|
The Memoirs of Walter Pringle of Greenknowe
First written over out of the Original by James Pringle of Greenknow, 1684. And carefully transcribed. Edinburgh 1723.
At the age of 11 Walter and his brother went to Stirling for one or two years to be taught by James Lockie, a non-conformist minister who was not allowed access to a church. In 1638 Walter went to study with Thomas Wilkie, Minister of Leslie.
SECT IV November. 1ft. 1662
In the year 1639, I was at Leith School, then did youthful Lufts and Corruptions begin to prevail over me, being ftronger in me than the Grace of God. I will not mention my particular Abominations; for what God hath hid and covered, I will not reveal: Only to mine own Shame, and to his Praife, who fpared me, and had Mercy upon me, I confefs that for the Years together, I was the chief of Sinners; yet I was never without Conviction, knowing that I was not then in the Way of Peace, and Life; and that if I fhould have died, in fuch a Cafe, at that Time, Damnation would have been my Lot.
He continues:
Thefe Years of Darknefs, Deadnefs, and Sinfulnefs, one of them was fpent, or rather loft, in Leith, two at Edinburgh College, five at Home and in the Wars (being a Volunteer) and two in France.
SECT VI November. 24th. 1662
In June 1648, I came home from France, and was much preffed by my loving Father to Marrie, feveral were fpoken of to me, but I would not incline fo much as to go and fee any, untill the good Providence of my God led me to fee my Wife, at her Brother in Law Whitebank, his Houfe of Blackhaugh, where I went to ftay a Night with my Old and Intimate Acquaintance; without the leaft purpofe of feeing her, or any other. And (altho I had been often to her Brothers Houfe) yet had not feen her: Neither did I think that he had a Daughter for Marriage, (though I loved the Family) but I found it other ways, and from this Time my Affection was to her.
SECT IX December. 22nd. 1662
In November, 1649. We were Married, at Stow, by that Renowned Mr. James Guthrie. My Wife remaind in Torwoodlie, about fix Months: And thereafter came home to Stichill, where we ftayed Five Years with my Mother, and with us, there were five of my Brothers Children, (for Elizabeth ftayd always with her Mother, and the two youngeft Sons, were removd by Death) My Sifters Son, and my dear Friend Mr. James Aird, during this Time , we had a very Loving, Sweet and Peaceable Society. My Wife did grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of God, of which, She is more able to give an Account, than I am.
SECT X December. 25th. 1662
Until the Englifh Army came into Scotland, I was much taken up with Suits of Law for my Pupils, being always a Defender.
When the Englifh came in, I went to our Army, and had my Mother, my Wife, and the Children in Edinburgh, until we were defeat at Dumbar, after which I brought them Home to Stitchil; and my Wife being big with Child, I ftayed with her until fhe was delivered of our Daughter Kathrin, upon the 10th Day of November 1656: the next Day a Party of the Englifh came in, and took up all this Country; where upon I went and ftayed 8 days in, and about Torwoodlie, then being accompanied by my Brother Torwoodlie, I came in the Night Time to fee my Wife; And as we were returning back, it was my Lot to rencounter one of the Englifh upon Horfe Back, whom I killed, knowing that I would not get a Prifoner carried to our Army, for we had Difficulty to get to it our felves: And that which cleared me the more in this was, That he never asked Quarters.
Walter intended to join his friend Colonel Gilbert Ker, but at St. Johnston the news came of the total defeat of Kers forces at Hamilton.
SECT XI December. 31ft. 1662
I remained at St. Johnftoun until the Caftle of Edinburgh was to be rendered to the Englifh, and my own, and my Pupils, their Writes being there, I took Occafion to come over to Edinburgh, upon our Chancellours Pafs, and from thence I came Home to Stitchill; where I was not many Days, until the Englifh got Knowlege of me, and of that which I had done; whereof, and of their Purpofe to apprehend me, I was advertifed, tho I had not the leaft Inclination to go from Home, yet preffed by my Friends, I went to Northumberland, and ftayed fome few Days, in my Cufin Major Pringles Houfe; after which I returned Home, and expected every Day to have been taken, if not worfe; For I was informed, That the Man who was killed, had Friends who made many Vows to be aveanged; but Nothing could move me in the Frame of Spirit, where in I was: Yea, many a Time I then thought, That I could as willingly have opened the Buttons of my Breaft, to receive Deaths Stroke, as ever I did, to go to Bed. At length a Party of Horfe came and took me Prifoner that Night at Darnick; where (I will never forget) it was my Ordinar, to read the 100 Pfalm, which I did with very much Joy and Peace; although (as to the outward) it was the darkeft Hour of Trouble, which I have had in my Life: I was alone with them all that Night, for thefe of the Houfe, I knew not. The next Morning my Mother in Law came to free me, and that Day I was carried to Selkirk, and examined by Major Robertfon, of whofe Regiment the Man had been; I denyd nothing, but pleaded, That I was a Souldier, ftanding upon Defence of my Country, from the Invafion. Afterwards I was let go, upon my Father in Law, and Whitebank their bond of 2000 Lib. Sterling Penalty that I fhould compear again.
Walters friend James Aird had been soliciting support for him from the Chief Officers of Edinburgh.
When I went fecretly to Edinburgh and laid my Bufinefs, as it ftood, before my worthy Lord Wariftoun, he advised me not to compear, and fo did others; but I could never agree to that, but gave up myfelf into the Hands of God.
