The Wrestlings of the Church of Scotland, Accounts of death and suffering

The Wrestlings of the Church of Scotland · Accounts of death and suffering

p. 263A true Relation of the Sufferings and Death of M^R HEW M^c KAIL. Preacher of the Goſpel.

M^R Hew M^c Kail having paſſed, and improven the vertuous means of his Education (at the Univerſity p. 364of Edinburgh, and with his Uncle M^r Hew Mc Kail, Miniſter there, in whoſe family he did reſide) to the ſatisfaction and good hope of all, in the Winter 1661. upon the very turne of this ſad Cataſtrophe, offers himſelf to Tryall (being 20 years old) before the Presbytery of Edinburgh, in order to the work of the Miniſtery; and being by them amply approven and licenſed, and having preached at ſeveral times with the great benefit and applauſe of all his hearers, he did preach his laſt publick Sermon in Edinburgh, in the Great Church thereof, upon the Sabbath immediatly preceeding that 8 of September 1662. the day affixed by the then Parliament, for the removal of the Miniſters of Edinburgh.

His text was Song. 1.7. In this Sermon taking occaſion to ſpeak of the great and many perſecutions, to which the Church of God hath been and is obnoxious; and amplifying the Point from the Perſons and Powers who have been inſtrumental therein, he ſaid, that the Church and People of God had been perſecuted, both by a Pharaoh upon the Throne, a Haman in the State, and a Iudas in the Church; and falling to inlarge the ſeveral wayes and manner of the Perſecutions of theſe men, & the iſſue thereof; the caſes of Haman and Iudas appeared in the conviction of his Adverſaries, to have ſuch a near reſemblance to the ſtate and condition of the then Rulers of State and Church, that though he did make no Application, yet he was reputed to be guilty thereof.

Whereupon, within a few dayes thereafter, there was a Party of Horſemen ſent to the Place where he then lived near to Edinburgh, for to ſeiſe his Perſon and make him Priſoner. But upon almoſt no more then a moments advertiſement, he eſcapes out of his bed, p. 265and shifting only to another chamber, was miraculouſly preſerved from the Search then uſed, though moſt diligent and accurate. For this cauſe, he being neceſſitated to leave that Place, retired home-ward to his Fathers houſe, where having lurked a while, and thereafter as occaſions call'd him ſpent the four years that have ſince interveen'd, in ſeveral places and with much uncertainty. Yet during all this ſpace, to the certain knowledge and ſweet remembrance of all that converſed with him, he was moſt ſeriouſly exerciſed in the Study of Piety and true Knowledge, wherein as he greatly advanced above all his equalls, ſo at length he became moſt eminent and exemplary.

While he is thus living and employed at his Fathers houſe, the late Troubles ariſing: in the Weſt fall out; and the newes thereof having alarmed him with the reſt of that Countrey, upon the 18. of Nov. laſt, being the Sabbath; for ſuch motives and upon ſuch conſiderations as he himſelf doth fully afterward declare, he joined himſelf to thoſe who roſe in theſe parts for the aſſiſting of that poor afflicted Party, as in their conſciences, by their Covenant, they thought themſelves indiſpenſably obliged.

When and where he joined with them, or what was his part, or endeavours amongſt them, needs not to be remembered. Only this is certain, that being of a thin body, and tender conſtitution, he was ſo diſabled and weakened with the toil and fatigue of continual marching and tempeſtuous weather (particularly at Air, where he lay a conſiderable time, as if he had been dead, by reaſon of fainting) that he could no longer endure it. Whereupon, on Tueſday Novemb. 27. he was neceſſitated to part from them in the morning, near to the New Bridge upon Cramond p. 266water: And in his way towards Libberton Parish, about twelve of the clock paſſing through Bread's Craigs, he was taken, without reſiſtance, having only a ſmall ordinary ſword, by ſuch of the Countreymen, as were then ſent out to view the fields; in which paſſage it is very obſervable, that his eſcape formerly mentioned was not more miraculous, then his preſent taking was fatal: for it is without queſtion, had he but retained and obſerved the leaſt of that advertency and caution, wherein at other times he was known to be both ready & very happy, he might, without either hazard or trouble, have eſcaped this inconvenience; but God who gave him the full experience of his turning all things unto the good of them that love Him, did thus by his ſimplicity and folly, prepare the way for His own Glory and His ſervants joy and Victory.

Being brought to Edinburgh, and firſt to the Towns Council-houſe, in their ſearch for letters he was immediatly ſtript; and there being none found, committed priſoner to the Tolbuith.

Upon the Wedenſday, being the 28 of November by order from the Secret Council, he was brought before the Earle of Dumfreis, Lord Sinclar, Sir Robert. Manray of Preiſt-field and others, in order to his Examination; and being interrogate concerning his joyning & being with the Weſi-land forces, he conceaving himſelf not obliged by any Law or Reaſon, to be his own Accuſer, to the deſtruction of his life, did plainly deny the queſtion; but being deſired to ſigne with his hand, what he had ſaid and they cauſed write, though at firſt he appeared willing, yet partly being adviſed by the Lord Sinclar, to beware that he ſubſcribed nothing, whereof the contrary would be found true, left it p. 267might therefore fare the worſe with him, and partly ſcrupling at the terms of Rebells and Rebellion, wherein the queſtion and his Anſwer were conceaved, and partly bethinking that a ſimple denyall may import more then the pleading of Not-guilty, he refuſed to ſubſcribe his name, which being reported to the Council gave great offence, and brought him under the ſuſpition of a deep diſſembler.

