[Record of Committee of Privy Council, at Glasgo &c. 1678; in Register-House.] Indictment of JOHN MUIR, late Provost of Ayr. 22d February, 1678. At Air, Ante Mer. Seder MARQUIS OF ATHOLE, &C. ANENT Our Soveraigne Lords letters, raised at the of Mr Roderick M'Kenzie, Advocat-deput to Sir George zie of Roshauch, his Majesties Advocat, for his Hienes in the matter underwrytten, makand mention, That wh withstanding by the lawes, &c. Nevertheles it is of ver Jon Muir, late provest of the burgh of Air, did take u the boldnes to usurp his Majesties authority, and the provest, baylie, and councellor, within the burgh of Air, rall years, and particularly the years of God 1673, 167 and ay and while he wes discharged and turned doune st order from the Lords of Councill, and taking advantadg office and government which he had usurped and screwe handes, he did abuse the same, to the contempt of his authority, and lawes and acts of parliament of this kingd to the dislyk of the government established therby, and first, second, third, and remnant dayes of the monethes of ry, February, March, and remanent monethes of the year 1677 and 1678, or upon one or uther of the saids dayes, monethes, and yeares, did not only withdraw himself, his wife, children, and servants, from the publick ordinances and worship of God within his owne paroch kirk, for three, bot many Sabbathes together, bot also went to and wes present at severall house and field conventicles, holden at the tymes and in the places after specifiet, viz. the said Jon Muir wes present at two feild conventicles, the one holden at Prestick, and the other within the citedale of Air, upon one or uther of the dayes of the monethes &'yeares forsaids; and lykwayes at diverse and sundry house conventicles, and particularly at four conventicles holden at his own house, and at conventicle holden within Helen Leslies house, in Air, upon ane or uther of the dayes of the monethes of the years forsaids, where Mr Jon Welsh, Mr Walwood, Mr Muir, Mr George Jonstoun, Mr Andro Mortoun, Mr Donald Cargill, Mr Jon Rae, Mr Edward Jameson, or one or other of them, or some of the vagrant preachers, declared rebells, traitors, and fugitives, being invited and instigat by him, did take upon them the boldnes to preach, pray, and exercise the uther functions of the ministery, and did vent and expresse seditious and schismaticall doctrin, and uttered many scandalous, calumnious, and reproachfull speeches against his Majestie's person, estate, and government; at the whilk house & feild conventicles there were present his wyfe, children, & servants, and many uther persons whom he had convocat and invited to the saids meitings, who did communicat and receave the sacrament of the Lord's supper from the said Mr Jon Welsh, ane declared and forfaulted rebell and traitor, at Sauchill, or at one or uther of the places forsaids; and siclyk the said Jon Muir hes these severall yeares, and particularly since the moneth of January 1677, keeped close converse, intelligence, and correspondence, with the 'said Mr Jon Welsh, and the uther persons forsaids, 'declared traitors, rebells, and fugitives, frae our lawes, and hes contryved, plotted, hatched, and promoted their seditious and factious designes against his Majesties person, estate, and government, for disturbing the peace & quyet of the kingdomes; and, particularly, did insinuat upon Mr William Adair, ane indulged minister in the burgh of Air, and procured and caryed a letter from him to severall indulged ministers who had mett at Machline, desyreing them to plant a |