SECT XII January. 1ft. 1663
At laft, the Chief Officers were content to refer the matter, to the Captain of whofe Troop the Man had been, to whom my Mother very fpeedilie payed a Hundreth and Fifty Pound Sterling, for the Ufe of the Mans Friends, as they pretended. In all this, I was wholly Paffive: For all was done by Mr. Aird, only my Mother payed the Money at Torwoodlie, where the Captain had his Quarters.
SECT XIII January. 31ft. 1663
In the Year 1651. I became a conftant Hearer of thatlivelie Man Mr. John Livinftoun, going every Sabbath-Day from Stitchill to Ancrum.²
SECT XIV February. 28th. 1663
I Came from Stitchill, to remain at Greenknow, in March 1655. After which I was no more a conftant Hearer of Mr. Livingftoun, being taken up with Worldly Bufinefs through the Week, my Defire was to reft on the Sabbath, that is, to bring in my Mind, from off all Thingselfe, to think of my God.
SECT XV March. 16th. 1663
Bleffed be my God, who upon Tuefday laft gave unto me another Child.
SECT XVI May. 29th. 1663
It comes to my Rememberance to mention a Paffage concerning my Eldeft Son Robert, how that upon Saturday, the 23d. of April, 1653, being the Day whereon I came home to Stitchill from London, I heard at Wooller, that he was dangerouflie fick, and (as was thought) could not be living till I got home: And when I came, I found him at the very point of Death, upon which I went alone to pray for thee my Son (who was about fixteen Months Old).
The records show that Robert did not die.
SECT XVII August. 11th. 1663
When firft I came to dwell here, it was much upon my Spirit, to intreate my God, who doth appoint the Bounds of every ones Habitation, as Acts 17. 26. gracioufly to fhine upon us in this Houfe, and (as then I was led to mention in a Letter to my worthy Brother Whitebank) That as the Name of this Place is Green, fo he might pray the Lord to make it green, and flowrishing.
SECT XIX September. 3rd. 1663
I am very defirous to haften through what is past, therefore I only incline to mention fhortly, mine Imprifonment in the Caftle of Edinburgh, upon the 26th. of September 1660, with Sir Andrew Ker of Green-head, with whom I had very fweet Fellowfhip for 15 days; which was the Time we were in Prifon, and one of the fweeteft Times I have yet had; for both of us were led forth to rejoice in the Crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrift, and were moft willing (through his Grace and Strength) to forsake all for him.
SECT XX October. 5th. 1663
Bleffed for ever be my God, who of his rich free Grace, hath fo fhind upon the Families of Torwoodlie and Stitchil. O! That you who come after may tafte of the fame Goodnefs. You are compaffed about with a great Cloud of Witneffes.
Walters Aunt, Lady Haining, died on 28th September, 1663. His sister, Craiggie, died on 24th November, 1663. He was also moved by the death of the Sister of Eccles at 3pm on Monday 11th March, 1664.
In 1664 Walter was persecuted for his religious non-conformity. He was fined by Middleton in the Parliament of 1662 L.3000.
SECT XXVIII December. 5th. 1664
Upon Thurfday, the 24th of November laft, I was taken from this Place, by three of the Life-guard, the fourth had fallen fick at Whiteburn, and a Meffanger of Arms, that Night to Gingle-Kirk, and upon the Morrow, into the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, where I thought to have ftayd fome Time, and to have written to you, my Children, while there a Prifoner of Jefus Chrift.
The site of the Old Tolbooth in Edinburgh is marked by a cobblestone heart and anoutlne which marks where its entrance lay. Built in 1466 and extended by the New Tolbooth shortly after 1561, it was demolished in 1817. The building was in turns a chapter house for St Giles Cathedral, meeting place of Parliament, the law courts, the town council, and in the 1560s, of the General Assembly of the Reformed Kirk, Later it degraded into the role of prison, where many artistocratic heads were displayed; including those of the Regent Morton in 1581, Montrose in 1650, and the 8th Earl of Argyll in 1661. The Tolbooth keys and doors were saved and are now at Abbotsford House.
From the tolbooth, Walter was taken before a second High Commission, without himself appealing, where a sentence was passed that he be fined and bound over to appear before the magistrates of Elgin, on or before 1st January 1665, and abide at the Kings pleasure in the town. If the fine was not paid by Candlemas, he was to enter the Elgin tolbooth.
On the 22nd December, 1664, Walter set off for Elgin, but before reaching Edinburgh his brother Torwoodlee had entered a petition in his name to the Lords of Council, who granted a stay until the end of January. On the 10th January, Walter attended the High Commission, but they did not sit, and adjourned until the 24th.
On the 24th February, Walter left Greenknowe to appear at Elgin. The Elgin town council sentenced Walter to the tolbooth. On the 20th May he was liberated from close prison by order of the Lords of Secret Council after requests by the family, but still had to remain within the boundaries of Elgin town.
SECT XXXIII August. 31st. 1665. Elgin
For the space of some weeks past, I have been entertained with the expectation of liberty to go home, which, though it would be matter of very much joy to me, yet it hath been my constant desire that it might not succeed, unless it were the good will of my God.
SECT XLV March. 10th. 1666. Greenknow
Upon the 6th Day of February, my Friends, by their affectionate pains, without my knowledge, did procure from the High Commission, the change of Confinement from Elgin to mine own home, and three miles about, for the payment of Two Hundreth Pounds Sterling, and bond by Stitchill and Torsonce, for my Peaceful and Inoffensive behaviour.
|
