Series 3 > Minutes of the Synod of Argyll, 1639-1651 (1652-1661) > 1652-1661

INTRODUCTION
xv
Some ministers that were acquainted with the Highland
language have in a late summer season visited those parts
and been courteously used by many professing their
breathings after the Gospel ’ ; all of which points unerringly
to Lochaber and to Dugald Campbell’s mission in the
summer of 1657, ‘ upon the supplicatione of the people of
Lochaber.’ 1
That there might be no half-measures the question of
ways and means was solved. It had come to Cromwell’s
knowledge that ‘ there is a concealed maintenance detained
in unrighteousness and diverted from the right ends to the
sole benefit of particular persons, and . . . much revenue
for many years together in the late King’s time, and since
concealed and detained from us by such persons as have
no right or title thereunto.’ ‘ Our Barons of our Exchequer
in Scotland ’ are therefore instructed to ‘ search and find
out six hundred pounds2 per annum out of concealed
estates and revenues belonging to us, or that may belong
unto us and our successors,’ to be paid over quarterly or
half-yearly ‘ to the only use and end aforesaid.’ 3 The
search would be interesting if possibly elusive.
The Synod met at Inveraray in May 1658. Here were
letters from ‘ many gentlemen and others in Lochaber,
and backed by many of the subscrybers, as also ane other
letter from Major Hill, governour of Inverlochay Garrisoun,
showing that sufficient stipend was prepared for two
ministers in Lochaber and that ther was not any proba-
bilitie for getting ministers thereunto except by the con¬
currence of this synod, having made an assay elsewhere
but disappointed. And also earnestlie desyring the trans-
1 Minutes, ii. p. 156.
2 Afterwards increased to £1200, but the condition was not changed.
3 See Mrs. Lomas’s edition of Carlyle’s Cromwell, iii. 512, 513 ; and cf.
Firth’s Last Years of the Protectorate, ii. 98, 99 n. The Minutes both eluci¬
date and amplify the relation of Cromwell’s action.