Chapter XXVII: The Curates
After the failure of this attempt at conciliation, Leighton retired into privacy. Stricter measures were resorted to by the Government against the Covenanters. Fines, torture, imprisonment, and banishment were employed to break their spirit and compel their submission ; and Claverhouse and his dragoons were the terror of the frequenters of conventicles. Traces of this renewed severity appear in the records of the clergy, part of whose regular duty it had become to act as spies and informers. Mr. Ramsay, the minister of the Abbey, who had insisted on opening Leighton's conference with prayer, died shortly afterwards, [20] and was succeeded in his charge by his colleague, Mr. Baird, with whom Mr. Eccles was associated as minister of the Second Charge. [21] Both these ministers were regarded with great disfavour by the Episcopal Presbytery, who constantly found fault with them, and their licence to preach was at last taken from them. [22] Two new ministers, Mr. John Fullerton and Mr. James Taylor [23] came to Paisley in their place. They were Episcopalians, and continued until the Revolution. The following notice indicates the increased severity of the measures against the Presbyterians :—
“Aug. 19, 1674.—Mr. Robert Fleming is appointed to write to the Sheriff, in name of the Presbytery, anent the persons within their bounds, that because of their obstinacy were referred to him, and that in order to his interposing his authority for causing them give obedience.”
“Dec. 2, 1674.—The brethren who were appointed to speak to the Sheriff report that he has done nothing as yet in what was recommended to him by the Presbytery, and therefore the moderator and Mr. Douglas are appointed to speak to the Archbishop thereanent, as also anent Mr. Cunningham's conventicling at Greenock and Innerkip, and to report their diligence at next diet. Likewise the said brothers are appointed to acquaint the Archbishop with Mr. James Wallace his conventicling in the house of Barochan.
“Jan. 6, 1675.—Mr. Douglas has spoke to the Archbishop and got a letter from him to the Sheriff, which the Moderator and Mr. Houston are to deliver.”
“March 3, 1673.—Letter delivered to the Sheriff, who promises to obey the contents, whereupon several of the brethren gave in the names of the recusants, which were appointed to be given up in a list by the Moderator to the Sheriff.”
“Dec. 27, 1682.—The Moderator chewing to the brethren that they were obliged to give in without any further delay the lists of schismatical separatists in their parishes enjoined by law, and therefore required the brethren present to give them unto him that he might transmit them to the ordinary, whereupon all the brethren present, except Mr. Stewart, gave in lists of the schismatical withdrawers in their respective parishes.
The ritual of the Episcopalians did not differ very widely from that of the outed ministers. They never attempted to use the Service Book, and the only liturgical service they ventured upon was the saying the Lord's Prayer, the creed, and doxology ; but even these forms were not in favour with the people.
[20] “When he came to die he lamented that he had not been free enough against the sins of that woeful time, and cried out, ‘Oh that I had but one day in the pulpit of Paisley, I should be more free and faithful than ever I have been!’ for he lived but a short time in Paisley. I know not certainly if he was there above three years, and when he died worthy Mr. Baird did much lament his death, and preached most particularly upon these words, Job xxiii. 8—‘My stroke is heavier than my groaning.’ ”—Wodrow's Analecta, Vol. III., p. 66.
[21] “He was a godly man, and was very wise and prudent. His gift of preaching was not so popular or taking as Mr. Ramsay's was, but he had a great talent for moderating in a Presbytery or a Synod.”—Ibid.
[22] Mr. Eccles was deprived of his licence by the Council on 30th Jan., 1683.—Wodrow, Vol. IV., p. 38. 11th April, 1784.—“Mr. John Baird, Paisley, being cited for breaking the indulgence given him by the Council, is deprived from the exercise of his ministry in all time coming, and in regard that his wife is sick, give him until 1st May to live regularly, otherwise to undertake banishment, and he and his family to remove out of the kingdom.”—Fountainhall, Vol. II., p. 532.
[23] Formerly minister of Mearns.