On Thursday Novemb. 29. being again called before his Examinators, upon the conſiderations mentioned, & for allaying the Councils prejudice, & preventing the inconvenience he might there-through ſuſtain, he gives in a Declaration under his own hand, teſtifying, that he had been with the Weſtland Forces, with whom he occaſionally mett, and that he reſolved to have withdrawn from them upon the firſt opportunity which he was alſo about to do when he was taken, without either offering to flee or reſiſt, which he deſired the Council the rather to believe, becauſe he had told ſo much to William Lawry of Blackwood, a perſon imployed from the Lieut. Generall Dalzell to the Weſtland Forces. But notwithſtanding that William Lawry did teſtify this to be a truth, yet the Council retaining former impreſſions, and apprehending that the preſence and confronting of ſome other Priſoners of the Weſtland Forces (who plainly declared their acceſſion to that Riſing) and their deponing concerning him, did only move M^r Hew to this acknowledgement, although it be certainly known, that he had formed and ſubſcribed the ſame the night before, they fortify and perſiſt in their jealouſy, and ſuſpecting him to have been a contriver of the Inſurrection, and privy to all Deſignes and Intelligence relating to it, they dealt with him with great importunity to be ingenuous, and p. 268to declare who were the Ring-leaders of the late Riſing, and what correſpondence either at home or abroad was kept anent it: And this was done eſpecially upon the Monday Dec. 3. at which time alſo the Boots (a terrible inſtrument of Torture, which the humanity of our later times hath ſo much abhorred, that not only the fashion of them was forgot, but all Torture for their cauſe, diſuſed; yet new ones ſuch as they are) were laid before him, upon the Town Council-Houſe table, and he certifyed, that if he would not confeſs, he should be tortured by them to morrow. And accordingly upon Tueſday Dec. 4. he was again called before the Council, where, after the Examination & Torture of Iohn Nilſon of Corſack, he was again examined by the Earle of Rotheſs the Kings Commiſſioner, the Marqueſs of Montreſs, and ſeveral of the Privy Councill, (in the Town Council-Houſe) the Bishop of St Andrewes for the honor of his profeſſion forſooth, and ſome others of the Counſellers upon more real and Chriſtian motives, having at firſt withdrawn themſelves: And being urged to confeſs, he declared, with a ſolemn Atteſtation, that he knew no more, then he had already confeſſed, whereupon they ordered the Executioner to put his leg into the Boot and to proceed to the Torture. But as he had before confeſſed and declared ingenuouſly all he knew, ſo this Torture (though in it ſelf very violent and painful, by the extraordinary compreſſion both of flesh, ſinews and bones, by the force of timber wedges and hammer, & uſed upon him in a double meaſure, even to ten or eleven ſtrokes, with conſiderable intervals; as there remained no truth concealed which it could extort) did not in the leaſt move him to expreſs any impatience or bitterneſs, but having ſuſtained it moſt conſtantly and Chriſtianly, p. 269before he got the laſt three ſtrokes, he proteſted ſolemnly in the ſight of God, that he could ſay no more, though all the joints of his body were in as great torture as that poor leg, and deſires to know what could hinder them to believe one of his Profeſſion, who had ſo ſolemnly declared as in the ſight of God, that he knew no more then he had told, viz. that to the beſt of his knowledge, the Riſing in the Weſt was meerly occaſional, upon a diſcontent betwixt the people in the Stewarty of Galloway & Sir Iames Turner, to which every one did run, as their hearts moved them when they heard of it.

This Torture was the cauſe why he was not indicted with the firſt ten, who being arraigned and ſentenced on Wedenſday Dec. 5. were hanged on the Fryday thereafter, at the Croſs of Edinburgh. Many thought that conſidering his ſmall acceſſion unto that Riſing, which neither was nor could be proven to be more, then what he himſelf had freely confeſſed, and that he had ſuffered ſuch hard meaſure by Torture, & that not in order to the diſcovery of his own Crime, but the declaring of the Contrivers and his Complices, that the ſame should have procured him favor, but the matter was otherwiſe determined. Neither was the Sermon before mentioned, ſo quite forgotten, though ill remembered, and often repeated in Councill in theſe words Achab upon the Throne, and no more, and therefore

Upon Monday the 10 of Dec. he and other ſeven receaved their Indictments of Treaſon, & were acordingly ſummoned to appear before the Iuſtices on Wedenſday Dec. 12. But his Torture & cloſe Impriſonment thereafter (for ſo it was ordered) having caſt him in a Fever; whereby he was utterly diſenabled to make his appearance,

Upon Tueſday Dec. 11. he gave in to the Lords of p. 270Council his Supplication of the Tenor following viz. that whereas I have receaved an Indictment of Treaſon, which was yeſterday delivered to me, and I appointed to make anſwer thereto to morrow, and ſeing in this matter of the highest importance, not only all the time allowed is very short, but I am and have been ever ſince my Torture in a great diſtemper and Fever, beſides the great pain and utter inability of my leg, which hath conſtantly kept me bed-fast, and doth render me incapable not only of minding my own Defence, but wholly unable either to walk or ſtand, far leſs to go and compeir before the Lord Iuſtice, as I doubt not but Phyſicians will teſtify, if your Lo: will order them to viſit me, which I humbly beg; And ſeing my acceſsion to the Crimes libelled is ſo very ſlender, being only ſimple Preſence, and that not only occaſional, as I did declare before Your Lo: but alſo in ſome ſort retracted and purged, by my purpoſed and actuall off-coming and deſerting; and laſtly, ſeing I was put to ſore Torture, in order to a furder diſcovery, with a promiſe of favor, in caſe of my Ingenuity, which I then ſingly uſed, as in the ſight of God, to the utmoſt of my knowledge: May it therefore pleaſe Your Lordships, graciouſly to conſider the Premiſes, ſpecially my utter inability to make my appearance, and to ſurceaſe any legall procedor againſt me, in this ſo weak and extream condition, and to diſcharge me of the foreſaid Citation and Appearance. And your Lo: anſwer.

This Petition and the following are therefore ſett p. 271down verbatim, that both the utmoſt of his condeſcendence may appear, and the fainting that he ſo much regrates in his laſt Speach, be the better underſtood. And with the ſame ſubſcribed by him, there was given in, an Atteſtation under the hands of ſeven Chirurgeons, declaring his weak and ſickly condition.

Hereupon the Council did order two Phyſicians, and two Chirurgeons (viz. Sir Robert Cuningham, Doctor Hay, Iames …o…t…wick, and Thomas Kinkead.) to viſit him, and to return their Atteſtation upon ſoul and conſcience, betwixt and the morrow at ten of the Clock, to the Iuſtices.

