vii. 526), 'I showed his Majesty your other letter sent on purpose to

show, and he was much taken with your project to have the Scotch there take an oath of abjuration of their abominable covenant.' The text of the Black Oath is in _Rushworth_, viii. 494, in _Strafford Letters_, ii. 345; in Reid's _Presbyterian Church_, i. 247 n.; and in Cal. of State Papers, _Ireland_, at September 7, 1639.

[212] Evidence at Strafford's trial, in _Rushworth_, viii. 490-494. The Act of State with the petition, oath, and proclamation in _Strafford Letters_, ii. 343. Lord Clandeboye's letters, August 23 and September 2, _ib._ Narrative of John Livingston quoted in Reid's _Presbyterian Church_, i. 257. Livingston was at this time minister of Stranraer, which was naturally full of refugees from Ulster. Robert Baillie talks of the 'Spanish Inquisition on our whole Scottish nation there.' _Letters_, i. 199, 206, and see Archbishop Spottiswood's letter (August 1638), ib. 466. Bramhall to Laud in State Papers, _Ireland_, January 12, 1639; Rawdon to Conway, _ib._ July 6. Bishop H. Leslie tells Conway the swearing began in Dean Shuckburgh's parish (Connor), who cleverly persuaded 630 to take the oath, _ib._ October 7.

[213] Baillie's _Letters_, i. 190, 195; sentence of the Castle-chamber, September 7, 1639, in State Papers, _Ireland_; comments of Lords Justices and Council, _ib._ July 30, 1641; _Rushworth_, viii. 496; Bramhall to Ussher, April 26, 1641; Reid's _Presbyterian Church_, i. 257, 294. Strafford at his trial objected to the witness Salmon because he said Stewart was tried in October instead of September, but the substance of his evidence is unchallenged and confirmed by other accounts.

[214] Evidence of Salmon and Loftus, which was not shaken by rebutting witnesses, at Strafford's trial in _Rushworth_, viii. 496. Strafford's letter of October 8, 1840, from York, in Whitaker's _Life of Radcliffe_, who endorsed it 'rejected by me, and crossed.'