Account of the families of Birnie and Hamilton of Broomhill

xiv PREFATORY REMARKS.
Minto, who himself had bought the same from Sir James Somervill ele-
ven years or thereby preceding this, and now held of Drum as barrone
of Cambusnethen, his dwelling-house being very neer the kirk, he was
unwilling that it should be transported to any other part of the parish ;
thairfore, soe soon as this petitione was presented to the assemblie, he
gave advertisement to Cambusnethen, but secretly, for fear of Sir James
Stewart, and his oune brother-in-law, Allentoune, both of them being
great favourites of the kirk, might have turned him out of his ministre,
for the presbyterie of Hamiltoune waited for ane occasione to be fairly
quyte of him that singly opposed them in all ther illegall and unwarrant-
able proceedings against these that wer of and for the duke's engadge-
ment, anno 1648.
" Upon this advertisement, Cambusnethen comes to Edenburgh, and
speakes first with some of his freinds, members of that assemblie, then
with these of the presbytrie of Edenburgh, and more particularly with the
ministers of the toune, in whom he confided much, because formerly when
he lay before the Castle of Edenburgh, and was wounded in ther service,
(for if men will speak the truth, it was principally, if not only the kirk's
quarrell that begane and continued that unnatural warre against the
father of our countrey,) they had often promised to befreind him in any
actione that might come before them ; but old springs* give noe pryce,
they then charished militarie men, but now they wer mounted on the chair
of government, and looked doune with disdaine upon these that had been
greatly instrumentall to place them there, as they did with this gentleman,
who, comeing to speak with ther moderator, Master Robert Douglas, he
very ingenuously tells him the granting of the petitione was already con-
cluded upon, and his appearing to oppose it would be to noe purpose,
but to give these, he knew boor him noe good will, reasone to insult.
• Old tunes.