Four of the bishops, and a number of commissioners from presbyteries,
met in Edinburgh to deliberate on church matters, being the nearest
approach to a General Assembly which could now be permitted. Amongst
the matters discussed were the increase of papistry and sin, the
persecutions of the Protestants in Germany, and the war against France.
Anxiety was also expressed regarding the prospects of the harvest.
‘Because of the extraordinar rains, which now threaten rotting of the
fruits of the ground before they be ripe, and so a fearful famine upon
this land in so dangerous a time, when the seas are closed by the
enemies, and no hope of help from other countries if God shall send
a famine, [it was resolved] to entreat the Lord that he wold cause
the heaven answer the earth, and the earth answer the corn, and the
corns to answer our necessity, and us to answer His will, in faith,
repentance, and obedience.’[9]
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1627.]
At this time, Great Britain might be said to be drifting towards a war
with France. The king having offended Louis XIII. by turning off all
the Catholic priests who had come over in attendance upon his queen,
the French monarch retaliated by ordering the seizure of British
vessels within his ports. There were a hundred and twenty English and
Scottish ships in those ports, chiefly loading with wine, and the whole
were seized. The Scotch, however, contrived to make themselves appear
as still connected with France by an ancient league--a league which, it
is to be feared, only existed as a friendly illusion common to the two
nations. Out of deference to this notion, the Scotch vessels were all
dismissed, while the English were retained.--_Bal._
‘There was a warrant from the king’s majesty and his Council, for
listing in Scotland 9000 men, to go to serve under the king of Denmark,
in the German wars for renewing the palatinate and Bohemia.... There
was many forcit, as beggars, idle men, and [those wanting] competent
means to live upon, under the conduct of the Earl of Nithsdale, my Lord
Spynie, and the Laird of Murkle (Sinclair), as colonels.
‘There was the same year 2000 gentlemen, landed men, barons, lords, and
others of guid sort, levanted from Scotland under the Earl of Morton,
for helping to take the Isle of [Ré] in France. But the isle was
recovered by the French frae the English.’--_Chron. Perth._
The recruiting of these German legions does not appear to have been
conducted in a very scrupulous manner. Some of the circumstances afford
a rich illustration of the social condition of Scotland at that time.
On the 1st of November 1627, Robert Scott, bailie of Hawick, reported
to the Privy Council a number of ‘idle and masterless men, fit to be
employed in the wars’--namely, ‘Allan Deans, miller; Allan Wilson;
George Dickson, callit _the Wran_; John Rowcastle; Walter Scott,
maltman; John Tait, piper; William Beatison; Robert Lidderdale, callit
_the Corbie_; Robert Langlands; James Waugh, officiar; James Towdop;
William Scott, callit _Young Gillie_; John Laing, piper; William
M‘Vitie; Walter Fowler; and Andrew Deans.’ This proceeding of Bailie
Scott was in obedience to an act of Estates. The lords, having narrowly
examined these men, liberated seven as ‘not fit persons to be employed
in the wars.’ Two were set free, under surety to appear again when
called upon. The remaining persons they ordained to be delivered to
the Earl of Nithsdale, ‘to be sent by him with the rest of his company
to the wars in Germany.’ Seeing, however, that ‘the said persons are
men and servants to William Douglas of Drumlanrig, and that reason and
equity craves that they sould be rather delivered to Sir James Douglas
of Mowsill, brother to the said Laird, nor to any other colonel or
captain whatsoever,’ they ordained accordingly, provided that Sir James
should satisfy the Earl for his expenses. The men thus dealt with were
to be lodged in the Tolbooth, until the ship should be ready to carry
them abroad, the Earl undertaking to satisfy Andrew White the jailer,
‘for their expenses during the time of their remaining in ward.’--_P.
C. R._
[Sidenote: 1627.