Account of the families of Birnie and Hamilton of Broomhill

62 ACCOUNT OF THE FAMILIE
divinity, especially polemicks and the languages, with a good memorie,
accurate in the fathers and church historie ; yet to be seen by the remarks
upon his books I have of excellent choice. He was very pious and
charitable, tho' strict in his morals, most kind to his friends, and most
affable and courteous to strangers. He was a Boanerges in the pulpit,
and every way worthie of the sacred character he bore.
A gentleman some tyme agoe enquired very particularly at me, if I
had a sermon of the Bishop's, to his hearing, preached before the Earle
of Midleton, then his Majesties commissioner to the parliament, upon the
6 chap. Romans, verse 19, to the end, tho' he confyn'd his discourse mostly
to the 21st verse. I told him that I had it not, but ask'd his opinion,
which was — the most thundering one ever he heard.
This Bishop's father, as already told, was Sir James Hamilton of
Broomhill, knight and barronet, and his mother, Dame Max-garet Hamil-
ton, a daughter of Udston's. They had nyne children ; their eldest, Sir
John Hamilton, younger of Broomhill, was by King Charles the First
created Lord Beilhauen, who married Margaret, natural daughter of
James Marques of Hamilton, and her mother was Lady Abernethie of
Salton, a daughter of my Lord Blantyre's ; no male ishue. Their second
was Mr James the Bishop. The third, Mr Gavin, design'd of Viccars,
married Margaret, eldest daughter of Gavin Hamilton of Raploch, and
Margaret Hamilton of Letham, his spouse, was also a clergyman, and
dyed Dean of Rapho in Ireland.
Their youngest son, Claud, was with James Duke of Hamilton at the
battle of Preston, and thereafter commanded a troop of hox-se at the battle
of Worcester. He married Jean Hamilton, heires of Parkhead ; all with
ishue.
Margaret, Sir James his eldest daughter, married Sir Walter Stewart
of Alanton.
Jean, his second, married John Porterfield of that Ilk, or Duchal.