Publications of the Scottish History Society, Volume 36 / Journals of Sir John Lauder Lord Fountainhall with His Observations on Public Affairs and Other Memoranda 1665-1676

by Lord John Lauder Fountainhall

PETITION OF MR. JOHN LAUDER.

Unto the Right Honourable the Lord President and remanent Lords of Counsel and Session the humble petition of Mr. John Lauder sheweth, That wheir your petitioner having applied himselfe to the study of the Civil law both at home and abroad, and being resolved to emprove the samen and to exerce it as Advocat, May it theirfor please your Lordships to remit your petitioner to the Dean of Faculty and Advocats for his tryall in the ordinar way in order to the office of ane advocat. And your Lordships favourable returne heirto.

21 January 1668. The Lords having considered this bill and desyre theirof remits the petitioner to the Dean of Faculty and Advocats to the effect they may take triall of his knowledge of the Civill law and make report to the haill Lords their anent.

JOHN GILMOUR, I.P.D.

Remits the supplicant to the private examinators to take tryall of his qualifications and to report.

ROBERT SINCLAIR.

27 January 1668. The private examinators having taken tryall of the supplicants qualifications of the Civill law finds him sufficiently qualified theirin and remits him to his further tryall.

ROBERT DICKSON, GEOR. NICOLSONE. PAT. HOOME, RODER. MACKEINZIE. JAMES DAES.

Edemborough, 28 January 1668. Assignes to the supplicant for the subiect of his publick examination. Tit. D. de collatione bonorum.

ROBERT SINCLAIR.

Edemborough, 15 February 1668. The body of Advocats being met and having heard the supplicant sustain his tryal before them upon the befor-assigned title, did unanimously approve him theirin and recommend him for his lesson to the Lords favour.

GEORGE MACKENZIE, in absence of D. of F.

22 February 1668. The Lords having considered the Report above written assignes to the petitioner the day of June nixt (which indeed was the 5h) to finish his tryall in order to the office of a ordinire advocate, and recommends the petitioner to the Dean of faculty for to have ane Law assigned to him to that effect.

JOHN GILMOUR, I.P.D.

Edemborough, 1668. Assignes to the supplicant for the subject of his publick lesson. l. diffamari C. de Ingenuis Manumissis.

ROBERT SINCLAIRE.

I was admitted advocat on the 5 of June 1668.

* * * * * [493]

[493] A page scored out.

In August 1668 I went home with my sister for Glasco. Went by the White house, the Coudbridge, Corstorphin, held up to the right hand, saw Gogar on the left, Ingleston, Boghall, Norvells house. Came to Kirkliston, 6 miles from Edemburgh. Neir it on this syde of the Water is Carlaury; a mile furder is the Castle of Nidry; both it and Kirkliston toune belongs to my Lord Vinton, and Newliston on the left hand[494] then came to Lithcow, Limnuchum[495] 12 miles from Edenburgh. Baited at on Chrightones forgainst the Palace, which hes bein werie magnificent, is now for the most part ruinous. Under it stands the Loch, in the midle wheirof is a litle island with tries. In the midst of the court is a most artificiall font of most excellent water. Their is ane in the toune: their … [496] wes neir the palace. They are a building a tolbuith all of aislaer work.

[494] On margin [Vinsbrugh, Duntarvy, Wrae, Monteith],

[495] Limnuchum, the Latin name. Arthur Johnston, in his Carmen de
Limnucho, quoted at length by Sir Robert Sibbald, 'Nobile
Limnuchum est Patio de marmore templum,' etc.-Treatises,
Linlithgow, p. 16.

[496] About two words obliterated.

A mile from this on our left hand we saw Kettelston Stewart, then wheir the famous city of Camelon stood built by Cruthne Camelon first King of the Picts—330 years before Christ—alongs the river of Carron whither the sea also came up, so that yet to this day digging deip they find tackles and anchores and other appartenances of ships. Its thought that when the sea gained in Holland and the Netherlands it retired heir; so that now its not within 3 miles of this place now. Vespasian in the reigne of our Caratacus, 35 years after Christ, took it and sackt it. At last finally ransackt and ruined by Kenneth the 2d in the year of Christ 834. Neir to this place stands Dunipace with the 2 artificiall monts before the gate called Dunnipacis. Heir also is that old building called by some Arthurs Oven, and relicts of the great Wall of Adrian. But of all this consult Buchanan, lib 10, pag. 16, 17, 18.

Within a mile of Falkirk stands Calendar, the residence of the Earles of Callendar, a place full of pleasure. We lay at Falkirk 6 miles beyond Linligligow. Nixt day on for Kilsith, 9 miles furder. Saw Cumbernauld and that great mosse wheir that fatall battell of Kilsith[497] was fought, 6000 slayn on the place. Past by the Water of Bony wheir John Scots mother lives. Bayted at Kilsith, saw the old place which was burned by the Englishs, and the new place, then other 9 miles to Glascow. Passed by Calder and a Water of the samen name. Saw Mucdock[498] at a distance, my Lord Montrosse his residence.

[497] Montrose defeated the Covenanters under Baillie at Kilsyth in 1645.

[498] Now Mugdock.

Being arrived at Glasco we lighted at my sisters[499] in the Trone gate: then saw Old Colin at his house in the Bridge gate; then saw their Merchants Hall with its garden in the same street; then the 2 Hutchesones brether ther hospitall in the Tronegate. The eldest brother was a Wrytter. Then saw their bridge over Clyde, of which a man hes a most fair prospect both up the river and doune the river of all the trough of Clyde.

[499] Mr. Laing mentions that one of Lauder's stepsisters was married to Campbell of Blythswood.

Nixt day heard sermon in the Trone church: fornoon, Mr. Robert Stirling; afternoon, Mr. Milne. After sermon went to their Bromeylaw, wheir is their key for their boat, and a spring of most rare water.

Nixt day saw their tolbuith, Gallowgate, Saltmarket, Colledge with the priveledges of the University of Bononia; their great church, on under another,[500] with the castle, the bischops residence with the Bischops hospitall and the tradesmen their hospitall, both at the head of the toune, which comes running doun from a eminence towards the river, supposing the river to be the edge of this book, in this fashion.

[500] The crypt.

[Illustration]

We went after for the Ranfield, 5 short miles from Glasco, on the south side of the river. Saw on the way Govan, Renfrew, burgh royal. On the other syde ware Parket,[501] Scotts-toune Stewart lately married to Roysaithes daughter, and the Barnes. Ranfield stands most pleasantly with abondance of planting betuixt the Clyde and the Greiff[502] or Carst,[503] that comes from Pasley.

[501] Now Partick.

[502] Now Gryfe.

[503] Now Cart.

Went up to Pasley by the Knock: its 2 mile from the Ranfield, a most pleasant place with a pretty litle toune. In former tymes it belonged to my Lord Abercorn. Now my Lord Cochrane hath it, who sold to the toune for 4000 merks the right he had of the election of their Magistrates, which he sore repents now, for since the toune cares not for him. It hes bein a most magnificent Abbaye, much of it ruined now. Ye enter into the court by a great pend[504] most curiously built. The wals of the yard may almost passe for a miracle because of their curious workmanship and extent. The yards are no wayes keipt in order. My Lord hes enclosed a wast peice of ground for a park.

[504] Arched passage.

Nixt morning we went for Dumbarton, having crossed the river 5 long miles from the Ranfield and 10 from Glasco. Saw on the way Rowlan on our right hand, Bischopton, Brisbane, Erskin belonging to Hamilton of Orbiston, both on the other syde of the river. Came throught Kirkpatrick, which is the great mercat toune of the Hyland kyne; saw Castle Pottage; then by Dunglasse a ruined castle standing on a litle rock in the Clyde belonging to Sir John Colquhon of Luz[505]; then by the craig called Dunbuc came to Dumbarton toune, wheir meet with Walter Watsone, provest of Dumbritton. Stayed at his brothers: went over to the rock, a most impregnable place as any part of the world can show. Was so fortunat that Major George Grant was not their. The gunner went alongs with us and shewed us the cannons, some Scotes peices, some English, some French, some Flemish, one braze[506] of 34 pound bal taken up out of that ship of the invincible armado which was cast away on the north of Scotland in the 88. Their was 2 also iron peices carrieing 32 pound ball, a peice casten in King James the 4't his tyme, carried with him to Floudoun, and taken then and keipt ay to Charles the I., his tyme. They call them demy canons, some of one lb, some of 8, some of 14 lb ball, etc. They have excellent springs of water in many places of the rock: their ammunition house is almost on the top of it. Of it we saw my Lord Glencairnes house of residence, also Newwark, and under it the bay wheir Glasco is building their Port Glasco. Neir to Dumbarton stands Fulwood belonging to the Sempills. The Levin comes in to the Clyde heir. The provest heir related to me that merrie passage betuixt Thomas Calderwood and him. Its a most debaucht hole. Came back that night to the Ranfield.

[505] Now Luss.

[506] Brass.

Nixt day came to Glasco. That night our horses were arrested and pressed because of the rumor that ther was a randevouz to be at Loudon hill. Saw old Robert Cambell and young Robert with their wifes, James Cambel, John Bell with his wyfe, Barbara Cambel, Colin Maclucas, Daniel Broun, Collonel Meiren, Sergeant Lauder. Went out and saw Blayswoode,[507] Woodsyde and Montbodo its house wheir stayes my fathers old landlady. Saw his quarry, his corne milnes, and his wack[508] milnes. If that of Monbodo wer once irredimeably his he will have above 50 chalders of wictuall lying their all togither. On the south of the bridge stands the Gorbbells wheir is the castle of the Gorbels: in it dwels at present Sir James Turner.

[507] Now Blythswood.

[508] For wauk.

We took horse at the Gallogate to go for Hamiltoun 8 miles from Glascow; saw Wackingshaw, Kelving Water, the Castle of Bothwell, ruinous, belonging to the Marquis of Douglas on the Clyde. Over on the other syde stands the Craig of Blantyre, my Lord Blantyres residence: he has another house called Cardonald near Renfrew. Then ye come to Bothuel toune, on halfe belonging to the Marquis and the other to the Duc of Hamilton; then ye come to Bothuel bridge—six pennies of custome a horseman payes; then a mile from it stands Hamilton, first the nether toune, then the upper. Many of the gentlemen of Cliddesdail was their that day at the Duc, as Silvertounhil, Hages, Master of Carmichaell, Hamilton, Torrance, Stewart Hills, Castlemilk, Rouchsoles, my Lord Lee which[509] standes within 2 mile of Lanerk. Lanark is 8 from Hamilton. Went and saw the yards:[510] great abondance of as good wines,[511] peaches, apricoats, figs, walnuts, chaistins,[512] philberts, etc., in it as in any part of France; excellent bon Crestien pears, brave palissades of firs, sundry fisch ponds. The wals are built of brick, which conduces much to the ripening of the fruits: their be 20 ackers of land within the yeardes. Their's a fair bouling graine before the Palace gate. Then went to the wood, which is of a wast bounds; much wood of it is felled: their be many great oakes in it yet: rode thorough the lenth of it, it is thought to be 5 miles about. Saw great droves of heart and hinde with the young roes and faunes in companies of 100 and 60 togither.

[509] Which, i.e. Lee. Sir James Lockhart Lord Lee's house.

[510] Yards, enclosed gardens, orchards.

[511] Vines.

[512] Chestnuts. Fr., Châtains.

Nixt day on for Edenburgh, 24 miles from Hamilton. Rode crost the Clyde at a furd about 5 miles from Hamilton, came in to the muire way for Glasco: wery ill way. Came to the Kirk of the Shots; then to Neidle eye wheir ye go of to Bathcat; then to Swynish Abbey[513]; then to Blaickburne belonging to the Laird of Binny, 12 miles from Edenburgh. Baited their, then came to Long Levinstone a mile furder; then to the pile of Levinstone Murray: the house [Toures][514] was destroyed by the English. Saw on our right hand Calder, my Lord Torphichens residence; then entered unto that moor, Drumshorling Moore; then came to Amont Water: rode within a bow shot of Clifton hall and within halfe a mile of Eleiston; then to Gogar stone and Gogar toune; then to Corstorphin, and so home, being the 15 of August 1668….[515]

[513] Now Swineabbey.

[514] Interlined.

[515] Nearly half a page blank.

One day in a promenade with Mr. James Pilans past by Wright houses, Greenhill, Mr. (Doctor) Levinstons, then a litle house belonging to Doctor Stevinsone; then Merchiston; then to the Barrowmoore wheir Begs famous house is; then to the Brig-house which belonged to Braid,[516] was given of by the Farlys in an assithment, liferented even now by the Ladie Braid, payes her 200 merks a year; then up towards Greenbank to the Buckstone, wheir is the merches of Braid with Mortinhall and Comistone; saw its merches with the new Maynes of Colinton belonging to Mr. Harie Hay with Craiglockart, the Pleughlands, and the Craighouse (now Sir Andro Dicks, of old a part of the Barronie of Braid); then saw wheir the English armie lay, also Swanston and Pentland. Then came alongs all the face or brow of the bray of the Wester hill, which is the meith between Braid and Mortonhall, till we came to Over libberton, Mr. William Little. Conquised by this mans goodsire, William Little, provest of Edenburgh, befor K. Ja. went in to England: a fyn man and stout: as appeared, 1°, that his taking a man out of the Laird of Innerleith his house at Innerleith, having set sentries at all the doors, and because they refused to open, tir[517] a hole in the hous top and fetch him out and laid him in the tolbuith for ryving a bond of borrowed money fra a burges of the toun; which proceidur the Secreit Counsell then, tho summar, allowed of. 2°, thair having bein long debats betuen the toun and the Logans of Restalrig for the passage throw Restalrig's lands to Leith (the way wheirto then was just by the tower), and Restalrig having aither refused to let them pas throw his lands or else would have them to acknowledge him, Prov: Little being with K. Ja. at Stirling made a griveous complaint of their insolency; wheirupon he said he cared not tho the highest stone of Restalrig ware as lach as the lachest. Wheirupon the prov: Will ye bid me doe it, Sir? Wheirupon the K. Doe it if ye like. Immediatly wtout telling the K. or anie else comes he post to Edenburgh and causes cast doune the tour that same night. The K. tyme of supping coming the K. calls for his prov: of Edenburght: no body could tell. At last some tells that he suddenly was goon to Edenb: this moved the K. I'll wad, sayd he againe, its to cast doun Restalrig Castle. Go with all the speid ye can and forbid it. Are anie could come their it was done. K. Ja: used to call the Huntly the 1 noble man of his kingdome and the provest of Edenb the 2d.

[516] Dick of Braid.

[517] Strip off part of the roof, and so make a hole.

To returne. From Over liberton saw the byway to St. Catharines Well, a quarter of a mile from Liberton, Leswaid, and Drodden;[518] then came to Libberton Kirk; then came neir to Libberton burne, and turned up to Blackfurd, wheir we saw Braids merches with Libberton moore, now arable ground, bought lately by the President.[519] Also wt Grange[520] saw Sacellum Sancti Marlorati Semirogues Chappell.[521] That burne that runes throw the Brighouse goes by Blackfurd to the Calsay[522] and Powburne, then to Dudiston Loch, out of which it runes again by West Dudiston milnes and is the Thiget burne.[523] Braides burne againe runes by Libbertone toune to Peppermilne, fra that straight to Nidrie by Brunstone and its milnes to the sea, a mile west of Musleburgh: the Magdalen[524] bridge layes over it their.

[518] Anciently Dredden, now Dryden.

[519] Sir John Gilmour.

[520] Dick of Grange. See Appendix I., p. 239, note.

[521] The two names seem to denote the same chapel. St. Roque's Chapel was on the Boroughmuir, half-a-mile west of Grange House. See Bishop Forbes's Kalendar of Scottish Saints s.v., Semirookie: 'Aug. 16, 1327. Under this corruption we find the popular designation of a chapel dedicated to St. Roque, just outside the east gate of Dundee.' The other name, distinctly written, looks like a corruption of St. Mary of Loretto. Besides the more celebrated shrine at Musselburgh, there is a tradition of a Loretto chapel near the Lady's Wynd. Possibly Lauder confused it with St. Roque's Chapel.

[522] Causeway, highroad.

[523] So sometimes spelt, more often Figgate or Fegot. The course of the two streams is incorrectly described.

[524] So called from a chapel to St. Mary Magdalen.

That nunnerie the walls wheirof are standing at the Cheyns[525] was destined most by[526] burgesses daughters, as also that whilk was in the Colledge Yaird called Monasterium Sanctae Mariae in Campis.

[525] Cheyns, now Sciennes, convent of St. Catherine of Sienna.

[526] Destined by, meaning 'destined for,' hence, 'occupied by.'

Cheynes holds of the toun: they ware Robisons that possest it of old; Grange by the Cants; Craigmillar, Prestons, Edmistons, of that Ilk, now Reth,[527] first of that name being Chancellar Seaton his servand and carried the purse before him; Shirefhal, Giffards, then bought by the Earl of Morton, Lord Dalkeith, now it belongs to the Balcleuch; Preistfield (never kirk lands, tho the name would seime to say so), Hamilton, Tam of the Cougates[528] father; before them in the Chopmans; as also in the Cants.

[527] In 1671 the second son of Wauchope of Niddrie married the
daughter and heiress of Raith of Edmonston.

[528] Thomas Hamilton, first Earl of Haddington, favourite of James
VI., who so styled him.

Went on the 20 of September 1668 to Musselburgh to sie the Mid Lothian
Militia, being a regiment 10 companies (id est, Lauderdales Collonel, Sir
Jo. Nicolsons of Polton Lieutenant Collonel, Gogars Major, Mortanhalls,
Deans, Halzeards, Calderhalls, Sir Mark Kars[529] of Cockpens, etc.),
muster in a rendezvous in the Links. Saw in going Stainehill, a sweit
place, the Dobies, ware burgesses, now Mr. William Sharps, keiper of the
Kings Signet, about a mile on the west of Mussleburgh Water and bridge and
Mussleburgh on the eist.

[529] Apparently a son of the Earl of Lothian, afterwards a general of the army.

On the way to the south stands Innerask[530] with its kirk. Hard at the toune stands Pinkie, built about the year 1612 by Alexander Seton, Erle of Dumferling, Lord High Chancellar of Scotland. His lady was Maitland, a daughter of the then Lord Thirlistanes (who had bein King James his Secretarie and Chancellar), now Erles of Lauderdale: his name and hirs are in manie places of the house. This Erle of Dunferline that stayes at London is his sone, hes so morcaged his Estate that my Lord Tueddalle for security of cautionry for him hes tane possession of Pinkie, Fyvie, Dunferline, with whatsomever other thing rests of his estate and is like to bruik it. Its a most magnificent, statelie building [it hes but 20 chalder victual belonging to it]:[531] much cost hes bein wared theirupon. Their is a brave building of a well in the court, fine shade of tries that fetches you into it, excellent lar[ge] gallries and dining roumes. He hes bein mighty conceity in pretty mottoes and sayings, wheirof the walls and roofs of all the roumes are filled, stuffed with good moralitie, tho somethat pedantick. See Spotiswood of him in Anno 1622, page 543. A most sweit garden, the knot much larger than that at Hamilton and in better order. The rest of the yeard nether so great nor in so good order nor so well planted with such varietie as is in Hamilton yeards. The knot heir will be 200 foot square, a mighty long grein walk. Saw figs at a verie great perfection. Above the utter gait as ye enter in to the place their is an inscription in golden letters telling the founder theirof, and assuring them that shall ever attempt to destroy that fabrick by sword, fyre, demolishment, or other wayes that the wery stones and beams ut of the wall shall exclaime against them as destitute of all humanity and common courtesie. 18 plots in the garden, with a summer houses and sundry pondes.

[530] Now Inveresk.

[531] Interlined.

Saw of[532] the linkes wheir Pinky field was fought on the hill neir Fawsyde. Heard whow the Laird of Carberrie then not desiring the battell should be to neir his house had so much influence on the Scots armie as to cause them leive the advantadge they had of the high ground and draw doune to the champagne countrey, which was a partiall cause of their rout, as also that the Englishes had their ships just at the links, who with their shots of the sea did our forces a great deall of hurt.

[532] i.e. off, meaning 'from.'

Saw Walafield belonging to the Paipes. East it on the sea syde the Salt
pans. Above them within the land Tranent; then Prestonpans, wher was B.
Jossies house; then Dauphintoun, once Archibald Wilkies; then Fawsyde,
Ramsayes, on a hill head; then a mile beyond it Elphinston, the Clerk
Registers;[533] then Carberrie, Blaires, they ware Rigs.

[533] Sir Archibald Primrose.

In the coming home saw Whithill, Easter Dudinstone, belonging to Sir Thomas Thomsone. He that first acquired it was an Advocat in Queen Maries tyme, who having bein much on hir party and afraid to be forfault, disponed his whole estate over to a 2d brother of his, out of whosse hands he nor his posterity (who are living this day in Rowen) could never pick it, so that this Laird of it is the grandchild of that 2d brother.[534] Its 60 chalder of wictuallat beir and wheat ever accompted the finest thing about Edenburgh. Its of great circumference.

[534] I am informed by Mr. William Baird, author of Annals of Duddingston and Portobello, that this story is not authentic.

Saw Brunstone and Nidrie. Came throw Restalrig toune, wheir stands an old chappel, the buriall place of the Lo: of Balmerinoch: also of old the parish church of South Leith, so that the minister of South Leith even now is parsone at this kirk, at least denominat so.

Inchekeith might weill now be called Inche Scott, since Scottistarvet bought it, who had great designes to have made a good fischer toune theirupon.

A litle after we went to Halton[535] (the young La:[536] being at London). Went out by Gorgie Milnes, belonging to one Broune; then by Sauchton hall; then by Belsmilne to Stanipmilne, Elies, up above which stands Reidhall, Brands, and Colinton, with Craiglockhart, wheirin the President, S.J. Gilmor, hes intres tho it belong to Colinton; then to Sauchton belonging to Mr. David Watsone. On our left hand was Langhermistoune, the portioners of it Mr. Robert Deans the Advocat and Alexander Beaton the Wryter. On our left hand Reidheues who are Tailfours, the last of them married a daughter of Corstorphin, Foster, for this Lo:[537] is Lieutenant General Bailzies sone, and got it by marrieng the heritrixe. Then came forward to Upper Gogar belonging to on Douglas, who was a chamberlan for the Earle of Morton. Kincaid of Wariston hes some intrest in it. Past Gogar Water, that comes from Halton by Dalmahoy and Adestoun, and comes down to Gogar place. On our left hand saw Riccarton Craig, Curriehill, Skene of old now Winrahames; Wariston, Johnstons; Killeith,[538] Scot of Limphoys, and nearest of all thesse Adeston,[539] bought by a Laird of Halton, who married on Bellenden of Broughton, to be a provision to hir children (for she was the Lairds 2d wife), wheiron he sold Cringelty neir Hayston in Tueddal (which belonged of old to the Laird of Halton), and theirwith purchessed Adelstoun and gave it to Sir Lues Lauder, who was the sone procreat betuixt him and that ladie of the house of Bruchton. Sir Lues married a daughter of Sir Archibald Achesons, who was Secretarie of Scotland, whom I have sein, and who bore him 2 sones, one evan now a preacher, married in England, the other in the Kings troup, with some daughters: on of them knowen to have bein to familiar with Sir William Fleming. Adelston now is sold to Sir John Gibson. Then saw Dalmahoy house with its toune at some distance on the croup of the hill.

[535] Now Hatton.

[536] Charles Maitland, afterward Lord Halton, and third Earl of Lauderdale, on whom and his children the estate was settled on his marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Laudcr of Hatton.

[537] i.e. the present laird of Corstorphine.

[538] Now Kinleith.

[539] Now Alderston.

