Chapter XXVI: The Covenant
On another occasion the poor woman dragged herself to the Presbytery to beseech mercy from her reverend tormentors, “desiring supersedur from further processe, alleging she was taken up with a continual flux,” and protesting, “so soon as it should please the Lord to grant her any respite on earth she should give all contentment to their demands. Hereunto the brethren consenting, ordained her to come to the minister of Paslay for conference whensoever, she being able for travel, he should call her.” Many times after this she was dealt with. Her two sisters, Janet and Bessie, who shared her opinions, and who seemed to care very little for the citations and admonitions of the Kirk, were excommunicated, and that dread sentence was ordered to be pro¬nounced against the “good wife of Ferguslie.” She still protested that she was “infirm, and altogether unable in consequence of disease to come to church; and for the matter of the Covenant, she asked a covenant to be given to her, and read over and over again, and to be informed anent the meaning thereof.” The minister was again ordered to confer with her. This he did, and left a copy of the Covenant with her, and the Presbytery “gave her to their next meeting-day, out of courtesy, when, if she do not obey, she will be proceeded against.” The poor woman did not obey, and the church officer, George Ramsay, was directed to summon her. Being now hard-pressed, she promised the minister before next presbytery day “to abjure Popery, and subscribe the Covenant.” The minister was appointed to return to her, “with some of the elders of his paroche, and there to receive her renunciation of Popery, first of one point, then on another point, and so on all the rest. This, after some further delay, was done in presence of the ministers.” Mr. Dunlop now appears on the scene, and reports that in presence of John Vaux, Hugh Blair, and Robert Park she sware and subscribed the Confession of Faith and National Covenant, and renounced poperie, first on one point, then on another, and so all the points of poperie. And in the end renounced and abjured all poperie with an oath.” This important fact is specially certified by Mr. B. Alexander, clerk to the Presbytery. The clergy seemed now to have triumphed, but the good wife still shewed signs of resistance. A month or two after she took the oath, the minister came again to the Presbytery to complain of his refractory parishioner. Notwithstanding the oath, “pretending inabilitie of bodie by reason of many diseases, now dwelling at Blakston, she does not come to the kirk at all.” Mr. Dunlop and Mr. Glendinning were accordingly sent to her to desire her either to come to kirk or “to produce before the presbyterie a testimonial under the hand of James Fleming, physician, that she is unable to come to the kirk.” For a time this certificate was not forthcoming, to the wrath of the Presbytery, who issued more citations ; but at last a testimonial was produced, signed by James Fleming, “Testifying on his conscience that she is unable to travel either on foot or horse, for disease and several reasons contained in his testimonial.” The Presbytery found this to satisfy the act, and appointed “the minister of Paisley to deal with John Wallace of Ferguslie to provide ane chamber in the toun of Paisley for his wife, that she may reside there for her more easy coming to the kirk.” After a time they summon John Wallace, who assures them of his wife's ill health, and that she was not able to be removed at all. They desire him to bring her to Paisley, and “if she be not able to come to the kirk, that the ministers may have occasion of daylie or frequent conference with her, or to bring the testi¬monial of James Fleming, physician, that she is not able to be removed at all.” Some time elapses, and her husband appears to say that he “cannot find opportunity for James Fleming to visit his wife, albeit he sent for him several times.” The Presbytery thought this was merely trifling with them, for they order him to bring “her to Paisley by next Presbytery day, either by land or by water, or they will process her.” A few more citations were now issued, and as they produced no effect, Mr. Calvert and Mr. Hamilton were appointed to “deal with Margaret Hamilton, and try her health and abilitie, inasmuch as she professes inabilitie and great infirmity of body, so that she is not able to travel anywhere.” This conference did not produce any result, and she “was directed to be publickly admonished.” She was also reported to the Synod.