Mar. 17.—The comissioners of this kingdome sent to Hollande to treatte with our forsaide K. majestie, viz. the E. of Cassells, &c. Barron, a burges, and two ministers, namly, Mr James Wood, m. of St Androus, and Mr Robert Baillie, minist. of Glasgowe, shipped in att Kirkekaldie in Jhone Gillespie’s shipe, and loused on Saterday the 17 of the said instant, at night; they returned to this kingdome the 11 of Jun. 1649, mutch unsatisfied.
Mar. 9.—Duke Hamilton was beheaded att London by the sectaries ther, as also the Earle of Hollande, and the Lord Capell, that same day also. The said Duke Hamilton, upon the scaffolde, confessed, 1. That his religion was according to the church of Scotland; that he ever had beine loyall to the leate king, and wished weill to his posteritie; that none more att all tymes desired the peace and happines of this and the other kingdomes than himselfe. 2. That his coming in with the late armie to England was out of no treasonable or ill intent, bot for the ends contained in the committee of Scotlands declaratione, and what he did was as a servant to the parliament and kingdome; that, in that employment, nixt to the settling of religion, the establishing of the king was his greatest aime. 3. That he wished his blood, in order to the peace of the kingdome, might be the last that soulde be spilt. 4. That he had beine severall tymes wrought upon to confesse who had invited the Scots armie to come in, bot this he hath not done att all, nether then, or any other tyme, though, if he had, its conceived it woulde probably have saved his life. His corps afterwarde werre brought downe by sea to Hamiltone, where they werre interred.
Mar.—There was ane act reade in the parliament of Englande for taking away kingly government for the tyme to come in that kingdome. As also, ane other act for dissolving the house of peers in parliament. And a 3. that all priviledge might be taken away from noblemen ther, and ther persons made as lyable to the law as any commoner of Englande.
Mar. 22.—The Marquesse of Huntlie, in the north, (being condemned by the forsaid parliament,) was beheaded at the crosse of Edenbroughe. He died blockishlie, not being relaxed of his excommunicatione; his corps afterwarde werre caried by sea to the north, to be interred ther.
Mar.—Ther was ane insurrectione in the north parts of this kingdome, so that the garisone of Endernesse was surprised, and the walls of the towne throwen downe; and upon this, David Lesley went north with some troupes of horse and foote, to suppresse them. In May 1649, following, ther was 800 men taken prisoners, amonge whom was the Lord Rea, and some other gentlemen of the name of Makkeinzey (wha werre caried to Edenbroughe), and some killed. Upon this overthrowe, the rest laid downe ther armes, so that ther lives and fortuns, were grāted to them, which was done.
This summer ther was very many Witchˢ taken and brunt in severall parts of this kingd. as in Lothian and in Fyfe, viz. in Enderkething, Aberdoure, Bruntellande, Doysert, Dumfermling.
July 4.—The Generall Assemb. of this kingdome satte att Edenbrough, where Mr Robert Douglas, minister of Edenbd. was moderator. At this Assemb. ther werre severall ministers deposed, as Mr Andro Ramsay and Mr William Colen, both ministers of Edenbrough, and divers others. Ther was ane act made declaring the way of receiving the officers that had ane hand in the engagement against England, 1648: All these that werre above louetenants werre to come before the commission of the kirke that satte att Edenbd. and to be receaved by them; and these that werre beneath loueten. werre referred to the severall presbetries wherein they lived, to give satisfaction ther. Att the closure of this forsaid act, ther was a declaration printed, that was apointed to be subscribed by them all, under the paine of excommunicatione. Ther was a large declaration printed, appointed to be read in the severall kirks of this kingdome.
Att this meiting ther werre severall noblemen of this kingdome that did supplicat to be receaved to the Covenant, as the L. Ogilbie, Quensberry, Kenmure, etc. During the sitting of this Assemb. the visitatione of the Universitie of St Androus satt, where D. Barron, Provest of the Old Colledge, his willingnesse (provyding maintynance werre granted to him,) to dimitt his place was accepted, and sufficient maintinance during his life was allowed to him by the Assembley; and Mr Ro. Nory, professor of Humanitie in St Leonards colledge, wha aymed to have the precedencie of all the regents there, was declared to be posterior to them all: Mr Thomas Gleige, also in the Old Colledge, dimitted his place. Ther was something (in the Assemb.) spoken against the meason word, which was recommended to the severall presbetries for tryall therof. This Assemb. satt from the 4 of July to the 6 of August. Moreover, many of the shyres of the kingdome werre apointed to be visited, and the severall kirke session bookes to be revised by the persons concerned.
August 16.—Mr Robert Weyms (a Sant Androus man borne), was placed minister of the Ellie, in the presbetrey of St Androus. The said day Mr Patrik Skugall, minister of Leuchars, did preach. The Laird of Ardrose (being patron of the parish, and ther present,) gott not libertie to give him the right hand of felloshipe att his admission, (as the custome is), because under censure for the leate engagement against Englande.
(From the middest of Sept. to the middest of October.)—The Visitation apointed (by the forsaide Generall Assemblie), for Angus and Mernes, satte at the places apointed. Att which meitting Mr Andro Cant, minister att Aberdeine, was moderator. The visitators apointed to severall actaul ministers texts that they might heare them, some of which had beine in the ministrie for the space of 20 or 24 yeares. During the sitting of this meitting, ther was about eghteine ministers deposed, and five suspended, (two of which number did apeale to the Gener. Assemb.) The causes of ther depositiones werre, insufficiencie for the ministrie; famishing of congregations; silence in the tyme of the leatte engagement against Englande; corruptions in life and doctrine; malignancie, drūkenes, and subscriving of a divisive band, and such like. At this tyme, Mr James Laumonth, minister in Kinnettells, was deposed; and Mr Johne Lyndsay, ane olde man, was deposed, for adultrie and fornicatione, which werre proven against him. They purposed againe to returne thither in March 1650.