On our right hand stands Ratho (that belonged to Duncan, who being the Kings talzeor conqueshed Bonytoun), now Mr. Alexander Foules; then Ratho toune, the halfe of it belonging to Halton, the other halfe to Ratho place; then Ratho kirk, the parish of many of the gentlemen of this country; then Rathobyres, the on halfe wheirof pertaines to James Fleming; then Northtoun,[540] a willage or meling[541] belonging to the Laird of Halton; then came to Halton. Their beside the old Laird,[542] the lady[543] Richard,[544] Jo.,[545] Charles and their sister Isabell[546] was Jean Areskin, Balgonies daughter, Elphiston, a daughter of Calderhals, and Mr. William Sims eldest daughter.

[540] Now Norton.

[541] Maling, Mailing (from 'mail,' rent) either has the ordinary meaning 'farm,' or perhaps a group of cottars' houses, 'maillers' or 'meallers,' who were allowed to build on waste land, and hired themselves out as labourers.—Jamieson, Dict., s.v.

[542] Richard Lauder, last of Hatton.

[543] Richard Lauder's daughter, wife of Charles Maitland.

[544] Fourth earl.

[545] Fifth earl.

[546] Afterwards married to Lord Elphinston.

Halton, as I saw their, carries the griffin bearing a sword, on the point wheirof is a Moors head. The occasion they tell me is that one of the Lairds went with a brother of Robert the Bruce to the Holyland and slew many of the Sarazens their, wheiron he added that to his coat. The motto is, Strike alike. Metellans[547] hes a lion with a star.

[547] Maitlands.

Learned of the old Laird that the Lairds of Calder ware knights of the order of St John of Jerusalem, after knights of the Rhodes, now of Malta, and that by vertue theirof they ware superiors of all the Temple lands (which in Edenburgh may be discerned yet by having Croces on them), as weill in burgh as in landward throwghout Scotland. Heard him speak of that Bond of Assurance betuixt the toune of Edenburgh and the Laird of Halton, the like wheirof few in Scotland hes of the toune of Edenburgh.

This Laird hes bought in a place called the Spittle (proprie the
Hospitall), just over on the other syde of the water, which never
appertained to the Laird of Halton of before. All the ground about it the
Laird is taking just now in to be a park.

In one of the chambers hings King Charles the 2d, King Henry le Grand of
France, fetcht home by the old Laird; the old Earle of Lauderdale with his
ladie, the Lady Reidhouse, now Lady Smeton Richison, the old Laird Mr.
Richard, with some others.

This Laird hes made a verie regular addition to the old dungeon tower. The garden that lies to the west of the dungeon would have bein better placed to the southe of the house wheir the bouling greine is, tho I confesse that by reason of the precipice of the bray hard at hand it would have bein to narrow. Hes its ponds.

Came back the same way we went.

Nixt day went for Eleiston, 7 miles from Edenburgh (Halton is 6). Went by Corstorphin, Gogar toune and Stone; saw Gogar place, then Ingleston, Eistfeild, belonging to James Gray, merchand, then Halzeards, Skein, then Newliston, Auldliston, toune of Kirkliston, Castle of Nidrie, Baruclan, my Lord Balmerinochs, Barnebougall, the Clerk Registers,[548] of old the Moubrayes, Dundas of that Ilk, Leine,[549] Youngs, Craigiehall, bought from my Lord Kingstone by Mr. Jo. Ferolme, 50 chalder of wictuall for a 100,000 merk, who seiking up some monies from some noblemen to pay it with occasioned the making the Act of debitor and creditor; then Kilpont, the Earle of Airths, Mr. Archibald Campbell hes 40,000 merks on it; then Kirkhill, Stewarts, conquised by Sir Lues Stewart the advocat; his daughter (a very good woman) is Ladie Glencairne; then Uphall Kirk, which is Kirkhils parish kirk; then Binnie and Binnie Craigs with Wester Binnie, which belongeth to Mr. Alexander Dicksone, professor in Hebrew. Crosed the Water of Amont at Cliftonhall. Beyond Binnie Craigs stands Dechmond, Hamiltons.

[548] Sir Archibald Primrose, 1616-1679; Clerk Register, 1660; Justice-General, 1676. (See infra, p. 225.) His son Archibald was the first Earl of Rosebery, cr. 1703.

[549] Leny.

Came to Eleiston,[550] over against it stands Bonytoun, Scots, the Laird of
Halton Mr. Richards ladie was of that family; also Clifton toune,
consisting of many mechanicks, especially wobsters, etc. Stands in
Linthgowshire 5 mile from it:[551] stands most hy and windie in the edge of
Drumshorling Moor.

[550] Now Illieston.

[551] i. e. apparently Linlithgow.

Inquiring, if because of its name Eleiston it ever belonged to the Eleis's of before. Answered, that no: also that the true name of it is not Eleiston but Hyliston. Belonged to the Earles of Monteith, and was a part of their barronie of Kilpont. Its some 300 acker of land paying about 6 firlots the acker; hes held at on rentall thesse 100 years. The gentlemen that last had it ware Hamiltons, ever Catholicks. K. James, because he had no house to bait at when he came to hunt in the moor, gave on of them 20,000 merks to build that house, wheirto he added 4 himselfe.[552] Its stronglic built as it had neid, being built in so windy a part. We first enter in to a hall. On our right hand as we enter is a kitchin and a sellar, both wouted.[553] On the left a fair chamber. Then ye go upstairs and ye have a fine high hall, and of everie end a chamber hung both with arras hangings. Then in the 3'd storie ye have a chamber and a larg loft. On the top of a turret again above ther is a litle chamber wheir their preist stayed when the Hamiltons had it, who had divers secret passages to convey himselfe away if pershued. Their was Marion Sandilands, Hilderstons daughter, with Margaret Scot his 2'd wyfe; item Sir John Scot of Scotstarvets picture. In the timber of the most part of the windows is cut out the name of the gentleman that had it, with the year of God when it was built, 1613, 1614. Mr. Jo. Eleis hes put up his name and his ladies on the gate.

[552] i. e. the proprietor added 4000 merks.

[553] Vaulted, voutés.

Jo. Bonar hes bought a place just on the other syde of the loch of Lithgow forgainst the palace, called Bonytoun, which he hes changed and called Bonarton. Reidop, which belonged to on Drummond a Lord of the Sessionis, neir Lithgow, my Lord Lithgow hes bought it: its but a small thing. Yea manie of the Lords of Sessions purchess's at that tyme ware but small, divars of them no 12 chalder of wictuall. Neir to Binnie I saw Riccarton, Drummond.

Came home the same way that we went afield.[554]

[554] The passage which follows, enclosed within brackets, is scored out.

[Illustration: JANET RAMSAY. (First Wife of Lord Fountainhall.)]

[I was married 21 January 1669 in the Trone Church at 6 a cloack at night, being Thursday, by Mr. John Patersone. On the 3d of December 1669 was my sone John born about on afternoone, and was baptized on the Sonday theirafter, being the 5th of December, in the Grayfriers, by Mr. David Stirling.

On the 8 day of Aprill 1671, being about halfe are hower past tuo in the morning, being on Friday night and Saturdsdayes moring,[555] was my wife delivered of a daughter, who was baptized on the 23 of April, being Sunday, in the by kirk by Mr. James Lundie, and called Jannet.

[555] Sic.

On the 15 of September 1672, about halfe are hower past 5 in the morning, being Sundayes night or Mondayes morning, was my wife delivered of a daughter, who was baptized on the 30 or last day of September, being Monday, at 5 acloak in the afternoon, in the Tolbooth Church, by Mr. William Gairnes, and was called Isobell.

See thir marked alibi.]

About the 25 of Aprile 1669 I went over to Fyfe with my father in law. Landed at Kinghorne, wheir is an old castle ruinous, once belonging to the Lord of Glammes, who had also a considerable intres within that toune, but hes non now save the presentation of the minister (who is called Mr. Gilbert Lyon) onlie. Walked from that to the Links on our foot by the sea syde: saw Seafield Castle midway who ware Moutray to their names. The French in Queen Maries dayes made use of it for a strenth. Then came to Innerteill links, wheir be conies. Then to the Linktoune, divided by the West burne fra Innerteill lands, wheir dwell neir 300 families, most of them mechanicks, above 20 sutors masters, 37 wobsters, as many tailzeours: its set out to them by ruides, each ruid payes a shilling of few duetie. Saw the Westmilne house, the goodmen wheirof ware Boswels. The milne bes the toune of Kirkcaldie thirled to it: payes some 16 chalders of wictuall. Halfe a mile from this is Abbotshall church lands, tuise confirmed by the Popes: they ware Scots, cadets of the Laird of Balveirie. Payed a considerable few duety to the Abbots of Dumferling, which is now payed to the King. He[556] bes lately got in the Scarres and Montholie, 16 chalders of wictuall. Theirs a garden, bouling grein, tarraswalk, fruite yard, wild orchard and a most spatious park, with a meadow and a loch, wheir are a great number of picks, manie wild ducks big theirin. Neir it lyes the Raith, my Lord Melvills. Balveirie is his also, and Bogie, Bogs Eye, on the eye of a boog, Veimes.[557] Touch, Thomsone, his father was a Writer to the Signet, some 10 chalders of wictuall; Bannochie belongs to Boogie: on Ayton hes a wodset on it.

[556] His father-in-law, Abbotshall.

[557] i.e. Bogie belonged to a family of Wemyss.

Saw Grange, a wery sweit place: was Tresaurer of Scottland in Quein Maries dayes, and Cunyghameheid was his depute, and his sone again was governour of Edenburgh Castle and was hanged. Slew a 100 Frenchmen once at Masse. Much planting about it. Is but 28 chalders of wictuall.

Saw Innerteill. It layes low, belonged to on Erskein, was a Lord of the
Session, had a daughter onlie, who married the Laird of Tarbet, then
Colinton. Malcolm of Babedie hes bought it (its 36 chalders of good
wictuall): gave for it 40,000 lb., and bids[558] hir liferent.

[558] i.e. bides.

Saw Pittedy, stands on the croup of a hill pleasantly but by; ware Boswuells. David Dewars father was tennent heir above 30 years. Its 25 chalders of wictuall.

Kirkaldie is the best merchant toune in Fyfe: it had before the Englishes came in 80 sail of ships belonging to it, now it will not have 30. Then is Revensbeuch, its my Lord Sinclairs; then the Pathhead or Pittintillun, belonging to on Watsone in Bruntilland; then the Dysert, wheir are manie saltpans; the Weimes; Easter Weimes, Easter Buckhaven, Anstruther, Craill, Fyfenes, St. Androis, the Elie, belonging to Ardrosse.

Went to Balgonie to sie the Chancelar,[559] which is not his, but the Earle of Levine his children, belonged to the Sibbalds who ware great men and of much power. Within halfe a mile to it stands Balfour, Beatons to their name, a cadet of Lundy, married the heretrix of Balgonie in anno 1606, and tho he changed not his name yet he took the place of his elder brother Lundie.

[559] Earl of Rothes.

Saw by the way Kinglassie, Ayton, Leslie, wheir a most magnificent house is a building: it is neir the Lowmonds, and Falkland, and Lochlevin, in the castle wheirof was Queen Marie keipt. About halfe a mile from it is Markins,[560] wheir Mr. John Ramsay is minister, who is my goodfathers cousin german. Neir it stands Brunton, most pleasantly: it belongs to one Law. Their is much moorish ground in our way.

[560] Now Markinch.

Their was thrie thries[561] (as they called them) in Fyfe, Balveiry Scot,
Ardrosse Scot, Dischingtoune of late, but Scot, and Balgonie Sibbald:
Balmuto, Bosuel, Weimes of that Ilk, and Rossyth Stuart: then Lundie of
that Ilk, Durie of that Ilk, and Colerine, Barclay or else Craighall,
Kinninmont.

[561] This seems only to mean that the three trios of lairds hunted, not in couples, but in threes.

On the 5 of May we came over from Bruntiland.

Skein in his de V. Signi:[562] in verbo Clan Macduff, tells whow on
William Ramsay was Earle of Fife in King David the 2'ds dayes.

[562] Verborum significatione.

Saw in the way to Bruntilland the sands King Alexander the 3'd brak his neck on.

* * * * *

Mr. Joseph Mede,[563] in one of his letters to Doctor Tuisse,[564] speaking anent the manner whow the great continent of America and its circumjacent ilands may probably be supposed to have bein peopled, thinks that the greatest part of that country (especially Mexico and Peru, who ware found the only civilized people amongs them, having both a State and a Church government established among them) was planted by great colonies sent out of the barborous northern nations laying upon the north frozen sea, videlicet, the Tartars and others,[565] who entred America by the Straits of Auvan, and that the most of them hes gone thether since our Saviours coming in the flesh. After which the devil, finding his kingdom ever more and more to decay through the spreading of Christianity upon the face of the wholle earth, which before he keipt inchained in black heathinsme, and being much afflicted with the great din and noyse of the gospell which was come to the utmost ends of the then knowen world, so that he was affraid to lose all his footing hear, he by his oracles and responses encouraged thesse Barbarians (in this Gods ape[566] who called Abram to the land of promise) to desert their native countrie and promised them better habitations in another part (which he might soon do) wheir he might be out of the dread of the gospell and might securly triumph over them as his bond slaves.

[563] Mede, Joseph, B.D., 1586-1638.

[564] Twisse, Wm., D.D., 1575-1646.

[565] On the margin: 'Purchas in his Pilgrimage in Mexico reports this storie also.'

[566] i.e. imitator.

The ground of this conjecture is from some records found in the city of Mexico of their kingdome and its foundation, bearing that their ancestors about 400 years ago onlie (who then dwelt far north) ware called out of that countrie by their God which they called Witzill Putzill, in effect, the Devil, to go to a far country (this was to Mexico), far more fruitfull and pleasant than their oune, which he should show them, and wheirof he did give them marks and that he should go before them. And that accordingly they sett on for the journey, and that their god went before them in ane ark, and that they had many stations and marches, and that they ware 40 years by the way, and that at last they came to the promised land, and that they know it by the marks their god had given them of it. All this in manifest imitation of God his bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Its reported that the State of Scotland looking ut for a suitable match for James the 2d, then King, sent over to the Duc of Gelderland (who had 3 daughters) some of the nobility and some bischops for the clergy to demand any of the 3 they should judge most sutable for the King. The Duc was content on of the Bischops [it was the Bischop of Rosse][567]—should sie them and feill them all 3 naked to discern theirby which of them was strongest and wholesomest like. His report was in favors of the youngest: his reason was, Est enim bene crurata culata cunnata aptaque ad procreandos nobis generosos principes.[568]

[567] Interlined.

[568] The Bishop of Dunkeld (not Ross) was one of three commissioners sent to choose a bride for the king, first to the Court of France. Mary of Gueldres was an only daughter-Tytler, Hist. iii. 209. The story is probably apocryphal. But in Russia, when the Tsars were married, the inspection of the candidates was an established custom and ceremony for two centuries after the marriage of James II.

A French gentleman being inamoured with a damoiselle of Lyons, going in to Italie to travell she gets notice that he had tane huge conceit of a Venetian, and that he was about to marrie hir. She writs a letter in a large sheit wheirin was nothing written but Lamasabachthani, withall a false diamond. He receaving it know not what to make of it, went to a jeweller to try the stone, who discovered it to be false tho it had ane excellent luster. After many tossing thoughts he fell upon the knack of it, videlicet, that it was a heiroglyphick diamant faux, and that it behoved to be read thus, Tell, false lover, why hast thou forsaken me.

* * * * * [569]

[569] There is here omitted an unpleasant story of a Duc de Montpensier of a former age, who in ignorance married a lady to whom he was doubly related by the closest ties of consanguinity. The same story will be found in Nouvelle 30 of Queen Margaret of Navarre (the scene being laid in Avignon), and in Horace Walpole's play The Mysterious Mother. Also an anecdote about the terms of the tenendas clause of a charter said to be in the Tower of London, which is given in English, and is too gross to print.

For farder demonstrations of the truth of that conspiracy of Gouries (which some cals in doubt), besydes what is in Spotswood, Mr. William Walker told that he heard oft from Mr. Andrew Ramsay that the said Earle being travelling in Italie had a response thus, Dominus de Gourie erit Rex. After which he took a strong fancie he would be King, wheiras it was to be reid, Rex erit, etc. In pershuit wheirof being in on of the Universities of Germanie and to leive his armes their, in his coat he caused put the Kings armes, videlicet, the Lyon, with a hand and a dager pointing at the Lyons breist, and so gifted them. And when he was returning he wrot to all his freinds and dependents to meit him at Muslebrugh, which they did to the number of 300 horse or their abouts, with which he came to Edenburgh; and that he might be the more tane notice of, he caused take his lodging in the Landmarket,[570] and came up al the streit with this train, and tho the King was in the Abbey yet he passed by without taking notice of him. He was likewayes a great receipter and protector of all the discontented factious persones of that tyme.

[570] Now Lawnmarket.

They say their are blood yet to be sein on the wall of the house in St. Johnston, wher he and his brothers ware slain, which cannot be washen away. Sir John Ramsay being then the Kings page killed him (he was a sone of the Laird of Wyliecleuchs in the Merse), and for his valeur and good service was made Earle of Huldernesse and got a great part of the lordship of Dumbar, which was then of the Kings annexed patrimonie, but on this accompt in anno 1600 ware dissolved by the Parliament. Thesse lands Mr. W. Kellie afterwards acquired.

In September 1670 I waited upon my father to the Merse to sie the Laird of Idingtoun.[571] Lighted at St. Germains, so called from are old chappell dedicat to that saint of old standing their. From that went to Hadingtoun, saw in the way Elvingston, weill planted, but standing in Gladsmoore: item, Nunland, Adderstone, and Laurenceland, belonging to Doctor Hendersone. Above Hadingtone lyes Clerkingtone, Cockburne, Colstoune, Broun, who talk much of their antiquity and pear[572] they preserve, Yester, and Leidingtoune: 3 miles of stands the Registers house, Chesters, wheirin Mr. Patrick Gillespie now dwells. To the eist of Hadington stands the Abbay, Newmilnes, Stevinsone, and Hermistone, all most pleasant places and weill planted; as also Morhame and Hailles, past the Almous[573] house within a mile of Dumbar. Saw on our right hand Spot and the Bourhouscs, ware Happers now Muires; saw also Fuirstoun belonging to Andrew Whyte, once keiper of the Tolbuith; then saw Innerwick toune and church standing at a good distance from the house. Saw Neutonlies, Eistbarnes, Thornetounloch, Scatteraw, Douglas, and Colbrandspath: past thesse steip braes called the Pies. Saw Butterdean toune and house acquired by Mr. William Hay, the Clerk, who also bought Aberlady, now belonging to Sir Androw Fletcher: then saw Rentoun lying in a wild moir: item, Blacarstoun of on our right hand also in a wild seat, yet seimed to be reasonably weill busked with planting: item, Blaickburne in the moir: then Fosterland: then Bouncle, Preston, and Lintlands, belonging to the Marquise of Douglas and presently the Lady Stranavers jointer, worth 10,000 merks by year: then Billie, Renton to his name, and then Billie, Myre; then Edencraw, then came to Idington, 36 miles from Edenbrugh, ware Idingtons to their name, hes no evidents of it but since the year 1490. In this same condition are the most of the gentlemen of the Merse who ly most obnoxious to Englands invasions.

[571] Sir John Lauder senior's third wife was a daughter of Ramsay of Idington.

[572] The Coalston pear was presented by the Warlock of Gifford to his daughter, who married Broun of Coalston, telling her that as long as it was preserved fortune would not desert the family.

[573] Alms.

Saw the Maines, a roome lying betuixt Chirnesyde tour and Idington: ware Homes. On Patrick Mow, sone to the last Laird of Mow, maried the heritrix of it, and so hes the land. They tell whow the Earle of Roxbrugh was the cause of the ruine of the said Laird of Mow. Mow being on a tyme with some Englishmen took on a match for running upon a dog of my Lord Roxbrughs head[574] against their dogs, wheiron addressing himselfe to my Lord, he would not quite his dog unless Mow would give him a bond to pay him 8000 merks incaise he restored him not back the dog haill and sound: which Mow, thinking their ware no hazard in it, did. The day being come my Lords dog wins the race; but as soon as it was done my Lord had a man ther readie to shoot it: who accordingly did so, and fled. Then my Lord seiking the soume in the bond, and he unwilling to pay it, was at wast charges in defending, and at last succumbed, and so morgaged his estate to Adam Bell, who after got it. His ladie was a daughter of West Nisbets, with whom the young man Patrick was brought up.

[574] Upon the head of a dog of Lord Roxburgh's, i.e. backing the dog.

Saw Chirnesyde toune standing a mile of Idingtoun, belonging to sundry petty heritors, some of them of halfe mark lands. My Lord Mordington is superior as also patron of the Kirk: on Lanty is minister their. It will be more then halfe a mile long. At the end of it neir to Whitater stands the Nynewells (corruptly called the Nyneholes), from 9 springs of water besyde it, wheirof on in the fountain is verie great: are Homes to their name. Saw Blanerne, belonging now to Douglas of Lumbsdean. Saw Eist Nisbet, ware Chirnesydes, now belongs to the Earle of Levins daughter: item, Blacader, ware Blacaders (of which name Tullialen is yet), are now Homes who ware a cadet of Manderstones. At a greater distance saw Manderston, Aytoun, Wedderburne, Polwart, Reidbraes, a house of Polwerts, Crumstaine, Sandy Spottiswoods; West Nisbet, a most sweit place, ware Nisbets to their name. Saw Huttonhall, ware Homes to their name, now belongs to Hilton, which was a part of Suintons lands. Saw the toune of Hutton belonging to sundry portioners. Saw Paxtoun and Edringtone, a part of Basses[575] lands, and given away to a brother, now belongs to my Lord Mordington. Saw Foulden, the Bastile, Nunlands, Ramsay—his grandsire was parson of Foulden. Saw Mordington and Nather Mordington. Saw the bound road[576] within my Lords park. Saw on the English syde of Tuede Ourde the Birkes wheir King Charles army ly, Norame Castle and Furde; the ladie wheirof inviegled King James the 4t when he went in to Flouden: they have bein leud women ever since. Ker of Itall got it by marieng the heritrix. Went to Bervick, wheir they are building ane Exchange. In the way is Halidoun Hill, wheir on of the Douglasses was slain; Lammerton, in the Chappell wherof was King James the 3d maried on King Hendrie the 7th of Englands daughter. Their is a great salmond fisching on Tueid: for the freedome but of one boat on it they pay 100 lb. ster: per annum. We was at a kettle[577] on the water syde. My Lord Mordington had all the Magdalene field, but he could not get it peaceably possessed for thesse of Berwick, so that he sold it to Watsone. Holy Iland is 7 miles from Berwick. My Lords father Sir James Douglas was a sone of the Marquis of Douglas: he maried the only daughter of the Lord Oliphant. Idington is 5 miles furder in the Merse then Renton.

[575] Lauder of the Bass.

[576] Probably a road forming the boundary between the liberties of
Berwick and the county.

[577] 'A social party on Tweedside, common during the salmon fishing
season.'—Ogilvie's Imp. Dict.

Returned that same way almost and came to Auldhamstocks, 9 miles from Idington. Saw Auldcambus, then came to Eistbarnes; then for Linton bridges; within 2 mile of it saw the land of Nyne ware. Saw Gourlaybank; came and lay at Wauchton, who ware Moubrayes, and a 2d sone of my Lord Hailles marieing them they became Hepburnes. Quinkerstaines is a peice of old land of theirs. They got also Lufnes by marieng the heritrix theirof Riccartoun. But my Lord Hailes rose by 3 forfaulters: of the Earle of March, Dumbar, of the Creichton, and of Bothuell, Ramsay, the Laird of Balmayne.[578] Gorgie milne besyde Edenburgh did belong to Balmayne, but by a gift of nonentrie Otterbune of Reidhall, who was at that tyme Clerk Register, he got it.

[578] As to Ramsay of Balmain being created Earl of Bothwell by James III., see p. 205.

Saw nixt day Furd, Whitkirk, Craig, Hepburn, Balgone, Semple, Leuchie, Merjoribanks, Sydserfe, Achesone, Cassilton, Tomtallon, both the Marquis of Douglasses, and the Basse, 2 mile within the sea, about a short mile in circumference. Saw the May, belongs to Barnes Cunyghame. Saw Fentontour, ware Haliburtons and Wisconts, then purchased by the Earle of Gourie, now my Lord Advocats:[579] saw the Heuch-Home.

