[347] Constrained; perhaps Luke xii. 50 was in his thoughts.
[348] Jerem. xv. 18.
[349] This was Mr. John Brown who became minister of Wamphray.
[350] Lady Jane, second daughter of Lady Marischal, who was married to Lord Pitsligo. See note to Letter CCVI.
[351] Aberdeen is affixed to this letter; and if written from Aberdeen it must have been in 1637. Hence the letter is inserted here. At the same time, the reference to events points to some time about 1633. It is possible that "Aberdeen" is a mistake for Anwoth.
[352] The Parliament held at Edinburgh in June 1633.
[353] Mr. Thomas Hog, minister of the Gospel at Dysart, in his own name, and in the name of other ministers, before the sitting down of the Parliament, presented a paper, entitled, "Grievances and Petitions concerning the Disordered Estate of the Reformed Kirk within this realm of Scotland," to Sir John Hay, Clerk Register, to be laid before the Parliament.
[354] The reference here is to two Acts passed by the Parliament in June 1633, the one ratifying all Acts made before in favour of the church, and consequently ratifying the Acts of Perth, and other Acts made for settling and advancing the estate of bishops; the other, asserting the King's prerogative of enjoining churchmen to wear whatever apparel he chose.
[355] This was the number of members of Parliament who voted against the above Acts.
[356] "The King's taking pen and paper in hand in the time of the voting, was a sufficient ground of apprehending fear" (Scot's "Apologetical Narration").