SPECTATOR'S LIBRARY.

ARCILEOLOGY,

Extracts from the Presbytery Book of Strathbogie; A.D. 1631-1654.

Pwrom. Aberdeen, Printed for the Spalding Club. The Wonderful History of Peter Schlem ihl. By Adelbert von Chamisso. Trans. lated by William Hewitt. With six Illustrations Longman and CO. PITYMOLOGY, Animal Physiology. By William B. Carpenter, M.D.. Author of Principles of General and Comparatire Physiology," ho. (Popular Cyclopzedia of Natural Science.) Orr.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESBYTERY BOOR OF STRATHBOGIE.

THIS volume, published by the Spalding Club, and edited by its Secretary Mr. STUART, consists of extracts from the record of the proceedings of the Presbytery of Strathbogie,—a district consisting of thirteen parishes, lying on the confines of the Highlands, and under the control of the Gordon family, then forming what was popularly called " the Gordon country," but now better known for its con- nexion with the recent schism in the National Church. The period to which the extracts relate extends from 1631 to 1654; embracing the last seven years of Scotch Episcopacy, the troubled times of CHARLES the First, the civil wars in England and Scotland, the establishment and overthrow of the Commonwealth, and the con- centration of the power of the state in the hands of Citosawsu. as Protector. General politics, however, have little to do with the pro- ceedings of the ecclesiastical imperium in imperio of Strathbogie ex- cept as individuals become implicated in opposition to the Solemn League and Covenant. Public affairs, indeed, are often alluded to ; documents pass between the General Assembly and the Presbytery ; and occasional indications of the workings of civil war appear in their records. Thus, in January 1645, the " bretheren could not saiflie convein together becaus the enemie vas for the tyme vithin the boundis off the presbytrie " ; in March, "the whole bretheren ver forced to tile from their houses" ; in August, there is an entry of the Presbytery —" seing ther could be no con- uenience of meeting had this long tyme bygone, be reason of con- tinowall troubles, armies going among vs euerie veek almost"; and in the case of a lady of some station, respecting "sine alledgit bairne to be borne by hir befor hir manage ver closed," a certain ADAM DUFF " deponed, that the said Jean Gordon, Lady Altar, in the tyme of the troubles, vas in a barne of his fourtein dayes or therabout." The bulk of the matters, however, recorded by the Presbytery of Strathbogie, relate to questions of kirk-discipline, or the morals and behaviour of the persons residing in the district. But general terms or modern ideas can convey no notion of the character and ex- tent of this ecclesiastical domination—it was the Inquisition extending not merely to faith but to every action of life. The case of Lady ALTAR and her " alledgit bairne " was pursued, meeting after meeting, with the greatest pertinacity; and a chief evidence against her, a Mr. GEORGE MELVILL, a minister, was a man convicted of "forging a testimoniall," and guilty by his own confession. But though adultery and fornication were standing topics with the Presbytery, and pursued with unction, they went much further. As any thing under the name of scandal, either contra bows mores or affecting an individual, was brought within their jurisdiction, they were never at a loss for topics of inquiry. Whether a man was drunk, or was said to have been drunk, truly or falsely, there was game to pursue and opportunity for kirks censure for drink or for slander, unless one of the parties re- sided beyond their district. Proud, reproachful, contemptuous speeches, or the more general term of railing, especially at a minister, elder, or schoolmaster, was a ground for calling the ungoverned orator before the Presbytery. Charming, witchcraft, superstitious practices, even the administration of simples by an old woman, were causes of interference, and sometimes of fatal interference : not, perhaps, that the Presbyterian clergymen would have cared about an old woman doctoring, but they could not divest themselves of the notion that there was magic in the mixture. In matters more immediately ecclesiastical, they, were, of course, as searching : any one suspected of Papistry was visited, to expound and explain theology ; and sometimes the divines hunted in couples, when people of standing were the back- sliders which seems usually to have been the case. As regards the qualification of ministers, they were properly careful not only with respect to learning, morals, and "gifts "—meaning ability of preaching and discourse—but elocution and articulation ; and their examination was repeated during the entire period of a man's ministry. Their modes of inquiry were not so creditable ; exhibiting unfair proceedings, and encouraging tattling and back- biting. Their course on visitations was to "remove' the minis- ter, and examine the elders against him, continually putting what the lawyers call leading questions : and when this inquiry was concluded, the elders were removed, and the minister beard against his parish. No doubt, if tangible offences were alleged, a sort of trial took place; but some points were mere matters of opinion, which scarcely admit of proof; and, it would not seem difficult by depreciatory remarks to lower a man's character. Little of this, however' appears to have been attempted: the elders seem to have been less willing to talk than the Presbytery to listen; as if a certain amount of right dealing would flourish in spite of all the efforts of authority. But, if the . Presbytery of Strathbogie be a fair sample of these spiritual as-, se.nblies, Scotland must have lived under a minute and everintere fering tyranny such as no system of caste or secular government

