^^^^ 
 
PUBLICATIONS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SCOTTISH HISTORY SOCIETY 
 
 VOLUME VI 
 N I MM OS NARRATIVE 
 
 June 1889 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2014 
 
 https://archive.org/details/narrativeofmrjamOOnimm_0 
 
NARRATIVE OF 
 
 MR. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 WRITTEN FOR HIS OWN SATISFACTION 
 TO KEEP IN SOME REMEMBRANCE THE 
 LORD^S WAY DEALING AND KIND- 
 NESS TOWARDS HIM 
 
 1654-1709 
 
 Edited from the Original Manuscript with 
 Introduction and Notes by 
 W. G. SCOTT-MONCRIEFF 
 
 F.S.A. SCOT., ADVOCATE 
 
 EDINBURGH 
 
 Printed at the University Press by T. and A. Constable 
 for the Scottish History Society 
 
 1889 
 
DA 
 156 
 
 BOSTON COLLEGE JOBRIfii 
 OCT 20 1971 
 
CONTEN T S. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Introduction, ...... v-xxxiii 
 
 Narrative — 
 
 1622-1654. 
 
 The author's birth and parentage, . . . 1 
 
 1667. 
 
 Leaves school at Bathgate and is taken to Stirling, . 2 
 
 1671. 
 
 Intended for a merchant's office in Glasgow, but returns 
 
 home — Harshly treated by his father, . . 4 
 
 1676. 
 
 Enticed to play at games on Sabbath days — ' Provi- 
 dences ' which befell his companions, . . 7 
 
 1677. 
 
 Procures a substitute to attend rendezvous of Militia — 
 Goes to a public fast, which is dissolved on supposed 
 approach of the enemy, . . . . 1 1 
 
ii 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 1679. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Claverhouse attacks unsuccessfully a field-meeting 
 (Drumclog), but subsequently disperses a body of 
 Covenanters (Bothwell Bridge) — Nimmo in hiding 
 narrowly escapes discovery, . . . . 13 
 
 1680. 
 
 He resolves to seek safety in Holland — Changes his 
 mind and takes service as factor with the Laird of 
 Park, . . . . . 15 
 
 1681. 
 
 Leaves Park for Brodie of Lethen, . 19 
 
 1682. 
 
 Becomes acquainted with Hog — Summary of his experi- 
 ences — Consults with friends as to his marriage, . 20 
 
 1683. 
 
 Narrow escape from soldiers in Pluscarden — Travels 
 with a Messenger-at-arms to Leith — Arrives in 
 Edinburgh — Again escapes discovery and resolves 
 to go to Holland, ..... 45 
 
 1684. 
 
 Mr. Hog banished by act of Council — Nimmo and Hog 
 elude search party in Berwick — Nimmo' s father in 
 prison — Two life-guards murdered, suspicion falls 
 upon Nimmo, ..... 59 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 iii 
 
 1685. 
 
 PAGF 
 
 News reaches Berwick of the King's death — Nimmo' s 
 father liberated — Hog arrested as a spy in London 
 — Nimmo leaves for Edinburgh, but on hearing 
 news of Argyll's landing returns to Castlehill — 
 Argyll a prisoner — Defeat of Monmouth — Hog 
 leaves for Holland — Nimmo and family follow — At 
 night, while attempting to evade the customs, he 
 falls into the sea but is rescued, . . . 75 
 
 1686. 
 
 Receives assistance from Scotland — Dangers to Coven- 
 anters in Holland, . 
 
 86 
 
 1687. 
 
 Hog returns to Scotland, 
 
 88 
 
 1688. 
 
 Nimmo leaves Rotterdam and arrives in Edinburgh — 
 Siege of the Castle — Holyrood Abbey stormed by 
 the citizens, and its contents destroyed, 
 
 89 
 
 1690. 
 
 Appointed to Custom House at Prestonpans — Difficulty 
 about a blank entry — Taken unawares by a visit 
 from the Surveyor, but escapes detection, . 
 
 1691. 
 
 Death of his son— Returns to Edinburgh, 
 
 98 
 
iv 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 1693-1705. 
 
 I'AGK 
 
 Trades in coin, tobacco^ and Irish butter — Death of 
 another son — Chosen town councillor of Edinburgh 
 and treasurer to the college — Chosen town treasurer 
 — Contemplates retiring to a country life, . . 100 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 Genealogical Table of some of the ancestors and de- 
 scendants of James Nimmo and Elizabeth Brodie, . 106 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 Inscription on Monument at Torphichen to the Nimmos 
 
 and Wardrops of Bridgehouse, . . . 108 
 
 Index, 
 
 109 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The narrative of my ancestor James Nimmo has perhaps an 
 interest theological rather than historical. The period to 
 which he belonged is one of much importance in Scottish 
 history ; he was the witness of more than one striking event, 
 and his life was not without its romantic incidents. But his 
 main object in writing, and one never lost sight of, was to 
 record for his own and descendants 1 benefit his experiences 
 as a Christian man, his sins and follies with their punishments, 
 his mercies and deliverances, his depths of despair and 
 heights of spiritual ecstasy. Such a narrative, it is almost 
 unnecessary to say, is very characteristic of the author's creed 
 and times. Many contemporaneous specimens could be found 
 both in England and Scotland. To this class of literature, for 
 example, belongs the celebrated Grace Abounding of John 
 Bunyan. The Covenanters were prone to preserve in writing 
 both their meditations and their vows. The public act from 
 which they derive their name was accompanied by many similar 
 private acts. Not only was the National Covenant subscribed, 
 but individuals wrote out and signed their own undertakings 
 with the Deity. 1 Nimmo's wife, Elizabeth Brodie, and his 
 daughter Mrs. William Hogg, have both followed his example, 
 and have left records of a nature somewhat similar to that 
 now published. Indeed, a Covenanter who had the slightest 
 gift for composition would have probably considered it a sin 
 had he failed gratefully to record God's dealings with his soul. 
 
 For illustrations of this, see the Diaries of the Brodies. Spalding Club. 
 
 b 
 
vi 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 ' Having had, 1 writes Mrs. Nimmo, ' many convictions for not 
 recording more exactly the wonderful doings of the Lord about 
 me in my pilgrimage condition, I therefore here resolve to 
 take notice of some particulars thereof, briefly, as the Lord 
 shall be pleased to help me. 1 1 
 
 It is certainly to be regretted that Nimmo, especially in the 
 earlier portion of his narrative, has bestowed so little attention 
 upon what was going on around him — that, for example, he 
 should dispose of the battle of Bothwell Brig, and the dissen- 
 sions which contributed to the defeat of his party upon that 
 occasion, in a few lines. He can, when he chooses, describe 
 well, although neither his grammar nor his spelling is to be 
 commended ; and he has recorded his various escapes from 
 captivity and death in a pithy and effective manner. 
 Nor is he without a certain element of dry or — one might 
 perhaps call it — grim humour. But surely, he who would 
 throw aside such a narrative as utterly worthless from an 
 historical point of view, because of its mainly theological 
 character, must have but a narrow conception of what history 
 means. The acts of any particular age cannot be properly 
 studied apart from some knowledge of the beliefs and the 
 mental condition of those who performed them. This of 
 course holds peculiarly true of such a period as was the close 
 of the seventeenth century in Scotland, when every event of 
 importance was more or less connected with matters of religious 
 controversy. Apart from his theology, a Covenanter is an 
 utterly unintelligible being ; when we learn something of his 
 inner life — of the peculiar relationship which he believed to 
 exist between himself and his God — of the supernatural guid- 
 ance which he was always bound to follow implicitly, and 
 without which he refused to act at all — then it is that we 
 
 1 In the narrative of another ancestress of my own (Catherine Nisbet of Dirle- 
 ton, wife of Colin Campbell, younger of Aberuchill) she mentions the efforts 
 which Satan made to prevent its composition. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 vii 
 
 understand why a fervent royalist should take up arms against 
 his king, and a devout worshipper refuse to enter his parish 
 church. Upon the inner life, such a narrative as the one 
 before us throws considerable light. There can be no doubt 
 but that Nimmo, in his manner of viewing things in general, is 
 a fair specimen of his party — of the genuine and truly devout 
 members of it at all events. He was a man of some ability and 
 education. If not a leader himself, he was the friend of leading 
 men — of Crawford and Cardross, of Hog and Pringle. The 
 same religious strain which characterises his narrative is to be 
 found in the diaries of the Brodies of Brodie, father and son, 
 and in other writings of the day. Nimmo is not a type of the 
 moderate Covenanter represented by Sir Walter Scott in his 
 character of young Morton — a type which was probably very 
 rare. Neither is he, on the other hand, an out and out fanatic, 
 whose principles would have led him to acts of violence. 
 Although his trials were sore and prolonged, there is no 
 breathing forth of vengeance against his enemies. What he 
 chiefly concerned himself with were the effects of these trials 
 upon his own soul's health, and the development, effected by 
 them in himself, of a due humility. 
 
 Many have undertaken, both in the pages of fiction and of 
 history, to set forth the Covenanter — to give us his peculiar 
 phraseology, and an idea of the principles which regulated his 
 conduct. Some have done this in a friendly, others in an un- 
 friendly spirit. In the following pages a Covenanter speaks for 
 himself. He invites us to accompany him when he retires for 
 meditation and prayer. He reveals to us all his moments 
 of spiritual joy and of dark despair, all the heartrending 
 questions with which he tortured himself, and the mysterious 
 answers, which, usually in the form of Scripture texts flashing 
 upon his memory, brought to him assurance or rebuke. With 
 some ingenuity texts apparently inappropriate are discovered 
 to contain the very answer needed. He is anxious, for 
 
viii 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 example, about his approaching marriage, doubtful whether 
 to proceed with it or not — 6 that Scripture came with power on 
 my spirit, II. Kings 7, 3, 14, anent the four lepers at the gate 
 of Samaria, which the Lord made very applicable to my case.'' 
 
 The theology of Nimmo is by no means an extinct system 
 of beliefs, although it has become modified in the course of 
 time in most places. In the Highlands of Ross and Caithness, 
 however, there are to be found many who still think and express 
 themselves upon religious subjects almost exactly as he did. 
 
 James Nimmo, the author of this narrative, was a native of 
 Linlithgowshire or West Lothian, where his family seem to 
 have been settled for several generations. In this district of 
 country the Covenanters were strong. Although but a small 
 county, the Linlithgowshire fines imposed by Middleton in 
 1662 amount to over £23,000 (Scots). The Nimmos at this 
 time escaped, although their cousin Young at Killiekanty 
 was found liable in £1200. Amongst the list of fugitives ap- 
 pended to the Royal Proclamation of May 5, 1684, there are 
 over seventy from West Lothian — Nimmo himself appears in 
 this list. A large proportion of the ministers in the Presbytery 
 of Linlithgow were driven from their parishes after the Re- 
 storation, to more than one of whom Nimmo refers in the 
 earlier portion of his Narrative. 
 
 The Nimmo family would appear to have resided in this 
 neighbourhood as far back, at least, as the latter half of the 
 sixteenth century. Our author begins with his great-grand- 
 father, and he mentions that his own father, John, was born 
 in 1622. The family seems to have possessed at one time or 
 other a number of small properties 1 — probably single farms — 
 
 1 The various places mentioned in Nimmo's account of his family can still be 
 identified. Midbridg or Midlbridg is a farm in Bathgate parish. Bridghous is 
 about two miles from Torphichen, and is still known as 'the Brighous.' Ward- 
 law is in Linlithgow parish. West Craigs in that of Torphichen. The modern 
 name of Killicanty is Woodbank — now a farm upon the estate of Bridgecastle. 
 Boghall is in the parish of Bathgate. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 ix 
 
 and we have here an illustration of a state of matters to which 
 in our days many would seek to return, by promoting an in- 
 crease in the number of our landed proprietors. Three of 
 the sons of John Nimmo (the second) each possessed separate 
 estates. James Nimmo informs us that his father had good 
 reason to expect the estate of Bridghous, 1 but was passed 
 over in favour of a step-brother, upon whose behalf maternal 
 influence was doubtless brought to bear. Hence James'' father 
 (John the third) was fi putt of w* a small matter, 1 and had to 
 content himself by farming the land of another near that place, 
 to the possession of which he had at one time looked forward. 
 In addition to his farming operations, he also acted as factor 
 and bailie for Boghall, an estate which contributed at least one 
 horse to the number of those exacted for militia purposes from 
 the Lothians. 2 
 
 The wife of this farmer and bailie, and the mother of our 
 author, was Janet Muire, who could trace her descent from the 
 ancient house of Rowallan, a race from which Robert n. had 
 chosen his bride. The representative of this family during the 
 earlier half of the seventeenth century, Sir William Muir, 
 ranks amongst the minor poets of Scotland. His political and 
 religious principles may be inferred from the title of one of 
 his works, The Cry of Blood and of a Broken Covenant, pub- 
 lished in 1650. 
 
 James Nimmo was an only son, and to this fact he attributes 
 the vigour with which his original sin developed. And yet 
 there is no evidence of any indulgence exhibited towards him 
 by his parents. The picture, indeed, which he presents of his 
 
 1 I have seen an extract from a contract of division of the Mains of Brighous, 
 dated 1636, between John Nimmo, described as 'sometime in Wodend,' and 
 Patrick Young of Killicantie, from which it appears that Brighous was the joint 
 purchase of Nimmo and Young from the Earl of Linlithgow — each having be- 
 come a 'portioner,' the one of two-thirds and the other of the remaining third. 
 Nimmo and Young were probably brothers-in-law. There was a James Young 
 of Killicantie alive in 1724. 
 
 2 By the royal letters of 1678 that number was forty-six. 
 
X 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 father is not a pleasing one. Nimmo senior, if the son is to 
 be believed, was naturally a 'stiff 1 man — not disposed to confess 
 himself in the wrong, and consequently much occupied with 
 law affairs. He was prone to the exercise of parental autho- 
 rity, treated his son as a hired servant, and found fault with 
 almost everything which he did. 
 
 While John Nimmo's sympathies were evidently upon the 
 side of the Covenanters (we read of an outted minister attend- 
 ing him in sickness), he seems to have managed with some 
 success to keep himself out of political difficulties, and never to 
 have been convicted of any offence more serious than that of 
 receiving letters from his outlawed son. To his father's hot 
 temper Nimmo was, however, indebted for his removal from 
 the school of Bathgate to a more important one in Stirling, 
 which he tells us was much for his advantage — although in 
 what respect he does not say. Certainly, for the space of 
 three years he escaped from the domestic tyranny at home. 
 School-days over, he returned to the dreary existence at Bog- 
 hall. But his religious principles — the outcome of many a 
 spiritual conflict — would not suffer him to remain in the safe 
 obscurity of a farmer's life. He joined the insurgents whom 
 the success of Drumclog had brought together, only to be 
 scattered by the defeat of Bothwell Brig. His father does not 
 seem to have opposed an act which caused his son to be a 
 wanderer upon the face of the earth for many a year. After a 
 hard experience of lying in cold barns, and a narrow escape 
 from arrest, it became clear that Linlithgowshire was no safe 
 locality for him. Holland — that refuge of so many of his 
 fellow-countrymen — was thought of ; but his steps were 
 directed to a place of concealment nearer home. In Moray 
 a considerable number of the local magnates were staunch 
 Covenanters, and one of them, the laird of Park 1 and Loch- 
 
 1 Sir Arthur Graham Hay, Bart., of Park (in Wigtownshire), who is now, 
 I believe, the male representative of the famous house of Errol, has kindly 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xi 
 
 loy, was willing to take the outcast into his service. Shaw, in 
 his history of Moray, under the head of Aldern parish, says, 
 'In the lower part of the parish towards the Frith is the 
 barony of Inshoch, with a large, old house, the seat of the 
 Hays of Lochloy and Park. This was a very ancient branch 
 of the house of Errol, and were lairds of Park about 400 
 years. By their declining the lands of Inshoch and Park came 
 into the family of Brodie about the beginning of this (eight- 
 eenth) century. The lands of Park in the west end of the 
 parish were sold about the year 1724 to Hugh Hay, after 
 whose death they were at a judicial sale in 1755 purchased by 
 Sir Alexander Grant of Dalvey. 1 The Hays were connected 
 with the families of Brodie and Lethen. David Brodie of 
 
 furnished me with the following pedigree of the Lochloy branch of his 
 family: — 
 
 1 Gilbert Hay of Erroll, v. 1250 to 1283, had sons — 
 
 1. Nicholas (main line). See Erroll. 
 
 2. Sir John, who married daughter of Sir Andrew Fraser and heiress of Touch 
 
 and Tullibody. 
 Sir John had only one son — 
 
 Thomas, described as of Tholybothville ; he left one son — 
 Sir John, also of Tholybothville, who had — 
 
 1. Sir John of Tholybothville. 
 
 2. William Hay of Lochloy and Park, 1421. 
 John Hay of Park and Lochloy, v. 1429. 
 William of Park and Lochloy, d. 1480. 
 John, succeeded 1480. 
 
 William, v. 1509-11. 
 John, v. 1549-51. 
 John, d. 1598. 
 I. John, d. 1596. 
 John, o.s.p., 1600. 
 David, succeeded 1606. 
 
 1. David, succeeded by his son John. 
 
 2. William, o.s.p. 
 
 3. John of Strutheris and Urkney, d. 1 631. 
 John of Park and Lochloy. 
 
 Sir John of Park and Lochloy, sold Lochloy, 1695. 
 William of Park, Lieut. -Colonel, z\ 1704. 
 Hugh. 
 
 Dr. James, minister of Dyce and Elgin, b. 1736, d. 1784. 
 James Hay, last on record up to 1840.' 
 
xii 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Brodie, who died in 1626, had married a Janet Hay of Loch- 
 loy. Anne Brodie, a sister of the laird of Lethen, who was 
 Nimmo^s contemporary, married Hugh Hay, a younger son of 
 the Lochloy house. 
 
 In Moray, Nimmo found not only a refuge, but also a wife. 
 The story of his marriage forms one of the most curious parts 
 of the whole Narrative. Love and romance had no part in it, 
 or, if they had, the fact is carefully concealed. Why his 
 Christian friends should have thought it necessary that a poor 
 refugee, whose prospects were dark indeed, should burden himself 
 with family cares, it is hard to see. But a gentlewoman of 
 sound principles was selected by them, and her name submitted 
 for his consideration. By means of the elaborate pedigree of 
 the Brodie family prepared by Mr. William Brodie of East- 
 bourne, I have been enabled to trace the family of Elizabeth 
 Nimmo a little way back. She was the niece of Francis, and 
 the granddaughter of John Brodie of Windyhills, an estate 
 now known as Milton Brodie, having been sold to the Milton 
 branch of the family in 1747. Mr. William Brodie has sug- 
 gested that John of Windyhills was a natural brother of 
 Alexander Brodie of Brodie, the Lord of Session, whose diary 
 has been published by the Spalding Club. Alexander Brodie 
 certainly refers to Windyhills as his brother. From the diary of 
 James Brodie of Brodie, who continued that of his father, as 
 from this Narrative, it is clear that the laird of Brodie was 
 consulted, and took an interest in the marriage of Elizabeth 
 Brodie with James Nimmo. She was certainly a relative of 
 Brodie of Lethen, but what the precise degree of relationship 
 was, I have been unable to discover. 
 
 In Mrs. Nimmo^s own diary or narrative we have chiefly a 
 minute account of her spiritual experiences. They seem to 
 have been almost identical with those of her husband, but she 
 was rather his superior in natural strength of mind and dignity 
 of character. Her parents having conformed to the existing 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xiii 
 
 state of things, she was admitted to the Communion by an 
 Episcopal minister 'in their way. 1 She soon, however, dis- 
 covered that 'their way 1 was a wrong one. 'I tried,'* she 
 writes, ' staying at home on the Lord's day, for when I went to 
 church to hear the Prelatical ministry, though I did not observe 
 anything unsound in their doctrine, yet one thing I found and 
 observed, viz., that that day I went to Church I had no inclin- 
 ation to secret prayer, whereas the day I staid at home I 
 found love to duty especially private prayer. 1 The effect of a 
 bishop's sermon upon her is worth recording : — 'One day hearing 
 the Bishop preach I fell under great terror of mind ; I thought 
 I could have given anything to have been out of church ; when 
 I came home I could pray none but went about mourning and 
 in great fear. 1 1 Upon one Sunday, she gave way to a strange 
 temptation. For a moment she was filled with that modern 
 spirit of charity which seeks to discover good in those who 
 differ from us. She actually prayed for those of her family 
 who had gone to church — that in spite of unworthy instru- 
 ments, the means of grace might be blessed to the hearers. 
 But her mouth was at once stopped, and a deep conviction 
 came upon her that she had asked God to countenance sin. 
 She only found relief when she had vowed that if her tongue 
 was restored to her she would never more pray for assistance 
 to them. 
 
 The following extract may serve as an illustration of the 
 extraordinary strictness with which Covenanters viewed the 
 very slightest indulgence of levity of conduct, and of their 
 equally strange superstition : — ' I was afraid I had sinned the 
 sin unto death. One Sabbath night when my trouble was very 
 great there fell out a strong temptation to laughter in the 
 family, and being overcome of it I was immediately challenged, 
 though the challenge seemed to come from the Devil, " O says 
 
 1 The extracts here given are from a copy of Mrs. Nimmo's Narrative, in 
 which the spelling has been adapted to modern ideas. 
 
xiv 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 the enemy, you have now sinned the sin unto death." I knew 
 not how to go alone, and when I ventured I durst not bolt the 
 door, and after I had lighted my candle, and had read half a 
 side of a book in octavo, then the temptation came in sorely 
 upon me that the room was full of devils to carry me to hell. 
 I thought I had no comfort but the burning candle, and out it 
 went without any visible cause, whereupon I thought I should 
 have dropt down to the pit."* 
 
 The year 1679, which had witnessed Nimmo's brief military 
 career, brought great distress to his future wife. The Militia 
 of Moray were ordered South to suppress the insurrection, and 
 her family seems to have been concerned in organising the 
 force. 4 That week, 1 she writes, 'they were making all ready for 
 their going to the West. Oh ! what a sad frame was my heart 
 in. I could not pray a word. Next Sabbath was a sad day : 
 the ark of God in the fields, my relations that should have been 
 there, or bearing burden with them that had taken their lives 
 in their hands, even they were strengthening the enemies by 
 complying with them in sending out others.' But the defeat 
 at Bothwell Brig was destined to bring about the meeting of 
 Nimmo with Elizabeth Brodie. 
 
 In the same year she was also deeply distressed over the case 
 of a friend who, having vowed that she would never marry a 
 particular man, yet did marry him, 4 and with a curate." 
 
 Under date September 29th, 1680, Elizabeth gives us the 
 following rather graphic account of the death of her father : — 
 
 'September 29, 1680. — The Lord removed my father by 
 death at 11 at night. 
 
 6 The night before we had been at Elgin, it being the time 
 of a market. My father was taken up with his market affairs 
 through the day. In the evening there came a weight on my 
 spirit, so that I could be no company to any person. At 
 length I went to prayer, under a great pressure of spirit, and 
 in prayer I was often made to cry that the Lord would save 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 XV 
 
 me from wrong thoughts of Him, by reason of any lot He 
 would measure out for me in the world ; and I was put to say, 
 let Him take His own way, only give me grace to construct 
 aright of Him, and give clearer views of Himself to my soul. 
 After prayer, I was much troubled about my father's being out 
 in the night air, for he had been kept long by helping some 
 friends to buy cattle. So when he came in from the market, I 
 went to him and told him I was afraid he would be the worse 
 of the night air. He said he would go into the house for a 
 little to take some refreshment, as he had got nothing through 
 the day. Sometime after, my eldest brother, he, and I, took 
 horse (for my mother was to stay in Elgin that night with a 
 friend who was not well), but when a little off he missed his 
 servant, who was not come forward, therefore he desired my 
 brother and me to go on, and he would ride back, which he did, 
 and we moved very slowly on till he overtook us. When he 
 came, we fell into very edifying converse the whole way ; when 
 he came home, supper being on the table, he was not well, and 
 would go to bed ; but my brother and I pressed him to stay 
 supper, which he did, but ate none. After that he went to 
 prayer in the family, and was most serious, for no person would 
 have thought by hearing him that he was under any distemper, 
 and all that saw him that day said they had never seen him 
 look better, and more fresh in colour. When prayer was done, 
 he went to bed, and each of us to our own rooms. When 
 coming home I had resolved to spend part of that night in 
 prayer, but after I went up stairs I could win at nothing, 
 neither read nor pray, from an indisposition both of body and 
 spirit, and so was forced to give it over. I came down stairs 
 again a very little after he had gone to bed, and he, knowing 
 my foot on the stair, called me and desired me to cast more 
 clothes on him, which I did without speaking more, because I 
 thought him sleepy, and being cold I went to the hall fire to 
 warm myself, none being there but my sister Barbara. As 
 
xvi 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 soon as I sat down I heard him give a heavy draught with his 
 breath. I ran to get a candle lighted, and ere I entered his 
 room he gave another. I found him lying in a cold sweat, and 
 lifted him up, and when I found him continue in the faint, as I 
 thought, I laid him on his back, but finding him no better, I 
 lifted him up again. When rubbing vinegar upon him he gave 
 a great draught, this made me hope he was recovering, but 
 presently his head fell down on my neck ; then I put my hand 
 to his pulses, but they were all gone, and when I put my hand 
 to his heart I found no motion there. I was stupid, like a 
 beast, and could not pray a word. I called for help, but no 
 physician could be of use. Then my mother being from home, 
 and the surprise she would meet with, was very heavy to me, 
 for there was great affection betwixt them, and she was some- 
 what of a passionate temper. So we sent for her two brothers, 
 who were to go to Elgin and tell her first, but a foolish servant 
 without orders went to her before them, and told her rashly, 
 saying if she came not quickly she would never see him in life. 
 But there was much of the Lord's goodness to be seen in sup- 
 porting her, and in meeking her spirit. To my great surprise, 
 when I went to meet her she was coming betwixt her two 
 brothers, with a very pleasant countenance, and asked me 
 with a smile if the Lord's work was perfected. I told her 
 it was. She only said, " Well, He can do nothing wrong who 
 has done it." And when she entered the room where he lay, 
 she fell down on her knees at the bedside, and blessed God for 
 three things : (first) that she had such a yokefellow ; (second) 
 that she had him so long ; (third) that He had now taken 
 him in mercy. This was a most pleasant disappointment.'' 
 
 A young lady of Elizabeth Brodie's disposition was not 
 unlikely to give trouble to a family more worldly-minded 
 than herself. 6 My mother,' 1 she writes, 6 had been most severe 
 upon me for several years because I had many offers of mar- 
 riage, which looked well to the eyes of the world, but I had 
 
INTRODUCTION xvii 
 
 not freedom to comply with, and now my father being dead I 
 had fear of harsh treatment from a great part of my relations 
 who were incensed against me. 1 James Nimmo could hardly 
 have been looked upon by them as a suitable match, but he 
 had influential friends, and doubtless by the time he appeared 
 upon the scene her relations had begun to despair. They do 
 not, at least, whatever was the cause, seem to have offered 
 much opposition, and in her own opinion Nimmo was a 6 person 
 deserving and truly gracious/ Matters were arranged for them 
 by a mutual friend, James Sutherland, who had apparently 
 suggested her name to Nimmo, and afterwards communicated 
 his proposal to the lady. Courtship, and even marriage, were 
 far too trivial and earthly concerns to find more than a mere 
 passing notice in a narrative devoted to the history of a soul's 
 salvation and spiritual development, and Elizabeth Brodie 
 touches but lightly upon them. The prospect of marriage 
 does not seem to have affected her mind in quite so doleful a 
 manner as it did that of her husband. But it can hardly have 
 been a lively wedding. It was celebrated upon 4th December 
 1683 by the 6 blessed Mr. Hog, 1 and both husband and wife 
 give us some idea of how a covenanting divine improved such 
 an occasion. c When, 1 says Mrs. Nimmo, ' I was in the place 
 where the ceremonial part of it was accomplished, the minister, 
 Mr. Thos. Hog, spoke a while to the nature of the covenant 
 betwixt Christ and Believers, which did greatly refresh my soul, 
 and so much the more that he did make use of that Scripture, 
 Isa. 54. 5. Much of God was in that meeting. The minister 
 told us it was not present affections that would carry us 
 through, but they behoved to be maintained by prayer as every 
 piece of furniture the creature wants must come that way. 
 O ! I saw myself empty of all, also I saw a new necessity 
 for going to Christ for all things. Then Satan was at me 
 by presenting to me the impossibility of going on to the 
 end. 1 
 
xviii 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 This marriage ceremony was performed probably at some 
 personal risk to the bold and uncompromising minister whose 
 memory has been cherished by Presbyterian Scotland. The 
 newly married couple had to separate at once and live for some 
 time apart, and Nimmo was soon to find even in Morayshire 
 no safe retreat. In this district, remote as it was from the 
 headquarters of the Privy Council, and having a landed gentry 
 strongly sympathising with the nonconformists, the laws against 
 them had not been strictly enforced. But this state of matters 
 came to an end with the arrival of Mackenzie of Siddie, and his 
 company of foot. He was to act the part of a local Claver- 
 house. A persecutor, Lord Doune, son of the Earl of Moray, 
 had been heard to talk, over his wine, in an alarming manner of 
 Nimmo, and the Brodies and other friends were anxious both 
 for his and their own sakes to get him out of their country. 
 He tells us, in his own terse but picturesque style, of a narrow 
 escape from capture which he made by means of the friendly 
 shelter of the old vaults of Pluscarden, and of his adventures 
 in his flight to Edinburgh, where he arrived in safety upon 23d 
 March 1683. Mrs. Nimmo remained in the North, busy as 
 ever with the supreme concerns of her own soul. Upon April 
 30th she joined her husband in Edinburgh. She has recorded 
 her unwillingness to leave Moray, and the reason she gives 
 affords a curious illustration of the way in which she and her 
 co-religionists insisted upon evidence of Divine permission 
 before taking any step in life. Fortunately she had a rational 
 adviser in Mr. Hog. ' April 3d 1683," she writes, ' I was called 
 by outward providence to leave my own people and the place 
 where I was brought up in, but was not willing to take my 
 journey, because I had not particular clearness from the Lord, 
 as I thought, and being pressed by outward providences I knew 
 not what to do. But at length having converse with Mr. T. 
 H. I told him my straits ; he said " folks should be sober and 
 not too peremptor in seeking light from Scripture to know the 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xix 
 
 Lord's mind. This might be my sin and a ready way to be 
 deluded — for' 1 said he, "Satan is very busy on such occasions 
 in some cases, and moreover this seems not to be the season 
 of access. But my practice is, first, I labour to have my mind 
 brought to a balance that my affections have no sway to one 
 thing more than another. Then I labour to believe that I 
 have to do with an infinite God who searches the heart : and 
 believing him to be such, I cry that He may make a right 
 choice for me, and order this providence so that I may make 
 a right choice. Then after I have with singleness committed 
 the matter to the Lord, I take the most reasonable way of 
 the two, and go on softly, crying : Lord, stop if Thou approve 
 not — so, though I use the means, I wait for a stop, and so 
 my dependance is still kept up." 1 
 
 From Edinburgh Mrs. Nimmo followed her husband — her 
 ' friend,' 1 as she quaintly calls him — to Berwick-on-Tweed, 
 which seems to have been a favourite hiding-place of the dis- 
 tressed Whigs. The following sentence in her narrative 
 relating to this period illustrates in a pathetic manner the 
 conflict between natural instincts and the awe-inspiring dogmas 
 of her creed. The thought of maternity had been suggested 
 to her mind. 4 Oh ! ' she writes, 6 what terrible views had I of 
 a reprobate seed. I, as one in an ecstasy, was made to cry 
 out — " elect seed or none ! elect seed or none ! " 1 
 
 In Berwick their eldest child, a son named John, was born, 
 upon 18th April 1684. I have been unable to discover the 
 date of his death. He certainly survived his father, because 
 his mother mentions him as being from home under date 
 March 10th, 1711. So far as is known, the only members of 
 this family who left descendants were the second son, James, 
 and his sister Grizell, married to Mr. William Hogg. John 
 was baptized by Mr. Thomas Hog, who, driven from Scotland 
 
 1 The 1 mon ami ' of the French (?). 
 
XX 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 by the Act of the Privy Council, came to cheer the Nimmos 
 in their banishment at Berwick. But their position became 
 more serious every day. Tidings of the arrest of friends in 
 different parts of the country reached them. They had reason 
 to believe that their presence in Berwick was known to, or at 
 least suspected by, the authorities. At last came news of the 
 imprisonment of Nimmo's father, a gentleman who up to this 
 time had not apparently given any offence to the Government, 
 and against whom the sole ground of suspicion seems to have 
 been the fact that he had been in communication with his son. 
 At the same time, the murder of two soldiers caused a renewed 
 activity in the efforts made to secure Nimmo himself as the 
 possible murderer. Clearly this country offered no longer any 
 place of refuge. Accordingly he, accompanied by his wife and 
 child, took ship for Rotterdam, where they landed after a ten 
 days' passage over wintry seas. 
 
 He has recorded the narrow escape which he made from 
 drowning while seeking to evade the revenue laws, shortly 
 after his arrival in Holland. The narrative is perhaps not 
 without its interest to the student of the history of morals. 
 It is singular that a man, whose religious scruples are so 
 abundantly evident, should not hesitate to engage in an 
 attempt at smuggling. The accident by which he nearly lost 
 his life is promptly recognised as a judgment, and the deliver- 
 ance from death as an instance of Divine mercy — but this 
 judgment is associated with some sin of unbelief, and not the 
 faintest doubt seems to have crossed his mind as to the law- 
 fulness of his conduct. But are there not places amongst 
 the Highlands of Scotland where, even at the present day, 
 stern Calvinists may be found quite friendly to the illicit 
 still ? 
 
 In Holland, as in Berwick, Nimmo and his wife found kind 
 friends. Here were their spiritual guide, Mr. Hog, and 
 'honest Torwoodlie, , who, for his supposed concern in the 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Ryehouse plot, had been accused of treason, and compelled to 
 Hv from Scotland. But even in Holland the fugitives were 
 not absolutely safe. King James had sufficient influence to 
 procure from time to time a search for the Scotch in hiding, 
 although the Dutch authorities seem to have done their best 
 to render it fruitless. A change in the policy at home induced 
 Nimmo to return to this country, where he landed in April 1688, 
 after a wonderfully short although stormy voyage. The revolu- 
 tion of that year for ever put an end to any danger in so far 
 as personal safety was concerned, and henceforward his anxieties 
 arose in connection with the question of how to maintain 
 himself and his family. With their friends in power, the Whigs 
 were not likely to be forgotten, and a small post was found for 
 Nimmo in the Customs, which, apparently with some grumbling, 
 he accepted. Henceforward his career becomes a very common- 
 place one. He engages in various commercial speculations, 
 meeting at one time with success, and at another with loss. 
 He enters into civic life and obtains the appointment of 
 Treasurer of the city of Edinburgh. At the close of the 
 Narrative we leave him contemplating the purchase of a landed 
 estate and the joys of a country life. 
 
 The latest date mentioned in the Narrative is 1705. From 
 his wife's diary we learn that the author died upon August 6th 
 1T09. He seems to have suffered from bad health for some 
 time prior to his death. In July 1705 Mrs. Nimmo thus 
 quaintly and, I think, beautifully, expresses her thoughts in 
 contemplation of his death : 6 1 ought to be thankful that 
 ever the Lord gave me such a yokefellow. One that truly 
 knows the Lord and whom the Lord has helped to walk like a 
 Christian in all things. Surely this should make me submit to 
 the will of my God when he pleases to part us, seeing we are 
 to be for ever with the Lord. O what a cordial is this ! that 
 we shall have a comfortable meeting at the resurrection of the 
 Just. Although one tide shall not bear us over, yet one vessel 
 
xxii 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 shall land us in one harbour, viz. the Lord Jesus will carry us 
 safely into his own land.' 
 
 She has given the following account of his last hours : — 
 
 c August 6, 1709. — The Lord removed to his eternal rest my 
 precious yokefellow. He said, "My Lord seems to stand at a 
 great distance, and as if He did not hear my prayer, but yet 
 He heareth, for He is my God, my God is He ; these thirty- 
 three years He has made me seek and serve Him as my God 
 and Father, and now, though He hide His face, I have no fear. 
 I can say since my soul first closed with Him by saving faith, I 
 lay not down one night but that I saw a need of Christ to 
 wash me from guilt." This he said to a lady, and to others 
 who came to see him. At another time he said to a gentleman, 
 " Sir James, I have been a man of many troubles, but when I 
 look back on them all, I cannot pitch upon one that I dare 
 this say, I wish it had not come my way." 
 
 4 His bodily sickness was so great that he was not in case to 
 speak much, but, taking me by the hand, he said, " My dear, 
 my dear, my sympathising wife " (he was pleased to say), " the 
 Lord in mercy put us together, and He will in mercy part us, 
 and it will not be long till you come where I am, even where 
 Christ is!" 1 
 
 The following is from his daughter's account : — 
 
 s When anyone asked him how he was, he said, " I am a 
 ship at anchor, blow the wind as it will, I am safe, because 
 I am on the rock, Christ ; so, whether death or life, it is all 
 one." 
 
 4 That morning before he died he said, " It is a rough sea, 
 but a smooth harbour, the landing is safe and sure." He told 
 my mother he was made to observe a mercy he had not noticed 
 before; that, though he had not much sensible joy, yet Satan 
 had never got leave to tempt him with the least doubt of his 
 interest in Christ. I heard him, when in extremity of pain, 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxin 
 
 cry out, " My God, help me. Thou seemest to .shut out 
 prayers, but I know Thou hearest, and wilt answer, for Thou 
 wilt not make me ashamed of my hope, nor shall my expec- 
 tation be cut off." He spake not much in his sickness, 
 but all was the language of strong faith. His last words 
 were : " My Lord is now on His way. my Lord is coming 
 with deliverances." 1 
 
 THE DESCENDANTS OF JAMES NIMMO. 
 
 James Nimmo and his wife Elizabeth Brodie had a family of 
 four sons and one daughter. These children were all born 
 during the period embraced in their father's Narrative, and he 
 records the death of two of them, 1 viz. Thomas and Alex- 
 ander. I have, as already stated, been unable to ascertain the 
 date of John's — the eldest son^s — death. James, born at Rotter- 
 dam in November 1686, became, like his father, a member of the 
 Edinburgh Town Council and Treasurer of the city. He also 
 held the appointment of Cashier General of Excise. He was 
 twice married. His first wife was the Honourable Mary Erskine 
 (born 1690), a daughter of that Henry, Lord Cardross, referred 
 to in the Narrative as a 6 good friend.* Their family consisted 
 of three sons and three daughters. Of the sons nothing is 
 known, — they all probably died in early life. The eldest 
 daughter and child, Catherine, the record of whose baptism is 
 dated 1st January 1721, married her cousin David Erskine,* 2 
 son of the Honourable Captain William Erskine, Deputv- 
 Governor of Blackness Castle. Captain William was the 
 brother-in-law of James Nimmo, and Catherine therefore 
 married her own first cousin. They had no children. David 
 Erskine died in 1769 and. his wife in the following year. 
 
 1 Narrative, pp. 98, 10 1. 
 
 2 See Douglas's Peerage, Wood's Edition, under 1 Cardross.' 
 
XXIV 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Elizabeth, the second daughter of James Nimmo and Mary 
 Erskine, married James Pringle of Bowland, Clerk of Session, 
 who died in 1778, a grandson of the 'honest Torwoodlie"' of 
 the Narrative. 1 Their son succeeded, in 1780, his uncle George 
 Pringle as Laird of Torwoodlee. 
 
 Margaret Mary, the youngest daughter, became, in 1755, the 
 second wife of the Rev. John Gibson, minister of St. Ninian's 
 in Stirlingshire, afterwards presented by the Crown to the 
 living of St. Cuthbert's, Edinburgh. It was during his in- 
 cumbency that the present church of St. Cuthbert's was built. 
 By his wife, Margaret Mary Nimmo, Mr. Gibson had one son 
 and three daughters. The three daughters were all married : 
 Mary, the eldest, to John Dickson of Kilbucho and Hartree, 
 Catherine to Major-General Lockhart, and Elizabeth to the 
 Rev. John Lockhart, D.D., of the College Church, Glasgow. 
 John Gibson Lockhart, the son-in-law of Sir Walter Scott, was 
 a son of Dr. Lockhart and his wife Elizabeth Gibson. Thus 
 the present representatives of the author of Old Mortality are 
 the descendants of James Nimmo who fought at Both well 
 Brig. The son, Archibald, who was a Writer to the Signet, 
 married a granddaughter of Grizell Nimmo, and has left many 
 descendants. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Gibson died in 1785, but his wife survived 
 until 1821, dying at the age of ninety-seven. 
 
 To return to James Nimmo. He married, for the second 
 time, in 1743, the Lady Jane Hume, daughter of Alexander 
 second Earl of Marchmont, and granddaughter of that Sir 
 Patrick Hume whose concealment in the vault of Polwarth 
 Church forms one of the most romantic incidents in the history 
 of Covenanting times. During his confinement there, his 
 daughter Grizell (afterwards Mrs. Baillie of Jerviswoode) went 
 by night, not without fear of ghosts, to supply him with food, 
 
 P. 87. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 XXV 
 
 his hiding-place being kept secret from the other children and 
 servants. ' Her father, 1 to quote Lady Murray's narrative, 
 8 liked sheep's head, and while the children were eating their 
 broth she had conveyed most of one into her lap. When her 
 brother Sandy had done, he looked up with astonishment and 
 said, " Mother, will you look at Grizzel ; while we have been 
 eating our broth, she has eat up the whole of the sheep's 
 head " : this occasioned so much mirth among them that her 
 father at night was greatly entertained by it, and desired 
 Sandy might have a share in the next.' Sandy was the father 
 of Lady Jane Nimmo. 
 
 In Colonel Fergusson's interesting life of Henry Erskine, 
 Lady Jane is mentioned as one of the 4 honourable women 1 who 
 gave a welcome to the English preacher Whitefield when he 
 visited Scotland. 
 
 Among the papers preserved in my own family is the 
 following short note from Lady Jane, written five years before 
 her death, to her husband's niece, Mrs. Thomas Hogg. It had 
 evidently accompanied some other document, and has possibly 
 reference to the ' Narrative.' 
 
 Edinr., J June 1765. 
 Dear Madam, — It is now above six years since I sent some 
 family manuscripts to your Mr. Hogg. I look upon him to be 
 more the representative of his grandfather than any girl could 
 be ; as no woman cloathed with a husband must be called her 
 own mistress. 
 
 The inclosed will tell you the reason of this trouble. I beg 
 then, dear madam, you '11 assure Mr. Hogg that he has a just title 
 to keep these papers, not only from my free gift, but as that gift 
 was in consequence of what I am sure would have been his uncle's 
 will had he even appointed the disposal of them. For well do I 
 know that nothing could have given Mr. Nimmo more pain than 
 the thought of such writings ever falling into the hands of James 
 Pringle or David Erskine. 1 
 
 1 His sons-in-law. 
 
XXVI 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 Mr. Hogg's regard to his uncle's memory, and even that of his 
 whole family, will dictate to him how to act without any instruc- 
 tions from me. — I remain, Dear Madam, with sincere esteem, 
 your most humble Servant, Jane Nimmo. 
 
 P.S. — The inclosed, together with this letter, may be kept if 
 you think it necessary to prevent further trouble. 
 
 This letter, which, although short, conveys the impression 
 that Lady Jane was a person of some strength of character, 
 indicates, it will be observed, a strong dislike on her part 
 to the husbands of her step-daughters, if not to these ladies 
 themselves. A curious light is thrown upon the family quarrel 
 disclosed in it by the report of a case contained in that store- 
 house of antiquarian and legal matter, Morrison's Dictionary 
 of Decisions. At page 15,825, under the head ' Tenor, 1 we find 
 the case of Elizabeth and Margaret Mary Nimmo v. Andrew 
 Sinclair, from which I take the following facts : James Nimmo, 
 as already stated, had married Lady Jane in 1743. Her 
 marriage portion was ,£1000, secured to her by a bond of 
 provision by her father the Earl of Marchmont, corroborated 
 by her brother. In 1749, as Lady Jane had no prospect of 
 children, she agreed to settle the greater part of her portion 
 upon her husband's children, and did so by a deed, which was 
 handed over to her husband. But she afterwards changed her 
 mind, and having got the document back, put it into the fire in 
 his presence. Nimmo died a bankrupt in 1758, his wife sur- 
 viving until 1770. Upon her death it was found that she had 
 left all that she possessed to a relative — Andrew Sinclair. But 
 Elizabeth Nimmo (Mrs. Pringle) and her sister Margaret Mary 
 (Mrs. Gibson) 1 were quite prepared to assert their rights. 
 They accordingly brought an action of 6 proving the tenor," 
 and were able to satisfy the Court that the destroyed deed 
 had been an irrevocable conveyance. 
 
