374 on Thursday evening, May 7th, by the Rev. | Robert Grant and the Rev. Edward Cooper; R. P. Beachcroft, M. A. Rector of Blun- by Mr. Babington and Professor Farish. ham, from John xix. 19-22; the second on Friday morning, May 8th, at St. Paul's, Covent Garden, by the Rev. Charles Simeon, M. A. from Ezek. xxxvii. 1-6. The Annual Meeting at Freemasons' Hall took place at two o'clock-the Presi dent, Sir Thomas Baring, M. P. in the chair, who opened the business of the day with his accustomed simplicity and piety. Theological College of the Reformed Dutch At a meeting of the Board of Superintend ents of the Theological College of the Reformed Dutch Church, held in the city of New-Brunswick on the 4th of November, the Rev. James S. Cannon was appointed The Report of the year, containing much encouraging information, was read to a very numerous meeting by the Rev. C. S. to instruct the students in Ecclesiastical HisHawtrey, one of the Secretaries. The So-tory, Church Government, and Pastoral ciety, it appeared, is now completely set Theology, during the present session; and free from financial embarrassments, and is Mr. John S. Mabon, Principal of the Academaintaining a steady economy in all its de-my in that place, to teach the Hebrew and Greek languages. partments. The income of the year had been 92841. 17s. 6d. and its expenditure They also requested the Rev. Dr. Living84951. 18s. 3d. The first edition of the He-ston to publish his valuable course of Lecbrew New Testament has been all circu-tures on Didactic Theology, as "a measure lated among Jews at home and abroad; and calculated to be of vast advantage to the the Committee are preparing a second edition on stereotype plates. They have also engaged some learned Hebrew scholars to review the translation, in order that an edition may, at some future time, be issued, which shall commend itself even to the most learned Hebrew critics of the Jewish na-der their care twenty-three young gentlemen preparing for the Gospel ministry. tion. Encouraging information has been received from the Rev. Lewis Way, respecting the state of the continental Jews; among whom there is manifestly a considerable commotion, and an earnest desire to promote a moral improvement.-For other particu lars, we refer to the abstract of the report, which we shall give hereafter. After the Report had been read, the Jewish children, educated by the Society, were introduced to the meeting by the Rev. Basil Woodd, and sung a Hebrew hymn, and the Hosannah in English. Resolutions were moved and seconded respectively by the Bishop of Gloucester and Sir James Saumarez; by Mr. Wilberforce and the Rev. Robert Cox; by Lord Gambier and the Rev. John Owen; by Mr. students, to the institution, and to the Church at large." Whether the venerable Professor will comply with their request, is not yet ascertained. The Superintendents have, at present, un EPITAPH ON A FRIEND. TREAD softly o'er this hallow'd ground And ye, who nought but pleasures court, And bask in Fortune's ray, Here sleeps in peace, who often felt Oft dropt a tear at Pity's shrine,- EVANGELICAL GUARDIAN AND REVIEW. VOL. II. JANUARY, 1819. NO. 9. MEMOIR OF MR. JOHN WILLOCK, and thirteen hundred infantry; ONE OF THE SCOTTISH [Concluded from page 340.] RE- and as Mr. Willock would have been in danger of his life, if left behind, he took him along with him. The Popish party, having suspected that the congregation in MR. WILLOCK, after he had the west would endeavour to asfinished his epistolary correspon- sist their brethren at Perth, had dence with Abbot Kennedy, con- taken care, with a view to impede tinued in the town of Ayr, and its their progress, to break down all neighbourhood, till towards the the bridges, and to stop the passend of May. His zealous friends, es at Stirling and six miles above who were protecting him against it. The Earl was thereby rethe Archbishop of Glasgow, and duced to the necessity of leading other enemies, had resolved to his army over the Highland muirs accompany him to Stirling, if the and mountains; which, however, trial, with which he was there be accomplished so expeditiously, threatened, should take place. as to bring them in good time, When they were informed that, May 24th, to the neighbourhood May 11th, the monasteries in of Perth. The Protestant camp Perth had been demolished, and was then a little way west from that the army of the Queen Re- Perth, and the camp of the Queen gent, which consisted mostly of Regent, about ten miles farther French troops, was on its march west, at the village of Auchterfrom Stirling to Perth, to avenge arder. upon its inhabitants the cause of The arrival of so the monks and friars, they imme- from Ayrshire, who were now diately resolved to go to the as- added to some thousands of men sistance of their Protestant bre- who had hastily crowded from thren. The Earl of Glencairn, the eastern provinces, gave great as commander-in-chief, having joy to the Protestants in the with him Lord Boyd, Lord Ochil-camp, and served to increase tree, and many barons and gen- their courage. In consequence tlemen, marched from Ayr, at the of the accession of strength which head of twelve hundred cavalry, the Protestants had acquired, the Voz. II....No. 9. 