Upon Wedenſday Decemb. 12. the Iuſtices being ſet, the Atteſtation of the two Doctors and Chirurgeons above mentioned, is produced for Mr Hew M^c Kail, and other three of the Priſoners indicted, and their excuſe proponed thereupon. But the Iuſtice finding, that the Atteſtation, not bearing ſoul and conſcience, did not agree to the Warrand and Order given by the Councill, and that the Phyſicians being called, did refuſe upon point of Priviledge to rectify it in theſe terms, although they declared, that the truth thereof was ſuch, as they might ſafely confirm it by Oath, they do only ſuperſede their procedor againſt M. Hew, and other two contained in the Atteſtation, untill to morrow, and ordain Iohn Nilſon of Corſack, though alſo contained in the Atteſtation, in reſpect the ſame as to his part, was not relevant, and the other four, to be brought to the Bar, who accordingly being brought, were that day ſentenced to be hanged on Fryday thereafter.

Thurſday December 13. the Iuſtice-Court being ſet, adjourns untill Tueſday thereafter, and ordains M. Hew and the other two to be peremptorily ſiſted that day p. 272before the down-ſitting of the Court. This afternoon, having obtain'd his Reprivall, in the thoughts of his dubious condition, he compoſed the lines following.

Vitae ergò innumeris curarum erroribus actae,

Clauſula conſimilis perbreve finit iter.

Diſtrahor ambigui dubio diſcrimine fati:

Aeger enim jaceo; ſin revaleſco, cado.

Saturnday Dec. 8. his Brother M. Matthew goes from Edinburgh to Glaſgow, with a Letter from the Lady Marqueſs of Dowglaſs, and another from the Ducheſs of Hamilton to the Lord Commiſſioner in his favors, but both proved ineffectual.

Like-as his Cuſing M. Matthew M^c Kail carried another Letter from the Lady Marqueſs of Dowglaſs to the Archbishop of St Andrewes for the ſame purpoſe, but with no better ſucceſs.

Dec. 18. Sitting in Judgement, the Lord Penton Iuſtice Clerk, and M^r William Murray (Advocate) Iuſtice Depute.

M. Hew being indifferently recovered, he was brought before the Iuſtice with other 3 that were arraigned with him. And firſt, the general Indictment is read, founded both on old and late Acts of Parliaments, made againſt Riſing and Aſſembling in Arms, and entering into Leagues and Covenants, and renewing the Solemn League and Covenant, without or againſt the Kings Authority, declaring the ſame to be Rebellion and Treaſon; and thereafter amply ſubſuming upon all the Acts, Deeds and Paſſages of the late Inſurrection with many aggravations; particularly upon their taking and renewing the Solemn p. 273League and Covenant at Lanerk; And therefore charging them with, and concluding, that they ought to be punished for the ſame as Traitors. After which Mr Hew his ſpecial Indictment is read, bearing, that he had riſen and joyned with the Rebels, and was with them at Air, Vchilery and Lanerk, and ſeveral other places on horsback, and had kept and was at ſeveral of their Rendevouz's with a Sword. Whereunto Mr Hew being permitted to anſwer, began his diſcourſe very conſtantly and compoſedly, declaring, that he looked upon himſelf, both from the concluſion of his Indictment, and what had happened to others, as a man appointed by men, and determined in himſelf to die, whereupon he thought himſelf obliged to uſe the greater ingenuity, and then affirmed, that he was not ashamed to avow that he was one of that afflicted and perſecuted party and perſwaſion called Presbyterian. Thereafter he proceeded to ſpeak of the Ties and Engagements that were upon the Land to God, in order thereto, and having commended the Inſtitution. Dignity and Bleſſing of Presbyterial Government, he ſaid that the laſt words of the National Covenant had alwayes great weight upon his ſpirit. Whereupon the King's Advocate, interrupting him, deſired him to forbear that diſcourſe, telling him that he was not there called in queſtion for his perſwaſion, but for the crime of Rebellion, in riſing in Arms againſt his Ma: Authority, to which he deſired him to anſwer; whereunto he anſwered, that the thing which moved him to declare himſelf as he had, and would have done, was that weighty and important ſaying of our Lord Jeſus, Whoſoever shall confeſs me before men, him shall the Son of Man alſo confeſs before the Angels of God; but he that denieth me and my words before men, shall he denyed before the Angels p. 274of God. As for the Rebellion he was charged with, he ſaid; his Acceſſion was only ſimple preſence with a Sword, and that occaſional, as his confeſſion before the Council did bear. The Advocate anſwers, that not only preſence, ſuch as he was charged with, was treaſonable, but all intercommuning or keeping company with Rebells, though for the ſpace only of half an hour; and however, he ſaid, he was guilty of a far deeper acceſſion, and of many other things beſides theſe contained in his own confeſſion; whereupon the Advocate cauſed read his Confeſſion, and alſo the depoſitions of ſeverall others that were examined, in ſo far as they concerned him. M. Hew anſwered, that all the depoſitions read, contained no more then was in his own Confeſſion, nor could they make out any more againſt him; and ſo in effect it was.

The Advocate after the ſuſtaining of the Indictment, having made uſe of; and cauſed read the confeſſions of M. Hew and the other perſons accuſed before the Aſſize, in place of Probation, referred the matter to their Cognition.

The Aſſize being encloſed gave their Verdict una voce, and by the mouth of Sir William Murray of Newtown their Chancellor, report him to be guilty of being with the Rebells at ſeverall times and places, and at their Rendevouz with a Sword, according to his ſubſcribed confeſſion. However it was thereafter underſtood, that four or five of the Aſſize, did with reluctancy pronounce this Verdict… ▪ thinking death too great a punishment for ſo ſlender a Guilt, and that the major part of the Aſſize had cleanſed him, if the fear of an Aſſize of Error had not prevailed with them.

The Verdict being reported, Doom was pronounced, decerning and adjudging him and the reſt to be p. 275taken on Saturnday Decemb. 22. to the Mercate Croſs of Edinburgh, and there to be hanged on a Gibbet till they be dead, and that their Goods and Lands be eſcheated and forfeited for his Highneſs's uſe. At the hearing of which ſentence, he cheerfully ſaid, The Lord giveth life, and the Lord taketh, bleſſed be the Name of the Lord. And as he was carried back through the Guards to the Tolbooth, when the People made lamention, he anſwered, Though men cut us off, God will receave us, truſt in God, truſt in God.