 1 The action is reported under their maiden names. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxvii 
 
 Lady Jane had obviously been doubtful as to her own power 
 to defeat the succession of these obnoxious step-daughters. In 
 her repositories was found a memorial for counsel, in which 
 she admitted having signed a paper, but could not remember 
 whether it contained a power of revocation or not. But, 
 fortunately for the pursuers, the Earl of Marchmont was able 
 to recollect that the deed, which had been shown to him, 
 although originally revocable, had been promptly rendered 
 irrevocable by Lady Jane at his own suggestion. He further 
 deponed that 4 about three years after this, Mr. Nimmo, with 
 much concern, had informed him that Lady Jane having on 
 some pretence got the keys from him, had taken out the above 
 assignation and had destroyed it. 1 
 
 Grizell, the only daughter of James Nimmo and Elizabeth 
 Brodie, seems to have inherited a double portion of her parents 1 
 spiritual doubts and fears. The style of her own narrative may 
 be imagined from the sentence with which it opens : 6 1 was 
 a blasphemer, but I obtained mercy. 1 At the age of five she 
 could not sleep through fear of perdition. At six she was 
 tempted with the heresy of imagining that her tender years 
 would protect her from the doom of everlasting torments. 
 But it was an age in which consistent Calvinism still existed, 
 and she soon met with a teacher who assured her that her 
 youth could form no excuse, as original sin was sufficient to 
 damn her. By a not unnatural reaction she began to question 
 the principles in which her parents were training her : c 1 
 would gladly have been a Papist at this time. I seldom went 
 to prayer but that word did run through my mind — " To the 
 unknown God. 11 1 
 
 But she became neither Papist nor Agnostic. She grew up 
 and married a most worthy Presbyterian, Mr. William Hog or 
 Hogg, only son of a certain Andrew Hogg, W.S., who had 
 died about the end of the seventeenth century. William Hogg 
 did not follow his father's profession, but became a merchant 
 
xxviii 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 and banker in Edinburgh. Neither he nor his son Thomas 
 Hogg seems to have been very successful in business. A 
 reference to both father and son will be found in Sir William 
 Forbes 1 Memoirs of a Banking House. I have in my possession 
 a letter, dated February 1732, from AVilliam Hogg, addressed 
 to a ' very dear friend,' Mr. Thomas Boston, the well-known 
 author of the Fourfold State, in which he announces his 
 financial failure, and relates that his friends had been advising 
 him to conceal his books and papers. 6 1 think, 1 writes the 
 devout man, c I got a look to the Lord with my soul when they 
 were talking about this — a look above means and instruments 
 to himself, and he will mitigate and moderate the Tryal. 1 
 
 Probably Mr. Hogg had taken too gloomy a view of the 
 situation. He seems at all events to have weathered this 
 particular storm, and left a business subsequently carried on 
 by his son Thomas. 
 
 Mrs. Grizell Hogg predeceased her husband, and he married 
 again, his second wife being Jean, daughter of Charles Stuart 
 of Dunearn, the representative of a well-known branch of the 
 Moray family. Thomas was, I believe, the only child of 
 William Hogg's first marriage who survived early life. He 
 married, in 1757, Colina, daughter of Colin Campbell, 1 younger 
 of Aberuchill and Kilbryde, by Catherine, daughter of William 
 Nisbet of Dirleton, and grandniece of Sir John Nisbet — the 
 well-known lawyer. Only two of Thomas Hogg's children 
 have left descendants — viz. Grizell, who married Archibald 
 Gibson, W.S., son of the Rev. John Gibson, and great- 
 grandson of James Nimmo, and Elizabeth, who became the 
 wife of her cousin William Scott-Moncrieff of Newhalls, 2 after- 
 wards of Fossa way. 
 
 1 He was a member of the Scottish bar, and died of consumption when quite 
 young — predeceasing his father Sir James. 
 
 2 Mr. Scott-Moncrieff's mother was a daughter of William Hogg by his 
 second marriage wi<h Jean Stuart. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 XXIX 
 
 From the above account it will be seen that there are now 
 no representatives of James Nimmo in the male line, although 
 his actual descendants are very numerous. 
 
 Since the above was sent to press, I have been enabled, 
 through the kindness of Mr. Nimmo of Westbank, Falkirk, 
 to examine a small ms. volume in his possession, containing a 
 considerable amount of information relating to the Nimmos of 
 Bridgehousc and their connections. This ms., which is in the 
 handwriting of the late Mr. Nimmo of Westbank, consists 
 mainly of extracts from what is described as ' a folio book of 
 236 pages, written by John Wardrop, banker in Edinburgh, 
 and proprietor of Strathavon ; born 1774.'' Mr. Wardrop, 
 who wrote about fifty years ago, was connected with the 
 Nimmos of Bridgehouse, and he has evidently taken a consider- 
 able interest in bringing together materials which could throw 
 light upon their family history. 
 
 He says : 6 The tradition handed down is that they (the 
 Nimmos) were French Protestants who fled from the horrid 
 massacre of St. Bartholomew, anno 1572. This seems to be 
 confirmed by the name, which in the earliest instances is spelt 
 Nemot, which is clearly formed of the two French words 
 Ne Mot, and also by the circumstance that, so far as I can 
 find, the name does not occur in this country prior to that 
 event/ 
 
 This is interesting, but I am afraid the tradition has but a 
 blender foundation. James Nimmo certainly seems to have 
 known nothing of it, although he probably carries his ancestrv 
 back to the date of the massacre. Mr. Wardrop has, how- 
 ever, discovered in connection with the testament of a cer- 
 tain Alexander Nimmo in Bathgate, who died in 1623, the 
 name Bartelmo Nimo, to which he points as favouring his 
 theory. 
 
 The earliest evidence of the name which he has found is 
 
XXX 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 afforded by a charter from King James vi. in favour of 
 David Nemo of Westbarns of Dunbar, dated 1581. In the 
 beginning of the seventeenth century there were Nemos in 
 Ayrshire. 
 
 Mr. Wardrop is of course familiar with the 4 Narrative ' 
 of James Nimmo, and gives a summary of it, referring- 
 to a copy in the possession of the late Mr. David Laing, ' a 
 quarto ms. volume of 160 pages, fully written, and bound up 
 in calf with another ms. quarto work, and titled on the back, 
 Philocris and Nimmo's lives, 18 Dec. 1826.' 
 
 It would appear that James Nimmo was survived by his 
 father John, who was alive in 1712, aged ninety. Concerning 
 John^s two elder brothers, James of Westcraigs of Ogleface 
 and Alexander of Wardlaw, Mr. Wardrop has little to say. 
 He is uncertain whether or not Alexander left descendants. 
 The Nimmos of Westbank are descended from a James 
 Nimmo who came to Falkirk from Torphichen about two 
 hundred years ago. That he was a son of either James or 
 of Alexander is not improbable. 
 
 John Nimmo of Bridgehouse, as the 4 Narrative ' relates,, 
 settled that estate upon his son by a second marriage, 
 William. Mr. Wardrop, whose elder brother was the pro- 
 prietor of Bridgehouse, naturally bestows special attention 
 upon the descendants of William. He, it would appear, was 
 succeeded by a son of the same name, whose eldest daughter, 
 the heiress of Bridgehouse, married John Wardrop, a member 
 of an old Linlithgowshire family, and in this way did Bridge- 
 house become the property of the Wardrops. Mr. Wardrop 
 has ascertained that between the years 1630 and 1756 
 eleven small properties in Linlithgowshire, and one in Stir- 
 lingshire, were acquired by various members of the Nimmo 
 family. 
 
 My attention has been called, by means of Mr. Wardrop 1 * 
 ms., to a notice of James Nimmo, junior, and his wife, Lady 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxxi 
 
 Jane, which will be found in the Life and Times of Selina, 
 Countess of Huntington, an anonymous work, published some 
 forty years ago. After what I have already stated concerning 
 Lady Jane, it is perhaps only fair that I should quote the 
 following estimate of her character : She 6 was distinguished 
 by a sound and cultivated understanding, by genuine and 
 unostentatious piety, guided by good sense and discernment ; 
 by uniform mildness and equality of temper, and by those 
 habitually cheerful and affectionate manners which commanded 
 the esteem and respect of the society in which she lived, and 
 were the perpetual delight of her own family. , 
 
 From Mr. Nimmo^s house in Edinburgh Whitefield wrote, in 
 1750, to Lady Huntington : ' Your ladyship^s health is drank 
 and inquired after every day. Mr. Nimmo, who married 
 Lord Marchmont's sister, has given me three franks, and his 
 family are in the number of those who are left in Sardis, and 
 have not defiled their garments.'' 
 
 Those were the days of patrons, alike in the church and in 
 the world. We find Lady Jane writing to her friend, Lady 
 Huntington, in the following strain : 6 Many prayers are 
 offered up for your ladyship, and many blessings for your 
 sending your chaplain to these parts . . . your ladyship will 
 shortly have my native country to add to the brilliancy of 
 that diadem which shall adorn your brow in the great day 
 of the Lord."' 
 
 A short notice of the second James Nimmo will be found in 
 the Scots Magazine for the year 1758. 
 
 MSS. OF THE NARRATIVE. 
 
 The text of the Narrative has been printed from a copy, 
 very faithfully made by Mr. Mill of the Signet Library, of 
 an old ms. in the possession of Mr. Pringle of Torwoodlee. 
 This is doubtless in the handwriting of the author, and was 
 
XXX11 
 
 INTRODUCTION 
 
 probably written shortly before his death in 1709. In thus 
 recording the history of his past life, the author's memory was 
 assisted by notes which he seems to have been in the habit of 
 making, and part of which at least he had been able to preserve. 
 Of this original ms. two pages have been lost, but their con- 
 tents have been supplied from an old copy, evidently made by 
 Mr. William Hogg, the author's son-in-law, and now in the pos- 
 session of Archibald Gibson, Esq., Huntly Gardens, Glasgow. 
 
 In printing the Narrative it has been thought advisable to 
 adhere to the peculiar and very erratic spelling of the original, 
 and also to the contractions with which it abounds. Nimmo\s 
 spelling is certainly very bad, but it is characteristic of the 
 seventeenth century. Witness, for example, the diary of Brodie 
 of Brodie, who was a Lord of Session, and may be presumed 
 to have had the best education which Scotland could offer. 
 Nimmo's handwriting, on the other hand, is excellent, and won- 
 derfully legible. 
 
 Extracts from this Narrative have been published from time 
 to time. They will be found in the Appendix to Burns's 
 edition of Wodroic's Church History ,and in King's Covenanters 
 of the North. 1 They have also more than once appeared 
 in modern religious periodicals. But the complete story, 
 exactly as told by the author, has never been previously 
 published. 
 
 I desire to express my thanks to the following gentlemen — 
 J. Pringle, Esq. of Torwoodlee, for the permission to make use 
 of the original MS. ; Archibald Gibson, Esq., for the loan of 
 copies ; the Rev. J. M. Johnstone, Torphichen, for information 
 relating to that parish ; and William Brodie, Esq., Eastbourne, 
 who most kindly supplied me with a copy of his Genealogy of 
 the Brodie Family . 
 
 1 In Howie's Scots Worthies, J — s N — o and E — h B — e, his spouse, are 
 mentioned amongst the spiritual trophies of Mr. Thomas Hog. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxxiii 
 
 I am also much indebted to certain notes prepared by the 
 late Mr. Dickson of Hartree, Professor of Botany in the 
 University of Edinburgh. They were handed to me by Mr. 
 Dickson very shortly before his lamented and unexpected 
 death. 
 
THE NARRATIVE 
 
 i 
 
NARRATIVE OF 
 
 Mr JAMES NIMMO 
 
 A COVENANTER 
 
 John Nimmo oft Midlridg, in Bathgat paroch, had ane 
 sone, called John Nimmo of Bridghous, who had three sones 
 and four doughters, all respectfully maried neer th* place. 
 James, Alex r , & John, Christan, Agnes, Helen & Marion. 
 James was propriator of a p 1 of Westcraiges of Oglface, in th* 
 paroch of Torphichin q r they wer all born. Alex r was pro- 
 priator of Wardlaw. Ther mother died shortlie after she 
 brought furth her third sone John. She was a doughter of 
 Kilikanties, and ther father maried a second wife, by q m hee 
 had a son & severall doughters. The two eldest sones being 
 provided it was s d by him he wold give the Bridghouse to his 
 third sone John, but altered his minde & gave it to the sone 
 of the 2 d mariag W m who is yet heritor of the same, & so 
 John was disapointed & putt of w* a small matter. And 
 being born in Janwarie 1622 & now corned to some yeares he 
 takes a ferm neer th* place, and the 27th of May 1648 was 
 maried to Janet Muire, whoes parents wer cussing germane 
 corned by ther father side of a second son of the hous of Roual- 
 lan, & by the mother of Comis 1 ' Forsythe the Comiss 1 ' of Glas- 
 gow, who was maried on a daughter of Orbistoun. 
 
 John Nimmo & the s d Janet had only three children, the 
 eldest, a doughter, died a child, the second Elizabeth, born in 
 Janrij 1652, the third James in July 1654, who wrytes this for 
 his oun satisfaction to keep in some rememberance the Lord's 
 way dealing & kindnes towards me, who being my parents only 
 sone gott the more libertie q n a childe q ch streanthned th* root 
 of all bitternes (originall sin & a body of sin & death w^n 
 
NARRATIVE OF 
 
 flowing therfrom) which being strong of itselfe caried me head 
 long to sin & folly, the Divel leading captive att his pleasure. 
 
 Though q 11 I came to ryper youthful yeares, shame w* respect 
 to comon honestie hedged me in at sometimes in some thinges. 
 Yet at other times sin overflowing all bankes, and I had litle 
 patron of trew pietie to curbe me in so th* I stood nott much 
 to curse, swear, & take the Lord's name in vaine, break Sab- 
 bothes & play att sinfull games. My father indead did putt 
 me early to schoole, th* 1 might learn, and though I was someq* 
 dull in learning, yet the Lord was not wanting in giving me 
 some natural sagacetie & judgment both to be at some paines 
 to learn and have some natural discrettion towards others, & to 
 imitat others w* some suitablnes to q t I perceaved to be th r in- 
 clination, & to learne a pairt of q* I did see others doeing 
 and began to forbear att leanth thos grosser practises I was 
 given unto, & began to seek acqwaintance of the more sober, 
 & th r in had ane high esteame of my self, q ch begot some mor 
 refindnes & discretion in my cariadg, q ch grew only from th* 
 root of pryde to be esteamed off oth rs of my eqwals & superiors 
 also. And thos th fc followed me w* fairnes & aplaus could 
 comand me in aney thing ; but cross & discomend me, then 
 the verie venom of Hell & nature of Sathan apeared to ane 
 extreame. And now coming to about thirtin yeares of Age in 
 the sumer 1667 th r fell out some difference betwixt my father 
 & scholmaster so th* I left the schol at Bathgat (for my 
 father was th n living att Boghall), and albeit the M r dealt w* 
 severall persones of most nott in th* place to perswad my father 
 to send me back, yet he being naturally stiff'e, th r was no pre- 
 vailling in th* matter ; so neer the end off th l year my father 
 takes me to Sterling about fourtin myles from thence, which is 
 the first providence I observe, for if my father had not bein dis- 
 obleidged by the M r I had not been takn to Sterling, which 
 was much for my advantadg, for it was pairtlie my father's 
 pride took me th r & also keep me th r for some more as three 
 yeares, wher I was weel takn caire of, being boarded in the M r 
 his oun hous, whos wife & my mother wer cussing germans, 
 she being a dough ter off' 1 Ilo* Livingstounes of Wester Green- 
 
 J In the letters of intercommuning, August 6, 1675, the name of William 
 Livingstone of Greenyards appears as that of a person who had been put to the 
 horn at Stirling in July 1674. 
 
Mr. JAMES NOOK) 
 
 3 
 
 yeards w*in two myles th r off. And tli 1 * I learned my gramer 
 & had occation of mor breading then I might have had att 
 home, & sharpned my natur a litle, being among strangers q r 
 I knew I wold be more nottieed in my way of cariadg. And 
 ther I mad it more my work to pleas oth rs then benefit my self 
 at my book. But was very virtuously inclined and wrot to 
 some gentlemens' sones ther lessons, to gain some money of q ch 
 I was a good husband when gotten, onlie I was not able to bear 
 the least shaddow of affront, then led oftn to beatt oth rs q ch 
 oftn brought home such as I gave. Therfor freqwentlie whipt 
 for fighting until I began to think shame to be whipt and 
 began to aime at more manliness, but all this time few thoughts 
 of God, or off my soul, or a life after this. Yet I could not 
 want my prayers (as they wer) at goeing to bed & rising th r - 
 from, for till I came heir had seen nothing of aiming at secret 
 prayer, & only heir also by the M r who indeed neglected it 
 not, who seemd to have some seriousnes ; but much of a form 
 in publick prayer. 
 
 Yet tho I was utterlie ignorant of God th n , I cannot but 
 observe some remarkabl steps of the Lord's restraining grace 
 and preventing marcie, for q ch throu grace I will desire to bliss 
 him thorrow time & eternatie. On was th r was someq 1 sin- 
 full I had a desire after, q ch I think the Divel laboured in and 
 brought the tentation fairlie to offer it selfe, but suddanlie it 
 did pleas the marcifull Lord to begett in my minde ane ab- 
 horrance of the thing, & helped so to resist w* courradg as if 
 I had never had the least desire th* way. 
 
 O a good God even to thes in a state off enmitie against him, 
 th 1 hee should condescend so farr to keep back from sines might 
 be heavie on our conscience all our dayes. I had maney re- 
 markable steps off temptationes & marcifull deliverances in 
 this place, being guided by a marciful God tho I knew him 
 not. Nor was tender of his glory nor of my oun good, but 
 kept by meer free preventing marcie & restraining grace. 
 And I cannot omit to observe, th* q n the divel missed his mark 
 in the above s d first tentation, he failled not to continow in six 
 or seven new assaults upon me each after other (in my last 
 year of my stayeng ther) in a new disguise, yet still the 
 marciful Lord aither restrained or prevented. Att q ch to this 
 
4 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 day I ame made to wonder & admire his goodnes q n I reflect 
 th r upon. 
 
 And the Lord gave me favour both w* M r & Mistris & 
 condisciplis and others. 
 
 And now coming to be about seventin yeares of age 1671, 
 being not resolved to follow my book I began to think of some 
 other way for bestouing my selfe in some imployment or oth r , 
 and att leanth by Greenyeard's & my father's advice & con- 
 sent it was resoved upon to bind me w* a relation on Mathow 
 Cuming, mer* in Glasgow, but q 11 this by all rational meanes 
 was assayed & we went th r , this by a verie small matter mis- 
 gave and my father called me home to himselfe, and then the 
 Dutch warr 1 falling out with Ingland he had no will to lett 
 me goe abroad, in q ch I think the marcifull hand of God may be 
 seen by considering his tract of providences towards me sinse. 
 
 But tho I was come home yet I had no intent to stay, but 
 my inclination was much to aply myselfe some other way. 
 And my father having gott me home began to leave oft* 
 thoughts of letting me goe more from him, being his only sone 
 & having considerabl afaires a doe, & treated me rather as 
 a servant then a sone, which begott much discurradgment in 
 me (not knowing q* it was to seek to be reconceiled to the 
 Lord's will in his providence) q ch my father perceaving was 
 resolved to use authoretie q ch was not pleasing to me, & in- 
 creassed my thoghtines. And albeit I did more to pleas him 
 then my bodie could weel indure, yet becaus it was not done 
 w fc th* chearfulnes he became verie teart to me in quarreling^ 
 w* almost all I did. 
 
 And he being oft att Edinburgh about law affaires I did q* 
 I could to manadg affaires in his absence so as I might gain his 
 favour. And began now (as not seeing hou I could doe oth 1 "- 
 wayes) to lay aside my thoghts of going elsq 1 ', tho I could not 
 gett my minde brought to a complaciencie thrin. 
 
 As also I began to be asheamed that, seeing my father went 
 about famely worship q n att home, th* I did it not in his 
 absence, espetialy seeing I had bein so longe at schol, which 
 proceeded not from aney fear of God but pride of heart & 
 
 1 War had broken out between the two countries in 1667. Such a war must 
 have peculiarly affected the commercial interests of Scotland. 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 selfe, q n I thoght q 1 it' I should be afronted by not doing it to 
 the aprobation of the famely, & for th* I resolved on a forme 
 I had collected, not th 1 I wold stent my selfe th r to but to be as 
 a refuse in caise oth'wayes straitned, which method I did sete 
 upon <V the first night fell to sing the 119 Psal. 9 v. by what 
 means shall a young man learn, &c, so continouing to doe this 
 in his absence for some time as I could, & he getting nottice of 
 it at his return, desired me sometimes also q n he was present, 
 q ch att the beginning brought me new feares to doe it befor 
 him, vet continouing at his desire sometimes to doe soe, it 
 became mor easie ; but heirin apeared the wonderfull goodnes of 
 God, for sometimes then in famelie prayer th r came sundrie 
 expressions in my minde & lipes I had not formerlie notticed. 
 The q ch coming unexpectedlie, at ended w* some discoverie of 
 the meaning th'of. made me fear, observing I was praveng other- 
 waves then I was practising, in q ch if I continoued seemed to be 
 a mocking of God. 
 
 And I was convinced q* came in my minde to express in time 
 of prayer agreeabl to the Lord's word it was my dewtie to walk 
 in my conversation conform. 
 
 And about th* time the ordinarie of our reading in the word 
 fell to be in the proverbs, q r in was held out maney Instructiones, 
 ik I was convinced it was my pairt to practise them. The q ch 
 begott some concernednes in my minde, q ch w* the outward 
 troubl I was under begot some thoghts of death k a life to 
 come th r after. And about the beginning of Janrij 1676 I fell 
 into a feaver & was sore afflicted in bodie for some days in 
 heavie sicknes. And at q ch time also my father was lyeng sick. 
 And M r W™ Chrighton 1 (who was our outted minister) coming 
 to see him, I had also the favor of his visit, who after talking 
 a litle w* me & finding my words someq* concerned lyke (q ch 
 came as I s d befor) he took occation to speak vet more — telling 
 me q* a miserabl state we wer in by natur, & th* Christ was 
 offering salvation upon repentance & that we wer called to come 
 as it wer upon the Leges of faith under the sence of our con- 
 
 1 Mr. William Crichton, minister of Bathgate, was ordained in 1654, and 
 removed from Bathgate by order of the Synod in 1660. After the revolution he 
 was translated to Falkirk, and finally to the Tron Church of Edinburgh in 1695, 
 dying in 1708 at the age of 78. Vide Scott, Eccla. Fasti. 
 
6 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 dition, the q eh if we wer seriouslie aiming at he wold assist & 
 undertake for us & teach us our dewtie, the which had some 
 impressiones upon my minde ; & q n I atained some recoverie, I 
 remembered th r was eight dayes in my sicknes I had never had 
 so much as a serious thoght of God, q ch made me fear somq* 
 to walke so cairleslie q 11 I had recovered some health, consider- 
 ing sicknes was not a fitt time to repent in, having much a doe 
 w* it selfe ; the q ch consideration w* some others made me som- 
 q 1 more delight in dewtie seeing such a necassatie ; and on 
 night being in prayer in the famelie, & some thoghts of my 
 soules hazerd coming in my minde, I wan fullie to belive th* it 
 was possible w rt God to chaing me from my ivel course by natur 
 & make me delight in doeing his will. The q ch made me some- 
 q* serious in pleading w 1 him not onlie then but at severall 
 times for q 1 then I wan to belive, and I hapned to read th* 55 
 Isay 6 & 7 seek the Lord whill he is to be found, call ye upon 
 him while hee is neer. Let the wicked forsake his way & the 
 unrightious man his thoughts, & lett him return unto the Lord, 
 &c. q ch was the first scriptur I gott aney walding light into as 
 a invitation. Shortlie after ther was two lustie servants in the 
 famelie wer cutt off in a few dayes in a flux, q ch had its oun 
 waight in pairt. And to suplie on of th r places ther was a 
 woman serv* hyred that had bein cast out of her service by 
 sicknes about eight myles distant, q ch we had never knoun 
 befor, but seemd to be under somq* of the exorcise of minde as 
 to her soules caise if not trewlie gracious, & on night after she 
 had bein retired I did observe by her countinance she had bein 
 weeping sore (her name was Janet Thomson) the q ch being 
 observed by me made me sore discurradged, considering & being 
 in pairt convinced th* I was on of the cheaffest of sinners & yet 
 had never win to weep so for sin ; & went & desired to attaine 
 this frame of tendernes but could not, q ch increased my sorrow, 
 being convinced I was lost & undone eternalie if I wan not to 
 repentance, q ch I thoght consisted much in getting my heart to 
 melt in teares befor th* God q m I had sinned against & whoes 
 lawes I had transgressed, but I was still bound up & my heart 
 hard & darknes upon my minde & in a sore tossed condition, 
 under feares of wreath. And a remarkabl providense fell out 
 at this time, q ch hightned my sorrow. For two young men th* 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 7 
 
 wer servants to my father, th* bad intised me to play w* th m at 
 games on the saboth dayes, the on went away & was maried 
 some time befor this & about this time fell into a high fever & 
 in the readg th r of dyed in a maner distracted. And the other 
 w as left to fall two times in furnication in the famely, and now 
 I was the third th* joyned in th fc sinfull breach of the Lord's 
 dav cS: might expect the nixt stroak & knew not q* it might 
 be, q ch greatly increassed my troubl, & did see the Lord just, 
 who wold not acquit the guiltie, when we knew first th* the last 
 man had fallen the second time w* a servant in the famelie, I 
 spock to my father w t all the discretion I could, & told him I 
 feared the Lord might justlie contend w* him & the famelie for 
 this sin comitted in it, becaus he had not putt away his man 
 q" he fell first. He was angrie w* me & said he putt away the 
 first woman & seperat th m , I said I fear ye should not have 
 keep the man but in th* way testified your displeasur at the 
 sin, as also if we had bein more earnest w fc the Lord formerly 
 to deliver the famelie from sin, hee might have prevented it, 
 & also we was not humbled for the first as we ought. Now I 
 desired to mourn befor the Lord whom I had offended, but att 
 last could not gett so much as on word to speak in prayer in 
 maney atempts & still seeing for some considerabl time (as I 
 thoght) the wreath of ane angrie God readie to fall doun upon 
 me suddanlie, if I wan not to th 1 frame of prayer and supli- 
 cation in teares, as the serv 1 had win to q ch I thoght was 
 reqwisit, the q ch being not only wanting but th* I could pray 
 non, I fell into such dreadfull terrors th* was insuportabl, 
 aprehending it could not consist w* the justice of God but th* 
 the earth should open & swallow me up to hell qwick, for all 
 this time I was utterly ignorant of th* blist contrivance of 
 salvation by the merites of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some nights 
 th r after M r James Donaldson 1 ane outted minister was att 
 Whytlaw, about halfe a myll distance, who was to excercise 
 privatlie, to q ch place tho mightie low in my bodey & unfitt for 
 travel I went not w*out stress. And ther ordinar in reading 
 fell to be in the first Sam. & 23, wher he spock how David 
 severall times sought counsel of the Lord what to doe, and its 
 
 Probably the Nonconformist minister of Dolphington. 
 
8 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 still sd the Lord answered him, & so he held out th* as David 
 then sought councel so ought we still in everie thing we ar 
 concerned in ; and altho the Lord did not ans r now by ane 
 audible voice, yet to them th* could win singlie & seriouslie to 
 seek him for councill, he could bear home w* clear & con- 
 vincing efficacie upon ther spirites the ans r of th r reqweists & 
 make th m as firmly to belive it as if hee spock w* ane audibl 
 voice, the q ch expressions being so evidentlie cleared from the 
 word I thoght belonged to my caise & made to belive it was so, 
 And th* th r was ground for me yet to plead w 1 the Lord. So 
 returning home some more setled in minde I began againe to 
 seek him by prayer, and some nights th r after being in great 
 distress & straitnednes in my minde & lyke to sinck it 
 pleased the Lord pourfully to darte in th* scriptur Math: 9 & 
 2 d q 11 the man sick of the palsie was brought to him & was 
 born & could not goe, Christ s d , sone be of good cheer thy sins 
 be forgiven the. 
 
 Which was made verie suitabl to my caise th* I could 
 doe nothing for my selfe more th n the poor man in the 
 palsie. And then gott some vew of the blist covenant of 
 Redemption, and it came w* such efficacie th* all my dis- 
 courradgments wer gon and my fears of wreath gon, and 
 intimationes of his free love & pardon made knoun w* much 
 light, life & unexpressibl sweetnes & joy in my soul, so th 1 
 then I wan to much freedom admeering the freenes & richnes 
 of his grace & marcie so th* I could never express q* th u I 
 found, but made to praise again & againe & rejoyce in him, 
 & thought ther was not aney in th* caise but my selfe & thoght 
 I could not live long ; and then being suplied w fc secret strenth 
 and light from himselfe I wan step & stepe still to see more 
 and more of my oun vilnes, & made to abhorr & detest my- 
 selfe becaus of sin, but still made to exalt him for ouning sucli 
 a miserabl wretch as I was, and wan more & more to see my 
 oun wants & plead for suply from him, & sweetlie made to 
 belive th t he heird my reqweists & scnsablie ansrd the same, & 
 made my heart delight in his law & in all his wayes & bliss him 
 th* I was not cast in hell long since, yea altho he should yet 
 cast me th 1 * I had ground to justifie him, considering my 
 diservings, Si love him for q l hee had done to my soul and 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 9 
 
 maney a sweet blaink of liis favor in prayer & meditation was 
 I trysted w* ; & w* strong resolutions coming in my mind to be 
 for him & being unexpresabli suported in this way I continued 
 so for a time, but at leantli Sathan & my ivel heart combining 
 togither, dewtie grew some more lifless & formall, and I began 
 too much to idolise q* I had atained 8c look too much to my 
 oun streanth, and vilifieing my cariadg befor the time I wan to 
 aney thing of the light 8c knouledg of spiritual thinges think- 
 ing I was a great fool th* might not sooner a sought the Lord, 
 thinking too much th* I might have done more in my oun 
 streanth not singlie considering the whol work was of God. 
 And thinking albeit I wer castn back as I had been in my 
 former securetie I was so much perswaded off the advantages of 
 godlines 8c did see so much of reason for it th* by my oun 
 streanth I could doe better th n befor. The q ch thoghts pro- 
 voked the Lord to w*draw more from me th* so I grew more 
 formall in dewtie but to less satisfaction in my soul. Then I 
 began to reason w* my selfe th* I had both read & heard th* 
 the godlie got not alwayes feasts in dewty and manefestations 
 of his love & intimationes of his kindnes, but most satisfie th m 
 selves w* smaller tilings 8c be doeing as they could & not troubl 
 themselves too much to winn at thes thinges, but grouing for a 
 time mor 8c mor formal and secure till att lenth consciense 
 awaknes 8c began to tell me my follie th* I had provocked the 
 Lord ; 8c then feares, despondencie 8c discurradgment brock in, 
 8c satan 8c my corruptions & ivel heart being desperatlie wicked 
 of it selfe strove to crush me 8c all I had atained of peace by 
 terrors, feares 8c discurradgments ; 8c Satan oftn sayeing it was 
 follie to stand out 8c casting subtile snares in my way, oft 
 sayeing it wer more wisdom to take some pleasur in sin then 
 by vexing my selfe in seeking after th* q ch I was not able to 
 accomplish, viz. to be caried up in the life of godlines in the 
 constant sens of his kindnes, the q ch assaults made me to have 
 maney a sad 8c sorroufull day. But yet it pleased the Lord to 
 keepe someq* of the faith of q* I had formerly gottn, q ch made 
 me still th* I durst not give my consent to sin altho it oftn 
 prevailed, but I fand still ane hatred of it in my heart 8c seeing 
 it vexed me so sore I often wished to be disolved th* I might 
 return to my earth again. 
 
10 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 But altho it pleased the Lord by secret streanth to keep me 
 from yelding to the devisses of Satan & my evil heart, in con- 
 cluding I wold not be abl to attain q* I was seeking, yet they 
 prevailed to lay maney a sore strock upon me by stirring up 
 enemies against me both w^ut & w^n, tli 1 made me maney 
 a day goe in sorrow & teares, & my life even sometimes 
 bitter, which made bystanders to admire q fc it was th* troubled 
 me (for I had not one I could be free or impairt my caise 
 unto). And friends and relations considering they had heard 
 of my father's teartnes to me (tho at this time his way w t me 
 was become some more pleasant), thoght it was the whol cause 
 of my troubl, therfor sundrie of th m had spock to my father 
 th r anent, but he aprehending I had compleaned to th m came 
 home exceedinglie offended att me and threatned to putt me 
 out of his famelie, and s d he should give me cause to be cast 
 doun and complean. I told him w 1 sorrow I had compleand 
 to non, but this did not take w* him, but his anger continoued, 
 so th* my life through thes things became my burthin & was 
 made bitter unto me, & the more I was cast doun the mor his 
 anger was incressed, and speaking sometimes so sharplie to me 
 as I was not able to bear, but being under so maney pressures 
 sometimes made too teart ane reply, q ch gave both Satan & him 
 mor ground to work upon, albeit for most pairt, I did q l I 
 could to gain my father both by my words & actiones, & some 
 times opned my grieff in prayer to the Lord. 
 
 So being sorlie exorcised in this caise about a year & mor, 
 th* albeit I some times attained more comfort & peace then at 
 other times, yet my bodie was sore brockn and could but 
 darklie winn to aney knoledg of my caise in my oun minde, & 
 oftn nothing but darknes. And few or non discerned aney 
 thing of my troubl, and had non to impairt my greiff' unto but 
 the servant, & sometimes the opertunetie to meet w* some to 
 whom I thoght I could willinglie have impairted my minde, 
 but several wayes restraind pairtlie through shame & fear, 
 thinking non so vile for sine, non such abusers of marcies ; and 
 sometimes did aprehend th* some I had occation with had a 
 greater desire to pry into my caise th n to simpathis w* me, 
 which thoghts w t slavish fear & discurradgments made me oftn 
 silent, and the mor hightned my sorrow. 
 
Mil. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 1 1 
 
 Now about the Moneth of Junij 1677 th r was to be a 
 Randevouz of our Militia troup, and upon the same day it 
 was to be upon, some Ministers had apoynted a publick ffast in 
 the feilds, wherat I was desirous to be. But being formerly for 
 some time the ryder of the militia horse keep by my father (as 
 Bailie & factor for Boghall) he was against my going to s d fast, 
 but I accidentalie meeting w* ane old servant of my fathers 
 and telling him I was unwilling to goe to the Randevouz, 
 having a resolution to goe somq r els, he offered for some con- 
 sideration to goe for me, q ch I easelie consented to ; but my 
 father was displeased, fearing the other man wold spoile the 
 horse, but I was intent & went to the ffast. 
 
 And M r W m Gilkrist 1 on off the Ministers did preface upon 
 the fourtieth of Gen. 5 v. anent Joseph and his bretherin, how 
 his brothers wer pressing th r father Jacob to send Benja- 
 min th r younger brother to Joseph, becaus he had s d ye shall 
 not see my face except ye bring yo r brother w* yow. 
 
 And so the Minister s d th* if we did desire to see the Lord's 
 face, th fc day we behoved to bring Christ our brother w* us ; for 
 the Lord was saying no less to us this day th 11 Joseph did to 
 his brethren, ye shall not see my face except yor brother Jesus 
 be w* yow, the q th did stick to me ; but the word of a pairtie of 
 the enemies coming, the meeting was dissolved, tho it was a 
 mistake, some only having seen a pairtie of the militia going 
 to th 1 ' Randevouz. So being dismissed & I coming home, the 
 nixt day being in the feilds my alon & my bibl w* me, and my 
 heart being afected w* the preface the former day, I was reading 
 th 1 " scriptur again, att q ch time in the reading th r of the Lord 
 brak into my soul w* such light, life & joy, in the discoverie of 
 Christ, God man & mediator, in q m the father was weel pleased 
 & no acceptance w*out him. And Christ intimating yoAv 
 belive in God belive in me also, by q m & throuh whoes merites 
 ye cane only find access & acceptance. Now heir I most 
 observe th* in all my former troubl & out gate I still wanted 
 th* free & full discovery of Christ in his natur & offices, & 
 particulate as our brother and only mediator. 
 
 1 Probably the gentleman who in 1677 was ordered by the Council to be 
 brought to Edinburgh as a prisoner, because he had taken possession of the 
 kirk, manse, and glebe of Carsphairn after the indulged minister's death. 
 
12 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 Now upon this sweet discoverie off Christ, mor tenderly 
 afected to his th 11 Joseph to his brethren q 11 he could not con- 
 tain himself but made all to goe out & cryed out w* the 
 greatest evidence of affection, Gen. 45 & 4. I ame Joseph 
 your brother q m ye sold, & in the 5 th vers, now th r for be not 
 grived nor angrie w* yo r selves th* ye sold me hither, for God 
 did send me befor you to preserve life. O how sweet was this 
 comfortabl type & Christ th r in w* respect to my caise. So th* 
 all my former greiffes, sorroues & discurradgments wer now 
 removed. And he brought me as it wer out of a fearfull pitt 
 & from the myrie clay, & sett my feet upon a rocke. 
 
 So th* now I was made exceedinglie to rejoyse, & to weep & 
 rejoyse & weep & rejoyse againe, & w* much refreshing sweet - 
 nes upon my soul made to praise & bliss his name who had 
 made the dark cloudes & shaddoues to flee away, and had 
 brockn in w* his marvelous light again upon my soul, w* mor 
 gladnes then hee had given me the whol world. 
 
 So th* in maney things this was as a second law work & con- 
 version or clearer light & confirmation. From this time untill 
 the year 1679 I was sometimes under great refreshings in 
 dewtie, much abstracting my selfe from occations of carnal & 
 world lie converse, & much delighting in solitarines & medita- 
 tion, & att some times wan too much neernes w* the Lord in 
 prayer, & alwayes desirous to keep a conscience voide of offences 
 towards God & man. And sometimes through the preevailings 
 of a bodie of sin & death, redacted to dark cloudes & under sore 
 troubles in my soul, but never continued so long as before related 
 but often in a fighting condition, sometimes sin prevailing & 
 sometimes he made his grace in me to prevaile. But alwayes 
 discovered to me sooner or later th* everie step of my condition 
 was for my advantadg & nothing I mett w* could be wanting. 
 
 Albeit all I attained unto had often enough to doe, & even 
 sometimes lyke to give over. 
 
 Now in the beginning of Junij this year 1679, Clavers w* his 
 troupe coming against a feild meitting of the oprest presbe- 
 terians on a saboth day, the peopl being still in feares, severals 
 went to the meeting in th r amies in caise off atacks reather to 
 defend th m selves then be taken & aither hangd or banished as 
 slaves, did upon the enemies aproach goe out to defend them- 
 
Mr. JAMES MMMO 
 
 13 
 
 selves q r severales of the enemies wer killed, 1 ik so the men wer 
 necessatit to keep in amies for th r defence, & freinds from several] 
 places coming for th r aide thev increased to some thousands, 
 & resolved if possibl to free th m selves of th r heavie bondadg, 
 & I haveng resolved when the Lord intimatted marcie to my 
 soul, th 1 if ever the Lord called for service at my hand I wold 
 venture my all for him, & seeing th* the pairtv now in armes 
 ouned to be for the Lord's cause, I judged myselfe obliedged 
 to omi & asist th m , & accordinglie went w*out any discountin- 
 ance from my father, who bv this time was become much mor 
 kindlie to me. 
 
 But q n I came I was not halfe ane hour th r untill I feared 
 the Lord was not w t th m seeing no Authoretie in discipline, & 
 being ten dayes w* th™ I observed I could never gett liberty in 
 secret, q' h made me w* other thinges fear the ishew, percaving 
 much devision among thos th* should have guided the rest ; 
 houever upon Junij 2£d we was brock by the enemy & wholly 
 disperst & maney killed & taken, my selfe bv the marcifull hand 
 of God saflie brought off tho for sometime was in the place of 
 greatess danger & a cannon ball kild a horse under a man hard 
 by me, & oft lies th* word been sweet to me th* hee was a cover 
 to me in the day off battel, so I stayed hidnly some times in on 
 place some times in ane other in much hazerd. About three 
 dayes after we wer brocke, ane alarome came q 1 ' I was th 1 a 
 pairtie of the enemie was coming, it being in the night time I 
 \\ as made to rise & goe to a corn feild & hide my selfe q r in the 
 morning getting my selfe somq 1 composed desired to adress my 
 self to the Lord by prayer ; & th r in hee fully did satisfie my 
 minde th 1 we wer brock & th* it was not vet time nor we wer 
 meet for deliverance, & considering the devi>ione> was amongst 
 th m , made to bliss the Lord we wer brock rather th 1 q n we 
 should have destroyed on ane other. 
 
 1 This event so lightly touched upon by our author was the skirmish of Drum- 
 clog, fought on a moor near Loudounhill. The Covenanters had met to listen to 
 the exhortations of Mr. Thomas Douglas. Claverhouse seems to have been 
 entirely defeated, and the prisoners in his possession were rescued. Only three 
 weeks elapsed between this event and the battle of Bothwell Bridge on June 22, 
 1679. Nimmo quite confirms the accounts which Wodrow and others have 
 given of the divisions which arose in the Covenanters' camp during the brief 
 period of their unexpected success. 
 
14 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 1 1 was oftn made to ly in cold barnes th fc winter th r after, 
 yet injoyed much pleasant qwayetnes in my minde tho cold & 
 bad dyet & not timlie did affect my bodie, & in the spring th r - 
 after I used to come home early & direct my father's servants 
 to th r worke & retire againe to the feilds, haveing still a watch- 
 full eye & under fear of the enemie, & at night went to some 
 retired place & lay sometimes in on barn & sometimes in ane 
 other, & on night laying doun in a litle barn belongd to ane 
 old honest servant of my father's I fand my self verie wearie & 
 my bodie distrest, and therfor resolved th* if it pleased the 
 Lord to give me rest I wold ly a whyle longer th n my ordinar 
 nixt morning q ch I did & was a marciful providence, for the old 
 servant being att the head of his oun yeard q r he could easelie 
 see my father's hous, coming in by the end of his barn mett his 
 wiffe & sayes to her (so as I heard) alas for I fear James is 
 takn for th r is a pairtie of horsemen lighted on his father's 
 green, for the servant knew not but I was gone earlie as I used. 
 The q ch I hearing imediatlie rose & came out, q ch made th m 
 glade so I casting of my coat putt on a coatter man's & went 
 to a moss hard by & wrought among peats I know not for q m , 
 & the enemie came by & by again after they had missed me & 
 rifled my father's hous. So they past and repast to severall 
 houses by the moss in my vew & I bussie working in the cotter 
 man's coat, & so they missed me, att q ch I was glad & desired 
 to bliss the Lord for inclining me to ly so long in bed and 
 determining q r to goe & work for my saftie q 11 I arose, & tho 
 they gott some of my clothes q ch they took w* th m yet they 
 missed the substance. 
 
 And now being still in hazerd & the storme not lyke to 
 abaite I inclynd to goe abroad q r I might not be in th* constant 
 danger of my life. And after maney thoghts still uncertain 
 for a time q r to goe, sometimes desiring of the Lord direction 
 and some times consulting freinds, yet still in the darke. Att 
 lenth I went on day to see M r Hugh Kennedey 2 ane outted 
 mini 1 " lived wHn a quarter of a myle, and told him someq 1 of 
 my minde anent this, who after a litle silence & turning his 
 
 1 1 lis share in this insurrection rendered Nimmo an outlaw. 
 
 2 The ' outted ' minister of Midcalder — he survived the Revolution. 
 
Mr. JAMES MM MO 
 
 15 
 
 back to me w* his hand on his breast s d to me, I will not desire 
 yow to doe aney thing not knoing q* events may be, but if I 
 wer in yo r caise I wold try a litle time abroad. The q ch made 
 me a litl more determined to goe. And w* q ch I acquainted 
 my father who apeared willing. Therfor w*out much ac- 
 qwainting of freinds, finding th* th r was ane occation going for 
 Holland, I resolved to goe ther ; and consulting with the mate 
 of s d shipe, sent my cloathes to his hous, for we durst not let 
 the scipper kno, & the mate was both my relation & the 
 scipper's, & desired to know q n they intended to saile, who sent 
 me word q 11 , q ch was Aug. 19 th 1680, the q ch day after taking- 
 leave of my parents only, I went th r w* full resolution (if the 
 Lord wold) to goe for Holland, but q 11 I came th r the winde 
 did not serve to saile. 
 
 And being th* day disapoynted I minded M r W m Chrighton 
 our outted minister, q m I saw att M r Kennadies some few dayes 
 befor, had s d he wold desire half ane hour of me at his chamber 
 att Ballancreiff. And thoght now I might goe to him from 
 Borroustounness. 
 
