would do an action acceptable to God Almighty, and conducive to the service of your royal master: for the Presbyterians are their main enemies, to whom they are an eye-sore, as bearing witness against all their violent ways.

"I care not, though his Majesty see my letter; it is written no less out of an humble affection for him, than in a sensible compassion of the innocent sufferers. You will act herein according to your own discretion; and, I beseech you, still consider me as

One brief comment on the foregoing letter, merely by way of information, may perhaps be due to some of the younger classes of readers, who profess with the Society of Friends, as well as to others who do not. The Princess knew Barclay to be a Quaker by his hat, and thereupon took occasion to inform herself of all their opinionss. Neither the Princess, nor Barclay, nor the Friends of Barclay in that day, placed any undue value upon singularity of external appearance, merely as such. The costume of the Friends had, before this date, become peculiar, and conspicuous for its simplicity, in consequence of the extravagance and preposterous fashions generally prevalent. They kept, with but very slight variation, to the mode of dress in use among sober-minded people at the time they had their rise in these kingdoms; and considered it one mark of a little and degraded mind, to be frequently, or without some sufficient occasion, adopting "changeable suits of apparel." Isai. iii. 22. It was this view of the subject, which made them nonconformists to the fashion of a passing world, as well as to the manners of those that love it; their close scrutiny into the motives for all their conduct, induced a caution, a jealousy, a precision in these respects, which while wholesome and beneficial, appeared to be consistent with the apostolic injunction, "Be ye holy in all manner of conversation." 1 Peter, i. 15.

While Robert Barclay lay in the Tolbooth of Aberdeen, Melvill, who had been one of his father's troopers, came to Ury with his party, bent on executing against David Barclay, the warrant he had from the Commissioners to distrain for the fine. The iron gate being shut, and the family at dinner, the man had to wait awhile for admission, which might have somewhat irritated him. For when his former master and colonel, on examining the warrant, told him, that could give him no authority within his estate, which lay in the shire of Mearns, whilst the decree of the Commissioners, under whom he acted, extended only to the shires of Aberdeen and Banff; he would by no means desist from his purpose, but, adding one illegal act to another, proceeded to take away ten labouring oxen, in the ploughing season, (which was by act of Parliament prohibited, even in case of a just debt,) also two cows, a bull, and a quantity of corn. These cattle proved a troublesome acquisition, for he could find no man that would buy them, and the expense of keeping them was a continual burden to him; so that he seems to have been well tired of them, before he could at any rate get them disposed of. At last, this remarkable opportunity offered.

The Friends engaged in the dispute with the students of Aberdeen, thought themselves unhandsomely treated on that occasion, and also by the reports of it. They accordingly published a particular account of the whole circumstance, to which the students drew up a reply; but no printer being willing to undertake their proposed publication at his own risk, they with some difficulty raised the money, hoping to be reimbursed by the sale of their book. But to their mortification almost the whole impression remained on their hands unsold: this induced them to represent their loss by petition to the Commissioners, and to request some relief out of the exchequer. By the Archbishop's influence in their favour, these students obtained from the Commissioners an order upon Captain

Melvill, to pay them a part of the "Quakers'" fines in his hand; upon which he gave them David Barclay's oxen, and with this they raised the money they wanted.

CHAPTER IX.

1676: Further seizures and imprisonments-letter of Gavine Laurie to Friends-George Gray and Alexander Seaton's treatment at old Meldrum-case of Alexander Chalmers and wife-1677: Alexander Burnett, bailie, endeavours to incense the Commissioners against Friends-to prevent the prisoners from preaching, their prison-windows are closed up—some of them are removed to a place called the Chapel, others from the lower to the higher prison-their situation and hard usage-a friend of the prisoners addresses the provost.

BUT Melvill had not yet finished his work in making seizures; some further instances of which may be mentioned, as tending, in connexion with what has gone before, to set forth the persecuting spirit of that day, when our predecessors had, at a rate thus dear, to pay for even attempting to worship their God in the way of his leading.-From George Grey, a poor weaver, for a fine of twenty merks, were taken cattle and goods worth £28, besides linen, which the soldiers privately stole and carried off. From William Wishart, John Glenny, Alexander Gellie, and William Spark of Stonehaven, the several amounts of £40, £40, £140, and £50. The last-named individual had obtained his liberty to go home from Aberdeen, where he was prisoner, that he might look to his own affairs; but as soon as the under-sheriff of Stonehaven knew of this, and that he was returned, he caused him to be put into prison at the latter place, till, the above distraint taking place, he was obliged to discharge him. The same under-sheriff had several times before, during David Barclay's imprisonment, committed those who met

there for the purpose of divine worship, and detained them several days, until he was ordered to release them, they being mostly the servants of David Barclav.

On the 6th of the 12th month, 1676, the last mentioned Friend, together with George Gray, John Forbes, and Robert Milne, were taken at a Monthly Meeting, and recommitted; three of these being put into the upper prison, but David Barclay, by the express interference of one of the magistrates, into the lower gaol. About a month after this, Andrew Jaffray was again taken into custody: for the constancy of these sufferers was such, that when, upon the levying of their fines, they were liberated, forthwith they frequented their religious assemblies, where they were consequently soon retaken, and consigned to their previous allotment.

While thus situated, the prisoners were saluted with the succeeding effusion of gospel love from a brother at a distance.

"To George Keith, Robert Barclay, and the rest of Friends.

"Dear Friends,

"11th of 12th Month, 1676.

"Your letter some time since I saw, which was read at London in the meeting, and copies sent as you did desire.

"O dear hearts! my soul melted at the reading thereof, for joy and gladness, that the Lord hath raised up living witnesses for his name, and that he hath appeared in his mighty power in my native country, to raise him up a people there, to bear witness to his blessed Truth, and to be valiant sufferers for the same, -to count nothing too dear unto them, being willing to give all up for the blessed testimony of his Truth, forsaking what is near and dear unto them, that they may follow his leadings. Oh! blessed day for ever, that we should come to be witnesses of it.

"And now, you valiant lambs, whom the Lord hath honoured to stand under the banner that he hath lifted up in that corner of the nation, the Lord hath blessed you, and will bless and prosper you; as you abide faithful, you shall overcome; the cedars shall fall before you, and the mountains be trodden down. Your strength is in the Lord, who will go through the briars and thorns, which are set in battle array against you. You are the seed of the Blessed and the offspring of the Lord, whom he hath made, and will yet make as threshing instruments in his hands, to be a dread and a terror to the enemies of his Truth. O dear lambs! keep your habitation, in subjection to the weighty Life, which keeps all low, meek, and humble, feeling all to be from Him, your strength and courage. My soul is united with you in the one bundle of life, and in this I feel your strength; here I can lie down and even rejoice with you in your bonds! Many a blessed night and day have I felt, when the body hath been in bonds; and I know the same Life is with you. That fountain is but one, and your refreshings are from it. This gives patience to wait, until he say to the winds and storms, and foaming boisterous sea, Be still:'-for he will not let his people be overwhelmed.

"And it is in my heart, that the Lord hath a day of breaking through, yet more and more, in that nation. There hath been a darkness over the land as yet, only some seed sown here and there; and by suffering, will the Lord raise it yet more plentifully. And the cry is in my heart, and many a day hath been for the land of my nativity, that the veil might be rent, that the power of death might be broken, that the captives might come forth: and a faith is with me, that the Lord will visit, and the blessed day will yet break forth more and more there. You have been made to sound the alarm;-glory to our God for it for ever! Rejoice and be glad, that you are some of the first fruits' there unto God. And the breathing of my soul to the Lord is, that you may be preserved and kept, over all temp