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CLOUD OF WITNESSES 
 
 {for the 
 ROYAL PREROGATIVES OF JESUS CHRIST: ) 
 
 OR. THE 
 
 LAST SPEECHES AND TESTIMONIES 
 
 OF THOSE WHO 
 
 SUFFERED FOR THE TRUTH I*N SCOTLAND, FROM 1681 to 1683. 
 
 WITH 
 
 AN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. STEWART BATES, D.D., GLASGOA\^; 
 
 AND 
 
 AN APPENDIX, 
 
 CONTAINING THE 
 
 QUEENSFERRY PAPER, TORWOOD EXCOMMUNICATION, &c. 
 
 " These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and 
 made them white in the blood of the Lamb." — Rev. vii. 14. 
 
 A NEW EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED. 
 
 GLASGOW: 
 PUBLISHED BY JOHN KEITH; 
 
 M. OGLE & SON; D. BRYCE. 
 
 EDINBURGH: T. NELSON; C. ZEIGLER. PAISLEY: A. GARDNER. 
 
 STRANRAER: J. M'COID. BELFAST: W. M'COMB. 
 
 MBCCCXLH. 
 
GLASGOW: 
 Printed by Bell and Bain, 15 St. Enoch Square. 
 
CONTEXTS 
 
 Introductory Essay, 
 
 Preface, . . . , 
 
 Burning of the Covenants, 
 
 The Martyrs, . 
 
 Testimony of the Rev. Donald Cargil 
 
 Letter to Mr. James Skeen, 
 
 Letter to some Friends before he went abroad, 
 
 Letter to John Malcom and Archibald Alison, 
 
 Letter to the Prisoners in the Correction-House 
 Testimony of i\Ir. Walter Smith, 
 Testimony of !Mr. James Boig, 
 Testimony of David Hackstoun, of Rathillet 
 
 Proceedings of the Privy Council, 
 
 Letter to N , a Christian Friend, 
 
 Letter to a Lady, . 
 
 Letter to N , a Christian Friend, 
 
 Letter to his Sister, 
 Testimony of Archibald Alison, 
 Testimony of John ]MaIcolm, . 
 Testimony of Mr. James Skeen, 
 
 Letter to Professors in the Shire of Aberdeen 
 
 Two Letters to N , his fellow Prisoner, 
 
 Testimony of Archibald Stewart, 
 
 Testimony of John Potter, 
 
 Testimony and InteiTogations of Isabel Alison, 
 
 Testimony of Marion Harvie, 
 
 Joint Testimony of William Gouger, Christopher Miller, and 
 
 Sangster, ..... 
 Testimony of Laurence Hay, . 
 Testimony of Andrew Pittilloch, 
 Testimony of William Thomson, 
 Testimony of William Cuthil, 
 Testimony of Robert Garnock, 
 Testimony of Patrick Forman, 
 Testimony of David Farrie, . 
 Testimony of James Stewart, 
 Testimony of Robert Gray, 
 Testimony of James Robertson, 
 Testimony of John Finlay, 
 Testimony of William Cochran, 
 Testimony of Andrew Guilline, 
 Testimony of John Cochran, . 
 An Account of John Whitelaw and Arthur Bruce, 
 
 Robert 
 
 PAGE 
 V 
 
 1 
 
 2.9 
 
 31 
 
 33 
 
 38 
 
 40 
 
 41 
 
 44 
 
 .51 
 
 57 
 
 59 
 
 61 
 
 62 
 
 70 
 
 74 
 
 75 
 
 75 
 
 82 
 
 93 
 
 97 
 
 101 
 
 108 
 
 113 
 
 123 
 
 134 
 
 144 
 157 
 163 
 169 
 174 
 183 
 189 
 196 
 203 
 211 
 222 
 240 
 248 
 253 
 255 
 257 
 
17 
 
 CONTEXTS. 
 
 Letter from John Wharry, . * . . 
 
 Letter from James Smith, .... 
 Testimony and Interrogations of John Nisbet, younger, 
 Testimony of John Wilson, .... 
 Testimony of George Martin, .... 
 An Account of John Gilry, .... 
 Testimony of John Main, .... 
 An Account of John Richmond, Archibald Stewart, James ^Vinn 
 ing, and James Johnston, .... 
 
 Letter from Archibald Stewart, . 
 Testimony of Captain John Paton, . 
 Testimony of James Nisbet, .... 
 Testimony of Arthur Taket, .... 
 Testimony of Thomas Robertson, 
 Testimony of James Nicol, .... 
 Joint Testimony of Thomas Harkness, Andrew Clark, and Samuel 
 M'Euen, ...... 
 
 Letter from Samuel M'Euen, 
 Joint Testimony of James Lawson, and Alexander Wood, 
 Interrogations of George Jackson, 
 
 An Account of William Keagow, John Semple, and John Watt, 
 Letter from John Semple, .... 
 Testimony of James Graham, .... 
 
 Testimony of Robert Pollock, ... 
 
 Testimony of Robert j\Iillar, .... 
 An Account of Margaret Lauchlane, and Margaret Wilson 
 Testimony of Thomas Stoddart, 
 An Account of Matthew Bryce and James Wilkie, . 
 Testimony of Edward Marshal, 
 Testimony of John Nisbet, of Hardhill, 
 Testimony of the Rev. James Renwick, 
 Appendix: — 
 
 A short Account of the Rev. Richard Cameron, 
 
 An Account of some Remarkable Passages in the Life of the 
 Rev. Donald Cargil, .... 
 
 Torwood Excommunication, 
 
 An Account of Henry Hall, of Haughhead, 
 
 The Queensfery Paper, .... 
 
 List of the Banished, .... 
 
 An Account of those Killed in the Open Fields, without trial. 
 
 An Account of what happened in the House of James Paton, 
 
 A short Account of the Oppressive Exactions, . 
 
 Inscriptions upon the Tombs of the Martyrs, . 
 
 Recent Erections in Memory of the Martyrs, . 
 
 Cameronian Dream, ...... 
 
I N T R D 17 e^T (J^¥r-B<S^^A Y' 
 
 There is a remarkable fulness of instruction and comfort 
 treasured up in these few words of the Psalmist; "precious 
 in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." In the 
 great majority of instances, there is nothing to attract 
 attention, or awaken interest, among men in the departure 
 of a redeemed soul. Death is an event of everj-day occur- 
 rence. In ordinary cases, the attention which it excites is 
 confined to a narrow circle, and the impressions which it 
 makes on the minds of survivors are faint and evanescent. 
 The possession of rank or wealth may shed a lustre around 
 the great man's dying bed, and the gorgeous parade of his 
 funeral may constitute one of the public exhibitions, by 
 which an unthinking multitude are gratified and amused. 
 But the interest of the spectacle pertains wholly to "the 
 fashion of this world " which '' passeth away'' The vast 
 importance of the change that takes place, when an immor- 
 tal spirit forsakes its earthly tabernacle, is feebly conceived 
 even by those who are accustomed to reflection ; and by the 
 most of those who join in the funeral procession it is, appar- 
 ently, not once thought of, or remembered. The world has 
 no balances in which the things of eternity can be weighed. 
 But He who formed the spirit of man within him, and 
 endowed it with its high capacity either for happiness or 
 misery, has a full comprehension of the change involved in 
 every instance of mortality. He alone forms an adequate 
 estimate of it in all its circumstances, and in its remote 
 consequences. He perceives how it will aifect those who 
 
 a 2 
 
Vl INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 stand in closest relation to the deceased, — how it will influ- 
 ence their character, their course of life, or even their 
 eternal destiny. He also comprehends fully how it will 
 affect the church and the community at large. And while 
 the event is ordered in perfect harmony with what is best 
 in respect to all these relations, the most solid ground of 
 assurance is furnished to every true Christian, that it will 
 be ordered mercifully in regard to himself. 
 
 In the circumstances attending the death of individual 
 believers, there may be much that affords a trying exercise 
 to faith. One is summoned away in the morning of life, 
 when his superior worth has only been ascertained, and 
 when he has just embarked auspiciously in some useful 
 business, or important work of benevolence. Another is 
 removed from the head of a family, at a period when his 
 pious care, and chi-istian example, seemed to be most ur- 
 gently required, and when, to human view, the loss sustained 
 by his removal, cannot possibly be repaired. A third, who, 
 by a rare combination of sanctified talents and acquirements, 
 seemed an host of strength, either for the maintenance of 
 dishonoured truth, or for the propagation of the gospel, is 
 suddenly caught up into paradise, like the holy Martyn, or 
 the apostolical Williams, and that, perhaps, at a time when 
 no one can discover an Elisha worthy to take up the mantle 
 of the departed Elijah. 
 
 But to all the dark surmises, and ungenerous complaints, 
 which Christians themselves are prone to indulge on such 
 occasions, the inspired penman has furnished a decisive and 
 satisfactory answer, in the words already quoted, — " precious 
 in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." " Is the 
 Lord's hand shortened that it cannot save, or his ear heavy 
 that it cannot hear ? " Shall He, who will not suffer the 
 " little ones " of his family to be despised, (Matt, xviii. 6, 
 10.) — who not only allows them a guard of angels for their 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. Vll 
 
 protection, (Ps. xci. 12.) but Himself keeps them as the 
 apple of his eye, (Zech. ii. 8,) — who takes account of all 
 their wanderings, putting their tears into his bottle, and 
 recording them in his book, (Ps. Ivi. 8.) — shall He remit 
 his care of them in the most trying hour of their existence, 
 or suffer any unfriendly power to regulate the time or the 
 circumstances of this momentous change ? Assuredly not. 
 Until the period has come that Infinite Wisdom has chosen 
 for their removal, they shall be kept as in an impregnable 
 fortress ; a thousand may fall at their side, and ten thousand 
 at their right hand ; not an hair of their head shall perish. 
 (Luke xxi. 18.) And even those circumstances of peculiar 
 trial which sometimes attend their removal, and which men 
 describe as mysterious, and melancholy, wiU be found, in the 
 revelations of eternity, to have been fruits of the same sur- 
 passing love which engaged the Almighty Saviour to redeem 
 them, by His own precious blood. 
 
 It is obvious that these remarks may be applied with 
 peculiar emphasis to those who lay down their lives in 
 defence of the truth. Of all the sacrifices that men can 
 make in the service of God, the voluntary and cheerful 
 surrender of life is the highest. The love borne by the 
 disciples to their Lord may admit of being distinguished by 
 many degrees of intensity, but above this it never can rise. 
 " Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down 
 his life for his friends." The opinion that certain illustrious 
 saints were prepared to sacrifice their eternal hopes for the 
 benefit of their fellow-men, has arisen, we conceive, from a 
 misconception of one or two passages of Scripture, and is 
 alike irreconcileable with reason, and the general scope of 
 the Word. Peter judged rightly concerning the highest 
 test of affection, although he miscalculated his own strength 
 when he said, " I will lay down my life for thy sake." In a 
 more humble and gracious frame of mind, the apostle to the 
 
Vlll INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 Gentiles gives utterance to the same sentiment, when 
 speaking of complicated trials which he had in prospect ; — 
 " but none of these things move me, neither count I mj life 
 dear unto myself, so that I may finish my course with joy, 
 and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, 
 to testify the gospel of the grace of God." 
 
 How much importance the Lord attaches to the suffer- 
 ings of the martyrs, and what a profound and tender interest 
 he takes in their death, might be made evident from many 
 portions of Scripture. Two examples may suffice at present 
 for illustration; the one belonging to the first age of the 
 world, the other to the first age of the Christian dispen- 
 sation. 
 
 The first blood of martyrdom with which the earth was 
 moistened was that of Abel, shed by the hand of an envious 
 brother. The cry of that blood brought down the Sovereign 
 Judge of all to establish his judgment-seat on the earth. 
 The murderer was summoned into his presence, and con- 
 victed of the horrible crime, which he probably had hoped to 
 conceal. And although the full penalty he had incurred was 
 not immediately executed, an indelible* brand of infamy was 
 set upon him, and a sentence pronounced which extorted 
 from the stubborn malefactor the bitter complaint, — "my 
 punishment is greater than I can bear." It was a case not 
 merely of murder, but of fratricide ; and not only of fratri- 
 cide but of persecution. It was the holy image of God in 
 Abel that aroused the fury of his unconverted brother. 
 The fearful sentence which fell so heavily on himself, and 
 the consequences of which reached to his posterity, stands 
 registered, as it were, in the title page of the Bible, that the 
 ungodly may learn to bridle their rage against the saints, or 
 otherwise, that they may be left without excuse. 
 
 In alluding to the death of Abel, we cannot fail to be 
 reminded of a great principle of the Divine administration, 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. IX 
 
 announced by the Saviour, in an address to the Jews, (Matt. 
 23d chap.) The whole address is of a most solemn charac- 
 ter, and displays the majesty of the Sovereign Judge of the 
 world : — " Behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, 
 and scribes, and some of them ye shall kill and crucify, and 
 some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and per- 
 secute them from city to city : that upon you may come all 
 the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of 
 righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, the son of Bara- 
 chias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar: 
 Verily I say unto you, all these things shall come upon this 
 generation." (Verses 34 — 36.) From this passage it seems 
 obvious, that the guilt of persecution descends to posterity ; 
 not, indeed, to the lineal posterity by natural descent, but 
 to those who become heirs of preceding persecutors, by 
 adopting their principles, and reacting their enormous 
 crimes ; — that while God visits the common iniquities of men 
 upon their children, to the third and fourth generations, the 
 atrocious guilt of shedding the blood of the saints, descends, 
 hy entail, through all generations of persecutors ; — that every 
 fresh outrage that is committed, and every fresh stream of 
 martyr's blood that waters the earth, sends up before the 
 throne of God a new cry for vengeance, — a new memorial 
 in behalf of all the righteous blood shed from the creation 
 of the world. 
 
 The same idea is also implied in that memorable pas- 
 sage in the 6th chapter of the Revelations : — " I saw under 
 the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of 
 God, and for the testimony which they held : and they cried 
 with a loud voice, saying, How long, Lord, holy and true, 
 dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that 
 dwell on the earth ? and it was said unto them that they 
 should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow-servants 
 also, and their brethren, that should be killed as they were* 
 
X INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 should be fulfilled." There is a time of the Lord's for- 
 bearance even toward persecutors ; but there is also a set 
 time for judgment, when the earth shall disclose her blood, 
 and no longer cover her slain. And then by terrible things, 
 in righteousness, will the Lord give an answer to his 
 people's prayer; and the punishment, when inflicted, will 
 at once serve to demonstrate the enormous guilt of perse- 
 cution, and the profound and tender interest which the 
 Redeemer takes in the sufferings of his saints. 
 
 The second example we had in view, was that of the proto- 
 martyr, Stephen. In his character we see beautifully com- 
 bined the most undaunted courage in testifying against sin, 
 with the mild spirit of christian meekness and forgiveness. 
 The distinguishing characteristics of the quarrel between 
 the seed of the serpent, and the seed of the woman, stand 
 out very prominently in this case of martyrdom. There 
 was no shadow of pretence for the violence with which 
 Stephen was assailed, excepting his faithfulness in declar- 
 ing the truth. It was the pre-eminent lustre of his charac- 
 ter that exasperated his enemies. Yet it has rarely hap- 
 pened, that any criminal, however atrocious his offences, has 
 been regarded with such intense hatred, or overwhelmed 
 with such odium, as were displayed toward him. It is said 
 that " they gnashed on him with their teeth ; " and stopping 
 their ears lest they should hear any thing further of his 
 address, and giving vent to their rage in loud vociferation, 
 " they ran upon him with one accord." 
 
 But the suffering martyr was not forgotten by the ex- 
 alted Redeemer, in whose cause he so willingly laid down 
 his life ; — " He being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up 
 steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus 
 standing on the right hand of God." The dying saint is 
 filled with the joys of Paradise ere yet his spirit has for- 
 saken its earthly tabernacle : he sees his Redeemer prepared 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XI 
 
 to welcome him, and, like his Divine Master, he expends his 
 last energies in a prayer for his murderers : " Lord, lay not 
 this sin to their charge ; and when he had said this, he 
 fell asleep." 
 
 It has been the practice of the men of the world, in all 
 ages, to accuse the people of God, of hypocrisy. The charge 
 has been often malicious, as well as unjust; yet it is pro- 
 bable, it has often been in accordance with the belief of 
 those by whom it has been preferred. The carnal mind can- 
 not realize spiritual things. It knoweth not God ; (John xvii. 
 25.) nor the people of God. (1 John iii. 1.) The Spirit 
 that worketh in the children of disobedience has filled them 
 with the persuasion that spiritual religion is delusion, or a 
 system of disguised selfishness. Hence, it is concluded, that 
 when religion can be made subservient to the present well- 
 being of men, they will naturally hold it fast; but that when 
 it places any important earthly interest at hazard, we may 
 calculate, with certainty, that a religious profession will be 
 renounced. And here we discover one great object that is 
 secured by the permission of persecution. It repels and de- 
 stroys this charge of hypocrisy. The voluntary sufferings of 
 God's people in the defence or maintenance of the truth, fur- 
 nish a testimony to the reality and power of religion, by 
 which the reproach of hypocrisy must either be silenced, or 
 confuted. This point is strikingly illustrated in that beauti- 
 ful sketch of ancient biography contained in the book of Job. 
 The arch-fiend, who derives his name from his slanderous 
 accusations against the people of God, undertakes to fasten 
 this odious charge of hypocrisy upon the man of Uz : " Doth 
 Job fear God for nought ? his substance is increased in the 
 land; but put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he 
 hath, and heicill curse thee to thy face'' The trial is made ; 
 and Satan is permitted to conduct the experiment, that there 
 may be no pretence for future cavil. The issue was to de- 
 
Xll INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 monstrate Job's sincerity, and to cover his accuser with 
 deeper disgrace. Still the adversary adheres to his charge ; 
 Job's hypocrisy may be made apparent ; only it must be ad- 
 mitted, that sharper measures are required to force him to 
 unmask. " Skin for skin," rejoins the impudent slanderer, 
 " yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life : but put 
 forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and 
 he will curse thee to thy face." A second time the mal- 
 evolent fiend is suffered to conduct his own experiment. The 
 life of Job is not yielded to his will; but, short of death, he 
 may exert his power to torture and distress him. And what 
 was the result of the fiery trial that followed ? The saint 
 came out of the furnace more illustrious than ever; his faith 
 strengthened; his patience matured; his humility deepened; 
 his veneration, and love, and gratitude to his God, and 
 Redeemer, mightily augmented. Now this experiment has 
 been repeated by the children of the wicked one ten thousand 
 times, and with similar results. Persecution has served to 
 distinguish between profession and principle, between the 
 form of godliness and the power of it. The men of the 
 world have laboured to justify themselves for discarding re- 
 ligion, by fixing the stigma of hypocrisy on the saints ; but 
 their efforts have only served to furnish a stronger confirma- 
 tion of the truth which they resisted, and to give a brighter 
 illustration of that internal piety, which they affected to 
 ridicule as enthusiasm. 
 
 The enemies of religion have, indeed, laboured to depre- 
 ciate the testimony, which has been furnished to the truth of 
 Christianity in the sufferings of the saints. " The calm 
 fortitude of the humble and zealous Christian has been de- 
 graded, by a comparison with the gloomy endurance of the 
 barbarian, who bears torture without complaint. But the 
 intelligent and candid infidel " (if there can be such a charac- 
 ter,) " must admit, that voluntary martyrdom for any cause. 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. Xlll 
 
 is an evidence of personal resolution and sincerity — the 
 highest that man can give. And it is easy to show that the 
 disciple, who willingly carries the cross, for which he is mis- 
 represented and maligned by his contemporaries, rises far 
 superior in heroism to the patriot soldier, who, encouraged 
 by the honours of a military life, and cheered by the voice 
 of applause loudly raised by his country, exposes himself to 
 danger and to death." 
 
 " It is not insensibility to dishonour, to pain, or to death, 
 that Christianity inculcates. It is not a false confidence in 
 rashly rushing into danger, or passionately provoking trouble, 
 that it cherishes and recommends. Good men are, by the 
 power of corruption, made weary of life, like Job and Jeremiah ; 
 profane men, like Judas Iscariot, may deem it an intolerable 
 burden. Presumption, petulance, and passion, may expose 
 to unnecessary and unprofitable opposition and suffering. 
 Pride, malevolence, and obstinacy, as well as mere rigidity 
 of muscle and of nerve, may give the appearance of manly 
 fortitude under adversity. But it is not the insensibility of 
 the Stoic ; it is not the obstinacy of animal intrepidity ; it is 
 not the enthusiasm of despair, nor the delusion of a false 
 hope, that enters into the character of the Christian's volun- 
 tary sufferings. It is the work of God's Spirit, convincing 
 him of the goodness of his cause ; showing him that God's 
 glory demands the sacrifice; and assuring him of a great 
 reward in heaven. It is grace that makes the Christian 
 hero. High stands the throne and brilliant is the crown of 
 martyrdom. Let me draw aside the curtain, and reveal to 
 my hearers the multitude before the throne. Hear that 
 shout of victory ! ' Who are these that are arrayed in white 
 robes, and whence come they ? These are they which came 
 out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and 
 made them white in the blood of the Lamb.' "* 
 
 * Dr. M'Leod on true godliness. — Sermon 3d. 
 b 
 
Xir INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 The history of the seed of Jacob in the land of Egypt, 
 may furnish an instructive emblem of the great contest that 
 has been carried on between the friends of truth, and an un- 
 godly world, during a succession of ages. The character of 
 Pharaoh, drawn by the pencil of inspiration, is a fair speci- 
 men of the persecuting powers of all times, and nations. 
 The children of Israel, enslaved and trampled under foot, 
 mocked and insulted, and wholly without power to deliver 
 themselves, may prefigure the church of God, during the 
 domination of the four great empires described in the pro- 
 phecy of Daniel. Moses and Aaron may represent the com- 
 paratively small company of faithful witnesses, who from 
 their superior intelligence, and public spirit, and zeal for the 
 divine glory, have been qualified to contend openly for the 
 claims of the Most High, and of his Son Jesus Christ, in the 
 face of danger, and at the hazard of their lives. 
 
 When the ruler of Egypt was first required, in the name 
 of Jehovah, to release the Israelites, he repeUed the demand 
 with a haughty sternness which persecutors have often imi- 
 tated, but which they have rarely surpassed ; " Who is the 
 Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel go ? I know 
 not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go." By a succession 
 of painful lessons, however, he becomes convinced that the 
 God of the Hebrews is not to be slighted, and he is now dis- 
 posed to grant a little indulgence. " Go ye," said he to 
 Moses, " sacrifice to your God in the land." He had before 
 denounced the proposal of sacrificing to the Lord as an idle 
 pretence, to withdraw the people from their burdens ; and 
 at one and the same time, their tasks are doubled, and the 
 straw, so indispensable to the performance of them, is with- 
 held. Noiv he makes offer of a small concession ; the people 
 may have a little time, and the Lord a little honour. Both, 
 however, must be content with the pittance which Egypt's 
 haughty monarch is pleased to grant. " Go ye, sacrifice to 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XV 
 
 your God in the land." But this proposal is at once rejected, 
 and further judgments are executed. Pharaoh becomes, 
 apparently, more enlightened and liberal, and offers a fresh 
 proposal. *' Go ye that are men and serve the Lord:'' but 
 as for their families and their property, these must remain 
 as a guarantee that the men would return to their bondage. 
 Again the hand of the Lord is lifted up, to redress the 
 wrongs of his people, and to vindicate his own sovereignty. 
 The hail, and the locusts, and the three days of pitchy dark- 
 ness, follow each other in succession. Then Pharaoh comes 
 with his ultimatum — a proposal so liberal, in his own estima- 
 tion, that the refusal of it, by Moses, threw him into a par- 
 oxysm of rage: " Go ye," says he, " and serve the Lord: let 
 your little ones also go with you: only let your flocks and 
 your herds be stayed." Must then, this ruthless tyrant, this 
 proud despiser of the ^lost High, be permitted, after all, to 
 dictate the terms on which he shall carry on a mitigated 
 oppression ? Then the loss of honour to the God of Jacob 
 would have been infinitely greater than the loss of property 
 to Jacob's posterity. But it was no part of Moses' commis- 
 sion to accede to such terms. His reply was not unbefitting 
 an ambassador of the great king ; " Our cattle also shall go 
 with us : there shall not an hoof be left behind." Oh I noble 
 example of undaunted courage — of unflinching fidelity. The 
 witnesses for God can well bear to be oppressed and mal- 
 treated themselves; they can take joyfully the spoiling ot 
 their goods ; they can look pale death in the face without 
 shrinking, and surrender their bodies to the flames ; but one 
 jot or tittle of what has been committed in trust to them by 
 their Divine Lord, involving the honour of his authority, 
 his truth, or his law, they can by no means compromise of 
 surrender. " There shall not an hoof be left behind." Nor 
 was this a vain boast of Closes. The Israelites did speedily 
 go forth in triumph, not only bearing their property with 
 
XVI rUTRODUCTORT ESSAY. 
 
 them, but laden with the spoils of the Egyptians, — a tardy, 
 but equitable, remuneration for their unrequited and exces- 
 sive toils. And how often has the record of this deliverance 
 sustained the faith of God's people in the most trying times, 
 even as it has furnished to the church the theme of some of 
 the noblest of her inspired songs. " For God is my king of 
 old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou break- 
 est the heads of Leviathian in pieces, and gavest him to be 
 meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.'' 
 
 It is important and interesting to observe, that in the 
 grand struggle between the seed of the woman and the seed 
 of the serpent, during successive ages, there has been a 
 steady progress made, not dissimilar to that which we have 
 just traced. The witnesses have not been compelled to 
 struggle and to bleed perpetually for the same truths, or the 
 same class of truths. This would have been exceedingly 
 discouraging. A careful attention to the matter will show, 
 that the world has been making one great concession after 
 another ; that the immense host of the enemies of the truth 
 have been continually retreating, while the smaU band that 
 bears the banner displayed in behalf of the truth, has been 
 steadily advancing. In ordinary warfare, the army that 
 has spread carnage and death among the ranks of its op- 
 ponents, usually presses onward in the career of victory, and 
 seizes on the cities, or the territory of the slain. But in 
 the warfare between Christ's witnesses and an ungodly 
 world, the ultimate issue has usually been the reverse of 
 this. The seeming conquerors have been obliged to abandon 
 the field on which they have slaughtered their opponents. 
 As the Lord Jesus vanquished by dying, so do his followers. 
 Nor do we here refer to the victory gained by the martyr, 
 when his immortal spirit passes to glory, but rather to those 
 victories which the successive companies of martyrs have 
 achieved for the cause of the Redeemer on earth, in estab- 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XYU 
 
 lisliing one triitli after another, if not in its rightful ascen- 
 dency over the hearty yet at least in the conscience and 
 avowed belief of men. We may briefly glance at the line of 
 illustration by which our position may be demonstrated. 
 
 For several ages, the chief, and almost exclusive ground 
 of persecution was, the acknowledgment of Jehovah, as the 
 ONE TRUE AND ETERNAL GoD, and the testimony delivered by 
 the saints against idolatry. The powers with whom the 
 church had to contend either refused to acknowledge the 
 true God, or to confess his exclusive right to worship and 
 adoration. 
 
 The citadel of truth was assaulted, when persecution was 
 carried on in favour of idolatry, and against the worship of 
 the true God. Had this point been carried by the enemy, 
 all was lost. The very essence and being of religion would 
 have been destroyed. But the power and faithfulness of 
 Zion's almighty King were pledged to prevent such a result. 
 It was on this head the war was carried on for ages under 
 the Jewish dispensation. Degenerate princes among the 
 Jews themselves, and impious heathen rulers, who subse- 
 quently acquired dominion over them, employed their ut- 
 most efforts to abolish the worship of Jehovah, and to make 
 the practice of idolatry universal. The pagan Roman 
 emperors took up the same enterprize, and exerted their 
 energies for the accomplishment of it, for more than two 
 hundred years. But although rivers of blood were shed for 
 effecting this design, it proved abortive. The banners dis- 
 played on the towers of Zion for this primary, fundamental 
 truth, were never once taken down ; and ever since the time 
 that Christianity triumphed over paganism, in the end of 
 the third century, the servants of God have not been ex- 
 posed to any extensive or general persecution on this ground. 
 It is striking to observe, that even in heathen countries, to 
 which the missionaries of the cross have been proceeding 
 
 62 
 
XVIU INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 for half a century, there has been comparatively little per- 
 secution. This point seems to be conceded. The intelli- 
 gence, and talent, and public opinion of the world, are now 
 ready to confess, that there is but One God, the invisible 
 and eternal King, and that the idols of the nations are vanity. 
 This is like Pharaoh's first concession: — " Go and sacrifice 
 to your God in the land." 
 
 The ixcarnation of Christ, and the publication of his 
 CLAIMS by the inspired apostles, proved the occasion of new 
 controversy. In this the disciples recognized the accom- 
 plishment of ancient prophecy. When threatened by the 
 council, "they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, 
 and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven and 
 earth, and the sea, and all that in them is ; who by the 
 mouth of thy servant David has said, Why did the heathen 
 rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the 
 earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against 
 the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against 
 thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod 
 and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of 
 Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy 
 hand and thy counsel determined before to be done." (Acts 
 iv. 24 — 28.) For a time, the contest concerning the claims 
 of Jesus lay chiefly between the primitive church and the 
 Jewish people. The Gentiles, not having yet recognized 
 divine revelation, denied both the Father and the Son. The 
 Jews, on the other hand, while professing faith in the Old 
 Testament, verified its predictions by rejecting their King, 
 and, to the utmost extent of their power, raised persecution 
 against the christian church. But the illustrious Rider on 
 the white horse had gone forth, " conquering and to con- 
 quer ; " and the same triumphs of the gospel which extorted 
 from the nations the confession that there is but One God, 
 drew forth the farther acknowledgment, that Jesus is the 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XIX 
 
 Son of God, and the Saviour of the world. This was a 
 second grand concession ; and these two momentous truths 
 have been extensively acknowledged throughout the nations 
 ever since. 
 
 The RISE and progress of the antichristian system, as 
 it introduced a torrent of error and corruption, brought a 
 new class of scripture doctrines into controversy. The su- 
 preme divinity and official character of the Saviour were 
 generally acknowledged ; but the all-sufficiency of his atone- 
 ment and righteousness, the efficacy of faith in his blood to 
 make the sinner's peace with God, and purge the conscience 
 from sin, and Christ's exclusive supremacy as Lord and 
 Lawgiver in his church, were practically denied, while an 
 impious and arrogant usurper of his titles and prerogatives 
 was advanced to the throne, in tlie person of the Roman 
 Pontiff. For a long series of ages, the followers of the Lamb 
 have been compelled to testify against the monstrous pre- 
 tensions of the Pope and his clergy, and the soul- destroying 
 dogmas of the Romish superstition. Of the sufferings that 
 have been endured, and of the multitudes that have fallen 
 in this fearful controversy, no adequate account can ever be 
 given, until the books of God's remembrance shall be opened 
 at the last day. It would be rash and presumptuous, we 
 fear, to pronounce that the victory, in this contest, is as yet 
 finally achieved, and that the world is now so far convinced 
 of the falsehood and impiety of the popish system, that it 
 would not tolerate any extensive or violent persecution in 
 its defence. On this point we may have occasion to offer 
 some remarks in the sequel. But it is important to observe, 
 that, for a long time past, popery has not been in a capacity 
 to carry on persecution, on any considerable scale ; and that 
 in those nations whose influence is most powerfully felt 
 throughout the world, at the present day, the persecutions 
 formerly perpetrated in the propagation or defence of popery. 
 
XX INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 would be generally and strongly condemned by the public 
 voice. It thus seems demonstrable, that in this cause also 
 great progress has been already made. The aspects of the 
 moral world coincide with the sure word of prophecy in de- 
 claring, that whatever scenes of violence may yet be enacted, 
 before this system can be finally destroyed, the period is 
 drawing fast on, when this field also, so often saturated and 
 deluged with the blood of the martyrs, shall be yielded up 
 and abandoned by the enemies of the gospel. 
 
 The doctrine which we have been endeavouring to estab" 
 lish receives confirmation from the fact, that in certain por- 
 tions of the territory, within the limits of the latin earth, 
 the grounds of persecution have been already materially 
 changed. The adversaries of the church cannot, indeed, lay 
 aside their hostility towards her, any more than Pharaoh 
 could consent to do justice towards the Hebrews. Yet, like 
 that monarch, they are sometimes constrained to confess 
 that former courses of violence were indefensible and unjust. 
 " I have sinned," said he, " against the Lord your God, and 
 against you." So was it virtually acknowledged by the 
 persecutors in the British Isles. They condemned the con- 
 duct of their predecessors. " They built the tombs of the 
 prophets y and garnished the sepulchres of the righteous, say- 
 ing, if we had been in the days of cur fathers, we would not 
 have been partakers ivith them in the blood of the prophets.'^ 
 " We would not punish men for renouncing idolatry, and 
 rendering their worship to the only true God. We would not 
 punish men for acknowledging the Saviour, as the eternal 
 Son of God, and the glorious Mediator between God and 
 man. No more would we punish men for protesting against 
 transubstantiation, and the worship of angels, saints, and 
 images; or for denouncing the impious claims of infalli- 
 bility, universal supremacy, and dominion over the kings of 
 the earth, advanced by the bishop of Rome." In regard to 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXI 
 
 these matters they were ready to confess, that the outrages 
 committed on the people of God had been persecution. 
 Although their own emnity against true religion was not 
 less rancorous, and their deeds of cruelty scarcely less 
 atrocious, than those of any class of persecutors who pre- 
 ceded them, still they were compelled to abandon the ground 
 of their predecessors, and take up a position more remote 
 from the citadel of truth. 
 
 The province assigned to the witnesses in Britain, since the 
 Reformation, was to contend for truths that were disowned and 
 rejected by a commumtj professing the Protestant religion. 
 The old Serpent, the father of error and persecution, while 
 he was deluging the fields of France and the caverns of the 
 Inquisition with the blood of the saints, avowedly shed for 
 the honour and the interests of the Romish Church, could 
 not carry on persecution in Britain but under the garb of 
 Protestantism. It has been often alleged, out of compli- 
 ment, it is presumed, to modern Prelacy, that the persecu- 
 tion in Britain during the reign of the Stuarts, was, after 
 all, Vi popish persecution. So say Episcopalians themselves; 
 and trimming and courtly Presbyterians re-echo the asser- 
 tion. But the compliment has no foundation in truth. The 
 work of persecution was carried on in Britain, with greater 
 or less violence, for more than one hundred years, during 
 which the administration was entirely under the control of 
 Protestant rulers. Even James, the Popish king, whose 
 reign did not extend to four years, carried on persecution on 
 Erastian and Prelatic, and not on Popish grounds. He 
 enforced the laws that were enacted under the reign of his 
 predecessor. No man suffered death under his reign for 
 refusing to renounce his Protestantism, or for disowning the 
 supremacy of the Pope. He found to his sorrowful experi- 
 ence that the monarchy did not possess the power to perse- 
 cute, without the concurrence of the aristocracy, and the 
 
XXll INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 Prelatic clergy. For no sooner did he begin to transfer the 
 places of honour and emolument at his disposal to his own 
 creatures of the Romish persuasion, and to excite the fears 
 of the Episcopal clergy in regard to their lordly revenues, 
 than these two classes made a successful effort to hurl the 
 tyrant from his throne. But what effort did they ever make to 
 spread the shield of their protection over the suffering Puri- 
 tans and Covenanters, who had been harassed and oppressed, 
 and multitudes of them led as sheep to the slaughter, during 
 a period of eight and twenty years ? The aristocracy and 
 the prelatic clergy were themselves the persecutors, and 
 shared among them the spoils of the murdered saints. It 
 is impossible to say how much longer the persecution might 
 have continued, had not the infatuated policy of James, and 
 the disclosure of his design to restore these lands to the ser- 
 vitude of Rome, occasioned a powerful re-action, and roused 
 the nation to demand that they should be governed on more 
 liberal principles. Thus, the accession of a Popish bigot to 
 the throne — in itself a great calamity to the nation — seems 
 to have been an important link in the chain of Providences, 
 which led to the deliverance of these lands from tyranny 
 and persecution. 
 
 In many leading points, the testimony of the witnesses in 
 England and in Scotland, during the reign of the Stuarts, 
 may be regarded as identical. 
 
 In both parts of the kingdom, they felt constrained to re- 
 sist, and testify against, the impious usurpation of a royal 
 supremacy over the church, which was exercised by the civil 
 rulers, and connived at by the body of the people. They 
 had to contend against an ambitious and unscriptural hier- 
 archy, whose members were at once the most obsequious 
 tools of a despotic government, and the most bitter enemies 
 of popular rights, whether civil or ecclesiastical. They had 
 to contend against the unhallowed interference of both the 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXIU 
 
 government and the hierarchy, with the scriptural order and 
 purity of the church. And as the same powers that usurped 
 a most intolerable dominion over the faith and the consciences 
 of men, were not less tenacious of an absolute and unlimited 
 sway in civil matters, it was often necessary that the hero- 
 ism of the patriot should be combined with the devotedness 
 of the christian confessor. The hirelings and flatterers of 
 the existing rulers, reproached the witnesses as unreasonable 
 in their demands — as factious and turbulent men, who 
 spurned the restraint of legitimate government. This has 
 been the policy of persecutors and their minions in every 
 age. It would be too gross to torture and murder men 
 avowedly for their faithfulness in the service of God. The 
 persecutor first labours to destroy the character, and then 
 the life of his victim. If Nero chooses that the Christians 
 should be torn to pieces by dogs, they must first be clothed 
 in the skins of wild beasts. The Jews obtained a sentence 
 against the Saviour, on the ground that his claim to be ac- 
 knowledged as a king, was incompatible with due allegiance 
 to Cn?sar. The apostles and primitive Christians were per- 
 secuted on the charge of doing " contrary to the decrees of 
 Cresar." So was it with the witnesses in the British Isles. 
 Their principles were declared to be treasonable and rebel- 
 lious. Their meetings for public worship were denounced 
 as rendezvouses of rebellion. And these accusations obtained 
 the more ready credence in the community, that the matters 
 in debate were less obvious and palpable to the general mind, 
 than when the contest lay between the christian religion and 
 idolatry, or even between the reformed religion and popery. 
 The ground of controversy was narrowed, as in Egypt of 
 old, when Pharaoh agreed to release the Israelites, requiring 
 only that their property should be yielded up. But as 
 Moses and Aaron, the witnesses of that period, knowing how 
 deeply the honour of Jehovah was involved in the contro- 
 
XXIV INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 versy, promptly rejected the proposed compromise, and 
 although threatened with royal vengeance for what was, no 
 doubt, regarded as insufferable pertinacity and presumption, 
 calmly replied to the angry monarch, " Our cattle also shall 
 go with us: there shall not an hoof be left behind;" so these 
 honoured witnesses, with a truly christian magnanimity, 
 rejected every overture which required of them a surrender 
 of their principles. Their trials by court sycophants, who 
 strove to cajole them into implicit obedience, and by time- 
 serving indulged ministers, who laboured to entangle them 
 in the mazes of deceptive but specious argumentation, were 
 often more severe, and more dreaded by themselves, than 
 the sight of the bloody axe, or of the ignominious tree. They 
 felt what a fearful alternative lay between the unwarrant- 
 able sacrifice of their own lives, and a denial of the cause of 
 their Redeemer. They were fully aware that it would be a 
 dreadful crime to adopt either side of this alternative. But 
 having anxiously, and prayerfully, examined the controversy, 
 as it then stood between the rulers and those who contended 
 for reformation attainments, and having also weighed what 
 the most skilful apologists had to say for compliance and 
 submission, they attained the most thorough conviction, that 
 the cause for which the witnesses were then contending, was 
 worthy to be maintained at all earthly hazards. Under this 
 conviction, they could no more do homage to a royal supre- 
 macy, or conform to prelatic ceremonies and human imposi- 
 tions, in the worship of God, or submit to an antichristian 
 hierarchy, or yield unqualified allegiance to civil powers, 
 while usurping the authority and claiming the subjection 
 that belonged to Christ alone, than the witnesses of former 
 days could subscribe the blasphemies, or practice the idol- 
 atry, of the Church of Rome. 
 
 The opinion gains ground in the present day, that a sea- 
 son of persecution must yet be passed, before the church can 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXV 
 
 reach her millennial rest. Of those who have been conver- 
 sant with scripture prophecy, a large number have entertained 
 this opinion for a long period. But the events and aspects 
 of modem times have combined to strengthen this opinion, 
 and to extend it more widely. The beast with the seven 
 heads and ten horns is not yet slain ; and the Scriptures war- 
 rant the belief that a tremendous war against the saints will 
 be the immediate precursor of his final overthrow. If the 
 slaying of the witnesses, predicted in the 11th chapter of the 
 Revelations, be a future event, which the soundest exposi- 
 tors believe it to be, it is certain that persecutions of a very 
 extensive and fearful character are yet to come. " The ful- 
 filment of this prophecy," says Scott in his Commentary, 
 " seems to me indispensably to require the following partic- 
 ulars: — 1st. The general suppression of a public testimony 
 for the truth, and against the grosser perversions of Christi- 
 anity, in doctrine, and worship, throughout all the kingdoms 
 of the western empire. But no such general suppression has 
 taken place, especially in the latter ages of the period in 
 question. 2d. The open, avotved, and general triumph of 
 enemies, however distinguished, as if the hated cause of true 
 Christianity were finally ruined. But this has never yet 
 been the case throughout the ten kingdoms. 3d. The very 
 speedy and unexpected revival of the witnesses, and the 
 immediate, general, and extraordinary triumphs of the gos- 
 pel, in all those countries where it was supposed to be ex- 
 tirpated." 
 
 The question has been agitated, " shall the power by which 
 this concluding persecution is to be conducted, be popish or 
 infidel by profession ? " On this point we offer an extract 
 from the same judicious commentator. " Present appear- 
 ances seem, in some degree, to favour the opinion, that this 
 general and successful war of the beast against the witnesses, 
 will be conducted under another form, and other pretences. 
 
XXVI INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 and, perhaps, bj other instruments and means, than former 
 assaults have been. Popish persecutors were often concealed 
 infidels; and infidels, concealed under any other mask, 
 opposing vital Christianity within the same district, may, 
 perhaps, equally answer to the prediction ; for the peculiar 
 opinions of this antichristian power are not here specified. 
 The prevalence of infidelity in different forms throughout 
 Europe, and the zeal with which principles of that tendency 
 are every where propagated, when contrasted with the de- 
 clining state of popish superstition, renders it not wholly 
 improbable, that the beast may change his ground and 
 method of attack, before he thus prevails against the witnesses. 
 For that time approaches. Though popery itself is far more' 
 deeply rooted in a vast proportion of professed Christians, 
 than is generally supposed, and seems at present (1815) 
 greatly prevailing against open infidelity, and I fear against 
 nominal Protestantism." The correctness of the concluding 
 statement has been verified, in different parts of Europe, 
 during the twenty seven years that have elapsed since it was 
 written ; but no where so remarkably as by the fearful spread 
 of the Oxford heresy throughout the Church of England. 
 
 The Lord has frequently preserved his church from per- 
 secution, by the mutual jealousies and contentions of un- 
 friendly powers. It was thus the Protestant reformation in 
 Germany was screened during its infancy. There were three 
 formidable powers, each of whom would have been delighted 
 to suppress it by violence, — the Pope, the emperor Charles, 
 and the king of France; but their mutual jealousies shel- 
 tered it from them all, as if a lamb should escape unhurt, 
 while a wolf, and a lion, and a leopard were contending which 
 of them should have the privilege of devouring it. When the 
 rage of contention between these powers subsided, the Ger- 
 man confederation, although then comparatively strong, was 
 found too weak to resist the emperor ; and, for a time, the 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXVU 
 
 Protestants were exposed to suffering. In Scotland, also, 
 the existence of jealousy between the king and the nobles, 
 was one chief source of protection to the church in the first 
 stage of the Reformation. 
 
 It might be found on inquiry, perhaps, that the length- 
 ened tranquillity which the church has enjoyed in the British 
 Isles, in more recent times, must be ascribed to the same 
 cause. There are three powerful parties in the land, differ- 
 ing greatly from each other, which, from their character and 
 principles, must necessarily be inclined to persecution ; no 
 one of which, if wholly unfettered, could be expected to 
 show much forbearance towards vital practical Christianity. 
 These are the Infidels, the Romanists, and the old High- 
 church PARTY of the English established church. We shall 
 not much object, should any be disposed to add to this list, 
 the genuine old political party distinguished by the appella- 
 tion of TORIES. There are numbers of christian people who 
 would, probably, now assent to this last addition, who, for 
 years past, have been displaying a most extravagant zeal for 
 the restoration of that party to power. Hitherto these 
 parties have been deeply alienated from each other ; the old 
 high-church party and the tories on the one side, the irre- 
 ligious, or infidel, party and the Romanists on the other side, 
 while the christian part of the community have also been 
 unhappily divided, and seduced into ensnaring alliances on 
 both sides. In the course of events, should any change 
 occur which might bring these four parties, or even any three 
 of them together, the tranquillity of the church in these lands 
 would, probably, not be of long duration. When Pilate and 
 Herod are made friends, the Saviour is crucified. We do 
 not at present perceive any distinct indications that such a 
 coalition can soon be effected. There is not only a rivalship 
 between these parties, but a clashing of interests, which does 
 not admit of being easily adjusted. But the events of divine 
 
XXVlll INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 Providence frequently baffle all our previous calculations. 
 Who could have dreamed that the Church of Scotland, 
 which, for ten years, has panted vehemently for the elevation 
 of the tory party to power, should in less than ten mo7iths 
 after their accession to office, have been groaning under the 
 despotism of the party so much desired? May the Lord en- 
 able her in future to act on the divine precept, " Put not 
 your trust in princes nor in the son of man, in whom there 
 is no help;" and to realize the corresponding privilege, 
 " happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose 
 hope is in the Lord his God." 
 
 Should the progress of Puseyism draw the Church of Eng- 
 land into closer alliance with Irish popery, or should political 
 expediency induce the government to buy up the Romish 
 clergy in Ireland, and take that section of the apostate 
 church more avowedly and closely under the wings of the 
 state, intelligent Christians, to whatever department of the 
 visible church they might belong, could not witness such 
 events with indifference. They would be compelled to em- 
 ploy every legitimate means of averting measures so preg- 
 nant with sin and danger to the nation. The criminal con- 
 nivance of many Christians at the impious measures of un- 
 godly rulers, enables them to despise the remonstrances of 
 the more faithful. But should the government be permitted, 
 in divine Providence, to adopt such a course as that we have 
 suggested, or any other line of policy so grossly and palpably 
 iniquitous, that Christians should be generally united in their 
 opposition to it, what can be more probable than that the 
 rulers would resent their interference. The faithful servants 
 of God might again be reproached as " troublers in Israel," 
 and as enemies to the state. The combination of parties to 
 which allusion has been made, would render the government 
 so strong, that they should no longer be under any necessity 
 to pay deference to the views or wishes of the christian part 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXIX 
 
 of the community ; and it is impossible to say bow soon the 
 enmity of the seed of tbe serpent migbt display itself in the 
 work of persecution. We presume not, however, to deter- 
 mine, by what course of events, a coalition of the different 
 parties in the community might be brought about. It is 
 sufficiently affecting to think, that under the Providence of 
 God, the only visible security against persecution in these 
 lands consists in the balancing of rival parties, which, viewed 
 as parties, may, without much injustice, be regarded as all 
 equally ungodly. Included in the high-church and tory 
 parties, we have no doubt there are truly christian people ; 
 but it is evident to demonstration, that they do not exist in 
 such numbers, as to leaven their several parties with christian 
 principle, or to restrain them from any despotic or ungodly 
 course, into which political expediency may impel them. 
 
 An impression has been created by some recent measures 
 of government, that we are just on the eve of a persecution, 
 or rather that one has already begun in Scotland. And the 
 idea is cherished, not by persons of nervous temperament and 
 imbecile minds, but by men distinguished for moral courage 
 and intellectual power. The conflict that has been main- 
 tained, for a few years past, between the ecclesiastical courts 
 of the Church of Scotland, and the civil tribunals of the 
 country, has, no doubt, caused much trouble and annoyance 
 to those who have taken a leading part in it, and it must 
 have been attended with considerable expense. Nothing has 
 yet occurred, however, which could with much propriety be 
 dignified with the name of persecution. It would, indeed, be 
 matter of infinite regret, that any persecution should turn on 
 such questions as the veto law, or that of non-ixtrusion. 
 If the church must suffer, let her have the broad and solid 
 ground of an explicit and ample testimony for the truth to 
 stand on. There will then be reason to hope that her mem- 
 
 c2 
 
XXX INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 bers, if thej are called to suffer, will be prepared to sustain 
 the shock ; and she may confidently expect the presence and 
 iupport of her heavenly king. Let her not both suffer and 
 compromise the truth, — incur the resentment of the higher 
 powersy. and bow in the house of Rimmon. In the name of 
 her exalted king, she has a right to demand that her blood- 
 bought liberties shall be secured to her in their utmost lati- 
 tude, and that aU the righteous claims of the Son of God, as 
 " King iti Ziojiy' and *' Prince of the kings of the earth,'' 
 shall be openly and reverently acknowledged. In mercan- 
 tile transactions, it may be prudent to accept of a composi- 
 tion, where the fuU claim cannot be satisfied, but no such 
 rule can be tolerated in a testimony for the truth. It would 
 be an act of treason and perfidy to the Redeemer, to barter 
 away a part of his claims as a means of securing the remain- 
 der. The only sound and safe principle here, is that exhib- 
 ited in the answer of Moses to the king of Egypt, " There 
 shall not an hoof be left behind." 
 
 It is now, indeed, incessantly proclaimed, that the reform- 
 ing majority in the Church of Scotland have taken up the 
 ground of the Scottish Covenanters, — that the testimony of 
 the present day is identical with that for which the martyrs 
 laid down their lives. We cannot hesitate to believe, that 
 the excellent individuals who reiterate this assertion, are 
 persuaded that it is correct ; although we must confess our 
 surprise, at the unlimited and unguarded manner in which 
 it is commonly expressed. We know well, that the prin- 
 ciples for which the Scottish Covenanters contended, would 
 embrace and secure the points at present in dispute, between 
 the church and the civil courts ; but it is equally certain, 
 that although all that is now sought, and contended for, by 
 the established Church of Scotland, were fuUy conceded to 
 her, the Reformed and Covenanted Church of Scotland would 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXXI 
 
 not be restored. It is unjustifiable in theology, as well as in 
 physical science, to assert of a part, what is true only of the 
 whole. 
 
 Did our limits permit, there are four points on which we 
 should be anxious to try this claim of succession to the 
 Scottish reformers and martyrs : — 
 
 1st. In regard to the struggles they made against Prelacy, 
 particularly during the period of the Second Reformation, 
 of which we have an instructive and imperishable record in 
 the Solemn League, and in the proceedings consequent 
 thereon. A glance at the deed itself will show, that the 
 reformers considered the hierarchy, and the prelatic system, 
 as being essentially unscriptural ; and so detrimental to true 
 religion, and to the best interests of the nation, that every 
 nerve should be strained to expel both from Scotland. 
 They further pledged themselves, by divine grace, to seek 
 " the reformation of religion in the kingdoms of England 
 and Ireland, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and govern- 
 ment, according to the Word of God, and the example of 
 the best reformed churches ; and to endeavour to bring the 
 churches of God in the three kingdoms to the nearest con- 
 junction and uniformity in religion." 
 
 2d. We should like to try this claim in regard to the 
 struggles made, in the reformation period, to conform the 
 system of civil government to the rules of Scripture ; and to 
 obtain magistrates possessing scriptural qualifications. 
 
 3d. In respect to the Covenants. 
 
 4th. In respect to the contendings of the reformers 
 against the royal supremacy. We would not disparage the 
 efforts of modern reformers. It is matter of joy and 
 thanksgiving, that their progress is in the right direction ; 
 although it is obvious, that many of them have been driven 
 onward by occurrences which they were unable to control, 
 both faster and farther than they themselves wished or 
 
XXXU INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 contemplated. But, in regard to the points above specified, 
 it is our firm conviction, that nothing has yet been done by 
 them that could justify their claim of succession to the 
 Scottish reformers and martyrs. We submit a few remarks 
 in regard to two of these points only: — 
 
 The Scottish reformers pled for the Covenants, and the 
 martyrs fearlessly owned them, when they knew that the 
 confession would bring them to the scaff'old. There were 
 minor points of testimony on which they had not all pre- 
 cisely the same views; and there were matters on which 
 some of them, when interrogated, declined to answer. But 
 in what instance do we find any of them, from Argyle to 
 Renwick, either silent or faltering, when the question was 
 put — " Do you own the Covenants ?" We beg to put the 
 same question, to those who claim to be regarded as their 
 successors — " Do you own the Covenants?" We most 
 respectfully, but earnestly request an explicit answer. The 
 Lord knows what fervent joy it would afford us to receive 
 an affirmative answer ! You who claim to be the successors 
 of the Scottish martyrs, do, tell us plainly, that you adhere 
 to the Covenants ; that you believe in their moral character, 
 and in their descending obligation. If so, you have a larger 
 share in our esteem than ever. We regarded your proceed- 
 ings with deep interest before, but now we hope soon to be 
 able to extend to you our confidence, and to welcome you as 
 brethren. Do not impute to us the presumption of thinking, 
 that our adherence can be of any consequence to you ; but 
 we know that genuine Covenanters cannot disdain one 
 another. According to our own impression, (the author 
 takes leave to speak in the name of a Covenanting Church,) 
 we have been long at the forlorn hope, and although not 
 literally alone, yet with very few companions, waving the 
 banner of the Covenant on the hills, when the inhabitants 
 of these lands, generally, had folded it up, and laid it aside, as 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXXlll 
 
 an obsolete and antiquated relic of a bye-gone age. Desir- 
 ing to cherish the zeal, and certainly not exempted from the 
 infirmity that appeared in the prophet of old, when, in the 
 bitterness of his spirit, he made his profession and complaint ; 
 — " I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts, for 
 the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown 
 down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword," — 
 with what joy would we welcome the advance of a numer- 
 ous and powerful army of genuine Covenanters, and how 
 cheerfully would we surrender the standard to others, who 
 should bear it more worthily than we are able to do I 
 
 If we receive an affirmative answer to our question, our 
 brethren will not be offended with us, when we address to 
 them a few words of expostulation. If you do, indeed, own 
 the covenants, and claim descent from the martyrs, why are 
 you so sparing in publishing your adherence to them ? Suffer 
 us to remind you of the pledge given in the sixth article of 
 the Solemn League, that " we shall assist and defend all 
 those that enter into this League and Covenant, in the main- 
 taining and pursuing thereof, and shall not suffer ourselves, 
 directly or indirectly, by whatsoever combination, persuasion, 
 or terror, to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed 
 union and conjunction, whether to make defection to the 
 contrary part, or to give ourselves to a detestable indifferency^ 
 or neutrality, in this cause, which so much concerneth the 
 glory of God, the good of the kingdom, and the honour of the 
 king." You whose office it is to declare the whole counsel 
 of God, why do you not instruct your people on this subject, 
 and labour to remove the ignorance and prejudice which so 
 greatly abound regarding it? Why are not Presbyteries 
 called on to declare their adherence to the covenants? Why 
 is not the subject debated in Synods? Why should even 
 one General Assembly be suffered to pass, without the 
 reforming majority putting forth its whole strength to obtain 
 
XXXIV INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 from that venerable bodj, a deliberate and solemn recogni- 
 tion of these hallowed and momentous deeds? Nor is this 
 all. The Assembly must be moved to address the British 
 legislature, and represent to it the obligations under which 
 these nations lie, in consequence of the federal deeds of our 
 ancestors, and the dreadful guilt incurred bj the daring 
 violation of the covenants, both in former and in recent times ; 
 and to beseech and implore the imperial parliament, with 
 the least possible delay, to remove the mighty stone of the 
 ACT RESCISSORY, that thcso covenants may be legally and 
 publicly raised out of the grave, to which they were igno- 
 miniously consigned, by the government of the perjured and 
 bloody oppressor, Charles Stuart. 
 
 Is it objected that such proceedings would be inconveni- 
 ent; that they would awaken jealousies, give much offence, 
 encounter violent opposition, and, perhaps, subject the church 
 to more serious suffering than any that has been yet experi- 
 enced? And is it the descendants of the Scottish martyrs 
 who plead this apology for suppressing their testimony? If it 
 be consistent with fidelity to be silent, and to desist from active 
 efforts to promote the design of the covenants, on such grounds 
 as these, then what fools and madmen were these martyrs, 
 who proclaimed their attachment to them before the bloody 
 council, or in front of a line of Dundee's dragoons, waiting 
 the fatal signal from their commander! How could such 
 an apology be sustained by those, who have themselves 
 encountered all the hazards which it describes? We do not 
 wish to impose heavy burdens which we ourselves are unwill- 
 ing to touch. Should trouble come to you for adopting the 
 course which we recommend, and which faithfulness requires, 
 then, it is certain, we must bear our share of it. What per- 
 secution have you to fear, which we and our fathers have 
 not actually endured, for one hundred and fifty years? Is 
 there not enough in that one promise for your encourage- 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXXV 
 
 ment? " Verilj I saj unto jou, there is no man that hath 
 left house, or brethren, or sister, or father, or mother, or 
 wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel's, but 
 he shall receive an hundred-fold, now in this time, houses, 
 and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and 
 lands, with persecutions ; and in the world to come eternal 
 life." 
 
 But we have the painful aprehension, that if an answer 
 be given to our question, it will noi be in the affirmative. 
 We fear it maj be said ; " we cannot see our way clear to 
 acknowledge these covenants; we admire the Reformers, 
 and are astonished at their achievments ; we also approve of 
 a large share of their work; but we cannot admit that these 
 covenants are binding on us, in consequence of their having 
 adopted them ; nor, with our present views, can we subscribe 
 them ourselves." In this alternative, we can only express 
 our sincere and deep regret; and add the request, that those 
 who give this answer, will have the candour to abstain from 
 putting forward any claim to be acknowledged as the suc- 
 cessors of the Scottish Covenanters. We may call him a 
 Calvinist who repudiates the doctrines of Calvinism, with as 
 much propriety, as we can account those to be Covenanters, 
 who reject the covenants. 
 
 The Scottish Reformers contended for Christ's exclusive 
 HEADSHIP OVER THE CHURCH. They embodied this principle 
 in their standards, in the period of the Second Reformation, 
 as a fundamental article of " the faith once delivered to the 
 saints'* But at the restoration of Charles, a supremacy in 
 all causes, ecclesiastical and civil, was vested in the kino-, by 
 Act of Parliament. In the exercise of this supremacy, the 
 Presbyterian Church of Scotland was overturned, and Epis- 
 copacy restored; all the proceedings of the Second Reforma- 
 tion were abolished ; the Covenants were repealed, and the 
 people legally absolved from the obligation of them. From 
 
XXXVl INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 the same authority proceeded the bonds and tests, which 
 were employed to coerce the people into submission, and 
 the indulgences, which were framed to divide and enfeeble 
 those whom previous measures had failed to reduce into 
 conformity with the established religion. The court of high 
 commission, and all the other courts which assumed to exer- 
 cise jurisdiction in religious matters; the toleration of James ; 
 and the entire course of persecution, may be regarded as all 
 springing out of, or inseparably connected with, the supre- 
 macy. The Covenanters regarded the royal supremacy in 
 church matters as antichristian and impious in itself, and 
 most disastrous to the interests of religion, in its exercise and 
 effects. Hence it was that they so unanimously and vehe- 
 mently testified against it. No force nor fraud could induce 
 them to recognize it, believing, that to do so, would be equi- 
 valent to their consenting that Christ should be dethroned, 
 and an ungodly oppressor advanced to reign in his stead. 
 Here again we would take leave to ask of those who claim 
 to be the successors of the martyrs, " Do you maintain a 
 consistent and open testimony against the royal supremacy 
 in ecclesiastical matters?" We do not need to remind you, 
 that the statute law of Britain declares this supremacy to 
 be an essential right of the crown, to the present day, nor to 
 show how it has corrupted and enslaved the churches of 
 England and Ireland, and how it continues to place barriers 
 in the way of reform and improvement in these churches, 
 which, in so far as man can see, are absolutely insuperable. 
 It will be said, perhaps, that the Act of Supremacy, in so 
 far as it applied to Scotland, was abolished at the Revolu- 
 tion. We are aware of this ; but are you not consenters to 
 a constitution which declares it to be perpetual in England? 
 The essential wickedness of this supremacy is not diminished, 
 by its being exercised south of the Tweed. How shaU we 
 discover here the sensitive jealousy for the honour of Zion's 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXXVll 
 
 King, which is commonlj displayed by the attached sup- 
 porters of earthly rulers? What would be thought of the 
 loyalty of persons bearing a commission from an eartlily 
 king, who, in order to escape trouble, or secure certain ad- 
 vantages, should consent to do homage to an ambitious 
 usurper that, in the king's absence, had seized upon the 
 sovereignty? Should the prince return, and require of them 
 an account of their fidelity, they might, perhaps, plead tha^ 
 the supporters of the usurpation were so strong, that they 
 were quite unable to ojffer any effectual resistance to it ; that 
 they had merely yielded to invincible necessity ; that their 
 allegiance and loyalty to their legitimate sovereign remained 
 entire and uncorrupted. Might it not be said in reply — 
 be it so, that you have done all to prevent this usurpa- 
 tion which your duty required — which wisdom or valour 
 could achieve, was it necessary, or was it becoming, that the 
 usurper should obtain the sanction of your solemn consent? 
 Was it necessary that you should contract alliances with 
 him, accept of situations of trust and emolument under him, 
 and yield unqualified oaths of allegiance to his authority — 
 no exception, nor explanation, being off'ered by you in respect 
 to that branch of the authority which you accounted an im- 
 pious usurpation? It would be futile on their part to allege, 
 that the usurper had been left in high authority by the king 
 at his departure, and was entitled to respect on account of 
 the commission which he bare. His holding the office of 
 Chancellor of the exchequer, or Chief Justice of the King's 
 Bench, was no reason why his fellow subjects should concede 
 to him the sovereignty. Such was not the conduct of the 
 Scottish Covenanters of old. The ruler could not reach the 
 throne of usurped supremacy, but over their slaughtered 
 bodies, and with his garments drenched in their blood. 
 
 We hold it to be alike puerile and preposterous to urge, 
 that the king then wished to exercise the supremacy in 
 
 d 
 
XXXVlll INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 Scotland, and the Covenanters had no alternative but to 
 resist. Had it been consistent with fidelity to give their 
 formal and solemn consent, that the supremacy should 
 be exercised over the churches of England and Ireland, 
 and to yield unqualified oaths of allegiance to the consti- 
 tution, of whicJi this supremacy was an essential part, we can 
 perceive no principle of morality by which they could be 
 justified, in putting their lives at hazard by resisting it in 
 Scotland. Put the case into plain language. " We solemnly 
 consent and agree, that in the churches of England and Ire- 
 land, the civil ruler of these lands shall hold and exercise a 
 royal supremacy through aU generations : our attachment 
 to the constitution which assigns to him that supremacy, 
 shall be in nothing abated, and our allegiance to the throne 
 in nothing diminished ; but sooner than he shall be permitted 
 to possess or exercise such a supremacy in the church and 
 kingdom of Scotland, we shall willingly lay down our lives.' 
 The most talented and ingenious of the traducers of the 
 Scottish Covenanters, have never been able to fasten on them 
 an inconsistency so palpable as this. 
 
 In affectionate earnestness and sincerity, we would intreat 
 the noble minded ministers, and intelligent and excellent 
 Christians, who are now contending against Erastianism in 
 this part of the island, to reflect seriously on the criminal 
 apathy, with which the church of Scotland has hitherto 
 regarded the undisguised supremacy, which, for centuries 
 past, has reigned uncontrolled in other divisions of the em- 
 pire. The retributive justice of God is remarkable, not only 
 in the judgments he executes on his enemies, but in the 
 trials by which he corrects the iniquities of his own people. 
 The great sin of the Scottish nation, in former times, was 
 their excessive and idolatrous attachment to the house and 
 government of the Stuarts. The Lord gave them the 
 Stuarts to rule over them, as he did Abimelech to the 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. XXXIX 
 
 Shechemites. And may not the sin of the Scottish Church, 
 in her long connivance at a royal supremacy in other parts 
 of the .empire, be now receiving its punishment in the 
 aggressions of that supremacy on her own territory ? If this 
 •* Boar from the forest" may be winked at, when he treads 
 down and lays waste other churches, it can be no matter of 
 surprise, that the monster should stalk over the hedge into 
 the Scottish vineyard, as caprice or appetite may impel him. 
 
 Is it objected, that to interfere with the arrangements 
 made by government respecting other churches, would be 
 overstepping the line of duty? Such was not the opinion of 
 numbers in the Church of Scotland, when matters infinitely 
 less important were under discussion. When the established 
 church in Ireland was threatened with an appropriation 
 clause, and when the dissenting bodies in England were 
 struggling to be relieved from the payment of church rates, 
 there were many in Scotland who seemed tremblingly alive 
 to the danger, and who came promptly forward to ward off 
 the threatened blow. It would be uncharitable to suppose, 
 that the members of the Church of Scotland make more 
 account of the revenues of the Prelatic establishment, than 
 of her freedom, and purity, and efficiency ; nay more, that her 
 revenues outweigh, in their estimation, the glory that belongs 
 to the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only King and Lord of his 
 church. If it was incumbent on them to interfere to protect 
 the former from being curtailed, how much more should they 
 exert themselves in defence of the latter. 
 
 It may, possibly, be asked, what could have been done by 
 the Scottish Church in opposition to the royal supremacy, 
 which has not been done by her^ The question suggests 
 another; "What has she ever done in this matter, since the 
 revolution?" Where are her manifestoes, or remonstrances, 
 either as addressed to the legislature, or to the community? 
 What means has she ever adopted for the purpose of making 
 
XL INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 
 
 the members of the English or Irish established churches 
 sensible of the degradation, as well as the sinfulness, of 
 crouching down under this anti-christiau yoke? What have 
 her friends in parliament ever attempted, in the way of call- 
 ing the attention of the legislature to this flagrant iniquity ? 
 As long as moderatism paraded the sceptre of a real, although 
 disguised, supremacy at home, the church was not in a con- 
 dition to contend ecclesiastically against this evil. But now 
 the case is altered, and a different line of conduct on this 
 question may reasonably be expected of her. It is good to 
 resist the encroachments of Erastianism at home ; necessity 
 is laid upon her in this matter : wo is unto her if she do not 
 resist. But her efforts ought certainly not to terminate 
 here. It is not enough to lop off the exuberant growth of 
 the supremacy — a few of the luxuriant branches, which over- 
 shadow and injure her own corner of the vineyard. She 
 must stir up all her strength, to lay the axe to the root of 
 this UPAS TREE, which has poisoned and blighted the herit- 
 age of the Lord in the British Isles, for well nigh three 
 hundred years. Her duty requires it ; her situation supplies 
 opportunities and facilities for it ; the interests of true reli- 
 gion, and the honour of the Redeemer demand it of her. Un- 
 til this be honestly and heartily done ; until a system of ener- 
 getic, persevering, and consistent opposition to that Erastian 
 and impious supremacy, which the constitution of these lands 
 vests in the British crown, be adopted by the Church of 
 Scotland, it will be impossible for her to acquit herself of 
 the guilt incurred by the nation, by the existence and opera- 
 tion of this anti- christian law. We have no idea that any 
 measures should be employed, but such as are thoroughly 
 scriptural and moral in their character ; such as become 
 enlightened christian men. But we are deeply convinced, 
 that any thing like a compromise or truce with this enor- 
 mous impiety, can no more be justified, than an alliance with 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. xli 
 
 the Mau of Sin. The prophetic Beast, delineated by the 
 apostle John, (13th chap. Rev.) had the name of blasphemy 
 inscribed on each of his heads ; and it may be fairly ques- 
 tioned, if in the whole history of that system, of which this 
 Beast is the symbol, there has been any single pretension, 
 either of Popes or of civil rulers, to which the charge of blas- 
 phemy more obviously applies, than this of a royal supre- 
 macy over the church of Christ. 
 
 If the stipulations to which the Church of Scotland 
 assented, at the time when the two kingdoms became united, 
 or the oaths of allegiance taken by ministers, previous to 
 their ordination, have any thing in them of an implied 
 truce with the supremacy, as exercised in England and Ire- 
 land^ — any thing like an engagement, express or understood, 
 that they shall abstain from employing efforts to have the 
 supremacy abolished, — we cannot hesitate to pronounce 
 both, in so far as they impose any such restraint, to have 
 been unwarrantable and sinful, and from the beginning, null 
 and void. What would be thought of a minister coming 
 under engagements, at his ordination, that he would abstain 
 from condemning and testifying against certain forms of 
 gross error, or flagrant immorality ? 
 
 It is impossible to calculate the benefit which the Church 
 of Scotland might be instrumental in conferring on the 
 churches of Britain,' — the impulse she might give to the 
 work of reformation, and the progress of evangelical 
 religion, — or how much she might do in warding off national 
 judgments, by a course of persevering and prayerful contend- 
 ing against the supremacy. But should she unhappily adopt 
 an opposite course, and resolve, as heretofore, to bear compla- 
 cently with the supremacy, provided it be not exercised 
 grossly and offensively within her own territory, — should 
 her ministers and members continue to proclaim unlimited 
 attachment to a constitution, of which the supremacy forms 
 
xlii INTRODUCTOEY ESSAY. 
 
 an essential part, and to give unqualified oaths of allegiance 
 to rulers, by whom this impious authority is exercised, — then, 
 we greatly fear, that her unfaithfulness may prolong inde- 
 finitely her own distress, and that the reformation which the 
 churches of these lands so urgently require, cannot have an 
 effectual commencement, until God's own people, by whose 
 instrumentality it must be done, are prepared for such a 
 work, by a season of extreme affliction. Without contro- 
 versy, a crisis is drawing on. The present time and its 
 prospects may, perhaps, be delineated in the solemn, but 
 cheering language of the last of the Old Testament prophets ; 
 — " But ivho may abide the day of his coming, and who shall 
 stand ichen he appeareth ? for he is like a refiner's fire, and 
 like fuller s soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier 
 of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them 
 as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offer- 
 ing in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and 
 Jerusalem he pleasant to the Lord, as in the days of old, and 
 as informer years'' 
 
 The genuine friends of the covenanted reformation will 
 admit, that the present edition of the Cloud of Witnesses 
 appears at a most seasonable time. They will be ready to 
 express their acknowledgments to the publisher on this head, 
 as well as in regard to the style in which he now presents 
 this interesting volume. Many profess friendship for the 
 reformers and their principles, who require further informa- 
 tion concerning both. If there be others who persuade 
 themselves that they are standing on the same ground, with 
 that occupied by our persecuted fathers, but whose testimony 
 to the covenanted reformation is incomplete and partial, it 
 is the more needful that the martyrs be allowed to speak for 
 themselves. The present edition, it is hoped, will be found 
 exempted from a number of inaccuracies, which marred 
 
INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. xliii 
 
 most of the preceding editions. In a few cases, the Editor 
 has taken the liberty of substituting an English word for a 
 Scottish phrase now obsolete, which, to the generality of 
 readers, would have been unintelligible. He has also rec- 
 tified, when it could conveniently be done, the grammati- 
 cal errors which were inevitable in the compositions of per- 
 sons little accustomed to commit their thoughts to paper, 
 and the majority of whom received no other education than 
 was common to the Scottish peasantry. But he has in no 
 instance wilfully altered or modified any sentiment ex- 
 pressed by the martyrs. He cordially approves of the great 
 principles for which they contended. He believes that the 
 cause for which they suffered was worthy of all the blood 
 that was shed in its defence. He would not be understood, 
 however, as prepared to vindicate every action of the perse- 
 cuted Covenanters, nor to subscribe every sentiment con- 
 tained in this volume. Still it seemed to him altogether 
 unwarrantable, and beyond his province, either to suppress 
 or modify any sentiment left on record by the martyrs, as a 
 part of their dying testimony. 
 
 Glasgow, Wth May, 1842. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 The glorious frame and contrivance of religion, revealed 
 by the ever blessed Jehovah, in the face or person of Jesus 
 Christ, for the recovery of lost mankind into a state of favour 
 and reconcilement with himself, is so excellently ordered in 
 the councils of infinite wisdom, and exactly adjusted to the 
 real delight, contentment, and happiness of the rational 
 world, that it might justly be wondered, why so many men, 
 in all ages, otherwise of good intellectuals, have not only 
 had a secret disgust tliereat themselves, but have laboured to 
 rob others of the comfort and benefit of it, and make the 
 world a chaos of confusion, by persecutions raised against 
 it ; had not the Holy Spirit, in the scriptures, laid open the 
 hidden springs of this malice and enmity, which exerts itself 
 in so many of the children of men. We are told in these 
 divinely inspired writings, that the first source of this op- 
 position that the true religion meets with in the world, flows 
 originally from Satan, that inveterate enemy of God's glory, 
 and man's happiness ; who having himself left his original 
 state of obedience to, and enjoyment of God, his creator, 
 hath no other alleviation of his inevitable misery, but to 
 draw the race of mankind into the like ruin, which is the 
 only satisfaction that malicious spirit is capable of. This 
 restless adversary, perceiving that through the grace and 
 love of God manifested in Christ, a great number of those 
 whom he thought he liad secured to slavery, are redeemed, 
 and called by the gospel out of that intolerable servitude, 
 into a glorious liberty, and secured by faith to salvation ; 
 labours by the two great engines of open force, and secret 
 fraud, to keep them in, or regain them to his obedience : 
 hence, the sacred scriptures describe him, both as a dragon 
 for cruelty, and a serpent for subtilty. But because he either 
 
PREFACE, 
 
 cannot, or thinks not fit to do this visibly in person ; 
 therefore he does it more invisibly, and so more success- 
 fully by his agents, in whom he works: who, because of 
 their unreasonable unbelief, are called children of imper- 
 suasion. These he moves and animates, as it were so many 
 machines, to endeavour, by crafty seduction, or violent per- 
 secution, to draw, or drive the followers of the Lamb, from 
 their subjection, obedience, and loyalty to the Captain of 
 their salvation, that he may drown them in perdition and 
 destruction. This is the latent origin of all persecution ; the 
 mint where all the other more visible causes of the bloody 
 violence the people of God meet withal, are struck and 
 framed. This is the grand design to which they tend, to 
 root out the obedience of faith out of the world, and deprive 
 the Son of God of his rightful dominion over his subjects, 
 whom he hath chosen, redeemed, and sanctified for himself. 
 
 As this holds true of all the persecutions raised against 
 the church and truths of God, whether in the persons of 
 Jews or Christians, by whatever hands, Pagan or Anti- 
 Christian, so it is eminently verified of the persecutions of 
 the Church of Scotland, prosecuted by a profane, wicked 
 generation of Malignant prelatists, during the reigns of the 
 late king Charles II. and James VII. For as the other per- 
 secutions were all levelled against some point of truth or 
 other, wherein the obedience of faith was concerned, respect- 
 ing either the existence and worship of the true God, or 
 the person, nature, or ofiices of Jesus Christ, &c., so this 
 persecution was directly pointed against that ofiice and 
 authority of Jesus Christ, whereupon his formal claim to 
 the obedience of his church is founded, viz. his headship 
 over his church. This was the peculiar trust committed to 
 the church of Christ in Scotland, and her distinguishing 
 dignity to have the royal supremacy of tlie King of Zion to 
 defend against the kings of the earth, who, not content with 
 the princely authority of ruling the persons of their subjects, 
 according to the laws of God and the realm, would needs 
 usurp a blasphemous, sacrilegious prerogative, of ruling the 
 church and consciences of men in room of the Mediator, by 
 what laws and statutes they pleased, and found most sub- 
 servient to their lusts, for the advancement of Popery and 
 arbitrary government. 
 
 Jesus Christ, the only begotten of the Father, having re- 
 
PREFACE. O 
 
 ceived the Church of Scotland, as one of the utmost isles of 
 the earth for his possession, bj solemn grant from Jeho- 
 vah, was pleased to call her from the deplorable state of 
 Pagan, and reform her from the ruinous condition of Anti- 
 Christian darkness ; so to dignify her in a peculiar manner, 
 to contend and suffer for that truth, that he is king and 
 lawgiver to his church, having povrer to institute her form 
 of government, to give her laws, oificers, and censures, 
 whereby she should be governed, and hath not left it 
 vague and uncertain, what government he will have in 
 force for the ordering of his house, but hath expressly de- 
 termined in his word every necessary part thereof, and hath 
 not put any power into the hands of any mortal, whether 
 pope, prelate, prince, or potentate, as a vicarious head in 
 his personal absence, whereby they may alter the form of 
 government at their pleasure, and make what kind of officers, 
 canons, and censures they please ; but all the power that 
 this king hath left in his church, concerning her government, 
 is purely and properly ministerial, under the direction and 
 regulation of his sovereign pleasure, revealed in his written 
 word. 
 
 This, this is the most radiant pearl in the Church of Scot- 
 land's garland ; that she hath been honoured valiantly to 
 stand up for the headship and royal prerogatives of her king 
 and husband, Jesus Christ, in all the periods of her refor- 
 Jnation. For no sooner had she thrown off the yoke of the 
 Pope's pretended jurisdiction and authority, but presently, 
 while she was labouring by means of these censures that 
 Christ had instituted, to root out the damnable heresies which 
 that enemy hath sown, all on a sudden, king James VI., 
 naturally ambitious, and instigated by interested and pro- 
 jecting councillors, attempts a rape upon her chastity and 
 loyalty to her husband and Lord ; and by his royal order, 
 stops her freedom of sitting, voting, and acting, in her su- 
 preme courts, imprisons some of her most zealous and 
 faithful ministers, calls them before his council, indicts them 
 of treason and leese-majesty, for their making use of the 
 freedom Christ hath given them ; and after their declining 
 his and his council's usurped authority in spiritual matters, 
 and so witnessing a good confession for the royal dignity 
 of their Master, banished them their native country.* Upon 
 * See Calderwood's History, from p. 491 to 536, and downward. 
 
4: PREFACE. 
 
 the same bottom of a pretended rojal jurisdiction over the 
 church, he attempted, and in a great measure effected, the 
 establishment of a Popish hierarchy, and Romish ceremonies, 
 by setting up prelates, and bringing in the Perth articles, 
 flattering some, and overawing others of the ministers into 
 a compliance therewith ; persecuting the zealous and faithful 
 contenders for Christ's headship, and the government of his 
 divine institution, with vexatious prosecutions before high 
 commission courts, suspensions from their office, wardings, 
 confinements, &c. And in like manner Charles L, following 
 his father's example and instructions, endeavoured, upon 
 pretence of the same prerogative, to improve upon what his 
 father had begun, and complete the church's slavery, by ob- 
 truding upon her a liturgy and canons, formed a la mode 
 d' Angleterre, collected out of the Romish Mass-book, and 
 canon law ; which put the faithful sons of the Church of 
 Scotland to much wrestling and contending, partly by hum- 
 ble and submissive, yet zealous and faithful addresses, sup- 
 plications, remonstrances, and representations ; partly by 
 more bold and daring protestations and associations for 
 mutual defence, even till they were forced to take arms for 
 defence of religion, and the liberties of their country. Which 
 contendings for Christ's royal authority, and his church's 
 liberties, at length, by the blessing of God, issued in a 
 glorious work of reformation through Britain and Ireland, 
 wherein the churches of Christ in these lands not only re- 
 ceived their former beautiful order, shining purity, and pre- 
 cious liberty, but also had several degrees of new attain- 
 ments, in purity and uniformity in religion, added thereunto. 
 But the church's sun of prosperity is soon at the tropic : 
 scarce was that spring-time well begun to blossom and bud, 
 when behold a world of malignant vapours, arising out of 
 the earth, clouded all her sky again, and turned her spring 
 to a deplorable winter. Various heresies in England, grow- 
 ing Popery in Ireland, public resolutions for adyancing 
 Malignants to places of power and trust in Scotland, like so 
 many inundations breaking in upon the church of Christ, 
 laid all her pleasant things waste. And no sooner was 
 Charles 11. advanced to the exercise of the royal authority, 
 but, drowning the sense of all sacred obligations with a glut 
 of sensual pleasures, he authorized a malignant crew of 
 statesmen to persecute and destroy the people of God, for 
 
TREFACE. 
 
 their adherence to the covenants, which himself had entered 
 into, as the fundamental stipulation of government, and to 
 that reformation which he had sworn to maintain and prac- 
 tise: and for their bearing witness against the grand prin- 
 ciple and foundation upon which he built his power of over- 
 throwing religion, and setting up a new frame thereof in 
 Britain, namely, the blasphemous headship of ecclesiastical 
 supremacy. 
 
 Hence, it is evident to a demonstration, that the grand 
 state of the quarrel, upon which the martyrs laid down their 
 lives during the late tyrannical reigns, was really one and the 
 same with that for which the zealous and faithful ministers 
 suffered such hardships in the time of king James VI., and 
 afterwards. This being the precise foundation upon which 
 all the other acts and oaths were built, which the enemies 
 made a handle of, to involve honest people in the crime of 
 treason and rebellion against the state, as it was then deter- 
 mined by their iniquitous laws. For as it was still the prin- 
 cipal question put to them. Own ye the King's authority? 
 and the chief article of their indictment, if they either an- 
 swered in the negative, or kept silence ; so it is evident, that 
 by this question, they really meant, not his civil authority 
 only, but also his pretended claim to supreme headship over 
 the church. For no sooner had he authorized a parliament 
 to meet at Edinburgh, under the inspection of that malignant 
 wretch, John, Earl of Middleton, anno 1661, but that genera- 
 tion of enemies to the work of God, intending the utter ruiu 
 thereof, set up this Dagon of the royal prerogative, not only 
 with respect to things civil, as in the choice of his officers of 
 state, counsellors, and judges, Act second; in the calling and 
 dissolving of parhaments, and making laws, Act third; in 
 the militia, and making peace and war, Act fifth ; which were 
 great invasions upon the national liberties of the subjects; 
 but also in things sacred, in the making of leagues, and the 
 conventions of the subject. Act sixth; wherein all the former 
 work of reformation is condemned, and the covenants made- 
 for its defence, are declared treasonable and rebellious ac- 
 tions against the royal prerogative; and in consequence 
 hereof, it is declared, Act seventh ; " That the League and 
 Covenant is not obligatory upon this kingdom, nor doth in- 
 fer any obligation on the subjects thereof, to meddle or in- 
 terpose in any thing concerning the religion and government 
 
 b2 
 
b PREFACE. 
 
 of the churches of England and Ireland; and all the subjects 
 are discharged to renew the same, as thej will answer at 
 their highest peril." And in the oath of allegiance and ac- 
 knowledgment of his majesty's royal prerogative, statute by 
 the eleventh act of said parliament, all persons of whatso- 
 ever trust, post, office, or employment, are obliged to swear, 
 *' That they acknowledge the king only supreme governor of 
 this kingdom, over all persons, and in all causes. And that 
 they do, with all humble duty, acknowledge his majesty's 
 royal prerogative, in all the particulars, and in the manner 
 afore-mentioned." 
 
 And to make the matter clearer, what they meant by the 
 king's authority, in the preamble of the first act of the second 
 session of the same first parliament, they assert, " That the 
 ordering and disposal of the external government and policy 
 of his church doth properly belong unto his majesty, as au 
 inherent right of the crown, by virtue of his royal preroga- 
 tive and supremacy, in causes ecclesiastical." And upon this 
 bottom, he, wdth advice and consent of the estates of parlia- 
 ment, sets up the Episcopal form of church-government, the 
 jurisdiction of bishops and arch-bishops over the inferior 
 clergy, with their concomitant of patronages ; and " Rescinds, 
 casses, and annuls all acts of parliament, by which the sole 
 and only power of jurisdiction within this church doth 
 stand in the church, and in the general, provincial, and pres- 
 byterial assemblies, and kirk-sessions ; and all acts of parlia- 
 ment or council, which may be intepreted to have given 
 any church power, jurisdiction, or government to the office- 
 bearers of the church, their respective meetings, other than 
 that which acknowledgeth a dependence upon, and subordi- 
 nation to, the sovereign power of the king as supreme." 
 And in pursuance hereof, in the second act of the foresaid 
 second session, intituled, "Act for preservation of his majesty's 
 person, authority, and government," he doth, with advice of 
 his estates of parliament, declare, " That the assembly kept 
 at Glasgow, in the year 1638, was in itself (after the same 
 was by his majesty discharged under the pain of treason,) an 
 unlawful and seditious meeting. And that all these gather- 
 ings, convocations, petitions, protestations, and erecting and 
 keeping council tables, that were used in the beginning, and 
 for carrying on the late troubles, (thus they call the work of 
 reformation,) were unlawful and seditious; and that these 
 
PHEFACE. 7 
 
 oaths, whereof the one was commonly called, * The National 
 Covenant,' and the other, *A Solemn League and Covenant,' 
 were and are in themselves, unlawful oaths: and therefore 
 declares their obligation null and void, and rescinds all acts 
 or constitutions, ecclesiastical or civil, approving them." 
 Nor does it suffice them to rescind these Covenants, and 
 other proceedings for carrying on the work of reformation, as 
 contrary to his royal prerogative of ecclesiastic supremacy ; 
 and to inhibit all persons to speak, wi'ite, or act any thing in 
 defence of the same, and against the same prerogative ; but 
 likewise in the fifth act of the foresaid session, all persons in 
 any place, office, or trust, are obliged to swear all the partic- 
 ulars contained in the foresaid acts, in that most impious 
 oath, commonly called, " The Declaration." And, again, in 
 the fourth act of the third session of the foresaid parliament, 
 intituled, "Act for the establishment and constitution of a na- 
 tional synod," it is declared, " That the ordering and disposal 
 of the external government of the church, and the nomina- 
 tion of the persons, by whose advice matters relating to the 
 same are to be settled, doth belong to his majesty, as an in- 
 herent riglit of the crown, by virtue of his prerogative royal, 
 and supreme authority, in causes ecclesiastical." And in the 
 first act of the second parliament, liolden by that apostate, 
 John, Earl of Lauderdale, intituled, "Act asserting his majes- 
 ty's supremacy over all persons, and in all causes ecclesiasti- 
 cal," commonly called, "The Act Explanatory," it is expressly 
 declared, "That his majesty hath the supreme authority and 
 supremacy over all persons, and in all causes ecclesiastical 
 within this kingdom: and that by virtue thereof, the order- 
 ing and disposal of the external government and policy of 
 the church, doth properly belong to his majesty and his suc- 
 cessors, as an inherent right of the crown: and that his 
 majesty and his successors may settle, enact, and emit such 
 constitutions, acts, and orders, concerning the administration 
 of the external government of the church, and the persons 
 employed in the same, and concerning all ecclesiastic meet- 
 ings, and matters to be proposed and determined therein, as 
 they, in their royal wisdom, shall think fit." 
 
 From all which acts, it plainly appears, that the true sense 
 of that authority, which they would have their private 
 thoughts about, was really, as the martyrs understood it, his 
 ecclesiastic supremacy, and that no less than a recognition 
 
« PREFACE. 
 
 hereof would serve their turn : and though some of the mar- 
 tyrs offered a distinction between the two, professing to own 
 his civil authority abstract from the ecclesiastical, (as, for in- 
 stance, Mr. John Dick,) yet they were not absolved, because 
 they would not own his authority in gross. And, besides, 
 their including the supremacy over church matters, into the 
 formal notion of the king's authority, they could be pleased 
 with no less from any that they called before them, than an 
 owning the whole acts and laws, and entire exercise and ad- 
 ministration of things in church and state, which was an im-. 
 plicit condemning of all the preceding reformation, and 
 consenting to the persecution and murder of the saints, who 
 stood up for its defence. 
 
 It is true, indeed, these things were so impious and abom- 
 inable, that had they been proposed without mask, they 
 would presently have produced horror in the mind of every 
 one, not entirely lost to all conscience and goodness ; and 
 therefore, these children of the old serpent had so much of 
 their father, that they made it their work to hide these horrid 
 hooks with some specious baits, that they might the more 
 easily entice simple people into the snare they had laid for 
 them : and hence, knowing how much it is the effect of true 
 religion to make men loyal, and that the Presbyterians were, 
 of all others, the readiest to yield all lawful subjection to 
 their rightful princes, they still made use of the specious 
 title of authority, as a blind to hide the ecclesiastical suprem- 
 acy, and bloody exercise of their government, from those 
 they laboured to ensnare. They saw the supremacy they 
 intended to fix in the king, was such a monstrum horrendum, 
 informe, ingens, Hecate, atque Ereho ortum, that without 
 some veil of this nature, no man would be so mad as to em- 
 brace it. But when this would not do, but that still its ill- 
 favoured face appeared through the vizard; and all good men 
 saw, that that authority which sought no other way to main- 
 tain itself, than by blood and rapine, was really degenerated 
 into tyranny, then they pretended to come steps lower, and 
 said. That they required no more at the hands of the people 
 in order to dismiss them, but that they would, at their desire, 
 pray for the king, in their prescribed form of words, viz., 
 " God save the king ;" or that they would drink the king's good 
 health. These were by them represented to be so minute 
 and easy things, and by a great many professors looked upon 
 
PREFACE. y 
 
 as SO trivial and indiflPerent, that tliej were in the fair way 
 either to ensnare, or with more opportunity to expose, such 
 as refused, to the contempt of indifferent spectators, as being 
 such scrupulous fools, and brain-sick persons, as were trans- 
 ported with an extravagant wild zeal, without knowledge, 
 who had rather have a hand in their own death, than do so 
 small and indifferent a thing in order to prevent it. And 
 hence, not the persecutors only, but even a great many who 
 professed Presbyterian principles, stood not to call them 
 murderers, instead of martyrs. 
 
 But notwithstanding all this, it is certain they had no- 
 thing else before them, than to bring people to a tame sub- 
 mission and slavish compliance with the whole course^of 
 their Christ-dethroning, and land-enslaving constitutions 
 and administrations ; for they intended the same thing by 
 urging people to say, " God save the king," as by the Oath of 
 Allegiance, Declaration, or Test ; namely, an acknowledg- 
 ment of the authority, wherewith they had vested him in 
 the forementioned articles, and others of like nature. Less 
 than this could never serve their design, which was still the 
 same, whatever alterations might appear to be in their way 
 of prosecuting it ; for either these things were so insignifi- 
 cant and indifferent as they gave them out to be, and as 
 others conceived of them, or they were not; if we say 
 the former, then what monsters of mankind were these 
 persecutors, who pursued poor innocent people to death, 
 and inflicted such cruel tortures upon them for trifles, and 
 things of indifferency. This is what themselves, I suppose, 
 would never admit to be reckoned a degree further lost to 
 humanity than a Xero or Caligula, so as to torment and 
 destroy men for sport: nay, they still pretended that all 
 these persecutions were made upon weighty and just causes. 
 If then, we say the latter, namely, that they were not so 
 very inconsiderable things as some conceived, wherein could 
 the moment and weight of them consist, but in tliis, that 
 they were in owning of the authority, as it was contained 
 in the laws? And what else was the scope of the most 
 openly impious oaths, tests, and bonds, but this? And be- 
 sides, when any yielded this much, they were still urged 
 further, till they had debauched them out of all conscience 
 and integrity, as much as themselves. 
 
 The rest of the questions put to them, and made causes 
 
10 PREFACE. 
 
 of their indictment, were all but so many branches from tliis 
 root, and rivulets from this spring. The chief was that 
 about defensive arms, which their laws had declared rebell- 
 ion : which all the martyrs, without the least jar or discord, 
 did stedfastly maintain, as being a thing so very consonant, 
 not only to the positive commands of God in his word, but 
 also to the very law of nature stamped on the heart, and to 
 the laws and practices of all kingdoms ; and undertaken upon 
 so necessary grounds, as the defence of the gospel, and the 
 lives of the innocent, in consequence of their covenant en- 
 gagements ; which, however, these wicked persecutors had 
 declared null and void, and the adhering to them capital, 
 yet all such as had any love to God, and zeal for his cause, 
 believed to be perpetually obligatory upon them and the 
 nation, and therefore adhered to them with a stedfastness 
 and courage invincible, against the most bloody opposition. 
 And it is observable, that whatever any of the martyrs had 
 not so much light in as others, or differed from others 
 anent, or was silent when interrogated upon it, yet they all 
 agreed perfectly, and were clear abundantly in owning, and 
 bold, harmonious, and courageous in asserting the lawful- 
 ness, and avouching the obligatory force of the covenants. 
 National covenants were the means which God had con- 
 stantly from the beginning of the reformation made use of, 
 and blessed, to cement and strengthen his people in Scot- 
 land, in their adherence to the truth ; of these his church 
 was as a strong city and incorporation, prosecuting all the 
 same common cause of religion and liberty, so by that com- 
 mon bond, the injury offered to any one of her members, 
 was taken as done to all. And beside the express com- 
 mands of the word, this was a blessed tye and engagement, 
 to every one in their place and station, to stand up for the 
 purity of the doctrine, simplicity of the worship, beauty and 
 order of the government and discipline of Christ's house, 
 and his royal supremacy over the same. And hence ma- 
 lignant and disaffected persons perceiving that there was 
 nothing so conducive to the advancement and preservation 
 of national reformation, as these mutual bonds and sacred 
 covenants, set themselves chiefly to destroy tliese ; and in 
 an ignominious manner burnt them; declared them treason- 
 able and seditious, made the owning of them criminal, and 
 persecuted such as adhered to them. And, on the other 
 
PREFACE. 11 
 
 hand, God was pleased mightily to animate his suffering 
 saints, both -with light and zeal, in the defence of them, 
 against all efforts of hellish violence. 
 
 Wherefore, when this alone was not like to effectuate their 
 designs, these persecutors betook themselves to another 
 stratagem, and fell upon more mild, but more successful 
 measures, of giving out indemnities and indulgences, so 
 restricted and limited, as the acceptors should be gained to a 
 peaceable compliance with, and submission to their impious 
 laws ; and taken off from their zeal in maintaining the work 
 of reformation, and divided from their covenanted brethren: 
 bv this means they weakened the remnant that had not 
 complied with Prelacy, set them at variance one against 
 another, allured the one to sit quietly still, till they had 
 made an end of their brethren ; and, in short, rent and 
 almost quite ruined, the poor Presbyterian Church of Scot- 
 land. And hence, as the suffering remnant, which was by 
 far the smallest part, were much opposed and reproached 
 by those ministers and professors, who accepted of these 
 pretended favours, so it became a necessary head of testi- 
 mony, to witness against the indulgence and acceptance 
 thereof, or sinful connivance thereat. The particular dis- 
 quisition of this affair is not consistent with the narrow lim- 
 its of a preface ; wherefore, the reader may see for his 
 satisfaction therein. The History of the Indulgence, Infor- 
 matory Vindication, Hind let Loose, &c. 
 
 Afterwards, when the persecution became sore and vio- 
 lent against the remnant that refused these deceitful baits, 
 and stood to their covenanted religion and liberty, and that 
 both by the open violence of the enemies, and false slanders 
 and calumnies of pretended friends, they were obliged to 
 emit several declarations of their principles, and to defend 
 themselves from these unjust slanders and calumnies : which 
 declarations, so soon as the persecutors got into their hands, 
 thinking they had a good handle therein, for taking away 
 the lives of all such as should adhere to them, in regard 
 that therein they had more explicitly and fully cast oft" the 
 authority of the tyrant Charles II., and specified the reasons 
 why they could not own his authority, they never failed, 
 on all occasions, to make that a part of their examinations, 
 " Own ye the Sanquhar Declaration, the papers found at 
 the Queensferry ? " &c., and many were indicted upon their 
 
12 PREFACE. 
 
 adherence to these declarations and other papers. I con- 
 ceive it is not necessary to swell this preface with a par- 
 ticular defence of these declarations, that being so well 
 done by themselves in the Informatory Vindication, which 
 the reader may have recourse to: and as to the paper 
 found upon Mr. Hall, of Haugh-head, when he was mur- 
 dered at Queensferry, the reader may see it, with a short 
 relation concerning that worthy gentleman's death, in the 
 Appendix. 
 
 Another question commonly put to sufferers, was 
 "Whether they owned the excommunication at the Tor- 
 wood ? " Which they did with much freedom, as a necessary 
 duty and lawfully performed, so far as that broken state of 
 the church would permit, and upon most weighty and suf- 
 ficient grounds. The form and order of which excommuni- 
 cation will also be found in the Appendix. 
 
 But their finest topic, wherein they insulted and gloried 
 most, was the death of James Sharp, archbishop of St. An- 
 drews, which they reckoned a cruel murder, and therefore 
 hoped, that if the sufferers should approve of the same, they 
 would have a colour to destroy them, as men of assassinat- 
 ing and bloody principles, deserving to be exterminated out 
 of any well-governed commonwealth; and therefore it was 
 still one of their questions, " AYas the bishop's death murder?" 
 To which question some answered directly, that it was a 
 just and lawful execution of God's law upon him, for his 
 perjurious treachery and bloody cruelty ; others were sil- 
 ent, or refused to answer any thing directly to the point, 
 as conceiving that it being no deed of theirs, they were not 
 obliged by any law, divine or human, to give their judgment 
 thereupon, especially when they could not exactly know 
 the circumstances of the matter of fact, and saw that the 
 question was proposed with a design to ensnare them, or 
 take away their life : yet was their very silence or refusal 
 to give their opinion, made a cause of their indictment, and 
 ground of their sentence, and some were put to torture to 
 make them give their sentiments anent it. If any would 
 be further satisfied on this head, let him see Hind let Loose, 
 chap. VI. 
 
