James Macaulay (preacher) explained

James Macaulay
Religion:	Christianity
School:	Presbyterianism

James Macaulay was a Presbyterian preacher. He did not have a government licence to preach. He was apprehended at Leith and sent to the Bass Rock. He was kept in confinement there for upwards of three months from 4 April – 19 July 1679.^[1]

Preaching and imprisonment

James Macaulay was called a preacher by Wodrow. He was probably licensed by some of the ejected nonconforming ministers.^[2]

On 4 June, the Council authorised the Lord Chancellor to give orders to parties of that troop of horse of his Majesty's guards, under his command, to apprehend a considerable number of ministers, among whom Macaulay is included, and offer a reward of a thousand merks to such as should apprehend him.^[3] Early in the year 1679, he and Mr Robert Ross, also a preacher, and another person who was under hiding for nonconformity, were apprehended in Leith.^[4]) The Committee of Council for Public Affairs agreed that he and Ross should be sent to the Bass, and this report was approved of by the Council at their meeting on 4 April.^[5] He however continued a prisoner there only between three and four months, being liberated in July, simply upon condition of his finding security, under a certain sum, to appear before the Council when called.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Book: Dickson . John . Emeralds chased in Gold; or, the Islands of the Forth: their story, ancient and modern. [With illustrations.] ]. 1899 . Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier . Edinburgh and London . 221 . 3 March 2019.
2. Book: M'Crie . Thomas, D.D. the younger . The Bass rock: Its civil and ecclesiastic history . 1847 . J. Greig & Son . Edinburgh . 290 . 11 February 2019.
3. Book: Wodrow . Robert . Burns . Robert . The history of the sufferings of the church of Scotland from the restoration to the revolution, with an original memoir of the author, extracts from his correspondence, and preliminary dissertation . 1828–1830 . Glasgow: Blackie, Fullarton & co.; and Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & co. . 191, 234 . 2. 7 April 2019.
4. Book: Crichton . Andrew . Memoirs of the Rev. John Blackader . 1826 . Charles Tait . London . 344 . 2nd . 15 March 2019.
5. Book: Wodrow . Robert . Burns . Robert . The history of the sufferings of the church of Scotland from the restoration to the revolution, with an original memoir of the author, extracts from his correspondence, and preliminary dissertation . 1828–1830 . Glasgow: Blackie, Fullarton & co., and Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & co. . 17 . 3 . 7 April 2019.
6. Book: Porteous . James Moir . The Scottish Patmos. A standing testimony to patriotic Christian devotion . 1881 . J. and R. Parlane . Paisley . 59 . 3 March 2019.