Being come to his Chamber, he immediately addreſſed himſelf to God by prayer, with great enlargement of heart for himſelf and his fellow-priſoners condemned with him. Being afterwards asked, how his leg was, which was tortured; he anſwered merrily, "the fear of my Neck now maketh me forget my Leg. Thereafter he ſaid. to another freind, O how good Newes, to be within four dayes journey to enjoy the ſight of Jeſus Chriſt, and proteſted he vvas not ſo cumbered hovv to die, as he had been ſometime to preach a Sermon. To ſome vvomen lamenting for him, he ſaid, that his condition, though he vvas young, and in the budding of his hopes and labours in the Miniſtry, yet vvas not to be mourned for; for, ſaid he, one drop of my blood, through the Grace of God, may make moe hearts contrite, then many years ſermons might have done.

This afternoon he ſupplicat the Council for liberty to his Father to come & viſit him, vvhichwhich being granted, his Father the next night came to him. Their firſt meeting was very ſad; & notwithſtanding, that according both to the teſtimony of his Parents, and knovvledge of all his relations, he vvas a moſt obedient Son; yet theſe inevitable infirmities vvhichwhich are incident to p. 276the beſt of men, and cannot but furnish ſad convictions, when conſidered in the power and pure light of the ſpiritual Law of God, did greatly trouble him in the remembrance of the fifth commandment. The paſſage was thus. After prayer his Father ſaid unto him, Hugo, I called thee a goodly clive-tree of fair fruits, and now a ſtorm hath deſtroyed the tree and his fruits and branches. He anſvvered, that his Fathers too good thoughts of him had afflicted him. His Father ſaid, he was perſwaded, God was viſiting not his own ſin, but his parents ſin upon him, ſo that he might ſay, Our Fathers have ſinned, and we have born their iniquity. He ſaid alſo, I have ſinned, thow poor sheep what haſt thow done. M. Hew anſvvered with many groans, that through coming short of keeping the fifth commandment, he had come short of the promiſe, that his days should be prolonged in the Land of the living, and that Gods controverſy with him, was for overvaluing his children, eſpecially himſelf.

On Thurſday the 20 of December more from the importunity of Friends, then of his own inclination, he gave in to the Privy Council, a Petition, as follows.

That whereas upon Tueſday laſt I was indicted and condemned, for the treaſonable deeds contained in the general and ſpecial Indictment exhibited againſt me; in the which ſpecial Indictment, containing my whole acceſsion to the ſaid Crimes, there is only libelled preſence in ſeveral places, with an ordinary ſword, likeas my own confeſsion, which is the naked truth, doth declare, how the ſame was occaſional; And ſeeing that it was alſo in ſome ſort purged & retracted by my withdrawing p. 277and deſerting with the firſt conveniency, whereby not only my caſe appears to be different from that of others, but alſo as favourable as poſsibly can be, nixt to innocency it ſelf; likeas the ſame appeared no leſs to many of theſe Gentlemen who were upon my Aſſize. And ſeeing the Torture I ſuſtained, and the ingenuity I then uſed, as in the ſight of God, to the utmoſt of my knowledge, deſerve that favour that was at that time inſinuated; And that it is expected that his Majeſty (whoſe mercy I beg) according to his great clemency and the most uſual practice in the like caſes, will interpoſe his mercy, for the reſcue of many, who are equally with me involved. May it therefore pleaſe your Lordships graciouſly to conſider the premiſſes, and to pardon my great rashnes and precipitancy, and therefore to indulge ſuch a reprival at your Lo. shall think convenient, until his Majeſty's gracious pleaſure anent the premiſſes shall be fully known; At leaſt till the Commiſsioner his Grace, do return; And your Lo. anſwer. The words marked in this Petition by a different character, were the amendments of his Friends affection, which they were adviſed to put in, by ſome members of the Privy Council, to whom the copy of it had been preſented immediately before the downſitting of the Councill; and thereupon the Petition being tranſcribed, was in ſo great haſte preſented unto him, to ſubſcribe it, that he got it not read. However the Petition was both diſrelished and refuſed by the Council; The truth is, ſome of his Friends exceeding zealous of his ſafety, had moved to ſeveral p. 278members of the Council, that the Declaration might be tendered to him, and ſome time permitted him to adviſe thereanent; which motion, it's like, was attended with ſome inſinuations, that probably he might be induced to ſubſcribe it; but as the motion was ineffectual without a warrand under his own hand, ſo even the Authors thereof do bear him witneſs of his poſitive, fixed and often declared reſolution, not to ſubſcribe it at the higheſt rate: Likeas, upon ſome ſurmiſes to the contrary, he thought it neceſſary for his own vindication, to leave it under his hand, that the above-mentioned reſolution was from his own proper knowledge and motive, without the aſſiſtance of the leaſt diſſwaſive from any other perſon.

During his abode in Priſon, the Lord was very graciouſly preſent with him, both to ſuſtain him againſt the fear of death, and to diſpel all theſe over-cloudings of terror, unto which the frailty of flesh and blood hath ſometime expoſed the beſt of men; and alſo in aſſiſting him in prayer and praiſes, to the admiration of all his hearers, eſpecially on the Thurſday's night Dec. 20. whereon being ſet at ſupper with his fellow-priſoners and his Father, and one or two beſides, he requeſted his fellow-priſoners, ſaying merrily, eat to the full, and cherish your bodies, that we may all be a fat Chriſtmaſs Pie to the Prelates. After ſupper in thanksgiving he burſt forth in bleſſing God, that had made him ſuch a fool as to come to that priſon; and after many gracious words, continued ſaying, many croſſes have come in our way and wrought but weakly upon us, but here is a croſs that hath done more good then all the many that befell us before. Then lamenting the condition of the Church of God, with much earneſtneſs, he uſed that p. 279exclamation in the laſt of Daniel, What Lord shall be the end of theſe wonders!

