INTRODUCTION xxix

Decisions,
p. 232.

he was inclined to mercy. In 1682 he observes on the
execution of Alexander Home, a small gentleman of the
Merse, who had commanded a party at the insurrection of
Bothwell Bridge, tho he came not that lenth," It was
thought ther was blood eneuch shed on that quarrell already
for they are like Sampson, they kill and persuade mo at
ther death than they did in ther life.' He couples the Roman
Catholics and Presbyterians together as troublesome citizens.
'These foolish people that assume the name of Presbyterians
have unwarily drunk in these restles principles from the Jesuites
and seminary priests, who have had a hand in all our troubles
and blown the coall: Apart, however, from the political
attitude of the Covenanters, whom he regarded as disaffected
subjects, there is no evidence that he concerned himself with
the controversy as to the Episcopal or Presbyterian form of
Church gov ernment, or that he regretted the re-establishment
of Presbytery after the Revolution. He was not interested in
Church matters. In 1683 he writes, The Synod of Edin-
burgh' [which was then Episcopa1ian] 1 sat down, and not p
having much else to do, enacted 10 that ministers should not
sit in the pulpit, but stand all the time they are in it." 1
In the present volume, p. 229, there is a striking example
of his sympathy with the royal prerogative. He says it was
believed that the project of Union was 1 niainly set on foot
by his 'Nlajestie and so much coveted after by him that he
ma)' riel himselfe of the House of Commons, who hav e been
very lieavy on his loines, and the loÎI18 of his predecessors.
1 confesse the king has reRSon to wrest this excessive power
out of the Commons their hand, it being an unspeakable
impairment of the soveraintie, but 1 fear it prosper not.'

1 A dc\'otional diary, for 1700, apparently one of a series, preserved in the
Edinburgh University Library, No. 274, and an undated letter in the Dick
Lauder ~ISS. about the election of a godly, primitive, and evangelicaU pastor,'
lead me to think that his views were Calvinistic, and not out of sympathy with
the Presbyterian Establishment of the Rev olution.