[579] Sir John Nisbet.

Nixt day went for Hadington: saw Ethelstanefield.[580] In Hadington saw my
Lord Lawderdales buriall place, werie magnifiek. The Lord Yesters got
Zester by mariage of the only child of my Lord Giffart. He had Beltan by
marieng with a Cunyghame.

[580] Probably Athelstaneford.

In the coming to Edenbrugh saw Eister and Wester Adenstens, that is also their name; then Tranent, and neir it Windiegoule; then Elphinstone; then on the cost syde Cockenie, Seaton, Preston, Prestongrange, the Pans, Landnidrie:[581] up on the brae are Wallyfield, Dauphinton, Carberrie and Fausyde.

[581] Now Longniddry.

Master Thomas Scot of Abbotshall in King James the 5th tyme was Justice
Clerk. Vide Hopes Collections, page 12, in principio.

The Lairds of Glenbervie are not the oldest Douglasses as some say, but a cadet of Angus maried the heritrix theirof, they being then Melvils verie old in that name, and the powerfullest in all the Mearnes. They ware heritable shireffs their, and on of them being a great oppressor of the wholle country, manie complaints were made of him to the King. The King once answering that he cared not tho' they supped him in broth, they presently went and took him to a hill syde which they yet show, put on a ketle and boiled him their, and each of them took a soop out of it. It was in 1417.[582]

[582] This story is told more fully by Sir W. Scott in a note to Leyden's ballad 'Lord Soulis,' Border Minstrelsy, vol. ii. p. 350, ed. 1802. Albany was Regent in 1417.

They tell that amongs the manie Universities that are at Lovain their is one which of old was institute for poor scollars who had nought wheiron to maintaine themselfs, but that their diet was verie sober, nothing but bread and very small bread. At a tyme on of the students in it having a great stomack, in a rage sayd to his other fellows, If I ware Pope of Rome I would make the students of this Colledge to fare better then they do. He came to be Pope, and endowed that Colledge with great revenues, so that its the richest now in all Lovain.

Of all the histories we have on record of magicians and sorcerers that seimes to me most strange which is reported of Ascletarion by Suetonius,[583] in Vita Domitiani, in pagina 82.

[583] Duodecim Caesares, Domitian c. 15. The soothsayer's power of divination was tested by asking what his own fate would be. He said he would very soon be devoured by dogs. Domitian desiring to confute such uncanny powers of prediction ordered him to be killed and securely buried. The funeral pyre was knocked down by a storm, and dogs devoured the half-burnt remains.

That Touch which George Tomsone hes wes acquired by his father from the Melvines, who are designed Lairds of Dyserts, who again acquired it in 1472 from on Touch, so then they have bein of that Ilk.

Fingask, now McGill, ware Dundasses of before.

(2)

NOTES OF JOURNEYS IN SCOTLAND, 1671-72. [584]

Having past over to Fyffe about the latter end of August 1671, I went to Leslie. Saw by the way Finglassie and Kinglassy and Caskieberry, bought by a Gennan who came heir about 60 or 70 years ago, and professed medicine: was called Shoneir. His grandchild sold it to the chancellor, who hes also bought the barrony of Cluny, sometyme belonging to Crighton of St. Leonards. Saw Touch, neir Markinch. Saw Balbirny, sometyme Sir Alex'r Clerks, now it pertaines to a tailzeour called Balfour. Saw Balquharge belonging to Bogie's unkle: then going for Couper, saw[585] Ramsayes forther,[586] now Pitcairnes by a marriage with the heritrix. Saw the hy way to Falkland, neir which stands Corston, whosse name is Ramsay: a sone wheirof was sir John Ramsay in K. James the 3ds dayes, and created by him Earle of Bothwell. He sent to the grammer scool of Edr. for a gentleman's sone to wait upon him, and who could writ weill. 2 ware brought him to choise one, wheirof Jo. Ramsay was the one; the other wrot better, yet the king made choise of John as having more the mean of a gentleman then the other, and made him his cubicular. He gave him the lands of Taringzean in Air, and Karkanders in Galloway, Gorgie and Gorgymilne in Louthian, and Balmayne in the Mernis. Without licence from him none could wear a sword within 2 miles of the K.'s palace. He made him also captain of his guards, vide Buchanan, pag. 444 and 450. Anent his being Earle of Bothwel Buchanan causes some doubt, because in K. Ja. the 3ds dayes, at pag. 452, he mentions Adam Hepburne, Earle of Bothwell; but I think he is in a mistake, for Drummond is formally contrare. The time of his death is controverted: some say he was killed at Stirling field with K. Ja. the 3'd, others (amongs whom is Mr. Androw Ramsay in his poems) at Flouden with Ja. the 4't. Whoever on Ja. the 3'ds death the title of honor conferred upon him was retracted; but he was not legally forfault nather in Parliament nor in a Justice court, so that the familie of Balmayne might the more easily be restored againe to that honor. He was the first in Scotland that ever got a patent of nobility. Buchanan throw the wholle tract of his history makes it his work to speak ill of all thosse who ware the king's favorites for the tyme. He sets doune all their vices in folio, but conceals the vertue by which it most be presumed they rose, and by which they did keip themselfes on foot. The tyme was their ware 22 landed gentlemen of the name of Ramsay in Fyffe. Some say Corston was a cadet of Dalhousie and some of Auchterhouse, of which family I have heard it contended the famous Alex'r Ramsay in King David's tyme (Buchanan, page 309) was, and not of Dalhousie; as also the Ramsay that was with Wallace. Of Dalhousie Ramsay, sy page 314. Skein, in the word Clan-McDuff, tells of W'm Ramsay E. of Fyffe, in K. Davids time. Its thought Auchterhouse is elder then Dalhousie; but that the most floorishing family is most ready to arrogat to it selfe as being the oldest house. Sir Jo. Ramsay that killed Gowry was a sone of Wiliecleuches in the Mers, and got Estbarnes, and was made E. of Huldernes. He was first made vicount of Hadingtoun.

[584] MS. K.

[585] It may be that the name of the property is omitted by mistake.

[586] 'Formerly.'

We saw also Rossie …[587] and its loch, which seemes to be very large; saw Ramorney, Heriot; saw Scotstarvet, formerly Inglistarvet, on the croup of a hill; besyde it is the Struther. Then came to Couper by that way wheir the race is run; then came to Scotscraig-a part of it holds of the See of St. Androis and some of the E. of Mar—my Lord St. Androis big house, 6 miles from Couper and 4 from St. Androis, and a mile from the north ferry. It belonged, as also the Kirkton within a mile theirof, to George Lord Ramsay, father to this E. of Dalhousie, and was sold by him to S.[588] J. Buchanan, and Abbotshall conquestit[589] in lieu theirof. On the windows of the house of Scotscraig are the initiall letters of Sir Jo. Buchanan and Dame Margaret Hartsyde. Arthur Erskin got it from them, whosse creditors sold it to the Bischop, and got but 8 pence for their pounds of what was owing them.

[587] Two words torn off.

[588] Sir.

[589] 'Acquired.'

In the returning home to the Linkton, we saw 2 miles from the Craig Brackmont and Brackmont milne; then Forret, then Moonzie, as also Kinneuchar:[590] item, Dairsie, of old Leirmonts, now Morisones, with Bischop Spotswoods chappell he can see build their.[591] On the same water stand Kemnock[592] (theirs another in Fyffe called Cummock, who is Morton to his name), ware Sheveses, the successors of Wm. Sheves, archbischop of St. Androis, who outed Grahame, Kennedie's successor, and ingratiated himselfe with the nobility because of his skill in Astrology; they are now Mcgills; Rumgaye, also Migill; and Blebo, now Beaton. Saw Craigball, of old Kinninmonts, now Hopes, as also Cires. Came at last to Kennoway, belonging to the Laird of Balfour, and holden by him waird of the chancelor Rothes: its 12 miles fra Scotscraig. Then came to Dysert moor, wheir we saw the coal pits burning, which will ever burne so long as it hes any waste, but will die when it comes to the maine coall for want of air. In Dysert toun, hard by the church, which is a very old one, is a great cave which they call the Hermitage, and I imagine the toune hes bein called Desertum from it, yea, the most of the houses of the toun holds of it, and the parson of Dysert is designed rector rectoriae de Dysert. Then came to Revenscraig (alias Ruthvenscraig, of which name they seem to have bein of old), the lord Sinclars dwelling, and so to the Links, which is 6 miles from Kennoway, and so 18 from the Bischops house. Scotscraig was no old heritage to the lord Ramsay, but was acquired lately from Dury of that ilk by him. Balmayne had once Gorgie and Gorgiemilne, but Otterburne of Reidhall, by a gift of non-entry, evicted it from them. See of the E. of Bothwell and house of Balmaine largely alibi.

[590] So pronounced, now Kilconquhar.

[591] This seems obscure, though distinctly written. It may mean, 'ye can see built there.'

[592] Now Kemback.

The Bells wrongs themselfes in wearing bells in their armes, for certainly ther name is from France, in which language it signifies fair and bueatifull, hence it was the surname of one of their Kings, vid. Philip le Bell, yea, in the old Latine Bellum was that same with pulchrum; and war was called bellum, ironice, quasi minime bellum, id est, minime pulcrum.

My Lord Twedale's predecessors have acquired all their fortune by marriages, so that all the original writs he hes in hes charter kist are only contracts of marriage. He was a cadet of Erroll, and the 1 heritrix he married with was one Macfud, and by her he got his land in Twedall; then he married one of the aires portioners of the Lord Frazer, and got some lands in the north with hir; then got Yester and many other lands with the only daughter of the Lord Giffart (tho my Lord Lauderdale sayes he can find by no record wheir ever he was a Lord). He got also Beltane by marieng the heritrix theirof, called Cunyghame. And now in this age he hes as much expectation to raise that way as ever. By his Lady he hes a claime to the estate of Baccleuch, failzeing of aires of this present Dutches hir body, tho the King hes somewhat inverted the straight succession heir. By his eldest sone he hes ane eye to my Lord Lauderdale's estate, providing he play his game weill, and is in hopes of getting the estate of Erroll entailled upon his 2'd sone.

In the beginning of August, having gone to eist Louthian, saw Langnidrie; then a mile from it Reidhouse, the one was a Lord of the session and Tom of the Cowgate's brother; then Ballincreiff, belonging to my Lord Elibank; then Congilton, and on the brae above Ethalstanefoord, Byres, from which my Lord Hadingtone's eldest sone takes his title.

My Lord Madertie's stile is truly Mater Dei, from some cloyster so named in the tyme of poperie: he should be induced to take some other denomination, this seeming to[593] blasphemous like.

[593] too.

* * * * *

On the 17 of October 1672 having had occasion to go to Auldcambus with the provest, we went the first night to Waughton. Saw by the way Preston, Prestongrange, Seaton, St. Germains, Langnidrie, then Ballincreiff, then Reidhouse, then Dreme, and above it Byres, then Congilton, and above it Athelstanefoord and Westfortoun, and on the other hand Sydeserfe. The next day we parted for the Merse: saw Furd, Tunyghame, Westbarnes, Lochend, Broxmouth, Broxburne, Newtonlies, Eistbarnes, Spot, Fuirston, Bourhouses, Innerweik toun, kirk and place, Scarteraw, Thorntoun loch, Dunglas, Cockburnes path, then past the said path and came to Aulcambus path, corruptly called the pies. The provost hes a barrony their 4 miles long, and in the narrowest place at the leist a mile broad, which if it lay neir Edenborrough, we was counting would afford neir 100,000 mks. of rent per annum. He hes a great peice of Coldinghame moir in property, and he hes it all in commonty. His neibhours be Colbrandspeth, Renton, Butterdean, and the Laird of Lumsdean, now Douglas. The Lo. Renton dealt to have had the gift of the wholle moir from the king, and said it was only 2 rig lenth of land. I imagine the first possessors of that place ware Rentons to ther name, then they ware Forrestor, then Craw, whom the Home cheated out of it by marieng the Ladie. In the right of the Fosters he laid claime to the foster-corne to be payed to him by all the vassals and fewars of the abbacy, now the Lordship of Coldinghame, as being come in place of thesse who had a gift frae the prior and convent of Coldinghame to be forrester to all the woods and shaws growing within the lands holden of the said abbacy, to preserve and hayne the same; and for his paynes was to have a threiv of straw of each husband-land yeirly with some other dueties, and the Justice Clerk thought to have gotten the fewars decerned for more then 100 years that it was owing, but the Los. restricted him to 39 years preceiding his summons, finding all the years above prescryved. And for the dueties due to him on that accompt furth of the barrony of Auldcammas he got the property of a roume lying in the barrony called Fosterland, and when Waughton cutted his wood of Penmansheills, which is also a part of the barrony, Renton alledged that the boughs and bark of the tries within the Lo.ship was his by forsaid gift, and the heritor had nothing but the stock of the tries. They agried the matter betwen them. Tho he be most exact in lifting his fies, yet he does nothing that's incumbent to the office of forrester.

On Sunday we went to Coldinghame Kirk, 4 miles from the smith's house at Haychester. The kirk hes bein a great fabrick. Its said to have bein built by K. Edgar, anno 1098. Their was their a great abbacy. We saw the promontory so much taken notice of by the seamen called St. Abbes head (Sta. Ebba); over forgt[594] it layes Coldinghame Law, Home to his name. Saw the milne about which my Lord Home (who is the Lo. of erection now) and Renton are contending. Saw at 2 miles distance Haymouth,[595] and above it Gunsgrein, then Ayton, all standing on the water of Ei. Saw West Reston, Home, Eist Reston, Craw, and Henchcheid, Craw; of which name their was a nest in this place, but the Earle of Dumbar almost extinguished them, and now his owne memory is extinct and gone: let men then beware of oppression. Coldinghame stands pleasant, and verifies the byword that the kirkmen choised ever the warmest nests. Mr. Andro Ballantyne, brother to the sometyme Lo. Newhall, is heir minister. Auldcambus is in Cockburnspath parish. It hes a ruinous chappell standing in it dedicat to Ste. Helene, who was mother to Constantine the great, and found out the holy croce at Golgotha. Thrie mile from Auldcambus stands Monynet, and 3 miles from it againe stands Gammelisheills in Lammermuire. Blaikerston stands likewayes their about, as also Thorniedykes, now Broun, of old French. After some dayes stay at Auldcambus we came to Dumbar. Nixt day out of Dumbar we came to Northbervick by Belhaven, Tinynghame, Auldham, Scougall, Tomtallon, Cassilton. From Northberwick we went to Archerfield (so called because of the excellent links their fit for shooting at Rovers), my Lo. Advocat's[596] dwelling. Saw by the way Dirleton, with its castle, ruined by the English becaus it held out. Then from that came to Saltcoats, Leidingtone, to their name; then to Lufnes, of old Biccarton; then Waughtons, now Durhame; then to Abirlady toune and place, once Mr. Wm. Scot's, now Sir Androw Fletcher's. Theirs a great bay heir. Then saw Gosford, then Cockeny, the Pans, Wester Pans, wheir Jo. Jousie hes his house.

[594] For 'forgainst,' 'opposite.

[595] Now Eyemouth.

[596] Sir John Nisbet of Dirleton.

Naper is a french name and runs in it n'a pair, he hath not a peer. The Giffards of Shirefhall, they say, ware of old Shirefs of Louthian, and from that their house got its denomination. Tho some alledge their was in old tymes a Lord Giffard, and that it ended with ane heritrix married in the house of Yester: yet my Lord Duke of Lauderdale sayes he hes bein at very much pains to find if it was so, and he could never find any thing to instruct it.

* * * * *

The Wrichtshouses near Edenburgh, they say, was denominat from this, that in King James the 2ds dayes the ground about all being a forrest (lochia sylva is derived from lochs, insidioe, in the Greek, quia insidiantibus capta est sylva. Wossius[597] partit. orator, p. 328), and wheirin their was many robbries and murders committed. K. Ja. gave order to cut it doune. The Wrichts that ware appointed for this work had their huts and lodges whither they resorted for their dyet and on other accompts put up in the very individuall place wheir the house and place of the Wrightshouses is now situat, and so gave that denomination to the ground theirafter.

[597] Vossius, Gerard. Johannes, Dutch philologist, 1577-1649, author of De Quatuor Artibus Popularibus, etc.

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CHANGES AND ALTERATIONS AND REMARKABLE EMERGENTS OF AND IN THE SESSION 1668-1676.[598]

[598] MS. H.

On the 5 of June 1668 was I admitted Advocat. At this tyme died my Lord
Carden, and Gosfurd succeided.

In the November theirafter died Mr. Robert Burnet, Advocat.

In May 1669 died Mr. Laurence Oliphant, Advocat.

In July 1669 died William Lylle, Advocat.

In August died William Douglas of Kirknes, who the session before had given in his trialls in order to his admission to be a Advocat.

In September 1669 died Mr. Alexander Osuald, Advocat.

On the 15 day of September 1669 was I chosen conjunct assessor with Sir George Lockart to the good toune. Its at large booked on the 13 of May 1670.

On the 9nd of October also 1669 ware we chosen for assessors to the wholle borrows in their Convention.

On the last of October 1669 died Mr. Laurence Scot of Bevely, one of the
Clerks of Session, and that same night Alexander Monroe, Comisar of
Stirling, was provided theirto.

On the 25 of March 1670 died the Lord Kinglassie, to whosse place was provyded the Laird of Haltoun.

In April 1670 died John Scot, Keiper of the Minut book, and his place was continued with his sone Francis.

In May 1670 died John Kello, on of the under clerks, to whom succeided (after Robert Hamilton had officiat as under clerk the Summer session that followed, and Mr. Thomas Hay the following sessions till January 1673) James Hamilton, wryter.

On the 5 of July 1670 Mr. Thomas Nicolsone, Advocat, died frenetick.

In anno 1668 Sir James Keith, Laird of Caddome, having threatned Mr. David Falconer, Advocat, ane ill turne, and being complained upon, and in his vindication reflecting upon my Lord Halkerton, he was committed to the tolbuith and fined.

That same year, Mr. David Thoires having miscaried in a supplication given in by him to the Lords in behalfe of a client against Doctor Hay, bearing they were minded to satisfy the Doctors unsatiable covetousnesse to the oppression of the widow and the fatherles, he was sent to prison, fyned, and craved them humbly pardon.

In anno 1670, Mr. Alexander Spotswood, plaiding in the Oriminall Court for Wedderburne, and Mr. Patrick Home, being his antagonist and growing hot, called Alexander a knave, who replied, I can sooner prove you and your father knaves, who theirupon was imprisoned; but at last, upon intercession of freinds, was set at libertie. The Justice Clerk[599] was verie inexorable in the particular.

[599] Lord Renton.

In June 1670, Douglas of Kelheid, younger, affronted Hew Wallace, Writer to the Signet, in his oune house; which the Faculty, apprehending themselfes concerned in, at last caused Kelheid, in presence of them all, crave Hew and all the Faculty pardon for his offence, and confesse they did him a great courtesie in accepting that for satisfaction.

On the end of January 1671, Sir John Gilmour, by reason of his infirmity, having dimitted his place of being President, but strongly having recommended Gosfoord to be his successor, it was offered to Sir John Nisbet, King's Advocat (whosse place if he had embraced it was thought Sir Robert Sinclair would have got), who faintly refusing, thinking theirby to have bein more woed, he was taken at his word, and our Jock of bread Scotland[600] would take none of their advices, but would take a way of his oune, and so did make choise of my Lord Stair, who was looking litle for it, and who truely came in betuixt tuo, and was so unacceptable to the former President that its thought he would not have dimitted had he dreamed the guise should have gone so; and the pitching on him was truely in odium tertii to keip of Sir Robert Sinclar, whosse journey to Scotland under the pretence of coming to sie his new maried ladie suffered strange constructions at Court, and Lauderdale conjectured it was only to give my Lord Tueddale notice of some things that was then doing to his prejudice; and its beleived he would not have bein the coy duck to the rest of the Advocats for their obtempering to the Act of Regulations[60l] had he forsein that they would have hudibrased[602] him in the manner they did; hence we said give us all assurance to be Kings Advocat and we shall take it with the first; and the Lords, when he was plaiding before them in a particular, entreated him to come within the bar and put on his hat, since it was but to make him Advocat with 2 or 3 days antidate. He took also with it,[603] and did not deny it when he was posed on it.

[600] Jock of bread (broad) Scotland, Lauderdale.

[601] The Advocates objected to an article fixing their fees in the Regulations for the Court of Session, drawn up by a Commission and ratified by the king. Sinclair, Dean of Faculty, expecting preferment, instead of championing the bar, was the first to swear to the Regulations. The Advocates withdrew from practice for two months, and never forgave the Dean. See p. 222.

[602] A participle coined on the same principle as the modern 'boycotted.' The point of the comparison with the hero of Butler's satire is not obvious. It seems to mean simply 'made a fool of.'

[603] Took with it, i. e. acknowledged it. The expression is still common in the north-east of Scotland.

In the beginning of May this year died Mr. James Wemes, Advocat, brother to the Laird of Lathoker.

On the 28 of June 1671 was Sir Thomas Wallace receaved ane Ordinar Lord in the place vacand throw the promotion of my Lord Stair to be President.

On the 13 of July 1671 died Sir John Home of Renton, Justice Clerk. He was indeid advanced by Lauderdale, and for his sake componed the more easily with Sir Robert Murray;[604] yet Lauderdale his kindnes relented much on this occasion. In anno 1664, being minded to bring in my Lord Tueddale to be Chancelor, St. Androis entrefaired. Glasgow, thinking he should have a hand in it as weill as his brother the Primate, he enters in termes with my Lord Renton. Its commoned[605] that Sir Alex'r may marry the Archbischop's daughter, who was afterward Ladie Elphinstone, and that he at London may propose Renton to be Chancelor. My Lord Lauderdale was hudgely dissatisfied with that, yet having calmed, he told him Renton had not the fortune able to bear out the rank of a Chancelor. Burnet replied, Renton had a better fortune then ever Chancelor Hay[606] had. Lauderdale could never be pleased with him therafter for offering to aspire so hy. He was also at another disadvantage, my Lord Hume offered to compromit the difference betuen them to my Lord Lauderdale. Renton shifted it. He was a most peremptor man to his inferiors or æqualls, but a slavish fearer of any whom he supposed to be great at Court, on whom he most obsequiously fauned.

[604] Murray was his predecessor. Apparently there was a bargain for his retirement.

[605] Agreed.

[606] Sir George Hay of Nethercliff, Lord of Session, Chancellor, 1622-1635, Lord Kinnoul.

In the end of July, vid. the 27 day theirof, Mr. Alexander Suinton, one of the under clerks of Session, dimitted his place, and was admitted ane advocat per saltum upon a bill. Adam Chrystie, reader of the Minut Book, succeided instantly in his place of clerk. That same day died Mr. Archibald Campbell, Advocat, sone to the Shireff of Argile.

About the last of July 1671 came Collonell Lockhart from London, and brought doune a patent with him in favors of his father Lee to be Justice Clerk in place of Renton: he being an old man, and not supposed he can enjoy it long, its talked it is for the behoof of some on or other of his children, but especially the Collonells selfe. This was our Donna Olimpias[607] doing.

[607] Duchess of Lauderdale.

On the 14 day of August 1671 died Sir John Gilmor, late President, in his house of Craigmiller, and was buried the 24 day theirof in Liberton Kirk.

In the beginning of September died my Lord Bellenden, sometime Thesaurer depute at London.