 But however these murderers of the servants and people 
 of God made use of such questions as these to entangle 
 them, yet still the grand state of the quarrel was, " Whether 
 
PREFACE. 13 
 
 Christ alone, or king Charles, should be owned as head and 
 lawgiver to the church? And, Whether the divine form of 
 government and discipline, which Christ had instituted, 
 should continue in the church, or if an usurper sliould have 
 leave to mould it as he pleased, and conform it to the pomp- 
 ous dress of the Romish whore? 
 
 And hence it is also evident that the state of the suffer- 
 ings before the engagement at Bothwell, was really one and 
 the same with that which was after it, as to the main, though 
 things came to be clearer after it, concerning the civil 
 authority, when by that and many other instances, it was 
 made evident that the pretended rulers were setting them- 
 selves directly to ruin the whole interests of the subjects, civil 
 as well as sacred ; and that it was in vain to be any longer 
 in suspense, waiting for a satisfactory redress of grievances, 
 or opportunity to represent the same. So that the charge 
 of rebellion laid against them, not only by our episcopal 
 passive-obedience men, but also by the indulged, and such 
 as tread their steps, is a most groundless imputation; for 
 king Charles had violated all the conditions of government, 
 and manifestly degenerated into a tyrant, long before they 
 rejected his authority, and had lost all claims to the sub- 
 jects' allegiance, upon account of the contract which he 
 entered into at his coronation, and had no pretence to autho- 
 rity but hereditary right and bloody force, with the consent 
 of such profligate noblemen and gentlemen as sat in packed 
 and pretended parliaments, which could never, in law or rea- 
 son, oblige the honest and faithful subjects of the kingdom 
 to comply with these tyrannical courses, and submit to him, 
 who had as really forfeited his right to be king of Britain, 
 as did his brother afterwards by his abdication. 
 
 But it is no new thing for the followers of Christ to meet 
 with this charge of rebellion. If a Jezebel wants a Naboth's 
 vineyard, and he stands up for his property, she will not 
 want sons of Belial to bear witness, that he blasphemed 
 God and the king. Do the adversaries of Judah and Ben- 
 jamin intend to stop the building of Jerusalem? they'll not 
 want a Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, to 
 write, " That this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful unto 
 kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition 
 within the same of old time." Would Haman have all the 
 Jews destroyed, because Mordecai will not honour him? this 
 
14 PREFACE. 
 
 is the charge he lays against them, as most likely to effec- 
 tuate his purpose, " That their laws are diverse from all peo- 
 ple, neither keep they the king's laws." Have the presidents 
 a purpose to be rid of Daniel? this is the engine, " That 
 Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, 
 regardeth not thee, King! nor the decree that thou hast 
 signed." Is a Tertullus to employ his eloquence against 
 Paul? here's the artifice, " We have found this man a pesti- 
 lent fellow and a mover of sedition among the Jews." Were 
 the Romans desirous to have the Christians exterminated 
 out of the empire, what shift took they? Why, truly, this 
 was it, "The Christians are rebellious and seditious; they 
 won't swear by the life of Csesar, or adore his image ; and 
 therefore Christianos ad leonesT If we look through the 
 whole ecclesiastic history, we shall scarce find a persecution 
 raised, but tliis is an article of the charge. But it is no para- 
 dox, " The servant is not greater than his Lord ;" even Christ 
 himself was accused and condemned as an enemy to Csesar, 
 and a mover of sedition. But I shall not enter into this 
 argument; the sufferers for Christ in Scotland have been fre- 
 quently vindicated from the charge of rebellion, by more 
 learned pens, and yet stiU we have a generation of absurd 
 men, who will not fail to renew it ; nor can the strenglh of 
 argument silence them, while they have brow enough to 
 return railing in the room of reason. 
 
 The reader having thus briefly seen the causes, upon 
 which they laid down their lives ; it were necessary to pro- 
 ceed to a short delineation, both of the cruelty of the perse- 
 cutors' inflicting, and of the courage, patience, and cheerful- 
 ness of the martyrs, suffering these severities ; but as for the 
 former, what tongue can express, what pen can describe the 
 barbarous cruelty, and hellish rage of these sons of wicked- 
 ness? One might write a volume upon their cruelties, and 
 after all faU short of drawing them to the life, or giving 
 any just idea of them, they were so extremely inhuman 
 and brutish. At first, they began with noblemen, gentle- 
 men, and ministers, who had been eminent for the cause 
 of God: beheading some, and placing their heads upon the 
 ports of Edinburgh, in token of the highest contempt, ban- 
 ishing others, ejecting all from their charges, but such as 
 would be subject to Prelacy, and the blasphemous suprem- 
 acy; and vitiating all the springs and seminaries of learning; 
 
PREFACE. 15 
 
 next, they compel the common people to hear curates, 
 by vast and exhorbitant fines, extorted by troops of sol- 
 diers, plundering, quartering, beating, wounding, binding 
 men like beasts, chasing them away from their houses, 
 compelling them, though sick, to go to church, consuming 
 and wasting their provision with dogs, and promiscuously 
 abusing, as well those that comformed as those who refused: 
 and if any testified their resentment at these vermin of 
 ignorant and scandalous curates, or refused to give them 
 their titles, they were imprisoned, scourged, stigmatized, 
 and banished to Barbadoes, or other foreign parts. Any 
 that were hearing their own ministers in private houses, 
 were seized, dragged to prisons, and close kept there, in 
 great hardship, and those of every age and sex. 
 
 These were their tender mercies, and but the beginnings 
 of sorrow: for after the defeat at Pentland-hills, besides 
 what were killed upon the spot, such as surrendered upon 
 quarter and solemn parole to have their life, were, contrary 
 to the law of nature and nations, treacherously and bloodily 
 murdered, to the number of forty ; one of them, a much 
 reverenced young minister, had his legs squeezed to pieces 
 in the boots, and was afterwards hanged, though he was not 
 in the fight, but had only a sword about him. 
 
 Soldiers were ordered to take free quarters in the coun- 
 try, to examine men by tortures, to compel women and 
 children to discover their husbands and fathers, by threaten- 
 ing death, wounding, stripping, torturing by fire-matches, 
 &c,, crowding into prisons so thick, that they could scarce 
 stand together, in cold, hunger, and nakedness; and all 
 this, because they would not, or could not discover who 
 were at that expedition. Likewise, many ensnaring bonds, 
 oaths, and tests were framed, and imposed with rigour and 
 horrid severity; people obliged to have passes declaring 
 they had taken them, or to swear before common soldiers, 
 under pain of being presently shot dead. Severe laws were 
 made against ministers, that came to Edinburgh for shelter, 
 they and their wives were searched for, by public search, 
 crowded into prisons, sent to foreign plantations to be sold 
 as slaves. Dragoons were sent to pursue people that 
 attended field preachings, to search them out in mosses, 
 moors, mountains, and dens of the earth. Savage hosts of 
 Highlanders were sent down to depopulate the western 
 
16 PREFACE. 
 
 shires, to the number often or eleven thousand, who acted 
 most outrageous barbarities, even ahnost to the laying some 
 counties desolate. 
 
 After the overthrow of the Lord's people at Bothwell, they 
 doubled these severities, issued out more soldiers, imposed 
 cess, localities, and other new exactions; forced people to 
 swear super -inqidrendis, and dilate upon oath all that went 
 to field preachings, set up extraordinary circuit courts, en- 
 larged their Porteous rolls, pressed bonds of compearance 
 to keep the peace, to attend the church, refrain from field 
 meetings, &c., examining country people upon several ques- 
 tions which they had no occasion to understand, as concern- 
 ing the death of King Charles I., and the archbishop of St. 
 Andrews, and condemning them to death for not answering ; 
 quartering some alive, cropping their ears, cutting off the 
 hands of some, and then hanging them, cutting their bodies 
 in pieces after they were dead, and fixing them upon poles, 
 in chains, and upon steeples and ports of cities, beating 
 drums at their executions, that they might not be heard 
 speaking, detaining others long in prison, loaded with chains 
 and fetters of iron, and exposed to greater tortures than 
 death itself, and after all sent to be sold as slaves, to empty 
 the prisons, exercising all these bloody deaths and cruelties 
 upon poor country people, who had no influence to do 
 hurt to their government, though they had been willing ; 
 yea, upon young women of tender age, whom they hanged 
 and drowned, for refusing their oaths and bonds, and reset- 
 ting the Lord's suffering people. 
 
 It would be endless to enumerate all their barbarities 
 exercised upon particular persons : only, for example, take 
 those inflicted on that excellent gentleman, David Hackston, 
 of Rathillet. He was taken out from the place of judgment 
 to his execution, and his body, which was already wounded, 
 was tortured while he was alive, by the cutting off both his 
 hands, which was done upon a high scaffold prepared for the 
 purpose ; thereafter being drawn up by a pulley to the top 
 of the high gallows, by the rope which was about his neck, 
 and suffered to fall down a very considerable way upon the 
 lower scaffold three times, with his whole weight ; then he 
 was fixed at the top of the gallows, and the executioner with 
 a big knife cutting open his breast, pulled out his heart, 
 while he was yet alive, as appeared both by the body's con- 
 
TREFACE. 17 
 
 tracting itself, when it was pulled out, and bj the violent 
 motion of the heart when it dropt upon the scaffold, which 
 the executioner taking up upon the knife, showed to the 
 people upon the several corners of the stage, crying, " Here is 
 the heart of a traitor," and then threw it into a fire prepared 
 for the purpose upon the stage, together also with his other 
 inwards and noble parts ; and having quartered his body, 
 fixed his head and hands on a port at Edinburgh, and the 
 other quarters at Leith, Cupar of Fife, and other places. 
 Such was the size and proportion of their persecutions, while 
 yet they pretended to bring them to the knowledge of assizes 
 and colour of law. 
 
 But being now weary with these persecutions, according 
 to the tenor of their own laws, the counsellors, to rid them- 
 selves of this trouble, gave out an edict for killing them, 
 wherever they might be found, immediately upon the spot, 
 unless they would take the oaths, and show their pass, 
 which they behoved to swear was not forged; or if they 
 found any arms or ammunition upon them of any sort : by 
 means of which edict, many were suddenly surprised and 
 shot dead by the brutish and merciless soldiers, who were 
 either peaceably livino- at home following their lawful em- 
 ployments, or wandering in mountains, to hide themselves 
 from their bloody enemies, not being allowed time to recom- 
 mend their souls to God ; and the country was engaged by 
 oath to raise the hue and cry against them, in order to deliver 
 them up to the hands of these burriors. The chief contrivers 
 and framers of this horrid murdering edict, were the Earl of 
 Perth, chancellor, Duke of Queensberry, Marquis of Athol, 
 and particularly the Viscount of Tarbet, now Earl of Crom- 
 arty, who invented this murdering device, wherein yet he 
 carried so cunningly, that he procured the dispatch of the 
 act to the king with such suddenness, that he found a 
 way to shift his own subscribing it ; and though he wants 
 power now to practise such bloody mischief, yet it is evi- 
 dent, he has not repented thereof, but is, as yet, a contriver 
 of the present encroachments made upon the established 
 church, by the late mischievous acts of parliament. 
 
 But I must not enter any further into the relation of 
 these cruelties, the true history of which would expand 
 into a volume. I own, indeed, that a fuller narration of these 
 things, with pertinent observations thereupon, would have 
 
 c2 
 
18 TREFACE. 
 
 been proper enough for the intended work ; but hoping that 
 the Lord maj yet raise up some of better abiUties for such 
 an undertaking, to set these sufferings in a true light, and 
 give an impartial recital thereof ; this short hint, together 
 with some account of these cold-blooded murderers in the 
 Appendix, may suffice at present. 
 
 Let us next view a little, with some attention and con- 
 cern, with what undaunted courage, holy resolution, and 
 greatness of mind ; with what unshaken steadfastness and 
 constancy those worthy sufferers underwent all these bloody 
 severities. Those disciples of Jesus had been so trained up 
 in his school, and learned the great Christian doctrines of 
 bearing the cross, mortifying the flesh, and contemning the 
 world; they had been so thoroughly instructed by the great 
 Master of assemblies, who teaches to profit, and leads the 
 blind in a way they know not, to discern the preciousness 
 of truth, and excellency of the knowledge of Christ, that 
 they were made willing, yea, cheerfully willing, to forego 
 riches, honours, pleasures, liberty, and life itself, when they 
 came in competition with a steady adherence to the truth 
 and honour of their lovely Lord. Love to Jesus Christ was 
 the great spring which set all the wheels of their affections 
 in motion, to do and suffer for him, whatever he called them 
 to. Every one of them could say to their persecutors, what 
 Chrysostom said to the empress Eudoxia, who sent him a 
 threatening message. Nil nisi peccatum timeo, I fear nothing 
 but sin. They saw so much of the evil of sin, and beauty 
 of holiness, that they would rather undergo the severest of 
 suffering than stain their consciences with the least sin, or 
 lose the smallest filing of this fine gold of truth. Many of 
 the things for which they suffered, were reckoned small by 
 the indifferent world, but to them they appeared in their 
 just magnitude. Tertullian in his book, De corona militiSy 
 tells us, " That when a certain Christian soldier, in the em- 
 peror's army, refused to wear a crown of bays upon his head, 
 as all the rest of the soldiers did, upon a day sacred to one 
 of the heathen idols, he was not only mocked at by the 
 infidels for his nicety, but even by many of the Christians, 
 conceiving it a folly that this one man, for such a small and 
 indifferent thing, should endanger both himself and other 
 Christians ; but Tertullian defends him, and says, " This 
 soldier was more God's soldier, and more constant than the 
 
TREFACE. 19 
 
 rest of liis brethren, who presumed thej might serve two 
 lords, and for avoiding persecution, comply with the hea- 
 thens in their superstitious rites." And when some Chris- 
 tians, who, like our indulged people, would rather comply 
 than endure the hazard, objected, " Where is it written in 
 all the word of God, that we should not wear bays upon 
 our heads ? " TertuUian answers, " Where is it written that 
 we may do it ? " We must look into the scriptures, to see 
 what we may do ; and not think it enough, that the scripture 
 doth not forbid directly this or that very particular." They 
 knew, with the same TertuUian, in the fore-cited book, " That 
 the state of Christianity doth not admit the excuse of neces- 
 sity ; there is no necessity of sinning to them, to whom it is 
 only necessary not to sin." And hence they would not so 
 much as seem to call in question any of the truths of Christ; 
 when the enemies would have given them time to deliberate 
 and advise anent them, they were so confirmed in the pre- 
 sent truth, that they answered their adversaries, as Cyprian 
 once did his. In materia tamjusta non est deliberandum — in 
 so just a cause there needs no deliberation. When they 
 were urged with the example of other Presbyterians, minis- 
 ters, and professors, who had complied, and were far wiser 
 and better than they, this did not shake them, but rather 
 heightened their zeal. As Chrysostom tells us, these two holy 
 martyrs, Juventius and Maximus, when they were urged by 
 their persecutors with this argument. Do not ye see others 
 of your rank do this ? answered, For this very reason wo will 
 manfully stand, and offer ourselves as a sacrifice for the 
 breach that they have made. So the sad defections of their 
 brethren made them the more emulous to witness for Christ, 
 when so many, Demas like, had forsaken him, having loved 
 this present world. 
 
 These martyrs had such large discoveries of Christ's love, 
 especially under the cross, that their hardest trials were 
 accounted light. As Stephen the proto-martyr got the 
 fullest views of Christ, while before the council, so these 
 had most lively sights of him under the sharpest sufferings ; 
 and hence they could not find in their heart to deny so kind 
 a master. As Polycarp, that holy minister of Christ, at 
 Smyrna, answered the proconsul, bidding him defy Christ, 
 and he would be discharged, " Fourscore and six years," says 
 he, " have I been his servant, yet all this time he hath not so 
 
20 PREFACE. 
 
 much as once beat me, how then may I speak evil of my 
 king and sovereign, who hath thus preserved me?" They 
 were under a lively sense of their vows and obligations to 
 Christ, personal and national, and therefore durst not, could 
 not, deny his name, nor break his bonds, and cast away his 
 cords, as the wicked hath done ; they were of the resolute 
 disposition of Victorianus, who being solicited by the empe- 
 ror to turn Arian, told him, " You may try all extremities, 
 torture me, expose me to wild beasts, burn me to ashes, I 
 had rather suffer any thing than falsify my promise made 
 to Christ my Saviour, in baptism." And as Christ had been 
 very kind to them, so they trusted much to him, and 
 depended on him for strengthening influence, being very 
 sensible of their own weakness ; and they durst promise 
 much on Christ's head ; they could say as Vincentius to the 
 tyrant Darius, " Rage, and do the utmost that the spirit of 
 malignity can set you on work to do, you shall see God's 
 spirit strengthen the tormented more than the devil can do 
 the tormentors." And as Zuingiius to the bishop of Con- 
 stance, " Truth is a thing invincible, and cannot be resisted." 
 As they were well instructed in the necessity, so in the 
 usefulness and benefit of the cross ; they knew, that, as the 
 church and nation had deserved to be chastened and pun- 
 ished of God, so it was far more eligible to be chastened by 
 sore adversities, inflicted by a loving Father, than by severe 
 impunities of an incensed and just Judge. They knew that 
 the grief they suffered was medicinal, not penal ; the correc- 
 tion of a father, not the indignation of an enemy : and that 
 they needed such merciful files and furnaces of adversity, to 
 scour off the rust they had contracted in prosperity. Nay, 
 they were not only content to undergo these fatherly cor- 
 rections, but accounted it a singular kindness and condescen- 
 sion, that what they deserved should be their punishment, 
 was made their glory, crown, and honour ; that they who 
 had merited to be scattered into corners, and have their 
 remembrance made to cease from among men, for their 
 lightly prizing the precious and glorious gospel, should be 
 gathered into such a cloud of witnesses, and have their 
 remembrance made everlasting, as honoured martyrs for 
 Christ, and the defence of the gospel ; that when they had 
 provoked God by their sinful lusting after a malignant to be 
 their king, they should be dignified to contend for the kingly 
 
PREFACE. 21 
 
 prerogatives of such a glorious and good sovereign, as the 
 King of kings. And as thej had a good understanding in 
 tlie doctrine of the cross, so likewise in the promise of the 
 crown, that is upon the back of the cross ; they looked 
 at the recompence of reward, and therefore endured, be- 
 cause bj faith tliej saw him who is invisible. It was their 
 looking unto Jesus who endured such contradiction of sinners 
 against himself, that made them bear all these reproaches, 
 slanders, scoffs, and jeers from enemies and professed friends, 
 with such invincible patience. 
 
 Thou hast here. Christian reader, the dying speeches of 
 some of these noble heroes ; and as the speeches of dying 
 men are remarkable, the speeches of dying Christians more 
 remarkable, how remarkable must the speeches of dying 
 witnesses for Christ be? It is reasonably expected, that 
 dying men, much more dying Christians, and most of all 
 dying martyrs, should speak best at last. They are imme- 
 diately to give in their last account, they are disinterested 
 from all the worldly views that used to darken our under- 
 standings and bias our affections, while living in health and 
 prosperity ; they are upon the borders of eternity ; and as 
 the motions of nature are stronger the nearer they are to the 
 centre, so saints are most lively and heavenly, when nearest 
 heaven : martyrs have a special promise, " That it shall be 
 given them in that hour what they shall speak," The last 
 speeches of Christ's dying witnesses have extorted, even from 
 heathens, acknowledgments to the honour of God, Vere 
 magnus est Deus Christia7iorum ! — truly great is the Chris- 
 tian's God. They have been made the means of conversion 
 to many thousands of sinners ; as Justin Martyr testifies of 
 himself, that the dying words of Christians made him fall in 
 love with the life of Christianity. 
 
 I own, they are not bedecked with the embellishments of 
 oratory and fine language : who can expect that from people 
 of so mean education ? but they are full of the language of 
 heaven, which is many degrees more forcible than all our 
 artificial rhetoric. One will find several mistakes in grammar, 
 no doubt in them; but they were never intended for the re- 
 flections of critics, but for the instruction of Christians; and 
 their plain rude discourses may, through God's blessing, do 
 more good to the latter, than the most elaborate compositions 
 can do to the former. They may serve both as a comfort 
 
22 PREFACE. 
 
 and encouragement to sufferers, and as an instruction and 
 example to saints. Herein, as in a glass, we may both see 
 our blemishes, wherein we come short of them, and learn to 
 dress ourselves with the like Christian ornaments of zeal, 
 holiness, stedfastness, meekness, patience, humility, and other 
 graces. 
 
 But alas ! how can the best of us read these testimonies, 
 without blushing for our low attainments and small pro- 
 ficiency in the school of Christ? How unlike are we to 
 them ! How zealous were they for the honour of Christ I 
 how lukewarm are we, of whatever profession or denomina- 
 tion ! How burning was their love to him, his truths, or- 
 dinances, and people ; how cold is ours ! How self-denied 
 and crucified to the world were they ; how selfish and 
 worldly are we ! How willing were they to part with all 
 for Christ ; and what an honour did they esteem it to suffer 
 for him, to be chained, whipped, haltered, staked, impris- 
 oned, banished, wounded, killed for him ! how unwilling are 
 we to part with a very little for him, much less to endure 
 such hardships, and account them our glory ! Alas ! are 
 we not ashamed of what they accounted their ornament, and 
 accounting that our glory, which they looked upon as a dis- 
 grace ? How easy was it for them to choose the greatest 
 sufferings, rather than the least sin ; how hard is it for us 
 not to choose the greatest sin, before the least suffering ! 
 Oh, that their Christian virtues could upbraid us out of our 
 lethargy of supine security ! That their humility, meekness, 
 and patience, could shame us out of our pride, haughtiness, 
 and impatience : they were sympathizing Christians, active 
 for the glory of God and the good of souls, diligent to have 
 their evidences for heaven clear, and having obtained assur- 
 ance of God's love to their persons, and approbation of their 
 cause, they went cheerfully on in their way, fearless of men, 
 who can only kill the body, and ready to die the most 
 violent death at God's call. But oh ! how little fellow-feel- 
 ing is there now among Christians ; but instead thereof, 
 bitterness, emulation, wrath, envy, contentions, and divisions. 
 How little concern for the work and cause of Christ! how 
 dark are the most part, both as to their spiritual state, and 
 their proper and pertinent duty ! and how much is the fear 
 of man prevailing above zeal for the glory of God ! 
 
 I know it is objected by some, that they much wanted 
 
PREFACE. 23 
 
 that virtue which is the greatest ornament of Christians, and 
 truest character of martyrs, namely, a forgiving disposition ; 
 because they lay their blood at the door of the principal 
 contrivers and executors of their death, which the objectors 
 suppose not to have been done by any of the former suf- 
 ferers for Christ. But to this I oppone — 1. Granting, for 
 argument's sake, that they had expressed themselves with 
 some more fervency on that head than others formerly had 
 done, and that this was a piece of their infirmity ; it will not 
 follow that we should presently admit the invidious infer- 
 ence, that therefore they were no martyrs for Christ: for as 
 neither the many gross failings of the Old Testament saints, 
 nor the mistakes of primitive Christians, about the truths 
 for which they suffered, could deprive either of the honour 
 of the saintship or martyrdom, so neither ought any in- 
 firmity of theirs to be improved against them for that end. 
 Solomon tells us, that oppression makes a wise man mad ; 
 and they met with it in the highest degree, and that not 
 from the hands of Pagans, Turks, or Papists, but of those 
 who had been their covenanted brethren by profession ; and 
 when a holy, self-resigned David had much ado to bear 
 reproaches from the hand of one that had been his equal, 
 guide, and acquaintance, with whom he had formerly sweet 
 fellowship, it was not to be wondered if they were put upon 
 some vehemency of expression by their severe sufferings 
 from such hands, and should rather be favourably con- 
 structed of — 
 
 Si quid 
 Intumuit pietas, si quid fiagrantius actum est. 
 
 But, 2. more directly, I am bold to deny the charge ; for 
 they every where distinguish betwixt the injuries done to 
 them, considered simply in themselves, and the injuries done 
 to Christ, and to his image in them: the former they declare 
 they forgive, as they desire forgiveness of God themselves: 
 the latter they leave to God's sovereign disposal, withal 
 wishing, that God might give them repentance : nor is the 
 thing unprecedented, for, beside the example of Jeremiah, 
 who laid his innocent blood at the door of the princes, if 
 they should take his life, there might be several more recent 
 parallels adduced ; it shall suffice to instance one of our own 
 nation, imprisoned for bearing witness to the same truth, 
 
24 PREFACE. 
 
 namely, Mr. John Welsh, who, in his letter to the ladj 
 Fleming, hath these express words : " The guilt of our blood 
 shall lie upon bishops, counsellors, and commissioners, who 
 have stirred up our prince against us, and so upon the rest 
 of our brethren, who either by silence approve, or by crying 
 peace, peace, strengthen the arm of the wicked, that they 
 cannot return, and, in the mean time, make the heart of the 
 righteous sad. Next upon all them that sat in council, and 
 did not bear plain testimony of Jesus Christ and his truth, 
 for which we suffer; and next, upon those that should have 
 come and made open testimony of Christ faithfully, although 
 it had been to the hazard of their lives. Finally, all those 
 that counsel, command, consent, and allow, are guilty in the 
 sight of God." Sure I am, this is as full as any thing they 
 have on this head, and proves that what they did was con- 
 sistent with a Christian and forgiving temper of spirit. 
 
 And as they went off the stage, both with magnanimity 
 and meekness, so it has been observed concerning many of 
 their persecutors, that they departed this world with visible 
 symptoms of God's wrath and judgments, especially with 
 hell in their souls ; I mean the horror of an awakened con- 
 science, under the sense of God's indignation; than which 
 there can be no greater torment in this life. 
 
 Siculi non invenere tyranni 
 Tormentum majus. 
 
 Well, these martyrs are now in heaven, in Abraham's 
 bosom, enjoying the crown laid up for them, confirmed in an 
 unchangeable state of rest and blessedness ; we are yet in 
 the stage of action and place of probation, we have our trials 
 before us, let us imitate the cloud of witnesses, and contend 
 for the faith once delivered to the saints. We know not 
 what storms are abiding us. The Canaanite and the Periz- 
 zite are yet in the land. A restless Popish and Jacobite 
 party, projecting a new revolution of affairs, as sanguinary 
 and cruel yet as ever, and retaining as much of the old 
 malignity and enmity against the covenanted work of refor- 
 mation as ever, only waiting an opportunity to exert it ; and 
 many things in the present aspect of affairs portending that 
 they may be our scourge in the hand of our displeased Lord, 
 for our misimproving mercies and deliverances, satisfying 
 
PREFACE. 25 
 
 ourselves with our own things, not minding the things of 
 Christ; chiefly for our undervaluing the offers of the blessed 
 Son of God in the gospel, and visible breach of national ob- 
 ligations to be for him and his cause. Seeing, then, such 
 clouds are gathering, and threatening a dismal tempest, let 
 us arm ourselves with the same mind to stand up for the 
 truth upon all hazards, whether we be called of God to do, 
 or to suffer, for the joint interest of true religion and national 
 liberty; for these, like Hippocrates's twins, weep or laugh, 
 live or die together. " Righteousness exaltetli a nation," 
 saith the wise Solomon ; and Theodosius the emperor owned, 
 " That the establishment of a Christian state depends chiefly 
 upon piety towards God." On the other hand, civil liberty 
 is an excellent bulwark to religion, without which its purity 
 cannot long be preserved: for as the same emperor said, 
 " Multa inter ecclesiam et rempuhlicam cognaiio intercedere 
 solet ; ex se invicem pendent, et utraque prosperis alterius 
 successibus incrementa sumity There is an intimate con- 
 nection between the church and commonwealth; they de- 
 pend the one upon the other, and either is advanced by the 
 prosperity and success of the other. 
 
 'Tis to be feared, this time of ease and outward peace 
 has so enfeebled and softened our spirits, that we will find 
 it hard to face a storm; we may complain with Eusebius, 
 " Res nostrae ni?nia libertate in mollitiem et segniliem degen- 
 erarunt.'^ Too much liberty has made us soft and sluggish. 
 The vigorous exercise of Christian discipline has been much 
 intermitted, and therefore we have ground to expect severe 
 correction from the hand of God. Cyprian observes, that 
 this was the procuring cause of God's correcting the church 
 in his time: " Quia traditam nobis divinitus disciplinam pax 
 longa corruperat, jacentem fidem, et pene dixerini dormien- 
 tem, censura ccelestis egebat." Because long peace had cor- 
 rupted the divinely instituted discipline, therefore there 
 needed heavenly chastisement to awaken the faith of the 
 church, which was lying low, and almost fast asleep. All 
 these dying witnesses assure us of judgments abiding this 
 church and nation, and our present condition seems to say, 
 that we are the people who are to meet with them; how 
 much need then have we of the Christian armour, the divine 
 panoply which made these Christians proof against the fiery 
 darts of Satan and the wicked; and of the holv submission 
 
2Q PREFACE. 
 
 which made them bear the indignation of the Lord patiently, 
 because they had sinned against him. 
 
 Having thus briefly ushered thee into the following sheets, 
 Christian and candid reader, I shall detain thee no longer 
 from perusing them, save only by the way to take notice of 
 these few advertisements. 
 
 1. It is not pretended, that here are all the speeches and 
 testimonies of those that suffered in Scotland since the year 
 1680 ; for many of them which are no doubt extant, have 
 not come into the hands of the publishers of this collection, 
 and some of them that were in their hands, did so far coin- 
 cide with other, in matter and phrase, that they left them 
 unpublished, with some remark upon them, to keep up the 
 memory of these honourable sufferers ; being desirous that 
 the book should not swell to such a bulk as might make it 
 less useful to country people, who have not much money to 
 buy, or leisure to read bulky volumes. And if encourage- 
 ment be found in this attempt, there may more of them 
 come to be published afterwards. Only this, the collectors 
 of these testimonies can say, that they have left out none 
 which were in their hands, that they conceived might be for 
 the benefit of the public, upon any sinister view or account : 
 and if alterations from the original manuscripts should be 
 found in any of them (except it be in the grammar, wherein 
 they took some little freedom, where necessity required it) 
 they are to impute it to variety of copies, whereof the pub- 
 lishers had several, and chose those which they conceived the 
 most genuine. 
 
 2. As for the testimonies of the banished, they being much 
 the same, as to all material points, with those of the dying 
 witnesses, they are omitted, and a list of their names added 
 in the Appendix. 
 
 3. The last speeches of those who suffered on account of 
 the Earl of Argyle's attempt, in the year 1685, are advisedly 
 pretermitted, both because some of them are already pub- 
 lished in a book, entitled, The Western Martyrology, and 
 likewise because it is the opinion of the encouragers of this 
 work, that their testimony was not so directly concert, 
 according to the true state of the quarrel, for the covenanted 
 interest of the Church of Christ in Scotland, as it ought to 
 have been ; though they intend not hereby to rob them of 
 the glory of martyrdom for the Protestant religion. Nor can 
 
PREFACE. 27 
 
 this be any prejudice to others, who may incline more fully 
 to publish the transactions of the times. 
 
 May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 
 enabled his people to witness so good a confession for his 
 truth and cause, make these dying speeches useful to animate 
 all the lovers of the reformed religion, with the like Chris- 
 tian magnanimity and resolution, to stand up for its de- 
 fence, against a "Popish, Prelatic, and Jacobitish faction, 
 endeavouring its overthrow. May he unite us in the way of 
 truth and duty, to strive together for the valuable interests 
 of our religion and liberty. 
 
BURNING OF THE COYENANTS. 
 
 Account of the burning of the Solemn League and Na- 
 tional Covenant, at Linlithgow, May 29th, 1661, being 
 the birth-day of Charles II. 
 
 DrriNE service being ended, the streets were so filled with 
 bonfires on every side, that it was not without hazard to go 
 along them ; the magistrates, about four o'clock in the after- 
 noon, went to the Earl of Linlithgow's lodging, inviting his 
 Lordship to honour them with his presence at the solemnity 
 of the day; so he came with the magistrates, accompanied 
 with many gentlemen, to the market-place, where a table 
 was covered with confections: then the curate met them 
 and prayed, and sung a psalm, and so eating some of the 
 confections, they threw the rest among the people, the 
 fomitain all the time running French and Spanish wine, of 
 divers colours, and continued running three or four hours. 
 The Earl, the magistrates and gentlemen, did drink the king 
 and queen's good health, and all royal healths, not forget- 
 ting his majesty's commissioner's health, Lord Middleton, 
 and breaking several baskets ftdl of glasses. 
 
 At the market-place was erected an arch standing upon 
 four pillars, on one side whereof was placed a statue in form 
 of an old hag, having the covenant in her hands, with this 
 superscription, " A glorious reformation ;" on the other side 
 was placed a statue, in a AVhigmuir's habit, having the 
 Remonstrance in his hand, witli this superscription, " No asso- 
 ciation with Malignants ;" within the arch, on the right hand, 
 was drawn a committee of estates, with this inscription, 
 " An act for delivering up the King." Upon the left hand 
 was drawn the commission of the kirk, with this superscrip- 
 tion, " A commission of the Kirk and committee of estates, 
 and act of the West kirk of Edinburgh," and upon the top 
 of the arch stood the devil, as an angel of light, with this 
 superscription, " Stand to the cause ;" and on the top of the 
 arch hung a table with this litany, 
 
 From Covenanters with uplifted hands, 
 From Remonstrators with associate bands, 
 
 n9 
 
30 BURNING OF THE COVENANTS. 
 
 From such committees as govern 'd this nation, 
 From kirk commissions, and their protestation, 
 Good Lord deliver us. 
 
 On the pillar of the arch, beneath the covenant, were 
 drawn kirk-stools, rocks, and reels ; upon the pillar beneath 
 the Remonstrance were drawn brechams, cogs, and spoons ; 
 on the back of the arch was drawn the picture of Rebellion 
 in a religious habit, with turned-up eyes, and with a fanatic 
 gesture, and in its right hand holding " Lex Rex," that in- 
 famous (rather famous) book, maintaining defensive arms, 
 and in the left hand holding that pitiful pamphlet, (rather 
 excellent paper) " The Causes of God's wrath," and about 
 its waist were all the acts of parliament, committees of 
 estates, and acts of general assemblies, and commission of 
 the kirk, their protestations and declarations during these 
 twentj-two years' rebellion, (so they called the time of Re- 
 formation,) and above was this superscription, " Rebellion is 
 as the sin of witchcraft." Then at the drinking of the king's 
 health, fire was put to the frame, which gave many fine re- 
 ports, and soon burnt all to ashes ; which being consumed, 
 there suddenly appeared a table supported by two angels, 
 carrying this superscription, — 
 
 Great Britain's monarch on this day was born. 
 And to his kingdoms happily restored: 
 
 The queen 's a,rriv'd, the mitre now is worn, 
 Let us rejoice, this day is from the Lord. 
 
 Fly hence, all traitors who did mar our peace. 
 Fly hence, schismatics who our church did rent, 
 
 Fly, covenanting, remonstrating race ; 
 
 Let us rejoice that God this day hath sent. 
 
 Then the magistrates accompanied the noble Earl to his 
 palace, where the said Earl had a very magnificent bonfire. 
 Then the Earl and magistrates, and all the rest, did drink 
 the king and queen, and all royal healths. Then the magis- 
 trates made procession through the burgh, and saluted every 
 man of account, and so they spent the day rejoicing in their 
 labour. 
 
THE MARTYRS, 
 
 Lo! here of faithful witnesses a cloud, 
 
 For Christ their King, resisting unto blood. 
 
 Lo! here upon their Pisgah top they stand; 
 
 Just on the confines of Emmanuel's land: 
 
 Leaving the ungrateful world, longing to be 
 
 Possess'd of blessed immortality. 
 
 Lo! here they stand, accosting cruel death 
 
 With Christian braveness, to their latest breath: 
 
 The views they have of heaven's eternal joys, 
 
 So far eclipse all sublunary toys, 
 
 Their souls are only charm'd with things above, 
 
 Exulting in their sweet Redeemer's love. 
 
 Lo ! here they stand, and will not quit the field, 
 
 They 11 die upon the spot before they yield. 
 
 Lo! with what courage and brave resolution 
 
 They bear the shock of bloody persecution. 
 
 Hell's rage, Rome's fury, nor the scorn of those 
 
 Pretending friendship, though the worst of foes. 
 
 Could never shake their steady loyalty 
 
 To Zion's king, for whose supremacy 
 
 Over his church, thus boldly they contend, 
 
 And by his grace endure unto the end ; 
 
 Refusing e'er to make a base surrender 
 
 Of Christ's regalia to a vile pretender; 
 
 Who, swoln with more than Luciferian pride, ' 
 
 Could not in his own princely place abide. 
 
 But would usurp the sp'ritual power and throne. 
 
 By God Jehovah giv'n to Christ alone. 
 
 And having thus, 'gainst heav'n display'd a banner, 
 
 The Covenant he swore in solemn manner. 
 
 He broke and burnt ; divine and human laws 
 
 Trod mider foot ; and to advance his cause. 
 
32 THE MARTYRS. 
 
 Made bloody violence the only claim 
 Whereby he wore the royal diadem. 
 Being served by beasts devoid of human sense ; 
 Much more of honour and of conscience ; 
 Who slew God's dearest saints in field and city, 
 'Gainst law and reason, without sense and pity, 
 Whose sharpest sufferings could not assuage, 
 Nor death itself allay their hellish rage. 
 As if their bodies dead felt sense of pains 
 Cut all in parts, they hung them up in chains: 
 Heads, legs, and arms, they plac'd on ev'ry port 
 Of burghs, or other places of resort, 
 As standing trophies of their victory 
 O'er divine truth, and human liberty. 
 Well, have they killed, and ta'en possession too? 
 Is this the utmost that their rage could do ? 
 Only to send Christ's loving subjects home 
 To their dear country, where they long to come: 
 What matter where their dusty parts do ly? 
 Interr'd on earth, or lifted up on high? 
 While as their souls eternal anthems raise, 
 In sweet accents to their Redeemer's praise. 
 And will not Zion's king regain his crown? 
 Throwing such vain aspiring mortals down 
 Into that direful pit, from whence did flow 
 These mists of pride, which did enchant them so. 
 
 Come, then, behold these noble witnesses 
 Adorn 'd with holy zeal and faithfulness ; 
 Who, like a cloud, do us environ round, 
 Viewing (as 'twere what way we '11 stand our ground,) 
 Let's run our race with equal patience, 
 With eyes intent upon our recompense. 
 
CLOUD OF WITNESSES, 
 
 Last Speech and Testimony of the Rev. Donald Cargil, 
 some time Minister of the Barony Parish, Glasgow, 
 delivered by him in writing, before his Execution, at 
 the Cross of Edinburgh, July 27th, 1681. 
 
 This is the most joyful day that ever I saw in my pil- 
 grimage on earth ; my joy is now begun, which I see shall 
 never be interrupted. I see both my interest, and His 
 truth, — the sureness of the one, and the preciousness of 
 tlie other. It is near thirty years since he made it sure ; 
 and since that time, (though there has fallen out much 
 sin) yet I never was out of an assurance of mine interest, 
 nor long out of sight of his presence. He has graciously 
 upheld me, and kept me lively, and never left me behind, 
 though I was ofttimes turning back. Oh, he has showed 
 the wonderful preciousness of his grace, not only in the 
 first receiving of it, but in renewed and multiplied pardons! 
 I have been a man of great sins, but he has been a God 
 of great mercies. And now, through his mercies, I have a 
 conscience as sound and quiet as if I had never sinned. 
 It is long since I could have ventured on eternity, through 
 God's mercy, and Christ's merits; still death remained 
 somewhat terrible ; but that is taken away, and now death 
 is no more to me than to cast myself into my husband's 
 arms, and to lie down with him. However it be with me 
 at the'last, though I should be straitened by God, or inter- 
 rupted by men, yet all is sure, and shall be well. I have 
 followed holiness — I have taught truth — and I have been 
 most in the main things ; not that I thought the things con- 
 cerning our times little, but that I thought none could do 
 any thing to purpose in God's great and public matters till 
 they were right in their condition. that all had taken 
 
34 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY 
 
 this method, then there had been fewer apostacies. The 
 religion of the land, and zeal for the land's engagements, 
 are coming to nothing, bj a supine, loathsome, and hateful 
 formality ; and there cannot be zeal, liveliness, and godliness, 
 where people meet with persecution, and want renovation of 
 heart. Mj soul trembles to think how little of regeneration 
 there is amongst the ministers and professors of Scotland. 
 
 the ministers of Scotland, how have thej betrayed Christ's 
 interest, and beguiled souls! " They have not entered in 
 themselves, and them that were entering in they hindered." 
 They have sold the things of Christ, and liberties of his 
 church, for a short and cursed quiet to themselves, which 
 is now near an end: they are more at one, and at peace 
 with God's enemies, now that they have done all their mis- 
 chiefs, than they were at first, when they had only put hand 
 to them. And I much fear, that though there were not 
 one godly minister on the earth, Christ would make no use 
 of them: but there will be a dreadful judgment upon them, 
 and a long curse upon their posterity. 
 
 As to our professors, my counsel to them is, that they 
 would see well to their own regeneration, for the most of 
 them have that yet to do ; and yet let none think he is in 
 the right exercise of true religion who has not a zeal for 
 God's public glory. There is a small remnant in Scotland 
 from whom my soul has had its greatest comfort on earth. 
 
 1 wish your increase in holiness, number, love, religion, and 
 righteousness. Wait and cease to contend with these men 
 that are gone out from us ; for there is nothing that shall 
 convince them but judgment. Satisfy your consciences, 
 and go forward; for the nearer you are to God, and the 
 farther from all others, whether stated enemies or lukewarm 
 ministers or professors, it shall be the better. My preaching 
 has occasioned great persecution, but the want of it will, I 
 fear, occasion worse. I have, however, preached the truths 
 of God to others; "I believed, and so I preached;" and I 
 have not an ill conscience in preaching truth whatever has 
 followed. This day I am to seal with my blood all the 
 truths that ever I preached; and what is controverted of 
 that wdiicli I have been professing, shall, ere long, be mani- 
 fested by God's judgments in the consciences of men. 
 
 I had a sweet calmness of spirit, and great submission as 
 to my apprehension, the providence of God was so eminent 
 
OF THE REV. DONALD C'ARGIL. 35 
 
 in it; and I could not but think, that God judged it neces- 
 sary for his glorv, to bring me this end, seeing he loosed me 
 from such a work. My soul would be exceedingly troubled 
 for the remnant, were it not that I think the time will be 
 short. AVherefore hold fast, for this is the way that is now 
 persecuted. 
 
 As to the causes of my suffering, the chief is. Not acknow- 
 ledging the inesent authority, as it is established in the 
 supremacy and explanatory act. This is the magistracy I 
 have rejected, — that which is invested with Christ's power. 
 Seeing that power taken from Christ, which is his glory, 
 and made the essential of an earthly crown, seemed to me 
 as if one were wearing my husband's garments after he had 
 killed him. There is no distinction we can make, that can 
 free the conscience of the acknowledger, from being a par- 
 taker of this sacrilegious robbing of God. And it is but to 
 cheat our consciences, to acknowledge the civil power ; for it 
 is not civil power only that is of the essence of the crown ; 
 and seeing they are so express, we ought to be plain ; for 
 otherwise we deny our testimony, and consent that Christ 
 be robbed of his glory. 
 
 After he was come to the scaffold, standing with his 
 back towards the ladder, he fixed his eyes upon the multi- 
 tude, and desired their attention ; and having sung a part 
 of the 118th Psalm, from the sixteenth verse to the end, he 
 looked up to the windows on both sides of the scaffold, and 
 with a smiling countenance, requested the peoj^le to com- 
 pose themselves, and hear a few words which he wished 
 briefly to address to three classes. First, aU you who are 
 going on in persecuting the work and people of God, 
 beware, for the Lord's sake, and refrain from such courses, 
 as you would escape wrath eternally which will be a torment 
 far beyond what we are able to endure at the hands of cruel 
 and bloody murderers. Upon this the drums were beat, at 
 which he said pleasantly, Now ye see we have not liberty to 
 speak, or at least to speak what we would; but God knoweth 
 our hearts. But, you that are called ministers, and pro- 
 fessors in the church of Scotland, who are wearied in wait- 
 ing upon the Lord, and are turned out of his way, and have 
 run into a course of gross defection and backsliding ; truly, 
 I tremble to think what will become of you: for either you 
 shall be punished with sore affliction (in your consciences, I 
 
36 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY 
 
 mean, because of sin,) or else you shall be tormeuted eter- 
 nally without remedy, which will be shortly, if mercy pre- 
 vent not ; which I pray God may be the mercy of all those 
 to whom he has thoughts of peace. All ye that are the 
 poor remnant, who fear sinning more than suffering, who 
 are praying for Christ's return to Scotland to wear his own 
 crown, and reign as king in Zion, in spite of all that will 
 oppose him, whether devils or men ; — I say to you that are 
 thus waiting, Wait on, and ye shall not be disappointed ; for 
 either your eyes shall see it, or else ye shall die in the faith 
 that he shall return ; and if you suffer with Mm, you shall 
 also reign with him ; which reign will be glorious and eter- 
 nal. I come now to tell you why I am brought here to die, 
 and to give you an account of my faith, which I shall do as 
 in the sight of the living God, before whom I am shortly to 
 stand. First, I declare I am a Christian, a Protestant, a 
 Presbyterian in my judgment, and, whatever has been said 
 of me, I die testifying against Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, 
 and all manner of defection from the truth of God, and 
 against all who make not the Scriptures, which are the word 
 of God, their rule in order to commend Christ and his way 
 to strangers, by a holy and gospel conversation. The cause 
 for which I am sentenced to die here this day, is my dis- 
 owning of authority in its unlawful exercise, when they, 
 instead of ruling for God, are fighting against him ; and en- 
 croaching upon his prerogatives, by that woful supremacy 
 which my soul abhors, and against which I have testified 
 since I was apprehended; and now, again, I disown all 
 supremacy over the consciences of men, and liberties of 
 Christ's Church. Here the drums were again beat, and he 
 kept silence a little, and then said, of this subject I shall say 
 no more. Only I think the Lord's quarrel against this land 
 is, because there has not been so much heart-religion and 
 soul-exercise among either ministers or professors, as there 
 seemed to be, when the land owned Christ and his truths. 
 I wish there were more true conversion, and then there 
 would not be so much backsliding: and for fear of suffering, 
 living at ease, when there are so few to contend for Christ 
 and his cause. 
 
 Now, for my own case, I bless the Lord, that for all that 
 hath been said of me, my conscience doth not condemn me ; 
 I do not say I am free of sin, but I am at peace with God 
 
OF THE RET. DONALD CARGIL. 37 
 
 through a slain Mediator ; and I believe that there is salva- 
 tion onlj in Christ. I abhor that superstitious way of wor- 
 shipping of angels and saints, contrary to the word of God, 
 as also I abhor the leaning to self-righteousness and Popish 
 penances. I bless the Lord, that for more than thirty years, 
 I have been at peace with God, and have never shaken loose 
 of it. Now I am as sure of my interest in Christ and peace 
 with God, as all within this Bible and the Spirit of God 
 can make me ; and I am no more terrified at death, nor 
 afraid of hell, because of sin, than if I had never had sin ; 
 for all my sins are freely pardoned and washed thoroughly 
 away, through the precious blood and intercession of Jesus 
 Christ. I am fully persuaded that it is his way for which I 
 suffer, and that he will return gloriously to Scotland ; but 
 this will be terrifying to many, therefore I entreat you, be 
 not discouraged at the way of Christ, nor the cause for 
 which I am to lay down my life, and enter eternity, where 
 my soul shall be as full of him as it can desire to be. And 
 now, this is the sweetest and most glorious day that ever my 
 eyes witnessed. 
 
 Now, I entreat you, study to know and believe the scrip- 
 tures, which are the truths of God ; these I have preached, 
 and do firmly believe. ! prepare for judgments, for they 
 shall be sore and sudden. Enemies are now enraged against 
 the way and people of God, but ere long they shall be 
 enraged one against another, to their own confusion. At 
 this the drums were beat a third time. On being taken to 
 the north side of the scaffold, he stood while one of the rest 
 was singing. He was then taken to the south side, where 
 he prayed. From thence to tlie east side, when he said, I 
 entreat you prepare presently for a stroke ; for God will not 
 endure the wrongs done to him, but will suddenly come and 
 make inquisition for the blood that has been shed in Scot- 
 land. He was then commanded to go up the ladder; and 
 as he set his foot on it, he said, The Lord knows I go up 
 this ladder with less fear and perturbation of mind, than ever 
 I entered the pulpit to preach. And when he was up, he 
 sat down, and said, Now I am near to the possession of my 
 crown, which shall be sure ; for I bless the Lord, and desire 
 all of you to bless him, that he hath brought me here, and 
 makes me triumph over devils, and men, and sin ; they shall 
 wound me no more. I forgive all men the wrongs they have 
 
 £ 
 
38 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY 
 
 done to me, and I pray the Lord to forgive all the wrongs 
 that any of the elect have done against him. I pray that 
 sufferers may be kept from sin, and to know their duty. 
 Having prayed, he lifted up the napkin, and said, Farewell 
 all relations and friends in Christ ; farewell acquaintances, 
 and all eartlily enjoyments; farewell reading and preaching, 
 praying, and believing, wanderings, reproaches, and suffer- 
 ings. Welcome joy unspeakable, and full of glory. Wel- 
 come Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; into thy hands I com- 
 mit my spirit. And while engaged again in prayer, the 
 executioner turned him off. 
 
 [Owing to the relentless severity of the persecutors, Mr. 
 C.'s original testimony was taken from him the day before 
 he suffered. — Paper and ink having been afterwards supplied 
 secretly, the foregoing was written: it has therefore been 
 thought proper, in order to give a more full view of the tes- 
 timony which he held, to subjoin the following letters.] 
 
 Letter to Mr. James Skeen, who suffered martyrdom at 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 Dearest Friend, — There is now nothing upon earth in 
 which I am so concerned (except the Lord's work) as you 
 and your fellows ; that you may either be brought off clearly, 
 or honourably carried through. He has begun, in part, to 
 answer me, — though not in that which I most affected, yet 
 in that which is best. My soul was refreshed to see any 
 that had so far overcome the fear and torture of death, and 
 were so far denied to the affections of the flesh, as to give 
 full liberty to the exoneration of conscience in the face of 
 these bloody tyrants and vile apostates. Yet these, by our 
 divines, must be acknowledged as magistrates ; whom even 
 heathens, endued with the light of nature, would abominate ; 
 and would think it inconsistent with reason to admit to, or 
 continue in the magistracy, such perjured, bloody, dissolute, 
 and flagitious men, to make a wolf the keeper of the flock. 
 But every step of their dealing with God, with the land, and 
 with yourself and brethren, is a confirmation of your judg- 
 ment of them, and sufficient ground of your detestation and 
 rejection of them. It is the sin of the land, and of every 
 person in it, that they have not gone along with you, and 
 
OF THE REV. DONALD CARGIL. 39 
 
 the few in that action ; but since they have not done that, 
 they shall not now meet with the like honour, (if ever they 
 meet with it,) till vengeance be poured out upon them ; and 
 they, and their king, be kept together in wrath, or divided 
 in wrath, that they may be one another's destruction. But 
 go on, valiant champion, you die not as a fool, though the 
 apostate, unfaithful, and lukewarm ministers and professors 
 of this generation, think and say so. They shall live trai- 
 tors, and most of them die fools. I say, traitors, as some 
 men live upon the reward of treachery, for their quiet and 
 liberty; if that may be called a liberty, which is redeemed 
 with the betraying of the interest of Christ and the blood of 
 his people. God himself hath sealed your sufiPerings, and 
 their saying thus, condemns God, and his sealing condemns 
 them. Xeitlier regard their voices, nor fear, for God will 
 neither put his seal to folly nor iniquity; but as he ha«^ 
 sealed your sufferings and your remission, go on to finish 
 and perfect your testimony, not only against them, but 
 against all that are subject to them, or take part with them, 
 or are silent at them. And as for these men who will be 
 our rulers, though they had worth or virtue in them, I am 
 persuaded of this, that none can appear before them, and 
 acknowledge them, as they have now invested themselves 
 (standing on a foundation of perjury which is an act recissory 
 of their admission to the government) with Christ's crown oil 
 their head, and a sceptre of iniquity, and a sword of perse- 
 cution in their hand, but must deny Christ. And, in effect, 
 the whole land hath denied Christ, and desired a murderer. 
 And as for that unsavoury salt that lately appeared, acknow- 
 ledged them, and was ashamed of this testimony, and in so 
 doing, gave the first vote to your condemnation ; and pro- 
 claimed a lawfulness to the rest of the assizers and murderers, 
 to persevere in their condemnations ; God shall require this 
 with his other doings at his hands. And I am somewhat 
 afraid, if he be not suddenly made the subject of serious 
 repentance, that he shall be made the subject of great ven- 
 geance. But forgive and forget all these private injuries, 
 and strive to death, and enter eternity with a heart destitute 
 of private revenges, and filled with zeal to God's glory ; and 
 assign to him the quarrel against his enemies, to be followed 
 out by himself in his own way, agamst the indignities done 
 to God, and against the mocking perfidiousness, impieties, 
 
40 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY 
 
 and lukewarmness of this generation. And for yourself, 
 whatever there has been either of sin or duty, remember the 
 one, and forget the other ; and betake yourself wholly to the 
 mercy of God, and the merits of Christ ; you know in whom 
 you have believed, and the acceptableness of your believing ; 
 and the more fully you henceforth believe, the greater shall 
 be his glory, and the greater your peace and safety. Fare- 
 well, dearest friend, never to see one another any more, till 
 at the right hand of Christ. Fear not, and the God of mer- 
 cies grant a full gale and a fair entry into his kingdom, that 
 may carry you sweetly, and swiftly over the bar, that you 
 find not the rub of death. Grace, mercy, and peace be with 
 you. — Yours in Christ, 
 
 D. Cargil. 
 
 Letter to some friends before he went abroad. 
 Dear Friends, — I cannot but be grieved at leaving my 
 native land, and especially those for whom and with whom 
 I desired only to live: yet the dreadful apprehensions of 
 what is coming upon this land, may help to make me sub- 
 missive to this providence, though bitter: you will have 
 snares for a little, and then a deluge of judgment. I do 
 not speak this to make any afraid, much le«s to rejoice over 
 them, as if I were taken, and they left ; or were studying, 
 by these thoughts, to alleviate my own lot of banishment ; 
 though I fear that none shall bless themselves long because 
 they are left behind. But my design is, to prepare you for 
 snares and judgments, that ye may have both the greatest 
 readiness, and the greatest shelters, for both shall be in one. 
 Clear accounts, and put off the old ; for the probability is, 
 that what is to come will be both sudden and surprising; 
 and you will have no time for this then. Beware of taking 
 on new debt. I am afraid that these things which many 
 look on as favours, are but come to bind men together in 
 bundles for a fire. I am sure if these things be embraced, 
 there shall not be long time given for using of them ; and 
 this last of their favours and snares is sent to men, to show 
 that tliey are that which otherwise they will not confess 
 themselves to be. Tell all, that the shelter and benefit of 
 this shall neither be great nor long; but the snare of it shall 
 be great and prejudicial. And for myself, for the present, 
 Christ is calling me to another land. How long shall be my 
 
OF THE REV. DONALD C ARGIL. 41 
 
 abode, or what employment he has for me there, I know not ; 
 for I cannot think he is taking me there to live and lurk 
 only. I rest. 
 
 Donald Cargtl. 
 
 Letter to John Malcom aud Archibald Alison, 
 Prisoners. 
 
 Dear Friends, — Death in Christ, and for Christ, is never 
 much to be bemoaned, and less at this time than any other ; 
 when those who survive have nothing to live for but miseries, 
 persecutions, snares, sorrows, and sinning, and where the 
 only desirable sight, viz., Christ reigning in a free and flour- 
 ishing church, is wanting, and the greatly grieving and 
 offensive object to devout souls, viz., devils, and the worst 
 of the wicked, reigning and raging, is still before our eyes. 
 And though we had greater things to leave, and better times 
 to live in, yet eternity so far exceeds and excels these things 
 in their greatest perfection, that they who see and are sure 
 (and we see indeed, being made sure) will never let a tear 
 fall, nor sigh at the farewell, but would make a slip to get 
 death rather than to shun it, if both were not equally detest- 
 able to them on account of God's commandments, whom 
 they neither dare, nor are willing to offend, even to obtain 
 heaven itself. There are none who are his, but must see 
 themselves infinitely advantaged by the exchange; and 
 accordingly hasten, if sin, the flesh, and want of assurance, 
 do not prevent; and there is no doubt but those must be 
 weak and poor spirits, who are bewitched or enchanted, 
 either with the hopes or fruitions of the world. As earth has 
 nothing to hold a resolute and reconciled soul, so heaven 
 wants nothing to draw it. To some to live here has been 
 always wearisome, since their peace was made, Clmst's 
 sweetness known, and their own weakness and unusefulness 
 experienced; but now it is become hatefully loathsome, 
 since devils and the worst of men are become the head, 
 and dreadful by their stupendous permissions, loosings and 
 lengthenings in their reigning. Friends are become un- 
 comfortable, because they will neither bear and wait like 
 Christians, nor go forward to effectuate their own delivery. 
 But for you, there is nothing at this time (if you yourselves 
 be sure with God, which, I hope, you either are, or will be,) 
 
 e2 
 
42 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY 
 
 which can make me bewail your death, though the cause of 
 it both increases my affection to you, and indignation 
 against your enemies. Yet for you, notwithstanding of the 
 unjustness of the sentence on your own account, go not to 
 eternity with indignation against them. Neither trust in the 
 goodness of the cause ye suffer for; — found your confidence 
 and hope of well-being in God, for were the action never so 
 good, and performed without the least failing, which is not 
 incident to human infirmity, it could never be a cause of 
 obtaining mercy, nor yet commend to us that grace through 
 which we are to obtain it. Now, when you are pleading and 
 petitioning for mercy, there is nothing of your own that 
 must be remembered but your sins ; for in fact there is no- 
 thing else ours. Let your sins then be on your heart, as 
 your sorrow, which we must bewail, on parting with them, 
 as the captive her master, not because she was to leave him, 
 but because she had been so long with him. And let these 
 mercies of God, and merits of Christ, be before your eyes as 
 your hopes, and your attaining of these as the only rock 
 upon which you can be saved. If there be any thing seen 
 or looked to in ourselves but sin, we cannot expect remission 
 and salvation through free grace, in which expectation alone 
 they can be obtained ; neither can we earnestly pray till we 
 see ourselves destitute of all that procures favour, and full 
 of all that merits and hastens vengeance and wrath. Be- 
 sides, it enhances the value of that precious blood by which 
 only we can have redemption from sin and wrath. It only 
 is sufficient in itself, and only acceptable to the Father ; and 
 ever must be so, as it is the blessed and gracious device and 
 result of infinite wisdom, as it makes the eternal God to be 
 admired in his graciousness and holiness for having devised 
 a way for his own payment without our hurt; and as it 
 makes all return to their own happiness, and to rest there 
 in an eternal complacency. This way returns to God his 
 glory, to justice its satisfaction, to disquieted consciences of 
 men, awakened and alarmed by the sight of sin and wrath, 
 ease, peace, and assurance, and to the souls of men fellow- 
 ship with God, and hope of eternal salvation. Now, the 
 righteousness of Christ being made sure to us, secures all 
 those blessings for us, and this is both believed on and 
 apprehended by faith; it is the hand by which we grasp tins 
 rock, and if it be true, it cannot but be strong, and we 
 
OF THE REV. DOXALD CARGIL. 43 
 
 saved. Look well, then, to jour faith, see that it be a faith 
 growing out of regeneration and the new creature, and have 
 Christ for its righteousness, hope, and rejoicing, and be 
 sealed by the spirit of God. What this sealing is, when it 
 comes, will be abundantly manifest ; and there can be no 
 other full satisfaction to a soul than this. But seek till ye 
 find, and whatever ye find for the present, let your last act 
 be to leave yourselves on the righteousness of God's son, 
 expecting life through his name, according to the promise 
 of the Father. Dear friends, your work is great, and time 
 short ; but this is a comfort, and the only comfort in your 
 present condition, that you have a God infinite in mercy to 
 deal with, who is ready at all times to forgive, but especially 
 persons in your case, wlio have been jeoparding your lives 
 on account of the Gospel, whatever the failings or infirmities 
 with which this action hath been accompanied, for it is for 
 the action itself, (which is the duty of this whole covenanted 
 kingdom,) and not for the failing that you are brought to 
 suffering. Seek not, then, the favour of men, by making 
 your duty your sin ; but confess your failings to God, and 
 look for his mercy through Jesus Christ, who has said, 
 " Whosoever loseth his life for my sake^ shall keep it unto 
 eternal life." And though it will profit a reprobate nothing 
 to die after this manner, for nothing can be profitable with- 
 out love, which only can dwell in a believer, yet neither can 
 it be a disadvantage, but, in a manner, the best way of 
 dying ; for it takes from the days he might have lived, and 
 so prevents many sins that he would have committed ; and 
 so the sin which is the cause of eternal sufferings is lessened. 
 Let not this discourage or unnerve you, that the work is 
 great, and the time short ; though this indeed should remind 
 you of your sinful neglect, that you have not better provided 
 for such a short and peremptory sumimons, which you should 
 always have expected. It also shows the greatness of the 
 sin of those enemies who not only take away unjustly your 
 bodily life, but also shorten your time of preparation, and 
 so do their utmost to deprive you of eternal life. Yet, again 
 I say, be not discouraged or unnerved, for God can perfect 
 great works in a short time, and one of the greatest things 
 which befall men, he can effect it in the twinkling of an eye. 
 I assure you he put the thief on the cross through all his 
 desires, convictions, conversion, justification, sanctification, 
 
44 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY 
 
 &c., in a short time, and left nothing to bemoan, but that 
 there did not remain time enough on earth to glorifj him 
 who had done all these things for him. Go on, then, and 
 let your intent be serious ; let the greatness of your sorrow, 
 and the height of love, in a manner, make a compensation 
 for the shortness of time, and go on, though your progress 
 has as yet been small ; for where these things are, one hour 
 will perform more than thousands where there are no such 
 enforcements or power. And be persuaded of this, that you 
 have Christ hastening as much and more than yourselves ; 
 you may know his motion by your own, because both are 
 impelled by him. And, dear friends, be not terrified at the 
 manner of your death ; to me it seems the easiest of all ; you 
 come to it without pain, and in perfect judgment, and go 
 through speedily; before the pain be felt the glory is come: 
 but pray for a greater measure of Christ's presence, which 
 only can make a passage through the hardest things cheer- 
 ful and pleasant. I bid you farewell; though our part- 
 ing be sad, our gathering together again shall be joyful. 
 Only your great advantage in present circumstances is to 
 credit Christ much, for that is his glory, and engages him 
 to perform whatever you have credited him with. No more ; 
 but avow boldly to give a full testimony for his truth, as 
 you desire to be avowed of him. Grace, mercy, and peace 
 be with you. 
 
 Donald Cargil. 
 
 To the Prisoners in the Correction-House of Edinburgh. 
 
 Dear Friends, — I think you cannot but know that I am 
 both concerned and afflicted about your condition; and I 
 would have written sooner, and at greater length, if I had 
 not feared that you might have been jealous (under your 
 distempers) that I had been seducing you to follow me, and 
 not God and truth. It has been my earnest and frequent 
 prayer to God (as he himself knows) to be led into all truth ; 
 and I judge I have been graciously answered in this. But 
 I desire none, if they themselves judge it not to be truth, to 
 adhere to any thing that I have either preached, written, or 
 done, to any hazard, much less to the loss of life. I have 
 been afflicted with your condition, and could not but be 
 more, if God's great graciousness in this begun discovery, 
 and your sincerity and singleness gave me not hope that God's 
 
OF THE EEV. DONALD CARGIL. 
 
 45 
 
 purpose is to turn this to the great mercy of his poor church, 
 and yours, if ye mar it not; and yet the great sin and pillar 
 of Satan that is in this snare, makes me tremble. It was 
 God's mercy to you that gave such convictions ; which made 
 you, at least some of you, once to part from these men; and 
 it was undoubtedly your sin that you continued not so ;_ but 
 after convictions, did cast yourselves into new temptations. 
 Convictions ought to be tenderly guided, lest the Spirit from 
 whom they come be grieved. This second discovery, though 
 it be with a sharper rebuke, as it makes God's mercy won- 
 derful, so it shall render your perseverance in that course 
 more sinful and utterly inexcusable; for God has broken 
 the snare, and it will be your great sin if you go not out 
 with great haste, joy, and thankfulness, when God's wonder- 
 ful discovery has made such a way for your delivery. God, 
 who has shown you the ringleaders and authors of these 
 opinions to be persons of such abominations, now calls you 
 not only to deny credit to them, but also seriously to scru- 
 tinize the tenets they so much pretend to, which will, I 
 know, by his grace, bring you undoubtedly to see that these 
 things are contrary both to God's glory and truth. 
 
 And now, my dear friends, I cannot be too tender of you, 
 who, in your zeal and singleness, have been misled. For 
 though this did betray a great simplicity and unwatchful- 
 ness, yet it did also betoken some zeal and tenderness: for 
 ye were beguiled in things that were veiled and busked with 
 some pretences to God's glory, and public reformation. 
 And on the other hand, I cannot have too great abhorrence 
 of those persons who, knowing themselves to be of such 
 abominations, did give out themselves to be of such famili- 
 arity with God, and of so clear illumination, to make their 
 delusions more passing with devout souls 
 
 Let nothing make you think this is malignity,_ or natural 
 enmity against the power of godliness, or progress in reforma- 
 tion; though I cannot get forward as I ought, yet I have 
 rejoiced to see others go forward. And I am sure there 
 lies in this bed within you a viper and a child. Satan 
 transforming himself into an angel of light has put these 
 two together, to make it pass with some, and to be spared 
 by others who are of tenderness. But my soul's desire is, 
 to kill the serpent, and keep the child alive; and God is 
 calling you loudly to sever the good from the bad, which 
 
46 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY 
 
 Satan has craftily mixed together; to deliver yourselves 
 speedily, as a roe from the hand of the hunter ; and not only 
 to return, but mourn bitterly because you have provoked 
 God greatly, in offering such foul sacrifices to his glory, and 
 sewing your old clouts upon the new garment ; and in your 
 making the enemy more to despise that cause and company, 
 who are enough despised already, and because you have dis- 
 couraged those who were following, and going forward with 
 joy in that which was right, so that now they neither have 
 heart nor hand for the work, nor can they look up till God 
 recover them again. There is much in the whole of these 
 things that may, and does overwhelm some spirits ; and there 
 is nothing in all their cogitations about it that they find com- 
 fortable, unless it be this, that God is cleared in afilicting 
 us, and continuing to afliict us, because there was such per- 
 sons among us. Beloved by us, I speak this but of some of 
 you, whom I know not ; only we wish that this may be the 
 last great impediment that was to be removed before Christ's 
 coming to avenge himself and reign. I do not say but by 
 this also he has shown his tenderness, and his purpose not 
 to suffer errors and heresies to prosper, but to preserve in- 
 tegrity of doctrine, and sound reformation. This I told you 
 when I met with you, that ye were showing some things which 
 were highly approved of God, — such as an inward heart-love 
 and zeal for God's glory, (which I believe to be in some of 
 you, so far as can be perceived,) and setting up of that 
 before you as your end, pursuing it always as your work, 
 and forgetting all other things from regard to it, those only 
 excepted without which we cannot glorify him, (as a work- 
 man that attends his work must mind his tools,) viz., our own 
 salvation, and the salvation of all others. These are things in 
 which he is greatly glorified, for his glory is in righteousness 
 and mercy, and in and by these is the salvation of man infalli- 
 bly advanced, and with these it is inseparably connected. 
 
 Next, I would advise you to set apart more, yea, much 
 more of your time for humiliation, fasting, and prayer, in 
 such an exigence, when the judgments of God appear to be 
 so near and so great, and see that it be done without sin, 
 for God cannot be glorified by sin ; " for if my lie hath more 
 abounded to his glory, why am I judged as a sinner?" I 
 was against those who deny nature and others their right 
 dues ; for he that allows dues to others, allows them to be 
 
OF THE REV. DONALD CARGIL. 47 
 
 paid also : and we must be like prisoners who are of great 
 debt, and honest hearts, who know they cannot pay every 
 one in full, yet are resolved to give a composition to all — 
 to the greatest creditor the most, and to the rest accordingly. 
 And as there cannot be a total abstinence from meat with- 
 out self-murder ; so there cannot be a total denying others 
 their dues, as in the near relations of life, and a total ab- 
 staining from work, without a transgression of God's com- 
 mandments and laws ; this never can be a glorifying of him, 
 for the more impartially his laws are kept, the more he is 
 glorified. Next, ways are allowed of him, that ye may make 
 yourselves free, so much as in you lies, of all the public 
 defections, and of whatever may involve you in these, or con- 
 tribute to their continuance, without either an overpowering 
 force, or an indispensable necessity ; for I may buy meat and 
 drink, in necessity, whatever use the seller may make of the 
 money I give for them. Xext, he allows such particulars of 
 reformation, as change of the names of days, of weeks, of 
 terms of the year, and such like warranted by the word, and 
 example of the Christians in scripture, that have been 
 neglected before in our reformation ; provided there be not 
 too much religion placed in these things to the detriment of 
 other things more weighty, which undoubtedly have more 
 moral righteousness in them. But in these good things 
 Satan will quickly, if it be not so already, over-drive you in 
 your progress, and leave you only to hug a spurious birth. 
 But ye maintained other things when I spoke with you (and 
 the viper has since appeared) as truth, and part of God's 
 glory, that are utterly contrary to, and inconsistent with the 
 glory of God. As, laying aside of public preaching ; some 
 of tiiem saying no less than that they had no need of it: so 
 that ye thought ye had reigned as kings without us ; and 
 luould to God ye had reigned! Your flourishing should have 
 delighted us, though we had not been the instruments and 
 means of it. But, alas ! this your liberty, that ye so much 
 boasted of, would have lasted but a little while. It was 
 among your other decoys ; and was nothing else but Satan 
 stirring you up to giddiness, and raising fantastic fumes to 
 the tickling of the imagination ; but leaving you altogether 
 without renovation of heart, or progress in sanctification ; so 
 that I cannot compare this your liberty to any thing else 
 than an enchanted fabric, where the poor guests, placed 
 
48 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY 
 
 only in imagination, suppose themselves to be in a pleasant 
 palace, and at a royal entertainment ; but when God comes, 
 and delusion vanishes, they find themselves cast in some 
 remote wilderness, and there left full of astonishment and 
 fears. 
 
 I told you, while I was with you, that the devil was sow- 
 ing tares among your thin wheat ; but I was not long from 
 you, (exercised in thoughts about you,) when I saw clearly 
 there was sorcery in the business; and now I tell you, I fear 
 sorcerers also. I have spoken this, I know, against mine 
 own life, if they get the power they desire ; but I am pro- 
 tected by Him who hath preserved, and who will preserve 
 me, till my work be finished. If the liberty that you talked 
 of had been true, it would have at least staid till it had 
 brought you to other thoughts, other works, and other com- 
 forts ; and it might have been easily discerned to be not a 
 true liberty but a temptation, when it led you from public 
 preaching, the great ordinance of God's glory, and men's 
 good, as the apostle has that word, " Forbidding us to preach 
 to the Gentiles ;" especially when public ordinances, the only 
 standards standing, manifested that Satan's victory against 
 Christ's kingdom in Scotland was not complete. 
 
 Yet, dear friends, wlien you hear this, let not Satan cast 
 you so far to the other side, (for it is rare to see the most 
 devout souls altogether free of his delusions and tempta- 
 tions,) as to make you believe that it is impossible to attain 
 unto any certainty of truth, liberty, manifestation of and 
 communion with God, if that which seemed to be so firm, 
 be delusion. Shall Satan have such power to make men 
 believe lies, and shall not God go infinitely beyond him, in 
 making men to see and believe the truth? There were 
 many that thought themselves at the height of assurance, 
 when under the greatest temptations, as Ps. Ixxiii. 13. 
 " Verily I have cleansed my hands in vain." And yet they 
 have a greater certainty when they come to see aright, and 
 that there is no such unquietness of spirit under this, as they 
 found in the former. Seeing it is so, rest not till ye attain 
 that assurance of your own interest, and of his main truths, 
 which is both above doubt and defect, that ye may be able 
 to say, Noiv ice believe and are sure. 
 
 But again, you will join with none in public worship, who 
 give not infallible signs of regeneration. This seems fair, 
 
OF THE REV. DONALD CARGIL. 49 
 
 but it is both false and foul. False in its foundation — that 
 the certainty of one's interest in Christ may be known by 
 another ; whereas the scripture says, " That none knows it, 
 but he that has it ;" and foul, for this disdain has pride in 
 it, which is always foul. Though there be such a difference 
 among men that we should have regard to repentance and 
 brokenness of heart, yet those who have seen their own vile- 
 ness, will judge themselves the persons, of any, that should 
 be thrust out of the assemblies of God's people ; and that 
 not only in respect of what they have been, but also in 
 respect of what they daily are. Next, ye would pray for 
 eternal wrath upon all who have departed and made defec- 
 tion in this time. Alas ! we need not blow them away, the 
 greater part is going fast enough that way ; but this, I am 
 sure, would not be giving God his glory, but taking from it, 
 and limiting him, in his freedom and choice, in the greatness 
 of his pardon. It is remarkable, that the angels in their 
 "glory to God," joined also with it, "good-will to men." 
 Next, ye have rejected the Psalms, with many other things ; 
 now, I cannot see upon what account, except it be, because 
 it is man's work, in turning the Psalms out of prose into 
 metre. Then you must reject all the other scriptures, 
 because the translation of them is man's work ; and as ye 
 have not yet learned the original languages, ye must betake 
 yourselves altogether to the spirit ; and what a spirit will 
 that be who is not to be tried by the scripture? I told some 
 of you, when I last saw you, that ye were too little led by 
 the scriptures, and too much by your own thoughts and sug- 
 gestions ; which, indeed, opens a wide door to delusion, and, 
 alas ! lays you open to Satan's temptations. 
 
 As for the rest, of your denying all your former covenants 
 and declarations ; this cannot be from God, they contain 
 nothing but lawful and necessary duties ; and suppose they 
 did not contain and include a complete reformation, yet they 
 did not exclude it ; so that still holding them, we might have 
 passed on to more perfection, and they might be inviolable 
 obligations with us. And next, your cutting off all that were 
 not of your mind, and delivering them up to Satan, was not 
 justice and religion, it was done neither in judgment nor 
 righteousness, nor upon conviction of crime, but in unbridled 
 rage and fury. But of these things I cannot now fully speak ; 
 yet there is somewhat which 1 cannot pass. I must tell 
 
 F 
 
50 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY 
 
 you, that I fear there still remains some of the leaven within, 
 that will not only spoil an orthodox Protestant, but also a 
 true, tender, and humble Christian, and give us nothing 
 instead, but a blown bladder. I am persuaded, that if Satan 
 have the tutelage a little longer, he will bring it to this ; for 
 it has been his way with some, first to make them saint- 
 like, and afterwards to settle them in atheism ; like a cunning 
 fisher, running a fish upon an angle, and at last casting it 
 on dry ground. God is my witness, my soul loves to see 
 holiness, tenderness, and zeal, in such a generation, where 
 there is nothing but untenderness, unconcernedness, and 
 lukewarmness ; and, by His grace, I shall ever cherish it. 
 I desire you, then, in the bowels of Christ, to retain your 
 zeal ; but see well to this, that it be for His glory. Indeed, 
 the more that you are zealous, and the further ye go forward, 
 so that the word of God direct your course, ye are the more 
 pleasing to God, and shall be the dearer to us. And per- 
 suade yourselves, that though I cannot equal or go before, 
 yet it is the sincere desire of my heart to follow such. My 
 soul wishes you well, and though it may be I cannot here 
 point out, nor lead you, in the way to well-being, yet this I 
 must say, that if I could lead you the way that Christ has 
 led me, I should show eternal life, without these things which 
 I am desiring you to relinquish. Hold truth, glorify God, 
 be zealous to have him glorified, but desire not the condem- 
 nation of any man, simply because he dares not come and 
 continue where you are ; think not that to put a bar by prayer 
 between such and a return is a glorifying of God. We 
 glorify him in this kind, when, as he himself desires, we 
 acquiesce in his sentence, when it is past, though we wrestle 
 against it, before it be known to us. 
 
 I cannot bid you go forward in all, but I desire you to go 
 forward in that which is surer and better. And, dear friends, 
 let not the world have it to say, that when ye are become 
 right, ye are become the less zealous. Only take the right 
 object, and let your zeal grow. Oh ! let not your sufferings 
 be stained with such wildness, and think it not strange that 
 ye have not such liberty in your return as ye seemed to 
 have before ; if ye take the right way, and hold on, ye shall 
 find it, in God's own time, greater, and better, and surer. I 
 shall only add, that there must be an express owning of his 
 truths, whereof ye have been persuaded before, but now either 
 
OF MR. WALTER SMITH. 51 
 
 deny or doubt ; otherwise joii will come to nothing in religion, 
 or worse ; this will either state your sufferings right, or be a 
 mean to obtain perfect liberty from God in his due time. 
 Grace, mercy, and peace be with you. Amen. 
 
 Donald Cargil. 
 
 The Dying Testimony and Last Words of Me. Walter 
 Smith, Student of Theology, who suffered at the Cross 
 of Edinburgh, July 27th, 1681. 
 
 Dear Friends and Acquaintances, — As I desire, while 
 in the body, to sympathize somewhat with you in lamenting 
 your various cases, and the case of the church, of which we 
 are the sons and daughters, so I must lay this request upon 
 you, and leave it with you, that ye take some of your time, 
 and set it apart particularly, to solace your souls in blessing 
 and magnifying your God and my God, for the lot he hath 
 decreed and chosen out for poor unworthy me, from eternity, 
 in time, and to eternity; in the immediate enjoyment of 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God, incomprehensible 
 and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, jus- 
 tice, goodness, and truth; and that because he hath made 
 me a man and a Christian. And now I set my seal to all 
 his truths, revealed in his word ; and particularly these : 1. 
 That he is one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. But, 
 alas ! who can think of him, who can hear of him, or write 
 of him aright? Oh, he is God! he is God! 2. That he 
 made man perfect; and though we have destroyed and inca- 
 pacitated ourselves to do any thing that is right, while out 
 of Christ, yet we are under the obligation of the whole law, 
 which is the perfect rule of righteousness. 3. That my 
 Lord (yea, through free grace, I can say, my Lord Jesus 
 Christ) came to the world to save sinners ; and though I 
 cannot say that I have been the greatest of sinners, yet I 
 can say, that he hath covered, pardoned, prevented, and hid 
 from the world, sins in me that have been heinous by many 
 aggravations. 4. That "except a man be born again, he 
 cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven ! " My friends, 
 this is the new birth, this is regeneration, that I am speaking 
 
52 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY 
 
 of, to which the great part, even of professors, I fear, will be 
 found strangers. 5. I set my seal to the truth of that 
 precious promise. Josh. i. 5, repeated Heb. xiii. 5, " For he 
 hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee ;" together 
 with all the other promises to that purpose. And I am 
 sure, he hath carried me through divers conditions of life, 
 and many various and singular difficulties and damping 
 discouragements. But omitting these outward things, on 
 which the profane persecutors may as much boast as any, 
 he hath led me unto himself through the several steps of 
 soul exercise, and the pangs of the new birth. This, this, 
 my friends, is the special and distinguishing character of a 
 saint indeed; and by this, and this only, we "pass from death 
 to life." 
 
 I adhere to the Confession of Faith and work of reforma- 
 tion, particularly to those truths in the eighteenth chapter 
 thereof, anent the assurance of grace and salvation. Alas ! 
 the ignorance of this generation is great. My dear friends, 
 I leave this as my last advice to you, make use of that book 
 which contains the Confession of Faith, Catechisms, Sum 
 of Saving Knowledge, Practical Use of Saving Knowledge, 
 Directory for Worship, the Causes of God's Wrath, &c. 
 And let none think this work below them, for the spiritual 
 enlightening of the mind, which requires the literal with it, 
 is the first work of the Spirit, after we first begin to come to 
 ourselves, or to know what we were in innocency, and ought 
 to be by grace. And as to this, I do confidently recommend 
 to you Shepard's Sound Believer ; which, in my poor appre- 
 hension, is the surest ye can meet with. And 6. I set my 
 seal to the covenant of grace, particularly that clause of 
 it, Isa. lix. 21, "As for me, this is my covenant with them, 
 saith the Lord, my Spirit that is upon thee," &c. And here 
 I leave my testimony against all atheists, speculative (if there 
 be any such) and practical ; and all mockers of godliness, 
 all formalists, hypocrites, and enthusiasts, who either pre- 
 tend to the Spirit, neglecting the Word, or lean upon the 
 Word, neglecting the teaching of the Spirit. And what 
 shall I more say, but that by what of truth I have in ex- 
 perience seen, I am bold to believe what I have not seen : 
 God's testimony is a ground sufficient, and there can be no 
 deceit under it. 
 
 And now, I am to die a martyr ; and I am as fully per- 
 
OF ME. WALTER SMITH. 53 
 
 suaded of my interest in Christ, and that he hath counte- 
 nanced me in that for which I am to lay down my life, as I 
 am of my being. And let the world and biassed professors 
 say as they like, I am here in no delusion ; I have the free 
 and full exercise of reason and judgment ; and, excepting 
 that I am yet in the body, I am free of passion and prejudice, 
 I am free of Satan's fire and fury ; I have no bitterness nor 
 malice at any living ; I am solidly and firmly persuaded that 
 what I am owning and dying for, is truth and duty, according 
 to my mean capacity. And this is the main point this day 
 in controversy, upon which I was peremptorily questioned, 
 and desired positively to answer, yea or nay, under the 
 threatening of the boots, viz.. Whether I owned the king's 
 authority, as presently established and exercised? This I 
 did positively disown, and denied allegiance to him, as he is 
 invested with that supremacy proper to Jesus Christ only. 
 And who knoweth not that at first he was constituted and 
 crowned a covenanted king, and the subjects sworn in alle- 
 giance to him as such, by the Solemn League and Cove- 
 nant ? This was the authority wherewith he was clothed, 
 and the exercise of it was to be for God, religion, and the 
 good of the subjects; and is not all this, as to God and his 
 people, overturned and perverted? The whole of this 
 authority pleaded for at present is established on the ruin 
 of the land's engagement's to God, and to one another. 
 But I say no more as to this. Consider things seriously, 
 and ponder them deeply ; zeal for God is much gone ; look 
 to it, and labour to recover it ; your peace shall be in it, as 
 to duty; though Christ's righteousness is the only sure 
 foundation. 
 
 I leave my testimony against malignancy, ungodliness, 
 and profanity, and whatsoever is contrary to sound doctrine, 
 professed and owned by the reformed anti-erastian Presby- 
 terian party in Scotland, whereof I die a member and pro- 
 fessor, being fully satisfied and content with my lot. And 
 as to my apprehension, we were singularly delivered by Pro- 
 vidence into the adversary's hand, and from what I could 
 learn, were betrayed by none ; nor were any accessory to 
 our taking, more than we were ourselves ; and particularly, 
 let none blame the Lady St. Johnskirk, in this. I have no 
 time to give you an account of the Lord's kindness, and 
 tenderness to us, in restraining the adversaries' fury ; for at 
 
 f2 
 
54 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY 
 
 first tliej were mad against us, making us lie all night 
 bound, and expressly refusing to suffer us to worship God, or 
 pray with one another, until we came to Linlithgow. But 
 the Lord hastens in coming ; beware of going back, wait for 
 him, be not anxious about what shall become of you, or the 
 remnant. He is concerned ; His intercession is sufficient. 
 Get him set up and kept up in his own place in your souls, 
 and other things will be the more easily kept in theirs. 
 Be tender of all who have the root of the matter ; but beware 
 of compliance with any, whether ministers, or professors, or 
 adversaries. As to my judgment, insignificant as it is, I am 
 necessitated to refer you to the draught of a paper which I 
 drew up at the desire of some societies in Clydesdale, en- 
 titled. Some steps of Defection, &c. Beware of a spirit of 
 bitterness, peremptoriness, and ignorant zeal, which have 
 been the ruin of some, and will be the ruin of more, if 
 mercy prevent not. I was deserted by some, as having 
 given offence to them by my protesting against their way 
 in particular, wherein, I am sure, as to the manner, they 
 were wrong ; and though they had been right, it was no 
 ground to have made such a separation from me, much less 
 from those who joined me. If any division be longer kept 
 up upon that account, they will find it a great iniquity, 
 when rightly considered. I can get no more written, nor 
 see I great need for it ; for the testimonies of martyrs are not 
 your rule. Farewell. 
 
 Walter Smith. 
 
 ToLBOOTH, Edinburgh, 
 July -lith, 1681. 
 
 On the scaffold, he addressed the multitude to the follow- 
 ing effect: — All ye beholders, who are come here with various 
 designs, I intreat you, be not mistaken respecting the cause 
 of my suffering this day; for however ye may be misin- 
 formed, yet the truth is, that we are brought here upon 
 the matters of our God; because we testified against the 
 supremacy, and would not consent to the setting of Christ's 
 crown upon the head of him who had by usurpation aspired 
 unto it, contrary to his former engagements. Here they 
 caused beat the drums. He again said, I shall only advert 
 to three particulars ; first, respecting that which some are 
 apt to believe, that we are against authority ; but we disown 
 
OF MR. WALTER SMITH. 55 
 
 it. We acknowledge all the lawful exercise of authority; 
 and we hope there are none that are Christians will allow us 
 to own the unlawful exercise, or rather tyranny of authority. 
 Here the drums were again beat ; so he employed the time 
 in singing part of the 103d Psalm, from the beginning, and 
 prayer. On resuming his address, he said, I bless the Lord, 
 I am not surprised, neither terrified with this death, or the 
 manner of it. I confess, the thoughts of death have been 
 sometimes very terrible to me, when I have been reflecting 
 upon misspent precious time ; yea, sometimes the strength 
 of temptation and my own weakness, have made me herein 
 to raze the very foundation of my interest ; but my God 
 builds faster than he permits the devil and my false heart to 
 cast down. I have had some clouds even since I came to 
 prison; but, blessed be God, these are all removed; for my 
 God hath said to my soul, " Be of good cheer, thy sins are 
 forgiven thee." And the faith of this makes me not to fear 
 grim death ; though it be called the king of terrors, it is 
 not so to me ; for this that you think a cruel and sudden 
 death is but an inlet to life which shall be eternal. Let 
 none be ofifended at Christ and his way, because of suffering ; 
 for I can testify that there is more of Christ's help, and sup- 
 porting grace and strength in a suffering lot, than all that 
 ever I heard of by the hearing of the ear. How I am made 
 to find this in my own experience, and can say, " He is 
 altogether lovely! " 
 
 But a second thing I wish to state is. That I detest and 
 abhor all Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and all other steps 
 of defection from the truth of God, and turning aside to the 
 right and left hand. Also, I testify against all errors, as 
 Quakerism, Arminianism, &c., and all that is contrary to 
 sound doctrine, and all who walk not according to the 
 scriptures, and make not the Word and Spirit of God 
 their rule. I have lived, and now am ready to die, a Chris- 
 tian, a Protestant, and a Presbyterian in my judgment ; 
 therefore, let none hereafter say, that we walk not by the 
 scriptures ; for once Britain and Ireland, and especially 
 Scotland, were deeply sworn to maintain what now they 
 disown ; therefore, beware of standing in the way of others, 
 seeing ye will not go in yourselves. Again, I exhort all 
 you that are the poor remnant to be serious in getting your 
 interest cleared ; you that are in the dark with your case, 
 
56 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY 
 
 take not conviction for conversion ; study a holy conversa- 
 tion ; be at more pains to know the scriptures, and believe 
 them. Be serious in prayer ; slight not time. Take Christ 
 on his own terms ; and resolve to meet with trials, and that 
 shortly. Slight not known duties ; commit not known sins, 
 whatever sufferings ye may meet with for your cleaving to 
 duty. Trust in God, and ye will not be disappointed. 
 Construe well of him under all dispensations ; weary not 
 of suffering ; lie not at ease in a day of Jacob's trouble. I 
 have a word to all who are going on in persecuting the way 
 and friends of Christ, Remember our Lord's words, " what- 
 ever you do to one of these little ones you do it unto me." 
 I pray the Lord that he may open the eyes of all the elect, 
 who are yet strangers to regeneration ; and also convince 
 such of them as are fallen from their first love. Now, my 
 friends, I have this to say in my own vindication, that, how- 
 ever I have been branded by some, and miscoustructed by 
 others, yet I can say, in the sight of the Lord, before whom 
 I am now to appear, that I am free of any public scandal ; 
 I say, I am free of drunkenness, I am free of whoredoms, 
 thefts, or murder ; therefore, let none say that we are mur- 
 derers, or would kill any, but in self-defence, and in defence 
 of the gospel. I truly forgive all men the wrongs they 
 have done to me, as I desire to be forgiven of the Lord ; but, 
 as for the wrongs done to a holy Gocl, I leave these to him 
 who is the avenger of blood; let him do to them as he may 
 see to be for his glory. Now, I say no more, but pray that 
 all who are in his way, may be kept from sinning under 
 suffering ; and that every one may be prepared for a storm, 
 which I do verily believe is not far off. 
 
 Stooping down, he saluted some friends, and said. Fare- 
 well, all relations and acquaintances ; farewell, all ye that 
 are lovers of Christ and his righteous cause. And beckoning 
 to the multitude, he said. Farewell also. He then ascended 
 the ladder with the greatest alacrity and magnanimity ; and 
 seating himself upon it, said, I fear not now this death of 
 mine, for my sins are freely pardoned ; yea, and I will sin no 
 more, for I am made, through my God, to look hell, wrath, 
 devils, and sin, eternally out of countenance. Therefore, 
 farewell all created enjoyments, pleasures, and delights ; 
 farewell sinning and suffering ; farewell praying and believ- 
 ing ; and welcome heaven and singing; welcome joy in the 
 
OF MR. JAMES BOIG. 57 
 
 Holj Ghost ; welcome Father, Son, and Holj Ghost ; into 
 thy hands I commit my spirit. When the executioner was 
 about to untie his cravat, he thrust him away, and untied it 
 himself ; and, calling for his brother, threw it down, saying, 
 this is the last token you will get from me. After the cap 
 was drawn over his face, he uncovered it again, and said, I 
 have a word to all that have any love to God, and his right- 
 eous cause. Set time apart, and sing a song of praise to the 
 Lord, for what he has done to my soul ; and my soul says, 
 To him be praise. Then drawing down the cap, he prayed, 
 and the executioner threw him over 
 
 Last Testimony of Mr. James Boig, Student of Theology, 
 who suffered at the Cross of Edinburgh, July 27th, 
 1681, in a Letter to his Brother. 
 
 Dear Brother, — I have not now time to write that which 
 I would ; but to satisfy your desire, and the desire of others 
 who are concerned in the cause and work of God, which is 
 at this time trampled upon. I have given out mine indict- 
 ment to a friend of yours, and shall now give you an account 
 of the enemies' prosecution thereof against us. Mine indict- 
 ment did run upon three heads: 1. That I had disowned the 
 king's authority. 2. That I said, the rising in arms at Both- 
 well Bridge was lawful, and for the defence of the truth. 3. 
 That I owned the Sanquhar Declaration in the whole heads 
 and articles thereof. And having again owned this before 
 the justiciary and assizers, 1 held my peace and spoke no 
 more : because I saw what was spoken by others was not re- 
 garded, either by our unjust judges, or mocking auditors; 
 all that our speaking did, was the exposing of us to the 
 mockery of all present. The reasons that were given in for 
 our defence on the first head were. That we could not own 
 the authority, as now presently established, unless we should 
 also own the supremacy, which the king had usurped over the 
 church. By doing this we should rob Christ of that which 
 is his right, and give that to a man which is due to no moilal ; 
 the supremacy is declared, in the acts of parliament, to be 
 essential to the crown ; now that which is essential to any 
 
58 LAST TESTIMONY OF 
 
 thing is the same with the thing itself: so that in owning 
 their authority, we are of necessity obliged to justify them 
 in their usurpation also. But there is another argument, 
 which to me is valid, though I spoke it not before them ; and 
 it does not a little trouble me that I should have passed it. 
 The advocate, in his discourse to the assizers, among other 
 things, said, that we were overturning these acts and laws, 
 which they (the assizers) had consented to, and were owning. 
 Now, I suppose their consent to the present acts and laws 
 was never formally required of them, but that which is taken 
 for their consent, was their simple silence, when these acts 
 were made and published, and owning these parliaments as 
 their representatives ; so that I may clearly argue from this, 
 that, even in their own sense, my owning of the present autho- 
 rity, now established as lawful, and the present magistrates, 
 as my magistrates, is a giving my consent to the present acts 
 and laws, and so consequently to the robbing of Christ of that 
 which is his right. As to the second, it being but one par- 
 ticular fact, deduced from that principle of the lawfuhiess of 
 self-defence, and this principle being as positively asserted 
 by all of us, I look upon the principle to be as expressly 
 sealed with our blood as that particular fact of rising in arms 
 at Bothwell Bridge is. As to the third, it being a deed con- 
 taining merely an inference from the first, I looked upon 
 them both as standing and falling together ; he that owneth 
 the first, must, of necessity own the last also. And as to that 
 of declaring war, I did always look upon it to be one and the 
 same, though differently expressed, with that contained in 
 the paper found at the Ferry ; and that the chief design of it 
 was, to vindicate us before the world in our repelling unjust 
 violence, and clearing us of these aspersions that were cast 
 upon us, viz. the holding as a principle the lawfulness of 
 private assassinations, which we disown, and murdering of all 
 those who are not of the same judgment with us. These are 
 the truths which we are to seal with our blood to-morrow after- 
 noon at the Cross. As to other particular actions, we declined 
 to answer positively to them ; as to the bishop's death, we 
 told them we could not be judges of other men's actions; 
 because we declined saying any thing as to the excommuni- 
 cation, as not competent judges to cognosce in an ecclesiastic 
 matter, they did not proceed upon it. So, dear brother, 
 you may clearly see our quarrel to be the same as that for 
 
DAVID HACKSTOUX, OF RATIIILLE';. 59 
 
 which Mr. James Guthrie laid down his head; beside whose 
 head, mine and those of mj other two friends are to be set. 
 Many other things passed in private betwixt me and Mr. 
 William Paterson, (sometime my regent, now council-clerk,) 
 and some others, who strongly assaulted me with their snares ; 
 but I may say, that "my soul hath escaped like a bird out of 
 the snare of the fowler." 
 
 As to your second desire, to know how my soul prospers, I 
 may state that Satan has tempted me since I came to prison ; 
 but, glory to God, who hath given me assistance, yea, many 
 times unsought; he is yet continuing his graces, and, I 
 hope, will do so to the end, to enable me to meet death, in 
 as sweet a calm as if I were going to be married to one 
 dearly beloved. Alas! my cold heart is not able to respond 
 to his burning love; but what is wanting in me, is, and 
 shall be made up in a Saviour complete and well-furnished 
 in all things, whom the Father hath appointed to bring his 
 straying children to their own home, of whom, though un- 
 worthy, I may venture to say I am one. If I had time to 
 enlarge, I would give you a more particular account of 
 God's goodness to me ; but let this suffice, that I am fairly 
 on the way, and within view of Immanuel's land, and hope 
 to be received as an inhabitant there within the space of 
 twenty-six hours. Farewell all earthly comforts; farewell 
 all worldly vanities ; farewell all carnal desires. "Welcome 
 cross: welcome gallows; welcome Christ; welcome heaven 
 and everlasting happiness, &c. Grace, mercy, and peace 
 be with you. Amen. 
 
 James Boig. 
 
 Edinburgh Tolbooth, 
 July 2m, 1681. 
 
 Testimony of David Hackstoun, of Rathillet, who suf- 
 fered at the Cross of Edinburgh, July 30th, 1680. 
 
 Interrogations and Answers, before the Privy Council, 
 Saturday, July 24th, 1680. 
 
 Had you any hand in the murdering of the late bishop of 
 St. Andrews? Ans. I am not obliged to answer that ques- 
 
60 LAST TESTIMONY OP 
 
 tion, nor be my own accuser. — 2. What do you declare as to 
 the king's authority ? Ans. That authority which disowns 
 the interest of God, and sets itself in opposition to Jesus 
 Christ, is no more to be owned; the king's authority is now 
 such, therefore it ought not to be owned. — 3. Was the killing 
 of the archbishop of St. Andrew's murder? Ans. I thought 
 it no sin to despatch a bloody monster. — 4. Do you own the 
 covenant taken at Queeusferry, from Mr. "Cargil, one of 
 your preachers? Ans. I own it in every particular thereof, 
 and would fain see the man that in conscience and reason 
 would debate the contrary. — 5. Were you at liberty, and 
 had the power to kill any of the king's council, and murder 
 them as you did the bishop of St. Andrew's, would you do 
 it? Ans. I have no time to answer such frivolous and 
 childish questions. 
 
 The chancellor then told him, that if he were not more 
 ingenuous in his answers, he would be presently tortured. 
 He replied. It is but a little additon to your former cruelties, 
 and I have this comfort, that though you torture my 
 wounded body, you cannot reach my soul. The chancellor 
 urged him with several other questions, which he refused to 
 answer; but added, I would gladly speak a little if I had 
 liberty. This was allowed, and he proceeded, Youth is folly, 
 and I acknowledge that in my younger years I was too much 
 carried away with it ; but that inexhaustible fountain of the 
 goodness and grace of God, which is free and great, hath 
 reclaimed me, and, as a fire-brand, hath plucked me out of 
 the hand of Satan ; and now I stand before you as a pri^ 
 soner of Jesus Christ, for adhering to his cause and interest, 
 which hath been sealed with the blood of many worthies, who 
 for the few years past, have suffered in these lands, and have 
 witnessed to the truths of Christ. I own all the testimonies 
 given by them, and desire to add my testimony to theirs, 
 and am not only willing to seal it with my blood, but also 
 with the sharpest tortures that you can imagine. Being 
 asked by the bishop of Edinburgh, what he made of the 
 statement in the Confession of Faith, that " difference of 
 religion doth not make void the magistrate's right and autho- 
 rity." He replied that he would not answer any perjured 
 prelate. The bishop retorted, that he wronged him, he 
 never took the covenant, and therefore was not perjured. 
 The question was again repeated, when he said that question 
 
DAVID HACKSTOUN, OF RATHILLET. 61 
 
 had been answered long ago in the Solemn League and 
 Covenant, which binds us only to maintain and defend the 
 king in support of the true religion ; but now that the king 
 had shown himself an enemy to rehgion, and all the godlj, 
 it was high time to shake off all obligation of allegiance to 
 his authority. These answers were then read to him before 
 the council, when he adhered to them. The next day that 
 he was arraigned before the council, he was asked if he had 
 any thing farther to say? To which he replied, that he had 
 not, but was ready, not only to seal what he had said with 
 his blood, but with all the tortures they could invent. 
 
