On Saturday was our thirteenth and last session. Here a fast was appointed. The causes were drawn up by some longsome and unmeet hand; the draught read was misliked, and drawn better, as you may see. Yet the printed compend is not so good as this. The motion for twenty shilling from every church granted to James Murray for this year also, it is like it will not be granted again. It is thought a needless burden. The man is called weak, and dear in his extracts. I dissuaded Sir Archibald from moving any thing of an adjunct; yet he did venture, and carried it. He showed his willingness to serve us all his days faithfully and gratis; only for his help he desired he might have one to assist the kirk-meeting when he could not attend, and for giving of extracts, for whose actions he should be answerable. No man opposed the motion. Scotscraig, since no expences was allowed, excused his voyage to Orkney; and the tutor of Pitsligo was named for him. Commissioners of the neighbour presbyteries appointed to meet with the presbytery of St Andrew’s, for settling the differences anent the plantation of the town, which was done with good success.
The next assembly appointed at Edinburgh the first Wednesday of August. The moderator spake very wisely both to ministers and elders, especially about keeping of unity, and being aware of novation. All ended in great peace and love.
After the assembly we had not much inward trouble. The letter about novations we made be read in our provincial synod of Irvine, and from thence to be sent to particular sessions, where it calmed somewhat the headiness of people; but the brethren which were taxed thereby, whereof there were some six or seven in Ayr, and two or three elsewhere, were the more stirred, and prepared themselves to write, as they say, for strengthening their tenets. Some of them are very heady; yet we are comforted, that they increase not in number, the excesses of some of their followers, who have fallen into rigid Brownism in whole, does much scar good people from that way; as also the presbytery of Edinburgh their diligence, who, upon the delation from the synod of Aberdeen of one Gearnes, a gentleman, his avowed Brownism, caused read out of all the city-pulpits a warning against that way. In that our provincial made good overtures, for absence, and visitation of churches, which Mr Robert Ramsay drew up. They were too long. If we get the substance of them past the general, which we mind to try, as we got them through the provincial, our church-discipline will be better executed.
The commission from the general assembly, which before was of small use, is like almost to become a constant judicatory, and very profitable; but of so high a strain, that to some it is terrible already. In one of the two or three meetings I was present; for beside the public advertisement from the moderator of the last general assembly, who is constant convener and moderator, I was seriously desired to come by my Lord Wariston. Our errand was, to hear account of my Lord Maitland’s negociation. He delivered to us the parliament of England’s return, granting all our desire, in abolishing of bishops, and requiring some of our ministers to assist at their synod against the 5th of November, or when it might be called. Of this we were very glad, and blessed God. From the King, his answer was, a promise to consider our desires. It was found expedient to nominate commissioners, that they might be in readiness. It was intended by some, that only ministers should go, and that very few. In the meeting I moved the conjunction of elders; but I got not a man to second me; so I gave it over: yet the absurdity and danger of such an omission pressing my mind, I drew up reasons for my judgement, which I communicate to Argyle and Wariston; and when they liked the motion, I went so about it, that at the next meeting it was carried without opposition. Fearing I might be one of the number to go, I dealt in private to my uttermost to decline it; besides the hazardous travel, I remember the great loss I was very near to have suffered by my last voyage, had not my good friend Mr George Young represented to my Lord Chancellor and Argyle the truth from the writ. Always my experience made me upon many grounds to decline that voyage, some whereof intending to be gone before the election. Sundry would fain have been employed; and lest they should have gotten themselves named, Argyle, in his cunning way, got them on the committee of nominators. That committee named Mr Alexander Henderson, Mr Robert Douglas, Mr Samuel Rutherford, Mr George Gillespie, and me; Cassils, Maitland, and Wariston, for elders. Mr Alexander was extremely averse from going, protesting his former expectation of death before he could attain London: but when all could not avail, he passionately complained of the great ingratitude he had found of sundry, who put heavy burdens on him, and were ready to invent or receive injurious calumnies of him. Cassils was much averse, and made great opposition. Every man said something; but no man was gotten excused. The miserable condition of the English affairs have yet kept us all at home.
3. List of Overtures in, and Acts of the Estates of Scotland, bearing reference to the Church, from the 15th of May 1639, to the 17th of Nov. 1641, from Chronological Table of Acts, vol. v.
1639.
Sept. 6. The Covenant subscribed by the Lord Commissioner—Ratification of certain Acts of Assembly—Dr Balcanquell—Grievances of Ministers of the North—Augmentation of Stipends—Presentation to Churches—Acts of Parliament in favour of Bishops’ [rescinded] Oaths, prejudicial to Covenant—Profanation of Lords Day, &c, p. 253.
Sept. 7. Salmon Fishing, and feeing Shearers upon Sunday—Lands and Benefices of Chapters.—Ibid.
Sept. 10. Salmon Fishing upon Sunday—Kirk of St Magnus, Kirkwall—Minister of Brechin—Two Ministers and Reader in Elgin—Minister of Auchtertool—Acts against Drunkenness and Blasphemy—Procurator of the Kirk, Clerk, and Agent—their Fees—Augmentation of Ministers Stipends, p. 256.