a man to take in many current reports, of Spottiswoode's that was the duke or
which are not sufficiently recorded, I have Lauderdale's, and differs much from the
put a query in the margin, upon such things print; the interlineations are in the arch-
as I doubt, that you may either continue or bishop's own hand. I have also an authentic
cancel them as you shall think fit, upon fur- copy of the acts of our general assemblies,
ther inquiry. He was himself at Bothwell from the reformation to 1609, signed by T.
bridge, and is very particular in his account Nicholson their clerk; Mr. William Scot of
of that fatal affair, and of the reasons of its Couper's MS. history; and many other
miscarriage. I shall transmit the specimen things which would be great helps. I can
of what I have done to you, with the first also have access to the lord Warriston's
opportunity, and submit to what alterations MSS. in the hands of his son, formerly
or amendments you and others of your secretary; so that we might carry on the
brethren shall think fit to make.
thread through king James VI. time, to the
restoration, especially through that im-
portant period, 1638 to 1660.”

"There are some of the records of our
council here, with letters to and from our
princes, which perhaps may not be found
with you. I doubt not of an opportunity to
consult them at our secretary's office, and
therefore should be glad to know what you
want upon that head." (Here follow some
suggestions as to the style of printing, &c.
which are omitted as of secondary moment.)
"Mr. Crawford wrote to me some years
ago, about helping him in the style of his
father's manuscripts. I agreed to it, but
never had any return: therefore should be
glad to know what is become of those man-
uscripts, and whether you have the use of
thein. Mr. Semple of Libberton was like-
wise about a history, and had encouragement
from the Treasury here to go on with it, but
I have heard nothing of that matter since,
and should be glad to know whether he goes
on. You are best able to judge whether
either of these interfere with your design,
and I doubt not that you will take your
measures accordingly."

The idea of " a complete history" from
the reformation in 1560, to the revolution
in 1688, was strongly urged on Mr. Wod-
row's attention both by Mr. Redpath, and
by a very intimate literary friend of both,
principal Stirling of Glasgow; but the plan,
however magnificent and interesting, opened
a field by far too wide for any one man to
undertake. Later historians have success-
fully occupied a part of it, but a “history of
the Covenanters " in Scotland, upon some-
thing like the plan of Neal's " History of
the Puritans" in England, still remains a
desideratum in the literary and ecclesiastical
annals of our country.

Another literary friend with whom Mr.
Wodrow particularly consulted regarding
his history, was the learned and amiable
Dr. James Fraser of London, formerly of
Aberdeen, and so well known as the liberal
patron of King's college and university in
that city. It does not appear indeed that
In another letter of the 10th of the same Dr. Fraser was consulted by Mr. W. previous
month, he expresses his sentiments farther to the actual composition of a large part of
in the following terms: "I wish you had the work; for this very good reason, that
commenced from the reformation, for that Dr. Fraser was not at that time so particularly
necessary part of our history has never been conversant in the history of MSS. and
well done. Buchanan, Knox, and Calder- ancient records, as to render his services so
wood, are very brief and lame on that necessary in the earlier periods of the under-
subject. Petry gives some good hints, but taking. His patronage was of more import-
still imperfect. I have many original papers ance in the way of a successful introduction
that set it in a clearer light; such as letters of the work when finished, to the notice of
from queen Mary and her ministers, besides those, who, from their stations in society,
some things in print that are very scarce. and extensive influence in public life, had it
These, with the MSS. of Calderwood, would in their power to give it a most wide circu-
make the thing as complete as can be ex- lation. Few Scotsmen in London, I mean
pected at this distance of time. I have a MS. in private life, have ever had more in their

