History of the family of Seton during eight centuries > Volume 2

THE REV. ANDREW DONALDSON
66 1
Lord Fyvie had committed a ryot.' x This must have been Charles, the
eldest son of Lord Dunfermline, who predeceased his father.
Three years afterwards (18th November 1663) Lord Dunfermline, in
writing from Edinburgh to Lord Lauderdale, relative to his legal dispute
with Lord Calendar, says : ' Y r friend y e President of the Session (Sir John
Gilmour of Craigmillar), who thinks his word should be a law, though
never so unjust, is the cause of all our debates.' Also : — ' My Lord
Kinkardine told me anent the treatie of vnion which I tolde zour Lo p was
in my Lord Kingstoune's hand. I am resolued to send to him for it, and
since it is the principall signed treatie, I would be the more peremtor
in it, if you think it fitt that his sacred Ma* would command me to bring
it vpe.' 2
Six months afterwards (7th May 1664) Lord Bellenden, writing to the
Earl of Lauderdale, from Edinburgh, says : ' This day I went expresslie to
the Earle Dumfermling at Degetie. He hath been these thrie months with
a paine in his shoulder, and now says positivelie that the 20th of this
month he will begin his journey towards you, and to that purpose doth
keepe Waters with his coatch heir.' 3
In 1664 the Rev. Andrew Donaldson, minister of Dalgety, who had
joined the protesting party in the Church, was ejected for not conforming
to Episcopacy. His generous benefactor, Lord Dunfermline, who hap-
pened to be in London at the time, succeeded in obtaining a warrant from
the King reponing Donaldson in his charge, but this was afterwards
revoked through the instrumentality of Archbishop Sharp. It is reported
that Donaldson lived in a building at the west end of the church, supported
by presents from the parishioners. ' For eleven years the favour of the
Earl of Dunfermline, and the attachment of his people, enabled him to
preach the gospel, notwithstanding the opposition of Archbishop Sharp.' 4
He subsequently lived at Inverkeithing, and after the Revolution of 1688
he was restored by Act of Parliament to his old position of parish minister
of Dalgety.
On the 27th of September 1670 the Earl of Tweeddale, writing from
Edinburgh, informs Lord Lauderdale that he is 'opressed w* company,
the E. of Lithkow and Contes of Wintoune beeng the last.' ' Dum-
fermling,' he adds, 'was heir, but went ouer to-day to S r Jams Hakquet
his burial. He intends to begin his journey on Monday or Tewsday com
seannight.' 5
About the same date the Earl of Kincardine informs Lord Lauderdale
of an adverse decision to Lord Dunfermline in the question of the vassals
of the lordship of Dunfermline. 6
In the course of the following year (1671) Lord Dunfermline appears
to have been in pretty frequent communication with Lord Lauderdale. On
1 Lauderdale Papers, 23,114, f. 62.
2 Ibid. 23,120, f. 81.
3 Ibid. 23,122, f. 27.
336
4 Taylor's Historical Antiquities of Fife, ii.
s Lauderdale Papers, 23,134, f. 133.
6 Ibid. f. 195.