On the 1 of October 1671 died Alexander,[608] Lord Halkerton, at his oune house, of the age of 77. He entered to his place in Session by simony, or rather committendo crimen ambitus, for he payed to my Lord Balmanno 7000 merks (a great soume at that tyme when their salaries ware small), to dimit in his favors, and by my Lord Traquaires moyen, then Threasurer whosse creature he was, he got the dimission to be accepted by his Majesty. This was about the 1643. I shall not say of him, as was said of Pope Hildebrand alias Gregory the 7th, Intravit ut vulpes, regnavit ut Leo, mortuus est ut canis. Only this I shall say, wheir places of justice are bought, whow can it be otherwayes but justice will be sold. The family is said to be pretty old, and both their name and stile to be taken from the charge they had at the tyme our Kings of Scotland resided in the Mernes, whosse falconers they ware, and their village was hence called the Haukerstoune. They say my Lord Arbuthnet was at that tyme King's porter, and that he hes a peice of land yet designed Porterstoune; and that some other their was landresse, and so had a village called Waschingtoune.

[608] Falconer.

On the 15 of October 1671 died Mr. William Douglas, Advocat, or rather the poet, since in that he most excelled.

In the end of the preceiding summer Session Adam Cunyghame, sone in law to James Wallace, Maisser, was received conjunctly to the office of maisserie with the said James, conforme to ane gift of the said place to them both conjunctly and to the longest liver of them tua.

Arthur Forbes, having some clame upon the estate of Salton, and pershuing the Laird of Philorth, now Lord Salton, he was very rigorously and partially handled by my Lord Newbayth,[609] who heard the cause. It being againe enrolled in the beginning of November, and my Lord Newbayth falling to be ordinar in the Utter house, Arthur, out of a just resentiment of the past wrong and fear of his future carriage, come to my Lords chamber and boasted (as my Lord Newbayth sayes) in thir words, If you call that action of Philorth against me I vow to God I'le sie the best blood in your body. Newbayth having complained, and Arthur being theiron incarcerat and examined, denied he spoke any such words, and declared he only said, My Lord, if you continue to do me wrong (as you have done already, as appears because the Lords redrest me) I'le have the sentiment of the haill 14 Lords on it; and if that be denied, I'le complain to the King. After he had lyen some 4 or 5 dayes in prison he was set at freedome, having first acknowledged a wrong and craved my Lord Newbayth pardon in presence of the haill Lords and Advocats on the 10 of November. Before he did it the President had a short discourse whow the gentlemans carriage had bein modest thitherto, and my Lord Newbayth was earnest intercessor for him, and theirfor they resolved not to make him the first exemple; but they assured all, of whatsoever rank or quality they be, that they will not tolerat any to expostulat with them or to give them hard or sharp words in their oune chambers or any wheir, and that they will not suffer their authority, which they hold of his Majesty, and to whom they are answerable if they malverse, to be convelled,[610] but what sanctions their are already to that purpose they will endevor to sie them peremptorly keipt and execute. Vide Act 68, Parliament 1537; Act 104, Parliament 1540; Act 173, Parliament 1593; Act 4, Parliament 1600; and this is consonant to the Common law by which the killing of one of the Kings great consistory is declared treason, and if so then the menacing of them must be a haynous crime. Vide L. 5, C. Ad 1. Juliam Majestatis: item Clarum[611] par. læsæ Maj. num. 5, item Perezium[612] ad T. c. de L. 3, Majest. num. 3.

[609] Sir John Baird of Newbyth, still pronounced Newbayth.

[610] Torn to pieces.

[611] Clarus, Ant. Sylv., Commentarius ad Leges, etc. Paris, 1603.

[612] Perez, Antonio, Spanish Jurist, 1583-1678.

On the 17 of November 1671, Mr. William Bailzie, Advocat, gave in a complaint on J. Watson of Lammyletham for having abused him, and called him a base rascall and threatning to draw on him. My Lord Newbayth being appointed to examine the witnesses, and having reported the Lords, called him and Mr. William in alone, rebuked him, and commanded him to cary him selfe more soberly in tyme coming.

On the 23 of November 1671, Sir Androw Ramsay of Abbotshall, Lord Provest of Edinburgh for the 10't year altogither, was received ane ordinar Lord of the Session upon his Majestys letter to that effect, in the place vaicand throw the deceas of Alexander Lord Halkerton, who possest that place of before.

I find in the records of Sederunt about the year 1553 and afterward on Sir William Hamilton[613] of Sanquhar Hamilton a Lord and provest of Edinburgh both at once. I find also that Chancelor Seyton[614] for some years that he was President Fyvie and some years that he was Chancelor (for he was 10 years altogither provest) was also Provest of Edinburgh; but that was at a tyme when the Senators of the Colledge of Justice grasped at the haill power of the toune upon their delinquency and uproar of the 17 of December 1596, for he entred at that tyme when the toune was at their feet, and when they had the approbation and reprobation of the toune their yearly election, but whow soon the toune begane to recover strenth and the memory of that foull slip waxed old they hoised him out; and for fear of the like inconveniency, and to bolt the door theirafter, they procured ane Act of Parliament in Anno 1609 (Vid. the 8't Act), declaring that no man shall in tyme coming be capable of provestrie or magistracy but merchants and actuall traffiquers duelling within burgh. Its true Sir John Hay (who was at first toun Clerk of Edinburgh) when he was Clerk Register and a Lord of the Session, he was made Provest of Edinburgh, but it was not put upon him out of any favor, but was done by Traquaire, then Tresaurer, of designe to break him: so that none of thesse instances quadrat with our case; heir a merchant, one who entred cum bona gratia, and who hes maintained himselfe by his oune parts and moyen in that office by the space of 10 years altogether, on who toped with the Colledge of Justice for the precedency and carried it from them, and who feared not to make open war with the greatest of them; he as the only single instance is made a Lord of the Session.[615]

[613] Lord of Session (Sanquhar), 1546-61; Provost, 1554.

[614] Alexander Seton, Extraordinary Lord of Session, 1586, Ordinary, 1588, President, 1593, Chancellor, 1605-22, under the successive titles of Prior of Pluscardine, Lord Urquhart, Lord Fyvie, and Earl of Dunfermline.

[615] See Appendix III.

On the 14 of December 1671, Richard Maitland of Pitreichy was received ane ordinar Lord in the place vaicand throw the advancement of my Lord Lee to be Justice Clerk upon his Majesties letters to that purpose.

On the 5 of January 1672 died Sir John Scougall of Whytkirk, and was buried in the Grayfriers on the 7 day of January theirafter in great pomp, his goune being carried before the herse.

On the 4 of March 1672 was Mr. Robert Preston of that Ilk installed in his place in obedience to his Majesties letter direct to the Lords to that effect.

On the 16 of February 1672 died John Ramsay, keiper of the Register of Hornings and Inhibitions, and on George Robertsone was admitted in his place by my Lord Register.

About the end of March, this same year, died Mr. Alexander Hamilton, Justice Clerk Depute, to whosse place on Mr. Robert Martin was received by my Lord Lee. (Vide infra.)

About the 14 of May 1672 died Charles, Earle of Dumfermeling, Lord Privy
Seall, and ane extraordinar Lord.

Its reported that Mr. Martin hes payed saltly for his place, vid. 500 pound English money to the Justice Clerk, 500 merks Scots to Mr. William Cheisley as agenter, and 1000 merks to the widow.

About the 20 of May this yeir died Mr. John Morray, advocat.

Upon the 27 of June 1672, Sir Robert Sinclair fell unto a lamentable pramunire in this manner. Some merchants in Glasgow being quarrelled by the manadgers of the Royall Fisching for exporting herrings, that being their priviledge, their is a bill drawen up for them by Sir Robert, and given in to the Lords of Secret Counsell, wheirin, among other things, he had this expression, that the petitioners ware frie natives, members of a royall borrow, whosse priviledges ought not lightly to be reversed, else malcontents would thairon take occasion of grudge, and of sowing fears and jealousies betuixt his Majestie and his people. At the hearing of which my Lord Commissioner,[616] guessing the author, began to baule and foame, and scrued up the cryme to such a height as that it deserved emprisonment, deprivation, and a most severe reprimande. At last the Counsell agried in a more moderat censure, that he should with close doors (tho my Lord Commissioner would have had it publick) acknowledge his offence upon his knees before the wholle Lords, and recant and disclame the forsaid expression as seditious and not becoming a subject: And theiron, as its said, ane act was made, that no petition should be presented heirafter but subscryved ather by the party or the Advocat.

[616] Lauderdale.

Theirs no expression so innocent wheirupon malice will not fasten its teeth; and truly their hes bein many expressions by far harsher then this escaped the pens of advocats, and which hes never bein noticed. And yet I think its justo Dei judicio casten in Sir Roberts lap for his so dishonourable complying, yea, betraying the priviledges of the Advocats, and breaking the bond of unity amongs them, and embracing first that brat of the Regulations. The excuse that he made for so over shoting him selfe was most dull and pittifull, vid. that they had come to him just after he had dined, and he had drawen it then, and so was hasted.

On the 24 July 1672, in the Parliament, Sir Colin Campbell was reproved for disorderly tabling of the Summer Session:[617] the circumstances see alibi. So the Commissioner seimed in a manner set to afront the Advocats.

[617] The proposal to abolish the Summer Session of the Court and add a month to the winter was made by the Commissioner in his speech, and argued before him in the Exchequer Chamber, where he decided against it. The account of the matter given by Mackenzie (Memoirs, 222 sqq.) is curious and interesting. In favour of the change it was argued that 'before men could settle at home after the Winter Session, they were called again to the Summer Session, so that their projects and designs were interrupted and ruined, and the months of June and July, which were the only pleasant months, and the only months wherein gardens and land could be improved, were spent in the most unwholsome and unpleasant town of Scotland [Edinburgh].' Sir C. Campbell tried to revive the question in plain Parliament, but the Commissioner vetoed it.

In November 1672 died Mr. Andrew Beaton, Advocat, and brother to the Laird of Balfour.

On the 2d of November 1672, my Lord Newbayth being challenged for passing a Suspension of a Decreite Absolvitor given by the Admirall, he denied it was his subscription, and at last his servant, Jeremiah Spence, acknowledged he had forged the same, for which he got a guiny[618] for procuring, as the parties thought, his Masters subscription therto; wheirupon, being imprisoned, the Lords, on the 6 of November, having called for him to their presence, they did declare him infamous and uncapable of any charge or imployment about the Session, and seing he had judicially confest it, they remitted him to the Kings officers for his furder triall. Its thought this was not the first of many forgeries he hes committed, so that his master lay under very much obloquy and reproach, which hes bein greatly occasioned throw his default, only it cannot be denied that my Lord gave to much ear to the mans recommendations, yea gave very grosse insinuations of his contentment and favor when his man got money, so that it was confidently affirmed that his man and he shared the profit that accrued from the Saterdayes roll, the syde bar, etc., amongs them; and it is now judged the liklier because my Lord concernes himselfe exceidingly to bring his man of only with a sweip of a tods taill, wheiras in generosity he should be his main prosecuter.

[618] Guinea. See Introduction, Money.

In the beginning of November 1672 died William, Earle of Dalhousie, being a very old man, wheiron my Lord Halton, Thresurer Depute, was made Shireff principall of Edenboroughshire during his lifetyme in place of the said Earle; And Mr. Alexander Suinton, advocat, was made his depute and Mr. Laurence Charteris.

About the same tyme, Mr. John Stewart of Ketleston, on of the Admirall deputes, died, and Walter Pringle, Advocat, by the mediation of Sir Charles Bickerstaffe, the other depute, succeided in his place, [and in November 1674, Mr. Patrick Lyon was nominat in place of W. Pringle, deprived].[619]

[619] Interlined.

In the same moneth of November the Earle of Atholl was made Lord Privy
Seall in place of the Earle of Dumfermeling, who died in the May before.

[As also the Earle of Kincardin was made Justice Generall upon the dimission of the Earle of Atholl. This held not.][620]

[620] The two lines in brackets are scored through. See p. 225.

In England, the great seall at the same tyme was taken from Sir Orlando Bridgeman, and the Earle of Shaftesbury, formerly Lord Ashley Couper, is made Hy Chancelor of England. Sir John Duncombe is made under threasurer, in place of Ashley Couper. The Lord Clifford, lately but Sir Thomas Clifford, is exalted to be great Treasaurer of England. [He is the 1[621] Thesaurer since the death of the Earle of Southhampton],[622] and the Commissioners for the Threasurie are suppressed, and its expected that they, as the primum mobile, will draw us as ane inferior orbe rolling within theirs after them. The Lord Mainart, brother in law to the Duck of Lauderdale, is made thesaurer of the Kings house. Sir Robert Howard, commonly called Sir Positive, is made Secretary to the Treasurer. The Duck of Monmouth is made Lord Cheiff Justice of all the forrests in England benorth the Trent. My Lord Lauderdale hes undoubtedly had a great hand in this extraordinary revolution; for they are on the caballe with him, and are all his confident privado'es. The old nobility cannot but repute them selfes slighted when they sie thesse great offices of State conferred upon [muschroomes][623] upstarts. But this is a part of the absolute power of kings to raise men from the dunghill and make them their oune companions.

[621] i.e. first.

[622] Interlined.

[623] Interlined.

In the beginning of December 1672 died Mr. George Norvell, advocate, on of the greatest formalists that was in all the tolbuith. His place as agent for the Colledge and toune of Edinburgh was by Act of the Toune Counsell conferred upon Mr. Robert Lauder, portioner of Belhaven, some few days after.

At the same tyme died Mr. Thomas Buck, advocat.

On the 14 of December 1672 the Faculty made choice of Sir G. Lockhart for their Dean, Sir Robert Sinclar having of some tyme before showen a willingnes to demit in regard he discovered many of the faculty displeased at him for his faint surrender and breaking the unity of the Faculty in the matter of the Regulations and for sundry other particulars.

On the 2'd of January 1673 died Mr. John Andersone, advocat.

About the beginning of January 1673 James Hamilton was received ane under clerk in place of Jo. Kello, who died (ut supra notatum) in May 1670.

On the 14 of January 1673 the Earle of Atholl was received ane extraordinar Lord on the Session in place of the Earle of Dumfermeling, who died (ut supra dixi) in May 1672.

In May 1673 died Mr. John Muirhead, advocat.

In June 1673 I was named by the Lords to be on of the advocats for the poor the yeir enshueing, but upon the mediation of my Lord Abbotshall I was excused.

On the 19 of July 1673 Forbes of Tolquhon was fined by the Lords in 40 lib. Scots for opprobrious speaches to Mr. David Thoires, advocat, and calling him a knave.

On the 5 of Januar 1674 I was appointed on of the privat examinators of such as offered to enter advocats for that year.

On the 10 of Januar 1674 died Mr. Robert Dicksone, advocat.

In the beginning of this year 1674 died Mr. William Wallace, advocat, and on of the Shiref Deputes of Edenbrugh shire.

In the beginning of March 1674 died Sir James Lockhart of Lee, Justice
Clerk.

On the 4 of June 1674 Mr. Thomas Murray of Glendoick, advocat, was admitted and receaved, in obedience to the Kings letters, a Lord of the Session, in place of Lee deceissed, as he was ane ordinary Lord, for they say Sir William Lockart the Collonell had his place by way of survivance and reversion of Justice Clerk.

On the same 4 of June Mr. David Balfour of Forret or Glentarkie was, upon the Kings letter, receaved ane ordinar Lord in the place vaikand by the dimission of Sir Androw Ramsay of Abbotshall.

On the 5'th of June 1674 died Sir James Ramsay of Whythill, advocat, and
Mr. James Hamilton, advocat, sone to the Bischop of Galloway.

On the 2'd of June 1674 I was nominat on of the advocats for the poor for the year enshueing.

About the 10 of June 1674 the Earle of Argile was admitted and receaved ane extraordinar Lord of the Session upon the Kings letter, in place of the Earle of Tuedale, turned out, as also the said Earle of Argyle got Tuedales place as one of the Commissioners of the Tresaury.

And my Lord of Atholl at this same tyme got that place of the Thesaury which was lying vaikand thesse severall years by the deceas of Sir Robert Moray.

On the 4 of June 1674, in obedience to a new comission for the Secret Councell, sent doune by the King, the Councell was of new modelled, 6 of the former members put out, viz. the Earle of Queinsberry, Earle of Roxbrugh, Earle of ——[632], Earle of Tuedale, the Lord Yester, and Generall Major Drummond, and 6 new Councelors assumed in their place, viz. the Earle of Mar, Earle of Kinghorne, ——[624], Lord Rosse, my Lord Colinton, and my Lord Craigie.

[624] Blank in MS.

On the 3 of July 1674 the Lords of Session deprived about 49 advocats who partly adhæred to Sir G. Lockhart and Sir J. Cunyghame, who ware declared uncapable, conforme to the Kings letter on the 24 of June preceeding, and partly refused to officiat under the tyes and obligations contained in his Majesties letter anent appealls, and the Lords of Session their sentences, that none charge them of injustice.

On the 7 of July 1674 died Mr. James Rosse, advocat.

In October 1674 died Sir Robert Preston of that Ilk, on of the Lords of
Session.

And in the midle of November 1674 James Foulls, Advocat, younger of Colinton, by the name of Lord Reidfuird, was admitted and receaved a Lord in his place, in obedience to his Majesties letter, and was the first who was tryed in the new manner prescribed by his Majesty in July last.

In June 1675 died Collonell Sir William Lockhart of Lee at Paris, wheir he
lay embassador for his Majesty of Great Brittain, and so the Justice
Clerkship waiked, which was immediatly bestowed and conferred on my Lord
Craigie, but his gift bears ad bene placitum only.

In his place as on of the criminall lords succeided my Lord Glendoick.

And at the same tyme my Lord Newbayth, by a letter from his Majesty, being eased and dispossest of his place in the Criminall Court, the same was given to my Lord Forret, so that his entrie both heir and on the Session is not so cleanly.

The Earle of Atholl having at his being chosen Privy Seall oblidged himselfe to dimit the office of Justice Generall when his Majesty saw cause to dispose of it, now in June 1675 the Earle of Murray is created Justice Generall.

In July 1675 died Mr. Robert Winrahame, advocat.

On the 5 of August 1675 Sir Androw Ramsay, Lord Abbotshall, was, upon his Majesties letter, readmitted and sworne upon the Privy Councell, which and his other offices he had dimitted to my Lord Commissioner under trust on the 1 of December 1673.

In the end of September 1675 died Mr. Alexander Spotswood of Crumstaine, advocat, of 2 dayes sicknes. Item, Mr. Patrick Oliphant, of a few dayes sicknes, about that same tyme.

In the end of November 1675 died James Chalmers, advocat.

In the beginning of Januarie 1676 died James Hamilton, on of the under clerks of Session, and his place was bestowed on John Hay, wryter, and criminall clerk depute under Mr. Robert Martin.

On the 8 and 11 of January 1676 all the outed advocats to the number of 35 ware admitted again to their employments, conforme to his Majesties letter theranent.

In the end of March 1676 died Mr. William Strachan, advocat, and brother to the Laird of Glenkindy.

On the 16 of June 1676 was Sir Archbald Primerose, Clerk Register, by a letter from his Majesty, removed from his place of Register and from the Session, and a patent sent him to be Justice Generall, and the Earle of Murray gets a pension of 400 lb. Sterling for it, and his place in Session was instantly supplyed by a letter from his Majestie in behalfe of Sir David Falconer of Neuton, Advocat; and the office of Register was conferred theirafter in February 1678 (neir 2 years vacancy) on Sir Thomas Morray, Lord Glendoick. See it in my remarks then.

On the 24 of June was a letter red from his Majestie, appointing their should be only 3 principall Clerks of Session, and that the Lords remove the rest, appointing them some satisfaction from thesse who stayed in. Heirupon the Lords voted Messrs. Alexander Gibsone, Thomas Hay, and John Hay to be the 3 who should only officiat (See the manuscript[625] at November 1682, page 73), and removed Sir John Gibsone, but prejudice of the contract betuixt him and his sone of 100 lb. sterling yeirly, Alexander Monro and Robert Hamilton, and modified them 7000 merks from the other 2, which Comissar Monro refused unles they gave him a reason of their depriving him, which was refused till he raised his declarator if he had a mind to doe it. He within a 4'tnight after accepted it. The letter also commanded the Advocats consulting togither.

[625] Interlined.

On the 28 of June 1676 was a letter from his Majesty red in the Thresaury commanding Sir John Nisbet his Advocat to call for Sir George M'cKeinzie in the concernes of his office, and act by his advice, and establist 100 lb. Sterling of pension upon him for the same. See the other Manuscript of Session Occurrents, page 13 and 42.

On the last of June 1676 Mr. John Eleis and Mr. Walter Pringle ware suspended from being Advocats by the Lords, because they shifted to depone super inquirendis if their was any combination amongs the late restored advocats not to consult with thosse who stayed in. See the Sentence apud me.

On the 8 of July 1676 was Mr. John Eleis readmitted because he complyed with the Lords and deponed. W. Pringle readmitted in June 1677.

On the 20 of July 1676 a new Commission of Secret Councell from his Majesty was red, wheirin six of the former Councelors ware left out and discarded, viz. the Duc of Hamilton, Earles of Dumfreis, Morton, and Kincairden, the Lord Cochrane and Sir Archibald Primrose, late Lord Register.

In the beginning of June 1676 died Mr. James Aikenhead, on of the comisars of Edinburgh; and in the end of Jully Mr. James Dalrymple was presented by the Archbischop of St. Andrewes in his place who had got the right of presenting all the comisars of Edinburgh during the vacancy of that diocesse in anno 1671, only his gift was caution'd that he sould confer them gratis, and on qualified persones.

On the 19 of August 1676 died Mr. Laurence Charteris, Advocat, and on of the Shireff deputes of Edenborough shire, in which office succeided to him by the gift of deputation from my Lord Halton immediatly Mr. Thomas Skein, brother to Halzeards, in West Lothian, and afterwards admitted ane Advocat.

On the last of October 1676 died Mr. John Bailzie, advocat.

On the 13 of November 1676 Sir Archibald Primrois, late Register, took his place in the Criminall Court as Lord Justice Generall, and gave his oath de fideli. See more of it, alibi, page 144.

See the continuations of the changes and alterations and remarkable emergents of and in the Session in another paper book besyde me that opens by the lenth.

(4)

OBSERVATIONS ON PUBLIC AFFAIRS, 1669-1670[626]

[626] From MS. II.

[In anno 1669 died the Q. mother of England. In anno 1670 died madame our K's sister mons'r the Duc of Orleans his Ladie she having bein in England but a litle while before. On the 24 of October 1670 was the church of the Blackfriars in Glasgow touched with lightning of thunder about seven a cloak of the morning, and having brok throu the roof it catcht hold upon its jests and had undoubtedly brunt the church to ashes had it not bein extiuguished in tyme. They say it brook also on their great church at the head of the toun.

What follows in thir 9 leives is copied and enlarged alibi.

In anno 1667 the French make ane invasion upon the Spanish Netherlands, and after he had ransact the country and made himselfe master of divers tounes][627] as Doway, Lisle, Tournay, etc., a peace was at last concluded in May 1668, wheirof the articles ware, 1'o to be perpetuall. 2'do so soon as the peace is published all hostility most cease. 3'do the French to keip the couquiest of the late campaigne. 4'to that he hold them with their dependances in soverainetie and the Spaniard to yeald them to him for ever. 5'to that the French King restore la France conté. 6'to the Spaniard most restore all places tane by him in the war. 7'o that all princes authorize the treatie and that nothing be retracted of the traitty of the Pyrenees save what is disposed on by this: To be mutually interchanged, ratified, and sworne by oath.

[627] The first page, as above, within brackets, is scored out in MS.

Upon the 27 of September 1669 was Candie toune (being the losse of the wholle Ile to the Venetians) surrendred to the Turks after a long seige wheir the French got a great overthrow, and their Admirall the Duc de Beaufort was killed with many other persons of note: and wheir Monsieur Annand our Master Annands brother behaved himselfe most gallantly, and since hes bein so hylie complemented for that his service by the Venetian senat that I beleive never was any stranger more. He is admitted unto all their counsels and sits upon their Ducks right hand: the Englishs ware so affrontedly impudent as in their new books first to cal him ane Englishman, and being challenged for that they designed him after a subject of his Maj. of Great Brittain, so loath are they to give us our due praise.