b

power in this respect, than Dr. Fraser. | were any severities used. I think it is His talents and varied accomplishments and proper and useful, that when your occapolite manners, united with liberality of sions oblige you to come to Edinburgh, sentiment and most correct moral deport- that you would allow yourself some time to ment, combined with favourable local cir- see some honest and knowing persons that cumstances to introduce him to the society frequently meet at the Low Coffeehouse of some of the first men of the age, and to here, where you may receive certain inforrender him a favourite at the court of George mation of very remarkable instances of unI. To this gentleman Mr. W. transmitted heard of severities in those times, that may the MS. of the history for inspection, and have escaped your knowledge, very well he received from him an answer bearing date, attested. And also to make a visit to the at Edinburgh, September 25th, 1718, from good and worthy lady Cardross, the earl of which the following is an extract. Buchan's mother, with whom I had the honour of an hour's conversation last week; from whose mouth you may receive a most distinct information of all the particular steps and circumstances relating to her and her husband's sufferings. There is one Mr. James Nisbet son to Nisbet in Hardhill, who was executed in December, 1685, and is now sergeant in the castle of Edinburgh, and has lately published the history of his father's sufferings, and his last testimony and dying speech; wherein there is a remarkable prediction of the abdication of the name of Stuart from ever reigning in Britain. I have had some hours' conversation with the said James Nisbet, who told me many remarkable things of persons and actings in that time, he having been intimately acquainted with Mr. Peden, Cargill, and others of the suffering party, having been several years in the woods, caves, and deserts, with them. And Mr. Johnston minister at Dundee, told me some surprising instarces of the barbarity used in Dunfermline, by one Mr. Norry, now a Jacobite and virulent conventicle preacher at Dundee, which I have communicated to some of your friends here to be imparted to you at meeting. I could heartily wish a way could be found of printing, as soon as possible, so useful and so necessary a work; and I shall not be backward in contributing all in my power towards the promoting it."

"Reverend and much honoured sir, "This is in short with all thankfulness to acknowledge the favour you were pleased to do me when at Glasgow, in trusting me with so valuable monuments of your great labour and useful pains, as the three volumes of the history of the persecutions the presbyterians suffered from the restoration to the revolution; all which I have read with great attention and satisfaction: wherein I cannot but observe the sincerity, honesty, and faithfulness, requisite in a historian; and that the methods invented and practised in those times to distress and ruin that party, do by much exceed the severities used by the heathens against the primitive Christians; or by the Goths, Huns, Vandals, Saracens, or Turks, in succeeding ages; or even by the papists, or inquisition in Spain and Portugal, in many things. So that in the general sentiment of all persons that I have conversed with on that matter, it is very necessary that so useful a work should be published to the world, as soon as possible: considering the clamour the other party make daily about their present sufferings, which they say far exceed any known in former reigns, and that all who suffered before the revolution was on the account of rebellion, and not of religion and conscience, as Sir George Mackenzie in his book of the vindication of the government in king Charles and king James II. reigns, does confidently assert and endeavour to prove. And besides that there are many now alive who were witnesses of these cruelties then exercised and suffered under them: and if delayed till this generation is gone, they will not be ashamed to deny there

Specimens of the history were submitted also to a variety of eminent literary and religious characters in England, and particularly to the celebrated Dr. Edmund Calamy, then at the head of the Dissenting interest, and who from his intimacy with many of our countrymen both on the continent and in

of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland," would all at once be ushered into the world without one serious obstacle to overcome. Very little did the worthy author receive by way of compensation for all the labour and expense he had bestowed upon it;-but to him the satisfaction that he had done something to serve his God "in his generation," and that he had reared a monument to his country and to his church, on which was inscribed in legible characters, " Ære perennius," was to him a better return than the gains of fine gold.

The work was published in two large volumes at separate times, in 1721 and 1722; and it soon met with exactly that kind of treatment which might have been anticipated, as the likely portion of an impartial, unvarnished, and independent, historian of the persecuting period. With the exception of a few worthy individuals belonging to the Cameronian class, who thought, and perhaps with some measure of truth, that the author had not on some occasions shown sufficient decision of mind, and on others had awarded rather a measured meed of praise to the noble heroes of the olden time; the general and high approbation of all the friends of liberty and of presbyterianism, both in Scotland and in Britain, cordially went along with the work; and the value of it was felt by all who had learned to prize the civil and religious interests of their country. On the other hand, the abettors of persecution and the fierce adherents of the Stuart dynasty, smarted keenly under the exposé which was made of the "mystery of iniquity," and felt the more tenderly, because, alas! it was

