Appendix: 1601, April

A. D. MDCI.

In respect of the difficulty, and obstinat refusal of the Toun of Edinburgh to accept other Ministers than their oun, the King gave their Ministers licence vpon the 16 of Januar to come home, and dwell in their oun houses, till he were farther advised; Mr Robert Bruce only excepted.

The Synod of Fife conveened at Sanct Andrews, third of Februar, before the ordinar tyme.

Mr John Hamilton the apostate, taking unto him the name of John Thomson, was excommunicat.

Mr Robert Abercrombie, taking to him the name of Mr William Simson, was declared not to be of our society.

Mr William Dalyell was deposed for too great familiarity with Mr John Hammilton, and not revealing him; item, for insufficiency to bear the office of the Ministry.

Mr George Glaidstanes, Minister at Sanct Andrews, confessed, that he satt in Parliament, and answered with the name of Bishop; but against his will, as he alledged, because they would not name him otherwayes.

Upon Tuesday the third of March, there was a meeting of certain Ministers of both parties at Bruntiland. After long contraverting, they agreed, that it was meetest that the Ministers of Edinburgh should be restored to their own places; and that there be a free General Assembly to put all matters debatable to a point. The Commissioners of the General Assembly promised to deal with the King to that effect.

The Lady Marr obtained liberty to Mr Robert Bruce to return to England. But he stayed notwithstanding, till Mr Edward Bruce sent to him twice to come over to London, to conferre with the Erle of Marr, and the Ministers there; and to doe all that lay in him, to countenance his Princes actions. He came over. How matters past betwixt him and the Erle of Marr, may be gathered of the letter written to his own wife from Berwick; which is insert after in the own place.

In the beginning of March, masse was said in Edinburgh, in Andrew Napers house, in Helen Sempils chamber, at sundrie tymes, be Mr Alexander M^cquhirrie. There were present at the mass, the Master of Elphinstouns son, Mr William Barclay, a new made Advocat, Helen Semple excommunicat, Charles Burdeaux his wife, the young Laird of Bonytoun, the Laird of Latoun, and sundry others, whose names are not known.

A little before this tyme, the said young Laird of Bonytoun, and Laird of Latoun, with their complices, in the same month of March, brake up the old Laird of Bonytouns house in Angus, and took away all the evidences, and other plenishing belonging to old Bonytoun, father to the said Bonytoun younger; and, within five or six days after, resorted openly to Edinburgh, and was at the messe foresaid.

Bonytoun younger and Latoun were apprehended, put in ward, presented to an inquiest, and accused criminaly for the said thiest allenarly, were convicted thereof, and consequently of treason; and the doom given out upon them to be executed: Nevertheless they were intertained in ward, in the Tolbuith of Edinburgh, a great space thereafter.

Upon Tuesday the seventh of Aprile, the Synod of Lothian conveened in Tranent. Mr Michael Cranstoun, preaching upon the second of Malachy, put the Ministry in mind of the great troubles and labours of Mr Knox, Mr Lawson, Mr Bruce, and their neighbour, whom God yet ever approved, meaning Mr John Davidson.

Upon Wedensday the eight, after noon, Mr John Davidson caused read the 13 of Deutronomy, and the acts of Parliament against idolatries, Jesuits, and Seminary Priests. He shewed, that they were to interpret the meaning of the Commissioners of the General Assembly to the best part, if they would now acknowledge the infirmity of their course. But if they would yet goe on in flattering the King, and defacing good brethren, they should bear the blame of the schism, which was lyke to fall out.

He sayes to Mr David Lindsay, Assure yourself, I love neither your Bishoping, nor your mounting to be a Counsellor: for all this is come of your corrupt course in making yourself Moderator at Sanct Johnstoun, anno 1595; or, at lest, in accepting the Moderatorship against all good order. He desired the brethren to be plain from pulpits touching the present danger, and not to wink any longer. Mr David hang doun his head all the tyme, and never said a word.

A fast was concluded to be keeped upon the Sabbath come eight dayes.

Upon Munday the 27 of Aprile, the Laird of Bonytoun was beheaded at the Cross of Edinburgh, betwixt six and seven of the morning, be a commission from the King, directed to the Bailies of Edinburgh tymeously in the morning: For howbeit great intercession was made be Huntlie, Erroll, Hume, and others; yet the Ministers were instant with the King to have a proof of his sincerity. He died an obstinat Papist, ever looking for pardon till the last gasp. He pretended he suffered for the Roman Catholick religion: but it was no point of his dittay; only the stealing of his fathers evidences and writts, was laid to his charge.

Latoun got remission be moyen of courteours.