Series 1 > Journal of the Hon. John Erskine of Carnock, 1683-1687

4
JOURNAL OF THE HON.
[JUNE
I dined in Kilsyth town with Will Preston my cousin,1 one
of Balcarasses troop. When we were within a little of Inch-
belly bridge we saw a country house razed to the ground,
where, on Friday last, David Murray,2 one of the King’s Guard,
was killed, and Ballantine wounded, by about seven men who
assaulted them on a sudden (and rescued Smith, who was to be
hanged at Glasgow).
At Inchbelly bridge the Freeholders of Stirlingshire went
back, and Dumbartonshire met the Lords; and before they
were at Calder Clidsdaleshire met them, with Duke Hamilton
and the Archbishop of Glasgow, with a great number of Horse,
as was said more than 1000; next Renfrew gentlemen met
them, and within two miles of Glasgow the magistrates and
burgesses having a handsome aspect. It was thought they
were in all more than 2000 horse. The Foot soldiers were
under arms on both sides of the street, from the Port till where
the Lords lighted and got some little treat from the Town. I
heard that Perth said he had never seen a handsomer reception.3
Al. Henderson and I stayed together, and had a chamber
in Ja. Witherspoon’s, a taylour.
12£/i.—The lords sat in the Tolbooth. They came from
the church to the court, as at Stirling: the suite rolls were
called, and after noon the pannells.
\Qth.—James Hamilton of Parkhead, Robert Russel, James
Russel, and Gawin Paterson in Bothwell, being absent, the
assize was set upon them. The Laird of Walstoun,* Dalzel,5
Airnock,6 old Bredisholme,7 Orbeston,8 young Woodhall,9 old
1 The author’s grandmother on the mother’s side was Mary, daughter of Sir
John Preston of Valley field, Baronet.
2 This was David, brother-german of John Murray of Romanno, Peeblesshire.
He married Agnes Scott, in 1673, and she survived him.
8 This loyal demonstration was not necessarily spontaneous, as on 9th April
1683 the Privy Council gave order ‘ that noblemen, gentlemen, and freeholders,
be punctually warned to attend the justices, and the absents fined.’ The fines
were to be uplifted ‘ without excuse.’
4 This may be James Winrahame of Wistoun.
5 Alexander Hamilton of Dalzel.
6 John Robertoun of Ernock.
7 Muirhead of Bredisholme. His son James refused the Test.
8 Hamilton of Orbeston.
8 James Hamilton was then Laird of Woodhall.