w i

could have tarried into execution. The wonder s, not that

" kings and gentlemen " abhorred it, but that any people could be brought to submit to it, and what is more to fight and suffer for it. National character may account for some of this peculiarity ; but it is probable that the licence and tyranny of the nobles and Popish clergy had prepared the way for the regular rule of the Presbytery, and rendered it at first a sort of national necessity.

As regards extent of time and variety of topics, the Extracts from the Presbytery Book of Strathbogie will be considered infe- rior to the annual volume of the Spalding Club which we noticed some months ago. In unity of subject and completeness of illus- tration, these Extracts exceed it ; forming a very valuable exhi- bition of Presbyterian practice in Scotland, and containing many incidental pictures of manners and opinions, as well as throwing some light upon the history of the period. To the antiquarian, the student of Scottish history, or the general scholar, the volume will be of considerable interest and use. Its general attraction will of course be less : there is much in it, indeed, of a popular character, but this is of necessity mixed up with things of a technical kind; and there are many repetitions of the same class of subjects,—such repetitions being necessary for a complete exhi- bition of the working of the subject, though not attractive to the reader for amusement. But, as the volume whether popular or otherwise, cannot be readily procured, we will draw pretty largely upon its contents for our columns, and endeavour to give examples of its principal topics ; beginning with morals and manners.

PUNISHMENT OF A GALLANT.

"At Botary, November 9, 1636.

Williame Mitchell, in the parish of Keath, sumonded to this daye for adulterye with Ketye Mackarmich, spans to Marcus Cow3e, compeared [ap- peared] in sackcloth, and confessed his fault. He was ordained in respect he was marled also, to stand in the jogges and brankes, [the stocks,] with his head clipped, and barefooted, in sackcloth, till the congregation be satisfied ; or other- wyse to redeeme himself from the jogges and brankes by paying forty markes penaltye, and to stand only in sackcloth."

MR. PATRICK WILSON'S JOVIALITY : ANNO 1637.

"Patrik Wilsone being sumonded, aped acta, to answere this daye anent his night drinking, compeared. Mr. Joseph Brodye, to prove his alleagances against him, produced witnesses, namely, James Morisone, George Wilsone, Johne Wilsone, who being all admitted and sworne, deponed as after &Howes : James Morisone deponed, that he continued drinking till cockcrowe, and that he and his companye dranke eleven pyntes sill; morouer, the said James de- poned that in his drunkennes he stroke James Troup, messinger, with his hand, and that he rayled against some gentlemen in the parish. George Wil- sone deponed that he left Patrik Wilsone and his companye drinking after cockcrowe, and that he strake and rayled, a supra. Johne Wilsone deponed that the said Patrik was ouercome with drinke, and that he dranke after cock- crowe. The brethren ordained the said Patrik to stand in sackcloth two Sab- baths, and to paye four markes penaltye."

What were these moral witnesses doing themselves in a house of this kind at " cockcrowe" ?

A REPENTANT SINNER: 1653.

