106 Tue Union oF 1707 In DUMFRIESSHIRE. 
invective. Its terms are preserved in a book, entitled “ Humble 
Pleadings for the Good Old Way,’’ published by Mr Hepburn in 
1713, and there is also a copy in the Advocates’ Library. It 
states nine grounds for the protest against the Union therein con- 
tained, of which I shall quote two as an example of its language: 
—“lmo. We incorporat with a nation deeply guilty of many 
national abominations, who have openly broke and burnt their 
covenant with God and league with us, entered into in the year 
1643. Are sworn to the maintainance of abjured Prelacy; have 
their publick and established worship horridly corrupted with 
superstition and idolatry, and their doctrine dreadfully leavened 
with Socinianism and Arminianism; besides the most gross and 
deeply lamentable profaneness that abounds amongst them. 
5to. When we think how the great God, Who fixes the 
Gansds of people’s habitations, has granted to us this land; and 
by a very peculiar Providence has preserved us as a free nation 
these 2000 years, when many other nations, greater and mightier 
than we have been dispersed, and their memory extinct; how 
unaccountable does it appear to us, that we should destroy our 
selves and make a voluntar surrender of our liberties, sovereignity 
and independency; and that when our God has so often inter- 
posed by a marvellous Providence for our deliverance and de- 
fence, from the encroachments and invasions of forreigners and 
injurious neighbours! We should now distrust our Protector, 
and chuse England for the ground of our confidence, our shield 
and stay ; which as we look upon as contrary to God’s Word. So 
likewise to our sacred covenants, whereby, according thereto, we 
are bound to maintain the privileges of our Parliaments, and 
liberties of the subjects.’? But Mr Hepburn could use softer 
tones when occasion required, and his book ends with these 
words :—“ Curteous reader, be pleased to pardon escapes of the 
Press in pointing and spelling.’’ Evidently the “ Printer’s 
Devil ’’ was beyond even ecclesiastical control in these days 
when Church discipline was a stern reality. 
Locat REPRESENTATIVES AT THE CONVENTION OF ROYAL 
BuRGHS. 
We must now hark back in point of date, and ascertain the 
position taken up by the Convention of Royal Burghs. At a 
meeting of the Convention on 8th July, 1706, the Lord Provost 