 And accordinglie went & finding q 11 I came the Ladey & him 
 sitting togither in the Hall, and after a litle conference the s d 
 M r Chrighton was obleidged to goe to on th* called for him, 
 upon q ch the Ladey Balncreife th n Ladey 1 Park Hay, desired I 
 might goe north w* her husband. Then I freelie told her my 
 former resolution and th* if yett I could doe better & gott 
 freedom was content to alter my course. She th 11 raising some 
 objections against my former resolution, & told me her husband 
 was att Edb h and wold she hoped be att home th* night & was 
 imediatelie to goe to Murrayland. 2 I told she knew not if her 
 husband wold think it convenient, but lett her & the Laird 
 advise till the morroues night & I should do the lyke, & if the 
 Lord inclyned us both to th* I should acqwiess, q ch we left th 11 
 att & nixt evening I came again & the Laird was comd & 
 seemd most willing, & w*all told he was to chaing his chamber- 
 land in the North & iff I wold ingadg he wold be verie glade 
 of it. I s d I was content to goe & doe th* service to him I could 
 
 1 1 Lady ' in the old Scottish sense. The Hays of Park, who were Nimvno's 
 friends, had no title. 
 
 2 That is, Morayshire. 
 
16 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 for a time, becaus I was not knoun in th* place, wherof he was 
 content being to goe th r personalie himselfe. 
 
 Now all this time tho seeking and acknoledging the Lord yet 
 I was not weel acqwaint to waite for his councel : butt hee 
 pitieng my caise ledd me verie marcifully, yet being under 
 varietie of thoghts in this matter & not having a word of 
 promise apply ed to support me, my spirit was in some con- 
 fusion, yet as s d , led by a secret hand that knew my distress & 
 how to lead me for my advantadg in the end. 
 
 And upon the 24 th (having caused Park buy me a horse) I 
 came to Edb 1 " & on the morrou crost the Ferrie & came to Kirk- 
 aldie Pathhead, & on the Saboth being the 28 : I was unex- 
 pectedlie trysted w 1 sermon by M r John Moncreiff in a barn 
 th r , upon Obediah, q r in I gott much satisfaction. And after 
 sermon I retired to the fields, q r the Lord helped me to pour 
 out my heart befor him w* weeping & suplication for maney 
 things both in behalfe of my selfe, the church, my parents & 
 other freinds then left behind me, & to plead as to my guiding 
 and asistance q r I was goeing, & I hope he th* gave me a heart 
 to plead w* him at th* time, also heard my reqwists. Some 
 nights th r after I had occation to be witnes to the s d minister's 
 baptising a child q r I got occation to speak w* him & promised 
 to come to his hous & pay him a visit, q ch I did w* some satis- 
 faction. 
 
 Septer. 4 th 1680, we took jurney & the 8 th we came to 
 Inshoch 1 Parks hous in Murray. 
 
 And now having left my freinds & aqwaintances, ther was 
 some waightie thouglits upon my minde th r anent and my bodey 
 a litle fatigued w* my jurney could not get my minde to th* 
 sett I desired. And after some time being th r I percaved the 
 affaires I was th r to ingadg in wer both somq* publick & 
 troublsom. Therfor getting occation I told the Laird I wold 
 be glad if he had ane other to take the chairge of his affaires, I 
 was a litle unwilling to medle in so publick afairs leist it made 
 me to weel knoun, & after some conference th r anent, he desired 
 me to be doing so long as I thoght fltt, and q n I had not more 
 tree dome to medle, he should cause his Cussing Kinstivie (who 
 
 1 Sec Introduction. 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 17 
 
 th n stayed in his hous of Inshoch & w* q m I was to stay for bed 
 & board) take the affaires of my hand, of q ch I was content. 
 
 But q n once I was ingadged I did then see I could not free 
 my selfe conveniently imtill the end of a year, so resolved to 
 continow till nixt Martimas th r after and as I could desired to 
 cast the burthin on the Lord, who had often helped me in 
 greater straites. 
 
 And it pleased the Lord to give me favor in the sight off all 
 I had to doe w\ & made thos I was to stay w* more tender of 
 me as my father & mother, the q ch was verie incourradging to 
 me, & my minde was much calmed & made the more to serve 
 the Lord w* rejoising & gladnes of heart. But yet the diffi- 
 culties of Parke's affaires & my unaqwaintednes w* them made 
 me oft at my peremptors how to guid. Then after some time 
 of my abod ther the Lord gave me acqwaintance & favor 
 some of the godlie in th* place w* q m I had confortabl convers 
 both by word & wreat, q ch seemd to be blist of God for mutual 
 edification, q ch indeed proved maney times refreshing to my 
 soul. I desired lykwayes to keep up some Christian coraspond- 
 ance (w* all the prudence and caution I could) w* freinds in the 
 south, but the time was so dangerous, I could doe litl th* way, 
 but yet ceassed not as I could, the Lord assisting, to bring ther 
 caise befor him & plead on th r behalfe. And sin & Sathan still 
 striving against me I had a fighting exercised lott ; but the 
 Lord often did lett me see th r was a need for waights to bal- 
 lance marcies & keep me to be sober & to watch unto prayer, 
 & had great ground to bliss him he ceassed not to be a Re- 
 prover, hee knouing alwayes th* was best, & in this often had 
 much peace & maney sweet intervales betwixt reneued tenta- 
 tions & waights. 
 
 The Laird of Parke coming north again in July 1681, having 
 considered my stayeng th r aney longer then the end of the year 
 & seeing his afaires going into confusion he being under great 
 debt, I resolved to ingadg no further, and therfor spock to him 
 & told him so much, he desired me to continow, but when he 
 persaved I was in earnest he promised not to obstruct my free- 
 dom in the leist. Yet after his return to the south he wrot 
 intreating if I could to stay, but I continouing in my former 
 resolution wrot again & again th* I could not, but he delayeing 
 
 B 
 
18 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 his ans r & the end of the year aproaching after seeking the 
 Lord I desired advice & simpathie of some of the godlie th r I 
 was acqwant w*, and gott freedom & access to plead the Lord 
 might clear up my way & reconceil me to his holy will. 
 
 Particularly on day coming from Brodie 1 my alon, my 
 thoghts & minde being takn up w* th* my caise, the Lord was 
 pleased to warm my afFectiones to him selfe & gave me freedom 
 to pour out my heart befor him in tendernes, & I did find some 
 reconceildnes to q* he might clear up to be his wil, giving me 
 some sweetnes in submission to his will, q ch composed my minde 
 much & gave me much ease & satisfaction ; & I ame persuaded 
 thos th* feared the Lord in tli 1 place kindlie had simpathie w* 
 me, q r in I gott full evidences both q n occation served of 
 meeting & by letters q n th* offered not. 
 
 Now the Parliament was shortlie to sitt & I was some dayes 
 much straitned as to my oun caise, & on night about ten I w*- 
 drew my selfe to the feilds, but could gett no freedom nor 
 incurradgment in my caise, but came home again under much 
 discurradgment q ch was weightie to me some time ; but w*in a 
 night or two I went to the feilds againe, but being under sore 
 pressures of spirit I could gett no intimation es of favour, & 
 being at the poynt of giving over at th* time, I thought I wold 
 once strive to minde the Churches caise befor I went home. 
 In the w ch the Lord condescended to give me much freedom, 
 tendernes & faith in laying hold on th* promise th* was brought 
 sweetlie to my minde, whatsoever ye aske the father in my name 
 liee will give you, I wan to plead th 1 hee wold braik the de- 
 signes of enemies & outwitt th ni & crush ther counciles. And 
 I thoght I wan to great confidence if our sin & securetie did 
 not hinder. Ther Parliament should not doe much skaith to 
 the Church, in q ch I gott great soul refreshment so th* all my 
 unbelieff & discurradgments wer dispelled, & my heart made 
 greatlie to rejoyse, gloric to his name, tho we see but darklie 
 heir and at best know but in pairt, yet he knoues the languadg 
 of the spirit & will ans r in dew time. 
 
 Maney times th* summer I was comforted in dewtie, albeit 
 maney times I had fightings w*out & feares w*in, sometimes 
 
 1 Seat of Brodic of Brodie. 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 19 
 
 the waigjit of my parents caise lyeng heavie upon me w* my 
 sisters & th r famelies & sometimes the Churches & my oune. 
 
 And sometimes as it wer getting all the muntaines removed 
 & wan to belive that what was his will behoved to be don, & 
 th* all things should work to gither for his glorie & his peoples 
 good, praise to his name. And yet still uncertain q fc to doe or 
 q r riixt to setle made me somq 1 troubled in my minde to gett 
 affaires right. And few th* wer sober & judicious wer for 
 advising me to stay, & yet I was helped to some submission to 
 what the Lord might think fitt to doe in it. And I offered th l 
 if Park pleased to cause Kinstirie to take the burthin off the 
 attompts of my hand, th* so I might have freedom to goe if 
 necessatie cald me at a term, & I should stay & doe all I did 
 befor, but I had no will the wholl burthing shold ly upon me 
 seeing times wer so dangerous and then I had no freedome to 
 ingadg w* Cesses & militia and in payeng kirk men, q ch it 
 pleased the Lord so to order thes the former year th t I was 
 litle at all troubled w* th m . 
 
 Kinstirie seemd not verie refractive if Park desired him to 
 take the burthin of all thes off my hand, as he told me a litle 
 after th* he had wrot to Park & hade acqwainted him th r of, 
 not being desirous I should goe away having the halfe of the 
 Laird's pairt of the maines in his own hand. 
 
 But after long delay es, Park unexpectedlie sent a comission 
 to four of his freinds to stat & clear my accompts, and most 
 freindly in his letter alloued me my freedome. But being after 
 the Terme of Martimas & having my accompts to clear, it was 
 somq 1 uneasie to me. 
 
 But having occation sometime befor to meet w* Lethen 
 Brodie 1 & conversing anent my intentiones to free my selfe of 
 Parkes affaires, he sd if I stayed w* Park hee was glade but if 
 not & gott clear off his afaires, desired I wold come to him. 
 
 But being so long delayed befor Parkes comission came 
 made me almost out of hopes to assay to goe ther, and being so 
 maney in the comission made it difficult to geet th m conveened, 
 but th n p*ed not till ended & subscribed by thes comissionat. 
 
 1 That is to say, the laird of Lethen at this date,' Alexander Brodie. He 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Lewis Craig, and died in 1688, leaving a 
 daughter married to Ludovick Grant of Grant. 
 
20 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 And Lethen was yet content I should come & stay w* him & 
 help to oversee his affaires. And yet the thoghts of this 
 troubled me not knouing how tlier disposition & myne wold 
 agree, the q ch w* the former troubl of my accompts begot some 
 discurradgment & confusiones in my minde. 
 
 Houever the 23d Dec 1 *. 1681, and th* night I went th r being 
 under some waights. My ordinarie reading was Psalme 37 & 
 meet w t some confort from it & the mor th* the Laird th* 
 night caused sing a p* of th* Psalme. Yet pairtlie through 
 waights on my minde and pairtlie by unaqwaintednes in the 
 famelie, I was somq* cast doun & attained to litle freedom 
 th r from for some weekes. 
 
 Upon Saboth Janrij 22d 1682 my ordinar of reading was 
 Psal. 118 & having lookt to the Lord befor, my waights of 
 minde continoued, yet th* word th r in griped my minde, vers 27 r 
 bind ye the sacrifise even w* cordes to the homes of the Alter, 
 & getting some light and sweetnes heir in my minde was eased 
 somq 1 & I wan to plead w* some more freedom, peace & satis- 
 faction some times th* week, and Saboth nixt being the 29th 
 as I was walking & thinking upon my oun caise, the caise of 
 the Church & the caise of freinds, in teares, it was I thoght 
 cleared to me th* my not being more content w* my pr* lott 
 was my sin, and taking th'vv 1 & resolving by greace to amend 
 this I hade more peace & satisfaction in my minde, and wan to 
 see marcie in the layeng on & continouing of rods & th* the 
 removel of th m one moment sooner might be a disadvantadg. 
 Now some time befor that singularlie holie, & blist man off 
 God Mr Thomas Hoge 1 after long imprisonment was comd' 
 North under bond given by his freinds to ans 1 ' the King's. 
 Council q n called. 
 
 W* him I had gott some acqwaintance & finding him more 
 heavenlie & sprituall th n aney I ever had bein acqwaint w*, I 
 went to see him w* a resolution to be free in comunicatting my 
 
 1 An account of Mr. Thomas Hog will be found in the Scots Worthies. He 
 had been a minister in the neighbouring county of Ross, of which he was a 
 native. He was several times imprisoned — latterly in the dungeons of the Bass. 
 It must have been just after his release from his island prison that Nimmo met 
 him. According to the author of the Scots Worthies, Hog was the brother-in- 
 law of the laird of Park. Hog survived the Revolution, and was nominated a 
 Royal Chaplain by William III. 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 21 
 
 caise to him, but after I had begun some person coming into 
 him I was inter upted at th* time. And th fc pleased the Lord 
 to helpe me to plead sometime th r after, th 1 hee might give a 
 convenient oportunety again of convers w* him & bliss & asist 
 Jiim to be usfull to me. 
 
 And not long after I gott oportunety & was free w* him as 
 to the Lord's first deallings w* me & Lis way and work in my 
 soule, and the Lord blissed him for my more steddie beliving, 
 I also wan to much mor composednes of minde through the 
 Lord's asistance. And Satan did nott gett me so easelie 
 brangled out of my peace, as sometimes befor. And then it 
 pleased the Lord to help me to be much concerned w* the caise 
 of his Church & people, parents & relationes, and particularlie 
 w* thos whos hearts the Lord had stirred up th r to sympatise 
 w* me in my troubles th* then for a considerabl time had comd 
 in my way. And it pleased him so much to discover the sines 
 of sones & doughters in Zion to my soul, as made me justifie 
 him much in all his wayes in permitting so sadd & sore troubles 
 to come upon us, and be abaised befor him. 
 
 So th* some times after pleading & confessing of sines & sad 
 desertiones my bouels have bein lyke to braike. And all this 
 while it pleased the Lord to give me such peace betwixt him & 
 my soule, th* I was much helped to see both former & pr* 
 marcies & to bliss & praise & extoll him. I was made to ob- 
 serve sometimes th 1 litle more as the seventine pairt of my 
 reqweists was in behalfe of my selfe, but all this time as it 
 pleased the Lord to helpe me to be so concerned for others, so 
 it also pleased him to helpe others to be much concerned for 
 me, q ch was sometimes a sweet refreshment to my soul, to think 
 th* the Lord made others the mean of my spirituall support 
 more then aney thing I could doe my selfe, for q ch my soul was 
 made to bliss & praise his holy name. 
 
 Nou after sometime being much takn up w fc affaires, & 
 straitned with time I grew too secure in not striving more in 
 mentaining peace & comunion betwixt the Lord & my soul, 
 albeit sometimes I was helped much to be in earnest w* him 
 both as to my selfe & others, yet too much satisfied w*out th* 
 sweet tendernes th* formerly helped to attaine, off which I wan 
 to gett some discoverie Saboth morning Mai j 14. 82. And was 
 
NARRATIVE OF 
 
 made to complain of my selfe & lament th 1 it was long since 
 hee had broght me in to his banqweting hous & since I had 
 seen the king in his beutie, & made to plead o th* I might see 
 him as I had seen him heirtofor, & th* he wold cause his 
 south winde to blow & come over the mountaines of sin, as a 
 young hart or roe upon the muntaines of Bether. And also 
 abaising my selfe for my securetie, saying th* should I excuse 
 my selfe, so as to say I had putt off my coat hou should I putt 
 it on. 
 
 But being made to see my oun waiknes, desired to pray hee 
 might putt in his hand by the hoi of the lock & doore of my 
 heart th* my bouels might be moved. 
 
 And th* day I went & heard Mr. Hog upon John 3 d & 15 th , 
 that whosoever beliveth in him should not parish but have 
 eternall liffe, and gott some sweetnes th r in. 
 
 The sence of my caise much tooke me up th* night, & some 
 dayes th r after upon Munday 15 I was made to see a need of 
 furthur sealling confirmation es of the Lord's love, and helped 
 to plead as in Cant, 8 & 6 th , sett me as a seal upon th 11 heart and 
 as a seal upon th n arme, w* some kinde of sweet submission & to 
 plead th* he wold wash my teares. 0 blist be he th* came to 
 help. Upon Twesday th r was a scocietie meeting att Mr. 
 Hoges, but the Laird's affaires being throng I wanted confidence 
 to aske libertie to goe, so staied at home, but th r after I was 
 challenged in my mind th* I used not means, q ch begott some 
 exercise to me ; & was sore greived for some time & had some 
 sore struglings th* week through the stirring of a bodey of sin 
 & death. Upon Saturdayes night the 20 day I thought th* was 
 w* much light brought in my minde, I had wholie closed w* 
 God through Christ for salvation & continualy trusted in him 
 since for the same, but I had not so closed w* him for sanctifi- 
 cation & for leading & gwiding in my dalie straites. 
 
 And upon Saboth 21, Maij 82, I heird Mr. Hoge upon the 
 former text, and in the beginning he told the last day he had 
 been speaking of the life of peace w* God, and now he was to 
 speake of the life of sanctification & grace, through th* assur- 
 ance & justification, q ch weel agreed w* q* was my exercise on 
 Saturdayes night. I thought the Lord made everie sentance 
 aplicable th'to, w* much light & understanding therin, but 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 23 
 
 could not gett aney particular oft' it, so to affect my heart as to 
 give me peace anent q* I wold have bein att. 
 
 From this to Saturday Junij 3 d I was under some sharpe 
 tossinges through the prevailings of a bodie of death & the 
 sence of my wants, or q n seeking after q* might be my dewtie 
 th* word was brought to my minde, Watch & pray. That 
 afternoon I was sore discurradged w* something came in my 
 way, but in the reading of ane letter I mett w* a word gave 
 me some more incurradgment & some more confidence in 
 prayer, albeit wanting intimationes of kindnes, yet necessetie 
 made me earnest, 0 praise to him th* sees q ts for our good. 
 Upon Saboth morning I wan to some thoughts of maney of my 
 former acqwaintances th* wer now in eternatie, & also upon the 
 sad miscariadges of maney professors in the south, both which 
 had waightie impressiones upon my heart and by grace helped 
 to be in some seriousnes anent sundrie thinges befor the Lord. 
 
 Now M r Alex 1 ' Dunbarr 1 was to preach at our hous of Leathen 
 th 1 day, and after the fornoon's sermon was ended it came in 
 my minde now it was ended & q* had I gottn of it, q ch was 
 little or nothing I thought. Then I was made to say, blist be 
 the Lord th* lives, th* had saide to my soul th* hee was my 
 God & th* I ame his & th* the day was coming th* the mariadg 
 feast should be solemnised & th* th 1 ' shall be a full injoyeng off 
 him to all eternatie. 
 
 And then retired my selfe q 1 ' I gott a glance of maney 
 advantadges by the Lord's bringing me to Murray, which made 
 me rejoyse much and to bliss & praise the Lord for th* same 
 and to plead th* the joy of the Lord might be my streanth. 
 
 Then my soul being made to rejoyse in the sight of my for 
 s cl marcies, I wan to plead w* the Lord, & th* word was made 
 sweet to me, 1 Thess. 5 & 6, rejoise evermor, and also w* sweet- 
 nes th* word came into my minde, Hosea 2 d & 14, I will allure 
 her & bring her into the wildernes, & speak comfortablie unto 
 her, but th* q ch gave me most comfort & confirmation in my 
 caise was in the 15 verse later pairt. — And she shall sing th 1 ' as 
 in the dayes of her youth & as in the dayes q n she came up out 
 of Egypt. 
 
 1 According to Wodrow Mr. Alexander Dunbar was, in 1685, sent, along with 
 several other ministers, as a prisoner to the south. 
 
24 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 Then unbeliff & Satan began to whisper in my minde, Oh I 
 fear this will be lyke the morning cloud & the earlie dew, th* 
 soon passeth away. 
 
 Then I s d Lord q* is my dewtie th* thow may not be to my 
 soul as a wayfaring man th* taries but for a night. Then th* 
 word came w* some life in my soul, Isay 50 & 10, Trust in the 
 name of the Lord & stay thy selfe upon thy God. Then I s d 
 Lord thou knoues th t faith is thy gift & th* I can not belive 
 except it be given me, & so desired to plead for faith. 
 
 Then I thoght the afternoones sermon wold begine 8c I 
 might not stay longer, yet after a litle resolved to pray again 
 8c s d , Lord thow knoues my frailtie & th* I ame ready to be led 
 into delusion, th r for make me belive thes thinges th* they ar 
 from the. Then th* scriptur was brought to my minde, Acts 
 10 & 15, later pairt, q* God hath cleansed th* call not thow 
 common. That week th r after I was considerably caried up in 
 my soul 8c helped to be att my dewtie, but the week th'after 
 I had some sore struglings w Tt a bodey of death. 
 
 Upon Munday 28 in the morning I wan to be serious in 
 pleading til* if it wer the Lord's will to take me back to my 
 oun land againe (I mean to the south from qnce I came) he 
 wold goe alonges 8c be w* me to keepe me straight in his way 
 ther. And th* word came tacitlie in my minde but after made 
 to close w* it most sweetlie, Psal: 37 & 34. Waite on the Lord 
 8c keep his way & hee shall exalt the to inherit the Land, &c. 
 
 About two yeares befor this I hade some thoghts of mariadg 
 8c did propose it to a relation of my oun. And one night my 
 alon I was pleading w* much concernednes th* if even I was to 
 be maried the Lord wold give me on had saving grace, & it 
 came in my minde q* if th* be not his wil ? then I s d th n Lord 
 give me on w*in ye covnant of redemption ; & then it came in 
 again, q* if th* be not his will, then I said Lord th n give me 
 submission 8c imediatly th* came in w* pouer & life, Psal. 145 8c 
 19 — He will fulfill the desire of th m th* fear him. And now 
 having sett doun some small glance as a teast off the maney 
 things I have been trysted w 1 in a single lott q r in the caires of 
 this world w l respect to its substance 8c concernes th* way had 
 lit! share, q ch ryper yeares 8c a maried lott more readely ingad- 
 ges into. And being to observe the Lord's way w* me in some 
 
Mr. JAMES NOOK) 
 
 25 
 
 thinges in relation to & in a marled lott, I take a short vew 
 back of q l hitherto I have mett w*. And 
 
 1. First, I observe it as the marcie & goodnes of God th* hee 
 was att paines w* me befor the caires of this life gott rooting 
 in my heart aither by habit or necessatie. 
 
 2. Secondly, the Lord's secret & unseen wisdom in the 
 wayes he takes to lead poor things into, under dark vailes for 
 th r good q n they see it not, as in my caise, For 
 
 1. First, a discord betwixt my father & M r carries me to 
 scool at Sterling. 
 
 2. Second lie, a small providence cutts off* my interprise att 
 Glasgow. 
 
 3. Thirdlie, my father s harshnes & the Lord's rods wer both 
 needfull and usfull in pairt to level pryde. 
 
 4. Fourthlie, when I wold have stay'd at home I cannot, 
 q u my father will keep me he darr not. 
 
 5. Fiftlie, I was averse to serve my father at home, neces- 
 satie makes me glade to serve straingers abroad. 
 
 6. After troubl Religion is made sweet, this inclynes to act 
 for God, persecution folloues hard at the heeles. 
 
 7. Seventlie, q n I think to flee to Holland, the Lord causes 
 the winde of his providence carie me to Murray. 
 
 8. Eightlie, ther, q n in a wildernes the Lord speakes com- 
 fortablie. And ther more kindnes, intimacie & freedom w* the 
 Lord & his people th n at home. 
 
 9. Nyntly, as I had been pleading some times, if ever I was 
 to be maried the Lord wold give me on gratious so I behoved 
 to take her of his choising & q r & how, praise, praise to his 
 name for his wondrows works to the children of men. 
 
 And heir I cannot but take nottice of a former passadg some 
 considerabl time or I came to Murray, on night th t was frost & 
 clear w* starres, I was walking w^out (as I then much used to 
 doe) & my minde takn up in much concernednes w* others & 
 taking a vew of the severall places and famelies about me, q* 
 they wer doeing hou concerned and bussied in things of the 
 world & how few concerned w* ther soules or the things of God 
 or ane Eternale state. My face & eyes was at last directlie 
 fixed to the North in thes thoghts. 0 what ar the poor peopl 
 farr North doeing, q fc of God is amongst th m , & my eyes wer 
 
26 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 filled w* teares 8c the bouels of my afectiones, as it wer going 
 out after 8c knutt to th m , q ch I soon forgot till the Lord 
 brought me to be amongst th* people, q r I began to looke back 
 8c reflect on the same ; to him ar knoun all his workes from the 
 beginning, who sent my heart & affectiones th r befor I knew it, 
 or was to goe to it. 
 
 I most acknowledg his wayes to be in 1 the thick cloudes & 
 deep waters. And o how pleasant did the Lord att lenth make 
 the god lie in th 1 place to me. And particularlie th* signal ie 
 holy man of God M r Thomas Hoge, who was a trew father in. 
 oure Israll, 8c to q m all th* feared the Lord th* knew him had a 
 great deference, yea enemies themselves. He being not onlie 
 indewed w 1 much of the minde of God, but also w* much of a 
 clear Judgment 8c a solid sound minde. And albeit courtious 
 to all yet wold not omite (w* authoretie) to reprove sin in aney, 
 but w* such gaining wisdome, th* all feared him. The godlie 
 loved him, and enemies could And nothing against him, except 
 in the matters of his God, q r in hee wold not yeeld a hoove. 
 And yet manadged w* th* respect & discretion towards his 
 enemies th 1 often they wer made to admeere him, for in his 
 maister's concernes he spack as one having authoretie, th fc 
 w*out the leist evidence of rankor or irritation alwayes. 
 
 In his younger yeares he 8c th* eminentlie pious woman, 
 Alistris Ross by her husband 8c Kathrin Colace by name, by 
 providence wer made aqwaint, and being both deeplie exercised 
 in soule by the blissing of the Lord wer helped to build up on 
 ane other in Christ Jesus, and th r by the Lord made them 
 signalie usefull to others in lyke caises, and particularly M r 
 Hog q m the Lord called furth more remarkablie in his particu- 
 lar calling, who albeit the Lord never gave him children yet 
 the Lord once pourfullie gave him th* scriptur 2 8c fulfilled it 
 to him. I will give the a name better then of sones 8c dough- 
 ters. Making him the Instrument of begetting maney sones 8c 
 doghters to the Lord. And it was his great caire as a father 
 to convince and humbl th m by the Lord's asistance, 8c then to 
 confort 8c confirm th m in dew time to doe q ch the Lord both 
 
 1 This passage is quoted in the appendix to Wodrow's History, edited by the 
 Rev. Robert Rums, 1839. 
 - Isaij 56 and 5th. 
 
Mu. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 by preaching 8c conference singularlie asisted him, more I judg 
 then aney in his day. 
 
 And now I return, I was but short time in Murray till a 
 godlie freind proposed, th* on Elizabeth Brodie (q m she s' 1 was 
 a gentlwoman of good freinds & trewlie pious) wold be a fitt 
 wife for me, of q ch I took litle nottice at the time. But about 
 mor as a year therafter some others trewlie gratious proposed 
 the same to me again, and att leanth blist M r Hoge (who had 
 comd from the south q r he had long bein a prisoner for his 
 faithfulnes and at once eightine monthes in the Castl of the 
 Bass, a rock in the sea as befor mentioned) after some intimat 
 acqwaintance w* me, & seeing the tirrannicall goverment was 
 lyke to continow & I a strainger & in a solitarie place from my 
 oun relations, proposed th* seeing in th* place my dangerous 
 circomstances as obnoxius to the iniqwous lawes of the time 
 was litle knoun but among freinds th* I might setle 8c marie. 
 And also proposed the same person, to q ch (considering how 
 circumstantial) I had but small inclination, and th r for I waved 
 it then. Houever a considerabl time th r after, in feb. 1682, I 
 went once 8z againe to visit him (q ch alwayes was refreshing to 
 me to doe) and then he minded me of his former proposal 8c 
 charged me as I wold anser to the Lord to take some time 
 apairt to consider it, q ch tooke so farr w* me as to propose it 
 th n my selfe to some godlie freinds in th* place, to simpathis w* 
 me th r in. And first to Christan M c Intosh who s d she feared 
 my father wold not consent, being at such ane distance, 8c I his 
 only sone. 
 
 Then to worthie James Sutherland upon the 20 of feb., who 
 told me on the 23 th* he never wan to more freedome in plead- 
 ing in aney temporal affaire, but thoght it might be only the 
 Lord intending kindnes to myselfe. Then I told it to Isobel 
 Gray (the first th* proposed it to me) who told me some time 
 th r after th* th r was maney objections raised in her minde 
 against it, but at lenth in prayer all thes takn away 8c th* word 
 given her peace 1 give yow — lett nott yo r heart be troubled 
 nether lett it be afrayed, she s d she assayed again to plead, 
 (under fear th* th r was not yet ground anough to rest satisfied) 
 but was made silent. Christan M c Intosh her ans 1 ' is in her 
 Letter dated 18 feb., the doubl q r of is amongst others, which 
 
28 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 was no wayes discurradging but in much evidence of the Lord's 
 guiding her to prudence th r in. 
 
 Now all this whille it pleased the Lord to helpe me, to be so 
 much concerned w* other tilings upon my spirit th* this had not 
 great waight, but still some of the forscl persones seemd to be 
 more k more for it, but trewlie I most confess th r was much 
 concerne about the Church on my mind at this time. 
 
 Maij 26 I was w* M 1 ' Hoge who was lyke a father to me, who 
 after th r was a considerabl time spent in conference or other 
 thinges, as lie had sometimes befor been challenging me tr^ my 
 bodie was sorlie extenuat, q ch indeed I aprehend was accationed 
 p4ie by the waightie impressions of our dark & sorelie benighted 
 condition as to the Church of Christ, occationed by our sadd 
 depairtings from God, & provoking the Lord sadlie to discover 
 our nakednes, who by his duelling amongst us once made us 
 the beutie of nationes. 
 
 So Mr. Hoge s d at this time th r behoved to be something 
 th l troubled me and intreated I might be free w* him. I told 
 him th r might be severall reasons in my solitarie condition. 
 Then he desired I might marie. And after some serious speak- 
 ing to me th r anent, s d I might repent th r after if I did not, for 
 s d he th* conies oft in my minde, wo to him th* is alone in thos 
 dayes, and againe charged me to sett some time apairt to con- 
 sider the matter befor the Lord. And upon the 27 th when I 
 was seriouslie thinking of th 1 matter befor the Lord, w 1 maney 
 heavie thoghts considering my present state, th* scriptur was 
 born home on my minde, My grace is suffitient for the. Then 
 1 was desirous the Lord might make me kno its meaning to me 
 th'anent, and th 1 was imprest on my minde, walke on & trust 
 in him. 
 
 Upon the 29 th I went & spock w 1 James Sutherland & con- 
 descended th 1 the proposall anent the formentioned person 
 might be assayed, for he was a faithfull freind, therfor desired 
 him & M r Hog to advise and take the most expedient way they 
 could. 
 
 They having consulted it was thoght fitt, that M r Sutherland 
 himselfe should goe & propose the affaire to her himselfe. 
 
 And accordinglie, Jun 14 1682, he went to Elgin wher was 
 on of ther greatest marcats sup])osing she might be ther. And 
 
Mb. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 29 
 
 as he told me th'after lie beged of the Lord befor he went th- 
 if she was ther he might meet w 4 some person might direct him 
 to her. And the first knoun person he mett w 4 was her eldest 
 brother, 1 att q™ (after saluting) he inquired for her, who 
 directed him to q r she was. 
 
 And coming to her told her he had some serious matter to 
 speakc to her anent. and after some litle comuning it was con- 
 cluded they should goe to the Toun C larke's hous q r she was 
 acqwaint, q r they gott a chamber th r alone, q r he proposed the 
 affaire w 4 much cautiousnes and tendernes of me. 
 
 And she being tender of me also as circomstantial, wold not 
 give denyal at first, but tooke two or three weekes to consider 
 the >ame. 
 
 And th x weeke I being; made to goe boued doun under un- 
 belife & the overcomings of a bodey of death I could not be 
 much concerned in th 4 affaire. The nixt weeke the Lord was 
 pleased to remove all my feares & give me solide peace in him- 
 selfe, and helped me to be more concerned th r in and to plead 
 the Lord might hear all tlr wer concerned th r about, bv way of 
 simpathie w 4 us, And helped to plead th* the person most con- 
 cerned in it might gett clearnes what ther dewtie was, and th* 
 she might be helped to be single befor the Lord, and th} our 
 affectiones might be keeped at a dew distance in anev thing 
 might marr our marcie or displeas the Lord. And th 4 if it 
 wer his holy will, desired our affectiones might be singlie knutt 
 to gither in the Love of God in Christ. 
 
 Upon the 8 th of July she came to her Cussing Lethens q r I 
 comuned w 4 her in tlr matter my selfe, who w 4 much solidnes 
 & ingenuetie told me she did not finde much darknes in her 
 minde in the consideration of it nether wan to much light 
 th'anent, but q n she had sett some time apairt to seek off the 
 Lord clearnes in her way th r in (not being willing to doe anev 
 thing to afflict me a strainger as circomstanced th n ) she gott 
 that scriptur w 4 much sweetnes aplved in her minde, Psal. 97 & 
 11, light is soun for the rightious Sz gladnes for the upright in 
 heart. 
 
 Upon Munday the 10 th day after some conference (I having* 
 
 1 According to the pedigree of the Brodies of Windyhills, Elizabeth had only 
 one brother, John. 
 
30 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 told her th 1 it was not my intrest to doe aney thing w l out my 
 father's consent) if she wold alow me I wold try to gett it, to 
 q ch she acqwiessed aprehending it might stope th r . 
 
 So after advising w 1 freinds some wer of minde I should goe 
 my selfe, the which considering as matters stode w* me I was at 
 first avers from. 
 
 But after some serious thoughts, judged it fitt th* both my- 
 self & others might seeke to the Lord for counsell. And at 
 lenth was made content to goe if the Lord in providence should 
 concurr, & helped to plead if hee thought it note meet th* lie 
 wold marcifulie stope the same. 
 
 Then I though it fitt to speak to the Ladey 1 to try her 
 husband if he wold allow me some few weekes to goe south 
 anent some affaire th* concerned me. The q ch she ingadged to 
 doe. 
 
 And th r after I being at dewtie my alon th r was severall dif- 
 ficulties came into my minde th r anent, and also q n they came 
 the Lord helped me (as I thoght) w* all my heart to plead th* 
 if hee thoght it not fitt I should goe th 1 hee might marcifullie 
 stop the same. And w*in a litle th r after the Ladey told me 
 her husband had given her ane denyel in th fc matter. 
 
 And I fend the Lord not onlie keeping me from repyning 
 but sweetlie delighting in his will, & all my waights in th* mater 
 freelie taken off, and my minde refrest in beliving all was in 
 marcie, trusting th* as the Lord helped me w* much qwaietnes 
 of minde in pairt to looke to a higher hand, I was also helped 
 to putt ane favorabl construction upon th* providence, and was 
 then only resolved to wreat to my father, and I did the more 
 observe this th* it was upon the Saturday es night the 15 th July, 
 th fc so through the Lord's marcie I was less troubled w* the 
 thoghts of my Jurney upon the Saboth, but a litl time th r after 
 meeting w* on I had desird to be concerned w t me, I told th m 
 the Laird had putt a stop to my Jurney & th* I was now out of 
 I hoghts to goe but to write. 
 
 r rhe s (l person answered they wold not belive th* till they 
 fand by the end the contrair for, s (l they, in prayer it was cleared 
 to th m th 1 I should goe, for th* word came satisfienglie in ther 
 
 1 That is lo say, the wife of Hay of Lochloy and Park. 
 
Mil JAMES NIMMO 
 
 31 
 
 minde, Isay 41 & 10, fear thow not for I ame w* the. Then th fc 
 they objected might not ane other doe for me or my letter, & 
 also raised other objectiones, but it was still born in upon ther 
 minde, No, goe & I will be w* the. 
 
 Upon this relation I thoght fitt yet to try further if the 
 Lord wold clear my way, & remove obstructions. And in 
 prayer it came w t some sweetnes into my minde, I might once 
 seek liberty from the Laird my selfe ; then I was made to plead 
 if I was to doe so the Lord might tryst me w* a fitt opur- 
 tunety. 
 
 So til* on Munday the 17 th I gott a convenient occation to 
 speeck with him and told him I knew he had ill sparing of me, 
 but I intended not to stay long & I thoght Alex 1 ' Hay his 
 nephew might suplie my place till my returne, & if in my pouer 
 I wold doe him als much service againe. 
 
 The q ch reqweest w* some intimationes of unwillingnes, at 
 lenth was granted, if M r Hay wold undertake and I not stay 
 long, q ch M r Hay condescended to doe and give attendance till 
 my returne. 
 
 Upon Munday 24 th July I spock to some of my former 
 freinds to be concerned befor the Lord for me, considering 
 travel oftimes made unfitt for dewtie, and also to plead th* 
 those I was to be concerned with might be swayed to doe so as 
 the Lord might gett glorie & I peace. And indead the Lord 
 was not wanting in my Jurney & upon fryday 21 I came to 
 Edb r , & verie providentialie gott occation of a person I knew 
 butt they knew not me, to send ane Letter to my father (for I 
 durst not goe publicklie my selfe being intercomuned) who sent 
 my brother in law to me and trysted me to come privatlie to 
 ane Aunt's hous mor as to myles distant from his. 
 
 Wher after comuning w* him anent the affaire, shewed him I 
 had never done aney thing w*out his consent & therfor came 
 to lay this befor him, to which he was not refractive from it so 
 farr as consisted w* reason, alwayes intimating his unwillingnes 
 I should ingadg ther further, then th* if the Lord should send 
 peace att home I might return home & so concluded & pairted ; 
 only I most observe the marcie of God in this, th 1 q n my father 
 had condescended he s d send the contract blank & I will fill up 
 so much if not more, I s d ye kno my circomstances th r for if yow 
 
32 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 please give me y r bond for q 1 ye allow me att the time & I 
 will be pairtie contracter my selfe for she & her freinds had 
 intire confidence in me, to q ch he willinglie yealded upon thes 
 thoghts or it had been lost afterward. 
 
 Then on thursday August 3 d I returned & came to Elgine 
 on the 7 th , and on the 8 th went to Pluscarden q r her mother 
 lived ; but she not being att home but at Muirtoun, after a 
 litle stay I went th r to her, & not getting much conveniencie 
 to speack w* her alon (for the matter as yet was keeped verie 
 secret except to a few christian freinds) 1 gave S r James Calders 
 Ladey ane accompt of q* progress I had made in my Jurney 
 south ; & on the 9 th I gott some convers (albeit litle) w* herselfe : 
 who told me she resolved to acqwaint her unckle Windihils 1 
 and lett him acqwaint q m he pleased. And on the 12 th Windi- 
 hils wrot to me, th* if w* conveniencie I might come & speak 
 w* him. And in all this it pleased the Lord (by all apearance) 
 to keep oure afFectiones single, w* submission to the holy will 
 of God : if he should be pleased to putt a stop th r to. 
 
 Munday Aug : 28. The Ladey Lethen speaking to me 
 anent my setling, if th* mater did effectual (and th* w* some 
 sharpnes) saying th* she was a diserving gentlwoman I was 
 thinking to ingadg w 1 , and hoped I wold not desire to make 
 her & my selfe miserable, but th* I wold consider some way so 
 to setle as make a livelihood. I told her my circumstances in 
 some measur was knoun & I was most willing to take advice 
 of freinds, and so some person coming in we was interupted. 
 
 Yet this brought some considerationes in my minde, affected 
 my heart considerablie, seeing multitudes of difficulties as it 
 wer Armies mustered up against me in a maried lott. And 
 being sore waighted providence led me about some affaires of 
 the Laird's to a solitarie place in the feilds, q r for some time 
 I was made to groan out my complaint to the Lord w 1 sighes, 
 teares & suplicationes. And when thus in great distress th* 
 scriptur came w 1 some pouer on my spirit, 2 d kinges 7 & 3 d & 
 
 1 Francis Brodie of Windyhills was served heir to his father, 16 July 1672. 
 He was heavily fined in 1685 for rejecting the Test Act. Wodrow (iv. 196) says : 
 ' Francis Brodie of Windyhills was fined in a sum near the value of his estate, 
 which being but small, he got it down.' 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 33 
 
 4 th , anent the four leprous men att the gate of Samaria : q ch 
 the Lord made verie aplicabl to my caise. 
 
 For if I returned q r I came from th r apeared death, & if I 
 stayed in the single solitarie caise I was in, it seemed a kind of 
 death also, and seeing the difficulties of a maried lott was 
 mustered up as the Armie of the Syrians, I might ventur on 
 it I should butt die also. And (blist be God) they mett w* a 
 marcifull disapointment, & so might I. 
 
 Then a litle after I was made to bliss & praise the Lord th fc 
 hade given us his law and testimonies, that they might be our 
 counselores in all our doubts & feares. And made to grip 
 closser to the former scriptur, & gott some glimpses of more 
 light q* might be my dewtie. 
 
 September first q n I was murning befor the Lord & laying- 
 out befor him as I could, that I was no driven from freinds & 
 relationes th* should asist me in my present circomstances as 
 ingadged, that Scriptur came in w* some solid satisfaction, 
 Prov : 18 th & tenth verse, The name of the Lord is a strong 
 Touer, the rightious runneth into it & is safe. 
 
 Now as occation served she did acqwaint her freinds, & they 
 pleasantlie intertained it. Praise to the Lord who gave me 
 favor in ther eyes, for they evidenced much kindnes to us both. 
 The q ch gave to me ground off incurradgment. And for some 
 time befor it had pleased the Lord to keep maters clear 
 betuxt him & my soul, as to my spiritwall caise : so th fc 
 albeit I was made to walk in fear of miscarieng being compast 
 w* maney marcies, yet I was expecting some thing th 1 might 
 humble me. 
 
 So about the beginning of Octo 1 ' hee was pleased to send 
 some infirmnes upon me th* was verie affecting, but in dewtie 
 alone Octo 1 ' 5 th I was made to see th v was need it should be so, 
 & made me sweetlie to be reconceiled to his holy will, & to 
 look back to former marcies & to trust in him, & belive it 
 was in marcie. And nou albeit the rod seemed verie terifieng 
 att the first (being a suddan inflamation w t a great swelling 
 in one of my leges) yet it pleased the Lord after some times 
 continuance, to take it away as unexpectedly as almost it 
 came, o praise to him who then keep my soul solide & stedfast 
 in trusting in him. 
 
 c 
 
34 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 Octo 1 ' 18 th the Laird & I ryding to Brodie I had occasion 
 nior freelie to speak w t him & desired him to speak to Brodie 
 anent ane meeting of freinds to cumun anent the forsd affaire, 
 and after our return it was thoght fitt th* the nixt day I 
 should goe to Pluscarden to speake w* her brother for th* 
 effect. The q ch I did and th* night, I was trysted w* that 
 Scriptur, Psal : 27 & last, waite on the Lord & be of good 
 couradg & he will streanthn thine heart. And was made 
 rationalie to drau confort from it, but the nixt morning q a I 
 awoke I fand my minde setled & solidlie stayd, and all vain 
 thoghts expelled, but perceaved w t much solidnes the waight 
 of a maried life, q ch was yet heavie on my minde, & th* forsd 
 scriptur was brought to my minde again w* some sweetnes, but 
 I still did see a trew prospect th* all heir is but vanetie & 
 vexation of spirit. And fund my heart much loused from all 
 the pleasures of time, and some times solidlie & seriouslie to 
 plead for grace & throu bearing streanth, for the most pairt 
 I delighting in retirednes & to be my alon. 
 
 Oftn wishing (w* submission to his holie will) for death 
 reather then life, seeing as I thoght nothing heir in temporals 
 but sorrow, but in the grave, ther the wicked should ceas from 
 troubling & th l " the wearie be at rest, Job : 3 d & 17, & then 
 sighing and sorrouing should flee away. 
 
 Then also maney difficulties apeared as to my not knouing 
 q r to setle, and th* passadg came to my minde about Marie 
 & others going to the sepulchar, anent the dificulty of getting 
 the ston rolled away & when they came to the place it was 
 done to th r hand, from q ch being made to take some incur- 
 radgment. I was made to say to the Lord, Thou hast been a 
 sun & a sheild, thou hast given grace & thou wilt give Glory. 
 Then after some sweet thoughts of the shortnes off* time, and 
 my soul being made somewhat to rejoyse th r in, I fand my 
 heart beginning to have a desire to sitt doune upon the same 
 & grou secure, then th 1, sayeng came in my minde of the dis- 
 sciples at the Transfiguration, anent the building of Taber- 
 nickals to rest ther. 
 