"Compeird William Charles, excommunicat for octolapse in fornication, in sac.kcloatb, humble supplicating to be relaxed front the sentence of excommu- nication, professing his repentance and sorrow for his sin, and promising to amend his life. The moderator, labouring to make him sensible of the griev- ousness of his sinnes, and of the miserable condition he was in, and his minis- ter testifying that he carried himself well outwardlie, abstaining from all pub- lict sins he was given to abefor, and frequented sermons to be instructed in the way of God, the presbytrie resolved to admit him to repentance, ordaining the minister to deal with him in the mean tyme, to work a true remorse in him for his sin."

A CASE OF SLANDER.

The said day, Robert Gordon of Colythie gaue in a bill of slander upon Alexander Leith of Bucbarne, compleaniug that the said Alexander should

have said, in a publict taverne, that the said Robert was drunk in [ ] Gor- don of Cocklarachies house, and should have vomited such tine budge quantitie that he drown a bitch whelps therwyth. The said Alexander beeing sum- monded to this day by the session, who have referred the cognoscing of the bill to the presbytrie, was called, and compeiring, confessed be apok the words, but that he beard them of another. He was ordained to present the nixt day his author befor the presbytric, or else to be holden for the slanderer himselfe.

Mr. LEITH was able to show that he did not invent the story ; but he seems to have added specificality to the illustration of the whelps.

" Sicklyk, the said Alexander Leith being sumonded to this day, to present his author for slandering George Gordon in Colythie, compeird not, but sent a letter, under Mr. Robert Cheyn his bend, shewing his author for quhat he *poke, the tenour quherof follows: 'Reverend and deir brother, these ar show- ing yow that Hew Morise hes corn befor Alexander Forbes of Culqubarrie, Robert Muir Walter Rosse, and me, and confessed that he said that he bade publictlie spoke that Collithie had spued as much as wold have dround two whelps, and sail glue his informer quhen he sal be posed, which is all he lies for the tyme, who is your loveing brother, subscribitur, Mr. Robert Cheyne. Eenethmont, 11th Maij, 1653.' The presbytrie finding the said Alexander had given his author, as he was appoynted, and the said author of his wes noe.ht in the bounds of the presbytrie, the brethren acquiesced in the former declaration."

CRITICISING A CLERGYMAN.

"Mr. Robert Irving taught, Hos. 14, v. 1, 2, 3. "The said Mr. Robert Irving being remoued, and doctrine censured, the bretheren thoght him lyvles in his applicatioun, and not apyl3ing himself to the tymes; his speech somquhat inarticulate.

"The elderis being generale posed bow they ver edified by his doctrine, how he caned in lyf and conversatioun, and how he discharged himself in his minis- terial' calling, declared, all in one voyce, he was no worse in preaching then befell., and that by him they ver edified, and he vas blameles in his lyf and con- versatioun. It being shewen them that the bretheren could not diatinctlie anderstand his expressionis in manic wordis ; answered, throgh custome they Tnderstood him better than vtlieris. Notvithstanding heirof, the bretheren thoght expedient that ane helper sould be adjoyned to him, and posed the elderis if they thoght not the same; vho answered, they ver content vith their owne minister, and thoght him ale able to discharge his calling as befor. And Yet, be ther discourse, the bretheren perceined ther unwillingues to bane ane helper pmeeidit cheitlie from feare of imposing the said helper his mantenance on.them." _Wilts been alleged against the penances of the Romish Church, eat 04 eubstitutql &formal or at best a carnal penalty for true

spiritual repentance. The same may be said of the Presbyterian discipline; with this addition in favour of Rome, that her penances, carrying inconveniences with them, and often bodily pain or worldly loss, were a better proof of sorrow than the degradation

and exposure of the Scotch ecclesiastical censures, which would have no effect upon impudence and hypocrisy, whilst they would

harden or irritate the sensitive. Indeed, the Presbyterian clergy seem made to have been the dupes of a good assurance and a glib tongue; and, doubtless, they were often played upon by.persons who found it convenient to feign repentance and profess