 Extract of the proceedings of the Privy Council, Edin- 
 burgh, July 29th, 1680. 
 
 In presence of the lords, justiciary clerk, and commis- 
 sioners of justiciary, compeared David Hackstoun, of Rath- 
 illet, and declines the king's majesty's authority of the 
 commissioners of justiciary as his judges, and absolutely 
 refuses to sign this declaration, as being before persons who 
 are not his judges. He refuses to answer concerning the 
 murder of the late bishop of St. Andrew's, and says, the 
 causes of his declinement are, because they have usurped 
 the supremacy over the church, belonging alone to Jesus 
 Christ, and have established idolatry, perjury, and other 
 iniquities; and in prosecuting their design, in confirming 
 themselves in this usurped right, have shed much innocent 
 blood. Therefore the said David, adhering to Christ, his 
 rights, and kingly office over the church, declines them that 
 are his open enemies and competitors for his crown and 
 power, as competent judges; refuses, as formerly, to sign 
 this his declaration, dited from his own mouth, whereupon 
 his majesty's advocate takes instruments, and requires the 
 commissioners of justiciary to sign the same in his presence, 
 as for him; and his majesty's advocate takes instruments, 
 that the said David has declined his majesty's authority, 
 and the authority of his commissioners,^ and refused to deny 
 the murder of the late bishop of St. Andrew's, and requires 
 Messrs. John Vas, James Balfour, and the men of the court, 
 witnesses to the foresaid declaration. — Sir Robert Maitland, 
 James Foulis, David Balfour, David Falconer, Rodger 
 Hodge. 
 
Q2 LAST TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Upon Friday, July 30tli, being again brought before the 
 council, he was asked, if he had any other thing to say? 
 He answered. That which I have said, I will seal. He was 
 then commanded to sit down and receive his sentence, 
 which he did, telling them they were all bloody murderers ; 
 that the power they had was derived from tyranny ; and that 
 these years by-past they had not only tyrannized over the 
 church of God, but had also grinded the faces of the poor, 
 so that oppression, bloodshed, perjury, and many murders, 
 were to be found in their skirts. He was then hurried to 
 the scafifold, at the Market Cross of Edinburgh, where he 
 suffered death by the most cruel torture. As he was not 
 permitted to speak from the scaffold, the only testimony he 
 has left is contained in the following letters. 
 
 No. 1. — To N , a Christian Friend. 
 
 Dear Acquaintance, — I know this late dispensation of 
 providence will occasion much sadness to you, and other 
 lovers of the Lord's truth in this day, when so few by their 
 practice prove themselves to be zealous for God, or lovers 
 of his truth. Instead of that growth in the graces of God's 
 Spirit, and steadfastness which should be in Christians, they 
 have made defection from the truth, and are fallen from 
 their first love, and so strengthen the hands of usurpers of 
 the crown of Christ, in their unlawful encroachments on the 
 privileges of the Son of God. Wherefore I entreat you, 
 and all others, as you would not offend God, and provoke 
 him to more anger, not to murmur, but bless and praise him, 
 and submit to him in all humility ; for if this be one of the 
 steps of Zion's deliverance, and God's glory, why should we 
 not praise him? If we had the manner of our delivery at 
 our carving, we would split it. He is the wisdom of the 
 Father, who sits at the helm and orders all affairs. The 
 faith of this should silence all suggestions from Satan, our 
 own hearts, and unbelief. I desire you to charge all that 
 have love or affection to me, not to be sad on my account, 
 but rather to rejoice on my behalf, that God hath so hon- 
 oured me in all I have been trysted with. For as he took 
 me when I was a slave to Satan and sin, and cast his love 
 upon me, and plucked me as a brand out of the fire, and 
 brought me into covenant with him, to promote and carry 
 
DAVID IIACKSTOUN, OF KATHILLET. 63 
 
 forward his work, without fear of what man can do unto 
 me ; and as he lielped me to make the bargain with him upon 
 good terms, which was a renouncing of my own strength, 
 and a resolution to do all in his strength; so now he hath 
 been faithful in all things to me, and hath furnished me suf- 
 ficiently for what he hath called me to, and hath passed by 
 my many gross failings and breaches of my conditions to 
 him, and hath done to me above what I could ask of him. 
 that I could commend him to all, and stir up all to fear, 
 admire, and praise him, and believe on him! But the luke- 
 warmness and want of love to God, and indifference in 
 Christ's matters, (which in condescension to his church he 
 hath reserved as his declarative glory,) and neutrality in 
 these things are come to so great a height among professors, 
 that, I think, God is laying a stumbling-block before them, 
 one after another, that when they are fallen, (whom he will 
 have to fall,) he may be glorified in his justice, by bringing 
 down that stroke of vengeance that seems to be hanging over 
 these lands, because of the fearful idolatry, perjury, blood- 
 shed, blasphemy, and other abominations of which it is this 
 day guilty. Think it not strange that I say, all are guilty ; 
 there are none free, nor shall be reputed free in the sight of 
 God, but mourners in Ziou. Lord grant repentance, and a 
 spirit of mourning ; brokenness and contrition of spirit is the 
 only sacrifice well-pleasing unto God. All are guilty : First 
 our representatives, and we in them established these sins, in 
 our national decree, which we have homologated by owning 
 them ever after ; and much more have we homologated their 
 sins, by contributing, in one way or another, to strengthen 
 their hands against God. Alas, there are few of them free 
 of this to-day ! that preachers would preach repentance, 
 and professors would exhort one another to mourn in secret, 
 and together, because of sin. I find flesh and blood great 
 enemies to faith; and friends fosterers of sinful fears. It is 
 above nature to believe, especially when dispensations seem 
 to contradict our faith : but if any had faith towards God 
 concerning me, let not this break, but rather strengthen it, 
 there is nothing that can contradict what God hath deter- 
 mined ; but against all opposition he will perfect his work in 
 and by me, either by a remarkable delivery, or through- 
 bearing, as he sees most for his glory. 
 
 Wherefore let us submit to his will, and bow before the 
 
64 LAST TESTIMONY OF 
 
 throne in behalf of Zion and her children; and 0! that jou 
 yourself, and others that are faithful, would hold up mj case 
 to Zion's God, that he would glorify himself in me — let your 
 prayers be in faith ; " to him that believeth, all things are 
 possible." There are many prayers that prevail not with 
 God because of unbelief. I know these sufferings, otherwise 
 gracious, will be a great stumbling to many, but let them not 
 prove so to you : I bless the Lord they are not, as yet, so to 
 me, but rather the power, yea the love of God to me ; for it 
 was not altogether unexpected. I do not reflect upon any 
 that have sealed the truth as we hold it, with their blood, 
 yet I cannot deny that it was against conscience that I 
 joined with some of our party; for they had not their gar- 
 ments clean of the late defections, and there was too much 
 pride amongst us. Neither dare I allow that taking of satis- 
 faction for practices which are the homologating of public 
 sins, which we did about an hour before our break, and 
 which checked me exceedingly at the time. Real sorrow 
 should make such men, like the prodigal, to think themselves 
 not worthy to be employed in that work; and real evidences 
 of reconciliation with God should be seen before admission 
 to such an employment. that all would take warning, by 
 my reproof, not to follow any man against conscience! 
 There were choice godly men among us, but one Achan will 
 make Israel to fall. I feared the want of faith among us, 
 first and last, in the late affair. Many mouths will be opened 
 against me because of what I did before this business, but I 
 must speak of it. It is a stumbling-block laid to lead them 
 into more sin ; would that I had done more to purge away 
 every sin, especially known sin among us! They that abode 
 within, and came not out with us, let them remember Me- 
 roz's curse ; I am afraid lest God charge them with our 
 blood, for not joining to our help. 
 
 As I know you will be anxious to learn how I was appre- 
 hended, and how it has fared with me since, I give you the 
 following brief account: — On the Wednesday previous, we 
 had notice that a party were scouring the country in search 
 of us. We therefore sent out two men to watch, and lay 
 on a muirside all night. On the morning of Thursday, about 
 ten o'clock, we again sent out two men to bring information 
 from the outposts of the previous night who had not returned, 
 and prepared to take breakfast. The four men returned 
 
DAVID HACKSTOUX, OF RATHILLET. 65 
 
 together, stating that no immediate danger need be appre- 
 hended, and that there was no occasion at present to send 
 out for further intelligence. We had concealed ourselves 
 in a patch of long grass, and remained undisturbed till four 
 o'clock, P.M., when we were alarmed bj the intelligence that 
 the dragoons were advancing. We immediately rose, and 
 formed, every one determined to fight. I rode off to look 
 out for vantage ground. I was directed to a favourable 
 position by a countryman, and my friends followed me. 
 We had not quite reached it, when observing the dragoons 
 close at hand, we were obliged to form our small line, eight 
 horse on the right with R. D., and fifteen on the left with 
 me, with forty foot in the centre, many of them ill armed. 
 The enemy were about 112 strong. They sent a party of 
 twenty to take the wind of us, whom we opposed by a party 
 on foot. The remainder advanced upon their main body. 
 We fired first and did some execution ; we still kept advanc- 
 ing, and fired again ; but on receiving their fire, finding that 
 our horse was in great confusion, I rushed upon them alone, 
 and went quite through their ranks without receiving any 
 harm. A few pursued me, with whom I fought a consider- 
 able time, sometimes pursued, and sometimes pursuing. At 
 length my horse bogged, and David Ramsay (formerly an 
 acquaintance) and I fought on foot with small swords, with- 
 out any advantage on either side. When closing, however, 
 with him, I received three wounds from as many troopers, 
 who attacked me behind, and so fell. They then searched 
 me, and carried me to the rear, where several of their own 
 men were lying severely wounded. How many of our men 
 were kiUed I know not. The field was theirs, but they paid 
 for it ; we compelled them to give us this testimony, that 
 we were resolute and brave. I was carried to Douglas, and 
 on the way they treated me very civilly, and supplied me 
 with drink when thirsty. 
 
 At Douglas, Janet Cleland was kind to me, and sent a 
 surgeon, who did but little to my wounds, only staunched 
 the blood. 
 
 Next morning I was brought to Lanark, and examined 
 before Dalziel, Lord Ross, and some others, who asked many 
 questions at me. As my answers were not satisfactory, 
 Dalziel threatened to roast me. I was then remanded to 
 the tolbooth, bound most barbarously, and cast down, where 
 
 g2 
 
66 LAST TESTIMONY OF 
 
 I laj till Saturday morning, none except soldiers being ad- 
 mitted to speak to me, dress my wounds, or give me any 
 relief whatever; and next morning they brought me and 
 John Pollock, and two others, nearly two miles on foot, 
 where the party which had broken us at first received us, 
 commanded by Earlsball, who brought us to Edinburgh 
 about four o'clock in the afternoon, and delivered us over to 
 the town magistrates. By them I was seated on a horse, 
 with my face backward, and the other three bound on a 
 goad of iron. Mr. Cameron's head was carried on a halbert 
 before me, and another head in a sack, on a young man's 
 back. Thus we proceeded up the Cannongate, to the par- 
 liament-closs, where I was taken down, and my brethren 
 loosed. All this was done by the hangman. I was next 
 put into a room alone, where the chancellor came, and asked 
 if I knew him? I answered. Yes. After some protesta- 
 tions of love, to which I answered nothing, he went away ; 
 and then I was brought in before the council, where the 
 chancellor read my indictment. First, auent the bishop's 
 murder; to which I replied, I was obliged by no law, either 
 of God or man, to answer it; and neither to accuse myself, 
 nor implicate others by vindicating myself. The advocate 
 asked where I was on the third of May, 1679? I answered, 
 I am not bound to keep a memorial where I have been, or 
 what I do every day. The chancellor asked if I thought it 
 murder? To which I answered, though I was not bound to 
 answer such questions, yet I would not call it so. The ad- 
 vocate said, Sir, you must be a great liar to say you re- 
 member not where you was that day, it being so remarkable 
 a day. I replied. Sir, you must be a greater liar to say I 
 answered in such a manner. AVhereupon the chancellor re- 
 plied, My lord advocate, he only said he was not bound to 
 keep in memory every day's work. 
 
 The chancellor asked if I adhered to Mr. Cargil's papers, 
 which they called the New Covenant, taken at the Ferry ? 
 I answered, I should like to know what they had to say 
 against them. He asked if I owned the king's authority? 
 I said, though I was not bound to answer such questions, 
 yet being permitted to speak, I would say somewhat to that 
 question. First, there could be no lawful authority but 
 what was of God ; that no authority, established in a direct 
 opposition to God, could be of God; and that I knew of 
 
DAVID HACKSTOUN, OF RATHILLET. 67 
 
 no authority nor judicatory in these nations, which was not 
 directly opposed to God, and so could neither be of God, 
 nor lawful; besides, they were setting the worst of man- 
 kind at liberty from justice, and employing them in oppress- 
 ing, killing, and destroying the Lord's people. The chan- 
 cellor and his associates raged, and desired me to give an 
 instance of one such so set at liberty, and so employed. I 
 answered to that, though it were time enough to do so when 
 I saw a just judicatory; yet I would instance one, viz., 
 a bougerer, liberated at the sheriff-court of Fife, and after- 
 wards employed in their service. At which the chancellor 
 raged, and said, I behoved to be a liar ; but I offered to 
 prove it. Bishop Paterson asked if ever Pilate and that 
 judicatory, who were direct enemies to Christ, were dis- 
 owned by him as judges? I replied, that I would answer no 
 perjured prelate in the nation. He answered, that he could 
 not be called perjured, because he never took that sacrile- 
 gious covenant. I answered, that God would own that cove- 
 nant when none of them could oppose it. They all cried, I 
 was prophesying ; I answered, I was not prophesying, but 
 that I durst not doubt but God, who had such_ singular love 
 to these lands, as to bring them into covenant in so peculiar 
 a manner with himself, would let it be seen that his faithful- 
 ness was engaged to carry it through in opposition to his 
 enemies. One asked, what I answered to that article of the 
 Confession of Faith concerning the king? I answered, it 
 was clear in the covenants. The advocate asked, what I 
 said of that article of the covenant, wherein we are bound to 
 maintain and defend the king? I desired him to quote 
 what followed, which was in defence of religion, but not to 
 its destruction. The chancellor then threatened me with 
 boots, aud other terrible things ; adding, I should not have 
 the benefit of a sudden death. To which I answered, it 
 would be but an addition to the cruelties inflicted against 
 God's people before, that I was there a prisoner of Christ, 
 owning his truths against his open enemies, and referred to 
 their own acts of parliament and council for proof of their 
 opposition to God and cruelty to his people. 
 
 After this, they called for a surgeon, and removed me to 
 another room ; where he dressed my wounds. At this time 
 the chancellor entered, and kindly asked, if ever I said to a 
 shepherd on the Mounthill, that if I thought they would not 
 
68 LAST TESTIMONY OF 
 
 put me to an ignominious death, I would refer myself to 
 the chancellor ? I said, No. He said, a shepherd had told 
 him so ; I said, that whoever had told him so, had not spoken 
 the truth. I was asked by some concerning our strength. 
 I answered, that we were few, but being surprised bj such a 
 strong party, and knowing with what cruel orders they came 
 against us, we were forced to fight. My wounds being 
 dressed, I was brought again into the court, when the above 
 was read over to me, to which I adhered. Being asked if I 
 would sign it, I said. No. The chancellor said, he would do 
 it for me. Some of them said, I had been at some other 
 affairs, and I replied, that though I was not obliged to 
 answer such statements, yet I adhered to all that had been 
 done in behalf of that cause against its enemies. After 
 which, I was remanded to the tolbooth, and have since 
 met with all manner of kindness, and want for nothing. 
 My wounds are duly dressed, though I fear they may prove 
 deadly, they being all in the head; the rest of my body 
 is safe. 
 
 In all these trials (I bless the Lord) I was supported, 
 unmoved, — no alteration of countenance in the least, nor 
 impatience appeared. Some of them have come to me, and 
 regretted that such a man as I should have been led away 
 with Cameron. I answered, he was a faithful minister of 
 Jesus Christ, and as for me, I desired to be one of those 
 despicable ones whom Christ chose. They said, that was a 
 quaker-like answer. I replied, it was the words of Clmst 
 and his apostles. Bishop Paterson's brother had long rea- 
 soning with me ; but, I think, not to truth's disadvantage. 
 He told me, that the whole council observed, that I gave 
 them not their due titles ; at which I smiled, and made no 
 reply. He said, I had behaved disrespectfully to the bishop. 
 I said, I had asserted the truth. He answered, that he, the 
 bishop, never took the covenant, and so could not be per- 
 jured, I replied, Prelacy itself was abjured by the whole 
 nation. He told me, that the whole council found I was a 
 man also of great parts, and also of good birth, I replied, 
 For my birth, I was related to the best in the kingdom, of 
 which I thought little ; and for my parts they were small; 
 yet I trusted so much to the goodness of that cause for which 
 I was a prisoner, that if they would give God the justice, to 
 let his cause be disputed, I doubted not to plead it against 
 
DAYID HACKSTOUN, OF RATHILLET. 69 
 
 all who should speak against it. Both at the council and 
 here, they said tauntingly, that there were not two hundred 
 in the nation who acknowledged our cause. I answered at 
 both times, that the cause of Christ had been often owned 
 by fewer. I was pressed to take advice; I answered, I 
 would advise with God and my own conscience, and would 
 not depend on men, and refused to debate any more, since it 
 was to no purpose, being troublesome to me, and not advan^ 
 tageous to the cause. At the council, some said, I was pos- 
 sessed of a devil ; some one thing, and some another.^ The 
 chancellor said, I was a vicious man ; I answered, While I 
 was so, I had been acceptable to him ; but now, when other- 
 w^ise, it was not so. He asked me, If I would yet own that 
 cause with my blood, if at liberty? I answered. Both our 
 fathers had owned it with the hazard of their blood before 
 me. Then I was called by all a murderer. I answered, 
 God should decide it betwixt us, to whom I refer it, who 
 were most murderers in his sight, they or I. 
 
 Ye have an account, as near as 1 can give, of what passed 
 between us. Be ye, and desire all others to be, earnest with 
 God in my behalf; for I am weak, and cannot stand without 
 constant supplies of the graces of his Spirit. Oh, I am afraid 
 lest I deny him ! I have rich promises, but I want faith. Pray 
 and wrestle in my behalf, and in behalf of my companions. 
 Show this letter to my friends, especially D. K. Let all 
 beseech the Lord for us, that he would show us the cause of 
 his anger against us ; and let me know by the first oppor- 
 tunity who of us were slain. Commend me to all friends, 
 and let none stumble at the cause, because of this. I have 
 often said, that if we purged not ourselves of the public 
 and particular sins among us, God would break us, and 
 bring a delivery out of our ashes. Let none murmur at 
 what we should esteem our glory. And let ministers and 
 others be afraid of being more tender of men than God's 
 glory. And however it be a stumbling to some, let it be a 
 token of God's lov^ to his church, to you, and all that love 
 his truth. Pray for the out-pourings of all the graces of 
 God's spirit to me, and those who are with me in bonds. I 
 have need of patience, submission, humility, love to, and zeal 
 for God ; above all, hope and faith, without which I am but 
 a frail worm, and will fall before mine enemies, inward and 
 outward. And thus recommending you to his grace, who 
 
70 LAST TESTIMONY OF 
 
 hath bought us with his precious blood, and remembering 
 mj love to all friends, I am, jours in our Lord, and who 
 sympathizes in our afflictions, 
 
 David Hackstoun. 
 
 P. S. — You may show this letter, but preserve it ; as I 
 have no duplicate, and it may be all my testimony. Send 
 nothing to me, for I am strictly guarded. I have met with 
 kindness from all classes, only friends have not liberty to see 
 me. My love to you and all friends. I said to Clerk Pater- 
 son, that I should have seen Mr. Cargil's papers before'I had 
 answered anent them. 
 
 TOLBOOTH, EdINDURGH, 
 
 Jidij 26th, 1680. 
 
 No. 2.— To a Lady. 
 
 Madam, — The bearer tells me, that your ladyship desires 
 to know what I mean by the Achan I mentioned in my 
 other letter, which I shall explain ; and, alas ! that I have 
 such a wide field to walk in when I name such a thing ; for 
 I know not how to find out the man that is free of the ac- 
 cursed thing among us, for which God is contending against 
 the land, and especially against such as would be most free 
 of public sin, and most sincere for God. Only I desire both 
 to reverence and admire the holy wisdom and loving kind- 
 ness of God, who is, by these dark dispensations, purging his 
 people, that he may bring forth a chaste spouse to himself 
 in Scotland. These are tokens of his fatherly love ; yet I 
 fear, while we stand chargeable with such open whoredoms 
 against our married Husband, that they might rather be 
 looked upon as a bill of divorce, than joining again in the 
 married relation. And here I shall explain the national 
 sins, according to the light God hath bestowed upon me, out 
 of his free grace, who is not confined to any, but chooseth 
 and revealeth himself to whom he will; and often glorifies 
 his free grace in making use even of the greatest sinners, as 
 I confess I have been one; these sins are contained in our 
 national decrees. 
 
 First, the whole land is become guilty of idolatry, as it is 
 established by the Acts of Supremacy, especially in the Act 
 Explanatory, wherein all the declarative glory and preroga- 
 
DATID HACKSTOUN, OF RATHILLET. ' 71 
 
 tives of Jesus Christ are given to the king, which is fearful 
 idolatry ; ascribing that which he hath purchased with his 
 precious blood, and received from his Father as his gift, and 
 hath reserved as his peculiar glory ; giving this, I say, unto 
 a creature, whom, by this blasphemous decree, we have set 
 up in the room of Jesus Christ, as governor and absolute 
 head and judge in all ecclesiastic affairs; and by the same 
 decree, all acts and laws contrary to it are rescinded. Now 
 the whole word of God, contained in the Scriptures of both 
 the Old and New Testaments, are a law contrary to it, and 
 so by this are rescinded. Besides this sin of idolatry, by 
 the Act Rescissory, all other acts, oaths, covenants and en- 
 gagements, that the lands are lying under, sworn to God, to 
 whom, and in whose name, they were so solemnly sworn, 
 and so often renewed ; these have been burned by the hands 
 of the hangman, through several places of these covenanted 
 kingdoms. This is a legal perjury and breach of covenant 
 unparallelled in sacred or profane history. Further, in con- 
 tempt of the presence of God, seen at the meetings of his 
 people convened in his name, they have declared them 
 redezvouses of rebellion : and by another act, have accounted 
 it presumption for a minister to preach without doors. 
 Thus contemning the call of Christ, whereby they set them- 
 selves above God. I could instance many horrid things 
 acted and done by them, in their prosecuting their design 
 of having that idol of theirs fixed in the usurpation of the 
 prerogatives of Jesus Christ; yet not doubting but your 
 Ladyship knows many of them, I shall, for brevity's sake, 
 only add, that the land is filled from the one end to the other, 
 with innocent blood, shed on that account ; and with other 
 terrible abominations detestable even to Turks and heath- 
 ens, to which I think in God's righteous judgment, these 
 men are given up to fill up the measure of their iniquity, 
 that he may be glorified in the stroke of his justice upon all 
 ranks, which is fast hastening on, and that inevitably. 
 
 But again, to mention who are guilty hereof, I know not 
 how to do it ; only I may say, I know of none who can be 
 called free; and a freeing of any, or of ourselves, is but 
 hardening ourselves against God, and defending sin against 
 him who is a swift witness, and will not be mocked, but will 
 bring forth the hidden things of dishonesty to light. There- 
 fore, not to mention the idol of the Lord's jealousy, nor those 
 
iJ LAST TESTIMONY OF 
 
 that are prosecuting his wicked commands under liim, nor 
 Prelates and their adherents, I judge, and I fear, God will 
 esteem all guilty of these foreraentioned sins, who have in 
 any way owned any of these, after their wickedness was dis- 
 covered, and much more such as have by their personal deeds 
 homologated these wicked decrees, either by paying cesses 
 for strengthening them in their attempts to suppress the 
 meetings of God's people for his worship, met in opposition 
 to these wicked decrees, which is their consent to, and con- 
 tribution for, the strengthening them in all their wickedness 
 against God : or by subscribing any manner of bonds to them, 
 which is, an acknowledging them in that relation wherein 
 they stand and design to fix themselves, when they are pur- 
 suing, taking, imprisoning, and releasing again on these 
 bonds ; for their end in all the prosecutions of this nature, is 
 to confirm themselves in this usurpation of the crown of 
 Christ, as head of the church. Subscribing any manner of 
 bond prescribed by them, is and will be, in the sight of God, 
 an acknowledging them as head of the church in the several 
 stations wherein they have placed themselves ; the king as 
 head, and they as factors under him, prosecuting his will, 
 and putting in execution his commands ; and acknowledging 
 any other head, in any manner of way, over the church, is 
 directly a denying of Christ before men, in his kingly office, 
 which is a plain denying of him, and hath sore threatenings 
 annexed thereunto. 
 
 I could mention many other circumstances, wherein this 
 generation has touched the accursed thing, and has bowed 
 the knee to that Baal-like idol of the Lord's indignation and 
 anger; but I shall only mention besides these two, a third — 
 some who Jiave appeared in arms against God, for and in 
 company with his enemies. Now that way of giving and 
 taking satisfaction for these sins, for which some contend, I 
 cannot consent to : because these sinful practices being prac- 
 tices immediately against God, and the first table of the law, 
 no satisfaction to man can be sufficient. I close not that 
 door that God hath opened in mercy to the really penitent ; 
 but, I say, real evidences that God has forgiven, should be 
 before a joining with such in society. I know the gospel 
 should be preached to all, that they may repent, that being 
 the means God hath appointed for conversion, when men 
 have sinned ; but ! when men after light fall into these 
 
DAVID HACKSTOUN, OF RATHILLET. 73 
 
 things, and others counsel and advise them to such things, 
 fearful shall their doom be, if God prevent not in his mercy! 
 Now, Madam, there were some such among us ; and, as I 
 have observed, God has still punished that party that has 
 been appearing for him, when they have taken m, and jomed 
 with the men of these abominations ; and has, as it were, 
 passed by such as have complied with the apostacy of the 
 times, I doubt not, reserving them to the general stroke with 
 which he is threatening the whole land. that one and all 
 were making their soul's interest sure with God ! 
 
 Madam, I shall not mention the several steps of apostacy 
 and defection from God in these lands, in complying one 
 way or other with the determined enemies of the _ living 
 God, to the strengthening them in their usurpations of 
 Christ's crown and privileges, and hardening them in their 
 sin, in shedding so much innocent blood, and in their other 
 wicked courses? Neither shall I mention that idolizing of 
 men that is among us, to the provoking of God, to leave 
 them to fall: neither that selfishness that is among us m our 
 appearances for God, which cannot away with a holy, spot- 
 less, and jealous God, who wiU not give his glory to another. 
 Oh ! that one and all were mourning for, and acknowledging 
 our own and the land's guiltiness in these things, and were 
 seeking brokenness of spirit, which is a sacrifice well pleasing 
 to Gocf, that God might be reconciled to us, and set up, by 
 his Spirit, his standard, and gather in his own people to it ; 
 and mio-ht pour out his Spirit upon one and all that are 
 called by his name. I doubt not but God will save a rem- 
 nant, but it will be those in whom his free grace will be 
 glorified, and not the great ones who have not rendered to 
 the Lord, according to the talents he bestowed on them. 
 Remember me to my fellow prisoners, especially to such as 
 are keeping their garments clean of these pollutions ; and be 
 earnest with God in my behalf, that he would strengthen me 
 by his free grace in this trial, in patience, humility, and 
 godly fear. And I am, 
 
 Madam, 
 Your Ladyship's in all humility in Jesus Christ, 
 
 David Hackstoun. 
 
 ToLBOOTH, Edinburgh, 
 July 2m, 1680. 
 
74 LAST TESTIMONY OF 
 
 No. 3. — To N , a Christian Friend. 
 
 Dear and Christian Acquaintance, — My love being 
 remembered to you and all friends in Jesus Christ, these are 
 to show you and all others who know and love the truth, 
 as it is this day owned by the smallest handful that pretend 
 thereto, that I was yesterday before the lords of justi- 
 ciary. They charged me with several things. I declined 
 the king's authority as an usurper of the prerogatives of the 
 Son of God, whereby he hath involved the lands in idolatry, 
 perjury, and other wickedness: and I declined them as 
 exercising under him the supreme power over the church, 
 usurped from Jesus Christ ; who, in carrying on their designs 
 of confirming themselves in their usurpations of the crown 
 of Christ, had shed so much innocent blood throughout the 
 land : and that therefore I, as an owner of Christ's right, 
 and his kingly office, which they by tlieir wicked decrees had 
 taken from him, durst not, with my own consent, sustain 
 them as competent judges ; but declined them as open and 
 determined enemies to the living God, and competitors for 
 his throne, and the power belonging to him alone. Where- 
 upon I was dismissed, and at night my indictment to com- 
 pear to-morrow before an assize was intimated. Therefore 
 I entreat that you, and other faithful friends, will set time 
 apart, and inquire the Lord's mind concerning me : and be 
 earnest with him on my behalf, that he will glorify himself 
 
 in me. You may send your letter to , with a sure 
 
 hand, who will give it to him. Wherever Mr. D. C. is, 
 acquaint him with my case, or send him this line ; for I 
 know the mind of God is with him, and desire him to write 
 me. I dare not doubt, and when fears assault me, I think 
 there is a voice saying to me, Fear not. Let none stumble 
 at our cause, because of the late dispensation ; it is God's 
 cause, which was and is in our hands, though he has punished 
 us with his fatherly chastisements, because of sin amongst 
 us. " Every tree that bringeth forth fruit, he purgeth it, 
 that it may bring forth more fruit ;" but that which decay- 
 eth or declinetb, is laid by as useless. John Pollock has 
 been in the boots, but I am informed he is not discouraged, 
 and is likely to recover. My wounds are very sore ; but, 
 blessed be God, he keeps me in a good temper both of body 
 and mind. I am used kindly enough, wanting nothing. I 
 
i 
 
 ARCHIBALD ALISON. /O 
 
 recommend you, and all the faithful, to the protection of him 
 who is the iUmightj God, and everlasting Father. No 
 more, from jours in our Lord Jesus Christ, 
 
 Dayid Hackstoux. 
 ToLBOOTH, Edinburgh, 
 2Wt Juhj, 1680. 
 
 No. 4.— To his Sister. 
 
 LoTiNG Sister, — I received yours, and the other letter 
 with it, both to my contentment and satisfaction. It makes 
 me afraid that the eyes of many should be on me. Let all 
 look to God ; I am frail, but Christ is strong : I have his 
 promise of support, and his assurance that he will honour 
 me in his cause. Humble yourself before the Lord, and let 
 others that are yet faithful be earnest on my behalf, and do 
 it in faith ; the prayers of the faithful avail much. Have 
 you nothing, and tell all friends to have nothing to do with 
 such as connect themselves with those that are sitting in 
 that seat, and e:s:ercising that power which belong alone to 
 Christ. The stroke of the Lord's anger is ready to fall; 
 and those who have received greatest talents from God, and 
 have made use of them, to strengthen the enemies' hands by 
 bonds, or otherwise owning them, shall feel most severely the 
 stroke, and shall not be honoured to testify for Christ, — 
 Christ despised, robbed, contemned by this generation. 
 Remember me to all relations and friends ; and warn all to 
 cleave to Christ's truth and interest. If the free grace of 
 God be glorified in me, ought not all to praise him ? Christ 
 came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Many of this 
 generation think they have so much grace that they cannot 
 sin ; but I must tell them, grace doth not warrant from sin, 
 and they may so think of it. 
 
 David Hackstoux. 
 
 The Dying Testimony of Archibald Alison, of the 
 Palish of Evandale in Clydesdale, who suffered at the 
 Grass-Market, Edinburgh, August 13th, 1680. 
 
 I HAVE seen many such sights as this here since the year 
 1660, for the interest and cause of which I am this day to 
 
76 LAST TESTIMOXY OF 
 
 be a martyr. Here I am in jour presence to lay down my 
 life this day ; for which I charge thee,' my soul, and all 
 that is within me, to bless and magnify the name of the 
 Lord, who can perfect his praise, and bring a testimony out 
 of tlie mouths of babes or sucklings ; yea, before he want 
 some to seal his testimony, (even if it were from the beasts 
 of the field, he will not want,) as in Balaam's days, the 
 dumb ass speaking with man's voice, gave a testimony 
 against the madness of the prophet. AVherefore, unworthy 
 as I am, I am come here, and beg your attention, ye who 
 are spectators and auditors; peradventure the Lord shall 
 permit me to speak a few words to you. 
 
 Many have come here to-day to see me seal my testimony, 
 from various motives, but our Lord knows you all, and your 
 motives too. It is true, God is my witness, that I judge 
 myself the most unworthy person of any who have lost their 
 blood in this honourable cause. Christ has been pleased to 
 take a testimony from noblemen, gentlemen, ministers, from 
 masters, and from servants, which is a token for good, that 
 he has yet a kindness for these covenanted lands. And I 
 bless the Lord with all my heart, that ever he called me 
 with his heavenly calling ; I bless the Lord, that I have a 
 life to lay down for his sake ; glory to the Lord that I shall 
 have blood and wounds in his cause. 
 
 But to come more particularly to the purpose in hand, the 
 articles of my indictment were these : — They charged me 
 with rebellion, for joining with those whom they call rebels, 
 and declared enemies to the king, and enemies to all good 
 government. For my part, I never called them so. I declare 
 here where I stand, before Him who will be my judge within 
 a little, my design in coming forth with arms, was to hear 
 the gospel preached truly and faithfully, and I know it was 
 the design of that poor handful to defend the gospel, and to 
 keep up a witness and testimony against the abounding cor- 
 ruptions with which this land is filled from end to end, 
 and to plead with the Lord that he would not make a total 
 removal from it. Yes ; I heard Mr. Richard Cameron say, 
 " My friends, we are not to compare ourselves with 
 Gideon's three hundred men ; no — not at all. Our design 
 is to have you examined how ye are, and what ye are ; to 
 choose two or three of the foot, and two or three of the 
 horse, that are found fittest qualified for elders ; to try your 
 
ARCHIBALD ALISON. 
 
 77 
 
 principles, to try your life and conversation, and to have 
 you being Christians. Our number was more the last day, 
 and we gave them free leave to go home, and only but a 
 small handful to stay; for we design not to fall upon any 
 party of the forces except they be few in number, and oppose 
 us in keeping up the gospel in the fields; for I am per- 
 suaded that one meeting in the fields has been more owned 
 and countenanced by His presence with his people than 
 twentv house-meetings as they are now bought ; and there- 
 fore rnake no strife among yourselves about ofiicers, because 
 they are but men ; yea, I think there is not a man among 
 you all meet for it ; we are not meet to be a minister to you, 
 only we are to wait till the Lord provide better ; and ye that 
 are not satisfied to stay in defence of the gospel, good- 
 morrow to you, whatsoever ye be." And so I thought it was 
 rational and warrantable, both from the word of God, and 
 our solemn vows and covenants, to which you and the 
 whole land are engaged. Now, ye see what was my motive 
 in joining that handful, and in this I have peace, and on 
 this ground I lay down my life. There is a second reason 
 which I thought bound me to own the persecuted cause 
 and interest of my blessed Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. 
 About two years ago, being in Carrick, and hearing the 
 precious gospel of Jesus Christ, (in these glorious clays, the 
 shining of the countenance of our Lord was discernibly 
 seen there both upon his ministers and people,) I thought 
 it my duty to mark it. The Lord did so soften and ani- 
 mate my heart at that time, that I laboured to attain clear 
 views as to how I ought to conduct myself, being among the 
 deceitful indulged ministers. I found several passages of 
 scripture, calling me out from them, such as the following :— 
 " If the Lord be God, follow him ; but if Baal, then follow 
 him." "Come out from among them, my people, and 
 touch not the unclean thing," &c. " Touch not, taste not, 
 handle not, which all are to perish with the using." I 
 thought it was dreadful to be halting between two opinions. 
 On the other hand, I had some scriptures concerning the 
 cross that attends pure and undeflled religion. The Lord 
 who has called me here this day, to seal these truths, 
 wrought with an irresistible power on my heart ; but that 
 good word of his in Psalm xviii. 46, 48, " The Lord liveth, 
 and blessed be my rock," &c., makes me to rejoice. " The 
 
 h2 
 
78 LAST TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Lord of hosts is on mj side, the God of Jacob is mj de- 
 fence," &c. Oh ! so strongly does this bind and oblige me 
 to suffer, that I count it all joj now to go up this ladder. I 
 have had occasion to be at several meetings; I bless the 
 Lord for it ; and I bless the Lord that ever he made choice 
 of me, who was a miserable sinner, to lay down my life for 
 his cause ; and so I die, not by constraint or force, but wil- 
 lingly, at his command. 
 
 There is another clause in my indictment, and sentence 
 of death. It is there said, that I walked up and down the 
 country, murdering, destroying, and oppressing the subjects. 
 But I say, I did never mind the like. And so they have, 
 as they have done to many others, assized and sentenced me 
 wrongously ; for I never had a mind to murder or rob any 
 man : therefore I am clear to charge them guilty of my 
 blood, and to give my testimony against them, as murderers 
 of the servants and people of God, while engaged in the 
 service and worship of God, as I was. 
 
 Further, I believe that all the Scriptures of the Old and 
 New Testament are the word of the eternal and ever living 
 God, given by divine inspiration ; and that every duty com- 
 manded therein, ought to be obeyed and performed upon the 
 greatest peril and hazard, and that every crooked and false 
 way should be avoided and guarded against, whatever be the 
 seeming advantages which may accompany the embracing of 
 it, under the pain of being led forth with the workers of 
 iniquity, when he shall pronounce peace in Israel. I give 
 my witness and join my adherence to the Confession of Faith, 
 the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, National and Solemn 
 League and Covenant, with our Solemn Acknowledgment 
 of Sins and Engagement to Duties. I adhere to the church- 
 government by general assemblies, synods, presbyteries, and 
 kirk-sessions, according as it was established in the year 
 1648. I give my testimony to that faithful declaration at 
 Rutherglen, on the 29th of May, 1679. I adhere, and give 
 my testimony to the declaration at Sanquhar, June 22, 1680, 
 together with the paper found at the Ferry upon Henry Hall, 
 June 3, 1680. I give my testimony and set my seal to all 
 the former testimonies sealed by the blood of them who have 
 been murdered on scaffolds, in the fields, and in the sea, 
 from the year 1660, to this day; and by all the imprison- 
 ments and banishment of exiled and wandering ones, and 
 
ARCHIBALD ALISON. 79 
 
 by all the spoilings and robbings, oppression, stigmatizing, 
 scourging, and booting, and other horrid cruelties, which 
 have been committed by the enemies of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 On the other hand, I enter mj protestation before the 
 Judge of all, both living and dead, before whom I am to 
 appear within a little time, against all the encroachments 
 made upon the prerogatives of our Lord Jesus Christ, par- 
 ticularly against Popery, Quakerism, and Prelacy, and all 
 their underlings and those leagued with them ; and against 
 all supremacy that is contrary to the word of God, and 
 against all Erastianism, and against the indulgences, both 
 first and last, and against all who are connected with, con- 
 nive at, and support them ; and against the silence of watch- 
 men in this day, in not giving faithful warning, according 
 to the word of the Lord, Isa. Iviii. 1, *' Cry aloud, and spare 
 not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, show Israel their sins, 
 and the house of Jacob their transgressions." And against 
 their ambiguous and dark applications, so that the sin of the 
 times is not touched, lest they irritate the magistrates, and 
 bring themselves in hazard of our Lord's cross ; which was 
 an evil creeping in long ago, which the assembly condemned 
 in the ministers, and ordered them to be suspended, if they 
 did not amend ; and seeing no humiliation for such a great 
 sin, they were to be deposed. Also, I enter my protestation 
 against all those who have declared themselves opposite to 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, and have displayed a banner for 
 Satan ; not only tolerating, but acting and committing all 
 manner of abominations and horrid cruelties in things civil 
 and ecclesiastical. Farther, 1 enter my protestation against 
 all declarations, proclamations, bonds, cess and militia- 
 money, for keeping standing forces with a displayed banner 
 against our Lord ; and against all profanity, looseness and 
 lukewarmness, and all the backslidings of the Church of 
 Scotland, since our entering into covenants with God. 
 
 Now Sirs, I have given you but a short hint of my faith 
 and principles, and also of the motives which moved me to 
 join with the serious seekers of God, and also the grounds 
 of my indictment and sentence of death, also some little 
 glance at the corruptions of the times. I have here joined 
 my testimony to the sufferings of the people of God, and I 
 have entered my protestation against some open sins, which 
 
80 LAST TESTIMONY OF 
 
 are obvious to all who have not willingly yielded themselves 
 to work wickedness. Oh, it is but little that I can say I The 
 enumeration of these things w^ould take a long summer day, 
 and yet be incomplete ; for my part, I am but ignorant, my 
 capacity can reach but little. It may be ye will take but 
 little notice of what such as I can say, but I cannot help it. 
 Now, as a dying man, I leave all these things to your con- 
 sideration, if this prelatic and indulged party be the party 
 to be joined with and owned, pleaded for and defended ; what 
 think ye of them that have gone before us? What think ye 
 of Ai'gyle and Mr. Guthrie, who were men of understanding? 
 What think ye of Mr. Kid and Mr. King, and that gentle- 
 man that suffered last at the cross? Nay, what think ye of 
 religion and the cost of it? What think ye of heaven and 
 glory that is at the back of the cross? The hope of this 
 makes me look upon pale death as a lovely messenger to me. 
 I bless the Lord for my lot this day. 
 
 I shall come shortly to a close, only I entreat you take 
 heed. I wish I may not be a stumbling-block to any one 
 who is looking on me this day. " Blessed is he," says Christ, 
 *' that shall not be offended in me," and my followers. I have 
 a word for the seekers of God. Ye have a kirk and state 
 against you ; ye have been made to weep a long night, and 
 have none to comfort you: and if you cry, "Watchman, what 
 of the night? " the watchmen are drunk and fallen asleep, 
 they cannot tell. "Can these dry bones live? Lord thou 
 knowest." Ye are seeing the godly cut off; ye are hearing 
 them that have the root of the matter in them crying up a 
 sinful union ; and ministers will not tell you what is your 
 duty or danger. Oh, my dear friends, cast not away your 
 confidence ; ye must come through many tribulations ; but 
 there is a begun heaven for you. Seek ye the Lord, ye 
 meek of the earth: ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's 
 anger. There is no persecution in heaven, where our Lord's 
 enemies shall never come. I must not take it upon me to 
 say who of them will not come to heaven ; but this I may 
 say, if they come, it will be more than ordinary humiliation 
 they must have, as it is said of Manasseh, that " he humbled 
 himself greatly before the Lord God of his fathers." Friends, 
 give our Lord credit ; he is always good ; but oh, he is good 
 in the day of trial, and he will be sweet company through 
 the ages of eternity. There is none like the God of Jesh- 
 
ARCmBALD ALISON. 81 
 
 urun, that rides upon the heaven in thy help, and in his ex- 
 cellency on the sky ; and underneath are the everlasting arms, 
 and he will save his people. I have a word to the godly. 
 Alas! you have wronged the cause, for which, I fear, ye have 
 lost the countenance of God, and will not soon get it again ; 
 ye have "waxed fat and kicked;" ye have laid a confederacy 
 with enemies for a false peace ; ye have been crying peace 
 and union with the indulged, because they are godly men. 
 I say before the Lord, that ye, and these godly men, have 
 most basely betrayed the Kirk of Scotland ; ye shall go to 
 heaven in a fiery chariot ; ye shall hardly get leave to suflPer, 
 but go away in disgrace for your defection in shunning the 
 cross. I have a word to the ungodly. Oh, ye atheists and 
 ungodly magistrates, full of perjury and bloodshed, ye have 
 nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter. The blood 
 of the Lord's martyrs, which has been shed these eighteen 
 or nineteen years within this city, will be charged home 
 upon you, as well as upon the assizers. Ye counsellors, your 
 work will be rewarded. Ye criminal lords, remember " the 
 saints shall judge the earth," and shall shortly be on equal 
 terms with you ; and they shall stand upon mount Zion with 
 the Lamb, and give their consent against you, and shall 
 shortly cry, Hallelujah, hallelujah, to your condemnation. 
 And therefore I obtest you, in the bowels of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ that ye desist from your wicked courses, and lie in 
 the dust, and mourn for all your abominations, — " Except 
 ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Ye ignorant and 
 profane drunkards, swearers, and sabbath-breakers, repent, 
 or else ye shall likewise perish. And now I take my fare- 
 well of all the serious seekers of God for a short time ; and 
 you that are calm, prudent professors, I leave you under 
 process till you repent, for casting off Christ and his cross, 
 and for " bringing up an evil report on the good land," and 
 for your wronging the cause. And ye rulers, farewell for ever 
 more, without repentance and deep humiliation for wronging 
 of Christ and his people. Return my soul unto thy quiet 
 rest. Farewell all created comforts in time ; and welcome 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into thy hands I commit my 
 spirit. 
 
 Archibald Alisox. 
 
82 LAST SPEECH A}sB TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Dying testimony of John Malcolm, Weaver, in the parisli 
 of Dairy, Galloway, who suffered, August 13th, 1680. 
 
 Spectators and auditors, hear the words of a dying man, 
 ready to offer up this tabernacle in your sight. It is my last 
 wish, that you would consider your ways and your doings, 
 that are not good ; and not harden your hearts as in the pro- 
 vocation, for ye have to do with an holy God, who is quickly 
 about to come in flaming fire, to take vengeance on all the 
 ungodly profane persons, who are living at ease in Zion, and 
 rejoicing in the afflictions of the people of God. I would 
 obtest you in the bowels of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you 
 would break off your pernicious ways, and make peace with 
 God while he is willing to make peace with you, lest ye be 
 destroyed in the overflowing flood of his wrath. There have 
 been flockings and gatherings to see others, who are gone 
 before me, who have been wonderfully countenanced and 
 owned with the evident presence of God, convincingly helping 
 them to go through the jaws of death rejoicing, and looking 
 profane on-lookers out of countenance ; and have given their 
 testimonies against the abominations committed in the land. 
 And I am come hither, who am more unworthy than any 
 that have gone before me ; and, before I go further, I would 
 ask you, What you think of religion? What think you can 
 it be, that makes men suffer death with so great peace and 
 sweetness? Ye have heard what malefactors have had to 
 say. Think ye not strange, that a rational man can enter 
 upon eternity, leaving such a testimony as ye have heard ? 
 And I hope the Lord will help me in less or more to be 
 faithful and free in leaving my testimony, in the sight and 
 presence of him who is the sovereign Judge of all the earth, 
 before whom I must stand in a short time. 
 
 The cause of my coming here this day is, because I was 
 found with that poor persecuted handful — people who are 
 singly adhering to the honour and glory of God, now when 
 he is threatening to bring in his sore plagues upon this apos- 
 tate church, that has played the harlot with many lovers, for 
 which he will bring on indignation, wrath, and pain, upon 
 many. But this is ground of encouragement to the seekers 
 of God ; 1. That he is keeping up a party in the land, who 
 see it their duty to contend for his cause and interest, and 
 
JOHN MALCOLM. 83 
 
 shall overcome through the blood of the Lamb, and by the 
 word of their testimony, who are not loving their lives unto 
 the death, to contend for his cause and interest. For he 
 hath said, Ezek. vii. 16, " But they that escape of them, 
 shall escape, and be like the doves upon the mountains, 
 mourning every one of them for his iniquities." Now seeing 
 and considering, upon the one hand, what treacherous deal- 
 ings are hatched among ministers and professors in this poor 
 church; and, on the other hand, what the Lord had done 
 formerly, I thought, and was convinced in conscience, both 
 from respect to the honour of God, which I had before mine 
 eyes, and the good of my own soul, that it was the influence 
 of the Spirit which pressed home upon my heart that word, 
 1 Kings xviii. 21, "And Elijah came unto all the people, 
 and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the 
 Lord be God, then follow him ; but if Baal be God, then 
 follow him." The Lord determined me to join myself with 
 that party, and I do not repent it this day. I count it my 
 duty, and neither sin nor rebellion. I think it my credit to 
 serve such a noble master ; and, indeed, I wonder at his con- 
 descension that ever he sought service from such a wretched 
 sinner as I have been, who lived a stranger to him all my 
 days. amazing love I I wonder at the matchless acts of 
 the Lord's condescension, and his incomprehensible ways 
 with me ; that he has made choice of such a poor, weak, frail 
 worm of the dust as I am, and has led me out and in, and 
 has brought me to this place of execution, to give my testi- 
 mony to his work, cause, and interest ; and has passed by 
 the eminent, wise, and prudent in the land, and has made 
 choice of such an one as I am! Blessed be his glorious 
 name, that will have his word made out ; even " out of the 
 mouth of babes and sucklings, he can perfect his praise." 2. 
 And this likewise is ground of hope to you that are weak 
 and cannot venture on suffering, being sensible of your own 
 weakness ; " to the weak he increaseth strength." And this 
 is another ground of hope, that he takes the blood and 
 wounds of frail man to seal his truths. 
 
 It cannot be expected that I shall be very formal in what 
 I say, being no scholar, nor yet old in experience. And, 
 besides, after I had received my sentence, I was taken out 
 of a private room, and put in the irons among bad company, 
 except two days before this. The ground of my indictment 
 
84 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 was, 1. That I am against the king's forces, and fired upon 
 them, under the command of Earlshall. I declare, I intended 
 not to resist ; but being put to it in defence of the gospel, 
 and my own defence, I did resist them to my power. 2. 
 That I had been with that party in the months of April, 
 May, and June. I was but two days with them, with no 
 other intention than to hear the gospel, and for this I suffer : 
 I bless the Lord, not as an evil doer, but for my duty, for ye 
 know we are all bound in covenant both kirk and state ; ac- 
 cording to the coronation oath, the covenants were owned 
 and sworn, both by the supreme magistrate, the nobles, gen- 
 try, and commons of all sorts. The Lord did wonderfully 
 shine upon this land, so that it became the glory of the 
 whole world ; the fame of it went abroad, and it was renowned 
 through the nations. I have heard, that if a stranger of 
 another kingdom had come into a church of this land, there 
 was such a frame of spirit among the people, that the stran- 
 ger would have thought tliat they had been all saints. The 
 church then was " fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and 
 terrible as an army with banners." But we have not been 
 content with these days. Then the swearer was bound up 
 from oaths, and the drunkard refrained from his cups — 
 iniquity, ashamed, stopped her mouth. The Lord was with 
 his people in those days ; the gospel was successful. And 
 yet I can say, there have been as great days of the gospel in 
 the west of Scotland in the foresaid months, in the fields, 
 as were in Scotland, since it was Scotland. I am sure the 
 gospel preached by Mr. Richard Cameron especially, was 
 backed with, the power and presence of Christ ; as much of 
 Christ and heaven were found, as finite creatures on earth 
 were able to hold, yea, and more than they could hold ; the 
 streams of the living waters ran through among his people 
 at these meetings like a flood upon the souls of many ; who 
 can witness, if they were called to it, that they would not 
 have been afraid of tens of thousands. " The shout of a 
 King was heard among them ;" the fruits of it, I hope, will 
 appear after this. All the troopers and dragoons in the three 
 kingdoms, will never get that fire of love that is kindled in 
 the breasts of some in that country quenched ; it will never 
 be quenched : it will not die. The fathers will tell it to the 
 children, when they are old men, who are not taken away 
 from the wrath that is coming on, to avenge the quarrel of a 
 
JOHN MALCOLM. 85 
 
 broken covenant ; they will tell, that in the year 1680, when 
 there were Prelates through these lands, there were as great 
 days as there are now, upon the mountains up and down the 
 west : (it was then that I got the seal of God upon my soul). 
 And they shall say, Who were they that preached in mosses 
 and mountains, and not in the kirks nor houses ? Did not 
 all the godly ministers, when the apostate Prelates were in 
 the land, go out and witness and testify against them, with 
 their lives in their hands? And the fathers will say. Know, 
 my children, they had run well for a season, but they wea- 
 ried, and yielded up the church's liberties to a tyrant king, 
 of the name of Charles ; and he set up the Prelates, and 
 they made the land full of curates under them ; and after 
 that, some that were neutral for a time, turned council 
 curates, beguiled the rest of them, and Erastianism was uni- 
 versal ; but the moderate, indulged in judgment, would have 
 silenced Mr. Richard Cameron, but the Lord said to him, 
 Go, and I will go with thee ; and so he was wonderfully 
 helped. Indeed, the Lord countenanced him after that, and 
 deserted them, and he died a martyr, and had his head set 
 up upon a port beside other three of his brethren ; and many 
 that wrote against him, and had him in derision, died in dis- 
 gi-ace. They will have this to say, and tell to the young 
 ones yet unborn; "the righteous shall be had in everlasting 
 remembrance." Indeed, my friends, if any such be hearing 
 me, I may say, truly a great man in our Israel fell at Airs- 
 moss, on the 22d of July, 1680. And, now, if I were set at 
 liberty, with a provision that I were not found with Mr. 
 Donald Cargil, whom I pray the Lord may keep from sin- 
 ning, I would yet again join with that persecuted party, 
 although they should use me as they did that eminently 
 worthy gentleman that suffered before us. I am not in the 
 dark how and for what I suffer. I am clear that I was in 
 my duty, and I have peace in it since, and I grow still 
 clearer on it, — glory to His name : for it is true, that after 
 I got my indictment, and received my sentence, I wanted 
 the countenance of God, — for I never knew that the Lord 
 loved me, but since that time ; stiU I was never in the dark 
 about the righteousness of the cause : I knew it would bear 
 a suffering unto blood and death. And now I am clear of 
 my interest, and clear as to the grounds on which I am lay- 
 ing down my life to-day. I could wish that every hair of 
 
86 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMOXY OF 
 
 my head \7ere a life for Christ's sake, and his persecuted 
 cause. I die in the faith of the true protestant religion, in 
 doctrine, discipline, and worship, as it was received in the 
 year 1638, and in the year 16i9. I join my adherence to 
 the government of this church, as it was reformed from 
 Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and Supremacy. And I 
 join my cordial testimony to the church's laws and statutes 
 at that time, as she was governed by general assemblies, 
 synods, presbyteries, visitations, and sessions; and to days of 
 humiliation for sin, solemn days of thanksgiving for mer- 
 cies bestowed, and censures for trying persons of erroneous 
 principles, either ministers or private persons. I adhere to 
 the Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, 
 the Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to 
 Duties, the National and Solemn League and Covenant, 
 and the Protestation at St. Johnstoun. I join my testimony 
 to, and approbation of those papers at Queensferry, on the 
 3d of June, 1680. I adhere to that faithful testimony at 
 Eutherglen, emitted on the 29th of May, 1679. I join my 
 testimony to that last testimony or declaration affixed upon 
 the market-cross of Sanquhar, on the 22d of June, 1680; 
 and to the late appearance at Airsmoss, on the 22d of July, 
 1680, where the Lord's worthies fell. Likewise, I give my 
 testimony against the horrid murder of that eminently 
 worthy, and famous godly gentleman, David Hackstoun of 
 Rathillet; likewise against all the blood shed in the fields, 
 scaffolds, and the sea, these nineteen years past. I enter my 
 protestation against Popery, Quakerism, Supremacy, Eras- 
 tipcuism. Indulgences first and last; and against arbitrary 
 power over civil and ecclesiastical matters, further than the 
 bounds appointed by the word of God. Further, I testify 
 against the pleaders for uniting, siding, joining, or halfing 
 with usurpers of Christ's crown ; against silence in watch- 
 men, and all their contrivances, impositions, instructions, or 
 limitations put upon the young men about to be licensed — 
 prescribing a rule to them, to order their ministry so and 
 so; and against the papers and pamphlets they have lately 
 published, to lead men over to that woful indulgence, under 
 the fair pretext of union, which is dreadful under-hand deal- 
 ing, to bring the people under the shadow of the Lord's ad- 
 versaries. I enter my protestation against the national de- 
 claration put forth in the year 1661, and all declarations 
 
JOHN MALCOLM. 87 
 
 since, and all the bonds and oaths imposed upon the Lord's 
 people. Likewise against the paying of cess and militia 
 money; and against their imprisonments, stigmatizing, boot- 
 ing, and burning with fire-matches, fining and confining, 
 robbing and spoiling, banishment, oppression, and the rigour 
 of masters of tolbooths. And because of a false statement 
 that they make in my indictment, that Presbyterians, and 
 I amongst the rest, had cast off all fear of God, and are 
 against all good order and civil law ; I hereby declare, I ad- 
 here to kingly government, but not to perjury and tyranny, 
 turning upside down church and state, contrary to the word 
 of God, our covenants, and the laws of the nation ; and con- 
 trary to the declaration at Dunfermline, the coronation oath, 
 and the acts of general assembly, and acts of Parliament, 
 ratifying presbytery, and abjuring the prelatic hierarchy, 
 which is now re-established, and presbytery rescinded. And 
 I bear my testimony against those who have been, and are 
 yet pleading for the favour (as they call it) of the Act of 
 Indemnity, after the murdering of Mr. King and ]\Ir. Kid, 
 who were executed on the day the proclamation was read at 
 the cross — the 14th day of August, 1679 ; and against their 
 justiciary courts, to ensnare and pannel the poor people of 
 God in the west of Scotland. 
 
 I shall drpvW to a close shortly; but I 'might (if I had 
 time) enlarge further upon these. I will say only this, to you, 
 who are looking upon me this day, that my lot is hard, but 
 I bless the Lord for it ; " the Captain of my salvation was 
 made perfect through suft'ering." No man has wronged me 
 by counsel or advice ; for I am persuaded that the cause is 
 the Lord Jesus Christ's cause and he will, own it. And 
 whoso touches any of his people, touches the apple of his 
 eye ; he sends none a- warfare upon their own charges, and 
 in his own time he will make inquisition for the blood of all 
 his saints, because it is right precious in his sight. And when 
 he makes inquisition after their blood, and searches them 
 out that trouble his people, I would not be the king of 
 Britain, nor a counsellor, prelate, or malignant, for a world; 
 and whatever I be, yet I am persuaded, they have in their 
 skirts the blood of his dear saints, who are this day under 
 the altar, crying, "How long, Lord, holy and just, wilt 
 thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth I" 
 You got Mr. King's advice on the scaffold, to be more sparing 
 
88 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 in shedding blood; for within a short time, he would be on 
 equal terms with jou that judged him guilty of death; but 
 that doth not warn the rulers of this kingdom. Do not think 
 that I am quarrelling for the taking of my blood ; no, it is 
 love to your souls that obliges me to speak thus. Oh, what 
 can be expected, but that the Lord has his sword furbished 
 for blood! and he will have a day of nobles' blood. The 
 Lord has been smiting and wounding his church and people, 
 and blood has touched blood. Pentland hills hath touched 
 Mr. Guthrie's blood ; and Bothwell touched Pentland ; and 
 the drowned in the sea toucheth Bothwell ; and Airsmoss, 
 the drowned in the sea ; and our blood toucheth that which 
 was spilt on the 22d of July last ; Oh, that at last ye would 
 be persuaded to desist, and spill no more blood ; Oh, that the 
 Lord himself would stop the effusion of more innocent blood, 
 if it consist with his honour. But if any more be for his 
 honour and service, Lord help thy people when they are 
 called to it, to say with David, " Here am I, let him do to me 
 as seemeth him good." 
 
 I am also apprehensive, that the Lord hath a great sacri- 
 fice of the bodies of multitudes, and that he will give the 
 flesh and blood of many to the fowls of the air ; and he 
 minds to give the fowls and birds a feast of flesh and blood. 
 Oh, Scotland! wilt thou never be made wise, until thou art 
 betrayed into the hands of thine enemies ? Truly, I think 
 it is incredible, that this land will get leave to pass long, 
 and not be swept with the besom of justice. The Lord is 
 really angry with this land ; for I know no person, no not 
 one, he has not just ground of controversy with. It is 
 astonishing to me, to think on the sparing mercies of God, 
 towards these lands. For my part, I am glad that he calls 
 me away after this manner, for which I desire with my soul to 
 bless him, for his kindness to me, in taking this method with 
 such a wretched sinner as I am, who deserve nothing but 
 wrath, and only wrath ; but glory to the riches of his grace, 
 who " came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am 
 the chief;" He is a noble high-priest indeed. 
 
 I entreat your patience a little, while I make these four 
 remarks. 1. I would entreat you that are strangers to God, 
 to make haste and flee unto God for your life ; from this 
 consideration, that all who had union and communion with 
 God, and are now landed in glory, died in the faith of it. 
 
JOHN MALCOLM. 89 
 
 that there are glorious days coming, aud that the Lord will 
 reckon with his enemies and pay them liberally, for all the 
 wrongs done to his cause and people. " And it shall come 
 to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host 
 of the high ones that are on the earth ; and the kings 
 of the earth, upon the earth ; they shall be gathered to- 
 gether as prisoners are gathered into the pit, and shall be 
 shut up in the prison, and after many days they shall be 
 visited ; then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun 
 ashamed, when the Lord shall reign over mount Zion 
 and Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." You 
 may read this passage at your leisure, in the 24th chap, of 
 Isaiah, verse 21st, to the end. There is another word in 
 Job xxxvi. 18. It is a word of advice, given by Elihu to 
 Job; "Because there is wrath, beware lest he take you 
 away with a stroke ; then a great ransom cannot deliver 
 you." 2. It is my comfort this day, that my enemies are 
 God's enemies. It is the allowance he bestows on his poor 
 people while following their duty ; though they have not 
 much knowledge in religion, nor great experience, yet if 
 they be faithful in the little, he helps them to be faithful in 
 much. Ye know he says, " Because thou hast been faithful 
 in what I committed to thee, have thou rule over five cities." 
 I know, that it is commonly reported, that they have not 
 much grace who adhere to this persecuted way. I take in 
 myself among them, who never had great gifts, nor parts, 
 nor heart-experience ; and yet he has told me, since I re- 
 ceived the sentence of death by men who are the Lord's 
 sword. That faithfulness, in this juncture of time, in not 
 denying his name, shall be an excuse for many infirmities. 
 Among all the strong contenders, none gets the prize but the 
 sincere man, the resolute man, and they who are determined, 
 as Esther was, to go, though it should cost them their life. 
 And this is the time for the people of God to hold fast, 
 lest the enemies of our Lord possess his crown, and bruik 
 it with peace. And this I must add to those that are 
 biassed : I shall be a dying witness against ministers and 
 professors who have made it their work to brand that faith- 
 ful minister and martyr of Jesus Christ with odious names, 
 falsely calling him a Jesuit, and saying that he received the 
 Pope's gold, and that he was a great favourite with the 
 Duke of York, a declared Papist. Now I know, and many 
 
 i2 
 
90 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 eminent Christians know, that he hated him as a limb of 
 Satan. Thej also said, that the troopers had commission 
 to pass him bj, rather than any man, even after the declai-a- 
 tion came out, to give 5000 merks for him dead or alive. 
 Go and lie in the dust for what jou have said of him and of 
 Mr. Kid. I bless the Lord that ever I saw his face, and 
 that ever I heard him preach. 3. Give me leave to say this 
 much ; I am afraid the apostacy of Scotland, the neutrality 
 and formality that is among both ministers and professors, 
 have likened this church and land of Britain, to the church 
 of Laodicea, whom the Lord threatens " to spue out of his 
 mouth," as a loathsome thing, and then he will have pleasure 
 in his Zion. Yet you see he is cutting down a Guthrie, a 
 Welwood, a King, a Kid, a Brown, and a Cameron ; a 
 Henry Hall and a Robert Dick, who were contending for 
 the truth, and the privileges of the Church ; and these were 
 counted disturbers of your sinful union with the enemies of 
 the Lord. Lay it to heart ; their blood is now shed for the 
 cause, and ye are not free of it ; but can ye wipe your mouth, 
 and say ye are innocent ? Remember what is said in Psalm 
 1. 18, " When thou sawest a thief, thou joinedst with him ; 
 and this the Lord hath seen, and kept silence." Remember 
 and mourn for it, " lest he tear you in pieces when there is 
 none to deliver!" Court favour is too short a covering, it 
 will not hide you ; therefore, as a dying man, I warn you as 
 from the Lord, " consider your ways and your doings, that 
 have not been good," and cast yourselves out of court favour, 
 otherwise I declare ye shall not get the favour of God. 
 4. If ye will set about some days of humiliation before the 
 Lord, and take with you your sins, and the sin of crying up 
 this liberty, which is the price of blood ; — " If ye will return 
 to the Lord, then return with all your heart ; for he is 
 merciful and gracious, and repents him of the evil that he 
 threatens, neither will he give way to his anger!" He did 
 so to me ; I no sooner began to look to him, than he made 
 me welcome, and put me to work, though I was but young, 
 and knew nothing. He was tender to me, he took me to 
 Bothwell Bridge to own his cause ; I had many temptations 
 to keep back, both from my mother, and other causes ; but 
 I durst not for my soul stay behind ; I thought it my duty 
 to join myself with that party against the Lord's enemies, 
 and the Lord was good to me there in many ways; he 
 
JOHN MALCOLM. 91 
 
 covered me in the day of battle, and suffered not one hair of 
 my head to fall to the ground, though he suffered many 
 better than me a thousand times, to fall on the right hand 
 and on the left ; so I thought then I held my life of him ; 
 and the Lord brought me to Greyfriars churchyard, and 
 tliough I came almost naked, yet he kindly provided food 
 and raiment for me. I bless the Lord, my mother's sickness 
 did not keep me from Bothwell Bridge. When in the Grey- 
 friars churchyard, I was threatened with death by the jus- 
 tice-general, who swore a great oath, that I should die if I 
 would not take the bond ; I would not, but told him, which 
 was most true, that many better than I had been hanged ; 
 and yet I was delivered out of his hand. The Lord took me 
 to the sea, and delivered me from the ragings thereof, when 
 he suffered many better to lose their lives ; and when he 
 laid his hand upon me by sickness, he made me to be 
 favoured by all my enemies ; he healed me and brought me 
 home, and then he called me out to hear the gospel ; for 
 which I desire to bless him, and within a little while I shall 
 praise him for it. 
 
 The Lord was so seen amongst his persecuted handful 
 there, that he did engage me to join with them who were 
 hazarding their lives upon the fields for him. I was at that 
 late engagement, and the Lord took some work off my hand 
 there, and has brought me to this place this day, to lay down 
 my life for his sake. This is the last combat I shall ever 
 have ; I shall work no more, I shall suffer no more, I shall 
 fear no more, I shall sin no more ; I must take leave of you 
 all, and so rest in his love. I go where all " tears shall be 
 wiped away," where "the servant is made free from his 
 master," to the land where " the inhabitants shall not say 
 they are sick." Xow, be not discouraged at the ways of 
 God's providence to me ; for I can assure you the cause is 
 his, and he will own it, while his enemies shall perish. I 
 would have every one of you seeking the favour of God ; for 
 ye will have ado with it at death and judgment; the great- 
 est persecutor or malignant will have sore missing of his 
 favour in that day. Oh, seek him in time ! and the Lord 
 help his poor young wrestling people through with their 
 trials ; the Lord help them to be faithful, and to endure to 
 the end, for they have the promise of being saved. Join 
 with his people, and cast in your lot with them, and do not 
 
92 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 stand on the other side ; let his cause be your cause in weal 
 or wo. Oh, noble cause ! Oh, noble work ! Oh, noble heaven ! 
 Oh, noble Christ that makes it to be heaven! and he is the 
 owner of the work. Oh, noble Mediator of the new cove- 
 nant! Oh, noble Redeemer, who is powerful to help in time 
 of need, and will help such as trust in him! There was 
 never one that trusted in him that came to loss: he made 
 them always up, sometimes with an hundred-fold in this life, 
 and heaven after. 
 
 I lay down my life, not as an evil doer, but as a sufferer for 
 Christ. I can now only add a word or two. 1. Respecting 
 that which some would be informed in, whether I took the 
 bond that was tendered to the prisoners ? I acknowledge 
 there was a supplication drawn up, containing two articles, 
 — the first craving the benefit of the Act of Indemnity ; the 
 second was, that I should not lift arms against the king, or 
 any in lawful authority. But because it was not authority 
 only, but lawful authority, it was not granted. And, at that 
 time, there were pains taken by some persons of note, to 
 persuade me to take the bond as it was tendered by the 
 bloody council. Indeed, it hath been a heavy thing to me, 
 and hath made me groan. I think for that, and other pri- 
 vate failings, the Lord did not give me his countenance; 
 the Lord pardon as I hope he will, that I should have taken 
 pen in hand, and blackened paper in that supplication ; but 
 as for the bond, I bless the Lord that I did not subscribe it. 
 2. The second thing I am reputed guilty of is, that I sup- 
 plicated for delay for a short time, and that I called it re- 
 bellion that I was at Airsmoss. Indeed, I subscribed no 
 such thing ; it was only this, that it might please them to 
 grant us some more time, for we were in confusion because 
 of the shortness of the time ; we desired some more time, 
 that we might get our souls' case laid to heart, and our 
 peace made with God through Jesus Christ. 1 shall say no 
 more, but wish that ye would all seek repentance in time, 
 before it be hid from your eyes. I recommend my soul and 
 spirit to him " who is able to save to the uttermost all that 
 come to him through Christ," and desire to take my leave 
 of all created comforts. Farewell all relations — farewell 
 world — farewell sin! Welcome Christ — welcome heaven 
 and glory for evermore. 
 
 John Malcolm. 
 
JAMES SKEEN. 93 
 
 Last Testimony of Mr. James Skeen, brother to the 
 Laird of Skeeii, who suffered at Edinburgh, December 
 1st, 1680. 
 
 Interrogations and Answers before the Privy Council, re- 
 lated by himself, in a letter to his brother. 
 
 Dear Billy, — To satisfy your desire, I send you this line, 
 to let you know, that when I came before the council, (York 
 and Rothes being present, two bishops, viz., Burnet and 
 Paterson, [the advocate,] Paterson, [clerk,] Linlithgow, and 
 many more, Dalziel the general being porter, walking 
 proudly up and down, not as a seiwant,) none was admitted 
 to come in with me. I saluted them all civilly, and took 
 off my hat, because they were uncovered, that they might 
 not say I was a Quaker. Rothes asked me, Was I at Both- 
 well or Airsmoss ? I answered I was at home in the North 
 both these times. He asked if I owned the Sanquhar De- 
 claration, and the testimony at Rutherglen? I told him, 
 I did own them both. He asked, Did I own the king's 
 authority? I said, in so far as it was against the Covenant 
 and interest of Christ, I disowned it. He asked me if I 
 thought the killing of the arch-prelate a sinful murder ? I 
 said, I thought it was their duty to kill him, when God gave 
 them opportunity; for he had been the author of much 
 bloodshed. They asked me why I carried arms ? I told 
 them it was for self-defence, and the defence of the gospel. 
 They asked me why I poisoned my ball? I told them, I 
 wished none of them to recover whom I shot. They asked 
 me why I carried a dirk ? I told them, they might ask Mr. 
 George M'Kenzie if it was not our country fashion; and he 
 presently told the chancellor that it was so. They asked if 
 I knew Cargil ? I said, it was my comfort to know him. 
 Then they reproached him, and me for conversing with him. 
 I said, I blessed God he gave me sweet peace in it. They 
 asked, would I kill the soldiers, being the king's ? I said, it 
 was my duty if I could, when they persecuted God's people. 
 They asked if I would kiU any of them ? I said, they were 
 all stated enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the De- 
 claration at Sanquhar, I counted them my enemies. They 
 
94 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 asked if I would think it mv duty to kill the king ? I said, 
 He had stated himself an enemy to God's interest, and there 
 was war declared against him. I said, tlie covenant made 
 with God was the glory of Scotland, though they had 
 unthankfully counted it their shame. And, in direct terms, 
 I said to the chancellor, I have a parchment at home, 
 wherein your father's name is, and you are bound by that as 
 well as I. They asked why I called the chancellor, sir ? I 
 said, Sir was a title for a king, and it might serve him. 
 The chancellor asked if I knew his Royal Highness? I 
 never saw such a person. York looked out (for he sat 
 behind bishop Burnet,) and asked, why I wished the king so 
 ill ? I said, I wish no ill to any ; but as they were in oppo- 
 sition to God, I wished them brought down; and he spoke 
 no more. The chancellor said, Would I not adhere to the 
 acts of parliament of this kingdom ? I said, I would not 
 own any of them which were in opposition to God and his 
 covenant. Mr. M'Kenzie said, If the king were riding by 
 in a coach, would you think it no sin to kill him ? I said, 
 By the Sanquhar Declaration, war was declared against him, 
 and so he need not put that question. Mr. M'Kenzie then 
 came out by the bar, and said, I know your relations and 
 mine are connected ; be ingenuous in all that is demanded of 
 you, and I will save you from torture. I said. Sir, I know 
 you, and you know me and my relations ; I have been as free 
 and ingenuous as I could imagine, because I reckon it my 
 credit, and my glory, to give a full and free confession for 
 my blessed Lord's interest, that is reproached and borne 
 down. They asked me where I saw Cargil last? I said, 
 I met him last in the West- Bow, to my comfort. They 
 asked _^ me who were owners of the house? I said, I really 
 could not tell ; I knew them not. They said, Would I know 
 the house ? I said. Yes. They said. Would I show it to some 
 whom they would send with me ? 1 told them, I was free in 
 what concerned myself, but to hurt any one else, I could not 
 mar my peace with God ; but if they were advertised to go 
 out of the house, I should show it them. Then they 
 desired me to go my ways. The general opened the door, 
 and whispered in my ear, " You must go down with some 
 soldiers, and show them that house." I said, I will not do 
 it to hurt any ; the indwellers must be advertised to flee the 
 house first. 
 
JAMES SKEEX. 95 
 
 I was then ordered to the guard, which was of Linlith- 
 gow's soldiers ; they took charge of me, and walked (after 
 Archibald Stewart and John Sproul, who were examined) 
 to the Tron, and then back to the council-house of the town. 
 Being alone, and only six soldiers with me, I engaged in 
 prayer, and was comforted ; then sent money for meat and 
 drink; and worshipped in public with the soldiers. At 
 
 night, a person from J kindly awoke me, and brought 
 
 me bread and ale, sugar, and some confections. After this, 
 I was carried to a committee, where were present, the chan- 
 cellor, Hatton, Paterson, justice-clerk, Wigton, and Linlith- 
 gow. They showed me two letters of mine to Mr. Simpson, 
 wherein I owned the Declaration at Sanquhar, and added, 
 I would do much to persuade many that it was just, from 
 Mr. M' Ward's advice that was given to the prisoners. I 
 owned the letters, and told them, I did what I could to 
 dissuade professors from paying them cess, which they 
 ordered for bearing down the gospel ; at which they laughed. 
 The chancellor said, Why did I not call him lord ? I told 
 him, were he for Christ's interest, I would honour him. 
 Then he said. He cared not for my honour ; but he would 
 have me to know he was chancellor. I said, I knew that. 
 He said, I was not a Scotsman, but a Scots beast. At 
 which W^igton gloomed at him, and he laughed. He then 
 stated to me that he would be my friend, if I were ingenuous. 
 I told him, I wished him no ill. They asked me what Mr. 
 Wi.liam Alexander was it that I wrote of? I said, Mr. 
 Paterson, the bishop, and Mr. Ross at Glasgow, knew him, 
 and persecuted him unjustly; I then related to them how it 
 was. Paterson said, I told that which I knew not to be truth. 
 He pitied me. He said to the chancellor. Certainly I forgot 
 to write. I was brought before the justiciary court, where 
 my confession was read ; and after I read it again, I said, I 
 thought it my honour to subscribe it. I assented to all that 
 was recorded by the clerk ; I owned it, and counted it my 
 honour so to do. The justice-clerk, Hatton's son, being 
 there, said, he pitied me, being a gentleman ; he knew my 
 friends. I said, Were I an earl's son, I would esteem it my 
 honour. I desired them to canvass well that they did, for 
 they would be summoned before C4od for it. He said, I 
 might prepare for another world. I said, I hoped the Lord 
 would prepare me. 
 
96 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Now, dear Billy, I have given you an account of the 
 truth, so far as I can confusedly remember; but I entreat 
 you take all the praise you give me, and give it to my 
 Lord, for I am but a poor, simple, sinful worm. It is from 
 him I had this courage. Wigton and the justice-clerk 
 desired me to show them that house, saying that I was free 
 enough, in all except that ; and if I were obstinate, I might 
 perhaps get the boots. I said, let them do with me what 
 they pleased ; in what concerned myself, I was free ; but I 
 would not hurt others to bring them under their wrath ; I 
 would not mar my peace with God so far. The general said, 
 he would give his word, that the indwellers of the house 
 should be advertised. I said, I would not have it. The 
 chancellor angrily expostulated with me for not accepting 
 of this ; to which I replied, I was a gentleman who had 
 blood relations to his relations — the Earl of Mar's mother 
 and I being cousins. He said, he was sorry I was so related. 
 I replied, the cause I was then owning, honoured me ; and 
 I would it befel my friends also. I hope you will not too 
 critically reflect on my confused writing, since I am in haste ; 
 you know I may be cited before these bloody men this fore- 
 noon. I will not order for my funeral till I know my 
 sentence : I may possibly not be allowed a burial. My 
 Lord comforts me, and I leave all on him to bear me through 
 this storm, and through the valley and shadow of death. 
 Dear Billy, bid all ye see of our serious friends help me with 
 their prayers, that I may be helped of the Lord to be faith- 
 ful unto the death : and that he may give me the faith of 
 assurance, that I shall enjoy my Lord's love through all 
 eternity : the want of this clouds me much, I am so unwor- 
 thy a wretch. 
 
 I am, Dear Billy, 
 Your unworthy friend and loving brother, 
 
 James Skeen. 
 
 From the house of my Lord Jesus, which 
 he has made a sweet palace, wherein he 
 shows me his wonderful free love, the 
 close prison above the iron- house, in the 
 high Tolbooth of Edinburgh, Nov. 1680. 
 
 P. S. I told the chancellor, the cause was just, for which 
 the king and others were excommunicated ; though I was 
 not there, yet I adhered to it. 
 
JAMES SKEEX. 97 
 
 No. 2. Letter to all professors in the Shire of Aberdeen, 
 especially Mr. AVilliam Alexander, Mr. William 
 MiTCHEL, and Mr. John Watson, my dear acquain- 
 tances, being the last testimony for the interest of 
 Christ, from Mr. James Skeen, now in close prison 
 for Chiist's interest, in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh. 
 
 Dear Friends, — The Lord hath dealt so graciously with 
 me, in wonderful free love, as to bring me to the love of 
 himself, his truth, and despised interest, and engaged me in 
 a particular covenant with himself ; indeed, by his honouring 
 me to make me a prisoner to evil men, for his despised 
 interest, he has evidently confirmed to me, that he accepted 
 of my bargain with himself, when most unworthy and 
 wretched; though many times, by reason of a prevailing 
 body of sin and death, I provoked him to cast the bargain ; 
 yet still by new obligations, he engaged me to renew it. My 
 mercy has been great. Providence ordered my coming south 
 for some time, whereto the most suffering has been for our 
 Lord; and for this same reason, most light has been given 
 to professors here, that they might clearly see what was their 
 duty in these trying, tempting, and backsliding times. And 
 whenever the Lord helped me to see our covenant-obligations, 
 which are the glory of Scotland, I was serious and zealous! 
 ye know, to impart my knowledge to all of you with whom I 
 was acquainted. The Lord always made my love to him 
 to abound; I thought no travel ill- wared, or any hazard too 
 great on any occasion, whereby I might propagate his 
 despised interest among you. You know how much I have 
 contended with you for paying of that cursed cess, ordered 
 by the convention of estates, for bearing down the gospel, as 
 I was honoured to witness against it at a committee on 
 Saturday last. You are not aware how you bring the blood 
 of saints on your heads, by this obedience to the stated ene- 
 mies of our Lord Jesus Christ, and opposing of that which 
 was, and is the judgment of the most tender professors, 
 in^ withdrawing from indulged ministers, and from those 
 ministers that favoured them, and so did not, or would not 
 declare against the indulgence, as a sin, that most heinously 
 
 K 
 
98 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 aud rebelliously dishonours our blessed Lord as head of the 
 church, and sets up a tyrannous usurper in his place. This 
 is a point much contended against bj many of you. In my 
 hearing, you pleaded for a sinful union with those who have 
 conspired to dethrone our blessed Lord; some of you opposed 
 that which was an honourable testimony for our Lord at 
 Ruthergien, that declaration at Sanquhar, and the testimony 
 or covenant that was taken at the Queensferry ; calling those 
 rash and inconsiderate, whom the Lord called out to be 
 valiant contenders for his truth and interest, (which is now 
 contemned by a wicked and apostate generation,) and to seal 
 all of them with their blood. By all these, the Lord has 
 been calling his people to come out from among Babel's 
 brood — its cursed brood, who, by many subtle satanical ways, 
 such as Prelacy, Quakerism, Arminianism, Latitudinari- 
 anism, and indulged ministers, and ministers and professors, 
 that love so their quiet, that they will not declare against, 
 nor decline Charles Stuart, that usurping traitor on the 
 throne, with all the cursed crew of pretended magistrates in 
 Scotland, who have forfeited their right of government, as 
 appears by their wicked and unparalleled apostacy from the 
 Solemn League and Covenant, upon that foul pretext, that 
 we are not in a probable capacity to extirpate them, or put 
 them out of office. When, in our place and station, we give 
 our witness against these usurpations, we so far contend for 
 God, and witness for his trodden-down and despised interest, 
 and testify our unwilhngness that our Lord should totally 
 give up this poor land. Oh ! this hath many times caused me 
 a sad heart. Ye have looked more to the credit of men 
 than the glory of our great Lord God. I fear it will be 
 unacceptable and hazardous for you to maintain this testi- 
 mony, because they call it treason; but ah! there is so much 
 done to advance a mortal creature, a stated enemy to Christ, 
 a furious, hasty, cruel murderer of God's saints, that there is 
 a danger of disowning God, and palpably denying him before 
 men, when you acknowledge these tyrannous oppressors. 
 Your estates, your credit and pleasures, and your quiet in 
 the world, you will not part with. You will rather imagine 
 arguments to cheat yourselves in defending practices which 
 are clear breaches of the covenants ; if your too great car- 
 nal love to the world, and your unwillingness to quit your 
 life for Christ, blinds you, these will soon come to an end, 
 
JAMES SKEEN. 99 
 
 with less comfort, however, than you would certainly possess 
 were you to adventure all for our blessed Lord. 
 
 As for you, Mr. Alexander, I may say I have found you 
 willing, on good information, to be tender in cleaving to 
 your dear Master; and on bad information, making it a 
 question, whether it was duty to dethrone the pretended 
 king; but T. H. and R. M.'s opposition has biassed you from 
 this principal duty. Now it is by this very principle, that 
 we are singularly known to be true covenanters. Leave 
 those that are blind, and follow your dear Master in the 
 duties he calls his people to, and he will own you, as I am 
 persuaded he has owned them who have recognised him in 
 this duty. You opposed field-meetings, because our enemies 
 were against them, but consented that house-meetings be 
 enjoyed; but remember that, when you keep the fields, you 
 declare that our Lord's church has liberty to keep her meet- 
 ings and ordinances where she pleases, and ought not to be 
 subject to the arbitriment of men. 
 
 To Mr. Mitchell I say, I have had a great esteem for you 
 as a true lover of piety; and I doubt not, the Lord has 
 sealed your ministry sometimes ; indeed, I have known 
 some witnesses to it. But, oh. Sir, what a fearful snare are 
 you in, by complying with curates in hearing them, and by 
 taking both sacraments off their hands! Oh! if ye quit not 
 all carnal love to the world, to credit, and friends that oppose 
 your coming off, the hazard is great — the Lord may rank 
 you with them that have opposed the rising of his kingdom. 
 I am sure, however, he will make you mourn for it, and I 
 doubt (if ye shortly come not out from that accursed crew,) 
 the Lord will send you severer trials than sufferers for him 
 meet with. 
 
 To Mr. Watson, I write this as my last testimony ; oh, how 
 unfaithful is his ministry! He dare not, for fear of losing 
 his place, declare against the heinous breach of covenant by 
 all the pretended magistrates in the land. I grant your 
 clearness as to the other matters to be much the same as my 
 own; but, oh. Sir, quit men when they quit Christ's way and 
 interest, else you will never be clear in truths, when the 
 Lord gives light, or increaseth it. It is most dreadful to be 
 so ensnared in darkness, and so opposed to our blessed Lord! 
 Let love to the Lord Jesus Christ have its due place, and 
 then admiring of men, and cleaving to them who are out of 
 
100 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Christ's way, will appear no small matter, but a heinous sin. 
 Will jou hazard your salvation by cleaving to them who are 
 reproaching our Lord, his people, and interest, and by unit- 
 ing with the cursed curates? That person ye cleave to draws 
 on him the guilt of all the saints' blood that is shed in main- 
 taining his interest and covenant; now ye cannot decline 
 judgment — he is judge of all the world. Every one of you 
 that knows me may say much more of me. I was many 
 times negligent of a tender walking, by seeking a settlement, 
 and if that had been my lot, ye had not heard of this testi- 
 mony. Every one of you knows the testimony I gave you 
 formerly ; even when with you, I many times wished from 
 my heart the Lord would not order a settlement to me among 
 you. My heart was broken with your lukewarmness and 
 indifference. And this I testified to several of you, and I 
 rather chose to be a shop-keeper in the south, where I might 
 be encouraged in godliness, than live in pomp and ease at 
 home with an ill conscience ; and when I came last away, I 
 was sorry at my purpose of leaving Scotland when I heard 
 that, in my judgment, all were apostatizing — turning from 
 our covenanted God ; then I was determined to go to Ireland, 
 being ill informed of every one of these kingdoms, there not 
 being a people tenderly owning the covenant in Ireland, but 
 all some way owning the usurper Charles Stuart; but in poor 
 Scotland, here in the south, I found a little handful, and one 
 faithful minister, Mr. Donald Cargil, whom the Lord called 
 out to be his messenger to his people, and to give witness 
 against the apostacy of ministers and professors ; for even 
 those who were great lights in the land, are now in obscurity, 
 and avowedly reproaching our Lord's interest and people, 
 whom yet the Lord will clothe with shame, and make the 
 peace and quiet sleep they boast of their great confusion. 
 As for the call I have to suffer, I find it my only peace to 
 quit thoughts of Ireland, that I might not be involved in 
 the guilt of denying our Lord Jesus Christ as king over 
 these lands. Mr. Donald Cargil is the only faithful ambas- 
 sador our Lord has in Scotland. As I was following the 
 ordinances on Friday last, as well armed for defending the 
 gospel and myself as I could, unexpectedly, a party of Lin- 
 lithgow's soldiers were sent to my lodgings, and not dreading 
 danger in the day time, as I thought our persecutors had 
 never heard of my name, I was apprehended, and brought 
 
JAMES SKEEN. 101 
 
 hither, and imprisoned; since that the Lord has honoured 
 me to give an ample testimony for my wronged Lord Jesus, 
 before the council and lords of justiciary; and, supposing I 
 must seal it with my blood, I leave this testimony to you, 
 my friends and acquaintances in Aberdeenshire, and sub- 
 scribe it, November 17th, 1680. 
 
 James Skeex. 
 
 From my delectable prison, in which my Lord 
 has allowed me his peace and presence, and 
 comforted me with the assurance that I shall 
 reign with him eternally, for I am his, and 
 bought with his precious blood. 
 
 To N , his friend and fellow-prisoner. 
 
 Much Honoured Friend in Christ, — I give it under my 
 hand, I have no cause to rue my sweet bargain. His cross 
 is easy and light as yet ; and I hope he will make comfort- 
 able that which is most terrifying. Oh, lovely Lord I what 
 could make him to choose me to suffer for him? What is 
 all the world to me if his honour be at stake? If his honour 
 be advanced by my death, oh, happy me! I have oftentimes 
 wished a suffering lot. I heard and saw so much of God's 
 goodness, that I thought the cross and comforts of Christ 
 could not be separated ; and I have no reason to complain ; 
 the Lord is so often the joy of my heart, that I am forced 
 to wonder at it. I wiU not trouble you further, but hope 
 you will be as good as your word ; be much in prayer for 
 these two or three days. Probably by Thursday next I shall 
 not need your prayers, being come to the immediate vision 
 of my Lord, and see him as he is ; I wiU be stupified as it 
 were, and amazed at it. If his merits were not of infinite 
 value, I might question what I would do ; but he has pro- 
 mised that I shall reign with him. 
 
 James Skeen. 
 
 To N , his friend and fellow-prisoner. 
 
 My Dear Friend in Chirst, — I received yours, encourag- 
 ing me to hold on in the way my blessed Lord hath clialked 
 out for me. I am not unmindful of you ; and I desire you 
 to pray that none may be offended at the Lord's interest for 
 me, there being a willingness on my part to suffer, though 
 
 k2 
 
102 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 justly the J cannot condemn me. They offer me a freedom, 
 if I will submit to the mercy of the duke and council ; but 
 it is often evidently seen, that the tender mercies of the 
 wicked are cruel. I find no liberty to deny my Lord for 
 fear of death. I hope he will make up my loss in himself. 
 All I can desire of you is to pray much for me, that the 
 Lord would own me, for his own cause, before the adver- 
 saries, and in my dissolution. I wish the Lord to comfort 
 his people, and tenderly own his despised interest. Mr. 
 Carstairs said, " He was ashamed of that principle we main- 
 tained ; and that we were not sound presbyterians ; and 
 wished the Lord might preserve him from the like." I am 
 no whit troubled at this, I bless my Lord. They would 
 have me to confer with him : I replied, I would not notice 
 him, if he came near me. Tell my friend I would have 
 written, but had no time. I wrote yesternight to him. I 
 need your supplications, and strong cries to the Lord, to 
 carry me through the valley and shadow of death. I must 
 leave off here, wishing the Lord to bear you up under all 
 trials. I thought you should have been in eternity before 
 me ; but now I think you will be in the valley, when I have 
 arrived at the blessed city. 
 
 I am, dear friend. 
 Your well-wisher, and Christ's prisoner, 
 
 James Skeen. 
 
 P.S. I shall desire a friend to send you a duplicate of my 
 confessions. I got my summons for eternity with sound of 
 trumpet yesternight, and my indictment with five blasts of 
 the trumpet. The pursuivants in their coats, at seven of 
 the clock, was a grave sight ; but my Lord helped me not 
 to be afraid at it, since all was from him. 
 
 The last Speech and Testimony which he intended to 
 have delivered on the Scaffold, December Ist, 1680. 
 
 Dear People, — I am come here this day to lay down my 
 life for owning Jesus Christ's despised interest; for asserting 
 that he is a king, and averring that he is head of his own 
 church, and has not delegated or deputed any, either pope, 
 king, or council, to be his vicegerents on earth. My blessed 
 Lord Jesus Christ has, in his love, engaged me by a par- 
 
JAMES SKEEX. 103 
 
 ticiilar covenant, in his own terms, to surrender and resign 
 myself to him, in soul and body ; assuring me by his word, 
 and testifying his acceptance of my resignation by his holy 
 and blessed Spirit, promising to redeem me from all sins, 
 and giving me assurance of a saving interest in himself ; and 
 now he has ordered this my suffering, by permitting his un- 
 godly enemies to apprehend and take me prisoner, having 
 wickedly plotted my capture, while on the way to attend 
 what the Lord had to work on my soul by his preached 
 gospel, and has called me in his providence to give a testi- 
 mony for his covenant, interest, and people, that are le- 
 proached and borne down by a perjured, God-contemning 
 generation ; and to seal my sufferings and testimony with 
 my blood ; and I most willingly lay down my life for his 
 interest. I leave my testimony to the National Covenant, 
 and the Solemn League and Covenant, which are founded 
 on the Scriptures, the word of God, written by the prophets 
 and apostles in the Old and New Testament, which has 
 Jesus Christ, the blessed object of our faith, for the chief 
 corner-stone of the building. I also leave my testimony to 
 Donald Cargil's paper, taken at Queensferry, called a new 
 covenant, in so far as they agree to the true original copy. 
 
 I adhere to Presbyterian government, and the whole work 
 of reformation of the church of Scotland, the Confession of 
 Faith, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, well digested and 
 written by the Assembly of Divines, except that article 
 about magistracy, in the 23d chapter * when ill expounded, 
 because our magistracy is but pure tyranny, exercised by 
 the lustful rage of men, whom God has permitted, in his 
 holy and spotless wisdom, for a trial to his people, and a 
 snare to others, to oppress, tyrannize, and blasphemously 
 tread under foot his truth, interest and people ; indeed that 
 article is expounded in the National Covenant, Avhere we 
 have vowed to almighty God, not to maintain the king's 
 interest, when he disowns the Covenant, and church- 
 government by presbyteries, synods, and general assemblies 
 of the church of Scotland. I adhere to the testimony for 
 
 * He did not disown that unshaken principle of the Protestant religion, 
 that " infidelity or difference in religion does not make void the magistrate's 
 just and legal authority;" he only rejected the false sense which was then 
 put upon it, to make it an argument for defence of tyranny and arbitrary 
 power. 
 
104 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 the interest of Christ at Rutherglen; at which time the 
 wicked acts of parliament, and the blasphemous declarations, 
 bj which they have sworn to be enemies to the interest of 
 Christ, were solemnly burnt. I adhere to the Sanquhar 
 Declaration, whereby we, who are true Presbyterians, did 
 depose that tyrant Charles Stuart, who is head of malignants 
 and malignancy, from the exercise of government over us : 
 and we do no otherwise than the people of Libnah, 2 Chron. 
 xxi. 10, "The same time also did the people of Libnah 
 revolt from under the king of Judah, because he had forsaken 
 the Lord God of his fathers." We do no wrong in declar- 
 ing against that monstrous tyrant on the throne of Britain, 
 as many conjecture, if seriously folk would consider the 
 injustice practised in civil matters, by himself, and all his 
 adherent inferior magistrates, (yea, inferior tyrants, for he is 
 the head and supreme tyrant) so that no poor man who has 
 a just cause, if he be not as profligate and wicked as them- 
 selves, can have justice; besides his usurpation in ecclesi- 
 astic matters, a task too great for any on earth, since they 
 must take upon them to dethrone our blessed Lord Jesus 
 Christ, " who is given to be head over aU things to the 
 church," Eph. i. 22. Ps. ii. 8. Do you canvass the justice of 
 disowning his authority, (to do which you are engaged by 
 oath to God,) as he is overturning the whole work of refor- 
 mation, which was the great ground of his coronation in 
 Scotland, in order to maintain the covenant and work of 
 reformation. His wicked burning of the Covenant, and 
 Causes of God's Wrath, is enough to me to disown his 
 authority, which is thus maintained by perjury, Ezek. xvii. 
 15 — 19, "ShaU he break the covenant and prosper?" Con- 
 sider likewise his oppression, in ordering military forces to 
 oppress God's people, to obstruct, impede, and hinder, the 
 worship of God, the ordinances in houses or fields, and to 
 compel them to join with a cursed crew of prelates, curates, 
 and some indulged ministers. Yea, his tyranny is so great, 
 that he ordered an host of armed men in the year 1678, to 
 invade a peaceable country in the west, who robbed, stole 
 from, and oppressed poor people, for no other reason, than 
 because they would not pollute their consciences, and be 
 subject to Prelacy ; which Erastian government he has con- 
 tended for these several years, and kept up in this land. 
 Tf there were no other cause of his rejection, these might 
 
JAMES SKEEX. 105 
 
 suffice to justify any, who were engaged by God, having 
 time and place to cut him off: for, by the law of God, 
 murder, adultery, and oppression, are punishable by death, 
 and kings are not exempted, far less tyrants, who are law- 
 fully excommunicated. But to these horrid impieties is 
 added, the shedding of the blood of poor innocents, which 
 aggravates his guilt; so that though the Lord should make 
 him penitent, he deserves death by the law, according to 
 which, blood cannot be expiated, but by the blood of him 
 who shed it. For confirmation of what I have said, see 
 Ezek. xxi. 25 — 27; read also Ezek. xliii. 9, "Put away the 
 carcases of your kings far from me, and I will dwell in the 
 midst of you for ever." Consider how our fathers contended 
 for truth, and must we lose what they have gained ? Ah ! 
 this atheistical generation of perjured, adulterous, and bloody 
 powers, are ripe for God's vengeance! I give my testi- 
 mony against the cursed persecuting soldiers; the blood of 
 God's saints is on their heads, and mine is laid on them, 
 especially serjeant Warrock, who apprehended me; my blood 
 is on the justiciary,* who subscribed to my sentence; and 
 on the fifteen assizers, James Glen, stationer, being clerk ; 
 and on the chancellor, and on Mr. George M'Kenzie, who 
 pleaded for my condemnation; and Thomas Dalziel, who 
 ordered my taking; and upon Andrew Cunningham, who 
 condemned me ; and upon all the rest who were accessory in 
 the least thereto ; yea, the privy council are to be account- 
 able for my blood; and my blood is on the head of Mr. 
 