25 many friends Queen Regent and her counsel-country, to prosecute, as usual, lors hesitated as to what had been his pious labours. their first intention, and judged I have found nothing more conit most advisable to offer terms cerning him, of an earlier date of accommodation. than the month of July, at which "With the Earl of Glencairn," time he was in Edinburgh. It says Mr. Knox, "came our lov-would indeed be inconsistent with ing brother John Willock." the plan proposed in these These two ministers, viz. Mr. sketches, to give a full history of Willock and Mr. Knox, seeming-the contest, which subsisted about ly deputed from the chiefs of thirteen months, between the the congregation, held a serious Queen Regent and the reforming conference with the young Earl congregation; but it may be proof Argyle, and with another young per, upon several accounts, to nobleman, Lord James Stewart, give a brief detail of the occurPrior of St. Andrews, who was rences which occasioned Mr. afterward Earl of Murray, and Willock to be in Edinburgh at the Regent of the kingdom. The re-date above mentioned. sult was, that these two lords The Queen Regent, when, acheartily joined the congregation, cording to the terms of the acand a resolution was adopted, to commodation, she had entered accept of the terms which the Perth, did not fulfil her promise, Queen Regent had now proposed. but oppressed the inhabitants. All the preachers in the camp, She staid, however, only a few and in the town, were therefore, days; but, at her departure, she as Mr. Knox relates, "employed left a French garrison of six hunto appease the multitude, which, dred men, to preserve the exerhowever, they could not effect cise of the Romish religion; and without great labour. And no as the town was well fortified wonder," says he, "for many with walls and towers, she hoped of the people foresaw the danger her garrison might be able to which would ensue; and even keep it, against any attempts some of the preachers themselves which the Protestants might did openly affirm, in their ser- make. mons, their persuasion that the The lords, with a numerous Queen meant no truth. Never- congregation, having completed theless, that the mouths of the a rapid and successful progress adversaries might be stopped, through the county of Fife, and who were burthening the congre- obliged the Queen Regent, and gation with the charge of rebel- the troops which she there had lion, they earnestly required all with her, to retreat to Edinburgh, men to approve of the agreement, thought the next thing incumbent and to suffer hypocrisy to disclose upon them was to deliver Perth itself." from its oppressors. They came After this agreement, which to its neighbourhood, June 23d; was made May 30, 1559, and they summoned the garrison to which was indeed only of a short depart, June 24th; and on the continuance, it is most probable 25th, the town, without any great that Mr. Willock returned with difficulty, was put into their hands. the Earl of Glencairn to the west But on the evening of the 25th, Lord James Stewart, then in about the year 1619, compares Perth, was secretly informed that them to the four hundred Greeks, French soldiers were ordered to who, under Leonidas, King of Sterling, with a design to prevent Sparta, having almost no other the Protestants in the north from prospect before them but that of passing by the bridge of Stir- death, proceeded to defend the ling to those in the south. It important straits of Thermopylæ was of the greatest importance to against an immense army of Perthe Reformers that the commu-sians. nication should be kept open, and This brave band from Perth, that therefore no delay should be under the Earl of Argyle and used in taking possession of the Lord James Stewart, who were bridge, before the French sol- now exceedingly active in the diers could have time to arrive. Protestant interest, marched all Opposition, however, might be the night, and early the next expected, as the town had always day, June 26th, were at Stirling. been a chief place of resort for The French troops had not yet the Papists, and it was possible come hither; and the Papists, that the French soldiers might being surprised, were altogether have already arrived. In this unprepared to oppose them. critical juncture, Lord James They waited there three days, Stewart, and the Earl of Argyle, to see if the enemy would make offered to set out