Biggar and the House of Fleming

212 BIGGAE AND THE HOUSE OF FLEMING.
Quothquan; And ro Gudlatt, Symington ; John Currie, Coulter;
Eobert Elliot, Kilbucho ; William Dickson, Glenholm ; Thomas
Lindsay, Walston; and George Ogstoun, Covington.* The
Kirk of Wandel and Lamington was at the time vacant, and
one of the earliest cases that came before the new Presbytery
was a dispute regarding the settlement of this parish. The
previous incumbent, Mr James Baillie, died in 1642; and a
violent controversy arose between Douglas, Earl of Angus, pro-
prietor of Wandel, and Sir William Baillie, proprietor of
Lamington, as to which of them had the right to appoint a
successor. As they could come to no agreement, both of them
exercised the right of patronage. Baillie presented John
Currie, and Douglas, Andrew M'Ghie. The case came before
the Presbytery of Lanark, and afterwards before the higher
ecclesiastical courts. A decision was given in favour of
Douglas, and consequently of M'Ghie. The Presbytery of
Lanark, having, accordingly, appointed M'Ghie to preach before
the people of Lamington in March 1644, the Lady of Lam-
ington, aided by several other women, took possession of the
pulpit in a tumultuous manner, and prevented the presentee
from obtaining an entrance, and, of course, a hearing,— her
Ladyship stoutly declaring, "that no dog of the house of
Douglas should ever bark there."
This was too heinous an offence to be lightly passed over by
the divines of the Lanark Presbytery. They lodged a com-
plaint against the lady and her abettors with the Privy
Council; and the consequence was, that a decree was issued,
commanding the accused to enter their persons in ward in the
Tolbooth of Edinburgh. This was accordingly done ; and they
remained in confinement till a fine imposed on them of 1000
merks was paid to the Lanark Presbytery. The members of
this court were not yet satisfied. They wished her Ladyship
to appear before them, and make a public expression of her
deep contrition for an offence " so scandalous for the present,
and so dangerous for the time to come." Before this part of
the case could be finally disposed of, the Presbytery of Biggar
was formed, and the Lady of Lamington was now within its
* Dunsyre was not one of the parishes of which the Presbytery was at first
composed, but it was disjoined from the Presbytery of Lanark on the 4th of
June 5176, and added to Biggar.