter, 
and  supplications  from  some  burghs  ;  but  no  answer  returned,  but 
orders  given  out  to  obey  the  act  of  levy,  and  all  threatened  that 
seemed  to  dislike  their  courses.  In  the  close  of  this  session  an 
act  was  made  that  any  minister  that  should  be  suspended  or  de- 
posed for  preaching  or  praying  for  their  engagement  or  army, 
should  be  secured  of  his  stipend  ;  and  the  Parliament  adjourned  to 
1650 ;  and  for  the  governing  of  the  kingdom  in  the  meanwhile,  the 
Parliament  chose  a  Committee  of  Estates,  giving  them  the  power 
of  the  Parliament. 

The  Parliament  being  up,  they  carry  on  their  engagement  more 
actively  and  vigorously,  levying  horse  and  foot.     They  that  did 

King,  and  his  restoration  to  the  exercise  of  his  government ;  as  religious  men,  and 
agreeably  to  the  tenor  and  spirit  of  the  Solemn  League,  they  wished  security  for  the 
settlement  of  religion  first. — Baillie's  Letters  and  Journak,  iii.  42. 


202  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1648. 

not  <,nvc  ready  obedience  to  the  act  of  levy  were  quartered  on, 
until  by  themselves  or  others,  their  proportions  were  put  out. 
Thus  many  honest  men  in  Fife  and  Lothian  did  sadly  suffer.  In 
the  Avest  where  there  was  greater  opposition,  honest  ministers  and 
some  gentlemen  with  many  of  the  commons,  were  pitifully  abused, 
and  suffered  most  sadly  by  the  forces  in  the  west,  commanded  by 
Middlcton  (now  far  changed  from  what  he  was),  and  Hurrie.  The 
opposition  against  the  levy  in  the  west  being  quashed  by  the  routing 
of  a  small  party  that  skirmished  with  Middleton's  troops  in  Mauch- 
line  Moor,  their  levy  goes  on  in  the  west  without  opposition  ;  so 
that  in  July,  having  gotten  an  army  together,  they  marched  into 
England  upon  the  south-west  border  towards  Carlisle,  where 
Sir  Marmaduke  Langdale  with  some  forces  joins  with  them. 
The  Committee  of  Estates  sitting  at  Edinburgh  did  emit  a 
Declaration  to  the  Houses  of  Parliament  and  their  brethren  of 
England,  concerning  the  necessity,  grounds  and  ends  of  their 
engagement. 

The  General  Assembly  convened  at  Edinburgh  July  12.  The 
Committee  of  Estates  then  sitting,  laboured  by  all  means  pos- 
sible to  hinder  the  Assembly  to  approve  the  proceedings  of  the 
Commission  of  the  former  Assembly  against  the  engagement,  but 
all  in  vain ;  for  the  Assembly  having  examined  the  proceedings  of 
the  Commission,  especially  their  Declarations,  Remonstrances, 
Representations,  Petitions,  Vindication,  and  other  papers  relating 
to  the  present  engagement,  did  unanimously  find  that  in  all  their 
proceedings  they  had  been  zealous,  diligent,  and  faithfid  in  dis- 
charge of  the  trust  committed  to  them ;  ratifying  and  approving 
the  whole  proceedings,  acts  and  conclusions  of  the  said  Commis- 
sion, and  particularly  all  their  papers  relating  to  the  said  engage- 
ment, and  their  judgment  of  the  unlawfulness  thereof.*      The 

^  *  From  an  apprehension  that  those  who  had  been  instnimental  in  leading  tlie  Par- 
liament to  enter  upon  tliis  engagement,  woukl  use  their  ntmost  endeavours  to  procure 
such  Commissioners  to  tlic  General  Assembly  as  would  support  their  measures,  great 
care  was  taken  in  rrcsbytcries  throughout  the  Church  to  choose  for  members  such  as 
wore  the  most  zealous  supporters  of  the  Covenant,  and  who  approved  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Commission.    «  So  that,"  as  BaUUe  states,  "  this  Assembly  did  consist  of 


1648.]  Lli^^Ji  OF  iiOBERT  BLAIK.  203 

General  Assembly  (beside  other  papers  relating  to  the  engage- 
ment), did  emit  a  declaration  concerning  the  present  dangers  of 
religion,  and  especially  the  unlawful  engagement  in  war  against 
the  kingdom  of  England,  together  with  many  necessary  exhorta- 
tions and  du^ections  to  all  the  members  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland. 
Also  they  did  emit  a  Declaration  and  Exhortation  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  to  their  brethren  in  England; 
though  they  were  desired  by  the  Committee  of  Estates  not  to  emit 
any  papers.*     The  King's  army  now  in  England  still  increases ; 
regiments  from  Scotland  and  some  English  coming  in  to  them. 
After  a  skirmish  at  Apleby,  betwixt  some  of  the  Duke's  anny  and 
Lambert's  troops,  and  beating  them  from  a  bridge,  Lambert  re- 
tiring southwards,  the  Duke's  army  advancing  southwards,  fearing 
no  enemy,  grew  too  secure ;  for  they  divided  their  forces  for  their 
more  commodious  quarterings,  and  sent  IVIiddleton  with  a  strong 
party  for  the  relief  of  Colchester,  w^hether  Cromwell  had  driven 
some  malignants  in  England,  that  had  gathered  together  in  hopes 
to  join  with  Duke  Hamilton.     CromweU  having  suppressed  these 
that  intended  to  join  with  the  Duke,  did  join  his  with  Lambert's 
forces,  and  with  all  expedition  and  long  marches  advancing,  falls 
first  upon  Sir  Marmaduke's  forces  (who  quartered  ten  miles  from 
the  Duke's  army),  and  routed  them  before  the  regiments  whom 
the  Duke  had  sent  for  his  aid  came  to  them.    Thereafter  at  Preston 
they  routed  the  Duke's  army,  and  last  they  routed  Middleton's 
party.     All  this  was  upon  the  17th  and  18tli  of  August.     The 

siicli  whose  mind  earned  them  most  against  the  present  engagement,  which  was  the 
gi'eat  and  only  question  for  the  time."— Let teis  and  Journals,  iii.  54.  In  their  opposi- 
tion to  the  Engagement,  the  Assembly,  however,  represented  the  sentiments  of  the 
great  body  of  the  ministers  thronghout  the  country.  "  The  whole  churches  in  Scot- 
land, almost  in  all  the  Presbyteries  and  Synods  thereof,  had  declared  themselves  im- 
satisfied  in  conscience  with  the  engagement,  excepting  a  veiy  few  ministers  scattered 
here  and  there  in  Presbyteries,  which  few  were  also  kno^vn  to  have  been  either 
opposers  of  the  work  of  God,  or  neutral  and  indifferent  therein  from  the  beginning." — 
Wodroio  MSS.  vol.  xxxii.  4to,  no.  13,  p.  2. 

*  This  Assembly  received  a  letter  from  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at  Westminster, 
and  Mr  Blair  was  employed  to  draw  up  an  answer  to  it.  "  Mr  Blair's  answer,"  says 
Baillic,  "  was  good  and  uucontroverted." — Lettcra  and  Journals,  iii.,  G2. 


204  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1648. 

Duke  with  the  chief  officers  that  escaped,  fled  to  North  Wales.* 
Some  came  home.  This  woeful  defeat  of  the  engagers  in  England 
made  a  great  change  on  the  face  of  affairs,  and  no  small  revolution 
in  Scotland  ;  for  all  that  were  not  satisfied  in  point  of  conscience 
with  tlie  engagement,  and  had  suffered  upon  that  account,  made 
use  of  the  opportunity  offered  for  shaking  off  the  yoke  laid  upon 
them  by  the  engagers.  Those  in  the  west  did  first  bestir  them- 
selves ;  for  immediately  after  the  news  of  the  defeat  at  Preston, 
they,  with  the  Chancellor  (svho  before  the  rising  of  the  Parlia- 
ment deserted  the  engagers),  gathered  together  about  a  thousand 
horsemen. 

Tlie  Committee  of  Estates  did  elect  the  Lord  Lanerick  general  to 
the  forces  In  Scotland.     Also  they  sent  letters  to  George  Monro, 
(who  came  from  Ireland  with  some  forces,  intending  to  join  with 
the  Duke's  army),  desiring  him  in  all  haste  to  march  homewards 
for  suppressing  of  the  people  in  the  west,  who,  in  this  meantime,  were 
flocking  together,  horse  and  foot.     They  disarmed  some  troops  in 
the  west.     In  the  beginning  of  September  there  was  a  meeting  of 
all  the  ministers  in  Fife,  at  Dysart,  to  consult  what  were  fitting  to 
be  done  in  this  nick  of  time.     The  Lords  Burley  and  Elcho  (to 
whom  the  Chancellor  had  written  that  the  anti-enjrao-ers  in  the 
west  were  speedily  marching  eastward,  desiring  them  to  advertise 
all  well  affected  in  Pife  to  meet  and  join  with  them),  did  write  to 
the  meeting  at  Dysart  that  there  was  a  rendezvous  of  the  shire 
appointed  at  Inverkeithing,   September   6,  desiring  some  minis- 
ters to  come  thither.     Likewise  the  Chancellor  did  advertise  the 
Lord  Burley,  that  Cassillls  and  Kirkcudbright  were  coming  to 
him  with  the  forces  of  Carrick  and  Galloway,  and  that  Ai'gyle  was 
advancing  with  his  forces.      All  thir  anti-engagers  were  moving 
towards  Edinburgh  against  the  engagers,  to  hinder  their  prose- 
cuting of  the  engagement ;  for,  in  this  meantime,  Lanerick  their 
general  is  gathering  forces  in  East  Lothian,  and  Monro  with  his 
forces  advancing  towards  him,  and  gathering  whom  he  could  get 

♦  The  Duke  of  HamiUun  was,  however,  soon  taken  prisoner,  carried  to  London  and 
there  executed. 


1648.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  205 

together,  some  of  the  runaways  and  stragglers  that  escaped  after 
Preston  fight.    September  5,  the  Chancellor  with  his  forces  entered 
Edinbm'gh.     He  did  write  to  the  meeting  at  Inverkeithing,  desir- 
ing the  gentlemen  presently  to  come  over  to  Edinburgh,  and  that 
the  anti-engagers  that  were  on  the  Committee  of  Estates  should 
come  over  that  they  might  meet ;   for  the  engaging  committee 
upon  the  approach  of  the  Chancellor's  forces  fled  out  of  the  town 
to  Lanerick,  who  about  that  time  had  a  rendezvous  in  Gladsmuir. 
A  quorum  of  the  anti-engagers  did  meet  in  the  Committee  of 
Estates.     They  ordained  General  Leslie  (as  before)  to  be  general 
of  their  army,  and  the  rest  of  the  staff  officers  as  before.     Septem- 
ber 11  was  appointed  to  be  a  day  of  rendezvous  of  their  army 
in  the  Links  of  Leith.     September  1,  the  forces  with  the  Chan- 
cellor were  mustered  in  Leith  Links,  and  lay  there  in  leaguer. 
Lanerick  having  joined  with  Monro's  forces,  advances  towards 
Musselburgh.     The  Chancellor's  forces  leaguered  upon  the  craigs 
at  the  foot  of  Leith  Wynd,  expecting  the  rest  that  were  advanc- 
ing eastward  to  join  with  them.     September  10,  being  the  Lord's 
day,  was  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly  to  be  kept  through- 
out the  kingdom  as  a  day  of  solemn  humiliation.     This  fast  was 
kept  in  Edinburgh  and  the  leaguer.     There  were  many  ministers 
with  the  army,  especially  from  the  west.     September  9  and  10, 
the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  (whereof  ^ir  Blair  was  one)  did  sit 
in  the  leaguer.     They  sent  a  pithy  exhortation  to  the  Committee 
of  Estates  that  did  also  sit  there.    Also  they  sent  a  short  Declara- 
tion to  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  and  some  others  in  the  engaging 
army  ;    showing  them  that  their  undertaking  was  to  secure  reli- 
gion, to  hinder  any  farther  prosecuting  of  the  engagement,  and  to 
shake  off  that  yoke  under  which  the  people  of  God  groaned  in  the 
land,  &c.    This  Declaration  was  occasioned  by  a  letter  sent  by  the 
Earl  of  Crawford  and  some  others  to  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk, 
asking  their  advice  what  should  be  their  carriage.     Thereafter 
Lanerick,  and  others  with  him,  sent  in  to  the  anti-engaging  army 
some  propositions,  which  being  agreed  unto,  they  would  desist. 
The  sum  of  them  was,  that  all  that  was  done  by  the  Parliament 


206  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1648. 

and  Committee  of  Estates  should  be  allowed  as  lawfld ;  that  they 
should  still  have  the  ruling  of  the  kingdom ;  that  Mom'o  should 
be  paid  of  all  that  the  Parliament  had  i^romised  him ;  that  they 
should  bruik  their  honours  and  offices.  These  propositions  were 
rejected.  Meantime  some  acts  of  hostility  were  committed  by  the 
skhmishing  of  parties. 

September  11,  Lancrick  and  Monro  marched  westwards  be-south 
Edinburgh,  Avhich  occasioned  the  Chancellor's  army  to  march  after 
them.  Lanerick  leaguered  that  night  near  about  Linlithgow,  the 
other  army  about  Corstorfen  [Corstorphin.]  The  engaging  army 
used  all  possible  expedition  to  gain  the  pass  at  Stirling,  which 
Argyle  with  his  forces  was  ordained  to  keep,  to  hinder  them  to 
cross  the  bridge  of  Stirling,  and  so  from  joining  with  Athol  and 
other  engagers  be-north  Tay.  That  same  day  Cassillis  and  Kirk- 
cudbright did  join  with  a  considerable  number  of  horse  and  foot 
with  the  anti-en o-agers.  At  this  time  the  engagers  made  the 
report  go  that  the  anti-engagers  had  invited  a  party  of  Crom- 
well's horse  to  come  in  to  Scotland  and  help  them  against  'the 
engagers,  who  should  be  commanded  by  one  Major  Strachan,  a 
Scotsman,  who,  fearing  to  be  evil  used  by  the  Duke's  army,  went 
in  to  the  English  army  with  Cromwell,  when  the  Duke  entered 
England.  It  was  certain  that  Major  Strachan,  at  this  nick  of  time, 
came  alone  to  Edinburgh,  and  told  the  noblemen,  anti-engagers, 
that  Cromwell  and  Lambert  were  upon  the  borders,  and  that  they 
were  willing,  if  they  were  desired  and  invited,  either  by  Kirk  or 
Estate,  to  send  help  to  repress  the  engaging  army  now  in  Scot- 
land, but  that  they  would  not  enter  the  kingdom  uninvited,  lest  it 
should  be  thought  a  breach,  &c.  That  same  day,  viz.,  September 
1 1,  there  was  an  appointment  betwixt  the  two  armies  that  there 
should  be  a  conference  upon  the  morrow.  Some  ministers  were 
desired  to  l)e  present,  viz.,  Messrs  David  Dickson,  Kobert  Blair, 
llobcrt  Douglas,  and  James  Guthrie.  Some  noblemen  and  these 
mmisters  did  meet  with  some  appointed  by  Lanerick  and  Craw- 
ford, September  12.  The  engagers  gave  in  some  new  proposi- 
tions much  more  reasonable  than  the  first;  but  this  conference 


1648.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  207 

was  broken  off  suddenly,  because  tlie  anti-engagers  alleged  that 
the  engagers  had  not  kept  their  promise  to  them,  viz.,  that  they 
should  not  march  during  the  time  of  the  conference,  whereas  they 
marched  before  the  conference  began,  that  they  might  gain  the 
pass  at  Stirling,  which  they  did  very  easily,  for  they  came  to 
Stirling  shortly  after  Argylc  with  his  forces  came  there,  whom 
Lanerick  surprised,  lying  securely,  and  routed.  Argyle  himself 
came  to  the  North  Queensferry,  and  crossed  there  and  joined  with 
the  anti-engagers. 

The  engagers  having  gained  the  pass  at  Stirling  (the  other  army 
lying  about  Falkirk),  and  expecting  assistance  from  the  North, 
waxed  prouder  and  were  more  high-flown  in  their  demands.  Mean- 
while their  parties  infested  and  plundered  the  west  end  of  Fife, 
the  length  of  Falldand  and  Monkland.  The  English  army  upon 
the  borders,  hearing  that  the  engagers  had  gained  the  pass  at  Stir- 
ling, and  that  they  were  waxed  a  great  deal  prouder  than  before, 
and  being  acquainted  with  their  demands,  (one  whereof  was,  that 
Scotland  should  secure  them,  yea  fight  for  them  against  England, 
in  defence  of  the  engagement),  did  enter  the  kingdom  of  Scotland 
minding  either  to  force  the  engagers  to  agree  upon  reasonable 
terms  or  otherwise  to  subdue  them.  And,  lest  their  entering  the 
kingdom  should  be  misconstructed,  Cromwell  did  write  to  the 
Chancellor  and  other  anti-engagers  in  arms,  that  he  was  entered 
the  kingdom  to  pursue  his  enemies  and  the  enemies  of  both  king- 
doms, protesting  and  taking  God  witness  of  his  sincerity,  and 
vowing,  that  so  soon  as  he  had  subdued  them,  or  they  had  amicably 
agreed  with  them,  to  depart  out  of  the  kingdom  again ;  and  that, 
in  the  meantime,  he  should  be  more  tender  of  Scotland,  in  point 
of  charges,  than  he  would  be  of  England.  So  they  came  in  and 
lay  in  the  Merse. 

The  anti-engagers'  army  (the  pass  at  Stirling  being  gained)  re- 
moved eastwards,  be-east  Edinburgh.  The  engagers  enlarge  their 
quarters  on  both  sides  of  Forth.  They  convened  a  quorum  of  the 
Committee  of  Estates  at  Stirling,  and  wrote  a  commanding  letter 
to  Fife,  commanding  them  not  to  sth*  or  join  with  Leslie,  &c. 


208  I-IFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1648. 

September  26,  the  Synod  of  Fife  should  have  convened,  but 
by  reason  of  the  forces  In  Dunfermline  and  Kirkaldy  Presby- 
teries, none  of  them  came,  and  Mr  Blair  and  some  others  of  the 
other  two  Presbyteries  being  with  the  army,  the  Synod  was  ad- 
journed. 

On  this  meantime  and  juncture  of  ticklish  aifairs,  three  armies 
lying  near  other,  !Mr  Blair  did  deal  most  affectionately  and  effec- 
tually with  some  of  the  engagers,  especially  with  the  ingenuous 
and  noble  earl  of  Crawford,  that  there  might  be  another  conference 
to  make  way  for  a  treaty  of  peace,  and  that  he  would  be  a  good 
instrument,  yea  as  a  mediator  betwixt  the  two  parties  that  were 
in  extremes,  to  bring  them  to  some  good  mediocrity  and  modera- 
tion. And  though  Mr  Blair  gained  not  what  he  wished,  yet  his 
labour  and  dealing  with  Crawford  was  not  in  vain,  for  a  conference 
was  appointed.  Mr  Blair  riding  west  towards  Falkirk  to  attend 
that  meeting,  the  day  being  tempestuous,  his  cloak,  though  a 
strong  cloth  one,  was  blown  asunder,  divided  in  the  middle — ma- 
lum omen.  The  engagers,  hearing  of  the  English  army's  entering 
the  kingdom,  became  a  great  deal  more  calm,  and  a  great  deal 
more  reasonable  in  their  demands,  which  (after  some  conferences 
betwixt  Crawford,  and  some  others  of  them  that  were  more  mo- 
derate and  reasonable  than  some  others  of  them,  and  Mr  Blair) 
made  the  treaty  to  go  on  the  better,  till  at  last,  September  28, 
the  treaty  closed,  and  peace  being  concluded,  the  chief  articles 
of  the  agreement  were  : — 

"  1.  That  all  forces  upon  both  sides  should  be  disbanded;  only 
the  anti-engagers  were  to  keep  on  foot  a  thousand  foot  and  five 
hundred  horse  till  all  forces  that  were  levied  or  gathering  be-north 
Tay  should  be  disbanded,  and  until  the  kingdom  should  be  in  a 
right  posture  again. 

"  2.  That  all  matters  concerning  religion  should  be  referred  to  the 
General  Assembly  and  their  Commissioners,  and  all  matters  civil  to 
a  Parliament  which  was  to  sit  down  on  the  10th  of  January  1649. 

"  3.  That  until  the  Parliament  none  of  those  that  had  been  as- 
sistmg  or  concun-ing  with  the  engagement  should  be  upon  the 


1648.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  209 

Committee  of  Estates,  or  manage  the  public  affairs  of  the  kingdom, 
and  that  the  Officers  of  Estate  that  had  assisted  the  eno;ao:ement 
should,  in  the  meantime,  forbear  the  meddling  with  their  offices, 
and  refer  the  disposing  of  these  places  to  the  Parliament. 

"  4.  That  all  prisoners  upon  both  sides  should  be  relieved  pre- 
sently." 

As  Mr  Blair  was  most  instrumental  in  drawing  the  two  extremes 
to  some  good  mediocrity,  so  it  is  certain  that  the  Earl  of  Crawford 
was  most  willing,  and  dealt  with  others  to  be  content  with  these 
articles  of  the  treaty,  yea  he  did  deal  a  round  sum  of  money  among 
Monro  and  some  other  officers  of  his  stamp,  and  some  of  the  sol- 
diers, to  persuade  them  to  lay  down  their  arms,  &c.  In  the  time 
of  the  treaty  the  English  army  lay  about  Dunbar  and  Haddington. 
Some  of  their  officers  came  to  Edinburgh  with  Lambert.  They 
carried  most  civilly  and  were  expected  to  return,  a  peace  being 
concluded.  Shortly  after  the  pacification  Cromwell  came  in  to 
Edinburgh,  and  was  kindly  entertained  and  feasted  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  Estates  and  by  General  Leslie  in  the  Castle,  he  being 
keeper  of  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh.  He  gave  in  a  paper  to  the 
Committee  of  Estates,  showing  how  far  the  late  engagement  had 
tended  to  the  detriment  of  the  kingdom  of  England,  and  withal 
desiring  that  none  that  had  hand  in  it  might  be  permitted  to  carry 
office  in  Scotland,  either  in  judicatories  or  armies,  which  desire  was 
granted  by  the  Committee  of  Estates.  So  the  act  was  framed 
that  was  called  The  Act  of  Classes,*  debarring  engagers,  or  any 
having  accession  to  it,  [viz.,  the  Engagement],  from  places  of  trust 
in  judicatories  or  armies,  &c.  Li  this  meantime  the  Commission 
of  the  Kirk  sent  three  of  their  number,  viz.,  Messrs  David  Dick- 
son, Robert  Blair  and  James  Guthrie  to  speak  Avith  Cromwell,  &c. 
It  was  by  the  other  two  laid  upon  Mr  Blair  to  speak  to  him,  be- 

*  This  act  was  passed  on  the  23d  of  January  1049.  It  was  called  "  The  Act  of 
Classes,"  because  it  divided  such  as  had  been  connected  with  the  Engagement  into 
four  classes,  cori-esponding  to  the  degree  in  w  hich  they  were  nnplicated.  Mr  Blair 
considered  this  act  in  some  respects  too  rigorous.  "  I  was  not  satisfied  with  sundry 
things  in  it.  .  .  .  The  rigour  and  seltynes  vented  therein  I  never  liked." — Letter 
to  Robert  Douglas.     Baillie's  Letters  and  Journuh,  iii.  557. 

O 


210  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1648. 

cause  ho  liad  some  knowledge  of  him,  liaving  conversed  witli  him 
before  and  after  the  victory  at  Long  Marston. 

"Wlien  they  came  to  Cromwell  he  had  a  long  discourse  to  them, 
with  a  fair  flourish  of  words,  and  sometimes  with  tears,  taking  God 
to  be  witness  of  their  sincerity  and  good  intentions,  «S;c.  There- 
after ^Ir  Blair  (as  ordinarily  he  used)  spoke  much  to  him  in  few 
words.  Among  other  things  he  said,  that  he  and  his  brethren  (the 
ministers  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland)  saw  no  party  or  power  that  now 
hindered  the  refonnation  of  religion  in  England  and  the  work  of 
uniformity  but  only  their  army.  Thereafter  Mr  Blair  did  put  three 
queries  to  Cromwell :  1.  What  was  his  opinion  of  monarchical  go- 
vernment ;  to  which  Cromwell  answered,  That  he  was  for  monarchi- 
cal government,  and  that  in  the  person  of  this  Iving  and  his  poste- 
rity. 2.  What  w^as  his  opinion  anent  the  toleration  ?  Answered, 
That  he  was  altogether  against  toleration.  3.  What  was  his  opi- 
nion anent  the  government  of  the  Kirk.  To  this  Cromwell  an- 
swered, "  O  now,  Mr  Blair,  you  article  me  too  severely,  you  must 
pardon  me  that  I  give  you  not  a  present  answer  to  this ;  I  must 
have  some  time  to  deliberate."  Thus  he  shifted  to  answer  that 
query,  because  he  had  often  professed  to  Mr  Blair  that  he  was  for 
Independency.  After  they  came  out  from  Cromwell,  Mr  Dickson, 
rubbing  his  elbow,  said,  "  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  this  man  speak  as 
he  does."  Mr  Blair  replied,  "  And  do  you  believe  him  ?  If  you  knew 
him  as  well  as  I  do,  you  would  not  believe  one  word  he  says.  He 
is  an  egregious  dissembler,  and  a  great  liar.  Away  with  him,  he 
is  a  greeting  devil  !"*  About  October  the  7th  Cromwell  returned 
again  to  England  with  his  whole  army,  except  two  regiments  of 
horse  and  two  troops  of  dragoons,  whom  the  Committee  of  Estates 
desired  to  abide  until  the  small  army  they  intended  to  levy  were 
up. 

*  Greeimf),  Scot,  weeping,  blubbering. — This  summary  and  nnceremonioxis  estimate 
of  Cromwell's  character,  whatever  may  be  now  thought  of  its  foundation  in  truth, 
deserves  some  attention,  as  formed  by  one  who  had  frequent  personal  intercourse 
with  the  usurper,  who  was  well  quahfied  by  his  shrewdness  to  judge  of  men's  cha- 
racters, and  who  would  not  be  swayed,  at  all  events,  by  indiscriminate  disgust  at  the 
high  professions  of  piety  made  by  CromweU,— professions  which  Axere  too  common  in 
his  day  to  be  viewed  as,  of  themselves,  indicative  of  hvpocrisy. 


1649.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLfllR.  211 

October  17,  the  Synod  of  Fife  did  meet  at  Cupar.  Mr 
Samuel  Rutherford  was  elected  Moderator.  About  this  time  Mr 
Blair  was  sent  from  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  to  London  for 
promoting  the  work  of  reformation,  &c.  There  were  sent  with  him 
from  the  Committee  of  Estates,  Lothian,  William  Glendinning  and 
Sir  John  Chiesley  unto  the  Parliament,  as  Mr  Blair  was  sent  to  the 
Assembly  of  Divines,  and  to  attend  these  three  Commissioners, 
&c.  About  this  time  the  Committee  of  Estates  sent  David  Car- 
michael  to  the  King  -with  a  missive  letter,  which  was  occasioned 
by  the  King's  writmg  to  them  to  send  up  to  him  some  lords  and 
others,  that  he  might  learn  of  them  the  estate  of  affairs  in  Scotland. 
The  Committee  not  being  willing  to  send  these,  also  the  English 
refusing  to  give  them  a  safe  conduct,  they  sent  Daniel  Carmichael 
with  the  foresaid  letter.  The  appointed  forces  being  levied,  the 
English  forces  left  Avith  Lambert  returned  again  to  England. 

In  the  time  that  Cromwell  and  his  army  were  in  Scotland  the 
Parliament  *  began  a  treaty  Avith  the  King  at  the  isle  of  Wight. 
They  gave  him  more  liberty  than  formerly,  and  taking  the  oppor- 
tunity of  the  army's  absence,  the  real,  sincere  and  honest  party  in 
the  Parliament  carried  on  the  treaty  with  the  King,  and  it  was 
generally  thought  that  there  would  be  a  peaceable  and  happy  close 
of  the  treaty ;  for  at  this  time  the  Parliament,  by  their  ordinance, 
established  Presbyterian  government  by  the  law  of  the  land,  not 
as  it  was  1645,  only  for  three  years,  unless  the  Houses  thought  fit 
to  order  otherwise,  but  did  now  order  and  ordain  this  form  of 
Church  government  to  be  used  in  the  Churches  of  England  and 
L'eland  without  limitation  of  time  for  its  duration.  Also  they 
passed  another  act  for  establishing  of  monarchical  government. 
And,  upon  the  other  hand,  the  King  became  more  condescending, 
for  he  was  content  that  Presbyterian  government  should  be  tried 
for  three  years,  &c.  But  still  it  was  feared  that  Cromwell  and  the 
army  would  not  condescend  to  the  treaty,  as  it  came  to  pass  ;  for 
while  they  are  hasting  to  close  the  treaty  Cromwell  sends  a  Colonel 
[Joysc]  who  had  taken  the  King  from  Holmby-house.     This  Joyse 

*  The  Enp;lish  Parliament. 

o2 


212  LIFE  UF  KOBEKT  BLAIK.  [1649. 

tiikes  the  King  out  of  the  Isle  of  Wight  and  carries  him  to  a  castle, 
called  Hurst  Castle,  where  the  army  keeps  him  in  close  prison. 

While  affairs  are  thus  carried  in  England,  the  Commission  of 
the  General  Assembly  taking  to  their  consideration  the  great 
apostacy  and  backsliding  in  the  land  among  all  degrees,  (for 
even  some  ministers  had  backslidden,  and  dealt  deceitfully  in  the 
matter  of  the  Covenant  and  in  the  business  of  the  late  En- 
gagement, endeavouring  in  the  time  of  the  last  Assembly  to  get 
the  Engagement  approven ;  for  which  subdolous  plots  Mr  Henry 
Guthrie,  dux  factionis,  with  some  others,  were  deposed),  thought 
that  there  was  an  inevitable  necessity  laid  on  them,  forcing  them 
at  this  time  to  renew  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  which  was 
done  December  17,  the  Thursday  before  being  spent  in  humi- 
liation and  fasting,  according  to  the  directory  for  humiliation, 
printed  and  sent  to  several  Presbyteries,  together  with  several  acts 
concerning  the  debarring  of  several  persons  from  the  Covenant. 

Affairs  in  Scotland  thus  being  ordered,  matters  in  England  are 
in  a  woeful  confusion ;  for  the  army  having  put  the  King  in  Hurst 
Castle  comes  to  London,  and  takes  up  their  head  quarters  at  West- 
minster. A  little  before  their  coming  to  the  city  they  gave  in  to 
the  Parliament  a  Remonstrance,  and  after  they  came  a  Declaration, 
wherein  they  desire : 

"  1.  That  King  Charles,  as  the  capital  grand  author  of  the  late 
troubles,  may  be  speedily  brought  to  justice. 

"  2.  That  Prince  Charles  and  the  Duke  of  York  may  be  sum- 
moned to  come  in  and  render  themselves. 

"  3.  That  this  Parliament  may  have  a  speedy  period  put  to  it, 
and  another  Parliament  to  be  called,  and  delinquents  not  to  elect 
or  be  elected. 

"  4.  That  there  may  be  an  agreement  for  all  the  kingdom  to  sign, 
which  shall  be  above  law,  and  all  to  be  disfranchised  that  will  not 
sign  it." 

After  the  giving  in  of  these  papers  to  the  Parliament,  the  army, 
by  orders  from  the  General,  did  apprehend  all  the  members  of  Par- 
h:uiient  that  were  any  ways  affected  for  Presbyterian  government 


1619.]  LIFE  OF  EGBERT  BLAIR.  213 

or  the  King,  to  the  number  of  forty-one.  They  were  put  in  prison 
and  accused  of  many  things,  whereof  this  was  one,  that  they  had 
hand  in  bringing  in  the  Scots  the  last  summer  into  England. 
Thereafter,  in  the  midst  of  December,  they  gave  in  their  agree- 
ment to  be  approven  by  the  Parliament,  Fairfax  and  Cromwell  now 
sitting  as  members,  and  the  army  guarding  the  Parliament,  having 
discharged  the  train  bands  of  the  city.  That  agreement  did  over- 
turn all  in  the  estate,  like  as  their  demanding  liberty  of  conscience 
for  all  men  and  opinions,  excepting  only  Popery,  did  overturn  all 
in  the  Kirk. 

The  army  thus  ruling  all  at  their  pleasure,  did  pass  some  votes 
in  the  House  of  Commons  for  trial  of  the  King,  and  doing  justice 
upon  him  ;  which  being  sent  to  the  House  of  Peers,  and  they  not 
joining  with  them  presently,  the  House  of  Commons  did  vote  and 
conclude  that  what  was  done  by  the  House  of  Commons  was  to  be 
obeyed  as  done  by  the  only  supreme  lawful  authority  in  the  king- 
dom of  England,  and  that,  under  God,  the  Commons  of  England 
was  the  subject  of  all  supreme  authority.  Thus  did  they  reject 
both  King  and  Lords.  Mr  Blair  all  this  while  being  in  London 
attending:  the  commissioners,  seeing  and  considering  the  most  ille- 
gal,  irreligious  and  wicked  proceedings  and  actings  of  the  sectarian 
army,  did  from  day  to  day  vex  his  soul  with  their  unlawfid  deeds. 
Perceiving  that  their  desperately  wacked  designs  were — to  ruin  re- 
ligion by  their  toleration,  the  King  and  all  government  by  their 
agreement  and  votes  that  they  had  passed  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, and  knowing  the  deep  dissimulation  and  crafty  fox-like 
wickedness,  especially  of  Cromwell,  he  did  by  all  means  shun  to 
speak  with  him  ;  for  Cromwell  coming  to  his  lodging  to  visit  him, 
Mr  Blair  hearing  of  it  went  abroad.  Thereafter  Cromwell  sent  to 
him,  and  appointed  time  and  place  where  they  might  meet ;  but 
Mr  Blair  coming  at  the  precise  appointed  time,  (dedita  opera  to  shun 
meeting  with  him),  and  Cromwell  not  being  come,  he  refused  to 
stay  until  Cromwell  was  advertised.  So  Cromwell  perceiving  that 
Mr  Blair,  being  unwilling  to  meet  with  him,  still  shifted  him,  did 
not  thereafter  trouble  him.     So  Mr  Blair  all  the  while  he  was  at 


214  LIFE  OF  KOBEllT  BLAIR.  [1G49. 

Luiulun  (lid  not  converse  nor  sjjcak  with  Cromwell ;  but  still  as 
Ci'omwcU  went  on,  yea  desperately  drove  on  his  most  pernicious  and 
wicked  designs,  Mr  Blair's  sorrow  and  grief  was  augmented ;  for 
he  being  nearer  them,  yea,  seeing  them,  had  worse  thoughts  of 
their  wicked  ways  than  other  honest  ministers  that  were  at  home 
in  Scotland.  And  this  was  the  reason  that  he  was  not  well  pleased 
with  a  paper  sent  up  to  London  by  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk, 
called  "  A  Solemn  Testimony  against  Toleration  and  the  Present 
Proceedings  of  Sectaries  in  England,  in  reference  to  Kcligion  and 
Government,  with  an  Admonition  to  their  Brethren  there."  Like- 
wise, he  thought  that  their  censure  of  the  King's  concessions  in 
the  treaty  with  him  in  the  Isle  of  Wight  was  too  rigid,  and  gave 
too  great  advantage  to  the  sectaries  to  proceed  in  their  most  un- 
godly, wicked,  and  devilish  designs  against  him ;  which  was  the 
reason  why  INIr  Blair  advised  the  Commissioners  to  change  some 
words  in  that  paper,  and  to  insert  other  words,  which  they  thought 
would  greatly  tend  to  the  King's  advantage  and  his  safety. 

But  nothing  coidd  stop  or  hinder  these  treacherous  and  covenant- 
breaking  king-murderers  in  their  dreadful  and  desperate  career  of 
wickedness ;  for  in  January  a  High  Court  of  Justice  was  by  them 
constituted,  consisting  of  officers  of  the  army,  and  some  Parliament 
men  of  the  House  of  Commons,  to  try  the  King,  to  accuse  him  of 
treason,  murder,  tyranny,  &c.,  and  to  judge  him  as  the  Parliament's 
prisoner.  For  that  purpose  a  long  charge  containing  many  things 
against  the  King  was  drawn  up.  The  King  being  convened  be- 
fore that  mock  court,  (O,  strange  !  that  the  IGng  did  so  far  conde- 
scend and  submit  to  that  unparalleled  usurpation  and  vlllany  as 
to  come  before  them),  still  refused  to  answer  their  charge,  because 
they  could  not  satisfy  him  of  the  lawfulness  of  their  authority. 
He  being  convened  before  them  the  fourth  time,  and  still  refusing 
to  answer  the  charge,  and  lilvcwise  being  denied  of  all  he  required, 
yea,  even  of  those  things  that  tended  merely  to  the  good  and  w^el- 
farc  of  his  soul,  was,  u])on  Saturday  the  27th  of  January  1649, 
condenmcd  to  be  executed  and  put  to  death,  by  severing  his  head 
from  his  body ;  which  unparalleled  mm-dcr  and  devilish  wicked- 


1649.]  LIFE  OF  ROBEIIT  BLAIE.  215 

ness  was  acted  by  that  king-murdering  and  covenant-breaking, 
heUish  crew,  upon  January  the  30th.  In  this  meantune,  while 
these  active  agents  of  Satan,  that  old  murderer  and  liar,  are  thus, 
contrary  to  all  reason,  humanity,  law,  equity,  and  conscience,  pro- 
ceeding against  the  King,  Mr  Blair,  with  our  Commissioners  then 
at  London,  did  still  upon  all  occasions  dissent  from,  and  at  last 
protest  against  all  these  unlawful,  ungodly,  and  treacherous  pro- 
ceedin2;s  against  the  Kino;.* 

The  King  being  refused  the  benefit  of  having  the  company  of, 
and  converse  with,  his  own  chaplains  during  the  time  of  liis  close 
Imprisonment,  did  at  last,  shortly  before  his  death,  earnestly  desire 
that  ]\Ir  Blair  might  be  permitted  to  come  to  him  and  be  with  him 
at  his  death ;  which  desire  of  the  King  being  made  knowTi  to  Mr 
Blair,  he  used  aU  means  to  obtain  liberty  to  go  unto  the  King  and 
be  with  him  so  long  as  he  desired  his  company,  but  it  was  flatly 
refused  ;  which  devilish  cruelty  and  hellish  design,  even  against  the 
good  and  welfare  of  the  King's  soul,  cannot  be  enough  admired.j 
But  in  this  they  did  the  deeds  of  their  father  the  devil,  who  was  a 
murderer  both  of  soul  and  body  from  the  beginning.  Mr  Blair 
regretted  that  he  could  not  obtain  liberty,  nay,  not  so  much  as  to 
speak  with  the  King ;  but  thereafter,  did  often  profess,  that  if  he 
had  been  permitted  to  have  gone  to  the  King,  and  to  have  been 
with  him  at  his  death,  he  would  never  have  advised  him  so  far  to 
submit  to  that  most  illegal  and  wicked  sentence  of  death,  as  to  go 
uj)on  his  own  feet  to  a  scaffold,  and  that  he  was  resolved  so  to 
speak  and  carry  on  the  scaffold,  testifying  against  that  horrid  mur- 
der, that  he  laid  his  account  to  die  with  the  King,  and  that  he 
would  have  as  willingly  laid  dowTi  his  head  to  the  hatchet  as  ever 
he  laid  his  head  to  a  pUlow.l 

*  It  became  the  policy  of  the  Cavalier  party  after  the  Restoration,  with  the  view  of 
ousting  the  Presbyterians  from  the  Church,  to  represent  them  as  accessoiy  to  the  death 
of  Charles  I. ;  and  ever  since,  this  charge,  so  ridicidously  opposed  to  historical  facts, 
has  been  repeated  by  \\'riters  of  that  party.  The  above  may  be  regarded  as  a  fair  ex- 
pression of  the  sentiments  then  held  by  the  Presbyterians  of  England  and  Scotland  on 
this  point. 

t  Admired,  wondered  at. 

X  As  Blair  had  always  been  in  principle  favourable  to  monarchical  government, 


216 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1649. 


Keport  uf  the  King's  death  coming  to  Scotland,  seeing  he  was 
proceeded  against,  and  in  end  murdered  contraiy  to  the  dissent 
and  protestation  of  their  commissioners,  both  of  Kirk  and  Estate, 
then  at  London,  the  Committee  of  Estates  did  presently  proclaim 
the  prince  King  of  Britain,  &c.,  and  resolved  to  make  addresses 
to  him  as  their  Iving.  Shortly  thereafter  the  Committee  of 
Estates  did  \n-\tc  to  the  young  King,  Charles  the  Second,  then 
livino-  at  the  Hague  in  Holland,  showing  him  of  the  more  than 
lamentable  death  of  his  father,  and  their  proclaiming  of  him  King, 
as  the  undoubted  successor  to  his  father's  crown,  hoping  that  he 
would  apply  himself  to  the  counsels  of  his  Parliament  in  Scotland, 
and  of  the  General  Assembly  or  their  Commission.  The  letter 
was  sent  with  Sir  Joseph  Douglas,  who  had  no  other  commission 
save  only  to  deliver  the  letter  to  the  king. 

Shortly  thereafter,  the  Committee  of  Estates  resolved  to  send 
their  Commissioners  to  the  young  King,  together  with  some  minis- 
ters and  an  elder  from  the  kirk,  and  it  was  thought  fit  that  the  Com- 
missioners* at  London,  together  with  Mr  Blair,  should  go  from  Lon- 
don to  Holland  to  the  King,  and  that  a  minister  and  an  elder  from  the 
commission  of  the  Kirk  should  meet  them  at  the  Hague,  with  a  com- 
mission, articles  and  instructions.  Advertisement  hereof  was  sent 
up  to  the  three  commissioners  and  Mr  Blair  very  secretly,  which  they 

so  he  had  ever  been  a  warm  friend  of  the  Stuart  family,  notwithstanding  their 
atteinj)ts  to  crush  the  liberties  of  their  subjects,  and  to  introduce  prelacy  and  ar- 
bitrar)'  power.  Still  this  did  not  prevent  some  from  accusing  him  as  an  enemy  to 
monarchy.  Dr  I?alcanqual,  as  we  have  already  seen,  (p.  47),  brought  against  him 
this  charge.  Balfour  treats  him  with  similar  injustice.  "  Mr  Robert  Blair,"  says  he, 
"was,  Beg.  Ja.  VI.,  banished  the  University  of  Glasgow  (for  his  anti-monarchical  tenets) 
to  Ireland,  where  he  lurked  till  these  unhappy  troubles  began  in  Scotland  ;  and  scarce 
was  he  well  returned,  but  '  he  was'  preferred  by  those  that  favoured  him  '  to  Ayr,  and' 
then  preferred  to  be  minister  of  St  Andrews,  thereby  setting  him  in  a  place  where  he 
could  most  diffuse  his  venom,"  [his  anti-monarchical  principles].— ^««rtfe,  iii.  412,  413. 
He  again  allirms,  that  "  it  is  to  be  noted,  that  in  evciy  college,  Blair,  Rutherford 
and  Wood  have  tlieir  emissaries  and  dilaters,"  and  "thatthir  three  men  have,  with 
their  abettors,"  resolved,  "  to  displace  and  defame  all  that  affects  monarchy  or  kingly 
povcrnnicnt."— /A.  iii.  412.  Blair's  own  statements  of  his  principles  on  kingly  govem- 
incut,  as  well  as  the  deep  interest  he  uniformly  took  in  the  royal  family,  completely 

prove  the  falsity  of  these  charges. 

_  •  Namely,  the  Earl  of  Lothian,  Sir  Joim  Chiesly,  and  William  Glendinuing.— 5a/- 
jmrs  Annals,  vol.  iii.  p.  388. 


1649.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  217 

resolved  to  obey,  and  having  put  themselves  In  deep  mourning,* 
they  agreed  with  a  ship  to  transport  them.  But  before  they  parted 
from  London,  they  gave  in  some  papers  to  the  Parliament,  witnessing 
their  dislike  and  dissent  from  all  their  proceedings  against  the  King, 
and  protesting  against  the  same  ;  likewise  showing  them  that  his 
son  was  proclaimed  in  Scotland,  being  the  undoubted  heir  of  his 
father's  three  crowns,  &c.  Presently  after  the  ingiving  of  these 
papers,  they  repaired  to  Gravesend,  to  ship  in  there  for  Holland, 
but  they  were  stopped  by  a  party  of  horse  sent  after  them  by  the 
Parliament,  who  did  bring  them  back  again.  The  Parliament  de- 
tained them  until  they  sent  down  to  Scotland  to  see  if  the  Parlia- 
ment there  would  own  these  papers  that  they  had  given  in  to  them 
by  their  Commissioners  and  Mr  Blair,  Commissioner  from  the  Kirk. 
So  the  Commissioners  of  Estate  and  Kirk,  that  were  in  a  readiness 
to  repair  to  the  King  being  detained,  others  were  appointed  and 
commissionate  to  go  to  the  King,  viz.,  the  Earl  of  Cassilis,  Laird 
of  Brodie,  f  and  Alexander  JafFray,  f  from  the  three  Estates,  and 
Messrs  James  Wood,  §  Robert  Baillie   and  Liberton  from  the 


*  For  the  King's  death. 

t  Alexander  Brodie  of  Brodie,  who  was  soon  after  raised  by  Cromwell  to  the  Bench 
as  Judge  in  the  Supreme  Court. 

X  Alexander  JafFray,  provost  of  Aberdeen,  who  afterwards  became  a  Quaker,  and 
whose  memoirs  have  lately  been  published. — Jaffray  and  the  Friends  of  Scotland,  by 
John  Barclay  ;  London,  1833. 

§  James  Wood  was  admitted  minister  of  Deninno  in  1641,  and  in  July  1645  was 
translated  from  that  parish  to  be  professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History  in  St  Marys  or 
New  College,  St  Andrews,  of  which  Mr  Samuel  Rutherford  was  Princiiial. — (^Records 
of  the  Synod  ofFfe,  pp.  205,  215.)  But,  according  to  Baillie,  the  ditferences  between 
him  and  Rutherford  on  the  subject  of  the  Public  Resolutions  rendering  his  situation 
very  uncomfortable,  he  was  desirous  of  being  removed,  and,  in  1657,  was  translated  to 
be  Principal  of  St  Salvadors,  or  the  old  College  of  St  Andrews.  His  appointment  to 
this  office  by  the  University  was  o\\ang  to  Cromwell's  government,  whicli,  by  the 
advice  of  James,  afterwards  Archbishop  Shai-p,  wrote  a  letter  to  the  ministers  of  St 
Andrews,  and  the  masters  of  the  University,  requiring  them  to  admit  Wood  as  Prin- 
cipal of  the  Old  College  without  delay. — {Baillie's  Letters  and  Journals,  iii.  216,  376.) 
Baillie  in  recording  this  appointment  says,  "  I  am  ghxd  he  is  in  it,  or  any  other 
'  charge '  where  he  is  contented  ;  for  indeed  lie  is  the  most  serviceable  man  our  church 
now  has."  On  the  establislmient  of  Prelacy  after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II., 
Sharp  did  all  he  could  to  induce  Wood  to  conform  ;  and  finding  his  efforts  utterly 
ineffectual,  he  soon  eflected  iiis  removal  from  St  Andrews.  By  liis  instigation  Wood 
was  summoned  before  the  Privy  Council  in  July  1663  j  and  appearing,  his  place  was 


218  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G49. 

Kirk,  who  did  presently  repair  to  the  King,  with  propositions  to 
be  presented  to  him.*  After  that  these  papers  given  in  by  the 
Commissioners  of  Estate  and  Erk  at  London  were  o\Aaied  by  the 
Committee  of  Estates,  and  Commission  of  the  Kirk  sitting  at 
Edinburgh,  our  Commissioners  were  dismissed.  But  the  then  Par- 
liament of  England,  fearing  lest  they  shoidd  again  attempt  to  go 
straight  to  the  Iving,  did  send  them  down  as  prisoners,  a  guard 
attending  them  until  they  came  to  Berwick.  These  two  last  jour- 
neys into  England  did  not  a  little  wrong  ^Mr  Blair's  health.  His 
going  in  with  the  army  in  winter  1643,  and  sometimes  lying  in 
the  ojien  air  in  time  of  frost  and  snow  did  mucli  injure  him,  and 
draw  upon  him  the  gout,  and  whereas  before  he  was  of  a  good 
constitution  and  strong  body,  able  to  endure  toil  and  travel,  there- 
after he  became  crazy,  and  more  unable  for  journeying  ;  wliich  was 
one,  but  not  the  chief  reason  why  ]\Ir  Blair  was  so  unwilling  to 
undertake  the  journey,  October  1648.  But  his  journey  down 
again  from  London  in  the  spring  1649,  did  quite  break  his  health  ; 
for  he  Avas  pained  with  the  gout  all  the  'way,  and  after  he  came  to 
Edinburgh  lay  a  space  there,  and  thereafter  did  take  physic  from 
Doctor  Cunningham.  After  this  Mr  Blair  being  troubled  with 
the  gout,  and  sometimes  more  pained  with  the  gravel,  (his  two 
twins  as  he  used  to  call  them),  came  not  so  much  abroad  to  kirk 
judicatories  as  in  former  times. 

While  our  Commissioners  are  Avith  the  Kiuff  at  the  Hao-ue,  the 

declared  vacant,  Avliilc  lie  was  ordered  to  confine  himself  within  the  city  of  Edinburgh. 
He  was,  however,  aftenvards  permitted  to  return  to  St  Andrews  to  ^dsit  his  fother 
who  liad  fallen  sick.— (llor/z-off's  Hist  i.  370.)  He  died  about  the  beginning  of  the 
year  IGCA.  Shaq)  visited  him  once  or  twice  on  his  death-bed  in  St  Andrews  ;  and, 
though  Wood  spoke  very  little  to  him,  and  never  at  aU  about  the  introduced  eccle- 
siastical changes,  he  circulated  a  report,  that,  in  the  prospect  of  eternity,  Wood  pro- 
fessed an  entire  indifference  as  to  the  subject  of  Church  government,  and  that  it 
might  be  altered  according  to  the  will  of  the  magistrate.  Wood,  deeply  grieved  on 
hearing  this  report,  dictated  and  subscribed  a  solemn  testimony,  before  two  witnesses 
and  a  notary,  in  whidi  he  declares  it  as  his  dying  conviction,  that  Presbyterian 
government  was  the  ordinance  of  God,  appointed  by  Jesus  Christ  for  governing  and 
ordering  his  visible  C\mix-h.—{ll,{d.  i.  403,  404.) 

•  George  Winram  of  Liberton,  \vho  was,  after  his  return  from  Holland,  raised  to 
the  Ilencli.  He  was  acbaitted,  June  22,  1G40.  At  the  battle  of  Dunbar,  September 
3,  ICjO,  be  was  so  severely  wounded  that  he  died  within  a  few  days. 


1649.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  219 

malignants  in  the  north  begm  again  to  stir.  They  surprised  In- 
verness, and  begin  to  gather  to  a  head ;  but  they  were  quickly 
suppressed  and  quieted.  But  they  being  as  the  troubled  sea,  did 
again  stir  in  April  and  gather  to  a  head,  even  all  the  malignants 
in  the  north, — the  chief  of  them  was  the  Lord  Hay  ; — but  it  pleased 
the  Lord,  by  a  small  party  commanded  by  General  Ker,  to  defeat 
the  whole  strength  of  the  malignants  in  the  north  in  the  begin- 
ning of  May  at  Balveny.  For  the  which  victory,  as  well  as  other 
causes  contained  in  the  printed  paper,  was  kept  a  solemn  thanks- 
giving upon  the  25th  of  ISIay  ;  which  day  was  kept  by  IVIr  Blair 
at  St  Andrews. 

The  malignants  being  repressed  in  Scotland,  they  begin  to 
stir  in  Ireland.  The  Lord  Airds  treacherously  joins  with  George 
Monro,  Ormond,  Inchiquin,  &c.  They  command  all  in  the  north 
of  Ireland.  The  Presbyterians  in  these  bounds  (who  aU  before 
had  declared  both  against  sectaries  and  malignants)  are  now 
put  to  the  worse  and  hardly  used ;  so  that  honest  men,  espe- 
cially ministers,  were  forced  to  come  over  to  Scotland.  Crom- 
well having  settled  matters  in  England  to  his  mind,  with  a 
strong  party  came  over  to  Ireland,  who  did  quickly  scatter  the 
malio-nants  and  re2;ain  the  stronc;holds.  But  all  this  while  honest 
men  are  in  no  better  condition,  but  rather  worse.  Sundry  minis- 
ters came  over  to  Scotland,  and  entered  for  the  interim  to  vacant 
kirks.  In  June  our  Commissioners  returned  from  the  King  with 
his  answers  to  the  propositions,  which  were  judged,  both  by  the 
Committee  of  Estates  and  General  Assembly,  unsatisfactory.  All 
that  passed  betwixt  the  King  and  our  Commissioners  was  printed.* 
See  the  printed  paper. 

*  The  yoving  King  made  a  highly  favourable  impression  upon  the  Commissioners, 
and  they  ascribed  the  unsatisfactory  result  of  their  negotiations  to  the  e^dl  counsellors 
by  -u-hom  he  was  surrounded.  "  His  Majesty,"  "  says  Baillie,  in  a  letter  to  the  Com- 
mission, April  3,  1049,  "  is  of  a  very  sweet  and  courteous  disposition  :  it  were  all  the 
pities  in  the  world  but  he  were  iu  good  company.  We  hope  he  is  not  so  far  rooted 
in  any  principles  contraiy  to  us,  but  that,  by  God's  blessing  or  our  friends'  labours,  he 
may  be  gotten  to  do  us  reason,  whatsoever  our  fears  may  be  for  the  present.  There 
is  a  very  evil  generation  both  of  l-lnglish  and  Scots  here,  who  vomit  out  all  their  evil 
humours  against  all  our  proceedings." — Ltlters  andJournals,  iii.  87.    Quite  euraptiu'ed 


220  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1649. 

The  General  Assembly  convened,  (whereof  Mr  Blair  was  a  mem- 
ber,) in  Edinburgh  in  the  beginning  of  July,  ^ir  Douglas  being 
chosen  moderator.  After  the  approbation  of  the  Commissioners 
of  the  j)rcccding  Assembly,  follows  the  approbation  of  the  Com- 
missioners sent  to  the  King,  and  an  act  concerning  the  receiving 
of  eno-ao-crs  to  public  satisfaction,  with  the  declaration  and  acknow- 
Icdo-mcnt  to  be  subscribed  by  them  ;*  also  a  seasonable  and  neces- 
sary warning  and  declaration  concerning  danger  and  duties,  &c. ; 
last,  a  letter  to  the  King's  Majesty  ;  all  in  print. 

At  this  time  some  things  did  pass  betwixt  our  Parliament  and 
the  sectaries,  and  their  pretended  Parliament  or  Representative. 
They  did  send  down  a  Commissioner  demanding  the  kingdom  of 
Scotland  to  send  their  Commissioners  to  treat  with  them  anent 
some  wrongs  they  had  received  from  Scotland  and  some  other 
things.  Our  Parliament  returned  a  very  sharp  and  bold  answer, 
declaring  that  they  would  not  treat  with  them  nor  acknowledge 
them,  a  commonwealth  as  they  called  themselves,  challenging  them 
of  the  King's  death  and  of  other  things.  This  Parliament  w^as 
judged  by  honest  ministers,  that  did  hate  both  the  black  and  white 
dcvil-malignants  and  sectaries,  a  very  good  and  honest  Parliament. 
Tlicy  abolished  patronages,  for  the  which  they  were  commended 

with  liis  good  dispositions  and  princely  qualities,  Baillie,  in  a  letter  to  Eobert  Douglas, 
April  3,  1G49,  thus  eulogises  Charles  :  "  He  is  one  of  the  most  gentle,  innocent,  well- 
inclined  princes,  so  far  as  yet  appears,  that  lives  in  the  world  ;  a  trim  person  and  of  a 
manly  carnage ;  understands  pretty  well ;  speaks  not  much ;  would  God  he  M-ere 
amongst  us."  And,  in  another  letter  to  Douglas,  he  thus  writes,  "  If  God  would  send 
him  among  us,  without  some  of  his  present  counsellors,  I  think  he  might  make,  by 
God's  blessing,  as  good  a  king  as  Britain  saw  these  hundred  years."  He,  however,  at 
the  same  time,  acknowledges,  that  be  was  "  firm  to  the  tenets  his  education  and  com- 
pany had  jilantcd  in  him." — Ibidem,  iii.  88,  89. 

♦  "  1  G4i),  July  4,  the  General  Assembly  of  this  kingdom  sat  at  Edinburgh.  There  was 
an  net  made  declaring  the  way  of  receiving  the  officers  that  had  an  hand  in  the  en- 
gagement against  England,  1G48.  All  those  that  were  above  lieutenants  were  to  come 
before  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  that  sat  at  Edinburgh,  and  to  be  received  by  them; 
nn<l  those  that  were  beneath  lieutenants  were  referred  to  the  several  prcsbj-teries 
wherein  they  lived,  to  give  satisfaction  there.  At  the  close  of  this  foresaid  act  there 
was  a  declaration  j.rinted  that  was  appointed  to  be  subscribed  by  them  all  under  the 
rnmofcxcomnn.nicati.m.-'  ....  "  At  this  meeting  there  were  several 
noblemen  ol  this  king.U.m  that  did  supplicate  to  be  received  to  the  Covenant,  as  the 
J.or<ls  Ugilvy,  Quccnsberry,  Kcnmurc,"  S,c.—Lamon€s  Diary,  p.  7. 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  221 

by  the  General  Assembly,  as  a  necessary  point  of  reformation. 
They  gave  a  commission  for  plantation  of  ku^ks,  settling  of  minis- 
ters' stipends,  &c.  There  was  a  sweet  harmony  betwixt  this 
Parliament  and  General  Assembly,  which  was  comfortable  to  both 
in  this  time  of  sad  troubles  and  distress  to  both.  This  Assembly, 
as  also  the  preceding,  appointed  sundry  commissions  for  visitino- 
sundry  parts  of  the  kingdom  for  purging  of  the  house  of  God  in 
the  land.  They  did  much  good,  for  many  profime,  scandalous, 
insufficient  and  unfaithful  ministers  were  deposed,  especially  in 
Ano;us  and  Mearns*  and  Stirlino;shire. 

In  the  latter  end  of  October,  the  Committee  of  Estates  sent 
another  Commissioner,  with  new  propositions  to  the  King,  who 
then  was  in  the  isle  of  Jersey,  having  returned  from  France.  The 
Lord  Liberton  was  sent  Commissioner.  The  sum  of  what  passed 
at  that  time  was — The  King  declared  his  willingness  to  give  all 
satisfaction  to  his  ancient  kingdom  of  Scotland,  and  for  that  effect 
did  appoint  a  treaty  to  be  betwixt  him,  and  Commissioners  to  be 
sent  from  Scotland,  to  meet  him  at  Breadliall  [Breda]  in  Holland, 
upon  the  15th  of  March  1650.  He  wrote  a  very  discreet  letter  to 
the  Estates,  directed  to  the  Committee  of  Estates,  desirino-  them 
to  send  Commissioners  to  him  against  the  day  foresaid,  and  pro- 
mising all  satisfaction.     Also  he  wrote  to  the  Commission  of  the 

*  The  Committee  appointed  to  visit  Angus  and  Mearns  in  September  this  year,  de- 
prived in  these  bounds  eighteen  ministers  ;  silenced  two  expectants  ;  suspended  five 
ministers,  and  ordained  that  two  churches  which  had  old  infirm  ministers  should  be 
provided  with  new  ministers. — Balfour's  Annals,  iii.  430.  "The  causes  of  these  depo- 
sitions," says  Lamont,  "  were  insufficiency  for  the  ministiy  ;  famishing  of  contTco-a- 
tions  ;  silence  in  the  time  of  the  late  engagement  against  England  ;  coiTuptions  in  life 
and  doctrine  ;  malignancy  ;  draukenness  ;  and  subscribing  of  a  divisive  bond,  and  such 
like." — Diary,  10.  Llr  Andrew  Cant  was  moderator  of  this  meeting.  "  The  visitors 
appointed  to  several  actual  ministers  texts  that  they  might  hear  them,  some  of  which 
had  been  in  the  ministry  for  the  space  of  twenty  or  twenty-four  years." — Ibidem,  p.  10. 
Speaking  of  these  commissions  Baillie  says,  "  There  had  been  diverse  commissions, 
east,  west,  south,  and  north,  who  had  deposed  many  ministers,  to  the  pity  and  grief  of 
my  heart ;  for  sundry  of  them  I  thought  might  have  been  for  more  advantage  every 
way,  with  a  rebuke  kept  in  their  places  ;  but  there  were  few  durst  profess  so  much  ; 
and  I  for  my  ingenuous  freedom  lost  much  of  my  reputation  as  one  who  was  inclined 
to  malignancy." — Letters  and  Journals,  iii.  91.  He  farther  states  that  "these  commis- 
sions were  appointed  for  deposing  such  ministers  as  Presbyteries  and  Synods  did 
spare." — Ibidem,  iii.  97. 


222  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1650. 

General  Assembly,  desiring  them  to  send  their  Commissioners,  &c. 
Liberton  came  home  in  the  beginning  of  February  1650. 

The  Commission  of  the  Kirk  convened  February  13.  There 
■was  a  Connnittee  of  the  Estates  and  some  ministers  chosen  to 
consult  about  the  King's  letters.  The  result  of  the  consultation 
and  debates  was  the  choosing  of  Commissioners  to  be  sent  to  the 
King,  to  treat  with  him  at  Breda.  For  the  Kirk,  Messrs  John 
Livingstone,  James  Wood,  and  George  Hutcheson,*  ministers,  and 
Cassillls  and  Brodie,  elders,  were  chosen  by  the  Commission  of 
the  Kirk.  For  the  Estates,  Cassilis,  Lothian,  Liberton,  Brodie, 
Sir  John  Smith,  Alexander  Jaffray  were  chosen  by  the  Com- 
mittee of  Estates.  The  Parliament  did  convene  March  6,  where 
their  commission  was  approven,  and  so  March  8,  they  took  ship 
for  Holland  to  meet  the  King  at  Breda.  Before  these  Com- 
missioners went  to  sea  there  came  from  London  a  letter,  al- 
leged to  be  written  by  the  King  to  Montrose,  encouraging  him 
to  go  on  in  his  service  for  his  restoration  to  his  kingdoms,  promis- 
ing that  nothing  shall  be  in  his  treaty  with  Scotland  to  his  preju- 
dice. Also  the  last  summer  report  did  go  abroad  that  the  King 
was  to  send  over  forces  with  Montrose.  None  came ;  but  in  har- 
vest the  Earl  of  Kinnoul  with  sundry  officers,  landed  in  Orkney, 
expecting  forces  to  follow  them,  whom  the  gentlemen  and  country 
people  of  Orkney,  after  some  skirmishing  with  them,  did  scatter 
and  expel  out  of  the  kingdom.  These  things  made  many  think 
that  the  King  was  but  tampering  with  Scotland,  and  that  there 
were  small  hopes  of  a  good  agreement ;  for  about  the  time  of  our 
Commissioners'  departure  for  Holland  did  INIontrose  arrive  in 
Orkney  with  some  officers  of  his  own  stamp,  viz.,  Sir  John  Hurrie,t 

*  Jrr  George  Hutcheson  was  first  minister  at  Colmonel  in  Ayi-sliirc,  and  was  after- 
wards translated  to  Edinlnirgli.  He  was  ejected  from  his  charge  in  1662  for  refusing 
to  confonn  to  Prehicy  ;  but  afterwards  became  indidged  minister  at  Irvine,  where  he 
died  of  ai)0])k'xy  in  1674,  being  about  fifty-nine  years  of  age.  Hutcheson  was  a  man 
of  distinguished  talents,  and  was  accounted  in  his  time  one  of  the  greatest  expositors 
of  Scripture  which  Scotland  had  ever  produced.  His  commentaries  on  the  minor  Pro- 
phets, the  book  of  Job,  and  the  gospel  of  John  have  been  published,  and  have  been 
highly  valued.  Forty-four  of  his  sermons  on  the  130th  Psalm  were  published  at 
Edinburgh  from  his  MSS.  in  1698. 

t  Sir  John  Ilurric  was  taken  prisoner  on  the  defeat  of  Montrose's  amiv  at  the  battle 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  223 

Lord  Frendroth,  Si3ottiswood,*  &g.,  and  a  considerable  party  of 
Danes  and  other  strangers.  From  Orkney  tliey  came  to  Caith- 
ness ;  from  that  farther  into  the  country.  They  pretended  to 
have  the  King's  Commission,  set  up  the  King's  standard,  and 
pressed  all  the  country  where  they  came  to  join  with  them  for  the 
King's  service.  After  they  had  taken  in  the  house  of  Dunbeatli 
(where  they  got  store  of  victuals  and  a  considerable  sum  of  money), 
they  advance  till  they  come  to  Ross. 

At  this  time  om*  forces  are  marching  north  to  rencounter  them, 
and  to  put  a  stop  to  the  enemy's  advance.  Lieutenant  General 
Strachan  was  sent  before,  to  command  the  troops  in  Ross  and 
about  Liverness.  The  commanders  of  these  few  troops  (viz.  Gene- 
ral Ker,  Lieutenant  General  Hacket,  &c.)  resolved  presently  to 
fight  the  enemy ;  fearing  lest,  upon  the  advance  of  more  forces, 
the  enemy,  after  his  accustomed  manner,  should  flee  and  escape 
to  the  hills;  and  so,  April  27,  they  advanced  towards  the  ene- 
my, being  at  Corbiesdale.  The  enemy  drew  up  in  a  plain  near  a 
wood,  to  the  which,  upon  the  advance  of  our  horses,  they  did  re- 
tire. Yet  they  pursued  them  into  the  woods,  and  at  the  very 
first  charge  made  them  all  to  run.  The  Lord  did  strike  such  a 
terror  into  their  hearts,  that  their  most  resolute  commanders  had 
neither  hands  nor  hearts  to  fight  nor  feet  to  flee.  So  our  forces, 
without  opposition,  did  execution  upon  them.  Sundry  of  their 
chief  commanders  were  killed,  the  rest  taken ;  386  taken  prisoners ; 
the  king's  standard,  with  four  others,  were  taken.  Montrose 
escaped,  but  his  sword  and  cloak,  with  the  star,  were  found  uj^on 
the  place.    But  the  hand  of  God  stiU.  pursuing  him,  he  was  shortly 

of  Kerbestcr  or  Corbiesdale,  in  Eoss,  April  27,  1C50,  recorded  by  Row  in  the  next 
paragraph.  He  was  beheaded  at  Edinburgh,  ISIay  29,  1G50,  according  to  the  sen- 
tence of  the  Parliament.  "  Sir  John  Ilurrie,"  "  was  penitent,  and  confessed  that  his 
great  and  manifold  sins  against  God  had  brought  him  to  that  so  public  an  end." — 
Balfour's  Annals,  iv.  32. 

*  Captain  John  Spottiswood  was  son  to  the  Laird  ofDarsie,  and  grandchild  to  Arch- 
bishop Spottiswood  of  St  Andrews.  He  was  also  taken  at  the  battle  of  Corbiesdale. 
Having  been  found  guilty  of  treason,  he  was  sentenced  by  the  Parliament  on  Tues- 
day, 29th  May,  to  be  beheaded  at  the  cross  of  Edinburgh  the  following  day.  "  John 
Spottiswood"  says  Balfour,  "  died  in  a  fuiy  and  rage,  almost  distracted  of  his  wits, 
and  would  confess  nothing. — Annuls,  iv,  11,  28,  32. 


224 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G50. 


thereafter  taken  in  tlie  Laird  of  Assen's  bountls,  and  brought  to 
David  Leslie*  Thereafter  he  was  conveyed  by  Lawer's  regi- 
ment to  Edinburgh.  May  18,  in  the  afternoon,  he  was  brought 
to  tlie  Watergate ;  from  that  he  was,  in  too  ignominious  a  way, 
drawn  up  the  street  in  a  cart  to  the  Tolbooth.  f  Presently  there 
were  three  sent  from  the  Estates,  then  sitting  in  Parliament,  to 
examine  him.t  He  ever  justified  all  his  proceedings,  alleging  that 
he  had  commissions  from  the  King  for  all  that  he  did.  §  He  did 
also  most  loftily  reflect  upon  some  persons  of  quality.  Upon  Mon- 
day, May  20,  he  was  brought  before  the  Parliament,  where,  after 
all  his  treachery  and  wickedness  was  laid  to  his  charge  by  the 
Chancellor,  he  received  his  sentence,  viz.,  that  upon  Tuesday,  May 
21,  he  should  be  hanged  at  the  cross,  and,  after  three  hours, 
cut  down  and  headed  and  quartered ;  his  head  put  upon  the  west 

*  Nicol's  account  of  Montrose's  apprehension  is  as  follows : — "  Within  four  days 
after  this  victory  this  bloody  traitor  was  taken  and  apprehended.  After  he  had  fled 
to  the  hills,  and  remained  there  in  gi'eat  misery  and  famine,  he  came  to  a  house  and 
family  whose  master  was  called  M'Cloyd,  looking  for  protection  at  his  hands,  being 
one  of  his  old  acquaintances,  and  compiler  with  him  in  his  former  plots  and  bloody 
courses ;  but  this  man's  son,  called  Neill  M'Cloyd,  fearing  the  danger  of  the  laws  if 
lie  should  conceal  him,  and  hearing  of  the  large  promises  of  money  to  the  revealers 
and  a))prehcndcrs  of  him,  he  was  induced  thereby  to  seize  him  and  take  him  prisoner 
in  his  own  house,  and  rendered  him  to  the  commanders  of  this  army." — Diary,  p.  11 . 
On  hearing  of  INIontrose's  apprehension,  the  Commissioners  of  the  Kirk  and  General 
Assembly  ajipointed  a  day  of  solemn  thanksgiving,  which  was  observed  in  all  the  kirks 
of  Edinburgh,  and  adjoining  churches,  upon  the  15th  of  May  1560.  On  Thursday, 
May  30,  1560,  the  I'arliament  appointed  that  the  Laird  of  Assen,  who  apprehended 
Montrose,  should  receive  that  reward  of  25,000  lbs.  Scots. — Balfour's  Annals,  iv.,  35. 

t  This  was  dune  according  to  an  Act  of  Parliament  passed  on  Friday,  May  17,  Ses- 
sion 1,  at  Edinburgh,  "  ordaining  James  Graham  to  be  brought  from  the  Water-gate, 
on  a  cart,  baix'hcadcd,  the  hangman  in  his  liveiy,  covered,  riding  on  the  horse  that 
draws  the  cart,  (the  jn-isouer  to  be  bound  to  the  cart  with  a  rope),  to  the  Tolbooth  of 
Edinburgh,  and  from  thence  to  be  brought  to  the  Parliament  House,  and  there,  in  the 
place  of  delinciuents,  on  liis  knees,  to  receive  his  sentence.  Ou  Saturday  the  18th  of 
May,  he  entered  Edinburgh,  according  to  the  ordinance  of  Parliament  of  the  17th, 
with  twcnty-tbree  prisoners,  all  commanders,  and  Sir  John  Hurrie,  his  Major-general, 
all  of  whom  were  conmiitted  to  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh. — (Ibid.,  iv.,  13.) 

X  The  persons  sent  were  Robert,  Lord  Burlic,  Sir  James  Hope  of  Hopeton,  George 
rortcrficld  of  Gbisgow,  Mr  James  Durham  and  Mr  James  Hamilton,  ministers.  They 
brought  liis  answers  in  writ«  to  the  Parliament.— iJaZ/bur's  Annals,  iv.  13,  14. 

§  Ho  even  avowed  this  in  his  last  speech  on  the  scaftbld  :  "  That  I  am  under  the 
censure  of  the  Church,"  he  said,  "  it  is  not  my  fault,  seeing  I  but  obeyed  my  lawful 
prince." — {Ihid.,  iv.  20.)     See  p.  222. 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  225 

end  of  the  Tolbootli,  his  two  anus  and  legs  to  be  sent  to  Perth, 
Aberdeen,  Stirling,  and  Glasgow;  and  the  trunk  of  his  body,  if 
he  died  penitent,  to  be  buried  among  the  execute  persons  in  the 
Greyfriars ;  if  otherwise,  to  be  buried  at  the  foot  of  the  gallows 
in  the  Burrow-moor.*  To  bring  him  to  some  conviction  of  his 
bloodshed  and  abominable  wickedness,  some  ministers  were  sent 
from  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  then  sitting  at  Edinburgh.  Mr 
Blair  did  deal  much  with  him,  especially  that  he  would  lay  to 
heart  his  grievous  wickedness  by  shedding  so  much  blood  in 
the  years  1644  and  1645.  But  still  he  justified  all  that  he  had 
done,  and,  when  his  blood-guiltiness  was  aggravated,  he  said  to 
Mr  Blair  that  it  was  as  sore  against  his  will  as  if  all  that  blood  had 
run  out  of  his  own  veins.  To  whom  Mr  Blair  replied,  "  If  that  had 
been  true  you  had  not  accepted  of  a  new  commission,  and  made 
such  haste  to  come  again  to  shed  more  blood  in  this  land,  and 
even  at  that  very  time  when  our  commissioners  were  treating  with 
the  King."  Mr  Blair,  and  others  that  spoke  with  him,  declared 
that  he  still  remained  most  obdured  [obdurate]  and  impenitent. 


*  Balfour,  who  states  some  particulars  here  omitted,  observes  that  Montrose's  sen- 
tence was,  that  he  should  be  "  hanged  on  a  gibbet  at  the  cross  of  Edinburgh,  with  his 
Book  and  Declaration  tied  in  a  rope  about  his  neck,  and  there  to  hang  for  the  space 
of  three  hours,  until  he  were  dead  ;  and  thereafter  to  be  cut  down  by  the  hangman  ; 
his  head,  hands,  and  legs  to  be  cut  off,  and  distributed  as  follows  :  viz.,  his  head  to 
be  affixed  on  an  iron  pin,  and  set  on  a  pinnacle  on  the  west  gavel  of  the  new  prison 
of  Edinburgh ;  one  hand  to  be  set  on  the  port  of  Perth,  the  other  on  the  port  of  Stir- 
ling ;  one  leg  and  foot  on  the  port  of  Aberdeen,  the  other  on  the  port  of  Glasgow.  If 
he  was,  at  his  death,  penitent,  and  relaxed  from  excommunication,  then  the  trunk  of 
his  body  to  be  interred  by  pioners  in  the  Greyfriars  ;  otherwise,  to  be  inten-ed  in 
the  Bun-ow-moor,  by  the  hangman's  men,  tinder  the  gallows." — Bal/ow's  Annals,  iv., 
12,  13.  The  "  book"  to  be  hung  about  his  neck  at  his  execution  was  his  Memoirs, 
published  by  Bishop  Wishart  in  1647,  which  arrested  the  attention  of  Europe,  and  in 
which  the  proceedings  of  the  Covenanters  were  branded  as  rebellion,  while  his  wars 
were  celebrated  as  noble  attempts  to  stem  the  tide  of  rebellion.  The  Declaration  also 
hung  about  his  neck  appears  to  have  been  the  Declaration  which  he  issued  in  1049,  in 
which  he  charged  his  own  nation,  besides  other  crimes,  with  hatching  a  rebellion 
in  this  kingdom,  with  promoting  the  like  in  England,  with  the  sale  and  murder  of 
their  native  king,  and  with  robbing  his  son  of  all  right. — (Nicoirs  Diary,  3.)  Lamont 
informs  ns  that  Montrose's  "  gallows  was  made  higher,  on  purpose,  than  the  ordinary 
gibbets." — Biari/,  p.  18.  Let  it  be  remarked  that,  in  tlie  estimation  of  some  at  least 
of  the  Presbyterians,  Montrose  was  treated  "  in  too  ignominious  a  wav." — See  before, 
p.  224. 

P 


220  LIFE  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIR,  [1G50. 

The  sentence  of  death  given  out  against  him  by  the  Parliament 
was,  in  all  th.e  points  of  it,  executed  May  21,  the  trunk  of  his 
body  being  buried  in  the  Burrow-moor. 

AVhile  the  Lord  is  thus  working  for  his  own  cause  and  people 
in  Scotland,  in  the  meantime  our  Commissioners  of  Estate  and 
Kirk  are  treating  with  the  King  at  Breda,  in  Holland.  The 
treaty  went  on  slowly  the  first  three  or  four  weeks,  so  that  there 
was  little  appearance  of  agreement,  which  was  rather  the  fault  of 
those  about  the  King  than  his,  he  being  of  a  courteous  and  tract- 
able disposition.  But  it  was  perceived  that  there  were  two  factions 
at  court, — the  one  being  the  Queen's  faction,  who  were  for  the  close 
of  tlie  treaty  ;  the  other.  Prince  Rupert's  faction,  who  were  against 
the  treaty.  And  then  it  was  regretted  by  the  ministers  that  some 
of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Estate  did  not  deal  so  freely,  ear- 
nestly, and  honestly  with  the  King  at  first  as  they  ought  to  have 
done,  and  that  they  found  by  conference  and  debate  with  the 
King  about  Episcopacy  and  ceremonies,  that  he  had  been  poisoned 
with  l)ad  principles  by  those  that  had  been  with  him.  And  last, 
they  regretted  that,  at  the  time  of  the  treaty  at  Breda,  the 
King  continued  the  use  of  the  Service  Book  and  of  his  chaplains, 
and  that  many  nights  there  was  balling  and  dancing  till  near  day. 
These  things,  and  many  other,  were  grievous  to  the  Commission- 
ers of  the  Kirk,  both  ministers  and  elders,  and  made  them  think 
that  the  treaty  would  break  off.  But  when  it  drew  near  the  last 
day  allowed  them  for  the  treaty  by  the  Parliament,  (which  was 
the  fortieth  day),  all  possible  haste  was  made  for  closing  of  the 
treaty ;  and  so,  upon  the  very  last  day,  the  King  gave  in  his  con- 
cessions, which  were  accepted  by  the  Commissioners  of  the  Estate, 
(the  Conunissioners  of  the  Kirk  having  no  vote),  and  they  gave 
an  invitation  to  the  King  to  come  home  to  Scotland,  which  he 
accepted  of  very  kindly.  The  treaty  was  closed  about  the  very 
time  of  the  hapi)y  victory  over  Montrose,  the  King  supposing  that 
he  was  in  Scotland  with  a  powerful  army  for  his  service ;  but  after 
his  concessions  to  the  Commissioners'  propositions,  he  sent  Sir 
William  Fleming,  commanding  the  Marquis  of  Montrose  to  dis- 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBEET  BLAIR.  227 

band.  Thereafter  Mr  James  Dalrymple,  secretary  to  the  Com- 
missioners, was  sent  home  to  the  Parliament  with  the  Kinji's  con- 
cessions,  and  the  treaty  as  it  was  then  closed ;  but  the  ministers 
were  forbidden  by  the  Commissioners  to  write  home  their  sense  of 
the  treaty,  or  to  divulge  any  thing  of  it. 

The  Saturday  before  the  King  left  Breda  to  go  to  Scotland, 
the  Commissioners  of  the  Kirk  got  notice  that  the  King  was  to 
communicate  kneeling  to-morrow.  They  did  what  they  could, 
both  by  a  paper  given  to  him,  and  by  conference  and  debate, 
to  dissuade  him  from  it,  shewing  that,  beside  the  sin  and  pro- 
vocation, and  what  inconvenience  it  might  bring  upon  his  busi- 
ness, &c.,  it  was  against  that  he  had  granted  in  his  concessions. 
Yet,  notwithstanding,  after  a  second  conference  with  him,  and  more 
earnest  dealing,  they  could  not  dissuade  him,  and  so  he  did  com- 
municate kneeling ;  and,  beside  some  disorder  committed  by  the 
chaplain,  the  Bishop  of  Derry*  did  give  the  blessing  after  the  ac- 
tion. This  did  much  offend  and  discourage  the  Commissioners  of 
the  Kirk.  The  King's  concessions  coming  to  the  Parliament  in 
the  end  of  May,  they  declared  their  dissatisfaction  with  the  treaty, 
and  ordained  some  other  things  to  be  obtained,  declaring  other- 
wise the  treaty  to  be  void,  and,  therefore,  they  explained  some 
things  more  fully  in  their  propositions,  and  set  down  the  names  of 
those  lords  that  were  with  the  King,  and  intending  to  come  to 
Scotland  with  him  ;  who  Avere  ordained  to  stay  behind  in  Holland. 
Anent  these  things,  new  letters  and  instructions  were  sent  from 
the  Parliament  and  Commission  of  the  Kirk  to  our  Commissioners 
of  Estate  and  Kirk  in  Holland  by  one  Edward  Gillespie.     And 

*  Dr  John  Bramhall,  bishop  of  Deny,  and  afterwards  archbishop  of  Armagh,  for- 
merly noticed,  (p.  101),  was  at  this  time  at  the  Hague,  and  w  as  bLamed  by  the  Scottish 
Commissioners  as  having  no  small  share  in  prejudicing  the  King  against  the  Church 
of  Scotland.  In  1649  he  published,  at  Delft,  a  pamphlet,  entitled,  "  A  Fair  "WaiTiing 
to  take  heed  of  the  Scottish  Discipline,  &c."  Baillie  chai-actcrises  it  as  a  "  a  wicked 
pamphlet  against  our  Church,"  and  says,  "  I  fear  I  must  engage  with  Dr  Bramhall ; 
for  his  Warning,  it  does  so  much  ill  to  the  King  and  all  about  him."— Ze^^e?s  and 
Journals,  iii.  87,  90.  Baillie  published  an  answer  to  it,  entitled,  "A  Review  of  Doctor 
Bramble,  late  Bishop  of  Londondeny,  his  Faire  Warning  against  the  Scots  Disciplin. 
By  R.  B.  G.      Printed  at  Delf,  1649."  4to. 

p2 


228  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1650. 

because  possibly  the  Iving  might  be  on  the  sea  coming  to  Scot- 
hmd,  the  Parhament  sent  Scotscraig  and  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie  to 
the  north,  Avhere  it  was  judged  the  King  would  land,  to  attend 
the  King  there  with  their  letters  and  new  instructions. 

On  Saturday,  after  the  King's  communicating,  when  all  the 
Commissioners  were  shipped,  except  Casslllis  and.  Lothian,  that 
were  with  the  Iving  at  Ansorbordick,  Unslodyke,  the  letters 
and  instructions  from  the  Parliament  were  directed  to  these 
two  lords,  and,  being  read  by  them,  were  sent  aboard  to  the 
rest  of  the  Commissioners,  who  presently  took  boat  to  come 
ashore ;  the  Commissioners  of  the  Kirk  resolving  not  to  come 
aboard  *  again '  till  they  had  obtained  satisfaction  to  the  Par- 
liament's new  instructions.  But  the  wind  being  contrary  they 
could  not  come  straight  to  the  place  where  the  King  was ;  and 
after  they  landed  they  were  so  hindered  in  their  journey,  that 
though  they  made  all  possible  haste,  day  and  night,  yet  the  King 
with  the  two  Commissioners,  Duke  Plamilton  and  Lauderdale, 
(who  were  two  of  them  that  were  ordered  to  stay  in  Holland),  and 
some  others,  were  all  gone  to  sea.  Presently  Liberton  and  Sir 
John  Smith  took  a  boat  to  go  aboard  with  one  Webster  of  Am- 
sterdam, who  was  sent  to  warn  the  King  that  the  Parliament  of 
England  had  twenty-two  ships  at  sea  to  wait  for  him.  Brodie 
and  Mr  JafFray,  with  the  three  ministers,  staid  ashore.  After 
prayer  together  and  apart,  consulting  what  to  do,  they  were  not 
all  of  one  mind ;  but  after  debating,  all  of  them  except  Mr  Living- 
stone, resolved  to  go  aboard  and  discharge  their  trust  in  reference 
to  the  last  instructions.  In  the  meantime  a  boat  comes  from  the 
King's  ships,  and  letters  from  the  two  lords,  desiring  them,  as 
they  would  not  mar  the  King's  business,  to  come  aboard.  At  last 
when  Ml'  Livingstone  was  resolved  to  stay  behind  in  Holland, 
Brodie  and  Mr  Hutchison  overtured  that  he  shoidd  only  go  in  the 
boat,  and  the  rest  of  the  Commissioners  to  come  down  to  the  boat 
that  they  might  speak  together,  and  if  he  got  not  clearing  to  go 
aboard  to  come  ashore  again  in  the  same  boat.  But  w^hen  the 
boat  was  gone  to  the  ship's  side,  Mr  Livingstone  staying  in  the 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  229 

boat  expecting  the  rest  to  come  down  to  him,  Cassillis  and  Mr 
Hutchison  persuaded  him  to  come  up  only  to  the  gunner-room 
there  to  speak  with  them,  promising  that  the  boat  should  stay  till 
he  should  go  back.  Mr  Livingstone  went  up  and  desired  a  young 
man  that  was  with  him  to  wait  and  see  that  the  boat  should  not 
go  away.  But  within  a  little  the  young  man  comes  and  tells  that 
the  boat  was  under  sail  and  gone,  and  so  Mr  Livingstone  was 
forced,  contrary  to  his  inclination  and  purpose,  to  stay. 

When  the  Commissioners  of  the  Estate  began  to  consult  what 
to  do  in  reference  to  their  last  instructions,  some  were  of  the  mind 
that  no  application  should  be  made  to  the  King  thereanent  till 
they  were  arrived  in  Scotland.      But  at  last  it  was  carried  by  one 
vote  that  jDresent  application  should  be  made,  and  so  papers  were 
prepared  and  given  to  the  King,  he  returning  his  answers  in  papers. 
When  much  debate  to  and  fro  had  been  for  many  days,  and  at  last 
papers  had  been  prepared  by  the  Commissioners  of  Estate  and  Kirk 
for  their  exoneration,  when  no  appearance  of  satisfaction  was,  but 
rather  the  contrary,  and  the  treaty  like  to  be  broken  off,  all  on  a 
sudden,  on  the  Friday  before  they  came  ashore  in  Scotland,  Lib- 
erton  comes  from  the  King  and  tells  the  rest  that  the  King  was 
ready  to  subscribe  and  swear  the  Covenant.     The  Commissioners 
resolved  that  they  would  accept  thereof,  the  King  having  granted 
some  other  things  previous  thereto,  although  the  Parliament  in 
their  last  instructions  had  not  desired  the  King's  subscribing  and 
swearing  the  Covenant,  but  an  obligation  to  it.     It  was  laid  on  Mr 
Livingstone  to  preach  the  next  Sabbath,  and  to  read  the  National 
Covenant,  and  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  and  take  the  King's 
oath.    This,  Mr  Livingstone,  being  much  pressed  and  dealt  with  by 
the  rest,  did  unwillingly  undertake.     But  on  Sabbath  morning  it 
was  told  to  Mr  Livingstone  that  the  King  was  minded  to  speak 
something  when  he  swore  the  Covenant,  viz.,  that  what  he  did 
did  not  import  any  infringing  of  the  laws  of  England,  &c.     Mr 
Livingstone  and  the  rest  went  to  the  King  and  told  him  that  they 
could  not  receive  his  oath  if  he  added  any  thing  to  the  words  that 
were  to  be  read.     After  much  debate,  at  last  the  King  said  he 


2M) 


LIFE  OF  UOBEKT  BLAIK.  [1650. 


would  forbear.  Mr  Livingstone  urged,  that  seeing  both  the  King 
and  they  were  in  some  heat  and  distemper  by  their  debating  and 
disputing,  his  swearing  the  Covenant  might  be  delayed  till  another 
day  ;  but  both  the  King  and  Commissioners  pressed  that  it  should 
not  be  delayed,  and  so  that  same  Sabbath,  they  having  come  to 
the  mouth  of  Spey,  the  King  did  swear  and  subscribe  the  Cove- 
nant. As  for  the  outward  part  of  swearing  and  subscribing  it  he 
performed  any  thing  that  could  be  required. 

June  24,  the  King  arrived  at  Speymouth,  having  only  three 
ships  with  him.  Two  days  after  that  landing  in  Scotland,  the 
King  being  at  the  Bogue  of  Geigh  [Bog  of  Gicht],  the  Commission- 
ers of  Estate  made  application  to  the  King  by  a  subscribed  paper 
aucnt  that  article  of  their  last  instructions,  requiring  that  some  per- 
sons expressly  named  should  not  be  permitted  to  come  home  with 
the  King.  June  27,  the  King  came  to  Aberdeen ;  28,  to  Dunnotar ; 
June  29,  to  Kinnaird,  where  he  spent  the  Sabbath ;  July  1,  he 
came  to  Dundee,  thereafter  to  St  Andrews  ;  July  4,  after  Mr  Blair 
had  spoken  with  the  Commissioners  that  were  with  the  King,  he 
spoke  with  the  King  at  length,  and  used  much  freedom  with  him, 
and  gave  him  his  best  advice  and  counsel,  and  upon  the  morrow 
preached  before  the  King  upon  Psalm  xx.  1,  2,  3,  4.  July  G,  the 
King  came  to  his  house  at  Falkland. 

All  this  time  bypast,  intelligence  is  frequently  brought  that  the 
sectaries  under  the  command  of  their  General,  Cromwell,  are  ap- 
proaching our  borders  with  a  powerful  army.  Our  Parliament, 
therefore,  concludes  a  levy  of  10,000  foot  and  3,000  horse  to  be 
presently  levied,  and  to  join  with  the  forces  already  a-foot  to  resist 
the  sectaries. 

The  Connnission  of  the  General  Assembly  sent  Commissioners 
to  the  King  at  Falkland,— Messrs  David  Dickson,  James  Durham, 
.lames  (Juthrlc,  with  Mr  Robert  Burnet,  elder,  who  coming  to 
Falkland,  joined,  July  G,  with  Commissioners  from  the  Commit- 
tee of  Estates.  The  chief  things  they  had  in  commission  were, 
to  desire  of  the  King  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  remove  from  his 
liunily  and  service  all  against  whom  Kirk  or  Estate  had  any  just 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  231 

exception  ;  which,  after  some  dealing  with  him,  was  granted.  Yet 
the  Duke  of  Buckingham,  with  some  others,  were  permitted  to 
stay  until  the  next  Session  of  Parliament. 

July  10,  the  General  Assembly  convened  at  Edinburgh.  Mr 
Andrew  Cant  was  chosen  moderator.  In  the  beainnino;  of  the 
Assembly,  it  was  laid  upon  Messrs  Livingstone  and  Hutchison  to 
make  relation  of  the  proceedings  of  the  whole  treaty.  They  first 
communicated  what  they  had  drawn  up  to  some  of  the  ministers  in 
private,  and  told  them  of  the  King's  kneeling  at  the  communion, 
and  of  the  paper  given  to  him  thereauent,  and  some  of  the  rest  of 
these  things  above  mentioned ;  but  they  desired  them  to  forbear 
mentioning  in  the  Assembly  any  thing  which  might  make  the 
King  or  his  way  odious  in  the  entry  of  his  government ;  and  at 
their  desire  they  did  forbear ;  and  so  the  whole  treaty  and  nego- 
tiation with  the  King  at  Holland  and  on  the  sea  was  approven, 
and  the  Commissioners  thanked  and  praised  for  their  great  pains, 
fidelity  and  constancy.  Thereafter,  the  Commissioners  sent  from 
the  Commission  of  the  preceding  Assembly  to  the  King  made 
their  report.  They  declared  what  good  hopes  they  had  of  the 
King's  sincerity  in  subscribing  and  swearing  the  Covenant.  The 
King  wrote  a  very  kind  and  loving  letter  to  the  Assembly.  There- 
after, the  Assembly  sent  Commissioners  to  him,  viz.,  Messrs  Ro- 
bert  Douglas,   Hugh  M'Kail,  *  and  Patrick  Gillespie,!  to  con- 

*  Hugh  M'Kail  was  first  settled  minister  of  Irvine,  and  afterwards  translat- 
ed to  one  of  the  churches  of  Edinburgh.  He  died  in  February  1G60,  and  was 
buried  in  the  Greyfriars  Churchyard. — Lamonfs  Diary,  p.  121.  He  was  the  brother 
of  Matthew  M'Kail,  minister  of  Bothwell,  and  consequently  the  uncle  of  the  cele- 
brated youth,  Hugh  M'Kail,  who  suflfered  martyrdom  at  Edinburgh  in  16G6.  Young 
Hugh  prosecuted  his  studies  under  the  superintendence  of  his  nncle,  with  whom  he 
resided. 

t  Patrick  Gillespie  was  first  minister  of  Kirkaldy,  and  afterwards  of  Glasgow.  Upon 
the  removal  of  Dr  Strang  from  the  office  of  principal  in  the  College  of  Glasgow,  Gilles- 
pie was  put  into  his  place  by  Cromwell,  into  whose  favour  he  had  ingratiated  himself. 
He  had  no  small  share  in  the  Western  Remonstrance,  and  was  a  leader  among  the 
Protesters.  Being  a  man  of  gi'eat  forwardness,  he  maintained  the  controversy 
between  his  party  and  the  Resolutioners  with  unabating  zeal,  and  with  no  small 
success.  Subsequent  to  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  he  was  imprisoned  in  the 
Castle  of  Edinburgh,  and  thence  was  sent  to  the  Castle  of  Stirling,  whei'e  he  con- 
tinued till  the  sitting  of  Parliament  in  March  1661,  when  he  was  brought  to  Edin- 
burgh and  tried  before  the  Parliament,  upon  the  charge  of  having  contrived,  com- 


232 


LIFE  or  liOBEKT  BLAIR.  [1650. 


gratulate  his  home  coming,  and  to  motion  his  renewing  of  the 
Covenant. 

Upon  July  18,  Cromwell  (his  army  now  approaching  the  borders) 
sent  in  to  Edinbiu'gh  a  trumpeter  with  two  declarations  from  the 
Parliament  and  army,  both  shewing  their  purpose  presently  to 
march  into  Scotland,  with  the  grounds  and  reasons  of  their  inva- 
sion, lie  brought  also  letters  to  the  general,  '  and  principal'  persons 
of  our  army,  and  some  ministers  in  the  Assembly,  full  of  smooth 
words.  The  levy  concluded  by  the  Parliament  being  taken  up, 
and  a  second  levy  enjoined,  our  army  lies  about  Leith  and  Edin- 
burgh waiting  upon  the  levy's  upcoming.  Cromwell's  army  Kes  at 
Wooler.  About  July  22,  they  came  into  Scots  ground.  Re- 
ports coming  dally  that  they  daily  advance  towards  Edinburgh, 
our  army  lies  still  at  Leith,  Avaiting  upon  the  levy's  upcoming 
to  them.  They  drew  a  running  trench  between  the  Abbey  and 
Leith.  The  General  Assembly  emitted  a  Declaration  in  answer  to 
the  two  Declarations  sent  by  Cromwell,  and  appointed  a  fast  to  be 
immediately  after  the  arising  of  the  Assembly.  July  24,  the  As- 
sembly arose.  They  appointed  two  ministers,  viz.,  Messrs  Alex- 
ander Moncrleflf*  and  John  Macgill  to  attend  the  King  and  his 

piled,  confented  to,  and  subscribed  "The  Western  Eemonstrance /'  consented  to  or 
approved  "  that  abonduable  pamphlet  called  '  The  Causes  of  God's  wrath ;' "  and  kept 
constant  corrcs])()ndence  with  Cromwell.  But  having  friends  in  the  house,  and  hav- 
ing through  the  fear  of  suffering  disclaimed  the  Remonstrance,  and  cast  himself  upon 
the  King's  mercy,  he  was  within  a  short  time  liberated  and  confined  to  Ormiston  and 
six  miles  around  it — (Wodrow's  Hlsfori/,  vol.  i.,  75,  204,  205.)  Previous  to  this, 
he  had  been  ejected  from  the  principalship,  and  the  famous  Robert  Baillle  present- 
ed by  the  Kiug  to  till  the  vacant  ofiice.  Baillie,  whose  prejudices  were  strong  against 
all  the  Protesters,  regarded  him  with  little  favour.  He  particularly  brings  against 
him  reiterated  charges  of  gross  extravagance  in  the  management  of  the  fimds  of  the 
University.  "At  his  coming,"  says  he,  "  we  were  large  one  thousand  pounds  sterling 
to  the  fore  ;  this  day  we  will  be  as  much  in  dcht."— (Letters  and  Journals,  iii.  449.) 
"  For  our  la.st  year's  table  a  thousand  pound  is  yet  oughtand,  and  the  prodigal  wastrie 
of  Mr  Gillcsi)ic  has  i)ut  us  in  above  twenty-live  thousand  merks  of  debt."— (7^./r/.  iii. 
474.)  One  cause  of  this  was  his  enlarging  the  bmldings  of  the  CoUege.— (/ii'rf.  iii! 
475.) 

♦  Mr  Alexander  Moncrieff,  minister  of  Scoonie,  was  eminent,  in  his  day,  for 
piety  and  faithfulness.  His  loyalty  to  Charles  11.,  during  the  Commonwealth, 
subjected  hnn  to  trouble.  But  he  was,  notwithstanding,  after  the  Restoration  im- 
prisoned by  the  government  in  the  Caiitle  of  Edinburgh,  where  he  was  confined  for  a 
coiiMdcrublc  time.     lie  was  repeatedly  brought  belbrc  the  Parliament,  and  his  death, 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  233 

family,  until  they  appointed  one  to  continue  with  him  and  his 
family  as  his  minister ;  for  at  this  time  Mr  Blair,  whose  charge  it 
was  to  attend  the  King  as  his  chaplain  in  Scotland,  was  several 
ways  disinabled  *  to  travel,  (the  King  not  staying  long  in  one 
place),  partly  through  a  fall  off  horseback,  whereby  his  shoulder- 
blade  was  disjointed  that  year,  and  partly  by  reason  of  the  gout 
and  gravel  wherewith  he  was  often  afflicted ;  and  besides  all  this, 
he  did  now  begin  to  have  some  scruples  that  ministers  meddled  too 
much  in  estate  affairs,  and  did  spend  too  much  time  in  waiting  on 
civil  judicatories  and  courts,  w^hich  might  be  better  spent  at  home 
waiting  on  their  charges  in  preaching,  catechising  and  visiting 
families.  July  23,  the  King  went  to  Perth;  24,  to  Dunfermline;  25, 
to  Stirling,  to  abide  there  some  space.  The  Committee  of  Estates 
did  emit  a  large  Declaration,  together  with  a  shorter,  in  answer  to 
two  Declarations  sent  to  them  from  the  Parliament  and  Eno-Hsh 
army  by  Cromwell.  These  Declarations  of  Kirk  and  Estate  were 
sent  by  our  General,  Leslie,  to  Cromwell ;  but  they  were  sent  back 
again  by  Lambert  because  they  gave  not  unto  Cromwell  all  the 
titles  he  arrogated  to  himself,  as  Lambert  wrote  in  with  the  mes- 
senger. In  this  meantime  the  sectarian  army  advances.  Our 
army  being  but  convening,  they  keep  themselves  within  their 
trenches  bewixt  the  Abbey  and  Leith.  About  July  24  the  secta- 
rian army  comes  to  Inveresk  and  these  bounds.  They  possessed 
themselves  of  the  strong  houses  and  all  the  victuals  in  the  towns. 
Sundry  of  their  ships  come  up  the  Forth,  and  stop  the  passage 
betwixt  Leith  and  Burntisland.  They  send  in  all  their  plunder 
and  spoil  to  their  ships ;  yea  they  spoil  kirks,  burning  the  pulpits 
and  seats,  and  then  put  their  horses  in  them. 

July  29,   at  night  the  King  came  to  the  army  and  was  re- 
ceived with  many  acclamations  of  joy,  having  viewed  the  several 

it  appears,  had  been  resolved  upon ;  but  matters  were  so  oven-uled,  that  his  life  was 
spared.  He  subsequently  endured  a  variety  of  hardships,  and  died  only  a  few  months 
before  the  Revolution.  Wodrow  gives  an  account  of  his  hardships  in  his  History,  i,, 
198,  199,  200.  He  was  the  grandfather  of  Mr  Alexander  Moncrieff  of  Abernethy,  one 
of  the  four  first  Seceders,  who  was  imbued  with  a  considerable  portion  of  that  worthy 
minister's  spirit. — Fmzers  Life  of  Ebcnezer  Erskiiie,  5oi5. 
*  Diainabled,  rendered  uuable. 


234  LIFE  UF  KOHEKT  BLAIR.  []  G50. 

re«Timent8  of  horse  and  foot ;  and  now  by  this  time  the  army 
was  pretty  well  convened ;  but  still  they  kept  within  their  tren- 
ches and  exercised  their  new  levied  men.  July  30,  it  being  re- 
ported to  David  Leslie  that  the  enemy  was  retiring,  he  pre- 
sently went  out  with  two  regiments  of  horse  upon  the  head  of 
the  party  on  the  right  hand  near  the  Abbey ;  which  being  per- 
ceived upon  the  left  hand,  the  most  part  of  our  cavalry  with- 
out orders  marches  out  likewise  to  follow  the  enemy;  which 
being  perceived  by  the  enemy,  having  gotten  ours  drawn  without 
their  ditches  and  trenches,  they  returning,  presently  advance  upon 
our  parties.  David  Leslie  did  give  a  most  fierce  and  gallant  charge 
to  the  brigade  of  horse  that  advanced  towards  him  with  his  lancers, 
so  that  they  made  their  enemies  at  first  wheel,  thereafter  run. 
But  in  the  meantime  our  horsemen  on  the  left  wing,  before  ever 
they  had  charged  the  enemy,  did  wheel,  and  so  were  in  great 
disorder  most  basely  beat  into  the  trenches.  The  enemy  being 
re})ulsed  by  our  cannon,  and  some  foot  regiments  upon  the  trench 
dike,  they  designed  to  have  enclosed  David  Leslie's  party,  which 
being  espied,  his  party  retired  quickly,  so  that  they  got  within 
the  trenches  safely. 

This  matter  being  laid  to  heart  by  the  ministers  in  the  army, 
they  thought  it  fit  that  there  should  be  a  fast  and  humiliation  upon 
the  morrow  in  the  army.  Reasons  thereof  after  debate  agreed 
upon  were, — The  not  purging  of  the  King's  family  as  yet,  selt-con- 
fidence  and  boasting  in  our  numbers,  profanity  in  the  army,  &c. 
It  was  kept  July  31.  But  before  the  observation  of  this  fixst  a 
I)arty  of  horse  was  sent  out  commanded  by  Colonel  Kobert  Mont- 
gomery and  Strachan.  They  went  out  July  30,  at  night.  In  the 
morning  they  divided  themselves  in  two  parties.  Montgomery  did 
first  charge  with  lancers,  so  that  he  made  two  brigades  of  horse 
one  after  another  to  run ;  also  he  scattered  and  chased  a  brigade 
of  foot  drawn  up  on  Stoniepath  links.  But  the  other  party,  com- 
manded by  Strachan  had  not  the  like  success,  they  being  subdi- 
vided. The  troops  connnandcd  by  Strachan  himself  did  valiantly; 
but  the  rest,  being  only  two  troops,  and  being  charged  with  a  great 


1G50.]  LIFK  OF  KOliEllT  ELAIR.  235 

body  of  horse,  did  not,  as  they  were  commanded,  skirmish  with 
them,  but  in  disorder  did  flee,  so  that  the  whole  party  being  dis- 
ordered, they  all  did  retreat  with  all  speed  to  come  into  the 
trenches.  Dividing  themselves  in  three  bodies  they  took  three 
several  ways  to  come  in.  They  that  took  the  nearest  way  came 
in  safely  by  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  second  body  coming 
by  Craigmillar  were  set  upon  by  a  party  coming  out  of  that  house. 
Some  were  killed,  ninety  prisoners  taken,  and  several  standards, 
among  the  rest  Cromwell's  own,  that  were  taken  were  retaken. 
The  third  body,  who  were  scattered  very  wide,  did  come  in  for 
the  space  of  two  or  three  days  in  small  numbers.  Many  were 
killed ;  to  the  enemy  about  800 ;  of  ours  not  above  30,  and  90 
prisoners  taken,  among  whom  was  Sir  Thomas  Nairn.  Besides 
these  two  great  businesses,  there  was  also  some  little  skirmishes 
by  foot  parties. 

Upon  Friday,  August  2,  the  King  came  over  at  the  Queensferry 
and  went  to  Dunfermline,  there  to  stay  a  space.  Some  were  of 
the  mind  that  the  Lord  would  never  bless  the  army  so  long  as  he 
was  in  it.  His  family  and  the  army  were  being  purged,  and  now 
the  King  being  gone,  the  committee  for  purging  the  army  set 
about  that  work  very  diligently,  purging  out  all  that  were  upon 
the  Engagement  1648,  officers  or  soldiers.  There  was  another 
committee,  called  a  Council  of  War,  that  ordered  all  the  affairs 
of  the  army,  giving  orders  even  to  the  General  when  to  fight,  when 
to  forbear,  &c.  The  enemy  having  retired  to  Dunbar  about 
Augvist  9,  came  back  again  to  Inveresk.  At  this  time  Cromwell 
sent  in  sundry  papers  to  our  army  containing  many  challenges, 
still  justifying  themselves ;  taking  God  to  witness  of  the  equity  of 
their  cause,  &c. 

About  this  time  the  Committee  of  Estates  and  Kirk  did  pre- 
sent unto  the  King,  at  Dunfermline,  a  Declaration,  which,  at  first, 
he  refused  to  subscribe,  because  it  did  reflect  upon  his  father,  lay- 
ing upon  him  the  guilt  of  all  the  blood  shed  in  the  kingdoms,  &c. 
Upon  the  King's  refusal  to  subscribe  this  Declaration,  the  Com- 
mittee of  Estates  and  Commission  of  the  Ku-k  did  emit  a  short 


236  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G50. 

Declaration  concerning  the  King,  August  13.  There  was  much 
tlebutc  about  it  in  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk,  Mr  Douglas  being 
moderator.  The  sum  of  it  was  this  :  "  We  disclaim  all  the  sin  and 
o-uilt  of  the  King  and  his  house,  both  old  and  late,  and  declare 
that  wc  cannot  own  him  and  his  interest  in  the  state  of  the  quarrel 
betwixt  us  and  the  enemy  that  has  invaded  the  kingdom,"  &c. 
Mr  Douglas,  and  the  most  prudent  and  moderate  ministers  and 
elders  in  the  Commission,  did  debate  much  against  this,  which 
commonly  was  called  The  Act  at  the  West  Kirk.*  It  being  put 
to  the  vote,  the  votes  were  equal ;  but  one  Robert  Lockhart  com- 
ing in,  they  that  were  for  it  would  needs  have  him  to  vote,  who 
voted  for  it.  Thereafter  it  was  found  that  Robert  Lockhart  was 
not  upon  that  Commission  ;  whereupon  the  moderator  discharged 
the  clerk  to  give  out  copies  of  it.  None  was  more  grieved  at  that 
act  than  Mr  Blair ;  but  he  was  not  present  at  that  session  of  the 
Commission.  Notwithstanding  that  the  most  grave,  moderate, 
and  prudent  ministers  and  elders  were  displeased  with  that  act, 
yet  those  that  were  for  it  (mostly  they  were  young  men,  who  were 
judged  to  be  iniquiores  regi),  and  others  upon  the  Council  of  War 
and  committee  for  pm'ging  the  army,  did  not  only  cause  read  it 
upon  the  head  of  our  army,  but  thereafter  sent  a  copy  of  it  to 
Cromwell,  which  made  some  of  them,  especially  Estatesmen,  to  be 
suspected  to  favour  the  sectarian  party.  Shortly  after  this,  the 
King  craving  a  conference  with  some  of  the  Estate  and  Kirk,  after 
conference  with  them  some  of  the  most  harsh  expressions  of  the 
Declaration  being  smoothed  and  mollified,  he  subscribed  it.  t 

August  12,  our  army,  horse  and  foot,  drew  out  of  then*  trenches, 
resolving,  upon  the  first  opportunity,  to  offer  the  enemy  battle ;  but 
early  in  the  morning  that  day,  the  enemy  marched  west  upon 
Pentland  hills,  and  lies  about  Collington.  They  thought  to  have 
gotten  Cramond  Bridge,  but  were  beaten  from  it  by  ours.  Until 
August  26,  the  enemy  retired  and  advanced,  to  and  again,  betwixt 

•  The  meeting  being  held  iu  the  West  Kirk,  Edinburgh. 

t  He  subscvibcd  it  at  DunfcrmUnc,  on  Friday  the  listh  of  August.  See  Balfour's 
AtiHuLi,  iv.  92-U5. 


1650.]  LITE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  237 

Inveresk,  and  Pentlancl  hills,  and  Braids  Craigs,  our  army  then 
lying  upon  Corstorphin  craigs.  That  day  there  was  a  confe- 
rence betwixt  some  of  our  army,  (viz.,  Sir  John  Brown,  Liber- 
ton,  Warriston,  Mr  Douglas,  and  some  other  ministers)  and  Lam- 
bert and  some  others  of  the  enemy.  They  challenged  us  that 
now  we  had  espoused  the  malignant  interest,  in  receiving  amongst 
us  the  King,  the  head  of  the  malignants,  &c.  They  appealed  to 
God  for  a  decision  of  the  controversy  in  the  day  of  battle.  After 
what  they  unjustly  objected  was  answered,  and  the  ministers  ap- 
pealing to  God,  the  just  judge,  but  not  limiting  God  to  a  day  of 
battle,  or  time,  manner,  or  measure,  as  if  we  judged  of  the  equity 
of  our  cause  by  success, — at  last  the  enemy  offered  to  pay  all  our 
losses,  and  the  expenses  we  had  been  at  in  levying  the  army,  and 
that  they  should  presently  march  home,  providing  that  we  would 
not  follow  them  or  trouble  their  government,  &c.  They  challen- 
ged us  that  we  declined  battle,  keeping  strongholds.  Whereupon 
Sir  John  Brown  desired  that  they  would  draw  out  to  an  equal 
field  and  fight  it. 

August  27,  the  enemy  did  draw  down  to  the  plain;  ours  drew 
down  about  Gogar  and  Inglishtoun.  The  enemy's  cannon  began 
to  play  very  fiercely  upon  some  of  our  regiments  before  our  cannon 
came  up ;  and  though  some  of  ours  were  killed  with  the  cannon, 
yet  the  regiments  stood  very  courageously.  A  great  part  of  that 
day  the  two  armies  played  upon  *  each '  other  with  cannon  until 
the  enemy  retired  to  Inveresk,  our  army  following  them.  About 
September  1,  they  retired  from  Inveresk  and  these  bounds,  our 
army  hotly  pursuing  them.  They  retired  somewhat  disorderly,  so 
that  it  was  thought  that  they  intended  to  march  home  to  England. 
September  2,  the  enemy  thus  retiring  some  of  our  staff  officers 
were  most  desirous  to  fall  upon  their  rear,  and  it  was  judged  that 
if  our  army  had  fallen  on  they  might  have  been  routed ;  but  the 
Council  of  War  that  gave  orders  to  the  General  was  against  it,  and 
that  same  day  the  committee  for  purging  the  army  was  busy 
purging  out  those  that  should  have  been  fighting.  There  was 
another  thing  that  made  some  suspected  to  favour  the  sectaries 


238  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1650. 

more  than  tlie  King.  Several  times  papers  were  interchanged 
betwixt  sonic  of  the  sectarian  army  and  some  of  ours  that  were 
upon  the  Council  of  War  and  committee  for  purging.  Besides  all 
these,  that  day,  there  was  a  division  and  dissension  among  the  prime 
officers  of  our  army,  so  that  the  golden  opportunity  was  lost  and 
nothing  acted. 

September  2,  that 'night  the  enemy  lay  in  and  about  Dunbar. 
Our  army  lay  about  Broxmouth.  The  foot  was  first  quartered 
Tipon  a  hill,  but  thereafter  was  brought  doMoi  off  the  hill  to  a  plain 
below  the  hill,  which  was  done  contrary  to  the  mind  and  opinion 
of  the  most  expert  officers  in  our  army,  which  made  them  that 
were  for  it  to  be  suspected.  At  ten  o'clock  the  enemy  did  give 
an  alarm  to  ours.  The  whole  army  then  being  in  a  readiness  they 
were  repulsed.  Thereafter  it  was  reported,  and  often  by  sundry 
affirmed,  that  orders  w^ere  given  to  the  foot  to  put  out  their 
matches,  &c.,  which  made  them  yet  more  to  be  suspected.  Sep- 
tember 3,  very  early  in  the  morning  our  army  being  wearied  and 
not  in  order,  the  enemy  with  their  horses  fell  on  them,  and  first 
put  our  horses  to  the  rout,  and  they  running  through  the  foot  put 
the  whole  army  first  to  confiision,  thereafter  to  the  rout.  It  was 
a  most  lamentable  defeat,  and  to  the  most  part  unexpected. 
Many  were  killed  of  the  foot,  many  taken  prisoners,  some  persons 
of  quality.  General  Leslie  and  the  noblemen  that  were  with  the 
army  first  came  to  Edinburgh,  thereafter  to  Stirling,  to  keep  that 
pass  from  the  enemy.  Thither  resorted  sundry  of  our  horse 
and  foot.  Within  two  days  after  this  woeful  defeat,  the  enemy 
came  first  to  Leith,  thereafter  to  Edinburgh.  The  most  part  of 
the  inhabitants  left  their  houses  and  fled.  Some  of  the  ministers 
went  up  to  the  castle.  The  enemy  plundered  all  the  houses  that 
were  left  of  their  inhabitants,  carrying  all  into  their  ships.  They 
quartered  their  soldiers  upon  those  that  remained  ;  so  that  it  was 
hard  to  tell  whether  they  that  fled  or  remained  were  in  harder 
condition.* 

♦  Nicull  states  some  farther  particulars  of  the  proceedings  of  the  English  army 
when  resident  in  Edinburgh  at  this  time :  "  The  body  of  the  English  army,"  says 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  239 

After  this  woeful  and  total  rout  of  our  army,  all  of  the  army 
that  were  neither  prisoners  nor  wounded  were  desired  to  repair  to 
Stirling,  where  the  Committee  of  Estates  and  Commission  of  the 
Kirk  were  to  meet  to  advise  what  should  be  done  for  the  irood  of 
religion  and  safety  of  the  kingdom.  Many  were  of  the  opinion, 
that  now  those  noblemen  and  others  that  were  not  permitted  to 
rise  in  arms  or  to  be  in  judicatories  because  of  their  accession  to 
the  Engagement,  should  in  this  present  exigent  be  permitted  to 
join  with  the  rest,  especially  such  as  before  that  engagement  had 
carried  honestly,  and  since  had  given  satisfaction  to  the  Kirk,  and 
now  in  charity  might  be  thought  to  be  for  all  the  ends  of  the 
Covenant.  Anent  this  there  was  a  query  sent  from  a  meeting 
of  the  ministry  of  Fife  at  Falkland,  and  thereafter  from  the 
Synod  met  at  Cupar,  September  10,  to  the  Commission  of  the 
Kirk  at  Stirling.  But  albeit  sundry  of  the  Commission  were  of 
the  opinion,  that  some  Engagers*  might  and  ought  now  to  be 
joined  with  for  safety  of  the  kingdom  and  the  good  of  religion  ; 
yet  others  were  against  it,  seeing  there  were  standing  acts  of 
Parliament  and  General  Assembly  to  the  contrary.  To  this  it 
was  answered.  That  a  Parliament  and  General  Assembly  might  be 
called  for,  giving  their  sense  of  these  acts  now  in  this  case.  The 
King,  who  all  this  time  byj)ast  remained  at  Perth,  was  most  de- 
sirous of  a  conjunction,  and  anent  it  he  wrote  to  the  Committee 
of  Estates.     But  as  it  was  in  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk,  so  was 

he,  "  being  thus  quartered  in  Edinbvirgh,  Canongate,  Leith,  and  in  several  other 
parts  of  Lothian ;  and  a  number  of  the  English  footmen  being  lodged  within  the 
Abbey  of  Holyroodhouse,  it  fell  out  that  uj^on  a  Wednesday,  being  the  13th  day  of 
November  1650,  the  haill  royal  part  of  that  palace  was  put  in  a  flame,  and  burnt  to 
the  ground  on  all  parts  thereof.  .  .  .  These  three  kirks,  viz.,  the  College  Kirk,  the  Gray- 
friars'  Kirk,  and  that  kirk  called  the  Lady  Tester's  Kii-k,  the  High  School,  and  a  great 
part  of  the  College  of  Edinburgh,  were  all  wasted ;  their  pulpits,  desks,  lofts,  seats,  Avin- 
dows,  doors,  locks,  bandis,  and  all  other  their  deconnents,  were  all  dung  down  to  the 
ground  by  these  English  soldiers  and  burnt  to  ashes  ;  by  and  beside  the  timber,  in- 
side, and  plenishing  of  many  dwelling-houses  in  these  towns,  and  other  towns,  and 
sundry  otiier  parts  of  the  country."  He  adds,  "  In  all  the  parts  of  the  land  Avhere 
the  English  army  come,  the  ministers  fled,  and  the  Lord's  houses  were  closed  and  laid 
waste  ;  so  the  word  of  the  Lord  became  very  precious  to  many  of  the  land." — Diary, 
p.  35. 

*  Engagers — i.  e.,  those  who  had  joined  in  Hamilton's  engagement,  1C48. 


240 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1650. 


It  in  the  Committee  of  Estates  and  among  the  officers  of  the 
army  ;  so  that  at  this  time  there  were  many  woeful  divisions  and 
subdivisions  in  the  kingdom.  There  appeared  a  fearful  division 
among  the  officers  of  the  army,  for  Ker*  and  Strachanf  did  chal- 
leno-e  David  Leslie  of  sundry  neglects  and  omissions,  especially 
for  removing  of  the  infantry  off  the  hill,  the  night  before 
the  defeat.  David  Leslie  made  answer  for  himself,  and  before 
the  Committee  of  Estates  laid  down  his  charge.  So  did  there- 
after the  General,  and  other  officers  that  assisted  them.  On  the 
other  hand  Ker  and  Strachan  did  plainly  say,  that  they  would 
never  serve  under  these  two,  viz.,  the  general  and  lieutenant- 
general  David  Leslie  ;  for  they  looked  upon  them  as  natural 
graceless  men  whom  the  Lord  would  never  bless  with  success. 

*  Colonel  Gilbert  Ker  zealously  joined  in  the  Eemonstrance  sent  by  the  west  coun- 
try army  to  tlic  Estates,  which  proved  so  great  a  cause  of  offence  and  contention.  In 
the  skirmish  of  the  west  country  army  with  a  party  of  English  troops,  under  the  con- 
duct of  Lambert,  on  the  1st  of  December  1650,  being  Sabbath,  Ker  was  wounded  and 
taken. — Lnmont's  Diar>j,  p.  24.  At  the  restoration  of  Charles  IL,  when  those  con- 
cerned in  the  Ecmonstrance  were  particularly  the  objects  of  the  government's  wrath, 
he  deemed  it  prudent  to  leave  the  country,  but  was  allowed  to  return  by  the  Privy 
Council  in  the  beginning  of  the  year  1671,  upon  "  giving  bond  to  behave  himself 
peaceably  and  loyally  under  the  penalty  of  five  hundred  pounds  sterling." — Wodrow's 
Histori/,  ii.  180.     He  died  in  the  year  1677. 

t  Colonel  Archibald  Strachan,  a  native  of  Musselburgh,  was  at  one  time  distinguished 
for  profligacy  of  manners.    A  change  being  produced  upon  his  character,  he  leaned  in 
his  opinions  to  the  sectaries  of  England,  and  joining  the  army  of  Ci'orawell  against 
the  Engagers  continued  in  his  service  till  the  death  of  Charles  I.     At  that  time,  meet- 
ing with  Mr  Blair  and  the  other  Scottish  Commissioners  at  London,  his  views  were 
in  some  degree  altered,  although  not  so  far  as  to  join  in  the  Covenant.     But  by  the 
influence  of  Mr  James  Guthrie  and  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie,  his  doub.ts  being  in  a  great 
measure  removed,  he  satisfied  the  Commission  of  the  Church  in  regard  to  that,  and 
whatever  had  been  objectionable  in  his  conduct.      "  His   eminent   services,"   says 
Baillic,  ''  first  against  Pluscardie  and  then  against  James  Graham,  got  him   the 
Church's  extraordinary  favour,  to  be  helped  with  one  hundred  thousand  merks  out  of 
their  purses  for  the  mounting  him  a  regiment ;  the  greatest  offering  which  ever  our 
churchmen  made  at  one  time.     This  did  not  a  little  lift  his  spirit  and  get  him  the  far 
best  regiment  in  the  army :   with  the  western  recruit  it  became  stronger  than  any  two 
regiments  in  the  kingdom."_Zf //crs  ond  Journah,  iii.   113.     Strachan  had  a  chief 
hand  in  the  getting  up  of  the  Western  Remonstrance.      In  December  1650  he  joined 
the  English  army,  for  which  he  was  excommunicated  at  Perth  by  the  appointment  of 
the  Commission  of  the  General  Assembly,  January  12,  1651,  the  same  day  on  which 
Middloton  was  relaxed  from  the  sentence  of  excommunication  and  received  into  the 
Church. — Lamonfs  Diary,  26,  27. 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  241 

Yea  there  were  some  of  the  Committee  of  Estates  of  this  opinion 
and  judgment,  viz.,  Warriston,  Chiesly,  &c. ;  and  some  of  the 
Commission  of  the  Kirk,  viz.,  Mr  James  Guthrie,  Mr  Patrick 
Gillespie,  &c.  This  division  was  augmented ;  for  sundry  shires 
in  the  west  desired  liberty  of  the  Committee  of  Estates  for  an 
association  among  themselves,  promising  to  rise  in  arms  for  the 
suppressing  of  the  enemy,  which  was  granted  unto  them.  They 
invited  Ker  and  Strachan  to  come  to  them  to  command  them,  who 
presently  with  their  troops  repaired  to  them.  That  troop  com- 
manded by  Strachan  was  levied  by  a  sum  of  money  which  minis- 
ters gave,  every  one  giving  a  proportionable  part  of  his  stipend 
for  that  effect. 

The  Committee  of  Estates  wrote  letters  to  the  shires  be-north 
Forth,  for  a  second  levy  to  come  to  Stii-ling  for  the  strengthening 
of  the  army  there.  Thereafter  David  Leslie  was  most  earnestly 
dealt  with  by  the  Committee  of  Estates  to  take  his  charge  again, 
which  he  did  after  much  entreaty.  So  did  the  General  and  the 
rest  of  the  officers  that  assisted  them.  Some  of  the  Committee  of 
Estates  did  protest  against  David  Leslie's  receiving  of  his  charge 
again,  viz.,  Warriston,  Chiesly,  &c.  And  now  both  the  armies 
began  to  act  in  a  divided  way.  Those  at  Stirling  did  fortify  the 
town  of  Stirling,  so  that  it  was  thought  very  strong.  Also  they 
did  cut  the  fords  above  and  beneath  the  bridge.  The  enemy 
having  settled  matters  in  Leith  and  Edinburgh  marched  west  to- 
wards Stirling,  and,  September  18,  approached  near  the  works 
and  fortifications. 

The  associate  shires  meanwhile  are  busy  levying  their  men.  Be- 
sides Ker  and  Strachan,  some  other  officers  that  assisted  them,  and 
disliked  David  Leslie,  though  they  were  inhibit  by  the  Committee  of 
Estates,  did  with  their  troops  repair  to  the  west;  so  did  many  soldiers 
in  the  army  repair  to  them.  Many  wise  and  moderate  estatesmen 
and  ministers  looked  upon  this  division  of  the  army  as  sad  a  blow  as 
that  at  Dunbar.  Others  both  in  Kirk  and  Estate  liked  and  fostered 
the  division.  They  did  what  they  could  to  weaken  the  army  at 
Stirling,  and  to  discourage  them,  looking  on  them  as  a  malignant 

Q 


242  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1650. 

army ;  and  though  the  King,  and  many  in  the  Estate  and  Kirk 
were  desirous  for  a  conjunction  of  forces,  and  of  employing  those 
that  were  members  of  the  Kirk,  and  cives  patrice,  to  act  against  the 
enemy,  and  that  those  that  were  secluded  because  of  their  acces- 
sion to  the  Engagement,  that  either  had  given  or  were  willing  to 
give  satisfaction  to  the  Kirk,  might  be  permitted  to  fight  against 
the  enemies  of  religion,  King  and  country,  yet  aU  was  obstructed 
by  a  strong  party  in  Kirk  and  Estate,  that  favoured  the  Associa- 
tion ;  so  that  numbers,  not  only  the  King,  but  others  that  liked  not 
the  division  of  the  array,  and  their  acting  in  a  divided  way,  began 
to  fear  that  nothing  could  be  done  against  the  enemy ;  the  army  at 
Stirling  being  weak  and  discouraged,  and  the  second  levy  inter- 
rupted, partly  by  covetous  dealing  of  officers  that  levied  sums  of 
money,  not  men,  partly  by  the  obstructions  of  others  that  favoured 
the  association,  and  their  strengthening  of  the  western  army. 
The  King  in  this  meantime  being  jealous  of  them  in  the  west, 
especially  of  Strachan  and  some  other  commanders,  his  fears  and 
jealousies  were  augmented  by  some  about  him  that  were  not  well 
principled,  so  that  he  was  kept  in  continual  fears. 

Many  honest  men  who  desired  the  army  at  Stirling  encouraged 
and  strengthened,  and  regretted  that  the  second  levy  was  so  dis- 
appointed, did,  notwithstanding,  expect  good  things  of  the  army 
in  the  west,  yet  still  desiring  a  conjunction  of  the  two  armies  ;  and 
though  it  was  refused  by  them  in  the  west,  yet  still  they  liked 
them  well,  and  prayed  for  their  prosperity  and  good  success.  And 
because  generally  they  were  thought  to  be  godly,  they  hoped  that 
it  might  please  the  Lord  to  bless  them,  though  few  in  comparison 
of  the  enemy ;  but  still  they  disliked  their  divided  way  of  acting, 
yet  continued  praying  for  them.  Of  this  temper  was  ^Mi'  Blair, 
and  many,  yea,  the  most  part  of  the  ministry. 

All  this  time  those  noble  and  gentlemen  that  were  debarred  by 
an  over-ruling  party  in  Kirk  and  Estate,  being  sore  provoked,  did 
begin  to  gather  in  the  north,  and  keeping  correspondence  with 
the  Knig,  did  earnestly  desire  him  to  come  to  them,  promising  to 
raise  the  north  and  come  south  and  force  a  conjunction  against  the 


1G50.]  LIFE  OF  EGBERT  BLAIR.  243 

common  enemy,  yet  they  were  divided ;  the  best  and  most  mode- 
rate among  them  liked  not  this  course,  and  lay  by.  All  this  time 
the  King's  ears  are  filled  with  rumours  and  reports  that  the  west- 
ern army  would  deliver  him  up  to  the  enemy,  that  Strachan  would 
come  to  Perth  and  take  him  away,  and  that  many  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Estates  would  deliver  him  to  Strachan,  &c.  The  King 
being  kept  in  continual  fears  by  his  malignant  servants  and  others 
about  him,  did,  about  the  beginning  of  October,  quietly  withdraw 
himself  from  Perth ;  and  crossing  Tay  only  with  four  or  five  ac- 
companying him,  he  came  to  Dudhope,  thinking  to  find  there 
many  of  the  noble  and  gentlemen  that  were  debarred.*  But  he 
not  being  looked  for  at  that  time,  (his  coming  from  Perth  being 
on  a  sudden  resolved  on,  his  malignant  servants  giving  him  a  hot 
alarm  that  he  was  presently  to  be  taken  by  Strachan),  when  he 
came  to  Dudhope,  he  only  found  the  Earl  of  Lauderdale  occasion- 
ally there,  whom  he  desired  to  write  to  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  (who 
among  all  the  debarred  was  the  best  and  honestest,  and  had  given 
fuU  satisfaction  to  the  General  Assembly  in  July)t  entreating  his 
Lordship  to  come  over  Tay  to  him,  which  Crawford  did,  accom- 
panied with  some  debarred  gentlemen.  But  when  Crawford  came 
to  Dudhope,  the  King  was  gone  to  Clova.  After  some  short 
abode  in  Dundee,  Crawford  returned  home  to  the  Struthers. 

Presently  after  the  King's  departure  from  Perth,  the  Committee 
of  Estates  convened.  My  Lord  Balcarras  told  them,  that  betwixt 
Dundee  and  Perth  he  spoke  with  the  King,  and  that  he  desired 
him  to  tell  the  Committee  that  he  was  going  to  the  north  to  raise 
the  north  for  the  defence  of  the  kingdom,  and  that  he  intended  to 
be  back  at  them  within  ten  days.}  The  Committee  sent  three  of 
their  number  to  the  King  to  desire  him  presently  to  come  back 
again.     The  King  coming  to  Clova,  and  finding  very  few  to  attend 

*  This  elopement  of  the  King  was  called  the  Start. 

t  Speaking  of  this  Assembly  Lamont  says,  "  At  this  meeting  there  were  several 
noblemen  that  were  accessory  to  the  late  unlawful  engagement,  that  were  desirous  to 
be  received,  as  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  who  was  received  in  the  Abbey  Kirk,  and  ap- 
peared to  be  very  penitent." — Diary,  p.  22.  This  nobleman  was  the  son  of  the  pious 
Lady  Boyd,  by  her  first  hxisband,  Lord  Lindsay  of  Byres. 

X  He  was  not,  however,  absent  above  two  days. 

Q  2 


211  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1650. 

u])()n  liiin,  and  very  bad  entertainment,  did,  upon  the  morrow,  ac- 
cordinfj  to  the  desire  of  the  Committee,  return  back  again  to  Perth, 
and  did  ingenuously  confess  his  fears  and  jealousies,  and  the  rea- 
sons why  he  left  Perth  so  suddenly,  not  having  consulted  with  his 
friends,  to  some  that  were  sent  to  him  from  the  Committee  and 
Commission  of  the  Kirk.  Some  did  strangely  aggrage  [aggra- 
vate] this  escape  of  the  King ;  others  put  more  charitable  con- 
stniction  u^^on  it.  But  though  the  King  returned  to  Perth,  these 
debarred  noblemen  and  others  convene  in  arms.  They  emitted  a 
Declaration  of  their  intentions  for  opposing  of  the  enemy  and  de- 
fence of  religion,  King  and  country ;  but  some  of  the  best  of  them 
did  not  join  with  them,  viz.,  Crawford,  Pothes,  &c.  The  chief  of 
them  was  Ogilvy.     JMiddleton  *  was  their  commander. 

Those  that  favoured  the  association  and  were  against  the  conjunc- 
tion of  the  two  armies,  and  the  receiving  in  of  the  debarred,  did 
much  aggrage  the  rising  of  them  in  the  north.  Others  that  heartily 
desired  a  conjunction  and  acting  against  the  enemy,  though  they 
looked  upon  it  as  a  fault,  yet  thought  they  were  provoked  to  do 
what  they  had  done.  It  was  carried  in  the  Commission  of  the 
Kirk,  against  the  mind  of  some  more  moderate  members,  that 
!Middleton  should  be  summarily  excommunicated,!  and  that  a  sharp 
Declaration  should  be  emitted  against  them,  and  declaring  against 
all  conjunction  upon  any  terms  with  them,  against  the  common  ene- 
my. This  was  done  shortly  after  the  King's  return  to  Perth ;  but 
the  King  resenting  his  escape,  did  send  orders  to  them  in  the 
north  to  disband,  otherwise  to  be  declared  rebels.  Whereupon 
they  sent  some  of  their  number  to  the  Committee  of  Estates,  and 
after  some  conference  and  debate,  they  did  disband  at  the  King's 
command  ;  which  being  obtained,  all  moderate  men  thought  there 

*  John,  Earl  of  Middlcton,  Lord  High  Commissioner  to  the  Parliament  of  Scotland 
after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II. 

t  "  J*lr  James  Guthrie  moved  Middlcton's  summary  excommmiication.  Mr  Eo- 
hert  Doufrlas  and  most  members  present  were  against  it ;  j-et  Mr  James  and  Mr 
Patrick  [Gillcsi.ie],  by  two  or  three  votes  of  elders,  did  obtain  it ;  and  thoitgh  the 
Committee  of  Estates,  by  an  earnest  letter,  entreated  Mr  James  to  delay  a  little 
the  execution,  yet,  on  the  next  Sabbath,  he  did  execute  the  sentence,  to  the  regi-et  of 
many."— BmV/w'*  Letters  and  Journals,  iii.  118. 


1650].  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  24.5 

was  no  reason  to  excommunicate  Middleton.  So  the  Kino-  wrote  a 
letter  to  Mr  James  Guthrie  (who  was  appointed  to  intimate  his  ex- 
communication) not  to  do  it,  the  day  appointed  for  his  excommu- 
nication not  being  yet  come.  The  Committee  of  Estates  and  the 
Moderator  of  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  wrote  also  to  him  to 
the  same  purpose.  Notwithstanding  of  all  these  letters,  IVIi-  James 
Guthrie  did  excommunicate  Middleton,  which  made  many  of  the 
ministry,  good  and  moderate  men,  dislike  his  way ;  for  he  was  sus- 
.pected  to  have  been  the  first  sticlder  for  dividing  of  the  army,  and 
it  was  certain  that  always  he  preached  for  it  and  against  the  army 
at  StirHng,  (where  he  was  minister),  to  the  great  discouragement 
of  the  garrison  and  army  there  ;  which  moved  some  officers  to  lay 
down  their  charge  ;  others  to  go  to  the  western  army. 

But  before  this  there  was  another  thing  whereat  some  were 
offended.  Immediately  after  the  rout  at  Dunbar,  four  or  five 
ministers,  with  some  few  of  the  ministers  that  had  been  with  the 
army,  met  at  Stirling  ;*  and  though  their  number  was  far  short  of 
the  half  of  a  quorum  of  the  Commission,  yet  they  took  upon  them 
to  set  down  some  causes  of  a  fast,  and  send  them  abroad ;  which 
causes  they  having  in  a  frequent  [numerous]  meeting  at  Leith,  July 
30,  urged  to  be  condescended  upon,  could  not  obtain  it.  These 
causes  of  humiliation  were,  1.  The  unstraight  dealings  of  our  Com- 
missioners with  the  King  in  the  treaty  at  Breda.t  2.  Blaming  the 
closing  of  a  treaty  with  him,  so  as  they  did.  3.  Blaming  their  in- 
viting him  to  come  home  to  be  admitted  to  the  exercise  of  the  ffo- 

*  September  12,  1650. 

t  This  forms  the  second  cause  for  humiliation.  The  words  in  which  it  is  express- 
ed are  these  :  "  The  manifest  provocations  of  the  Iving's  house,  which  we  fear  are  not 
thoroughly  repented  of,  nor  forsaken  by  him  to  this  day  ;  together  with  the  crooked 
and  precipitant  ways  that  were  taken  by  sundry  of  our  statesmen  for  can-}'ing  on  the 
treaty  with  the  King."  It  woidd  appear  that  the  last  clause  was  originally,  "  together 
with  the  crooked  and  precipitant  ways  that  were  taken  by  our  Commissioners  for 
carrying  on  the  treaty  with  the  King ;"  but  that  Mr  Wood  being  offended  at  these 
words,  and  declaring  that  "  he  would  with  his  pen  (if  they  did  not  mend  it)  make  all 
the  world  know  the  untruth  thereof,"  the  leaders  at  Stirling,  "  to  whom  Mr  James  and 
some  of  the  delegates  of  the  Provincial  [Synod]  of  Fife,  posted  in  great  haste,  both 
ministers  and  people,"  altered  the  sentence  and  expressed  it  as  it  stands  above. — Bal- 
four's Annals,  iv.  108. 


240  LIl'E  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIR.  [1650. 

vcrnmcnt,  when  It  was  known  he  had  given  commission  to  Graham, 
Sec.  4.  Aggrageing  to  the  full  the  King's  faults  In  Holland ; 
alleging  that  as  yet  there  was  reason  to  fear  he  had  not  repented 
of  them,  &c.  These  and  some  other  causes  did  this  small  number 
of  ministers  send  abroad,  with  letters  to  keep  a  fast  for  them.* 
This,  by  others  more  moderate,  was  judged  most  imprudent  deal- 
ing. 

Shortly  after  the  King's  returning  to  Perth,  while  many  honest 
and  godly  people  In  the  land  began  to  conceive  some  hopes  that  It 
might  please  the  Lord  to  bless  the  western  army  against  the 
enemy ; — for  albeit  honest  men  loved  not  their  separating  from  the 
army  at  Stirling  and  refusing  to  concur  with  them,  or  to  take 
orders  from  them,  yet  they  looked  upon  the  generality  of  them  as 
godly  men,  enemies  to  Cromwell  and  friends  to  the  King  and  his 
interest ; — while  these  were  the  thoughts  and  hopes  of  many  godly 
honest  people,  there  comes  to  the  Committee  of  Estates  at  Stir- 
ling, from  the  gentlemen,  officers,  and  ministers  attending  the 
western  forces,  a  Remonstrance.  It  was  of  a  high  strain.  The 
main  articles  of  it  were,  first,  those  causes  of  the  fast  that  were 
lu-ged  and  refused  at  Leith,  July  30,  but  sent  abroad  by  that  small 
number  met  at  Stirhng,  ut  supra ;  and  besides  these  they  desired, 
1.  Tlie  King's  interest  to  be  laid  by  (according  to  the  act  at  the 
West  Kirk)  in  the  quarrel  against  the  enemy.  2.  That  he  should 
be  suspended  ft-om  the  exercise  of  his  kingly  power  and  authority, 
until  he  gave  real  convincing  evidences  of  a  real  change  and  re- 
pentance. 3.  They  aggravate  all  the  King's  faults  in  Holland  and 
at  home,  especially  his  escape  in  the  business  of  the  Start.     4. 

*  This  paper  is  entitled,  "  A  Short  Declaration  and  Warning  to  all  the  Congrega- 
tions oftlic  Kirk  of  Scotland,  from  the  Commissioners  of  the  General  Assembly,"  to- 
gctlior  with  "  Causes  of  a  solemn  Tublic  Humiliation  upon  the  defeat  of  the  anny,  to 
he  kept  throughout  all  the  congregations  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland."  It  is  inserted  in 
nal/our's  Annals,  iv.  98-107.  "  Many  of  the  ministers  of  the  province  of  Fife,"  says 
Balfour,  "  at  fn-st  refused  to  read  these  reasons,  especially  ]\Ir  James  Wood,  Mr  David 
Forrct,  Mr  John  Macgill  younger,  ]\Ir  John  Macgill  elder,  Mr  James  Bruce,  I\Ir 
ircdcnck  Carmichacl,  Mr  Henry  Rymer,  with  many  more  ;  which  was  like  to  go  to 
very  great  schism.  Some  did  not  stick  to  say  that  five  or  six  men  were  too  hold  to 
pvc  out  reasons  to  a  whole  Church,  without  a  more  frequent  [full]  meeting  of  the 
Commission  of  the  General  Assemhly."_7i«//o»/s  Annah,  iv.  107. 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  247 

They  offer  remedies  of  what  is  past,  and  for  preventing  more  sin 
and  danger,  &c.  5.  They  challenge  many  things  in  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Committee  of  Estates,  especially  the  noblemen  for  back- 
sliding, breach  of  engagements,  human  policy,  &c.,  offering  reme- 
dies for  all  these  evils.  Last  of  all,  (which  gave  greatest  offence), 
in  the  close  there  is  insinuate  a  band  that  they  shall  to  the  utter- 
most of  their  power  endeavour  to  get  these  things  remonstrate 
'  against '  remedied.* 

Some  gentlemen,  attended  by  Messrs  Patrick  Gillespie  and 
John  Stirling,  presented  this  Remonstrance  to  the  Committee  of 
Estates.  About  the  end  of  October,  the  King  having  seen  the 
Remonstrance,  sent  a  copy  of  it  to  Mr  Blair,  (who  all  this  while 
bypast,  by  his  bodily  infirmities,  was  not  able  to  attend  the 
King  as  his  chaplain,  Mr  James  Durham  being  appointed  to  at- 
tend the  King  and  his  family  as  his  minister),  entreating  him  to 
consider  it  and  write  his  sense  of  it  to  him.  Mr  Blair,  after  he 
had  considered  the  Remonstrance,  did  after  his  accustomed  way, 
(for  he  strove  to  say  mikell  [much]  in  few  words),  wrote  to  the 
King  very  shortly,  that  he  did  judge  that  paper  an  unseasonable, 
injudicious  and  uncharitable  piece,  but  did  acknowledge  that  there 
were  many  sad  truths  in  it,  which  he  humbly  and  heartily  desired 
and  called  the  King's  Majesty  to  remark,  and  make  right  and  good 
use  of  them  in  time. 

In  November  they  did  press  an  answer  to  their  Remon- 
strance. Whereupon  the  Committee  of  Estates  at  Perth  gave 
their  sense  upon  the  Remonstrance,  condemning  it  as  scanda- 
lous to  the  Parliament  and  other  judicatories,  injurious  to  the 
King's  person  and  authority,  containing  seeds  of  division,  &c., 
yet  offering  pardon  to  such  as  would  disclaim  it.  They  sent  in 
three  of  their  number  to  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk,  with  their 

*  "  It  closed,"  says  Baillie,  "  with  a  solemn  engagement  in  all  their  hearts  (if  God 
blessed  their  armies)  to  see  all  these  things  performed." — Letters  andJournals,  iii.  119. 
This  Ecmonstrance,  commonly  called  the  "  Western  Remonstrance,"  created  much  dis- 
sension in  the  Chiu-ch  as  well  as  the  State ;  and  those  who  had  the  chief  hand  in  it,  or 
who  adhered  to  it,  were,  after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.,  the  special  objects  of  the 
vengeance  of  the  government. 


248 


LU-K  OF  HUBERT  BLAIK.  [1650. 


sense  of  the  Keinonstrauce,*  desiring  them  likewise  to  give  their 
sense  of  it.     Those  being  removed   that   had   accession   to   the 
Kemonstrance,  the  sense  of  the  Commission  upon  it  was,  That  in 
it  were  many  sad  truths  in  relation  to  the  sins  charged  on  the 
King,  his  family,  and  judicatories,  which  (and  more  too)  they  pur- 
pose to  remonstrate  '  against'  in  an  orderly  way  ;   that  they  are 
dissatisfied  with  it  in  regard  of  some  entrenching  on  some  con- 
clusions of  the  General  Assembly,  and  in  regard  of  some  inferences 
and  apphcations  made  therein,  in  relation  to  the  King's  interest 
and  the  exercise  of  his  power,  in  regard  of  the  engagements  upon 
their  hearts  before  God,  in  relation  to  endeavours  for  remedying 
of  things  contained  in  it ;  and  that  it  is  apt  to  breed  division,  and 
that  the  enemy  has  taken  advantage  thereat :  this  much  forbear- 
ing a  farther  inquiry  in  it,  expecting  fi'om  the  authors  of  it  a  satis- 
factory declaration  upon  it,  of  their  true  meaning  of  it  at  the  next 
meeting  of  the  Commission.     This  last  clause  was  added  because 
some  gentlemen  that  had   accession   to  the   Remonstrance   did 
petition  that  they  would  do  nothing  in  reference  to  the  Remon- 
strance at  that  time,  promising  that  shortly  they  should  give  in 
such  a  declaration  that  would  please  all ;  but  some  words  in  their 
petition  insinuated  that  they  would  never  pass  from  the  Remon- 
strance.    Some  that  favoured  the  association  pressed  for  a  delay  ; 
but  the  Commission  found  themselves  obliged  to  declare  ut  supra. 
Against  this  act  of  the  Commission  condemning  the  Remonstrance 
protested  Messrs  James  Guthrie,  Patrick  Gillespie,  and  some  others 
in  the  west.    Some  others  dissented :  Messrs  Andrew  Cant,  Samuel 
Rutherford  and  Alexander  MoncriefF;  at  least  they  dissented  from 
the  precipitancy  of  it.     This  was  done,  November  28,  at  Perth. 

All  this  time  bypast  many  honest  men  were  desirous  to  have 
the  King  crowned,  and  were  sorry  that  some  diets  appointed  for 
the  coronation  were  not  kept,  and  so  much  the  rather,  because  the 

*  That  is,  w-ith  their  Declaration  against  it.  The  three  sent  were  the  Marquis  of 
Ar^rj-lc,  the  King's  Advocate,  and  James  Sword.  They  also  brought  from  the  Com- 
mit tee  of  Estates  to  tlie  Conmiission,  a  paper,  in  which  they  accused  Mr  James 
Guthrie  au.l  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie,  as  contrivers  and  abettors  of  all  this  division  in 
Church,  Army,  and  State.— iJ(///b«r's  Annah,  iv.  174. 


1650.]  LU'E  OF  ROBERT  15LAIR.  249 

Remonstrance  did  blame  their  desires  of  crowning  the  King,  calling 
them  too  great  haste  ;  whereas,  honest  men  thought  it  was  too  long 
delayed.  But,  notwithstanding,  still  it  was  obstructed.  All  this 
time  the  enemy  peaceably  possesses  the  other  side  of  Forth.  Some- 
times they  marched  west  to  Stirling,  but  did  not  assault  it,  only 
tried  to  cross  Forth  above  Stirling,  which  they  durst  not  attempt, 
the  passes  being  so  strait. 

In  this  meantime,  it  was  wondered  that  the  western  forces  did 
attempt  nothing  against  the  enemy,  they  being  often  so  near  unto 
them.  At  last  the  Westland  army,  upon  a  Sabbath-day,  fell  in 
upon  the  enemy's  quarters  at  the  town  of  Hamilton ;  but  after 
some  skirmishing,  they  were  beaten  and  routed.  Colonel  Ker*  was 
wounded  and  taken.  But,  before  this  infall,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Strachan  had  left  the  west  country  forces  and  joined  with  the 
enemy  in  counsel  and  arms.  In  the  year  1648,  he  left  the  king- 
dom and  went  in  to  the  sectarian  army  to  eschew  the  engagers 
malice  against  him  as  he  alleged.  Thereafter,  he  was  employed, 
(notwithstanding  of  many  men's  fears  and  jealousies  of  him),  in 
our  forces,  and  commanded  that  party  that  defeated  Montrose ; 
and  after  Cromwell's  invasion,  he  freely  professed  that  he  was  as 
ready  to  fight  against  Cromwell  as  Graham.  Whereupon  the 
General  Assembly  was  content  that  he  should  command  that  regi- 
ment which  the  ministers  of  the  kingdom  did  give  money  to  levy 
for  the  strengthening  of  the  army,  and  now,  before  the  rout  at 
Dunbar,  all  almost  were  well  pleased  with  him  ;  yea  he  did  at  the 
infall  at  Inveresk  stoutly  fight  against  the  enemy,  and  yet  again 
he  joined  with  the  enemy  before  the  infall  at  Hamilton. 

The  Westland  forces  (who  only  held  in  honest  men's  hopes  of 
something  to  be  acted  against  the  enemy)  being  routed  and  scat- 
tered, and  the  army  at  Stirling  being  extremely  weak,  and  now 
lying  in  their  winter  quarters  dispersed,  all  hopes  were  perished 

*  According  to  Nicoll,  Colonel  Ker  was  so  gi-eat  a  stickler  for  the  Western  Kemon- 
strance,  that,  "before  this  fight  at  Hamilton,  he  inquired  the  judgment  of  his  inferior 
officers  the  night  before,  what  they  thought  of  the  case  of  affairs  as  they  then  stood  ; 
and  showed  them  that  he  would  join  with  none  who  were  not  for  the  Remonstrance, 
nor  yet  with  these  who  would  not  decline  the  State,  I  mean  the  Committee  of  Estate 
as  it  then  stood." — XicoU's  Diary,  p.  37. 


2jO  life  of  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1650. 

of  doln"-  any  thing  against  the  enemy,  unless  there  were  at  last  a 
conjuuction  of  the  kingdom,  and  a  more  general  outcalling  of  the 
body  of  tlie  people  ;  those  being  permitted  to  fight  that  formerly 
were  debarred  by  the  Act  of  Classes. 

About  the  beginning  of  December  the  Parliament  sat  down  in 
Perth.  ^Ir  Andrew  Cant  did  preach  at  the  opening  up  of  the 
Parliament,  and  very  plainly  and  boldly,  according  to  his  custom, 
did  challenge  them  that  there  was  no  acting  against  the  enemy. 
The  first  and  main  thing  the  Parliament  fell  upon,  was  to  lay 
down  a  course  for  defence  and  security  of  the  kingdom  against 
the  common  enemy,  who  now  not  only  intended,  but  professed  an 
absolute  conquest.  And  now  the  Westland  army  being  scattered, 
the  officers  that  were  neither  taken  nor  killed  laid  down  their 
charges  ;  and  the  army  at  and  about  Stirling  being  very  weak, 
not  above  4000,  and  some  officers,  shortly  after  Dunbar  fight, 
having  laid  down  their  charges  and  gone  in  to  the  enemy,  (espe- 
cially the  young  laird  of  Swintoun,  who  before  the  infalling  was 
susjiccted  to  favour  the  enemy  and  some  sectarian  errors),  the 
Parliament,  after  serious  consideration  of  the  condition  of  the 
kingdom,  and  being  desirous  of  a  conjunction  for  a  more  general 
outcalling  of  the  body  of  the  people  against  the  common  enemy, 
did,  upon  the  14th  of  December,  send  unto  the  Commission  of  the 
Kirk,  then  sitting  at  Perth,  this  query,  "  What  persons  are  to  be 
admitted  to  rise  in  arms  and  join  with  the  fiarces  of  the  kingdom, 
and  in  what  capacity  for  defence  against  the  common  enemy." 
The  Commission,  after  serious  deliberation,  having  a  frequent 
[full]  meeting,  (for  besides  the  members  of  the  Commission  there 
were  others  from  sundry  adjacent  Presbyteries  that  were  called  for 
advice  and  concurrence),  did  return  this  answer  :  "  That  consider- 
ing it's  a  necessary  duty,  both  by  the  law  of  God  and  of  nature, 
to  use  all  lawfid  means  for  defence  of  the  liberty,  lives,  and  estates 
of  the  people,  against  the  common  enemy,  and  considering  that 
the  forces  are  so  routed  and  scattered,  and  that  there  cannot  be 
raised  any  competency  of  forces  out  of  those  parts  of  the  kingdom 
that's  free,  unless  there  be  a  more  general  calling  forth  of  the  body 


1650.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  251 

of  the  people  than  hath  been  before  ;  therefore,  in  this  case  of  so 
great  necessity,  we  cannot  be  against  the  raising  of  all  fencible 
persons,  and  permitting  them  to  fight  for  defence  of  the  kingdom, 
excepting  such  as  are  excommunicate,  forfaultcd,  notoriously  pro- 
fane or  flagitious,  and  such  as  have  been  from  the  beginning  and 
continue  still,  or  are  at  this  time,  obstinate  and  professed  enemies 
and  opposers  of  the  Covenant  and  cause  of  '  God.'  And  for  "  the 
capacity  of  acting," — That  the  Parliament  ought  to  have  care,  that 
in  this  general  concurrence  of  the  people  of  the  kingdom,  none 
be  put  in  such  trust  or  power  as  may  be  prejudicial  to  the  cause 
of  God ;  and  that  such  ofiicers  as  are  of  known  integrity  and  affec- 
tion to  the  cause,  and  particularly  such  as  have  suffered  in  our 
former  armies,  may  be  taken  special  notice  of."  At  this  time  the 
Commission  being  certainly  informed  that  Strachan  was  in  to  the 
enemy  did  emit  an  act.  That  all  that  did  join  with  the  enemy  in 
counsels  or  arms  shoidd  be  excommunicate,  and  that  others  that 
complied  with  them  by  taking  provisions,  executing  their  orders, 
giving  them  intelligence,  speaking  favourably  of  them,  &c.,  should 
be  censured  according  to  the  degrees  of  their  compliance.  This 
act  was  ap]3ointed  to  be  read  in  all  kirks. 

This  answer  to  the  query  did  mightily  offend  aU  those  in  the 
Estate  that  had  declared  themselves  against  any  conjunction  with 
those  formerly  debarred,  permitting  now  that  aU  those,  except  ex- 
communicated, forfaulted,  professed,  and  stiU  obstinate  enemies, 
&c.,  were  to  be  joined  with  against  the  enemy.  Whereupon  they 
left  the  public  judicatories.  Lord  Warriston,  clerk  register,  left 
the  Parliament.  Sir  John  Chiesly,  and  some  others,  a  little  be- 
fore had  left  the  Committee  of  Estates.  Also  those  ministers  that 
favoured  the  Remonstrance  and  that  association,  and  that  had  de- 
clared themselves  against  any  conjunction,  that  were  members  of 
the  Commission,  did  dissent  and  protest  against  the  answer  to  the 
query,  and  left  the  judicatory  as  discontented  persons  ;  and  there- 
after, in  their  several  Presbyteries,  where  the  greater  number  were 
dissatisfied  with  the  answer  to  the  query,  obtained  that  their  Pres- 
byteries should  write  letters  to  the  Commission,  shewing  their 


2j')  LIFE  OF  KOBEUT  BLAIIl.  [1650. 

dissent  and  the  reasons  thereof.  The  letter  of  the  Presbytery  of 
.Stirling  was  most  famous,  containhig  reasons  against  the  conjunc- 
tion, and  public  resolutions  of  Kirk  and  Estate.  Several  letters 
came  from  the  west,  and  one  from  Aberdeen. 

^Ir  Blair  was  not  present  in  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  when 
the  answer  was  given  to  the  query,  but  came  upon  the  morrow 
after ;  and,  in  the  Commission,  he  did  not  witness  any  dislike  of 
the  answer,  but  always  wished  that  the  Parliament  and  Committee 
of  Estates  might  look  well  to  and  observe  the  cautions  and  excep- 
tions mentioned  in  the  answer.  He  abode  still  for  some  short 
space  at  Perth,  and  did  attend  the  King's  family.  He  had  several 
debates  with  some  that  were  most  displeased  with  the  answer  to 
the  query,  especially  with  Sir  John  Chiesly,  of  whom  he  always 
retained  a  good  opinion.  In  a  sermon  preached  by  him  then  at 
Perth,  the  King,  members  of  Parliament,  and  Commission  being 
hearers,  he  had  this  remarkable  passage, — "  There  are  some,"  said 
he,  "  that  say.  Give  us  religion  well  secured,  become  of  the  King 
what  will ;  and  there  are  others  that  say.  Give  us  the  King  well 
estabhshed  upon  his  throne,  become  of  religion  what  will ;  but, 
blessed  be  God  (said  he)  that  there  are  some,  both  ministers  and 
others,  that  wishes  well  both  to  religion  and  the  King,  giving  to 
God  what  is  God's,  and  to  Caesar  what  is  Cassar's."  IMr  Blair's 
constant  study  was  always  to  steer  a  steady  course  betwixt  danger- 
ous extremes  and  rocks  upon  either  hand.  He  abode  at  Perth, 
attending  the  King  and  his  family  so  long  as  his  health  continued  ; 
but  he  falling  unwell,  left  Perth  and  came  home  to  St  Andrews 
some  few  days  before  the  coronation. 

The  Parliament  having  gotten  the  foresaid  answer  to  their 
query,  presently  emitted  an  act  of  levy,  of  the  most  part  of  the 
able  and  fencible  persons  in  the  kingdom,  appointing  those  noble 
and  gentlemen  formerly  debarred  to  be  colonels  and  under-officers ; 
and  that  they  might  have  a  faithful  account  of  the  fencible  persons, 
ministers  were  desired  by  the  Parliament  to  give  in  the  rolls  of 
then-  parishes,  of  all  persons  betwixt  sixty  and  sixteen. 

All  that  formerly  had  declared  themselves  against  this  conjunc- 


1650.]  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  253 

tion  were  mightily  displeased,  crying  out  that  it  was  the  advancing 
of  the  malignant  party,  and  that  it  woidd  turn  to  the  oppression 
and  persecution  of  the  godly  ;  and  ministers  that  were  displeased 
with  the  public  resolutions  of  Kirk  and  Estate,  in  their  letters  and 
preachings  did  cry  out  that  it  was  against  the  word  of  God, 
against  our  covenant,  against  our  former  declarations,  especially 
The  Acknowledgment  and  Engagement  to  Duties,  anno  1648,  and 
that  it  was  a  receding  from  old  good  principles,  &c.  Whereupon 
some  officers  in  the  army,  and  some  soldiers  left  the  army.  Some 
of  the  officers  did  go  in  to  the  enemy. 

During  all  this  time  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh  holds  out.  There 
were  in  it  sundry  ministers,  viz.  Messrs  Hugh  M'Kail,  James 
Hamilton,  John  Smith,  Mr  George  Leslie,  &c.  These  honest 
ministers  did  occasion  the  holdlnop  out  of  the  Castle  so  lono;.  The 
governor,  the  young  Laird  of  Dundass,  before  the  Invasion,  was 
suspected  to  favour  the  enemy,  and  after  Dunbar  and  Hamilton 
fights,  did  declare  himself  to  the  ministers  to  be  against  the  con- 
junction, and  that  he  could  not  hold  out  the  Castle  for  a  malignant 
Parliament  or  faction  ;  and  then  there  was  one  William  Dundass, 
(who,  before  and  after  the  Invasion,  was  an  Intelligencer  to  the 
enemy),  who  did  negotiate  betwixt  Cromwell  and  the  Laird  of 
Dundass,  contriving  the  way  of  rendering  the  Castle.  Also  Dun- 
dass's  lieutenant,  Andrew  Abernethie,  did  as  much  hate  the  con- 
junction as  Dundass,  and,  before  the  Invasion,  was  not  without 
reason  suspected  to  favour  the  sectaries.  He  always  spoke  favour- 
ably of  Independency  and  against  Presbyterian  government.  The 
enemy  being  confident  of  these  two  men's  resolutions  to  render 
the  Castle,  did,  in  the  end  of  December  assault  it.  The  Governor 
and  his  Lieutenant  Abernethie,  having  made  a  party  of  the  garri- 
son for  them,  notwithstanding  that  the  ministers  opposed  any  mo- 
tion of  rendering,  and  notwithstanding  that  shortly  before,  they, 
through  the  valour  and  conduct  of  one  Augustine,*  a  Dutchman, 

*  "  One  Augustine,  a  high  German,  being  purged  out  of  the  army  before  Dunbar 
drove,  but  a  stout  and  resolute  young  man,  and  lover  of  the  Scots  nation,  in  October 
and  November  this  year,  [IG50],  annoyed  the  enemy  very  much,  killing  many  of  his 


254 


LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  [1650. 


that  (lid  much  annoy  the  enemy,  had  gotten  in  some  fresh  men ; 
yet  they  did  very  treacherously  and  basely  render  the  Castle. 
The  ministers,  and  all  honest  men  within  the  Castle,  protested 
against  the  capitulation,  and  rendering  of  the  stronghold,  in  write.* 

All  this  time  after  Hamilton,  tiU  the  beginning  of  January,  the 
enemy  did  sundry  times  march  west,  but  it  pleased  the  Lord  of 
armies  to  restrain  them  both  from  assaulting  of  Stirling  and  cross- 
in  o-  of  Forth.  They  sometimes  went  to  Glasgow,  where  Cromwell 
and  his  chief  officers  had  many  debates  with  the  ministers  of  Glas- 
o-owt  and  some  others,  viz.,  Messrs  James  Guthrie,  Robert  Earn- 
say,  Patrick  GiUespie,  John  Carstares  and  James  Durham.  They 
kept  garrisons  in  Linlithgow,  Hamilton,  &c. ;  but  the  chief  gar- 
rison to^\^l  was  Leith.  They  enlarged  their  quarters  through  all 
the  south,  even  to  Galloway. 

In  the  end  of  December  two  solemn  days  of  humiliation  and 


stragglers,  and  made  nightly  infalls  upon  their  quarters,  taking  and  killing  sometimes 
twenty,  and  sometimes  thirty,  and  more  or  less  of  them,  whereby  he  both  enriched 
himself  and  his  followers,  and  greatly  damaged  the  enemy.  His  chief  abode  was  about 
and  in  the  mountains  of  Pentland  and  Soutra. — Balfour's  Annals,  ir.  165. 

*  "  After  the  English  had  gained  the  Castle,  they  kejDt  a  day  of  solemn  thanksgiving 
upon  the  25th  of  December  1650,  in  the  New  Kirk  of  Edinburgh." — {NicoU's  Diary, 
p.  40.) 

t  Of  these  "  many  debates"  which  Cromwell  had  with  the  ministers  of  Glasgow, 
Balfour  gives  an  account  of  one  which  he  had  with  eight  ministers  of  that  city  in  May 
1651,  wlien  he  was  there  with  his  army.  The  debate  was  respecting  the  lawllilness  of 
his  engagement  against  this  countiy  and  kingdom  ;  and,  if  Balfour  may  be  credited, 
such  debates  did  not  promise  much  to  recommend  his  invasion  of  Scotland  even  to  his 
o^vn  officers.  "  He  gave  them  some  papers,  which  they  answered  ex  tempore,  and 
proved  to  his  face  his  perjury,  and  breach  of  covenant  and  league,  and  his  sinful  rebel- 
lion and  murder,  contrary  to  the  express  word  of  God,  and  league  and  covenant  sworn 
by  himself  and  most  of  his  complices.  He  took  the  morrow  at  three  in  the  afternoon 
to  his  fiirtlicr  conference  with  them;  and  many  of  his  chiefest  officers  did  openly  ac- 
knowledge they  were  convinced  in  reason,  and  never  tiU  now  did  see  the  weakness  of 
their  own  gi-ounds.  In  place  of  keeping  the  appointed  meeting,  (seeing  a  fire  to  begin 
to  kindle  amongst  his  own),  about  midnight  that  same  day  he  commands  all  his  army 
presently  to  march  under  the  pain  of  deatli,  back  towards  Edinburgh ;  and  empties  all 
his  garrisons  be-west  Linlithgow ;  sends  his  horses  towards  the  border,  and  with  great 
baste,  with  his  foot  returns  to  Edinburgh  and  Leith ;  and  is  now  busy  in  repairing  the 
breaches  of  the  Edinburgh  castle."— ^n)(«/s,  iv.  298.  Few  conquerors,  on  the  whole, 
have  conducted  themselves  with  gi-cater  moderation  than  Cromwell.  AVlien  he  en- 
tered Glasgow  with  his  army,  the  control  which  he  exercised  over  his  soldiers,  and  the 
little  injury  which  they  did  to  that  town  excited  surprise,  and  are  eulogised  by  Baillie. 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  255 

fasting  were  kept  by  appointment  of  the  Commission  of  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly.  The  first  for  the  contempt  of  the  gospel  upon  the 
22d  clay,  (that  sin,  the  contempt  of  the  gospel,  was  at  length 
branched  out,  put  in  print  and  sent  to  Presbyteries) ;  the  second 
upon  the  26th  day,  for  the  King's  sins  and  the  sins  of  the  royal 
family.  This  second  day  of  humiliation  was  kept  throughout  the 
land,  and  by  the  King  and  his  family  at  Pertli,  as  previous  unto 
and  preparatory  for  the  coronation  of  the  King.  Sundry  diets 
being  appointed  but  not  kept,  at  last  the  Committee  of  Estates  ap- 
pointed the  1st  of  January  1651,  to  be  the  day  of  the  King's  coro- 
nation, and  resolved  upon  any  terms  to  keep  that  day. 