In anno 1670 was ane insurrection of the paisants of the country of Vivarets in Daulphinée in France, upon the occasion of some extraordinarie tax cruelly exacted. They ware soon dissipat. Their is presently, in October 1670, a fellow called Ratzin[628] who hes taken up armes in Mosco agt the Emperor, and hes got of followers neir 100,000 men: he was a gunner, had a brother, who, being put to death for some crime, he in revenge of his brothers death hes made this commotion craving nothing lesse but that thesse who ware the cause of his brother's death (now they are the greatest men about the Ducks persone) may be delivered up to him.

[628] Rebellion of Stenka Razin against the Tsar Alexis.

It is apprehended by the wiser sort that this Union[629] is mainly set on foot by his Majestie, and so much coveted after by him, that he may rid himselfe of the house of Commons who have lyen verie heavy upon his loines and the loins of his predecessors Kings of England and especially of his brave father, and who have ever most crossed ther great designes. Now it being proposed that their should be but on parliament for all Britain, it will follow that the house of commons constitut no more a house apart, but that its members sit togither with the Lords in the house of peers: and for the better effectuating this great point, I hear his Majesty caresses and complements thesse of the house of commons a great deall more then ever he was in use to do, and that he converses most familiarly with them, seikes their company, and that they get accesse when many great persons cannot. But this is not all, such of them as seimed most active and concerned in pressing the priviledges and liberties of that house and of the commonalty of England, his majesty within this short tyme hes nobilitat them, and by this hes both engadged them to his oune party, and by setting them in a hyer sphoere weakned the house of commons.

[629] Charles II. having renewed the proposal for the union of the kingdoms, Commissioners were appointed for England and Scotland, and sat in London for some months in the autumn of 1670.

I confesse the King hes reason to wrest this excessive power out of the commons their hand it being a unspeakable impairment of his soverainetie, but I fear it prosper not. I hear the Earle of Strafford, who was Deputie of Ireland, was at first but a mean gentleman yet a member of the house of commons, and on of the most stirring amongst them, which K. Charles perceiving he created him a nobleman and by that so endeared him to his intrest that we know he suffered for it.

In the middle of 1669 came his majesties letter to the secret counsell for indulging some of the outed ministers libertie to return to their oune kirks if vacant, or to preach at any other vacant churches the S. counsell should think fit to place them, and that they should not be answerable to the Bischop of the diocese where they ware, but to the counsell. Then in the Parl. 1669 was the King's supremacie in a very hy straine established. This procedure startled all our Bischops extreimly, yet all of them ware so cunning and such tyme servers as they seimed to applaud it, only Mr. Alex'r Burnet, Arch B. of Glascow, and the Dean theirof, with some others more ingenuous then the rest, pens a remonstrance (which also they put their hands to) to be presented to the King, showing his majesty whow that course he had tane for uniting distractcd parties and healing our breaches would prove unsuccesfull, yea was to be feared would produce the just contrare effect, vid., more dissentions, etc.

Upon this occasion he[630] gets a passe, and if he refused to dimit voluntarlie then their is a warrand from his Majesty for processing him criminally: upon that and other heads, he ather judging it not safe to contend with his m'r, or else not daring bid[631] the touch, dimits in his Majesties hands and ex gratia his Maj. grants him a pension out of the fruits of that benefice of 5000 mks. per annum for all the dayes of his lifetyme.

[630] i.e. the Archbishop.

[631] i.e. to abide.

Then Lighton, Bischop of Dunblaine, was presented to it, who, after much nicety, and a journey to London, at last condeschended to take a tryall of it for a tyme under the name of Commendator Superintendent over the spirituality of that Bischoprick or some such like name, who took much paines to take up the differences betuixt the conformists and non- conformists, and to that purpose, in my Lord commissioners Audience in August 1670, ware then sundrie freindly conferences betuixt himselfe and some others adjoined to himself and some of the non-conformist ministers, upon which nothing then followed. He also in September 1670 took some moderat men, as Mr. Nairne, Mr. Cook, and others along wt him to his diocesse, by them to allure the people to frequent their oune parish churches, but he found them so exasperat wt the loud and scandalous cariage of the ministry that was planted amongs them on the removall of their former, that his great paines had not answerable successe.

In anno 1668 was Honieman B. of Orkney shot in the arme, being sitting in the coach wt Arch. B. Sharp, for whom, it was thought, the pistoll was levelled. Some sayd it behoved to be some great hater of the Bischops, others said it might be out of privat splen and not for the privat quarrell of Religion; others said he was but suborned to do it by the Bychops themselves, that they might lay the blame on the Presbyterians, and draw the greater odium on them, and stoop the favor that was intended them of opening some of their ministers mouths; and the truth is, it did retard that better almost a year.

In anno 1670, about July theirof, Mr. John Meinzeis, brother to the Laird of Culteraws, and minister at[632] in Annandale, left his church and emitted a declaration bearing what stings he suffared in his conscience for conforming with the present church governement, which he fand to be a fertile soyle for profanity and errors of all kinds, and theirfor he gives all to whom thir presents may come to know that he disapproves of the said governement and of his bypast complyance, and that in tyme coming he will forsake the ministrie, since he cannot exercise it unlesse he wound his soull farder by that sinfull compliance. The Bisc. ware verie pressing to have had him punisht, but his friends got him borne by.

[632] Blank in MS.

In that same year 1670 was that monster of men and reproach of mankind (for otherwayes I cannot stile him), Major Weir, for most horrible witchcraft, Incest, Bestiality, and other enorme crymes, at first confest by himselfe (his conscience being awakned by the terrors of the Almightie), but afterwards faintly denied by him, brunt. So sad a spectacle he was of humane frailty that I think no history can parallell the like. We saw him the fornoon before he died, but he could be drawen to no sense of a mercifull God, yea sometimes would he scarse confesse their was a God, so horribly was he lost to himselfe. The thing that aggravated his guilt most was the pretext and show of godlinesse wt which he had even to that tyme deceived the world. His sister also was but a very lamentable object, for she ran on the other extreem and præsumed exceidingly on the mercy of God, wheiras their ware no great evidences in hir of soull contrition. She was hanged.

They say their is some difference fallen in betuen my Lo. Lauderdale and my Lo. Argyle about some desire my Lo. Lauderdale had in relation to the Lady Balcarras, now Lady Argile, which Argile relished not, and said, I think your grace would take the ward of my marriage. He answered, I may weill have that, for I once had the waird of your head, which was true in anno 1663, when the sentence of death and forfaultor was past on him as a traitor.

In anno 1669 did his majesty in his Royall wisdome compose the differences betuixt the tua houses of parlia. in Engl., which ware likely to have occasioned great strife, it being anent their priviledges and liberties alledged brook[633] in the case of on Master Skinner, a member of the house of commons. His majesties course was that all memorie of discord betuen his 2 houses that might be found on record should be totallie abolished and expunged both out of the Registers of Parl., Exchequer, Counsell, and out of all other monuments, that the ages to come may not so much as know their was any variance betuixt them. On the 28 of September 1670 was Colonell Lockhart admitted a secret Counseller, and they say that Lambert is also made a Counsellor in England.

[633] i.e. broken.

The King in 1670 craving of his parliament a subsidie for defraying his debt, they proposed that ere any new tax could be granted account should be made of the former subsidies, whow the same ware employed by Mr. Cotteridge and others, whom the King made use of to that purposc. Sure this was very grieveous to the King to sie himselfe so controlled in his expence, and that he could give no gratuity to my Ladie Castlemain (now Dutchesse of Cleveland, etc.) but that which they behoved to get notice of, behold the stratagem he makes use of. The Presbyterians at that tyme, hearing of the Indulgence given to some ministers in Scotland, they offer to the King to pay all his debt, and advance him a considerable soume besyde, provydeing the same liberty be granted them. At the nixt sitting doune of parl. his mai. in a speach showed them whow harshly and uncivilly they had dealt with him, and, after much plain language, he told them if they would not grant his reasonable demands he know them that would do it. After they had come to know his majesties meaning by this,[634] who ware more forward then they, they passe fra craving any account of the former, they grant him a new subsidy of a million, they consent their should be a treaty wt Scotland anent ane union; yet onlie the dint of their fury falls on the Presbyterians, and they enact very strict statutes against them and against conventicles, because they had been the pin by which his mai. had scrued them up to that willingnesse. So we sie its usefull sometymes (as Matchiavell teaches) for a prince to entertaine and foment tua factions in his state, and whiles to boast the one with the other.

[634] His majesties meaning by this, i.e. 'what H.M. meant by this imtimation.' As soon as they understood that, 'Who were more forward than they?'

In October 1667 did at last break out that inveterat hatred of the wholle people of England against Chancellor Hide, and he is arraigned as guilty of hy treason by the house of commons, who pressed strongly that his persone might be secured till such tyme they had verified the crimes they attached him of. This motion the house of peers wt indignation rejected as derogatorie of their priviledges, he being a member of their house. While the 2 houses are thus contending he judges it safest for him to retire till this storme blow over, and this was also thought to have bein the King's advice to him, who was very sorrie at their procedor, thinking it a bad precedent for the house of commons to medle with persones so eminently neir to himselfe; yet in the breach he durst not stand but was forced to give them way, so much was Hyde hated in England, so that his Maj., rather then he will in the least endanger the disturbance of his oune peace and quiet, resolves now to quite his dearest minions and expose them to the malice of their ilwillers and haters then stand stoutly to their defence, and so make himselfe party against his people. So Hide makes his escape to France, leiving behind him a declaration wherin he refutes all the crimes they lay to his charge, as his being the author of the marriage of the King wt the Portugues, knowing she would be barren, and that his daughter's posterity might so reigne: item his being the occasion of the selling of Dunkerk to the French king, wheiras if it had bein in the English their possession in the year 1665, in their war betuixt them and Holland, they could have annoyed the States considerably theirby. But the truth is the Queen mother of England was wery instrumentall in that bargaine: item his being the active cause of the war betuixt England and Holland, of which he purges himselfe so largely that I think no man can scarse judge him any way accessor theirto.

That war (wt pardon) was hardly weill manadged on the English syde, and they committed errors most unpardonable in good policie: as first in that battell that was given on the 17 June 1665, wheir Admirall Obdan and his ship ware blowen up, being fired (as was supposed) by the English bullets levelled at it, they contented themselves with the simple wictorie and honor of commanding the seas, wheiras if they had followed forth their victorie and had got betuixt the Holland their shattered fleet and the coast of Holland and Zealand, it was thought by the most judicious men that that on battell might have put ane end to the war and have produced most advantagious conditions for the English: but they verified the knowen saying, vincere scit Hannibal sed õ victoriâ uti. Their pretence indeid was that they would not pousse their victory farder by hazarding what they had already won, because the appearand air of the croun, the Duc of York, was present in person. But whow weak this is let any man judge, unles they mean that by intercepting the Dutch their way home they might have made them desperat and so fight like Devils, and that it hes ever bein a good maxime to make a fleing ennemy a bridge of gold. Whowever the Dutch concluded that they would have no mo Admirals that ware gentlemen (for Obdam was so) because they never fought fortunatly with their ennemies when they had such. But certainly this is nought but a fiction made by a commonwealth to cast a blur upon nobility, seing thir same very states have fought most couragiously and advantagiously under the conduct of the Princes of Orange.

Upon his death De Ruyter was chosen admirall, and van Tromp the younger, upon a suspicion of being to affectionat to the intrest of the King of Britain, was disgraced. The nixt (but rather should have bein made the first) was his Mai:s bad choyse of a false chirking willain, Mr. Douning,[635] to be his agent to negotiat affaires at the States Generall in the beginning of that war, who steid of composing things rancored them worse and made them almost uncurable, judging it good fisching in troubled waters, wheiras if a moderat and ane honest man had bein made use of in that business, things would never have come to the height they were at, since the offers of reparation then made by the Dutch to his Majesty ware by all indifferent spectators judged most fair and reasonable. The 3^d is that in the engadgement the following summer, 1666, the King's intelligence should have bein so bad as to have apprehended at that tyme the joining of the French fleet wt the Hollander (wheiras their was no such thing, but it was of purpose done to divide his majesties fleet), and theiron ordering Prince Rupert with his squade away to attend their uniting; and in his absence the Dutch taking the advantage, provocked the Duck of Albemarle (who was a better land sojer then a sea, and who died in 1669) with sixtein ships to fight their wholle fleit, who more hardily then wisely encountering them, had undoubtedly bein totally routed and defeat had not Prince Rupert upon notice come up and releived them. By which conflict it at last appeared that it was possible for the English to be beat by the Hollander, which was never beleived before that.

[635] Sir George Downing, 1623(?), 1684, long Resident at the Hague under the Commonwealth and Charles II. See Nat. Dict. Biog.

The nixt error they committed was that the following summer, 1667, the King (for sparing of charges forsooth) was advysed not to set to sea that year, but to let his fleit lay up in the harbors, which gave cause to that mighty affront (then which since England was England it never received the like) given them at Chattan, and wheir the Scots regiment, brought over from France by the King's order, making braver resistance then all England beside, ware many of them slain, dying in the bed of honour. As for the Scots proclaiming war against France, and as for the more naturall way tane by our King in proclaiming the war then tane by France, I shall elsewheir speak more at large.

APPENDIX

APPENDIX I

EXTRACTS FROM ACCOUNTS 1670 to 1675

§ 1

On the 8 of July 1670, I receaved 168 lb. in 55 dollars,[636] which compleited one halfe a year's annuel rent,[637] vid., 900 m., wheirof first given out to my wife 8 dollars to defray sundrie debts, vid., 5 lb. to mistris Guthrie for 2 elle and a quarter of borders, 4 lb. 10s. to George Reidpeth, 7 lb. 4s. for 2 chandellers, 2s. for a pint of win, 3 lb. given to the wright with some other lesser things; then I gave une dalle Imperiale a mon serviteur pour acheter les saintes ecritures, 8 pence for a quaire of paper. Then on the ij of July 1670, I gave my wife 10 dollars for keiping the familie: 4 dollars given to my wife to buy wooll with. This makes a 100 merk. Then I gave a dollar to buy covers for the chaires, 8s. and 8 p. for a pair of shoes, 2 lb. at a collation with Mr. Hamilton, 24s. at a collation with Mr. Thomas Bell, 5s. for a mutchin of wine.[638] Halfe a dollar to Walter Cunyghame, 12s. for paper and ink, 10 lb. for 20 leads of coalls at 10s. the load, 3 dollars given to my wife, a dollar given for a french croune to my wife, 5 p. for a mutching of win,[638] 24 p. in Caddells with Mr. Hendersone. Item, 2s. sterling given to my wife. Item, 4 dollars given to hir, a groat to the barber, 5s. sterling for a new board, a mark in the contribution for the burgh of Dundie, a shiling to the keiper of my goun, 3 dollars given to my wife, halfe a dollar at a collation in Cuthbertsones, 18 pence at a collation with Balmayne. Out of the last 3 dollars given to my wife, she bought a chamberpot for 3 shillings, a board cloath for 3 shillings and 10 p., then I gave hir 2 dollars: this is another 100 merks, then 20 lb. payed for 40 load of coalls, 10 pence given in drink money to the cawer,[639] 12 pence at a collation with Colinton, 7 pence at on with Sir George Lauder, 3 lb. at a collation with Mr. Falconer, 12 p. for wine, a dollar to my wife, then 2 dollars given hir for the familie, so this is the account of the other 9 dollars remaining of the 55 dollars, togither with 5 other dollars pris de l'argent donné a la nourrice.

[636] The dollar is here equal to 5s. 1d. sterling.

[637] From his father secured on the lands of Carington, settled in his
marriage-contract.

[638] The shilling Scots and penny sterling are here used for the same
value.

[639] 'Cawer,' driver, carter.

Then on the 16 of August 1670, I received from my father 20 dollars, the accompt wheirof follows:—

Item, payed for my press making and colouring, etc., 9 lb. 10s.
For the glasses footgang, 2s.
For seing the Duke's Berge at Leith, 2 lb. 10s.
Given to my wife, 2 dollars.
Given to the nurse to buy a bible with, one dollar.
With Kilmundie, 10 pence.
For the articles of Regulations, 10 pence.
Then given to my wife, 2 doll. and a shilling.
Then given hir to buy shoes, linnen, and other
things with, 5 dollars.
For 2 quaires of paper, 18 pence.
At Hadoe's man's wedding, a dollar.
For seck with Thomas Robertsone, 10 pence.
For wine with my landlord, 5 pence.
Given for the houses use, 2 dollars.
For a coatch, 2 shillings.

Summa is 19 dollars and a halfe.

Then on the thrid of September 1670, I received my years annuel rent from
Thomas Robertsone, vid., 300 merks, the count wheirof follows:—

Imprimis, given to my wife when she went to Wauchton, 2 dollars.
Given to the barber, halfe a mark.
Given to a poor boy, halfe a mark.
Given in drinkmoney to my goodfather's nurse, a dollar.
Given to Huntar, my goodfather's man, a 6 pence.
A dollar to Jo. Scots nourrice, a dollar.
Given to the woman Margaret, 2 dollars.
Spent on Rhenish wine at Hadingtoun, 30 shilling.
For my breakfast at Lintoun bridges, 22 shiling.
To Idingtoun's men bigging the hay rick, 20 shiling.
To his gairdner, halfe a dollar.
To the kirkbroad, 10 shiling.
To Idington's serving woman, a dollar.
To his hielandman, 15 shilling.
To my goodbrother's man Lambe, a mark.
For the horse meat at Hadingtoun, 10 pence.
To the tailzeor for mending my cloaths, a shilling.
To my father's man Arthur, 45 shilling.
To Wodstone's man Florie, a shilling.
To the kirk broad at Abbotshall, a 6 pence.
For Rhenish in Kirkealdy, 55 shiling.
Then given to my wife for the house, 10 dollars.
For binding Durie's 2'd volume, 2 lb. 2 shil.

This makes one 100 merks of the 300 merks.

Then gave for the acts of the 2'd session of parliament, 10 pence.
Then for a pair of shoes, 1 lb. 19s.
Then for Androw Young's nurse for my selfe, a dollar.
Given then by my wife, halfe a dollar.
Given then for a pint of wine, 20 shiling.
Given to my wife to buy some slips with, a dollar.
Given to Grissell Ramsayes mother for drink furnisht
by hir to us by the space of 10 weeks, 3 dollars.
Payed for wine, 7 pence.
Payed for 2 horse hires to Preston, 3 shilings and 6 pence.
Payed for wine in Daniel Rosses, 3 shilings st.
For a quaire of paper, 9 pence.
For ink, 2 pence.
Given to my wife, 4 shilings s.
Payed for causing intimat the assignation to H.
Sinclar at Binny, 6 shil. st.
Given to my wife, 6 pence.
To the barber, 6 pence.
10 of October given to my wife for the house, 8 dollars.
Given to Pitmedden's nurse, a dollar.
Sent to a poor persone, a mark.
Payed for Heylin's Cosmographie, 22 sh. and 6 pence.
Given to the provest's woman, 6 pence.
Given for paper, 9 pence.

This makes another 100 mks. and 2 dollars more.

Then payed at a collation with Mrs. Wood and Bell, a dollar.
Payed to John Nicoll for a great bible, 17 shillings.
Payed again to Grissel's mother for drink, 2 dollars.
Given to my wife, halfe a dollar.
Given also to my wife, a dollar.
Given for a paper book by my brother for me, 12 p.
Given to my brother William at that tyme, 6 pence.
Given to my wife, 2 shil. 9 pence.
Given to the woman in part of hir fie, a dollar.
Given for 2 quaire of paper etc., 18 pence.
Expended farder on the intimating Hew Sinclar's
assignation, a shilling.
For binding the reschinded acts of parl., halfe a crowne.
At a collation with the Laird of Grange, 33 shiling.
On win with Ja. Lauds, 5 pence.
Given to my wife, a dollar.
Item given to hir, halfe a mark.
Given to the barber, a 6 pence.
Given in Pentherer's, 8 pence.
Given to my wife for my …[640] a dollar.
Item given to my wife for the house, a dollar.
Given for new wine, a shilling.
Given to my wife, 29 shilling.
Given againe to my wife, a dollar.
Given for the house, a dollar.
Given to my wife, 3 dollars.

[640] Word interlined illegible, like 'manninie.'

This is the account of the wholle 300 mks. all till about a dollar which I remember not of.

Then towards the end of November I received from my father about 200 mks. and 3 dollars which with all the former made 1200 mks. wheirof imprimis.[641]

[641] In the first of these entries the value of the dollar comes out about 4s. 11d., in the second at 5s.

A dollar and a halfe given to a man for teaching
my wife writing and arithmetick, 4 lb. 8s.
Then a dollar for the serving woman's halfe fie, 3lb.
Item in drinkmoney to the bedell and others, halfe a croun.
Item to my wife, a dollar.
Item at Geo. Lauder's penny wedding, a dollar.
Item to the fidlers, a 6 pence.
Given to my wife, a dollar.
Item, given hir for the use of the house on the 2'd
of December, 10 dollars.
To the barber, 10 pence.
Upon win and at cards, 13 pence.
To my wife, a mark.
For a pair of shoes and gallasches[642] to them, 5s. and 10 p.
To my wife, 6 pence.
Given to my wife to buy to hir nurse a wastcoat
with and shoes, etc., 2 dollars.
At a collation with Rot. Bell in Pentherer's, 34 shiling.
To Mr. Thomas Hay that he might give up the
papers, 2 dolars.
For Broun's Vulgar errors, 6 shilings 6 p.
For the Present State of England, halfe a croun.
For the moral state of it, 2 shilings.
Then given at the kirk door, halfe a dollar.

[642] Overshoes.

This is neir ane account of ane 100 mks. and the 3 dollars.

Then on the 21 of December 1670 was payed to the nurse as hir fee, 14 dolars. Item given hir as a pairt of the drinkmony she had receaved, 9 dollars. which two soumes make up the other 100 mks.[643]

[643] 23 dollars equal to 100 marks. Taking the mark at 13-1/2d. dollar equal to 4s. 10-1/4d.

Then I receaved from my father other 200 mks., which made 1400 mks. of all that I had received from him.

Wheirof first payed to the nurse to compleat hir
drinkmoney, which amounted in all to 18 dollars, 9 dollars.
At a collation with Idington and others, a dollar.
Given to my wife to buy a plaid with, 3 dollars.
Given to my wife to buy lace with to hir apron, a dollar.
Then on the end of December 1670 given to my
wife 4 dollars and a halfe to pay 8 barrell of ale
furnished us at 32s. the barrel, 4 dolars and a halfe.[644]
Item given to my wife, 18 pence.
Item payed for another pair of shoes, 3 shilings 3 pence.
Item for wine with Mr. G. Dickson in Caddell's, 16 pence.
Given to my wife, a dollar.
Payed for wine, 10 pence.
Given to my wife, halfe a dollar.
Then given hir, a dollar.
which makes up on hundred mks.

[644] Dollar equal to about 4s. 9d.

Then on the 2'd of January 1671 being hansell
Monday I gave my wife to give out to people
who expected handsel, 4 dollars.
Then that same day I gave hir for the house, 8 dollars.
Given for the Acts of G. Assembly 1638, 2 shillings.
Given to my brother William, a dollar.
Given to my wife, 2 mark.
Also given to hir, a dollar.
Then given to my wife to pay the waterman with, 30 shils.
Then payed for Goodwin's Antiquities, etc., 7 shilings.
Then given to my wife to buy linnen to make me
shirts with, 2 dollars.
Given at Mr. David Falconer's woman's brithell,[645] a dollar.
Payed for a chopping of win, 10 pence.
For a quaire of paper, 6 pence.
For wine, 6 pence.
At a collation with Idington, 23 shilings.
Given to my wife to buy sugar with, 6 shilings st.
Then given to Dr. Stevinson's nurse, a dollar.

[645] Bridal.

This is the other 100 mks. which makes in all the wholle 200 mks.

