On Monday, the 26th of July, we came over the water; not without danger and fear. Tuesday the 27th, we came to St Andrew’s. We found there, in the people, much profanity and ignorance, swearing, drunkenness, and the faults of the worst burghs, with extraordinary dearth. On Wednesday the 28th was a fast. Mr Henderson preached graciously and wisely, on 2 Cor., vi., 1, 2, 3; taxed freely the vices of ministers, among other the humour of novation. In the afternoon, Mr Blair had a sermon on Isaiah, lii., 7, 8, 9. He had preached thrice that week for Mr Rutherford, and was unwell: it seems he expected Mr Andrew Ramsay to have preached that diet, being the antecedent moderator; but he was absent, not being a commissioner. After both sermons, we entered the Old College with great trouble. Dumfermling took the chair of state for the King. He was in his way for France; for hither his mind carried him, against the heart of all his friends; but having this favourable commission put on him, by all mens expectation, he came with a number of his noble friends; his nephew, the Master of Zester, carried the commission in a purse before him. After prayer, the moderator leeted Mr Robert Douglas, Mr James Bonner, Mr Andrew Cant, Mr Robert Blair. Cassils, for keeping of the assembly’s liberty, caused add Mr Robert Ramsay. Mr James Bonner, got some voices; the rest almost none: but unanimously Mr Robert Douglas was chosen. Before the election, the commissions were given in, the names were read and booked. Want of charges made many presbyteries send but one minister. The commission was referred to consideration, because of a clause of the chancery, of not transferring the synod without his Grace’s advice. The King’s letter was read: it was very gracious; yet had a discharge express enough to meddle with any thing concerned us not. The Commissioner craved liberty of assessors: (he spoke little and low.) It was refused, except for private consultation. The King had written to the Marquis of Hamilton, Argyle, the Chancellor, Morton, and Southesk, to attend, and assist him. Argyle read his letter; but professed his presence there alone, in quality of a ruling elder from the presbytery of Inverary. Southesk sat at his foot-stool, and oft whispered his unsavoury advice. None of the other appeared. The commission from Campvere was welcomed.
Thursday, July 29th, I was sent for by the moderator in the morning to Mr Blair’s chamber. There the moderator had appointed his private meetings with his assessors, for regulating of difficult affairs. The members were secretly advertised; for none were allowed publickly; Mess. Henderson, Cant, Dickson, Blair, Fleming, Argyle, Cassils, Lauderdale, Sir Archibald Johnston, Mr George Winton, and John Binnie. We resolved there upon the committees. We were feared for a storm about novations. The ablest men of the kingdom were present. I advised to name the committee for regulating of Shetland and Orkney first, and put upon it these men from whom they expected more fashrie, such as Mr Harrie Guthrie, Mr David Dogleish, and sundry moe. The committee for bills and reports I got too ordered, that Mr James Bonner became moderator for the one, and Mr Robert Ramsay for the other, with Mr George Young his clerk, who made all the reports in face of the synod, as he had done twice before; only some of my friends were neglected through my forgetfulness, who therefore were like to have created us trouble, had I not gotten some employment to them thereafter. The clerk had drawn up a number of matter for the synod, which then we examined. No sermon that day, for Mr R. Ramsay nominate by the moderator but yesternight, had refused. In the assembly the committee for bills, reports, and Shetland, were appointed, as we resolved. The commissioners for visiting the universities of St Andrew’s and Glasgow were renewed. I admired the industry of Argyle. All the diets of our synod he kept, and did give most and best advice in every purpose that came by hand. Our privy committee, before or after the assembly, he never missed; the committee for visitation of the universities, had punctually attended, and yet never complained of weariness. We put Eglinton on the committee of bills, and Glencairn on the reports, where he became a little more busy than was well taken. Because of the ignorance of acts of the general assemblies, the clerk was desired to draw together in one body the general acts of the old assemblies, to be ready for the press, and to print, without delay, the acts of the last five assemblies. Mr George Haliburton was somewhat tedious in his speeches anent the plantation of Dundee. His son was presented by the Viscount of Didup; yet at the town’s desire, the young man did pass from his presentation. Mr D. Dogleish spoke much and well, but so boldly and oft that he was little regarded. Mr George Gillespie’s cause came in. His patrons Weems and Elcho spoke much for his retention: himself also was very earnest to stay. Many marvelled of the difficulty was made, since long before, as he was alleged, the city of Edinburgh had agreed with Mr George for his transportation with his patrons consent. The King’s letter was read again, and overtures for Papists and presentations were referred to the moderator. The committees were appointed in the afternoon. At our meeting, it was laid on Mr Henderson to answer the King and parliament’s letters. The overture anent Papists was committed to me; which I drew, as it was thereafter approven in the assembly, without alteration. We spake much of patronages. The overtures whereupon the commissioners of parliament had agreed on with the King, I shewed was of no use to us; for it was hard for us to find one person to a vacant kirk; but to send up six to the King, where-ever he was to present any one, whereof we would assure should be accepted by all who had interest, it was not possible. Argyle made a fair offer for himself, and all the noblemen present, hoping to persuade other noblemen and gentlemen to do the like, that they would give free liberty to presbyteries and people to name whom they would to vacant places, upon condition the assembly would oblige intrants to rest content with modified stipends. I reasoned against this condition, not for stipends already modified, but where benefices were yet entire; for there it was hard for us to dilapidate these few relicks with our own hand. Lauderdale was much against popular elections. So we resolved to have nothing spoken at all of patronages.