The  first  of  January  being  come,  and  now  there  being  a  con- 
junction of  the  kingdom,  the  noblemen  formerly  debarred  did 
countenance  the  coronation  and  concur  in  the  work  according  to 
their  places.  IVIr  Robert  Douglas  did  preach  the  coronation  ser- 
mon upon  2  Kings  xi.  12.  All  the  form  and  ceremonies  of  the 
coronation,  with  Mr  Douglas'  sermon,  were  thereafter  printed.* 

The  King's  oath  when  he  took  the  National  and  Solemn  Leag-ue 
and  Covenant : — 

"  I,  C.  R.,  king  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  defender  of 
the  Faith,  do  assert  and  declare  by  my  solemn  oath,  in  the  presence 
of  Almighty  God,  the  searcher  of  hearts,  my  allowance  and  appro- 
bation of  the  National  Covenant  and  the  Solemn  League  and  Cove- 
nant above  written,  and  faithfully  oblige  myself  to  prosecute  the 
ends  thereof  in  my  station  and  calling,  and  for  myself  and  succes- 
sors shall  consent  and  agree  to  all  acts  of  Parliament  enjoining 
the  National  Covenant  and  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  and 
fully  establishing  Presbyterian  government,  the  Directory  ot 
Worship,  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and  the  Catechisms  of  the 
kingdom  of  Scotland,  as  they  are  approven  by  the  General  Assem- 
blies and  Parliament  of  this  kingdom ;  and  that  I  shall  give  my 

*  The  tract  in  which  the  whole  proceedings  of  the  coronation  were  printed  at  the  time 
is  entitled  "  The  Fomi  and  Order  of  the  Coronation  of  Charles  the  Second,  King  of 
Scotland,  England,  France  and  Ireland,  as  it  was  acted  and  done  at  Scoone,  the  first 
day  of  Januarie,  1651."  Printed  at  Aberdeen  by  James  Brown.  It  has  been  several 
times  reprinted. 


o-,i3  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1651. 

royal  assent  to  acts  and  ordinances  of  Parliament  passed  or  to  be 
passed,  enjoining  the  same  in  my  other  dominions  ;  and  that  I  shall 
observe  these  in  my  own  practice  and  family,  and  shaU  never  make 
any  opposition  to  any  of  these,  or  endeavour  any  change  there- 
of." 

After  the  coronation  Mr  Douglas  cited  a  passage  out  of  Neh.  v. 
13.  lie  said  also  to  the  King  and  nobles,  "  If  ye  break  that  Co- 
venant, being  so  solemnly  sworn,  all  those  that  have  touched  that 
cro^^^l  and  sworn  to  support  it  shall  not  be  able  to  hold  it  up." 

The  King  in  all  the  solemnity,  especially  in  swearing  the  Cove- 
nants, did  carry  very  seriously  and  devoutly,  so  that  none  doubted 
of  his  ingenuity  and  sincerity ;  yea,  he  did,  both  before  and  after 
the  coronation,  profess  his  sincerity  in  taking  the  Covenant  to  some 
honest  ministers,  viz.,  Messrs  James  Wood,  James  Hamilton, 
'  and '  John  Macgill,  begging  this  favour  of  them,  that  if  '  ever,' 
In  any  time  coming,  they  did  hear  or  see  him  breaking  that  cove- 
nant they  would  tell  him  of  it  and  put  him  in  mind  of  his  oath. 

Immediately  after  the  coronation  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk 
met  at  Perth.  Theu'  great  work  was  to  justify  their  answer  to  the 
Parliament's  query,  and  to  vindicate  the  Public  Resolutions  from 
the  aspersions  cast  upon  them  by  the  opposers  of  them  either  in 
Kirk  or  Estate.  First  they  took  to  their  consideration  the  letter 
written  from  the  Presbytery  of  Stirling,  (which  Cromwell  caused 
to  be  printed,  giving  it  this  title,  "  A  Remonstrance  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Stirling  against  the  present  conjunction  with  the  malig- 
nant party,")  and  returned  an  answer  to  it,  and  sent  it  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Stirling,  and  thereafter  it  was  printed  and  sent  to 
all  Presbyteries. 

Upon  the  7th  of  January  they  did  emit  a  Solemn  Warning  to  aU 
members  of  the  Kirk,  ordained  to  be  read  in  all  pulpits,  for  clearing 
every  man's  judgment  anent  the  Public  Resolutions.*  At  this 
meeting  also  the  Commission  did  give  in  to  the  King  and  Com- 

*  "  A  Solemn  Warning  to  all  the  IMembcrs  of  this  Kirk,  from  the  Commission  of 
the  Gcnprall  Asscmhlie:  With  an  Act  for  censming  such  as  act  or  comply  with  the 
Sectarian  Armic  now  infesting  this  Kingdom.  Aberdene,  Imprinted  bv  James  Brown, 
Anno  Ifi.")],"  4to,  pp.  1<). 


1051.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  257 

mittce  of  Estates  a  humble  Remonstrance,  wherein  they  remon- 
strated and  complained  of  sundiy  things,  especially  that  there  was 
no  acting  against  the  enemy ;  that  levies  had  been  disappointed ; 
that  many  unskilfully,  some  treacherously,  had  rendered  strong- 
holds, &c.  They  exhorted  the  King  and  Committee  to  many  good 
duties,  and  especially  to  take  good  heed  that  malignancy  did  not 
spring  to  the  prejudice  of  the  cause.  In  the  close  of  this  session 
they  appointed  their  next  meeting  to  be  at  St  Andrews,  middle  of 
January,  and  there  they  appointed  a  conference  to  be  with  some 
brethren  that  were  mightily  displeased  with  the  Public  Resolutions 
of  Kirk  and  Estate,  especially  with  Mr  James  Guthrie,  Mr  David 
Bennet*,  his  colleague  in  Stirling,  and  Mr  Samuel  Rutherford, 
principal  of  the  New  College  there.  The  brethren  aj)pointed  to 
confer  with  these  were  especially  Messrs  Blair,  Douglas,  James 
Hamilton,  John  Smith,  James  Wood  and  James  Sharp.  The  con- 
ference held  in  the  hall  of  the  New  College.  But  Mr  Blair,  being 
infirm  and  unwell,  was  not  at  it.  They  went  through  the  answer 
to  the  letter  of  the  Presbytery  of  Stirling,  and  the  dissatisfied 
brethren  did  propose  their  objections  against  the  conjunction  and 
answer  to  the  query.  Mr  Wood  (for  the  dispute  was  mostly  be- 
twixt IVIr  Guthrie  and  him)  answered,  that  their  arguments  did 
militate  against  a  conjunction  with  strangers,  idolaters,  worship- 
pers of  Balame  [Baal?]  &c.,  and  not  against  a  conjunction  with 
those  that  are  membra  ecclesice  et  cives  patrice  against  an  invading 
enemy — enemy  to  both  ;  neither  could  they  produce  any  pai't  of 
Scripture  showing  that  ever  any  that  was  reputed  a  member  of  the 
Kirk,  and  admitted  to  ordinances,  or  counted  a  member  of  the 
commonwealth,  was  hindered  to  fight  against  an  invading  enemy. 
Conti'a,  The  Public  Resolutioners  did  bring  many  parts  of  Scrip- 
ture, where  all  sects,  even  those  that  were  called  men  of  Belial 


*  Mr  Bennet  died  in  the  yeai-  1C55,  as  appears  from  one  of  Baillie's  letters  to 
Mr  William  Spang  about  the  close  of  that  year :  "  Mr  David  '  Bennet,'  being  on  his 
deathbed,  and  advising  to  plant  his  place  with  a  man  jieaceablc,  not  factious,  Mr 
James  '  Guthrie'  and  the  town  '  of  StirUng'  fell  in  a  strife  about  that  matter  immedi- 
ately after  his  death." — -Letters  and  Journals,  iii.  283. 


258 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  RLAIR.  [1651. 


were  joined  with  against  an  invading  enemy  in  the  time  of  the 
judges  and  kings,  even  in  the  time  of  the  best  reforming  kings. 
Especially  use  was  made  of  1  Sam.  xi.  6,  7,  with  1  Sam.  x.  27,  and 
many  like  places.  Contra,  The  dissenters  did  condemn  all  these 
practices,  because  not  consonant  to  that  which  they  made  the  rule 
of  constituting  of  armies,  viz.,  Deut.  xxiii.  9-14.  This  place  was 
much  m-ged  by  the  dissenters,  and  great  weight  laid  on  it  as  the 
rule  of  constituting  and  purging  of  armies.  Contra,  It  was  answered 
that  it  was  a  straining  of  the  place,  and  that  they  could  not  lay 
such  weight  on  it,  and  appealed  to  the  commentators  upon  the 
place.* 

In  end,  the  dissenting  brethren  being  nothing  more  pleased  with 
the  Public  Resolutions,  nor  any  way,  as  appeared,  convinced,  the 
Committee  did,  in  a  brotherly  and  friendly  way,  advise  Mr  James 
Guthrie  and  his  colleague  for  a  time  to  withdraw  themselves  from 
Stirling,  promising  to  supply  their  places.  This  was  done,  the 
rather  because  the  Committee  of  Estates  having  heard  of  their 
sermons  that  they  did  tend  greatly  to  the  discouragement  of  the 
garrison,  (they  preaching  against  Public  Resolutions  as  sinfid  and 
contrary  to  the  word  of  God),  did  desire  the  same,  because  by  their 
sermons  all  were  discouraged,  some  few  laid  down  their  charge, 
and  so  the  whole  kingdom  was  endangered,  that  pass  being  in  a 
manner  exposed  to  the  will  of  the  enemy.  For  these  reasons  the 
Commission  desired  the  ministers  of  Stirling  to  withdraw  for  a 
time  from  that  place,  at  least  not  to  speak  against  Public  Resolu- 
tions, or  do  any  thing  to  hinder  the  levies  or  to  discourage  the 
garrison  ;  all  which  desires  they  did  flatly  refuse,  and  did  protest 
against  these  desires,  they  being  written  in  the  Commission  Book, 
and  so  returned  to  Stirling.  The  Commission  appointed  some  of 
their  number  to  repair  to  Stirling  to  preach  to  the  garrison,  and  to 
read  any  public  papers,  and  to  do  in  their  capacity  and  station  what 
they  could  to  further  the  levies  and  to  encourage  the  garrison  at 

•  There  was  certainly  more  propriety  in  the  arguments  of  the  protesting  party, 
wliu-h  \vere  drawn  from  the  impolicy  of  intrusting  the  command  of  the  army  to 
«nprinci])lcd  royalists,  than  in  their  appeals  to  the  judicial  laws  of  Moses. 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  259 

Stirling.  Mr  John  Robertson  made  report  of  the  relaxation  of 
Middleton  from  the  sentence  of  excommunication  in  the  kirk  of 
Dundee,  according  to  the  appointment  of  the  Commission  at  Perth. 
Thereafter  he  got  employment  in  the  army. 

At  this  meeting  of  the  Commission  did  William,  Duke  of 
Hamilton,  and  the  Earl  of  Glencairn,  offer  satisfaction  for  their 
accession  to  the  engagement  1648.  The  Duke  had  made  the  like 
offer  to  the  preceding  General  Assembly  ;  but  at  that  time  it  was 
not  accepted,  and  he  being  by  the  Parliament  commanded  to  leave 
the  kingdom,  not  daring  to  go  to  sea,  did  retire  to  the  Isle  of  Arran, 
where  this  wdiile  bypast  he  had  lurked.  But  now  after  the  con- 
junction, he  did  again  offer  satisfaction  to  the  Commission  of  the 
Kirk.  The  dissatisfied  brethren  cried  out  that  now  all  malignants 
were  coming  in  and  feignedly  offering  satisfaction,  because  it  was 
declared  at  the  conference  that  none  were  to  be  employed  in  the 
army  but  those  that  had  given  satisfaction,  and  that  by  obstinate  in 
the  answer  to  the  query,  they  meant  those  that  had  not  given 
satisfaction  though  they  had  offered  it.  Contra,  The  Commission, 
and  more  moderate  men,  thought  they  coidd  not  refuse  any  that 
offered  satisfaction  for  their  malignant  courses,  and  they  having 
received  them  according  to  the  rules  of  preceding  Assemblies,  they 
were  to  be  looked  on  as  penitents  until  they  evidenced  the  contrary 
either  by  word  or  deed,  &c.  Likewise,  the  Commission  received 
a  supplication  from  the  Duke  and  Glencairn,  and  did  appoint  some 
of  their  number  to  speak  with  them.  Also  they  appointed  two  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Cupar  to  speak  with  them,  and  ordained  these 
to  make  their  report  to  the  next  meeting  of  the  Commission.  This 
meeting  of  the  Commission  sent  an  act  to  the  Presbytery  of  Cupar, 
ordaining  them  to  receive  satisfaction  from  the  Earl  of  Crawford, 
for  any  accession  that  he  had  to  the  King's  leaving  of  the  public 
judicatories  and  counsels  in  October  last,  (he  having  to  all  men's 
contentment  fully  satisfied  the  preceding  General  Assembly  for  his 
accession  to  the  engagement),  albeit,  he  declared  that  he  no  ways 
was  accessary  to  the  King's  withdrawing  himself  from  Perth,  and 
that  he  did  not  join  in  arms  or  counsels  with  those  in  the  north, 

k2 


2  GO 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G51. 


nor  subscribe  their  declaration  ;  yet  because  in  order  to  the  King's 
desire  he  went  to  Dundee  accompanied  with  some  few  of  his  friends, 
for  removing  any  scandal  given  thereby,  he  was  wilKng  to  satisfy 
in  the  Avay  the  Presbytery  should  ajDpoint  him.  Therefore,  he  be- 
ing presently  to  march  to  Stirling  with  his  regiment,  where  the 
King  was  for  the  present,  he  did,  upon  a  week  day,  in  his  own  seat 
in  the  kirk  of  Cupar,  declare  his  repentance  for  removing  of  any 
scandal  given  by  his  going  at  that  time  to  Dundee.  Thereafter, 
immediately,  he  marched  with  his  regiment  to  Stirling. 

In  the  close  of  this  meeting  at  St  Andrews,  upon  the  25th  of 
January,  the  Commission  did  send  a  Kemonstrance  to  the  King  and 
Committee  of  Estates,  remonstrating  especially  these  things.     1. 
That  they  were  not  well  pleased  that  the  Committee  had  employed 
some  men,  and  inserted  them  in  the  act  of  levy,  who  were  under 
the  limitations  and  exceptions  expressed  in  their  answer  to  the 
query,  and  that  colonels  had  appointed  some  under  officers  that 
had  not  satisfied  the  Ku'k  for  their  accession  to  the  engagement. 
2.  They  regretted  the  sIoav  progress  of  the  levies,  and  laid  the 
blame  especially  upon  the  fountains  of  acting,  that  is  to  say,  upon 
the  judicatories.    3.  That,  notwithstanding,  it  had  been  remonstrate 
how  former  levies  had  been  disappointed  by  taking  money  for  men 
and  horses,  and,  notwithstanding,  a  committee  was  appointed  for 
trial  of  that  matter  yet  nothing  was  done  therein.     All  which  the 
Committee  of  Estates  did  take  well,  and  returned  an  answer,  Feb- 
ruary 0,  promising  to  amend  these  faults,  but  did  regret  that 
the  diiForencc  of  judgment  of  some  of  the  ministry  from  the  Public 
Resolutions  of  Kirk  and  Estate,  and  their  refusing  to  concur,  and 
hindering  their  people  to  give  obedience  to  theii'  orders,  did  not  a 
little  obstruct  the  levies  and  acting  against  the  enemy ;  which  they 
desired  might  be  timely  remedied,  and  promised  their  best  advice 
and  assistance,  and  did  appoint  some  of  their  number  to  confer  with 
the  Commissioners  of  the  General  Assembly  at  their  next  meeting 
in  Perth. 

Ihc  Kuig  having  gotten  gathered  together  the  most  part  of  the 
forces  then  on  foot  (the  levies  not  being  yet  all  up),  did,  with 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  R013ERT  BLAIR.  261 

some  few,  go  from  Stirling  to  the  heads  of  Forth,  to  take  notice 
of  all  the  fords  and  passes  where  the  enemy  might  cross.  From 
Cardross,  where  he  lay  the  first  night,  he  came  down  the  water 
of  Forth,  all  along,  taking  notice  where  probably  the  enemy 
might  attempt  to  cross,  to  Burntisland,  lying  the  second  night  at 
George  Cairn's  house.  From  Burntisland  the  King  went  along 
the  coast  to  Anstruther,  where  he  abode  the  third  night  in  the 
laird  of  Anstruther's  house.  The  next  being  the  last  day  of  the 
week,  and  the  King  intending  to  lie  at  the  Struthers  that  night, 
he  came  from  Anstruther  to  St  Andrews  of  purpose  to  visit  Mr 
Blair,  who  then  was  sick  and  apprehensive  of  death.  Mr  Blair 
did  then  take  occasion,  as  a  dying  man,  to  speak  to  the  King 
freely  and  fully,  giving  him  his  best  advice,  and  withal  showing 
him  what  he  liked  and  what  he  disliked  in  his  father,  one  of  the 
best  of  our  kings,  whom  Mr  Blair  always  used  to  call  a  good  king 
evil  used.  February  15,  the  King  came  to  the  Struthers,  the 
Earl  of  Crawford's  house  in  the  parish  of  Ceres.  There  he  spent 
the  Sabbath  day,  ]\Ir  Duncan  and  the  minister  of  the  parish 
preaching  in  the  hall  of  the  Struthers.  On  Monday  the  King  and 
the  noblemen  that  accompanied  him  returned  to  Perth,  where  the 
Commission  of  the  Kirk  did  meet.  They  ordained  the  Duke  of 
Hamilton  to  satisfy  in  the  kirk  of  Dundee. 

The  King  being  to  go  to  the  North,  for  hasting  up  the  levies 
there,  the  Commission  appointed  some  of  their  number,  with  the 
Earl  of  Argyle,  viz.,  Messrs  James  Durham,  James  Wood,  Wil- 
liam Kow,*  to  go  to  Aberdeen  and  confer  with  the  ministers  there 
viz.,  Messrs  Andrew  Cant,  John  Eow,  f  John  JMenzies,  |  who  were 
dissatisfied  with  the  Public  Resolutions  ;  and  not  only  the  King 
but  some  others  were  ofiended  that  Mr  John  Menzics,  on  the  day 

*  The  author  of  this  Continuation  of  Blair's  Life. 

t  John  Row,  brother  of  William,  was  minister  of  St  Nicholas  Church,  Aberfleen, 
to  wliich  he  was  elected  and  admitted  in  1641.  Ho  afterwards  became  princiiial  of 
King's  College,  Aberdeen. 

t  Mr  John  Mcnzies  was  professor  of  divinity  in  ]Marisclial  College,  Aberdeen,  and 
one  of  the  ministers  of  the  city.  He  was  "  once  a  Papist,  then  a  Presbyterian,  then 
an  Indei)endent,  then  complied  with  Episcopacy." — Wodroiv's  Analccta,  i.  342.  For 
some  account  of  him,  see  Wodroiv's  Correspondenre,  ii.  p.  222,  note  2. 


2G2  LIl-'K  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIR.  [1651. 

of  humiliation  for  the  King's  sins,  had  preached  on  that  text, 
1  Sam.  xvi.  1.  Those  appointed  to  confer  with  them  having  ex- 
pHcatc  some  things  in  the  answer  to  the  query,  and  informed  them 
of  some  things  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Commission,  did  for  the 
time  satisfy  them,  (they  professing  themselves  satisfied  with  the 
Public  Resolutions  of  the  Kirk),  and  reported  to  the  King  their 
satisfaction  with  Mr  John  Menzies'  apology  and  declaration  for 
clioosing  that  text,  1  Sam.  xvi.  1.  They  returned  with  the  King 
to  Perth,  well  satisfied  that  they  had  satisfied  these  three  ministers. 
But  after  they  had  made  their  report  to  the  Commission,  two 
of  the  ministers  of  Aberdeen,  viz.,  Messrs  John  Row  and  John 
Menzies,  came  to  the  Commission  at  Perth,  March  12,  and  gave 
in  a  paper  containing  some  instructions  agreed  upon  by  the  three 
ministers,  showing  what  they  liked  and  were  pleased  Avith  in  the 
Public  Resolutions  of  the  Kirk,  desiring  the  Commission,  for  their 
further  satisfaction,  to  declare  whether  they  would  homologate 
with  aU  that  the  ministers  sent  to  confer  with  them  had  explained 
in  the  answer  to  the  query,  or  promised  to  be  observed  in  their 
actings  in  time  coming.  2dly,  They  declared  what  stumbled  them 
in  the  answer  to  the  query.  3dly,  They  complain  of  some  actings 
of  the  Estate.  Lastly,  They  declare  that  whereas  they  had  yielded 
some  things  to  the  ministers  that  conferred  with  them,  that  it  was 
to  be  understood  with  some  provisions,  which  they  did  not  then 
express,  they  being  then  surprised,  and  not  having  time  sufficiently 
to  ponder  these  things.  The  Commission,  regretting  their  in- 
constancy, appointed  some  to  confer  with  the  two  sent  to  them. 
But  Mr  John  Row  falling  sick,  and  going  out  of  the  town,  Mr 
John  ]\Ienzies  was  conferred  with  at  length;  but  he  remained 
more  unsatisfied  than  at  the  first  conference,  and  so  all  the  three 
ministers  of  Aberdeen,  after  their  second  thoughts,  new  doubts 
and  scruples  arising  to  them,  were  still  unsatisfied  with  the  Public 
Resolutions. 

And  noAv,  by  this  time,  there  was  no  small  division  in  the  Kirk 
in  reference  to  the  Public  Resolutions.  Some  did  write  in  defence 
of  them,  especially  Mr  David  Dickson.     At  first  he  wrote   to  a 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  263 

friend  to  resolve  him  of  some  doubts  against  the  Public  Resolu- 
tions,  and  to  take  oiF  some  mistakes  against  them.  ]\Ir  James 
Guthrie  answered  this  letter  in  four  several  letters,  labouring  to 
prove  the  Public  Resolutions  contrary  to  the  Word  of  God,  our 
covenants,  former  declarations,  especially  the  acknowledgment  and 
engagement  1648,  and  inconsistent  with  our  former  principles. 
Which  four  letters  Mr  Dickson  answered  at  length,  proving  that 
the  Public  Resolutions  were  consonant  and  agreeable  to  the  Word, 
our  covenants,  and  aU  former  papers,  and  agreeable  to  our  good 
old  principles ;  and  observed  sundry  faults  in  the  dispute  in  Mr 
James  Guthrie's  papers,  viz.,  taking  advantage  of  the  homonymy  * 
of  words,  the  abusing  of  sundry  places  of  Scripture,  especially 
Deut.  xxiii.  9-14,  vindicating  that  place  and  clearing  the  meaning 
thereof;  the  confounding  of  sentences  of  judicatories  and  courts, 
human,  civil,  or  ecclesiastic,  and  divine,  which  only  belongs  to 
God,  in  foro  conscientioi,  &c.  He  blamed  him  for  asserting  that 
he  might  communicate  and  have  fellowship  in  the  Kii'k  with  them 
with  whom  he  would  not  fight,  as  if  there  were  required  greater 
purity  in  the  camp  than  in  the  kirk,  yea  at  the  table  of  the  Lord. 
]Mr  Patrick  Gillespie  wrote  against  the  Public  Resolutions,  and 
JSIr  James  Ferg-usson  of  Kilwinninsf  wrote  for  them.  So  there 
was  a  great  and  growing  division  in  the  Kirk,  even  among  them 
that  fonnerly  were  united,  and  were  accounted  godly  and  gracious 
men.  In  this  evil  and  dividing  time  JVIr  Blair  (being  somewhat 
recovered  of  his  sickness,  but  not  able  to  come  abroad)  was  pru- 
dently silent,  and  silently  prudent,  Amos  v.  13.  He  was  never 
silent  in  his  station  as  a  minister  of  the  New  Testament,  (2  Cor. 
iii.  6).  In  some  measure  that  may  be  said  of  him  which  is  said  of 
David,  the  type,  and  of  Christ,  who  is  the  truth,  (Ps.  xl.  9,  10) ; 
yet,  comparatively,  it  might  be  said  of  prudent  Mr  Blair,  that  he 
kept  silence,  he  not  being  engaged  in  those  woeful  disputes  ;  and 
as  for  their  writings />ro  and  contra,  he  disliked  them,  calling  them 
our  weakness-discovering  writings,  and  papers  that  do  not  heal 
but  augment  our  divisions,  and  cast  more  oil  in  the  flame. 

*  IJomo'iiijmij,  equivocation. 


2C,1  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIK.  [1651. 

Ill  tlic  end  of  March,  the  Commission  at  Perth  did  emit  a 
"Wiirning  tliat  most  offended  the  Dissenting  brethren,  because  as 
they  conceived,  the  Commission  did  affix  on  them  marks  formerly- 
made  marks  of  malignancy,  and  that  Presbyteries  were  ordained 
to  censure  them.  Also  some  that  hitherto  had  gone  along  with  the 
Public  Resolutions  did  not  like  well  of  that  Warning,  and  scrupled 
to  read  it  in  their  kirks.  The  Commission,  in  the  beginning  of 
April,  meeting  at  Cupar  in  Fife,  after  conference,  gave  satisfaction 
to  many ;  for  at  that  meeting  at  Cupar  they  made  some  addition 
to  that  Warning,  Avhich  cleared  sundry  men's  minds.  They  de- 
clared it  was  not  their  mind  to  censure  dissatisfied  brethren,  and 
that  they  rather  show  Avhat  they  had  power  to  do  than  what  they 
resolved  to  do,  and  that  they  did  not  affix  marks  of  malignancy 
upon  dissenting  brethren,  but  only  desired  them  to  beware  of  such 
things. 

The  Synod  of  Fife,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  convened  at 
Dunfermline ;  but  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  being  at  Cupar, 
presently  they  transferred  the  Synod  to  Cupar,  that  they  might 
have  the  Commission's  advice  and  concurrence  in  difficult  matters. 
'Jlic  Warning  formerly  mentioned,  with  causes  of  a  humiliation, 
were  presented  to  the  Synod  from  the  Commission,  with  a  letter  to 
Presbyteries  thereanent.  The  Synod  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Com- 
mission approving  their  proceedings,  and  encouraging  them  against 
all  obloquies  and  aspersions,  &c.  Some  of  the  Synod  dissented 
from  approving  of  this  letter,  viz.  Messrs  Samuel  Rutherford, 
Alexander  Moncrieff",  John  Macgill  younger,  and  William  Oli- 
phant.  They  desired  their  dissent  to  be  marked.  The  Synod 
wrote  a  letter  to  the  King,  and  another  to  the  Committee  of 
Estates.  They  adjourned  the  Synod  to  the  second  Tuesday  of 
^lay  at  Kirkaldy.  In  the  meantime  '  they'  appointed  Presbyteries 
to  confer  with  dissatisfied  brethren,  and  to  make  report  of  their 
diligence  to  the  next  Session  of  the  Synod  at  Kirkaldy. 

In  the  Synod  of  Glasgow,  the  dissatisfied  brethren  urging  some 
tlungs  to  be  written  to  the  Connnission  of  the  Kirk  against  the 
I'libhc  Resulutions,  the  greater  part  opposing  tlie  motion,  it  was 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  265 

concluded  that  seven  of  them  that  were  most  unsatisfied,  should 
come  to  the  Commission  to  confer  with  them,  viz.  Messrs  James 
Naismith,*  Patrick  Gillespie,  Thomas  Wylic,  f  &c.  These  seven 
came  to  Perth  desiring  conference,  which  Avas  appointed  to  be  at  St 
Andrews,  where  those  appointed  by  the  Commission  to  confer  with 
them  might  have  Mr  Blair's  help  in  their  conference,  whose  judo-- 
ment  was  much  reverenced  by  all,  yea  even  by  those  that  were 
dissatisfied,  he  being  the  man  that  was  thought  to  be  for  the  Pub- 
lic Eesolutions  that  they  reverenced  most.  Sure  it  was  that  Mr 
Blair  was  moderate  toAvards  them,  and  tender  of  and  condescending 
to  them,  not  willing  to  hear  of  any  censure  to  be  inflicted  on  them  ; 
and  for  that  and  some  other  things  he  was  not  well  pleased  with 
the  late  Warning  emitted  by  the  Commission.  He  thought  it  was 
too  fiery  and  hot,  being  himself  a  man  of  a  most  moderate  and 
calm  temper,  with  great  possessedness  and  stayedness  of  spirit 
and  judgment. 

This  conference  at  St  Andrews  was  not  well  kept,  some  of  the 
seven  not  coming,  and  few  upon  the   other  side   coming  to    it, 

*  "  Mr  James  Naismith  vfsxs  minister  of  Hamilton.  He  was  reckoned  a  A'eiy  con- 
siderable man.  He  was  well  accounted  of.  I  heard  that  the  malignants  in  that  time 
stood  m  awe  of  him.  When  he  appeared  upon  the  streets  they  would  have  fled  away 
from  his  presence.  He  was  reckoned  a  very  good  man,  and  a  good  preacher." — Wod- 
roir's  Analecta,  iv.  267. 

t  Thomas  Wylie  was  first  minister  of  Borgue,  a  parish  in  the  stewartry  of  lOrk- 
cudbright,  and  was  thence  translated  to  Mauchline  in  AjTshire,  from  which  he  was  re- 
moved to  Kirkcudbright  some  time  before  the  restoration.  In  1GG2  he  was  ejected 
from  his  charge,  and  banished  to  the  north  of  the  Tay  with  his  family,  by  a  particular 
act  of  the  Privy  Council,  for  not  observing  the  anniversary  day  appointed  by  Parlia- 
ment in  commemoration  of  his  Majesty's  restoration,  and  for  not  receiving  presen- 
tation from  the  patron  of  his  parish,  and  collation  from  the  bishop  of  his  diocese,  ac- 
cording to  Act  of  Parliament. — (  Wodrow's  History,  i.  300.)  But  his  wife  having  fallen 
into  bad  health,  he  was,  on  presenting  a  petition  to  the  Council,  allowed,  November  3, 
16G4r,  to  remove  with  his  family  to  the  south  of  the  Forth,  on  his  finding  a  new  bond 
for  his  peaceable  behaviour,  where  he  was  now  to  be  confined. — {Ibid.  i.  413).  In 
1670,  Wylic  came  over  to  Coleraine,  where  several  of  his  relations  appear  to  have  re- 
sided. He  officiated  as  minister  of  that  congregation  for  nearly  three  years,  when  he 
returned  to  Scotland,  and  receiving  a  call  from  the  parish  of  Fenwick,  in  the  presby- 
tery of  Iniue,  settled  there  under  the  act  of  indulgence,  where  he  died  July  20,  1G76. 
— Rdd's  History  of  the  Preshi/terian  Church  in  Ireland,  ii.  407.  ]\I^Crle's  Memoirs  of 
VcUdi,  &-C.,  p.  495.  His  son  Robert,  who  became  minister  of  Hamilton  after  the  revo- 
lution, was  a  man  of  considerable  talents,  and  attained  to  uo  small  influence  in  the 
councils  of  the  Church. 


265  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  [1651. 

although  those  that  came  did  at  length  confer  about  the  Public 
Ilcj'olutions.  The  dissenting  brethren  did  not  propone  any  argu- 
ments from  Scripture,  nor  allege  that  the  Public  Eesolutions  were 
contrary  to  Scripture ;  yea,  many  of  them  did  not  like  well  Mr 
James  Guthrie's  pressing  Deut.  xxiii.  9-14.  Only,  they  urged 
the  incongruity  of  the  Public  Resolutions  with  the  Solemn 
Acknowledgment  and  Engagement  1648,  and  some  other  de- 
clarations emitted  since  Dunbar,  wherein  the  Commission  de- 
clared against  conjunction  with  those  men  with  whom  they  had 
now  associated.  It  was  made  evident  that  it  was  never  the 
mind  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  never  upon  no  terms  nor  in  no 
case  to  associate  with  these  men  then  debarred,  but  that,  upon 
their  repentance,  and  in  this  necessity,  when  there  was  no  place 
loft  for  choice,  they  might  lawfully  join  with  them  against  the 
common  enemy  invading.  As  for  these  declarations  it  was 
answered,  so  long  as  there  was  locus  delectui,  they  did  well  to  em- 
ploy the  best  instruments  of  whom  they  might  be  most  confident ; 
and  as  for  the  declarations  after  Dunbar,  their  hopes  of  the  west- 
land  forces  made  them  declare  so.  At  this  conference  they  had 
sundry  debates  about  the  late  Warning,  whereof  before.  They  sun- 
dered even  as  they  met,  the  dissenters  expressing  their  great  fears 
that  the  present  conjunction  would  tend  to  the  oppression  and  per- 
secution of  the  people  of  God,  and  to  the  advancing  of  the  malig- 
nant party.  It  was  answered  that  their  fears  and  jealousies  of 
that  which  was  to  come,  which  might  never  be,  should  not  hinder 
them  to  join  against  the  common  enemy,  who,  without  all  perad- 
venture,  would  undo  the  people  of  God,  raze  ordinances  and  all 
government,  civil  and  sacred. 

They  had  another  conference  at  St  Andrews  in  June  to  this 
same  purpose.  In  all  these  conferences,  the  man  that  especi- 
ally disputed  for  the  Public  Resolutions  was  Mr  James  Wood, 
who  was  most  active  and  instrumental  for  advancing  of  them. 
On  the  other  side,  the  most  forward  and  zealous  were  Messrs 
James  Guthrie  and  Patrick  Gillespie.  As  for  Mr  James  Guth- 
rie, he  still  preaching  against  the  Public  Resolutions  at  Stirling 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  267 

and  in  the  west,  whither  he  went  to  negotiate  among  the  dis- 
senting brethren,  and  writing  letters  far  and  near  to  strengthen 
their  party,  the  Committee  of  Estates  at  Perth  wrote  for  him 
and  his  colleague  to  come  to  them.  They  having  come,  gave 
in  their  declinature  against  the  judicatory,  as  having  nothing 
to  do  with  them  anent  their  doctrine,  alleging  they  had  assumed 
an  antecedent  judgment  before  the  Kirk  in  that  matter.  In  this 
paper  they  freely  reflected  upon  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  and 
their  proceedings.  *  The  Committee  not  willing  to  meddle  with 
them,  desired  them  to  stay  in  Perth  till  the  King  should  return 
from  the  north.  This  made  all  dissenters  to  cry  out  that  the  Com- 
mittee was  begun  to  persecute  the  dissenting  ministers,  as  they 
had  foretold  would  come  to  pass.  The  King  returning  from  the 
north,  SQme  leading  men  in  the  Commission  with  Mr  Douglas,  did 
deal  with  the  Committee  that  they  would  permit  the  ministers  of 
Stirling  to  return  home,  they  having  promised  to  the  Commission- 

*  Mr  Guthrie  and  Mr  Bennet  were  required  by  the  Committee  of  Estates  to  come 
to  Perth  on  the  19th  of  Februar}^,  and  there  remain  confined  until  his  Majesty's  return 
thither  from  the  nortli.  On  coming  to  Perth  they  dealt  with  the  Committee  there, 
that  they  might  be  allowed  to  return  to  StirUng.  The  matter  being  brought  before 
the  Committee,  it  was  put  to  the  vote  and  carried,  tliat,  confonnably  to  a  former  or- 
dinance, they  should  stay  confined  in  Perth,  and  not  go  back  to  Stirling  until  his 
Majesty's  return  from  the  north.  Against  this  Act  of  the  Committee  of  Estates,  Mr 
Guthrie  and  Mv  Bennet  gave  in  a  protestation,  in  which  they  decUne  tlieir  authority 
in  what  related  "  to  their  doctrine  and  ministerial  duties,"  on  account  of  which  they 
had  been  thus  proceeded  against,  "  conceiving,"  they  say,  "  the  judicatories  of  the 
Church  to  be  the  only  proper  judges  of  our  doctrine  and  our  carriage  in  those  things 
that  concern  our  ministerial  calling." — Balfour's  Annals,  iv.  247,  251,  252.  In  this 
protestation  they  say,  "  And  though  we  be  most  wiUing  to  render  a  reason  of  our  writ- 
ing to  the  Commission  of  the  General  Assembly  a  letter  containing  the  grounds  of 
our  stumbling  at  the  present  resolutions  of  this  Kirk  and  State,  in  order  to  a  levy, — and 
of  our  preaching  against  these  Resolutions,  as  involving  a  conjunction  with  the  malig- 
nant party  in  the  land,  which  we  hold  to  be  contrary  to  the  Word  of  God,  to  the 
League  and  Covenant,  to  our  solemn  engagements,  and  to  the  constant  tenor  of  the 
declarations,  remonstrances,  warnings,  causes  of  hiuniliation,  and  other  resolutions  of 
the  Kii-k  these  years  bypast,  and  to  be  destmctive  to  the  covenant  and  cause  of  God, 
and  scandalous  and  offensive  to  the  gofUy,  and  a  high  provoking  the  eyes  of  the 
Lt)rd's  glory,— and  of  our  protesting  against  and  appeahng  from  the  desire  and  charge 
of  the  Commission  of  the  General  Assembly  in  this  particular,  and  in  our  persisting 
in  preaching  the  same  doctrine  ;  yet  that  our  compearing  before  the  King's  Majesty 
and  your  '  Lordships'  does  not  im])ort  an  acknowledgment  in  us  that  his  Majesty  and 
your  'Lordships'  are  the  proper  judges  of  those  things"— Ibid.  iv.  252,  253. 


208  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G51. 

ers  that  they  should  be  content  not  to  preach  in  Stirling,  but  that 
the  ministers  appointed  by  the  Commission  should  preach  both  to 
the  town  and  garrison.  Whereupon  the  Committee  of  Estates  did 
jicrniit  them  to  go  home. 

The  Commission  of  the  Kirk,  because  ISIr  James  Guthrie  in  his 
declinature  did  highly  reflect  upon  the  Commission  and  their 
proceedings,  found  themselves  obliged  to  vindicate  both  them- 
selves and  the  Estates,  and  their  proceedings  in  relation  to  him 
and  his  colleague,  declaring  that  they  might  very  well  write  for 
them,  finding  that  their  doctrine  did  tend  so  sensibly  to  the  weak- 
ening of  tlie  garrison,  and  that  they  had  not  taken  an  antecedent 
judgment  unto  themselves  of  their  doctrine  ;  the  Commission  in  St 
Andrews  before  having  judged  it,  and  that  they  did  not  meddle 
with  them  or  their  doctrine  prima  instantia.  But  after  their  return 
this  second  time  their  promise  was  not  well  kept. 

The  levies  being  now  well  advanced,  and  all  seemingly  desirous 
of  the  army's  going  to  the  field  against  the  common  enemy,  there 
was  one  thing  that  seemed  to  hinder  a  cordial  conjunction  of 
hearts  and  hands  against  the  enemy,  and  to  retard  actings  against 
them,  viz.,  the  Act  of  Classes  framed  by  the  Parliament  after  the 
roviting  of  the  Engagers  at  the  capitulation  at  Stirling,  1648. 
The  more  moderate  and  wise  men  thought  that  act  unreasonable 
in  sundry  respects,  especially  because  it  debarred  so  many  from 
places  of  trust  or  power  ad  vitam,  and  that  they  that  were  to  be 
received  after  such  a  time  should  not  be  admitted  till  the  Parlia- 
ment of  England,  as  well  as  of  Scotland,  assented  tliercto  ;  Avhich 
made  some  think,  that  the  end  of  making  that  act  so  strict  was 
only  a  self-interest,  that  those  that  then  had  the  power  might  still 
keep  it,  and  seclude  those  whom  they  most  feared.  It  was  certain 
that  Cromwell  confessed,  that  though  he  first  urged  the  making  of 
thiit  aet,  yet  he  was  put  upon  it  by  our  noblemen  that  then  had 
the  power  and  government  of  the  kingdom.  This  Act  of  Classes 
being  the  great  remom  impeding  acting  against  the  enemy,  either 
in  judicatories  or  fields,  the  Committee  of  Estates  proponed  a 
second  (picry  to  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  at  Perth,  in  March, 


1G51.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  2G9 

desiring  to  know  their  judgment,  whether  or  not  that  Act  of 
Classes  might  now  be  rescinded  by  the  Parliament  without  sin.  The 
Commission  for  the  time  being  loath  to  give  a  positive  answer 
thereanent,  did  prepare  an  overture  to  the  Committee  of  Estates, 
shewing  that  they  thought  it  agreeable  to  right  reason,  that  those 
noblemen  formerly  debarred,  and  'who'  were  now  in  the  army,  ready 
to  venture  their  lives  against  the  common  enemy,  should  be  upon 
the  committee  of  the  army  for  military  affairs,  especially  for  provi- 
sion of  victuals  and  other  necessaries,  without  the  which  they  could 
not  go  the  fields  or  fight  against  the  enemy.  Whereupon  the 
Committee  of  Estates  appointed  a  Committee  for  these  effects, 
viz.,  Duke  Hamilton,  Crawford,  Rothes,  Lauderdale,  &c.  The 
noblemen  who  then  had  the  power  and  ruled  all,  viz.,  Argyle, 
Chancellor  Campbell,  Cassillis,  &c.,  were  displeased  with  this  com- 
mittee, and  though  they  were  upon  it,  yet  did  not  meet  with  the 
rest,  pretending  conscience,  that  they  could  not  join  in  a  com- 
mittee with  those  men  that  had  been  upon  such  courses.  Always 
[notwithstanding]  the  committee  went  on  very  actively  for  provi- 
sion of  victuals  and  other  necessaries  for  the  army,  &c.  But  still 
the  Committee  of  Estates  urges  an  answer  from  the  Commission 
of  the  Kirk  to  their  query,  and  for  that  effect  wrote  to  them  sit- 
ting at  Cupar,  that  they  would  be  pleased  to  meet  at  Perth  within 
a  short  time,  for  giving  them  a  positive  and  determined  answer  to 
their  query.  The  Commission  being  loath  to  meddle  in  the  busi 
ness  did  refuse  to  meet  before  their  quarterly  meeting.  The  Com- 
mittee wrote  to  them  for  a  frequent  [full]  meeting  at  their  quar- 
terly meeting. 

The  Synod  of  Fife  again  convened  at  Kirkaldy  in  ]\Iay.  The 
dissenting  brethren  being  conferred  with,  and  yet  remaining  un- 
satisfied, the  Synod  drew  up  some  overtures,  desiring  them  still 
to  be  conferred  with  ;  and  if  they  still  remained  opposers  of  the 
Public  Resolutions,  desired  the  Presbyteries  to  refer  them  to  the 
General  Assembly.  Some  other  overtures  of  this  kind  were  con- 
cluded ;  but  the  dissenters  entered  their  dissenting  voices. 

The  Commission  of  the  Kirk  met  at  Perth  in  May.     They  did 


270  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1051. 

excommunicate  all  those  that  had  joined  with  the  enemy,  viz., 
young  Swintoun,  William  Dundass,  Andrew  Abernethie,  and 
Lieutenant  Govan.  The  process  of  excommunication  was  going 
on  against  young  Dundass,  he  being  summoned  upon  more  days 
than  the  rest,  being  out  of  the  kingdom.  Letters  were  written  to 
Presbyteries  to  intimate  their  excommunication.  At  this  meeting 
the  Earl  of  Callender,  being  lately  come  from  HoUand,  having 
offered  satisfaction,  after  conference  with  him,  and  pains  taken 
upon  him,  was  thereafter  admitted  to  make  declaration  of  his  re- 
pentance for  his  accession  to  the  engagement  anno  1648. 

The  Committee  of  Estates  did  again  renew  their  desire  of  a 
positive  answer  to  their  query  anent  the  rescinding  of  the  Act  of 
Classes.  Some  of  the  Estates  men  with  the  most  moderate  and 
prudent  men  upon  the  Commission  had  long  conferences  and  de- 
bates upon  the  matter  in  private.  Also  many  consultations  were 
had  upon  the  business  in  public.  Many  wise,  prudent,  and  mode- 
rate men,  that  dislilced  that  Act  of  Classes  for  the  reasons  above 
specified,  and  wished  the  rescinding  of  it,  did,  notwithstanding, 
wish  some  other  thing  in  the  place  of  it  before  it  were  altogether 
taken  away.  But  while  those  that  wished  the  rescinding  of  the 
Act  of  Classes,  that  there  might  be  a  more  full  and  cordial  con- 
junction in  counsels  and  arms  against  the  common  enemy,  were 
doing  what  they  could  to  obtain  an  answer  from  the  Commission 
to  their  query,  and  while  the  Commission  inclined  to  give  their 
advice  for  the  rescinding  of  it,  those  in  the  Estates  that  then  had 
the  rule  and  government  of  all  affairs,  fearing  that  both  in  judica- 
tories and  the  army,  the  Act  of  Classes  being  rescinded,  the  de- 
barred noblemen  would  rule  and  govern  all,  and  so  seclude  them, 
they  began  to  look  out  how  to  strengthen  their  faction  in  the 
army.  They  made  a  motion  in  the  Committee  of  Estates  to  have 
the  Earl  of  Callender  to  be  lieutenant-general  in  the  army. 
Contra,  The  Duke  and  all  his  friends  opposed  Callender's  having 
any  trust  or  employment  in  the  army,  alleging  he  was  not  worthy 
of  trust,  because  that  In  the  time  of  Scotland's  deep  distress,  1645, 
he  refused  to  take  employment.     Contra,  It  was  replied,  that  the 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  271 

reason  thereof  was  his  tender  respect  to  the  King,  because  Mon- 
trose had  the  King's  commission  for  what  he  did.  Always  [how- 
ever,] it  was  carried  by  the  plurality  of  the  Committee  that  CaUen- 
der  should  not  be  employed  again.  The  Duke  and  his  friends  per- 
ceiving the  Campbells'  subtle  endeavours  to  have  Callender  in  the 
army,  they  at  the  same  time  motioned  in  the  Committee,  that 
John  Hamilton  (he  was  a  colonel  of  our  army  in  Ireland,  and  had 
given  very  great  satisfaction  for  his  accession  to  the  Engagement,) 
should  be  general-major  of  the  army.  But  more  moderate  and 
calm  men  perceiving  the  subtle  contrivances  of  the  two  contending 
factions,  thought  it  not  convenient  or  expedient  at  this  time  to 
employ  Colonel  John  Hamilton,  and  so  as  Callender  he  was  laid 
aside,  and  others  in  whom  the  two  factions  had  not  such  interest 
were  employed. 

In  the  beginning  of  June,  (aU  the  levies  being  up,  and  the  coun- 
try only,  not  altogether  exhausted  with  quarterings,  and  with  ex- 
orbitant exactions,  and  fearful  oppressions,  and  all  crying  that  the 
army  might  go  to  the  fields  against  the  enemy,  the  Committee  for 
military  affairs  doing  what  they  could  for  provision  of  meal  and 
other  necessaries),  the  foot  regiments  were  gathered  together  in  and 
about  Stirling,  and  shortly  thereafter  laid  down  their  leaguer  in 
the  park  of  Stirling.  The  horses,  except  a  few  regiments  to  guard 
the  foot,  were  yet  quartered  in  the  shires  nearest  StirHng,  especi- 
ally in  Fife. 

All  this  time  the  Committee  of  Estates  sitting  at  Stirling,  and 
the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  at  Perth,  there  go  several  messages 
to  and  again  betwixt  them,  treating  and  debating  about  the  re- 
scinding of  the  Act  of  Classes.  At  last  the  Commission  give  their 
advice  that  the  Parliament  might,  without  sin,  rescind  that  act, 
with  these  provisos,  granted  by  these  noblemen  formerly  debarred, 
and  who  were  now  to  be  received  to  sit  in  Parliament,  and  to  act 
In  judicatories  for  the  government  of  the  kingdom : — 1.  That  they 
should  not  repeal  any  Acts  of  Parliament  made  for  the  good  of  re- 
ligion formerly,  especially  since  1648,  nor  any  acts  made  formerly, 
especially  since  1648,  anent  the  engagement,  oranent  censuring  of 


272  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIPw  [1651. 

them  and  tliosc  that  adlicred  to  their  courses,  anno  1648,  but  that 
they  should  ratify  all  these  acts  at  their  first  sitting  in  Parliament. 

2.  That  they  should  neither  directly  nor  indirectly,  by  themselves 
nor  others,  seek  to  revenge  themselves  upon  any  that  had  hand  in 
censuring  them,  or  debarring  them  from  places  of  power  or  trust. 

3.  That  all  persons  that  were  in  places  of  trust  should  continue 
in  them,  and  that  they  should  not  remove  them,  they  behaving 
tliemselves  according  to  the  Acts  of  Parliament,  and  being 
*  accountable'  to  the  Parliament.  Last,  that  they  should  revive  a 
laudable  act,  fonnerly  made  anent  the  keeping  of  judicatories  pure 
and  free  of  corruption  and  corrupt  persons.  Assurances  being 
given  for  these  provisos,  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  gave  their 
advice  ut  supra.  Whereupon  the  noblemen  formerly  debarred, 
did  presently  sit  in  Parliament  at  Stirling,  and  in  their  first  session 
passed  an  Act  of  Parliament,  with  the  four  provisos  above  speci- 
fied, which  gave  contentment  to  all  moderate  and  honest  men  that 
were  desirous  of  a  conjunction  against  the  common  enemy.  All 
bonds  and  obligations  that  could  be  required  were  given  by  these 
debarred  noblemen  ;  but  some  of  the  dissatisfied  brethren  said  they 
would  give  nothing  for  the  assurances  given  of  these  men,  because 
they  would  never  keep  one  word  of  them.  To  this  it  was  an- 
swered, that  if  no  regard  nor  weight  were  had  unto  nor  laid  on 
oaths,  subscriptions,  &c.,  that  were  to  dissolve  all  bands  of  human 
society. 

The  Commission  of  the  Kirk  appointed  a  fast  to  be  kept  June 
19.  The  special  causes  were,  forby  [besides]  the  confession  of  sins  to 
beg  a  blessing  to  the  King  that  he  might  be  directed  of  God  in  the 
weighty  affairs,  especially  the  conduct  of  the  army,  and  for  a  bless- 
ing to  the  army,  which  was  presently  to  go  to  the  fields  against  the 
enemy.  Towards  the  end  of  June,  the  Parliament  ordained  a 
voluntary  contribution  of  monies  for  the  army,  in  towns,  the  coun- 
try, and  among  the  ofticcrs  in  the  army ;  which  was  presently  col- 
lected and  sent  to  the  army  at  Stirling  park.  About  this  time 
tlic  cavalry  did  march  through  Stirling  in  good  order,  betwixt 
fnc  and  six  thousand,  and  lay  about  Torwood.     The  Commission 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  273 

of  the  General  Assembly,  in  tlieir  last  meeting  before  the  ensuing 
General  Assembly  to  be  hold  en  at  St  Andrews  July  16,  did  write 
unto  the  Presbyteries :  first,  to  try  who  of  their  number  were  dis- 
obeyers  or  opposers  of  the  Public  Resolutions ;  secondly,  to  con- 
fer with  them,  and  if,  after  conference,  they  still  continued  so  to 
act,  to  refer  them  to  the  ensuing  General  Assembly,  together  with 
their  letter.  *     There  were  acts  to  the  same  purpose  sent. 

In  the  beginning  of  July  our  army,  foot  and  horse,  marched  to 
the  fields  and  leaouered  in  and  about  the  Torwood.  The  Kino-'s 
quarters  were  in  the  Castle  of  Harkinstyre.  All  were  hopeful  of 
good,  success,  because  all  this  while  bypast  parties  that  went  out 
against  the  enemy  had  good  success,  beating  the  enemy,  killing 
some,  and  taking  many  prisoners.  The  enemy  hearing  that  our 
army  had  drawn  to  the  fields,  marches  fi."om  Edinburgh  to  Linlith- 
gow, and  about  the  3d  of  July  marches  towards  our  army  at  Tor- 
wood.  The  King  in  the  night  draws  out  3000  horses,  and  as  many 
foot,  and  marches  with  them  to  a  hill  where  our  outmost  guards 
were  near  the  enemy,  fearing  they  might  be  surprised.  Also  he 
caused  draw  all  the  cannon  thither,  giving  orders  to  the  whole 
army  to  follow  with  expedition.  So  soon  as  the  party  of  horse  and 
foot,  with  the  cannon,  came  to  the  hill,  they  began  to  play  upon 
the  enemy,  in  among  their  tents  where  they  lay  sleeping,  Avhicli 
did  so  amaze  and  terrify  them,  that  they  presently,  so  soon  as  they 
could,  retired,  and  that  in  haste  and  disorder.  They  left  a  party 
at  Larbert  Bridge  ;  but  ours  having  beat  them  from  the  bridge, 
the  enemy's  whole  army  retired  or  rather  fled  ;  only  CroniAvell  with 

*  The  object  of  summoning  the  opposers  of  the  Public  EesohUions  to  the  Assembly, 
as  they  alleged,  was  to  prevent  them  from  being  chosen  members.  And  this  was  one 
special  ground  on  which  Rutherford  and  others  objected  to  the  lawfulness  of  that  As- 
sembly. This  act,  and  the  letter  of  the  Commission,  had  such  an  influence  upon  Pres- 
byteries, that  many  of  the  anti-rcsolutioners  who  were  ordinarily  chosen  Commission- 
ers, from  their  Avell-known  ability,  were  not  chosen  by  Presbyteries  for  that  Assembly, 
and  if  any  such  were  chosen  Commissioners,  it  was  when  the  whole  Presbytery  were 
unanimous  against  the  Public  Resolutions  ;  and  if  the  Presbytery  M'ere  divided  in  judg- 
ment, there  was  generally  either  two  elections,  or  else  dissents  from  and  protestations 
against  the  election  of  such  as  were  unsatisfied  with  the  Public  Resolutions,  or  else  both, 
as  in  the  election  of  Glasgow  and  Stirling. —  Wodrow  MSS.,  vol.  xxxii.  4to,  no.  13., 
pp.  8,  9. 

S 


«>74  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1651. 

a  hundred  officers  abode  upon  the  rear.  Some  of  the  officei-s  of 
our  army  were  for  following  of  them,  thinking  to  put  tliem  to  the 
rout ;  but  the  plurality  thought  that  the  ground  was  so  strait,  and 
tlic  passes  so  naiTOW,  that  it  would  be  to  no  purpose.  Always 
[howbeit]  the  enemy  presently  retired  to  Linlithgow. 

July  16,  the  General  Assembly  convened  at  St  Andrews.* 
!Mr  Andrew  Cant  and  Mr  Robert  Douglas  preached  at  the  opening 
up  of  the  Assembly.  There  was  some  clashing  betwixt  them.f 
Mr  Cant,  though  at  first  he  said  he  would  not  speak  of  the  Public 
Resolutions,  they  being  to  be  examined  by  the  Assembly,  yet  he 
did  condemn  them,  and  especially  the  writing  of  the  letters  to  the 
Presbyteries,  and  sending  the  acts  to  them,  whereof  supra. 

After  the  commissions  were  given  in,  Mr  John  Mcnzies  stood  up 
and  desired  that  the  members  of  the  Commission  of  the  former 
Assembly,  being  under  such  a  scandal  for  carrying  on  a  course  of 
defection  contrary  to  the  covenant,  &c.,  might  not  be  permitted  to 
sit  as  members  of  this  Assembly.!    It  was  replied,  that  it  was  never 

*  The  King's  commissioner  at  this  Assembly  was  Lord  Balcan'as. 

t  Mr  Alexander  Gordon,  minister  of  Inveruiy,  in  a  short  accoimt  of  the  proceedings 
of  this  Assembly  of  which  he  was  a  member,  also  adverts  to  this  unseemly  "  clashing" 
between  Mr  Cant  and  Mr  Douglas  :  "  Preached  in  the  foi'enoon  Mr  Andrew  Cant ;  his 
text  IIcl)rews  xii.  12,  &c.,  and  spoke  generally  against  the  public  pi'oceedings.  And 
in  the  afternoon  Mr  llobert  Douglas ;  his  text  Ps.  cii.  6,  and  in  the  close  of  his  sermon 
contradicted  the  former  sermon." — Records  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  p.  G26. 

X  The  above  motion  made  by  Mr  Menzies  after  all  the  Commissions  were  given 
in,  and  when  the  Assembly  was  about  to  be  constituted  and  a  moderator  elected, 
appears  to  have  excited  mucli  warmth  of  feeling  on  both  sides.  "  JMr  Douglas  did  rise," 
says  Gordon  in  bis  account  of  this  Assembly,  "  and  replied,  that  they  hoped  their  car- 
riage should  api)ear  to  be  right,  and  no  ways  scandalous.  Immediately  there  arose  a 
great  number  on  both  sides  with  a  gi'eat  heat  and  fury.  Mr  jVIenzies  insisting  on  his 
former  motion,  Mr  James  Guthrie,  backing  him,  said.  That  these  persons  behoved  to 
be  scandalous  who  had  led  the  Kii"k  and  kingdom  to  a  course  of  defection,  and  told 
he  had  no  better  terms  to  express  their  proceedings  by.  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie,  Mr  John 
Hamilton,  and  some  others  did  back  this  motion.  To  this  motion  replied  Mr  Blair, 
saying,  lie  saw  the  seasonable  admonitions  given  in  the  preceding  sennons  to  meek- 
ness, ]icace  and  unity  made  no  use  of  by  those  who  pi'opoimded  the  foiTBer  motion, 
but  that  Mr  Menzies'  and  Mr  Guthrie's  speeches  were  fierce  and  bitter.  They  replied 
tliut  their  motion  was  for  the  exoneration  of  their  consciences.  Likewise  Mr  James 
Wood,  Mr  David  Dickson,  Mr  Baillie,  Mr  Eamsay,  the  King's  Commissioner,  with 
.v>mc  others,  rciilied  to  Messrs  Menzies'  and  Guthrie's  motion,  saying  that  nothing  could 
be  said  in  that  or  any  other  business,  until  there  should  be  a  constitute  Assembly  to 
lie  jud;,'c.     The  contrary  party  said  that  the  report  of  scandal  was  enough  to  debar 


1651.]  LIBE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  275 

before  challenged  nor  debated,  but  the  Commissioners  might  be 
upon  the  Assembly  ;  and  as  for  their  proceedings,  they  were  to  be 
tried  by  the  Assembly,  they  being  removed.  Also  it  was  replied, 
that  there  was  greater  reason  to  demand  that  those  that  were  lying 
under  that  scandal  of  opposing,  writing  and  preaching  against  the 
Resolutions  of  the  Kirk,  should  not  be  members  of  the  Assembly, 
and  yet  it  was  not  demanded.  Mr  Blair's  opinion  being  asked,  he 
thought  that  both  the  just  now  mentioned  demands  did  run  to  dan- 
gerous extremes ;  but  as  for  Mr  John  Menzies'  desire,  he  said  it 
was  a  very  bold  and  fiery  motion ;  yea,  said  he,  petit  jugulum  jjacis, 
after  that  there  was  so  much  spoken  of  peace  and  unity  by  the  two 
ministers  that  preached.  Mr  Samuel  Rutherford  desired  to  give 
in  a  paper  to  be  read.*  It  was  replied  they  could  hear  no  papers 
until  a  moderator  was  chosen.  Mr  Andrew  Cant,  moderator  of 
the  former  Assembly,  desired  that  a  conference  might  be  appointed 
with  dissatisfied  brethren.  Reply :  No  such  appointment  could  be 
made  until  the  judicatory  were  constituted,  and  that  it  could  not 
be  adjourned  till  the  morrow.  At  last  after  such  debates  Mr 
Douglas  was  chosen  moderator.  There  were  some  controverted 
commissions  from  Glasgow  and  Stirling  Presbyteries  especially. 
For  trial  of  these  a  committee  was  appointed.  Upon  the  morrow 
a  conference  with  dissatisfied  brethren  was  urged  by  Messrs  Blair, 
Dickson,  &c.  f     Others  '  who'  thought  it  was  not  rightly  timed, 

any  to  sit  in  a  kirk  judicatory,  while  [until]  once  they  were  freed  jndicially  of  a  scandal. 
Mr  Douglas  replied  that  they  could  not  be  debarred  till  judicially  they  wei-e  found 
scandalous,  which  could  not  be  till  the  Assembly  were  once  constitute  and  flid  examine 
their  proceedings,  and  said  upon  that  gTound  the  other  party  should  not  be  admitted. 
in  regard  they  M-ere  more  hurtful  to  the  work  and  scandalous  by  their  opposing  the 
safety  of  religion.  King  and  kingdom,  than  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  had  been." — 
Records  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  p.  626. 

*  The  object  of  this  paper,  it  would  appear,  was  to  oppose  the  holding  of  the  Assem- 
bly. "  After  this  Mr  Samuel  Rutherford  offered  a  paper  to  this  purpose  against  the 
constitution  of  the  Assembly;  but  with  much  difficulty  and  long  debate  it  was  laid 
aside ;  for  the  drift  of  the  motion  and  paper  by  confession  was  to  hinder  a  General  As- 
sembly, to  hold  which  was  thought  very  dangerous." — Gordon's  Account. 

t  Row  here  omits  to  state  an  important  fact.  At  the  commencement  of  this  sede- 
runt "  the  Loi-d  Commissioner  presented  a  letter  from  the  King  excusing  his  absence, 
entreating  them  to  study  unity,  to  censure  those  who  were  contraiy  to  the  Public  Re- 
solutions, and  t.r>  that  purpose  the  Lord  Commissioner  had  a  speech."     It  was  after 

s2 


•J7(j  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BT.ATR.  [1651. 

desired  first  the  proceedings  of  the  Commission  to  be  tried.  At 
last,  after  debate  a  conference  was  granted,  though  not  judicially, 
onlv  it  was  permitted  to  be.  They  conferred  long  that  afternoon, 
about  the  Remonstrance,  &o.,  but  to  no  purpose,  the  dissatisfied 
brethren  still  adhering  to  the  Eemonstrance,  and  justifying  their 
opposition  to  the  Public  Resolutions,  &c. 

While  they  are  at  this  conference,  July  17,  news  comes  to  St. 
Andrews  that  a  party  of  the  enemy's  horse  and  foot  had  landed  at 
Invcrkeithing.  Being  at  first  resisted  a  little  by  a  few  that  kept  a 
fort  there ;  none  coming  to  assist  them  they  were  beat  from  the 
fort,  and  so  the  enemy  landed.  They  presently,  after  the  plunder- 
ing of  Invcrkeithing,  entrenched  themselves  upon  the  craigs  above 
the  Qucensferry,  drawing  a  trench  from  St  ISIargaret's  Hope  to 
the  sea  be-west  Invcrkeithing.  The  King  at  the  report  hereof 
was  highly  ofi^ended ;  because,  when  the  army  went  to  the  fields, 
he  offered  to  leave  two  regiments  to  defend  the  coast ;  but  Fife 
being  so  exhausted  with  winter  quarterlngs  refused  them,  promis- 
ing to  defend  the  coast  themselves ;  and  while  they  were  contriv- 
ing the  way  how  to  do  it,  the  enemy  landed  as  supra.  Always  [how- 
ever] the  King  sent  a  party  to  repel  that  party  of  the  enemy,  viz. 
Sir  John  Brown  with  his  regiment,  Balearras  (w^ho  was  the  King's 
Commissioner  at  the  General  Assembly)  wath  his  regiment,  Bre- 
chin's and  Scot's  regiments  of  horse,  also  four  or  five  regiments  of 
foot,  with  General  Major  Hepburn  (whom  a  little  before  the  King 
had  put  from  being  governor  of  the  castle  and  town  of  Stirling,  he 
being  suspected),  to  command  the  foot.  The  enemy  having  en- 
trenched themselves,  did  bring  over  a  strong  party,  triple  the  num- 
ber of  ours.  July  20,  being  the  Sabbath,  our  party  drew  out  upon 
the  braes  betwixt  Pitrevic  and  Balbougie,*  the  enemy  advancing 

tills  that  Messrs  Blair  and  Dickson  moved  for  a  conference  ;  donhtlcss  considerino-  that 
to  he  a  more  likely  way  of  promoting  the  "nnity"  wlileh  the  (Commissioner's  letter  re- 
commended, than  "to  censnre"'  those  wlio  opposed  the  Pnhlic Resolutions. —  Gordon'.'; 
Arcoiint. 

ritrcvie  is  an  anicent  castle,  and  Ealbongie  an  old  manor  honse,  now  a  farm 
house,  in  the  vicinity  of  Invcrkeithing.  The  people  talk  still  of  a  hloodv  hattle  that 
had  hccn  fonpht  in  that  neicrhhonrhood. 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  KOBEUT  BLAIR.  277 

towards  them.  At  first  ours  beat  in  some  of  tlieir  foreparties.  At 
last  they  joining,  om's  being  oppressed  with  multitude,  and  our 
horses  fleeing,  the  foot  were  many  of  them  killed  and  taken  prisoners. 
Colonel  Scot  and  other  gentlemen  were  killed.  Sir  John  Brown 
was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  and  thereafter  died  of  his  wounds. 

The  report  of  this  disaster  coming  to  St  Andrews  upon  the 
Sabbath  at  night,  presently  the  General  Assembly  convened,*  and 
adjourned  their  meeting  to  Dimdee,  (which  was  at  this  time 
thought  pretty  sti'ongly  fortified),  upon  Tuesday  next,  at  two 
afternoon.  Immediately  Mr  Samuel  Rutherford,  principal  of  the 
New  College,  gave  in,  in  name  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  and  of  all 
that  would  adhere  to  it,  a  Protestation  against  the  Assembly,  and 
a  Declinature  from  it.  There  were  sundry  reflections  in  it  upon 
the  Commission  of  the  Kirk,  as  unfaithful  men,  minding  their  own 
things  more  than  the  things  of  Christ.  They  did  protest  that  that 
meeting  was  not  a  General  Assembly ;  that  Avhat  they  did  should 
not  be  binding  to  the  Kirk  of  Scotland  ;  and  that  notwithstanding 
of  any  censures  to  be  put  upon  them,  it  might  be  free  to  them  to 
exercise  their  ministry,  &c.  Twenty-one  of  the  dissatisfied  brethren 
subscribed  this  Protestation,  but  there  were  many  of  them  that 
did  not  allow  of  it  nor  subscribe  it.  f 

The  Assembly  convening  at  Dundee  t  appointed  five  of  the 

*  The  Assembly  conrened  at  12  o'clock  at  night. —  Gordon's  Account. 

t  Gordon  says  the  Protestation  had  twenty-two  names  appended  to  it.  But  Row 
may  mean  that  twenty-one  besides  Rutlierfurd  subsci'ibed  it.  Riithcrfurd  "  desired  it 
might  be  read ;  but  it  was  del.iyed  to  be  read,  and  all  that  subscribed  the  remon- 
strance, with  some  others,  went  away." — Gordon's  Account,  Records  of  the  Kirk  of  Scot- 
land, p.  628.  The  Protestation  declared  this  Assembly  to  be  unlawfid  on  these 
grounds:  "  1st,  Becanse  it  was  a  prelimited  Assembly,  in  regard  the  free  votes  for 
choosing  commissioners  were  hindered  by  tlic  Commission  of  the  Kirk's  letter  to  the 
several  Presbyteries,  desiring  them  to  cite  all  imsatisfied  men  to  the  Assemblj^,  if,  after 
conference,  they  wei'e  not  satisfied.  2dly,  Because  of  the  King's  letter,  overawing  the 
Assembly.  3dly,  Because  of  the  Commissioner's  speech,  tending  to  the  prelimiting 
of  the  members  of  the  Assembly.  And,  4thly,  Because  that  the  membei's  of  the  pre- 
ceding Commission  of  the  Assembly  were  members  of  this,  which  should  not  be,  in 
regard  the  Commission  had  led  to  a  course  of  defection." — (Ibid.)  Few  things  are 
more  painful  in  this  history  than  to  perceive  the  Church  divided  in  her  councils,  and 
occupied  in  wrangling  debates,  at  the  very  time  when  the  enemy  was  at  the  gates. 

J  This  meeting  was  very  thinly  attended.  Those  who  protested  against  the  lawful- 
ness of  the  Assembly  at  the  last  sederunt  at  St  Andrews,  were  absent,  and  also  many 


278  LITE  OF  KOBEllT  BLAlli.  [1651. 

Icucliii"-  niou  uf  that  party  to  be  summoned  to  the  Assembly,  viz., 
Messrs  James  Guthrie,  Patrick  Gillespie,  James  Simson,*  John 
Menzics,  and  James  Nasmith,  because  he,  being  absent,  wrote  a 
j)eremptory  letter,  declaring  his  adhering  to  the  Protestation,  f  Of 
these  five,  three,  viz.,  ^lessrs  Guthrie,  Gillespie,  and  Simson  were 
deposed.  Mr  James  Nasmith  was  suspended.  Mr  John  Menzies 
was  referred  to  the  Commission,  because  he  wrote  an  excuse  of 
his  not  compearance  to  some  of  the  Assembly,  and  there  were  some 
hopes  of  gaining  of  him.  The  Assembly  emitted  a  large  Warn- 
in"-,  wherein  was  much  against  the  courses  of  the  Protesters.  Also 
they  made  sundry  acts  against  their  courses  or  any  that  did  adhere 
to  them.  The  Lord  Warriston  sent  to  the  Assembly  a  Protesta- 
tion, which  was  not  read.  |     All  this  time,  he  being  sent  to  the 

other  members,  ahoait  the  one-half.  The  first  thing  they  did  at  their  first  sederunt 
was  to  take  up  the  consideration  of  the  Protestation.  After  tlie  calling  of  the  roll, 
the  Moderator  informed  the  Assembly,  that,  after  the  adjourning  of  the  Assembly  last 
session,  at  St  Andrews,  a  Protestation  was  given  in,  and  as  it  could  not  then  be  read  he 
asked  if  there  were  any  present  to  give  in  that  paper.  It  was  ansM'ered  that  none  of 
the  subscribers  were  present.  But  a  member,  Mr  Oliver  Coult,  said  he  had  found  the 
pa))er,  and  ■\\-ould  give  it  in,  although  he  did  not  adhere  to  it.  The  Pi'otestation  was 
then  read ;  and,  after  it  was  read,  all  the  names  of  the  subscribers  were  called  at  the 
kirk  door,  but  none  compeared.  The  King's  Commissioner  gave  his  opinion  of  the 
Protestation,  and  observed  that  it  "  was  very  derogatory  to  the  freedom,  liberty,  and 
honour  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  if  it  were  requisite  that  the  King's  authority 
should  be  interposed  against  these  men,  for  the  vindication  of  the  Assembly's  honour, 
to  which  he  and  all  were  tied  by  covenant,  he  promised  that  should  not  be  wanting." 
The  Jloderator,  checking  the  Commissioner,  told  him  they  should  deal  with  tlieni 
ecclesiastically,  according  to  the  freedom  of  the  Assembly.  "  This,"  says  Gordon, 
"  was  by  way  of  a  nip  to  the  Commissioner."—  (Gordon's  Account,  in  Records  of  the 
hirk  of  Scotland,  G28.)  The  result  was  the  summoning  of  the  five  leading  protesters 
before  the  Assembly,  as  here  narrated. 

♦  Mr  James  Simson  was  minister  of  Airth.  Wodrow  describes  him  as  "  a  person 
of  singular  piety,  considerable  learning,  and  a  most  affectionate,  melting  preacher." 
After  the  restoration  he  was  banished  by  the  Parliament,  without  being  heard,  and 
died  in  Holland. —  Wodrow's  History,  i.  197. 
^  t  "  Session  8,  July  23.  A  letter  came  ti-om  Mr  James  Nasmith,  Mr  Thomas 
Charters,  commissioners  for  Hamilton  Presbytery,  showing  that  in  respect  of  the  mo- 
tion of  the  enemy,  they  coidd  not  be  present,  and  that  they  did  adhere  to  the  Protes- 
tation, and  desired  that  to  be  taken  as  their  subscription,  and  kept  in  record."— Gor- 
dim's  Account. 

X  WaiTiston,  who  was  clerk  of  the  General  Assembly,  not  being  able  to  attend  that 
meeting  wrote  a  letter  addressed  to  the  Assembly,  in  which  he  stated  freely  and  at 
length  his  sentiments  a.s  to  the  Pubhc  Resolutions,  aj-i^ealing,  in  opposition  to  them, 
to  bcnptnre  and  former  acts  of  Assembly.     The  letter  was  delivered  publiclv  to  the 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  279 

enemy  for  the  Registers,  is  greatly  suspectedj  because  he  expected 
more  favour  from  the  enemy  than  our  army. 

July  29,  the  garrison  of  Burntisland  being  summoned,  rendered. 
Thereafter  Cromwell,  with  the  strength  of  his  army,  marched  to- 
wards Perth,  and  lay  down  before  it,  August  1.  The  King  had 
sent  the  Lord  DufFus,  with  his  party,  to  guard  the  town.  But 
though  the  town  was  pretty  strong,  both  by  water  and  ditches, 
yet  the  tOAvn's  people,  and  strangers  in  it,  (Cromwell  having  sum- 
moned them  to  render,  otherwise  he  would  have  it  and  put  it  all 
to  the  edge  of  the  sword),  did  entreat  DufFus  to  render  the  town. 
Whereupon  Perth  was  rendered  to  Cromwell  upon  good  conditions, 
as  Burntisland  was  some  days  before.  Meanwhile  our  army  abides 
at  Stirling.  Once  they  marched  towards  the  enemy,  and  came 
near  Dunfermline  ;  but  the  weather  being  exceeding  rainy,  all 
their  powder  and  match,  either  by  neglect  or  treachery,  was  spoiled, 
so  that  they  were  necessitated  to  return  to  Stirling.  After  some 
short  abode  at  Stirling,  (being  in  many  debates  and  at  many  con- 
sultations how  and  what  to  do,  yea  the  King  regretting  the  care- 
less neglect  of  all  and  the  treachery  of  some),  at  last  they  resolved 
to  march  into  England,  expecting  to  find  friends  there.  So,  July 
31,  they  marched  from  Stirling  the  way  to  Carlisle.  The  King- 
left  behind  him  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  Balcarras,  with  old  General 
Leslie,  and  some  others,  to  raise  the  North,  and  other  forces,  for 
the  defence  of  the  kingdom. 

Cromwell  hearing  of  the  march  of  om*  army,  having  settled  the 
garrison  at  Perth,  presently,  with  all  expedition,  followed  our 

moderator,  in  the  face  of  the  Assembly,  and  urged  to  be  read  by  the  person  who  pre- 
sented it.  The  moderator  broke  it  up  and  promised  to  cause  it  to  be  read ;  and  many 
members  did  thereafter,  upon  several  occasions,  and  at  several  diets,  press  the  reading 
of  it ;  but  this  could  never  be  obtained.  It  also  contained  a  protestation  against  a 
paper  given  in  by  the  Commission  to  the  Parliament,  approving  what  was  done  by 
the  King  and  the  Committee  of  Estates  against  the  ministers  of  Stirling.  •— TlWrojw 
3ISS.  xxxii.  4to,  nos.  13  &  5.  But  this  Assembly  did  not  sit  long.  "  A  little  after, 
the  enemy  marching  towards  St  Johnston  [Perth],  by  which  way  to  have  access  to 
Dundee,  where  the  Assembly  was  convened ;  tlie  Assembly  arose  and  dispersed  them- 
selves the  best  way  they  could,  for  escaping  the  enemy,  and  their  own  safety ;  yet 
some  of  them,  notwithstanding,  did  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands,  as  Mr  Robert  Douglas, 
moderator,  and  some  others." — Gordons  Account. 


2S0  Lli^'fi  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIil.  [1651. 

army,  leaving  Monk  behind  hiin  with  a  considerable  party.  The 
sea-towns  upon  the  south  coast  of  Fife  were  infested  by  their  sea- 
men coming  ashore,  and  parties  from  Burntisland,  especially  An- 
struthcr  Easter  and  Wester  suffered  most  sadly.  They,  with  the 
assistance  of  some  of  their  neighbours,  having  killed  some  of  the 
enemy,  were  worsted,  some  killed ;  200  prisoners  were  taken. 

After  our  army's  march  from  Stirling,  presently  Monk  marched 
to  it  and  possessed  himself  of  it.  The  King  caused  slight  the 
works  thereof,  resolving  only  to  keep  the  castle.  Thereafter  Monk 
caused  bring  their  great  cannon  and  mortar  pieces,  and  planted 
batteries  against  the  castle,  and  from  the  steeple  did  shoot  his 
grenadoes,  which  did  much  annoy  the  castle.  There  were  in  it  only 
300  soldiers  and  three  cannoniers,  whereof  twenty  were  killed. 
They,  conceiving  that  they  were  not  able  to  keep  it  out,  did  capi- 
tulate, and  rendered  the  castle  to  Monk,  having  gotten  good  con- 
ditions. Thereafter  !Monk  marched  towards  Dundee.  Meanwhile 
the  Earl  of  Crawford,  Lieutenant-general,  with  the  rest  left  for 
raising  of  the  forces ;  and  some  others  of  the  Committee  of  Estates 
were  doing  what  they  could  in  Angus  and  the  North  to  gather 
together  some  considerable  forces,  but  they  were  so  miserably 
divided,  every  one  of  them  condemning  another,  that  nothing 
could  be  done  to  purpose  for  the  public  good. 

!Monk  having  come  the  length  of  Dundee,  and  having  laid  siege 
to  it,  wrote  to  St  Andrews,  desiring  them  to  come  under  his  pro- 
tection. Some  great  ships  a  little  before  this  did  summon  them 
to  render  their  ships,  cannon,  &c.,  to  witness  their  obedience  to 
the  Conunonwealth  of  England.  Also  Overton,  governor  of  Perth, 
summoned  the  town  of  St  Andrews  and  the  whole  Presbytery  for 
their  cess.  After  several  summonses  of  this  nature,  and  delaying 
answers  given  by  them,  they  received  Monk's  letters  now  men- 
tioned. 

Tlie  town  of  Dundee  being  reasonably  well  fortified,  and  having 
gotten  in  some  soldiers,  resolved  to  stand  and  hold  out.  General 
Leslie  and  the  Committee  of  Estates  wrote  to  them,  desiring  them 
to  do  so,  promising  within  a  short  time  to  come  and  raise  the 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  281 

siege.  Willie  the  Committee  of  Estates,  and  some  ministers  meet- 
ing with  them  for  the  public  good,  were  busy  to  get  some  forces 
together  for  the  relief  of  Dundee,  thej  w^ere  woefully  surprised  by 
a  party  sent  from  Perth  upon  the  20th  of  August.  Having  sitten 
late  at  a  committee  in  the  town  of  Elliot,  [Alyth]  they  resolved  to 
lie  there  that  night,  having  out  some  horse  guards  towards  Dundee, 
whence  they  apprehended  danger.  But  the  party  from  Perth  came 
in  upon  the  town  of  Elliot  in  the  morning,  and  did  take  noblemen, 
viz..  General  Leslie,  Crawford,  Lieutenant-General,  Marischall, 
Ogilvie,  Bargeny — many  gentlemen,  Plumby  and  his  son  Lees,  Col- 
llngton,  Pourle,  &c., — ministers,  Messrs  Robert  Douglas,  James 
Hamilton,  John  Smith,  Mungo  Law,  James  Sharp,  &c.  All  these 
were  presently  conveyed  to  their  ships  lying  before  Broughty. 
When  the  sad  report  of  the  apprehending  of  all  these  came 
to  Mr  Blair's  ears  (who  through  infirmity  was  dlsinabled  to  go 
abroad),  he  much  lamented  that  sad  cast  of  Providence,  especially 
the  taking  of  the  ministers,  and  fearing  lest  they  should  be  In- 
stantly carried  away  before  they  could  be  provided  for  a  voyage 
or  a  prison,  he  sent  luito  Mr  Douglas,  with  whom  he  was  most 
intimate,  all  the  gold  he  had  by  him,  to  witness  his  sympathy  with 
him,  and  all  the  rest. 

The  forces  that  were  gathered  for  the  relief  of  Dundee,  hearing 
that  these  noblemen  and  others  were  apprehended  and  shipped, 
presently  scattered.  Balcarras  with  his  broken  regiment  went  to 
the  hills.     So  did  sundry  others,  noble  and  gentlemen. 

After  the  taking  of  the  noblemen  and  others  at  Elliot,  Monk 
did  offer  reasonable  conditions  to  the  town  of  Dundee  for  their 
rendering.  But  they  being  ignorant  of  the  taking  of  the  noble- 
men and  scattering  of  the  forces,  did  refuse  all  conditions,  ex- 
pecting assistance.  So  the  town  being  stormed,  September  1, 
it  was  taken  ;  and  because  they  stood  out,  refusing  good  conditions, 
the  enemy  at  their  first  entry  exercised  great  cruelty  upon  the 
soldiers  and  townsmen,  not  sparing  women  and  children.*     Near 

♦  "  Lieutenant  Monk  gi-anted  liberty  to  the  soldiers  to  plunder  the  torni  twenty- 
four  hours'  space.    They  were  not  idle,  but  reft,  spoiled,  and  plundered  the  whole 


2H2 


LIFE  OF  liOBERT  BLAIR.  [1651. 


a  thousand  were  killed.  The  governor,  Robert  Lunsdale,  having 
taken  himself  to  the  steeple  and  rendering  upon  quarters,  Monk 
caused  kill  him.  The  Lord  Newton  was  also  there  killed,  with 
Captain  Ferguson  and  many  more  persons  of  good  quality.  The 
l)lundcr  of  the  town  was  very  rich.  INIany  rich  merchants  of  Edin- 
burgh, and  other  towns,  had  their  wares  and  monies  in  great 
abundance  there,  and  many  rich  people  in  Angus  and  Fife,  and 
other  parts,  had  their  monies  and  household  stuff  there.  All  this 
became  a  prey  to  the  enemy. 

The  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews  wrote  a  letter  to  Monk  for  the 
relief  of  the  ministers  that  were  taken  at  Elliot,  and  sent  it  by  one 
of  their  number,  IMr  Alexander  Wedderburn  ;  but  upon  no  terms 
would  Monk  set  them  at  liberty.  So  about  the  5th  of  September 
all  the  prisoners  were  carried  away  by  sea  to  London,  with  the  two 
ministers  of  Dundee. 

After  Dundee  was  taken,  several  parties  came  from  Burntisland 
to  Dundee.  One  party  of  their  horses  marched  to  Aberdeen  to 
hinder  any  gathering  of  forces  in  the  north.  They  disarmed  the 
town  of  Aberdeen,  and  imposed  a  sum  of  money  upon  it,  as  they 
thereafter  did  to  St  Andrews.  In  Aberdeen  they  had  a  conference 
with  the  ministers,  discharging  them  to  preach  or  pray  against 
them,  which  the  ministers  refused,  and  so  they  sundered  in  no 
good  terms. 

At  this  time  Scotland  was  at  a  very  low  ebb,  none  either  shut 
up  or  left  to  resist  the  enemy,  except  a  few  with  Balcarras  and  Sir 
Arthur  Forbes,  who  retired  to  the  far  north.  The  only  outward 
thing  that  did  support  the  people  of  God  was  their  hopes  of  the 

town,  none  escaping  their  hands." — Nicoirs  Diarij,  p.  58.  "  JNIonk  commanded  all,  of 
whatsoever  sex,  to  be  put  to  the  edge  of  the  sword.  The  townsmen  did  no  dtity  in 
their  own  defence,  but  were  most  of  them  all  drunken,  like  so  many  beasts.  There 
were  800  inhabitants  and  soldiers  killed,  and  about  200  women  and  children." — Bal- 
four's Annals,  iv.  3L").  Nicoll  estimates  the  number  killed  at  1000  or  1100,  beside  400 
or  .'500  jtrisoncrs,  "  of  which  number  were  there  two  ministers  of  the  town  of  Dundee." 
The  whole  affair  was  a  piece  of  gratuitous  and  cold-blooded  atrocity,  for  which  no 
l.len  of  necessity  or  policy  could  be  set  up  ;  and  it  is  sufficient  to  brand  the  memory 
of  Monk  with  dlsgi-ace,  though  he  had  been  guilty  of  no  other  act  of  mean-spirited 
revenge. 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  283 

success  and  prosperity  of  the  army  in  England.  They  marched 
by  Carlisle.  Lambert,  with  the  strength  of  their  horses  and  some 
foot,  for  a  time  marched  near  by  them.  There  was  some  skirmish- 
ing, but  to  little  purpose.  Cromwell,  in  the  meantime,  was  coming 
up  with  the  foot,  leaving  his  sick  soldiers  in  garrison  towns,  taking- 
out  the  garrison  and  raising  the  train  bands.  Also,  great  prepa- 
rations were  made  at  London  to  oppose  our  army,  Fleetwood 
gathering  together  the  forces  in  and  about  London,  to  join  with 
Cromwell  and  Lambert.  Meanwhile,  very  few  in  England  did 
join  with  our  army  ;  and  those  that  did  for  most  part  were  naked, 
unarmed  men.  The  King's  letter  to  the  city  of  London  being 
brought  by  the  town-council  men  to  the  Parliament,  was,  by  the 
Parliament's  order,  burnt  by  the  hand  of  the  hangman.  The  man 
in  all  England  that  favoured  the  King  most,  and  from  whom  most 
was  expected,  was  the  Duke  of  Derby.  He,  with  some  other  noble- 
men and  officers,  did  gather  together  some  forces ;  but  Colonel 
Lilburn  did  woefully  rout  them  about  the  end  of  August.  Many 
were  killed,  many  taken.  Derby  narrowly  escaped,  and  came  to 
the  King,  with  some  few  with  him. 

About  the  end  of  August,  our  army  got  the  city  of  Worcester 
rendered  to  them.  Cromwell  and  Lambert  joining  their  forces, 
marched  towards  Worcester,  where  our  army  abode  to  refresh  them- 
selves after  their  long  and  hasty  march.  They  intended  to  have 
kept  a  pass  upon  the  river  of  Severn,  whereon  Worcester  is  built ; 
but  they  were  beat  from  it  by  the  enemy.  In  the  beginning  of 
September,  the  enemy  having  gotten  a  strong  recruit  with  Fleet- 
wood, did  lie  down  before  Worcester,  our  army  being  within  it. 
Upon  the  3d  of  September,  our  army  marching  out  of  the  city, 
joined  with  the  enemy  in  battle.  The  enemy  being  double,  if  not 
triple  their  number,  it  was  a  very  fierce  and  sore  battle,  and  long 
fought  in  duhio,  until  at  last  our  foot  being  overpowered  with  mul- 
titude, and  our  horses  retiring  into  the  city,  our  whole  army  was 
beat  into  the  city,  the  enemy  entering  at  their  heels.  The  foot 
did  fight  within  the  city  with  great  courage,  from  street  to  street, 
and   lane  to   lane.     Especially,    the  Highlanders,    expecting   no 


281  LIFE  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIR.  [1G51. 

qimrterj!,   fought   desperately,   refusing  quarters,  and   giving  no 
quarters. 

"V\nien  our  army  was  beat  into  the  city,  the  King,  with  about 
2,000  liorses,  escaped  out  of  the  town  of  Worcester  ;  but  troopers' 
horses  wearying,  few  could  hold  up  with  him  in  his  flight.  Our  army 
being  thus  woefully  routed,  the  enemy  pursuing,  and  the  country 
people  (mobile  vulgus,  aye  joining  with  the  victors)  rising  in  great 
abundance,  all  our  nobles  and  officers  for  the  most  part  at  the  very 
first  were  taken,  viz.  Duke  William  Hamilton,  (who,  being  deadly 
wounded,  died  within  few  days),  Rothes,  Lauderdale,  David  Les- 
lie, Middleton,  Fir  Robert  Montgomery,  Dalziel.  Few  or  none 
of  note  escaped,  except  the  King  and  the  Duke  of  Buckingham  ; 
and  for  a  month  after  the  defeat,  there  was  little  certainty  either 
among  friends  or  foes,  where  they  were.  Matters  being  thus  or- 
dered by  the  only  wise  and  good  Lord,  Scotland  was  at  a  very 
low-ground  ebb,  our  power  gone,  none  shut  up  nor  left.  Nothing 
was  expected  from  that  handful  with  Balcarras.  Humby  was 
looked  upon  by  honest  men  as  an  enemy,  yea,  a  greater  plun- 
derer than  the  English.  At  this  time  some  began  to  hanker  after 
the  enemy's  ways  and  courses  ;  some  of  the  enemy  having  spoken 
and  written  anent  the  change  of  the  civil  government,  showing 
how  happy  the  land  might  be  by  the  change  of  government.  But 
it  was  observed  that  those  of  the  malignant  temper  did  chime  and 
most  comply  with  the  enemy. 


SUPPLEMEI^T. 


PART  II. 

CHAPTER  XI.— 1651-1661. 

About  the  latter  end  of  September,  those  that  had  protested  against 
the  late  General  Assembly,  with  others  that  had  been  dissatisfied 
with  the  Public  Resolutions,  did  meet  at  Glasgow.     They  did 
emit  nothing.     What  was  done  was  kept  quiet.     They  transferred 
their  meeting  to  Edinburgh,  where  they  met  about  the  beginning 
of  October.     Also,  in  the  end  of  September,  some  of  the  Commis- 
sion of  the  Assembly  at  Dundee  convened  first  in  the  old  town  of 
Aberdeen,  and  chose  Mr  James  Wood  (who  all  this  bypast  time 
was  in  the  north)  moderator,  and  ]Mr  John  ISl'Ghie  clerk,  in  place 
of  Mr  Andrew  Ker,  who  was  taken  with  the  ministers  at  Elliot. 
Thus,  our  divisions  in  the  Kirk  still  increasing,  (we  contending  in 
the  fire),  was  our  saddest  calamity,  the  very  wormwood  and  gall 
wrung  into  our  cup,   (Lam.  iii.  19).     The  Presbyteries  of  Fife 
having  adjourned  their  Synod  because  of  the  troubles,  hearing  of 
the  meeting  of  those  at  Glasgow,  and  thereafter  at  Edinburgh, 
resolved  to  meet  at  St  Andrews,  October  14,  to  consult  what  could 
be  done  to  heal  our  woeful  divisions,  which,  by  this  time,  were 
come  to  that  height  that  some  Presbyteries  were  divided,  meeting 
in  several  places  as  adverse  parties  and  contending  factions.     But, 
when  the  14th  of  October  came,  such  threats  were  sent  from  Monk 


2ti(J  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1651. 

unto  St  Andrews,  where  the  Synod  resolved  to  meet,  that  Mr 
IJlair,  with  the  advice  of  his  colleagues,  ministers  of  St  Andrews, 
thouglit  it  not  safe  that  the  Synod  should  meet  there  at  that  time ; 
so  advertisements  were  sent  to  brethren  for  not  convening.  But 
those  that  are  commonly  called  Protesters,  convening  at  Edinburgh, 
did  write  letters  to  sundry  parts  of  the  kingdom,  for  brethren  of 
their  opinion  to  resort  to  them,  to  hold  an  extra-judicial  meeting, 
(as  they  called  it),  for  a  conference  to  find  out  the  sins  of  that 
time.  At  their  first  meeting  they  spent  sundry  dayes  in  fasting, 
praying,  and  confessing  their  sins  one  unto  another,  especially 
those  which  were  more  public,  or  the  sins  of  their  calling ;  yea 
some  more  zealous  than  prudent,  did  confess  very  private  sins  ; 
which,  being  challenged  as  contrary  to  Scripture,  charity  and  pru- 
dence, was  forborne.  After  they  had  spent  some  days  in  this  laud- 
able exercise,  then  they  fell  to  debating,  stating  and  voicing  of 
some  questions.  The  first  was.  Whether  it  was  lawful  to  close  a 
treaty  with  the  King  at  Breda,  to  put  him  in  the  exercise  of  his 
authority,  it  being  known  that  he  had  given  commissions  to  ISIon- 
trose  and  others,  &c.  ?  They  concluded  negatively.  Some  in  their 
confessions  granted  that  they  had  meddled  with  matters  too  high 
for  them,  and  yet  the  first  thing  they  fell  on  was  one  of  the  highest 
that  ever  they  meddled  with.  The  secjond  question  '  was,'  Whether 
the  course  cai-rlcd  on  by  the  Committee  of  Estates  and  Commission 
of  the  Kirk,  did  not  Involve  the  bringing  in  of  the  malignant  party 
contrary  to  the  Word  of  God,  our  covenants,  &c.  ?  It  was  con- 
cluded affirmatively.  The  third  was  anent  association.  The  fourth. 
Whether  or  not  there  Avas  sufficient  cause  to  protest  against  the 
Assembly  at  St  Andrews  ?  It  was  concluded  affirmatively.  The 
last  question  was.  Whether  or  not,  matters  thus  standing,  it  were 
not  expedient  that  those  of  the  old  Commission,  that  were  free  of 
the  courses  carried  on,  should  sit  down  in  the  Commission,  and 
take  on  them  the  authority  thereof,  ruling  the  affairs  of  the  Kirk 
of  Scotland  ?  It  was  also  concluded  affirmative  ;  and  so  those  of 
the  old  commission  that  were  present,  took  on  them  the  name  and 
authority  of  the  said  Commission.     At  that  time  thev  onlv  emitted 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  287 

some  causes  of  a  fast,  among  the  which,  the  home-bringing  of  the 
King  was  made  the  mother  sin  of  the  land.  They  appointed  their 
next  meeting  [on  the]  2d  Wednesday  of  November.  Their  taking 
upon  them  the  name  and  authority  of  the  Commission,  did  most 
grieve  all  moderate  brethren  who  were  wishing  always  of  peace  to 
be  followed  for  healing  of  our  woeful  divisions.  They  looked  on 
that  act  as  that  which  would  not  only  further  divide  the  Kirk,  but 
altogether  ruin  the  established  government. 

The  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews  having  heard  what  they  had  done, 
did  emit  a  short  declaration,  declaring,  1st,  That  the  Assembly  be- 
gun at  St  Andrews,  and  continued  at  Dundee,  was  a  laAvfully  consti- 
tute Assembly ;  2d,  That  no  ecclesiastic  meeting,  of  whatsoever 
name  or  nature  in  this  land,  can  assume  any  authority  over  the  said 
Assembly  or  these  commissioners,  but  another  free,  lawfully  conven- 
ed General  Assembly;  3d,  That  till,  by  the  mercy  of  God,  a  General 
Assembly  be  granted,  whosoever  shall  take  on  them  authority  over 
the  said  Assembly,  or  take  upon  them  to  send  to  Presbyteries  let- 
ters, remonstrances,  causes  of  fasts,  &c.,  or  shall  presume  to  cen- 
sure any  person ;  that  aU  these  things  shall  be  holden  as  deeds  of 
private  men,  acting  without  a  calling  or  authority,  and  no  ways 
binding  to  Presbyteries,  as  having  no  lawful  authority  from  God 
or  man  ;  4th,  That  they  will  never  concur  with  such  usurped  au- 
thority, though  they  do  heartily  approve  of  the  conferences  of  gra- 
cious brethren,  who  follow  peace,  and  desire  that  way  the  repairing 
of  our  woeful  breaches.  This  declaration  was  sent  by  correspon- 
dence to  the  other  three  Presbyteries  of  Fife,  who  did  close  with 
it.  Also  it  was  sent  to  other  parts  of  the  kingdom,  and  in  Presby- 
teries accepted  of,  who  homologated,  and  declared  accordingly. 
Some  Synods,  who  convened  about  that  time,  did  materially  de- 
clare the  same  things,  especially  the  Synod  of  Lothian  at  Edin- 
burgh in  the  beginning  of  November.  They  did  also  appoint 
some  of  their  number  to  declare  to  the  Commission  that  was  to 
meet  the  second  Tuesday  of  November,  in  the  Synod's  name  their 
dislike  of  the  said  Commission,  and  their  taking  their  authority 
upon  them,  and  to  entreat  them,  as  they  loved  the  established 


288  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1651. 

government  and  the  peace  of  tlie  Kirk,  that  they  would  not  act 
any  further  iu  that  capacity.  But  in  the  Synod  of  Glasgow  things 
were  otherwise  carried ;  for  there  the  Protestation  against  the 
Assembly*  was  approven  by  the  plurality  and  the  Assembly  voted 
null.  But  it  was  observed  that  in  that  Synod  there  were  more 
ministers  dissenters  than  assenters  to  these  votes  ;  only  the  ruling 
elders  who  were  frequently  convened  for  the  purpose  did  cast  the 
balance. 

^^lille  the  Kirk  is  thus  woefully  divided,  the  several  shires  of 
the  kingdom  were  in  a  great  propension  towards  a  sinful  compli- 
ance with  the  enemy,  forgetting  the  oath  of  God  and  covenants 
sworn.  None  were  more  ready  to  comply  than  those  of  the  malig- 
nant temper,  and  none  more  averse  from  it  than  the  ministers.  In 
the  beo-innlno;  of  November  all  those  noble  and  gentlemen  that  had 
fled  to  the  north  did  capitulate  with  the  enemy  and  return  to  their 
houses,  viz.,  Argyle,  Callendar,  Weniyss,  Hume,  &c.  So  Huntly 
about  this  time  did  capitulate  with  Monk  (who  this  time  bypast  lay 
sick  at  Dundee) ;  also  the  Earl  of  Athol's  tenants  and  vassals 
craved  the  benefit  of  his  protection ;  so  that  the  English  did  en- 
large their  quarters  northwards  even  to  Inverness,  which  they  for- 
tified strongly. 

The  prisoners  taken  at  Elliot  are  kept  close  prisoners  In  the 
tower  at  London ;  only  the  old  general  Leslie,  after  some  short 
space,  (during  which  time  he  had  the  liberty  of  the  tower),  the 
Parliament  gave  him  liberty  to  go  to  Seaton  Dalivcll's,  his  son-in- 
law's  house.  About  the  middle  of  October  certain  word  came 
that  the  King  M\as  landed  In  Holland  with  the  Duke  of  Bucking- 
ham.    From  Holland  he  went  to  France  in  the  end  of  October. 

All  things  going  fairly  before  the  wind  with  the  English,  both 
in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  made  many  Inconstant  and  unstable  spirits 
hanker  after  their  ways  and  sinfully  comply  with  them ;  and  there 
might  have  been  seen  a  universal  and  general  propension  In  the 
body  of  the  land  to  dispense  with  the  oath  of  God,  being  very 
wdling,  so  V)c  It  they  might  enjoy  their  lands  and  revenues,  to  quit 
*  The  Assembly  of  St  Andrews  and  Dundee. 


1651.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  289 

not  only  monarchical  but  Presbyterian  government.     They  were 
especially  those  of  the  malignant  temper ;  yet  there  were  some  few 
who  formerly  were  accounted  pious  and  gracious  men,  that  were 
of  this  mind,  their  judgments  being  now  corrupted  by  sectarian 
principles,  viz.,  that  the  swearing  of  a  covenant  in  the  days  of  the 
gospel  is  not  a  gospel  duty ;  that  it  is  the  legal,  not  the  gospel  way  ; 
and  that  we  had  rashly  bound  ourselves  by  the  oath  of  God  to  de- 
fend, all  the  days  of  our  life,  Presbyterian  and  monarchical  go- 
vernment.    With  these  and  the  like  sectarian  principles,  some 
men's  minds  began  to  be  corrupted.     Those  of  that  temper  were 
very  forward  to  comply  with  the  enemy,  desiring  uniformity  in 
government,  civil  and  ecclesiastic,  betwixt  the  two  nations,  and 
many  other  things  prejudicial  to  the  Covenant  and  cause  of  God.  In 
November  there  came  abroad  a  paper  drawn  up  by  them,  contain- 
ing fifteen  overtures  to  be  presented  to  the  Parliament  of  England 
for  settling  affairs  in  Scotland.    The  sum  of  all  was,  1 .  Uniformity 
in  government  and  restraint  of  coercive  power  over  the  consciences 
of  the  godly ;  2.  That  none  should  have  power  but  those  of  inte- 
grity who  were  for  the  English  interest ;  3.  That  the  yoke  that 
great  ones  had  wreathed  upon  the  necks  of  God's  people  should  be 
shaken  off;   4.  That  all  disaffected  persons,  whether  ministers  or 
others,  should  be  severely  taken  order  with  ;  5.  That  Independent 
congregations  should  be  gathered,  and  those  sent  out  who  could 
divide  the  word  aright,  whatever  they  were,  &g.    In  the  beginning 
of  December  Balcarras  did  capitulate  with  the  enemy  for  himself 
and  the  gentlemen  that  were  with  him.     The  articles  were  put  in 
print.     Shortly  after  the  Castle  of  Dumbarton  and  the  Bass  were 
rendered  unto  them. 

In  the  end  of  December,  they  that  took  upon  them  the  power  of 
the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  had  a  frequent  meeting  of  many  minis- 
ters and  professors,  the  occasion  whereof  was  this :  Those  who 
had  drawn  up  the  overtures,  whereof  before,  were  now  fast  driving 
on  their  design ;  and  some  of  them  being  formerly  judged  to  be 
pious  and  godly  men,  these  ministers  and  other  elders,  regretted 
to  see  them  run  so  fust  to  a  sinful  compliance  with  the  enemy  ; 

T 


290  LIFE  OF  liOBERT  BLAIK.  [1651. 

therefore,  to  retard,  and,  if  they  could,  crush  their  design,  there 
couAcned  a  great  number  of  ministers  and  professors  in  an  extra- 
judicial meeting,  to  see  what  could  be  done  to  gain  these  men,  or, 
at  least,  to  give  a  testimony  against  the  enemy  and  their  ways.  At 
their  first  meeting,  some  of  the  foresaid  persons  did  meet  with  the 
ministers  and  others  convened,  to  try  if  they  could  gain  any  of 
them  to  their  courses  and  vrays.  The  first  thing  agitated  among 
them  was,  whether  they  should  meet  and  sit  severally,  ministers 
apart,  and  professors  apart,  or  jointly.  Those  that  were  bent  for 
.1  sinful  compliance  urged  that  they  should  sit  severally ;  but  the 
plurality  voted  that  they  should  sit  as  formerly.  The  second, 
whether  a  minister  or  a  professor  should  moderate.  Those  of  the 
sectarian  temper  urged  that  a  professor  should,  moderate,  alleging 
that  ministers  had  too  long  kept  that  power  in  their  hands,  &c. 
But  it  was  concluded  that  a  minister  should  moderate.  3.  Whether 
or  not  professors  might  not  in  their  meetings  exercise  their  gift  in 
speaking  upon  scripture  and  praying.  It  was  concluded  that  they 
might  pray,  but  not  exhort  or  preach,  though  those  of  the  sectarian 
temper  urged  that  they  might  have  liberty  also  to  exercise  their 
gift  otherwise  tlian  by  praying.  But  it  being  denied,  three  gentle- 
men did  pray ;  but  things  being  carried  contrary  to  their  mind, 
some  of  them,  (for  they  were  not  all  alike  bent  for  a  sinful  com- 
pliance, and  following  of  the  sectaries'  courses,  and  favouring  of 
their  errors),  did  absent  themselves  after  the  first  session.  The 
main  business  that  was  agitated  at  that  meeting  was  anent  a  letter 
to  be  Avritten  to  Cromwell,  remonstrating  the  iniquity  of  their  in- 
vasion, and  the  wrongs  they  had  done  to  the  truth  and  ordinances 
of  God  ;  as  also  the  dangers  that  they  feared  should  ensue  unto 
religion  and  the  truth  of  God.  But  anent  this  waiting  there  w\as 
a  great  diversity  of  judgments.  Many  of  them,  both  ministers  and 
professors,  did  desire  that  it  might  be  a  testimony  to  the  world 
against  them  and  their  courses,  and  that  no  letter  should  be  writ- 
ten to  them.  But  the  plurality  was  for  a  letter,  and  some  of  them 
would  have  had  the  letter  speaking  very  home.  Others  thought 
that  llicy  should  not  irritate  them  and  do  no  ffood.     Their  divi- 


1652.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  21)1 

sions  and  diversities  of  judgments  grew  to  that  height,  that  they 
were  hke  to  have  sundered  without  doing  any  thing.  But  at  last 
a  letter  was  drawn  '  up,'  and  after  some  smoothings  of  it,  it  was 
approven  and  ordained  to  be  sent  to  Cromwell,  now  at  London. 
Also  a  copy  of  it  was  ordained  to  be  given  to  Lambert,  (who,  in 
November,  with  Deans  came  from  London  to  order  the  affairs  of 
the  army,  until  the  rest  of  the  Commissioners  came)  ;  but  he  having 
read  the  letter,  refused  to  give  a  pass  to  the  young  man  that  was 
appointed  to  carry  it  to  Cromwell.  Those  that  presented  the  let- 
ter to  Lambert  did  express  some  of  their  fears  of  the  dangers  to 
ensue  unto  religion  and  government,  by  gathering  Independent 
congregations,  &c.  Lambert  answered,  ''  Soon  may  your  fears  fall 
upon  you." 

Shortly  after  the  dissolving  of  this  meeting  those  of  the  sec- 
tarian temper  perceiving  that  the  meeting  was  of  purpose  called  to 
hinder  their  design,  did  the  more  eagerly  drive  it  on.  Therefore 
in  the  end  of  January  next  year  they  gave  in  to  the  English  a 
Declaration  with  some  Overtures.  The  main  things  they  drove  at 
were  the  abolishing  of  Presbyterian  and  monarchical  government, 
the  settling  of  toleration,  the  levelling  of  noblemen,  and  the  em- 
bodying of  Scotland  into  one  commonwealth  with  England.  The 
English  having  received  this  paper  did  print  it,  returning  this 
answer.  That  whereas  they  found  it  contain  essential  things  in 
reference  to  the  settling  of  the  affairs  of  Scotland  they  would  return 
a  full  answer  to  it  at  their  own  convenience. 

This  printed  paper  coming  abroad,  occasioned  the  four  Presby- 
teries of  Fife  to  meet  by  some  correspondents  at  St  Andrews,  for 
thir  two  ends  especially :  1.  To  give  a  testimony  against  so  sinful 
compliance  with  the  enemies  of  God  and  his  truth ;  2.  To  endea- 
vour a  union  among  themselves  in  those  things  wherein  they  all 
agreed,  laying  by  the  woeful  unhappy  debates  and  controversies 
tossed  too  much  already.  At  that  meeting  Mr  Blair  witnessed 
his  abhorrence  and  detestation  of  the  gross  sinful  things  in  that 
paper :  "  As  for  the  embodying  of  Scotland  with  England,"  said 
he,  "  it  will  be  as  when  the  poor  bird  is  embodied  into  the  hawk 

t2 


292  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1652. 

that  hath  eaten  it  up."  He  sjioke  much  for  uniting  and  healing 
ways  and  courses  to  be  followed  by  brethren,  shunning  dangerous 
extremes  and  rocks  that  did  further  divide  and  break.  In  the 
close  desiring  that  other  Synods  might  likewise  meet  for  the  same 
ends,  they  appointed  a  meeting  at  Edinburgh  about  the  12th  of 
February,  Avhen  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  was  to  meet  at  Edin- 
burgh, and  the  23d  of  February,  when  there  was  a  great  meeting 
of  the  Commissioners  from  the  shires  to  be  with  the  English  Com- 
missioners at  Dalkeith,  whereof  three  were  already  in  Scotland, 
viz.,  Lambert,  Monk  and  Deans.  The  rest  came  from  London  in 
January,  viz..  Lord  St  Johns,  Henry  Vane  junior.  Alderman 
Tishburn,  &c.  Upon  the  6th  of  February  there  was  a  proclama- 
tion by  them,  at  the  cross  of  Edinburgh,  to  this  purpose  :  That 
whereas  the  settling  of  the  affaii's  of  Scotland  required  settled 
judicatories  and  judges,  which,  at  the  present,  they  could  not  do, 
only,  in  the  meantime,  they  minded  to  govern  the  kingdom  ac- 
coi'ding  to  the  laws  and  constitutions  of  England,  and  as  they 
should  be  directed  by  the  Parliament  there,  and  did  inhibit  any 
person  or  persons,  or  any  judicatories  in  Scotland,  to  act  any  thing 
by  virtue  of  any  commission  or  power  from  or  under  Charles 
Stuart,  who  pretends  to  be  King,  &c. 

The  23d  of  February  was  appointed  to  be  a  great  meeting  of 
all  the  Commissioners  from  the  several  shires  with  the  English 
Commissioners  at  Dalkeith.     They  called  it  a  Parliament. 

To  the  meeting  of  ministers  at  Edinburgh  (whereof  before)  were 
sent  from  Fife  Messrs  James  Wood  and  David  Forret,*  who  met  with 
sundry  others  at  Edinburgh,  who,  meeting  with  others  of  another 
persuasion,  viz.,  IMcssrs  James  Guthrie,  Patrick  Gillespie,  LordWar- 
riston,  &c.,t  did  endeavour,  for  a  joint  testimony  against  the  enemy, 

*  Mr  David  Forret  or  FoiTCSt  Avas  niinistcr  of  Kilconqiihar. 

t  These  three,  and  other  Protesters,  as  Mr  John  Livingstone,  Sir  John  Chiesly,  Brodie, 
&c.,  were  at  Edinlnirgli,  "  at  a  serious  meeting  among  themselves  ;"  and  the  meeting  of 
the  ResoUitioncrs  having,  after  prayer  and  deliberation,  "  resolved  on  the  necessity  of  a 
warning  or  testimony,  defections  being  so  rife  and  dangers  so  evident,"  to  make  it  more 
eftectuiil,  they  thought  fit  to  invite  their  dissenting  brethren  to  join  with  them  in  that 
duty.  "  If  wc  joined  in  tliis,"  says  Baillic,  "  it  was  a  step  to  further  [union]  ;  if  tliis 
was  refused,  we  had  little  hope  to  join  in  liaste  in  any  thing  else."    But  the  two 


1G52.J  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  .  293 

the  course  of  defection  and  apostacy  which  was  carried  ou  by  many 
that  were  bent  for  incorporating  the  two  kingdoms.  But  in  end 
no  joining  could  be  obtained  for  a  testimony  of  that  nature,  though 
great  offers  were  made  for  a  union,  viz.,  that  the  acts  of  the  late 
Assembly  at  Dundee  should  be  waived  and  not  urged,  &c.  It 
was  replied,  that  no  union  could  be  with  them  till  first  they  ac- 
knowleged  their  defection  by  the  public  resolutions ;  also,  that 
they  thought  they  had  already  given  a  testimony  in  their  letter 
to  Cromwell.  But  it  was  answered,  that  was  only  a  testimony  to 
Cromwell,  no  testimony  to  the  world,  and  no  testimony  against 
base  and  sinful  compliance.  It  was  replied,  that  they  were  few  in 
number,  and  the  matter  required  all  concerned  to  be  present.  In 
end  those  from  Fife  desired  a  copy  of  some  observations  that  those 
ministers  of  a  contrary  judgment  had  made  upon  the  declaration 
of  the  Parliament  and  Commissioners  of  England ;  but  neither 
could  that  be  obtained.  At  this  time  it  was  suspected  and  feared 
that  some  gentlemen  and  some  few  ministers,  most  zealous  against 
the  public  resolutions,  (the  leading  men  were  Warriston,  Brodie,  ]\Ir 
Patrick  Gillespie,  &c.,)  were  underhand  dealing  with  the  enemy, 
that  they  would  be  pleased  to  erect  Scotland  into  an  independent 
commonwealth  by  itself,  and  that  this  made  them  refuse  to  concur 
in  a  joint  testimony  against  the  enemy,  or  against  compliance  with 
them.  This  was  looked  upon  by  those  that  desired  concurring  in 
a  joint  testimony  as  a  fearful  breach  of  covenant,  especially  of  the 
third  article  of  it ;  for  it  w^as  thought  by  them  all  one  thing,  in  re- 
spect of  the  Covenant  or  conscience,  whether  Scotland  was  incor- 
porated or  erected  in  an  independent  commonwealth.  Only  it  did 
procure  greater  civil  and  ecclesiastic  liberties  to  Scotland.  But, 
in  the  meantime,  the  ancient  government  by  kings,  and  the  liber- 
ties of  the  Parliament,  are  rased  from  the  foundation  ;  and  their 
suspicion  was  augmented,  because,  in  their  letter  to  Cromwell, 
they  did  not  speak  one  word  against  the  abolishing  of  monarchical 
government  and  the  liberties  of  Parliament.     All  this  made  those 

parties  could  come  to  no  agreement  to  meet  together  for  that  puiioosc. — BailUe's  Letters 
and  Journals,  iii.  173. 


204  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIK.  [1G52. 

that  endeavoured  a  joint  testimony  suspect  that  they  that  refused 
it  were  for  the  change  of  the  civil  government,  which  they  judged 
a  breach  of  covenant  and  gross  perjury,  at  least  actively  to  consent 
unto  it. 

At  that  meeting  in  the  latter  end  of  February  of  the  Commis- 
sioners from  all  the  shires,  Avith  the  English  Commissioners,  the 
main  and  chief  business  agitated  among  them  was  an  engagement 
tendered  to  the  commissioners  of  shires  by  the  English,  the  sum 
whereof  was,  that  the  two  nations  of  England  and  Scotland  should 
be  incorporate  in  one  commonwealth,  without  King  or  lords,  and 
that  they  should  live  peaceably,  attempting  nothing  against  the 
commonwealth  of  England.  This  was  commonly  called  the  Tender. 
All  the  Commissioners  almost  did  accept  of  this  Tender,  the  most 
malignant  in  the  shires  for  most  part  being  elected  Commissioners. 
Some  more  honest  men  did  refuse  it,  and  gave  in  their  refusals  in 
writ,  viz.,  the  Commissioners  from  the  shires  and  burghs  in  the 
west,  and  Galloway,  &c.  Business  thus  ruling  according  to  the 
desire  both  of  the  English  and  the  malignant  party  at  home,  (who, 
according  to  their  old  principle,  ever  did  comply  with  any  prevail- 
ing party  for  self-interest),  two  of  the  English  Commissioners,  viz., 
Lambert  and  Monk,  were  recalled  to  London,  and  shortly  there- 
after other  two,  viz,  Fenwick,  and  Sir  Henry  Vane,  were  recalled, 
so  that  there  abode  only  Deans,  St  Johns,  Tisliburn,  and  Halloway, 
with  some  sequestrators ;  for  they  sequestrated  some  noblemen's 
and  gentlemen's  estates. 

March  16,  there  was  a  meeting  of  some  corresjDondents  from  all 
the  four  Presbyteries  of  Fife.  The  first  thing  concluded  was,  that 
the  Synod  should  meet  at  the  ordinary  time  and  place,  viz.,  at  St 
Andrews,  the  first  Tuesday  of  April ;  the  second,  that  until  the 
Synod,  (at  the  which  something  might  be  done  at  length  and 
more  accurately),  some  short  paper  should  be  wisely  contrived  and 
spread  abroad  for  the  information  of  gentlemen  and  others,  of  the 
PHifulncss  of  accepting  of  the  Tender,  and  proving  it  to  be  against 
the  Covenant,  yea  all  the  articles  of  it ;  as  also  to  answer  the  chief 
arguments  brought  for  the  incorporation  of  the  two  nations,  and 


1G52.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  295 

accepting  tlic  Tender.  The  Synod  of  Fife  convened  at  St  AndrcAvs 
upon  the  first  Tuesday  of  April,  where,  for  preventing  of  further 
and  greater  differences  anent  matters  formerly  controverted,  It 
was  concluded  that  letters  should  be  sent  to  the  most  part  of  the 
Synods  in  the  kingdom,  entreating  that  they  would  be  pleased  to 
send  some  of  their  number  to  meet  at  Edinbui'gh  upon  the  12th 
of  May,  for  composing  of  differences  amongst  ministers ;  and  in  the 
meantime  the  Synod  did  forbear  determining  of  any  thing  which 
might  occasion  dissenting  brethren  to  protest.  The  Synod  did 
choose  eight  ministers,  (whereof  ]Mr  Blair  was  one,  who  first 
motioned  this  overture,  being  always  for  all  healing  and  uniting 
ways  salva  veritate  et  conscientia),  and  four  elders  to  attend  this 
meeting  at  Edinburgh,  May  the  12th,  and  adjourned  the  Synod 
to  the  20th  of  May. 

In  the  beginning  of  May,  there  was  a  proclamation  to  this  effect, 
That  the  several  shires  and  burghs  that  had  accepted  the  Tender 
should  choose  new  Commissioners  to  meet  at  Edinburgh,  August 
20,  who  out  of  that  number  were  to  choose  seven  to  represent  all 
the  burghs,  and  fourteen  to  represent  the  shires ;  which  twenty- 
one,  or  any  eleven  of  them,  being  commissionate,  Avere  to  repair  to 
the  Parliament  of  England  upon  the  1st  of  October,  with  flill 
power  to  do  all  things  for  perfecting  the  union  betwixt  England 
and  Scotland. 

May  12,  several  ministers  commissionate  from  several  Synods, 
according  to  the  overture  of  the  Synod  of  Fife,  did  convene  at 
Edinburgh,  for  composing  of  differences.  After  conference  and 
many  debates,  those  that  the  year  preceding  had  approven  the 
public  resolutions  made  this  overture,  that  a  General  Assembly, 
according  as  It  was  appointed  by  the  preceding  Assembly,  might 
be  convened,  judging  that  in  all  appearance  by  the  Lord's  bless- 
ing, a  General  Assembly  might  prove  a  notable  means  for  compos- 
ing of  public  differences,  and  healing  of  the  sad  divisions.  But 
those  that  had  opposed  the  public  resolutions  did  not  applaud  to  the 
motion ;  as  also  refusing  to  have  a  General  Assembly  called  by 
the  authority  of  the  preceding  Assembly,  against  the  which  they 


29(5  LIFE  OF  ROBEllT  BLAIll.  [1G52. 

liiul  protested.  In  end  there  bciug  no  good  agreement,  those  that 
stood  for  the  hast  Assembly,  and  were  appointed  to  be  upon  the 
Commission  thereof,  did  meet  and  directed  letters  to  the  several 
Presbyteries  for  electing  of  Commissioners  to  convene  at  the  time 
appointed,  viz.,  the  3d  Wednesday  of  July,  at  Edinburgh,  in  a 
General  Assembly,  according  to  the  appointment  of  the  preceding 
Assembly,  and  the  custom  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland.  The  other 
bretlireu  of  a  contrary  judgment  did  also  convene  in  an  extra- 
judicial meeting. 

Upon  the  third  Wednesday  of  July,  the  General  Assembly  con- 
vened. ]\Ir  David  Dickson,  in  place  of  Mr  Douglas,  now  prisoner 
in  the  tower  at  London,  preached  at  the  opening  up  of  the 
Assembly.  After  their  convening,  the  Lord  Warriston  with  some 
ministers  did  come  in  to  the  Assembly  house,  desiring  a  paper  to 
be  read  before  the  Assembly  was  constituted.  ISlx  Dickson 
answered,  that  no  paper  could  be  read  before  the  constitution  of 
the  Assembly.  It  was  replied,  that  the  paper  was  anent  the  con- 
stitution, and  it  would  be  in  vain  to  read  it  after  the  Assembly 
was  constituted.  Whereupon  their  desire  was  granted.  The 
paper  did  represent  some  things.  Their  main  desire  was,  that  the 
Assembly  might  be  adjourned  and  a  conference  appointed  for  re- 
moving of  differences,  and  some  propositions  or  grounds  were  set 
down,  whereupon  they  should  confer.  The  Assembly  finding  that 
they  could  not  adjourn,  but  were  necessitated  first  to  constitute 
the  judicatory,  thereafter  they  promised  to  appoint  a  conference, 
and  to  do  what  in  them  lay  for  union  and  peace.  This  being  re- 
ported to  those  that  gave  in  the  paper,  Warriston  said,  "  We  ex- 
pected no  other  answer."  Thereafter  he  read  a  protestation  against 
the  Assembly,  wherein  were  many  sharp  teeth,  and  reflections 
upon  those  of  another  persuasion.  Notwithstanding  the  Assembly 
appointed  a  committee  to  confer  of  overtures  for  union  and  peace ; 
but  nothing  could  be  concluded.  Some,  who  were  most  moderate, 
would  have  had  the  censures  put  upon  these  brethren  by  the  pre- 
ceding Assembly  altogether  taken  off,  without  any  conditions. 
Others?  were  content  that  the  censures  should  be  taken  off,  provid- 


1G52.]  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  297 

ing  that  they  would  disown  and  take  up  their  protestations  against 
this  and  the  preceding  Assembly.     Upon  the  other  hand,  the 
protesters  being  so  high  that  nothing  could  please  them,  except 
all  that  had  accession  to  Public  Resolutions,  would  declare  their 
repentance  therefor,  and  acknowledge  a  defection ; — they  standing 
at  so  great  a  distance,  the  more  moderate,  that  strove  to  mediate 
betwixt  them,  judging  that  they  came  both  upon  extremes,  could 
effectuate  nothing  for  union  or  healing  of  our  woeful  divisions. 
Mr  Blair,  perceiving  the  rigid  Public  Resolutioners  and  Protesters 
so  stiff  that  there  was  no  appearance  of  doing  any  thing  for  union 
betwixt  them,  did,  with  grief  of  heart,  looking  on  our  growing  dif- 
ferences as  a  sad  prognostic  of  our  ruin  and  desolation,  leave  the 
Assembly  and  return  to  St  Andrews,  judging  that  he  could  do 
more  good  among  his  flock  and  in  his  family  than  in  the  Assembly. 
One  thing  much  grieved  Mr  Blair  and  some  other  moderate  men. 
The    protesters  in  the   time  of  this  Assembly   caused   print  two 
papers ;  one  they  called  a  Representation,  &c.,  the  other  was  their 
Protestation.    These  papers  (which  Mr  Blair  used  to  call  our  naked- 
ness-discovering papers)  did  much  heighten  the  divisions ;    they 
were  as  oil  cast  into  the  flame.     This  Assembly  did  suspend  four 
ministers,  two  in  New  Aberdeen,  one  in  Old  Aberdeen,  and  one,  IVir 
Thomas  Charteris,   that  had  declared  themselves  for  separation. 
There  were  some  in  Aberdeen  led  away  with  this  error.     They 
strove  to  erect  separate  gathered  and  independent  congregations,  but 
could  not  effectuate  it.     The  Assembly  did  appoint  some  ministers 
to  confer  and  deal  with  these  in  Aberdeen  for  reclaiming  of  them.* 
All  this  summer  there  was  a  hot  civil  war  betwixt  the  king  of 
France  and  the  princes  of  the  Royal  blood,  so  that  matters  there 
were  in  great  confusions.     Also  there  was  a  great  war  betwixt  the 

*  Spalding  says,  tliat  in  the  Provincial  Assembly  at  Aberdeen,  so  early  as  1G42, 
there  was  "  gi-eat  business  about  Brownism,  lately  crept  into  Aberdeen,  and  other 
parts."  The  ministers  suspended  as  above,  seem  to  have  been  John  Row,  John 
Menzies,  William  Moor,  and  Thomas  Charteris.  "  Some  Christians  in  Aberdeen," 
says  Jaffray,  "  men  and  women,  ha^ing  for  a  long  time  been  convinced  of  these  things, 
found  themselves  obliged  to  endeavour  to  have  the  ordinances  administered  in  a  more 
l)ure  way  than  there  was  any  hope  ever  to  attain  to  have  them  in  the  national  Avay." — 
Jaffray  and  the  Friends  in  Scotland,  p.  48. 


2tJ8  I^IFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1652. 

English  ami  the  Hollanders,  and  many  sea  fights  and  many  ships 
taken  and  burnt.  In  July,  General  Major  Deans  and  Overton 
marched  to  the  Highlands  with  4,000  horse  and  foot  to  subdue 
the  Highlands  and  make  them  pay  cess.  They  got  no  resistance, 
until  they  came  to  Locliaber  where  Mackeldine  lay  at  a  pass  with 
400  men  with  bows  and  long  snap  works.  The  English  hearing 
that  Glengarry  had  promised  within  some  few  days  to  come  to  that 
pass  with  all  that  he  could  raise  for  JNIackeldine's  assistance,  did 
with  all  expedition  march  to  the  pass.  The  Highlanders  emptying 
their  dorlachs  *  among  them  and  giving  fire  with  their  long  snap- 
works  t  made  them  retire,  and  being  pursued  they  were  routed  and 
many  of  them  killed,  but  more  wounded,  especially  with  arrows. 
In  this  meantime  Overton  was  in  Argyle's  bounds,  who  having  de- 
sired the  gentlemen  there  to  take  the  Tender,  they  refusing  said, 
they  minded  to  live  peaceably,  but  they  would  not  so  engage ; 
whereof  Overton  was  content,  but  Deans  coming  into  the  country 
(being,  as  seems  enraged),  dealt  more  brisldy  with  the  gentlemen, 
upbraiding  them,  saying,  "  And  do  you  that  are  Highlandmen 
stand  upon  conscience,  will  you  not  take  the  Tender,  will  you  not 
swallow  these  piUs  ?  we  wiU  make  you  do  it,"  &c.  Whereupon  the 
gentlemen  presently  convened  all  that  they  could  and  surprised 
all  the  English  garrisons,  and  had  not  Deans  and  Overton  subtilely 
escaped  they  also  had  been  taken.  It  was  thought  that  Argyle 
was  very  instrumental  for  their  escape,  being  too  bent  to  comply 
with  the  English ;  as  the  Earl  of  Athole  and  his  friends  had  hind- 
ered the  Atholcrs  to  join  with  those  of  Lochaber.     About  the  be- 

*  Biiillic  mentions  the  dorlachs  of  the  Highlanders  at  Dunse-law :  "  Those  of  the  Eng- 
lish tliat  came  to  visit  our  camp,  did  gaze  mth  much  admiration  upon  the  supple  fel- 
lows with  their  ])Uiids,  targes,  and  dorlachs."— .(Letiers,  i.  1 75.)    In  the  Glossary  of  that 
work,  it  is  explained  "  dagger  or  short  sword."    But  the  dorlach  was  more  probably 
the  quiver  which  lield  tlicir  weapons.     Jamieson  calls  it  "  a  bundle,  apparently  like 
that  kind  of  truss,  formerly  worn  l)y  our  Highland  troops,  instead  of  a  knapsack." 
t  Snap-works  sccm  to  have  been  firelocks,  or  pieces  that  struck  fire  without  a  match. 
"  But  those  who  were  their  chief  commanders, 
Were  right  well  mounted  of  their  gear ; 
With  durk  and  snap-work,  and  snuff'-mill, 
A  bag  which  they  with  onions  fill." 

— Ckland's  Poems, 


1G52.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  299 

ginning  of  September,  the  English,  being  out  of  hopes  to  subdue 
the  Highlands  for  this  season  did  return  to  their  winter  quarters. 
All  this  time  bypast  there  are  sundry  sea  fights.  It  was  reported 
that  the  Hollanders  had  the  better  of  it ;  for  it  was  seen  that  they 
kept  the  seas.     They  appeared  often  in  the  mouth  of  the  Forth. 

In  the  beginning  of  August,  in  Edinburgh,  convened  all  the  Com- 
missionei's  of  the  shires  and  burghs,  when  fourteen  were  elected 
for  all  the  shires  that  had  taken  the  Tender,  viz..  Lord  Carnegie, 
Lord  Linton,  Durie,  Garthland,  Riccarton,  Garvock,  Orbiston, 
Keir,  Tannoch,  St  Leonards,  Glenfarquhar,  Colonel  Lockhart, 
Eenton  and  Swinton,*  who  was  excommunicate ;  and  seven  for  the 
burghs,  viz.,  John  Joycie  and  John  Mill,  Sir  Alexander  Wedder- 

*  Lord  James  Carnegie,  (Commissioner  for  Angus-shire),  was  second  son  of  Sir 
David  Carnegie  of  Kiunaird,  afterwards  Earl  of  Southesk.  He  was  present  at  the 
proclamation  of  Cromwell  at  Edinburgh,  11th  July  1657.  Lord  Linton,  (for  Peebles- 
shire,) was  the  eldest  son  of  Sir  John  Stewart  of  Traquaii-,  afterwards  first  Earl  of 
Traquair.  He  joined  the  Marquis  of  Montrose  in  1645,  was  in  Hamilton's  engage- 
ment in  1648,  and  taken  at  Preston  but  soon  released.  He  married  Lady  Seaton, 
daugliter  of  the  Marquis  of  Huntly,  after  she  had  been  excommunicated  as  a  Papist. 
Sir  Alexander  Gibson  of  Durie,  (for  Fife),  took  a  prominent  part  in  opposition  to 
Chai'les  I.,  but  had  the  honour  of  knighthood  conferred  on  him  in  1641,  and  in  1646 
was  made  a  Lord  of  Session.  In  consequence  of  his  joining  the  Engagement  he  was 
deprived  by  "  the  Act  of  Classes"  in  1649,  and  died  in  June  165G.  Scotstarvet  de- 
scribes him  as  "  veiy  well  skilled  to  be  a  judge."  James  M'Dowall,  or  M'-DowjuU  of 
Garthland,  (for  Galloway),  appears  as  member  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1644,  1646, 
and  1647.  Sir  Thomas  Craig  of  Riccarton,  (for  Linlithgow),  appears  in  the  Assembly, 
1648.  The  Laird  of  Garvock  was  Commissioner  for  Nithsdale.  Sir  John  Ilumilton  of 
Orbiston,  (for  Lennox),  was  knighted  and  appointed  Justice-Clerk  in  1646,  joined 
Montrose  after  the  victory  of  Kilsyth,  and  was  in  the  engagement  1648,  for  which  he 
was  deprived  of  his  offices  in  1649.  The  Laird  of  Keir,  (for  Stirling)  ;  the  Laird  of 
Tannoch,  or  Tannachy,  (for  Caithness)  ;  and  the  Laird  of  St  Leonard,  (for  Edinburgh.) 
Glenfarquhar,  (for  Meanis),  was  probably  David  Falconer  of  Glenfarquhar,  who  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  Lords  of  Session  in  March  1660,  but  never  sat  as  a  judge,  the 
Commission  not  taking  effect,  from  the  vmcertainty  in  whose  name  to  direct  the 
letters ;  "  some  being  for  a  ffing,  others  for  the  Keepers  of  the  Liberties  of  England." — 
(^NicoVs  Diary.')  Colonel  William  Lockhart  (for  Lanai'k),  was  a  man  of  distinguished  abi- 
lities ;  he  was  knighted  in  1643  by  Charles  I.,  to  whose  interest  he  was  strongly  attached, 
but  Avas  prevailed  upon  by  Cromwell  to  enter  his  service,  and  made  one  of  his  Lords 
of  Session.  His  second  wife  was  a  relation  of  Cromwell.  Renton  of  Lamberton  was  com- 
missioner for  Benvickshire.  Sir  John  Swinton  of  Swinton,  (also  for  Berwickshire),  M'as 
made  one  of  the  Lords  of  Session  by  Cromwell,  became  a  Quaker,  and  being  appre- 
hended in  London  after  the  Restoration,  was  sent  down  to  Scotland  with  the  Marquis 
of  Arg)'le,  but  escaped  on  making  some  ignominious  apologies  for  his  conduct. 


300  i>ii'^^  OF  KOBEirr  liL.viK.  [1652. 

burn,  Jiinics  Sword,  Daniel  Wulliice,  George  Guillau,  Andrew  Glen, 
which  twenty-one  Avere  to  rejiair  to  London  against  the  first  of 
October,  to  the  English  Parliament,  to  do  all  things  for  the  per- 
fecting of  the  union  betwixt  the  two  nations.  When  they  came 
to  London,  they  Avere  much  slighted  by  the  Parliament,  and  there- 
after looked  upon  rather  as  petitioners  than  Commissioners. 

In  September,  Messrs  Samuel  Rutherford,  James  Guthrie,  Pat- 
rick Gillespie  and  John  Carstairs,  went  to  Aberdeen  to  confer 
with  those  that  had  declared  themselves  for  separation ;  but  Mr 
John  Menzies  who  was  their  ringleader,  and  the  greatest  disputant 
among  them,  being  sick  they  could  do  the  less.  Nothwithstand- 
ing,  for  the  space  of  eight  days,  they  conferred  and  debated  with 
the  other  two  ministers  and  some  regents,  in  the  college,  in  the 
hearing  of  many  that  hankered  after  that  Avay.  Alexander  Jaf- 
fray,  late  proA'ost  of  Aberdeen,  was  much  for  separation,  *  There 
Averc  some  also  there  that  AA^ere  against  infant  baptism,  and  were 
in  danger  to  be  tainted  Avith  other  errors. 

About  this  time  some  English  Commissioners,  \'iz.,  FeuAvack, 
Mosley,  f  &c.,  did  go  through  all  the  universities  and  Adsit  them, 
in  obedience  to  a  proclamation  of  the  English  Parliament,  Avherein 
they  declared  that  they  Avere  to  notice  the  members  of  universities, 
and  to  remove  scandalous  persons,  or  disaffected  to  the  authority 
of  the  Commonwealth,  and  to  place  more  fit  persons  in  their 
places  ;  also  that  they  Avere  to  take  notice  of  scandalous  ministers 
and  to  fiU  vacant  places.  They  began  at  St  Andrews,  Avhere  they 
did  little ;  only  they  called  before  them  all  the  masters  of  the 
University,  and  called  for  their  old  registers  and  Acts.  They  Avere 
thought  to  be  the  more  discreet  at  St  Andrews,  because  Mr  Blair 
having  acquaintance  of  Mr  Fenwick  Avhen  he  was  at  London,  (Mr 
FenAvick  then  being  persecuted  by  the  bishops  as  a  Puritan  and 
Nonconformist),  did  confer  with  him  and  exhort  him  to  moderation, 

*  "  They  staid  seven  or  eight  days,  and  had  frequent  meetings  vnth  ns  all,  together 
and  apart,  hut  to  no  purpose  for  the  errand  they  came  about,  all  of  us  being  rather 
more  contirmcd  to  our  former  grounds."— .7f;//;(/_y  and  the  Friends,  p.  50. 

t  Kdward  Mosley  was  appointed  by  Cromwell  one  of  the  Lords  of  Session,  May 
18,  1652. 


1652.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  301 

&c.  This  man,  Mr  Fenwick,  was  one  of  the  best  of  them.  In 
Aberdeen  they  removed  Dr  Guild  from  being  principal  of  the  col- 
lege in  old  Aberdeen,  who  in  the  year  1650  was  deposed  by  a  com- 
mittee, and  Mr  John  Row,  IMr  Cant's  colleague,  invited  by  them 
to  his  place,  but,  thereafter,  a  committee  of  the  Assembly  at  Dun- 
dee, 1651,  reponed  Dr  Guild,  and  summoned  Mr  John  Menzies 
before  them.  He  refusing  to  appear,  did  give  in  a  complaint  and 
supplication  to  the  English  Commissioners  at  Leith.  Now  the 
English  Commissioners  having  again,  (as  was  said),  removed  Dr 
Guild,  did  install  Mr  John  Row  principal  of  that  college,  finding 
that  by  the  Acts  of  the  Committee  and  visitation,  1650,  he  was 
called  unto  that  place.  As  they  went  about  in  a  circuit  they  kept 
a  Justice  Court,  which  was  called  the  Justice-Air  [Eyre.] 

The  differences  among  ministers  still  increasing  was  the  very 
worm-wood  and  gaU  wrung  into  our  cup,  and  the  heart-break  of 
all  honest  and  moderate  men.  None  was  more  weighed  and 
troubled  with  them  than  ]\Ir  Blair,  nor  did  more  bestir  themselves 
for  a  union,  or  at  least  for  an  accommodation  than  he  ;  for  he  Avas 
displeased  with  some  things  on  both  sides  ;  for  though  he  stood  for 
the  authority  of  the  two  last  General  Assemblies,  acknowledging 
them  to  be  lawful  Assemblies,  yet  he  was  displeased  with  many  of 
their  acts  that  inflicted  censure  on  the  Protesters,  and  debarred 
young  men  that  favoured  the  Protestation  and  Remonstrance  from 
entrance  into  the  ministry,  &c.  Upon  the  other  hand,  he  was 
displeased  ^dth  the  Protesters,  because  of  their  high  and  in- 
solent way  of  opposing  of  the  Assembly  and  judicatories,  and 
printing  of  some  papers  and  keeping  of  extrajudicial  meetings, 
which  did  heighten  and  augment  the  differences,  sadly  regret- 
ting that  some  of  them  liad  turned  aside  to  some  errors  of  this 
persuasion.  There  were  some  other  ministers  in  Fife  that 
were  like-minded  with  Mr  Blair.  These  did,  at  least  some  of 
them,  at  sundry  times  meet  and  confer  together.  At  last,  about 
the  middle  of  October,  Mr  Blair  overtured  that  some  of  their  per- 
suasion, out  of  all  the  four  Presbyteries,  shoidd  convene  at  Ken- 
noway.      Those  that  convened  there  were  Messrs  Blair,   John 


302  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  ULAIR.  [1652. 

Duucan,  George  Thomson,  John  Mackglll,  Alexander  Wedder- 
burn,  William  Row,  &c.*  The  result  of  their  conference  Avas, 
'tliat'  they  wrote  letters  to  sundry  ministers  throughout  the  king- 
dom of  their  persuasion,  entreating  them  to  convene  at  Edinburgh, 
in  November,  (at  Avhich  time  and  place  both  the  parties  that  stood 
at  such  a  distance  were  to  meet,  the  one  in  the  Commission  of  the 
late  Assembly,  the  other  in  an  extrajudicial  meeting,)  that  they 
might  effectually  mediate  betwixt  these  two  parties  for  a  better 
imderstanding,  and,  if  i^ossible,  for  a  union  or  accommodation  be- 
twixt them,  or  at  least  for  mutual  forbearance.  Those  to  whom 
these  letters  were  directed,  applauding  the  motion  as  a  healing 
and  uniting  overture,  convened  at  Edinburgh  in  November. 
Thereafter  the  Protesters  convened.  Mr  Blair,  though  now  in- 
firm and  unmeet  for  travel,  yet  being  most  desirous  of  union  and 
peace  with  holiness,  truth,  and  a  good  conscience,  kept  this  ap- 
pointed meeting.  First,  they  had  sundry  conferences  and  debates 
with  the  Protesters  and  the  Lord  Warriston ;  but  they  could 
eifectuate  nothing,  they  were  so  tenacious  of  their  own  princij)les, 
still  justifying  all  their  own  practices.  At  these  conferences  and 
debates  sundry  things  were  ripped  up,  especially  the  inviting  in 
the  EngUsh,  anno  1648.  Some  of  the  Protesters  disowned  it ;  but 
Warriston  could  not  well  clear  himself,  at  least  of  employing  them, 

*  We  can  only  afford  room  for  a  passing  notice  of  these  ministers.  Mr  John  Dun» 
can  was  minister  of  Cuboss.  He  was  admitted  in  1G31,  and  died  in  1655.  (Selections 
from  ]V[iuutes  of  Synod  of  Fife,  p.  230).  Mr  George  Thomson  was  admitted  as 
assistant  minister  of  Kilmany  in  1639,  and  died  in  November  IGOl.  (Ibid.  p.  223). 
Mr  Jolni  Mackgj'U,  or  Makgill,  the  elder,  (there  were  two  ministers  of  that  name  in 
tlic  Synod  of  Fife,  and  we  are  not  certain  wliich  is  here  meant),  was  minister  of  Flisk. 
His  name  occurs  as  minister  of  that  parish,  so  early  as  1613.  He  died  March  22. 
1659.  {Ibid.  p.  222).  Mr  John  Makgill,  the  younger,  was  minister  of  Dunbog.  He 
was  admitted  in  1G46,  and  translated  to  Cupar,  December  14.  1G54.  He  was  outed 
in  1602,  and  iu  1663  went  to  France  to  study  medicine,  in  which  profession  he  gi-a- 
duatcd  as  doctor,  Lamont  says,  "  He  came  home  in  a  gray  sute,  but  went  abroad  iu 
black  ajiparell."  He  purchased  the  estate  of  Kemback  in  1667,  and  from  him  the 
present  lamily  of  Makgill  of  Kemback,  are  descended.  (Ibid.  pp.  220,  221).  Mr 
Alexander  Wcdderburu  was  admitted  minister  of  Forgan,  Feb.  10.  1647,  and  was  de- 
posed for  non-contbrmity  in  16G5.  He  afterwards  accepted  the  indulgence,  and 
preacheil  in  Kilmarnock.  {Ibid.  p.  206).  William  How,  the  author  of  this  Conti- 
nuation of  Blair's  Life,  was  admitted  minister  of  Ceres  in  1644,  deposed  in  16G5,  and 
restored,  when  almost  superannuated,  in  1689.    {Ibid.  p.  217.) 


1652.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  303 

when  they  were  come  in.  The  more  judicious,  moderate,  and  un- 
biassed men,  did  judge  that  to  be  the  beginning  of  our  defection, 
and  a  foul  step  out  of  the  right  way,  and  a  receding  from  our  good 
old  principles.  All  that  could  be  obtained  of  the  Protesters  was, 
that  they  should  for  a  time  delay  the  printing  or  spreading  of 
their  papers  for  justifying  of  all  their  proceedings,  until  they  saw 
what  the  brethren  that  mediated  could  effectuate  with  the  Com- 
mission of  the  late  Assembly,  which  was  within  a  little  to  meet  at 
Edinburgh.  In  the  meantime  the  Protesters  met  and  drew  up  a 
paper,  to  be  given  in  to  the  Commission,  wherein  they  desired  a 
treaty  for  union  upon  sundry  conditions,  one  whereof  was,  that  in 
the  meantime  they  should  not  meet  as  a  Commission  with  autho- 
rity from  the  preceding  Assembly.  This  paper  being  given  in  to 
the  Commission  was  answered  by  them,  and  a  conference  ap- 
pointed to  be  at  St  Andrews,  January  1653.  But  the  brethren 
that  gave  it  in  did  not  accept  of  the  conference  upon  the  condi- 
tions the  Commission  granted  it,  and  so  that  conference  held  not. 
All  that  the  brethren  that  mediated  could  obtain  of  the  Commis- 
sion was,  that  they  should  ordain  letters  to  be  written  to  Pres- 
byteries or  Synods,  that  were  shortly  to  meet,  that  they  should 
delay  to  inflict  any  censures  upon  the  Protesters,  notwithstanding 
tliey  had  not  performed  that  which  the  late  General  Assembly 
had  appointed.  Shortly  after  the  dissolving  of  these  meetings  the 
Protesters  did  write  letters  to  the  leading  men  of  their  persuasion, 
shewing  that  they  were  presently  to  print  and  vent  all  their 
papers,  and  giving  sundry  directions  to  them  for  their  carriage  in 
Presbyteries  and  Synods. 

All  this  winter  the  civil  war  betwixt  the  King  of  France  and 
the  Princes  continues  ;  but  in  the  latter  end  of  the  year  the  King 
did  beat  and  totally  rout  the  Prince  of  Conde  ;  the  Duke  of  Lor- 
rain,  by  the  effectual  dealing  of  our  King,  (who  all  tliis  time  by- 
past  lived  in  great  state  at  one  of  the  King  of  France's  palaces,) 
having  joined  with  the  King.  Also  the  war  betwixt  the  English 
and  the  Dutch  continues  at  sea.  In  November  the  Hollanders 
beat  the  English,  and  made  themselves  masters  of  the  narrow  seas. 


304  LIFE  OF  llOBERT  BLAIR.  [1652. 

About  this  time  the  Parlicameiit  of  England  did  enlarge  some 
prisoners,  viz.,  the  Earl  of  Rothes,  Marischall,  and  all  the  ministers 
that  were  in  the  Tower.  As  for  Mr  James  Sharp  *  he  was  set  at 
liberty  shortly  after  they  came  to  the  Tower,  having  (as  was 
thoiudit)  engaged  to  promote  the  designs  of  the  Commonwealth. 
Mr  Muno-o  Law,  and  the  two  ministers  of  Dundee,  did  come  home 
about  the  middle  of  January  1653.  The  rest  of  the  ministers 
were  for  some  space  detained,  and  again  made  close  prisoners  in 
the  Tower ;  for  what  cause  it  was  uncertain ;  only  this  was  cer- 
tain, that  Swinton  with  tears  entreated  the  Council  of  Estate 
to  detain  the  ministers.  Notwithstanding,  shortly  thereafter  they 
were  again  enlarged  and  came  home. 

In  February  there  came  out  in  print  a  book  from  the  Protesters, 
which  they  called,  "  The  Nullity  of  the  Pretended  Assembly  at 
St  Andrews  and  Dundee."  It  was  a  review  and  examination  of  a 
paper  emitted  by  Mr  James  Wood,  called,  "  A  Vindication  of  the 
Freedom  and  Lawfulness  of  the  said  Assembly."  Mr  Blair  did 
look  upon  the  printing  of  this  book  as  a  great  heightening  of  our 
woeful  divisions,  and  a  rendering  of  them  as  to  men  or  means  in- 
curable ;  and,  therefore,  despairing  to  do  any  good  in  a  more  public 
way  for  healing  of  our  incurable  cancer,  he  made  a  second  over- 
ture, viz.,  that  those  few  in  the  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews  and 
Cupar,  that  w^ere  like-minded  with  him,  should  monthly  meet  to- 
gether, (at  his  house,  or  elsewhere  as  they  should  appoint),  and 
spend  a  great  part  of  a  day  in  prayer  and  conference,  ^vrestling 
with  God  in  prayer,  that  now  he  would  heal  our  incurable  wounds, 
(Jer.  XXX.  12,  13,  with  17),  and  conferring  together  about  the 
means  for  advancing  the  work  of  God,  viz.,  the  study  and  practice 
of  holiness  in  their  several  parishes,  and  for  bearing  down  of  sin 
and  profanity  among  their  people,  &c.  These  monthly  meetings 
were  kept  for  some  space,  until  some  of  the  most  rigid  Public  Reso- 
lutioncrs,  especially  Mr  Andrew  Iloneyman,  Mr  Blair's  colleague, 

^  *  Afterwards  Arclil>ishop  Sharp.  lie  took  the  Tender,  acknowledging  the  autho- 
rity of  Cromwell,  at  the  very  time  when  those  ministers  whom  he  afterwards  persecu- 
ted to  the  death  conscientiously  and  steadily  refused  it. 


1G53.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  305 

did  vent  their  jealousies,  that  we  were  plotting  some  things 
against  thera  ;  for  both  the  rigid  public  '  Eesolutioners '  men  and 
Protesters  were  jealous  of  Mr  Blair. 

In  March  the  Protesters  had  a  meeting  in  Edinburgh,  at  the 
which  Messrs  Andrew  Cant,  Samuel  Rutherford,  the  Lord  War- 
riston,  &c.,  pressed  that  a  declaration  might  be  emitted  against 
the  English ;  others,  especially  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie,  desired  only 
a  humble  address  to  be  made  to  the  Parliament  of  England,  for 
redress  of  what  they  conceived  amiss.  This  made  great  division 
amongst  them,  &c.*  The  Synod  of  Fife  convened  at  Dysart  the 
first  Tuesday  of  April,  where  (as  they  had  done  formerly)  they 
forbear  the  approving  of  the  Presbytery  books,  or  doing  any 
thing  that  might  give  the  Protesters  occasion  to  divide  from  them 
or  to  protest  against  their  proceedings.  The  Synod  adjourned  to 
the  first  Tuesday  of  June. 

Towards  the  end  of  April  Cromwell  did  march  with  4,000 
horse  into  the  city  of  London,  (having  concluded  with  the  chief 
officers  of  the  armies  in  the  three  kingdoms  that  there  should  be  a 
new  representative),  and  did  violently  dissolve  the  Parliament, 
because  they  would  not  willingly  dissolve.  He  presently  emitted 
a  short  declaration  of  the  grounds  and  reasons  of  this  fact. 

*  A  paper  was  however  agreed  upon,  entitled,  "  A  Brotherly  and  Christian  Exhor- 
tation and  Warning  from  many  Ministers,  Elders,  and  Professors  of  the  Gospel  in 
Scotland,  imto  those  of  the  English  Nation  Avho  have  been  Authors  of,  or  had  acces- 
sion nnto  the  late  and  present  Actings  and  Transactions  that  concern  this  Land ;" 
and  it  is  "  subscribed  at  the  desire  and  in  the  name  of  many  ministers,  elders,  and 
professors  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  met  at  Edinburgh,  March  17.  1653,"  by  Mr 
Andrew  Cant,  Mr  Samuel  Rutherford,  Mr  James  Guthrie,  Mr  Robert  Trail,  Mr 
Ephraim  Melvill,  Mr  John  Nevay."  Among  other  things  they  say,  "  Our  sonls  are 
also  grieved  with  the  encroachments  that  are  made  by  the  civil  power  upon  the  privi- 
leges of  the  Church  in  the  power  of  her  Courts  and  judicatories,  in  the  admitting  and 
removing  of  ministers,  and  by  their  disposing  upon  their  maintenance  and  stipends  at 
pleasure  ;  these  Church  privileges  being  not  only  allowed  and  confirmed  by  the  laws 

of  the  land,  but  founded  upon  and  consonant  to  the  Word  of  God We 

cannot  but  in  this  place  take  notice  of  one  thing,  which  our  ears  thought  never  to  have 
heard,  nor  our  eyes  to  have  seen,  to  wit,  that  by  the  command  of  these  powers  there 
is  express  inhibition  to  the  colleges  and  univei'sities  of  this  land  anent  the  taking  of 
the  Covenant,  which  to  us  is  a  demonstration  clear  enough  that  it  is  intended  that  it 
should  be  had  no  more  in  remembrance."  Tlus  document  is  presened  aiuong  the 
.Wodrow  MSS.,  vol,  xxix.  ito,  No,  55. 

U 


30G  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1653. 

In  the  beginning  of  June  the  English  obtained  a  great  victory 
over  the  Hollanders  at  sea.  In  that  sea  fight,  the  first  day,  Gene- 
ral Deans  was  killed.  Besides  this,  the  English  had  very  small  loss  ; 
but  the  Hollanders  lost  many  ships  and  men.  The  second  day 
the  Hollanders  lost  more  than  twenty  men  of  war ;  many  were 
killed  and  taken  prisoners;  the  rest  fled  homewards.  To  the 
Eno-lish  only  some  few  men  were  killed.  Before  the  news  of  this 
great  victory  came  to  Scotland  the  English  were  in  great  fears, 
partly  by  reason  of  the  Hollanders,  who  (as  was  reported)  were 
making  great  preparations  with  the  French,  and  others  that 
favoured  our  King,  for  his  assistance  against  the  English,  who 
feared  that  they  would  attempt  to  land  either  in  Scotland  or  Eng- 
land, the  Hollanders  being  masters  of  the  narrow  seas  ;  and 
partly  by  reason  of  the  Highlanders.  The  Laird  of  Macnab  was 
killed  by  the  English.  It  was  reported  that  a  letter  was  found 
upon  him,  discovering  a  band  betwixt  the  Highlanders  and  some 
in  the  lowlands,  for  a  new  war  against  the  English.  After  Mac- 
nab was  killed  there  was  some  gathering  together  among  them, 
and  Sir  Arthur  Forbes,  Sir  Mungo  Murray,  &c.,  were  said  to  have 
gone  to  them.  This  stirrino:  among  the  Highlanders  made  the 
English  draw  out  to  the  fields  and  be  in  leaguers.  All  in  Fife  lay 
in  two  leaguers,  viz.,  at  the  Struthers  and  Falldand. 

Immediately  after  their  great  victory  over  the  Hollanders  at  sea, 
Cromwell  wrote  down  to  Scotland,  summoning  some  men  to  repair 
to  London,  that  he  might  advise  with  them  anent  the  settling  of 
the  affairs  of  Scotland.  They  w^ere  Lord  Ilopetoun,  Brodie, 
Alexander  Jaffi-ay,  Swinton,  Lockhart,  Garthland.  They  in  the 
latter  end  of  June  took  journey  towards  London.  Some  few  were 
summoned  to  come  from  Ireland,  and  a  great  number  out  of  all  the 
comities  of  England.  These  being  convened  with  Cromwell,  that 
summoned  them,  took  upon  them  the  name  and  power  of  the  Par- 
liament of  England  and  its  commonwealth,  and  did  emit  a  de- 
claration in  print,  June  12.  All  this  time  bypast  there  was 
some  gathering  of  forces  in  the  north  and  among  the  Highland- 
ers.     The   Earl  of  Glencairn  was  their  head,    the  Lords  Ken- 


1653.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  307 

mure,  and  Balcan-as,  and  others  were  with  them,  and  before  the 
late  defeat  of  the  Hollanders  at  sea  it  was  expected  that  the 
King  should  have  landed  in  the  north  with  some  foreigners  to  join 
with  them. 

The  General  Assembly  convened  at  Edinburgh,  July,  Wednes- 
day, the  3d.  After  sermons  by  Messrs  David  Dickson  and  Robert 
Douglas,  they  being  convened,  immediately  after  prayer  by  Mr 
David  Dickson,  a  party  of  the  English  came  up  to  the  kirk,  and 
three  officers  came  in  to  the  assembly  house  and  commanded  them 
presently  to  disperse,  because  they  had  no  warrant  to  sit,  either 
from  the  Parliament  of  England  or  Commander-in-chief  in  Scot- 
land. Mr  Dickson  desired  that  they  would  have  patience  until  the 
judicatory  were  constituted ;  but  that  could  not  be  obtained. 
Whereupon  ISIr  Dickson  answered.  That  they  had  power  from 
Jesus  Christ  to  convene  in  his  own  head  court  for  the  affairs  of  his 
house,  and  that  they  needed  not  any  other  power  from  civil  judi- 
catories. In  end,  they  being  commanded  to  dissolve,  did  protest 
against  that  violence  and  usurpation  ;  1.  Because  they  had  power 
and  warrant  from  Jesus  Christ  to  convene  and  sit;  2.  Their  meet- 
ing was  warranted  by  the  unrepealed  laws  of  the  land ;  3.  Because 
the  English  with  us  are  sworn  and  bound  by  the  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant  to  defend  the  doctrine,  discipline  and  covenant  of 
the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  in  the  first  article  thereof.  The  officers  that 
dissolved  the  Assembly,  desired  them  to  go  with  them  a  little 
without  the  ports  of  the  town,  where  they  should  shew  them  fur- 
ther of  their  mind.  So  the  whole  Assembly  was  conveyed  through 
the  streets  by  the  party  out  to  Bruntsfield  links.  In  the  fields 
they  took  up  all  their  names,  and  thereafter  told  them  that  the 
stirring  of  those  in  the  Highlands  was  the  reason  why  they  had 
dissolved  their  meeting,  fearing  lest  possibly  they  might  have  done 
something  for  fomenting  that  rising  among  them.  Shortly  before 
the  Assembly's  convening,  some  few  of  the  members  of  the  Assem- 
bly had  a  meeting  with  the  Protesters.  All  that  could  be  obtained 
of  them  was  that  their  protestation  (which  they  knew  w^ould  be 
made  against  the  Assembly)  should  be  drawn  up  in  more  mild  and 

u2 


308  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  [1653. 

gentle  expressions  than  the  former  was,  and  that  it  should  be  pre- 
sented to  the  Assembly  only  by  two  or  three  of  their  number. 
So  the  Protesters  made  ready  their  protestation  against  the  Assem- 
bly ;  but  the  Assembly  being  dissolved  by  the  English,  the  Pro- 
testers met  again  upon  the  next  day.  The  English  hearing  thereof 
did  emit  a  public  proclamation,  commanding  all  ministers  to  depart 
of  the  town  presently,  inhibiting  them  to  meet  together  above  three 
or  four.  So  the  Protesters'  meeting  was  also  dissolved.  They 
drew  up  a  protestation  against  the  English  their  dissolving  of  the 
Assembly,  (because  some  were  jealous  that  they  had  a  hand  in  it*), 
which  also  had  in  the  bosom  of  it  a  protestation  against  the  Assem- 
bly's meeting  as  a  free  or  lawful  Assembly.  This  paper  they  sent 
to  the  Commander-in-chief  Lilburn.  And  so  as  King  James  VI., 
shortly  after  his  succeeding  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  interrupted  the 
course  of  our  free  and  lawfully  convened  General  Assembly,  and 
dissolved  the  Assembly  at  Aberdeen,  so  now  the  usurpers  (whom 
God  raised  up  to  be  a  scourge  to  King,  country,  and  Assembly) 
did  dissolve  this  Assembly  and  interrupt  their  course.  It  was 
feared  that  they  would  not  suffer  Presbyteries  to  meet ;  but  no 
Presbytery  was  molested  by  them  save  the  Presbytery  of  Cupar. 
Two  of  the  officers  from  the  camp  at  the  Struthers  took  up  their 
names,  and  commanded  them  to  disperse  and  not  to  meet  again. 
That  day  Mr  Blair  sat  with  the  Presbytery  of  Cupar  as  correspon- 
dent from  the  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews  (for  Synods  always  had 
mutual  correspondence,  and  Presbyteries  often  ijvo  re  natd).  He 
spoke  freely  and  boldly,  yet  prudently,  to  the  English  officers  ;  and 
in  prayer  in  the  family  where  he  dined  that  day,  he  complained  to 
God  of  their  violence  and  usurpation,  but  begged  preparation  for  the 
sad  and  fiery  trial  that  was  to  come  on  after  the  Lord  had  broken 

*  Here  Row  shews  more  candour  than  Baillie,  who,  in  giving  the  historj-  of  this  af- 
fair in  a  letter  to  Mr  AVm.  Spang,  makes  no  mention  of  this  Protestation  of  the  Pro- 
testers against  the  English  dissolving  the  Assembly,  hut,  on  the  contraiy,  represents 
the  Protesters  as  gi-atified  in  that  exercise  of  Erastian  power.  "  Colonel  Lilburn," 
says  he,  "  the  Connnander-in-chief,  gave  order  to  soldiers  to  break  our  Assembly  before 
it  was  constitute,  to  the  exceeding  great  grief  of  all  except  the  Ecmonstrators,  who  in- 
sulted upon  it;  the  English  violence  having  trystcd  with  tlieir  Protestation  against 
»t." — Letters  and  Journnh,  iii.  244. 


1653.]  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIK.  309 

this  rod  wherewith  now  he  was  smiting  us,  Is.  xiv.  29.  The  next 
day  some  few  of  the  Presbytery  of  Cupar  convened.  After  prayer 
and  adjourning  of  their  meeting,  one  of  their  number,  Mr  WilHam 
Row,  being  found  upon  the  street,  was  carried  up  to  their  camp  at 
the  Struthers,  but  presently  dismissed.  Thereafter  they  convened 
in  their  Presbyterial  meetings  and  were  not  troubled. 

After  the  late  sea  fig-ht,  tlie  Hollanders  sent  to  the  Parliament 
an  ambassador  to  treat  for  peace  ;  but  the  English  demands  were 
so  high  and  dishonourable  that  the  Dutch  could  not  yield  to  them. 
Therefore  they  gave  up  treating,  and  new  preparations  are  made 
for  a  new  engagement ;  and  so  upon  the  last  days  of  July  they 
engaged  with  the  English  upon  the  Holland  coast.  They  fought 
three  days.  It  was  a  most  fierce  and  terrible  battle  ;  many  killed 
on  both  sides,  many  ships  sore  shattered.  In  this  fight  that  valiant 
sea  warrior  Van  Tromp,  received  a  shot,  of  the  which,  shortly  after 
he  came  to  shore,  he  died.  The  English  gave  it  out  that  they  had 
the  better  of  it. 

Shortly  after  the  dissolution  of  the  General  Assembly,  the  Par- 
liament sent  down  an  Act,  which  the  Commissioners  for  visiting  of 
universities  caused  publish  by  way  of  a  declaration,  inhibiting  all 
ministers  to  pray  for  the  King,  or  to  preach  against  the  present 
government,  or  for  monarchical  government.  Immediately  after 
this,  one  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh  was  put  in  the  Castle  for 
praying  for  the  King,  but  was  presently  dismissed.  All  the  minis- 
ters in  town,  the  Sabbath  ensuing,  did  pray  for  the  King,  and 
were  threatened  by  the  judges,  to  whom  the  ministers  gave  in  write 
their  reasons  why  they  could  not  give  obedience  to  that  proclama-r 
tion  ;  which  paper  the  judges  sent  up  to  the  Parliament,  desiring 
to  know  how  they  should  carry  themselves  in  relation  to  the  minis- 
ters. What  answer  was  returned  by  the  Parliament  was  not  di- 
vulged, but  still  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh  continued  praying  for 
the  King,  and  yet  no  violence  was  oflPered  them.  At  this  time  the 
most  part  of  the  Protesters  left  off  praying  for  the  King  ;  but  other 
ministers,  though  they  were  threatened  before  they  went  to  the  pul- 
pit, and  surrounded  with  armed  men  Avhile  in  the  pulpit,  yet  ceased 


310  LIFE  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIll.  [lGo4. 

not  to  pray  for  the  King,  in  the  hearing,  not  only  of  the  common 
tjoldiers,  but  of  their  officers  and  judges. 