sanctity. Mr. Jamas KENNEDY, an excommunicated Cavalier, who had served under the Marquis of HIINTLY and then under dowr- ROSE, appears to have been a man of this stamp. At all events, when CHARLES the First had been beheaded and the Episcopal cause appeared in lowly plight, he addressed the Commission of the Kirk at Perth; which referred him to the Presbytery of Strath. bogie. To this body he presented "ane supplicatioune' ; and "After reiding and considering thereof, the said Mr. James vas called vpon, and audience granted to him. The moderator posed him quhat moued him thus to supplicat for his relaxatioun at this tyme, having so long neglected it. Answered, no worldlie respect, but only the weight of that sentence quherby he vas affected ; nayther had he altogether neglected his dutie in this kynd, having formerlie supplicat the Presbytrie and Commission of the Kirk. After- yard laying it to his charge his haynous minis, and some particular vicked courses committed by him in tyme of his rebellione, that had brought him now wnder so beavie a sentence, desyred him to expresse himself quhat he thoght of those sinis, and of the equitie of that sentence, and of his present conditione, standing at such ane distance vith the church; answered, be humble acknow- ledgit his former rebellious courses to be great sills, and that the sentence of excommunicatioun most justlie vas inflicted for the same ; and if his tongue could express in publict quint invard greif of heart he had for these sinnes, he hoped the bretheren wold compassionat his present condition. Qubervpon, that he might be brought to sue farther sense of his erroris, the Presbytrie ap. poynted ane particular dyet for conference vith him, and ordained Mr. William Kinninmont, moderator, Mr. Mine Reidfurd, minister at Abercherdour, Mr. George Meldrum, minister at Glas, vith Mr. James Gordon, to meet vith hint at Rothemay, tenth Martii, to conferr vith him in the forsaid particular, anti to report quhat they fand in him."

After these learned persons had sufficiently handled him, and he had professed and explained, he was further ordained "to draw ve, vnder his owne hand, ane declaratioun and confessione of his sinms and vicked courses"; with which he also complied,—evidently con.• suiting the taste of the Presbytery. After a flourishing exordium, he proceeds with this

ACCOUNT OF PUBLIC SINS.

"I doe, in all humilitie, most ingenouslie confesse and sincerle acknowledge, to the glorie of God and my oune shame, that at the beginning of that horrid. and wnnaturall rebellione raised in the nortberne paints of this kingdome, being moved with the spirit of presumptione and singularitie, I did abandon the so- cietie of Gods people within the tonne of Edinburgh, amongst whom I lived formerlie about the space of ten yeirs or therby, with George Gordon, samtym Marquis of Huntly, about the yeir 1643; and having caned armes wnder him in the forsaid rebellione in the yeir 1644 or thereby, against anthoritie both civill and ecclesiastick, I was, about that tym, most justlie excommunicat by the Coromissione of the General! Assemblie for the same, and for my della- quencie and wickednes in opposing the Covenant and work of God in this land, and endeavouring the mine and subvemione thereof according to my pouer, the justice of which sentence I doe heirby most sincerelie and serioushe ac- knowledge. "That, being defeited by the Spirit of Grace, and therby left to myself, I proeeided from sinne to sinne, till at last I became altogidder insensible of sinne, having my conscience cauterized with the habit and custom of sinning, wher- wpon I not onliecontinowed in armee with the said wniquhill George Gordoune, sumtym Marquis of Huntlye, after my said excommumcatione, wntil such tym as he wes forced to disband and leans the feilds, and retire himself to Strati. aver, hot did immediatlie therefter associate myself to wmquhill James Gra- hame, excommunicat traitour, who had invaded this kingdome with atm num- ber of bloodie bushes and barbarous Hielanders, with whom I continoued in armee for the space of ane yeir and shone, until I wes takin prisoner efter Philipbauch ; being also partaker and highlie guiltie of all that bloodshed, raising of fire, rapine, plundering, and all other barbarous insolencies, and wn- natturall cruelties and outrages committed all that tym. "And not being sensible of that happines and blessing conferred vpon me at that tym by the mercifull hand of God, first, in arreasting me by prisone, therb/ to haue stopped that violent course and torrent of my bypast wicked' and sinful lyff, and to hane recalled me to himself; and nixt, in releiving me from the snares of a violent death, which I daylie expected and meals deserved, by setting me at libertie furth of prisone, I wes so baselie ungrate to so gracious a God and mercifull a father, that in place of returning thanks and acknow- ledging of his benefits, being givin over to a strong delusione, and possessed with seven worse spirits then the former, I returned spine to my oune vomit, and walloued myself of new in the myre and puddle of my former wickednes and sinfulnes BO that, efter my relief turth of prisooe in the tolbuith of Edin- burgh, I retired myself north againe to the said George Gordoune, samtyns Marquis of Huntly, who had raised a new rebellione in the year 1646, to whom I adhered till October therefter, 1647, that he wee takin prisoner."