 Some few dayes th r after the divel my oun heart, & the 
 world sette upon me w* strong intising & continoued tempta- 
 tiones, th l albeit it pleased the Lord to give me grace to plead 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 35 
 
 Against th m sometimes, yet I was lvke on constantlie fighting 
 8c lyke to be overcome. Butt upon Twesdayes night Oct 1 ' 
 04th j wan th row n i s grace to lay aside all my caise & troubl 
 anent eartlilie thinges & was made to reflect upon my being so 
 litle in layeng out my selfe to be for the Lord in my station, w l 
 sore greiff* upon my minde for the same, and for my being so litle 
 spritualie minded, & so litle in the thoghts off' death and eternatie, 
 so tli 1 I was helped w* much sorrow but with much fervencie to 
 pouer out my heart befor the Lord, layeng all my waights aside 
 as to my setling 8c other things th r to relating. Upon Saturday 
 Octo r 28 ther was a meeting of freinds as to the setling of the 
 forsd purpose q r was Brodie, Lethen, Windihiles & Maine, 1 
 w* her eldest brother John 8c Miltoun, 2 q r I mett w* some things 
 th* for want of dew watchfullnes 8c single dependance did 
 much troubl me for some time. But upon Mundayes morning 
 Octo r 30 I was made to reflect upon my selfe, in findinge mis- 
 constructiones of the Lord & his waves being the cause of my 
 troubl in not winning wholly to trust in him, in all my 
 difficulties, and I'gott much light of my caise from thes words, 
 John 15 to the 8 th but particularly in the 7 th verse, If ye abide 
 in me 8c my words abide in you, ye shall aske ye will & it 
 shall be done unto you. 
 
 The first advantadg Satan seemd to gett at this time in this 
 caise was upon the 14 of Octo 1 '. Then getting a letter from my 
 father shouing the death of my kinde brother in law (W m 
 Fleming) off three dayes in a violent and fatal cholick, att q ch 
 newes I did not whollie cast the burthing on the Lord, but 
 was so waighted 8c affected th* my hands 8c heart was waikned 
 in dewties for some days, but then it was brought to my minde 
 hou much I had been concerned sometimes befor the Lord, th* 
 he wold deal savingly w* my sister 8c parents, and th r for knew 
 not butt this might be the channel the Lord might make 
 marcie to run into, the q ch thoghts setled my minde 8c made 
 
 1 Alexander Brodie of Mayne was the son of the Rev. Joseph Brodie, 7th 
 son of Brodie of Brodie. He seems to have sold Mayne in 1691, and purchased 
 Muiresk near Turriff in Aberdeenshire. He died in 1695. See the Brodie 
 pedigree. 
 
 2 Francis of Miltoun and Inverlochtie, son of Francis, 6th son of Brodie of 
 Brodie. He died in 1693. His son Joseph sold the estate of Miltoun to Lord 
 Braco in 1730, and purchased WindyhiHs from the family of Elizabeth Brodie. 
 
36 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 me greived w* my selfe for my sinfull douneastings th r in, and 
 gott intimationes of peace & pardon, but Satan was not yet 
 wanting to make new assailtes upon me. 
 
 But to return to my forsd purpose, I went east to speake w t 
 freinds as to the drauing of the Contract and to speake as to 
 my setling, for Lethen thought it might be fitt considering 
 my circomstances to try his sone in law the Laird of Grant 1 
 as to a place in Straithspay it being remott. Nov r 8 th her 
 brother & I concluded th* he should goe to Balach castel and 
 speake w 1 Grant anent some place th r . 
 
 Upon the 11th I returned & upon Twesday the 15 th my 
 brother in law 2 wrot to me he had spock w* Grant, but he being- 
 to goe to Ed r upon Thursday thoght fitt I should goe to him 
 my selfe. The q ch I did but not finding my minde weel com- 
 plyeng w* the convenience proposed, I tooke the mater to 
 advise & returned home, for q n I was ther I fand my minde as 
 it wer tortured in the thoghts of my setling in th* place, q r 
 th r was litle of the fear of God. 3 
 
 And was made to aleadg befor the Lord th* he was ob- 
 leidffed of his free marcie to undertake for me. So coming 
 home under severale discurraging thoghts, I was made to flee 
 unto the Lord for helpe & finding peace in my minde in the 
 using of laufull meanes, for th* effect I was resolved not so 
 much to troubl my minde as to .th* again but waite in the use 
 of meanes for ane outgate as to my setling at the Lord's 
 apointed time. 
 
 Now this time my mind was oftn tossed w* severall thinges 
 considering as I was then stated, but yet in the meantime did 
 find thes tossings sometimes ingadg my heart to cleave the 
 mor to seeke neernes w* God through Jesus Christ, and some- 
 times in the midst of all thes gott my heart satisfied in finding 
 peace w l himselfe. Albeit my troubles sometimes came th* 
 leanth as I could easelie have been made content I had never 
 moved in th* affair off my mariadg. 
 
 Now upon November last, 1682, after severall reasoninges, 
 betuixt her freinds and me, as to the Contract, all was agreed, 
 
 1 The Laird of Grant married the only child of Brodie of Lethen. See supra. 
 3 I.e. John Brodie. 
 
 3 The covenanting element not being so strong in the Highlands. 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 37 
 
 & it subscribed. But a difficultie arose anent our being pro- 
 claimed, q ch was lyke to troubl both of us, for some of her 
 freinds prest we should be proclamed att the Church, by the 
 Episcopall presentor : the q ch to doe nether of us had freedome 
 for. And after tryeng of severall outted ministers to marey 
 us, w*out proclamation, they refused out of fear of danger. 
 And yitt blised Mr. Hog, tho under bond to answer the 
 King's Councill, q n called, condescended to doe it, seeing others 
 had refused, and apoynted Munday morning December 4 th for 
 th t end, q r I advertised some godie freinds to be witnesses, q r 
 att M r . Hog his oune hous it was solemnised, q r the Lord did 
 evidence his presence to the conviction of severals. I was w* 
 worthie James Sutherland, th* night befor, who was danger - 
 ouslie sick, and fell to be verie unweel my selfe, for a litle in 
 the morning, I was made to look back & remember how some 
 times I had thoght if I wer to have such ane occation, I wold 
 be more concerned, q n I had seen others in lyke caise, but yet 
 q n it came to be my oun lott, I was by frailtie rendered unfitt 
 for dewtie, & made to see it was not good to delay time to the 
 last, and th* it was good to be earlie at our work for q n we 
 might think we wold doe, we might be unfitt for the same. 
 
 Now having maried privatlie (both for our oun & blist M r 
 Hog his saftie) after taking a small refreshment w* him, we 
 pairted & I went home & she w* a freind about two miles 
 distant, whoes bedfellou my freind had bein the first night she 
 was maried in the lyke caise. And we continoued living at a 
 distance upon the former reason for some monthes. 
 
 Twesday upon the morrow after our being maried, being the 
 5 th Dec 1 *, I tooke some phisick by reason of my bodelie indis- 
 position, q ch was so as made me unfitt for dewtie befor the 
 Lord. And upon the 6 th I keep my bed, being under some 
 sweet upon my bodie, but that day th r was such ane afrighting 
 lyke sight of our troubles lyke to come upon this land, and 
 seeing all thinges heir but vanetie & vexation of spirit, & find- 
 ing the Lord reconceilled, my heart was loused from all the 
 pleasures heir, & had some fervent inclinationes to be disolved. 
 
 Thursday the 7 th I took some mor phisick, fryday the 8 th I 
 was made to see much of my oun vilnes & unworthines & made 
 to ahhorr & abaise my selfe, but fand my minde solid & 
 
38 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 serious befor the Lord, th 1 word came oft in my minde they th* 
 kno thy name will putt th r trust in the. 
 
 Satturday the 9 th I wan much to be takn up w* my oun case 
 8c the caise of th m I was now most concerned w*. And th* both 
 as to spirituals & temporals in maney particulares, w* much 
 fervencie of spirit, & solidnes of minde, but could not gett my 
 minde : so concerned for the Church, parents, freinds & rela- 
 tiones, & th* night I wan to much pease of minde in dewtie. 
 The q ch day Elisabeth Brodie my now spuse came from her 
 visits in the west, q r she had bein sinse the 4 th , to Lethen, q r we 
 wer oblidged to cary w* as much abstractnes as tho not in such 
 a relation. 
 
 Saboth dece r 10 I was sorlie vexed w* maney sore tentationes 
 of worldly thoghts to draw my heart from God & dewtie, but 
 was helped to plead & cry to the Lord for help, holding up to 
 him my oun waiknes to resist w*out divine helpe, but neverthe- 
 les Satan presented thes things so desirabl to the naturall eye : 
 so as to continou ther assaults, but still I was under the sense 
 of danger to give way to thes thinges, th* as the tentation con- 
 tinoued so thee Lord helped me to resist, & plead for help, and 
 falling doun befor the Lord I could get litle or no streanth to 
 plead as to particulares of my oun caise, yet at lenth gott much 
 freedome to poure out my heart befor him, in the behalfe of 
 thos, I could not win to be concerned w* the former day. 
 
 And the same 10 th day M r Alex 1 ' Dunbar preaching in our 
 house q 11 the first sermon was done it came suddanlie in my 
 minde th fc oft times troubles we meet w* might be to helpe us 
 to carie under marcies coming, by q ch I fand my heart refresh t, 
 and also in singing the psalm after sermon, I was conforted 
 through fresh discoveries of the Lord's kindnes. 
 
 And q n I retired I wan to see much of the Lord's goodnes, 
 through former 8c present marcies, & my heart under strong 
 and great desires, for grace to praise, exalt & magnifie, the 
 great goodnes, 8c the free, wonderfull 8c constant loving kind- 
 nes, hee evidenced towards me, 8c fand the Lord giving me 
 much neernes w fc himselfe, under sensible manifestations of his 
 love, peace, pardon, 8c reconciliation, but under feares of its 
 short continuance, & made to plead w* q* fervencie I could, th* 
 he uold continow the same w l me, not in aney singular way 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 39 
 
 but by keeping the eyes of my understanding open, & the life 
 of grace in its solide exercise, in my soule, & in giving me grace 
 to carie humblie under tlies his marcies, but still under feares 
 of my misguiding of so great priviledges, & still helped to plead 
 against the same under much sense of my oun waiknes, & 
 nature's bentnes to turne his grace into wantoness, or to sitt 
 doun in my securetie & forgett the need of constant suplie. 
 
 That week th r after I could not say but the Lord mentained 
 much peace in my minde, albeit sometimes sor prest under 
 waights & difficulties. 
 
 Saturdays night (being in Inshoch) I gott some satisfieng 
 blainks of his love, q ch brought much solid peace in my minde. 
 
 Saboth, Dece r 17, missing sermon in Knokondie, M r Hog's 
 hous, I came home to Lethen, & being too late the gates being- 
 closed, th r for retired to a barn loft th 1 fornoon, q 1 * I fand the 
 Lord made out to be the only fountain from q ch I was not 
 debarred : but gave me some sweet intimationes of his kindnes, 
 w* much solid peace on my minde, pleading for grace to watch 
 on everie hand, leist Satan & a bodie of death should prevaile, 
 th* night I wan to see much of our loss in dewtie, in not getting 
 the faith of the Lord's being alwayes neer us, as ane omni- 
 potent God. 
 
 And wan to see much of the neerness of th t relation to everie 
 person of th* famelie I was now related to, by my mariadg, 
 even so neer as w 1 my oun parents and relationes, & I was 
 helped to plead in th r behalfe, & th* I might be keeped to doe 
 so still. And th* we might all have dew love & respect to on 
 ane other. 
 
 Wednsday, Dece 1 ' 20, my wife went from Lethen, the q ch day 
 my bodie being somq 1 fraile, after taking a litle rest, I found it 
 much refreshed, & my spirit calme, & solid, and desiring to lay 
 out my caise befor the Lord, as to our being seperat, q ch I was 
 made to belive, was in his wisdom, for our advantadg, I was 
 conforted, w* th* word, 1 Sam. 1 & 8, ame not I better th n ten 
 sones, & made to see Christ a husband as it wer by relation. 
 And with much earnestnes I was helped to plead, th* the Lord 
 wold undertake for us : & made to rejoyse in the wonderful 
 way of providence, in bringing about th* matter & w* much 
 desire, helped to plead, th* whatever way the Lord shold think 
 
40 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 fitt for us to goe, th* hee wold clear up our dewtie and deter- 
 mine our hearts th r to, and th* bee might give us favor, q r hee 
 might tryst our lott. 
 
 Saturday the 23 d the Lord was pleased to helpe me to some 
 neernes w* him in dewtie, in pleading hee might undertake for 
 us, & th* hee might open our eyes to see our deutie, & th* w* 
 much fervencie of spirit. 
 
 Munday 3 d Januarij 1683 I gott a missive from my father, 
 & befor reading I bond my selfe befor the Lord (fearing leist 
 th r should be aney thing in it might troubl me), & desired to 
 plead, th* q^ver was in it, the Lord wold take the troubl of it 
 from off my minde, in aneything might waiken my hands in 
 dewtie, the q ch I did find Him to doe, & th r was someq* in it 
 might have waighted my minde, but my soul was made to re- 
 joyse in the Lord, and at night in dewtie, layeing out my caise 
 upon the seeming neer aproaching troubles, th* scriptur came 
 to my minde, Psal. 27 & 11, Lead me in a plain paith becaus 
 of myne enemies, then I was made to say Lord, q fc meaneth this 
 coming w 1 satisfaction to my soul & yet not a promise, then th l 
 came sweetlie in my minde, q^oever ye aske in my name th 1 
 will I doe, John 14, 13 & 14 v. Th* same day thes two scrip- 
 tures was brought in w* sweetnes to my minde, Psal. 25 th & 
 8 th , good & upright is the Lord th r for will hee theach sinners 
 in the way, & Isay 63 & 9 th , in all th r afflictiones he was 
 aflicted, &c. Thes gave me some confidence in the former word 
 th* he wold lead me in a plaine paith. 
 
 Twesday the 4 th Janrij 1683 I went to M r Hog's, & heard 
 him, but mett w* litle th 1 day th* did afect my heart at the 
 time, but getting my judgment informed in several thinges, I 
 fand advantadg by it the following day, q r in I had resolvd to 
 take some time apairt, to seek th 1 the Lord wold clear up my 
 deutie, in my seeming straite, for both by my father's missive, 
 & on from Park, I perceaved I behoved to remove from q r I 
 now was, becaus of apearing persecution, and in the fors d 
 morning, the Lord at first helped me to plead for grace to be 
 deulie humbled under the senee & sight of my oune unworthi- 
 nes befor him, upon maney considerationes, & for a brokn 
 heart, to be rightlie exercised, in q* I was aiming att, & w* 
 several oth r reqweists. 
 
Mit. JAMES NLMMO 
 
 41 
 
 The second aproach, after layeng out befor him how hee had 
 in liis wisdome & marcie, brought me to th* place, & given me 
 favor in the eyes of his people, 8c others, to my great incurradg- 
 ment 8c advantadg, 8c trysted me, w fc both spirituall, & tem- 
 porall marcies, but nou all thes things was lyke to be made 
 much usles to me, in my present strait, 8c therfor now desired 
 to betake myselfe to him, 8c plead th* hee might clear up my 
 dewtie, and undertake for me. Then he brought th* word into 
 my minde w* some Authorety, Psal. 50 8c 15, And call upon 
 me in the day of troubl 8c I will deliver the, 8c thow shalt 
 glorifie me. And then I was made to say (albeit not from my 
 diservinges yet freelie) Thow haste ingadged thyselfe, to under- 
 take for me, th r for desires my waiting eyes may be towards the. 
 
 The third time the Lord discovered to me, such a sight of 
 my oun sines, 8c of the guilt of professors in this land, th* I 
 was much made to justifie the Lord, in seeing we wer farr less 
 punished th n our iniqwities deserved, 8c made to abhor my selfe 
 8c others, 8c to acqwiess to his stroakes, for our dreadfull mis- 
 cariadges, 8c made to utter thes words, purge us, purge us o 
 Lord, for in justice thy furie 8c indignation may rest upon us, 
 till thou consume us, but was desirous the Lord might leave a 
 rightious seed 8c nott utterlie depairt. 
 
 Then meditating a litle it came in my minde th t if on should 
 aske me q t clearnes I had attained, I thoght I might answer, 
 th* the Lord had so humbled me under q 1 is aforsaid, th* I was 
 brought to some submission at the time, q*ever hee should doe, 
 w*all th* scriptur came in my minde, Gen. 15 & 2 d , q t wilt 
 thow give me seeing I goe childles, 8cc. Then I was made to 
 plead to kno the meaning of it to me, then I was helped to 
 consider, th* nothing seemed to satisfie Araham, seeing hee 
 wanted that he so desired, so th* albeit I was humbled as afor- 
 saide, yet I should not rest ther but press humblie for q* was 
 my end in coming. 
 
 Then the fourth time I came befor him, I fand my selfe 
 straitned q* to say, & was made to say Lord, if thou think fitt, 
 I shall be silent, then th* scriptur came in my minde w l some 
 pouer, Cant : 2 d & 14. Lett me hear thy voice, 8c thy coun- 
 ti nance is comlie. And I was made confidentlie to close th r w t , 
 8c to rejoise in the Lord 8c see much of his marcie 8c desired 
 
42 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 to exalt him th r for & w* much sweetnes upon my minde, was 
 made to think th r two last scriptures wer given to sturr me up 
 jet more to my deutie. 
 
 The fift time I was somq* solide but straitned in words, but 
 helped to depend in faith, and thoght I fand the Lord swayeng 
 my heart, to desist at th* time. 
 
 I lost a pairt of my Notts heir, being obleidged to leave th m 
 q n I came from Murray. 
 
 Houever some time after the above mentioned I went east to 
 my wife (having bein sore 'tossed w* a beiling in my arme by 
 reason of cold after letting of blood, for several dayes) & q 11 I 
 came to Pluscarden q r she was I found she was verie unweel, be- 
 gone to bed, went to her & after a litle gott ane oth 1 ' chamber 
 my allon, q r I did resolve nixt day to take some time my alone. 
 And nixt morning earlie I went to a malt barn, q r I judged I 
 might be most retired, and after going about my ordinary in 
 dewtie, I began to consider of my circomstances, & to beg of 
 the Lord asistance, to lay out my caise befor him, & my 
 ordinary in reading being the 11 of Job : I thoght the Lord 
 aplyed w* efficacie to my minde, thes words in the 13 & 14 
 verses, if thou prepaire thine heart & streatch out thyn hands 
 towards him, if iniqwity be in thyn hand putt it far away, &c. ; 
 then the Lord made th* sweet also to me in Isay 33 d from the 
 beginning of the 15 verse, he th* walketh rightiously, &c. &c, 
 16 verse, he shall dwell on high, his place of defence shall be 
 the munition of rockes, bread shall be given him, his waters 
 shall be sure, & 17 verse, thyne eyes shall see the king in his 
 beutie, &c, & 19 verse, thow shalt not see a fierce people, &c, 
 & 20 verse, from the midle, thyn eyes shall see Jerusalem a 
 qwiet habitation, &c : all thes w* sweetnes was born in upon 
 my soule, but I did see my heart by natur, lyke the diveFs 
 workehous & my corruptiones as his servants, & was helped w l 
 much earnestnes & fervencie of minde to plead the Lord wold 
 disposess th m , w 1 th r maister, & att that time I was much per- 
 s waded, th* hee heard me and rebuked th m , th* they might not 
 interupt my access, but made still as it wer, to see th m looking 
 back for ane occation to returne, & the Lord still streanthning 
 me to plead tli* he wold helpe to crucifie the workes of the 
 flesh, and then I thought the Lord was directing my minde to 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 43 
 
 the forsd 14 verse & also the 15 v. of th* 11 th of Jobb, for th" 
 shalt thow lift up thy face w*out spot, &c, th* I might be the 
 mor confident of access throu a mediator. Then after a litle 
 meditation I did bou myself again befor him, to bliss & praise 
 his holy name for giving me aney light & confidence in the 
 former scriptures, and desired yet to plead bee might further 
 bliss & asist my waik indevures, then I went and continoued to 
 read on in the 12 of Job, k the Lord broke in w* light in my 
 minde to aply thes words in the 5 th verse (to my oun caise 
 clearly) he th* is radey to slipe w* his feet is as a lamp despised 
 in the sight of him th 1 is at ease. 
 
 So th* now as I was radey to slipe into difficulties, I did 
 clearly see the affection of maney slackned & cooled, for indeed 
 it was ane ivel time & fear on all, the enemie threatned such 
 hard thinges, so th* now, the Lord helping me to consider, th* 
 my caise was so stated as I was at my wits end q* to doe, seeing 
 I was lyke to be cast off (as it wer) heir, & could see no pro- 
 babl apearance q r els to goe, but o praise to him th* streanthned 
 my minde a litle, by the former scriptures or I gott light in 
 the last. O how good is bee to th m th* seeke him, o to waite 
 in faith. Then I was made to say, Lord thow hast given me a 
 rationall minde & I can exercise it no further, (for all doors 
 seemes to be shutt), therfor now Lord I most lay my caise out 
 befor thee, for I ame at a straite, & cane doe no mor, if thow 
 help not, & of free grace thow hast ingadged thyself by 
 promise, to undertake for me, its trew if thow marke iniqwitie 
 who can stand, then he seemd to back home th* in the 13 vers., 
 with the antient is wisdome & in leanth of dayesis understand- 
 ing, w* him is wisdome & streanth, bee hath council & under- 
 standing. Now I was made to see all thes thinges aplicabl only 
 to the Lord himselfe, & did lett me see my dewtie only was to 
 wait on, plead w*, & rely upon himselfe, who could suplie in 
 all my wants, & deliver in all my distresses, & this sweetlie 
 calmed my minde in some measur, & was helped to plead for 
 grace, & streanth, from him in a back look to thes formen- 
 tioned scriptures (but alace q 11 the Lord intimates we should 
 waite, unbelife sayes th r is no time, ye most be at a point, & 
 trewlie th r wanted not carnall reasons to back this my circom- 
 stances was such, & so maney dificulties & dangers befor me, 
 
44 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 th* the Lord had maney thinges to tell me, but I was not able 
 to bear a vew of th m , it was aneugh if I gott helpe from step 
 to step as the difficulties came, but it seemd the Lord did see 
 a need be to force me out of th* place, to q ch my affectiones 
 wer severall wayes ingadged, but both freinds, fear of them- 
 selves, & of me, made th m wish me out of th*, for Sid die 
 M c Keanzie 1 w* his companie of foot was coming north to putt 
 the Laus (q ch wer iniqwous) to vigorous execution by militarie 
 force. 
 
 I desired to plead he wold clear up my way, & I thoght I 
 wan to some submission to his will, to goe q r ever he cald me, 
 if hee wold goe w 1 me, butt oh, th r is oft a fla in our faith, 
 and also in our submistion. I desired to lay out severall places 
 befor him butt still no clearnes q 1 to goe, but only to himselfe, 
 & rely, plead, & waite. Friday, March 6 th 1683, I went west 
 from Pluscarden, & th r providences seemed to concur, th* I 
 could not stay in th* place. And th* q 11 I brought my caise 
 to the Lord, if I should go abroad, the seas wer all as it wer 
 presented to my minde dark w* mistes & q 11 I thought of goe- 
 ing south, it was lyke my setting my face to run on a naked 
 sword, as it wer, & yet th r I could not stay, q ch made me linger 
 to the outmost. 
 
 Saturday the 7 th the Lord made the 8 th chap : of Dewter : 
 sweet to me & a pairt of the 9 th , but oh q l stagring at the 
 promises through unbelief, in the thoughts of my dangerous 
 circomstances, tho the Lord, w r as, & is faithfull in all his pro- 
 mises, even to me. I was much troubled to leave th* place 
 tho the Lord had been severall wayes lousing me th r from. 
 Upon Munday the 9 th day I was helped to lay out my caise 
 againe befor the Lord, who I thought gave me a sight of maney 
 of my di Acuities, concerning my waygoing, & tooke much of 
 the burthin from off me. () the goodnes of th* God we have 
 to doe & his condescendance to unworthie, unbelivmg me, 
 
 1 Kenneth Mackenzie of Siddie ; he obtained, March 27, 1683, a commission 
 for the county of Nairn, to punish persons who withdrew from public ordinances, 
 etc. He had previously held one for the counties of Ross and Cromarty. A 
 Morayshire correspondent of Wodrow describes him as the persecutor of ' a great 
 many honest people,' and adds, ' He made an unhappy end, being killed by Coil 
 Macdonald. ' 
 
Me. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 45 
 
 who notw^tanding of maney promises and incurradgments 
 yet still staggring disconsolat too, too much alace th r for, butt 
 
 0 praise, praise to free grace. And on Wednsday the 11 th 
 day I went east to Pluscarden 1 againe and in some few dayes 
 th r after mett w* severale things as it were forcing me out of 
 tli* place, first two off Siddie M c Keanzies centinals were com- 
 ing to my mother in lau her hous, as was thoght, & a boy came 
 running in & told it & I was suddanly advertised th r of, & com- 
 ing doun staires, I putt on the boyes bonnet & slipt out to- 
 wards ane old Abacie 2 th* was hard by. And q 11 I was th r I 
 thought fitt to slipe in to ane old voult & deliberat q 1 to doe. 
 
 1 was but a litl time th r till the two souldiers came to the door 
 of th* same voult, & righted the workes of ther muscots, but 
 that place of the voult was dark q r I was, th* they saw not me, 
 but I them, & I putt my hand upon my cravat leist it had 
 apeared white & discovered me, but they went away, & in a 
 litl th r after a servant maide of my mother-in-law , s came to 
 the door q r I was, & I cald to her & asked q 1 ' the souldiers 
 wer. She told they wer gon in to a chaing hous. I desired 
 her qwicklie to be gone, & in a litl I resolved to goe out & 
 walked straight forward from the house, & I was hardly well 
 out till the souldiers came after me, but I resolved to keep 
 them att some distance & walked forward about a myle & they 
 still coming after me, at leanth I did cast a hill betwixt th m & 
 me & returned ane other way. 
 
 The thing th* made me more concerned at this time was, 
 some dayes befor blist M r Hoge had sent his godlie servant 
 W m Ballach, seven or eight myles express, to desire me, to take 
 caire of my selfe, for my Lord Doun & Kilroack 3 w* some oth rs 
 at a botle in Kilroake^s hous, Doun was heard by the servant 
 th* was serving th m , to swear th fc if I was in Murray he should 
 
 1 The ruins of Pluscarden Abbey still form one of the most attractive sights 
 in Morayshire. The house here referred to as in their neighbourhood has, I 
 think, disappeared. Pluscarden was purchased in 1687 by Brodie of Lethen for 
 his grandson Grant of Grant, who sold it in 17 10 to Duff of Dipple, whose 
 descendant, Lord Fife, still possesses it. 
 
 2 Originally one of the three Cistercian Monasteries in Scotland, but subse- 
 quently occupied by Benedictines. Vide the Rev. Mr. Macphail's elaborate 
 work on Pluscarden. 
 
 3 Rose of Kilravock. 
 
46 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 secure me in prison, q ch I was not willing of, seeing th n ther was 
 nothing for me but death or sinfull complyance. 
 
 I had reason to bliss the Lord th 1 severals of the godlie wer 
 concerned in lifting up a prayer to the Lord upon my account, 
 o praise to his holy name. 
 
 Upon Wednsday the eightin, I tooke my jurney south, and 
 albeit w* some reluctancie, yet the Lord was not wanting to me 
 in the way, only upon Saturday crossing at Dundie I was cast 
 in companie w* on of the king's Herolds, q ch was unpleasant to 
 me but I made the best of it I could, & q n we lighted tho I 
 could not drinck so weel, yet I was frank in payeng q ch I saw 
 pleased him weel. 
 
 We was benighted att Kennaway and after supper the 
 Herold saide he thought we might ryde too Kirkaldie nixt 
 morning to hear sermon, & albeit it stund me to travel on 
 sabboth yet considering our qwarters was hard at the Kirk 
 th r & I might be notticed if I went not, q ch I had not freedom 
 to doe, we might ventur forward, & some gentl shift might be 
 made, so I sd to him, th n lett us clear our reckning, th* we 
 have nothing to doe in Saboth morning but take our horses, 
 lie replyed then they will call us whiges, and I ansred wee wold 
 be soon up & it was not fitt th n to trubl our hostess, & so we 
 cleared & nixt morning, tooke our horses early ; & now I was 
 feared for carnall discourse on the Lord's day, & so boarded 
 him w* some uncontroverted spiritual discourse, q ch did so take, 
 th* wee fell to be so serious th* tho we both had knouledg of 
 the way, yet we went a considerable space out of it, before we 
 notticed, & coming to Kirkaldie, Path head, he sd he had a 
 brother lived th r , & keeped a chaing & hee thoght we might 
 breakfast th r & goe from th* to the Kirk att Kirkaldie. I was 
 willing to light, but in stead of a brother as I expected he was a 
 brother messanger at armes only, q ch was yet mor undesirabl, 
 but I caried as pleasant as possibl, and after breakfast I 
 s d I thoght I was wearie w* travel, th r for wold lett the kirk 
 alon for a day, he replyed, & so wold he. So after a 
 litl taking my bibl privatlie & seeing a barn in the yeard I 
 called for the key th r of, and went to it, & injoyed my selfe in 
 such dewties as was most fitt for th* day, & wan to some 
 seriousness in reading, prayer & meditation, but alase, being 
 
Mr. JAMES MMMO 
 
 47 
 
 too desirous to kno my way, began to be too peremptor w* 
 the Lord, & he w*drew, & left Satan to buffet me, & to present 
 to my minde as if I wer a hanged man, I perceaved it to be of 
 Satan & labored to plead w* the Lord to rebuke the tentation, 
 but yet some tincktur of it remained & begotte some confusion 
 in my minde. 
 
 Upon Munday the 23 d we went on our way to Kinghorn, q 1 
 we crossed, & so soon as the boat tutched at Leith, I went out 
 in hast & left my herold, & saw him no more. I now having 
 left Murray had maney grounds to bliss & praise him th* ever 
 I went ther, for albeit for some time befor I left it, the Lord 
 thought fitt sherplie to exercise me in severall thinges, yet I 
 most say hee made me sing ther as in the dayes of the youth 
 of my Espusals, & gave me maney a sweet hour, & tho hee 
 had led me to the wildernes, yet he spock confortablie to me 
 ther, & did lett me some times see th 1, the reason off* all my 
 troubles was to purg me & take away my sin, & th* experience 
 might worke patience & patience hope. And o how maney 
 sweet promises did the Lord aply to my soul, & hou much 
 blist & confortabl fellowship w* his people & hou much favor 
 & kindnes did I meet w* from all, & the Lord was pleased to 
 bliss the labor of my hands, in th* I had under my caire & 
 chairg : o wonderfull was his kindnes & marcie to me in th* 
 place. The Lord was w* me & made all my freinds, but oh 
 hou oft did ane ivel heart of unbelief prevaile, but praise to 
 him th* tooke not away his marcie & kindnes from me. 
 
 Now having comd to Edinburgh the 23 of March 1683, and 
 being setld th r , & getting some time my alon, it pleased the 
 Lord to pitie me, in keeping me in some measur at my deuty, 
 having yet some waightie thoughts of my caise, but w* some 
 solid peace through access to him : desiring much hee might 
 helpe me to faith in Christ th* might worke by love, & cast 
 out fear. 
 
 The 29 th being the Lord's day, I had much straitnednes in 
 my minde till it was neer night. Then it pleased the Lord to 
 affect my heart so w* my present caise, as to flee to himselfe 
 for reliefe. I was made to see the sea as it wer befor, enemies 
 behind, & mountanes on everie side. Then I was made to say 
 nou Lord thow art concerned to helpe but w* all the Lord Mas 
 
48 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 helping me to be much humbled under the sense of my oun 
 sin & relationes guilt, in seeing hee might justlie contend. 
 Yet I thoght at th 1 time, he helped me w fc all my soule, heart 
 & streanth in much fervencie of spirit, to plead for relieffe, 
 according to his holy will. Then th* word was brought to my 
 minde, Isay 56 & 7 th , even th m will I bring to my holy muntain 
 & make th m joyfull in my hous of prayer. Then I was helped 
 to plead for the Church, & th* word came to my minde, Judg : 
 10 & 16, letter pairt. And his soul was grieved for the misery 
 of Israel. Then I was made to fear delusion & th* thes Scrip- 
 tures wer not given to me at th 1 time of the Lord, then I was 
 helped to plead, I might not be left to delusion, but if they 
 wer to me, Hee might confirme my soul in the confidence of 
 th m , & th* word came in w* setlment to my soul, Titus 1 & 2 d 
 latter pairt, q ch God th* cannot lie, promised befor the world 
 began. Oh the root of unbeliefe th ts in us. Then I was 
 afrayed of misguiding of the Lord's kindness, as I had often 
 found I had done in such lyke caises to my sad experience, & 
 I was helped to plead the Lord wold helpe me to watch & pray 
 & fear befor him, leist I should sitt doun on such intimationes 
 of kindnes, & be given up to carnall securetie ; o how hard is it 
 sometimes to rid marches betwixt trusting and securetie, but 
 blist be God, th 1 he hes sent the Lord Jesus Christ to be a 
 leader to his people, th 1 will never leave them nor forsake 
 th m . 
 
 My wife came from the north to me to Edb r the 30 of 
 Aprile. And all th* week it pleased the Lord to keep my 
 soule in much peace, in rejoycing in himself e & his way off 
 dealing w* me, till neer the end off it, th n began some damps, 
 but the Lord was pleased not to lett th m stay long, albeit I 
 was made to see I was not abl to bear the burthine my selfe, 
 so th* sometimes I was helped to come to him for fresh supplies 
 of his grace to streanthn & support me under my present tryels, 
 so th* to the 13 th of Maij I was sometimes conforted, sometimes 
 discurradgments prevailed, but still keeped in exercise w l the 
 darknes of my pr 1 lott, th* to doe or q r to goe, & I wanted not 
 the simpathie of some trewlie godlie in th l mater w* me, which 
 had its own incurradgment. And about this time, freinds 
 thought our chamer a litle to solitarie & not so convenient, & 
 
Mit. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 49 
 
 th'for advised to ane other, & wold have me see it, the q ch I 
 did, & told the mistres I wold send my wife also. And q n I 
 was come home, told my wife I had promised she should goe 
 see it also, but I desired to consider weel, for q 11 I was looking 
 it, th r came a damp on my minde, the q ch she averted unto, 
 but the mistris was so condescending, she could hardly gett 
 free. And on M r Dundass, 1 after Laird of Dundass, tooke it, 
 and wHn some few nights tlV'after was taken by a pairty o 
 the Tounes guard, but giving the centinals money they lett 
 him slip off'. 
 
 And th* same night, the pairtie came to the foot of the stair 
 q 1 I was, & our Land Ladey cald me if I was sleeping, I an- 
 swered nott, she told me th r was a pairtie searching at hand, 
 hard by, I aske q l wold she have me doe. She replyed, putt 
 on my cloathes & go to the streat & after a litle silence I sd 
 no I was in the hands of the Lord, & wold abide th r , but if I 
 went to the street I might fall into the hands of men. And 
 the pairtie, coming to the nixt house and I hearing them, rose 
 up, & putt my sword & wige in a chist, & th r being only a 
 thine partition betwixt the pairtie & me, I did see th m w* the 
 light candles they had, but they could not see me in the darke. 
 I did see th m search so narrolie, & to turn ane old woman out 
 of her bed & then turn out the bedclothes also, & search under 
 them. Then w*iii a litle they went off" & tooke the Landlord a 
 wright or measson w* th m . All this whill my minde was prettie 
 composed, but q n they wer gon, & I in bed again, I fell a 
 trembling, th* I might see as my saftie was of the Lord, so I 
 had no streanth in myselfe, but need of continuall fresh 
 suplies from the Lord himselfe. 
 
 Xixt day I fand our Landladey in great fear & averse tli t we 
 should stay th r , so we wer necessitat to seek a new quarter, & 
 knew not wher, but it pleased the Lord marcifully to provide, 
 for Magdalen Pypper, mistris of the old Coffihous, 2 a kind & 
 pious freind, tooke us home to a chamber in her hous till we 
 should advise. 
 
 1 James Dundas, brother of the laird of Dundas, had in 1670 been sentenced 
 to transportation to the plantations for being present at a conventicle. This 
 sentence, however, does not seem to have been carried out. 
 
 2 The first coffee-house in Edinburgh seems to have been in Robertson's Land, 
 and was opened in 1673. But it was closed in 1677. 
 
 n 
 
50 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 And then seeing ther was no apearance I could stay in saftie 
 ther att Edb 1 *. after severall assayes to seek councill from the 
 Lord, both by us & others fearing God, it was thoght fitt, 
 I wold assay going to Holland, butt seeing th r was such narrou 
 nottice taken of persones going th r from this coast, it Mas 
 thoght fitt to goe to Berwick & thence to Newcastle, q r I wold 
 not so be knouen. And th r for I gott some letters of reco- 
 mendation to some freinds at Berwick & to desire th m if it wer 
 w* th r conveniency to gett me some recomendation to New- 
 castle, th* I might take shipping th r . O to observe how his 
 wayes are wonderfully linked through deficulties tending to 
 marcies, & assured loving kindnes to all his oun. O to belive. 
 
 Then the Thursday Maij 24 th 1683, taking my leave of wife 
 and freinds (no doubt but w* maney thoghts of heart, con- 
 sidering the dangers of the time, & had but litle money to 
 leave w* my wife, & but litle to take with me) I tooke my 
 jurney for Berwick, not knouing on foot of the way & not 
 haveng aney th* I had aney aqwaintance w t th r q 11 I came. 
 
 But the Lord marcifully trysted me att worthie James 
 Baram his hous at the Abey of Hadingtoun, to q m I had a 
 lyne of recomendation from worthie M ns Ross, w* two honest 
 professors in my oun circomstances in pairt, th* wer going th r 
 also, but on foot. So after some thoghts, resolved to send 
 back my horse & travel w* th m & they wer so kind as to carv 
 my linninges, so th* tho my jurney this way was toylsome yet 
 less irksome th n I expected, for w* much cheerfulness, we went 
 on our way, for they both knew the way, & freinds in it, q 1 
 we lodged nixt night & kindly intertained. And nixt morning 
 being the 26 th we went on pleasantly, & at night came to Ber- 
 wick. And getting quarters th r in a countrie Scotsman's hous 
 & being Saturdayes night, I ordered the deliverie of some of 
 my letters of recomendation. And being others in the chamber 
 w l me th* came alongs, I rose early nixt morning & went up 
 to ane hay loft for some time, & coming doun the Landlord 
 told me th r was on M r David Clunis to preach a litl w fc out 
 the Toun in a barn, & I might goe w* him, if I pleased, & the 
 minister being on to q m I was recomended, I the more will- 
 inglie went, q r q 11 I came (qther by some aprehensions of my 
 Landlord, q ch I judg or othrwayes, but they tooke me to be a 
 
Me. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 51 
 
 minister) they delivered to me the key of a barn, q ch I will- 
 inglie accepted oft* for a time, & returned again to ane hous q r 
 others wer, & th r arising some feares upon th m , I reasoned w* 
 th m tli r anent q ch made th m the more aprehend as formerlie, & 
 after fornoones sermon was ended, M r David desired me to 
 take the afternoon, at q ch I pleasantlie smyled & told him I 
 was not in circomstances for th*, & so he rested satisfied. 
 
 Munday 28 M r Clunis & I mett & he desired me to goe see 
 a friend w* him, about two myles distant, & a pleasant walke, to 
 q ch I agreed, & wee did not return till the 31 being Thursday, 
 q r we came to the same hous, being ane honest fled 1 Scotsman's 
 hous called James Reston, q 1 * we gott the newes th* Earlston 2 
 and ane other Scots gentleman wer both seased aboard of a 
 shipe att Newcastle, going for Holland, & th* they wer to be 
 sent prisoners to Scotland, & th* ther was orders stricklie to 
 nottice straingers, & s d I could not goe in again to Berwick. 
 And honest M r Reston intreated me to stay w* him till I 
 advised, q ch offer necessaty made me willinglie accept oft'. 
 
 Now the Saboth befor spockn off, all th* day I was much 
 incurradged in my minde, the Lord keeping up his peace in it, 
 & making straingers to carie respectivlie & kindlie, th* week I 
 wanted not my oun discurradging fits in thoughts of my caise, 
 espetialy q n I got the fors d newes, yet alwayes mixed w* intima- 
 tiones of kindnes from the Lord. 
 
 Saturday Junij °. d 1683 I was made to observe the great 
 marcie of the Lord, in leading me out off Toun, befor the 
 newes came, & in giving me some acqwaintance in the countrie, 
 & I hope not only a kind Landlord but trewly pious. Saboth 
 nixt the 3 d the Lord was pleased to asist me in pleading w* 
 him, yet under sense of much unworthines in myselfe, & feare 
 of waiknes, but w* much complacencie in my minde, & in love 
 to the Lord. 
 
 So having stayed about eight dayes in Mr. Restone , s, I 
 desired q* I had to pay for my bed & board, he ansred nothing, 
 q ch surprised me for I knew he could not weel doe it, so I told 
 
 1 I.e., one who like himself had been obliged to leave Scotland. 
 
 2 The Gordons of Earlston were a well-known Covenanting family. William 
 was killed while hastening to the assistance of his party at Bothwell Bridge, at 
 which battle his son (probably the Earlston referred to in the text) was present. 
 
52 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 him then I could not stay, 8c so layed doun some money 8c 
 went out & went to see the freind I had formerly gon to see, 
 w* Mr. Clunis, & stayed a night, hut prest in my minde to 
 return againe to M r Restone's, the q ch nixt day I did, & spock 
 to him, th* he might the more expose me, if lie forced me to 
 goe from him, seeing I could not stay if he wold not take, for 
 my hed 8c board, q fch w* the tear in his eye he condescended to 
 doe, & so I stayed 8c still gott the key of the barn I first gott 
 for my retirement. 
 
 Thursday the 7 th I was made to have great desires for some 
 neernes & access to the Lord, finding my spirit dull 8c sensles 
 as it wer : and it pleased the Lord to helpe me to plead for 
 several thinges I did see myselfe standing in need off, but was 
 made to loath myselfe becaus of sin, 8c securetie. But th 1 day 
 8c the nixt I was helped to have my heart going out in sym- 
 pathie w* th m the Lord had made maney times to sympathis w* 
 me in my wildernes condition, 8c w* both the famelies I was 
 nixt related unto, even for marcie to th r soules. But at that 
 time my heart was sore greived w* the simplicity of some 
 Christianes 8c the carnalety of some professors in the place q r I 
 was. Albeit I hop hee gave me acqwaintance w* some twentv 
 fearing the Lord, q ch was my confort. Saboth the 10 th I wan 
 to litl freedome, but helped to incurradg myself in the Lord. 
 
 Munday morning I was helped to much sweetnes in my minde 
 in deuty, for a litle time. 
 
 Twesday the 12 th I did take some more time in the morning 
 th n my ordinarie, 8c it pleased the Lord to be condescending, to 
 my great satisfaction. And th* night after I went to bed, I 
 could gett no sleep for a long time, but w* much solidnes of 
 minde made to plead w* and receve satisfaction from the Lord, 
 w* much tendernes 8c melting of heart. () th* I could praise 
 him for his goodnes 8c marcie. 
 
 Then till Saturday the 16 I had my caise intermixed w t 
 several waightie 8c somq* discurradging thoughts pairtlie from 
 things w^ut 8c pairtlie from things w^n, alienating the heart 
 from the Lord, but upon th* afternoon, it pleased the Lord to 
 discover some particular corruptione q ch made me through 
 grace, take a littl back looke of some thinges q r by I was made 
 much to loatli & abaise myselfe, 8c so helped me to pleade 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 53 
 
 untill he was pleased to intimate himselfe reconcieled, & gave 
 me access 8c intimations of acceptance befor him, more th n my 
 ordinarie. 
 
 And the nixt day being Saboth tlie 17 th hee was pleased to 
 give me much peace, in seeminglie honoring me to be usfnll to 
 others in my con vers. Some time after it pleased the Lord to 
 lett me see that his permitting my father to carie so unkindlie 
 to me in some things, was becans of my unsuitabl cariadg in 
 some tiling befor him & others, after the Lord had manifested 
 his marcie & kindnes first unto my soule, 8c it was som what 
 refreshing to me, th* be shewed me why hee contended 8c helped 
 me to plead for repentance 8c forgivnes in hopes of marcie. 
 And from thence to the 26 th I was much in a mixed caise, 
 sometimes getting access, 8c sometimes strainglie assaulted w* 
 unbeliefe & discurradgments, 8c my minde too much overcome 
 in intertaining the same, off q ch being made senscible, did some- 
 q* affect my minde, 8c lett me see great ground off abaisement 
 in me. 
 