All  this  summer  time  and  harvest  there  is  great  stirring  among 
the  Highlanders  and  those  that  were  called  Kenmurites,  under 
Glencairn's  and  Kenmure's  command.  Sundry  go  to  them  from  the 
lowlands  ;  some  with  Middleton  did  land  in  the  north  and  join  with 
thorn.  They  becoming  numerous,  send  down  parties,  not  only  to 
Fife  and  the  shires  benorth  Forth,  but  even  to  Lothian,  and. 
did  take  many  horses  and  ai-ms  from  gentlemen  and  husbandmen. 
Thereafter  they  did  much  annoy  the  garrisons  at  Stirling,  Fallc- 
land,  &c.,  killing  some,  taking  others,  especially  taking  their  horses, 
which  made  all  in  Fife  to  quarter  in  St  Andrews.  Thereafter 
orders  came  to  them  to  take  up  their  winter  quarters  in  Cupar, 
Falkland  and  Burntisland.  They  fortified  the  town  of  Cupar. 
FearinfT  infalls  in  the  nig-ht,  those  in  Falkland  lodo-ed.  themselves 
within  the  palace.  Burntisland  was  fortified.  The  garrisons  of 
Perth  and  Stirling  were  much  infested  and  annoyed  with  the  Ken- 
murites, which  occasioned  that  sundry  times  those  that  lay  in 
Cupar,  Falkland  and  Burntisland  were  sent  for  to  assist  the  gar- 
risons in  Perth  and  Stirling.  In  the  latter  end  of  November  they 
appeared  before  Stirling,  provoking  the  garrison  to  come  out  and 
fight.  The  garrison  drawing  out,  and  perceiving  their  number 
greater  than  they  expected,  (they  were  judged  to  be  about  5000), 
did  not  engage  Avith  them.  In  the  beginning  of  December,  all 
that  lay  in  Cupar  marched  to  Perth  and  Stirling  to  fortify  these 
gan-isons  that  lay  nearest  to  the  Highlanders.  The  English  per- 
ceiving that  the  Highlanders  under  Glencairn's  command  were 
daily  taking  all  the  good  horses,  did,  in  the  latter  end  of  Decem- 
ber, emit  a  proclamation,  that  all  horses  of  £5  sterling  price  should 
be  brought  in  to  the  nearest  garrison,  &c.  Many  horses  were 
brought  in  to  them  ;  many  taken  that  were  not  brought  in  ;  yet, 
notwithstanding,  Glencairn's  parties  were  still  taking  horses  even 
in  Lothian  and  Fife. 

About  this  time  there  was  some  engagement  betwixt  Sir  Arthur 
Forbes  and  the  English  in  the  south,     Glencairn  fearing  that  there 


1654.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  ,'Ul 

were  some  ships  landed  in  the  north  witli  arms  and  some  men, 
presently  marched  north  with  all  the  forces  he  could  gather  to- 
gether, but  to  divert  the  English  from  the  north,  he  sent  Sir  Arthur 
Forbes  with  a  small  party  to  the  south,  where  Sir  Arthur  carried 
most  gallantly. 

About  the  beginning  of  January  1654,  there  were  great  altera- 
tions at  London.  There  had  for  a  long  time  been  a  great  debate 
in  the  Parliament  anent  the  teinds  and  ministers'  stipends.  The 
Anabaptists  were  for  taking  away  the  settled  stipends  of  ministers, 
ordaining  them  to  live  upon  the  charity  of  the  people.  This  mat- 
ter being  put  to  a  voice,  the  Anabaptists  carried  it  by  one  or  two 
voices  ;  whereat  Cromwell  was  displeased,  perceiving  that  the 
Parliament,  as  it  was  constituted,  was  not  for  all  his  interests ; 
which  made  the  party  that  favoured  Cromwell,  (by  his  advice  and 
counsel  no  doubt),  devolve  the  whole  power  of  the  Parliament  into 
his  person,  ordaining  him  to  be  Lord  Protector  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  England,  Scotland  and  Ireland,  (for  so  it  w^as  called,  the 
union  being  closed),  which  power,  place,  authority  and  title  Crom- 
well did  take  upon  him,  and  so  the  Parliament  dissolved.  As  the 
other  was  called  the  Long  Parliament,  so  this  was  by  some  called 
the  Little  Daft  Parliament.  After  the  dissolution  of  this  Parlia- 
ment Cromwell  did  take  upon  him  the  title  of  Oliver  Cromwell, 
Lord  Protector,  &c.,  and  did  mould  a  new  government,  the  form 
w^hereof  was  put  in  print,  containing  about  forty  articles ;  the  sum 
whereof  was,  seeing  the  major  part  of  the  present  Parliament  found 
that  their  sitting  was  not  for  the  good  of  the  public,  they  devolved 
their  power  upon  the  person  of  Oliver  Cromwell,  Lord  Protector, 
&c. ;  which  he  took  upon  him,  ordaining  that  the  sole  legislative 
power  should  be  in  his  person,  that  he  should  have  power  to  con- 
vene Parliaments  :  therefore  ordained  a  Parliament  to  convene  in 
September  1654,  ordained  the  way  of  electing  of  Commissioners, 
their  number,  &c.,  settled  the  militia  in  his  person,  ordained  minis- 
ters to  have  their  settled  stipends,  permitting  a  toleration  of  all 
except  Popery  and  Prelacy,  *  and  closed  with  an  oath  of  fidelity  to 

*" The  hand  of  poAver,"  says  Baillic,  writuig  in  1C55,  "is  not  hcavj- on  any  for 


312  L11"J3  OF  EOBEKT  I3LAI11.  [1G54. 

be  taken  by  the  Lord  Protector  at  his  entry,  who  was  to  be  elective, 
chosen  by  his  Council  of  Estate,  they  meeting  in  their  ordinary 
place,  and  not  sundering  until  they  elected  the  Lord  Protector. 
This  made  wise  men  say,  that  now  Cromwell  had  taken  to  himself 
more  than  ever  any  King  did,  and  that  the  Protector's  Highness 
had  more  power  than  ever  the  King's  Majesty  had. 

All  this  time  bypast  England  and  Holland  were  treating.  But 
about  the  time  of  the  dissolution  of  the  Parliament  the  treaty  broke 
off,  the  Hollanders  recalling  their  ambassador.  Thereafter  they 
take  prizes  one  of  another,  and  preparations  are  made  for  sea  fights, 
which  did  not  a  little  encourage  the  Kenmurites,  whose  army  was 
still  increasing ;  but  two  things  were  admired  anent  them  :  1 .  That 
they  did  not  attempt  any  considerable  enterprise,  though  some- 
times they  surprised  some  garrisons ;  and,  2dly,  That  they  emitted 
no  declaration  anent  their  intentions,  &c.  The  reason  of  the  first 
was  thought  to  be,  because  they  had  peremptory  orders  from  the 
King  to  attempt  nothing  considerable  until  they  received  aid  and 
assistance,  which  he  was  to  send  them  from  beyond  seas.  For  the 
second  it  was  thought  that  they  did  not  all  agree  upon  the  same 
principles,  and  did  not  act  upon  the  same  grounds ;  for  albeit  many 
of  their  commanders  were  for  the  National  and  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant,  yet  there  were  some  among  them  of  whom  it  was 
feared  that  they  were  for  neither  of  the  Covenants,  especially  Glen- 
garle.  Also,  they  did  not  agree  well  anent  the  command  of  the 
array,  differences  falling  betwixt  Glengarie,  Balcarras,  the  Lord 
Lorn,  and  some  of  the  Gordons. 

The  Lord  Protector  was  feasted  by  the  city  of  London  with  as 
great  dignity  and  estate  as  ever  any  King  in  Britain.  The  feast 
was  as  great  as  either  wit  could  invent  or  wealth  execute.  His 
prime  officers  were  feasted  with  him.  But  many  that  otherwise 
favoured  the  English  interest  did  not  like  well  of  Cromwell's  ex- 
ulting himself,  taking  to  himself  not  only  the  power  of  convening, 

matters  of  religion,  no  not  on  Quakers,  who  are  open  railers  against  tlie  Protector's 
person;  yoji,  we  hear  of  little  trouhle  of  Papists,  who  grow  much  in  the  North  of 
Scotland,  more  than  these  eighty  years,  without  any  control."— Ze«ers  and  Journals, 
iii.  291. 


1654. J  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  313 

but  of  constituting  of  Parliaments,  the  negative  voice,  &c.,  much 
more  than  any  King  ever  had ;  especially  Lambert,  that  favoured 
the  Anabaptists,  was  displeased  and  malcontent.  In  the  end  of 
February  his  regiment  came  down  to  Scotland.  About  that  time 
two  parties  of  the  English  rencountering  in  the  night  time,  through 
a  mistake,  each  apprehending  other  to  be  Scots,  they  did  engage, 
and  fought  most  desperately,  and  did  never  know  their  mistake 
until  they  came  to  the  taking  of  prisoners.  This  mistake  cut  off 
many  of  them.  In  the  latter  end  of  February  there  was  some 
action  betwixt  the  English  and  the  Kenmurites.  In  the  north 
Glencairn  was  in  the  Brae  of  Mar,,  not  very  strong,  by  reason  of  a 
mutiny  among  his  men,  which  occasioned  some  to  leave  him. 
Colonel  Morgan  marched  out  towards  them.  The  Kenmurites 
not  minding  to  fight,  after  some  skirmishing  with  fore  parties,  re- 
tired. Kenmure  and  the  most  gallant  men  abiding  upon  the  rear, 
they  made  a  safe  retreat. 

In  the  beginning  of  March  there  was  a  peace  concluded  betwixt 
the  Enghsh  and  the  Dutch.  About  this  time  some  plots  were  dis- 
covered that  were  for  cutting  off  the  Protector.  About  the  same 
time  the  Protector  wrote  for  Messrs  John  Livingston,  Patrick 
Gillespie  and  John  Menzies  to  come  to  him,  that  he  might  have 
their  advice  for  settling  Kirk  affairs.  Mr  Livingstone  was  unwill- 
ing to  go,  until  Lilburn  said  that  if  he  would  not  go  as  a  freeman 
he  would  send  him  as  a  prisoner.  He  carried  very  honestly  and 
straightly  at  London.  Being  called  to  preach  before  the  Protec- 
tor at  Whitehall,  sundry  Scotsmen  being  present,  he  prayed  for 
the  King  and  the  Royal  Family  thus  :  "  God  be  gracious  to  those 
whose  right  it  is  to  rule  in  this  place,  and  unjustly  is  thrust  from  it ; 
sanctify  thy  rod  of  affliction  unto  him,  and  Avhen  our  bones  are  laid 
into  the  dust,  let  our  prayers  be  registrate  in  the  book  of  life  that 
they  may  come  forth  in  thy  appointed  time  for  doing  him  and  his 
family  good !"  And  for  the  usurpers  he  prayed  in  these  terms  : 
"  As  for  thir  [these]  poor  men  that  now  fill  their  rooms.  Lord  be 
merciful  unto  them  I"  *     Some  would  have  had  him  accused  for 

*  The  pertinacious  loyalty  of  the  Presbyterians,  so  conspicuous  throughout  the 


314  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  Bl.AIK.  [1654. 

j)raviiig  for  the  King,  and  calling  them  "poor  men";  but  the  Protec- 
tor said,  "  Let  liim  alone,  he  is  a  good  man ;  and  what  are  we  but 
poor  men  in  comparison  of  the  Kings  of  England  ?"  Mr  Patrick 
Gillespie  pleased  tliem  but  too  well.  Mr  John  Menzies,  being 
sick,  came  to  London  long  after  the  other  two. 

Li  the  latter  end  of  April  Monk  came  to  Scotland  Commander- 
in-chief  of  the  English  forces  in  Scotland,  in  the  room  of  Lilburn. 
At  his  entry  to  Edinburgh  he  was  conveyed  by  the  magistrates  to 
the  Cross,  where  Cromwell  was  proclaimed  Lord  Protector,  with 
all  the  solemnities  that  used  to  be  at  the  proclamation  of  Kings. 
Thereafter  there  Avas  a  proclamation,  That  wherever  any  man  had 
gone  out  to  assist  the  Scots  in  rebellion  and  arms  against  them,  the 
burgh  or  landward  parish  should  pay  for  every  man  thirty  shillings 
a-day,  *  except  they  brought  him  in  to  the  nearest  garrison,  &c. 
Also  large  sums  of  money  were  oflfered  to  any  that  would  kill  Mid- 
dleton,  Glencairn,  Kenmure,  &c. 

In  May  Glencairn  came  from  the  north  with  about  300  horse- 
men with  him.  In  Athole  the  Earl  joined  with  him  with  a  foot 
rejriment  and  some  horsemen.  Also  Montrose  and  some  others 
joined  with  him.  They  kept  a  pass  at  Aberfoyle  to  intercept  some 
forces  that  were  expected  from  Ireland  to  join  with  Mordi,  who 
marched  out  of  Stirling  to  beat  Glencairn  from  the  pass,  but  was 
repulsed,  yea  chased  back  again  to  Stirling.  Monk  attempted 
once  and  again  to  regain  his  credit  at  Aberfoyle,  but  was  still  re- 
pulsed and  foiled,  especially  by  Glencairn's  bowmen.  This  did 
a  little  animate  the  Scots,  who,  about  this  time,  were  not  a  little 

whole  of  their  histon^,  and  move  especially  at  thif3  period,  has  frequently  occa- 
sioned sui-prise.  But,  in  addition  to  the  proverbial  loyalty  of  the  Scots,  it  should  he 
borne  in  mind  that  the  Tresbyterians  held  themselves  bound  by  their  Covenant  to 
Ftand  by  the  royal  family,  and  to  refuse  all  compliance  with  the  usurpers-  "  They 
were  sworn  in  the  Covenant  to  support  his  Majesty's  person  and  authority,  and  that 
they  would  not  diminish  his  just  greatness  and  power;  and  therefore  their  loyal  prin- 
ci]jlcs  and  affections  were  cherished  by  the  additional  obligation  of  their  Covenant, 
which  they  improved  on  all  occasions  as  an  argument  for  monarch)^,  and  the  right  of 
Charles  II.  to  the  cro\m,  and  for  pressing  all  that  had  taken  it  to  do  the  same,  as  they 
would  avoid  the  hm-rid  sin  of  perjury. "_/7is<.  Essai/  on  the  Loyalty  of  Presbt/terians,  p. 
548.  (Printed  in  1713.) 
*  ikots  money,  about  two  shillings  and  sixpence  sterling. 


1654.]  LIl'E  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  315 

discouraged.  They  had  a  long  time  expected  help  from  beyond 
seas,  and  got  but  few  with  Middleton.  They  also  expected  the 
King ;  but  now  they  had  lost  aU  hopes  of  his  coming.  But  that 
which  most  discouraged  them,  and  broke  that  army,  and  ruined  all, 
was  the  King's  sending  over  Sir  George  Munro  to  have  the  chief 
command  under  Middleton.  This  did  not  a  little  gall  Glencairn. 
Thereafter  Sir  George  Munro  speaking  in  favours  of  the  Lord  Lorn, 
for  readmitting  of  him  into  the  army,  Glencairn  did  call  him  "  a 
knave."  Whereupon  Munro  appealed  him  to  the  combat ;  and 
though  Glencairn  was  unwilling  to  fight  upon  the  Sabbath  day, 
yet  Munro  urging  him  to  it,  they  did  fight,  first  upon  horseback, 
then  on  foot.     Both  times  Sir  George  Munro  was  wounded. 

At  this  same  time  a  party  of  the  Scots  provoked  the  garrison  in 
Perth  out  of  the  town.  The  Scots  retiring  did  draw  them  under 
an  ambush,  whereby  some  of  the  English  were  killed.  Upon  the 
morrow,  a  party  approaching  the  toAvn  upon  the  north  side,  drew  all 
the  English  out  of  the  citadel  upon  the  south  side  of  the  town,  and, 
while  they  were  all  upon  the  north  side  of  the  town,  the  Scots  drew 
away  aU  their  horses  that  were  grazing  in  the  South  Inch.  Also 
at  this  same  time  some  prisoners  escaped  out  of  the  castle  of 
Edinburgh,  and  out  imder  the  Parliament  house  in  Edinburgh, 
amono;  whom  was  the  Earl  of  Kinnoul. 

In  the  latter  end  of  jNIay  there  came  a  letter  from  the  Protector, 
directed  to  Messrs  Robert  Blair,  Robert  Douglas  and  James  Guth- 
rie, *  commanding  them  to  repair  to  him,  that  he  might  have  their 

*  The  celebrated  James  Guthrie  was  first  minister  of  Lauder,  and  in  November 
1649,  was  transported  to  Stirling.  He  was  the  author  of  a  small  treatise  on  ruling 
elders,  and  was  supposed  to  have  had  the  chief  hand  in  drawing  up  the  "  Causes  of 
God's  wrath,"  a  pamphlet  which  furnished  the  main  pretext  for  his  condemnation  and 
execution,  or  rather  judicial  murder  in  IGGl.  His  noble  defence  of  himself  at  liis  mock 
trial,  and  the  heroic  composure  witli  which  he  submitted  to  his  sentence,  form  the  crown- 
ing, and  certainly  the  most  engaging  portion  of  his  history.  It  is  painfid  to  observe 
the  influence  of  party  prejudice  in  Baillie's  cool  and  uninterested  account  of  his  exe- 
cution. But  the  halo  which  time  throws  over  the  martyr's  head,  and  the  horror  ex- 
cited by  "  the  deep  damnation  of  his  taking  off,''  ai'C  apt  to  sway  us  too  much  sometimes 
to  the  side  of  indiscriminate  admiration.  Guthrie's  temper  appears  to  lu-rve  been 
naturally  hot  and  severe,  and  he  was  inclined  to  exjiress  himself  strongly,  and  with- 
out much  regard  to  prudence  or  to  the  feelings  of  his  brethren.     Baillic  fi'cquently 


310  LIFE  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIR.  [1654. 

udvicc  and  counsel  in  Kirk  siffiiirs.  Isix  Blair  being  not  only  alto- 
o-ether  unwilling  to  go,  but  also  infirm  and  not  able  to  go,  either 
by  sea  or  land,  sent  his  excuse  by  write  to  Mr  Fenwick,  who  wrote 
to  him  when  he  sent  the  Protector's  letter  to  him.  Mr  Blair,  in 
his  letter,  gave  a  full  and  clear  testimony  against  their  unjust  in- 
vasion, their  heavy  usurpation,  and  against  their  vast  toleration. 
'Mv  James  Guthrie  was  unwilling  to  go.  He  Avrote  a  large  letter 
to  the  Protector  testifying  against  their  toleration.  ]\Ir  Douglas, 
likewise,  was  unwilling  to  go,  especially  seeing  the  other  two  were 
not  to  ffo.  He  resolved  at  last  to  sit  until  a  second  summons  came. 
After  the  skirmish  at  Aberfoyle  Monk  marched  up  to  the  High- 
lands about  Loch  Tay.  He  gained  some  houses  there  that  the 
Scots  were  keeping,  but  Avith  no  loss  to  them,  save  of  the  houses. 
Sundry  of  the  English  were  killed.  All  this  while  INIiddleton  and 
Munro  are  in  the  north.  Monk  marched  from  Loch  Tay  north  to 
join  with  Colonel  Morgan  against  Middleton,  who,  being  unwilling 
to  fight,  (for  he  still  expected  the  King,  or  at  least  some  forces 
from  him),  marched  to  Kintail.  Monk  followed  IMiddleton  through 
the  Higlilands.  The  English  lost  many  horses  in  the  Higlilands, 
especially  in  the  bogs  of  Kintail.  Their  men  and  horse  being  ex- 
ceedingly wearied  Monk  returned  to  Perth,  but  Middleton  kept 
still  in  the  liiUs  ;  and  because  the  English  were  in  several  parties 
he  divided  his  forces  in  three  parties,  one  to  Munro,  one  to  Mon- 
trose, (who  lately  before  kiUed  some,  and  expelled  the  rest  of  the 
garrison  of  Aberdeen),  and  kept  the  third  party  to  himself. 
Wliile  ^Middleton  and  his  party  are  marching  along  Loch  Ness 
there  was  a  skirmish  betwixt  Morgan's  party  and  them,  who  acci- 
dentally, not  knowing  of  other,  rencountered  at  a  narrow  pass. 
^Middleton  lost  some  of  his  horse  and  baggage,  but  very  few  men. 
All  this  time  bypast  the  spirits  of  the  English  being  embittered 
against  Scotland,  especially  because  of  these  parties  that  were  in 
arms  against  them,  there  were  heavy  and  intolerable  burdens  im- 
posed upon  all  sorts  of  persons.  The  Protector  did  fine  all  the 
richest  in  the  kingdom,  laying  on  them  vast  sums  of  money.     Also 

exprcs-scs  his  fears  lest  the  public  papers  of  the  Church  "  should  fall  into  Mr  James 
Guthrie's  brisk  hand."-(£e«cr.<t,  iii.  57,  59.) 


1654.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  317 

there  was  required  of  every  man  that  had  a  near  relation  In  arms 
against  them  thirty  shillings  i^er  diem ;  and  if  any  of  them  were 
killed  or  taken,  or  any  of  their  horses  taken,  great  sums  of  money 
were  exacted  of  the  parish  or  town  where  they  were  killed  or 
taken.  All  this  was  of  purpose  to  impoverish  the  country  as  cruel 
taskmasters,  doubling  the  tale  of  brick,  &c. 

This  summer  the  Queen  of  Sweden  did  resign  her  right  of  the 
crown  to  him  that  was  nearest  to  it,  he  paying  to  her  vast  sums  of 
money.  This  resignation  and  his  coronation  were  performed  with 
great  show  and  solemnity. 

About  Lammas  Mr  Livingstone  came  from  London,  being  much 
displeased  with  the  English  and  their  carriage,  especially  in  rela- 
tion to  Kirk  affairs.  The  Protector  was  glad  to  be  quit  of  him, 
because  he  spoke  more  plainly  than  pleasantly  to  him.  But  the 
other  two  ministers,  Patrick  Gillespie  and  John  Menzies,  abode 
still  at  London,  with  whom  the  Protector  was  better  pleased. 
The  Parliament  indicted  by  the  Protector  when  he  raised  the 
Parliament,  and  took  to  himself  the  title  of  Lord  Protector,  did  sit 
down  the  3d  of  September,  which  Cromwell  used  to  call  Ms  day.* 
Very  few  barons  of  quality  did  countenance  the  elections  of  Com- 
missioners, so  most  malignant  and  base  men  Avere  chosen ;  yea, 
some  towns  elected  Englishmen.  At  this  time  all  hopes  of  any 
good  from  the  Scots  army,  under  Glencairn's  or  Middleton  s  com- 
mand, was  clean  blasted  and  gone.  Glencairn  thought  himself  af- 
fronted by  making  Munro  lieutenant-general,  [and],  therefore, 
would  not  join  with  Middleton ;  and  Middleton  resolving  to  pro- 
tract the  war,  not  minding  to  fight,  was  chased  hither  and  thither, 
and,  his  army  wasting  away  from  him,  was  in  a  painful  condition 
in  the  hills,  without  victuals,  especially  their  horses  were  sjioiled, 
they  not  having  iron  nor  smiths.  Li  August  Glencairn,  Athole 
and  Montrose,  did  capitulate  with  the  English,  and  made  their 
peace  upon  very  honourable  and  great  conditions.     Meanwhile 

*  It  was  on  the  third  of  September  that  Cromwell  gained  two  great  victories,  that 
of  Dunbar  and  that  of  Worcester.  What  is  still  more  remarkable  it  was  on  the  third 
of  September  that  Cromwell  died  !   lie  might  mcU  call  it  "  his  day," 


318 


LIFE  OF  ItOBEHT  BLAIR.  [1654. 


Middleton's  army  still  diminishes.  Sundry  came  home  to  their 
ow-n  houses  and  procured  protections  from  the  English,  engaging 
to  live  peaceably,  so  that  in  September  Mddleton  had  very  few 
in  arms  with  him  in  the  hills. 

About  the  time  of  Glencairn's  capitulation  Messrs  Patrick  Gil- 
lespie and  John  Menzies  came  home,  and  shortly  thereafter  there 
came  abroad  an  ordinance,  emitted  by  the  Council  of  Estate,  con- 
cerning Kirk  affairs,  especially  the  planting  of  vacant  kirks  in 
Scotland,  Avherein  were  many  things  encroaching  upon  the  liber- 
ties of  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  and  contrary  to  the  established 
order  of  Kirk  government  in  Scotland,  founded  upon  the  word  of 
God,  and  sworn  to  in  the  National  and  Solemn  League  and  Cove- 
nant. Messrs  Patrick  Gillespie  and  John  ISIenzies  procured  this 
ordinance  and  accepted  of  it ;  and  that  it  might  be  the  better 
liked  of,  they  inserted  in  it  the  names  of  many  honest  ministers  that 
were  very  averse  from  that  kind  of  Prelacy  or  supremacy  that  was 
given  to  them  by  that  ordinance,  viz.,  Messrs  Eobert  Blair, 
Samuel  Rutherford,  Alexander  IMoncrieff,  &c.  All  those  whose 
names  were  inserted  in  it,  except  some  few  Protesters,  viz.,  jSlessrs 
John  Nevay,*  William  Guthrie,  &c.,t  did  speak  much  against  it, 
and  condemn  it  as  much  as  any  other  honest  ministers,  but  none 
did  more  abhor  and  detest  it  than  Mr  Blair.  Sundry  Synods  did 
emit  declarations  against  this  ordinance,  especially  the  Synods  of 

*  John  Nevay,  or  Nevoy,  was  minister  of  Newmills  in  the  parish  of  London.  He 
seems  to  have  been  a  very  zealous,  and  honest,  thougli  somewhat  violent  man,  thrusting 
himself  forward  in  all  public  questions  ;  and  he  distinguished  himself  on  one  occasion, 
not  much  to  his  credit,  by  his  officious  zeal  in  urging  the  military  execution  of  some 
wretched  Irish  kernes,  who  were  taken  prisoners  after  the  defeat  of  Montrose,  at 
Dunavertie.  After  the  Restoration  he  signed  an  act  of  self-banishment,  and  died  in 
Holland,  1GC8. 

t  William  Guthrie,  minister  ofFenwick,  and  the  well-known  author  of  "  The 
Christian's  Great  Interest."  He  was  well  descended;  his  father,  the  laird  ofPitforthy 
in  Angus,  being  a  branch  of  the  ancient  family  of  Guthrie  in  that  shire.  He  was 
cousin  to  the  celebrated  martyr,  James  Guthrie,  and,  like  him,  joined  the  party  of 
the  Remonstrants.  His  facetious  disposition  rendered  him  a  general  favourite  with 
the  English  ofliccrs,  as  indeed  it  did  with  all  who  knew  him.  The  interesting  circum- 
stances connected  with  his  expidsion  from  his  parish,  after  the  Restoration,  are  fami- 
liar to  all  acfiuaintcd  with  that  portion  of  history.  He  died  at  Brechin,  Oct.  10.  1G65, 
in  the  forty-iifth  vcar  of  his  aKC. 


1655.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  319 

Lothian  and  Fife  in  October,  shewing  in  what  respects  it  was  con- 
trary to  the  established  order  and  government  of  the  Kirk  of  Scot- 
land, and  contrary  to  our  solemn  covenants. 

All  this  time  bypast  the  English  mock  Parliament  is  sitting. 
At  their  downsitting  there  were  sundry  debates  and  stirs  amongst 
them.  The  Protector  gave  in  to  them  some  papers  containing  his 
desires,  or  rather  imperious  commands,  arrogating  to  himself  a  ne- 
gative voice  in  matters  of  greatest  importance  and  concernment, 
and  requiring  that  he  and  his  posterity  might  be  established  in 
that  place  and  authority  he  now  enjoyed  as  Lord  Protector. 
These  demands  seemed  so  gross  to  any  that  had  any  thing  of 
honesty  or  ingenuity,  [ingenuousness],  that  they  refused  to  sign 
them,  and  they  were,  by  orders  from  the  Protector,  commanded 
to  the  Tower ;  yet,  thereafter,  many  of  them  signed  some  of  his 
first  demands,  giving  him  a  negative  voice  in  some  things.  As 
for  his  craving  the  Protectorship  to  be  hereditary  he  passed  from 
it,  and  was  content  it  should  be  elective  ;  and  "  so  they  wrapped 
it  up,"  and  the  Parliament  sat  down.  Li  December  many  officers 
of  the  army,  who  were  of  the  Anabaptist  faction,  did  convene  and 
sit  in  a  committee,  and  refused  to  rise,  being  commanded  by  the 
Protector. 

In  the  beginning  of  January  1655,  there  was  discovered  a  plot 
of  the  Anabaptists,  which  was  not  only  for  the  cutting  oif  the  Pro- 
tector, but  also  for  cutting  off  Monk  in  Scotland,  and  all  that  they 
conceived  to  be  against  their  designs,  especially  the  ministers  of 
Scotland.  The  chief  of  that  sect  were  apprehended  and  imprisoned 
at  London.  Also  in  Scotland  the  ringleaders  of  the  Anabaptist 
faction  were  apprehended  in  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  and  sent  to 
Edinburgh  and  there  imprisoned,  and  the  prime  of  them  sent  to 
London,  so  that  the  army  was  purged  of  the  chief  and  prime  of 
that  faction,  and  a  special  eye  was  had  on  any  of  that  stamp,  so 
that  their  power  was  crushed. 

In  the  latter  end  of  January  the  Protector  finding  that  the 
Parliament  was  not  for  his  intents  did  convene  them  in  the  Paint- 
ed Chamber,  where,  after  a  long  speech  to  them,  wherein  he  did 


320  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1655. 

upbraid  them  and  challenge  them  of  sundry  things,  he  did  declare 
them  to  be  no  more  a  Parliament,  and  so  did  dissolve  that  Par- 
liament. 

In  the  spring  there  were  none  in  arms  for  the  King's  interest  in 
Scotland,  except  a  few  Avith  the  Lord  Lorn  ;  for  now  Middleton 
had  o-one  over  seas  to  the  King.  Immediately  thereafter  Lorn 
capitulated  with  the  English,  as  Glencairn  and  the  rest  had  done 
before ;  so  that  now  the  English  possessed  the  Avhole  kingdom 
peaceably.     Deut.  xxxii.  36.  * 

In  the  summer  the  Protector  appointed  a  Council  of  Estate  for 
the  government  of  Scotland,  answerable  to  the  Committee  of 
Estates  that  ruled  before  the  Invasion.  It  consisted  of  English 
and  Scots.  The  Lord  Brothwell  [Broghill]  f  was  president,  a  mode- 
rate and  judicious  man.  He  Avas  friendly  to  honest  ministers,  and 
liked  well  all  godly  men.  All  this  time  Monk  was  one  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  Estate  and  general  of  the  army  in  Scotland.  Instead  of  the 
fifteen  Lords  of  the  Session  there  were  some  few  Judges  in  that 
judicatory,  some  English,  some  Scotch.  They  were  not,  as  be- 
fore, called  Lords  but  Judges.  There  was  also  another  judicatory, 
called  the  Trustees,  who  ordered  the  rents  of  the  forfaulted  estates. 

In  October  ISlr  Blair's  eldest  sou,  ]SIr  James  Blair,  (after  he  had 
been  long  a  regent  in  St  Leonard's  college,  and  lialf-a  year  minister 

*  "  The  Lord  sliall  repent  himself  for  his  servants,  when  he  seeth  that  their  power  is 
gone,  and  that  there  is  none  shut  up  or  left."  The  political  sentiments  of  Row  appear 
more  in  these  references  to  Scripture  than  in  any  direct  reflections. 

t  Tiiis  was  Roser  Boyle,  third  son  of  the  Earl  of  Cork,  wlio  was  created  Baron  of 
Bro.iihill  in  1G28,  hefore  he  was  seven  years  of  age.  "After  the  death  of  Charles  I., 
having  heen  gained  over  by  Cromwell,  he  distinguished  himself  by  his  services  in  Ire- 
land, and  was  persuaded  to  come  for  one  year  to  Scotland  in  1655-165G,  as  President 
of  the  Council."  Baillic  speaking  of  him  when  in  Scotland,  says,  "  The  President, 
Broghill,  is  reported  by  aU  to  be  a  man  exceeding  wise  and  moderate,  and  by  profes- 
sion a  Presbyterian  ;  he  has  gained  more  on  the  affections  of  the  people  than  all  the 
English  that  ever  were  among  us.  He  has  been  very  civil  to  Mr  Douglas  and  Mr 
Dickson,  and  is  vei7  intime  with  INIr  James  Sharp  ;  by  this  means  we  have  an  equal 
hearing  [equal  with  that  of  the  Protesters]  in  all  we  have  adoe  with  the  Council." — 
J.ittirs  (Hid  Journal,  iii.  316.  Again  he  says,  "  But  if  men  of  my  Lord  Broghill's  parts 
and  temper  be  long  among  us,  they  will  make  the  present  government  more  beloved 
than  some  men  wish.  From  our  public  praying  for  tlie  King,  Broghill's  courtesies 
more  than  his  threats  brought  off  our  leading  men."— Ibid.  iii.  321. 


1655.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  321 

of  Dysart),  died  in  his  father's  house  at  St  Andrews.  Mr  Blair 
compiled  some  poems  Tipon  that  sad  and  sorrowful  occasion. 
Unto  the  first  he  jrave  this  title  : — 


GEMITUS  DEFONCTI  IN  JIOKBO  FIDE    SPEQUE  GRAVIDI. 

Proli !  contempta  jacet  pietas,  pax  rapta,  fidesque, 

Rarior  in  terris  exiilat  omiiis  amor. 
Expertii.s  mojstusque  loquor  ;  pliilautia  regnat, 

Neglecto  Christo,  quisque  sibi  invigiLat ; 
Dnm  tua  Suai'czi  monumenta  operosa  pererro, 

Duin  Sisyphi  saxum  volvo  revolvo  nimis, 
Dum  Sophia;  invigilaiif?,  pubi  penetralia  pando, 

In  coeno  atqiie  Into  pene  miser  peril. 
Nee  periit  labor  illc  annon  famulantibus  inde, 

Imbuta  est  studiis  Cbriste !  jiiventa  tibi. 
Sed  milii  paucorum  pricconia  sacra  dierum, 

Plus  mihi  profectiis  la3titia}que  pi^e, 
Quam  stadia  annorum  mnltornni,  et  laurea  pnbi 

Bis  donata  meis  auspitiis,  studiis. 
Sacra  ministerii  sed  vix  primordia  premens, 

Deficio  ante  pedes,  suavis  lesu  I  tuos. 
Excutit  e  manibus  divini  lampada  verbi, 

Mi  tabefacto,  coquens  ■sascera  lenta  (p^Krn, 
Indiguo  qui  cclsa  tui  mj^steria  regni 

Tractem,  qui  sponsa;  casta  divina  *  feram, 
Digno  qui  mediis  rugiam  crucialibus  Orel, 

DigTio  qui  excludar  la^titite  fluviis. 
Sed  non  clansa  manent  misero  tua  viscera,  Christe  ! 

Christe  !  cibus,  potus,  deliciceque  mibi. 
Nolo  vobiscum  sortem  altemare,  Tyi'anni ! 

Nolo  vobiscum  regia  sceptra,  Duces ! 
Qui  commune  nihil  Christo  cum  rege  tenetis  ; 

Ille  suo  regnum  sanguine  me  peperit. 
Hfec  in  corde  meo  regnant  nunc  spesque  fidesque, 

Gaudia  prabebunt  secla  f'utura  milii. 
Egredere  audacter  tabefacto  e  corj>ore  scande 

Spiritus  angelicum  concipe  coi'de  melos, 
Christe  !  mihi  rescra  celsi  penetralia  cocli, 

Te  duce  per  tenebras  absque  tiraore  sequar. 
Cum  milii  luctifica  intentabit  vulnera  dextra 

Mors  in  valle  sua  Christe  1  triumphus  ens. 
Hac  scala  me  sistet  ])aradisi  in  cidmine  Iretum ; 

Ultra  nil  valeo  dicere.    Munde  vale.f 

♦  On  the  margin  KenriaVia.        t  TIk^sc  lines  have  been  pvidentlyblniiderod  in  the  transcription. 

X 


322  I-IFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1655. 

To  the  second  this  title  : — 

DiALOGUS    INTER  PATREM  SUI'EHSTITEM  ET  FILIUM  DEFUNCTDM. 

Quis  patrem,  nisi  mentis  inops,  infunere  nati,  Fhre  vetat? 

Siccinc  vivendo  vivi  mea  fata  siiperstes 
]\Iocrcns  lit  nato  funera  acerba  darem  ? 
TJ^uToytyiis  tuniulnni  mihi  proli  nmic  implet  hiantem, 

I'ra'pvoperans  juvenis  prajripis  anue  seni? 
HosjMtiuin  valde  optatum  sedesque  cupitas 

Dicito  quid  tibi  -vas  filius  ante  diem  ? 
Prreripio  hand  palmam,  locus  est  hie  pluribus  umbiis 

Pulveribus  mixtis,  accola  vester  ero  ; 
Sed  gero  coelesti  morem  obsequiumque  parenti, 

Ductorem  tantum  est  suave  necesse  seqiii. 
I  sequere,  ipse  sequar  prceuntem,  scilicet  ille 

Tempora  denranerat  nostra  vicesque  notat. 

To  the  third  this  title  : — 

NOVISSIMA  DEFUNCTI  SUSPIRIA  PRIDIE  MORTIS. 

Suavia  libavi  coelestis  guadia  regni, 

Pax  mihi  parta  tuis  est  data  Christe !  plagis, 
Omnes  delicias,  flos  mundi  exaruit,  omnis 

Mimdi  carnalis  amor  et  omne  decus. 
Fcstinans  anlielans, 

Tartara  uon  metuo,  te  duce  Christe !  pra;i.* 

ISIr  James  Blair  departed  this  life  upon  the  20th  of  October 
1G55,  being  Saturday.  Immediately  after  his  death,  Mr  Blair,  his 
father,  (being  pre-engaged  to  preach  the  preparation  sermon  before 
the  celebration  of  the  holy  commmiion  in  the  kirk  of  Cameron), 
took  horse  and  went  out  of  St  Andrews  and  preached  in  Cameron 
kirk  on  that  Saturday  afternoon  a  most  pertinent  and  powerful 
sermon ;  of  so  composed  a  spirit  and  serene  mind  was  Mr  Blair 
amidst  all  the  great  troubles  and  difficult  trials  of  his  time,  either 
more  private  or  more  public.  On  the  Lord's  day  before  his  son's 
death,  he  assisted  at  the  celebration  of  the  communion  in  the  kirk 
of  Dysart,  where  his  son  was  colleague  to  Mr  James  Wilson.  He 
was  often  and  much  employed  as  a  chief  actor  and  prime  instru- 
ment at  the  celebration  of  the  communion  in  the  parishes  of  Cupar, 
Forgan,  Dunbog,  Ceres  and  Kemback.      At  these  solemn  occa- 

•  Wi-  give  the  above  as  in  the  MS.,  wliidi  is  <>b\iousl.v  incomct. 


1655.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  323 

sions  many  souls  got  much  good  by  his  ministry.  It  was  the 
Lord's  wonderful  condescension  and  kindness  to  his  own  in  Scot- 
land, that,  while  they  were  under  the  feet  of  usurpers,  the  Lord 
sweetened  the  bitterness  of  their  bondage,  by  blessing  the  labours 
of  his  faithful  servants  in  the  ministry,  not  only  in  and  about  St 
Andrews  and  other  parts  of  Fife,  but  in  several  parts  of  the  king- 
dom, yea  even  in  the  Highlands,  the  Lord  setting  before  his  ser- 
vants an  open  door  every  where,  and  in  several  places  a  great  door 
and  eifectual  was  opened  to  many.  Rev.  iii.  8  ;  1.  Cor.  xvi.  9  ;  in- 
somuch, that  some  of  the  English  set  over  us  as  task-masters,  fall- 
ing in  love  Avith  the  word  preached,  and  getting  good  thereby, 
were  very  kind  and  discreet,  especially  to  the  most  painful  and 
diligent  ministers,  Prov.  xvi.  7.* 

This  year,  the  King  of  Sweden,  f  (of  whom  before)  did  invade 
Poland ;  and  having  beat  the  King  of  Poland  in  sundry  battles, 
he  was  at  last  crowned  King  of  Poland.  There  were  two  regi- 
ments levied  for  his  assistance  in  Scotland,  under  the  command  of 
the  Lord  Crawford. 

Also  this  year  the  Protector  had  a  design  to  surprise  Hispaniola, 
a  rich  isle  in  America,  garrisoned  by  the  King  of  Spain,  where 
were  many  gold  and  silver  mines.  He  sent  to  the  sea  a  great  fleet, 
with  several  regiments  in  them ;  they  first  sailed  to  the  Barbado 
isles,  where  were  many  of  the  prisoners  taken  at  Preston,  Dunbar 
and  Worcester ;  these  were  shipped  as  soldiers ;  they  landed  a 
considerable  party  in  Hispaniola  without  any  resistance  ;  but  while 
they  lay  in  a  leaguer  upon  the  coast,  to  refresh  their  sea-sick  sol- 
diers, they  were  taken  napping  by  a  party  of  the  Spanish  garrison 
that  lay  hidden  in  a  bay  of  the  coast,  within  the  English  guards. 
They  being  sm-prised,  were  easily  routed,  and  all  of  them  cut  off 

*  ""Wlien  a  man's  ways  please  the  Lord,  he  maketh  even  his  enemies  to  be  at  peace 
with  him."  Such  is  Row's  comment  on  a  fact  wliich  has  often  been  quoted,  in  proof 
of  the  judiciousness  of  Cromwell's  administration  in  Scotland — the  prosperity  of  re- 
ligion at  this  period.  According  to  him,  it  was  but  "  a  sweetening  of  the  bitterness  of 
their  bondage."  We  would  merely  beg  the  reader  to  remai'k  that  this  reflection  was 
made  and  adhered  to  many  years  after  the  Restoration  liad  made  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land feel  the  bitterness  of  another  kind  of  bondage. 

t  Gustarus  Adolphus. 

X  2 


324  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G55. 

Avitliout  mercy,  except  the  Scots.  After  this  defeat  of  the  land 
army,  the  fleet  removed,  and  landed  so  many  of  the  army  as  were 
to  the  fore,  in  an  isle  called  Jamaica,  but  it  was  of  no  great  A-alue. 
This  disaster  did  exceedingly  amaze,  astonish  and  confound  the 
Protector,  so  that,  for  some  days,  none  got  access  to  him.  After 
this,  the  Spanish  fleets  did  still  prey  upon  all  English  and  Scotch 
ships,  and  did  very  great  hurt  at  sea  to  them,  the  Spanish  pirates 
committing  many  hostilities  in  the  narrow  seas,  yea,  they  landed  in 
some  parts,  spoiled  houses  and  victualled  their  ships  ;  and  no  small 
fear  was  of  Spain's  prevailing  over  this  island.  About  this  time 
also,  the  King  of  Spain  did  beat  the  King  of  France's  army,  in 
France,  which  augmented  the  fears  of  Protestants  lest  Spaiii 
should  prevail,  and  that  Popery  should  yet  get  footing  again  in 
Britain ;  for  at  this  time  Papists  multiplied  in  Scotland,  especially 
in  the  north,  and  they  grew  very  proud.  INIany  seminary  priests 
and  Jesuits  came  to  the  north  and  other  parts,  so  that  the  ministry 
began  to  bethink  themselves  of  some  means  to  put  a  stop  to  the 
spreading  of  Popery,  especially  to  help  the  north,  Caithness, 
Sutherland,  &c.,  that  were  very  destitute  of  ministers. 

The  Protector's  big  hopes  builded  upon  his  design  against  His- 
paniola  being  disappointed,  he  bethinks  himself  how  to  get  monies 
to  repair  his  fleet.  For  this  and  other  ends,  he  appointed  Justices 
of  Peace  In  Scotland,  giving  them  authority  to  cess  the  per- 
sonal estates  of  all  in  the  land,  so  that  the  corn  and  cattle,  &c.  of 
husbandmen  should  pay  some  small  cess.  Also  ministers'  stipends 
were  ordained  to  be  cessed.  But  neither  of  these  succeeded. 
There  was  such  outcrying  of  the  husbandmen  that  the  gentry 
were  glad  to  free  them  of  their  cess  ;  and  the  President  of  the 
Council  did,  by  an  act  of  Council,  discharge  the  cessing  of  minis- 
ters' stipends.  About  this  time  the  Council  of  Estate,  pressing 
ministers  to  desist  from  praying  for  the  King  in  public,  under  pain 
of  losing  their  stipends,  &c.,  some  that  had  power  mth  the  Pre- 
sident informed  him  that  if  ministers  were  not  threatened,  but 
had  their  liberty,  they  would  now,  of  their  own  accord,  leave  pub- 
lic praying  for  the  King,  having  given  sufficient  evidence  of  their 


1655.J  LIFE  OF  ROBEUT  BLAIR.  325 

affection  to  him  by  praying  fur  him  so  long,  even  in  public  in  the 
hearing  of  the  English.  AYliereupon  the  Council  made  a  procla- 
mation, taking  off  all  penalties  denounced  against  ministers  for 
praying  for  the  King  in  public,  leaving  the  matter  to  the  arbitre- 
ment  of  the  ministers.  Thereafter  public  remembering  of  the  King- 
by  name,  in  the  public  prayers,  was  left  off  by  almost  all  the  minis- 
ters of  Scotland  ;  yet  still  he  was  prayed  for,  not  only  in  families 
and  in  secret,  but  in  public,  being  involved  in  some  general  that 
did  clearly  enough  design  him  to  all  intelligent  hearers. 

All  this  while  by-past,  the  differences  among  ministers  not  only 
continue,  but  were  heightened  and  augmented  by  the  animosities 
of  the  two  parties  that  stood  at  greatest  distance,  especially  by 
their  printed  papers,  jyro  and  contra*  Yet,  notwithstanding,  Mr 
Blair  did  not  leave  off'  his  earnest  dealing  and  endeavours  for  union 
and  agreement  of  all  the  moderate  party.  There  was  no  minister 
more  like  minded  with  Mr  Blair  in  all  things  than  the  pious  and 
learned  Mr  James  Durham,  minister  of  Glasgow.!  These  two 
meetino;  together  at  St  Andrews,  with  the  consent  and  concur- 
rence  of  some  others  in  Fife,  drew  on  a  meeting  of  the  Public 
Resolutioners  and  Protesters  at  Edinburgh,  in  the  end  of  the  year, 
for  union  and  agreement  betwixt  them.     The  prime  men  of  both 

*  The  Protesters  collected  money  for  the  printing  of  books  ou  their  side.  Mr 
Robert  Trail,  in  a  letter  to  Messrs  Thomas  Wylie  and  John  Nevay,  ^vl•itten  in  name  of 
a  meeting  of  Protesters,  "  ministers,  elders,  and  professors,"  at  Edinbnrgh,  23d  Marcli 
1G54,  giving  an  account  of  the  appointment  of  some  of  their  number  to  visit  the 
Presbyteries  of  Ayr  and  Irvine,  and  to  be  communicated  to  the  brethren  of  these 
Presbyteries,  says,  "  We  expect,  with  all  convenience,  some  good  account  of  your  dili- 
gence concerning  the  collection  for  printing.  Several  of  tlie  books  to  be  printed  were 
seen  at  the  meeting,  and  we  doubt  not  that  all  were  sensible  how  much  advantage 
may  redound  to  the  cause  of  God  by  the  speedy  publishing  of  them." —  Wodrow  MSS., 
vol.  xxix.  4to,  no.  7L 

t  Durham,  in  his  anxiety  to  i-estore  harmony  between  the  contending  parties,  present  - 
ed  overtures  for  union  to  the  Synod  of  Glasgow,  in  April  1652.  In  these  overtures  Blair 
cordially  concurred.  His  influence  in  the  Synod  of  Fife,  and  Durham's,  in  the  Synod 
of  Glasgow,  in  promoting  these  overtures,  were  viewed  with  much  jealousy  by  Baillie, 
who  disapproved  of  them,  unwilling  to  make  any  concessions  to  the  Protesters.  "  I 
fear,"  says  he,  "Mr  Blair  and  Mr  Durliam  be  in  ways  to  increase  our  mischiefs  ;  I  see 
the  Synod  of  Glasgow  and  Fife  are  presently  to  be  assaulted  in  their  new  way  for 
union,  to  bury  the  Assembly  indeed,  and  to  put  tyrannous  men's  feet  again  on  the 
neck  of  our  Church." — Lcllers  and  Journah,  iii.  177,  183. 


32(.;  LlfE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1656. 

the  parties  did  resort  to  Edinburgh ;*  and  tlioiigh  Mr  Blair  was  now 
infirm  and  unmeet  for  travel,  (being  often  afflicted  with  the  gout, 
gravel,  and  fits  of  scorbutick  fevers)  yet  he  travelled  to  Edinburgh, 
and  there  with  Mr  Durham,  (and  some  few  others  that  were  lilce 
minded  Avith  them  two)  dealt  so  effectually  betwixt  the  two  par- 
ties that  there  was  more  appearance  of  a  union  than  at  several 
conferences  before ;  for  at  this  time  IVIr  Patrick  Gillespie  (who 
formerly  had  been  very  much  for  the  Protestation)  was  very  in- 
strumental and  helpful  to  Messrs  Blair  and  Durham,  that  travelled 
most  earnestly,  and  mediate  most  effectually  for  union.  Likewise 
Mr  Gillespie,  before  this,  was  the  chief  man  that  procured  some 
kind  of  union  in  the  Synod  and  Presbytery  of  Glasgow.  But 
after  long  conferring  and  debating  about  the  differences,  they 
could  not  agree,  the  Lord  in  his  wrath  having  divided  us.  Those 
that  were  most  averse  from  union  were  Mr  James  Graham,  Lord 
Warriston,  and  Sir  John  Chiesly.  That  meeting  being  dissolv- 
ed, all  hopes  of  agreement  evanished  ;  all  means  that  the  skill  of 
man  could  invent  for  union  being  essayed,  but  in  vain.  Li  the 
latter  end  of  this  year  excise  was  imposed  upon  all  commodities, 
except  bread  and  flesh,  which  did  very  much  burden  the  country. 
Poor  people  were  greatly  oppressed  by  collectors,  and  though 
complaints  were  made  to  the  Council  of  Estate,  yet  no  redress 
was  obtained. 

The  first  session  of  the  Justices  of  Peace  was  in  February  1650. 

*  Tliis  meeting  sat  down  according  to  appointment,  on  the  8th  of  November  ;  and 
tlic  parties  held  many  conferences.  "  Mr  Eobert  Bhiir  and  Mr  James  Durham  ap- 
peared as  mid-men ;  albeit  of  our  [the  Kesolutioners']  judgment  for  the  main,  and 
in  the  whole  debate  grieved  with  the  others.  Their  [the  Protesters']  papers  were 
all  framed  by  Mr  James  Gutlme's  hand,  of  my  Lord  Warriston's  materials.  .  . 
....  Our  concessions  were  so  many  and  great  that  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie,  Mr 
•lohn  Carstairs,  and  others  of  their  meeting,  not  Mr  Durham  and  Mr  Blair  onl}-,  seem- 
ed fully  satisfied  therewith,  and  we  began  to  hope  for  a  concord.  But  Warriston  and 
Mr  Guthrie  did  cany  it  so  in  their  meeting  over  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie  that  this  very 

captious  imper  was  given  in  to  us At  last  they  gave  us  their  clear  and  final 

sense,  with  which  Mr  Gillespie  refused  to  join,  but  deserted  their  meeting After 

twenty-three  days'  stay,  we  closed  the  meeting."— Z,e</«-.s-  and  Journals,  iii.  29G,  297. 
"  W  e  lately  liad  n  long  twenty  days'  conference  at  Edinburgh,  for  union  with  our 
brethren  ;  more  than  a  dozen  of  papers  passed  among  us."— y/v?V.  iii.  30+.  These 
papers  are  to  be  found  among  the  Wodrow  MSS.  vol.  xxxiii.  4to. 


1656.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  327 

The  Court  was  made  up  of  English  and  Scotch  ;  but  some  of  our 
gentry  refused  to  give  the  oath  that  Avas  craved  of  them,  and  so 
were  not  upon  the  Court.  They  had  large  power  for  repressing 
of  all  public  and  scandalous  sins,  viz.,  swearing,  drunkenness, 
Sabbath-breaking,  stealing,  &c.,  by  imposing  of  pecuniary  mulcts, 
and  corporal  punishments.  Also  they  had  power  to  take  up  the 
pecuniary  mulcts  that  Kirk  Sessions  exacted  of  fornicators,  adul- 
terers, &c. ;  but  the  evil  of  that  being  represented  unto  them,  it 
was  accorded  that  these  mulcts  should  be  divided  betAvixt  them 
and  Sessions.  The  Justices  of  Peace  had  in  the  several  parishes 
constables  under  them,  that  executed  their  orders,  and  attended 
their  quarterly  sessions. 

In  this  summer  the  King  of  Sweden  had  not  so  good  success  in 
Poland  as  formerly ;  for  this  year  he  was  beaten  by  the  King  of 
Poland,  and  thereafter  expelled  out  of  Poland. 

This  summer  the  Protector  indicted  a  Parliament  to  sit  down  in 
September,  and  ordained  the  several  shires  in  Scotland  to  elect 
their  Commissioners  to  the  Parliament. 

In  June,  the  Synod  of  Fife  convened  in  Cupar,  it  being  a  cur- 
rent Synod.  They  then  received  letters  from  the  Synod  of 
Lothian,  desiring  them  to  send  to  Edinburgh  two  from  each  Pres- 
bytery to  a  meeting  in  Edinburgh,  in  August  ensuing,  who  were  to 
advise  of  the  best  means  to  suppress  Popery,  which  was  fast  spread- 
ing, and  especially  to  help  the  North,  that  were  destitute  of  minis- 
ters, '  and'  among  whom  seminary  priests  and  Jesuits  trafficked. 

The  shires  elected  Commissioners  to  the  future  Parliament. 
All  for  the  most  part,  not  only  for  the  shires,  but  burghs,  were 
Englishmen.  The  Protector  vniting  to  the  shires  and  burghs,  re- 
commended men  to  them,  whom  he  thought  most  fit.  The  Lord 
Broughwell  [Broghill]  was  elected  for  the  town  of  Edinburgh. 

In  August  the  meeting  of  ministers  before  spoken  of  did  con- 
vene. Each  Synod  sent  two  Commissioners  to  this  meeting. 
The  end  of  the  meeting  was  given  out  to  be  the  good  of  religion 
against  the  encroachments  of  Popery.  Yet  some  honest  ministers, 
especially  those  tluit  were  more  moderate,  disliked  the  meeting. 


328  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1656. 

ioarino-  that  some  other  thing  was  intended  than  was  expressed  in 
the  letters  to  the  Synods.  The  meeting  convened  in  Edinburgh. 
They  did  something  to  hinder  the  spreading  of  Popery.  Before  this 
time  they  had  nominated  two  ministers  to  go  to  Caithness  to  preach 
there,  and  do  what  they  could  to  suppress  Popery  ;  but  the  two 
brethren  delaying  to  go  until  the  meeting,  one  of  them,  viz.,  Mr 
George  Leshe,  died  about  the  time  of  the  meeting,  and  so  the 
other  did  not  go ;  only  at  the  meeting  they  spoke  Avith  the  Earl 
of  Caithness,  and  did  recommend  to  him  some  young  preachers. 
But  the  meeting,  as  was  feared  and  suspected,  did  meddle  with 
other  things  ;  for  it  was  proponed  in  the  meeting,  whether  or  not, 
considering  the  estate  of  our  Kirk,  it  were  expedient  to  send  up 
one  of  their  number  to  the  Protector,  to  give  him  a  right  informa- 
tion of  the  estate  of  the  affairs  of  the  Kirk,  and  to  prevent  misin- 
formations, and  to  take  care  that  the  government  and  established 
order  of  the  Kirk  received  no  more  prejudices  by  the  disorderly 
practices  of  the  Protesters  in  planting  of  kirks,  deposing  of  minis- 
ters, &c.  But  though  the  plurality  thought  it  expedient  to  send 
one  of  their  number  up  to  the  Protector,  yet  many  disrelished  the 
motion,  and  they  that  liked  it  did  not  condescend  upon  the 
person  to  be  sent ;  neither  was  there  any  thing  spoken  in  the 
meeting  of  his  commission  or  instructions  to  be  given  to  him,  &c., 
only  they  thought  it  expedient  that  one  of  their  number  should  be 
sent.  There  was  no  more  spoken  or  done  publicly  in  the  meeting. 
But  after  the  dissolving  of  the  meeting,  ISIr  James  Wood  and  Mr 
Frederick  Carmichael  did  recommend  to  some  of  the  ministers  of 
Edinburgh  Mr  James  Sharp,  minister  of  Crail,  as  the  fittest  per- 
son to  be  sent  up  to  the  Protector,  he  being  more  intimate  and 
familiar  with  the  President,  from  whom  (as  it  was  alleged)  this 
motion  of  sending  one  to  the  Protector  did  first  flow ;  hkewise 
being  intimate  with  the  English  judges,  and  having  acquaintance 
with  sundry  at  London.  So  these  few  ministers  did  deal  with  Mr 
James  Shai-p,  and  persuaded  him  to  repair  to  London  for  the  fore- 
said end.-.  :\rr  Blair  and  all  of  his  moderate  temper  did  not  ap- 
jirove  tlic  .vending  of  .Mr  James  Sharp  to  the  Protector;   which 


1656.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIPw  329 

being  suspected  b}^  those  that  were  more  rigid  Public  Men,  espe- 
cially by  the  few  that  contrived  the  sending  of  Mr  James  Sharp, 
they  did  not  consult  Mr  Blair  in  the  affair,  though  he  was  in  Edin- 
burgh, when  that  business  was  contrived  and  concluded  ;  neither 
knew  he  of  it,  mitil  Mr  James  Sharp,  the  very  night  before  he 
took  horse  for  London,  told  him  of  it. 

About  this  time  the  Protesters  had  a  purpose  to  have  sent  to  the 
Protector  two  or  three  of  their  number,  viz.,  Mr  James  Guthrie, 
Lord  Warriston,  &c. ;  but  it  being  known  that  ISIr  James  Sharp, 
was  gone  they  did  not  go.  Mr  James  Sharp,  coming  to  Lon- 
don, presently  got  access  to  the  Protector  and  had  a  fair  hearing, 
and  was  well  liked  of  and  accepted,  until  the  Marquis  of  Argyle 
(who  was  judged  to  be  the  Protesters'  agent  at  London),  did  ob- 
tain of  the  Protector  that  he  should  not  have  any  farther  hearing 
until  one  or  more  of  the  Protesters  should  coiue  up,  that  they  might 
be  both  heard.  Whereupon,  in  October,  ]Mr  James  Simson,  mi- 
nister of  Airth,  was  sent  up  by  the  Protesters.  He  was  one  of  the 
three  whom  the  General  Assembly  at  Dundee,  1651,  did  depose. 
The  Synod  of  Perth  did  thereafter  approve  his  deposition,  and 
caused  intimate  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly.  The  like  did 
the  Synod  of  Perth  concerning  Mr  James  Guthrie.  As  for  Mr 
Patrick  Gillespie,  who  was  the  third,  the  Synod  of  Glasgow,  (his 
deposition  never  being  intimate),  did  intimate  in  their  several 
parishes  the  nullity  of  that  act,  and  so  did  what  they  could  to  take 
oif  that  censure,  and  thereafter  they  made  him  moderator  of  their 
Synod.  !Mr  Blair,  as  he  did  dislike  the  sending  up  of  Mr  James 
Sharp,  so  did  he  condemn  the  sending  after  him  as  his  antagonist 
Mr  James  Simson,  judging  it  an  absurd  thing  to  make  the  Protec- 
tor umpire  of  our  sinful  and  shameful  divisions  and  debates,  who, 
as  Mr  Blair  said,  would  cast  more  oil  in  the  flame. 

In  September  the  Parliament  did  sit  down.  Beibre  the  down- 
sitting  of  it,  the  Protector  did  imprison  some  that  came  as  Com- 
missioners, fearing  that  they  should  challenge  his  engaging  in  a 
war  with  Spain,  and  that  they  would  not  serve  his  intents.  The 
Parliament  appointed  a  great  committee  for  Kirk  affairs.     They 


3;J0  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1657. 

ordained  a  fast  to  be  kept  in  the  latter  end  of  October.  The  ordi- 
nance appointed  all  the  ministers  in  the  three  kingdoms  to  take 
notice  of  it ;  but  very  few  ministers  in  Scotland  did  keep  it.  Mr 
Patrick  Gillespie  did  keep  it  to  ingratiate  himself  with  the  English, 
his  credit  being  a  little  cracked  with  the  Protector.  Thereafter 
there  Avas  an  ordinance  for  a  thanksgiving  upon  the  5th  of  Novem- 
ber for  a  victory  alleged  to  be  obtained  at  sea  over  some  of  the 
King  of  Spain's  shif)S  upon  the  coast  of  Spain.  This  thanksgiving 
was  likewise  not  noticed  by  the  ministers  of  Scotland.  This  Par- 
liament did  approve  the  war  with  Spain,  and  ordained  it  to  be  pro- 
secuted. 

In  the  latter  end  of  this  year,  some  wonderful  and  prodigious 
things  fell  out.  In  harvest  time  there  was  a  shower  of  blood  in 
Perth;  the  like  was  in  the  south  before  the  invasion  of  the  English. 
In  winter  a  whole  city  in  America  was  destroyed  with  an  earth- 
quake ;  and  some  mountains  were  destroyed,  wherein  were  silver 
and  gold  mines,  with  fire  from  heaven. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1657,  two  protesting  ministers, 
Messrs  James  Guthrie  and  Patrick  Gillespie,  together  with  three 
elders  of  their  judgment,  viz..  Lord  Warriston,  Inglistoun  and 
Greeuhead  repaired  to  London  for  the  assisting  of  Mr  James  Sim- 
son  against  Mr  James  Sharp.  But  before  they  went,  they  and  the 
rest  of  their  judgment  did  send  up  to  London  a  large  paper  con- 
taining in  general  deep  and  great  reflections  upon  the  whole  Kirk 
of  Scotland,  excepting  only  those  that  were  of  their  own  judgment, 
and  then  in  particular  bitter  reflections  and  invectives  against  some 
Synods,  viz.,  Fife,  Lothian,  Angus  and  Mearns,  Perth,  Aberdeen, 
&c.  Some  Synods  did  answer  this  paper  both  in  the  general  and 
particular,  and  send  up  the  answer  and  vindication  to  Mr  James 
Sharp.  In  February  there  was  appointed  a  thanksgiving  to  be 
kept  for  the  Protector's  preservation  from  sundry  plots  that  were 
contrived  to  take  away  his  life ;  but  the  ministers  in  Scotland  did 
as  little  regard  this  as  the  former  appointments. 

Shortly  after  these  things,  the  Protector  did  call  before  him  the 
ministers  that  were  thereof  both  persuasions,  and  had  with  him  some 


1657.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIE.  331 

English  ministers  to  hear  their  debates,  viz.,  Messrs  Ashe,  Man- 
ton,  Lockier,  and  Owen,  the  first  two  being  Presbyterian,  the  other 
two  Independent,  together  with  three  of  his  Council  of  Estate.  The 
debate  was  hot  and  sharp.  Lord  Warriston  first  challenged  those 
for  whom  Mr  James  Sharp  stood,  for  their  way  of  treating  wath 
Charles  Stuart,  the  head  of  the  malignants  at  Breda,  anno  1650. 
Mr  Sharp  replied,  "  Is  that  fair  to  challenge  us  with  that  ?  Had 
not  ye  as  deep  a  hand  in  that  treaty  as  any  man,  being  the  person 
that  drew  up  the  articles  of  that  treaty  ?"  Warriston  answered, 
"  I  have  humbled  myself  before  God,  and  repented  it,  and  it's  not 
fair  to  challenge  me  for  it  now."  Sharp  replied,  "  Ye  cannot 
hinder  others  to  repent  likewise."  Sundry  the  like  challenges 
and  replies  were  betwixt  Warriston  and  Sharp,  and  thereafter 
betwixt  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie  and  Sharp,  anent  the  Protestation, 
Remonstrance,  and  Public  Resolutions.*  In  end,  the  Protector,  the 
fox,  having  heard  them,  did  tell  them  that  he  would,  at  his  conve- 
nlency,  call  for  them  again,  but  that,  for  the  present,  he  was  taken 
up  with  weighty  business.  Many  good  and  wise  men,  especially 
the  ministers  that  had  mediated  betwixt  the  two  contending  fac- 
tions, and  wei'e  of  a  more  moderate  temper,  did  all  this  while 
admire  and  condemn  the  inconsiderateness  and  folly,  both  of  the 
Public  Resolutiouers  and  of  their  antagonists,  in  making  that  fox, 

*  It  is  only  fair  to  give  the  Protesters'  own  account  of  their  intervaew  with  Crom- 
well. Mr  Eobert  Trail,  in  a  letter  to  Mr  Thomas  Wylie,  in  the  name  of  "  Your  affec- 
tionate brethren,  the  ministers,  elders,  and  professors,  met  at  Edinburgh,  the  25th  of 
February  1657,"  says,  "They  have  given  an  account  of  a  conference  betwixt  them  and 
Mr  Sharp,  in  the  hearing  of  my  Lord  Protector,  and  some  others,  whom  he  was  pleased 
to  call  as  witnesses,  wherein  (as  they  shew  us)  Mr  Sharp  was  pleased  to  utter  some 
vciy  bold  and  strange  assertions  ;  as,  that  he  had  a  commission  from  the  Cluirch  of 
Scotland,  and  all  those  M'ho  did  own  the  government  thereof;  that  the  acts  of  Assem- 
blies at  Dundee  and  Edinlnirgh  liad  never  been  put  in  execution ;  that  they  had 
more  of  the  sober  godly  of  their  judgment,  than  were  both  good  and  bad  of  ours  ; 
that  there  were  not  above  five  or  six  of  the  deposed  ministers  reponed  in  all  Scotland ; 
that  tlicy  did  not  keep  out  entrants  upon  the  account  of  the  Public  Resolutions,  but 
had  admitted  some  Protesters  in  Presbyteries  where  the  plurality  was  of  their  judg- 
ment. He  did  also  most  bitterly  charge  my  Lord  Warriston  for  having  hand  in  tlic 
treaty  at  Breda,  and  used  other  bitter  reflections." — Wodroiv  MSS.,  vol.  xxix.  -Ito. 
no.  78. 


332  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1657. 

the  Protector,  his  council,  or  these  English  ministers,  umpires  of 
their  woeful,  yea,  shameful,  yea,  sinful  contests  and  debates. 

In  March  the  Parliament  was  about  making  the  Protector  king, 
entreating  him  to  take  the  royal  power  and  title  unto  him,  judging 
that  to  be  the  most  likely  way  to  secure  themselves  and  him,  to 
name  his  successor  before  his  death. 

About  the  time  that  the  Protesters  went  up  to  London,  IMessrs 
Andrew  Cant,  Samuel  Rutherford,  and  Robert  Trail,  did  write  to 
the  Protector.     It  was  admired  that  the  first  two  did  so. 

All  this  spring  time  the  great  business  in  the  Parliament  was 
anent  the  settling  of  the  government,  the  Parliament  entreating 
the  Protector  to  take  to  himself  or  to  accept  of  the  royal  powder  as 
king :  and  for  that  end  it  Avas  reported  that  a  royal  crown  and 
sceptre  were  made,  (for  the  old  crowns,  both  in  Scotland  and  Eng- 
land, by  God's  providence,  were  conveyed  away  and  hid,  so  that 
the  English  could  never  learn  where  they  w^ere),*  the  Protector 
all  the  while  refusing  the  offer,  yet  sometimes  giving  them  some 
grounds  of  hope  that  he  woidd  accept  of  the  offer ;  other  times 
giving  flat  refusals.  As  for  the  army,  many  of  the  staff  officers 
were  displeased  Avith  the  Parliament's  proffering  the  crown  to  the 
Protector,  saying,  that  seeing  they  had  so  long  employed  their 
swords  against  a  king  they  would  never  fight  for  a  king;  others 
spared  not  to  say  that  if  they  must  needs  have  a  king  it  were  most 
reasonable  that  the  righteous  heir  had  it.  Some  of  the  prime  offi- 
cers in  the  army  laid  down  their  commissions  and  retired  to  their 
private  houses  to  expect  the  event  of  such  revolutions  and  strange 
actings.  Others  in  the  army  were  more  mercenary,  saying,  they 
would  fight  for  any  man  or  interest  that  would  give  them  pay.  As 
for  Lambert,  though  he  pretended  to  be  for  Cromwell's  taking  of 
the  crown,  yet  all  his  friends  in  the  army  w^ere  against  it,  who  did 

*  The  Ecgalia  of  Scotland,  it  is  well  known,  were  preserved  through  the  address 
of  Mrs  Grainger,  wife  of  the  minister  of  Kinncff,  who  conveyed  them  in  handles  of 
lint  from  Dunnottav  Castle,  during  the  siege,  and  they  were  buried  by  her  husband 
under  the  pulpit  of  his  church.  —  Scot's  Miscellaneous  Prose  Works.  Regalia  of 
Srntlanrl. 


1657.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  333 

combine  themselves,  and  had  a  plot  to  have  cut  off  Cromwell,  as  a 
vile  deceiver  and  base  hypocrite,  that  now  began  to  unmask  him- 
self and  to  discover  unto  all  his  abominable  cheats  and  hypocrisy. 
The  prime  man  of  that  fsiction  was  General-Major  Harrison.  They 
were  mostly  Anabaptists,  who,  though  they  hated  CromweR's  dis- 
simulation and  hypocrisy,  yet  were  more  feared  by  the  people  of 
God  in  Scotland  than  he  was.  They  called  themselves  the  Fifth 
Monarchy  Men — pretending  to  great  things ;  and  their  plot,  before 
it  came  to  any  maturity,  was  discovered,  and  they  quashed,  and 
the  prime  of  them  taken  and  secured  in  the  Tower.  Yet  sundry 
of  them  kept  the  fields  in  arms. 

All  this  while  by-past,  reports  did  fly  abroad,  that  our  King  had 
gotten  together  some  regiments  of  men,  over  seas,  and  had  gotten 
monies  wherewith  he  paid  them.  This  made  the  English  fear  an 
invasion  upon  Ireland  especially.  At  this  time  it  was  observed, 
that  through  Avliole  Europe,  yea,  the  most  part  of  the  world,  there 
were  Avars,  or,  at  least,  preparations  for  wars.  Matt.  xxiv.  6,  7. 
The  Turk  had  invaded  Dalmatia,  belonging  to  the  Venetians. 
The  King  of  Sweden,  with  the  Prince  of  Transylvania,  Ragotzi, 
had  the  better  of  the  Polonian  :  they  spoiled  Dantzick,  by  cutting 
of  the  banks  of  the  Wesel.  In  April  the  Emperor  died :  there 
being  '  then'  no  King  of  the  Romans,  this  was  looked  upon  as  a  cast 
of  Providence  that  might  occasion  stirs  in  Europe ;  for  the  King  of 
the  Romans  ordinarily  succeeded  to  the  Imperial  dignity.  As  for 
the  war  with  Spain,  it's  ordained  by  the  Parliament  to  be  prosecut- 
ed ;  and  for  that  end  my  Lord  Lockhart  (who,  having  married  the 
Protector's  niece,  is  advanced  to  great  honours),  is  sent  to  France 
for  prosecution  of  the  war  with  Sj)ain.  The  French  and  English 
join  together,  and  Lockhart  is  made  general  of  the  English  army. 
They  have  great  success,  and  often  beat  the  Spaniard.  They  took 
in  Dunkirk,  and  Lockhart  is  made  governor  of  it.  They  gained 
many  towns  in  West  Flanders ;  so  that  our  King  is  forced  to  flee 
out  of  these  parts. 

The  ministers  at  London  at  last  being  Aveary  of  their  contesting 
before  such  umpires,  yea,  the  Protector  himself  bidding  them  go 


3;Vi  T.IFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1658. 

home  and  agree  amongst  themselves,  did  return  to  Scotland,  each 
of  them  thinking  that  they  hindered  their  antagonists  to  obtain 
their  desires.  So  did  the  Protector,  as  a  feeder  of  the  flame,  fox- 
like  carry  himself,  that  neither  of  the  factions  should  run  do^\ni  or 
ruin  the  other,  but  that  they  should  still  continue  contending. 

In  the  latter  end  of  the  year,  the  Protector  not  being  pleased 
with  the  proceedings  of  the  Parliament,  and  finding  that  they 
■were  not  for  the  prosecution  of  his  designs,  did  raise  them. 

In  IMarch  1G58  the  Public  Kesolutioners  emitted  a  Declaration. 
The  first  part  of  it  was  somewhat  bitter  and  sharp,  setting  out  the 
Protesters  as  overtumers  of  the  present  government  of  the  Kirk ; 
but  the  second  part  contained  overtures  of  peace  for  an  accommo- 
dation. It  was  answered  by  a  piece,  entitled,  "  Protesters  no  Sub- 
verters,"  &c.*  So  that  contests  wax  still  bigger,  and  by  nothing 
so  much  as  their  printed  papers,  which  did  increase  their  animosi- 
ties, and  did  occasion  greater  and  greater  alienation  of  affections  ; 
so  that  they  began  to  look  upon  others  (especially  the  common 
people  that  were  professors)  rather  as  of  different  religions,  than 
of  different  persuasions  about  things  that  were  not  fundamental ; 
and  now  there  were  fewer  grounds  of  hope,  and  less  appearance  of 
union  or  accommodation  than  there  was.f 

*  A  review  of  this  pamphlet  was  ^vi-itten  by  Mr  George  Hutchison,  to  which  some 
additions  were  made  by  Mr  James  Wood.  It  is  entitled,  "  A  Review  and  Examina- 
tion of  a  Pamphlet  lately  published,  bearing  the  title  of  Protesters  no  Subverters,  &c. — 
By  some  Lovers  of  the  Interests  of  Christ  in  the  Church  of  Scotland.  Edinburgh, 
printed  Ann.  Doni.  lGo9,"  4to,  pp.  139. 

t  Tliis  is  perhaps  the  most  painful  portion  of  our  Church's  histoiy  to  contemjilate, 
and  the  most  difficult  to  unravel.  The  Protesters  certainly  had  truth  on  their  side  at 
the  commencement  of  the  quarrel,  and  there  is  too  much  reason  to  doubt  the  thorough 
integrity  of  some  among  the  Resolutioners.  But  the  great  practical  mistake  of  the 
Protesters  lay  in  their  demanding  from  their  brethren  repentant  acknowledgments  of 
past  error,  which,  even  had  they  been  prepared  to  make  them,  were  felt  to  be  not 
only  humiliating  to  their  pride  as  individuals,  but  prejudicial  to  the  authority  of 
the  Churcli  whicli  they  represented.  It  was  hopeless  for  a  minority  to  expect  a  Church 
to  do  more  than  retrace  her  stci)s  when  she  found  tluit  she  had  erred,  which  there  is 
rcixson  to  think  she  would  have  done  had  she  not  been  baited  and  badgered  into  sclf- 
dclcncc.  The  most  judicious  and  satisfixctory,  as  well  as  impartial  statement  of  these 
divisions  that  has  yet  appeared,  may  be  found  in  a  work  lately  published,  "  The 
History  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  durinEc  the  Commonwealth,  by  the  Kev.  James 


1659.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  335 

In  the  beginning  of  September  this  year,  the  Protector,  that 
old  fox,*  died.  It  was  observed  as  a  remarkable  cast  of  divine 
providence  that  he  died  upon  the  3d  of  September,  which  he, 
glorying  of  routing  of  our  armies  at  Dunbar  and  Woi'cester  on 
that  day,  used  to  call  Ms  day.  On  that  same  very  day  the  Just 
Judge  called  him  to  an  account,  &c.  Immediately  after  the  Pro- 
tector's death,  his  eldest  son,  Richard  Cromwell,  was  proclaimed 
Protector,  first  in  London  and  throughout  England,  then  in  Scot- 
land. In  the  latter  end  of  November  the  Protector  was  buried. 
There  was  most  superfluous  sumptuousness  used  at  his  burial,  the 
like  whereof  had  not  been  used  at  the  burial  of  any  King  of 
England,  and  so  his  son  Richard  enters  peaceably  to  the  govern- 
ment. The  new  Protector  in  December  indicts  a  Parliament,  to 
sit  down  January  27,  next  year.  The  reason  of  indicting  this 
Parliament  was  thought  to  be  the  army's  demanding  their  arrears 
to  be  paid.  There  were  great  thoughts  of  heart  what  should 
be  the  event  of  this  Parliament ;  for  the  Anabaptists,  even  the 
prime  of  that  Avay,  had  procured  themselves  to  be  elected  Com- 
missioners to  the  Parliament,  viz.,  Lambert,  (who  was  thought  to 
be  malcontent  that  Richard  Cromwell  should  succeed  his  father), 
and  other  general  officers  of  the  army  ;  also  Sir  Henry  Vane 
junior,  and  Sir  Arthur  Hazelrig,  that  were  unsatisfied  with  the 
present  government. 

A  fast  was  indicted  by  Richard  the  Protector,  to  be  kept  before 
the  downsitting  of  the  Parliament.  The  Council  of  Estate  in 
Scotland  did  Avrite  letters  to  the  several  Presbyteries,  with  a  de- 
claration for  the  observing  of  the  fast ;  but  Presbyteries  took  no 
notice  of  it.  The  Laird  of  Durie,  Sir  Alexander  Gibson,  was 
elected  Commissioner  to  the  Parliament  for  Fife. 

The  Parliament  indicted  by  Richai-d  the  Protector,  did  convene 
in  the  latter  end  of  January  1659.  There  were  two  houses,  viz., 
the  House  of  Commons  and  the  other  House,  as  it  was  called,  of 

*  "  That  old  fox."  The  reader  must  take  this  as  the  estimate  of  the  age  in  which 
Row  lived  eoncerning  Cromwell, — an  estimate  from  which  there  was  hardly,  at  that 
time,  among  any  party,  a  dissenting  voice. 


336  LIFE  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIR.  [1659. 

Peers,  The  Lord  Warriston  was  from  Scotland  one  of  the  Peers, 
and  tlic  Marquis  of  Argyle  one  of  the  Commons.  Those  of  the 
House  of  Commons  were  for  the  most  part  judicious  and  under- 
standing men  ;  but  the  Peers  for  the  most  part  were  temporisers. 
They  began  somcAvhat  Hke  a  Parhament,  taking  upon  them  the 
sole  command  of  the  army,  as  general  of  the  army,  giving  commis- 
sion to  all  supreme  officers.  They  did  agree  to  the  whole  Con- 
fession of  Faith,  to  the  Larger  and  Shorter  Catechisms,  and  to  the 
directory  for  the  public  worship  of  God  throughout  the  three 
kingdoms  (which  was  agreed  upon  by  the  Assembly  of  Divines  at 
Westminster, — Commissioners  from  Scotland  assisting, — and  by 
them  presented  to  the  Parliament  of  England,  and  General  As- 
sembly of  Scotland,  and  by  them  approven,  anno  1645)  ;  only  they 
agreed  not  to  that  part  of  the  Confession  of  Faith  concerning  the 
government  of  the  Kirk,  which  was  under  debate  amongst  them. 

The  Lord  Warriston  being  gone  to  London  as  one  of  the  Peers, 
those  of  the  ministry  that  defended  all  the  Public  Resolutions 
thought  it  expedient  that  Mr  James  Sharp  should  again  repair  to 
London,  to  obviate  any  thing  that  the  Lord  Warriston  could  do 
in  favours  of  the  Protesters,  or  in  their  own  prejudice ;  and  so  Mr 
James  Sharp  returns  to  London.  The  army,  especially  those  of 
the  Anabaptists'  way,  finding  that  the  Parliament  was  not  for  their 
intents  and  designs,  but  did  cross  them  ;  and  fearing  that  they 
should  establish  Presbyterial  Government,  they  came  to  the  Pro- 
tector, desiring  him  to  raise  the  Parliament ;  which,  when  Richard 
refused,  they  threatened  him.  The  Protector  finding  himself  in 
this  strait,  having  advised  with  his  friends,  did  with  their  advice, 
raise  the  Parliament  in  the  beginning  of  May.  Presently  thereafter, 
they  being  alike  evil  satisfied  with  the  Protector  and  with  the 
Parliament,  and  also  evil  satisfied  with  the  present  government,  it 
being  settled  upon  a  single  person,  they  did  exanctorate  and 
depose  the  Protector,  Richard  Cromwell,  taking  all  power  and 
authority  from  him,  putting  him  from  Whitehall,  and  reducing  him 
to  the  condition  of  a  private  person,  only  allowing  him  a  certain 
sum  of  money  per  annum,  during  his  lifetime.     At  this  time  the 


1G59.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  337 

name  of  Oliver,  his  father,  and  his  memory  did  stink.  Many 
called  him  "  the  Old  Tyrant,  worse  than  "  the  King,"  others,  "  an 
arch  hypocrite." 

The  army  having  raised  the  Parliament  and  deposed  the  Pro- 
tector, they  called  the  Long  Parliament  to  sit  down  again,  which 
was  the  Parliament  that  did  take  the  late  King's  life,  and  invade 
Scotland,  1649  and  1650 ;  but  in  the  year  1648,  the  army,  entering 
the  city,  did  imprison  or  dismiss  all  the  members  of  that  Parlia- 
ment that  they  thought  were  not  for  their  intents  and  designs,  so 
that,  of  two  hundred  and  forty  members,  they  only  retained  about 
sixty ;  so  that  remainder  of  the  Long  Parliament  was  commonly 
called  "  the  Rump  Parliament,"  being  only,  as  it  were,  the  rump 
of  the  Long  Parliament.  This  Rump  Parliament  did,  at  the  call  of 
the  army,  sit  down  and  take  upon  them  the  authority  of  the  Par- 
liament and  government  of  the  nations,  keeping  in  their  hands  the 
supreme  power  of  the  army,  as  their  general.  Those  great  revo- 
lutions o;ave  occasion  to  the  friends  of  our  Kino;  to  bestir  them- 
selves,  thinking  it  a  fit  opportunity  to  bring  the  King  again  to  his 
throne.  Others  that  did  not  so  downright  profess  to  be  for  the 
King's  interest,  being  wearied  of  Oliver's  usurpation  and  tyranny, 
resolved  to  bestir  themselves  for  the  obtaining  of  a  free  Parliament. 
Both  these  did  plot  to  arise  and  take  arms  for  the  obtaining  of 
these  ends ;  but  their  plot  was  detected  before  it  came  to  maturity, 
which  occasioned  their  arisino;  and  taking  arms  sooner  than  was 
complotted,  which  was  in  the  latter  end  of  July.  They  were 
mostly  of  Lancashire  and  Cheshire,  with  a  part  of  Wales.  A  part 
of  them  did  proclaim  Charles  Stuart  king,  others  emitted  a  Decla- 
ration for  a  free  Parliament.  The  head  of  this  faction  was  one  Sir 
George  Booth.  The  Parliament  finding  their  number  to  increase, 
and  fearing  the  arrival  of  the  King,  with  foreigners,  did  commis- 
sionate  Lambert  out  against  them,  to  scatter  their  forces,  which 
was  the  more  easily  done,  because  that  they  were  not  all  gathered 
to  a  head.  Yet  there  was  a  considerable  number  with  Sir  George 
]5ooth,  who  by  Lambert  were  routed,  and  Sir  George  Booth  '  was' 
taken  prisoner,  and  sent  in  '  to '  the  Tower.     There  were  some 

Y 


3;j;^  LrFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1659. 

Lancashire  ministers  that  did  countenance  this  party.  The  King 
being  advertised  of  that  rising,  resolved  to  come  over  to  England 
with  such  forces  as  he  had ;  but  again  hearing  of  their  defeat,  he 
resolved  to  visit  the  King  and  court  of  Spain. 

Matters  being  in  these  confusions  in  England,  Mr  James  Sharp 
returned  home  again ;  but  tlie  Lord  AVarriston  abode  still  at  Lon- 
don, and  did  join  and  act  with  that  Kump  Parliament,  and  was  in 
liigh  account  with  them.  They  appointed  a  grand  committee, 
whereof  Warnston  was  preses  for  some  time.  The  great  business 
in  the  Parliament  about  this  time  was  anent  toleration.  The  Par- 
liament being  about  to  settle  toleration.  Lord  Warnston  did  give 
in  a  Declaration  against  toleration,  alleging  that  few  or  none  in 
Scotland  were  for  it ;  which  occasioned  some  bad  and  unnatural 
countrymen  at  London  to  write  down  to  Scotland  to  some  too  like 
themselves,  desiring  that  a  Supplication  for  toleration  might  be 
sent  up  to  London,  subscribed  by  as  many  hands  as  they  could 
get  in  Scotland,  which  occasioned  the  sending  up  of  a  petition  for 
toleration.  It  was  subscribed  by  few  Scotsmen  of  any  note — 
Garthland,  Henry  Hope,  ISir  Thomas  Ireland.  Besides  these,  not 
many  Scotsmen  subscribed  that  were  worthy  to  be  noticed.  They 
that  did  subscribe  this  petition  were  much  every  where  cried 
out  against,  (especially  by  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh,  where  the 
petition  was  hatched  and  subscribed),  as  covenant-breakers,  and 
for  joining  with  Anabaptists,  Quakers,  (for  all  such  in  Scotland  did 
also  subscribe  it),  for  subverting  of  true  religion. 

The  second  grand  business  of  the  Parliament  was,  to  settle  some 
government  in  the  three  nations ;  for  since  the  deposing  of  the 
Protector,  there  were  no  judicatures  in  Scotland,  no  exercise  of 
justice  by  any  courts,  supreme  or  inferior.  Also  they  were  about 
the  imion  of  the  two  nations  of  Scotland  and  England  ;  there  still 
being  at  London  some  bad  and  wicked  countrymen,  the  devil's 
agents,  for  toleration,  and  overturning  all  government,  both  in 
Estate  and  Kirk,  viz.,  William  Dundas,  Mr  Robert  Gordon,  &c. 
While  the  Parliament  was  about  the  settlino-  of  a  government, 
some  of  tlic  supreme  officers  of  the  army  gave  in  a  petition  to 


1659.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  339 

the  Parliament,  that  tliey  might  have  the  supreme  power  of  order- 
ing military  affairs,  and  governing  the  army  in  their  hands,  as  a 
grand  committee  of  the  army.  Lambert,  puffed  up  with  his 
victory  over  Sir  George  Booth,  was  the  prime  man,  who  (as  was 
feared)  designed  to  engross  all  power  in  his  own  single  person. 
Their  petition  was  evil  taken  by  the  Parliament,  who  had  kept 
that  power  in  their  own  hand ;  which  being  declared  to  those  that 
gave  it  in,  another  petition  was  presented  to  the  Parliament,  more 
peremptory  and  particular,  desiring  that  Fleetwood  might  be 
declared  general,  and  Lambert  lieutenant-general  of  the  army. 
The  Parliament  did  take  this  second  petition  so  evil,  that 
presently  they  called  in  the  commissions  of  the  subscribers  of  it, 
they  being  the  supreme  officers  of  the  army,  and  many  colonels. 
This  made  a  great  stir  among  the  officers  of  the  army,  who  con- 
vened together,  and,  upon  half  an  hour's  advisement,  resolved 
to  disperse  the  Parliament,  and  take  the  government  of  the  na- 
tions upon  them,  which  they  did  upon  the  11th  of  October 
1659  ;  and  within  two  or  three  days,  some  few  regiments  that 
stood  for  the  Parliament,  did  also  join  with  the  rest  of  the  army 
against  the  Parliament.  So  that  liump  Parliament  was  dispersed. 
In  Scotland,  Monk,  general  of  the  forces  there,  his  commission 
being  continued  by  the  Rump  Parliament,  he  thought  himself 
thereby  engaged  to  be  for  that  Parliament:  so  that,  hearing  of 
their  dispersion,  he  resolved  to  stand  for  It,  and  first  he  purged 
his  forces  of  aU  that  favoured  the  Anabaptists'  way,  or  Lambert's 
party,  putting  others,  especially  officers,  in  their  places,  of  whom 
he  might  be  confident.  Some  of  whom  he  was  jealous,  they  offer- 
ing their  service  to  him,  he  did  take  an  oath  of  them,  that  they, 
with  him,  should  stand  for  the  Parliament,  of  whom  was  one 
Wilkes,  governor  of  Leith. 

Monk  having  thus  ordered  the  forces  in  Scotland,  he  wrote 
three  letters, — one  to  FleetAVOod,  one  to  Lambert,  one  to  the 
chief  officers  of  the  army  in  England.  The  sum  of  these  letters 
was.  That  they  would  put  the  Parliament  again  in  that  estate 
that  it  was  into  before  October  11,  challenging  their  usurpation 

y  2 


34U  Llt^E  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1659. 

over  the  Parliament,  they  being  their  servants,  &c.  These  letters 
were  answered  by  them,  they  holding  out  their  grounds  upon 
which  they  walked.  Replies  were  made  by  Monk,  and  duplies  by 
them.  Judicious  men  did  think  that  in  their  paper  skirmishing 
;Monk  had  the  far  better. 

Meanwhile,  Monk  gathered  all  the  forces  towards  Edin- 
burgh, only  leaving  some  few  in  the  citadels  at  Inverness,  Perth, 
Leith,  and  Stirling.  He  wrote  letters  to  all  the  shires,  desiring  that 
in  the  meantime  they  would  live  peaceably,  encourage  a  godly 
and  learned  ministry,  &c.  These  letters  were  answered  by  the 
shires  in  a  discreet  and  fair  way,  all  of  them  engaging  to  live  peace- 
ably, some  of  them  to  give  obedience  to  his  commands  for  the 
future ;  only  those  that  favoured  the  Protestation  did  at  the  first 
scruple  to  subscribe  the  answer  to  Monk's  letter.  Thereafter  the 
several  shires  and  burghs  sent  commissioners  to  a  meeting  at 
Edinburgh,  being  desired  thereto  by  Monk.  At  that  meeting  an- 
other meeting  was  appointed  at  Berwick,  which  was  kept  for  the 
Parliament's  service.  To  this  meeting  several  noblemen  were 
desired  to  repair.  From  Fife  went  the  Earl  of  Rothes  and 
Wemyss.  Meanwhile,  Lambert  sent  some  that  were  judged  to 
have  poAver  w'ith  Monk  to  persuade  him  to  join  with  him;  but 
they  not  prevailing,  Monk  sent  some  commissioners  to  treat  with 
Lambert,  one  whereof  was  Wilkes,  governor  of  Leith.  These 
settled  a  peace  with  Lambert,  but  Monk,  seeing  the  agreement, 
did  disown  it,  alleging  they  had  not  walked  according  to  their 
instructions.  Wilkes,  conscious  of  his  unfaithfulness  in  this  nego- 
tiation, abode  with  Lambert.  Their  treating  being  given  up. 
Monk  makes  prepai'ati,on  to  march  southward  towards  England, 
being  animate  and  encouraged  thereto  by  some  ministers,  espe- 
cially by  Mr  Robert  Douglas,  and  by  a  commission  that  a  com- 
mittee of  the  Parliament  sitting  at  Portsmouth  sent  unto  him ; 
which  Monk  cordially  accepted,  professing  that  he  would  obey 
none  but  them,  and  would  stand  for  them,  &c. 

All  this  while  the  city  of  London  is  overawed  by  Lambert's 
forces,  for  it  was  known  that  the  generality  of  the  city  was  for 


1600.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  341 

the  Parliament;  which  did  appear,  for  so  soon  as  Lambert  marched 
northward,  the  city  declared  for  the  Parliament.  Lambert's 
marching  northward  occasioned  Monk's  march  towards  the  border. 
Lambert's  head  quarters  were  at  Newcastle,  Monk's  at  Coldstream. 
During  this  confusion  the  army  in  England  appointed  a  committee 
for  government ;  they  named  themselves  the  Committee  of  Safety. 
Lord  Warriston,  so  inconstant  was  he,  did  sit  as  one  of  tiiat  Com- 
mittee. 

All  this  while  by-past  Monk  and  Lambert  are  dealing  with  the 
forces  in  Ireland,  to  draw  them  to  their  respective  ways ;  as  also 
with  the  navy ;  but  after  the  meeting  at  Berwick,  both  the  navy 
and  forces  in  Ireland  declared  for  the  Parliament.  Likewise,  Sir 
Thomas  Fairfax,  who  was  for  the  Parliament,  was  gathering  forces 
to  assist  Monk  in  and  about  York ;  so  was  Sir  Arthur  Hazelrig 
in  the  north  parts  of  England.  Lambert  hearing  that  there  was 
a  committee  of  the  Parliament  at  Portsmouth,  and  that  they  had 
sent  a  commission  to  Monk,  sent  three  regiments  to  besiege  the 
place  and  raise  that  committee.  The  common  soldier's  of  these 
regiments,  in  their  march,  did  bind  their  officers,  and  delivered 
them  to  those  of  the  Parliament  at  Portsmouth,  and  did  convey 
the  Parliament  men  to  London,  as  their  guard,  where  the  Parlia- 
ment did  again  sit  down  at  London  in  December.  Also  the  city 
did  command  the  tower  for  the  Parliament's  service.  While  Lam- 
bert is  intending  to  march  towards  Monk,  hearing  of  the  Parlia- 
ment's downsitting  at  London,  he  retires,  and  with  ail  possible 
haste  marches  towards  London.  Monk  hereof  being  advertised 
by  Fairfax,  did  march  over  the  border,  January  1,  1G60,  following 
Lambert  within  some  days'  march  of  his  rear. 

The  Parliament  sittino;  down  aoain  at  London,  made  an  act  of 
indemnity,  assuring  them  that  were  in  arms  against  them  of  their 
lives  and  fortunes,  if  they  would  lay  down  arms  and  submit  to  the 
Parliament,  excepting  Lambert,  by  name. 

Lambert's  forces  hearing  of  this  act  of  indemnity,  together  with 
the  passage  at  Portsmouth,  did  disperse  and  leave  hira,  so  that  he 
did  resolve  to  come  and  offer  himself  to  the  Parliament,  submitting 


842 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1660. 


to  them,  yea  both  he  and  Fleetwood,  and  other  chief  officers  of 
their  army  came  to  London  and  submitted  themselves  to  the  Par- 
liament, accepting  the  act  of  indemnity. 

I^Ionk  all  this  while  marches  with  his  army  towards  London,  the 
counties  from  all  quarters  presenting  supplications  to  him  for  a 
free  Parliament,  or  the  admission  of  the  secluded  members  of  the 
Long  Parliament,  that  were  violently  thrust  out  of  doors,  1648. 
Monk  gave  them  fair  and  general  answers,  referring  all  to  the  Par- 
liament; but  the  Rump  Parliament  about  this  time  having  received 
supplications  to  this  same  effect  did  imprison  the  supplicants. 

When  Monk  came  near  London,  two  sent  from  the  Parliament 
met  him,  feasted  and  complimented  him,  and  when  he  entered  the 
city  the  Speaker  met  and  complimented  him.  So  he  was  received 
in  the  city  and  feasted  with  great  joy,  respect  and  honour ;  but  the 
Parliament  knowing  that  the  city  was  for  a  free  Parliament  and  the 
admission  of  the  secluded  members,  yea  and  for  the  recalling  of  the 
King,  did  fraudrdently  and  cunningly  put  Monk  on  a  piece  of  ser- 
vice against  the  city,  (pretending  that  the  city  refused  to  pay  cess 
for  the  payment  of  the  army),  of  purpose  to  raise  an  odium  be- 
twixt him  and  the  city.  But  Monk  perceiving  the  j)lot,  he  and  his 
supreme  officers  supplicate  the  Parliament  that  the  grand  delin- 
quents, Lambert,  &c.,  might  be  taken  order  with ;  for  by  this  time 
it  was  thought  that  the  Rump  Parliament  would  have  been  glad 
to  have  had  Lambert  again  in  the  fields  with  his  army  for  their 
defence,  perceiving  a  general  inclination  of  all  for  a  free  Parlia- 
ment, and  the  readmission  of  the  secluded  members,  &c.  It  was 
looked  on  as  a  marvellous  cast  of  Providence,  that  the  Lord,  who 
divides  the  sea  and  rivers,  divided  the  army  and  the  Rump  Parlia- 
ment, Lambert  being  the  man  in  all  England  that  was  fittest  and 
most  for  that  Rump  Parliament's  intents  and  designs. 

To  that  supplication  of  Monk's  against  Lambert  and  the  rest  of 
the  grand  delinquents,  the  Parliament  gave  but  a  slighting  answer; 
but  still  the  most  considerable  counties  supplicate  both  Monk  and 
the  Parliament  for  a  free  Parliament,  some  of  them  expressly  re- 
fusing to  pay  cess  until  they  got  a  free  Parliament. 


1660.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  343 

A  little  before  this,  while  providence  is  ordering  matters  in  Eng- 
land, and,  in  all  appearance,  working  for  the  King's  restoration  in 
Scotland,  nothing  is  more  desired  than  a  harmony  or  accommoda- 
tion among  ministers  of  different  persuasions,  that  the  King  at  his 
return  may  find  harmony  among  the  ministers.  None  did  more 
thirst  after  this  than  Mr  Blair,  and,  therefore,  he  made  a  third  at- 
tempt for  uniting  and  reconciling  of  the  Protesters  and  Public  Men, 
and,  in  order  to  this,  he  drew  on  a  meeting  of  ministers  at  St  An- 
drews. There  came  to  this  meeting  ^ome  of  the  Protesters,  some 
of  the  Public  Men,  and  some  moderate  men  from  Angus,  Mearns, 
and  other  parts  of  the  kingdom.  But,  though,  at  this  meeting 
there  was  at  first  some  appearance  of  better  accord  and  agreement, 
they  abstaining  from  bitter  reflections,  being  more  condescending 
and  inclinable  to  mutual  forbearance,  yet  in  end  there  could  be  no 
agreement  obtained  by  those  that  were  moderate  and  mediated  be- 
twixt them.  Some  years  before  this,  Mr  Blair  being  suspected  by 
both  the  contending  parties,  and  by  none  more  than  his  two  col- 
leagues, Mr  Rutherford  *  and  Mr  Wood,  (and  as  he  used  to  say, 
cuffed  upon  both  haffetsf  by  them),  he  began  to  weary  of  his  charge 
in  St  Andrews,  affirming  that  he  might  do  more  good  in  another 
part,  alleging,  that  when  a  minister  staid  long  in  one  place  his 
labours  were  not  so  successful  as  when  he  removed  from  place  to 
place.  Therefore  he  was  much  for  transportations  in  some  cases. 
For  these  reasons  Mr  Blair  supplicated  the  Presbytery  of  St  An- 

*  Eutherford  entered  into  this  controversy  with  great  keenness.  In  his  preface  to 
an  answer  he  pnbUshed  in  1G58  to  Mr  Thomas  Hooker  of  New  Enghuid's  "  Survey" 
of  his  work  on  "  The  due  Right  of  Presbyteries,"  he  makes  veiy  severe  remarks  on 
the  Resolutioners.  Blair  was  so  dissatisfied  with  these  remarks,  that,  according  to 
Baillie,  lie  avowed  to  several  of  the  Kesolution  ministers,  "  that  before  he  had  writ- 
ten any  such  things  he  could  have  rather  chosen  to  have  had  his  right  Inmd  strik- 
en off  at  the  Cross  of  Ediuburgli  by  the  axe  of  the  hangman." — BailUe's  Letters  and 
Journals,  iii.  375.  Wood  and  Rutherford  had  also  quarrelled  on  this  subject.  "  I  have 
heard  of  a  most  precious  and  excellent  man,"  says  BaiUie,  "  who  with  his  colleague's 
continual  vexations  and  contentions  was  so  worn  out,  that  he  was  put  at  last  to  leave 
his  station  and  accept  of  another  for  to  gain  some  quietness." — Ibid.  iii.  ;37G.  lie  refers 
to  Wood's  leaving  in  1657  the  situation  of  Professor  of  Ecclesiastical  History  in  St 
Mary's  College,  St  Andrews,  of  which  Rutlierford  was  Principal,  for  that  of  Princii>al 
of  St  Salvadors,  or  the  Old  College  of  St  Andrews. 

t  Ilaffets — Scot,  cheeks. 


344  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1660. 

drews  for  an  act  of  transportability  ;  which  was  refused,  both  by 
the  Presbytery  and  Synod.  Yet,  notwithstanding,  often  in  pub- 
lic he  regretted  that  his  labours  and  pains  were  not  successful 
among  them,  and  wished  to  be  employed  elsewhere ;  and  one  day 
he  did  so  insist  upon  these  regrets  and  complaints,  that  judicious 
hearers  did  sadly  apprehend  that  he  was  taking  his  leave  of  them, 
as  if  he  had  been  preaching  a  farewell  sermon,  which  did  not  a 
little  alarm  the  godly  persons  in  St  Andrews,  and  his  brethren  of 
the  ministry,  especially  those  who  employed  him  to  assist  at  the 
celebration  of  the  communion  in  many  parts  of  Fife,  where  much 
good  was  done  by  the  Lord  blessing  his  ministry.  But  no  sooner 
was  it  divulged  that  Mr  Blair  had  supplicated  for  an  act  of  trans- 
portability, and  that  he  would  accept  of  a  call  to  any  charge  else- 
where ;  '  than'  immediately  he  received  a  call  to  the  ministry  of 
Glasgow.  Messrs  Robert  Baillie  and  Patrick  Gillespie  were  sent 
to  give  him  a  call  for  Glasgow.  Thereafter,  he  got  a  call  fi-ora 
Ireland  to  return  to  his  old  charge  in  Bangor,  which  he  rather  in- 
cHned  to  follow  than  the  call  to  Glasgow ;  but  the  Kirk  Session 
of  the  town  and  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews,  with  the  Synod  of 
Fife,  refusing  to  transport  him  any  where,  he  was  necessitated  to 
abide  at  St  Andrews,  where  he  was  not  permitted  to  stay  long 
after  the  King's  return. 

Shortly  after  Monk's  coming  to  London,  he  wrote  down  to  Scot- 
land, desiring  Mr  James  Sharp  to  come  up  to  him.  Those  few 
ministers  that  sent  him  up  twice  before,  thought  it  now  expedi- 
ent that  he  should  now  repair  to  London,  there  being  so  great  ap- 
pearance of  the  King's  restoration,  to  see  ne  quid  detrimenti  capeat 
ecclesia,  especially  that  the  established  government  of  the  Kirk  be 
not  altered  or  wronged  any  way.  He  was  not  only  desired  to  come 
up  by  Monk,  but  by  the  Presbyterian  ministers  in  the  city  of  Lon- 
don, and  because  he  presently  took  post,  (being  desu'ed  so  to  do 
by  the  ministers),  and  could  not  stay  until  collections  were  gather- 
ed as  formerly  for  his  expenses,  some  ministers  of  Edinburgh  and 
Mr  James  Wood  bon-owed  sums  of  money  and  gave  him,  hoping 
that  collections  would  be  gathered  for  payment  of  these  sums,  for 


16G0.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  345 

the  which  they  had  given  bonds.  So  Mr  James  Sharp  arrived  at 
London  Feb.  16. 

All  this  while  ]Monk  declared  for  the  Rump  Parliament,  reject- 
ing motions  for  a  free  Parliament  or  readraission  of  the  secluded 
members,  he  complimenting  the  Parliament  and  they  him  ;  so  that 
our  noblemen  and  others  thought  themselves  disappointed  and  de- 
ceived by  Monk,  alleging  that  he  promised  to  them  to  obtain  a 
free  Parliament. 

In  this  meanwhile,  some  of  the  secluded  members  gave  in  a  de- 
sire to  the  Parliament  for  their  readmission;  to  which  the  Parliament 
gave  this  return,  That  if  they  would  give  an  oath  that  they  should 
neither  be  for  King,  nor  single  person,  nor  House  of  Peers,  they 
should  be  readmitted ;  but  this  was  matter  of  laughter  to  all  as 
well  as  the  secluded  members. 

Monk  and  the  city  perceiving  the  plot  of  the  Parlia,ment  to  raise 
an  odium  betwixt  them,  they  began  to  understand  others  better. 
The  ministers  of  London,  with  Mr  James  Sharp  and  some  Alder- 
men, dealt  with  Monk  for  the  readmission  of  the  secluded  mem- 
bers, and  so  he  had  a  second  speech  to  the  Parliament,  wherein  he 
declared  himself  for  a  free  Parliament,  moderate  Presbyterian 
government,  but  against  King,  single  person  or  House  of  Peers, 
and  for  a  Commonwealth.  But  still  the  city  deals  for  the  read- 
mission  of  the  secluded  members ;  which  occasioned  a  conference 
betwixt  an  equal  number  of  the  Parliament  and  of  the  secluded 
members  ;  but  they  did  not  accord,  but  in  end  Monk  declared  him- 
self for  the  readmission  of  the  secluded  members ;  which  occasion- 
ed a  vote  of  the  Parliament  anent  their  readmission.  The  plurality 
was  against  it.  But  upon  the  morrow,  Monk  did  set  the  secluded 
members  down  in  Parliament.  They  that  were  against  their  re- 
admission withdrew  themselves,  Feb.  21.  The  secluded  members 
being  again  admitted  to  sit  in  Parliament,  first  they  annulled  all 
acts  made  against  the  secluded  members ;  thereafter  they  reliev- 
ed all  prisoners  that  were  imprisoned  for  supplicating  for  a  free  Par- 
liament or  the  readmission  of  the  secluded  members,  or  that  were 
imprisoned  for  taking  arms  for  a  free  Parliament  or  the  King's  in- 


346  T^TFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1«)60. 

terest,  restoring  them  to  their  fortunes  and  places,  viz.,  Sir  George 
Bootli  and  otliers  ;  and  last,  they  set  at  liberty  our  noblemen,  viz., 
Cra\vford,  Lindsay,  Lauderdale,  &c.,  that  were  taken  and  made 
prisoners  at  Eliot  [Alyth]  1651,  carried  to  and  imprisoned  in  the 
tower,  thereafter  hurried  away  to  Sandon  Castle,  and  last  brought 
to  Windsor  Castle.  They  appointed  Monk  general  of  all  the  land 
forces  in  the  three  nations  and  admiral  of  the  sea  forces  with  Mon- 
tague. 

General  Monk  gave  in  a  desire  to  the  Parliament  at  their  first 
sitting,  that  they  would  determine  the  time  of  their  own  sit- 
tinsr  and  the  time  of  convenino-  another  free  Parliament.  The 
time  of  the  sitting  down  of  another  Parliament  was  appointed 
to  be  April  25,  and  for  the  time  of  their  own  meeting  it  was 
prorogated  from  time  to  time;  for  at  their  down-sitting  they 
intended  to  sit  but  few  days.  The  Council  of  Estate  called 
Lambert,  Sir  Arthur  Hazelrig,  Colonel  Rich,  &c.,  in  question, 
and  remitted  them  to  the  Parliament,  who  imprisoned  them  in 
the  Tower. 

The  Parliament  approved  the  Confession  of  Faith,  excepting 
only  the  xxx.  and  xxxi.  chapters  anent  the  government ;  referring 
these  chapters  to  further  consideration.  They  appointed  the 
Covenant  to  be  reprinted,  read,  and  set  up  in  aU  churches,  and 
in  the  Parliament  House  *.  Before  Monk  condescended  to  the 
readmlssion  of  the  secluded  members,  the  armies  In  L'cland 
had  declared  for  a  free  Parliament.  The  Declaration  was  signed 
by  Sir  Charles  Couts,  but  opposed  by  Sir  Hardress  Waller,  ap- 
pointed commander-in-chief  by  the  Rump  Parliament,  who  betook 
himself  to  the  castle  of  Dublin,  but  was  delivered  up  by  his  own 
men. 

The  Parliament  annulled  all  votes  made  against  Kingship  or 
House  of  Peers,  so  that  all  ranks  and  degrees  of  people  were  filled 

*  "  As,  1  doubt  not,  ye  have  heard  of  the  sechulcd  members,  their  readmission  to 
ihc  Parhamcut ;  so  they  have  revived  the  Covenant,  ordering  it  to  be  printed,  and 
set  iij)  in  all  Churches,  and,  they  say,  ordered  it  to  be  publicly  read  once  a-ycar." 
Letter  of  Mr  George  Hutchison  to  Mr  Thomas  Wylie,  dated  March  12.  1660.— Wod- 
ynw  MSS.,  vol.  xxix.  4to,  no.  90. 


1G60.]  LIFE  OF  KOliERT  BLAIR.  347 

with  good  hopes  that  the  Parliament  would  call  home  the  King 
again  ;  [but  the  more  judicious  and  sincere  wanted  not  great  fears 
that  the  King  would  be  brought  home  without  any  conditions  ; 
yea  Mr  Sharp,  in  his  subdolous  and  hypocritical  way,  wrote  to  Mr 
Wood  (with  whom  he  kept  constant  correspondence  in  writing) 
that  his  heart  did  tremble,  fearing  what  might  be  the  dreadful 
consequences  of  calling  home  the  King  without  any  conditions, 
and  yet  he  himself,  with  some  unnatural  countrymen,  was  a  prime 
man  that  endeavoured  the  King  should  be  so  brought  home].* 
The  Parliament  arose  March  16,  and  the  free  Parliament  was  to 
sit  down  April  15. 

In  this  meantime  Lambert  escaped  out  of  the  Tower.  He 
gathered  together  what  forces  he  could  of  Anabaptists,  Quakers, 
&c.  The  Council  of  Estate  emitted  a  proclamation,  declaring 
them  traitors  if  they  rendered  not  themselves  within  twenty-four 
hours.  Monk  commanded  out  Colonel  Ingoldsby  with  his  regi- 
ment and  some  troops,  who  at  Edgehill  rencountered  with  Lam- 
bert. First  they  parlied  Lambert,  proposed  the  re-estabhshing  of 
Kichard  as  the  only  means  of  composing  of  all  differences,  &c. 
They  not  agreeing,  and  parleying  being  given  up,  they  tried  it  by 
the  sword.  Some  of  Lambert's  troops  came  off  and  joined  with 
Ingoldsby.  The  rest  being  routed,  Lambert  was  taken,  having 
lost  his  wonted  courage,  his  evil  course  and  conscience  having  un- 
manned him.  He  entered  the  Tower  by  water,  and  was  com- 
mitted to  the  black  rod.  A  little  before  this  the  Convention  of 
Estates  in  England  met,  and  emitted  a  Declaration,  wherein  they 
declared  that  they  had  no  hand  in  the  murder  of  the  late  King, 
and  that  they  detested  and  abhorred  the  same  as  a  most  bai-barous 
and  unnatural  parricide,  and  that  they  had  not  liberty  before  this 
time  to  testify  the  same. 

April  25,  the  Parliament  sat  down,  both  Houses  of  Peers  and 
Commons.  Lord  Manchester  '  was'  speaker  of  the  House  of  Peers. 
They  refused  to  suffer  some,  whom  Oliver  had  made  Peers,  to  sit 

t  What  is  inclosed  within  brackets  is  not  in  the  MS.  from  whidi  we  transcribe.  It 
is  taken  from  a  MS.  belonging  to  J.  J.  Gilison  Craig,  Esq. 


348 


LIFE  OF  ROBEllT  BLAIR.  [16(jO. 


with  them.  Sir  Ilarbottle  Grimstoiie  was  speaker  of  the  House 
of  Commons.  First  they  appointed  a  fast  for  craving  of  a  blessing 
to  their  assembling.  Ministers  appointed  to  preach  '  were'  Cala- 
my  *  a  Presbyterian  ;  Gaiiden,t  an  Episcopal  man  ;  and  Baxter,  t 
who  pretended  to  be  a  reconciler. 

*  Edmund  Calamy  was  an  eminent  English  Nonconformist  divine.  He  was  born 
at  London  in  the  year  1600,  and  educated  at  Pembroke  Hall  in  the  University  of 
Cambridge.  After  having  oiRciated  in  the  pastoral  office  in  various  situations,  he 
was  in  1639,  chosen  minister  of  St  Mary,  Aldermanbury,  and  removed  to  London, 
where  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  controversy  concerning  Church  Government, 
which  was  then  agitated.  In  1640  he  engaged  with  other  writers  in  the  composition 
of  the  famous  book,  entitled,  "  Smectymnuus,"  fi'om  the  initials  of  the  names  of  those 
concerned  in  it ;  viz.,  Stephen  Marshall,  Edmund  Calamy,  Thomas  Young,  Matthew 
Newcomen,  and  William  Spurstow.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Westminster  Assembly 
of  Divines,  in  which  he  distinguished  himself  by  his  learning  and  moderiition.  He 
was  active  in  promoting  the  restoration  of  Charles  H.,  and  was  one  of  the  divines 
delegated  to  compliment  the  King  in  Holland  on  the  occasion.  In  1660  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  his  Majesty's  chaplains,  and  was  offered  the  bishoprick  of  Litchfield 
and  Coventry,  which  he  declined  accepting.  By  the  Act  of  Uniformity  he  was,  in 
1662,  ejected  from  his  charge  at  Aldermanbury.  After  the  lire  of  London  he  was 
driven  over  its  ruins,  in  a  coach,  on  his  way  to  Enfield  ;  and  the  sight  so  much  aflfected 
him  that  he  died  within  two  weeks  aftenvards,  October  29.  1666.  He  was  the  grand- 
father of  the  celebrated  Dr  Edmund  Calamy,  author  of  the  Continuation  of  Baxter's 
History  of  bis  Life  and  Times. 

t  Dr  John  Gauden  or  Gawding,  was  born  in  the  year  1605,  at  Mayland,  in  Essex. 
He  was  educated  at  St  John's  College,  Cambridge.  In  1611  he  took  his  degree  of 
D.D.,  and  was  presented  by  the  Parliament  to  the  deanery  of  Bocking,  in  Essex.  In 
1643  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Assembly  of  Divines  who  were  to  meet  at  West- 
minster, but  his  name  was  afterwards  struck  off  the  Mst,  as  he  was  suspected  of  an 
attachment  towards  Episcopacy.  He  adhered  with  great  zeal  to  the  interest  of 
Charles  I.,  and  published  a  protestation  against  the  measures  of  the  anny,  when  they 
had  assumed  the  sovereign  power,  and  were  determined  to  impeach  Charles  and 
bring  him  to  trial.  The  celebrated  treatise,  entitled,  "  E/xiwv  /3a<r;X/x»,  or  Portraiture 
of  his  Sacred  Majesty  in  his  Solitude  and  Sufferings,"  has  been  ascribed  to  his  pen. 
But  the  honour  of  writing  that  popular  worlv,  which  was  first  printed  in  1648,  a  few 
days  after  the  execution  of  the  King,  and  which  passed  through  fifty  eflitions  in  a 
twelvemonth,  was  claimed  by  the  Eoyalists  for  the  King  himself.  After  the  Restora- 
tion of  Charles  II.,  Gauden  was,  in  1660,  pi'omoted  to  the  vacant  See  of  Exeter,  and, 
in  1662,  was  translated  to  the  See  of  Worcester,  but  was  taken  ill  very  soon  after  his 
removal  to  the  new  See,  and  died  in  the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 

X  This  was  the  well-known  Richard  Baxter,  the  author  of  the  "  Saint's  Rest,"  and 
numerous  other  works,  both  practical  and  controversial.  He  was  born  at  Rowton,  a 
small  village  in  the  county  of  Salop,  in  1615.  In  1640  he  became  minister  at  Kidder- 
minster, which  became  the  scene  of  his  ministerial  services  for  about  sLxteen  years. 
After  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.  the  bishoprick  of  Hereford  was  offered  him,  wliich 
he  declined,  and  wished  to  retire  to  his  friends  at  Kidderminster,  and  to  officiate 
among  them  in  the  humble  station  of  a  curate,  but  was  not  permitted.      In  1685  he 


16G0.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  349 

ISIay  1,  letters  came  from  the  King,  Charles  II.,  from  Breda,  to 
his  Parliament  of  England  ;  one  letter  to  the  House  of  Peers,  with 
a  Declaration  enclosed  ;  another  to  the  Commons,  with  the  same 
Declaration  enclosed.  The  papers  were  printed.  The  King  refers 
all  to  his  Parliament ;  offers  an  act  of  indemnity  to  all,  save  those 
that  the  Parliament  did  except ;  declares  his  good  liking  of  Par- 
liament, liis  affection  to  the  Protestant  religion,  &c.  The  King 
also  wrote  a  letter  to  Monk,  '  another'  to  the  city  of  London,  and 
a  third  to  Montague.*  Upon  the  reception  of  the  King's  letters 
the  Parliament  passed  several  votes  : — 1.  That  thanks  should  be 
given  to  the  King's  messenger.  Sir  John  Granville,  and  a  sum  of 
money  for  his  reward ;  2.  Voted  that  the  Parliament  should  con- 
sist of  King,  Lords  and  Commons  ;  3.  Charles  Stuart  to  be  law- 
ful heir  of  the  Crown  ;  4.  A  committee  to  be  appointed  of  Lords 
and  Commons,  to  return  a  congratulatory  answer  to  his  Majesty's 
letters,  declaring  their  thankful  acceptance  of  his  gracious  pro- 
positions ;  5.  Commissioners  to  be  sent  to  the  King  for  the 
bringing  of  him  to  his  Parliament  and  throne  ;  6.  A  sum  of 
£50,000  sterling  to  be  sent  to  the  King  for  his  accommodation  in 
his  return.  The  town  of  Edinburgh  and  other  burghs  sent  a  con- 
siderable sum  of  gold  to  the  King, — old  pieces  called  Jacobus's. 
The  Parliament  also  sent  gold  to  the  King's  two  brethren,  Dukes 
of  Yoi'k  and  Gloucester,  who  were  to  return  with  his  INIajesty. 
The  House  of  Peers  voted  to  send  six  Commissioners  ;  the  House 
of  Commons  twelve  ;  the  City  twenty.  The  Parliament  enacted 
all  the  ministers  in  England  to  pray  for  the  King  and  the  royal 

was  committed  to  prison,  by  a  wan-ant  from  Lord  Chief-Justice  Jeffries,  for  his  para- 
phrase on  the  New  Testament,  which  was  charged  with  being  hostile  to  Ejjiscopacy, 
and  brought  to  trial  for  sedition,  of  which  he  was  at  last,  by  an  unjust  verdict,  found 
guilty,  and  sentenced  to  pay  500  merks,  to  lie  in  prison  till  he  paid  it,  and  to  be  bound 
to  his  good  behaviour  for  seven  years.  From  this  heavy  penalty,  however,  after  a 
confinement  of  several  months,  he  Avas  released,  in  1686,  by  King  James,  and  allowed 
to  remain  in  London,  notwithstanding  the  pi'ovisions  of  the  Oxford  Act.  He  died 
on  the  8th  of  December  1691. 

*  Admiral  Montagaie  was  a  distinguished  naval  otHcer.  He  carried  to  Holland  the 
English  fleet  which  brought  over  Charles  IL  ;  and  after  the  restoration  of  that  prince 
was  created  Earl  of  Sandwich.  He  was  killed  at  the  naval  engagement  of  Solcbay, 
fought  between  the  Dutch  and  the  English  fleets  on  the  28th  of  May  1672. 


.^JO  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1660. 

fiimilv.  General  Monk  sent  six  commissioners,  declaring  all  the 
colonels  and  officers  of  the  army  their  joyful  acceptance  of  his 
^lajesty.  Montague  is  ordered  by  the  Pai'liament  only  to  receive 
orders  from  the  King  in  relation  to  the  transportation  of  his 
Afajesty. 

May  8,  the  King  was  proclaimed  in  London  Charles  II.,  King 
of  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  with  all  solemnities  and  possible 
expressions  of  joy.  So  soon  as  the  news  came  to  Scotland  there 
wei'e  great  solemnities  by  bonfires,  ringing  of  bells,  &c.  'Colonel' 
Morgan  hindered  the  solemnities  in  Edinburgh,  pretending  that 
there  were  no  orders  come  for  the  same,  until  May  14.  Then  he 
countenanced  the  solemnity. 

Mr  James  Shai*p  being  desired  by  General  Monk  and  the  Pres- 
byterian ministers  of  London,  went  over  to  the  King  at  Breda 
in  Holland,  for  ecclesiastic  affairs,  especially  to  take  care  that 
Presbyterial  government  were  not  altered,  or  any  ways  wronged. 
The  Commissioners  from  the  Parliament,  city  and  generals,  went 
from  London,  May  9.  Many  noblemen,  English  and  Scots,  went 
over  with  them  ;  and  many  noble  and  gentlemen  from  Scotland 
went  to  London  to  salute  the  King,  and  see  the  solemnities  of  his 
reception.  But  in  this  meantime,  many  godly  ministers  and  pro- 
fessors in  Scotland  (and  none  more  than  Mr  Blair)  did  sadly  re- 
gret that  the  King  was  to  be  brought  home  without  any  condi- 
tions, and  not  being  desired  to  renew  the  Covenant;  which,  in 
all  appearance,  the  secluded  members  readmitted  would  have  de- 
sired him  to  do  if  they  had  been  permitted  to  sit ;  and  IMr  James 
Sharp,  before  he  went  over  to  Breda,  wrote  to  JVIi-  James  AYood, 
(who  had  a  chief  hand  in  sending  him  up  first  and  last),  that  he 
feared  that  the  King  would  be  brought  home  without  conditions, 
and  how  dreadful  a  thing  that  was  all  honest  men  mifjht  see. 
Many  such  things  did  he  write  to  Mr  Wood  from  London,  which 
made  honest  Mr  Wood  most  confident  of  his  honesty  in  his  pre- 
sent negotiation. 

May  18,  the  Parliament  did  forfault  all  those  that  were  upon 
that  jury  that  took  the  late  King's  life,  '  and'  declared  them  mar- 


1660.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  351 

derers,  and  traitors,  &c.  The  declaration  against  them,  and 
their  names  in  it,  was  printed.  The  Parliament  commanded  the 
Scottish  colours,  taken  at  Dunbar  and  Worcester,  to  be  taken 
down,  that  were  hung  up  in  Whitehall.  They  declared  the  inva- 
sion by  Oliver  unlawful,  &c. 

Both  the  Presbyterians  and  Prelatic  ministers  send  commission- 
ers to  the  King.  The  Prelatic  party  had  great  hopes  that  the 
King  would  restore  Prelacy,  Chancellor  Hyde*  being  a  great  ene- 
my to  Presbyterians.  The  King  at  his  departure  out  of  Holland 
was  feasted  by  the  Hollanders  in  great  state,  being  served  in  plate 
of  gold  and  silver,  which  was  gifted  to  the  King,  with  several 
other  things  of  great  value.  They  strove  to  ingratiate  themselves 
with  his  Majesty,  fearing  his  remembering  of  the  wrongs  they  had 
done  to  him.  At  his  shipping  there  Avere  great  shots  in  all  the 
roads  and  ports  in  Holland ;  which  being  heard  all  over  the  sea, 
cannons  did  play  even  to  the  coast  of  England.  May  23,  the  King 
shipped.  With  him  there  was  the  Queen  of  Bohemia  in  another 
vessel ;  in  another  the  Princess-Royal,  his  sister ;  in  another  the 
Duke  of  York ;  in  another  the  Duke  of  Gloucester ;  with  many 
strangers,  French,  Dutch,  Spanish,  &c.,  with  many  of  the  nobility 
of  England  and  Scotland.  When  they  came  to  the  English  coast 
the  Queen  of  Bohemia  and  the  Princess-Royal  returned. 

May  25,  the  King  landed  at  Dover.  Monk  did  draw  all  the 
army  near  to  Dover.  At  the  King's  landing  he  saluted  the  King 
in  a  most  humble  manner,  prostrating  himself  before  his  Majesty. 
Putting  the  sword  over  his  own  head  he  put  it  in  the  King's  hand; 
which  the  King  returned  to  him,  and  embraced  him ;  thereafter 
put  the  garter  over  his  neck,  and  the  two  Dukes,  the  King's 
brethren,  put  the  garter  on;  so  Monk  was  made  one  of  the  knights 

*  Sir  Edward  Hyde,  who,  on  the  Restoration  of  Cliarles  II.  was  created  Earl  of 
Clarendon,  and  made  cliancullor  and  prime  minister,  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
statesmen  of  his  day.  His  daughter  Anne  was  married  to  the  Duke  of  York,  Charles's 
hrother ;  and  two  daughters  were  the  fruits  of  this  marriage,  Anne  and  Mary,  both  of 
whom  ascended  the  British  throne.  Clarendon  afterwards  losing  the  King's  favour  was 
imjieached  for  high  treason.  He  fled  to  France  and  died  in  December  1 G7-1,  aged  GG. 
Among  his  many  wi'itings  the  most  important  is  his  History  of  tlie  Rebellion,  from 
1G41  down  to  tlie  restoration  of  Charles  II. 


352 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [16C0. 


of  tliat  noble  order.  As  the  King  entered  into  Dover  the  minis- 
ters of  the  towni  had  a  short  speech  to  him,  and  gifted  the  King  a 
large  Bible  with  golden  clasps,  which  the  King  joyfully  received. 
May  26,  the  King  came  to  Canterbury  and  rested  there.  May  27, 
beino-  the  Lord's  day,  Calamy  and  Eeynolds  are  made  the  King's 
chaplains,  both  Presbyterian  ministers  and  learned  men.  May 
28,  the  King  came  to  Kochester.  That  day  the  King  did  view  the 
army  and  navy. 

May  29,  being  his  Majesty's  birth-day,  the  King  made  h,is  en- 
trance into  London,  and  was  received  with  such  solemnities,  the 
like  whereof  had  never  been  in  England,  and  with  the  greatest  ac- 
clamations that  ever  had  been  heard  in  England.  The  Mayor  and 
Aldermen,  most  gorgeously  apparelled,  met  him  without  the  city, 
complimented  and  feasted  him  in  a  tent  pitched  for  the  purpose. 
The  Mayor  presented  the  sword  to  him,  which  the  King  returned 
to  him.  All  the  streets  were  hung  with  tapestry,  the  way  strewed 
with  flowers.  Many  troops  met  the  King  one  after  another,  some 
in  cloth  of  gold,  some  in  cloth  of  silver,  some  with  velvet  coats  and 
chains  of  gold,  others  in  buff  with  silver  and  gold  lace ;  all  of 
them  with  strings  and  streamers  of  silver  and  gold,  &c.,  with  trum- 
pets and  kettle  drums,  in  richest  apparel.  There  was  no  shooting 
imtil  the  King  was  in  his  palace  of  Whitehall.  Then  went  off  can- 
nons and  smaller  shot  in  greatest  abundance.  Thereafter  ringing 
of  bells,  bonfires,  balls  and  masks  [masquerades],  and  all  possible 
expressions  of  joy  all  that  night. 

The  King  was  proclaimed  at  Dublin  in  Ireland,  and  JNIay  21, 
Lockhart,  governor  of  Dunkirk,  caused  proclaim  the  King  in 
English  to  the  gannson  and  land  forces,  and  in  Dutch,  that  all 
might  imderstand.  This  he  did  to  ingratiate  himself  with  the 
King,  whom  he  had  many  ways  wronged. 

May  30,  upon  the  very  day  after  his  reception  into  London,  the 
King  caused  proclaim  a  Declaration  against  all  profane,  debauched 
and  dissolute  persons,  especially  drunkards  that  could  no  otherwise 
express  their  affection  to  him  and  his  service  but  by  drinking  of 
his  honlth  and  making  debauches  in  taverns ;  which  persons  he 


1660.]  LtFE  OP  ROBERT  BLAlR.  353 

professed  he  always  hated,  and  now  declared  that  he  would  as 
soon  exercise  the  severest  justice  against  them  as  any  malefac- 
tors. This  was  looked  upon  as  a  noble  and  pious  proclamation^ 
and  a  happy  beginning  of  his  public  actings.  The  King  emitted 
a  second  declaration  (because  there  had  been  some  stirs  in  Ireland 
by  the  natives  there),  v\^herein,  first,  he  declared  his  abhorrence  of 
that  cruel  insurrection  and  rebellion,  anno  1641,  &c.  A  third  pro- 
clamation was  against  the  murderers  of  his  father,  all  that  sat  in 
that  jury  and  condemned  him.  Their  names  were  expressed  in  the 
proclamation.  They  were  ordained  to  come  and  render  themselves 
(they  being  then  fleeing  out  of  the  country)  to  the  Speakers  of  the 
respective  Houses,  or  any  public  persons  in  the  several  shires,  and 
submit  to  justice,  otherwise  to  be  excepted  out  of  the  Act  of  In- 
demnity. Some  of  them  came  and  offered  themselves  to  justice. 
Of  these  some  were  pardoned  by  the  Parliament  and  King,  only 
granting  them  theu'  lives ;  others  were  excepted  out  of  the  Act 
of  Indemnity.  Any  rents,  goods,  &c.,  belonging  to  Oliver,  or  any 
of  that  jury,  were  seized  upon. 

The  coronation  of  the  King  was  for  a  space  delayed.  The  rea- 
son thereof  was  conjectured  to  be  because  in  the  oath  of  corona- 
tion the  King  is  bound  to  defend  Prelacy  as  established  in  Eng- 
land ;  now  the  kirk  government  not  being  established,  and  the 
King  having  sworn  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  the  great 
question  anent  Episcopacy  and  the  government  behoved  first  to 
be  determined.  As  for  the  government  in  Scotland,  it  was  then 
taken  for  granted  by  those  that  knew  not  the  mysteries  and  in- 
trigues of  court  and  estate  policy,  that  it  was  to  continue  as  when 
the  King  swore  the  covenants  and  took  the  oath  of  coronation  at 
Scoone  1651.  As  for  the  government  in  England,  we  were  up  and 
down  in  our  hopes  and  expectations  as  to  the  establishing  or  abo- 
lishing of  Episcopacy  in  England  and  Ireland.  Meanwhile  the 
King  in  his  chapel  did  continue  the  use  of  the  Service  Book,  and 
heard  the  Bishop  of  Elie  preach. 

The  King,  knowing  that  many  noble  and  gentlemen  had  come 
from  Scotland  to  salute  his  Majesty,  and  congratulate  his  happy 

z 


354  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1660; 

and  safe  return,  appointed  to  meet  witli  tliein  at  the  Earl  of  Craw- 
ford's lodgings,  to  the  which  all  resorted  at  the  time  appointed.  The 
King  regretted  that  so  many  of  them  had  put  themselves  to  the  ex- 
pense and  travel,  but  was  glad  to  see  them,  and  desired  that  if  they 
had  any  thing  to  propose  to  him  they  would  do  it.  They  supplicate 
his  Majesty,  1.  For  a  free  Parliament  of  their  own ;  2.  For  a  free 
Council  of  Estate  ;  3.  For  the  removing  of  all  forces  out  of  Scot-, 
land ;  4.  For  the  taking  off  all  cess  and  excise,  &c. 

The  Coronation  being  delayed,  a  day  of  thanksgiving  was  kept 
in  Scotland,  in  several  Presbyteries,  for  the  King's  haj)py  and  safe 
return,  &c.  June  29,  there  were  sermons  in  burghs  and  land- 
ward before  noon ;  [and  in  the]  afternoon  [it  being  a  week  day 
there  were]*  solemnities  for  expressions  of  joy  and  thankfulness. 
Yea,  not  only  were  there  great  solemnities  and  manifold  expressions 
of  joy  for  the  King's  restoration  in  Britain  and  Ireland,  but  even 
over  seas  in  several  places,  especially  in  Holland  and  Germany. 
France  was  at  the  time  much  taken  up  with  the  great  solemnities 
of  their  King's  marriage  with  the  King  of  Spain's  eldest  daughter^ 
which  occasioned  a  peace  to  be  concluded  betwixt  France  and 
Spain. 

After  many  had  repaired  to  London  to  salute  the  King,  &c., 
at  last  the  Marquis  of  Argyle,  being  written  for  by  his  son,  the 
Lord  Lorn,  repairs  to  London  with  several  barons,  &c.  So  soon 
as  the  Marquis  came  to  Court  and  sent  in  his  son  to  shew  the  King 
that  he  was  come  up  to  congratulate  his  happy  return,  the  Iving, 
highly  offended,  caused  take  him  to  the  Tower,  where  he  is  com- 
mitted close  prisoner ;  but  the  cause  of  his  imprisonment  was  not 
divulged.  About  this  same  time  Sir  James  Stewart,  some  time 
Provost  of  Edinburgh,  and  Sir  John  Chiesly,  are  apprehended  and 
committed  close  prisoners  in  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh.  Neither 
was  the  cause  of  their  imprisonment  divulged.  The  Lord  Warrls- 
ton,  though  he  was  searched  for  most  narrowly,  yet  escaped  and 
went  over  seas. 

*  What  is  inclosed  in  brackets  is  supplied  from  the  MS.  belonging  to  J.  J.  Gibson 
Grain,  Esq. 


1660.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  355 

In  answer  to  the  Scots  noblemen's  petition,  the  King  ordained 
the  Committee  of  Estates,  which  sat  at  Stirling  1651,  to  convene 
in  Edinburgh  August  23,  and  a  Parliament  to  be  holden  in  Edin-. 
burgh  October  23.  Also  all  forces  were  to  remove  out  of  Scotland, 
except  some  few  that  Avere  to  stay  in  the  citadels  during  the  King's 
pleasure.  About  this  time  the  places  of  estate  were  disposed  of  at 
London.  Glencairn  is  made  Chancellor ;  Crawford  is  restored  to 
his  own  place,  Treasurer ;  Lauderdale  '  is  made '  Secretary,  and 
one  of  the  Bedchamber ;  Sir  William  Fleming,  Clerk-Eegister ;  Sir 
Archibald  Primrose  did  buy  the  place  from  him ;  Sir  William  Ker, 
the  Earl  of  Lothian's  son.  Director  of  the  Chancellary. 

But  now  the  thing  longed  for  by  all  honest  men  and  ministers 
especially,  was  the  establishment  of  Church  government  in  England 
according  to  the  Word  of  God.  Those  that  knew  not  what  was 
plotted  at  Breda  and  at  Court,  after  the  King's  return,  were  kept 
in  great  suspense.  Sometimes,  considering  the  King's  education, 
his  father's  counsels  to  him  in  his  Book,  the  inclination  of  the  most 
part  of  the  Peers,  and  of  the  body  of  the  land  that  were  crying 
for  bishops  and  Episcopal  ceremonies,  with  the  long  rooting  of 
Episcopacy  in  England,  it  was  feared  that  Episcopacy  would  be 
set  up.  At  other  times,  considering  his  father's  concessions  to  the 
Long  Parliament,  his  own  taking  the  Covenants,  and  his  oath  of 
coronation  at  Scoone,  1651,  his  mild  and  condescending  disposi- 
tion, and  the  Presbyterian  party  in  England,  it  was  hoped  that 
if  Episcopacy  were  set  up,  it  would  be  a  very  moderate  Episco- 
pacy, &c.  But  while  our  minds  were  kept  in  suspense  betwixt 
our  fears  and  hopes,  two  things  fell  out  that  made  our  fears  in- 
crease and  our  hopes  decrease.  First,  The  King  wrote  a  letter  to 
the  Bishops  in  England  that  were  then  alive,  that  they  would 
have  a  care  of  filling  the  vacant  places.*     Secondli/,  Shortly  after 

*  To  the  restoration  of  Episcopacy  in  England  the  Treshytcrians  tliere  shewed  less 
opposition  than  might  have  been  expected.  "  The  Presbyterians  found  the  other  party 
[the  Prelatic]  had  gotten  too  much,  and  more  than  in  conscience  they  could  ever  as- 
sent to  ;  yet,  for  love  to  the  King,  they  were  silent  when  all  the  Bishops  were  solemnly 
installed,  and  the  Liturg}-  everywhere  restored,  clear  contrary  to  our  Covenant  and 

z  2 


3,5(»  LIl'E  OF  ROBERT  RLAIR.  [1660. 

tills  all  Presbyterian  ministers  almost  that  had  been  admitted  for 
twelve  years  before  were  put  out  of  their  places,  and  Episcopal 
conform  men  put  in  them,  some  whereof  did  possess  these  places 
before  ;  yet  still  honest  men's  minds  were  kept  in  some  suspense, 
because  it  was  given  out  that  a  National  Synod  would  be  conven- 
ed, consisting  of  Presbyterian,  Episcopal,  and  Independent  minis- 
ters, wherein  it  should  be  concluded  what  government  should  be 
established  in  England  and  Ireland. 

A  little  before  this,  the  ministers  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  fear- 
ing tlie  change  of  the  Government,  did  send  by  two  of  their  num- 
ber *  a  humble  Supplication  to  the  King,  together  with  a  hearty 
congratulation.  Their  Supplication  got  a  pleasant  answer.t  The 
King  said  that  he  resolved  to  tolerate  Presbyterian  government 
in  these  parts  in  Ireland.  Yet,  notwithstanding,  the  Avorst  was 
feared ;  for  the  Bishops  alive  in  Ireland  started  to  their  places 
ajjiiin,  and  that  wicked  Bramhall  came  anjain  into  Ireland. 

According  to  the  King's  appointment,  the  Committee  of  Estates 
did  sit  down  in  Edinburgh  August  23.  On  that  day  there  ha]^>- 
pened  an  unhappy  coincidence  and  juncture  of  affairs,  persons  and 
places;  for  a  number  of  the  Protesters,  according  to  aformer  appoint- 
ment, met  that  same  day  near  to  the  place  where  the  Committee 
was  sitting.  The  Protesters,  in  a  former  meeting,  did  make  an 
offer  to  unite  with  the  Public  Men,  that  they  jointly  might  make 

Acts  of  the  English  Parliament  since  1641.  Chancellor  Hyde  was  thought  the  great 
actor  in  all  this  Ejnscopal  business." — BaiUie's  Letters  and  Journals,  iii.  445. 

*  These  two  were  ]\Ir  William  Keyes,  an  Englishman  lately  settled  in  Ireland,  and 
Mr  William  Richardson.  They  were  sent  by  a  Synodical  meeting  held  at  Ballymena, 
at  which  all  the  ministers  in  the  north  of  Ireland  were  present. 

t  Sonie  alteration  was,  however,  made  in  the  Supplication  before  it  was  presented  to 
the  King.  It  petitioned  the  settlement  of  religion  according  to  the  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant,  in  opposition  to  Popery,  Prelacy,  &c.  But  the  Commissioners  on  their 
arrival  at  London,  finding  that  none  of  their  friends  would  procure  their  introduction 
to  the  King,  unless  some  expressions  in  their  Supplication  were  altered,  were  prevailed 
upon  to  expunge  all  reference  to  the  Covenant  and  Prelacy  ;  on  which  they  were  in- 
troduce.l  to  the  King  by  Mr  Annesley,  aftci'wards  the  Earl  of  Anglesey.  This  altera- 
tion m  tlie  Snitplication,  for  making  which  the  Commissioners  had  no  authoritj^  was 
(lisai.provcd  of  ])y  the  Synod  M'hicli  had  sent  them,  at  its  subsequent  meeting.— TJoV/'s 
IhKtory  of  the  Preshj/terimt  Church  in  Ireland,  ii.  334-.S36, 


1660.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  357 

some  address  to  the  King.  But  the  Public  Resolutloners  abso- 
lutely refused  then  to  unite  with  them,  they  having  so  often  before 
refused  so  fair  offers  for  union.  Also,  in  the  Synod  of  Lothian  in 
IMay,  some  Protesters  that  had  been  admitted  in  a  disorderly  way 
were  discharged  the  exercise  of  their  ministry  in  their  respective 
charges,  but  so  as  still  they  might  accept  of  a  call  to  other  places  in 
an  orderly  way.  The  like  was  done  in  some  other  Synods  But 
the  rest  of  that  judgment  in  these  Synods  did  protest  against  these 
acts.  But  the  brethren  censured  gave  obedience  to  the  Synod's 
acts,  knowing  that  there  was  no  living  for  them  in  these  places, 
the  plurality,  over  whose  bellies  they  entered,  being  so  disaffected 
towards  them.  The  Resolutloners  refusing  to  unite  with  them  and 
acting  thus  against  some  of  them,  the  Protesters,  as  we  said,  did 
convene  at  Edinburgh.  They  drew  up  a  petition  which  they  in- 
tended to  send  to  the  King,  containing  a  congratulation,  putting 
him  in  mind  of  his  oath  of  Covenant,  and  wishing  that  what  was 
done  contrary  thereunto  in  his  chapel  and  family  at  London  might 
be  redressed,  &c.  And  because  they  were  but  few  that  met,  they 
resolved  to  write  letters  to  all  of  their  judgment,  ministers  and 
elders,  for  a  more  frequent  meeting.* 

While  they  were  thus  busied,  the  Committee  of  Estates  being 
informed  of  their  meeting  in  that  placje,  and  of  their  actings,  did 
send  one  to  them  commanding  them  presently  to  disperse  and  go 
off  the  town,  and  to  disown  their  petition  and  tear  it  ;  promising 
that  they  should  incur  no  danger  for  what  they  had  '  done'  or  were 
doing.f  But  this  offer  being  refused  by  the  Protesters,  the  Com- 
mittee of  Estates  sent  three  of  their  number  to  apprehend  them 
and  commit  them  prisoners  in  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh,  and  to 
pi-oduce  their  papers  and  letters  before  the  Committee  of  Estates. 
Those  that  were  imprisoned  were  Messrs  James  Guthrie,  [minister 
of  Stirling]  ;  Robert  Trail,  [one  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh]  ; 

*  "  They  also  writ  letters  to  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie,  and  to  the  chief  of  their  party  in 
the  West,  to  meet  them  at  Glasgow  the  next  week,  with  so  many  as  they  could  bring 
with  them." — Baillies  Letters  and  Journals,  iii.  446. 

t  Laraont  says  the  Committee  sent  to  them  three  several  times,  desiring  them  to 
dissolve  and  go  to  their  homes,  bnt  they  refused. — Diarij,  p.  158. 


3').S  hlVE  OF  ROBEKT  BLAIR.  [IGGO. 

John  Stirling,  [one  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh]  ;  Alex- 
ander [MoncriefF,  [minister  of  Scoone]  ;  George  Nairn,  [minis- 
ter of  Burntisland]  ;  Gilbert  Hall,  [minister  of  Kirkliston]  ;  John 
Murray,  [minister  of  Methven]  ;  John  Scot,  [minister  of  Oxnam]  ; 
John  Semple,  [minister  of  Carsfairn]  ;  Gilbert*  Eamsaj,  [minister 
of  ]SIordington]  ;  John  Kirk.f  Messrs  Eobert  Row,  [minister  of 
Abercorn],  and  William  Wishart,  [minister  of  Kinnoul],  having 
subscribed  the  petition,  presently  went  off  the  town  homewards, 
and  so  were  not  apprehended  with  the  rest. 

Presently  after  their  commitment  to  the  Castle  they  supplicate 
for  a  double  of  their  petition ;  which  being  refused,  they  collationed 
their  memories  and  wrote  down  their  petition;  which  offended  the 
Committee,  for  immediately  their  petition  was  dispersed  through 
the  town,  agreeing  in  every  word  with  the  petition  that  was  taken 
from  them  when  they  were  apprehended ;  which  made  the  Com- 
mittee suspect  that  they  prevaricated  when  they  affirmed  that  they 
had  no  copy  of  it.  These  things  occasioned  them  to  be  kept  more 
closely  in  the  Castle  than  at  their  first  commitment. 

August  24,  the  Committee  of  Estates  did  emit  a  proclamation 
in  his  Majesty's  name  and  authority,  prohibiting  and  discharging 
all  unlawful  and  unwarrantable  meetings  or  conventicles,  and  all 
seditious  petitions  and  remonstrances  under  what  pretence  soever, 
&c. 

Besides  those  imprisoned  in  the  Castle,  some  other  ministers 
were  summoned  to  appear  before  the  Committee,  viz.,  Messrs  Ro- 
bert Row,  and  Mr  William  Wishart,  of  whom  before,  Mr  Patrick 
Gillespie,  whom  the  Provost  of  Glasgow  had  caused  find  bail  that 
he  shoidd  appear  before  the  Committee  of  Estates,  and  Mr  James 
Simson,  Avhom  they  brought  back  from  Portpatrick  (he  being 
going  over  to  Ireland,  following  a  call  that  he  had  some  years  be- 
fore, to  a  vacant  place  there)  and  imprisoned  first  in  Glasgow, 

*  Wodrow  calls  him  "  Thomas." — Uisiory,  i.  6G. 
^  t  He  is  more  correctly  called  by  Wodrow  "  James  Kirkco  of  Sinidiwell,  in  the  pa- 
rish of  Dunscore,  in  Nithsdale.     He  was  a  ruling  elder."    There  was  another  ruling 
elder  at  the  meeting,  Mr  Andrew  Ilay  of  Craignethan,  near  Lanark,  hut  he  suc- 
ceeded in  making  his  escape.— 7iiV.,  i.  67,  7L 


1660.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  359 

thereafter  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh.  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie 
appearing  before  the  Committee,  was  challenged  especially  for  his 
great  accession  to  the  Eemonstrance  1650,  and  being  required  to 
subscribe  a  bond  of  peace  (as  they  called  it), — which  (as  was  alleged 
by  the  Protesters  and  Remonstrators  to  whom  it  was  offered)  con- 
tained several  general  and  ambiguous  expressions, — he  refusing  to 
•subscribe  the  bond,  was  committed  to  the  Castle  of  Stirhng ;  his 
place  in  the  college  of  Glasgow  being  before  this  declared  vacant, 
and  Mr  Robert  Baillie  presented  to  it  by  the  King.  Mr  Robert 
Row  refusing  to  subscribe  the  bond  of  peace,  as  it  was  conceived 
in  these  general  and  ambiguous  terms,  but  disallowing  the  Remon- 
strance, and  offering  an  engagement  for  peaceable  living,  was  first 
committed  to  his  chamber,  thereafter  to  the  custody  of  the  good- 
man  of  the  Tolbooth  in  his  house,  but  within  some  few  days  or 
weeks,  upon  his  supplication,  was  dismissed.  Mr  WiUiam  Wishart 
being  first  committed  to  his  chamber,  was  thereafter  committed  to 
the  Castle  of  Stirling. 

The  Committee  did  emit  a  second  proclamation  for  committing 
of  the  Protesters  close  prisoners  in  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh.  In 
that  proclamation  they  are  challenged  for  intending,  if  possible,  to 
rekindle  a  civU  war,  and  to  embroil  the  kingdom  into  new  troubles 
and  broUs  again.  The  King  was  most  jealous  of  them  that  they 
had  some  such  intentions  to  attempt,  if  possible,  to  gather  to  a  head 
to  pursue  the  ends  of  their  petition.  Neither  were  they  less  jea- 
lous of  the  King,  distrusting  his  promises  and  declarations  in  fa- 
vours of  Scotland  and  the  Kirk  government.  These  jealousies 
hinc  hide  were  the  cause  of  much  trouble  and  mischief. 

Presently  after  the  imprisonment  of  the  Protesters,  companies 
of  foot  and  troops  of  horse  are  ordained  to  quarter  in  places  where 
Protesters  abounded,  as  in  West  Lothian,  Cunningham,  &c. ; 
whereas  the  King  had  promised  to  cause  all  the  English  remove 
out  of  Scotland,  except  some  few  that  were  to  remain  in  the  four 
citadels.  This  made  no  small  outcrying  against  the  Protesters,  as 
the  only  cause  why  so  many  regiments  were  retained  and  more  cess 
lifted.     Some  of  the  Protesters,  (who  were  willing  to  disown  the 


3(;()  LIFE  OF  ROliEllT  BLAlIt.  [1660. 

Keiuonstrance,  but  still  adhering  to  the  petition,  and  saying  that 
they  would  spend  their  blood  for  it),  speaking  with  the  Chancellor, 
he  assured  them  that  the  King  would  not  meddle  with  theu-  blood 
or  lives ;  but  he  plainly  told  them  that  he  suspected  that  the  King 
Avould  not  suffer  any  man  or  minister  that  would  still  own  the  Re- 
monstrance and  adhere  to  the  principles  of  it  to  live  in  Scotland, 
but  intended  to  send  them  to  Barbadoes,  lest  they  should  again 
embi'oil  the  kingdom  into  new  troubles.  Of  all  the  Committee  the 
Chancellor  was  most  moderate,  willing  to  show  some  favour  to  some 
of  the  Protesters  and  others  that  came  before  them. 

All  this  while  by-past  no  man  was  so  much  longed  for  as  the 
Treasurer,  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  of  whom  much  good  was  expected, 
he  having  these  nine  years  by-past  suffered  sorely  for  his  honesty 
and  faithfulness.  Now  the  Lord  having  opened  his  prison  doors* 
and  restored  him  to  his  just  rights,  dignities  and  honours,  with 
a  good  conscience  and  credit  before  God  and  men,  all  honest  men's 
hopes  and  expectations  wei'e  much  upon  him,  that  the  Lord  w^oidd 
bless  him  to  be  a  good  instrument,  especially  betwixt  the  King  and 
Protesters  or  Remonstrators,  against  whom  the  hearts  of  some, 
even  otherwise  good  men,  were  too  much  embittered  and  filled  with 
thoughts  of  revenge,  calling  to  mind  what  some  of  them  at  London 
had  done  against  their  brethren  that  were  not  of  their  judgment, 
so  that  they  did  but  little  compassionate  them  now  in  the  time  of 
their  imprisonment.  But  still  one  thing  after  another  detained 
Crawford  at  Court  with  the  King,  especially,  and  which  was  most 
to  be  lamented,  the  death  of  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  the  King's 
youngest  brother.  He  w^as  a  hopeful  yoving  prince  and  a  great 
lover  of  our  nation. 

*  The  Earl  of  Crawford Tjeing  a  promoter  of  the  King's  jikxn  of  marching  into  Eng- 
hind  in  1651,  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  for  forwarding  the  levies  for  that  pur- 
pose in  the  county  of  Forfar.  While  so  employed  the  Committee  were  unexpectedly 
surprised  by  a  strong  party  of  horse  detached  from  Dundee  by  the  English  on  the  28th 
of  August  1651,  at  Alyth,  in  Forfarshire,  earned  to  Dundee,  sent  thence  to  London, 
and  imprisoned.  Crawford  was  confined  first  in  the  Tower  and  afterwards  in  Wind- 
sor Castle.  He  endured  a  tedious  im])risonment  till  March  1 G60,  Mhen  Monk  having 
restored  the  secluded  members  of  the  Long  Parliament,  his  Lordship  was  released  by 
thpir  anthoxity, —Dotigkts's  Pccrar/o,  vol.  i.  p.  886. 


16G0.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  361 

Upon  the  last  of  August  Mr  James  Sharp  came  to  Edinburgh 
and  brought  Avlth  him  a  gracious  letter  from  the  King  directed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Edinburgh,  &c.  The  sum  of  it  was  an  answer 
to  a  letter  sent  by  some  of  the  Presbytery  of  Edinburgh,  thereafter 
approven  by  the  whole,  to  the  King  with  Mr  James  Sharp  when 
he  went  last  to  London.  The  King  declares  his  gracious  accep- 
tance of  their  address,  and  how  well  he  is  satisfied  with  the  g-ene- 
rality  of  the  ministers  of  Scotland,  &c.  He  assures  them  that  he 
resolves  to  discountenance  profaneness,  &c.,  and  to  protect  and  pre- 
serve the  government  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  as  it  is  settled  by 
law,  without  violation,  &c.  He  wills  the  authority  and  acts  of  the 
General  Assembly  at  St  Andrews  and  Dundee,  1651,  to  stand  in 
force  until  he  call  another  General  Assembly,  and  that  he  intends 
to  send  for  Mr  Robert  Douglas  and  some  other  ministers,  &c. 

This  letter  was  sent  to  all  Presbyteries,  and  every  minister  got 
a  copy  of  it.  The  Presbyteries  of  Fife  consulting  anent  a  return 
to  the  letter,  considering  that  the  Synod  was  approaching,  referred 
the  answering  of  it  to  the  ensuing  Synod,  judging  it  more  conve- 
nient, and  tending  to  the  greater  solemnity  of  the  aiFair  that  the 
whole  Synod  should  answer  it.  When  the  answer  of  the  King's 
letter  was  taken  to  consideration  by  the  Synod  (Mr  James  Sharp, 
the  bearer,  and,  as  was  thought,  the  penner  of  the  letter,*  being- 
present)  the  main  thing  that  was  most  tossed  and  debated  was, 
whether  or  not  mention  should  be  made  of  the  Covenant,  and  of 
ties  and  obligations  lying  on  the  King  by  his  taking  the  Covenant, 
in  their  answer  to  the  letter.  Mr  James  Sharp  (who  had  drawn 
Mr  Wood,  by  his  subtle  insinuations  and  fair  pretences,  to  plead 
with  him  against  mentioning  the  Covenant  in  the  Synod's  answer 
to  the  King's  letter)  alleged  and  pleaded  that  the  Synod's  mention- 
ino;  the  Covenant  in  their  answer  to  the  Kind's  letter  would  be 
constructed  by  the  King  and  others  a  homologating  of  the  Protest- 
ers' petition,  wherein  they  seemed  to  challenge  the  King  of  breach 
of  Covenant,  and  that  it  would  irritate  the  King  at  this  time,  and 

*  Tlic  letter  commences  witli  ii  Iii.uli  coiiimeiulalion  of  Sharp;  >)ut  he  might  have 
written  it  himsclt'tbr  all  that. 


302  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1660. 

in  the  answer  of  liis  gracious  letter,  to  mention  the  Covenant,  or 
any  tic  lying  on  him  by  the  Covenant.  Mr  Wood  did  only  plead 
ao-ainst  mentioning  the  Covenant  luc  et  nunc,  jjrofessing  his  re- 
spects to  the  sworn  Covenant.  Upon  the  other  hand,  those  that 
pleaded  for  mentioning  of  the  Covenant  (who  were  those  that  had 
mediate  betwixt  the  Protesters  and  Resolutioners),  at  last  desired 
only  our  tic  of  allegiance  and  obedience  to  the  King,  by  virtue  of 
the  Covenant,  to  be  mentioned  in  the  answer  of  his  Majesty's  let- 
ter, alleging  that  it  would  be  admired  by  the  world,  and  more 
especially  by  honest  men  and  ministers  in  England,  if  no  mention 
of  the  Covenant,  nay  not  of  our  tie  and  obligation  to  the  King,  by 
virtue  of  the  Covenant,  should  be  made  in  the  Synod's  letter  to 
the  King.  But  to  this  it  was  replied  by  IMr  James  Sharp,  that 
now  there  was  no  party,  nay  no  person  in  England  that  owned 
the  Covenant,  especially  the  second  article  of  the  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant,  in  that  sense  that  the  Kirk  of  Scotland  owned  it, 
abjuring  Episcopacy,  with  all  the  branches  of  it,  but  that  even 
those  that  stood  for  the  Covenant  and  wrote  in  defence  of  it, 
thought  that  a  moderate  Episcopacy,  Constant  Moderator,  &c., 
might  stand  with  the  Covenant,  and  that,  for  that  very  end  the 
parenthesis  in  that  second  article  was  Inserted  in  the  Covenant,  to 
exclude  Lord  Bishops,  Parliament  Bishops,  but  not  a  moderate 
Episcopacy,  Constant  Moderator,  &c.  Thus  men  began  to  find  out 
new  glosses  upon  the  Covenant,  and  after  vows  to  make  inquiry ; 
and  even  too  many  ministers  in  Scotland,  mostly  those  that  were 
most  rigid  defenders  of  all  the  Public  Resolutions,*  but  especially 
!Mr  James  Sharp,  in  that  Synod  spoke  too  diminutively,  yea  most 


*  Tlic  ministers  who  defended  the  Public  Rcsolutionis,  with  some  exceptions,  were 
men  of  a  diftcreut  spirit  from  the  Protesters.  The  latter  were  accustomed,  as  Baillie 
alleges,  to  call  themselves  "  the  godly  party ;"  and  though  BaiUie  was  specially  offended 
at  this,  reckoning  it  at  once  ])resumptuous,  uncharitable  and  untrue,  yet  there  is  ground 
to  think  that  the  greater  part  of  the  piety  of  the  country  was  on  the  side  of  the  Pro- 
testers. It  is  certain  that  their  attachment  to  Presbytery  and  the  Covenant  was  far 
greater  than  that  of  the  Eesolutioners ;  as  was  fully  tested  when  Presbytery  was  over- 
thrown. In  1G51  the  ministers  adhering  to  the  Public  Resolutions  amoimted  to  about 
COO ;  and  all  of  them,  with  the  exception  of  about  forty,  conformed  to  Prelacy  after 
the  Restoration. 


1660.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  363 

disrespectfully  of  the  sworn  Covenant,  and  his  arguments  seemed 
to  conclude  that  it  should  never  be  mentioned  nor  any  more  owned; 
but  the  result  of  the  debates  of  the  Synod  was,  that  there  was  no 
mention  of  the  Covenant  in  their  answer  to  the  Kino's  letter.  In 
the  close  of  the  letter  the  thanks  of  the  Synod  were  returned  to 
the  Secretary,  Lauderdale,  for  his  good  affection  and  friendship  to 
the  Kirk  of  Scotland  and  her  government.  In  this  Synod  Mr 
Sharp  had  many  long  harangues  highly  commending  the  King,  but 
withal  declaring  that  the  government  of  our  Kirk  had  many  ene- 
mies at  court ;  "  yea  even  many  unnatural  sons,  if  I  may  call  them 
so,"  said  he,  "  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  were  most  active  against 
her  and  the  government,  intending  to  subvert  the  same,  and  again  to 
introduce  Episcopacy  and  abjured  ceremonies."  He  was  seconded 
by  Mr  Wood  and  Mr  Frederick  Carmichael,*  who  had  discourses 
to  the  same  purpose ;  especially  they  did  show  the  Synod  what 
good  service  Mr  James  Sharp  had  done  to  the  whole  Kirk  of  Scot- 
land, in  hindering  the  change  of  government  which  was  endea- 
voured by  some  at  Court,  and  what  great  reason  the  Synod  of 
Fife  had  to  return  him  hearty  thanks  for  his  great  service  and 
great  pains,  &c. ;  which  was  done  by  the  Moderator,  Mr  George 
Hamilton,  t  in  name  of  the  Synod.  But  a  little  after  Mr  Frede- 
rick Carmichael  desired  Mr  James  Sharp  to  remove  a  little. 
When  he  was  removed,  he  did  again,  as  he  could,  aggrage  [extol] 
Mr  James  Sharp's  great  pains  and  travels  for  the  good  of  the  Kirk, 
and  how  undoubtedly  the  government  had  been  changed  unless  he 
had  hindered  and  now  secured  the  government  as  it  is  settled  by 
law.  Therefore  he  desired  that  Mr  James  Sharp  should  be  called 
in,  and  thanks  returned  to  him  in  a  more  ample  and  solemn  man- 
ner by  the  Moderator,  in  name  of  the  whole  Synod ;  [to  whom 

*  Mr  Frederick  Camiichael  was  appointed  first  minister  of  the  collegiate  charge  of 
Kirkcaldy,  April  21st,  1G27 ;  translated  to  Kennoway  August  1627,  and  to  Markinch 
June  11,  1641.  He  died  May  3,  1GQ7.— (Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Spwd  of 
Fife,  pp.  230,  231,  2330 

t  Mr  George  Hamilton  was  admitted  minister  of  Newburn  1628;  translated  to 
Pittenweem  February  27,  1650,  and  deposed  in  1062,  for  nonconformity.— i6i'(/.  pp. 
210,  211. 


3(54  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1(360. 

honest  and  ingenuous  Mr  Hamilton  replied,  "  Shall  I  give  him 
thanlvs  over  ao-ain  ?"  When  Mr  James  Sharp  was  called  in,  the 
I^Eoderator  thanked  him  as  slenderly  and  *]  wershlie  t  as  before. 

'VVlien  there  was  an  account  given  to  Mr  Blair  (who,  through  his 
infirmity,  was  detained  from  this  Synod  at  Kirkcaldy)  of  the  debates 
anent  the  government,  and  especially  of  Mr  James  Sharp's  expres- 
sions and  arguments  against  the  Covenant,  and  of  his  carriage  in 
that  Synod  and  towards  some  brethren,  Mr  Blair  said,  "  I  now  see 
the  knave  and  his  tricks ;  I  am  sorry  that  honest  ISIr  Wood  is  so 
deluded  by  him." 

About  this  time  three  of  the  ministers,  prisoners  in  the  Castle  of 
Edinburgh,  falling  sick,  viz.,  Messrs  Gilbert  Ramsay,  Robert  Trail, 
and  John  Scmple,  upon  their  supplications,  got  liberty  to  come 
down  to  the  town.  The  rest,  though  they  gave  in  several  supplica- 
tions, yet  were  detained  prisoners.  Mr  James  Guthrie  was  ordered 
by  the  Committee  to  be  carried  to  Dundee  and  there  committed  pri- 
soner in  the  Tolbooth.  Few  of  the  ministers  in  Edinburgh  did 
pray  in  public  for  the  imprisoned  Protesters,  except  it  was  to  con- 
vince them  of  their  mistakes  and  errors.  Some  that  dealt  much 
with  them  in  private  thought  them  too  tenacious  of  their  old  prin- 
ciples and  ways.  Other  ministers  prayed  for  them  publicly,  no 
ways  reflecting  on  the  authority  that  had  imprisoned  them,  or  on 
the  cause  of  their  imprisonment.  They  were  especially  ministers 
of  the  more  moderate  temper.  As  for  Mr  Blair,  he  used  to  say 
that  we  had  reason  to  bless  God  that  lawful  magistracy  was  re- 
stored, and  that  the  Lord  had  broken  the  yoke  of  usui-pers,  yea 
that  it  was  better  to  suffer  under  lawful  magistracy  than  to  enjoy 
toleration  under  usurpers. 

Others,  $  besides  these  ministers  imprisoned,  were  summoned  to 
appear  before  the  Committee,  viz.,  two  honest  men  in  Glasgow, 

*  From  MS.  belonging  to  J.  J.  Gibson  Craig,  Esq.  f  Werslilie,  Scot,  insipidly. 

J  These  were  the  leading  men  among  the  Kemonstrators  or  Protesters,  to  whom  the 
government  was  jiartieidarly  hostile.  "The  chief  of  the  Remonstrators  were  cited, 
and  made  to  subscribe  their  renoimcing  of  the  Remonstrance,  and  appearance  before 
tlie  rariiamcnt,  and  something  else,  whereat  they  stumbled  at  the  beginning."— 
litiillk':s  Ldtem  ,unl  Jnurno/s,  iii.  447. 


