honest and rational party, cannot be suitably or
preceesely termed either fish, or flesh, or gude red-herring--whoever has
the stronger party has Langcale."

Thus concluded the heavy narrative of honest Poundtext, who sighed
deeply, as he considered the danger in which he was placed betwixt
unreasonable adversaries amongst themselves and the common enemy from
without. Morton exhorted him to patience, temper, and composure; informed
him of the good hope he had of negotiating for peace and indemnity
through means of Lord Evandale, and made out to him a very fair prospect
that he should again return to his own parchment-bound Calvin, his
evening pipe of tobacco, and his noggin of inspiring ale, providing
always he would afford his effectual support and concurrence to the
measures which he, Morton, had taken for a general pacification.

[Note: Moderate Presbyterians. The author does not, by any means,
desire that Poundtext should be regarded as a just representation of
the moderate presbyterians, among whom were many ministers whose
courage was equal to their good sense and sound views of religion.
Were he to write the tale anew, he would probably endeavour to give
the character a higher turn. It is certain, however, that the
Cameronians imputed to their opponents in opinion concerning the
Indulgence, or others of their strained and fanatical notions, a
disposition not only to seek their own safety, but to enjoy
themselves. Hamilton speaks of three clergymen of this description
as follows:--

"They pretended great zeal against the Indulgence; but alas! that
was all their practice, otherwise being but very gross, which I
shall but hint at in short. When great Cameron and those with him
were taking many a cold blast and storm in the fields and among the
cot-houses in Scotland, these three had for the most part their
residence in Glasgow, where they found good quarter and a full
table, which I doubt not but some bestowed upon them from real
affection to the Lord's cause; and when these three were together,
their greatest work was who should make the finest and sharpest
roundel, and breathe the quickest jests upon one another, and to
tell what valiant acts they were to do, and who could laugh loudest
and most heartily among them; and when at any time they came out to
the country, whatever other things they