Series 2 > Seafield correspondence from 1685 to 1708

1693]
FIRST EARL OF SEAFIELD
101
in room of Sir Patrick Ogilvie, on the 23rd of May 1693. Darn
was Sir James’s father-in-law, William Dunbar.
The Presbyterian settlement of the church north of the Tay
was so far advanced in April 1689, when the Convention appointed
all parish ministers under pain of deprivation to pray by name
publicly for William and Mary. Many Episcopal clergymen, who
were extreme Jacobites, disobeyed; and the ensuing deprivations
and placing of Presbyterian ministers in the vacancies paved the
way for the Presbyterian settlement. On 22nd July 1689 Parlia¬
ment abolished prelacy. Early in the session of 1690 the surviv¬
ing Presbyterian ministers who were fouted’ after 1st January
166l were restored; and later in the session Presbytery was formally
established. Many moderate Episcopalian clergymen conformed ;
but the progress of Presbytery in the north, where the people
were attached to Episcopacy, was very slow. Its ultimate estab¬
lishment was only accomplished by Parliament on l6th July 1695
allowing the nonconforming Episcopal clergymen, who took
the oaths of allegiance, to remain in their charges, and by
settling Presbyterian ministers as these died out. Many of the
Seafield letters, besides the following one and those of 26th June,
17th and 19th July, and 2nd August 1693, throw light on the
settlement of the Scots church.
For THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR JAMES OGILVIE
OF CHURCH HILL their Majesties Solicitor
these
Right Honourable,—Though it may be thought rude-
nesse at such a time, when you are imployed in weightie
matters to give you any diversion by a trifling line, yet
having myself been allowed accesse to you, when you have
been much busied, I presume this will not be rejected. I
am refreshed with the account I have of the pains you
take in behalf of the ministerie in the north, and the great
civilities you have shewed to some of their representatives.
I hope your Hor. will never repent your endeavours to make
a good understanding betwixt the differing parties ; and
seeing God hath raised you to a station wherein you can be
instrumental in this, I persuade myself your pains heerin,
as it doth not passe unobserved by men, so neither will it
be unrewarded by God. The procuring union in the