 Xou about this time also the Church being sore att under, 
 by opression th* maney wer putt to ther wits end (as we use to 
 say) I was made to be somq* concerned in the thoghts th r of. 
 And I remembered th* it had pleased tlie Lord, some consider- 
 abl time befor, to give me a verie humbling & terribl sight of 
 my oun sines, 8c the Churches, as tlie procuring cause of the 
 Lord's displeasur against us, and I was made to think, th* 
 seeing the Lord had humbled me, under the sight 8c sence 
 of our guilt ; that he wold also helpe me to plead in hopes of 
 marcie from himselfe, 8c this 26 th at night, I was desiring to sett 
 apairt some while of the nixt day for th* effect, and the nixt 
 morning being the 27 th I was (of his marcie) helped w* some 
 composure of spirit 8c arguments, to plead th* he wold favour 
 his people, 8c then I was desirous to plead th* he wold guid me 
 to reade somq 1 suitabl th r to, 8c from someq* I mett w* the 
 former night I thoght the Lord did inclyne my minde to the 
 28 th of Isaij q r first I did see intimationes of the Lord's anger, 
 8c th* he wold vet more toss and humble us, till the 5 th verse 
 beginning w* thes words, wo to the croune of pride, to the 
 drunkard off Ephraime, &c. 
 
 And also his spirit aplyeng, gave me some hopes of a glorious 
 
54 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 deliverie from the 5 th verse to the 7 th . In tli fc day shall the 
 Lord of hosts be for a croun of glorie, & for a Diadem of 
 beutie unto the residue of his peopl, and for a spirit of judg- 
 ment to him th* sitteth in Judgment, & for streanth to him 
 th* turneth the battel to ye gate. The Lord I thought gave 
 me also instruction from several pairts of th* chap: & the Lord 
 gave me much light w* solid confidence, through faith in Christ, 
 as to its aplication to our present caise, & as to the maner 
 how, tho not as to the time when. 
 
 Now by this exercise it pleased the Lord to putt such a 
 stampe of his Image & presence upon my soule, th* untill th t 
 day eight dayes (q ch was the 4 th off July) I could never say, I 
 came befor the Lord, but by faith I gott som discoverie of him 
 in his bewtie, in much solidnes of spirit. 
 
 Now my spuse being left at Edb 1 , q r the Lord to wean her it 
 seemes from th* pleace, left her to much fear and terror of the 
 enemie, so th* the sight of a souldier or the noyse of a drume 
 was afrighting to her, and I frustrat of all hopes how to gett to 
 Holland had destroyed my letters of recomendation, and did 
 see no other way but to lurke heir incognito as long as possibl, 
 for we wer putt almost everie night in fear of pairties to search 
 & aprehend persones in my circomstances. And some fled for 
 fear on way & some ane other, & some shortlie after wer taken. 
 Therfor seeing no way q r to goe, & considering my spuses 
 solitarie lott, I sent for her, & upon the 3 d July she came to 
 Castilhiles, neer Berwick, & q 11 she came I was about two myles 
 thence, q r my landlord & I had bein lyeng in the fealds all 
 night for fear of the enemie. And a young man a freind came 
 earlie to me nixt morning & told my spuse was come, & albeit 
 my circomstances wer such yet I was glade to have such a com- 
 panion in tribulation, who I was confident wold be dewlie 
 affected w* me in all my concernes. And then to the 10 th day 
 I gott not such access, but yet had much satisfieing sweetnes in 
 my minde. 
 
 Upon the 10 th day I heard th* my father was to compeer att 
 Edb 1 ', therfor thoght fitt to sett some time of th* day apairt in 
 his behalfe, and desired my spuse & ane other th* I had some 
 confidence in to sympathies w* me on his account. 
 
 About this time, & a litle befor, the winde blouing faire on 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 55 
 
 mv sailes, my deceitful! heart began to whisper it was easie to 
 belive & to serve the Lord. 
 
 But the Lord it seemes, thoght tit (to my sore experience) to 
 teach me th* it was needful for me to understand th* he ought 
 to be acknoledged for all marcies of th* kind, even to a right 
 thought of himselfe. And for a considerabl time th'after my 
 bodey was sore brockn by a winde in my stomock, q r bv my 
 spirit was oftn discomposed, albeit the Lord was nou 8c then 
 giving me some faith to belive & rejovce in him. 
 
 About this time on day the Lord helping me to plead in 
 behalfe off the Church, & in expressing thes words, Am: 7 th 8c 
 2 : 5, By q m shal Jacob arise, for hee is small, thes words w t 
 much satisfaction was broght to my minde th* ar spockn of 
 Christ, Isay 49 th & 6 th , It is a light* thing for the to be my 
 servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob 8c to preserve the ran- 
 somed of Israel &c. 
 
 From the fors d 10 th day, to the first of August, for the maist 
 pairt I was under sore distractiones & confusiones in my minde. 
 And about this time my spuse becam w* child, and was ex- 
 ceeding sick, 8c so continoued for maist pairt until she was 
 delivered, q ch had its oun difficulties considering we stayed in 
 ane other man's hous q r we had not the conveniencie of a 
 chamber our alon 8c attended w* severall other waighty cireom- 
 stances : tho indeed the Lord made the famelie kinde to the 
 outmost of th r pouer, praise to him th r for, 8c we have evidenced 
 our gratitude in some measure since to th m . And also th 1 ' was 
 a sounde off' destruction at th* time to all th* desired to oppose 
 th m selves to impietie (in aney measure) so th* it was a vexation 
 only to hear the report 8c also then I had often confused 
 thoght s off guilt, still marring my confidence befor the Lord, 
 increassing to the hight of great unbeliefe, so th* through the 
 distemper of both bodey 8c minde both wer lyke to faile. 
 
 But now about the forsaid first off August, it pleased the 
 Lord, of his infinit marcie, 8c tender caire, even in the sorest 
 distress, to give some sweet influences of his spirit into my soul, 
 8c to lett me see some causes of his permitting me to be in 
 such ane caise. The first was to reprove me of my former follie 
 in not seeing his former kindnes to my soul, whollie of free 
 grace & marcie flouing from himself 8c th* of myself I could 
 
56 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 doe nothing good w*out his constant waterings from his infinit 
 fountan of all fulnes, & th* my deceitfull heart having often 
 formerly made me have such thoghts of easines to belive, so th l 
 yet once more I might have the experience of my folly that 
 way : to be as a beakn to one heirefter. Secondlie, I was made 
 to see th* somtimes it was easier to be keeped at dewtie, both 
 in behalfe of the Church & ourselves, q 11 troubl was not comd 
 to extremetie, q n in the midest off* terrors, & made to fear I 
 had been to negligent befor the try el came to this hight. 
 
 Thirdlie, th* I might kno a litle of the waight of th* afliction 
 q ch others had been longer under, th 1 I might be the more 
 stirred up to simpathies, w 1 others in such a caise. 
 
 Fourtlie, that if ever I should be trysted w fc more freedom & 
 libertie, I might be made the mor to pryse the same, w 1 thank- 
 fulnes for it, to the Lord. Nou albeit I did get some intimated 
 kindnes then, & finding melancholie seasing on me, did by 
 reading, walking, & in tyme of hay working w* others, yet 
 what through former distempers, & want of accomodation, th r 
 remained much confusion upon my minde, & seeming distance 
 from the Lord, and the sines of my youth oft staring me as it 
 wer in the face, espetialy three : first, the breach of Sabothes 
 & others. Secondlie, some unsuitablnes in my cariadg, befor & 
 to parents. Thirdlie, some particular follies in my youth. The 
 which three I was made to look unto, from the Lord's threat - 
 ning me w l roddes, which seemd to me to carie the stamp & 
 image of all the forsaide sines, & by this I was made to learn, 
 th* persons may meet w* intimationes of peace, & pardon for 
 sines as to th r eternal punishment, q 11 not as to th r temporal 
 chastisment. And therfor albeit a person may win to the full 
 assurance of eternall salvation, yet no ground of securety. And 
 also about the 18 th of this month of August I was made to see 
 four thinges, and 
 
 First, seldome sound peace in the want of sound submistion 
 to the will of God. 
 
 Secondlie, often teares ar deceitful when the heart is not 
 tutched with the deep sens of sin. 
 
 Thirdlie, its hard to keep grace in exercise among carnal 
 freinds & professors. 
 
 Fourtlie, th* the sight of all thes things was the return of 
 prayer, q (;h had bein made in my darknes. Therfor albeit we 
 
Mil JAMES NIMMO 
 
 57 
 
 gett not a suddan answer, yet ther is ground to waite. Then 
 to the beginning of Septe r I was under maney sore discuradg- 
 ments 8c perplexing thoghts, my spuse being still sicke. But 
 about tli* time the Lord was pleased much to calme my spirit, 
 & helpe me to someq 1 of the faith of his omnipresence and to 
 plead as in his presence, & o but in darknes the leist light is 
 sweet. From the first of Septe 1 ' for a considerabl time, the Lord 
 was pleased to keep up the faith of his omnipresence in my 
 pleadings w* him & therby I wan to some solidnes of minde in 
 pleading w* him for suplie to my present necessaties, yet under 
 several perplexaties through the darknes of dispensationes, both 
 as to my oun, the Churches caise & others, under so maney sad 
 circomstances. 
 
 About the midest of October the Lord was pleased to give 
 me some refreshing libertie to plead w* him. 
 
 Now the first of November our dear 8c worthie freind M r 
 Thomas Hog, who was out of prison upon bond to ans r the 
 Councill att call, as formerlie related, and th r for judged our- 
 selves bound to simpathise w* him, was then to apear befor 
 them. And I having sett some time apairt th n for th* end, I 
 was helped from maney arguments to hold up his caise. 
 
 Nou from this to the 8 th of Febrij 1684 the Lord was verie 
 condescending to me oftn in dewtie, in helping me to plead for 
 high 8c right conceptiones of himselfe 8c his wayes, 8c hearing 
 my desires 8c granting the same, to my great confort 8c satis- 
 faction, 8c yet about th* time, some things wer verie dark, as 
 to my outward condition, q ch in a litle begot some confusion 
 in my minde, so th* several times, th r arose secret freetings and 
 quarrelings to such a hight as I had not been tryed w* the lyke 
 for several yeares befor. About this time my body was sore 
 brockn several waves. In the end of this monneth I resolved 
 to ventur in to Morum 1 in Scotland, 8c was desirous to plead 
 for the Lord's presence to be w* me, being to visit my cussing 
 Patrick Young of Bridghous 2 and his spuse who wer w 1 oth rs 
 
 1 A parish in East Lothian. 
 
 2 John Nimmo of Bridghous, Nimmo's grandfather, had married a daughter 
 of Young of Killicantie. From papers in possession of the family of Gillan of 
 Wallhouse, Linlithgowshire, it appears that in 1636 a contract of division of the 
 mains of Brighous was entered into between John Nymmo of Brighous and 
 Patrick Young of Killicantie. 
 
58 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 th r hidnly, in pretending to be for the work of Newmilnes 1 
 manufactorie, 8c did worke th r at. 
 
 And it pleased the Lord to helpe me in my jurney to eye his 
 glorie, the good of others & my oun peace in him, to the con- 
 fort of my heart. 0 his pitty & marcie to poor trachled sinners. 
 () for faith & patience. 
 
 Upon the 11 th of March amongst severall other thinges, the 
 Lord helped me much to be concernd w* my faithcr's caise, 8c 
 upon the 12 th hee helped me much againe to be concerned w* 
 the same, and considering his sad complyance the sinfull 
 courses of the time, 8c my soul being much pressede under the 
 sense of the same, I was made to say, Lord, as if hee wer a dead 
 carkass or corps throu the vilnes of sin, al I can do is to desire 
 to cast him upon thee, th 1 if so be it may consist w* thy glory 
 to save him, if not thy will be done. And in the verie mean- 
 time th* scriptur came in my minde, 2 King: 13 th & 21, And 
 q n the dead bodey of the man was lett doun 8c toutched the 
 bones of Elisha, he revived 8c stoode up on his feet. This 
 brought much confort 8c incurradgment from the thoghts th* 
 the Lord Jesus was of more vertiow then the bones of Elisha <\: 
 th r came a perswading pouer w* it th 1 it was of the Lord for 
 my incurradgment. 
 
 Nou all alonges this winter we had bein much troubled q r to 
 setle or how to be accomodat for my wife's deliverie, haveing 
 small conveniencies q 1 * we wer in a cottadg of ane other man's, 
 but could never gett clearnes q fc to doe, providences seeminglie 
 still crossing our inclinationes to several places we did intend 
 for, some times in the bounds of Berwick 8c some times in the 
 same toun itselfe, but it pleased the wise Lord to order it so, 
 th* we wer still keeped in exercise, in pleading w rt 8c looking to 
 the Lord : albeit in much darknes as to the outgate. 
 
 Then at leanth drauing neer the time of her deliverie, 8c 
 finding nether freedom nor conveniencie aney other way, we 
 then resolved to setle ourselves 8c stay, 8c th* with some com- 
 placencie in submission to the will of the Lord, 8c as abilety 8c 
 conveniencie wold allou, made radey for q* her ap roach in g caise 
 seemd to call for. 
 
 Ayrshire. 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 59 
 
 But then the marciful Lord was condescending in several 
 various circomstancies of marcie unexpectedlie, for our dear & 
 worthie freind M r Hoge was banished by Act of Councile, to 
 be out of the kingdom off' Scotland in fourtieight houres time 
 under severe penalties ; they indeed offered him six weekes to 
 provide for his banishment, if hee wold give bond as some had 
 done not to exercise auey pairt of his ministerial function 
 during th fc time. He told th m it was lyke, being under much 
 frailnes of body, he wold not be able, but seeing he had his 
 Comission from God, he wold not bind up himselfe on houer if 
 the Lord called him c\: gave him streanth, and th r for so litl 
 time was alloued him. So he caused a coach (agreed for) come 
 to the Tolbooth dore, <S; take him in 8c upon Aprile 3 he came 
 to Berwick to the great confort of our mindes 8c q ch also re- 
 vived our fraile bodies, even he q 111 oftn times the good Lord had 
 made ane instrument formerly to speak words in season to us 
 when in trouble, both as to spirituales 8c temporales. And q fc 
 marcie was it to us th* the Lord in his providence should order 
 his coming, q r we wer att such a time, q 11 we wer so disconsolat. 
 
 O th* the infinitlie compassionat Lord may help us to exalt 
 him togither & to say hee hath helped, hee helps, 8c hee will 
 helpe ; 8c lett us only belive. 
 
 Secondlie, we wer trysted w* a duelling hous unexpectedlie 
 neer to this our dear freindes house. 
 
 Thirdlie, th* tho we had litle furnitur of our oun yet we wer 
 marcifully provided for. 
 
 Fourtlie, we had not only the marcie of my wife's intimat 
 freind Mistris Hoge, but also severall others of some notte of 
 our oun land, and others of th* place, who wer both freindlie 8c 
 simpathising in her caise. Fiftlie, the only midwife she desired 
 was nyn or ten myles distant, 8c we had but small hopes to 
 attaine our desire th r in, 8c yet providence brought her to us 
 two dayes befor my wife was brought to bed of her eldest son 
 John, and albeit she had bein for most pairt sick since she 
 conceived, 8c her body very low, & had very hard labour, yet 
 the Lord marcifully supported her in her paings, till at lenth 
 she qwat al hopes 8c then the Lord was a present helpe in 
 her extremetie 8c gave deliverance the 18 day of Aprile 
 1684. Sixtlie, a chist w* cloathes came from the north only 
 
60 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 about three dayes or she was delivered, q ch came verie season- 
 able. 
 
 Eightlie, 1 the Lord was pleased to give her aboundance of 
 milke for the child beyound the expectation of some. 
 
 Eightlie, on newly godly & dearly beloved of her intimat 
 acqwaintance, came by providence from Edb r to th* place to 
 us ; q ch was incuraging. And 9 th lie, q 11 all our money was spent 
 except about on shill. ster. th* four dolers my spuse had lent a 
 freind came to our hand seasonablie. 
 
 And 10 th lie, the only woman she desired to wait upon her, 
 tho with some difficultie, was obtained. 
 
 O hou may we see th* its good to waite for the Lord, who 
 sometimes hides himself from the hous of Jacob. Now my 
 heart was greatlie conforted under the sense of the Lord's deal- 
 ing so kindlie w* us in maney thinges : & I made to bliss & 
 praise him as I could, but oh oure goodnes soon evanisheth as 
 the early cloud & the morning dew. For w*in a litle I became 
 fraile in my bodie & after taking of phisick, it was sore brock n, 
 the q ch had its oun influence on my spirit, for some time, as 
 also I was affected w* the dreadfull threatnings of the Lord's 
 anger against thir lands, & the lamentabl miscariadges of pro- 
 fessors. But it pleased the Lord to assist my dear freind M r 
 Hoge much to simpathise w* me, and upon the 11 th of Maij he 
 was helped w l much consernednes to give me his advice, by in- 
 curradging me & holding out grounds of confort both as to my 
 soule, & bodelie condition. 
 
 Upon the 13 th day he spocke upon his ordinarie, & albeit I 
 went brockn th r , the Lord was so kind to my soule that q 11 I 
 came away, I thought I was wholl in soul & bodie. 
 
 Upon the sixtinday M r Hog baptisd my son & spock upon 
 his ordinary convincing evidences of the Lord's presence. 
 And two dayes befor he was much asisted in his ordinar in the 
 famelie, to the vew of some, it was upon the 8 th of Luke, even 
 to the great confort both of myselfe & others. 
 
 Thence to the ij of Junij the Lord was marcifull to me everie 
 way. Upon the q ch day I had sett some time apairt to seek 
 counsel from the Lord, if I might goe somq r in the country 
 
 1 Sic in ms. 
 
Mit. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 61 
 
 for my health & divertisment, or els tli fc he wold lead me as the 
 blind. Some others wer concerned th r in w* me, and that night 
 I had some thoghts to goe the nixt day w* blist Mistris Ross 
 (who was th r at this time) to the Abey of Hadingtoun to 
 worthie James Barani's. And th* night q ch was to be notticed, 
 th r was some stirr in the to tin. And I seeing providence con- 
 curring in severall circomstances, I went w* her & stayed th r 
 & att Morum w* my forsd freind M r Young, and th r about, 
 neer twentie dayes. And the Lord seemed to oune me, in being 
 free & faith full in some measure to others, w* peace in my 
 minde & they not seeming to be offended, albeit I was sherpe 
 to them, fearing ther resting upon fals confidences & unsaffe 
 groundes & hopes for life & salvation, not rightlie understand- 
 ing the need of trew humiliation under the sense of particular 
 sines, as also the need of the Lord's revealing to us by his word 
 & spirit the will of God for our salvation. 
 
 The 30 th of Junij I returned to Berwick and stayed ther 
 some dayes, but upon severall considerationes thoght fitt to 
 return q r I had been, danger apearing then to stay in Berwick. 
 And upon the 10 th of July I returned to Morum, & I hope as 
 I ventured not w t out seeking councill, so the Lord cleared up 
 my dewtie th r in. 
 
 Upon the 12 th at night the Lord was verie condescending to 
 me, in giving me the solid faith of being in his presence, & 
 then helped me to pour out my heart to him, w* some tendernes, 
 qch proved not only conforting but streanthning. 
 
 Upon the 15 th I got much freedom, w* some sweetnes, in con- 
 vers w* some th r . Upon the 17 th I gott a missive from my wife 
 shouing some necessatie for my return. And desiring to ac- 
 knoledg the Lord in seeking council, unbeliefe brock in & the 
 divel & my corrupt heart began to say, ye are tossed, go back 
 & stay ye kno the outmost, but th n finding my coruptiones 
 working in want of sweet complacencie in depending upon the 
 Lord, desired to be abased th r for & lament & yet to pleade for 
 pitie from him, who notw^tanding of my guilt, heard & 
 directed. O wonder is it hee beares so w* us. 
 
 Upon the 24 th I returned to Berwick and after some considera- 
 tiones & I fear some impatience, resolved to try to marchandise, 
 for by this time, befor the four dollers formerlie mentioned wer 
 
62 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 fully spent, my father had sent me five hunder pounds Scots 
 q ch came in a time acceptabl & seasonabl, yet now getting som- 
 q* in hand, thoght I might try to improve it, but I fear not- 
 w^tanding al the pains the Lord had been at w 1 me, consulted 
 now in this w* carnal reason then w t him. And Sathan & my 
 coruptiones prevailed too farr, the world coming too much in 
 q n th5 was not a fitt season, but cald to other thinges, much 
 disqwaietment of minde th r by prevailed, to the braiking of my 
 bodey. 
 
 O how oftn may we see q* we ar by nature wer our eyes 
 open. O hee guides fooles. 
 
 Upon the 5 th of August I did find the Lord inclyning me to 
 sett some time apairt to humbl myselfe (for I had been un- 
 easie, & cruel to my poor wife & others, in some bitternes 
 becaus I could not get things moulded to my carnall minde) in 
 my foolish wordlie interprises. 
 
 And I hope the Lord discovered the causes in pairt of my so 
 oftn being disqwaieted in several thinges formerly & at this 
 time. Which was th* on day in Murray after seeking the Lord 
 in some time sett apairt th r for, hee sent me to his word in Job: 
 12 & 12, 13, and cleared up it was my dewtie to rest th r on, 
 depending on himself in the diligent use of lauful meanes, yet 
 notw^tanding q 11 on my jurney from the north, and att Kirk- 
 aldie, Pathhead as formerly related, being in vew of maney 
 apearing difficulties and the Lord putting my heart in some 
 caise to plead w 1 him, I began againe to pry to much into q l 
 hee had formerly cleared, & to seek after mor then I fear the 
 Lord did allow off, Therfor Satan was permitted to buffet me 
 w* ane tentation, q ch I percaved at the time not to be off God, 
 but it getting some grip in my minde, & the Lord wMrauing 
 th 1 albeit I pleaded to be delivered yet some dregs of the ten- 
 tation remained, and had some bad effects, mor & more to 
 incress in my minde the fear of man, & waikn my relyance upon 
 the Lord, as his word befor incurradged too, in my aproaching 
 difficulties. 
 
 Now the Lord humbling me in the discoverie of thes, my 
 burdin of greife & feares wer much abaited. And for a month 
 th r after (the Lord be praisd) I had much cerenetie & calmnes 
 in my minde, glorie to free grace. 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 63 
 
 Then we gott a new alarom, by advertisment from severals 
 th fc th l * was some mischeivous design in hand, but I had no 
 freedom to goe out of th* place, & it is observabl th* some 
 time befor, q n th r was mor libertie th r , I had not freedom to 
 stay & others in my circomstances stayed & made th m selves 
 mor publick & knoun, q r as my going to Scotland sometime, q 11 
 th r was a breathing, made me less knoun in the toun. And 
 th r for the storme incressing again, they wer necessitat all to 
 flee, & I had not but peace to stay, and on day th 1 ' came certain 
 word of a generall search through the toun. And accordinglie 
 after dinner the garison began & the ports wer closed, & houses 
 searched, & hay lofts & the hay in some overturned w* great 
 paines, they began at the nixt hous to q r M r Hoge & I wer, 
 & went round, & so our hous was last, & a marcie also. M r 
 Hoge went to a privat closet behind a hanging, & I went up 
 to a litle place made for doves above ane for staire, q r I could 
 only sit or ly but not stand, to q ch a dale only did lift & came 
 doun again so exactly as made of purpose, & so wer in prisones 
 till they went th r round of search, and against they came back 
 to our close, it was grouing dark & they much fatigued, & M l 
 Hary Shell our landlord & trew freind mett th m at the entrie 
 & s cl he judged they wer wearie, wold they take a botle of his 
 ale or beer, to q ch they willinglie agreed & accepted of, & he 
 did carie pleasantlie & diverted th m for some time & told th m 
 ane old woman his mother lived in the lodging beside him, & 
 if they pleased they might goe in & see th r was non els th r , q ch 
 they refused sayeing they wold not troubl the old gentlwoman, 
 & so wer gon and i media tly the landlord came to M r Hoge & 
 me & took us in his armes, w* as much joy as if he had gott a 
 pryze, th* all was over and so we marci fully escaped th m . And 
 after this was over I began to gett some setlment againe for 
 some few dayes, but not only through the former difficultie, 
 was I in some feares w*out, but under great fightinges w*in, 
 through the streanth of a bodey of death, so th* I was in no 
 less perplexetie, by fightings w*in then feares w*out. 
 
 About the 8 th of Octo r my burthin of both wer a litle 
 lightned, & I gott some pleasant sight of former marcies, q r in 
 I was made to rejoyce, blissing him for the manifold steps of 
 particular marcies, hee had brought in my way formerly. Then 
 
64 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 I did see w*out love to the Lord we could not serve him aright, 
 we could not love him except we knew q r for, and the loving 
 him for seen marcies was not to love him for excellencies in 
 himself. Therfor th r was need of faith, which was not w*out 
 the spirits inligh tiling pour. And th r for faith was the gift of 
 God. God gives faith by the spirits discovering of his marcies, 
 goodnes & excelancies, faith workes by love, love sweetlie con- 
 straines the soule to come to God, in & through the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, being only mediator betuixt God & man. O for a 
 grip heir. 
 
 October 10 th I gott a new alarum from the north th* Androw 
 Symintoun my predicessor in Parke's afaires & John Montfod 1 
 my successor th r in wer takne, q ch did someq* trouble me for 
 the time, upon several accounts. But some few dayes th r after, 
 the Lord setled my minde in himselfe, and did lett me see th* 
 by nature we wer givn to extremities, & th r for it was needfull 
 for a christian to have a suitable ballance on each side to keep 
 from extreams, First, as much grace as keep the soule from 
 utterlie yealding in ther spirituall warfare. 
 
 Secondlie, as much dificulties and tryales as might keep 
 them low in ther oun thoghts, & keep th m from vanetie & 
 securetie. 
 
 Some few weekes befor this I remember the Lord did lett 
 me see (when I was questioning why hee stode afare off in the 
 day off difficulties & tryels) that in a day of the pouer of God 
 in a land or place, the verie Reprobat might see some pleasant- 
 nes & finde some delight in the wayes of the Lord, but in the 
 hour of tryel, even his oun people most be content w* some 
 love visites. 
 
 And wherfor, First, it wer no tryel to th r faith, if they had 
 alwayes his presence. Secondlie, hee is gon to his place (and 
 q 1 to doe th r ?) to finish his work in Zion, and as soon as th* is 
 ended he will doubtles return. 
 
 Saboth Octo 1 ' 19 th the Lord was kinde to my soul. And 
 Octo r 20 Georg Turnbul & James Reston younger was takn, 
 q ch bred new feares. 
 
 1 Wodrow (iv. 196) mentions the imprisonment of John Montford, chamberlain 
 to J 'ark, in the Elgin Tolbooth, along with a number of local people. 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 65 
 
 The 21 st James Keston elder my kind old landlord was 
 takne & all sent prisoners to Edb 1 ' ; hou the first two came to be 
 freed after sometimes imprisonment, I kno not, but few wan 
 clean from th m att th* time, & the honest old man about seventie 
 yeares of age was putt aboard of a ship in Leith Road for to 
 be sent to America, on Pitlochie having gottn gift of him & 
 others, but by reason of the old man's age some litl money 
 having beine given it was presented so to the Council, 8c hee 
 was ordered ashoar 8c at libertie. 
 
 The Lord did lett me see at this time my life 8c all was in 
 his hand, to kill or to save alive, to preserve or not. Nott th 1 
 it is not so alwayes, but at this time it seemed hee behoved 
 aither to save alive, or preserve in a spetiall maner, or els death 
 and ruine (as to thinges in a world) wer att hand. And ther- 
 for saw myselfe obleidged, q r ever or to q^omeever he should 
 call me, th r was ground of contentment in submission to his 
 will. But alace q* ar we or q t can we doe, being never so weel 
 taught or resolved formerlie, if fresh waterings of his spirit & 
 streanth be not given from heaven continualy, the q ch that we 
 may obtaine. The Lord grant th fc we may alwayes w* cryes 8c 
 teares, call for helpe humblie from him. 
 
 Upon the 22 d of October the Lord gave me a sight of the 
 great dishonor his name had gottne by the late & present sad 
 defectiones of Britain and Irland, for hath not papists and all 
 perswasiones of Religion cause to reproach the wayes of protes- 
 tants, th* q r as all rankes of this nation solemlie vouing 8c 
 swearing &c: to mentaine on thing this year 8c in short time 
 th r after, the self same people, of all rankes, swearing, subscrib- 
 ing, 8c acting w* all th r pouer in the contraire, may they not 
 say surlie th fc way cannot be the way of God, q r they will 
 solemlie perjure themselves in a litle time, oh alas th* tho the 
 Covenants had been unlafull as they wer not, th* all rankes did 
 not consult to hyde th r nakednes in the contrary oathes, who 
 knoues but the Lord might have secretly chastised thes lands. 
 But now seeing our dreadfull defectiones 8c perjuries, in all 
 rankes, is made so manefest to the eyes of all nationes, so it 
 may be feared, th* the Lord will make our plagues 8c judgments 
 as visible to th m to show th* he will not be silent att our sin, 
 but will sharplie reprove the same. But oh th 1 God wold 
 
66 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 prevent so justlie deserved wrathe, & pour out the spirit of 
 grace & suplication th* everie on might loath th m selves, be- 
 cause of th 1 ' sin, & return to him. 
 
 Upon the 23 d of Octo 1 ' 1684 we wer advertised th* the 
 officers of the Garison knew q r we wer, q ch was new ground of 
 feares, but in a short time th r after, him we feared most was 
 cutt off by death. This night the Lord helped me to plead 
 for saftie, becaus of the creweltie of the enemie, and th* not for 
 aney thing in myselfe, for I did see a bodie of sin & death 
 even th 11 working so stronglie against grace th* I was made to 
 loath myselfe, & plead for marcie from him th* was mightie 
 to save, and therby was streanthned from th* scriptur, Isaij 41 s * 
 8c 10 th , fear thow not for I ame w* thee : be not dismaid for I 
 ame thy God, &c : finding undenyablie th* it was the spirit of 
 God 8c of his grace working in me to plead for the same. 
 
 November first, the Lord helped me to plead as in his 
 presence, w* much fervencie, th* hee wold open the eyes of my 
 parents spiritualie & take away the vail of sin & ignorance, 
 this to the great confort of my soule in wining to such neernes 
 w* him on th* account. Now for some dayes the Lord gave 
 me some rest from the vexation of hearing reports, & my minde 
 was keeped in some qwayetnes, in getting some outward rest, 
 & inward peace & neernes w* the Lord, but not long. For 
 upon Wednsday Nove 1 * 5 th I gott word th* my father was 
 takn 8c in prison for converse w* me. And befor I gott full 
 information, I percaved some secret whisperings amongst my 
 freinds q r by I perecaved th r was someq* concerning me, 8c ther- 
 for retired a litle 8c desired of the Lord th* q*ever it might 
 be, that hee wold aither take the burthen from off me, or 
 support me under it, 8c give me the sanctified use th r off. 
 
 Then a litle after M r . Hoge cals for me & w* much concern- 
 cdness discoursed a litl w* me, & then asked q* if yo r mother be 
 dead, 8c I ansred to th* purpose q* was the Lord^ will ought 
 to be myne, then he sd q* if yo r father be dead, I replyed as 
 formerlie. Then he sd to be free w* yow yo r father is in prison, 
 8c some freinds in Edb r ar necessitat to retire upon yo r account, 
 and then w* some waight of minde I w*drew my alon 8c so did 
 he, 8c my spuse & his godlie servant W m Ballach, and q 11 I 
 came doun from a hay loft, the sd W m mett me & sd I most 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 67 
 
 not be troubled for the Lord had sd to him by his word from 
 that scriptur, Exod : 14 & 13, from the midl, th* the Egyptians 
 whom ye see today, ye shall see th m again no more for ever, 
 & tli 1 lie objected against it but the Lord was angrie & stil 
 imprest it in his minde pouer. Q n I was my alon hee tooke 
 the burthin much off' me & conforted me in the hopes th 1 the 
 answer of my prayers for him might run in th* providence, for 
 his oun glorie, my father's good & my confort, for q 11 my 
 father keepd at a distance from the publick defectiones, the 
 Lord remarkablie keeped off much troubl th* others in his caise 
 wer trysted w*, but q 11 I knew he complyed in the comon course 
 of defection, I was made to aprehend the Lord (against whom he 
 had sinned) would not so defend him from troubl : q 11 he had 
 sinfullie fled to men for saftie & not trusted in the Lord who 
 had so oftn delivered him formerlie, the which I was made to 
 express often befor his troubl came, the q ch q 11 it came was the 
 less surprizing, & my concernment was so great, if the Lord 
 had not supported, I had been crushed, but th r was severales 
 dear to the Lord, simpathising w 1 me in th* my afliction, & 
 my wife & compannion in tribulation, caried as cheerfulie as 
 possible tho of itselfe the caise was waightie to us both. 
 
 Upon the 8 th of Nov 1 ' q 11 retired alon, at the first I was much 
 straitned in my minde for some time, & had some thoghts to 
 depairt, I was helped to ane act off faith. That albeit I could 
 not win to words to express my caise befor him, yet I was 
 made firmlie to belive th 1 the Lord knew everie circomstance 
 of it, & was concerned th r in, but then assayeng to bring my 
 father's caise befor the Lord eer I went, I fand the Lord oun- 
 ing me th r in, & therfor desired to be further concerned th'w*. 
 Then the Lord gave me some glimps of Eternatie q ch refreshed 
 my minde, then the Lord gave me a sight of my father's caise 
 as being in a state of nature & sin & therfor lyabl to the wrath 
 of God, & if he should die in th* caise, radey to parish, then 
 considering the sadnes & deplorablnes of th* state & the 
 endlesnes of Eternitie, my soul in much greiff for the same was 
 made to cray furth, Lord is th r no posabilitie of reconciliation, 
 & to gett him under the benefite of thy blood, tli* cleanseth 
 from all sin. Now while I was pleading for this, I gott hopes 
 of the Lord's condescending to come in speaking termes w* him 
 
68 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 and asking as it wer, q* wold he say. Then I was made to 
 say, Lord : every naturall man is distracted & out of his right 
 minde, the strong man having the possession & leading captive 
 to sin at his pleasur, q r thow in marcie restraines not, & tho 
 he could speak he could not ansr on of ane thousand, & lyeing 
 under the sentance of condemnation, I desire to bring him unto 
 the, pleading thow may disposess the strong man & bring him 
 to his right minde, of thy free marcie, & lett him be washen in 
 the blood of thy dear son Jesus Christ. And I was also made 
 to say, but now Lord befor I should offend thee in being so 
 particular rather strick me w* silence, but if it be thy holy will, 
 lett me plead for I am bon of his bon, & flesh of his flesh, & 
 how can I indure his destruction, if it be consistant w* thy 
 glory to save. Then I was made to bliss his holy name for 
 what freedome at the time hee had given me in th* mater, & 
 to plead th* if it wer his will, hee might let me speak yet 
 againe. And I sd, Lord is not the divel & his instruments 
 rugging at his soul to gett it destroyed in sinfull courses & he 
 hath no streanth to resist if thow help not, & now in this 
 caise th r is non to help nor is able but thou th ts mightie to 
 save, & stronger then the strong man, & therfor Lord deliver 
 him if it be thy will, for hee is radie to drope into eternall 
 wreath if thow shalt forbear to help. 
 
 Then I was made to blise the Lord yet mor for giving me 
 further liberty to plead in his behalfe, then I was made to say 
 againe, now Lord befor I offend in being so particular rather 
 let me be silent, but if it be thy will lett me speak yet this 
 once. Then I was made to say, Lord will not freinds & rela- 
 tiones say th* my strait lacednes in religion, th* wold not yeald 
 to smal things as others did (for I was offered liberty upon a 
 sinfull bond q ch maney took, acknoledging Bothwal bridg 
 rebellion, & th* it was not laful to take armes against the king 
 upon aney pretence q*somever), and now see to my wisdom in 
 bringing my father to ruin & miserie, & th* if I had not been 
 a fool I might have done other wayes, & had both peace my- 
 selfe & not brought others to th* trouble, & now Lord, seeing 
 this is & will be th r words in reproach of the & thy cause, is 
 not thy glory concerned & wilt thow not help for thy oun 
 name's saike. Therfor Lord bring him to a right sight of his 
 
Mr. JAMES XIMMO 
 
 69 
 
 raise & make him to seek & obtain reeonsiliation w* tlie in 
 this providence th* he may bliss the day th t ever he was 
 atficted, 8c taught out off thy law, 8c th* he may declare in the 
 land of the living thy wonderful goodnes, & the greatnes of 
 thy marcie that they th 1 reproach may be ashamed and putt 
 to silence. Then I was made to say, Lord may I have con- 
 fidence th* tho\v wilt answer my desire, butt I fand words fail 
 me for ends knoun to himselfe. Then q n I was goeing away I 
 was made to say w* joy in my heart, Lord I doe not remember 
 I either read or heard of aney came to thee so 8c in such a caise 
 <\: was denayed, and now I can nether say nor doe mor, but as 
 I can, desires to leave the mater wholly comitted to thy 
 selfe. 
 
 M r Hog sd q n I told him, that he hoped the Lord would 
 have marcie upon him but wold hyde it from me till such a 
 time as I should stand mor in need of it. It is to be observed 
 th l a litle befor the travel came that the Lord had brought me 
 verie low in the thoughts of myselfe, and did lett me see th* 
 my life & substance was only in the Lord's hand, 8c th 1 pre- 
 servation seemd to be a singular marcie q^ver troubl I should 
 meet w*, this seemd to be the wisdome of the Lord, th 1 I might 
 be brought to mor submission to his wil. And now albeit at 
 the first hearing of this afflicting providence I was not w*out 
 greiff, yet the Lord marcifullie suported me under it w* great 
 streanth in my soul, by some solid confidence in the Lord, in 
 bring now wholly cast upon his caire : & in beliving marcie 
 should be in it. 
 
 Now some few dayes after I gott nottice of my father's im- 
 prisonment, we gott certain advice th 1 Thomas Kenaway 1 8c on 
 Stewart, two off the king's troupe of guards, wer both killed on 
 evening att Swynabay 8c th 1 it was they had takn my father 
 after they had been in Murray 8c imprisoned my brother-in- 
 
 1 The murder of these 1 gentlemen of the life guard ' was one of those rash 
 acts which only brought increased hardships upon the Covenanters — Kennoway 
 had served under Dalziel and taken many prisoners at different times, including 
 the celebrated Hugh M'Kail, and he was, according to Wodrow, a very monster 
 of cruelty and profanity. That worthy historian indulges in no small gossip 
 concerning him. Wodrow seems, however, to have failed in ascertaining the 
 facts attending his death. The murderers were never discovered. It is not 
 easy to see why Nimmo should have been suspected. 
 
70 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 law th r till he gave up our contract, thinking my father was 
 pairtie contract er for me, q ch was marcifully prevented by my 
 father giving his bond at my desire as formerly related, & so 
 th* Scripture W m Ballach gott was fulfild, for I was to see thes 
 enemies noe more, for ever. 
 
 Now the killing of thes two wicked men begot such a sturr 
 in th* pairt of the countrie, th* a pairtie of the guard came 
 nixt morning to search after the actors & did cast the two 
 slaine lyke beasts on a slade and brought th m so to Linlithgow, 
 & three parodies wer all called to q r they apoynted a Court for 
 examining th m upon oath, to discover the actors, yea they wer 
 so strick th* wher persones were not abl to goe, they wer caried 
 to give oath, but all in vain, th r could no intelligence of the 
 actors be gott, nether from whenc they came, nor q r they 
 went. This was w t in fourtin dayes after my father was im- 
 prisoned, & becaus they could get no knoledg of the actors, and 
 that thes two men had been so active to troubl my freinds 
 in Murray & in the south, they thought it most rational to 
 lodg the slaughter upon me tho I was not in the kingdom q n 
 done, & so I was excepted out of severall sinfully claged Indem- 
 neties, q ch obleidged me to keep so closs in Berwick th* severals 
 of our landlord's famely for severall monthes did not kno I was 
 ther, q ch in pairt impared my health. 
 
 Now the cause why they reached my father was, th* thes 
 two men after having bein in Murray & bred much troubl th 1 ', 
 having pour from the Privie Councill to search for me th 1 ', & to 
 hold courts & call in the gentlmen & others, th 1 ' to examine 
 th m on my acco*, & after getting up my Contrack of mariadg & 
 missing my father pairtie Contracter, & returning south came 
 to my father's in the night time & searched the hous at th 1 ' 
 pleasur, and finding severall letters of myne to him, on q ch acco* 
 hee was guiltie by th r law in convers w* his only son (o hard 
 law) & so caried him & all his papers & money, & brought all 
 to Edb r , q r after reading the letters befor the Council, on of 
 the Lords smyled and s d to my father, if ye had obayed yo 1 " 
 sone, ye had not comd heir (for in the end of each letter I had 
 said read & burn) but tho th r be nothing in th m against the 
 king or us, yet ye ar guiltie of convers w* yo r son & th r for most 
 goe to prison. And becaus in some of th m I hade desired to 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 71 
 
 leave his ans r att M ris Ross or M ris Pyper's they were both 
 forced to leave th r houses & fled in to Berrwick q r we wer, & 
 M lis Pyper's hous so searched th* they looked under a skull for 
 carieng coals q r on s d she is litle but cannot be th r , and becau's 
 I had desired my father in on to send his ans r to M. W. C. th r 
 was on M r W m Cheeslie aprehended, & imprisoned & deponed 
 hee did not kno me, & so was liberat, having payed about four 
 dollers of charges as he told me afterward, q 11 I was at libertie 
 after the happie revolution. 
 
 Upon the 20 th of Nov r 1684 being my alon befor the Lord I 
 was desirous to plead q* might be the cause of his streatching 
 out his hand so th* severals wer under afliction, th* wer most 
 friendlie to me, and th* pairtlie upon my account. And the 
 Lord was pleased to clear up to me, th* albeit my heart was 
 single in the end of my going to Bothwel & the cause in it- 
 selfe right & just, yet it was not att the Lord's comand, nether 
 had they sought & waited for his councile & I had joyned w* 
 them in being guiltie of the same sin in not humbling myselfe 
 to seeke of him particular council, whither hee called me th r or 
 not, but having resolved formerly to ventur my all for him, 
 took this to be the time w t out dewlie seeking to know his minde 
 th r in, q ch was no small sin, & under the sense th r of I did see 
 cause of sorrow, & desired to plead for pardon, & reconciliation 
 & to acknoulege hee was rightious for I had sinned. And was 
 helped to plead th* this experience might be blist for my 
 instruction. 
 
 The Lord also discovered becaus my end was single in the 
 mater, hee had trysted me w* unexpressible evidences of his 
 kindness in the tract of providences hee had trysted me w* 
 since th* time, the q ch did more then counterbalance all my 
 troubl, and as for Park, 1 who was now a prisoner also, his 
 end was more for his oun advantadg I fear, then out of love 
 to the Lord, & yet it was not wholy on my account he was 
 taken. 
 
 About this time th* scripture was verie refreshing to me, 2 cl 
 Cor. 3 d & 17, q r the spirit of the Lord is th r is libertie, but 
 
 1 ' September i6th (1684). — The Council order Hay of Park, Alexander 
 Monro, and Campbell of Arkinglass, to be sent to Blackness Castle and kept 
 close prisoners. The occasion is not inserted in the registers.' — IVodrow, iv. 53. 
 
72 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 Satan & my decetfull heart was not idle, for strong wer ther 
 asaults upon me. 
 
 Upon the 23 d of Nov 1 ' by unwatchfulness in giving way to 
 tentatione I was putt a litle in confusion, Satan casting in my 
 minde a fair apearance of a probabl way of reliefe from men. 
 by the moyan of on I th n eyed. And my decetfull heart joyn- 
 ing w* the tentation being presented so probable, th* my heart 
 lost th* sett of trusting in God, the Lord had helped me to 
 keep for some weeks, for from the 5 th day to this I could never 
 say th* I came befor the Lord but he gave me somq* of the 
 faith of his presence, but th 11 being in confusion I could not 
 obtaine the same, doe q t I could, which did learn me two 
 thinges : 
 
 First, th* a little sin as to our conception may make the 
 Lord to w*draw. 
 
 Secondlie, q*ever clear conceptions the soul may imediatlie 
 befor have of the majestie, presence, and favour of the Lord, so 
 th* the soul may think its easie to belive, and lay out th r caise 
 befor him q"ever they please, or att leist q 11 need reqwires, yet 
 lett ye heart, through never so seeming smal sin in thoght, 
 word or deed, be guiltie aither through unwatchfulnes in words, 
 or minds eyeing some vain object or refuge of lies, or yet aney 
 sinfull act th* may make the conscience blush befor the Lord, 
 I say in th* caise (w*out intimationes of pardon & new suplie) 
 they shall not be able by all th 1 * might to deliver th r oun soul 
 from confusion till the Lord give a new act of faith. At this 
 time a litl befor Satan prevailed in this tentation, I was helped 
 w* much fervencie of spirit in some neernes of access to the 
 Lord to plead th fc hee might bliss the present tryal to my 
 parents & savinglie to open th r eyes so we may see th r is need 
 to be sober and watch unto prayer, for Satan and our decetfull 
 hearts, may soon cary us of from the Lord, even after intima- 
 tiones of kindnes, q n somtimes Satan is bussiest & we radiest to 
 yeald in q* is not sinfull in itselfe. 
 
