Saturday, the 31st, no particular business was handled worth the writing. Aberdeen, in their commission from the general assembly, had met and decerned Mr George Gillespie, then at London, for their town-minister, and Mr Edward Wright for their divinity-professor, in the Marischal college. Mr Gillespie’s cause came then to be handled. His Grace pleaded, that these fifty years he and his people had been vexed with a most weak minister; that he had got Mr George admitted the first in Scotland without the bishops consent. Mr George spake well for himself, that he nor his people were never advertised till the decreet was passed, and divers other things. The dispute was long and hot: it was remitted to the next session. Argyle spake of the regret many ministers made under payment of their stipends, desired the assembly to find overtures for remeid, and promised the parliament would consider what should be proponed.
On Sunday afternoon, before the commissioners, I heard Mr Blair teach very gravely for peace, and abstinence from all such meetings, as in former times had been very profitable, but now were inexpedient, unlawful, and schismatical. This some mistook, but the most took it very well from him. Truly, I bear that man record, that in all his English voyages, in many passages of the assembly, private and publick, he contributed as much to the pacifying of our differences as any, and much more than many. That day a very unhappy accident fell in the hand of a minister, Mr Thomas Lamb, who had been deposed by the blind Bishop of Galloway, for divers quarrels; but he gave it only out for disobedience in ceremonies. The ministers of Edinburgh had obtained for him a church in the presbytery of Peebles. The man had always been of a contentious humour. They say he had struck a man, whereof he died. However his presbytery, for his perverseness and contentions, had suspended him. He had appealed to the general assembly. The committee, on Saturday, had agreed them, and remitted him to the presbytery. On Sunday, after both sermons in Leith, he told Mr James however that he was displeased with that accord, and would complain to the assembly, both of the committee and his presbytery. Immediately going to ease himself among the stuff, a young man to whom the stuff belonged, fell upon him with evil language, taking up his cloak and gloves: after some mutual jarring, when he had got his cloak and gloves again, he fell in some more quarrelling with the young man, and with his whinger struck him, whereof presently he died. He wrote a pitiful supplication to the assembly, to obtain some delay of his execution, till his wife and friends might come to him. This was granted. He obtained easily a letter of Slayans from the party; but we think the Constable will cause execute him; and so much the more because he a minister, on the Sabbath day, had committed that villainy in the time of the assembly and parliament.
Monday, the 2d of August, the parliament sat not, so we had two sessions. The forenoon was taken up with the business of Aberdeen. Mr Andrew Cant laid out Aberdeen’s necessities very pathetically; Mr David Lindsay and Provost Lesly, shewing their proceedings in Mr Gillespie’s election to have been punctually according to the words of their commission. Notwithstanding the moderator, desiring Mr George to stay still in Fife for the use of St Andrew’s, did so state the question, for all the northlandmen could say to the contrary, and notwithstanding also of Argyle’s evident seconding them. His abode at Weems was craved by plurality of voices: yea, when they pressed Mr Edward Wright’s transportation, albeit all that favoured Mr David Dickson did voice for them: yet they lost that cause also, in regard it was manifest before the meeting of that committee, that Mr Edward was admitted to the church of Glasgow, and before his citation to come to that committee, or his knowledge of Aberdeen’s invitation, he was agreed with Glasgow, and had obtained his dismission from the presbytery of Stirling. Mr Robert Ramsay had set the town of Glasgow on that man, whereof I suspect he now repents. The man is learned and blameless, but it is not like Mr David’s way, nor among the most prudent. Factions among that people and presbytery are like to grow. I wish they come not to a shameful hearing, and that quickly, on the occasion of Mr Hugh Blair’s election to that town’s ministry. Sir John Scot’s petition, to have a description of our sheriffdom, by some in every presbytery, to be set before the maps you have in hand, is granted.