Friday, 30th, the provincial assembly-books were produced by the commissioners where the clerk resided. A very well-penned letter by sundry noblemen and gentlemen was read for help of ministers in Ireland. After much private debate, Mr D. Dickson having peremptorily refused it was laid by the voices of the assembly on Mr Blair and Mr James Hamilton to go to Ireland for the first four months; on Mr Robert Ramsay and Mr James Maclelland for four months following; on Mr John Livingston and me for the next four. It came so suddenly on me, that all my opposition was in vain; and it was the assembly’s care, to beware lest all the men that went over to that land should be in danger, in the first settling of that church, to favour any differences from our church. There was much debate for reading of the parliament of England’s letters. The commissioner was passionate, that no answer might be given to them till the King’s license might be obtained for that end. When his weeping could not obtain this, Southesk suggested the delay of answer only for twenty-four hours. This also was refused; for however the answer was not ready for some days thereafter, yet we esteemed it a dangerous preparative, to be hindered to answer when we found meet, the motion made to us by less considerable parties than the parliament of England. Mr Robert Brown having satisfied the presbytery of Penpont for his long delay to come to the covenant, upon his humble petition was received an expectant. After noon, in our committee, the book of the commissioners of the last general assembly was revised, and approven by us. Mr Henderson made a long and passionate apology for his actions, That the nomination of William Murray to be agent for the kirk till the next assembly, was by the commissioners, and not by him; that the man had done many good offices, and none evil, to the church; that he had refused to serve any longer in that place; that what himself had got from the King, for his attendance in a painful charge, was no pension; that he had touched as yet none of it; that he was vexed with injurious calumnies. After the venting of his stomach, to all our much compassion, the gracious man was eased in his mind, and more chearful. It is true, some expressions in his sermons before the King, and his familiarity with William Murray, who was thought to be deep in all the plots, made him somewhat less haunted by our nobility than before; and Mr David Catherwood, and Mr Andrew Kirkhall, their censure of the ministry of Edinburgh in the late provincial of Lothian, for not applying their doctrine to the evil of the times; also his dissuading of his acquaintance, at Mr William Scot’s burial, to come over to the council-day, and his small countenancing of the ministers petition to the council, occasioned many unpleasant whispers against him; but certainly the man’s great honesty, and unparalleled abilities to serve this church and kingdom, did ever remain untainted.
Mr R. Blair and Mr S. Rutherford moved us to assist them for an act of transportability. There was a great heartburning for the time in the town. Mr Andrew Afflect of Largo had been nominate by Mr A. to be his colleague in St Andrew’s. The whole town did much affect him. Mr Robert and Mr Samuel had given once way to his transportation hither: yet when Mr James Bruce, Mr Arthur Morton, and Mr George Hamilton, had carried the plurality in the presbytery, for his keeping at Largo, his doctrine not being so spiritual and powerful as the case of St Andrew’s required, Mr Robert plainly avowed his dissent from his transportation; whereupon almost the whole town did storm, and refused to regard any of Mr Robert and Mr Samuel’s desires. This made both urge at least a transportability. I helped Mr Samuel to obtain it; but to my great repentance, if he makes any use, as he is too much inclined, of that his liberty. Mr Robert got some more contentment by the transporting of Mr Andrew Honniman to be his colleague. Mr Andrew Afflect also was taken to Dundee for the ending of that tough plea betwixt the town and the Constable.
