the Generall Assembley, ther sense of the westerne remonstrance, wich
was read in the housse.
A petitione from the prissoners that are Irish, Scotts, and now
prissoners at Newcastell, and wer takin at Dumbar, to the Generall
Assembley or ther Comissione, presented by the kirk to the housse, and
read.
The housse ordaines the Lord Chanceler to giue thesse from the Com: of
the Kirk thankes, and to shew them that they take it werey weill, and
with all desyre them to condiscend in particular vpone perssons and
faults, wich in ther remonstrance they named maney sade treuthes; and
this the Lord Chanceler was comandit to intreat them to goe seriously
about the same; and did thank them also for ther good correspondence
in so neidfull a tyme, and that the housse (being convened for that
effecte) wold looke to thesse deuties God had called them heir for, and
the countrey expected at ther hands; and that the King and parl: wold
returne them ther anssuer in wreatt to ther papers, hauing appoynted
a comittee to consider them, wich particularly should receaue ther
particular anssuers in dew and conuenient tyme.
Monday, 2d December. 6 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—Alcheyes bill,
wpone the recomendation of the Com: of the Kirke, to be reponed,
(in respecte his accessione to the late wnlawfull ingagement) to
acte in defence of his countrey aganist the enimey:—Granted, _nullo
contradicente_.
The Com: of Dumbartans bill read, seiking a comissione for putting of
some Vitches to execution upon the confessions:—Granted.
Vedinsday, 4 Decembris. 8 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—Vpone the
Marques Argyles motione, it is ordred, that ane afternoone be sett
apairte for anssuering the remonstrance and petitione of the kirke,
giuen in the 4 day of the parl: and for considering the same.
That a letter be wrettin to the Moderator of the G. Assembley, that he
wold call a meitting of the Commissione of the Kirke, against Vedinsday
cum eight dayes, to meitt at Perth, to giue ther adwysse anent takin
in and excluding of persons from defence of ther countrey, approuen;
and the housse wretts a letter to the Moderator for that effecte, to be
directed from the King and parl: and seigned by the L. President of the
parl: as also, that the Moderator wold adwertisse all the ministers of
the nearest synods and presbeteries to assist with ther presence; and
if they cannot adwertisse them to be tymously present, that the doing
of it be no retardment to the commissions meitting at the day desyred.
George, Earle of Linlithgow, is this day admitted to the housse, and
his incapability by his accessione to the vnlawfull engagement takin
offe; he hauing produced 2 actes in his fauors, one of the Com: of the
Kirkes, ane other of the Com: of Estaites.
William, Lord Cranston, vpone his bill and the Com: of the Kirkes
recommendation, is lykwayes admitted to the housse, and his
incapability takin offe; and he reponed to his former integrity.
Thursday, 5 December, 9 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—Wpone the
reiding of the Earle of Lauderdaills bill, the housse, one his humble
petitione, repells his acte of banishment.
Mem: This eiuning, candells being lighted in the housse, a grate stock
oule muttit one the tope of the croune, wich, with the suord and
scepter, lay one a table ouer aganist the throne.
Friday, 6 Decembris, 10 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—A letter from
the Moderator of the Generall Assembley, 5 Nouembris, shewing that ther
can be no meitting of the Comissione of the Kirke befor ther appointed
tyme, viz. 23 of this mounthe.
After the reiding of this letter, the housse ordred that presently a
sharpe letter be wrettin to the Moderator, shewing that they wold keepe
Thursday, wtherwayes the parl: wold be forced to acte without ther
desyred adwysse and concurrence; wtherwayes the world might see that
they had failled to concurre with the parl: to succor ther countrey in
tyme of hir distresse and gratest neid.
Ordered that particular letters be wrettin to all the neir adioyning
ministers to keepe the meitting at Perth one Thursday nixt, for
releiffe of the distressed countrey, calling for present helpe at ther
handes; wich, if they faill, then they must goe one to doe that wich
God, ther countrey, and eurey good man requyres at ther hand.
Tuesday, 10 Decembris, 13 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—Ordred that
the seuerall bodies meitt at 3 in the afternoone, to consider of the
remonstrance giuen in by the Commissioners of the General Assemb: and
also how farre incapacities that disables men may be takin offe, and
men admitted to fight for defence of the countrey aganist the comon
enimey; and to treat anent the prewious adwysses concerning England,
and for this effecte to haue a conference with the Commissioners of the
General Assembly at 9 houres to morrow.
Ordaines thesse that are appoynted to conferre wt h the Commissioners
of the Generall Ass: to adwertisse them of the tyme and place of ther
meitting.
