Series 1 > Diary of Sir Archibald Johnston of Wariston 1632-1639

INTRODUCTION
xi
begins with 22nd July and ends with 20th August 1650, he
wrote ‘ First Note book after great book putt away in Castel
22nd July 1650.’ Its loss is much to be regretted.
After 22nd July 1650 the volumes or note books cover,
although with many gaps, the period between that date
and the year 1661 when he was captured in France. In that
time, however, his influence had greatly waned. The zeal of
his youth for the cause to which the nation had so deeply com¬
mitted itself passed in the later years of his life almost into
fanaticism. After he joined the extreme party of the Pro¬
testers many of his old friends withdrew from him, and some
even of those who were favourably inclined to that party
thought that he went too far.1 The Diary embracing that time,
however, contains much that is of interest which may be very
usefully published in subsequent issues by this Society.
How these manuscripts came to be at Mellerstain seems
clear. The noble and learned Robert Baillie of Jerviswood
and Mellerstain, who, as is well known, was in 1684< kept in
prison, tried, and executed under circumstances of great cruelty
-and inhumanity, married Wariston’s daughter Rachel, his
cousin-german, and to his custody Helen Hay, Wariston’s
widow, entrusted by will all her husband’s papers.2
Readers are referred to the Introduction to the fragment
-already published for such particulars of Wariston’s family
history as had then been discovered. Additional interesting
-details will be found in the portion of the Diary now issued. It
may be convenient to bear in mind that Wariston’s grandfather,
Archibald Johnston, an eminent merchant in Edinburgh,
married Rachel Amot, daughter of Sir John Arnot of Birswick,
who was Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1587 till 1589, and
for some years Treasurer Depute, and a Privy Councillor.
Their eldest son, James Johnston, Merchant Burgess of
Edinburgh, married Elizabeth Craig, second daughter of Sir
1 Brodie’s Diary, Oct. 2nd, 1655, p. 160.
2 See facsimile of her will facing page 1 of Diary.