Diary of Alexander Jaffray; to Which Are Added Particulars of His Subsequent Life, by J. Barclay

Diary Of Alexander Jaffray; To Which Are Added Particulars Of His Subsequent Life, By J. Barclay — Alexander Jaffray. This two-part historical volume introduces the early Diary of Alexander Jaffray, a 17th-century Scottish magistrate, together with Memoirs of his later life in connection with the Quaker movement. The excerpt comprises front matter, an Introduction by John Barclay, the Contents, and the opening chapters of the Diary (Chs. I–IV) plus the start of the memoirs' contextual material. Set in 17th-century Scotland, chiefly Aberdeen and Edinburgh, during the Civil War, Commonwealth, and Covenant era, the work situates Jaffray within Covenant politics, Cromwellian encounters, and the emergence of the Society of Friends. It traces his spiritual awakening, inner struggles, and grounds for conversion, as well as his education, marriage to Jane Downe, and early public duties. The text also documents his imprisonment and family trials, his later public role as magistrate, and the foreshadowing of Quaker commitments in daily prayer, humility, and scriptural meditation. The tone is confessional and devotional, interwoven with historical commentary and a framework for later Memoirs.