Scotland, was considered a most impartial judge of the merits of the work. Although the correspondence regarding the critical inspection of the work is on record, and abounds with a number of important particulars, it does not appear that the critics of the south contributed any thing material to its improvement, or attempted to dispute the accuracy of the statements it made. Nor does it appear that Mr. Wodrow was indebted in any considerable degree to those ministers in various parts of Scotland, to whom he applied as probable sources of information. With the exception of a few venerable individuals, who from personal experience, or immediate relationship to the sufferers themselves, took a peculiar interest in the work, and most readily lent their acceptable assistance, in the furnishing of materials; it would seem from the complaints which the historian makes in some of his letters, that in his expectations of help from a variety of quarters, he had met with a painful disappointinent; so that for the work such as it is-and "admirable and faithful" Dr. Fraser justly terms it we must consider ourselves as indebted to the single exertions of its indefatigable author. In May, 1719, the matter was submitted to the general assembly, when that venerable body gave their cordial and unanimous approbation to the work, and recommended it to ministers and presbyteries, as richly deserving of encourage ment; and instructed their commission to correspond with presbyteries on the subject, and to report their diligence to next assembly. With all these encouraging considerations, the work had many obstacles to sur-"no scandal." Facts," observes Mr. mount, before it made its appearance from the press; and this will not be surprising to any one who knows the real state of Scotland, in what may be called, the infancy of her literary progress. The idea of pecuniary advantage by literary labour, would have been held in those days as a chimera; and some of our ablest treatises on divinity and moral philosophy, would never have seen the light, had it not been for the fostering aid of wealthy patrons, and of a society formed for the encouragement of learning. In these circumstances it was not to be expected that a work of such size and price as the "History

Wodrow in one of his letters to a friend in London, " facts are ill natured things,” and it was precisely because the facts of the case could not be set aside, that the assault became the more fierce against the temper and spirit and style of the author. Anonymous and threatening letters were sent to him. Squibs and pasquinades were liberally discharged, under masked batteries, against the obnoxious book that told so much unwelcome truth. Various attempts were made before and after its appearance, to vindicate the reign of the Stuarts: but Sir eorge Mackenzie is, I believe, the single

hapless individual, at least of Scottish name, who to this day enjoys the "base glory," of having fallen in the trenches of such an inglorious cause..

Thus, while the bigoted adherents of a persecuting dynasty, were crying out most lustily against the humble Scottish presbyter and his book, the highest personage in the empire was publicly conferring on the said presbyter, a most substantial mark of his regard, just because he had written a book, which at once exposed the horrors of former reigns, and displayed by reflection and by contrast, the blessings connected with the Hanoverian succession.

The work, is beyond all question, exactly what it undertakes to be, a faithful and impartial record of facts and of characters. Its extreme accuracy has been tested by the best of evidence, that of documents, public, official, and uncontradicted. Its facts will not be relished by timeserving historians, who have prostituted the dignity of history to the low ends of a mean and drivelling partisanship; and the proud march of the smooth surface narrator, may not stoop to the minutiae of its private and domestic details. Nevertheless, its value as a record is beyond all praise; and the picture which it gives of the manners and spirit of the age is graphical and instructive. Says Chalmers, the learned author of the Biographical Dictionary-" It is written with a fidelity that has seldom been disputed, and confirmed at the end of each volume, by a large mass of public and private records."

Dr. Fraser had the honour of presenting copies of the work to their Majesties, and the Prince and Princess of Wales. These were most graciously received. The book was, by these illustrious individuals, carefully read and studied; and the king, to whom the work was dedicated, generously ordered £105 sterling, to be given to the author, in token of his cordial approbation. The order for this sum on the exchequer of Scotland, is still preserved, and we give it entire, for the satisfaction of our readers :-" George R. Trusty and well beloved, we greet you well. Whereas, our trusty and well beloved ** Robert Wodrow, minister of the gospel in Glasgow, did, some time since, dedicate and present unto us, his History of the Persecutions in Scotland, from the Restoration to the Revolution, consisting of two large volumes in folio: now, we being minded to certify our esteem of the said author and his works, by bestowing on him some mark of our favour and bounty: in consideration thereof, our will and pleasure is, that we do hereby authorize and empower you, to issue your warrant to the receiver general of our treasury, to pay, or cause to be paid, out" No historical facts," says Mr. Fox, in his of any monies, that are, or shall be in his hands, for the use of our civil government, unto the said Robert Wodrow, or his assigns, the sum of one hundred and five pounds, as of our royal bounty, for the consideration aforesaid, and for so doing, this shall be, not only to you, but also to our said receiver general, and to all others that shall be concerned in passing and allowing the payment upon his account, a sufficient warrand. Given at our court at St. James', the 26th day of April, 1725, in the eleventh year of our reign. By his majesty's command,

historical work on the reign of James II., “are better ascertained, than the accounts of them which are to be found in Wodrow. In every instance where there has been an opportunity of comparing these accounts with the records and other authentic monuments, they appear to be quite correct."

