PAGE 190
against Mr Guthrie, that my life was in
danger,1
I was minded to
lurk and not appear, seeing I was not cited nor apprehended.
But finding their sentence would be only banishment, and Mr
Traill having got that sentence only on the 9th of December, I
did, on the 11th of December, being called before the councill,
compear. I have in ane other paper (subjoined
hereto2)
set down what past
particularly3
when I was before the councill. The
sum of all came to this: they required me to subscryve the oath
which they called the Oath of Alleadgeance, wherin the king was
to be acknowledged supream governour over all persons, and in all
causes, both civill and ecclesiasticall. This I know was contrived
in so generall, ambiguous, and comprehensive terms, that it might
import receding from the covenant for reformation, and the bringing
in of the bishops. And the summer before, when some
ministers of the West had given in their sense that they would
acknowledge the king supream civill governour, even in ecclesiastick
matters, that sense was rejected. Therefore, I refused
to take that oath. They desyred to know if I would take some
time to advise anent the matter, as some who had been before
them had done. This I thought would import that I was not
fully clear nor resolved in the matter,
and4
render both myself open to many temptations,
and5
offend and weaken many others. Therfore, I
told6
I needed not take tyme, seeing I was abundantly
clear that I could not lawfully take that oath. This made
them7
sharper against me. They pronunced the sentence of banishment,
that I should within forty-eight hours depart out of Edinburgh,
and goe to the north syde of Tay, and within two moneths depart
off8
all the king's dominions. The while I was in the
outter-house before the councill-house door, being removed till
the councill advised anent my sentence, there being present
**************
1
"Were in hazard."
2
The sermon above referred to, preached on the 13th of October, will also
be found at a subsequent page.
3
"Particularly what past."
4
"Would."
5
"Would."
6
"That."
7
"The."
8
"Out of."
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PAGE 191
severail of my friends, and ane great throng of other people, one
James Wallace, who once had been an professor, and therafter
turned ane Antinomian, whose renunclng of Antinomianism I got
from Mr William Struther of Edinburgh, and who yet therafter
turned to the same opinion and practises, and therfore, when I
was in Killinshie, in Ireland, he going through the countrey, came
thither, and on an Sabbath, when we were at the communion, I
perceived him sitting at the table, and sent ane elder to him, and
desyred him to remove, because of his scandall; this man being
one of the macers, began an discourse to ane other macer called
Douglass, railing on these that would not in all things give obedience
to the king. After I had been long silent, all I said at last
was saying, The king's commandment was, Answer him not. This
I perceived enraged him the more. After two dayes, having
taken leave of my friends in Edinburgh, I went to Leith, and
therafter, upon petition in regard of my age and infirmity, I
obtained liberty to stay in Leith till I should remove. I petitioned
but for ane few dayes to goe home and take my leave of
my wife and children; but it was refused. I also petitioned once
and again for ane copie of my sentence, but could not obtain it.
Dureing my
stay1
in Leith, I was almost every day, through the
whole day, visited by some friends out of Edinburgh, and other
parts of the countrey. Ane roll of these that visited me I have
set down in an other paper apart. In that time, through cold, I
took ane pain and weakness in my loins, that for sundry dayes
I was not able to step, or put on or off my cloathes: yet in ane
moneth's time it departed. I had taken the like in summer 1661,
in Edinburgh, that had keeped me longer, so as I was forced to be
taken2
home in ane sedan, and for
severall3
Sabbaths was carried to the church in a chair. At last, on the 9th of Aprile 1663, I
came4
aboard in old John Allan's ship, and in eight dayes came to
Rotterdam. I was many a time well refreshed in Leith by conference
and prayer with them that came to visit me, and had the
**************
1
"Abode."
2
"Carried."
3
"Sundry."
4
"Went."
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