All this while my Lord Eglinton was seeing what he might get done for my retaining. He was assured by all, that the assembly would transport me; and, for this effect, Edinburgh had sent a warrant to their commissioners, which I knew not for the time. His Lordship, therefore, resolved to speak nothing of his appeal; only he required the favour of an act to transport in the synod of Glasgow any he could find without a burgh and nobleman’s residence. This was granted; and so his Lordship went away, being much afflicted with the death of his noble son Sir Alexander, the Colonel.
The fourth session was on Saturday, July 31. A letter from a number of English ministers at London was read, shewing their desire of Presbyterian government, and a full union with our church. The question of Mr John Bruce’s admission came in. The patron, presbytery, and provincial synod, urged his receiving. William Rig, and the people, vehemently opposed it, because of his great insufficiency, and neglect of some part of his trial; he was decerned to be admitted. Mr And. Stewart’s was agitate. The provincial of Galloway had made an act, to put all transported Ministers in their bounds unto all the trials required of expectants. This by all was thought to be absurd; yet the clerk fell on an overture concluded in the last assembly, giving liberty to presbyteries to put ministers to some trial. The exposition of this act was committed to some who made a commodious interpretation thereof. Sundry bills, and reports of particular affairs, were discussed.
On Sunday Mr David Dick preached, most on the afflictions of ministers, for the comfort of Mr Blair as I took it; but was not thought pertinent by the most. After noon, Mr And. Cant preached zealously on, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”
Session fifth, Monday, August 2. The principal of the English parliament’s declaration to us, with their petition for peace to the King, being presented by Mr Robert Barclay, was read. The King’s very sharp answer, presented by his Grace, was read. After it, we had some debate in our committee about the publick reading of the King’s answer; yet all consented it should be read. The assembly resolved to supplicate the King, and to deal with the parliament, for peace. The pieces were drawn up by Mr Henderson, and committed to my Lord Maitland to deliver; which produced that gracious return from the parliament which ye see in print. A number of bills and reports were dispatched. Mr John Guthrie, though he had satisfied for his late subscription of the covenant, and was earnestly supplicate by the whole provincial of Murray, yet the patron Duff’s dissenting, could not be replanted in his old church. The assembly presented Mr George Halyburton to the church of Bonimoon. The presbytery of Brechin alledged their right. It is resolved, that the rights of presbyteries and synods must cease, and dissolve in the hands of general assemblies sitting. That great contest had been in Glasgow anent the choice of their session, we got it settled with motioning the occasion; the old session was ordained to chuse the new: but that question which some would have moved, If the old session, being viciously chosen, was to be the elector? we did suppress. The negligence of some clerk had lost the most part of the acts of the presbytery at Newcastle; but it was ordained to deliver all could be had to Sir Archibald Johnston, to keep them in retentis. In the afternoon we had much debate for novations in our committee. Mr Andrew Cant, as I alledged, been put to by his nephew, did much extenuate them. Mr Henderson and Mr Robert Murray fell sharply on him. He freed himself of all suspicion. I was vexed on all hands in the committee. I was mouth for these who pressed the danger of novations; out of it I was beaten on as too slack in that matter. When, by the cunning delays of some, the matter was like to be cast to the end of the synod, and so to evanish, I gave over my agentry; whereupon those who hated novations being enraged, drew a petition to be subscribed by too many hands. This I brought to our committee. It put them in a fray of division. They laid on me to draw an act, which I did to the satisfaction of all once. Yet thereafter some of our committee, repenting of their consent, it was laid on Mr Henderson to make an explanation of the former act anent novations. His draught did displease more than mine. At last, for fear of scandal, we agreed on pressing for the time all acts, and writing a letter by the moderator to the presbyteries troubled with novations. This letter I drew to the satisfaction of all; yet, after the assembly dissolved, the form of my draught was altered. This letter was brought from the presbyteries it was sent to, to our provincial synod, where we got it inserted in the questions of our visitations of churches, that novations in our bounds should be stopped according to that letter. This was the most difficile matter in our synod. Our northland brethren were much inflamed; and if it had come in face of synod, would have made a violent act; yet the places of those evils being alone among us in the west, they did leave the agenting of it to us. Divers practices of the brethren of Galloway, specially the deposition of Mr Gilbert Power, had wakened many of us against their new way; yet the managing of that matter falling, by God’s providence, in my poor hands, it was guided so peaceably as I was able, and all was for this once fairly carried to all sides reasonable contentment.