In the afternoon Mr Andrew Ker, minister at Carrin, being transported by the provincial synod of Lothian to the burgh of Linlithgow, had appealed to the general assembly. His appeal was voiced null. This preparative made Glasgow too eager to call my cause; but they found the case many ways unlike. At Aberdeen there had been much ado for planting of Inverness. The Laird of Steinson, patron, had presented Mr James Annan. More than the two parts of the parish speaking Irish, obtained Mr Murdoch Macbaine, a bold well-speaking man, to be conjoined to an equal stipend and burden. This equality Mr Murdoch urged, and refused to preach to the Irish congregation, but day about, so every other Sunday they sang dumb. After some days travel, it was thus agreed that a third man should be got to those who had never more than one before to preach in Irish on 500 merks, the town to pay three, the two ministers each to pay one. We being agreed privately, the moderator thought it time to move the question about meetings, and regretted the sinister rumours thereanent. It was remitted to a committee in the moderator’s chamber. After two afternoons’ conference, Mr Henderson fell on the model you have in print. On Wednesday he read it once, twice, thrice. Many required delay to voice till to-morrow, and a copy of the writ. All delay was flatly refused; but any man was permitted to say what he would, if it were to ten at night. Mr Catherwood was impertinent still in his opposition. Mr Harry Guthrie, and those who were in this point, were feared to be more opposite than he had been. All called to the committee, and read at length. Some who craved delay were shortly taken up. Fear of raising and fomenting needless scruples, if that paper had ran a showering through the city, before it had been concluded, made the moderator peremptorily refuse that which is now every day practised in our parliament, and I think were more necessary to be practised in our assembly, except in some few extraordinary cases. The paper that day was voiced, and was unanimously assented unto: yet some voiced it too general and insufficient.
Tuesday, the 3d of August, was taken up with a very captious question of your good friend Sir John Scot. He had promised to Mr Mungo Law, second minister at Dysart, in the presbytery of Kirkaldy, a presentation to the kirk of Kilrennie, in the presbytery of St Andrew’s. The presbytery of St Andrew’s were not very curious to crave his transportation; Sir John, in the provincial of Fife, urges it. In the voicing, not only the whole presbytery of Kirkcaldy gets voices, but some burrow two ruling elders, gets voices. Upon this, and some other informalities, Sir John appealed to the general assembly. By strong solicitation, and by a world of merry tales in the face of the assembly, he gets a sentence for his appellation, to the great indignation of the synod of Fife, and the moderator’s malecontentment. Sir John held him with that advantage, and durst not pursue his main point, anent the minister’s transportation, which made many to take him but for a wrangler, who sought more the synod’s disgrace than any other contentment. Overtures for planting universities, burghs, schools, were read; also a letter of the King’s to the assembly, in favour of Panmure, requiring the minister of Monhey to be transported to some other church of his Majesty’s presentation: the desire, with the man’s own consent, was granted.
Wednesday, the 4th, Mr William Bennet was ordained, according to the act of Aberdeen, to transport to Edinburgh. Mr John Colins, after long opposition of the presbytery and parish, was ordained to be received to the church of Campsey. His presentation to the tack of Chanle of the chapter, wherein also he was obliged to ratify the patron’s tack, was ordained to be rectified. Mr Andrew Logie, deposed at Aberdeen according to the provincial’s appointment, was restored to his own kirk. Sir Alexander Abercrombie of Birkenbog fashed the Assembly much, that he might be obliged to receive a new presentation; that a new edict might be served; and so, that the assembly’s act of reponing him to his own church should be evacuate: but his motion being found to be from particular respects, it was misregarded.
Thursday, the 5th, Aberdeen supplicated Mr Andrew ____________ his transportation to their college. Arthur Areskine, of his own liberality, had given him 500 pound during an old man’s life. The man was but twenty-four years of age, and was extreme unwilling to flit. Arthur Areskine, a well-deserving gentleman in our cause, when he began to plead, was so choked with tears, that he became silent, and removed. This accident made the assembly so compassionate towards him, that, by plurality of voices, he obtained his point. These three rebukes in end well near angered Aberdeen. By way of indignation they crave leave to have back their deposed doctors; yet they gave in the fourth bill for Mr John Oswald of Pencaitland. His misfortune was to be last, else he had better reasons of staying than any of the former three; yet to please Aberdeen, all he could say was misregarded; and he, full sore against his heart, was ordained to flit.