Fryday, 13 Decembris. 14 dies parliamenti.—Rege presente.—The
remonstrance and petition giuen in by the Commissioners of the Generall
Assembley to the parliament, with the report from the bodey of the
noblemen, and the suplications from Tuedall and Louthean, redde in
parliament.
Saterday, the 14 day of December. 15 dies parliamenti.—Rege
presente.—The Kings Maiestie and parliament ordaines the Earle of
Cassiles, the Lord Clerckingtone, and Johne Jeffray, to acquant the
Commissioners of the Generall Assembley, that some coursse may be takin
with suche persons as haue ioynned and complayed with the sectaries.
Remitts to the Comittee of Ouertours, with the Kings Maiesties Aduocat,
to thinke vpon soume coursse to be takin with thosse quho haue, or
shall joyne or complay with the sectaries; with pouer to examine
wittness, and to report ther proceidings to the parliament.
Tuesday, 17 of December. Dies 17 parliamenti.—Rege presente.—The Lord
Montgomeries bill, and his brother James, ther bills, one the Com: of
the General Assemblies recommendatione, declared capable of publicke
imployment, and all actes of restraints aganist them repealled.
[30 December.]—It is declared by the King and parliament, that [no]
one hes pouer to come out for defence of the countrey, bot suche as
are qualified according to the former acte declaratorey; the acte of
classes standing still in vigor aganist them, more then in defence of
ther countrey, and hauing accesse to his Majesties personne, &c.
Ordred that the Comittee for anssuering the Churches Remonstrance
confer with the Comissione of the Generall Assembley, anent his
Maiesties othe of coronatione, as also of that of the people.
* * * * *
1650.
_Excerpts from “A Diary of Public Transactions and other Occurrences,
chiefly in Scotland, from January 1650, to June 1667, by John Nicoll.”_
[February.]—It hes bene schawin befoir, in the last yeiris relatioun
of the commoun effaires and observatiouns of that yeir[434] how that
James Grahame, sumtyme Erle of Montrois, did give out a lairge prented
Declaratioun and paper, quhairwith he chargeth his awin natioun with
hatching a rebellioun in this Kingdome, with promoting the lyke in
England, and with the sale and murthour of thair awin native King,
and robbing his sone of all rycht, and other horride crymes. To the
quhilk Declaratioun thair wes are learned exquisite Ansuer maid by the
Committee of the Estaites of the Parliament of Scotland, and by the
Commissioneris of the Generall Assemblie, in vindicatioun of thair
proceidinges from the aspersioun of that scandalous pamphlet; quhilk
answer, gevin out by the Kirk and Stait, wes solemplie proclamit and
publeist at the Mercat Croce of Edinburgh, by ane Maisser and sound
of many trumpettis. At the publisching quhairof ane scaffold was
erectit, with ane fyre thairon, set up in a chimnay, quhairat the
commoun hangman of Edinburgh and toun officeris did stand in thair
ordiner apperrell usit at such a bussines; and thair, efter reiding
of this ansuer of the Kirk and Stait fullie and at lenth, and eftir
sounding of four trumpettis on the Croce, the hangman threw that the
said James Grahame his Declaratioun in the midst of the fyre, set thair
on a scaffold upone the eist syde of the Croce, as worthy of no les,
being publisched by that excommunicat traitour James Grahame, under the
tytell of A Declaratioun of James Marques of Montros, &c. This done 9
Feb., 1650. This answer may be read at lenth in prent, gevin out both
by the Committee of Estait and Commissioneris of the Generall Assemblie.
The Commissioneris of the Generall Assembly sat heir, in Edinburgh, at
this tyme, quhairat Mr Johnne Sterling, minister at Bara, wes chosin
minister at Edinburgh, upone the 15th of Februar, anno foirsaid. At
that tyme also, Mr Thomas Garven was chosin minister at Edinburgh.
16 Feb. Mr David Dik, by the Commissioneris of the Generall Assemblie
wes chosin professor of divinitie in the college of Edinburgh, ane
learned man, and a great licht in the Church of Scotland.
17 Feb. Ane act of the Commissioun of the Generall Assemblie wes red in
all the churches of Edinburgh, dischargeing promiscuous dansing.
* * * * *
Much faiset and scheitting at this tyme wes daylie detectit by the
Lordis of Sessioun; for quhilk thair wes daylie hanging, skurging,
nailling of luggis, and binding of pepill to the Trone, and booring of
tounges; so that it was ane fatall yeir for fals notaris and witnessis,
as daylie experience did witnes. And as for adulterie, fornicatioun,
incest, bigamie, and uther uncleanes and filthynes, it did nevir abound
moir nor at this tyme....