The next three sessions, on Tuesday, August 3d, and Wednesday, 4th, before and after noon, were spent on particulars, or perfecting the particulars before mentioned. Every assembly is troubled with the plantation of Edinburgh. A little before this assembly, their clerk, Mr Guthrie, with his side of the council, had been busy to have drawn in his good comrade Mr Andrew Fairfoul from Leith; but the most of the town being grieved with the motion, called themselves together in the church by the bell after the second sermon; and finding my transportation to Glasgow passed, gave a call in the synod to three; the one failing the other, Mr James Hamilton, Mr David Forest, Mr Mungo Law. To Mr James they gave a Nolumus. Mr David did so peremptorily refuse in private and publick, that a whisper went amongst us he had a dangerous disease; yet when four of us were sent out to confer with him, we found nothing but too great and somewhat melancholick modesty in the man. Upon our report, the assembly voiced him abiding. In the meantime, the council of Edinburgh sent over to their commissioners new instructions to petition for me and Mr Robert Knox. My matter was then past. Mr Knox was not well liked of: so they moved only for a power to the commissioners of the general assembly to plant them in one man. They pitched on Mr James Wright; but his health was known to be so extraordinarily evil in the town, that we voiced his abiding: so yet they have been unhappy in their choices. The last synod sent to presbyteries a number of overtures for regulating of transportations. No diligence to count of was used for their examination or perfecting; so they passed in acts at this time, rashly enough in my judgement; but because of my interest, I meddled not in that matter. The Isle of Sky was adjoined to the province of Argyle, and not to Ross. The Earl of Irvine was licensed to take over to France any two ministers he could persuade for his regiment; the one to be provided in 1000 pound; the other 1000 merks, with entertainment to themselves, horse, and man.
Sessions ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth, on Thursday and Friday, these acts passed which ye see in print, with a number of particulars. The synod of Galloway was much eyed for divers of their rash acts. Their act for putting ministers to the trial of expectants was repealed; their deposition of an old man, Mr George Kincaid, near eighty years, for insufficiency, was found unjust. The causes of Mr Gilbert Power’s deposition by all were found null, and he ordained to be reponed by Mr James Bonner. At the day of reposition a number of gentlemen and others came to the church, and with clubs and staves made opposition. This insolency filled all the country with clamour, and made the horns of the new way a little more conspicuous. The disdain of that affront cast good Mr James Bonner in a long and dangerous fever. In our meeting at Edinburgh we concurred with Mr Gilbert to complain of the riot. The council took order as we desired; only we advised, and sent our advice to the presbyteries of Galloway, to put all who were convicted to their publick repentance at the churches of Maybole and Staniskirk. Upon the parties humble penitence, and Mr Gilbert’s peaceable repossession, we resolved to supplicate the council for the mitigation of the civil censure. Mr George Young, clerk of the reports, and some others, handled that matter so, that the impenitency of these of Galloway was palpable to the whole synod. There was a fashious process also from the presbytery of St Andrew’s. Mr David Merns, a man blameless, and of common parts of learning, had been deposed truly for insufficiency; but a number of other things were put in his sentence, which all are found to be null. With much ado the sentence stood; but with some qualification for the man’s credit, and a provision out of his church of 400 merks till he was otherwise provided. Mr Andrew Afflect, Mr Andrew Peme, and Scottiscraig, were appointed for visitation of Orkney and Shetland. The sighting of the provincial books was for good purpose. A commission was drawn up, as you see in print, for attending now and then in Edinburgh. A number of good motions was recommended to their care. Upon Argyle’s contriving and motion, Maitland unanimously was sent as our commissioner to King and parliament, wherein he proved both wise, industrious, and happy. Montgomery’s petition came in hands; sharp enough flyting there was about it betwixt his Grace and Argyle. Always for time to come we made an act against such presumption. For the transmitting of our covenant to posterity, it was appointed, that of the principal there should be three famous transumpts under the hand of the clerk-register, the clerk of the Assembly, and council to be set in the books of parliament, assembly, and council. Mr James Fairly had oft been a supplicant for some place in his great necessity; when, after long delays, there did no possibility appear of any flock who would be intreated to receive him, at last Mr Andrew Affleck’s transportation to Dundee opened a door to young Durie in Largo, where he was patron, to receive his old master to all our requests.