1650.
Excerpts from the Chronicle of Fife; being the Diary of John Lamont of Newton.
Jan. 13.—Robert Maitlande, the Laird of Lundie, in Fyfe, meadde his repentance (in his owne seatte) for having hand in the leate engagement against Englande. Mr Ja. Magill, minister of Largo, did receave him, and presentlie, after the covenant being reade, he did sweare the same, and, in the afternone, did subscribe it before the session.—The day before, he did subscribe the peaper emitted by the Gener. Assemb.
1649.—A litell before this, the Earle of Kelly made satisfactione in this manner, in Petten-Weyme, and was receiued by Mr George Hamiltone, m. of Newburne, and afteruarde his owne minister.
1650. Feb.—Ther was sundrie persons in Edenbroughe that had ther eares nayled to the Trone, for bearing false witnes, and one that had his tounge pearced with a hott iyron. About the same tyme, ther was one scourged by the hangman, for having 7 weemen at one tyme with chielde.
Mar. 31.—At the church of Largo ther was read a declaration of the Commiss. of the Gener. Assemb. answering a declaration leatlie published, under the name of James Ghrame, sometyme E. of Montrose. Also, the forsaid day, ther was a publicke fast intimate to be keiped throughe out the whole kingdome, the folowing Lords day. The maine cause of this fast appointed (besides these of former fasts) was, that our commissioners gone to the king (before spoken of) might have a gratious acceptatione, and ther iust desirs granted.
Apr. 27, being Satterday.—James Grahames forces (sometyme E. of Montrose), being in the north parts of this kingdome, werre defeate by L. Ge. Da. Leslie, his folowers.
May 21,—James Grahame (sometyme Earle of Montrosse), was execute at the crosse of Edenbroughe.
A newe translation of the Psalms of David, in metre, first corrected by the Assemblie of Divines, in Englande, bot afteruarde revised by the Gener. Assemb. of this kingdome and their comissioners, was apointed to be practised in all the kirks of the kingdome; the former discharged. This translation is more neare the original Hebrew than the former, as also, the whole psalmes are translated to comon tunes, (wheras, in the former, ther werre many proper tunes); ther be proper tunes also in this translation, bot, with all, ther is adjoyned comon tunes with them. This translation was practised, the 2 of June 1650, at Largo church, in the presbetrie of St Androus, as also through out the rest of that presbetrey, and apointed, with all diligence, to be put in practise through the rest of the presbetreys of the kingdome.
July 7.—Ther was a fast apointed by the Comiss. of the Gener. Assemb. to be keiped through out all the kirkes of the kingdome; the maine causes werre the great securitie of the land, the threatning of the sectarian armie of England to invade this kingdome, the abounding of socerie, and that the Lord wald countenance the folowing Gener. Assemb: etc. This fast was keiped by Mr Ja. Magill, att Largo, the forsaid 7 day of July. This day intimation was made of the excommunication of one Jhone Enster, a shiper in Enster, for his obstinacie in malignancie. As also of one Mr Hollande, ane English man, wha gave him selfe foourth to be a phesitian, he being onlie ane imposter and deceaver, that the people might not have any dealing with him in the meater of physicke.
July 10.—The Generall Assemblie of this kingd. satte att Edenbroughe, where Mr Andro Cant, minister of Aberdeine, was moderator. Att this meiting ther werre severall nobelmen that werre accessorie to the late unlawfull engagement, that werre desirous to be receaved, as the E. of Crafoorde, wha was received in the Abey kirke, and appeared to be verie penitent. The E. of Laderdaile was referred to the comission of the kirke. Duke Hamilton’s petition was rejected; the E. of Marshall (whose lady, a litel before this, depairted out of this life,) the E. of Arroll, and sundrie others. The most pairt of the ministers of Orkenay were deposed, and appointed to be excommunicate, because they had subscribed a peaper of the forsaid Montrosse.[436] A number of the ministers of Caithnes werre deposed in likemaner, for conniving at his wayes. L. G. Cromuell, that commanded the English armie, sent a declaratione to this kingdome, declaring the causes why he was comeing downe to invade this kingdome; and another from the pretended parliament of England;—both which werre excellentlie answered, both by church and state, and the Assemb. answers appointed to be read in the severall kirks of this kingdome. The K. Majestie sent a letter to this Assemblie; ther was three ministers appointed to attend his Majestie; as Mr Robert Blaire, m. of St Androus, Mr George Hutcheson, and Mr James Durhame. Ther was a fast appointed (because the forsaide Englishis had invaded this kingdome), to be keiped through the wholle kingdom. This meiting rose the 24 of the said instant. The said Mr Rob. Blaire was desired to come to Glasgowe, (in the roume of D. Strange, who was deposed for some erronius opinions), bot it was refused. A litell before this Assemb. Mr David Dicke, m. of Glasgowe, was transported by the Com. of the Gener. Ass. to Edenbroughe, to be professor ther. He did succeid to D. Sharpe.... Mr Ja. Sharpe was transported from Crayll to Edenbrough, and Mr Jhone Heart from Dyninnowe to Dunkell, both out of St And. presb.—A visitatione for Fyfe to sit in Sept.