 J C , who condemned my testimony against these 
 
 bloody tyrants, asserting that I was a Jesuit. I leave my 
 testimony against receiving that accursed traitor, James 
 Duke of York, and all Papists, Quakers, prelates, curates, 
 latitudinarians, indulged ministers, and their favourers ; the 
 Hamilton Declaration, and other papers and actings, directly 
 or indirectly against the truth. I leave my testimony 
 against the lukewarm professors, who write and speak griev- 
 
 * These, and the like sentences, which may possibly be met with in some 
 other testimonies, ought not to be mistaken as the effects of a revengeful 
 unchristian spirit, but rather as a simple declaration of their being guilty 
 of blood in condemning them, to serve as a warning to the persecutors not 
 to proceed further in these wicked courses, and to waken them to repen- 
 tance, if possible, for what they had already done; and is much paralleled 
 in its nature with that of Jeremiah, in his apology before the princes, 
 chap. V. 15. 
 
106 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 ous things, to reproach the truly godly, and who keep 
 silence when God calls them to give a free and full testi- 
 mony for his despised covenant, and whole work of refor- 
 mation, against a treacherous, backsliding, and adulterous 
 generation. And as in this place, or any other of my 
 papers, I could not have designed God's enemies any other- 
 wise than by their pretended offices ; thus far, dear people, 
 I crave your liberty, and let none think, that thereby I own 
 them in the least point. 
 
 Likewise, whereas my sufferings were delayed, the Lord, 
 in whose presence I must appear ere long, knows what a 
 soul grief it is to me to remember it. When the day I was 
 sentenced to die for my dear Lord's interest came, I, vainly 
 expecting that my relations that were great in court, who 
 had seen me, should have procured a reprieve for me ; but 
 being disappointed, a fear of death surprised me, hearing 
 that all were presently making ready for my execution, and 
 then my carnal relations almost weeping on me, engaged 
 me, by their insinuations, to supplicate that bloody crew 
 for it myself. A carnal well-wisher drew it up in these 
 terms ; James Skeen, prisoner, earnestly desires your lord- 
 ships to grant him a reprival for some days, till he canvass 
 those things he was sentenced for with learned and godly 
 men ; and your lordship's answer. After I had subscribed 
 it, a great confusion and horror of spirit fell on me ; I went 
 to prayer, wishing in my heart it were not granted ; but 
 such was my trouble, I could not say any thing but nonsense, 
 My heart was afflicted sore with this straitening, and the 
 more when the reprival was granted. I thought, having 
 shifted the cross, my Lord might deny me that credit again, 
 and put a worse on me in requital of my slighting him. I 
 judge the Lord left me thus to slip, to humble me; and that 
 he hid his face to make me an exemplary punishment for 
 untender conduct under his cross, which he had chosen for 
 me, to warn others under the cross, that they should be cir- 
 cumspect and zealous to avoid being polluted with any com- 
 pliance with the defections of the times, that they may have 
 a cleanly suffering. I recovered not from this backsliding 
 for two days after, but found it sad for my soul, the Lord 
 hid his face from me ; but now, my God has had compassion 
 on me, and during the time of the eight day's reprival, he 
 has preserved me from such a backsliding, when the devil. 
 
JAMES SKEEN. 107 
 
 by his emissaries, had so much artifice as to turn me aside 
 from the way of the Lord. Yet I will say thus far, all I 
 have done was not in order to own that wicked council as 
 lawful rulers ; but my life being in their tyrannous hands, I 
 thought I might desire as much favour of them as of a rob- 
 ber, who had the dagger at my breast ; and I truly look on 
 all their actions in courts, either in higher or lower judica- 
 tories, in matters civil or ecclesiastic, as the acts of mur- 
 derers, oppressors, and tyrants only. 
 
 And now, these bloody oppressors say, because I will not 
 sinfully renounce my Lord and his interest, and regard them 
 as magistrates, and say that I spake rashly (on which terms, 
 craving pardon, I would soon get remission, and be at liberty,) 
 that they look upon me as guilty of my own blood. But I 
 hope my Crod will not account me guilty ; he knows I dare 
 not so sinfully disown him, for all the hazard of my poor 
 life ; there is a dilemma in my case, and I must either sin 
 or suffer. I have found it my only peace with my Lord, to 
 choose suffering, and hate the way of sinning. This I thought 
 it good to insert in my dying testimony, that others may 
 beware of an untender walk with God, who is a consuming 
 fire to all impenitent sinners. Now my Lord has sealed m^ 
 remission for this extravagance, and has entered into a new 
 covenant with me, and I have resigned myself wholly to him, 
 to be at his disposal; and it is my rejoicing that he is calling 
 me out to honour me so much as to suffer for his sake. A 
 poor countryman with us, would think it his credit to be 
 called to signify his loyalty to a nobleman who was his 
 master, whose courage obliges him to fight for his safety to 
 the loss of his life. But, oh ! what a disparity in my case ! 
 I am but a base, wretched, sinful worm, and I am called to 
 signify my love and loyalty to the King of glory, before 
 treacherous and perfidious powers, who sit at ease and 
 disown, yea, declare against my Lord, that he is not our 
 covenanted King and Lord. And the two despised cove- 
 nants are not despicable, but our glory. I will first declare 
 they are traitors, and ought to be disowned as magistrates 
 or lawful rulers; and so many of them as have imbrued 
 their hands in the blood of the saints, either by commis- 
 sions, or votes in councils or other courts, or have lived 
 in adultery, uncleanness, wickedness, and witchcraft, jare 
 guilty of death. And when there are no magistrates who 
 
108 
 
 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 will duly punish these impieties, it is my duty, out of zeal 
 to the Lord, I say it again, if the Lord would employ me, to 
 cut them off; of which the zeal of Phineas, though mocked 
 at by them in their proclamation, is a good example. 
 
 Thus I close, wishing what I have here penned for a testi- 
 mony to the Lord's despised interest, may have some weight 
 with those who consider that I must ere long reckon for 
 what I have written; and so I have laboured to be single- 
 hearted before the Lord in it. 
 
 Now, having touched every thing I can remember, con- 
 cerning my judgment of things controverted, as also some 
 reason of my principles, asserted in face of a great council, 
 and twice before the justiciaries, which I gladly sign with 
 my subscription, glorifying the Lord who owned me, so that 
 I was not ashamed, but judged it my glory to give my full 
 and free testimony for my blessed Lord's despised interest, 
 against that wicked and treacherous pack of God's declared 
 enemies. Now, farewell all dear friends; I hope the Lord 
 wiU have a glorious church in Scotland, and will raise his 
 glory out of the ashes of a burnt covenant. Farewell sun, 
 moon, and stars ; farewell holy Scriptures. I am going to a 
 life, where I shall no more be troubled with a body of sin 
 and death ; I am going to a mansion of glory, that my Lord 
 has prepared for me. I shall have a crown of life, because I 
 have been, by my blessed Lord's assistance, (though I slipped 
 aside) made faithful to the death. Now, welcome Father, 
 Son, and Holy Spirit ; thou hast redeemed me by thy price, 
 and by thy power : Lord God of hosts, into thy hands I 
 commit my spirit. 
 
 James Skeen. 
 
 In the close prison of Edinburgh, November 
 30th, 1680, being the day before my execu- 
 tion, according to the unjust sentence of a 
 perfidious court. 
 
 Testimony of Archibald Stewart, Borrowstounness, 
 who suffered at Edinburgh, December 1st, 1680. 
 
 Men and Brethren, — The greater part of you are pro- 
 bably come here to gaze and wonder upon me, rather than 
 
ARCHIBALD STEWART. 100 
 
 to be edified ; but I hope there are some here, that are 
 witnessing and sympathising with me. But while ye are 
 strangers to God, and ignorant of his word, and what our 
 Lord has suffered for us, and that he has told us, that 
 " through many tribulations and afflictions we must enter 
 into the kingdom of God," it is no wonder ye count us fools ; 
 for while I was in black nature myself, I was as mad as any 
 of you all ; but, blessed be his holy name, that " whereas 
 once I was blind, now I see," and therefore " I abhor myself 
 in dust and ashes:" and I desire the more to magnify his 
 free grace, for all that he hath done to me ; it is nothing in 
 myself. Why should I not therefore be content to follow 
 the footsteps of my blessed Master, who has gone before me 
 from time to eternity, though in this manner it is unpleasant 
 to natural feeling, when he is calling for my testimony to his 
 despised truth. It was through hearing the gospel by his 
 suffering servants, here and in Holland, that I was brought 
 to the love of God, and his only Son Jesus Christ. Since 
 that time he has engaged my heart to seek him in the same 
 way I found him, where he was most eminently held forth, 
 and witnessed for, and my sins, and the sins of the land, set 
 before me. It is for this that I am accused and condemned 
 of men ; because I foUowed the gospel preached in the fields ; 
 and that poor handful that fell at Airsmoss, where Mr. 
 Richard Cameron had been preaching, and was to preach, 
 and because, when the bloody soldiers came upon us, we 
 offered to defend ourselves ; whatever other causes they may 
 lay to my charge. 
 
 That ye be not mistaken with regard to me, and the 
 Lord's people and his way, (for they and the indulged min- 
 isters allege that we are of Jesuitical and bloody principles,) 
 I declare, and the Lord knows, that I have desired to know 
 his will, and to walk in it; and I have been studying that 
 which all the land are bound to do — to hear, to keep up, 
 and to defend the gospel, which has been so long borne 
 down ; and defend my own life, and the lives of my brethren 
 who have been so long hunted down. So then, however I 
 and that suffering remnant be misrepresented, in that they 
 ^ive out in their declaration, that I said I would kill the 
 king or any of the council, it is an untruth, and a forged 
 calumny, to reproach the way of God, more like themselves 
 and their own principles, who have killed so many of the 
 
 L 
 
110 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 people of Grod, both in the fields and upon scaffolds, to please 
 that bloody tyrant, Charles Stuart's brother, who has been 
 thirsting for the blood of these three nations ; and to make 
 men believe that we have been contriving a plot to murder 
 them. Indeed, if they were tried by a just law, according 
 to the word of God, or the laws of the land, most of them 
 have done, or consented to more — against both the people of 
 the Lord and his borne-down truths, and the commonwealth 
 and laws of the land, — than should condemn them. But I 
 never said that I would do it ; and when I was before them, 
 especially in the justiciary court, upon trial for my life, 
 they would hardly give me leave to speak for or explain my- 
 self; more like men designing to take advantage, and to 
 cheat me out of my life than just judges. I know they 
 must answer to the great Judge for what they have done. 
 
 This being the testimony of a dying man, they that fear 
 the Lord will believe my declaration before their proclama- 
 tion, which may easily be seen to be a plot, to blind the eyes 
 of a secure generation, and make strangers approve of their 
 persecution, and believe they do it justly, while they laugh 
 at our calamity, until they can bring about that bloody 
 Popish design against all that will not follow them in the 
 three nations. And they now spare some, and flatter them 
 to take favours of them, that they engage them to lie by 
 till they destroy His remnant, who dare not but witness 
 against them and the common sins of the land ; for which I 
 desire to mourn, and pray the Lord's people to mourn over 
 them, and witness against them, as they desire to be marked 
 with the mourner's mark, when a holy God shall come to 
 take vengeance on all ranks that have forsaken and betrayed 
 Christ, and set up a man in his place, which will be found 
 to be the great idol of jealousy, which, with many other 
 idols, has drawn away the true and kind love and fear that 
 the generation owes to God. And because we desire to love 
 and fear God, and to follow Christ, we are reproached by 
 many as those that are out of the way, and of Jesuitical 
 principles. I declare I have in some measure desired to 
 know, love, and follow the truth, both in obedience to His 
 commands, and for the hope of glory, though, I confess, 
 through much weakness and infirmity. 
 
 1 am a Presbyterian in my judgment, though I am looked 
 upon as otherwise, because of my declaring my thoughts 
 
ARCHIBALD STEWART. Ill 
 
 freelj before men. I own and adhere to the work of refor- 
 mation, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the National 
 and Solemn League and Covenant, the Acknowledgment 
 of Sins and Engagement to Duties, the Causes of God's 
 Wrath. Also, I own all the testimonies of our worthy 
 sufferers that have gone before us ; also the Sanquhar De- 
 claration, and the Excommunication at Torwood. At the 
 writing hereof, I prayed that the Lord would open their 
 eyes, and let them see their sins, and grant repentance to 
 all of them that are of the election of free grace ; and I pray 
 that the Lord would ratify in heaven what was done on 
 earth by his faithful servant, as it is according to his will. 
 This has been the desire of every one of us. 
 
 I leave my testimony against the cursed Prelates, and all 
 their hirelings, who have been the instigators of the council 
 and bloody soldiers, to all the tyranny, oppression, and 
 blood which they have shed. I leave my testimony against 
 the woful indulgences, and all who have either embraced, 
 strengthened, or favoured them. Such have broken and 
 divided the people of the Lord more than all the former 
 persecutions could ever do. I leave my testimony against 
 all lukewarm and unfaithful ministers and professors, who 
 have turned their back upon Christ and his cause, and have 
 fallen away from their first love, and the doing of their first 
 works, — they are pulling down what they first built. I leave 
 my testimony against the oppression, tyranny, and robbery 
 committed against the people of God, especially that of 
 Glencairn and Halyards, whose names shall be recorded for 
 generations to come, as robbers of the widow and fatherless, 
 " who have lien in wait against the dwellings of the right- 
 eous, and have spoiled his resting-place," and have turned 
 many a widow and orphan out of their dwellings. I leave 
 my testimony against those tyrants that have forfeited all 
 the rights that they now usurp and lay claim to, over the 
 people of the Lord, and the whole land, and all their unjust 
 laws; but especially against that accursed supremacy, by 
 which they set up a miserable, adulterous, wretched man in 
 Christ's room, who thinks to wrong our Lord, and wear his 
 crown; but it will be too heavy for him; though all the 
 wicked lords, prelates, malignants, and indulged, be joining 
 hand in hand to hold it on, down it shall come, and whoso- 
 ever wears it. It is because of his wearing my lovely Lord 
 
112 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 and King's crown, and wronging him, that I am contending ; 
 and as he and they have proclaimed me a rebel and traitor 
 to man, so I disown him and them, and declare him and 
 them traitors and rebels to God and his Christ, my desirable 
 and holy Lord and King. But let me entreat you who 
 desire mercy, to forsake your wicked ways, and fall in love 
 with Christ, and seek peace with God through him, who is 
 the only Peace-maker; for there are sad judgments coming 
 on the land, and all your peace with these wicked men wiU 
 not keep you from the dreadful wrath of God coming on 
 the land, because of slighting the gospel, when it was to be 
 had in God's own way; and because of the perjury, cove- 
 nant-breaking, idolatry, and profaneness, treacherous back- 
 sliding, apostacy, and other abominations, that all ranks of 
 the land are guilty of; and because of their receiving and 
 entertaining this bloody Popish Duke, who must be wel- 
 comed with a draught of our blood now% as he was the last 
 time with tlie blood of our brethren. 
 
 I bless the Lord, I have great satisfaction in owning this 
 despised way of God, for which I lay down my life ; and also, 
 that the Lord has drawn my heart after him, and made me 
 heartily willing to be at his disposal. And I have sweet 
 peace in what 1 have done, and would entreat all to more 
 tenderness, and to watch over all their ways ; for there are 
 many looking on us, and waiting for our halting in the way 
 of God. Oh, that the Lord would help you to wait on him, 
 " until the day break, and the shadows," and all those clouds, 
 " flee away !" for this is a heavy day upon the church of God. 
 Oh, to be labouring to lie in the dust, and to hide ourselves, 
 and shut our mouths, and be silent; for the Lord hath 
 covered us with shame, because of our many backslidings and 
 slothfulness in duty, both public and private. This I think 
 is the Lord's ground of contention with us this day. Oh, 
 dear friends, all ye that desire to keep the way of God, and 
 to be carried faithfully through all these tribulations and 
 dispensations, forsake not your Christian fellowships, (where- 
 in so much of the power and presence of God hath been 
 found,) with those who meet together out of love and zeal 
 for God, to pour out their hearts before him, and converse 
 one with another. I think the forsaking of Christian meet- 
 ings, is as sad a token of God's leaving the land as any that 
 I see ; and therefore I not only exhort you to this duty, but 
 
JOHN POTTER. 113 
 
 as a dying man, I charge you, as you will answer at the 
 great day, to set about that duty with fear, love, and zeal to 
 God, having his glory before your eyes: and let love to 
 Christ be the principle and motive to draw you to this and 
 all other duties. Let none stumble at the way of Christ be- 
 cause of our suffering, (if I may call it suffering,) for all 
 the steps of the way are easy to me, through faith in a slain 
 Mediator. It is those that keep the word of his patience, 
 that he will keep in the hour of temptation. Oh, labour to 
 keep up those lovely field-meetings, wherewith my soul has 
 been refreshed. And let it be your work to preserve 
 patience, whatever sufferings ye meet with from enemies, or 
 reproaches from pretended friends, who will, I fear, be found 
 secret and heart enemies to God. This I leave with you as 
 my last advice. 
 
 And now I bless God for all that he hath done for my soul, 
 and for the way that he hath taken with me, in carrying me 
 to the land of praise, where I shall sing that sweet song 
 throughout the ages of eternity, which shall never have an 
 end. Oh, long to be with him ; for if ye knew what I have 
 felt of his love and presence, ye would sometimes be giving 
 a look to time, and bidding it be gone. Even now let it be 
 gone, that I may enjoy my best Beloved. Now I take fare- 
 well of all friends and relations, of all earthly comforts, and 
 of all created glory. Welcome sweet Lord Jesus ; into thy 
 hands I commit my spirit. 
 
 Archibald Stewart. 
 
 On the scaffold he sung the second Psalm, and read the 
 third of Malachi ; but they would not suffer him to pray 
 publicly, for when he began saying, " Lord, what wilt 
 thou do with this generation ? what wilt thou do with bloody 
 Charles Stuart?" the drums were beat, and his mouth stopped. 
 
 Testimony of John Potter, a Farmer in the Parish of 
 Uphall, West Lothian, who suffered at Edinburgh, 
 December 1st, 1680. 
 
 Spectators and Auditors, — 1 desire your attention to a 
 l2 
 
114 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 few words. Before I begin, I must tell you, you must not 
 expect such a testimony from me as ye have had from some 
 who have gone before me ; I am not a learned man, as some 
 of them were. I desire, however, to look to God, who not 
 only can give me what to say, but can also bless what I say, 
 so as it may be for his glory, and the good of them that love 
 him, and wait for his coming, which is the desire of my soul. 
 I am now about to enter into eternity, and therefore hope 
 you will not think I shall say any thing but what my con- 
 science binds me to say. 
 
 I shall tell you for what I am brought here this day to 
 lay down my life. It is for owning and adhering to my 
 sworn principles. I am a Presbyterian; and herein I do 
 rejoice that I am to suffer for his cause only, for adhering 
 to the Word of God, and our Confession of Faith, Larger 
 and Shorter Catechisms, our Covenants, National and Solemn 
 League, together with our solemn Acknowledgment of Sins 
 and Engagement to Duties, wherein all Scotland were once 
 engaged, and thought it their duty and honour to be so. 
 For this I am sentenced to death by men ; but God, to whom 
 vengeance belongs, will avenge himself for all the wrongs 
 done to his glory, cause, interest, and people. I was born 
 under the pure light of the gospel, and was taught to own 
 Christ as King in Zion alone, and head of his own church ; 
 this I think my duty. But I am here charged with rebellion, 
 which I deny, because I was never of the opinion that it 
 was rebellion to hear the gospel, for the word of God binds 
 us to it as our duty ; otherwise why should Clod have told 
 us, that " we should go from sea to sea, to seek the word of 
 the Lord, and should not find it;" because the practice of 
 our Lord and his apostles in preaching the gospel to the 
 people that heard them, is sufficient to prove it to be duty 
 to hear the gospel, either in fields or houses, when it cannot 
 be had elsewhere. Now, if it be duty to hear the gospel, as 
 it is, then certainly it is duty to defend the gospel when 
 preached in purity, according to the word of God, and accord- 
 ing to the sixth article of the Solemn League and Covenant, 
 wherein we are bound to assist and defend all that enter into 
 covenant with us, and to the utmost of our power, with our 
 lives in our hands ; much more to defend the gospel, which 
 teaches us the fundamental principles of our holy religion. 
 And to remove that vile and malicious aspersion cast upon 
 
JOHN POTTEK. 115 
 
 US, wliicli charges us with an intention to have murdered 
 the Duke of York, and others, I declare I had never such a 
 principle as to murder any man, neither did I ever hear of 
 it till the council told me, and 1 knew it to be a vile and 
 hell-hatched aspersion cast upon the way and people of God: 
 but they judge others by themselves, for that is their prin- 
 ciple, to murder the gospel of God, as they also do. 
 
 I was asked, whether or not I adhered to the Sanquhar 
 Declaration? I answered, I not only adhered to it, but also 
 would lay down my life cheerfully and willingly, as I do 
 this day, for adhering thereto ; yea, if every hair of my head 
 were a life, and every drop of my blood were a man, I would 
 willingly lay them all down for him and his cause. I come 
 here to tell you, — 1. That I adhere to all the written will and 
 word of God; and I adhere to the Confession of Faith, our 
 Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, our Covenants, National 
 and Solemn League, our Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins 
 and Engagement to Duties, and to all the Covenants made 
 betwixt God and us, wherein I stand engaged. 2. I adhere 
 to all the testimonies that have gone before me. 3. I adhere 
 to all that has been done for maintaining and defending the 
 gospel against a tyrannizing and bloody enemy, when the 
 actors thereof had the glory of God before their eyes, as the 
 chief motive that drove them thereto, whether at Pentland, 
 Drumclog, Glasgow, Bothwell, Airsmoss, or any other place in 
 Scotland where there has been any rencounter of that kind. 
 4. I adhere to the action of excommunication at Torwood, 
 as according to the word of God, and done by a faithful 
 minister of the gospel in as legal a way as the present dis- 
 pensation and circumstances of time could permit ; and as 
 the persons excommunicated were guilty of such crimes as 
 justly do deserve that act to be passed against them. 5. I 
 adhere to the testimonies of all that have witnessed against 
 silent and unfaithful ministers, by their withdrawing from 
 them, which is declaring that they do not own them as faith- 
 ful ambassadors of Jesus Christ, because of their unfaithful- 
 ness. And I hope none will condemn me for saying, that I 
 have not had clearness to join with them, while they remain 
 so unconcerned about the cause of Christ, and the oppres- 
 sion of his people. 6. I adhere to the way of salvation 
 agreed upon betwixt the Father and the Son before the cre- 
 ation of the world, that through the Son we should be made 
 
116 LIST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 perfect, which I hope to obtain, before this body of mine be 
 cold; and in his perfection I shall be made perfect, and 
 through his suffering I shall be conformed to him, " who 
 suffered without the gate, bearing his reproach." I am well 
 pleased with my lot this day. my soul, and all that is 
 within me, bless his holy name, for all that he hath done for 
 my soul, and for his bringing me here this day to lay down 
 my life for him. I am not afraid of grim death ; I know 
 that God has taken away the sting of death, through the 
 sufferings of his Son. 
 
 In the next place, being here as a dying witness for 
 Christ and his cause, I leave my testimony against all 
 abominations done in the land against a holy God, and in 
 contempt of his image ; particularly, — 1. I testify against all 
 that woful and hell-hatched Act of Supremacy, wherein 
 they acknowledge the king to be head of the church, and 
 thereby have invested a mortal creature with Christ's crown, 
 sword, and sceptre. 2. I bear witness, and testify against the 
 breaking of the National and Solemn League and Covenant, 
 and making them to be burnt by the hand of the hangman 
 at the market cross of Edinburgh, and elsewhere through 
 Scotland, so contrary to their solemn engagements. 3. I 
 witness, and bear my testimony against the reception of 
 Prelacy, so contrary to the Word of God and our Cove- 
 nants; for then it was that the Covenanters in Scotland 
 should have withstood both king and council, and all that 
 joined with them on that head, and should have testified 
 against them with their swords in their hand, until they had 
 resisted unto blood, according to the 6th article of the 
 Solemn League and Covenant. Oh, that all that are alive 
 this day that were men when the Covenant was burnt, were 
 acknowledging their sin, and lying in the dust every one for 
 his share in that sin, and every one for the land's guiltiness. 
 4. I leave my testimony against all the horrid bloodshed 
 that has been in the land, whether of noblemen, gentlemen, 
 ministers, or others, who have suffered in Edinburgh, or any 
 other place, whether on scaffolds, on gibbets, in open fields, 
 or on the sea ; particularly that horrid act of murdering so 
 many men after they had taken them prisoners, and pro- 
 mised them their lives, which was done by Thomas Dalziel, 
 called general, who took them prisoners, and after promising 
 to set them at liberty, delivered them up to the bloody 
 
JOHN POTTER. 117 
 
 council, who most cruelly murdered them, without and 
 against all law and reason, not to speak of conscience, for 
 they had lost all that they ever had, when they burnt the 
 Covenant, and murdered the marquis of Argyle, and my 
 lord Warristoun, and that eminent minister, Mr. James 
 Guthrie, who were murdered against the very act of their 
 own laws. 5. I bear witness and testimony against the 
 cutting off heads and hands, and setting them up upon the 
 ports of Edinburgh, and elsewhere through the kingdom of 
 Scotland, as if they had been thieves or malefactors. 6. I 
 testify and bear witness against all the imprisonments, 
 finings, and confinings of the people of God, for adhering to 
 his Word and our Covenants. 7. I testify and bear witness 
 against the pressing of the Declaration against our Cove- 
 nants upon the consciences of the Lord's people. 8. I 
 testify and bear witness against the imposing and paying 
 of cess and militia-money, both for oppressing the con- 
 sciences, and grinding the faces of the poor. 9. I testify 
 and bear witness against that cruel and hell-hatched act of 
 sending the highland host, and the rest of that cabal, to 
 oppress and plunder the people of God. 10. I bear witness 
 against all the oppression, spoiling, robbing, and hunting of 
 the people of God, and that against all manner of law and 
 reason. I shall be a standing witness against them, ay, and 
 until they repent. Oh, that the Lord would pour out of his 
 Spirit upon all that have so grievously turned aside, and 
 make them to lie in the dust, and to acknowledge their sins ; 
 but I fear a holy God has given them up to themselves, and 
 sealed their hearts with obduration, so that they are become 
 proof against all dispensations; but sure such as will not 
 bow to God, shall be broken by the mighty rod of iron that 
 is in his hand to bruise the nations. I have here left my 
 testimony against the perjury, bloodshed, and oppression of 
 the people of God, which has been done by him who is 
 called the king of Britain and Ireland ; and the perjury and 
 bloodshed acted by noblemen and gentlemen, that have been 
 assisting and strengthening his hand in bloody and cruel 
 courses ; and therefore I leave my testimony against them, 
 and my blood upon their heads, and especially against such 
 as were present in the council when I was examined, and 
 those perjured lords of the criminal court, where I was sen- 
 tenced to die here in this place of execution; and also I 
 
118 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 leave inj blood upon the head of assizers, and all others who 
 said amen to mj sentence, whatever thej have been, and yet 
 are ; except they repent, my blood shall be charged upon 
 them. Likewise I leave my testimony against all who 
 carried arms to guard me to this scaffold, they shall be 
 guilty of my blood, if mercy and grace prevent not. 
 
 Likewise, I bear witness, and leave my testimony against 
 the reception, first and last, of the Duke of York, that pro- 
 fessed Papist, who has been laying out himself to carry us 
 back to Rome, and that not only by the bloody council, and 
 other perjured noblemen and gentlemen, but also by the city 
 of Edinburgh, that went out of the port to receive him, as 
 though he had been a king, with shooting of guns, sounding 
 of trumpets, beating of drums, and kindling of bonfires ; 
 which is contrary to the word of God and our covenant, after 
 he had been cast off justly by the kingdom of England. I 
 shall be a witness against that action in the great day. And 
 particularly, I leave my blood upon that wretch and bloody 
 tyrant the Duke of York ; for it is to satisfy him, and to 
 quench his implacable thirst for blood, that I am brought 
 here this day. The last time he came to Scotland, he got a 
 sacrifice of the blood of the five that suffered at Magusmuir, 
 who were indeed highly honoured, and nothing short of those 
 that went before them; and now he must have this our blood 
 to quench his thirst ; but that heart of his that is so rejoic- 
 ing at the hearing of and seeing our death, ere long shall 
 tremble, when my heart shall sing Hallelujah to the Lamb 
 of God, and join my note, and pass my sentence with the 
 great Judge against him, and all the enemies of God, if great 
 repentance and free grace prevent not. 
 
 And witli respect to that for which I am sentenced to 
 death, because of many mistakes, even among the godly, 
 through wrong information, I here as a dying man declare, I 
 had before me no design but only the glory of God, and the 
 coming of Christ's kingdom, and his reigning as King in 
 Zion. And for this I am sentenced, and for this I lay down 
 my life this day, and I do it willingly and cheerfully, and 
 not by constraint ; for if I had been left of a holy God, so 
 far as to quit even one single hoof of his truth, I might have 
 redeemed my life as some have done, who were as deeply 
 engaged to stand by the truth, even to the resisting unto 
 blood, as I was, and seemed to be as deeply concerned as I 
 
JOHN POTTER. 119 
 
 was. How thej have come out of prison, I know not, but 
 God knows, and to him they will, and must give account 
 thereof, and to him I leave it. But I think there are few 
 that come out of prison now, that can say, they have neither 
 touched, tasted, nor handled the abominations of the times 
 wherein they live ; therefore I leave my testimony and wit- 
 ness against all who have come out of prison, by taking of 
 the bond, if it were but to compear before these bloody 
 enemies of God, in as far as they were convinced that it was 
 sin, as some of them were, otherwise their tongue and pen 
 have lied ; I leave it to God and their own conscience to 
 determine, whether or not they have sinned in so doing. 
 Next, I here as a dying man, declare, that if the blotting of 
 paper to them would save my life, I would not do it at that 
 rate, for I see they are setting themselves to ensnare the 
 feeble ; and I see neither ministers nor professors to give 
 their advice in this matter, if it be not to make them take 
 the bond, as they did to those poor things in the churchyard. 
 Also, I leave my testimony, and bear witness against all the 
 unfaithfulness of ministers and professors. L I bear witness 
 against the unfaithfulness of those ministers who adhered to 
 the public resolutions, to bring in, or keep in, any of those 
 men that were open and avowed malignants, and enemies to 
 God, so contrary to our covenant. 2. I bear testimony 
 against the act at Glasgow, whereby three hundred ministers 
 and upwards quitted their charge, and turned their back 
 upon their flocks ; and since, many of them have turned 
 ravening wolves, and greedy dogs, that cannot bark, accord- 
 ing to that word, Ezek. xiii. 4, 5, "0 Israel, thy prophets are 
 like the foxes in the desert, who have not gone up to the gap, 
 neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand 
 in the battle, in the day of the Lord." Was it not their 
 duty to have stood by their charge until they had been driven 
 out of their pulpits ? 3. I leave my testimony against the 
 indulgences, both first and last, and against all that comply 
 and go on with them in that sinful course, ay and until they 
 repent. I shall be a standing witness against them. Surely, 
 if they be found with clean fingers, when God comes to in- 
 quire after blood, I am mistaken : but oh, what will they 
 answer, when Christ says, " Come here, give me an account 
 of your talent : what did you do with your ministry. Laid 
 ye it aside at the command of Charles Stuart, and the bloody 
 
120 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 council? And had je more delight to be a doctor or chamber- 
 lain, than to be a minister ?" Oh, let the unfaithful minister 
 remember that word in Ezek. xxxiii, 6, " But if the watch- 
 men see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the 
 people be not warned, and if the sword come and take any 
 person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity ; 
 but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand." I fear 
 that the blood of many souls wiU be required at the hands 
 of the most part of the ministers of Scotland. 
 
 I bear witness, and leave my testimony against the unfaith- 
 fulness of many ministers, who have left their wonted love 
 and burning zeal, which they had when they ventured upon 
 the high places of the earth in preaching the gospel. And 
 now, in the last place, I bear testimony against all who have 
 preached, written against, or reproached that poor party that 
 occasionally met at Airsmoss, only for the hearing of the 
 gospel. 
 
 And now, when I am stepping out of time into eternity, 
 I declare that I adhere to aU the doctrines that ever I heard 
 Mr. Richard Cameron, or Mr. Donald Cargil, preach ; and 
 my soul blesseth God that ever I heard either of them ; for 
 my soul had been refreshed to hear the voice and shouting 
 of a King among those field-meetings, wherein the fountain 
 of living waters has been made to run down among the 
 people of God, in such a manner that armies could not have 
 terrified us. Oh, I am sure the blood that has been shed in 
 the fields, and on scaffolds in Scotland, for the cause and 
 interest of Jesus Christ, will have a glorious crop, in spite of 
 devils and men ; and I am sure the seed sown at Airsmoss 
 will have as glorious a vintage as ever any seed in Scotland 
 had. 
 
 And now, ye that are the poor remnant that are to stay 
 behind, who are the butt of the fury, not only of the open 
 and bloody enemies, but also of many ministers and profes- 
 sors, who have gone out of the way themselves, and will not 
 suffer others to walk in it, I have this to say to you. Be ear- 
 nest and constant in showing your love to Christ. Walk 
 with more fear, lest ye offend a holy and jealous God. Oh, 
 beware that ye quit not your integrity ; there are many wait- 
 ing for your halting, yea, and longing for it. Cast not off 
 the way of Christ because of suffering. If ye knew what of 
 his love and comforting presence I have had, since I was 
 
JOHN POTTER. 121 
 
 called to witness for him against these bloody traitors, that 
 are thirsting after the blood of the Lord's people, je would 
 long for such proofs of his love ; seek him early, and ye shall 
 find him. Be not troubled because of our death ; it is not 
 death to the soul, but the inlet of life to it ; for to be dead to 
 the world is to be alive to Christ. Blessed are the dead that 
 die in the Lord, from henceforth they rest from their labours, 
 and their works do follow them. And rejoice, O ye poor of 
 the flock, that wait with fear and trembling, and with faith 
 and love in exercise ; it is to you that he will come ; he 
 meeteth him that rejoiceth in, and worketh righteousness. 
 " Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall be comforted. 
 Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. 
 Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. 
 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteous- 
 ness ; for they shall be filled. Blessed are the pure in heart; 
 for they shall see God. Blessed are the peace-makers ; for 
 they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they 
 that are reproached for righteousness' sake ; for theirs is tlie 
 kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile 
 you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil of 
 you falsely for my sake." Friends, you only have ground 
 to rejoice ; if by him ye be helped to keep the word of his 
 patience, he will keep you in the hour of temptation, which 
 shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon 
 the face of the earth. 
 
 My dear friends and followers of Christ, hold on your 
 way, weary not, faint not, and ye shall receive the crown of 
 life. It is those that overcome by the blood of the Lamb, 
 and the word of their testimony, that shall stand, being 
 clothed in white robes, before the throne ; for these are they 
 that came out of great tribulation. Remember that there 
 is a book of remembrance written, and the names of those 
 are written in it " that speak often one to another." Let it 
 then be your study to keep up private fellowship-meetings, 
 wherein so much of the power and life of religion is to be 
 found. Remember that as a dying sufferer for Christ, I 
 leave this charge to every one of you that have any love to 
 Christ. Set about this and other duties with more fervent 
 love and zeal than heretofore; and be much in private 
 prayer ; wrestle with God upon the account of Jacob's trouble. 
 I will say this, that the more ye seek for Zion, the more ye 
 
 M 
 
122 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 will get for yourselves. Let not the reproaches cast upon 
 the way of God offend you. And see that when ye are 
 reviled, ye revile not again; but rather, with meekness and 
 love, in the fear of the Lord, study to gain others ; but if 
 they will not hearken when this is done, then be free and 
 faithful in testifying against them for so doing; but espe- 
 cially let your conversation testify your dislike of these sin- 
 ful courses. And now, my dear friends in Christ, I leave 
 you to him who is afflicted in all your afflictions, and has 
 promised to be with you in the fire and water, and bear the 
 weight of all your reproaches. 
 
 As for you tliat are lying in black nature, I exhort you to 
 repent of your sins, and come out of that woful estate wherein 
 ye are now lying, and close with a slain Mediator upon his 
 own terms. Oh, fall in love with the way of salvation. Can 
 ye think of the way of redemption, and not stand and wonder 
 at the condescension of free grace ? I tell you, " Except ye 
 repent, ye shall all perish." 
 
 I have a word to you who are the cruel and open enemies 
 to Christ and his cause. Remember " the saints shall judge 
 the world;" and then we shall not only stand on equal terms 
 with you, but be set on thrones, with crowns on our heads, 
 and harps in our hands, to sing praise to the Lamb ; and 
 then we shall pass sentence with the great Judge, upon all 
 the enemies of God, and you shall be turned into hell, with 
 all the nations that forget God, if ye repent not. I pray 
 that the Lord would open your eyes, that you may see your 
 sins, and turn from them, and live. I forgive all men the 
 wrongs they have done, or can do to me; but for the 
 wrongs done to Christ, in robbing him of his right over his 
 church and people, I know vengeance belongs to God, and 
 he will repay them ; therefore I leave them under process, 
 ay and until they repent. And now I begin to enjoy him 
 who is invisible, for it is but little we can see of him now ; 
 but this I am sure of, that I shall be made conformable to 
 him through his sufferings. Therefore I take my leave of 
 all the world and the enjoyments thereof. I leave my wife 
 and child to my covenanted God, who gave them to me, 
 and willingly quit and give them up to him, hoping that 
 " he will be a husband to the widow, and a father to the 
 fatherless," according to his promise. I hope that the friends 
 of the Lord will remember the living for the dead's sake. 
 
ISABEL ALISON. 123 
 
 Farewell wife and child, parents and relations, and all 
 friends and acquaintances. Welcome heaven, angels and 
 saints; welcome God and Father; welcome lovely Jesus 
 Christ; welcome Holj Spirit of grace; into thy hands I 
 commend my soul and spirit. 
 
 John Potter. 
 
 Last Speech and Testimony of Isabel Alison, of Perth, 
 who suffered at Edinburgh, January 26th, 1681. 
 
 Interrogations before the Privy Council. 
 
 When I was brought before the council, they asked me. 
 Whether I lived at St. Johnstoun? I answered. Yes. What 
 was your occupation? To which I did not answer. The 
 bishop asked. If I conversed with Mr. Donald Cargil? I 
 replied, Sir, you seem to be a man whom I have no clear- 
 ness to speak to. He desired another to ask the same ques- 
 tion: I answered, I have seen him, and I wish that I had 
 seen him oftener. They asked. If I owned what he had done 
 against the civil magistrate? I answered, I did own it. 
 They asked, If I could read the Bible? I replied, I could. 
 They asked. If I knew the duty we owe to the civil magis- 
 trate? I answered, When magistrates carry the sword for 
 God, according to what the scripture calls for, we owe them 
 all due reverence ; but when they overturn the work of God, 
 and set themselves in opposition to him, it is the duty of 
 his servants to execute his laws and ordinances on them. 
 They asked. If I owned the Sanquhar Declaration? I 
 answered, I do own it. They asked, If I owned the papers 
 taken at the Queensferry on Henry Hall? I answered, 
 They need not question that. They asked, If I knew Mr. 
 Skeen? I replied, I never saw him. They asked. If I con- 
 versed with rebels? I answered, I never conversed with 
 rebels. They asked. If I had conversed with David Hack- 
 stoun? I answered, I did converse with him, and I bless 
 the Lord that ever I saw him; for I never saw oug-ht in 
 him but a godly pious youth. They asked. If the killing of 
 the bishop of St. Andrew's was a pious act? I answered, 
 I never heard him say that he killed him ; but if God moved 
 
124 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 any, and put it upon them to execute his righteous judg- 
 ments upon him, I have nothing to say to that. They asked 
 me, When saw ye John Balfour, that pious youth? I 
 answered, I have seen him. They asked, When? I answered, 
 Those are frivolous questions; I am not bound to answer 
 them. They said, I thought not that a testimony. They 
 asked, What think ye of that in the Confession of Faith, 
 That magistrates should be owned though they were heathens? 
 I answered, It was another matter, than when those who 
 seemed to own the truth, had now overturned it, and made 
 themselves avowed enemies to it. They asked. Who should 
 be judge of these things? I answered. The scriptures of 
 truth, and the Spirit of God, and not men that have over- 
 turned the work themselves. They asked, If I knew the 
 two Hendersons that murdered the lord St. Andrews? I 
 answered, I never knew any lord St. Andrews. They said, 
 Mr. James Sharp, if ye call him so. I said, I never thought 
 it murder : but if God moved and stirred them up to execute 
 his righteous judgment upon him, I had nothing to say to 
 that. They asked. Whether or not I would own all that I 
 had said? for, said they, you will be put to own it in the 
 Grass-Market; and they bemoaned me, in putting my life 
 in hazard in such a quarrel. I answered, I think my life 
 little enough in the quarrel of owning my Lord and Master's 
 sweet truths ; for he hath freed me from everlasting wrath, 
 and redeemed me ; and as for my body, it is at his disposal. 
 They said, I did not follow the Lord's practice, in that anent 
 Pilate. I answered, Christ owned his kingly office, when he 
 was questioned on it, and he told them. He was a King, and 
 for that end he was born. And it is for that we are 
 called in question this day, the owning of his kingly govern- 
 ment. The bishop said. We own it. I answered, We have 
 found the sad consequence of the contrary. The bishop 
 said. He pitied me for the loss of my life. I told him. He 
 had done me much more hurt than the loss of my life, or 
 aU the lives they had taken ; for it had much more affected 
 me, that many souls were killed by their doctrine. The 
 bishop said. Wherein is our doctrine erroneous? I said, 
 That was better debated already than a poor lass could 
 debate it. They said, Your ministers do not approve of 
 these things; and ye have said more than some of your 
 ministers ; for your ministers have brought you on to these 
 
ISABEL ALISON. 125 
 
 opinions, and left you there. I said, They had cast in baits 
 among the ministers, and enticed them aside; and although 
 ministers say one thing to-day, and another to-morrow, we 
 are not obliged to follow them in that. Then they said. 
 They pitied me ; for (said they) we find reason and a quick 
 wit in you: and they desired me to take advice. I told 
 them, I had been advising on it these seven years, and I 
 hoped not to change now. They inquired, mockingly. If I 
 lectured any? I answered, Quakers used to do so. They 
 asked, If I did own Presbyterian principles ? I answered. 
 That I did. They asked, If I was distempered? I told 
 them, I was always solid in the wit that God had given me. 
 Lastly, they asked my name. I told them. If they had 
 staged me, they might remember my name, for I had told 
 them already, and would not always be telling them. One 
 of them said, May ye not tell us your name? Then another 
 of themselves told it. 
 
 Interrogations before the Criminal Lords. 
 
 Being called before the criminal lords, they asked me, if 
 I would abide by what I said the last day ? I answered, I 
 would not deny any part of it. They said, Ye confessed that 
 ye harboured the murderers of the bishop, though ye would 
 not call it murder. I said, I confessed no such thing. The 
 advocate said, I did. I answered I did not ; and told them, 
 I would take with no untruths. He said. Did ye not con- 
 verse with them ? I said, I did converse with David Hack- 
 stoun, and I bless the Lord for it. They said, When saw you 
 him last? I answered, Never since you murdered him. 
 They desired me to say over what I said the last day. I 
 said. Would they have me to be mine own accuser ? They 
 said, The advocate was my accuser. I said, Let him say on 
 then. They then went over the things that passed betwixt 
 the council and me the other day ; and put me to it, yea, or 
 nay. I s?ad, Ye have troubled me too much with answering 
 questions, seeing you are a judicature which I have no clear- 
 ness to answer. They said, Do ye disown us, and the king's 
 authority in us? I said, I disown you all, because you 
 carry the sword against God, and not for him, and have 
 these nineteen or twenty years made it your work to 
 dethrone him, by swearing year after year against him and 
 
 m2 
 
126 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 his work, and assuming that power to a human creature, 
 which is due to him alone, and have rent the members from 
 their head Christ, and from one another. Then thej asked. 
 Who taught you these principles? I said, I was beholden 
 to God, who taught me these principles. Thev said. Are 
 you a Quaker? I said, Did you hear me say, I was led by a 
 spirit within me ? I bless the Lord, I profited much by the 
 persecuted gospel ; and your acts of indemnity after Both- 
 well, cleared me more than any thing I met with since. 
 They said. How could that be ? I said, By your meddling 
 with Christ's interests, and parting them as ye pleased. 
 They said. They did not usurp Christ's prerogatives. I said, 
 What then mean your indulgences, and your setting up of 
 Prelacy? for there has none preached publicly these twenty 
 years without persecution, but those who have had their 
 orders from you. Then they caused bring Sanquhar Declar- 
 ation, and the paper found on Mr. Richard Cameron,* and 
 the papers taken at the Queensferry, and asked, if I would 
 adhere to them? I said, I would, as they were according to 
 the scriptures, for I saw not wherein they did contradict 
 them. They asked. If ever Mr. Welch or Ma-. Riddel taught 
 me these principles? I answered, I would be far in the 
 wrong to speak any thing that might wrong them. Then 
 they bade me take heed what I was saying, for it was upon 
 life and death that I was questioned. I asked them. If they 
 would have me to lie ? I would not quit one truth, though 
 it would purchase my life a thousand years, which ye cannot 
 purchase, nor promise me for one hour. They said. When 
 saw ye the two Hendersons, and John Balfour ? Seeing you 
 love ingenuity, will ye be ingenuous, and tell us, if ye saw 
 them since the death of the bishop ? I said. They appeared 
 publicly within the land since. They asked, If I conversed 
 with them within these twelve months ? At which I kept 
 silence ; they then urged me to say either yea or nay. I 
 answered. Yes. Then they said, Your blood be upon your 
 own head, we shall be free of it. I answered. So said Pilate ; 
 but it was a question if it was so ; and ye have nothing to 
 say against me, but for owning of Christ's truths, and his 
 persecuted members. To which they answered nothing. 
 
 * This paper being taken from him, at his death, by the enemies who 
 slew him, no copy thereof, for ought I know, has ever been procured, and 
 hence it cannot be certainly known what was the nature of it. 
 
ISABEL ALISOX. 
 
 127 
 
 Then tliej desired me to subscribe what I owned; I refused, 
 and they did it for me. 
 
 Account of what she said before the Assizers. 
 
 These are to show what passed betwixt the black crew 
 and me. They read my indictment, and asked, if I had 
 aught to say against it? I said, Nothing. They read the 
 papers, as they did formerly, and asked, if I owned them? 
 I said, I did own them. Then they called the assizers, and 
 swore 'them. I then told them, that all authority was of 
 God, (Rom. xiii. 1,) and when they appeared against him, I 
 was clear to disown them ; and if they were not against him, 
 I would not have been there : I took every one of them wit- 
 ness against another, at their appearance before God, that 
 their proceedings against me were only for owning of Christ, 
 his gospel, and members ; which I could not disown, lest I 
 should come under the hazard of denying Christ, and so be 
 denied of him. And when the assize came, they asked, if I 
 had aught to say against them? I said, They were all alike ; 
 for there would no honest man take the trade in hand. They 
 said to the assize, it was against their will to take our lives; 
 I said, If that had been true, ye would not have brought me 
 so far off, pursuing me for my life. This is the substance of 
 what passed, as far as I remember. 
 
 Account of Mr. Archibald Riddel's examination of Isabel 
 Alison and Marion Harvie. 
 
 About seven o'clock at night, the goodman of the tolbooth 
 caused call us down, against our will, to be examined by 
 Mr. Riddel, at the council's order. So we came down, and 
 were brought to the west side of the house, to an empty room, 
 where they brought him in to us : the goodman of the tol- 
 booth being present, and the keepers and some gentlemen 
 with them. They asked us to sit down, when the goodman 
 of the tolbooth said, Mr. Riddel, the council caused me bring 
 you to confer with these women, to see if you can bring 
 them to repentance. Then we protested, and said, As for 
 repentance, we know not what fault we have done. Then 
 said they. You cannot be the worse to have one of your 
 ministers to confer with. We answered. These ministers 
 being your servants, we looked no more upon them as minis- 
 
128 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 ters of Jesus Christ; and therefore no ministers to us. Mr. 
 Riddel asked, If the council would send Mr. Cargil to us, 
 would we not confer with him? We said, He is not at your 
 command ; but if Mr. Cargil would do as ye and the rest of 
 you have done, we would do the like with him. So he of- 
 fered to pray ; we said, We were not clear to join with him 
 in prayer. He asked, Wherefore ? We said, We know the 
 strain of your prayers will be like your discourse. He said, 
 I shall not mention any of your principles in my prayer, but 
 only desire the Lord to let you see the evil of your doings. 
 We told him, We desired none of his prayers at all. They 
 asked. Would we not be content to hear him ? We replied, 
 Forced prayers had no virtue ; why meant he to pray with 
 us more than he did with our brethren who had gone before 
 us? Mr. Riddel said, Mr. Skeen conversed with Mr. Robert 
 Ross. We said. He did not send for him but he intruded 
 himself upon him. The goodmau of the tolbooth said. He 
 conversed with Mr. Meldrum; we smiled at that, and re- 
 plied. He might talk to him of his perjury, but for no other 
 thing. So they urged prayer again. We said, It would be 
 a mocking of God. They said, Why so? We said. Because 
 we cannot join in it. So Mr. Riddel began to debate with 
 us, and said. We would not find it in all the scripture, nor 
 any history, to disown the civil ma^gistrate. We answered, 
 There were never such magistrates seen as we have. He 
 instanced Manasseh, who made the streets of Jerusalem to 
 run with the blood of the prophets. We said, It was a ques- 
 tion if he went the length in perjury. He instanced Joash. 
 We answered, He was but a child when that covenant was 
 sworn, and it was not so with those he now pleaded for. He 
 then instanced Nero, how he set the city on fii-e, and robbed 
 the churches ; and yet notwithstanding, the apostle exhorteth 
 submission to the magistrates then in being. We answered, 
 It was in the Lord, and as they were a terror to evil doers. 
 He said. Although they were wicked, yet they should not be 
 altogether cast off. We said, Before their excommunication 
 we would not have been so clear to cast them off. He said, 
 There were only seven in the excommunication, then why 
 cast off all the rest? We answered. These seven carried the 
 great sway, and the rest came in under them. He said. How 
 can one man take upon him to draw out the sword of excom- 
 munication, for the like was never heard tell of in any gen- 
 
ISABEL ALISOX. 129 
 
 eration ? We answered, Why not one man, since there were 
 no more faithful, and the church hath power to cast out 
 scandalous persons, be thej high, be they low. He said. Who 
 is the church? We said, If there was a true church in the 
 world, that little handful was one, though never so insignifi- 
 cant ; of which handful, we own ourselves a part : and though 
 our blood go in the quarrel, yet we hope it will be the foun- 
 dation of a new building, and of a lively church. 
 
 He asked, Thought we all the ministers wrong? We 
 answered, We desire to forbear, and not to add ; for we 
 desire not to speak of ministers' faults ; and we desired him 
 to forbear, and let us be gone ; but he urged his discourse, 
 and fell on upon the papers that were taken at the Queens- 
 ferry, chiefly on that part of them, "when God gives them 
 power, it is a just law to execute justice upon all persons that 
 are guilty." And he came to us, and laid by his coat, and 
 said, Would ye stab me with a knife in my breast, even now ? 
 We smiled, and said. We never murdered any. But, said 
 he. They swore ,to do so. We answered. Why did he not 
 debate these things with men, and not with lasses? for we 
 told him, we never studied debates. He asked again, 
 Thought we all the ministers wrong? We answered, They 
 were wrong, and forbade him to put us to it, to speak of 
 ministers' faults ; for if he knew what we had to say of them, 
 he would not urge us. So we desired to be gone. And he 
 added, If ye come to calm blood, desire me or any other of 
 the ministers to speak to you, ye may tell the keepers, and 
 ye shall have them. There was a surgeon with them, and 
 the goodmau of the tolbooth said. He might draw blood of 
 us, for we were mad. We said. Saw ye any mad action in 
 us ? — This is all we can mind at present. 
 
 Dying Testimony and last Words of Isabel Alison. 
 
 Being sentenced to die in the Grass- Market of Edinburgh, 
 January 1681, I have thought fit to set down the causes 
 wherefore I suffer. Being apprehended at Perth, in my own 
 chamber, by an order from the council, and brought to 
 Edinburgh with a strong guard, and there put in prison, 
 and then being examined first by a committee, and then by 
 the criminal court ; the manner of my examination was : — 
 1. If I conversed with David Hackstoun and others of our 
 
130 LAST SrEECH AND TESTIMOXY OF 
 
 friends? Which I owned upon good grounds. 2. If I 
 owned the excommunication at the Torwood, and the 
 papers found at the Queensferrj, and Sanquhar Declaration, 
 and a paper found on Mr. Cameron at Airsmoss ? All which 
 I owned. Farther, I declined their authority, and told them 
 that they had declared war against Christ, and had usurped 
 his prerogatives, and so carried the sword against him, and 
 not for him ; I think none can own them, unless they disown 
 Jesus Christ. Let enemies and pretended friends say what 
 they will, I could have my life on no easier terms than the 
 denying of Christ's kingly office ; thus I lay down my life 
 for owning and adhering to Jesus Christ, his being a free 
 King in his own house. I bless the Lord, that ever he 
 called me to this. 
 
 Now, I adhere to the holy scriptures of the Old and 'New 
 Testament ; to the Confession of Faith, because according 
 to the scriptures, to the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, 
 and our Solemn Covenants, both National and Solemn 
 League, as they were lawfully sworn in this land ; also, I 
 adhere to the Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement 
 to Duties, and these fore-mentioned papers, and to the ex- 
 communication at Torwood, all being according to the scrip- 
 tures of truth, and so both lawful and necessary. Likewise, 
 I adhere to the Rutherglen Testimony, and to all the testi- 
 monies of our worthies, who have suffered at Edinburgh, and 
 elsewhere. 
 
 Farther, I enter my protestation against all the violation 
 done to the work of God these twenty years bygone. The 
 burning of the Covenant made with God, and the Causes of 
 God's Wrath, and the thrusting in of prelates into the Lord's 
 house, contrary to the word of God, and our sworn Cove- 
 nants. I leave my testimony against Popery, which is so 
 much countenanced at present, and against receiving the 
 Duke of York, that limb of Antichrist. Likewise, I leave 
 my testimony against all the blood shed both on scaffolds 
 and in the fields and seas ; and against all the cruelty used 
 against all the people of the Lord. I leave my testimony 
 against the paying of that wicked cess, for maintaining these 
 profane wretches, to bear down the work of God. I leave 
 my testimony against all unlawful bonds ; and against the 
 shifting of a testimony, when clearly called by the Lord to 
 give it. I leave my testimony against profanity of all sorts, 
 
ISABEL ALISON. 131 
 
 and likewise against lukewarmness and indifference in the 
 Lord's matters. I leave my testimony against the unfaith- 
 fulness of ministers, first and last, against their silence at 
 the first, when their Master's work was broken down ; for the 
 most part they slipped from their Master's support, without 
 so much as giving one word of testimony against the wrongs 
 done to him ; and are now become a snare to the poor people 
 in going to hear the curates, who, following their example are 
 ensnared ; my sad experience of this, brings it the more into 
 my memory. Yet notwithstanding of their being convinced 
 of their error in this, many of them carry now, as if they 
 regretted that ever they came forth to the fields to proclaim 
 their Master king in his own house ; and now they are fallen 
 in under the shadow of his sworn enemies, and alas ! they 
 are become profound at laying snares ; yea, they are a trap 
 upon Mizpeh, and a net spread upon Tabor ! Oh, for the 
 sad defection both of ministers and professors in Scotland ! 
 It is probable that our conduct may make many of our 
 carcases to lie in the wilderness. I leave my testimony 
 against the indulgences, first and last, and against all that 
 comply therewith, or connive thereat. I leave my testimony 
 against the censuring of worthy Mr. Cameron, or any other 
 whom God raised to declare the whole counsel of God, and 
 to witness against the evils of this generation. I fear when 
 God makes inquisition for blood, ministers' hands will not 
 be found free thereof. 
 
 As for charging my blood on any particular person, I can- 
 not, for I have never got the certainty of what hath brought 
 me to the stage ; but if any have done it willingly, I leave it 
 to God, and their own conscience. But I may warrantably 
 charge it upon all the declared enemies of God within the 
 land. 
 
 1. I leave it upon the bloody council, that sent an order 
 to take me, for they are guilty of it. 2, The sheriff-clerk of 
 Perth, and those who were with him when he took me, are 
 guilty of it: the sheriff-clerk of Kinross, and the men that 
 guarded me, are all likewise guilty of my blood. And I 
 leave my blood on Sir George Mackenzie, and the rest of 
 that bloody court; and I take the Lord to witness against 
 them, whether or not it was on easy terms, that they offered 
 me my life ; they said only. They would not trouble me with 
 their bishops; but I said, That supremacy was as bad as 
 
132 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 prelacy. They said, That I behoved to say, that the king 
 was not an usurper, and pass from aU my former confession, 
 and that it was my duty to obey authority. I told them. 
 That they were sworn enemies to God, so that it was im- 
 possible to obey both God and them, I would not retract an 
 hair-breadth. They asked, If I ever thought that he was 
 our lawful king? I said, Yes; for he entered into covenant 
 with God, and with the land : but he hath broken and cast 
 off that tie, and hath exercised so much tyranny and cruelty, 
 that I had just ground to decline him and them both : then 
 they said. Your blood be upon your own head: but I told 
 them, They would find it on their own heads, for it was for 
 my owning of Christ's kingly office, that they made me suffer, 
 say the contrary who may. Now, I bless the Lord, I am 
 free from Jesuitical principles. The scripture is my rule, 
 and when obedience to men is contrary to obedience to God, 
 I am clear to disown them. 
 
 I leave my testimony against Mr. Kiddel, for his obeying 
 these wicked men to ensnare us, and to hold out to us, before 
 these accursed enemies of Christ, that were seeking our lives 
 for our adhering to the truth, that it was all delusion that 
 we held. I many times rued that I bore so well with him ; 
 and now I hear, that he denies that which he wrote. But 
 if ye wiU believe me, who am in a little to appear before 
 God, there was nothing added, but rather wanting ; I wish 
 the Lord may forgive him. I bless the Lord, what strikes 
 against myself only, I can very heartily forgive ; but what 
 strikes against God and his truths, I leave that to God, who 
 is the Judge of all. 
 
 Now, I would say to those who are seeking to keep their 
 garments clean, " Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary 
 the devil, goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he 
 may devour." And as I would have ye be zealous for the 
 truth, and not to quit one hoof, so I would have you labour 
 against a spirit of tenderness ; beware of self: and be more 
 ready to mourn for the slips of others, than to make them the 
 subject of your discourse; and labour to make earnest of 
 religion, for I find there is need of more than a good cause, 
 when it comes to the push. Oh, the everlasting covenant is 
 sweet to me now ! And I would also say, they that would 
 follow Christ, need not scar at the cross, for I can set to my 
 seal to it, " His yoke is easy, and his burden is light." Yea, 
 
ISABEL ALISON. 133 
 
 many times he hath made me go very easy through things 
 which I have thought I would never have win through. He 
 is the only desirable Master ; but he must be followed fully. 
 Rejoice in him, all ye that love him; "lift up your heads, 
 and be exceeding glad, for the day of your redemption 
 draweth nigh." Let not your hearts faint, nor your hands 
 grow feeble. Go on in the strength of the Lord, my dear 
 friends, for I hope he will yet have a remnant both of sons 
 and daughters, who will cleave to him, though they will be 
 very few, "even as the berries on the top of the outmost 
 branches." As for such as are grown weary of the cross of 
 Christ, and have drawn to a lee-shore, that God never allowed, 
 it may be, ere all be done, it will turn like a tottering fence, 
 and a bowing wall to them, and they shall have little profit 
 of it, and as little credit. But what shall I say to the com- 
 mendation of Christ and his cross ! I bless the Lord, praise 
 to his holy name, who hath made my prison a palace to me ; 
 and what am I that he should have dealt thus with me ! 
 I have longed for such a lot as this, but still thought it was 
 too high for me, when I saw how vile I was ; but now the 
 Lord hath made that scripture sweet to me, " Then flew one 
 of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, 
 and he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath 
 touched thy lips, and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy 
 sin purged." Isa. vi. 6, 7. Oh, how great is his love to me'l 
 He hath brought me forth to testify against the abomina- 
 tions of the times, and kept me from fainting hitherto, and 
 hath made me to rejoice in him. Now, I bless the Lord 
 that ever he gave me a life to lay down for him. Now, fare- 
 well all creature comforts ; farewell sweet Bible ; farewell 
 ye real friends in Christ ; farewell faith and hope ; farewell 
 prayers and all duties; farewell sun and moon. Within a 
 little I shall be free from sin, and all the sorrows that foUow 
 thereon. Welcome, everlasting enjoyment of the Father, 
 Son, and Holy Ghost, everlasting love, everlasting joy, ever- 
 lastino^ liorht. 
 
 Isabel Alison. 
 Edinburgh Tolbooth, 
 January IQth, 1681. 
 
 On the scaffold, after singing the 84th Psalm, and reading 
 the 16th of Mark, she cried over the scaffold, and said, 
 " Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous ; and again, I sa.y, Re- 
 
 N 
 
134 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 joice." She then desired to praj, but the major came, and 
 would not let her, but took her away to the ladder foot, and 
 there she prayed. When she went up the ladder, she cried 
 out, Oh, be zealous, Sirs, be zealous, be zealous ! " Oh, love 
 the Lord, all ye his servants;" Oh. love him, Sirs! "for in his 
 favour there is life." And added. Oh, ye his enemies, what 
 will ye do, whither will ye flee in that day ? For there is a 
 dreadful day coming on all the enemies of Jesus Christ. 
 Come out from among them, all ye that are the Lord's own 
 people. Then she said, Farewell all created comforts ; fare- 
 well sweet Bible, in which I delighted most, and which has 
 been sweet to me since I came to prison ; farewell Christian 
 acquaintances. Now, into thy hands I commit my spirit, 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Whereupon the hangman 
 threw her over. 
 
 Last Speech and Testimony of Marion Harvie, Bor- 
 rowstominess, who suffered at Edinburgh, 26th Janu- 
 ary, 1618. 
 
 Account of her Answers before the Privy Council. 
 
 Thet asked first. How long is it since ye saw Mr. Donald 
 Cargil ? I said, I cannot tell particularly when 1 saw him. 
 They said. Did you see him within these three months? I 
 said. It may be I have. They said. Do ye own his cove- 
 nant? 1 said, What covenant? Then they read it to me ; 
 and I said, I did own it. They said. Do ye own the San- 
 quhar Declaration? I answered. Yes, They said, Do ye 
 own these to be lawful? I said. Yes; because they are 
 according to the scriptures, and our covenants, which ye 
 swore yourselves, and my father swore them. They said, 
 Yea ; but the covenant does not bind you to deny the king's 
 authority. I said. So long as the king held the truths of 
 God, which he swore, we are obliged to own him ; but when 
 he brake his oath, and robbed Christ of his kingly rights, 
 which do not belong to him, we are bound to disown him 
 and you also. They said. Do ye know what ye say ? I said. 
 Yes. They said, Were ye ever mad? I answered, I have 
 aU the wit that ever God gave me ; do ye see any mad act 
 
MARION HARVIE. 135 
 
 in me? They said, Where were you born? I answered, in 
 Borrowstounuess. They asked, What was your occupation 
 there ? I told them, I served. They said. Did you serve 
 the woman that gave Mr. Donald Cargil quarters? I said, 
 That is a question which I will not answer. They said, 
 Who did ground you in these principles? I answered, 
 Christ, by his word. They said, Did not ministers ground 
 you in these? I answered, Wlien the ministers preached 
 the word, the Spirit of God backed and confirmed it to me. 
 They said. Did ye ever see Mr. John Welch? I said, Yes; 
 my soul hath been refreshed by hearing him. They asked, 
 If ever I heard Mr. Archibald Riddel ? I answered. Yes ; 
 and I bless the Lord that ever I heard him. They said. 
 Did ever they preach to take up arms against the king? I 
 said, I have heard them preach to defend the gospel, which 
 we are all sworn to do. They asked. If ever I swore to Mr. 
 Donald Cargil's covenant? I said, JSTo; but we are bound to 
 own it. They said. Did ye ever hear Mr. George Johnstoun? 
 I said, I am not concerned with him ; I would not hear him, 
 for he is joined in a confederacy with yourselves. They 
 said. Did ye hear the excommunication at the Torwood ? I 
 said. No; I could not get there. They asked. If I did 
 approve of it ? I answered. Yes. They asked. If I approved 
 of the killing the lord St. Andrews ? I said. In so far as the 
 Lord raised up instruments to execute his just judgments 
 upon him, I have nothing to say against it ; for he was a 
 perjured wretch, and a betrayer of the kirk of Scotland. 
 Then they asked. What age I was of? I answered, I can- 
 not tell. They said among themselves, that I would be 
 about twenty years of age, and began to regret my case, and 
 said, Would I cast away myself so ? I answered, I love my 
 life as well as any of you do ; but will not redeem it upon 
 sinful terms ; for Christ says, " He that seeks to save his life, 
 shall lose it." They said, Roke, cod, and bobbins, Avere as fit 
 for me to meddle with as these things. Then one of them 
 asked. When the assize should sit ? and some other of them 
 answered, on Monday. They then asked, If I could write ? 
 I answered, Yes. Will you subscribe what you have said ? 
 I answered, Xo. They bade the clerk set down that I could 
 wi'ite, but refused to subscribe. Then they asked, If I 
 desired to converse with one of our ministers ? I said, What 
 ministers ? They said, Mr. Riddel. I said, What would ye 
 
136 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 have me to do with him? They said, He might convince 
 you of that sin. I said, What sin? They said, The sin of 
 rebellion. I smiled, and said. If I were as free of all sin, as 
 the sin of rebellion, I should be an innocent creature. They 
 asked. If they would bring Mr. Riddel to me ? I said, it 
 was an evidence he was not right, since they had him so 
 much at their will ; and told them I would have none of 
 their ministers. This is all I can remember at present. 
 
 Her Discourse before the Justiciary Court. 
 
 First, I was brought and set in the pannel with the mur- 
 derers, and they read over my indictment, and asked me if 
 I did confess with these things ? I answered. Yes. Then 
 they read Sanquhar Declaration, and asked if I owned it ? 
 I answered. Yes. They read that paper which they call the 
 New Covenant, and asked if I owned it ? I answered. Yes. 
 Then I protested they had nothing to say against me, as to 
 matter of fact; but only because I owned Christ and his 
 truth, and persecuted gospel, and members ; some of whom 
 ye have hanged, others ye have beheaded, and quartered 
 alive. To that they replied nothing ; but called the assizers, 
 who had no will to appear, till they were about to fine them, 
 and then they came forward. One of them said, he did not 
 desire to be one of the assize, but they would have him. He 
 bade them read our confession, for he knew not what they 
 had to say against us. They bade him hold up his hand, 
 and swear that he would be true ; but he could not, and feU 
 a-trembling. The advocate bade the assizers look if I had 
 any thing to say against them. I said, I knew none of them, 
 but they were all bloody butchers. And when the assizers 
 were set in a place by themselvei?, I said to them, Now be- 
 ware what ye are doing, for they have nothing to say against 
 me ; but only for owning Jesus Christ and his persecuted 
 truths ; for ye will get my blood upon your heads. So the 
 man that fell a-trembling before, desired them to read my 
 confession to him, and they read it. And after that the 
 advocate had a conversation with them, he said, Ye know 
 these women are guilty of treason. The assize said. They 
 are not guilty of matters of fact. He said, But treason is 
 fact; and taking himself again, he said, 'Tis true, it is but 
 treason in their judgment; but go on according to our law, 
 
MARION HARVIE. 137 
 
 and if je will not do it, I will proceed. And when tliej had 
 read mj confession, thej had set down that I had said, The 
 ministers had taught me these principles. I said, That is a 
 lie, and it is like the rest of jour lies ; for I said that it was 
 Christ, bj his word, that taught me. Thev answered 
 nothing to that, but said. Would I own the rest of my con- 
 fession ? I answered, Yes. The advocate said, We do not 
 desire to take their lives ; for we have dealt with them many 
 ways, and sent ministers to deal with them, and we cannot 
 prevail with them. I said, We are not concerned with you 
 and your ministers. The advocate said, 'Tis not for 
 religion that we are pursuing you, but for treason. I 
 answered, 'Tis for religion that ye are pursuing me; for I 
 am of the same religion that ye are all sworn to be of ; but 
 ye are all gone blind. I am a true Presbyterian in my 
 judgment. So they put the assize into a room by them- 
 selves, and removed me without the guard into another 
 room ; then they read the delay till Friday at twelve 
 o'clock; and I charged them before the tribunal of God, 
 as they should answer there ; for, said I, ye have nothing to 
 say to me, but for my owning the persecuted gospel. 
 
 Dying Testimony and Last Words of Marion Harvie. 
 
 Christian Friends and Acquaintances. — Being to lay 
 down my life on Wednesday next, (January 26th, 1681,) I 
 thought fit to let it be known to the world, that I die not as 
 a fool, or an evil doer, or as a busy body in other men's mat- 
 ters. No, it is for adhering to the truths of Jesus Christ, 
 and avowing him to be King in Zion, and head of his 
 church ; and the testimony against the ungodly laws of 
 men, and the robbing Christ of his rights, and usurping his 
 royal prerogative, which I durst not but testify against. 
 I bless God's holy name that ever he called me to bear 
 witness against the sins of the times, and the defections of 
 backsliding ministers and professors. 
 
 1. 1 adhere to the holy scriptures of God, which have been 
 my rule in all I have done, by which my soul has been 
 refreshed. 2. To the Confession of Faith, because agreeable 
 to the scriptures. 3. To the Larger and Shorter Catechisms. 
 4. To the Covenants, National and Solemn League, and the 
 work of reformation ; to all the faithful testimonies which 
 
 2n 
 
138 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 have been left by our faithful ministers of Jesus Christ, 
 either on scaffolds or field. To the papers found at the 
 Queensferrj on Henry Hall. To the Declaration at Sanqu- 
 har, the testimony at Rutherglen, and the papers found on 
 worthy Mr. Richard Cameron ; to the excommunication at 
 the Torwood ; to the excommunication of the bishops and 
 their underlings. I die in the faith of it, that the Lord 
 hath ratified that in heaven, which his faithful servants have 
 done on earth, as to casting out these traitors to God out of 
 the church. And now, I desire to bless the Lord for my 
 lot ; " My lot is fallen to me in pleasant places, and I have 
 a goodly heritage." 
 
 I leave my blood upon the traitor that sits npon the 
 throne :* and James Duke of York, who was sitting in the 
 council when I was examined the first day. I leave my 
 blood on the bloody crew that call themselves rulers. I 
 leave it on James Henderson in the Xorthferry, who was the 
 Judas that sold Archibald Stewart, Mr. Skeen, and me, to 
 the bloody soldiers for so much money. I leave my blood 
 on Sergeant Warrock, who took me, and brought me to 
 prison. I leave my blood on the criminal lords, as they call 
 themselves, and especially on that excommunicated tyrant 
 George Mackenzie, the advocate, and the fifteen assizers ; 
 and on Andrew Cunningham, that gave me my doom ; and 
 on that excommunicated traitor Thomas Dalziel, who was 
 porter that day that I was first before them, and threatened 
 me with the boots. 
 
 I give my testimony against the burning of the covenants, 
 which were solemnly sworn by the three nations, with up- 
 lifted hands, to the great God of heaven and earth. I leave 
 my testimony against all the bloodshed and massacres of the 
 Lord's people, either on scaffolds or in the fields. I protest 
 against banishments, finings, and cruel murderings, especially 
 the inhuman murder of worthy David Hackstoun. I leave 
 my testimony against the paying of the cess employed for 
 the bearing down the preaching of the gospel, and the taking 
 and killing of the poor followers of Jesus Christ. I leave 
 my testimony against the professors who say, this is not the 
 truth of God for which I suffer, and call the way of God 
 delusion. I leave my testimony against Mr. Archibald 
 
 * Understand this paragraph with the caution given in the note, p. 105. 
 
MARION HARTIE. 139 
 
 Riddel, who became servant to the bloody lords, and made 
 it his work to make me deny Christ, betake myself to the 
 ungodly laws of men, and call the truths of God, which I am 
 to seal with my blood, delusions. But I rejoice that ever 
 he counted me worthy so to do. Oh ! I may say, " What am 
 I, or what is my father's house, that he should have called 
 me" out to seal his truths with my blood — truths, which 
 both ministers and professors have counted it prudence to 
 disown and deny, for which this land will mourn, and suffer 
 severely, ere all be done! I leave my testimony against 
 Mr. John Blair, who said, I had no more grace than his staff 
 had, and witnessed to my sentence that day I got it ; and 
 against his wife, who said, I had no more grace than her old 
 shoes ; as if grace were not free, and as though Christ had 
 not enough to give me. I leave my testimony against both 
 ministers and professors, who have joined themselves in any 
 of these courses of defection with the enemies, and are fast 
 in their camps. 
 
 I leave my testimony against Popery, Prelacy, Quakerism, 
 and Indulgency, and desire to mourn that ever I joined in 
 hearing them, or with any of those that connive at them. I 
 leave my testimony against all Jesuitical principles, although 
 our professors say, that I adhere to them ; I deny it, and 
 take God to be my witness, that I hate all opinions that are 
 contrary to the sound truths of God. Since ever God called 
 me to follow his persecuted gospel, it has been my desire to 
 stick close by him, and the rule he has set down for poor 
 sinners to walk by ; it was always my rejoicing to serve him, 
 to act and do for his truth, and to vindicate it ; and many a 
 sore heart I have had in vindicating his truths, when enemies 
 have been denying them, and casting dirt in the faces of 
 faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ. I desire that all those 
 who are endeavouring to contend for Christ and his truths, 
 would be faithful in their witnessing for him, and eschew 
 the least appearance of sin. As a dying witness of Christ, I 
 obtest you, as you will answer, when ye stand before him in 
 the day of your appearance, that ye be faithful in owning 
 him, in all his truths, and not yield a hoof to these ungodly, 
 perjured, bloody, and excommunicated traitors, and tyrants ; 
 for there is much advantage to be had in faithfulness for 
 Christ ; and to the truth of this I can set my seal. I think 
 Christ is taking a narrow view of his followers at this time ; 
 
140 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 for there are few that yield a hair-breadth of the truths of 
 God, that readily get to their feet again, but go from one 
 degree of defection to another. 
 
 Again, I desire to bless and magnify the Lord, for my lot, 
 and may say, " He hath brought me to the wilderness to 
 allure me there, and speak comfortably to my soul." It was 
 but little I knew of him when I came to prison ; but now he 
 has said to me, " Because I live, ye shall live also :" " I am 
 he that hath blotted out thine iniquity, for my own name's 
 sake." Kind has he been to me, since he brought me out 
 to witness for him. I have never sought any thing from 
 him that was for his glory, since I came to prison, but he 
 granted my desire. For the most part, I have found him in 
 every thing that hath come in my way, ordering it himself, 
 for his own glory. And now I bless him, that thoughts of 
 death are not terrible to me. He hath made me as willing 
 to lay down my life for him, as ever I was willing to live in 
 the world. Ye that are his witnesses, be not afraid to ven- 
 ture on the cross of Christ ; " For his yoke is easy, and his 
 burden light." Many times I have wondered what makes folk 
 cast at the cross of Christ ; it hath been so light to me, that 
 I found it no burden at all ; he bore both me and it. Now, 
 let not the frowns of men, and their flatteries, put you from 
 your duty. Keep up your societies, and the assembling of 
 yourselves together ; for there is much profit to be found in 
 it. Many times hath it comforted me, to hear of the few in 
 Scotland, in whom Christ was delighting ; and that there 
 was much love to God's glory, and zeal for his honour 
 amongst them. Now, be humbled, and lie in the dust, and 
 never give over crying in behalf of the church, which is so 
 small, that it can scarcely be discerned, never give over till 
 he appear ; for I think he is near at hand. Oh, watch, and 
 double your diligence, and hold fast till he come, and let 
 none take your crown, for he is good to the soul that seeks 
 him. If I were to live again, I would let the world see that 
 I should be more guilty of that which they call rebellion, 
 in serving my lovely King, and in acting and doing for him 
 and his glory, if he called me to it ; it is my grief, that I 
 have not been more faithful for my Master, Christ. All his 
 dealings with me have been in love and mercy. His correc- 
 tions have been all in love and free grace. Oh, free love ! I 
 am often made to wonder, what it was that made him take a 
 
MARION HARVIE. 141 
 
 blasphemer to witness for him and his truths. I may say, 
 " I am a brand phicked out of the fire." Oh ! I am made to 
 wonder and admire at his condescending love. I leave my 
 testimony against Jean Forrest, for saying that I am going 
 to the grave with a lie in my right hand, and charging my 
 blood on my own head. Oh, my friends, " Come out from 
 among them, and touch not the unclean thing." It will 
 never be well, till there be a separation from sin. I bless 
 the Lord, that ever I heard Mr. Cargil, that faithful servant 
 of Jesus Christ ; I bless the Lord, that ever I heard Mr. 
 Richard Cameron ; my soul has been refreshed with the 
 hearing of him, particularly at a communion in Carrick, 
 on these words, " The Lord will speak peace unto his people, 
 and to his saints ; but let them not turn again to folly." Ps. 
 Ixxxv. 8. Now, I leave my testimony against all the back- 
 sliding ministers, who, when I began to hear the gospel, 
 preached the same truths for which I am to lay down my 
 life at this time ; but are joined now in a combination against 
 God. For the most part, they are all at the enemies' will ; 
 for when I got my sentence, the bloody traitors promised to 
 bring any of our ministers to us, when before them ; and so 
 this gives me ground to say, they are become their servants. 
 The Lord knows, I have a sore heart to mention these 
 things ; but when I saw some of them there, and they ofifer- 
 ing us any of the rest, it gives me ground to set it down 
 with a sore heart. Now, What shall I say ? I have sinned 
 against him, and am guilty of the defections, for which my 
 carcase must lie in the wilderness, and not see the king 
 come home to his habitation. But I am content, heartily 
 content, that he gives me my soul for a prey ; and well is 
 it for me, I think myself not behind. Oh, my lovely, my 
 altogether lovely Christ ! 
 
 The common report through the country is, that I might 
 have had life on very easy terms ; but I could have it on no 
 easier terms, than the denying of my Lord and Master 
 Christ. They asked if I would retract my former confes- 
 sion, and particularized all the papers I had owned before, 
 and if I would not call Charles Stuart a usurper, and the 
 devil's vicegerent. I told them I would not go back in any 
 thing ; for they had nothing to lay to me but the avowing 
 Christ to be King in Zion, and head of his own Church. 
 They said, They did not usurp Christ's crown. I answered. 
 
142 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Thej were blinded and did not see. They said, There was 
 but a few of us for these principles. I said, Thej had all 
 the blame of it, and it was most bitter to us that our minis- 
 ters had spoken against these truths. Indeed, I think they 
 had not been so cruel to me, were it not for these ministers. 
 And so I think, our ministers are not free of our blood ; for 
 when they spake against us, and the way, it hardened these 
 bloody traitors, and emboldened them to take our lives. 
 
 I leave my testimony against unfaithful ministers, for they 
 have caused the feeble to err from the way of God, for they 
 made ministers their rule, and so the blind have led the blind, 
 and both have fallen into the ditch together. Some say, 
 " Oh, can ye quit so many godly ministers ? We cannot quit 
 them." But I assure you, ye shall get a share of the wrath 
 and stroke, which God hath prepared for these backsliders 
 and betrayers of their trust. I wonder what is the reason 
 that men count it their wisdom to deny God, who has been 
 so kind to them, and who have many a day delighted to com- 
 mend liis love to me, at the hazard of their lives ; for which 
 1 will be a witness against them. "Now, I have no more to 
 say ; be faithful unto the death ; or else, wo, wo, wo to 
 you that are owning him at this day, if ye do not own him 
 in all his offices, as King, Priest, and Prophet. Oh, my dear 
 Saviour ! it is well for me that ever he let me know that his 
 love was better than life. Wo to that ci'cature that will 
 not love my Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Now, farewell sweet scriptures, which were aye my comfort 
 in the midst of all my difficulties ; farewell faitli, farewell 
 hope, farewell wanderers, who have comforted my soul, by 
 commending Christ's love. Farewell brethren, farewell 
 sisters, farewell christian acquaintances ; farewell sun, moon, 
 and stars. And now welcome my lovely Lord and Saviour 
 Christ Jesus ; into whose hands I commit my spirit through- 
 out all eternity. I may say, " Few and evil have the days 
 of the years of my pilgrimage been," being only about twenty 
 years of age. 
 
 Marion Harvie. 
 
 ToLBOOTH, Edinburgh, 
 Janrmry Wth^ 1681. 
 
 This martyr, though both young in years, and of the 
 weaker sex, (how brutally furious and mad the persecutors 
 
MARION HARVIE. 143 
 
 must liave been !) was so singularly assisted of the Lord in 
 his cause, and had such discoveries of his special love to her 
 soul, that she was nothing terrified bj her adversaries. 
 When brought from the tolbooth to the council house, on 
 her way to the place of execution, several friends being in 
 attendance, she was observed to say with a surprising cheer- 
 fulness and air of heavenly ravishment, Behold I hear my 
 Beloved saying unto me, " Arise my love, my fair one, and 
 come away." In the council hall, bishop Paterson being 
 resolved, seeing he could not destroy her soul, to grieve and 
 vex it, said, Marion, you said you would never hear a 
 curate, now ye shall be forced to hear one, upon which he 
 ordered one of his suffragans, whom he had prepared for the 
 purpose, to pray ; so soon as he began, she said to her fellow- 
 prisoner, Isabel Alison, " Come Isabel, let us sing the twenty- 
 third Psalm ;" and Marion repeated the Psalm line by line, 
 without book, which drowned the voice of the curate, and ex- 
 tremely confounded the persecutors. On the scaffold, after 
 singing the seventy-fourth Psalm, and reading the third of 
 Malachi, she said, " I am brought here to-day for avowing 
 Christ to be head of his Church, and' King in Zion. Oh, seek 
 him. Sirs, seek him, and ye shall find him ; I sought him and 
 found him, I held him and would not let him go." Then she 
 briefly narrated the manner in which she was taken, and re- 
 capitulated briefly the heads of her written testimony, saying 
 to this effect: " Going out of Edinburgh to hear the persecuted 
 gospel in the fields, I was taken in the way by soldiers, and 
 brought in to the guard ; afterwards I was brought to the 
 council, and they questioned me if I knew Mr. Donald Cargil, 
 or if I heard him preach? I answered, I bless the Lord I 
 heard him, and my soul was refreshed with hearing him, for 
 he is a faithful minister of Jesus Christ. They asked. If I 
 adhered to the papers found at the Ferry? I said, I did 
 own them and all the rest of Christ's truths. If I would 
 have denied any of them, my life was in my offer; but I 
 durst not do it; no, not for my soul. Ere I wanted an hour 
 of his presence, I had rather die ten deaths. I durst not 
 speak against him, lest I should offend God. I adhere to 
 the Bible, and Confession of Faith, Catechisms and Cove- 
 nants, which are according to this Bible, (laying her hand 
 upon it) ; I also adhere to the testimonies given by the faith- 
 ful witnesses of Christ that have gone before us on scaffolds 
 
144 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 and in the fields. I leave my testimony against all Quakers, 
 Jesuits, Indulgences, and all profane and ungodly persons, 
 and mainly against all covenant-breakers, and persecutors of 
 his way and truths, which I am come here to seal with my 
 blood ; against all payers of cess, and bonders, and against all 
 oppression or murdering. They say, I would murder, but I 
 declare, I am free of all matters of fact; I could never take 
 the life of a chicken, but my heart shrinked. It is only for 
 my judgment of things that I am brought here. I leave my 
 blood on the council and the Duke of York." At this the 
 soldiers interrupted her, and would not aUow her to speak ; 
 but she cried out, " I leave my blood on all ungodly and 
 profane wretches." The most of her discourse was of God's 
 love to her, and in commendation of free grace. She 
 declared she had much of the Lord's presence with her in 
 prison, and said, " I bless the Lord, the snare is broken, and 
 we are escaped." When she came to the ladder foot, she 
 prayed. On going up the ladder, she said, " Oh, my fair one, 
 my lovely one, come away;" and sitting down upon the 
 ladder, added, " I am not come here for murder, for they 
 have no matter of fact to charge me with, but only my judg- 
 ment. I am about twenty years of age ; at fourteen or fifteen 
 I was a hearer of the curates and indulged, and while I was 
 a hearer of these, I was a blasphemer and Sabbath-breaker, 
 and a chapter of the Bible was a burden to me ; but since I 
 heard this persecuted gospel, I durst not blaspheme, nor 
 break the Sabbath, and the Bible became my delight." With 
 this the major called upon the hangman to cast her over. 
 
 Joint Testimony of William Gouger, Christopher 
 Miller, and Robert Sangster, of Stirlingshire, who 
 suffered at the Grass-Market, Edinburgh, March 11th, 
 1681. Addressed to the people of Stirlingshire. 
 
 The Lord in his holy providence has singled us out of this 
 shire to seal his controverted truths with our blood; we 
 could not therefore but leave a line behind us, (being Stir- 
 lingshire men) to let you know wherefore we are come here 
 this day, to this place of execution. It is for adhering to 
 
WILLIAM GOUGER, &C. 145 
 
 that which ministers and professors are disowning, that the 
 Lord has seen fit to honour us beyond others in this day of 
 defection and drawing back from the truth. We tell you 
 that it is truth for which we suffer. Although ye condemn 
 us in it, and say that we have a hand in our own death ; yet 
 we durst not, for our souls, do otherwise, or else we would 
 have been sure of the broad curse of God both on us and 
 our lives. You may think that it is for a novelty of our 
 head that we are brought hither ; but if any of you had that 
 love to the Lord that you seemed once to have, you would 
 count it your duty to contend for the sweet truths of God, 
 when you see him so wronged, and his rights so usurped 
 and taken from him, who was both sweet and kind to poor 
 things at hill-sides, and especially to you of Stirlingshire. 
 Oh, Sirs, you may take shame to you for all that you have 
 done against the honour of God, who have seen his goings 
 so stately among the meetings of his people ; and yet will 
 not contend for lovely Christ. Oh, do ye not think that a 
 sad day will come on you for joining with God's enemies, 
 who have broken covenant with him, and shed the blood of 
 the saints, and trampled on the honour of God ; will ye not 
 fear to join with them for all the blood they have shed, will 
 ye stiU go on with them? Though you profess that you have 
 love to the Son of God, and that your zeal for the Lord God 
 of hosts is not abated; yet you will go on with them: and 
 bond and comply in paying cess and militia-money to main- 
 tain a party against God and his work, which once in a-day 
 you were forward to maintain, and would have ventured 
 your life in the maintaining of it against all the Lord's 
 enemies! You may justly take shame to yourselves, for 
 your preferring the things of time to the sweet cross of lovely 
 Christ. Oh, Sirs, what think you will your doom be, that 
 have done so much against the honour of a holy God? 
 indeed you may look out for wrath, and that of the saddest 
 sort. 
 
 Now, as dying men, we tell you, that there are sad days 
 abiding you, for what you have done against the honour and 
 glory of God, if ye get not speedy repentance. Therefore, 
 as ye would answer in the great day, make conscience of 
 what ye do. Remember that you will count and reckon for 
 all that you have done, and will be reckoned as guilty of tlie 
 blood of the saints, as the worst enemies amongst them all. 
 
 
 
146 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Therefore, as dying men, we charge you to take with guilt, 
 or else it will be worse for yoa. Oh, Sirs, fear the Lord's 
 wrath, and fall to and mourn for what you have done. Oh, 
 cry mightily for repentance, or else you will get Judas's 
 reward. For you are the persons that have betrayed the 
 Son of God, and expelled him out of your coasts. You were 
 thinking that he was likely to prove a costly Christ, and 
 therefore you consent to banish him from among you. You 
 would not hear tell of a field-preaching for fear of hazard. 
 Oh, Sirs, take it into consideration, and lay to heart what a 
 hand you have in banishing Christ and the gospel out of 
 Scotland. And was it your parts to have done so ? No, no, 
 it was not your part to have given lovely Christ such an 
 affront ; the sweet days that you have had long since, might 
 have made you give royal Jesus better quarters, though you 
 should go to the gibbet for it, and lose your gear. Your 
 doing as you have done is a denying of him before men. 
 Take it as ye will, we must tell you, as in the sight of a liv- 
 ing God, before whom we are now to appear, and get our 
 sentence for all that we have done, you are the only shire 
 that has denied lovely Christ quarters, for he sent an offer 
 to you to the Torwood, and ye would not hear it. Well, it 
 is likely there are many of you that will never get another ; 
 there are some of you that not only would not go to hear, 
 but forbade others to go, and thought it was duty not to go ; 
 and some of you were at that preaching and made a bad use 
 of it. Oh, remember Sirs, you have rejected Christ. We 
 tell you, as dying men, you will count for it ere it be long, 
 for our Lord did not send the gospel to the Torwood for 
 nought, but it will accomplish that for which it was sent. 
 Oh, Sirs, be afraid and tremble, for judgment is at the door, 
 and indeed your sentence will be sore to abide ; it will be 
 more tolerable for open enemies in the day of judgment than 
 for you. We are afraid, when we think what judgments 
 will be on you shortly, considering what pains have been 
 taken on you of that shire, and how tender the Lord has 
 been of you, in training you up for suffering, and has given 
 you trials, and you have endured them, and he has taken 
 them off again, and given you sorer trials, and he has 
 delivered you out of these. It had been better for you that 
 you had been at that preaching though you had been 
 
WILLIAM GOUGER, &C. 147 
 
 hurried to the gallows the very next day, than to have done 
 what ye did, and that you will find ere it be long. 
 
 Oh, what of his kindness have you met with at such places! 
 You dare not say, " That he hath been a barren wilderness, 
 or a land of drought" to you. Testify against him if he was 
 not kind to you ; so long as ye abode by him, he abode by 
 you, and he was tender of you so long as ye kept faithful to 
 him ; but after ye turned into the enemies' camp, then he 
 turned to be your enemy, and fought against you ; and in all 
 you do, God will be seen to be against you. You may thrive 
 in the world, but it will be a dear thriving to you, you will 
 get the wrath of God with it. But ye have done with thriv- 
 ing in the worship of God. Indeed, there are many of you 
 that hold your life no more of God. Remember we, who are 
 within a few hours of eternity, tell you of it. Now it is like 
 you will not notice what the like of us say, but will allege 
 that we are dying as fools, and have no Presbyterian prin- 
 ciples, but notions ; but we say the contrary ; we say, we are 
 not fools as to that, though the world may think and look on 
 us as such ; we say, we have Presbyterian principles, and are 
 Presbyterians in our judgments, and will make it appear that 
 we die as Christians, and as those that own the truths of 
 God, and are standing to what ministers once taught us, 
 although this day, they are turned to the contrary and con- 
 demning us, and saying, that we have nothing but notions of 
 our own heads, that make us do such things. They will not 
 find it so in the day of account. 
 
 And first, you may say, that it is not a Presbyterian 
 principle to cast oif magistrates. We allow it ; but where 
 are the magistrates. Indeed they were once placed such ; 
 but they cast out themselves when they brake the cove- 
 nant, and set up accursed Supremacy, insulting the Lord's 
 inheritance ; and when they have done that, we think they 
 are no more to be owned as magistrates by Presbyte- 
 rians ; but to be cast off and witnessed against ; and when 
 it comes to that part of the play, do ye not think that it 
 was our part to contend for truth ? Oh, Sirs ! do ye not 
 believe Jesus Christ to be the eternal Son of God, and 
 " that all things were made for him and by him, whether 
 they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers ? " 
 What is not his? And that by free gift and donation, by 
 an eternal decree intimated to us in Psalm ii., where, in a 
 
148 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 more particular manner he is declared to be King in Zion, 
 and all the heathen promised to the enlargement of his 
 kingdom. Oh, Sirs ! do ye not believe that Scotland became 
 his with its own consent, as the product of that decree, and 
 the fruit of his intercession and purchase ; and that he allows 
 no authority to be owned and submitted unto in Scotland, 
 but only in so far as they keep the line of subordination to 
 the Son of God ? Or do ye believe that Scotland should 
 have no other magistrates but such as should be of God's 
 choosing — men of truth, able men, fearing God, hating 
 covetousness ; and that the land was bound by covenant to 
 have such, under the pains contained in the law, and danger 
 both of soul and body in the day of the Lord's fearful appear- 
 ance to judgment? We believe many a man's wit in that 
 day shall be counted foolishness. Then, if this be a ground, 
 T\'e are sure ye must say, that day that Charles Stuart was 
 crowned, perjury became national; only professors as to this 
 point were free. 
 
 Do ye think we could, without perjury and treachery to 
 God, own Charles Stuart's authority any longer, when he 
 held not his authority of God? But it being manifest, 
 that in Middleton's parliament, he disclaimed that title to 
 authority, we think we were bound to witness our loyalty to 
 another, and that we were freely absolved from obedience 
 and fidelity to him then, and could not own his authority 
 without gross perjury, because he declared, he would have no 
 homage upon account of the covenant. Would ye not count 
 him a distracted man that would cleave to him upon that 
 account, whether he would or not. Yea, and whoever does 
 it, we know, will find himself a fool. Do ye believe that in 
 the day that that Covenant was taken, any within the nation 
 was not bound to perform and prosecute it, and that God 
 would punish the destroyers of that covenant? Do you 
 think that the Act explanatory of the Supremacy, is not a 
 plain renunciation of the word of God, the law of nature, the 
 covenant, and human society, and setting up devilism and 
 confusion, without a full, free, and direct testimony to the 
 contrary? We are sure that every public breach of covenant 
 requires public repentance. We think there can none be 
 absolved without this ; for in express terms, our Lord says, 
 " Tv^hosoever denies me before men, him will I deny before 
 my Father which is in heaven." Now there should not only 
 
WILLIAM GOUGER, &C. 149 
 
 be a testimony given, but a walking according to it after- 
 wards. Oh, Sirs! would ye have none to witness against 
 the abominations of this day? Indeed, ye are all mistaken, 
 for our Lord will not want witnesses to witness for him, 
 however few and feeble they be ; yet he will make the things 
 that are not, to confound the things that are. 
 
 Oh, Sirs! think ye it not a sin to join with those who have 
 rejected the living God, and will not have him to reign over 
 them ? Do ye not think it duty to protest against those who 
 are trampling our Lord's glory under foot? Oh, Sirs! do not 
 you think yourselves guilty of breach of covenant, that have 
 connived at these men, who have their hands reeking in the 
 blood of the saints, when you are strengthening their hands in 
 the doing of it? We think you guiltier than those wretches, 
 because ye join with them in sin, whereas ye should have pro- 
 tested against them in the committing of such acts. We wot 
 well, if ye read the Bible, ye will count yourselves as guilty 
 as they are, and the guiltiest of the two ; for it was your part 
 to have contended for the truth, and stood in defence thereof, 
 unto the losing of lives and liberties, and all that you had. 
 The Lord has cast them off, and yet you will do what in you 
 lies to hold them up, who shed the blood of those who were 
 once your dear brethren ! It may be, you will say, that 
 Samuel knew that Saul was rejected of God, and yet he did 
 not cast him off? We answer, He did what lay in his 
 power to get him cast off ; for he went and anointed David 
 in his stead, yet durst not do it publicly but secretly, for 
 fear of Saul, neither did Samuel converse much with Saul 
 after that. Next, you say that David's heart smote him, for 
 taking and cutting off the lap of Saul's garment, and said, 
 " that he would not stir the Lord's anointed." Now we 
 say, he had two reasons that we have not. 1. He had that 
 reason, that he was the Lord's anointed. 2. It was his 
 own particular quarrel ; because he was to reign in his stead. 
 Now we say, that Charles Stuart is not the Lord's anointed, 
 neither is it our particular quarrel, but in defence of the 
 gospel, and in so far as he is an enemy to God and the way 
 of salvation, which is sufficient ground to cast out any per- 
 son out of the church, and witness against him in defence of 
 the gospel, unto the losing of life, liberty, and aU other 
 things. And believe us as ye will, we do not think them 
 Christians that will not contend for lovely Christ and his 
 
 o2 
 
150 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 sweet truths, bj witnessing against this bloody excommuni- 
 cated traitor, and by not owning them as rulers who have 
 disowned the Just and Holy One, and are trampling on his 
 sweet truths, and would never have them to rise again ; but 
 would have the stone sealed, that there might be no more 
 mention made of the honour of God. And you have a deep 
 hand in this, because ye are not faithful and free in witness- 
 ing for his despised glory ; and if ye will not do it, delivery 
 to the church shall come in another way, and you shall be 
 destroyed ; for he will be up again in spite of all your hearts, 
 and he will make your fears and theirs both come on you ; 
 for he will make inquisition for all his truths ; and when he 
 comes, indeed we would not abide the reproof that you, the 
 professors of Stirlingshire, will get, for all the gold in Europe ; 
 there will be no excuse heard then ; your wives, or children, 
 or lands, will be no excuse ; for he hath said in express terms, 
 that " whosoever will not forsake all, and follow him, cannot 
 be his disciple." Wife and children, houses and lands, must 
 all go for him ; and you must take up his cross daily, and 
 wander through at his back, it may be hard bestead, with a 
 borrowed bed, and a borrowed fireside, and live upon provi- 
 dence. We wot well, there are some of you that can say to 
 your sweet experience, that you never lived better than on 
 God's providence, although now ye have rejected him, and 
 betaken yourselves to tlie world. You have done so, and 
 you may be doing well; but ere long ye will rue it. Remem- 
 ber we told you, when we were going into eternity, that you 
 would meet with such wo and sorrow, for what ye have done 
 against the honour of God, if ye repent not. 
 
