of King CHARLES II.

563

mildly; but not fo as to difcourage a fecond at- 1676. tempt: It would be fomewhat ftrange, if a man fhould afk the ufe of another man's wife, and if the other fhould indeed refufe it, but with great civility. This nettled Lord Danby, who upon that got him to be difmifs'd from that board: At which the Duke was much pleafed, who hated Lord Hallifax at that time, more even than the Earl of Shaftsbury himself; for he had fallen feverely on the declaration for toleration, in the Houfe of Lords. He faid, if we could make good the Eastern compliment, "O King, live for ever," he could truft the King with every thing; but fince that was fo much a compliment, that it could never become real, he could not be implicite in his confidence. Thus matters went on all 1676, and to the beginning of the 1677, when another feffion of Parliament was held. I have brought within this year feveral things that may be of ufe to enlighten the reader as to the ftate of things, tho' perhaps of their own nature they were not important enough to deferve to be told. But in fo bare a year, as this proved to be, it feemed no impertinent digreffion, to bring all fuch matters into the reader's way.

I fhall next give fome account of Scotch affairs. The afThe Duke of Lauderdale had mastered the oppo- fairs of fition made to him fo entirely, that men were Scotland. now filent, tho' not quiet. The field Conventicles increafed mightily. Men came to them armed. And upon that great numbers were outlawed: And a writ was iffued out, that was indeed legal, but very feldom ufed, called Intercommoning: Because it made all that harboured fuch perfons, or did not seize them, when they had it in their power, to be involved in the fame guilt. By this means many, apprehending a fevere profecution, left their houses, and went about like a fort of Banditti, and fell into a fierce and favage temper. The Privy Council upon this pretended they were 092

in

1676. in a state of war. And upon an old ftatute, that was almoft quite forgot, it was fet on foot, that the King had a power to take any Caftie, that lay convenient for his forces, and put a garrifon in it. So twelve houfes were marked out: Of which two were the chief dwelling houses of two Peers. The reft were the houfes of gentlemen, that had gone into the party against Duke Lauderdale. And, tho' thefe were houfes of no ftrength, and not at all properly fituated for the fuppreffing of Conventicles, yet they were taken. Soldiers were put in them. And the countries about were required to furnish those small garrifons with all things neceffary. This was against the exprefs words of the law that had lately fettled the militia. Great oppofition was made to it. Yet, it was kept up above a year, till the houfes were quite ruined by the rude foldiers, who understood that the more wafte they made, it would be the more acceptable. At laft it was let fall.

Another thing happened, fcarce worth mentioning, if it was not for the effects that followed on it. One Carftairs, a loose and vicious gentleman, who had ruined his eftate, undertook to Sharp to go about in disguise to fee thofe Conventicles, and to carry fome with him to witness against fuch as they faw at them; in which he himfeif was not to appear: But he was to have a proportion of all the fines that fhould be fet upon this evidence: And he was to have fo much for every one of their teachers that he could catch. He had many different difguifes, and paffed by different names in every one of them. He found Kirkton, an eminent preacher among them, who was as cautious as the reft were bold, and had avoided all fufpicious and dangerous meetings. Carstairs, feeing him walking in the ftreets of Edinburgh, told him, there was a perfon that was fick, and fent him to beg a vifit from him. He fufpecting no

thing

thing went with him. Carstairs brought him to his own lodgings: And there he told him, he had a warrant against him, which he would execute, if he would not give him money to let him alone. Kirkton faid, he had not offended, and was willing to go to prifon till his innocence fhould appear. Carstairs really had no warrant: But, as was afterwards difcovered, he had often taken this method, and had got money by it. So he went out to procure a warrant, and left Kirkton lock'd up in his chamber. Kirkton called to the people of the house: And told them, how he was trepan'd. And he got one of them to feek Baillie of Jerrifwood, his brother-in law, who was a Gentleman of great parts, but of much greater virtue. Carftairs could not find nine Privy Counfellors to fign a warrant, which were the number required by law. Yet, when he came back, he pretended he had a warrant, and would force Kirkton to go to prifon upon it. Kirkton refufed to obey any fuch warrant, till he faw it. And upon that Carftairs ftruggled, and pulled him to the ground, and fate on him, the other crying out murther. At that time Baillie came to the door: And, hearing him cry out, he called to Carstairs to open the door: And, that not being done, he forced it, and found Carftairs fitting upon Kirkton. He drew his fword, and made him come of him. He then asked him, what warrant he had to use him as he did. He faid, he had a warrant to carry him to prifon: But he refufed to fhew it. Baillie offered to affift in executing it, if he had any: But he perfifted in this, that he was not bound to fhew it. Baillie made Kirkton to go out; and followed him, no violence being ufed; for which he had many witnel'es, whom the noife had brought together. And he faid, he was refolved to fue Carftairs for this riot. But before the next Council day a warrant was figned by nine Privy Counsellors, but antedated, for the committing

003

1676..

1676. mitting of Kirkton, and of fix or feven more of their preachers. Lord Athol told me, he was one of those who figned it, with that falfe date to it. So Baillie was cited before the Council: Carstairs produced his warrant, which he pretended he had at the time that Kirkton was in his hands, but did not think fit to fhew, fince that would discover the names of others, against whom he was alfo to make use of it. Baillie brought his witnesses to prove his behaviour. But they would not fo much as examine them. It was faid, that upon Carftair's faying he had a warrant, Kirkton was bound to go to jail; and that, if it had been found that he was carried thither without a warrant, the jailor would not have received him. Duke Hamilton, and Lord Kinkardin, were yet of the Council. And they argued long against this way of proceeding, as liker a Court of Inquifition, than a legal government. Yet Baillie was fined 500l. and condemn'd to a year's imprisonment. And upon this an occafion was taken to turn Duke Hamilton and Lord Kinkardin out of the Council, as enemies to the Church, and as favourers of Conventicles.

CONTENTS

O F THE

FIRST VOLUM E.

His Character as to Party Matters
and Correspondence with
the Houfe of Hanover
His Labours in his Diocese, and in the
Epifcopal Function
His Univerfal Principle of Toleration ex-
liii
tends to Nonjurors

His Scheme for augmenting poor Livings
1x
in his own Diocese
His Scheme for augmenting all the poor
lxii
Livings in England
The Death of Queen Mary, and of Arch-
Ixiii
bishop Tillotson

He is one of the Commission to recom-
lxvii
mend to Church Preferments

Is made Preceptor to the Duke of Glou-
lxvii
cefter

Which he endeavours to decline
His Marriage with Mrs. Berkeley
He writes an Expofition of the Thirty-
nine Articles of the Church of Eng-
land
ib.

His Diligence in his Calling whilft in
Writes a Third Volume as a Supplement
London
lxxv
His Domestick Character
to the History of the Reformation lxxvi

His Time how employed
An Affectionate Husband

His care of his Childrens Education ib.
His firmnefs in his Friendships

His Conduct to thofe in Employment
under him

His Charities

lxxviii
His Care of the Revenue of the See lxxx
ib.
His Death

His Character by the late Marquifs of
Halifax,