Mr. Robert Bailey was born at Glasgow _anno_ 1539. His father was a
citizen there, being lineally descended from Bailey of Jerviston, a
brother of the house of Carphin, and a branch of the ancient house of
Lamington, all in the county of Lanerk; and by his mother's side, he was
of the same stock with the Gibsons of Durie, who have made such a figure
in the law. He received his education at Glasgow, and, at that
university, plied his studies so hard, that, by his industry and
uncommon genius, he attained to the knowledge of twelve or thirteen of
the languages, and could write a Latin style that, in the opinion of the
learned, might well become the Augustan age.

After his study of divinity, he took orders from arch-bishop Law, about
the year 1622, and was soon after presented by the earl of Eglinton to
the church of Kilwinning. When the reformation began _anno_ 1637, he
wanted not his own difficulties, from his education and tenderness of
the king's authority, to see through some of the measures then taken.
Yet after reasoning, reading and prayer, (as he himself exprest it) he
came heartily into the covenanters interest about that time.

Being a man of distinct and solid judgment, he was often employed in the
public business of the church. In 1638, he was chosen by his own
presbytery, to be a member of that memorable assembly held at Glasgow,
where he behaved himself with great wisdom and moderation.

He was also one of those who attended as chaplains to the army in 1639,
and 1640, and was present during the whole treaty begun at Rippon and
concluded at London.----What comfort he had in these things he describes
in these words, "As for myself, I never found my mind in a better temper
than it was all that time, from my outset until my head was again
homeward. I was one who had taken leave of the world, and resolved to
die in that service. I found the favour of God shining on me, and a
sweet, meek and humble, yet strong and vehement spirit leading me
along." The same year 1640, he was by the covenanting lords sent to
London to draw up an accusation against arch-bishop Laud, for the
innovations he had obtruded upon the church of Scotland.

He was translated from Kilwinning to be professor of divinity at
Glasgow, when Mr. David Dickson was translated from thence to the
divinity chair at Edinburgh. And he was one of those commissioners sent
from the church of Scotland to the Westminster assembly _anno_ 1645,
where he