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

XX
DIARY OF LORD WARISTON
that the fittest matter for him was ipsum advocati officium}
The particular subject which he believed God directed him
to choose2 was de advocatorum qfficiis ac vitiis, and he seems
to have made an excellent appearance before the Chancellor
and the Judges. He notes that they were all pleased,
especially the Chancellor. As is usual with most advocates in
the beginning of their careers, he had for some time little, if
any, practice. Indeed, he seems to have become disheartened
and to have had serious thoughts of changing his profession.3
But in the winter of 1636-7 his hopes revived, cases flowed
in ; he became a most successful pleader, and gave promise of
much distinction in his profession. He mentions many cases
in which he was employed. Among his clients were the
Chancellor (the Earl of Kinnoull), and the Lord Treasurer
(the Earl of Traquair). But, as will be afterwards seen, he
almost, if not altogether, gave up his practice in order to
devote his great energy and talents exclusively to the service
of the Covenanting party.
About the time when he was called to the Bar, for reasons
which seemed to him sufficient, indeed imperative, he felt that
he must marry again. The important question was, who
should the lady be ? After his wife’s death he seems to have
resided at the Sciennes, which belonged to his uncle, and to
have let his house to a Lady ‘ Ennerteytie.’4 For her daughter
he made a formal proposal; but, after being buoyed up by false
hopes for some time, he‘gets ane nolumus.'5 Two impedi¬
ments were stated to him by a friend of both parties, the one
arising from the lady’s haughtiness, the other from her confused
estate. Two other names were then suggested,—Catherine
Morison, second daughter of Lord Prestongrange, and Helen
1 P. 152.
2 ‘What thought soever struck his fancy during these effusions’ (long
prayers) ‘ he looked on it as an answer of prayer, and was wholly determined
by it.’—Bishop Burnet’s History of His own Time (Edition 1833), i. p. 49.
Burnet was Wariston’s nephew.
3 Pp. 232, 234, 237. 4 See pp. 161 and 181.
5 P- 175-