Then I receaved my pension, vid., 200 mks. from the toune of Edenburgh: out of which imprimis:

Given by my wife to Doctor Stevincon's nurse, a dollar.
Given also to my wife, a dollar.
Given to my wife, a dollar.
Payed to John Jack for a pair of broatches to
William Ramsay, 5 lb.
Payed for wine, 15 pence.
Payed for a quaire of paper, 8 pence.
Payed to my man of depursements for me, 14 pence.
Payed for Papon's arrests of Parliament, a dollar.
Given to my wife, a dollar.
Given to my wife, a shilling.
Payed in a contribution for the poor out of money
given me in consultation, 4 lb. Scots.
Payed for a pair of gloves, 30 shil.
Given on the 2d of Febr. to keep the house with, 7 dollars.
Payed for horse hires when I went out and meit
the provest, 6 shilings and 6 pence.
Given to Rot. Lauder's man in Belhaven, a shiling.
Given to my wife, a dollar.
Given to Mr. Andro Wood's man in Dumbar, halfe a dolar.
Given at Waughton to Darling and Pat. Quarrier, a dollar.
Given at Gilmerton to the workmen their, a dollar.
Given for 20 load of coalls furnisht to us, 10 Ib.

This is on 100 mks.

Then given 5 lb. to the nurse for hir child's halfe
quarter, 5 lb.
Then payed on the 15 of Febr. 1671 to my onckle
35 lb. in 12 dollars[646] for 6 bolls of meall, the first
3 bolls being at 5 lb. 12 s. the boll, the other 3
being at 6 lb. the boll, 12 dollars.
Given to my wife, halfe a dolar.
Given to Walt. Cunyghame, halfe a dolar.
Given to my wife, a dollar.
Given to my wife also, a dollar.
Given for the use of the house, 3 dollars.
Spent upon wine, 18 pence.
Given to the macer's man, a mark.
Given to my wife, 2 dollars.
Given to the under keiper of our gounes, a mark.
Given to the barber, a mark.

[646] 1 Dollar equal to 4 s. 10-1/2d.

This is the count of the other 100 mks. of the 200 given me in pension.

Then I received from Wm Binning thesaurer 10 dollars, 4 of them consultation money, and 6 of them to make the 12 lb. st. or 150 lb. Scots,[647] of pension to me, out of which:

[647] 150 l. Scots ought to have been equal to £12, 10s. This shows that the Scots money was not at the time at par with the English.

Imprimis, given at a collation with Mr. Wm Lauder, 30 shils.
Given to the bedell at Leith, 6 pence.
Given to my wife, 2 shilings.
For sweit pouder, 2 shilings.
For wine, 5 pence.
Given to my wife, 6 pence.
Given for wine, 16 pence.
Given to my wife to buy shoes with and lint, a dollar.
Given for the use of the house, a dollar.
Payed for wine in Lieth, 20 shil.
Given at Hew Boyde's contribution, a shiling.
Given to my wife, a dollar.
Given to buy lint with, a dollar.
Given for a drinking glasse, 6 pence.
Given to my wife, a dollar.
Given for the State of England, 2d volume, 3 shilings.
Spent on wine, 18 pence.
Given for the use of the house, a dollar.

This is all the 10 dollars.

Then I receaved on the 17 of March 1671 from my father 300 mks. which made in all of what I had receaved from him 1700 mks., out of which:

Imprimis, given for the use of the house, a dollar.
Given to my wife to buy lace for a pinner, to buy
holland for napkins and aprons, etc., 5 dollars and a halfe.
Item, for a chopin of win, 10 pence.
Item, given to my wife, 10 pence.
Item, for the use of the house, a dollar.
To my wife to buy lace for apron and napkins, a dolar and a halfe.
Payed at a collation with collonell Ramsay, 42 shiling.
Lent to James Lauder, 2 dollars.
Given for the house, halfe a dolar.
Given to the barber, a shiling.
Payed to the baker conforme to his accompt, 13 lb. 5 s.
Payed for halfe a quarter's fie with the nurse's
child, 5 Ib.
Given to my wife, 2 shilings.
Payed at a collation with Mr. Charles Wardlaw, etc., 29 shil.
Item, to buy figs with, 9 pence.
Item, for Knox his History and Navarri Manuale, 2 dollars.

This is the accompt of one 100 mks.

Then of the rest.

Imprimis, given for the use of the house on the 1 of
Aprile 1671, 7 dollars.
On the 8 of Aprill given to the midwife, 5 dollars.
Given to my wife to buy a litle silver dish with,
which cost hir 33 shiling, a dollar.
Given to my wife for sundry uses, 2 dollars.
Spent upon wine, 24 shiling.
Then given to my wife to buy turkies, etc., 2 dollars.
Then given for ribbans to be garters, etc., 35 shil.
Then on beir in Peter Wats at a morning drink, 5 shil.
Then to Sir John Dalrymple's child's nurse, a dollar.
To Mr. Archbald Camron for taking up[648] the child's name, a dollar.
To the scavinger, 2 shilings.
At the kirk door, a 6 pence.
To the bedells, a dollar.
Given to my wife for sundry uses, 3 lb. 15 shil.

[648] Registering.

This makes 200 mks.

Then given out of the other:

Imprimis, to my wife, a dollar.
At a collation with Patrick Don, 43 shil.
To my wife to pay a quarter for
the nurse hir bairnes fie,[649] 2 dollars.
Item for the houses use, 2 dollars.
For a quaire of paper, 8 pence.
Item given to my wife, 5 pound.
Item given hir for buying meat to the gossips when they visit, 2 dollars.
Given to pay the win and seck gotten out of Painston's, 4 dolars.
Given to buy a coat to the bairne John, a dolar.
Given to buy wool with, 2 dollars.
Given to the poor, a shiling.
Given for wine, 20 shiling.
Given to the house, a dollar.
Given by my wife and me to Sir Androw's nurse, 2 dollars.
Waired on wine, 30 shiling.
Given to my wife, 2 mark.
On win with Mr. Alex'r Hamilton, 10 pence.
Given for paper and ink, 12 pence.
Given for wine, 10 pence.
Given to the woman Margaret, 18 pence.

[649] Wages of nursemaid eight dollars, about £2.

Sie the rest of their accounts alibi. This is the accompt of the said 300 m. very neir. So that their is nothing resting to me to make up a compleit years rent: vid., from Lambes 1669 to Lambes 1670, but only one hundred merks, which I allowed to my father in respect he payed a compt of that value for me to John Scot: as also of his oune moneyes he was pleased to pay 90 lb. for me which I was addebted to the same John for 23 elle of cloath tane of for my bed and appertenances, at 4 lb. the elle and did not at all place it to my accompt.

§2

O Lord, teach me so to be counting my dayes, that I may apply my heart to thy wisdome.[650]

[650] These words stand as a motto at the head of MS. K.

* * * * *

Sie my counts praeceiding this in a litle black skinned book alibi. [Supra, p. 239.]

On the 25 of May 1671, my father was debitor to me in the soume of 1800 mks., payable out of the lands of Carington, and that as my year's annuity from Lammas, in the yeir 1670, till Lambes coming in this instant year 1671; all preceidings are payed to me and discharged by me.

Of this 1800 mks., I receaved the formentioned day from him 200 mks., out of which I payed:

Imprimis, to the Janitor for 4 books, vid., the English laws,
Polidorus Virgilius, Zosimus and aliorum Historiae, and
Vimesius Theses, etc., 16 shil. st.
Given to my wife for sundry uses, 3 dollars.
For wine and seck in the Janitor's, 50 shil.
To my father's skild nurse by myselfe and my wife given, 2 dollars.
For 2 elle and a quarter scarlet ribban fra James Dick, 24 shil.
For this paper book wheiron I write thir compts., 6 pence.
Given to my wife, 6 pence.
For wine in Pentherers, 16 pence.
Given to the poor, a 6 pence.
Given to my wife for the use of the house and other things, 4 dollars.
Given to Joseph for shaving me, a shiling.
Given to my wife for sundry uses, 4 shilings.
On win, 6 pence.
Item, to my wife, 9 pence.
For a quaire of paper, a leather bag, and sundry
small things, 14 pence.
Item, given to my wife for the use of the house, 7 dollars.

This is 100 mks. laking on by halfe a dollar.

Then given to my wife for divers uses, 2 dollars.
For a pair of shoes, 3 shil. and 6 pence.
Upon win at Leith with Mr. Wood, etc., 16 pence.
Since on win and otherwayes, 8 pence.
Item, given since on beir, in Leith, for a velvet
cod,[651] etc., 10 pence.
On the 20 of June, given to my wife for the use of
the house, 7 dolars.
Item, for another pair of shoes, 42 shiling.
Item, for wine, 12 pence.
Item, for tent to my wife, a mark.
Item, for wine to the landlord when I payed him
100 lb., 10 pence.
Item, for sundry other adoes, 45 shiling.
On win. with Doctor Steinson, 13 pence.
Given to my wife to give hir wobster,[652] 3 shilings.
For more tent, a shiling.
Item, a dollar as a part of 6 lb. payed by me of
annuity, a dolar.
Item, on the 1 of July, given to my wife for the use
of the house, 6 dolars.
Item, at a collation with Kilmundy, 40 shil.
Given to my wife, halfe a dollar.
At a collation with Mr. Pat. Lyon, 50 shiling.
Item, on sundrie other uses, a dollar.

This is the accompt of the saids 200 mks.

[651] Pillow.

[652] Weaver.

Then on the 10 of June 1671, I received from the Provest, Sir A. Ramsay, 100 lb. Scots as a termes annuel rent of the principal soume of 5000 mks.,[653] addebted by him to me, vid., from Candlemas 1670 to Lammas 1670. Which 100 lb. I payed to James Wilsone, my landlord, in part of my house maill, which was 160 lb.,[654] so that I remaine yet debitor to him on that accompt in 60 lb., afterwards payed and all discharged.

[653] Unpaid half of his wife's marriage portion. See page xli; 3 per cent., equal to 6 per cent. per annum.

[654] House rent, £13, 6s. 8d. half-yearly.

Then on the 15 of July, I receaved from my father 400 mks., which made up 600 mks., of the year 1671, received by me, out of which Imprimis, payed to my landlord to compleit his maill, 60 lb. Item, to his woman Nans, a dollar. Item, to William Borthwick, the apothecar, conforme to his accompt, 36 lb. Item, to William Mitchell, the Baker, conforme to his accompt, 26 lb. Item, to Rot. Mein, for sweteis, glasses, etc., conforme to his compt., 14 lb. Item, given to my man when he brought me my 12 lb. sterl. from Wm. Broun, the burrows agent, a dollar. Item, given to my wife, 2 dollars. Item, upon win with Guus Grein, 15 pence. Item, to my wife for the use of the house, on the 22 of July 1671, 9 dollars. Given to my wife when she went to Innerkeithing fair, 2 dollars. Item, given hir to pay the deing[655] of hir hangings, 4 dollars. Item, on the 4 of August, given to my wife to buy a goune and petticoat, and furniture, conforme, 100 lb.

[655] Dyeing, I presume.

And because the 400 mks. receaved last from my father did not reach so far as to compleit it, theirfor I took 10 dollars out of 200 mks. payed me in July by Wm. Broun, in name and be halfe of the borrows for my pension, 1670, and made up the 100 lb. I gave to my wife theirby.

Item, farder payed out of the said 200 mks. of pension for 25 barrells of aile furnisht to the house from the midst of January till August, at 32 shil. the barrell, 12 dollars and a halfe.[656]

[656] Here the dollar is equal to 5s. 4d.

This is near ane accompt of one 100 mks. of the 200 m. payed to me in pension.

Item, given to my wife, 3 dollars.
Payed in R. Gilbert's when I was at Leith with the
Lady Wauchton, a dollar.
Item, payed for the coach hyre, a dollar.
Item, given to my wife to help to buy black lace
for hir goun, 2 dollars.
Item, given hir to buy coalls with from Leith and
elsewhere, 5 dolars.
Item, in Painston's with Sir Andro, 27 shill.
Item, given to my wife when she went to Waughton
to sie hir sone, 2 dollars and a halfe.
Item, in Painston's with Mr. Rot. Lauder and Rot.
Bell for our supper, 38 shill.
For 2 quaire of paper and ink, 18 pence.
For ane 100 plumes, 8 pence.
To Idington's Man when he come from Dundy
with the cloath, 29 shil.
To my man for sundrie depursements for me, 29 shil.
To the woman Marion for buying meall to the house, a shilling.
Item, in Peirson's with Rot. Bell, 27 shill.
Item, for my dinner in Pentherer's with Rot. Bell, etc., 48 shill.
Item, for a coach hyre out of Leith, 30 shiling.
Item, to Grange's man, a shilling.
Item, to my wife, halfe a dollar.
Item, for a mutching of tent, a shilling.
Item, given to the nurse to be compted in her fie, 2 dollars.
Item, given to my wife, a dollar.

This is the full accompt of the said 200 mks.

Then about the 14 of August I receaved from my father 300 mks. which made with all the former 900 mks. of this year 1671.

Out of which imprimis:

Given to my wife to pay the making of her goune
and other things, 4 dollars.
In Painston's with Mr. Jo. Eleis, 29 shiling.
To my wife, 50 shiling.
For a choping of brandy, 14 pence.
Item for a hat in Broun's, 7 shilings.
Item, to my wife, a dollar.
Item, to Grange's nurse, a dollar.
Item, to the barber Henry Porrock, 6 pence.
Item, to George Gairner, a mark.
Item, to W'm Binning the thesaurer his nurse, a dollar.
Item, to David Colyear, 36 shilling.
Item, on the 5 of September given to my wife for
the use of the house, ij dollars and a halfe.

This is one 100 merks.

Then on the same day given her farder for the
same use, 11 dollars.
Item, given hir, halfe a dollar.
Item, for wax and soap, 7 pence.
Payed to Henry Hope for ports of letters when
I was in Holland, 5 lb. 10s.
For the acts of parlia. in June 1649, 34s.
For 6 dozen of gold strips to the hangings at 7s.[657]
and 6 p. the dozen, 9 dollars.
Upon seck, 5 pence.

[657] Sterling.

This is another 100 mks.

Then given to my wife, a shilling.
For a quaire of paper, 9 pence.
At a collation with Hary Grahame, 36 pence.
To John Scots nurse, a dollar.
On win their, 26 shill.
In the Lady Home's yeards,[658] 6 pence.
Payed for my man's horsehire to Wauchton, 46 shill.
Payed of sundry depursements to my man, 20 shilling.
Given to George Gairner, a shilling.
Given to my wife, 10 dollars.
Item, on win with Walter Pringle, 35 shill.
Item, for a pair of botts, 17 shilings and sixpence.
To Alex'r Todrig's nurse, a dollar.
For a quaire of paper, 9 pence.
For rasing[659] me at 2 severall tymes, 18 pence.
Given at Coldinghame kirk, a 6 pence.
Given to the foot boy their, a 6 pence.
Upon sundrie other uses neir, a dollar.
Item, given to my wife, twa dolars.

[658] Probably means gardens.

[659] Shaving.

This makes neir the other 100 mks.

And in wholle it makes up the 300 mks. receaved from my father on the 14 of
August last.

Then on the 3 of Nov'r. I receaved other 300 mks. from him, which makes 1200 mks. of what I received of my annuity 1671, out of which, etc., etc.[660]

[660] This account is omitted as of no interest.

* * * * *

On the 20 of february 1672 I receaved 300 mks. more from my father, which with the former made 1500 mks. of the 1800 mks. due to me of annuity from Lammes 1670 till Lambes last in 1671, out of which, etc., etc.

* * * * *

Then on the 17 of Aprill 1672 I farder receaved from my father other 300 mks., which being joined with all the former makes up 1800 mks., which is a full years annuity owing to me by my father, vid., from Lambes 1670 till Lambes last in anno 1671: wheiron I retired all my partiall discharges and gave him a full discharge of that year's annuity and of all preceiding Lambes 1671.

Out of this last 300 mks.

Imprimis, payed to Margaret Neilsone in part of 2 years fie owing hir (it being 23 lb. Scots by year)[661] at Whitsonday approching, 34 lb. So that their yet rests to hir of thesse 2 years fie 12 lb. Scots. Item, payed to Bailyie Drummond for the cloath of my wife's black goune, 46 lb. Item, for Auctores Linguæ Latinæ, vid., Warre, Isidorus, etc., 40 shiling. Item, given to my wife, a dollar. Item, given hir to buy worsted stockings for me, 3 shillings. Given at a collation with Eleiston, 30 shilling. Item, for a quaire of paper, 9 pence. Given to my wife for the use of the house on the 27 of Aprill, 15 dollars.

All which depursements make 200 mks. of the last 300 received from my father.

[661] Women servants wages, nearly £2 sterling.

Item, for the Covenanters Plea, a shilling.
Given for a new quarter with the nurse
hir bairne, 3 dollars and a halfe.
For the Informations about the Firing of London, 6 pence.
At a collation, 30 pence.
For a quaire of paper, 8 pence.
Given to my wife, a dollar.
At a collation with Wm. Aickman, 26 shil.
Item, given to the nurse in part of hir fie, 4 dollars.
Item, for G. Burnet's letter to Jus populi and for
the Tragi comedy of Marciano, 9 pence.
For a book against the commonly received tennents
of witchcraft, 8 pence.
Given to my wife, tua dollars.
Given to my unckle Andrew in compleit payment
of his meall, 9 dollars.
Given for the Seasonable Case and the Survey of Naphthali, 50 pence.
Given for Milton's Traity anent Marriages, 2 shillings.
Item, upon win, 2 shillings.
Item, for a pair of shoes, 40 pence.

This is the accompt of the haill 300 mks. last received by me from my father on the 17 of Aprill 1672.

Then on the 1 of June 1672 I receaved from Thomas Robertsone 350 lb. Scots: 200 lb. of it was a years interest of my 5000 mks. he hes in his bond, vid., from Lambes 1670 till Lambes 1671: the other 150 lb. was my pension fra the toune of Edr for the year 1672. Given out of the 300 mks.

Imprimis, to my wife, 20 rix dollars.
Item, for Petryes History of the Church, 15 shills. sterl.
This is one 100 merks.[662]
Item, for Taylor's Cases of Conscience or Ductor, etc., 22 shillings.
Item, for Baker's Chronicle of England and Blunt's
Animadversions on it, 20 shillings.
Item, for Plinius 2dus his Epistles cum notis variorum, 6 shillings.
Item, for Cromwell's Proclamations and other Acts
of his Counsell from Septr. 1653 till Decr. 1654, 4 shillings.
For a pair of silk stockings, ij shills: 6 p.
Given to the nurse's husband, a dollar.
Given for Tyrannick love and the Impertinents, tuo comoedies, 40 pence.
Given for Reflections upon the Eloquence of this tyme, 18 pence.
Given for the Mystery of Iniquity unvailled by G.B., 9 pence.
Given for the accompt of the sea fight betuixt E.
and D. in 1665,[663] and are answer of our Commissioners
to England in 1647, 4 pence.
Given for ane answer to Salmasius Def. Regia,. 7 pence.
Item, for my dinner and other charges at Leith,
the race day, 3 shillings stg.
Given for Holland to be a halfe shirt, 5 shillings.
Given to my wife for the house, a dollar.
Given for the life of the Duck D'Espernon, 15 shillings.

This is another 100 mks.

[662] This makes the dollar about 4s. 9-1/2d.

[663] English and Dutch.

Item, given to my wife for the use of the house, 18 dollars.
Item, at Halbert Gledstans woman's marriage, a dollar.
Item, at the comoedy, halfe a dollar.
Item, that night in Rot. Meins for wine, halfe a dollar.
Item, in James Dean's the consecration day, 23 shillings.
Item, payed to Jonet's nurse and hir husband,[664]
For hir fie drink money, bounty and all, 24 dollars.
which absorbed all the 300 mks. received by me from Thomas
Robertsone as my annuel rent and put me to take 21 dollars
out of the money given me in pension.
Hence of the 150 lb. given me in pension I payed
to the said nurse as already is got doune, 21 dolars.
Item, given to my wife, 2 dollars.
Item, given hir for the use of the house on the 1 of August 21 dollars.

[664] Amount torn off.

This is 128 lb. of the 150 receaved by me in pension, so that their remains with me 23 lb. of that money, out of which 23 lb.

Imprimis on the first of September 1672 given the said haill 23 lb. to my wife for the use of the house.

Then on the 24 of August I had received from Thomas Robertsone the other year's interest of my 5000 mks. in his hands (being 300 mks.) vid., from Lambes 1671 till Lambes immediately bypast in 1672.

Out of which imprimis:

Given to my wife the forsaid 1 of September for
the use of the house, 5 dollars.
[Item lent to Eleiston, 3 dollars.[665]
repayed.
Item, at a collation with Pat. Waus, a dollar.
Item, on the 16 of September 1672, given to the midwife, 6 dollars.
Payed in annuity from Whitsonday 1671 till Whytsonday
1672 in 3 dollars and a halfe, 10 lb. and a groat.[666]
Item, at a collation, a mark.
For a letter from France, 14 pence.
To my father's man, a mark.
For paper, vid., a quaire, 8 pence.
Item, given to Grissell Ramsay for the use of my house, a dollar.
Item, given at Gosfoord, 20 shiling.
Item, to St Germain's nurse, a dollar.
Item, to Mr. James Fausyde's man, 30 shill.
Item, for win at Cokeny,

[665] Erased in MS.

[666] Apparently the last groat coined in Scotland was the copper twelvepenny groat of Francis and Mary in 1558. James V. coined a silver groat in 1525 worth 18d Scots. The groat here is an English groat, which was worth 4d.

This is more then one 100 mks. of the 300.

Item, given to my wife on the 28 of Septr. 1672, for providing things to the christning, 22 dollars. Item, to Doctor Stevinson's nurse, a dollar.

This is 200 mks. of the 300 received from T. Robertsone.

Item, for registration of my daughter's name to Mr.
Archbald Camron, a dollar.
Item, to Thomas Crawfurd, kirk treasurer because
not christned at sermon tyme, a dollar.
To the kirk bedell, 42 shilling.
For a letter from France, 14 pence.
On win in Rot. Meins, a mark.
For a coatch hyre to Ja. Dean's house, a shilling.
For a pair of shoes, 3 shillings.
Given in with a letter to Paris, a shilling.
For a quaire of paper and for ink, 10 pence.
For a mutching of seck with Mr. William Beaton, 9 pence.
Item, on the 13 of October, given to my wife, 9 dollars and a mark.
Item, for win., 10 pence.
Item, given to Pitmedden's man, a mark.
Item, to William Broun's man when he payed me my pension, a dollar.
Item, on the 22 of October, given to my wife, 7 dollars.
Item, on incident charges, a dollar.

This is the 300 mks. of annuel rent received by me from Thomas Robertsone on the 24 of August last.

Item, on the 22 of October 1672, I receaved from William Broun, agent for the borrows, 12 pounds sterling, being my pension as their assessor for the year 1671, of which:

Imprimis, for a pair of shoes, 40 shiling.
Item, in charity to Ja. Hog, 29 pence.
Item, for 4 quare of paper, 30 pence.
Item, for a letter from France, 14 pence.
Item, at a collation in James Halyburton's, 50 shiling.
To Robert Boumaker, a dollar.
On coffee and other things, 16 pence.
Item, given to my wife, two dollars.
Item, given to my wife, dollars 21.

So then their remains of the said 12 lb. st. given me by William Broun only 22 dollars.

With the which 21 dollars given to my wife, she payed first
to Rot. Mein, for confections, wine, etc., to the christening, 28 lb.
Item, to William Mitchell for baken meit at the same tyme, 18 lb.
Item, for sundrie other accompts, 15 lb.

Which is the haill 21 dollars.[667]

[667] This brings out the dollar at about 4s. 10d.

Item, of the 22 dollars remaining to me of the foresaid money given me in pension,

Imprimis, given to my wife for the use of the house on the 5
of November 1672, 14 dollars.
Item, at a collation or on win in Grissel Ramsay's house, 2 shillings.
Item, for seing the comedy called the Silent Woman, halfe a dollar.
Item, at a collation after it, 14 pence.
Item, on some other charges, 2 shillings.
Item, at a collation, 35 shillings.
Item, given on the 13 of Nov. to my wife for the
use of the house, 6 dollars.