16G0.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  365 

John  Spreul  and  John  Graham*  who  at  their  first  appearance  were 
made  prisoners  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh.  Warriston  and 
Robert  Andrew  were  summoned  to  appear  within  sixty  days,  other- 
wise to  be  declared  traitors  and  forefaulted.  Mr  David  Drura- 
mond,  a  deposed  minister  and  great  complier  with  the  usurpers, 
Colonel  Ker,  and  Provost  JafFray  in  Aberdeen,  were  summoned, 
&c.  Mr  John  Dickson,  minister  at  Eutherglen,  was  also  sum- 
moned, who  had  in  pulpit  spoken,  as  was  alleged,  very  disrespect- 
fully and  reproachfully  of  the  Committee  of  Estates,  reflecting  on 
the  present  authority  under  his  Majesty.  At  his  first  appearance 
he  was  made  prisoner  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh. 

About  the  middle  of  September,  the  Committee  of  Estates  took 
to  their  consideration  two  books,  one  entitled,  "  Lex  Rex,"  the 
other,  "  The  Causes  of  God's  Wrath,"  &c.  The  first  was  owned 
by  Mr  Rutherford,  and  cited  by  him  in  his  Answer  to  Hooker's 
piece,  though,  in  the  title-page,  his  name  was  not  put  to  it,  as  he 
used  to  do  in  his  other  excellent  practical  pieces,  and  learned  exer- 
citations  and  disputes  against  Arminius  and  other  enemies  of  the 
truth.  In  that  book,  pious  and  learned  Mr  Rutherford  shews 
himself  to  be  of  Buchanan's  opinion  anent  monarchical  government, 
and  the  way  of  it,  in  Scotland.  When  he  had  written  a  great  part 
of  it,  he  brought  it  to  Mr  Blair,  desiring  him  to  revise  it,  and  sub- 
mitting it  to  his  censure.  After  Mr  Blair  had  read  and  considered 
it,  he  said  to  ISIr  Rutherford,  as  being  his  opinion  of  it,  "  Brother, 
ye  are  happy  in  your  other  writings,  and  God  has  blessed  you  as 
his  instrument,  well  furnished  and  suited  to  do  much  good  to  souls, 
both  by  your  practical  pieces  and  disputes  against  sectaries ;  and 
there  ye  are  in  your  own  element ;  but  as  for  this  subject,  it  being 
proper  for  jurisconsults,  lawyers,  and  politicians,  it  lies  out  of  your 
road.  My  advice  to  you  is,  that  ye  let  It  lie  by  you  seven  years, 
and  busy  your  pen  in  writing  that  which  will  be  more  for  edification 
and  good  of  souls,  and  thereafter.  It  may  be  ye  will  judge  it  not  expe- 

*  John  Spreul  was  town-clerk  of  Glasgow,  and  John  Graham  provost  of  tliat  city. 
They  lay  long  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh  for  refusing  to  subscribe,  but  they  at  last 
yielded,  upon  whicli  they  were  set  at  liberty. — Ihid.,  iii.  448. 


3(5(5  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1600. 

tVient  to  let  it  see  the  liftlit."  He  promised  to  Mr  Blair  to  do  so ; 
but  shortly  thereafter,  being  at  London,  one  of  our  Commissioners 
to  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  Lord  AYarriston,  did  again  yoke  him  to 
that  work,  and  (as  was  thought)  did  not  only  assist  to,  but  '  did' 
wholly  complete  and  finish  that  work,  anno  1645.  The  other  book 
was  published  by  the  Protesters,  after  the  defeat  at  Dunbar.  It 
was,  as  was  thought,  penned  by  Mr  James  Guthrie,*  who  was  the 
penner  of  all  public  papers,  both  before  and  after  the  woful  rent, 
and  aoreed  upon  and  consented  unto  in  one  of  their  extrajudicial 
meetino-s.  In  that  book,  among  other  causes  of  God's  wrath  (for 
in  it  there  were  many  sad  truths)  they  reckoned  the  home-bringing 
of  the  King,  in  the  way  he  was  brought  home,  and  the  admitting 
him  to  the  exercise  of  his  government  only  upon  paper  security. 
They,  in  that  book,  very  often  mention  the  King's  enmity  to  the 
cause  and  people  of  God,  &c. 

There  was  a  proclamation,  September  19,  against  these  two 
books,  condemning  them  as  seditious,  &c.  About  the  middle  of 
October  these  two  books  were  burnt  by  the  hand  of  the  hangman 
at  the  Cross  of  Edinburgh ;  and  shortly  thereafter,  "  Lex  Hex"  at 
the  Cross  of  St  Andrews,  by  the  appointment  of  the  Committee. 
Mr  Rutherford,  some  few  days  before,  was  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  Committee,  they  having  condemned  his  book  as  con- 
taining many  treasonable  and  seditious  things,  &c. ;  but  the  holy, 
learned  man  being  at  that  present  time  very  sick  and  infirm,  three 
testificates  were  sent  over  to  the  Committee ;  one  under  the  hands 
of  the  ministers  and  magistrates  of  the  town ;  a  second  under  the 
hands  of  some  masters  of  the  University ;  and  the  third  under  the 
hand  of  Doctor  Burnet,  his  physician.  The  testificates  being 
owned  by  the  Committee,  Mr  Rutherford  is  confined  to  his 
chamber,  his  stipend  sequestrate,  (as  the  stipends  of  the  ministers, 
prisoners  in  the  castle  of  Edinburgh,  or  elsewhere,  were),  and  his 
place  in  the  New  College  declared  vacant.f 

All  the  ministers  challenged,  or  appearing  before  the  Committee, 

•  It  was  published  aiiunynioiisly.  f  Rutlie.rforJ  died  March  20,  IGfil. 


1660.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  367 

refusing  to  take  that  bond  of  peace  offered  to  them  by  the  Com- 
mittee, and  thereafter  j)rinted  by  authority,  the  Committee  emitted 
a  proclamation,  in  the  latter  end  of  September,  against  all  seditious 
railers  and  slanderers,  whether  civil  or  ecclesiastic,  of  the  King's 
Majesty  and  his  government,  and  against  demonstrators  and  their 
adherents,  and  against  all  unlawful  convocations  of  his  Majesty's 
lieges,  &c.  The  King  wrote  to  the  Committee,  indicting  the 
down-sitting  of  the  Parliament  to  be  December  12.  November  1, 
the  Parliament  was  solemnly  proclaimed  with  great  solemnity,  the 
Chancellor  and  many  noblemen  being  on  the  Cross,  &c. 

In  October  and  November  the  Synods  convened.  In  many  of 
them  there  was  a  spirit  of  bitterness  and  revenge  to  be  seen  against 
the  Protesters.  The  Synod  of  Merse  and  Teviotdale  did  depose 
three  or  four  of  their  number,  and  wrote  a  congratulatory  letter  to 
the  Committee  of  Estates,  rendering  them  thanks  for  their  piety 
and  zeal  in  relation  to  what  they  had  done  against  the  Protesters, 
their  prisoners.  The  like  was  done  by  the  Synods  of  Aberdeen  and 
Murray,  in  deposing  three  or  four  Protesters.  The  carriage  of 
these  Synods  towards  their  brethren  was  looked  upon,  by  moderate 
men,  as  savouring  of  a  spirit  of  bitterness  and  immoderate  zeal. 

The  Lord  Warriston  and  Eobert  Andrew  being  summoned,  upon 
sixty  days,  under  pain  of  forfaultry,  they  not  appearing,  were  for- 
faulted.  In  the  proclamation,  which  was  very  long,  drawn  up  by 
the  King's  advocate.  Sir  John  Fletcher,  as  a  charge  against  War- 
riston, many  things  were  laid  to  Warriston's  charge,  especially  his 
having  a  deep  hand  in  the  bringing  of  that  most  noble  and  loyal 
subject,  the  Earl  of  Montrose,  to  death,  and  his  great  compliance 
with  the  usurpers,  &c.* 

While  the  minds  of  many  in  England  were  in  suspense  what 
form  of  government  would  be  settled  in  the  Church,  the  King,  by 
his  sole  authority,  took  upon  himself  alone  to  prescribe  a  form  of 
government,  (emitting  a  Declaration  to  all  his  subjects  in  England, 

*  "  Warriston  fled,  whereupon  he  w:is  declared  fugitive,  and  all  his  places  void : 
his  ])oor  lady  could  not  obtain  to  him  a  pass  from  the  King,  to  live  in  banishment  j 
so  he  lurks  daily  in  fear  of  his  \i(e:"—Bail/ii''s  Lctlns  and  Jownnh,  iii.  447. 


368  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLATR.  [1600. 

concerning  ecclesiastic  jiffairs,  dated  October  25),  which  was  Epis- 
copacy, but  much  more  moderate  than  it  had  been  in  England, 
and  some  way  incorporating  Presbytery  with  Episcopacy ;  and  to 
set  up  the  ceremonies,  kneeling,  crossing,  surplice,  &c.,  only  giving 
some  toleration  to  those  that  were  not  clear  to  use  them  until  the 
Synod,  which  he  intended  to  convene  for  settling  of  all  these  mat- 
ters in  the  Church.  This  Declaration  saddened  the  hearts  of  many 
in  England  and  Scotland,  especially  considering  the  King's  oath 
of  Covenant  and  Coronation  in  Scotland  ;  but  as  for  the  most  part 
of  Presbyterian  ministers  in  England,  they  temporised,  to  say  no 
worse,  and  took  bishops'  places. 

In  the  latter  end  of  December,  the  Marquis  of  Argyle,  and 
Swinton,  came  down  in  one  of  the  King's  ships.  The  Marquis 
was  conveyed  up  the  street  of  Edinburgh,  attended  by  a  strong 
guard,  and  made  prisoner  in  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh :  Swinton, 
who  before  this  had  turned  Quaker,  was  brought  up  the  street 
bare-headed,  and  imprisoned  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh.  Thus 
were  Argyle,  Warriston,  Sir  James  Stewart,  and  Sir  John  Chiesly 
used,  who,  in  the  years  1649  and  1650,  were  chief  rulers. 

The  winter  drawing  on,  and  the  ministers  prisoners  in  the  Castle, 
abiding  in  the  same  condition  they  were,  notwithstanding  some  of 
them  had  supplicated  and  acknowledged  the  unseasonableness  of 
their  petition,  and  disallowed  the  Remonstrance,  they  did  again 
supplicate  that,  by  reason  of  the  sharpness  of  the  air  in  the  Castle, 
they  might  be  confined  to  their  own  houses,  engaging  not  to  go 
abroad,  &c.  All  that  their  supplication  produced  was,  that  they 
were  brought  out  of  the  Castle  to  the  town,  and  confined  to  their 
chambers ;  finding  caution  that  they  should  not  go  out  of  their 
chambers,  that  none  should  visit  them  but  one  at  once,  &c. 

December  10,  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  being  much  and  long  looked 
for,  came  to  Edinburgli,  being  conveyed  by  many  horsemen, 
and  received  with  great  acclamations  and  applause  of  all  honest 
men.  That  same  day  there  was  a  proclamation,  whereby  the  King 
did  prorogate  the  time  of  the  down-sitting  of  the  Parliament  to  the 
Ist  of  January  1661,  for,  as  yet,  the  King's  Commissioner,  Middle- 


1G60.]  LIFE  OF  ROBEllT  BLAIR.  3G9 

ton,  was  not  come,  nor  things  in  a  readiness  for  the  riding  and 
down-sitting  of  the  Parliament. 

The  Parliament  of  England,  sitting  down  again  in  November, 
taking  to  their  consideration  the  King's  Declaration  concernino- 
ecclesiastical  affairs,*  did  declare  it  not  to  have  the  force  of  a  law, 
not  being  confirmed  by  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament ;  and  so  the 
Prelatic  party  did  not  stand  to  any  thing  therein  contained,  neither 
did  they  conform  themselves  thereunto  in  the  ParHament.     The 
Peers,  all  of  them  almost,  were  for  Prelacy  and  ceremonies,  and 
were  discontent  with  the  King's  Declaration,  because  it  was  not 
high  enough  for  bishops,  and  because  it  gave  too  much  to  Pres- 
byters and  Presbytery.    As  for  the  Commons,  when  some  of  them 
brought  it  to  be  confirmed  by  the  House,  the  Episcopal  party, 
who  were  the  major  part,  did  throw  it  out,  and  would  not  at  all 
pass  the  same;  so  that  their  conference  about  it  came  to  nothino-. 
And  whereas  the  first  article  of  the  Declaration  did  enjoin  the 
careful  observation  of  the  Lord's  day,  yet  the  Lord's  day  folloAvino- 
its  publication,  there  were  four  bishops  consecrated  in  Westminster 
Abbey ;  and  because  there  were  not  so  many  bisho2:)s  alive  in  Eno-- 
land  as,  by  their  canon  law,  are  required  for  the  conseci-ation  of  a 
bishop,  they  invited  the  excommunicate  prelate,  Mr  Thomas  Syd- 
serff,t  to  assist  in  that  clagged  devotion.     At  that  consecration, 

*  As  not  a  few  ministers  in  England  were  persecuted  ;ind  driven  fi-om  their  charges 
about  this  time,  for  not  using  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer, — it  being  pretended  tluit  the 
acts  of  the  Long  Parliament  were  null,  from  their  wanting  the  Eoyal  assent,  and  that 
therefoi'e  Prelacy  and  the  Service  Book  were  still  established  by  law,  and  behoved  to 
be  conformed  to, — the  leading  Presbyterians  supplicated  his  Majesty  to  suspend  these 
executions,  till  the  issue  of  the  attempts  then  made  for  an  accommodation  between 
the  Episcopalians  and  Presbyterians  were  known.  After  hearing  both  jtarties, 
Charles  issued  a  Declaration,  in  which  he  promised  to  refonn  Episcojiacy,  and  hiivQ 
the  Liturgy  corrected ;  and  that  none  should  be  put  to  trouble  for  dilferences  in  reli- 
gion not  tending  to  disturb  the  peace  of  the  kingdom. 

t  Thomas  Sydserft'  was  first  minister  of  the  College  Churcli,  Edinbui-gh :  lie  was 
next  elevated  to  the  See  of  Brechin,  and  soon  afterwards,  in  1G34,  to  that  of  Gallo- 
way. In  1G38,  he  was  deposed,  and  excommunicated  by  the  General  Assenibly, 
upon  which  he  retired  to  England.  He  was  the  only  surviving  bisiiop  in  Scotland  at 
the  Restoration,  and  expected  to  be  elevated  to  tlie  Primacy,  l)ut  was  supplanted  liy 
Sharp.  He  was,  however,  put  into  the  Sec  of  Orkney,  14th  Novendicr  l(i(i2,  and  died 
the  next  year. — Keith's  Uisiorical  Catahgnc  of  the  Scottish  Bishops,  228,  281. 

2  A 


370 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [16G0. 


Dean  Dr  Earle  made  them  a  great  feast  at  the  expense  of  L.300 
sterliii"-.  There  were  invited  above  forty  noblemen  and  ladies,  so 
that  they  spent  all  that  afternoon  in  feasting  and  di'inking,  and 
were  coming  from  their  feast  when  others  were  coming  from  ser- 
mon. They  discharged  the  weekly  lecture  in  that  Abbey,  though 
the  lecturers  offered  to  preach  without  any  salary. 

While  matters  in  England  are  thus  all  going  wrong, — the  sworn 
Covenant  forgotten  by  prince  and  people,  the  covenanted  refor- 
mation defaced,  national  and  personal  perjury  not  regarded,  nor  laid 
to  heart  as  a  horrible  provocation  and  land-destroying  abomination, 

too  many  in  Scotland,  and  especially  some  profane  and  broken 

noblemen  at  court,  had  an  evil  eye  to  the  Covenant  and  Presbyte- 
rial  government,  and  were  doing  what  they  could  to  overturn  the 
government  of  the  Kirk,  and  to  set  up  bishops  again  in  Scotland. 
The  Lord  Sinclair  was  a  busy  agent  for  this  evil  turn  in  the  devil's 
diocese ;  yea,  many  were  afraid  of  some  evil  plot  against  the 
government  at  the  ensuing  Parliament. 

December  25,  whereas  the  King  and  court  had  designed  to 
solemnize  that  Christmas  with  all  the  wonted  superstitious  cere- 
monies and  solemnities,  and  the  Queen-mother,  with,  her  daughter, 
that  was  now  tui-ned  Popish,  and  to  be  married  to  the  King  of 
France's  brother,  had  delayed  their  going  over  to  France  till  after 
the  solemnization  of  that  Yule-day,  lo  !  it  pleased  the  Lord,  on 
that  very  day,  to  give  a  second  sore  stroke  to  the  royal  family ; 
for  on  that  day  did  the  Princess-Royal  die  of  the  smallpox,  as 
her  brother,  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  had  done  before.  This  was 
a  great  loss ;  for  the  Princess  was  a  great  favourer  of  the  Protes- 
tants in  the  Low  Countries,  and  "  in  [her]  was  found  some  good 
thing,"  1  Kings  xiv.  13. 


1G6L]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  37J 


CHAPTEK  XII.     1661-1666. 

The  sixth  and  last  period  of  Mr  Blair's  life  Avas,  from  his  being 
summoned  by  the  Parliament,  to  the  time  of  his  death,  1666. 
Therefore,  I  begin  this  chapter  with  the  riding  and  down-sitting  of 
that  Parliament,  January  1, 1661.  ISlr  Robert  Douglas  did  preach 
a  very  pertinent  and  honest  sermon  at  their  first  down-sitting. 
The  first  thing  done  in  Parliament  was  the  readino;  of  the  Kind's 
commission  to  Middleton,  now  made  an  earl.  After  a  short  speech, 
wherein  the  Commissioner  declared  the  Kino-'s  ffood  will  towards 
his  ancient  and  native  kingdom,  and  how  willing  he  was  to  restore 
the  fundamental  laws  which  had  been  so  shaken  through  the  ini- 
quity of  the  times,  &c.,  it  was  moved  that  the  Chancellor,  according 
to  the  ancient  custom,  should  preside ;  next,  that  an  oath  should 
be  taken  by  all  the  members  of  Parliament,  which  some  called  the 
Oath  of  Allegiance,  others,  the  Oath  of  Supremacy ;  but  the  truth 
was,  it  was  made  up  of  both.  These  two  votes  presently  passed 
in  Parliament.  This  was  all  that  day.  The  Presbyteries  of  St 
Andrews,  and  Cupar  in  Fife,  sent  over  two  of  their  number,  per 
vices,  to  confer  with  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh,  who  were  in  the 
chief  watch-tower,  anent  any  thing  needful  to  be  represented  to  the 
Parliament  concerning  Kirk  affairs,  especially  the  government,  if 
the  Parliament  should  meddle  therewith.* 


*  The  following  is  the  Act  of  the  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews  in  reference  to  this 
matter: — "January  30,  IGGl,  the  Presbyteiy  considering;  that  matters  are  now,  or 
may  be,  in  agitation,  that  concern  the  interests  of  Christ's  Kirk  in  this  land,  in  the 
Parliament,  do  appoint  their  brethren,  Mr  David  Porrct,  and  Mr  Henry  Kynier, 
to  attend  at  Edinburgh,  and  seek  advice,  and  do  what  may  be  fur  preservation  of 
the  interests  of  Christ's  Kirk  in  this  land;  and  this  without  jjrejudice  of  the  former 
appointment." — Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews,  printed  for 
the  Abbotsford  Club,  77. 

2  A  2 


372  LirE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIK.  [1661. 

January  4,  the  Parliament  convened  again.  The  chief  thing 
done  that  day  was  their  ordaining  the  bones  of  the  trunk  of  the 
body  of  iMontrose,  that  were  bui'ied  in  the  Burrow-moor,  to  be 
taken  up  again,  and  his  head  to  be  taken  down  from  the  top  of  the 
Tolbooth,  and  his  two  arms  and  legs  that  were  affixed  upon  the 
ports  of  the  four  chief  towns,  to  be  brought  to  Edinburgh,  and  all 
these  to  be  put  in  a  new  coffin,  and  conveyed  to  the  Abbey  Kirk, 
until  all  things  were  ready  for  the  solemnization  of  his  burial, 
which  was  to  be  upon  the  King's  expenses. 

January  6,  being  the  Lord's  day,  Mr  James  Sharp  preached 
before  the  Parliament.  January  7,  what  was  ordained  anent  Mon- 
trose's head  and  bones,  was  done  with  great  solemnity,  sound  of 
trumpet,  shot  of  cannon,  many  noblemen  and  gentlemen  counte- 
nancing the  business. 

Anent  the  oath  required  of  the  members  of  Parliament,  some 
scrupled  to  take  it,  because  a  general  and  ambiguous  clause  was 
foisted  into  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  anent  the  King's  supremacy  in 
all  matters,  which  supremacy  of  the  King,  in  all  causes  and  mat- 
ters, was  never  acknowledged,  either  by  General  Assembly  or 
Parliament  of  Scotland,  but  was  looked  upon  as  Antichristian ; 
for  Henry  VIII.  of  England,  that  rude  reformer,  after  he  had 
rejected  the  Pope  and  his  supremacy,  he,  sitting  down  in  the 
Pope's  chair,  took  that  to  himself  which  he  refused  to  the  Pope, 
taking  upon  him  to  be  supreme  in  all  causes,  civil  and  ecclesiastic  ; 
and  his  successors  arrogated  that  to  themselves ;  and  King  James 
urged  that  Oath  of  Supremacy  uj^on  all  his  subjects  in  England ; 
but  it  was  never  established  in  Scotland  by  a  law.  This  made 
some,  especially  the  Earl  of  Cassillis,  to  speak  against  that  oath, 
desiring  an  explanation  of  it,  viz.,  what  was  meant  by  that  clause, 
— "  the  King's  supremacy  in  all  matters."  The  King's  Advocate 
replied,  that  the  meaning  was  in  all  matters  civil.  In  that  sense 
Cassillis  was  content  to  take  it,  providing  that  they  would  registrate 
that  sense  of  it  in  the  books  of  Parliament,  which  being  refused, 
some  few  days  were  given  to  the  Earl  of  Cassillis  to  advise  whether 
he  would  take  it  or  not ;  but  the  most  part  of  those  that  had  taken 


.1001.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  373 

it,  especially  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  declared  they  took  it  only  in 
that  sense  given  by  the  Advocate.  After  a  few  days,  Cassillis  left 
the  Parliament,  they  still  refusing  to  record  in  their  Kegisters  the 
sense  of  the  oath  given  by  the  Advocate. 

About  this  time  Mr  James  Sharp  (having  some  years  before  a  call 
to  the  ministry  of  Edinbui'gh,  and  transported  by  the  vote  of  the 
Synod  of  Fife  thereunto)  procured  to  himself  a  call  to  be  one  of  the 
masters  of  the  New  College  in  St  Andrews,  from  the  plurality  of  the 
masters  of  the  University  and.  ministers  of  the  Presbytery.  JSIessrs 
Blair  and  Rutherford  did  what  they  could  to  oppose  Mr  James  Sharp's 
coming  to  the  New  CoUcge ;  but  notwithstanding  he  was  admitted 
to  that  place  by  Doctor  Colville,*  who  was  most  earnest  for  it ;  yet, 
in  his  discourse,  he  did  pose  Mr  James  Sharp  anent  his  judgment 
of  Presby terial  government,  who  did  acknowledge  the  lawfulness  of 
it,  and  profess  his  purpose  to  maintain  it.  Thereafter,  Mr  James 
Shai-p  was  made  Doctor  Sharp ;  and  therein  lay  the  knack  of 
the  business ;  for  his  design  was  not  (as  the  event  proved)  to  con- 
tinue any  time  one  of  the  masters  of  that  College,  but  to  make  the 
doctorate  a  stirrup  to  mount  him  to  Prelacy ;  for,  according  to  the 
canon  law,  none  can  ascend  to  Prelacy,  except  first  he  be  a  doctor 
of  divinity.  After  Mr  James  Sharp's  admission,  all  the  students, 
or  servants  of  the  College,  that  would  not  take  Doctor  Sharp  by 
the  hand,  and  acknowledge  him  one  of  the  masters  of  that  College, 
were  extruded  from  the  College  and  the  table  by  Doctor  Colville. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  second  week  of  the  Parliament,  they 
passed  an  act  establishing  the  Lords  of  the  Articles.  This  privi- 
lege of  the  twelve  Lords  of  the  Articles  was  done  away  formerly 
with  the  late  King's  consent,  as  prejudicial  to  the  liberty  of  the 
subject  and  privilege  of  Parliament. 

January  11,  the  Parliament  did  sit  again,  where  tliese  acts 
passed : — 1.  Giving  to  the  King  a  negative  voice  in  Parliament, 
declaring  no  laws  to  be  binding  but   such  as  have  the  King's 

*  Dr  Alexander  Colville  was  admitted  Priacipal  of  St  Mary's,  or  the  New  College 
of  St  Andrews,  in  1662,  as  successor  to  the  famous  Samuel  Rutherford,  and  died 
Januaiy  1666 — Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Fife,  214. 


37-1  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [16G1. 

assent  or  his  Commissioner's ;  and  asserting  the  King's  prerogative 
in  callino-  and  dissolving  Parliaments  by  himself,  or  his  Commis- 
sioner, and  rescinding  all  acts  made  since  1640,  in  the  contrary, 
and  repealing  all  acts  establishing  triennial  Parliaments.  2.  An 
act  declaring  it  to  belong  to  the  King's  majesty,  as  a  part  of  his 
prerogative,  to  elect  the  officers  of  Estate,  Lords  of  Privy  Council 
and  Session,  and  repealing  all  acts  to  the  contrary. 

January  13,  being  Sabbath  day,  ISIr  Eobert  Laurie  *  preached 
before  the  Parliament.  In  the  afternoon,  one  Mr  James  Chalmers 
of  CuUen,  a  profane,  base  man,  preached,  and  offended  all  honest 
men ;  for  he  downright  preached  for  Prelacy.  Much  also  was 
spoken  of  Mr  Sharp's  sermons  the  day  preceding,  as  reflecting 
on  the  proceedings  of  Kirk  and  Estate  for  twenty  years  bypast, 
and  on  the  Covenant,  because  it  wanted  the  King's  consent.  The 
Commissioner  sent  for  five  or  six  ministers  from  the  north,  who 
were  thought  to  be  Episcopal,  that  they  might  preach  before  the 
Parliament. 

January  IG,  the  Parliament  issued  a  proclamation,  commanding 
all  persons  who  had  accession  to  the  Kemonstrance,  or  the  book 
called  "  The  Causes  of  God's  Wrath,"  to  depart  the  city  of  Edin- 
burgh within  forty-eight  hours,  except  such  as  are,  or  shall  be 
cited,  &c. ;  also  they  made  an  act,  asserting  his  Majesty's  prero- 
gative in  making  war  and  peace,  he  having  the  sole  power  of  the 
militia ;  and  another  act,  discharging  all  bands  and  meetings 
amongst  the  subjects  without  his  Majesty's  license  and  consent. 

January  20,  Sabbath  day,  Mr  John  Smith  f  preached,  before 

*  Mr  Robert  Laurie,  son  of  ISIr  Joseph  Laurie,  minister  at  Stirling,  was  first  settled 
in  a,  country  charge,  and  was  afterwards  translated  to  Edinburgh.  He  was  the  only 
one  of  the  ministers  of  the  capital  who  conformed  to  Prelacy,  and  was  called  by  the 
common  people  "  The  Nest  Egg."  He  was  rewarded  for  his  pliancy,  first,  by  being 
made  Dean  of  Edinburgh,  and  next,  liy  being  advanced  to  the  See  of  Brechin  ;  but 
the  benefice  of  that  bishoj)rick  being  small,  he  was  allowed  to  retain  his  dcaneiy,  and 
continued  to  officiate  at  the  Church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  in  Edinburgh,  till  his  death 
in  1077. — Keith's  Historical  Catohqiie,  108.  He  did  not  long  enjoy  his  bishoprick,  and, 
a  little  before  his  death,  he  desired  the  bellman  to  cry  him  minister,  and  not  bishop. 
— Kirkton's  Ilixtory,  p.  148. 

t  Mr  John  Sn\ith  was  admitted  assistant  and  successor  to  Mr  Putie,  minister  of 


1661.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  375 

noon,  honestly.  In  the  afternoon,  Mr  George  Halliburton  *  preached 
most  wickedly.  He  downright  condemned  the  League  and  Cove- 
nant, advising  the  Parliament  to  enjoin  a  day  of  humiliation  for 
makincj  such  an  unlawful  covenant. 

January  22,  an  act  was  passed  annulling  an  act  1644,  ratifying 
the  Convention  of  Estates  1643,  who  did  condescend  upon  and 
agree  unto  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant ;  and  so  they  did 
what  in  them  lay  to  annul  the  League  and  Covenant.  The  said 
day  the  preceding  acts  were  touched  with  the  sceptre. 

January  25,  they  passed  an  act  declaring  that  there  is  no  tie 
upon  this  nation  for  endeavouring  any  work  of  reformation  in  Eng- 
land or  Ireland  by  way  or  force  of  arms,  and  discharging  any  whom- 
soever to  impose  any  oath,  covenant  or  bond  upon  any  his  Majes- 
ty's subjects  within  this  kingdom,  without  his  Majesty's  special 
authority  and  warrant.  Sundry  absented  themselves  when  this 
was  passed ;  some  dissented  from  it. 

January  27,  Sabbath  day,  Mr  William  Scrogief  and  Mr  James 
Ramsay,  t  preached  before  the  Parliament.  In  this  month  of  Ja- 
nuary, the  Parliament  of  England  being  dissolved  in  the  latter  end 
of  December,  there  were  several  plots  of  several  sectaries  discovered 
in  London  and  several  parts  of  the  country  against  the  King,  city 
and  country,  some  whereof  were  killed  in  skirmishes,  others  appre- 


Leslie,  December  II,  1634  ;  translated  to  Burntisland,  October  18,  1G43 ;  and  to 
Edinburgh,  16i8.— Selections  frotn  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Fife,  228,  232. 

*  Mr  George  Halliburton  was  at  this  time  minister  at  Perth.  He  was  made  Bishop 
of  Dunkeld  by  letters-patent  from  Charles  11.,  dated  the  18th  January  1662.  He  died 
in  IGGi. — Keith's  Historical  Catalogue,  98. 

t  Mr  William  Scrogie  was  son  to  the  learned  Dr  Scrogie,  minister  in  Old  Aberdeen. 
He  was  for  some  time  minister  of  Ea])han,  in  Aberdeenshire.  After  the  Eestoration 
he  was  appointed  Bishop  of  Argjle,  and  consecrated  in  1G66.  In  this  See  he  continued 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  in  lG7o. — Ibid.,  291. 

%  Mr  James  Ramsay  was  son  of  Mr  Robert  Eamsay,  minister  of  Dundonald,  and 
aftenvards  Principal  of  the  College  of  Glasgow.  He  was  first  minister  at  Kirkintid- 
loch,  and  next  at  Linlithgow.  In  the  year  1G70  he  was  made  Dean  of  Glasgow,  &c. ; 
and  in  1673  preferred  to  the  See  of  Dunblane  upon  the  translation  of  Bishop  Leigh- 
ton  thence  to  the  Archiepiscopal  See  of  Glasgow.  On  the  23d  of  May  1C84,  he  was 
translated  from  Dunblane  to  Ross,  where  he  continued  till  the  Revolution  deprived 
him.  He  died  at  Edinburgh,  October  22,  1G9G,  and  was  inten-ed  in  the  Canongate 
church-yard Ibid.,  204. 


37G  LIl'l'^  OF  ROBERT  BI.AIK.  [1G61. 

hcnJcd  and  imprisoned,  some  whereof  thereafter  were  executed  in 
several  parts  of  the  city  of  London.  January  6,  four  bishops  were 
consecrated  in  London. 

Febraary  3,  Sabbath,  Mr  Patrick  Scougal*  and  Mr  William  Rait 
did  preach  before  the  Parliament  honestly.  In  the  beginning  of 
February  ISIr  James  Guthrie  was  brought  from  Dundee,  and  Mr 
Gillespie  from  Stirling,  to  Edinburgh.  They  received  their  indict- 
ments, that  they  might  answer  to  the  Parliament  thereanent.  Also 
the  Marquis  of  Argyle  received  his  indictment.  He  and  the 
ministers  got  liberty  to  choose  advocates  to  plead  for  them  before 
the  Parliament. 

February  10,  Messrs  'William'  Colville  and  'James'  Wood 
preached  honestly  to  the  Parliament. 

About  the  middle  of  February  Argyle  appeared  before  the  Par- 
liament. He  desired  liberty  to  speak  before  the  reading  of  his 
indictment ;  which  being  refused,  and  the  indictment  read,  he 
had  a  long  harangue,  testifying  his  respects  to  his  Majesty,  his 
joy  at  his  restoration,  &c.,  purging  himself  of  the  blood  of  his 
Majesty's  father,  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton,  Marquis  of  Huntly 
and  Montrose,  &c.  He  got  to  February  26  to  answer  again  more 
particularly. 

February  22,  Mr  James  Guthrie  appeared  before  the  Parliament. 
After  the  reading  of  his  indictment  he  had  a  harangue.  He  refused 
the  addition  to  his  libel  that  was  sent  to  him  that  same  day,  viz., 
that  he  should  have  advised  to  secure  the  King's  person  in  the 
Castle  of  Stirling.  He  denied  he  had  hand  in  contriving  the  Re- 
monstrance, but  said  that  the  Kirk  acknowledged  many  sad  truths 
in  it.  '  He '  acknowledged  his  accession  to  the  contriving  of  the 
book  caUed  "  The  Causes  of  God's  Wrath,"  &c.  The  King's  Ad- 
vocate took  instruments  that  he  had  confessed  the  libel,  except  the 
addition,  though  with  some  restrictions  and  qualifications.    He  got 

*  ^Ir  P.itrii-k  Scoupial  M'as  the  son  of  Sir  John  Scougal  of  that  ilk.  He  appears  as 
minister  of  Duirsie  in  1636.  In  April  1045  he  was  translated  to  Leuchars;  and  in 
1G58  to  Saltoun.  He  was  afterwards,  in  1CG4,  consecrated  Bishop  of  Aberdeen.  He 
died  on  the  ICth  of  February  1682,  in  the  73d  year  of  his  age.—Selections  from  the 
iliiiutes  of  the  Sy nod  of  Fife,  210,  221. 


IGGl.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  377 

to  the  1st  of  March  to  answer  more  particularly,  and  his  advocates 
to  plead  for  him. 

February  17,  Mr  David  Fletcher*  preached  before  the  Parlia- 
ment honestly,  and  Mr  John  Patersonf  perversely. 

About  this  time  many  ministers  and  others  were  summoned  to 
answer  before  the  Parliament  for  their  accession  to  the  Remon- 
strance and  Causes  of  God's  Wrath.  Mr  Robert  M'Ward,  minis- 
ter of  Glasgow,  was  brought  in  to  Edinburgh  with  a  guard,  for 
preaching  against  what  the  Parliament  had  done,  (as  he  conceived), 
in  annulling  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  and  '  for'  protesting 
against  the  same,  and  taking  his  hearers  witnesses  thereof.  He 
having  heard  his  indictment  read  before  the  Lords  of  the  Articles 
answered.  That  he  would  spare  them  the  pains  and  labour  of  citing 
witnesses,  if  they  would  give  him  the  paper  he  should  ingenuously 
confess  what  were  his  words,  and  thereafter  did  give  in  a  paper 
bearing  his  own  words. 

February  24,  Mr  David  Strachan^  and  Mr  Alexander  Mill  did 
preach  before  the  Parliament.  IMarch  3,  INIr  Archibald  Turner  and 
Mr  Andrew  Fairfowl§  did  preach,  the  first  very  wickedly. 

The  Marquis  of  Argyle,  after  often  appearing  before  the  Parlia- 
ment, did  give  in  some  desires  to  the  Lords  of  the  Articles,  viz., 
That  the  King's  Advocate  should  be  removed  as  his  party,  which 

*  Mr  David  Fletcher  or  Flesher,  was  at  this  time  minister  of  Meh'ose.  He  was 
brother  to  Sir  John  Fletcher,  his  Majesty's  advocate.  He  was  advanced  to  the  See  of 
Ai-g}de  in  1GG2,  but  continued  to  officiate  at  Melrose  till  his  death,  which  took  place  in 
1665. — Keltic s  Historical  Catalogue,  291. 

t  Mr  John  Paterson  was  minister  at  Aberdeen,  and  afterwards  Bishop  of  Eoss. 

%  Mr  David  Strachan,  a  branch  of  the  house  of  Thorntoun  in  Mearns,  was  at  this 
time  minister  of  Fettercairn.  He  was  afterwards  promoted  to  the  See  of  Brechin,  in 
which  he  continued  till  his  death  in  1G71.— Ibid.,  167. 

§  Mr  Andrew  Fairfowl  was  first  chaplain  to  the  Earl  of  Rothes,  next  minister  at 
North  Lcith,  and  afterwards  at  Dunse.  He  was  preferred  to  the  See  of  Glasj^ow  on 
the  lith  of  November  1661.  "  He  was  consecrated  in  June,  next  year.  But  he  did 
not  long  enjoy  his  new  office  ;  for  he  sickened  the  veiy  day  of  the  riding  of  the  Par- 
liament in  November  1663,  and  dying  in  a  few  days,  he  was  interred  on  the  11th  of 
the  same  mouth,  in  the  abbey-church  of  Holyroodhouse." — Il/id.,  265.  Kirkton  de- 
scribes him  as  "  a  man  of  good  learning  and  neat  expression,  but  who  was  never  taken 
for  a  man  either  serious  or  sincere,  and  was,  moreover,  judged  a  man  both  profane 
and  scandalous." — Kirkton' s  History,  135. 


378  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1661. 

beino-  refused,  at  last  he  said  that  he  would  no  more  dispute  with 
his  prince  but  rather  chose  to  cast  himself  upon  his  mercy  than 
stand  to  his  own  defence.  The  Lords  of  the  Articles  and  Parlia- 
ment retm-ned  answer  to  him,  that  he  behoved  to  answer  accord- 
ing to  laAV  for  what  he  had  done. 

Sir  John  Chiesly  having  received  his  indictment,  compeared 
before  the  Parliament,  and  had  a  long  speech  justifying  himself, 
&c.  Likewise  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie  having  received  his  Indict- 
ment, compeared  before  the  Parliament.  He  had  a  pretty  short 
speech,  by  way  of  information,  for  his  own  justification.  Also  Mr 
James  Simson  compeared  before  the  ParKament,  and  was  as  evil 
liked  of  as  any  minister  before  them. 

Towards  the  end  of  February  there  was  a  motion  made  among 
the  Lords  of  the  Articles  for  rescinding  of  two  Acts  of  the  Parlia- 
ment 1641,  where  the  late  King  himself  was  present  and  con- 
senting. The  first  was  the  act  approving  the  National  Covenant ; 
the  second,  the  act  for  abolishing  of  bishops.  The  Earl  of  Crawford 
did  zealously  and  j)assIonately  oppose  himself  to  that  motion,  and 
only  was  seconded  by  Sir  John  GUmour  and  Mr  Peter  Wedder- 
burn.  The  Commissioner,  because  of  the  heat  amongst  them,  did 
delay  the  business  to  another  time.  After  this,  some  ministers  of 
Edinburgh,  especially  Messrs  Robert  Douglas  and  George  Hut- 
chison, did  speak  with  the  Commissioner  and  Chancellor  there- 
anent. 

^larch  10,  ISIr  George  Hutchison  and  !Mr  James  Hamilton,* 
at  Cambusnethan,  preached  before  the  Parliament,  the  first  very 
honestly,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  all  honest  men. 

About  this  time  ISIr  Blair  (he  having  often  before  this  com- 
plained of  the  weight  of  his  charge,  especially  of  the  multitude  of 
parishioners  in  the  landward,  and  that  they  were  not  well  accom- 

*  James  Ilamilton  was  second  son  of  Sir  John  Hamilton  of  Broomhill.  He  was 
ordained  minister  at  Cambusnethan  in  the  year  1C34,  "  in  which  station  he  continued 
untd  the  Restoration,  when  he  was  called  to  London  by  the  Kinr;;,  and  Mas  conse- 
crntecl  Bishop  of  Galloway,  together  with  Archbishop  Sharp  and  Bishop  Leighton." 
— Kiith's  Historical  Catalogue,  28  L 


1661.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  379 

modated  with  seats  in  the  town  kirk,  near  the  pulpit,  where  they 
might  hear),  did  seriously  and  self-deniedly  bestir  himself  to  get 
another  landward  parish  erected  in  the  north-west  parts  of  the 
landward  congregation  of  St  Andrews,  (viz.,  the  lands  of  Kingcap- 
pell,  IMyddie,  Strickinness,  Ballgove,  Clatto,  &c.),  as  he  had  done 
in  the  south-west  parts  thereof.  See  p.  168.  This  was  the  more 
feasible  and  easy  to  be  efFectuat,  because  the  Laird  of  Further 
Pitcairn  paid  to  ISIr  Blair  a  small. tack-duty  of  sixteen  chalders  of 
beer,  there  being  only  three  years  of  the  tack  to  run  out.  There- 
after the  whole  sixteen  chalders  were  to  fall  into  Mr  Blair's  stip- 
end. But  he  being  more  desirous  of  the  good  of  souls  (that  God 
may  be  glorified)  than  of  augmenting  his  stipend,  or  his  own 
private  commodity,  set  about  this  good  public  work  ;  and  though 
there  were  three  years  of  Forther's  tack  yet  to  run,  being  most 
earnestly  desirous  to  have  it  approven  and  ratified  in  the  beginning 
of  the  Parliament,  fearing  changes  and  alterations,  especially  of 
the  government  of  the  Kirk,  Mr  Blair  did  quickly  agree  with 
Forther,  that  he  should,  of  the  sixteen,  give  presently  seven  chal- 
ders, to  be  modified  stipend  of  the  minister  of  that  new  jDarish. 
Mr  Blair's  colleague,  Mr  Andrew  Honeyman,*  hearing  of  the 
motion,  dealt  earnestly  with  ISIr  Blair  to  desist,  alleging  it  was 
not  only  a  wronging  of  himself,  but  of  the  benefice  and  his  succes- 
sor ;  but  finding  Mr  Blair  resolute,  he  next  dealt  Avith  him,  at 
least  to  take  some  few  chalders  of  the  sixteen  in  to  his  stipend ; 

*  Mr  Andrew  Honeyman  was  admitted  assistant  and  successor  to  IMr  Samnel 
Cunningham,  minister  of  Feny-Port-on-Craig  in  1640 ;  translated  to  be  second 
minister  of  St  Andrews  in  16-1:2  ;  became  Archdean  of  St  Andrews  October  1662  ;  and 
was  created  Bishop  of  Orkney  April  11,  \(jQi.— Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the 
Synod  of  Fife,  206,  212).  In  July  1608,  he  was  wounded  in  the  wrist  by  James 
Mitchell  in  his  attempt  to  assassinate  Archbishop  Sharp.  Keith  says  it  was  "  with  a 
poisoned  bullet ;"  but  he  gives  no  authority  for  this  assertion,  and  indeed  there  ajipcars 
to  be  none,  for,  on  the  trial  of  Mitchell,  no  evidence  of  this  was  brought  out  in  the 
depositions  of  the  medical  gentleman  who  had  examined  Iloneyman's  wound.  The 
Bishop's  wound  never  altogether  healed,  and  he  died  in  Febniaiy  1676.  He  was  the 
author  of  a  work,  entitled,  "  A  Survey  of  the  Insolent  and  Infamous  Libel,  entitled 
Naphtali,"  in  two  parts,  Edinburgh,  1668,  and  of  another,  entitled,  "  Bourignonism 
Displayed ;  or  a  Discovery  of  Several  Gross  Errors  maintained  by  Antonia  Bourig- 
non." 


380  Lll'E  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIE.  [16G1. 

which  behig  rejected  by  Mr  Blair,  he  stiiTed  up  some  of  the  heri- 
tors of  these  lands,  especially  the  Laird  of  Dairsie,  to  oppose  the 
work.  Yet,  notwithstanding,  JNIi'  Blair  and  Forther  having  fully 
ao-reed  upon  all  things  anent  the  building  a  new  kirk  and  manse, 
and  the  buying  of  a  glebe,  &c.,  and  having  gotten  the  Presby- 
tery's consent  and  approbation,  he  not  being  able  to  go  himself, 
gave  a  factorie  to  his  son-in-law,  to  go  over  with  Forther  and  agent 
that  business  before  the  Committee  of  the  Parliament  that  pre- 
pared such  business  for  the  Parliament,  that  it  might  be  ratified 
by  the  ParUament,  and  these  lands,  by  the  civil  sanction  of  the 
Parliament,  erected  in[to]  a  new  parish  and  congregation.  But 
Mr  Andrew  Honeyman  not  being  able  to  hinder  this  good  work 
in  St  Andrews,  came  over  to  Edinburgh  and  acquainted  Mr 
James  Sharp  with  it,  and  they  two  stii'red  up  some  of  the  heritors 
of  these  lands,  (though  others  were  well  pleased  with  it,  especially 
the  good  old  Lord  Burley,  [Burleigh])  to  plead  against  it  by  their 
advocate  before  the  Committee  of  the  Parliament ;  which  made 
!Mi-  Blair's  factor  employ  an  advocate  to  compear  and  plead  for  the 
business,  and  to  give  money  largely  to  the  clerk  of  the  Commit- 
tee, and  to  do  every  thing  that  might  further  the  business,  (which 
monies  Mr  Blair  did  most  willingly  depurse,  saying,  that  "  If 
selfseeking  men,  and  enemies  to  soul's  edification,  shall  prevail 
and  hinder  so  good  a  work,  he  would  have  a  good  conscience, 
having  bestowed  of  his  own  means  for  so  good  a  work  ")  ;  but  in 
end,  Mr  James  Sharp  acquainting  the  Commissioner  with  the 
business,  a  stop  was  put  to  it. 

About  the  midst  of  March,  Sir  William  Fleming  came  from  the 
King  with  several  instructions  to  the  Commissioner.  Among 
other  things  the  King  desired  the  Parliament  to  take  more  par- 
ticular notice  of  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie  than  they  had  done,  saying, 
that  though  sundry  ministers  in  Scotland  had  wronged  him,  yet 
none  of  them  affronted  him  so  as  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie.  March 
17,  ^Ir  Josias  Simson  and  INIr  Johnston  preached  before  the 
Parliament. 

General  Major  Morgan  came  down  as  commander  of  all  the  forces 


1G61.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  38! 

in  Scotland,  under  Duke  Albemarle.  He  came  into  the  Parlia- 
ment and  showed  his  commission.  He  had  several  forces,  both 
horse  and  foot,  upon  the  border,  to  bring  them  in  if  he  judged 
it  expedient.  What  these  things  did  portend  there  were  seve- 
ral thoughts  of  heart.  Some  were  jealous ;  others  had  no  doubt 
but  the  King  had  a  mind  to  set  up  bishops  in  Scotland  as  he  had 
done  in  England  and  Ireland,  and  that  Mr  Thomas  Sydsei-ff  (the 
only  man  of  the  excommunicated  Scottish  bishops  now  alive)  was 
to  be  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews.  And  now  Mr  James  Sharp 
Avas  found  out  by  all  that  would  believe  the  truth  concerning  him, 
to  have  been  a  very  evil  instrument  vdth  the  King  ;  not  only  ad- 
vising, but  stirring  him  up  to  set  up  Episcopacy  again  in  Scot- 
land, notwithstanding  of  the  King's  and  his  own  taking  of  the 
Covenants  ;  and  now  the  language  of  royalists  was,  that  they  ac- 
knowledged now  no  law  in  Scotland  since  1633,  and  so,  though 
the  King  had  promised  to  preserve  the  government  as  it  was  settled 
by  law,  yet  he  might  again  set  up  bishops,  there  being  no  law  for 
abolishing  of  them. 

There  were  an  hundred  and  twenty  horses  levied  to  be  a  life 
guard  for  the  King,  and  to  guard  the  Parliament.  Towards  the 
end  of  March,  one  Gordon,  a  north  country  minister,  preached  be- 
fore the  Parliament.    He  compared  the  Covenant  to  the  golden  calf. 

In  the  latter  end  of  March,  (there  having  been  a  deep  hell- 
hatched  plot  against  the  Covenants,  government  of  the  Kirk,  and 
all  honest  Presbyterian  ministers,  contrived  by  Mr  James  Sharp, 
the  Commissioner,  and  some  of  our  grandees),  the  Parliament  did 
rescind  all  the  acts  approving  the  National  Covenant,  the  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant,  and  abolishing  of  bishops  in  Scotland  ;  and 
they  rescinded  all  acts  for  Presbyterial  government,  yea  all  Parlia- 
ments since  1G37,  as  wanting  lawful  authority,  only  tolerating 
Presbyterial  government  during  the  King's  pleasure.  There  were 
some  salvos  in  this  sad  and  woful  rescissory  act,  as  anent  minister's 
augmentations,  1649,  &c.  Though  this  rescissory  act  was  car- 
ried by  the  plurality,  yet,  about  forty  persons  in  Parliament  did 
•reason  and  debate  against  it,  and  dissented  and  voted  against  it, 


3y2  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1661. 

especially  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  who  pleaded  much  for  a  delay 
until  the  morrow,  which,  if  it  had  been  obtained,  it  had  never  been ; 
for,  upon  the  next  morning,  there  came  an  express  from  the  King 
to  the  Commissioner,  showing  that  he  minded  not  to  alter  the 
o-ovcrnment  at  this  time  ;  but  the  Commissioner  writing  up  to  the 
Kin"-  that  he  had  gotten  the  act  rescissory  passed  in  Parliament, 
w^as  thanked  by  him  for  his  good  service. 

This  wicked  design  was  kept  very  secret  and  close  amongst  them, 
for  fear  that  Kirk  judicatories  should  have  supplicated  against  it, 
especially,  lest  the  Presbytery  of  Edinburgh,  or  some  of  the  minis- 
ters in  Edinburgh,  should  have  supplicated  the  Parliament ;  for  INIr 
James  Sharp,  hearing  that  there  was  a  motion  among  the  ministers 
of  Edinburgh  for  supplicating  the  Parliament,  did  go  to  Mr  Kobert 
Douglas  and  vehemently  asserted  that  the  Parliament  was  to  be 
taken  up  from  morning  to  even  that  day,  (wherein  they  passed  that 
woful  act),  about  Argyle's  process,  that  they  might  put  a  close  to  It. 
Yea,  Mr  James  Sharp  did  swear  that  the  Parliament  had  no  inten- 
tion to  alter  the  government  of  the  Kirk ;  which  being  believed  by 
honest,  but  too  credulous,  Mr  Douglas  and  others,  they  did  not 
supplicate  the  Pai-liament.     But  immediately  after,  the  Presbytery 
of  Edinburgh  did  send  a  supplication  to  the  Commissioner,  but  he 
refused  to  look  upon  it,  and  threatened  the  bringers  of  it  to  him. 
Yea  they  carried  on  their  design  with  so  high  a  hand,  that  they 
sent  some  to  all  the  Synods  that  Spring  time,  that  they  suspected 
would  supplicate  the  Parliament  for  continuance  of  Presbyterlal 
government,  &c.,  and  raised  them  when  they  fell  uj)on  any  such 
Inislncss.     The  Earl  of  Callender  was  sent  to  raise  the  Synod  of 
Lothian,  and  the  Earl  of  Rothes  was  sent  over  to  St  Andrews,  to 
the  Synod  of  Fife,  who  having  heard  two  papers  read  In  the  Synod, 
(viz.,  A  Humble  Short  Supplication  to  the  Parliament,  another, 
A  Declaration  for  Presbyterlal  Government,  penned  by  Mr  Andrew 
Iloneynian,  with  such  sharp  teeth,  that  JSIessrs  Blair  and  Wood, 
&c.,  behoved  to  ding  [knock]  some  of  them  out,  to  be  read  in  pul- 
pits), did  raise  the  Synod,  commanding  them  in  the  King  and 
Parliament's  name  to  disperse  and  make  no  use  of  these  papers. 


1661.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  383 

So  they  intending  to  make  the  Lord's  house  as  a  vineyard  without 
a  hedge,  they  hindered  all  supplications  either  to  King  or  Parlia- 
ment ;  and,  in  the  meanwhile,  set  up  most  wicked,  corrupt  men  to 
preach  to  them,  viz.,  Chalmers,  who  was  again  set  up  to  preach 
up  Episcopacy,  one  Thomson,  minister  of  Traquair,  &c. ;  and  now 
the  common  tenet  of  Episcopal  men  was,  that  there  was  no  form 
of  government  prescribed  in  the  word,  but  it  was  left  arbitrary  to 
the  King  to  appoint  what  form  he  pleased. 

In  the  beginning  of  April  they  convened  Cassillis  before  them, 
and  again  put  the  oath  of  supremacy  to  him,  who  refusing  it,  got 
some  days  to  advise  with  it,  but  he  still  refusing,  was  voted  by 
the  Parliament  incapable  of  any  public  trust,  and  so  the  places 
that  the  King  had  conferred  upon  him  were  taken  from  him  ;  yea, 
he  was  hindered  to  go  and  speak  with  the  King,  though  the  King 
was  desirous  to  speak  with  him.  The  King  hearing  how  furiously 
they  drove  on  their  designs,  did  inhibit  the  Parliament  to  condemn 
any  of  the  prisoners,  after  they  had  judged  their  process,  until 
first  they  sent  the  process  to  him,  and  consulted  him  anent  their 
punishment.  And  so  the  Parliament  having  revised  Mr  James 
Guthrie's  process,  did  judge  him  guilty  of  treason  and  sedition,  in 
several  respects,  having  broken  several  Acts  of  Parliament,  and 
incontinent  sent  the  process  to  the  King.  About  the  middle  of 
April  thereafter,  they  fell  to  Argyle's  process  (which  was  very 
long)  to  the  revising  of  it.  Many  things  were  laid  to  his  charge 
whereof  he  did  clear  himself.  His  advocates  did  plead  well  for 
him,  especially  Mr  Kobert  Burnet,  who  was  both  a  good  man  and 
a  good  advocate. 

April  23,  the  King  was  crowned  in  England.  Mr  James  Sharp 
did  preach  before  the  Parliament  that  day,  who  homologated  the 
doctrine  of  the  Episcopal  men  that  had  preached  before  them,  and 
noAv  began  to  be  unmasked,  and  to  be  seen  in  his  o^vn  black  colours, 
as  one  that  had  betrayed  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  and  had  given 
wicked  counsel  and  devised  mischief,  (Ezekiel  xi.  2),  and  a  chief 
and  main  stickler  with  the  Commissioner,  Middleton,  and  some  of 
our  grandees,  to  set  up  bishops  again,  and  again  to  ruin  our  Kirk. 


384  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  [1G61. 

In  Ireland,  one  Taylor,*  made  a  bishop,  did  tyrannise  over 
honest  ministers,  so  that  he  deposed  all  the  Presbyterian  ministers 
in  the  north  of  Ireland,  the  most  part  whereof  were  Scotsmen. 

In  the  latter  end  of  April,  the  honest  Earl  of  Cassillis  went  to 
Court,  the  King  having  desired  him  to  come  up  to  him  immediately. 
After  him,  the  Chancellor,  Glencairn,  Rothes,  and  with  them  Mr 
James  Sharp,  were  sent  by  the  Parliament  unto  the  King.  Mr 
James  Sharp  desired  a  commission  from  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh, 
which  was  refused,  especially  by  them  that  formerly  had  sent  him, 
verifying  the  proverb,  "  Sero  sajnunt  Phrygesr  f  Only  he  got  a 
commission  from  the  University  of  St  Andrews,  (the  plurality 
being  corrupt  men,  holy,  learned  Mr  Rutherford  being  now  dead), 
which  was  opposed  and  dissented  from  by  some  of  the  masters. 
The  end  of  the  noblemen's  going  to  Court  was  not  divulged.  Some 
conjectured  it  was  to  get  the  English  garrison  removed ;  others, 
with  greater  probability,  to  consult  how  to  get  bishops  set  up  and 
established. 

The  King's  marriage  with  the  Infanta  of  Portugal  goes  on :  the 
King  of  Spain  declares  his  dislike  of  the  match.  Wars  with  Spain 
and  France  are  feared  to  follow  the  marriage. 

About  this  time  the  King  wrote  down  to  the  Parliament,  and 
expostulated  with  them  that  they  did  but  dally  with  the  processes 
of  the  prisoners.  Shortly  after  this,  uj)on  the  24tli  of  ^lay,  the 
Parliament  condemned  the  Marquis  of  Argyle,  (having  found  out 
a  letter  of  his  that  he  had  written  to  the  usurpers  X),  especially  for 

*  This  was  the  celebrated  Jeremy  Taylor.  He  was  nominated  to  the  See  of 
Down  and  Connor,  vacant  by  the  removal  of  Heniy  Leslie  to  the  See  of  Meath. 
About  three  months  after  his  consecration,  at  his  visitation  inLisnegany,  he  declared 
thirty-six  churches  vacant.  "  He  did  not  make  any  process  against  the  ministers," 
says  Adair,  who  was  one  of  the  number  thus  summarily  ejected,  "  nor  suspend,  nor 
excommunicate ;  but  he  simply  held  them  not  for  ministers,  they  not  being  ordained 
by  bishops.  Therefore  he  only  declared  the  parishes  vacant,  which  he  was  to  supply, 
himself  having  immediately  the  charge  of  all  the  souls  in  his  diocese,  as  he  professed, 
and  procured  priests  and  curates  for  these  parishes  as  he  thought  fit." — Raid's  History 
of  the  Prcgbijterian  Church  in  Ireland,  ii.  347. 

t    Wixe  behindhand. 

X  This  letter  was  discovered  through  the  treachery  of  Monk,  who,  with  the  mean- 
ness of  the  villain  that  turns  King's  evidence  to  save  his  own  life,  transmitted  to  the 


1661.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  385 

Ills  high  degree  of  complying  with  the  usurpers  against  the  King. 
He  was  condemned  to  be  beheaded,  May  27,  and  his  head  to  be 
put  up  where  Montrose's  head  was.  The  Marquis  desu'ed  more 
time  to  prepare  for  death,  but  it  was  refused  him.  The  sentence 
of  death  was  given  to  him  by  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  (who,  in  the 
Chancellor's  absence,  was  President  of  the  Parliament),  with  tears, 
witnessing  his  dissent  and  dislike  thereof.  The  sentence  against 
Argyle  was  much  cried  out  against,  especially  because  he  was  con- 
demned for  comphance  with  the  usurpers ;  whereas  some  that  sat 
on  the  bench  and  condemned  him  were  more  guilty  of  that  than 
he, — pubKcly  disowning  and  renouncing  the  King  and  his  family, 
both  at  London  and  in  Edinburgh.  When  the  sentence  was  exe- 
cuted, he  spoke  very  christianly,*  and  when  he  was  to  lay  down  his 
head,  he  cleared  himself  of  having  any  accession  to  the  murder  of 
the  late  King.  The  generality  of  God's  people  were  much  affected 
with  his  death ;  for  whatever  had  been  his  escapes  and  complying 
with  the  usurpers,  he  was  a  man  that  ever  owned  the  good  cause 
and  the  work  of  reformation  of  religion,  and  lived  devoutly  himself, 
always  keeping  a  good  order  in  his  faiuily.  All  did  compassionate 
his  religious  lady  and  children. 

May  29,  being  the  King's  birth-day,  was  ordained  by  an 
Act  of  ParKament  to  be  kept  as  a  holy  day,  by  preaching,  pray- 
ing, singing  of  psalms,  &c.  In  the  Parliament's  proclamation 
there  were  many  foul  reflections  on  the  work  of  reformation, 
and  on  all  ministers  and  others  that  had  owned  the  work;  but 
ministers  were  no  otherwise  advertised  to  keep  the  day,  than  by 
the  public  proclamation ;  yet  Presbyteries  appointed  the  day  to  be 
observed,  but  withal,  ministers  were  desired  to  speak  against  the 
ordaining  it  to  be  kept  as  a  holy  day.     So  it  was  observed  by  the 

Parliament  some  private  correspondence,  which  could  only  have  come  into  Monk's 
possession  from  his  own  confidential  intercourse  with  the  usurper,  to  whom,  so  long 
as  he  was  in  power,  he  basely  pandered. 

*  He  died  with  much  Christian  resignation  and  fortitude,  whicli  was  the  more 
remarkable,  from  his  being  known  to  be  a  man  more  of  moral  than  of  martial  or  jiiiy- 
sical  courage.  "  He  was  a  nobleman  very  zealous  for  the  Covenant  and  work  of  Re- 
formation."— Law's  Memorials,  10. 

2  B 


386  LIFE  OP  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1661. 

generality  of  ministers,  (as  they  had  kept  a  day  *  in  June,  last 
year,  for  the  King's  preservation  and  restoration,)  abstracting  from 
the  anniversarincss  of  his  birth-day,  and  other  things  contained  in 
the  Act  of  Parliament,  so  desirous  were  honest  ministers  to  witness 
their  good  affection  towards  the  King,  though  it  was  judged  that 
that  Act  was  plotted  as  a  snare  to  catch  honest  ministers. 

In  this  month  the  Parliament  of  England  sat  down,  so  that  now 
there  were  three  Parliaments  sitting  in  the  three  kingdoms.  As 
little  was  expected  of  the  English  Parliament  as  of  our  own  in 
Scotland.  The  Parliament  having  taken  Argyle's  head,  it  was 
feared  that  they  would  proceed  to  take  the  lives  of  more  of  the 
prisoners ;  and  so  it  fell  out,  for.  May  28,  they  condemned  Mr 
James  Guthrie  to  be  hanged,  June  1,  and  his  head  to  be  put  upon 
the  Nether  Bow ;  and  with  him  Lieutenant  Govan  was  condemned 
to  be  hanged,  and  his  head  to  be  put  upon  the  West  Port.  Mr 
Guthrie  was  condemned  only  for  owning  the  "  Remonstrance," 
"  The  Causes  of  God's  Wrath,"  &c.  When  the  sentence  of  death 
was  pronounced  against  him,  he  began  to  speak  some  things, — wish- 
ing "  that  his  innocent  blood  might  not  be  charged  on  the  throne, 
and  hoping  that  his  head  would  preach  more  on  the  Poi't  than  ever 
in  the  pulpit," — but  was  interrupted,  and  carried  away  violently 
from  the  bar  to  prison.  When  the  sentence  was  executed,  June  1, 
he  died  very  resolutely  and  christianly.  He  was  a  godly,  learned 
man,  and  had  a  conscience  of  a  commanding  tenderness,  so  that  he 
durst  not  seem  to  countenance  any  thing  which  in  his  conscience 
he  condemned. 

The  Parliament  of  England  ordained  the  Solemn  League  and 
Covenant  to  be  burnt,  by  the  hand  of  the  hangman,  in  three  most 
public  places  in  London,  with  all  indignities  that  could  be  put  upon 
it.  Thereafter  it  was  so  done  in  several  other  cities  in  England, 
(Joshua  vii.  9.)  t 

All  this  while  by  past,  reports  and  rumours  fly  abroad,  of  the 

*  A  day  of  thanksgivinfj. 

t  "  The  Canaanites  shall  oiit  off  our  name  from  the  earth :  and  what  wilt  thou  do 
unto  thy  j^cat  name  ? " 


16G1.]  LIFE  OF  KOBEllT  BLAIR.  387 

establishing  of  Episcopacy  by  the  King's  sole  power  and  authority. 
It  was  cei'tain  that  the  plurality  of  the  Scots  Council,  at  London, 
did  advise  the  King  to  set  up  bishops  in  Scotland,  that  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Kirk  might  be  one  in  all  the  three  kingdoms,  &c. ; 
and  now,  while  the  minds  of  honest  men  are  distracted  with  fears 
whence  the  first  trial  should  come,  a  proclamation  anent  ecclesi- 
astical affairs  was  sent  down  from  the  King  to  the  Parliament, 
wherein  he  gives  the  Parliament  thanks  for  their  unanimous  loy- 
alty, especially  for  the  Act  Rescissory,  wherein  the  Parhament 
shews  the  King's  firm  purpose  to  maintain  the  Protestant  religion 
in  purity  of  doctrine  and  worship,  as  established  in  his  father's 
time ;  and  for  the  government,  that  he  wiU  establish  it  in  a  way 
conform  to  the  mind  of  God,  most  suitable  to  monarchical  govern- 
ment, and  tending  to  the  peace  of  the  Kirk  and  kingdom ;  and 
that,  notwithstanding  of  the  Rescissory  Act,  he  would  allow  the 
present  administration  by  Sessions,  Presbyteries,  and  Synods, 
they  behaving  themselves  peaceably. 

The  King,  by  his  proclamation,  promises  to  fulfil  what  the  Par- 
liament had  promised  in  his  name,  and  that  for  the  government  of 
the  Kirk,  he  would  settle  it  with  all  due  advice  and  deliberation, 
having  called  to  him  some,  for  their  advice,  in  such  a  way  as  might 
be  most  for  the  honour  of  God,  the  union  and  peace  of  the  Kirk, 
and  the  good  of  the  kingdom ;  and  in  the  meantime  prohibits  all 
ministers,  upon  their  peril,  to  meddle  with  the  government  of  the 
Kirk,  either  in  preaching,  or  praying,  or  by  declarations,  remon- 
strances, petitions  of  Kirk  judicatories,  or  any  otherways.  '  It  was' 
proclaimed  about  the  middle  of  June. 

After  this  came  another  proclamation  from  the  King, — '  it'  was 
published  about  the  beginning  of  July, — that  all  patrons  or  persons 
whatsoever,  presenting  to  benefices,  should,  before  they  present 
any  person  to  any  benefice,  see  them  take  and  subscribe  the  Oath 
of  Allegiance,  they  themselves  having  first  taken  the  same  oath  ; 
whether  they  be  in  the  country,  noblemen,  sheriflTs,  &c. ;  or  in 
towns,  the  magistrates ;  or  in  colleges,  the  masters,  &c.  In  Edin- 
burgh, Messrs  Dickson  and  Leighton  took  it  to  advise  with  it,  &c. 

2  B  2 


3}^g  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1661. 

About  the  beginning  of  July  a  letter  came  from  the  King  to 
the  Parliament,  in  favour  of  Mr  John  Stirling,  obtained  by  his 
brother-in-law.  Sir  Arthur  Forbes,  wherein  he  declared  that  he 
pardoned  Mr  Jolm  Stirling  any  civil  offence  done ;  but  as  for  what 
the  Kirk  judicatories  had  to  lay  to  his  charge,  he  woidd  not  meddle 
with  that ;  whereupon  he  got  liberty  to  preach.  About  the  same 
time  ]Mr  George  Nairn  was  dismissed,  with  liberty  to  preach.  A 
little  before  this,  Mr  John  Murray  had  gotten  liberty  to  go  home, 
by  the  procurement  of  the  Earl  of  Athol  and  the  many  Murrays  in 
the  Parliament.     Also  Mr  Gilbert  Hall  got  liberty  to  go  home. 

About  the  time  of  Mr  Guthrie's  execution,  Mr  Patrick  GiUespie 
gave  in  a  paper  to  the  Parliament,  wherein  he  passed  from  that 
part  of  the  Remonstrance  which  concerned  the  King,  and  had 
given  greatest  offence,  craving  pardon  for  the  same,  &c.  He  did 
cast  himself  upon  the  King's  mercy,  as  guilty,  &c.  Thereafter  he 
was  set  at  liberty,  being  confined  within  six  miles  about  Ormiston. 
Mr  John  Dickson  gave  in  an  acknowledgment  of  a  fault  in  what 
he  had  spoken  to  the  Parliament,  and  got  liberty  to  go  home. 

My  Alexander  Moncrieff  was  brought  before  the  Lords  of  the 
Articles,  but  he,  standing  fixed  to  his  principles,  refused  to  acknow- 
ledge any  fault  in  their  petition,  either  in  respect  of  matter,  manner, 
or  timing  of  it.  The  Earl  of  CraAvford,  being  President  of  the 
Parliament,  knowing  him  to  be  a  godly,  sincere,  and  painful  minister, 
and  fixed  to  his  principles,  was  his  great  friend,  and  was  careful 
that  he  should  never  compear  before  the  Parliament. 

All  this  while  there  was  no  word  of  Mr  James  Simson,  in  the 
Tolbooth,  and  of  Mr  John  Scot,  in  his  chamber  in  the  town ;  but 
great  dealing  was  with  Mr  Robert  M'Ward,*  to  move  him  to  con- 
fess a  fault  or  oversiglit,  &c.,  but  he  abode  fixed  to  his  principles ; 
and  it  was  thought  that,  among  all  the  ministers,  he  had  the  clearest 
ground  of  suffering,  it  being  only  for  the  Covenant,  and  protesting 
against  the  breach  of  it,  and  the  defection  and  apostacy  thereby ; 

*  Mr  M'Ward  was  minister  of  the  Outer  High  Church,  Glasgow,  to  M-hich  he  was 
ndmittcd  in  1G5G,  on  the  death  of  Mr  Andrew  Gray.  ITc  retired  to  Holland,  and  died 
ftt  liotterdam  in  1G81,  after  about  twenty  years'  exile  from  his  native  country. 


IGGl.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  389 

for  he  said  that  he  had  nothing  to  recant,  except  he  would  recant 
the  Covenant,  which  he  hoped  never  to  do. 

All  this  while  Mr  William  Wishart  *  lies  in  the  Castle  of  Stir- 
ling. There  were  other  ministers  summoned  in  before  the  Parlia- 
ment, viz.,  Messrs  John  Livingstone,  John  Nevay,  t  &c.,  who 
were  dismissed  upon  bail,  to  appear  again  when  called. 

July  11,  the  Parliament  was  adjourned  to  March  next.  In  the 
close  of  the  Parliament  they  gave  out  sentences  against  several 
ministei's.  Mr  Patrick  Gillespie  was  confined  to  Ormiston,  and 
six  miles  about  it,  until  the  next  session  of  the  Parliament ;  Mr 
Robert  M'Ward  was  banished  the  three  kingdoms,  and  got  four 
months  to  prepare  himself  to  remove ;  Mr  Alexander  MoncriefF 
was  discharged  having  any  employment,  ecclesiastic  or  civil,  in  the 
parish  of  Scoonie,  for  all  time  coming,  and  confined  to  any  place 
he  pleased,  being  three  miles  from  Scoonie,  until  the  next  session 
of  the  Parliament,  and  inhibit  preaching  the  meantime ;  INIr  James 
Simson  was  banished  the  three  kingdoms ;  Mr  Robert  Trail  (having 
gotten  liberty  to  go  abroad  in  the  town,  and  for  some  space  with- 
out it)  was  referred  to  the  Presbytery  of  Edinburgh.  Others 
were  confined  within  their  o^vn  parishes.  Mr  Robert  Laurie 
preached  a  most  flattering  sermon  before  the  Parliament  about  the 
time  of  their  adjournment. 

Presently  after  the  rising  of  the  Parliament,  the  Commissioner, 
Middleton,  repaired  to  court,  and  within  two  days  after,  the  Earl 
of  Crawford,  Treasurer,  took  post  for  Court.  He  being  a  good 
man,  and  enemy  to  the  corrupt  coui-ses  of  the  time,  especially  to 
Episcopacy,  good  people  were  glad  of  his  repairing  to  Court,  hoping 
that  the  King  would  get  a  just  and  right  information  of  the  estate 
of  affairs  from  him. 

July  30,  the  Parliament  of  England  is  adjom'ned  to  the  20th  of 
November.  The  King,  in  his  speech  to  both  Houses,  twice  gave 
them  thanks  for  repealing  the  acts  that  debarred  bishops  from 
sitting  in  Parliament,  and  for  restoring  of  Parliaments  to  their 

*  Mr  William  Wishart  was  minister  of  Kinnoul,  in  the  Presbytery  of  Linlithgow, 
t  The  celebrated  Livingstoac  of  Ancruin,  and  Nevay  of  Newmills. 


300  I'll'I^  0¥  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [16G1. 

ancient  di"-nity  and  veneration.  He  told  them  that  he  was  to 
o-o  to  Portsmonth  to  bring  home  his  Queen,  the  Infanta  of  Por- 
tugal. 

The  bishops  in  Ireland  most  violently  persecute  all  ministers 
that  will  not  conform.  All  the  ministers  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
who  for  the  most  part  were  Scotsmen,  were  deposed.  The  bishops 
there  had  a  convocation,  where  it  was  concluded,  that  none  should 
be  admitted  to  the  ministry,  but  they  that  would  renounce  the 
Solemn  League  and  Covenant  as  most  seditious  and  rebellious,  &c. 
That  was  the  minimum  quod  sit  that  was  to  be  required  of  every 
intrant. 

All  this  while  since  the  proclamation  in  June,  anent  ecclesiastical 
affairs,  there  were  great  debates  among  them  at  London  concerning 
the  establishing  of  the  government  of  the  Kirk  in  Scotland ;  but, ' 
In  the  beginning  of  August,  the  Scots  Council  being  all  convened 
to  determine  the  question,  the  Earls  of  Crawford,  Casslllis,  and 
Lauderdale,  and  Duke  Hamilton,  reasoned  against  establishing  of 
bishops  in  Scotland,  especially  Crawford  did  most  strongly  and 
rationally  debate  against  setting  up  of  bishops  In  Scotland,  and 
did  most  pertinently  answer  all  their  objections  that  were  for  Epis- 
copacy, and  conformity  thereto  In  Scotland.  But  no  reasoning, 
nor  reason  Itself,  could  be  heard ;  for  now  the  King  having  gotten 
wicked  counsel,  his  mind  was  known,  and  his  fixed  purpose  to  set 
up  Prelacy  again  In  Scotland. 

The  Chancellor,  Kothes,  and  especially  Mr  Sharp,  (that  went  to 
Court  with  them,  and  In  the  latter  end  of  August  returned),  were 
those  that  gave  wicked  counsel  and  advice  to  the  King,  and  now  all 
honest  men  deservedly  cried  out  against  Mr  Sharp  as  a  traitor  to  God, 
his  country,  and  the  Kirk  of  Scotland.  And  now,  It  being  concluded 
by  the  Scots  Council  at  London,  that  bishops  shall  be  established 
in  Scotland,  a  council  day  is  appointed  at  Edinburgh,  viz.,  the  5th 
of  September,  that  the  King's  mind  anent  the  government  of  the 
Kirk  might  be  known  In  Scotland ;  but,  to  make  Prelacy  go  the 
better  down  with  those  In  Scotland  that  disliked  It,  the  King 
resolved  to  give  the  offer  of  bishopricks  to  honest  ministers,  and 


1661.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIK.  391 

to  lay  aside  all  the  old  Episcopal  men,  even  SydserfF,  Wishart,* 
Mitchell,!  &c.,  because  he  was  informed  that  the  thing  that  made 
Prelacy  to  be  so  hated  in  Scotland  was,  the  misdemeanours  of  those 
that  were  prelates,  and  their  maladministration.  But  be  laid  aside 
who  will,  Mr  Sharp  must  be  one  of  the  prelates,  and  the  fattest 
bishoprick  must  be  his  ;  therefore  he  is  designed  Archbishop  of  St 
Andrews. 

In  the  beginning  of  September  Mr  Sharp  came  to  Fife.  Shortly 
thereafter,  the  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews  (being  certainly  informed 
of  his  wicked  and  deceitftil  miscarriage  at  Court ;  yea,  that  he  was 
designed  to  be  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews,  and  probably  had 
accepted  of  a  patent  to  that  bishoprick,)  did  send  two  of  their 
number,  viz.,  Messrs  Robert  Blair  and  David  Forret,!  to  him,  to 
represent  and  shew  to  him  how  much  the  Presbytery  were  dissa- 
tisfied with  his  wicked  ways  and  courses,  and  to  exhort  him  to 
repent  thereof,  and  to  leave  these  wicked  ways ;  but  Mr  Sharp 
gave  no  kind  of  satisfaction  to  them,  but,  upon  the  contrary,  quar- 
relled the  Presbytery,  and  especially  those  that  were  sent  to  him, 
for  alleging  (as  he  said)  that  he  was  a  bishop ;  to  whom  ]\Ir  Blair 
replied,  that  they  did  not  quarrel  him  for  being  a  bishop,  but  for 
giving  wicked  counsel  to  set  up  bishops  in  Scotland,  and  for  under- 
taking to  be  one  of  those  bishops,  even  to  be  Archbishop  of  St 

*  Mr  George  Wishart,  of  the  family  of  Logic,  in  Angus,  was  minister  at  North 
Leith,  but  was  deposed  in  1638.  He  afterwards  accompanied  the  Marquis  of  Mon- 
trose in  foreign  parts,  as  chapLain,  and  wTote  the  Histoiy  of  the  War  in  Scothmd, 
under  the  conduct  of  Montrose,  in  elegant  Latin.  Upon  the  fall  of  his  hero,  he  acted 
as  chaplain  to  Elizabeth,  Queen  of  Bohemia,  sister  to  Charles  I.  After  the  Restora- 
tion, he  first  became  Rector  of  Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  and  next  Bishop  of  Edinburgh, 
in  which  See  he  continued  till  his  death,  which  took  jjlace  in  1G71. — Keith's  Cataloyue 
of  the  Scottish  Bishops,  62. 

t  Mr  David  Mitchell  was  a  minister  in  the  city  of  Edinburgh,  but  was  deposed  by 
the  General  Assembly  in  1638,  upon  which  he  went  to  England,  where  he  procured  a 
benefice.  After  the  restoration  of  Prelacy  in  Scotland,  he  was  consecrated  Bishop  of 
Aberdeen,  at  the  same  time  with  Bisho])  Wishart  of  EtUnburgh.  lie  died,  the  year 
after  his  consecration,  of  a  fever. — Ilud.,  133. 

J  Mr  David  FoiTct  appears  as  minister  of  Dcninno  in  1630.  He  was  translated 
to  Forgan  in  1640;  to  Kilconqidiar,  May  27,  1646;  refused  to  conform  to  Prelacy 
in  1662;  and  died,  Februaiy  26,  lG72.—Selectio7is  fro?n  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of 
Fife,  205,  206,  208. 


302  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [IG61. 

Andrews,  (as  they  were  certainly  informed).  "But,"  said  Mr 
Blair,  "  if  ye  will  promise  to  us  to  repent  of  what  ye  have  done, 
and  to  evidence  the  sincerity  of  your  repentance, — do  no  more  so, 
and  engage  that  ye  shall  never  be  a  bishop, — I  think,  for  the  time, 
that  will  give  some  satisfaction  to  the  Presbytery."  But  Mr 
Sharp  still  quarrelling  the  Presbytery  and  them  two,  and  giving 
no  satisfactory  answers  to  their  demands,  IVIr  Blair  did  lay  out 
before  him  the  wickedness  and  deceitfulness  of  his  ways,  exhorting 
him  to  repent ;  and  to  move  him  thereto,  did  shew  him  how  the 
Lord  had  most  remarkably  punished  the  perjury  and  wickedness 
of  all  the  bishops  of  St  Andrews,  especially  at  their  death ;  and 
that  none  of  them  died  so  well  as  Mr  Patrick  Adarason,  whom  the 
Presbyteiy  of  St  Andrews  excommunicate,  &c.,  and  who  did 
recant  shortly  before  his  death,  and  was  relaxed  from  the  dreadful 
sentence  of  excommunication  by  the  Synod  of  Fife.  When  they 
parted  Mr  Sharp  forced  Mr  David  Forret  to  stay  with  him  all 
that  night,  and  upon  the  morrow  (being  enraged,  and  his  proud 
passion  much  stirred  by  Mr  Blair's  plain  and  free  dealing  with 
him,)  he  did  vent  much  bitterness  and  spleen,  especially  against 
Mr  Blair,  alleging  that  he  had  cursed  him  from  the  pulpit ;  and 
after  he  had  spewed  out  much  of  his  venom,  in  end,  he  said  to  Mr 
Forret,  "  Let  not  Mr  Blair  think  that  he  shall  sit  long  there  where 
he  is." 

The  Council  convening  at  Edinburgh  upon  the  6th  of  September, 
they  emitted  a  proclamation,  containing  the  King's  mind  anent  the 
re-establishing  of  Episcopacy  in  Scotland,  to  this  purpose  : — "  The 
Council  having  considered  his  Majesty's  letter,  August  14,  1660, 
wherein  the  King  declared  his  purpose  to  maintain  the  government 
of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  settled  by  law,  and  the  Parliament  having, 
since  that  time,  rescinded  all  the  acts  relating  to  that  government, 
yea,  declared  these  Parliaments  null,  leavino-  to  the  Kino;  the 
setthng  of  Church  government ;  therefore,  in  compliance  with  that 
Act  Rescissory,  and  in  pursuance  of  his  Majesty's  proclamation, 
June  last,  and  in  contemplation  of  the  inconveniences  that  have 
accompanied  the  Kirk  government,  as  it  has  been  exercised  these 


1661.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  393 

twenty-three  years,  and  of  tlie  unsuitableness  thereof  to  monar- 
chical government,  &c.,  his  ^lajesty — having  resj)ect  to  the  glory  of 
God,  the  good  and  interest  of  the  Protestant  religion,  and  being 
zealous  of  the  unity,  peace,  &c.,  of  the  Kirk,  within  this  kingdom, 
and  of  a  better  harmony  with  the  government  of  the  Churches  of 
England  and  Ireland — hath  been  pleased  to  declare  unto  his  Council 
his  resolution  to  interpose  his  authority  for  restoring  of  this  Kirk 
to  its  right  government  by  bishops,  as  it  was  by  law  before  the 
late  troubles,  during  the  reigns  of  his  father  and  grandfather,  and 
as  it  now  stands  settled  by  law,  and  that  the  rents  belonging  to 
the  bishops  or  deans  be  restored,  and  made  usefid  to  the  Kirk ; 
have  therefore,  in  obedience  unto,  and  conform  to  his  Majesty's 
pleasure  aforesaid,  ordained,  and  by  these  presents  ordains  the 
Lyon  King-at-Arms,  and,  &c.,  to  pass  to  the  market  cross  and 
make  publication  of  his  Majesty's  pleasure  for  restoring  the  Kirk 
to  its  right  government  by  bishops,  and  to  require  all  his  subjects 
to  compose  themselves  to  a  cheerful  acquiescence  and  obedience 
to  the  same,  and  that  none  presume,  by  discoursing,  preaching,  &c., 
to  alienate  the  affections  of  his  Majesty's  subjects,  or  to  dispose 
them  to  an  evil  opinion  of  his  Majesty  or  government,  &c.,  and  to 
discharge  all  Synods,  till  his  Majesty's  further  ]5leasure  therein  be 
known ;  commanding  all  subjects  to  see  this  act  punctually  obeyed ; 
and  if  they  find  any  failing  in  their  obedience  thereto,  or  doing 
any  thing  in  the  contrary,  that  they  commit  them  to  prison  till 
the  Council  give  further  order  as  they  will  answer,  &c. :  And  all 
persons  paying  bishops'  rents  are  discharged  to  pay  the  rents  of 
this  present  year  to  any  person,  until  they  receive  new  orders 
from  the  King  or  his  Council." 

This  was  looked  upon  as  the  saddest  proclamation  that  had 
been  in  Scotland  these  twenty-five  years  bypast,  overturning  aU. 
that  had  been  done  these  years  by  the  setting  up  of  archbishops, 
bishops,  &c.,  (and  that  not  as  his  grandfather  by  Kirk  judicato- 
ries, though  corrupted,  and  by  several  steps  and  degrees,  but 
per  saltum,  at  the  first  lifting  them  up  to  their  height,  and  that  by 
his  sole  power  and  authority,  by  virtue  of  his  supremacy,  or  rather 


3<J4  LIFE  OF  KOBEKT  BLAIR.  [1661. 

because  it  was  his  j^leasure  so  to  do),  and  by  bringing  the  Kirk  of 
Scotland  to  be  governed  as  the  Kirks  of  England  and  Ireland ; 
whereas  both  King  and  people  stood  bound  by  the  oath  of  God  to 
maintain  the  government  of  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  as  then  it  was 
established  by  law,  with  the  late  King's  own  consent,  anno  1641, 
and  to  endeavour  the  reformation  of  the  Kirks  of  England  and 
Ireland,  in  doctrine,  worship,  discipline  and  government,  accord- 
ing to  the  word  of  God,  and  the  example  of  the  best  reformed 
Kirks  ;  and  at  that  time  it  was  acknowledged  by  all,  that  the 
Kirk  of  Scotland  was  the  best  reformed  Kirk  in  the  woi'ld,  as 
King  James  VI.,  in  a  General  Assembly,  professed  ;  for  (said  he) 
"  the  reformers  of  our  Kirk  took  not  their  example  either  from 
Geneva,  or  any  other  Kirk,  but  from  the  true  word  of  God."  But 
who  can  enough  lament  the  most  doleful  defection  and  apostacy 
of  kings,  nobles,  and  especially  of  ministers,  who  had  sworn  our 
National  Covenant  and  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  and 
made  the  people  swear  the  same  and  renew  these  Covenants ;  and 
yet  gave  wicked  counsel,  and  devised  mischief  to  change  the 
government,  and,  in  effect,  to  overturn  the  work  of  God  in  this 
land !  But  most  vile  was  the  treachery  and  apostacy  of  that 
Sharp,  who  being  employed  by  some  ministers,  and  having  (as 
was  reported)  very  good  and  strict  instructions  for  the  good  of 
the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  did,  notwithstanding,  not  only  run  on  with 
our  grandees  in  all  their  wicked  ways  and  courses,  for  the  break- 
ing of  the  Covenant  and  overturning  of  the  work  of  God,  but  was 
the  plotter  and  deviser  of  all  the  mischief,  and  did  not  only  mis- 
inform the  King,  by  making  lies  his  refuge,  but  did  give  him 
wicked  counsel  from  time  to  time. 

After  this  saddest  proclamation  'Mr  Sharp  made  the  report  go, 
that  three  ministers  Avere  to  repair  to  London  to  advise  the  King 
who  should  be  bishops  ;  but  it  was  well  enough  known  that  these 
three  were  going  to  be  consecrated  at  London,  that  they  might 
consecrate  the  rest  at  home.  These  three  were  Messrs  James 
Sharp,  Andrew  Fairfowl,  and  James  Hamilton,  Belhaven's 
brother,  minister  of  Cambusnethau.      The   short  time  that  Mr 


1661.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  395 

Sharp  abode  in  Scotland,  before  tliey  took  their  journey,  he  was 
most  busy  to  advance  his  wicked  and  pernicious  designs  ;  what  by 
preaching  down  the  Covenant  and  the  whole  work  of  reformation, 
alleging  that  the  Covenant  bound  us  to  nothing  but  to  repent  of 
it,  and  that  all  that  had  been  done  these  twenty-three  years  was 
nothing  but  rebellion,  &c. ;  what  by  travelling  up  and  down  to 
draw  some  honest  ministers  to  his  wicked  ways  and  courses,  offer- 
ing them  great  benefices,  bishops'  places  and  honours.  Besides 
those  that  he  spoke  with  in  Lothian,  in  some  few  days  he  spoke 
with  sundry  in  Fife,  viz.,  with  Messrs  William  Rait,  Patrick  Scou- 
gal,  John  M'Gill,  William  Colin,  James  Wood,  &c.  None  of 
them  spoke  so  honestly  and  stoutly  to  him  as  Mr  James  Wood  and 
Mr  John  M'Gill,  disdaining  his  sinful  baits,  though  he  told  them 
that  the  King  remembered  them,  and  had  a  mind  to  prefer  them 
to  great  honours  and  riches  if  they  themselves  did  not  hinder  their 
own  preferment. 

But  Mr  Sharp's  greatest  spleen  was  against  jVIi'  Blair,  as  the 
man  that  was  sitting  in  his  seat,  which  he  had  prepared  for  him- 
self, thinking  with  himself  that  he  could  not  have  that  respect,  or 
carry  on  his  designs  as  bishop  of  St  Andrews,  if  INIr  Blair  continued 
minister  there,  fearing  that  his  words  in  opposition  to  his  designs 
would  have  more  weight  with  that  people  than  any  thing  he  could 
speak  to  the  contrary ;  yea  his  malice  and  revenge,  to  the  which 
his  pride  prompted  him  against  Mr  Blair,  was  so  great,  that  not 
only  to  Mr  David  Forret  but  to  all  of  the  Presbytery  to  whom  he 
had  spoken,  viz.,  Messrs  James  Wood,  Alexander  Edward,  *  Wal- 
ter Comrlcjt  he  did  vent  his  wicked  and  devilish  designs  against 
Mr  Blair,  saying  that  INlr  Blair  should  be  made  to  answer  for  what 
he  had  preached  against  the  King's  laws,  proclamations,  &c.  And 
as  he  threatened,  so  he  brought  it  to  pass ;  for  Mr  Blair,  perceiv- 

*  Mr  Alexander  Echvarcl  was  admitted  minister  of  Deninno,  October  13,  1G52;  con- 
formed to  Prelacy  1GG2 ;  was  translated  to  Crail,  August  5,  1053;  and  died  May  7, 
1684. — Selccfiomt/rom  Minutes  of  Synod  of  Fife,  201,  205. 

t  Mr  Walter  Comric  was  inducted  minister  of  St  Leonards  1G04,  made  Professor 
of  Divinity  in  St  Mary's  College  1662,  and  admitted  Principal  October  23,  1 666. — 
Ibid.,  213,'  214. 


390  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1661. 

inn-  that  he  coiild  not  long  stay  at  St  Andrews  with  a  safe  con- 
science, and  having  secretly  spoken  to  his  colleague,  ]\Ir  Andrew 
Honeyman,  that  he,  yea  they  both  were  too  silent  in  a  time  of  so 
great  defection,  he  resolved  to  give  a  full  and  free  testimony  against 
the  Ancked  courses  of  the  time,  and  being  preaching  upon  1  Peter 
iii.  13,  14,  &c.,  he  moved  the  question.  Whether  suffering  for 
Christ's  kingly  government  of  his  own  house  (viz.  Presbyterial 
government)  was  suffering  for  righteousness  sake  ?  He  answered 
Affirmative;  because  suffering  for  the  maintenance  of  Presbyterial 
government  was  suffering  for  the  maintenance  of  the  truth,  and  that 
according  to  our  National  and  Solemn  League,  and  Covenant,  &c. 
In  that  sermon  Mr  Blair  did  give  an  ample  and  full  testimony,  first, 
bearing  witness  unto  the  truth,  owning  the  Covenants  and  the  whole 
work  of  Reformation ;  Secondly,  bearing  vntness  against  the  cor- 
rupt, wicked  and  sinful  courses  of  this  time  of  defection,  apostacy, 
and  national  perjury.  Immediately  after  this  sermon  and  testi- 
mony of  Mr  Blair's,  one  IMr  William  Barclay*  (who  was  deposed 
from  the  ministry  by  the  commission  of  the  Kirk  for  complying 
with  Montrose,  &c.),  went  to  Mr  Sharp  and  informed  him  of  aU 
that  ^ii'  Blair  had  spoken.  Mr  Sharp  never  ceased  until  he  ob- 
tained a  letter  from  the  Secret  Council,  written  to  the  magistrates 
of  St  Andrews,  commanding  them  to  bring  over  to  Edinburgh  !^^Ir 
Blair,  to  speak  with  the  Chancellor,  before  the  9th  of  October,  who 
was  to  signify  to  him  the  Council's  mind  concerning  him.  Mr 
Blair  readily,  yea  cheei*fldly  obeyed  the  Secret  Council's  order, 
and  presented  himself  before  the  Chancellor  October  9.  The 
Chancellor  had  a  discreet  discourse  to  him,  and  in  end  desired  him 
to  stay  in  the  to^vm  until  he  spoke  with  some  of  the  Council.  At 
this  nick  of  time  Messrs  Sharp,  Fairfowl  and  Hamilton  came  to 
Edinburgh  to  take  their  journey  for  London,  there  to  be  conse- 
crated; the  first  two  to  be  the  two  archbishops.  But  such  was  the 
vile  dissimulation  oUhat  Sharp,  (2  Chron.  xxviii.  22  f),  that  though 

*  Mr  William  Barclay  was  admitted  minister  of  Falkland  in  1G35  ;  deposed  for  ma- 
Ut'nauiy  1G44 ;  restored  1664,  and  died  about  IG71.— Selections  from  Minutes  of  Smod 
of  Fife,  222. 

t  "  This  is  that  King  Ahaz." 


1661.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  397 

he  had  threatened  and  procured  Mr  Blair  to  be  challenged,  he 
purged  hhnself  of  it  to  some  that  spoke  to  him  thereanent ;  yea  he 
wrote  to  purge  himself  of  it  to  some  ministers  to  whom  he  had  said 
that  "  Mr  Blair  should  be  made  to  answer  for  what  he  had  spoken." 

The  three  above-mentioned  for  several  days  were  most  secret 
and  close  with  the  Chancellor  and  Eothes  in  the  Chancellor's 
closet,  digging  deep  to  hide  their  counsels;  and  so,  thereafter,  the 
three,  (Mr  Sharp  having  made  it  sure  that  Mr  Blair  should  not 
return  to  St  Andrews,  the  seat  and  rest  that  he  had  prepared  for 
himself),  took  their  journey  for  London  in  the  end  of  October.  In 
the  meantime  it  was  signified  by  the  Chancellor  to  Mr  Blair  that 
he  was  rebuked  for  not  committing  him  so  soon  as  he  came  to 
Edinburgh,  and  that  he  behoved  to  attend  the  next  council  day, 
November  5 ;  and  that  they  were  to  call  some  witnesses  against 
him,  to  depone  what  they  heard  him  preach,  &c.  Mr  Blair  said 
he  should  spare  the  Council  that  labour,  for  he  resolved  to  de- 
clare more  of  what  he  had  preached  than  any  witnesses  could  do. 
Yet,  notwithstanding,  Mr  William  Barclay  (who  was  the  informer 
against  Mr  Blair)  and  one  Mr  Andrew  Bruce,  humanist  in  the 
Old  College,  were  called  as  witnesses,  &c. 

When  the  Council  day  came  they  apjJointed  some  noblemen  and 
the  King's  Advocate  to  confer  with  Mr  Blaii",  who  posed  him, 
whether  he  had  from  the  pulpit  asserted  Presbyterial  government 
to  be  jure  clivino.  He  answered  that  he  wondered  that  they  should 
ask  such  a  question  at  him,  whose  opinion  anent  Presbyterial  go- 
vernment was  so  well  known,  he  having  suffered  so  much  for  it ; 
he  said  that  he  had  preached  that  innumerable  times.  2d,  Whe- 
ther he  had  asserted  that  suffering  for  maintenance  of  Presbyterial 
government  was  suffering  for  righteousness.  Answered,  Affirma- 
tive. 3dly,  Whether  he  had  prayed  against  Popery  and  rotten 
Prelacy.  Answered,  AflSrmative.  In  end  they  hinted  some  things 
like  a  challenge  for  complying  with  Cromwell  and  the  usurpers, 
and  would  have  passed  it ;  but  Mr  Blair  did  so  clear  and  vindicate 
himself  of  compliance  with  the  usurpers,  that  he  made  some  of 
them   present  think   shame   of  themselves,   for  indeed   they  had 


398 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1661. 


grossly  comiilieil,  especially  the  King's  Advocate.  This  conference 
being  reported  to  the  Council  November  7,  they  confined  Mr  Blair 
to  his  chamber  in  Ediubm-gh,  discharging  him  to  have  any  confer- 
ence with  any  save  his  own  wife  and  children  that  were  in  the 
town  with  him.     Psalm,  cxix.  161.* 

Messrs  Sharp,  Fairfowl  and  Hamilton  coming  to  London,  found 
before  them  Mr  Leighton,  the  degenerating  son  of  worthy  Mr 
Leighton,  that  had  suiFered  so  much  by  the  tyranny  of  bishops 
in  England  about  thirty-one  years  before,  who,  pretending  insuffi- 
ciency for  the  ministry,  by  people's  not  profiting  by  him,  was  then 
pi-incipal  of  the  College  of  Edinburgh.     He  was  designed  to  be 
Bishop  of  Dunblane  and  Dean  of  the  Chapel  Royal,  as  the  King's 
chaplain  in  Scotland ;  and  though  he  was  by  some  cried  up  for 
peace  and  learning,  and  had  pretended  to  love  to  lurk,  living  a 
single  life ;  yea,  had  preached  about  the  time  of  the  King's  restora- 
tion, against  the  pomp,  pride  and  idleness  of  bishops,  and  their 
persecuting  of  godly  ministers ;  yet  by  those  that  knew  him  well 
it  was  said,  that  he  was  never  fixed  in  the  point  of  Kirk  govern- 
ment, counting  it  a  thing  indifferent,  whether  it  was  Independency, 
Presbytery,  or  Episcopacy ;  yea,  it  was  then  known  that  he  was 
not  only  for  Episcopacy,  but  for  all  the  ceremonies.     When  the 
English  bishops  began  to  speak  of  the  consecration  of  these  four, 
first  there  was  great  dealing  both  by  the  bishops  of  England  and 
Bishop  Sydserff's  friends,  that  Sydserff"  should  be  bishop  of  St 
Andrews.     But  Sharp  (unwilling  that  that  fattest  morsel  should 
be  pulled  out  of  his  greedy,  gaping  mouth,  though  he  should  worry 
upon  it)  persuaded  the  King  that,  by  reason  of  his  old  age,  he  was 
altogether  unfit  for  that  See,  and  for  advancing  the  King's  designs. 
Then  the  King  desired  to  know  what  was  the  greatest  rent  next 
to  the  two  archbishopricks,  that  it  might  be  designed  for  Sydserff"; 
which  being  the  bishoprick  of  Orkney,  the  King  willed  that  to  be 
conferred  upon  him ;  but  Hamilton  went  up  in  expectation  of  that 
See ;  and  so  the  dogs  were  striving  about  the  fat  bones,  though  they 

"  rnnccs  have  pcvscmted  mc  without  a  cause  ;  but  my  heart  standeth  iu  awe  of 
thv  word." 


1661.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  399 

sliould  get  the  curse  of  God  with  them.  But,  secondly,  the  great 
debate  anent  their  consecration  was  this  :  The  bishops  of  England, 
denying  that  Sharp  and  Leighton  were  lawfully  ordained  ministers, 
because  ordained  only  by  presbyters  in  the  time  of  presbyterlal 
government,  required  that  they  should  be  re-ordained  by  them 
before  their  consecration.  Messrs  Sharp  and  Leighton  did  a  little 
stick  at  this  demand  of  the  English  bishops,  and  did  deal  with  the 
King  that  they  should  not  be  required  to  be  re-ordained.  But  the 
English  bishops  resolving  not  to  consecrate  them  unless  they  woidd 
submit  to  be  re-ordained  by  them,  and  Sharp,  determining  with 
himself  to  have  the  fattest  morsel,  though  upon  any  terms  never 
so  absurd  and  wicked,  they  both  did  at  last  submit  to  be  re-ordain- 
ed ;  but  they  would  have  it  to  be  called  only  a  confirmation  of 
their  former  ordination.  But  In  this  how  gross  they  were  may 
appear  by  this,  that  the  same  thing  being  required  of  Bishop  Spot- 
tlswood,  about  the  year  1610,  by  the  English  bishops,  when  he 
was  to  be  consecrated  archbishop  of  Glasgow,  he  altogether  refused 
It,  saying  that  ere  he  renounced  his  ordination  by  being  re-ordained, 
he  would  rather  return  to  Scotland  as  he  came ;  but  after  debate, 
the  matter  being  referred  to  Bancroft,  then  archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, he  decided  it  In  favours  of  Spottiswood,  affirming  that  ordi- 
nation by  the  presbytery,  Avithout  a  bishop,  behoved  to  be  acknow- 
ledjred  as  lawful  and  valid,  otherwise  the  ordination  of  all  ministers 
in  the  Reformed  Kirks,  where  there  were  no  bishops,  woidd  be 
annulled. 

So  these  four  (two  of  them,  Sharp  and  Leighton,  being  re-or- 
dained) were  consecrated  by  English  bishops  about  the  midst  of 
December.  Upon  the  20th  of  November  the  English  Parliament 
sat  down.  Then  the  King  had  a  speech  to  them,  expressing  his 
joy  to  see  the  Lords  Spiritual  again  sitting  in  Parliament  with  the 
Temporal.  He  desired  speedy  courses  to  be  taken  for  getting  of 
monies,  &c.  About  this  time  the  Earl  of  Cassillis  came  home 
without  any  public  place.  Tlie  Commissioner  and  Crawford  abide 
still  at  Court,  The  truly  noble  and  honest  Earl  of  Crawford,  for 
his  Ingenuous  honesty  and  honest  Ingenuity  had  many  enemies. 


400  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1661. 

It  was  feared  by  honest  men  that  hardly  would  he  keep  his  place 
long. 

Immediately  after  the  death  of  good,  honest  !Mr  George  Thom- 
son, (that  zealous,  shicere  and  faithful  servant  of  Christ),  the 
presbytery  of  Cupar  and  his  parish  dealt  with  Mr  James  Wood, 
provost  of  the  Old  College,  patrons  of  that  kirk,  that  he  would  pre- 
sent an  honest  young  man,  that  he  might  be  ordained  before  the 
bishops'  downcomiiig.  Mr  James  Wood  presently  presented  IMr 
John  Lentrone.  His  presentation  carried  that  he  had  taken  the 
oath  of  allegiance.  The  presbytery  of  Cupar  made  no  doubt  but 
the  masters  of  the  Old  College  permitted  the  young  man  to  give 
his  orthodox  sense  of  that  oath,  seeing  ISIr  Wood  was  the  di'awer 
up  of  that  paper,  wherein  the  Synod  of  Fife  gave  an  orthodox 
sense  of  that  oath,  which  being  admitted,  it  was  judged  law- 
ful to  any  honest  man  to  take  it;  and  so  the  young  man  was 
entered  upon  his  trials.  But  the  Secret  Council,  hearing  of  the 
haste  that  the  presbytery  of  Cupar  made  to  plant  the  kirk  of 
Kilmany,  began  to  speak  of  the  stopping  of  the  presbytery  of 
Cupar,  and  inhibiting  them  to  proceed,  and  taking  to  their  consi- 
deration the  planting  of  kirks,  did  emit  a  proclamation  inhibiting 
presbyteries  to  ordain  any  ministers  to  vacant  kirks  as  they  would 
answer  upon  the  contrary;  seeing  now  some  were  consecrated 
bishops,  to  whom  ordination  did  belong.  This  proclamation  was 
about  the  middle  of  December.  About  this  time  honest  men  feared 
that  the  Secret  Council  (so  mad  wei*e  they  to  advance  the  bishops 
and  their  designs,  though  It  was  told  them  both  in  secret  conferences 
and  from  pulpits,  that  they  would  trample  upon  them  as  bishops 
did  in  former  times)  would  enjoin  the  superstitious  keeping  of  Yule 
day,  and  that  the  Lords  of  the  Session  would  have  theu"  Yule  va- 
cance,  &c. 

All  this  while  Mr  Blair  continues  under  his  restraint,  according 
to  the  Council's  order,  the  Council  never  speaking  a  word  of  him. 
The  King's  Advocate  told  to  some  that  he  had  drawn  up  a  libel 
agauist  him ;  but  it  was  thought  nothing  would  be  done  against 
him   until   Bisliop  Sharp's    downcoming,  he  having  gained   one 


1G62.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  4Ul 

thing  especially  desired  by  liim,  viz.  his  removal  from  St  Andrews, 
that  the  seat  might  be  empty  for  the  Bishop,  who  thought  he 
could  not  have  room  enough  if  Mr  Blair  were  there.  Sharp's 
wife  came  to  St  Andrew's  about  the  10th  of  December  (for  he 
having  prepared  that  seat  for  himself,  took  a  lodging  in  St  An- 
drews before  he  went  to  London),  accompanied  with  about  forty 
horsemen. 

In  the  end  of  November  the  King  was  married  with  Queen 
Catharine  of  Portugal,  being  a  Papist,  by  a  proxy.  He  wrote  a 
letter  to  the  Secret  Council,  desiring  them  to  require  all  ministers 
in  their  public  prayers  to  pray  for  his  Queen  Catharine,  his  mo- 
ther ISIary,  and  his  brother  the  Duke  of  York ;  which  the  Coun- 
cil commanded  to  be  done  by  open  proclamation,  and  thereafter 
sent  letters  to  the  several  Presbyteries  for  that  effect ;  all  which 
ministers  cordially  obeyed. 

When  the  form  and  manner  of  the  Scots  Bishops'  consecration 
was  published  it  was  palpably  seen  to  be  most  superstitious  and 
idolatrous,  with  bowing  and  kneeling  before  the  altar,  and  receiv- 
ing the  communion  kneeling  before  the  altar,  and  thereafter  offer- 
ing their  gifts  upon  the  altar.  But  what  will  not  men  of  corrupt 
principles  do  to  gain  their  corrupt  and  wicked  ends,  being  once 
engaged  and  driven  on  by  the  devil  ? 

In  the  beginning  of  January  1662,  ^Ir  Blair  gave  in  a  supplica- 
tion to  the  Secret  Council  for  taking  off  his  close  restraint,  and 
for  liberty  to  retire  to  some  place  of  the  country  for  his  health ; 
which  by  reason  of  the  want  of  air  and  exercise  was  wholly  pros- 
trate, so  that  he  was  forced  to  seek  liberty  for  physicians  to  repair 
to  him,  who  advised  him  to  give  in  the  said  supplication,  they 
subscribing  a  testimony  of  his  sickness  thrcatning  death  if  he 
should  continue  so  restrained.  His  supplication  was  granted, 
January  2,  and  he  confined  to  the  parish  of  Musselburgh.  So 
about  January  12,  JMr  Blair  retired  and  dwelt  in  a  house  in  Inver- 
esk,  which  was  judged  the  most  wholesome  air  in  that  parish. 
After  he  came  to  the  country  his  health  grew  much  better,  and  he 
took  himself  to  his  book  again,  continuing  his  writing  upon   tlie 

2  C 


402  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1662. 

Provcrbf,  which  was  thus  occasioned  : — One  of  the  General  As- 
semblies, before  the  controverted  Assemblies,  appointed  a  commit- 
tee for  dividing  the  whole  bible  among  the  godly  learned  ministers 
of  Scotland,  that  they  might  write  annotations  thereon,  as  Messrs 
Dickson  and  Hutchison  had  done  on  Matthew,  Psalms,  the  smaller 
Prophets,  &c.  That  committee  assigned  the  Proverbs  and  Eccle- 
siastes  for  Mr  Blair's  part  of  the  bible.  Mr  Blair,  not  being  a 
member  of  that  Assembly,  when  it  was  made  known  to  him  by  IMr 
Dickson  (who  was  the  first  contriver  and  great  promoter  of  that 
good  work)  what  was  his  part  assigned  to  him  by  the  General 
Assembly,  was  not  well  pleased  that  they  had  appointed  him  to 
write  on  these  books ;  for  though  they  judged  that  portion  of 
Scripture  suitable  to  his  wise,  prudent,  moderate,  and  calm  spirit, 
yet  he  himself  was  more  desirous  of  some  other  portion  of  Scrip- 
ture, wherein  there  was  more  of  the  everlasting  gospel,  weU 
ordered  and  everlasting  covenant,  and  of  the  mysteries  of  the  new 
covenant,  such  as  the  Prophesies  of  Isaiah,  or  some  of  the  gospels 
or  ejiistles  ;  for  Mr  Blair  w^as  then  judged  to  be  in  his  own  ele- 
ment when  he  Avas  preaching,  speaking,  or  writing  on  the  myste- 
ries of  the  New  Covenant.  That  subject  was  most  suitable  to  his 
holy,  heavenly,  spiritual,  and  gospel  spirit ;  so  that,  for  some  space 
of  time,  not  being  pleased  with  the  portion  assigned  to  him,  he 
took  no  more  notice  of  it  than  of  any  other  part  of  Scripture,  until 
Mr  Dickson,  after  he  had  often  written  to  him,  did,  in  the  name 
of  the  General  Assembly,  in  a  manner  command  him  to  accept  of 
the  portion  assigned  to  him,  which  moved  Mr  Blair  to  resolve  to 
lecture  upon  the  book  of  the  Proverbs,  with  a  resolution  to  print 
the  sum  of  these  lectures ;  but  he  had  only  come  the  length  of  the 
10th  chapter  in  his  lecturing  upon  the  Proverbs,  w^lien  Sharp  pro- 
cured and  obtained  him  to  be  removed  out  of  St  Andrews  nt  supra. 
Now  !Mr  Blair  having  entered  upon  that  good  work,  (though  he 
delighted  more,  and  thought  he  was  rather  called  to  enlarge  the 
kingdom  of  Christ  by  preaching  the  everlasting  and  new  Cove- 
nant, by  praying  and  conference  with  tempted,  tossed,  and  ex- 
perienced Christians,  than  by  writing  and  publishing  of  books  to 


1G62.]  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  40S 

the  world),  set  himself  to  continue  it  now  in  his  confinement,  being 
hindered  from  public  preaching  and  praying.* 

In  the  beginning  of  this  year,  the  King  wrote  to  the  Secret 
Council,  commanding  them  by  open  proclamation  to  inhibit  all 
Kirk  judicatories,  until  they  should  be  authorised  and  ordered  by 
the  Bishops,  &c.  Some  of  the  Council  who  were  most  moderate, 
or  any  ways  friends  to  religion,  thought  it  hard  to  forbid  all  Kirk 
judicatories  and  cast  all  loose,  but  nothing  could  be  heard  but  the 
King's  commands  must  be  obeyed.  So,  January  9,  the  proclama- 
tion ^,vas  to  this  purpose  :  The  government  now  being  changed  to 
the  ancient  lawful  government  by  Archbishops,  Bishops,  &c.,  the 
Kirk  judicatories  had  no  power  or  authority,  and,  therefore,  they 
were  inhibit  to  meet  either  in  Synods,  Presbyteries  or  Sessions, 
until  they  should  be  authorised  and  ordered  by  the  bishops,  which 
would  be  speedily,  some  of  them  being  already  consecrated,  Avho 
were  to  repair  to  this  kingdom  shortly,  whom  the  King  com- 
manded to  be  received  with  all  tokens  and  testimonies  of  re- 
spect and  honour,  and  discharging  all  to  speak  against  them,  or 
their  place,  authority,  or  calling,  or  to  preach,  write,  or  2irint  any 
thing  against  them.  Now  the  whole  hedge  is  pulled  down,  Ps. 
Lxxx.  12-16. 

Notwithstanding  of  the  prohibition  in  the  end  of  the  proclama- 
tion, there  were  very  many  satires  made  against  the  bishops,  espe- 
cially against  Sharp  and  Leighton,  and  indeed  it  was  very  pro- 
blematic, whether  the  one  was  more  treacherous  and  Judas-like,  or 
the  other  more  hypocritical  and  dissembling. 

About  the  beginning  of  April,  many  ministers  that  were  Episco- 
pal, and  those  that  were  to  be  consecrated  bishops  by  the  four  con- 
secrated at  London,  did  repair  to  Edinburgh  to  cougi'atulate  the 
bishops'  arrival  thither  ;  and  so,  upon  the  8th  of  April,  the  bishops 
came  to  Edinburgh.     The  magistrates  of  Edinburgh  commanded 

*  Blair  completed  that  work,  hut  it  has  never  been  piihlished.  "  His  son,"  [Mr 
David  Blair],  says  Wodrow,  "  likewise  told  nic  that  he  had  his  father's  commentaiy 
on  the  Proverbs  revised  and  corrected  for  the  press.  But  it  was  not  printed,  liecause 
of  one  jjassage  in  it  v.hich  did  not  satisfy  some  who  had  it  among  their  hands." — Note 
of  Wodroii\  added  to  the  continuation  of  Blair's  life  Inj  his  son,  Mr  James  Blair. 

2c2 


401  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G62. 

many  of  the  toAvns  people  to  go  out  and  meet  them.  Also  many 
gentlemen  and  others  went  out,  so  that  they  came  in  with  a  great 
train,  and  were  feasted  in  the  Abbey  by  the  Commissioner's  lady, 
(Crawford  and  the  Commissioner  being  yet  detained  at  Court), 
with  sundry  noblemen.  Leighton  had  come  to  Newbottle  some 
days  before  privately,  w^ho  coming  to  Edinburgh,  desired  that  the 
chapel  royal  might  be  repaired,  that  therein  he  might  officiate  as 
dean  of  the  chapel ;  for  now,  he  being  unmasked,  declared  himself  to 
be  for  the  English  liturgy,  and  all  the  English  Popish  ceremonies  ; 
yea  it  was  suspected  that  he  was  Popish  and  Jesuited.  Certain  it 
was,  that  he  had  too  great  a  latitude  of  charity  towards  the  Pa- 
pists, affirming  that  there  w^ere  more  holy  men  in  the  cloisters  of 
Italy  and  France,  praying  against  the  Covenant,  than  there  were 
in  Britain  praying  for  it.  * 

On  the  Sabbath  after  the  bishops'  coming  to  Edinburgh,  ]\Ir 
Murdoch  Mackenzie  and  Leighton  preached  in  Mr  Robert  Lawrie's 
kirk,  he  having  declared  himself  to  be  Episcopal.  All  the  rest  of 
the  town  ministers,  continuing  constant  and  honest,  kept  their 
own  kirks  and  preached  honestly  and  freely.  Mr  Mackenzie  was 
to  be  one  of  the  fourteen  bishops. 

The  4tli  of  May  being  the  Lord's  day,  was  appointed  for  the 
consecration  of  the  rest  of  the  bishops.  Thereafter,  immediately, 
the  Parliament  was  to  sit  down,  and  all  the  bishops  to  sit  in  it. 
After  the  rising  of  the  Parliament,  they  were  to  convocate  their 

*  "  By  many"  says  Wodrow,  "  he  was  judged  void  of  any  doctrinal  principles ;  and 
his  close  correspondence  with  some  of  his  relations  at  Douay,  in  Po])ish  orders,  made 
him  suspected,  as  very  much  indifferent  to  all  persuasions  which  bear  the  name  of 
Ciiristian."  Leighton's  soundness  in  the  faith  can  hardly  be  questioned  by  those  who 
are  acquainted  witl;  his  Prekctiones  Theoloyicce,  and  his  commentaiy  on  Peter.  The 
real  truth  seems  to  have  been,  that  he  became  enamoured  with  the  system  of  the 
Jansenists,  during  his  sojourn  on  the  continent ;  and,  indeed,  in  his  writings,  as  in  his 
life,  there  was  a  very  decided  leaning  to  the  asceticism  of  the  Jansenist  school.  We 
might  refer,  as  a  striking  evidence  of  this,  to  his  "  Rules  and  Instructions  for  a  Holy 
Life,"  the  very  phraseology  of  which  is  borrowed  from  the  Romish  devotees.  Burnet  in- 
lorms  us,  that,  "  Leighton  sometimes  went  over  to  Flanders,  to  see  what  he  could  find 
in  the  several  orders  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  There  he  found  som.c  of  Jansenius's  fol- 
lowers, who  seemed  to  be  men  of  extraordinaiy  tempers,  and  studied  to  bring  things, 
if  possil)le,  to  the  purity  and  simplicity  of  the  primitive  ages,  on  all  ichich,  his  thoughts 
were  muchjixed" 


l(iG2.]  LIFE  OF  EGBERT  BLAIK.  405 

Synods  or  rather  Diocesan  Coui'ts,  and  settle  the  government  in 
another  way  than  before. 

April  15,  the  Prelate  Sharp  came  to  Leslie.  The  Earl  of 
Rothes  wrote  to  many  gentlemen  and  towns  in  Fife,  to  meet  hira 
at  sundry  places,  to  convey  the  Prelate  to  St  Andrews,  so  that  he 
entered  St  Andrews  with  a  great  train,  though  sundry  gentlemen 
and  burgesses  that  were  written  to  came  not.  April  18,  he  sent  a 
commission  to  Mr  James  Wood  and  Mr  Andrew  Honeyman,  dis- 
charging them  to  pray  in  public,  as  they  used  to  do,  for  Mr  Blair; 
being  especially  offended  that  they  prayed  for  his  return  to  that 
place,  and  commanding  them  to  pray  for  the  government  now  esta- 
blished. ]Mr  Wood  replied,  that  he  had  the  word  of  God  for  his  di- 
rectory in  praying  and  preaching,  and  would  take  orders  neither 
from  him  nor  any  man  in  these  things  ;  but  Mr  Andrew  Honeyman 
said  that  he  would  study  to  discharge  his  duty  in  the  most  iu- 
oifensive  way. 

The  Sabbath  following,  the  Prelate  preached  before  noon,  on  1 
Cor.  ii.  2.  He  began  with  a  large  vindication  of  himself;  that  he 
had  not  advised  the  King  to  the  changing  of  the  government,  that 
he  had  not  sought  that  place  to  himself,  that  he  was  ever  in  his 
judgment  for  Episcojiacy  and  the  ceremonies,  &c.  Mr  Andi-ew 
Honeyman  preached  in  the  afternoon,  like  himself,  very  cunning- 
ly and  fox-like,  and  yet  let  out  flirts  against  honest  men,  but  did 
not  pray  for  Mr  Blair;  and  as  for  the  government,  he  prayed, 
"  Lord,  sanctify  this  present  dispensation  of  providence  ;"  as  if  the 
pest  had  come  to  St  Andrews ;  and,  indeed,  it  was  the  worst  pest 
that  had  come  there  these  hundred  years. 

That  Sabbath  Mr  Wood  was  not  in  St  Andrews.  Before  the 
next  Sabbath,  some  that  had  spoken  with  the  Prelate  came  to  ISIr 
Wood,  earnestly  deahng  with  him,  not  to  preach  in  the  Old  Col- 
lege Kirk,  but  to  content  himself  to  abide  Principal  of  that  Col- 
lege, and  not  to  offend  the  Bishop  by  preaching  freely  and  honestly. 
]Mr  Wood  replied,  that  Avlien  he  entered  to  the  New  College,  he 
was  lawfully  called  to  the  ministry  in  that  city  as  well  as  any  of 
the  town  ministers,  and,  therefore,  as  long  as  he  had  liberty  and 


40G  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [16G2. 

Avas  not  violently  hindered,  he  -svovdd  preach  in  that  kirk,  and  in 
the  Town  Kirk  also,  and  speak  -what  he  judged  to  be  the  tiiith  of 
God,  according  to  his  commission  from  Jesus  Christ.  And  so  the 
next  Sabbath,  April  27,  ]Mr  Wood  preached  before  noon  in  the 
Old  College  Kirk,  and  INIr  Andrew  Honeyman  in  the  Town  Kirk, 
but  Ml'  Iloneyman  quit  lecturing.  In  the  afternoon,  ISIr  Wood 
preached  in  the  Town  Kirk,  and  both  prayed  for  ]Mr  Blair  and 
against  Episcopal  government.  That  Sabbath  the  Prelate  came 
not  to  the  kirk.  It  was  reported  that  he  was  taking  physic.  Sundry 
rotten-hearted  and  Episcopal  ministers  came  from  the  north  to  St 
Andrews  to  visit  the  Prelate;  some  also  in  Fife  came;  so  in  this 
trying  time  the  secrets  of  men's  hearts  were  disclosed. 

April  30,  the  Prelate  returned  again  to  Edinburgh.  lie  rode 
out  of  St  Andrews  with  fifty  horses.  O  the  vain  pomp  and  god- 
less glory  of  proud  Prelates !  The  Earl  of  Weems  met  him  Avith 
a  great  train,  and  accompanied  and  conveyed  him  to  Burntisland. 
Such  fools  were  our  temj)orising,  rotten-hearted  nobles,  flattering 
and  fawning  upon  them  that  were  to  tread  on  their  necks. 

The  consecration  of  the  bishops  was  put  off  to  JNIay  6,  the  Com- 
missioner (who  was  sine  qua  non,  in  all  these  execrable  consecra- 
tions) not  being  yet  returned  from  Court,  who,  upon  JMay  4,  being 
the  Lord's  day,  entered  Edinburgh  w  ith  many  cannon  shot ;  and 
seeing  he  stood  not  to  profane  the  Sabbath  by  travelling,  neither 
did  they,  by  pastime  and  finding  their  o\vn  pleasure.  But  these 
are  but  peccadillos  to  such  men,  prelates  and  profane  courtiers,  that 
have  sold  themselves  to  do  wickedly  ;  and,  indeed,  that  man  Mid- 
dleton  was  raised  up  of  God  to  work  wickedness,  and  frame  mis- 
chief by  a  law. 

The  consecration  of  the  Prelates  was  again  put  off  to  May  7;  and 
then  there  were  six  consecrated : — Messrs  Patrick  Forbes,*  pre- 
late of  Caithness ;  John  Paterson,  of  Boss  ;  Murdoch  Mackenzie,  t 

*  Mr  Patrick  Forbes  was  son  of  the  famovis  Mr  John  Forbes,  minister  of  Alford,  in 
Abcrilcenshirc,  who  had  been  banished  on  account  of  the  Assembly  hehl  at  Aberdeen 
in  July  1G05.  He  possessed  the  see  of  Caithness  until  his  death,  which  took  place  in 
1680.— A'ciV/f's  Scottish  Bishops,  218. 

t  Prcviouno  his  elevation  to  thcBishopricf.fMurray,Mackenzie\vasmini.<fer  of  Elgin. 


1662.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  407 

of  jMurray  ;  David  Stracban,  of  Brechin ;  George  Halliburton,  of 
Dunkcld;  and  Kobert  Wallace,  of  the  Isles.*  The  consecrators 
were  the  two  Archprelates  and  the  Prelate  of  Galloway,  Hamilton. 
The  first  two  were  in  their  pontificals,  with  their  lawn  sleeves, 
rochet,  surplice  and  tippet.  One  Dr  Gordon  preached  at  the  con- 
secration. His  sermon  was  neither  liked  by  the  Prelates  nor  the 
nobles  that  countenanced  that  clagged  devotion.  They  made  use 
of  the  Book  of  Ordination  and  Service  Book,  and  when  they  laid 
on  their  hands,  &c.,  they  said,  "Eeceive  ye  the  Holy  Ghost." 
Some  Episcopal  ministers  from  Fife  countenanced  that  cursed  con- 
secration. But  Prelate  Leighton  was  not  present.  He  went  to 
Dunblane,  his  diocese,  and  convened  several  ministers,  and  pro- 
posed some  demands  to  them,  all  which  they  refused.  But  he 
carrying  like  a  pawky  prelate,  refiised  the  title  of  lord,  or  to  take 
place  of  gentlemen ;  neither  did  he  sit  down  in  Parliament,  May 
8,  (at  the  opening  of  which  session  of  Parliament  Mr  George  Hal- 
liburton, Prelate  of  Dunkeld,  preached)  as  all  the  rest  of  the  Pre- 
lates did.f 

About  this  time,  all  the  English  soldiers  that  were  still  kept  in 
the  citadeL.  (for  they  were  retained  over  the  heads  of  honest  men 
even  until  this  time,  until  the  Prelates  were  seated  in  their  saddle) 
were  convened,  and  shipped  in  Leith  Roads,  with  Morgan  theu' 
commander,  and  sent  for  the  aid  of  Portugal  against  the  King  of 
Spain. 

About  that  same  time,  news  came  of  the  Queen's  safe  arrival  to 
England  from  Portugal.  Upon  the  occasion  of  these  good  news, 
the  Commissioner  and  Chancellor  sent  for  the  Provost  of  Edin- 
burgh, and  desired  tliat  there  might  be  some  solemnity  to  testify 
their  joy,  by  preaching  in  the  Great  Kirk  in  the  forenoon,  and  bon- 

*  Mr  Robert  Wallace  was  for  some  time  minister  at  Barnwell,  iu  the  shire  of  Ap-. 
He  died  bishop  of  the  Isles  in  \G15.—IUd.,  310. 

t  "  He"  (Leighton)  "h;ited  all  the  appearances  of  vanity.  He  would  not  have  the 
title  of  lord  given  him  by  his  friends,  and  was  not  easy  when  others  forced  it  on  him. 
In  this,  I  always  thought  him  too  stiff :  it  provoked  the  otlier  bishops,  and  looked 
like  singularity  and  affectation,  and  furnished  those  that  were  prejudiced  against 
him,  with  a  specious  appearance,  to  represent  him  as  a  man  of  odd  notions  and 
practices." — Burnet,  History  of  Jus  own  Times,  i,  205. 


4()S  LITE  OF  llOBEKT  BLAIR.  [1GG2. 

fires  uftcrnoon,  &c.  The  Town-Council  convening,  they  appointed 
Mr  Dou"-las  to  preach.  Upon  the  report  of  the  news,  and  that  Mr 
Doiio-las  was  to  preach,  there  flocked  great  multitudes  to  the  kirk ; 
but  a  little  before  the  ringing  of  the  last  bell,  came  Prelate  Sharp  to 
the  Commissioner,  (who,  with  the  Chancellor  and  other  nobles,  were 
to  be  hearers),  saying,  with  great  fury  and  indignation,  "Who  dare 
appoint  any  man  to  preach  at  this  time?"  The  Commissioner 
replied,  "  Since  ye  will  have  no  preaching,  there  shall  be  none  ; 
but  if  my  master  may  appoint  any  to  preach,  I  may  do  it."  So 
Mr  Douglas  was  by  the  Commissioner  discharged  to  preach,  even 
^\hen  he  was  going  to  the  kirk ;  and  so  the  multitude  of  all  ranks 
of  people  convened  were  disappointed.  Another  instance  of  that 
Sharp's  prelatic  presumption  was,  that  immediately  after  he  came 
from  St  Andrews  to  Edinburgh,  he  procured  an  order  from  the 
Commissioner,  discharging  Mr  James  Wood  to  preach  any  longer 
in  the  Old  College  Kirk.  His  wicked  design  in  that  was  palpable, 
for  Mr  Wood  being  discharged  preaching  there,  and  the  places  in 
the  town  filled,  Mr  Wood  was  sheeled  out  of  the  ministry  at  St 
Andrews. 

A  little  before  this  time,  some  ministers  in  the  west,  viz.,  Messrs 
William  Adair,  Alexander  Nisbet,  Matthew  Mowat,  John  Car- 
stairs,  James  Nasmith,  Alexander  Blair,  John  Nevay,  James 
Eovvat,  and  David  Veitch,*  were  sent  for  by  the  Chancellor. 
After  they  had  spoken  with  the  Chancellor,  he  told  them  that  the 
Parliament  had  some  things  to  lay  to  their  charge,  and  desired 
them  to  keep  their  chambers  until  they  were  called  for.     In  the 

*  Mr  Willi.im  Adair  was  minister  of  Ayr.  In  Wodrow's  List  of  the  Nonconform- 
ing Ministers  he  is  marked  as  confined  to  his  parish.  He  afterwards  became  indulged 
minister  at  Ayr ;  hut,  some  time  before  his  death,  he  had  been  proliibited  from  preach- 
ing for  not  taking  the  test.  He  died  February  11,  IGSi.—M' One's  Memoirs  of  Veitch, 
Sf'c,  11.  Mr  Alexander  Nisbet  was  minister  of  Irvine.  (Wodroio's  Hisiori/,  i.  327.) 
jSIr  ^latthew  Mowat  was  minister  of  Ivilmarnock.  He  was  a  man  of  emiuent  piety. 
'•  I  am  greatly  in  love,"  says  Rutherford,  in  one  of  his  letters,  "  with  Mr  ]\Iatthew 
Mowat,  for  I  see  him  really  stamped  with  the  image  of  God."  Mr  Alexander  Blair 
was  minister  of  Galston ;  and  Mr  James  Rowat  of  Kilmarnock.  Mr  David  Veitch 
was  minister  of  Govan.  He  died  on  the  1st  of  July  1658,  after  labouring  about 
four  or  five  years  in  that  parish,  l)eing  then  about  the  twenty-fifth  year  of  his  age. 
lor  some  panicuhirs  respecting  him,  see  M'Crie's  Memoirs  of  Veitch,  ^-c,  14-18. 


1CG2.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  409 

eucl  of  May  they  were  brought  before  the  Lords  of  the  Articles, 
who  tendered  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  to  them.  The  ministers  said 
they  were  willing  to  take  that  oath,  providing  they  would  permit 
them  to  give  their  sense  of  it ;  and  so  they  gave  in  to  the  Lords 
of  the  Articles,  under  their  hands,  an  orthodox  sense  of  that  oath, 
which  Primate  Usher  put  upon  it,  and  which  the  last  Synod  of 
Fife  gave  of  it ;  but  the  Lords  would  not  permit  them  to  give 
any  sense  of  it ;  neither  would  they  receive  any  paper  from  them, 
but  urged  them  to  take  the  oath  in  terininis,  as  tendered  to  them. 
Then  the  ministers  desired  the  Lords  to  give  their  sense  of  it, 
which  likewise  they  refused  ;  whereupon  Prelate  Leighton  (who 
before  that  time  had  neither  been  in  Parliament  nor  with  the 
Lords  of  the  Articles)  spoke  in  favour  of  the  ministers,  saying, 
"  These  men  have  been  misrepresented  to  be  of  unsound  principles ; 
but  now  I  find  them,  upon  a  sound  principle,  acknowledging  the 
King's  lawful  supremacy;  and  ought  to  be  cherished  and  embraced ; 
for  they  acknowledge  his  Majesty  to  be  supreme  civil  governor, 
&c. ;  and  in  this  sense  the  King  himself  acknowledges  the  oath,  for 
he  must  either  be  supreme,  civH,  or  ecclesiastic  governor ;  but  this 
last  he  is  not ;  ergo,  only  civil  he  must  be."  But  while  he  was 
thus  debating,  the  Commissioner  alleged  he  had  no  place  to  speak 
in  that  judicature,  because  he  had  not  taken  the  oath  himself. 
He  replied  he  had  taken  it,  though  not  as  a  member  of  Parliament ; 
for  he  minded  not  to  come  to  Parliament,  but  when  they  were 
about  Church  affairs  ;  "  neither  had  I  (said  he)  been  here  to-day, 
were  it  not  that  I  understood  you  were  to  be  about  Church  affairs, 
and  that  which  concerns  ministers.  But,  however,  I  am  ready  to 
take  the  oath,  but  in  that  orthodox  sense  given  by  these  honest 
men."  Prelate  Sharp  alleged  that  he  had  been  too  bold  and  rash, 
to  speak  and  debate  in  that  question  before  he  had  asked  liberty. 
But  nothing  could  be  heard  that  was  spoken  in  favours  of  the 
ministers,  and  so  six  of  them  were  commanded  to  be  kept  close 
prisoners  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh.  Some  thought  well  of 
Leighton's  reasoning  in  their  behalf,  others  thought  he  spoke  so 
from  a  Popish  principle ;  for,  in  his  sense,  the  Papists  that  were 


410  LIFE  OF  EGBERT  BLAIK.  [1662. 

members  of  Parliament  took  the  Oath  of  Allegiance ;  yea,  at  this 
lime  all  the  Papists  of  the  kingdom  began  to  gather  hopes  that 
Popery  would  now  again  get  footing  in  Scotland,  which  indeed 
was  very  much  to  be  feared.  But  as  concerning  Leighton,  it  was 
difficult  what  to  judge  of  his  actings  or  sayings,  he  carried  so 
smoothly  among  the  ministers  of  his  diocese.  He  preached  m 
Edinburgh,  June  1,  the  Sabbath  after  the  imprisonment  of  the  six 
ministers,  and  offended  all  the  Prelates  that  were  hearers.  He 
spoke  against  their  ways  and  courses,  and  desired  them  to  consider 
1  Peter,  v.  2,  3. 

In  the  end  of  May,  the  Parliament  of  England  was  adjourned, 
having  laid  on  great  taxes  and  impositions  to  increase  the  King's 
treasures,  fearing  foreign  invasion. 

In  the  latter  end  of  May,  Prelate  Sharp  returned  to  St  Andrews 
for  the  consecration  of  Mr  George  Wishart  and  David  Mitchell, 
and  with  him  Halliburton  and  Mackenzie,  Prelates  of  Dunkeld  and 
jMurray.  June  1,  being  the  Lord's  day,  ISIx  Andrew  Honeyman 
preached  before  noon,  and  highly  offended  the  Prelates,  especially 
Sharp,  first,  because  he  lectured ;  secondly,  because  he  preached 
against  all  the  ceremonies  of  the  Kirk  of  England.  The  truth 
w-as,  Mr  Andrew  Honeyman  all  this  while  was  wrestling  with  his 
conscience ;  for  what  he  did,  in  complying  with  the  Prelates  and 
their  courses,  was  against  his  light,  having  often,  lately  before, 
preached  and  prayed  against  Prelacy,  averring  that  it  was  a  weed 
that  God  never  planted,  and  that  holiness  never  throve  under  the 
shadow  of  it — praying  the  Lord  to  root  it  out,  &c. ;  but  fain 
would  he,  if  it  had  been  possible,  '  have'  pleased  both  parties. 

June  3,  at  the  consecration,  one  Keith,  a  young  man,  preached  to 
the  great  grief  of  all  honest  people  there.  INIr  Honeyman  was  so 
displeased  with  his  sermon,  that,  immediately  after  sermon,  he 
wcjit  out  of  the  kirk,  as  seemed  thereby  to  testify  his  dislike  of 
the  sermon,  and  to  absent  himself  from  the  consecration,  but, 
bemg  called  for  by  the  Archprelate,  came  in  again  before  their 
work  was  finished,  and  again  went  out,  minding  to  absent  him- 
self from  their  feast ;  but  he  being  searched  out,  was  found  and 


1602.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIE.  411 

brought  to  that  cursed  feast.  WIshart  (who  formerly  was  in  Mr 
Honeyman's  place)  was  consecrated  Prelate  of  Edinburgh,  and 
Mitchell  of  Abei'deen.  Now  only  there  lacked  one  for  Argyle, 
who  was  to  be  consecrated  at  Glasgow, 

All  the  Prelates  returned  to  Edinburgh,  the  Parliament  being 
to  sit  June  6.  All  this  w^hile  the  truly  noble  and  honest  Earl  of 
Crawford  stays  at  Court  with  the  King,  which  he  judged  to  be 
his  best  and  safest  course,  knowing  how  matters  w^ere  to  be  carried 
in  this  black  Parliament ;  for  after  that  he,  as  Treasurer,  had 
gained  his  point  in  the  matter  of  the  excise  over  the  Commission- 
er's belly,  he  and  others,  his  enemies,  were  enraged  against  him, 
and  in  spleen  against  him,  especially  devised  this  plot,  that  there 
should  be  an  abjuration  of  the  Covenants  pressed  by  the  Parlia- 
ment, and  likewise,  that  all  that  had  been  active  in  carrying  on 
the  work  of  reformation,  since  the  1638  year,  should  be  fined; 
and  so  his  enemies  did  as  Daniel's — because  they  coidd  find  no 
accusation  against  him  concerning  the  kingdom,  because  of  his 
faithfulness,  sought  occasion  aa'ainst  him  concernino'  the  law  of  his 
God,  Daniel,  vi.  4,  5.  Crawford,  hearing  of  their  plot,  w^ent  to 
the  King,  and  shewed  him  the  inconveniences  both  of  the  one  and 
other,  especially  what  an  absurd  thing  it  was,  to  press  upon  those 
that  had  taken  the  Covenant  an  abjuration  of  it ;  whereupon  the 
King  promised  to  him  that  it  should  not  be  urged.  But  his  ene- 
mies, having  intelligence  of  what  had  passed  betwixt  the  King  and 
him,  assumed  to  themselves  the  Duke  of  York  and  Hyde,  and 
made  a  fresh  assault  upon  the  King,  and  left  him  not  until  they 
got  it  under  his  hand,  that  it  should  be  pressed  upon  all  by  virtue 
of  an  Act  of  Parliament.  This  being  done,  the  Treasurer  begged 
of  the  King  to  have  leave  to  stay  with  his  Majesty  at  Court,  that 
he  might  not  be  pressed  to  go  to  the  Parliament,  foreseeing  how 
matters  were  to  be  carried  there. 

Shortly  after  the  Parliament  convened,  all  means  were  used  by 
Crawfoi'd's  enemies  to  get  liim  from  Court  to  the  Parliament ;  but 
notwithstanding,  not  only  he,  but  Duke  Hamilton,  Lauderdale, 
and  others  abode  at  Com't.     Much  was  spoken  about  that  abjura- 


412  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1662. 

tlon  of  the  Covenants,  many  profane  noblemen  and  others  being 
bent  for  It ;  others  would  have  it  a  Declaration  against  the  Cove- 
nants, -which  in  effect  was  equivalent ;  others  reported  that  the 
Ivinf  had  written  down  to  the  Commissioner,  discharging  any  such 
thing.  But,  in  this  hour  and  power  of  darkness,  the  Prelates  are 
busy  (as  the  devil  in  his  diocese)  to  get  all  things  enacted  in  this 
Pai'liament  for  establishing  of  them,  their  honours  and  revenues, 
and  for  rooting  out  Presbyterial  government  and  honest  men  out 
of  their  places,  unless  they  will  conform  to  them  and  their  sinful 
ways ;  for  this  was  their  course  they  intended  to  take,  to  cause 
the  Parliament  do  all,  and  so  to  persecute  ministers  and  honest 
professors,  which,  alas  !  this  profane  and  prelate-pleasing  Parlia- 
ment was  too  ready  to  do ;  for,  in  the  end  of  May  and  beginning 
of  June,  two  acts  were  concluded  by  the  Lords  of  the  Articles, 
who  did  all.  The  first  was,  that  all  kirks  planted  since  1649, 
should  be  declared  vacant,  unless  they  were  presented  by  the 
patrons,  and  got  collation  from  the  Prelates  before  the  20th  of 
September.  The  pretext  was,  because  the  Parliament  1649  abo- 
lished patronages,  putting  the  power  in  the  hands  of  the  people 
and  Presbytery ;  and  so  they  judged  these  ministers  admitted  by 
Presbyteries,  but  not  presented  by  the  patrons,  to  have  been  ille- 
gally entered ;  therefore  behoved  to  be  presented  by  the  respective 
patrons,  and  receive  collation  from  the  Prelates,  and  so  conform  to 
them.  Also  they  declared  all  kirks  planted  since  1638  year,  whereof 
bishops  were  patrons,  vacant,  unless  they  were  presented  by  the 
Bishops,  and  received  collations  before  the  29th  of  September; 
laying  their  account  either  to  put  out  many  godly,  learned 
ministers  opposite  to  them  and  their  ways,  or  to  force  them 
to  conform  to  them.  Also  it  was  enacted,  that  no  minister  should 
employ  any  for  his  help  at  the  celebration  of  the  Communion, 
but  such  as  were  allowed  by  the  Prelate  of  the  diocese,  fearing 
lest  honest  men's  meeting,  preaching,  and  exhorting  at  Com- 
munions would  hold  on  peoi^le  in  ways  opposite  to  their  wicked 
designs,  and  strengthen  honest  ministers'  hands  to  continue 
stedfast  in  their  good  course;  and  so,  by  all  means  and  ways, 


16G2.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  413 

they  strove  to  fix  their  own  stake  sure,  that  it  should  never  be 
moved,  &c. 

About  the  middle  of  June  the  Parliament  sent  up  to  the  King 
my  Lord  Tarbet.  That  which  was  given  out  to  be  his  commis- 
sion was  this  : — The  Parliament  intending  to  fine  a  very  great 
number  of  persons,  with  him  sent  up  a  list  of  them  to  the  King,  to 
know  his  pleasure  in  the  business.  At  the  same  time,  the  Com- 
missioner commanded  some  of  the  Lifeguard  to  bring  in  unto 
Edinburgh  some  ministers  in  Galloway,  because  they  had  not 
kept  the  29th  of  May,  and  did  keep  their  Presbyterial  meetings 
since  they  were  discharged.  The  report  of  this  coming  to  the 
ministers  they  retired  from  their  houses  and  lurked,  so  they  were 
not  found.  Of  the  six  ministers  prisoners  in  the  Tolbooth,  one  of 
them,  viz.,  ]\Ir  John  Carstairs  falling  sick,  upon  the  earnest  sup- 
plication of  his  friends  and  Dr  Cunningham's  attestation,  he  got 
liberty  to  come  out  to  his  chamber  in  the  town.  The  other  five, 
viz.,  Messrs  James  Nasmith,  Matthew  Mowat,  Alexander  Blair, 
James  Rowat,  and  David  Veitch,  being  called  for  by  the  Lords  of 
the  Articles,  and  required  to  take  the  oath  in  terminis,  they  still 
declared  their  willingness  to  take  it,  with  the  declaration  and  ex- 
planation, which  they  gave  in,  subscribed,  viz. : — "  We,  undei'sub- 
scribers,  being  commanded  on  Monday  last  by  the  Lord  Commis- 
sioner, his  Grace,  and  the  Honourable  Lords  of  the  Articles,  to 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  do,  from  the  sense  we  have  of  our 
duty,  which  lieth  on  all  his  IMajesty's  subjects,  and  more  eminently 
and  exemplai'ly  on  the  ministers  of  the  gospel,  in  all  ingenuity  and 
plainness,  upon  every  occasion  to  declare  their  loyalty  to  his 
IMajesty,  our  dread  Sovereign,  and,  in  obedience  to  their  Lord- 
ships' commands,  heartily  and  cheerfully  acknowledge  that  his 
Majesty  is  the  only  lawful  supreme  governor  under  God  within 
this  kingdom,  and  that  his  sovereignty  reaches  all  persons  and 
all  causes,  as  well  ecclesiastic  as  civil,  having  them  both  for  its 
object,  albeit  it  be  in  its  own  nature  only  civil  and  extrinsic  as  to 
causes  ecclesiastic.  All  which  we  are  most  willing,  in  testimony  of 
our  loyalty,  to  declare  upon  our  most  solemn  oath  ;  and,  accordingly, 


414  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1662. 

upon  that  same  oath,  in  the  foresaid  sense  do  declare,  that  in  testi- 
mony of  our  faithful  ubedienceunto  our  most  gracious  and  undoubted 
Sovereign,  Charles,  King  of  Great  Britain,  &c.,  Defender  of  the 
Faith,  Avc  do  acknowledge  his  Majesty,  our  said  sovereign,  to 
be  only  supreme  governor  in  this  kingdom,  over  all  persons,  and 
in  all  causes,  and  that  no  foreign  prince,  power,  state,  or  person, 
civil  or  ecclesiastic,  has  any  jurisdiction,  power,  or  superiority  over 
the  same  ;  and  therefore  we  do  utterly  renounce  and  forsake  all 
foreign  judicatories,  powers  and  authorities,  and  shall  with  our 
utmost  power  defend,  assist,  and  maintain  his  IMajesty's  jurisdic- 
tion foresaid,  and  never  decline  this  his  Majesty's  power  and  juris- 
diction, as  we  shall  answer  to  God.  Subscribed  at  Edinburgh, 
May  28,  1662." 

They  still  refusing  to  take  the  oath  without  this  declaration  and 
explanation  formerly  given  in  and  subscribed  by  them,  the  Lords 
of  the  Articles  passed  a  sudden  sentence  against  them,  that  they 
should  be  banished  the  King's  dominions,  within  a  short  time, 
which  Avas  referred  to  the  Commissioner's  pleasure.  The  ministers 
being  surprised  with  this  sudden  severe  sentence,  some  of  them, 
viz.,  Messrs  Nasmith  and  Blair,  did  plead  for  mitigation  of  it, 
they  being  free  of  the  Remonstrance,  Machline  Moor  business,  &c., 
only  being  required  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  telling  them  in 
what  sense  they  took  it,  which,  as  they  imdcrstood,  was  the  sense 
wherein  the  Parliament  had  taken  it.  They  yet  required  fourteen 
days'  time  to  deliberate  anent  the  oath ;  and  so  they  were  all  again 
commanded  to  close  prison,  and  to  June  24,  given  them  to  advise 
with  tlie  oath.  AVlicn  this  time  was  expired  all  of  them  refused 
to  take  the  oath,  otherwise  than  they  had  oifered  before,  which 
made  appear  that  their  desiring  some  space  of  time  was  only  done 
of  purpose  to  drift  time,  that  in  the  meantime  the  fever  and  heat 
of  spirit  of  the  Lords  might  be  allayed,  the  King  possibly  might 
be  advertised,  &c.,  or,  if  not,  they  might  have  space  to  prepare 
themselves  for  banishment.  But  while  they  are  thus  busied  about 
these  ministers'  banishment,  or  what  to  do  with  them,  (for  it  was 
thought  that  they  repented  that  sudden  sentence,  seeing  none  of 


1662.]  LIFE  OF  ROBEKT  BLAIR.  415 

them  had  yielded  in  the  least)  another  civil  business  fell  out,  which 
they  judged  of  greater  importance,  anent  an  intercepted  letter  of 
my  Lord  Lorn  to  DufFus,  wherein  Lorn  reflected  upon  the  Par- 
liament ;  which  occasioned  the  five  ministers  imprisoned  to  be  set 
at  liberty ;  only  they  were  desired  to  stay  in  the  town  until  they 
were  called  for.  Mr  Carstairs  got  liberty  to  live  at  Dalkeith  for 
his  health ;  others  of  them  got  liberty  to  retire  to  the  country  or 
their  own  houses  until  they  were  called  for.  Thereafter  the  Par- 
liament adjourned  for  fourteen  days,  they  having  laid  on  five 
months'  cess,  to  be  paid  within  the  space  of  some  few  days,  &c. 

The  Archprelate  came  to  St  Andrews,  June  30,  and  preached 
the  Sabbath  following,  with  prelatical  pride  and  sinful  passion  rail- 
ing most  bitterly  against  Mr  Wood  for  his  honest  preaching  in  that 
place.  At  this  time  he  tendered  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  mas- 
ters of  the  university.  All  of  them  took  it  except  Mr  William 
Campbell,  a  regent  in  the  Old  College.  The  Prelate  returned  to 
Edinburgh  against  the  diet  of  the  down-sitting  of  the  Parliament. 

About  this  time  Mr  David  Flesher  was  consecrated  bishop  of 
Argyle,  by  the  Archprelate  Fairfowl,  in  Glasgow.  The  consecration 
sermon  was  on  our  Lord's  words  to  Peter,  "Feed  my  sheep;" 
which  occasioned  a  drolling  gentleman,  Belltrees,  at  the  consecra- 
tion feast  to  break  a  jest  upon  the  j)i*eacher  for  choosing  an  imper- 
tinent text;  "  for,"  said  he,  " the  Jfeshe^'  was  not  to  feed  but  to  kill 
the  sheep,  Avhen  they  come  into  his  hands."  So  now  the  number  of 
the  fourteen  Prelates  is  made  up,  and  their  work  now  is  to  prick 
up  this  prelate-pleasing  Parliament,  to  make  acts  for  obedience  to 
them  and  their  wicked  devices  and  courses.  Therefore  because 
they  feared  that  many  of  their  dioceses  would  not  come  to  their 
Diocesan  Synods,  they  put  the  Parliament  on  to  make  an  act  that 
whosoever  should  not  come  to  the  Bishops'  Synods  which  were  to 
be  convocated  shortly,  they  should,  for  the  first  time,  be  suspended 
from  their  office  and  benefice,  and  if  they  amended  not  thereafter, 
they  should  be  deposed ;  also  that  no  young  men,  chaplains,  &c., 
should  preach  publicly  but  those  that  were  allowed  by  their  Ordi- 
nary, &c. ;  that  none  should  teach  a  public  school  but  those  that 


416  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1()G2. 

were  so  allowed ;  that  none  should  preach,  pray  or  speak  against 
the  o-ovcrnment.  These  acts  were  published  and  printed.  Others 
were  spoken  of  among  the  Lords  of  the  Articles,  viz.,  that  ministers 
at  the  giving  of  the  communion  should  only  employ  their  neighbour- 
in  o-  ministers,  one  or  at  most  two,  and  if  any  other  were  employed 
they  shoidd  be  allowed  by  their  Ordinary,  &c.  This  rescinding 
Parliament  did  also  rescind  the  Act  of  Parliament  1592,  allowing 
Kirk  Sessions,  Presbyteries,  Synods  and  General  Assemblies ; 
which  made  it  manifest  that  the  new  Prelates  determined  never  to 
permit  these  Kirk  judicatures  again,  condemning  the  former  Pre- 
lates as  simple,  silly  fools,  that  tolerated  these ;  but  they  resolved, 
Pharaoh-like,  to  deal  more  wisely  with  us,  Exod.  i.  10. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  July  three  of  the  ministers  of  Edin- 
burgh, viz.,  Messrs  James  Hamilton,  John  Smith,  and  George 
Hutchison,  being  convened  before  the  Town  Council,  were  com- 
manded to  go  to  their  Ordinary,  the  Bishop,  and  obey  his  com- 
mands ;  but  apprehending  what  would  be  their  answer,  gave  them 
eight  days  to  advise  upon  an  answer.  The  ministers  departed, 
and,  in  the  meantime,  in  their  sermons,  took  leave  of  their  people. 
They  being  again  called  by  the  Town  Council,  and  refusing  to 
obey  what  was  enjoined  them,  were  referred  to  the  Parliament- 
All  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh,  except  Mr  Robert  Laurie,  were 
unanimously  resolved  not  to  conform.  Mr  Douglas  before  this 
time  was  put  from  the  Great  Kirk,  and  ordained  to  preach  in  the 
Greyfi-iars.     Mr  Trail  lurked,  &c. 

My  Lord  Tarbet  now  was  expected,  the  Parliament  doing  little, 
cither  in  the  matter  of  fining  or  Lorn's  business,  (who  appearing 
before  the  Parliament,  and  owning  his  letter  to  Duffus,  and  sub- 
scribing it  in  face  of  Parliament,  was  committed  prisoner  in  the 
Castle  of  Edinburgh),  or  anent  the  ministers  waiting  to  hear  what 
was  the  King's  pleasure  in  all  these  affairs.  August  5,  my  Lord 
Tarbet  came  to  Edinburgh.  August  7,  the  Parliament  sat  down 
again.  The  three  ministers  of  Edinburgh  are  silenced  and  dis- 
charged preaching  in  Edinburgh ;  but  the  time  of  their  removing 
from  Edinburgh,  or  their  confinement  was  referred  to  the  commis- 


16G2.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  417 

sioner.  Tlie  King's  Advocate  is  commanded  to  prepare  a  libel 
against  my  Lord  Lorn.  Also  somewhat  was  spoken  anent  the 
appointing  of  a  Committee  for  drawing  up  of  an  act  of  indem- 
nity. 

It  was  reported  that  the  King  had  absolutely  referred  the  Lord 
Lorn  to  the  Parliament,  and  that  he  had  taken  many  out  of  the 
roll  of  them  that  were  to  be  fined,  and  restricted  the  Parliament  as 
to  others ;  and  others  he  referred  to  them  to  be  dealt  with  a°s  they 
thought  fit. 

All  this  while  the  Treasurer  abides  at  Court,  notwithstanding  of 
his  enemies'  plots  and  designs  to  have  him  down,  that  they  might 
break  him.  The  Commissioner  likewise  had  evil  against  Lauder- 
dale, and  spared  not  to  vent  his  spleen  against  him  in  particular, 
saying  that  he  was  glad  that  Lauderdale  appeared  now  in  his  ov/n 
colours,  when  he  became  bail  for  a  traitor — he  having  become  bail 
for  Lorn's  appearance  before  the  Parliament ;  so  that  he  designed 
not  only  to  ruin  Crawford,  but  Lauderdale,  together  with  Argyle's 
family.  The  Lords  of  the  Articles  several  times  spoke  of  bringing 
Mr  Blair  (who  all  this  while  by-past  lived  at  Liveresk,  in  this  time 
of  much  outward  trouble,  and  saddest  overturnings  and  revolutions, 
enjoying  much  sweet  inward  peace,  and  often  fer^'ently  praying  for 
the  King)  upon  the  stage  again  ;  but  the  Lord  ever  stirred  up  some 
to  speak  for  him,  and  sometimes  they  were  so  busied  about  others, 
that  they  still  delayed  to  do  any  thing  in  reference  to  Mr  Blair. 

About  the  beginning  of  August,  the  Queen-mother  came  again 
to  England  with  a  natural  son  *  of  our  King's,  who  was  to  be  mar- 
ried to  the  Countess  of  Buccleuch, — so  that  now  there  vrcre  two 
Popish  Queens  at  Court,  '  and'  many  Papists  '  were'  flocking  into 
Eno'land  out  of  France  and  Portugal.  All  this  Avas  matter  of  mourn- 
ing  to  the  people  of  God  in  both  kingdoms. 

In  the  latter  end  of  July  Mr  Crofton,t  imprisoned  in  the  Tower 

*  James,  Duke  of  Monmouth,  whose  mother  was  Ladj'  WaUers.  lie  was  horn  ahout 
ten  years  previous  to  the  Restoi'ation. 

t  Zachary  Crofton  was  horn  at  Duhlin,  where  he  received  the  principal  part  of  his 
education.  He  came  to  England  duriiig  the  civil  wars,  and  soon  after  obtained  the 
living  of  Wrcnsbui-y  in  Cheshire.     He  was  afterwards  presented  with  the  living  of  St 

2d 


418  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [16G2. 

for  his  free  preaching  anil  printing  for  the  Covenant,  was  set  at 
liberty  again. 

All  this  while  the  honest  ministers  and  people  in  Ireland  suffer 
hard  things,  all  the  honest  ministers  (except  some  few  that  Dr 
Colville  kept  in)  being  deposed,*  and  base  curates,  that  could  nei- 
ther say  nor  sing,  put  in  their  places ;  and  the  good  people  that 
refused  to  hear  them  read  service  were  fined  by  the  Prelates'  offi- 
cials. *  Few  ministers  conformed.  The  outed  ministers  still  lurked 
in  the  country,  being  well  beloved  by  the  people. 

August  11,  the  Archprelate  came  to  St  Andrews,  and,  before 
he  returned  to  Edinburgh,  lie  filled  honest  Mr  Alexander  Mon- 
criefTs  place,  at  Scoonie,  by  intruding  j\Ir  John  Eamsay,  a  minister 
in  Angus,  upon  that  parish,  none  of  the  heritors  countenancing 
the  intrusion,  save  Durie,  the  avowed  enemy  of  ISIr  MoncriefF. 
Also  he  planted  Mr  Alexander  Stewart  in  the  Kirk  of  Crail. 
August  16,  the  Prelate  returned  to  Edinburgh  again.  While  the 
Prelate  was  at  St  Andrews,  Mr  Wood  was  in  Edinburgh,  being 
written  for  to  come  over  and  speak  with  the  Commissioner,  who, 
at  their  first  meeting,  spoke  very  kindly  to  ]\Ir  Wood ;  but  in  end, 
he  discharged  him  preaching  during  his  pleasure,  which  Mr  Wood 
promised  to  obey.     So  he  returned  to  St  Andrews,  but  did  not 

Botolj)!],  Aldgatc,  in  which  he  continued  till  he  was  ejected  under  the  Act  of  Uniformity. 
Soon  after  the  Restoration  he  engaged  in  a  controversy  respecting  the  obligation  of  the 
Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  for  which  he  pleaded  with  so  much  zeal  and  freedom,  that 
he  provoked  the  indignation  of  the  Court,  and  was  committed  prisoner  to  the  Tower. 
He  died  in  1672.  He  was  the  author  of  various  tracts  on  controversial  subjects,  and  of 
some  sermons. 

*  The  nmnber  deposed  in  Ulster  was  sixty-one,  being  almost  the  whole  of  the  Pres- 
byterian ministers  settled  in  that  province.  They  were  deposed  by  the  bishops  of  their 
respective  bounds  in  1G61.  "  These  ministers,"  observes  Dr  Reid,  "  enjoyed  the  painful 
though  honourable  pre-eminence  of  being  the  first  to  suffer  in  the  three  kingdoms  ; 
the  Nonconformists  of  England  not  being  ejected  till  the  month  of  August  in  the  fol- 
lowing year,  nor  the  Presbyterians  of  Scotland  till  the  subsequent  month  of  October 
1G62."  The  reason  assigned  by  the  same  writer  for  the  prior  ejection  of  the  ministei's 
m  Ireland  was  this  : — "The  old  fonn  of  Church  government  and  worship  had  never 
been  abolished  by  law  in  Ireland  ;  and,  therefore,  at  the  Restoration,  Prelacy  being  still 
tlie  legal  establishment,  was  immediately  recognised  and  enforced.  But  both  in  Eng- 
land and  in  Scotland  it  had  been  abolished  by  acts  of  their  respective  Parliaments, 
and  the  Directory  substituted  in  room  of  the  Common  Prayer  Book.  It  was  neces- 
sary, therefore,  that  these  acts  sliould  be  first  re])ealed,  and"  new  Acts  of  Parliament 


1C62.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  419 

preach  anywhere ;  so  that  now,  where  lately  before  there  was 
greatest  plenty,  there  is  greatest  penury  of  preachers  and  preach- 
ing, none  preaching  there  but  Mr  Andrew  Honey  man. 

All  this  time  by-past,  the  Prelates  and  Episcopal  party  in  Eng- 
land carry  things  very  high.  The  Parliament  passed  an  Act  of 
Conformity,  wherein  all  ministers  are  urged  to  abjure  the  Cove- 
nant, and  the  lawfulness  of  defensive  arms,  and  to  practise  all  the 
ceremonies,  &c.,  otherwise  to  enjoy  no  benefice  in  England ;  so 
that  all  ministers  that  refused  to  conform  were  thrust  out.  Many 
ministers  in  the  city  of  London  there  were  that  refused  to  con- 
form. The  city  of  London  supplicate  the  King  that  the  Act  of 
Conformity  should  not  be  urged  for  a  year,  and  that  their  minis- 
ters might  have  liberty  to  preach,  promising  to  double  their  taxes 
that  year.  Also  the  unconform  ministers  in  London  humbly  sup- 
plicate the  King  that  they  might  not  be  urged  with  the  Act  of 
Conformity,  and  for  liberty  of  preaching.  The  King  referred  these 
supplications  to  his  Council,  where  the  Prelates  ruled  all.  So  the 
supplications  were  refused,  and  the  ministers  commanded  to  obey 
the  Parliament  ;  so  that  there  was  a  great  outcry  among  the 
people,  especially  in  the  city  of  London ;  for  upon  one  day, — viz., 
St  Bartholomew's  Day,— many  hundreds  of  honest  ministers  were 
turned  out. 

The  Lord  Lorn,  being  often  called  before  the  Lords  of  the 
Articles  and  the  Parliament,  having  liberty  granted  to  him  to 
make  choice  of  his  advocates  to  plead  for  him,  he  refused  to  make 
use  of  any ;  only  lie  gave  in  a  paper,  wherein  he  declared  that,  by 
what  he  wrote  in  that  letter,  he  neither  meant  the  Commissioner^' 
nor  the  Parliament,  though  he  granted  that  he  reflected  upon  some 
members  of  Parliament  that  were  seeking  the  places  that  his 
father  had,  and  his  lands,  and  upon  some  other  private  enemies  of 
his  family.  Yet,  notwithstanding  of  his  innocency,  and  of  all  that 
he  had  done  and  suffered  for  the  King,  and  of  his  defences  before 
the  Parliament,  in  the  latter  end  of  August  the  Parliament  pro- 
passed,  before  the  bishops  had  power  to  proceed  against  those  who  did  not  con- 
form."—  Reid's  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Chirch  in  Ireland,  ii.  350. 

2  D  2 


420  l^ll'^jE  OF  ROBEKT  liLAlIl.  [1662. 

nounccd  sentence  of  death  against  him ;  but  as  for  the  time  of  the 
execution  of  this  sentence,  it  was  referred  to  the  King  and  Com- 
missioner ;  and  so  the  Lord  Lorn  was  sent  back  again  to  the 
Castle  of  Edinburgh. 

This  summer  there  came  down  from  England,  to  be  a  member 
of  our  Parliament,  the  Duke  of  Eichmond,  called  in  Scotland  the 
Duke  of  Lennox.  He  was  a  most  vicious  and  vile  man, — a  great 
whore-master,  swearer,  given  to  all  kinds  of  profanity, — and  yet 
he  was  a  prime  man,  and  ringleader  in  this  the  blackest  Parliament 
that  ever  was  in  Scotland,  (Is.  xii.  8.) 

And  now,  the  great  business  that  did  take  up  the  Parliament 
was — the  Act  of  Indemnity,  the  fining  of  some  persons,  the  except- 
ing of  some  out  of  the  Act  of  Indemnity,  and  the  abjui'ation  of  the 
Covenants.  As  for  this  last,  albeit  when  it  was  first  mentioned, 
some  leading  men  in  the  Parliament,  viz.,  the  Earl  of  Eotlies,  Sir 
John  Gilmour,  &c.,  abhorred  it,  yet  they  so  charmed  them,  that 
they  got  it  carried  on,  and  at  last  concluded.  There  was  a  Com- 
mittee appointed  for  imposing  the  fines.  The  Lord-Eegister 
named  Mr  Eobert  Blair  to  be  fined,  designing  to  get  the  gift  of 
his  fine,  as  he  professed ;  and  when  some  who  befriended  Mr  Blair 
demanded  the  cause  why  he  should  be  fined,  the  Eegister  replied, 
"  Because  there  were  gross  things  deponed  against  him  by  two 
witnesses,  under  their  hands  and  great  oath,"  which  depositions  he 
caused  to  be  read  in  the  Committee  of  Fines,  which  the  Committee 
referred  to  the  Secret  Council,  who  hearing  these  depositions  read, 
the  vile  wicked  men  among  them,  (for  now  the  wicked  walked  on 
every  side  when  vile  men  were  exalted),  viz.,  the  Duke  of  Lennox, 
the  Earl  of  Dumfries,  Lord  Newburgh,  &c.,  urged  that  he  should 
be  sent  for,  and  imprisoned  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh  before 
September  6.  Mr  Blair's  enemies  were  many  and  great,  his  friends 
few  and  faint ;  and  so  the  order  was  carried,  that  Mr  Blair  should 
be  sent  for  presently,  and  imprisoned  in  Edinburgh  Tolbooth.  In 
pursuance  of  this  vote,  a  messenger  was  sent  out  to  Inveresk, 
where  !Mr  Blair  lived,  and  commanded  to  bring  him  in  to  Edinburgh, 
and  an  order  was  given  to  tlie  magistrates  of  Edinburgh  to  keep 


1G62.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  421 

him  prisoner  In  their  Tolbooth.  And  now  his  enemies  concluded 
him  a  lost  man,  and  that  no  less  should  content  them  than  his  head ; 
for  that  wicked  duke  had  boasted  that,  ere  he  left  Scotland,  he 
should  secure  Blair's  head. 