The laſt night of his life, being Fryday Decemb. 21. he proponed and anſwered himſelf, ſeveral queſtions, to the ſtrengthening of his fellow-priſoners, and great refreshing of all his hearers. As 1. he inquired; How ſhould he, going from the Tolbooth through a multitude of gazing People and guards of Souldiers, to a Scaffold and Gibbet, overcome the impreſsion of al theſe? To which he anſwered; By conceaving a deeper impreſsion of a multitude of Angels who are alſo on-lookers; According to that, we are a gazing-ſtock to the VVorld, Angels and Men: For the Angels rejoycing at our good confeſsion are preſent to convey and carry our ſouls as the ſoul of Lazarus, unto Abraham's boſom; Not to receave them, for that is Ieſus Christ's work alone, who will welcome them to Heaven Himſelf, with the ſongs of Angels and bleſſed Spirits; But the Angels are ministring Spirits, always ready to ſerve and ſtrengthen all dying believers. 2. As Stephen ſaw the Heavens opened, and Ieſus ſtanding on the right hand of God, VVho then ſaid, Lord Ieſus, receave my Spirit, ſo (ſaid he) do I believe, that Ieſus Christ is alſo ready to receave the ſouls of his dying ſufferers.

2. He enquired, VVhat is the way for us to conceave of Heaven who are haſting unto it, ſeing the Word ſaith, Eye hath not ſeen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him? Whereunto he anſwered, that the Scripture helps us two wayes p. 280to conceave of heaven. The firſt is by way of ſimilitudes, as in that Rev. 21. where heaven is held forth, by the repreſentation of a glorious City, there deſcribed; but in the ſame place it is alſo termed the Bride; but O how unlike are theſe two, a Bride and a City! which doth clearly evidence the inſufficiency and vaſt diſproportion of all ſuch ſimilitudes; and therefore he addeth, the Scripture furnisheth yet a more excellent way to conceave of heaven; and that is 1. by conceiving the love of Chriſt to us, even what is the breadth and length and depth and hight and the immenſeneſs of that love of Chriſt, which paſſeth knowledge, which is alſo the higheſt and ſweeteſt motive of praiſe; unto him, that loved us, and washed us from our ſins in his own blood, and hath made us Kings and Prieſts unto God and His Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen. 2. By holding forth the love of the Saints to Jeſus Chriſt, and teaching of us to love him in ſincerity, which is the very joy and exultation of heaven, Rev. 5.12. Worthy is the Lamb that was ſlain, to receave power, and riches, and wiſdom, and ſtrength, and honor, and glory, and bleſſing. And no other thing then the ſoul breathing forth love to Jeſus Chriſt, can rightly apprehend the joyes of heaven.

The laſt words which he ſpoke at ſupper, were in the commendation of Love above knowledge, ſaying, O but notions of Knowledge without Love, are of ſmall worth, evanishing in nothing, and very dangerous. After ſupper, his father having given thanks, he read the 16 Pſalm, and his firſt words thereafter were, If there were any thing in the World ſadly and unwillingly to be left, it were the reading of the Scriptures. I ſaid I shall not ſee the Lord, even the p. 281Lord, in the land of the living, but this needs not make us ſad; for where we go, the Lamb is the book of Scripture, and the light of that City, and there is life, even the river of the water of life, and living ſprings. To this he added many excellent obſervations, and making mention of the 23 v. of the 31 Pſal. O love the Lord, all ye his ſaints, he added, that where love was, it was ſo operative, that it made flesh, ſpirit; and where it was not, there ſpirit was made flesh: thereafter he ſung a part of the ſame Pſalm.

Supper being ended, he cals ſmilingly for a pen, ſaying, it was to write his Teſtament, wherein he only ordered ſome few books, which he had, to be redelivered to ſeveral perſons.

He went to bed a litle after eleven of the clock, and having ſlept wel till 5 in the morning, he aroſe and called to his Camerade Iohn Wodrow, ſaying pleaſantly, up Iohn; for you are too long in bed; you and I look not like men going this day to be hanged, ſeeing we lye ſo long. Thereafter he ſaid to him in the words of Iſaiah ch. 42. v. 24. Who gave Iacob for a ſpoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord? he againſt whom we have ſinned, for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto His Law, &c. and I think, Iohn, (ſaid he) I have not known it, nor do I lay it to heart, as it is't ſaid in the end of the 25 verſe. But, John (ſaid he) for all this be not affraid, but read the 43. ch. v. 1.2. for all will go well with us. Iohn ſaid to him, you and I will be chambered shortly in heaven, beſide Mr Robertſon. He anſwered, I fear, Iohn, you bar me out, becauſe you was more free before the Council then I was; but I shall be as free as any of p. 282you upon the Scaffold. Before break-faſt. he ſaid, he had got a clear ray of the Majeſty of the Lord after his awaking, but it was a litle again over-clouded. Thereafter he prayed, and atteſted the Lord, that he had devoted himſelf to the ſervice of God in the Miniſtry of the Lord Jeſus, and the edification of ſouls, very early; adding albeit I have not been ſo with my God, yet thow haſt made vvith me an Everlaſting Covenant, ordered in all things and ſure; this is all my deſire, joy and ſalvation, albeit thovv make me not a houſe to grovv. Novv Lord, vve come to thy throne, a place vve have not been accquainted vvith; earthly King's thrones have dvocats againſt poor men, but thy Throne hath Jeſus, an Advocate for us. Our ſupplication this day, is not to be free of death, nor of pain in death, but that vve may vvitneſs before many vvitneſſes, a good confeſſion.

His Father coming to him that morning to bid him …arewel, his laſt words to him were, after prayer and a litle diſcourſe, that his ſuffering vvould do more hurt to the Prelates, and be more edifying to God's people then if he vvere to continue in the Miniſtry, for tvventy years. And then he deſired his Father to leave him, elſe he would but trouble him, & I deſire it of you, ſaid he, As the beſt and laſt ſervice you can do me, to go to your chamber, and pray earneſtly to to the Lord to be vvith me on that Scaffold: for how to carry there is my care, even that I may be ſtrengthened to endure to the end.