MR. KENNEDY'S PERSONAL SINS.

"I doe also, in all humilitie, most seriouslie confesse and sincerelie acknou- ledge that the whole course of my lyff, both befor and since my excommunica- tione, hath bein nothing but a progresse of wickednes and chyle heaping of Anne wpen sinne, by drunkennes, whordom, cursing and swearing, break of the Sabotb, neglect of Gods worship, pryd, envy, malice, contempt of the means of grace, mocking of religione, profanitie, and all sort of wickednes and excesse of ryot ; by all which I have offended Almightie God in the highest maner, and given great occasions of scandall and offence to his people. And the rather that no pretext or cloack of ignorance wes left me, having had sufficient i occasiones of the ordinaire means of my educatione and nstructione, and being. educat and bred both at schools and colleges and other seminaries of learning within this kingdome; all which doe so much the more aggravat and aggrage my sinfulnes and wickednes, having sinned so highlie both against my knouledge and the light of my conscience, anti against the light of the gospell shyning so cleirlie for the tym."

MR. KENNEDY'S NEW LIGHTS.

"As for these demands proponed onto me, anent the Covenant, League and Covenant, the halt unlawful engagement, and religione presently pro- fessed, I doe ingenuously confess and sincerely acknowledge, that I wes for a long tym possessed with a dielyk of the Covenant, League and Covenant, and all the meanes used for promoving thereof, being induced thervnto by a pre- judiced opinion wharwith I wes possest, and a wilful neglect of the mean* to have bein informed of the neeetsitie and kufillnes of the same, hot mat by

ane affected singularitie. But having informed myself more perticularlie theranent, and especiallie by these several conferences above mentionat, which 1 haue had with your wisdomes, not only sufficientlie satisfied and fullie con- vinced ( ]. •

"And as for the religione presently professed, I doe not apprehend any differ- ence in meter of doctrine from that I wes educat in from my infancie, and wherwnto I have still adhered be my professione, and shall, God willing, con- tinow in all the dayes of my lyftym, though I confesse to my great greiff that my practise bath bein far contrarie. Bot for the discipline and church govern- ment, I doe professe ingenuouslie I wee not not so weill satisfied therwith till of lait, by the forsaids several conferences I have had with your wiadotnes to that purpose, whereby I am so fullie satisfied therin, that I doe con- Menthe beleive that Presbyterian government, as it is presently established in the Kirk of Scotland, is the only trew and WIWI church government, pounded upon the Word of God and Institut be Chryst and his Apostles."

