of having caused a man's death by a violent blow, he was suspended by the Presb., but appealed to the Assembly, who remitted the matter back to the Presb. Next day (Sunday, 1st Aug. 1641) he in a passion drew his whinger and slew John Tutop, farmer of Restalrig, on whose land he had been trespassing. He was tried for murder, found guilty, and dep. 2nd Sept. 1641; and shortly afterwards publicly executed. His age was 42. He left a widow, Helen Bisset, who had issue-Elizabeth (marr. John Murray, yr., of Romanno Reg. Mag. Sig., ix., 1795).-[Edin. Counc. and Prestonpans Sess. Regs.; Baillie's Lett., i.; Stevenson's Hist., ii., iii.; Spalding's Miscell., ii.; Acts Parl., v.; Peterkin's Records.]

1642 ALEXANDER DICKSON, M.A.; pres. by the Magistrates and Town Council of Edinburgh loth Nov. 1641, and ord. 7th Feb. 1642; was a member of the Commissions of Assembly 1645-8; a call to Eddleston was affirmed by the Synod 2nd May 1660; called 1663, to Eccles, but disallowed.-[Edict. Counc. Reg., Acts of Ass.]

1661 JOHN PHILP of Ormiston, M.A.; pres. by the Magistrates and Council of Edinburgh 2nd Aug., and adm. 30th Oct. 1661; inst. between 2nd April and 14th May 1663; trans. to Queensferry in 1677, an exchange of benefices having been effected.

1678 GEORGE ROBERTSON, M.A.; trans. from Queensferry; pres. by the Town Council of Edinburgh 25th July 1677; inst. 16th Jan. 1678; dep. 3rd Nov. 1680, for fornication. In 1681 the Presb. petitioned the Bishop in favour of reponement. He became min. of West Calder 1675.-[Edin. Counc. Reg.]

1681 LAURENCE MERCER, bapt.15th Nov. 1640, son of Thomas M., advocate, Aberdeen; M.A. (Glasgow, 20th July 1675); min. of Craigie 1681; pres. by the Town Council of Edinburgh 1st Dec. 1680; trans. and inst. 11th May 1681; probably deprived on account of the Test. He appears for the last time in the

Presbytery Record on 7th Aug. 1682. He died 1692, leaving issue-Thomas of Binhall, died 14th June 1745; Sarah (marr. Patrick Campbell of Boath); Elizabeth (marr. Alexander Fairlie, tailor, Canongate, Edinburgh).-[Edin. Counc.]

1683 DAVID SPENCE, M.A, (Edinburgh 1671); app. by the Town Council of Edinburgh 29th Dec. 1682, and inst. 25th July 1683. He represented to the Committee of Estates that he had been disturbed in the performance of his pastoral duties, notwithstanding the recent Act discharging all persons from annoying mins. who were then in actual possession of their charges. Parishioners carried off the poors' box, mortcloth, etc., ordered him to stop preaching, and to quit his house within eight days, otherwise they should cast his furniture to the door. Though promising obedience to the Privy Council, he failed to read the Proclamation or to pray for their Majesties William and Mary, declaring it was as lawful to attend mass as to hear a sermon in the meetinghouse. He was deprived 17th Sept. 1689. He marr. Janet Mitchelson, and had issue -George, alive in 1728; Elizabeth (marr. 16th Jan. 1719, John Scott, wigmaker, Edinburgh).-[Edin. Counc. Reg.; MS. Acc. of Min., 1689; Peterkin's Constitut. of the Church, Rule's Sec. Vindication,- Acts Parl., ix.]

1690 ALEXANDER BRUCE, bapt. 13th June 1637, third son of Robert B. of Kennet; educated at Univ. of Edinburgh; M.A. (26th July 1657); got the lands of Gartlet in patrimony from his father, 2nd March 1670; licen. by Presb. of Stirling; called March 1690; ord. 24th July 1690; dem. 26th July 1693; went to Ireland, and was min. of Donaghadee or Castlereagh, Co. Down, and in June 1697 min. of Vinecash, near Portadown, where he died 16th April 1704. He marr. 17th April 1677, Margaret (died 1722), eldest daugh. of James Clelland of Stoneypath, and had issue-Alexander of Gartlet, surgeon apothecary, Edinburgh, died 22nd Sept. 1715; David; James, resided many