At this tyme, also, my Lord Lyntoun wes excommunicat and wardit [put in
prison] for taking in mariage the Lord Seytounes relict, dochter to
the lait Marques of Huntlie, scho being excommunicat for poprie.
Lykewyse, upone Sonday the 24 Februar, the Erle of Kynnoull, Mr James
Stewart, [George] Drummond, sone to the Laird of Balloch, and Capitane
Hall, wer all excommunicat for incuming to Orknay, and troubling that
cuntrey in a hostile maner. Quhairof intimation wes also maid in all
the Kirkis of Edinburgh, upone Sonday the tent of Marche, 1650.
_Eodem die._—Intimatioun wes lykewyse maid that the Erle of Abircorne
wes excommunicat for poprie....
It is to be rememberit that in the monethis of Marche and Apryll, 1646,
the Directorie for Godis Service began. In steid of evening and morning
prayeris, the ministeris taking to thair consideratioun that the not
reiding and exponing of the Scriptures at the old accustumat tyme of
prayer, was the occasioun of much drinking at that seasoun quhen these
prayeris and chaptures wer usuallie red, thairfoir, and to prevent
that sin, it wes concludit, in the begynning of Marche, 1650, that all
the dayis of the week a lectorie sould be red and exponit in Edinburgh
be everie minister thair _per vices;_ quhilk accordinglie wes put in
practize, and so began this holie and hevinlie exercise upone Monday
the 18 day of Marche, 1650.
At the same tyme, for eschewing and doun bearing of sin and filthines
in Edinburgh, it was actit, that no woman sould vent or rin wyne or
aill in the tavernis of Edinburgh, bot allanerlie men servandis and
boyes; quhilk Act wes red and publictlie intimat in all the Kirkis
of Edinburgh, that all such as haid these commoditeis to sell sould
prepare men servandis and boyes for that use agane Whitsounday nixt
thaireftir following....
Upone the sevint day of Apryle, 1650, thair wes ane solempne Fast throw
the haill kingdome of Scotland, as also with our Commissioneris in
Holand sent to the Kinges Majestie. The reasones of the fast wes for
the synnes of the land, and that it wald pleis the Lord to grant ane
happy succes to the Scottis Commissioneris now at a treatie with his
Majestie. This fast wes concludit by the Kirk and Stait to be solemlie
keipit the said day both heir within this kingdome of Scotland, as
lykwayis by our Scots Conimissioneris now at Breda in Holand, befoir
thair going af this kingdome.
Ther wer also eikit to the causis of the Fast, the sin of Witchcraft
abundant in the land, the incres of Malignantis and Sectareis, that the
King may grant the just desyres of Kirk and Kingdome for stedfastnes to
this land, and to these quho hes the charge of the effaires of the land
for delyverie of the King from malignant counsells, for strenthening of
these that suffer for his cause in England and Yreland, for suppleying
the necessiteis of the pure, and much mor to this purpos, and all uther
synnes mentionat in the last fast, solemplie keipit throw the haill
Kirkis upone the last Sonday of August, 1649.
It war langsum to writt quhat outcryingis wer now aganes that noble
erle James lait Erle of Montrois, and prented declarationes gevin out
aganes him, and proclamationes, both by Parliament, thair Committees,
and by the Assemblie of the Kirk.... Such wer the ordores of Parliament
and Committee, and prohibitiones of the Kirkes, that nane durst speik
in favouris of that nobleman for feir of censure and punischement.
* * * * *
[Nicol then states the case of a man named Bryson, who, when
proclamation to the above effect was made at the Cross of Glasgow, “did
cry out, and callit him als honest a nobleman as was in this kingdome,”
upon which the magistrates “was forcit to tak and apprehend him, and
careyed him to Edinburgh by ane gaird of the tounes officers, presented
him to the Committee of Stait than sitting thair, quha, be thair
ordour, wes cassin in to the theves hoill, quhairin he lay in great
miserie by the space of many weekis.”]
* * * * *
At this tyme, and sindry yeiris befoir, many persones wer trublit for
not subscryving the Covenant, and ministeris deposit for the same. Mr
Gawin Stewart, minister of Dalmellingtoun not onlie deposit fra his
ministrie, bot he debarrit _ab agendo_ in all his actiones and causis
civill for recovery of his dettis.
Lykewayis James Macaulay, goldsmith, wes not onlie excommunicat for
refuising to subscryve the Covenant, bot lykewayis at his death his
corps dischargit to be bureyit in the churchyaird.
