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The Anecdotage of Glasgow
Cromwell's second visit to Glasgow


BAILLIE, in one of his letters, dated 22nd April, 1651, says that Cromwell came to Hamilton on Friday late, and to Glasgow on Saturday with the body of his army sooner than with safety we could well have retired. On Sunday before noon he came unexpectedly to the High Inner Church, where he quietly heard Mr. Robert Ramsay preach a very good sermon pertinent to his case. In the afternoon he came as unexpectedly to the High Outer Church, whero he heard Mr. John Carstairs lecture, and Mr. James Durham preach, graciously and well to the time, as could have been desired. Generally all who preached that day in the town gave a fair enough testimony against the sectaries.

"That night some of the army were trying if the ministers would be pleased of their own accord to confer with their genera!. When none had shown any willingness, on Monday a gentleman from Cromwell came to most of the brethren severally, desiring, yea, requiring them and the rest orfthe ministry in town to come and speak with their general. All of us did meet to advise, and after sorne debate we were content all to go and hear what would be said. When we came he spoke long and smoothly, showing the scandal himself and others had taken at the doctrine they had heard preached, especially that they were condemned-(1) as unjust invaders; (2) as contemners, and tramplers under foot of the ordinances; (3) as persecutors of the ministers of Ireland.

"That as they were unwilling to offend us by a publict contradicting in tbe church, so they would be willing to give them a reason when he craved it in private. We showed our willingness to give a reason either for those three or what else was excepted against in any of our sermons."

One of Cromwell's officers gives the following account of this second visit to Glasgow, and of the conference and discussion with the ministers, from which it appears that, like most discussions, it ended in both parties being "of the same opinion still."

"We came hither on Saturday last, April 19th. The ministers and town's men generally stayed at home, and did not quit their habitations as formerly. The ministers here have mostly deserted from the proceedings beyond the water [at Perth], yet they are equally dissatisfied with us. But though they preach against us in the pulpit to our faces, yet we permit them without disturbance, as willing to gain them by love. My Lord General sent to them to give us a friendly Christian meeting, to discourse of those things which they rail against us for; that so, if possible, all misunderstandings between us might be taken away. Which accordingly they gave us, on Wednesday last. There was no bitterness nor passion vented on either side; all was with moderation and tenderness. My Lord General and Major-General Larnbert for the most part maintained the discourse: and on their part Mr. James Guthry and Mr. Patrick Gillespie. We know not what satisfaction they have received. Sure I am there was no such weight in their arguments as might in the least discourage us from what we have undertaken; the chief thingon which they insisted being our invasion into Scotland."


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