 2. You say, it is not a Presbyterian principle to own that 
 party that is jeoparding their lives for the honour of God, 
 and witnessing for his despised truths, that are this day so 
 abused and nicknamed by you and others. But we say, it 
 is, and maintain it to be a Presbyterian principle, to own 
 that despised party, for they are the only party that are 
 designing the glory and honour of God, and have no other 
 view before them but his sweet truths, which are dear to 
 them; and they will part with life and liberty, before they 
 part with an hoof of truth; which has been made out by 
 their valiant sufferings. Oh, but truth has been sweet and 
 dear to them! They have not counted their lives dear unto 
 them on the account of it. They have cheerfully gone to 
 
WILLIAM GOUGER, &C. 151 
 
 the scaffold for truth, and have been honourably carried 
 through, and the Lord's presence seen in their through-bear- 
 ing; as we hope shall be made out on us ere it be long. 
 Also, they study to spend their time and strength for God. 
 When all other means have failed them, they study to keep 
 up the meacs of reading, singing, and praying, as the Lord 
 will assist and help them ; although the indulged and their 
 consorts have a great envy at them, and do what they can 
 to get them off the earth. They are the main actors in 
 taking of that poor party; and all because their practices 
 condemn theirs ; although they take the scriptures for their 
 rule, and study to walk so, as they may get God's approba- 
 tion in the day of account. 
 
 3. You say, it is not a Presbyterian principle to own these 
 papers that our worthies have set out, or the work that they 
 have done, which many of them have sealed with their blood. 
 But we say that it is a Presbyterian principle ; because all 
 that they did was agreeable to the word of God, and our 
 covenants. For consider these papers when you please, you 
 will find them consonant to the scriptures, and just and 
 lawful for Presbyterians to own ; and say the contrary who 
 will, we do not think them Presbyterians, nor yet covenanters, 
 that will not own them ; for there is nothing in them but 
 what we will, with all our hearts, seal with our blood as 
 Presbyterians, and as having these principles. 
 
 4. You say, It is not a Presbyterian principle to confess 
 all these things. But we say. It is a Presbyterian principle 
 to confess and avouch Christ and his truths, before this 
 adulterous generation. Now, when the quarrel is thus stated, 
 we should not put them to prove what is truth. Stephen 
 made a free confession of his faith, and so have all our 
 worthies. And now, seeing we own these things, and they 
 being the controverted truths of the day, and the Lord call- 
 ing us to own and maintain them ; we never thought it our 
 part to smother and hide them, but with courage to avouch 
 them, to the losing of our lives in the quarrel. Seeing also 
 our dearest Lord's truths trampled on, and a pack of you 
 that seemed to be fair before the wind, for owning of truth, 
 and witnessing for him, never so much as putting to your 
 hand to help, but turning your back on truth, and the 
 way of God. Indeed, we fear that ye shall never be 
 honoured to witness for God any more ; it is likely you care 
 
152 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 not for that honour ; but we tell you that you will rue it, 
 when you will not get it mended ; remember we tell you 
 here, as dying witnesses for truth, that you will meet with 
 as sad a judgment as ever a shire met with; if you repent 
 not, your judgment will be unparalleled for your denying 
 him before men. 
 
 We are come here this day to witness freely and faithfully 
 against you and all others, for their complying with the 
 enemies of the work of God. And we say, as in the sight 
 of a living God, you will count for it ere long. Oh ! but we 
 think it a sweet thing to be honoured this day to contend 
 for truth, and to be " overcomers by the blood of the Lamb, 
 and by the word of our testimony." Indeed, we are called 
 to it, to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. 
 And we think, if we had not been free and faithful, before 
 these bloody wretches, we would have held our life no more 
 of God — if we did not speak for his truths before them, 
 when he bade us speak ; for he sought a proof of our love to 
 him, and his nicknamed despised way, and to poor Zion, 
 whom no man is seeking after. And think you that we durst 
 hold our tongue, and not speak when he bade us ? Indeed, 
 our life was not dear to us, when his truth came in question. 
 We might have gone away with our life, and the broad curse 
 of God upon it, to go with us ; if we had denied him at this 
 time, we would have held our lives no more of him, of whom 
 we held it all our days ; and now we cheerfully lay it down 
 at his command and bidding; for this we knew, that devils 
 or men could not stir a hair of our head, without our Lord's 
 determination ; and, therefore, we are the less afraid of what 
 they can do. 
 
 And now, as dying men, we charge you not to speak 
 against that poor party, that is this day so reproached and 
 spoken against, by a party of them that are called minis- 
 ters and professors. Oh, take shame to yourselves! and 
 as you will be answerable in the day of accounts, we tell 
 you not to have a wrong thought of them, for all the re- 
 proaches that can be said against them ; for they are a godly 
 people, and have much of his mind. But if you will go on 
 with enemies, and others that have turned their back on the 
 way of God, go your ways ; but " it were better that a mill- 
 stone were hanged about your neck, and ye cast into the 
 midst of the sea," than that ye should speak at such a rate as 
 
WILLIAM GOUGER, &C. 153 
 
 ye do. For let you and others reproach as you will, they 
 design nothing but the honour of God, and have the scrip- 
 tures to be their rule, and walk as becomes the gospel, and 
 they study a holy carriage, though there be many among 
 them that have an unsuitable carriage, by reason of whom, 
 the way of God is evil spoken of; yet the way of God is not 
 to be liked a hair the worse. It may be there is a Judas 
 among the twelve ; and what of that ? We say, the rest are 
 not to be cast at for all that, seeing they keep the truth. 
 We know there are many of you that say, that we do not 
 keep by the scriptures; but we declare the contrary; for 
 with all our heart, we set our seal and testimony to the holy 
 scriptures, which have been sweet unto us ; and our testi- 
 mony to the National and Solemn League and Covenant, 
 and to the Confession of Faith, as agreeable to the word of 
 God, and to the Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, and to all 
 that our worthies have done in the defence of the gospel : — 
 we join our hearty testimony to all their appearances in the 
 fields, both first and last. 
 
 We protest against all the actings of the enemies against 
 the Lord's people in all their proceedings, both first and 
 last, and against every thing that they have done against 
 our worthies, when they were in defence of the gospel ; and 
 we abhor and testify against Popery, Prelacy, Quakerism, 
 Erastianism, Indulgency, and all the connivers with them, 
 be who they may ; and against Jesuitical principles, which 
 you say we hold, which sect we abhor, and give our testi- 
 mony against all such erroneous sects and principles. We 
 give our testimony against all you that say we have such 
 principles, and that we have got new principles, and new 
 light ; for we do say the contrary, and declare that we hold 
 by those principles which ministers did teach both you and 
 us to stand to in the defence of, until we had lost our lives 
 and all, in that quarrel. Now, you that say such things of 
 us, we exhort you to repent, or else you will meet with a 
 sore day of wrath, for it is not a light thing to speak of 
 sufferers as you do ; therefore, we obtest you, in the bowels 
 of Jesus Christ, to be sober in your speech against that 
 party, and make a right choice, and fairly side yourselves, 
 and come out from among the tents of the wicked, and be 
 separated from among them, and join yourselves to the 
 poor suffering remnant, and be not at ease now in the day 
 
154 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 of Zion's trouble. Do not think that you will enjoy your 
 ceiled houses, and your warm firesides, in such a day as this. 
 If you be single for God, he will have you out from all these 
 things, and denied to them all, for "wo to him that is at 
 ease" when Zion is in trouble, and is not concerned in all the 
 afflictions of Joseph; you must either now get a wakening, 
 or else you will get a wakening when the wrath of an angry 
 God comes on the land for sins. 
 
 Indeed, Sirs, we think that religion has not cost you much 
 heart-work. We think, you have not been at much pains 
 in seeking God, for as fair a show as you seem to have. 
 Indeed, when the gospel was in its purity, and many seeking 
 to preachings, the Lord seemed to be kind to you, and you 
 seemed to have much love to him, and his despised way, and 
 you seemed as if you would have ventured your life in 
 the defence of the gospel ; but when we would have looked 
 through you at preachings, and going to them, and in coming 
 from them, it would have given some of us a sore heart to 
 see your unconcernedness and unsuitable carriage, even of 
 those among you that seemed to be heads. And when we 
 would have been in some of your companies, either coming or 
 going, your talk did always smell of the world, and so is come 
 of it. Oh! repent, and come out from among your lusts and 
 idols, that you are so wedded to, and take hold of a Media- 
 tor, and seek the Lord with all your heart. Oh ! you town 
 and shire of Stirling, repent, for sentence is passed against 
 you for what you have done, although it be not put in execu- 
 tion yet ; but it will be put in execution ere long, if you 
 repent not. Though the Lord is seeing it fit to take us 
 away from the evils which are coming on this land, for 
 breach of covenant, and a slighted gospel ; we tell you, it 
 may be, you will find when we are gone, that it is better to 
 endure all torments that devils and men can inflict on you 
 here, than to endure one drop of the wrath of an angry God, 
 that will be poured out without mixture on all ranks, that 
 have not the work of the day upon their spirits, be who they 
 will, ministers or professors, indulged or not indulged ; for 
 if they be not taken up and concerned with the case of the 
 church of God, this day, as it is stated, he will come and 
 reckon with them all, and count them all turners aside, and 
 "will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity, when 
 peace shall be on Israel." Therefore we would desire you 
 
IVILLIAM GOUGER, «fcc. 155 
 
 to Iiave a care, and look well about you what you are doing, 
 and beware of speaking against that party. 
 
 There are some of you that say, they are of bloody prin- 
 ciples. You should beware of speaking these things, for the 
 contrary is known, that they are not murderers, nor have any 
 such intentions, as some of yourselves know, although ye be 
 speaking the contrary, for you have never heard of their 
 killing any, except it was in defence of the gospel, and their 
 own defence. 
 
 Likewise you say, that we are cursors and criers for ven- 
 geance on the land. Now, we must not stay to argue this 
 out, being this day to lay down our lives ; but we think any 
 who have tender love to the Son of God, and his cause, can- 
 not but be grieved to see ministers and professors so avow- 
 edly betray the truth, that is sweet and dear to us, yea, 
 dearer than our lives ; and when we think on what ye have 
 done to the sweet truths of God, we cannot but pray against 
 your courses. As for any thing ye can do to us, we heartily 
 forgive you ; but the wrongs ye have done to a holy God, we 
 cannot get them borne, for they are weighty to us. If it 
 were our enemies, we would bear with it, but when it comes 
 from the like of you, we cannot get it borne. Truly, Sirs, 
 we think ye will embrace Popery ere it be long : your enter- 
 taining of the excommunicated Duke of York, a professed 
 Papist, says that you would do more yet. There was not 
 one of you all in town, or shire, that moved your tongue 
 against him, but as if you had been all professed Papists, 
 you let him come in among you, and kindly entertained 
 him ; — we leave our testimony against your so doing. 
 
 But we break off, having no more time, and request you 
 to take these things to your consideration, and lay sin to 
 heart, and mourn bitterly before the Lord, for what you have 
 done. We here obtest you to come off from these ways of 
 yours, and make conscience of duty, as in tlie sight of a holy 
 God, before whom ye must shortly appear. Slight not time, 
 for it is precious, wrath is at the door : Oh ! make haste, and 
 lay these things to heart, and study to have a more tender 
 respect to the honour of God. We desire to leave it on you 
 now, when we are going into eternity, that you would mind 
 your engagements and vows to God. And so we bid you 
 farewell, and bid you mind the poor groaning kirk that we 
 
156 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 are to leave behind us, Tvhicli was dear to us. Now, we bid 
 farewell to poor desolate Zion, and praj the Lord may mind 
 her case. Farewell all things in time, and welcome Father, 
 Son, and Holy Ghost. 
 
 William Gouger, 
 Christopher Miller, 
 Robert Sangster. 
 
 Subscribed at the iron-house, a little before we 
 went out to the scaffold, March 11th, 1681. 
 
 William Gouger had a slip of paper in his Bible, which he 
 intended to throw over the scaffold ; but when he was taken 
 into the council-house with the other two, it was someway 
 got by the murderers, who having read it, commanded the 
 executioner to tie him straiter than usual, so that he could 
 scarce go up the ladder, and afterwards they stopped him 
 from praying. AVhen he was upon the ladder, he began to 
 speak, and said, I am come here for owning Christ to be 
 Head and King in Zion, whereupon they caused beat the 
 drums, seeking to damp and astonish him, that they might 
 trample upon his conscience. When they offered him his 
 life, upon condition he would own the king, he replied, I will 
 own none but Christ to be king in Zion. Then they said, 
 Will ye not retract any thing, Sir? He answered. No, no ; 
 I own all, I adhere to aU. Upon which they immediately 
 called the executioner to throw him over. 
 
 There are extant, particular testimonies of these three 
 martyrs, but because it is doubted, that they may not be 
 genuine, but vitiated by John Gib, or some of those that 
 were tainted with his errors, they are omitted here. More- 
 over, some are suspicious that these three martyrs them- 
 selves, or at least the two last, were in some danger from the 
 errors of John Gib ; yet in regard that it was not upon any 
 such account they suffered, but for testifying against the 
 ecclesiastical supremacy, they ought to be recorded among 
 the rest, as dying witnesses for Jesus Christ. 
 
LAURENCE HAY. 157 
 
 Dying Testimony of Laurence Hay, Weaver, Fife, who 
 suffered at Edinburgh, July 13th, 1681. 
 
 Men and Brethren, — Having by serious consideration 
 joined in giving a testimony against the enemies of God, 
 and all that have joined with them, in any thing which 
 tended to the overthrow of the work of reformation, I am 
 brought here to lay down this life of mine, which I engaged 
 to do in that testimony, through his strength, if he called 
 me to it, because it was according to the word of God, and 
 the covenanted reformation; and seeing I engaged in the 
 strength of the Lord to seal it with my blood, and now he 
 in his holy and wise providence has put me to seal it, although 
 I be the feeblest and unworthiest of all that society, I here, 
 in your presence, with all my heart, set my seal to it with 
 my blood, as was promised at the end of the paper. And if 
 all the hairs of my head were men, having life, I would think 
 them all little enough, to seal the cause of my dearest and 
 sweetest Lord Jesus, who has been sweet and kind to me, in 
 carrying me through every step of the work, which he put 
 into my hand. Oh, love him, Sirs! He is worth the loving! 
 Oh, but he has been kind to me since 1 was apprehended! 
 For he told me then that Satan would cast some in prison, 
 that they might be tried ; and he bade me " be faithful to 
 the death," and he promised me a "crown of life;" and he 
 hath helped me since to fulfil the conditions, and hath also 
 given me a right to the promise. This was all my desire, 
 that the trial of my faith might be found precious, to the 
 praise of his sweet name; that his cause might not be 
 wronged, nor his ark get a wrong touch by me. And herein 
 he hath heard my desire, according to that scripture, "he 
 will hear the desires of the humble, and the expectation of 
 the poor shall not be lost;" for he keeps covenant with 
 thousands of them that love him, and keep his command- 
 ments : his commandments are not grievous, but " his yoke 
 is easy, and his burden light." And he has said, " he that 
 forsaketh wife, or children, houses or lands, for my name's 
 sake" and the gospel's, "shall receive in this life an hundred 
 fold, and in the world to come, life everlasting. iVnd he 
 that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy 
 of me." 
 
158 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Therefore, dear friends, cease not to contend for his borne- 
 down truths, that this day are in debate betwixt him and 
 his enemies in covenanted Scotland, according to that scrip- 
 ture, " contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the 
 saints." Oh, contend, and give not over ; for " he will arise 
 for the oppression of the poor, and for the sighings of the 
 needy." He will have an opportunity to be about with all 
 his enemies, and he is weary with forbearing. Therefore 
 trust in the Lord, trust in him at all times ; for " they that 
 trust in him shall not be ashamed ; for they shall stand in 
 the gate unashamed to speak unto their foes." Oh, Sirs, 
 give him much credit; for he hath disappointed me of my 
 fears, in that wherein I feared appearing before men, he 
 helped me to stand before them ; so that I had no terror 
 nor amazement, more than they had been the meanest of 
 creatures. Although I cannot say, that " I have fought the 
 good fight," as that eminent apostle said; yet I can say, 
 praised be God, "he hath given me the victory, through 
 Jesus Christ my Lord," over principalities ; and hath assured 
 me, that neither death nor life, nor any creature, shall 
 separate me from the love of my sweet Lord Jesus ; who is 
 love-worthy, praise-worthy, worthy to be feared and honoured ; 
 who, in his absolute sovereignty, set apart poor me to give a 
 testimony for his glorious and honourable work of reforma- 
 tion, "who am less than the least of all saints;" but he is 
 an absolute Lord, and " shows mercy to whom he will show 
 mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth ; " and " he keeps the 
 souls of the faithful, and plentifully rewards the proud doer." 
 
 Therefore, I am called to suffer this day, in this place, 
 for following my duty, and in particular, for giving a testi- 
 mony against the dreadful defections of these times, by the 
 means of these backsliding ministers, who have left our sweet 
 Lord Jesus, and his poor flock, " scattered upon the moun- 
 tains, as sheep having no shepherd." But, dear friends, 
 comfort yourselves in this, that in his own time, he will 
 search out his sheep, and find them; although, alas! I fear 
 lest they may be more scattered than yet they are. But 
 wait on him ; " for he that shall come, will come, and will 
 not tarry. And his reward is with him, and his work is 
 before him ; " " and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly 
 come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant." 
 But oh, dear friends, labour to be steadfast and unmoveable, 
 
LAURENCE HAY. 159 
 
 always abounding in the work of the Lord. And " give all 
 diligence to make your calling and election sure ; for if you 
 do these things, you shall never fall." And commit the 
 keeping of your souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful 
 Creator; for he is able to keep that which is committed to 
 him, against that day, and present it spotless before the 
 Father. Although, alas! I was loth to adventure, or to 
 credit his hand ; yet now he hath discovered to me, that he 
 is the best hand that I can venture on ; and has gained my 
 consent, and has become the surety for me of a better cove- 
 nant, " well ordered in all things and sure." 
 
 Therefore, considering my engagements to him, I leave 
 my testimony to the holy scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testaments, and the version of the Psalms in metre, and to 
 the work of reformation. Covenants, National and Solemn 
 League, the Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and Engage- 
 ment to Duties, the Causes of God's Wrath, the Confession 
 of Faith, as being conform to the scriptures, and the Cate- 
 chisms, Larger and Shorter. I give my adherence to all the 
 faithful testimonies given by the worthies, to the maintenance 
 of the work of reformation, from the year 1660, until this 
 day, either by their appearances in the fields, or on scaffolds, 
 or in the seas. I adhere to the Sanquhar Declaration, the 
 Torwood Excommunication, and the papers found at the 
 Ferry, and to that joint Testimony given in the shire of Fife 
 by the society whereof I was a member, though a worthless 
 one ; and I adhere to all things contained therein, because 
 they are according to the scriptures. I give my testimony 
 to the faithful preaching in the fields, and to the keeping up 
 of Societies, and Christian Fellowships, commanded in the 
 word of God, " not forsaking the assembling of yourselves 
 together, as the manner of some is, and so much the more 
 as you see the day approaching;" especially now when his 
 glory is at stake, which is of more worth than our souls, and 
 when men are seeking to get his work razed, and the name 
 of Israel blotted out, that it may be no more in remembrance. 
 Likewise, I leave my testimony against all those who have 
 joined with the declared enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 both ministers and professors; and against all those who 
 maintain any principle contrary to the word of God, espe- 
 cially those who deny the authority of the scriptures, and the 
 work of reformation, and have razed the fundamentals of 
 
160 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Christianity ; some of whom the Lord has given up to strong 
 delusions, to believe lies, and to deny that Jesus Christ is 
 the Son of God, and to meddle with the decrees of God, 
 maintaining new lights, which his word never approved, and 
 against every one of their principles. Likwise, I leave my 
 testimony against all who brand us with an implicit faith ; 
 which one declared to myself in my hearing in the room 
 below the one in which I was a prisoner ; and I asked, if he 
 durst in conscience say, that I lived by an implicit faith, or 
 the example of others. He said, that there were some in the 
 room with me that had been murderers of others, who had 
 suffered. But I told him, that the loth Psalm reached him 
 a very sad reproof, "for speaking evil against his neighbour:" 
 and also I said, " we speak what we do know, and testify 
 what we have heard." And I declared that I had seen no 
 such thing of any who were in the room with me ; but you 
 have wronged, said I, God and his cause, by shifting his 
 cross, and therefore you wiU not stand to wrong your 
 neighbour. 
 
 And as for our being branded, that we hold our principles 
 of men, and are dying to please men, I altogether abhor such 
 aspersions, for I hold my principles of none but of God and 
 his Word ; and that which carries the sway with me is, the 
 controverted truths of Jesus Christ, that are at this day in 
 debate betwixt him and his enemies; especially his kingly 
 office, on which I dare venture life and liberty, and my sal- 
 vation also, because the Father hath declared him to be 
 King on his holy hill of Zion, by an unalterable decree, and 
 there to reign till all his enemies be brought under his feet. 
 Therefore, as I have left my testimony against all who cast 
 such aspersions on me, or others who have suffered in this 
 manner, I leave my blood also to witness against them, who 
 will adventure to do it, whether enemies or pretended friends. 
 Likewise, I leave my testimony against the encroachments 
 made upon the rights of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the pri- 
 vileges of his church, by that usurper, Charles Stuart, and 
 all the bloody crew under him. Likewise, I leave my testi- 
 mony against that excommunicated traitor, the Duke of 
 Monmouth, for his appearance against the word of God and 
 his people, joined for the defence of the gospel and interest 
 of Jesus Christ, and all that joined with him. Likewise, I 
 leave my testimony against that avowed Papist, York. Also, 
 
LAURENCE HAY. 161 
 
 I leave my testimony against that parliament designed to 
 put power in his hand. Also, I leave my testimony against 
 those abominable wretches who sat in these associations, and 
 falsely accused and sentenced me to death, and against the 
 fifteen assizers who gave me my sentence, and against that 
 wretch called the clerk, and Andrew Cunningham, who gave 
 me my doom. Likewise, I leave my testimony against all 
 who have joined with declared enemies, whether ministers or 
 professors, especially in the shire of Fife, who have delivered 
 up the testimony to these abominable wretches, particularly 
 Balgrumma and Vederstar. Likewise, I leave my testimony 
 against Popery, Prelacy, Erastian Supremacy, and the 
 Indulgences first and last, which have been the dagger, the 
 haft whereof hath gone in after the blade, and hath wounded 
 the church in the innermost part of the belly, and is the dart 
 that has stricken her through the liver. Oh, how sharp are 
 the wounds of a friend! They go down to the innermost 
 part of the belly. If it had been an enemy, I would have 
 borne it. And it is evidently seen that our mother-church 
 hath been, and is this day, wounded in the house of her 
 friends ; for which the Lord will sadly reckon with all who 
 have done so, if they do not repent and mourn for it. Like- 
 wise, I leave my testimony against all who are any way 
 instrumental in bearing down our poor mother-church, either 
 by appearance in arms, or furnishing others for that purpose, 
 by paying cess or militia-money, or who, in any other way, 
 homologate the acts, or strengthen the hands of her declared 
 and avowed enemies. 
 
 Now, dear friends, being straitened for want of time, I 
 am forced to draw to a close ; only I desire you to be ear- 
 nest in contending for the broken-down work of reforma- 
 tion, which this day is brought very low. Be not dis- 
 couraged, although his ark be tossed upon the waters, like 
 the poor ship in the midst of the sea, and the poor disciples 
 afraid lest they should sink, and the Master asleep, as it 
 were, upon a pillow ; go to him and cry, " Master, Master, 
 save us, else we perish ; " for he is easy to be entreated, and 
 he likes well to have his poor people coming to him in the 
 time of their distress ; " he is a present help in the time of 
 need, a God rich in mercy, and near to all that call upon 
 him in truth." But, dear friends, beware of backdrawing, 
 for he hath said, " if any man draw back, my soul shall have 
 
 p2 
 
162 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMOXY OF 
 
 no pleasure in him ;" " and he that putteth his hand to the 
 plough, and looketh back, is not tit for the kingdom of 
 heaven ; " " but he that endureth to the end, the same shall 
 be saved." Be not ashamed of him ; " for if any man be 
 ashamed of him, or his words, of him also will he be ashamed 
 before the Father and the holy angels." Dear friends, the 
 more that ye see a perverse generation crying him down, be 
 ye the more at the work crying him up ; for he is well worth 
 the commendation of all them that commend him. Oh, 
 dear friends, in all things let him have the pre-eminence, 
 and count all things loss and dung that ye may win Christ; 
 and press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling 
 of God in Christ Jesus : looking unto Jesus, who is the author 
 and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before 
 him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down 
 at the right hand of the throne of God. Strive to enter in 
 at the strait gate ; for many shall seek to enter in, and shall 
 not be able. Now, friends, beware of sinning, and beware of 
 snares ; for they are at this day very thick laid ; but our 
 God has promised that he wiU not suffer his poor people to 
 be tempted above what they are able, but will with the 
 temptation make a way that they may escape. I bid you 
 all farewell, desiring you to be kind to my wife and children 
 when I am gone ; farewell Bible, sweet by his blessing ; fare- 
 well sun, moon, and stars ; farewell meat and drink ; farewell 
 all created comforts and enjoyments, wherewith I have been 
 abundantly supplied ; farewell my dear wife and children, 
 the Lord be better to you than ten husbands, when I am 
 gone ; farewell mother, brethren, and sisters ; farewell sweet 
 societies, and preached gospel, whereby I have been begotten 
 by the seed of the word ; farewell sweet prison, and reproaches 
 for sweet Christ and his cause. And welcome Father, Son, 
 and Holy Ghost ; welcome everlasting life, and the spirits 
 of just men made perfect. Lord, into thy hands I commit 
 my spirit. 
 
 Laurence Hay. 
 Iron-House, July \Wi, 1681. 
 
ANDREW PITTILLOCH, 163 
 
 Testimony of Andrew Pittilloch, Land-labourer, Parish 
 of Largo, in Fife, who suffered at the Grass-Marliet, 
 Edinburgh, July 13th, 1681. 
 
 Men and Brethren, — Wherefore are ye come here this 
 day? Will you tell me, if it be your intention to be edified 
 by the words of a poor man, witnessing for his lovely Lord 
 Jesus Christ? If that be your intention in your coming 
 hither, it is well ; now, when I am going off time, I bid you 
 all farewell. Oh, that I could commend my lovely Lord 
 Jesus and his sweet cross to you. " Oh, taste and see that God 
 is good." Come and see; for since the Lord honoured me 
 to be his prisoner, he has let me know nothing but love ; he 
 has made my prison no prison. " All his ways are ways of 
 pleasantness, and his paths peace." His cross is sweet and 
 easy ; although worthless I cannot commend it to you. Scar 
 not at the sweet cross of royal and sweet Jesus ; but contend 
 for him and his noble cause ; for I can assure you, I never 
 had such a sweet life as I liave had since he brought me to 
 these trials. Oh, sweet indictment! Oh, sweet sentence for 
 my lovely Lord! Oh, sweet scaffold, for contending for the 
 cause, covenant, and work of reformation! Oh, Sirs, quit 
 all for Jesus, for I can promise you that you will never die 
 better than for contending for King Christ. Ministers and 
 professors, as they call them, say that we are dying as fools, 
 and giddy-headed professors ; but glory to his holy and sweet 
 name, who has made it out to my soul that it is otherwise ; 
 and now that my conscience doth not condemn me, how dare 
 any mortal creature condemn me ! 
 
 Oh, friends, why will you not take him, who is the chief 
 among ten thousands, that is altogether lovely, and without 
 compare ! There is no spot in him. Oh, prefer him to your 
 chief joy I There are many of you who have preferred other 
 things to him. Fear and tremble, for wrath wiU be upon 
 you very suddenly ! Be afraid, for our Lord has said, If ye 
 will not quit all for him, ye cannot be his disciples ; and so 
 you have neither part nor lot in our sweet Lord ; read Matt. 
 X. 16 — 42. Oh, Sirs, go not with the indulged, nor yet side 
 with them ; cleave to the Lord with all your heart, and be 
 not put off with any but himself. Oh, it is sweet to be with 
 him ! His way is sweet to keep, but I cannot commend him 
 
164 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 to you, his sweetness is without compare! Take him, and 
 be restless till ye get him to " your mother's house, and to 
 the chamber of her that bare you ! " Pray much for your 
 mother church, which ministers and others have wronged. 
 I witness and testify against them for their unrighteousness, 
 both first and last. 
 
 1. For leaving of their kirks, without a public testimony 
 against enemies, at the incoming of Prelacy. 2. For their 
 conniving at one another's sins, 3. For their leaving the 
 fields when there was so much need of preaching; when 
 wrath and judgment were coming on the land, they did not 
 set the trumpet to their mouth, and give the people a faithful 
 warning. They say, we have cast them off, but they are 
 mistaken; for they have cast themselves off, by changing 
 their head; and the scriptures have cast them off, and I 
 cannot join with them. I would, with all my heart, have a 
 ministry; but I would have it according to the word of 
 God, — men who will preach in season, and out of season, 
 whether people wiU hear, or whether they will forbear ; who 
 will be faithful in preaching against sin of all sorts, and 
 will hide nothing of the mind of the Lord. But they that 
 do play fast and loose in the matters of a holy God, and will 
 not witness against enemies, I own none of these, but leave 
 my testimony against them for their unfaithfulness. They 
 will preach to poor things to stand for God and his truths, 
 and not yield a hair for the saving of their lives : and yet 
 they yield and comply themselves; and when they come 
 before enemies, never a word of a testimony before them, 
 but pass the sworn covenant and work of reformation in 
 silence ; and for fear of their lives will not hit them on the 
 sore. Indeed they choose their words so as not to give 
 their enemies offence. You condemn us, because we do that 
 which once you would have accounted it your honour to do ; 
 and say that we are all distracted, and have distracted notions 
 in our heads. And say you so? Wilt thou tell me, man, if 
 thou thinkest that a distracted notion, to confess the cove- 
 nant and work of reformation? But you will say, it is not 
 for that I lay down my life, but for the subscribing of that 
 paper. Now, I do think it well worth the sealing with my 
 blood; and will you tell me what less we could do? You 
 ran away and left the work, and the enemies were carrying 
 all before them; and we durst not but leave a testimony 
 
ANDREW PITTILLOCH. 165 
 
 against them. Mj heart was like to bleed, when I saw 
 enemies carry the claj, robbing the Lord of his rights, his 
 crown and kingdom, and not so much as one to move their 
 tongue against them, and say that they have done ill. I 
 leave it to God and your own conscience, whether it be duty 
 to contend for truth this day when it was so much neglected. 
 I leave my testimony against you and your hearers, and the 
 joiners with you, ay and until they repent. I bid you repent 
 and come off, and witness for the Lord, and if you will not 
 do it, as sure as God is in heaven, he will be about with you ; 
 escape who will, ye will not escape ; for it is like he will begin 
 at the sanctuary. 
 
 Take warning in time ; I leave it on you now, when I am 
 entering eternity ; for I am persuaded, this is the way to the 
 kingdom of heaven ; for the Lord hath confirmed it to my 
 soul, and hath made my life a sweet life to me. Read 
 Isaiah xli., it was sweet to me when I was taken. Oh, that I 
 had as many lives to lay down for him as there are hairs on 
 my head, I would think them all too little! What is my 
 life? Nothing in comparison of his glory. Wo to you idle 
 shepherds, for you deceive poor -things ! "' If it were possible," 
 I think " ye would deceive the very elect ; " you take God to 
 be your witness that ye are in his way yet, and have not 
 quit one hoof; but your practice condemns you. You may 
 read Malachi ii. 1 — 3, "And now, ye priests, this com- 
 mandment is for you : If ye will not hear, and if ye wiU not 
 lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, I will even send a 
 curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings ; yea, I have 
 cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. 
 Therefore, behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung 
 upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts, and 
 one shall take you away with it." Matth. vii. 15, 16, " Beware 
 of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but 
 inwardly they are ravening wolves : Ye shall know them by 
 their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of 
 thistles?" And Ezek. sxxiv. 2, " Son of man, prophesy 
 against the shepherds of Israel, and say unto them, Thus 
 saith the Lord God unto the shepherds of Israel, that do 
 feed themselves: should not the shepherds feed the flocks?" 
 I leave my testimony against them who say, we hold our 
 principles of men, and that we die to please men ; but it is 
 not so, for I never thought so little of my life as to lay it 
 
166 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 down for the pleasing of any ; it is a most base aspersion of 
 some, cast on us, because our practice condemns theirs, and 
 they can get no other thing to brand us with. But glorj to 
 the Lord, the contrary is seen both by our practices and in 
 our through-bearing ; and it is made out, that we hold our 
 principles of none, but of God and his word. 
 
 I leave my testimony against the four men in the Cannon- 
 gate tolbooth, or any other that may join with them, for 
 wronging of the holy and sweet scriptures. Some say, that 
 I am of their judgment, which thing I exceedingly abhor and 
 detest, as the mire in the streets ; and I count them worthy of 
 death, for wronging of the scriptures. If we had judges in 
 the land that were for God, they should not live. I leave 
 my testimony against that tyrant on the throne, and all his 
 underlings ; and I say it will never be right with our land, 
 " till Haman and his ten sons be hung up before the sun." 
 I leave my testimony against them that rule as judges; and 
 I leave my blood on the assizers, doomster, soldiers, and all 
 who acknowledge or aid them as magistrates, ay, and until 
 they repent. I leave my testimony against all enemies of 
 all sorts ; and against all sorts of compliance in less or more, 
 and against all that has been done against the work of God 
 these twenty years bygone ; against the test, and compliance 
 with, or compearing before God's enemies, in less or more. I 
 leave my testimony against the ministers and professors in 
 Fife, for the wrongs they have done to my lovely Lord and 
 his sweet cause ; and my head shall be a standing witness 
 against them, and preach to them from Cupar tolbooth, 
 ay, and until they repent. As for any thing that they 
 have done to me, I freely forgive them, and pray that the 
 Lord may forgive them. I leave my testimony against 
 all them that will not hear Mr. Donald C argil, and own him 
 as a faithful minister of the gospel ; none but he is faithful 
 this day. I leave my testimony to the holy and sweet 
 scriptures, which many a day have refreshed me ; I bless 
 the Lord that ever I could read a line of them. Now, I 
 adhere to the faithful preached gospel, and to all that our 
 worthies have done, which I need not particularly mention 
 here. 
 
 You that are the people of the Lord, be busy, and improve 
 your time, and make use of your Bibles, while you have 
 them, for it is like there may be a bonfire made of them yet, 
 
ANDREW PITTILLOCH. 
 
 167 
 
 as well as of the Covenant; and covenant with him, and 
 contend for him to the utmost of jour power; for I have 
 found more of his sweet love, in contending for him, than 
 ever I got in prayer, or hearing the word. Oh, his sweet 
 work, let it not shp ! It is like ye will have sad days of it, 
 when I am gone. Popery is begun, and it is hke to over- 
 spread the whole land, and there is none to move their 
 tongue against it, although the land be sworn m solemn 
 oath against it. Oh, Sirs! lift up your voice for the remnant 
 that is left. Fast and pray, cry and weep ; let not the apple of 
 your eye cease. The wrath that will overtake us is like to be 
 great. Oh, cry, that the days may be shortened for the elect's 
 sake, lest no flesh should be saved. Look out for sad days, 
 dear friends ; it may be you will get the saddest stroke that 
 ever a poor land was trysted with ; ye may read through the 
 scriptures, and ye will find what judgments followed such 
 sins— pestilence, sword, and famine, which ye may look for. 
 I leave it on you that ye be not slack-handed, for it may 
 come to that, that " the tender and delicate women may eat 
 their own children for straitness in the siege." It is to be 
 feared, that the plagues that are coming on Scotland, for a 
 broken and burned covenant, will make their ears to tingle 
 that hear them. But I will not see it ; the Lord is taking 
 me away from the evil to come, which was often my desire ; 
 for the sad hearts that ministers and professors have made 
 me, by their compliance, wronging his glory, made me oft 
 wish to be away ; and now it does not trouble me to lay 
 down my life in your presence this day. It is sweet to be 
 a sufferer for truth ! I wonder why this generation spurn 
 at him or his sweet cross ; for there is no cause of wearying 
 for all that is to come. There is a beauty'jn holiness. Oh, 
 commend him. Sirs! Bless and praise him that ever he 
 honoured such a wretch as I am to be a martyr for his truth. 
 What sweet honour he confers on poor things ! Oh,_ Sirs ! 
 cast in your lot with the suffering remnant who are this day 
 in the furnace. Sink and swim with his church. Oh, prefer 
 Jerusalem to your chief joy. Be persuaded to come and 
 taste of his goodness ; this is the way although the whole 
 world should condemn it. It will not be the learned clergy, 
 nor great heads of wit that he will honour with carrying on 
 his work, for they have all denied him. There are none of 
 the ministers that wiU witness for him, nor yet any that the 
 
168 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Lord has bestowed great parts on ; their wit leads them by 
 the cross, and beyond suffering. They wiU not suffer if 
 petitioning will do it, or hiring of advocates, or learned 
 speakers ; they can put in petitions, and say, they never 
 intended the death of any man, but in the defence of their 
 life ; but never a word for the defence of the gospel, the work 
 of reformation, or the sworn covenant. Nay, if they had 
 done that, their life would have gone. But they were bound 
 by covenant to own and to maintain religion against Popery, 
 and Prelacy, Quakerism, Indulgence, and whatsoever else is 
 contrary to sound doctrine, with their lives in their hands, 
 and to part with all "for the faith once delivered to the 
 saints." And though they never mention a word of all this, 
 yet they will say they came clearly off. But I say, now 
 when I am going into eternity, that God's wrath will be on 
 such a liberty, and God will count with them for what they 
 have done against his honour; for there can none come 
 clearly out from among their hands, when once before them, 
 without wronging his glory. Oh, fear and tremble. Sirs! you 
 that get the favour of God's enemies, and yield your con- 
 science to the lusts of men. I leave it on all persons, now 
 when I am to appear before my Judge, that they do nothing 
 but what is according to the holy and sweet scriptures ; take 
 them to be your rule, and go no further than they allow you. 
 They do not bid you petition enemies for your liberty, nor 
 yet hire advocates. 
 
 Now, my advice to you that are taken prisoners is, that 
 you seek no favour of God's enemies ; blacken not paper with 
 petitions ; stand for your sweet Lord with your life in your 
 hand ; own and avouch him to be King and Head of his own 
 church: count not your life dear unto you, when it comes 
 in competition with truth. And now, as for you that are 
 the poor seekers of the Lord, act faith on him, give him 
 much credit. Live as brethren, dwell in unity ; let peace 
 and truth be among you : but good Lord, let never peace bo 
 without truth. Keep up society meetings ; for my soul hath 
 been often refreshed in the fellowship of the saints. Oh, 
 stand for your despised Lord, and his wronged glory. 
 
 Now, being straitened for time, I forbear, and bid you 
 " be strong in the Lord, and the power of his might." Now, 
 farewell my dear friends; farewell holy and sweet scriptures; 
 farewell sun, moon, and stars ; farewell sweet reproaches and 
 
WILLIAM THOMSON. 169 
 
 crosses for my sweet Lord Jesus ; farewell all things in time, 
 reading, praying, and all duties ; farewell relations ; farewell 
 my dear wife ; the Lord be to you better than ten husbands. 
 Glory be to his great name, that made me so sweetly to sub- 
 mit to his will, whatever he trysted me with. Farewell 
 mother and sisters, and all relations ; farewell all my chris- 
 tian acquaintances for a while ; farewell sweet society in 
 Fife ; the Lord's blessing be on you all. And now welcome 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; welcome sweet company of 
 angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect; welcome 
 everlasting songs of praise. Now, into thy hands, holy 
 Father, I commit my spirit. 
 
 Andrew Pittilloch. 
 
 Testimony of William Thomson, of Fifeshire, who suf- 
 fered at Edinburgh, July 27th, 1681. 
 
 Men and Brethren, — Being a prisoner for Christ's sake, 
 and for adhering to truth, being taken at Alloa, coming from 
 Fife from hearing of the gospel preached by Mr. Donald 
 Cargil, the last Sabbath of June, this present year; and not 
 knowing when I may be taken and murdered by the stated 
 enemies of our Lord, (for they neither walk after the equity 
 of their own law, nor God's law,) I have, for fear of incon- 
 veniencies, laid hold of this opportunity to set down, under 
 my hand, or from my mouth, an account of my life and con- 
 versation; and my testimony to the truth of Christ, and 
 against all the abominations of the times. 
 
 I was, before the year 1679, running away with the rest 
 of this generation, in God-provoking courses ; but about that 
 time, when I saw the people of God going to draw together, 
 to adventure their lives in the Lord's quarrel, the Lord took 
 a dealing with me, so that I could neither get night's rest, 
 nor day's rest, till I resolved to go with them ; while, on the 
 other hand, I was afraid lest I should have been the Achan 
 in the Lord's camp; but again I remembered the Lord's 
 promise that is held out in the word, — " Return unto me, 
 and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts," Mai. 
 iii. 7. Now, I do with all my heart bless the Lord, for his 
 wonderful workings with me, since he began with me. I 
 
 Q 
 
170 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 think when I look on his dealings since that time till now, 
 I must say, that I am a brand plucked out of the fire. Oh, 
 that my heart and soul could praise him, for all that he hath 
 done for me ! And now I am content to die a debtor to 
 free grace, and in Christ's debt. I was charged with being 
 guilty of rebellion against their prince : I answered, I was 
 not so, for I was there a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and for 
 his sake ; and told them, I adhered to his covenant and all 
 things in it. I am not convicted from the word of God of 
 any crime, as to him whom they call king ; nor of any thing 
 worthy of death committed against any man, either in 
 thought, word, or deed. So my blood shall cry, with the 
 rest of the innocent blood shed in the land, for vengeance 
 from heaven on the inhabitants of the earth, great or small, 
 who are in the least accessory thereto, ay, and until they 
 repent. It is not my doing, but their own that hath procured 
 it ; and God is just to seek after them for the same : neither 
 is it in any man's power to forgive that which is a breach of 
 God's holy law, without repentance ; and then the farthest 
 they can go is, to declare unto them, from God's word, that 
 that and their other sins shall never be charged upon them, 
 if they have truly received Christ upon his own terms, and 
 "walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing." But now 
 the thing is clear, the ground whereon they intend to take 
 away my life is, the disowning Charles Stuart for my king, 
 because he will have no homage upon the account of the 
 covenant from me, or any other ; now God requires the 
 performing of vows, and keeping and fulfilling of covenants, 
 Ps. 1. So in this case, I cannot serve two masters, and I 
 resolve to obey God rather than man. 
 
 I here, as a dying man, ready to step into eternity, having 
 health and strength, and being in my right mind, declare, I 
 adhere to the Protestant religion, as that which is God's true 
 religion, and the christian religion. I adhere to the holy 
 rule of the word of God, the scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testaments, containing the will of God to man, and anent 
 man; and that the scriptures are a full rule of faith and 
 manners to us. I adhere to the work of reformation in 
 Scotland, to the Covenants, National and Solemn League, 
 the solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to 
 Duties, the Confession of Faith, as it agrees with the fore- 
 said writings ; the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, as most 
 
WILLIAM THOMSON. 171 
 
 seasonable, sound, and according to the scriptures, and well 
 worth the reading, considering, and practising. I adhere to 
 the Rutherglen Testimony, to the paper commonly called 
 Mr. Donald Cargill's Covenant, dated June, 1680. I adhere 
 to the original copies of these papers, as they were corrected 
 and revised by the authors. And likewise, I adhere to 
 every sound paper tending to the good of religion ; such as 
 the Directory for Worship and Catechising ; and I adhere 
 unto the doctrine, discipline, worship, and government of 
 the Church of Scotland. I bear testimony unto all the law- 
 ful wrestlings of the people of God for truth, and in the 
 defence and preservation of their civil, natural, and divine 
 rights and privileges, contained and held forth in the fore- 
 said papers, against all encroachers thereupon, and betrayers 
 thereof; especially by the sword, as a mean most lawful and 
 commanded of God, to be made use of in that quarrel ; 
 which is to be carried to preachings, and other assemblies 
 of the Lord's people, and so much the more, as the enemy 
 discharges it, as the case now stands. 
 
 In the last place, I give my testimony and protestation 
 against all wrongs and injuries done to God and his people 
 throughout the whole world this day ; more particularly, 
 against all that hath been done in Scotland, since the begin- 
 ning of the work of reformation, unto this day, in prejudice 
 of God's glory, his work and people : and especially these 
 crying sins: — 1. The corruption of the worship of God, 
 profanation of his holy things, mocking, misbelieving, and 
 belying of God, and carrying as if there were no God : yea, 
 what is worse, saying he approves of all that they do. Oh, 
 this heaven-contemning generation! 2. The defrauding, 
 mocking, murdering, and oppressing, the people of God, 
 in their bodies, consciences and estates, and punishing them 
 as evil doers ; yea, as the vilest monsters of cruelty, and 
 that only for following their duty, making them to rot, as 
 it were above the ground ; and making their names a deri- 
 sion by calumny and reproaches, and doing all they can to 
 drive them to sin ; and then blaming them as the main 
 instruments of all the mischievous villanies and abuses in the 
 land ; so that it is come to this, " the man that departs from 
 iniquity, makes himself a prey." And scarcely can those 
 who design honestly get a night's quarters in any house in 
 the land ; so that the people of God are become " a scorn to 
 
172 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 their foes, and a fear to their friends, and especially re- 
 proached of those who are their nearest neighbours," as the 
 Psalmist complains. 3. I leave my testimony against aU 
 that make peace with the stated enemies of God, these 
 Ohrist-despisers, these heaven-contemners, and none-such 
 fighters against God, whether by bonds, oaths, or promises. 
 They are persons worthy of no credit nor trust, they will not 
 keep faith nor trust upon any account, but where it may 
 contribute to their lusts, and prosecute their wicked designs, 
 and heU-hatched enterprises. If they were brought to 
 straits, possibly they might feign themselves; but he is 
 unwise that will give them so much trust as a dog ; as Solo- 
 mon says, " when he speaks fair, believe him not, for there 
 are seven abominations in his heart;" of which I have a 
 proof in my taking, by a poor wretch who hath sold soul and 
 conscience to the lust and arbitriment of a faithless apostate 
 wretch like himself. And if ye will not be persuaded to 
 leave off seeking peace from them, and covenanting with 
 them by bonds, oaths, and promises; see what David the 
 King of Israel says, by the Spirit of God, when he is making 
 his testament, " but the sons of Belial shall be all of them 
 as thorns thrust away, because they cannot be taken with 
 hands ; but the man that shall touch them, must be fenced 
 with iron, and the staff of a spear ; and they shall be utterly 
 burnt with fire." 2 Sam. xxiii, 6, 7. But ye that are seek- 
 ing peace with enemies more than with God, think with your- 
 selves to which of them are ye most beholden, and which of 
 them have done you most good ; which of them have most 
 power over you ; which of the two hath the best quarrel by 
 the end ; which of the two is the most precious and lovely ; 
 and which of the two will be your judge at the last day. 
 Well, if you have done well in seeking the peace of enemies, 
 with the loss of the peace of God, then rejoice ye in them, 
 and with them, and let them do so with you. But if other- 
 wise, the Lord, no doubt, will reward you, as the cause 
 requires, for what ye have done to God's work, cause, cove- 
 nant, and people. 4, I leave my testimony against all that 
 contribute of their means for the down-bearing of God's 
 work and people, and upholding his and their enemies, see- 
 ing it is so expressly against the Covenant, by which they 
 are called to suffer, and not to sin ; to which practice is 
 annexed a gracious promise, he that loseth life, lands, goods. 
 
TTILlilAM THOMSON. 1^3 
 
 or relations, for Christ's sake, and the gospel s shall receive 
 an hundred-fold in this life, and in the world to come life 
 everlasting; and against all that otherwise waste and abuse 
 them to God's dishonour, who use not this world as not 
 abusino- it. All within the nation being dedicated and given 
 away by covenant to God, and this being often renewed, caUs 
 all men to be tender of the oath of God, and see how they 
 administer their stewardship, for to hini they must be 
 accountable. Alas! for that account which many of them 
 have to give I I leave my testimony against the rendering 
 up the power of tlie kirk and state into the hands of Mahg- 
 nants I do reaUy think they have been aU dreaming, or 
 wilfully or wickedly sinning against the light of their own 
 consciences. Well, God hath discovered them since, in an 
 uo-ly manner; and now they sin more and more: they hold 
 l£t deceit, they refuse to let it go, and will not return, it 
 is the old professors and ministers, I mean, m a special man- 
 ner ; but more particularly the ministers ; for when the time 
 was to speak, they held their peace, and slipped from their 
 Master's back, without so much as testifymg against the 
 horrid sins then committed ; and never to this day have they 
 made up the hedge, or built that which they broke down 
 And, as I am informed, a great part have been dreadtul 
 compliers with, and conformers to, the sinful courses of this 
 apostatizing generation; yea, open persecutors of their more 
 o-odly and faithful brethren, ministers and professors ; and 
 now they are the greatest opposers of the work, and perse- 
 cutors of the godly, both under-hand and to their faces ; and 
 instead of edifying and binding up the weak, they strive to 
 break all they can, especially when they are m the enemies 
 hands. In the last place, I bear my testimony to the cross 
 of Christ, as the only desirable upmakmg and rich lot ot the 
 people of God this day in Scotland. Oh, it is the portion of 
 poor things, who desire to seek God, and design honestly m 
 the land \ I think they want a good bargain of it that want 
 it ; and I think they want nothing that have it, and get leave 
 to carry it heartsomely, and his presence under it. 1 would 
 advise you all to take it on ; I dare say this much for your 
 encouragement, that it is easy and sweet. There is no better 
 way to carry the cross right than to cast all our care upon 
 Christ, and trust him for all things, and use our single 
 endeavours in the matter, and speak what he bids us, and 
 
 q2 
 
174 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 obey his voice in all things. I declare, I hate all ungodli- 
 ness. Now, farewell all things, wherein I have been troubled 
 with a wicked world, an evil heart of unbelief, a subtle, 
 powerful, and malicious devil, and tempted with a company 
 of men, who have shaken off the fear of God. Welcome 
 Lord Jesus, into thy hand I commit my spirit. 
 
 AViLLiAM Thomson. 
 
 Last Testimony of William Cuthil, Seaman, Borrows- 
 tounness, who suffered at Edinburgh, July 27th, 1681. 
 
 As one of the subjects of a kingdom covenanted to God, 
 and one of Christ's sufferers, ready to step into eternity, I 
 here enter my protestation, and give my testimony against 
 all that hath been done against Christ's reigning, and the 
 thriving of his kingdom in Scotland, since the beginning of 
 the work of reformation, more particularly, against all the 
 several steps of backsliding; such as, 
 
 1. The admitting Charles Stuart to the exercise of kingly 
 power, and crowning him, while they knew he carried heart- 
 enmity against the work and people of God, and while in the 
 mean time there was so much of his treachery made known 
 to the parliament, by his commissioning James Graham, 
 Earl of Montrose, to burn and slay the subjects of this king- 
 dom, that would not side with, or would withstand him in 
 the prosecuting of his wickedness; which is recorded in the 
 Causes of Wrath, and the remonstrances of the gentlemen, 
 ministers, and commanders attending the forces in the west, 
 in the year 1650. 
 
 2. Against the unfaithfulness, connivance, and compliance 
 of ministers and others, at the wickedness perpetrated in 
 the land during the time of Cromwell's usurpation ; for, as I 
 am informed, few testified against him, for trampling aU the 
 interests of Jesus Christ under his feet, in giving a toleration 
 to all sectaries, (whereof the abominable and blasphemous 
 Quakers are a witness, whose religion is nothing but refined 
 Paganism at the best, yea, 1 think it is much worse,) a 
 toleration to setup their thresholds beside Christ's, and their 
 altars beside the Lord's, in a land lying under bonds to God, 
 and covenanted never to suffer the like. 
 
WILLIAM CUTHIL. 175 
 
 ' 3. Against the Public Resolutions, for the bringing in 
 Malignants to the places of power and trust; which have 
 been the rod in God's hand above the heads, and upon the 
 backs of God's people, ever since thej lusted after them ; and 
 now, I suppose, thej are convinced, (at least some of them,) 
 that God hath given them on the finger ends for it: but we 
 have not seen them confessing before God and his people, in 
 public, (for it should be public as the sin was,) that " they 
 have added this sin to all their other sins, in asking them a 
 king, whereas the Lord was their king." 
 
 4. I bear my testimony against that unparalleled practice 
 of ministers, in quitting their charges ; and that, which doth 
 more aggravate their guilt, at his command who had no 
 power to act, nor right to be obeyed, neither in that, nor yet 
 in civil things ; for then he had unkinged himself; and their 
 going away without even a testimony, when they should have 
 been the main men to tell the people what to do. Oh, and 
 alas, for that practice! Yet they were put away without 
 being convicted of any crime done against him; but is it 
 not against Presbyterian principles, that a king should 
 depose ministers of the gospel, though he had a just right, 
 all that time, to rule the civil state ? For it was without 
 controversy that he had imprisoned some of Christ's ministers, 
 without being ever summoned, or treated by any legal pro- 
 cedure, (as Naphtali records,) and usurped the ecclesiastic 
 officer's seat to depose the rest of them. 
 
 5. I hold it as one of the causes of God's wrath against 
 the land, and one of the causes of God's breaking and 
 scattering that poor handful at Pentland, that, in renewing 
 the covenant at Lanark, they did not keep his interests out 
 of it; for it only binds us to its maintainors, not to its 
 destroyers. 
 
 6. I bear testimony against the procedure of the ministers, 
 when they took the field again after Pentland, because they 
 did not first begin with public and private fasts, and make 
 up the hedge and gap for the church of God in Scotland ; 
 and then only preaching to cases of conscience, and not 
 catechising the people, nor informing them in the duty of 
 the day; but did let them pay curate's stipends, and other 
 revenues of that nature. I think they were engaged to God 
 under the pain of losing soul and body, in the day of God's 
 fearful judgment, to tell the people to chase them out of the 
 
1/b LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 land. Seeing Prelacy was abjured and cast out like an 
 abominable branch, as it was, were thej not worthy to die 
 the death, that would, against so much light, defile God's 
 land with that abjured abomination? but forsooth, to this 
 day, they must be fed like birds in a cage, upon the fattest 
 in the land, and the spoils of Christ's crown. 
 
 7. I bear my testimony against that course carried on by 
 the ministers ; their conniving at, countenancing of, and 
 complying with, the indulged, who have quit Christ, and 
 taken on with another master. Oh, the treacherous dealers 
 have dealt very treacherously ! Yea, they were thereafter 
 open persecutors of the really godly, for their faithfulness, 
 and were about to stop their mouth, and make the indul- 
 gence the door by which all the ministers were to enter to 
 their ministry. 
 
 8. I bear my testimony against their treachery at Both- 
 well Bridge, in stopping the drawing up of the Causes of 
 God's Wrath, and keeping a fast day ; in changing their 
 declaration, and hindering the purging of the army. And 
 to crown all, they raised the ugliest clamour and report 
 that could be against them that minded, and spoke honestly, 
 and truly. 
 
 9. I bear my testimony against their treachery at Edin- 
 burgh, when a proclamation was issued, blaspheming God's 
 true religion, and declaring that all that belonged to God 
 was due to Charles Stuart, which is the plain sense of the 
 act ; and they sat in an assembly, and voted for liberty to 
 preach coming from him; though the very same day that 
 that was proclaimed, two of their more worthy and faithful 
 brethren were murdered. I think this people are grown 
 like brute beasts. Oh, how much pomp and jovialness was 
 that day in rejoicing over the ruins of the work of God and 
 his people, yea, over himself! There was first a scaffold 
 made on the east side of the cross, and a green table set 
 down on it, and two green forms ; and then the cross was 
 covered ; and, about twelve o'clock, the pursuivants, and 
 lyon-heralds, and lyon king-at-arms, and eight trumpeters 
 went up to the cross, and fourteen men ascended the fore- 
 said scafi*old, seven with red gowns of velvet, and seven with 
 black, then the act was read, and at night the bells were 
 ringing, and bonfires burning. Oh, I think it was a wonder 
 that God made not all the town where such wickedness was 
 
WILLIAM CUTHIL. 1 
 
 // 
 
 acted against, and in despite of liim, to sink into the lowest 
 hell. 
 
 10. I leave my testimony against them, for running away 
 and leaving God's flock, after Bothwell Bridge, when they 
 had drawn them to the fields ; the Lord be judge this day 
 between them and his flock, and let their sentence come out 
 from before his presence, and let his eyes behold those 
 things that are equal. Oh, their skirts are full of the blood 
 of souls ! They say, the people hath left them, but it is so 
 evident that it cannot be gainsayed, that they have left the 
 people. Does not the scripture say, that they who are in the 
 watchman's place should warn the people when they see the 
 sword come ; and have not the ministers of Scotland had 
 the first hand in aU these courses of backsliding? Can 
 they be pure with unclean hands, and the unjust balance, 
 so to speak, and the bag of deceitful weights ? Well, their 
 sins are known to be no more sins of weakness, but sins of 
 wickedness. 
 
 11. 1 bear my testimony against them, because they did not 
 join with their brethren in the work of the day, in preaching 
 to the people in the fields, with Mr. Richard Cameron, and 
 Mr. Donald Cargil. And will you tell me, although there 
 were never one to open their mouth in that thing, does not 
 the work of the one confound them to silence, and the work 
 of the other justify and plead for them ! But there is one 
 thing, I have learned from the practice of all this people, and 
 God's dealing with them ; they have sought their own and one 
 another's credit, more than God's, and he hath discovered 
 their wickedness in their ugliness. 
 
 12. I bear my testimony against their obstinacy in refusing 
 to return and mend their manners. They hold fast wicked- 
 ness, and refuse to let it go, and that against the light of 
 God's word, their own consciences, their vows and engage- 
 ments to God, the cries of bloodshed, the cries of wrong 
 <lone to God and his work, and against their former preach- 
 ings and practices. They will not come out and rid the 
 ground, so to speak, and seek out the causes of God's 
 wrath, and set days of humiliation apart, and see that they 
 be kept, and renew their engagements, and carry themselves 
 like ministers of Jesus Christ afterward. Is this erroneous? 
 Is not this according to Presbyterian principles ? Does not 
 the Confession of our Faith say, those who offend the 
 
178 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 church and their brethren, shall make their repentance as 
 public as their offences have been ? Is not this the plain 
 meaning of that article, yea, the very words almost, of the 
 Confession of Faith, chap. xv. art. last? Unless this be 
 done, (if any would take my counsel, who am looking to 
 receive the sentence of death every hour,) I would say, 
 meddle not with them, fur they have not only sinned 
 against the church of God, and their brethren, and their 
 own souls, but against God. They have been light and 
 treacherous, whereof many instances may be given. Have 
 they not polluted the sanctuary? Have they not done 
 violence to the law? Have they not been unfaithful? 
 Are they not walking very openly amongst God's stated 
 enemies, while the people of God dare not be seen? I 
 fear, if they make not haste to come off these courses, 
 that God's wrath shall overtake them, ere it be long. 
 
 Lastly, I bear my testimony against them for their un- 
 tenderness to weak consciences, and making use of their 
 gifts and parts to wrest the word of God, to put out that 
 light which God has given poor things, of which I, among 
 others, have a proof; for one of them came into the prison, 
 and told me that he had been dealing with him who had 
 been pursuing us to death, (the king's advocate,) that he 
 would not take innocent blood upon him; and out of love 
 and tenderness to our souls, he came to pay us a visit, and 
 said, he was neither a curate nor an indulged man, but a 
 minister of the gospel. He added, that we should be weU- 
 advised what we were doing, for the advocate had said, we 
 were shortly to appear before the criminal court. I asked 
 what he advised us to do? and began to tell him the ground 
 whereupon we were accused, which was this, that Charles 
 Stuart, having broken and burned God's covenant, and com- 
 pelled all that he could by his forces to do the like, and slain 
 many upon that account, — upon this head I declined his 
 authority; and being hard questioned, confessed that I 
 thought it lawful to kill him, but I did not say by whose 
 hands. He replied, all that would not free me from being 
 his subject, and instanced Zedekiah's case to prove it. But 
 I was not in a mood to speak to him, being confused with a 
 distracted man who was in with us, only I told him, there 
 was as great a difference betwixt the case of Zedekiah and 
 the one in hand, as east was from the west; and he called us 
 
TTILLIAM CUTHIL. 179 
 
 Jannes and Jambres, who withstood the truth, when we 
 would not hear him, and said, there was no such thing as 
 any condition holden out in the form and order of the coro- 
 nation, that did free us from allegiance to Charles Stuart 
 upon that account. What! do they think that every one 
 can reason and debate with them, or else that they are not 
 Christians, but gainstanders of the truth? Hath not God 
 given to every man his measure of light and grace both ? 
 If they know not this, and walk not accordingly, they were 
 never worthy to be ministers of the gospel. He said that 
 he would send me any minister whom I pleased to call for. 
 I said I had heard that Mr. Donald Cargil was taken, would 
 he send him to me, and I would take it as a great kindness ; 
 but he said, that he had taken a way by himself. But what 
 shall I say more, my heart is like to sink when I think on 
 them and the case of the land. Oh, I think it is a desperate 
 easel only I know God can, and I hope he will cure it. 
 
 Next, I bear my testimony against all that pay cess and 
 locality to uphold Christ's enemies, the bloody soldiers, or 
 any of that cursed crew; yea, against all that give them 
 meat or drink when they come to their houses, it being so 
 expressly against Christ and the covenant; and against all 
 that pay customs or duties belonging to the crown of Scot- 
 land, unto Charles Stuart, his officers, collectors, or tacks- 
 men; seeing all that is employed against Christ, and against 
 all that shall do it, till they wit well that it be otherwise 
 employed ; and against all bonders with them, or to him, or 
 any in his name, or delegated by him, or clothed with his 
 authority, seeing they are persons worthy of no credit, whereof 
 I have a proof in my taking. Ye would do well to believe 
 the wise man Solomon, who says, "when he speaks fair, 
 believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his 
 heart." 
 
 Again, I leave my testimony against all that side with, 
 or strengthen the hands of the adversaries of the Lord, in 
 less or more, against clear conviction from the word of God, 
 or sound reason; and particularly against the Duke, that 
 bold and truculent papist, who hath defiled the Lord's land 
 with his altars and images. And I protest against this en- 
 suing parliament, for putting power in his hand to do what 
 he pleaseth ; for, by the word of God and the laws of the 
 land, he should die the death. And also, I bear my testi- 
 
180 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 monj against those who have sided with, or strengthened 
 the foresaid enemy, and will not come off again. If they 
 will not help the people of God, oh, that they would let 
 them alone, and not help their adversaries. 
 
 Next, I leave my testimony against the gentry and com- 
 monalty, for letting so much innocent blood be shed, some 
 of which ranks, I think, God hath a turn to put in their 
 hands yet, if they would espouse his quarrel, and turn to 
 him with aU their hearts, and not suffer the work to go as it 
 does ; but indeed they must keep company with God's stated 
 enemies, and learn the court fashion. I will tell you one 
 thing, ye have lost the manners of the court of heaven, by 
 learning the manners of the courts of men. Oh, what think 
 ye to do ? Or how think ye to be accountable to God ? Will 
 ye but speak your minds : who, think ye, hath the best end 
 of the controversy? Will ye let the fear of men and the 
 devil prevail with you more than the fear of God ? Or what 
 think ye this Duke would do to you, when he sees his 
 opportunity ? AViU ye trust bloody Papists ? It may be, ye 
 may be put to suffer on worse accounts yet, if ye will not 
 own God and his people ; but there are but very few of you 
 now, who are aught but mockers. Will ye turn to the Lord 
 with all your hearts. Is it any shame to you to take shame 
 to yourselves, in glorifying God, by confessing your sins, 
 and turning from them ? But will you tell me now, who, 
 think ye, can be at one with you, while ye are standing out 
 against God? Will ye but read the first chapter of Isaiah, 
 and consider it, and the first two chapters of Jeremiah, the 
 second of Joel, the prophecy of Haggai, Isa. xxii, Ezek. vii. 
 Oh, consider, and if not, the Lord and you take it between 
 you. Read and consider Ps. 1. 5. 
 
 Now, what shall I say to you, who own and adhere to 
 God's cause, against all the enemies? Oh, that I could let 
 you see the inside of my heart ! WiU ye learn Christianity ; 
 seek the Lord and get him on your side. I think it is a 
 good token of a sanctified heart, when it longs more for God's 
 company than any other, and that sees the worst of evil in 
 committing sin. Beware of heart-risings and grudgings one 
 against another; know that there is a great difference 
 between sins of weakness, and sins of wickedness ; mark not 
 every failing, for if ye do, ye shall not have two to stay 
 together in Scotland. Oh, but there be much need of the 
 
TTILLIAM CUTHIL. 181 
 
 gospel; and these ministers will not come out and contend 
 for Christ, without which, though I were at liberty, God 
 knows, I durst not meddle with them, but would rather keep 
 aback from them than other folk; for I think, there are 
 many of them either unconcerned, or dreadfully misted. 
 How can it be otherwise? not bearing with tender con- 
 sciences, they rather strive to break folk than build them up. 
 How can any that has love to Christ look on them with good- 
 will ? I do verily think, if ever they turn again, the world 
 shall hear tell of it. It is beyond all controversy, that they 
 have quit their first works, and first love. Oh, will ye learn 
 to be sober and grave. Cleave to your covenants and engage- 
 ments ; I say, mind your engagements ; look what becomes 
 of covenant-breakers. Take no courses by the end till God 
 give you clearness ; for God will reprove many in this gen- 
 eration, because they put away light from them. Now, ye 
 are deprived of all cleanly preaching ; but observe Christ's 
 answer to the spouse in the song ; when she says, " Where 
 makest thou thy flocks to rest at noon ? " he says, " If thou 
 know not, thou fairest among women, go thy way forth 
 by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the 
 shepherds' tents." Beware of "turning aside after the flocks 
 of his companions." Beware of the ministers of Charles 
 Stuart, — the indulged and Prelatic, these mockers of God, 
 and contemners of the godly, these Christ-deserters, and 
 undervaluers of heaven, these scandalous and insignificant 
 time-servers, whom God hath blasted, to the conviction of 
 all the generation that see any thing ; these monsters of 
 men, the disgrace of the ministry, the just contempt of the 
 generation. God hath sometimes had a church without a 
 ministry, but he never had a ministry without a church. 
 Doth not the scripture say, " that for many days Israel shall 
 be without a priest, without a teraphim," &c.? Do we not 
 see in the Revelation, " the two witnesses slain, and lie three 
 days and an half ? " But oh, cry to God, " that he would 
 send forth labourers to his vineyard; " for " verily the harvest 
 is great, but the labourers are few." If there be a casting 
 at the gospel on the people's side, then, I think they shall be 
 in extreme hazard of losing their soul, if God's mercy prevent 
 it not; for then they refuse to be guided by God. But if 
 " when the hireling sees the wolf come, he run away, and 
 leave the sheep, because he is an hireling," then, I think, 
 
 R 
 
182 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMO^'Y OF 
 
 the mercy of God is engaged for the sheep, because " the j 
 hare no shepherd." It is not the first time that Israel has 
 been "scattered as sheep having no shepherd;" none can 
 keep himself, nor guide himself; "it is not in him that 
 walketh to direct his steps." But God hath " sown a joyful 
 light to the upright ; " he has said, " him that sitteth in dark- 
 ness, and hath no light, let him trust in the Lord, and stay 
 himself upon his God." Could the spouse rest in Jerusalem, 
 and her husband not be found ? She made search every 
 where lest she should want him. Can the spouse see another 
 wear her husband's clothes, and be well satisfied ? yea, one 
 that has robbed, spoiled, and shut him to the door, vnth dis- 
 grace, contempt and shame, and as one unworthy to manage 
 the affairs of his own house ; and has defied him to take any 
 thing back again, and has set up legs and arms, heads and 
 hands, and quarters of the children, as trophies of victory 
 over the goodman of the house, and has triumphed with spite 
 and contempt, and is only seeking it of the poor widow, the 
 wife, and the bairns, to be quiet, and accept of him for a 
 husband and father ? I say, shall the wife and children of 
 such a husband and father, be peaceable to see this ? I trow, 
 there are few earthly folk would do so. And oh, who can 
 show the difference here, you cannot search it out. The 
 Lord keep you from dwelling at ease under one roof, with 
 such an one. Beware of making any treaty of peace with 
 such a robber and murderer as this ; beware of feeding his 
 soldiers. Or giving them quarters, when they come to your 
 houses. If ye wiU not use the sword at God's bidding, God 
 will put it, as he hath, into the hands of his and your ene- 
 mies, to use it against you. Indeed, I think, " till Saul's sons 
 be hanged up before the Lord, the plague of famine shall not 
 be stayed from Israel." 
 
 Xow, in the next place, I give my testimony, my adher- 
 ence to the scriptures of truth, the holy Bible, the Old and 
 New Testaments, which have been made sweet to me. The 
 fault is not in them that we understand them not, but in us, 
 and this we have as our old father Adam's heirship. I leave 
 my adherence to the Covenants, National and Solemn 
 League, Confession of Faith ; only there is in it something 
 concerning the magistrates calling a synod of ministers by 
 virtue of his magistratical power, which ought to be cau- 
 tiously understood, according to the General Assembly's 
 
ROBERT GARXOCK. 183 
 
 explication. I adhere to the Catechisms, Larger and 
 Shorter, Psalms in metre. Directory for Worship, Form of 
 Church Government, the doctrine of the Church of Scot- 
 land, as it is held out in the word of God, and laid down in 
 the foresaid papers. I adhere to all the faithful testimonies 
 for truth in Scotland, of one sort and another, and particu- 
 larly these three, — The papers found at Queensferrj, of the 
 date of 3d June, the Sanquhar Declaration, the Rutherglen 
 Testimony, and every other paper tending to the good of 
 religion, particularly the Causes of Wrath; and I request all 
 to read and consider them. I leave my testimony against 
 them that say, that I am a self-murderer, because I spake 
 that which God gave me to speak, before his adversaries ; 
 and I think that it is my great mercy that he hath helped 
 me to be free before them in matters of truth, relating to the 
 disowning of them, and standing to our God's, and our own 
 rights. This paper I leave as my testimony, and formed 
 and deliberate thoughts ; and request all to bear with faults 
 of weakness, especially when the sword of the adversary is 
 above a man's head. Now farewell world, and all things in 
 it. Welcome Lord Jesus Christ, into thy hands I recom- 
 mend my spirit. 
 
 William CuimL. 
 
 Dying testimony of Robert Ga knock, Hammerman in 
 Stirling, who suffered at the Gallowlee, betwixt Leith 
 and Edinburgh, October 10th, 1681. 
 
 Men and Brethrex, — Having received a sentence of 
 death from men for adhering to the truth, against Popery, 
 Prelacy, Erastianism, and Indulgences first and last, and all 
 that was contrary to sound doctrine : I am now to leave a 
 line behind me, as the Lord will help me to write, to tell 
 you, that however this generation may condemn me, as 
 having a hand in my own death, I declare that it is not so, 
 for I die a Presbyterian in my judgment. For, consider- 
 ing how solemnly Scotland was bound to defend truth 
 against all encroachments made thereon, with life and 
 liberty, and how they of this nation had so easily broken their 
 
184 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 VOWS and engagements, and then seeing through the scrip- 
 tures, how deep covenant-breaking draws, and what a great 
 and heinous sin this is in the sight of God, I could do no 
 less than give in my protestation against all their proceed- 
 ings, in the hell-hatched acts that were so contrary to the 
 word of God, and our sworn covenants. It is for this that 
 I come into your presence this day, to lay down my life ; 
 and I bless the Lord that ever he honoured the like of me 
 with a gibbet and a bloody winding sheet, for his noble, 
 honourable, and sweet cause. Oh, love him, Sirs I He is 
 well worth the loving and quitting all for! Oh, for many 
 lives to seal the sweet cause with! If I had as many lives 
 as there are hairs in my head, I would think them all too 
 little to be martyrs for truth. I bless the Lord I do not 
 suffer unwillingly, nor by constraint, but heartily and cheer- 
 fully. The Lord hath taken great pains to train me up for 
 this great work. I bless his holy name that ever he counted 
 me worthy of such honour ; his love hath been to me beyond 
 many. I have been a long time a prisoner in different 
 prisons. I was among and in the company of the most part 
 who suffered since Both well ; and was in company with many 
 ensnaring persons, though I do not question but they were 
 godly folk ; and yet the Lord kept me from hearkening to 
 their counsel. Glory, glory be to his holy and sweet name! 
 It is many a time a wonder, how I have done such and such 
 things; but it is he that hath done it. He hath done all 
 things well, both in me and for me ; holy is his name. Oh, 
 if I could get my royal king Jesus cried up, and all the 
 world down! Oh, will you fall in love with Christ! friends, 
 what ails you at him and his sweet cause? I can assure you 
 he is no hard master to serve. He is lovely! " He is white 
 and ruddy, the chief among ten thousands." I desire none 
 of you to think I suffer " as an evil doer, or as a busy-body 
 in other men's matters;" or that it is out of blind zeal that 
 I am come here this day. No, for it was after serious con- 
 sideration that I did it, and after great weights and pressures. 
 It was great grief of soul to me, to see my Master's truth so 
 wronged, trampled on, and abused, by a God-daring genera- 
 tion, and none to speak for him. And now my Lord is 
 highly honouring me for that ; glory to his great name for it. 
 For he hath honoured me and my neighbours with irons and 
 the thieves' hole, which were sweet and refreshing to us, and 
 
ROBERT GARNOCK, 185 
 
 then honoured us wonderfully to go in before these bloody 
 men, and get our sentences. 
 
 Our interrogations are known ; I have not time to write 
 them. But I disown them, for disowning of the Covenant, 
 and adhere to my protestation given in against them ; and 
 am now come to the Gallowlee, to lay down my life, and to 
 have my head cut off, and put upon a port. It is known how 
 barbarously I have been used by them, and how honourably 
 such a silly wretch, as I am, has been carried through; 
 glory be to his sweet name for it. Indeed, it was the bargain 
 made betwixt Christ and my soul long since, that through 
 his strength I should be for him, and at his bidding, what- 
 ever piece of work he put in my hand: and he promised, 
 " that his grace should be sufficient for me," and that his 
 strength should be seen in my weakness ; and that go whither 
 I would, he would go with me, through lire and water, the 
 flames would not scorch me, nor the waters overflow me. 
 Oh, take him. Sirs! for he is faithful who hath promised, 
 and he will perform. Xow, as a dying martyr for Christ, I 
 would leave it on all of you to make haste, and prepare for 
 strokes, for they are at hand ; and do not think that they 
 will not come, because they are delayed. No, he will come, 
 and that " as a thief in the night," and will surprise many 
 of you, if not all ; " watch and pray, that ye enter not into 
 temptation." I would not have you secure, but take warning 
 in time, before his wrath break forth. He hath waited long 
 on Scotland's repentance ; it is like he will not bear much 
 longer. Do not sleep as do others, but rise, make haste; 
 *' get on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to 
 stand." It is dangerous now to be out of God's gate ; it is 
 not good siding with God's enemies. It will be dangerous 
 to be found in their camp. For all the gold of Ophir, I 
 would not be in their stead, who have saved their lives with 
 prejudice to the work and people of God. I would have 
 them take warning. They say they have done nothing but 
 what was lawful and right ; but they commit transgression, 
 and, with the whore, " wipe their mouth, and say, they 
 have done no evil." Indeed they may put off men so, but 
 they will not get God and their own consciences put off. 
 They need never go about the bush, for I see not how any 
 that is faithful, being once brought before them, can win 
 honestly off; for if ye will but say ye disown their authority, 
 
 r2 
 
186 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 then your life must go ; for they had as little to lay to my 
 charge as to any, yet I could not win off with a good con- 
 science, but to the gallows I must go. And glory to his 
 great name, who hath honoured me, or that ever he gave me 
 a head to be set on a port, for his sweet name and cause. 
 Now, as for what I own or disown, being straitened for time, 
 I cannot get it set down here ; and another thing I see, the 
 martyrs' testimonies are of no value, and very lightly 
 esteemed. 
 
 I give my testimony to the holy and sweet scriptures, 
 Covenants, Confession of Faith, which are according to the 
 scriptures, Catechisms Larger and Shorter, the Acknowledg- 
 ment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties, and to all that our 
 worthies have done, in defence of the gospel, at Pentland, 
 Loudon-hill, Bothwell Bridge, and Airsmoss ; to Ruthergien 
 Testimony, and Sanquhar Declaration, Ferry papers, and 
 
 Torwood Excommunication, the Fife Testimony, D ie, 
 
 K le, and P s Protestations, and all that have been 
 
 done in defence of the gospel, wherever it hath been done. 
 And, as a dying martyr for the truth, I give my testimony 
 against all the encroachments on our Lord's rights, in less 
 or more, as Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and Indulgences, 
 first and last, and all that side with them. And, as a dying 
 witness for Christ, I desire friends to the cause of Christ, to 
 beware of them ; " for, if it were possible, they would deceive 
 the very elect." " They will neither enter the kingdom of 
 heaven themselves, nor will they suffer others to go in 
 thereat." Beware of their fair speeches, for they and the 
 devil thought to have made me break with my lovely Lord 
 Jesus Christ, that noble bargain betwixt him and my soul. 
 Oh! but the professors of this generation are evil and bitter 
 against the sweet way of the Lord, and his poor people. 
 
 Next, I give my testimony against all the enemies of God, 
 and all that join with them, in paying cess, locality, militia- 
 money, or whatever is for the strengthening of their hands. 
 And, now, I leave it again on you, that ye would not brand 
 me with having a hand in my own death ; for I could not 
 get my life saved, unless I had taken upon me all the blood 
 of the people of God, and owned that as lawful authority 
 which had taken away my dear brethren's lives ; and said, 
 that what they had done was just and right. And, indeed, 
 they seek no more of any, if they will but own them in what 
 
ROBERT GARXOCK. 187 
 
 they do. They think they are right enough in taking away 
 our lives, when they who are called Presbyterians own them, 
 and their tyranny, to be authority. And, now, when I am 
 to go away, I would have you to lay to heart, how deeply 
 owning of them draws, and how much of the wrath of God, 
 ye draw on you, in so doing. Oh, Sirs, I would have you 
 beware, and look what a weighty business it is, " and obey 
 God rather than man." I bless the Lord, I am this day to 
 step out of time into eternity, and I am no more troubled 
 than I were to take a marriage in the earth, and not so much. 
 I bless the Lord, I have much peace of conscience in what I 
 have done. Oh, but I think it a very weighty business for 
 me to be within twelve hours of eternity, and not troubled. 
 Indeed, the Lord is kind, and hath trained me up for this 
 day, and now I can want him no longer. I will get my fill 
 of love this night ; for I will be with him in paradise, and 
 get a new song put in my mouth, the song of Moses, and of 
 the Lamb ; I will be in amongst the general assembly of the 
 first-born, and enjoy the sweet presence of God, and his Son 
 Jesus Christ, and the spirits of just men made perfect: I 
 am sure of it. 
 
 Dear friends, I would, as one going into eternity, obtest 
 you that you make good earnest in religion, and be restless 
 until you get a clearness of an interest in Christ ; for it is a 
 dangerous time to live in the dark. I would have you con- 
 sider what a weighty business it is to deny the Lord of glory 
 before men. There have strange things of this nature fallen 
 out in our day. Oh I look to yourselves; I would entreat 
 you to be for God, and he will be for you ; confess him, and 
 he will confess you. As good soldiers endure hardness, wax 
 valiant in suffering. Resist unto blood, for it is the cause 
 of God that is at stake. Oh I there are none of you lament- 
 ing after God ; ah! is there none of you that hath love to 
 the Lord, and will take part with him, against all his ene- 
 mies 'i Oh! but it is sad to see you with such whole hearts, 
 and so little grief among you, for the robbery that the Lord 
 of glory is sutfering. I declare my suffering is nothing ; but 
 when I see you who are professors, what an unconcerned 
 people ye are, it makes my soul bleed to see you in such a 
 frame, when the church is in such a condition. I wish the 
 Lord may help poor young ones, that are brought up under 
 you with the want of the gospel. Oh, for the gospel back 
 
188 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 again to Scotland ! Oh, for one faithful minister in all the 
 land ! The harvest is great, and the labourers few. As for 
 my part, now when I am going into eternity, I declare, I see 
 not, nor hear of a minister in all Scotland, who is at the duty 
 the Lord calls for at ministers' hands, in preaching against 
 all sorts of sin ; iji season, and out of season, rebuking, 
 reproving, and exhorting. As for my part, I cannot join 
 with them who are not so. 
 
 Xow, my Lord is bringing me to conformity with himself, 
 and honouring me after my worthy pastor, Mr. James Guthrie; 
 although I knew nothing when he was alive, yet the Lord hath 
 honoured me to protest against Popery, and to seal it with my 
 blood ; and he honoured him to protest against Prelacy, and 
 to seal it with his blood. The Lord hath kept me in prison 
 to this day for that end. His head is on one port of Edin- 
 burgh, and mine must go on another. Glory, glory, to the 
 Lord's holy and sweet name, for what he hath done for me. 
 Oh, set days apart, and bless His holy and never-enough- 
 exalted name for what he hath done for me. Oh, Sirs I his 
 cross hath been all paved over with love to me, and it is 
 sweeter now than ever. Oh, will ye be persuaded to fall in 
 love with the cross of royal Jesus ! Oh, take him I "Will 
 ye be entreated to come and taste of his love ! Oh, sweet 
 lot this day, for me to go to a gibbet for Christ and his cause ! 
 the thought of this ravishes my heart and soul, and makes 
 me to wonder that 1 am within so few hours of that endless 
 joy, that paradise, among those flowers and trees that are on 
 each side of that pure river, clear as crystal, where the tree 
 is that bears twelve manner of fruits, and the leaves of the 
 tree are for the healing of the nations. Oh, that I could 
 leave this weight upon you ; yea, with as great weight as it 
 lies on my spirit, to see how few of you are travelling to that 
 land ! Oh, be much above, and be here as strangers ; 1 mean 
 in respect of conformity to this world, though hated of it, 
 and studying to live the life that our Lord hath commanded 
 in his word, and " suffer affliction with the people of God, 
 rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Now, 
 I bless the Lord I am not, as many suspect me, thinking to 
 win heaven by my suffering. No, no ; I know there is no 
 winning of it, but through the precious blood of the Son of 
 God. Now, ye who are the true seekers of God, and so the 
 butt of the world's malice, be diligent and run fast ; time is 
 
PATRICK FORMAX. 189 
 
 precious ! Oh, make use of it, and act for God ; contend for 
 the truth ; stand for God against all his enemies. Fear not 
 the wrath of men. Love one another. Wrestle with God 
 mutually in societies. Confess your faults one to another; 
 pray with one another ; reprove, rebuke, exhort one another 
 in love. Slight no commanded duty ; be faithful in your 
 stations, as ye will be answerable in the great day. 
 
 Xow, having no more time, I bid farewell to you all. 
 Farewell holy and sweet scriptures, wherewith I have been 
 refreshed many a day. I would have you read much of them, 
 and pray over them to the Lord, that ye may get his blessing 
 with, and the right use of them. Oh, make use of your Bibles, 
 my dear friends, so long as you have them. Seek not counsel 
 from men. Follow none farther than they hold by truth. 
 Now, I request you, have a care ; this land is like to come 
 under great errors. Now, farewell sweet reproaches for my 
 lovely Lord Jesus, though once they were not joyous but 
 gi'ievous, yet now they are sweet; I bless the Lord for it. 
 I heartily forgive all men for any thing they have said of 
 me ; I pray that it may not be laid to their charge in the 
 day of account. As for what they have done to God and his 
 cause, I leave that to God and their own consciences. Fare- 
 well all Christian acquaintances and relations, father and 
 mother, brethren and sisters ; farewell sweet prison for my 
 royal Lord Jesus Christ ; it is now at an end ; farewell all 
 crosses of one sort and another ; and so farewell every thing 
 in time — reading, praying, and believing. Welcome eternal 
 life, and the spirits of just men made perfect; welcome 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; into thy hands I commit 
 my spirit. 
 
 Robert Garxock. 
 
 Last Testimony of Pateick Forman, Alloa, who suffered 
 at the Gallowlee, October 10th, 1681. 
 
 I THOUGHT it fit, being sentenced to die within three days, 
 to write this testimony to show you, that I die not as a fool ; 
 and I declare I am in my right mind, and not prodigal of 
 my life, as some allege. I love life as well as any, and 
 would do as much to save it ; but when my life comes in 
 
190 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OP 
 
 competition with the truths of Jesus Christ, I dare not buy- 
 it with the denial of the smallest truths, (if any may be 
 called small,) but know that the least of the truths are of 
 greater moment than the whole world, and the inhabitants 
 thereof. Now, therefore, do not asperse me when I am gone, 
 with not becoming a Presbyterian ; for though in great weak- 
 ness, I am a Presbyterian, both in profession and practice, 
 though my failings be many. 
 
 1. I believe there is but one God, Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghost, one Redeemer, one way of salvation, through Jesus 
 Christ, according to John xiv. 6, " Jesus saith unto them, 
 I am the way, the truth, and the life ; no man cometh unto 
 the Father but by me." And likewise I leave my testimony 
 to the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; 
 and my soul desires to bless the Lord that ever they were 
 in our mother-tongue. My soul hath been refreshed in con- 
 versing with them, when the Spirit of the Lord has backed 
 them; but I knew likewise they are but a killing letter with- 
 out the Spirit. I would advise you, as a dying martyr for 
 Christ, to search the scriptures, and seek the Lord's mind 
 in them ; for there are none noble but those who search the 
 scriptures ; and oh, that I could recommend them to you, 
 as they have been sweet and refreshing to me ; yea, they are 
 as a garden of sweet-smelling flowers : in them are cures for 
 aU diseases, and remedies for all distempers; yea, they com- 
 mend themselves, they need none of my commendation. 
 Make good use of them while ye have them ; for if idolaters 
 get their will they will not be long amongst you ; I pray the 
 Lord may prevent it. 
 
 2. I leave my testimony to the Confession of Faith, 
 Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the Solemn acknowledg- 
 ment of Sins, and Engagement to Duties. I bear my testi- 
 mony to the National Covenant, and Solemn League and 
 Covenant. Likewise I adhere to all the faithful testimonies 
 that have been given for the truth since the year 1638, 
 especially the Sanquhar Declaration, and Rutherglen Testi- 
 mony, and the papers found on Henry HaU at the Queens- 
 ferry, called the New Covenant; and to the lawfulness of 
 Torwood Excommunication, and all the testimonies of the 
 martyrs who are gone before me, according to truth, both 
 in fields, on scaffolds, and in the seas. I leave my testimony 
 to that poor persecuted remnant that are yet left as berries 
 
PATRICK FOEilAN. 191 
 
 on the tops of the utmost branches, wandering about, being 
 desolate, afflicted, tormented, groaning under the sad yoke 
 of tyranny. Oh, Lord, deliver them in thy own way ^ and 
 time, and'encourage them now when there is no encourage- 
 ment from men, and their eyes cannot behold their teachers. 
 And now, my friends, I say, being within a few hours to step 
 out of time into eternity, beware of casting aspersions on 
 any of the Lord's people for owning their duty, which is 
 avowing and declaring Jesus Christ to be King in Zion, 
 head of his people, and only Lord of your consciences, and 
 declining all powers which are contrary to, and inconsistent 
 with our Lord's kingly power. I declare I own magistracy 
 as it is an ordinance of God, and offered my willing subjec- 
 tion unto it ; but when the magistrates become tyrants, by 
 overturning the whole law of God, and the just laws of the 
 nation, after having covenanted to the contrary, I think it 
 my duty, as I am bound by scripture, our covenants, and 
 my own conscience, to show, in my station, my dislike of 
 the wrongs my lovely Lord and Master is receiving. For, 
 as the scripture declares, " there are no powers but of God, 
 and the powers that be are ordained of God;" then, conse- 
 quently, that power cannot be of God that murders the 
 people of God, otherwise ye must say that the Lord is the 
 author of evil, which were horrid blasphemy. Now, there- 
 fore, my dear friends, suppose that they will take away our 
 lives, under the name of treason or rebellion, (as they have 
 done to our brethren these twenty years past), yet it is not 
 so, but for religion and loyalty to our Lord and Master, and 
 to every ordinance of man, as it is consistent with the law 
 of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, as ye would be 
 answerable at the day of our appearance, when we shall 
 stand naked and bare before the Judge of all the earth, 
 speak not against us lest ye be reckoned amongst the fighters 
 against Jesus Christ ; for I declare I have owned nothing 
 but that which is the duty of the whole nation as well as 
 mine. And I doubt not but the Lord will reckon with this 
 generation, ere it be long, for maintaining that throne of 
 iniquity these twenty years. 
 
 I declare, as a dying man, that it is but justice that is 
 come upon this poor nation ; for, when the Lord set them 
 free from the yoke of bondage they were lying under, by 
 that old tyrant Charles I., who designed to cut off the Lord's 
 
192 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMOXT OF 
 
 people, which he put in practice, in murdering the Lord's 
 people in Ireland, bj the hands of the bloody papists, and 
 thought to have done so to England and Scotland, which 
 tlie Lord prevented, and put a stop to his tyranny, by suffer- 
 ing men to take away his life, and causing his family to be 
 banished ; and brake the yoke off our neck, and became our 
 Lord, King, and head, then we soon wearied of the Lord, 
 and cast him off, and said, " we will have a king to rule over 
 us like the nations." And ye may judge whether he has 
 reigned Saul-like or not. 1 doubt not but he shaU be taken 
 away in wrath, because he was given in the Lord's anger; 
 and though his time has been a groaning time, yet his end 
 shall be terrible, and the people shall find the smart of it, 
 as the children of Israel did when they fell at Gilboa. 
 Friends, look for sad days when we are gone. I therefore 
 entreat you, as ye would tender the glory of God, and desire 
 the salvation of your own souls, mourn for the wrongs ye 
 have done to the glory of C4od, in your owning that tyrant, 
 who is the malignants' head and god. And now, I am sure, 
 ye are left without excuse if ye will not cast him off; and 
 they who will say he hath power over civil matters, must 
 say God is unjust, and he is the author of evil, which were 
 horrid blasphemy. 
 
 The matter of my condemnation is, because I will not 
 yield to their iniquitous laws, and call tyranny authority, 
 and a constitution of wickedness, a constitution of God: 
 which I dare not, for my soul. And now, my friends, I am 
 to die for protesting against Popery, and the inbringing of 
 that Papist the Duke, to defile the Lord's land; and dechning 
 their power, because they had murdered my brethren these 
 twenty years, and testifying against all the wrongs my lovely 
 Lord and Master hath received. Therefore I charge you, 
 to beware of speaking against me, or any of my brethren ; 
 for my head and my right hand shall be a witness against 
 you, who shall condemn us; whatever I have been, I am 
 now highly honoured to witness for Christ's cause. And 
 now, my dear friends, I must tell you, that grace is free, and 
 I am a debtor to free grace. I am as a brand plucked out 
 of the fire ; yet my Lord hath loved me with an everlasting 
 love. I bless the Lord, I am in my right mind, and have 
 hatred against no man's person, but in so far as they are 
 fighting against my God, and plotting against his holy child 
 
PATRICK FORMAN. ^^^ 
 
 sat dow to their parliament, fo^ ^■I'^^t'^S f„^ff 'i^J^^'td'' 
 
 against tbe parliamenters and f y ^1°"1"P'^^ ^^aVy up 
 sSre they^iU find it and my brethren » Ij™? '^'^^J/, ' ^^^ 
 them I likewise leave my testimony agamst t-ondeis, cess 
 Ind iocality-payers, for strengthening the hands of the»e 
 
194 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMOXY OF 
 
 wicked ruffians — the troopers and soldiers, who destroy the 
 Lord's people. Now, therefore, dear friends, I warn you, 
 as you would flee from the wrath to come, shake yourselves 
 free of these things, if so be there may be hope ; it may be, 
 if ye be serious, ye will be hid in the day of the Lord's 
 anger: take warning, and flee from the wrath that is to 
 come. 
 
 Likewise, I leave my testimony against the unfaithfulness 
 of the watchmen of Scotland; for they have not fed the 
 flock, but themselves. As a dying man, I must teU you, 
 that it will be a wonder if ever ye be honoured to be faithful 
 for your turning your backs on your IMaster, when all men 
 are set against him, and for your seeking to save your lives, 
 when the Lord is calling you to suffer, rather than to yield, 
 or quit one hair of the truth. Ye think nothing to call 
 tyranny lawful magistracy, and by that ye say, that all the 
 martyrs who have suffered under tyranny these twenty 
 years, have suffered justly. If it be true, that "there is no 
 power but of God," then certainly, Charles Stuart's power 
 must not be of God, for his unheard of murders, perjuries, 
 and adulteries. Now, I say, those who call him a magis- 
 trate, say that God is the author of sin, which is horrid 
 blasphemy ; and I think there are few ministers in Scotland 
 who are free of that horrid sin, and are not in some sort 
 guilty of their brethren's blood ; for ye are an upcast to poor 
 sufferers. 
 
 Now, therefore, I advise you to repent, for I wish you no 
 wrong; I might say much to that purpose; but I shall 
 forbear: only I desire the Lord may forgive you for your 
 lukewarmness, neutrality, indifference, and sinful silence, 
 where there is none to speak for Jesus Christ. And now, I 
 advise you that are his people, to take warning from me as 
 a dying man, not to join with them, till their repentance be 
 as visible as their sins have been. Oh, seek teachers from 
 the Lord; for he will not want ministers, when he hath an 
 errand to send them. Wait on the Lord, for he doth aU 
 things well. Now, my dear friends, who desire to live 
 godly, look out for tribulation and affliction, and the scourge 
 of tongues, and the envy and malice of devils. The minis- 
 ters will reproach you, and condemn you, and the worldly- 
 wise professors will advise you to run at leisure, and not 
 condemn the godly for their failings; it is true, I grant, 
 
PATRICK FORMAN. 
 
 195 
 
 the godlj maj fall and rise again ; but, alas ! their 
 apostacj in denying their Master, and in defending it, 
 will be found very hard and terrible in the sight of the 
 Lord. 
 
 Now, I must not tarry, being surprised with shortness of 
 time, and having the king of terrors to grapple with. Only 
 tliis I say, my dear friends, make haste, get your peace 
 made with God, and, in your stations, contend for him. 
 Labour to have nothing before your eyes, but the glory of 
 God, and ye shall undoubtedly get employment of him; 
 make it your main work to seek the Lord. And, now 
 that I am to step out of time into eternity, I bless the 
 Lord for the way he hath taken with me ; for all that I 
 have met with hath been in loving-kindness. I can say, 
 from my experience, that he hath been kind to me in my 
 wanderings and imprisonments; irons and stocks have 
 been made sweet to me ; yea, evil company hath been 
 made useful to me. Yea, these anti-scripturalists were 
 made instructive to me ; for I saw that John' Gibb and his 
 followers were once as fairly on the way, by appearance, as 
 any I knew; but gifts are not graces, and now, I think, 
 they are hopeless ; and I advise none that tenders the glory 
 of God to meddle with them ; for they are turned horrid 
 blasi^hemers, and deniers of the scriptures. Beware of 
 them, for I have no time to give you a particular account 
 of them. 
 
 Xow, my dear friends, with whom I have many times 
 been refreshed, farewell ; the love of God be with you, and 
 carry you through. Farewell holy scriptures, wherewith I 
 have been comforted; farewell praying; farewell sweet 
 imprisonment; farewell sweet stocks and irons, for Christ's 
 sake; farewell wanderings and sweet reproaches for my 
 Lord's sake ; farewell sun, moon, and stars ; farewell day and 
 night; farewell all created comforts. Welcome death; wel- 
 come gallows, for Christ's sake ; welcome eternity ; welcome 
 angels ; welcome spirits of just men made perfect; welcome 
 praises that shall never have an end. There I shall rest 
 through all the ages of eternity, in Immanuel's land. Wel- 
 come Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; into thy hands I 
 recommend my spirit. 
 
 Patrick Formax. 
 
196 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Last Testimony of David Fareie, who suffered at the 
 Gallowlee, Edmburgh, October 10th, 1681. 
 