 Upon the 28 th I only gott advice of the particular troubl 
 Kenaway and Stewart had given to freinds in Murray, & th* 
 my brother in law was compeld to give up our Contract, q ch 
 they gott not time to use execution upon, but wer sent to ther 
 place. M r Stewart was thought mor sober th" M r Kenaway & 
 
Me. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 73 
 
 mor lamented, but it n s ill being in bad companie, for Mr. Ken- 
 away was heird say some time befor liis death upon an cold 
 day, it was good beeing in hel the day, q r th r was a hot fyre, & 
 lie had s tl sometime befor if I was out of hell, he should have 
 me, at hearing of q ch blist M r Hog s d if ye wer in heaven I 
 fear he wold not win ther to seek yow. 
 
 My bodey was someq* brockn about this time & th r was some 
 talk of severals going to Carolina in the West Indies, & upon 
 the 2 d of Dece r godlie Evan Campbel being w* us, sett some 
 time apairt in the thoughts th r of & desired me & some others 
 to be concerned w* him th r in. And so I resolved th* after my 
 ordinary in the morning to take halfe ane hour for him, & as 
 much for myselfe, and in the first halfe hour I only gott th t 
 w* some life, Exod : 13 & 21, And the Lord went befor th m by 
 day in the pillar of a cloud to lead th m the way &c. 
 
 And in the last halfe hour I thought the Lord brought in 
 th* w* some pour, Micah, 2 d & 10 th , Arise ye & depairt for this 
 is not yo r rest &c : ther was some serenetie & calmnes in my 
 minde q 11 it came. Then I s d Lord q r shall I goe, th n th 1 
 Scriptur was brought to my minde after the same maner, Gen : 
 12 th & 1, spockn to Abram, letter pairt, unto a land th* I will 
 shew thee. 
 
 Then I saide Lord thou sees q* difficultye apeares, then th* 
 scriptur was brought to my minde, th ts spockn to Moses, 
 Exod : 33 d & 14, and he s d my presence shall goe w* thee, & I 
 will give the rest. 
 
 Then I s d Lord thow sees q* expences will be reqwisit & how 
 by all apearance litl seems to be left of q* I have or might have 
 expected from my father his circomstances being such. The 
 Lord seemd by all this to call me to exercise faith & patience 
 & not to mistrust. 
 
 Upon the 3 d of Dece 1 ' at night (having had several thoghts 
 formerly anent my going to London, & now ane fitt oportunety 
 seemd to offer, & yet I could not get clearnes to goe) I was 
 made to say, Lord its straing I ame keeped so in the dark q 11 
 reason seemes to say I should goe ther or some oth r way, & yet 
 I can nether see qther its my dewty to goe or stay. Then th* 
 Scriptur came pleasantlie to my minde, Isay 42 & 16 th , And I 
 will bring the blind by a way they knew not, I will lead th m 
 
74 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 in pathes they have not knoun, I wil make darknes light befor 
 th m , & crooked thinges straight, thes thinges will I doe unto 
 th m & not forsake th m . Then after I had done w t my ordinary 
 at that time, I resolved to take ane hour nixt morning after 
 my ordinarie to see if I could gett further clearnes in tli fc 
 matter (for I could not take long time becaus my bodie was 
 sore brockn) but all til* hour I could gett no clearnes, and when 
 I was coming away I was made to say, Thow wilt lead the 
 blind by a way they knew not, & in the verie time th r brake in 
 some light w 1 that impression : thow art the blind for thow art 
 seeking thy way & cannot find it as thow wold, & th r for the 
 promise is to thee. O th* I could belive & praise. 
 
 Upon the 20 of Dece 1 ' some from Scotland came to toun, 
 and some th r was th* aprehended ground of feare. I was made 
 to say th* night in privat befor the Lord, wilt thow be a refuge 
 from the storme & a shaddow from the heat and a litle sane- 
 tuarie, & I was also made to plead th 1 he wold hyde me in 
 secret of his tent, and th* word came in refreshinglie, 1 Cor: 3 d 
 & 11 th , All thinges ar youres and ye are Christ's : & Christ is 
 God's. Now for some considerabl time the Lord gave me some 
 peace in my minde & health in my bodie. But first, not w^ut 
 the sence to my oune experience, th* the Lord had covered the 
 daughter of Zion w l a cloud in his anger, Lam: 2 & 1 st , and th* 
 the Lord had restrained the spirit of grace and suplication, and 
 Secondlie, not w rt out the sence of a continuall strugling betuixt 
 the Law of my members & the Law of my minde, and even 
 finding sometimes the Law of my members bringing me into 
 captivitie to the Law of sin &c : Rom. 7 & 23. Nevertheless 
 I did find the Lord in his marcie in thes & other things giving 
 me instruction & experience how to walk & in some measur 
 how to seek & wait for his councill, but oh at best we kno but 
 in pairt. 
 
 And first perswaded me th* in all concerns in waightie 
 afaires I ought w fc sinceretie & seriousnes, acknoledg the Lord 
 in seeking his Councill & aither waiting for it, or to walk 
 slowlie eyeing the Lord in concurring or cross providences, & 
 peace in my minde streanthning me in the use of meanes. 
 
 Secondlie, to be sure if I fand waights & darknes on my 
 minde or bodey, to desist, and to minde th* q n I did other 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 75 
 
 wayes I oft u smarted th r for. Now the divel, the world, & my 
 coruptiones wer not w*out maney assaultes but the Lord sup- 
 ported me. 
 
 First by the faith of his overruling pouer, and then by the 
 faith of Christ's being as much concerned in the caise of his 
 peopl now as in the dayes of his flesh. As also th* by faith we 
 might aprehend him, as neer in access in our adresses as then, 
 and also the hope of eternal life w* some confortabl uptakings 
 of it. 
 
 About the beginning of Feb: 1685, King Charles dyeing upon 
 the 7 th of th* month w^ut aney knouledg of his sicknes to us, 
 about the tenth at night the gates of Berwick, q r we wer, wer 
 shutt & proclamation made by tuke of drum, th* non after such 
 ane hour should be out of th r oun houses, under pain of death, 
 qch begot a g r eat surprising consternation in most of the toun, 
 & maney aprehended a massacar, for the Governur & severall 
 officers wer popish, Amunition takn to the streats & wholl 
 garison in amies all night, q 11 att supper some came in, we 
 desired th m to take some meat, they insinuat they wold never 
 eat more, houever my wife & I took supper, & watched at the 
 windoues all night by turnes & then nixt day King James was 
 proclamed & told Charles was dead, & so the fear of th* was 
 over for the time, but sad thinges feard. 
 
 About the end of this month we got advice my father was 
 liberat & gon home. And th* the Lord had dealt marci fully 
 w* some of our acqwaintances in the north. For q ch I was 
 made w* my heart to bliss the Lord, th* ruleth ever by his 
 pouer, Psal: 66 th & 7 th . 
 
 About this time I sett some time apairt to plead th* if it 
 wer the Lord's will (th* seeing I resolved if his will to go out of 
 the countrie) th* hee wold provide for me, in the q ch the Lord 
 countinanced me, & albeit th 1 * was litle or no probabilitie how, 
 as my father was circomstanced for ouning me, who only should 
 have been usful in th* mater ; yet the Lord gave me great 
 ground to hope : yea belive th fc he wold make my father 
 friendlie, w* bringing in th* scriptur w* satisfaction to my soule, 
 Mai: last & last, & hee shall turn the heart of the fathers to 
 the children, &e: and albeit it be spockn th r in some respect to 
 ane other, yet the Lord presented Jesus Christ so to me, as 
 
76 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 mor pourfull th n aney to doe so, & made only to looke to him 
 & waite in the use of meanes. And indead so it came to pass, 
 that q n I sent to him, albeit he seemd averse at first, yet at 
 leanth was made willing, and did provide me some money, & I 
 resolved (if the Lord would) to goe abroad. And now seeing we 
 had a profest popish king advancing th* intrest w* all the cun- 
 ning he could, & fearing the dreadfull effects to follow, & M r 
 Hoge being to goe for London to see if th r was aney incurradg- 
 ment to goe to Carolina, and ther by my faithful companion in 
 tribulation, my wife, to be left alon in a garisond toune. 
 About the 8 th of Aprile I was resolving to goe w 1 M r Hoge to 
 London, and was made to plead w fc & cry to the Lord for 
 clearnes, but could not gett q* was desired, yet considering the 
 thing so seeminglie rationall, th* I was in thoughts of going & 
 th r for made radey, but the Lord laid his hand upon my bodie 
 th* it was much brockne, yet I resolved to goe (my inclinationes 
 being ingadged) not observing the way the Lord had been 
 teaching me a short time befor. 
 
 But the Lord who is ever marcifull putt a stop. For just 
 the day befor we wer to goe, M 1 Hoge asked me if the Lord 
 had given me ful clearnes to goe, I told him I had some peace 
 but not th* desired clearnes. He desired me to take yet some- 
 time apairt to seek the Lord's minde in th 1 mater ; & s d albeit 
 ye wold be desirabl to me, yet I advise yow aither to gett full 
 clearnes or not to goe. And now taking some time for th t 
 end, and for a considerabl time having nothing but darknes in 
 minde, I was made to say, Lord, if thow give me not more 
 clearnes I will not goe. And imediatlie all bonds wer takn of 
 body & minde. And so I aprehending I was not alloued to 
 goe, resolved to stay, & had peace th r in, but it displeased 
 Mistris Hog, but her husband sweetlie comply ed, & he & his 
 godlie serv* went, but shortlie after I did see great marcy from 
 the Lord in causing me to stay, tho it was darke to me at the 
 time, for in a litl after M r Hoge went, ther was a great report 
 of ane invasion, both to Scotland & Ingland. And shortlie 
 after M r Hoge came to London, he was jelousd for a spay or 
 trafficker for Munmoth, & takn & the Inglish oathes offered, & 
 upon his refusall to take th m , both hee and servant wer sent to 
 prison, q ch its lyke wold been my caise if I had gon, q ch gave 
 
Me. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 77 
 
 me cause to say, his marcie indures for ever. Oh to be thankful. 
 And now by the fors d report of ane invasion all passadges by 
 sea & land wer stoped, 8c so was my jurney abroad at th l 
 time. Yet th r after the Lord gave me great peace, in th 1 I had 
 desired to use all lafull meanes for my oun preservation. For 
 seeing the sad & dreadful lyke stroakes th* wer lyke to conic 
 upon thes lands becaus of sin. And in seeing it was the Lord 
 by his spetiall providence th* keep me still in th* place : qVver 
 might follow. And blist be his holy name, hee was not want- 
 ing to me 8c my desirabl confort, now & then under the sharpe 
 tryals of the time. Maij the 11 th we gott advice th* Argyl 
 was to land or landed in the west Highlands of Scotland, q eh 
 wold begett present trouble. 
 
 Therfor I was advised to goe out off Berwick if possible. 
 And in taking some time apairt to seek the Lord th r anent, 
 hee helped me to some earnestnes w* him, 8c swayed my minde 
 to leave th* place, & cleared me th'in from th* Scriptur w 1 
 some life, Gen: 19 8c 17, Escape for thy life 8cc : it came'w* so 
 much light 8c efficacie as I was made to close w* it. And also 
 hee said, fear not, I am w* the, Gen: 26 8c 24 th . And also he 
 said, my presence shall goe w* the & I will give the rest, Ex: 
 33 d & 14 th . And so I went from the toun th t same night, 
 putting on all the courradg I could to goe through the guards, 
 our landlord's son being w* me, & so passed to Castlhils our old 
 qwarters, & stayed some dayes 8c on day pleasantly inqwiring 
 att my spuse (q m the Lord oftn had made to be of on spirit 8c 
 minde w* me in the Lord's maters 8c our oun) if she wold lett 
 me goe to Argvle, 8c shee said if the Lord cleared my way, 
 whoy not, q ch made me sett some time apairte both to be con- 
 cerned w* th* pairtie 8c to kno my oun dewtie, but nothing but 
 darknes, 8c th r was brought to my minde a passadg long befor 
 q n I was at school in Sterling, q ch was a man th* was amissing 
 for some time near Tough, in th* country : 8c thoght to be 
 murdered, was cast out of the water of Forth neer Craigforth, 
 all swelled, 8c the flesh of his toes 8c fingers washn off : q ch I 
 had gon to see th n , was now I say livlie presented to my minde, 
 w t ane heavie impression relative to Argyle 8c his men wer w* 
 him. 
 
 And some dayes after I went to goe for Edinburgh privatlie 
 
78 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 if possibl to see how maters went, & going alongs w* a carier, 
 th 1 had two horses 8c some Inglish light unentered goods, took 
 the night to travel in, and coming to Hartside in the morning, 
 q r I had once formerly beein, but some th r being wild in th r 
 principles & I not agreeing befor, I went in to a barn to take 
 some rest, & in a short time on comes w* a pair of bedplaides 
 to cover me from cold & knew me, 8c after some rest wold have 
 me in to braikfast, and q 11 I went in th r came a daughter of 
 that famelie from Edb r 8c told th r was no winning in ther, for 
 all was in comotion & confusion, having heard th* Argyle was 
 landed w 1 men and amies. And therfor advised me not to goe, 
 but intreated I might stay th r till I advised q 1 to doe, for I 
 could nether goe back nor forward, q ch made me willinglie 
 accept of the invitation, 8c confusions increasing I stayed th r 
 hidnlie about a month. And albeit they were straingers to 
 me 8c I loath to make myself knoun to th m , yet the Lord 
 made th m both freindlie 8c kindlie. And I hope it was of the 
 Lord for hee was both kind to me in th* place. And others 
 was made to bliss the Lord for my coming, sayeng the Lord 
 made me usfull to th m , q ch was joy to my heart, 8c made to 
 bliss the Lord th r for. 
 
 Now befor I went from this, Argyle was dispersed, and the 
 Lord helped me to be concerned for the Church and this lands 
 at th* time, but was made to see sore 8c great evidences of the 
 Lord's displeasure against us, albeit helped to fear him 8c hope 
 in his marcie. 
 
 In the forsd place I receved a lyne from my wife th* our 
 child had been dangerouslie sick, but was some better. Now 
 from the time I came heir to the end of Maij. Then I began 
 to be sore brockn in my health for several dayes. And about 
 the beginning of Junij I was made to seek of the Lord if hee 
 wold have me to doe aney thing th* I was slack in, (becaus I 
 had found it his way formerlie, q n aither I was intending aney 
 tiling contrair to his will or not stirring up myself to doe q* 
 hee desired). Then I desired to know if I should goe to Edb r , 
 8c finding no light th r , neather peace to stay. Then I was 
 made to say, Lord its not probabl I should goe back, but if 
 thow will, I shall. Then I fand my frailtie imediatly removed 
 8c my bodie refreshed. And I desired of the Lord to kno if I 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 79 
 
 should return & th* scriptur came in my minde w* some effi- 
 cacie, Job 5 th & 24 th , letter pairt, And thovv shalt visit thy habi- 
 tation 8c shalt not sin. And upon the 11 th of Junij 1685 I 
 returned, & found th* my child was sick seeminglie to death, 
 having a flix, the nirles & kinkliost extreamly, & my dear wife's 
 serv 1 away sick, & herselfe in great distress, albeit in great 
 composednes & submission to the Lord's will, I durst not go 
 into Berwick, th r for w* great waiknes of bodey my wife came 
 to Castlhils to me, & left the child w* a freind th* went for her. 
 And it pleased the Lord q n smalle hopes wer left, marcifully to 
 recover the child, and my wife & I setting some time apairt to 
 kno if I should return to Scotland seeing I could not goe to my 
 oun hous then ; wee gott both intimationes of kindnes but more 
 peace to stay then return to Scotland, for now we gott certain 
 advice Argyle was prisoner in the Castle of Edb r . And so I 
 stayed and albeit it was a time of great confusion & troubl, yet 
 the Lord was marcifull in protecting, 8c now 8c then gave inti- 
 mationes of his kindness to my soul. 
 
 Upon frydays night after getting the heavie newes of Argles 
 beinge taken, it being late th* night, I was waighted 8c confused 
 in my minde 8c resolved to take some mor time apairt nixt 
 morning th n my ordinarie ; q ch I did, 8c the Lord helped me to 
 be much concerned for th 1 person 8c his famelie, th* through the 
 free marcy of God they might attain to the blist use of th* 
 aflicting rode. And was made to plead th* bee Avoid stur up 
 the spirits of all his remnant to cray to him for reliefe, 8c I was 
 helped to plead to kno my dewtie, 8c was swayed in minde to 
 read the fourtieth of Isay q r the Lord made several things sweet 
 to me : 8c I thought at th* time it was said the enemies ye now 
 see ye shall see th m no mor for ever. I was made also to plead 
 th* hee wold deliver me from delusion, seeing this was a day of 
 the pour of Satan's kingdom, 8c of the Lord's wMrauing, 8c so 
 we radie to be deceived, only I was made to lay up things in 
 my minde at this time 8c waite the event. 
 
 On day about this time my alone, the Lord gave me a terribl 
 sight of our great guiltines, 8c his anger, from th* 28 Isay, Wo 
 to the croun of pryd, to the drounkards of Ephraim, &c : 8c 
 from the 8 th vers, ffbr all tables ar full of vomit 8c filthines 8c 
 th r is noe place clean, th n I was made to cray, Lord we ar 
 
80 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 guiltie, but pitie & have marcie on us : and I thought the Lord 
 brought th 1 to my vew w* authoretie, Therfor will I make the 
 sick in smiting the, & make the desolat for thy sines, Mic : 6 
 & 13 th , th n I s d how long o lord, th n th* came in, till the land 
 he desolat, Jer : 4 & 7, letter pairt. 
 
 Then I was made to cray, Lord q* wilt thow doe for thy oun 
 names saike. Then th 1 was brought in w* much pouer, Isay 
 28 & 21, for the Lord shal rise up as in mount Perazim, hee 
 shall be wroth as in the valey of Gibeon, th* hee may bring to 
 pass his straing work & his straing act. 
 
 About Junij 16 we gott certaine advice th* Munmoth who 
 had landed in Ingland w* men & amies, was brokn & dispersed. 
 And the Lord conforted me w* severall tilings, but espetialie 
 w* this, th* no enemie could reach the Captain of Salvation, who 
 had the disposing of all things. 
 
 Upon Saboth Junij 19 th the lord gave me the solid faith in 
 prayr of my being befor him, & in the faith of this, helped to 
 plead in behalfe of his church & remnant, & th* hee might stirr 
 up th r spirits to plead w* him. And finding the Lord giving 
 me words & some tendernes, I was made to plead th* the Lord 
 might deliver me from words & affectiones w*out himself but 
 th* he wold make his spirit rest upon me : & considering his 
 promise, th* hee was to be found of th m th* seek him, I was 
 helped w* the more confidence to seek him, but considering the 
 deplorable caise we seemd to be in, I was made to see it my 
 great concernment to plead th* hee might reconcill his people's 
 will & myne to his, th* we might be made w* complacencie to 
 be att his disposing, q*ever he might tryst us w*, becaus we had 
 sinned. Then considering all our outward refuiges had provd 
 refuiges of lies, I was only made to look to Jesus Christ, and in 
 the verie time th* came sweetlie to my minde (it being the 
 Saboth) and in this day he ascended, & is a high preist, who 
 for ever lives to make intercession for his people, Heb : 7 & 
 25 th . 
 
 Then I thought the Lord w* some pour helped me to plead, 
 th* seeing our prayers seemd to be shutt out, and th* hee was 
 alwayes heard, th* (so fare as might consist w* his gloric) hee 
 might interpose his moyan for us w* the father, in behalfe of 
 thes lands. Then I thought it was born in my mind w* pouer 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 si 
 
 8c life, wold ye have. Then I was made to cry as Luke 1 8c 
 74 th , that hee wold grant unto us, th fc we might be delivered 
 from the hand of our enemies, and might serve him w*out fear, 
 and th 1 he might manefest his glorious gospell in purety 8c 
 poure in his sanctuaries in thos lands : 8c I tlioght the Lord 
 gave me acceptance. 
 
 But considering my waiknes & the streanth of delusion in 
 this day of the Lord's depairtur, I was made to plead, th* hee 
 might deliver me from mistakes, then I thoght the Lord 
 brought to my remembrance w* peace in my soul : have ye not 
 been pleading for my spirit to live & act in yow. Then I was 
 made to say, Lord be not offended at me, thow knoues how 
 waike I ame, & how strong delusion is this day. Then I was 
 made to plead & say, lord wilt thou hear my cry ; hee was 
 heard in th* he feared, Heb : 5 th & 7 th , then I was made to say 
 in my minde this was spockn of Christ (and befor I got out 
 thes words) cane it belong to this purpose, th* scriptur came in 
 my minde, Isay 65 8c 24, in the midle, befor they call I will 
 answer, but q 11 again I saide, but this was spockn of Christ, how 
 dar I medle w rt it, th n th* came in refreshinglie, all is yo rs & ye 
 ar Christ's, &c. Then I was helped to plead th* seeing the 
 Arke was takne captive, 8c the Church by apearance ruined, th* 
 the Lord wold make Dagon fall befor the Arke of God. And 
 all this time about the space of ane houre th r was mor th n ane 
 ordinarie life 8c streanth in my soul : having my understanding 
 exercised in a dew fear, & reverence, I hope, of the majestie of 
 God. And at this time I was made also to say, Lord I thoght 
 thou had sd to me, the enemies that ye see the day ye shall 
 not see th m again for ever, & instead of th* its lyke to be th* 
 the freinds th* we saw befor (as it wer) we shal see th m again 
 no mor : & imediatly th* Scritur was brought in w* some 
 authoretie, Isaij 40 & 8, but the word of our God shall stand 
 for ever. Now having stayed from the 11 th of Junij to the end 
 of Octo 1 * in Castlehils, for the most pairt hiddenly, and now the 
 winter drauing neer, & finding it not convenient to stay longer 
 th r , I advised to goe in to Berrwick to my wife & famelie, & 
 perceaving litle ground of securety th r , I was desirous (if the 
 Lord thoght fit) to look after some other residence, and espe- 
 tialy seeing the dreadfull storm from Antichrist and his seemd 
 
82 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 to be aproaching. And after taking some time apairt to kno 
 my dewtie, I thought the Lord was calling me to Edb r th r to 
 advise w* freinds, but my wife not being fully for it at first, I 
 delayd some dayes, and still I thought I saw the Lord's call 
 clearer for my going th r . And so I resolved in the Lord's 
 streanth to ventur, but met w* severall discurradgments, but 
 desiring my wife and others to plead w* the Lord for me, & th* 
 if hee aproved not my going hee might put a marcifull stop : 
 & if otherwayes that hee might prosper me. 
 
 And just as I was going away, on th* I had desired to be 
 concerned, told me they hoped all should be weel, and th 1 I 
 needed not fear, for the Lord had conforted th m in my behalfe 
 w* th* Psal: 1, & all he doeth shal prosper weel ; and it pleased 
 the Lord to back it home w* such streanth in my soul th* it 
 was both conforting and confirming to me in th* jurney. 
 
 And upon the last day of Octo 1 ' I came to Edb r to my dear 
 sister in law Barbara, who about the Maij befor had bein 
 maried upon Georg Sutherland, M r of the old Coffihous th r , to 
 both q m I was acceptable, for q n th r was some reports th* I wa* 
 going to Caralina, she came to us att Berwick, w 1 a minde if we 
 went to take hazerd w fc us, but the Lord thoght fitt other- 
 wayes, & so after some time she was maried w* us. And now, 
 after I had consulted some friends, I sett some time apairt to 
 desire q* clearnes the Lord might give me, & some fearing the 
 Lord, wer th r in concerned (separatlie) at that time. And I 
 thoght the Lord then cleared up my call for Holland. Albeit 
 I feared maney inconveniences in th* place, yet the Lord seemd 
 to ans r th m in some measur by his word & spirit from th* pas- 
 sadg of Scriptur concerning David's going doun to Gath of 
 the Philistines. 
 
 And it pleased the Lord to make me & others concerned in 
 simpathie of on minde. Albeit th r wanted not some seeming 
 impediments, and having acqwainted my dear wife she seemed 
 also to be clear for our goeing, & having wrot for her to 
 Berwick, she w* all convenient speed, came w* tlie child & 
 servant & was marcifully supported in th r way. And nou we 
 heard some report M r Hoge was liberat at London & gone for 
 Holand, which was ground of incurradgment. And we making 
 ourselves radey, occation offered for our transport by sea but 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 83 
 
 th r was some feares to win fairlie aboard & off*. The ship was 
 lyeing att Brunt Island, & we went first night to Leith, & took 
 a passadg boat nixt day, some freinds accompanieng us, & q 11 
 we came over th r was four of Argyle's Captaines in the hous we 
 went too q fc wer in our oun circomstances, viz. W m Clealand, 
 John ffullertoun, James Bruce & John Campbel, who wer sing- 
 ing and making as mirrie as they could, th* they might not be 
 discovered, & so passing th* day the 23 of Nov 1 ' about eleven 
 at night we went all aboard ; the greatest difficultie was our 
 tender child's taking out to the cold sea att th* time of night ; 
 however blist be God we sett saile wVmt discoverie, and being- 
 ten dayes att sea under some distress of sea sicknes, but marci- 
 ful weather, only the last day was stormie q 11 on the coast of 
 Holland. And upon the 4th of Dece 1 ' after it was night we 
 landed at Roterdam, in health & saftie, but w*in two dayes our 
 child fell sick & continoued so, neer unto death for six or 
 eight weeks. And now coming ther & seeing it verie hard to 
 mentain a famelie in tli* place wVmt more stock th n I had, q r with 
 I was sore asaulted & notw*standing of the clearnes & incurrag- 
 ment of my call, & the maney promises formerlie gottn, yet 
 unbeleif prevailed to the doubting in some measure, both the 
 marcie, & faithfulnes, of the Lord as to my present condition, 
 to the sore discurradging & douncasting of my spirit, & being 
 much straitned for accomodation to retire in, for coining at th* 
 time all we could conveniently gett was but on chamber, & we 
 bought some curtians & made a closet off, q ch was but uneasie 
 in severall respects, both to my simpathising wife & me, who 
 did all she could for my incuradgment, but the distress the 
 child was in, gave her & the servant, much a doe, and we wer 
 both misdyeted in our rest & other wayes, being in the midst 
 of straingers, only or we came from Scotland, th r had comd a 
 lyn from M r Hoge giving acco 1 of his being saffe att Rotterdam, 
 to q m q 11 landed we went & staied w* him some few nights till 
 we gott the aforsaide chamber, & indead he & his wife, wer as 
 our parents to ther pour. 
 
 Now being in this caise w*in some few dayes it pleased the 
 Lord to give ane remarkabl evidence, both of his marcie, pouer 
 & faithfulness, th* I might th r by be instructed, which was th* 
 about the 14th of Dece 1 ' this 1685 at night, having been 
 
84 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 advised th 1 the paght or customes of goods was dear, & we hav- 
 ing brought some hh ds of meal, butter & beiff w* us, we wer 
 advised to take it out privatlie, under night. And about nyne 
 at night, no moonlight, no person neer, I was walking upon the 
 peer betwixt the lamps & the water q r the ship lay, waiting for 
 two workmen I had trysted to take our provisions afors d to a 
 hous, becaues it was neer full tyde, 8c looking out for th m , fals 
 over the peer into the water, w* a thick drap cloath coat about 
 me, & going freelie doun over the head, at first I resolved w* 
 death w* some calmnes of minde, thinking th r was no remedie, 
 but steping so over, it pleased the Lord w* a rebound of the 
 water, I came straight up again 8c w* my finger ends, got a lit! 
 hold of the wall of the peer, & being several ships neer, a Scots 
 boy in on of them had heard the plung the water gave q n I fell, 
 & hee cals to the rest, gett the boat qwicklie for th r is some 
 person fain in to the graff (as they call it) 8c q n I heard th 111 ,. 
 having gathered some breath, I said, countriemen, I have 
 slipped & falln, give me yor help, & imediatly the boat came 
 8c tooke me to a pair of staires, 8c albeit unknoun, wold have 
 no reward (& severals of Scots peopl perished about th* time). 
 Now having win to land againe, I emptied pairt of the water 
 out of my pockets, & went home, 8c softlie knockd at the door, 
 & the servant being out, my wife comes & I inqwired if th r was 
 aney with her, & she s d no, so I came forward, the water in 
 my shoes making some noise feard her. I told her I had fain 
 in the graffe. She was feard some person & I had been in 
 debaite, I s d no, but desired iniediatlie to gett me a clean 
 shirt, 8c spred up the bed 8c so casting all of, & putting on 
 ane clean shirt, I lay doun 8c sleeped someq 1 afrightedlie th 1 
 night. 
 
 Now I was made to observe this was not only to teach me,, 
 but also a chastisment, gentlie for my unbelief & to lett me see 
 both his pouer and marcie in my deliverance, for if I had but 
 slipt off from the wall a litle distance, th r was small probabilitie 
 of my being saved from death, but oh my unthankfulnes, for 
 by all this I was not stirred up to belive as hee called for, nor 
 yet to bliss him as the marcie called for 8c deserved, alas for 
 darknes was com d on 8c incressing, for maney a day the Lord 
 gave me freedom from the caires of this life, 8c made most con- 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 85 
 
 cerned w 1 spritualy, but nou alase feares th l way & caire of a 
 famelie overtooke me, th 1 I behoved aither to hope against 
 hope & rely intirly on him, in the promises hee had given, or 
 faint in this day of adversaty & my strainth be small. O hou 
 hard is it to belive contrair to probabilities, but q 1 is imposibl 
 w* us is easie w* him. Now all th* I had mett w* was to gett 
 tryal, and then made to remember th* for a considerabl time 
 befor I came from Berwick, the Lord left me so to the fear of 
 man, th 1 sometimes I thought I could have been glad of some 
 rest from constant fear & terror of men, albeit in a mean lott, 
 yea albeit the Church had not been delivered. Therfor the 
 Lord after I came from th* to Holland, justlie left me in the 
 first place, to the fear of straites, and secondlie to kno how sad 
 it was to have rest from feares of men, & want intimationes of 
 the Lord's favour, for, for the most pairt, I was under grievous 
 darknes & unbeliefe, from my landing th r to the end of Aug: 
 1686. 
 
 Then the Lord much streanthned me, as to my feares of 
 wants from th l Math: 6 & 25th, is not the life more then meat, 
 & the bodie, th n raiment, therfor take no thought q* ye shall eat 
 <\:c., as also bringing severall promises to my minde w* streanth 
 <\: life, but to returne. 
 
 The child having been long sicke, after our landing, it 
 pleased the Lord to recover him, q ch was new ground of thank- 
 fulnes, albeit a punishment for my unbeliefe, yet my heart was 
 not sturred up to rejoyce in the marcie of the Lord th r in as it 
 ought, for q 1 through frailty which seased on my bodey & 
 satan's strong assaults on my corupt natur q ch also too easelie 
 complyed. 
 
 I was not yet freed of my great sin of unbeliefe, albeit con- 
 scious of my great guilt th r in, yet not able to ward of the 
 violence of the tentation, the Lord having w*drawn, & I gott 
 not th* access as sometimes formerlie, & no wonder seeing after 
 so maney aplyed promises, & so maney experiences of his marcy, 
 pouer & goodnes, I should not have trusted in him, & comitted 
 my way unto him, but oh q n will we be wise & our foley leave 
 us, we must aither be preserved by his mightie pouer through 
 faith unto salvation, or it will not doe. 0 cursed principle of 
 free will and abilitie in ourselves, for in us dwels no good & 
 
86 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 w*out him we can doe nothing. And o q* paines is the Lord 
 att to lett us understand this, & yett after much paines we ar 
 lyke bullocks unacustomed to the yock, & wold still be at 
 guiding ourselves, and have things shapen to our minde, 
 q 11 th r is maney things the Lord hath to tell us off, th* 
 th n we ar not abl to bear ; 8c the Lord may be secretlie by 
 darke providences carieng on ane outgate of marcie & prepar- 
 ing us to prize it, & carie right under it, q 11 its not fitt to lett 
 us kno it. 
 
 Now about the 19th of Feb. 1686 the Lord gave us ane 
 other proofe of his marcie 8c concernednes for us. Th r was a 
 bill sent me over from Evan Campbel our godly & kind freind, 
 but told the valou being 86 gil. as ane 100 lb in Scotland, was 
 not from him, but from a north country freind, th 1 had lent it 
 us till we wer in caise to repay it th m again, q oh was some sur- 
 prize, but came verie seasonably both for suplie of our necessaty, 
 & to shame me out of unbeliefe, for my wife was againe w* child 
 8c brockn in health. 
 
 About the 20 of Octo 1 ' nixt our child was verie sick, & the 
 Lord w t much satisfaction in prayer, brought in th* Scriptur 
 for him, Psal: 91 & 16th, w* long life will I satisfie him & shew 
 him my salvation. 
 
 I desiring the Lord might spare him & make him for 
 himselfe. 
 
 Nou our blist father & freind M v Hoge was £on the terme 
 of Whitsonday befor to the Hague, q r I sometimes went, & as 
 his companie 8c advise was refreshing, so my going th r was 
 diverting sometimes, 8c at th* terme we had gott a convenient 
 house ourselves att Rotterdam. And now it drauing near the 
 time of my wife's delivery again, our money was spent, but the 
 Lord had streanthned my faith ; & my minde was more pleas- 
 ant. And upon the 5 th of Nov 1 " she was marcifully delivered 
 of a second sone, and sometime after, as M r Hoge baptized our 
 eldest son John so we took this second to the Hague to him 
 th r , q r he was baptized James, at q ch time was signal & observabl 
 pour 8c presence of the Lord, th* not only I, but others wer 
 made to say they never heird nor felt more of the authorety of 
 the Lord in aney ordinance, th" q n he pronounced his name 8c 
 Hit' names of the persones of the Trinity. 
 
Mit. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 ST 
 
 Now q 11 my wife was lyeing in of this child, honest Tor 
 woodlie 1 sent James Scot his servant to know how she was, & I 
 sd James, our money is neer spent, & if the Laird have we 
 most borrow, & indead Torwoodlie was not slack in sending 
 q* suplied till we got mor, & repayed him, which hee was loth 
 to take till we came to Scotland, for his Ladey being my wife's 
 relation, he still sd they wer lykc other & evidenced much 
 kindnes to her. 
 
 Nou, after some time, I thoght if I had some money I might 
 doe someq 1 for my famely by trading. So I wrot to my Cuss-, 
 ing Patrick Young forsd th 1 if th r wer a possabilitie to raise me 
 some money, I wold give q* securety I could, & my proposal 
 was, he to len me 500 m , my sister, Aunt Agnes, & my father 
 each, so much, and if he was not free for his pairt not to pro- 
 pose it to the rest, but he was content, & the only stop seemed 
 to come by my father, & so th* failed, th 11 I assayed someq* 
 els, but still all was refuiges of lies, faith & patience was to 
 have the tryell, & my waiknes & the Lord's pouer & marcie 
 mor discovered, & I made to wade in a labrinth of difficulties, 
 threatned w* want w*out sight of outgate, & even in this place, 
 not w*out fear and danger from the enemie, for some wer w^ut 
 order, griped, put aboard and sent for Ingland, & th 1 ' hangd, 
 some aledged murdered by the enemies in th* place q r we wer, 
 some attacked by violence, w* sword in hand to be caried oft' 
 & they defending th m selves resisting force w* force in wounds 
 & blood till the Magistrates of Rotterdam tooke & imprisoned 
 both till examined & by the mob, forced to justice albeit 
 inclynabl anough of th m selves, & some of thes atackers wer in 
 prison q 11 the Prince off Orange came over at the hapy Revolu- 
 tion. And sometimes th r was a search procured (by King- 
 James) from the States, but they kindlie gave some advertis- 
 
 1 In the beginning of 1685 the Council had ordered George Pringle of Tor- 
 woodlie along with Hume of Polwarth to be prosecuted for treason. They 
 were accused of a share in the conspiracy against the King's life, and that of 
 the Duke of York, known as the Ryehouse Plot. Proceedings went in absence 
 — Pringle had taken refuge in Holland. His lands were forfeited, and his son, 
 a lad of sixteen, was imprisoned, and only liberated on finding bail for the 
 enormous sum of ^5000 sterling. Pringle is described by Wodrow as 1 a gentle- 
 man of a fine spirit, and singularly religious.' His wife was a daughter of Brodie 
 of Lethen, and Mrs. Nimmo's cousin. 
 
88 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 ment, th* Scots people might be on th 1 * guard, as particularlie 
 once for S r James Stewart who narroulie escaped by the im- 
 portunetie of worthie old M ris Hog in whoes hous he was, th* 
 he wold goe out, having heard the search (q ch putt us all in 
 alarom) was to be th* night. 
 
 We had indeed some confortable freinds th* wer fled w* us, 
 & some th* had ther residence for trad th r , such as M r Russal 
 & M r Pyper's famelies. And it pleased the Lord to make two 
 Dutch women kindlie & benefitiall Mefrow Verbeck & her 
 sister in law, by the influence of blist old M ris Hoge, & having 
 chainged our habitation from the Scots Dyke on the high 
 streat to the Blaker streat & stayed th r neer ane year also, 
 the hous was takin by ane other. And having severall wayes 
 labord to divert myselfe, & exercise my bodie, in buying backs 
 at the saw miln, for burnwood & braik & work among the same 
 & some times walking to the Hague & other places. Att 
 lenth K. James gave ane toleration in Scotland for meeting- 
 houses, out of a peace of state policie, q ch gave some intervale 
 of rest for a time, & severales went home. And albeit our 
 worthie freind M r Hoge wold never joyn th r w*, so as to preach 
 by vertiow th r of, yet after seeking the Lord, he determined & 
 went to Scotland, q ch was a great seeming loss to me. And 
 our hous being takn as sd, & the term of removing drauing 
 neer, I was at some pains to look out for ane other, but alvvayes 
 somq* stopt, at lenth M 1 ' Pypper our good freind & I went till 
 we wer both wearied, & could not come to setle, & on Thomas 
 Bogle had offered a chamber in his hous, w* some other small 
 accomodation, but my wife being now bigg w* child, & the 
 summer coming on, & the sd chamber lyabl to the heat of the 
 sun, she could not think upon it. And I coming home wearied, 
 I told her all M r Pypper's travel & myne was in vaine, & I 
 resolved to be at no more paines th* way, & feared she behoved 
 to goe to M r Bogle's. Upon q ch considering all circomstances 
 she was much grived, & run to ane other roume w* the teare in 
 her eyes, & looking up to the Lord, begged pitie, & by th* 
 Scriptur Psal : 102 d & 17, He will hear the prayer of the 
 destitut, & not despise ther prayer. Hee fuly reconceild her 
 will, refresht her mind, & made her will pleasantlie to follow 
 q* hee thought fitt to carve out, & returned w* a pleasant 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 89 
 
 minde & countinance, sd now I will goe to M r Bogle's or q r 
 vow please. Ijudgthis was upon Saturday 21 Aprile, 1688, 
 & upon Munday 23 d we removed to M r Bogle's. 24 th I did 
 labour to putt up our litl furnitur in the best maner I could, 
 & resolved th* night to sett the morrow apairt to seek the 
 Lord's mind, if I should goe home to Scotland, seeing provid- 
 ence seemd now so to straitn us ther. The q ch I did it being 
 Wednsday the 25th, a day never to be forgott, for then the 
 Lord tooke of all my former darknes & fully cleared up my 
 way to goe to Scotland, & left not the least hesitation or doubt 
 of my call. First, from th* Isay 41 & 10, fear thow not for I 
 be w* the, be not dismayed for I ame thy God, I will streanthn 
 the, yea I will helpe the, yea I will uphold the w* the right 
 hand of my rightiousnes. Secondly, from Psal : 91 & 10, th r 
 shall no evel befall the &c. Thirdlie, from th* Psal : 121 & 7, 
 the Lord shall preserve the from all evel &c. 
 
 Fourtlie, from th 1 Mark 5 & 34 th , and he sd unto her, 
 daughter, thy faith hath made the whole, goe in peace &c. 
 
 Fiftlie, from Dewter : 12 & 20, when the Lord thy God 
 shall inlarg thy border, as hee hath promised the &c. 
 
 Now it pleased the Lord to bear home all those w* such 
 pour & life upon my soul, th* I had a firm perswasion they 
 wer from the Lord to me aplyd by the efficacie of his spirit, 
 th* I was no mor sad : but w* solid peace & stayednes of minde, 
 fixed upon the Lord, in thes promises as faithful. And the 
 nixt day being the 26 th I went to the Hague & tooke my leave 
 of Lapnes & his Ladey & returned, & upon fryday the 27 th a 
 shipe being radey to saile, I went aboard in the afternoon : & 
 th* night came to sea, q r after about ane day & an half's sailing 
 we was neer the coast of Ingland, a dreadfull storm ariseth 
 of extraordinary wind & rain tk 1 the M r & Mate sd they had 
 sailed 25 years & not mett w* the lyke, & they wer feard they 
 had lost th r course. Worthie old M ris Hog; came home me 
 & we wer both extremely sick & in our extremity I sd M ris 
 Hog if I had aney simpathy to spare ye should have pairt, but 
 trewlie I need it all myselfe, only it will have ane end. At 
 q ch as she could, she smyled ; however, tho we got a sore toss tli* 
 a short voyage. And upon the 30 th we landed safe at Bor- 
 roustounness. I had a cussing sailed in the shipe who gave me 
 
90 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 his bed & took care of me, 8c gave me now & th 11 a litl tost in 
 wine but litle could I take but my minde stayed & pleasant. 
 My cussing once giving me someq* q n an intervall of the storm 
 aloud sd he wondred what she was th 1 had married me, I 
 pleasantly ansrd she beguiled me 8c I her, for indeed we wer 
 both but tender. And upon the first of Maij M ris Hog 8c I 
 came both to Edinb 1 '. O to seek him I wait for him, he makes 
 up all loss by delays q 11 he comes. 
 
 Now after I had stayed th r a litle time 8c consulted w* 
 freinds, I fand th m avers from my returning to Holland again, 
 but I was in the dark myself, whether or not, & wrote so to 
 my wife, for I feard her coming over being w*in two moneths 
 of her time to be delivered of a third child. I wrote some 
 dayes th r after a second to my wife 8c desired to think on 
 coming home, tho I was yet in the dark & had not freedome 
 to desire her to come home considering her caise, but the Lord 
 was helping her to cry to the Lord for councill & light, to 
 direct her way. My third, in a short time was leaving the 
 whol mater to herselfe, for if she had not freedome then to 
 ventur home in her present circomstances, th 11 I wold labour 
 to ventur over to her, q ch did putt her to a considerabl straite, 
 both becaus she had heard th* I had been sicke unto death q 11 
 I came home, & also if she came home I might be the more 
 ingadged to ventur on, 8c be lyabl to danger, & if troubl came 
 on me she might be guiltie, 8c yet it was hard to stay ther if 
 th 1 ' was a probabilitie off' living at home, 8c she told me th 1 
 Scriptur calmed her minde sweetlie, Rev. 3 d 8c 10, becaus thow 
 hast keep the word of my patience, I will also, keep the from 
 the hour of tentation, th 1 satisfied her as to me. 
 
 Then she brought her oun case befor the Lord and desired 
 to plead hee might direct her, 8c then th* came to her minde 
 w* some pouer, Exod : 33 8c 19, 1 will make all my goodnes pass 
 befor the 8c will proclaime the Name of the Lord befor the, in 
 q ch she fand clearnes to ventur if providence concurred, 8c so 
 sett about the means, but the shipe she was thinking to go w*, 
 8c not ane other, because th r was kindly men of her acqwaint- 
 auce sailed th r in, was to sail on munday 8c this was Saturday, 
 but Munday after she had been desiring if the Lord cald her 
 to goe, he might putt a marcifull stop for some dayes. She 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 1)1 
 
 was advised some Mer te had prevailed w* the M r to stay and 
 they wold give him considerable goods, q ch was the M r his 
 profite & her conveniencie, & so she got time, but ane honest 
 freind the mate s (l he wold not lett the M r know, for he had 
 beine feared w* a gentlewoman was brought to bed in his shij)e 
 formerlie, & if he knew her caise he wold not condescend. She 
 told she wold not hyde her caise, 8c if the Lord stops th r she wold 
 stay, but after meeting w* the M r 8c telling him, after some 
 demur, he pleasantly condescended sayeng seeing her husband 
 was home he wold not be a mean to separat us, and so came 
 home, 8c in discurradgments by the way that Scriptur still 
 came in her mind w* suporting streanth, Psal: 13 8c 5, but I 
 have all my confidence, &c. 8c in seven dayes was saflie landed, 
 praise to the Lord, and I being in Edb v uncertain if she was to 
 come, a gentleman sent for me not doubting but I had heard, 
 & s d I hear yo r wife is com d to Borroustoness, at q ch I was sur- 
 prised, but imediatlv after getting a lyne th r anent, was glad, 
 and th* same night M r Young fors d and my brother in Law 
 rod out albeit it was late, & was th r against the morning, 8c 
 fancl she had been ill all night of a cholick, but some better, 
 but q 11 on horsback & got the fresh aere, she was much better, 
 and being the 5 th of Junij 1688 we came safe to Edb r q r I have 
 providentialie gott my Cussing M r Younge's hous, who after 
 my coming home had removed to his oun hous in the countrie. 
 