This is all the 12 lb. of pension.

Then at a consultation of the Toune of Edrs, I receaved 23 dollars, of which:

Imprimis, given to my wife the tyme aforsaid, 2 dollars.
Item, for sundry books, vid.:
Barronius Annals compendized, 2 tomes,. \
Summa conciliorum, Tyrius Maximus, Danaei Antiquitates, |
Benzonis Historia Americae, Demosthenis | 15 shillings
Olynthiaca, | and 6 pence.
Apulei opera omnia, Bucholzeri Chronologia, |
S.G. M'Keinzies Plaidings, /
Item, for myselfe and my wife at the comedy called
Love and Honor, a dollar.
Item, on win after I came home, 18 pence.
Item, given to my wife for the use of the house on
the 20 of November, 16 dollars.
Item, upon win at sundry times, 40 shiling.

This is the haill 23 dollars.

Item,[668] at sundrie consultations, vid., on of George Homes, 4 dollars; on of Henry Lindsay's for the Laird of Guthry, 4 dollars. Item, from James Gibsone, 2 dollars; on of Mr. P. Hamilton of Dalserfes, 4 dollars; from Mr. Alex. Seaton in name of my Lord Winton, 10 dollars. Item, at a consultation with the toune of Edr., 10 dollars, making in all 34 dolars, wheirof upon sundry occasions which do not now occurre, I spent 8 dollars long ago. So then their remains 26 dollars, out of which Imprimis:

[668] Example of counsel's fees.

Given or lent to Margaret Ramsay at the hilhead, 3 dollars.
Given in charity to on Anna Gordon upon hir testificats, a shilling.
Item, at Jo. Meggets relicts brithle, a dollar.
Item, at collations since, a dollar.
Item, upon other affairs, tuo dollars.
For seing the comedy called the Siege of Granada,
2d part, for my selfe, my wife, and Grissell
Ramsay, a dollar and a halfe.
Item, to the bassin at the church door, halfe a dollar.
Item, given to my wife, a dollar.
Given to G. Patersone, the wright, his woman or
nurse, a dollar.
Item, at a collation with Charl. Oliphant about Touch, 24 pence.
Item, at the comoedy, being the first part of Granada's
seige, for my selfe, my wife, Rachel, and
Grissell Ramsayes, 2 dollars.
Item, given to my wife for the use of the house, 8 dollars.
Item, for the acts of parlia., session 1672, etc., 30 shiling.
Item, for binding Hadington's Praitiques, 42 shilling.
For a quaire of paper, 6 pence.
Item, upon other uses, 40 shilling.
Item, to my wife, 2 dollars.

This is the accompt of the haill 26 dollars.

Item, receaved at 2 sundry consultations 6 dollars, out of which:

Imprimis, given to my wife, 2 dollars.
Item, on win at Aberdour, a mark.
Item, for sieng the house and yairds of Dunybirsell, a mark.
To G. Kirkcaldie's servante, a dollar.
To my wife, halfe a croun.
For the New art of wying vanity against Mr. G.
Sinclar, 15 pence.
Item, to my wife for the use of the house on the
last of Decr. 1672, 8 dollars.

Which was out of other money I had besyde me, which 8 dollars with what I gave formerly makes up 14 dollars and 3 shillings sterl. of the money due to hir for the moneth of January 1673.

Item, again to my wife, a dollar and 4 merks.
Item, given hir, 2 merks.
As also given to hir, two dollars.
Item, given to hir again, a dollar.
Item, given hir, thrie dollars and 2 shillings.
Item, given hir, 2 dollars.

Then on the 19 of february 1673, I receaved from Rot. Govan, gairdner, 20 lb. in payment of his tack duety for all termes preceiding Martinmas 1672, out of which Imprimis:

Payed for my selfe and Mr. John Wood for seing
the comoedy called Sir Martin Mar-all, a dollar.
Item, to my wife, 3 dollars.
Given in with the trades bill, a dollar.
Item, at a collation, l6 pence.
Item, given to my wife, a dollar.
Item, waired upon sundrie things, 40 shil.

This is the accompt of the 20 lb.

Then upon the 5't day of March 1673 I receaved from my father 400 merks, the first monie I lifted furth of the annuity payable to me from Lambes 1671 till Lambes 1672 last bypast: all preceiding Lambes 1671 being payed to me by my father as I have already marked, out of which:

Imprimis, given to my wife, 23 dollars.
to pay hir ale compt which was 9 dollars: hir baxter compt,
5 dollars, hir wobster, 2 dollars; hir coalman, 3 dollars. Hir
nurse for the bairne Jonets quarter, 4 dollars.[669]
Item, given my wife for the use of the house during
this moneth of March, 10 dollars.
Item, for a pair of gloves, halfe a dollar.
Item, at a collation and on other uses, 3 shilings.
Item, spent upon the race day, 3 shillings.
Item, at a collation, 26 shiling.
Item, sent to Calderwood's man's wedding, a dollar.
Item, at a collation in Heriot's yards, 18 pence.
Item, for seck with A. Todrigde, ij pence.
To the Lady Pitmedden's nurse, a dollar.
Item, in Ja. Haliburton's, tua merks.
Item, to a poor woman, a mark.
Item, for a quair of paper, 6 pence.
Item, to the barber, 6 pence.
Item, to the kirk basin, 6 pence.
Item, given to my wife, a dollar and a halfe.
Item, given hir, tua dollars and 2 mark.
Item, spent in Ja. Haliburton's, 2 marks.
Given to my wife, tua dollars.
Given to the barber, a 6 pence.
Given for a timber comb, 8 pence.
Given on other uses, 8 pence.
Item, in the taverne, 20 pence.
Item, to my wife,. 20 pence.
Item, on the 1 of April given to my wife for the
use of the house that moneth, 12 dollars.
Upon win at sundry tymes, 40 shilling.
Item, to the barber, 6 pence.
Upon other uses, 9 pence.
Item to the kirk deacon for a year's contribution 2 dollars.

[669] Wages of a nurse sixteen dollars, or about £4 yearly, double the wages of an ordinary woman servant.

[Sidenote: [This money is repayed me.][670]

[Item, payed out for my Lord Provest's use and by his vreits[670] a hundred merks and 8 dollars to Marie Hamilton in pairt of payment of the right she had upon Popill][671] which being joyned with the former makes up exactly the haill 400 mks. receaved by me from my father on the 5't of March last.

[Sidenote: [Which money is yet owing me.][671]

[670] Writs.

[671] Erased in MS.

Then out of 4 dollars receaved in a consultation, I gave first
To the maid at Dudingstone, a mark.
To the kirk broad their, a mark.
Item, to Rot. Craw, a shilling.
Item, for confections at Bervick, 2 shillings.
Item, to Idington's man, a mark.
Item, at Pople for shoing the horse, item at Auldcambus
for brandy to the Dutchmen, a shilling.
Item, to a barber at Hadinton, 6 pence.
Item, given to my wife, 31 shiling.
Item, to the kirk broads, a shilling.
Item, given to my wife, 2 shillings.
Item, spent at Leith and else wheir, 50 shilling.

In the beginning of May 1673, my father and I having made our accompts he was debitor to me in the soume of 1400 merks as resting of 1800 mks. of my annuity from Lambes 1671 till Lambes 1672 (for on the 5 of March last I got from him 400 mks. of the 1800, hence rested only 1400 mks. of that years annuity) and I was found resting to him the soume of 40 pounds sterling or 720 merks[672] as tuo years maill of my dwelling-house[673] videlizet-from Witsonday 1671 (at which I entered to it) till Whitsonday nixt approaching 1673, which being deducted and retained by my father in his oun hand, of the 1400 mks. their remained 680 merks; wheirof I receaved at the said tyme from my father 380 merks in money, wheirupon their rested to me behind of my annuity preceiding Lambes 1672 just 300 mks: and I gave my father a discharge of the said 720 mks. of house maill, and of the said 380 mks. receaved by me in money, making togithir ij00 mks, which with the preceiding 400 mks. gotten by me on the 5 of March last makes up 1500 merks in all.

[672] This is normal. £1 equal to eighteen marks.

[673] His house rent was £20 a year.

Out of this 380 mks. receaved from my father on the 8 of May 1673,

Imprimis, given to my wife for paying hir meal and
hir children's quarters, etc., 6 dollars.
Item, for 2 quaire of paper, 18 pence.
Item, for my decreit and charging Rot. Johnston, 18 pence.
Item, on other uses, tua shillings.
Item, on win with Mr. Pat. Hamilton, a shilling.
Given to my wife on the 10 of May for the use of
the house, ij dollars.

Which making up 18 dollars and more compleit the 80 merks,
so their remains 300 mks. behind, out of which imprimis:
In Haliburton's with Sam. Cheisley, 40 shiling.
Item, to the kirk broad at Dudiston, 6 pence.
Item, to the barber, halfe a mark.
Item, in Masterton's with G. Gibson, 31 shilling.
Item, to Will. Sutherland, a mark.
For G. Burnet's reply and conferences, 3 shillings.
To Mr. Mathew Ramsay's nurse, a dollar.
For a pint of win their, 24 shilings.
For copieng a paper, 40 shiling.
Item, for mum and walnuts, 9 pence.
Item, at the kirk door, 6 pence.
Item, for win and sugar, 7 pence.
Given to my wife for furniture to my cloaths and
hir oune goune, 5 dollars.
Item, in Haliburton's for mum, 22 shiling.
Item, upon seck, 9 shiling.
Item, in James Haliburton's, 18 pence.
Item, given to my wife, a dollar.
Item, at the kirk door and on other uses, 13 pence.
Item, to Jo. Steinsone, gairdner, 14 pence.
Item, to my wife to be given to hir washer and other uses, 2 dollars.
Item, to Lancelot Ker for copieng a book to me first, a dollar.
Item, given to my wife, 6 dollars.
Upon other use I remember not, 2 dolars.

This is on 100 mks.

Item, on coffee, the poor and other uses, 3 shillings.
Item, given to my wife to pay hir servants fies on
the 31 of May 1673, ij dollars.
[Lent to Mr. Jo. W.][674] repayed me [3 dollars.][674]
Item, upon mum, 12 pence.
Item, for the provests last act, to Jo. Trotter in his
Improbation, 30 shilling.
For a quaire of paper, 9 pence.
Given to my wife on the 4 of June, 1673, 5 dollars.
In James Haliburton's, 14 pence.
Payed for 2 pair of shoes, 6 shillings and a groat.
On a quaire of paper and other uses, a mark.

[674] Erased in MS.

This is near another 100 merks.

Item, given to my wife on the 9 day of June 1673, 6 dollars.
To Joseph the barber, a shilling.
Item, in Ja. Haliburton's, 18 pence.
Item, for a timber chair, 18 pence.
Item, on Leith on the race day, 3 shillings.
Item, at the kirk door, 6 pence.
For the post of a letter from my goodbrother, 14 pence.
Item, in Maistertons with young Idington when he went away, 32 shiling.
At dinner in Haliburton's, 20 pence.
Item, to the barber, 6 pence.
Item, upon other uses, 6 pence.
Item, to my father's woman who keips the child
George, given by myself and my wife, 2 dollars.
Item, given to my wife, a dollar.
Payed to the coallman, 10 lb.[675]
Item, upon paper and ink, 10 pence.
Item, in Ja. Haliburtons, 10 pence.
Item, given to my wife for buying a scarfe, hood, 10 pence.
fan, gloves, shoes, linnen for bands, etc., 7 dollars.

[675] This is one of the few instances in which an item of
expenditure is stated in pounds.

This is another 100 merks. And which compleits the haill 380 merks receaved from my father on the 8 of may 1673.

Upon the 20 of June 1673 I receaved from William Binning a years salarie as tounes assessor which he was owing me for the year 1671 wheirin he was tresurer, being 150 lb. Scots, which is about 229 merks, out of which:

Imprimis, for a pair of net leather shoes, 3 shillings. Item, in Painston's with Mr. Todridge, 48 shill. Item, given to my wife partly to pay Margaret Neilsons fie and partly for other uses, 3 dollars. For a triple letter its post for Rome, 15 pence. Item, for seing the play called the Spanish Curate, halfe a dollar. Item, for cherries to Kate Chancellor their, halfe a dollar. Item, theirafter in Aikman's, 14 pence. Item, at the kirk door, halfe a mark. Item, spent when I was at Liberton kirk, 2 shillings. Item, for Thomas the Rymer's Prophecies, 4 pence. For the Lords answer in Fairlies case, a dollar. Item, given to my wife to compleit Margaret Neilsons fie during the haill tyme of hir service besides what was payed hir formerly, 6 dollars and a mark. Given to my wife for sundry uses, 10 dollars. To my sone John's nurse, 10 merks. Item, to buy paper etc. to him who copied me Mckeinzies Criminals, 29 shiling. Item, payed at sundrie tymes in the taverne, 30 pence. Item, for a dozen of silver spoons wying tuo onces the peice in all 24 onces at 5 shillings and 6 pence per once, making each spoon to be ellevin shillings sterling,[676] 47 lb. for I gave them in exchange 6 old silver spoons, which fell short of 6 new ons in 10 shillings sterl. upon the want of weight, and the accompt of the workmanship, so they stood me in all as I said before 47 pounds Scots. Item, payed to the ailman for are accompt of aill furnished, 24 lb.

[676] Price of silver.

This makes near the 150 lb. receaved from Bailzie Binnie.

Item, in the end of June 1673 1 receaved from William Broun, agent for the borrows, in their name and behalfe, my pension of 12 lb. sterl., being for the year praeceiding Whitsonday 1673; out of which:

Imprimis, given to my man when he brought it to me, a dollar.
Item, to the barber, a 6 pence.
To the kirk broad, halfe a mark.
Item, on coffee, 3 pence.
Item, for Reusneri Symbola Imperatoria to the
Janitor, 18 pence.
Item, to him for the particular carts[677] of Lothian,
Fyffe, Orknay and Shetland, Murray, Cathanes,
and Sutherland, at 10 p. the peice, 3 pound.
Item, at Pitmeddens woman's marriage, given by
my selfe and my wife, 2 dollars and a shil.
Item, on halfe a dozen of acornie[678] spoons, 2 shillings.
Item, payed to Adam Scot for a mulct in being
absent from a meiting of the advocats, 28 shiling.
Item, payed to Edward Gilespie for my seat maill[679]
from Whitsonday 1672 to Whitsonday 1673, 12 lb.
Item, to the copier of Mckeinzies Criminalls, a mark.
Item, to the barber, halfe a mark.
To the kirk basin, halfe a mark.
Given to my wife, a mark.
Item, on brandee, 3 shilling.
Given to M'ris Mawer in charity, 29 shiling.
Item, payed in Pat Steills, a mark.
Item, on the 15 of July 1673 given to my wife, 10 rix dollars.
Upon win in Rot. Bell's house, 2 shillings.
Item, at the Presidents man's penny brithell, a dollar and a 6 pence.
In H. Gourlay's with D. Stevinson, 38 shiling.
[Given to my wife to buy me a pair of worsted
stockings, 4 shillings.][680]
Item to the barber, a 6 pence.
Item, Tom Gairdner for bringing cheerries from Abbotshall, a shiling.
To the kirk broad, 6 pence.
Item, for mounting my suit of cloaths with callico,
buttons, pockets, etc., 3 dollars.
Item, to the taylor for making them, a dollar.
Item, to Walter Cunyghame for keiping our gounes, a dollar.
Item, upon cherries, 6 pence.
Item, in Painstons, a shilling.
Item, to the copier of Mckeinzies Criminalls, 2 mark.
Item, for seing the Maidens tragaedy for my selfe
and Mr. William Ramsay,[681] a dollar.
At the kirk door, 6 pence.
To the barber, halfe a mark.
In Aickmans after the comedy, a mark.
In Ja. Haliburtons, a mark.
Item, at a collation also their, 28 shiling.
Item, at collations theirafter, 7 shillings st.
Upon the 1 of August 1673 given to my wife for
the use of the house that moneth, 18 dollars and a halfe.

[677] Price of maps.

[678] This word, distinctly written, looks at first like acomie, but is no doubt the word acornie (French, acorné, horned), which Jamieson defines as a substantive, meaning 'apparently a drinking vessel with ears or handles.' He quotes from Depredations on the Clan Campbell, p. 80: 'Item, a silver cup with silver acornie, and horn spoons and trenchers.' It seems more probable that the word in both passages is an adjective, applicable to spoons, and descriptive of the pattern.

[679] Seat rent in church.

[680] Erased in MS.

[681] Price of theatre.

Which makes up the full 12 lb. sterling received by me from the borrows.

The nixt money I brok was some given me in consultation this summer
session, or in payment ather by the gairdner or Rot. Johnston, who had the
loft,[682] Mr. Jo. Wood or other, making in all as I have every particular
set doune in writing beside me about 280 merks and upwards, out of which
Imprimis the said 1 of August
given farder to my wife for the use of the house, 4 dolars.
Item, to Samuel Colvill for his Grand Impostor discovered, 3 dollars.
Item, to him who brought home my session goune, a mark.
To Rot. Meins man when he brought me the confections
the nixt day after the tounes cherry
feast to the exchequer, 15 pence.
For the new help to discourse, 20 pence.
To the barber, halfe a mark.
To the kirk basin, halfe a mark.
For 2 quaire of paper, 14 pence.
For 4 quaire of great paper for copieng the statutes
of the toune of Edr. theiron, 32 shilling.
To Grange[683] his man, a mark.
To the barber, 6 pence.
To the kirk bason, 6 pence.
To Will Sutherland, a mark.
Given to my wife, a shilling.
Upon win with Rot. Hamilton the clerk, a mark.
For Evelins Publick employment against Mckeinzies Solitude, 9 pence.
Spent in Arthur Somervells, a mark.
Spent in Ja. Haliburtons on night, 2 mark.
For carieng a book to Hamilton, 6 pence.
To the barber, 6 pence.
For a quaire of paper, 9 pence.
To the kirk basin, 6 pence.
For a double letter from my good-brother Sir Androw R., 28 shilings.
To my nurse when she came to sie me on the 20 of August 1673, a dollar.
Item, given to my man, a mark.
Item, upon sundry other uses not weill remembred
by me because small, 29 shil.
To the barber, 6 pence.
Upon seck with Mr. Innes my Lo. Lyons clerk for Granges armes, 13 pence.
Upon pears and plumes, 5 pence.
To the kirk bason, 6 pence.
Item, upon seck, 8 pence.
Item, in Mary Peirs's with Stow and John Joussie, 27 shiling.

[682] Parts of his house sublet.

[683] William Dick of Grange, son of William Dick, a younger son of Sir William Dick of Braid. His grand-daughter and heiress, Isobel Dick, was married to Sir Andrew Lauder, Fountainhall's grandson and successor.

[After this portion of the MS. only selections have been made.]

For the Gentleman's calling, a shilling.
For the Guide to Gentlewomen, 2 mark.
For the colledge of fools, 4 pence.
Item, for a letter from Sir Androw R. from Paris, 14 pence.
For Donning's Vindication of England against the Hollanders, 16 pence.
For le tombeau des controverses, 7 pence.
For 4 comoedies, viz. Love in a Nunnery, Marriage
a la mode, Epsom Wells, and Mcbeth's tragedie at
16 p. the peice, 5 shils. and a groat.
Upon morning drinks for sundry dayes, 6 pence.
To Joseph Chamberlayne for trimming my hair, 6 pence.
To Thomas Broun for Howell's Familiar letters, 5 shilings stg.
For every man his oun doctor, 2 shillings.
For the journall of the war with Holland in 1672, 2 shillings.
For the Mercury Gallant, 2 shillings.
For the Rehearsall transprosd, 18 pence.
For the Transproser rehears't, 18 pence.
On morning drinks and other uses, a mark.
For Stubs Non justification of the present war with Holland, 4 marks.
For the Present State of Holland, 34 shiling.
For halfe a mutskin of malaga with Pat. Wause, 6 pence.

To Samuell Borthwick for letting blood of my wife, 3 mark.
To Ja. Borthwick's other prentise that was with him, a mark.
For a mutskin of sack in Ja. Deans at the Cannogate foot, 14 pence.

I had receaved from Thomas Robertsone thesaurer to the good toune on the 21 of August 1673 first 12 Ib. sterling for a years pension due to me by the toune from Lambes 1672 till Lambes 1673: as also I got at the same tyme ane years annuel rent of the principall soume of 5000 merks he is owing me by bond being from Lambes 1672 till Lambes last 1673, which was only 263 merks, because he retained 37 mks. and a halfe or 25 Ib. Scots of the ordinar annuelrent of 6 per cent. for 3 quarters of a year, vid., from Mertinmas 1672 till Lambes last 1673, conforme to the act of parlia. made in 1672,[684] and first out of the said 12 lb. sterling (being 220/219 merks) of pension given:

[684] See note, p. 273.

Imprimis to Granges man when he brought over the apples and pears, a mark. Item, on the 10 of October 1673 to my wife to buy hir great chimley with over and above hir old one, which she gave them in, 8 dollars. In Guynes with Mr. Wood, Mr. C. Lumsdean, and others, 20 pence. For taking out the extract of Granges blazoning, first to the Lyon himselfe, [10 merks.][685] this is repayed me. Then to Mr. Rot. Innes his clerk, [6 merks.][685] this also. To Wil. Sutherland when he went to Grange with his patent of his bearing, a mark. At dinner in Ja. Haliburtons with Mr. Gray the converted papist, 22 shiling. At Jo. Mitchells with Mr. Pollock the merchand and Mr. Gilbert, 52 shiling. To J. Mitchell's man who lighted me home, 3 pence. Given to Wm Sim for copieng to me the compend of the Statutes of Edenbrugh being. 6 rix dollars. just 5 quaire of paper, which 6 rix dollars makes just 3 pence the sheit; its only a shilling lesse.

[685] Erased in MS.

Item for a mutsking of sack with Mr. Garshoires, a shilling.
In Mr. Rot. Lauder's when we saw his wife, a dollar.
To my man Androw Bell to buy a bible and a knife
with to himselfe, a rix dolar.
On the 10 of Nov'r, the day the comissioner came
in, spent with Mr. Thomas Patersone, 52 shiling.
On the ij of Nov'r given to my wife more then hir
monethes silver to perfit the price of hir black
fringes to hir goune, which stood hir 36 lb., tua dollars.
For Temple's Observations, 35 shiling.
To the parsone of Dyserts woman when she brought
over the ham, a mark.
At Mr. David Dinmuires woman's brithell, a dollar and a groat.
For Quean Margaret of France hir Memorialls, 16 pence.
For a black muff to my wife, ij shillings.
For buttons to my shag coat, 29 shiling.
For the kings letter to the parl. of Scotland, 2 pence.
Casten in at my servant John Nasmith's wedding
on the 5 of Dec'r, 5 rix dolars.
Item, to the music, a mark.
Given to my wife to cast in, 3 rix dolars.
Given in charity to on Christian Cranston, a dollar.
Item, given to my wife, a dollar.
Item, on the 8 of Dec'r given hir, 5 dollars.

Item, in this money their was a dollar of ill money.

The nixt money I brok upon was 52 dollars (wheirof 31 of them ware legs[686]), which I had receaved at sundrie tymes from severall parties in consultation money, conforme to a particular accompt of their receipt besyde me.

[686] See Introduction, Money.

Out of which payed Imprimis to Mr. Ja. Hendersone for Ja. Sinclar of Roslin in the begining of Dec'r 1673 to compleit the payment of the bill drawen by Sir Androw Ramsay upon me of 789 lb. 4 shillings Scots money conforme to Roslin's receipt of the haill bill. 185 mks. in 42 legged dollars,[687] so that their remains behind of that consultation money receaved by me before December 1673 about 9 rix dollars and some more, out of which For Loydes Warning to a careles world from T. Broun, 15 pence. For seing Marriage a la mode acted, for my selfe and Mr. J. Wood, a leg dollar. For M.A. Antoninus his Meditations on himselfe, 30 pence.

