and ability of so
young a minister. "Who is that learned and bold young man?" said he. When
he was told his name was Binning, he replied, "He has bound well. But," he
added, putting his hand, at the same time, to his sword, "this will loose
all again."

In his Memoirs of the Life of Dr. John Owen, Mr. Orme adverts to this
anecdote regarding Binning, simply on the authority of a note in the
Biographia Scoticana. He does not seem to have been aware that, beyond
this note, there was any evidence to produce, that such a meeting as has
now been described, was ever actually held. But he observes, "There is
nothing improbable in the meeting, and Cromwell's pun quite accords with
other anecdotes of his conversation."(5) The part which Mr. Binning is
reported to have acted on this occasion, was no less characteristical of
him. He was a very able disputant. But when giving utterance to his
feelings, or expressing his sentiments, he was sometimes led to employ
strong language.(6)

The following account of the object and result of the meeting at Glasgow
is that which is given by Sir James Balfour--"Oliver Cromwell, with his
army, being at this tyme in Glasgow, had a conference with 8 ministers,
anent the lawfulness of his engagement against this countrey and kingdome.
He gave them some papers, wich they anssuered extempore, and proued to his
face his periurey and breach of couenant and leauge, and his sinfull
rebellion and murther, contrair to [the] expresse word of God, and leauge
and couenant suorne by himselue, and most of his complices. He toke the
morrow at 3 in the afternoone to his furder conference with them, and
maney of his cheiffest officers did openly acknowledge, they were
conuinced in reson, and neuer till now, did see the weekness of ther auen
grounds. In place of keiping the appoynted meitting, (seing a fyre to
begin to kindle amongest his auen,) about midnight, that same day, he
commands all his armey presently to march, wnder the paine of death, backe
towardes Edinburghe, and empties all his garisons be west Linhthgow, sends
his horses towardes the border, and with grate haist, with his footte
returns to Edinburgh and Leith, and is now bussie in repairring the
breaches of Edinburgh castle."(7)

We are informed, that a Report of the whole proceedings which took place
on this occasion, was drawn up by Principal Gillespie, and Mr. James
Guthrie. (8) But whether that Report is now in existence or not, or was
ever