About tvvo of the clock in the Afternoon, he vvas carried to the Scaffold vvith other five that ſuffered vvith him; vvhere he appeared to the conviction of all that formerly knevv him, vvith a fairer, better and p. 283more ſtayed countenance then ever they had before obſerved. Being come to the foot of the Ladder, he directed his ſpeech North-vvard to the multitude. And, premiſing, That as his Years in the VVorld had been but fevv, ſo his VVords at that time should not be many. He ſpoke to the People, the ſpeech and Teſtimony vvhichwhich he had before vvritten and ſubſcribed.

Having done ſpeaking to the People, who heard him with great attention, he ſung a part of the 31 Pſal. and then prayed with ſuch povver and fervency, as forced many to vveep bitterly. Having ended he gives his cloak and hat from him; And vvhen he turnned himſelf and took hold of the Ladder to go up, he ſaid vvith an audible voice, I care no more to go up this Ladder and over it, then if I were going home to my Fathers Houſe; And as he went up, hearing a great noiſe amongſt the People, he called dovvn to his fellovv-ſufferers, ſaying, Friends and Fellow-ſufferers, be not affraid, every ſtep of this Ladder is a degree nearer Heaven. Then having ſeated himſelf thereon, he ſaid, I do partly believe, that, the Nobles, Counſellors, and Rulers of the Land, would have uſed ſome mitigation of this puniſhment, had they not been instigated by the Prelates, ſo our blood lyes principally at the Prelats door. But this is my comfort now, that I know my Redeemer liveth, and that he ſhall ſtand at the latter day upon the Earth, and though after my skin, worms destroy this Body, yet in my flesh ſhall I ſee God, vvhom I ſhall ſee for my ſelf, and mine Eyes ſhall behold (pointing to his eyes) and not another, p. 284though my reins be conſumed in me. And novv I do vvillingly lay dovvn my life for the Truth and Cauſe of God, the Covenants and VVork of Reformation, vvhichwhich vvere once counted the Glory of this Nation. And it is for endeavouring to defend this, and to extirpate that bitter root of Prelacy, that I embrace this rope (the Executioner putting the rope about his ncek.) Then hearing the People weep, he ſaid, Your vvork is not to vveep, but to pray that vve may be honourably born through; and bleſsed be the Lord, that ſupports me. Novv as I have been beholden to the prayers and kindneſs of many ſince my impriſonment and ſentence; So I hope you vvill not be vvanting to me novv, in this last ſtep of my journey, that I may vvitneſs a good Confeſsion: And that you may knovv the ground of my encouragement in this VVork, and vvhat my hope is, I vvill read to you the laſt Chapter of the Bible; And having read it, he ſaid, Here you ſee the Glory that is to be revealed upon me, a pure river of vvater of life, and ſo forth (read the place) vvhere the Throne of God is, and the Lamb is in it, vvhere his Servants ſerve Him and ſee His face, and His Name is in their foreheads, and the Lord God giveth them light, and they ſhall reign for ever and ever; and here you ſee my acceſs to my Glory and revvard. Let him that is a thirſt come, and vvhoſoever vvill let him take of the vvater of life freely. And here you ſee alſo my vvelcome, the Spirit and the Bride ſay, Come. Then he ſaid, I have one vvord more to ſay to my Friends, (looking p. 285dovvn to the Scaffold) vvhere are you? You need neither lament me nor be aſhamed of me in this condition, for I may make uſe of that expreſsion of Chriſts, I go to your Father and my Father, to your God and my God, to your King and my King, to the bleſſed Apostles and Martyrs, and to the City of the Living God, the heavenly Ieruſalem, to an innumerable company of Angels, to the General Aſſembly and Church of the First-born, and to God the Iudge of all, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect, and to Ieſus the Mediator of the new Covenant; And ſo I bid you all farevvell: For God vvill be more comfortable to you then I could be; And he vvill alſo novv be more refreshing to me, then you can be: farevvel, farevvel in the Lord. Then the Napkin being put on his face, he prayed a ſpace vvithin himſelf, after vvhichwhich he put up the cloath from his face, vvith his ovvn hand, and ſaid, he had one vvord more to ſay, and that vvas to shevv them the comfort he had in his Death, ſaying, I hope you perceaved no alteration or diſcouragement in my countenance and carriage, and as it may be your vvonder, ſo I profeſs it is a vvonder to my ſelf, and I vvill tell yovv the reaſon of it: Beſides the justneſs of my Cauſe, this is my comfort, vvhichwhich vvas ſaid of Lazarus vvhen he dyed, that the Angels did carry his ſoul into Abraham's Boſom; ſo, that as there is a great ſolemnity here, of a confluence of People, a Scaffold, a Gallovvs, and People looking out at vvindovvs; ſo is there greater & more ſolemn preparation in Heaven, p. 286of Angels to carry my ſoul to Christ's boſom. Again, this is my comfort, that it is to come in Christ's hands, and He vvill preſent it blameleſs and faultleſs to the Father, and then ſhall I be ever vvith the Lord. And novv I leave of to ſpeak any more to creatures, and turn my ſpeech to thee. O Lord! and novv I begin my entercourſe vvith God, vvhichwhich ſhall never be broken off. Farewel Father and Mother, Friends and Relations; Farevvel the VVorld and all Delights, Farevvell meat and drink, Farevvel Sun, Moon and Stars; VVelcome God and Father, VVelcome ſvveet Lord Ieſus, the Mediator of the nevv Covenant, VVelcome bleſſed Spirit of Grace and God of all conſolation, VVelcome Glory, VVelcome Eternal Life, VVelcome Death. Then he deſired the Executioner not to turn him over, untill he should put over his ovvn shoulders himſelf, vvhichwhich, after praying a little vvithin himſelf, he did, ſaying, O Lord! into thy hands I commit my Spirit: for thou hast redeemed my Soul, Lord God of truth. Thus in the 26 Year of his age, he died, as he lived, in the Lord.

FINIS.

p. 287Some Inſtances of the Sufferings of Galloway and Ntthiſdale.

BEcauſe in the former Deduction, mention is made of a Paper containing ſome of the Sufferings of Galloway and Nithiſdale ▪ it is not inconvenient, for more Particular Information, to ſubjoyn a few inſtances out of the ſame Paper.

