The colonel’s son, the celebrated Apologist, was at that time in London, and having much interest at Court, obtained his father’s liberation. But the magistrates of Aberdeen were so enraged that he should thus escape from their power, that they illegally granted a warrant to distrain his goods, and sent a Captain Melvill to put it in execution, although, his residence being in another county, he was evidently beyond their jurisdiction. Melvill was a low fellow, who had formerly been a trooper in the colonel’s regiment, and was therefore personally known to him; but he had acquired all the insolence of office, and, presuming on the support of the magistrates, drove off the cattle and horses at Ury. In June 1677, he was again imprisoned, along with his son, in the chapel prison of Aberdeen; for the magistrates pursued him and his friends with no moderate degree of malignancy. They were, however, relieved by an order from the Court, in which the magistrates were severely reprimanded for their oppressive conduct.
On this occasion, a friend of Colonel Barclay’s could not avoid regretting the difference of times, and contrasting his present situation, with that when he rescued the city of Aberdeen from the oppressions of Huntly. But this worthy man replied, “that, although the magistrates usually came miles to meet him when he had the command of an army, and, to gain his favour, conducted him amidst the acclamations of the people to an entertainment prepared for him in the town-hall, yet he was more proud, and felt more real satisfaction, in his sufferings for the cause of religion and virtue, than in all the fleeting honours with which they had then distinguished him.”
From this time, Colonel Barclay enjoyed a state of calm and dignified repose. His latter days were sweetened by family endearment, and all the charms of a country life. This brave, sincere, and religious man, died, anno 1686, in the 77th year of his age, and was buried in a cemetery at Ury, which he had caused to be constructed for himself and his posterity. In this humble mausoleum his grave is still to be seen, and it is distinguished for its length; for he was one of the tallest, strongest, and most handsome men in the kingdom.
Colonel Barclay had five children, viz.
- Robert, the Apologist, his heir and successor.
- Jean, married to Sir Evan Cameron of Locheill.
- David, who died on his passage to East Jersey.
- Lucy, who died in April 1687, aged 33.
- ——, who died in East Jersey, in 1731.
(18.) Robert Barclay, generally known by the title of the Apologist, was born on the 28th of December 1648, at Gordonston in Morayshire, the seat of his maternal grandfather. After being educated in the best schools in Scotland, he was placed under the tuition of his uncle, who was rector of the Scots College in Paris. He gave early presages of great genius, and acquired much proficiency in all the learned sciences and elegant accomplishments of the times. He soon became conspicuous, and was particularly noticed for his vivacity and acuteness in the public disputations of the seminary, where he gained many prizes. His uncle was extremely solicitous to detain him in France; but his mother, on her death-bed, had strongly enjoined his removal from the college, lest he should imbibe the errors of popery. In obedience to parental authority, he returned home in 1664, and thus lost his uncle’s fortune and favour, to gratify his father’s conscientious compliance with the prejudiced but pious notions of his mother. Though destitute of wealth, he possessed what was more valuable, for his mind was deeply fraught with the riches of literature.
Soon after his return to Scotland, he joined the society called Quakers, and became their greatest ornament and ablest advocate. Previously, however, to his embracing the opinions of that sect, he visited his friends of all religious persuasions, to canvass their doctrines, that he might adopt a system of faith corresponding to the truths of the gospel; and, by conviction alone, as we are informed, he was guided in his choice. But probably, when in France, he had formed an attachment to the Quietists, who were the Quakers among Roman Catholics.
In the year 1670, he married Christian Molison, of the family of Lachintully, the grand-daughter of the celebrated Colonel Molison, who so much signalized himself in the defence of Candia against the Turks. About this time, he first appeared as an author, by a work, entitled, “Truth cleared of Calumnies,” which is an answer to “A Dialogue between a Quaker and a Stable Christian,” written by William Mitchell, a preacher, and printed at Aberdeen. A keen controversy then subsisted between the clergy of Aberdeen and the Quakers, relative to the doctrines of the latter, which, warmly interesting Barclay, called forth his talents as a polemical writer; and in the same year, he published a postscript in the form of questions. Mitchell replied to “Truth cleared of Calumnies,” and our author again answered him in a work, entitled, “William Mitchell unmasked,” which was published in 1672. In this controversy, Robert Barclay discovers the variety of his learning, and that he was well acquainted with ecclesiastical history; but above all, he shews with how much judgment and dexterity he could apply his knowledge in support of his religious opinions.
In 1673, he published “A Catechism and Confession of Faith,” which is an exposition of the doctrines and principles of the Quakers, supported by an appeal to Scripture testimony. His next publication is the “Theses Theologicæ,” which were addressed “to the clergy of what sort soever,” and contain fifteen propositions, on which he gives his sentiments, and explains them in conformity to the principles of his sect. He vindicated his Theses from the strictures of Nicolas Arnold, professor in the university of Franquer in Friesland, by a Latin treatise printed at Amsterdam, in 1675. In the same year, he published an account of a disputation between the students of divinity of the university of Aberdeen and the Quakers, in which he bore a conspicuous part; but, like most religious controversies, it terminated without satisfaction to either party. The students also published an account of this conference, in a pamphlet entitled, “Quakerism canvassed,” which occasioned a reply, entitled, “Quakerism confirmed,” in two parts, both printed in 1676.