All that I shall desire from your Lordship is, that devested of all Publique Imployment, I may be admitted to go home to my own private Fortune, there to attend my own Domestick Affairs, and Education of my Children, with as little asperity of words or marks of Infamy, as possibly the Nobleness and Justice of my Friends can procure for me, with a Liberty to follow my own occasions, as I shall find best for my self.
This is no unreasonable thing I trust to desire, all considered that may be said in my case, (for I vow my fault that should justly draw any heavy Sentence on me, I yet do not see:) yet this much obtained will abundantly satisfie a Mind hasting fast to quiet, and a Body broken with afflictions and infirmities. And as I shall take myself highly bound to any that shall further me therein, so I more particularly desire to receive an obligation therein from your Lordship than from others, as being purposed in the truth of my former Professions, to express my self
Your Lordships humbly to be Commanded,
Strafford.
Tower, 24ᵗʰ of April, 1641.
1641.
10. Principal Baillie’s Journal of the General Assembly, 1641, in a Letter to the Rev. William Spang.[277]
Cousin,
Since your last, the 1st of August, you have received two of mine, and this is a third—if virtue were in length—worth any six of yours.
The carriage of our assembly was this. Since the assembly of Aberdeen there was a continual heartburning betwixt the favourers of Mr Harry Guthrie and Leckie; as in my discourse of that assembly you may see I foretold. As I came from London through Edinburgh, I found the misunderstanding so great, that I advised Argyle to take notice of it in time; and when Mr Archibald Johnston came home, I wrote to him to draw to him some of the parties for advisement how to preveen discord. For all that I could do, at my coming to Edinburgh on Saturday, July 17, I found Leckie, and many that favoured him, peremptor, not only to accuse Mr Harry Guthrie, but to have the Acts of Aberdeen about meetings and read prayers cancelled. They were much galled with the slanders went upon them, for the abusers of privy meetings, and other things falsely fathered on them. On the other part, Mr Harry, and many with him, were no less resolute to defend all that passed in Aberdeen, and to have sharp censures concluded in the next assembly against all that were for novations, not approven by our Church. With these minds went too many to St Andrew’s, as if it had been a place of combat. Our only remedy against such scandalous debates were our prayers to God, which carefully were offered the Sabbath before we came from home, in a solemn humiliation for a blessing to the ensuing assembly. This labour, we found, was not for nought; for at once we found the good hand of God with us above expectation.
The King had sent his warrant to Lord Weems to sit, with as ample a commission as either Hamilton or Traquair. His Majesty intended this service for Southesk, by Traquair’s advice, who yet had too great hand in affairs; but Mr Henderson diverted the King from that man, towards whom the country had so evil an eye. For what special respects Weems fell to be next, I do not know; however, the modesty and simplicity of the man made him displeasing to none. When we came to St Andrew’s, our first perplexity was about a moderator. Mr Henderson was passionately desired in so hard a time; but there was no certainty of his presence. Mr Harry Rollock, on whom the voices would have fallen next, had of purpose absented himself. The rest who were met were esteemed so far engaged to the question to be debated. Judge then what strait of men was there, when the like of me, who to this day had declined to moderate a presbytery, was shored to be leeted for to moderate a general assembly. Yet, after much secret advisement with the Commissioner, on Monday, with much ado, that difficulty was overcome.