And firſt, at three ſeveral inroads which the Souldiers have made into that Countrey, in the Years 1663, 1665 and 1666. they exacted from the People there, for adhereing to their old faithful Miniſters, and not ſubmitting to the Miniſtry of thoſe whom the Prelates violently obtruded upon them, the Summes of Money underwritten, viz.

In the Sheriffdom of Nithſdale or Dumfries-Shire.

And although theſe Summs (being Scots-money) may ſeem ſmall to ſtrangers, yet conſidering that they are not leavyed proportionally from all the People, but ſome ſelect perſons within theſe bounds, and that there p. 291are 19 or 20 Parishes of which there is no account at all; and that the great expenſe of free quarter by the ſouldiers, in moſt of the Parishes abovenamed (which would amount to a great ſumm) is not included, and that ſeverall perſons have not as yet payed, but are to pay their Fines and Ceſs; and that ſeverall of the poor people, through fear, at divers times have given bribes in money & other things to Officers & Souldiers, for keeping them free of Ceſs & Quartering (notwithſtanding whereof they were little or nothing the better) and that the Parliament before, arbitrarily and for no alleadged crime, had exacted by their Act of Fining, from 132 Perſons within the ſaid bounds, the ſumm of 77120 Pounds Scots Money; And that the Ceſs (beſids free Quartering) levyed by the Souldiers, according to the Commiſsioner's Order, for alleaged Deficiency in Payment of the ſaid Fines, extended to near as much as the Principal, Conſidering (I ſay) all theſe things, the Summs are very conſiderable, and much greater then could have been expected in ſo little bounds, and in a Countrey ſo poor and mountainous, and leſs fertill then many others in the Land.

But the exacting of money was not all, but in effect a ſmall part of their oppreſſion: for the carriage of the ſouldiers in free quartering was very cruel, barbarous and inhumane, as will appear by theſe general aggravations and particular inſtances.

Ordinarily in Quartering, they did not content themſelves with ſufficiency, but ſet themſelves to conſume and waſte needleſsly; ſometimes throwing whole sheep to their dogs, and ſcattering corn, hay and ſtraw, they and their boyes uſually ſaying, we came to deſtroy, and we shall deſtroy yow.

Ordinarily when they had conſumed the Landlord, p. 292they quartered upon the poor Tennants, and when they had conſumed the Tennants, did fall upon the Land-lords, although they had conformed; as they did upon a Gentleman in Kirkmahoe.

Frequently theſe who conformed from the beginning, and others who conformed of late, did no leſs ſuffer then theſe who conformed not at all; and ſome in ſeverall Parishes, who had given all the obedience which was demanded, ſuffered more then theſe who gave none at all; yea conforming husbands have been Punished by Fine, Ceſs and quartering for their nonconforming wives.

It is alſo to be conſidered, that, beſids all that the Countrey had thus ſuffered, the ſouldiers were again ſent forth through the Countrey, and new Fines, Ceſs & Quarter were impoſed upon the ſame perſons and families who had been fined before; yea, upon ſome it was doubled and tripled, ſo that ſome Yeomens were fined in 500 merks Scots beſids their former fines. All which is the more conſiderable, that, although the Papiſts in that Countrey were very numerous, few of them were troubled, and theſe inconſiderable Perſons, who were only fined in inconſiderable ſumms for the fashion.

And particularly in the Parish of Balmaclelland, a poor widow with ſeveral fatherleſs children, after she had payed at ſeverall times 320 merks, and ſuffered the Ceſs of 3 ſouldiers 17 dayes, coming to the Commander of that Party to complain of ſome wrongs done unto her, in ſtead of acceſs, she is mercileſsly boaſted down ſtairs.

In the ſame Parish an old deaf man, after he had payed 52 rex-dallers, and then given bond for 350 pounds Scots, was ſo toſſed, what by being brought p. 293before the High Commiſſion, and what by rude uſage at home, that he contracted ſickneſs and dyed; and thereafter his poor widow, having payed 120 pounds, was quartered upon many dayes, until she was forced to leave her houſe, and through cold and double grief contracted a deadly ſickneſs.

In the ſame Parish a poor man, having been quartered upon and Payed 120 pounds Scots, was himſelf caſt into priſon, while 8 ſouldiers quartered upon him at home. In the ſame Parish, a Gentleman, who did ordinarly come to Church, was quartered upon by ſix ſouldier, notwithſtanding that himſelf, his Lady and moſt part of his family were ſick.

In the ſame Parish a poor man being quartered upon 38 dayes, and having payed 48 pounds, and given bond for 150 pounds, though as is informed, he hath not ſo much as a free Cow, when he came to complain, he was beaten by the Officer, and returning, was again beaten by the Souldiers. In the ſame Parish, a poor bed-rid man with his ſick wife were neceſſitated to beg, until he gathered three pounds to give for his Fine or Ceſs.

In the ſame Parish a very poor bed-rid creple man was forced to pay 50 merks.

In the ſame Parish a very old honeſt man, who being reckoned paſt 80 years, and unable to work in his trad being a Coupar, and ſcarce having the worth of a groat of free goods, but the Countreyes charity, was forced to pay 20 pounds.

In the Parish of Corſemichall, the ſouldiers being quartered in a houſe, having leſt ſome broth of mutton, did violently thruſt away the hungry children from ſupping thereof, till firſt they ſet their dogs to leap it, and then did bid the children take what the dogs had left.

p. 294In the Parish of Parton, the ſouldiers, horſe and foot, after they had quartered 15 weeks in a Gentleman's houſe, till they had eaten up the Proviſion wherewith he should have maintained his family, having five or ſix ſmall children, they forced his wife and ſervants to the doors, after they had been their ſlaves and ſervants all that time, and then Poſſeſſed themſelves abſolute maſters of his whole houſes, plenishings, cattell and what elſe was his within their reach; and when ſome good neighbours had receaved the little ones for shelter, with great difficulty could they obtain one milk Cow of twelve belonging to their Father, for ſupply of the children. Nota. This Gentleman ſeems to be utterly broken, and hes been ſeverall times impriſoned and miſerably toſſed up and down.

