114 The National Covenant of 1638. 



Colquhoune of Ballbey ; W. Sandelandis ; Patrik hepburne of 

 Wauchtune ; Johne M'Kie of glassoche ; Jas. Stewart of 

 corsuall; [ ] of Craigcaskie [?]; Bancharay ; Johne 



Wausz; Robert hamiltone; J. Gordoun of Awchlane ; M. H. 

 [?] Charteris; Alexr Scott; Daniell hay, finlamont; J. Knox, 

 wrytter; Alexander M'Kie; R. Scott of Woll ; Duncan 

 craford off Drumphi [?]. 



Altogether there are one hundred and two subscriptions. 

 The only indication as to date is that the parchment does not 

 Taear the Glasgow Determination, and it is therefore likely 

 that the document was printed and signed prior to the Glas- 

 gow Assembly of November, 1638. 



The appearance of this interesting memorial raises many 

 questions. It is scarcely conceivable that only one copy of 

 the print was pulled. The expense and trouble of setting up 

 -SO lengthy a document does not warrant such a conjecture. 

 But if other copies were printed, where have they disappeared 

 to and how can their total loss be accounted for? Further- 

 more, why, with printed copies available, should notaries and 

 schoolmasters have toiled with these long lines of manuscript? 

 It has not been hinted that there is anything especially pre- 

 latic about a printed sheet. 



From what press was it issued? It was the work of no 

 mean printer. Whoever he was, he has studied the appear- 

 ance of the work as a whole, balanced it well, and freed it of 

 almost all typographical error. It is a comely, pleasing, 

 almost impressive piece of typography. 



One may be permitted to indicate by what means it has 

 come to be preserved at Cardoness. We have, in the first 

 place, the signature of John Gordon, the then proprietor. 

 Turning to the other two Covenants preserved in the charter 

 chest, one of which ,is of the usual vellum type, written 

 locally, and signed by the parishioners of Minnigaff, and the 

 other, a long roll of paper with signatures duplicating those 

 on the vellum specimen,' we find that the first name on both 

 is that of Mr William Maxwell, who had then just commenced 



3 A description and list of signatures of these Covenants will 

 he found among the Exhibits under date December 12th, 1913. 



