112 The National Covenant of 1638. 



have the manuscript examples become that no suspicion of 

 the Covenant having been printed contemporaneously, except 

 in pamphlet form, has been aroused. 



A printed copy, however, has now come to light. For 

 some generations it has lain, with two other examples of the 

 National Covenant, in the charter chest of the Maxwells of 

 Gardoness, and is exhibited at this meeting by favour of Sir 

 William and Lady Maxwell. The document has just been 

 framed between double sheets of glass, but prior to that it 

 had been attached at the foot to a wooden roller, which was 

 received by a piece of wood hollowed to the shape of a half- 

 cylinder, to which the topmost sheet was nailed. The Cove- 

 nant is of vellum, in three portions, which had become 

 separated. The three parts are in an excellent state of pre- 

 servation, a small portion of the margin only having been 

 torn away. The upper portion measures 19 3-5 in. by 14 2-5 

 in. ; the middle part is the longest, 21 4-5 in., and of the same 

 width as the upper part. The third part is the smallest, 

 5 2-5 in. deep, slightly narrower than the other sections, and 

 it is of a different and thicker skin. ♦ 



The first two parts bear the text. This is beautifully 

 printed in double columns, the heading being tastefully set 

 out and the whole surrounded by a floreated border, which 

 is of double breadth at the top and bottom. The text is 

 continuous on both sheets, running down the left column 

 to the foot of the second sheet before passing to the right 

 column, but, though specially examined, there is nothing to 

 show whether the sheets were joined before being printed or 

 were printed separately. From border to border the printing 

 is ii|^ in. broad throughout and 17 3-5 in. long on the upper 

 sheet and 16^ in. long on the second. 



Following the familiar course in such cases, there is a 

 signature, " J. Coupar," written across the juncture of the 

 two sheets to show their continuity. The text is of the usual 

 character, varying but slightly from that given by Dr 

 Hewison in The Covenanters. No place of printing or name 

 of printer is given. The third sheet appears to have been 

 added after the bottom of the second sheet had been filled 

 with signatures that still more might be subscribed. 