[After giving an account of the defeat of Montrose in his last
expedition, on the 27th April this year, which it is unnecessary to
insert, Nicoll thus proceeds:—]
It may be justlie said that the prayeris of the faithfull availleth
much, for during the tyme that this excomunicat traitour remaned in
the North, the faithfull servandis of God wer gevand up thair daylie
prayeris for his confusioun, quhilk be this former relatioun, is
manifest to haif bene hard and grantit; quhilk did moir evidentlie
appeir thaireftir at this traitouris taking, for within foure dayis
eftir this victorie, this bloodie traitour wes takin and apprehendit.
Eftir he haid fled to the hillis, and remayned thair in great miserie
and famyne, he come to ane hous and familie quhais Maister was callit
MᶜCloyd, luiking for protectioun at his handis, being ane of his auld
acquentance, and complyer with him in his former plottis and bloodie
courses; bot this manis sone, callit Neill MᶜCloyd, fearing the danger
of the lawis gif he sould conceale him, and heiring of the lairge
prommesis of money to the reveillaris and apprehendaris of him, he was
inducit thairby to seas upone him, and tak him prissoner in his awin
hous, and randerit him to the commanderis of this airmey. All quhich
being takin be the moist pairt of this kingdome to be a singular mercy,
it pleasit the Commissioneris of the Kirk and Generall Assemblie to
appoynt a solempne day of thankisgeving throw all this kingdome; quhilk
wes obeyit and began heir in Lothiane, and keipit in all the kirkis of
Edinburgh and about, upone the fyftene day of May 1650; at quhilk day
and tyme, the new Psalme Buikis wer red and ordanit to be sung throw
all the kingdome.
[Nicoll then gives an account of the treatment which Montrose received
on his arrival as a prisoner at Edinburgh, of his condemnation to
death, and of the incidents attending his execution; but his statements
being substantially the same with those of Balfour, which are already
given, it is unnecessary to repeat them.]
Heir followis, as is reportit, a wicked and ungodlie Declaratioun
quhilk James Grahame causit all the ministeris of Orknay and Caithnes
to subscryve and assent to, except ane Mr William Smith, ane of the
ministeris in Cathnes.
“We, the Ministeris of the Presbytereis under subscryveris,
considdering it convenient to us, and these of our calling, to give
publict testimonie to the conscientiousnes and justice of his Majesteis
service, now presentlie depending, for the gude example of utheris,
and removing of quhatsomevir scruple from the myndes of all men, We
willinglie frelie, and with candour declair, That we from our soules
detest that continued Rebellioun, maliciouslie hatched, and wickedlie
prosequute, aganes his late sacred Majestie of glorious memorie,
and do from our hartis abhor his delyvering over in bondage and
imprissonement, horride and execrable murthour, and all uther dampnable
and malicious pretensis, execute aganes him be the wicked rebellious
factioun of both kingdomes; the quhich we will not faill heireftir to
preache to our pepill, and witnes every day of our calling, as als
of our lauchfull acknawlegement, prayer and wisches of the happie
establishment of his present Majestie unto all his just richtis;
and particularlie, that it may pleis God to gif a blessing to his
Excellence James Marques of Montrois, Capitane Generall to his Majestie
in the kingdom of Scotland. All quhich we will faithfullie stand to and
to the advancing thereof, without haiffing the least thocht or pretext
in the contrare. So help us God.”
[Nicoll then details the banishment of the Earl of Callendar, and a
number of other noblemen and gentlemen, for being concerned in the
Engagement; the execution of General Hurry, John Spottiswood, Hay of
Dalgatie, &c.; the arrival of the King; the great rejoicings, &c.]
It is formarlie recordit that, in these preceding yeiris, the
prevailling pairteis of Sectareis in Ingland war verrie insolent, quha
haid despysed religioun, and laid it in the dust, and haid tollerat
many gros errouris, blasphemeis, and strange opiniounes in religioun,
and haid mantened, allowed, and ventit the same in England, as the lyke
hath not bene hard of in former generatiouns. And the Monarchy and the
power of Parliamentis wes the auntient and long continued governament
of that Kingdome, yit haif these men usurped above the Parliament,
quhois servandis thai war; and, by oppin violence, haif drawn away
many, and imprissoned sum of the memberis thairof; and haif not onlie
takin away the Hous of Lordis, and destroyed the lait King, but also
subverted Monarchy itself, and turned the fundatiounes upsyde doun;
and labour to wreith the yok of thair oppressiounes upone thair bodyes
and soules, quhairof that Ingadgement now in England is a publict
testimonie.
