History and traditions of the land of the Lindsays in Angus and Mearns

8 LAND OF THE LINDSAV8,
January, 1641 ; but there is no reason to believe that " the new
doctrine" was introduced earlier here than in other parts of
the shire. It might be curious to know, though we are not
aware if it could be ascertained correctly, whether Edzell was
among those parishes which were supplied by one of the " manie
popishe preistis, unabill and of wicked life," whose conduct was
winked at by the Superintendent Erskine ;* but, it is certain
that Sir David of Edzell, who succeeded his father in 1558, as
well as his excellent brother, Lord Menmuir, espoused the re-
formed doctrines, and that they were religiously cherished by all
their successors. Indeed, so attached was the grandfather of the
last laird to the cause of the Covenant, that he raised a regiment
in support of it, which was known by his own name ;t & n d, in
the Parliament of 1662, the Earl of Middleton fined him in the
large sum of three thousand pounds. Kirk-sessions were prohi-
bited from being held in the parish from the time of " the blessed
restoratioun " until 1662, and on being resumed by order of the
Bishop and Presbytery, Mr. Dempster "begood the administra-
tion of discipline," and from that time matters moved smoothly
on, till the abolition of episcopacy at the beginning of last cen-
tury, when, under the banner of " the last laird," the opposition
was carried to a higher pitch than, perhaps, in any neigh-
bouring district.
It is true that the Earl of Southesk's factor forced the ad-
joining parishioners of Stracathro, under pain of being carried
to the Pretender's camp at Perth, to meet him " at the head
of eighty men under arms, with beating drums, and flying
colours," and to join with him in a day of humiliation and
prayer, " for success to the Pretender's army,"| but it does not
appear that so forcible means were employed there against the
introduction of the presbyterian minister, as at Edzell. Both by
fair and foul means, David Lindsay exerted himself to the very
utmost in his power for the maintenance and propagation of his
cause, and although prohibited by the Lords of Justiciary from
the use of the church, and forbidden to preach in the parish,
the minister, who was a namesake of the laird's, was encouraged
* Booke of the Dniversall Kirk of Scotland. — Bann. Club, p. 25.
1 " The minister told from the pulpit that he was appointed by the presbytery to attend
the lord of Egill's rcyiment for one month." — Menmuir Par. Reg., Aug. 11, 1UD0.
% Straoaihro Par. Reg,, A'ou. Z, 1715,