 Dear Friends, — I desire to bless the Lord, that I am 
 sentenced to be a martyr for Clirist and his cause, by wicked 
 men, whose actions prove what they are ; yet, glory be to 
 the name of God, that this day I do not suffer as an evil- 
 doer, but for a testimony for the truth, in owning Jesus 
 Christ as head in his church; yea, in the Church of Scotland; 
 and not only so, but covenanted to be so, as he was with the 
 children of Israel, in the sight of the nations ; which cove- 
 nant, made betwixt Jesus Christ and this land, I bless the 
 Lord, that, by his strength, I have been enabled to own 
 before all my accusers, especially the bloody committee, the 
 bloody council, and the dreadful bloody assizers of the people 
 of God, and those who pronounce the sentence of death, all 
 instituted by Charles Stuart, who was once by profession, 
 and by oath, an owner of that covenant. Now, the grounds 
 of my sentence are to be seen in my interrogations before the 
 committee, council, and justiciary, so called; at which I was 
 asked, If I owned my former speeches ? I answered. What 
 I had said, I had said: but in case that any might think 
 that I had heart-malice at him whom they call king, I told 
 them, I wished neither him nor them, nor their souls, any 
 more evil than I wished my own ; but, since he had broken 
 the covenant with God, turned out all our ministers, obtruded 
 Prelacy on the church, and overturned the whole work of 
 reformation, I could not own him as king, nor them as judges, 
 seeing he and his emissaries were proceeding to bring in 
 Popery into the land; and I disowned them as my judges, 
 and told them there was a day coming wherein they and I 
 would be arraigned before a Judge, and receive righteous 
 judgment, and that I in that day would be a witness against 
 them, for their unrighteous sentences against the people of 
 God, and their unrighteous proceedings against us, to take 
 away our lives for owning and adhering to the work of God, 
 and our sworn covenant. And when I was asked again the 
 same questions, I answered, What I had said, I had said ; 
 for I had said as much as would be for the wo and sorrow 
 of all present, except those that were penitent. Now, let 
 men judge whether or not it becomes any to own Charles 
 
DAVID FARRIE. 197 
 
 Stuart as king, and them as judges, seeing they have broken 
 the covenant, overturned the work of reformation, and shed 
 so much of the blood of the people of God ; and not only so, 
 but have also made a Duke, Popish by profession, heir to the 
 crown, to be the door whereat they may receive Popery into 
 the land ; for I think there are none, who allow not Popery 
 in some measure, that v/ill not witness against, and withstand 
 him and them in their proceedings, especially that black 
 test, which that wicked parliament hath put forth, amongst 
 all their other proceedings these twenty years against God, 
 his work and people ; whereof the overturning our ministry, 
 and thrusting in of Prelacy, the unlawful acts of Indulgence, 
 first and last, the killing and murdering of the people of God, 
 in fields, and scaffolds, and seas, in one place and another, 
 are a witness. Oh, the great witness, that is, and will be 
 standing against the said Charles Stuart, and his unlawful 
 council and parliaments, and all their proceedings ! The 
 Lord in the second commandment threatens his wrath against 
 the children for the father's iniquity, unto the third and 
 fourth generation of them that hate him; and if the Lord 
 visit not the successors of this generation aforenamed, with 
 dreadful judgments, I am mistaken ; yea, and also all those 
 that join and comply with them, either ministers or profes- 
 sors, I mean the indulged, and all those that bond with the 
 enemies, or give money for their liberation, when they are 
 brought to prison upon the account of owning the truth, or 
 that in any manner of way acknowledge them as magistrates. 
 Of such I say, without repentance, I see no way that they 
 can miss God's wrath. 
 
 But I think I need not insist much on these subjects; for 
 all the warnings they have gotten, which are many, by 
 ministers and professors, one way or other, especially on 
 scaffolds, since Mr. James Guthrie, to this day, have not 
 been effectual ; their actings prove them to be more hardened 
 in their sin than when they began. Therefore it seems, that 
 the Lord will either give them no more warnings, or else 
 take them shortly away; perhaps both. Indeed, he may 
 give them more warnings, but I question if ever they do this 
 generation any good; I mean those I have named, for I 
 think with several others who are gone before me, that dread- 
 ful judgments will follow on this generation, for breach of 
 covenant with God, and open rebellion against him, by these 
 
 s2 
 
198 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 iniquitous laws of theirs, in taking awaj the lives, liberties, 
 and privileges of the people of God; and not onlj so, but in 
 making Charles Stuart head of the church, which becomes 
 not him nor any mortal ; for Jesus Christ is head of his own 
 church, and Lord over the consciences of men. And, as for 
 me, I would not have mj conscience tied bj Charles Stuart's 
 belt, nor any who are called his subjects, though I were to 
 live an hundred years; no, though I could have the whole 
 world for my pains, for I might as well tie my conscience to 
 the devil and my own corruptions, as yield submission to 
 his iniquitous laws, either by bond, cess, or any thing relating 
 thereto. Now, I bless the Lord, that he who hath led me 
 hitherto, will, I hope, lead me away from him and his, and 
 my own corruptions, and the devil, ere the tenth day of this 
 month pass over. 
 
 And as for my own particular interest, I bless the Lord I 
 am, in some measure, as clear of my interest in Christ, as I 
 am that my pen is writing on this paper ; for I hope, that 
 the Lord will carry me honourably through, and give me 
 that which he hath promised ; ay when I asked faith, he gave 
 me faith, life, light, and a heart to believe, and to love him 
 and his glory, interest, cause, covenant and work of reforma- 
 tion ; and strength to stand, and withstand my enemies, 
 inward and outward, who many a time have assaulted and 
 tempted me, striving to drive me into sin. Indeed, it is true 
 I lived most lewdly, till within a little more than four years 
 past. Oh, if I could go to the stage, blessing and magnify- 
 ing the Lord, that it hath pleased him to bring me from the 
 devil's fire-side, as it were, and to draw me out to hear the 
 gospel of Christ ! I bless the Lord, the first field-preaching 
 that ever I heard, I entered into covenant with him to follow 
 him, though it should cost me my life ; and at a communion 
 in Irongray in Galloway, I had the clear manifestation of 
 my interest. Oh, free grace ! Oh, free love ! Oh, free mercy ! 
 What am I, that he hath been so kind to me, — me I — poor 
 me ! and not only so, but also that he discovered to me the 
 evils of the woful indulgence from the supremacy, and made 
 me to stand and withstand it, and to join with that party, 
 by the bond found upon Mr. Richard Cameron, whom he 
 honoured to witness against it ; and for this I desire to bless 
 him. Oh ! I think, it is Scotland's mercy this day, that he 
 hath opened the eyes of the blind, to see these abominations, 
 
DATID FARRIE. 199 
 
 especially among the ministers, I mean the indulged, and 
 those who plead for them ; Scotland's mercj hath been great, 
 that notwithstanding of their rebellion, and joining with 
 rebels by that supremacy, the Lord opened the eyes of the 
 blind to see these abominations, and to testify against them. 
 I say, this is Scotland's mercy, though some may think other- 
 wise ; for if the Lord had not opened up that evil to poor 
 things, it had been a token that he would have gone his 
 way, and not owned his covenanted land any more ; but 
 it is a token for good yet to the land, that notwithstanding 
 of all our rebellions against him by breach of covenant, 
 he continues yet to discover to his people, what is sin and 
 duty. And this also is a token that the Lord will not leave 
 Scotland, though he may chastise it very sore ; his taking 
 the blood and lives of his saints on fields, seas, and scaffolds, 
 to witness for his covenants ; for the blood of the martvrs 
 is the seed of the church. And this is another token for 
 good to the church, that there is a remnant, though small, 
 that is weeping and lamenting over the broken case of the 
 church, and over the unconcernedness of the people of God, 
 (or of those who say they are the people of God,) and that 
 there are a few to keep clean garments, and to wrestle, 
 and witness against the sins of this generation of covenant- 
 breakers and usurpers. Oh, Sirs, is this not a sweet cordial 
 yet, for all that is come upon us ? Take courage, and plead 
 with the Lord, and also, through his strength, plead with 
 your mother, — the indulged, and against their deeds which 
 they have done, and those that plead for them. Oh, plead, 
 and plead in patience ; let not self rise, let not passion rise 
 and vex you, be sober, be not soon angry ; fear not reproaches; 
 but beware of giving the enemies, or professed friends, just 
 ground of reproach ; walk in the sight of both God and man, 
 without offence and reproach ; and then if men will be 
 offended, let it be for your duty, and -not for your sin. But 
 oh, ^be tender of the glory of God : let there be no vain 
 j anglings, or foolish and unlearned questions among you, 
 knowing that they gender strife. Be tender one of another. 
 Do not reprove every small circumstance, till ye have God 
 with you in your reproof, and the thing be a known sin. 
 Avoid evil company, and rather draw yourselves to prayer 
 alone, and with company when ye have opportunity, and 
 miss no opportunity ; for such is the ready way to cause the 
 
200 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Lord to leave you aud the land ; and then, wo to you, if he 
 depart from you. Oh, invite one another to prayer, especially 
 young folks ; for I think, if the Lord do good to this genera- 
 tion, it will be to the young. Oh, babes and sucklings set 
 to the work ; for the Lord hath promised, that " out of the 
 mouth of babes and sucldings, he will perfect praise." Who 
 knows, if ye be at your duty, but the Lord will yet send 
 teachers, who will stand in the gap, to hold away wrath ; but, 
 till the Lord send them, stand in the gap yourselves ; and 
 when ye have got them, lay not all the stress upon them, lest 
 the last plague be worse than the first. 
 
 Oh, keep warfare against corruptions, and the devil in 
 every thing. Do not make an idol of the godly, though they 
 be really godly, zealous, judicious, and prudent ; I do not 
 mean the prudence that the deniers of Christ and his kingly 
 office mean. Let God be your only God, and not another. 
 Use all things to the use of edifying, and strengthening one 
 another's hands. Own and maintain your brother's just 
 cause, when it comes to an hearing, especially in the matters 
 of God ; and receive one another, " but not to doubtful dis- 
 putations." Join with, and own the godly who are penitent, 
 though there be faults and failings, providing they be sensible 
 of their guilt ; for the Lord maketh more of one prodigal, or 
 of one lost sheep that is come home, or is found, than he doth 
 of ninety-nine who went not astray. So ought ye to do 
 among yourselves ; but beware of any sinful union. Do not 
 seek after ministers till they at least come to take up the 
 work where Mr. Donald C argil left it. Ye will not find 
 them honest till ye find them so ; for I know, there is none 
 who will venture all for Christ and his cause, I mean their 
 lives, liberties, and fortunes, till they be such; and there are 
 none but such who can be counted faithful, for he hath said, 
 " he that loveth father or mother, wife or children, houses 
 or lands, better than me, is not worthy of me ;" and that they 
 who do so " cannot be my disciples." Therefore ye must of 
 necessity look to these things among yourselves, till the Lord 
 send shepherds who will search for the flock ; and not leave, 
 nor tear the flock, in delivering them into the hand of their 
 enemies, as we have the sad experience of this day. Oh, 
 I would not be in the case of the ministers of Scotland this 
 day, for tlie world. Consider Luke xvii. 10, " So likewise 
 when you have done all these things, say, we are unprofit- 
 
DAVID FARRIE. 201 
 
 able servants." Let the law of God be your rule ; and when 
 you have done all to keep the law, yet consider, that it can- 
 not merit any good thing, but you must lean only to the 
 merits and sufferings of Jesus Christ ; yet the law must be 
 observed and obeyed. It is true, " no mere man is able per- 
 fectly to keep the commandments of God," but let not this 
 be your snare, for it is the snare of many of this generation. 
 
 Oh, Sirs, study the scriptures ; walk by the strictness of 
 the law of God, and the liberty of the gospel of peace ; but 
 do not abuse your liberty, to cause the way of God to be evil 
 spoken of. I speak as a dying man, that which I have 
 learned from the word of God, and the turnings of providence. 
 Oh, he hath taught me by his word and gospel, and his 
 Spirit, many things that I cannot express. He hath filled 
 my mouth many a time with arguments, till I could go no 
 farther. I desire to speak it to the commendation of free 
 gTace. If the enemies knew what true grace is, they would 
 not do as they do. But truly I think, the judgment shall 
 be terrible that they shall be trysted with. Oh, it hath been 
 weighty to me, to think on their destruction and misery, 
 which I have thought many times would be eternal ; and yet 
 I have thought on the other hand, that it was my duty, when 
 God's justice passed the sentence, to say ximen, as it were, 
 and so have desired that the Lord would let his determina- 
 tion be executed upon them. Xow, none of the suffering 
 remnant need be discouraged, for God is God, and his word 
 is his word ; and there is no change of times, nor alteration 
 of dispensations, but the word will clear all, in some place of 
 it, and there is no sin that can be commited, but there is a 
 reproof in the word of God to suit it ; nor one objection in 
 the heart, but there is an answer for it from the word ; so 
 study the word of God, and implore his presence in read- 
 ing it. 
 
 Make much use of the Confession of Faith, the Larger 
 and Shorter Catechisms ; mind our Covenants, National and 
 Soleimi League. Be not drawn away with the tyranny and 
 perjury of the times. Know that God is God, and that he 
 will not sit with the wrongs he hath received by the tyranny 
 and perjury of these men; I mean him whom they call 
 supreme magistrate, Charles Stuart, and those under him. 
 God be thanked, the church is well quit of him, though a 
 gaUows be set up for the church, and aU the Jews ; yet, it 
 
202 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 is like, Haman must have a swing of his own weight on the 
 gallows he hath prepared, or else some more disgraceful 
 death. Mind Rutherglen Testimony and Sanquhar Declara- 
 tion and the papers found at the Ferry; do not think that 
 these will fall to the ground. Mind our martyrs' testi- 
 monies, and every thing consistent with the word of God. 
 Do not think but God will be about with this generation, 
 for making so light of such things, and casting them behind 
 their backs. I declare I adhere to every sound writing 
 that is according to the word of God, be the author who 
 will; I say, I declare it as a dying man. Indeed, this 
 generation think no better sport than to take any person 
 and cast him into prison, and if they but find, when they 
 have searched him most barbarously, a paper that there is 
 any religion in, be what it may, presently they impeach him 
 with treason ; nor would the case be different with a female ; 
 but I am sure of this, that God will not sit with such things, 
 but he will be about with them, be who they may. 
 
 Oh, but it is sad to see such things ; this land, doubtless, 
 is ripening for a stroke, and a judgment will pursue it. Oh, 
 who would have thought that Scotland would have quit with 
 her covenanted God, and have trode upon all who have 
 the image of God. It is true, " all things work to the good 
 of them that love him ; " it is this that makes a prison, a 
 banishment, a gallows, sweet indeed. They think it will be, 
 for our disgrace, ignominy, and shame, to take us to the 
 Gallowlee to be executed, but they are all beguiled it will be 
 for our honour ; our God is wise enough for all that. They 
 think it is the disgrace of the Presbyterians in Scotland to 
 have our heads hanging up before the sun. Nay, but they 
 are all beguiled, for it will be recorded from one generation 
 to another, that there was a party of ministers and people 
 who sealed the covenant with their blood, and that their heads 
 were set up for a token of the Lord's kindness to the land. 
 For my part, I think myself unworthy to be reckoned 
 amongst such, yet I hope that it shall be said amongst 
 them in those days, that if there had not been a party to 
 suffer in our cities, there would have been nothing but vile 
 Popery in the land; and so will be rejoicing that ever 
 there was any to suffer for Christ in Scotland. Oh, Scot- 
 land! is there any land so highly honoured as thou art? 
 None. But yet thou hast been, of all nations, the most 
 
JAMES STEWART. 203 
 
 treacherous and bloody. Was there ever a land so blood- 
 thirsty ? 
 
 I can say no more ; but, oh, be earnest with God, and do 
 not leave off your duty, or otherwise I can see nothing but 
 that the dreadful judgment of God shall both pursue you 
 and the land ; indeed, if you remain at your duty, it may 
 be that ye shall prevail with the Lord, both for yourselves, 
 and for the land. But I must leave you to him, who is 
 your God, to lead and guide you in all truth and honesty, 
 both towards God and man. Now, farewell thou vile 
 Scotland ; farewell thou highly honoured Scotland ; fare- 
 well friends in Christ ; farewell life, and liberty in life. 
 Welcome Christ, heaven, and eternal salvation, for ever and 
 ever. 
 
 David Farrie. 
 
 Last Speech and Testimony of Ja:vies Stewart, w^ho 
 suffered at the Gallowlee, Edinburgh, October 10th, 
 1681. 
 
 Dear Friexds, — I am in prison for Christ and his perse- 
 cuted cause, though some may say otherwise, from the man- 
 ner in which I was taken ; yet I do not care what they say, 
 for I have had, and still have, great peace in my sufferings. 
 But some will be ready to say, that it was an imprudent 
 and an unsure action, and so might have been forborne. 
 Suppose it be so, it is not the head of my suffering, for it 
 was not that upon which I was staged, for I was staged for 
 the truth, the next day after I was taken, being brought 
 before a committee ; though indeed I was not so free as I 
 should have been. There is a passage. Acts xxi. of Paul's 
 going up to Jerusalem, which, some say, he might have 
 forborne, but more especially his going up to the temple, 
 and doing those things which are according to the law ; he 
 might, I say, have forborne this, and walked according to 
 his former practice, doctrine, and writings. But though his 
 going to the temple was the occasion of his taking, yet it 
 was not the head of his suffering; so I say, though that 
 which I did in relieving my brother was the occasion, yet 
 my suffering was stated on another head. I cannot see 
 
204 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 how it is, as ye say, for seeing it my duty and finding oppor- 
 tunity, I had a clear call for all that I did. And besides all 
 that, being bound in covenant to defend and maintain one 
 another, we are bound as well to relieve one another out of 
 prison, when that is possible. But I need not stand much 
 in making this out, it being the way that the Lord took to 
 bring me to my suffering ; and I am heartily content with 
 my lot, and desire with my soul to bless him for it. I was 
 dreadfully aspersed when that bond of liberation was offered 
 to us ; but though some had clearness to take it, yet I could 
 never have taken it in peace ; and I bless the Lord who kept 
 my hand from it: it was neither strength nor sharp-sighted- 
 ness in me that withheld me from yielding to the tempta- 
 tion; but the Lord liath showed himself graciously favour- 
 able and kind unto me, now when I am set up like a beacon 
 upon the top of an hill, and the eyes of many being upon 
 me, and all are wondering at me, and calling me distracted, 
 and saying I am a fool; but the Lord be thanked, 1 have 
 all the senses that ever I had, though distressed, yet I des- 
 pair not. Neither am I suffering as a fool, for I know 
 assuredly this is the way to obtain the promise. There is 
 nothing in it meritorious, I confess ; for all my suffering he 
 may put me into hell ; but I say, the suffering of reproaches, 
 and the scourge of tongues, is a symptom or mark of his 
 way, when it is for his sake ; " blessed are ye when men shall 
 revile you, and speak all manner of evil against you, and 
 persecute you for my name's sake." Mat. v. 11. It is for his 
 name's sake that I am suffering, and this confirms me of it, 
 "ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake; but he 
 that endureth unto the end shall be saved." Mat. x. 22. 
 
 Now, it is for Christ's kingly office that I am suffering; 
 this is the main head on which my suffering is stated, that 
 Jesus Christ is King and head of Zion ; but I desire and 
 charge you to beware of misconstructing my sufferings, and 
 saying that I am suffering for disowning of authority, and 
 declining of judges ; it is not so. I am a Presbyterian in my 
 judgment, and own both magistracy and ministry, according 
 to the word of God, and as he hath ordained them ; but if 
 Charles Stuart's authority be according to the word of God, 
 I am mistaken. If he be exercising his power to the terror 
 of evil-doers, and the encouragement of them that do well, I 
 die in an error. I say, beware of judging, for I am a Pres- 
 
JAMES STEWART. 205 
 
 byterian in mj judgment, and a member of the church of 
 Scotland, and am to seal her testimony with my blood. 
 
 I adhere to that blessed transaction between the Father 
 and the Son, devised from all eternity, — the Father to send 
 his Son, and the Son to come and satisfy divine justice, and 
 so redeem lost man. I adhere to the scriptures of the Old 
 and New Testaments, which are all standing in force until 
 this day, and obligatory upon us, except the ceremonial law, 
 with a part of the judicial, which is now abrogated and abol- 
 ished by our Lord's coming, he being the end of the law. 
 I adhere to our glorious work of Reformation, Confession of 
 Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Acknowledgment of 
 Sins, and Engagement to Duties, though they be abused 
 and misconstructed by many. And I adhere to the Sum 
 of Saving Knowledge, wherein is held forth the life and 
 marrow of religion. I adhere to all the testimonies that 
 have been given. Mr. Guthrie, Argyle, and Waristoun, gave 
 their testimony according to the light that the Lord gave 
 them, and I do not condemn their testimony, as some do, 
 for at some times the Lord gives more light than at other 
 times; so it cannot be said that we contradict or disown 
 their testimony, though it hath pleased the Lord, through 
 continuance of time, to give more light of the abounding 
 abominations that are still growing and increasing in this 
 generation ; and so whatever they omitted, through want of 
 that light, which it hath pleased the Lord to let us see, 
 makes no contradiction. I adhere to the Rutherglen and 
 Sanquhar Declarations. I adhere to the paper found upon 
 Mr. Richard Cameron at Airsmoss, 'July 22, 1680. I ad- 
 here to the papers that were found at the Queensferry upon 
 Henry Hall. I adhere to any writings that are according 
 to the word of God, for truth is truth, come by whom it 
 will. Now, as a dying man, I adhere to all these things. I 
 have received an unjust sentence from men, for owning and 
 adhering to the same, and for protesting against the bring- 
 ing in of Popery to defile the land. And likewise upon 
 these accounts I disown Charles Stuart to be my king and 
 sovereign. First, because of that hellish act of Supremacy, 
 and that act Rescissory, whereby they have overturned and 
 wrested all the laws, acts, and constitutions of the land ; for 
 in the foresaid act he assumeth unto himself that which be- 
 longs properly to our Lord and Master, and says, that he 
 
 T 
 
206 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 rules over all things both spiritual and temporal ; and then, 
 when he hath made himself supreme over all things, he re- 
 scinds the laws that are of God, and sets up other laws, to 
 satisfy his own lusts, in murdering, killing, and destroying 
 the Lord's people ; and this, together with his dreadful per- 
 jury and blasphemy in covenant breaking, is the reason why 
 I disown him. I decline them as judges, for the opening a 
 door to Popery, by receiving that Popish Duke in among 
 them, which I protest and leave my testimony against, it 
 being contrary to our engagements to suffer Papists to dwell 
 amongst us ; and to have a professed Papist to usurp over 
 us, is repugnant to our principles. I leave my testimony 
 against Prelacy, as a limb of the antichristian whore of 
 Rome. I leave my testimony against all the abominations 
 of this generation, such as blaspheming of the holy name of 
 the Lord, drunkenness, stealing, whoring, and all manner of 
 uncleanness. I leave my testimony against all indifference 
 and lukewarm neutralitv in our Lord's matters. I leave 
 my testimony against the Indulgences, first and last, as 
 having a greater hand in breaking of the Church of Scotland 
 than all the enemies living in it could have done ; for they 
 sold their Master's truths, and gave away their pleasant 
 things with their own hands, and so came in under Charles 
 Stuart, and took him for their head, and have cast oft' their 
 rightful head Jesus Christ. Eph. i. 22, " and hath put all 
 things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all 
 things to the church." Wo will be unto them for what 
 they have done to the poor kirk of Scotland. I leave my 
 testimony against silent and unwatchful ministers. Re- 
 member, there are many taken away, and it is to be feared, 
 in their iniquity ; and do ye think that ye are free of their 
 blood ! Ye may look wliat warning ye have given, and if it 
 be faithful, then ye may say that ye are not guilty. But 
 there is not a minister this day, who dares to say he is at his 
 duty. They refuse to give counsel when asked, as I myself 
 can witness ; for when that liberation was granted, I sent to 
 one of them, and charged him, as I judged him faithful, to 
 tell me his mind, which he refused ; and said, Silence might 
 serve for an answer, I was not suffering for truth. But I 
 heartily forgive him and all men, for what they have done 
 to me individually, but how they have reproached Christ 
 and his way, it is not mine to forgive them. 
 
'jAMES STEWART. 207 
 
 Oh, the ministers of Scotland are become light and treach- 
 erous persons, as well as revolters; they are become raven- 
 ing wolves ; so I cannot see how they have not unministered 
 themselves. If Abiathar was turned out of the priest's office 
 for leaving David and following Adonijah, how much more 
 ought the ministers of Scotland, for leaving him who is the 
 true Head of the church, and choosing Charles Stuart for 
 their head? It is not long since they preached that to be 
 sin which they are now practising. I have no doubt, but 
 ere long, there shall come out tire from Abimelech, and 
 destroy the men of Shechem, and fire from them, and devour 
 him. And ere long Mr. Donald C argil, and Mr. Richard 
 Cameron, whose names are now a derision among ministers 
 and professors, shall be had in remembrance ; and those who 
 calumniate and asperse them shall go away with dismay, 
 and fly away like smoke. I am sure, that the name of tliat 
 now glorified martyr, Donald Cargil, shall last from genera- 
 tion to generation; and he shall have cause to rejoice in his 
 King, Head, and Master, Jesus Christ, when those who 
 condemned him, shall not know where to flee for shelter, and 
 shall be weary of their head, king, and master, Charles Stuart; 
 what they cast upon him as a shame was his glory. He was 
 of a high heroic spirit, and was free of a base and Simonian 
 carriage. He was a man hated of his brethren; but the 
 great Elijah in his time was so. Time and tongue would 
 fail me to speak to his commendation. He was a man who 
 carried the standard, without the help of any visible hand : 
 but he had the help and assistance of his Master, at whose 
 command he was wandering here without residence, but he 
 knew of one above, and had full assurance of his dwelling- 
 place. 
 
 I leave my testimony against uplifting, or causing uplift, 
 cess or excise, or any thing for the maintaining that tyrant, 
 or any of his emissaries ; it being for nothing but maintain- 
 ing those ruffian troopers and soldiers who are kept for 
 nothing but to suppress and bear down the gospel, and ban- 
 ish it out of the land. I leave my testimony against all 
 declaration-takers and bonders, especially the taking that 
 bond of liberation, as they call it, of the date of August 3th, 
 1680, as far as they were convinced it was sin, as some of 
 themselves said it was. I leave my testimony against that 
 test, and all the rest of their proceedings and acts of parlia- 
 
208 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 ment. I leave my testimony against jailor fee-paying, it 
 being an acknowledgment of their tyranny to be lawful, 
 which how unjust it is, I have a proof among others ; for 
 that night I was before York, and the rest, (October 1st, 
 1681,) being examined by Sir George M'Kenzie, York and 
 William Patersou came to me, and when I was silent, and 
 would not answer to some things they asked at me, he 
 threatened to take out my tongue with a pair of pincers ; 
 and he held him as a witness against me. And though I 
 told him, that he was a judge the other night, and they 
 could not hold him as a witness against us before another 
 justiciary, yet they did it ; which was neither according to 
 law nor reason. If there were no more but that one passage, 
 it proves them to be unjust judges, and there are many 
 worse than that. I leave my testimony against the mount- 
 ing of militia, and uplifting of money for his service. I 
 leave my testimony against every thing that may strengthen 
 his hands, or weaken the hands of the people of the Lord. 
 
 Now, I desire you, as a dying man, who am within forty- 
 eight hours, or little more, of eternity, to disown Charles 
 Stuart to be your king and sovereign. I charge you so to 
 do, as you would have peace with God ; for I never knew 
 what true peace was till I did it, and took Jesus Christ for 
 my king and lawgiver. Not that I disown kings or kingly 
 government, I own both ; but when their actions are such 
 as Charles Stuart's are, we cannot in conscience yield to 
 him ; for he hath murdered the Lord's people our brethren : 
 and when we acknowledge even his civil authority, I cannot 
 see how we are clear of blood, it being by a shadow of 
 law and authority that he takes away their lives ; and to 
 own him in ecclesiastical matters, I think there will be none 
 so absurd as to say we should do that, he having nothing to 
 do in the church. He only received the sceptre in his 
 hand, to be a hedge about, and to defend her ; and now ye 
 see how he hath destroyed her, instead of defending her. I 
 give you it in short, and desire you to ponder and consider 
 it, and ye will not find me so mad, as many of you say I am ; 
 for I am not prodigal of my life, neither have I a hand in 
 my own death ; for I love my life as well as my neighbours, 
 and it is as dear to me as any of yours is to you : but when 
 it comes in competition with my Lord's truths, I dare not 
 seek to save my life with prejudice thereunto. Neither am I 
 
JAMES STEWART. 209 
 
 wearied of my life, though it is true indeed, there is nothing 
 here to be coveted, yet, that is not enough to weary one ; 
 therefore I charge you, that ye do not brand me with asper- 
 sions when I am gone. I leave my blood on all the assizers, 
 who, after we had given in protestation against all their pro- 
 ceedings, both in their council and justiciary, and told them, 
 that it was for no action that we were suffering, but only on 
 matters of conscience and judgment that we were panneUed ; 
 yet notwithstanding of our charging them with our blood, 
 they most unjustly took away our lives. Do not think this 
 flows from a spirit of malice, spite, bitterness, or revenge ; 
 for I desire to bless the Lord, I am free of the spirit of 
 bitterness or revenge : but as they take away my life without 
 and against any just law, I cannot get it passed. Do not 
 think that I am an enthusiast, and take on me a bare impulse 
 of the Spirit for a call to suffer, or the word as it lies literally, 
 for a call ; for it is not so, I having desired and used some 
 endeavours, though it has been in great weakness I confess, 
 yet I dare say, in some respect, my desire to the Lord about 
 it hath been sincere, that he would help me to get his word 
 and my own conscience consulted, and try the word by the 
 spirit, and the spirit by the word ; for it is but a dead letter 
 without the spirit. And likewise my blood is lying, and 
 will be heavy on that Popish Duke. And I will not say but 
 the Lord will permit him to usurp the crown of Scotland, but 
 the blood that he hath got to welcome him home to it, and 
 to satisfy his own lust, will weigh him down from the throne ; 
 indeed, I fear that he will get his design drawn to a great 
 length, and get the ark carried away, even to your appre- 
 hension, out of Scotland; but remember the Philistines 
 carrying away the ark, and the men of Bethshemesh look- 
 ing into it, how the Lord smote them : so I think, when 
 they have got the kirk banished and destroyed, and the 
 witnesses all killed, when they will look on the church as 
 carried clean away, and thereupon shall turn secure, the 
 Lord will be avenged on them, and charge them with all the 
 blood they have so heinously shed. Indeed, we have deserved 
 no less than the Lord's leaving this land, and to give it into 
 the hands of our enemies : but as long as there is no appear- 
 ance of a better church in the whole world, ye need not 
 fear that the Lord will transfer Scotland's right of a church 
 to any other. He suffered the children of Israel many a 
 , t2 
 
210 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 time to fall into, and lie under, the hands of their enemies ; 
 but he never forsook them altogether, until there came a 
 better in their place. Likewise, my blood is on all the par- 
 liamenters and counsellors, those of the justiciary, as they 
 call it. 
 
 Now, dear friends, I am going to eternity, ere it be long, 
 from whence I cannot return ; and as a dying man, I give 
 you warning, and bid you take heed what you are doing. 
 Be tender of the glory of God, and take no unlawful gate 
 to shun suffering, nor sinful shifts to come by the cross. 
 But when there is a cross lying in the way, see that ye seek 
 not to go about it ; and venture upon suffering before sinning, 
 for he never sent any a warfare upon their own charges. If 
 any knew the sweetness of a prison, they would not be so 
 afraid to enter upon suffering; ye would not join with the 
 Lord's enemies as ye are doing. Oh, dear friends, take 
 warning now, for it is a question if ever ye get any more 
 warnings of this kind: for it is a sad juncture that your lot 
 and mine is fallen into ; but now I am going away home. 
 Oh, the Lord is kind to me, who hath honoured me so highly, 
 and is also taking me away from the evil to come. Lideed 
 I think there are sad days abiding poor Scotland. Oh, Sirs, 
 be busy, and venture all upon him, and put all in his hand ; 
 and whatever you have been, let not that scare you; if you 
 have been great sinners, let not that hinder you from coming 
 to him, and closing with him, for thereby the more free 
 grace will be magnified in reclaiming you. I speak this 
 from my own experience, for I was as a brand plucked out 
 of the fire, and he hath brought me through many difiiculties, 
 temptations, and snares, and made my soul escape as a bird 
 out of the cunning fowler's net, and brought me to a prison 
 at length, to suffer bonds for him. He made all things sweet 
 to me, the company sweet to me, even bad company ; he made 
 reproaches sweet. I have been made to wonder at his kind- 
 ness and love to me ward; and now he hath brought me this 
 length, without being afraid of what enemies can do to me ; 
 and this is a great confirmation to me of true love ; perfect 
 love casts out fear. Now, he is faithful into whose hands I 
 commit my spirit and soul, and he will keep it against that 
 day^ 
 
 Now when I am going, farewell all friends and Christian 
 acquaintances; farewell sweet and holy scriptures, wherewith 
 
ROBERT GRAY. 211 
 
 my soul hath been refreshed ; farewell reading, singing, and 
 praying ; farewell sweet meditation ; farewell sun, moon, and 
 stars ; farewell all created comforts. Welcome death ; wel- 
 come sweet gallows, for my sweet and lovely Lord ; welcome 
 angels; welcome spirits of just men made perfect; welcome 
 eternity ; welcome praises ; welcome immediate vision of the 
 Sun of Righteousness. 
 
 James Stewart, 
 
 There suffered also, at the same time and place, one 
 Alexander Russell, whose testimony, differing nothing in 
 substance from the rest, and being in some things not very 
 conveniently expressed, it is not thought necessary to publish 
 it at large, only these heads in it are remarkable. 1. He 
 declares, that for the space of fourteen years, while he heard 
 the curates, he was a person given to all manner of licen- 
 tiousness, keeping company with the profane; drinking, 
 swearing, Sabbath-breaking, and reproaching the people of 
 God. 2. That the first field-preaching ever he heard, to 
 which he went merely out of curiosity, it pleased the Lord 
 to convert him. 3. That the means of his being called out 
 to the help of the Lord's people at Bothwell, was the death 
 of three of his children, within ten days' space, which extra- 
 ordinary providence impressed his heart so, that he durst 
 not sit God's call to that work. 4. lie confessed his having 
 taken the bond for living orderly, as it was called, and with 
 great remorse acknowledges his failings, in that he took not 
 opportunity to confess that sin publicly. All the other 
 heads coincide with the testimonies of the other four who 
 suffered with him. 
 
 Last Testimony of Robert Gray, Northumberland, who 
 suffered for the truth, in the Grass-Market, Edinburgh, 
 May 19th, 1682. 
 
 Interrogations by a Committee of the Council, May 13th. 
 
 Robert Gray being called before the chancellor, and a 
 committee of council, appointed for public affairs, and inter- 
 rogated, If he knew John Anderson, prisoner at Dumfries ? 
 
212 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OP 
 
 He declared, He did not know liim, but had written a letter 
 to him; and that letter being produced to him, he owned 
 the same, as he testified under his hand-writing and sub- 
 scription, at the end thereof. Being asked. If he thought of 
 the king and government as is expressed in that letter? He 
 said, He did, and he owned that in his judgment. Being 
 asked, If he thought the king a tyrant? He said. He had 
 written so, and owned it, and that he wrote this letter to 
 John Anderson, as his duty to his brother. 
 
 The following is a copy of the foresaid Letter, which 
 was all the ground of his indictment. 
 
 Dear Friends, — I received yours, and am much refreshed 
 to hear of any in this day holding by the truth, and who are 
 helped to witness against the wrongs done to our Lord and 
 Master, which is the main thing that we are called to at this 
 time, by which God is glorified, and which shall bring peace 
 to us at the end of the day. As, in answer to that about 
 owning this tyrant in ecclesiastical matters, I hope it is 
 without all doubt and debate, with all the zealous exercised 
 Christians in Scotland, that he should not be owned at all in 
 it, whatever the time-servers, that will sail with any wind 
 that blows do, we are not concerned; who are like Esau, who 
 sold his birth-right for a mess of pottage. And as for own- 
 ing him in civil things, to me it is very clear now as matters 
 are stated, that he should not be owned. In a word, for his 
 breach of the civil law, his pardoning and setting free mur- 
 derers and bougerers, and murdering of poor innocents, and 
 making his will a law, and placing none in public trust but 
 those that have taken that black test, utterly to disown the 
 whole work of reformation ; with which way I cannot meddle, 
 directly or indirectly, without saying a confederacy with 
 them. 
 
 There might be more said upon this head, if time would 
 permit; but I think this, with what our late worthies did in 
 casting this tyrant ofi", and out of the church, might give fuU 
 satisfaction not to own them in any thing, seeing they have 
 acted for the devil more than ever ; and it has prospered 
 more in their hands than formerly. Indeed, if we consult 
 men at this time in the matters of godliness, no wonder we 
 be in the dark ; but, oh, beware of that, and fly to the holy 
 
ROBERT GRAY. 213 
 
 word of God. Beware of looking out at any back door, or 
 halting betwixt two opinions ; for of a truth there is a halting 
 this dav, that will not be approven of God, in meddling with 
 this malignant party, directly or indirectly. It is a thousand 
 to one if they see it. As anent Barscob and Major Lermont, 
 they got their sentence on Friday last, to die on the 28th 
 instant, and other two, Hugh Micldewraith and Robert 
 Fleming, got their sentence on that day too, and should have 
 died on Wednesday last ; but they have got a remission to 
 the 28th day, and it is reported, that Barscob and the rest 
 have offered to take the test, and they have sent up to the 
 tyrant on that account, to save their lives ; and as for John 
 
 M'Clurg and R N there is no word yet what they 
 
 will do with them; I shall give you an account afterwards. 
 My soul is grieved to see the treachery that is used in the 
 matters of God among the prisoners, and their seeking sinful 
 shifts to shun the cross of Christ. Oh, dear friends, seek to 
 be kept steadfast in the day of trial. Now, I can say no 
 more ; but leave you in his hand, who has brought you to 
 the trial, and can carry you cleanly through it. I rest, your 
 fellow-prisoner and friend, 
 
 Robert Gray. 
 
 Last Testimony of Robert Gray. 
 
 Men and Brethren, — I have got my sentence of death 
 from men, who are unjustly taking away my life, merely for 
 adhering to my principles, and have no matter of fact to 
 prove against me ; but only adhering to the truths of Jesus 
 Christ, and testifying against their sinful laws and actions, 
 which my indictment will testify. They take away my life 
 for declining their authority, and calling Charles Stuart a 
 tyrant, and speaking against their test, that they have made 
 to overturn the whole work of reformation, in calling it the 
 Black Test. Now many may condemn me, and no doubt 
 dp, in my writing that letter to John Anderson, whom I 
 own as my brother in Christ, suffering upon the same heads, 
 in Dumfries prison. I do not much care what the time- 
 servers say; but I hope none of the zealous exercised 
 Christians in the land, that are concerned with the wrongs 
 done to their Lord and Master Jesus Christ, will do it ; I 
 having a right call to do what I did, he writing to me, and I 
 
214 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 giving him an answer, in which I have great peace, notwith- 
 standing it has brought me upon trial, and mj God has 
 owned me in it. And let such as will condemn me, mind 
 that scripture, "it is God that justifieth, who is he that 
 condemneth?" I bless the Lord that ever I was honoured 
 to testify against the wrongs done to mj Lord and Master 
 Jesus Christ, either bj word or writing. Oh, wonder! what 
 am I, that ever he should have chosen the like of me, who 
 have been one of the vilest of sinners ! If the world had 
 seen me as he saw me, thej would not have chosen me, no 
 not to have kept company with. But oh, wonder, that his 
 condescending love has not only taken me to be a servant, 
 but to be one of the children of the family ! and has said to 
 me, " because I live, ye shall live also." John xiv. 19. He 
 has chosen me, and not I him. " Behold, I have refined 
 thee, but not with silver ; I have chosen thee in the furnace 
 of af&iction, for mine own sake, even for mine own sake 
 will I do it." Isa. xlviii. 10. Now, I had his promise before 
 ever I came to a prison, that he should honour me, " because 
 he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: 
 I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 
 He shall call upon me and I will answer him ; I will be with 
 him in trouble, I will deliver him, and honour him." Psal. 
 xci. 14, 15. Now, this is the ground upon which I have 
 walked, and the grip I have got, which I have holden till 
 now ; I mean, when I covenanted with my God, to take him 
 upon the terms of his offer. It is a year bygone, the first 
 week of May, 1681, since I personally subscribed my name 
 to be the Lord's ; for before that I played many times fast- 
 and-loose with God, for which I take shame and confusion 
 of face to myself, which is my due ; but since I have been 
 kept free of what formerly I was guilty of, though the as- 
 saults of Satan have not been wanting, I durst not look back, 
 nor yet take my word again, but desired to act and contend 
 for my Lord and Master Jesus Christ's riglits, and not to 
 quit them to any, which he helped and owned me in. 
 
 Oh, dear friends, all of you that are contending for 
 Christ's truths, get once a right in himself, and ye cannot 
 then, nor dare not but contend for him. But while ye are 
 in the dark about your interest, ye can never walk upon 
 sure grounds ; but like a man walking in the dark, that has 
 hopes of getting to his lodging, but knows not the way: and 
 
ROBERT GRAY. 215 
 
 the thing that steals many of this generation off their 
 feet is, they go to seek the way from others that are also 
 in the dark of it themselves, and they seek the way from 
 men, and follow the example of men, because they think 
 they are godly men, and by their practice they think they 
 have the image of God; and because of that they follow 
 them, and take their advice, and do what they do, thinking 
 they cannot do wrong ; but I am certain, that it is not the 
 way of God in this dark day, to seek it from blind guides, 
 and not from the true guide Jesus Christ, " who is given 
 for a leader and a commander to his people;" we ought to 
 be led by none, nor have counsel fi'om none but himself; 
 for the Spirit of God sa.ys, " wo to the rebellious children, 
 saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me ; and that 
 cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit, that they may 
 add sin to sin; and walk and go down into Egypt, and 
 have not asked at my mouth." Isa. xxx. 1. Oh, but this is 
 the very thing that I have seen at this day, especially since 
 I came to prison. Oh, the treachery against God, which has 
 been there, which was my only burden and grief, and 
 made me weary of the prison, and desire to be gone ; they 
 taking counsel from men, and placing vile and unworthy 
 men as agents to plead for them in Christ's matters, and 
 dare not trust him with it themselves ; and so it is no won- 
 der that he leave them, and they go a black gate. I take 
 the walls of the Cannongate tolbooth, in which I was pris- 
 oner near ten months, to be witness against the wrongs 
 done to my Lord and blaster Jesus Christ there, both 
 before and since; and I take the good maintenance they 
 have had, to witness to their conscience at the great day of 
 account. They had never reason to complain of wants, or 
 to say that our Lord was a hard master; and yet they 
 wrong him, most treacherously and cunningly hiding from 
 the eyes of the world their compliance with their agents ; 
 and like the whore, wiping their mouth, and saying, they 
 have done no evil, and think they have peace. Oh, but my 
 soul trembles to think of that peace ; — to seek peace with 
 the enemies of God, and say they have peace in it ! I'll 
 not say, but ye may have peace at present, when ye go out 
 of prison, because ye are going home to your idols and 
 Delilahs whatever they be, either your wives or children, 
 
216 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMOXT OF 
 
 or lands or enjoyments; but I yrill sav this, that if jou have 
 wronged the work of God for them, thej shall be accursed 
 to JOU, and prove a snare to jou; and then you shall see 
 what peace you will have. Let such as have meddled, or 
 are meddling with these perjured men, see that scripture 
 as anent their peace, " they have made them crooked paths ; 
 whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace." Isa. lix. 8. 
 And I am convinced, that those that meddle with them, 
 directly or indirectly, when called to witness for truth, or 
 staged thereupon, and yield to them in their desires that 
 are sinful, shall break their peace with God, and shall hinder 
 themselves to get the bargain made with him ; and if they 
 have made it, it will be very much if the bargain stand, 
 without drawing a new engas^ement, and deep mourning for 
 the wrongs done to him. For our Lord is now taking a 
 narrow look of Scotland, and seeing who did put the hand 
 to the plough to carry on the work of reformation, to banish 
 Popery out of Scotland, and also who is countenancing 
 Popery, and this Popish Duke, that has gotten in his foot 
 in Scotland, which will be the blackest sight ever poor 
 Scotland saw. But whoever of the nobles or gentry of the 
 land is guilty ; yet I will assure you, as sure as the Lord 
 is in heaven, ministers, yea Presbyterian ministers, are not 
 free of Popery's coming into the land ; because they have 
 not testified against it, who should have set the trumpet to 
 their mouth, and have given faithful warning, and so they 
 would have delivered their own souls, and the souls of 
 others ; whereas now poor things are ensnared ; but their 
 blood will be required at ministers' hands : and ye that are 
 old wily professors, that have taken the lee side of the brae, 
 and are advising others to do so, ye are not free of the inno- 
 cent blood shed in Scotland, and the loss of poor souls, 
 because your practice of seeming piety and holiness so blinds 
 their eyes ; and what ye do, as godly men, in the town and 
 country parishes, in going to hear the curates, that have 
 taken that black test, or any other thing, ye do it to save 
 your gear, and they follow your practice ; but assure your- 
 selves, the loss of their souls will be required at your hands, 
 who are ringleaders in an evil course, be who ye will, in 
 prison or out of prison ; our Lord is now near his coming, 
 and is begun to tread upon Scotland's sea, and will within a 
 
ROBERT GRAY. 217 
 
 little tread upon the necks of his enemies, and come and 
 deliver his church, which I die in the faith of. But it will 
 be a costly delivery. 
 
 Now, I adhere and give my testimony to that glorious 
 work of reformation, in reforming this land from Popery. 
 And I adhere to the National Covenant, and Solemn League 
 and Covenant, Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter 
 Catechisms, Acknowledgment of Sins, and Engagement to 
 Duties. I adhere to the testimonies of our worthies that 
 have gone before, and those of late, that are so much con- 
 demned by the professors of this generation ; but this I will 
 adventure to say, that those who are condemning them, 
 whom God hath justified, shall never be honoured to give a 
 testimony to the truths of Christ, and against his enemies. 
 I adhere to all the meetings and assemblies of the people of 
 God, that have been in Scotland in defence of the gospel. 
 I adhere to Pentland, Drumclog, Bothwell, and Airsmoss, 
 where our worthies fell ; which blood (I die in the faith of it) 
 shall have a glorious spring: which quarrel the God of 
 heaven, the covenanted God of Scotland, will resent. I 
 also adhere to and heartily join with the Rutherglen Declara- 
 tion ; and I disown the Hamilton Declaration, because it 
 took in the jVIalignant interest. I adhere to the Sanquhar 
 Declaration, and Queensferry papers, and the Excommuni- 
 cation at the Torwood, as lawful and right, in casting off 
 Charles Stuart, and the rest of the Malignant party. And 
 it shall be seen within a few years, that the party that the 
 Lord stirred up for that use, was in their duty, and that 
 those who lay by were not. I also adhere to, and heartily 
 join with, that noble testimony given at Lanark, against that 
 black parliament that sat last, to overturn the whole work 
 of reformation, which made that black test, that has defiled 
 the whole land, an open door for Popery to come into 
 the land. I leave my testimony against all those that have 
 taken it, or against those that have or may take favours from 
 men that have taken that test especially. I leave my testi- 
 mony against prisoners, who being in upon account of reli- 
 gion, do tamper any way with those black testers to wrong 
 the interest of God. Wo will be to them that give the 
 enemy such ground to say, we are but fanatics, and will do 
 any thing before we lose our lives, which I myself heard 
 some of them say, which was a grief to my soul, and did 
 
 u 
 
218 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 sting' me to the heart. I leave my testimony against such 
 professors and preachers as can sit in such company, and 
 hear such talk, and not resent it ; it being an acquiescing in 
 the discourse. I leave my testimony against all giving bond 
 and caution, or petitioning the stated enemies of our Lord 
 Jesus Christ. I leave my testimony against all these cess- 
 payers, and doing any other thing that strengthens the 
 enemies' hands, and against jailor fee-paying, since we have 
 done no wi'ong to them ; I deny that we have done any, but 
 they have done us wi'ong. 
 
 I leave my testimony against those ministers that sat in 
 a presbytery, against worthy Mr. Richard Cameron, that 
 highly honoured martyr of Jesus Christ, and thought to 
 have deposed him from his ministry. I also leave my testi- 
 mony against that meeting that sat at Sundowal in Niths- 
 dale, which I was a witness to ; ye will see it more fuUy 
 spoken to in that paper of mine which was found at Kelso, 
 which I own, and desire that it may be put in with this,* 
 that they may go together, and also my indictment with the 
 letter. I am called to set my seal to the faithfulness of that 
 worthy man's doctrine, (Richard Cameron,) who was the 
 man the Lord made use of to establish me in the faith. I 
 bless the Lord that ever I saw him, or was honoured to be 
 in his company. I bless the Lord that ever I was in the 
 company of worthy Mr. Donald C argil. I am likewise here 
 to bear witness to the faithful warning these two worthies 
 gave in Northumberland. I likewise leave my testimony 
 against the professors in Northumberland, that " came not 
 out to help the Lord against the mighty ; " when I myself 
 gave them warning, some of them mocked at me, for which 
 I will be a witness against them at the great day of account. 
 I leave my testimony against the giving bond to assizers or 
 sessions, or answering their courts. My work, while I am 
 here, is only to witness against the sins of the times wherein 
 I live, and the wrongs done to my Lord and Master. I 
 leave my testimony against those four men that were 
 prisoners in the Cannongate tolbooth, John Gibb, and the 
 other three that held his principles. I disown, detest, and 
 abominate their principles, though some were pleased to 
 brand me with them since I came to prison. I heartily for- 
 
 * This paper could not be found. 
 
ROBERT GRAY. 219 
 
 give them whatever they have said of me, as I desire to be 
 forgiven of mj Father who is in heaven. 
 
 Now, mj time here is but short, and I think it needless 
 to write any more, the testimonies of the worthies being so 
 little valued by this generation ; nothing will do but wrath 
 arid judgments — though an angel should come down from 
 heaven it would avail nothing ; for nothing I can see but 
 wrath, judgments, sad judgments, coming on this land very 
 suddenly; but my eyes shall be closed, and I shall not see 
 it, and well is it for me ; therefore I am content, heartily 
 content, seeing I get my soul for a prey. 
 
 I have only a short word to say to the remnant of the 
 Lord's people that is to be left behind, who were my only 
 delight in the world; my soul -trembles to think what was 
 amongst you this day, especially those of you that were in 
 one mind in contending for the truths of our Lord Jesus 
 Christ; whatever has fallen out among you or any that have 
 fallen back, seek to reclaim them, that they may be brought 
 in again. Let self be done away, and partiality, and let the 
 way of God be taken in time. And think not that ye will 
 wait for better times and opportunities ; wait not for that, for 
 ye have time and opportunity now, that ye may not have 
 afterwards ; and if ye get not together presently, you may 
 meet with something shortly that will make you blyth to be 
 together ; and " let those that think they are standing, take 
 heed lest they fall." Now, those that have gone out from 
 us, by complying with the Malignant party, by pleading for 
 Baal's interest, I mean Charles Stuart's interest, and by tak- 
 ing shelter under their wings, I have less hope of them than 
 any. If ye can set up your face to God, and say, that ye 
 never durst comply with these tyrants and usurpers, to wrong 
 the interest of God for the loss of your life or gear, then I 
 will assure you of your soul for a prey. Though ye have 
 lost all that ye have in the world, your children shall see 
 good days, and ye shall have all your wants made up, when 
 ye shall get Christ himself. 
 
 Now, I can stay no longer, nor take up my time any more, 
 for my work is finished, and I have fought the good fight, and 
 finished my course. Strong have been the assaults and trials 
 that I have had from the devil, by all sorts, both ministers 
 and professors, but my God hath helped me to withstand 
 them, for which I bless his holy name, and desire to praise 
 
220 LAST SPEECH A>'D TESTIMONY OF 
 
 him while I am here. Oh, let all the zealous godly in Scot- 
 land praise him on my behalf, that he chose the like of me, 
 who have been a vile sinner. Now, I am this day free from 
 the blood of all men in the world. I desire to forgive all 
 men the wrongs done to me, as I desire to be forgiven of my 
 Father who is in heaven. But for those who have wrong- 
 fully taken away my life, simply for adhering to truth, and 
 for no matters of fact, for my part, I forgive them, but 
 my God shall resent it, with the rest of my dear brethren's 
 blood, that has been shed on fields and scaffolds. 
 
 Now, farewell all creature comforts in time ; farewell 
 sweet societies of the Lord's people, that were my only 
 delight in the world ; farewell holy and sweet scriptures, 
 which only were my comfort in all my straits ; farewell all 
 friends and christian acquaintances ; farewell mother, 
 brother, and all relations in the world ; and farewell sun, 
 moon, and stars. Welcome scaffold, for my sweet Lord 
 Jesus Christ; welcome gibbet, and welcome heaven; welcome 
 immediate presence of God and his Son Jesus Christ, who 
 only has redeemed me by his blood ; welcome angels, and 
 the spirits of just men made perfect, where we shall never 
 part again. Now, Father, into thy hands I commit my 
 spirit, that is thine. Now, come Lord Jesus Christ; come 
 quickly, and receive me hence to my resting-place, where 
 my portion is. 
 
 Robert Gray, 
 
 Account of some of his Last Words in the Council- 
 House, and on the Scaffold. 
 
 Tms worthy martyr, coming out of the tolbooth, to the 
 place of execution, was taken, as the custom is, first into 
 the town council house, where the town council desired 
 that he would purge the city of his blood ; and he ^ told 
 them that judgment would overtake the city, for the inno- 
 cent blood shed therein, and bade them assure themselves of 
 it, for it was without doubt They said to him that he had 
 access to pray, if he would. He told them that he had 
 committed himself to God already. Then they said, if he 
 had not freedom, they were there who would pray for him ; 
 but he, looking round, said he saw none whom he would 
 employ, but he had an Advocate with the Father. Then 
 
ROBERT GRAY. 221 
 
 being brought from thence to the place of execution, after 
 a little discourse to the pretended magistrates of the citj, 
 some of them being present, he sung the Ixxxiv. Psalm, and 
 read the xv. chapter of the Gospel according to John, and 
 after the reading thereof, he said to the multitude, Sirs, ye 
 remember that this is the word of God, and not of man, and 
 that we are to follow no man farther than he follows the 
 word of God ; if light had not come into Scotland, they had 
 been more excusable, but now they have no cloak nor 
 excuse for their sin, and their wrongs done to God ; and 
 because of despised light, and the despised gospel, there is 
 assuredly great wrath coming upon them. He then prayed, 
 and went up the ladder. Looking about to the multitude, 
 he said. Sirs, you are feeding your eyes upon me ; but what 
 see you upon me ? Surely, you see not the wrath of God 
 upon me ; but if ye would look up to the heavens, ye may 
 see the wrath of an angry God against yourselves. I am 
 brought out of another nation to own that covenant which 
 ye have broken, and to seal it, and the glorious work of 
 reformation with my blood ; which covenant ye have not 
 only broken, but ye have given it under your hands, that 
 ye shall never own God any more, nor have any more of 
 him. Glory, glory, glory be to his name, that ever he gave 
 me a life to lay down for him, in witnessing against his 
 enemies, and the wrongs done my Lord and Master, Jesus 
 Christ. The Lord be judge between me and you, who have 
 taken away my life, which of us have been in the wrong to 
 the other ; and assure yourselves there is wrath, sad wrath, 
 hanging over this city, for the innocent blood shed therein. 
 But as for you, who are the remnant of the Lord's people, 
 I would say this to you, keep your ground, and beware of 
 turning aside to one hand or another, and I will assure you, 
 the Lord will prepare a Zoar for you. Cleave to truth, and 
 cleave to one another, and as sure as God lives, ye shall 
 yet see glorious days in Scotland ; I die in the faith of it, 
 that he is in his way returning to the land ; but wo will 
 be to those who are enemies and strangers to him. He 
 then prayed, when some said, Put him over ; and others 
 said, Spare him a little ; but he cried, I am ready ; and the 
 executioner threw him over. 
 
 u2 
 
222 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Last Testimony of James Robertson, Parish of Stone- 
 house, who suffered in the Grass-Market, Edinburgh, 
 December 15th, 1682. 
 
 Interrogations before the Council. 
 
 1. Is the king your lawful prince, yea or nay? Ans. 
 Since you have made your questions matters of life and 
 death, ye ought to give time to deliberate upon them ; but 
 seeing I am put to it, I answer, as he is " a terror to evil- 
 doers, and a praise to them that do well," he is, or is not. 
 2. Were Pentland and Bothwell acts of traitory? A. They 
 being in self-defence, and the defence of the gospel, they 
 are not acts of traitory, or rebellion; self-defence being 
 always lawful, which I prove by the Confession of Faith, in 
 that article whereon ye ground yourselves; which is, that 
 subjects may resist unjust violence and tyranny. 3. But 
 wherein lies his tyranny? A. If robbing the privileges of 
 the church be not an act of tyranny, I refer it to be judged. 
 4. Is the king a tyrant? A. I refer it to his obligation in 
 the coronation oath, and his present actings and practice, 
 in robbing the privileges of the gospel; with the usurpation 
 of the church's liberties, and the prerogatives rojal of Jesus 
 Christ, the anointed of the Father, in making himself 
 supreme: and I refer it to persons at home, and nations 
 abroad. 5. Were you at Bothwell Bridge? A. Ye count it 
 an act of traitory, and also rebellion, which is criminal: bear 
 witness of it, and so make it evident. 6. They said, Purge 
 yourself by oath, and so we offer to set you at liberty. I 
 answered, I would say no more of it; for when I told the 
 truth to some of jou, I was not believed. One of them said, 
 Now, I will try if you be a man of parts. 7. There was an 
 act of parliament, when the Confession of Faith was made, 
 declaring that the king was supreme, and it was owned by 
 the Presbyterians of that time? A. How could that be 
 owned, seeing the Confession was owned, and I called for 
 the act, but it was not brought. 8. Was the bishop's death 
 murder? A. When I am judge set on the bench, I shall 
 pass sentence thereupon. Being questioned farther anent 
 it, I said, I have answered that already, I will say no more 
 
JAMES ROBERTSON. 223 
 
 to it. 9. Own you Lanark and Sanquhar Declarations? 
 A. I cannot own any thing, till I see and consider it. 10. 
 Keep you your parish kirk. A. If the minister have aught 
 to challenge me with, he may do it. 11. Now, as a test of 
 your loyalty, will you say, God save the king? A. A prayer 
 ought to be gone about with composure and deliberation, 
 and I am not in a composure for it. 12. Would ye not 
 seek a blessing, if at meat? A, If ye were present, ye 
 would see. One of them said, These principles will con- 
 demn you. I answered. If I be absolved of God, it is the 
 less matter though men condemn me. 
 
 Last Testimony of James Robertson. 
 
 Dear Friends, — True lovers of Zion's righteous cause, if 
 I could speak or write any thing to the commendation of 
 the covenanted God of the church and kingdom of Scotland, 
 I have surely many things for which to do it. 1. That he 
 trysted my lot to be in a nation where he hath set up his 
 pure worship, whereas he might have let it be among the 
 Pagans and heathen nations that know nothing of the true 
 God. 2. He might have ordered my lot among those that 
 are worshipping Antichrist, that whore of Rome, that mon- 
 strous beast, that "sitteth upon many waters," whose sentence 
 may be read, Rev. xiv. 9 — 11, " And the third angel followed 
 them, saying with a loud voice. If any man worship the 
 beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, 
 or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath 
 of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the cup 
 of his indignation ; and he shall be tormented with fire and 
 brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in the 
 presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment 
 ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day 
 nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and who- 
 soever receiveth the mark of his name," &c: so that it is 
 as sure as God is God, and the holy scriptures are his word, 
 according to which all men that have heard or seen it, shall 
 be judged, having the sentence of absolution or condemna- 
 tion passed according thereto. " For as many as have sinned 
 without law, shall also perish without law; and as many as 
 have sinned in the law, shall be judged by the law," Rom. 
 ii. 12. So that it is clear, that the first wiU surely perish, 
 
224 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 viz. all infidels, atheists, and Pagans that know not the true 
 God, nor his law. " And as many as have sinned in the 
 law, shall be judged bj the law," &c. So that whatever vain 
 hopes Papists may have of being saved, living and dying 
 Papists, or whatever charity loose Protestants have upon that 
 account to give them, they are as far from being saved in 
 that unconverted condition, as devils which are eternally cast 
 out of his presence. 3. I have him to bless for this, that 
 my lot is not among the corrupt Protestant churches abroad, 
 where Lutheranism and other corruptions and errors, both 
 in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, sectarian, 
 Episcopal, or Erastian abound; but, in the reformed 
 Church of Scotland, where all these things have been cast 
 over the hedge, as plants not of his planting: and where 
 Christ hath been owned in all his three offices. King, Priest, 
 and Prophet; though alas! he may say of us, in a great 
 measure, as to the church of Israel of old, " 1 have planted 
 her a noble vine, but how has she become a degenerate plant 
 of a strange vine unto me ! " In that day of planting, we 
 could have sung that song, " We have a strong city, salva- 
 tion will God appoint her for walls and bulwarks," &c. Isa. 
 xxvi. 1. " The Lord hath accomplished his fury, he hath 
 poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, 
 and it hath devoured the foundations thereof. The kings 
 of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not 
 have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have 
 entered into the gates of Jerusalem. For the sins of her 
 prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed 
 the blood of the just in the midst of her. They have wan- 
 dered as blind men in the streets, they have polluted them- 
 selves with blood, so that men could not touch their gar- 
 ments," &c. Lam. iv. 11 — 14. This may be our regret be- 
 fore God, as it is in verses 7 and 8 of this chapter, " Her 
 Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, 
 they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing 
 was of sapphire. Their visage is blacker than a coal ; they 
 are not known in the streets ; their skin cleaveth to their 
 bones ; it is withered, it is become like a stick," &c. And oh ! 
 how unnatural-like were it for a mother to let her child, the 
 son of her womb, perish for lack of the breasts ; would she 
 be free of the child's blood, if it perished for want of its 
 natural food ? And oh ! how many are this day perishing 
 
JAMES ROBERTSOX. 225 
 
 for want of the lively preached gospel ; " the daughters of 
 mj people are become cruel like the ostriches in the wilder- 
 ness." 4. I have him to bless that I am not this day fight- 
 ing against him in an open war ; and so bearing arms against 
 him, his work, and people, for there is no more in me as of 
 myself, than those who are imbruing their hands deepest in 
 the blood of the saints. 5. I have him to bless, that ever he 
 hath opened my eyes to see the mystery of iniquity that 
 abounds, and hath its seat in the heart, and also in some 
 measure hath given me a sight of the remedy in the blood 
 of Jesus Christ, with his spirit engaging me to himself, let- 
 ting me see himself to be altogether precious, making me see 
 that it is better to be " a door-keeper in the house of God, 
 than to dwell in the tabernacles of sin." " Thou shalt guide 
 me with thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. 
 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none 
 upon earth that I desire besides thee," Psalm Ixxiii. 24, 25. 
 6. I have his holy name to bless, that ever he made me to 
 know any thing, how small soever, of his controverted truth, 
 viz., the privileges of his crown and kingdom, now when by 
 their acts and laws they have taken his crown and sceptre, 
 and royal robe, and settled the whole government of his 
 house upon a man that is but a worm. But this I believe, 
 his decree will stand, oppose it who will ; " Yet have I set 
 my King upon my holy hill of Zion," &c. Psalm ii. 6. " I 
 am the Lord, that is my name ; my glory will I not give to 
 another, nor my praise to graven images," &c. Isa. xlii. 8. 
 Now, is not that his declarative glory, which that usurper 
 hath taken to himself ? yea, he that " leadeth captivity cap- 
 tive," according to his royal word, will reclaim his own 
 glory ; he it is alone that hath given Christ to be the sure 
 foundation whereon all the building is fitly framed ; " That 
 Stone which the builders rejected, is made the head of the 
 corner." " Thus saith the Lord God, behold I lay in Zion 
 for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner- 
 stone, a sure foundation ; he that believeth, shall not make 
 haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteous- 
 ness to the plummet, and the hail shall sweep away the 
 refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding- 
 place," Isa. xxviii. 16, 17. 7. I bless and magnify the holy 
 name of my God, that hath called me to be a sufferer for 
 his work and interest, counting it not my shame but a high 
 
226 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 privilege and dignifying of me, when many famous in this 
 generation have been denied it, though, indeed, most of this 
 generation have brought up an ill report upon the cross, 
 endeavouring, by their practice, to render it of none effect ; 
 but my encouragement is, " who is he that will harm you, 
 if you be followers of that which is good ? " &c. 8. I have 
 this great and glorious Prince to praise ; and oh, let all the 
 true children of Zion laud and praise this only praise-worthy 
 God, that hath not only called me to bear witness to the 
 truth, but hath helped me not to deny his name, titles, and 
 attributes ; for the thing that the enemies and usurpers of 
 my lovely Lord's crown are seeking to deny, is allegiance 
 to him, " who is given of the Father to be a leader and a 
 commander to the people," even him " on whose shoulders 
 the government is laid," and who hath committed the ordering 
 of his house to faithful stewards, to order his affairs accord- 
 ing to his own appointment in his holy word, and hath not 
 left it to the prudence of men, how learned soever. Gama- 
 liel, that learned Pharisee and doctor of the law, erred in the 
 exposition of the law, not knowing Christ to be " the end of 
 the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." And 
 seeing these great learned Rabbies erred, every one in that 
 which was the great and main end of the law, viz., Christ, 
 " to whom Moses and all the prophets bear witness :" how 
 much more shall they err where it is left to their own wis- 
 dom, having no platform to stand on, as maintainors of the 
 prelatic hierarchy. Solomon was as wise as any, yea the 
 wisest man that ever was, or ever shall be, and he erred, hav- 
 ing the rule of the law to walk by. Were not all the laws and 
 forms of the house given by God to Moses, as well for the 
 manner of worship, as the matter thereof? 
 
 As to that which is so much pleaded for by this genera- 
 tion, allegiance in civil affairs, as matters now stand, it can- 
 not be given, neither will they have it, without the ecclesias- 
 tical supremacy ; for, by their acts of parliament, they have 
 made them equally essential to the crown. Likewise, there 
 cannot be an authority without a foundation. If any shall 
 say, he hath it from that which he received at his admission 
 to the government, as he entered upon the terms of the coro- 
 nation oath ; to this I answer, he hath rescinded that, in and 
 by the act Rescissory, in his first parliament; for when he 
 annulled and rescinded tliat from which he had his power 
 
JAMES ROBERTSON. 227 
 
 and authoritj, he thereby rescinded his owa. authority also. 
 So that from this he hath no just power, having oftener than 
 once burned the covenants, which were his coronation oath, 
 without which he could not enter the government. If it 
 shall be said, that' the foundation of his power is built upon 
 the test, wherein he is made absolute supreme judge over all 
 matters and persons, as well ecclesiastical as civil ; that is so 
 far from giving him a right, that it maketh him a complete 
 monster, having one head and two bodies; and if that 
 authority should be owned by me, being a free-born member 
 of the Church of Scotland, which is Christ's mystical body, 
 and having given my oath of allegiance to Christ, as King 
 and head of his own house ; can I own that authority, with- 
 out being guilty of leese-majesty against the King of Zion ; 
 and so of the highest degree of sacrilege? I should thereby 
 also deny my allegiance to God the Creator, under whom 
 the magistrate should rule in a direct line. As to that 
 which they have done in condemning to death the true sons 
 of the Church, and subjects of the kingdom, I say it is open 
 murder, under the colour of law ; as those whom they have 
 proceeded against were adherents to the word of God, which 
 is the only rule of faith and manners, and owned God as 
 God, Christ as Redeemer, and the Holy Ghost as Sanctifier; 
 and as they had nothing to charge them with, but their 
 adherence to the true Christian principles, and as they sen- 
 tenced upon these same heads, it is murder of the deepest 
 hue. As these men owned the true reformed religion, and 
 all the fundamental laws of the Church and kingdom, and 
 as the rulers refused to judge and sentence according to the 
 word of God, agreeably to which all sentences of life and 
 death ought to pass, as they also refused to judge according 
 to the laws they received at their admission to the govern- 
 nient — which was not to rule the law, but it to rule them, 
 and they to rule the people according to that law ; and since 
 the people, for remaining in subjection to the law of God, 
 and the ancient and fundamental laws of the land, and the 
 persons of lawful governors, are accounted traitors, this must 
 certainly not only be a murdering of men, yea, true christian 
 men, but also a murdering of justice. And thus the land is 
 defiled with blood. Read the sentence of such, " So ye shall 
 not pollute the land wherein ye are, for blood it defileth the 
 land ; and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is 
 
228 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it." Num. 
 XXXV. 33. Let such as are owning and pleading for this 
 present power, consider the end of magistracy, " For rulers 
 are not a terror to good works, but to the evil ; wilt thou not 
 then be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and 
 thou shalt have praise of the same. For this cause pay you 
 tribute also ; for they are God's ministers, attending contin- 
 ually upon this very thing." Rom. xiii. 3, 6. " Or unto 
 governors, as unto them that are sent by him, for the pun- 
 ishment of evil-doers, and for the praise of them that do 
 well." 1 Pet. ii. 14. 
 
 Now, it is undeniably evident from the aforesaid, that 
 piety is suppressed, and iniquity nourished, and the sword in 
 their hand used against those that do most entirely cleave to 
 tlie scripture rule, the sworn principles of the Church of 
 Scotland, and the ancient fundamental laws thereof. "A 
 king that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away 
 all iniquity with his eyes," &c. Prov. xx. 8. Now, I dare 
 herein appeal to the sentence of all single, unbiassed, and 
 judicious persons, whether or not the present exercise of 
 their power be not both injustice and tyranny. There is no 
 public power in the land, but what is founded on perjury, 
 sacrilege, and tyranny, and exercised according thereto. 
 And seeing it is so, ye that are owners of such a power, must 
 needs be upon the matter, owners of all these ; compearing 
 before their courts, and paying them tribute, placing advo- 
 cates, and pleading your cause before such unjust judges: 
 but more especially such as are prisoners for the truths of 
 the gospel, and so ought to witness a good confession for his 
 trampled-upon truths, who was not ashamed to witness a good 
 confession before Pontius Pilate, to wit, that he was a King; 
 "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? 
 Jesus answered. Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end 
 was I born," &c. John xviii. 37. 
 
 Now, ye who are charging me this day, and others of my 
 brethren, sufferers for truth, to be guilty of self-murder, a 
 breach of the sixth commandment, I say it is very false, for 
 self-preservation must stoop to truth's preservation. Did 
 our blessed Lord establish an advocate to plead for him ? 
 Did that valiant champion Stephen do it ? He was free and 
 positive in asserting his testimony. Or did Paul do it? 
 Show me any such precept or practice from scripture ; yea, 
 
JAMES ROBERTSON. 229 
 
 consider the nature of witnessing, it proveth the contrary. 
 But I prove such as do this to be actually guilty of a breach 
 of the second commandment, which is, that " Thou shalt not 
 make unto thyself any graven image," Exod. xx. 4. For, 
 as I have proved before, he is set up in Christ's room, and 
 exerciseth authority in and by that abominable arrogated 
 supremacy, and having intermixed things civil and eccle- 
 siastical, by their acts of parliament, making them both alike 
 inherent to the crown, he cannot be owned in either with- 
 out sacrilegious idolatry, and so a breach of this command- 
 ment ; as also of the fifth commandment, which concerneth 
 natural and civil parents, which are to be owned and obeyed 
 only in the Lord, which cannot in the least allow of any man's 
 being absolutely supreme, even in civil matters, it being the 
 ordinance of God, and a lawful magistrate the minister of 
 God, bound to dispense his ordinance, according to the rule 
 in the word, and according to the ancient laws of the king- 
 dom. For, as in obeying lawful power, it is obedience to 
 this commandment: so, on the contrary, the owning and 
 obeying an unlawful power, such as theirs, certainly must 
 be a breach of it. And can any deny that to be an owning 
 of them, to establish one of the members of their court, to 
 plead for no other effect, but to hale men out of the true 
 principles and practices of the true Reformed Church of 
 Scotland, when the pannel is called by his lot, to witness for 
 them, and give a confession thereof, before such an evil and 
 adulterous generation, these being Christ's questioned truths. 
 If any should object and say, they are small things, I 
 answer, no truth is small. "He that is faithful in that 
 which is least, is faithful a,lso in much ; and he that is unjust 
 in the least, is unjust also in much," &c. Luke xvi. 10. And 
 such as are supplicating the enemies, are guilty here ; for a 
 supplication ought not, nor can be given in, but to a lawful 
 power and for a lawful thing. Such are guilty, who are 
 coming out of prison upon bond and caution, binding them- 
 selves to compear before their judicatories, at such a parti- 
 cular time, or at demand ; for we ought not to bind to com- 
 pear or answer before a judicatory, but a lawful one, such as 
 theirs is not ; so that such are actually guilty, but especially 
 those who formerly joined in declining them. 
 
 This generation seems to be in a great measure given 
 up to work all manner of wickedness, with greediness, 
 
 X 
 
2^30 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 ronsidering what profanity there is and robbing of God. 
 mocking him and religion, instability, and the giving away 
 his and the church's due : " even from the days of your 
 father Vye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have 
 not kept them : return unto me and I will return unto you, 
 saith the Lord of hosts. But ye said, wherein shall we 
 return ? Will a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me : 
 but ye say, wherein have we robbed thee ? In tithes and offer- 
 ings. Ye are cursed with a curse ; for ye have robbed me, 
 even this whole nation," &c. Mai. iii. 7 — 9. I am not to take 
 upon me to speak any thing of future times, but this genera- 
 tion seems to have the marks and evidences of a generation 
 of wrath, fitted for judgment and destruction. " The statutes 
 of Omri are kept." " Behold the Lord maketh the earth 
 empty," &c. Now, read Israel's sins here, and compare them 
 with Scotland's sins, and see if they be not parallel ; and, 
 seeing it is so, what can be expected, but the punishments 
 and plagues shall be parallel also? I cannot shake the 
 thoughts of this oft' my spirit, but that there is a fourfold 
 vengeance to be poured out upon this land. 1. The 
 Lord's vengeance, for intrusions on, and usurpations of, his 
 sword, crown, sceptre, and robe-royal. 2. A temple ven- 
 geance, for the laying his sanctuary desolate. 3. A gospel 
 vengeance, for the slighting of the great and rich offer of 
 Christ and salvation, offered in such purity and plenty. 
 4. A covenant vengeance, for the great perjury and apostacy 
 in the breach of, and falling from, the prosecuting the ends 
 of these covenants, which the Lord highly honoured this 
 land with, to bring it into covenant with himself, and make 
 it Hephzibah and Beulah unto him. " For my sword shall 
 be bathed in heaven, it shall come down upon Idumea, and 
 upon the people of my curse to judgment," &c. Isa. xxxiv. 
 5 — 7. " For thus saith the Lord unto the king's house of 
 Judah, thou art Gilead unto me, and the head of Lebanon ; 
 yet surely I will make thee a wilderness, and cities which 
 are not inhabited," &c. Jer. xxii. 6 — 9. This land hath not 
 only departed from God, in and by her own sins, in refusing 
 the rich offer of the gospel, and breach of covenant, but has 
 homologated that broken and despised idol's sin, that hath 
 overturned the work of reformation, by owning him now, 
 when he hath taken the whole privileges of Christ's crown 
 and kingdom to himself. And of this I am persuaded, that 
 
JAMES ROBERT SOX. 231 
 
 if there be a family in the Christian world that comes under 
 Amalek's curse, " with whom he will have war for ever," 
 it is that family, called the Royal Family, which, I think, 
 God is about to sweep off the throne, so that no root thereof 
 shall be left to exercise government. " He bringeth the 
 princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as 
 vanity," &c. 
 
 Now, the articles of my indictment, whereon my sentence 
 of death is founded, are — 1. The owning and maintaining 
 that it was lawful to rise in arms at Pentlaud and Bothwell 
 Bridge, which I did with great cheerfulness and boldness, 
 (they being in their own defence, and in the defence of the 
 gospel,) and took that article for proof, in the Confession of 
 Faith, which they have given out to be the confession of 
 their own faith, professing to build that abominable and 
 ridiculous test upon, which shows that they are ill builders, 
 the building being so far off the foundation. But, I refer 
 you to the draught of a paper which I drew up as my testi- 
 mony against that test, which, with the consent and advice 
 of others, was affixed on the parish kirk-door of Stonehouse. 
 And I am of the mind, that this proof, as it did enrage them, 
 " being like a wild bull caught in their own net," so it did 
 give them no small damp, 
 
 2. For speaking treason, as they call it, and declining 
 their authority, which consistetli in this, when asked, if their 
 king, (or rather their idol,) were a tyrant ? I referred it to 
 his obligations in his coronation oath, to be considered with 
 his present actings and practice, with his usurpations upon 
 the privileges of the church, and prerogatives-royal of Jesus 
 Christ, who is the Anointed of the Father : and the refusing 
 to say, " God save the king," which we find was the order 
 that was used among the children of Israel, at the king's 
 anointing to that office ; and used in our own nation at the 
 coronation. Now, this being due only to a lawful king, 
 ought not to be given but to a lawful king, and so not to 
 him, being a degenerate tyrant ; for if I should, I thereby had 
 said Amen to all that he hath done against the church and 
 liberties thereof, and to ail his oppression, by unlawful 
 exactions and raising of armies, for no other purpose but 
 to deprive us of the hearing of the gospel, and trouble or 
 molest the subjects, both in their consciences and external 
 liberties, and also to their bloodshed and murders of the 
 
232 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 people of God, and free subjects of the kingdom ; and so bid 
 him God speed, contrary to that in the second Epistle of 
 John, verse 10. And seeing it cannot be given to any that 
 have thus used their power to a wrong end, in such a measure 
 and manner : so much less, when they have set him up as 
 an idol, in the room of God incarnate. And shall I pray to 
 bless that man in his person and government, whom God 
 hath cursed ? for it cannot be expected, but that he shall 
 be cursed, that thus ventureth upon the thick bosses of the 
 buckler of God Almighty. 
 
 Now, I shall here give, in short, an account of my prin- 
 ciples, which I shall do, as in the sight of an all-seeing God. 
 I am a true Christian, truly anti- popish, anti-prelatic, anti- 
 sectarian, anti-schismatic, anti-erastian, a true Presbyterian, 
 owning the true Protestant religion, now owned and professed 
 by the poor wrestling and suffering remnant in Scotland. 
 And whatever men have said, or may say of me, I have lived, 
 and now I die thus. 
 
 Wherefore, — 1. I give my testimony to the truth, fulness, 
 and authority of the Scriptures ; and to all the truths con- 
 tained therein, and warrantable therefrom. 2. I bear my 
 testimony to the way of salvation through Jesus Christ ; and 
 that by his satisfaction the moral law was not abrogated, but 
 fulfilled ; and that the moral law is as binding on the Chris- 
 tian, truly interested in him, this day as it was that day that 
 it was given to the children of Israel ; only the condemnatory 
 sentence thereof loosed to all such as are believers indeed. 
 
 3. I bear my testimony to the work of reformation, as it was 
 reformed from Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and other 
 errors ; as it is contained in the Confession of Faith, Larger 
 and Shorter Catechisms, Covenants, National and Solemn 
 League, Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement 
 to Duties, the Sum of Saving Knowledge, Directory for 
 Worship, the Causes of God's wrath, drawn up by the 
 General Assembly of this church, after the evil in meddling 
 with that rotten-hearted Malignant, Charles Stuart, was seen. 
 
 4. I bear my testimony to the faithful actings of the remon- 
 strators against Malignants and the Malignant interests, 
 which are the very things this day contended for, by the 
 true Presbyterians of the Church of Scotland. 5. I bear 
 my testimony (not to go farther back, seeing it homologates 
 the rest,) to that noble testimony given at Lanark, against 
 
JAMES ROBERTSON. 233 
 
 that tyrant, and the test enacted bj the late Parliament ; 
 which I could not but look upon, in the time of the carrying 
 on of it, and yet do, that the remnant was therein owned of 
 the Lord. 6. I bear my testimony to all the faithful testi- 
 monies of the martyrs that have gone before us, on scaffolds, 
 in the fields, or in the seas. 7. I bear my testimony to all 
 the appearances in arms for the defence of the gospel. 8. I 
 bear my testimony to the faithful manner, of the delivery of 
 the gospel, that hath been in the open fields, by the faithful 
 and sent servants of Jesus Christ, exercising, according to 
 his own commission, preaching days, communion days, and 
 fasts ; particularly one held at Auchingilloch, by three min- 
 isters, two of them now glorified, (Mr. Donald Cargil and 
 Mr. Richard Cameron,) wherein the land's guilt was freely 
 and faithfully discovered, 9. I bear my testimony to the 
 fellowship-meetings of the Lord's people, particular and 
 general. My soul hath many a time been refreshed in them. 
 Likewise, on the other hand, I leave my testimony against 
 the public resolutions for taking in that Malignant interest; 
 for which this poor church is this day smarting, and feeling 
 the weight of that tyrant's hand, for such eager lusting after 
 a king. 2. I leave my testimony against Hamilton declara- 
 tion which is one and the same thing with the resolutions. 
 (L) For taking in the foresaid interest, contrary to the land's 
 engagements in covenant. (2.) For corrupting the army. 
 But my mind more fully of this, with several other things, 
 such as the excommunication, tyrant's interest, cess and 
 locality, is more fully expressed in a paper, intitutled, " Some 
 few grievances, set doivn by icay of query ; " which was occa- 
 sioned by a minister's preaching near the place of my resi- 
 dence, and some falsely accusing me for casting at ministers, 
 and so at ministry ; and to show that my not hearing was 
 not from any schismatical design, but of conscience of duty, 
 judging him deficient and faulty, in not being faithful, I 
 therefore drew my grievances to be presented ; and refer to 
 this and the fore-mentioned paper, as a part of my testimony 
 against the wrongs done to a holy God, in this backsliding 
 age. 3. I leave my testimony against all unfaithfulness in 
 ministers. (L) For their dark and ambiguous manner of 
 preaching, in not giving free, full, and faithful warning of 
 the duty and dangers of our duty. (2.) They either alto- 
 gether leaving off preaching, (as if seeming and apparent 
 
 x2 
 
234 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 hazard loosed them from that command, which is to preach 
 in season and out of season, &c.,) or turning the edge of 
 their doctrine against the most faithful in the land, and 
 taking the faults and failings of the saints in scripture, to 
 defend them in their sinful, defective, conniving, and com- 
 plying courses: which is a wresting of the scripture, for these 
 are set down for our admonition, not to split upon such rocks. 
 And oh, how many professors are guilty also in this matter ; 
 they cannot deny it to be a fault, and yet they cannot state 
 their sufferings on them. Now, undeniably, this is a pre- 
 sumptuous sinning, venturing upon it, because God is merci- 
 ful ; tliis is a daring of him to his face. Surely David was 
 not of this mind of it, "who can understand his errors, 
 cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant 
 also, from presumptuous sins, let them not have dominion 
 over me," &c. Psa. xix.- 12, 13. " But the soul that doth 
 ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a 
 stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord, and that soul shall 
 be cut off from his people," Num. xv. 30. 4. I give my 
 testimony against that Erastian indulgence, and such as join 
 with them, because they entered not by the right door, but 
 by the order of the usurper, whereas *' Christ is the only 
 door," John x. 1. But this I will say, that those who will 
 not, and dare not take that usurper's portion, lest they be 
 defiled thereby, " their countenance shall outshine the other, 
 and be fatter and fairer in the day when they are to be 
 proved before the king," 
 
 5. I give my testimony against all the hearers of these 
 abominable tested curates throughout the land ; in particu- 
 lar, against Kilmarnock and the country thereabout, where 
 I was apprehended, which I am persuaded was so ordered, 
 that I might in particular witness against them for their 
 compearing at courts, subscribing bonds, paying fines, which 
 includeth in it an acknowledgment of a fault, building that 
 which formerly they did destroy, and destroying that which 
 formerly they built, and that according to God's word. 
 Those who formerly were leaders in the way of truth, elders 
 and old professors, are now as active by example and advice, 
 in the present course, and so are a stumbling-block to others, 
 *' Offences must come, but wo to them by whom they come ; 
 better were it that a millstone were hanged about their 
 necks, and they were cast into the midst of the sea." Oh, 
 
JAMES ROBERTSON. 235 
 
 that ye who have formerly known the way of truth, would 
 study more stability, and let not your liberty become a 
 stumbling-block to others. 6. I bear my testimony against 
 all profanity and profane persons, against all Atheism and 
 Atheists, practical and professed ; not only such as deny the 
 true God by profession, but even such as do it by practice, 
 belying their profession ; against all enthusiasm and enthu- 
 siasts, although these black-mouthed Erastian writers are 
 pleased to call the way that is now followed by the poor 
 remnant such ; yet my endeavours have always been, to be 
 both cleared in matters of truth and practice, according to 
 the word and Spirit. But this I think, that the Lord is 
 about to let this generation stumble, fall, and break their 
 necks upon their own carnal wisdom, and each of them upon 
 another. But mind this, " that the world by wisdom knew 
 not God ; " for it seems it is the nothings of this age that he 
 will make use of; — " Out of the mouths of babes and suck- 
 lings he will perfect his praise." 
 
 Xow, I would speak shortly to three classes. — 1. You 
 that are strangers and enemies to this lovely Lord, let your 
 estrangement be done away ; break off your sins by repent- 
 ance ; consider the hazard you are in, even of eternal wrath, 
 and scorching hell-fire for ever. Oh, this condescending- 
 love of God, that is laid out in this manner! Oh, ye that 
 are enemies to his interest and people, mind that justice, 
 even wrathful justice, is ready to be poured out upon you! 
 Oh, therefore, come off, repent, and turn unto so favourable 
 and merciful a God ; leave off your persecution, come unto 
 him, "there is mercy with him that he may be feared;" but 
 if ye will not return, then his wrath will be upon you to 
 all eternity. 2. Ye that have sometimes known what it was 
 to be in God's favour, and had much love and tenderness 
 for him, his work and interest, cause and covenant, as it 
 was reformed in this land, and now are fallen from your 
 first love, oh, endeavour to have in mind the love of your 
 espousals, when ye and Christ were hand-fasted. Oh, con- 
 sider aright what a great difference there is between your 
 love, faith, zeal, and tenderness now, in regard of what it 
 was. Therefore, take a right view of matters, and weigh 
 them aright in the balance of the sanctuary, both as to your 
 own particular case, and the case of his church, and turn to 
 him with speedy and unfeigned repentance, for he that turns 
 
236 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 aside to crooked ways, " shall be led forth with the workers 
 of iniquity." Oh, therefore, turn in time, lest " repentance 
 be hid from your eyes." Oh, as ye love the glory of God, 
 the good of your own souls, and the advantage of the church, 
 (if such a one as I may be so bold as to invite you, now 
 going out of time into eternity,) as ye would not be par- 
 takers of the plagues that are to come upon such a genera- 
 tion, come off with speed. 3. You that are on good terms 
 with God, and helped to keep by his way, break not your 
 peace by turning aside to crooked ways; entertain love, 
 keep and hold fast your integrity in this day, when many 
 have broken the bargain with him, now, when the language 
 of many is this, "these are hard sayings, who can bear 
 them?" And now that this is his language to you, " Will 
 ye also leave me ?" oh, let this be the language of every in- 
 genuous soul, *' To whom shall we go? for thou hast the 
 words of eternal life." Make sure salvation to yourselves, 
 thereby ye shall be the more fit to follow him in this day, 
 when he is casting forth his red flag and marching. Many 
 follow him when the white flag of peace is flourishing ; but 
 they are ill worthy of the sweet who will not take part with 
 him in the bitterest and sharpest sufferings ; for what is the 
 greatest of sufferings that can come from man, coming upon 
 his account, in regard of what he suffered for us, even the 
 heavy wrath of God, which would have pressed us down to 
 the pit through all eternity; and may not the consideration 
 of this oblige you? I can speak it to his commendation, 
 that he can make the cross light and easy, for he will bear 
 both it and you. And seeing everlasting arms are under- 
 neath, have you not ground to expect that he will not let 
 his own arm be crushed? He can strew all the cross with 
 roses. I dare not say that ever I met with a cross; for 
 when the strait hath been greatest, then he showed his 
 kindness most. Oh, the rich manifestations that he giveth 
 to the soul under the cross! Yea, it is all paved with love. 
 Who would not go through a sea of bloody sufferings with 
 him, and for him? He is "the rose of Sharon, and the lily 
 of the vallies," " the chief among ten thousand." Who can 
 describe him? He is the only precious object, "altogether 
 lovely." If he were seen and known, who would not love 
 him? he is both lovely and loving. The soul may solace 
 itself in him under the greatest of straits. Now, ye that 
 
JAMES ROBERTSON. 237 
 
 have received liim, walk worthy of him. Who knows what 
 is in love ? " Herein is our love made perfect, that we may 
 have boldness in the day of judgment; because, as he is, so 
 are we in this world." How is that? Though in the world, 
 yet not of the world. " There is no fear in love ; but per- 
 fect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment; he 
 that feareth is not made perfect in love." Now, the reason 
 of our love is, "we love him because he first loved us," 
 1 John iv. 17-19. Now, dear friends, ye that are helped to 
 keep by him, think it not strange though the world hate 
 you, it hated him also. " He was a man of sorrows, and 
 acquainted with grief." " If ye were of the world, the world 
 would love its own." Should we not be as pilgrims and 
 strangers, traveUiug, seeking an heavenly country ? There 
 is a rest for the people of God, and to whom is this rest ap- 
 pointed but to the weary passenger ? 
 
 Xow I am given out by the enemies and professors, as 
 being prodigal of my life, and leading of my two brethren 
 to the death; but they are both false charges, for I have 
 found more straightness and steadfastness in them than I 
 can find in myself. As for the other I have so much of 
 humanity, that I love my life ; but cannot redeem it with 
 the loss of my integrity, and denial of any of Christ's 
 precious truths. I durst not make a shift to have any 
 favour of the enemies, nor to touch, taste, or handle, with 
 them for their dainties, or deceitful meat. And there is one 
 scripture which, at my first coming to prison, confii-med me, 
 "be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and 
 supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
 known unto God," Phil. iv. G. 
 
 Now, dear friends, encourage yourselves in the Lord, and 
 stand fast in one spirit, striving together for the faith of 
 Jesus. Let nothing damp your courage, zeal, tenderness, 
 and faithfulness, for this so lovely a Lord ; and let brotherly 
 love always continue. Beware of rocks, both on the right 
 and on the left hand ; we have beacons set up for both, to 
 our sad experience, in this poor church. Beware of per- 
 emptoriness, passion, and pride ; for there may be, and I fear 
 is, a spiritual pride, as well as a natural. Carry suitably to 
 those who are without, and to them that are within. En- 
 deavour to have a union in the Lord, obtained and enter- 
 tained. Mix not the fire of true zeal with the wild sparks of 
 
238 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 carnal passion ; but let meekness of spirit, with a christian, 
 godlj, and faithful conversation, adorn the doctrine of God 
 our Saviour. The breakings of the remnant, I may war- 
 rantablj say, have lain heavier upon my spirit than all that 
 I have met with from the enemy. And if ye will not get 
 together, wrath will be upon you. Oh, for that day, when 
 they shall be made " one stick in his hand ; " when it shall 
 be as in Isa. xi. 13, 14, " The envy of Ephraim also shall 
 depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off ; Eph- 
 raim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Eph- 
 raim. But they shall flee upon the shoulders of the Phil- 
 istines towards the west, and they shall spoil them of the 
 east together," &c. And that scripture, " suffer not sin 
 upon thy brother's soul, but in any wise reprove him." 
 Seek to reclaim them that are fallen : " ye that are 
 spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness." 
 Follow a gospel method, beware of self-seeking, " and let 
 him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall," &c. 
 I am not here speaking to those that are going on in homo- 
 logating, God-provoking, Christ-dishonouring, church-ruin- 
 ing, and land-desolating courses, but to the wrestling 
 remnant. 
 
 Now, death is not a whit terrible to me. " death, 
 where is thy sting ? grave, where is thy victory ? 
 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the 
 law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory, 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ." I think this is his 
 language to me, " arise ye and depart, for this is not your 
 rest, because it is polluted." For we know, that if our 
 earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a 
 building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in 
 the heavens." 
 
 Now, as to his way with his church, it is mysterious ; 
 " his way is in the deep, his paths in the mighty waters ;" 
 but the thoughts of this I cannot put off my spirit, that 
 he hath thoughts of good and not of evil ; to give this poor 
 church an unexpected end. Yet I am persuaded of this, 
 that he hath some other work ado, before that be accom- 
 plished, for falling from her first love, and the great in- 
 gratitude for the great and high privileges formerly en- 
 joyed. But, be not discouraged, nor sinfully anxious, 
 neither about the church nor the remnant, but wait on God 
 
JAMES EOBERTSON. 239 
 
 in his own way, and commit all to him, and he shall bring 
 it to pass ; it may come in a way least expected ; I have no 
 doubt that his power, infiniteness, and sovereignty, shall yet 
 appear. 
 
 Now, I declare I am free of the blood of all men, and 
 though man had never public scandal to charge me with, 
 yet I am one of the chief of saved sinners. And in respect 
 of original, actual, and omissional sin, there hath been as 
 much guiltiness in me, as might and would have weighed 
 down to the pit the whole world ; but my lovely Lord hath 
 showed me his love. Oh, for love to give to this lovely Lord 
 Jesus, according to that scripture, "come and I will tell 
 you what the Lord hath done for my souL" 
 
 Upon the day before I received my sentence, I enjoyed a 
 great measure of the Spirit, whereby my heart was both 
 melted and enlarged, winning near to him, both alone, and 
 with the rest ; but a little thereafter, going to him alone, I 
 found him hiding, and being sensible of it, my heart in some 
 measure panted after him, yet absent ; so, going to the word, 
 I was directed to 1 John v. 14, 15, " This is the confidence 
 that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to 
 his will, he heareth us. And if we know that he hear us, 
 whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that 
 we desired of him : " which did in no small measure settle 
 and comfort my spirit; so, meditating a little, and consid- 
 ering how these two could consist together, was answered 
 thus, "because they have no changes, therefore they fear not 
 God." And since, I bless his holy name, I have great com- 
 posure of spirit. 
 
 Now, according to my blessed Lord's command, I am not 
 prepossessed with malice, or a spirit of revenge, but can bless 
 when cursed. As for those men who are unjustly taking 
 away my life, not only contrary to the law of God, and the 
 ancient and fundamental laws of the land, but even con- 
 trary to their own law ; for what they are doing against me, 
 as I am in myself, I can freely forgive them and all others; 
 but as they do it against the image of God in me, and upon 
 his truth's account, and so against himself, that is not 
 mine to forgive ; but I leave it to Him to whom vengeance 
 belongeth, to deal with them as he may best glorify himself. 
 Now, I rejoice in my lot, for it hath fallen to me in pleasant 
 places, and I have a goodly inheritance; I would not 
 
240 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 exchange it with the greatest monarch upon earth. Oh, let 
 heaven and earth praise him, sun and moon praise him; oh, 
 let all the creation praise him, angels and glorified saints 
 praise him, and my soul shall praise him through all the 
 ages of eternity. Now, farewell all things in time ; farewell 
 holy scriptures ; farewell prayer, meditation, faith, hope : 
 farewell all true friends. AVelcome heaven ; welcome Father, 
 Son, and Holy Spirit; welcome angels, and the spirits of 
 just men made perfect; welcome praise for ever more. 
 
 James Rorertson. 
 
 Last Speech and Testimony of John Finlay, Muirside, 
 parish of Kilmarnock, who suffered in the Grass-Mar- 
 ket, Edinburgh, Dec. 15th, 1682. 
 
 Men and Brethren, — This is to show you that I am con- 
 demned unjustly, by a generation of bloody men, who are 
 thirsting for the blood of the saints of God. It is upon no 
 other account, than for being found in the way of my duty 
 in the sight of God, (glory to his holy name for it, though 
 gone about with many failings and much imperfection,) for 
 adhering to Christ in all his offices, as Prophet, Priest, and 
 King ; and for following him in all his persecuted gospel 
 truths. The articles of my indictment, were — 1. My keep- 
 ing company with the persecuted people of God, ministers 
 and others ; for which, with my whole soul, I bless him that 
 ever he honoured me with such company; and in token of 
 his countenance he hath kept me in that company. 2. Be- 
 ing in company and converse with Mr. Donald Cargil; for 
 which, with my whole soul, I desire to bless and magnify 
 the riches of his grace, that ever he conferred such company 
 upon such a sinful wretch; and Mr. King, Mr. Richard 
 Cameron, and Mr. Kid, in particular. 3. My refusing to 
 call the bishop's death murder, which 1 durst not do, it being 
 God's righteous judgment upon him. 4. My not calling 
 Bothwell Bridge rebellion ; now, it being in self-defence, 
 and in defence of the gospel, which is lawful in God's sight, 
 1 durst not call it rebellion. 5. My giving meat, drink, 
 and comfort, to the persecuted people of God, which I did 
 
JOHN FINLAY. 241 
 
 willingly, and with my whole heart; and herein I have sweet 
 peace this day; "whosoever shall give to drink unto one of 
 these little ones, a cup of cold water only, m the name of a 
 disciple, verily I say unto you, he shaU m no wise lose his 
 reward:" which he hath made out to me to the full. 6. My 
 being commanded to say, -God save the king which I 
 durst not for my very soul; their bidding us to do it m test 
 of our loyalty, to save him in his person, and government, 
 and authority, is a perfect owning of him m all that he hath 
 done, in his usurpation upon Christ's prerogatives and privi- 
 leges, they having made him supreme head m all matters 
 and causes, civil and ecclesiastic. If I had done this it had 
 been a flat denying of Christ, and a joimng with him (i 
 mean Charles Stuart) and them, in all that they have done 
 in overturning the glorious work of refornaation m these 
 lands; and aU the wrongs done to the gospel and people ot 
 God in this day, which would have made me odious m the 
 sight of God, and before the world. I bless God, he hath 
 kept me from this; as the scripture saith, "he that is not 
 faithful in little, will not be faithful in that which is much. 
 7. Being asked if I would not pray for the king? I said, 
 Yes. Do it then, I said. According to scripture, ihey 
 said, He will pray for him as he is a man, but not as he is a 
 kino- which is high treason and rebeUion. :N ow, my friends, 
 beiiig conscious, that my owning him as my king, was a 
 casting off Christ Jesus, who is head and King of Zion, and 
 taking on with him, I would have incurred the wrath of God 
 and homologated all the bloodshed, and al the horrid 
 bloody abominations they have committed m the land, with 
 avowed defying of the great God. Oh, who dare join with 
 such avowed enemies of our God, and so cast off the society 
 of the saints, and give the hand of fellowship to such bloody 
 and perjured wretches, who are making it their whole work 
 to root out godliness out of this covenanted land, that the 
 name of Israel may no more be made mention of ; but they 
 wiU be all beguiled, for Christ wiU reign till all his enemies 
 be made his footstool. p ^ j i • i ;„ 
 
 1 I give my testimony to the sure word of God, which is 
 the scriptures of truth. 2. I give my testimony to the way 
 of salvation through Jesus Christ, and that by his satisfac- 
 tion. 3. I bear my testimony to the work of reformation as 
 it was purged from Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and other 
 
242 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 errors, and as it is contained in the Confession of Faith, and 
 Larger and Shorter Catechisms. 4. I give my testimony to 
 the Covenants, National and Solemn League, and Solemn 
 Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, Sum 
 of Saving Knowledge, Directory for Worship; and to the 
 Causes of God's AVrath, drawn up by the General Assembly 
 of the church, after their meeting with the rotten-hearted 
 Malignant, Charles Stuart. 5. I bear my testimony to the 
 faithful actings of the remonstrators against the Malignant 
 interest, that is the very thing contended for by the true 
 Presbyterians of the church of Scotland. 6. I give my tes- 
 timony, (not to go farther back, seeing it homologates the 
 rest,) to that notable testimony given at Lanark against that 
 tyrant, and the test enacted by that late parliament ; I 
 could not but look upon it in the time of carrying on of it, 
 and yet do, that the remnant was owned of the Lord. 7. I 
 bear my testimony to all the faithful testimonies of the mar- 
 tyrs, that have gone before us, whether on scaffolds, on the 
 fields, or in the seas. 8. I bear my testimony to all appear- 
 ances in arms, for defence of the gospel. 9. I bear my tes- 
 timony to the faithful preaching of the gospel that hath been 
 in the fields, by the faithful and sent messengers of Jesus 
 Christ, according to his own mission, preaching days, com- 
 munion days, and fast days, by Messrs. Cargil, King, Kid, 
 Cameron, and Douglas. 10. I bear my testimony to the 
 fellowship-meetings of the Lord's people, particular and 
 general : my soul has been many a time refreshed with his 
 presence in company with them. 
 