Mr. Wodrow did not discontinue his historical researches after the publication of his great work. His indefatigable and persevering mind, acting on the suggestions of his friends Redpath and Stirling, planned the scheme of a complete history of the church of Scotland, in a series of lives. With this view, he set to work in enlargin and completing his already ample collection of manuscripts, ancient records, and well authenticated traditions; and actually drew out at great length, and with minute accuracy, biographical sketches of all the great and good men, who had figured from the

of them for the purpose of historical or general illustration, is not beside the province, or beneath the dignity of the most fastidious analytical inquirer.

earliest dawn of the reformation, down to the period when his history takes its rise. These lives are extremely valuable. They form the principal mine of information regarding their several subjects; and taken Besides writing the "history," the “biotogether, exhibit a comprehensive and accu-graphy," and the "analecta ;" the labours of rate view of the leading events in one of his parish, and two days every week reguthe most interesting periods of our national larly appropriated to his preparation for history. It does not appear that they had the pulpit; much of his time must have received the finishing stroke of the author, been occupied in epistolary correspondence, although they bear all the marks of un- Many of his letters resemble rather dissertacommon research, and most minute speci- tions on theological and literary and historification. The manuscripts of this volumi- cal subjects; and he corresponded with a very nous work, partly in the handwriting of wide circle of acquaintances and friends in the author, and partly copied by an aman- Scotland, England, Ireland, America, and uensis, are preserved in the library of the the continent of Europe. With regard to university of Glasgow. the continent, his anxiety to become thoroughly acquainted with its literary and religious state was peculiarly great, and he frequently imported at his own expense, the best publications that could be obtained, particularly those in the Latin and French languages. He also transmitted, from time to time, lists of queries respecting the state of matters in the different countries. Of these I shall insert a very small specimen, out of many now before me.

It was a favourite wish of our author, that biographical memoirs should be regularly drawn up and preserved, of all the more eminent ministers and private Christians in Scotland who had been distinguished for their piety and the faithfulness and success of their Christian labours. Acting on this idea, he employed his leisure moments in writing down the various articles of information, which his own times brought within his reach, regarding the lives and "Memorandum of Inquirenda in Holland, labours of eminent individuals, together to G. B. April 21st, 1731. What is the with the ordinary or more remarkable state of the protestant churches in Silesia? occurrences of the period, during which he What numbers of the reformed may be lived. These memoranda are preserved in there? if they are Calvinists? if they have six small and closely written volumes, under judicatories, discipline, &c.? what is the state the general name of Analecta, and they of the protestants in Hungary-what numembrace a period of twenty-eight years, from ber of ministers may be there, and prot1705, down to 1732. The information they estant schools? If there be any Socinians contain, is, as might have been expected among them? what are their present hardfrom the nature of the work, exceedingly ships from the papists,—every thing as to various, both as to subject and degree of their government, discipline, doctrine, judiimportance. The notices are often exceed-cature and usages. The same as to the ingly curious; and taken as a whole, the work exhibits an interesting picture of the history and manners of the period. It is in such private and unsophisticated memoranda as these, we often meet with those minute and undesigned coincidences, and those unstudied allusions to matters of a more public nature, which throw light on subjects otherwise dark and mysterious. To bring out these private memorials to the light of open day, would be extremely injudicious; but the occasional consultation (if any number of ministers and protestants

churches in Bohemia. The same as to Transylvania. The same as to the Palatinate, as also an account of their present grievances from the papists. All you can learn as to the state of things in Geneva,―their doctrine, discipline, government, and learned men. All the accounts you can get as to the protestants in the valleys of Piedmont,-what numbers are of late in the valleys,--the hardships of the king of Sardinia upon them,―the pretences he uses in his own defence, and