The penitent was finally readmitted into the bosom of the kirk ; and seems, like the dramatic person of HORACE; to have preserved his consistency to the last. "Mr. William Jamesoune reported he had receiued Mr. James Kennedie, according to the ordinance the last day, at the kirke of Dumbennan, in tyme of divine service, befor the wholl congregatioune ; quher, after he had opened up the way of true repentance befor him, and charged him, as in the sight of God, to beware of the bitter mutt of dissimulationne in such ane serious busi- nes, he did particularly charge the said Mr. James with euerie one of these sins that he had acknowledged himselfe welkin of in his owne pallets, and at his pnblicke examination befor the brethren of the Presbytry; gull° tooke verie well with them in the audience of the wholl people, and expressed such pro- bable signs of repentence before the Lord, under the sense of his drinking, whordome, perjurie, murther, malignancie, etc., that even heartie sorrow (as appeared) was to be found in him at the mentioning of any of them, and be- sought the prayers of all the people to the Lord in his bebalfe, that he might be yet more, in mercie, peirced with the exceeding weyght and sense of them ; and acknowledged, hi the means tyme, the equitie of that highe and weyghtie sentence of excommunication that had bein past against him, and that, indeed, he was not worthy of any Christian societie of fellowships of the people of God ; qnhill, as he lined so scaudelously and disobediently befor the Lord and his people, and now being come to sue sense of his former errors and wickednes, and finding the burthen of such a sad sentence, he earnestly longed for relaxa- tioune Rpm and restitutionne to the blest liberties of other Christians, that he might haue the benefitt of partaking with them in the ordinances, word and sacraments, and Christian fellowship, etc., resolueing, in the strengths of the Lords assisting grace, nener to fall back againe into the swynish puddle of un- cleanncs that he had been wallowing into for such a long tyme: upon quich serious (as it seemed) profession of guiltines, and greife of lying under such a sentence, and desire of new obedience, he was receiued in the bosome of the kirke again, as the manner is, by gluing him the right hand, and absoluing him from the sentence, according to his repentance, he being for a verie long tyme humbled in sackcloth."

In triumphant times, the Presbytery appear to have encountered little opposition ; though now and then, "ignorance made drunk" would threaten contumacy, and some few exhibit a little of obstinacy cir brawling : but when the fight at Dunbar and the " crowning mercy of Worcester" had placed the whole island within the power of CitomwEee, one of the GORDONS sent the Assembly a pithy criticism' which must have sounded unmusical to ears that had not long before been delighted with Mr. KENNEDY'S strains.

MR. W. GORDON'S OPINION OF PRESBYTERIANISM.

"William Gordon, pariochiner of Dunbennan, compeiring: gave in a de- clinstour, with many false, lying, scandalous reproaches against the Kirk of Scotland, and government thereof, the tenour quherof follows : '1 vnder- amber, of the pariochin of Dumbennan, and Presbytrie of Strathbogye, having, by manic and sundrie sad experiences, found the manie bloodie and barbarous inconveniences quhich hay alvayes accompanied the Presbyterian govern- ment, by their usurpatioune and mixed auctorite with the civill power, and tyrannous persecuting of mens consciences who out of tender scruples did differs from their opinions in matters indifferent and circumstantiall; as also, finding that the greatest part of their prayer and preaching doth more tender the advancment of their private interest and factioune then the propagatioane of the gospell; and seeing their frequent railing against the auctoritie and civill power which God hath set over us, quherby the peoples inynds an keeped un- setled and averse from the coreliall compliance and union of both nations, quhich, by God's great mercie, we or now lyk to enjoy. For thee reasons, I doe therfor declare' that I neither will nor can continue a member of the Pres- bytrie of Strathbogye, and that I shall no mor esteeme of their excommunica- tioune than thei did formerly of the Pope, but intend, God willing, to live in such a gospell way as the Lord hath dispensed in his sacred word, and not oc- casion any disturbance to this present government of the commonwealth of Great Bnttan. And, tn testifie this solemn separationne, I have subscribit thin presentis with my band. William Gordon. The Presbytrie, haveing read and considered the paper, bow malitious and invective it was against the servants and government of Christs church, did ordaine Mr. Villiam Jamison to excommunicate the said Villiam guam primum ; quhilk sentence beeing intimate to him, he lookit verie frowardly, and uttered himself most proudly and malitionsly."

From the volume before us witchcraft does not appear to have been rife in the district of Strathbogie the cases handled by the Presbytery are slight, and of the nature of charming rather than witchcraft proper. But the editor in his preface has given some ex- tracts from the Kirk-Session records of Perth, which display several curious instances of superstition and delusion—if the poor witches were not suffering under true mania.