 Likewise, I bear my testimony — L Against the public 
 resolutioners, for taking in the Malignant interest, for which 
 this poor church is smarting this day, and feeling the weight 
 of the tyrant's hand, for such eager lusting after the king. 
 2. I bear my testimony against Hamilton Declaration, which 
 is one and the same with the resolutions, for taking in the 
 foresaid interest, contrary to the land's engagements in 
 covenant. 3. Against supplying the army, and maintain- 
 ing the excommunicated tyrant, by paying cess, and all 
 other impositions of that nature, for the down- bearing of 
 Christ's interest, and the cause of God. 4. I bear my 
 testimony against indulged ministers, for their not coming in 
 by the door, but by the mission of men. *' He that entereth 
 not by the door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some 
 
JOHN FINLAY. 243 
 
 other way, the same is a thief and a robber," John x. 1. 
 Having entered by the tyrant, and not by the door, they are 
 become men-servants, and not servants to Jesus Christ, and 
 so become an Erastian party, which hath wronged our Lord 
 and King more than the bloody prelatic party hath done 
 these twenty years bygone, by their rending the church's 
 bowels, and dividing bosom friends, to the great hurt of the 
 gospel. 5. I leave my testimony against all corrupt ministers 
 sheltering themselves under their wings, strengthening the 
 stakes of that plantation, and for their dark and ambiguous 
 preaching, in not declaring the whole counsel of God. 6. I 
 leave my testimony against all the enemies and wrong ers of 
 my Lord's glorious privileges and prerogatives, in general. 
 I leave my testimony against that bloody murderer, John 
 Reid, who murdered a woman in the town of Newmills ; and 
 now is carrying arms against Christ and his followers ; who 
 took me, and confessed to me that he had not an order for 
 it. And against that party that carried me to Edinburgh, 
 and especially Alexander Gemmil, my neighbour, who vexed 
 me more than all the party, saying that I married folk, and 
 baptized children, and mocked me most dreadfully. 
 
 You that are old professors and covenanters in the west 
 of Scotland, and especially in Kilmarnock parish, what 
 are ye doing? Where are ye now, after having sworn the 
 Covenant against Popery, Prelacy, and all that faction, side, 
 and party? How are ye prosecuting the ends of that cove- 
 nant, that ye swore with hands lifted up to the Most High, 
 and before heaven and earth, sun and moon? Oh, my soul 
 trembles to think what bad example ye are to the young 
 generation, ye who should have been as the he-goats before 
 the flock, to train them up in the way of God, and the way 
 of holiness and righteousness, and now ye are leading them 
 the contrary way. Should ye not have been more tender of 
 the blood of the souls of the young generation, than to turn 
 your back upon your profession, and fall in with the men of 
 these abominations in all things? Oh, fear the wrath of that 
 God who has said, " shall any break the covenant and be 
 delivered?" Now, therefore, I desire, as ye regard your 
 own souls, that ye would turn again to your first husband, 
 for it was better with you then than it is now. Next, you 
 that are the young generation, men and women, what are ye 
 doing? Are ye following the footsteps of your fathers, in 
 
244 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 their courses of defection, joining in hearing these perjured 
 curates, answering at their courts, joining in their worship 
 with them, in their abominable and soul-destrojing courses, 
 contrary to the Word of God, our Solemn Covenants, and 
 Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the 
 order of the Church of Scotland, in discipline, worship, and 
 government; as they, you, and I, are sworn, with hands lifted 
 up to the Most High God, which no power on earth is able 
 to loose nor undo, and from which no man or woman, bap- 
 tized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, can 
 be freed. Oh, therefore, take heed how ye think to answer 
 before the great sin-avenging God, before whom I am to 
 appear within a little space, and before whom I and all the 
 world will stand and be judged, with righteous judgment. 
 
 And likewise, seeing that I. dare not but show you my 
 mind anent some persons and their carriage in this day of 
 Jacob's trouble, when Zion is laying waste, and ploughing 
 like a field : I give my testimony against those men called 
 elders, in my own parish, because of their complying with 
 every course of defection, and abomination, that is brought 
 into the country. They were thought faithful elders in the 
 time of the Presbyterian government, and then turned elders 
 to tlie curate Carnagie, and then turned elders to Mr. 
 Wadderburn, that indulged minister, and now are sessioners 
 to this curate. And seeing this is true, that they have 
 showed themselves to be men of no principle, and the Spirit 
 of God saying expressly, " meddle not with them that are 
 given to change," who can blame me to disown them ? 
 
 I give my testimony against John Boyd, called bailie of 
 Kilmarnock, for his bloody courses in many things, and 
 especially in his uplifting of the cess and bloody fines, and 
 in oppressing the poor in their consciences, and laying on of 
 dragoons upon them most cruelly, which he did upon me 
 four times ; I wish God may forgive him for what he has 
 done in that matter. 
 
 Now, according to my blessed Lord's command, I am not 
 possessed with malice, or a spirit of revenge, but bless when 
 cursed. As for these men that are unjustly taking away my 
 life, not only contrary to the law of God, and the ancient 
 laws of the land, but even contrary to their own law ; for 
 what they are doing to me, as I am in myself, I can freely 
 forgive them and all others ; but as they do it against the 
 
JOHN FINLAY. 245 
 
 image of God in me, and upon his truth's account, and so 
 against himself, that is not mine to forgive ; I leave it to him 
 to whom vengeance belongs, that he may deal with them as 
 may most glorify himself. Oh, if I could speak or write any 
 thing to the commendation of the covenanted God of the 
 Church of Scotland, I have surely many things to say, for 
 that he trysted my lot in a nation where he hath set up his 
 pure worship; whereas, he might justly have cast my lot 
 amongst Pagans, and heathen nations, that know nothing of 
 the true God ; or, he might have ordered it to be among 
 those that are worshipping antichrist, that whore, that mon- 
 strous beast that sits upon many waters, whose sentence may 
 be read in Rev. xiv. 9 — 11, " And the third angel followed 
 them, saying with a loud voice. If any man worship the 
 beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or 
 in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath 
 of God, which is poured out without mixture, into the cup 
 of his indignation ; and he shall be tormented with fire and 
 brimstone, in the presence of the holy angels, and in the 
 presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment 
 ascendeth up for ever and ever : and they have no rest day 
 nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoso- 
 ever receiveth the mark of his name." And so, as sure as 
 God is God, and the holy scriptures are his word, according 
 to which all men that have heard or seen it, shall be judged, 
 having the sentence of absolution or condemnation passed 
 according thereto, " For as many as have sinned without 
 law, shall also perish without law," Rom. i. 12, so it is clear, 
 that the first will surely perish, viz., all Infidels, and 
 Atheists, and Heathens, and Pagans, that know not the true 
 God nor his law. " And as many as have sinned in the law, 
 shall be judged by the law." And so whatever vain hopes 
 the Papists may have of being saved, living and dying 
 Papists, or whatever charity loose professors have on that 
 head to give them, they are as far from being saved as devils, 
 which are eternally cast out of his presence. 
 
 I have him to bless for this, that my lot is not among 
 corrupt Protestant churches abroad, where Lutheranism and 
 other corruptions, both in doctrine, discipline, worship, and 
 government abound, — Sectarian, Episcopal, or Erastian ; 
 but in the Reformed Church of Scotland, where all these 
 things have been cast over the hedge, as not plants of his 
 
 y2 
 
24:Q LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 planting, where he hath been owned in all his offices of 
 Prophet, Priest, and King, though he may say of us, in a 
 great measure, as to the church of Israel of old, " I have 
 planted thee a noble vine, but thou art become a degenerate 
 plant of a strange vine unto me," &c. In that day of plant- 
 ing we could have sung that song, Isa. xxvi. 1, " We have a 
 strong city, salvation will God appoint for walls and bul- 
 warks," " The Lord hath accomplished his fury, he hath 
 poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, 
 and it hath devoured the foundations thereof. The kings of 
 the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world would not 
 have believed, that the adversary and the enemy should have 
 entered the gates of Jerusalem. For the sins of her prophets, 
 and the iniquities of her priests, they have shed the blood 
 of the just in the midst of her. They have wandered as 
 blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with 
 blood, so that men could not touch their garments," Lam. 
 iv. 11 — 14. This maybe our regret before God. "Her 
 Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, 
 they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing 
 was of sapphire : their visage is blacker than a coal : they are 
 not known in the streets : their skin cleaveth to their bones, 
 it is withered, it is become like a stick," &c. Oh, how un- 
 natural-like were it for the mother to let the child, the fruit 
 of her womb, perish for lack of the breasts : would she be 
 free of the child's blood, it perishing for want of its natural 
 food? And oh, how many are this day perishing for want 
 of the lively preached gospel ! " " even the sea-monsters draw 
 out the breasts, they give suck to their young ones ; but the 
 daughters of my people are become cruel, like the ostriches 
 in the wilderness." 
 
 I have him to bless for this, that I am not this day fight- 
 ing against him in an open stated war, and so bearing arms 
 against him and his people, for there is not more in me, as 
 to myself, than those that are imbruing their hands deeply 
 in the blood of the saints. 
 
 I have him to bless for this, that ever he opened mine 
 eyes to see the mystery of iniquity that abounds, and hath 
 its seat in the heart: as also, in some measure, to see 
 the remedy in the blood of Jesus, with his Spirit engaging 
 me to himself, letting me see himself altogether precious, 
 making me to see that " it is better to be a door-keeper in 
 
JOHN FIXLAY. 
 
 247 
 
 the house of God, than to dwell in the pleasures of sin for 
 a season." " Thou shalt guide me with thj counsel, and 
 afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven 
 but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides 
 thee," Psa. Ixxiii. 24, 25. 
 
 I have his holy name to bless that ever he honoured me 
 to know any thing, how small soever, of his persecuted 
 truths, viz., his crown, kingdom, and privileges, now when 
 many, by their acts and laws, have taken his crown and 
 sceptre and royal robe from him, and settled the whole 
 government of his house upon a man that is but a worm ; 
 but I believe his decree will stand, oppose it who will ; *' yet 
 have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion," Psa. ii. 6. 
 " I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory will I not 
 give to another, neither my praise to graven images," Isa. 
 xlii. 8. Now it is his declarative glory which that usurper 
 hath taken to himself. Ay, but he that leadeth captivity 
 captive, according to his royal will and word, will reclaim 
 his own glory : he it is alone that hath given him to be the 
 sure foundation, whereon all the building is fitly framed, 
 that stone that the builders hath rejected is made the head 
 of the corner. " Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold 
 I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried stone, a 
 precious corner-stone, a sure foundation ; he that believeth 
 shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, 
 and righteousness to the plummet, and the hail shall sweep 
 away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the 
 hiding-place," Isa. xxviii. 16, 17. 
 
 I bless and magnify the holy name of my God, that hath 
 called me to be a sufferer for his work and interest, counting 
 it not my shame, but a high privilege and dignifying of me, 
 when many, famous in their generation, have been denied 
 it, when so many are denying, and by their practice are 
 rendering the cross of Christ of no effect. Oh, my friends, 
 bless and magnify your God for this, that ye are privileged 
 with these things, and strive to walk worthy of him in your 
 places, callings, stations, and relations, as a husband, as a 
 wife, as a master, as a servant, as a Christian ; study to 
 have a blameless conversation, as becomes the gospel ; as far 
 as ye can, walk void of offence towards God and man. My 
 dear friends, I have sweet peace in my lovely Lord ; he has 
 made my prison become a palace unto me, and he has made 
 
248 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 me many a time to bless him for my lot, for which my soul 
 shall praise him through all eternity. Therefore, my dear 
 friends, let none of you think it strange concerning the fiery 
 trial, as though some strange thing had happened unto me, 
 for it is in his hol}^ wisdom he hath made my lot sweet ; for 
 he has made out his sweet promises unto me, one of which 
 is of more worth than all the world, giving me the witness 
 of his Spirit, bearing witness with my spirit, that I have a 
 right to them all. 
 
 Now, farewell all things in time ; farewell holy scriptures ; 
 farewell all christian friends ; farewell prayer and medita- 
 tion ; farewell faith ; farewell hope. Welcome heaven ; wel- 
 come Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ; welcome angels, and 
 the souls of just men made perfect; welcome praises for 
 evermore. 
 
 John Fixlay. 
 
 Last Testimony of William Cochran, of the Parish of 
 Evandale, who suffered in the Grass-Market, Edin- 
 burgh, December 15th, 1682. 
 
 Loving Friends, — Seeing I am going off time to eternity, 
 I think it fit now to leave my testimony to the truths of 
 God. And, L I own the scriptures, and acknowledge them 
 to be the only rule to the church and people of God, at all 
 times, and under all dispensations. 2. I own Jesus Christ 
 to be the only Saviour of his people, and head of his church, 
 and sole governor of his house. 3. I adhere to the cove- 
 nanted work of reformation. Confession of Faith, and the 
 Covenants and Catechisms ; and I think it my great honour 
 and glory, that I was born a member of that church, and 
 desire to bear my testimony to all the privileges of that 
 church: and also, I desire to bear witness against all her 
 enemies, especially against Supremacy and Prelacy, and all 
 Prelatic and Erastian courses, and against all joiners and 
 compliers with them. 
 
 Now, I desire every believer in the Church of Scotland, 
 to look how matters stand between God and their souls, in 
 such a day as this ; for it seems to me, that that religion 
 
WILLIAM COCHRAN. 
 
 2-i9 
 
 which would have done your turn at other times, will not do 
 it now ; for his way is now in the deeps, and ye would need 
 look where ye stand, when so many are falling; and see 
 whether ye have made religion your only choice or not; for 
 except Christ be the only pearl of price to you, and his law 
 your delight, ye cannot hold out ; for it seems to be a great 
 work to be self-denied, and part with all things, when they 
 come in competition with the truths of Christ. Your going 
 to kirks, and answering courts, now when they are founded 
 upon perjury, and seated upon the ruins of the church, I 
 consider to be a direct contradicting of the work of reforma- 
 tion, which we are sworn to maintain in its purity, in doc- 
 trine, worship, discipline, and government, for we should not 
 be divided, directly, or indirectly; and a joining with the 
 enemies of the truth, when we should neither touch nor taste 
 with the men of these abominations. Oh, look where ye are, 
 and what will be the end, if mercy prevent not ; when once 
 ye are caught in their snares, ye stand stoutly to the defence 
 of it, and of those that join with them in these ensnaring 
 courses. I desire you would look through the causes why 
 the Lord contends with this poor land, and leaves them thus 
 to consume away unto dross ; for the whole land is involved 
 in perjury, for they are all joining together to destroy that 
 which we were bound and sworn to maintain, both in kirk 
 and state. 
 
 We know that the land was given away to the Lord by 
 covenant, and we, with all our substance, lives, and fortunes, 
 sworn to defend it to the utmost of our power. Oh, consider 
 therefore where ye are now; you may date your perjury 
 from the changing of the government, and the upsetting of 
 the work of reformation, and your being witness to it, and 
 to the taking and beheading of Argyle and Mr. Guthrie, 
 without either resisting or resenting it, which is astonishing 
 to me to think upon, for ye were bound to defend these two 
 men, though all your lives should have gone for it : I wonder 
 at Scotland's blindness. You may see your crowning and 
 entering into covenant with Charles Stuart, hath been a 
 thing contrary to the will of the Lord, for he and all his 
 predecessors have been opposed to the ways of the Lord. It 
 seems that the Lord is still contending with the land, and 
 will contend, until he consume both him and them, because 
 the king's sins become the people's sins when not witnessed 
 
250 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 against and withstood. Now, we know how he hath ensnared 
 the whole land bj his acts, but especially his supremacy 
 over the church, and intrusion on Christ's prerogatives: so 
 many ministers being in the land, who yet have not wit- 
 nessed against it, but have either kept silence, and thereby 
 declared their unfaithfulness to the Lord, and the souls of 
 them they were set over: for the ministers ouglit to preach 
 in season and out of season, and set the trumpet to their 
 mouths, and give the people warning of every sin, or else 
 the Lord will require their blood at the ministers' hands. I 
 fear the ministers of Scotland will be found very guilty of 
 this ; they have not given the people faithful warning against 
 the hearing of the curates and indulged, for the people's 
 testimony lay partly in forbearing to hear them ; for they 
 were thrust in by the king's supremacy, and entered not in 
 at the door. The indulged have done more hurt to the 
 church than all the curates have done. They were looked 
 upon as godly men ; and, poor things, not considering but 
 following them blindly, not looking to the scripture and the 
 government of the church, have been misled, and thus they 
 have broken and divided the people. 
 
 Our noblemen and gentlemen, from whom other things 
 were expected, have deserted the cause, to the stain of their 
 memory in after generations. The ministers ought to have 
 given the people warning, and not have been so tender of 
 men, when truth was wronged, for many of the people like 
 to have taken warning; but we see that juggling with the 
 Lord, first and last, hath been our ruin, and now we are 
 brought to nothing, and our worldly wisdom is seen to be 
 foolishness with the Lord. But I perceive, within these 
 two or three years, the Lord is beginning to show us our 
 former ground again ; and I desire you, his poor people, to 
 labour to get it, and to hold in it, and to be as tender of one 
 another as ye can, without sinning against the Lord; for we 
 will be all found guilty of the defection, in less or more. 
 Therefore, I desire you to humble yourselves before the 
 Lord, and to make conscience of mourning, and heart- 
 brokenness, and weeping ; for if ye had the sense of it as 
 deeply impressed upon your hearts as I have had since I 
 was a prisoner, and the heart-breaks that I have had from 
 many, but especially from mistaken friends, ye would have 
 wept with all your heart. But, dear friends, be not dis- 
 
WILLIAM COCHRAN. 251 
 
 couraged, but hold on ; for this way, that I am now to suffer 
 and lay down my life in, is and will be found to be the 
 way of God. There is much need of tenderness of, and 
 zeal to God's glory, and of watchfulness ; for I find there 
 are snares on all hands, and I fear some of the Lord's choice 
 people will be permitted to fall. Likewise, I desire, dear 
 friends, that ye would keep up a spirit of sympathy with one 
 another, — I fear your straits are but coming ; and I desire, 
 when ye fall into debates upon the matters of the Lord, that 
 ye would follow the methods of the scriptures, and his Spirit 
 there, and cease from your bitterness against each other; 
 " for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of the 
 Lord." Be humbled under a sense of the public sins that 
 have caused us to be smitten with such sharp dispensations 
 from the Lord. I think Scotland's case is like that of 
 Jonah, who fled from the presence of the Lord, till he could 
 go no farther, and the Lord pursued him into the whale's 
 belly, when he was forced to cry out unto the Lord. Oh, 
 that ye would cry, and cry aright, with broken hearts, and 
 confess to the Lord, and forsake your sins. Let each in 
 particular apply it to himself, as David did when he trans- 
 gressed against the Lord, and numbered the people. Oh, 
 that ye would plead with the Lord, that he would come in 
 his mercy and plead for the young generation that have not 
 rejected the gospel, as we have done, and say, What have 
 these silly sheep done? Oh, plead hard with the Lord, for 
 I am persuaded he hath a kindness for Scotland: he is deal- 
 ing with the hearts of some of the young generation, and 
 as yet he has kept up a party to contend for his work, and 
 will still keep up some to witness for him ; yea, I think he 
 will still keep a contending party for his work and truths, 
 until he return again. Now, I think the hope of this should 
 encourage your hearts. 
 
 Now, the main article of my indictment, upon which I 
 have received the sentence of death from men, was, that I 
 would not say, " God save the king," which, as they have 
 now stated him an idol in the Mediator's room, I could not 
 do, without being guilty of saying Amen to all that he hath 
 done against the church and people of God, and true sub- 
 jects of the kingdom, and the ancient and fundamental laws 
 thereof, contrary to that in 2 John 10, — " If there come 
 any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not 
 
252 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 into your house, neither bid him God-speed, for he that 
 biddeth him God-speed is partaker of his evil deeds." Be- 
 sides, ye know that taking the name of God in our mouths 
 is a part of worship, and so a worshiping of their idol ; for 
 before our faces they said, that he was king over all per- 
 sons, and over all causes, which is putting him in God's 
 room. But they sentenced me because, they said, that I 
 disowned authority, which was diving into the thoughts of 
 my heart. Now, in obedience to what my Lord hath com- 
 manded, I can freely forgive, as I desire to be forgiven, any 
 thing that is done to me ; but what hath been done against 
 me on account of truth, and so striking against God, I am 
 not to set myself above him, but I leave that to himself. 
 Now, I have great satisfaction in my lot, and rejoice that 
 he hath called me to it, and I bless him that I have been 
 all along helped to join with his despised work and people. 
 Many are pleased to say, that I would not have been appre- 
 hended as a prisoner, if there had not been some of the suf- 
 fering people of God frequently about my mother's house, 
 which is a commanded duty, much commended by Christ, 
 " If any man give a cup of cold water to a disciple, in the 
 name of a disciple, he shall not want a disciple's reward." 
 Therefore, seeing it is such, let none who look upon them- 
 selves as members of that body, be offended at such a work. 
 What may follow, leave in the Lord's hand, who doth all 
 things well ; nothing can harm his people, being found in the 
 way of their duty. Now, as to those who count the pure way 
 of truth a wild principle, I count it a greater mercy to be 
 wild from the way of sinning, than to be tamed thereunto ; 
 as, alas ! most of this generation are. 
 
 Now, farewell all true friends in Christ; farewell holy 
 and sweet scriptures ; farewell sinning and suffering. 
 Welcome heaven and the full enjoyment of God through 
 all eternity. 
 
 William Cochran. 
 
ANDREW GUILLINE. 253 
 
 Last Speech and Testimony of Andrew Guilline, 
 Weaver, Fifeshire, who suffered at the Gallowlee, 
 Edinburgh, July, 1683. 
 
 My Dear Friexds, — Being here to die for my dearest 
 Lord's precious truths, I thought fit to leave this with you, 
 as my last advice. Seek to do good to aU in your day. 
 Let your moderation be known unto all men. Study to be 
 serving your God, for there is sudden wrath pronounced 
 from heaven against all that have been doing, or continue 
 to do evil; for he hath said, " Pour out thy fury upon the 
 heathen, and upon the families that call not upon thy name," 
 Jer. X. 25. We had need to know what we shall answer when 
 we shall come before him, with whom we have to do ; for 
 he is a holy God, and a consuming fire to the workers of 
 iniquity. Wherefore, dear friends, study holiness in all 
 manner of conversation ; make it your earnest care to have 
 your conversation as becomes the gospel, and then he will 
 be forthcoming unto you. My friends, I leave you with the 
 Lord, who hath promised to be the God of his people. He 
 is given of the Father to be a leader and commander to his 
 people, and he will lead them. And I entreat each indi- 
 vidual, never to be at rest, till they give themselves away 
 personally in covenant to God, and promise, through his 
 grace, to be for him, and not for another. I leave you to 
 him who leads Joseph like a flock. If you would have him 
 speaking peace to you in your life and in your end, cleave 
 to the Son of God and his truths. And remember, if speedy 
 repentance do not prevent, you will utterly ruin your im- 
 mortal souls. Now, my dear friends, you that are desiring 
 to stand for God, hold on your way, and wait for the Lord, 
 and quit not a hoof of the truth ; he will be an upmaking 
 God to you, and he has promised to be a present help to you 
 in the time of your need. 
 
 A great multitude have come here at this time. I wish, 
 with all my heart, they would get good by their coming. I 
 am now brought here to lay down my life ; I declare I die 
 not as a murderer, nor as an evil-doer ; although this cove- 
 nant-breaking, perjured, murdering generation, lay it to 
 my charge, as though I was a murderer, on account of the 
 
 z 
 
254 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 justice that was executed on that Judas that sold the kirk 
 of Scotland for 50,000 merks a-year; and being bound to 
 extirpate Popery and Prelacy, to the utmost of our power, 
 and no other having appeared for God at that day, but those 
 who took away his life, therefore I was bound to join with 
 them, in defending the true religion, and all the land. 
 When he had sold the church, every man was bound in 
 covenant to meet him by the way, when he came down 
 from London, and to have him presently put to the edge 
 of the sword, for that heinous indignity done to the holy 
 Son of God. But it is, alas ! too apparent that men have 
 never known God rightly, nor considered that he is a holy 
 God. Oh, terrible backsliding! They will not believe 
 that God shall call them to account for what they owed 
 God. But, be assured, as he is in heaven, he will call 
 every one to an account how they have stood to that cove- 
 nant and work of reformation. I need say no more ; but 
 I would have you consider, that in breaking the covenant, 
 we have trampled under foot the precious truths of Jesus 
 Christ. 
 
 Now, being straitened for time, I must leave off writing. 
 Wherefore, farewell holy scriptures, wherewith my soul hath 
 been many a day refreshed ; farewell sweet societies, whose 
 company was always refreshing to me ; farewell mother, 
 brethren, sisters, and all other relations ; farewell all earthly 
 pleasures ; farewell sun, moon, and stars. Welcome spirits 
 of just men made perfect. Welcome angels. Welcome 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into whose hands I commit 
 my spirit. 
 
 Andrew Guilline. 
 
 The inhuman treatment this martyr met with, ought not 
 to be forgot, as an instance of the hellish rage and fury of 
 these persecutors, and of the Lord's rich grace, who wonder- 
 fully countenanced and strengthened him to endure the tor- 
 tures inflicted upon him, with undaunted braveness of spirit. 
 Besides the tortures he suffered in prison, they ordered both 
 his hands to be cut off, while he was alive. It was observed 
 by onlookers, though he received nine strokes in cutting them 
 off, the executioner being drunk, yet he bore it with invin- 
 cible patience. After the right hand was cut off, he held out 
 the stump to the multitude, saying, " As my blessed Lord 
 
JOHN COCHRAN. 255 
 
 sealed my salvation with his blood, so am I honoured this 
 day to seal his truth with my blood." Being afterwards par- 
 tially strangled, his head was cut off, and, with the hands, 
 placed upon the Xether-Bow port of Edinburgh. His 
 entrails were also taken out, and his body conveyed to 
 Magusmoor, and there hung up in chains. 
 
 Last Testimony of John Cochran, of the parish of Les- 
 mahagow, who suffered at the Cross, Edinburgh, No- 
 vember 30th, 1683. 
 
 Being brought before the lords of justiciary, I was asked, 
 Where I joined the rebels ? I answered, I joined the people 
 of God, whom ye call so, at Drumclog. They asked, If I had 
 arms ? I told them, I had a fork. They asked. If I thought 
 it rebellion? I said. No. They said. What was it then? I 
 told them, it was in defence of the gospel. They asked. If 
 I did own the authority ? I told them. As far as it did agree 
 with the word of God. They then asked, If I would pray 
 for the king? I told them, that prayer should be gone about 
 in decency and order. Then they asked. If I would say, 
 " God save the king," which I refused. They said, A¥as I 
 not bound to pray for him ? I told them, that I was bound 
 to pray for all that were within the bounds of election. 
 They said. Was the bishop's death murder ? I answered, I 
 was no judge. They asked. If I was at Both well? I said, 
 I was. They said. Was it rebellion? I said. No. I was 
 then taken back to prison, and the irons laid on me ; but 
 blessed be the Lord, that was no discouragement to me ; for 
 when the storm blew hardest, the smiles of my Lord were at 
 the sweetest. It is matter of rejoicing unto me, to think 
 how my Lord hath passed by many a tall cedar, and hath 
 laid his love upon the like of me, a poor bramble-bush. Oh, 
 that I could bless the Lord for it, and say, " come all ye that 
 fear the Lord, and I will tell you what he hath done for my 
 soul." Now I am made to say, that the Lord doth all things 
 well ; and holy is his name. As for my part, I have good 
 cause to bless the Lord, that ever I was a hearer of the per- 
 secuted gospel ; and however hard the world may think our 
 
256 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMOXY OF 
 
 lot, jet remember, that he saith in his holy word, that who- 
 soever will live godly, must suffer persecution ; and whoso- 
 ever will not take up his cross, and follow him, is not worthy 
 of him. "Fear not him that can kill the body;" for he hath 
 said, " I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear, fear him that 
 can kill both soul and body, and cast both into hell." And 
 if judgment begin at the house of God, where shall the 
 wicked and ungodly appear in that day, when he shall take 
 vengeance on them that fear him not, and obey not the gos- 
 pel? And now, alas! I am afraid that even much of the 
 gospel amongst us, will be a witness against us ; for it was 
 the judgment of Capernaum, that so many mighty works 
 were done in it, and yet they believed not : and notwith- 
 standing all that came upon it, it was said to be exalted to 
 heaven ; and then we hear of its being thrust down to hell : 
 even so, I fear, the having so much light is the plague of our 
 land; for it was once a praise in all the earth: but now a 
 mocking, even among the heathens. 
 
 Xow, as a dying man, I heartily declare my adherence 
 unto the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; 
 and preaching of that blessed gospel, by a faithful, sent, 
 Presbyterian, gospel ministry. As also, I do, with all my 
 soul and heart, agree with, and assent unto the Confession 
 of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the Sum of Saving 
 Knowledge, the National and Solemn League and Covenants, 
 Directory for Worship, the Solemn Acknowledgment of Pub- 
 lic Sins and Breaches of the Covenant, and Engagement to 
 all Duties, together with all and whatsoever is contained 
 within the foresaid book. And likewise, I do hereby heartily 
 witness and testify against Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, 
 Heresy, and other errors, especially Quakerism, and whatso- 
 ever is not in accordance with the holy scriptures, and those 
 other sound writings above-mentioned. I also witness and 
 testify my abhorrence and detestation of that abominable and 
 blasphemous test, which is so violently pressed upon the 
 people, tending to the destruction of their souls. Moreover, 
 I leave my wife and six young children to the care and 
 protection of Almighty God, who hath promised " to be a 
 father to the fatherless, and an husband to the widow ;" and 
 my soul to God who gave it, for whose cause I now willingly 
 lay down my life. And now I bid farewell to all earthly and 
 carnal comforts. Farewell all christian acquaintance: and 
 
JOHN WHARRT. 257 
 
 welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into whose hands I 
 commit mj spirit. 
 
 JoHx Cochran. 
 
 At the same time, John Whitelaw and Arthur Bruce also 
 suffered for adhering to the same truth and testimony. 
 Having been interrogated before the council, or lords of 
 justiciary, they agree with the foregoing martyr in everj 
 respect, and express in their testimonies the like satisfac- 
 tion with their lot, and cheerfulness under the cross, and 
 their adherence to the same principles, and abhorrence of 
 the same errors. 
 
 Letter from John Wharry, who suffered at the Market- 
 Cross, Glasgow, June 11th, 1683, to his Mother and 
 other relations. 
 
 Dear Mother, Brother, and Sisters, — I beseech you, 
 in the name of my sweet, altogether lovely, and glorious 
 Redeemer, Captain and Conqueror over all his enemies, be 
 not discouraged ; for through this free love cast on me who 
 was born an heir of sin and wrath, I am now, by his blessed 
 purchase, made free by the laying down of his sweet life for 
 poor sinners, (of which I was one of the chief,) that I might 
 get life eternal, which is his own gift bestowed on me. 
 And now, through his blessed hand of providence, he has 
 made choice of me to be his prisoner ; who ordereth all 
 things well to those on whom he sets his love ; and " whom 
 he loves, he loves unto the end." I do not question his all- 
 sufficiency. Dear mother, do not ye question it ; he is 
 sufficient to make me conqueror over my inward and out- 
 ward enemies. Oh, mother, bless the Lord that ever he 
 gave you a son, to be honoured to be a sufferer for his pre- 
 cious name, truths, interest, cause, covenant, and concerns, 
 according to his own rule in his blessed word, contained in 
 the Old and New Testaments. Oh, mother, will ye be 
 'Untreated for his love's sake, to give me back again to him 
 in a free-will offering ? Oh, I am persuaded, that it would 
 please my matchless Lord, and then it would fare better both 
 
 z2 
 
258 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 with me and you. Oh, if ye knew what of his love and kind- 
 ness I got, since I was brought to carts, stocks, and irons I 
 Oh, that I should be honoured with this ! I beseech you, for 
 his love's sake, that ye do not repine, and thereby provoke 
 the Lord to anger. Oh, bless him, for making all things 
 pleasant and delightsome, refreshful and comfortable, to my 
 soul, and my brother's. I cannot express what love I have 
 met with since they apprehended me and my brother. Oh, 
 bless him for dealing so with me. I beseech you, mother, 
 be serious with the Lord, tliat what he hath begun he may 
 also perfect in us, to his own glory, and for his own work in 
 the souls of all that are within the compass of the decree 
 of election of free grace. I cannot describe him, he is incom- 
 prehensible, and he is without compare. Oh, he is beautiful 
 and glorious, strong and almighty, powerful to break through 
 difficulties, and to bring through his own elect, — all which 
 is necessary, and nothing less, that his own, being cast into 
 the furnace for the trial of their faith and patience, may be 
 helped to endure ; for he knows well enough how to purge 
 away the dross and the scum of his own elect. Some souls 
 he plunges over and over ; to others he limits and permits 
 their winnowing by Satan. True faith, believing and casting 
 all the weight upon the promises, will bring you to the 
 accomplishment, if ye endure with patience ; he is the same 
 always to poor sinners, to make them to conquer all their 
 inward and outward enemies, even to those that have received 
 him in the precious offers of the gospel, held out to poor 
 sinners freely, and to poor me. He hath engaged my heart 
 to fall in love with him, and to follow the blessed persecuted 
 gospel, through good report and bad report, at all hazards 
 whatsoever, through his strengtli. Oh ! bless him, all that 
 is within me, that ever he made me to act faith on his great 
 and precious promises, and also to trust to the faithful out- 
 making of them to his own, in particular straits, and also to 
 the church in general, in his due season, against all opposi- 
 tions that can come from a tempting devil, and a wicked, 
 conspiring, and desperate heart, and the wicked, flattering, 
 deceiving, and bewitching world. Oh! but these be three 
 strong, arch, cunning, and subtle enemies! I fear, if this 
 question were asked at professors in the land, If they knew 
 these? They would answer, They knew them very well; 
 though I fear the contrary ; and this ignorance appears much 
 
JAMES SMITH. 259 
 
 in our day and generation. Wo is us! where is this married 
 land gone to? Judge ye. I bless him that he has made me 
 his prisoner, though I be unworthy ; he has stooped low, and 
 with his delicates has come to me in my irons and cords, in 
 that chamber in Glasgow, with his own wine, apples, and 
 fiaggons. Oh ! if ye knew what a life we have here ; if ye 
 knew the want of him, ye would have longed for him, and 
 would not have thought a prison, cords, stocks, irons, hard 
 to bear for his comely presence, and refreshing of your souls. 
 Oh! glory to his everlasting name, whose loving-kindness 
 lasts for aye. Oh, friends! give all the praise to precious and 
 lovely Christ. Oh, friends! wrestle and hold on; use impor- 
 tunity with him for your bleeding mother church ; for it is 
 not time to be slack. Pray for us, that we may get more 
 and more of his support, that we may be strong in our 
 almighty God, who has done great things for his church, 
 and^ is beginning to do great things for us in our prison. 
 Praise him all ye people ; it may be nearer to the breaking 
 of the day of our King Royal, than ye are aware. God has 
 long been silent, and conscience dumb amongst people ; but 
 be ye aware, that ye have not these two, when he arises to 
 make war for all the wrongs he has sustained. We beseech 
 you, in his own name, try whose ye are, what ye are, and in 
 whose list ye are. Know ye not, that true " faith is the 
 substance of things not seen, but hoped for " in him, and 
 will be made forthcoming to the sensible feeling of his elect. 
 
 John Wharry. 
 
 Letter by James Smith, who suffered for the truth, at 
 the Market-Cross, Glasgow, June 11th, 1683, to his 
 Father and Mother. 
 
 Dear Father and Mother, — I beseech you to forgive 
 me all the ofiPences I have done to you, for ye know i"t is 
 natural to children to oflPend and grieve their parents. 'Now 
 this I seek in his name, and for his sake, and I heartily 
 forgive any provocations that my father has given me, as I 
 am of myself: and desire the Lord may take a dealing with 
 your heart, oh, my father. Now, my dear father, seek the 
 
260 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Lord that your soul may live ; and make religion your main 
 work, and let it not be a by-busiuess with you, but strive 
 and wrestle to get time spent rightly in the fear of the Lord, 
 minding always and at all times, that the eye of a holy and 
 just God is upon you ; and be serious with God and deal in 
 earnest with him, that he would help you to self-denial, to 
 be denied to all things beneath the clouds ; and study to win 
 at mortification, and let your affections follow nothing further 
 than ye can be mortified to it; and be submissive to his holy 
 will. Now the Lord himself persuade you to fall in love 
 with lovely Christ; and I desire the Lord may give you 
 unfeigned repentance, and faith in Jesus Christ, and strength 
 to stand out and resist these ensnaring courses, viz., locality- 
 paying, compearing at courts, hearing of curates, and the 
 like. Dear father, mother, brethren, and sisters, quit with 
 me, and give me up to the Lord, who gave me to you. 
 Give me up freely, without any hankering and repining ; for 
 he loveth a cheerful giver. I dare not say but he has been 
 kind to me; Oh, matchless love I Oh, praise, praise him 
 that ever he honoured the like of me with cords on my 
 arms, and stocks on my legs; irons have been sweet and easy 
 to me, and no trouble. Now hold up my case to the Lord, 
 and doubt not of his faithfulness and all-sufiiciency, for he 
 is both able and willing, and he has said, in all your afflictions 
 I am afflicted ; and he carries both his and their cross, and 
 he sends none a warfare on their own charges. " Verily, 
 verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the 
 ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth 
 forth much fruit. He that loveth his life, shall lose it ; and 
 he that hateth his life in this world, shall keep it unto life 
 eternal," John xii. 24, 25. And I can say upon good grounds, 
 I am well helped of my lovely Master, in aU that I have 
 been trysted with. I desire, with all my heart and soul, to 
 bless and praise the holy name of my God for his love, and 
 that ever he looked on the like of me, a poor sinful thing. 
 Oh, praise him, and rejoice with me, that it is so well with 
 me. Now the manner in which I was taken was not 
 surprising to me ; I was not afraid, for I dare not question 
 but it was the place, and also that the time was come : glory 
 to his name in so ordering of it. No more at present, but 
 have my love remembered to you ; I desire you all to take 
 yourselves up with duty. Now I leave you all to him 
 
JOHN NISBET. 261 
 
 ** who is able to save to the uttermost." Be much taken up 
 ■with the church's condition, and be not at ease in the time 
 of Zion's trouble. Mj brethren, mj advice to you is, to 
 join yourselves in a society or fellowship-meeting, in the 
 strength of the Lord. Now, my lovely Lord, give thy 
 blessing to all thine, and pardon the sins of all the elect. 
 
 James Smith. 
 
 These two zealous martyrs were precluded from having 
 any formal testimony, by the rage and cruelty of the per- 
 secutors, who, having suborned witnesses against them, to 
 depone that they saw them kill a soldier at Inchbelly Bridge, 
 in relieving a prisoner there, presently led them forth to the 
 cross of Glasgow, and with the most inhuman rage hung 
 them on a gibbet till they were half dead ; then caused cut 
 theni down, and laying them in that condition upon a cart, 
 carried them to the said Inchbelly Bridge, to be there hung 
 up in chains. It is worth the recording, to the praise of his 
 grace, for whose royal dignities they witnessed, that they 
 endured all these afflictions with a great deal of christian 
 magnanimity and alacrity, even to the conviction of enemies. 
 
 Interrogations proposed to John Nisbet, younger, of the 
 Parish of Loudon, who suffered at Kilmarnock, April 
 4th, 1683. 
 
 Dear Friends, — My examination, so far as I remember, 
 was as follows: — When saw ye John Nisbet? A. I did not 
 see him this good while. But when did you see him, and 
 where did you see him? A. Although I could, I would not 
 answer, to discover my neighbours. The major said he 
 would make me tell, or he would make me sit three hours 
 in hell. I answered, That was not in his power. Are ye 
 under an oath that ye will not tell on the rest of you? A. I 
 am under no oath but what the" Covenant binds us to. Took 
 ye ever the communion? A. No. Did ye ever preach or 
 expound the Scriptures? A. 1 could never read the Rudi- 
 ments. Yet, said they, there were men who did preach that 
 were not learned. I told them I knew none but the Quakers, 
 
262 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 whose principles I disowned. Then said thej, say " God 
 save the king." I answered, It was not in my power to 
 save or condemn him. "Would you not say, God save your 
 beast, if it were fallen into a hole? A. No; because it is a 
 taking of his name in vain. Were you at Bothwell at the 
 Rebellion? A. Seeing ye count it rebellion, it is criminal, 
 witness of it. Is the bishop's death murder? A. I am not 
 a judge to cognosce upon it. And being asked again my 
 opinion of it, I answered, I had said all that I could say of 
 it already. Was Bothwell rebellion ? I answered. It was 
 self-defence, which was lawful. How prove ye that? A. By 
 that Confession upon which ye build your test. Then they 
 said, jeeringly, I was a grammarian. Own ye a law? A. Yes. 
 Own ye the law as it is now established! A. Since ye 
 make your questions matters of life and death, ye ought to 
 give time to consider upon them. Own ye the king in all 
 matters, civil and ecclesiastical, to be head of the church? 
 A. I will acknowledge none to be head of the church but 
 Christ. Who is lawgiver? A, Christ. Is the king the 
 king or not? A. He was once a covenanted king. Is he 
 the king now? A. I refer it to his obligations in his coro- 
 nation oath, to be considered. Is he your king or not? I 
 told them I would not answer any more such questions at 
 this time. This is all that passed, for the most part, except 
 a number of senseless questions. No more at present. Give 
 my love to all friends in Christ. I am very well borne 
 through, blessed be the Lord for it. 
 
 John Nisbet. 
 
 His Last Testimony. 
 
 Dear Friends, and True Lovers of Zion's Righteous 
 Cause, — If I could speak or write any thing to the com- 
 mendation of the covenanted God of the church and king- 
 dom of Scotland, surely I have many reasons to do so. 1. 
 That he hath trysted my lot to be in a nation where he hath 
 set up his pure worship, dicipline, and government ; whereas, 
 he might justly have ordered it among those that are wor- 
 shipping Antichrist, that whore of Rome, that monstrous 
 beast that sitteth upon many waters, whose sentence may be 
 read, " And the third angel sounded, saying, with a loud 
 voice, if any man worship the beast and his image, and re- 
 ceive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall 
 
JOHN NISBET. 263 
 
 drink of the wine of the wratli of God, that is poured out 
 without mixture, into the cup of his indignation; and he 
 shall be tormented with fire and brimstone, in the presence 
 of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the 
 smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever, and 
 they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and 
 his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name," 
 Rev. xiv. 9 — 11. 2. He might have ordered it among the 
 corrupt Protestant churches abroad, Lutherans, and other 
 corruptions and abounding errors ; but he has ordered it in 
 the reformed church of Scotland, which was " fair as the 
 moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with 
 banners ! " The day was when we could have sung that 
 song, Isa. xxvi. 1, " We have a strong city, salvation will the 
 Lord appoint for w^alls and bulwarks." 3. I bless the holy 
 name of my God, that I am not this day carrying arms 
 against him, his work and interest ; for there is no more in 
 me, as of myself, than in those that are deeply imbruing 
 their hands in the blood of the saints. 4. 1 bless and magnify 
 his holy name, that ever he brought me out of the state of 
 nature, and brought me into an estate of grace and salva- 
 tion, through the virtue of the blood of Christ; and exalted 
 be his holy name, that he hath given me a sight of my own 
 weakness, and also a sight of the deceitfulness of my own 
 evil heart, and the mystery of iniquity abounding there; 
 and also a sight of the remedy of the blood of Christ, with 
 his spirit engaging me to himself, and letting me see him- 
 self altogether lovely and precious; so that I may safely 
 say, "there is none in heaven or in earth that I desire 
 besides him," Ps. Ixxiii. 25. 5. I bless and magnify the 
 holy name of my God, who hath given me a sight of his 
 controverted truth, now when it is come in question, 
 whether Christ be head of his own house or not, whereas, 
 there is no truth clearer in all the scripture ; yet it must 
 not be spoken of, if ye resolve not to suffer for it. 6. I 
 bless his name, that ever he counted me worthy to suffer 
 for him, counting it not my shame, but a high privilege, and 
 dignifying of me, when many, famous in their generation, 
 have been denied of it, and are endeavouring by their prac- 
 tice to render the cross of Christ of no effect. 7. I bless 
 and magnify his holy name, that he hath kept me from 
 denying his name, in his titles and attributes: when the 
 
264 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 enemy and usurpers of my lovely Lord's crown are seeking 
 to have me to deny allegiance to him, who is given of the 
 Father to be a leader and commander of his people ; '* Thus 
 saith the Lord, behold I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, 
 a tried stone, a precious corner-stone, a sure foundation, he 
 that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment will I lay to 
 the line, and righteousness to the plummet, and the hail 
 shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the water shall 
 overflow the hiding-place," Isa. xxviii. 16, 17. But this may 
 be our complaint, " The daughter of my people is become 
 cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness. The tongue of 
 the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst, 
 the young children ask bread and no man breaketh it unto 
 them," Lam. iv. 3, 4. " But ye are departed out of the way, 
 ye have caused many to stumble at the law ; ye have cor- 
 rupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. There- 
 fore have I also made you contemptible and base before all 
 the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, and 
 have been partial in the law," Mai. ii. 8, 9. To our land 
 may be applied that in Ezek. xxiv. 7 — 9, " For her blood is 
 in the midst of her ; she set it upon the top of a rock ; she 
 poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust ; that it 
 might cause fury to come up, to take vengeance ; I have set 
 her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be 
 covered. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Wo to the 
 bloody city ! I will even make the pile for fire great." For 
 the iniquities of a land, many are the judgments thereof: 
 therefore we had need to mourn, for we will all be found 
 guilty of the sins of the land, in less or more. It makes me 
 tremble to think of Scotland's unfaithfulness in all ranks, for 
 as it is with the people, so is it with the priests ; all have 
 wandered out of the way, and followed their idols, especially 
 the sins of the corrupt rulers; for the statutes of Omri 
 are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye 
 walk in their counsels, that I should go far from my sanctu- 
 ary; therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people, 
 Micah vi. 16. •' The Lord hath accomplished his fury, he 
 hath poured out his fierce anger, he hath kindled a fire in 
 Zion, it hath devoured the foundations thereof. They have 
 polluted themselves with blood, so that men could not touch 
 their garments," Lam. iv. 11, 14. Now, his glory is trampled 
 under foot; but he hath said, " I am the Lord, that is my 
 
JOHN NISBET. 
 
 265 
 
 name, and my glory will I not give to another, neither mj 
 praise to graven images," Isa. xlii. 8. 
 
 Now, is it not his declarative glory, which that usurper 
 hath taken to himself? Yea, but he that leadeth captivity 
 captive, and giveth gifts unto men, will reclaim his own 
 glory, for " the government is laid upon his shoulders ; " 
 "all things are put under his feet, and [the Father hath] 
 given him to be head over all things to his church." Now, 
 as I am a free-born member of the church and kingdom of 
 Scotland, joining with all the fundamental laws thereof, if 
 they refuse to judge and sentence me according to that law, 
 they are murderers; but they refuse to judge according to 
 the scriptures, which is still higher wickedness. _ Oh, what 
 will come upon Scotland, for the high abominations com- 
 mitted therein? Surely it cannot but meet with odious 
 judgments, " For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: 
 behold it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the 
 people of my curse, to judgment," Isa. xxxiv. 5. For I see 
 nothing appearing in this land, but defection from the way 
 of truth ; for there is no public power, but what is founded 
 upon perjury, sacrilege, and tyranny, " Behold, the princes 
 of Israel, every one were in thee to their power to shed 
 blood." And compare Scotland's sins with Israel's sins, in 
 the time of Ezekiel, and see if they be not parallel. And 
 seeing they are so, what can be expected, but that their 
 punishments and plagues shall be parallel also ? For there 
 are few mourning for all the abominations done in the land. 
 
 Now, to those who charge me with self-murder, and a 
 breach of the sixth command, I say it is false : for self-pre- 
 servation must stoop to truth's preservation. I have that 
 much of humanity, that I love my life, but cannot redeem 
 it with the loss of my integrity ; but I say of such as do 
 the things they would have me to do, that they are actually 
 guilty of a breach of the second commandment, which is, 
 " Thou shalt not make unto thyself any graven image." 
 For I must say, it is a worshipping of images, to yield to 
 them in these things, now when they have seated themselves 
 in Christ's room : therefore, I exhort you all, to beware of 
 joining with them in their sins, lest ye partake with them in 
 their plagues, now when they have made it manifest, that 
 they will have no king but Charles Stuart; wherefore I think 
 it is our duty to cleave to Christ. We must either quit 
 ^ 2a 
 
2QQ LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Christ or Charles. Indeed, there are some who pretend to 
 keep both ; but if they be called to a public testimony, they 
 will find they must either quit Christ or Charles ; for they 
 will not have the civil without the ecclesiastic ; so I can- 
 not see how they can be owned in either : for by their acts of 
 parliament they have made them alike inherent to the crown ; 
 and shall that authority be so owned by me, a free-born 
 member of the Church of Scotland, which is Christ's mys- 
 tical body, without my being guilty of high rebellion against 
 God? More especially, as he has broken all obligations, 
 which was the tenor by which he entered into the govern- 
 ment, and without which he could not have entered into the 
 government, the covenant being the coronation-oath ; and as 
 he hath not only broken them, but made it death to speak 
 of them, and seated himself in the Mediator's chair of state, 
 which is enough to denude him of authority, even in civil 
 matters. If it be said, the land has given him that suprem- 
 acy, and so cannot take it from him again ; I answer, the 
 land had no power to make the grant ; and therefore we are 
 free to reject him upon that head, when called to it. But 
 oh, the sin of Scotland is great, in departing from God! for 
 Scotland hath slidden back like a backsliding heifer, for they 
 declare their sin like Sodom, they hide it not; the show of 
 their countenance doth witness against them. But, however, 
 it will be well with those that keep their garments clean ; 
 for they will find enough to do when it cometh, although 
 they should live Christians twenty years; therefore slight 
 not time when you have it ; for if death come upon you, it 
 will not be easy ; but well is that soul that can say upon 
 good grounds, Christ is all in all ; but the worldly-minded- 
 ness, and slavish fear of this generation, makes their practice 
 declare to the world, that Christ is not worth suffering for ; 
 otherwise they durst not adventure to forsake him, who is 
 altogether lovely ; for he will bid none go his errands upon 
 their own charges. 
 
 Now, the articles of my indictment, upon which my sen- 
 tence of death is passed, are these : — 1. My owning it as 
 lawful to rise in arms at Bothwell Bridge, which I did with 
 great cheerfulness and boldness, it being in self-defence, and 
 in defence of the gospel ; for my own part, the only end I 
 had before me there was the glory of God ; therefore I could 
 not think it rebellion, or unlawful against God, although the 
 
JOHN NISBET. 267 
 
 laws of men, who have set themselves in opposition to all 
 the commands of God, be against it. 2. Mj disowning the 
 curates, which I did very boldly ; and they said, if I dis- 
 owned the curates, I disowned all authority, which may 
 testify that they have set themselves in Christ's stead. 3. 
 My owning Donald Cargil, John Kid, and Richard Cameron, 
 to be faithful ministers of Jesus Christ, which I did, and I 
 bless the Lord that ever I heard them, and I set my seal to 
 the faithfulness of their doctrines. 4. My not praying for 
 the king in his person and authority, which I durst not do, 
 it being a perfect owning of him in all that he hath done. 
 Some may object and say, that I am against the scriptures 
 in this, because in several places of the Old Testament, we 
 find, that the kings of Israel were anointed to that office by 
 the Lord, and obedience to them thereupon enjoined. But 
 this was only done to lawful kings, and so could not be 
 to ours, he having set up himself in the room of God 
 incarnate. " We have added unto all our sins, this evil, 
 to ask us a king;" because we follow him in things contrary 
 to the command of God. And should I pray for that 
 man, to preserve him in his person and government, who 
 hath thus ventured upon the thick bosses of the buckler 
 of God Almighty? If one should object and say, these 
 are small things ; I answer, no truth is smaU : " he that 
 is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much; 
 and he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much," 
 Luke xvi. 10. 
 
 Now, I shall give an account of my principles, as in the 
 sight of God. I am a true Christian, truly anti-popish, 
 anti-prelatic, anti-schismatic, anti-sectarian, anti-erastian, 
 a true Presbyterian. And whatever many have said of 
 me, or may say, thus I have lived, and so now I die. 1. I 
 close with Christ in that way of redemption which he hath 
 revealed for the salvation of sinners ; " this is a faithful 
 saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus 
 came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 
 Howbeit, for this cause I obtained mercy," 1 Tim. i. 15, 16. 
 2. I give my testimony to the holy scriptures, for they are 
 the rule that men are to walk by, and they declare the 
 revealed will of God to men, anent man's salvation. 3. I 
 give my testimony to the work of reformation in the church 
 of Scotland, (and I bless the Lord that I was born a mem- 
 
268 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 ber of that church,) and against Poperj, Prelacy, Quaker- 
 ism, Independency, and all errors of the church. 4. I give 
 my testimony to the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter 
 Catechisms, Sum of Saving Knowledge, Directory for Wor- 
 ship, the order of the Church of Scotland. 5. I give my 
 testimony to the divine worship, discipline, and government 
 of the Church of Scotland, by kirk sessions, Presbyteries, 
 Synods, General Assemblies. 6. I give my testimony to the 
 Covenants, National and Solemn League. 7. I give my 
 testimony to the faithful actings of the protestors, called 
 Remonstrances against Malignants, and malignant interests, 
 which is the very thing this poor church is contending for 
 this day. 8. I give my testimony to all the faithful testi- 
 monies of the people of God, that have been given for that 
 noble work, whether on scaffolds, or in the fields, or on the 
 seas. I give my testimony to the faithful actings of the 
 last martyr ; although this generation is calling sin a duty, 
 and duty a sin, because of hazard ; for if this generation get 
 leave to go on in their pernicious ways, they will not believe 
 that there is a God in heaven, to punish such sinners and 
 sins as are committed in the land. " Ye are cursed with a 
 curse ; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." 
 Mai. iii. 9. 
 
 Now, 1. I leave my testimony against the public resolu- 
 tioners for bringing in the Malignant party to places of 
 power and trust, for which this poor land is smarting, and 
 bearing the weight of their hands to this day. 2. I leave 
 my testimony against the Act of Supremacy, and the Act 
 Rescissory, by which two they have overturned the whole 
 work of reformation, both in kirk and state. 3. I leave my 
 testimony against the unfaithfulness of ministers, both 
 indulged, and others, who are sheltering themselves under 
 the wings of those who have declared themselves enemies 
 to all godliness ; and I wonder how they can say they are 
 even-down for God, yet never one of them is troubled, be 
 troubled who will ; for, before my face, one of these minis- 
 ters, (Mr. Anthony Shaw by name,) said, he prayed God to 
 save him from the man that would not pray for the king in 
 his person and government. To whom I said. Magistrates 
 ought to punish evil-doers. Indeed, so he doth, said he. 
 4. I leave my testimony against the wrongers of my lovely 
 Lord's crown, all in general. 5. I leave my testimony 
 
JOHN NISBET. 269 
 
 against the hearers of the perjured curates, throughout the 
 land, but especially in Kilmarnock ; for their going to kirks, 
 subscribing bonds, paying fines ; which includeth in it the 
 acknowledgment of a fault, which I deny we have done, but 
 they have done it to us, and yet never a watchman has 
 testified against it. 6. I leave my testimony against paying 
 of the cess, or any other thing that may strengthen the 
 hands of evil-doers. " For ye are they that prepare a table 
 for that troop, and that furnish a drink-offering unto that 
 number," Isa. Ixv. 11. 
 
 Now, I will speak a word to three classes : — 1. To you 
 that are strangers, enemies to my lovely Lord, let your 
 estrangements be done away ; fly to him ere he break out 
 in fury against you. Oh, consider how near you are to the 
 destroyer, if ye fly not unto him ; but if you fly unto him 
 he 'will abundantly pardon. Therefore, I entreat, that ye 
 would turn from your evil ways, and leave off your perse- 
 tion, and flee to him, for there is mercy with him that he 
 may be feared, and if ye will not turn, wrath will be upon 
 you to all eternity. 2. To those that formerly have known 
 God, and now are fallen from their first love, I would say, 
 consider your former ways, and turn again to your first 
 husband, lest there be no space to repent ; for all the ways 
 that ye have taken to escape trouble will not hide you from 
 him who is the great sin-avenging God; and he will bring 
 all your sins, and your compliance to stand witness against 
 you ; therefore, delay not repentance, for ye will find death 
 have enough ado with itself. 3. To those who desire to walk 
 in his way, and to keep from the crying wickedness of these 
 times, I would say, stand fast in the faith ; for there is no 
 other burden laid upon you, but " hold fast till he come." 
 Oh, for that day when ye shall be made one stick in his 
 hand ! Have fervent charity among yourselves, and " let 
 him that standeth take heed lest he fall," for ye will 
 find enough ado with it when death comes ; therefore let 
 the main thing be your study; that once made sure, it 
 cannot be taken from you. Ye have many enemies to fight 
 with, and the way to heaven is very strait ; it is no wonder 
 Satan seeks to tempt poor Christians, when he essayed to 
 tempt our blessed Lord and Master. Let none of you think 
 it strange, concerning what hath befallen me, for in His 
 holy wisdom He hath so carved out my lot ; and I have 
 
 2 a2 
 
270 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 been made to bless him for it. Oh, study to wrestle against 
 corruptions, which are very heavy to me sometimes, but his 
 love hath been great in bringing me out of a state of nature, 
 and making me to see my own weakness, and also the remedy, 
 for which my soul shall be made to praise him throughout 
 all eternity. 
 
 Now, my dear friends in Christ, study to walk blameless 
 in all manner of conversation, as becometh the gospel; let 
 your light so shine before the world, that they may be 
 ashamed that shall accuse your good conversation in Christ; 
 for now ye need not think if ye keep the way of God, but ye 
 will have many enemies, both within and without, therefore 
 seek strength from him who is able to give it: ye need not 
 think that all the stock of grace that a man hath will be 
 sufficient when the trial comes, if there be not fresh supply 
 given in the time of need. Oh, wrestle with him, that ye 
 may be hid in the day of his wrath, that seems to be poured 
 out on this generation, for their great treachery and depart- 
 ure from God, the breach of his laws, and subjecting to the 
 laws of men; but my eyes shall be closed, I shall not see it; 
 but I am content, seeing I get my soul for a prey, then I 
 shall have no loss. 
 
 Now, as for his way with his church, it is mysterious to 
 me ; but this I think is a token for good, that he is taking 
 some to witness for his despised and trampled-upon truths, 
 and he will keep some witnessing still, until he return again : 
 but indeed it seems it is but very few that will see him 
 return again, in this generation. Now, death is called the 
 king of terrors, but I think it is not so with me ; " Oh, death, 
 where is thy sting ? oh, grave, where is thy victory ?" 1 Cor. 
 XV. 55. " We know if this earthly tabernacle were dissolved, 
 we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, 
 eternal in the heavens : for which we long earnestly, to be 
 absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord, 
 which is far better," 2 Cor. v. 1. 
 
 Now, I declare I am free of the blood of all men ; and 
 although men have no public scandal to charge me with, yet 
 by original and actual transgression, I am the chief of sin- 
 ners ; but his love hath been great, the manifestations of his 
 presence have been great also : for Satan hath not been want- 
 ing to assault, but yet glory to his name, who hath resisted 
 him, and hath not permitted him to get his will. Now, as 
 
JOHN WILSON. 271 
 
 my last words, I recommend it to all, to be tender one of 
 another, without sinning ; and be in earnest with God, for 
 ye will find death will have enough ado with itself ; therefore 
 delay not repentance, lest he come when ye are not aware. 
 Now, as for these men that are unjustly taking away my life, 
 for adhering to the truth, and for no other cause; for what 
 they do to me, as I am of myself, I freely forgive them and 
 all others, and especially the blinded soldiers, many of whom 
 do what they do ignorantly ; but as they do it to the image 
 of God in me, that is not mine to forgive : but I leave it to 
 him to whom vengeance doth belong, that he may do with 
 them what may most glorify himself. 
 
 Now, my work is finished, I have fought the good fight ; 
 I have finished my course ; henceforth is laid up for me a 
 crown of righteousness. Let such as will condemn me read 
 that scripture, " Who shall lay any thing to the charge of 
 God's elect? it is God that justifieth, who is he that con- 
 demneth ?" For my lot is fallen to me in pleasant places ; I 
 have a goodly heritage ; I would not change my lot for the 
 greatest man's upon earth. Men and angels, praise him for 
 this ; all the creation praise him ; oh! my soul shall praise 
 him through all the ages of eternity. 
 
 Now, farewell all true friends in Christ ; farewell christian 
 relations ; farewell sweet and holy scriptures ; farewell prayer 
 and meditation: farewell sinning and suffering. Welcome 
 heaven, welcome innumerable company of angels, and the 
 church of the first-born, and the spirits of just men made 
 perfect ; welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; welcome 
 praises for ever more. Now, dear Father, receive my spirit, 
 for it is thine ; even so, come Lord Jesus. 
 
 John Nisbet. 
 
 Testimony of John Wilson, Writer, Lanark, who suf- 
 fered at the Grass-Market, Edinburgh, May 16th, 1683. 
 
 His answers before the Council, April 17th. 
 
 The chancellor said. We having called James Laurie, pro- 
 duced to him a letter written by you to him, wherein you 
 reprove him for calling Bothwell rebellion : he owned, that 
 
272 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 it had convinced his conscience, and said, that he was sorry 
 for what he spoke, and we produced him a letter, supposed to 
 be written in answer to yours, which he denied. Tell us 
 who wrote that letter? John "Wilson answered, I will not 
 tell by whom, only it was not written by James Laurie. 
 Who is the lady mentioned in the end of the letter ? A. I 
 dare not burden my conscience to tell. Do you own 
 authority ? A. What authority ? What think you of Both- 
 well, was it not unlawful to rise in arms? A. I dare not say 
 that it is unlawful ; for the confession contained in your test, 
 (Article 15,) says that it is a good work to defend the life of 
 the harmless; and however God hath disposed of those 
 people, yet I suppose the Lord will own those, that hearing 
 their neighbours had been worshipping God, (for defending 
 themselves against those that seek their life) were in 
 jeopardy of their lives, thought it their duty to rise for their 
 relief. Was Pentland rebellion? A. The oppression of 
 these poor people was such that the then rulers condemned 
 Sir James Turner for his cruelty. Upon this, one answered, 
 that he knew Sir James went not the length of his commis- 
 sion. Was the bishop's death murder ? Have me excused, 
 gentlemen, I will not answer to that. Being urged farther, 
 he said. It being nothing concerning my salvation, I do not 
 pry into it. Upon this they said. Did Bothwell concern 
 your salvation ? To which he replied. There are none that 
 engage themselves in service to God, but it behoves them to 
 be at his call, and it being for saving the life of the harmless, 
 I durst not sit God's bidding. Are you a minister ? A. No. 
 They here alleged some of his letters imported so much; 
 and being desired to read the place, they read somewhat 
 about a call to some ministry, nothing relating thereto. 
 Will ye not condemn the bishop's death as murder 1 A. 1 
 dare not, for fear God having justified some of these actors, 
 they should rise in judgment and condemn me. Is there no 
 other way but to rise in arms against the king? A. I sup- 
 pose you have read Bishop Honnyman's answer to Naphtali, 
 wherein he says, " A king may be resisted, in case he should 
 alienate the kingdom to strangers." And that being 
 granted, religion being taken away, was as dear to us as any 
 outward interest. One replied. The bishop got little thanks 
 for that. Think you it lawful to rise against a state that are 
 not of your opinion ? Will ye go to Bothwell again ? These 
 
JOHN WILSON. 273 
 
 questions they gave him not leave to answer, but ordered 
 him to be taken away, asking, if he was a captain at Both- 
 well ? Which he assented to. 
 
 Answers before the Council, April 17th. 
 
 Omitting what he answered at his former appearance, 
 which needs not to be repeated, their questions being always 
 the same, they asked. Is Bothwell rebellion or not ? -4. No ; 
 it being for the defence of the harmless, who were hearing 
 a preaching, and defending themselves ; and the Confession 
 of Faith contained in your test, says it is a good work to 
 defend the life of the harmless. Then you approve of the 
 test ; Will you take it ? A. I am not speaking of the test, 
 but of the Confession of Faith therein contained. Think 
 you it lawful to rise against magistracy ? A. Will you con- 
 demn the reformation from Popery carried on by John Knox? 
 We are not come here, said they, to answer questions, but 
 to ask. But, replied he, the answering of that to me, 
 would be a full answer by me to your question. Then, said 
 the bishop, the reformation was good, but the way of carry- 
 ing it on was ill. A. That is a marvellous thing, to think 
 God would approve the actors in such actions, and yet the 
 method be ill ; and they to have a most solid peace in these 
 actions, and to have such a mouth to defend it, as all the 
 wits in their days were not able to withstand, as will be clear 
 to any that read the history of the reformation. Oh, said 
 they, he has read the history of the reformation : ay, but you 
 will not find it in the Scripture, said they, that the people 
 may resist the prince, for then they take the magistrate's 
 part on them, and therein declare themselves to be above 
 their prince. A. The people resisted Saul, and would not 
 let him kill Jonathan, 1 Sam. xiv. 45. The bishop said, the 
 people were in the wrong. A. The scripture never condemns 
 the deed. Do you own authority ? A. Authority may be 
 taken several ways : — 1 . For the simple command of the 
 prince. 2. For the more public command of the prince and 
 people. 3. For a power a prince may be clothed with by a 
 people. 4. For a prince's right to govern. In all which 
 ways Gouldman's Dictionary, the ordinary expositor of words, 
 takes it. In the first two senses, since many both of the 
 prince's edicts, and public acts of parliament are directly 
 
274 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 against Presbyterians and Presbyterian government, to own 
 it in these senses, I should deny myself to be a Presbyterian. 
 In the third sense, since the people have clothed the king 
 with the headship of the church, I cannot own that ; because 
 the eleventh article of the Confession of Faith, contained in 
 the test, says, " That office belongs properly to Christ alone, 
 and that it is not lawful for man or angel to intrude therein." 
 As for the last sense of authority, his right to govern, I have 
 not seen through it. Will you venture your life on these 
 things ? A. My life is in God's hand. After these questions, 
 they set down that he was a captain at Bothwell, and an 
 imperfect recital of his words, which they desired him to 
 subscribe ; but he refused. 
 
 At his last appearance before the criminal court, the advo- 
 cate accosted him thus. Though, Sir, you have been a rebel, 
 and though you have studied to draw that poor man Laurie 
 to the gallows, yet you see how merciful the king is to these 
 men, (which were four who swore the test,) and there is place 
 left to you for mercy, if you will not obstinately persist in 
 your opinion. He answered, I have neither done any deed, 
 nor given you an account of any opinion, but what I have 
 justified from the Confession of Faith, which you have lately 
 sworn ; from the ancient reformation, which ye cannot con- 
 demn ; and from the confessions of your own doctor. What ! 
 says Perth, will you justify your taking arms at Bothwell? 
 A. Your own test justifies the defence of the life of the 
 harmless. The advocate says. All the indulged, yea almost 
 all Presbyterians, condemn it. Then, says he, Will ye bond 
 before sentence, for there is no place left for the king's mercy 
 after sentence ^. A. I will not ; but remember, that one day 
 all sentences will be canvassed before the great Judge of 
 heaven and earth. 
 
 Some Reasons for his Answers, and Reflections on them. 
 
 When I was on my journey betwixt Edinburgh and 
 Lanark, and several times before, having considered the 
 bold testimony of Stephen, " Ye stiff-necked and uncircum- 
 cised in heart," &c.. Acts vii. 51, 52, and Peter's testimony, 
 " Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree," Acts v. 30: and his 
 desire, that with all boldness they might make mention of 
 the name of Jesus: and, lastly, that promise, "in nothing 
 
JOHN WILSON. 275 
 
 terrified by your adversaries, " &c., Phil. i. 28. I say, con- 
 sidering these, I resolved to use the utmost freedom with 
 the council ; but being come to this town, and knowing that 
 the council desired to pick such quarrels with any in our 
 condition, as might give the least umbrage to the world, for 
 the justice of their dealing; and also that by many professed 
 friends we are judged imprudent; yea, so far condemned, 
 that they declare we have a hand in our own death: and 
 further, their own public proclamations still bearing, that 
 our design was not religion, but covetousness, to possess 
 ourselves of government: to avoid these, I resolved to be 
 as cautious as I could, without prejudice to truth. So that, 
 taking my answers for defensive arms, out of the test, which 
 they had sworn; from the concessions of their greatest 
 doctors ; and from the deed of the former council, whereof 
 some present were members, I thought it was a ridiculous 
 thing to make me condemn that which they ha^ ratified by 
 an oath, their great doctor had yielded, and their former 
 council had approven. But that I might have God's approba- 
 tion in so demeaning myself, and do what I did therein in 
 faith, I took that rule, " Be ready always to give a reason of 
 the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear," 1 Pet. iii. 
 15. And as I thought I had reason to bless God, who had 
 guided my tongue, so that I felt neither shame nor fear, I 
 came back to prison with a heart sorry that I should have 
 left these two questions of the chancellor's unanswered, viz., 
 Thought I it duty to rise in arms against a state not of my 
 opinion? In answer to which question, I thought, if ever I 
 had occasion, I would have been punctual in telling them 
 the question was wrong stated; for the right state of the 
 question was, When a state destroys the true profession of 
 godliness sworn to by the land, and persecutes the owners 
 thereof. 2. If I would have gone to Bothwell again. I 
 thought if such a question was asked, I would have told 
 them, that I behoved to be at God's caU. Likewise, I was 
 sorry that I had not been nimble enough to have taken 
 opportunity, when the question anent authority was moved, 
 to have testified against the ecclesiastical headship, and 
 sinful acts against God's church ; I say, my omission, occa- 
 sioned through their confused asking, caused me humiliation 
 after I returned to prison. 
 
 At my second examination, as I had desired, I got oppor- 
 
276 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 tunity to testify against the headship of the church, and other 
 sinful acts destroying God's work, and so discharged my 
 conscience. But yet there was something left to exercise 
 me with ; 1. When the hishop said. It were a distracted act 
 for the king to alienate the kingdom to strangers, that I did 
 not say it was an act of more distraction to destroy religion. 
 2. That in citing the words of the eleventh article of the 
 Confession against the headship, I should have simply said, 
 It was unlawful to presume to intrude on that office ; whereas 
 the Confession itself calls them blasphemers, and thereby 
 mincing his word. 3. When the bishop said, It were a 
 Turkish way to carry on reformation by the sword, that I 
 had not opened their present practice and violence in pressing 
 men's consciences, and said, since they looked upon con- 
 science as so tender a thing, to beware of squeezing it so by 
 oppression. I know I have an infirmity in answering off- 
 hand, anent which I hope all God's people will observe the 
 rule of bearing one another's infirmities. I am sure that 
 the Lord hath not supplied me as to these answers, in order 
 to my further exercise. As to the reason why I said, I 
 could not see through the denial of authority in the last 
 sense, (for though I could not see through it, yet it being 
 such an abominable stating of themselves, in a continual 
 opposition unto God and godliness, I scunnered to own it,) 
 the reason that moved me to say, that I could not see through 
 it, was, a desire to tread the paths of our old reformers, who 
 delayed casting off authority, till they had a probable power 
 to back it. Yet afterwards considering his breach of cove- 
 nant to us, and the deeds done by that authority, which in 
 any well regulated commonwealth, would annul his right ; I 
 thought I had worded authority ill in the last sense, and 
 that it had been more proper, had I said, I could not see 
 through the denying of obedience to such commands as were 
 indifferent, or according to God's word. And indeed till 
 God had furnished us with a probable power. I could never 
 see through this ; and I am verily of that opinion, that we 
 having lusted for a king, got him in God's wrath ; and that 
 since we have entered into covenant with him, God will 
 take his own way to remove him in his displeasure, and 
 will not let it be by our hand: though I grant that his breach 
 of paction to us, looseth us, our paction being still con- 
 ditional — to own him in defence of religion ; and my earnest 
 
JOHN WILSON. 277 
 
 desire is, there may be no difiference among Presbyterians 
 anent this, for I have a strong opinion, that God will take 
 that question out of the way shortly. 
 
 As for the bishop's death, I could not call it murder, 
 because of the case of Jael, Ehud, and Phineas. Jael uses 
 the expressions, "Turn in hither;" and that "there was 
 peace between Heber the Kenite, and Jabin," — Jael being 
 of that family ; and whatever may be alleged against these 
 as extraordinary acts, and that to do such deeds is to take 
 the magistrate's power ; I am sure Phineas was a priest, and 
 it was none of his office to kill any man, and yet he is com- 
 mended. Next, Knox's preaching to, and abiding with, the 
 killers of Cardinal Beaton ; and Calderwood's history, which 
 was approven by the assembly, calling them men of courage 
 and resolution, whom God stirred up. Next, the Lord 
 Ruthven and others killing a companion that abused Queen 
 Mary by his ill-counsel, and yet approven in Knox's history. 
 Therefore, if the killers of the bishop, having a zeal against 
 the blood-thirstiness of that wretch, and being deeply affected 
 therewith, and with love to the brethren, whom he, like a 
 wolf, was seeking to have devoured, and had devoured, slew 
 him, I durst not call it murder ; but if the actors were 
 touched with any thing of particular prejudice or other by- 
 ends, I am very confident that scripture of avenging the 
 blood of Jezebel upon the house of Jehu, would not suffer 
 me to justify it. So not knowing the actors' hearts therein, 
 I could neither say yea nor nay; but Christians should judge 
 charitably. I forgot, likewise, to tell them, that the Bishop 
 of Glasgow laying down his gown, upon making the act 
 explanatory, might be an aggravation of my sin, if I should 
 own the king's headship over the church. 
 
 Reasons why he refused at first to supplicate the Council 
 for a reprieve, being importuned by his relations to 
 do it. 
 
 Upon the 7th of May, 1683, being desired to petition, I 
 answered, I could think upon no petition, nor arguments 
 that could be acceptable with them, but such as were either 
 directly or indirectly a receding from what I had professed. 
 1. The reason of my petition was moved thus, to seek a 
 longer time, till I was better advised anent my answers given 
 
 2b 
 
278 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 to the council. To which I answered, that would say to all 
 the world, That however tenacious we were of our principles, 
 yet we might seem to call them in question ; and it might 
 say, that I was pressing others to die on these principles, 
 but that death put me to a stand anent myself: and so I 
 should give ground of hardening to enemies. 2, It was 
 moved, that through my confusion since I came to prison, I 
 should seek a reprieval. To this I answered, I durst not 
 slander Christ's cross, wherein every step to me has been 
 mercy and truth ; and my rebellious flesh needed no less 
 (conform to my own acknowledgment to God) than what was 
 come to subdue it : and that I could not well see through 
 that, fearing it would be bad company so near my death ; 
 that I firmly trusted all should work for my weal ; and to 
 say that, were to contradict my conscience and God's good- 
 ness, and make me contradict my own prayer, viz., " Let 
 neither flesh nor spirit be moved and failed, lest enemies 
 rejoice." 3. That I should petition, that I might have a 
 longer time, simply to prepare for eternity. To which I 
 said, I could not do it in faith ; for ever since I came to 
 prison, God had made me believe, that he who had begun a 
 good work in me, would also finish it: and that he would 
 perfect that which concerned me, according to his own word ; 
 and however little a business this might seem in the eyes of 
 the world, yet to me it was like going to another airth, for 
 perfecting and finishing of this work, begun by God ; then if 
 they refused it, they might taunt and say, whatever confi- 
 dence he had at his death, yet it is gotten of a very short 
 space ; and if a reprieval should be given, they might at my 
 sentence say, I was their debtor for it. And besides all 
 this, I fear when I come back to God for preservation, he 
 should send me to the broken cistern I had been hewing out, 
 Jer. ii. 13. And I know, if conscience would permit me to 
 do it, enemies would think, either he is lying, in pretend- 
 ing want of preparation, and so it is the best time to hold 
 him, when he has committed sin ; or otherwise, they would 
 think, I was speaking truth, and so say, the best way is to 
 hold to him, when he is tottering. 
 
 Notwithstanding all these reasons against petitioning, his 
 relations induced him to supplicate twice. 1. On account 
 of his wife's case, who was then great with child, and in 
 danger of death through grief. 2. On his own account; 
 
JOHN WILSON. 
 
 279 
 
 whereupon he obtained a reprieval. During which time he 
 had a conference with Sir WiUiam Paterson ; which being 
 on the same heads with his answers before the council, are 
 
 omitted. . ^ • ^ x- i 
 
 [See conclusion of his testimony.] 
 
 Last Speech and Testimony. 
 
 Now, being caUed to lay down my life, which I do cheer- 
 fully I declare, I adhere to the Confession of Faith ; anent 
 which, for exoneration of my own conscience, I am under a 
 necessity to leave this caution, in reference to that clause 
 contained in chap, xxiii. section 24, viz.. That infidel ty or 
 difference in religion, does not make void the magistrates 
 just and legal authority," &c. The composers had an eye 
 to the Pope's scurvy usurpations, to dethrone Protectant 
 kings, and dispose of their kingdoms, under the notion ot 
 heretics, and so put this in: yet I could find no further 
 proof for it in the scripture, but what only respects Chris- 
 tians scattered up and down in a heathenish empire ; and 
 that it can be no prejudice against deposing a Protestant 
 king, turning Papist or Pagan ; since among people pro- 
 fessino- God, the idolater should die the death ; for then it 
 wouW seem to justle with Queen Mary's deposition in our 
 ancient Reformation. I say, this is not to give offence to 
 any, but to satisfy my own conscience. Also, I adhei^ to 
 the work of Reformation, former and latter : and i think 
 our Catechisms well worded, for evading of errors. _ I also 
 adhere to the Solemn Acknowledgment of Sins,_ in anno 
 1648 and Engagement to Duties; Covenants, jSational and 
 Solemn League ; and particularly to the government of the 
 church by a parity of ministers, and subordination ot pres- 
 byteries, synods, and general assemblies, accordmg to the 
 Presbyterian way ; as being the most exact, according to 
 the word of God, and as tending most to the furtherance ot 
 purity and godliness ; and I profess myself a member thereot, 
 as being reformed from Prelacy, Erastianism, &c. 
 
 I leave my testimony against the indulged, as making 
 a breach of the sweet unity that should haye been among 
 Presbyterians, and as depending on the magistrate as to tiie 
 exercise of their office ; and for their over-weenmg love ot 
 ease ; and for being bound up as to the showing of public 
 
280 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 duties, and reproving of public sins ; and for refusing the 
 exercise of their office of marrying and baptizing, to those 
 without their parish, denying themselves thereby to be 
 ministers of the church catholic, and declaring plainly 
 thereby, they will follow the injunctions laid on them by 
 men. Yet I advise all the godly to leave off hatred towards 
 them, and to cherish every thing that may look like good 
 in them. I leave my testimony against the paying cess, the 
 payment whereof is a perfect test of the payer's adhering to 
 the rooting out of conventicles, as the rendezvouses of rebel- 
 lion, and acknowledging the king's authority over church 
 and state, as it is presently established by the laws of this 
 realm; this being the very narrative and foundation of that 
 act; and I have found the indulged averse to condemn it, 
 the narrative of their license being somewhat sibb thereto. 
 But as to the other public burdens, such as the common 
 revenue of the crown, or locality, (though I speak not this 
 to justify myself, these not being my tentations,) I desire a 
 tenderness to be used to all such as have not clearness 
 therein, in respect the apostle seems to difference them ; 
 " but if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice 
 unto idols, eat not," 1 Cor. x. 28. 
 
 I leave my testimony against hearing of curates, especially 
 by professed Presbyterians, as being contradictory to the 
 covenant binding us, to the uttermost of our power, to extir- 
 pate prelacy. Our active power being stopped, our study is 
 to leave a testimony by suffering for it, as being contrary to 
 the rule of faith. What Presbyterian can pray for a bless- 
 ing to that ordinance, where the chief dispenser is a blas- 
 phemer, by swearing the test ; wherein the headship of the 
 church, Christ's prerogative, is sworn by them to pertain to 
 a man? Such conduct is expressly contrary to that scrip- 
 ture, " my sheep hear my voice, but a stranger they will not 
 follow, but flee from him," John x. 5. And here I think it 
 not amiss to add the words of Philpot, that learned and 
 godly martyr, of the joiners of the Papistical church, seeing 
 the reason he gives holds good here. " We can do no 
 greater injury to the true church of Christ, (whereof he is 
 the only head,) nor to seem to have forsaken her, by cleav- 
 ing to her adversary ; and that God's jealousy in the day of 
 vengeance will cry for vengeance against such, unless they 
 cleave inseparably to the gospel of Christ ; and that there 
 
JOHN WILSON. 
 
 281 
 
 must be no counterfeit iUusion with them ni this; and there 
 must be no presence of the body there, we bemg commanded 
 to glorify God, as well in body as spn-it." These are his 
 words imperfectly, yet truly, as I remember ; and since the 
 Prelatical church has not Christ for her only head, the 
 reasons hold good still. , 
 
 I could heartily wish that all the serious godly would 
 leave off their joining with the Indulgence, for in respect to 
 my own view, it has been attended with a coldrifeness as to 
 public sins, a gluedness to the world, and an mfatuatedness 
 as to approaching judgments; and is a countenancing ot 
 them, in compliance with enemies. But since I have httie 
 hopes thereof, I wish aU the seriously godly to be tender 
 towards such, whose eyes are not enhghtened to behold the 
 evil of it, and to restrict their withdrawments to persons ot 
 their own number, who recede from what they profess ; for 
 the end proposed by the rule, withdraw from every brother 
 that walketh disorderly, is to make ashamed; now, it cannot 
 be supposed to attain its end any where else: and in order 
 to do that which may be most edifying to all men, let all 
 things be done to edifying. ■ r.^ . ^ t^ 
 
 I leave my testimony against that abominable test, L>e- 
 claration. Act of Supremacy, and all other acts overturning 
 the work of God, and against all the blood shed upon that 
 
 account. , ^ -i ■^ 
 
 And next, I think no man coming before the council can 
 
 acknowledge the king's authority simply, (considering that 
 
 he is clothed with one of the royal prerogatives ot Jesus 
 
 Christ, viz., the headship of the church, wherein for man 
 
 or angel to intrude is blasphemy,) without being guilty oi 
 
 ffivino- him that usurped title. And this is the ground ot 
 
 my sufferino-, mainly, for affirming Christ's headship over 
 
 the church to be his prerogative alone, which is the occasion 
 
 of the brunt of the ruler's anger. And herein I have a most 
 
 solid peace; for Christ says, he came to bear witness to that 
 
 truth, that he was a King; and so I think that my sutier- 
 
 ings are merely a part of Christ's sufferings. Though some 
 
 say I might have been sparing as to this confession, I sxiy 1 
 
 durst not keep up my lips ; though they themselves have 
 
 that which I affirmed, in the Confession of Faith, m their 
 
 test, viz., " That it is a blasphemy for man or angel to 
 
 usurp this title," yet is the great heat of malice stated 
 
 ^ 2b2 
 
282 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 hereon. But there is no piece of my sufferings yields me 
 more content. Nor can any Christian come before them 
 acknowledging authority simply, without being guilty of 
 yielding this, it being declared essential to the crown, as 
 Mr. Donald Cargil well notes in his testimony. And I think 
 that question of authority being propounded, a man has a 
 fair open door to witness against the encroachments on 
 Christ's rights. I understand somewhat more of tlie mys- 
 tery of this state than I did, and, conform to my weak con- 
 ceptions, you may take it up thus : — 
 
 The king having, through straits abroad, been compli- 
 mented, and probably supplied by Papists, lies under en- 
 gagements to introduce Popery ; and for that effect, takes 
 this method to overturn the hedge of church-government 
 and discipline, and turn out all honest-hearted ministers, 
 and force people to a compliance with hirelings, to debauch 
 men's consciences; and, from one degree to another, to bring 
 in Popery ; but he being a man so addicted to pleasures, and 
 whilst counteracted by parliaments, loving ease ; wherefore 
 Papists practice to put him in mind of his engagements, by 
 aiming at his life. He finding himself in this strait, and 
 being in straits through his lavishness to court ladies, these 
 straits must be supplied by the king of France and the 
 Pope; and for requital thereof, the management of the 
 government must be turned over to his brother, who must 
 have a cardinal, and some Jesuits to contrive the mystery 
 of iniquity, and bring this land to Babylon. In order there- 
 unto, statesmen must be set up, who are emulators of others, 
 and men that studied to pick quarrels with others, and then 
 comes a general mittimus from court, to act after such a 
 method of cruelty. For the Jesuits know, where two con- 
 trary parties act this game, they will be sure, for fear of 
 their places, to consent to go along to the utmost of cruelty. 
 The next mystery is to convene the whole country by circuit 
 courts, as guilty, some of treason, some for one transgression, 
 and some for another, (the whole country being generally 
 guilty by their law,) and force them to rise in arms; and 
 then gather Papists, and take occasion to burn and slay, all 
 the country over. The Lord in his mercy take them in 
 their own net; but I fear Popery shall once overspread. 
 And I am really of opinion that God shall root up this race 
 of kings, root and branch, and make them Zeba and Zal- 
 
JOHN WILSON. 283 
 
 munnah-like, not only for taking God's house in possession, 
 but also emitting in their last printed proclamation or in- 
 demnity, that they resolved to root out the seed of the 
 godly, under the name of Fanatics. 
 
 My advice and humble request to ministers is, to be ten- 
 der toward any this day that have zeal, though knowledge 
 be not so great ; and to be less fearful of outward danger, 
 and more active where persecution hath been hottest, where 
 they may have any freedom. My advice to all professors 
 is, to lay no imposition on ministers' consciences ; and that 
 for the Lord's sake, they would study to take some in among 
 them, that have light and judgment to withstand the flood 
 of defection and Popery that is like to overspread the land. 
 And again, I leave another advice to ministers and professors, 
 that where any Iiave suffered for their consciences they would 
 be sparing to condemn them. 
 
 I come now to declare my first engagements with God, 
 about ten years ago, which was through reading of the 
 " Fulfilling of the Scriptures," and scripture truths therein 
 contained, and the grounds of out-making thereof, which 
 gave a check to atheism, that is naturally seated in all 
 men's hearts ; the next was " Gray's Sermons on Prayer ; " 
 and the last, " Guthrie's Trial of an Interest in Christ ;'' all 
 which, God so powerfully laid home to my conscience, that 
 I then covenanted with God ; and though at that time I 
 could not get the faith of perseverance, yet I had a respect 
 to all his statutes ; so that the Bible was a most sweet book 
 to me ; and I took up my whole time for near a year there- 
 after in studying religion, (the most pleasant time that ever 
 I had in my lifetime,) yea, it was a burden to me to turn 
 me to my necessary affairs in the world. I found religion 
 sharpened me in all my natural parts ; yea, brought me, 
 who was naturally a most anxious, fretting, grudging crea- 
 ture, to such a calmness and serenity in cross providences, 
 that I thought though there were neither hell nor heaven, 
 religion was a reward to itself. And I was so taken up with 
 Christ's gracious condescension, that his name was most 
 pleasing ; yet durst I not draw a conclusion of an assurance 
 and perseverance ; yea, I was put to question the work itself, 
 upon account of the quality of my repentance ; but meeting 
 with Guthrie's Trial of a Saving Interest in Christ, I found 
 sensibly, that swallowed up a law-work in love. I found 
 
284. LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 this, that there is not a more excellent piece of the armour 
 of God, than the helmet of salvation, and which Satan is 
 most busy with a Christian to keep off. I found, likewise, 
 as knowledge and grace grew, that presumption grew ; that 
 is, that with what I had gotten, I could walk alone ; but that 
 truth, " without me ye can do nothing," was known to my 
 sad cost. But after all this sweet time, yea, I may say, most 
 sweet time, falling more and more engaged in worldly aflPairs, 
 I found an impossibility to me to be instant in business, and 
 fervent in spirit ; so that some throngs in these, abated that 
 life which I had ; and accordingly, as love grew to outward 
 things, the power and life I had attained decreased ; yet so 
 as all along, I find that God has still been holding me by 
 the hand ; and I desire, with submission to other mens' 
 judgments, to say I think a person falling in love with god- 
 liness, covenanting with God, to have a respect to all his 
 statutes without exception, counting the cost, and seeing 
 the cost of themselves inestimable, and believing that Christ, 
 who was the author, will be the finisher of such a work ; I 
 say, I cannot think that ever God will part with such, who 
 do so covenant with him. Yea, it has been a comfort to 
 me, when I could see no more of my interest in him, but 
 that, I said, " thou art my God." And as I cannot conceal 
 the loving kindness of God, so upon the other hand, as the 
 words of a dying man, I look upon myself as the most 
 worthless object that ever free love has paged and waited 
 upon through the world, compassed about with so many 
 sins, and clothed with such a perverse nature ; but he with 
 whom I made the bargain, makes crooked things straight, 
 and rugged places plain. 
 
 Next, I advise all sufferers to beware of proposing to 
 themselves, to do this and the other thing, for safety of life, 
 which is sinful ; for if such a false mind be in folk, " God 
 will lead them forth with the workers of iniquity ; " and they 
 will not miss stumbling-blocks to be laid before them. I 
 say this to them who have sinned, and yet continue in the 
 furnace ; I fear that be their doom, " they shall go from 
 their native land, and return no more." Jer. xxii. 10. As 
 for you that have tested, that which has been a terror to 
 me, may be now a terror to you ; " It is impossible for thoso 
 who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly 
 gift, if they fall away," &c., by putting Christ to open shame, 
 
JOHN WILSOX. 285 
 
 * to renew them to repentance." As for unconcerned folk, 
 I shall only say this, think ye nothing of men's choosing 
 death before life. I know I have had Roman gallantry 
 cast up to me, since I came to prison ; but, for my own part, 
 I could never hear tell, that it set up the head of it in the 
 world, to face a gallows, since the word of hell became so 
 rife in the world. But let me tell you this one thing, that 
 though 1 have read of some single ones dying for opinion, 
 not truth, yet could I never read of a track of men, such as 
 has been in Scotland these twenty-two years, laying down 
 their lives for a naked opinion, so calmly, so solidly, and 
 composedly, with so much peace and serenity. As for my 
 own part, I am a man naturally most timorous, yet the Lord 
 has made sufferings easy. It might do you good to enquire 
 into the cause of our sufferings, so owned by God. It is a 
 bad cause that is defended with swords, and beating of 
 drums on sufferers. Besides, the Lord has forced a testi- 
 mony from the mouths of several of our dying adversaries, 
 and from the mouths of executioners and apprehenders : 
 yea, in this place, some Psalms, being clear of the appli- 
 cation thereof to themselves, they would not suffer them to 
 be sung. And as to oppressed Presbyterians, to many of 
 you, for your unconcernedness, I am sure the Lord says, ye 
 shall drink of another sort of cup, that is brewing for you, 
 shun it as you will, by your compliance. As for our really 
 concerned friends, I pray the Lord to protect you, and 
 multiply his grace towards you ; I am confident, when you 
 are beneath the rod, ye shall find it an ease to your 
 own smart, however great a lift you have taken of other's 
 sufferings. 
 
 Next, I say to all that come under the rod, let no terrors 
 of men, nor temptations of Satan, auent eternity, come into 
 your mind ; but go to God with them, acknowledging your 
 unworthiness of his protection and counsel, and you will find 
 him faithful, " not to suffer you to be tempted above what 
 you are able." It is no new thing to be assaulted with 
 " terrors without, and fears within." The apostle, a most 
 experienced christian, wanted not this. I see a cliris- 
 tian to be a most passive creature iu his own salvation ; yet 
 there must be an all of diligence, otherwise the roaring lion 
 will soon get advantages. And you must know this, that the 
 
286 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 sufferers have a large allowance ; and although his own want 
 not in their sufferings the faith of adherence to him, yet ye 
 must not think to go that way in a bed of roses to heaveji ; 
 but that ye must have fire in your trial, — I mean, a desert- 
 ing God as to apprehension; yet wait patiently, and at 
 length he will incline his ear, and you shall not want expe- 
 rience to say, " for a moment lasts his wrath." 
 
 And now, I leave my dear wife, children, and sisters, upon 
 the Lord, who gave me such sweet refreshing relations, and 
 I desire all the people of God to be kind to them ; and I 
 bless the Lord he has enabled me to leave them on him ; and 
 though the Lord has made every one of them so sweet and 
 so pleasing to me, that I have been forced to curb my affec- 
 tion with the bridle of religion ; yet herein I bless the Lord, 
 he has given me heart to go through my cross with forget- 
 fulness of all ; yea, to feel easy, notwithstanding the tears 
 and weeping of my relations. 
 
 And now, I leave all God's people, and others, with this, 
 that his cross is beautiful; yea, though I had had opportuni- 
 ties of escaping prison since sentence, yet I durst not, with- 
 out a check of conscience, have done it. And though I did 
 petition, yet there was, to me, two necessary ends therein : 
 L They designing to make me odious, that I would not seek 
 my life ; and I desiring to make my suffering clear to their 
 own consciences, to be unjust. 2. That if any thing ailed 
 my wife, I might lay her blood at their door. And I would 
 advise all to beware of them, for there must be frequent con- 
 sulting with God, and a reasonable judgment to discern their 
 snares ; it being their main design to ensnare. I advise any 
 called to suffering, never to quit with the faith of adherence, 
 and they shall not want the faith of assurance ; for since ever 
 I came to prison, I saw and believed God's design to me was 
 love : and having emptied me of all promises to sufferers,°and 
 of all my own righteousness, made me close with him, and 
 take him for all, and believingly to rest on him, and to have 
 recourse to him, for grace to supply necessity, and gave me a 
 believing (though to me incomprehensible) of " seeing him 
 as he is," and knowing him even " as I am known of him." 
 
 Now I die, commending to all the people of God the duty 
 of unity, ** Follow peace with them that call upon the Lord 
 with a pure heart." " If we have fellowship one with 
 
GEORGE MARTIN. 2S7 
 
 another, the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth from 
 all sin." I do not say this to make up an union or joining 
 with those I have testified against. 
 
 John Wilson. 
 
 This worthy judicious martyr being obliged to write his 
 testimony in several papers, and convey them out secretly 
 by parts, by reason of the strictness of the persecutors, who 
 searched the martyr's about this time with much severity, 
 could not get it reduced to order; wherefore it is hoped the 
 candid reader will not be offended, if he finds the method 
 altered a little from what it was in the manuscript, seeing 
 there is nothing in the sense or phrase of the author changed, 
 but only his additions put in their proper place of the testi- 
 mony, and some very few things, less material, for brevity's 
 sake, left out. 
 
 Last Testimony of George Martin, who suffered at the 
 Grass-Market, Edinburgh, 22d February, 1684. 
 
 My Dear Friends, — After four years, and near four 
 months' captivity and bondage, for this glorious and honour- 
 able cause of Jesus Christ, for which I have been kept some- 
 times by bolts and fetters, night and day, without fire and 
 other necessaries, I am now at last sentenced to die ; so I 
 thought it fit to signify to you why I was so sentenced, as 
 the adversaries gave it forth. It is thus, I could not own 
 nor allow of the king's authority, as it is now established, 
 nor pray for him in a superstitious and idolatrous manner, 
 nor call the late prelate's (of St. Andrews,) and the late 
 king's death, murder, nor Bothwell Bridge rebellion, nor 
 abjure the Covenant: all which I refused, and could do upon 
 no terms. 
 