In  this  mean  time,  ]Mr  Blair  enjoyed  a  sweet,  inward  calm  peace, 
and  spiritual  heavenly  security,  often  singing  to  God  the  seventy-first 
psalm,  which  he  used  to  call  his  psalm  ;  for  while  his  enemies  were 
plotting  and  speaking  against  him,  as  its  '  said'  verses  10, 11,  he  was 
praying  to  God,  and  trusting  in  God ;  (see  verses  1-9  ;)  and  that  God 
in  whom  he  trusted,  and  to  whom  he  prayed,  did,  by  His  own  imme- 
diate hand  and  Avorking,  disappoint  his  enemies  that  thirsted  for  his 
blood ;  for,  a  little  before  the  messenger  came  to  Inveresk,  to  bring 
Mr  Blair,  according  to  his  order,  in  to  the  prison-house  of  Edinburgh, 
the  Lord  laid  His  hand  upon  ISIi"  Blair  by  a  sore  fit  of  the  gravel, 
his  familiar  disease.     He  had  some  living  pains  of  the  gravel  some 
weeks  before,  but  on  that  Saturday  morning  before  the  messenger 
came  to  him,  his  pains  were  extreme  and  very  violent.     After  the 
sight  of  the  messenger's  order,  Mr  Blair  told  him,  he  lying  sick  in 
his  bed,  that  he  was  not  able  to  travel ;  and  while  he  and  the  mes- 
senger are  debating,  he  called   for  the  chalmer-pot,  and   passed 
some  stones,  which  when  the  messenger  saw,  he  thought  he  could 
not  urge  him  farther.    But  the  thing  that  made  him  the  more  will- 
ing to  return  without  him  was,  Mr  Oliver  Coalt,  minister  of  the 
place,  wrote  a  testificate  of  his  utter  inability  to  travel,  or  to  be 
carried ;  as  also  Mr  Blair  himself  wrote  a  line  to  the  Chancellor, 
promising  that,  if  it  were  possible  for  him,  he  should  come  in  the 
next  Wednesday,  September  10,  which  was  to  be  a  great  Council 
day.     As  also,  hearing  that  the  Council  had  declared  his  place  at 
St  Andrews  vacant,  he  resolved  to  send  in  to  the  Chancellor  his 
presentation  to  that  place,  which  was  his  legal  right  to  his  stipend. 
The  testificate  under  Mr  Oliver  Coalt's  hand  was  received,  and 
approven  by  the  Commissioner,  Chancellor,  and  Rothe§ ;  but  Mr 
Blair's  friends,  '  and'  even  the  Chancellor,  were  not  Avell  pleased 
that  he  had  engaged  to  come  in  to  the  next  Council  day,  knowing 
the  rage  of  these  wicked  men,  his  enemies,  against  him.    However, 


422  Lll'ii  <Ji^'  ROBERT  BLAIU.  [1662. 

;Mr  Blair  was  minded  to  keep  liis  promise  if  possibly  he  could ; 
but  the  Lord,  -who  many  times  had  preserved  him,  and  disappointed 
his  enemies,  again  laid  His  hand  upon  him,  September  10,  so  that 
he  was  sicker  than  before,  insomuch  that  he  sent  for  Dr  Burnet, 
who  wrote  a  testificate  to  the  Council  of  his  great  sickness  and 
utter  inability ;  also  Mr  Oliver  Coalt  renewed  his  testificate. 
Thereafter,  Mr  Blair  wa-ote  to  the  Chancellor,  that  having  heard 
that  they  had  declared  his  place  vacant,  he,  in  token  that  he,  as 
other  honest  ministers,  submitted  to  that  sentence,  sent  in  his  pre- 
sentation to  that  place.  The  testificates  Avere  again  allowed,  and 
the  former  order  given  to  the  messenger  recalled,  so  that  Mr  Blair 
is  left  in  the  same  condition  he  was  in  when  he  was  sent  out  to 
Inveresk.  But  the  Council  interpret  Mr  Blair's  rendering  up  his 
presentation  to  the  Chancellor  a  demitting  of  his  place,  so  they 
expressed  it  in  their  act ;  but  all  discerning  men  see  a  vast  differ- 
ence betwixt  demitting  of  a  person's  interest  in  their  people  and 
their  charge, — which  Mr  Blair  and  all  honest  men  judged  unlawful, 
— and  a  person's  rendering  up  any  legal  right  to  the  stipend,  which 
they  could  not  enjoy ;  for  it's  one  thing  to  demit  their  right  to  the 
stipend,  and  to  demit  their  right  to  the  people  and  their  charge. 
But  the  Council  were  glad  that  Mr  Blair  had  rendered  up  his  pre- 
sentation, and  so  they  called  it  a  demitting  of  his  place ;  so  that 
it  was  thought  that  the  Prelate  would  presently  fill  his  place  before 
his  ensuing  Diocesan  Assembly,  wdiich  all  ]\Ir  Blair's  friends  Avere 
glad  of  and  desired,  hoping  that  the  Prelate'  would  not  farther 
trouble  him. 

About  this  time  news  came  that  the  King  had  pardoned  the 
Lord  Lorn,  and  that  he  Avas  to  be  set  at  liberty.  As  for  the  minis- 
ters against  whom  the  Lords  of  the  Ai'ticles  had  rashly  pronounced 
a  sentence  of  banishment,  they  were  dismissed,  and  referred  to 
their  respective  bishops.  The  rest  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh, 
viz.,  :Messrs  Robert  Douglas,  Thomas  Garvan,  and  ^Mr  John  Stir- 
ling, got  hberty  to  preach  to  the  2d  of  October,  Avlth  this  proviso, 
that  if  they  did  not,  before  that  day,  go  to  their  Ordinary  and  satisfy 
him,  they  should  be  silenced,  and  no  more  ministers  of  Edinburgh. 


16G2.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIK.  423 

The  2d  of  October  coming,  and  they  not  having  gone  to  the  Pre- 
late, they  are  silenced^  and  commanded  to  leave  Edinburgh  before 
Martinmas  ensuing ;  so  that  noM^  there  vs^as  no  minister  of  Edin- 
burgh but  ISir  Robert  Laurie,  now  made  Dean  of  Edinburgh. 
The  first  Sabbath  of  October,  there  was  no  preaching  in  all  the 
kirks  of  Edinburgh,  save  two ;  so  where  there  was  greatest  plenty, 
now  there  'was  the'  greatest  penury  of  the  Word — even  a  famine 
of  hearing  the  words  of  the  Lord.  As  for  Mr  Robert  Trail,  though 
it  was  reported  that  he  was  gone  over  seas,  yet  he  only  lurked  in 
Edinburgh ;  and  the  first  time  of  his  public  appearing  was  at  the 
celebration  of  the  Communion  in  the  South  Queensferry,  where  he 
assisted  in  that  work.  Thereafter  he  supplicated  the  Commissioner 
that  he  might  be  in  the  same  case  with  his  colleagues,  which  was 
granted  to  him. 

About  this  time  also  Mr  Blair  supplicated  the  Commissioner  and 
Chancellor  for  liberty  to  retire  to  some  other  place,  he  not  being 
well  accommodated  where  he  was.  The  Chancellor  especially 
befriending  him  as  much  as  he  durst  or  could,  he  got  liberty  to  go 
to  any  place  to  dwell,  save  Edinburgh,  the  west  country,  and  the 
Presbytery  of  St  Andrews ;  so  he  chose  Kirkaldy  for  the  place  of 
his  sojourning  in  this  time  of  growing  trouble  and  trials,  whither 
some  other  outed  ministers  repaired. 

The  Parliament  being  adjourned,  the  Commissioner,  and  with 
him  a  quorum  of  the  Secret  Council  went  to  Glasgow,  and  other 
parts  of  the  west.  At  Glasgow,  October  1st,  they  made  an  act 
and  caused  proclaim  it  to  this  purpose  : — 

"  Whereas,  there  was  an  Act  of  Parliament  ordaining  ministers 
entered  since  1649,  to  obtain  presentations  to  their  benefices  from 
their  patrons,  and  collations  from  the  respective  bishops,  betwixt 
the  date  of  the  said  act  and  the  20th  of  September,  otherwise, 
their  kirks  to  be  declared  vacant,  &c.,  yet,  notwithstanding,  many 
ministers  ordained  since  1049,  continue,  since  the  20th  of  Septem- 
ber, to  exercise  the  duties  of  their  callings,  they  having  neglected 
to  get  presentations  from  their  patrons,  and  collations  from  their 
bishops ;  all  which  ministers  are  discharged  any  longer  to  exer- 


4l>  1  LIFE  OF  KOBEIIT  BLAIR.  [16G2. 

else  any  part  of  their  ministerial  callings,  and  all  hearers  and 
others  discharged  to  acknowledge  them  as  their  ministers,  and 
all  heritors  and  others  discharged  to  pay  them  any  part  of  this 
present  year's  stipend,  and  they  and  their  families  are  commanded 
to  remove  out  of  their  parishes  and  Presbyteries,  betwixt  the  date 
hereof  and  the  first  of  November :  Likewise,  whereas  there  was  an 
Act  of  Parliament  for  keeping  of  the  29th  of  May,  &c.,  notwith- 
standing, some  ministers  have  not  observed  the  said  act,  it's  ordered 
that  all  snch  ministers  shall  be  punished  by  the  want  of  their  sti- 
pend this  present  year,  and  liable  to  other  pains  contained  in  the 
act." 

This  Erastian  proclamation  laid  many  kirks  desolate  through  the 
kingdom ;  for,  at  the  first  report  of  it,  aU  unconform  ministers  or- 
dained or  transplanted  since  1 649,  did  forbear  preaching,  and  pro- 
vided to  remove  themselves  and  their  families  according  to  the 
proclamation.  The  honest  ministers  were  blamed  by  some  for  too 
sudden  and  ready  obedience  to  this  act  at  Glasgow  before  it  was 
apphed  to  every  one  severally,  or  they  any  ways  distressed.  But, 
considering  how  they  were  surprised,  (not  having  liberty  to  meet 
and  consult,)  and  how  in  such  surprisals  men's  wits  are  not  soon 
gathered ;  and,  secondly,  considering  that  the  honest  unconform 
ministers  in  England  had  given  ready  obedience  to  the  like  acts 
of  their  Parliament ;  and,  thirdly,  considering  that  the  heritors  and 
parishioners  of  the  respective  parishes  advised  their  ministers  to 
give  obedience,  declaring  their  intention  to  obey  the  act  as  to  their 
part  of  it ;  aU  these  things,  I  say,  being  considered,  (together  with 
what  some  ministers  spoke  when  they  took  leave  of  their  people,) 
may  make  their  rigid  censurers  more  mild  and  moderate  in  their 
judging  of  honest  hearted  ministers. 

Albeit  all  meetings  of  ministers  for  consulting  what  to  do  in 
such  troublesome  times  were  discharged,  so  that  there  was'  no  pub- 
lic avowed  meetings,  yet  it  pleased  the  Lord  so  to  order  matters, 
by  private  intelligences,  and  some  brethren's  meeting  secretly,  that 
all  honest  ministers  in  the  Kirk  of  Scotland  were  unanimous  in 
then- judgment  and  htirmouious  in  their  practice;  for  after  some 


16G2.]  LIFE  Oir  ROBERT  BLAIR.  425 

debates,  it  was  resolved  that  no  minister  who  was  persuaded  in  his 
conscience  of  the  jus  divinum  of  Presbytery  and  sinfulness  of  Ej)is- 
copacy,  should  repair  to  their  Diocesan  Courts  or  any  of  their  judi- 
catories, which  are  destructive  of  Presbyterial  government,  which 
by  covenant  we  are  obliged  to  maintain,  and  are  essentially  Pre- 
latical,  which  by  the  same  covenant  we  are  sworn  to  extirpate  and 
root  out ;  yea,  it  was  resolved  that  unconform  ministers  should  not 
so  much  as  repair  to  the  place  where  their  Diocesan  Courts  were 
to  meet,  because  the  command  of  the  Secret  Council  in  their  pro- 
clamation was  copulative  to  go  to  their  meetings,  and  to  attend 
and  concur,  and  the  going  was  only  commanded  in  order  to  their 
attending  and  concurrence ;  so  it  was  thought  safest,  and  that 
which  would  give  least  offence,  that  unconform  ministers  should 
not  go  to  the  place  of  these  meetings,  so  much  the  rather  because 
it  was  known  that  Kothes  was  to  be  at  the  meeting  at  St  Andrews, 
to  command  all  who  came  to  the  place,  in  the  King's  name,  to  at- 
tend and  concur  with  the  Assembly,  besides  the  Council's  procla- 
mation for  keeping  of  the  Diocesan  Synods,  and  inflicting  of  pun- 
ishments on  those  that  obeyed  not.  The  respective  Prelates  did 
summon  aU  in  their  dioceses,  commanding  them  to  give  obedience 
to  the  Council's  proclamation,  which  was  proclaimed,  September 
12. 

The  diets  of  the  Diocesan  meetings  appointed  by  the  Secret 
Council,  to  which  all  ministers  were  summoned  by  the  Prelates, 
being  come,  all  honest  ministers  absented  themselves,  which  did 
not  a  little  offend  the  Prelate  at  St  Andrews.  Of  the  Presbytery 
of  St  Andrews,  at  least  fifteen  were  absent;  of  Cupar,  ten;  of  Kirk- 
aldie,  seven;  of  Dunfermline,  three,  some  of  that  Presbytery  being 
in  other  dioceses.  Few  in  Angus  and  Perth  were  absent,  they, 
for  the  far  greater  part,  being  Episcopal.  The  names  of  the  absents 
were  taken  up  to  be  sent  to  the  Secret  Council,  the  next  Council 
day,  November  6.  The  Prelate  laboured  to  persuade  them  that 
came  that  he  was  to  innovate  nothing,  save  only  he  declared  it 
was  the  King's  will  that  they  should  forbear  lecturing,  and  only 
read  Scriptm-e  to  the  people,  and  when  it  was  inquired  when  any 


420  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  [1662. 

hard  place  was  read,  if  they  might  shortly  give  the  sense  of  it, 
it  was  answered,  No.  Also  he  enjoined  them  to  sing  the  doxology, 
"  Glory  to  the  Father,"  &c.,  and  to  say  the  Lord's  prayer,  and 
cause  them  that  presented  children  to  baptism  repeat  the  creed ; 
which  last  two  were  never  laid  aside  by  any  act  of  the  General 
Assembly,  as  the  singing  of  the  doxology  and  bowing  in  the  pul- 
pit were.  In  end,  he  named  constant  moderators  in  the  several 
Presbyteries  of  his  diocese.  The  Earl  of  Rothes  came  to  St  An- 
drews and  heard  the  Prelate  preach,  but  came  not  to  the  meeting. 
In  his  preaching,  he  spoke  what  he  could  against  Presbyterian 
government,  and  the  covenants,  &c. 

In  the  other  Archprelate's  meeting  at  Glasgow,  there  were  only 
thirty-two  present  of  above  two  hundered  and  forty  ministers.  He 
appointed  a  committee  for  censuring  of  insufficient,  scandalous  and 
seditious  ministers,  but  did  not  refer  the  absents  to  the  Council. 
None  came  to  the  meeting  of  the  Prelate  of  Galloway,  save  his 
dean.  The  same  was  reported  of  the  meeting  of  the  Prelate  of 
Argyle.  Many  ministers  absented  themselves  from  the  meeting 
at  Edinburgh.  Few  absented  themselves  from  the  northern 
Diocesan  Courts. 

Before  the  meeting  of  the  Diocesan  Court  at  St  Andrews,  Octo- 
ber 1,  the  Prelate  installed  Mr  Andrew  Honeyman  in  the  Arch- 
dean's  office  ;  which  when  a  worthy  man  heard,  he  said,  "  O,  Mr 
Andrew  Honeyman  !  occidisti,  possedisti !"  meaning  that  he  had 
first,  as  it  were,  killed  Mr  Blair,  by  informing  against  him,  &c., 
and  then  possessed  himself  of  his  place  and  benefice,  doubtless  with 
an  eye  to  the  sixteen  chalders  of  victual,  spoken  of  p.  379,  that 
shortly  were  to  fall  in  to  the  Archdeanry. 

But  Leighton,  that  crafty  Prelate  of  Dunblane,  prevented  [anti- 
cipated] the  diet  appointed  by  the  Secret  Council's  proclamation, 
September  12,  for  the  holding  of  his  Diocesan  Court.  Convening 
his  diocese  shortly  after  the  proclamation,  after  he  had  preached  to 
them,  he  desired  to  know  if  they  woidd  elect  a  moderator,  or  if  he 
should  take  the  chair,  and  no  man  answering,  he  took  their  silence 
to  be  an  allowing  of  him  to  moderate.  He  called  no  roU,  and  so  took 


1GG2.]  LIFE  OF  ROBEKT  BLAIR.  427 

no  notice  of  absents,  who  were  seven.  All  that  he  entreated  of 
them  was,  that  they  would  forbear  lecturing,  *  and  say  the  Lord's 
prayer,  and  forbear  the  use  of  the  catechism,  as  too  large,  and 
above  the  capacities  of  the  commons,  promising  to  prescribe  some 
form  of  catechism  to  them.  These  things  he  desired  if  they  thought 
fit ;  if  not,  they  might  do  as  they  pleased.  He  desired  them  to  hold 
their  Presbyteries  and  Sessions  as  before.  These  things  he,  as  their 
brother,  entreated  of  them,  if  they  pleased.  So  he  closed  his  Dio- 
cesan Assembly,  and  dined  with  them,  offering  to  sit  at  the  foot  of 
the  table.  So  it  was  thouglit  by  some  to  be  a  happiness  to  live  in 
his  diocese.  Others  thought  he  was  but  strakino-  cream  in  their 
mouths  at  first. 

But  immediately  before  the  adjournment  of  the  Parliament  their 
grand  business  was  about  the  Act  of  Indemnity  and  fining  of 
several  persons,  but  especially  about  the  excluding  of  some 
persons,  excepting  them  out  of  the  Act  of  Indemnity ;  and  be- 
cause the  Commissioner's  spleen  was  most  against  the  Earls  of 
Crawford  and  Lauderdale,  he  and  a  cabal  with  him,  viz.,  Tarbet 
'or'  Cromarty,  t  Bell,  Provost  of  Glasgow,  &c.,  plotted  that  the  Par- 
liament should  except  twelve  persons  out  of  the  Act  of  Indemnity, 
and  declare  them  incapable  of  public  trust ;  and  so  this  cabal  did 
deal  with  the  leading  men  in  every  estate  that  Crawford  and  Lau- 
derdale should  be  two  of  the  twelve  excepted  persons.  They  de- 
vised a  new  way  of  voting  who  should  be  the  twelve  excepted  per- 
sons, viz.,  every  member  of  Parliament  gave  in  a  paper,  Avhcrein 
were  twelve  persons'  names ;  all  these  billets,  as  they  were  called, 
were  put  into  a  bag ;  then  the  Parliament  nominated  eight  persons, 
two  of  every  estate,  and  commanded  them  to  view  all  the  papers, 

*  This  must  he  a  mistake.  In  his  charge  to  the  clergy,  1662,  printed  in  his  works, 
■n-e  find  him  exhoi-ting  them,  "  That,  instead  of  lecturing  and  preaching  both  at  one 
meetiwj,  larger  portions  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  he  constantly  read ;"  and  again,  that 
"  oftentime  larger  portions  of  Scripture  he  explained,  and  suitahle  in.structions  and 
exhortations  thence  deduced."  This  is  what  we  would  now,  at  least,  term  lecturing; 
and  the  Bishop  himself  has  left  hehind  him  specimens  of  liis  own  lectures  on  various 
portions  of  Scriptures,  hesidcs  his  well  known  commentaiy  on  First  Peter,  which  is  a 
beautiful  style  of  lecturing. 

t  Sir  George  M'Kenzie  of  Taibet,  afterwards  Karl  of  Cromarty. 


428  Lli-'^  <^i'  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1GG2. 

and  take  notice  of  the  twelve  persons  tliat  had  most  votes  and 
write  them  in  a  jjaper,  destroying  all  the  rest ;  but  these  eight 
persons  were  sworn  not  to  reveal  who  were  the  twelve  excepted 
persons,  until  the  King  were  acquainted  who  they  were ;  which 
behig  done,  the  Parliament  was  adjourned  to  May  1663.  Now  the 
Commissioner  and  his  cabal,  and  other  enemies  to  Crawford  and 
Lauderdale,  thought  it  sure  that  these  two  were  among  the  twelve 
excepted  persons.  Wise  men  thought  it  strange  that  these  men, 
so  great  friends  to  and  sufferers  for  the  King,  should  be  excepted 
out  of  the  Act  of  Indemnity,  and  rendered  incapable  of  any  public 
place  or  trust.  Also  before  the  Parliament  adjourned  they  voted 
the  renunciation  or  abjuration  of  the  Covenants,  and  declared 
against  defensive  arms.  So  soon  as  Lauderdale  got  intelligence  of 
their  strange  act  of  billets,  and  that  he  was  one  of  the  twelve  ex- 
cepted persons,  he  came  to  the  King,  and  upon  his  knees  desired 
that  his  Majesty  would  give  him  liberty  to  go  over  seas,  seeing  he 
was  declared  incapable  to  serve  his  Majesty,  and  that  his  Parlia- 
ment in  Scotland  had  excepted  him  out  of  the  Act  of  Indemnity, 
&c. ;  whereat  the  King  was  exceeding  wroth,  saying,  "  Who  durst 
attempt  such  a  matter ;"  which  made  it  appear  that  the  King  was 
not  acquainted  with  their  design  against  Crawford  and  Lauderdale. 
After  this  Crawford  and  Lauderdale  were  more  in  court  and  repu- 
tation with  the  King  than  before,  and  being  wroth  with  the  Com- 
missioner, he  did  write  to  him  with  Tarbet  (who  was  sent  up  to  ac- 
quaint the  King  who  were  the  twelve  excepted  persons)  to  come 
up  to  him  with  his  first  conveniency ;  but  the  Commissioner  made 
no  haste  to  Court,  for  he  came  not  out  of  the  west  to  Edinburgh 
until  the  last  of  October. 

After  the  Prelates'  Diocesan  Courts,  they  having  nominated  con- 
stant moderators,  for  the  several  "precinct  meetings,"  (so  the  Pre- 
lates called  them,  Presbyteries  they  were  not,  and  should  not  be 
called  so,)  all  the  conform  ministers  (now  commonly  called  "Curates," 
at  the  best  "  Conformists")  didconvenein  theirseveral  precinctmeet- 
ings.  But  there  was  at  first  some  debate  among  unconform  anti- 
Prelatic  ministers  ;  for  though  all  judged  it  unlawful  to  keep  Dio- 


10G2.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  420 

cesau  Courts  with  them  where  the  bishop  was  present,  and  did  all 
by  his  sole  power  and  jurisdiction,  and  which  is  a  court  constituted 
and  made  up  of  other  persons  than  the  Provincial  Synods,  viz.  of 
all  the  ministers  of  the  diocese,  and  where  none  has  the  free- 
dom of  a  vote,  but  all  come  there  to  be  censured — which  court 
was  devised  to  hold  in  the  bishop's  pains  and  travel  in  visiting  all 
the  kirks  of  his  diocese  every  year,  according  to  the  canon  law ; 
yet  gome  there  were  that  pleaded  that  they  might  go  to  their  pre- 
cinct meetings,  which  the  conformists  still  called  Presbyteries, 
alleging  the  practice  of  unconform  ministers  in  former  times 
who  never  questioned  the  lawfulness  of  keeping  these  meetings. 
To  whom  it  was  answered,  that  our  case  and  theirs  in  former  times 
differed  very  wide ;  First,  The  King  then  did  not  set  up  bishops  by 
virtue  of  his  supremacy,  but  brought  them  in  by  kirk  judicatories, 
though  corrupted.  Secondly,  The  King  then  did  not  discharge  all 
kirk  judicatories  until  they  were  anew  authorised  by  the  Prelates, 
and  so  other  courts  put  in  their  place,  but  the  judicatories  conti- 
nuing the  Prelates  intruded  upon  them,  and  usurped  over  them, 
therefore  these  honest  unconform  men  resolved  to  hold  what  they 
could  of  these  judicatories,  and  to  keep  their  possession,  still 
protesting  against  the  intrusion  and  usurpation  of  bishops,  and 
aU  innovations  and  corruptions,  &c.,  the  judicatories  never  being 
by  the  King  or  his  Council  discharged,  or  unconform  ministers 
really  disiuabled  to  come  to  them,  and  to  retain  what  they 
could  of  them.  Thirdly,  The  King  then  did  steal  in  the  bishops, 
and  made  them  intrude  upon  the  standing  judicatories  gradatim, 
making  them  first  commissioners  to  the  Parliament  to  see  ne  quid 
detrimenti  ecclesia  capiat ;  then  constant  moderators;  then  bishops; 
then  giving  them  high  places  in  the  estate,  to  be  counsellors,  extra- 
ordinary Lords  of  the  Session  :  then  giving  them  a  High  Commis- 
sion, &c.  Fourthly,  Unconform  ministers  that  were  then  deposed 
by  the  bishops  (for  none  were  deposed  by  the  Parliament  or  Secret 
Council)  were  never  hindered  to  preach  publicly,  wherever  they 
got  a  call.  And  Lastly,  The  bisliops  then  were  more  moderate, 
(especially  Spottiswood)  deposing  but  a  few,  and  unconform  minis- 


430  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1662. 

ters  that  were  not  deposed  were  gently  dealt  with.  But  noAV  the 
Kino-  by  open  proclamation,  January  9,  having  discharged  all  Kirk 
judicatories,  and  the  bishops  being  set  up  by  his  supremacy,  and 
thaX  per  saltum,  to  the  very  height,  at  first  authorising  other  judi- 
catories in  their  place,  of  another  nature,  that  were  destructive 
of  Presbyterial  government,  which  all  were  sworn  to  maintain, 
honest  ministers  thought  they  could  not  countenance  nor  keep 
these  meetings  ;  so  many  honest  ministers  being  already  outed  by 
the  Parliament  and  Secret  Council,  and  discharged  public  or  pri- 
vate preaching.  So  in  end  it  was  concluded  that  they  should  not 
countenance  these  meetings. 

The  Secret  Council  meeting  about  the  6th  of  November,  there 
was  a  cabal  of  them,  (viz.,  the  Commissioner,  Chancellor,  Regis- 
ter, the  King's  Advocate,*  and  the  Archprelate  Sharp),  that  sat  in 
a  close  cabin  council,  plotting  and  contriving  all  things.  Immedi- 
ately thereafter  summonses  were  Issued  out  for  sundry  ministers  to 
appear  before  the  Secret  Council ;  first  for  those  six  against  whom 
the}'  had  formerly  pronounced  sentence  of  banishment ;  and  besides 
these,  for  thirteen  or  fourteen  others  from  the  west,  especially,  and 
some  from  the  north,  viz.,  Messrs  John  Livingstone,  John  Nevay, 
William  Guthrie,  Andrew  Cant,  younger  and  elder,  f  George 
Meldrum  of  Aberdeen.:!:  Also  Mr  Robert  Trail  was  summoned  to 
appear  before  them,  &c.  The  Council  jDronounced  a  sentence  of 
banishment  against  Mr  Robert  Trail,  ordaining  him  to  remove  out 
of  the  King's  dominions,  within  two  months,  under  the  pain  of  death; 
which  sentence  he  subscribed  before  the  Council.  Also  they  pro- 
nounced a  sentence  of  banishment  against  Mr  John  Livingstone, 

*  The  King's  Commissioner  was  the  Earl  of  Middleton ;  the  Chancellor,  the  Earl 
of  Glencairn  ;  the  Clcrk-Eegister,  Sir  Archibald  Primrose  ;  and  the  King's  Advocate, 
Sir  John  Fletchei-. 

t  Mr  Andrew  Cant,  elder,  has  already  been  noticed,  p.  185.  Row  appears  to  be  mis- 
taken in  saying  that  Andrew  Cant,  younger,  was  at  this  time  summoned  to  appear 
before  a  Council.  It  was  Alexander,  his  brother,  who  was  minister  of  a  parish  in  the 
north.   The  former  conformed  to  Prelacy,  the  latter  did  not.—  Wodroio's  History,  i.  308. 

J  Mr  George  Meldrum  at  the  Restoration  was  minister  of  Glass,  in  the  Presbytery 
of  Strathbogic.  He  afterwards  became  indulged  minister  at  Kilwinning ;  and,  subse- 
quent to  the  Revolution,  Professor  of  Divinity  in  the  college  of  Edinburgh. 


16G2.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  431 

ordaining  him  within  fifteen  days  to  remove  be-north  Taj,  and 
within  two  months  out  of  the  King's  dominions.  Also  they  pro- 
nounced the  like  sentence  against  others,  viz.,  against  Messrs 
John  Nevay,  James  Simson,  John  Brown.*  The  rest  of  the 
ministers  that  were  summoned  were  kept  in  process  before  them. 

While  the  Council  is  thus  dealing  wath  ministers,  the  Prelate  of 
Edinburgh  is  intruding  some  conformists  in  the  places  of  the  hon- 
est unconform  ministers  of  Edinburgh ;  but  O  how  unlike  them ! 
viz.,  Messrs  Joshua  ISIeldrum,  transplanted  from  Kinghorn,  John 
Robertson  from  Dysart,t  and  Archibald  Turner  from  Northber- 
wick,$  and  shortly  after  these,  'Mr  John  Paterson,  Prelate  Pater- 
son's  son.  An  honest  man  in  Edinburgh,  Avho  was  commanded  to 
go  north  for  him,  coming  to  St  AndrcAvs  for  letters  from  the  Pre- 
late to  him,  broke  his  leg  near  St  Andrews,  and  went  no  farther.. 
Yet  thereafter  he  was  brought  to  Edinburgh,  and  one  Mr  Hannan. 
About  this  time  Mr  William  Coline  [Colville]  was  transplanted 
from  Perth  to  be  principal  of  the  college  of  Edinburgh,  who  some- 
times preached  in  the  Tron  Kirk.§ 

*  Mr  John  Bl•o^\^l  was  minister  of  Wampliray.  On  his  banishment  he  retired  to 
Holland,  where  he  died  about  the  end  of  the  year  1679.  He  was  a  man  of  learning 
and  ability. 

t  Mr  Joshua  Meldrum  was  admitted  minister  of  Auchtertool  in  tlie  Presbytery  of 
Kirkaldy,  February  17,  1642;  translated  to  Kinghorn,  June  20,  1G51  ;  confonned  to 
Episcopacy  16G2  ;  and  was  translated  to  Edinbui'gh,  Nov.  5,  this  year. — Sekctions  from 
Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Fife,  227,  230.  Mr  John  Robertson  was  admitted  second 
minister  of  Kirkaldy  December  1058,  translated  to  Dysart  IGOl,  and  to  Edinburgh 
November  im2.—Ibid.,  229,  232. 

X  Dr  Archibald  Turner  continued  one  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgli  till  his  death, 
which  took  place  suddenly,  30th  March  1081.  "  He  was  of  a  ready  wit,"  s.iys  Foun- 
tainhall,  "  and  good  parts ;  he  was  buried,  at  his  own  desire,  under  the  elders'  desk, 
in  his  own  parish  of  the  Old  Kirk  ;  which  some  thought  superstitious." — Fountainhairs 
Notes,  15. 

§  Mr  William  Colville  was  first  minister  at  Cramond,  and  next  at  Edinburgh, 
where  he  continued  till  he  was  deposed  by  the  General  Assembly  in  1648,  for  not 
preaching  against  the  lawfulness  of  the  Engagement.  In  1055  he  was  restored  by 
the  Synod  of  Lothian,  and  was  called  to  be  minister  of  Ferth,  where  he  continued  till 
about  this  time,  when  he  was  translated  to  be  princi])al  of  the  college  of  Edinburgli. 
"  He  wrote  a  treatise  called  the  Righteous  Branch,  Svo,  1673.  Item,  a  Treatise  called 
Refreshing  Streams,  in  several  Sermons,  4to,  Lond.  1655.  Item,  Ethicam  Chris- 
tianam,  Svo,  Edin.  1670.  He  was  a  grave  and  good  man.  He  died  about  the  year 
jr,7G." — Cliarteris'  Catalogue  of  Scottish  Writers,  42. 


432  LIFE  OF  ROBEllT  BLAIR.  [1G62. 

The  Prelate  came  to  St  Andrews  a  little  before  the  25th  of  De- 
cember, to  keep  that  holy  day.  He  preached  that  day,  having 
given  orders  to  the  magistrates  that  no  merchants'  shops  should 
be  opened,  and  that  craftsmen  should  not  work  on  that  day.  He 
invited  the  magistrates,  masters  of  the  University,  and  others,  to  a 
feast.     Ho'G  iniiia  malorum, 

A\Tiile  the  minds  of  all  honest  men  were  in  suspense  what  the 
Council  would  farther  do  anent  ministers,  especially  concerning 
them  that  kept  not  the  Prelates'  Diocesan  Assemblies,  and  were 
admitted  before  1649,  there  was  a  proclamation  made  by  them, 
December  23d,  viz. : — Notwithstanding  of  the  proclamation,  Oc- 
tober 1,  at  Glasgow,  some  ministers  had  not  obeyed  the  same,  by 
removing  out  of  their  Presbyteries,  and  that  the  most  part  had  not 
obtained  presentations  and  collations,  &c.,  yet  the  Council  would 
indulge  them  yet  a  farther  time,  to  obtain  presentations  from  their 
patrons,  and  collations  from  their  bishops,  viz.,  unto  the  1st  of 
February  1663,  with  certification,  that  they  that  did  not  obtain 
presentations  and  collations  before  the  1st  of  February,  should, 
according  to  the  former  proclamation,  remove  out  of  the  Presby- 
teries ;  but  those  of  the  dioceses  of  Glasgow,  Galloway,  and  Argyle, 
were  discharged  to  reside  in  any  part  of  the  dioceses  of  Edinburgh 
or  St  Andrews,  and  where  they  did  settle  they  were  discharged, 
two  of  them  to  dwell  in  one  parish ;  and  those  of  the  dioceses  of 
Edinburgh  and  St  Andrews  were  commanded  to  remove  be-north 
Tay ;  and  because  there  were  besides  these  designed,  sundry  mi- 
nisters that  did  not  keep  the  Diocesan  Synods  according  to  the 
proclamation,  September  12,  the  Council  did  confine  them  to 
their  own  parishes  until  the  next  Diocesan  Assembly,  prohibiting 
them  to  break  their  confinement,  without  liberty  asked  and  obtained 
of  their  bishops.  xVlso,  because  some  people  did  not  keep  their 
own  parish  kirks,  all  are  commanded  to  resort  to  their  own  parish 
kirks,  or  to  the  next  parish,  if  there  be  no  preaching  in  their  own; 
and  magistrates  in  towns  are  ordained  to  exact  twenty  shillings  of 
the  delinquents,  ioties  quoties.  Also,  ministers  are  discharged  to 
employ  any  at  the  celebration  of  the  Communion,  save  one  only  of 


1663.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  433 

their  nearest  neighbours,  and  if  tliey  employ  any  other,  they  must 
be  allowed  by  the  Bishop. 

January  8,  1663,  Mr  James  Weems,  Principal  of  St  Leonards 
College,  in  St  Andrews,*  was  ordained  minister  of  the  parish  of 
St  Leonards,  still  continuing  Principal  of  that  College  ;  Mr  Walter 
Comrie,  formerly  minister  there,  being  now  made  Principal  of  the 
New  College,  in  pious  and  learned  Mr  Rutherford's  place.  At  the 
admission  of  Mr  James  Weems,  the  Bishop  did  read  all  the  prayers, 
and  questions,  &c.  out  of  the  Service  Book  and  Book  of  Ordina- 
tion. Mr  Andrew  Honeyman,  the  Archprelate's  Archdean;  Mr 
John  Middleton,  in  Leuchars ;  f  and  Mr  Patrick  M'Gill,  from 
Angus,  countenanced  Mr  James  Weems's  admission,  who,  at  that 
time  was  also  made  Dean  of  St  Andrews,  and  got  some  teinds  of 
some  parishes  in  the  north,  which  formerly  belonged  to  the  Pro- 
vostry  of  Kirkcleuch,  which  was  an  old  benefice  formerly  belong 
ing  to  the  minister  of  Ceres. 

All  this  while  by-past,  there  was  much  talking  of  animosity  and 
jealousies  betwixt  Crawford,  Lauderdale,  and  the  Commissioner, 
occasioned  by  the  Act  of  Billets.  But,  still,  Crawford  and  Lau- 
derdale are  in  grace  and  favour  with  the  King,  yea,  none  was  a 
greater  courtier  than  Lauderdale.  The  Commissioner,  though 
often  written  for  to  come  up  to  Court,  made  no  great  haste ;  but  at 
last  he  took  journey  about  the  beginning  of  this  year. 

About  the  beginning  of  Febniary,  the  Prelate  Sharp  went  to 
Edinburgh,  whither  all  the  Prelates  convened.  They  kept  a 
meeting  which  some  called  "a  convocation."  The  Archprclate 
Sharp  being  to  go  to  Court  shortly,  being  written  for  by  the  Com- 
missioner and  the  Countess  of  Wemyss,  who  was  at  Court  about 
the  man-iage  of  her  daughter  with  the  King's  son,  now  made  Duke 

*  Row  is  mistaken  as  to  the  date  of  Weems's  admission  to  St  Leonards  College 
Kirk.  The  Tresbyteiy  admitted  him  to  be  minister  there,  December  21,  1602,  as 
appears  from  their  records.  lie  died  in  1691. — Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the 
Presbytery  of  St  Andrews,  j^'c,  79  ;  and  Selections  from  tJie  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Fife, 
213. 

t  Mr  John  Middlctun  was  admitted  minister  of  Leuchars,  December  4,  1061  ; 
translated  to  Markinch,  1684  ;  and  demitted,  WJ5.— Selections  from  the  Minutes  of  the 
Synod  of  Fife,  210,  233. 

2  E 


434  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663. 

of  Monmouth,  who  were  to  be  marned  shortly.  The  Prelates,  after 
their  meeting,  gave  in  three  desires  to  the  Secret  Council :  1 . 
That  they  would  be  pleased  to  put  their  own  acts  in  execution 
against  recusant  ministers,  for  sundry  ministers  in  Lothian  had  not 
obeyed  the  last  act  of  Council,  but  were  still  preaching ;  2.  That 
the  stipends  of  vacant  kirks  might  be  given  to  them  to  be  employed 
for  pious  uses ;  3.  That  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh  that  were  not 
removed  out  of  the  town  might  be  commanded  presently  to  remove. 
As  for  the  second  of  their  desires,  the  Council  referred  it  to  the 
Parliament,  and  promised  presently  to  take  the  other  two  [in]to 
their  consideration. 

About  this  time  news  came  that  the  Lord  Warriston  *  was  taken 
in  France  by  one  Alexander  Murray ;  a  proclamation  being  made, 
promising  a  great  sum  of  money  to  any  that  took  him,  &c.  He  was 
brought  over  to  England,  to  stay  there  during  the  King's  plea- 
sure. His  process  was  discussed  before  this  time,  by  the  Parlia- 
ment. His  case  was  lamented,  especially  for  his  compliance  w^itli 
sectaries.  Shortly  after  the  Prelates'  meeting  at  Edinburgh,  the 
Archprelate  Sharp  took  journey  for  London.  When  the  Commis- 
sioner, Middleton,  came  to  Court,  though,  as  appeared,  he  was  gra- 
ciously accepted  and  received  by  the  King,  yet  neither  Crawford 
nor  Lauderdale  took  notice  of  him,  and  Lauderdale  continued  in 
greatest  favour  vnth  the  King,  and  carried  all  at  Court.  Reports 
came  that  the  King  would  friend  Lauderdale  and  the  Commis- 
sioner, and  that  the  Commissioner  was  to  be  sent  over  seas  about 
some  ambassage,  and  that  Eothes  would  come  down  Commissioner. 

In  the  month  of  Mai^ch  the  ministers  of  Galloway,  upon  their 
Prelate's  complaint  to  the  Council,  were  convened  before  the 
Council ;  but  whereas  some  harder  sentence  was  feared  to  be 
given  out  against  them,  the  Council  only  enjoined  them  to  obey 
the  former  act  of  Council,  which  as  yet  they  had  not  obeyed. 

*  Sir  Archibald  Johnston,  Lord  Warriston,  was  son  of  James  Johnston,  merchant 
in  Edinburgh,  by  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  second  daughter  of  the  celebrated  Sir  Thomas 
Craig  of  Riccarton,  advocate  for  the  Church  in  IG06,  and  afterwards  Lord  Advocate. 
He  Was  educated  at  the  University  of  Glasgow,  and  passed  his  trials  as  an  advocate, 
6th  November,  1G33.     The  leading  facts  of  his  subsequent  history  are  well  known. 


1663.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  435 

The  Parliament  of  England  sat  down  again  in  February.  At 
their  down-sitting  the  King  spoke  to  them,  labouring  to  vindicate 
himself  of  that  aspersion,  as  if  he  inclined  to  Popery,  or  to  tolerate 
Po])ery,  w^iicli  was  cast  upon  him  by  occasion  of  his  late  declara- 
tion in  the  beginning  of  the  year,  (wherein  he  did  avow  the  due 
sense  he  had  of  his  Roman  Catholic  subjects  having  deserved  well 
of  his  father  and  himself,  &c.)  ;  which  he  desired  the  Parliament 
to  take  notice  of,  but  withall  entreating  them  to  make  laws  against 
the  increase  or  spreading  of  Popery  in  England.  The  Plouse  of 
Commons,  taking  the  King's  declaration  to  their  consideration, 
passed  several  votes,  giving  the  King  thanks  for  several  things  in 
it,  viz..  That  he  resolved  to  observe  the  Act  of  Indemnity,  not  to 
introduce  a  military  way  of  government  in  the  kingdom ;  but  anent 
that  part  of  it  wherein  he  promises  some  indulgence  to  tender 
consciences  that  would  not  obey  the  Act  of  Unifoi-mity,  they  humbly 
advise  his  Majesty  that  it  was  altogether  unseasonable,  and  so  ad- 
vise that  BO  indulgence  be  shewn  either  to  Presbyterians  or 
Papists,  and  ordain  a  message  to  the  King  and  a  Committee  to 
draw  up  their  reasons  of  their  advice  to  his  Majesty.  Whereupon 
the  King  appointed  the  Commons  to  attend  him  February  25 ; 
at  which  diet  their  Speaker  delivers  their  humble  advice,  with  the 
reasons  of  it ;  to  the  which  the  King  returned  a  short  answer, 
That  he  gave  them  hearty  thanks  for  their  many  thanks,  that 
never  any  King  w^as  more  happy  in  a  House  of  Commons  than  he, 
that  there  could  be  no  difference  betwixt  them,  but  either  when 
he  did  not  rightly  express  himself,  or  they  not  rightly  understand 
him  ;  but  because  the  papers  given  in  to  him  were  long,  and 
many  things  in  them,  he  would  take  a  time  to  consider  them,  and 
thereafter  return  his  answer  to  them. 

Tlie  House  of  Lords  (though  there  were  sundry  Papists  in  the 
House)  did  concur  with  the  House  of  Commons  in  their  advice  to 
the  King,  shewing  how  unreasonable  it  was  to  shew  any  indulgence 
to  dissenters  from  the  Act  of  Uniformity,  whether  Papists  or  others, 
and  that  the  King's  promise  of  that  indulgence,  Avithout  the  Par- 
liament's consent,  was  not  obligatory.     Whereupon  the  King,  not- 

2  E  2 


436  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663. 

■withstanding  of  his  affection  professed  to  Papists  in  his  declaration, 
emitted  a  proclamation  against  all  mass  priests  and  Jesuits,  com- 
manding them  all  to  depart  off  the  kingdom,  only  excepting  those 
that  were  allowed  to  attend  upon  the  two  Queens.  But  it  was 
found  that,  notwithstanding  the  Parliament  pretended  great  zeal 
ao-ainst  Papists  in  all  this,  yet  the  first  and  greatest  blow  was  in- 
tended against  Presbyterians  that  could  not  obey  that  Act  of 
Uniformity,  and  that  any  favour  that  was  to  be  shewn,  Papists 
would  get  it. 

This  spring  time  the  debates  betwixt  Lauderdale  and  Middleton 
gi*ew  greater  and  greater  ;  for  Lauderdale  gave  in  sundry  accusa- 
tions against  him  to  the  Scottish  Council  at  London,  viz.,  the  Act 
of  Billets ;  another  act.  That  no  forfaulted  person,  they  nor  their 
heirs,  should  ever  have  access  to  supplicate  the  King,  &c. ;  that 
needlessly  he  burdened  the  kingdom  with  continuing  the  Parlia- 
ment so  long  to  make  up  himself,  and  with  keeping  up  some  forces 
a-foot,  and  intending  to  levy  a  little  army,  whereof  he  was  to  be 
general ;  that  he  had  fined  the  subjects  contrary  to  the  King's  in- 
clination or  advice.  Middleton  being  hard  put  to  it,  and  not  well 
able  to  answer  for  himself,  all  his  creatures  and  favourites  dealt 
for  him.  The  Prelates  in  England  and  Chancellor  Hyde  dealt 
much  for  him.  All  the  Prelates  in  Scotland  met  and  wrote  a 
letter  to  the  King  in  his  favours,  which  Prelate  Sharp,  being  at 
Court,  sealed  and  gave  to  the  Lord  Newburgh,  desiring  him  not 
to  deliver  it  to  the  King,  when  Crawford  or  Lauderdale  were  pre- 
sent ;  but  ere  it  was  delivered  Lauderdale  got  a  copy  of  it,  and  so 
their  plot  was  blown  up.  The  Conformists  in  Edinburgh  wrote 
also  a  letter  to  the  King  in  his  favours,  whereat  the  King  was  of- 
fended, and  which  did  not  a  little  tend  to  their  prejudice.  Matters 
thus  going  against  Middleton,  he  kept  his  chamber  for  a  number 
of  days,  pretending  sickness,  thinking  that  as  fonuerly  the  King 
would  have  sent  for  him  ;  but  in  that  he  played  the  fool,  for  still 
Lauderdale  was  playing  his  game  at  Court.  Sharp  perceiving 
how  Lauderdale  carried  all  at  Court,  and  that  Middleton  was  like 
to  be  discourted,  made  a  visit  to  Lauderdale,  professing  great  re- 


1663.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  437 

spects  towards  him,  and  that,  as  he  had  been  so,  he  minded  to  con- 
tinue his  faithful  friend  and  servant ;  which  Lauderdale,  having 
the  patience  to  hear,  returned  no  answer,  but  putting  his  hand 
into  his  pocket  desired  him  to  read  the  letter  which  he  and  the 
rest  of  the  Prelates  had  written  to  the  King  in  favours  of  Middle- 
ton,  wherein  were  several  reflections  upon  Lauderdale.  It  was 
reported,  that  though  the  King  did  still  aflfect  Episcopacy,  yet  his 
affection  towards  Sharp  w^as  much  abated,  perceiving  him  a  self- 
seeking  man,  and  one  that  could  lie  and  dissemble. 

Before  this  time  the  King,  at  the  instigation  and  by  the  evil 
advice  of  Chancellor  Hyde,  had  sold  Dunkirk  to  the  King  of 
France  for  a  great  sum  of  money,  which  bargain  w^as  condemned 
by  many  wise  statesmen,  Dunkirk  being  a  port  so  advantageous 
to  our  King. 

The  Prelates  are  now  busied  to  fill  the  places  of  outed  ministers, 
especially  in  the  west  where  maniest  were  outed.  For  that  end 
they  brought  from  the  north  a  number  of  most  profane  insufficient 
creatures.  One  Chalmers  they  put  in  Paisley.  One  Jaffray  in 
Kirkcudbright.  There  was  some  stir  and  opposition  made  by 
some  women  at  Jafii'ay's  first  coming  there  and  offering  to  preach. 
This  small  opposition  and  stir  was  aggraged  and  artificially  sjsread 
abroad  by  Middleton's  creatures,  and  thereafter  written  up  to 
Court,  informing  that  the  west  of  Scotland  was  up  in  arms  against 
the  bishops  and  ministers  to  be  planted  there ;  which  they 
thought  would  not  a  little  contribute  to  make  good  what  Middle- 
ton  had  asserted,  anent  the  necessity  of  levying  and  keeping  a-foot 
a  little  army  in  Scotland.  The  matter  being  thus  misi-eprescnted 
to  the  King,  for  the  first  he  resolved  to  send  down  some  troops  to 
the  west  of  Scotland  ;  but  Lauderdale's  friends  in  Scotland  giving 
a  true  information  anent  the  small  stir  in  Kirkcudbright  the  King 
was  pacified.  In  the  beginning  of  May  the  Council  a])pointcd 
the  Earls  of  Linlithgow  and  Annandalc,  and  Sir  James  Turner, 
with  two  hundred  and  twenty  foot  soldiers,  together  with  the 
King's  lifeguard,  to  go  to  Kirkcudbright  and  examine  the  busi- 
ness, and  do  accordingly.      They  returning  and  informing  tlie 


438  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663. 

Council  of  the  truth  of  the  business,  and  having  but  too  severely 
punished  any  that  were  actors  in  that  tumult,  wrote  the  truth  of 
the  matter  to  the  King  ;  which,  being  known,  incensed  the  King 
the  more  against  Middleton  and  his  creatures  that  had  misrepre- 
sented the  business  to  him.  So  every  thing  tended  to  jSliddleton's 
prejudice. 

The  diet  of  the  down-sitting  of  the  Parliament  approaching, 
which  was  about  the  20th  of  May,  the  King  not  having  as  yet 
declared  his  mind  anent  these  grand  debates  betwixt  Lauderdale 
and  Middleton,  neither  having  declared  his  mind  who  should  be 
his  Commissioner  to  the  Parliament,  by  proclamation  the  Par- 
liament was  adjourned  to  the  11th  of  June.  But  still  the  King  is 
aye  the  longer  the  more  oiFended  with  Middleton,  notwithstanding 
of  all  the  supplications  or  letters  in  his  favours.  The  clergy  of 
Ireland  drew  up  a  supplication  in  his  favours,  whereof  Lauderdale 
informed  his  Majesty  ;  whereto  the  King  answered,  "  I  would  see 
the  man  that  durst  present  it." 

In  the  latter  end  of  May  the  King  declared  his  mind  anent  his 
Commissioner  to  the  Parliament,  giving  commission  for  that  effect 
to  the  Earl  of  Rothes.  With  this  news  reports  came,  that  Sir 
John  Fletcher,  the  King's  advocate,  who  was  Middleton's  creature, 
was  to  be  put  from  his  place,  and  that  Sir  Peter  Wedderburn  was 
to  be  the  King's  advocate.  But  because  the  Commissioner  and 
noblemen  at  Court  could  hardly  keep  the  diet,  the  Parliament 
was  again  adjourned  to  the  18th  of  June,  and  so  the  Commis- 
sioner, Crawford  and  Lauderdale,  were  expected  at  Edinburgh. 
IMany  noblemen  and  gentlemen,  especially  from  Fife,  went  over 
Forth  to  meet  the  Commissioner.  With  these  news  (which  by 
some  were  looked  upon  not  only  as  great  but  good  news,  and  as  the 
forerunners  of  better)  news  came  that  the  King  of  France  was 
poisoned  by  a  Jesuit,  and  deadly  sick.  But  thereafter  news  came 
that  he  was  convalesced,  but  had  been  poisoned,  and  that  the 
hand  of  Joab  (the  Pope)  was  in  the  matter. 

All  the  Diocesan  meetings  of  the  Prelates  did  hold  in  April  and 
May,  except,  the  meeting  of  the  diocese  of  St  Andrews,  the  Arch- 


1663.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  439 

prelate  Sharp  being  at  Court.  The  primum  mobile  behig  absent, 
the  subalternate  spheres  moved  little,  so  that  little  was  talked  of 
their  meetings.  Some  did  repair  to  them  in  this  time  of  defection 
and  covenant-breaking,  that  had  not  done  so  before.  At  this  time 
Mr  Andrew  Cant,  younger,*  was  vehemently  suspected  that  he 
would  conform  ;  but  in  the  time  of  the  meeting  of  the  diocese  of 
Edinburgh  he  was  gone  to  see  his  honest  old  dying  father.  The 
Prelate  of  Edinburgh,  in  his  meeting,  said  that  Mr  Andrew  Cant 
had  satisfied  him,  and  that  he  was  necessarily  absent.  The  Pi'e- 
lates  of  Galloway  and  Glasgow  had  planted  sundry  kirks  in  their 
dioceses  with  most  corrupt,  profane,  and  vitious  men,  where  the 
most  eminent  and  godly  ministers  had  been.  The  Lord  infatuated 
these  Prelates,  so  that  they  filled  the  places  of  these  godly,  learned, 
and  eminent  ministers  with  a  number  of  the  very  worst  and  most 
insuflficient  of  the  Episcopal  gang,  brought  from  the  north  and  ob- 
truded upon  the  west,  that  Avas  most  anti-Episcopal  and  opposite 
to  all  the  corrupt  and  wicked  courses  of  this  time  of  defection  and 
national  perjury. 

The  meeting  of  the  diocese  of  St  Andrews  not  holding  these 
unconform  ministers  that  were  confined  within  their  parishes  until 
the  next  Diocesan  Synod,  by  the  late  proclamation,  did  hold  them- 
selves still  confined  until  a  Diocesan  Synod  came,  only  regretting 
that  the  time  of  their  confinement  was  so  short,  hoping  that 
nothing  could  be  legally  acted  against  them  until  that  meeting 
came. 

While  the  Treasurer,  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  was  expected  with 
the  Commissioner  Rothes  and  Lauderdale,  about  the  beginning 
of  June,  word  (;ame  to  Edinburgh  that  Crawford  was  not  to  come 
down  with  the  rest,  (this  was  looked  upon  by  some  as  malum  ome)i, 
and  that  the  honest  Earl  of  Crawford  expected  little  good,  yea 
feared  meikle  evil  from  this  session  of  Parliament),  but  was  to  stay 

*  Mr  Andrew  Cant,  son  of  Mr  Andrew  Cant  of  Aberdeen,  was  admitted  minister 
of  Liberton,  10th  March  1659;  conformed  to  Prelacy,  1662;  was  tninslated  to  the 
College  Kirk,  Edinburgh,  July  13,  1G7;3 ;  and  made  Princiind  of  the  College,  April 
IL',  1083. 


440  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663 

still  at  Court.  Very  shortly  thereafter  news  came  that  the  Trea- 
suroi-,  Crawford,  had  demitted  his  place  in  the  King's  hands; 
which  demission  was  thus  occasioned : 

The  Archprelate  Sharp,  being  grieved,  and  Chancellor  Hyde 
not  well  pleased,  that  Middleton  should  be  thus  put  off  and  de- 
courted,  they  thought  that  at  the  least  they  should  get  unto  him 
the  Treasurer's  place.  Therefore,  seeing  they  had  not  catched  the 
Treasurer  by  the  snare  laid  for  him  in  the  Act  of  Billets,  they 
concluded  to  be  siu-e  of  him  another  way.  Knowing  that  he 
was  fixed  for  the  Covenant,  and  that  he  would  never  take  nor  con- 
sent to  the  abjuration  of  it,  which  commonly  was  called  the  Decla- 
ration ;  *  they  having  plotted  and  contrived  the  business,  Prelate 
Sharp  came  to  the  King  and  told  him  that  neither  he  himself  nor 
any  about  him,  nor  the  estate  of  Bishops  or  the  Kirk,  could  be  in 
security  so  long  as  he  kept  about  him  men  of  corrupt  and  rebel- 
lious principles,  that  would  not  renounce  that  rebellious  Covenant. 
The  King  said  that  he  resolved  to  keep  none  such  about  him,  and 
that  he  knew  of  none  such  about  him.  The  envious  and  unthank- 
ful Prelate  (Crawford  being  the  man  that  first  preferred  him,  first 
giving  him  a  presentation  to  be  one  of  the  regents  of  St  Leonard's 
College,  thereafter  a  presentation  to  the  kirk  of  Crail)  replied, 
"  Have  you  tried  the  Treasurer,  Crawford,  if  he  will  take  the  De- 
claration." The  King  answered  that  he  had  not  done  it,  but  pro- 
mised to  do  it  at  his  first  conveniency,  nothing  doubting  but 
Crawford  would  be  moved  to  take  the  Declaration.     And  so  the 

*  By  the  fifth  act  of  the  second  session  of  Parliament,  1662,  it  was  statute,  ordained 
and  enacted,  that  all  such  persons  as  should  hereafter  be  admitted  to  any  public  trust 
or  office  under  his  Majesty's  government,  within  the  kingdom  of  Scotland,  should 
subscribe  a  Declaration,  sincerely  affirming  and  declaring  that  it  was  unlawful  for  sub- 
jects, under  any  pretence  whatsoever,  to  enter  into  leagues  or  covenants,  or  to  take 
up  arms  against  the  King,  or  any  commissioned  by  him,  and  that  the  National  Cove- 
nant, as  explained  in  1638,  and  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  were  themselves 
unlawful  oaths,  and  that  there  lay  no  obligation  on  the  subscriber  or  any  of  the  sub- 
jects, from  the  said  oaths,  to  endeavour  any  alteration  of  the  government,  in  Church 
or  State,  as  it  was  then  established  by  the  laws  of  the  kingdom.  By  the  same  act,  it 
)s  remitted  to  his  Majesty's  commissioner  to  take  such  coiu'se  as  he  should  think  fit, 
how  those  who  were  already  in  office  might  subscribe  the  said  Declnration. —  Wodroiv's 
J/ialnry,  i.  IflJB, 


1663.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  441 

first  time  that  the  Treasurer  came  into  the  King's  presence,  the 
King  put  him  to  it,  whether  or  not  he  would  renounce  the  Cove- 
nant and  take  the  Declaration.  The  well-principled  and  honest- 
hearted  Earl  of  Crawford  answered.  That  as  he  had  suffered  much 
for  his  Majesty,  viz.,  nine  years'  imprisonment,  forfaulture  and  the 
ruin  of  his  fortune,  so  he  resolved  to  continue  his  Majesty's  loyal 
and  faithful  subject,  and  to  serve  him  in  what  he  could  with  a  good 
conscience,  &c.,  but  as  for  the  renouncing  of  the  Covenant  and 
taking  the  Declaration,  that  he  could  not  do  with  a  safe  and  good 
conscience.  To  this  the  King  (as  much  siu"prised)  replied.  That 
he  was  heartily  sorry  for  it,  for  he  had  engaged  himself  that  none 
should  bruik  places  of  trust  that  refused  to  take  the  Declaration. 
Crawford  said  he  thanked  his  Majesty  for  conferring  that  honour 
upon  him,  and  now  he  laid  it  down  at  his  Majesty's  feet ;  which 
the  King  well  took  off  his  hand,  giving  him  an  ample  testimony 
of  an  honest  man,  that  had  done  and  suffered  very  meikle  for  him, 
promising  that  he  should  not  want  his  favour  and  kindness.  But 
when  Crawford  came  to  Lauderdale  and  informed  him  of  all  that 
had  passed,  he  was  grieved  and  heartily  soriy  that  he  had  de- 
mitted  his  place,  and  that  he  had  refused  to  take  the  Declaration 
against  the  Covenants,  fearing  lest  Middleton  should  obtain  the 
Treasurer's  place.  Thereafter  he  dealt  what  he  could  with  Craw- 
ford to  persuade  him  to  take  the  Declaration,  alleging  that  he 
might  do  meikle  good  to  the  Unconformists,  the  Presbyterians  in 
Scotland,  by  so  doing.  But  Crawford  replied  that  he  was  taught 
not  to  do  evil  that  good  may  come  of  it.  Also  Sir  Robert  Murray 
(who  was  the  King's  great  favourite)  dealt  with  Crawford  to  take 
the  Declaration ;  but  he  soon  stopped  his  mouth,  saying,  "  Why 
desire  ye  me  to  do  that  which  ye  yourself  have  not  done,  and 
judged  it  sinful."  They  not  prevaihng  with  Crawford  by  all  that 
they  could  say  for  his  taking  the  Declaration,  Lauderdale  advised 
him  to  beg  of  the  King  that  he  would  confer  his  place  upon  his  son- 
in-law,  the  Commissioner,  Rothes,  which  the  King  easily  granted  ; 
so  that  now  Rothes  is  Commissioner,  Treasurer,  and  President  of 
the  Secret  Council.    It  was  reported  that  the  King  had  engaged  to 


442  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663. 

jiay  unto  the  Earl  of  Crawford  all  that  his  father  was  resting  to  him 
as  Treasurer,  and  to  give  him  an  yearly  pension  of  £1000  sterling. 
For  these  he  only  had  the  King's  word ;  and  so  the  truly  noble 
Earl  of  Crawford  comes  off  honourably,  yea  christianly,  wdth  a 
o-ood  conscience,  fixedly  standing  and  retaining  his  good  old  prin- 
ciples. But  he  resolved  to  stay  at  Court  until  the  Parliament  was 
closed. 

The  Earl  of  Crawford  instantly  wrote  down  all  that  had  passed 
to  his  most  religious  lady,  *  who  was  most  deservedly  praised  of 
all  that  knew  her ;  avIio,  when  all  about  her,  and  all  Crawford's 
friends  in  Scotland  were  lamenting  the  loss  of  his  place,  she  hearti- 
ly rejoiced  and  blessed  God  that  he  had  kept  a  good  conscience 
and  himself  free  of  perjury  and  covenant-breaking,  &c.,  trusting  in 
God  that  he. would  provide  for  him  and  his.  News  of  Crawford's 
demission  of  his  place,  that  he  might  keep  a  good  conscience  com- 
ing to  the  Laird  of  Kilbirnie,  f  who  then  was  sick  and  near  to 
death,  presently,  he  sent  for  his  cousin  the  Countess  of  Crawford, 
and  shortly  spoke  to  her  to  this  purpose  :  "  I  am  glad  to  hear  that 
my  noble  Lord,  your  husband,  has  quit  his  advantageous  and  bene- 
ficial place,  to  keep  his  conscience  and  retain  his  good  old  princi- 
ples. I  have  a  little  fortune,  and  no  son  to  enjoy  it ;  I  shall  count 
it  a  credit  and  honour  if  my  noble  lord  and  your  ladyship  will  con- 
sent that  your  second  son  X  marry  my  young  daughter  §  and  enjoy 
the  estate."  The  Countess  of  Crawford  thanking  him  and  giving 
her  consent,  and  promising  to  write  anent  the  affair  to  her  husband, 
the  Laird  of  Kilbirnie  did  presently  deliver  unto  the  Countess  the 
charters  and  rights  of  his  estate  with  his  daughter,  desiring  that 
she  might  keep  her  and  breed  her  until  her  second  son  (who  then, 
with  his  brother  the  Lord  Lindsay,  Avas  in  France)  came  home, 
that  thereafter  they  might  be  married.  ||    This  was  by  honest  people 

*  Lady  Margaret  Hamilton,  second  daughter  of  James,  second  Marquis  of  Hamil- 
ton.— Douglas's  Peerage,  i.  387. 

t  "Sir  John  Crawford  of  Kilbirnie,  member  of  Parliament  for  the  county  of  Ayr." 
—Ibid.  i.  ;J91. 

X  The  Honourable  Patrick  Lindsay. — JUd.  i.  391. 

§  Margaret,  his  second  daughter. — Ihid.  i.  391. 

li  The  marriage  took  place  at  the  Abbey  of  Holyroodhouse,  27th  December  16i31. — 


1663.]  LIFE  OF  llOBERT  BLAIR.  443 

judged  a  speaking,  yea,  comfortaljle  cast  of  providence  for  encour- 
aging the  Earl  of  Crawford  and  his  Countess  cheerfully  to  suffer 
loss  in  this  time  of  trial. 

Some  days  before  the  Commissioner  came  to  Edinburgh,  the 
Lord  Warriston  came  and  was  received  at  the  Watergate  by  the 
hangman,  and  was  put  in  the  Tolbooth.  It  was  reported  that  he 
was  under  a  disease,  which  was  a  kind  of  palsy,  that  he  had  lost 
his  memory  by  reason  of  poison  that  was  given  to  him  by  one  that 
undertook  to  poison  him,  so  that  he  should  be  inliituated,  lose  his 
memory,  and  thereafter  die.  This  the  man  confessed  on  his  death- 
bed, whereof  Warriston  had  a  testimonial  under  the  hands  of  two 
physicians  and  a  minister.  He  was  brought  before  the  Council, 
but  could  not  speak  nor  carry  himself  as  he  was  wont  to  do. 
Plis  case  was  pitied  by  honest  people,  regretting  his  gross  com- 
pliance with  the  sectaries  at  London ;  and  even  the  Council  in- 
clined to  spare  his  life,  but  that  they  had  ordei-s  to  the  contrary. 
It  was  feared  that  they  would  take  his  life  in  the  time  of  the 
Parliament. 

The  Prelate  Sharp  came  to  Edinburgh,  June  14,  being  the  Sab- 
bath day,  timely  in  the  morning.  Thereafter  he  went  to  bed,  and 
lay  resting  him  all  the  Sabbath  day,  in  his  profaning  the  Sabbath, 
which  he  many  ways  did  pollute  and  profane.  He  was  like  his 
predecessor,  Spottiswood,  having  all  his  evil  and  none  of  his 
good. 

The  Commissioner  Rothes  and  Lauderdale  entered  the  town  of 
Edinburgh,  June  15,  accompanied  with  many  noblemen  and  gentle- 
men, with  a  mixed  multitude  of  all  sorts  of  people.  Immediately 
after  the  Commissioner's  arrival,  the  Lord  Lorn  was  brought  out 
of  the  Castle  and  set  at  liberty.  It  was  reported  that  his  father's 
head  would  be  taken  down  from  the  top  of  the  Tolbooth,  and  War- 
riston's  put  up  in  its  place. 

J  hid.  i.  391.  It  may  be  mentioned  as  a  striking  case,  that  this  couple  both  died  of  a 
])cstilential  fever  in  one  week,  in  October  1080, — Lady  Kibirnie  on  the  12tli  of  tlie 
month  and  her  husband  on  tlie  l.'ith.  "The  Sabbath  l)efore,"  says  Law,  "  they  were 
at  the  celci)ration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  at  the  kirk  of  Bccth." — Law's  Memorials 
l(w. 


444  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663. 

The  rarliaiuent  sat  down  June  18.  One  Burnet,  *  who  had  been 
a  minister  in  England,  always  Episcopal,  now  to  be  made  Prelate 
of  Aberdeen,  preached  at  the  down-sitting  of  the  Parliament.  The 
first  thing  that  they  did  was  the  putting  of  the  abjuration  of  the 
Covenant,  (commonly  called  the  Declaration),  to  all  the  members 
of  Parliament.  All,  almost,  that  were  not  clear  to  take  it,  absent- 
ed themselves,  but  alas  !  they  were  but  a  small  number  in  com- 
parison of  the  multitude  of  all  ranks  and  degrees  in  the  land.  Be- 
sides Crawford,  (who  abode  at  Court),  there  were  some  few  noble- 
men, viz.,  Sutherland,  Lothian,  Ker,  Loudon,  Burley,  Euthven, 
Melville,  Cathcart,  Borthwick  ;  some  few  Commissioners  of  shires 
and  burghs.  The  Lord  Cupar  in  Angus,  not  apprehending  that 
the  Declaration  would  be  put  to  them  at  the  first  down-sitting  of 
the  Parliament  was  surprised.  He  refusing  to  take  it,  went  to 
the  door. 

Before  this  there  were  many  reports  of  stirs  in  Ireland,  and  that 
there  was  a  plot  discovered  at  Dublin  for  overturning  of  Episco- 
pal government  there.  The  truth  of  the  matter  was  this:  There 
were  some  gentlemen  and  soldiei's  of  fortune  (as  they  are  com- 
monly called)  that  had  served  the  King  and  his  father  in  the  late 
wars,  to  whom  the  King  had  given  as  the  reward  of  their  service, 
some  lands  in  Ireland,  that  anciently  belonged  to  some  Spaniards. 
These  now  coming  over  out  of  Spain  to  Ireland,  did  claim  their 
lands,  and  gave  in  their  claims  to  the  Court  of  Claims  in  Dublin. 
At  last  the  business  was  referred  to  the  King,  who  judged  the 
claims  of  the  Spaniards  to  be  valid,  and  ordained  them  to  be  pos- 
sessed in  their  lands,  and  the  present  possessors,  his  servants,  that 
had  hazarded  their  lives  for  him  and  his  father,  to  be  dispossessed; 
which,  they  taking  so  evil,  began  to   bethink  themselves  how  to 

*  Alexander  Bui-net  was  son  of  Mr  John  Burnet,  a  parocliial  minister  in  Scotland. 
"  Upon  the  Restoration  he  became  chaplain  to  General  Rutherford,  his  father's  first 
cousin,  who  was  made  Earl  of  Teviot  sometime  after.  When  this  heroic  lord  was  con- 
stituted governor  of  Dunkirk,  Mr  Burnet  had  an  English  congregation  there.  He 
was  made  Bishop  of  Aberdeen  upon  the  death  of  Bishop  Mitchell,  anno  September 
16G3,  and  the  year  after  was  translated  to  Glasgow  ;  and  after  Bishop  Sharp's  murder, 
to  the  See  of  St  Andrews,  where  he  died,  on  the  24th  of  August  1684." — Keith's  Cata- 
logue of  Scottish  Bishops,  42,  43. 


1663.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  445 

defend  themselves,  and  keep  their  own  lands.  But  they,  by  the 
King's  warrant  and  authority,  before  they  could  be  in  a  posture  of 
defence,  were  taken  and  disarmed,  and  all  of  them  dispossessed  of 
their  lands,  which  were  given  to  wicked  Papists.  At  this  time 
Papists  were  very  numerous  and  proud  in  Ireland,  openly  avowing 
their  religion,  and  boasting  of  great  things.  Yea,  even  in  Scot- 
land, there  were  many  Papists,  Jesuits,  and  seminary  priests, 
openly  going  up  and  down  in  Edinburgh,  but  disguised.  Their 
meetings  were  known  to  be  in  several  parts  of  the  town  for  their 
idolatrous  mass  ;  so  that  there  were  great  fears  that  Papistry 
would  again  get  footing  in  this  land ;  and  these  fears  were  not 
groundless. 

About  the  middle  of  July,  there  came  out  an  act  and  proclamation 
from  the  Secret  Council,  concerning  ministers  (with  many  specious 
pretences  in  the  narrative  of  it)  concerning  ministers  admitted  both 
before  and  since  1649,  mentioning  several  former  acts,  viz.,  that  at 
Glasgow,  October  1,  1662  ;  and  that  which  followed  concerning 
ministers  admitted  since  1649;  and  an  Act  of  Parliament,  ordaining 
ministers  that  did  not  come  to  the  Episcopal  Synods  to  be  suspended 
for  not  coming  to  the  first,  and  deposed  for  not  coming  to  the  se- 
cond. In  the  second  part  of  it,  it  ordained  those  ministers  that 
had  been  admitted  since  1649,  and  had  still  continued  preaching, 
to  be  called  before  the  Council,  and  censured  as  contemners  of 
authority.  And  for  those  ministers  admitted  before  1649,  they 
being  by  the  Bishop  suspended  for  not  coming  to  the  first,  and  de- 
posed for  not  coming  to  the  second  Synod,  their  kirks  arc  to  be 
declared  vacant,  and  they  ordained  to  remove  from  them,  their 
manses  and  glebes.  In  the  close  of  this  proclamation,  penalties 
were  imposed  upon  all  ranks  of  persons  that  did  not  keep  their 
own  parish  kirks ;  for,  at  this  time,  many  persons  disliking  Epis- 
copal government  and  the  Conformists,  did  not  hear  them,  but 
went  and  heard  Unconform  ministers  in  other  parishes  than 
their  own.  This  proclamation  being  published,  the  Unconform 
ministers  of  the  diocese  of  St  Andrews,  that  Avcre  admitted 
before  1649,    thought  themselves  secure,   until  the  Prelate  held 


446  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BEAIR.  [1  6G3. 

his  Episcopal  Synod  in  October,  because  he  did  not  hohl  his 
Synod  in  April,  being  at  Court.  Neither  did  he,  at  his  first 
Synod  in  October  16(52,  suspend  any  minister  for  not  coming 
to  the  Synod,  '  but '  only  referred  them  to  the  Council  for 
censure. 

The  Lord  Warriston  having  been  several  times  before  the 
Council  and  Parliament,  was  at  last  condemned  by  the  Parliament 
to  be  hanged  at  the  Cross  of  Edinburgh,  July  22,  and  his  head 
to  be  affixed  on  the  Nether  Bow.  The  sentence  was  intimate  to 
him  fourteen  days  before,  which  was  granted  to  him  as  a  favour, 
because  of  his  sickness  and  distemper.  He  died  resolutely  and 
christianly,  much  regretting  his  gross  compliance  with  the  usurpers 
and  sectaries  at  London,  as  his  most  gross  and  scandalous  guilti- 
ness. He  read  a  paper  upon  the  scaffold,  especially  declaring  his 
adherence  to  his  principles  in  relation  to  our  unhappy  divisions, 
but  aggraging  his  defection  by  a  gross  compliance  with  the  English. 
He  was  a  godly,  learned  man,  but  of  too  fiery  and  hasty  temper  of 
spirit,  in  our  shameful  and  sinful  divisions. 

About  this  time,  both  the  Parliaments  of  England  and  Scotland 
being  sitting,  they  were  contending  about  matters  of  traflfic  and 
trading,  making  acts  mutually  entrenching  upon  others.  But 
Avhile  thev  are  thus  contestino-  the  Secret  Council  is  contesting 
with  some  ministers.  There  were  several  ministers  summoned  be- 
fore them,  some  admitted  before  1649,  that  were  leading  men, 
especially  in  the  west  and  south  ;  others  since  1649,  who  had  not 
obtemperat  the  act  at  Glasgow,  October  1,  1602.  Of  this  class 
there  was  only  one  censured  at  this  time,  one  Mr  Hardie.*  His 
censure  was,  that  he  should  remove  from  his  kirk  twenty  miles,  to 
any  place,  providing  it  were  six  miles  from  any  bishop's  seat,  and 
three  miles  from  any  royal  burgh.  This  willly,  but  wickedly  con- 
trived censure,  was  thought  to  be  the  brood  of  Sharp's  brain,  whose 
word  now  was  a  law  to  the  Secret  Council,  none  daring  to  oppose 
what  he  proposed.     This  censure  Mr  Hardie  obeyed ;  but  it  was 

*  Mr  .John  Ilanlie,  minister  of  Gurflun.— IIW/'oh-'s  Hhtonj,  i.  .'571, 


1663.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  447 

given  out  that  it  was  to  be  a  common  censure  to  all  Unconform 
ministers. 

About  the  beginning  of  August,  the  Prelate  Sharp  wrote  letters 
to  his  constant  moderators,  that  they  should  summon  those  minis- 
ters that  were  admitted  since  1649,  and  put  them  to  give  their 
reasons,  why  they  had  continued  preaching,  and  yet  did  not  keep 
the  precinct  meetings,  (for  some  ministers,  upon  several  accounts 
and  supposed  warrants,  had  returned  to  their  charges),  being  dis- 
charged by  Acts  of  Parliament  and  Secret  Council ;  and  to  show 
them,  that  if  they  did  not  keep  the  meetings  of  the  brethren  for 
exercise,  before  the  15th  of  August,  they  would  be  proceeded 
against  as  contemners  of  authority,  and  the  laws  of  the  kingdom  ; 
and  that  they  should  make  intimation  to  ministers  admitted  before 
1649,  that  if  they  did  not  keep  the  meetings  for  exercise  before 
August  15,  they  would  be  noticed  as  contemners  of  authority 
and  the  laws.  Wliere  the  moderators  were  discreet  and  moderate 
they  did  little  in  obedience  to  this  letter ;  only  they  made  the 
fashion  to  confer  with  Unconform  ministers,  to  drift  time. 

About  the  middle  of  August  there  came  out  an  act  of  the  Secret 
Council,  concerning  unconform  ministers,  to  this  purpose,  That 
whereas  there  had  been  an  act  at  Glasgow,  October  1,  1662,  and 
other  acts,  discharging  ministers  admitted  since  1649,  to  preach, 
&c.,  and  commanding  them  to  remove  from  their  kirks  and  manses, 
yet  several  ministers  had  continued  preaching  at  their  kirks,  scan- 
dalously in  contempt  of  authority  ;  therefore  the  Secret  Council 
commands  them,  within  twenty  days,  to  remove  from  their  kirks 
twenty  miles,  six  miles  from  any  bishop's  seat,  and  three  miles  from 
any  royal  burgh. 

When  this  act  was  under  debate,  several,  both  noblemen  and 
others,  did  profess  that  it  was  an  unreasonable  and  sharp  censure. 
But  the  truth  was  it  was  devised  by  the  Bishops,  especially  by 
Archprelate  Sharp,  to  redact  ministers  unto  greatest  straits,  and 
to  render  it  impossible  for  them  to  educate  their  children  at  schools 
and  colleges,  they  not  being  able  to  maintain  them  unless  they 
lived  in  these  places. 


448  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663. 

As  for  those  ministers  admitted  before  1649,  they  were  com- 
manded under  highest  pains  to  attend  the  Synods  in  October. 
About  this  time  Mr  Wood,  provost  of  the  Old  College  at  St 
Andrews,  is  summoned  over  by  the  Council.  ISIr  Wood  at  his 
appearance  before  the  Council,  was  interrogated  anent  his  entry  to 
that  place  in  the  Old  College,  (he  having  entered  to  it  under  the 
English),  and  challenged  why  he  continued  in  it  after  the  act  at 
Glasgow.  To  the  which  Mr  Wood  answered  modestly  and  perti- 
nently. But  INIr  Wood  being  removed  and  called  in  again,  his 
place  in  the  Old  CoUege  is  declared  vacant,  and  he  confined  in  the 
to^vn  of  Edinburgh  during  the  Council's  pleasure.  Doubtless  it 
galled  the  Prelate  Sharp  that  this  while  by-past  he  had  lived  at  St 
Andrews  and  had  never  so  much  as  made  a  visit  to  him.  The 
truth  was,  after  Mr  Blair's  removal  from  St  Andrews,  Mr  Wood 
was  the  Prelate's  great  eye-sore,  for  he  looked  upon  him  as  the 
main  ringleader  of  the  Non-conformists  in  that  place.  Thus  did 
he  requite  Mr  Wood  for  advancing  him,  by  procuring  him  first  to 
be  discharged  preaching,  and  now  to  be  outed  of  his  place  in  the 
College,  and  discharged  to  dwell  in  St  Andrews,  where  he  was 
born  and  bred.  Shortly  after  this  Mr  Andrew  Honeyman,  by  the 
Parliament  is  appointed  overseer  of  the  Old  College,  and  so  it  was 
thought  that  he  was  to  be  provost  of  that  CoUege  ;  so  that  in  one 
year  he  might  get  two  Naboths'  vineyards.  Two  of  the  masters 
of  that  College  protested,  and  took  instruments  against  the  order  of 
Parliament  ordaining  !Mr  Honeyman  to  be  overseer  of  that  Col- 
lege, as  being  contrary  to  their  oath  at  their  admission.  Yea,  Mr 
Honeyman  himself  confessed  that  it  clashed  with  the  fundamental 
laws  of  that  College,  yet  he  accepted  of  the  place,  and  obeyed  the 
Parliament's  act,  being  now  of  a  debauched  conscience  by  his  own 
confession  ;  for  preaching  against  Episcopacy,  he  said,  "  If  we 
should  again  turn  to  abjured  Episcopacy,  ye  may  call  us  men  of  a 
debauched  conscience."  Shortly  after  this,  Mr  Wood's  father  at 
St  Andrews  fell  sick.  Mr  Wood  supplicated  the  Council  for  liberty 
to  go  and  visit  his  old  father  in  his  sickness.  After  some  delays 
the  Council  sent  an  order  to  Mr  Wood,  permitting  him  to  repair 


1063.]  LIFE  OF  KOBERT  BLAIR.  449 

to  St  Andrews  to  visit  his  fntlier  in  his  sickness,  and  to  abide  there 
during  the  Council's  pleasure,  until  he  should  be  called  for  by  them. 
So  Mr  Wood  returned  to  St  Andrews. 

While  our  Parliament  and  Secret  Council  are  dealing  thus  with 
unconform  ministers,  the  Nonconformists  in  Ireland  are  in  a  more 
sad  condition  ;  for  after  they  were  outed  and  lurking  in  their 
parishes,  all  of  them  almost  are  seized  on  and  imprisoned.  There 
were  three  of  them  more  strictly  kept  than  the  rest,  because  they 
had  (being  circumvened  by  the  craft  of  their  enemies)  confessed 
that  they  knew  of  a  plot  against  the  Bishops,*  and  had  not  revealed 
it  before  that  time,  though  they  told  that  they  neither  believed  it 
nor  did  approve  of  it.  The  three  ministers  were  Mr  John  Greig, 
Mr  John  Hart,  formerly  minister  at  Crail,  and  ^Ir  Andrew  Stewart. 
Some  thought  that  their  life  was  in  hazard.  Several  j  persons  sus- 
pected of  that  plot  were  apprehended  and  executed  at  Dublin. 
After  the  ministers  had  for  a  long  space  been  detained  in  prison, 
in  the  latter  end  of  September,  all  of  them  except  the -three  fore- 
named,  were  dismissed,  upon  bond  to  depart  that  kingdom,  with  a 
pass  that  they  had  no  accession  to  the  late  plot,  and  so  the  most 
part  of  them  in  the  north  of  Ireland  being  Scotsmen,  came  to 
Scotland,  which  occasioned  the  Council  to  make  an  act,  Septem- 
ber 7,  relating  to  a  former  act,  February  22,  anno  1661,  to  this 
purpose : — 

"Whereas  the  Parliament  by  their  act,  February  22, 1601,  finding 
that  many  fanatics  were  coming  out  of  Ireland,  expecting  shelter 
here,  &c.,  and  that  it  much  concerned  the  public  peace  that  such 
wasps  should  have  no  countenance,  &c.,  did  declare  that  none 
coming  from  Ireland,  without  a  sufficient  pass  of  their  peaceable 
carriage,  and  conformity  to  the  laws,  should  be  allowed  any  resi- 
dence here,  but  that  they  should  be  seized  upon  and  imprisoned 

♦  This  was  a  conspiracy  formed  by  some  members  of  Parliament  and  others,  who 
had  been  deprived  of  their  hinds,  whieli  liad  been  restored  by  Cliarlcs  to  the  Papists. 
In  this  i)lot  the  notorious  Colonel  Blood  took  an  active  Y)iu■t.—^f'Cn^'s  Memoirs  of 
Vcitch,  &c.,  p.  130,  &c.     li(-id,  ii.  371,  &c. 

t  Here  a  leaf  is  wanting  in  our  MS.,  but  the  matter  is  preserved  in  the  MS.  belong- 
ing to  J.  J.  Gibson  Craig,  Esq.,  from  which  we  print  for  several  pages. 

2f 


450  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663. 

unless  they  would  remove  out  of  the  kingdom  within  fifteen  days  ; 
as  also  that  they  that  had  such  passes  should  appear  before  the  Par- 
liament or  Council,  and  make  known  the  causes  of  their  coming 
over,  and  give  bond  for  their  peaceable  carriage,  otherwise  to  re- 
move within  fifteen  days,  or  else  to  be  dealt  with  as  seditious  and 
factious  persons,  &c.  But  seeing  persons  were  not  nominated  be- 
fore whom  they  should  appear,  &c.,  by  reason  whereof  several 
ministers  are  come  from  Ireland,  not  acknowledging  Parliament  or 
Council,  taking  upon  them  to  preach,  &c.,  the  Council  renews  the 
said  act  and  oi'dains  it  to  be  put  in  execution,  and  for  that  end 
nominates  Glencairn,  Eglintoun,  &c.,  or  any  one  of  them,  to  call 
before  them  persons  coming  from  Ireland,  wanting  sufficient  passes, 
and  to  secure  them  in  prison  and  examine  them  anent  their  com- 
ing over,  and  to  take  security  of  them  for  their  peaceable  carriage, 
&c." 

Moreover  the  Council  taking  to  their  consideration,  that  not- 
withstanding several  acts  made  for  preventing  of  separation  and 
disobedience  to  authority,  divers  persons  separate  themselves  from 
the  meetings  of  divine  worship,  where  ministers  are  legally  settled, 
and  that  some  do  pervert  the  true  meaning  of  the  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment against  separation  :  therefore  the  Council  declares  that  they 
shall  be  proceeded  against  as  transgressors  of  the  act,  who  with- 
draw from  their  parishes  after  three  public  admonitions  after  divine 
service,  and  does  discharge  persons,  who  being  formerly  elders, 
take  upon  them  to  pervert  people  and  to  misinform  them,  &c.,  and 
requires  all  such  as  shall  be  called  by  ministers  to  assist  them,  &c., 
to  accept  of  the  office,  and  requires  all  persons  in  office  to  assist 
ministers  to  exact  penalties  from  delinquents.  And  all  are  re- 
quired, as  they  will  answer,  to  put  this  act  in  execution. 

The  main  business  that  did  take  up  the  Parliament  was  the  Act 
of  Billets.  The  King  in  his  letter  to  the  Parliament  did  declare 
his  very  great  dissatisfaction  with  that  most  unjust,  unreason- 
able, and  illegal  Act  of  Billets  ;  desiring  the  Parliament  accu- 
rately to  search  out  and  try  who  were  the  contrivers  and  authors 
of  that  act,  and  to  report  their  diligence  to  him.     The  Commis- 


10G3.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  451 

sioner,  after  the  reading  of  the  King's  letter,  urged  that  the  Par- 
liament without  delay  would  set  about  the  trial  of  these  unhappy 
billeters.  His  desire  was  seconded  by  Lauderdale,  several  noble- 
men, and  the  Prelate  Sharp,  calling  it  "  that  wicked  Act  of  Billets." 
But  there  was  another  faction  in  the  Parliament,  (whereof  Dum- 
fries, Aboyne,  and  Prelate  Paterson  of  Ross,  were  the  chief  leaders), 
who  set  their  wits  a-work  to  cast  in  remoras  [obstacles]  to  retard 
the  trial  of  the  billeters.  So  after  some  votes  about  the  way  of 
proceeding  for  obedience  to  his  Majesty's  letter,  a  committee  of 
seven  was  nominated,  who  were  commanded  to  use  all  diligence 
for  the  trial  of  these  billeters,  that  report  might  be  made  to  the 
King.  Those  upon  the  committee  were  the  Commissioner,  Lauder- 
dale, the  Bishop  of  St  Andrews,  Sir  John  Gilmour,  &c. 

After  the  Committee  had  sitten  and  done  all  possible  diligence 
for  the  findmg  out  of  these  billeters,  their  report  was  read  in  Par- 
liament. The  depositions  of  several  persons  were  read,  shewing 
the  accession  of  several  persons  to  the  contriving  and  carry- 
ing on  of  that  design ;  but  the  persons'  names  were  not  read. 
Dumfries  and  others  being  displeased  with  that  way  of  procedure, 
called  it  a  second  Act  of  Billets.  After  much  debate,  it  was  con- 
cluded by  vote  of  Parliament,  that  the  report  of  the  committee 
should  be  sent  to  the  King,  with  the  names  of  the  persons,  still 
concealing  them  in  Parliament ;  and  Sir  William  Bruce  was  sent 
to  the  King  with  the  report  of  the  committee,  and  the  Parliament's 
letter  thereanent.  The  Middletonians  to  prevent  what  might  tend 
to  their  prejudice,  sent  up  Gradane's  brother  to  the  King.  The 
King  being  in  his  progress,  it  was  some  space  of  time  before  Sir 
William  Bruce  was  despatched  with  the  King's  answer  to  the  Par- 
liament. Besides  this  there  were  some  other  things  about  the 
which  the  Parliament  desired  to  be  advised  by  the  King,  viz., 
anent  the  business  of  fining,  and  what  course  should  be  taken  with 
Nonconformists,  especially  the  prime  men  of  that  way,  and  par- 
ticularly what  should  be  done  with  Mv  Robert  Blair ;  for  it  did 
not  a  little  gall  the  Archprelate  Sharp  that  he  was  pemiitted  to 
dwell  in  Kirkcaldy.     Several  attempts  were  made  by  the  Prelates 

2r2 


452  L^t'I'  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663. 

to  "-et  him  put  out  of  Kirkcaldy,  and  put  either  into  Inverness  or 
Dunnotar  Castle.     But  still  the  Lord  disappointed  them. 

The  King  wrote  to  the  Parliament  with  Sir  William  Bruce,  re- 
turning them  many  thanks  for  the  great  pains  they  had  taken  in 
trvino-  out  these  billeters.  But  what  was  further  to  be  done  in 
that  affair,  he  wrote  that  he  had  sent  instructions  to  his  Commis- 
sioner ;  as  also  anent  the  other  particulars  in  Sir  William  Bruce's 
instructions.  After  some  debate  in  Parliament,  in  end,  all  was 
referred  back  again  to  the  King,  viz.,  whether  the  plotters  of  the 
Act  of  Billets  should  be  incapacitated  or  not,  or  what  should  be 
their  punishment  ;  as  also  anent  the  matter  of  fining,  who  should 
be  fined,  what  their  fines  should  be,  &c.  So  these  two  great  matters 
being  thus  ordered,  the  Parliament  hasted  to  a  close,  making  an 
act  in  favours  of  those  that  had  suffered  in  the  King's  service  in  the 
late  troubles,  viz.,  Crawford,  Lauderdale,  Sinclair,  &c.,  that  they 
should  get  abatement  of  eight  years'  interest  of  sums  resting  to 
their  creditors.  The  like  favour  was  lil^ewise  to  be  allowed  to  their 
sureties. 

The  Bishops  also  obtained  an  Act  of  Parliament  for  convening  of 
a  National  Synod,  as  they  called  it,  or  a  convocation  of  the  clergy 
for  fiilly  settling  of  their  government,  but  the  time  and  place  there- 
of were  left  to  the  King's  determination.  The  closing  and  riding 
of  the  Parliament  being  delayed,  (occasioned  by  a  letter  from  the 
King  to  them,  desiring  that  the  tailzie  of  the  estate  of  Buccleuch 
to  the  Earl  of  Tweeddale  might  be  broken,  anent  the  which  busi- 
nesses the  Parliament  sent  up  Henry  Mackie  to  the  King),  the  Arch- 
prelate  Sharp  came  over  to  St  Andrews,  September  12,  to  conse- 
crate Dr  Burnet,  who  was  elected  Bishop  of  Aberdeen,  Mitchell 
being  dead.  The  consecration  was  September  18.  Some  months 
before  this,  the  old  Prelate  Sydserff  died  ;  and  in  the  beginning  of 
November  ensuing,  died  Fairfoul,  bishop  of  Glasgow.  After  the 
consecration  the  Archprelate  returned  to  Edinburgh,  September 
21.  Shortly  thereafter  Henry  Mackie  returned  with  instructions 
to  the  Commissioner  about  the  breaking  of  the  foresaid  tailzie,  which 
was  done  by  an  Act  of  Parliament,  carrying  this  express  proviso 


1663.]  LIFE  OF  ROBKKT  BLAIR.  4,53 

and  caution,  that  in  nowise  it  should  be  a  preparative  for  the 
future.  All  this  Avas  done  in  favours  of  the  Kind's  base  son,  the 
Duke  of  Monmouth  and  Buccleuch,  now  married  to  the  heiress  of 
that  estate,  that  he  might  succeed  to  it,  though  she  died  shortly, 
or  had  no  children. 

Matters  being  thus  ordered  and  concluded,  the  Parliament  did 
close  and  ride  according  to  their  old  custom,  October  9.  Of  the 
fourteen  prelates  only  eight  did  ride.  The  Archbishop  Sharp  was 
offended  that  they  did  not  all  ride  in  state  or  pomp.  Some  did  ex- 
cuse themselves  that  they  were  not  provided  with  horses  and  foot- 
mantles,  being  superexpended  by  attending  the  Parliament  so  long. 
As  for  Burnet  and  Leighton,  they  pretended  that  they  desired  not 
that  worldly  pomp  and  state.  Bishop  Fairfowl  did  ride  up  the 
street,  but  falling  sick  in  the  afternoon,  Avas  not  able  to  ride  down 
again  to  the  Abbey.  After  some  few  weeks'  sickness  he  died, 
(though  he  could  not  be  persuaded  that  he  would  die,  still  hoping 
to  recover),  unregretted  by  good  men,  yea,  not  by  those  of  the 
clergy  over  whom  he  lorded  it.  So  at  this  time  there  were  two 
Sees  (as  they  called  them)  vacant,  viz.,  Glasgow  and  Orkney. 
These  being  tAvo  great  benefices,  there  Avere  many  dogs  striving 
about  these  tAvo  fat  bones.  In  the  close  of  the  Parliament,  the 
Lord  Lorn,  the  Lord  Argyle's  eldest  son,  was,  by  the  King's  gift, 
restored  and  declared  to  be  Earl  of  Argyle.  He  most  unjustly  re- 
fused to  pay  his  father's  debts. 

Shortly  before  the  closing  of  this  Parliament,  the  honest  Earl  o* 
CraAvford  came  to  Edinbm-gh.  He  was  looked  upon  as  the  great 
patron  of  the  Presbyterians,  and  as  a  stout  assertor  of  the  Cove- 
nant. After  his  third  daughter  Avas  married  to  her  cousin  Sir  Kobert 
Sinclair,  (Avhich  Avas  judged  a  second  cast  of  kind  and  liberal  pro- 
vidence, providing  so  Avell  for  his  second  son  and  third  daughter), 
he  retired  himself  to  his  private  dwelling  at  the  Struthers  in  the 
beo-innino;  of  November.  But  Avhilc  he  is  retired,  enjoying  the 
peace  of  a  good  conscience  far  from  Court,  the  grandees  are  con- 
tending about  places,  court  fsivour  and  their  interests.  The  Eai-1 
of  Rothes,  treasurer,  and  Lauderdale,  secretary,  posted  to  Court 


454  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLxUR.  [1663. 

immediately  after  the  riding  of  the  Parliament.  Before  their  going 
there  were  great  animosities  and  jealousies  betwixt  Rothes  and 
Glencaira  the  Chancellor ;  so  that  it  was  thought  the  Chancellor's 
ruin  and  breaking  was  concluded  betwixt  Rothes  and  Lauderdale ; 
for  Lauderdale  did  deeply  resent  the  Chancellor's  accession  to  the 
Act  of  Billets,  and  that  he  strove  to  uphold  Middleton. 

Also,  after  the  riding  of  the  Parliament  the  Archprelate  came  to 
St  Andrews,  and  there  convened  his  Diocesan  Court  in  the  end  of 
October.  Some  few  days  before  the  meeting,  all  the  uncon- 
formed  ministers  were  summoned  by  a  messenger-at-arms  to  come 
to  their  meeting  except  four  ministers,  viz.,  Mr  David  Forret,  ISIr 
George  Hamilton,  Mr  Colin  Adams,*  and  Mr  William  Row.  Of 
those  that  were  summoned  none  came  to  the  meeting.  Only  two 
sent  their  excuses,  JVir  Frederick  Carmichael,  and  Mr  Henry 
Wilkie.f  Of  the  rest  four  were  censured,  viz.,  Mr  John  Wardlaw, 
minister  at  Kemback ;  Mr  Henry  Rymer  at  Carnbee  ;  Mr  George 
Belfrage  at  Carnock ;  I  and  Mr  Robert  Young  at  Dumbarney.  The 
first  was  deposed ;  the  other  three  were  suspended.  Mr  Ward- 
law's  sentence,  who  was  not  shnpliciter  deposed,  Avas  grounded 
upon  Acts  of  Parliament  and  Secret  Council ;  and,  therefore,  be- 
cause the  civil  sword  was  drawn  and  shaken  in  his  sentence 
against  him  and  the  rest,  he  submitted  to  the  sentence,  as  did  the 
other  two  who  were  suspected.  As  for  Mr  Robert  Young  he  still 
continued  preaching,  because  in  the  sentence  of  suspension  there 
was  an  alternative,  (whereas  the  sentence  of  deposition  was  abso- 
lute), that  either  they  should  desist  from  preaching  and  other 
ministerial  duties,  or  else  shew  a  reasonable  cause  why  not,  &c. 
The  consideration  of  this  alternative  moved  Mr  Young  to  continue 

*  Mr  Colin  Adams  was  admitted  minister  of  Kilrennie,  in  the  Presbytery  of  St 
Andrews,  IG34;  and  translated  to  Anstrnther  Easter,  November  1G41. — Selections 
from  the  Minutes  of  the  Sijnod  of  Fife,  202,  208. 

t  Mr  Henry  Wilkie  was  admitted  minister  of  Portmoak,  Pebrnary  25,  1633  ;  trans- 
lated to  Wcems,  November  30,  1642  ;  died  October  7,  lG6i.— Selections  from  the 
Minutes  of  Synod  of  Fife,  233,  234. 

t  Mr  .John  Wardlaw  was  admitted  minister  of  Kemback,  ,Jnly  2,  1656.— (/i('(/., 
207.)  Mr  Henry  Rymer  was  admitted  minister  of  Carnbee,  April  24,  1644.  He  was 
alive  at  the  Revolution.— (/(!/(V/.  203.)  Mr  George  Belfrage  was  admitted  minister  of 
Curnock  June  2,  1047.— (/i[<iW.  235.) 


16G3.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  HLAIR.  455 

preaching,  resolving  to  think  on  reasonable  causes  of  his  so  doing, 
&c. 

The  Prelate  of  Dunkekl,  at  his  court,  suspended  four  or  five  minis- 
ters, ]SIr  John  Crookshank,*  Mr  Andrew  Donaldson,t  Mr  John 
Robertson,  &c.  Prelate  Fairfowl's  place  not  being  filled,  there  was 
no  meeting  in  his  diocese,  where  there  were  maniest  uncouformists. 
The  Prelate  of  Edinburg-h  in  his  meetino;  censured  no  unconform 
ministers,  saying,  that  there  were  acts  of  Council  and  Parliament 
against  them,  and  he  would  let  them  stand  to  their  hazard  for  con- 
travening them.  This  Prelate  Wishart  did,  as  was  thought,  to 
make  Sharp  the  more  odious  for  his  violence  and  persecuting  of 
Nonconformists  in  his  diocese.  Yea  it  galled  Wishart  that  he 
was  so  high  in  Court,  and  so  promoted  by  the  King ;  for  the 
King  and  Secret  Council  had  given  him  more  power  than  ever 
any  bishop  or  primate  had  in  Scotland,  viz.,  that  he  should  have 
the  filling  of  all  the  vacant  sees,  naming  bishops  for  them  ;  that 
he  should  have  a  negative  voice  in  the  convocation  that  was  to  be ; 
and  that  he  should  be  in  efiect  sine  quo  non  in  all  Kirk  affairs. 
Yea,  such  was  his  subtlety  and  wicked  policy,  that  he  obtained  from 
the  rest  of  the  Prelates,  by  a  trick  devised  by  himself,  that  no  in- 
formation to  the  King  should  be  accounted  valid  but  what  was 
allowed  by  himself,  either  anent  Kirk  or  State  affairs.  And  now 
he  thinks  that  his  mountain  stands  so  strong  that  it  can  never  be 
moved. 

Shortly  after  this  Diocesan  Court  at  St  Andrews,  he  went 
to  Edinburgh,  and  shortly  thereafter  to  London,  with  the  Pre- 
late of  Aberdeen,  Burnet.  Prelate  Leighton  also  folloAvcd  them 
to  Court.  But  before  Sharp  took  journey  for  London  he  had 
a   bitter  invective  speech   in   the    Secret    Council,   saying,   that 

*  John  Crookshanks  was  minister  of  Rogerton,  in  the  Prcsbvteiy  of  Perth.  lie 
joined  the  party  of  the  Covenanters  who,  in  16GG,  rose  up  in  arms  ;  preached  before 
the  renewing  of  the  Covenants  ut  Lanark  ;  and  was  slain  at  Teiitland  Hills'  en- 
gagement.—  Wodrow's  Jlision/,  i.  328  ;  ii.  2o,  30. 

t  Mr  Andrew  Donaldson  was  minister  of  Dalgetty,  in  the  Prcshytcrj-  of  Dunferm- 
line.—(/6i(/.  i.  328.)  He  was  admitted  to  that  parish  in  1G44,  Dalgetty  having  been 
erected  into  a  separate  parish  in  ICA'S.  He  was  outed  in  1G(U,  but  was  restored  to 
his  old  jiarish  in  1688,  and  died  in  1G05.— (/W(/.  237.) 


456  1>IFK  OF  ROBEKT  BLAIK.  [1663. 

he  wat;  at?riured  that  there  was  a  most  dangerous  plot  of  dreadful 
consequence  in  hand  betwixt  disaffected  noblemen  and  recusant 
ministers,  and  therefore  willed  the  Council  to  look  well  to  themselves, 
to  bestir  themselves ;  especially  he  did  chide  them  for  not  putting 
in  execution  their  own  acts  made  against  recusant  ministers.  But 
being  desired  by  some  of  the  Council  to  inform  the  Council  of 
these  plots,  what  they  wei'e  and  who  were  the  plotters,  that  they 
might  be  condignly  punished,  he  replied,  that  he  would  not  be  the 
delator  of  any  man ;  but  still  he  did  chide  them  for  not  putting  in 
execution  their  acts.  This  he  did  and  said  to  stir  up  the  Secret 
Council  to  be  his  executioners  and  burners  against  ministers  and 
other  honest  people  that  durst  not  comply  with  the  sinful  course 
of  the  time ;  or  if  he  had  any  pretext  for  or  suspicion  of  what  he 
spoke  anent  plots,  it  was  thought  to  be  because  the  Earl  of  Craw- 
ford, when  he  came  along  to  the  Struthers,  did,  vipon  the  street, 
and  even  at  the  cross  of  Kirkcaldy,  speak  to  Mr  Blair,  (whom  he 
had  not  seen  for  thirteen  years),  his  wife  and  children,  and  that 
in  the  hearing  of  the  magistrates  and  many  indwellers  in  Kirk- 
caldy ;  so  that  unless  pure  malice  had  stirred  up  Sharp,  being 
against  Crawford  and  Mr  Blair,  he  could  never  have  fancied  that 
they  would  then  and  there  have  plotted,  yea,  or  spoken  any  thing 
against  him  or  his  kingdom,  but  mala  'mens,  malus  anirmis. 

But  the  Council  knew  there  were  no  such  plots  as  the  Prelate 
pretended,  nor  any  such  thing  betwixt  noblemen  and  honest  minis- 
ters, who  did  most  loyally  obey  the  Secret  Council's  and  Parlia- 
ment's acts  ;  yet  they  wrote  letters  to  their  respective  sheriffs  and 
their  deputies,  or  sheriff-clerks,  desiring  them,  that  betwixt  the 
date  thereof  and  the  1st  of  January  1664,  they  would  delate  and 
give  up  to  the  Council  the  names  of  such  ministers  as  do  not  in 
every  thing  obey  the  last  act  and  proclamation.  Neither  did  the 
persecuting  Prelate's  rage  and  malice  there  sist ;  for  shortly  after 
this  had  passed  in  the  Secret  Council  he  went  to  London,  enraged 
against  all  Nonconformists  and  godly  people  that  durst  not  com- 
l)ly  witli  all  the  wicked  courses  of  this  time  of  defection  and 
national   perjury.      And   what  was   his  wish   and   negotiating   at 


1663.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  457 

London  shortly  appeared  by  the  effects ;  for  not  h)ng  after  his 
coming  to  Court  the  King  wrote  down   tAvo  shai-p  letters  to  the 
Conncil.    In  the  first  he  did  expostulate  with  them,  yea,  and  chide 
them  for  not  putting  in  execution  their  own  acts  made  against 
Nonconformists.      In  the  other  he  ordained  the  Secret  Council  to 
put  all  persons  in  pubhc  trust  in  the  state  to  take  the  Declaration 
against  the  Covenants,  otherwise,  for  the  first,  to  lose  their  places, 
&c.     Some  of  the  Lords  of  Session  refused  to  take  it,  viz.,  Lord 
Stairs,  Arnistoun,  &c. ;  some  advocates,  viz.,  Mr  Robei't  Burnet, 
&c. ;  some  writers,  viz.,  ]\Ir  John  Bain,  &c. ;  and  other  honest  and 
godly  people  in  towns  ;  but  comparatively  there  were  but  few,  yea, 
very  few,  who  did  refuse  it,  Dcut.  xxix.  10-16,  and  24,  25  verses. 
All  this  while  by-past,  INIr  Blair  sojourns  and  lurks  in  Kirkcaldy. 
But  though  he  was  debarred  from  public  preaching,  and  other  du- 
ties of  his  calling  among  the  people  of  his  charge,  from  whom  he 
was  violently  thrust  away,  yet  he  was  not  idle ;  for,  first,  he  was 
perfecting  his  Annotations  on  the  Proverbs ;  and  besides  his  lec- 
turing and  praying  every  day  twice  in  his  family,  he  kept  the  last 
day  of  every  month  as  days  of  humiliation,  &c. ;  some  few  of  the 
godly  people  of  that  town  being  admitted  to  join  Avith  his  family 
in  that  blessed  and  most  necessary  exercise,  and  as  his  near  rela- 
tions and  Christian  friends  came  and  visited  him,  he  still  had  short 
lectures  and  prayers  to  entertain  them  Avith.     And  noAv  about  this 
time,  the  places  of  honest  outed  ministers  being  filled,  with,  for  the 
most  part,  insufficient  and  scandalous  men,  especially  in  the  Avest, 
and  those  that  conformed  giving  ofi^ence  to  the  godly  by  so  doing, 
there  Avere  many  and  great  debates  among  ministers,  anent  hear- 
ing the  Conformists,   Avho  are  (;ommonly  called  Curates.     Some 
thought  it  unlaAvfid  to  hear  any  Confonnist ;  others  did  class  them. 
Some  of  them  had  been  orderly  called  and  ordained  by  Presbyters. 
Others  were  thrust  in  upon  parishes  over  their  belly,  and  admitted 
by  the  Prelates  in  a  sinftd  Avay,  and  they  again  either  intruded 
and  put  in  the  places  of  outed  ministers  that  were  living,  Avho 
Avere  twice  intiiulers,  or  thrust  into  the  places  of  honest  ministers 
that  were  dead.     But  of  thcni  all  they  Avere  looked  iqx)!!  with  the 


458  Lll^'^  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663. 

worst  eye  that  not  only  were  Intruders,  but  thrust  in  by  Sharp, 
who  in  Eno-hind  had  quit  his  ordination  and  was  re-ordained  by 
the  English  Prelates.  Those  that  thus  ranked  and  classed  them, 
thought  that  they  of  the  first  class  might  be  heard  with  some  cau- 
tions and  caveats.  Others,  though  they  acknowledged  some  dif- 
ference among  them,  yet  they  called  them  all  one  gate  *  as  cattle  of 
one  gang,  and  either  heard  none  of  them  or  heard  them  all.  Thus 
there  were  diverse  opinions  and  practices  among  unconform  mi- 
nisters and  people.  IVIi"  Blair,  who  always  shunned  unwarrantable 
extremes,  and  was  not  for  a  total  separation,  his  opinion  and 
practice  was,  that  those  ministers  that  were  orderly  called  by  pa- 
rishes, and  ordained  by  Presbyters,  might  be  heard,  (especially  they 
that  professed  they  were  in  their  judgment  Presbyterian),  so  long 
as  they  kept  the  doctrine  sound  and  the  worship  unmixed,  but 
with  these  cautions  :  first,  that  the  person  intending  to  hear  them 
should  first  before  hearing,  speak  to  such  Conformists,  laying  out 
to  them  the  guilt  of  their  defection  and  apostacy,  by  their  conform- 
ity, and  declaring  to  them  that  they  did  not  look  upon  them  as 
their  honest  lawfiil  ministers  ;  secondly,  that  they  should  not  hear 
them  constantly ;  thirdly,  that  they  should  not  submit  to  be  cate- 
chised by  them.  But  as  for  intruders,  either  those  that  were 
thrust  in  by  the  Prelates  in  living  ministers'  places,  or  in  the 
charge  of  honest  dead  ministers,  his  opinion  was  that  they  should 
not  be  countenanced  nor  heard.  Neither  did  he  ever  advise  honest 
people  to  hear  such. 

Mr  Blair  now,  in  the  time  of  his  retirement,  to  recruit  himself, 
being  wearied  with  studies,  lecturing  and  preaching,  (being  of  a 
very  public  spirit),  he  gave  himself  much  to  learn  intelligence  of 
foreign  affairs,  especially  how  it  fared  with  the  Kirks  over  seas, 
and  how  the  Lord  of  Plosts  did  reign,  rule,  and  overrule,  in  the 
kingdoms  of  men.  And,  therefore,  it  shall  not  be  amiss  here  to  re- 
cord some  of  the  chief  actings  of  the  armies  over  seas,  this  winter, 
harvest  and  summer  by-past,  especially  of  the  Great  Turk's  wars 

*  L'uUt'd  them  all  one  gate — Sc,  sent  tliem  all  one  way. 


16G3.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  459 

in  Germany,  Hungary,  &c.  They  prevailed  strangely  in  Hungary, 
yet  there  was  a  stronghold,  Newhausel,  that  most  courageously 
stood  out,  notwithstanding  of  a  long  continued  close  siege,  and 
many  fearful  assaults  of  the  Turk's  great  army,  whereof  he  lost 
30,000  men  in  that  siege.  At  last  they  were  forced  to  capitulate, 
and  rendered  upon  honourable  conditions,  Avhich  Avere  kept  unto 
them.  But  as  for  Moravia,  Silesia,  Croatia,  Austria,  &c.,  they 
were  wholly  laid  desolate,  and  whole  Germany  terribly  affrighted ; 
which  ought  to  be  matter  of  astonishment  and  wondering,  that  the 
Lord  permitted  that  blasphemous  infidel  so  to  prevail  over  Chris- 
tians, and  their  successes,  and  their  standing  monarchy,  so  long 
to  continue  as  a  stumbling-block  and  let  in  the  way  of  the  Jews, 
hindering  their  conversion  and  return  to  Zion.  Yet  that  bloody 
house  of  Austria  was  made  to  drink  blood  from  the  Lord's  hand, 
*  which'  was  thought  a  just  thing  from  the  Lord  tliat  uses  often  to 
repay  sinners  in  their  own  coin. 

But  as  the  victories  and  successes  of  the  Emperor  of  the  Tm'ks 
increased,  so  did  his  pride  and  blasphemies,  not  only  against  Chris- 
tians, but  against  Jesus  Christ  himself,  which  may  apj)ear  by  a 
blasphemous  letter  written  by  the  Emperor  of  the  Turks  to  the 
Emperor  of  Germany,  whereof  the  copy  follows : — 

"  Mahomet,  son  of  the  Emperor,  son  of  God,  thrice  heavenly  and 
thrice  known  by  the  renowned  Emperor  of  the  Turks,  king  of 
Grecia,  Macedonia  and  Moldavia,  king  in  Samaria  and  Ilungaiy, 
king  of  Great  and  Lesser  Egypt,  king  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth,  and  the  earthly  paradise,  guradian  of  the  sepulchre  of  thy 
God,  lord  of  the  tree  of  life,  lord  of  all  the  emperors  of  the  world, 
from  the  east  even  to  the  west,  king  of  all  kings,  grand  persecutor 
of  the  Christians  and  all  the  Avicked,  the  joy  of  the  flourishing  tree, 
the  chieftain  and  guardian  of  thy  crucified  God,  lord  of  the  hope 
of  thy  nation,  We  send  greeting  to  thee.  Emperor  Leopold.  If  thou 
wilt  be  our  friend  and  submit  to  our  dominion,  then  we  will  that 
thy  greatness  be  ample.  Since  these  times  thou  hast  violated  and 
slio-hted  our  friendship,  without  having  ever  been  offended  either 
by  war  or  by  fighting,  of  God,  thou  hast  taken  secret  designs  with 


4G0  LIl^'I^:  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1663. 

other  kings  and  other  confederates,  in  envy  to  shake  off  our  yoke  ; 
in  which  thou  hast  done  imprudently.  This  is  it  for  which  thou 
and  thy  people  ought  to  live  in  fear,  and  to  have  no  other  hope  but 
death,  for  which  cause  thou  hast  prepared  thyself.  But  we  tell 
thee  we  wiU  go  forth  and  be  thy  conqueror,  and  we  will  pursue 
thee  from  the  east  even  to  the  west,  and  will  make  thee  know 
our  majesty  even  to  the  utmost  confines  of  the  earth.  Thou  shalt 
know  our  effects  to  thy  great  damage,  of  which  we  assure  thee, 
and  will  have  thee  to  expect  our  greatness.  Thy  hope  shall  melt 
away  which  thou  hast  in  thy  cities  and  fortresses.  We  resolve 
to  beat  down  and  raze  all  that  appeareth  any  thing  considerable 
in  thine  eyes,  and  thou  shouldst  not  expect  any  other  thing,  and 
shouldst  not  put  confidence  in  thy  strong  walls,  for  we  have  re- 
solved to  destroy  thee  without  remedy.  It  pleaseth  us  for  forage 
Germany,  and  leave  it  to  the  memory  of  our  sword,  to  the  end  all 
these  things  may  be  manifest  to  all.  It  pleaseth  us  to  establish 
our  religion  and  root  out  thy  crucified  God ;  neither  can  there  be 
any  succour  for  thee,  that  thou  mayest  escape  our  hands.  It 
pleaseth  us  also  to  condemn  to  the  chain  thy  holy  priests,  and  to 
deliver  to  the  dogs,  and  other  savage  beasts,  the  dregs  of  thy 
Avomeu.  Therefore  thou  shalt  do  very  wisely  to  renounce  thy  re- 
ligion, otherwise  we  do  order  and  appoint  that  all  be  delivered 
to  the  fire.  This  which  is  said  may  satisfy  thee,  and  thou  mayest 
comprehend  by  this,  if  thou  wilt,  what  our  will  is  toward  thee." 

O  the  long-suffering,  patience,  and  riches  of  forbearance  of  our 
blessed  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  suffers  such  blasphemies  and  blas- 
phemous wretches  to  live,  yea  to  prosper !  But  while  the  Turks 
are  thus  prevailing,  killing  and  plundering  in  Austria,  Moravia, 
Silesia,  &c.,  there  was  one  Count  Nicolas  Sereni  that  did  much 
molest  the  Turks  in  Germany,  killing  many  of  them.  But,  not- 
withstanding the  Turk's  prevailing  in  Moravia,  &c.,  where  he  took 
up  his  winter  quarters,  still  alarming  wliole  Germany,  yet  there 
was  little  appearance  of  a  cordial  conjunction  amongst  the  Chris- 
tian princes  against  the  Turks  ;  so  they  did  help  these  blasphe- 
mous infidels  against  themselves,  undoing  themselves  by  their  un- 


1GG3.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  461 

happy  divisions.  All  this  time  by-past  tlierc  was  great  appearance 
of  open  war  betwixt  the  King  of  France  and  the  Pope.  Sure  the 
King  of  France  was  making  great  preparations  for  war,  and  that 
there  were  great  fears  at  Rome ;  and  indeed  they  had  more  reason 
to  be  afraid  of  the  King  of  France  than  of  the  Great  Turk ;  for  it 
is  clear  from  Scripture  that  not  the  Turks,  but  those  kings  that 
formerly  had  given  their  strength  to  the  whore,  should  destroy  her, 
make  her  naked,  and  burn  her  with  fire.  Rev.  xvii.  12-16.  While 
the  Christians  in  Moravia,  Helvetia  and  Croatia,  &c.,  arc  sorely 
distressed,  their  towns  burned,  and  many  of  them  killed  by  the 
Turks,  the  Protestants  in  the  vallies  of  Piedmont,  fonnerly  called 
Waldenses,  are  sore  distressed.  At  this  time  also  the  Kings  of 
Spain  and  Portugal  are  bickering  against  others.*  Also  the  King 
of  Poland  has  great  armies  in  Poland  and  Lithuania.  What  his 
designs  were  was  not  well  known.  In  this  meantime  our  King 
keeps  a  garrison  in  Tangier,  (which  he  got  from  the  King  of 
Portugal  at  his  marriage  with  his  daughter).  Lord  Rutherford, 
formerly  governor  of  Dunkirk,  now  made  Earl  of  Teviot,  is  gover- 
nor of  Tangier,  and  kept  it  with  a  strong  garrison  against  the 
natives. 

While  the  great  ones  abroad  are  thus  contesting  and  contend- 
ing, the  Turk  against  the  Emperor,  the  King  of  France  against 
the  Pope,  the  King  of  Spain  against  the  King  of  Portugal,  the 
Governor  of  Tangier  against  the  INIoors  in  Africa,  &c.,  our  great 
ones  at  Court  and  at  home  are  hotly  skirmishing  and  contending, 
especially  the  Secretary,  Lauderdale,  against  ]\liddlcton.  Lauder- 
dale gave  in  many  accusations  against  him  to  the  Scottish  Council 
at  London  which  Middleton  could  not  well  answer.  So  ^liddle- 
ton,  succumbing,  he  is  discharged  of  all  his  places  he  enjoyed,  viz., 
his  Ueutenantry  over  the  forces  in  Scotland,  his  keeping  of  the 
Castle  of  Edinburgh,  &c.,  the  King  causing  him  deliver  up  his 
commissions  for  these  places.  Mddleton  thus  decourted,  and  all 
his  places  taken  from  him,  being  ashamed  to  come  to  Scotland,  it 

*  /.  e.,  again.st  cacli  other. 


462  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G64. 

was  reported  that  he  entreated  for  a  pass  to  go  over  seas ;  but  he 
still  abides  at  London,  and  Lauderdale  carries  all  in  Court. 
Kothes  also  is  high  in  Court  and  the  King's  favour,  being  fully 
for  all  the  sinful  courses  of  the  time. 

While  Middle  ton  is  thus  decourted  and  all  his  places  taken  from 
him,  the  Chancellor  has  much  ado  to  keep  his  place,  Lauderdale 
and  Rothes  being  set  and  banded  against  him,  and  at  Court  hav- 
ing the  King's  ear.  Some  reported  that  the  Archprelate  Sharp 
would  get  the  Chancellor's  place ;  others,  that  the  Earl  of  TAveed- 
dale  would  get  it,  being  now  bent  for  the  sinful  courses  of  the 
time.  But  in  this  meantime  the  Chancellor's  place  is  confirmed 
to  him,  yet  so  as  the  proud  Prelate  of  St  Andrews  is  ordained  by 
the  King  to  have  the  precedency  of  him,  which  never  any  Prelate 
in  Scotland  had  before ;  so  that  now  the  Archprelate  of  St  An- 
drews is  the  second  person  next  to  the  King.  This  did  not  a 
little  grieve  and  gall  Glencairn's  proud  spirit.  But  now  he  and 
others  find  it  true  that  was  told  them  by  honest,  anti-Prelatical 
ministers,  viz.,  that  they  would  find,  by  dear-bought  experience, 
but  too  late,  that  if  they  set  up  bishops  again,  they  would  aspire 
higher  than  ever  any  bishops  before  them,  and  would  tread  upon 
their  necks.  This  and  much  more  was  told  him  and  others,  but  they 
would  not  believe  it,  but  said  they  would  defy  them,  for  they  were 
only  for  primitive  and  moderate  Episcopacy,  Episcopus  preses,  not 
Episcopus  princeps ;  to  whom  it  was  replied  by  Mr  Douglas, — • 
"  Pick  a  bishop  to  the  bones,  he'll  soon  gather  flesh  and  blood 
again." 

About  the  beginning  of  January  1664,  the  Archprelate  of  St 
Andrews,  still  asj^iring  higher  and  higher,  obtains  from  the  King 
a  patent  to  be  Primate  of  whole  Scotland,  and  is  called  "  Your 
Grace."  He  is  also  made  one  of  the  Lords  of  the  Exchequer, 
«S;c. 

Middlcton  falling,  his  creatures  fall  with  him,  viz.,  the  Lord 
Tarbet,  the  King's  advocate,  &c.  The  advocate's  place  is  declared 
vacant,  but  was  not  disposed  of  to  any,  he  refusing  to  demit  his 
place,  affirming  that  he  would  bide  a  trial ;  his  place  being  given 


1^64.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  4G3 

him,  ad  vitam  aut  ad  culpam.  So  he  continues  in  the  exercise  of  his 
place. 

About  the  beginning  of  February,  the  Prelate  Sharp,  now  called 
Primate,  your  Grace,  came  to  Edinburgh.  He  brought  with  him 
a  commission  as  terrible  as  the  High  Commission,  the  tyranny 
whereof,  \\\i\\  the  urging  of  the  Service  Book,  was  the  occasion  of 
the  downfall  and  ruin  of  the  Prelates  amio  1637  and  1638.  It 
was  entitled  commission  for  executing  the  laws  in  Church  affairs. 

"CHARLES  REX. 

"  Our  Sovereign  Lord  ordains  a  commission  to  be  passed  and  ex- 
pede  under  his  Majesty's  Greal  Seal  of  the  kingdom  of  Scotland, 
making  mention,"  &c.     See  the  printed  copy.  * 

There  w^ere  many  noblemen,  bishops,  gentlemen  and  burgesses 
uf)on  this  commission,  with  great  and  ample  power  given  to  them, 
but  the  quorum  was  small,  viz.,  five,  an  archbishop  or  bishop  being 
one  of  the  quorum.  It  was  given  at  Whitehall,  the  16th  of  Janu- 
aiy  1664,  and  passed  the  Great  Seal  on  the  24th  of  February. 
The  first  diet  of  the  High  Commission  was  March  2,  at  Edinburgh. 
The  Primate  brought  also  with  him  patents  to  the  vacant  Sees, 
viz.,  a  patent  to  Mr  Andrew  Honeyman,  Ai'chdcan  of  St  Andrews, 
to  be  Bishop  of  Orkney  ;  another  to  the  Bishop  of  Aberdeen,  Bur- 
net, to  be  Archbishop  of  Glasgow  ;  and  a  third  to  Mr  Patrick 
Scougal,  to  be  Bishop  of  Aberdeen. 

Towards  the  close  of  February  the  Prelate  went  from  St  An- 
drews to  Edinburgh.  In  his  going  to  the  water  side,  he  visited 
the  honest  Earl  of  Crawford,  telling  him  that  he  must  not  suppli- 
cate for  favour  for  any  unconform  ministers,  nay,  not  for  the  minis- 
ter of  his  own  parish,  where  he  dwelt,  because  now  he  Avas  re- 
solved to  shew  no  favour  or  forbearance  to  any  except  ^Ir  David 
Forret.  His  cruelty  and  violence  against  all  honest  professors, 
especially  against  unconform  ministers,  appeared  so  soon  as  he  came 
to  Edinburgh.  For  before  his  coming,  the  Laird  of  Earlston  in 
Galloway  was  challenged  by  the  Council  for  keeping  of  convcu- 

♦  Sec  this  doounicnt  in  Wodrow's  Ilistorv,  i.  3S4-386. 


404  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [16()4. 

tides,  and  not  hearing  his  own  minister  ;  he  ingenuously  confess- 
ed that  he  had  no  clearness  to  hear  that  man  that  was  put  in  over 
their  bellies  by  the  Bishop,  in  the  place  of  Mr  John  M'lMillan,  their 
minister,  and  that,  when  honest  ministers  came  to  his  house  they 
exponed  scripture  and  prayed.  The  Council,  until  the  matter 
should  be  tried,  confined  Earlston  to  the  town  of  Edinburgh.  But 
the  Bishop  coming,  did  challenge  the  Chancellor  for  remissness, 
and  not  executing  the  King's  laws  against  delinquents,  and,  in  par- 
ticular, for  confining  of  Earlston  to  Edinburgh,  alleging  it  had  been 
better  to  send  him  to  his  own  house  in  Galloway  than  to  detain 
him  among  the  fanatic  wives  of  Edinburgh.  So  Earlston  is  again 
brought  before  the  Council ;  and  though  it  was  known  that  the 
Council  intended  no  heavy  censure  to  be  put  upon  him,  he  having 
many  friends  in  the  Council,  yet,  (the  Chancellor  and  others,  not 
daring  to  displease  the  Bishop,  but  basely  devoting  themselves  to 
be  his  burners),  by  the  Prelate's  instigation,  the  Council  is  moved 
to  pass  a  sentence  of  banishment  against  Earlston,  banishing  him 
out  of  Scotland  ;  and  so  he  first  passed  to  Newcastle,  and,  after  a 
short  stay,  he  passed  to  London. 

March  2,  the  High  Commission  sat  down,  and  though  their  com- 
mission ordained  them  to  summon  and  call  before  them  all  Popish 
traffickers,  resetters  of  Jesuits  and  seminary  priests,  and  all  who 
say  or  hear  mass,  whereof  there  were  many  in  the  kingdom,  and 
even  not  a  few  of  them  in  Edinburgh,  yet  they  only  ordained  some 
ministers  in  the  West  (where  there  were  maniest  outed,  and  most 
insufficient  and  scandalous  curates  thrust  into  their  places  over  the 
bellies  of  the  honest  unconform  people)  to  be  summoned  to  their 
next  diet,  April  15.  Also  some  complaints  were  given  in  against 
people  that  would  not  hear  these  hirelings  thrust  in  upon  them  in 
the  places  of  their  honest  ministers.  These,  many  of  them  being- 
gentlemen,  wxre  ordained  to  be  summoned  to  their  next  diet  by 
the  curates  whom  they  did  not  acknowledge  to  be  their  ministers. 
This  commission  was  ordained  only  to  endure  until  the  1st  of  No- 
vember, and  after,  till  it  be  discharged  by  his  Majesty. 

All  this  winter  Mr  James  Wood  is  under  a  great  decay  in  his 


1664.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  465 

body  ;  but  in  February,  his  sickness  increasing,  he  was  apprehen- 
sive of  near  approaching  death.  A  little  before  the  Prelate  went 
to  Edinburgh,  he  came  and  visited  Mr  Wood.  Thereafter  he 
spread  reports  that  Mr  Wood  had  fallen  from  his  zeal  for  Presby- 
terian government,  and  that  he  had  said,  that  if  he  were  to  live, 
he  would  be  content  to  live  under  Episcopacy,  &c.  ISIr  Wood,  be- 
ing informed  of  these  reports,  judged  it  absolutely  necessary  to 
vindicate  himself;  which  he  did  first  by  word  of  mouth  before  some 
ministers,  iSlarch  1,  in  the  afternoon,  and  upon  the  morrow  he  did 
dictate  this  testimony  : — 

;  "  I,  Mr  James  Wood,  being  now  shortly  to  appear  to  render 
up  my  spirit  to  the  Lord,  find  myself  obliged  to  leave  a  word 
beliind  me  for  my  just  vindication  before  the  world.  It  has 
been  said  of  me  that  I  have  resiled,  in  word,  at  least,  from  my 
wonted  zeal  for  Presbyterial  government,  expressing  myself  con- 
cerning it  as  a  matter  not  to  be  accounted  of,  and  that  no  man 
should  trouble  himself  in  the  matter  of  the  practice  thereof.  Surely 
any  Christian  in  this  Kirk  that  knows  me,  will  judge  that  this  is 
a  wrong  done  to  me.  It's  true,  being  under  sickness,  I  have  some- 
times, in  my  conference  about  my  soul's  estate,  said  that  I  was  taken 
up  about  a  greater  business  than  any  thing  of  that  kind,  and  what 
wonder  I  said  so,  being  under  such  wrestling  anent  my  interest 
in  Jesus  Christ,  which  is  a  matter  of  far  greater  concernment  than 
any  external  ordinance  ;  but  for  my  estimation  of  Presbyterial 
government,  the  Lord  knows  that  since  the  day  he  convinced  my 
heart,  (which  Avas  by  a  strong  hand),  that  it  is  the  ordinance  of 
God,  appointed  by  Jesus  Christ,  for  governing  and  ordering  of  his 
visible  Kirk,  I  had  never  the  least  change  of  thoughts  conceniing 
the  necessity  of  it,  or  the  necessity  of  the  use  of  it ;  and  now  I 
declare  before  God  and  the  world,  that  I  still  so  account  of  it,  and 
that,  howbeit,  there  be  some  more  precious  ordinances,  yet  that 
this  is  so  precious,  that  every  true  Christian  is  obliged  to  lay  down 
his  life  for  the  profession  of  it,  if  the  Lord  shall  think  meet  to  put 
him  to  the  trial ;  and  for  myself,  if  I  were  to  live,  I  would  count  it 
my  glory  to  seal  this  word  of  my  testimony  with  my  blood.     Of 

2g 


466  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1664. 

this  my  declaration,  I  take  God,  men  and  angels  to  be  witnesses, 
and  have  subscribed  it  with  my  hand,  at  St  Andrews,  March  2, 
1064,  about  seven  hours  in  the  afternoon,  before  Messrs  William 
TuUidafF,  *  John  Carstairs,  my  brother-in-law,  f  and  John  Pitcairn, 
writer  hereof."  t 

First  the  report,  and  then  the  sight,  of  this  paper  did  much, 
enrage  the  Archprelate.  He  alleged  that  it  was  framed  by  some 
ministers  that  about  that  time  came  and  visited  Mr  Wood,  and 
that  Mr  Wood  was  forced  to  put  his  hand  to  it  after  he  had  lost 
his  memory  and  judgment ;  §  and  therefore  he  caused  summon  not 
only  the  three  witnesses,  but  five  others,  who  at  that  time  came 
to  visit  Mr  Wood,  (viz.,  Messrs  Alexander  Wedderburn,  James 
M'Gill,  George  Hamilton,  Henry  Eymer,  and  William  Row),  to 
appear  before  the  next  diet  of  the  '  High'  Commission,  AprU  15,  for 
keeping  of  conventicles  at  St  Andrews  to  the  disturbance  of  the 
peace,  and  in  contempt  of  the  authority  of  the  Kirk,  &c.  The  Arch- 
prelate's  Diocesan  Synod  convened  at  St  Andrews  April  5.  He  had 
a  shai-p  and  invective  sermon,  inveighing  against  nonconformists. 
He  pronounced  the  sentence  of  deposition  against  Messrs  Henry 
Rymer  and  George  Belfrage  that  were  suspended  at  the  last  meet- 
ing. He  continued  the  sentence  of  suspension  against  Mr  Robert 
Young,  who  came  to  St  Andrews  in  the  time  of  their  meeting,  and 
conferred  with  some  of  them ;  but  they  did  not  accord ;  yet  the 
Prelate  did  not  depose  him,  because  they  that  conferred  with  him 
said  that  there  were  hopes  that  he  would  be  gained,  which  he  him- 
self said  was  a  lie  and  a  wronging  of  him.  Also,  at  this  meeting, 
he  pronounced  the  sentence  of  suspension  against  six  that  were 

*  Mr  William  Tullidaff  was  admitted  minister  of  Weems  in  1688  ;  translated  thence 
to  be  principal  and  minister  of  St  Leonard's  College,  St  Andrews,  in  1692,  and  died 
in  IGQo.—Selections  from  ilinutes  of  Synod  of  Fife,  213,  234. 

t  Wood  was  married  to  the  only  sister  of  Mr  John  Carstairs,  minister  of  Glasgow. 

X  Wood  died  on  the  15th  of  March,  about  a  fortnight  after  subscribing  this  solemn 
testimony  for  Presbyterian  govei-nment,  leaving  behind  him  a  widow  and  six  children. 
— M'Crie's  Memoirs  of  Vcitch,  ^-c,  492. 

§  In  proof  of  the  falsehood  of  these  allegations,  the  reader  is  referred  to  a  letter  writ- 
ten by  Mr  John  Carstairs  to  Chancellor  Glcncairn,  inserted  in  Appendix  to  Memoirs 
of  Vcitch,  &c.,  p.  491. 


1C64.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  467 

admitted  before  1 649,— (gLadly  would  the  Prelate  have  had  the 
Council  to  have  outed  them,  as  they  had  done  those  ordained  siuce 
1649,  and  therefore,  in  his  former  meetings,  he  referred  them  to 
the  Council ;  but  the  Council  not  doing  it,  now,  but  too  late,  some 
of  them,  especially  the  Chancellor,  repenting  what  they  had  done, 
perceiving  the  Prelate's  design  to  put  the  odium  of  all  over  upon 
them), — viz.,  against  Messrs  Robert  Bennet,  James  M'Gill,  Alex- 
ander Wedderburn,  David  Guthrie,  Robert  Weems,  and  William 
Row,  together  with  Mr  William  Violant,*  admitted  since  1649 ; 
but  the  time  of  the  intimation  of  this  sentence  of  suspension  against 
these  seven  ministers  is  referred  to  the  Prelate's  pleasure ;  so  they 
continued  preaching.  It  was  thought  that  he  would  not  intimate 
the  sentence  before  the  next  Diocesan  meeting,  being  spoken  to  by 
the  Earl  of  Crawford  and  others  for  tliat  effect. 

April  11  w^as  the  day  of  consecration  of  Mr  Andrew  Honeyman, 
Prelate  of  Orkney,  and  of  Mr  Patrick  Scougal  of  Aberdeen,  and 
of  installing  Prelate  Burnet,  Archprelate  of  Glasgow.  Mr  Robert 
Honeyman  t  (who,  as  his  brother,  ]Mr  Andrew  Honeyman,  had 
preached  against  bishops  while  he  was  minister  of  Dysart),  having 
now  intruded  himself  in  Mr  John  M'G ill's  place  at  Cupar,  preached 
the  consecration  sermon,  but  did  not  please  the  Prelates.  Of  those 
that  were  summoned  before  the  Commission  anent  Mv  Wood's 
testimony,  Mr  John  Carstairs  compeared  not.  He  is  referred  to 
the  Council.  Mr  William  Row's  not  compearing  was  excused,  the 
Archprelate  Sharp  having  engaged  to  the  Earl  of  Crawford  that 
he  should  suffer  no  prejudice  by  his  not  compearing,  being  informed 

*  Mr  Kobert  Bennet  was  Jidmitted  minister  of  Kilrenny,  March  23,  1G42. — Selec- 
tions from  Mill,  of  Sj/nod  of  Fife,  208.  Mr  David  Guthrie  -was  admitted  minister  of 
Anstruther  Wester,  July  23,  1G45. — Ibid.,  202.  Mr  Robert  Weems  was  aihnitted 
minister  of  Elie,  in  the  Presbyteiy  of  St  Andrews,  August  IG,  1G40. — Jhid.,  205. 
Mr  William  Violant  was  admitted  minister  of  Ferry-Port-on-Craiij:,  May  21,  1G56. 
He  became  afterwards,  in  1G69,  indulged  minister  at  Cambusnethan,  and  was  ad- 
mitted Principal  of  St  Mary's  or  New  College,  8t  Andrews,  IGtU,  but  did  not  long 
survive,  having  died  in  Kovember  1(J92. — I!ii<\,  20G,  214. 

t  Mr  Kobert  Honeyman  was  admitted  minister  of  Ncwl)urn,  April  27,  lGo3  ;  trans- 
lated to  Dysart,  March  1G57 ;  conformed  to  Episcopacy,  1G02  ;  was  translated  to 
Cupar,  August  G,  1GG3;  and  to  the  second  charge  of  St  Andrews,  Ai)ril  1G81,  He 
died  in  1686.— ^SV/ec^wns /row  Min.  of  Synod  of  Fife,  210,  212,  220,  229. 

2  g2 


408  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1664. 

by  the  said  Earl  that  he  was  sent  in  by  him  at  that  time  to  visit 
Mr  Wood,  and  that  he  was  altogether  free  of  that  business.  Of 
those  that  compeared,  Mr  William  TullidafF  was  first  called,  and, 
after  examination,  Avas  put  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh  for  sub- 
scribing that  seditious  paper,  as  it  was  called  by  them.  The  Com- 
mission was  adjourned  to  April  18,  at  which  diet  Mr  TullidafF  was 
liberated  out  of  prison,  upon  bail  that  he  should  compear  again 
whensoever  he  was  called.  As  for  Messrs  George  Hamilton,  Alex- 
ander Wedderburn,  and  James  M'Gill,  they  were  confined  to  their 
parishes,  and  discharged  to  celebrate  the  communion.  Mr  Henry 
Eymer,  being  deposed,  was  not  censured.  The  lately  installed 
Archprelate  of  Glasgow,  who  was  thought  by  some  to  be  of  a  mild 
and  moderate  temper,  proves  as  violent  as  any  in  his  Diocesan 
meeting.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Prelate  of  Edinburgh  there  was 
a  protestation  made  (while  the  Prelate  was  about  to  depose  a  minis- 
ter) by  Mr  James  Nairn,*  with  this  alternative,  that  if  the  Bishop 
acted  in  that  censure  as  the  King's  delegate  or  commissioner, 
without  the  votes  of  the  Synod,  he  had  nothing  to  say ;  but  if  he 
acted  in  it  without  the  votes  of  the  Synod,  as  a  Lord  Bishop,  tak- 
ing the  whole  power  of  jurisdiction  to  himself,  then  he  protested 
against  such  usurpation.  Mr  Lawrence  Charterist  adhered  to  this 
protestation.  Thus,  some  that  formerly  had  preached  and  prayed 
against  Episcopacy  did  delude  themselves  with  that  vain  distinc- 
tion, submitting  to  the  Prelates,  and  keeping  their  meetings  as  the 
King's  delegates,  not  considering  that  the  King  cannot  give  them 
that  which  he  has  not,  or  should  not  have,  himself.  Others  that 
thought  their  meetings  might  be  kept  distinguished  betwixt  Epis- 
copus  preses  and  Episcopus  princeps.  Thus  some  began,  "  after 
vows,  to  make  inquiry,"  and  to  find  out  new  and  strange  glosses 
of  the  second  article  of  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant. 

*  Mr  James  Nairn  was  minister  of  the  Abbey  Church  at  Edinburgh.  He  was  a 
popular  preach  ei".  and  was  one  of"  the  Bishop's  evangelists"  sent  to  the  west  in  1G70, 
to  convert  the  Presbyterians  to  Prelacy. 

t  Mr  Laurence  Cliarteris  was  sometime  minister  at  Tester  and  Dirleton,  and  after- 
wards Professor  of  Divinity  in  the  College  of  Edinburgh.  From  this  last  situation  he 
was  turned  out  for  refusing  to  take  the  test.  Wodrow  describes  him  as  "  a  man  of 
gi-eat  worth  and  gra>  ity."     Several  of  his  works  were  published  after  his  death. 


1664.]  LIFE  OF  KOBliUT  HLAIH,  dCD 

The  Parliament  of  England  having  convened  in  February,  was 
by  the  King,  May  17,  adjourned  to  November,  unless  they  were 
advertised  to  meet  in  August.  This  alternative  was  because  of 
dissension  betwixt  the  English  and  the  Dutch,  and  appearance  of 
wars  betwixt  them,  there  being  great  preparations  on  both  sides  for 
war.  All  this  spring  and  summer  time  the  pest  raged  in  Holland. 
Prayers  were  poured  out  for  the  preservation  of  the  banished 
ministers  in  Rotterdam,  and  other  good  people  there. 

The  Lord  Stairs — one  of  the  Senators  of  the  College  of  Justice 
that  refused  the  Declaration — going  to  London,  thereafter  to 
France,  and  returning  to  London,  is  persuaded  by  the  King  to 
take  the  Declaration,  which  he  did  at  his  returning  to  Edinbm'gh, 
and  sits  down  again  in  the  session.  This  man,  while  a  regent  in 
the  College  of  Glasgow,  and  an  advocate  in  Edinburgh,  was  well 
thought  of.  Sure  it  was,  that  he  was  the  man  that  was  the  penner 
of  the  Western  Remonstrance ;  but  after  he  took  the  Declaration 
he  proved  an  unfriend  to  honest  people,  and  in  end  a  bitter  perse- 
cutor. 

This  while  by-past,  the  Earl  of  Argyle  (being  restored  to  his 
grandfather's  honours  and  estate,  so  defrauding  his  father's  credi- 
tors,) becomes  a  great  courtier,  and  so  he  must  comply  with  all  the 
evil  courses  of  the  time.  He  likewise,  at  his  first  coming  to  Edin- 
burgh from  Court,  takes  the  Declaration.  0  tempora  !  0  mores  !  Ps. 
xxxix.  5.  Ai'gyle's  becoming  a  courtier  produces  two  effects  : 
1.  There  comes  a  letter  from  the  King  to  the  Council,  command- 
ing them  to  take  down  Argyle's  head,  that  it  might  be  bimed  with 
his  body,  which  was  done  quietly  in  the  night-time;  2.  The 
King's  Advocate,  Sir  John  Fletcher,  who  was  most  active  and 
instrumental  in  taking  oif  that  noble  head,  is  ordained  to  answer 
to  things  laid  to  his  charge  before  the  Council,  upon  the  peril  of 
losing  his  head.  There  were  many  things  libelled  against  him, 
especially  bribery.     Pro  v.  xx.  26,  and  xxi.  1. 

Towards  the  end  of  May,  Glencairn  the  Chancellor  fell  sick  of 
a  fever.  It  was  certainly  known,  that  before  he  sickened  he  sore 
repented  what  he  had   done  in  being  so  instrumental  to  set  up 


470  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1664. 

bishops,  especially  after  that  Sharp  got  the  precedency  of  him.  lie 
then  granted  that  he  had  raised  a  devil  that  he  could  not  lay  again. 
He  sore  regretted  in  the  time  of  his  sickness  the  persecution  of 
honest  ministers  and  people,  especially  he  did  cry  out  against 
Sharp,  that  had  ruined  all,  divided  all,  &c. ;  and  calling  for  Mr 
Douglas,  who  then  was  in  the  Struthers  visiting  the  Earl  of 
Crawford,  he  desired  to  tell  him  that  he  had  found  Mr  Douglas 
to  be  too  true  a  prophet.  After  some  days'  sickness  he  died,  being 
much  regretted,  even  by  honest  men,  to  whom  secretly  and  as 
much  as  he  could  he  was  friendly.  His  funeral  was  long  delayed, 
even  to  July  28. 

About  the  time  of  the  Chancellor's  death,  the  Earl  of  Teviot, 
governor  of  Tangier,  was  killed. 

In  this  spring  time  the  Lord  of  armies,  by  his  immediate  hand, 
did  much  diminish  the  great  armies  of  the  Turks,  by  sending  the 
pest  among  them  in  their  garrisons  and  the  fields,  so  that  they 
were  nothing  so  formidable  to  the  Imperialists  as  formerly.  In 
the  summer  time  they  were  defeated  in  Hungary  by  Count  Sereni. 
In  Germany,  after  the  Turks  had  taken  a  stronghold,  killing  some 
general  persons  in  the  view  of  the  Imperial  army,  for  the  which 
their  General  Montecuculi  was  blamed,  they  were  defeated  by  the 
Imperialists  in  a  pitched  battle  at  Rahab,  wherein  many  of  their 
Bashaws  and  Janizaries  were  killed.  The  Imperialists  divided 
their  army  to  pursue  the  victory. 

All  this  summer  the  pest  rages  in  HoUand  ;  notwithstanding  in 
the  treaty  with  our  King  they  are  very  high  in  their  demands. 
Sir  George  Dunning  is  in  Holland  the  King's  envoy  extraordi- 
nary. His  demands  are  likewise  high.  As  the  pest  rages  in  Hol- 
land, so  persecution  in  Scotland  against  the  godly  Nonconformists. 
The  High  Commission  men  were  the  persecutors,  and  among  them 
especially  Sharp,  who,  now  the  Chancellor  being  dead,  is  preses 
in  that  Court,  which  put  some  to  a  strait  appearing  before  them, 
who  were  not  clear  to  give  to  Sharp  any  titles  of  honour,  either 
Lord  or  Grace,  how  to  speak  to  him  when  he  interrogated  them. 
But  such  at  their  first  appearance  gave  them  all  the  title  of  Lords. 


1664.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  471 

Thereafter,  when  interrogated  by  the  Prelate,  '  they'  gave  him  no 
title  at  all,  which  doubtless  did  not  a  little  gall  him.  Many 
gentlemen  were  brought  before  them  for  not  hearing  of  conform 
intruders,  and  were  fined  in  great  sums  of  money,  and  some  of 
them  relegat  to  the  north,  Inverness  and  other  parts,  who  dwelt 
in  the  south.  Several  ministers  were  summoned  ;  some  for  help- 
ing at  a  communion  at  Yarrow,  by  preaching  to  those  without  in 
time  of  serving  the  tables,  they  being  deposed  ;  others  for  helping, 
not  being  the  minister's  nearest  neighbours,  and  being  more  than 
was  allowed  by  the  act  of  the  Council ;  others  for  preaching  in 
the  fields,  and  baptising  of  children,  &c.  Deposed  ministers,  not 
compearing,  resolved  to  trust  to  the  Lord's  hiding  them,  Jer. 
xxxvi.  26.  Orders  were  issued  out  for  apprehending  of  these 
ministers.  Some  ministers  that  compeared,  trusting  to  their  in- 
nocency,  were  confined  to  their  parishes,  and  fined  in  a  year's 
stipend.  Two  from  Fife  compeared  before  the  Commission,  Mr 
William  Violant,  minister  at  the  Ferry,  and  Mr  James  Wellwood,* 
a  minister  in  the  south,  now  living  in  St  Andrews.  The  first  is 
commanded  to  remove  out  of  the  parish  of  the  Ferry,  and  dis- 
charged to  preach  there  or  elsewhere.  He  gave  a  testimony 
against  their  usurping  the  power  of  ecclesiastic  judicatories ; 
whereat  the  Prelate  was  highly  displeased.  The  other,  as  a  per- 
verter  of  the  people  of  St  Andrews,  is  commanded  to  remove  six 
miles  from  St  Andrews.  Though  both  thir  honest  men  had 
legal  defences,  and  though  they  could  prove  none  of  theii-  allega- 
tions, yet  they  gave  out  such  unjust  sentences  against  them.  But 
the  honest  men  had  much  inward  peace  and  holy  security.  Mr 
Wellwood  being  removed,  sitting  down  in  the  outer  room  at  the 
Commission  house  door,  fell  fast  asleep,  (Psalm  iii.  3-5),  and 
awakened  not  till  he  was  called  on,  having  more  peace  and  calm- 

*  This  was  probably  Mr  James  Wellwoocl,  minister  of  Tindergiith,  in  the  Presbytery 
of  Lochmaben  and  Synod  of  Dumfries,  who  was  the  father  of  Mr  John  Wellwood, 
whose  life  is  given  in  the  Scots  Wortliies.  He  was  ejected  from  his  parish  after  the 
Eestoration  of  Charles  II.  for  nonconformity.  lie  was  also  the  father  of  Mr  Andrew 
Wellwood,  the  author  of  tlie  "  Glimpse  of  Glory,"  and  of  James  Wellwood,  doctor  of 
medicine  at  London,  and  author  of  "  Memoirs  of  Scotland." 


472  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1664. 

ness  of  spirit  thau  his  arch-persecutoi* ;  for  one  speaking  to  him  of 
a  change,  he  answered,  "  Highland  fool,  what  speak  ye  of  a 
chano-e  ?  Whence  should  it  come  ?  Ye  may  as  weal  speak  of  taking 
off  my  head."  Yea,  he  was  so  troubled,  that  it  was  reported  that 
he  could  not  sleep  for  some  nights ;  and  Mr  Violant,  after  his 
preaching  a  very  honest  and  free  sermon,  answered  to  one  telling 
him  that  his  head  was  in  hazard  for  preaching  so,  "  There's  a 
greater  matter,  even  as  if  a  man  could  not  be  happy  without  his 
head." 

July  28,  the  Chancellor  was  buried  in  great  state,  carried  from 
the  Abbey  to  the  Great  Kirk,  and  there  interred.  All  this  while 
it's  not  know^n  who  should  succeed  him.  Some  spoke  of  Tweed- 
dale,  some  of  Dumfries,  others  of  the  Archprelate  Sharp,  his  opi- 
nion being  that  a  churchman  shoidd  have  it.  The  common  re- 
port was,  that  Sharp  mUst  go  to  Court  before  the  Chancellor's 
place  be  filled.  So,  August  22,  he  takes  journey  for  London. 
After  his  coming  to  Court  the  King  Avrote  for  Rothes.  So,  Sep- 
tember 16,  Rothes  takes  journey  to  Court. 

The  pest  still  raging  in  Holland,  yet  the  Dutch  still  are  high  in 
their  demands,  being  exceeding  rich,  and  assisted  by  the  French 
King.  It  was  thought,  notwithstanding  of  the  pest,  that  their 
navy  was  readier  than  our  King's,  there  being  a  great  backdraw- 
ing  in  England ;  being  more  unwilling  to  engage  in  this  war  than 
in  Oliver's  time.  It  was  said  that  Monk  told  the  King  that  the 
reason  of  England's  unwillingness  was  because  there  was  a  discon- 
tented people  in  Britain,  because  of  the  change  of  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Kirk ;  and  that  the  King,  resolving  to  abate  somewhat 
of  the  rigour  used  against  Nonconfoi'mists,  was  dissuaded  by  the 
Bishops  of  England  and  the  Prelate  Sharp.  However  it  was,  the 
King  wrote  to  his  Council  in  Scotland  for  five  hundred  seamen, 
which  the  Council  granting,  the  men  were  pressed.  But  the 
Dutch  perceiving  that  the  King  was  making  earnest  of  it,  sending 
out  many  ships  with  Prince  Rupert,  they  became  somewhat  more 
calm  and  reasonable  in  their  demands. 

The  King's  advocate,  after  a  long  process,  perceiving  that  he 


1664.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.    •  473 

was  not  able  to  defend  himself  demitted  his  place ;  which  demis- 
sion was  taken  off  his  hand,  and  thereafter  the  King  disposes  his 
place  to  Sir  John  Nisbet.  But  there  were  many  debates  at  Court 
anent  filling  the  Chancellor's  place,  Rothes,  Lauderdale  and  Sharp 
consulting  with  the  King ;  yet  they  could  not  agree  they  were  so 
divided. 

The  time  of  the  Prelates'  Courts  approaching,  Sharp  biding  at 
London,  sent  a  commission  to  Prelate  Honeyman  (who  all  this 
while  lived  still  at  St  Andrews,  with  his  bishoprick,  keeping  still 
the  archdeanry  of  St  Andrews)  to  supply  his  place  at  that  meet- 
ing. So  nothing  was  done  then  against  Nonconformists,  the  sen- 
tence against  the  six  suspended  '  ministers'  not  being  intimated. 
The  Bishop  of  Dunkeld  deposed  all  Nonconform  ministers  in  his 
diocese,  except  Mr  Thomas  Black,  for  whom  the  Countess  of  Kothes 
interceded.  The  Archprelate  of  Glasgow  deposed  several  in  his 
diocese,  yet  not  all  that  were  unconform. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  October  the  Earl  of  Rothes  came  to 
Edinburgh  from  Court,  and  within  some  few  days  the  Archprelate 
Sharp  followed.  But  yet  there's  no  man  named  to  fill  the  Chan- 
cellor's place,  the  King  not  knowing  how  to  please  all  jiarties. 
But  as  for  Sharp,  the  King  then  was  convinced  of  his  deceitful  and 
double  dealing  in  that  affair ;  for  when  the  King,  to  try  him,  of- 
fered the  Chancellor's  place  to  him,  he  refused  it,  and  yet  he  ear- 
nestly dealt  with  the  Archprelate  of  Canterbury  to  be  very  earnest 
with  the  King  for  the  place  to  him,  which  Canterbury  told  the 
Kinof.  But  though  there  was  none  named  to  succeed  the  Chan- 
cellor,  yet,  in  the  interim,  the  Treasurer  Rothes  is  make  kcejicr  of 
the  Great  Seal,  and  so  Chancellor  pro  tempore.  Also  he  was  made 
the  King's  Commissioner  for  Kirk  affairs,  (there  being  a  convoca- 
tion to  be  kept  in  May  1665),  General  of  all  the  forces  in  Scotland, 
and  Keeper  of  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh.  All  these  things  were  a 
<rrief  of  heart  to  his  honourable  and  nearest  relation^. 

In  the  latter  end  of  this  year  news  came  that  there  was  a  peace 
concluded  betwixt  the  Emperor  and  the  Turks.  In  December, 
this  year,  there  appeared  a  comet,  which  was  much  observed  and 


474  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1GG5. 

looked  on.  At  that  same  time  tliere  was  a  tumult  in  Edinburgh, 
occasioned  by  some  merchants  refusing  to  pay  some  dues  imposed 
by  the  law.  In  this  tumult  and  uproar,  some  persons  very  Epis- 
copal were  threatened,  and  some  wounded.  This  did  so  alarm 
the  Prelates  that  were  in  the  town,  that  they  feared  a  popular  in- 
surrection against  them  and  their  state ;  Psalm  xiii.  5 ;  Levit. 
xxvi.  36. 

In  the  end  of  the  year,  the  pest  that  had  raged  in  Holland  is 
abated.  Likewise,  in  the  very  close  of  the  year,  some  seeds  of  war 
betwixt  the  English  and  the  Dutch  are  sown ;  for  the  English 
take  some  Holland  ships,  and  again  the  Dutch  take  Guinea  from 
the  English,  putting  them  all  to  the  edge  of  the  sword,  men,  wo- 
men and  children.  Thereafter  the  Dutch  take  sixteen  ships  of  the 
English  East  India  fleet,  w^hich  was  a  great  loss  to  the  English. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  January  1665,  the  sentence  of  suspen- 
sion given  out  against  Messrs  Robert  Bennet,  James  M'Gill, 
Alexander  Wedderburn,  David  Guthrie,  Robert  Weems  and  Wil- 
liam Row,  in  April  1664,  was  intimated  to  them,  a  messenger-at- 
arms  coming  to  them  from  the  Archprelate  Sharp.  Some  of  them 
preached  a  farewell  sermon  the  Sabbath  before  the  intimation  of 
their  sentence,  having  gotten  intelligence  that  the  sentence  would 
be  intimated  to  them  before  the  next  Sabbath.  The  sentence  com- 
ing to  Mr  William  Row  betwixt  the  second  and  third  bell,  on  his 
week  preaching  day,  though  he  resolved  to  have  preached  after 
the  intimation  of  the  sentence,  yet,  being  advised  by  his  elders  and 
others  not  to  preach,  refusing  to  hear  him,  because  it  would  wrong 
them,  there  being  many  out  of  several  parishes  about  convened, 
he  caused  call  the  people  out  of  the  kirk  to  the  kirkyard,  and 
there,  in  a  harangue,  delivered  to  them  what  he  intended  to  preach 
on  1  Thessalonians  ii.  17;  and  so  took  he  leave  of  his  congregation, 
Acts  XX.  19,  32. 

At  this  time  the  Archprelate  Sharp  did  intimate  to  IMr  Robert 
Young  the  sentence  of  deposition  against  him,  which,  when  he  had 
received,  he  caused  detain  the  messenger  until  he  wrote  an  ap- 
peal, appealing  from  the  Prelate's  unjust  sentence,  to  the  King's 


16(35.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  475 

Majesty  for  redress,  setting  clown  the  causes  of  his  appeal.  He 
closed  his  appeal  in  a  letter  to  the  Archprelate.  The  messenger, 
not  knowing  what  was  enclosed  in  the  letter,  did  deliver  it  to  the 
Prelate,  which  did  not  a  little  trouble  him,  and  he  was  so  incensed 
against  the  messenger  that  he  never  thereafter  employed  that 
messenger.     But  he  knew  not  well  how  to  help  himself. 

In  the  end  of  January  the  comet  disappears. 

About  this  time  there  being  several  persons  fined  for  not 
hearing  the  intruded  Conformists,  or  for  hearing  unconform  minis- 
ters preach  or  pray  even  in  families,  their  fines  were  exacted. 
Also  some  gentlemen  refusing  to  take  the  Declaration,  were  fined, 
and  their  fines  exacted.  Also  at  sea  the  Eno-lish  rencounters  with 
the  Dutch  Smyrna  fleet,  chases  and  takes  some  of  them,  but  lost 
two  of  their  best  ships  in  the  pursuit,  on  sand  banks,  upon  the 
Dutch  coast. 

April  6,  Sharp's  Diocesan  Court  met.  The  six  ministers  before 
mentioned  that  were  suspended;  and  the  sentence  intimated  to 
them,  were  then  deposed.  "VYlien  in  the  privy  conference,  (where  all 
things  are  concluded  that  are  done  at  these  meetings),  the  Prelate 
told  them  that  he  resolved  to  depose  these  six  that  were  suspend- 
ed, and  now  their  sentence  intimated  to  them,  some  of  that  cabal 
that  had  not  lost  all  humanity,  ingenuity,  [ingenuousness],  or  kind 
respect  to  their  innocent  brethren,  began  to  plead,  some  for  one  of 
the  six,  some  for  another.  The  Prelate,  enraged  and  incensed 
against  them,  said,  "  I  see  there  is  none  of  thir  [these]  six  but 
some  will  plead  for  them.  Come,  come,  this  is  the  thing  that  I 
have  resolved  to  do,  and  it  must  be  done."  Thereafter  none  durst 
open  his  mouth  against  what  the  domineering  Prelate  said. 

In  the  beginning  the  Prelate  offered  to  put  the  matter  to  the  vote 
of  the  Synod ;  but  fearing  lest,  as  in  the  privy  conference,  (which 
cabal  is  made  up  of  his  most  confidents), '  where'  some  favoui-ed  the 
suspended  ministers,  so  in  the  meeting  many  would  vote  against 
their  deposition,  he  did  not  put  it  to  the  vote  of  the  meeting ;  arro- 
o-ating  to  himself  a  negative  vote,  and  the  sole  power  of  jurisdic- 
tion, most  prelate-like.    The  intimation  of  the  sentence  was  a  little 


47(j  Lii''J^  or  noBEUT  blaiii.  [1GG5. 

delayed,  and  the  act  of  deposition  was  thus  framed.  They  were 
threatened  with  the  intimation  of  the  sentence  of  deposition  and 
execution  thereof  according  to  the  laws,  if  they  came  not  in  to  the 
precinct  meeting  of  St  Andrews  (though  one  of  them  was  of  the 
precinct  meeting  at  Cupar)  upon  the  26th  of  April,  and  declared 
their  willingness  to  keep  all  the  Kirk  judicatories,  and  act  with 
their  brethren  in  these  judicatories,  according  to  the  laws,  that 
then  '  and'  in  that  case  their  kirks  would  be  declared  vacant,  and 
they  holden  for  dej)0sed,  &c. 

They  not  coming  in  to  the  precinct  meeting  at  St  Andrews, 
April  26,  were  by  the  Prelate  looked  upon  as  deposed,  though 
their  deposition  was  neither  intimated  to  the  respective  patrons  nor 
parishes  ;  so  illegally  did  the  Prelate  deal  with  these  ministers. 
Yea,  one  of  them  who  was  not  summoned  to  the  Prelate's  Synod, 
offered  a  conference  with  the  precinct  meeting,  before  the  intima- 
tion of  the  sentence  of  suspension,  and  named  the  person  with 
whom  he  desired  to  confer.  This  offer  being  accepted  by  the  pre- 
cinct meeting,  they  met  and  conferred,  and  appointed  a  second 
diet  of  meeting  and  conference.  And  when  the  constant  mode- 
rator told  the  Prelate  of  the  conference,  he  promised  that  nothing 
should  be  done  against  that  person  until  the  conference  was  closed; 
yet,  notwithstanding,  contrary  to  his  pi'omise,  he  caused  intimate 
his  sentence  before  the  second  diet  of  the  conference  came.  False 
to  God,  never  true  to  man. 

This  spring  both  the  English  and  Dutch  make  great  prepara- 
tions for  new  engagements  and  sea  fights.  In  April  another  comet 
appears  bigger  than  the  other,  but  not  blazing.  In  this  month  the 
Prelate  of  Dunkeld,  Halliburton,  died.  It  was  observed  that  after 
he  deposed  Mr  Andrew  Donaldson  and  some  others,  immediately 
he  sickened  and  never  recovered.  He  w^as  so  full  of  ulcers  and 
boils  that  his  wife  and  nearest  relations  reflised  to  come  near  him. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  year  following,  the  Prelate  of  Argyle  died. 
After  these  great  preparations  for  war  at  sea,  the  first  rencounter 
was  betwixt  two  English  frigates  and  three  of  the  Dutch.  The 
two  English  take  the  three  Dutch  frisates. 


1'j65.]  life  of  ROBERT  BLAIR.  477 

April  12,  there  was  a  great  Council  day  ;  but  before  that  Coun- 
cil day  there  was  an  oath  of  secrecy  required  of  all  the  Counsel- 
lors, which  was  renewed  at  this  great  Council  day  ;  when  after 
debate  it  was  resolved  upon  that  the  country  should  be  put  in  a 
posture  of  defence.  But  Prelate  Sharp  opposed  the  motion,  for 
fear  lest  wetipons  being  put  in  mad  men's  hands  they  should  turn 
the  edge  of  them  against  prelates.  The  Council  also  at  this  time 
passed  an  act  for  disarming  disaffected  persons  to  the  government; 
so  the  west  country  was  for  the  most  part  disarmed,  and  yet  all 
this  was  thought  not  to  be  the  thing  that  they  intended  to  keep 
as  a  secret,  for  concealing  whereof  they  required  an  oath  of  secrecy 
of  all  the  Counsellors. 

There  were  days  of  humiliation  and  fasting  kept  both  in  England 
and  Scotland,  not  for  the  apostacy,  perjury,  and  manifold  provoca- 
tions of  the  times,  but  only  for  success  to  the  sea  war  against  the 
Dutch.  The  like  was  done  in  Holland  in  the  beginning  of  June. 
About  this  time  the  pest  was  raging  in  England  in  several  places, 
and  was  evil  at  London,  insomuch  that  the  Court  removes  out  of 
London,  but  the  pest  follows  it ;  so  the  Court  is  dissipated.  The 
Duke  of  York  goes  to  York. 

June  3,  there  was  a  sea  fight  betwixt  the  two  navies.  Reports 
went  that  the  English  had  the  better  of  it.  However  there  was 
kept  in  England  and  Scotland  a  day  of  thanksgiving  for  the 
victory  over  the  Dutch  at  sea.  In  this  fight,  the  ship  wherein 
Opdam,  the  Dutch  Admiral  was,  is  blown  up.  De  Ruyter,  who, 
at  the  time  of  this  engagement  was  roving  up  and  down  the  sea, 
taking  many  prizes  from  the  English,  was  much  longed  for  in 
Holland  to  supply  Opdam's  place,  there  being  a  hot  contest  anent 
the  admiralty,  betwixt  Tromp  and  Aversone  de  Witt.  I5oth 
nations  make  new  preparations  for  a  new  engagement.  The 
Eno-lish  crave  new  assistance  from  Scotland,  both  men  and  money. 
For  this  assistance,  especially  for  levying  of  money,  there  is  a  Con- 
vention of  Estates  called  August  2.  This  convention  lays  upon 
the  country  a  taxation  for  five  years  of  200,000  merks  per  aunum. 