In the Parish of Borg, in a Gentlemans houſe, the ſouldiers did quarter for 15 weeks, till they conſumed the whole proviſion of the Family, which was well furnished with meal and malt and other neceſſaries; they alſo deſtroyed the whole plenishing (except one table which they left in caſe they came again) even to the pulling down of the Partition-wall of the main dwelling houſe, and pulling down of an Office-houſe without the gate: All this deſtruction they committed by giving and ſelling one part within the Countrey, and ſending another part to Glaſgow, and breaking and burning the reſt of it, of purpoſe that it might be uſeleſs for the owner, who was forced to flee before, & betake himſelf to wandering with his brother and their families. And after they had committed all this vaſtation, they alſo fell upon their Tennants, and forced them to bring in malt, sheep, fowls, and other things (for their maintenance) that they pleaſed to call for, and ſo ruined them alſo; And two of his p. 295Tennants they forced to ſcatter their families, having threatened to burn their houſes, beſids all the deſtruction they had done to their Maſter and them before.

In the Parish of Irongray, a poor Tennant having bargained with the Souldiers, to redeem his goods for 36 pounds, when he came to Dumfris, they would hardly take 50 pounds, ſo that he was forced to borrow the over-plus. and being returned home to shear his corns, and expecting no more trouble from them, they came back upon him, and took away his beaſts and all, even to the leading away of his hay. The like was practiſed upon another in the ſame Parish.

And further, ſome Maintenance impoſed in the year 1648, being alleaged unpayed by ſeverall Gentlemen and others within the Sheriffdom of Nithiſdale, letters of horning were raiſed by the Collectors; which letters and executions thereof were ſuſpended, becauſe the ſame was already payed, and yet notwithſtanding, Troopers were ſent to Ceſs and Quarter upon the ſaid perſons, till they should make payment, although the ſuſpenſion was not diſcuſſed; and ſeveral of them, to be releeved of the heavy burthen of the Ceſs & quartering, were conſtrained to make payment thereof, and that by and attour the Ceſs for the ſame, which was far above the ſaid maintenance, in ſo much that a Gentleman who at firſt might have payed for 30 pounds, the Party that went to Ceſs upon him would not aggree to remove for leſs then 200 merks, Yea after an order was procured from the Commiſſioner, for removing the Ceſs for the ſaid Maintenance, a party of 8 or 9 horſmen, with their boyes and horſes, were ſent once and again to quarter upon ſome Gentlemen, p. 296until they were forced to make a new addreſs to the Commiſsioner for removal thereof.

By all which, that Countrey was ſo exhauſted of money, that neither poor nor rich could get it to ſatisfy theſe men's demands, and the poor people were forced to ſell their beaſts in the Merkets below their worth; in ſo much that they were forced to ſell a Cow for two Nobles or two Crowns, the ſouldiers in the mean time ſtanding by to receave the ſame, although the poor men had deſtitute families at home: Yea many families whoſe ſumms are not here reckoned, in probability are totally ruined, and many others ſcattered, and particularly in Lochrutton there are above 16 families broken, in Irongray the moſt part of the families are broken, beſide ſeveral that are already put from houſe-keeping, the ſouldiers having taken away, both there and elſewhere, that which the People should have lived upon; yea ſeveral Gentlemen, formerly in good condition, were put from houſe-keeping, and forced to wander, and be beholden to others for a nights lodging, the ſouldiers having violently poſſeſſed themſelves of their barns, cattel and other goods.

Neither is this all, the wickedneſs, prophanity and blaſphemies of the ſouldiers, are rather to be abhorred and ſuppreſt then thought or ſpoken of, if the notoriety thereof were not univerſall in theſe bounds.

In the Parish of Carſphairn, in an Inn at the Bridge of Deugh, on the Sabbath-day, ſome of them being quartered there, they moſt profanely and atheiſtically mocked at all preaching of the Goſpel, ſaying, let us go preach, and then read their text out of the Cherry and the Slae (an old Scotch Amorous Poem) counterfeiting p. 297a form of divine worship, and as it is informed did ſing an other part of the ſame Poem in ſtead of the Pſalms, and uſed all other mocking modes, as if they had been ſerious at Gods worship.

In the Parish of Irongray, an honeſt man retiring himſelf to the fields for ſecret prayer (not having liberty at home) was followed by the Souldiers, who drew ſwords upon him threatning to kill him, if they heard him praying any more, ſaying, Sir, we have heard yow many times howling, if we hear yow again, &c.

Another time in that ſame Parish, the Maſter of the houſe was exhorting them to leave off their ſwearing and profanity, showing them the danger and hazard they were in of the condemnation of Hell, ſome of the ſouldiours mocking at hell moſt blaſphemouſly anſwered. By my ſoul ere I go to hell, it shall cost God 24 hours pains ere he get me there.

In the Town of Kircudbright, when one Captain Fin an horſeman died, one of his Camerads coming to ſee him, and finding him dead, came near and rudely gripping the dead man, uſed this horrid expreſſion, what, divell art thow dead, man? and did not tell me before, that I might have ſent a letter to hell with thee (to ſuch a camerade of his as he named, who had died lately before) to take up my winter quarters.

In the ſame Town alſo, as is informed, ſome of them conveening at the Croſs, & drinking there healths, one of them perſonating... (Who dare expreſs whom) uſed this blaſphemous expreſſion to his Camerads, Ye are my Angels, and I drink to you all. But we abhorre to mention any more of this ſort: only this is certain, that Atheiſm and Blaſphemy is become ſo ordinary with them, that ſome of themſelves are forced to regret it.

p. 298In the Parish of Carſphairn, ſome of the foot ſouldiers did ſo barbarouſly and cruelly ſtruggle with a man's wife to have forced her (till she was reſcued out of their hands by ſome women) that she for fear parted with child, and keeped her bed half a year, being near unto death, and little hope of recovery.

Alſo in a Gentleman's houſe in the ſame Parish, where they were quartered, they cruelly beat ſome of the ſervants to the effuſion of their blood, for all the good ſervice they had done them,