Here came in my long-delayed action. After much altercation betwixt the passionate parties, and some calm dispute between the Principal and me, by the favour of the moderator, I got the invidious question eschewed anent my appeal, and the state made, Transport, or Abide; when, after I had read the reasons (which I here send you), there was not twenty voices for my transportation. I foresaw that this favour may readily transport me ere it be long to places where my life will be much more miserable than it is like it would have been in Glasgow; but yet I thought it incumbent to me, in conscience, to use all lawful means to keep me with my people. I took it to have been a sin to have neglected this duty for the preveening of crosses never so apparent. The Laird of Leckie gave into the committee of bills a complaint of Mr Harry Guthrie’s slandering of him at Aberdeen. Of this Mr Harry complained in the face of the assembly. This was like to blow up that fire again which we thought had been extinguished; yet even here God was favourable to us. That matter was referred to us the moderator’s assessors. We laboured so into it some nights, that at last we got the parties agreed, both in a writ, read to the assembly, under their hands, declaring their good opinions each of other: for Leckie truly witnessed, that he knew no blame to Mr Harry, neither in doctrine nor life; and Mr Harry testified, that he never had a thought that Leckie, or any of his family, was guilty of those slanders he complained of. Of this pacification we were all most glad. Being desirous to have the assembly at an end, it was appointed to keep her sessions twice in the day, and to dispense with the absence of so many of our parliamentary members as could not be present in the afternoon with us. The rest of that day, and much also of posterior sessions, were misspent with the altercation of that bardish man Mr D. Dogleish, and the young Constable of Dundee. He had obtained from his father to Mr David a presentation to the parsonage of Dundee. The custom was, that all of the tithes, the constable paid but to the church 500 pound, the town gave to the parson’s supply 500 merks. The town having not much will of Mr David’s ministry, refuses to pay the old 500 merks. Mr David refuses to transport from Coupar till the Constable secure him in a sufficient stipend. The assembly of Aberdeen ordains Mr David to transport with all diligence, and refers the question of stipend to the decision of the committee of estates. The Constable supplicates the assembly to move Mr David either to accept the charge, or give back the presentation. This Mr David peremptorily refuses, intending by his presentation to erect a stipend to that place, and then readily to leave it, if all do not embrace him. Mr David’s strong replies to the moderator would have been taken in worse part, if the Constable’s naughtiness, in proclaiming of the whole parsonage four or five chalders of victual was too much for him to pay to the church’s use had not offended us all. My Lord Fleming’s petition, to have a new presbytery erected in Biggar, of thirteen near adjacent churches of Lanerk and Peebles, was referred to the visitation of the bounds. It was regretted by the moderatour, that Mr David Catherwood, who deserves so well of our church, was so long neglected. He was recommended to the first commodious room. Likely he shall not be in haste provided. The man is sixty-six years old; his utterance is unpleasant; his carriage about the meetings of this assembly, and before, has made him less considerable to divers of his former benefactors. The case also of Mr James Fairlie, late Bishop of Argyle, was much regretted; that he having given so long ago satisfaction, that yet no place could be gotten to him to deliver him of that extremity of poverty wherewith he long has been vexed.
Friday, the 6th, a world of bills came to be referred to the parliament. Among the rest, one of Anna Inglis, complaining, that her husband, young Aiket Cunningham, having received above 40,000 merks portion with her, had deserted her, after frequent tormenting of her, with strokes and hunger, he debauching all with harlots in Paisley. We sent two with this bill to the parliament to get present order. The justice of God was in this matter. The damsel’s father had left her to be married to Mr Hugh Montgomery of Hazlehead, his wife’s near cousin. After, his wife falls in a conceit with Allan Lockhart, and gives herself to him; and, by his persuasion, makes her daughter, when scarce twelve years of age, without proclamation, to be married to his cousin Aiket. For her reward, her husband Allan leaves her to pay 10,000 merks of his debt, which made her a poor vexed widow, and her success as you heard. We were fashed with a bill of young Saville’s, a fine gentleman, who required, that one Littletower, whom the patron Lindores had thrust on his church, should be transported. The gentleman, for the well deserving of his house, was much pitied; yet, seeing the young man was admitted, and the most of the parish accepted him, it could not be helped till the young man, Littletower, found commodity to transport, which was not like to be sudden. The presbytery of Wigton complained of their molestation by one Macghee a notary, a criminous fellow, too much supported by that good man the Earl of Galloway. This bill being referred to the parliament, they enjoined the Earl to go home without delay, and fetch in that knave to suffer justice. There was no remeid; his Lordship behoved to go away to that unpleasant service. One Thomas Frazer in the tolbooth, being condemned to die for murder, supplicated us to be relaxed, before his death, from the sentence of excommunication. Some were sent to visit him. His true repentance being reported, Mr Andrew Cant was ordained, on the Sabbath, after his sermon in the great church, to relax him. On Monday he died penitent. Dr Scroggie of Aberdeen supplicated to be admitted to our covenant. The trial of his repentance was remitted to the provincial synod.
In the afternoon many overtures by Mr George Young, clerk of the references, were read. Chapperton’s supplication, to enter in our covenant, was referred to the provincial of the Merse.