(Continued from page 69.)
10th October, 1649.
The “sturdy beggar” was for long a problem in Scotland. That the Synod of Argyll was faced with this problem as well as other places appears from the following extract:—”Appoints every parish to convey all stranger beggars out of their bounds to the next adjacent parish, according to the Act of Parliament thereof, and to draw up a list of their own native poor that they may have the same in readiness against the next Synod.” (I. 154.)
“My Lord Marquis of Argyll, laying to heart the desolate condition of these bounds for want of schools to train up the youth, has freely in face of this assembly mortified now and in all time coming the sum of six hundred marks yearly to be a foundation for a Grammar School at Inverary, and desiring that some of our number might be appointed to confer with his Lordship anent the disposing thereof, the assembly did nominate Mr. Ninian Campbell, Mr. Ewen Cameron and Mr. Dugald Darroch.” (I. 155.)
1st May, 1650.
“Seeing there is a universal murmur and regret made by the ruling elders who are appointed to keep the Provincial meeting, that they are put to great pains and charges by reason of the length of the way, the travel and the length of the time they attend in these parts beyond any other parts of the kingdom elsewhere, which they can no ways endure unless some way be laid down to help their charges. The assembly considering the grievance to be true, and that the case of this province is in this respect singular, and that many for fear of charges do absent themselves (albeit they be chosen by the sessions) from keeping the provincial meeting, therefore (until some general course be taken there-anent through the whole kingdom) it is for the time being recommended to the Session of every congregation to find out some convenient way how to get their commissioners unto synods furnished in reasonable charges.” (I. 172.)
16th October, 1650.
“The assembly finding that Mr. Dugald Campbell in his sermon preached this day before them had some expressions in reference to the public not fitting to have been spoken, and finding the same to have proceeded upon a mistake and through want of true information of the condition of public affairs, they appoint the Moderator in name of the assembly, and in their presence, to rebuke the said Mr. Dugald for his conduct herein, and to exhort him to abstain from applying his doctrine to anything of public concernment except upon warrantable grounds and sure intelligence, which accordingly was instantly performed and well-taken by the said Mr. Dugald.” (I. 184.)
“Considering that Ronald MacRonald, sometime professed popish priest, after making his recantation and embracing the true Protestant religion and swearing and subscribing the Covenant, having made apostacy and defection from the truth, and being also in the late rebellion and therefore ex-communicated, and that notwithstanding thereof he is still labouring to prevent poor ignorant people in the parts where he haunts in the Island of Uist and other parts of the far isles to the dishonour of God and the ruin of poor souls, therefore the assembly do most seriously recommend to the Lord Marquis of Argyll as Justice of these bounds to be pleased to see a course taken with the said Ronald, and ordains an extract hereof, with a letter from this assembly, to be sent to his Lordship for this purpose.” (I. 185.)
“The assembly, being informed of a superstitious custom used by the parishioners of Kilvorow in Craignish in going sun-ways about the church before they go in to the kirk for divine service, does discharge the same to be used hereafter under the pain of censure, and recommends to the Presbytery of Inverary to take order with the transgressors, and in the meantime ordains a letter to be written to the Captain of Craignish, as civil magistrate and special man in that parish, to use his best endeavours for restraining of that custom.” (I. 186.)
“The assembly being most confident with good reasons to satisfy the General Assembly, or their visitors, anent the employing of a part of the voluntary contribution for the beginning of a foundation to some parochial schools, and knowing that any fault which was found by the General Assembly thereanent at seeing the Provincial book in July, 1649, was only for want of true information, do therefore for the increase of virtue and learning in their bounds, appoint the ministers and elders in the several parishes where the said parochial schools were to be erected to use diligence to get qualified schoolmasters who at least can teach bairns to read and write English, and thereafter begin them to the Latin and teach them the rudiments, and for the use of the said schoolmasters to uplift the rents of their several proportions of the said money, and ordains the Presbyteries of Dunoon, Inverary and Kilmore, within which the said schools were appointed to be careful to see the same done timeously.” (I. 186.)
“The assembly being informed that the holding of the ordinary Sheriff Courts of the Sheriffdom of Argyll weekly upon the Friday does give occasion to people resorting to the courts to travel to the Lord Marquis of Argyll, Sheriff Principal of the said Sheriffdom, home on the Sabbath Day and so do profane it, do therefore recommend to take a course for the changing of the said weekly Sheriff Courts from the Friday to the Wednesday, and appoints the Moderator in name of the assembly to acquaint his Lordship therewith.” (I. 191.)
“The assembly taking into consideration the many prejudices that this Province sustains through want of frequent correspondence with the Commission of the Kirk in not getting timely intelligence of the condition of public affairs, whereby many times it falls out that they do not join with the body of the kingdom either in the time of public humiliation or thanksgiving, neither are they able to go about their duties in relation to the public affairs, therefore the assembly appoints a letter to be written to the Commission of the Kirk earnestly desiring that they would be pleased to think upon some course whereby more timely intelligence may come here of matters of public concernment as to the rest of the Kirk of this kingdom; and in the meantime appoints a letter to be written to the Lord Marquis of Argyll, humbly desiring his Lordship, so long as he remains near to the place where the Commission sits, to appoint some of his servants to get from the Clerk of the Commission such letters and papers as from time to time shall be appointed for the Presbyteries of this Province and send them to Inverary as his Lordship shall have occasion.” (I. 191-192.)