In  June,  Mr  John  Forrest,  minister  at  Tidliallan,  celebrated  the 


478  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1665. 

communion,  at  which  occasion  there  was  a  great  confluence  of 
people  ;  the  Earl  of  Kincardine,  many  gentlemen  and  outed  mi- 
nisters being  there.  The  Prelate  Sharp  complained  of  it  to  the 
King,  making  many  lies,  that  outed  ministers  did  preach,  and  that 
there  was  preaching  in  the  kirkyard  and  fields,  &c.  Especially 
he  complained  of  the  Earl  of  Kincardine,  who  wrote  the  truth  of 
all  the  matter  to  the  King,  and  apologised  for  himself.  The  Pre- 
late Leio-hton,  in  whose  diocese  Tulliallan  is,  connived  at  least  at 
the  precinct  meeting  their  processing  and  deposing  of  Mr  John 
FoiTest.  Also,  about  this  time,  Mr  David  Williamson's  colleague 
at  the  West  Kirk  having  preached  for  the  ceremonies,  and  Mr 
David  having  refuted  him,  his  colleague  having  complained,  Mr 
David  was  accused  before  the  Pligh  Commission.  He  flinched  from 
his  testimony,  and  craved  pardon  for  his  rashness,  yet,  notwith- 
standing of  this,  he  was  discharged  to  preach  at  the  West  Kirk. 
About  this  time  there  came  from  Court  a  patent  for  ^Mr  Harrie 
Guthrie,*  (who  had  been  very  forward  for  the  Eeforraation  in  the 
years  1637  and  1638,  &c.)  to  be  Prelate  of  Dunkeld,  and  another 
to  Mr  Young  to  be  Prelate  of  Argyle.  Young  dies  at  the  receiv- 
ing of  his  patent.  About  the  beginning  of  August,  Mr  Harrie 
Guthrie  was  consecrated  by  an  express  warrant  from  the  King. 
Also  about  this  time  the  Prelates,  and  all  those  that  were  highly 
Episcopal,  were  feared  for  an  insurrection  against  them ;  therefore 
they  caused  to  apprehend  and  imprison  some  persons  whom  they 
suspected,  viz..  Colonel  Robert  Montgomery,  General  Major  Hep- 
burn, and  Sir  George  Monro.     Psalm  liii.  5 ;  Lev.  xxvi.  36. 

De  E.uyter  leaving  the  most  part  of  his  ships  in  BoriU,  [Brille] 
for  a  blind,  privately  steals  into  Holland,  which  puts  an  end  to  the 

*  Henry  Guthrie,  son  to  John  Guthrie,  of  the  family  of  Guthrie,  in  Angus,  was 
first  chajihiin  to  the  Earl  of  Mar,  and  then  became  minister  of  Stirling.  He  was  de- 
posed for  malignancy  on  the  14th  of  November  164:8.  After  the  Restoration  he  was 
replaced  in  the  ministry,  and,  in  this  year,  made  Bishop  of  Dunkeld,  which  See  he 
possessed  till  his  death,  which  took  place  in  1676  or  1677.  He  wrote  Memoirs  of 
Scottish  affairs  from  the  year  1637,  until  the  murder  of  King  Charles  I. — Keith's 
Catalogue  of  Scottish  Bishops,  98.  These  Memoirs,  which  were  published  after  his 
death,  are  suspected  of  interpolations,  and  are  far  from  being  what  they  profess  to  be, 
"  An  impartial  Relation  of  Affairs." 


1065.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  479 

controversy  betwixt  Tromp  and  De  Witt,  for  De  Rny  ter  carries  the 
flag,  and  commands  in  chief,  witli  the  assistance  of  a  triumvirate. 
The  English  judging  themselves  affronted  by  De  Ruyter's  getting 
into  Holland,  a  squad  of  their  navy  comes  to  Borill  and  demands 
his  ships  from  the  captain  of  the  castle,  but  in  vain  ;  for  they  being 
beaten  from  the  castle,  lost  many  men,  and  their  ships  were  sore 
shattered.  Yet,  thereafter,  at  several  times,  they  took  from  the 
Dutch  ten  men  of  war  and  many  merchant  ships.  Some  of  them 
w^ere  richly  laden. 

In  harvest  there  was  kept  a  day  of  humiliation  for  the  pest  in 
London,  the  Parliament  then  sitting  at  Oxford  to  raise  monies  for 
the  war.  At  this  time  the  Dutch  navy  bravades  the  English  upon 
their  coast,  dissipates  a  navy  going  to  Tangier,  and  takes  some  of 
them,  and  some  colliers  upon  their  coast ;  yea  some  of  them  come 
up  our  Frith  to  Leith  Road.  At  this  time  the  Bishop  of  Munster 
by  land,  as  the  English  by  sea,  vexes  the  Dutch  and  prospers 
against  them ;  but  the  French  assist  the  Dutch,  and  send  6000 
men  to  rencounter  JSIunster.  Again  our  King  assists  the  Bishop 
of  Munster  with  sums  of  money,  and  promises  men,  &c.  The  war 
betwixt  England  and  Holland  is  of  that  great  concernment  and 
importance  that  it  divides  whole  Europe  almost  in  parties.  On 
the  one  side  there  is  the  Dutch,  the  French,  Denmark,  and  the 
Emperor ;  on  the  other  side,  England,  the  Pope,  (who  sent  a  con- 
secrated sword  to  the  Bishop  of  Munster),  and  Munster.  But 
Sweden  lies  neuter ;  so  that  now  there  are  wars  and  rumours  of 
wars  in  all  nations  of  Europe.  There  is  great  appearance  of  war 
betwixt  England  and  France. 

One  Mr  Smith,*  an  outcd  minister,  was  apprehended  for  keeping 
a  conventicle  in  Edinburgh.  When  he  appeared  before  the  High 
Commission,  because  he  gave  not  the  accustomed  titles  of  honour 
to  Sharp,  he  was  put  in  the  basest  prison,  viz.,  the  thieves'  hole, 
and  in  iron  bolts,  where  there  was  a  madman  imprisoned ;  but  the 
furious  madman  was  so   by  the  Lord  restrained  that  he  did  not 

*  This  was  Mr  Alexander  Sinilli,  minister  at  Cowcnd.     He  was  now  residing  at 
Leith. —  Wodrow's  Hislori/,  i.  '6'X\. 


480  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1665. 

hurt  the  minister,  but  held  the  candle  to  him  when  he  read ;  yea 
he  blessed  God  that  had  sent  a  minister  to  him  who  woidd  do  him 
meikle  o-ood.  But  they  being  ashamed  for  putting  a  minister  in 
the  thieves'  hole,  and  that  Avith  a  furious  man,  did  take  him  out 
and  put  him  in  the  Tolbooth,  among  the  basest  prisoners,  to  whom 
lie  preached  and  did  meikle  good.  One  of  them,  at  his  death, 
when  he  was  executed,  left  his  blessing  to  Mr  Smith,  saying  he 
never  heard  the  gospel  preached  but  by  him.  The  Prelates  hear- 
inn-  that  he  preached  to  the  prisoners  among  whom  he  was,  caused 
banish  him  to  Shetland,  where  he  was  very  busy  preaching,  pray- 
ino-  and  exhorting  wherever  he  was,  and  aye  doing  good.* 

Of  the  six  vacant  kirks  before  mentioned,  three,  viz.,  Kilrenny, 
Mr  Bennet's ;  Forgan,  Mr  Wedderburn's  ;  and  Largo,  Mr  M'GilFs 
kirk,  were  planted  by  the  Prelate  Sharp. 

At  this  time  Leighton,  pretending  to  be  displeased  with  the 
rest  of  the  Prelates'  proceedings,  especially  for  outing  of  so  many 
honest  ministers,  and  filling  their  places  with  so  insufficient,  and, 
for  the  most  part,  scandalous  men,  was  desirous  to  demit  his  place, 
and  told  so  much  to  many,  yea  even  to  his  Diocesan  Synod.  One 
^ir  Robert  Young,  who  formerly  had  been  a  Papist,  was  transported 
from  Cramond  to  St  Andrews,  and  made  Archdean.  But  Honey- 
man,  Prelate  of  Orkney,  still  lives  at  St  Andrews  ;  which  made 
some  say  that  he  would  convert  the  people  of  Orkney  by  writing 
epistles  to  them ;  but  if  his  rents  and  revenues  came  to  St  An- 
drews he  was  satisfied.  After  this,  one  Mr  James  Tyrie,t  a 
Papist  and  a  most  profane  atheist,  was  by  Sharp  made  one  of  the 
ministers  of  the  New  College  of  St  Andrews,  he  having  renounced 

*  He  continued  in  Shetland  many  years.  "  I  am  told,"  says  Wodrow,  "  that  for 
four  years  he  lived  alone  in  a  wild,  desolate  island,  in  a  very  miserable  plight ;  he 
had  nothinp;  but  barley  for  his  bread,  and  his  fuel  to  ready  it  with  was  sea-tangle  and 
wreck,  and  had  no  more  to  jn-esei've  his  miserable  life." — Wodrow's  History,  i.  393. 
On  the  I2th  of  December  1GG7  he  was  ordered  by  the  Privy  Council  to  be  brought  to 
Edinlnu-gh  to  apjiear  before  them.  He  appeared  in  July  1668,  when  he  was  banished 
to  Orkney,  and  required  to  confine  himself  to  the  island  of  North  Ronaldshay. — Ibid. 
99,  112. 

t  ^Ir  James  Tyrie  was  admitted  second  master  or  Professor  of  Divinity  in  St 

Mary's  or  "New  College  of  St  Andrews,  YQiil .—Selections  from  Minutes  of  Synod  of  Fife, 

2\\. 


1665.]  LIFE  OF  EGBERT  BLAIR.  481 

Popery  before  the  precinct  meeting ;  and  yet,  notwithstanding,  the 
Prelate  Sharp  had  the  impudence  to  say  that  he  outed  no  man 
but  he  put  as  good  in  their 'place. 

At  this  time  there  came  from  Holland  the  "  Apologetical  Nar- 
ration," &c.,  thought  to  be  published  by  the  honest  ministers 
banished  to  Holland,  especially  by  Robert  M'Ward,  who,  a  little 
before  this,  had  published  pious  and  learned  Mr  Rutherford's  let- 
ters, written  by  him  during  his  confinement  at  Aberdeen  in  1636 
and  1637,  and  some  few  written  by  him  thereafter.  These  letters 
were  much  thought  of  abroad,  as  appears  by  the  testimony  of 
Matthias  Nethenus,  (who  published  Mr  Rutherford's  Examen 
Arminianismi),  who  was  professor  of  theology  at  Utrecht.  In 
his  preface  to  the  reader  he  says,  "  Vir  Dei,  Samuel  Rhetor- 
fortis,  natione  Scotus,  doctrina  magnus,  sed  sanctitate,  pietate, 
zelo  domus  Dei  et  Regni  Christi,  quem  spirant  omnia  ipsius 
scripta,  sed  maxime  omnium  Epistola?  post  obitum  ejus  ante 
quadriennium  editfe."  &c.  These  letters  were  also  much  com- 
mended and  praised  in  England,  especially  at  London,  by  uncon- 
form  ministers. 

Towards  the  close  of  this  year,  some  west  country  gentlemen, 
and  others,  are  imprisoned  in  Edinburgh  for  keeping  conventicles 
in  the  west ;  and,  in  the  latter  end  of  the  year,  the  Declaration  is 
pressed  upon  these  persons  that  had  been  fined,  and  had  paid  the 
one-half  of  their  fine.  They  that  refused  the  Declaration  paid  the 
other  half,  though  some  of  them  had  gotten  a  remit  thereof  from 
the  King ;  so  persecution  waxes  hotter  and  hotter.  x\nd  at  this 
time  Popery  increased,  and  Papists  multiplied  and  conceived  big 
hopes  that  all  would  go  well  with  them,  and  that  Popery  would 
yet  be  set  up  in  the  land.  In  Aberdeen  there  was  avowedly  said, 
in  nine  places,  the  mass,  whereas  the  Gospel  was  preached  only  in 
two  places  of  the  town.  Also  in  Edinburgh  there  are  masses  said 
avowedly  in  many  places,  especially  in  the  Canongate ;  yea,  the 
mass  was  said  in  Cupar  of  Fife,  which,  of  all  the  shires  of  Scot- 
land, was  freest  of  Popery  and  Papists  before  this  time ;  for,  about 
Martinmas  this  year,  the  infamous  Lady  Anne  Gordon,  the  Mar- 

2  H 


482  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1665. 

quis  of  Iluntly's  sister,  with  her  mother,  brother,  and  sister,  came 
and  dwelt  in  Cupar. 

About  the  middle  of  December  there  are  issued  out  by  the 
Council  two  proclamations ;  the  first  against  conventicles,  which 
then  abounded  in  Edinburgh,  and  other  places  where  honest  un- 
conform  ministers  dwelt.  At  this  time  many  outed  suifering  minis- 
ters lived  and  lurked  in  Edinburgh,  viz.,  Messrs  Gilbert  Hall, 
George  Johnston,  James  Kirkton,  George  Campbell,  Robert  Fle- 
ming,* John  Scot,  &c.,  who  were  very  busy  preaching  in  the  town, 
especially  in  the  winter  time.  In  Kirkcaldy  there  were  Messrs 
Robert  Blair,  Robert  Rule,  James  Wilson,  John  Law.f  The  first 
two  were  very  busy  in  preaching  and  lecturing,  ordinarily,  and  at 
extraordinary  occasions,  especially  on  the  last  day  of  every  month. 
There  were  three  old  ministers  in  St  Andrews'  Presbytery  that 
were  not  outed,  Messrs  David  Forret,  George  Hamilton,  and  Colin 
Adam ;  and  in  Cupar  Presbytery,  Mr  Walter  Greig ;  and  in  Kirk- 

*  Mr  George  Johnston,  at  the  Kestoration,  was  minister  of  Newbottle,  in  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Dnmfi-ies.  Dming  the  persecution  he  was  a  noted  field-preacher.  He  was 
opposed  to  the  Indulgence,  but  held  the  same  moderate  views  as  John  Welsh  respect- 
ing the  duty  of  exercising  forbearance  towards  the  ministers  who  accepted  it. —  Wod- 
roic's  History,  iii.  23.  He  sunared  the  Revolution.  Mr  James  Kirkton  was,  previous 
to  his  ejection,  minister  of  Mertoun,  in  the  Merse.  On  September  3,  1672,  he  and  Mr 
John  Greig  were  named,  by  act  of  Council,  as  indulged  ministers  for  Carstairs  ;  but 
of  this  indulgence  he  did  not  avail  himself.  After  the  Revolution  he  became  minister 
of  the  Tolbooth  Church,  Edinburgh,  where  he  continued  to  preach  till  his  death,  which 
took  place  in  September  1G99.  He  is  the  author  of  a  History  of  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land during  the  Persecution Biographical  Notice  of  Kirkton,  pi-ejixed  to  his  History. 

Mr  George  Campbell  was,  previous  to  his  ejection,  minister  of  Dumfi-ies.  He  survived 
the  Revolution,  and  became  Professor  of  Divinity  in  the  College  of  Edinburgh.  Mr 
Robert  Fleming  was  minister  of  Cambuslang.  He  afterwards  became  one  of  the  pastors 
of  the  Scottish  Church  in  Rotterdam ;  and  died  at  London  on  the  25th  of  July  1G94,  in 
the  fifty -eighth  year  of  his  age.  He  is  the  author  of  "The  Fulfilling  of  the  Scrip- 
ture," and  various  other  works. 

t  Mr  Robert  Rule,  brother  to  the  celebrated  Dr  Gilbert  Rule,  was  minister  of  Stir- 
ling, before  liis  ejection.  In  1672  he  became  minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  DciT)-,  Ireland,  \\here  he  officiated  till  the  year  1688,  when  he  returned  to  Scot- 
land, and  Mas  admitted  minister  of  Kirkcaldy,  July  24,  1688,  and  translated  to  Stir- 
ling, April  1693. — Reid's  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Ireland,  ii.  407;  Selec- 
tions from  the  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Fife,  231.  Mr  James  Wilson  was  admitted 
first  minister  of  Dysart,  1653,  and  deposed  in  16CA.— Selections,  ^c,  229.  Mr  John 
Law  was,  at  the  Restoration,  minister  of  Campsie,  and,  after  the  Revolution,  be- 
came one  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh. 


1665.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  483 

caldy  Presbytery,  Messrs  Thomas  Melvlll  and  Thomas  Black ;  * 
and  in  the  Presbytery  of  Dunfermline  there  Im'ked  some  outed 
ministers,  viz.,  Messrs  George  Hutchison,  Andrew  Donaldson,  who 
were  busy  preaching ;  so  that,  as  yet,  there  were  no  field- meetings 
in  Fife  for  preaching,  neither  were  they  needed. 

The  second  proclamation  was  an  enlarging  of  that  most  unrea- 
sonable proclamation  against  outed  ministers,  and  rendering  it 
more  unreasonable,  so  that  it  was,  in  some  cases,  almost  impossible 
to  obey  it.  First,  It  enjoined  ministers  to  remove  from  their  kirks 
twenty  miles,  not  only  they  themselves,  but  their  wives  and  child- 
ren, and  whole  families.  Secondly,  There  behoved  not  to  be  two 
of  them  in  one  parish.  Tliirdly,  All  magistrates  in  towns,  sheriffs, 
justices  of  peace  in  the  country,  are  commanded  to  execute  this 
cruel  proclamation.  This  was  judged  by  all  moderate  and  sober 
men,  even  amongst  the  Prelatic  party,  persecution  to  the  height ; 
and  it  was  observed  that  the  Prelates'  trick  was,  in  the  depth  of  win- 
ter, to  compel  honest  ministers  to  transport  their  wives  and  little 
children  in  frost  and  snow  twenty  miles,  and  if  there  was  any  outed 
minister  there  before  them,  they  must  yet  wander  up  and  down, 
though  it  were  to  the  Highlands,  and  Isles  of  the  sea,  before  they 
can  find  a  resting-place ;  but  they  contrived  it  so,  that  they  might 
not  live  in  towns,  nor  near  them,  for  breeding  of  their  childi'cn. 
This  was  an  old  ti'ick  of  their  father  to  root  out  true  religion,  and 
to  ruin  them  and  their  families.  Yea,  Sharp  said  he  should  starve 
them  out  of  their  opinions  and  principles ;  which  being  told  to  an 
honest  outed  young  minister,  Mr  Andrew  Spence,t  (the  only  outed 
minister  in  Angus),  he  said,  "  He'll  have  meikle  to  do  with  it,  so 
long  as  the  oats  are  for  forty  shillings  Scots  the  boll !" 

About  this  time,  one  Mr  James  Scot,  an  old  Episcopal  minister, 

*  Mr  Walter  Greig  was  admitted  assistant  and  successor  to  Mr  Thomas  Douglas, 
minister  of  Balmerino,  previous  to  1G38,  but  in  wliat  year  is  uncertain.  He  died  Ja- 
nuary 31,  1672.— Ibid.  217.  Mr  Thomas  Melvill,  "brother  to  the  Laird  of  Raith," 
was  minister  of  Kinglassie,  to  which  charge  he  was  admitted  December  16,  1G30 — 
Ibid.,  231 .  Mr  Thomas  Black  was  minister  of  Leslie,  to  which  he  was  admitted  1645. 
Ibid.,  232.     In  the  same  work  it  is  said  that  he  was  outed  in  1663. 

t  In  some  lists  of  the  ejected  ministers  he  is  called  minister  in  Brechin. —  TTW- 
rotv's  History,  i.  329. 

2  H  2 


484  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1665. 

is  planted  in  Ancruni,  being  thrust  in  by  the  Prelate,  in  honest  Mr 
Livino-stone's  kirk.  Some  zealous  young  men  in  that  parish  make 
some  opposition  when  Mr  James  Scot  was  thrust  in  upon  that 
people.  The  Council  being  stirred  up  thereto,  especially  by  Sharp, 
ordained  them  to  be  whipt  through  Edinburgh,  burnt  in  the  cheek, 
and  thereafter  banished  to  the  Barbadoe  Isles ;  all  which  were 
quickly  executed.  But  the  honest  young  men  being  poor,  were 
well  provided  for  by  the  honest  people  in  Edinburgh.  As  much 
money  was  collected  as  bought  them  from  the  merchants  to  whom 
they  were  sold,  that  so  they  might  be  freemen  when  they  landed 
in  Barbadoes,  and  not  made  slaves.  Also,  at  this  time,  the  Coun- 
cil condemned  the  book  called  "  The  Apologetical  Narration,"  &c. 
And  there  were  some  houses  in  Edinburgh  searched  if  there  were 
any  of  these  books  in  them.  The  book  being  found  in  ]\ir  James 
Guthrie's  relict's  house  she  was  imprisoned.  Mrs  Trail  went  out 
of  the  town  with  some  others. 

In  the  latter  end  of  this  year,  the  King  of  France  recalls  his 
ambassador  from  England,  as  our  King  did  the  Lord  Hollis,  his 
ambassador,  from  France.  There  were  some  acts  of  hostility  be- 
twixt the  two  kingdoms,  especially  in  the  Mediterranean  sea  and 
Channel.  The  King  of  France  levies  40,000  men  to  strengthen 
his  army.  So  there  was  appearance  of  war  betwixt  England  and 
France. 

One  Mr  Hugh  Peebles  *  is  relegat  to  the  north,  for  keeping  of 

conventicles  in  his  house  in  the  west,  and  especially  for  j^rotesting 

against  that  judicatory,  the  High  Commission,  and  declining  them, 

and  for  not  giving  to  Sharp  his  titles  of  honour ;  for  by  this  time 

it  was  judged  sinful  by  all  unconform  ministers  to  give  to  Prelates 

titles  of  honour  upon  any  account,  even  by  them  who  formerly  had 

done  it  in  the  former  Prelates'  time.     And  though  this  time  was 

*  Mr  Hugh  Peebles  was,  previous  to  the  Restoi-ation,  minister  of  Lochwinnoch  in 
the  shire  of  Renfrew.  He  was  confined  to  the  north  for  several  years  by  the  High 
Commission  Court.  On  the  12th  of  December  16G7,  he  is  allowed  by  the  Frivj 
Council  to  go  west  to  order  his  affairs,  upon  giving  a  bond  of  £100  sterling,  to  answer 
the  Council  when  called.  He  was  brought  before  the  Council  on  the  28th  of  August, 
1670,  and  declining  to  engage  in  time  coming  not  to  keep  conventicles,  he  was  con- 
fined to  Dumbarton  and  a  mile  around  it. —  Wodroir's  Tlistori/,  ii.  99,  15;S. 


1666.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  485 

very  sad,  persecution  waxing  hotter  and  hotter,  especially  in  Gal- 
loway and  Nithsdale,  yet  some  conceived  good  hopes,  if  not  of  a 
delivery,  yet  of  some  abatement  of  the  persecution,  and  thought 
that  they  heard  the  clattering  of  the  dry  bones.  There  were  some 
contrivances  of  rising  and  taking  of  arms  in  the  west  and  Gal- 
loway ;  for  they  were  most  oppressed  and  persecuted  by  the  Pre- 
lates, who  stirred  up  the  Council  to  use  all  severities,  cruel  means 
and  ways  to  ruin  the  west  and  Galloway,  after  they  had  disarmed 
them,  fined  them,  imprisoned  the  chief  leading  men,  and  had  done 
what  they  could  by  quartering  on  the  country  people,  to  lay  waste 
and  desolate  that  whole  country. 

The  Bishop  of  Munster  prospers  against  the  Dutch,  kills  gome 
of  the  Dutch  and  French  that  assisted  the  Hollanders. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  16G6,  (a  year  much  talked  of,  and 
written  of  by  many  divines,  especially  chronologists,  so  that  some 
conceived  hopes  of  the  downfall  of  the  Pope  and  Prelates  that 
year),  there  were  great  preparations  for  sea  fights  betwixt  the 
English  and  Dutch.  About  the  middle  of  January,  the  Prelate 
Sharp  goes  to  Edinburgh,  having  placed  one  Mr  David  Taylor* 
in  Anstruther  Wester,  in  Mr  Guthrie's  place.  About  the  begin- 
ning of  February,  the  King  of  France  denounces  war  against 
England,  declaring  that  there  was  an  ancient  league  betwixt 
France  and  the  United  Provinces,  so  that  he  behoved  to  look  upon 
all  their  enemies  as  his  enemies.  He  commands  his  subjects  to 
fall  upon  the  English  as  their  enemies  by  sea  and  land.  In  the 
beginning  of  March  there  was  a  proclamation  at  the  cross  of 
Edinburgh  and  pier  of  Leith,  denouncing  war  against  France, 
whereas  the  King  of  France  had  not  denounced  war  against  Scot- 
land but  only  against  England.  So  stout  would  we  appear  to  be 
in  our  proclamations  and  paper  skirmishes,  even  against  France, 
betwixt  whom  and  Scotland  there  was  a  very  ancient  league. 
Arms  were  to  be  brought  to  Scotland ;  but  the  Prelates  in  Eng- 
land, with  Chancellor  Hyde,  as  well  as  our  own  at  liome,  were 

*  Mr  Davifl  Taylor  was  admitted  minister  of  AiiNtriitlior  Wester  May  13,  1G68 — 
Selections  from  ike  Minutes  of  the  Synod  of  Fife,  201'. 


486  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1666. 

against  bringing  of  arms  to  Scotland,  for  fear  of  putting  wea- 
pons in  mad  men's  hands,  foreprophesying  that  they  would  be 
employed  against  themselves  and  the  Episcopal  party.  In  ^larch, 
the  King's  Commissioner  for  Church  affairs,  Rothes,  and  Prelate 
Sharp,  return  to  Fife,  these  two  being  too  closely  linked  together. 

About  this  time,  the  King  of  Denmark  having  declared  for  the 
Hollanders,  the  Swedes  did  not  as  yet  declare  either  for  the  Eng- 
lish or  the  Dutch,  but  mediate  with  our  King,  the  King  of  France, 
and  the  Dutch,  for  peace  amongst  them ;  and  for  this  effect  am- 
bassadors are  sent  to  them.  Also  about  this  time  there  is  drawn 
on  a  treaty  of  peace  betwixt  the  Bishop  of  Munster  and  the  Hol- 
landers. The  Bishop  writes  to  our  King  anent  the  treaty  with 
the  Dutch.  The  Swedes  denounce  war  against  the  Danes  in  the 
Sound,  and  so  declare  for  our  King. 

In  the  beginning  of  this  year  Mr  Blair  did  finish  his  Commen- 
tary upon  the  Proverbs,  and  made  it  ready  for  the  press.  And 
being  desired,  likewise,  to  write  upon  Ecclesiastes,  he  said  that  the 
second  edition  of  the  English  annotations  upon  that  book  was  a 
sufficient  commentary  upon  it.  While  he  was  at  Kirkcaldy,  be- 
ing wearied  with  studying  and  preaching,  he  did  recruit  himself 
partly  with  teaching  his  youngest  sons  the  Greek  tongue  and  the 
logicks,  and  partly  by  composing  some  poems,  one  whereof  was  In 
praise  of  Christ,  viz. — 

In  laudem  Christi. 

Quis  tibi  dilectus  amabilisquc  ? 
Quem  sitis  tmito  veliementer  lestu  ? 
Nomen  et  mores  doceas  veliraus 
Die  et  amoves  ? 

Gloriie  Patris  nitidus  character, 
Atque  personaj  radians  imago, 
Ccelites  ciijus  faciem  beatam 

Semper  adorant. 

Ora  >'elantes  propiia,  et  fatentes 
Se  triumphatos  jubaris  nitorc 
Talis  et  tanti,  ct  proprias  coronas 
Projicientes. 


1666.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  487 

Fons  iucxhaustus  bonitatis  almse, 
Qui  rigas  pleno  sitibunda  rivo 
Corda  sanctorum,  penitus  mcdullis 
Insitus  imis. 

Ut  novus  sponsus  nitide  politus 
Gemmeis  totus  radiis  refulgens, 
Sic  mihi  afflicto  et  spoliato  amicis 
Gaudla  spirans. 

Hie  mihi  Sol  justitife  serenus, 
Semper  inspirans  vegetum  vigorem, 
Usque  propulsans  tenebras  jaccnti 
Mortis  in  umbra. 

Iste  quem  totus  videt  Orbis  ingens, 
Isque  procurrens  rediensque  numquam, 
Sive  tu  sponsum  vocites  jocose 

Sive  gigautem. 

Si  tamen  quisquam  velit  inter  istos 
Impares  multum  nimiumque  longe, 
Calculis  justis  rationem  inire  et 
Ponere  lances ; 

Hie  statim  noster  pudefoctus  omni 
Orbe  detrusus,  velut  in  culina  ' 
Quid  nisi  pruna;  fugiens  favilla 
Parva  videtur. 

Die  coelestis  patria;  refulgens 
Lampas  et  limien,  rapiens  amores 
Abstulit  nostros,  habeatque  semper 
Me  sibi  jungens. 

Ille  dejectum  fluviis  amoris 
Languidum  semper  recreat  fovetque,  et 
Caraeam  molem  sibi  suscitabit, 
Tabe  ruentem, 

Spiritus  qualis  Domino  est  futurus, 
Quamque  divinus  macula  expiatus, 
Quando  compages  similis  futura  est 
Carnea  Cbristo. 

RoBERxrs  Blarids. 

To  another  long  poem,  wherein  he  did  refute  the  grossest  of 
the  Popish  heresies,  he  prefixed  this  title  : — 


488  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [16G6. 

In  bellarminum  et  Socios  Pap^  pedissequos. 

Tu  bellum,  arma,  minas  indicis  vestra  neganti 

Effata  :  hie  audit  protinus  haireticus. 
Ille  meretricis  mos  est  affingere  crimen 

Vicinaj  propriiim  quod  sciat  esse  sibi. 
Diviiiis  placitis  homiiium  commenta  propliane 

^quas ;  quaj  recipi  vis  pietate  pari. 
Ast  homines  a?quare  Deo  blasphema  superba, 

Hferesis  est,  superans  dogmata  prava  procul.  &c. 

And  when  Mr  Blair  did  see  the  ship  sailing  by  Kirkcaldy,  where- 
in his  dear  brother,  Mr  Livingstone,  was  carried  going  to  Holland, 
in  obedience  to  the  sentence  of  banishment  pronounced  against 
him  by  the  Secret  Council,  he  composed  two  epigrams  : — 

Chare  Levistone  salve,  multumque  valeto, 

Invidia  ipsa  crepet,  te  mea  miisa  canet. 
Tu  lachrimis  madetacte  tius,  nos  linquis  in  alto 

Stertentes  somno,  lethiferoque  malo, 
Sed  tralio  et  sociis  suavis  comes  ibis  in  oras, 

Quas  debit  Omnipotens  visere  propitius.  &c. 

After  Mr  Blair  had  abode  at  Kirkcaldy  three  years  and  four 
months,  the  Archprelate  Sharp  hearing  that  Mr  Blair  did  keep 
days  of  humiliation  with  some  honest  people  in  the  town  of  Kirk- 
caldy, and  others  ;  that  he  did  often  lecture  and  preach  besides  his 
ordinary  family  exercise  morning  and  evening,  and  that  he  was 
visited  often,  and  sometimes  by  persons  of  quality ;  did  in  the 
Secret  Council  complain  that  Mr  Blair  did  not  obey  the  late  pro- 
clamation, living  still  in  the  town  of  Kirkcaldy,  there  being  also 
other  outed  ministers  there,  especially  Mr  Robert  Eule.*     Mr 

*  An  act  of  Council  was  passed,  Nov.  17,  1664,  requiring  all  ejected  ministers  to  i-e- 
move  from  Edinburgh,  and  other  places  forbidden  by  act  of  Council,  dated  August 
13,  1663,  within  forty-eight  hours  after  the  piddication  of  the  act. —  Wodrow's  History, 
i.  402.  But  Blair  on  petitioning  the  Council  had  been  allowed  to  remain  in  Ivirkcaldj-, 
as  appears  from  the  following  act.  "  Edinburgh,  2ith  Nor.  1664.— The  Lords  of  liis 
Majesty's  I'rivy  Council  having  considered  a  ])etition  presented  by  Mr  Robert  Blair, 
desiring  that,  notwithstanding  the  late  act  of  Council  discharging  ministers  who  have 
not  conformed  to  dejjart  forth  of  the  town  of  Edinburgh,  and  not  to  reside  there,  nor 
within  several  miles  of  the  place  they  last  preached  at,  he  may  have  the  liberty  to 
come  to  Edinburgh  or  Leith  for  liaving  the  help  and  advice  of  i)hysicians,  being  sore 
diseased,  at  least  liberty  to  .stay  stQl  in  Kirkcaldy,  where  he  now  is,"  do  remit  tlie  desire 
of  the  above  written  petition   to  the  Lord  Archbishop  of  St  Andrews,  and,  in  the 


1666.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  489 

Blair  being  hereof  informed,  and  knowing  the  Prelate's  envy  and 
malice  against  him,  and  that  he  vvould  never  cease  until  he  ob- 
tained an  order  for  thrusting  of  Mr  Blair  and  his  fixmily  out  of 
Kirkcaldy,  he  resolved  as  soon  as  he  could  to  remove  out  of  Kirk- 
caldy to  some  place  in  the  country,  twenty  miles  from  St  An- 
drews, three  miles  from  a  town,  &e.,  that  he  might  (if  possible) 
obey  the  late  proclamation,  and  act  in  all  the  particulars  of  it. 
And  so,  in  the  latter  end  of  February  this  year,  1666,  Mr  Blair 
removed  out  of  Kirkcaldy,  and  came  and  dwelt  in  the  house  of 
Couston,  in  the  parish  of  Aberdour. 

In  April  this  year  the  Bishop  of  Munster  concludes  a  peace 
with  the  Dutch  without  our  King's  consent,  who  had  assisted  him 
with  money  and  men.  He  sends  one  to  the  King  to  excuse  him- 
self at  his  hand. 

May  1,  the  Prelate  Sharp  goes  to  Edinburgh,  intending  thence 
to  go  to  court.     Athole  follows  him. 

This  spring  time  our  King's  navy  goes  first  to  sea,  being  strong 
and  having  in  some  land  soldiers.  Their  first  design  was  against 
the  King  of  Denmark  to  surprise  the  Castle  of  Elsinore.  The 
Swedes  join  with  him  in  this  against  the  Danes,  though,  in  respect 
of  the  war  with  the  Dutch,  they  yet  abode  neuter.  Also  the 
Scottish  capers*  take  many  great  prizes,  the  Dutch  not  apprehend- 
ing; danger  from  the  Scots  at  sea.  Some  of  our  o-randees  get 
much  by  their  caping ;  but  men  of  tender  consciences  would  not 
meddle  with  it.  The  Dutch  fleet  comes  not  to  sea  till  towards 
the  latter  end  of  Alay.  The  King  of  France  sends  his  fleet  to  sea 
with  the  Duke  of  Beaufort,  and  with  him  there  is  about  sixteen 
Dutch  men  of  war.  This  made  the  English  to  divide  their  fleet. 
Monk  has  Avith  him  about  fifty-four  sail  to  attend  the  motions  of 
the  Dutch  ;  Prince  llupert  another  squad  to  attend  the  Duke  of 
Beaufort.      Monk  first  falls  on  the  Dutch  and  provokes  them  to 

meantime,  grant  waiTant  to  the  petitioner  to  stay  at  Kirkcalih-." — Decreets  of  Privij 
Council. 

*  Capers— ^c.  privateers.  Capimj  or  rapperimj — Se.  seizing  vessels.  "  In  Scotland 
some  private  persons  made  themselves  rich  by  cupiny  or  ])rivatccriiig  njion  tlic  Dutch, 
but  the  public  had  no  great  cause  of  boasting." — Wotl.  Ifisl.  i.  420. 


490  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  []  QQQ. 

fio-ht,  June  1.  They  engage  and  fight  terribly.  The  Dutch  send 
out  sixteen  fi'esh  ships  June  2.  So  the  second  day  Monk  is 
worsted  and  retires ;  and  on  the  third  day,  while  Monk  is  still 
striving  to  make  a  safe  retreat,  at  evening  Prince  E,upert  comes 
to  his  aid.  So  the  fourth  day  there  is  a  most  bloody  fight.  At 
night  they  part  like  two  tired  cocks  ;  both  of  them  brag  of  the 
victory.  The  Dutch  take  some  of  the  greatest  of  the  royal  ships, 
and  many  prisoners,  and  some  of  the  King's  prime  officers  die  of 
their  wounds. 

In  June  Dr  Scrogie  is  consecrated  Bishop  of  Argyle  at  Glasgow, 
though  he  understood  not  a  word  of  Irish  [Gaelic] 

About  the  beginning  of  July  the  Dutch  navy  sets  to  sea  very 
strong,  with  twenty-five  ships  and  many  land  soldiers.  They 
bravado  the  English  upon  iheir  coast.  But  the  King's  navy  is 
not  yet  ready,  though  there  was  a  great  press  in  England  for  sea- 
men. 

There  was  a  fast  indicted  by  the  King,  July  11  and  18,  for 
good  success  to  our  King's  navy  and  forces,  but  never  a  word  of 
sin,  the  cause  of  all  our  troubles  and  losses  ;  for  the  land-destroy- 
ing sin  durst  not  be  named,  viz.,  breach  of  covenant.  There  are 
great  preparations  in  England  to  resist  the  French  and  Dutch,  in 
case  they  should  land  men  on  the  English  coast.  Also  in  Scot- 
land there  are  orders  to  levy  some  troops  of  horse,  beside  the 
King's  lifeguard,  and  some  companies  of  foot,  the  horse  to  be  com- 
manded by  the  Dukes  Hamilton,  Rothes,  &c. ;  the  foot  by  Lin- 
lithgow and  Sir  George  Munro,  who  at  this  time  was  set  at 
liberty,  and  thereafter  made  General-Major  of  the  foot.  Some 
few  stands  of  arms  were  sent  to  Scotland  by  the  King,  the  Bishops 
of  England  and  Hyde  refusing  to  send  many. 

The  Dutch,  with  the  French  and  Danes,  lie  along  the  English 
coast,  strong  and  insolent,  and  give  many  alarms. 

Our  King's  navy  sets  to  sea,  towards  the  end  of  July,  ninety 
sail,  with  eighteen  fireships.  July  25,  they  engaged  with  the 
Dutch.  There  was  a  very  bitter  and  bloody  fight  for  five  or  six 
hours.    There  being  a  discord  between  De  Ruytcr  and  Tromp,  and 


1666.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  491 

some  of  De  Ruyter's  captains  deserting  him,  he  made  a  handsome 
retreat  into  the  Tcssell  [Texcl],  and  other  harbours,  losing  many- 
men  and  some  few  ships.  At  last  Tromp  was  beaten  and  fled.  For 
this  victory  days  of  thanksgiving  were  kept  in  Scotland,  August 
23  and  30.  Immediately  before  this  sea  fight,  Pi-elate  Sharp  came 
from  Court  to  Edinburgh.  Reports  did  flee  abroad  that  he  had 
brought  with  him  the  English  Common  Prayer  or  Service  Book, 
to  be  obtruded  upon  and  established  in  Scotland,  and  orders  for 
pressing  the  Declaration  upon  all  in  places  of  power  or  trust.  But 
whatever  truth  was  in  these  reports,  it  was  certain  that  the  troops 
and  companies  were  levied  (which  was  a  heavy  and  insupportable 
burden  to  the  impoverished  country),  for  no  other  end  than  to 
guard  and  uphold  the  Prelates,  and  to  persecute  all  the  godly  and 
honest  conscientious  people  of  the  land,  that  would  refuse  to  go 
along  with  the  Prelates'  wicked  courses,  and  all  the  abominations 
of  this  time  of  grossest  defection,  perjury  and  apostacy.  Yea, 
now  there  were  rational  and  probable  grounds  of  fear,  that  many  of 
the  Prelates,  both  in  England  and  Scotland,  and  some  of  the 
grandees  in  both  kingdoms,  with  some  of  the  officers  of  the  forces, 
were  contriving  how  to  carry  on  a  Popish  design,  and  in  order 
thereunto  to  introduce  the  Liturgy  or  English  Service  Book,  only 
as  a  further  step  to  Popery  in  Scotland,  as  was  intended  in  the 
year  1637. 

After  the  late  sea  fight,  wherein  the  English  were  victors,  they, 
bearing  towards  the  Holland  coast,  thought  to  have  interrupted  a 
Dutch  fleet,  returning  home  richly  laden;  but  the  wind  hindering, 
they  got  into  their  harbours.  Yet  one  Captain  Homes  landed 
1000  musketeers  in  an  isle  called  Ulie,  and  burnt  the  town  and  a 
hundred  and  fifty  merchant  ships.  They  passed  from  that  isle  to 
another,  called  Skylhng.  They  killed  all  without  mercy,  and  burnt 
their  houses  ;  thereafter  returned  to  their  ships ;  which  cruelty  and 
great  loss  of  ships,  together  with  the  Scots  capering  [privateering], 
did  not  a  little  irritate  the  Dutch. 

In  this  summer  there  was  a  peace  concluded  betwixt  our  King 
and  Gvlland,  king  of  the  jNIoors,  u[)oii  the  coast  of  Africa,  near 


492  LIFE  OF  ROBEUT  BLAIR.  [166G. 

Tano-icr.  Gylland  offers  his  assistance  to  the  Governor  of  Tan- 
gier, in  case  the  French  should  offer  injury  to  the  garrison  that  our 
King  kept  in  Tangier,  whereof  Middleton  was  made  governor; 
for  after  he  was  decourted,  degraded,  and  in  effect  disgraced,  and 
had  for  some  space  Hved  obscurely  at  London,  he  was  by  the  King 
sent  over  to  Tangier,  to  be  governor  there  in  the  Earl  of  Teviot's 
room.  After  he  had  for  some  years  been  governor  there,  he  arose 
out  of  bed  in  his  sleep,  and  fell  over  the  stairs  and  broke  his  arm, 
so  that  the  bone  of  his  broken  arm  was  thrust  into  his  bowels, 
which  presently  brought  him  to  an  untimely  and  violent  death. 
This  is  that  man  Middleton,  who  sometime  was  most  active  and 
forward  for  the  good  cause,  and  famous  for  being  instrumental  in 
carrying  on  the  Lord's  work  in  Scotland,  but  thereafter  was  as 
infamous  for  breaking  down  the  carved  work  thereof,  Psalm  Ixxiv. 
5,  6.  He  was  the  man  employed  as  Commissioner  to  the  Parlia- 
ment 1661,  to  break  the  Kirk  of  Scotland  and  the  Covenant,  and 
he  falls  and  breaks  his  arm  and  the  thread  of  his  own  life.  Psalm 
X.  15  ;  ix.  16. 

After  Mr  Blair  came  to  Couston,  in  the  spring  time,  his  health 
grew  much  better  than  it  had  been  in  winter  time  in  Kirkcaldy  ; 
so  that  sometimes  he  walked  out  and  recreated  himself  in  the  fields. 
All  this  spring  and  summer  time,  until  Lammas,  Mr  Blair  was 
busy  keeping  days  of  humiliation,  especially  the  last  day  of  the 
month.  Some  godly  persons  from  Kirkcaldy  and  Burntisland,  and 
some  few  about  Couston,  resorting  unto  him,  he  did  much  com- 
mend Eichard  A  Heine's  first  two  pieces,  making  much  use  of  them 
morning  and  evening  in  his  ordinary  family  exercise.  Pie  was  some- 
times visited  by  honest  outed  ministers  and  some  persons  of  quality. 
To  the  young  ministers  that  were  laid  aside,  he  often  sadly  regret- 
ted that  so  many  pious,  able,  well-qualified  ministers  were  hindered 
from  public  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and  going  about  all  the  other 
pastoral  duties  among  their  flock  over  which  the  Holy  Ghost  had 
made  them  overseers,  saying,  "  As  for  me,  who  am  an  old  hag  that 
must  shortly  die,  it  is  not  to  be  regretted  that  1  am  laid  aside ; 
but  it  breaks  my  heart,  and  I  cannot  bear  up  any  longer  under  this 


166G.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  493 

oppressing  burden,  that  so  many  young  men  whom  God  hath  made 
able  ministers  of  the  New  Testament,  should  be  laid  aside  ;"  but 
still  he  encouraged  them,  exhorting  them  in  the  meantime,  to  be 
busy  where,  when,  and  as  they  might,  and  to  be  amending  their 
nets,  preparing  for  more  public  employment. 

After  Mr  Blair  had  lived  five  months  and  some  few  days  at 
Couston,  being  worn  with  old  age,  but  much  moi'e  with  sorrow  and 
grief  of  heart  for  the  desolations  of  the  Lord's  sanctuary  and  house 
in  Scotland,  England  and  Ireland  ;  about  the  10th  of  August,  he 
was   much  distempered  by  reason  of  obstructions  ;  but  after  Dr 
Cunningham  had  sent  over  John  Kennedy  to  him,  who  gave  him 
physic,  he  recovered  a  little,  so  that  his  wife  and  relations  had  some 
hopes  that  it  would  please  the  Lord  to  continue  him  with  them  for 
some  space  yet  longer  ;  but  still  Mr  Blair  entertained  most  serious 
thoughts  of  near  approaching  death,  ever  commending,  praising 
and  extolling  his  good  Lord  and  Master  whom  he  had  served  from 
seven  to  seventy-three.     His  sickness  increasing,  he  was  visited 
by  several  godly  and  gracious  persons,  to  whom  he  uttered  and 
spoke  many  gracious  and  edifying  words.    At  one  time,  when  they 
told  him  of  some  severe  acts  of  the  Council  which  they  made,  being 
instigated  thereto  by  the  Prelate  Sharp,  he  said  "  O  Sharp  !  Sharp! 
there  is  no  rowing  with  thee ;  Lord  open  thine  eyes,  and  give  thee 
repentance  and  mercy,  if  it  be  thy  will."     To  IVlrs  Rutherford  he 
said,  when  some  were  speaking  of  the  Archbishop  Sharp,  "  I  would 
not  exchange  my  condition,  though  I  be  now  lying  on  my  bed  of 
languishing  and  dying,  with  thine,  O  Sharp,  for  thy  mitre  and  all 
thy  riches  and  revenues,  nay,  though  all  that's  betwixt  thee  and  me 
were  red  gold  to  the  boot."     Several  ministers  visited  him,  to  whom 
he  expressed  some  hopes  of  an  approaching  delivery,  saying  that 
it  was  to  him  a  token  of  good,  and  he  thought  it  a  kind  of  begin- 
ning of  our  delivery  that  the  Lord  was  casting  the  Prelates  out 
of  the  affections  of  all  ranks  and  degrees  of  people ;  and  even  they 
that  were  most  active  in  setting  thcni  up,  did  now  most  hate  and 
loathe  them,  perceiving  their  pride,  falsehood  and  covetousness. 
And  when  he  was  asked,  if  he  thought  the  delivery  of  the  people  of 


494  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1666. 

God  was  near  at  lian  J,  he  said,  he  would  not  take  upon  him  peremp- 
torily to  deterniine  times  and  seasons,  which  God  keeps  in  his  own 
hand  and  power,  but  this  he  thought,  that  before  -our  delivery 
came  the  people  of  God  behoved  to  endure  and  patiently  suffer  a 
sad  storm,  &c. 

After  he  had  very  christianly,  gravely  and  solemnly  blessed  his 
wife  and  all  his  children,  speaking  to  them  severally,  commending 
or  admonishing  them  as  he  judged  expedient ;  his  eldest  son  that 
was  then  alive  said  to  him,  "  The  worst  and  best  of  men  have 
their  first  and  second  thoughts,  they  have  their  thoughts  and  after- 
thoughts. Now,  sir,  God  has  given  you  time  for  your  after- 
thoughts of  your  way  and  carriage  in  the  world,  and  we  would  hear 
what  are  now  your  after-thoughts."  To  whom  he  said,  "  I  have 
again  and  again  thought  upon  my  ways,  and  communed  with  my 
heart,  and  as  for  my  public  actings  and  carriage,  in  reference  to 
the  Lord's  work,  if  I  were  to  begin  again,  I  would  just  do  as  I  have 
done."  Thereafter  his  son  said,  "  Now  sir,  when  the  Lord  is  to 
remove  you  from  us,  though  we  have  often  heard  you  express  your- 
self in  reference  to  the  Lord's  work  and  his  people,  we  desire  to 
hear  of  you  what  are  now  your  hopes  of  the  Lord's  reviving  his 
work  and  delivering  his  people  ?"  To  whom  he  said,  "  David,  you 
know  that  I  never  pretended  to  a  spirit  of  prophecy,  though  this 
I  will  say,  that  the  Lord  hath  revealed  much  of  his  mind  and  will 
concerning  myself  and  near  relations  to  me,  and  I  have  foretold 
somethings  concerning  myself  and  my  nearest  relations  ;  but  as 
touching  the  certainty  of  the  thing,  I  mean  the  reviving  of  the 
Lord's  work,  and  thereby  the  delivering  of  his  people,  I  have  no 
doubt  of  it,  though  I  cannot  say  that  the  set  time  is  come,  yea,  I 
doubt  not  but  the  Lord  will  (and  with  the  next  three  words  he 
lifted  up  his  right  hand)  rub,  rub,  rub,  (still  lifting  up  his  hand 
higher  and  higher,  and  then  brings  it  down  with  a  thump),  shame 
upon  Sharp  and  all  his  complices."  He  often  repeated  the  words  of 
the  twenty-third  psalm,  especially  verse  4.  One  time  he  repeated 
the  whole  seventy-first  psalm,  which  he  used  to  call  his  own 
psalm. 


1666.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  495 

He  was  visited  by  Mr  Hutchison  two  days  before  his  death, 
when  his  speech  began  to  fail ;  to  whom  he  spoke  Uttlc,  because  he 
spoke  with  pain,  and  sometimes  could  not  be  well  understood.  He 
then  made  mention  of  some  eminent  saints  that  were  dead,  whom 
God  had  highly  honoured  in  their  lifetime,  and  of  some  then  living, 
to  whom  he  desired  IVIi'  George  Hutchison  to  carry  his  Christian 
remembrance  of  them,  praying  earnestly  that  the  Lord  would  bless 
them.  When  he  mentioned  the  Countess  of  Crawford,  he  said 
"  My  Lady  Ci'awford,  set  her  alone,  set  her  alone  among  women." 
When  ]\Ir  Hutchison  retired  from  ^Ix  Blair's  bedside,  he  said  to 
his  wife,  children,  and  others  that  waited  upon  him,  "  Truly,  I 
think  persecuted  Mr  Blair,  whom  the  Prelates  have  all  along  per- 
secuted, is  now  dying  a  martyr.  Is  it  not  a  martyrdom  to  be  thrust 
from  his  work  of  the  ministry,  that  was  his  delight  and  comfort, 
and  hindered  from  doing  good  to  his  people  and  flock,  which  was 
to  him  his  joy  and  crown  of  rejoicing,  and  to  be  worn  and  wasted 
with  heaviness  and  sorrow  for  all  the  injuries  and  wrongs  done  to 
the  Lord's  people,  covenant,  and  cause ;  and  at  last,  after  he  was 
put  from  place  to  place  by  the  persecution  of  the  Prelates,  and 
especially  by  the  malice  and  tyranny  of  Sharp  to  be  driven  to  this 
unwholesome  place,  to  dwell  on  a  loch-side,  being  surrounded  with 
water  and  marshy  ground  ?  Let  others  think  what  they  will,  I 
say  jVIr  Blair  is  dying,  not  only  a  persecuted  minister,  but  also  a 
faithful  martyr  of  Jesus  Christ." 

August  20,  being  the  Lord's-day,  he  slept  much,  but  spoke  little, 
and  that  which  he  spoke  with  pain,  could  hardly  be  understood. 
All  that  Sabbath  niglit  he  lay  breatliing,  not  able  to  speak  any 
thing;  his  wife,  children,  and  some  ministers,  that  did  i)ray  by 
turns,  surrounding  his  bed  until  four  hours  in  the  morning,  Au- 
gust 27,  1666,  at  which  time  Mr  Blair  fell  asleep,  and  died  in 
peace  in  the  Lord,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age.*     His 

"This  month,"  says  Kirkton,  " Mr  Robert  Bhiir,  that  gocUy  and  nhlc  minister, 
departed  this  life  in  liis  confinement,  whitlier  lie  was  sent  by  the  State  at  the  Bishops' 
request.  He  was  a  man  of  ftreat  piety,  ability,  ami  hijrh  experience ;  and  tliouj;]!  he 
died  a  sufferer,  yet  he  dieil  full  of  hope  that  the  Lord  would  deliver  Scotland,  and 


496.  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1660. 

body  *lies  buried  near  to  the  kirk  wall,  in  the  burial-place  at 
Aberdour,  in  the  which  parish  the  house  of  Couston,  w-here  he 
died  is.  There  is  erected  upon  the  side- wall  of  the  Kirk  of  Aber- 
dour  above  his  grave,  a  little  tomb  or  monument,  whereon  is  en- 
graven : — 

Hie  reconditaj  jacent  mortales  Exuvias 
D.  Roberti  Blarii,  S.  S.  Evangelii  apud  Andreapolin 
Pi-JEdicatoris  fidelissimi.  Obiit  August!  27"^  1666, 
^tatis  suae  73°. 

This,  and  no  more,  was  judged  fit  and  convenient  to  be  put  upon 

his  tomb,  by  reason  of  the  iniquity  of  the  time.     Shortly  before 

his  death  he  composed  the  following  lines.     Take  them  for  his 

epitaph : — 

QuiBi-is  quis  Blarius,  quae  vita,  quis  exitus  ?  audi, 

Multus  amor  Christi,  multaque  lucta  fuit. 
Insidise,  dolique  hominum,  Satanasque  furores 

Me  cito,  me  multum,  me  tenuere  diu. 
Mi  varise  sedes,  tentata  America,  Jerne 

Bis  culta ;  et  patriaj  reditus  inde  mete. 
Me  tamen  podagra,  gonagraque  exercuit  ingens, 

Et  latebras  reuum  calculus  ussit  atrox. 
Sed  divina  tiu  dulcedo  plurima  verbi 

Melle  mihi  istud  fel  condiit  omne  mero. 
Christus  inexhaustus  fundebat,  foederis  almi 

Divite  luxuriaus  ubere  semper  opes. 
Ite  foris  podagras  cruciatus,  ite  vesicse 

Tormina,  me  la;tum  balsama  dia  fovent. 
Vivo,  Agnumque  sequor  vivum  per  celsa  Sionis ; 
Grex  conjunx,  soboles,  guadeat  in  Domino. 
Plebs  Andreana  Evangelii 
Spreti  dedisti  sat  graves 
Pcenas ;  dabis  gravissiraas 
Ni  resipiscas,  et  Dei 
Zelo  magis  tu  ferveas. 

Mr  Blair's  epitaph,  composed  by  him  at  the  death  of  his 
brother-in-law,  holy  Mr  Cunningham  of  Holywood,  with  some 
small  change,  may  be  turned,  and  taken  as  an  epitaph  on  Mr  Blair 
himself,  thus : — 

very  confident  God  would  rub  sbamc  (as  he  expressed  it)  upon  Bishop  Sharp,  as  it 
came  to  pass." — Kirkion's  History,  228. 


1666.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  liLAIR.  497 

Blarii  magni  recubat  Roherti  hie 
Coiinis.     O  qualis  genius  lateliat, 
Qnamque  divinus  frajTiH  involutus, 
Pulvcre  in  isto ! 

Acrius  nemo  intonuit  snperbis ; 
Nemo  dejectos  majjis  erigebat ; 
Sed  Dei  foedus  prredicando,  vicit 
Seque  aliosque. 


2  I 


THE  CONTINUATION 


OF  THE 


HISTOEY  or  THE  TIMES 

AFTER  MR  BLAIR'S  DEATH,  1666,  AUGUST  27. 


September  2,  being  the  Lord's  day,  at  two  hours  in  the  morn- 
ing, there  was  kindled  a  fire  in  the  city  of  London,  in  Pudding 
Lane.  At  the  first  it  was  thought  the  beginning  of  the  execution 
of  a  plot  for  a  massacre ;  so  that  people  did  not  run  to  quench  the 
fire,  but  ran  to  their  arms,  setting  upon  some  Frenchmen  whom 
they  suspected,  till  the  fire  so  prevailed,  that  it  was  imjiossible  to 
quench  it,  it  being  designedly  and  industriously  fomented  in  several 
places  of  the  city.  It  was  a  most  dreadful  burning ;  for  of  ninety- 
seven  parishes  (so  many  there  are  within  the  walls)  eighty-four 
were  burnt.  The  Royal  Exchange,  where  the  Covenant  was,  by 
the  hand  of  the  hangman,  burnt,  was  burnt  unto  ashes.  The  King 
was  much  affected  with  this  speaking  dispensation ;  but  the  mayor 
and  aldermen  of  the  city  comforted  and  encouraged  him,  saying 
that  the  city  should  be  rebuilded  more  glorious  and  stately  than  it 
was :  and  for  that  end  a  new  draught  and  cess,  shortly  after  the  burn- 
ing, was  drawn;  Is.  ix.  10;  xxvi.  11.  Upon  the  report  of  the  burning 
of  London  the  Dutch  set  their  navy  to  sea  again,  the  French  joining 
with  them,  under  the  command  of  the  Duke  of  Beaufort.  In  the 
latter  end  of  September  there  were  tempestuous  winds,  which  made 
the  Dutch  and  French  retire  into  their  harbours ;  so  did  our  King's 
greatest  ships.     The  Scots  capers  prosper. 

About  the  middle  of  October,  (after  the  Prelates  had  kept  their 
Diocesan  Courts),  there  was  a  proclamation  more  severe  and  strict 

2  I  2 


500  LIt'E  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [16G6. 

than  any  former,  against  those  that  did  not  resort  to  their  own 
parish  kirks,  shewing  that,  former  acts  and  proclamations  not  being 
obeyed,  now  all  landlords,  heritors,  &c.,  are  commanded  to  be 
answerable  for  all  under  them,  their  tenants,  servants,  cottars,  that 
they  keep  their  own  parish  kirks,  communicate  there,  &c. ;  if 
otherwise,  to  make  void  their  tacks,  cause  put  them  to  the  horn, 
confiscate  their  goods,  &c. ;  that  when  they  set  tacks  or  houses, 
that  that  shall  be  a  clause  that  they  shall  repair  to  their  own  kirks, 
&c. ;  and  if  landlords  be  deficient,  that  the  justices  of  peace,  she- 
riffs, and  their  deputies,  do  it,  &c.  The  English  Parliament  sit 
down  in  the  latter  end  of  September. 

After  the  burning  of  London  the  Dutch  send  a  trumpet  to  the 
King,  making  oflPer  of  a  treaty  of  peace ;  but  it  was  thought  that 
the  French  hindered  the  treaty,  for  they  minded  no  peace. 

In  the  beginning;  of  November  there  were  srreat  storms  and  tem- 
pests  at  sea  and  land.  A  ship  laden  with  coals,  going  from  New- 
castle to  London,  was  blown  in  to  St  Andrews ;  a  Danish  ship 
was  blown  in  to  Stonehaven,  and  another  to  Peterhead,  strongly 
manned,  well  armed,  &c.  The  prisoners  confessed  that  there  were 
twelve  of  them  sent  out  with  a  commission  to  apprehend  the  Scots 
capers,  and  to  bum  towns  on  the  coast  of  Scotland,  especially  in 
the  north. 

About  this  time  the  Earl  of  Rothes  is  sent  for  by  the  King ;  so, 
November  9,  he  takes  journey,  and  repairs  to  Court.  That  same 
day  there  was  a  proclamation  for  the  meeting  of  a  convention  of 
Estates  at  Edinburgh,  January  9,  1667. 

All  this  while  Popery  abounds.  At  London  the  Papists  grow 
more  and  more  numerous  and  insolent,  so  that  there  were  great 
fears  of  a  massacre  from  the  Papists  at  London.  The  House  of 
Commons  make  an  act  against  Papists  for  disarming  of  them, 
banishing  of  them,  &c.  The  King  consents  to  this  act,  providing, 
and  in  case  that  the  Papists  refuse  to  take  the  Oath  of  Alle- 
giance, &c. 

All  this  while  the  honest  people  in  the  west  of  Scotland  are  fear- 
fully oppressed,  and  only  not  altogether  ruined,  especially  after  the 


1666.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  501 

late  proclamation.  Many  families  were  impoverished  and  turned 
out  of  doors.  Major  Turner  was  most  active  in  ruining  them. 
After  long  and  sore  oppression,  which  makes  wise  men  mad,  first 
tliose  of  the  stewartry  of  Galloway  (by  occasion  of  the  inhuman 
and  barbarous  usage  of  a  man  whom  some  few  soldiers  had  bound 
as  a  beast  for  the  slaughter,  and  were  carrying  him  away)  did 
arise  and  join  in  arms.  Their  first  design  was  against  Major  Tur- 
ner; so,  November  15,  they  enter  the  town  of  Dumfries,  and  take 
Turner  out  of  his  bed,  and  carry  him  away  with  them.  Their 
number  still  increasing,*  immediately  after  their  surprising  and 
taking  of  Turner,  the  town-clerk  of  Dumfries  posts  to  Edinburgh, 
and  informs  the  Council  of  their  arising  in  arms,  and  taking  of 
Major  Turner.  The  Council  ordered  the  Lieutenant-General, 
Dalziel,  with  all  the  foot-companies  and  troops  of  horse,  to  march 
towards  Glasgow  against  them.  Annandale,  Nidsdale,  &c.,  raise 
forces  against  them.  November  21,  there  is  a  proclamation  issued 
out  against  them,  declaring  them  rebels  and  traitors,  and  if,  within 
twenty-four  hours,  they  do  not  lay  down  arms,  and  come  in  to  the 
lieutenant-general,  they  may  expect  no  mercy,  &c. ;  forbidding  all 
to  join,  assist,  or  correspond  with  them,  under  the  pain  of  treason; 
and  commanding  all  to  be  in  readiness  to  go  against  them,  and 
those  that  refuse  to  be  dealt  with  as  traitors,  &c. 

They  come  out  of  Galloway,  through  Carrick,  and  their  num- 
ber somewhat  increased,  they  enter  the  town  of  Ayr,  where  they 
got  some  arms.  They  marched  from  Ayr  to  Lanark,  where  they 
did  very  solemnly  renew  the  Covenant.    The  ministers  with  them 


*  Law  obsei*ves,  that  those  who  rose  in  arms  were,  at  first,  few  in  number ;  but 
that,  in  the  end,  they  increased  to  fourteen  or  fifteen  hundred  men,  whereof  eijj;ht 
hundred  were  horse.  "  The  grounds  of  their  insurrection,"  says  he,  "  as  they  dcchircd, 
was  their  oppression  by  the  soklicrs  there,  who  fined  them  for  not  keeping  of  the 
church,  and  hearing  of  tliose  whom  the  Bishops  put  in  the  charges  of  tlieir  ministers, 
now  thnist  out.  They  declared  for  the  King  and  the  Covenant,  and  only  their  quar- 
rel was  at  the  Bishops  newly  set  up  in  the  land."  And,  speaking  of  the  Covenanters 
who  were  executed  for  being  concernxjd  in  that  rising,  lie  says,  "  All  of  them  died  with 
this  declaration,  that  they  were  not  against  tlie  King,  nor  intended  any  hurt  to  him  ; 
but  only  against  the  Bishops  and  that  new  form  of  Church  government  established,  as 
their  declaration,  yet  extant  in  writ,  can  declare." — Law's  Memorials,  16,  17. 


502  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1666. 

preached  in  some  kirks  in  these  bounds,  the  curates  having  run 
away.  Their  commanders  were  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wallace,  Ma- 
jor INI'Culloch  of  Barholm,  Major  Learmont  of  Armpeth,  Captain 
Arnot,  Maxwell  of  Monreith,  younger,  Barscob,  John  Neilson  of 
Corsack,  Wieketshaw,  Mr  John  Crookshanks,  &c.*  There  were 
some  ministers  with  them,  viz.,  Messrs  Gabriel  Semple,  Samuel 
Arnot,  John  Welsh,  f  James  Smith,  &c. ;  some  probationers,  viz., 

♦  Colonel  James  Wallace  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  ParUamentary  army 
during  the  civil  wai",  when  he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel.  On  the 
loss  of  the  battle  at  Pentland  hills  he  made  his  escape,  and  after  concealing  himself 
for  some  time,  got  safely  out  of  the  kingdom.  For  the  sake  of  security  he  wandered 
for  several  years  from  one  part  of  the  continent  to  another,  and  died  at  Kotterdam  in 
the  end  of  the  year  1678. 

Major  John  M'Culloch  was  "root-master"  (master  of  horse)  for  Wigton  and  Kirk- 
cudbright in  1645. — Act  Pari.  Scot.  vi.  19-1.  He  was  fined  £800  by  Middleton's  Par- 
liament in  1662. — Ibid.  vii.  428.  He  was  executed,  for  being  at  Pentland,  on  the  7th 
of  December  1666. 

Major  Joseph  Learmont  succeeded  in  making  his  escape.  He  survived  the  Eevo- 
lution,  and  died  in  his  own  house  of  Newholm  in  the  eighty-eighth  year  of  his  age. 

Captain  Andrew  Arnot  was  brother  to  the  Laird  of  Lochridge.  He  was  appointed 
by  the  Parliament  of  1649  "  root-master,"  (master  of  the  horse)  to  the  troop  of  horse 
in  the  sheriffdom  of  Fife  and  Kinross,  commanded  by  Lord  Elcho. — Act  Pari.  Scot. 
vi.  389,  392.  He  was  a  protester,  and  subscribed  the  Protestation  against  the  lawftd- 
ness  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1651,  which  sanctioned  the  Pubhc  Eesolutions. — 
M^Crle's  Memoirs  of  Veitch,  ^c.  429.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Pent- 
land, and  executed  on  the  7th  of  December  1666. 

John  Maxwell,  younger  of  Monreith,  is  described  by  Gabriel  Scrapie  as  "  excellent 
Monreith,  a  laird  in  Galloway,  the  greatest  Christian  that  I  knew  in  his  station." 
Some  time  after  the  battle  of  Pentland  he  went  to  Ireland,  and  at  Dublin  contracted 
a  tympany,  of  which  he  died  at  Benbarb  or  Armagh. — Ibid.  381,  400. 

John  M'Lellan  of  Barscob  was  afterwards  forfeited  in  life  and  fortune. 

John  Neilson  of  Corsack  is  described  by  John  Blackadder  as  "  a  meek  and  gene- 
rous gentleman."  He,  with  three  others,  had  made  Sir  James  Turner  prisoner  at 
Dumfries,  but  when  the  chief  of  the  party  offered  to  shoot  Turner,  Corsack  interfered, 
saying,  "  You  shall  as  soon  kill  me,  for  I  have  given  him  quarters."  He  was  taken 
prisoner  at  Pentland,  and,  after  being  cruelly  tortured  in  the  boots,  was  executed. 

William  Lockhart  of  Wieketshaw  led  a  party  of  Carluke  men. —  Wodrow's  Hist.  ii.  22. 

Mr  John  Crookshanks  seems  to  be  en-oneously  included  among  the  commanders  of 
the  Covenanters  at  Pentland.  The  person  named  is  probably  the  minister  from  Ire- 
land, who  was"  with  the  anny,  and  who  has  been  previously  noticed,  (p.  455.) 

t  Mr  Gabriel  Semple  was  the  second  son  of  Bryce  Semple  of  Cathcart,  and  brother 
of  Sir  William  Semple. — Douglas  Baronage,  468.  He  was  minister  at  Kirkpatrick- 
Durham,  in  Galloway,  at  the  Restoration,  and,  after  the  Revolution,  at  Jedburgh. 
He  died  on  the  8th  of  August  1706,  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of  his  age. — M^Crie's 
Memoirs  of  Veitch,  Sf-c,  384.  Mr  Samuel  Arnot  was,  at  the  Restoration,  minister  of 
Tongland.    He  was  declared  a  traitor  for  being  with  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland,  and 


1666.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLA.IR.  503 

Messrs  Alexander  Robertson,  Hugh  M'Kail,  &c.  They  marched 
through  Clydesdale,  where  the  forces  with  Dalziel  and  then-  forces 
were  near  '  each'  other.  Many  blamed  them  for  not  fighting  in 
Clydesdale,  immediately  after  Dalziel's  forces  had  wade  through 
'  the'  Clyde.  From  Clydesdale  they  marched  towards  Edinburgh, 
expecting  assistance  from  Edinburgh,  Fife,  &c. ;  but  all  ferries 
and  passes  were  stopped,  and  all  heritors  commanded  to  rise 
against  them,  &c.  They  marched  unto  Pentland  hills,  where,  upon 
the  28th  of  November,  they  engaged  with  Dakiel's  forces,  and 
many  others,  noble  and  gentlemen,  now  convened  in  arms  against 
them.  They  fought  valiantly  more  than  an  hour,  and  forced  Dal- 
ziel's troops  to  give  ground ;  but  they  coming  off  their  advanta- 
geous ground,  and  being  overpowered,  three  being  against  one  * 
of  them,  they  gave  back  and  were  routed.  Night  drawing  on, 
few  prisoners  were  taken  then ;  about  thirty  or  forty  only  were 
taken  that  night ;  but  after  the  fight  more  prisoners  were  taken 
by  the  country  people  and  others  raised  with  Annandale,  Nidsdale, 
&c. 

News  of  this  rising  comes  to  Court  immediately  after  the  Earl 
of  Rothes  his  coming  there,  which  made  the  King  presently  send 
him  back,  with  the  Earl  of  Carlisle,  with  some  forces  to  guard  the 
borders  and  to  suppress  these  rebels.  More  forces  were  appointed 
to  come  from  England,  if  need  were ;  but  before  Rothes,  the  King's 
commissioner,  came  the  length  of  the  borders,  the  Westland  forces 
were  beaten  and  scattered.  December  4,  there  was  a  proclamation 
ao-ainst  all  that  reset  or  harboured  any  of  these  rebels  that  were 

on  the  Gth  of  February  1 G79,  the  Council  offered  three  thousand  mcrks  Scots  as  a  re- 
ward to  any  who  should  apprehend  him. —  Woclrow's  History,  iii.  15.  Mr  John  Welsh 
was,  perhaps,  the  most  intrepid  of  all  the  outed  ministers.  lie  was  also  at  the  battle 
of  Bothwell  Bridge.  He  died  at  London  Januaiy  1C81. — Fountainliairs  Notes,  7. 

*  Law  says  that  Dalziel's  forces  consisted  of  six  hundred  horse  and  two  thousand 
foot,  besides  the  country  gentlemen  who  joined  tlicm,  accordiug  to  an  act  of  the  Pri-vy 
Council  ordering  the  shires  of  Stirliug,  East  and  West  Lothian,  to  be  in  arms  to  assist 
the  liing's  forces,  which  act  many  obeyed — Law's  Memorials,  IG.  Blackadder  say3 
that  the  army  of  the  Covenanters  was  scarce  nine  hundred,  and  that  the  enemy  was 
ei'Hit  thousand  horse  and  foot,  besides  a  gi-eat  multitude,  attendants  of  noblemen  and 
gentlemen  in  the  countrj' — Black-adder's  Memoirs,  126. 


504  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1666. 

beaten  and  routed.  The  names  of  some  of  their  commanders, 
ministers,  and  others  suspected  to  be  with  them,  were  in  the  pro- 
clamation. 

After  the  prisoners  were  incarcerated  at  Edinburgh,  two  of  them, 
viz.,  ]\Ir  Hugh  M'Kail  and  John  Neilson  of  Corsack,  after  they 
were  again  and  again  examined  (the  Council  suspecting  that  they 
were  not  ingenuous,  being  the  contrivers  and  plotters  of  this  rising 
in  arms,  at  least  being  party  to  the  contrivance  and  plot)  they 
were  most  cruelly  tortured,  being  cawed  in  the  boots*  by  the  hang- 
man, December  4  ;  especially  Mr  Hugh  M'Kail,  whom  they  most 
suspected  to  have  been  a  contriver  of  the  insurrection,  and  privy 
to  aU  designs  and  intelligence  relating  to  the  Westland  forces 
(who  were  never  above  1000)  :  when  they  came  near  to  West  Lo- 
thian, they  emitted  a  declaration  showing  why  they  arose  and  took 
arms,  and  what  were  their  designs  and  intentions,  which  also  they 
declared  in  their  last  speeches,  when  some  of  them  were  executed, 
ut  infra.  But  notwithstanding  of  the  extremity  and  painfulness  of 
the  torture,  even  to  ten  or  eleven  strokes,  yet  he  sustained  it  most 
constantly  and  christianly,  expressing  no  impatience  or  bitterness, 
declaring  with  a  solemn  attestation,  as  in  the  sight  of  God,  that 
he  knew  no  more  than  he  had  confessed,  viz..  That,  to  the  best  of 
his  knowledge,  the  rising  in  the  west  was  no  contrived  or  plotted 
business,  but  merely  occasional,  upon  a  discontent  betwixt  the 
people  in  the  stewartry  of  Galloway  and  Sir  James  Turner,  to 
which  every  one  did  run,  as  their  hearts  moved  them,  when  they 
heard  of  it. 

Upon  the  7th  of  December  ten  of  the  prisoners  were  executed 
at  the  cross  of  Edinburgh,  viz.,  John  jM'Culloch  of  Barholm ;  An- 
drew Arnot;  John  Gordon  of  Knockbrex;  Robert  Gordon,  his 
brother;  John  Ross;  John  Shields;  James  Hamilton;  John  Parker 
in  Bosby;  Christopher  Strang;  Gavin  Hamilton.  They  left  a 
joint  testimony,  subscribed  by  them  all  in  prison  the  same  day 
that  they  were  hanged  at  the  cross.     Another  testimony  was  also 

Cawed  in  the  boots — Sc.  driA'en  into  the  boots  ;   an  expressive  phrase  for  that 
barbarous  m<Klc  of  torture. 


'^QG^']  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  505 

left  by  some  of  them  that  were  in  the  same  chamber  with  Thomas 
Paterson,  merchant  in  Glasgow,  who  died  of  his  wounds  before  his 
sentence  was  executed,  who  did  assent  thereunto;  also  Captain 
Andrew  Arnot  left  a  testimony;  also  John  Shields,  a  yeoman, 
one  of  the  ten  that  died  December  7,  left  his  testimony. 

December  14,  three  of  the  prisoners  were  executed  at  the  cross 
of  Edinburgh,  viz.,  Mr  Alexander  Robertson,  a  probationer,  John 
Neilson  of  Corsack,  and  George  Crawford.  Every  one  of  them 
left  their  testimony. 

December  22,  five  of  the  prisoners  were  executed  at  Edinburgh, 
viz.,  ISIr  Hugh  M'Kail ;  John  Wodrow ;  Ealph  Shields,  an  Eng- 
lishman ;  Humphrey  Colquhoun;  and  John  Wilson.  Each  of  them 
left  their  testimony.  All  their  testimonies  and  last  speeches  on 
the  scaffold  were  much  commended,  especially  the  last  speeches 
and  testimony  of  Mr  Hugh  INI'Kail,  who  was  a  probationer  for  the 
ministry.  They  all  acknowledged  and  declared  for  the  King's 
just  right  and  authority,  and  that  being  grievously  oppressed  and 
their  supplications  rejected  and  condemned,  they  arose  and  took 
arms  to  obtain  liberty  to  supplicate  the  King  against  the  tyranny 
and  barbarous  cruelty  of  the  Prelates,  w^hora  they  were  bound  to 
extirpate  according  to  their  sworn  Covenant,  which  they  had  re- 
newed. All  of  them  left  their  blood  on  the  Bishops,  and  died 
hoping  that  the  Lord  would  revive  his  W'Ork,  and  execute  ven- 
geance upon  all  the  enemies  of  God,  his  people  and  cause,  in  his 
own  time,  manner,  and  measure. 

The  day  before  Yule  day  the  gibbet  whereon  they  Avere  all 
hanged  was  taken  down  and  removed,  because  they  would  not  pro- 
fane the  holy  days  of  Yule  with  more  executions,  intending  to  exe- 
cute the  rest  in  the  Borrow-moor,  after  the  holy  days  of  Yule  were 
ended,  because  the  multitude  of  people  on  the  street  were  much 
affected  with  the  last  speeches  of  those  that  were  executed,  and 
with  their  singing  of  psalms  on  the  scaffold,  wherein  the  multitude 
of  people  on  the  street  joined.  As  for  the  Prelates,  they  resolved 
to  use  all  severities,  and  to  take  all  imaginable  cruel  and  rigorous 
ways  and  courses,  first  against  the  rest  of  the  prisoners,  and  then 


506  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1  6GG. 

against  the  whole  west  of  Scotland,  and  not  only  against  them,  but 
against  all  the  godly  that  would  not  conform  to  their  -s^dcked  w^ays 
and  courses.  In  this  meantime  the  King  sends  down  a  pardon  to 
the  prisoners  that  were  not  executed,  and  ordered  them  to  be  car- 
ried to  Barbadoes ;  and  for  that  intent  they  were  given  to  one 
Bruce,  who  died  shortly  thereafter.  This  pardon  came  to  Prelate 
Sharp's  hands  before  Mr  Hugh  M'Kail,  and  the  other  four  with 
him  were  executed ;  but  he  most  deceitfully  and  cruelly  concealed 
it ;  yea  after  Mr  M'Kail  was  cruelly  tortured,  he  coming  over  to 
St  Andrews,  (for  that  was  his  ordinary  deceitful  policy  and  trick 
after  he  had  plotted  and  contrived  greatest  wickedness  and  severi- 
ties against  honest  people,  and  had  engaged  the  Council  to  act 
what  he  had  contrived,  and  set  them  on  ;  then  to  withdraw  and 
come  to  St  Andrews,  and  after  the  mischief  was  acted,  to  say  that 
he  was  free  of  it — he  was  not  there,  &c.),  did  write  over  to  some 
of  the  prime  counsellors,  that  they  should  take  care  that  whoever 
were  spared  that  Mr  Hugh  M'Kail  should  not  be  spared ;  and  yet 
he  had  the  impudence,  when  he  returned  to  Edinburgh,  to  say  that 
he  was  free  of  Mr  Hugh  ISI^Kail's  death.     Psalm  cxx.  3,  4. 

In  the  time  of  tliir  last  executions  Rothes,  the  King's  Commis- 
sioner, is  at  Glasgow,  w^here  he  caused  execute  four  persons  that 
were  apprehended  after  Pentland  hill's  fight.  He  caused  beat 
drums  when  they  began  to  speak  upon  the  scaffold,  so  that  their 
last  speeches  were  not  heard.  The  Commissioner  keeps  Yule  at 
Glasgow  with  Sir  James  Turner,  who  escaped  in  the  time  of  the 
fight  at  Pentland  hills.  Last,  there  were  twelve  executed  at  Air  and 
Dumfries ;  but  William  Sutherland,  the  hangman  of  Irvine,  refused 
to  execute  them.  The  heads  and  right  hands  of  the  persons  exe- 
cuted were  set  up  in  public  places  in  Glasgow,  Lanark,  Air  and 
Dumfries.  The  rest  of  the  prisoners  were  detained  in  a  base  pri- 
son in  Edinburgh,  called  Haddock's  Plole,*  but  were  well  seen  and 
provided  for  by  the  good  and  charitable  people  in  Edinburgh. 

*  Haddock's  or  Haddow's  Hole,  was  "  a  part  of  the  High  Church  of  Edinbiirgli,  so 
denominated  from  Sir  John  Gordon  of  Haddo,  wlio  was  there  confined  previous  to  his 
execution  for  his  loyalty  to  King  Charles  the  First."— /uV/tton's  Hist.Note  by  Editor,  247. 


1667.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  507 

Some  of  them  escaped  in  women's  clothes,  others  of  them  diet!  in 
their  wounds. 

January  9,  1667,  the  Convention  of  Estates  met  at  Edinburgh; 
unto  the  which  Prelate  Sharp  repaired.  And  now,  about  this  time 
the  Lord  was  beginning  to  accomplish  the  word  of  his  dying,  faith- 
ful servant,  Mr  Blair,  — rubbing  some  shame  upon  Sharp ;  for  it  was 
certain  that  now  he  was  not  so  great  in  Court  as  he  was  formerly. 
Yea,  by  an  express  from  the  King,  he  was  put  from  the  chair  in  the 
Convention  of  Estates,  and  Duke  Hamilton  placed  in  it ;  which 
did  not  a  little  grieve  and  vex  his  ambitious  and  proud  spirit ;  and 
Lauderdale,  Rothes,  Duke  Hamilton,  and  others  of  the  grandees, 
were  now  turned  to  hate  and  loathe  him  upon  several  accounts ; 
and  it  was  knowm  that  when  he  was  at  Court  he  accused  Tweed- 
dale  and  Kincardine,  who  thereafter  were  highly  incensed  against 
him,  and  turned  his  sharp  and  bitter  enemies.  And  now  the  Arch- 
prelate  of  Glasgow  is  the  great  courtier.  He  took  journey  for 
Court  the  latter  end  of  January. 

The  Convention  of  Estates  lay  on  heavy  cess  upon  the  country. 
They  ordained  some  troops  to  be  levied.  These  impositions  upon 
the  impoverished  country  occasioned  great  gnimbling,  especially  in 
the  west,  where  the  people  were  in  a  most  lamentable  condition. 
Some  were  imprisoned  and  almost  starved  in  base  prisons ;  some 
were  driven  from  their  houses;  others  that  took  themselves  to 
the  fields  died  for  hunger  in  the  fields,  or  were  killed  by  Dal- 
ziel's  soldiers,  who  lay  in  the  west  to  ruin  that  country ;  so  that 
all  in  the  west  are  cruelly  dealt  with,  even  as  those  that  arose  at 
the  first,  for  there  was  a  second  rising,  and  a  great  troop  coming 
to  assist  those  that  rose  first,  with  whom  there  were  some  minis- 
ters, but  they  were  routed  before  they  came  to  them.  All  tlicse 
and  others  that  favoured  their  cause  were  cruelly  dealt  with  and 
persecuted.  As  for  the  gentlemen  that  were  either  in  the  first  or 
second  rising  their  estates  were  given  to  the  commantlcrs  of  the 
forces  that  came  against  them.  Dalzicl  gets  Caldwell's,*  Druni- 
mond,  Kersland's,t  &c.,  so  that,  unless  the  Lord  prevent  it,  nothing 

*  William  Muir  of  Caldwell.  t  Kobcrt  Kcr  of  Kcvsland. 


508  LI^'l•^  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1667. 

but  famine  and  desolation  are  looked  for  in  the  west.  Mr  John 
Crookshanks  was  killed  at  Pentland  hills,  fighting  valiantly,  and 
with  him  an  old  man  whom  they  called  the  goodman. 

In  January  this  year,  Lieutenant  General  Drummond  is  sent  to 
Court  by  the  Council.  It  was  conceived  that  it  was  to  shew  the 
King  the  necessity  of  pressing  the  Declaration;  for  Lauderdale  had 
advised  them  not  to  do  it. 

About  this  time  the  King  concludes  a  peace  -svith  Spain  and  the 
bloody  house  of  Austria ;  which  increased  honest  people's  fears  of 
a  Popish  design  carried  on. 

In  the  latter  end  of  January,  there  falling  out  some  misunder- 
standing betwixt  the  King  and  his  Parliament  in  England,  (as  ap- 
peared by  the  Parliament's  speech  to  the  King  and  his  answer 
to  them),  the  King  commanded  the  Parliament  to  rise,  proroguing 
them.  They  continued  to  sit  some  few  days ;  thereafter  rise 
peaceably  in  February.     At  this -time  our  caperers  set  to  sea. 

All  this  spring  time  the  Prelate  Sharp  abides  at  St  Andrews, 
and  thouo^h  he  was  advertised  and  desired  to  come  over  to  the 
Council,  yet  he  went  not.  He  gave  it  out  that  he  would  not  go 
to  the  Council  until  he  heard  from  his  brother  Burnet  from  whom 
no  good  was  expected  by  honest  men.  Thus  the  Lord  was  still 
rubbing  more  shame  upon  Sharp.  Yea  it  was  confessed,  even  by  his 
followers,  and  others  of  the  Prelatic  party,  that  he  was  under  a  cloud. 

Meanwhile  Drummond  returns  from  Court  with  an  order  from 
the  King  to  the  Council  to  press  the  Declaration  on  whomsoever 
they  pleased  ;  whereupon  was  issued  out  a  proclamation  anent  the 
pressing  of  the  Declaration,  especially  upon  all  the  western  shires, 
and  upon  all  suspected  persons  with  sad  certifications.  Thereafter 
return  from  Court  Tweeddale  and  Kincardine  ;  Tweeddale's  son 
being  married  to  Lauderdale's  daughter  at  Court  with  great  pomp 
and  solemnity. 

In  this  spring  time  several  offers  are  made  to  the  King  of  a 
treaty  of  peace  with  the  Dutch.  After  some  debates  anent  the 
place  of  the  treaty,  it  was  concluded  tliat  Breadhall  [Breda]  should 
be  the  place.      The  King  the  more  wiUingly  accepted  of  the  oflfer 


1C67.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  509 

of  a  treaty  of  peace,  because  it  was  known  that  the  Dutch  had  in 
a  readiness  their  fleet  to  set  to  sea ;  whereas  our  Kins:  could  not 
get  his  navy  so  soon  reeked  out,  the  Parliament  rising  discon- 
tented, refusing  subsidies,  and  London  being  burnt.  All  that  the 
King  was  able  to  do  was  to  set  out  some  squads  of  small  ships 
with  Sir  Jeremiah  Smith  and  others,  to  be  a  guard  to  the  coasts. 
In  the  latter  end  of  April  commissioners  were  sent  from  the  Kino- 
to  Breda  in  order  to  the  treaty. 

In  this  month  of  April  there  was  set  to  sea  by  the  Dutch  a  con- 
siderable fleet.  They  ranged  up  and  down  the  seas,  and  bravadcd 
the  English  upon  their  coasts.  A  squad  of  them,  commanded  by 
Her  Van  Ghent,  came  up  our  Firth,  April  29,  and  the  next  day 
discharged  many  cannon  shots  upon  Burntisland,  but  did  little  or 
no  harm.  Some  cannon  shot  from  the  forts  at  Burntisland  made 
them  retire  down  the  Forth  again.  There  was  only  one  fisher- 
man killed  by  them  at  Buckhaven.  This  was  a  great  alarm  to  the 
coasts  of  Lothian  and  Fife.  Upon  the  coast  of  Fife  there  was  a  re- 
giment of  foot  soldiers  in  arms  besides  many  country  people. 
There  was  another  regiment  in  Leith,  besides  the  fencible  men  of 
Edinburgh,  Leith,  &c.  It  was  reported  that  Van  Ghent's  orders 
were  to  burn  Leith,  Burntisland,  &c. ;  and  all  this  was  because  of 
the  Scots  capering. 

The  treaty  at  Breda  goes  on  after  some  interruption,  occasioned 
by  the  King  of  France  sending  word  to  the  Dutch  that  our  King 
was  casting  among  them  a  fire  ball  that  would  blow  them  all  up. 
About  this  time  the  French  King  emitted  a  manifesto,  that  he 
was  to  pursue  his  title  and  right  to  West  Flanders,  in  order 
whereunto  he  had  made  a  league,  oflensive  and  defensive,  with 
the  King  of  Portugal  against  all  except  the  King  of  Britain,  which 
implied,  as  was  thought,  that  he  intended  peace  with  our  King, 
and,  if  so,  it  was  thought  that  the  Dutch  would  be  necessitated  to 
make  peace  with  the  King.  However,  in  May,  the  whole  Dutch 
fleet  are  at  sea  very  strong,  commanded  by  De  Witt,  Dc  Kuytcr, 
&c.  With  them  the  French  fleet  lies  upon  the  coast  of  England. 
They  took  in  a  fort  near  the  mouth  of  the  Thames,  killed  some 


510  LIFE  or  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1667. 

men,  and  burnt  some  houses.  Thereafter  they  go  up  the  Thames, 
even  to  Chatham,  where  many  of  the  King's  best  ships  were 
lying.  They  bui'nt  eight  or  nine  of  them,  and  take  away  the 
Royal  Charles,  one  of  the  King's  best  ships ;  yea  were  it  not 
'  for'  Colonel  Douglas's  regiment's  valoiir  and  hardiness  in  opposing 
of  them,  after  the  English  had  fled,  they  had  taken  or  burnt  all 
the  King's  ships  that  were  lying  there.  This  occasioned  hot 
alarms,  especially  in  London  and  at  Edinburgh.  Also  there  were 
sreat  fears  of  the  landino;  of  the  French  and  Dutch.  There  were 
gi'eat  levies  in  England  of  horse  and  foot,  besides  the  train  bands. 
In  the  beginning  of  June  there  was  a  proclamation  especially  for 
protecting  of  the  curates  in  the  west,  injury  being  offered  to  some 
of  them  (the  troops  being  come  out  of  the  west)  the  parishes  are 
ordained  to  make  up  their  curates'  losses,  if  they  did  not  protect 
them,  or  hotly  pursue  those  that  injured  them,  &c. 

About  this  time  Sir  Robert  Murray  came  from  Court  to  Edin- 
burgh. There  were  some  hopes  of  good  by  his  being  sent  down 
by  the  King  at  this  nick  of  time  to  give  him  a  true  and  just  ac- 
count and  information  of  the  estate  of  the  country,  and  the  great 
burdens  imposed,  there  being  such  an  outcry  by  reason  of  sad  im- 
positions to  uphold  the  Prelates  and  bear  down  honest  people. 
But  the  hopes  of  honest  people  were  soon  much  blasted  by  Sir 
Robert  Murray's  taking  the  Declaration  (which  till  this  time  he 
had  refused).  When  he  first  sat  down  in  the  Secret  Council  he 
brought  with  him  a  commission  to  Rothes  to  be  Chancellor,  which 
he  accepted,  after  a  modest  refusal,  and  writing  up  to  the  King. 
Rothes  being  treasurer,  the  Treasury  is  now  to  be  managed  by 
four,  viz.,  Tweeddale,  Lord  Cochrane,  Ballenden,  with  Rothes,  and 
these  to  be  accountable  to  two  controllers,  viz.,  Lauderdale  and 
Sir  Robert  Murray.  At  this  time  the  Prelate  Sharp  was  put  off 
the  Exchequer,  and  in  his  room  Kincardine  put  on,  who  also  was 
made  an  extraordinary  Lord  of  the  Session. 

About  the  close  of  June,  the  treaty  continuing,  there  was  great 
appearance  of  peace.  The  King  of  France  recalled  his  fleet,  and 
sent  his  ambassadors  to  the  Dutch,  signifying,  that  it  was  his  plea- 


16G7.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  511 

sure  that  they  should  make  peace  with  the  Kinor  of  Britain  upon 
the  conditions  offered,  otherwise  he  would  make  peace  with  him, 
and  then  let  them  see  to  themselves.  But  the  black  and  base 
coats*  caused  a  rumour  to  run,  that  the  west  was  up  again  in  anns, 
that  the  regiments  and  troops  might  be  kept  up.  The  peace  was 
concluded  with  the  Dutch. 

Immediately  after  the  affront  that  the  English  received  at  Chat- 
ham the  King  ordained  the  Parliament  to  convene,  July  22 ;  but 
when  met  there  were  many  jealousies  and  animosities  betwixt  the 
King  and  the  Parliament ;  and  many  of  the  English  nation  grieved 
and  discontented,  partly  by  the  King's  misgovemment  and  way 
of  living,  partly  by  the  Prelates'  usurpation  and  oppression,  the 
King  as  being  afi'aid  of  the  Parliament  drew  his  forces  near  unto 
London  ;  but  the  city  would  permit  none  to  guard  the  Parliament 
but  themselves.  At  their  very  first  down-sitting  they  began  upon 
matters  not  very  pleasant  to  the  King ;  which  made  him  adjom'n 
them  for  four  days.  When  they  convened  again,  they  demanded 
of  the  King  that  he  would  presently  disband  the  new  levied  army, 
and  give  an  acccount  of  the  monies  received.  The  King  promised 
to  disband  the  army,  August  15,  hoping  that  the  treaty  would 
come  to  a  peaceable  closure  against  that  time.  The  King  shortly 
thereafter  adjourned  the  Parliament  unto  October.  In  this  ses- 
sion of  Parliament  Buckingham,  being  set  at  liberty,  did  sit. 
About  this  time  honest  people's  fears  of  a  Popish  design  were 
not  a  little  increased  ;  for  now  it  was  clear  that  the  Papists 
burnt  London,  and  that  they  had  often  attempted  a  massacre. 
But  in  the  meantime  the  Presbyterians  in  London  had  great 
liberty,  many  outed  ministers  preaching  publicly  and  freely,  yea, 
the  people  spoke  very  freely  and  boldly  against  the  Prelates,  the 
abominations  of  the  Court,  and  the  corruptions  of  the  time,  even 
at  Whitehall. 

About  the  beginning  of  August,  the  treaty  is  closed  and  signed 
by  our  King,  the  Dutch,  and  the  plenipotentiaries  of  some  of  the 

*  In  Dr  Lcc's  copj',  instead  of  *'  coats"  it  is  "  prelates." 


512,  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G67. 

princes  concerned  In  the  treaty ;  but  it  was  not  to  be  proclaimed 
until  all  the  princes  concerned,  the  Kings  of  France,  Denmark, 
Sweden,  &c.,  should  append  their  great  seals.  The  capers  in  the 
narrow  seas  were  to  retire  within  twelve  days;  those  farther  off  in 
this  hemisphere,  within  twelve  weeks ;  those  in  America,  within 
twelve  months.  This  was  a  most  solemn  and  important  transac- 
tion ;  but  wise  men  wondered  that  the  Dutch  did  not  require  the 
Parliament  to  sign  the  treaty,  considering  the  King's  inconstancy 
and  unfaithfulness  in  other  more  solemn  treaties  and  covenants. 
Towards  the  latter  end  of  August  there  came  an  express  to  the 
Chancellor  for  proclaiming  the  concluded  treaty;  which  was  done 
August  28,  at  Edinburgh,  with  great  solemnity,  and  to  the  joy  of 
all.  The  peace  being  proclaimed,  there  were  some  debates  and 
difterent  opinions  among  the  counsellors  anent  the  disbanding  of 
the  troops.  Many,  especially  the  nobles  that  commanded  them, 
were  for  their  standing  to  hinder  the  western  shires  rising  again. 
In  end,  it  was  concluded  that  all  should  be  disbanded  except 
the  King's  lifeguard,  commanded  by  Athole,  the  Chancellor's 
troop,  and  some  foot  companies  commanded  by  the  Earl  of  Lin- 
lithgow. 

About  this  time.  Chancellor  Hyde  was  decourted  and  disgraced, 
and  there  were  many  changes  of  places  of  State  at  Court.  August 
31,  the  King  took  from  Hyde  the  great  seals  (so  he  was  unchan- 
cellered)  and  gave  them  to  Sir  Orlando  Brightman,  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Common  Pleas,  Into  whose  place  Sir  Edward  Turner, 
speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons,  was  put.  Duke  Albemarle 
was  made  High  Stewart  in  the  Duke  of  Ormond's  place.  Hyde 
retired  himself  to  his  country  house.  The  disgracing  of  Hyde 
and  Middleton  was  observed,  they  being  the  two  persons  that  were 
most  active  in  setting  up  the  Bishops. 

The  King  of  France,  after  great  success  in  Flanders,  taking  In 
sundry  towns,  after  the  taking  of  Lisle  returned  to  Paris,  and  was 
received  as  in  triumph.  But  the  Dutch  are  jealous  of  the  King 
of  France's  success  so  near  them ;  but  our  King  permits  both  the 
King  of  France  and  of  Spain  to  levy  forces  at  Loudon.     Monsieur 


1667.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  513 

Ravlgny,  the  French  ambassador,  is  expected  to  treat  about  a 
stricter  alliance  ;  another  is  expected  from  the  Dutch. 

In  September  there  was  a  great  Council  day.  An  Act  of  Indem- 
nity was  motioned,  for  the  honest  people  in  the  west  that  arose  in 
arms,  excepting  some  more  persons  than  were  excepted  in  the 
proclamation.  After  their  arising,  the  motion  was  opposed  by 
Argyle,  Burnet,  prelate  of  Glasgow,  and  others  ;  but  it  was  che- 
rished by  Tweeddale  and  his  faction  (for  at  this  time  Argyle  and 
Tweeddale  were  duces  factionum).  At  last  they  condescended  upon 
the  draught  of  an  Act  of  Indemnity  for  the  west  country  people, 
and  sent  it  up  to  the  King.  October  8,  there  Avas  another  great 
Council  day  ;  when  there  is  a  return  from  the  King  anent  the  Act 
of  Indemnity.  Pardon  is  enacted  to  all  that  arose  in  arms,  or  that 
assisted  them,  excepting  the  persons  mentioned  in  the  former  pro- 
clamation ;  so,  in  effect,  all  were  excepted  that  had  any  estate,  per- 
sonal or  real,  and  some  that  had  neither ;  and  those  that  got  the 
benefit  of  the  act  were  to  find  caution  that  they  should  never  rise 
in  arms  against  the  King,  or  without  his  authority,  upon  any  pre- 
tence whatsoever,  and  to  give  a  bond  to  keep  the  peace,  &c. 
They  that  gave  oath  that  they  could  not  find  caution,  were  to  give 
their  own  bond  for  the  peace  ;  and,  last,  heritors  were  to  give  bond 
for  their  tenants  and  servants,  their  keeping  the  peace.  After  this 
Council  day  the  Chancellor  repairs  to  Court ;  Duke  Hamilton  and 
Dalziel  followed  him. 

About  this  time  the  Prelates  had  some  groundless  fears  and 
apprehensions  of  a  change  of  their  state,  which  made  them  procure 
a  letter  to  the  Council  from  the  King,  desiring  them  to  protect 
and  encourage  the  Lords  of  the  clergy,  which  made  them  carry 
more  arrogantly  and  proudly  towards  honest  unconform  ministers 
and  others.  Prelate  Burnet  suspended  Mr  William  Adam  for 
owning  the  Covenant  in  a  sermon  preached  in  June ;  and  Prelate 
Sharp  refused  the  honest  and  noble  Earl  of  Crawford  a  reasonable 
suit  in  favours  of  an  outed  minister. 

The  Parliament  of  England  sat  down  October  10.  The  King, 
according  to  his  custom,  had  a  short  speech  to  them,  cxpres^ng 

2  K 


514  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIK.  [1667. 

his  joy  to  see  them  ;  shoAving  them  his  need  of  subsidies  for  the 
payment  of  his  debts,  &c.  The  Lord  Keeper  had  a  large  speech. 
He  spoke  anent  settling  the  trade  betwixt  Scotland  and  England. 
Some  good  was  expected  from  this  Parliament.  Many  of  the 
House  of  Commons  were  thought  to  be  Presbyterians,  or  at  least 
to  favour  Presbyterians.  Meantime  Presbyterians  in  London  had 
great  liberty,  yea,  and  in  the  country.  Li  London,  Presbyterian 
outed  ministers  preached  openly  and  freely,  the  King  and  Court 
knowing,  but  winking  at  it.  And  as  for  Scotland,  the  King  gets 
better  information  of  the  state  of  affairs  than  formerly,  by  Sir  Ko- 
bert  Murray.  Some  outed  ministers  in  the  west  did  preach  in 
their  own  houses  and  baptize  children,  many  resorting  to  them. 
Many  of  the  curates  in  Galloway  after  that  the  troops  left  that 
country,  fled  aw^ay,  leaving  their  flocks  ;  so  did  sundry  others  in 
the  west,  especially  in  Cunningham ;  so  conscious  were  they  of  their 
sinistrous  and  base  way  of  living,  some  of  them  being  taken  in 
adultery,  fornication,  &c.,  all  of  them  being  most  insufficient  and 
scandalous,  and  few  or  none  of  the  honest  people  in  the  west  hear- 
ing them. 

The  Parliament  of  England  appoints  several  committees.  1.  One 
to  regulate  abuses  in  the  Church ;  a  second  to  regulate  abuses  in 
the  Estate.  3.  To  settle  the  trade  betwixt  the  two  kingdoms.  4. 
To  repress  swearing.  Other  two  were  spoken  off".  1.  To  try  who 
did  enrich  themselves  by  the  war,  how  the  monies  exacted  were 
employed,  &c.  2.  To  inquire  into  the  selling  of  Dunkirk.  One 
Colonel  Burgess,  in  the  House  of  Commons,  had  a  speech  for  in- 
dulgence and  favour  to  the  Nonconformists  in  England  and  Scot- 
land, as  a  party  very  considerable.  Three  printed  papers  were  given 
in  to  some  Parliament  men ;  the  drift  of  two  of  them  was  for  mode- 
rate Episcopacy  ;  the  third  was  for  extirpating  of  Episcopacy.  To- 
wards the  latter  end  of  October,  came  from  London  a  book  emitted, 
as  was  thought,  by  a  Parliament  man,  for  moderation  both  in 
Church  and  State. 

After  the  appointment  of  the  committees,  the  Parliament  was 
adjouraed  to  November  1.    When  they  convened  again,  the  House 


1CG7.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  515 

of  Commons  libelled  many  articles  against  Hyde,  viz.,  That  he  ad- 
vised the  King  to  govern  by  an  arbitrary  power,  to  keep  up  stand- 
ing forces  ;  that  he  said  the  King  was  Popishly  affected ;  that  he 
had  enriched  himself  by  many  illegal  courses ;  that  he  advised  the 
King  to  sell  Dunkirk,  &c.  Some  of  the  articles  were  judged  trea- 
son by  the  Commons ;  but  the  Peers  denied  them  to  be  treason. 
The  Commons  desired  that  he  might  be  committed,  then  tried ; 
the  Peers  refused  to  concur ;  so  the  great  debate  anent  Hyde  was 
betwixt  the  two  Houses.  The  party  that  stood  for  him  was  espe- 
cially the  twenty-two  Prelates  and  their  complices ;  which  was  a 
strong  party,  they  being  many  and  exceeding  rich,  able  to  do  much 
by  their  riches  and  moyen.  For  the  settling  of  the  trade  the  Par- 
liament refers  that  matter  simply  to  the  King,  who  intended  to  call 
a  Parliament  in  Scotland  to  settle  the  trade  betwixt  the  two  nations, 
and  for  other  weighty  affairs. 

Many  heritors,  (whereof  some  were  prisoners),  refuse  to  take  the 
bond  for  the  peace.  *  In  the  latter  end  of  November  two  orders 
came  from  Court.  The  first  '  was'  to  send  Sir  James  Stewart  and 
Sir  John  Chiesly  prisoners  to  Dundee,  because  it  was  thought  that 
these  two  had  great  influence  on  the  heritors  that  refused  to 
take  the  bond.  So,  November  29,  they  were  carried  to  Dundee. 
The  second  'was'  to  try  Turner  and  Ballantine  for  their  oppres- 
sion of  the  honest  peo])le  in  Galloway  and  the  west.  Turner  was 
soon  absolved,  having  an  ample  but  secret  commission  for  all 
that  he  did  from  the  two  Archprelates,  besides  his  commission 
from  the  Council.  As  for  the  two  arch-persecuting  Prelates,  they 
contraverted  about  their  commission.  Sharp  would  fain  have 
denied  it. 

While  the  two  Houses  of  Parliament  are  debating  and  contra- 

*This  is  "the  bond  of  peace,"  which  the  Privy  Council  enacted  on  the  9th  of  Octo- 
ber 1667,  to  be  signed  by  noblemen,  gentlemen,  heritors,  and  fcuars,  for  themselves, 
tenants  and  servants.  By  this  bond,  the  subscriber  bound  and  obliged  himself  to  keep 
the  public  peace,  and  if  he  failed,  that  he  should  pay  a  year's  rent  of  all  and  whatever 
lands  and  heritages  belonged  to  him  ;  likewise  that  his  tenants  and  servants  should 
keep  the  public  peace,  and,  in  case  they  failed,  that  he  should  pay  for  every  tenant 
his  year's  rent,  and  for  eveiy  servant  his  year's  fee — Wodrow's  Ili.itory,  ii.  94. 

2k2 


516  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1668. 

verting  anent  the  trial  of  Chancellor  Hyde,  he  makes  an  escape  to 
France,  leaving  behind  him  a  declaration  or  vindication,  wherein 
he  labours  to  clear  himself  of  all  laid  to  his  charge,  and  blames  the 
King's  insufficiency  and  misgovernment  for  all.  The  Parliament 
is  adjourned  to  February  1668. 

At  this  time  there  were  many  outed  ministers  living  in  Edin- 
burgh, who  were  very  busy  preaching  in  houses  to  multitudes.  The 
curates  in  Edinburgh  still  complain  of  the  Conventicles,  and  inform 
the  magistrates,  (Sir  Andrew  Ramsay,  provost,  &c.),  of  them,  stir- 
ring them  up  to  apprehend  these  conventiclers  ;  but,  notwithstand- 
ing, none  of  them  was  found  nor  apprehended. 

In  the  latter  end  of  December,  news  came  that  three  bishops 
in  England,  viz.,  Canterbury,  Rochester  and  Worcester,  are 
found  accessory  to  Hyde's  treasonable  practices.  They  are  put 
off  the  King's  Council,  and  discharged  the  King's  chapel  and 
closet,  &c. 

In  January  1668,  Tweeddale  returns  from  Court.  Some  were 
expecting  some  good  by  him,  at  least  some  kind  of  indulgence  to 
outed  ministers  ;  but  their  hopes  were  soon  blasted.  There  was  a 
great  Council  day  immediately  after  his  coming  to  Edinburgh. 
Lauderdale  writes  to  Sharp  '  to'  keep  that  Council  day,  (he  being 
now  preses  of  the  Council  by  the  King's  appointment  in  the  Chan- 
cellor's absence).  Tweeddale  delivers  a  letter  from  the  King  to  the 
Council,  giving  them  thanks  for  establishing  the  peace  of  the  coun- 
try by  the  bond.  He  desires  them  to  secure  the  government  as  it 
was  established  by  law,  and  to  restrain  conventicles,  especially  in 
Edinburgh.  The  provost.  Sir  Andrew  Ramsay,  was  rebuked  by 
the  Council  for  not  using  diligence  to  restrain  conventicles.  He 
is  ordained  to  give  in  a  list  of  all  the  outed  ministers  living  in 
Edinburgh  ;  which  he  did. 

February  8,  the  Parliament  of  England  sat  down  again.  The 
King  in  his  speech  to  them  told  them  his  great  necessity  of  monies  ; 
what  need  there  was  that  his  navy  should  be  in  good  order  ;  desires 
them  to  take  pains  to  unite  the  hearts  of  his  Protestant  subjects, 
&c.     There  was  no  good  expected  from  this  session  of  Parliament, 


1(>68.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  517 

there  being  no  good  agreement  betwixt  the  King  and  them.  The 
Parliament  urges  the  Act  of  Uniformity ;  the  King  opposes  and 
pleads  for  ease  to  tender  consciences,  Presbyterians,  Papists, 
Quakers,  &c.  If  any  spoke  in  Parliament  for  indulgence  to  Pres- 
byterians they  were  bitterly  opposed,  especially  by  the  Prelates. 

This  winter  there  came  from  Holland  a  book  called  "  Naphtali,  or 
The  Wrestlings  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  for  the  Kingdom  of 
Christ,"  &c.,*  wherein,  beside  the  last  speeches  and  testimonies  of 
the  Marquis  of  Argyle  and  Mr  James  Guthrie,  executed  1661 ; 
of  the  Lord  Warriston,  executed  1663 ;  and  of  those  who  were 
executed  together,  1666 ;  there  are  many  things  well  said  and 
worthy  of  remark.  There  are  some  other  things  had  need  to  be 
read  cum  grano  salts,  t 

March  7,  the  Chancellor  comes  to  Edinburgh  from  Court.  The 
large  bond  for  the  peace  is  taken  by  some  of  the  prisoners,  but 
refused  by  others,  viz.,  Cunningham-head,  %  Maxwell,  §  &c.  These 
are  detained  in  prison. 

About  this  time  Prelate  Burnet,  by  order  from  the  King,  is  put 
oiF  the  Session.  There  is  an  order  for  visiting  of  his  diocese  by 
some  noblemen,  gentlemen,  ministers,  and  some  Prelates,  for 
purging  that  diocese.  Both  these  orders  gall  the  Prelates,  that 
any  of  them,  especially  an  Archbishop,  should  be  degraded,  and 
that  any  of  their  power  and  jurisdiction  should  be  wrung  out  of 
their  hands,  and  that  by  the  King. 

The  Parliament  of  England  '  is'  adjourned  till  September.  All 
the  forces  in  Scotland  being  disbanded,  except  two  troops,  and 
some  foot  companies,  there  comes  an  order  from  the  King  for  put- 
tino-  the  kingdom  in  a  posture  of  defence,  by  settling  a  militia  as 

*  This  book  was  the  joint  production  of  Sir  James  Stewart  of  Goodtrccs  and  Mr 
James  Stirling,  minister  of  Paisley.  The  reasoning  part  was  wc'Mm  by  the  former, 
and  the  historical  part  by  the  latter.  Honeyman,  Uishop  of  Orkney,  jjublished  a 
feeble  answer  to  it,  to  which  Sir  James  Stewart  ably  replied  in  his  Jus  Populi  Vindi- 

catum. 

t  In  Dr  Lee's  copy  there  is  here  \vritten  on  the  margin,  apparently  in  the  hand- 
writing of  the  transcriber,  "Here  the  spirit  of  one  indulged  speaketh." 

J  Sir  WiUiam  Cunningham  of  Cunningham-head. 

§  Sir  George  Maxwell  of  Nethcr-rollock. 


518  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1668. 

in  England.  Many  debates  were  about  the  way  of  getting  the 
militia  settled  ;  but  it  must  be,  for  the  Prelates  must  not  want 
a  guard. 

In  June  Sir  Robert  Murray  returns  to  Court.  There  was  great 
dealing  with  him.  Tweeddale,  and  the  leading  men '  were'  for  liberty 
to  some  of  the  most  peaceable  of  the  outed  ministers,  to  preach 
publicly  and  get  charges,  being  called  thereto ;  and  after  Sir  Robert 
returned  to  Court  there  was  great  dealing  with  him  and  Lauder- 
dale to  move  the  King  to  this.  The  King,  willing  to  gratify  the 
Presbyterian  party  in  Scotland,  and  to  strengthen  himself  against 
Hyde's  faction,  writes  to  the  Council  that  some  of  the  most  peace- 
able and  moderate  outed  ministers  may  have  liberty  to  preach, 
&c.  But  when  Sharp  heard  of  it  he  said  it  would  undo  all,  and 
that  it  was  impossible  that  it  was  the  King's  will.  But  after  the 
King's  letter  was  exhibited  to  him,  he  cried  out,  "  O  dreadful ! " 
but  when  he  perceived  that  it  was  the  King's  purpose,  he  was  so 
crafty  that  he  gave  it  out  that  he  had  procured  it.  Leighton 
pleaded  that  all  might  have  the  like  liberty ;  which  some  thought 
he  did  of  purpose  to  oppose  and  crush  it.  Messrs  Douglas  and 
Hutchison  are  sent  for  to  come  to  Edinburgh,  to  confer  with 
Tweeddale  and  others  about  this  business. 

While  there  were  several  debates  betwixt  the  statesmen  and  the 
ministers  about  the  business,  and  great  hopes  of  agreement,  and  the 
Prelates  dissemblingly  said  they  were  for  it,  there  fell  out  some- 
thing that  did  retard  the  business.  For  July  1],  being  Saturday, 
Sharp  and  Honeyman  going  in  to  coach  upon  the  High  Street  of 
Edinburgh,  one  comes  and  discharges  a  pistol,  designing  to  kill 
Sharp ;  but  the  ball  Ughted  upon  Prelate  Honeyman's  arm.  He 
cries,  "  I  am  wounded."  Sharp  runs  up  stau-s  crying,  "  Hold  the 
villain."  But  he  walked  safely  over  the  street  and  went  down 
Blackfriars  Wynd ;  and  though  the  street  was  fuU  of  people,  and 
some  pretended  friends  to  bishops  were  by,  yet  none  offered  to 
pursue  him  ;  so  he  escaped.  But  this  rash,  unchristian,  and  des- 
perate attempt  proved  very  unlucky  to  Edinburgh,  being  the 
cause  of  meikle  trouble  to  honest  people  there.     The  Council  con- 


1668.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  519 

vened  the  next  week.     There  was  first  a  supei-ficlal  search  in  the 
town  for  the  person.     Next,  July  14,  there  was  a  proclamation, 
condemning  that  horrid  attempt  upon  two  bishops ;  commanding 
aU  diligence  to  search   out    the  villain,  the  assassinate  ;   offering 
money  largely  to  any  that  would  bring  him  dead  or  living ;  and 
2000  lbs.,  and  indemnity,  to  any  that  were  in  the  plot  that  would 
discover  him.     A  servant  woman  of  Robert  Gray's,  (there  being 
a  discord  between  her  and  her  mistress),  told  some  of  the  magis- 
trates that  there  were  suspected  persons  in  Eobert  Gray's  house 
that  night  at  supper  ;  that  she  heard  them  speak  of  the  pistol  shot, 
&G.     Robert  Gray  being  apprehended,  declared  that  Major  Lear- 
mont  was  in  his  house  with  some  other  persons,  excepted  in  the 
proclamation  against  Pentland  fight,  but  that  he  knew  nothing  of 
the  person  that  discharged  the  pistol.     He  delated  one  ^Irs  Dun- 
can, a  widow,  for  harbouring  in  her  house  Learmont,  Barscob,  &c. ; 
and  one  Widow  KeUo,  in  Avhose  house  there  used  to  be  many  con- 
venticles, INIr  Michael  Bruce  *  often  preaching  there,  (who  was 
apprehended  in  May  and  brought  to  Edinburgh  Tolbooth).    Many 
other  persons  were  delated  as  suspected  persons  and  incarcerated, 
there  being  many  accurate  searches.   Yea,  in  the  night-time  persons 
suspected  were  taken  out  of  their  beds,  &c.     ISIi-s  Duncan  being 
most  suspected,  was  accurately  examined;  but  being  posed  who 
discharged  that  pistol,  &c.,  or  who  was  upon  the  plot,  though  she 
very  ingenuously  confessed  several  things  relating  to  herself,  yet 
she  refused  to  delate  any  person,  or  reveal  any  thing  of  others. 
Whereupon  she  was  threatened  with  the  boots,  and  were  not  [for] 
some  of  the  Council,  she  had  been  tortured.   There  was  a  sentence  of 
banishment  pronounced  against  her,  and  Widow  Kello,  who  being 
rich,  was  fined.     They  were  threatened  to  be  sent  to  Virginia. 
Many  most  strict  and  severe  acts  were  made    by   the    Council 
ao-ainst  conventicles,  especially  in  Edinburgh.      This  occasioned 

*  Michael  Bruce,  by  his  mother,  was  gicat-grandson  of  the  celebrated  Robert 
Bruce,  one  of  the  ministers  of  Edinburgh.  Going  to  Ireland  he  was  ordained  minister 
of  Killinchie,  in  tlie  Presbytery  of  Down,  in  October  ICo?.  In  ICCl  he  was  de- 
posed by  the  Bislioii  of  the  diocese,  and  ejected  from  his  bcnclice  for  nonconformity. 


520  LIFli  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1668. 

all  the  outed  ministers,  and  many  professors,  that  lurked  in  Edin- 
burgh, to  leave  the  town.  So  it  proved  a  troublesome  and  sad 
time  to  the  town  of  Edinburgh.  But  the  Council  could  not  learn  who 
Was  the  person  that  discharged  the  pistol.  About  this  time  Sir 
James  Stewart  and  Sir  John  Chiesly  being  together  in  Dundee 
Tolbooth,  they  are  separated,  it  being  suspected  that  while  they 
abode  together  they  would  still  be  plotting  against  the  Prelates 
and  their  courses.  Sir  John  Chiesly  is  sent  to  Perth.  In  July 
and  August  the  country  is  taken  up  with  settling  the  militia.  It 
was  a  troublesome  and  expensive  business  to  the  poor  country ; 
and  agaiii  after  harvest  the  militia  is  settled.  As  it  was  expensive, 
so  it  drew  on  much  guiltiness,  even  a  land-consuming  and  over- 
throwing guiltiness  and  sin ;  for  all  the  officers  are  required  to 
take  the  Declaration,  and  so  were  involved  in  that  national  perjury, 
Dent.  xxiv.  22-25.  So  the  course  taken  to  defend  the  land  and 
uphold  the  Prelates  was  the  shortest  cut  to  consume,  ruin,  and 
overthrow  all. 

About  the  middle  of  August  Prelate  Sharp  goes  to  Court,  being 
permitted  by  the  Council,  he  pretending  that  he  was  to  settle  his 
son  in  Cambridge.  After  he  came  there  he  wrote  of  his  good 
acceptance.  But  others  wrote  otherwise.  The  King  was  on  his 
progress  almost  all  the  time  he  was  at  London.  After  the  attempt 
upon  Sharp  the  troops  and  companies  are  sent  to  the  west  to  per- 
secute honest  people,  yea  to  ruin  and  destroy  them,  there  being  a 
surmise  that  they  intended  to  rise  again  in  arms,  but  this  quickly 
evanished.  But  still  the  honest  poor  people  in  the  west  are 
oppressed  and  exhausted.  Some  of  them  are  taken,  viz.,  '  Robert' 
Cannon  of  Mandrogate,*  and  others),  and  brought  to  and  impri- 
soned in  Edinburgh.  Some  of  them  formerly  imprisoned  are  sent 
to  Virginia.    Mr  Michael  Bruce  is  banished  the  King's  dominions  ; 

*  This  person  was  forfeited  in  1GG7  for  having  been  in  the  rising  at  Pentland.  But 
the  government  finding  him  when  apprehended  and  brought  to  Edinburgh  willing  to 
serve  their  pni-poses,  he  got  a  remission  from  the  King.  He  afterwards  became  an 
informer  and  bitter  persecutor.  He  especially  signalised  himself  in  discovei-ing  to 
the  soldiers  the  haunts  and  hiding  places  of  the  wandering  Covenanters. —  Wodrow's 
History,  ii.  73,  119,  141,  and  iii.  224. 


1^668.]  LII-E  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  521 

but  at  that  time  the  Khig  wrote  to  the  Council  that  he  may  be 
sent  up  to  him.     So  Mr  Michael  Bruce  repairs  to  Court. 

Ill  this  spring  and  summer  time  there  were  several  meetings  in 
houses  in  Fife ;  but  they  were  neither  frequent  nor  numerous, 
there  being  yet  unconform  ministers  permitted  to  continue  in  their 
charges,  to  whom  almost  all  the  Presbyterians  resorted  in  the 
Presbyteries  of  St  Andrews,  Cupar,  and  Kirkcaldy ;  and  in  the 
west  end  of  Fife,  they  resorted  to  some  outed  ministers  living 
there  and  in  Culross.  There  was  a  meeting  in  Largo  parish.  The 
curate,  Mr  John  Affleck,  complained  of  it  to  the  Prelate  Sharp ; 
which  occasioned  five  of  Largo  parish,  viz.,  John  Lundie,  "Walter 
Gourlay,  &c.,  to  be  summoned  to  compear  before  the  Council. 
The  Prelate,  complaining  that  the  Chancellor  being  Sheriff,  did 
not  refrain  these  seditious  conventicles  in  Fife.  These  five  lay 
long  in  the  Canongate  Tolbooth,  refusing  to  take  the  bond  the 
Council  tendered  to  them. 

The  Parliament  of  England  Is  adjourned  to  the  spring  1069. 

Mr  Michael  Bruce  is  kept  a  time  at  London  in  free  prison,  and 
kindly  entertained.  In  the  latter  end  of  October  he  supplicates 
the  King  that  he  may  be  sent  to  Ireland  (being  cleared  that  he 
had  no  accession  to  any  plots  there  *),  where  he  was  a  minister  all 
this  time  by-past. 

The  Presbyterians  in  England,  especially  in  the  city  of  London, 
had  as  great  liberty  to  meet,  preach,  and  celebrate  the  sacraments, 
as  they  desired.  Mr  Nicholas  Blackie,t  an  outed  Scottish  minister 
is  a  lecturer  at  London.  He  celebrated  the  communion  in  our 
form,  which  was  much  commended  by  the  English  outed  ministers 
that  assisted  with  some  Scots.  An  old  outed  English  minister,  as 
was  reported,  is  pressed  in  spirit  to  go  and  speak  to  the  King 
(who  all  this  while  by-past  was  wholly  given  to  sinful  pleasures, 

♦  Allusion  is  here  made  to  Blood's  plot,  in  wliiili  Bruce  was  in  no  respect  implicated. 
— ReicVs  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Ireland,  ii.  38"). 

t  Nicholas  Blackie  had  been  settled  at  Robcrton  in  the  presbytery  of  Lanark,  j.re- 
vious  to  the  establishment  of  Prelacy  on  the  Restoration  of  Charles  II.,  but  was  eject- 
ed by  the  Glasgow  Act,  1662.  He  survived  the  KcvoUition.  He  was  the  author  of  a 
book  entitled  Lazarus  Redivivus,  published  at  London  in  8vo,  in  It'.T  1. 


522  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1668. 

his  whores  and  bastards  multiplying,  Lauderdale,  especially,  en- 
courao-Ing  him  in  this  wickedness,  and  none  of  the  Bishops  daring 
to  speak  to  him)  much  to  this  purj^ose  :  "  Sir,  I  am  not  ignorant 
what  the  wrath  of  a  King  is,  yet  I  have  taken  my  life  in  my  hand 
— there's  a  black  cloud  of  wrath  hanging  over  your  person,  family, 
court,  city,  and  the  whole  kingdom,  because  of  the  great  sins  of 
all  these,  and  if  speedy  repentance  do  not  prevent,  it  cannot  but 
break  and  fall  on  all  these."  He  much  pressed  his  Majesty  to  re- 
pentance and  reformation  of  his  person,  family,  court,  church  and 
state.  The  King  heard  him  patiently,  and  said  he  minded  to  do 
as  he  had  advised  him.  The  King  dismissed  him  with  many 
thanks  for  his  good  advice.  After  this  the  Presbyterians  had 
greater  liberty,  and  used  greater  freedom  in  preaching  in  their 
meeting-houses  ;  Manchester,  and  others  of  the  courtiers  befriend- 
ing them,  telling  the  King  that  they  were  his  best  friends  in  his 
low  condition,  and  would  yet  prove  so.  It  was  thought  that  any 
indulgence  to  Presbyterians  would  begin  in  England,  at  the  loyal 
Presbyterians  there. 

In  the  beginning  of  November  the  Prelate  Sharp  returns  from 
Court  to  Edinburgh.  Shortly  thereafter  the  Council  convened. 
Sharp  told  the  Council  of  his  good  acceptance  at  court,  of  his 
Majesty's  graciousness  and  bounty  to  him,  and  that  he  had  granted 
him  all  his  desires,  especially  his  earnest  desire  of  a  letter  of  ease, 
that  he  might  be  liberated  of  attending  the  Council  except  when  he 
pleased,  which  he  looked  on  as  a  distinction ;  so,  that  hereafter,  he 
was  not  to  trouble  himself  with  civil  affairs,  that  he  might  the 
better  attend  his  diocese  and  ecclesiastic  affairs.  Wise  men  did 
laugh  at  this,  perceiving  how  the  crafty  fox  dissembled,  and  that 
he  did  supplicate  for  a  letter  of  ease,  fearing  lest  as  he  was  put 
off  the  Exchequer,  so  he  might  also  be  put  off  the  Council.  At 
this  Council  day,  four  west  countrymen,  whereof  a  brother*  of  the 
Laird  of  Gathgirth  was  one,  were  banished  to  Tangier,  for  reset- 
ting some  of  the  excepted  persons,  &c.     Prelate  Sharp,  in  his  dis- 

*Viz.,  Robert  Chalmers.    He  afterwards  obtained  a  remission  from  theKing,  flate<l 
June  21,  1669.— Hot/row's  Histonj,  ii.  77. 


1669.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  523 

course  in  the  Council,  speaking  of  the  indulgence  to  Presbyterians, 
said  that  the  King  said  to  him,  "  These  men  do  not  desire  it  of 
me,  and  they  do  not  deserve  it."  Belike,  p.  e.  very  likely]  he  said 
so  to  the  King,  and  then  said  that  the  King  said  so  to  him.  A 
little  before  the  Prelate  Sharp  returned  from  Court,  Tweeddale  had 
conference  v^ith  Messrs  Douglas  and  Hutchison  about  the  indul- 
gence, but  '  they'  did  not  accord.  About  Martinmas  four  of  the 
parishioners  of  Largo  are  set  at  liberty,  &c. 

The  Presbyterians  in  England  enjoy  great  liberty,  whereof  the 
true  cause  is  the  Pai-liament  discharged  the  ministers  the  exercise 
of  their  calling  only  for  three  years ;  these  three  years  being  ex- 
pired they  were  in  tuto  et  bona  fide  to  fall  to  the  exercise  of  their 
calling  again,  but  not  in  the  parishes  where  they  served,  though 
some  ministers  in  England  did  so.  2dly,  The  Presbyterians  in 
England  at  this  time  scarcely  deserved  the  name,  being  of  very 
lax  principles,  willing  to  sit  in  judicatories  with  the  Bishops,  and 
in  many  things  to  comply  and  act  with  them.  The  Parliament 
of  England  is  adjourned  to  October  1669,  the  King  being  unwill- 
ing that  it  should  meet  again. 

About  the  middle  of  January  1669,  Sharp  went  to  Edinburgh, 
and  upon  the  29th  of  January  (which  day  was  kept  as  a  day  of 
fasting  and  humiliation,  being  the  day  whereon  the  late  King  was 
murdered)  he  had  a  most  bitter  invective  (sermon  or  preaching  I 
cannot  call  it)  and  railing  discourse.  The  like  also  he  had  at  St 
Andrews  at  his  last  Diocesan  Court,  inveighing  against  the  uncon- 
form  honest  people,  especially  against  women,  whom  he  called 
"  she-zealots,"  "  Satanesses."  At  this  time  he  carried  very  high  in 
the  Council,  and  every  way,  especially  against  any  that  kept  con- 
venticles. He  caused  the  Council  make  an  act  against  these  meet- 
ings in  towns,  especially  in  Edinburgh — that  if  any  of  these  con- 
venticles were  found,  the  town  wherein  they  were  a[)prehcndcd 
shoidd  pay  £50,  and  should  seek  their  relief  of  the  persona  that 
met;  and  now  it  was  apparent,  that  while  he  was  at  Court  he 
used  all  endeavours  and  wicked  ways  to  hinder  any  indulgence  to 
Presbyterians. 


524  Lli'^K  OF  ROBEKT  BLAIR.  [1669. 

In  the  spring  time  the  Duke  of  Ormond,  deputy  in  Ireland,  was 
put  from  his  place,  (which  was  looked  on  as  a  good  cast  of  provi- 
dence to  Ireland,)  and  the  Lord  Roberts  made  deputy  there,*  who 
was  a  good  man  and  a  Presbyterian,  who  procured  great  liberty 
to  the  Presbyterians  in  Ireland,  so  that  many  ministers  returned 
to  their  congregations,  and  preached  in  private  houses,  and  some 
in  their  own  kirks  ;  so  that  now  there  is  great  liberty  in  Eng- 
land and  Ireland,  and  persecution  here ;  for  this  summer  several 
meetings  were  seized  on  in  Edinburgh  and  GlasgoAV,  and  several 
persons  are  deeply  fined,  and  several  ministers  are  brought  in  to 
the  Council  for  preaching  and  baptizing  in  the  fields,  especially  in 
the  west,  some  whereof  were  dismissed,  nothing  being  proven 
against  them.     Others  were  retained  in  prison. 

In  June  there  were  reports  of  a  Parliament  to  be  convened  in 
October,  especially  for  the  union  of  the  two  nations,  &c.,  and  Lau- 
derdale to  be  commissioner.  About  this  time  the  business  of  the 
indulgence  was  motioned  and  set  afoot  again.  There  went  a  sup- 
plication from  Messrs  Douglas,  Hutchison,  &c.,  to  the  King, 
showing  their  loyalty ;  that  they  were  not  for  private  persons  taking 
upon  them  to  redress  wrongs,  &c.  Some  of  the  Protesters  con- 
demned it.  Some  had  great  hopes  of  liberty  to  Presbyterians, 
and  of  some  good  at  the  ensuing  Parliament.  About  this  time 
the  ministers  that  preached  in  the  fields  in  the  west  had  more  fre- 
quent and  numerous  meetings.  Some  thought  that  their  bestirring 
themselves  so  was  to  hinder  the  indulgence,  as  they  had  done  the 
last  summer ;  for  they  were  always  against  it.  That  which  was 
looked  on  as  the  saddest  ingredient  in  our  case  was  our  divisions 
still  continuing ;  yea  some  made  it  their  work  to  heighten  them. 
!Mr  James  Eraser  of  Brea  was  a  fomenter  of  our  divisions.     He 


*  Lord  Roberts  did  not  hold  this  situation  long ;  for  he  came  to  Ireland  in  Sep- 
tember 16G9,  and  returned  to  England  in  April  1G70.  He  was  a  public  discoun- 
tenancer  of  all  vice ;  and  this  procured  him  many  enemies  in  Ireland,  and  particu- 
larly "  the  soldiery  and  persons  of  quality  in  this  time  could  not  bear  severity 
against  vice."  Many  complaints  were  accordingly  sent  over  to  the  King  against  him  ; 
upon  which  he  wrote  to  the  King  desiring  to  demit  his  office,  wliich  desire  was  grant- 
ed,— Reid's  Ireland,  ii.  395. 


1669.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  525 

■v^rote  against  hearing  conformists,  and  was  answered  by  Mr  Alex- 
ander Pitcairn,  minister  of  Dron.  All  this,  as  oil  cast  into  the 
flame,  heightened  our  divisions. 

In  the  beginning  of  July  Twceddale  returned  from  Court.  He 
brought  some  letters  from  the  King  to  the  Council.  One  of  them, 
(which,  by  the  King's  command,  was  not  to  be  opened  until  the 
two  Archbishops  were  present),  July  15,  was  opened  and  read  in 
Council,  wherein  the  King  declares  that  it  is  his  will  that  minis- 
ters laid  aside  by  the  Act  of  Glasgow  should  be  reponed  again  by 
the  Council  to  their  own  charges,  if  vacant,  or  to  other  churches 
that  are  vacant,  yea  all  that  have  lived  peaceably  to  be  planted  in 
kii*ks,  and  those  that  are  not  presently  provided  to  churches  to 
get  400  merks  Scots  yearly  out  of  the  vacant  stipends  that  were 
uplifted  by  the  Council ;  and  those  that  do  not  keep  Presbyteries, 
as  in  the  year  1638,  to  enjoy  their  manses  and  glebes,  and  the 
stipends  to  be  lifted  by  the  Council,  and  so  much  of  it  as  they 
pleased  to  be  given  to  the  ministers.  Scandalous  ministers  (be- 
cause their  scandalous  carriage  had  occasioned  so  meikle  trouble) 
are  to  be  taken  notice  of  and  censured  accordingly ;  and  last,  con- 
venticles are  forbidden,  the  occasion  and  cause  of  them  being  for- 
bidden and  removed  by  reponing  of  outed  ministers.  Prelate 
Burnet  was  so  offended  at  this  letter  of  Indulgence  that  he  refused 
to  come  to  the  Council  the  first  day ;  but  when  it  was  read  in 
Council,  the  fox.  Sharp,  showed  no  signs  of  discontentment, 
though  as  evil  pleased  with  it  as  Burnet.  The  Council  appointed 
a  committee  for  considering  the  King's  letter,  and  making  it 
practicable.  The  next  Council  day,  June  22,  there  was  great 
heat  among  them  about  the  sense  of  the  King's  letter.  The 
Bishops  and  the  most  malignant  of  the  Council  alleged  that  mi- 
nisters deposed  by  Bishops  could  have  no  benefit  by  it;  that 
though  the  Council  might  take  off  the  restraint  they  had  laid  on, 
yet  none  but  Bishops  in  their  Synods  could  repone  those  that 
were  deposed  by  them.  Sharp  obtained  a  delay  until  July  27. 
It  was  conjectured  that  both  he  and  Twecddale  wrote  to  the  King 
anent  the  sense  of  the  letter.     What  answer  was  returned  might 


526  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1669. 

be  gathered  by  the  Couucil's  actings  iu  the  affair ;  for,  August  3, 
thirteen  ministers  were  assigned  to  kirks,  the  patrons,  heritors,  and 
whole  parishioners  giving  them  calls.  One  of  them  was  deposed  by- 
Sharp,  Avho  being  commanded  by  the  Council  to  declare  the  sen- 
tence taken  off,  he  alleged  that  they  that  were  imder  ecclesiastic 
censure  could  not  be  licentiate,  it  not  being  in  the  power  of 
the  King  or  his  Council  to  take  off  the  censure  which  ecclesiastic 
courts  had  imposed.  The  Council  pleaded  it  was  in  the  King's 
power,  by  virtue  of  his  supremacy.  The  Covmcil  first  invited 
him  ;  thereafter  Tweeddale,  in  the  King's  name,  commanded  him 
to  take  off  the  censure.  Sharp  refusing,  when  the  Council  was 
about  to  put  the  question  to  a  vote,  the  fox,  perceiving  it  would 
be  carried  over  his  belly,  did  declare  the  person  free  of  any  eccle- 
siastic censure.  Observe  how  the  Lord  takes  and  ensnares  the 
wicked  in  the  work  of  their  own  hands.  They  would  needs  have 
the  King  supreme  in  all  causes,  &c.,  to  set  them  up  ;  but  now 
when  the  Prelates  fear  that  his  supremacy  may  tumble  them 
down  again,  they  deny  to  give  it  to  him.  Psalm  ix.  15,  16. 

Those  that  were  first  indulged  were  Messrs  Georo;e  Hutchison 
to  Irvine,  Ralph  Rogers  to  Kilwinning,  William  Violant  to  Cam- 
busnethan,  '  William'  Maitland  to  Beith,  Alexander  Blair  to  New- 
mills.  The  rest  got  their  own  kirks,  viz.,  Messrs  John  Scot  of 
Oxnam,  John  Cant  of  Kells,  John  *  Park  of  Stranraer,  John 
M'Michan  of  Dairy,  John  Oliphant  of  Stonehouse,  &c.  The  next 
Council  day  the  Earl  of  Argyle  got  six  ministers  named  to  his 
bounds.  But  while  it  was  expected  that  the  Council  would  go  on 
in  obedience  to  the  King's  letter.  Sharp  labours  most  industriously 
that  none  outed  by  him  should  get  kirks  in  his  diocese,  and  the 
Chancellor  concurs  with  him  that  none  should  be  indulged  in 
Fife,  though  there  were  many  outed  there,  and  four  of  these  outed 
ministers'  kirks  were  vacant,  viz.,  Leslie,  Scoonie,  Ely,  and  Cults. 
The  next  Council  day  Mr  Robert  Douglas,  and  four  or  five  more, 
are  licentiate ;  Mr  Douglas  for  Pencaitland.     Thereafter,  at  an- 

*  Wodrow  calls  him  Robert. 


16G9.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  527 

Other  Council  day  in  September,  Mr  John  Stirling  and  four  more 
are  licentiate,  &c. 

About  the  middle  of  October,  Lauderdale,  the  King's  commis- 
sioner for  the  ensuing  Parliament,  came  from  Court  to  Edinburgh. 
The  Parliament  rode,  October  19.  Few  did  ride,  either  noblemen 
or  commissioners,  and  only  eight  bishops.  The  Commissioner,  in 
his  speech  at  the  down-sitting  of  the  Parliament  said,  that  he 
would  disappoint  both  the  groundless  and  vain  hopes  of  some,  (he 
meant  of  honest  Presbyterians  who  exjjected  good  at  this  Parlia- 
ment and  of  him),  and  the  groundless  and  needless  fears  of  others, 
(he  meant  of  the  Bishops,  who  at  this  time  had  fears  of  the  change 
of  court  and  their  state).  This  speech  blasted  the  hopes  of  the 
one,  and  banished  the  fears  of  the  other ;  grieved  and  pained  the 
hearts  of  honest  people,  and  lifted  up  and  much  encouraged  the 
Prelates  and  their  complices.  This  Parliament  began  unluckily 
and  ominously.  They  had  no  preaching  nor  praying  at  their 
down-sitting ;  and  the  first  '  thing '  they  did,  all  the  members  of 
Parliament  took  the  Declaration,  so  that  all  honest  men  that  feared 
the  oath,  and  curse  of  God,  (Deut.  xxix.  14,  with  19  ;  JSTeh.  x.  29), 
absented  themselves,  and  were  not  in  this  black  Parliament. 

In  the  beginning  of  this  unhappy  Parliament,  the  Commissioner  * 
sent  to  Hamilton  for  Lady  Margaret  Kennedy,!  eldest  daughter 
of  the  honest  Earl  of  Cassillis,  who,  until  this  time,  liad  lived  a 
virgin  unmarried,  (though  suited  by  severals),  without  any  stain 
or  blot.  She,  with  her  waiting  maid  and  servant  women,  comes 
to  the  Abbey  and  lives  and  abides  there  all  the  time  of  the  Parlia- 
ment, the  Commissioner  often,  especially  at  night,  resorting  to  her 
chamber ;  which,  thereafter,  opened  the  mouths  of  many  who  for 
the  present  were  silent,  to  speak  very  broadly  of  them  both,  con- 
sidering their  future  carriage,  especially  in  their  marriages,  &c. 

The  first  Sabbath,  Prelate  Sharp  preached  before  the  Commis- 

*  The  Duke  of  Lauderdale. 

t  Lady  Margaret  Kennedy  was  afterwards  married  to  I)r  Gilbert  Burnet,  the 
author  of  the  History  of  his  own  Times.  Slie  was  the  first  of  three  wives  whom  Bur- 
net married. — Law's  Mcmoriafs,  note  by  Editor,  7G. 


528  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1  669. 

sloner  and  members  of  Parliament.  His  sermon  was  disrelished  by 
the  Commissioner  and  the  grandees.  In  that  sermon  he  spoke 
more  against  the  Indulgence  and  the  way  of  licentiating  ministers, 
than  the  Prelate  of  Glasgow  did  in  his  Remonstrance  emitted  by 
him  at  his  last  Synod,  for  the  which  the  Council  confined  him  to 
Glasgow,  declaring  him  incapable  of  sitting  in  Parliament  or  Coun- 
cil ;  but  Sharp  (who  can  sail  with  aU  winds,  stand  with  all,  and  fall 
with  none)  cried  Peccavi  for  his  sermon,  and  contradicted  it  in  his 
speeches  and  actings  among  the  Lords  of  the  Articles  and  in  the 
Parliament ;  for  in  his  sermon  he  spoke  against  the  King's  supre- 
macy in  ecclesiasticis,  saying  that  there  were  three  pretenders  to 
supremacy — the  Pope,  the  King,  and  the  Presbyterian,  &c. 

This  occasioned  the  Lords  of  the  Articles  to  take  to  their  con- 
sideration the  King's  supremacy,  and  what  he  might  do  by  virtue 
thereof.  They  desired  the  Prelates  to  declare  what  they  meant 
by  the  King's  supremacy,  &c.  The  Prelates  were  sorely  puzzled 
how  to  answer  the  question,  and  explain  the  King's  supremacy ; 
and  now  they  begin  to  fear  that  they  had  woven  a  net  wherein 
theu-  own  foot  may  be  taken,  and  they  snared  in  the  work  of  their 
own  hands.  But  the  Parliament  explained  and  declared  what  was 
meant  by  the  King's  supremacy  over  all  persons,  and  in  all  causes 
ecclesiastical,  and  what  he  might  do  by  virtue  thereof,  in  reference 
to  Kirk  affairs,  the  government,  all  Kirk-officers,  acts,  and  matters 
ecclesiastical, — by  their  act  asserting  his  Majesty's  supremacy,  &c. ; 
whei'eby  it  is  enacted,  asserted,  and  declared,  that  his  Majesty  hath 
the  supreme  authority  and  supremacy  over  all  persons,  and  in  all 
causes  ecclesiastical,  and  that  by  virtue  thereof  the  ordering  and 
disposal  of  the  external  government  of  the  Church  doth  properly 
belong  to  his  Majesty,  as  an  inherent  right  of  the  Crown,  and  that 
he  may  settle,  enact,  and  emit  such  constitutions,  acts,  and  orders 
concerning  the  administration  of  the  government  of  the  Church, 
and  the  persons  employed  in  the  same,  and  concerning  all  ecclesias- 
tical meetings  and  matters  to  be  proposed  and  determined  therein, 
as  he,  in  his  royal  wisdom,  shall  think  fit ;  which  acts,  orders,  and 
constitutions  being  recorded  in  the  books  of  Council,  and  duly 


1669.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  529 

published,  are  to  be  observed  and  obeyed,  any  law,  act,  or  custom 
to  the  contrary  notwithstanding ;  likeas  his  Majesty  doth  rescind 
and  annul  all  laws,  acts,  and  clauses  thereof,  and  all  customs  and 
constitutions,  civil  or  ecclesiastic,  which  are  contrary  to,  or  incon- 
sistent with,  his  Majesty's  supremacy,  as  it  is  hereby  asserted,  and 
declares  the  same  void  and  null  in  all  time  coming.  0  tempora  ! 
0  Lauderdale !  quantum  mutatus  ah  illo,  anno  1039,  42,  et  43,  at 
Dunse-law,  and  at  Westminster,  in  the  Assembly  of  Divines,  being 
commissionated  as  elder,  with  Messrs  Henderson  and  Rutherford, 
&c.,  from  the  Kirk  of  Scotland,  to  that  Assembly  !  This  abominable 
act  not  only  contains  grossest  Erastianism  and  Popery,  but  makes 
that  an  inherent  right  of  King  Charles's  crown,  which  is  one  of  the 
privileges  and  prerogatives  of  Christ's  crown,  who  is  King  of  Zion, 
the  only  head  of  His  Kirk,  the  government  whereof  shall  be  upon 
His  shoulders,  in  despite  of  this  blasphemous  act,  so  opposite  and 
contradictory  to  clear  Scripture,  and  the  Lord's  Avill,  revealed 
therein  anent  the  government  of  His  Kirk,  the  officers  [offices  ?] 
and  office-bearers  of  His  house,  their  acts  and  constitutions 
founded  upon  His  word,  their  assemblies  and  meetings,  and  all 
matters  ecclesiastical,  regulated  according  to  the  rule  of  His 
word,  and  not  according  to  the  King's  wisdom  and  pleasure,  as  he 
thinks  fit. 

To  this  act  Sharp  consents,  though  sore  against  his  will.  Some 
of  the  Prelates,  in  giving  their  vote,  were  so  ignoramus  [igno- 
rant], that  they  declared  their  consent,  pretending  that  the 
Kino-'s  supremacy  did  not  wrong  their  estate  ;  but  to  let  the 
Prelates  see  what  the  King  might  do  by  virtue  of  his  supre- 
macy, even  against  them  and  their  estate,  the  Archprclate  of 
Glasgow,  because  of  his  opposition  to  the  Indulgence  and  this 
Act  of  Supremacy,  is  deposed  by  the  Commissioner.  He  re- 
fusing to  demit  his  place,  no  reason  was  given  of  this  censure, 
but  the  King's  will  and  pleasure — the  Commissioner  speaking  to 
him  in  these  words,  "  It's  the  King  s  will  and  pleasure  that  yc  bo 
no  more  Archbishop  of  Glasgow."  He  submitted  to  the  sentence, 
and,   unrequired,    received   it  upon  his    knees  ;    but   Sharp,   the 

2  L 


530  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1670. 

greatest  knave  of  the  two,  was  not  censured,  because  he  cried 
Peccavi.     Novit  uti  foro.  * 

Towards  the  middle  of  December  some  ministers  were  licen- 
tiate by  the  Council.  Mr  John  Primrose,  and  four  more,  got  their 
own  kirks ;  Mr  John  Baird  was  licentiate,  and  appointed  for  Pais- 
ley, with  Mr  Mathew  Ramsay ;  f  but  Sharp  and  the  Chancellor 
hold  all  outed  ministers  in  Fife  at  the  door,  at  least  they  per- 
mit none  of  them  to  be  indulged  in  Fife.  Notwithstanding,  Mr 
Alexander  Wedderburn  was  nominated  by  the  Committee  of  the 
Council  for  Kilmarnock,  and,  thereafter,  Mr  William  TuUidaff  is 
ordained  by  the  Council  for  the  kirk  of  Kilbirnie.  Sharp  at  first 
pretended  Fife's  peaceableness,  and  their  being  well  pleased  with 
their  ministers,  (which  he  wrote  up  to  the  King),  as  the  reason 
why  none  should  be  indulged  in  Fife.  Thereafter,  there  being 
several  conventicles  in  Fife,  especially  about  Falkland,  Strathmiglo, 
&c.,  (which  was  done,  as  for  other  ends,  so  also,  that  it  might  ap- 
pear that  Sharp  was  a  liar),  he  alleged  that  Fife  was  unworthy  of 
the  favour,  because  of  their  unpeaceableness  and  keeping  of  con- 
venticles, yea,  even  in  the  fields  and  in  the  city  of  St  Andrews. 

About  the  middle  of  January  1670,  four  honest  men  in  the  town 
of  St  Andrews  were  put  in  the  tolbooth,  for  keeping  a  meeting 

*  "  He  knew  how  to  manage  tlie  Court." 

t  In  the  MS.  it  is  by  mistake  "  Mr  Hugh  Ramsay."  "  When  the  first  Indulgence 
was  granted,  Mr  John  Baird  and  Mr  Eccles  were  appointed  for  Paisley ;  and  then 
all  his  [John  Spreul  the  apothecary's]  father's  family  joined  with  them.  After  Mr 
Baird's  death  Mr  Mathew  Eamsay  was  appointed  to  supply  his  charge,  who  had  been 
a  gi-eat  person  among  the  Eesolutioners ;  yet  he  lectured  upon  Jeremiah's  propliecy 
all  his  time  (till  death  came)  with  such  faithfidness  and  freedom  ;  and  his  last  sermon 
was  the  freest  against  the  sins  of  the  time,  past  and  present ;  and  when  in  sickbed, 
my  father  told  me  he  regretted  his  former  neutraUty,  and  would  have  said,  '  O  that 
I  had  another  day  in  the  pulpit,  that  I  might  ease  and  exoner  my  conscience.'  He 
seemed  to  see  the  prejudice  the  Church  met  with  by  the  unhappy  divisions  betwixt 
the  Eesolntioncrs  and  Protesters.  One  Sabbath-day,  Earl  of  Linlithgow  being  in  the 
Halket  came,  with  my  Lord  Ross,  to  the  church  at  Paisley,  and  heard  Mr  Ramsay 
lecture  and  preach  all  day.  Earl  of  Linlithgow,  when  they  went  home,  said  '  This 
man's  text  was  treason,  and  all  alongst  both  his  lecture  and  sermons  have  struck  us, 
and  yet  we  cannot  challenge  him  speaking  against  the  breach  of  Covenant,  and  the 
curses  denounced  against  the  breakers.'  They  said,  '  He  tells  us  what  is  written  in 
the  Word  of  God.' " — Papers  concerning  John  Spreul,  Apothecary,  Glasgow,  Wodrow 
MSS.,  vol.  xl.,  folio,  no.  69,  p.  24. 


1670.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  531 

upon  a  Sabbath  night,  after  supper, — the  Prehite's  wife  stirring  up 
the  provost  to  inearceratc  them ;  but  they  were  shortly  thereafter 
set  at  liberty,  though  they  refused  to  tell  who  preached,  or  to  pro- 
mise never  to  keep  the  like  meetings. 

As  for  the  great  business  of  the  Union,  for  the  which  especially 
the  Parliament  was  called,  the  English  Parliament  dismissed  it, 
and  pretended  that  they  were  so  taken  up  with  great  affairs  of 
their  own  nation,  that  they  could  not  take  that  affair  to  their  con- 
sideration ;  so,  after  they  had  sitten  some  weeks,  they  were  ad- 
journed to  the  7th  of  February,  the  Scottish  Parliament  having 
made  some  acts  of  lower  concernment,  viz.,  about  naturalizing  of 
strangers,  the  bullion,  the  crying  up  and  down  coin,  &c.  In  Ja- 
nuary they  arose,  and  were  adjourned  to  June.  The  Commissioner, 
upon  the  20tli  of  January,  took  journey  for  Court.  Never  did  a 
Commissioner,  from  whom  some  expected  some  good,  do  so  meikle 
evil ;  and  as  for  the  Indulgence,  he  not  only  did  not  extend  it  ac- 
cording unto  the  King's  letter,  but,  wuth  the  Chancellor  and  Sharp, 
he  hindered  it,  and  at  last  crushed  it,  though,  when  he  returned  to 
Court,  he  strove  to  feed  good  men,  especially  Mr  Douglas,  with 
vain  hopes  and  big  promises  of  a  general  indulgence  of  all  outed 
ministers  to  preach  where  and  when  they  got  a  call,  until  they 
were  provided  of  kirks. 

Shortly  after  the  rising  of  the  Parliament  the  prisoners  in  Stir- 
ling Castle,  viz.,  Rowallan,  Cunningham-head,  &c.,  with  Sir  James 
Stewart  and  Sir  John  Chiesly,  sent  their  supplications  unto  tlie 
Council,  which,  by  the  Council,  were  sent  up  to  the  King,  who  or- 
dered them  to  be  set  at  liberty  ;  so  they  were  released  without  any 
engagements  or  conditions. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year,  the  deputy  of  Ireland,  Lord  Ro- 
berts, is  recalled,  and  one  Mr  *  Berkeley  sent  over  in  his  room ; 
which  was  looked  upon  as  malum  omen,  he  being  highly  Episcopal. 
But  Sir  Arthur  Forbes  f  is  a  great  friend  to  Presbyterians  there. 

*  In  Dr  Reid's  Presbyterian  Church  in  Ireland,  it  is  "  Lord  Berkeley,"  ii.  .395. 
t  "  Sir  Arthur  Forbes  became  the  principal  patron  of  the  rresbyterians  after  the 
decease  of  their  gi-eat  friend,  the  Lord  Massarecnc,  who  died  at  Antrim,  in  Septcra- 

2  l2 


532  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLMR.  [1670. 

Shortly  before  the  Commissioner  took  journey  for  Court,  the  Coun- 
cil made  an  act  discharging  all  ministers;  and  those  that  were  licen- 
tiate, to  lecture  on  the  Lord's  day,  under  pain  of  being  put  from 
the  exercise  of  their  ministry.  This  act  was  sent  to  the  most  part 
of  the  indulged  ministers,  some  whereof  did  not  lecture  by  reason 
of  their  age  or  infirmity.  Others,  though  they  began  to  lecture, 
yet  foreseeing  that  they  would  be  discharged,  did,  before  the  mak- 
ing of  the  act  leave  their  lecturing,  setting  up  a  week  lecture  to 
compense  their  neglect  on  the  Lord's  day.  This  act  gave  great 
offence  to  honest  ministers  and  to  the  godly  in  the  land,  who  griev- 
ed to  see  the  Council  take  upon  them  to  give  orders  to  ministers 
in  reference  to  their  doctrine  and  preaching.  Honest  ministers 
were  puzzled  what  to  do ;  for  though  some  were  clear  rather  to 
forego  lecturing  on  the  Lord's  day  than  to  be  thrust  from  the  ex- 
ercise of  their  ministry,  yet  they  thought  it  hard  to  give  obedi- 
ence to  the  act  of  the  Council,  as  also  to  offend  good,  well-meaning 
people  that  would  refuse  to  hear  them  if  they  obeyed  the  Council 
in  this  unreasonable  and  sinful  act,  or  did  any  thing  to  harden  the 
Council  in  their  wickedness  and  Erastian  course. 

About  the  beginning  of  Febimary  there  was  an  act  made  by  the 
Council  and  proclaimed  against  conventicles,  commanding  all  ma- 
gistrates, sheriffs,  their  deputies,  justices  of  peace,  and  officers  of  the 
militia,  to  apprehend  ministers  or  others,  that  had  kept  conventi- 
cles since  the  19th  of  October  last,  or  any  persons  going  to  or  com- 
ing from  conventicles,  and  to  put  them  in  prison,  or  bring  them 
over  to  the  Council  upon  their  own  expenses,  that  they  may  be 
punished,  &c.  But  all  this  did  not  restrain  conventicles  in  Edin- 
burgh or  other  places. 

February  7,  the  English  Parliament  sits  down.  The  King  in 
his  speech  to  them  laid  out  his  great  necessity,  and  pressed  them 
to  supply  him,  that  his  debts  might  be  paid,  &c.     The  Parliament 

ber  1665.  He  was  afterwards  created  Earl  of  Granard." — (Reid's  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Ireland,  ii.  402.J  He  was  brother  to  the  famous  Mr  John  Forbes,  who  was  banish- 
ed for  holding  an  Assembly  at  Aberdeen  in  July  1605.  He  had  embraced  the  mili- 
tary profession,  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  Swedish  service,  and  on  his  return, 
settled  in  Ireland. 


1670.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  533 

grants  him  a  large  supply  of  monies,  laying  on  an  impost  upon  the 
wines  imported  to  London  for  seven  years.  They  also  accord  with 
our  Parliament  in  the  matter  of  the  Union  betwixt  the  two  coun- 
tries, referring  to  the  King  the  nomination  of  the  commissioners 
that  were  to  treat  about  it.  Also  they  make  severe  acts  against 
Nonconformists  and  their  conventicles.  The  10th  of  May  is  set 
to  them,  after  which  day  they  were  to  have  no  conventicles  in 
the  city. 

March  10,  there  were  six  ministers  indulged,  some  whereof  got 
their  own  kirks.  Mr  Thomas  Black,  minister  of  Leslie,  was  order- 
ed for  Nevvtyle  in  Angus  ;  Mr  Alexander  Wedderburn  for  Kihnar- 
nock.  Mr  Wedderburn  at  first  had  some  scruple  to  accept  of  or 
obey  the  Council's  order ;  but  thereafter  some  of  the  principal 
heritors  coming  to  him  with  a  most  earnest  invitation  and  unani- 
mous call  from  the  patron,  all  the  heritors  and  parishioners  requir- 
ing him  as  he  would  answer  to  his  master  Jesus  Christ,  that  he 
would  not  slight  so  hearty  and  unanimous  a  call,  but  come  and 
preach  the  gospel  among  them.  *  He  accepted  and  followed  the 
call  of  all  the  elders,  heritors,  and  whole  parishioners,  not  regarding 
the  Council's  order.  Thus  the  rest  of  the  honest  licentiate  minis- 
ters did  enter  either  to  their  own  charges  or  other  parishes. 

About  this  time  comes  out  a  new  book,  called  "  The  Fulfilling 
of  the  Scriptures,"  &c. ;  and  many  turn  Quakers  in  and  about  Aber- 
deen, in  Clydesdale  and  other  parts.  The  Laird  of  Swinton  was 
a  ringleader  of  them  in  the  south,  and  one  Barclay  and  Keith  in 
the  north.  Most  of  their  heresies  were  Popish  heresies.  Many 
WT.-ote  against  them.  See  the  Postscript  to  Mr  Rutherford's  Letters, 
printed  1G75,  and  Mr  Brown's  book  "  Quakerism  the  Pathway  to 
Paganism,  or  a  View  of  the  Quakers'  Eeligion,"  &c.,  printed  1678. 

Private  sermons  in  the  meeting  houses  being  discharged  at 
London,  the  Council  resolved  to  do  the  like  in  Edinburgh.  They 
called  the  provost  and  did  chide  him  for  his  remissness  in  restrain- 

*  "Alexander  Wedclerlnirn  was  much  followed  for  his  gift  of  preaching.  There  aro 
some  of  his  sermons  published,  12mo,  1682.  Item,  David's  Last  Testament,  or  Ser- 
mons on  the  Covenant  of  Grace,  8Y0."—Charterui'  Ckitalogue  of  Scottish  Writers,  52. 


534  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1670. 

ing  of  conventicles,  and  commanded  him  to  prosecute  before  them 
five  or  six  of  the  outed  ministers  that  kept  conventicles  in  the 
town.  He  only  found  Mr  George  Johnston,  whom  the  Council 
confined  to  Borthwick  parish,  and  commanded  the  provost  to  put 
all  ministers  that  kept  conventicles  out  of  the  town,  them,  and  their 
families ;  which  made  several  ministers  to  remove  out  of  the  town. 
A  committee  of  the  Council  is  ordered  to  sit  at  Glasgow  or  else- 
where in  the  west,  to  try  what  obedience  the  indulged  ministers 
had  given  to  their  act  discharging  lecturing  and  baptising  of  chil- 
dren by  outed  and  not  indulged  ministers,  and  conventicles  ;  as  also 
to  try  anent  three  curates,  who  alleged  that  they  were  injured  and 
vrounded  by  some  men  falling  upon  them,  &c.  The  committee 
made  a  favourable  report.  They  told  that  the  licensed  ministers 
were  peaceable  and  loyal,  &c. ;  that  they  found  ministers  put  in 
by  the  Bishops  negligent  and  dissolute,  especially  the  three  that 
complained,  whereof  one  was  JafFray,  who  had  invented  a  story, 
it  being  found  that  he  was  a  liar.  This  report  'was'  made  to  the 
Council  in  May,  at  which  time  the  Council  fined  some  for  keeping 
of  conventicles  and  baptizing  their  bairns  by  outed  ministers  ;  and 
a  letter  comes  from  the  King,  adjourning  the  Parliament  to  the 
20th  of  July.  The  English  Parliament  was  adjourned  to  Octo- 
ber. 

In  the  latter  end  of  April  there  is  a  Pope  created,  called  Cle- 
ment X.  At  this  time  Papists  abound  in  Scotland,  and  become 
very  insolent  and  proud,  avowedly  going  to  public  masses,  especi- 
ally in  Aberdeen,  where  they  had  a  burial,  with  a  procession  in 
the  public  street,  after  the  Papistical,  superstitious  and  idolatrous 
rites  and  customs.  Thereafter  there  was  a  great  conventicle  of 
Papists  at  Roslin,  where  they  had  the  mass.  There  were  many 
men  in  arms  to  guard  them,  whereas  they  needed  none,  the  Council 
neither  discharging  nor  hindering  these  conventicles,  which  made 
true  Protestants  fear  a  Popish  design  driving  on,  which  fears  were 
augmented  by  the  coming  of  our  King's  only  sister,  the  Duchess 
of  Orleans,  from  France,  to  meet  with  the  King,  Queen  and  Duke  of 
"1  ork  at  Dover ;  which  made  some  jealous  of  the  King,  fearing 


1670.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  535 

what  that  meeting  would  produce.  Shortly,  thereafter,  the  Duke 
of  York  declared  himself  Popish, — so  did  some  in  Scotland,  and 
some  Quakers  ;  so  that,  Protestants  at  London  fear  a  massacre. 
Reports  fly  that  the  King,  Avhen  he  was  over  seas,  engaged  before 
five  Popish  Princes  to  advance  Popery  if  ever  he  were  restored. 
Immediately  after  the  Duchess  of  Orleans  returned  to  France  she 
died  suddenly.  It  was  reported  that  she  was  poisoned  even  by 
the  Papists,  lest  she  should  have  revealed  their  plots,  they  know- 
ing that  her  husband  would  be  glad  of  it. 

Notwithstanding  of  their  severe  acts  against  the  private  ser- 
mons at  London,  yet  they  continued  to  keep  these  meetings  even 
after  the  10th  of  May.  Midtitudes  convening  upon  the  streets  of 
London,  they  throng  in  through  the  guards,  that  were  doubled,  to 
their  meeting  houses,  it  being  impossible  for  the  guards  to  hinder 
them.  Nothing  was  heard  in  the  streets  on  the  Sabbath  days  but 
drums,  marching  of  soldiers,  &c.,  and  in  the  meeting-houses  sing- 
ing of  psalms,  drowning  the  noise  of  drums,  &c.  The  King  ob- 
stinately resolved  to  suppress  these  meetings ;  the  people  as  firmly 
and  fixedly  continued  keeping  their  liberties.  Trading  and  com- 
merce is  much  impeded  at  London.  Whereto  all  this  would  turn 
is  wondered  :  for  several  weeks,  no  news  was  written  from  London. 

In  this  meantime  our  grandees  are  very  violent  against  conven- 
ticles at  Edinburgh.  Search  was  made  for  several  ministers,  but 
none  was  found.  Conventicles  are  kept  at  Edinburgh,  but  not  so 
frequent  nor  numerous  as  before.  There  was  a  great  field  conven- 
ticle in  the  west  of  Fife  upon  Beath  Hill,  whereat  the  Council  was 
hio-lily  incensed.  They  sent  an  order  to  Mr  Harrie  ISIurray,  bailie 
of  the  Regality  of  Dunfcrndine,  to  apprehend  and  send  over 
several  persons.  One  Robert  Wellwood  is  sent  over  to  the 
Council,  who  named  several  persons  that  were  at  Beath  Hill  con- 
venticle, but  refused  to  tell  the  ministers'  names  that  preached. 

The  Council  at  this  time  made  more  severe  acts  against  field 
conventicles,  and  condemned  three  ministers  and  some  gentlemen 
to  be  hanged  immediately  after  they  were  apprehended,  viz., 
Messrs  John  Welsh,  Gabriel  Semple,  and  Samuel  Arnot ;  Majors 


536  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIE.  [1670. 

Barclay  and  Learmout,  &c.  Narrow  search  was  made  in  Edin- 
burgh for  these.  So  at  this  time  honest  people  in  Scotland  and 
England  are  hotly  pursued;  Papists  in  the  meanwhile  waxing 
more  and  more  proud  and  numerous. 

Lauderdale  wrote  to  the  Bishop  of  St  Andrews,  that  he  was 
coming  down,  (the  Parliament  being  adjourned  to  the  28th  of 
July),  and  that  he  would  bury  Presbyterial  government  and  all 
their  conventicles.  Leighton  having  reflised  the  bishoprick  of 
Glasgow,  comes  from  Court  prelate  of  Glasgow  in  a  new  mode, 
only  having  the  spiritual  power  of  the  bishop,  nothing  of  his  tem- 
poralities, and  only  a  part  of  the  rent,  viz.,  £300  sterling.  As 
much  was  given  to  Burnet ;  the  rest  to  come  into  the  Exchequer. 
He  was  called  commendator  of  Glasgow.  Sharp  was  offended  at 
this,  fearing  a  design  by  time  to  deal  so  with  them  all,  to  clip 
their  wings  to  augment  the  King's  rents.  It  was  given  out  that 
Leighton  had  some  overtures  to  propose  to  the  indulged  minis- 
ters and  others  for  an  accommodation. 