that same night, any attempt; and during that for Stirling, if they could get time they gained the favour of brave men to accompany them. the multitude, who, to show their I may be indulged in stating zeal, demolished the monasteries the particulars of an exploit in Stirling, and the neighbouring which was now performed, the abbey of Cambuskenneth. consequences of which were very As the brethren from the west important. Keith says, "The were now beginning to assemble, inhabitants of Perth were a war-and might be sufficient to guard like sort of people." They had the town, they next very bravely often indeed given proofs of their resolved to extend their progress, being of such a disposition, and with a view to take possession of they did so more especially upon the capital of the kingdom, where this occasion. Three hundred the Queen Regent then lay with of them, who were men of spirit a small number of her troops. and intrepidity, immediately vo- Accordingly, early in the mornlunteered their service, and were ing of June 29th, they began an accepted. As a token of their expedition on the south side of zeal and according to what was the Forth. In their way, they rather the coarse humour of those halted at Linlithgow, where the times, each of them appeared people, at their coming, destroywith a cord hanging round his ed the monuments of idolatry, neck, thereby signifying his con- and at night they reached Edinsent to suffer as a traitor, if he burgh, and were happy to find should be found unfaithful in the that the city, without any trouble, cause in which he was engaged. was delivered into their hands. Mr. Henry Adamson, in his Me- Archbishop Spottiswood, says trical History of Perth, written!" The rumour of their approach, though they were few in number, her companies, still lay at Dunfor they passed not three hundred bar, the great men became jeamen in all, did so terrify the lous of each other. Many of Queen, and the companies with them, with their friends and folher, that, with all the haste they lowers, withdrew themselves could make, they fled to Dunbar." from Edinburgh; and those who It may not be amiss to remark, remained felt it most prudent for that to commemorate the bravery them to agree to a truce which of these three hundred citizens, was to last about five months; and the important service which that is, till a parliament should they rendered to the Protestant meet in January, which, it was cause, there was preserved, till promised, should settle the navery lately, in one of the public tional disputes which related to rooms at Perth, an old piece of religion. painting which represented them This truce was agreed to, July in their march, in the habit and 24, 1559. Some of the articles military accoutrements used at were, that the Queen Regent that period, having also the cords should be allowed to return to as before expressed. her palace of Holyroodhouse; Their arrival at Edinburgh was that the lords and their adherents soon generally known. The great were to leave Edinburgh July men, who were favourers of the 25th; that Protestant ministers Reformation, with their friends were to continue to preach withand followers, and some minis- out being molested; and that ne ters, among whom were Mr. Wil- troops, either of Scots or French, lock and Mr. Knox, hastened were to be garrisoned within the thither from all quarters. The walls of the city, though indivicloisters of the monks and friars duals of them might resort there, were destroyed, and the altars for the purpose of transacting and images broken, and carried their ordinary secular affairs. away. The Popish worship was The next day, July 25th, the interdicted in the city and neigh-lords and their adherents departbourhood, and Protestant minis- ed from the town, after having ters preached freely in all the heard a sermon preached to them churches, and administered the by Mr. Knox; and after having sacraments of Baptism and the proclaimed at the market-cross Lord's Supper. So sanguine the several articles of the truce. were the congregation in Edin- As Mr. Knox was particularly burgh in their hope of matters obnoxious to the Papists, he could continuing in the same favoura- not safely remain in the town, ble condition, that with a proper and therefore left it along with solemnity they made choice of the lords. "But," says he, “for Mr. Knox to be their stated the comfort of the brethren, and pastor. continuance of the kirk in EdinIt is not my intention to give a burgh, was left there our dear circumstantial account of the brother John Willock, who, for changes which afterward happen- his faithful labours and bold coued. It may be sufficient to ob- rage in that battle, deserved imserve, that, through the artifices mortal praise. For when it was of the Queen Regent, who, with found dangerous that John Knox, |