 Now to return a litle, upon the 20 of Maij I then gott mor 
 access to plead w 1 some libertie upon my father's account then 
 formerly but no promis. Jim 2 d I gott access as to my oun 
 caise, 8c the caise of myne, w* confidence in God through Jesus 
 Christ, but no promise. I coming now home this manna 
 seemed to cease. 
 
 And now my wife's time of delivry drauing neer, her con- 
 fortabl sister much atending her, upon the 12 th of July she was 
 by the marcie of God, safly brought to bed of her third child a 
 doughter, who got such stress in coming into this world, th* 
 th r was litle apearance of life, 8c my wife fel verie ill & feverish, 
 w* ane extream purging, yet through the marcie of the Lord, 
 both recovered, & the Lord was maney waves marcifull to us at 
 that time, 8c albeit I needed to be coutious as to my saftie, yet 
 th r was not th* violence of persecution, King James resolving 
 
92 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 on smooth methods for some time, & yet I caused speak to some 
 to see if my full liberty could be procured, but they durst not 
 ingadg th r in, & even some of my neer relationes refused to con- 
 verse w* me for fear of after troubl. But it pleased the Lord 
 to open th* wonderfull door of deliverance himself, by th* 
 glorious providence of the Prince of Oraing landing in Ingland 
 about 4 th Nove r th* year, q ch freely loused all our bonds as to 
 that tirranie & opression we had long groanned under ; let th* 
 day never be forgottn by all fearers of God & good protestants, 
 for th* was a day of the rejoycing of ther hearts. 
 
 Now having heard of the Prince his making radey to come 
 over about the midle of Octo r I venturd to goe see my father 
 att his oun hous in Boghall, & now & then all th* winter 
 passed my time some times w* my wife & some times w 1 my 
 father. And albeit all in Ingland submitted to the prince, yet 
 Duke Gordon, our popish Governor of Edb 1 ' Castle, thought 
 h'tt to hold out, q ch oblidged the Prince to bombard & can- 
 nonad the same, & we living in the grass Market wher we could 
 hardlie go out or in, but in vew of the Castle & they having 
 killed some persons upon the streat, freinds wer verie pressing 
 for our removing from thence. 
 
 As also Captain Wallace keeped out the Abey w* the foot 
 guards as long as he could, q ch moved the minds of severals 
 against him and particularly the Colidg youthes & prentices 
 w* some others q ch went doun in a bodey to require his leaving 
 the Abey, q ch he refusing & they pressing forward, he caused 
 fyre on them some small cannon load w* small shoat & killed 
 & woundede maney, q ch so exasperat the wholl toun as weel as 
 the relationes of boyes kild [& wounded th* the boyes and 
 others left called for asistance by beatting of droumes through 
 tlie whol toun, who nixt night went doun asisted by the 
 Magistrates & Toun guards q ch oblidged Captain Wallace to 
 leave his post & flee, and the boyes & youthes entring went 
 i mediately to the Abey church q r King James had made much 
 preparation for his Idolatrous worship, & brought out all th* 
 was ther & brunt & brake doun the same & th n went to severall 
 other papists' houses & tooke popish books & trinckets they 
 round ther & brunt the same also, for ther was now a wonder- 
 full forwardnes in most & non durst opose for th r had been 
 
Mil. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 feares of massacers formerly, so th fc one night being some tumult 
 in the Toun & I att my fathers, my wife & child in bed, 
 nigbours wold have had her ryse for th r was notliing but death 
 to be expected, her minde was much composed & said to the 
 child att her pape, & Grisall most thow & I be slain this night, 
 then the child lookes up to her & smyles, w* q ch th r came ane 
 impression in her minde th* she hoped th r was no fear, & s d if 
 she wer up she wold goe see q 1 the mater was, and the servant 
 going found it a man in the staire strugling to goe out to the 
 guard & his wife & children holding him, q th raised the 
 alarum. 
 
 Now the Castle being in a maner besadged & much shooting 
 on both sides, & some persons on the streat neer to us killed as 
 afors d , freinds still pressed our removall from th* place, but the 
 Lord gave me & my wife both confidence and clearnes to stay 
 w* much composur of spirit, the Lord giving us both promises 
 for saftie & protection, but at lenth the importunety of our 
 best freinds even of the godly as blist M 1 * Hoge & Mistris Ross 
 prevailed, we seeing th m still uneasie for fear of us. 
 
 So th* contrair to our light to please th m upon the 16 th of 
 Aprile 1689 we went to my father's w* our famely q ch was 
 indeed a sad going to us, for the Lord wMrew, darknes came 
 upon our mindes, we got not our wonted access in prayer of 
 qch we f an d the sad effects for about three yeares as shall after 
 be related. So th* q 11 the Lord gives light & peace, lett th m 
 be tender of it th* gets it & lett non be rash in advising to the 
 contrair or medling to cross the light of others, for being at 
 my father's we wer badlie accomodat, had much darknes, q* we 
 had gott was spent th r only remained some ballance of my wife's 
 portion to be gott. I aplyed myselfe in everything to pleas 
 my father, being now as it wer at his disposing againe. My 
 wife gained his affections and some times in conference he was 
 made the tear in his eye to hear and acqwiess. So under 
 much discurradgment th* spring & summer passed for now the 
 tract of providence was altered, for formerly life was in hazerd, 
 much danger & terror from the enemie, the Lord supporting 
 & conforting by teaching us out of his law. Now th* is over 
 & uncertanty how or q r to setl or be mentaind was our tryel 
 under darknes and distance from the Lord as to our aprehen- 
 
94 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 tion & uptaking, tho his everlasting armes was under us & his 
 design was marcy in the end, glory to him. 
 
 Now the summer being past & the Harvist coming on I 
 attended the reapers w 1 much diligence, & my being formerly 
 in a cedant life for some yeares & keeping ane exact dyet, & 
 now exposed to raines & weet feet brought a violent habituall 
 cholick upon me q ch continoued about twelve yeares th r after, 
 by courses twise or thrise every year, & lasted some times two 
 weekes, some times to eight & so longer & shorter, this was ane 
 other rode for our going against our light, & my wife was again 
 w 13 child of her fourth & tender in health yet better as some- 
 times formerly. 
 
 And now my father having posessed the Maines of Boghall 
 about thirtie yeares, he resolves to qwit it & proposes it to me 
 & he wold give me the halfe of the plenishing, this putt me to 
 new thoughts & seeke councill from the Lord, but the old road 
 of access was much incumbered w t darknes. Houever at lenth 
 I seeinge the ferm much worn out & if I got not the whol 
 plenishing & somq 1 doun of the rent I wold be but under slavrie 
 to medl w t it & th r for resolved th* except Boghall the maister 
 wold give doun 20 lb Scots each year of the rent & my father 
 give me the wholl plenishing, q ch wold be worth about three 
 thousand merks Scots, I wold not medle, & heirin I fand peace 
 in my minde, & so I did propose both to the Laird & my 
 father, both q ch they refused & I continoued to stand at the 
 resolve I had taken. Therfor my father legalie gave it over & 
 I was now at a straite. 
 
 And the Government being now setled upon King W m & 
 the customes to fall in his hand to be manadged by the Lords 
 of Thesaurij, about Julij 1690 I was advised th r off & th* our 
 dear freind Evan Campbel had gott a post & desired to come 
 to Edb 1 *, so neer the end of Janry I went to Edb r tho my wife 
 had no reckning & was brought to bed befor my return, so 
 com uning w* freinds at Edb r was advised to adress myselfe 
 to the Lords Crauford 1 & Cardres 2 who wer my good freinds 
 
 1 'The great and good Earl of Crawford.' lie was appointed President of 
 the Council at the Revolution, and died in 1698. A curious letter from him 
 will be found in the Appendix (513) to Burns's Wodroiv. 
 
 2 Henry, third Lord Cardross. He had at one time attempted to found a 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 95 
 
 & two of the Lords of the Thesaury, & q n I did, they told me I 
 was too late for all was fild up, but my Lord Crauford, after 
 second thoughts, thought fitt for the present to take out the 
 clarkes name was apoynted for the Custom hous of P r pans & 
 caus fill up myn, Evan Camphel being to be survyor th r I judg 
 prest this, I fand the incurradgment wold be small & w* all 
 fand one aversnes in my minde 8c so refused it, of q ch honest 
 Lord Crauford hearing sent for me 8c prest me to take q* they 
 could now give & sd lie judged th r was as maney knaves had by 
 moyen gott better posts q ch in a litle wold make roume for me 
 8c others & it was q* he could do at the time, 8c if I refused he 
 wold never more be for me, q ch w* my present straite prevailed 
 tho th r was such a damp on my minde at the time as the but- 
 tones wer lyke to break of my breast. So I complyed again 
 w*out light, 8c so returned to my dear wife w 1 the newes th r of, 
 who in my absence was after hard labor brought to bed of her 
 third son q m we called Thomas, after blist M r Hoge, who had 
 maried us 8c baptized the former three in three severall 
 nationes. 1 
 
 Now about the first of March, Samuel Douglas of Heaslside, 
 Collector, Evan Campbel, Survyor 8c I went to Prestonpans 8c 
 intimat our Comissions 8c tooke posession of our posts, 8c about 
 the 15 of Aprile we came from Boghall to Edb 1 ' q r we stayed 
 till the 13 th of May th* our hous was radey at P r pans, and then 
 went th r , 8c in our going mett w* a marcifull providence for our 
 servant Betrige Wood who had gon to Holland w* us 8c stayed 
 since, being upon a horse w* the youngest child upon her knees 
 8c other two in creils upon the horse, she 8c the youngest child 
 fals botli from the horse w*out harme to aither, praise to the 
 Lord. 
 
 Now being setled th r I had some difficultie at first, being un- 
 aqwainted w* the imployment, but was marcifully guided 8c 
 the Collector being upon such service befor was usfull to me at 
 first, but afterward I did for him 8c myselfe both, for he stayed 
 
 colony in Carolina, which was destroyed by the Spaniards. With others he 
 found refuge in Holland, and returned with William III. He was appointed 
 General of the Mint. He died in 1693. It was to a daughter of this nobleman 
 that James Nimmo (Secundus) was married. 
 1 I.e., in England, Holland, and Scotland. 
 
96 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 litl at the place. But my cholick & much darknes on my 
 minde oft affected me, yet the Lord was other wayes verie 
 marcifull to us in maney thinges & blist & prospered q 1 was 
 comitted to my charge. Butt a considerabl time after our 
 setling ther th r was ane act of parliament did apoynt harth- 
 money to be collected and M r Campbell was as a brother to 
 me & I to him for he was trewlie gratious but somq* of ane 
 high & aspiring minde, to q ch much incurradged by his wife, he 
 ingadges to colect the hearthmoney in the presbetry of Had- 
 ingtoun & pressed me to come in eqwaly w* him q ch I was 
 averse from, but my wife more, yet by his constant pressing I 
 was prevailed w 1 , sore against my wife's will, & I never remem- 
 ber I tooke my oun will so farr against her's as in th l for q ch 
 I smarted sharplie. My motives wer it lay neer us & wee 
 might doe it & so make some litle gain beside the post we wer 
 in & I could not weel refuse my asistance to my dear freind he 
 being ingadged, in q ch th r soon arose maney difficulties & we 
 wold have been content both to have been free of it but could 
 not and th r for I resolved to sett my face to it, but we was not 
 weel begun till he gott liberty from the Lords of Thesaury to 
 goe north to the Highlands to bring south a sone he had left 
 th r some yeares befor a child q 11 he was forced to flee from 
 Murray, and the Collector's Ladey fell long sick & att lentil 
 dyed, so th* the stress of both ther posts & my oun & the 
 hearth money lay upon me & laboring sadlie also w* my cholick 
 so th* I was in great distress severall wayes, & mean time came 
 in a shipe w* french wines q ch was ane addition to my troubl. 
 The merchants told me they used to geat some ease of the 
 dewty at all ports & I behoved to do the lyke. I told th m I 
 could give nor would give non, but th* belonged to the Col- 
 lector to act th r in as bee thought fitt, but to pleas th m I told 
 th m tho it was contrair to my Instructions yet I wold take a 
 blanke report & entrie till the Collector was sent for, q ch they 
 wer content off', but a few dayes after the Merchants being- 
 absent, Georg Dundass, Survyor at Leith, heiring our Collec- 
 tor and Survyor wer absent, procured ane order from my Lord 
 Reath Thesourer deput to come & survey & see the bookes & 
 manadg, q ch he presented to me att Port Seaton, waiting & 
 overseeing the unloading of the wines. I told him the order 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 97 
 
 should be obayed & imediatly a waiter he had brought from 
 Leith I ordered aboard w* oures. M r Dundas sd he behoved to 
 see the report & entry, I ansrd, why not. He sd wold I send 
 for th m , I sd I trusted th m to non but myselfe, he sd th n he 
 wold goe w* me. I was in a great strait & feared to be afronted 
 the bookes being blanke, houever spock privatly to the M r of 
 the shipe, a Dutchman, & told him this M r Dundass wold doe 
 harme if the report was not filled up, th r for desired him on his 
 perril to give me a just acco*, so he told me but reservd out six 
 tunes. So I thoght if M r Dundas went to a hous I could get 
 the bookes fild up, but q 11 we came neer the Custome hous I sd 
 I judged this was his qwarters we wer going by, he sd he wold 
 goe straight & see the books, q ch reased a new difficulty. I told 
 him I most th n goe back to my hous & gett the key, he sd I 
 wil waite at the Custom hous door till ye come. However 
 coming home told my wife the distress I was in, q r at she was 
 grived & th* came in her minde w 1 calmnes : the uprightnes of 
 the upright shall deliver th m as in 1 & after 
 
 gon out I rememberd th r was a back door to the chamber 
 through our Landlord's & th r undiscerned gott in & filled up 
 the bookes as the M r had given account, & returned out & 
 came to M r Dundass & opned the for entry & took him in & 
 did lett him see the bookes. 
 
 I most say the Lord wonderfully & marcifully guided me in 
 this hurrie of surprize, praise, praise, to him. 
 
 Q n the Merchants came, they wer much troubled th 1 the M r 
 had concealled six tunes, & intreated if I wold but secure it 
 from the pouer of M r Dundass, but they could show me no 
 way hou, then I came home much troubled & told my wife this 
 new straite th* the Mer ts wer lyke to lose so much, at q ch tho 
 formerly supported she failed, I not being weel, throues my- 
 selfe upon my bed & sd I have falln upon a way to frustrat M r 
 Dundas & comply w* therMer ts , & upon the nixt morning goes 
 to th m and proposes th* I should take th r bonds q r in I should 
 narrat th* it was short reported, & so became seazur, q ch the 
 Mer ts aledged was through my not fully understanding the 
 Dutch langwadg, & th r for tooke bond th* the Mer ts should be 
 
 1 This blank space is in both the original and early copy. 
 
98 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 lyabl th r for as the Lords of Thesaury should find just & so by 
 transirie narrates this and orders M r Dundass to lett it pass. 
 I most say the Lord so marcifully did guid me in all this as I 
 nether can omitt nor forgett it, praise to him, for albeit my 
 ends was singl if he had gott the book, as it was, it might have 
 been misconstruited & I reflected upon, & he was necessitated 
 to lett all pass as ordered. 
 
 And as for the herth money tho I collected twelve parodies 
 of fourtin yet & put all in order in a book, yet I was content to 
 lose all my labor & satisfie myselfe to gett my charges. 
 
 Now our sone Thomas fell sick in July 1691, a verie pleasant 
 child, & upon the 15 of August th r after depairted this life, 
 anent q m his mother gott some refreshing promises. 
 
 Now being long & sor distrest w l my cholick & my health 
 impaired, my wife & I both having scruples about the report 
 oath that the M rs of ships gave, & also a difference fell out 
 betwixt M r Campbel & me by reason of some mistake arose 
 q ch made him give me some slight in publick q ch I recented in 
 passion, so th* ever after if aither he or I tutched upon th* 
 subject we fell both in passion tho oth r wayes th r was never two 
 brethren lived in more complacencie. 
 
 Also blist M r Hog sent us word he did not see our stayeng 
 in th* place. Also M r John Moncreiff, Mini r th r , had pressed 
 M r Campbell & me to be elders, the q ch we could not gett free- 
 dom to doe becaus as we wer stated in our posts we wer takn 
 as enemies to the most of the paroch & they for most pairt 
 traders, & maney of them indevouring to run th r goods 
 privatlie ashoar, w*out entring and payeng the King's Customes, 
 but M r Moncreiff still pressed & cald for us to kno our reasones. 
 I tooke upon me to tell him the former reason & also th* M r 
 Campbell & I had each of us takn some time apairt & as yet 
 could find no freedom, & if the Lord was tryeng if we wold wait 
 for his councill, if we gott freedom we should accept, for we 
 wer both beyound doubt it was a dewtie in itselfe but to us as 
 circomstanced was the ground of doubt, yet he would not for- 
 bear & read us out in church but we wold not accept, at q ch he 
 was displeased. 
 
 Now all thir things made us both think, q* if we should louse 
 from th 1 place, but espetialy my wife, so we agreed to take a 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 99 
 
 fornoon each apairt to see q* clearnes we could gett & she was 
 clear to goe & I to stay q ch we comunicat to others at dinner, 
 & in a short time after M r Campbel comes in & after a litle I 
 smyled & sd Evan is not my wife & I going to pairt, & he being 
 acqwaint w* the practise I told him how the mater was, my wife 
 sd no for if ye stay so wil I. Then I replyd no for ye shall 
 goe & in dew time I may gett freedom e, but she persisted & 
 till she resolved to goe had no peace & nixt morning went in 
 to Edb r & takes a house & at Martimas 1691 we pleasantly 
 pairted & she went and the famely, & I stayed till the begin- 
 ning of March & cleared my accounts & gott freedome to goe, 
 and I most say th* time was the sweetest to me of all the whyle 
 I was in th* place. 
 
 Now having gott the balance of my wife's portion from her 
 elder brother, and the Ladey Grant had signified if my wife 
 wer in Edb r she wold send some of her children to her to board 
 befor aney, prevaild w* my wife to take a house the larger & 
 furnish it some better, it tooke the most of the litl money 
 Ave had, for to this time we had litl or no plenishing except some 
 fether beds & bed-cloathes, because of our uncertain abod in 
 every place we had yet been in, & Grant's children falling sick 
 th* project misgave and about August 1692 my wife conceaved 
 againe & shortly after takes a violent flix th* to the time of 
 her delivery was never able to goe over the door out, & for 
 most pairt keep bed & no life expected by most, tho the Lord 
 conforted me w* th* Scriptur, Isay 56 and 7 th , Even th m will I 
 bring to my holy mountan, & make th m joyfull in my house 
 of prayer, & q ch the Lord so fixed in my straite in my minde 
 th* I firmly relyed th r on th* he wold yet make her joyfull in his 
 hous of prayer, & some freinds qwarreled th* I seemed not 
 more to fear her death. Now about this time, or a whyle 
 befor, I cannot be posetive seeing q 11 I came from Holland a 
 dear freind had my nots & being obleidged to hyde th m & 
 some wer th n lost & oth rs spoyled q ch discurraged me to wryt 
 more, I have not the peremptor time of thinges. I say about 
 this time or befor I had resolved to goe north and see freinds, 
 and for that end bought a horse, but the verie night befor I 
 was to take journy w* honest W m Ballach, I takes a most 
 violent fitt of my cholick q ch frustrat the same ; & my father 
 
100 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 coming to see us I desired the loan of ane hunder markes q ch 
 he shifted, so I sent to my sister & she sent it & I sent her my 
 bond, this was now my straite. Then my kind brother in Law 
 M r Sutherland on day proposes to me & s d th r is severall Aber- 
 deen's Mer ts imployes me in th r bussines q ch is troublsom & 
 I take no comission except sometimes they send me a small 
 complement of stockings or such, th r for will ye take the troubl 
 upon yow & take yo r comission as others & it will be a diver- 
 tisment & may bring yow in more bussines. To q ch after con- 
 sideration I willinglie went in with & continouing th r in & 
 getting some small imployment th* way it diverted me & 
 brought in some small gaine, th l helped to mentaine us. And 
 against Whitsonday 1693 wee resolved to remove from the 
 Kougat to the high Toun & accordinglie removed to Glad- 
 stone's close, & q n we removed my wife w* some difficultie was 
 got caried th r in a chayer, she was so low for her flix was so 
 violent th 1 the phisitians doubted if she could be w* child, & 
 have keept it in th* her caise, but she charged th m as they 
 wold ans r for it to give her nothing unsuitabl for on w* child, 
 & upon the 6 of Sept er she was after great dainger, having no 
 streanth of her oun, by the marcy of God saflie delivered of a 
 fourth son called Alex r , after Alex r Pyper, our dear and faithfull 
 freind who was verie usful & instrumental to bring me to im- 
 ployment, & some time after th r being ane interprise in Ingland 
 to reforme th r coine q ch made the speties of gold rise high th r 
 & having some money of my imployers in my hand as I could 
 I bought up ginies & sold & th* year & beginning of nixt I 
 made profit th 1 way about five hunder merks q ch helped me a 
 litl & then I finding bullion grow plentie, by maney cobs com- 
 ing from Irland, I resolved to try the Mint and recoine th m 
 finding some others doing so & th r by made some profit, q ch w* 
 my Comissions in doeing bussines for others began now to 
 mentain my famely & in the end of 1694 I had about eighti on 
 pounds Scots beside my sister's 100 M ks I had borroued, & in 
 1695 my trade for others and the mint began to increase so th* 
 I began to ventur some pairt abroad in Irish butter to the 
 valow of 744 lb q ch was takn & careid into France & lost, q ch 
 was a sore loss to a poor man & th* day after I gott account it 
 was takn I went to see blist M ra Ross & she began q n I was 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 101 
 
 coming away to regrate my loss by the butter, my mind was 
 pleasant & s d its not the French hes takn it w*out permission, 
 and as the proverb is, a good fellow never lost but at ane ill 
 felloues hand. The Lord cane make it up againe & indead it 
 came so about, praise to his name. 
 
 Now the former year M r David Watson sickned & was re- 
 moved & hee having left me & other two curators to his only 
 child, I had ingadged at his desire to accept, & q 11 the other 
 two wer desired both refuised, & so the whol burthin th r of 
 lay on myselfe, as also the dischairg of a trust lay upon him, 
 to uplift some money left by a good woman Margaret Kinnier 
 to twenty two legators, most thought godly persones th* stood 
 in need, in both q ch trusts the Lord made me prosperous & I 
 hope faithfull. In reflection q r of afterward I have bein made 
 to bliss the Lord th* helped me to uprightnes th r in, & I hope 
 the Lord in marcie aproved th r of, and M r Watson, having gott 
 ane allouance for his paines th r in, gave me twentie dollers 
 th'off. 
 
 Now my trade increassing & my credit also, I ventured to 
 borrow some money on interest to follow out the trade at the 
 mint q ch I fand profitable & sure & alwayes gott my money so 
 as I could reackn on it. 
 
 Now our child Alex r having been allwayes small & tender it 
 seemes from the stress he gott in his mother's belly during her 
 long and sore sicknes, fell sick & sweetlie depairted this life 
 the 15 of March 1695, & the Lord made th 1 sweet to me, this 
 is a pairt of yo r first fruits to the Lord. 
 
 Now all this whyle my cholicke now & then was heavie upon 
 me, yet the Lord in marcie helping me to be succesfull in meanes 
 for the mentinance of my famelie, was confortable & att Whit- 
 sonday '95 we removed to Fleeming's Land & it pleased the 
 Lord to be marcifull to us th r also, & our dear freind James 
 Brodie, brother to Aslisk, came & his two sisters & boarded w* 
 us & was confortable to us, & the Lord was now & then giving 
 me sweet blainkes of his favour. 
 
 And this year beside mentinance of the famely I added about 
 900 lb to the former stock of 81 lb tho I lost about 744 lb on 
 butter, so th* this was the year of my greatest loss & yet of my 
 greatest profite ; his wayes ar unsearchabl. 
 
102 
 
 NARRATIVE OF 
 
 In the year 1696 I hade less dealing w 1 the mint, bullion 
 was scarse & added but litl to the stock th* year. 
 
 In the beginning of 1697 I mett w fc a marcifull providence. 
 A gentleman th* had been a factor several yeares abroad, q m I 
 knew not, came home, & his factor heir was brock. He comes 
 to me & s d , I ame not weel acqwaint w fc the speties of money 
 now in this countrie, & have some to receve, & desired I wold 
 allow my servant to helpe him. I told him, S r I am my man 
 myselfe, & if yow advertise me shall give yow q l helpe I can 
 to yow, and w*out more, the nixt day hee gives me bils for 
 about twelve thousand pounds Scots, payabl to me and takes 
 my nott to make them good to him q n payed, & w 1 all told me 
 he wold give me nothing for my paines, only he wold not have 
 use but for some litl of the mony for a time & if I could make 
 use off it to advantadg, I might. And it hapned th* shortlie 
 th'after the Inglish clipt money was called in to be recoynd 
 in Ingland & also heir, so th* bullion became exceeding plentie ; 
 and now I plenty of money resolved to improve the oportunety 
 & buyes Inglish clipt money by waight & took to the mint, & 
 gott still out new money to buy again & I gave some more for 
 the ounce waight then the gold smithes & each telling ane 
 oth r th t sold me th 1 I gave best pryce & radey payment in 
 good money they came thronging to me so th* they came some 
 times from twentie myles in Ingland & still came q r I was & 
 asked for me, so th* this year I melted doun about eightie ston 
 waight of bullion mony in the mint & I reckned I had about 
 ane hunder & sixtie pounds Sterling of profit th r by ¥ th* year: 
 & th* beside other profits so th* this year I mentained the 
 famelie & added to free stock about 4000 lb . 
 
 In the year 1698 the Lord blissed me also w l success in my 
 affaires & incress of stock, only this year my wife was sore & 
 long sick. 
 
 In the yeares 1699 & 1700 the Lord also continoued his 
 wonted favour that way, my wife under some sence of threatned 
 straites befor we came from Holland in concernednes th r with 
 befor the Lord had th fc Scriptur brought to her minde w* 
 efficacie to the qwaieting of her minde, Job : 22 & 25, yea, the 
 Almightie shall be thy defence, & thow shalt have plentie of 
 silver, & as the Lord had often helped to be since concerned, 
 
Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 so now the Lord was making tli 1 word good now in some 
 measur. 
 
 Michalmas this year I was chosen to be on of the Toun 
 Council & Thesaurer to the Colladg, & th* year I had a great 
 trade in forraign bils as I had had ever since the Mint trade 
 failled. And in 1701 having bein sore toylled in the throng 
 off bussines I began to have some litle competencie, & to plead 
 w* the Lord for a marcifull retreat from the throng of affaires 
 q r in the Lord had hitherto helped me in all my concernes to 
 have ane tender regaird to the credit of the Ghospell, & as I 
 had beine oft desiring to bliss him for restraining grace & 
 preventing marcie, so also to plead for grace, wisdom and 
 prudencie, meeknes of spirit, humblnes & loulines of mind & 
 favor among thes hee trysted me among, & praise for ever to 
 his blissed name for he was not wanting to me & I hope heard 
 my reqweests, & I most say it is to his praise th* sometimes q d 
 most throng in bussines hee helped me to be in some measur 
 fervent in spirit in desiring to serve him & to eye his Glorie, & 
 blist be his name hee & hee only manadged afairs for me & me 
 in them, & oftn did lett me see my oun waiknes & th* hee per- 
 fected his streanth th r in, & oftn q 11 throngest gave me most 
 composednes of minde. 
 
 Now Michalmas 1702 I was chosen Toun Thesaurer & con- 
 tinoued two yeares, and now I was much takne off' from waiting 
 upon my oun concerns and also trade began to faile. 
 
 And two yeares befor I had entred in co-pairtinarshipe w l 
 Bailie Nairn & W m ffulton upon tobacco trade q r in I continoued 
 five yeares & made a reasonabl profit, but perceaving some 
 things th r in not acted fairly I w*drew & the Companie pairted 
 & it pleased the Lord to guid me therin & sell my share to 
 Bailie Nairn, so th* beside clearing of the books q ch for most 
 pairt I gott to doe myselfe, I had but litle trouble. 
 
 In Aprile ij th 1705 I fell sick & had for five weekes, befor a 
 violent stitch in my right side, & my sicknes became a lent 
 fever q r in th r was litl hopes of life & for fourtin weekes was 
 still watched night & day q ch I have not yet recovered. This 
 w* my Theasurershipe & decay of trade makes me to have had 
 litle imployment since 1702 ; about the beginning th r off on 
 night being in companie w* my good freind Bailie Ross in 
 
104 
 
 NARRATIVE OF Mr. JAMES NIMMO 
 
 Aberdeen, & telling him I wold be content to wMraw to a 
 privat countrie liffe if I could gett a ferm to secure my money 
 upon. He told me th* th r Toun was juste now to few off a 
 convenient plott of ground wHn two myles of the Toun, about 
 the valow of q 1 I desired, & if I pleased he wold inqwire about 
 it. I told him, I was content, & if th r was aney probable 
 apearance I wold come & see it. But q n he went home ane 
 oth r was seeking it, & he was put to his peremptors, aither to 
 let it goe, or take it for me. And judging it fitt for me, 
 agreed for it, in my name, but q n I went to see it, we got 
 advice King W m was dead, q ch put me to some stand, & coming- 
 home, I fand my freinds avers for my going to th* place of the 
 countrie : & labord fairlie to gett free again, but my freind 
 being ingadged, wold not lett him be at a disadvantadg & so 
 payed it. But then the man th* was upon it befor prest for 
 it, finding I was content to pairt w fc it, & so he gott it & I was 
 free and the Toun repayed me my money again. 
 
 Then I fell in tearmes w* Cardarroch that belongd to a 
 freind of my oun, about three myles from Glasgow, but after I 
 had closed w* it, & the rights ordered to be wryte, we differed 
 upon the warrandize, & so this stoped also. I atemped 
 severall other places for to retire to a country life, but as yet 
 could not setl, providence on way or other, still putting stops. 
 I hope it is of the Lord, to q m I desire to looke, plead for 
 guiding, & waite for him, as I cane in the use of all discovered 
 meanes : for hitherto hee hes led & helped, & will yet help, for 
 we kno not events, but all is knoun to him. 
 
 END OF THE NARK ATT VE. 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 a <Z 
 
A PPI 
 
 SOME OF THE ANCESTORS AND DESCENDA 
 
 John Nimmo of = 
 Midlridg. 
 
 Young == John Nimmo of = 
 
 Bridgehouse. 
 
 James 
 
 of 
 West 
 Craigs 
 
 of 
 
 Ogleface. 
 
 Alex- 
 ander of 
 Ward- 
 law. 
 
 I 1648. 
 John, — Janet Muir. 
 b. 1622. 
 
 Christian. Agnes. Helen. Marion. 
 
 William of = Janet Salr 
 Bridgehouse. 
 
 William of = 
 Bridgehouse. 
 
 Marion 
 Finlay. 
 
 Janet, = John 
 heiress of Wardrop. 
 Bridgehouse. 
 
 Elizabeth = William Fleming. 
 
 168 
 
 JAMES, — 
 
 b. 1654, 
 d. 1709. 
 
 John, 
 b. 1684. 
 
 Hon. MaryErskine, 
 daughter of Henry, 
 3d Lord Cardross, 
 b. 1690, d. 1733. 
 
 = James, 
 b. 1686, 
 d. 1758. 
 
 1743- 
 
 Lady Jane Hume, 
 daughter of 2d 
 Earl of March- 
 mont, d. 1770. 
 
 Thomas, 
 b. 1690, 
 d. 1691. 
 
 Alexander, 
 b. 1693, 
 d. 1695. 
 
 Henry. James. Henry. Catherine, 
 d. 1770. 
 
 David Erskine, 
 grandson of 
 Henry, 3d 
 Lord Cardross, 
 d. 1769. 
 
 Elizabeth, = James Pringle 
 of Bowland. 
 
 James of 
 Torwoodlee. 
 
 = Elizabeth Tod. 
 
 Descendants. 
 
 Margaret, 
 b. 1724, 
 d. 1821. 
 
 : Rev. Jor 
 minist« 
 Cuthbert 
 Edin' 
 
 Ardbibald,== Grizell Hogg. Mary = JohnDickson Catherine = Ma or-Gen. Lockhart. Elizabeth == Rev. Jo) 
 
 John Gibson, W.S. 
 
 of Kilbucho 
 and Hartree. 
 
 Descendants. 
 
 hart, D.D 
 of Colleg 
 Glas 
 
 John Gibson Lockhart = Sophia, d 
 Sir Walter 
 of Abt 
 
 Descendants. 
 
DI X I. 
 
 OF JAMES NIMMO AND ELIZABETH BRODIE. 
 
 il, = William Hogg = Jean Stuart, 
 
 8. 
 
 json. 
 
 ste 3t. 
 rt arch, 
 
 John Brodie 
 Windyhills. 
 
 = Margaret Dunbar. 
 
 Francis of John = 
 
 Windyhills. 
 
 John. 
 
 Barbara = George Sutherland. 
 
 daughter of 
 Charles Stuart 
 of Dunearn. 
 
 Thomas Hogg 
 d. 1784. 
 
 1757- 
 
 = Colina Campbell, 
 daughter of Colin 
 Campbell, younger 
 of Kilbryde and 
 Aberuchill. 
 
 Jean = R. Scott-Moncrieff 
 of Rhynd and 
 Coats. 
 
 1785- 
 
 Grizell 
 
 Archibald Gibson, 
 b. 1760. 
 
 W.S. 
 
 Elizabeth ; 
 
 >ck- 
 
 nister 
 
 ireh, 
 
 ter of 
 , Bart, 
 rd. 
 
 John Gibson, W.S. = Catherine Dickson, 
 daughter of John 
 Dickson of 
 Hartree. 
 
 Descendants. 
 
 Susan Pringle 
 daughter of 
 Alexander 
 Pringle of 
 Whytbank 
 and Yair. 
 
 William Scott-Moncrieff 
 of Fossoway. 
 
 Robert Scott-Moncrieff, = Mary Hamilton, 
 advocate, of Fossoway, j 
 b. 1793, d. 1869. 
 
 Descendants. 
 
 Descendants. 
 
108 
 
 APPENDIX II. 
 
 COPY OF INSCRIPTION ON MONUMENTAL TABLET 
 IN THE PRECEPTORY OF TORPHICHEN TO THE 
 NIMMOS AND WARDROPS OF BRIDGEHOUSE : 1 
 
 So ti)t JtflemorE of 
 
 Such of the Family of Bkidgehouse 
 as are interred here 
 
 John Nimmo, died 1645 Eliz. Liddel, died 1659 
 
 John Nimmo, 1675 Eliz. Nimmo, 1677 
 
 Wm. Nimmo, ,, 1715 Janet Salmon ,, 1719 
 
 Wm. Nimmo, ,, 1751 Marion Finlay, ,, 1738 
 
 Alex. Nimmo of Hillhouse, 1724 Pat Nimmo of Bormie, 1701 
 
 Wm. Wardrop of Bridgehouse, Grandson of the last Wm. Nimmo, 
 was born 12 Nov. 1 72 1, and died 10 May 1791 
 
 Hta. Nimmo, youngest daughter of the last Wm. Nimmo, and 
 relict of Rev. Wm. Nimmo, Minister of the Gospel 
 at Roberton, was born 23 May 1706, 
 and died 14 Oct. 1798 
 
 Also 
 
 Several of the younger children of the Family 
 
 This stone is erected 
 As a small tribute of respect to his Forefathers 
 Particularly to Wm. Wardrop, his uncle, and Hta. Nimmo, 
 his grand-aunt 
 
 By 
 
 Alexander Wardrop of Bridgehouse 
 1800 
 
 Alex. Wardrop, died 1 May 1839, aged 72 
 Marg. Wardrop, died 1829 Jn. Nimmo Wardrop, died 1838 
 I)n. M'F. Wardrop, 1837 Eliz. Wardrop, 1836 
 
 1 Hridgehousc, or 'the Bridghouse,' is now the property of the Gillons of 
 Wallhouse, having be en purchased by them from the family of Wardrop. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Argyll, Earl of, landing and capture. 
 78, 79- 
 
 Baillie, Lady Grizell, of Jervis- 
 
 woode, xxiv. 
 Ballach, William, servant of Mr. Hog, 
 
 45, 66, 67, 70, 99. 
 Balncreife, the Lady, 15. 
 Baram, James, 50, 61. 
 Berwick, 50 ; news of the king's death 
 
 received at, 75. 
 Bogle, Thomas, 88. 
 Boston, Rev. T., xxviii. 
 Bothwell Bridge, battle of, 13, 68. 
 Brodie, Alexander, of Brodie, xii, 
 
 xxxii. 
 
 of Lethen, 19, 29, 35. 
 
 ■ of Mayne, 35. 
 
 « Francis, of Miltown, 35. 
 
 of Windyhills, 32, 35, xii. 
 
 ■ James, of Brodie, 35, xii. 
 
 brother of Aslisk, 101. 
 
 ■ William, Eastbourne, xii, xxxii. 
 
 Anne, xii. 
 
 ■ Barbara, sister of Elizabeth 
 
 Brodie, 82, xv. 
 
 Elizabeth, granddaughter of 
 
 Brodie of Windyhills, xii ; her 
 own narrative, xii ; purpose in 
 writing it, vi ; dislike of the Pre- 
 latical ministry, xiii ; violation of the 
 Sabbath, xiii ; sympathy with the 
 insurgents, xiv ; her account of her 
 father's death, xiv ; James Nimmo's 
 description of her, 27 ; considers 
 proposal of marriage from him, 29 ; 
 marriage of, to Nimmo, 37 ; follows 
 him to Edinburgh, 48 ; her prayer 
 for her posterity, xix ; joins her hus- 
 band in Berwick, 54 ; accompanies 
 
 him to Holland, 83 ; returns to 
 Scotland, 91 ; courage in danger, 
 93 ; thoughts in contemplation of 
 death, xxi ; her account of her 
 husband's death, xxii. 
 Bruce, James, one of Argyll's officers, 
 S3- 
 
 Bunyan, John, v. 
 
 Calder, Lady, 32. 
 Campbell, Sir James, of Churchill, 
 xxviii. 
 
 Colin, younger, of Aberuchill 
 
 and Kilbryde, xxviii. 
 
 of Arkinglass, 71. 
 
 Evan, 73, 86, 94, 95, 98, 99. 
 
 John, one of Argyll's officers, 83. 
 
 Colina, marriage of, to Thomas 
 
 Hogg, xxviii. 
 Cardross, Henry, third Lord, 94, 95, 
 
 xxiii. 
 
 Charles II., death of, 75. 
 
 Cheeslie, William, 71. 
 
 Claverhouse, Graham of, attacks a 
 
 field meeting, 12. 
 Clealand, William, one of Argyll's 
 
 officers, 83. 
 Clunis, David, 50, 51. 
 Crawford, Earl of, appoints James 
 
 Nimmo to a post in the Customs, 
 
 94- 
 
 Crichton, Rev. William, minister of 
 
 Bathgate, 5, 15. 
 Cuming, Mathew, of Glasgow, 4. 
 
 Dickson, John, of Kilbucho and 
 
 Hartree, xxiv. 
 
 Professor, xxxiii. 
 
 Donaldson, Rev. James, an outted 
 
 minister, 7. 
 
110 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Douglas, Samuel, of Heaslside, col- 
 lector of customs at Prestonpans, 95. 
 Doune, Lord, 45. 
 
 Drumclog, account of the skirmish at, 
 12. 
 
 Dunbar, Mr. Alexander, preaches at 
 
 Lethen, 23, 38. 
 Dundas, George, 96, 98. 
 James, 49. 
 
 Erskine, David, marriage of, to Miss 
 
 Nimmo, xxiii. 
 
 Hon. Captain William, xxiii. 
 
 Hon. Mary, marries James 
 
 Nimmo, junior, xxiii. 
 
 Fergusson, Colonel, xxv. 
 Fleming, William, brother-in-law of 
 
 James Nimmo, 35. 
 Forbes, Sir William, xxviii. 
 Forsythe, Commissioner, 1. 
 Fullertoun, John, one of Argyll's 
 
 officers, 83. 
 Fulton, William, 103. 
 
 Gibson, Archibald, W.S., xxiv, 
 
 xxviii. 
 xxxii. 
 
 Rev. John, minister of St. Cuth- 
 
 bert's, xxiv. 
 
 Catherine, marriage of, to Gen- 
 eral Lockhart, xxiv. 
 
 Elizabeth, marriage of, to Dr. 
 
 Lockhart, xxiv. 
 
 Mary, marriage of, to John 
 
 Dickson of Hartree, xxiv. 
 
 Gilchrist, Rev. William, 11. 
 
 Gordon, Duke of, holds Edinburgh 
 Castle for King James, 92. 
 
 of Earlston, 51. 
 
 Grant, Sir Alexander, xi. 
 
 the Laird of, 36. 
 
 Lady, 99. 
 
 Hay of Park. See Park. 
 
 Alexander, 31. 
 
 Hugh, xii. 
 
 Janet, xii. 
 
 Hog, Rev. Thomas, released from im- 
 prisonment and arrives in Moray, 
 20, 26, 27 ; at the marriage of 
 
 James Nimmo, 37 ; his advice to 
 
 Mrs. Nimmo, xviii ; baptizes the 
 
 children of James Nimmo, 60, 86 ; 
 
 arrested as a spy in London, 76 ; 
 
 seeks refuge in Holland, 86 ; returns 
 
 to Scotland, 88. 
 Hog, Mrs., wife of the Rev. T. Hog, 
 
 59 ; sails with James Nimmo from 
 
 Holland, 89. 
 Hogg, Andrew, W.S., xxvii. 
 Thomas, banker in Edinburgh, 
 
 xxviii ; marries Colina Campbell, 
 
 xxviii. 
 
 William, banker in Edinburgh, 
 
 marries Grizell Nimmo, xxvii; letter 
 from him to Mr. Thomas Boston, 
 xxviii ; marriage of, to Jean Stuart, 
 xxviii. 
 
 ■ Elizabeth, xxviii. 
 
 Grizell, xxviii. 
 
 Hume, Sir Patrick, of Polwarth, 87, 
 xxiv. 
 
 Lady Jane. See Nimmo, 
 
 Huntington, Lady, xxxi. 
 
 Inshock, a seat of the Hays of Park, 
 16, xi. 
 
 James vil, his change of policy 
 
 towards the Covenanters, 91. 
 Johnstone, Rev. J. M., xxxii. 
 
 Kenaway, Thomas, a soldier, 
 
 murder of, 69, 73« 
 Kennedy, Hugh, of Midcalder, 14,. 
 
 15. 
 
 Kilravock, Rose of, 45. 
 Kinstirie, a cousin of Hay of Park, 
 16, 19. 
 
 Laing, David, xxx. 
 
 Lethen. See Brodie of Lethen. 
 
 Livingstone, Robert, of Wester Green- 
 
 yeards, 2, 4. 
 Lockhart, Dr. John, xxiv. 
 
 John Gibson, xxiv. 
 
 Major-General, xxiv. 
 
 Macintosh, Christian, 27. 
 Mackenzie, Kenneth, of Siddie, a 
 persecutor, 44, 45. 
 
INDEX 
 
 111 
 
 Marchmont, Alexander, Earl of, xxiv. 
 
 Middleton, fines imposed by him in 
 Linlithgowshire, viii. 
 
 Moncreiff, Rev. John, 16, 98. 
 
 Monmouth, Duke of, 76 ; failure of 
 his enterprise, 80. 
 
 Monro, Alexander, 71. 
 
 Montford, John, Nimmo's successor 
 as chamberlain to Park, arrested, 64. 
 
 Muir, Sir William, ix. 
 
 Janet, wife of John Nimmo, Bog- 
 hall, 1, ix. , 
 
 Murray, Lady, xxv. 
 
 Nairn, Bailie, 103. 
 
 Nemo, David, of Westbarns, xxx. 
 
 Nimmo, tradition as to the French 
 
 origin of the name, xxix. 
 Nimmo, Alexander, in Bathgate, 
 
 xxix. 
 
 Alexander, of Wardlaw, I, xxx. 
 
 Alexander, son of James Nimmo, 
 
 100, 101. 
 