Several  persons  that  had  been  at  Beath  Hill  were  summoned, 
and  appeared  before  the  Council  Jidy  14.  They  that  refused  to 
give  their  oath  to  tell  who  preached,  who  were  there,  &c.,  were 
fined  in  great  sums,  and  ordered  to  lie  in  prison  and  continue 
there  during  the  Council's  pleasure,  viz.,  Adam  Stobie,  William 
Adam,  Mr  Alexander  Hastie,  John  Rankin,  &c.  July  26,  Com- 
peared before  the  Council  others  that  had  been  at  Beath  Hill,  not 
only  men  but  women,  married  and  unmarried,  yea  servants, 
whereof  two  servant  women  were  imprisoned  that  were  servants 
to  the  Lady  Colville. 

The  Commissioner  returned  to  Edinburgh  July  25.  Upon  the 
morrow  there  was  a  Council  day,  when  some  were  added  to  the 
Council,  viz.  the  Earl  of  Hume,  Lord  Yester,  Sir  Andrew  Eamsay, 
provost  of  Edinburgh.  July  28,  the  Parliament  sat  down.  Their 
first  work  was  to  make  severe  and  cruel  acts,  especially  against 
field  conventicles ;  and  that  they  might  have  some  pretext  of  law 
for  their  cruel  dealing  with  these  prisoners  that  were  lying  in 
irons,  they  made  an  act,  that  what  persons  were  found  to  be  at 


1670.]  LIFE  OF  ROBEllT  BLAIR.  537 

these  conventicles  should  give  their  oiith  of  verity  to  answer  such 
questions  as  should  be  proposed  to  them  ;  and  if  they  refused  to 
give  their  oath,  to  be  imprisoned,  fined,  banished,  &c.  They  made 
other  most  unreasonable  and  unchristian  acts  against  all  meetinjis 
of  the  people  of  God,  by  the  which  they  did  Avhat  they  could  to 
hinder  God's  worship  in  families ;  for  if  but  one  pei'son  who  was 
not  a  member  of  the  family  were  present,  or  if  a  stranger  came  in 
time  of  family  worship,  by  the  Council's  acts  it  was  judged  to  be  a 
conventicle ;  yea  they  discharged,  under  all  highest  pains,  all 
outed  ministers  to  preach,  yea  to  pray,  or  crave  a  blessing,  or  give 
thanks  in  families  that  were  not  their  own,  and  all  women  to  per- 
form duties  in  their  own  families.  O  strange !  They  made  also 
severe  acts  against  all  that  kept  not  their  own  parish  kirks.  In 
one  word,  as  the  Prelates  had  done  much  to  banish  God  out  of 
kirks,  so  the  Parliament  did  more  to  banish  God  and  his  worship 
out  of  families.  At  this  time  Lauderdale  Avas  loathed  and  ab- 
horred by  all  the  godly  in  the  land  as  a  profane  irreligious  man, 
yea  as  a  vile  apostate. 

As  for  the  Union,  commissioners  were  named  by  the  King, 
some  noblemen,  some  gentlemen,  some  bishops,  and  some  burgesses, 
with  some  lawyers,  twenty-five  in  all,  to  meet  at  Westminster, 
London,  September  14,  with  the  commissioners  for  England,  to 
treat  about  the  union  betwixt  the  two  kingdoms.  For  defraying 
of  the  commissionei's'  charges,  and  levying  more  forces  to  uphold 
the  tottering  mitres,  the  King  desired  the  Parliament  to  impose  on 
the  country  £1 8,000  sterling ;  but  the  commissioner,  who  carried 
all  things  with  a  high  hand,  would  needs  supererogate  and  overbur- 
den the  ruined  country  by  imposing  £30,000  sterling.  This  and 
the  like  made  him  hateful  to  the  country,  good  and  bad. 

In  the  time  of  this  blackest  Parliament  the  Council  is  still  per- 
secuting all  ministers  that  they  judged  to  keep  conventicles.  They 
summoned  about  twenty-seven  ministers  to  appear  before  them. 
None  compeared  save  two ;  the  rest  were  declared  fugitive,  and 
denounced  to  the  horn.  The  prisoners  that  were  at  Beath  Hill,  still 
refusing  to  obey  the  Council's  act,  are  banished  to  Virginia ;  four 


538  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1674. 

whereof,  that  were  Imprisoned  in  the  Canongate,  escaped  betwixt 
the  Council  house  and  that  prison.  The  rest  above-named  remain 
in  free  prison,  and  were  left  so  at  the  commissioners'  departure, 
■with  the  two  serving  women. 

In  May  1674,  there  were  frequent  and  most  numerous  meet- 
ings in  the  three  Lothians,  especially  in  Fife,  in  the  fields  and  some 
kirks  (honest  outed  ministers,  supposing  that  their  preaching  in 
kirks  would  not  so  much  irritate  the  Council  as  their  preach- 
ing in  the  fields).  The  Council  day  in  the  beginning  of  June 
approaching  made  them  the  more  busy,  fearing  that  their  liber- 
ty would  be  abridged  by  the  Council.  When  that  Council  day 
came  the  first  thing  done  was,  some  counsellors  that  were  most 
wily  and  active  against  Lauderdale  were  put  off  the  Council,  viz., 
Tweeddale,  Roxburgh,  Dumfries,  Lieutenant-General  Drummond, 
&c.  Others  were  put  in  their  room,  viz.,  Mar,  Kinghorn,  Wig- 
ton,  Ross,  Collington,  &c.  Two  of  the  Lords  of  the  Session  being 
dead,  Mr  Thomas  Murray,  Lord  Glendoick,  and  Mr  David  Bal- 
four, Lord  Forret  were  put  in  their  room.  There  are  four  assess- 
ors joined  to  the  Chancellor,  viz.,  Athole,  Argyle,  Stairs,  &c.,  so 
that  nothing  is  valid  unless  one  of  the  assessors  subscribe  it  Avith 
the  Chancellor.  All  this  '  was'  to  strengthen  Lauderdale's  faction, 
who  at  this  time  is  made  an  English  earl  of  Guildford.  All  in 
England  and  Scotland  is  now  carried  by  Lauderdale  at  his  plea- 
sure.    He  and  the  Duke  of  York  guide  and  misguide  alL 

June  3,  there  was  a  proclamation  dissolving  the  Parliament. 
June  4,  the  Council  convened.  The  great  fears  that  possessed 
many  of  abridging  the  liberty  of  meetings  for  preaching,  made  a 
multitude  of  honest  women  in  Edinburgh,  especially  outed  minis- 
ters' wives  and  widows,  with  some  ladies,  adventure  to  present  a 
humble  supplication  to  the  Council  for  continuance  of  the  liberty 
they  had  enjoyed,  of  ministers  to  preach  and  people  to  hear  the 
gospel,  &c.  That  which  increased  their  fears  was  the  King's  let- 
ter to  the  Council,  charging  them  to  suppress  field  conventicles, 
and  to  punish  invaders  of  pulpits  and  ministers,  &c.  The  honest 
women  convened  in  the  Parliament  close  and  Old  Kirk,  about  a 


1674.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  539 

hundred  and  nine.  AVlieu  the  counsellors  came  out  of  their  coaches 
Sharp  (who  was  as  flyed  as  a  fox)  clave  close  to  the  Chancellor's 
back,  to  whom  a  grave  matron*  presented  their  supplication,  en- 
treating that  he  would  present  it  to  the  Council,  but  the  Chancel- 
lor slighting  her,  and  refusing  the  supplication,  was  forced  to  take 
it  from  some  others,  who  thrust  themsGlves  in  betwixt  him  and  the 
trembling  Prelate,  promising  it  should  be  read  and  considered. 
When  the  Council  had  read  the  King's  letter  and  the  women's 
supplication,  the  provost  and  two  bailies  were  sent  out  to  the  wo- 
men that  were  waiting  for  an  answer  to  their  supplication.  The 
provost  spoke  to  them  very  discreetly,  promising,  if  they  would 
peaceably  go  to  their  houses  he  would  befriend  them  and  their 
cause,  and  that  their  supplication  should  receive  an  answer  to-mor- 
row. So  all  of  them  repaired  to  their  houses  peaceably.  All  the 
counsellors  were  posed  to  delate  whom  they  knew  among  that  great 
confluence  of  women.  Some  few  were  named  Avho  were  summoned 
to  compear  the  next  Council  day,  June  11.  Meanwhile  there  is  a 
committee  appointed  to  dignosce  f  upon  the  supplication,  and  how 
field  conventicles  shall  be  suppressed,  especially  in  Fife,  where  they 
were  most  frequent  and  numerous;  for  suppressing  of  which  a  party 
of  the  King's  guard  is  sent  over  to  Fife,  commanded  by  Powmill, 
who  disturbed  some  meetings  about  Falkland,  wounding  some  but 
apprehending  none.  June  11,  the  women  summoned  compeared  be- 
fore the  Council.  They  were  desired  to  depone  upon  oath ;  Avhich  all 
of  them  refused.  Also  they  were  required  to  subscribe  their  deposi- 
tions, which  the  most  part  of  them  refused.  They  were  dismissed,  and 
desired  to  compear  in  the  afternoon  ;  which  they  did,  and  with  them 
a  very  great  multitude,  not  only  of  women  but  of  men,  resolving  to 
stand  by  them  and  to  hinder  them  to  be  imprisoned ;  which  being 
perceived,  the  Council  entreated  them  to  go  to  their  houses  peace- 
ably.    Thus  they  were  dismissed  fraudulently  by  the  Council,  in- 

*  This  was  the  widow  of  Mr  John  Livingstone,  minister  of  Ancnini.  Slic  was 
the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr  Bartholomew  Fleming,  merchant  in  Edinburgh,— UWroic"* 
His(on/,  ii.  268  ;  Select  Biofjiapltirs,  i.  150. 

t  Di'jnosce,  i.  c.  discern. 


540  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1674. 

tending  that  night  to  surprise  them  and  carry  them  from  their  beds 
to  prison ;  which  being  whispered  by  some  counsellors,  the  honest 
women  left  their  own  houses.  So  none  were  found  save  one  poor 
woman  that  apprehended  no  hazard. 

Some  were  imprisoned  for  hearing  of  outed  ministers  ;  the  Laird 
of  Cramond  for  hearing  outed  ministers  in  the  kirk  of  Cramond  ; 
James  Hamilton  for  hearing  in  the  Magdalene  chapel  in  Edin- 
burgh. One  ]SIr  Drummond,  a  preacher,  was  taken  by  a  party  of 
the  guard  in  the  kirk  of  Moniebroch.  There  were  about  twenty 
ministers,  viz.,  Messrs  John  Welsh,  Gabriel  Semple,  Gabriel  Cun- 
ningham,* &c.,  ordained  by  the  Council  to  be  apprehended  where- 
ever  they  could  be  found.  Those  of  them  that  dwelt  in  Edin- 
burgh their  houses  were  ryped,  f  but  none  was  found. 

About  the  middle  of  June  the  Earl  of  Kincardine  came  from 
Court  to  Edinburgh.  He  brought  to  the  Council  from  the  King 
a  very  severe  letter  against  those  advocates  that,  the  winter  pre- 
ceding, in  the  time  of  the  sitting  of  the  Parliament,  had  appealed 
from  the  unjust  sentence  (as  they  conceived)  of  the  Session  to  the 
Parliament  and  the  King's  majesty.  The  King  commanded  the 
Council  to  depose  and  disgrace  these  advocates  unless  they  would 
acknowledge  a  fault.  The  advocates  (who  were  the  ablest  and 
honestest  in  the  house)  resolved  to  adhere  to  their  appeal.  June 
23,  this  business  anent  the  appeal  was  agitated  before  the  Council. 
Not  only  those  that  appealed,  but  sundry  other  advocates  adher- 
ing to  them  quit  their  charges,  resolving  to  maintain  the  appeal. 
Not  daring  to  call  duty  sins,  they  left  the  house  and  went  out  of 
the  to\vn.  Some  few  young  advocates  that  had  owned  the  appeal 
did  recant  and  acknowledge  a  fault,  and  so  continued  in  their 
charge. 

About  this  time  the  Council  emitted  a  proclamation  against 
conventicles,  which  was  a  new  towit  |  in  an  old  horn ;  wherein  heri- 

*  Mr  Gabriel  Cunningham  was  at  the  Restoration  minister  of  Dunlop,  in  the  Pres  • 
bytery  of  Irvine,  fi'om  which  he  was  ejected  for  nonconformity.  He  was  alive  at  the 
Revolution. —  Wodrow's  History,  i.  327. 

t  Ryped,  i.  e.  searched,  examined. 

X  Towit,  or  tout,  i.  e.  the  sound  of  a  horn. 


1674.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  541 

tors,  masters  of  families,  &c.,  are  ordained  to  be  answerable  for 
those  under  them,  &c.  Some  things  were  added  to  the  old  pro- 
clamation to  make  it  more  severe  and  unreasonable.  Also  there 
is  affixed  and  subjoined  to  the  proclamation  a  bond,  that  heritors, 
masters  of  families,  &c.,  must  take  besides  the  oath  of  supremacy. 
Also,  in  the  proclamation,  there  is  a  reward  promised  to  any  that 
apprehends  any  persons  going  to,  at,  or  coming  from  field  conven- 
ticles, and  sums  of  money  named  to  the  apprehenders  of  ministers 
preaching  at  field  conventicles,  or  invading  of  pulpits,  especially 
of  Messrs  Welsh,  Semple,  and  Arnot,  &c.  The  Laird  of  Cra- 
mond,  compearing  before  the  Council,  is  fined  according  to  his 
estate,  but  refused  the  oath  and  bond  which  others  did  take.  So 
he  and  others,  refusers  of  the  bond  and  oath,  continued  in  prison. 

After  the  first  Council  day  in  June,  the  party  that  was  sent 
over  to  suppress  the  field  conventicles  in  Fife  was  very  active 
and  stirring,  especially  about  Strathmiglo,  Falkland,  &c.  ;  which 
occasioned  some  gentlemen  to  be  summoned  to  compear  before 
the  Council,  viz.,  the  Laird  of  Pitlour,*  and  his  brother,!  Pit- 
lochie,t  Reddie,  &c.  Some  of  them  compeared  June  25.  All 
that  compeared,  save  one,  whose  case  was  singular,  were  imjDrisoncd 
and  fined. 

AU  this  while  by-past  there  is  great  heat,  animosities,  and  divi- 
sions among  the  Prelates  and  Curates,  especially  in  Lothian  and 
be-south  Forth.  At  their  Diocesan  Court  in  Lothian,  some  who 
were  the  evil  best  of  them  motioned  that  there  should  be  a  con- 
vocation of  the  clergy  for  reforming  of  many  abuses  among  them. 
This  is  opposed  by  the  Prelates,  and  the  most  corrupt  and  vicioua 
of  the  Curates.  This  motion  anent  the  convocation  is  again 
wakened  in  the  precinct  meeting  of  Edinburgh,  especially  by  ^Ir 
Ai'chibald  Turner,  but  opposed  by  Paterson.  There  passed  some 
bitter  reflections  betwixt  them  two,  Paterson  challenging  Turner 


*  William  Pitcairn  of  Pitlour. 

t  Henry  Pitcairn  of  Laccstoun.     Wodrow  lias  it  spelt  l.nrMtnn  and  LnirsUm,  ii.  2.18, 

244. 

X  George  Scot  of  Pitlochie. 


542  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1674. 

for  drunkenness,  Turner  again,  after  he  had  made  some  pretty  ex- 
cuses for  his  drunkenness,  challenging  Paterson  for  his  lying  and 
adulterous  carriage,  undertaking  to  produce  a  letter  of  his,  sub- 
scribed with  his  hand,  to  a  gentlewoman,  whom  he  tempted  to 
baseness.  This  Paterson  was  one  of  the  most  notorious  liars  in 
his  time,  and  a  vicious,  base,  loose  liver.  There  were  some  few  of 
the  Conformists  that  preached  against  the  persecution  carried  on 
against  honest  people,  and  the  vicious  lives  of  corrupt  kirkmen, 
viz.,  Mr  Wilkie  in  Leith,  and  Mr  Cant  in  Edinburgh,  &c.  These 
and  the  like  were  very  desirous  of  the  convocation.  Also  some  of 
the  Prelates  joined  with  them,  viz.,  the  Prelate  of  Dunblane, 
Eamsay,  of  Glasgow,  Burnet,  &c.  Burnet,  as  the  report  went, 
was  going  to  Court  to  receive  his  place  again,  &c. 

In  the  latter  end  of  June  there  was  a  great  meeting  of  uncon- 
form  outed  ministers  at  Edinburgh.  To  this  meeting  came  seve- 
rals  from  sundry  parts  of  the  kingdom,  from  the  north,  south,  and 
maniest  from  the  west.  At  least  there  came  two  from  every  pro- 
vince to  consult  what  was  to  be  done  in  this  most  difficult  time. 
Their  great  business  was  to  consult  how  Presbyterial  government 
may  be  continued  and  perpetuated,  brethren  constituting  them- 
selves in  classical  meetings  for  trial  and  ordination  of  young  men, 
and  doing  other  things,  as  the  times  should  require.  They  met 
several  times.  At  last  they  condescended  upon  these  overtures  : 
"  1.  The  brethren  did  ag-ree  that  there  be  a  serious  endeavour  for 
a  succession  of  Presbyterian  ministers,  and  recommend  to  the 
several  societies  to  think  upon  the  most  effectual  way  of  making 
this  practicable.  2.  Some  brethren  present  were  desired  to  write 
to  brethren  in  several  places  to  associate  themselves  in  their  seve- 
ral bounds,  and  that  brethren  meet  by  correspondence,  who  live 
in  the  bounds  of  one  synod,  for  the  greater  harmony  in  acting. 
3.  That  there  be  a  care  had  in  several  meetings,  as  they  have  ac- 
cess to  send  preachers  where  the  necessity  of  the  people  require 
them,  and  as  they  travel  among  them,  to  warn  them  faithfully  of 
the  evils  and  dangers  of  the  time,  and  exhort  them  to  seek  for  the 
things  that  make  for  peace,  and  whereby  they  may  edify  one  an- 


1674.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  543 

Other.  4.  That  it  be  carefully  provided,  that  no  offer  from  the 
State,  in  order  to  Kirk  affairs,  be  either  rejected  or  accepted  by 
any  particular  brethren,  till  advertisement  be  given  to  the  several 
societies  of  such  an  offer,  that  their  thoughts  thereof  may  be  re- 
turned by  their  delegates  or  letters,  as  they  shall  think  expedient, 
and  that  ministers  therein,  as  in  other  things,  subject  themselves 
communi  preshyteroruni  consilio.  5.  That  we  endeavour  to  keep 
correspondence  with  gentlemen  and  judicious  elders  as  they  can 
be  had.  6.  That  neither  actual  ministers  nor  licentiate  young 
men  settle  with  a  people  without  consent  of  the  meeting  in  the 
bounds." 

These  preceding  articles  the  brethren  thought  fit  to  recom- 
mend to  the  consideration  of  the  several  societies,  without  impos- 
ing upon  their  judgments,  that  they  may  send  their  thoughts  ot 
these  overtures  with  their  delegates  to  the  next  meeting  in  Octo- 
ber. At  this  meeting,  also,  they  condescended  upon  a  draught  of 
a  humble  supplication  to  be  presented  to  the  Council,  as  follows  : — 
"  After  too  long  silence,  being  much  pressed  with  the  present  sad 
condition  of  the  Church  of  God  through  the  land,  we  cannot  but  ad- 
venture, with  all  humility  and  submission,  to  offer  to  your  Lordships' 
consideration  some  few  of  the  many  pressures  under  which  both 
they  and  we  groan,  beseeching  your  Lordships  to  have  compassion 
upon  us,  and  by  your  authority  to  relieve  and  help  us  from  under 
them  ;  and,  1.  It  cannot  but  be  grievous  to  us,  that  though  we  are 
not  conscious  to  ourselves  of  any  disloyalty,  either  in  principles  or 
practice,  yet  we  and  all  of  our  persuasion  have  been  these  years 
past  kept  under  a  cloud  of  disfavour,  whereby  we  have  been  ex- 
posed to  many  sad  inconveniencjics  and  sufferings.  2.  We  regret  that 
by  the  lamental)le  alterations  that  have  been  made  on  this  Church, 
in  the  change  of  the  government  thereof,  and  introducing  of  Pre- 
lacy, contrary  to  the  word  of  God  and  to  our  solemn  covenants  and 
vows  with  and  to  the  most  high  God,  atheism,  profanity,  and  loose- 
ness have  much  abounded,  and  religion,  in  the  doctrine  and  prac- 
tice thereof,  have  been  exceedingly  shaken,  and  the  tender  and 
conscientious  people  of  the  land,  tliat  could  not  submit  thereto, 


544  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1G74. 

have  undergone,  and  to  this  day  are  lying  under  many  sad  things. 
3.  We  liumbly  crave  leave  to  represent  to  your  Lordships  how 
affecting  it  hath  been  to  us  that  our  readiness  to  acknowledge  the 
civil  supremacy  of  the  magistrate,  not  only  in  things  civil,  but  also 
as  to  things  ecclesiastical,  according  to  the  Scriptures  and  the 
confessions  of  the  Protestant  Churches,  is  not  taken  off  our  hands 
as  a  sufficient  testimony  of  our  loyalty,  unless  we  give  unto  him 
that  which  we  cannot  grant,  as  we  would  not  be  found  guilty  of 
encroaching  on  the  sovereign  authority  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  alone 
King  and  Head  of  his  Church,  which  we  humbly  conceive  is  griev- 
ously encroached  upon.  4.  We  do,  with  much  sorrow,  bewail 
the  great  obstructions  that  have  been  laid  in  the  way  of  preaching 
the  gospel  by  ministers  called  to  that  work  by  the  Church  of  Scot- 
land, who  find  themselves  under  the  necessity  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel under  all  hazards,  from  which  it  is  that  ignorance  and  loose- 
ness have  abounded  with  many,  and  others,  who,  from  single 
respect  to  the  gospel,  and  not  from  any  the  least  disrespect  to 
authority,  have  adventured  upon  preaching  and  hearing,  not  with- 
out an  encouraging  blessing,  have  been  exposed  to  many  and 
o-reat  mistakes  and  sore  troubles.  5.  That  a  great  number  of 
young  men,  whom  God  hath  fitted  for  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
are  kept  useless  now  when  the  harvest  is  so  great,  and  by  whose 
labours  many  souls  might  be  gained  to  Christ.  6.  That  though 
there  be  an  observable  and  prodigious  growth  of  Popery  and  Quak- 
erism, (which  is  upon  the  matter  a  renouncing  of  Christianity), 
yet  there  are  few  or  no  endeavours  or  effectual  means  used  to  re- 
strain the  seducers  or  to  reclaim  their  deluded  followers.  7. 
That  as  the  greatest  part  of  us,  the  unconform  ministers  of  this 
Church,  that  desire  to  be  found  faithful,  are  by  law-restraints  de- 
barred from  all  allowed  public  exercise  of  our  ministry,  so  such  of 
us  who  have  been  suffered  to  preach  the  gospel  to  particular  con- 
gregations have  been  burdened  with  diverse  impositions,  which 
we  neither  do  nor  can  in  conscience  practise.  We,  therefore, 
humbly  beseech  your  Lordships,  by  the  love  you  bear  to  Jesus 
Christ,  before  whose  tribunal  we  must  all  quickly  stand,  to  provide 


1674.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  545 

a  remedy  for  these  and  other  sad  evils  under  whicli  the  Lord's 
servants  and  people  heavily  groan,  and  Avhich  we  are  willing  when 
your  Lordships  please  more  particularly  to  represent,  that  so  the 
gospel  may  have  a  free  course,  and  the  starving  souls  of  the  poor 
people  may  be  relieved  with  the  bread  of  life,  and  may  bless  your 
Lordships,  when  they  have  access  with  peace  and  freedom,  after 
the  wonted  manner,  to  enjoy  their  soid's  food.  This,  we  doubt 
not,  mil  contribute  much  to  the  establishment  of  his  Majesty's 
throne,  and  will  bring  many  blessings  upon  your  Lordships  and 
your  families,  and  will  encourage  us  more  and  more  to  deport  our- 
selves with  all  affection  and  loyalty  to  his  Majesty,  and  will  not  a 
little  make  way  for  your  Lordships'  peace  in  the  day  when  the 
Lord  Christ  will  come  to  call  every  one  of  us  to  an  account."* 

About  this  time  there  came  a  letter  from  the  King  to  the  Coun- 
cil, giving  them  thanks  for  what  was  done  against  the  conventicles, 
mentioning  how  his  forces  were  assaidted  by  the  rebels  in  Fife, 
and  promising  to  send  for  their  assistance  some  foi'ces  from  Eng- 
land and  L-eland.  This  letter  occasioned  most  hitter  persecution, 
not  only  against  the  honest  women  that  intended  to  present  their 
supplication,  by  searching  their  houses  night  and  day,  and  putting 
the  magistrates  of  Edinburoh  to  use  all  means  to  find  out  all  that 
were  in  the  Parliament  Close,  &c.,  and  by  denouncing  some  of 
them  that  refused  to  depone  upon  oath ;  but  against  all  in  Fife 
that  went  to  conventicles,  not  only  men  but  women,  especially 
some  ladies ;  so  that  there  is  a  second  roll  sent  over  to  Fife  of 
many  persons,  gentlemen,  ladies,  and  some  commons,  to  be  sum- 
moned over  for  keeping  of  conventicles  in  the  fields,  kirks,  and 
houses,  and  for  harbouring  and  assisting  the  rebel.  Mi'  John  Welsh, 
riding  with  him  with  arms.  June  27,  five  of  the  Fife  gentlemen 
Incarcerated  were  summoned  to  compear  and  answer  before  the 
Council,  for  harbouring  and  assisting  the  rebel,  &c.  They  com- 
peared June  last,  who,  reftising  to  depone  upon  oath,  the  matters 
whereof  they  were  accused  being  judged  capital  crimes,  yea  trea- 
sonable, they  were  delayed  to  another  Council  day. 

*  Both  these  documents  arc  inserted  in  Wndrnw's  History,  ii.  273,  274. 

2  M 


546  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1674. 

July  2,  the  Prelate  of  Edinburgh,  by  his  sole  authority  and 
prclatic  power  did  suspend  three  of  the  preachers  in  Edinburgh 
that  were  greatest  sticklers  for  the  convocation,  viz.,  Messrs  Cant, 
Turner,  and  Robinson.  They  appealed  to  the  Council,  and  being 
Summoned  before  the  Great  Committee  of  the  Council,  for  some 
expressions  they  had  in  then*  Synod  anent  that  affair,  witnesses 
were  summoned  against  them.  But  while  the  Committee  was 
consulting  about  the  business,  there  comes  from  the  diocese  of 
Brechin  a  declaration  witnessing  their  adherence  to  the  suppUca- 
tion  for  the  convocation ;  which  made  the  Committee  to  demur, 
and  thereafter  to  delay  that  business  to  another  day.  The  sus- 
pended seemed  to  be  resolute  to  adhere  to  it  upon  all  perils,  as 
appeared  by  their  sermons  the  Sabbath  preceding. 

July  3,  all  the  advocates,  viz.,  forty-six,  that  still  adhered  to 
the  appeal,  were  by  the  Council  deposed,  and  declared  for  ever  in- 
capable of  that  office.  There  were  about  twenty  that  acknow- 
ledged a  fault,  and  entered  the  house  again,  who  were  called 
curate-advocates. 

July  4,  The  suspended  conformists  again  compeared  before  the 
committee  of  the  Council,  where  Sharp  was  present.  The  com- 
mittee sustain  the  sentence  of  the  Bishop  of  Edinburgh  against 
them.  Sharp  was  offended  that  they  did  not  inflict  some  civil 
censure  on  them,  because  of  their  contempt  of  authority.  The 
Sabbath  following  they  abstained  from  preaching,  though  they 
had  alleged  that  they  were  illegally  suspended,  without  any  cita- 
tion or  summons,  and  some  other  usual  formalities.  At  this  time 
there  were  only  some  few  private  meetings  in  private  families  in 
Edinburgh  and  Fife,  by  reason  of  the  Sharp*  persecution.  Besides 
the  list  of  twenty  that  were  to  be  apprehended,  there  is  another 
list  of  forty-three  ministers,  who  were  called  to  compear  before 
the  Council  July  16.  f 

About  this  time  an  English  Popish  nobleman.  Lord  Lumbie, 
came  very  secretly  to  Edinburgh  and  staid  only  one  night,  and 
spoke  only  with  Sharp  and  the  Earl  of  Athole.     Sharp  now  car- 

♦  A  pun,  apparently,  on  Sharp's  name.  f  See  Wodrow's  History,  ii.  243. 


1674.]  LIFE  OP  ROBEllT  BLAIR.  547 

ries  very  high  In  the  Council,  as  if  he  had  been  Preses  or  Chan- 
cellor, and  in  the  town,  taking  on  him  to  send  parties  of  the  guard, 
not  acquainting  the  Magistrates,  to  break  up  doors  and  search 
houses,  &c.  So  Sharp  persecution  grows  hotter  in  Edinbiu-gh, 
Fife,  and  about  Stirling,  where  there  was  a  rendezvous  of  the 
militia  companies,  who  being  convened  in  the  court  of  the  Castle 
of  Stirling  are  commanded  to  lay  down  their  arms,  which  being 
done,  they  are  dismissed  and  the  arms  put  up  in  the  Castle. 
Report  was  that  the  Council  intended  also  to  disarm  the  mihtia 
companies  in  Fife  and  the  south,  not  daring  to  tnist  them. 

July  8,  To  stop  the  mouths  of  those  that  pressed  for  a  convoca- 
tion, the  Prelates  convene  at  St  Andrews.  All  come  to  this  mock 
convocation,  except  the  Prelates  of  Glasgow,  Dunkeld,  Orkney, 
and  some  other  old  infirm  men.  Also,  the  moderators  of  the 
precinct  meetings  convene.  At  their  down-sitting  the  base  syco- 
phantic fools  magnify  and  extol  Sharp  as  the  father  of  their  kirk, 
who,  by  his  wisdom  and  prudence,  had  guided  all  well.  But  the 
Prelates  that  were  for  the  convocation,  and  reformation  of  abuses 
among  the  clergy,  spoke  In  another  dialect,  especially  the  Pre- 
late of  Dunblane,  Ramsay,  showing  the  necessity  of  a  full  convo- 
cation for  these  ends,  who  was  sharply  checked  by  Sharp,  and 
commanded  to  be  silent,  and  thereafter  to  be  gone.  Ramsay  not 
removing  as  he  was  often  commanded,  the  rest  of  the  Prelates  did 
round  and  whisper  among  themselves  what  was  spoken  or  done  ; 
which  being  perceived,  Ramsay,  discontented,  removed,  and  pre- 
sently left  the  town.  There  removed  with  him  the  three  suspended 
conformists,  who  came  thither  expecting  a  redress  of  their  grievances, 
and  reposition  to  their  charges;  which  being  refused,  they  likewise 
left  the  town.  What  was  done  at  this  meeting  was  kept  secret, 
as  being  a  work  of  darkness.  Only,  there  was  a  report  of  an  act 
discharging  ministers  to  go  to  taverns  or  ale-houses,  &c.,  their 
drunkenness,  especially  of  those  In  Angus,  being  so  notour.  Also 
they  concluded  that  Sharp  should  repair  to  Court. 

July  14,  All  the  heritors  in  Fife  were  summoned  in  to  the 
Sheriff  Court  at  Cupar,  to  take  the  bond,  (which  obliged  them  to 

2  M  2 


518  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1674. 

be  answerable  for  all  in  their  families,  their  tenants,  cottars,  &c., 
that  they  should  keep  their  own  parish  kirks,  not  go  to  conven- 
ticles in  houses  or  fields,  nor  baptise  their  children  with  outed 
ministers,  &c.)  Of  the  few  heritors  that  compeared  very  few  did 
take  the  bond.  They  that  refused  got  till  that  day  eight  days  to 
advise  upon  the  matter ;  which  day  some  few  of  them  that  refused 
did  take  the  bond. 

.  In  this  meantime  our  Secret  Counsellors  did  still,  Jehu-like, 
drive  on,  heightening  their  persecution,  (notwithstanding  of  the 
ticklish  condition  of  affairs  in  England),  as  if  of  purpose  they  de- 
signed by  their  persecution  to  render  Avise  men  desperate  and 
mad,  and  even  to  provoke  them  to  an  insurrection.  They  are 
daily  summoning  more,  both  men  and  women,  and  denouncing 
them  that  compeared  not.  The  forty-three  ministers  cited  to 
compear  July  16,  non-compearing,  they  were  denounced  July  24, 
and  ordained  to  be  summoned  at  the  six  most  public  market 
crosses.  July  16,  There  is  a  letter  from  the  King,  giving  the 
Council  thanks  for  their  zeal  against  conventicles,  and  against  the 
advocates  that  appealed,  and  pressing  them  that  they  should  pro- 
ceed suppressing  conventicles,  &c.  Several  letters  of  this  nature 
come  from  the  King  to  them,  approving  what  they  had  done 
against  the  advocates,  and  approving  the  suspension  of  the  con- 
formists, &c.  But  all  these  letters  were  procured  by  the  corrupt 
counsellors  and  Lauderdale.  Some  letters  to  the  Prelate  Sharp 
to  be  communicated  to  the  Council  M^ere  kept  up  by  him. 

The  disarming  of  the  militia  of  Stirling  occasioned  much  out- 
crying and  great  jealousies,  which  occasioned  the  King  to  vrrite 
to  the  Council  that  their  arms  should  be  re-delivered,  and  that  the 
Fife  gentlemen  that  were  summoned  to  answer  for  resetting  of 
Mr  Welsh  as  for  treason,  should  only  be  fined  for  that  fault,  which 
made  some  expect  that  the  Council  would  relent  if  once  Sharp 
were  gone  for  Court.  But,  in  the  meantime,  there  comes  a  letter 
to  him  from  the  King,  giving  him  thanks  for  his  care  of  the 
Church,  and  devolving  on  him  the  ordering  of  all  Chm^ch  affairs. 
Also,  another  letter  comes  to  the  Prelate  of  Edinburgh,  giving  him       i 


^^574.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  549 

thanks  for  censuring  the  three  suspended,  &c.  By  these  letters  to 
the  Bishops,  the  Prelate  of  Dunblane  is  transported  to  be  Prelate 
of  the  Isles,  and  confined  to  the  Isles,  and  Mr  Robinson  relegated 
to  Auchterless,  a  private  place  in  the  north,  to  abide  there  and 
not  to  preach  elsewhere;  Turner  to  Glasgow,  to  preach  only- 
there  ;  Cant  to  Liberton,  but  not  to  preach  there.  The  letter 
to  the  Prelate  of  Edinburgh  contained  a  censure  of  ^Ir  John 
Hamilton  at  Leith,  ordaining  him  to  be  confined  to  Cramond  pa- 
rish. Thus  they  are  made  to  taste  a  little  of  the  fruit  of  their 
own  ways. 

July  22,  The  Fife  gentlemen  compeared.  The  Council,  in 
obedience  to  the  King's  letter,  passed  from  the  criminal  part  of 
their  libel,  and  insisted  only  for  an  arbitrary  punishment  for  re- 
setting of  Mr  Welsh,  and  going  to  conventicles.  They  were 
fined  in  two  thousand  merks  for  each  nio-lit's  lodgino;  of  ISIr 
Welsh,  and  in  the  half  of  their  year's  rent  for  each  conventicle ; 
which  fines  being  paid  they  were  liberated.  All  their  fines,  cess, 
excise,  &c.,  are  divided  amongst  the  persecuting  grandees ;  the 
country  being  exhausted,  the  honest  nobility  and  gentry  oppressed 
and  redacted  to  great  straits,  the  yeomanry  impoverished,  and  all 
this  to  uphold  the  worldly  pomp,  and  sinful  grandeur  of  fourteen 
antichristian  prelates. 

In  the  latter  end  of  July,  Prelate  Ramsay  gave  in  a  supplication 
to  the  Council,  desiring  to  know  the  ground  of  his  sentence,  that 
being  convinced  he  might  confess  a  fault,  but  if  it  should  be  found 
that  the  King  was  misinformed  anent  him,  that  he  might  yet  be 
better  informed  by  the  Council.  The  answering  of  this  supplica- 
tion occasioned  much  heat  and  many  contests  amongst  them. 
Lauderdale's  party  would  have  the  answering  of  the  supplication 
referred  to  Sharp,  and  that  he  should  ^vrite  to  the  King  thcreancnt. 
Hamilton's  party  would  have  it  referred  to  the  Council,  and  that 
they  should  write  to  the  King  thcreancnt.  The  votes  being  equal, 
the  Chancellor's  casting  vote  was,  that  it  should  be  referred  to  the 
Council,  and  that  they  should  send  the  Bishops'  supplication  to 
the  King. 


550  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1674. 

About  the  beginning  of  August,  Powmill,  (a  profligate  and  de- 
bauched person),  having  gotten  a  commission  from  the  Council,  and 
connived  at  by  them,  exercised  all  cruelty,  oppressing  all  the 
honest  people  about  Kinross,  Strathmiglo,  &c.  At  the  last  Coun- 
cil day  in  Edinburgh  they  appointed  several  committees  to  sit  in 
several  shires,  viz.,  in  Edinburgh,  Cupar  of  Fife,  Stu'ling,  &c. 
What  their  instructions  were  it  was  not  divulged.  Before  their 
sitting,  the  Chancellor  (who  all  this  time  bypast  carried  pretty 
soberly  and  moderately,  so  that  the  furious  persecutors  designed 
to  get  him  outed  of  his  place)  and  Earl  of  Crawford,  in  their  re- 
spective courts,  did  impose  fines  for  conventicles,  refusing  the  bond, 
&c.,  of  purpose  to  ward  off  a  greater  blow,  &c.  The  Committee 
that  convened  at  Cupar,  (viz.  the  Chancellor,  the  Earls  of  Kellle, 
Wemyss,  Airly,  Klnghorn,  Halton,  Ardross,  &c.)  sat  some  few 
hours,  and  did  little  more  than  allow  the  diligence  of  the  Sheriff's 
and  Crawford's  deputies  in  their  respective  courts,  in  censuring 
delinquents. 

September  1,  the  Council  convened.    The  King's  letter  to  them 
ordered  1000  foot  to  be  levied,  Avhereof  200  was  to  be  added  to 
Linlithgow's  regiment,  twenty  to  the  garrison  of  the  Castle  of  Edin- 
burgh, the  rest  to  be  commanded  by  Sir  George  Monro,  now  made  a 
Counsellor  and  General-Major  to  aU  the  standing  forces,  horse  and 
foot ;  and  three  troops  of  horse  to  be  levied  and  rendezvoused  at 
Lelth,  15th  September.     When  the  reports  of  the  several  Com- 
mittees of  the  Council  were  read,  they  were  appointed  to  meet 
at  Stirling,  September  8;  at  Cupar  and  Edinburgh,  September  15. 
Sir  George  Klnnalrd,  a  profligate  and  very  vicious  man,  was  added 
to  the  Committee  that  was  to  meet  at  Cupar.     At  this  time  the 
Council  passed  a  very  strange  and  unreasonable  act,  warranting 
the  officers  of  the  standing  forces  to  seize  upon  any  persons  in 
arms  who  cannot  give  a  good  account  of  themselves,  and  upon 
such  as  arc  declared  fugitives,  or  have  been  at  field  conventicles, 
or  In  the  late  rebellion,  or  upon  outed  ministers,  or  any  suspected 
persons,  and  in  case  of  resistance  or  slaughter  following,  they  are 
indemnified.     The  foot  are  also  warranted  upon  occasion  to  take 


1674.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  551 

horses  in  the  country,  the  officers  being  liable  to  return  the  horsea 
after  performance  of  the  service.  The  Council  adjounied  to  the 
29th  of  September. 

Immediately  after  this  Council  day  the  officers  of  the  troops  and 
companies  most  diligently  go  about  these  levies,  especially  in 
Edinburgh  ;  so  that  nothing  is  to  be  heard  in  the  streets,  betwLxt 
the  1st  and  15th  of  September,  but  drums  beating  and  trumpets 
sounding  for  levying  of  volunteers,  horse  and  foot,  and  tliis  with 
as  great  joy  and  alacrity,  as  great  diligence  and  activity,  as  the 
Trojans  did  drive  within  their  town  the  Trojan  horse  ;  so  that  all 
their  companies  and  troops  were  for  the  most  part  complete, 
when  they  rendezvoused  at  Leith,  September  15 ;  and  as  many 
men,  women  and  children  did  run  down  to  Leith  to  see  the  ren- 
dezvous, as  did  run  out  of  Troy  to  see  the  brave  Trojan  horse  j 
not  considering  what  gravel  was  in  his  belly,  or  that  he  was  builded 
for  their  ruin. 

The  Committees  of  the  Council  sat  September  8,  and  15,  in 
their  respective  places.  They  at  Edinburgh  were  very  strict. 
Halton,  who  was  a  furious  persecutor,  being  there,  they  ordained 
letters  of  caption  against  all  the  ministers  that  were  denounced, 
and  against  all  the  honest  women  that  were  denounced,  &c. 

There  met  at  Cupar,  September  15,  very  few  of  the  Committee, 
viz.,  the  Chancellor,  Sheriff  of  the  shire,  the  Earls  of  KcUic  and 
Airly.  Some  few  that  compeared  were  fined,  avIio  presently  paid 
their  fines.  Some  ladies  that  were  summoned,  viz.,  the  Lady 
Colville,  Lady  Collemy,  not  compearing,  their  fines  are  ordained 
to  be  paid  before  November  1.  The  magistrates  of  towns  com- 
peared for  their  burghs.  Their  diligence  in  fining  delinquents  was 
allowed.  The  fines  of  delinquents  are  ordained  to  be  paid  Novem- 
ber 1.  Immediately  after  this,  letters  come  from  the  clerk  of  the 
Secret  Council  to  sheriffs,  their  deputies,  and  magistrates  of  towns, 
for  exacting  and  collecting  of  the  fines  strictly,  and  sending  them 
over  to  Sir  William  Sharp,  and  ordaining  the  Acts  of  Parliament 
to  be  punctually  obeyed. 

In  the  latter  cud  of  August,  Prelate  Sharp,  and  Patcrson,  Dean 


552  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1674. 

of  Edinburgh,  go  to  Court  ;  Leighton  and  Burnet  being  there 
before. 

September  29,  the  Council  convene.  There  was  not  much 
done.  Only  they  were  very  hot  upon  the  chase  against  the 
women  that  offered  their  petition,  and  against  the  conventicles  in 
Edinburgh  and  elsewhere. 

In  the  beginning  of  October  the  Council  again  convene.  Still 
they  drive  on  in  the  persecution.  They  banished  some  of  the 
women  that  offered  their  petition  out  of  Edinburgh  and  its  liberties ; 
and  some  men  and  women  that  were  in  prison  for  conventicles 
were  likewise  banished. 

About  this  time  Prelate  Burnet  comes  from  Court,  restored 
again  Archbishop  of  Glasgow.  It  was  feared  that  he  would  per- 
secute aU  the  indulged  ministers,  unless  they  obeyed  all  the  Coun- 
cil's orders.  And  Paterson  comes  down  from  Court  made  Bishop 
of  GaUoway,  Hamilton  being  dead.  The  Council,  especially  the 
Prelates,  (who  had  evil  consciences,  and  feared  where  no  fear  was), 
fearing  an  insurrection,  did  what  they  could  to  prevent  it.  The 
King  commanded  several  troops  and  companies,  commanded  by 
Sir  Arthm-  Forbes  in  Ireland,  to  repair  to  the  coast,  to  be  in  a 
readiness  to  come  over  to  Scotland  when  called.  Also  some  troops 
were  commanded  to  repair  to  the  borders  betwixt  Berwick  and 
Carlisle,  &c.  General  Major  Drummond,  by  the  Council  is  com- 
manded to  enter  prisoner  in  the  Castle  of  Dumbarton,  being  a 
suspected  person. 

In  this  meanwhile  the  King  is  stiU  severe  against  the  advocates 
that  appealed.  Several  letters  come  to  the  Council  against  them, 
ordaining  none  of  them  to  be  admitted  but  upon  repentance, 
discharging  them  to  come  to  Edinburgh,  or  within  twelve  miles 
of  it. 

The  burghs  in  their  last  convention  returned  an  answer  to  a 
letter  which  the  King  wrote  unto  them,  Avherein  they  earnestly 
desired  a  free  Parliament  to  be  called,  whereof  they  said  there  was 
great  need.  Also  they  wrote  a  letter  to  Lauderdale,  entreating 
him  to  present  their  letter  to  the  King,  &c.     Their  letter  to  the 


1675.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  553 

King  gets  a  sharp  answer,  wherein  the  town  of  Edhiburgh  is  dis- 
charged to  elect  their  magistrates ;  which  occasioned  the  good 
town  to  write  to  the  King,  and  to  send  Broomhall  to  Court,  and 
with  him  their  letters,  showing  their  privileges,  especially  in  elect- 
ing their  magistrates,  &c.  Broomhall  returns  witli  a  severe  letter 
from  Lauderdale  to  the  town  of  Edinburgh,  showing  that  they  had 
lost  all  their  privileges,  and  endangered  their  persons,  &c. ;  and 
yet  they  were  so  silly  that  they  ohejed  all  the  Council's  orders  to 
oppress  and  persecute  all  honest  people  in  the  town,  and  to  sup- 
press the  conventicles,  some  whereof  were  scattered  and  some 
taken. 

Prelate  Sharp  all  this  while  stays  at  Court,  having  gotten  greater 
power  than  ever  before.  The  reason  given  out  for  his  stay  at  Court 
was,  because  he  was  waiting  to  see  what  would  be  the  result  of  a  con- 
vocation in  England,  which  was  said  to  be  convocated  by  the  King 
for  an  accommodation  betwixt  the  Conformists  and  Unconfor- 
mists ;  but  the  truth  was,  there  were  only  thirteen  bishops  and 
some  Nonconformists  convocated  by  the  King's  letters  to  them, 
especially  to  consult  with  them  about  his  divorce  from  his  Queen, 
whereof  she  was  desirous,  but  all  of  them  were  against  it. 

In  this  campaign,  in  the  harvest  and  summer  by-past,  there  were 
several  skirmishes  and  engagements  bet^vixt  the  Imperialists  their 
united  forces,  and  the  King  of  France  his  armies  ;  but  in  end  the 
French  were  put  to  the  worse,  beaten  in  the  fields,  and  some 
towns  taken  from  them.  This  occasioned  our  King  to  send  over 
ambassadors  to  Holland,  especially  to  congratulate  the  Prince  of 
Orange  his  good  success  against  the  French,  and  to  propone  mar- 
riage betwixt  him  and  the  Duke  of  York's  daughter.  In  the 
latter  end  of  the  year  news  comes  that  Chancellor  Ilyde  was 
coming  home  to  be  received  again  into  the  King's  fiivour,  and  to 
solemnise  the  marriage  of  the  Prince  of  Orange  with  his  grand- 
child, the  Duke  of  York's  daughter.  Thereafter  news  comes  that 
Chancellor  Hyde  died  by  the  way  in  his  return  to  England. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1675,  some  ministers  came  from 
Edinburtrh  and  kept  conventicles  in  Fife,  about  Cupar,  Falkland, 


554  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1675. 

Strathmiglo,  &c.  This  was  the  occasion  of  much  trouble  to  Fife  ; 
for  it  was  written  to  Prelate  Sharp,  (some  said  by  his  wife),  that 
Mr  John  Welsh  and  others  were  keeping  field  conventicles  in 
Fife  near  to  Cupar,  &c.  This  occasioned  letters  to  come  from 
Court  (where  Sharp  then  was)  to  the  CouncU  to  repress  these  con- 
venticles in  Fife ;  and  those  that  were  unfriends  to  the  Chancellor 
laid  the  blame  of  all  these  conventicles  and  disorders  upon  the 
Chancellor,  because  (as  they  said)  he  would  permit  no  troop  to 
come  to  Fife  but  his  own  troop.  This  made  the  Chancellor  to 
write  strict  orders  to  the  quarter-master  of  his  troop,  to  bring 
some  of  the  troop  from  Kirkcaldy  to  Cupar,  to  lie  there  and  to 
search  for  these  ministers  that  came  over  from  Lothian,  and  the 
persons  in  whose  houses  they  kept  conventicles,  (for  at  this  time 
no  meetings  were  in  the  fields,  neither  was  it  Mr  Welsh  that 
preached  in  houses),  and  to  search  for  the  outed  ministers  that 
dwelt  and  preached  in  Cupar,  and  the  ringleaders  that  frequented 
these  conventicles  in  Cupar.  After  search  made,  none  was  found 
except  Mr  Alexander  Greig,  a  probationer.  He  being  appre- 
hended gave  bond  to  appear  when  called  for  ;  John  Whyte,  mer- 
chant in  Cupar,  being  apprehended,  likewise  gave  bond.  At  this 
time  these  troopers  that  were  quartered  in  Cupar  did,  on  the  Sab- 
bath days,  ride  up  and  dowoi  to  search  for  field  conventicles,  and 
finding  none,  they  did  search  suspected  houses,  &c.  At  this  same 
time  several  meetings  in  Edinburgh  were  dispersed  and  scattered 
by  Robert  Johnston,  town-major,  so  that  thereafter  their  meetings 
were  in  the  morning  early,  or  late  at  night.  Towards  the  end  of 
February  a  meeting  was  taken  at  Leith  JVIiUs.  JVIr  John  Greig, 
an  outed  minister,  was  preaching  in  his  sister's  house ;  he,  his 
brother,  Mr  James  Greig,  his  brother-in-law,  with  some  indweUers 
in  Edinburgh  and  Leith  being  apprehended,  were  imprisoned ; 
but  shortly  thereafter  they  were  all  dismissed,  (giving  bond  for 
their  appearance  when  called  for),  except  the  preacher  and  his 
brother.  Shortly  thereafter,  the  Lord  Eoss's  troop  feU  upon  a 
conventicle  in  the  west,  and  killed  one  of  them.  Fourteen  of  them 
that  were  taken  were  brought  to  Edinburgh  and  imprisoned  there, 


1G75.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  555 

SO  that  at  tills  time  there  was  great  persecution  In  several  parts  of 
the  land,  especially  in  Edinburgh.  The  persecution  waxed  hotter, 
for  the  honest  women  (who  for  the  ParUament  Close  petition  were 
banished  out  of  the  town)  were  again  searched  for,  some  of  them 
having,  after  some  short  time,  privately  returned  to  their  own 
houses.  Also  the  town-major  did  narrowly  search  the  houses 
where  outed  ministers  that  lived  in  Edinburgh  dwelt,  even  in  the 
night-time,  breaking  up  doors,  &c. 

All  this  time  by-past,  severe  letters  come  from  Court  to  the 
Secret  Council  against  the  advocates  that  adhered  to  the  appeal, 
notwithstanding  of  their  humble  addresses  and  petitions  to  the 
Lords  of  the  Session  ;  which  occasioned  Sir  John  Cunningham  and 
some  others  to  repair  to  Court  to  Inform  the  King's  Majesty  aright 
anent  the  business,  and  to  speak  for  themselves  and  the  rest. 

In  January  foreign  news  came  that  the  Bang  of  France  had 
beaten  the  Imperialists,  wholly  routed  them,  and  had  relieved 
Brissac,  besieged  by  the  Imperialists.  Some  of  Douglas's  regi- 
ment came  to  Edinburgh  to  levy  men  to  recruit  their  regi- 
ment. Also  news  came  that  the  Polonians  had  beaten  the  Turks 
and  killed  many  of  them,  the  Polonians  being  assisted  by  their 
confederates  and  allies. 

In  February  there  was  a  proclamation  in  England  in  words  very 
severe  against  the  Papists,  but  in  the  end  of  It  the  indulgence  or 
liberty  that  formerly  they  enjoyed,  and  their  meetings  in  their 
meeting  houses  in  few  words  were  condemned,  and  the  laws  were 
ordained  to  be  executed  against  them. 

After  some  weeks'  Imprisonment  Mr  James  Greig  and  his  bro- 
ther-in-law were  liberated,  having  paid  their  fines.  ISfr  John  G  rcig, 
by  the  plurality  of  votes  in  the  Council,  was  ordained  to  be  sent  to 
the  Bass,  (where  for  a  long  time  Mr  Pcden,  an  outed  minister,  was 
detained,  especially  by  the  mahcc  of  Halton  and  the  evil  will  of  the 
Lord  Stairs,  his  parishioner),  but  upon  a  humble  supplication  given 
in  to  the  Council  he  was  ordained  to  stay  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edin- 
burgh until  the  5th  of  May,  ordained  to  be  the  next  Council  day. 
About  this  time  Mi-  William  Cai'stairs,  son  to  Mr  William  Car- 


556  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1675. 

stairs,  was  brought  to  Edinburgh,  who,  immediately  after  he  came 
over  from  Holland,  was  by  Lauderdale  apprehended  and  put  in 
prison  in  London,  upon  some  presumptions  that  he  knew  who  was 
the  author  of  the  book  called  "  The  Grievances,"  &c.,*  (whereat 
Lauderdale  was  highly  offended),  it  being  reported  that  the  printer 
had  confessed  that  he  gave  him  the  copy  and  waited  upon  the 
press.  But  Mr  William  Carstairs  refusing  to  confess  any  of  these 
things,  and  there  being  no  law  in  England  to  put  any  to  torture 
upon  presumptions,  he  was  sent  down  by  Lauderdale  to  Edin- 
burgh and  imprisoned  in  the  Castle.  Great  search  was  made  for 
James  Stewart,t  son  to  Sir  James  Stewart,  provost  of  Edinburgh, 
there  being  presumptions  that  either  he  was  the  author  of  that 
book,  wherein  were  many  and  sad  grievances  against  Lauder- 
dale, or,  at  least,  he  knew  who  was  the  author  thereof,  but  he  was 
not  found.     Jer.  xxxvi.  26. 

In  this  spring  time  some  ministers  came  from  Edinburgh  to  Fife 
and  kept  some  meetings,  but  privately  in  houses,  in  the  morning 
early,  or  late  at  night.  Little  din  was  of  them,  they  being  cau- 
tious and  the  troopers  discreet.  The  greatest  persecution  was 
in  the  stewartry  of  Falkland  by  one  Mr  Patrick  Murray,  Athole's 
depute. 

Sir  John  Cunningham  and  the  rest  of  the  advocates  that  went 
to  Court  gave  in  a  supplication  to  the  King,  as  they  had  formerly 
done  to  the  Council,  submitting  themselves  to  the  King's  clemency 
and  mercy,  notwithstanding  of  their  law  defences,  &c.  This  occa- 
sioned the  King  to  write  down  to  the  Chancellor  to  call  a  Coun- 
cil, and  to  take  off  the  restraints  off  the  Advocates,  and  to  continue 
their  process  to  the  first  Council  day  in  June  ;  which  was  done, 
and  nothing  else  done  at  that  occasional  Council  day  in  April, 
which  was  convocate  in  obedience  to  the  King's  letter  to  the  Chan- 
cellor in  favour  of  the  advocates  adhering  to  the   appeal.     Pre- 

*  The  title  of  this  paper  is  "  An  Account  of  Scotland's  Grievances  by  reason  of  the 
Duke  of  Lauderdale's  ministry,  humbly  tendered  to  his  Sacred  Majesty." 

t  Who  after  the  Revolution  became  Lord  Advocate  of  Scotland,  an  office  which  he 
held  for  about  twenty  years.  For  some  account  of  him  see  Wodroiv's  Co7Tespondence, 
i.  19,  448,  449. 


1675.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  557 

late  Sharp  continues  still  at  Court,  waiting  (as  some  said)  until 
the  Parliament  of  England  should  sit  down. 

In  the  latter  end  of  March  the  Earl  of  Kincardine  went  to  Court. 
All  this  while  by-past  (he  being  moderate  and  calm)  did  in  some 
things  oppose  Halton  in  his  severe  and  furious  courses  and  illegal 
proceedings ;  whereat  Lauderdale  was  offended.  But  after  Kin- 
cardine's coming  to  Court,  still  the  difference  betwixt  Lauderdale 
and  him  is  widened,  especially  by  occasion  of  a  supplication  from 
General  Major  Drummond,  which  Kincardine  put  into  the  King's 
hand,  not  acquainting  Lauderdale  therewith.  This  incensed  Lau- 
derdale so,  that  albeit  the  King  had  given  an  order  to  liberate 
Drummond,  yet  Lauderdale  stopped  it.  This  and  other  things  made 
Lauderdale  in  end  to  turn  Kincardine's  bitter  enemy,  alleging  that 
he  complied  with  those  that  opposed  him  and  sought  his  ruin.  But 
still  the  King  retained  a  good  opinion  of  Kincardine,  and  promised 
to  continue  his  kindness  to  him.  He  had  also  the  good  will  and 
favour  of  the  Duke  of  York  and  Monmouth ;  but  still  Lauderdale 
sought  to  decourt  him. 

In  April  the  Parliament  of  England  sat  down.  The  King  in  his 
speech  to  them  urged  union,  the  necessity  of  repairing  the  fleet, 
desired  them  to  beware  of  severe  courses,  &c.  It  was  reported 
that  there  was  an  old  statute,  declaring  that  after  the  King  had 
thrice  adjourned  the  Parliament  he  could  not  again  adjourn  them, 
and  that  they  did  intimate  this  statute  to  the  King,  declaring  that 
if  he  would  permit  them  to  sit  and  to  ease  the  kingdom  of  all 
grievances,  especially  to  purge  the  Court  of  evil  counsellors,  they 
would  give  him  large  subsidies  for  paying  of  his  debts,  repairing 
the  fleet,  c<cc.,  otherwise  they  Avould  give  none.  There  was  great 
heat  in  the  House  of  Commons  anent  Lauderdale.  In  the  House 
of  Peers  the  plurality  were  for  him,  all  the  bishojis  being  so ;  and 
in  the  House  of  Commons  many  were  for  him,  for  by  his  great 
bribes  he  had  corrupted  many  of  them.  Those  that  were  for  him 
urged  that  he  might  be  arraigned  and  judged  according  to  law, 
knowing  that  he  was  to  be  judged  by  his  peers  and  so  would  escape. 
Those  that  were  against  him  and  continued  unbiassed,  urged  that 


558  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1675. 

there  BhoulJ  be  an  address  made  to  the  King,  requiring  that  he 
might  be  put  from  the  King's  person,  Court  and  Counsels,  and  de- 
clared incapable  of  public  trust  for  ever.  This  was  carried  by 
twenty  votes.  The  King  returned  answer  to  the  address,  that  he 
saw  no  reason  to  grant  what  was  required,  and  that  their  reasons 
against  Lauderdale  were  not  valid.  The  next  thing  that  they  sup- 
plicated for  was  that  the  King  would  recal  all  his  English  forces 
that  were  in  the  King  of  France  his  service.  To  this  the  King 
condescended,  to  blunt  their  edge  against  Lauderdale. 

May  5,  the  CouncU  convened.  ^Mr  John  Greig  sujsplicates  them, 
offering  to  go  to  his  confinement,  viz.,  the  parish  of  Carstairs, 
(where  his  father-in-law,  ]Mr  Alexander  Livingstone,  and  he  were 
confined,  they  being  ordered  for  that  kirk  by  the  second  indulgence, 
Mr  Livingstone  accepted,  but  ^Ir  Greig  refused,  yet  he  sometimes 
preached  there),  according  to  the  act  of  the  Council,  and  under  the 
penalty  expressed  in  the  act.  The  Council  offered  to  let  him  go 
to  his  confinement,  providing  he  would  engage  to  keep  it,  and  not 
to  preach  in  any  other  place,  which  he  refusing,  he  was  remitted 
to  prison.  Duke  Hamilton  spoke  for  him,  alleging  that  his  offer 
should  be  accepted,  as  being  obedience  to  the  act  of  Council;  but 
Halton  opposed  ;  so  he  continued  in  prison. 

About  the  beginning  of  June  there  was  a  conventicle  kept  near 
Cardross  by  !Mr  John  King,  who  had  formerly  been  before  the 
Council.  Some  of  the  troopers  coming  upon  them  to  disperse 
them,  but  especially  to  apprehend  ISIr  King,  one  man  is  killed, 
defending  the  preacher,  who  escaped,  but  sundry  of  the  people 
were  wounded. 

The  Parliament  of  England  still  sitting,  all  were  kept  in  suspense 
what  would  become  of  Lauderdale,  the  Commons  having  ordered 
a  second  address  against  him.  But  in  end  that  which  opened  a 
door  to  him  to  escape  at,  was  the  many  and  great  dissensions  that 
fell  out  betwixt  the  two  Houses,  and  in  the  House  of  Commons 
amongst  themselves,  which  the  King,  though  he  came  to  them  in 
his  robes,  could  not  appease.  It  was  thought  that  Lauderdale  cast 
oil  in  the  flames,  and  busily  blew  the  bellows.     The  King  took 


1675.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  559 

occasion  by  their  dissensions,  about  the  middle  of  June,  to  prorogue 
the  Parliament  to  the  13th  of  October.  This  being  a  prorogation, 
and  not  an  adjournment,  all  that  they  had  done  anent  Lauderdale 
was  null ;  so  he  escaped  for  this  time.  Immediately  after  the  pro- 
rogation of  the  Parliament,  (while  honest  men  here  were  waiting 
how  Lauderdale  would  carry  after  his  weathering  this  rock,  more 
moderately  or  more  arrogantly),  there  comes  from  Lauderdale  to 
the  Council  a  most  rigid  and  severe  letter  against  all  conventicles, 
seditious  and  tumultuous  communions,  &c.  In  this  letter  all 
former  letters  were  mentioned,  and  the  Council  sharply  challenged 
for  not  obeying  them.  The  conventicle  kept  by  IMr  King  was 
mentioned,  and  the  Lord  Cardross  challenged.  Also  a  fast  kept 
by  the  indulged  ministers  In  the  west  was  challenged,  and  all 
Counsellors  within  eighty  miles  of  Edinburgh  were  ordered  to 
abide  at  Edinburgh  until  Lammas,  and  to  use  their  utmost  dili- 
gence in  suppressing  conventicles.  And  lastly,  several  garrisons 
are  ordained  and  commanded  to  be  placed  in  several  houses  in 
several  parts  of  the  land ;  and  they  were  ordered  to  give  notice, 
from  time  to  time,  of  their  diligence  in  obeying  all  these  particu- 
lars, or  of  the  remissness  of  others.  In  this  letter  there  were  more 
peremptory  and  severe  expi'esslons  than  in  any  of  the  King's 
letters  formerly  ;  so  that  now  it  was  evident  that  Lauderdale 
would  carry  more  arrogantly,  and  persecute  more  cruelly  than 
ever. 

All  this  time  by-past  conventicles  in  Edinburgh  were  not  so 
frequent  nor  numerous  as  formerly.  Sundry  meetings  Avcre  dis- 
persed by  the  town-major,  but  no  ministers  taken.  Many  of  the 
ministers  that  preached  in  the  town  were  In  the  west  and  south. 
In  Fife  meetings  that  were  nmnerous  were  In  the  night,  the  troop- 
ers continuing  at  Cupar,  Falkland,  &c.  There  was  a  garrison 
of  foot  soldiers  before  this  time  put  Into  the  house  of  KInkcll ; 
which  continuing  there,  the  Laird  and  his  flimlly  removed  and 
dwelt  in  Lathones.  This  summer  there  were  two  bishops  conse- 
crated at  Edinburgh,  viz.,  Mr  John  Paterson,  bishop  of  Galloway, 
and  one  Ross,  bishop  of  the  Isles. 


560  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1675. 

About  this  time  Sir  George  M'Kenzie,  one  of  tlie  chief  of  the 
outed  advocates,  (on  whom  the  rest  did  much  rely,  employing  him 
to  appear  for  them  before  the  Lords),  did  acknowledge  a  fault  in 
having  hand  in  that  appeal,  and  so  did  take  on  the  gown  again. 
The  rest  thought  he  had  not  dealt  honestly  and  ingenuously.    Im- 
mediately thereafter  comes  from  Lauderdale  the  King's  lettei', 
which  was  most  severe  against  the  outed  advocates,  putting  them 
in  a  worse  condition  than  formerly  ;  debarring  them  for  ever  that 
did  not  betwixt  and  Lammas  come  in  upon  the  terms  that  Sir 
George  M'Kenzie  had  come  in  upon  ;  and  simpliciter  debarring 
those  that  had  been  sticklers  in  that  business  at  Edinburgh  or 
London,  and  only  admitting  such  a  number  to  be  received.    After 
the  receipt  of  that  severest  letter,  mentioned  before,  the  Council  did 
bestir  themselves  very  carefully  that  they  might  obey  it  in  all  the 
points  thereof.     And  first  they  convened  before  them  the  Lord 
Cardross  and  his  Lady.      But  that  which  busied  them  several 
weeks,  was  the  placing  of  garrisons  in  several  houses  in  the  Merse, 
Teviotdale,  Clydesdale,  the  west,  and  Fife.    They  were  all  named 
in  the  King's  letter,  viz.,  Blainyarne,  Riddell,  Cavers,  Ker,  Airdrie, 
Evandale,  Cardross,  &c.     There  were  many  debates  in  Council 
anent  these  garrisons,  where  they  should  be  placed,  and  how  main- 
tained.    It  was  ordained  that  the  country  should  furnish  them  with 
meal,  pots,  pans,  and  candle.     Duke  Hamilton,  the  King's  Advo- 
cate,  and  Dumfries,  dissented  from  this.      In  Fife,   besides  the 
•garrison  already  in  Kinkell,  there  was  one  ordered  by  the  letter  to 
be  in  the  New  House  at  Lochleven,  now  belonging  to  Sir  William 
Bruce.     But  the  Council  ordained  it  to  be  in  Dowhill ;  Sir  Wil- 
liam Bruce  pleading  that  he  was  conform,  and  lived  orderly ;  which 
the  Laird  of  Dowhill  did  not. 

Also  the  Council  did  take  notice  of  several  persons  formerly  de- 
nounced, whose  estates  were  given  away,  and  against  whom  there 
was  declaratours,  &c. 

There  was  a  great  number  of  ministers  in  the  year  1674  sum- 
moned to  compear  before  the  Council,  to  answer  and  underly  the 
law,  for  keeping  of  house  and  field  conventicles,  who,  not  compear- 


1^)75.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  561 

ing,  were  then  denounced  and  declaimed  fugitives.  Against  many 
of  these  ministers  letters  of  intercommuning  passed  at  this  Council 
day,  whereby  all  the  King's  subjects  were  discharged  to  reset,  sup- 
ply or  intercommune  with  any  of  these  persons,  or  to  furnish  them 
with  meat,  drink,  house,  harbour,  victual,  or  any  other  thing 
useful  or  comfortable  to  them,  or  to  have  intelligence  with 
them  by  word,  write  or  message,  or  any  other  way,  under  the  pain 
to  be  repute  or  esteemed  art  and  part  with  them  in  their  crimes, 
and  pursued  therefor  with  all  rigour ;  and  all  were  commanded  to 
apprehend  and  imprison  them,  wherever  they  could  be  found,  in 
town  or  landward.  Besides  the  ministers  intercommuned,  viz., 
Messrs  George  Johnston,  Alexander  MoncriefF,  William  Wishart, 
Thomas  Hog,  James  Donaldson,  &c.,  there  were  some  godly  per- 
sons also  intercommuned.  So  by  all  means  they  resolved  to  per- 
secute them,  yea,  to  starve  them,  and,  if  they  could,  to  root  them  out. 
About  the  midst  of  July  there  were  three  ministers  taken  in  the 
west,  who  were  assisting  at  the  celebration  of  the  communion,  viz., 
Messrs  Hugh  Peebles,  John  Campbell,  and  John  Blair  from 
Glasgow.  They  were  brought  to  Edinburgh  and  imprisoned  in  the 
Tolbooth  with  ISIr  John  Greig,  who  continued  prisoner,  and  was 
constantly  preaching  to  the  other  prisoners,  as  Mr  Pedcn  did  in  the 
Bass.  In  the  latter  end  of  July  some  ministers  were  summoned 
to  appear  before  the  Council  for  their  tumultuous  and  disorderly 
communions,  employing  outed  ministers  to  assist,  &c.,  viz.,  ^lessrs 
John  Sinclair,  John  Veitch,  John  Scot,  &c.  Not  being  called,  they 
were  referred  to  a  committee  ;  neither  did  the  committee  call  for 
them. 

After  the  Council  had  convened  before  them  the  Lord  and  Lady 
Cardross,  and  examined  witnesses  against  them,  all  that  was  prov- 
en was  that  there  was  a  preaching  in  their  house,  and  a  child 
baptized,  the  Lord  Cardross  not  being  present.  Notwithstanding, 
Cardross  is  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh,  and  a  garrison 
ordered  to  lie  in  his  house  of  Cardross,  which  was  lately  repaired, 
beino-  spoiled  by  an  English  garrison  in  the  time  of  the  usuri)ors. 
Thereafter  his  lady  and  family  came  and  lived  in  the  Cnstlc. 

2  N 


562  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1675. 

In  August,  news  came  that  Montecuculi,  general  to  the  Imperi- 
ahsts,  had  routed  the  French  army,  and  that  M.  de  Turenne  (who, 
in  his  old  age,  turned  Papist)  was  killed,  and  some  other  great 
commanders,  and  that  the  French  were  several  times  thereafter 
routed,  and  that  the  Lord  Douglas  and  Crequi  were  forced  to  flee  in 
to  Trevers,  [Treves].  In  this  meantime,  the  insurrection  in  France 
grows,  and  the  number  of  them  [the  insurgents]  increases  ;  and  the 
Swedes,  (who  formerly  were  mediators),  having  declared  for  France, 
were  twice  routed  by  the  Duke  of  Brandeuburgh ;  so  that,  the 
French  King  being  hard  put  to  it,  desires  a  treaty  for  peace  with 
the  Imperialists  and  their  allies. 

,  Some  shires  refusing  to  obey  the  act  of  Council,  by  contributing 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  garrisons  above  mentioned,  Polwart  * 
was  commissionated  from  the  Merse  to  the  Council,  who,  for  his  pro- 
testing against  the  Council's  refusing  of  a  suspension,  &c.,  Avas 
first  put  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh  ;  thereafter  sent  prisoner 
to  the  Castle  of  Dumbarton,  nowithstanding  he  had  supplicated  the 
King.  About  this  time  Lauderdale  sent  a  letter  to  the  Town 
Council  of  Edinburgh,  commanding  them  to  put  off  their  council 
twelve  of  their  number.  At  this  time  Lauderdale  and  his  brother, 
and  the  cabal,  imprisoned  whom  they  would  indicta  causa,  put  off 
and  into  judicatories  whom  they  would. 

In  the  beginning  of  August,  these  most  unreasonable  and  wick- 
ed letters  of  intercommuning  were  printed  and  thereafter  proclaim- 
ed. Some  ministers'  names  who  once  were  in  them  were  taken  out ; 
there  was  none  in  Fife  in  them,  save  Messrs  Alexander  Moncrieff 
and  Thomas  Arnot.  Besides  the  ministers,  sundry  other  persons 
were  in  them,  not  only  men,  viz.,  John  White,  William  Page,  Rich- 
ard Clydesdale,  &c.,  but  some  ladies,  viz.,  the  Lady  Colville, 
Balcanquall,  the  ladies  of  Unthanks,  elder  and  younger,  and  of 
CoUerny,  &c.  They  were  proclaimed  in  Cupar  in  the  beginning 
of  October. 

About  this  time  Mr  John  Greig  is  liberated,  and  goes  to  his  con- 

*  Sir  Patrick  Hume  of  Polwart,  a  distinguished  patriot  and  statesman.  He  was 
created  Earl  of  Marchmont  after  the  Revolution. 


1C75.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  563 

finement  in  obedience  to  the  act  of  Council.  Also  Mr  Ilnoh 
Peebles  and  John  Campbell  are  liberated.  Mr  John  Blair  is  de- 
tained still  in  the  Tolbooth. 

The  Archprelate  Sharp  came  from  Court  by  sea  in  one  of  the 
King  s  pleasure  boats,  being  made  Vicar-gcneral  of  Scotland  and 
Commendator  of  Arbroath,  two  Popish  titles  of  honour  very  suit- 
able to  the  man.  It  was  rumoured  that  he  brought  with  him  a 
new  modelled  liturgy,  to  be  imposed,  if  Lauderdale  and  he  could 
get  a  Parliament  to  their  mind,  and  for  that  they  bcstuTcd  them- 
selves to  get  commissioners  in  shires,  and  magistrates  in  towns, 
elected  to  their  mind.  But  in  some  shii'es  and  towns  their  elec- 
tions not  pleasing  their  cabal,  it  was  thought  that  they  would  not 
desire  a  Parliament.  But  many  Conformists  began  to  dispute  for 
a  liturgy  and  some  to  preach  for  it ;  but  the  fox  Sharp  was  not 
much  for  it,  only  because  he  had  no  will  to  ride  the  ford  where  his 
predecessor  drowned. 

At  this  time  there  were  great  debates  in  Council  anent  the  war 
betwixt  Argyle  and  the  Laird  of  Maclean  and  his  clan,  Argyle 
requiring  the  Isle  of  Mull  for  great  sums  of  money  which  he  al- 
leged ^lacleau  was  resting  to  him,  &c.  These  debates,  especially 
betwixt  Duke  Hamilton  and  Ilalton,  and  other  heartburnings,  oc- 
casioned many  of  our  nobles  to  go  to  Court  (every  one  seeking 
their  own  things ;  but  none  seeking  the  things  of  Christ,  or  the 
good  either  of  Estate  or  Kirk),  viz.,  Ai'gyle,  Athole,  Aboyno, 
Kinghorn,  Northesk  with  his  lady,  and  the  Bishop  of  (jrhisgow. 

The  Parliament  of  England  sat  down  at  the  time  appointed, 
viz.,  the  L3th  of  October.  The  King's  speech  and  the  Lord 
Keeper's  were  of  the  same  strain  that  the  former  wci-e  of  at  the 
former  sessions  of  their  Parliaments.  At  their  veiy  first  down- 
sittino"  their  old  debates  were  revived,  and  not  a  little  increased. 
The  o-rand  debate  was  about  a  test,  which  the  bishops  imdertook 
to  f-et  passed ;  but  many  of  the  Lords,  especially  the  Earl  of 
Shaftesbury,  opposed  it,  and  gave  in  tlieir  dissents,  with  their  rea- 
sons subscribed.  They  were  so  nnich  taken  up  with  their  own 
debates  that  they  had   not  begun  to  renew  their  charge  against 

2  N  2 


564  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1675. 

Lauderdale,  when  the  King  again  prorogues  the  Parliament  to 
February  1677.  Three  months  before  the  prorogation  of  the 
EnMish  Parliament  Kincardine  dealt  with  the  Kina;  to  cause  re- 
move  the  garrison  that  was  in  his  sister's  house  of  Blainnairn,  she 
being  a  widow,  with  many  children  living  in  that  house,  &c.  But 
notwithstanding  of  the  King's  letter  to  the  Council  to  remove 
that  garrison,  yet  Halton  and  others  of  that  cabal,  with  Lauder- 
dale, enemies  to  Kincardine,  still  hindered  the  removing  of  that 
garrison  from  Blainnairn,  till  at  last  Kincardine  and  others  did  re- 
present to  the  King  how  illegal,  injurious  and  oppressive,  these 
garrisons  were,  earnestly  entreating  him  to  cause  remove  them  all 
from  the  houses  where  they  lay.  Whereupon  the  King  was 
pleased  to  give  order  to  the  Council  to  remove  all  these  garrisons, 
and  to  disband  some  of  the  new  levied  troops.  At  this  time  many 
of  the  officers  of  Douglas's  regiment  came  to  Scotland  to  levy 
men  to  recruit  their  regiment,  many  of  them  being  killed ;  so 
many  of  the  disbanded  men  took  on  with  them.  About  this  time 
the  outed  advocates  were  taken  in  upon  honourable  terms,  so  that 
those  that  came  in  before  upon  dishonourable  terms  were  little 
thought  of. 

In  the  latter  end  of  November  Duke  Hamilton,  his  Duchess,  and 
eldest  daughter  went  to  Court.  There  were  many  thoughts  of  heart 
and  discourses  what  would  be  the  event  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton's 
repairing  to  Court  at  this  nick  of  time  ;  whether  the  two  Dukes 
would  reconcile  and  agree,  or  their  animosities  and  debates  be 
heightened  and  increased.  But  after  Duke  Hamilton  had  been 
at  Court  a  good  space  there  was  no  word  of  his  agreement  with 
the  Duke  of  Lauderdale,  but  contra,  that  their  debates  waxed 
hotter,  and  that  their  differences  still  increased.  One  day  the 
King  asking  the  Duke  of  Hamilton  what  would  prove  most  con- 
ducible  to  quiet  all  the  Nonconformists  in  Scotland  that  were  so 
dissatisfied  with  the  goverment ;  he  answered,  he  thought  that  a 
more  large  indulgence  than  was  yet  granted  would  prove  most  ef- 
fectual and  satisfying  to  quiet  and  give  contentment  to  the  Non- 
conformists.    This  the  King  took  evil,  and  said  that  he  was  in- 


167G.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  565 

formed  that  the  Duke  had  vented  such  discourses  to  the  Bishop 
of  Glasgow,  and  that  others  had  told  him  of  his  too  great  kind- 
ness to  and  compliance  with  the  Nonconformists  in  Scotland. 
This  made  the  Duke  to  write  down  to  the  Bishop  of  Glasgow, 
(who  a  little  before  this  went  home  from  Court),  challenging  him 
for  speaking  so  of  him.  The  Bishop  answered,  that  he  never 
spoke  so  of  him  to  the  King  or  any  other  person.  The  Duke,  for 
his  own  vindication,  showed  the  King  the  Bishop  of  Glasgow's 
letter,  &c. 

But  still  the  Duke  Hamilton,  Kincardine,  and  some  others 
earnestly  dealt  with  the  King  for  an  ample  indulgence.  But  such 
was  Lauderdale's  insolence,  oppression,  and  tyranny,  and  the 
King's  being  altogether  addicted  to  follow  his  wicked  counsels, 
though  he  devised  mischief  against  all  the  lioncst  unconformists,  that 
nothing  that  looked  like  ease,  liberty,  or  indulgence  to  Noncon- 
formists could  be  obtained ;  but  the  more  the  Duke  or  any  other 
moved  of  any  indulgence  or  any  other  favour  for  honest  uncon- 
form  ministers  and  people,  Lauderdale  and  his  cabal  were  the  more 
busy  to  devise  mischief  against  them,  by  misinforming  and  giving 
wicked  counsel  to  the  King.  For  about  this  time,  Polwart  and 
General  Major  Drummond,  though  a  little  before  this  time  they 
were  relieved  out  of  their  respective  prisons,  yet  they  were  de- 
barred from  and  declared  incapable  of  public  employment  or  trust ; 
and  Cardross  with  his  family  are  commanded  to  continue  prison- 
ers until  he  not  only  pay  his  exorbitant  fine,  but  engage  that  not 
only  he  but  none  of  his  family  shall  go  to  conventicles  or  hear  any 
unconformist  preach. 

All  this  winter,  till  towards  the  latter  end  of  January  1676,  the 
meetings  in  Edinburgh  and  other  parts  of  the  land  were  very 
frequent,  numerous,  and  public.  About  Candlemas  it  was  rumoured 
that  the  Earl  of  Athole  (after  long  abode  at  Court,  contriving  mis- 
chief with  Lauderdale  and  his  cabal  in  Scotland),  was  to  come 
from  Court,  having  undertaken  great  things  to  the  King,  even  to 
ruin  and  root  out  all  Presbyterians  in  Scotland.  Thereafter  Athole 
returns  from  Court,  and  Kinghorn  with  him,   (ejusdem  furfuris 


566  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1677. 

homo*),  both  of  them  getting  great  new  titles  of  honour  from  the 
King,  to  encom'age  them  to  pursue  their  undertakings.  Athole  is 
made  Marquis  of  Athole,  and  Kinghom  called  Earl  of  Strathmore, 
which  is  one  of  the  greatest  straths  in  Scotland.  After  their 
coming  to  Edinburgh,  great  notice  is  taken  of  the  meetings,  and 
they  much  repressed  in  Edinburgh.  Some  meetings  were  taken 
and  dispersed  by  the  town  major,  but  no  minister  was  apprehended ; 
so  that  now  the  meetings  in  Edinburgh  were  early  in  the  morn- 
ing or  late  at  night.  Some  persons  taken  at  meetings  were 
deeply  fined  ;  some  were  challenged  and  fined  for  old  meetings. 

At  this  time  there  were  many  rumours  and  reports  that  the 
Chancellor,  (who  this  time  by-past  had  been  no  unfriend  to  honest 
people,  especially  in  Fife),  was  to  be  decourted  and  his  place  taken 
from  him.  In  the  latter  end  of  February  there  comes  a  letter  from 
the  King  to  the  Council,  for  disbanding  of  the  Chancellor's  troop, 
they  being  always  suspected  to  be  too  discreet,  especially  in  Fife. 
The  Chancellor  being  somewhat  surprised  at  the  reading  of  the 
letter,  only  said,  "  Why  not  that  and  all  that  I  have  received  of 
his  Majesty  ?" 

Memorandum  of  what  is  fit  to  be  desired  in  reference  to  the 
liberty  supplicated  for  1677  : — To  desire  a  general  indemnity  to  all 
persons,  preachers  or  professors,  nothing  less  being  likely  to  allay 
the  present  discontents,  and  remove  the  fears  ;  and  upon  the  same 
account  to  desire  a  general  liberty  to  all  Presbyterian  ministers, 
declaring  all  civil  restraints  taken  off  them,  that  so  they  may  be 
capable  of  receiving  calls  to  all  kirks  in  the  kingdom,  without  ex- 
ception, and  to  return  to  their  own  kirks  where  they  are  vacant  or 
when  they  shall  vaik.  These  favours  would  be  granted  from  the 
fairest  and  most  obliging  attractive  may  be,  as  that  his  Majesty 
compassionating  the  sufferings  of  his  Presbyterian  subjects  in  Scot- 
land, upon  the  account  of  their  conscience  mainly,  because  they 
cannot  conform  to  the  laws  anent  Church  matters,  and  being  con- 
fident not  only  of  their  loyalty,  but  also  of  their  affection  to  his 
person  and  government,  therefore,  &c. ;  and  the  said  liberty  so  to 

*  "  A  man  of  the  same  kidney." 


1680.]  LIFE  OF  KOBEllT  BLAIR.  507 

be  granted,  would  maintain  grounds  of  confidence  that  it  may  be 
a  lasting  favour,  and  would  be  simple  and  absolute,  without  quali- 
fications, restrictions  or  certifications,  there  being  laws  strict  enough 
anent  transgressions,  in  so  far  as  the  said  laws  shall  not  l)e  dis* 
pensed  with.  3.  It  would  be  desired  that  taking  notice  any  more 
of  meetings  for  worship  in  houses,  (except  meetings  of  Papists  and 
Quakers),  be  discharged ;  whereupon  the  ministers  foresaid  are 
very  conifident  that  meetings  in  the  open  fields,  will,  of  themselves 
cease,  and  that  their  joint  endeavours  for  that  effect  will  be  the  more 
effectual.  Also  it  is  desired,  that  if,  for  regulating  themselves  and 
their  people,  and  keeping  them  peaceable,  they  shall  meet  together, 
they  may  incur  no  hazard  thereby,  such  meetings  among  them- 
selves being  necessary  for  the  foresaid  ends.  4.  It  would  be  de- 
sired that  all  proceedings  against  masters  of  colleges  and  schools, 
chaplains  and  pedagogues  may  cease,*  the  avei'sion  of  the  country 
therefrom  appearing  by  their  coui't  business  this  year.  5.  To  desire 
of  them  when  any  of  the  kirks  shall  vaik,  which  are  at  his  Majesty's 
or  the  Bishop's  presentation,  if  the  people  shall  desire  to  have  an 
unconform  minister,  that  way  may  be  given  thereto,  and  that,  in 
the  meanwhile,  the  supplying  of  kirks  now  vacant  may  be  delayed. 
About  the  beginning  of  June,  [1680],  INIi- Donald  Cargill,  with  one 
Henry  Hall,  t  coming  along  on  the  Southern  Queensferry,  by  the 
Castle  of  Blackness,  were  followed  close  at  the  heels  by  the  cap- 
tain of  the  garrison  in  Blackness,  (which  was  the  year  before  re- 
builded  and  designed  to  be  a  prison  as  formerly,  under  the  old 
Bishops),  and  taken  immediately  after  they  had  come  to  the  town 
of  Queensferry,  but  were  shortly  thereafter  rescued  by  a  company 
of  women,  who  violently  set  them  at  liberty.  Mr  Donald  Cargill 
being  rescued,  did  hide  himself  that  night  in  a  dwelling  about  a 
mile  above  the  Ferry ;  his  comrade,  Henry  Hall,  being  deadly- 
wounded,  died  the  next  day,  as  the  party  sent  out  were  carrying 
him  into  the  town.     This  occasioned  meikle  trouble  to  the  town 

*  Here  iu  Dr  Lee's  Copy,  there  is  added,  "and  there,  as  lor  usual  dotli,  may  be  I'ut 
to  students," — which  is  evidently  a  mistake. 

t  Henry  Hall  of  Haughhead,  whose  life  is  given  in  the  Scots  Worthio!=. 


568  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1680. 

of  Queensferry,  especially  to  the  women  that  routed  the  party 
from  Blackness.  There  were  several  papers  found  upon  Mr 
Donald  Cargill.  *  One  was  most  remarkable,  which  vulgo  was 
called  "  The  Cameron's  Covenant,"  viz. — 

"  We,  underscribers,  for  ourselves  and  all  that  join  with  us, 
being  put  to  it  by  God,  our  own  conscience,  and  men,  to  bind 
ourselves,  our  souls,  with  a  solemn  and  sacred  bond :  We  cove- 
nant and  swear  that  we  take  the  only  true  and  living  God,"  &c.  t 

This  new  covenant  was  condemned  by  all  sober  and  judicious 
Presbyterians.  In  the  first  part  of  it  they  reckon  out  and  aggrage 
the  King's  pei^sonal  faults  ;  2.  They  reject  him  from  being  King  ; 
3.  They  reject  all  civil  government  in  these  nations.  In  the 
second  part  they  reckon  out  the  faults  of  ministers,  and  reject 
all  those  ministers  that  convened  at  Edinburgh,  and  all  those  that 
own  them. 

Ml*  Donald  escaping  runs  to  his  cabal,  who  were  by  this  time 
somewhat  numerous.|  On  the  22d  of  June  twenty  horsemen 
come  to  the  town  of  Sanquhar,  and  did  proclaim  a  Declaration,  § 
leaving  it  affixed  to  the  cross,  viz. : — 

A  Copy  of  the  Declaration  and  Testimony  of  the  True 
Presbyterian,  Anti-Prelatic,  Anti-Erastian  perse- 
cuted PARTY  IN  ScOTLvysnD ;  battered  on  the  Cross  of 
Sanquhar,  &c. 

This  Declaration  was  immediately  brought  in  to  the  Council  by 
a  bailie  of  the  town  of  Sanquhar,  who  took  instruments  and  pro- 
tested against  it.     Both  their  Covenant  and  Declaration  were  sent 

*  Row  is  here  mistaken.  It  was  upon  Henry  Hall  that  the  papers  referred  to  were 
found. —  Wodrow's  Hist.  iii.  207. 

t  See  this  paper  in  Wodrow's  History,  iii.  207. 

t  In  Dr  Lee's  copy  there  is  here  written  on  the  margin,  "  The  lacts  here  are  grossly 
misrepresented." 

§  Hence  called  the  "  Sanquhar  Declaration." 


1680.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  5G9 

to  the  King,  and  thereafter  printed.  June  last  [i.  e.  last  day  of 
June]  a  proclamation  '  is  made'  declaring  Mr  Richard  Cameron 
and  others  rebels  and  traitors,  promising  great  sums  of  money  to 
the  apprehenders  or  killers  of  them.  See  printed  pro[clamation]. 
In  their  Declaration  they  not  only  reject  the  King  as  a  tyrant, 
but  denounce  war  against  him  as  a  tyrant  and  usurper,  and  against 
all  the  men  of  his  practices.  They  disclaim  the  Declaration  at 
Hamilton,  &c.  Still  they  continue  raging  against  King,  all  magis- 
trates and  rulers  under  the  King,  all  ministers,  except  three  or 
four,  especially  against  the  indulged  ministers,  and  those  that  were 
allowed  meeting-houses  by  the  late  allowance.  They  were  more 
bitter  against  them  than  against  the  Papists  or  Prelates ;  which 
made  them  in  a  council  of  war,  considering  what  was  the  great 
hinderance  and  obstruction  impeding  "  the  glorious  work  of  refor- 
mation," as  it  was  called,  conclude  that  they  should  first  cut  off  the 
indulged  ministers,  and  the  old  professors  in  the  west,  especially 
in  and  about  Glasgow.  Their  edge  was  especially  against  two 
ministers,  Messrs  Robert  Millar  and  James  Veitch*  (Mr  Yeitch 
had  answered  a  letter  of  Mv  Brown's  to  Cameron,  this  enraged 
them  against  him).  ]\Ii*  Robert  Millar  being  advei'tised  by  one  of 
their  cabal  (who  hearing  their  bloody  determination  to  cut  off  the 
indulged  ministers  and  the  old  professors,  his  heart  smote  him) 
that  evil  was  determined  against  him,  sent  to  Sir  John  Cochrane 
and  imparted  the  business  to  him,  who  advertised  the  General 
Dalziel  where  the  Cameronians  were  lying  securely.  Immediately 
Dalziel  commanded  out  a  strong  party,  led  by  Earlshall,  against 
them.  July  22  they  met  at  Cumnock,  in  Carrick,  and  fought, 
being  sixty  horses  on  each  side.f     The  King's  forces  killed  about 

*  Mr  Robert  Millar  was,  at  the  Restoration,  minister  of  Ochiltree,  and  by  the  first 
indulgence  in  lG(i9  was  restored  to  that  parish.  Mr  James  Veitch  was  minister  of 
MauchUne,  and  in  1GG9  became  indulged  minister  of  that  ])arish.  It  is  ])ainfiil  to 
think  that  the  slaughter  of  Cameron  and  his  party  by  Earlshall  slionld  be  traceable 
to  Milhir,  an  ejected  minister.  The  alleged  bloody  detenniiuition  of  the  Camcronian 
])arty  to  cut  off  the  indulged  ministers  and  old  professors,  is  one  of  the  many  slandci-s 
then  in  circulation  against  that  persecuted  people,  and  which  the  indulged  ministers, 
though  they  might  not  invent  them,  were  too  ready  to  credit,  from  the  strong  ani- 
mosity between  the  two  parties. 

t  zVccording  to  Wodrow,  the  party  with  Cameron  consisted  only  of  twcnfy-thivc 


570  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1680. 

fifteen  of  them,  whereof  Cameron,  their  chieftain,  was  one,  his 
brother,*  that  read  the  Declaration  at  Sanquhar,  and  others,  &c. 
David  Hackston,  one  of  the  murderers  of  Sharp,t  was  taken  alive, 
but  sorely  wounded,  with  other  three  persons,  whereof  one  was  a 
chapman,  John  Pouge.  There  were  some  footmen  with  Cameron  ; 
but  they  at  the  first  fled  into  a  moss.  Of  the  King's  forces  few 
were  killed,  two  or  three  at  most.  July  24,  David  Hackston  was 
brought  to  Edinburgh  from  the  Water  Gate  up  the  street,  upon  a 
horse  ;  his  face  to  the  horse's  tail,$  the  hangman  leading  the  horse, 
Mr  Cameron's  head  upon  a  half-pick  in  his  hand.  Beside  Came- 
ron were  the  three  prisoners  tied  together  with  an  iron  goad  unto 
Cameron.  Beside  Cameron's  head  and  hands,  there  was  brought 
into  Edinburgh,  and  up  the  street  from  the  Water  Gate,  the  head 
and  hands  of  one  John  Fullarton  in  a  pock,  carried  by  one  of  the 
prisoners. 

While  matters  are  thus  ordered  and  carried  in  Scotland,  in  the 
months  of  May  and  June,  the  Scots  Prelates,  Burnet  and  Pater- 
son,  with  the  Chancellor  and  Lauderdale,  are  as  busy  at  Court, 
doing  what  they  can  to  get  the  late  liberty  recalled  and  rendered 
useless ;  but  notwithstanding  of  all  their  dealing  and  persuasive 
arguments,  they  could  never  obtain,  at  the  King's  hand,  the  an- 
nulling of  the  late  liberty,  until  the  Chancellor  came  to  Court,  § 
who,  with  the  Scottish,  and  some  English  Prelates,  went  to  the 
King  at  Windsor  Castle.  Then  they  obtained  of  the  King  that 
the  late  liberty  should  be  so  restricted,  that  it  could  not  be  prac- 

hoi-se  and  forty  foot,  while  the  number  of  horse  with  Earlshall  was  double. — History, 
iii.  219. 

*  Michael  Cameron. 

t  On  the  margin  of  Dr  Lee's  copy  there  is  here  written,  "  The  only  one  that  would 
not  be  concerned  in  it." 

X  His  head  was  also  uncovered,  his  feet  tied  under  the  horse's  belly,  and  his  hands 
tied  behind  his  back. — Law's  Memorials,  161.  LaAv  also  observes,  that  the  horse  on 
which  he  was  set  was  "  a  lean,  bare  horse."  "  Thus  mounted,"  he  adds,  "  the  hang- 
man (with  his  cap  on,  and  carrying  Cameron's  head  on  the  top  of  a  halbert)  led  him 
(while  the  otlier  tliree  prisoners  were  carried  bare-headed,  and  tied  to  a  bar  of  iron) 
to  the  Council  Chamber,  where  they  were  examined."— /i<f/.  IGl. 

§  The  Chancellor  acquaints  the  Council,  March  8,  1680,  that  he  is  called  up  to 
Court  liy  a  letter  from  the  King.—  Wodrow's  History,  iii.  237. 


1G80.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  571 

ticable  in  any  place  of  Scotland.  The  new  restrictions  were, — that 
none  should  be  allowed  a  meeting  in  his  own  congregation  ;  *  that 
the  meeting  should  be  more  than  a  mile  from  the  parish  kirk ;  that 
it  should  be  so  far  distant  from  Edinburgh ;  more  than  three  miles 
from  a  royal  burgh ;  some  were  '  to  be'  so  many  miles  from  a  Pre- 
late's; that  they  should  not  marry  any  persons;  that  none  under  cen- 
sure from  England  should  be  allowed  a  meeting-house.  In  a  word, 
they  so  restricted  it,  that  it  reached  all  licentiate  to  have  meeting- 
houses in  Scotland.  Prelate  Paterson  having  obtained  that  Avhich 
he  went  to  Court  for,  and  so  earnestly  desired,  returns  with  some 
others,  ejiisdem  furfuris,  to  Scotland,  and  produced  the  King's  let- 
ter to  the  Council  anent  the  restricting  of  the  late  liberty  in  the 
King's  letter.  Messrs  George  Johnston  and  Lulce  Ogle  were 
named,  (for  these  two  were  the  chief  eyesore  of  the  Prelates,  the 
one  because  so  near  to  Edinburgh,  the  other  because  he  was  an 
Englishman  and  minister),  and  prohibited  to  have  a  meeting-house, 
or  to  enjoy  the  late  liberty  in  their  respective  parishes ;  whereupon 
the  Council  presently  made  an  act,  discharging  them  two  to  preach 
in  their  respective  meeting-houses,  and  sent  a  macer  to  Mr  John- 
ston, living  in  Edinburgh,  with  the  act  that  same  night  that  the 
Council  sat  in  the  afternoon,  and  sent  out  a  guard  to  the  parish  of 
Newbottle,  to  hinder  preaching  in  that  meeting-house  the  next 
Lord's  day,  ordaining  the  meeting-house  to  be  slighted  and  reduced. 
Also  they  did  the  like  in  reference  to  Mr  Luke  Ogle  f  and  liis 

*  That  is,  the  parish  of  which  any  was  formerly  a  minister. 

t  Luke  Ogle  was  minister  of  Berwick  at  the  Restoration.  He  was  ejcctcil  from  liis 
church  even  before  the  Act  of  Unifoi-mity  was  passed,  by  William,  Lord  Widdrington, 
one  of  the  Council  of  State  and  Governor  of  Berwick,  who  took  ollcnce  at  a  sermon 
which  Ogle  had  preached.  This  nobleman  afterwards  repeatedly  imprisoned  him, 
and  would  not  allow  him  to  live  in  Bervvick,  even  after  the  English  indulgence 
was  granted,  unless  he  would  conform.  When  expelled  ft-om  Berwick  he  retir- 
ed to  Bousden,  where  he  had  a  small  estate.  During  the  third  Indidgcnce  of 
Charles  in  Scotland,  1G79,  he  was  called  to  the  parish  of  Langton,  in  the  I^Ierse  ;  but 
after  his  meeting  house  was  destroyed,  as  narrated  in  the  text,  he  returned  to  Bous- 
den. Ui)on  the  toleration  of  James  VIL  he  was  invited  again  to  Berwick,  and  re- 
turning to  it  collected  a  numerous  congregation.  After  the  Revolution  lie  received 
calls  both  from  Kelso  and  Edinburgh  ;  but  nothing  coidd  induce  him  to  leave  Berwick, 
"  where  God  had  signally  supported,  owned,  and  blessed  him."  lie  died  there  in 
Ajiril  lOaf!,  aged  sixty-six.     "  lie  was  a  man  of  great  learning,"  suys  Dr  Calamy, 


572  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1680. 

meeting-house,  in  the  parish  of  Langton.*  The  like  course  was 
taken  with  others  indulged  about  Glasgow  and  the  west,  &c. 

In  the  latter  end  of  June,  the  Council  summoned  four  in  Fife  to 
appear  before  the  Council,  July  1  : — Mr  William  Row,  who  was 
challenged  for  employing  unlicensed  ministers  to  preach  for  him 
in  his  meeting-house,  &c. ;  Mr  John  Gray,t  who  was  challenged 
for  preaching,  bond  not  being  accepted,  nor  caution  found  for  him, 
and  for  not  appearing  before  the  Council,  according  to  the  act  of 
Council  in  November,  &c. ;  Mr  George  Hamilton,  who  was  chal- 
lenged for  the  same  things  that  Mr  Gray  was ;  and  Mr  James 
Eymer,  who  was  challenged  for  public  preaching  in  the  north  side 
of  Fife,  and  other  parts,  being  not  licensed,  and  only  a  probationer. 
In  the  beginning  of  July,  at  St  Andrews,  two  Prelates  were  conse- 
crated, and  three  translated. 

Mr  William  Row  compeared  before  the  Council,  July  8,  who, 
that  he  might  not  vex  the  Duke  his  Grace,  (for  the  Chancellor, 
before  he  came  from  Court,  was  made  Duke  of  Rothes,  Marquis  of 
Ballinbreich,  Earl  of  Leslie,  Viscount  of  Lugtoun,  Lord  of  Caskie- 
berry,  Baron  of  Auchmoutie,  &c.),  and  the  haill  Lords  of  his 
Majesty's  Secret  Council  with  any  prolix  discourse,  gave  in  his 
answers  to  the  charge  contained  in  his  summons  in  write,  in  a 
short  paper,  viz..  Answers  for  Mr  William  Row,  Minister  at  Ceres. 

"  The  said  Mr  William  is  convened  before  the  Right  Honourable 
the  Lords  of  his  Majesty's  Privy  Council,  as  having,  since  the  late 
allowance  and  liberty  granted  him  to  preach  in  the  parish  of  Ceres, 
employed  unlicensed  ministers  to  preach  for  him  there,  and  also  in 
regard  that  the  place  of  his  meeting  is  within  a  mile  of  the  parish 
kirk. 

"  And  as  to  the  first,  it  is  answered,  That  the  said  allowance  and 

"  and  particularly  well  skilled  in  ecclesiastical  history." — Palmer's  Nonconformists' 
Memorial,  ii.  244-246,  253. 

*  See  Wodrou!,  iii.  188. 

t  Mr  John  Gray  was  at  the  Eestoration  minister  of  Orwell,  in  the  Presbytery  of 
Dunfermline.  At  the  time  referred  to  in  the  text  the  Council  had  been  informed, 
that  he  had  preached  in  that  parish  upon  the  invitation  of  the  people,  in  the  prospect 
of  liis  being  indulged.— 1  roc/row's  History,  i.  328  ;  iii.  196. 


1G80.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  573 

liberty  being  granted  to  the  said  Mr  William,  out  of  his  ^Majesty's 
gracious  indulgence  to  dissenters,  and  upon  no  other  condition  than 
that  caution  was  found  for  the  said  Mr  William  his  living  peace- 
ably ;  he  humbly  conceives  that  his  employing  of  a  minister  now 
and  then  to  preach  for  him,  which  was,  in  effect,  very  seldom,  and 
always  of  peaceable  men,  under  no  law  censure  whatsoever,  and 
without  any  prohibition  notified  to  him  thereanent,  cannot  be  con- 
structed unpeaceableness,  or  any  breach  of  the  foresaid  caution ; 
especially  seeing  he  can  and  does  protest  to  their  Lords  in  all  sin- 
cerity that  he  hath  endeavovu'ed  always  to  live  peaceably,  as  much 
as  lieth  in  him,  and  to  have  a  conscience  void  of  offence  towards 
God  and  towards  all  men,  and  therefore  doth  in  this  matter  sub- 
mit himself  to  their  Lordships  in  all  humility.  And  as  to  the  se- 
cond point,  about  the  place  of  his  meeting,  he  humbly  represents 
that,  upon  trial,  it  will  be  found  that  the  said  place  of  his  meeting 
is  more  than  a  large  mile  and  a  quarter  from  the  parish  kirk,  and 
therefore  conceives  that  he  cannot,  on  this  groimd,  be  liable  to 
any  question.  However  on  this  also  he  submits  himself  to  their 
Lordships'  determination." 

This  paper  being  read,  the  Duke,  who  was  preses,  did  not  pro- 
pose any  interrogators  to  him;  but  he  being  removed  and  within  a 
little  being  called  in  again,  the  Duke  said  unto  him,  "  If  it  had 
not  been  his  Majesty's  command  to  us  that  none  should  be  al- 
lowed a  meeting-house  in  his  own  parish,  you  might  have  con- 
tinued preaching  in  your  parish,  but  seeing  the  King's  command 
to  his  Council '  is'  that  no  minister  shall  be  allowed  a  meeting  place 
in  his  own  parish,  the  Secret  Council  hereafter  discharge  you  to 
preach  in  that  place." 

Unto  this  sentence  he  silently  submitted,  being  moved  thereunto 
by  these  considerations :  1st,  Though  he  was  by  the  Council  dis- 
charged not  to  preach  in  that  place,  yet  no  promise  or  obligation 
was  either  required  or  given,  insinuating  his  purpose  of  obeying 
the  Council's  command ;  2dly,  He  willingly  chose  rather  to  be 
thouo-ht  by  the  Council  to  resolve  to  obey  the  Council's  command, 
discharging  him  to  preach  in  that  place  of  meeting,  than  to  be 


574  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1680. 

discharged  preaching  in  that  parish,  (wherein  he  still  continued  to 
dwell  since  he  was  outed,  Jan.  25,  1665,  and  to  preach  in  his 
dwelling-house,  or  other  houses  in  the  parish),  if  he  should  have 
declared  his  purpose  of  not  obeying  the  Council's  command,  for  in 
that  case,  w^ithout  aU  peradventure,  the  Council  would  not  only- 
have  discharged  him  to  preach  in  that  parish,  but  would  have  in- 
capacitated him  to  preach  either  in  that  parish  or  elsewhere  by  the 
severity  of  a  prison  house;  odly.  He  silently  submitted  to  the 
Council's  command,  because  in  his  paper  given  in  to  the  Council, 
containing  his  answer  to  the  charge  libelled  in  the  summons  against 
him  for  employing  unlicensed  ministers,  &c.,  he  does  in  that  mat- 
ter submit  himself  to  their  Lordships.  But  whereas  it  may  be  ob- 
jected that  honest  antiprelatic  ministers,  viz.,  Mr  Black,  Mr  Guth- 
rie, &c.,  would  never  submit  to  the  Council  that  they  were  judges 
of  ministers'  doctrine  prima  instantia,  it's  answered.  The  thing  that 
he  submitted  was  not  whether  the  Council  was  competent  judges 
of  ministers'  doctrine  j^rima  instantia,  which  is  not  at  all  mentioned 
in  that  paper,  but  whether  the  employing  of  peaceable  ministers 
that  were  under  no  law  censure  was  or  could  be  constructed  un- 
peaceableness,  or  living  unpeaceably. 

The  same  day,  viz.,  Jidy  8,  Mr  John  Gray  appeared  before  the 
Council,  who  very  modestly  and  wisely  answered  to  the  charge 
contained  in  his  summons.  The  Council's  sentence  against  him 
was  the  same  that  was  given  to  Mr  WiUiam  Eow,  save  that  he  was 
discharged  to  preach  in  that  parish  where  he  served  in  the  ministry, 
viz.,  the  parish  of  Orwell ;  he  for  the  present  dwelling  in  Dunferm- 
line for  the  education  of  his  children,  which  is  ten  or  twelve  miles 
distant  from  Orwell. 

Mr  George  Hamilton  compeared  before  the  Council  towards 
the  latter  end  of  July,  who,  in  answer  to  what  was  libelled  against 
him,  ingenuously  confessed  that  he  had  preached  in  the  parish  of 
Newburn  (which  was  his  owti  parish)  and  other  places  thereabout, 
but  not  out  of  any  contempt  of  authority.  Being  interrogated  if  he 
preached  in  the  fields?  Answered  negative.  If  there  were  any 
persons  without  doors,  and  if  he  stood  in  the  door  purposely  that 


l^SO.]  LIFE  OB^  ROBERT  BLAIR.  575 

they  that  were  without  might  hear?  Answered  negative.  Being  re- 
moved and  called  in  again,  the  Council's  sentence  against  him  was, 
That  he  was  discharged  to  preach  in  that  parish,  even  in  houses. 

Shortly  thereafter  ISIr  James  Eymer,  probationer,  appeared  be- 
fore the  Council.  The  Chancellor,  as  seemed,  favouring  him,  only 
interrogated  if  he  had  preached  in  the  fields.  He  answering  nega- 
tive was  removed ;  but  being  removed.  Prelate  Paterson  and  some 
others,  especially  Halton,  were  very  violent,  and  bitterly  incensed 
against  him,  alleging  that  he  deserved  a  most  sharp  censure  for 
several  faults  which  they  alleged  against  him  (the  thing  that 
sharpened  their  edge  against  him  was  because  he  was  accused  be- 
fore the  criminal  court  for  several  things  at  sundry  times  in  refe- 
rence to  the  murder  of  Prelate  Sharp,  and  not  long  before  this  for 
resetting  of  John  Balfour  and  David  Hackston,  two  of  the  murder- 
ers) ;  and  though  the  diet  was  deserted,  yet  he  was  not  fully  ab- 
solved. In  end,  there  was  such  heat  in  the  Council  betwixt  those 
that  favoured  Mr  Kymer  and  those  whose  edge  was  sharp  against 
him,  that  the  Chancellor  waiving  the  calling  him  in,  desired  the 
Council  to  fall  upon  another  business,  and,  in  the  close  of  their 
meeting  desired  the  clerk  to  tell  Mr  Rymer  that  he  was  free  to 
return  home,  and  that  he  was  dismissed. 

July  24,  David  Hackston,  before  he  was  imprisoned,  was 
brought  before  the  Council.  Being  interrogated  if  he  was  one  of 
the  murderers  of  the  Bishop  ;  A.  He  was  not  obliged  to  answer  or 
to  accuse  himself.  Q.  If  he  owned  the  King  or  his  authority  ?  A. 
Seeing  the  King's  authority  disowns  the  interest  of  God,  and  states 
itself  in  opposition  to  the  interest  of  Christ  Jesus,  it  is  no  more  to 
be  owned.  Q.  Whether  the  killing  of  the  Bishop  was  a  sin  and 
murder  ?  A.  It  was  neither  sin  nor  murder  to  despatch  such  a 
perjured  bloody  monster.  Q.  If  he  o^vned  Cameron's  Covenant  and 
Declaration.  A.  That  he  owned  them  in  all  the  particulars  there- 
of. Q.  If  he  were  at  liberty,  and  if  it  were  in  his  power,  whether 
or  not  he  would  kill  any  of  the  King's  Council  and  murder  them  ? 
&,c  ?  A.  He  was  not  obliged  to  answer  such  frivolous  and  childish 
questions.     The  Chancellor  said  to  him,  if  he  would  not  be  more 


576  LIFE  OF  EGBERT  BLAIR.  [1G80. 

ino-enuoiis,  that  he  Avould  be  presently  put  to  torture.  A.  That  Is 
but  a  little  addition  to  their  former  cruelty ;  that  he  expected  no  bet- 
ter ;  that  they  had  only  power  over  his  body,  &c. ;  excusing  himself 
that  he  could  not  answer  to  some  questions  by  reason  of  the  weak- 
ness of  his  body.  At  last  he  said,  "  Ye  know  youth-head  of  itself  is 
a  distraction,  and  I  in  my  young  years  was  led  aside  therewith, 
but  the  goodness  of  God  being  great  and  free,  I  was  reclaimed, 
and  now  I  am  a  prisoner  of  Jesus  Christ  for  adhering  to  his  cause 
and  interest,  which  has  been  sealed  by  the  blood  of  many  worthies, 
who  have  suffered  in  these  lands,  and  I  own  all  the  testimonies  given 
by  them."  Prelate  Paterson  questioned  '  him'  anent  that  article  of 
the  Confession  of  Faith, — That  difference  in  religion  doth  not  take 
away  *  the  magistrate's  just  and  lawful  authority.  A.  That  he 
would  make  no  answer  to  any  perjured  prelate.  Reply,  "  Thou 
wrongest  me,  for  I  never  took  the  Covenant."  But  shoi'tly  there- 
after, he  answered  to  another.  That  that  article  of  the  Confession 
of  Faith  was  cleared  by  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  which 
obliges  us  only  to  maintain  the  King  in  defence  of  religion,  which, 
(said  he),  we  were  ever  willing  to  do,  but  having  now  stated  him- 
self an  open  enemy  to  religion  and  all  religious  persons  it  is  time 
for  us  to  shake  off  his  bonds. 

These  things  being  read  to  him,  and  he  desired  to  subscribe  them, 
reftising,  the  Chancellor  did  it.  Thereafter  he  was  put  in  the 
Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh.  Some  of  the  Council  motioned  that  he 
should  be  put  in  the  boots ;  but  physicians  and  chirurgeons  said 
that  he  would  die  in  the  torture  by  reason  of  his  wounds.  So  it 
was  forborne  ;  yea,  they  had  a  singular  care  of  him,  causing  pansef 
his  wounds  and  ordering  his  diet,  &c.,  lest  he  should  die  before  he 
was  brought  to  the  scaffold. 

July  30,  being  brought  to  the  scaffold,  the  sentence  given  out 
against  him  was  executed  thus  :  1st,  His  two  hands  were  cut  off 
by  the  hangman  ;  2dly,  He  was  pulled  up  by  the  rope  about  his 
neck  by  a  pulley,  and  after  he  had  hung  a  little  space,  was  let 

*  Written  above  the  line,  in  the  same  hand,  "  make  void." 
t  Pause,  So.  dress  ;  Fr.  panser,  to  dress  wounds. 


1680.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  577 

down  and  laid  along  the  scaffold,  and  all  his  clothes  taken 
off  save  his  shirt ;  thereafter  pulled  up  again,  and  after  a  short 
space  let  down,  so  that  his  feet  touched  the  scaffold,  he  hang- 
ing in  that  posture,  the  executioner  ripped  up  his  breast  and 
took  out  his  heart,  (he  yet  being  living),  which  he  showed  to 
the  people  in  all  the  corners  of  the  scaffold,  saying,  "  There's 
the  heart  of  a  traitor,"  the  heart  stirring  upon  the  point  of 
the  knife ;  thereafter  all  his  entrails  were  taken  out  and  put 
in  a  vessel ;  thereafter  the  heart  and  all  the  entrails  were  burnt 
in  a  fire  brought  to  the  scaflfold.  Last,  his  arms  and  legs 
were  cut  off,  and,  with  the  head,  carried  away  to  the  hang- 
man's house  to  be  prepared  to  be  put  up.  His  head  and  two 
hands  were  put  up  on  the  Nether  Bow,  and  beside  it  the  head 
and  hands  of  John  FuUarton.  His  arms  and  legs  were  or- 
dained to  be  put  up  in  St  Andrews,  Leith,  Burntisland  and  Glas- 
gow. 

As  for  the  chapman,  John  Pouge,  though  they  tortured  him 
with  the  boots  in  a  most  severe  way,  yet  they  could  learn  no  more 
of  him  than  he  fi'eely  confessed ;  but  they  could  not  reach  his  life, 
he  being  taken  without  arms,  carrying  his  pack,  &c.  He  was  de- 
tained long  in  close  prison. 

As  for  the  other  two  prisoners  bi'ought  in  with  David  Hackston, 
they  were  hanged  in  the  Grassmarket,  August  13.  ^Miile 
David  Hackston  was  in  the  Tolbooth,  being  questioned  if  he 
desired  any  Presbyterian  minister  to  come  to  him,  and  be  with 
him  on  the  scaffold  ?  A.  That  he  would  have  none  that  were  in- 
dulged, or  that  owned  the  indulged  ministers,  or  heard  them 
preach :  if  he  could  get  any  that  was  clean  he  would  be  content  of 
them.  He  was  carried  from  the  Criminal  Court  to  Haddock's 
Hole,  and  within  a  little  carried  to  the  scaffold  u|K)n  a  hurdle, 
where  he  caiTied  very  unconcernedly  and  gallantly  notwithstand- 
ing of  the  gi-eat  torture.  He  spoke  but  little,  for  he  was  inter- 
rupted. They  of  his  persuasion  highly  commended  his  carriage 
on  the  scaffold,  and  way  of  dying.  Others  that  were  not  of  his 
persuasion  were  offended,  and  discommended  his  carriage  as  too 

2  o 


578  LTFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1680. 

Roman  like,  rather  than  Christian.  It  was  reported  that  he  would 
not  forgive  the  executioner. 

About  this  time  some  leading  men  of  the  Court  party  died,  the 
Marquis  of  Ormond's  eldest  son,  and  some  prelates  ;  so  that  their 
party  was  much  weakened  thereby.  Notwithstanding,  the  sitting 
of  the  Parliament  was  stiU  from  time  to  time,  though  promised 
upon  the  word  of  a  King,  denied,  and  the  Parliament  often  adjourn- 
ed from  one  month  to  another,  &c.  When  there  was  a  likelihood 
of  the  Parliament's  sitting,  then  the  current  news  was  the  Duke  of 
York  and  Lauderdale  were  coming  down  to  live  in  Scotland,  and 
in  October,  (in  which  month  the  King  had  solemnly  promised 
that  the  Parliament  should  sit,  upon  the  royal  word  of  a  King,) 
it  was  constantly  reported,  and  private  letters  carried  it,  that 
Lauderdale  was  to  come  from  the  baths  and  land  at  Greenock. 

After  the  meeting-houses  -were  discharged  there  was  great  peace 
and  liberty  in  Fife  to  preach  in  houses.  So  all  the  Fife  ministers 
that  lived  in  Fife  were  busy  preaching  in  private  houses  ;  some  in 
the  houses  where  they  sojourned,  others  in  other  houses  of  well 
affected  gentlemen,  according  as  they  were  invited.  This  did  so 
pique  the  Prelates,  especially  Burnet  and  Paterson,  that  Prelate 
Burnet  did  in  open  Council  complain,  that  now  since  the  meeting- 
houses were  discharged,  there  were  more  conventicles  in  gentle- 
men's houses  then  there  had  been  when  ministers  were  allowed 
meeting-houses ;  and  besides  Fife  ministers,  there  were  several 
ministers  of  different  persuasions  that  came  over  from  Lothian 
to  Fife  that  were  very  busy  preaching  in  Fife,  viz.,  Messrs  William 
Kemp,  John  Rae,  'Robert'  Langlands,  &c.,  who  were  brought 
over  upon  design  to  break  the  ministry  and  reputation  of  Fife 
ministers,  and  to  bring  their  persons  and  preaching  into  con- 
tempt among  the  people,  among  whom  they  did  much  evil.  Some 
people  being  of  itching  ears,  unsound  minds,  and  having  much 
blind  zeal,  were  perverted,  refusing  to  hear  any  ministers  that  were 
not  as  wild  and  wrong  as  themselves ;  others  that  came  over,  after 
better  information  from  judicious  and  sober  Christians,  did  what 
they  could  by  conference  and  preaching  strive  to  reclaim  those 


1680.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  579 

that  were  indeed  fanatics  in  a  proper  sense,  viz.  Messrs  Samuel 
Araot,  William  Reid,  William  Lamb,*  &c. 

But  while  there  was  much  peace  and  quietness  in  Fife,  there 
being  no  soldiers  in  it,  there  was  set  persecution  and  meikle 
trouble  in  other  parts,  viz.,  Tiviotdale,  and  the  west,  &c.  In 
harvest,  some  ministers  were  taken,  viz.  Mr  John  Dickson,  (who 
all  along  was  vehement  against  the  indulgence  and  late  liberty, 
and  sometimes  came  to  Fife  to  pervert  and  lead  away  disciples, 
&c.,)  was  taken,  and  shortly  thereafter  was  sent  to  the  Bass.  Mr 
Alexander  Hastie  was  taken  in  the  night,  and  detained  in  Glasgow 
Tolbooth.  Mr  Archibald  Riddell  was  taken  in  Tiviotdale  by  the 
Sheriff,  'and'  brought  to  Edinburgh  Tolbooth.  When  he  was 
examined  by  the  Committee  of  the  Council,  he  refused  to  answer 
Prelate  Paterson's  questions,  but  answered  Linlithgow.  Q.  If  he 
had  preached  since  the  Indemnity,  not  being  allowed  by  the 
Council  ?  A.  He  did  not  receive  his  commission  from  the  Council, 
but  from  Jesus  Christ ;  therefore  did  not  cease  to  preach,  though 
he  had  not  allowance  from  the  Council,  &c.  Pie  was  detained  in 
the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh. 

The  peace  and  quietness  and  frequent  preachings  in  Fife  were 
the  great  eye-sore  of  Prelate  Burnet  (who  now  began  to  show  his 
teeth)  and  Paterson.  When  Burnet  complained  of  the  conventi- 
cles in  Fife,  the  Chancellor  alleged  that  now  Fife  was  orderly  and 
peaceable,  and  that  there  were  no  conventicles  in  it,  &c. ;  which 
occasioned  the  two  prelates  to  write  to  the  King  that  now  there 
were  many  conventicles  in  Fife.  It  was  reported  that  they  sent 
up  all  the  Fife  ministers'  names,  with  the  places  they  used  to 
preach  in,  &c.  And  because  the  Chancellor  took  it  evil  that  the 
prelate  should  have  publicly  complained  of  Fife,  not  having  first 
spoken  to  him  thereof,  they  wrote  to  the  King  that  it  was  not  true, 
which  the  Chancellor  had  said  in  face  of  Council,  viz.,  that  there 
were  not  now  any  conventicles  in  Fife.     Crescant  Utes. 

All  this  while  by-past,  Mr  Donald  Cargill,  since  his  escape  at  the 

*  Here  there  is  written  on  the  marj;in  of  Dr  Lee's  MS.,—"  Sjioke  by  the  spirit  of 
an  induiRed  coniplicr,  they  heinji  worthy,  good  men,  godly,  eminent  gospel  ministers." 

2  o  2 


580  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1680. 

Queensferry,  is  roving  up  and  down  West  Lothian  and  farthei" 
west,  and  in  Stirlingshire,  keeping  field  conventicles  and  venting 
strange  doctrines.  In  September,  on  a  Lord's  day,  preaching  at 
the  Tonvood,  he  did  very  summarily,  yet  formally,  excommunicate 
the  King,  Duke  of  York,  Monmouth,  Lauderdale,  the  Chancellor, 
King's  Advocate,  General  Dalziel,  giving  reasons  of  their  excom- 
munications. This  by  sober  men  or  ministers  was  judged  a  very 
wild  prank,  ne  duriiis  dicam.  Shortly  after  preaching  in  the  fields 
at  Craigwood,  he  was  hotly  pursued  by  some  troopers,  and  his 
horse  shot  under  him,  which  died  at  Linlithgow  Bridge,  but  Don- 
ald escaped ;  only  some  four  or  five  persons  that  had  been  hearing 
him,  coming  to  Linlithgow,  were  apprehended  and  incarcerated  in 
Edinburcrh. 

On  the  penult  Sabbath  of  October  24,  he  came  over  to  Fife  to 
keep  a  field  conventicle,  bringing  with  him  several  persons,  both 
men  and  women  of  his  persuasion  or  rather  distraction,  from  Glas- 
gow, Borrowstounness,  Edinburgh,  &c.  He  was  directed  to  Hill 
Toarse,*  in  the  parish  of  Ceres,  supposing,  as  seems,  that  James 
Ness,  one  of  the  tenants  there,  had  been  seduced  by  John  Hen- 
derson, (an  ignorant,  proud,  presumptuous,  crack-brained  sectary), 
who  now  was  Mr  Cargill's  servant  and  armour-bearer,  after  Kinkell 
had  rejected  him  because  of  his  wildness  and  folly.  This  man 
made  it  his  work,  compassing  sea  and  land,  to  make  proselytes,  and 
had  seduced  some  few  ignorant  and  simple  well-meaning  persons 
in  the  east  end  of  Fife,  especially  in  the  moors,  mostly  women,  as 
he  had  seduced  such  persons  about  Borrowstounness,  Linlithgow, 
&c.  Ml-  Donald  kept  his  field  conventicle  near  to  the  town  of 
Hill  Toarse,*  with  the  company  he  brought  with  him,  and  some  few 
seduced  persons  in  the  moors.  Their  number  was  not  a  little  aug- 
mented through  a  mistake  of  several  persons  that  were  going  to 
hear  a  sermon  in  Letham  barn,  who  seeing  Mr  Cai-gill  and  his  com- 
pany, supposed  that  they  had  been  going  to  hear  sermons  in  James 
Ness's  barn.  Not  knowing  who  they  were,  they  followed  them  ; 
but  when  they  perceived  their  mistake,  and  offered  to  withdraw, 

*  This  may  be  meant  for  Halteis,  a  tann  town  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ceres. 


1680.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  581 

Mr  Carglll's  armed  men,  whom  he  brought  with  him,  compelled 
them  to  go  with  them,  and  forced  them  to  stay  and  hear  him  ;  yea, 
they  roving  about  in  the  fields,  forced  all  they  could  apprehend,  even 
some  that  were  going  to  kirks,  to  go  and  hear  Mr  Cargill,  holding 
loaded  pistols  to  their  breasts.  Mr  Cargill,  in  his  confused  rhai>- 
sody  of *,  uttered  and  denounced  many  woes  and  judg- 
ments against  all  the  ministers  and  professors  in  Fife,  which  made 
some  of  those  that  were  constrained  to  come  and  hear  them  with- 
draw from  him  in  the  afternoon,  f  That  Sabbath,  in  the  night, 
he  came  to  Kirkcaldy,  (where  the  Chancellor  was  waiting  for  the 
Duke  of  York's  landing),  and  lurked  all  IMonday  in  a  private 
house  till  Tuesday's  night,  when  he  crossed  at  Burntisland,  and 
the  Sabbath  following,  October  31,  he  preached  in  the  fields  be- 
south  Linlithgow. 

After  several  prorogations  of  the  Parliament  of  England,  it  sat 
down,  Thursday,  October  21.  1680.  The  King  had  a  long  speech 
to  them.  See  the  printed  paper.  Veneris,  The  Parliament  chose 
W.  Williams  $  speaker ;  which  they  represented  to  the  King,  be- 
ing convened  in  the  House  of  Peers,  and  adjourned  till  Monday. 
Lunce,  The  Lords  sent  a  message  to  the  Commons  shoAving  that 
they  had  made  an  address  to  the  King,  that  they  minded  to  attend 
the  King,  and  desire  that  he  would  issue  out  a  proclamation,  that 
if  any  person  within  two  months  would  give  evidence  of  the  hor- 
rid plot,  §  that  the  King  would  pardon  such  of  treason,  &c.  The 
King  returned  a  gracious  answer  to  the  address.  One  Mr  Danger- 
field  gave  evidence  of  the  plot,  and  made  mention  of  one  Sir  lio- 
bert  Pyton.  Resolved,  nemine  contradicente,  that  it  is  the  opinion  of 
the  House  to  proceed  effectually  to  suppress  Popery  and  prevent 
a  Popish  successor.  ||     Mercurii,  27th  October,  another  address  to 

*  Blank  in  MS. 

t  "  A  rhapsody  of  the  language  of  Aslulod,  from  one  indulged.  Not  true."  On 
margin  of  Dr  Lee's  copy. 

t  William  Williams,  Esq.  of  Gray's  Inn. 

§  This  refers  to  the  Popish  v>lot  to  murder  Charles  II..  and  establish  Popery  in 
Britain,  which  excited  great  alarm  in  England,  and  engaged  n  large  share  of  the  at- 
tention of  Parliament. 

II  The  motion  to  this  effect  was  made  by  Lord  Russcl,  who  was  afterwards  cxectitrd. 


582  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.         •      [1680. 

the  King,  to  the  same  purpose  that  the  Lords'  address  was,  against 
the  p[lot],  and  for  pardon  of  the  discoverers  of  it.  Resolved, 
nemine  contradicente,  showing  the  legality  and  necessity  of  petition- 
ing the  King  for  calling  and  sitting  of  Parliaments.  Resolved, 
nemine  contradicente,  against  the  traducers  and  hinderers  of  such 
petitions,  as  turbidous  and  seditious,  as  betrayers  of  the  liberty  of 
the  subjects,  and  introducing  arbitrary  power.  A  committee  ap- 
pointed to  search  out  such  persons.  Resolved,  that  an  address  be 
made  to  the  King,  declaring  the  House's  resolution  to  support  the 
King's  person  and  government,  and  the  Protestant  religion  at  home 
and  abroad ;  '  that'  one  Sir  Robert  Canne  of  the  House  of  Commons 
be  committed  to  the  Tower  for  saying  that  there  was  no  Popish 
plot,  but  a  Presbyterian  one.  The  King's  gracious  answer  to  the 
address  for  pardon, — that  he  did  intend  to  direct  a  proclamation, 
and  was  resolved  not  only  to  pursue  the  plot,  but  Popery  also,  and 
to  take  care  of  the  Protestant  religion ;  and  if  the  House  go  on 
calmly,  without  heats,  he  did  not  doubt  but  to  beat  down  Popery 
and  all  that  belongs  to  it.  Resolved,  That  the  House  will  farther 
proceed  to  the  full  examination  of  the  Popish  plot,  in  order  to 
bring  the  offenders  to  justice.  The  King's  answer  to  the  address, 
&c. : — "  Gentlemen,  I  thank  you  very  heartily  for  your  zeal  for  the 
Protestant  religion.  I  assure  you  there  shall  be  nothing  wanting 
on  my  part,  at  home  or  abroad,  to  [&c]."  A  Committee  appointed 
to  revise  the  journals  of  the  two  last  Parliaments,  concerning  the 
Popish  plot,  and  ordered  to  sit  de  die  in  diem.  Resolved,  That 
the  Duke  of  York  being  a  PajDist,  and  the  hopes  of  his  coming 
such  to  the  crown  hath  given  the  o-reatest  countenance  and  encou- 
ragement  to  the  present  designs  and  conspiracies  against  the  King 
and  Protestant  religion  [&c].  Resolved,  That  in  defence  of  the 
King's  person  and  government,  and  of  the  Protestant  religion,  this 
House  declares  that  they  will  stand  by  his  Majesty  with  their  lives 
and  fortunes ;  and  that  if  his  Majesty  shall  be  taken  away  by  a  violent 
death,  (which  God  forbid),  they  will  revenge  it  to  the  uttermost 
on  the  Papists.  Resolved,  That  a  bill  be  brought  in  to  disenable 
the  Duke  of  York  to  inherit  the  imperial  crown  of  England  and 


1680.]  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  583 

Ireland.  A  committee  appointed  to  prepare  the  bUl.  The  jour- 
nals ordained  to  be  printed. 

About  the  time  of  the  down-sitting  of  the  English  Parliament, 
news  comes  to  Scotland  that  the  Duke  of  York  and  his  Ds.  [Duchess] 
were  again  coming  to  Scotland  by  sea,  which  made  thinking  men 
conclude  that  the  Parliament  would  sit,  and  that  the  Duke  appre- 
hended that  it  was  not  safe  for  him  to  stay  at  Court,  and  that  he 
would  not  be  permitted  to  sit  in  Parliament.  On  Saturday,  Oc- 
tober 23,  the  Chancellor  being  attended  with  some  noble  and 
gentlemen,  and  four  trumpeters,  crossed  at  Burntisland,  intending, 
it  seemed,  to  attend  the  Duke's  landing  at  Leith ;  but  he  crossed 
again.  Sabbath,  24th.  October,  and  came  to  Kirkcaldy,  and  there 
staid  until  the  Duke  landed  there,  October  26.  Presently  after 
the  Duke's  landing,  he  and  his  Ds.,  [Duchess]  with  their  atten- 
dants, took  coach,  and  came  to  Leslie,  attended  by  several  noble 
and  gentlemen  who  were  convened  by  the  Chancellor's  order. 
They  staid  at  Leslie,  where  they  were  sumptuously  entertained, 
until  October  29.  From  Leslie  they  were  conveyed  by  a  con- 
siderable train.  They  landed  at  Leith  in  the  afternoon,  and  were 
conveyed  to  the  Abbey  by  a  great  train ;  all  the  heritors  in  the 
three  Lothians  and  Stirlingshire  being  convened  by  the  Sherift's 
orders. 

While  our  nobles,  especially  the  Counsellors,  were  thus  embrac- 
ing and  attending  the  Duke  of  York,  a  declared  Papist,  the  country 
and  honest  party  in  England  are  as  much  in  courting  and  attend- 
ing the  Duke  of  Monmouth,  not  only  in  the  city  of  London,  but 
wherever  he  went  in  the  country  :  especially  at  Exon  [Exeter] 
thirteen  hundred  and  fifty,  in  white,  run  before  him,  being  at- 
tended by  a  numerous  train  on  horseback  and  in  coaches.  All  this 
while  by-past,  the  Lord  Melvill,  his  faithful  counsellor,  was  with 
him.  About  this  time  there  came  to  Scotland  a  very  smart  paper, 
entitled,  "  A  Letter  to  a  Person  of  Honour  concerning  the  King's 
disowning  his  marriage  with  the  Duke  of  Monniouth's  mother." 
(See  the  paper.)  Shortly  thereafter  came  another  larger  book, 
called,  "  The  History  of  the  Damnable  Popish  Plot,  in  its  various 


584  LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  [1680. 

Branches  and  Progress,  published  for  the  Satisfaction  of  the  Pre- 
sent and  Future  Ages ;  by  the  Authors  of  the  Weekly  Packet 
of  Advice  fi-om  Rome — 

Nil  erit  ulterius  quod  vestris  moribus  addat 
Posteritas. 

"  Printed  at  London,  to  be  Sold  on  Ludgate  Hill ;  1 680."  Dedi- 
cated to  both  Houses  of  the  Parliament  of  England.  The  Con- 
tents, Caps.  25,  with  an  Appendix. 

Those  called  the  authors  of  the  Weekly  Packet  of  Advice  from 
Rome  were  some  very  intelligent  persons,  both  divines  and  law- 
yers, who  weekly  wrote  against  the  chief  damnable  heresies  of  the 
Kirk  of  Rome,  first  in  a  solid,  serious  way  of  refutation,  and  then 
in  a  drolling,  jeering  way.  One  of  them  was,  by  the  Council,  put 
upon  the  pillory,  and  disgracefully  used ;  but,  to  repair  him,  the 
Parliament  employed  him  to  cause  print  their  journals.  Also 
there  was  "  A  Very  FuU  and  Clear  Discovery  of  the  P.  P.,  [Popish 
Plot]"  by  one  Mr  Smith,  dedicated  to  the  King,  wherein  was 
very  free  language  even  to  the  King  himself. 

There  were  many  excellent  speeches  and  reports  of  the  Com- 
mons for  secluding  the  D.  Y.  [Duke  of  York]  and  of  some  of  the 
peers,  viz.,  "  An  Answer  to  the  King's  Speech  in  Parliament, 
desiring  Moneys  for  Tangier ;"  and  another,  called  "  A  Letter  from 
a  Citizen  to  a  Fi-iend  in  Scotland." 


APPENDIX. 


[In  the  following  Appendix,  we  have  considered  it  proper  to  give  what 
Wodrow  calls  a  "  Continuation  of  the  Life  of  Mr  Robert  Blair,  by  his 
son,  Mr  James  Blaii\"  This  Continuation,  it  will  be  observed,  takes  up  the 
history  at  the  point  where  the  Autobiography  closes,  (see  Life,  p.  108.) 
The  first  part  of  it  may  very  likely  have  been  the  composition  of  James 
Blair,  from  the  writer  including  himself  as  Blair's  son,  among  the  passen- 
gers in  the  voyage  to  New  England,  and  we  know  that  this  could  not 
apply  to  any  of  Blair's  surviving  sons,  who  were  not  then  born.  But  as 
James  Blair  died  in  October  1655,  (see  Life,  p.  320,)  it  is  equally  ap- 
parent that  he  could  not  have  written  the  latter  part  of  this  Continuation, 
which  extends  beyond  that  period.  This  portion  may  probably  be  as- 
cribed to  David,  another  of  Blair's  sons,  who  became  one  of  the  ministers 
of  Edinburgh  after  the  Revolution. — Ed.J 


APPENDIX. 


CONTINUATION 

OF  TUB 

LIFE  OF  BIR  ROBERT  BLAIR, 

BY  HIS  SON, 

MK  JAMES  ELAIli.* 

Hereafter  little  thing  considerable  can  be  expected  but  to  proceed  in 
the  history  of  the  voyage.  After  this  was  nothing  but  breach  upon  breach, 
eveiy  day  producing  a  new  danger,  as  first  tiic  breaking  of  the  rudder, 
which  was  marvellously  cured  by  the  courage  of  a  common  seaman.  Our 
first  morning  news  was  that  all  night  we  had  been  in  the  jaws  of  death. 
Next  a  great  beam  that  fastened  the  ship  from  the  one  side  to  the  other  was 
by  the  violence  of  the  storm  broken  in  two ;  then,  by  the  flowing  of  the 
sea,  a  part  of  the  over-loft  of  the  ship  was  broken  through,  and  fell  near 
where  a  new  delivered  woman  lay.  Thereafter  a  dangerous  leak  broke 
up  in  the  keel  of  the  ship,  which  was  stopped  with  laylics  of  beef,  and 
such  other  calfine  f  as  was  at  hand.  This  was  the  greatest  hazard  of  all, 
for  the  ship  was  in  peril  of  sinking,  which  put  all  to  pumping  day  and 
night ;  besides  the  breaking  of  the  main  slirowds  and  gallion  licad.  All 
the  time  of  this  greatest  hazard  the  ship  was  lying  at  hull. 

At  the  time  of  the  breaking  the  rudder  the  skippcr'.s  mate,  despairing 
of  life,   was   put  to  his  prayers,   and  coming  to  the  deck  ^vi-ingiiig  his 

*  Wodrow  MS8.,  vol.  xviii.,  4to,  no.  16. 

t  Tay/ws— wedges.     Caljine,  or  co//in— wadding. 


588  APPENDIX  TO  THE 

hands,  said,  "  God  be  merciful  to  us,  we  are  all  gone."  My  father  sent 
him  that  word  that  he  would  prove  a  liar,  and  that  it  was  not  possible 
for  such  a  company,  venturing  upon  such  an  account,  they  could  perish, 
but  that  they  should  rather  have  wings  to  flee  a-land ;  but  as  to  the  great 
danger,  the  seamen  unanimously  declared  they  could  stay  out  no  longer 
without  being  swallowed  up,  the  ship  being  so  sore  tossed  and  toi-n,  and 
withal  desired  vehemently  a  return,  having  a  tempestuous  contrary  wind. 
My  father  requested  they  would  hold  out  one  night  longer,  which  whole 
night  w^as  most  solemnly  and  seriously  spent  in  prayer  by  every  family 
apart ;  none  sleeped  that  night  but  children.  In  the  morning  there  was 
a  convocation  of  all  the  heads  of  families  to  determine  whether  they 
should  go  on  or  return.  After  my  father  had  most  seriously  besought 
the  Lord  for  clearing  up  in  the  matter,  the  English  skipper  declared  till 
he  gave  the  word  there  should  be  no  laying  about.  Perceiving  the  stress 
of  all  lying  upon  him,  he  instantly  fainted  ;  and  lying  as  dead  a  little, 
with  great  cheerfulness  and  joy  of  spirit,  reviving,  consented  to  the  return, 
and  said  that  the  Lord  had  accepted  their  offer  of  service,  and  that  it 
should  be  seen  and  known  why  they  were  brought  back  to  Europe  again 
(being,  as  was  conjectured,  now  more  than  mid-way).  This  sweet  frame  of 
spirit  continued  not  only  all  the  time  of  returning,  but  a  great  while  after. 
The  whole  time  of  the  voj'^age,  from  loosing  to  landing,  was  nine  weeks. 
The  passengers  were  afraid  at  their  landing  to  have  met  with  scoffing 
and  mocking  from  the  Prelatic  party,  but  it  was  so  ordered  that  their 
public  exercise  upon  the  Psalms,  which  was  twice  a  day,  was  come  the 
length  of  the  65th  Psalm  at  their  outgoing,  "  Which  stUleth  the  noise  of 
the  seas,  the  noise  of  their  waves,  and  the  tumults  of  the  people,"  and  so 
indeed  it  proved. 

It  is  to  be  observed  that  there  did  creep  in  a  private  family  upon  their 
own  by-ends,  without  the  advice  or  knowledge  of  the  undertakers,  being 
five  in  all,  '  who  all'  died  except  one  ;  whereas,  of  all  the  passengers  the 
entire  number  that  went  in,  came  so  out  also,  one  child  dying,  another  was 
born  in  its  stead  by  one  and  the  same  mother.  Thei-e  were  many  prayers 
for  the  retui-n  of  that  ship.  There  was  much  joy  at  the  return,  and  as 
much  amazement  to  their  adversaries. 

No  sooner  did  they  arrive,  which  Avas  in  that  very  harbour  they  did 
loose  from,  but  after  a  few  days,  there  did  arise  a  storm  at  land  ;  for  by 
an  order  from  the  Star  Chamber,  pursuivants  were  hounded  out  for  ap- 


LIFE  OF  liOBERT  BLAIR.  58'J 

prehending  all  nonconform  ministers  in  the  county  of  Down.    Having  pri- 
vate advertisements,  every  one  was  put  to  their  shifts.    IMr  '  Robert'  Cun- 
ningham, Mr  Livingstone  and  my  father,  came  to  Scotland.      Shortly 
after  IMr  Cunningham  ended  his  life  in  Irvine,   where  my  father  did  re- 
side for  a  time.    Shortly  after,  he  [my  father]  engaged  with  Waughton  to  go 
to  France  as  minister  to  Colonel  Hepburn's  regiment.     Tliis  was  in  July 
1 637.     The  voyage  was  laid  aside  for  some  weeks,  till  September  that  same 
year,  at  which  time  he  was  shipped  in  the  Road  of  Leith,  where  he  con- 
tinued two  days  in  the  time  of  a  great  tempest,  in  which  time  there  arose  a 
mutiny  among  the  soldiers.     Being  wearied  with  that  wicked  crew,  '  he' 
came  ashore  with  great  hazard  of  '  his '  life.    About  this  '  time,'  in  the  end 
of  July,  thei-e  was  a  great  tumult  anent  the  casting  of  the  stools.*     Upon 
this  supplications,  declarations  and  protestations,  &c.,  came  in  against  the 
bishops  and  their  usurpations  thick  and  threefold.    Immediately  after  land- 
ing, he  was  employed  in  drawing  a  petition,  which  was  presented  by  the 
wives  of  Edinburgh  unto  Traquair  f  the  Commissioner.     Shortly  after 
this  he  returned  to  Ii-vine,  where  he  remained  the  w^hole  winter  after,  fre- 
quently preaching  there  and  elsewhere  about.    It  must  not  be  omitted,  that 
one  day  walking  in  the  fields  with  his  brother,  who  said  unto  him,  he  could 
not  sleep  in  the  night  for  anxious  thoughts  how  he  and  his  family  should 
be  maintained,  living  now  upon  the  remainder  of  what  was  left  after  the 
long  sea  voyage,  his  whole  stock  being  employed  that  way,  he  replied  that 
he  was  hke  a  city  besieged,  and  ere  the  provision  was  spent  the  siege 
would  be  raised.     His  brother  said,  Think  you  so  ?  He  replied,  I  not  only 
think  so,  but  am  confident  of  it ;  and  so  it  came  to  pass,  for  in  the  Feb- 
ruary after,  the  Covenant  being  renewed,  he  shortly  thereafter  got  a  call 
to  be  minister  of  Ayr,  where  he  had  as  much  respect  and  love  as  a  minis- 
ter was  capable  of,  till  by  the  Assembly  of  Gla^sgow  1G38,  he  was  trans- 
ported to  St  Andrews,  but  gave  not  obedience  thereunto  till  it  was  again 
renewed  by  the  next  Assembly  1639. 

The  summer  before,  he  went  out  with  my  Lord  Boyd's  regiment  to 
Dunse  Law.     In  September  he  and  his  family  were  transported  to  St 

*  Referring  to  the  tumult  in  St  Giles',  Edinburgh,  which  began  by  the  women 
throwing  their  stools  at  the  otheiating  clergyman. 

t  "  This  is  a  mistake.  Traquair  was  not  Conmiissioner  till  lG3'.t.  —  A../r  ./  W  od- 
row  on  the  margin  of  the  MS.  Row  says,  more  correctly,  "  Treasurer  Traquair.  -Sec 
Life,  p.  193. 


590  APPENDIX  TO  THE 

Andrews.  In  the  summer  following,  an  army  going  in  to  England 
he  went  along  with  my  Lord  Lindsay's  regiment,  where  he  was  mer- 
cifully preserved  in  a  hot  skirmish  at  Newburn.  Immediately  after, 
there  going  up  Commissioners  from  the  army  to  London,  he  was 
appointed  to  go  along  '  with  them,'  where  he  resided  near  a  year ; 
in  which  time  Canterbury  and  Strafford  both  suflfered,  he  being  an 
eye-witness.  He  was  appointed  by  the  Assembly  1642,  to  go  to 
Ireland,  where  he  continued  four  months,  receiving  the  acknowledg- 
ments of  several  thousands  of  an  oath  which  Strafford  had  unlawfully 
imposed  upon  them  of  renouncing  the  Scots  Covenant.  The  sum- 
mer thereafter,  the  Solemn  League  and  Covenant  was  drawn,  which 
occasioned  a  new  ingoing  to  England,  where  he  went  the  second  time 
with  my  Lord  Crawford's  regiment  for  six  months,  where  he  was  at 
Long  Marston  Moor  preserved  in  marvellous  danger.  Shortly  after,  he 
returned  home,  feverish  most  part  of  the  way,  and  had  a  child  born  to 
him  within  four  or  five  hours,  the  latter  end  of  July  1644.  The  1st  of 
September  came  that  fatal  day  of  Typpermoor,  where  many  of  the  inha- 
bitants of  St  Andrews  were  cut  off.  My  father  followed  them  to  the 
port  to  have  prayed,  but  they  were  gone  ere  he  came,  which  he  looked 
on  as  a  malum  omen.  In  October  thereafter  he  preached  at  the  opening 
up  of  the  Synod  of  Fife,  on  Job  xvii.  8,  9.  All  that  year  there  was 
nothing  but  one  disaster  upon  the  back  of  another  till  September  13,  1645, 
which  was  Philiphaugh,  which  was  a  time  of  rejoicing  to  aU  honest 
people,  where,  at  the  thanksgiving  in  Dundee,  IMi'  Affleck  asserted  that 
all  this  delivery  was  the  effect  of  our  fasting  and  praying  and  tears.  But 
my  father  the  next  day  at  St  Andrews,  said  that  the  Lord  had  not  only 
taken  the  land  at  their  weakest,  but  at  their  wickedest,  and  thereby 
magnified  the  riches  of  the  free  mercy  of  God.  In  the  January  there- 
after, 1646,  there  being  some  executed  by  the  order  of  the  Parliament 
sitting  there,  some  wicked  malignants  did  most  unjustly  calumniate  him 
for  vindicating  the  servants  of  God. 

In  May  thereafter,  the  Assembly  sitting  at  Edinburgh,  he  was 
chosen  Moderator.  Thereafter  Mr  Douglas,  Mr  Cant,  and  he,  were 
sent  by  the  General  Assembly  to  the  King  at  Newcastle,  where  he 
was  detained  by  account  of  Mr  Henderson's  sickness,  to  wait  upon 
the  King.  After  he  had  staid  many  days,  and  several  debates  passed, 
at  last  he  took  leave  and  came  away.    After  he  was  gone,  the  King  com- 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  591 

manded  to  draw  up  a  signature  '  for  him'  to  be  his  minister  in  Scotland, 
and  said  he  was  the  most  prudent  and  moderate  among  them.  Thereafter 
perceiving  that  several  did  ofFend  at  that  benefice,  he  intended  to  have 
quit  it,  but  advising  with  Mr  David  Dickson,  he  said,  "  What !  Trow 
you  that  God  hath  forgotten  that  you  ventured  yourself  and  all  you  had 
for  him  ?  He  will  let  you  well  to  mt  that  he  will  not  be  owing  you  a 
place  neither  of  principal  nor  annual  rent,  though  it  was  ten  year  before, 
and  that  it  was  honourable  to  God  and  encouraging  to  all  sufferers  not 
to  be  afraid  to  venture  upon  sufferings."  While  he  was  at  Newcastle 
there  was  a  very  public  debate  with  the  King,  wherein  my  father  said 
that  it  did  not  become  subjects  to  enter  in  contrary  terms  before  so  public 
an  auditory,  but  thought  it  fit  that  there  should  be  some  few  nominated 
to  hear  a  private  conference  with  the  King.  Duke  Hamilton  asked  the 
King  what  he  thought  of  the  overture.  He  said.  That  man  uses  not  to 
speak  without  good  reason  and  great  weight.  When  the  conference 
was  begun,  the  King  said  there  was  never  such  pains  taken  to  convert 
him.  My  father  replied.  There  were  two  sorts  of  conversion,  either  to  the 
state  of  gi'ace,  or  to  another  religion,  and  he  hoped  he  was  of  the  same  re- 
ligion with  us.  He  said  it  was  true,  but  that  there  were  many  things  in 
the  Romish  religion  that  he  could  not  condemn.  Whereupon  Mr  Cant 
said.  We  ever  suspected  this,  but  now  we  have  it  fi'om  his  own  mouth. 
Whereat  the  King,  highly  offended,  said  in  a  passion,  He  hoped  to  adhere  to 
his  principles,  when  he  [Cant]  would  flinch  from  his.  My  father  said.  Are 
there  not  some  things  in  the  Romish  religion  that  ere  he  embi-aced  them 
he  had  rather  lose  his  crown  ?  He  took  a  deep  asseveration,  ■\\ath  his  head 
in  liis  two  hands,  that  there  were  some  things  in  Popery  to  which,  ere  he 
condescended,  he  would  not  only  lose  his  crown,  but  his  head.  But 
shortly  after,  the  army  marched  to  Scotland  and  left  him  with  the  Eng- 
lish. 

In  August  1647,  my  father  preached  at  the  opening  up  of  the 
General  Assembly.  Presently  after,  he  went  a  visit  to  the  west.  In 
September  1648,  the  engaging  army  being  defeated,  he  went  over  to  Edin- 
burgh, and  there  was  employed  in  the  treaty  at  the  Turwood  ^\^th  George 
Monroe  and  others.  After  the  close  of  the  treaty,  under  the  conduct  of 
Cromwell  came  in  the  English  army  pursuing  the  Engagers.  Thereafter 
he  was  appointed  to  go  to  London  with  other  Commissioners  to  keep  a 
o'ood  understanding  betwixt  the  two  nations.     In  November  1648,  many 


592  APPENDIX  TO  THE 

things  passed  at  that  transaction,  and  though  Cromwell  had  several  times 
desired  to  speak  with  him,  yet  he  never  met  with  him,  nor  saw  his  face. 
In  January  1 649,  a  criminal  court  did  arraign  and  condemn  the  King. 
Before  sentence  was  passed  there  came  from  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk 
a  Declaration  against  Toleration,  containing  something  in  the  close  as  a 
protestation  against  the  taking  of  the  King's  life.  Likewise  the  Commis- 
sioners themselves  gave  in  a  particular  protestation  against  taking  of  the 
King's  life,  (which  thereafter  was  made  one  of  the  grounds  of  the  English 
invasion).  The  day  befoi-e  the  King  suffered  he  sent  a  servant  to  my 
father  desiring  that  he  might  attend  him  at  his  death,  which  he  endea- 
voured with  all  possible  diligence,  but  could  not  obtain  liberty,  though 
he  went  to  General  Fairfax  for  that  eflFect. 

Upon  the  taking  of  the  King's  life,  the  Commissioners  had  private  in- 
structions from  the  Estates  of  Scotland  to  go  to  Holland,  with  an  invitation 
to  this  present  King.  After  they  were  shipped  and  gone  the  length  of 
Gravesend,  they  were  committed  to  the  Blockhouse,  and  were  sent  down 
with  a  guard  to  Berwick  tiU  the  Estates  of  Scotland  should  own  or  disown 
the  Protestation  given  by  them  ;  but  before  they  came  that  length  the  Es- 
tates had  sentup  their  approbation  of  the  Protestation,  whereupon  they  were 
liberated.  My  father  camehalf  of  the  way,riding  with  great  pain  of  the  gout. 
In  June  1650,  he  got  a  solemn  and  earnest  invitation  from  the  university 
and  town  of  Glasgow,  to  be  Principal  of  the  coUege  and  minister  of  the 
town ;  which  he  refused.  A  little  thereafter,  going  to  the  Commission  of  the 
Kirk,  he  fell  near  the  Struthers  and  disjointed  his  shoulder.  In  the  set- 
ting of  it  he  was  wonderfully  supported  and  carried  through.  Some  few 
days  thereafter,  the  King  being  come  to  Scotland,  came  to  St  Andrews. 
My  father,  though  his  arm  was  yet  far  from  being  whole,  preached  before 
the  King.  In  September  thereafter  came  the  sad  day  of  Dunbar.  Upon 
the  defeat,  the  army  divided ;  whereupon  followed  the  Remonstrance. 
The  King  wrote  to  my  father  to  be  informed  about  it.  His  an- 
swer was,  that  though  he  entreated  the  King  not  to  resent  it,  yet  he 
thought  it  injudicious,  uncharitable  and  unseasonable.  In  November 
1650,  he  went  to  St  Johnston,  where  there  was  a  frequent  meeting  of 
the  commission  anent  the  query  given  in  by  the  Estates,  "  Wlio  should 
be  employed  in  defence  of  the  country  against  the  invading  enemy  f 
Against  the  answer  given  by  the  commission  a  number  protested,  which 
occasioned  a  sad  rupture  and  schism  in  the  Church.     So  long  as  he  had, 


LIFE  OF  llOBEUT  HI. A  IK.  593 

Iie.iltli  he  waited  there  upon  the  King,  but  fulling  sick,  he  was  forced  to 
retire  home,  and  continued  sick  a  long  time;  in  which  time  the  King  was 
pleased  to  give  him  a  visit,  and  offered  him  his  own  physician  to  wait  upon 
him,  February  1G51. 

In  July  1651,  in  the  Assembly  at  St  Andrews,  my  father  preached, 
and  lamenting  the  sad  divisions  said,  "Would  to  God  that  the  carrying 
of  him  from  this  place  to  his  grave  might  bury  the  sad  divisions  of  the 
Church."  This  was  upon  the  very  day  of  the  Inverkeithing  fight,  the 
English  prevailing  and  domineering  through  the  whole  land.  Cromwell 
did  desire  my  father's  coming  to  London,  and  he  alleging  infirmity  and 
weakness  of  body  for  such  a  journey,  they  did  offer  one  of  the  Parlia- 
ment ships  to  wait  upon  him ;  but  flatly  in  downright  terms  '  he '  re- 
fused to  give  obedience  to  their  desire.  Shortly  thereafter  a  malicious 
neighbour,  a  gentleman  in  Fife,  did  inform  the  English  Council  of 
State  against  my  father,  that  he  had  preached  against  their  government 
in  a  sermon  at  the  communion  at  Forgan.  "Whereupon  he  was  re- 
quired to  appear  before  them  ;  but  when  he  came,  they  perceived  he 
had  a  mind  to  decline  them,  both  as  unlawful  and  incompetent  judges, 
whereupon  he  was  dismissed  and  his  accuser  disgraced.  Much  insinua- 
tion used  the  English  at  that  time  to  have  gained  him,  but  all  in  vain. 
One  time  being  employed  by  the  Presbytery  to  supply  the  vacant  kirk  of 
Cupar,  '  he'  did  openly  (as  his  manner  was)  pray  solemnly  for  the  King  ; 
which  he  did  also  both  in  private  and  secret  with  great  affection  and  fer- 
vency, with  great  abundance  of  tears.  He  was  challenged  by  them  in 
the  face  of  the  congregation,  and  thereafter  being  sent  for  by  the  Major  to 
his  chamber,  was  menaced,  and  an  information  was  sent  to  the  Connuan- 
der-in-chief  against  him  ;  so  loyal  and  faithful  was  he  in  his  princii)les  and 
practices  even  in  the  greatest  time  of  hazard.  He  had  frciiucnt  and  great 
infirmity  of  body,  and  was  much  exercised  with  scruby,*  gout  and  gravel, 
and  had  many  singular  outgatcs  and  delivery  in  great  pain,  especially  of  the 
gravel,  one  whereof  by  the  bigness  of  a  stone,  all  hope  of  life  was  taken 
away ;  all  use  of  means  was  ineffectual,  till  the  Lord,  by  his  imuK-diatc  hand, 
without  the  concurrence  of  any  means,  and  without  any  pain,  did  bring 
away  a  stone  of  incredible  bigness. 

In  the  year  1(560,  the  King  being  called  home,  and  shortly  after 
several  ministers  being  committed  to  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh,  there  began 

♦  Smilii, — sciirvv. 

2  V 


594  APPENDIX  TO  THE 

an  appearance  of  Episcopacy  in  this  land  by  rescinding  several  Acts  of 
Parliament  that  had  cashiered  them.  Frequent  testimony  was  given 
against  this  : — (but  it  must  not  be  forgot  that  before  the  King's  coming 
from  Holland  my  father  prevented  *  his  landing  by  a  sermon  of  thanks- 
giving for  that  purpose,  besides  his  joining  Avith  the  universal  thanks- 
giving which  was  through  the  land ;  so  joyful  was  he  to  have  a  return 
of  the  prayers  he  had  so  oft  put  up  in  that  particular :) — among  the  first 
whereof  my  father  did  give  a  peremptor  and  free  testimony,  preaching 
upon  1  Peter,  iii.  14.  f  This  was  the  rise  of  all  the  suffering  that  after- 
ward fell  upon  him,  while  all  else  were  possessing  their  liberty.  This 
sermon  being  misrepresented  to  the  Council  by  a  malicious  hearer,  he 
was  called  over  to  appear  before  them.  Receiving  this  order  on  Satur- 
day, he  resolved,  on  the  Sabbath  after,  to  take  his  farewell,  being  the 
last  Sabbath  of  September  1661,  which  he  did,  preaching  upon  these 
words,  "  Finally,  my  brethren,  farewell,"  &c.  He  did  so  affect  the  hear- 
ers with  that  sermon,  that  there  was  a  very  great  motion  and  weeping  in 
the  kirk,  both  by  men  and  women.  On  the  morrow  he  intended  to  have 
gone  early  on  his  journey,  to  have  prevented  the  sad  parting  with  the 
people ;  but,  ere  he  could  be  ready,  they  had  so  surrounded  the  gate,  that 
he  was  forced  to  break  through,  and  so  went  to  his  journey.  But,  after 
he  had  parted  Avith  the  crowd,  his  two  colleagues,  Mr  James  Wood,  and 
treacherous  Honeyman,  ran  a  nearer  way,  and  met  him,  and,  at  parting, 
wept  abundantly ;  the  former  whereof  was  so  oppressed  with  grief,  that 
he  cried  out.  So  dearly  was  he  beloved  of  all  that  knew  him,  especially 
of  those  that  most  conversed  Avith  him. 

He  set  forward  on  his  way  very  cheerfully,  and,  coming  to  Ceres,  met 
with  a  dear  friend  Avho  conveyed  him  to  Kennoway.  He  came  again, 
right  wearied,  to  Kinghorn,  accompanied  Avith  his  wife,  good-son,  and 
daughter,  Avith  a  friend  that  came  from  St  Andrews.  On  Tuesday  he 
came  OA'er  to  Edinburgh,  where  he  was  kindly  welcomed  and  much 
visited  by  friends  there,  and  Avas  kindly  entertained  by  his  worthy  friend, 
John  Kennedy.  He  expected  to  be  called  before  the  Council ;  but,  for 
some  days,  it  was  delayed ;  all  A\diich  time  he  was  continually  taken  up 
with  visits  ;  people  Avere  newfangled,  he  being  the  first  that  AA-as  called 

*  Prevented— anticiYiateOt. 

t  I.  Pet.  iii.  14.  "But  and  if  ye  suffer  for  righteousness'  sake,  happy  are  ye:  and 
he  not  afraid  of  their  terror,  neither  be  trouhled." 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  51) '> 

upon  the  stage  for  giving  testimony  against  Prelacy.  At  last,  being  called 
before  a  Committee,  'he'  was  examined  upon  the  heads  of  the  sermon 
formerly  mentioned.  After  a  report  Avas  made  to  the  Council,  he  was 
confined  close  prisoner  to  his  chamber  in  the  Castle  Hill,  where  at  first 
he  thought  himself  eased  of  a  burden,  being  overcharged  with  visits ;  till 
at  last  his  health  began  to  alter  for  want  of  the  free  air,  that  he  was  forced 
to  give  in  a  petition  to  the  Council  for  liberty  of  the  free  air.  Whercui)on 
he  was  confined  to  the  parish  of  Musselburgh,  where  he  continued  in 
pretty  good  health,  and  tolerably  accommodated,  till  September  1CG2, 
at  which  time  Bishop  Sharp,  having  a  mind  to  plant  Iloneyman  in  his 
charge,  awakened  a  new  storm,  and  procured  from  the  Council,  by  a 
macer,  to  bring  him  in  prisoner  to  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh ;  but  the 
Lord  so  ordered  it,  that  though  hitherto  he  had  had  tolerable  health,  yet, 
at  that  time,  the  gravel  did  so  violently  seize  upon  him,  that,  while  the 
macer  was  in  the  house,  he  voided  five  stones ;  this  being  attested  by 
the  minister  of  the  place.  But  the  next  Council-day  coming  very  shortly, 
he  was  engaged  again  to  come  in ;  but  again  he  was  surprised  by  sick- 
ness, which  was  attested  by  the  doctor  and  apothecary.  The  order  de- 
signing him  "  late  minister  of  St  Andi'ews,"  and  being  informed  by  the 
macer,  that  that  Council-day  his  place  had  been  declared  vacant,  '  he'  did 
thereupon  send  in  his  presentation,  as  the  civil  part  of  his  ministry. 
Upon  this  their  fury  was  allayed,  and  he  continued  in  his  former  condi- 
tion. He  herein  observed  the  goodness  of  God,  who  made  the  infirmities 
of  his  body  a  mean  of  his  pi'eservation  in  this  apparent  hazard.  A  little 
thereafter  liberty  Avas  procured  '  for  him'  to  reside  in  Fife,  when  out  of 
the  Presbytery  of  St  Andrews,  and  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Kirkcaldy 
three  years  and  a-half,  where  he  lived  most  abstract  from  meddling  in  any 
thing ;  and  yet  his  good  friend  [Sharp]  vowed  that  he  should  herry  *  that 
nest ;  and  when  my  Lord  Crawford  did  but  call  for  him  to  the  street,  this 
was  represented  by  him  [Sharp]  at  Court  as  if  it  had  been  some  great  busi- 
ness. But  shortly  after,  by  virtue  of  a  proclamation  that  all  ministers 
should  leave  burghs,  he  removed  to  Couston,  in  the  parish  of  Abcrdour. 

*  Ihrrij — rnl),  rifle. 
END  OF  CONTINUATION  BY  MR  JAMKS  HI.AIU. 


