northern papists, was commanded to send his sons to a tutor approven of by the Archbishop of St Andrews. [Sidenote: 1628.] We get a glimpse of some of the proceedings in regard to the estates of the Catholic gentlemen from a supplication presented to the Privy Council on the 15th of December 1629 by the commissioners of the diocese of Aberdeen. It proceeds to narrate that, it having pleased the Lords, ‘to the glory of God and _comfort of all weel-affected subjects_, for purging the land of popery, to grant sundry letters against excommunicat rebels, their persons, houses, and rents’--decreets, moreover, having been obtained in the Court of Session for poinding and arrestment--the officers had consequently dealt with certain friends of the victims, who had undertaken to labour the lands for the crop 1629, and to account for the result according to a valuation made ‘before the corns came to the hook;’ but there had been some slackness in the working out of these arrangements, ‘to the great hinder of his majesty’s service, and encouraging of these excommunicat rebels to continue in their obstinacy and disobedience.’ It was therefore necessary to take sharper methods; and a strict commission to the Bishop of Aberdeen was suggested. The Council accordingly ordered the bishop to call the officers before him, and have them ‘tried of their diligence’ and honest and dutiful carriage in this matter, and to see that they were prompted where necessary. For further proceedings regarding the ‘excommunicat papists and rebels,’ see forward, under January 1630. * * * * * [Sidenote: 1629. JAN. 26.] On this day--an unusual season for thunder in our climate--a thunder-clap fell upon Castle-Kennedy, the seat of the Earl of Cassillis in Ayrshire--‘which, falling into a room where there were several children, crushed some dogs and furniture; but happily the children escaped. From thence descending to a low apartment, it destroyed a granary of meal. At the same time, a gentleman in the neighbourhood had about thirty cows, that were feeding in the fields, struck dead by the thunder.’[15] * * * * * [Sidenote: APR. 15.] [Sidenote: 1629.]