e for the
memories of these worthies; the familiar acquaintance and sweet
fellowship that once subsisted betwixt some of my ancestors and some of
them; but, above all, the love and regard which I have for the same
cause which they owned and maintained, be not sufficient to apologize
for me in this; then I must crave thy patience to hear me in a few
particulars; and that both anent the reasons for this publication, and
its utility: Which I hope will plead my excuse for this undertaking.

And _First_, Having for some time had a desire to see something of this
kind published, but finding nothing thereof, except a few broken
accounts interspersed throughout different publications yet in print, at
last I took up a resolution to publish a second edition of the life of
one of these worthies already published at large[1].--Yet, upon farther
reflection, considering it would be better to collect into one volume,
the most material relations (of as many of our Scots worthies as could
be obtained) from such of the historical records, biographical
accounts, and other authenticated manuscripts, as I could have access
unto, with the substance of these lives already in print, which, being
put altogether, I thought would not only prove more useful in giving the
reader the pleasure of viewing that all at once, which before was
scattered up and down in so many corners, but also at the same time it
might be free of the inconveniences that little pamphlets often fall
under. And yet at the same time I am aware that some may expect to find
a more full account of these worthies, both as to their number and the
matters of fact in the time specified, than what is here to be met
with--But in this publication, it is not pretended to give an account of
all our Scots worthies, or their transactions: For that were a task now
altogether impracticable, and that upon several accounts. For,

_1st_, There have been many of different ranks and degrees of men famous
in the church of Scotland, of whom little more is mentioned in history
than their names, places of abode, and age wherein they existed, and
scarcely that. Again, there are many others, of whom the most that can
be said is only a few faint hints, which of necessity must render their
lives (if they may properly be so called) very imperfect, from what they
might and would have been, had they been collected and wrote near a
century ago, when their actions and memories were more fresh and recent;
sev