This pairtie, eftir thai haif actit such thinges in England and
Yreland, conceaving that thai can not be establisched and eat the fruit
of thair awin devyces without contradictioun, als long as the Kirk of
Scotland standis in thair way; thairfoir thai threaten us with a warr,
drawing thair forces northward, and sending thame in in small pairteis
toward the Border, that it may be the les decerned quhat thai do. And
gif the Lord sall suffer thame to invaid this land, (as it is to be
feared,) that the gangrene of thair errouris may tak hold upone sum
ignorant and unstable myndis quho hath not resaved the love of the
treuth, so we may luik for desolatioun and destructioun; thairfoir,
and for many uther grave and wechtie ressones, the Estaites did levie
ane airmy, and put this kingdome in a posture of defence. And the
Commissioun of the Generall Assembie upone the 25 day of Junij 1650,
did emit ane Seasonable Warning concerning the present dangeris and
dewteis unto all the memberis of the Kirk....
At the approaching of this Englische airmy, many pepill heir in the
eist pairtes and south wer overtakin with great feares, till the haill
regimentis did convene. Mony also in Edinburgh, Leith, Linlithgow,
Falkirk, and uther pairtes about, wer put in great perplexitie, quha
removed thair best guidis over to the north syde of Forth.
The ministrie also, in thair severall places, wer not deficient to
encurage the pepill, prommessing, in Godis name, a victorie over
these erronyous and blasphemous pairteis in England, quha, aganes the
Covenant and Solempne League, did unjustlie persew this Natioun; and
farder, did freelie and franklie outreik ane regiment of hors, for
defence of the same, upone thair awin charges and expensses, under the
conduct of Colonell Strachane.
Upone the secound Weddinsday of Julij 1650, the Generall Assemblie met
at Edinburgh, being the tent day of Julij, and dissolvit not till the
24 day of the same moneth.
22 July 1650, being ane Monday, the Inglische airmy, under the
commandement of Generall Oliver Cromwell, croced the watter of Tweid
and marched in to our Scottis bordouris to and about Aytoun; quhairof
present advertisement wes gevin to our Committee of Stait, and
thairupone followit ane strict Proclamatioun that all betuix 60 and 16
sould be in reddines the morne to marche, both horse and fute. The same
day, the fute sodgeris lying heir for the tyme did cast ane trinsche
fra the fute of the Cannogait to Leith, for halding out of the enymie,
that thai sould not pass that way; bot that Edinburgh and Leith sould
haif saif correspondence ane with the uther without interruptioun of
the enymie.
23 Julij.—The College of Justice outreikit ane fute company of gallant
youthes, notwithstanding they haid ane troup of horse on the feildis
these twa yeiris bypast.
25 Julij 1650.—The Englische airmy lifted fra Aytoun and Halidounhill,
without sound of trumpet or touk of drum, at eftir nune that day,
and marched doun toward Cokburnespaith and Dumbar; thaireftir
to Hadingtoun, and so to Mussilburgh, Figgetburne, Dudingstoun,
Colingtoun, Braidis Craiges-haiffing thair trinches both at
Mussilburgh, and alongis to Braid and westwart. And haiffing on sea
fyftene sail, they resavit furth thair amunitioun and victuell furth
of thair schipis without interruptioun, both at Dumbar, Mussilburgh,
Fischerraw, and uther pairtes thairabout, and careyed all alongis with
thame to thair airmy with ane convoy of hors and fute.
The Scottis airmy haiffing, efter few dayis, convenit heir upone
the Linx of Leith to the number of fourtie thowsand men and above;
the half of thame were sent bak, eftir a long space apoynted for
purging of the airmy, to the discon[ten]tment of much pepill, and of
gentillmen volunteris quha haid frielie cum in to feght for defence
of the kingdome. The Scottis airmy being thus in purging daylie,
upone the Linx of Leith, it pleasit the Kinges Majestie to cum doun
frome Sterling, quhair he than wes, to the Linx of Leith, upone the
Monday the 29 of Julij, 1650, quhair he saluted the airmy, being all
rankit thair in a plesant posture, to the great joy of the King and
contentment of the pepill.
Thaireftir, upone Friday the 2 of August 1650, the King come frome the
Leager lying at Leith, to the toun of Edinburgh, ryding with his nobles
and leaff-gaird up throw the Cannogait to the Castell of Edinburgh,
quhair he wes saluted with a great number of cannoun schot.Thai rfra
he come doun on fute throw Edinburgh, quhair he was feasted by the
toun of Edinburgh in the Parliament Hous the said day; and thaireftir
went doun to Leith, to ane ludgeing belonging to the Lord Balmerinoch,
appoyntcd for his resait during his abyding at Leith; and thus haiffing
remayned a certane space, veiwing the airmyes on both sydes, he went
over the watter to Dumfermling, and to Falkland, and Pearth, for his
recreatioun....