 James (author of the Narrative), 
 
 birth of, 1 ; reasons for writing his 
 Narrative, I ; sent to school at Stir- 
 ling, 2 ; account of his youth, 2 ; 
 treatment of, by his father, 4 ; 
 attends a field meeting, joins the 
 insurgents at Bothwell Bridge, 13 ; 
 narrow escape from capture, 14 ; 
 attempt to go to Holland, 15 ; 
 engagement as chamberlain to the 
 Laird of Park, 15; makes the ac- 
 quaintance of Mr. Hog, 20 ; pro- 
 posal of marriage to Elizabeth 
 Brodie, 29 ; marriage with her, 37 ; 
 hides in the vaults of Pluscarden, 
 45 ; escapes from Morayshire, and 
 travels with a king's herald, 46 ; 
 reaches Edinburgh, 47 ; search made 
 for him there, 49 ; flight to Ber- 
 wick, 50 ; birth of his eldest son, 
 59 ; concealment in Berwick, 63 ; 
 alarming news from the north, 64 ; 
 suspected of being concerned in the 
 murder of two soldiers, and re- 
 newed search made for him, 70 ; 
 arrest and examination of his father, 
 70 ; alarm at Berwick caused by 
 
 the death of King Charles, 75 ; 
 sails for Holland, 83 ; is nearly 
 drowned, 84 ; birth of his second 
 son, 86; returns to Scotland, 89; 
 birth of his daughter Grizell, 91 ; 
 account of the disturbances in Edin- 
 burgh, 92 ; appointed clerk of cus- 
 toms at Prestonpans, 95 ; birth of 
 his third son, 95 ; inspection of his 
 books at the custom-house, 97 ; 
 death of his son Thomas, 98 ; resi- 
 dence in Edinburgh, 99 ; engaged in 
 mercantile pursuits, 100-104; birth 
 and death of his son Alexander, 
 100, 101 ; elected treasurer of the 
 university, 103 ; town treasurer, 
 103 ; death of, xxi ; account of his 
 last illness by his wife, xxii ; char- 
 acter of his narrative, v, xxxi. 
 
 James, son of the above, birth 
 
 of, at Rotterdam, 86 : cashier of ex- 
 cise, xxiii ; marrriage of, xxiii, xxiv ; 
 his evidence relating to the destruc- 
 tion of a deed, xxvii; death of, xxvi. 
 
 James, of Westcraigs, I, xxx. 
 
 John, of Middleridge, I, viii. 
 
 John, of Bridgehouse, 1, 57, ix, 
 
 xxx. 
 
 John, father of the author of the 
 
 Narrative, factor for Boghall, birth, 
 1 ; marriage, 1 ; treatment of his 
 son, 4 ; arrested on a charge of 
 communicating with him, 66 ; 
 brought before the Privy Council 
 and sent to prison, 70 ; liberated, 
 75 ; resigns the farm of Boghall, 94; 
 attains a great age, xxx ; character 
 of, x. 
 
 John, son of James Nimmo, 59, 
 
 xix, xxiii. 
 
 Thomas, son of James Nimmo, 
 
 95-98. 
 
 William, of Bridgehouse, 1 ; his 
 
 descendants, xxx. 
 Agnes, 1, 87. 
 
 Catherine, marriage and death 
 
 of, xxiii. 
 
 Christian, 1. 
 
 Elizabeth, sister of James, 1. 
 
 Elizabeth, marriage of, xxiv. 
 
112 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Nimmo, Grizell, 91, 93 ; her spiritual 
 experiences in early life, xxvii ; 
 marries Mr. William Hogg, xxvii ; 
 descendants of, xxviii. 
 
 Helen, 1. 
 
 Lady Jane, marriage of, xxiv ; 
 
 letter from her to Mrs. Hogg, xxv ; 
 to Lady Huntington, xxxi ; de- 
 stroys a bond of provision, xxvi ; 
 character of, xxxi. 
 
 Margaret Mary, marriage of, 
 
 xxiv. 
 
 Marion, I. 
 
 Nimmos of Westbank, Falkirk, xxx. 
 Nisbet, Sir John, of Dirleton, xxviii. 
 
 William, of Dirleton, xxviii. 
 
 Catherine, vi, xxviii. 
 
 Orange, Prince of, afterwards Wil- 
 liam in., 87, 92 ; death of, 104. 
 
 Park, Hay of, engages James Nimmo 
 as chamberlain, 15 ; transactions 
 with, 17-19, etc. ; arrested, 71 ; 
 account of the family, xi. 
 
 Pluscarden, Priory of, 32, 42 ; con- 
 cealment of James Nimmo in the 
 vaults of, 45. 
 
 Pringle, George, of Torwoodlee, 87, 
 xxiv. 
 
 James, of Bowland, marries a 
 
 granddaughter of James Nimmo, 
 xxiv ; son of, succeeds to Torwood- 
 lee, xxiv. 
 
 James, of Torwoodlee, xxxi, 
 
 xxxii. 
 
 Pyper, Alexander, 88, 100. 
 Pypper, Magdalen, 49, 71. 
 
 Reston, James, 51, 52 ; sentence of 
 banishment upon, 65. 
 
 Reston, James, junior, 64. 
 
 Rose of Kilravock, 45. 
 
 Ross, Bailie, of Aberdeen, 103. 
 
 Mrs. Catherine, 26, 71, 93, 
 
 100. 
 
 Russel, Mr., 88. 
 
 Scott, Sir Walter, vii, xxiv. 
 
 Scott-Moncrieff, William, xxviii. 
 
 Shell, Harry, 63. 
 
 Sinclair, Andrew, xxvi. 
 
 Stewart, Sir James, 88. 
 
 Stewart, a soldier, murdered, 69 ; 
 character of, 72. 
 
 Stuart, Charles, of Dunearn, xxviii. 
 
 Jean, of Dunearn, xxviii. 
 
 Sutherland, George, 82, 100. 
 
 James, 27, 28, 37. 
 
 Symingtoun, Andrew, a former cham- 
 berlain of Park, 64. 
 
 Turnbull, George, 64. 
 
 Verbeck, M., 88. 
 
 Wallace, Captain, skirmish with 
 
 the students at Holyrood, 92. 
 Wardrop, John, of Strathavon, xxix. 
 John, marries the heiress of 
 
 Bridgehouse, xxx. 
 Watson, David, 101. 
 Whitefield, Rev. George, visits James 
 
 and Lady Jane Nimmo, xxxi. 
 Wodrow, Church History hy, 26, etc., 
 
 xxxii. 
 
 Wood, Betrige, servant of James 
 Nimmo, 95. 
 
 Young, Patrick, cousin of James 
 Nimmo, 57, 61, 87, 91. 
 
 Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty, 
 at the Edinburgh University Press. 
 
£>cotttstf) ^tetotp S>octetp 
 
 THE EXECUTIVE. 
 
 President. 
 The Earl of Rosebery, LL.D. 
 
 Chairman of Council. 
 David Masson, LL.D., Professor of English Literature, Edin- 
 burgh University. 
 
 Council. 
 
 Sir Arthur Mitchell, K.C.B., M.D., LL.D. 
 Rev. Geo. W. Sprott, D.D. 
 Rev. A. W. Cornelius Hallen. 
 
 W. F. Skene, D.C.L., LL.D., Historiographer - Royal for 
 
 Scotland. 
 Colonel P. Dods. 
 J. R. Findlav, Esq. 
 
 George Burnett, LL.D., Lyon-King-of-Arms. 
 
 J. T. Clark, Keeper of the Advocates' Library. 
 
 Thomas Dickson, LL.D., Curator of the Historical Depart- 
 ment, Register House. 
 
 Right Rev. John Dowden, D.D., Bishop of Edinburgh. 
 
 J. Kirkpatrick, LL.B., Professor of History, Edinburgh 
 University. 
 
 .Eneas J. G. Mackay, LL.D., Sheriff of Fife. 
 
 Corresponding Members of the Council. 
 Osmund Airy, Esq., Birmingham ; Very Rev. J. Cunningham, 
 D.D., Principal of St. Mary's College, St. Andrews ; Professor 
 George Grub, LL.D., Aberdeen ; Rev. W. D. Macray, 
 Oxford; Professor A. F. Mitchell, D.D., St. Andrews; 
 Professor W. Robertson Smith, Cambridge ; Professor J. 
 Veitch, LL.D., Glasgow; A. H. Millar, Esq., Dundee. 
 
 Hon. Treasurer. 
 J. J. Reid, B.A., Advocate, Queen's Remembrancer. 
 
 Hon. Secretary. 
 T. G. Law, Librarian, Signet Library. 
 
RULES. 
 
 1. The object of the Society is the discovery and printing, 
 under selected editorship, of unpublished documents illustrative 
 of the civil, religious, and social history of Scotland. The 
 Society will also undertake, in exceptional cases, to issue 
 translations of printed works of a similar nature, which have 
 not hitherto been accessible in English. 
 
 2. The number of Members of the Society shall be limited 
 to 400. 
 
 3. The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Council 
 consisting of a Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and twelve 
 elected Members, five to make a quorum. Three of the twelve 
 elected members shall retire annually by ballot, but they shall 
 be eligible for re-election. 
 
 4. The Annual Subscription to the Society shall be One 
 Guinea. The publications of the Society shall not be de- 
 livered to any Member whose Subscription is in arrear, and 
 no Member shall be permitted to receive more than one copy 
 of the Society's publications. 
 
 5. The Society will undertake the issue of its own publica- 
 tions, i.e. without the intervention of a publisher or any other 
 paid agent. 
 
 6. The Society will issue yearly two octavo volumes of about 
 320 pages each. 
 
 7. An Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held 
 on the last Tuesday in October. 
 
 8. Two stated Meetings of the Council shall be held each 
 year, one on the last Tuesday of May, the other on the 
 Tuesday preceding the day upon which the Annual General 
 Meeting shall be held. The Secretary, on the request of three 
 Members of the Council, shall call a special meeting of the 
 Council. 
 
 9. Editors shall receive 20 copies of each volume they edit 
 for the Society. 
 
 10. The owners of Manuscripts published by the Society 
 will also be presented with a certain number of copies. 
 
 11. The Annual Balance-Sheet, Rules, and List of Members 
 shall be printed. 
 
 12. No alteration shall be made in these Rules except at a 
 General Meeting of the Society. A fortnight's notice of any 
 alteration to bo proposed shall be given to the Members of the 
 ( !ouncil. 
 
PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Works already Issued. 
 1887. 
 
 1. Bishop Pococke's Tours in Scotland, 1747-1760. Edited by 
 
 D. W. Kemp. 
 
 2. Diary of and General Expenditure Book of William 
 
 Cunningham of Craigends, 1 673-1680. Edited by the Rev. 
 James Dodds, D.D. 
 
 1888. 
 
 3. Panurgi Philo-caballi Scoti Grameidos libri sex. — The 
 
 Grameid : an heroic poem descriptive of the Campaign of 
 Viscount Dundee in 1689, by James Philip of Almerieclose. 
 Edited, with Translation and Notes, by the Rev. A. D. 
 Murdoch. 
 
 4. The Register of the Kirk Session of St. Andrews. Part i. 
 
 1559-1582. Edited by D. Hay Fleming. 
 
 1889. 
 
 5. Diary of the Rev. John Mill, Minister of Dunrossness, Sand- 
 
 wick, and Cunningsburgh, in Shetland, 1742-1805, with ori- 
 ginal documents, local records, and historical notices relating 
 to the District. Edited by Gilbert Goudie, F.S.A. Scot. 
 
 6. Narrative of Mr. James Nimmo, a Covenanter. 1654-1709. 
 
 Edited by W. G. Scott-Moncrieff, Advocate. 
 
 In Preparation. 
 
 The Register of the Kirk Session of St. Andrews. Part n. 
 1583-1600. Edited by D. Hay Fleming. 
 
 List of Persons concerned in the Rebellion (1745), with Evi- 
 dences to prove the same, transmitted to the Commissioners 
 of Excise by the several Supervisors of Excise in Scotland. 
 Presented to the Society by the Earl of Rosebery. 
 
4 
 
 PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 Glamis Papers; including the e Book of Record/ written by Patrick, 
 first Earl of Strathmore (1647-95), the Diary of Lady 
 Helen Middleton, his wife, and other documents, illustrating 
 the social life of the seventeenth century. Edited from the 
 original manuscripts at Glamis Castle by A. H. Millar. 
 
 John Major's De Gestis Scotorum (1521). Translated by 
 Archibald Constable, with a Memoir of the author by jEneas 
 J. G. Mackay, Advocate. 
 
 The Diary of Andrew Hay of Stone, near Biggar, afterwards 
 of Craignethan Castle, 1659-60. Edited by A. G. Reid, 
 F.S.A. Scot., from a manuscript in his possession. 
 
 The Records of the Commission of the General Assembly, 
 1646-1662, Edited by the Rev. James Christie, D.D., with 
 an Introduction by the Rev. Professor Mitchell, D.D. 
 
 ' The History of my Life, extracted from Journals I kept since I 
 was twenty-six years of age, interspersed with short accounts 
 of the most remarkable public affairs that happened in my 
 time, especially such as I had some immediate concern in/ 
 1702-1754. By Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, Baron of the 
 Exchequer, Commissioner of the Union, etc. Edited from 
 the original ms. in Penicuik House by J. M. Gray. 
 
 In Contemplatioyi. 
 
 Sir Thomas Craig's De Unione Regnorum Britannle. Edited, 
 with an English Translation, from the unpublished manuscript 
 in the Advocates' Library. 
 
 The Diaries or Account Books of Sir John Foulis of Ravelston, 
 (1 679-1 707); and the Account Book of Dame Hann/vh Erskine 
 (1675-1699). Edited by the Rev. A. W. Cornelius Hallen. 
 
£>cottt0t) i^tstorp £>octetj>. 
 
 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 MEMBERS. 
 
 Abernethy, James, 11 Prince of Wales Terrace, Kensington, 
 
 London, W. 
 Adam, Sir Charles E., Bart., Blair- Adam. 
 Adam, Robert, Brae-Moray, Gillsland Road, Edinburgh. 
 Adam, Thomas, Hazelbank, Uddingston. 
 
 Adams, William, Royal Bank of Scotland, St. Andrew Square, 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 Agnew, Alex., Procurator-Fiscal's Office, Court-House Buildings, 
 Dundee. 
 
 Aikman, Andrew, 27 Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 
 Airy, Osmund, The Laurels, Solihull, Birmingham. 
 
 Aitken, Dr. A. P., 57 Great King Street, Edinburgh. 
 
 Aitken, James H., Gartcows, Falkirk. 
 
 Alexander, William, M.D., Dundonald, Kilmarnock. 
 
 Allan, A. G., Blackfriars Haugh, Elgin. 
 
 Allan, George, Advocate, 56 Castle Street, Aberdeen. 
 
 Allan, Rev. William, Manse of Mochrum, Wigtownshire. 
 
 Allen, Lady Henrietta, Tusculum House, North Berwick. 
 
 Anderson, Archibald, 44 Connaught Square, London, W. 
 
 Anderson, Arthur, M.D., C.B., Sunny-Brae, Pitlochry. 
 
 Anderson, John, jun., Atlantic Mills, Bridgeton, Glasgow. 
 
 Anderson, William, C.A., 149 West George Street, Glasgow. 
 
 Andrew, Thomas, Doune, Perthshire. 
 
 Arnot, James, M.A., 57 Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 
 Arrol, Archibald, 18 Blythswood Square, Glasgow. 
 
 Arrol, William A., 11 Lynedoch Place, Glasgow. 
 
4 
 
 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Baird, J. G. A., Wellwood, Muirkirk. 
 
 Balfour, Right Hon. J. B., Q.C, 14 Great Stuart Street, Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 Ballingall, Hugh, Dundee. 
 
 Begg, Ferdinand Faithfull, 6 Drapers' Gardens, London. 
 Bell, A. Beatson, Advocate, 2 Eglinton Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Bell, Joseph, F.R.C.S., 2 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Bell, Russell, Advocate, Kildalloig, Campbeltown. 
 Beveridge, Alex., 9 James Place, Leith. 
 Black, James Tait, Gogar Park, Corstorphine. 
 Black, Rev. John S., 6 Oxford Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 Blaikie, Walter B., 22 Heriot Row, Edinburgh. 
 Blair, Patrick, Advocate, 4 Ardross Terrace, Inverness. 
 Boyd, Sir Thomas J., 41 Moray Place, Edinburgh. 
 Bremner, James, Greenigoe Manor, Wick. 
 Brodie, T. D., W.S., 5 Thistle Street, Edinburgh. 
 Brookman, James, W.S., 16 Ravelston Park, Edinburgh. 
 Broun-Morison, J. B., of Finderlie, The Old House, Harrow-on- 
 the-Hill. 
 
 Brown, Professor Alex. Crum, 8 Belgrave Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Brown, J. A. Harvie, Dunipace House, Larbert, Stirlingshire. 
 Brown, Robert, Underwood Park, Paisley. 
 Brown, William, 26 Princes Street, Edinburgh. 
 Brownlie, James R., 10 Brandon Place, West George Street, 
 Glasgow. 
 
 Bruce, James, W.S., 23 St. Bernard's Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Bruce, Hon. R. Preston, Broom Hall, Dunfermline. 
 Bryce, James, M.P., 35 Bryanston Square, London, W. 
 Bryce, William Moir, 5 York Place, Edinburgh. 
 Buchanan, T. D., M.D., 24 Westminster Terrace, West, Glas- 
 gow. 
 
 Burnett, George, LL.D., Advocate, Lyon-King-of-Arms, 21 Walker 
 
 Street, Edinburgh. 
 Burns, George Stewart, D.D., 3 Westbourne Terrace, Glasgow. 
 Burns, John William, Kilmahew, Cardross. 
 Burns, Rev. Thomas, 13 Cumin Place, Edinburgh. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 5 
 
 Caldwell, James, Craigielea Place, Paisley. 
 Cameron, Dr. J. A., 10 Salisbury Road, Edinburgh. 
 Cameron, Richard, 1 South St. David Street, Edinburgh. 
 Campbell, James A., Stracathro, Brechin. 
 Carne-Ross, Joseph, M.D., Shian Lodge, Penzance. 
 Carrick, John, 6 Park Quadrant, Glasgow. 
 Chalmers, Patrick H., of Avochie, 29 Albyn Place, Aberdeen. 
 Chambers, W. & R., 339 High Street, Edinburgh. 
 Chiene, Professor, 26 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. 
 Christie, Thomas Craig, of Bedlay, Chryston, Glasgow. 
 Clark, G. Bennet, W.S., 57 Queen Street, Edinburgh. 
 Clark, James, Advocate, 30 Castle Street, Edinburgh. 
 Clark, James T., Crear Villa, Ferry Road, Edinburgh. 
 Clark, Robert, 42 Hanover Street, Edinburgh. 
 Clark, Sir Thomas, Bart., 11 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Clouston, T. S., M.D., Tipperlinn House, Morningside Place, 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 Cochran-Patrick, R. W., LL.D., of Woodside, Beith, Ayrshire. 
 Coldstream, John P., W.S., 6 Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 Constable, Archibald, 1 Nelson Street, Edinburgh. 
 Cowan, George, East Morningside House, Clinton Road, Edinburgh. 
 Cowan, Hugh, St. Leonards, Ayr. 
 Cowan, J. J., 38 West Register Street, Edinburgh. 
 Cowan, John, W.S., 7 Greenhill Gardens, Edinburgh. 
 Cowan, John, Beeslack, Mid-Lothian. 
 Cox, Edward, Lyndhurst, Dundee. 
 Craik, James, W.S., 9 Eglinton Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Crawford, Donald, M.P., 60 Pall Mall, London. 
 Crole, Gerard L, Advocate, 1 Royal Circus, Edinburgh. 
 Cunningham, Rev. John, D.D., Principal of St. Mary's College, 
 St. Andrews. 
 
 Cunningham, Geo. Miller, C.E., 2 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh. 
 Cunynghame, R. J. Blair, M.D., 6 Walker Street, Edinburgh. 
 Currie, James, 16 Bernard Street, Leith. 
 
 Currie, Walter Thomson, Glendoick House, Glencarse, Perthshire. 
 Cuthbert, Alex. A., 14 Newton Terrace, Glasgow. 
 
6 
 
 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Dalgleish, John J., 8 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 
 Dalrymple, Hon. Hew, Lochinch, Castle Kennedy, Wigtownshire. 
 
 Davidson, Hugh, Braedale, Lanark. 
 
 Davidson, J., Kirriemuir. 
 
 Davidson, Thomas, 33.9 High Street, Edinburgh. 
 
 Davies, J. Mair, C.A., Sheiling, Pollokshields, Glasgow. 
 
 Dickson, Thomas, LL.D., Register House, Edinburgh. 
 
 Dickson, Dr. Walter G. W., 3 Royal Circus, Edinburgh. 
 
 Dickson, Wm. Traquair, W.S., 11 Hill Street, Edinburgh. 
 
 Dixon, John H., Inveran, Poolewe, by Dingwall. 
 
 Doak, Rev. Andrew, M.A., Trinity Free Church, Aberdeen. 
 
 Dodds, Rev. James, D.D., The Manse, Corstorphine. 
 
 Dods, Colonel P., United Service Club, Edinburgh. 
 
 Donaldson, James, LL.D., Principal, St. Andrews University. 
 
 Donaldson, James, Sunnyside, Formby, Liverpool. 
 
 Douglas, Hon. and Right Rev. A. G., .Bishop of Aberdeen and 
 
 Orkney, Aberdeen. 
 Douglas, David, 15a Castle Street, Edinburgh. 
 Dowden, Right Rev. John, D.D., Bishop of Edinburgh, Lynn 
 
 House, Gillsland Road, Edinburgh. 
 Duncan, J. Dalrymple, 211 Hope Street, Glasgow. 
 Duncan, James Barker, W.S., 6 Hill Street, Edinburgh. 
 Dundas, Ralph, C.S., 28 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh. 
 Dunn, Robert Hunter, Belgian Consulate, Glasgow. 
 Dunsmore, W., Advocate, 13 Kilgraston Road, Edinburgh. 
 
 E aston, Walter, 125 Buchanan Street, Glasgow. 
 Ewart, Prof. Cossar, 3 Great Stuart Street, Edinburgh. 
 
 Faulds, A. Wilson, Knockbuckle, Beith, Ayrshire. 
 Ferguson, C. Carnie, Bridge of Allan. 
 Ferguson, James, 41 Manor Place, Edinburgh. 
 Ferguson, John, Town Clerk, Linlithgow. 
 
 Fergusson, T. M., Ayton House, Dowanhill Gardens, Glasgow. 
 Findlay, J. Ritchie, 3 Rothesay Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 Findlay, Rev. Wm., The Manse, Saline, Fife. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 7 
 
 Fleming, D. Hay, 173 South Street, St. Andrews. 
 
 Fleming, J. S., 16 Grosvenor Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 
 Flint, Prof., D.D., LL.D., Johnstone Lodge, Craigmillar Park, 
 
 Edinburgh. 
 Forbes, Peter, Coultermains, Biggar. 
 
 Forbes, William, Advocate, 17 Ainslie Place, Edinburgh. 
 Forrest, James R. P., 26 North Nelson Street, Edinburgh. 
 Forrester, John, 29 Windsor Street, Edinburgh. 
 Foulis, James, M.D., 34 Heriot Row, Edinburgh. 
 Fraser, Professor A. Campbell, D.C.L., LL.D., 20 Chester Street, 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 Fraser, Hon. Lord, 8 Moray Place, Edinburgh. 
 Fraser, Patrick Neill, Rockville, Murrayfield. 
 Fraser, W. N., S.S.C., 41 Albany Street, Edinburgh. 
 Fraser-Tytler, Prof. James S., Woodhouselee, Roslin, N.B. 
 
 Gaedeke, Dr. Arnold, Professor of History, Polytechnikum, 
 
 3 Liebigstrasse, Dresden. 
 Gairdner, Charles, Broom, Newton-Mearns, Glasgow. 
 Galletly, Edwin G., 22 Albany Street, Edinburgh. 
 Gardner, Alexander, 7 Gilmour Street, Paisley. 
 Gartshore, Miss Murray, Ravelston, Blackhall, Edinburgh. 
 Geikie, Archibald, LL.D., Geological Survey, 28 Jermyn Street, 
 
 London, S.W. 
 
 Geikie, Prof. James, LL.D., 31 Merchiston Avenue, Edinburgh. 
 Gemmell, James, 19 George iv. Bridge, Edinburgh. 
 Gemmill, William, 150 Hope Street, Glasgow. 
 Gibson, James T., LL.B., W.S., 28 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh. 
 Giles, Arthur, 107 Princes Street, Edinburgh. 
 Gillespie, G. R., Advocate, 5 Darnaway Street, Edinburgh. 
 Gillies, Walter, M.A., The Academy, Perth. 
 Gloag, W. E., Advocate, 6 Heriot Row, Edinburgh. 
 Gordon, Rev. Robert, Mayfield Gardens, Edinburgh. 
 Goudie, Gilbert, F.S.A. Scot., 39 Northumberland Street, Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 Goudie, Robert, Commissary Clerk of Ayrshire, Ayr. 
 
8 
 
 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Gourlay, Robert, Bank of Scotland, Glasgow. 
 Gow, Leonard, Hayston, Kelvinside, Glasgow. 
 Grahame, James, 101 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow. 
 Grant, William G. L., Woodside, East Newport, Fife. 
 Gray, George, Clerk of the Peace, Glasgow. 
 Greenshields, J. B., Kerse, Lesmahagow. 
 Greig, Andrew, 36 Belmont Gardens, Hillhead, Glasgow. 
 Grub, Prof. George, LL.D., University, Aberdeen. 
 Gunning, Robert Haliday, M.D., 12 Addison Crescent, Kensing- 
 ton, London, W. 
 Guthrie, Charles J., Advocate, 13 Royal Circus, Edinburgh. 
 Guy, Robert, 120 West Regent Street, Glasgow. 
 
 Halkett, Katherine E., Gordon House, Ham Common. 
 Hall, David, Elmbank House, Kilmarnock. 
 Hall en, Rev. A. W. Cornelius, The Parsonage, Alloa. 
 Hamilton, Sir Frederick W., K.C.B., Pitcorthie, Colinsburgh, 
 Fife. 
 
 Hamilton, Hubert, Advocate, 55 Manor Place, Edinburgh. 
 Hamilton, Lord, of Dalzell, Motherwell. 
 Harrison, John, 36 North Bridge, Edinburgh. 
 Hedderwick, A. W. H., 79 St. George's Place, Glasgow. 
 Henderson, Joseph, 1 1 Blythswood Square, Glasgow. 
 Henry, David, 2 Lockhart Place, St. Andrews, Fife. 
 Hill, William H., LL.D., Barlanark, Shettleston, Glasgow. 
 Hislop, Robert, Solicitor, Auchterarder. 
 Hogg, John, 66 Chancery Street, Boston, U.S. 
 Honeyman, John, 140 Bath Street, Glasgow. 
 Hope, Sir John David, Bart., Pinkie House, Musselburgh. 
 Hunt, John, Fingarry, Milton of Campsie, Glasgow. 
 Hunter, Major, F.R.S., of Plas Coch, Anglesea. 
 Hunter- Weston, Colonel G., of Hunterston, F.S.A., West Kilbride, 
 Ayrshire. 
 
 Hutcheson, Alexander, 10 Reform Street, Dundee. 
 Hutchison, John, D.D., Afton Lodge, Bonnington. 
 Hyslop, J. M., M.D., 22 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 9 
 
 Imrie, Rev. T. Nairne, Dunfermline. 
 
 Inglis, Right Hon. John, Lord Justice-General, 30 Abercromby 
 
 Place, Edinburgh. 
 Irvine, Alex. Forbes, Advocate, Drum Castle, Aberdeenshire. 
 
 Jameson, J. H., W.S., 12 George Square, Edinburgh. 
 Jamieson, George Auldj o, C. A. , 37 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh. 
 Jamieson, J. Auldjo, W.S., 14 Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 Japp, William, Solicitor, Alyth. 
 
 Johnston, David, 24 Huntly Gardens, Kelvinside, Glasgow. 
 Johnston, George Harvey, 6 Osborne Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 Johnston, George P., 33 George Street, Edinburgh. 
 Johnston, T. Morton, Eskhill, Roslin. 
 
 Johnstone, James F. Kellas, 69 Princess Street, Manchester. 
 Jonas, Alfred Charles, 4 St. James' Crescent, Swansea. 
 
 Kemp, D. William, Ivy Lodge, Trinity, Edinburgh. 
 Kennedy, David H. C, 27 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow. 
 Kermack, John, W.S., 10 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Kinnear, The Hon. Lord, 2 Moray Place, Edinburgh. 
 Kirkpatrick, Prof. John, LL.B., Advocate, 24 Alva Street, Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 Kirkpatrick, Robert, 1 Queen Square, Strathbungo, Glasgow. 
 
 Laidlaw, David, jun., 6 Marlborough Terrace, Kelvinside, Glasgow. 
 Laing, Alex., Norfolk House, St. Leonards, Sussex. 
 Lang, James, 9 Crown Gardens, Dowanhill, Glasgow. 
 Laurie, Professor S. S., Nairne Lodge, Duddingston. 
 Law, James F., Seaview, Monifieth. 
 
 Law, Thomas Graves, Signet Library, Edinburgh, Secretary. 
 Leadbetter, Thomas, 122 George Street, Edinburgh. 
 Lindsay, Thomas M., D.D., Free Church College, Glasgow. 
 Livingston, E. B., 22 Great St. Helens, London, E.C. 
 Lorimer, George, 2 Abbotsford Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Lorimer, Professor J., LL.D., 1 Bruntsfield Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 
10 
 
 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Macadam, W. Ivison, 6 East Brighton Crescent, Portobello. 
 Macandrew, Henry C, Aisthorpe, Midmills Road, Inverness. 
 Macbrayne, David, Jim., 17 Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow. 
 M f Call, James, F.S.A., 6 St. John's Terrace, Hillhead, Glasgow. 
 M'Candlish, John M., W.S., 27 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 M'Cubbin, Wm. Fergus, Glendoon, Ayr. 
 Macdonald, James, W.S., 15 Lennox Street, Edinburgh. 
 M'Ewen, W. C, W.S., 2 Rothesay Place, Edinburgh. 
 Macfarlane, George L., Advocate, 14 Moray Place, Edinburgh. 
 Macgeorge, B. B., 19 Woodside Crescent, Glasgow. 
 M'Grigor, Alexander, 172 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow. 
 M'Grigor, Alex. B., LL.D., 19 Woodside Terrace, Glasgow. 
 Macintyre, P. M., Advocate, 12 India Street, Edinburgh. 
 Mackay, iEneas J. G., LL.D., 7 Albyn Place, Edinburgh. 
 Mackay, Rev. G. S., M.A., Free Church Manse, Doune. 
 Mackay, James R., 37 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh. 
 Mackay, John, 41 Hamilton Terrace, London, N.W. 
 Mackay, Thomas A., 14 Henderson Row, Edinburgh. 
 Mackay, William, Solicitor, Inverness. 
 Mackenzie, A., St. Catherines, Paisley. 
 
 Mackenzie, David J., Sheriff-Substitute, Lerwick, Shetland. 
 Mackenzie, Thomas, M.A., Sheriff-Substitute of Tain, Ross. 
 Mackinlay, David, 6 Great Western Terrace, Glasgow. 
 Mackinnon, Professor, 1 Merchiston Place, Edinburgh. 
 Mackinnon, W., 203 West George Street, Glasgow. 
 Mackinnon, William, 115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow. 
 Mackintosh, Charles Fraser, 5 Clarges Street, London, W. 
 Maclagan, D. J., 7 James Place, Leith. 
 
 Maclagan, Professor Sir Douglas, M.D., 28 Heriot Row, Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 Maclagan, Robert Craig, M.D., 5 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 M'Laren, The Hon. Lord, 46 Moray Place, Edinburgh. 
 Maclauchlan, John, Albert Institute, Dundee. 
 Maclean, Sir Andrew, Viewfield House, Balshagray, Partick, 
 Glasgow. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 11 
 
 Maclean, William C, F.R.G.S., 31 Camperdown Place, Great 
 Yarmouth. 
 
 Macleod, Donald, D.D., 1 Woodlands Terrace, Glasgow. 
 
 Macleod, Rev. Walter, 112 Thirlestane Road, Edinburgh. 
 
 Macniven, John, 138 Princes Street, Edinburgh. 
 
 M'Phee, Donald, 4 Kirklee Road, Kelvinside, Glasgow. 
 
 Macray, Rev. W. D., Bodleian Library, Oxford. 
 
 Main, W. D., 128 St. Vincent Place, Glasgow. 
 
 Makellar, Rev. William, 8 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. 
 
 Marshall, John, Caldergrove, Newton, Lanarkshire. 
 
 Martin, John, W.S., 19 Chester Street, Edinburgh. 
 
 Marwick, Sir J. D., LL.D., Killermont House, Maryhill, Glasgow. 
 
 Mason, Robert, 6 Albion Crescent, Dowanhill, Glasgow. 
 
 Masson, Professor David, LL.D., 58 Great King St., Edinburgh. 
 
 Mathieson, Thomas A., 3 Grosvenor Terrace, Glasgow. 
 
 Maxwell, Alexander, 9 Viewforth Street, Dundee. 
 
 Maxwell, Sir Herbert Eustace, Bart., M.P., Monreith, Whauphill. 
 
 Maxwell, W. J., Terraughtie, Dumfries. 
 
 Millar, Alexander H., 2 Norman Terrace, Downfield, Dundee. 
 
 Miller, P., 8 Bellevue Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 
 Miller, William, S.S.C., 59 George Square, Edinburgh. 
 
 Milligan, John, W.S., 10 Carlton Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 
 Milne, A. & R., Union Street, Aberdeen. 
 
 Milne, Thomas, M.D., 17 Mar Street, Alloa. 
 
 Mitchell, Rev. Professor Alexander, D.D., University, St. Andrews. 
 Mitchell, Sir Arthur, K.C.B., M.D., LL.D., 34 Drummond Place, 
 
 Edinburgh. 
 Moffat, Alexander, Southbar, Paisley. 
 
 Moffat, Alexander, jun., M.A., 37 Northumberland Street, Edin- 
 burgh. 
 
 Morice, Arthur D., Fonthill Road, Aberdeen. 
 Morison, John, 11 Burnbank Gardens, Glasgow. 
 Morrison, Hew, Abercorn Place, Portobello. 
 Morton, Charles, W.S., 11 Palmerston Road, Edinburgh. 
 Muir, James, 27 Huntly Gardens, Dowanhill, Glasgow. 
 Muirhead, James, 5 Eton Terrace, Hillhead, Glasgow. 
 
12 
 
 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Muirhead, Professor, 2 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh. 
 Murdoch^ Rev. A. D., All Saints' Parsonage, Edinburgh. 
 Murdoch, J. B., of Capelrig, Mearns, Renfrewshire. 
 Murray, David, 169 West George Street, Glasgow. 
 Murray, Rev. Allan F., M.A., Free Church Manse, Torphichen, 
 Bathgate. 
 
 Murray, T. G., W.S., 11 Randolph Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 
 Napier and Ettrick, Lord, Thirlestane, Selkirk. 
 
 Norfor, Robert T., C.A., 47 South Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh. 
 
 Ogilvy, Sir John, Bart., Baldovan House, Dundee. 
 Oliver, James, Thornwood, Hawick. 
 
 Orrock, Archibald, 17 St. Catherine's Place, Edinburgh. 
 
 Panton, George A., F. R.S.E., 95 Colmore Row, Birmingham. 
 
 Paton, Allan Park, Greenock Library. 
 
 Paton, Henry, M.A., 15 Myrtle Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 
 Patrick, David, 339 High Street, Edinburgh. 
 
 Patten, James, Advocate, 16 Lynedoch Place, Edinburgh. 
 
 Paul, Rev. Robert, F.S.A. Scot., Dollar. 
 
 Pearson, David Ritchie, M.D., 28 Upper Phillimore Place, Ken- 
 sington, London, W. 
 Pillans, Hugh H., 12 Dryden Place, Edinburgh. 
 Pollock, Hugh, 25 Carlton Place, Glasgow. 
 Prentice, A. R., 18 Kilblain Street, Greenock. 
 Pullar, Robert, Tayside, Perth. 
 Purves, A. P., W.S., Esk Tower, Lasswade. 
 
 Rampini, Charles, Advocate, Springfield House, Elgin. 
 Ramsay, John, Kildalton, Port Ellen, Islay. 
 
 Rankine, John, Advocate, Professor of Scots Law, 23 Ainslie 
 
 Place, Edinburgh. 
 Reich el, H. R., University College, Bangor, North Wales. 
 Reid, Alexander George, Solicitor, Auchterarder. 
 Eteid, H. G., Stationery Office, Westminster, S.W. 
 
 -J 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 13 
 
 Reid, J. J., B.A., Advocate, 15 Belgrave Place, Edinburgh, 
 Treasurer. 
 
 Reid, John Alexander, Advocate, 2 Drummond Place, Edinburgh. 
 Renwick, Robert, Depute Town-Clerk, City Chambers, Glasgow. 
 Richardson, Ralph, W.S., 10 Magdala Place, Edinburgh. 
 Ritchie, David, Hopeville, Dowanhill Gardens, Glasgow. 
 Ritchie, R. Peel, M.D., 1 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Roberton, Professor James, LL.D., 1 Park Terrace East, Glasgow. 
 Robertson, D. Argyll, M.D., 18 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. 
 Robertson, John, Elmslea, Dundee. 
 
 Robson, William, Marchholm, Gillsland Road, Edinburgh. 
 Rogerson, John J., LL.B., Merchiston Castle, Edinburgh. 
 Rosebery, The Earl of, LL.D., Dalmeny Park, Linlithgowshire. 
 Ross, A. Mackenzie, Launceston, Kilmalcolm. 
 Ross, T. S., Balgillo Terrace, Broughty Ferry. 
 Ross, Rev. William, LL.D., 7 Grange Terrace, Edinburgh. 
 Roy, William G., S.S.C., 16 Dublin Street, Edinburgh. 
 Russell, John, 7 Seton Place, Edinburgh. 
 
 Scott, John, Hawkhill, Greenock. 
 
 Shanks, James Kennedy, 18 West Cumberland Street, Glasgow. 
 Shaw, David, W.S., 1 Thistle Court, Edinburgh. 
 Shaw, Rev. R. D., B.D., Burnlea, Hamilton. 
 Shaw, Thomas, Advocate, 17 Dublin Street, Edinburgh. 
 Shiell, John, 5 Bank Street, Dundee. 
 Simpson, Prof. A. R., 52 Queen Street, Edinburgh. 
 Simpson, Sir W. G., Bart., 3 Belgrave Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Simson, D. J., Advocate, 3 Glenfinlas Street, Edinburgh. 
 Sinclair, Alexander, Glasgow Herald Office, Glasgow. 
 Skelton, John, Advocate, C.B., LL.D., the Hermitage of Braid. 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 Skene, W. F., D.C.L., LL.D., 27 Inverleith Row, Edinburgh. 
 Skinner, William, W.S., 35 George Square, Edinburgh. 
 Small, W. J., Ellen Bank, Dundee. 
 Smart, William, M.A., Nunholm, Dowanhill, Glasgow. 
 Smith, Rev. G. Mure, 6 Clarendon Place, Stirling. 
 
14 
 
 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Smith, J. Guthrie, Mugdock Castle, Strathblane, Milngavie. 
 Smith, Rev. R. Nimmo, Manse of the First Charge, Haddington. 
 Smith, Robert, 24 Meadowside, Dundee. 
 Smith, Prof. Robertson, University Library, Cambridge. 
 Smythe, David M., Methven Castle, Perth. 
 Sprott, Rev. Dr., The Manse, North Berwick. 
 Stair, Earl of, Oxenfoord Castle, Dalkeith. 
 Stevenson, J. H., Advocate, 10 Albyn Place, Edinburgh. 
 Stevenson, Rev. Robert, M.A., The Abbey, Dunfermline. 
 Stevenson, T. G., 22 Frederick Street, Edinburgh. 
 Stevenson, William, Towerbank, Lenzie, by Glasgow. 
 Stewart, General J. Shaw, 6l Lancaster Gate, London, W. 
 Stewart, James R., 31 George Square, Edinburgh. 
 Stewart, Dr. John, 3 South Lindsay Street, Dundee. 
 Stewart, R. K., Murdostoun Castle, Newmains, Lanarkshire. 
 Stewart, Prof. T. Grainger, M.D., 19 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. 
 Stirling, Major C. C. Graham, Craigbarnet, Haughhead of Campsie, 
 Glasgow. 
 
 Strathern, Robert, W.S., 12 South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh. 
 Strathmore, Earl of, Glamis Castle, Glamis. 
 Stuart, Surgeon-Major G. B., 71 Ebury Street, London, S.W. 
 Sturrock, James S., W.S., 110 George Street, Edinburgh. 
 Sutherland, George M., Solicitor, Wick. 
 
 Sutherland, James B., S.S.C., 10 Windsor Street, Edinburgh. 
 Swinton, A. Campbell, Kimmerghame, Duns. 
 
 Taylor, Benjamin, 10 Derby Crescent, Kelvinside, Glasgow. 
 Taylor, Rev. James, D.D., 1 St. Catherine's Gardens, Murray- 
 field. 
 
 Taylor, Rev. Malcolm C, D.D., Professor of Church History, 6 
 
 Greenhill Park, Edinburgh. 
 Telford, Rev. W. H., Free Church Manse, Reston, Berwickshire. 
 Tennant, Sir Charles, Bart., The Glen, Innerleithen. 
 Thorns, George H. M., Advocate, 13 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. 
 Thomson, John Comrie, Advocate, 24 Great King Street, Edinburgh. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 15 
 
 Thomson, Rev. John Henderson, Free Church Manse, Hightae, 
 by Lockerbie. 
 
 Thomson, John Maitland, Advocate, 10 Wemyss Place, Edinburgh. 
 Thomson, Lockhart, S.S.C., 114 George Street, Edinburgh. 
 Thorburn, Robert Macfie, Uddevalla, Sweden. 
 Trail, John A., W.S., 30 Drummond Place, Edinburgh. 
 Trayner, The Hon. Lord, 27 Moray Place, Edinburgh. 
 Tuke, John Batty, M.D., 20 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. 
 Turnbull, John, W.S., 49 George Square, Edinburgh. 
 Tweeddale, Marquis of, Yester, GifFord, Haddington. 
 
 Underhill, Charles E., C.E., 8 Coates Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 Ure, Alexander, Advocate, 26 Heriot Row, Edinburgh. 
 
 Veitch, Professor, LL.D., 4 The University, Glasgow. 
 
 Waddel, Alexander, Royal Bank, Calton, Glasgow. 
 
 Walker, Alexander, 25 Dee Street, Aberdeen. 
 
 Walker, James, Hanley Lodge, Corstorphine. 
 
 Walker, Robert, M.A., University Library, Aberdeen. 
 
 Watson, D., Hillside Cottage, Hawick. 
 
 Watson, James, Myskyns, Ticehurst, Hawkhurst. 
 
 Weld-French, A. D., Union Club, Boston, U.S. 
 
 Will, J. C. Ogilvie, M.D., 305 Union Street, Aberdeen. 
 
 Wilson, Rev. J. Skinner, 19 Howard Place, Edinburgh. 
 
 Wilson, Robert, Procurator Fiscal, County Buildings, Hamilton. 
 
 Wood, Mrs. Christina S., Woodburn, Galashiels. 
 
 Wood, J. P., W.S., 10 Lennox Street, Edinburgh. 
 
 Wood, W. A., C.A., 11 Clarendon Crescent, Edinburgh. 
 
 Wordie, John, 49 West Nile Street, Glasgow. 
 
 Young, David, Town Clerk, Paisley. 
 
 Young, A. J., Advocate, 6l Great King Street, Edinburgh. 
 Young, J. W., W.S., 22 Royal Circus, Edinburgh. 
 Young, William Laurence, Solicitor, Auchterarder. 
 
16 
 
 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 
 
 Aberdeen Free Public Library. 
 
 Aberdeen University Library. 
 
 All Souls' College, Oxford. 
 
 Antiquaries, Society of, Edinburgh. 
 
 Berlin Royal Library. 
 
 Bodleian Library, Oxford. 
 
 Boston Athenaeum. 
 
 Boston Public Library. 
 
 Cambridge Historical School. 
 
 Cambridge University Library. 
 
 Copenhagen (Bibliotheque Royale). 
 
 Dundee Free Library. 
 
 Edinburgh Public Library. 
 
 Edinburgh University Library. 
 
 Free Church College Library, Edinburgh. 
 
 Glasgow University Library. 
 
 Gray's Inn, Hon. Society of, London. 
 
 Harvard College Library, Cambridge, Mass. 
 
 Leeds Subscription Library. 
 
 London Corporation Library, Guildhall. 
 
 London Library, 12 St. James Square. 
 
 Manchester Public Free Library. 
 
 Mitchell Library, Glasgow. 
 
 Nottingham Free Public Library. 
 
 Ottawa Parliamentary Library. 
 
 Paisley Philosophical Institution. 
 
 Philosophical Institution, Edinburgh. 
 
 Procurators, Faculty of, Glasgow. 
 
 Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh. 
 
 St. Andrews University Library. 
 
 Sheffield Free Public Library. 
 
 Signet Library, Edinburgh. 
 
 Solicitors, Society of, before the Supreme Court, Edinburgh. 
 
 Stonyhurst College, Lancashire. 
 
 Sydney Free Library. 
 
 Vienna, Library of the R. I. University. 
 
DA 
 
 750 Scottish hisrtoxy society* 
 v. 6 
 
 Bapst Library 
 
 Boston College 
 Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02167