2  r  2 


50 G  APPENDIX  TO  THE 


LETTERS  OF  MR  ROBERT  BLAIR. 
1. — Blair  to  Mr  John  Livingstone.* 

Reverend  and  Dear  Brother, 
.  Length  of  time,  and  distance  of  place,  do  not  a  little  weaken  the  fel- 
lowship of  the  sons  of  men.  He  that  is  not  straitened  in  sending  his 
Spirit,  knows  how,  without  difficulty,  to  keep  his  grip  better.  It  was  no 
small  matter  of  grief  to  me,  with  the  singular  testimony  of  your  love  and 
respect,  to  read  from  your  hand  the  acknowledgement  of  your  and  yours 
great  grief  for  me.  Extenuations  are  but  soul-destroying  tricks.  The 
least  miscarriage  before  our  holy  Lord  is  fearful ;  and  I  do  not  liberate 
myself,  but  have  judged  myself,  and  have  uttei'ed  to  some  of  our  brethren 
here,  that  which  my  weakness  is  not  able  to  write,  being  wearied  with 

writing  my  mind  more  fully  to  our  dear  friend  M .      This  letter 

hath  been  two  days  work  to  me.  I  still  laboured  to  be  a  reconciler  among 
brethren,  and  once  we  were  near  to  it  at  St  Andrews.  But  our  sins  stood 
in  the  way  thereof,  and  have  brought  all  thir  judgments  upon  us.  In  our 
conference  here,  we  spake  of  some  things  to  hinder  matters  from  growing 
worse.  But  our  brethren  here  declined  to  enter  upon  the  grounds  of  differ- 
ei/Ce,  knowing  that  in  sundry  things  I  differed  from  them.  Your  papers  I 
am  unsatisfied  Avith  in  sundry  things,  as  much  as  with  former  resolutions. 
The  only  wise  Lord  pity  us,  and  preserve  us  in  this  reeling,  that  our 
differences  be  not  extended  to  the  things  wherein  the  kingdom  of  God 
directly  stands  !  The  Spirit  of  grace  be  multiplied  upon  you  and  yours  ! 
My  wife  with  me,  heartily  salutes  you  both.     Your  loving  brother, 

Robert  Blair. 

December  the  2d,  1G51. 

These  six  weeks  I  have  not  been  out  of  doors.  This  day  I  am  put  in 
hopes  to  get  a  start  of  my  sweet  Lord's  work.  I  bless  his  holy  name  for 
his  covenanted  mercy,  which  endureth  for  ever. 

*  Wodrow  MSS.  vol.  lix.  folio,  no.  4.  Original.  Livingstone's  letter  to  Blair,  to 
which  this  is  an  answer,  is  printed  in  Select  Biographies,  vol.  i.  p.  2G2. 


LIFE  OF  ROBERT  BLAIR.  597 


2. — Blair  to  Mr  James  Sharp  at  London* 

Reverend  and  Dear  Brother, 
We  have  been  a  long  time  expecting  your  return,  the  delay  whereof 
I  am  persuaded  has  been  very  grievous  to  you.  Many  a  time  hath  mine 
heart  pitied  you,  when  I  considered  what  a  toil  you  have  been  put  to, 
and  how  many  snares  have  been  cunningly  laid  in  your  way.  I  have 
been  always  very  sparing  to  act  any  thing,  but  now  I  am  put  to  it.  That 
wrangling  and  deceitful  man.  Sir  George  Seaton,  hath  of  late  gotten  a 
signature  passed  in  the  Exchequer,  bearing  a  redemption  thereof,  with- 
out reservation,  of  my  liferent,  contrary  to  a  contract  passed  between 
him  and  me.  If  that  signature  that  was  in  the  hands  of  one  of  my 
Lord  Broghill's  servants,  called  Gibs,  be  signed,  I  desire  it  may  be 
sent  with  the  first  to  your  brother,  that  use  may  be  made  thereof; 
but  if  it  be  not  signed,  be  pleased  to  show  my  noble  lord,  to  whom 
hereby  I  present  my  service,  what  prejudice  I  suffer  through  the  delay 
thereof.  So  expecting  rather  yourself  than  your  answer,  I  am,  your  very 
loving  friend  and  brother, 

Robert  Blair. 
St  Andrews,  Nov.  13,  1G57. 


3. — Blair  to  the  Presbytery  of  Kirkcudbright  about  the  Union.] 

My  Reverend  and  Dear  Brethren, 
I  rejoiced  at  the  reading  of  your  letter,  and  for  answer  thereto  I  send 
to  you  the  overtures  for  uniting  presented  to  our  Synod,  and  by  them 
transmitted  to  their  correspondents,  which  are  like  to  satisfy,  I  hope, 
generally,  all  men  that  have  a  regard  to  unity  at  all.  I  need  not  again 
write  my  judgment  anent  IMr  John  Cant;  I  adhere  to  what  I  have  for- 

*  Wodrow  MSS.  vol.  xlix.  folio,  no.  10. 

t  Wodrow  MSS.  vol.  xxix.  4to,  no.  89.  Original.  The  union  referred  to  is  the 
attempts  made  to  conii)ose  the  diflcrcnces  l)etween  the  Kesohitioners  and  Protesters. 
The  Presbytery  of  Kirkeudbright  was  particuhirly  zealous  in  this  good  work. 


598  APPENDIX. 

merly  expressed.  Receive  him  in  the  Lord,  as  a  man  meet  for  his  mas- 
ter's work.  The  Spirit  of  grace  be  multiplied  upon  you  all !  Your  loving 
brother,  to  serve  you  in  our  common  Lord, 

Robert  Blair. 
St  Andrews,  21st  October  1659. 

Fo7'  his  Reverend  and  beloved  brethren 
of  the  rreshyter)j  of  Kirkcudbright. 


[Other  letters  of  Blair,  addressed  chiefly  to  Mr  Robert  Douglas  and 
Mr  David  Dicksan,  are  printed  in  the  Appendix  to  Baillie's  Letters 
and  Journals,  Bannatyne  Edition,  vol.  iii.,  pp.  556-559. — Ed.] 


INDEX. 


Aberdeen,  Brownism  in,  297. 

Abernethie,  Andrew,  253  ;  is  excommuni- 
catedbythe  Commission  of  the  Kirk,  270. 

Aboyne,  Lord,  451,  563. 

Adair,  Mr  William,  minister  of  Ayr,  is 
sent  for  by  the  Chancellor,  408. 

Adam,  Mr  William,  is  suspended  by  Arch- 
bishop Burnet  for  owning  the  Covenant, 
513, 

Adams,  IMr  Colin,  minister  of  Anstruther 
Easter,  notice  of,  454 ;  though  a  non- 
conformist, not  ejected,  482, 

Adamson,  Mr  Patrick,  392. 

Advocates  who  appealed  from  the  Session 
to  the  Parliament  and  the  King,  540, 
546,  652,  555,  556,  560,  564. 

Affleck,  Mr  John,  curate  of  Largo,  521. 

Airds,  Lord,  219. 

Airds,  Viscountess  of,  (Lady  Jane  Alex- 
ander,) notice  of,  102. 

Airly,  Earl  of,  650,  551, 

Albemarle,  Duke  of,  612.  See  Monk, 
General. 

Alexander,  Sir  William,  of  IMenstrie,  af- 
terwards first  Earl  of  Stirling,  36,  92,  93. 

Alexander,  Lord,  son  of  the  preceding, 
50,  92, 

Ambrose,  Isaac,  153, 

America,  destruction  of  a  whole  city  in, 
by  an  earthquake,  330. 

Amnesley,  Mr,      See  Angleseij,  Earl  of. 

Amyrald,  Monsieur,  39,  41, 

Anabaptists  carry  in  the  English  Parlia- 
ment the  taking  away  of  the  settled  sti- 
pends of  ministers,  311;  Cromwell,  dis- 
satisfied with  them,  dissolves  the  Par- 
liament, ib,  ;  their  plot  for  cutting  him 
off  discovered,  319;  are  more  dreaded 
in  Scotland  than  Cromwell,  333,  335, 
336,  338,  347, 

Andrew,  Robert,  365,  367. 

Andrews,  St,  the  people  of,  addicted  to 
Prelacy,  156. 

Anglesey,  Earl  of,  356. 


Annan.  Mr  William,  minister  of  Ayr,  flees 
on  hearing  of  the  renewing  of  the  Na- 
tional Covenant,  155, 

Annandale,  Earl  of,  437. 

Anne,  Queen,  3.51. 

Antrim,  Earl  of,  173, 

xVpologetical  Narration,  481,  484. 

Argyle,  Archibald  Campbell,  INIarquis  of, 
179;  earnestly  intreats  Charles  I,  to 
sign  the  propositions  of  peace  agreed 
upon  by  Commissioners  from  both  king- 
doms, 188  ;  is  head  of  the  Campbell  fac- 
tion in  opposition  to  the  Ilamiltonian, 
178,  192,  198,  199;  protests  against 
the  resolution  of  Parliament  to  levy  an 
army  for  "  the  engagement,"  200,  204, 
207,  248,  261,  269,  288;  is  said  to  be 
bent  on  complying  with  the  English,  298, 
299 ;  supposed  to  act  as  the  Protesters' 
agent  at  London,  329;  is  a  member  of 
the  House  of  Commons  in  the  Parlia- 
ment indicted  by  Richard  Cromwell, 
336  ;  repairs  to  London  to  congratulate 
Charles  II,  on  his  restoration,  354; 
on  arriving  in  London  is  apprehended 
and  imprison-:''!  in  the  Tower,  ib.  ; 
brought  down  to  Edinburgh,  368 ;  im- 
prisoned in  the  Castle,  ib. ;  receives 
his  indictment,  and  appears  before  Par- 
liament, 376,  377,  382,  383  ;  the  Par- 
liament, through  the  treachery  of  Monk, 
get  possession  of  a  letter  he  had  written 
to  the  usurpers,  384  ;  he  is  condemned 
to  be  beheaded,  381,  382;  his  beha- 
viour on  the  scaffold,  and  his  character, 
385,  386  ;  his  head  taken  down  from 
the  top  of  the  Tolbooth  to  be  buried, 
443,  469. 

Argyle,  Earl  of,  son  of  the  preceding,  de- 
frauds his  father's  creditors,  453;  be- 
comes a  great  courtier,  469;  takes  the 
declaration  abjuring  the  Covenants,  ib.  ; 
is  the  head  of  a  faction  in  opposition  to 
the  Earl  of  Twucddale,  513,  538;  war 
between  him  and  the  Laird  of  Maclean, 
563,      See  Lorn,  Lord, 


GOO 


INDEX. 


Argyle,  Marchioness  of,  385. 

Armine,  Sir  William,  169. 

Amistoun,  Lord,  refuses  to  lake  the  De- 
claration abjuring  the  Covenants,  457. 

Arnot,  Captain  Andrew,  one  of  the  com- 
manders of  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland 
Hills,  502  ;  is  executed  at  the  cross  of 
Edinburgh,  504,  505. 

Arnot,  Mr  Samuel,  minister,  is  with  the 
Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills,  502 ; 
condemned  to  be  hanged  when  appre- 
hended, 535.  541,  579. 

Arnot,  Mr  Thomas,  is  intercommuned,  562. 

Arran,  Earl  of,  9 

Articles,  Lords  of,  re-established  by  the 
first  Parliament  of  Charles  II  ,  373. 

Ashburnham,  Mr,  assists  Charles  I.  in  es- 
caping from  Oxford,  183. 

Ashe,  Mr,  a  Presbyterian  minister  in  Lon- 
don, 331. 

Assembly,  General,  of  Glasgow,  1638, 
166;  Assembly  of  1653  dissolved  by 
Cromwell's  officers  before  it  was  con- 
stituted, 307,  308. 

Assens,  Laird  of.  Marquis  of  Montrose 
apprehended  in  the  lionds  of,  224. 

Atholc,  Earl  of,  288,  388,  512,  538,  546, 
563,  565  ;  is  made  Marquis  of  Athole, 
566. 

Augustine,  confessions  of,  6,  11, 


Baillie,  Dr  Robert,  minister  of  Kilwinning, 
and  afterwards  Principal  of  the  College 
of  Glasgow,  10,  46  ;  is  present  with  the 
Covenanters'  army  at  Dunse  Law,  158  ; 
and  at  Newcastle,  163;  his  opposition 
to  the  Western  Remonstrance,  185;  is 
one  of  the  Commissioners  sent  by  the 
Cliurch  to  Charles  II.,  at  the  Hague,  on 
the  death  of  Charles  1.,  217,  227,  232, 
274,  292.  308,  316,  344;  is  presented 
to  the  Principalship  of  the  College  of 
Glasgow  upon  the  deprivation  of  Mr 
Patrick  Gillespie,  359. 

Eain,  INIr  John,  writer,  refuses  to  take  the 
Declaration  abjuring  the  Covenants,  457. 

Eaird,  Mr  John,  becomes  indulged  minis- 
ter of  Paisley,  530. 

Ralcanquall.  Lady,  is  intercommuned,  562. 

Balcanquall,  Mr  Walter,  one  of  the  minis- 
ters of  Edinburgh,  47. 

BalcaiM|uall,  l)r  Walter,  Dean  of  Durham, 
falsely  charges  Mr  Robert  Blair  with 
being  oppo.sed  to  monarchical  principles, 
4  7,  216. 


Balcarras,  Earl  of,  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners sent  by  the  Parliament  of  Scot- 
land to  Charles  I.,  193,  243  ;  is  King's 
Commissioner  at  the  General  Assembly 
of  1651,  276,  278,  279,  282,  284,  289, 
306,  312. 

Balfour,  Mr  David,  Lord  Forret,  538. 

Ballantine,  Sir  William,  order  from  Court 
to  try  him  for  his  oppressions  in  the 
West,  515. 

Balmerinoch,  Lord,  183. 

Bancroft,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  .399. 

Bannantyne,  Sir  William.  See  Ballantine, 
Sir  William. 

Barclay,  Friend,  a  Quaker,  533. 

Barclay,  Major,  is  condemned  to  be  hanged 
when  apprehended,  536. 

Barclay,  Mr  William,  a  deposed  minister, 
396,  397. 

Barr,  Mr,  merchant,  an  account  of,  147. 

Bartholomew,  St,  act  of  conformity  passed 
by  the  English  Parliament,  so  called, 
419,  435,  436. 

Basnage,  Mon.,  a  French  Protestant  mi- 
nister, 20. 

Bass  Rock  is  surrendered  to  Cromwell, 
289. 

Baxter.  Mr  Richard,  an  English  minister, 
notice  of,  348. 

Beath  Hill,  field  meeting  at,  535,  536-538. 

Beaufort,  Duke  of,  489. 

Bedell,  Bishop,  his  scheme  for  instructing 
the  native  Irish,  101 . 

Bedlay,  Lord.      See  Roherton,  Mr  James. 

Belfrage,  Mr  George,  minister  of  Car- 
nock,  is  suspended  by  Archbishop  Sharp 
in  his  Diocesan  Synod,  454 ;  deposed, 
463. 

Bell,  provost,  of  Glasgow,  427. 

Bennet,  Mr  David,  minister  of  Stirling, 
notice  of,  257,  268;  is  called  before  the 
CoLimiltee  of  Estates  for  preaching 
against  the  Public  Resolutions,  267  ;  de- 
clines their  authority  in  reference  to  his 
doctrine,  ib. 

Bennet,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Kilrenny, 
is  suspended  by  Archbishop  Sharp  in  his 
Diocesan  Synod,  467  ;  sentence  of  sus- 
pension intimated  to  him,  474 ;  is  de- 
posed, 475;   his  kitk  planted,  480. 

Berkeley,  Lord,  531. 

Bishops,  remarks  on  giving  titles  of  honour 
to,  30,  31. 

Black,  Mr  Thomas,  minister  of  Leslie,  473, 
483 ;  becomes  indulged  minister  of  New- 
tyle,  533. 

Blaekie,  Mr  Nicholas,  minister,  notice  of, 
521. 


iM)i:x. 


GOl 


Blair,  Mr  Alexander,  minister  of  Galston, 
is  sent  for  by  the  Cliancollor,  408 ; 
brought  before  ihe  Lords  of  the  Artick-s, 
409 ;  imprisoned  in  the  Tolbooth  of 
Edinburgh,  409,  413-415;  becomes  in- 
dulged minister  of  Newinills,  526. 

Blair,  Mr  John,  minister,  is  apprehended 
and  imprisoned,  561,  663. 

Blair,  David,  son  of  Mr  Robert  Blair,  by 
his  second  wife,  his  birth,  150. 

Blair,  James,  son  of  INlr  Kobert  Blair  by 
his  first  wife,  134;  his  death,  320;  his 
fatht-M-'s  poems  upon  his  death,  321,  322. 

Blair,  Jean,  daughter  of  Mr  Robert  Blair 
by  his  fust  wife,  134. 

Blair,  Robert,  son  of  Mr  Robert  Blair  by 
his  first  wife,  ib. 

Biair,  "William,  son  of  Mr  Robert  Blair  by 
his  second  wife,  141,  146. 

Blair,  Mr  V,'illiam,  minister  of  Dumbarton, 
brother  to  Mr  Robert  Blair,  9,  34,  45, 
112. 

Blood,  Colonel,  his  conspiracy,  449,  521. 

Blyih,  Mr  Henry,  minister  of  Holyrood- 
house,  notice  of,  35. 

Booth,  Sir  George,  is  taken  prisoner,  and 
sent  to  the  Tower  of  London,  337,  339  ; 
is  set  at  liberty  by  the  Parliament  after 
the  admission  of  the  secluded  members, 
346. 

Borthwick,  Mr  Eleazar,  is  sent  to  London 
v/ith  several  copies  of  the  National  Co- 
venant, 155. 

Borthwick,  Lord,  444. 

Boyd,  James,  of  Trochrig,  Archbishop  of 
Glasgow,  9. 

Boyd,  Mr  Robert,  of  Trochrig,  son  of  the 
preceding,  and  Principal  of  the  College 
of  Glasgow,  notice  of,  9,  11,  18,  19, 
36-38,  40,  47,  5L 

Boyd,  Lady,  notice  of,  180,  243. 

Bramhall,  Bishop  of  Derry,  notice  of,  109, 
136;  is  at  the  Hague,  227  ;  conies  again 
to  Ireland,  356. 

Brightman,  Sir  Orlando,  512. 

Brodie,  Alexander,  of  that  Ilk,  one  of  the 
commissioners  sent  by  the  Conmiittee  of 
Estates  to  Charles  II.,  at  the  Hague, 
after  ihe  execution  of  Charles  I.,  217, 
222,  228,  292  ;  is  suspected  of  under- 
hand dealing  with  the  English,  293,  306. 

Broghill,  (Roger  Boyle,)  Lord,  notice  of, 
320  ;  elected  member  of  Parliament  for 
the  city  of  Edinburgh,  327,  597. 

Brown,  Andrew,  140. 

Brown,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Wamphray, 
is  banished  by  the  Privy  Council,  431, 
633,  669. 


Brown,  Sir  John,  237,  276. 

Brownism  in  Aberdeen,  297. 

Bruce,  jNIr  Andrew,  397. 

Bruce,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Kingsbarns, 
246. 

Bruce,  Mr  Michael,  minister,  notice  of, 
519,  520,  521. 

Bruce,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Edinburgh, 
success  of  his  ministry  at  Inverness, 
where  he  was  confined,  39 ;  his  diary, 
40,  519. 

Bruce,  Sir  William,  451,  452,  560. 

Bryce,  Mr  Edward,  minister  of  Broadis- 
land  in  Ireland,  notice  of,  75,  85. 

Buccleuch,  Countess  of,  married  to  James, 
Duke  of  ZVIonmouth,  417,  452. 

Buckingham,  Duke  of,  escapes  at  the  Bat- 
tle of  AVorcester,  284  ;  iar.ds  in  IloUaud 
with  Charles  II.,  288,  511. 

Burgess,  Colonel,  514. 

Burgess,  Dr,  172. 

Burleigh,  Lord,   204,  224,  380,  444. 

Burnet,  Mr  Alexander,  Bishop  of  .Aber- 
deen, 444;  is  consecrated,  452  453; 
goes  to  Court,  455;  appointed  Arch- 
bishop of  Glasgow,  463;  is  installed  in- 
to  that  office,  467,  4G8,  507,  508;  op- 
poses an  act  of  indemnity  in  favour  of 
the  Covenanters  who  had  risen  at  Pent- 
land  hills,  513,  515  ;  is  put  off  the  Ses- 
sion by  oi'der  from  the  King,  517,  525; 
is  deposed  by  the  King's  Commissioner, 
629,  636,  542  ;  comes  from  Court  re- 
stored Archbishop  of  Glasgow,  552  ; 
his  endeavours  at  Court  to  get  the  in- 
dulgence of  1679  recalled,  570,  578, 
679. 

Burnet,  IMr  John,  minister,  father  of  the 
preceding,  444. 

Burnet,  Dr  Gilbert,   527. 

Burnet,  Dr,  a  physician  in  Edinliurgh.  422. 

Burnet,  Mr  Robert,  sent  Commissioner 
from  the  Commission  of  the  General  As- 
SLinbly  to  Charles  II.  at  Falkland,  230. 

Burnet,  .\ir  Kobert,  advocate,  pleads  for 
the  Marquis  of  Argyle  on  his  trial,  383  ; 
refuses  to  take  the  declaration  abjuring 
the  Covenants,  457. 


Caithness,  Earl  of,  328. 

Calamy,   Dr   Edmund,  of  Alderraanbury, 

notice  of,   348 ;    is   made   chaplain    of 

Charles  IL,  352. 
Caldwell.      See  Muir,   William 
Callendcr,  Earl  of,  270,  2d8,  382. 


002 


INDKX. 


Cainbo,  Laird  of,  175. 

Cameron,  Dr  John,  principal  of  the  Col- 
lege of  Glasgow,  notice  of,  37-39;  his 
prejudice  against  Mr  Robert  Blair,  40  ; 
publicly  disputes  with  Dr  Daniel  Tile- 
nus,  41-45,  48, 
Cameron,  Michael,  is  slain   at   Airsnioss, 

670. 
Cameron,  Mr  Richard,  his  Covenant,  568  ; 
proclamation  issued  declaring  him  a  re- 
bel and  traitor,  5fJ9  ;  is  slain  at  Airs- 
moss,  569,  670  ;  Row's  character  of  his 
sermon  at  Hill  Toarse,  581. 
Campbell,  Archibald,  INIarquis  of  Argyle. 

See  Argyle,  Marquis  of. 
Campbell,  Mr  George,  minister  of  Dum- 
fries, lurks  in  Edinburgh  after  his  ejec- 
tion, 482. 
Campbell,   John,   Earl   of  Loudon.     See 

Loudon,  Earl  of. 
Campbell,  Mr   John,  minister,    is  appre- 
hended and  imprisoned,  56 1  ;  liberated, 
563. 
Campbell,  Mr  William.  415. 
Canne,  Mr  John,  minister,  58. 
Cannon,  Robert,  of  Mandrogate,  notice  of, 

520. 
Canons,    Book    of,   attempts   to   be  freed 

from,  151. 
Cant,  Mr  Andrew,  minister  of  Aberdeen, 
4,  221;   notice  of,    183;    appointed  by 
the  General  Assembly  of  1646  to  go  to 
Charles  I.  at  Newcastle,    183,  186;  is 
Moderator    of  the    General    Assembly 
231  ;  dissents  from  the  act  of  the  Com- 
mission   of   the   Kirk   condemning    the 
AVestern  Remonstrance,  248  ;   preaches 
at  the  opening  of  the  Parliament,   230  ; 
is  dissatisfied  with  the  public  resolutions, 
261,   262;  preaches  at  the  opening  of 
the  General   Assembly,   274,  275,  301, 
305  ;  writes  to  Cromwell,  332;  is  sum- 
moned to  appear  before  the  Privy  Coun- 
cil, 430,  439. 
("ant,  Mr  Alex.,  son  of  the  preceding,  and 
a  minister  in  the  north,  is  summoned  to 
appear  before  the  Privy  Council,  430. 
Cant,  Mr  Andrew,  minister   of  Liberton, 
186,  430  ;  suspicions  that  he  would  con- 
form,   439,    542  ;    is  suspended  by  the 
Bishop  of  Edinburgh,  546,  549. 
Cant,  Mr  John,  becomes  indulged  minister 

of  Kclls,  his  old  parish,  526. 
Canterbury,  Archbishop  of,  4  73. 
Cardross,  Lord,  559,  560,  561,  565. 
Cardross,  Lady,  560,  561,  565. 
Cargill,   Mr  Donald,   is  apprehended,  but 
rescued  by  a  company  of  women,  567, 


568;  excommunicates  Charles  II.,  Duke 
of  York,  &c.,  580  ;  his  horse  shot  under 
him,  ib. 
Cargill,  Dr  James,  an  eminent  surgeon,  3 1 . 
Carlisle,  Earl  of,  503.  ' 
Carniichael,   David,   sent  from  the   Com- 
mittee of  Estates  with  a  letter  to  Charles 
I.,  211. 
Carmichael,    Mr   Frederick,    minister    of 
Markinch,  246  ;  recommends  the  send- 
ing of  jNIr  James  Sharp  to   Cromwell, 
328,  363,  454. 
Carmichael,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Kilcon- 

quhar,  14. 
Carnegie,  Lord  James,  299. 
Carstairs,  Mr  John,  one  of  the  ministers 
of  Glasgow,  his  debates  with  Cromwell, 
254,  300,  326  ;  is  sent  for  by  the  Chan- 
cellor, 408 ;  brought  before  the  Lords 
of  the  Articles,  409  ;  imprisoned  in  the 
Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh,  409,  413-415  ; 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  High 
Commission,  466  ;  does  not  appear  and 
is  referred  to  the  Council,  457. 
Carstairs,  Mr  William,  son  of  the  preced- 
ing, 555. 
Caryll,  Mr,  minister,  195. 
Cassillis,  Earl  of,  188;  opposed  to  "the 
engagement,"  200,  204;  joins  the  anti- 
engagers  with  a  considerable  number  of 
horse  and  foot,  206  ;  is  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners sent  by  the  Committee  of 
Estates  to  Charles  II.  at  Holland,  after 
the  execution  of  Charles  I.,  217,  222, 
228,  229,  269  ;  asks  an  explanation  of 
the  oaths  of  allegiance,  372,  373  ;  is 
voted  by  the  Parliament  incapable  of 
any  public  trust  for  refusing  to  take  the 
oaths  of  supremacy,  383  ;  goes  to  Court 
at  the  desire  of  the  King,  384;  opposes 
in  the  Scottish  Council  at  London  the 
setting  up  of  Prelacy  in  Scotland,  390  ; 
returns  home,  399,  527. 
Castlelaw,  Mr  William,  minister  of  Stew- 

arton,  50. 
Castlestewart,    Lord.       See    Stewart,    Sir 

Andrew. 
Catechism,  Mr  Welsh's,  7. 
Cathcart,  Lord,  444. 

Chalmers,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Cullen, 
preaches   before    the  Parliament,  274, 
383. 
Chalmers,  Mr,  inducted  minister  of  Pais- 
ley, 437. 
Chalmers,  Robert,  is  banished  to  Tangier, 

522. 
Charles  I.  declares  the  Covenanters  rebels, 
and  levies  an  army  to  subdue  them,  157  ; 


INDEX. 


60:- 


consents  to  a  treaty  of  peace,  ib.  ;  orders 
the  articles  of  the  treaty  to  be   publicly 
burnt   at   London  by  the  hands   of  the 
hangman,  160;  begins  to  levy  another 
army  to  invade  Scotland,  161  ;  his  army 
is  defeated  by   the  Covenanters,    162  ; 
enters  into  a  treaty  with  the  Covenant- 
ers at  Rippen,  ib.;  grants  a  free  General 
Assembly  and  Parliament  to   Scotland, 
164  ;  comes  down  to  Scotland  and  rati- 
fies the  work  of  reformation,  1 65  ;  be- 
takes  himself  to   Oxford,    where    he   is 
hardly    besieged    by    the    Parliament's 
forces,  181,  182  ;  escapes  from  Oxford, 
183;  surrenders    himself   to  the  Scots 
army,  ib.  ;  his  Proclamation  from  New- 
castle making  concessions  to  the  Cove- 
nanters,  1 84 ;  his  letters  to  Montrose, 
ib.  ;  appoints  Mr  Robert  Blair  his  chap- 
lain for  Scotland,  188,  189  ;  controversy 
betwixt  the  English  Parliament  and  the 
Scottish    Commissioners   respecting  the 
disposal  of  his  person,  191  ;   obstinate 
in  his  own  opinions,  192  ;  resolution  of 
the    Scottish    Parliament    provided    he 
would  not  subscribe  the  Covenant,  193  ; 
refuses  to  subscribe  the  Covenant,  193- 
1 96  ;    is  kept    prisoner  in   the   Isle  of 
AVight,  198;   will  make  no  concessions 
to  the  Scottish  Commissioners  who  visit 
him,  199;  the  English  Parliament  make  a 
treaty  with  him  at  the  Isle  of  Wight,  211; 
the  treaty  is  defeated  by  Cromwell,  ib. ; 
he  is  made  close  prisoner  by  the  army 
in   Hurst    Castle,    212;    the    House  of 
Commons  conclude  to  bring  him  to  trial, 
213;  he  is  tried  before  "a  High  Court 
of   Justice,"    214;    and   condemned  to 
be  beheaded,   ib. ;    the    Scottish    Com- 
missioners   protest    against    these   pro- 
ceedings,   216;    he   is    executed,    215, 
216. 
Charles  II.  is  proclaimed  King  of  Britain, 
&c.,  by  the  Committee  of  Estates  upon 
the  execution  of  his  father,  216  ;   Com- 
missioners sent  to  him  at  the  Hague  by 
the  Committee  of  Estates,   216,   217  ; 
the  Commissioners  return  with  his  an- 
swers to  their  propositions,  219;   these 
answers   judged    unsatisfactory    by    the 
State  and  Church,  ib  ;  highly  favourable 
impression  which  he  made  on  the  Com- 
missioners, ib.  ;  another  Commissioner 
sent  to  him  h\  the  Committee  of  Estates, 
221;   Charles  writes  to  the  Committee 
of  Estates  and  to  the  Commission  of  the 
General  Assembly,   ib.  ;    Commissioners 
sent  to  him  by  the  Committee  of  Estates 


and  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  to  treat 
with  him  at  Breda,  222  ;  his  letter  to 
ISlontrose,  ib. ;  the  treaty  goes  on  slowly, 
226  ;  it  is  closed,  ib.  ;  contrary  to  the 
desire  of  tlie  Commissioners  he  com- 
municates kneeling  before  leaving  Breda, 
227 ;  agrees  to  swear  and  subscribe  the 
Covenant  just  before  landing  in  Scot- 
land, 229,  230  ;  writes  a  letter  to  the 
General  Assembly,  231;  comes  to  the 
Scots  army,  233  ;  purges  his  family, 
234,  235  ;  Declaration  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Estates  and  of  the  Church  pre- 
sented to  him  to  subscribe  at  Dunferm- 
line, 235  ;  which  at  first  he  refuses  to 
subscribe,  ib.  ;  at  last  he  subscribes  it, 
236  ;  is  persuaded  by  malignants  that 
the  Western  army  were  to  deliver  him  up 
to  the  enemy,  243;  his  elopement  called 
the  start,  243,  244  ;  the  desires  of  the 
Western  Remonstrance  in  reference  to 
him,  24  6,  247  ;  his  coronation,  185, 
255 ;  his  coronation  oath,  255 ;  Re- 
monstrances of  the  Commission  of  the 
Kirk  to  him,  257,  260  ;  escapes  at  the 
battle  of  Worcester,  284  ;  lands  in  Hol- 
land, 288  ;  ministers  forbidden  by 
Cromwell's  government  to  pray  for  him, 
309;  this  order  not  universally  obeyed, 
309,  310,  324;  the  penalties  against 
INIinisters  for  praying  publicly  for  him 
taken  off,  325  ;  he  resolves  to  come 
over  to  England,  328 ;  appearances  of 
his  being  restored,  343  ;  fears  of  his 
being  restored  without  conditions,  347; 
writes  to  the  Parliament  of  England, 
349 ;  the  Parliament  agree  to  send 
Commissioners  to  bring  him  foliis  throne, 
ib.  ;  he  is  proelaime<l  in  London  Charles 
II.,  360;  is  to  be  brought  home  with- 
out conditions,  ib. ;  leaves  Holland  for 
England,  351;  lands  at  Dover,  ib.  ; 
manner  in  which  the  ministers  of  that 
town  receive  him,  352  ;  enters  London, 
and  is  received  with  great  acclamations 
and  pomp,  ib.  ;  is  proclaimed  King  in 
Ireland,  ib. ;  issues  a  declaration  against 
profane  and  dissolute  persons,  ib. ;  issues 
a  proclamation  against  the  murderers  of 
his  father,  353  ;  his  coronation  delayed, 
ib.  ;  continues  the  use  of  the  service 
book  in  his  chapel,  ib.  ;  his  interview 
with  the  noblemen  andgentlemcn  who  had 
come  from  Scotland  to  congratulate  his 
restoration,  354;  a  day  of  thanksgiving 
kept  in  several  Presbyteries  in  Scotland 
for  his  safe  ret  urn,  ib.;  doubts  entertained 
as  to  how  he  would  establish  the  govern- 


GO-1 


INDEX. 


ineiilof  the  Cliurch  in  England,  355,  367  ; 
fears  that  he  would  change  the  Presby- 
terian government  in  the  North  of  Ire- 
land, 356;  issues  a  declaration,  pre- 
scriliing,  by  his  sole  authority,  Prelatic 
Church  government  in  England,  367, 
368,  369  ;  death  of  the  Princess-royal, 
370  ;  fears  of  his  setting  up  Bishops  in 
Scotland,  381,  384,  387  ;  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment ordaining  his  birth  day  to  be  kept 
as  a  holiday,  385,  386  ;  is  resolved  to 
set  up  Prelacy  in  Scotland,  390,  391  ; 
the  Council  issue  a  proclamation  con- 
taining his  will  on  this  subject,  392,  393; 
he  is  married  by  proxy  to  Catharine 
queen  of  Portugal,  401,  407  ;  his  speech 
at  the  opening  of  the  Parliament  of 
England  in  J663,  435,  404,  441,  508; 
jealousies  and  animosities  between  him 
and  the  English  Parliament,  611;  free- 
dom with  which  an  English  ejected  mi- 
nister reproves  him,  521,  522. 

Charteris,  Lawrence,  professor  of  divinity 
in  the  college  of  Edinburgh,  notice  of, 
468. 

Charteris,  Mr  Thomas,  minister,  278. 

Charteris,  Mr  Thomas,  minister,  is  sus- 
pended by  the  General  Assembly  for 
independency,  297. 

Chiesly,  Sir  John,  292  ;  is  blamed  for  de- 
feating attempts  to  promote  union  be- 
tween the  Ilesolutioners  and  Protesters, 
326  ;  apprehended  and  imprisoned  in 
the  Castle  of  Edinburgh,  354,  368 ; 
appears  before  the  Parliament,  378  ; 
orders  from  Court  to  send  him  prisoner 
to  Dundee,  515  ;  is  sent  to  Perth,  520  ; 
set  at  liberty,  531. 

Chichester,  Lord,  58. 

Clanbrissel,  Earl  of.  See  Clanehoy,  Lord 
Viscount. 

Claueboy,  Lord  Viscount,  61,  68,  61,  64, 
65,  79. 

Clarendon,  Lord.  See  Hyde,  Sir  Edward, 
Ch'incellor. 

Classes,  act  of,  209,  235,  250,  252,  253; 
proposal  of  its  repeal,  268  ;  opposition 
made  to  its  repeal,  270  ;  the  Commis- 
sion of  the  Kirk  advise  the  repeal  of  it, 
with  certain  provisos,  271,  272. 

Clotworthy,  Sir  Hugh,  71. 

Clotworthy,  son  of  the  preceding,  his 
character,  71,  163. 

Coalt.  Mr  Oliver,  minister  of  Inveresk, 
278,  421,  422. 

Cochrane,  Sir  John,  569. 

Cochrane,  Lord,  510. 

Cockburn,  Alison,  153. 


Cockburn,    Mr   William,  schoolmaster   in 

Bangor,  134. 
Collerny,   Lady,  561  ;   is  intercomrauned, 
562. 

Collington,  Lord,  is  made  a  member  of 
the  Privy  Council,  638. 

Cokiuhoun,  Humphrey,  is  executed  for 
being  with  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland 
Hills,  505. 

Colville,  Dr  Alexander,  principal  of  the 
New  College  of  St  Andrews,  373. 

Colville,  Dr,  418. 

Colville,  Lady,  636,  561  ;  is  intercom- 
muned,  662. 

Colville,  Mr  "William,  minister  of  Perth, 
and  afterwards  principal  of  the  College 
of  Edinburgh,  preaches  before  the  Par- 
liament, 376,  396  ;  notice  of,  431. 

Colwart,  MrHenry,  an  English  Minister  set- 
tled at  Oldstone,  in  Ireland,  notice  of,  75. 

Comet,  A,  appearance  of,  474  ;  it  disap- 
pears, 475. 

Comrie,  Mr  "Walter,  minister  of  St  Leon- 
ards, 395  ;  is  made  principal  of  New 
College,  St  Andrews,  433. 

Conventicles,  gentlemen  in  the  west  im- 
prisoned for  keeping,  481  ;  proclama- 
tions of  Privy  Council  against,  482,  532, 
635,  540,  545,  548,  559. 

Convocation  of  the  Prelatic  clergy,  pro- 
posals of,  541  ;  is  held,  647. 

Council,  Privy,  their  proceedings  against 
nonconforming  ministers,  446,  447, 
456,  482,  483. 

Couts,  Sir  Charles,  346. 

Covenant,  National,  is  renewed  in  1638, 
155,  156. 

Covenanters,  The,  are  declared  rebels  by 
Charles  I.,  who  levies  an  army  to  sub- 
due them,  167  ;  they  prepare  for  a  de- 
fensive war,  ib, ;  enter  into  a  pacifica- 
tion with  Charles,  ib.  ;  Charles  orders 
the  articles  of  the  treaty  to  be  publicly 
burned  by  the  hands  of  the  hangman, 
160  ;  they  levy  a  strong  army,  which  en- 
ters England,  161 ;  and  defeats  Charles's 
army,  162;  they  enter  into  a  treaty 
with  him  at  Rippon,  ib.  ;  devout  cha- 
racter of  their  army,  163,  164;  they 
raise  an  army  to  assist  the  English  Par- 
liament against  Charles,  172;  are  de- 
feated by  Montrose  at  Tibbermuir,  173  ; 
and  at  Kilsyth,  175;  their  army  sur- 
renders Charles  to  the  English  Parlia- 
ment, 196;  and  march  out  of  England 
homeward,  ib. 

Craig,  Sir  Thomas  of  Kiccarton,  299,  434. 

Cramond,    Laird    of,    is    imprisoned    for 


INDEX. 


G05 


hearing  an  outed  minister  preach,  540, 
641. 
Crawford,  Earl  of,  his  regiment  assists 
the  English  Parliament  against  Charles 
I.  172,  174,  175,  179  ;  he  is  in  the  en- 
gagers' army,  205,  206,  208;  endea- 
vours to  effect  a  treaty  between  the  en- 
gagers and  anti-engagers,  208,  209  ; 
publicly  professes  his  repentance  for 
being  concerned  in  the  engagement, 
243,  244,  259,  2(30,  261,  269,  279, 
280  ;  is  seized  at  Alyth  by  a  party  of 
Monk's  horse,  and  carried  prisoner  to 
the  tower  of  London,  281,  288,  323  ; 
is  set  at  liberty  by  the  English  Parlia- 
ment after  the  admis-ion  of  the  secluded 
members,  346,  354 ;  restored  to  his 
place  as  treasurer  on  the  Kestoration  of 
Charles  II.,  355  ;  his  character,  360  ; 
comes  to  Edinburgh,  368;  the  sense  in 
which  he  took  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
373,  378  ;  opposes  the  passing  of  the 
act  rescissory,  382  ;  pronounces  the  sen- 
tence of  death  upon  the  INIarquis  of 
Argyle,  385 ;  proves  friendly  to  Mr 
Alexander  Moncrieff,  388  ;  repairs  to 
Court  after  the  rising  of  the  Parliament, 
389  ;  opposes,  in  the  Scots  Council  at 
London,  the  setting  up  of  Prelacy  in 
Scotland,  390,  399  ;  plot  to  eject  him 
from  places  of  power  and  trust,  411  ; 
abides  at  Court,  417  ;  act  of  billets  in- 
tended to  exclude  him  from  the  act  of 
indemnity,  427,  428,  433.  434,  436, 
438,  439,  450,  451  ;  demits  his  place 
as  treasurer  into  the  King's  hands,  440; 
reasons  of  his  demission,  440-443  ;  Act 
of  Parliament  made  in  his  favour,  for 
his  having  suffered  in  the  King's  service, 
452 ;  a  patron  of  the  Presbyterians, 
453  ;  retires  to  his  private  residence  at 
the  Struthers,  453,  456,  463,  467,  470, 
513,  650. 

Crawford,  Countess  of,  wife  of  the  preced- 
ing, herexcellent  character,  442,443.  4  95. 

Crawford,  George,  is  executed  for  being 
with  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  hills, 
505. 

Crawford,  Sir  John  of  Kilbirnie,  442. 

Crawford,  Margaret,  daughter  of  the  pre- 
ceding, married  to  Patrick,  second  son 
of  the  Earl  of  Crawford,  442  ;  her 
death,  443. 

Crequi,  Marshall,  562. 

Crofton,  Zachary,  a  minister  in  England, 
notice  of,  41  7. 

Cromarty,  Earl  of.  See  Turhet,  Sir  George 
M'Kenzie  of. 


Cromwell,   Oliver,    101,   203,    206,    207  ; 
comes  to  Edinburgh,   and  is  feasted  by 
the    Committee  of  Estates,   209,   211  ; 
sits  as  a  member  of  the  English  Parlia- 
ment, 213  ;  goes  over  to  Ireland  with  a 
strong  party,  219  ;  approaches  the  bor- 
ders of  Scotland  with  a  powerful  army, 
230,  231  ;   his  two  declarations,  show- 
ing the  grounds   of  his  invading   Scot- 
land,   232 ;    proceedings    of   his    army, 
233-235  ;   sends  in  sundry  papers  to  the 
Scots    army,    justifying    himself,    235  ; 
is  supposed  to  be  favoured  by  some  of 
the  Scottish  noblemen,   236  ;   obtains  a 
victory  over  the  Scots  at  Uunbar,  238  ; 
his  army  comes  to  Edinburgh,  ib.  ;   their 
doings    there,     238,     239  ;     routs    the 
western  army  at   Hamilton,   249  ;   Cas- 
tle of  Edinbuigh  holds  out  against  him, 
253,   capitulates  to  him,   254  ;    his  de- 
bates with  ministers    in   Glasgow,    and 
other  places,   ib.  ;  his  motions   with  his 
army,   273;   defeats  the  Scots  at  Inver- 
keithing,    276  ;     Perth    surrenders    to 
him,   279;   defeats  the    Scots   at    'Wor- 
cester,  283  ;   is  written  to  by  the  Pro- 
testers,   289-291,    293  ;    dissolves    the 
English  Parliament,  305,  30(>  ;   is  made 
Lord   Protector  of  the   Commonwealth 
of  Scotland,  England,  and  Ireland,  311; 
grants  toleration  to  all  sects  except  Pa- 
pists and  Prelatists,  ib. ;  is  feasted  by  the 
city  of  London   with  great  state,   312; 
plot  discovered  for  cutting  him  oft",  ib.  ; 
anecdote  of,    314;    is  proclaimed    Lord 
Protector   at   the   cross    of  Edinburgh, 
ib.  ;    writes    to    some    Scots    nnnisters, 
rccjuiring  them  to  repair  to  him,  315; 
316,  317;   plot  of  the  Anabaptists  for 
assassinating  him  discovered,  319,  320; 
appoints   a    Council   of   Estate   for  the 
government  of  Scotland,  320  ;   designs 
to   surprise   llispaniola,    323  ;    this  de- 
sign is  defeated,    323,    324  ;   a  thanks- 
giving for   his   preservation   appointed, 
330  ;   which  is  little  attended  to  in  Scot- 
land,   330,    331  ;    is    entreated   by   the 
Parliament  to  take  the   power  and  title 
of  King,  332  ;   a  conspiracy  in  the  army 
against  his   life,   333  ;    raises  the    Par- 
liament, 334  ;   his  death,  335  ;  sumptu- 
ousness  of  his  funeral,  ib.  ;   his  memory 
becomes  unpopular,  337   353,  472. 
Cromwell,  Kicliard,  son  of  the   preceding, 
is  proclaimed  Protector  in   Loudon    on 
the  death  of  his  father,   335  ;   proceed- 
ings   of  his  first    Parliament,    336 ;    ho 
raises  tlu'    Parliament,   ib.  ;    is  deposed 


OOG 


INDEX. 


by  the  army  from  the  oflfice  of  Protector, 
and  reduced  to  the  condition  of  a  pri- 
vate person,  ib. 

Crookshanks,  INIr  John,  minister  of  Ro- 
gerton,  notice  of,  455,  502,  508. 

Culverwcll,  Mr  Ezekiel,  vicar  of  Felsted, 
notice  of,  32. 

Cunningham,  Dr,  a  physician,  493. 

Cunningham,  Mr  Gabriel,  minister  of 
Dunlop,  540. 

Cunningham,  Sir  John,  advocate,  555,  656. 

Cunningham,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Holy- 
wood  in  Ireland,  notice  of,  57,  58,  64, 
65,  71,  86,  91,  113,  136;  his  death, 
148;  his  widow's  petition  to  the  Par- 
liament of  Ireland,   148,  149,  174,  496. 

Cunningham,  Sir  William,  of  Cunningham- 
head,  517,  531. 

Cupar,  Lord,  444. 

Curates,  or  those  ministers  intruded  into 
the  charges  of  the  ejected  Presbyterian 
ministers,  their  character,  437,  439, 
514,  534,  641  ;  ,\ct  of  Parliament 
against  such  as  did  not  attend  their 
ministry,  450 ;  debates  about  hearing 
them,  457,  458,  475  ;  severe  proclama- 
tion against  such  as  did  not  attend  them, 
500,  502  ;  proclamation  issued  for  pro- 
tecting them,  510;  many  of  them  in 
Galloway  and  other  places,  after  the 
troopers  left  the  country,  desert  their 
congregations,  514,  516. 


D. 


Dalrymple,  Mr  James,  227. 

Dalziel,  General,  is  taken  at  the  battle  of 
Worcester  by  Cromwell's  forces,  284  ; 
ordered  to  march  to  Glasgow  against 
the  Covenanters  who  had  risen  in  the 
west,  501,  503  ;  gets  Caldwell's  estate, 
507,  613,  569;  is  excommunicated  by 
Mr  Donald  Cargill,  580. 

Danby,  Earl  of,  195. 

Darley,  Henry,  Esq.,  169. 

Davidson,  Mr  John,  his  gift  of  prophecy, 
98. 

Deans,  Major-General,  292,  294,  298  ;  is 
killed  at  a  sea-fight  with  Holland,  306. 

Declaration  abjuring  the  Covenants,  re- 
quired by  the  Parliament  to  be  taken  by 
all  in  places  of  public  power  and  trust 
440,457,  475,  481,  491,  520. 

Derby,  Duke  of,  the  nobleman  in  England 
most  friendly  to  Charles  II.,  283. 

Dickson,  Mr  David,  minister  of  Irvine, 
notice  of,  4  ;  friendship  between  him  and 


Mr  Robert  Blair,  12,  19,  36;  is  con- 
fined to  Turriff,  39,  65  ;  is  urged  not  to 
employ  Messrs  Blair  and  Livingstone  to 
preach  for  him  when  they  fled  from  Ire- 
land, which  he  refuses,  147  ;  is  Mode- 
rator of  the  General  Assembly  of  1639, 
158  ;  is  sent  by  the  Tables  in  1638  to 
Aberdeen  to  promote  the  cause  of  the 
Covenant,  185,  189,  206;  sent  by  the 
Commission  of  the  Kirk  to  speak  with 
Cromwell,  209  ;  and  also  sent  as  one  of 
their  Commissioners  to  Charles  II.  at 
Falkland,  230  ;  writes  in  defence  of  the 
Public  Resolutions,  262  ;  is  answered  by 
Mr  James  Guthrie,  263;  replies  to  Guth- 
rie, 263,  274-276;  preachesattheopening 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  1652,  296  ; 
and  before  the  opening  of  the  Assembly 
in  1653,  307  ;  his  answer  to  Cromwell's 
officers  who  commanded  that  Assembly 
to  dissolve  before  it  was  constituted,  320, 
402,  408. 

Dickson,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Rutherglen, 
is  summoned  to  appear  before  the  Com- 
mittee of  Estates,  365  ;  imprisoned  in 
the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh,  ib.  ;  libe- 
rated, 388 ;  apprehended  and  sent  to 
the  Bass,  579. 

Dickson,  Mr  Richard,  minister  of  the 
West-kirk,  Edinburgh,  notice  of,  36, 
117,  134. 

Diocesan  Courts  of  the  Bishops,  non-con- 
forniing  ministers  do  not  attend  them, 
425,  432,  438;  Act  of  Parliament 
against  such  ministers  as  did  not  attend 
them,  445  ;  ministers  admitted  before 
1649  commanded  by  the  Privy  Council 
under  the  highest  pains  to  attend  them, 
448. 

Donaldson,  Mr  Andrew,  minister  of  Dal- 
getty,  notice  of,  456,  483. 

Donaldson,  Mr  James,  minister,  is  inter- 
communed,  661 . 

Douglas,  Sir  Joseph,  216. 

Douglas,  Lord,  562,  664. 

Douglas,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Edin- 
burgh, one  of  the  Commissioners  sent 
from  Edinburgh  to  Newcastle  to  Charles 
I  ,  183;  notice  of,  185,  186  ;  appoint- 
ed to  preach  before  the  Parliament,  192, 
206  ;  is  Moderator  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, 220  ;  sent  by  the  General  As- 
sembly Commissioner  to  Charles  II., 
231,  236,  237  ;  opposes  the  motion  made 
in  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  to  ex- 
communicate Middleton,  244  ;  presides 
attliecoronationof  CharlesIL,  265,  266; 
is  favourable  to  the  Public  Resolutions, 


INDEX. 


607 


257,  267;  preaches  at  the  opening  of  the 
General  Assembly,  274;  is  chosen  Mode- 
rator of  the  Assembly,  275,  278 ;  is 
made  prisoner,  279,  281,  288,  296; 
preaches  before  the  opening  of  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  of  1653,  307  ;  is  command- 
ed by  Cromwell  to  come  to  London,  315, 
316,  320;  advises  Monk  to  march  to- 
wards England,  340,  361  ;  preaches  at 
the  down-sitting  of  the  first  Parliament 
of  Charles  II.,  371,  378  ;  is  deceived  by 
Sharp  into  a  belief  that  there  was  no 
intention  to  alter  the  government  of  the 
Kirk,  382,  416  ;  is  silenced  and  com- 
manded to  leave  Edinburgh,  422,  423  ; 
his  remarks  on  Bishops,  462,  470;  is 
called  to  Edinburgh  in  reference  to  the 
indulgence  of  the  Presbyterian  ministers, 
518,  523,  624  ;  becomes  indulged  minis- 
ter of  Pencaitland,  526,  531. 
Douglas,    Mr    Thomas,   minister   of   Bal- 

merino,  483. 
Dowhill,  Laird  of,  560. 
Drummond,   Mr  David,  minister,    is  sum- 
moned to  appear  before  the  Committee 
of  Estates,  365. 
Drummond,    Mr    James,   a   preacher,    is 

apprehended,  540. 
Drummond,  Lieutenant-General,  507, 508 ; 
is  put  off  the  Privy  Council,  538  ;   com- 
manded by  the  Privy   Council  to  enter 
himself  prisoner  in  the  Castle   of  Dum- 
barton,   552,    557  ;    declared  incapable 
of  public  employment  or  trust,  665. 
Duifus,  Lord,  279,  415,  416. 
Dumbarton,  Castle  of,  surrenders  to  Crom- 
well, 289. 
Dumfries,  Earl  of,  420,   451  ;   is  put   off 

the  Privy  Council,  538. 
Dunbar,  Mr   George,  minister,  notice  of, 

76  ;  is  deposed,  91,  133. 
Dunbar,  The  Scots  routed  by  Cromwell 

at,  238. 
Duncan,    Mr   John,  minister  of    Culross, 

261,  302. 
Duncan,  INIrs,  is  threatened  by  the  Privy 

Council  with  the  boots,  519. 
Dundass,  Laird  of,  Governor  of  the  Castle 

of  Edinburgh,  253. 
Dunfermline,  Earl  of,  183. 
Dunning,  Sir  George,  470. 
Dunse-law,  The  Covenanters'    army    en- 
camp at,  157,  158. 
Durham,  Mr  James,  minister,  one  of  the 
ministers  of  Glasgow,   224  ;  is  sent  by 
the  Commission  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly   one    of     their    Commissioners    to 
Charles  II.   at  Falkland,  230;  appoint- 
ed to  attend  Charles  II.  and  his  family, 


247  ;  his  debates  with  Cromwell,  264, 
261,  262;  his  endeavours  to  restore 
harmony  between  the  Kesolutioners  and 
Protesters,  325,  326. 
Durie,  Laird  of.  See  Gibson,  Sir  AUjcan- 
der. 


E. 


Earl,  Dr,  Dean,  370. 

Earlshall,  Andrew  Bruce  of,  569. 

Earlston,  Laird  of.  See  Gordon,  Alex- 
ander and  JFflliam. 

Eccles,  Mr,  becomes  indulged  minister  of 
Paisley,  630. 

Echlin,  Bishop  of  Down,  58,  76,  78,  90. 
91,  99;  his  sickness  and  remorse  of 
conscience,  102 

Edinburgh,  Mass  said  in  many  places  in, 
481. 

Edinburgh,  many  outed  ministers  in,  516  ; 
the  Lord  Provost  commanded  to  put  all 
of  them  who  kept  Conventicles  out  of 
town,  634,  536  ;  frequent  and  numerous 
public  meetings  of  the  Presbyterians  in, 
665,  566. 

Edward,  Mr  Alexander,  minister  of  Crail, 
395. 

Eglinton,  Countess  of,  19. 

Eglinton,  Lord,  158. 

Eglinton,  Earl  of,  450. 

Elcho,  Lord,  204. 

Ellis,  Edmond,  of  Carrickfergus.  163. 

Ellis,  Captain  Fulk,  son  of  the  preceding, 
notice  of,  163. 

Engagement,  The,  rise  and  object  of,  1  99, 
200;  is  defeated,  203,  204:  the  Com- 
mission of  the  Kirk  opposed  to,  200, 
201  ;  the  General  Assembly  opposed  to, 
202,  203.      See  Hamilton,  James,  Duke. 

Engagers,  The,  contest  between,  and  anti- 
engagers,  204-207  ;  the  English  army 
enter    Scotland    against    the    engagers, 

207  ;  which  renders  the  engagers  more 
calm  and  reasonable   in  their  demands, 

208  ;  treaty  between  the  engagers  and 
anti-engagers,  ib  ;  the  engagers  arc  ex- 
cluded from  the  Covenanters'  army  in 
their  war  with  Cromwell,  235  ;  pro- 
posals to  admit  them.  239,  242  ;  which 
are  opposed,  242,  244  ;  the  Parliament 
desirous  of  admitting  them,  250,  262, 
253,  269. 

England,  "War  between,  and  Holland,  306, 
309,  312,  313,  479,  600,  608,  509; 
peace  concluded  between  them,  61 1,612; 
appearance  of  war  between  France  and 
England,  484. 


G()8 


iM)r:x. 


F. 


Fairfax,  Sir  Thomas,  declares  himself 
general  of  the  independent  army,  198  ; 
sits  as  a  nieiiiher  of  the  English  Parlia- 
ment, 213;  is  for  the  Kump  I'arlia- 
ment,  341. 

Fairfowl,  ]\Ir  Andrew,  minister  of  Uunse, 
and  afterwards  Archbishop  of  Glasgow, 
notice  of,  377  ;  goes  to  London  to  be 
consecrated,  394,  396-398  ;  submits 
to  be  reorduined  before  his  cunsecra- 
tion,  399,  407,  415,  452,  453,  455. 

Falconer,  David  of  Glenfarquhar,  299. 

Fenwick,  John,  294  ;  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners for  visiting  the  Scottish  Uni- 
versities, 300  ;  had  been  persecuted  for 
non-conformity,   300,   301,  316. 

Ferguson,  Captain,  killed  at  the  storming 
of  Dundee  by  IMonk,  282. 

Ferguson,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Kilwin- 
ning, writes  in  defence  of  the  Public  Re- 
solutions, 263. 

Fernelius,  John,  a  distinguished  medical 
writer,  17. 

Field  Preachers,  524. 

Field  Meetings,  severe  acts  against,  535- 
637  ;  are  frequent  and  numerous  in  the 
Lothians  and  Fife,  538,  639,  550. 

Fifth  Monarchy  men,  333. 

Finnick,  JNIrs,  163. 

Fleetwood,  Lieutenant-General,  283,  339. 

Fleming,  Bartholomew,  merchant  in  Edin- 
burgh, 117,  539. 

Fleming,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Cambus- 
lang,  lurks  in  Edinburgh,  after  his  ejec- 
tion, 482. 

Fleming,  Sir  William,  226  ;  is  made  Clerk 
Register  on  the  restoration  of  Charles 
II.,  355,  380 

Fletcher,  Mr  David,  minister  of  Melrose, 
preaches  before  the  Parliament,  377  ;  is 
consecrated  Bisliop  of  Argyle,  415. 

Fletcher,  Sir  John,  King's  Advocate,  367, 
376,  377,  430;  reports  of  his  being  de- 
prived of  hia  office,  438  ;  falls  with 
Middleton,  462  ;  is  accused  before  the 
Privy  Council,  469. 

Forbes,  Sir  Arthur,  282,  306,  310,  311, 
.■588;   notice  of,  531,  552. 

Forbes,  Mr  Patrick,  is  consecrated  Bishop 
of  Caithness,  406. 

Forbes,  l)r  William,  minister,  and  after- 
wards Bishop  of  Edinburgh,  51. 

Forret  or  Forrest,  Mr  David,  minister  of 
Kilconquhar,  246,  292,  37  1  ;   notice  of, 


391,  392,  395,  454  ;  though  a  non- 
conformist is  not  ejected,  482 

Forrest,  Mr  John,  minister  of  TuUiallan, 
is  deposed,  477,  478. 

Forrester,  Mr  David,  minister  of  Leith, 
notice  of,  36. 

Forret,  Lord.      See  Balfour,  Mr  David. 

France,  King  of,  reports  of  his  being 
poisoned  by  a  Jesuit,  438  ;  appearance 
of  war  between  him  and  the  Pope,  461 ; 
proclaims  war  against  England,  484, 
485. 

Eraser,  Mr  James,  of  Brea,  524. 

Freeman,  Mr,  an  English  Conformist  and 
Arminian,  disputes  with  Mr  Robert 
Blair,  86-88. 

Frieland,  Laird  of.  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners sent  by  the  Parliament  of  Scot- 
land to  Charles  I  ,  193. 

FuUerton,  John,  570,  577. 


G. 


Garthland,  Laird  of,  183,  193,  338.  See 
M'DowuU,  Mr  James. 

Garven,  David,  140. 

Gavven,  JNIr  Thomas,  minister  of  Edin- 
burgh, is  silenced  and  commanded  to 
leave  Edinburgh,  422,  423. 

Garvock,  the  Laird  of,  299 

Gauden,  or  Gawding,  Dr  John,  an  Epis- 
copal minister,  notice  of,  348. 

Ghent,  Herr  Van,  609. 

Gibson,  Sir  Alexander,  of  Durie,  299  ;  is 
elected  member  of  Richard  Cromwell's 
Parliament  for  Fife.  335,  418. 

Gibson,  Mr  John,  Dean  of  Dov/n,  account 
of,  55,  68. 

Gillespie,  Edward,  227. 

Gillespie,  Mr  Patrick,  minister  of  Kirk- 
caldy, and  afterwards  of  Glasgow,  notice 
of,  231,  241  ;  his  zeal  for  the  excom- 
munication of  Middleton  by  the  Com- 
mission of  the  Kirk,  244  ;  he  and  some 
others  present  the  AVestern  Remon- 
strance to  the  Committee  of  Estates, 
247  ;  protests  against  the  act  of  the 
Commission  of  the  Kirk  condemning 
the  Western  Remonstrance,  248  ;  his 
debates  with  Cromwell,  254  ;  writes 
against  the  Public  Resolutions,  263, 
265,  266,  274  ;  is  deposed  by  the  Gene- 
ral  Assembly  of  1651,  278,  292;  is 
suspected  of  underhand  dealing  with  the 
English,  293,  300,  305  ;  is  written  for 
by  Cromwell  to  come  to  London,  313, 
314  ;   pleases  Cromwell  better  than  Mr 


INDEX. 


GOO 


John  Livingstone,  317  ;  returns  home, 
318  ;  endeavours  to  promote  union 
between  the  Kesolutioners  and  Protes- 
ters, 326  ;  his  deposition  by  the  Gene-, 
ral  Assembly  condemned  by  the  Synod 
of  Glasgow,  329  ;  repairs  to  London  as 
theagentof  the  Protesters,  330,331  ;  re- 
turns to  Scotland,  333,  334,  357  ;  is 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  Com- 
mittee of  Estates,  358  ;  deprived  of  his 
office  as  Principal  of  the  College  of 
Glasgow,  359  ;  imprisoned  in  the  Castle 
of  Stirling,  ib  ;  brought  from  Stirling 
to  Edinburgh,  376  ;  appears  before  the 
Parliament,  378;  hatred  of  Charles  II. 
to  him,  380  ;  passes  from  a  part  of  the 
Western  Remonstrance,  388  ;  confined 
to  Ormiston  and  six  miles  about  it,  389. 

Gilmour,  Sir  John,  378.  420,  4jl. 

Gladstanes,  Dr  Alexander,  Archdeacon  of 
St  Andrews,  notice  of,  14,  16. 

Gladstanes,  Dr  George,  Archbishop  of  St 
Andrews,  father  of  the  preceding,  14. 

Glasgow,  act  of  Council  at,  October  1, 
1662,  423. 

Glencairn,  Earl  of,  offers  satisfaction  to 
the  Church  for  being  concerned  in  "the 
Engagement,"  259,  306,  310,  313; 
large  sums  of  money  offered  to  any  that 
would  kill  him,  314,  315,  317,  318, 
320  ;  is  made  Chancellor  on  the  resto- 
ration of  Charles  II.,  355,  378,  384, 
396.  397,  408,  421-423,  430,  450; 
animosity  between  him  and  the  Earl  of 
Roihes,  454  ;  is  mortified  at  Archbishop 
Sharp's  obtaining  the  precedency  of  him, 
462-466  ;  falls  sick,  469  ;  repents  of  his 
having  set  up  Bishops,  470  ;  his  death, 
ib.  ;  is  buried  in  great  state,  472  ;  de- 
bates about  filling  his  place,  473. 

Glendinning,  Mr  James,  lecturer  at  Car- 
rickfergus,  his  success  in  awakening  the 
people,  70,  71  ;  becomes  lunatic,  72-75. 

Glendinning,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Kirk- 
cudbright, 96. 

Glendinning,  Mr  William,   193,  211,  216. 

Glendoick,  Lord.  See  Murray,  Mr 
Thomas. 

Glenham,  Sir  Thomas,  200. 

Gloucester,  Duke  of,  349,  351  ;  his  death, 
360. 

Gordon,  Alexander,  of  Earlston,  fined  and 
confined  by  Bishop  Sydsertif,  107. 

Gordon,  Mr  Alexander,  minister  of  Inver- 
ury,  274. 

Gordon,  Lady  Anne,  481. 

Gordon,  Sir  John,  of  Haddo,  506. 

Gordon,  John,  of  Knockbrex,  is  executed 


for  being  with  tlie  Covenanters  at 
Pentland  Hills.  504. 

Gordon,  Dr,  minister,  407. 

Gordon,  Mr,  a  minister  from  the  north, 
preaches  before  the  Parliament,  381, 

Gordon,  Nathaniel,  is  taken  prisoner  by 
the  Covenanters  at  Philiphau^h,  177; 
derives  much  advantage  from  Mr  RIair's 
dealing  with  him  in  prison,  179;  ia 
relaxed  from  the  sentence  of  excommu- 
nication by  Mr  Blair,  ib.  ;  beheaded  at 
the  cross  of  St  Andrews,  ib. 

Gordon,  Mr  Robert,  338. 

Gordon,  Robert,  is  executed  for  being 
with  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills, 
504. 

Gordon,  William  of  Earlston,  is  banished 
from  Scotland  for  nonconformity,  464. 

Gouge,  Dr  William,  32. 

Gould,  Dr  William,  Principal  of  King's 
College,  Aberdeen,  301. 

Gourlay,  Walter,  is  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  Privy  Council,  521. 

Govan,  Lieutenant,  is  exconmiunicated  by 
the  Commission  of  the  Kirk,  270;  con- 
demned to  be  hanged,  386. 

Graham,  jNIr  James,  blamed  for  defeat- 
ing the  attempts  to  promote  union 
between  the  llesolutioners  and  Protest- 
ers, 326. 

Graham,  John,  Provost  of  Glasgow,  is 
imprisoned  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edin- 
burgh, 365. 

Grainger,  ]\Irs,  hides  the  Regalia  of  Scot- 
land,  332. 

Granard,  Earl  of.  532. 

Granville,  Sir  John,  349. 

Gray,  Mr  John,  is  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  Privy  Council,  572;  is  dis- 
charged to  preach  in  the  parish  of 
Orwell,  574. 

Gray,  Robert,  is  apprehended,  519. 

Greenhead,  Laird  of.  re])airs  to  Lonilon 
as  the  agent  of  the  Protesters,  330. 

Greig,  Mr  Alexander,  a  probationer,  is 
apprehended,  554. 

Greig,  Mr  James,  is  apprehended  and 
imprisoned,  .554  ;   liberated,  .555. 

Greig,  INIr  John,  minister,  is  apprehended 
and  imprisoned,  554  ;  sent  to  the  llass, 
555,  558,  5(il  ;   liberated,  562. 

Greig,  Mr  John,  a  minister  in  Ireland,  is 
imprisoned  for  alleged  accession  to 
Colonel  Blood's  consjiiracy,  449. 

Greig,  Mr  Walter,  though  unconform  not 
ejected.  482. 

Grimstone,  Sir  llarbottlc,  348. 

Guillun,  George,  300. 


''!'   <i 


610 


INDEX. 


Gustavus  A  dolphiis,  King  of  Sweden,  185; 
siibrlups  Polanfl  and  is  crowned  King  of 
that  country,  323  ;  is  defeated  and  ex- 
pelled from  Poland.  327. 

Guthrie,  Mr  Andrew,  is  beheaded  at  the 
cross  of  St  Andrews,  180. 

Guthrie,  Air  David,  minister  of  Anstruther 
"Wester,  is  suspended  by  Archbishop 
Sharp  in  his  Diocesan  Synod,  467  ; 
sentence  of  suspension  is  intimated  to 
him,  474  ;  he  is  deposed,  475,  485. 

Guthrie,  Mr  Henry,  minister  of  Stirling, 
is  deposed  for  malignancy,  212;  ap- 
pointed Bishop  of  Dunkeld,  478;  con- 
secrated, ih. 

Guthrie,  Mr  James,  206  ;  is  sent  by  the 
Commission  of  the  Kirk  to  Cromwell, 
209  ;  and  by  the  General  Assembly  as 
one  of  their  Commissioners  to  Charles 
II.,  at  Falkland,  230,  240  ;  moves  the 
excommunication  of  Middleton  in  the 
Commission  of  the  Kirk,  244  ;  pro- 
nounces the  sentence,  245  ;  protests 
against  the  act  of  the  Commission  of  the 
Kirk,  condemning  the  AVestern  Remon- 
strance, 248  ;  his  debates  with  Crom- 
well, 254  ;  his  opposition  to  the  Public 
Resolutions,  257  ;  argues  with  Mr 
James  Wood  against  them,  257,  258  ; 
is  found  fault  with  by  the  Commission  for 
preaching  against  them,  258 ;  answers 
Mr  David  Dickson's  letter  in  defence  of 
the  Public  Resolutions,  263  ;  is  re- 
plied to  by  Dickson,  ib.  ;  still  preaches 
against  them,  266  ;  is  called  before  the 
Committee  of  Estates  at  Perth  on  that 
account,  267  :  declines  their  authority 
in  reference  to  his  doctrine,  267,  268, 
274  ;  is  deposed  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  1651,  278,  292,  300,  305;  is 
commanded  by  Cromwell  to  come  up 
to  London,  316,  316  ;  his  deposition  is 
approved  of  by  the  Synod  of  Perth,  329; 
repairs  to  London  as  the  agent  of  the 
Protesters,  330  ;  returns  to  Scotland, 
333,  334  ;  is  imprisoned  in  the  Castle 
of  Edinburgh,  357,  359;  ordered  by 
the  Committee  of  Estates  to  be  removed 
to  the  Tolbooth  of  Dundee,  365,  366  ; 
brought  back  from  Dundee  to  Edin- 
burgh, 376  ;  appears  before  the  Parlia- 
ment, and  his  indictment  is  read,  376, 
383  ;  is  condemned  by  the  Parliament 
to  be  hanged,  386  ;  is  executed,  ib.  ;  his 
charactoi-,  315,  386,  388. 

Guthrie,  INIrs,  widow  of  the  preceding,  is 
imprisoned,  484. 

Guthrie,  Mr  William,  minister  of  Fenwick, 


notice  of,  318;  is  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  Privy  Council,  430. 


H. 


Hacket,  Lieutenant-General,  223. 

Hackston,  David  of  Rathillet,  is  appre- 
hended at  Airsmoss,  and  brought  to 
Edinburgh,  570 ;  his  examination  be- 
fore the  Privy  Council,  575;  his  exe- 
cution, 576,  577. 

Haddington,  Thomas,  first  Earl  of,  180. 

Hall,  Mr  Gilbert,  minister  of  Kirkliston, 
lurks  in  Edinburgh  after  his  ejection, 
482  ;  is  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of 
Edinburgh,  358,  359  ;  is  liberated,  388. 

Hall,  Henry,  of  Haughhead,  is  mortally 
wounded,  567,  568. 

Halliburton,  Mr  George,  minister  of  Perth, 
375  ;  is  consecrated  Bishop  of  Dunkeld, 
407,  410. 

Halton,  Lord,  550  ;  a  furious  persecutor, 
661,  655,  567,  562,  663,  564. 

Hamilton,  Barbara,  wife  of  John  Mein, 
merchant  in  Edinburgh,  117  j  anecdote 
concerning  her,  153,  154. 

Hamilton,  Beatrix,  first  wife  of  Mr  Robert 
Blair,  117. 

Hamilton,  Bessie,  wife  of  Mr  Richard 
Dickson.  117,  134. 

Hamilton,  Marion,  wife  of  Bartholomew 
Fleming,  117.  134. 

Hamilton,  James,  Marquis,  afterwards 
Duke  of,  164  ;  swears  the  Covenant, 
188;  is  head  of  the  Hamiltonian  faction 
in  opposition  to  the  Campbell  faction, 
192,  198;  his  engagement,  198- 
200 ;  is  appointed  by  the  Parliament 
general  of  the  army,  201,  202  ;  skirmish 
between  the  Duke's  army  and  Lam- 
bert's troops  at  Apleby,  203  ;  the  Duke 
is  routed  at  Preston,  ib. ;  flees  to  North 
Wales,  but  is  soon  apprehended  and 
executed,  204. 

Hamilton,  William,  Duke  of,  brother  to  the 
preceding,  228  ;  offers  to  make  satisfac- 
tion to  the  Church  for  being  concerned 
in  the  engagement.  259  ;  is  ordained  to 
satisfy  in  the  Kirk  of  Dundee,  261, 
269 ;  is  apprehended  at  the  battle  of 
AVorcester  by  Cromwell's  army,  and  dies 
of  his  wounds,  284. 

Hamilton,  AVilliam,  Duke  of,  who  married 
Anne,  Duchess  of  Hamilton,  the  heir  of 
the  preceding,  reasons  in  the  Scots 
Council  at  London  against  the  erection 
of  Prelacy  in  Scotland.  390,  411,  490, 
507,  513,  568,  560,  £63-566. 


INDEX. 


(Ul 


Hamilton,  Anne,  Duchess  of,  564. 

Hamilton,  Gavin,  is  executed  for  being 
with  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills, 
504. 

Hamilton,  Mr  George,  minister  of  New- 
burn,  and  afterwards  of  Pittenweem, 
anecdote  of,  363,  364,  454 ;  is  sum- 
moned to  appear  before  the  High  Commis- 
sion, 466  ;  confined  to  his  parish.  468  ; 
though  a  Nonconformist  not  ejected, 
482  ;  is  summoned  to  appear  before  the 
Privy  Council,  572  ;  discharged  to 
preach  in  the  parish  of  Newhurn,  674. 

Hamilton,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Balwater 
in  Ireland,  and  afterwards  of  Edinburgh, 
notice  of,  64,  65,  71  ;  resolves  to  emi- 
grate to  New  England,  140,  224,  253, 
256,  257  ;  is  apprehended  at  Alyth  by 
a  party  of  Monk's  horse,  and  carried 
prisoner  to  London,  281,  288;  is  si- 
lenced and  discharged  preaching  in 
Edinburgh,  416. 

Hamilton,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Cambus- 
nethan,  preaches  before  the  Parliament, 
378  ;  goes  to  London  to  be  consecrated 
Bishop  of  Galloway,  394,  396-398  ; 
submits  to  be  re-ordained  before  his 
consecration,  399,  407  ;   his  death,  552. 

Hamilton,  James,  is  executed  for  being 
with  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills, 
604. 

Hamilton,  James,  is  apprehended  for  hear- 
ing an  outed  minister,  540. 

Hamilton,  Mr,  minister  of  Killileagh  in 
Ireland,  and  afterwards  of  Ballantrae  in 
Scotland,  136. 

Hamilton,  James,  of  Kirktonholm,  51. 

Hamilton,  Colonel  John,  271. 

Hamilton,  Sir  John,  of  Broomhill,  378. 

Hamilton,  Sir  John,  of  Orbiston,  299. 

Hamilton,  Mr  John,  minister,  274. 

Hamilton,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Leith, 
549. 

Hamiltonian  faction,  178,  192,  198. 

Hanane,  Mr  William.  See  Annayi,  Mr 
WiUiam. 

Hardie,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Gordon,  re- 
moved from  his  church  by  the  Privy 
Council,  446. 

Harrison,  Colonel,  195  ;  conspires  against 
Cromwell's  life,  333. 

Hart,  Mr  John,  a  minister  in  Ireland,  im- 
prisoned for  alleged  accession  to  Colonel 
Blood's  conspiracy,  449. 

Hastie,  Mr  Alexander,  minister,  is  appre- 
hended and  imprisoned,  579. 

Hatcher,  Thomas,  Esq.,  169. 

Hazelrig,  Sir  Arthur.  385  ;  gathers  forces 

2  Q 


to  assist  Monk  in  defence  of  the  Hump 
Parliament,  341  ;  is  imprisoned  by  the 
English  Parliament  in  the  Tower  of 
London,  346. 

Hay,  Mr  Andrew,  of  Craignethan,  358. 

Hay,  Sir  John,  is  taken  prisoner  by  the 
Covenanters  at  Philiphaugh,  177. 

Henderson,  Mr  Alexander,  minister  of 
Leuchars,  afterwards  of  Edinburgh,  4, 
14,  162  ;  drew  up  the  Solemn  League 
and  Covenant,  171,  172  ;  is  sent  for  by 
Charles  I.  from  London  to  Newcastle, 
183  ;  is  sent  by  the  Tables  to  promote 
the  cause  of  the  Covenant  in  Aberdeen, 
185;  appointed  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  1646  to  go  to  Charles  I.  at  New- 
castle, 185,  186;  earnestly  deals  with 
Charles  to  satisfy  the  just  desires  of  the 
Kirk  and  Estate  of  Scotland,  187,  188  ; 
his  death,  188,  529. 

Henry  VIII.  of  England,  372. 

Hepburn,  Colonel,   151,  196,  276,  478. 

High  Commission  Court,  151,  463,  464, 
470,  471. 

Hill,  Frank,  of  Castlereagh,  146. 

Hog,  Mr  Thomas,  minister  of  Dysart,  36. 

Hog,  Mr  Thomas,  is  intercomniuncd,  561. 

Holland,  war  between  England  and,  479, 
306,  309,  312.  313,  600,  508.  609; 
peace  concluded  between  them,  511, 
512. 

HoUis,  Lord,  ambassador  of  Charles  II., 
in  France,  is  recalled,  484. 

lionet.  Christian,  servant  to  Mr  Robert 
Blair,  136. 

Honeyman,  Mr  Andrew,  minister  of  St 
Andrews,  is  a  rigid  Public  llesolutioner, 
304  ;  notice  of,  379,  380  ;  his  great 
zeal  for  Presbytery,  382,  396,  405, 
406,  419  ;  is  made  Archdean  of  St  An- 
drews. 426,  433,  448;  appointed  Bishop 
of  Orkney,  463  ;  is  consecrated,  467, 
473 ;  still  lives  at  St  Andrews,  480  ; 
publishes  an  answer  to  the  book,  en- 
titled "  Naphtali,"  517  ;  is  wounded  in 
the  arm  by  James  Mitchell,  518. 

Honeyman,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Cupar, 
467. 

Hope,  Henry,  338. 

Hope,  Sir  James,  of  Ilopeton,  224  ;  Lord 
Hopeton,  306. 

Ilubart,  or  Hubard,  Mr,  an  English  minis- 
ter, settled  in  Carrickfergus  in  Ireland, 
notice  of,  58,  75. 

Humble,  Laird  of,  183,  281.  288. 

Hume,  Earl  of.  288;  is  made  a  member 
of  the  Privy  Council,  636. 

Hume,   Sir  Patrick,  of  Polwart,   562;  is 


612 


INDEX. 


declnroil  incapable  of  public  employment 
or  trust,  565. 

Huntly,  Marquis  of,  288,  299,  482. 

Ilurrie,  Colonel  Sir  John,  174,  202,  222  ; 
i8  beheaded,  223,  224. 

Hutchison,  ISlr  George,  minister  of  Edin- 
burgh,  notice  of,  ^22,  228,  229.  231, 
334,  34 ()  ;  preaches  before  the  Parlia- 
ment, 378,  402  ;  is  silenced  and  dis- 
fharged  preaching  in  Edinburgh,  416, 
483  ;  visits  Mr  Robert  Blair  under  his 
last  illness,  493  ;  is  called  to  Edinburgh 
in  reference  to  the  indulgence  of  the 
Presbyterian  ministers,  518,  523,  624; 
is  indulged  to  Irvine,  326. 

Hyde,  Chancellor,  or  Lord  Clarendon,  a 
great  enemy  to  Presbyterians.  331,  411, 
436,  437,  440,  483,  490  ;  is  decourted 
and  disgraced,  312  ;  proceedings  of  the 
two  Houses  of  Parliament  concerning 
him,  313;  he  escapes  to  France,  516, 
518  ;    his  death,  353. 


I. 


Indulged  ministers,  526,  530  ;  are  forbid- 
den to  lecture  on  the  Sabbath,  632- 
534. 
Indulgence  intended  to  be  granted  to  some 
of  the  Presbyterian  ministers,  618  ; 
it  is  retarded  in  consequence  of  the 
murder  of  Archbishop  Sharp,  ib.  ;  the 
King's  letter  to  the  Privy  Council  grant- 
ing it,  523  ;  second  indulgence  of  1679, 
570;  is  restricted,  571. 
Inglistoun,  Laird  of,  repairs  to  London  as 

the  agent  of  the  Protesters,  330. 
Ingoldsby,  Colonel,  347. 
Ireland,  eminent  piety  of  the  ministers 
and  professors  in  the  north  of,  139; 
many  of  them  resolve  to  emigrate  to 
New  England,  104-106,  140,  141  ;  they 
embark,  107,  142  ;  aro  forced  to  re- 
turn from  the  tempestuous  state  of  the 
weather,  142-145;  "  the  black  oath"  en- 
forced on  nonconformists,  165  ;  rebel- 
lion in  Ireland  breaks  out,  ib.  ;  the  op- 
pression and  insolence  of  the  Scots 
army  who  came  to  suppress  it,  166  ; 
the  General  Assembly  of  the  Church  of 
Scotland  send  over  ministers  to  visit 
Ireland,  ib.  ;  great  change  to  the  worse 
as  to  the  state  of  religion  in,  ib.  ;  Pres- 
byterians hardly  used  (here,  219;  fears 
of  the  restoration  of  Prelacy  in  the 
north  of  Ireland  alter  the  restoration  of 
Charles  !I;   the   Irish  Bishops  violently 


persecute  all  nonconforming  ministers, 
390,  418;  reports  of  a  plot  at  Dublin 
to  overturn  Prelacy,  444,  449;  Irish 
Papists  very  numerous  and  proud, 
445  ;  nonconforming  ministers  almost  all 
seized  and  imprisoned,  449 ;  act  of 
Scottish  Privy  Council  for  preventing 
''  fanatics"  from  coming  from  Ireland  to 
Scotland,  ib. 


JafFray,  Mr  Alexander,  provost  of  Aber- 
deen, 217,  222,  228,  300,  306;  is 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  Com- 
mittee of  Estates,  365. 

Jaffray,  Mr,  minister.  o])position  made  to 
his  inductidn  into  the  parish  of  Kirkcud- 
bright, 437,  534. 

Jamaica  is  acquired  by  Cromwell.  324. 

James  VI.,  20;  urges  the  oath  of  supre- 
macy on  his  subjects  in  England,  372  ; 
his  high  opinion  of  the  Reformed  Kirk 
of  Scotland,  394. 

Jesuits,  many  of  them  in  the  North  of 
Scotland,  324,  327  ;  Charles  IL  emits 
a  proclamation  against,  436  ;  many  of 
them  disguised  in  Edinburgh,  443. 

Johnston,  Mr  Archibald;  162.  See  War- 
riston.  Lord. 

Johnston.  Mr  George,  minister  of  New- 
bottle,  lurks  in  Edinburgh  after  his 
ejection,  482  ;  is  confined  to  Borthwick 
parish,  334  ;  intercommuned,  661  ;  de- 
prived of  his  indulgence,  571. 

Johnston,  Mr,  minister,  preaches  before 
the  Parliament,  380. 

Johnston,  Robert,  town-major  of  Edin- 
burgh, 554, 

Joycie,  John,  299. 

Joyse,  Colonel,  is  sent  by  Cromwell  to 
take  Charles  II.  out  of  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  212. 


Keir,  Laird  of,  299. 

Keith,  Friend,  a  Quaker,  533. 

Kellie,  Earl  of,  550,  651. 

Kello,  Widow,  is  fined,  519. 

Kemp,  Mr  William,  minister,  578. 

Kenmure,  Lord,  220,  306,  310,  312,  313; 
large  sums  of  money  offered  to  any  that 
would  kill  him,  314. 

Kennedy,  IMr  John,  apothecary  in  Edin- 
burgh, 493. 

Kennedy,  Lady  Margaret,  notice  of,  527. 


INDEX. 


613 


Ker,  iNIr  Andrew,  clerk  of  the  General 
Assembly,  taken  prisoner  at  Alyth  by  a 
party  of  Monk's  horse,  285. 

Ker,  General  Gilbert,  219,  223;  notice 
of,  240,  241  ;  wounded  and  taken  at  the 
defeat  of  the  Westland  forces  at  Hamil- 
ton, 249  ;  is  summoned  to  appear  before 
the  Committee  of  Estates,  365. 

Ker,  Robert,  of  Kersland,  507. 

Ker,  Sir  William,  is  made  director  of  the 
Chancellary  on  the  restoration  of  Charles 
II.,  355. 

Keyes,  Mr  William,  minister  in  Ireland, 
356. 

Kill)irnie,  Laird  of.  See  Crawford,  Sir 
Joltn. 

Kilsyth,  Defeat  of  the  Covenanters  by 
the  Marquis  of  Montrose  at,  175. 

Kincardine,  The  Earl  of.  present  at  a  com- 
munion at  TuUiallan,  478,  507,  508, 
540,  557,  564. 

King,  ]\Ir  John,  preacher.  558,  559. 

Kinghorn,  Earl  of,  is  made  a  member  of 
the  Frivy  Council,  538,  550,  563,  065  ; 
is  made  Earl  of  Strathniore,  566. 

Kiiikell,  Laird  of,  559,  580. 

Kiiinaird,  Sir  George,  550. 

Kinnoul,  Earl  of,  222;  escapes  from  the 
Castle  of  Edinburgh,  where  he  was  a 
prisoner,  315. 

Kirkco,  James,  of  Sundiwell,  imprisoned 
in  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh,  358,  359. 

Kirkcudbright,  Lord.  204;  joins  the  anti- 
engagers  with  a  considerable  number  of 
horse  and  foot,  206. 

Kirkton,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Mertoun, 
lurks  in  Edinburgh  after  his  ejection, 
482. 

Knox,  Mr  Andrew,  Bishop  of  Kaphoe, 
58;  his  tolerant  character.  81. 

Knox,  ]\Ir  John,  the  Reformer,  his  gift  of 
Prophecy,  98. 


Lamb,  Mr  William,  minister,  579. 

Lambert,  General,  skirmish  between  his 
troops  and  the  army  of  the  Duke  of 
Hamilton  at  Apleby,  2t)3,  206.  211, 
233,  237,  283,  •291,  292,  294;  favours 
the  Anabaptists,  313,  332,  335,  337, 
339  ;  the  city  of  London  is  overawed  by 
his  forces  from  declaring  for  the  Parlia- 
ment, 340,  341  ;  his  forces,  leave  him, 
341  ;  he  submits  to  the  Parliament,  342, 
is  imprisoned  by  the  Engli.'h  Parliament 
in  the  Tower  of  London.  346;    escapes 


from   the  Tower,   347  ;    is  again   taken 
and  imprisoned  in  it,  ib. 

Lanerick,  Earl  of,  is  made  Secretary  for 
Scottish  affairs,  164,  179;  infests  the 
North,  181,  183.  188;  appointed  by 
the  Committee  of  Estates  General  of 
the  forces  in  Scotland,  204-206. 

Langdale,  Sir  Marmaduke,  200,  202, 
203. 

Langlands,  Mr  Robert,  minister,  578. 

Laud,  Archbishop,  150  ;   advises  Charles 

I.  to  order  the  articles  of  pacification 

between  him  and  the  (Jovenanters  to  be 

publicly    burned    by    the    hands    of   the 

.  hangman,  1  60. 

Lauderdale,  Earl  of,  183  ;  comes  to  Scot- 
land with  Charles  It.,  228.  243,  269; 
is  taken  by  Cromwell's  army  at  the 
battle  of  Worcester,  284  ;  made  Secre- 
tary of  State  on  the  restoration  of 
Charles  II.,  355,  363  ;  at  first  opposed 
to  the  setting  up  of  Prelacy  in  Scotland, 
390,  411;  hostility  of  Middl.-ton  to 
him,  417;  427,  428,  433,  434:  gives 
in  to  the  Scottish  Council  at  London 
sundry  accusations  against  Middleton, 
436-439.  441.  443,  450,  451;  Act  of 
Parliament  made  in  his  favour  on  ac- 
count of  his  having  suffered  in  the  King's 
service,  452;  posts  to  Court,  453;  his 
resentmenlagainst  the  Earlof  Glencairn. 
454  :  accuses  Middleton  before  the  Privy 
Council,  461  ;  succeeds  in  decouriing 
Middleton,  ib.  ;  carries  all  at  Court, 
473,  507,  508.  516.  518:  reports  con- 
cerning him  and  Lady  Margaret  Ken- 
nedy, 527.  629,  636-538:  proceed- 
ings against  him  in  the  English  Parlia- 
ment, 557-559,  562,  563.  565,  670; 
is  excommunicated  by  Mr  Donald  Car- 
gill,  580. 

Laurie,  Mr  Kobert,  one  of  the  ministers 
of  Edinburgh,  notice  of,  374  ;  preaches 
a  most  Haltering  sermon  before  the 
Parliament,  389;  conforms  to  Prelacy, 
404.  416  ;  is  made  dean  of  E<liul>urgh, 
423. 

Law,  Mr  James,  archbishop  of  Glasgow, 
1  I,  36,  37.  48,  50. 

Law.  Mr  John,  mini.stor  of  Campsie,  lives 
in  Kirkcaldy  after  his  ejcciinn,  482. 

Law,  Mr  INlungo,  minister  of  Ediiil>ur:;h, 
apprehended  at  Alyth  by  a  parly  of 
Monk's  horse,  and  carried  to  the  tower 
(if  London,  281,  2h8  ;  is  liberated  from 
the  Tower.  304. 
Learmont.  iNl.ijor  .losoph.  one  of  the  rorn- 
nmn'lers  ol  the  Covenanters  at  Pcnliaiid 


614 


INDEX. 


Hills,  502,  519;  is  condemned  to  be 
hanged  when  apprehended,  536. 

Leighton,  Robert,  bishop  of  Dunblane,  af- 
terwards archbishop  of  Glasgow,  378, 
387,  398  ;  satires  composed  against  him, 
403  ;  his  decided  leaning  to  the  asceti- 
cism of  the  Jansenists,  404,  407,  409  ; 
his  moderatiou  in  his  Diocesan  Court, 
426,  427 ;  his  pretended  disregard  of 
worldly  pomp,  453 ;  goes  to  London  to 
Court,  455,  478;  is  desirous  to  demit 
his  place,  480 ;  pleads  that  all  the  Pres- 
byterian ministers  might  be  indulged, 
518;  comes  from  Court  archbishop  of 
Glasgow  in  a  new  mode,  536,  552. 

Lennox,  Duke  of,  420. 

Lentrone,  Mr  John,  400. 

Leslie,  Sir  Alexander  of  Balgonie,  after- 
wards Lord  Balgonie  and  Earl  of  Leven, 
general  of  the  Covenanters'  army  in 
1639,  157,  168,  161,  163,  183,  196;  is 
general  of  the  army  of  the  Antiengagers, 
205  ;  feasts  Cromwell  in  the  Castle  of 
Edinburgh,  209,  233;  is  defeated  by 
Cromwell  at  Dunbar,  238,  279,  280; 
apprehended  at  Alyth  and  carried  pri- 
soner to  the  Tower  of  London,  281, 
288. 

Leslie,  David,  Major- General,  afterwards 
Lord  Newark,  176,  177;  returns  to  the 
Covenanters'  army  in  England,  181,234; 
is  accused  of  sundry  neglects  at  the  battle 
of  Dunbar,  240  ;  lays  down  his  charge 
before  the  Committee  of  Estates,  ib, ; 
is  prevailed  upon  to  take  it  again,  241  ; 
made  prisoner  at  the  battle  of  Worcester 
by  Cromwell's  army,  284. 

Leslie,  Mr  George,  minister.  253.  328 

Leslie,  Henry,  Bishop  of  Down,  64,  90, 
147,  183,  196  ;  is  translated  to  the  See 
of  Meath,  384. 

Leslie,  Robert,  197. 

Lethendy,  Lady,  179. 

Liberton,  Lord.      See  Winram,  George. 

Lilburn,  Colonel,  283,  307,  308,  313, 

Lindsay,  Mr  David,  bishop  of  Brechin, 
notice  of,  l-l. 

Lindsay,  Lord,  afterwards  Earl  of  Craw- 
ford, 161  ;  Earl  of  Montrose  resolves  to 
be  avenged  on  him,  164.  See  Cruw- 
ford,  Earl  of. 

Linlithgow,  Earl  of,  437,  512,  530,  550, 
579. 

l>inton,  Lord,  299. 

Livingstone,  Mr  Alexander,  minister,  658. 

Livingstone,  Mr  John,  minister  of  An- 
crum.  10,  81,  90;  is  deposed,  92,  133; 
resolves  with  some  others  to  emigrate  to 


New  England,  104,  135,  140,  141,  143, 
144;  visits  Mr  Josias  Welsh  on  hisdeath- 
bed,  135,  136 ;  his  testimony  to  the 
high  character  of  the  ministers  and  pro- 
fessors in  the  north  of  Ireland,  139; 
preaches  in  the  house  of  his  mother-in- 
law,  146  ;  is  informed  against,  ib.  ;  or- 
ders issued  for  his  apprehension,  and  his 
flight  to  Irvine,  147  ;  goes  to  his  father's 
house  at  Lanark,  148  ;  is  sent  to  London 
withseveral  copies  of  the  National  Cove- 
nant, 155;  called  to  Stranraer,  156;  is  one 
of  the  Commissioners  sent  by  the  Com- 
mission of  the  General  Assembly  to 
treat  with  Charles  II.  at  Breda,  222  ; 
dissatisfied  with  the  terms  on  which  the 
Commissioners  invited  Charles  to  Scot- 
land, 228,  229;  administers  the  Na- 
tional Covenant  and  Solemn  League  to 
him,  229,  230  ;  his  report  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Commissioners  with 
Charles,  231,  292;  is  written  for  by 
Cromwell  to  come  to  London,  313; 
preaches  before  Cromwell,  ib. ;  returns 
to  Scotland,  317;  his  freedom  dis- 
pleases Cromwell,  ib. ;  is  summoned  to 
appear  before  the  Parliament,  389  ;  and 
before  the  Privy  Council,  430;  is  ba- 
nished, ib.  ;  opposition  to  the  induction 
of  the  curate  intruded  on  his  charge, 
484,  488. 

Livingstone,  Mrs,  539. 

Lockhart,  Robert,  236. 

Lockhart,  Colonel  William,  299,  306, 
333,  352. 

Lockhart,  William,  of  Wicketshaw,  one  of 
the  Commanders  of  the  Covenanters  at 
Pentland  Hills,  502. 

Lockier,  Mr,  an  independent  English  mi- 
nister, 331. 

London,  great  fire  in,  in  1666,  499. 

Lorn,  Lord,  afterwards  Earl  of  Argyle, 
320,  354  ;  his  intercepted  letter  re- 
flecting on  the  Parliament,  415  ;  is  com- 
mitted prisoner  to  the  Castle  of  Edin- 
burgh, 416  ;  King's  advocate  command- 
ed to  prepare  a  libel  against  him,  417  ; 
the  Earl  of  Lauderdale  becomes  surety 
for  his  appearing  before  Parliament,  ib. ; 
Lorn's  defences  before  the  Parliament, 
419  ;  sentence  of  death  pronounced 
against  him  by  the  Parliament,  420 ; 
news  comes  to  Scotland  that  the  King 
had  pardoned  him,  422  ;  he  is  set  at  li- 
berty, 443  ;  restored  and  declared  to  be 
Earl  of  Argyle,  453.    SeeArgi/le,  Earl  of. 

Lothian,  Earl  of,  one  of  the  Commission- 
ers sent   by  the   Scottish  Parliament  to 


INDEX. 


615 


Charles  I.,  193;  sent  by  the  Committee 
of  Estates  to  London  to  the  English 
Parliament,  211,  216;  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners sent  by  the  Committee  of 
Estates  to  treat  with  Charles  II.  at 
Breda,  222,  228,  444. 

Loudon,  Earl  of,  (John  Campbell,)  162; 
his  letter  to  Lord  "NVarriston  respecting 
the  treaty  at  Uxliridge,  183  ;  earnestly 
entreats  Charles  I.  to  sign  the  propo- 
sitions of  peace  agreed  upon  by  Com- 
missioners from  both  kingdoms,  188, 
193,  199;  is  desirous  to  have  an  army 
levied  for  the  rescue  of  Charles  I.  from 
the  English  Parliament,  199;  deserts 
the  Engagers,   204,  205-207,  269,  444. 

Lumbie,  Lord,  an  English  Popish  noble- 
man, 546. 

Lundie,  John,  is  summoned  to  appear  be- 
fore the  Privy  Council,  621. 

Lunsdale,  Robert,  governor  of  Dundee, 
is  killed  at  the  storming  of  that  town  by 
Monk,  282. 


M. 


M'Culloch,  Major  John,  one  of  the  com- 
manders of  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland 
Hills,  502;  is  executed  at  the  Cross  of 
Edinburgh,  604. 

M'Dowall  or  M'Dougall,  Mr  James,  of 
Garthland,  299,  306. 

M'Ghie,  Mr  John,  minister,  285. 

M'Gill,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Largo,  is 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  High 
Commission,  466  ;  suspended  by  Sharp 
in  his  Diocesan  Synod,  467  ;  confined  to 
his  parish  by  the  High  Commission,  468; 
sentence  of  suspension  intimated  to  him, 
474  ;   is  deposed,  475,  480. 

M'Gill,  Mr  John,  the  elder,  minister  of 
Flisk,  appointed  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly to  attend  Charles  II.  and  his  family, 
233,  246,  256,  302. 

M'Gill,  Mr  John,  the  younger,  minister  of 
Dunbog,  and  afterwards  of  Cupar,  246, 
264;   notice  of,  302,  395,  467. 

M'Gill,  Mr  Patrick,  a  minister  in  Angus, 
433. 

Macgillespic,  Alester  IMackdonald,  notice 
of,  173;  infests  Argyleshire,  181;  let- 
ter of  Charles  I.  to,  184,  187,  197. 

M'Kail,  Mr  Hugh,  minister  of  Edinburgh, 
notice  of,   231,  253. 

M'Kail,  Mr  Matthew,  minister  of  Both- 
well,  231. 

M'Kail,  Mr  Hugh,  son  of  the  preceding. 


231  ;  is  with  the  Covenanters  at  Pent- 
land  Hills,  503  :  taken  prisoner  and 
cruelly  tortured,  504  ;  executed,  505  ; 
his  pardon  by  the  King  kept  concealed 
by  Archbishop  Sharp  till  he  was  exe- 
cuted, 606. 

M'Kenzie,  Sir  George,  560 ;  is  excommu- 
nicated by  Mr  Donald  Cargill,  580. 

M'Kenzie,  Mr  Murdoch,  minister  of  Elgin, 
404  ;  is  consecrated  Bishop  of  JMurray, 
406,  410. 

Maekie,  Henry,  452. 

Maclean,  Laird  of,  war  between  him  and 
the  Earl  of  Argyle,  663. 

M'Lellan,  John  of  Barscob,  one  of  the  com- 
manders of  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland 
Hills,  502,  519. 

M'Lellan,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Kirkcud- 
bright, 104,  140,  146. 

M'Michan,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Dairy, 
464  ;  becomes  indulged  minister  of  that 
parish,  526. 

M'Naught,  Marion,  is  visited  by  Mr  Ro- 
bert Blair,   96. 

M'Ward,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  the  Outer 
High  Church,  Glasgow,  388;  is  banished 
the  three  kingdoms,  389;  publishes  Ru- 
therford's Letters,  481. 

Maitland,  Mr  William,  becomes  indulged 
minister  of  Beith,  526. 

Malignants,  The,  are  repressed  in  the 
north,  219,  220;  are  most  disposed  to 
comply  with  Cromwell,  288,   289,  294. 

Manchester,  Lord,  347,  622. 

Manton,  Mr,  an  English  Presbyterian  mi- 
nister, 331. 

Mar,  Earl  of,  478;  is  made  a  member  of 
Privy  Council,  538. 

Marischall,  Earl  of,  is  apprehended  at 
Alyth  by  a  party  of  Monk's  horse,  and 
carried  prisoner  to  the  Tower  of  London, 
281,  288;  liberated  from  the  Tower, 
304. 

Marshall,  Mr  Stephen,  an  English  minister, 
notice  of,  169,  170,  195,  348. 

Marston-nioor,  Long,  victory  of  the  forces 
of  the  English  Parliament  over  Prince 
Rupert  at,  172,  175. 

JNIary,  Queen,  wife  of  AVilliani  III., 
351. 

Mass  celebrated  in  Edinburgh.  445,  481. 

Maxwell,  Sir  George,  of  Nether  Pollock, 
517. 

Maxwell,  Mr  John,  Bishop  of  Ross,  no- 
tice of,  90, 

Maxwell,  John,  of  Monreitb,  one  of  the 
coniuiandei's  of  the  Covenanters  at  Pent- 
land Hills,  502. 


(UG 


INDEX. 


Wftzareine,  Viscount.     See  Clolworlhy,  Sir 

John. 
Mein,  John,  merchant  in  Edinburgh,  117, 
153. 

Meldrum,  Mr  George,  minister  of  Glass, 
afterwards  Professor  of  Divinity  in  the 
college  of  Edinburgh,  4;^0. 

Moldruin.  Mr  .loshua.  minister,  translated 
from  Kingliorn  to  Edinburgh,  431. 

Melville,  Mr  Andrew,  9,  14. 

Melville,  Mr  Ephi-aim.  minister  of  Lin- 
lithgow, one  of  the  Protesters,  305. 

Melville,  Lord,  444,  583. 

Melville,  Mr  Thomas,  minister  of  Kin- 
gliissie,  though  uncontorm  not  ejected, 
483. 

Menzies.  Mr  John.  Professor  of  Divinity 
in  Marischal  College,  Aberdeen,  is 
dissatisfied  with  the  public  resolutions, 
261,  262,  274,  275,  278:  suspended 
by  the  General  Assembly  in  1652  for  in- 
dependency, 294,300,301  ;  sent  for  by 
Cromwell  to  London,  313,  314;  pleases 
Cromwell  better  than  Mr  John  Living- 
stone. 317  ;   returns  to  Scotland,  318. 

Middleton,  Earl  of,  is  made  general  of 
all  the  forces  in  Scotland,  181  ;  success- 
ful against  Montrose's  adherents  in  the 
north,  181.  184.  196,  197;  changed 
from  what  he  was.  202,  203,  244  ;  the 
Commission  of  the  Kirk  carry  a  sentence 
of  excommunication  against  him,  244; 
the  sentence  moved  by  Mr  James 
Guthrie,  ib.  ;  and  pronounced  by  him, 
245;  he  is  relaxed  from  the  sentence  of 
excommunication,  259;  taken  at  the 
battle  of  Worcester  by  Cromwell's  army, 
2b4,  310;  large  suras  of  money  ottered 
to  any  who  would  kill  him,  314-317; 
is  his  Majesty's  Commissioner  at  first 
Parliament  of  Charles  II.  371,  378  ;  suc- 
ceeds in  getting  the  act  Kescissory  passed 
in  Parliament,  381-383  ;  repairs  to  Court 
after  the  rising  of  the  Parliament,  389, 
406,  408  ;  his  plot  to  eject  the  Earl  of 
Crawford  from  his  office  as  Treasurer, 
411;  his  hostility  to  Lauderdale,  417, 
418:  he  and  his  cabal  plot  the  Act  of  Bil- 
lets against  Lauderdale  and  Crawford, 
427.430,433,  434;  he  is  accused  by  Lau- 
derdale before  the  Scottish  Council  at 
London.  436-438,  440,  441,  450,  461, 
454,  461  ;   decourted,  461,  512. 

Middleton,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Leuchars, 
43:<. 

]Mill.  John,  299. 

Mill,  Mr  Alexander,  minister,  preaches 
before  the  Parliament,  377. 


Millar,  Mr  Robert,  minister,  569. 

Ministers,  non-conforming  Presbyterian, 
Acts  of  Parliament  and  Council  by  which 
they  were  ejected,  412,  423  ;  character 
of  the  curates  intruded  on  their  charges, 
437,  439  ;  proclamation  of  the  Privy 
Council  against  them,  445,  456,  483  ; 
they  judge  it  sinful  to  give  Bishops  their 
titles  of  honour,  484  ;  a  great  meeting  of 
them  at  Edinburgh,  542-545. 

Mitchell,  Mr  David,  notice  of,  391  ;  is 
consecrated  Bishop  of  Aberdeen,  410, 
411,  444;  his  death,  452. 

Mitchell,  Mr  James,  attempts  the  assassi- 
nation of  Archbishop  Sharp,  518;  the 
endeavours  of  the  Privy  Council  to  dis- 
cover the  author  of  the  attempt,  519, 
520. 

Moncrieflf,  Mr  Alexander,  minister  of 
Scoonie,  notice  of,  232  ;  dissents  from 
the  act  of  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk 
condemning  the  Western  Remonstrance, 
248,  264,  318;  is  imprisoned  in  the 
Castle  of  Edinburgh.  358,  359  ;  brought 
before  the  Lords  of  the  Articles,  388; 
the  sentence  pronounced  upon  him  by 
the  Parliament,  389  ;  a  curate  thrust 
into  his  charge  by  Archbishop  Sharp, 
418;   is  intercommuned,  561,  662. 

Monk,  General,  referred  to,  64 ;  takes 
possession  of  Stirling,  280  ;  lays  siege 
to  Dundee,  ib.  ;  offers  to  the  town,  pro- 
vided it  surrendered,  reasonable  condi- 
tions, which  are  refused,  281  ;  storms 
the  town,  and  exercises  great  cruelty 
towards  the  inhabitants,  281,  282,  285, 
288.  292,  294  ;  comes  to  Scotland  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  English  forces  in 
Scotland.  314,  316;  plot  of  the  Ana- 
baptists for  cutting  him  off  discovered, 
319,  320;  determines  to  stand  for  the 
Rump  I'arliament,  which  the  army  had 
dispersed,  339-341  ;  marches  with  his 
army  towards  London,  342  ;  is  received 
and  feasted  there  with  great  honour,  ib. ; 
sends  for  Mr  Janies  Sharp  to  London, 
344,  345  ;  is  opposed  to  the  admission 
of  the  secluded  members  into  Parlia- 
ment, ib.  ;  forcibly  admits  them  into  it, 
346,  .346;  receives  a  letter  from  Charles 
II.,  349,  350  ;  salutes  him  at  his  land- 
ing at  Dover.  351  ;  is  made  one  of  the 
Knights  of  the  Garter,  ib.  ;  created 
Duke  of  Albemarle,  381  ;  his  treachery 
in  discovering  a  letter  of  the  Marquis  of 
Argyle  to  the  usurpers  at  his  trial,  384, 
472,  489,  490.    See  Albemuiie,  Duktof. 

Monmouth,   James,   Duke  of,   natural  son 


INDEX. 


617 


of  Charles  II.,  4)7,  434,  453,  557  ;  is 
excommunicated  by  Mr  Donald  Cargill, 
580,  583. 

Monro,  Sir  George,  Major-General,  102, 
166,  204-206,  219,  316-317,  478,  490; 
is  made  a  member  of  the  Privy  Council, 
650. 

Montague,  Admiral,  notice  of,  348,  360. 

Monteagle,  Lord,  1  95. 

Montecuculi,  general  of  the  Imperial  army, 
470,  662. 

Montgomery.  Hugh,  Laird  of  Busbie,  136. 

Montgomery,  Catherine,  daughter  of  ihe 
preceding,  and  second  wife  of  Mr  Ilo- 
hert  Blair,  136;  excellent  character  of, 
137;  memorable  deliverances  obtained 
by,  138.  149. 

Montgomery,  Isabel,  wife  of  Mr  Robert 
Cunningham  of  Holywood,  136;  her 
petition  to  the  Parliament  of  Ireland 
after  her  husband's  death,  148,   149. 

Montgomery, ,  wife  of  Mr  Hamil- 
ton, minister  ofKillileagh,  in  Ireland,  13(). 

Montgomery,  Colonel  Robert,  234,  478. 

Montgomery,  Sir  Robert,  is  taken  by 
Cromwell's  forces  at  the  battle  of  Wor- 
cester, 284, 

Montrose,  Marquis  of,  keeps  a  secret  cor- 
respondence with  Charles  I.,  164;  which 
is  di,«covered,  ib.  ;  deserts  the  Cove- 
nanters, 164,  173;  defeats  the  Cove- 
nanters at  Tibbermuir.  and  at  Aberdeen, 
173,  174;  again  defeats  them  at  Kil- 
syth. 175,  176;  is  defeated  at  Philip- 
haugh,  177;  escapes,  ib.  ;  gathers  new 
forces,  178;  his  ravages  in  the  North, 
181  ;  letter  of  Charles  I.  tohjm,  184;  the 
attempts  made  to  treat  with  him,  187  ;  it 
is  concluded  that  he  should  depart  out  of 
the  country,  187,  188;  arrives  in  Ork- 
ney, 222  ;  is  defeated  at  Corliiesdale,  in 
Ross,  223  ;  escapes,  but  is  soon  appre- 
hended, 223.  224 ;  is  brought  before 
the  Parliament,  tried  and  condemned, 
224.  226  ;  his  interview  before  his 
execution  with  Mr  Robert  Elair,  225, 
226,  249.367;  decree  of  the  tirst  Par- 
liament of  Charles  II.  as  to  his  body, 
385. 

Moor,  Mr  William,  minister,  is  suspended 
by  the  General  Assembly  in  1662  for 
independency,  297. 

Morgan,  Colonel,  313,  316,  360,  381, 
407. 

Mosley,  Edward,  one  of  the  commission- 
ers for  visiting  the  Scottish  Universities, 
.300. 

Mowat,  -Mr  Matthew,  minister  of  Kilmar- 


nock, is  sent  for  by  the  Chancellor, 
408;  brought  before  the  Lords  of  the 
Articles,  409 ;  imprisoned  in  the  Tol- 
booth  of  Edinburgh,  409,  413-415. 

Muir,  William,  of  Caldwell,  507. 

Munster,  Bishop  of.  The  Pope  sends  a  con- 
secrated sword  to,  479  ;  prospers  against 
the  Dutch,  486  ;  a  treaty  of  peace  drawn 
up  between  liim  and  the  Dutch,  486, 
489. 

Murray,  Alexander,  apprehends  Lord 
Warriston  in  France,  434. 

Murray,  Mr  Henry,  535. 

Murray,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Methven, 
is  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of  Edin- 
burgh, 358,  359;   liberated,  388. 

Murray,  Sir  Mungo,  306. 

Murray,  Mr  Patrick,  a  great  persecutor, 
556. 

Murray,  Sir  Robert,  deals  with  the  Earl 
of  Crawford  to  take  the  Declaration  ab- 
juring the  Covenants  441  ;  takes  the 
Declaration,  510  ;  gives  the  King  more 
correct  information  of  the  state  of 
affairs  in  Scotland,  514,  518, 

Murray,  Mr  Thomas,  Lord  Glendoick, 
638. 


N. 


Nairn,  INlr  George,  ordained  minister  of 
Cameron,  when  it  was  first  erected  into 
a  parish,  169  ;  minister  of  Burntisland, 
is  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh, 
358,  359  ;  is  dismissed  with  liberty  to 
preach,  388. 

Nairn,  Mr  James,  minister  of  the  Abbey 
Church,  Edinburgh,  468. 

Nairn,  Sir  Thomas,  235. 

Naphtali,  the  book  so  entitled,  its  authors, 
617. 

Nasmith,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Hamilton, 
is  dissatisfied  with  the  Public  Resolu- 
tions, 265  ;  suspended  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  1061,  278  ;  sent  for  by 
the  Chancellor,  408  ;  brou;;ht  bi'fore 
the  Lords  of  the  Articles,  409  ;  impri- 
soned in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh, 
409,  413-415. 

Neilson,  John  of  Corsack,  one  of  the  com- 
manders of  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland 
Hills,  502  ;  is  taken  prisoner  and  cruelly 
tortured,  504  ;   executed,  505. 

Nethcnus,  ^latthias,  professor  of  theology 
at  I  irecht,  481. 

Nevay,  Mr  John,  minister  of  NcwmilU. 
one  of  the   Protesters,  305  ;   notice  of, 


618 


INDEX. 


318,  323;  is  summoned  to  appear  be- 
fore the  Parliament,  389  ;  is  sent  for  by 
the  Chancellor,  408;  brought  before  the 
Lords  of  the  Articles,  409  ;  summoned 
to  appear  before  the  Privy  Council, 
430;   banished,  431. 

Newburgh,  Lord,  420,  436. 

Newcomen,  Mr  Matthew,  an  English  mi- 
nister, 348. 

Newton,  Lord,  is  killed  at  the  storming 
of  Dundee  by  Monk,  282. 

Nicolson,  Mr  James,  Bishop  of  Dunkeld, 
14. 

Nisbet,  Mr  Alexander,  minister  of  Irvine, 
is  sent  for  by  the  Chancellor,  408. 

Nisbet,  Sir  John,  appointed  King's  ad- 
vocate, 473. 

Nisbet,  Sir  Philip,  is  taken  prisoner  at 
Philiphaugh  by  the  Covenanters'  army, 
178  ;   executed,  ib. 

Nye,  Mr  Philip,  an  English  nonconform- 
ing minister,  notice  of,  169,  170. 


O. 


Oath  of  allegiance  required  of  members 
of  Parliament,  371  ;  contained  a  clause 
making  the  King  supreme  in  all  matters, 
372 ;  exacted  of  all  presentees  to  Church 
livings  or  Colleges,  and  of  all  magis- 
trates, 387,  409;  is  tendered  by  .'Arch- 
bishop Sharp  to  the  masters  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  St  Andrews,  413. 

Oath  of  supremacy,  371,  372,  641. 

Ogilvy,  Lord,  escapes  from  the  castle  of 
Edinburgh,  179;  infests  the  Stormont, 
181,  220,  244,  281,  288. 

Ogle,  Mr  Luke,  minister  of  Berwick,  no- 
tice of,  671 

Oliphant,  Mr  John,  becomes  indulged  mi- 
nister of  Stonehouse,  his  old  parish, 
326. 

Orleans,  Duchess  of,  634. 

Ormond,  Earl  of,  some  letters  of  Charles 
I.  to,  intercepted,  187,  219;  Duke  of, 
312  ;  is  put  from  his  place  as  deputy  of 
Ireland,  524. 

Overton,  ,   governor  of  Perth,   280, 

298. 

Owen,  Mr  John,  an  English  Congrega- 
tional minister,  331. 


Papists,  numerous  in  Ireland,  443  ;  and 
ill  London,  600  ;  act  made  against  them 
by  the  House  of  Commons,  ib.  ;  abound 
in  Scotland,  334,  636,  367. 


Park,  Mr  John  or  Robert,  becomes  in- 
dulged minister  of  Stranraer,  his  old 
parish,  626. 

Parker,  John,  is  executed  for  being  with 
the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills,  304. 

Parliament  of  England,  The,  assisted  in 
their  opposition  to  Charles  I.  by  the 
Scottish  Covenanters,  172;  their  forces 
prevail  against  Charles,  181  ;  begin,  in 
consequence  of  their  success,  to  quarrel 
with  the  Scottish  Commissioners  at 
London,  ib.  ;  are  unwilling  to  settle  the 
Presbyterian  government  except  in  a 
way  of  their  own,  181,  182;  the  Long 
Parliament,  311;  Little  Daft  Parliament, 
ib. 

Parliament,  Rump,  337,338;  is  dispersed 
by  the  army,  339;  Monk  stands  up  to 
defend  it,  339,  340;  the  city  of  Lon- 
don declares  for  it,  341  ;  as  also  the 
navy  and  forces  of  Ireland,  ib.  ;  again 
sits  down  at  London,  341,  342  ;  is  hos- 
tile to  monarchy,  343  ;  admission  of  the 
secluded  members  into  it,  ib. ;  after 
their  admission  the  Confession  of  Faith 
with  the  exception  of  two  chapters  con- 
cerning Church  government  is  approved 
of,  346  ;  it  annuls  all  votes  against  King- 
ship or  House  of  Peers,  ib  ;  both  Houses, 
the  Peers  and  Commons,  sit  down,  347  ; 
they  receive  letters  from  Charles  II., 
349  ;  upon  which,  among  other  things, 
they  agree  to  send  Commissioners  to 
Holland  to  bring  him  to  his  Parliament 
and  throne,  ib. 

Parliament  of  England  repeals  the  acts 
that  debarred  bishops  from  sitting  in 
Parliament,  389,  433  ;  proceedings  of 
English  Parliament  in  1667,  314  ;  and 
in  1668,  316. 

Parliament  of  Scotland,  indicted  to  con- 
vene at  Edinburgh  in  1639,  168;  one 
held  at  St  Andrews,  178  ;  first  Scottish 
parliament  of  Charles  IL,  371,  372; 
it  passes  the  act  Rescissory,  381  ;  his 
second  Parliament  in  Scotland,  411, 
412,  416. 

Paterson,  Mr  John,  Bishop  of  Ross,  431. 

Paterson,  Mr  John,  son  of  the  preceding, 
minister,  and  afterwards  Bishop  of  Edin- 
burgh, 431,  341  ;  his  vicious  character, 
342  ;  suspends  three  minister  in  Edin- 
burgh, 546,  548,  349  ;  repairs  to  Court, 
351  ;  is  made  Bishop  of  Galloway,  552, 
559  ;  his  endeavours  to  get  the  indul- 
gence of  1679  recalled,  570,  671,  676, 
378,  679. 

Paterson,    Thomas,    died  of    wounds    re- 


INDEX, 


619 


ceived  at  the  battle  of  Pentland  Hills, 
505. 

Patronages  abolished  in  1649,  220. 

Peden,  Mr  Alexander,  665,  561. 

Peebles,  Mr  Hugh,  minister  of  Lochwin- 
noch,  confined  to  the  north  by  the  High 
Commission,  484  ;  is  apprehended  and 
imprisoned,  661  ;   liberated,  663. 

Pembroke,  Earl  of,  195. 

Pentland  Hills,  Rise  of  the  engagement  at, 
501,  504;  defeat  of  the  Covenanters  at, 
603  ;  act  of  indemnity  in  favour  of  such 
as  rose  in  arms  at,  513  ;  class  of  per- 
sons excepted  from  the  indemnity,  ib. 

Perth,  Asbenibly  of,  in  1618,  12,  13; 
articles  enacted  in,  13  ;  act  of  Privy 
Council  for  keeping  them,  15,  36,  137; 
attempts  to  obtain  exemption  from 
them,  151. 

Pest,  The,  prevalent  in  St  Andrews,  197  ; 
and  in  ISIontrose,  198;  rages  in  Hol- 
land, 469,  470,  472;  and  among  the 
armies  of  the  Turks,  470  ;  abates  in 
Holland,  474  ;  prevails  in  London,  479. 

Petronius.  Caius,  16. 

Philip,  Dr  Henry,  minister  of  Arbroath,  14, 

Philiphaugh,  Montrose's  forces  defeated 
at,  177,  181. 

Pitcairn,  Alexander,  minister  of  Dron, 
525. 

Pitcairn,  Henry,  of  Lacestoun,  is  sum- 
moned to  appear  before  the  Privy  Coun- 
cil, 541. 

Pitcairn,  John,  is  summoned  to  appear  be- 
fore the  High  Conmiission,  466. 

Pitcairn,  "VVilliam,  of  Pitlour,  is  summon- 
ed to  appear  before  the  Privy  Council, 
541. 

Polwart,  Laird  of.  See  Hume,  Sir  Pat- 
rick, of  Pulwart. 

Popery,  Increase  of,  in  Scotland,  481  ; 
hopes  entertained  of  its  downfallin  1666, 
485. 

Popish  plot  to  murder  Charles  IT.,  581- 
584. 

Porterfield,  George,  of  Glasgow,  224. 

Pouge,  John,  570,  677. 

Powmill,  Laird  of,  his  oppressions  in 
Fife,  550. 

Precinct  meetings  of  the  bishops,  debates 
among  nonconforming  Presbyterian 
ministers  as  to  attending  them,  428,  429. 

Prelacy  contrary  to  scripture,  27-29  ;  re- 
stored in  Scotland,  392,  393  ;  dislike 
of  the  Scottish  people  to,  445. 

Prelates  and  curates,  divisions  among,  541  ; 
proposals  for  a  convocation,  541,  646  ; 
convocation  held,  647. 

Presbyterian    government   established    by 


the  Parliament  of  England,  211  ;  dis- 
position to  quit  it,  289,  291 ;  overturned 
in  Scotland,  392,  393. 

Presbyterians  in  England,  195,  436  ;  en- 
joy great  liberty,  614,  622-524  ;  pri- 
vate sermons  in  meeting-houses  dis- 
charged in  London,  633,  636  ;  perti- 
nacious loyalty  of  the  Scottish  Presby- 
terians during  the  administration  of 
Cromwell,  313,  314. 

Priests,  Irish,  their  character,  83. 

Primrose,  Sir    Archibald,    clerk    register 

355,  430. 

Primrose,  Mr  Gilbert,  38. 

Primrose,  INIr  John,  minister,  530. 

Protesters,  Meeting  of,  at  Edinburgh,  286  ; 
a  small  number  of  them  assume  the  au- 
thority of  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk, 
ib.  ;  which  was  grieving  to  moderate 
brethren,  287  ;  opposition  of  Presby- 
teries and  Synods  to  the  proceedings  of 
the  Protesters,  287-289  ;  letter  written 
by  some  of  the  Protesters  to  Cromwell, 
289-291,  293  ;  meeting  at  Edinburgh  to 
compose  the  differences  between  the  Ito- 
solutioners  and  Protesters,  295  ;  the  ob- 
ject of  the  meeting  ineffectual,  296,  297, 
301,  303,  304;  most  of  the  Protesters 
leave  off  praying  for  the  King,  309  ;  the 
differences  between  them  and  theKesolu- 
tioners  are  heightened,  325;  un.successful 
attempts  to  restore  harmony,  326,  326  ; 
they  send  up  one  of  their  number  to 
London  to  Cromwell,  329  ;  the  animosi- 
ties between  the  two  parties  are  increased 
by  their  printed  pajicrs,  334  ;  meeting  of 
the  Protesters  to  congratulate  Charles 
II.  on  his  restoration,  and  to  remind 
him  of  the  obligation  of  the   Covenant, 

356,  357  ;  they  are  ap])rehcnded  and 
imprisoned  by  the  Committee  of  Estates 
while  thus  employed,  367,  359,  360. 
368  ;  the  Protesters  more  attached  to 
Presbytery  and  the  Covenant  than  the 
Kesolutioners,  362;  few  of  the  ministers 
of  Edinburgh  pray  for  the  imprisoned 

Protesters,  364;  goveiimient  particu- 
larly hostile  to  the  Protesters,  364,  367. 


Quecnsberry,  Lord,  220. 
Quakers,  338,  347,  533,  535,  667. 


Kae,  Mr  John,  minister,  578. 


620 


INDEX. 


Ilae,  Lord,  219. 

Rait,   Mr  AVilliani,  minister,  preaches  be- 
fore the  Parliament,  376.  395. 
Kamsay,   Mr    .Andrew,  tenders  the  Cove- 
nant to  the  Uuke  of  Hamilton,  188. 
Kamsay,  Sir    Andrew,    Provost   of  Edin- 
burgh, 51(5;   is  made  a  member   of  the 
Privy  Council,  536,  539. 
Kamsay,  Mr  Gilbert,  minister  of  Mording- 
ton   is  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of  Ed- 
inburgh,  358,  359  ;   falls  sick  and  ob- 
tains liberty  to  come  down  to  the  town, 
364. 
Ramsay,   Mr  James,   minister,   and  after- 
wards bishop  of  Dunblane,  preaches  be- 
fore the  Parliament,  375,   542,    547  ;  is 
made  bishop  of  the  Isles,  549. 
Ramsay,   Mr  John,   minister  in   Angus,   is 
intruded  into  the  parish  of  .Scoonie,  418. 
Kanisav,    Mr   Mathew,   becomes  indulged 

minister  of  Paisley,  630. 
Ramsay,  Mr  Robert,  mini.^ter  of  Dundon 
aid,    his   debates   with   Cromwell,   254, 
274,  375. 
Kavigny,  Monsieur,  513. 
Reddie,  Laird  of,  is  summoned  to  appear 

before  the  l^rivy  Council,  541. 
Rif  rmation.  Second,  rise  of,  150,  151. 
Ki  galia  of  Scotland,  hid  during  the  Com- 
monwealth, 332. 
Reid,  Mr  "William,  minister,  579. 
Remonstrators.       See  Protesters. 

Kenton,  ,  laird  of  I  aniberton,  299. 

Resolutions,  The  Public,  occasioned  by  the 
defeat  of  the  Scots  at  Dunbar  by  Crom- 
well, 239,  242  ;  nature  of,  250  ;  op- 
positions of  the  ministers  who  favoured 
the  Western  Remonstrance  to,  251-253, 
256,  257  ;  Persbyteries  ordained  by  the 
Commission  of  the  Kirk  to  censure  those 
opposed  to,  264  ;  conference  at  St  An- 
drews with  ministers  dissatisfied  with, 
265,  266,  269  ;  the  commission  of  the 
General  Assembly  write  to  Presbyteries 
to  refer  Anti-resolutions  to  the  ensuing 
General  Assembly.  273,  276  ;  those 
opposed  to  the  Public  Resolutions  called 
Protesters,  277  ;  why  so  called,  277, 
286. 
Resolutioners,  Public.  Sec  Protesters. 
Reynolds,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  after- 
wards bishop,  made  chaplain  to  Charles 
II.,  352. 
Rich,  Colonel,  imprisoned  by  the  English 
Parliament  in  the  Tower  of  London, 
346. 
Rii;hardson,  Mr  William,  a  minister  in 
Ireland,  is  sent  by  the  Presbyterians  in 


Ireland   with  an  humble  supplication  to 
Charles  II  ,  356 
Richmond,  Duke  of,  420. 
Iliddell,  Mr  Archibald,  minister,  579. 
Ridge,  ISlr  John,  minister  of  Antrim,   in 
Ireland,   notice   of,  57  ;   proposes  to  set 
up  a  monthly  lecture  at   Antrim,  71,  75. 
Rigg,  William,  of  Athernie,  137. 
Rivet,  Dr,  10. 

Robertland,  Lady,  notice  of,  19. 
Roberton,    Mr    James,    afterwards    Lord 

Bedlay,  44,  45.  50. 
Roberts,   Lord,   is  made  King's  deputy  in 
Ireland,  notice  of,  524  ;   is  recalled,  631. 
Robertson,    Mr    Alexander,    preacher,    is 
with  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  hills, 
503  ;   executed,  505. 
Robertson,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Dundee, 
relaxes  Middleton  from   the  sentence  of 
excommunication,  259. 
Robertson,  Mr  John,   minister,  translated 
from  Dysart  to  Edinburgh,  431  ;   is  sus- 
pended by   the    Bishop   of   Edinburgh, 
546,  549. 
Robertson,  IMr  John,  minister,   suspended 
by  the  Diocesan  Synod  of  Dunkeld,  455. 
Rochelle,  French  Protestants  besieged  in, 

20. 
Rogers,     Mr     Ralph,     becomes     indulged 

minister  of  Kilwinning,  626. 
RoUock,  Robert,  Principal  of  the   College 

of  Edinburgh,  9. 
Rollock,  Sir  William,  is  taken  prisoner  by 
the  Covenanters  at  Philiphaugh,    177  ; 
executed,  178. 
Ross,  John,  is  executed  for  being  with  the 

Covenanters  at  Pentland  hills,  604. 
Ross,    Lord,    530  ;   is  made  a  member  of 

the  Privy  Council   538.  554. 
Ross,    Mr.   is   consecrated   Bishop   of  the 

Isles,  559. 
Rothes,  Earl  of,  anecdote  of,  1 59  ;  a 
chief  instrument  of  the  second  Reforma- 
tion, 162.  244,  269. 
Rothes,  Earl,  afterwards  Duke  of,  son  of 
the  preceding,  is  taken  at  the  battle  of 
Worcester,  by  Cromwell's  army,  284  ; 
liberated  from  the  Tower  of  London, 
304.  340,  382,  3.S4  ;  gives  wicked  ad- 
vice to  Charles  II.  as  to  the  setting  up 
of  Prelacy,  390,  397,  405  ;  at  first 
abhors  the  proposed  abjuration  of  the 
Covenant  i  by  the  P.arliament,  420,  426; 
is  made  the  King's  Commissioner  to  the 
Scottish  Parliament,  434,  438,  439  ; 
and  Treasurer  for  Scotland,  441,  443  ; 
posts  to  Court,  453  ;  animosities 
bctM'ren  him  and  riiancollor  Glencairn, 


INDEX. 


021 


454;  is  liigh  in  favour  at  Cciuil,  4(52, 
472,  473  ;  made  Keeper  of  tlie  Great 
Seal,  &c  ,  473  ;  friendship  between  him 
and  Archbishop  Sharp,  486,  490  ;  re- 
pairs to  Court,  500  ;  is  sent  to  Scot- 
laud  to  repress  the  insurgent  Cove- 
nanters, 503,  506,  507  ,  made  Chan- 
cellor, 510,  512,  513,  517,  521,  539; 
carries  moderately,  550.  561  ;  reports 
of  his  being  decourted,  666  ;  is  made 
Duke  of  Rothes,  &c.,  672  ;  excom- 
municated by  Mr  Donald  Cargill,  58((, 
583. 

Rothes,  Duchess  of,  intercedes  with  the 
Bishop  of  Dunkeld  for  Mr  Thomas 
Black,  minister  of  Leslie,  473. 

Row,  Mr  Archibald,  minister,  153. 

Row,  'Mr  John,  minister  of  Carnock,  com- 
munion held  in  his  parish  numerously 
attended,  138. 

Row,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Aberdeen,  and 
son  of  the  preceding,  is  dissatisfied  with 
the  Public  Resolutions,  261  ;  suspended 
by  the  General  Assembly  in  1652,  for 
independency,  297  ;  installed  Principal 
of  King's  College,  Aberdeen,  301. 

Row,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Abercorn, 
is  summoned  to  appear  before  the 
Committee  of  Estates,  368,  369. 

Row,  Mr  William,  minister  of  Ceres,  is 
chaplain  to  Sir  James  Lascelles,  gover- 
nor of  Newcastle,  189;  appointed  by 
the  Commission  of  the  Kirk  to  go  to 
Aberdeen,  to  confer  with  the  ministers 
there  opposed  to  the  Public  Resolutions, 
261,  262,  302,  309  ;  his  political  senti- 
ments. 320,  323  ;  his  opinion  of  Crom- 
well, 331,  335  ;  his  views  of  the  Solemn 
League  and  Covenant,  362,  454  ;  is 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  High 
Commission,  466;  suspended  by  Arch- 
bishop Sharp  in  his  Diocesan  Synod,  467  ; 
does  not  appear  before  the  High  Com- 
mission, but  is  excused,  ib.  ;  sentence  of 
suspension  intimated  to  him,  474  ;  his  be- 
haviour thereupon,  ib.  ;  is  deposed,  475; 
hiscriticism  of  the  book  entitled  ■'  Naph- 
tali,''  517  ;  is  sunmioned  to  appear  be- 
fore the  Council,  572  ;  his  answers  to 
the  charge  contained  in  his  summons, 
672,  673  ;  is  discharged  to  preach  in 
his  meeting-house  at  Ceres,  673  ;  sub- 
mits to  the  sentence,  and  his  reasons  for 
doing  so,  573,  574. 

Rowallan,  Laird  of,  631. 
Rowat,    Mr    James,    minister    of   Kilmar- 
nock, is  sent  for  by  the  Chancellor,  4(M; 
brought  before  the  Lords  of  the  Articles, 


409  ;    imprisoned    in    the    Tolbooth    of 
Edinburgh,  409,  413-415. 
Rowlie,  Mr,  87,  88. 
Roxburgh,  Earl  of,  638. 
Rule,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Stirling,  lives 
in  Kirkcaldy  after  his  ejection,  482,  488 
Rupert,  Prince,  Victory  obtained  over,  in 
Long  i\Iarston-moor  by  the  forces  ofthe 
English  Parliament,  172,  200,  226,  489, 
490 

Rutherford,  Mr  Samuel,  minister  of  An-' 
woth,  96  ;  is  deposed  by  Bishop 
Sydserff,  107  ;  transported  by  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  of  1639,  to  be  Principal 
of  the  New  College,  St  Andrews,  I  59  ; 
is  Moderator  of  the  Synod  of  Fife.  211; 
difference  between  him  and  Mr  James 
Wood  about  the  Public  Resolutions, 
217  ;  dissents  from  the  act  of  the 
Commission  of  the  Kirk  condemning 
the  Western  Remonstrance,  248  ;  his 
opposition  to  the  Public  Resolutions, 
257,  264  ;  otters  to  give  in  to  the  Gene- 
ral Assembly  of  1651  a  paper  against 
its  lawfulness,  275,  277  ;  grounds  on 
which  his  protestation  declared  the 
A.ssembly  unlawful,  277,  300,  306,  318; 
writes  a  letter  to  Cromwell,  3.02,  343  ; 
his  Le.v  Re.v  taken  under  the  considera- 
tion of  the  Committee  of  Estates,  365  ; 
and  condemned  as  seditious,  and  publicly 
burned  by  the  hands  of  the  hangman,  1 86, 
366  ;  proceedings  of  the  Committee  of 
Estates  against  him,  3()6  ;  opposes  the 
appointment  of  Mr  James  Shaip  to  be 
one  of  the  Professors  of  the  New 
College,  St  Andrews,  373,  384,  433  ;  his 
letters  are  published,  481,  629,  633. 

Rutherfurd.  Mrs,  relict  of  the  preceding, 
visits  Mr  Bluir  under  his  last  illness,  493. 

Ruthven,  General,  made  Captain  of  the 
Castle  of  Edinburgh.  161. 

Kuthven.  Lord,  444. 

Hutland,  Earl  of,  169 

Ruyter,  De.  478,  479,  490,  491,  509. 

Rymer,  !IMr  James,  prcicher,  is  summoned 
to  ai)pear  before  the  Privy  Council,  672, 
674,  676. 

Rymer,  Mr  Henry,  minister  of  Carnbce, 
246.  371  ;  is  su.spended  by  Sharp  in  his 
Diocesan  Synod,  464  ;  summoned  to 
appear  before  the  High  Commission, 
466  ;   deposed,  466,  468. 


Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  supersti- 
tious opinion  [irevaleut  after  the  Kefor- 


G22 


INDEX. 


mation  that  it  should  be  received  fast- 
ing, 7. 

Sanquhar  Declaration,  568,  569. 

Scot,  George,  of  Pitlochie,  is  summoned 
to  appear  before  the  Privy  Council,  641. 

Scot,  Mr  James,  intruded  into  Mr  John 
Livingstone's  parish,  483  ;  opposition 
made  to  his  settlement,  484. 

Scot,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Oxnam,  lurks 
in  Edinburgh  after  his  ejection,  482  ;  is 
imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh, 
358,  359,  388  ;  allowed  by  the  first  in- 
dulgence to  officiate  in  his  old  parish, 
526  ;  is  summoned  to  appear  before  the 
Privy  Council,  661. 

Scot,  Mr  Kobert.  minister  of  the  High 
Church  of  Glasgow,  43. 

Scot,  Mr  William,  minister  of  Cupar,   14. 

Scottish  Reformers,  their  gift  of  prophecy, 
97. 

Scougal,  Sir  John,  of  that  ilk,  376. 

Scougal,  Mr  Patrick,  preaches  before  the 
Parliament,  376,  395  ;  is  appointed 
Bishop  of  Aberdeen,  463  ;  consecrated, 
467. 

Scrogie,  Dr  AVilliam,  minister  of  Raphan, 
preaches  before  the  Parliament,  375  ; 
is  consecrated  Bishop  of  Argyle,  490. 

Seaforth,  Earl  of,  forms  a  seditious  bond 
under  the  name  of  a  Humble  Remon- 
strance, &c.,  180,  181  ;  letter  of 
Charles  I.  to.  184. 

Seaton,  Lady,  299. 

Sectarian  army  in  England  carry  Charles  I. 
from  place  to  place,  and  overawe  the 
Parliament,  1  98. 

Sectaries  in  England,  214,  219,  220,  230, 
233,  238,  239,  289  ;  sectarian  party  in 
Scotland,  291. 

Seminary  Priests,  324,  327. 

Semple,  Mr  Gabriel,  minister,  is  with  the 
Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills,  502  ; 
condemned  to  be  hanged  when  appre- 
hended, 535,  540,  541. 

Semple,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Carsfairn, 
is  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of  Edin- 
burgh, 358,  359  ;  falls  sick  and  obtains 
liberty  to  come  down  to  the  town,  364. 

Separatists  settle  at  Antrim,  83. 

Sereni,  Count  Nicolas,  greatly  molests  the 
Turks  in  Germany,  460,  470. 

Service  Eook,  The,  opposition  to,  150; 
fears  of  its  introduction  in  1666,  491. 

Sharp,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Crail,  after- 
wards Archbishop  of  St  Andrews,  64, 
217,  218;  is  favourable  to  the  Public 
Resolutions,  257  ;  apprehended  at  Alyth 
by  a  party  of  Monk's  horse,  carried  to 


London,  and  imprisoned  in  the  Tower, 
281.  288  ;  is  shortly  after  liberated  and 
returns  to  Scotland,  304,  320  ;  repairs 
to  Cromwell  to  defend  the  cause  of  the 
Public  Resolutioners,  328  ;  obtains  ac- 
cess to  Cromwell,  329-331  ;  returns  to 
Scotland,  333,  334  ;  is  again  sent  to 
London  by  the  Public  Resolutioners, 
336  ;  again  repairs  to  London,  being 
sent  for  by  General  Monk,  344,  345  ; 
his  duplicity  in  his  correspondence  with 
Mr  James  Wood,  347  ;  is  sent  over  to 
the  King  at  Breda  to  take  care  that 
the  Presbyterian  government  be  not  al- 
tered, 350  ;  comes  to  Edinburgh,  361  ; 
brings  with  him  a  letter  from  the  King 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Edinburgh,  ib.  ; 
opposes  in  the  Synod  of  Fife  the  men- 
tioning of  the  Covenant  in  their  answer 
to  the  King's  letter,  361-363;  his  du- 
plicity, 363  ;  preaches  before  the  Par- 
liament, 372  ;  is  appointed  one  of  the 
professors  in  the  new  college  of  St  An- 
drews, 373  ;  his  design  in  procuring 
this  appointment,  373,  374,  378,  380  ; 
his  treachery  towards  the  Church  of 
Scotland  discovered,  381-384.  390- 
392  ;  is  intended  to  be  Archbishop  of 
St  Andrews,  391  ;  goes  to  London  to 
be  consecrated,  394-398;  submits  to 
be  re- ordained  before  his  consecration, 
399;  satires  against  him,  403  ;  preaches 
at  St  Andrews,  405-410;  rails  against 
Mr  James  Wood  in  a  sermon  at  St  An- 
drews, 415,  418,  422,  426,  430,  432- 
434,  436  ;  King's  affection  towards  him 
abated,  437  ;  is  at  Court,  439  ;  his  at- 
tempt to  decourt  the  Earl  of  Crawford, 
440  ;  comes  to  Edinburgh  and  profanes 
the  Sabbath,  443-447  ;  procures  Mr 
James  Wood's  ejection  from  the  Prin- 
cipalship  of  the  Old  College  of  St  An- 
drews, 448,  451,  454  ;  his  power,  455  ; 
goes  to  Ijondon  to  Court,  445,  466  ; 
effects  of  his  being  there,  457,  462  ; 
obtains  precedency  of  the  Chancellor, 
462  ;  is  made  Primate  of  all  Scotland, 
ib.  ;  returns  to  Edinburgh  with  a  com- 
mission for  creating  a  Court  of  High 
Commission,  463  ;  visits  Mr  James 
Wood  shortly  before  his  death,  and  cir- 
culates false  reports  concerning  him, 
465  ;  is  preses  of  the  High  Commission 
Court,  470,  472  ;  his  endeavours  to  be 
made  Chancellor  of  Scotland,  473  ;  his 
violence  in  his  Diocesan  Synod,  475  ; 
hi.s  mortification  at  the  titles  of  honour 
being  withheld   from  him,    479,    481  ; 


INDEX. 


G23 


threatens  to  starve  the  ejectoil  ministers 
out  of  their  places,  483,  484,  48(j,  488, 
489,  493,  495  ;  keeps  back  the  King's 
pardon  in  favour  of  the  prisoners  taken 
at  Pentland  Hills  till  Hugh  M'Kail  and 
four  others  were  executed,  500";  "  shame 
rubbed  upon  him,"  507,  508,  510,  513, 
615,  516  ;  his  opposition  to  the  indul- 
gence of  the  Presbyterian  ministers, 
518,  523;  attempt  of  James  Mitchell 
to  assassinate  him,  518,  520,  521,  522  ; 
his  invective  discourse  against  female 
Covenanters,  523,  525,  526  ;  preaches 
before  the  King's  Commissioner  and 
Parliament  against  the  Indulgence,  528, 
629,  530,  531,  536,  539,  546-548. 
651,  553;  is  made  Vicar-General  of 
Scotland,  &c.,  563. 

Sharp,  Mrs,  wife  of  the  preceding,  401, 
531,  554. 

Sharp,  Sir  William,  brother  of  the  Arch- 
bishop, 551. 

Shields,  John,  is  executed  for  being  with 
the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills,  504, 
605. 

Shields.  Ralph,  is  executed  for  being  with 
the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills,  505. 

Simson,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Airth,  is 
deposed  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
1651,  278;  sent  up  by  the  Protesters 
to  London  to  Cromwell.  329  ;  his  de- 
position approved  of  by  the  Synod  of 
Perth,  329,  330 ;  returns  to  Scotland, 
333,  334  ;  is  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  Committee  of  Estates, 
358  ;  appears  before  the  Parliament, 
378,  388  ;  is  banished  the  three  king- 
doms, 389,  431. 

Simson,  Mr  Josias,  preaches  before  the 
Parliament,  380. 

Simson,  Mr  Patrick,  of  Stirling,  his  gift 
of  prophecy,  98. 

Sinclair,  Lord,  370. 

Sinclair,  Sir  Robert,  is  married  to  the 
third  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Crawford, 
453. 

Skippon,  Major-General,  appointed  by  the 
English  Parliament  governor  of  New- 
castle, 196. 

Smith,  Mr  Alexander,  minister  of  Cow- 
end,  is  brought  before  the  High  Com- 
mission and  thrown  into  the  basest 
prison,  479  ;  banished  to  Shetland,  480. 

Smith,  INIr  James,  is  with  the  Covenanters 
at  Pentland  Hills,  502. 

Smith,  Sir  Jeremiah,  509. 

Smith,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Burntisland, 
and  afterwards  of  Edinburgh,    253  ;   is 


favourable  to  the  Public  Resolutions, 
257  ;  apprehended  at  Alyth  by  a  party 
of  Monk's  horse,  carried  to  London 
and  imprisoned  in  the  Tower,  281, 
288  ;  preaches  before  the  Parliament, 
374;  issilenced  and  discharged  preaching 
in  Edinburgh,  416. 

Smith,  Sir  John,  one  of  the  Commissioners 
sent  by  the  Committee  of  Estates  to 
treat  with  Charles  II.  at  Breda,  222, 
228. 

Solemn  League  and  Covenant,  The,  origin 
of,  169-171  ;  drawn  up  by  Alexander 
Henderson,  171,  193;  double  dealing 
of  the  English  in  the  matter  of,  195; 
renewed  by  the  Commission  of  the 
General  Assembly,  212  ;  sworn  and 
sub.scribed  by  Charles  I  ,  229,  230  ; 
disposition  in  the  land  to  recede  from 
it,  288,  289,  293,  312.  318,  319,  338; 
is  ordered  to  be  printed  and  set  up  in 
churches  by  the  Parliament,  346,  353, 
356,  361  ;  the  most  rigid  Public  Res6- 
lutioners  most  opposed  to,  362,  370, 
374  ;  proceedings  of  the  first  Scottish 
Parliament  of  Charles  II.  against,  375, 
381  ;  ordained  by  the  English  Parlia- 
ment to  be  publicly  burned  by  the  hands 
of  the  hangman,  386,  390,  394  ;  abjura- 
tion of  it  by  the  Parliament  of  Scotland, 
411,  420  ;  Declaration  against  it  re- 
quired by  Parliament  to  be  taken  by  all 
in  places  of  public  power  and  trust, 
440.  457,  468.  475,  481,  491,  499, 
520  ;  is  renewed  by  the  insurgent  Cove- 
nanters at  Lanark,  501,  508. 

Spence,  Mr  Andrew,  minister  of  Brechin, 
483. 

Spottiswood,  John,  Archbishop  of  St 
Andrews,  notice  of,  12,  13,  36;  his 
moderation,  137  ;  his  hostility  to  Mr 
Robert  Blair,  151  ;  flees  on  hearing  of 
the  renewing  of  the  National  Covenant, 
155,  156,  399,  443. 

Spottiswood,  Captain  John,  is  beheaded, 
223 

Spottiswood,  Sir  Robert,  is  taken  prisoner 
by  the  Covenanters  at  Philiphaugh, 
177  ;  beheaded  at  the  cross  of  St  An- 
drews, 179;  his  behaviour  on  the  scaf- 
fold. 179,  180. 

Spreul,  John,  town-clerk  of  Glasgow,  is 
imprisoned  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edin- 
burgh, 3(55. 

Spnrstow,  Mr  William,  an  English  minis- 
ter, 348. 

Sf  Johns,  Lord.  292    294. 

St  Leonard,  Laird  of.  299. 


624 


INDEX. 


Stairs,  Lord,  refuses  to  take  the  Decla- 
ration abjuring  the  Covenants,  467 ; 
takes  the  Declaration,  469  ;  was 
the  penner  of  the  Western  Kemon- 
strance,  ib.  ;  becomes  a  bitter  perse- 
cutor, ib.  ;  is  made  one  of  the  assessors 
to  the  Chancellor,  538,  555. 

Stevenson,  John,  117. 

Stevyart,  Mr  Alexander,  placed  by  Arch- 
bishop Sharp  in  the  Kirk  at  Crail,  418. 

Stewart,  Mr  Andrew,  afterwards  Lord 
Castlestewart,  a  friend  of  the  Irish  Pres- 
byterians, 99,  101. 

Stewart,  Mr  Andrew,  minister  of  Dona- 
gore  in  Ireland,  81. 

Stewart,  Mr  Andrew,  a  minister  in  Ire- 
land, imprisoned  for  alleged  accession 
to  Colonel  Blood's  conspiracy,  449. 

Stewart,  Sir  James,  Lord  Provost  of  Ed- 
inburgh, imprisoned  in  the  Castle,  .354, 
368  ;  orders  from  Court  to  send  him  pri- 
soner to  Dundee,  515,  517,  520;  is  set 
at  liberty,  631,  556. 

Stewart,  Mr  James,  son  of  the  preceding, 
556. 

Stewart,  Jolm,  Provost  of  Ayr,  intends  to 
emigrate  to  New  England,  104,  140. 

Stirling,  Earl  of,  164 

Stirling,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Paisley, 
617. 

Stirling,  Mr  John,  minister  of  Edinburgh, 
247  ;  is  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of  Ed- 
inburgh, 368,  359  ;  obtains  a  pardon 
from  the  King,  388  ;  silenced  and  com- 
manded to  leave  Edinburgh,  422,  423, 
527. 

Sirachan,  Colonel  Archibald,  206,  223, 
234;  notice  of.  240-243;  joins  Crom- 
well's army,  249,  251. 

Strachan,  Mr  Uavid,  minister  of  Fetter- 
cairn,  preaches  before  the  Parliament, 
377  ;  is  consecrated  Bishop  of  Brechin, 
407. 

Strafford,  Earl  of,  his  character,  98,  99, 
101,  134,  136,  147;  incites  Charles  I. 
to  order  the  articles  of  treaty  between 
him  and  the  Covenanters  to  be  burned  at 
London  by  the  hands  of  the  hangman, 
160;  severity  with  which  he  enforced 
"  the  black  oath"  in  Ireland,   165. 

Strang,  Christopher,  is  executed  for  being 
with  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills, 
604. 

Strang,  Dr,  Principal  of  the  College  of 
Glasgow,  231. 

Supremacy,  The  King's  Act  of  Parliament 
asserting,  528,  520. 

Sutherland,  Earl  of,  444. 


Sutherland,  William,  hangman  of  Irvine, 
506. 

Swinton,  Sir  John,  250  ;  is  excommunicat- 
ed by  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk.  270; 
notice  of,  299,  304,  306;  is  brought 
from  London  to  Edinburgh  and  impri- 
soned in  the  Tolbooth,  368;  a  ringlead- 
er of  the  Quakers  in  the  south,  633. 

Sword,  James,  248.  300. 

Sydserff,  Thomas,  Bishop,  deposes  Mr  Sa- 
muel Rutherford,  107;  notice  of.  369, 
381 ,  391 ;  is  elevated  to  the  see  of  Ork- 
ney, 398  ;   his  death,  462. 


Tannoch  or  Tannachy,  Laird  of,  299. 

Tarbet,  Sir  George  M'Kenzie  of,  after- 
wards Lord  Tarbet  and  Earl  of  Cro- 
marty, 413  ;  his  hand  in  the  act  of  Bil- 
lets intended  to  exclude  Lauderdale  and 
the  Earl  of  Crawford  from  the  King's 
Act  of  Indemnity,  427,  428;  falls  with 
Middleton.  462. 

Taylor,  Mr  David,  minister  of  Anstruther 
Wester,  485. 

Taylor,  Jeremy,  Bishop,  depo=!es  all  the 
Presbyterian  ministers  in  his  diocese  in 
the  north  of  Ireland,  384. 

Tender,  The,  294. 

Testard,  Monsieur,  39. 

Teviot,  Earl  of,  444 ;  is  governor  of  Tan- 
gier, 461  ;   is  killed,  470,  492 

Thomson,  Mr  George,  minister  of  Kilmany, 
302  ;   reference  to  his  death,  406. 

Thomson.  Mr,  minister  of  Traquair,  383. 

Tilenus,  Dr  Daniel,  notice  of,  41. 

Tishburn,  Alderman,  292,  294. 

Toleration,  Feelings  in  Scotland  on  the  sub- 
ject  of,  during  the  middle  of  the  17th 
century,  338. 

Trail,  Mr  Robert,  minister,  one  of  the  Pro- 
testers, 305,  326,  331  ;  writes  to  Crom- 
well, 332  ;  is  imprisoned  in  the  Castle  of 
Edinburgh,  369  ;  falls  sick  and  ol)tains 
liberty  to  come  down  to  the  town,  364  ; 
is  referred  by  the  Parliament  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Edinburgh,  389,  416; 
lurks  in  Edinburgh,  423  ;  is  summoned 
to  appear  before  the  Privy  Council. 
430;   banished,  ib. 

Trail,  Mrs,  wife  of  the  preceding,  forced 
to  leave  Edinburgh.  484. 

Traquair,  Treasurer,  163,  154;  the  King's 
Commissioner  at  the  GeneraJ  Assembly 
of  1639,  168. 

Tromp,  Van,  is  mortally  wounded,  309, 
4  77,  490. 


INDEX. 


625 


Tullidaff,  Mr  "William,  is  summoned  to  ap- 
pear before  the  High  Commission,  466; 
imprisoned  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edin- 
burgh, 468  ;  becomes  indulged  minister 
of  Kilbirnie,  530. 

Turenne,  M.  de,  Marshal,  562. 

Turks,  The,  wars  of,  with  Germany,  Hun- 
gary, &c.,  459;  blasphemous  letter  of  the 
Emperor  of,  to  the  Emperor  of  Ger- 
many, ib.  ;  the  pest  rages  among  the 
armies  of,  470;  peace  concluded  be- 
tween them  and  the  Emperor  of  Ger- 
many, 473. 

Turner,  Mr  Archibald,  preaches  before 
the  Parliament,  37  7  ;  is  translated  from 
Northberwick  to  Edinburgh,  431,  541, 
542  ;  suspended  by  the  Bishop  of  Edin- 
burgh, 546,  549. 

Turner,  Sir  Edward,  512. 

Turner,  Sir  James,  his  Memoirs  quoted, 
178,  437  ;  his  oppressions  in  the  West 
of  Scotland,  501  ;  is  made  prisoner  by  a 
party  of  Covenanters  in  the  west,  501, 
604 ;  escapes  in  time  of  the  battle  at 
Pentland  Hills,  506 ;  order  from  the 
Court  to  try  him  for  his  oppressions  in 
the  West,  5 1 5. 

Tweeddale,  Earl  of,  452,  462,  472,  507, 
508,  510,  513,  516,  518,  523,  525,  526, 
538. 

Tyrie,  Mr  James,  admitted  ])rofessor  of 
Divinity  in  the  New  College  of  St  An- 
drews, 480. 

Ulster  in  Ireland,  peopled  from  Scotland, 
67  ;  character  of  the  first  settlers,  ib.  ; 
success  of  the  gospel  in,  84,  95. 

Unthanks,  Ladies  of,  intercommuned,  662. 

Union  between  England  and  Scotland  in 
the  time  of  Cromwell  into  one  Common- 
wealth, Endeavours  to  eifoct  it,  291-295, 
299,  300 ;  attempts  to  effect  a  union 
between  England  and  Scotland,  in  the 
reign  of  Charles  11.,  531,  533,  537. 

Usher,  James,  Archbishop  of  Armagh, 
notice  of,  77-79,  89,  91,  99,  133. 

Uxbridge,  Treaty  at,  between  Charles  I. 
and  the  English  Parliament  and  his 
Scottish  subjects,  183. 

Vane,  Sir  Henry,  notice  of,  169,  292,  294, 
336, 

Veitch,  Mr  David,  minister  of  Govan,  is 
sent  for  by  the  Chancellor,  408;  brought 
before  the  Lords  of  the  Articles,  409, 
imprisoned  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edin- 
burgh, 409,  413-415. 

Veitch,  Mr  James,  minister,  667. 

Veitch,  Mr  John,  minister,  is  summoned  to 
appear  before  the  Privy  Council,  561. 

0 


Vilant,  Mr  William,  minister  of  Ferry 
Port-on- Craig,  is  suspended  by  Arch- 
bishop Sharp  in  his  Diocesan  Synod, 
467;  compears  before  the  High  Cora- 
mission,  471  ;  is  commanded  to  remove 
from  his  parish  and  discharged  to  preach, 
471,  472;  becomes  indulged  minister  of 
Cambusnethan,  526. 


W. 


Waldenses,  much  distressed,  461. 

Wallace,  Daniel,  300. 

Wallace,  Colonel  James,  notice  of,  602. 

Wallace,  Mr  Robert,  is  consecrated  Bishop 
of  the  Isles,  407. 

Wallace,  Mr  William,  135. 

Waller,  Sir  Hardress,  346. 

Wardlaw,  INIr  John,  minister  of  Kemback, 
is  deposed  by  Archbishop  Sharp  in  his 
Diocesan  Synod,  451. 

Warriston,  Lord,  (Archibald  Johnston,) 
letter  of  Lord  Loudon  to,  18.3,  237, 
241  ;  his  opposition  to  the  Public  Re- 
solutions, 251  ;  sends  to  the  General 
Assembly  of  1651,  a  protestation  against 
its  lawfulness,  278;  is  suspected  of  fa- 
vouring Cromwell,  279,  292,  293 ;  his 
protestation  against  the  lawfulness  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  165-^,  296,  302, 
305 ;  is  blamed  for  defeating  attempts 
to  promote  union  between  the  Resolu- 
tioners  and  Protesters,  32G  ;  repairs  to 
London  as  the  agent  of  the  Protesters, 
330,  331  ;  sits  as  one  of  the  peers  from 
Scotland,  in  the  Parliament  indicted 
by  Richard  Cromwell,  3.3G ;  acts  with 
the  Rump  Parliament,  338 ;  escapes 
to  the  continent  on  the  restoration  of 
Charles  IL,  354,  305,  366  ;  is  forfeited, 
.368;  apprehended  in  France,  434;  im- 
prisoned in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh, 
41-3;  brought  before  the  Council,  ib.  ; 
and  condemned  by  the  Parliament  to  be 
hanged  at  the  Cross  of  Edinburgh,  446  ; 
his  behaviour  on  the  scati'old,  and  hit 
character,  ib. 

Wedderburn,  Sir  Alexander,  299. 

Wedderburn,  Mr  Alexander,  minister  of 
Forgan,  afterwards  indulged  minister  at 
Kilmarnock,  is  sent  by  the  Presbytery 
of  St  Andrews  with  a  letter  to  General 
Monk,  282,  302  ;  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  High  Commission,  466;  sus- 
pended by  Archbi.shop  Sharp  in  his  Dio- 
cesan  Synod,  467  ;  confined  to  his  own 
parish  by  the  High  Commission,   468; 


:i  K 


io2i} 


INDEX. 


sentence  of  suspension  intimated  to  him, 
474;  deposed  liy  Sharp  in  his  Diocesan 
Synod,  475  ;  his  kirk  planted,  480;  be- 
comes indulged  minister  at  Kilmarnock, 
530.  533. 

Weddorburn,  Sir  Peter.  378.  438. 

Weems  Mr  James,  Principal  of  St  Leo- 
nard's College.  St  Andrews,  433. 

AVeems,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Elie,  is 
suspended  by  Archbishop  Sharp  in  his 
Diocesan  Synod,  467  ;  sentence  of  sus- 
pension intimated  to  him,  474;  is  de- 
posed, 476. 

Wellwood,  Mr  Andrew,  471. 

Wellwood,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Tinder- 
girth,  and  father  of  the  preceding,  ap- 
pears before  the  High  Commission,  47  1  ; 
his  sentence,  ib. 

Wellwr.od.  Dr  James,  son  of  the  preced- 
ing, 471. 

Wellwood,  Mr  John,  minister,  471. 

Welsh.  Mr  John,  minister  of  Irongray,  76  ; 
was  with  the  Covenanters  at  Pentland 
Hills,  602  ;  is  condemned  to  be  hanged 
when  apprehended,  535,  540,  541,  545, 
548,  649,  554. 

Welsh,  Mr  Josias,  minister,  and  father  of 
the  preceding,  settles  in  Ireland,  75,  83, 
84;  is  deposed,  91,  100,  133;  his  tri- 
nniphant  death,  135,  136. 

Wemyss,  Countess  of,  433. 

Wemyss.  Earl  of,  is  King's  Commissioner 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  1641,  164, 
288,  340,  406,  550. 

Wentworth.      See  Strafford,  Earl  of. 

Western  Remonstrance,  the  rise  of,  240, 
241,  242.  245;  its  desires  in  reference 
to  Charles  II.,  246,  247;  is  presented 
to  the  Committee  of  Estates,  247  ;  is 
condemned  by  the  Committee  of  Estates, 
ib.  ;  and  by  the  Commission  of  the  Kirk, 
248.  249,  251.  276,  331  ;  act  of  first 
Parliament  of  Charles  II.,  against  such 
as  had  accession  to  it,  374  ;  Mr  James 
Guthrie  denies  before  the  Parliament 
that  he  contrived  it,  376  ;  was  penned 
by  Lord  Stairs,  469. 

AVestminster  Assembly  of  Divines,  letter 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  1648  to,  203. 

Wiaton,  Earl  of,  made  a  member  of  the 
Privy  Council,  538. 

Wilkie,  Mr  Henry,  minister  of  Weems, 
notice  of,  464. 

Wilkie.  Mr,  minister  of  Leith,  542. 

Williamson,  Mr  David,  minister  of  the 
West  Kirk.  Edinburgh,  is  discharged  by 
the  Hi«h  Commission  to  preach  at  the 
West  Kirk,  478. 


Wilson,  Mr  James,  minister  of  Dysart, 
322  ;  lives  in  Kirkcaldy  after  his  ejec- 
tion, 482. 

Wilson.  .John,  is  executed  for  bping  with 
the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills,  605. 

Winram,  George,  of  Lil)erton,  afterwards 
raised  to  the  bench,  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners sent  by  the  Church  of  Scotland 
to  Charles  II.,  at  the  Hague,  on  the 
death  of  his  father,  217;  is  again  sent 
by  the  Committee  of  Estates  as  Commis- 
sioner to  Charles  II.,  221,  222,  228, 
229,  237. 

AVishart,  Mr  George,  his  gift  of  prophecy, 
98. 

AVishart,  Mr  George,  225  ;  notice  of,  391 ; 
is  consecrated  Bishop  of  Edinburgh,  410, 
411;  his  moderation  towards  noncon- 
forming ministers   455. 

AVishart,  Mr  AVilliam,  minister  of  Kinnoul, 
a  protester,  is  summoned  to  appear  be- 
fore the  Committee  of  Estates,  358 ; 
imprisoned  iu  the  Castle  of  Stirling, 
359,  389;  intercommuned,  561. 

AVitt,  De,  479,  609. 

AVodrow.  John,  is  executed  for  being  with 
the  Covenanters  at  Pentland  Hills,  505. 

AVood,  Mr  James,  Professor  of  Ecclesias- 
tical History  in  the  new  college  of  St 
Andrews,  notice  of,  217;  is  one  of  the 
Commissioners  sent  by  the  Commission 
of  the  General  Assembly  to  treat  with 
Charles  II.  at  Breda,  222,  246,  246, 
256;  is  favourable  to  the  Public  Reso- 
lutions, 267  ;  argues  with  Mr  James 
Guthrie  in  defence  of  them,  257,  258; 
is  appointed  by  the  Commission  of  the 
Kirk  to  go  to  Aberdeen  to  confer  with 
the  ministers  there  opposed  to  them, 
261,  262  ;  is  active  in  advancing  them, 
266,  274,  285,  292,  304  ;  recommends 
the  sending  of  Mr  James  Sharp  to 
Cromwell,  328.  334;  difference  between 
him  and  Rutherford  about  the  Public 
Resolutions,  343,  344 ;  is  deceived  by 
Sharp,  347,  350,  361,  362,  364; 
preaches  before  the  Parliament.  376, 
382,  396,  400,  406,  406  ;  is  discharged 
to  preach  any  longer  in  the  Old  College 
Kirk,  St  Andrews,  408,  415,  418; 
summoned  to  appear  before  the  Privy 
Council,  448;  his  place,  as  Principal  of 
the  old  college  of  St  Andrews,  declared 
vacant,  ib.  ;  is  discharged  to  dwell  in  St 
Andrews,  ib. ;  permitted  by  the  Coun- 
cil to  go  and  visit  his  father,  under  sick- 
ness, at  St  Andrews,  449  ;  is  under 
great  bodily  decay,  464 ;  false  reports 


INDEX. 


627 


circulated  by  Sharp  couceruing  him,  465; 
his  dying  testimony  in  favour  of  Pres- 
bytery, ib.  ;  his  death,  466,  467,  468. 
Wyiie,  Mr  Thomas,  minister  of  Kirkcud- 
bright, notice  of,  265,  325,  331,  346. 


Yester,  Lord,  536. 

York,  Duke  of,  349,  361,  401,  411  ;  de- 
clares himself  a  Papist,  535,  538,  557  ; 
is  excommunicated  by  Mr  Donald  Car- 
gill,  580,  581,  583,  684. 


Young,  Mr  George,  minister,  46. 
Young,  Mr  Robert,  minister,  is  translated 

from  Cramond  to  St  Andrews,  480. 
Young,  Mr  Robert,  minister  of  Dunbar- 

ney,  is  suspended  by  Archbishop  Sharp 

in  his  Diocesan  Synod,  464  ;  sentence  of 

suspension  intimated  to  him,  466. 
Young,  Mr  Thomas,  an  English  minister, 

348. 
Young,  Mr,  is  appointed  Prelate  of  Argyle, 

478;  dies  at  the  receiving  of  his  patent, 

ib. 


THE  END. 


JAUBS  WAI.KKU,  PHINTEU,  6    JAMRSS  COURT,  KlUNBriJtiH. 


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