The nixt money I made use of was 32 lb. Scots in ij rix dollars[688] receaved by me from George Patersone the wright for his house maill before Whitsonday last 1673, the other aught lb. of the 40 lb. being allowed to him in ane accompt of work.

[687] This works out at about 4s. 10 3/4 d. for each leg dollar.

[688] Dollar 58 2/11d.

To on Lilias Darling in charity, 12 pence.
Given to my wife on the 3 of Januar 1674, 6 merks.
Payed in Ja. Haliburtons with Mr. Gabriell Semple, 21 shiling.
Item, on the 5 of January 1674 to give in hansell
being hansell Monday, 21 marks.
Item, with Mr. Robert Lauder, clerk at Dumfries, 25 shiling.
To Mr. Peirsone for writing the Observes out of the
old books of parl. secret councell and sederunt, 4 merks.
To criple Robin, a 6 pence.
To him who copied Mckeinzies Criminalls 1 tome in
compleat payment to him, 2 merks.
Item, for a book anent the education of young
gentlemen, 33 shiling.
In Sandy Bryson's, 9 pence.
To the contribution for the prisoners amongs the
Turks, a mark.
To Will Sutherland, 7 pence.
Given to Walter Cunyghame for keiping our gounes, a dollar.
Given to my wife on the 23 of february 1674, the 50 mk.
in ij dollars and a halfe.
For Lucas speech, the votes and adresses of the
house of commons and the relation of the engagements
of the fleets in 1673, 14 pence.
To Thomas Broun for Parkers Reprooff to the
Rehearsall transp., 6 shillings stg.
To him for the Rehearsall transprosed. 2d part, 28 shilling.
On mum with Mr. R. Forrest, 21 pence.
Upon sweities, 4 pence.
On win at Rot. Gilbert's bairnes christning, 24 pence.
For Fergusone against Parker about Grace and
morall vertue, 32 shilings.
For the Art of complaisance, 16 shil.
For the Articles of Peace, 2 shil.
Item, with Mr. Rot. Wemyss, 12 shiling.
To the Kirk Deacon for a yeirs contribution in
March 1674, 2 rix dollars.
Spent with Mr. William Ramsay, 5 pence.
For the Proclamations against duells, and that
about the E. of Loudon's annuity, and upon
sundrie other uses, a mark.
With Muire of Park, 9 pence.
Given to hir, my wife, to give to Arthur Temple ane
English croun which belonged to Mr. John Wood.
To my wife to buy a petticoat of cesunt[689] taffety, 4 dollars.
For Gudelinus and Zoesius deffendis, 29 pence.
Upon win with Mr. Mathew Ramsay, a mark.
Given to my wife on the 13 of April 1674, 13 Ib. 10 sh.

[689] Query, 'seasoned.'

To my wife to help to buy hir cow, for which she gave 20 Ib. Scots,[690] and which 13 Ib. 10s. Scots just compleited and exhausted the 450, 13 Ib. 10 shil. merks receaved by me from my father on the 20 of februar last 1674. As for the other 6 Ib. 10 shillings that rested to perfit the price of the cow, I gave that out of the other money I had besyde me.

[690] Price of a cow.

A dollar and a halfe that was owing me by Rot. Craw, and was repayed by him to me, was given to my wife to buy lyning for my new black cloath breatches.

Payed for 4 limons, 16 pence.
For the pamphlet called the Spirit of the Hat, 6 pence.
In drinkmoney for making my new cloaths, a mark.
Given to my wife, tua dollars.
Given to hir to pay for linnen bed sheits bought by hir, a dollar.
Given in the contribution anent the burnt houses, a dollar.
For the book of rates of the custome house of Rome, 8 pence.

The nixt money I made use of was 6 dollars given me in consultation by the toune Threasurer of Edr., on the 23 of Aprill 1674, when we consulted with my Lord Advocat about the rebuilding of brunt and ruinous houses with stone. Out of which For a discourse by L'Estrange upon the Fischery, 6 pence. Of boull maill, 6 pence. For my dinner on sunday with Mr. Wm. Patersone in Guines, 2 shillings.

Au commencement du mois de May j'avois cent marks d'argent en vingt et trois thalers Imperiaux deposez chez moi par Monsieur Le Bois quand il alloit hors cette ville-cy, a fin les lui rendre a son retour [je les rendu.][691] De cette monnoye je pris premierement.

[691] Interlined.

For a sword belt, 22 pence.
To Jo. Nasmith for morning drinks, etc., 15 pence.
Of boull maill, 6 pence.
In W. Cunyghames at the Linktoun of Abbotshall, a groat.
To my Lord Abbotshall, and given by him to Tom Gairdner, 6 pence.
For a quart of win in Mr. George Ogilbies of Kirkcaldy, 40 pence.
To David Colyear, a groat.[692]
With Mr. Lundy, Minister at Dysert, and others, 33 shill.
To the beggers, 3 pence.
To Tom Gairdner, a groat.
To George Gairdner, 6 pence.
For 2 oranges, a groat.
For Lentuli Dubia Decisa, a dollar.
To the beggers at sundry tymes, 6 pence.
With Androw Young, halfe a mark.
With Rot. Campbell, apothecar., 6 pence.
To Hary Wood, Mr. W.R.'s man, 20 pence.
With Mr. Wm. Ramsay in James Haliburtons, 12 pence.
For my part of the dinner on Sunday at the West Kirk, 16 pence.
For a horne comb, 6 pence.
For Andrews morning drinks 19 dayes and some other things, 25 pence.
To Comisar Aikenhead's masons, a shilling.

[692] See note, p. 255.

Woila comment je depencay ces cent marks pour quelles je demeure debtour an Monsieur Le Bois.[693]

[693] In margin: Cette monnoye lui est payé comment il apparoistra cy dessous.

Then on the 13 of June 1674 my father and I compted, and we found I had receaved all my annuities due præceeding Martinmas 1672, and that the last money I got was 450 merks on the 20 of february last 1674, and which compleited that quarter of my annuity which ran from Lambes 1672 till the Martinmas theirafter; then we considered that I was owing him ane years rent and maill of my house, viz. 20 pounds sterling from Whitsonday 1673 till Whitsonday last past in 1674 (all the former years maill being payed to him, as is marked supra). Then we proposed the deduction of on of 6 of the annuel rents imposed by the act of parliament made in 1672[694] for the space of a year, viz., from Mertinmas 1672 till Mertinmas 1673, which tuo particulars of the maill and the retention being deducted, viz., 20 lb. sterling for a years maill being 240 lb. Scots or 360 merks being allowed my father and 150 merks being retained by him as the deduction due off 900 merks, which is the halfe years annuity from Mertinmas 1672 till Whitsonday 1673, which tuo particulars makes 510 merks of my 900 merks; wheirupon their rested to be given me of the said 900 merks 390 merks, which soume I only receaved the forsaid 13 day of June in money and gave my father a discharge of the haill 900 merks due to me by him as half a years annuity from Mertinmas 1672 till Whitsonday 1673, bearing alwayes that deduction was given him conforme to the act 1672, and in regard he seimed unwilling to give me any discharge in writing of my house maill to be in my custody, he shewed me in his minute book of receipt that he had marked he had such a day got payed him by me 240 lb. Scots as a year maill of my house fra Whitsonday 1673 till Whitsonday 1674, as also in another place wheir he hes written doun the receipt from me of 480 lb. Scots as being 2 years maill of my house, viz. from Whitsonday 1671, which was my entry, till Whitsonday 1673; and which memorandum is all I have for a discharge to show my payment: only he affirmed their was no hazard in regard he was to name me on of his executors with the rest of my brothers. But in regard thesse 3 years I had possest I had never given him in any accompt of my debursements on the said house, in glasse windows, broads or others, he ordered me to give him in the compt theirof that he might pay it me.

[694] In granting a supply of 864,000 lbs. Scots to Charles II., assessed on the land rent according to the valuations, the Parliament, 'considering it just that personall estates of money should beir some proportion of the burden,' enacted 'that every debtor owing money in the kingdom' should for one year, in payment of their annual-rents (interest) for that year 'have reduction in their own hands of one sixt pairt thereof,' and pay only the other five parts. The legal rate of interest was six per cent.

To my wife, a dollar. Given also to hir on the 18 of June 1674 to buy a suite of french stripped hangings with, which stood 10 pounds sterling in pairt of payment of the same, 6 lb. sterling, 6 lb. sterl. or 110 mks. At the well besyde Comiston, 24 pence. For my horse hyre to Bervick, ij shill. ster. To Mr. Duncan Forbes for doubling[695] my Lord Hadington's reduction of Athelstanford, halfe a dollar. Given to Comisar Monro for reading the bill about the minister of Athelstanford's pershuit, a dollar. For the post of a letter from S.A.R. of Waughton, 10 pence. To Ja. Broun's lad for brushing my hat, 40 pennies. Given in with Knocks bill to the Lo.s of Thesaury for seing Skelmurlyes signator, a dollar. To the woman who keiped my niece Mary Campbell, a dollar. For raising and signeting the summonds of reduction in my Lord Abotshall's name, against the minister of Athelstanford, a dollar and a halfe. Spent with James Carnegie, 21 pence. With Mr. Wm. Morray and others, 20 pence. For black mourning gloves, 28 pence. Given to my wife, a dollar. Given hir to pay the harne[696] with which she lined hir hangings and for threid and cords to them, 6 rix dollars. With Walter Pringle, a mark. For a triple letter from S.A.R., 15 pence. With Ja. Inglis and others, 4 pence. With Mr. John Eleis, 16 pence.

[695] Copying.

[696] Coarse cloth.

Item, on the 10 of Julie 1674, payé a Monsieur Le Bois treize thalers Imperiales in compleit payment de ces cent marks, this being joyned to the dix thalers payé à lui in the beginning of June last, 13 dollars.

Given to David Coilzear when he went out to the
Rendevous of the Eist Lothian militia regiment
to defray his charge their, halfe a croun.
At a collation with Sir David Falconer when I informed
him anent the reduction against the
minister of Athelstaneford, 4 lb. 4 shilling.
Given to my wife to pay for 40 load of coalls at
10 p. the load, and for other uses, 8 dollars.
For Ziegleri dissertationes de læsione ultra dimid.
de jure clavium, etc., 32 pence.
To Comisar Monro for calling and marking the
reduction against the minister of Athelstainfurd
on the 22 of July 1674, a dollar.
Item, the same day given to him for reading a bill
desiring our reduction might be considered and
tane in presently and to stop the said minister's
report in the menu tyme, a dollar.
Item, on the 23 of July 1674, given by my wife and
my selfe, at Mary Scot, my fathers serving woman,
hir pennie wedding, 2 dollars.
Item, to the fidlers, 6 pence.

The nixt money I spent was some 7 dollars given me in 3 sundrie consultations as is marked besyde me in a paper apart.

With Merchinston at Dairymilnes, 2 shilings.
For the Empresse of Morocco, 18 pence.
For Shutles[697] Observations upon the said farce revised
against Dryden, 18 pence.
At Arthur Somervells, 10 pence.
Le 29 de Juillet 1674, je empruntée de Monsieur
le Bois cent marques en vingt et trois thalers
Imperiaux de quoy premierement.

[697] Settle's. See p. 288.

Donneé to William Stevinson, merchand, for compleiting
to him the price of my French hangings
which my wife bought from him at 10 lb. sterling,
and wheirof he receaved 6 lb. st. before on the
18 of June, as is marked. I say payed to him, 4 lb. sterling.
For my dinner on a sunday, 15 pence.
Spent at the fountaine, 20 pence.
Item, spent at Tom Hayes and elsewheir by my selfe, 16 pence.
On the 15 of August given to my wife to pay of hir
women Jonet Nicolsones fee when she went
away from hir, 6 dolars.
For Sir David Lindsayes poems, 7 pence.
For the Baron D'Isola his Buckler of state and justice, 28 pence.
For the Interest of the United Provinces being a
defence of the Zeelander choice rather to be
under England then France, 20 pence.
Item, given in of the change of that 300 lb. sent
me in from Patrick Lesly of my Lord Abbotshalls
rents, 2 pence.
To the penny wedding at Gogar, 29 pence.
On 3 botles of botle ale, 9 pence.
On the 31 of August 1674 given to Joan Chalmers
the midwife when my wife was brought to bed
of hir 4 child and 2'd sone, 6 rix dollars.
To David Coilzear for to put tuo shoes on the horse, a mark.
5 Septembre 1674 donnée et payé à Henry le Bois
an nom et sur le epistre de Monsieur Jean Du
Bois, son frere dix thalers Imperiaux et dequoy
ledit Hendry on'a donné une quitance, 10 rix dollars.
On the 17 of September 1674 payed to Mr. Archbald
Camron for registrating my sone Androws
name with some of the witnesses, a dollar.
On the 18 of Septr. payed for a new razor, 2 shillings.
Payed to Thomas Wilsone kirk thresurer because
my sone was not baptised the tyme of sermon, a rix dollar.
Payed for a collation I gave to S.G. Lockhart,
W. Murray, W. Pringle, etc., 8 lb. ij shill. Scots.
Item, payed to Edward Gilespie for a years maill
of my seat in the church, viz., from Whitsonday
1673 till Whitsonday last, and got his discharge
of it, 12 lb. Scots.

The nixt money I made use of was 287 merks I receaved on the 28 of September 1674 from Thomas Robertsone, being a years annuel rent of the principall summe of 5000 mks. owing by the said Thomas to me by bond, viz., from Lambes 1673 till Lambes last 1674 (which interest is indeed at 6 per cent. 300 merks), but in regard by the act of parliament 1672 their was deduction of on of 6 to be allowed for the quarter from Lambes to Martinmas 1673, theirfor 13 merks was abated of the full annuel rent upon the said accompt, and I receaved only the forsaid 287 mks. and discharged him of a years annuel rent including the deduction per expressum.

Item, on the 29 of September 1674, payed to John
Cheisley of Dalry, younger, in presence of his
brother James 29 lb. Scots in 10 rix dollars for
the maill of the 2 chambers I possest from him
in Brunsfield,[698] by the space of 4 moneths in the
last summer, 29 lb. Scots in 10 rix dollars.
Item, spent that 6 of October 1674, that I quite
Edenbrugh on the kings proclamation of banishment
against the debarred advocats, 29 pence.

[698] Summer quarters.

In October 1674 my wife counted with George Patersone, wright, who had possest the low roume[699] of our house from Whitsonday 1673 till Whitsonday last 1674, and thairupon was owing me 40 lb. Scots of maill, and receaved in from him onlie 24 lb. Scots, the other 16 lb. being allowed him for a compt of work furnished by him to us, and wheiron shee gave him up my discharge to him of the wholle 40 lb. as a years maill of the said house. This 24 lb. Scots was waired out and employed upon my house.

[699] Part of house sublet at 40 l. Scots.

On the 20 of January 1675 I receaved from my father 400 merks Scots, which compleited all my annuityes due by him to me by vertue of my contract of marriage preceeding Candlemas 1674, and I gave him a discharge accordingly: for on the 13 of June last 1674 I discharged all preceiding Whitsonday 1673 (having only received from Mertinmas 1672 till Whitsonday 1673 for that halfe years annuitie instead of 900 merks only 750 merks because of the retention of on per cent.[700] by the act of parliament) and receaved then 100 mks. in part of payment of the halfe years annuity betuen Whitsonday and Martinmas 1673.

[700] One per cent., i.e. on the capital sum of 30,000 merks for which his father had given him a bond, bearing interest at the legal rate of 6 per cent., equal to 1800 merks per annum. See Note, p. 273.

On a butridge[701] to my hat, etc., 4 pence.

[701] A form of spelling buttress. See Murray's New English Dictionary, s.v. Compare Jamieson, s. vv. Rig and Butt. It may mean the lace or band tying up the fold of a cocked hat.

Item, on the 25 of Januar 1675 when I returned back to Hadinton[702] I took with me 13 dollars, which keip't me till the 8 of Februar theirafter. The particulars whow I spent and gave out the same is in a compt apart beside me. On the forsaid 25 day of Januar I left behind with my wife the remanent of the 400 merks I had receaved from my father, taking of the foresaid 20 dollars, viz., 300 merks and 3 rix dollars. Of which money on the 8 of february I find she hath debursed first a hundred merks, item, fyve dollars more, so their is now only resting of the money I left with hir about 190 merks.

[702] He had retired to Haddington when 'debarred.'

Out of the forsaid 100 merks and 5 dollars, I find shee had payed 38 lb.
Scots to Patrick Ramsay for 5 moneth and a halfes ale, furnished by him.

Item, on accounts in the creams[703] to John Nasmith, to the Baxters for win, etc., above 20 lb. Scots. And the rest is given out upon other necessar uses.

[703] Krames, the shops round St. Giles Church.

For S.G. Mck's[704] Observations on the act of p. 1621,
anent Bankrupts, 16 pence.
For binding the book of Cragie's collections and
some other papers, 4 shills. stg.
For fourbishing my sword and giving it a new
Scabbord, 4 shils. st.
For a candebec hat, 8 shils. st.
For 6 quarters of ribban to it, 9 pence.
On oranges, 6 pence.
For the share of my dinner in Leith, the race day, a dollar.
Item, for my part of the supper in Caddells when
the advocats all met togither, 4 lb. Scots.

[704] Sir George Mackenzie.

On the 16 of March 1675 I receaved from James Sutherland, thresaurer of the good toune of Ed'r. 12 lb. sterling as a years pension or salary owing to me by the good toune as their assessor, from Lambes 1673 till Lambes last 1674, wheirof and all years preceiding I gave him a discharge.

For the articles of war, 3 pence.
For halfe a pound of sweit pouder, 2 shils, sterl.

On the 20 of March 1675 I receaved from Andrew Young in name of my Lord Abbotshall, 600 mks. Scots (their was 4 rix dollars of it ill money which my Lord took in and promised to give me other 4 instead of them) wheirupon I discharged the said A.Y. and Lord Abbotshall of the said summe of 600 merks in payment and satisfaction to me in the first place of 89 lb. 17s. and 2 p. owing to me by the said L. Abotshall, as being payed out by me at his direction and order in Aprill 1673 (sie it marked their) to Mary Hamilton for 1200 merks, and hir papers being in Mr. John Sinclar minister at Ormiston his hands, he alledged their was 89 lb. 17s. and 2 p. owing him and would not give them up till he ware payed, wheirupon I at my Lord A's and hir order gave his sone Mr. James 100 merks and 8 rix dollars and retired them: item, for the remanent of the 600 mks. I accepted it in satisfaction and partiall payment and contentation to me of the bygane annuelrents (in so far as it would extend) of the principall summe of 5000 mks, yet resting by the said Lord Abbots: of 10,000 mks. of tocher contained in my contract of marriage and which annuelrents ware all resting owing to me from the terme of Lambes 1670, so that it will in compting pay me a yeir and a halfes annuelrent, viz., from the said Lambes 1670 till Candlemas 1672, and about 10 lb. Scots more in part of payment of the termes annuelrent from Candlemas to Lambes 1672: so that I may reckon that their is more then 3 years annuelrent of that principall summe of 5000 merks owing me, compting to the midle of this present moneth of March.

With Mr. W'm. Murray and Blackbarrony, 16 pence.
For my fraught to Bruntiland, 8 pence.
For my supper and breakfast at James Angus's their, 37 shill.
For 2 horses from thence to the Linkton, 16 pence.
To Jo. Nasmith to carry him over from Fyffe to Ed'r with, a mark.
To William Cunyghame's wife the tyme I staid at his house, 5 shills. st.
Item, for 8 elles of drogat at 16 pence per elle, 2 dollars.
In Jo. Blacks with Mr. A. M'cGill and Alexander Gay, 20 pence.
Item, on the 24 or 25 of March last spent by my
wife over and above the 48 lb. Scots, 8 rix dollars.

I left with hir to pay out all hir compts she or I ware owing, and to bring over the plenishing, so that we ware owing nothing to any person preceeding that tyme.

All which expenses being cast up they just make up and amount to 300 merks and 19 rix dollars, to which adde the 4 rix dollars of the wholle 600 mks. that ware not payed, their is spent 400 mks., and their rests behind 200 mks.

Out of which Imprimis:

On the 4 of May 1674 when I went to Ed'r., and stayed their till the 14 of May, during all that tyme spent according to the accompt of it particularly set doune in another paper besyde me, 10 dollars. Item, payed for a cow,[705] 34 lb. Scots. Donné a ma femme et emprunté d'elle de Rot. Craw, a dollar. Item, spent with Mr. Alex'r. McGil and Captain Crawfurd in Kirkcaldy, 3 lb. ij shil. Scots. Item, payed to the woman Mary[2] for hir years fie when she went away on the 24 of May 1675, 8 rix dollars. For seing the lionness and other beasts at Kirkcaldy, 12 pence. Donné a ma femme, 29 pence. Item, given hir more to pay the other woman's fee,[706] 3 dollars and a halfe.

[705] Price of a cow.

[706] Apparently his maidservants.

Receaved from John Broun, elder, wool seller, 40 lb. Scots on the 12 of June 1675, and that for a years maill of the low chamber and sellar possest by him from me, viz., from Witsonday 1674 till Whitsonday last 1675, and wheirof I gave him a discharge.

For 2 proclamations, 3 pence. To Henry Mensen for cutting my hair, 30 shil. For a quarter's payment with my man[707] begun on the 22 of June 1675 to the Master and doctor of Kirkcaldy scooll for learning him to wryte better, to read Latin, etc., 32 shilings Scots. On the 19 of July 1675 given a la servante Joannette Smith qui alloit avecque mon fils 100 merks ainez a Londres par mer pour leur d'espences and 9 shill. du voiage, six livres sterling, ings sterling. Donné a la dite servante pour ellememe, a dollar. To Mr. Tennent, skipper of the ship pour leur fraughts,[708] 35 shillings sterling. Spent at Kirkcaldy on Rhenish with Rot. Fothringhame that day, 44 shilings. Payed for fraught from Kingborne, 8 pence. Spent with Sir Ja. Stainfeild and Sam. Moncreiff, 39 pence. For the 3'd tome of Alciats Commentar on the Digests, 48 pence. For the Governement of the tongue, 12 pence. For botle aill, 4 pence. For a solen goose, 29 pence. Upon a mutskin of seck with Raploch and Camnetham, 10 pence. For 4 fraughts from Leith to Kingb., 16 pence.

[707] His clerk.

[708] Cost of passage to London.

In the beginning of July 1675, their being a convention of the burrows to meet at Glasgow, and I finding their was tuo years pension then owing by them to me as their assessor, I gave W'm. Broun their agent alongs with him a discharge of the said 2 years pension under trust and upon this consideration that if neid ware he might make use of it for facilitating the passing of his accompts as to that article. In the said meiting and convention they ordered and warranded him to pay all the arrears of my said pension. At his returne back I still suffered the said discharge to remaine in his custody, and in regard I was owing to Thomas Broun, stationer, 84 lb. Scots or 7 lb. sterling for the price and binding of Prosperi Farinacij Jurisconsulti opera omnia, 9 volumes in folio which I had bought from him, … I assigned the said Thomas Broun over with his oune consent to William Broun for the said summe of 7 lb. sterling, wheiron Thomas B. gave me on the 23 of July a discharge of the price of the said books, and William B. became oblidged to pay him the said summe, and he was to be allowed it in the foirend of the accompt betuixt him and me.

Upon sweities to be tane to my brother George at Idington, a mark.
For a horse hyre from Hadington to Idington, a dollar.
To obtaine the copie of the king's letter reponing
S.A.R.[709] to the Secret Councell, 6 pence.

[709] Sir A. Ramsay.

Then on the ij of August 1675 I was repayed the 2 rix dollars I had given out in the end of July last pour Monsieur Le Bois presse[710] which I gave a ma femme.

[710] Query for pressé.

Item, on the 13 of August 1675 Monsieur de la Cloche m'a repayé les douze thalers Imperiaux qu'il a empruntée de moy (as vous verrez ci devant on the 28 of fevrier 1674) and I gave them to my wife.

The rest of my accompts of depursements given out by me since the 14 of
August 1675 are to be found in another book like unto this.