The case of the present afflicted clergy in Scotland truly represented to which is added for probation the attestation of many unexceptionable witnesses to every particular, and all the publick acts and proclamations of the convention and Parliament relating to the clergy / by a lover of the church and his country.

Mr. Normand, Mr. Kinney Minister at Midcalder, informs, that upon the 27th. of Ian. last by past, being the Lord's Day after Ser∣mon, Eight men with drawn Swords and Fire-locks, came to his House, but got not entrance, in regard that the Laird of Calderhall, the Laird of Pompherstonne, with divers other good Neighbors, dis∣armed some of them, and put the rest to flight; in which encounter one of the Assassins was wounded in the Face, and two were wound∣ed that appeared in the said Mr. Normans defence, viz. William El∣phingstonne, natural Son to the said Laird of Calderhall, and Iames Nemo Butcher in Midcalder, and the said Assassins having got back the Arms taken from them upon their promise to be gone, they ac∣cordingly departed, threating that before they slept, they should cause several Persons in the Town of Calder to sleep in their Shooes,

for what they had done in defence of the Curat, farther averring, that nothing was designed by them to be done to that Curat; but what and much more was done this day at Edenburgh, to the outing and disgrace of all Curats there. 2. That upon the 1st. of Feb. instant, a considerable Company of men in Arms, came to the said Mini∣sters House early in the morning, pretending, that they were come only to search, whether he were at home or not (altho after the search, they confessed, that they knew he was not there, because sufficiently informed, that he had taken Journey on the Munday pre∣ceding, and did not carry his Gown with him, which they resolved to have if possible) and in a most barbarous manner, forced up a Window at the foot of the Bed, where the said Minister Wife was lying with her sucking Child, and thrust in their Swords and Fire∣locks at the Window, which so affrighted her with the apprehen∣sion of present death; that she begged them for God's sake, that if they intended to murther her and her Family, they would but allow her the favour to put on some Cloaths, and to recommend her Self and Family in Prayer to God. This they nothing regarded, but continued forcing up the Hall-door, until the Lock and bolts being broken it was made patent; whereupon sixteen of them having en∣ter'd the House, with Swords drawn; they conveyed the said Mi∣nisters Wife, with her Suckling in her Arms to the Kitching, and placed a man with a naked Sword beside her, whom they command∣ed not to suffer her to stir from that place, and in the mean while the rest of them with their Swords in their hands, searched all the House, and brought down Goods that were hid in the Cieling, de∣claring, that they behoved to see all the said Ministers Obligations, that he had of his Debtors, and all his other Papers; and in par∣ticular, one of them viz. Thomas Levingstonne there said, he behoved to have a gripe of his Fathers Bond, granted to the said Minister for a certain summ of money, which he owes to him; and after exact search, they not finding any Papers or Bonds (the Mini∣ster having conveyed them away before that time) they went a∣way, carrying with them the Communion Cups, which they com∣mitted to the custody of Walter Iohnstonne in Calder, and leaving behind them a Summons of removal, in omnibus the same with these before mentioned, and withal, they declared to the said Ministers Wife, that if She and her Family should neglect to remove within ten days next, thereafter, they would return and eject her and her Children, and all the Goods in the House; or make a

Bonefire of all the plenishing. The foresaid Summons is subscribed by none of the Parishioners of Middle Calder, who never had cause to complain of their Ministers oppressing them, and did all of them ex∣cept a few submit to his Ministery, till the Meeting houses were lately set up. The verity of all which premisses; I the said Mac Nor∣mand, Mac Kinney can prove by many famous Witnesses, as Wit∣ness these presents Written at Edenburgh, by the said Mr. Iohn Park, and their subscribed with my Hand Feb. 23. 1689.

• Norman Mackinney Minister of Calder.
• Jo. Park Clerk Syn.

Notes

• i. e. all the fur∣niture.