Life and diary of Lieut. Col. J. Blackader

48 LIFE OF COL. BLACKADER. CHAP. II.
just and legal securities for the peace and purity of
our religion, — the stability of our laws, — privileges of
parliament, — liberties of the people, civil and eccle-
siastic ; and thus make our subjection both a clear
duty and a comfortable happiness. And we particu-
larly crave, that he and his successors be bound in the
royal oath, to profess, protect and maintain the Pro-
testant religion, — that he restore and confirm by his
Princely sanction, the due privileges of the church,
and never assume to himself an Erastian supremacy
in matters ecclesiastic, nor unbounded prerogative, in
civil : Upon these, or the like terms^we tender our
allegiance to King William, and hope to give more
pregnant proof of our loyalty to his Majesty, in ad-
verse, as well as prosperous providences, than they
have done or can do, who profess implicit subjection
to absolute authority."*
That their professions of loyalty might not evapo-
rate in idle words, they stood forth in arms to realize
their declarations the moment their interposition could
be of service. As they had been eminent for their
sufferings under tyranny, they were not less conspi-
cuous as the first to take the field in the war of eman-
cipation. " In order," they continue, " to make good
our intentions, we modelled ourselves into companies,
that we might be in readiness to offer our assistance.
This we did offer, and had the honour done us to be
accepted. We were admitted to guard and defend
the Honourable Meeting of Estates against all at-
tempts of the Duke of Gordon, Viscount Dundee, and
other enemies. Thereafter, understanding that the
* Grievances of the Cameronians.