 As to the first, I could not own nor allow of the present 
 government, as now established, because it is derogatory to 
 the crown and kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, and robs 
 him of his royal prerogatives; by their "setting of their 
 threshold by his threshold, and their posts by his posts, and 
 the wall between him and them, they have even defiled his 
 holy name, by their abominations that they have committed," 
 
288 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Ezek. xliii. 8. " And thou shalt say to the rebellious house, 
 eveu to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, 
 ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abomina- 
 tions, in that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers 
 uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in 
 my sanctuary to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer 
 my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my 
 covenant, because of all their abominations. And ye have 
 not kept the charge of mine holy things : but ye have set 
 keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. Shall 
 even he that hateth right, govern? and wilt thou condemn 
 him that is most just?" Ezek. xliv. 6 — 8. Who durst do 
 it and be guiltless? And, moreover, " Which say to the 
 seers, see not: and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us 
 right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits. 
 Get ye out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the 
 holy one of Israel cease from before us," Isa. xxx. 10, 11. 
 And I cannot, nor dare not pray for him so superstitiously. 
 1. Because it imports a set form of prayer, which is most 
 superstitious, and that which is their dreadful design. 2. It 
 imports idolatry, like unto the cry of the people made men- 
 tion of Acts xix. 34, who had a cry for the space of two 
 hours, " Great is Diana of the Ephesians," which was rejected 
 by some of their own sort, with some kind of reason, though 
 heathens, and much more ought it here. 3. Another reason 
 why I cannot pray after such a manner is, I find when prayer 
 is rightly discharged, and seriously gone about, in the manner, 
 time, and place, as is warranted by the word of God, God is 
 thereby worshipped and honoured ; and if irreverently gone 
 about, he is dishonoured, and his name profaned, and taken 
 in vain, which is abomination to him, and which, he saith, 
 his enemies do, and for which he will not hold them guiltless. 
 4. I dare not pray so superstitiously for him, because I find 
 Jeremiah three times expressly forbidden to pray for a 
 people, not guilty of all the things that he is guilty <of, though 
 he be guilty of all their sins, and many others also. " Pray 
 not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for 
 tliem ; neither make intercession to me ; for I will not hear 
 thee," Jer. vii. 16. " Therefore, pray not thou for this people, 
 neither lift up a cry or prayer for them ; for I will not hear 
 them in the time that they cry unto me, for their trouble," 
 Jer. xi. 14. And " then said the Lord unto me, pray not 
 
GEORGE MARTIN. 
 
 289 
 
 for this people for their good: when they fast, I will not hear 
 their prayer," Jer. xiv. 11, 12. " If we have forgotten the 
 name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange 
 crod- shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the 
 secrets of the heart," Psal. xliv. 20, 21. " If any man see 
 his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, 
 and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. 
 There is a sin unto death; I do not say, that he shall pray 
 for it " 1 John v. 16. I fear some sins in this land are too 
 much akin to that sin. Innumerable scriptures are to this 
 purpose, but these may suffice at present. 5. Another thing 
 makes me scruple, because thev command no more prayers 
 to be prayed, " save unto thee king," Dan. vi. 7. 6. I dare 
 not pray it, because all the profane profligate persons have 
 it always in their mouth, especially when they are drunk; 
 and if I do what they do, I fear I go where they go: but 
 blessed be the Lord, who has yet prevented me from the 
 paths of these destroyers. Much of this was spoken when I 
 was before them, and so I shall forbear to speak any more 
 as to this question. -,,1,11 
 
 The next question was, as to the prelate s death, whether 
 it was murder or not; murder I dare not call it, more than 
 Eglon's, Sisera's, or Balaam's death: it was the just judg- 
 ment of God for his fearful apostacy and backshdmg, to- 
 gether with the horrid murders committed by him upon the 
 saints and servants of God. The third was, the death of the 
 late king ; whether it was murder or not? I am not much 
 to meddle with it; but the many thousands that were slain 
 in England, the horrid murder committed by the Irish, m 
 Ireland, and the dreadful slaughter of the Protestants m 
 Scotland, causes great thoughts of heart, that it was a fatal 
 stroke. A fourth was, whether Bothwell Bridge was rebel- 
 lion? which, whether it was so or not, may appear, if ye con- 
 sider our former engagements to that effect. Lastly, anent 
 owning and adhering to the covenants. We answered pub- 
 licly before the court, that in all the scripture it was warrant- 
 able, both to make covenants, and also to keep them, and 
 that there was never a covenant broken but was punished 
 by signal judgments and plagues by the Lord. These were 
 the answers to the indictment, whereupon the sentence of 
 death passed, or for not answering to some of these questions ; 
 for which I must lay down my life. And if this be not 
 
 2 c 
 
290 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 murder, let christian nations bear witness if ever the like 
 was done in any christian kingdom heretofore. 
 
 Now, being straitened for want of time, with other incon- 
 veniences, I cannot say much more to you. Only I leave 
 it with you as my last advice, that you would endeavour to 
 keep the way of the Lord sincerely, and not to meddle with 
 them that are given to such changes, as, alas! too many 
 plead for, and are given to this day ; and that ye would not 
 be so formal in many things, concerning godliness, and the 
 work and worship of God. Formality, it may be feared, will 
 give many a beguile, when it cannot be mended. I beseech 
 you, be more observant in keeping the Lord's day, in rising 
 betimes in the morning, and in spending the whole time in 
 worshipping of God sincerely. Take heed to your thoughts, 
 words and actions. And when ye set a day apart, I mean 
 of humiliation, give God the whole day, notice what success 
 ye have had, and how ye have found the work thrive and 
 prosper among you. Use less disputings, even in things 
 seemingly necessary, and be more in examination and edifi- 
 cation both of yourselves and others ; believe it, a well-spent 
 Sabbath will be helpful to spend the week well; and also 
 labour to have your conversation aright through the week, 
 will be a noble presage to begin the Sabbath. And what ye 
 spare of your ordinary diet, bestow it upon the poor and 
 needy. There is this among many who profess to be reli- 
 gious, which is odious, that they take well with it to be 
 called religious, and yet they have little or no scruple to do 
 wrong, and speak wrong of others, and towards them. I 
 beseech you sin not, though there were no eye to see you 
 but God, either by doing or suffering: you will never per- 
 form religious duties aright till ye be at this, that ye dare 
 do wrong in no kind to any, — " Do justly, love mercy, and 
 walk humbly with your God." Alas ! it is sad to see and 
 hear of judgments and plagues multiplied, and sin so much 
 increasing. Oh, for more tenderness one towards another, 
 and of a spirit of meekness and zeal for God. Give your- 
 selves to be ever in prayer one with another, and one for 
 another. Wrestle with him in behalf of his church and 
 ruined work, now borne down, and that he may return to 
 the land, and pity his people, and be importunate with him 
 in this, lest the ruin thereof be found to be under your 
 hand. I fear you may expect judgments to come suddenly 
 
GEORGE MARTIN. 291 
 
 upon this sinful land, so that ye will think, happy were they 
 that got away before they came. Therefore, so many of 
 you as would in any measure escape the deluge of wrath 
 that is coming on this sinful generation, keep clean hands, 
 and be free of the sinful auominations committed therein ; 
 and for witnessing against them we are to lay down our lives 
 this day. 
 
 And now, as a dying man, and a dying Christian, I join 
 with, and approve of, all the holy scriptures, both of the 
 Old and New Testament, both of threatenings and promises 
 therein. As also I agree with, and allow of, that excellent 
 book, called the Confession of Faith, with the Larger and 
 Shorter Catechisms, Sum of Saving Knowledge, Directory 
 for Worship ; and, particularly, I adhere to, and allow of, 
 the two Covenants, National and Solemn League, Acknow- 
 ledgment of Sins and Engagements to Duties, with all others 
 contained in the fore-named book. As also I do witness 
 and testify my dislike of the breaches and burnings of 
 these Covenants, and of all other horrid abominations of that 
 nature. And, likewise, I abhor;and detest all compliance 
 or joining with the enemies of our Lord Jesus Christ; and, 
 more particularly, of bonding, bargaining, and informing, or 
 putting them to do hurt, any manner of way, to any of the 
 Lord's poor afflicted, borne down, wandering, and distressed 
 people. And, in like manner, I hate and detest all commun- 
 ing with, speaking favourably of, or eating or drinking with 
 any such, except in case of necessity. iVnd, in like manner, 
 I testify my dislike of that dreadful, blasphemous, and 
 abominable unparalleled test, and of all pretended magis- 
 trates and ministers, which have taken the same, and of all 
 that meddle or join with them; and of payers of fines for 
 hearing the gospel, or transacting or colleaguing with any 
 such, in any manner of way, upon the foresaid account. 
 And, lastly, I hate too much covetousness in prisoners who 
 are in any capacity to maintain themselves, and yet are 
 burdensome to other poor, though charitable people. And 
 I join heartily with the testimonies of our dear sujffering 
 brethren, who suffered either formerly or of late. And, 
 likewise, I join my testimony to a faithful preached gospel, 
 by faithful Presbyterian, lawfully called, and authorized 
 ministers, and lawful magistrates, placed and empowered, 
 as is agreeable and warranted by the word of God, and 
 
292 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 none other. And notwithstanding I am branded with not 
 admitting of magistracy and kinglj authority, I do hereby 
 declare and make it known to the world, that I do allow of 
 lawful authority, agreeable and conformable to the will and 
 command of God, the only lawgiver, as much as any man in 
 my station in Scotland, and accounts a land happy and 
 blessed, in having and enjoying such. 
 
 And now, being honoured to die for adhering to the 
 truth, and to die this same day, being the 22d of February, 
 1684, I do hereby forgive all persons all wrongs done to me, 
 and wish them forgiveness, as I desire to be forgiven of God. 
 And now I leave all my friends and christian relations to the 
 good guiding of Almighty God, and bid you all farewell in 
 the Lord. Farewell all worldly enjoyments, and created 
 comforts. Welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into 
 whose hands I commit my spirit. 
 
 George Martin. 
 
 At the same time, John Gilry, wright, in the parish of 
 Hownam in Teviotdale, suffered ; his indictment was found 
 upon the same heads, and his testimony is much of a piece 
 with the foregoing. He died admiring and praising free 
 grace, adhering to the truths of Jesus, and firmly trusting 
 in him for salvation. 
 
 Last Testimony of John Main, who lived in the Parish of 
 West MonMand, and suffered at the Cross of Glasgow, 
 March 19th, 1684. 
 
 It cannot be expected, every thing considered, that ye 
 shall have such a testimony under my hand, as ye have had 
 from the hands of many that have gone before me ; but 
 seeing God, in his infinite wisdom, hath seen it fit to bring 
 me upon the stage for truth, I thought myself bound and 
 obliged in his sight to testify before the world, my close 
 adherence to his written word, and what is conform thereto. 
 And, 1. I testify my adherence to the Bible, the Old and 
 New Testaments, as the only and alone rule of faith and 
 obedience. I know it stands not in need of my approbation; 
 
JOHN MAIN. 293 
 
 but to let the world know I die not as a fool, I think it my 
 duty to assert my adherence to it, declaring that I take it 
 for my only rule, rejecting the traditions of men as not 
 canonical. 2. To the Confession of Faith, (I say nothing to 
 the 4th Article of the 23d chapter, but only that it is mis- 
 constructed, and made use of for another end than ever the 
 honest and faithful ministers of Jesus Christ had before 
 them, when they gave their approbation of the same,) and 
 Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, our Covenants, National 
 and Solemn League, Acknowledgment of Sins and Engage- 
 ment to Duties, the Sum and Practical Use of Saving 
 Knowledge. 3. To the work of reformation, as reformed 
 from Popery, Prelacy, and Malignancy; even to that work 
 as in direct opposition to every sin, and a motive to every 
 duty ; and particularly to the remonstrances, protestations, 
 and testimonies against the Malignant party and Malignant 
 actions, they being found out to be inconsistent with, and 
 contrary to the written word of God, and the sworn prin- 
 ciples of the Church of Scotland, and being found to be 
 hurtful to christian society, not only by their effects, but as 
 to their nature and quality, even simply considered in them- 
 selves, besides the bad effects aggravating them in the sight 
 of the truly godly, and rightly zealous ministers and profes- 
 sors of this church. 4. To the faithful preaching of the gos- 
 pel, upon muirs, and mountains, and high places of the fields, 
 and, particularly, the preaching down the sins of the time, 
 and up duty. 5. To lifting arms for personal defence, and 
 for defence of the gospel ; for, seeing that other means have 
 failed, and occasion offers, the law, both of God and nature, 
 warrants and allows the same. I need not quote scripture 
 for the probation of it, since the whole scope of it runs in 
 this strain ; and also, ye may read several places of scripture 
 particularly and expressly "^allowing, yea, commanding the 
 same; and many imitable scripture examples, where the 
 people of God lifted arms against kings, such as the people's 
 resisting of Saul. I testify to the lawfulness of that hostile 
 defence at Pentland and Bothwell Bridge, and several field- 
 meetings, where they were put to it by the violent and 
 bloody assaults of their enemies. 6. In a word, (for I study 
 brevity, being necessitated,) to all the faithful testimonies of 
 the godly, given on scaffolds, and some other testinionies, 
 given in a hostile manner, viz., tlie testimony given at 
 
 2c2 
 
294 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Ruthergleii, May 29th, 1679, and the declarations published 
 at Lanark, in the year 1680 and 1682. I disown and testify 
 against the declaration published at Hamilton, in the year 
 1679, particularly, because it takes in the interest of Charles 
 Stuart; for though he was once a king, he is now a tyrant, 
 by his cutting the neck of the noble government estab- 
 lished in this land, and overturning the main and fun- 
 damental conditions, whereupon he was appointed, and it 
 is notorious to all in this kingdom, and I believe to some 
 neighbouring nations also, that he carries on a course con- 
 trary to the word of God, and light of nature, and destruc- 
 tive to all christian and human society ; yea, a course that 
 very heathens would abhor, even the thing itself, apart from 
 its aggravations. 
 
 I come now, in short, desiring ye may pardon omissions, 
 to let you know what I testify against. And, not to go 
 farther back : — 1. I leave my testimony against many minis- 
 ters, for their leaving their Master's work, at the simple 
 command of usurpers, as if they had been only the servants 
 of men ; and I declare my disapprobation, yea, my testi- 
 mony against the sinful silence of ministers, after they had 
 left the vineyard where their Master had placed them to 
 labour, and against their not acknowledging publicly their 
 unfaithfulness ; for which, together with their other grievous 
 failings, the Lord is this day contending with them. I know 
 not what plagues are so sad, as being, by the hand of God, 
 laid aside from his work; I say, their unfaithfulness in not 
 standing in the way of the people, when they were so gen- 
 erally drawn away to hear curates. Mistake me not, think- 
 ing that I look upon the people as innocent, when I speak 
 of the sins of the ministers ; I see it my duty to testify against 
 both, and there will not one of them excuse another ; but 
 reniember that the ministers must count for the people who 
 perish through their default. 2. Against ministers for tam- 
 pering with that woful and hell-hatched indulgence, and 
 more particularly, their accepting thereof. I testify against 
 the actual acceptors of it, and against a woful connivance 
 in the non-acceptors of the same ; wliereas, there ought to 
 have been an open testifying and protesting against it. I 
 shall study to say but little, but I die in the faith of it, that 
 God shall send a clear discovery of matters, and those that 
 have betrayed their trust, and have not been as they ought 
 
JOHN MAIX. 295 
 
 to have been, shall see and be ashamed; the Lord grant 
 that many may see the evil of their doings in time, and may 
 mourn for the same, or otherwise it will be sad for them ; but 
 every one shall see first or last. Remember Esau, who 
 found no place for repentance, though he sought it care- 
 fully with tears. 3. Against the ministers, for yielding unto 
 and joining with the Malignant party and interest at Both- 
 well Bridge, and their woful yielding unto the usurpation 
 made upon the prerogatives royal of our wronged Lord and 
 prince, Jesus Christ, by their acceptance of liberty granted 
 after Bothwell Bridge, and taking occasion to preach in 
 houses according unto the liberty granted, refusing to preach 
 without doors, notvrithstanding of that great necessity some- 
 times requiring the same, and many of them refusing to 
 preach when any of the people stood without doors. This 
 was well known at the time, and I think it is not yet forgot, 
 and however it may be forgot by us, yet I assure you, it 
 is not forgot by a holy God. I testify against their sinful 
 silence, and not jeoparding their lives for their wronged 
 Lord and provoked Master, especially at the time when Mr. 
 R. C. and Mr. D. C. went to the fields. I testify against 
 their condemning of these two worthies in discourse and 
 preaching, and also in their practice. In short, against every 
 thing in ministers and professors contrary unto, or incon- 
 sistent with, the Presbyterian principles of the Church of 
 Scotland. 4. I leave my testimony against Popery, Prelacy, 
 and Erastianism, and every thing contrary to the word of 
 God, and particularly against Quakerism, Anabaptism, In- 
 dependency, and all Sectarians, and whatsoever is not war- 
 ranted by the holy scriptures. 5. Against the imposing of 
 that cursed cess ; not that I call cess-lifting in itself unlaw- 
 ful ; but I call that cess unlawful, which was imposed by a 
 corrupt convention of estates, who met at Edinburgh in the 
 year 1673. For some things that are in themselves lawful, 
 are sometimes so circumstantiated, that they become un- 
 lawful; as sometimes the .end of an action makes the 
 action unlawful: I may give the cess for an instance of this: 
 for the end of imposing it, as themselves declare, was mainly 
 to bear down field-meetings, and other innocent asso- 
 ciations of the people of God, disdainfully and wickedly 
 called by them rendezvouses of rebellion ; which meetings 
 aU Scotland was bound to maintain ; but they ought to have 
 
296 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 been in the places constituted for worship, and would have 
 been there, had bonds and engagements been conscientiously 
 minded bj all that were under them. Oh, let not this perfi- 
 dious generation think that thej are loosed from the ties of 
 these covenants ; for as sure as God is in the heavens, he 
 will make them know another thing, even that it was not in 
 their power to rescind these covenants ; and by going about 
 so to do, the J have brought much wrath upon themselves, if 
 they repent not, and on their posterity after them. But oh ! 
 do they not look like a generation of his wrath ? and, not 
 to pass the bounds of charity, I fear they will be the objects 
 of his wrath ; and it will be a dreadful day, see it who will, 
 when the wicked shall be as stubble and tow, and the wi'ath 
 and vengeance of God shall seize upon them as fire, and 
 burn them up, for they will not escape. 6. Against the 
 payers of the cess; for it was a sad thing in a people, 
 that should have opposed all courses of that kind, to 
 contribute to the carrying on of that very course, that 
 they ought to have opposed. Oh! that they would con- 
 sider, and lay it to heart, and set themselves to redeem 
 time, mispent and abused time! 7. Against locality 
 and fine paying, seeing that it contributes to strengthen 
 the adversaries' hands ; as for the locality, we may easily 
 see it to be sinful, since they (the enemies) have imposed it 
 for the maintenance of a party raised and kept up for no 
 other use (as their daily practice declares,) but to harass, 
 rob, and spoil, the poor people of God, for their close (oh, 
 that it were closer,) adhering to their sworn principles, and 
 to kill them for not denying of these principles. And as for 
 the paying of fines, it should be considered, that these fines 
 are imposed upon people for their duty ; and fines imposed 
 by right and justice, ought always to be for transgression ; 
 neither can a fine be imposed by right, but for a transgres- 
 sion: so that by paying of these fines so imposed, we must 
 be said either to yield active obedience to an unjust course, 
 which we ought always to oppose, or we may be said to make 
 ourselves transgressors, and these duties (in which we ought 
 to venture life and fortune) to be transgressions. I say, one 
 of these will consequently follow, if not both. But alas ! 
 those things that are grievously sinful many ways, are 
 become so habitual, that they are never noticed nor thought 
 any thing of, nor will be, till God comes in his power and 
 
JOHN MAIN. 297 
 
 great glory, to disclose the secrets of all hearts. 8. I leave 
 my testimony against the people for hearing curates, basely 
 leaving the way of truth, and following a course dishonouring 
 to God and destructive to themselves. Also, against joining 
 with indulged and unfaithful ministers, vindicating them- 
 selves thus, " that it is good to hear the word ; " not consider- 
 ing, that these ministers have so far gone out of the way of 
 God, in their accepting of that indulgence, as that they 
 ought to be testified against, and when they go on obstinately 
 in that crooked way, ought to be withdrawn from. It may 
 be, some will say, that this is ignorantly reasoned ; but I 
 fear, if they would search things narrowly by the Spirit of 
 God, they would find, that God is not countenancing them 
 in it. And also, that they ought to have given far other 
 sort of testimony against that course, than to have joined 
 and gone alongst with it, as far as their station would have 
 required ; but now the obstinacy of this generation is so great 
 (and we have many sad evidences of this) that I fear, nothing 
 will convince them but the judgments of God, which has 
 made me the less careful to write any thing, although I 
 could, that might, being from the hand of a dying man, be 
 any way convincing to them. 
 
 But, as it becomes one laying down his life for his royal 
 and princely Master, Jesus Christ, I leave my testimony 
 against joining with them ; yea, against that which they call 
 simple hearing, and this I have done to exonerate my con- 
 science in the sight of a holy and jealous God; and do 
 declare, that if mercy in Christ prevent not (which will not 
 be found but in mercy's way, that is, by believing and repen- 
 tance) they sliall smart under the heavy wrath of God for 
 complying with such crooked and God-provoking courses. 
 And I, as a man laying down my life for the interest of my 
 sweet Lord, do warn all and every one of them, who have 
 joined with these evil courses, to fly from the wrath to come, 
 which will be on this generation inevitably ; yea, I obtest 
 you to flee from it, as ye tender the glory of God, and the 
 good of your own souls. Oh, flee from it by speedy repen- 
 tance, and lay hold upon the blood and righteousness of 
 Jesus Christ for that effect, and study to have your names 
 scraped out of the black catalogue of these soul-destroying 
 despisers of that precious blood and righteousness, provided 
 for that end, to take away the sins of all that will come, and 
 
298 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIAIONY OF 
 
 by faith lay bold upon it, and to reconcile tbem to a provoked 
 God. God's wratb is burning against the children of dis- 
 obedience, and he has said, " That such as turn aside to 
 crooked ways, he will lead them forth with the workers 
 of iniquity," and in another place he says, " If any man 
 draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." 9. I 
 leave my testimony against that cursed test, and the takers 
 thereof, and I declare it to be a horrid wickedness, a God- 
 disowning, and a God-daring course. 10. Against com- 
 pearing before their courts, and I declare it to be a thing 
 inconsistent with a faithful testimony for truth at this time ; 
 it being, (1.) x\n owning of that authority, founded upon that 
 usurped supremacy, over the prerogative royal of our Lord, 
 which thing ought to be so far testified against, as not to 
 own or answer to any court, fenced in the name of Charles 
 Stuart, because he hath quite forfeited his right to rule as 
 king. (2.) It is a clear condemning of such as have suffered 
 the loss of means upon that account, and of those who have 
 laid down their lives against the owning of that authority ; 
 and let none think me foolish in adjoining my testimony 
 to theirs, and disowning of that authority. 11. Against 
 the lifting of militia, and the paying of militia-money. 
 12. I testify against the proceedings of that abominable 
 wretch, John Gib, and the testimonies written by him, in 
 the name of others, as being prejudicial to the interests of 
 our Lord. 
 
 And now as to the articles of my indictment, they are all 
 of them such as cannot be made criminal. As to the first, 
 viz., my making my escape out of the tolbooth, I was doing 
 it most innocently, doing hurt to no person, neither did I 
 ever hear that it was criminal. As to the second, viz., that 
 I had confessed that I was at BothweU Bridge, I cannot see 
 how that can be made criminal. If I got but the lash of 
 their own law, (if it be not abuse of language to call it law,) 
 and no further ; for all that were onlookers that day, could 
 not be said to be in the action. As to the third, viz., my con- 
 versing with Gavin Wotherspoon,* since Bothwell, whom 
 they call a notorious rebel, but cannot prove him so ; neither 
 
 * This was a very eminent and zealous sufferer, who being forfeited of his 
 land and possessions, for adherence to the truth, suffered many hardships 
 of persecution, but was brought through without compHance, being stead- 
 fast in the way of the Lord till his death. 
 
JOHN MAIN. 299 
 
 can thej show me that law founded on the word of God, 
 that makes conversing with him criminal; and since they 
 cannot, upon sufficient grounds, call him a rebel, what they 
 say and do without ground, I do not see myself obliged to 
 answer; for rebelUon that the law strikes against is that 
 which can be proven rebellion against powers acting for 
 God, and so, consequently, rebellion against God. And sure 
 I am, while a man foUoweth his duty, (for it is merely for 
 following his duty that they call him a rebel,) he can never 
 be said to be in rebellion against God. As to the fourth 
 article, that I refused to call Bothwell Bridge rebellion, I 
 would see the law that makes a man's silence, when interro- 
 gated, criminal. And also, as to the thing itself, who knows 
 not that it was mere defence? And who can make it out to 
 be rebellion against powers acting for God? For, as is be- 
 fore said, this, and no other, is the rebellion that the law of 
 God, and the law of our nation strikes against. As to the 
 fifth, viz., that I said the owning of the Covenants was law- 
 ful, who knows not that these covenants were once approven 
 of as lawful, and solemnly sworn by the whole nation, and 
 the Confession of Faith taken and sworn unto as fundamen- 
 tals of our religion? And I deny, (although by an act of a 
 pretended parhament they may pretend to rescind the same,) 
 that it was in their power to rescind or overturn such a con- 
 stitution, until they had made the unsoundness of it appear, 
 and made it appear wherein another was better, and till they 
 had been able to set up a better in the room thereof. So 
 that their so doing was not a walking according to the will 
 of God, but according to their own wills, contrary to the 
 will of God, for the satisfaction of their own base lusts, and 
 no ways showing themselves to be studying either the glory 
 of God, or the good of his people ; so that these covenants 
 remain binding to this day, and, I hope, shall be when they 
 are gone who so wickedly set themselves against them. As 
 to the sixth article that I would not answer, If it was law- 
 ful, yea, or nay, to obey Charles Stuart? it is only silence, 
 which neither law nor reason can make criminal. And as 
 to my disowning his authority, as they say, they had only 
 my silence also, which can never in law take away a man's 
 life. As to my not asserting that the death of the late king 
 was murder, I find they would have every one saying and 
 attesting what they say and assert, whether they know it to 
 
300 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 be SO or not. I leaye mj testimony, as a dying man, against 
 all such implicit walking; and especially I testify against 
 any laying hold implicitly upon the bare assertions or dic- 
 tates of the enemies of God. And as to the prelate's death, 
 I declare, as a dying man, that I think none can certainly 
 judge that action, if it was murder, or not murder. And 
 who sees not what these enemies to God, and his Son Jesus 
 Christ, are driving at, when they would compel men to assert 
 things only for their pleasures, that no human understanding 
 can judge of, themselves who were the actors only excepted. 
 And now it is notorious to all persons of any capacity, and 
 who will but use the light of nature, that there is no manner 
 of just sentence passed against, or put in execution upon us, 
 but that we are murdered only for the satisfaction of men, 
 who are worse than heathens. 
 
 And now this my testimony I seal with my blood, dying 
 in the faith of a Protestant religion, adhering to the Pres- 
 byterian government of the Church of Scotland, and wit- 
 nessing against every thing that tends to the hurt thereof, 
 exhorting every one who desires to be found of God in love, 
 to settle and fix here. And let none fear to venture upon 
 the cross of Christ; for I can say, from experience, (glory 
 be to him for it,) that he has borne both the cross and me, 
 or otherwise I could never have undergone it with so small 
 difficulty. And the great reason of the fainting of many 
 under the cross is, their laying so little weight on Jesus 
 Christ, and so much upon themselves, and upon any attain- 
 ment they may think themselves to possess. Oh, let every 
 one study that holy art of independence of all things besides 
 him, and depend only upon himself. And now I bid fare- 
 well to the poor remnant of the Church of Scotland, and I 
 leave them to God, and his good hand ; I bid farewell to 
 friends and acquaintances ; I bid farewell to my mother, and 
 commit her to God, who only can provide for her things 
 necessary both for soul and body ; I bid farewell to my two 
 sisters, and commit them to God, who can be instead of all 
 things to them, and can soon make up the want of a brother 
 to them, which want I think may be easily borne, as the 
 time now goes. Farewell praying and believing, reading 
 and meditating ; I bid farewell to all temporal things, mercies, 
 and crosses. Welcome gallows, for the interest of my sweet 
 Lord; welcome heaven and everlasting glory; welcome 
 
JOHN MAIN. 301 
 
 spirits of just men made perfect; welcome angels; welcome 
 Father, Son, and Holj Ghost, into whose hands I commit 
 mj spirit. 
 
 John Main. 
 
 At the same time, John Richmond, Archibald Stewart, 
 (who lived in the parish of Lesmahagow,) James Winning, 
 tailor in Glasgow, and James Johnston, in North Calder, 
 suffered; all very zealous and judicious Christians. The 
 heads of their indictments are the same with those of this 
 martyr, and their answers before their examinators were 
 very much to the same effect. All of them freely and fully 
 owning the Covenant, avouching it before their persecutors, 
 and likewise the lawfulness of defensive arms, for maintain- 
 ing the faithfully preached gospel, and absolutely denying 
 the king's ecclesiastic supremacy. They declined to answer 
 questions concerning the Bishop's death, and that of King 
 Charles L, in regard they knew not the circumstances of 
 these facts, nor could make a judgment upon them, and 
 found themselves obliged in no law, divine or human, to 
 give their opinion about them. And yet upon this, their 
 prudent silence, was their sentence founded, and executed 
 with rage; having scarce forty-eight hours allowed them 
 before their execution. As for the heads of truth to which, 
 and of defection and corruption against which, they leave 
 their testimony, they are so nearly the same with those con- 
 tained in the foregoing speech, that it would be superfluous 
 to repeat them. Only some few expressions from them may 
 be inserted, to show how cheerfully they endured their suffer- 
 ings. John Richmond said. Scare not at the cross of 
 Christ; for, oh! if ye knew what I have met with since I 
 came to prison ; what love, what matchless love, from my 
 sweet and lovely Lord! ye would long to be with him, and 
 would count it nought to go through a sea of blood for him. 
 To the same effect, with heavenly delight and complacency, 
 Archibald Stewart, a youth of nineteen years, said, Now, 
 this is the sweetest and most joyful day that ever I had 
 since I was born. My soul blesseth the Lord, that ever he 
 made choice of me to suffer for his noble cause and interest ; 
 that ever he set his love upon the like of me, to give a 
 faithful testimony for his controverted truths, who was born 
 an heir of hell and wrath : but now he hath redeemed my 
 
 2d 
 
302 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 soul through his precious blood and suffering, from the 
 power of sin and Satan, and hath made me overcome by 
 the blood of the immaculate Lamb of God. I die liot by 
 constraint; I am more willing to die for my lovely Lord 
 Christ, and his truths, than ever I was to live : and my soul 
 blesseth the Lord, that ever he did accept of a testimony 
 from the like of me. Scare not at the way of Christ, because 
 of sufferings. If ye knew what of his love I have got since 
 I was honoured with imprisonment for him, and what sweet 
 ingredients he hath put into my cup, ye would not be afraid 
 of suffering. He hath paved the cross all over with love ; 
 and hath made all sweet and comfortable to me, and hath 
 made all my troubles fly away like the morning shadows. 
 Oh, I cannot express his matchless love to me, neither can 
 I make mention of his goodness ! Oh, it is but little I can 
 speak to the commendation of my lovely Lord and his cross, 
 &c. James Winning, after bewailing being so long a hearer 
 of curates, subjoins, I bless the Lord, because of his good- 
 ness to me, who, notwithstanding of all my compliance with 
 enemies, hath not left me in that woful case, but hath 
 brought me hither to witness for his opposed, burdened, 
 and ruined cause and glory. Oh, I desire to bless him for 
 it, and call in all the creation to help me. Oh, the wonder- 
 ful power, riches, and goodness of the Lord; glory to his 
 rich and excellent name, who hath discovered to me the 
 need of a Redeemer, who will wash me from my sins, and 
 make me pure and spotless before his throne in heaven. 
 James Johnston, among other heavenly expressions, hath 
 these concerning his lot of suffering: For this I bless the 
 Lord, for I could never have ventured upon the cross, espe- 
 cially upon death itself, unless that he had helped me to it. 
 They all died with a forgiving spirit, imitating their Lord 
 and Master, and his holy apostles, in praying for forgive- 
 ness to their persecutors : though, withal, assuring them, that 
 their blood would be required at their hands, if they did 
 not repent, for what they had done against the image of 
 God in them. 
 
ARCHIBALD STEWART. 303 
 
 Letter from Archibald Stewart, to his Christian 
 Acquaintances. 
 
 My Dear and Lovixg Friends and Acquaintances, 
 — You and I must take good night of one another for a 
 while ; but I hope it shall not be long ; for you know that 
 our time on earth lasts but for a moment ; and we are but 
 as a flower that grows up in the night, and is cut down in 
 the morning ; like the shadow that flees away, and is no more 
 seen upon earth again ; even like Jonah's gourd that grew 
 up in a night, and perished in a night. Now you and I must 
 part, and take good night, you of me, and I of you, as will- 
 ingly, and with as great satisfaction, contentment, and sub- 
 mission to the will of our God, as if we were going to our 
 sweet and comfortable fellowship-meetings, where our souls 
 have been many times refreshed with the fresh gales of the 
 Spirit of our God, which indeed was the life of our meetings ; 
 for had it not been the love that we bear to God and his 
 ways, he would never have made our meetings so sweet to 
 us ; so that the longer that we continued, and the oftener 
 that we met, the Lord made more of himself known to us, 
 in giving us new confirmations of his love, and tokens of 
 his kindness. Now, my loving friends, I am going to my 
 Father's house, to reap the fruit of all these waking nights 
 that you and I had together, when none knew of it but our- 
 selves and our heavenly Father ; and I die in the hope, that 
 we shall come " to your Father and my Father, to your 
 God and my God," (John xx, 17,) to your Redeemer and 
 my Redeemer, to reap the fruit of all these meetings we 
 had together; oh, but that will be a joyful harvest time: I 
 am now going to reap the fruit of all my reading, praying, 
 singing, conversing, and meditating, and the fruits of all my 
 trouble, toil, and labour. Instead of bitterness, I will enjoy 
 sweetness; instead of trouble, rest; instead of sorrow and 
 grief, joy and gladness; "for sighing and sorrow shall flee 
 away." I am going to reap the fruit of my wounds, and all 
 the reproaches that they have cast upon me ; I am going to 
 reap the fruit of all my sighs and groans, especially since I 
 came to prison, where I have had very many of them. I am 
 going to reap the fruit of my fetters, irons, and imprisonment 
 for my lovely Lord and Master, Jesus Christ; and I am 
 
304 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 going to reap the fruit of mj unjust indictment and unjust 
 sentence. Oh, but the fruits of these fore-mentioned things 
 will be a weighty crown of glory within a little time upon 
 my head, up at my Father's throne, when I shall go no more 
 out, and come no more in, having the name of my God 
 written upon my forehead, and the song of Moses and the 
 Lamb put in my mouth, to sing through all the ages of 
 eternity! 
 
 Now, dear friends, I cannot get him praised, for the riches 
 of his free grace, freely bestowed on me. Oh, I cannot get 
 him praised for bringing my soul out of the pit of destruc- 
 tion, and for reclaiming my soul from the gates of hell. Oh, 
 my soul and heart, and all that is within me, praise the Lord 
 for his wonderful love to me! and also my soul invites all 
 the works of creation to praise him for what he hath done 
 to my soul; for now I can say with David, from my own 
 experience, " Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I 
 will declare what he hath done for my soul." And likewise 
 I can say with David, " The lines are fallen unto me in 
 pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage," Psal. xvi. 
 6. And more than all that, he hath said to my soul, that 
 he will quarrel no more with me for sin, for my God hath 
 said to me, " But now, thus saith the Lord that created thee, 
 Jacob, and he that formed thee, Israel, Fear not ; for I 
 have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou 
 art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be 
 with thee ; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow 
 thee ; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be 
 burnt ; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee," Isa. xliii. 
 1, 2. And " Son, be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven 
 thee," Matt. ix. 2. Now all is sure and well with me, I am 
 brought near unto God, through the blood of his Son Jesus 
 Christ; and I have no more to do, but to lay down this life 
 of mine, that he hath given me, and take up house and 
 habitation with my lovely Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, 
 who purchased life and salvation to me by the price of his 
 own blood and sufferings. Oh, but I have got an easy cast 
 of it ; I am come well and easy to my purpose of redemption, 
 peace, and happiness. But oh, I cannot get him glorified ; 
 and 1 will never get him enough glorified, as long as my 
 soul liveth, and I shall live as long as he liveth, and that is 
 life without end. 
 
ARCHIBALD STEWART. 305 
 
 Now, mj dear and loving friends, it is but little advice 
 that I can leave to you, how to order your life and con- 
 versation ; yet I shall leave you my last advice, as the Lord 
 shall help me. As God hath once made you to accept of 
 him, upon his own terms and way, hold fast by him, and 
 claim a right to him, from his own promises and former lov- 
 ing-kindness, wherein he hath manifested himself to you. 
 And although you be made many times to think, that he 
 hath left you, when you are cast down, and under desertion, 
 yet claim a right to him ; though you have destroyed your- 
 self, threep kindness upon him, and resolve with Job, that 
 though he should slay you, yet will ye trust in him ; for you 
 must not want your down-castings and desertions, for all 
 these things are given you for the trial of your faith. And 
 you may know something of this from experience, that we 
 cannot guide our Lord's presence ; when we get it, we are 
 so lifted up, that he must cast us down again, for our old 
 bottles cannot bear with the new wine of heaven, none of us 
 can be free of desertion ; for as long as we live in this earth, 
 we are often under an Egyptian cloud of darkness. Spend 
 much of your time in nieditation and prayer, for I think, 
 that in these is the life of rehgion ; and spend time in chris- 
 tian converse with any of your own judgment, and private 
 prayer, as you and I did when we were together : and if you 
 can get none, do your own part, and the Lord will make up 
 all your loss, for he hath engaged to make up all your wants. 
 Now, double your diligence, and make ready for the trial, 
 for you will not get it shifted, if ye continue faithful to the 
 end. I am not saying that the trial will take away your 
 life ; but I am persuaded, you will come through difficulties, 
 if the Lord see fit to spare you, to see the glorious days that 
 shall be seen in Scotland again, and to reap of the fruit of 
 it. This will be a high honour, for they will be a happy 
 people that will be the remnant of the church. 
 
 Now, dear friends, hold fast, and let no man take your 
 crown ; for it is ready at the end of your race ; run and 
 never halt nor look back, till you obtain the prize. I have 
 got the start of you a little ; but, I hope, you will follow me, 
 before it be long, and we shall meet again, and oh, what a 
 joyful meeting shall it be ! Study deniedness to your life, 
 and die daily, that death may not surprise you. 
 
 But I must forbear, my time is so short that I cannot get 
 2 d2 
 
306 LAST SrEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 all said that I have to say ; but what is wanting, himself 
 make it up to you. Now I take my leave of you for a little 
 time, hoping to meet again in our Father's house above. I 
 pray that God's eternal blessing may rest upon you; and 
 wish you even as my own soul. Farewell in the Lord. 
 Your dear and loving christian friend, brother, and soul's 
 well-wisher, 
 
 Archibald Stewart. 
 
 Glasgow Tolbooth, 
 March Ibth, 1684. 
 
 Last Testimony of Captain John Paton, of the parish of 
 Fenwick, who suffered at the Grass-Market, Edinburgh, 
 May 9th, 1684. 
 
 Dear Friends and Spectators, — You are come here to 
 look upon me, a dying man, and you need not expect that 
 I shall say much, for I was never a great orator, or eloquent 
 of tongue, though I may say as much to the commendation 
 of God in Christ Jesus, as ever any poor sinner had to say. 
 I have been as great a sinner as ever lived ; strong corrup- 
 tions, strong lusts, strong passions, a strong body of death, 
 have prevailed against me ; yea, I have been the chief of 
 sinners. I may say on retrospection of the past, (though the 
 world cannot charge me with any gross transgression this 
 day, for which I bless the Lord,) oh, what omissions and 
 commissions, what formality and hypocrisy, that even my 
 duties have been my grief and fear, lest a holy God should, 
 as well he might, make them my ditties. My misimproved 
 time may be heavy upon my head, and cause of desertion ; 
 and especially my supplicating the council, which have, I 
 think, laid their snares the closer to take away my life, 
 though contrary to their own professed law. I desire to 
 mourn for my giving ear to the counsels of flesh and blood, 
 when I should have been consulting Heaven, and to reflect 
 upon myself, though it lays my blood the closer to their door, 
 and, I think, the blood of my wife and bairns. I think their 
 supreme magistrate is not ignorant of many of their actings ; 
 but these Prelates will not be found free when our God 
 makes an inquisition for blood. And now I am come here, 
 
JOHN PATON. 307 
 
 desired of some indeed, who thirst for my life, though by 
 others not desired. I bless the Lord, I am not come here 
 as a thief or a murderer, and I am free of the blood of all 
 men, and hate bloodshed, directly or indirectly. And now 
 I am a poor sinner, and could never merit any thing but 
 wrath, and have no righteousness of my own, all is Jesus 
 Christ's, and his alone, and I have laid claim to his righte- 
 ousness and his sufferings, by faith in Jesus Christ ; through 
 imputation they are mine, for I have accepted of his offer 
 on his own terms, and sworn away myself to him many a 
 time, to be at his disposal, both privately and publicly ; and 
 now I have put it upon him to ratify in heaven all that I 
 have essayed to do on earth, and to do away all my imper- 
 fections and failings, and to stay my heart on him. I seek 
 mercy for all my sins, and trust to get all my challenges and 
 sins taken away by the blood and sufferings of Jesus and his 
 righteousness ; and that he shall see of the travail of his soul 
 in me, and the Father's pleasure shall prosper in his hand. 
 I bless the Lord, that ever he led me out to behold any part 
 of his power in the gospel, in kirks, or fields, or any of his 
 actings for his people in their straits. The Lord is with his 
 people, while they are with him. We may set our seal to 
 this, while they are united. Oh, for a day of his power to 
 cement this distempered age. It is sad to see his people 
 falling out by the way, and of such a fiery spirit, when look- 
 ing to be at one lodging at night ; especially those who pro- 
 fess to stand by our glorious work of reformation and solemn 
 engagements to God, and to keep clear of the sins of these 
 times. Oh, hold off extremities on both hands, and follow 
 the example of our blessed Lord, and the cloud of witnesses 
 mentioned in the 11th of Hebrews. Let your way be the 
 good old path, the word of God and best times of the church ; 
 for if it be not according to his word, it is because there is 
 no truth in it. 
 
 Now, as to my interrogations, I was not clear to deny 
 Pentland or BothweU. They asked me, how long I was 
 there? I said, eight days: and the assize had no more to 
 sentence upon, for the advocate said, he would not pursue 
 for Pentland, by reason of an indemnity before the privy 
 council. The council asked me, if 1 acknowledged authority ? 
 I said, all authority according to the word of God. They 
 
308 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 charged me with many things, as if I had been a rebel since 
 the year 1640, and at Montrose's taking at Mauchline Miiir. 
 Lord, forgive them, they know not what they do. 
 
 I adhere to the sweet scriptures of truth, of the Old and 
 New Testaments, and gospel preached by a faithful sent 
 ministry, whereby he many times communicated himself to 
 the souls of his people, and to me in particular, both in the 
 kirks, and since on the fields, and in the private meetings 
 of his people for prayer and supplication to him. I adhere 
 to our solemn Covenants, National and Solemn League, 
 Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, which 
 became national. I adhere to our Confession of Faith, 
 Larger and Shorther Catechisms, Causes of AYrath, and to 
 all the testimonies given by his people formerly, and of late, 
 either in fields or on scaffolds, these years bygone, in so far 
 as they are agreeable to his word, the practice of our worthy 
 reformers, the holy true zeal, and according to his rule. 
 I adhere to all our glorious work of reformation. Now, 
 I leave my testimony, as a dying man, against the horrid 
 usurpation of our Lord's prerogative and crown right, I 
 mean that supremacy, established by law in these lands, which 
 is a manifest usurpation of his crown, for he is given by the 
 Father to be head of the church, " and he is the head of 
 the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born 
 from the dead: that in all things he might have the pre- 
 eminence. For it pleased the Father, that in him all fulness 
 should dwell," Col. i. 18, 19. Against Popery, Prelacy, and 
 Erastianism, and all that depends upon that hierarchy, which 
 is a yoke that neither we nor our fathers were able to bear, 
 which tlie poor remnant is groaning under this day, by that 
 horrid cruelty, rending their consciences by tests and bonds ; 
 taking away their substance and livelihoods, by fines and 
 illegal exactions, plunderings and quarterings, and compell- 
 ing them to sin, by hearing, joining, and complying with 
 the malicious curates. " Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees, 
 hypocrites ; for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against 
 men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye 
 them that are entering to go in," Matt, xxiii. 13. I leave 
 my testimony against the indulgence, first and last, for I 
 ever looked on it as a snare, and so I never looked upon 
 them as a part of the hopeful remnant of the church ; and 
 
JOHN PATON. 309 
 
 now it is sad to see how some of them have joined, by their 
 deeds or by their language, in the persecution of the poor 
 remnant. 
 
 Now, I would briefly address a word or two to three 
 classes ; but I think, if one would rise from the dead, he 
 would not be heard by this generation, who are mad upon 
 idols and this world. 1. Those who have joined deliberately 
 with the persecutors, in all their robberies and haling inno- 
 cent souls to prison, death, and banishment. The Lord will 
 not hold them guiltless ; they may read what the Spirit of 
 God hath recorded of them in Jude 11, and downward; and 
 Obadiah's prophecy. 2. Those who seem to be more sober 
 and knowing, yet through a timorousness and fear, have 
 joined with them in aU their corrupt courses, for ease and 
 their own things: do not think that these fig-leaves will cover 
 you ; it is a hazard to be mingled with the heathen, lest we 
 learn of them their way. Oh, Sirs, be zealous and repent; 
 seek repentance from Christ, he purchased it with his blood ; 
 and do your first works, if ever there was any saving works 
 on your souls ; for he will come quickly ; " and who may 
 abide the day of his coming?" Oh, Sirs, the noble grace of 
 repentance grows not in every field; many could not get it, 
 though they sought it carefully with tears. Oh, work while 
 it is day, the night draweth on, and it may be very dark. 
 3. Those who have been most tender ; and oh, who of us can 
 say, that we have out of love to his glory singly followed 
 him ; upon examination, I fear, we shall find it not so, but 
 that we have come far short. I fear we shall not find him 
 such as we would, nor he us such as he would. Oh, we may 
 say, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, there 
 is no place clean. None can cast a stone at another ; we are 
 aU wounds, bruises, and defilements. We must put this 
 work upon him who is the fountain to wash foul souls, who 
 "breaks not the bruised reed, nor quenches the smoking 
 flax." Give him much to do, for we have much to do for 
 him. Oh, that there were -no rest in our bones because of 
 our sin. It is the Father's pleasure that he should see his 
 seed, and the pleasure of the Lord prosper in his hand. Oh, 
 that he would make every one of us understand our errors, 
 and unite us after the good old path, followed in the most 
 pure times of our church, and unite us to our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, by faith in his righteousness, by imputation and 
 
310 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 virtue of his suffering for sinners, and keep us there. There 
 is no safety but at his back ; and I beseech you, improve 
 time, it is precious when rightly improved ; " for ye know- 
 not when the Master calleth, at midnight, or at cock-crow- 
 ing." Dear friends, the work of the day is great, and calls 
 for more than ordinary exertion. Oh, be oft at the throne, 
 and give him no rest to make sure your soul's interest. 
 Seek pardon freely, and then he will come with peace ; seek 
 all the graces of his Spirit, the grace of love, the grace of 
 holy fear and humility. Oh, but there is much need of this 
 and the promised Spirit. 
 
 Now, I desire to salute you, dear friends in the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, whether imprisoned, banished, widowed, and 
 fatherless, or wandering and cast out for Christ's sake and 
 the gospel's: the blessing of Christ's sufferings be with you 
 all, strengthen, stablish, support and settle you, and the 
 blessings of him who was in the bush, which while it burnt, 
 was not consumed, and my poor blessing be with you all. 
 Now, as to my persecutors, I forgive all of them ; instigators, 
 reproachers, soldiers, privy council, justiciaries, apprehenders, 
 in what they have done to me ; but what they have done in 
 despite against the image of God's name in me, who am a 
 poor thing without that, it is not mine to forgive them ; but 
 I wish they would seek forgiveness of him who hath it to 
 give, and do no more wickedness. 
 
 Now, I leave my poor sympathising wife and six small 
 children upon the Almighty Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, 
 who hath promised to be a Father to the fatherless, and 
 a Husband to the widow, and the orphan's stay. Be thou 
 all in all unto them, Lord. Now, the blessing of God, 
 and my poor blessing be with them. And my suit to thee 
 is, that thou wouldst give them thy salvation. And now, 
 farewell wife and children ; farewell all friends and relations ; 
 farewell all worldly enjoyments; farewell sweet scriptures, 
 preaching, praying, reading, singing, and all other duties. 
 Welcome Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I desire to com- 
 mit my soul to thee in well-doing. Lord, receive my spirit. 
 
 John Paton. 
 
JAMES NISBET. 311 
 
 Last Testimony of James Nisbet, of the Parish of 
 Loudon, who suffered at the Howgate-Head, Glasgow, 
 June 5, 1684. 
 
 Now, I am brought hither this day, to lay down my life 
 for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and for asserting him to 
 be Head and King in his own house, and for no matter of 
 fact, that they have against me. Wherefore, dear friends, 
 and all true lover's of Zion's cause, although I can neither 
 speak nor write any thing to the praise and commendation 
 of my lovely Lord and princely Master, Jesus Christ, King 
 and Head over his own church and people, yet though 
 the most part of the men of this generation is counting it 
 death to call him so, I, as a dying man, live and die in the 
 faith of it, that he shall appear to their confusion, and for 
 his own glory now trampled upon, and lying so low; for he 
 has said in Isa. xlii. 8, " I am the Lord; that is my name: 
 and my glory will I not give to another," &c. Now, I am 
 to lay down my life, and indeed I do it willingly, and not 
 by constraint; and I bless him, that ever he carved out my 
 lot such, as to be a sufferer for him, who am such a poor 
 unworthy creature. For if I would have acknowledged 
 Charles Stuart to be supreme over aU causes, civil and eccle- 
 siastic, as they have now set him up, (which belongs to no 
 mortal man upon earth,) and have prayed for him, I might 
 have retained my life. And shaU I pray for that man, in 
 his person and government, who hath broken down the work 
 of the Lord, and has laid waste the sanctuary of our King, 
 who hath all things put under his feet, and is given to be 
 head over all things to the church? See Eph. i. 22, and 
 Ps. ii. Now, I die for the hope of Israel, and as a witness 
 for the name of Jesus Chri,st, of which hope I am not ashamed. 
 Now, I invite all who love his name, and the welfare of 
 Zion, to praise him, for I may set my seal to it, that he is 
 a good Master to all who will come to him ; for I may say 
 he hath been good to me, and has let me see a sight of my 
 sins, and a sight of the remedy that he has purchased by 
 his blood, through his death for me, who was born an heir 
 of heU and wrath, by nature. Glory be to his great name, 
 who has made me free from my sin, and made me as if I 
 
312 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 had never sinned. Oh, glorj and praise be to himself. But 
 what shall I say, for heart cannot conceive, hand cannot 
 write, tongue cannot express! Surely, if I could say any thing 
 to the praise and commendation of my lovely Lord Jesus 
 Christ, I have many things for which to do it. 1. That he 
 has not allowed me to deny his truths and cause, and his per- 
 secuted work ; for there is nothing in me, as I am of myself, 
 but I might have been amongst those who have displayed a 
 banner against God, and have made the blood of his people 
 to run in the streets, and have dyed their garments with their 
 blood. 2. That he has carved out my lot in a land where he 
 hath set up his pure ordinances, in doctrine, worship, discip- 
 line, and government ; for indeed he might have trysted it to 
 have been among those that are worshipping Antichrist, that 
 whore of Rome, whose sentence may be read. Rev. xix. 12. 
 And I leave it to any judicious person, that is not biassed 
 and drawn away, if Charles Stuart has not overturned the 
 Lord's work, and corrupted the whole land, by overturning 
 the whole fundamental laws, both civil and ecclesiastic, by 
 that woful Erastian supremacy, which is like to overspread 
 the whole land. 3. That he hath given his word for a rule 
 to walk by, which word is truth, and the true word of God. 
 He has made me to walk by it, and made it my rule ; and 
 by his word and Spirit bearing witness with my spirit, 
 making me spotless and clean, and I shall be clothed with 
 the robes of his righteousness, which are spotless and clean. 
 Now, I shall give a short account of my principles, as the 
 Lord shall assist; and the Lord help me to get it done in 
 truth and sincerity ; for there are many eyes looking on me, 
 the eyes of men who are thirsting for my blood, and the eyes 
 of an all-seeing God, who is of purer eyes than that he can 
 behold iniquity. 1. I adhere, and sweetly set my testimony 
 to the covenant of redemption, betwixt the Father and the 
 Son, made before the foundation of the world, for the re- 
 demption of poor, lost mankind, I mean of those who 
 are elected, called, justified, and sanctified ; for which my 
 soul shall bless the Lord that ever I heard tell of the same, 
 and that ever I heard " that he came into the world to save 
 sinners, of whom I am chief." 2. To the sacred scriptures, 
 which are the true word of God ; and that there is life ever- 
 lasting to be had in them, if ye will apply your hearts to 
 search diligently, and pursue after it with a sincere and dili- 
 
JAMES NISBET. 313 
 
 gent seeking, with all the soul and heart ; but without sincere 
 endeavouring to make it your rule, there is no life ; for our 
 blessed Lord says, " I came not to destroy the law, but to 
 fulfil it." 3. To the work of reformation, as it was reformed 
 in all the several steps thereof, from under Popery, Prelacy, 
 and Erastianism, and all other errors whatsoever, not agree- 
 able to the scriptures, the written word of God. 4. To the 
 Confession of Faith, the Sum of Saving Knowledge, Direc- 
 tory for Worship and Discipline, and to our Catechisms, 
 Larger and Shorter. 5. To the Covenants, National and 
 Solemn League, whereby these lands were engaged unto the 
 Lord ; and Scotland may bless the Lord that ever he engaged 
 her in a covenant with himself. I say to you that desire to 
 own the same, make it your ground to plead with the Lord, 
 till he come back again to these lauds. 6. To the preaching 
 of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, as it was faithfully 
 preached by faithful ministers, called and commissioned, 
 and sent by himself ; and also to the Acknowledgment of 
 Sins and Engagement to Duties, and the Causes of God's 
 Wrath against this land this day : but alas ! it may be said, 
 many have gone backward, and not forward ; the most part 
 of this generation have refused to walk any more with him, 
 ever since Bothwell, only excepting Mr. Donald Cargil and 
 Mr. Richard Cameron, and I desire to set my seal to the 
 faithfulness of their doctrines, for my soul has been refreshed 
 by them. And I set my seal to all their proceedings and 
 actings in the work they were called to, and my soul blesseth 
 the Lord that ever I heard them preach. 7. To all the ap- 
 pearings in arms in defence of the gospel, and self-defence, 
 both before Bothwell, and since. 8. To the excommunica- 
 tion at the Torwood, by Mr. Donald Cargil, as it is just and 
 lawful, and will stand in force and record, ay till repentance 
 make it null, of which there is little appearance. 9. To the 
 testimony given at Rutherglen, May 29, 1679; to the 
 declaration given at Lanark, June 11, 1682, by a party whom 
 the Lord raised and stirred up by his Spirit, and owned in 
 that work, to give a public testimony against that soul- 
 destroying, and land-ruining thing called the test, although 
 many in this generation be pleading for the lawfulness of it, 
 and disowning the covenant to which we are all bound. Oh, 
 my heart trembles to think what will come on this genera- 
 tion, for their dreadful apostacy and departing from the way 
 
 2 E 
 
314 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 of the Lord. 10. To all the fellowship meetings of the 
 Lord's people, for reading, praying, and singing of psalms, 
 and all the other duties proper for, and incumbent upon 
 them. I mean those that wrestle and hold up the cause of 
 his ruined work, and his poor suffering remnant. 11. To 
 the eight articles, called the New Covenant, taken at the 
 Queensferrj, off worthy Henry Hall. 
 
 Now, as I have left my testimony in short to the truths 
 of God, so I desire to leave my testimony against the defec- 
 tions of the time, as the Lord shall help and assist. There- 
 fore I, as a dying witness, leave my testimony — 1. Against 
 Popery and Prelacy, which is so much countenanced and 
 set up in Scotland this day, especially by those who seemed 
 to be most eminent ; " I marvel that ye are so soon removed 
 from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto an- 
 other gospel," Gal. i. 6. 2. Against Quakerism, Indepen- 
 dency, and all other errors which are not according to the 
 word of God, and our Solemn Covenants and Confession of 
 Faith. 3. Against the tyrant upon the throne of Britain 
 and Ireland, for his tyranny, oppression, and bloodshed, and 
 for overturning the laws, both civil and ecclesiastic, and 
 not making the law his rule to be ruled by, but he ruling 
 the law, and not the law him, which is not according to the 
 word of God, — " He that ruleth over men must be just, 
 ruling in the fear of God," 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. And also 
 against all the upholders, aiders, assisters, and maintainors 
 of him. Oh, what will become of this generation for their 
 apostacy in departing away from God! 4. Against the oath 
 of supremacy, for setting up of persons as supreme, and 
 following and making them their rule, and not taking the 
 word of God to be their rule. 5. Against that bond taken 
 in the Greyfriars' kirk-yard: many denied this, but the Lord 
 in his own due time made it appear, when the trial came to 
 a greater length ; there is nothing done in secret but he will 
 have it manifested in the light. 6. Against the bond called 
 the Bond of Regulation, binding to walk according to the 
 will of men, and not according to the will of God. Surely 
 it is not according to the practice of the apostles, — "But 
 Peter and John answered and said unto them. Whether it 
 be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than 
 unto God, judge ye," Acts iv. 19. 7. Against the bond 
 pressed by the Highland host in the west country. What 
 
JAMES NISBET. 315 
 
 may be said of this generation ? It may be said, ye have 
 gone away backward from my ordinances, and ye have for- 
 saken me, the living God, and have hewed you out broken 
 cisterns that can hold no water. 8. Against that land-ruin- 
 ing and soul-destroying thing called the test. 9. Against 
 all coming out of prison upon bond and caution ; whatever 
 men may say of it, it is a complying with the avowed 
 enemies, and a binding themselves to be the prisoners of 
 men, and not the prisoners of Jesus Christ. 10. Against 
 all compearing at courts, and paying of fines, for it implies, 
 that we have committed a fault, and also it approves of 
 them as just judges that are imposing these things ; but ye 
 may see what they are, when no sober man will get leave to 
 plead an action there. And can these be called judges, and 
 owned as judges, who are grassators and land-judgments? 
 11. Against all cess and locality, which is imposed for the 
 down-bearing of the gospel, and for maintaining bloody and 
 avowed enemies to banish Christ and his gospel out of the 
 land, and to hunt, plunder, rob, spoil, and persecute the 
 poor people of God ; for in the very narrative of the act, it 
 is set down for that end, and declared to the world; see 
 what is said against it, — " But ye are they that forsake the 
 Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table 
 for that troop, and that furnish the drink-offering unto that 
 number, therefore I will number you to the sword," &c., 
 Isa. Ixv. 11, 12. 12. Against hearing of Curates, because 
 they are wolves and boars, thrust in upon the Lord's people 
 to kill and destroy; and against the indulgence, first and 
 last; and against hearing the indulged, and joining with 
 them, or pleading for them ; because they have not entered 
 in by the right door, and teach for doctrines the command- 
 ments of men ; therefore they are in so far not the ministers 
 of Jesus Christ, but the ministers of men, — " Verily, verily, 
 I say unto you, he that entereth not by the door into the 
 sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a 
 thief and a robber," John x. 1. And against all ministers 
 and professors who are now lying at ease, when Zion is in 
 trouble, and are shifting their duty for fear of hazard, and 
 are sheltering themselves under the shadow of avowed 
 enemies, pleading in their favours, for they have broken the 
 poor people of God, and rent the bowels of the church, 
 
316 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 especially those who appeared once in the fields, to hold up 
 a banner for our lovely Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. I 
 shall be a witness against them if repentance prevent not. 
 
 Now, ye who are the poor wrestling remnant, weary not 
 of the cross of Christ, for he is a good master, and he sends 
 none a warfare on their own charges. He will own them in 
 all that he carves out for them. Oh, double your diligence, 
 and give him no rest till he come back again, — " Give him 
 no rest till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise 
 in the earth." Oh, what will come of poor Scotland for her 
 horrid iniquities and abominations, perjury and bloodshed, 
 and covenant-breaking? Her punishment will be sad ; but 
 my eyes shall be closed; I shall not see it, and I am well 
 content, seeing I get my soul for a prey. Now I am afraid 
 God will not know many of this generation that have gone 
 such a dreadful length in defection and backsliding. But 
 oh, what shall I say! I leave it to himself to do as may 
 most glorify himself, in preserving a seed and remnant to 
 serve him. I die in the faith of it, that he has a seed whom 
 he will preserve when he sends forth instruments with 
 slaughter-weapons, that he has a party that he will set a 
 mark on, as is said, Ezek. ix. 4, — " And the Lord said unto 
 him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst 
 of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men 
 that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done in 
 the midst thereof." Now, I say, weary not of the cross of 
 Christ, although ye should suffer persecution, for he has 
 said, — *' In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye 
 shall have peace." He taketh exact notice what is done to 
 his people. " Thou shouldst not have entered into the gate 
 of my people in the day of their calamity ; yea, thou shouldst 
 not have looked on their affliction in the day of their 
 calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day 
 of their calamity," Obad. 13. Oh, but that is a sweet word, 
 — " It is a faithful saying, for if we be dead with him, we 
 shall also live with him ; if we suffer, we shall also reign 
 with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us," 2 Tim. ii. 
 II, 12. Oh, Sirs, lose not heaven for mammon, and your 
 own souls for what ye can suffer here. It is true, none can 
 merit heaven by their suflPerings ; but it is as true that he 
 has said, " He that will not forsake all, and take up his 
 
JAMES NISBET. 317 
 
 cross and follow me, lie cannot be my disciple." Now, I 
 know many will brand me with self-murder, because I have 
 got many an offer to go to Carolina upon such easy terms. 
 But as to that I answer, self-preservation must stoop to 
 truth's preservation. There are indeed many of this genera- 
 tion who pretend to keep their present ease, and to be 
 followers of Christ ; but I defy any, if they be called to a 
 public testimony, but they shall either lose their present 
 possession, or else that which is of more worth, even their 
 immortal souls and everlasting salvation. 
 
 As to the heads of my indictment, whereon they have 
 sentenced me, they are chiefly these: 1. My approving of 
 Drumclog and Both well, and being at Glasgow, to be law- 
 ful, and in defence of the gospel, and in self-defence, which 
 both the law of God and nature allow. 2. My adhering to 
 the National and Solemn League and Covenants; and they 
 declared before my face, that both their king and council, 
 had disowned the Covenant, and had taken that away by 
 their acts of parliament; and said, that they were both 
 unjust and unlawful. And shall such be owned and adhered 
 to, who have declared themselves against King Christ, and 
 have broken his laws, and have seated themselves in the 
 room of Jesus Christ, which belongs to no mortal man upon 
 earth, and much less to him who is a usurper and a tyrant : 
 I mean Charles Stuart. And here, I, as a dying witness, 
 leave my testimony against that monstrous beast ; for our 
 Saviour calls Herod a fox, and says, " Go tell that fox, I 
 work to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I shall be per- 
 fected." 3. The chief ground of my sentence was, that I 
 disowned their authority. For since they had rejected the 
 covenant, I was the more clear to disown them to be my 
 judges or governors over the land; and they asserted it 
 treasonable, because I said, none of the people of God would 
 say otherwise. And in plain terms and direct words, I deny 
 them to have any power to rule either in civil or ecclesiastic 
 matters. Also these avowed enemies who are thirsting for 
 my blood, charged me with going up and down the country 
 plundering and murdering, and so by their law made me 
 liable to punishment, even to the loss of my life ; but I, who 
 am within a little to appear before the righteous Judge, 
 declare that I never intended to wrong any man. And "so 
 it is evident they take away my life upon the account of 
 2e2 
 
318 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 adhering to truth, and I bless the Lord that ever he gave me 
 a life to lay down for him, and that ever he counted me 
 worthy to suffer for his persecuted truth. Oh, matchless free 
 grace that is making choice of the like of me, and poor weak 
 things, to confound the strong: and foolish things to con- 
 found the wise. 
 
 Now, there are three classes I would speak a word to. 
 1. Those that had begun in the way of the Lord, and seem- 
 ingly had gone a good length, but when the storm of per- 
 secution arose, for fear of the rough sea of trouble, have 
 drawn back. Oh, mind that word in Heb. x. 38, " But if 
 any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him ;" 
 and Rom. viii. 35, *' Who shall separate us from the love of 
 Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or 
 famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" &c. 2. Those who 
 are going on in rebellion against God openly and avowedly; 
 as ye may see in Psalm ii., " Why do the heathen rage, and 
 the people imagine a vain thing ? he that sitteth in heaven 
 shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision ; then shall 
 he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore 
 displeasure." Oh, poor Scotland, that was once married to 
 the Lord, and now has provoked him to depart and leave it, 
 and given a bill of divorcement, as it were ! Scotland has 
 sinned dreadfully, by covenant-breaking, bloodshed, lying, 
 and swearing. 3. Those who desire to keep their garments 
 clean and undefiled, from the abounding sins of this genera- 
 tion. Go on in the way of the Lord, and fear not what man 
 dan do, for he has said, " Fear not them that kill the body, 
 and after that can do no more ; but fear him who after he 
 hath killed the body, hath power to cast into hell," &c. I 
 can set my seal to it, that Christ is a good Master, and well 
 worthy the suffering for. And now I can freely and heartily 
 forgive all men what they have done to me, as I desire to be 
 forgiven of my Father who is in heaven ; but what they have 
 done against a holy God, and his image in me, that is not 
 mine to forgive, but I leave that toliim to dispose of as he 
 may see fit, and as may most glorify himself Now I am to 
 take my leave of all created comforts here ; and I bid fare- 
 well to the sweet scriptures ; farewell reading and praying ; 
 farewell sinning and suffering ; farewell sighing and sor- 
 rowing, mourning and weeping ; farewell all christian friends 
 and relations ; farewell brethren and sisters, and all things 
 
ARTHUR TAKET. 319 
 
 in time. Welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; welcome 
 heaven and everlasting joj and praise, and innumerable 
 company of angels and spirits of just men made perfect. 
 Now, into thy hands I commit my spirit, for it is thine. 
 
 James Nisbet. 
 
 This martyr was so inhumanly treated, and constantly 
 watched, that it was with much difficulty he got any thing 
 written, and that only a line now and then ; and hence some 
 few repetitions which were in the manuscript are left out, 
 which it is hoped will be liable to no misinterpretation. 
 
 Last Testimony of Arthur Taket, Tailor, Hamilton, 
 who suffered in the Grass-Market, Edinburgh, August 
 1st, 1684. 
 
 Being- appointed to die in the Grass- Market, I thought it 
 was a duty lying upon my conscience before the Lord, to 
 leave this short word behind me, in testimony of my close 
 adherence to all those controverted truths, which are agree- 
 able and conform to the written word of God. And now I 
 desire to bless his name with my whole heart and soul, that 
 ever he made choice of the like of me, such a poor, weak, 
 feckless, insignificant creature, in counting me worthy to 
 suffer for his noble cause and controverted truths, his name, 
 interest, and covenant, now controverted and brought in 
 debate, by this God-daring, Christ-dethroning, and God- 
 contemning, adulterous, and bloody generation. And this 
 I can say, that through his grace, I am well satisfied, and 
 heartily content with the lot, that God in his infinite wis- 
 dom, has seen fit to carve out for me; and through his 
 grace I am well helped to great quietness, calmness, and 
 serenity of mind before the Lord, and a holy submission to 
 what is his will towards me in this ; so that if every hair in 
 my head, and every drop of my blood were a life, I would 
 willingly lay them down for my lovely Lord and Master, 
 Jesus Christ. Some will possibly say, that this is an un- 
 truth, and so cannot be believed by them ; but whether it 
 be believed or not, it is true ; for I am not dying by con- 
 
320 LAST SrEECH AND TESTIMOXY OF 
 
 straint and uuwillinguesss ; for this I dare saj, in bis sight 
 (mj conscience bearing me w-ituess) that I am a thousand 
 times more willing to die this day for my lovely Lord and 
 Master's noble cause, and controverted truths, than ever I 
 was to live ; and the truths of God that are so much con- 
 troverted, are become more precious and clearer unto me 
 at death, than ever they were heretofore in my life; as 
 David says, Ps. xxiii. 4, " Though I walk through the valley 
 and shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with 
 me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." This I have 
 been made really sensible of by my experience in all that 
 I have met with, that the cross of Christ has been all paved 
 over with love ; that it has been made to become like unto 
 a bed of roses unto me ; and all that ever I have met with, 
 first and last, has been made sweet and easy unto me, and 
 no trouble in the least ; and that he has been a loving and 
 a kind Lord unto me, and has been as good as his word. 
 This I can say to his commendation, and to the commenda- 
 tion of the cross of Christ, that he has borne always the 
 heavy end of the cross himself, that to me it was no trouble 
 in the least. Oh, praise, praise to the riches of his free 
 grace, for the matchless and inexpressible love that I have 
 met with, since I was brought to prison, and when I was 
 worst put to, and threatened with torture by these cruel and 
 bloody tyrants, the more of his love and kindness did I 
 meet with. This I have been made really sensible of, when 
 I was hardest dealt with, " blessed be the Lord, because he 
 hath heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my 
 strength and my shield ; my heart trusted in him and I am 
 helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth," Ps. xxviii. 6, 7. 
 I have been well helped and owned of the Lord, and that 
 in so very singular a manner, that his presence has made 
 my soul to sing and rejoice, through the greatest of diffi- 
 culties and trials that ever I was trysted with ; and this is a 
 sweet promise and noble encouragement for me, in Isa. xli. 
 10 — 13, " Fear thou not, for I am with thee ; be not dis- 
 mayed, for I am thy God ; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will 
 help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my 
 righteousness. Behold, all they that are incensed against 
 thee, shall be ashamed and confounded ; they shall be as 
 nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou 
 shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them tliat 
 
ARTHUR TAKET. 
 
 321 
 
 contend with thee ; and they that war against thee shall be 
 as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the Lord thy 
 God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not, 
 I will help thee ;" which has been well made out unto me 
 in all things that I have met with. For since I was brought 
 to prison, I have been so helped of the Lord, that the fear 
 of hell, death, and the grave, and the fear of all things is 
 taken away fully from me, that I am not afraid to venture 
 upon a gibbet for my lovely Lord and Master's noble cause, 
 and for his controverted truths ; and this I am really per- 
 suaded of, that the truths of God were never so much con- 
 troverted as now. But I am sure of it, that the truths of 
 God, when they are most controverted, ought to^ be most 
 zealously owned by his people. I may well acquiesce and 
 assent unto, " Nevertheless, I am continually with thee ; thou 
 hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me 
 with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom 
 have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth 
 that I desire besides thee," Ps. Ixxiii. 23—25. This I dare 
 say, as in his sight, (my conscience bearing me witness,) 
 that there is nothing in heaven or in earth so desirable 
 unto my soul as precious Christ ; for I am confident and 
 persuaded, that this is his language to me, " Arise and de- 
 part, for this is not your rest, because it is polluted." Paul 
 says, " For we know, that if our earthly house of this taber- 
 nacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not 
 made with hands," &c., 2 Cor. v. 1. And, again," Xow this 
 I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the king- 
 dom of God ; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption," 
 1 Cor. XV. 50. I can clearly say, by experience, that through 
 Jesus Christ, whom 1 desire to take for my King, Priest, and 
 Prophet, and my only Lord and Lawgiver, I have been made 
 more than a conqueror over death, hell, and the grave, and 
 all things in this life. 
 
 Now, the head that my sentence of death is founded upon 
 by men, is mainly for my being in arms at Bothwell, which 
 was merely in defence of ourselves, of the preached gospel, 
 and of the covenant of God, which the whole of the land was 
 solemnly sworn and engaged to, with hands lifted up to the 
 most high God, and so bound to stand to the defence thereof. 
 For this I am unjustly sentenced to death by men, of which 
 sentence I am not ashamed this day, but count it my glory. 
 
322 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 honour, and dignity, when he passed bj such tall cedars, 
 which is a matter of wonder and admiration to me. But, 
 as he has said in his word, " In nothing be je terrified by 
 your adversaries, which is to them an evident token of per- 
 dition ; but to you of salvation, and that of God : for it is not 
 only given you to believe, but also to suffer for his sake ; " 
 so suffering is a gift not given to every one ; and I desire to 
 bless his name, with my whole heart and soul, that he has 
 counted such a poor thing as I am worthy of the gift of 
 suffering. 
 
 Now, this is to let you all know, worthy and dear Christian 
 friends, that are desiring to keep the way of the Lord, that 
 there was not one word, of all they interrogated me upon, in 
 the sentence of death, that these bloody tyrants, passed 
 against me, but only this one thing, being in arms at Both- 
 well Bridge. And let none think that I am sentenced to 
 death upon the head, for which I was so cruelly threatened 
 with torture by these bloody tyrants ; this was for being at 
 the Black-loch, and because I would not declare who was the 
 minister, and what persons I knew. And though men have, 
 by a permissive and limited power, passed a sentence of 
 death against me, to take away my natural life, this I know, 
 and am persuaded of, that there is a Judge above, who has 
 passed a sentence of life in heaven unto my soul this day, 
 which shall never be recalled or reversed again, which is my 
 only encouragement. He has promised to as many as 
 believe in him, everlasting life : " those that suffer with him, 
 shall reign with him; and those that be dead with him, 
 shall live with him also." Paul says, " If thou shalt confess 
 with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine 
 heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt 
 be saved, for with the heart man believeth unto righteous- 
 ness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." 
 Rom. X. 9, 10. " Whosoever believeth in him shall not be 
 ashamed ; " this is my only comfort, and a noble sweet en- 
 couragement for me. And this also he hath promised in his 
 word, " to feed his flock like a shepherd, he shall gather the 
 lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and shall 
 gently lead those that are with young." I have found by 
 my experience, that the Lord my God sweetly and gently 
 led me through the greatest difficulties that I have been 
 trysted with, since he made choice of me to suffer for his 
 
ARTHUR TAKET. 323 
 
 noble cause. Oh, if ye knew what of his love I have met 
 with, and what sweet ingredients of the Lord's matchless 
 love have been intermixed and put in mj cup, ye would not 
 be afraid to venture upon the sweet cross of Christ, which 
 has been made sweet and easy unto me. 
 
 Arthur Taket. 
 
 [Because the heads of truth this martyr gives his testi- 
 mony to, and the defections he witnessed against, are much 
 the same with the preceding testimonies, they are omitted. 
 He is both full and accurate, passing by nothing of the heads 
 of sin and duty, which at that time were controverted: 
 particularly (which hath not been met with in any of the 
 former testimonies) he gives his hearty testimony to that 
 faithful and called minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. James 
 Renwick, for his holding up the banner of our Lord, and 
 jeoparding his life in the open fields; although some were 
 pleased to say, that he was not lawfully called and ordained 
 to the ministry, but that he was admitted by the Erastian 
 ministers of Holland; such as the Cocceians and Labadeans. 
 But it is fully ascertained, that he was admitted, not by 
 them, but by the purest of the ministers of the Church of 
 Holland, according to the Church of Scotland's discipline 
 and government, Covenants and Confession of Faith. A. T. 
 died with a spirit of meekness, declaring that he forgave his 
 enemies all the wrongs they had done him, personally con- 
 sidered; though witnessing against the indignities which 
 they had done to Christ, and him as a member of that body, 
 whereof Christ is the head. And whereas he was branded 
 with disowning magistrates, he declared before God and the 
 world, that he owned and allowed of all magistrates, superior 
 or inferior, as they are conform to the written word of God, 
 and our Solemn Covenants, and as they are " a terror to evil 
 doers, and a praise to them that do well."] 
 
324 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Last Speech and Testimony of Thomas Robertson, of 
 Newcastle, who was put in prison there, for refusing 
 the Oath of Allegiance, but having made his escape to 
 Edinburgh, he was there re-taken, after a public 
 search, November 29th, 1684, and suffered at the 
 Gallowlee, on the 9th December following. 
 
 Now, dear friends, time seems to me to be but short; Oh, 
 now welcome long eternity. It is, and has been my chief 
 desire, this considerable time, to eye God's glory; and I 
 preferred it to my own soul's salvation. Yet when I heard 
 my indictment, it had a strange effect upon me; and 
 although death hath sometimes been my desire, for the 
 cause of Christ, yet it seemed not a little terrible unto me, 
 and that for the space of six or seven hours ; so that some- 
 times it had such a prevalency, that I was afraid I should 
 have turned back ; and I was so put to it, that I had nothing 
 to hold by but former purposes and determinations ; and 
 from the consideratioii of Christ's faithfulness, I grappled 
 like a man more than half drowned. At last I got hold, a 
 small hold of him, whom I could not see; and that small 
 grip which I got, through his mercy, I kept till I got more ; 
 so that now he has discovered himself unto me, and he was 
 pleased to stay, and make with me a new contract ; so that 
 now, through his grace, I am resolved not to let him go, let 
 the cost be what it will. Now, my friends, I say not this 
 for the discouragement of any who are beginning to follow 
 Christ, or of any that have already begun. I do it as a 
 warning. I would fain have poor things to make sure work, 
 and to get sure hold of him; for although he seems to cover 
 himself, and that when poor things think they stand in most 
 need, yet he will return unto them in his own appointed 
 time, and that for the greater advantage of them that are 
 thus trysted. Oh, for hearts to love him! it hath been my 
 great trouble, that I could never love him much, nor fall 
 upon the right way of worshipping him. Oh, to have my 
 soul soundly knit to him! Oh, for strength! Oh, for strength 
 to be carried straight and cleanly through, so that I may 
 lose neither hair nor hoof of the truths of Christ! In so far 
 
THOMAS ROBERTSON. 325 
 
 as I am able to understand, it hath been my great care 
 always to know what was sin, and what was duty; I think I 
 have not been out of my duty in so doing: and I think it is 
 the duty of all persons to be concerned in that matter: for 
 how can persons know how to avoid the one, and cleave to 
 the other, except they distinguish betwixt the two? Now, 
 I shall say no more to that, but only, my advice is, that 
 folk would make it a great part of their work, to distinguish 
 betwixt the two. 
 
 Now, 1. I adhere to the covenant of redemption, betwixt 
 the Father and the Son, before the foundation of the world, 
 for the redemption of poor things, that he has chosen out of 
 the world. Oh, for love to him I and now to be with him! 
 that I may experience the benefit of that covenant which 
 cost him his precious blood! And now seeing he is calling 
 me to give a testimony, I think, if every hair of my head 
 were a man, it would all be too little to lay down for him. 
 Oh, for love to this non-such Jesus Christ. 2. I adhere and 
 leave my testimony to the word of God, the scriptures of 
 the Old and New Testaments, by which I must be judged; 
 for if we take any other way, we will be sure to go wrong ; 
 for the Spirit of God witnesseth with our spirits, that the 
 word of God is the only rule, by which we ought to walk. 
 3. I leave my testimony to the work of reformation, once 
 glorious in our land: although, alas! now defaced, and the 
 hedge and government of Christ's house broken down, and 
 the kingly office of Christ usurped, by a cruel and blood- 
 thirsty man, to whom I wish repentance, if it be the will of 
 God; and to all that associate and join with him: but, alas! 
 I think it is hid from their eyes. I leave my testimony to 
 the National and Solemn League and Covenants, Confession 
 of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, Sum of Saving 
 Knowledge ; and to the several parts of the reformation, to 
 this day of my death. I leave my testimony to all the faith- 
 ful ambassadors, and sent servants of Jesus Christ, and to 
 the preached gospel itself ; to Mr. Donald C argil, that worthy 
 servant of Jesus Christ, who kept up the standard and 
 banner of Jesus Christ, when the rest fled from him and the 
 Lord's standard; and to Mr. James Renwick, as a faithful 
 and lawfully ordained and called servant of Jesus Christ. I 
 leave my testimony to all the testimonies of the faithful 
 martyrs and witnesses of Jesus Christ, that have laid down 
 
 2f 
 
326 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 their lives for the cause of Christ, or who have been 
 banished to foreign lands for his name's sake; and I 
 disown, disclaim, and witness against all this evil and 
 adulterous generation, a generation of revolters, backsliders, 
 and evil-doers, that will meet with severe punishment, great 
 wrath and judgments, and eternal death besides, except they 
 repent. And now, in a special manner, I leave mj testimony 
 against Prelacy, being convinced of my sin and folly in 
 adhering to it, and spending the most part of my time in 
 hearing of curates, and thereby approving of them and their 
 corruptions, and corrupt doctrines, notwithstanding that I 
 came always away from hearing them, with more hardness 
 of heart than when I went to hear them ; but at last I began 
 to consider that matters were not right with me in this case, 
 and hearing that there was a people in the place that were 
 hearers of Presbyterian ministers, but not being acquainted 
 with them, I knew not what to do to get acquainted ; how- 
 ever, I presumed to tell my case to one of them, who took me 
 to the place where I heard a Presbyterian minister preach, 
 which left a conviction upon my conscience of my former 
 courses, and that I was out of the way of the Lord for salva- 
 tion and eternal life: after which time I went no more back 
 to follow them that are in direct opposition to the way of the 
 Lord, our covenants and work of reformation; and by 
 degrees came to see clearly, that the ministers that were 
 most faithful in testifying against the defections and abom- 
 inations of the time, and this adulterous generation, were 
 only they that the Lord honoured with his secrets, and his 
 mind concerning the duties of the day: as Mr. Donald 
 C argil, and those that were faithful to the death, and sealed 
 the cause with their blood. And oh, how did I love and 
 long to be a witness for him, both against my own former 
 ways, and the ways of that abominable Prelacy, which now 
 I hate ; and to get leave to lay down my life for Christ and 
 his precious truths! And now he has granted me my 
 heart's desire, and I seal it with my blood, that this is the 
 way of God, and his truth, which I now lay down my life 
 for. Not having time, I shall say no more; I leave my 
 wife to the good guiding of the Lord, and commend him 
 and his way for her to follow, and my love to her, and all 
 my dear friends in Newcastle. Farewell, farewell in our 
 blessed Lord Jesus. And welcome Lord Jesus, for whom I 
 
JAMES NICOL. 327 
 
 suffer, and whose love I long to have in possession. Wel- 
 come heaven and holj angels, and the spirits of just men 
 made perfect, through the blood of the Lamb: welcome 
 Father, Son, and Holj Ghost, into whose hands I commit 
 my spirit. 
 
 Thomas Robertson. 
 
 Testimony of James Nicol, Merchant, Burgess of 
 Peebles, who suffered at the Grass-Market, Edinburgh, 
 August 27th, 1684. 
 
 Interrogations before the Privy Council, August ISth. 
 
 First, I was interrogated by two, in a room privately, thus : 
 Were you at Bothwell Bridge? A. I am not bound to be 
 my own accuser. I do not (said one of them) desire you ; 
 but only say upon your honest word, that you were not 
 there. A. I am not bound to satisfy you, but prove what 
 you have to say against me, till I come before my accusers. 
 Well, said he, I am one of them. Then I answered, I was 
 there. How came you to rise in arms against the king^ 
 A. Because he has broken the covenant of the Lord my 
 God. Was the prelate's death murder? A. No, it was 
 not murder. Was Hackstoun's death murder? A. That it 
 was indeed. How dare ye own the Covenant, seeing the 
 king gave orders to burn it by the hand of the hangman ? 
 A. Yes, I dare own it; for although ye should escape the 
 hand of men for so doing, yet ye shall all pay for it ere all 
 be done, and that to purpose : as for me I would not do it 
 for the whole earth. Then I was interrogated by other 
 two, who asked some frivolous questions, which I baffled to 
 silence. Then I was brought in before the bloody crew. 
 What now. Sir, said they, do ye own the king's authority < 
 A. I own all things that the precious word of God owns, in 
 less or more, and all faithful magistrates. But do ye not 
 own king Charles also? A. I dare not for a world, because 
 it is perjury, for he has unkinged himself in a high degree, 
 and that in doing all things contrary to the word of God, 
 and Confession of Faith, and Catechisms Larger and Shorter. 
 
328 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Know je to whom ye are speaking ? A. I know I am before 
 men. But (said one of them) ye are speaking to the chan- 
 cellor and members of the council, Sir. But, said I, I have 
 told you already that he has unkinged himself, and so have 
 ye degraded yourselves from being princes. If the king 
 were here, what would you say. Sir? A. I know how I 
 ought to speak to the king, if he were king ; Sir, is ordi- 
 narily said to him: and so to let you know that I am no 
 Quaker, or erroneous in any thing, but a pure Presbyterian, 
 and of a gospel apostolic spirit, I call you Sirs, because ye 
 are noblemen by birth, but not because ye are my judges. 
 "Will ye not say, "God bless the king's majesty?" A. I 
 dare not bless them whom God hath rejected: " If any man 
 bring another doctrine than ye have received, bid him not 
 God speed, nor receive him into your house," 2 John 10; 
 and in Psalm xvi. near the beginning, David says, " Their 
 drink-offerings will I not offer, nor take up their names in 
 my lips," viz., them that hasten after other gods, and there- 
 fore I dare not pray for him. And will ye not pray for him? 
 A. If he belongs to the election of grace, he hath a part of 
 my prayers ; if he were a king that had kept covenant with 
 God, I would give him a double share, and make mention of 
 his name, but he is an apostate. (So, my friends, they 
 looked still one to another at every question and answer.) 
 How old are you. Sir? A. I am fifty-one years. How dare 
 you own the Covenants, seeing we have burned them by the 
 hand of the hangman ? A. Sir, I dare own them upon all 
 perils whatsoever, to the utmost of my power, all the days of 
 my life. And witli that they smiled, and laughed one to 
 another, and to me, and said, my days were near an end, I 
 said, I am now in your power, but if ye take my blood, ye 
 shall take innocent blood upon yourselves : " As for me, behold 
 I am in your hand ; do with me as seemeth good and meet 
 unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to 
 death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, 
 and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof," Jer. 
 xxvi. Itt, 15. And as for me, if ye take my blood, it is as 
 innocent blood as ever ye did take ; for I never wronged any 
 man to this day. Do ye go to the church? A. I went aye 
 to the church, where I could get any faithful minister to go 
 to ; but for your prelates' kirks, and Baal's priests, I never 
 heard any of them, and never intend to do, if I were to live 
 
JAMES NICOL. 329 
 
 an hundred years. But, said they, Ye shall not live long 
 now. Sir. How do ye prove by the scriptures what ye say 
 "against the Prelates ? A. By many scriptures ; " The kings 
 of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that 
 exercise authority upon them, are called benefactors ; but it 
 shall not be so among you: but he that is the greatest 
 among you, shall be the servant of all :" not like your glut- 
 ton, epicurean, belly-god prelates, who are riding in coaches 
 in great pomp. But they would not suffer me to speak more, 
 noiT cite more places, but asked several questions, which I 
 have not good memory of: only this word I said, concerning 
 the tyrant, he was brought home by Mr. Livingston and 
 others, and put in a nobler state than any king in the whole 
 world, crowned a covenanted king, with the eternal God, to 
 be for him, and to carry on his work and cause, both he and 
 all his people. If he had continued thus, he would have been 
 the greatest king in all lands and nations in the world, and 
 would have been a terror to all the kings in Europe ; but 
 now he hath made himself base, and a reproach to all the 
 nations, so have all of you. And another reason why I dare 
 not own him, or you' either, is because he and you have 
 robbed Christ of his crown, although it be not in your power 
 to do it. They then ordered me to be removed to the iron- 
 house, and to put irons on me, which they did on both my 
 hands, so that I could write none that day, till I got a mean 
 to put them off the one hand. 
 
 On Tuesday, they called me before them again, being the 
 19th day of "this instant. What say ye to-day, do ye 
 adhere to all you said yesterday? A. I adhere to all and 
 haill, upon all perils whatsomever. Do you approve of 
 Bothwell Bridge? A. Yes, I do. Do you go to the kirk 
 at Peebles ? A. No, nor ever intend to go there, nor any 
 place else which pertains to the perjured Prelates. Do you 
 own the covenants? A. I adhere to every point of them, 
 because they are, in short, an obligation to the whole sum 
 of the scripture ; and as the sum of the law is, to love the 
 Lord our God with all our soul, and heart, and mind, and 
 with our whole strength, and our neighbour as ourselves; 
 so it is the whole duty which the Lord requires of me and 
 all men. And how do you reject the king, seeing the 
 scripture commands you to obey him? A. Because the 
 coronation sermon, and the coronation itself, does openly 
 
 2f2 
 
330 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 declare that the people make a king, and not the king a 
 people, and that he was received home, and crowned for no 
 other thing nor end, than to maintain that interest to the 
 utmost of his power; and is therefore to be owned as king 
 no longer than he did own that wherefore he was crowned ; 
 so that we were freely loosed from him, as soon as he played 
 his base pranks, in taking the Malignants bj the hand, and 
 murdering a prince and a prophet, viz., Argjle, who set the 
 crown upon his head, and Mr, Guthrie, who was a godly 
 reformer in our land. Next, I said. What thought ye of 
 Mr. Douglas, who preached and gave him all his injunctions 
 at Scoon ? They said to me. He should have been hanged 
 for his pains ; and I added, God would be about with them 
 all for rejecting the word of the Lord in these directions. 
 How do ye disown him, seeing the most part, both of 
 ministers and professors, do pray for him? Because the 
 General Assembly at the West Kirk disowned him alto- 
 gether, till he made a declaration of humiliation for his 
 own sins and his father's; and the parliament being then 
 sitting at Edinburgh, did ratify the Assembly's act, and 
 disowned him till he should do that, which accordingly he 
 did, and so we are loosed freely. Do you own Airsmoss, 
 Sanquhar, Rutherglen, and Lanark Declarations ? A. Yes, 
 I do, because they are agreeable to the Covenants, and work 
 of reformation. 
 
 They asked many more questions, which I cannot now 
 particularly remember. But I told them in general, that I 
 was against Popery, Prelacy, Malignancy, and profanity, 
 and all that is against sound doctrine, discipline, worship, 
 and government, and all errors whatsoever, which are con- 
 trary to sound Presbyterian doctrine, be what they will ; for 
 there is none other right but erroneous, how fair a face 
 soever they have, which shall be found not agreeable to the 
 apostle's doctrine. Then they read something of what I had 
 said, and asked if I would subscribe it. I answered, No. 
 Can you write? A. Yes, I can write. Then do it, said 
 they. But I said, I would not do it at all. Now, my 
 friends, these are a part of my interrogations. 
 
 Again, I was brought before the justiciary (as they call 
 themselves) on the 19th of this instant, and interrogated 
 thus ; — Now, Sir, what think you of yourself to-day ? A. I 
 praise my God I am the same I was. What think you of 
 
JAMES NICOL. 331 
 
 what you said yesterday before the chancellor and the 
 council? I hold all, and decline nothing; no, not one ace. 
 Were you at Bothwell Bridge? A. Yes, I was. Had ye 
 arms? Yes, I had. One of them said, God help you ; and 
 I said, I wot not if ye can pray for yourself. But, said he, 
 I wish you better than you do yourself. But I said, Xo ; 
 for ye would have me disown my great Lord, the King of 
 Zion, and obey men, yea, base men, "whose breath is in 
 their nostrils," who give out laws and commandments con- 
 trary to his. How dare ye rise in arms against the king ? 
 A. It is better to obey God than man, and he is an enemy to 
 God. Would you rise yet in arms for the Covenants, against 
 the king's laws, if ye had the occasion? A. Yes, that I 
 would, say the contrary who will, upon all peril. What 
 think you of yourself in spoiling the country of horse and 
 arms, Sir ? A. Sir, I had not the worth of a spur- whang of 
 any man's, but was mounted with horse and arms of my own. 
 Where have you been all this time ? A. Sometimes here and 
 sometimes there in England and Scotland. Whom have 
 ye conversed with ? A. I was about my business, being a 
 merchant. They said, Ye have been about another business ; 
 for ye are found to be a fugitive and a vagabond. A. I have 
 been a merchant from my youth. But where had you your 
 chamber in this town ? ^. I had none these several years. 
 Where quarter you in this town? A. I have not been 
 much in it these seven or eight years. But where were you 
 the night of the execution, and the night previous ? A.I 
 was not in town, I came in at the port, just as the first was 
 cast over. 
 
 Then they looked one to another, and whispered together; 
 but they would fain have had me wronging my landlords in 
 all the parts of the country, and in all burghs ; but, glory to 
 my Lord, I have wronged none yet, nor ever intend to do ; 
 for it was aye my care, and prayer to God earnestly, that 
 I might wrong no man, and I had rather suffer than that 
 any were wronged by me, which he has kept me from to this 
 day. Then they read what I had said. Will you subscribe 
 what you have said? A. Xo, no. Can you write, Sir? 
 A. Yes, I can. Well, said they, write down, that he can, 
 but will not. They told me five or six times, that my 
 time should not be long ; and said to me. Will you have 
 a minister ^. A. 1 will have none of your Baal's priests ; 
 
66J LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMON'Y OF 
 
 if I had got leave I should have made them abominable to 
 them, and also at every question, I would have made them 
 ashamed. 
 
 After relating the occasion of his being apprehended, 
 which was thus: — having seen three of his dear christian 
 brethren condemned before the justiciary, at ten in the 
 forenoon, and going to the West-port to take horse, he was 
 obliged to stay till his saddle was mended ; when he was 
 ready to mount his horse, he heard that the three men were 
 brought to the place of execution ; at two afternoon he went 
 thither, and seeing the barbarity of the enemies in murder- 
 ing his dear brethren, moved with a strong zeal against 
 their murderers, he cried out, in the style of the prophet 
 Amos, A cow of Bashan has pushed three men to death at 
 one push, contrary to their own base laws, in an inhuman 
 way. He subjoins, therefore cease to kill me with your re- 
 proaches when I am dead, as ye did while I was living ; for 
 ye laboured to kill and murder my name this many a year, 
 for which I forgive you with all my heart, and pray the 
 Lord may forgive you. And having related how that upon 
 the 22d day of August, one brought him his indictment, 
 withal telling him that upon the 27th he would be sentenced, 
 and go immediately from the bench to the scaffold, he adds: 
 Now, my dear friends, I think all that I have written is 
 confused, because I could hardly get leave to write two 
 lines, but was either put from it by the keepers, or called 
 from it by one confusion or other, therefore you must excuse 
 me ; but although it be not accurately written, yet there is 
 no error in it. It is what I lay down my life for, and ad- 
 here to as the testimony of a dying man, who must very 
 shortly appear before my Lord, and give an account of all 
 that I have done and written. However, my friends, mis- 
 take me not, although it be confused, and ye find some 
 things twice over, yet it is not from fear, for there is no 
 more fear on me now as to what man can do to me, than 
 the quietest time ever I had, although I be sad as to matters 
 betwixt God and me, betwixt my glorious Lord and me, as 
 good cause I have, who knew it as I do; yet I hope I shall 
 get a glorious outgate, when his time comes, which I have 
 always waited upon, and not my own, for which I bless him 
 this day. 
 
 AVhat further this martyr wrote in prison cannot be pub- 
 
JAMES NICOL. 333 
 
 lished as it stands, as he was perpetually interrupted by the 
 keepers, and had irons on his hands, (as himself testifies,) 
 and so could not get writing with that composure which he 
 would. Wherefore, take some of the more remarkable heads 
 of it, mostly in his own words. 1. He declares his cheerful- 
 ness to lay down his life for the cause of Christ, and faith 
 once delivered to the saints. Admiring the riches of the 
 free grace of God, in Christ's laying down his life for poor 
 sinners, and blessing them with such a noble, precious, and 
 excellent blessing, as to be called the sons of God, which the 
 angels cannot take up, although they have been a long time 
 prying into it; and invites others to the same exercise of 
 admiring and praising God's love, in making, through the 
 blood of Christ, rebels and enemies, friends and servants. 
 2. He rejoices in his lot of suffering thus: Oh, but it is an 
 excellent thing to be called of the Lord, to lay down my 
 life for him and his glorious interest! to me it is more than 
 all the world: I cannot prize it. It has been my desire 
 these twenty-four years, to die a martyr for my Lord, and 
 to witness for him, if it should be his will, and not else ; I 
 bless my Lord for it, I have subscribed a blank, and put it 
 in his hand, to do with me whatsoever is the determinate 
 counsel of his will and decree, and not to call myself. 3. 
 He blesses God, that though he would have got his life for 
 doing what others, whom he calls better than himself, have 
 done, yet the Lord hath made it his glory, honour, and 
 crown, to hold fast till the Lord come, which he hoped 
 would be quickly, to himself, and also to the land. 4. He 
 testifies his assurance of God's love to him, and his children, 
 whom he heartily and cheerfully gives away to God, as he 
 had oft devoted them to him in covenant; he exhorts them 
 in the words of a dying father, to be for God in their genera- 
 tion, to live in love and unity, leaving them to the protection 
 and provision of his God, charging them not to be moved 
 by his sufferings, which he protests he would not exchange 
 for the whole world. 5. He charges them all to beware of 
 wi-onging themselves, by reproaching him anent the manner 
 of his apprehension, showing what a hand of divine provi- 
 dence there was in it, and blessing God for it, and for the 
 sweet peace he had in suffering. 6. He owns himself to 
 have been the greatest sinner upon the earth, and hence 
 takes occasion to magnify the redeeming love of Christ, in 
 
334 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 calling him effectually, and keeping him in the right way, 
 and from the national sins and corruptions of the age. 7. 
 He refers to a list of papers -written by him, declarative of 
 his judgment concerning the duty of the day, as a reason, 
 among others, why he wrote no formal testimony in the 
 prison, save only that he testifies, — (1.) Generally, against 
 all things contrary to any point of truth in the Old and 
 New Testaments, or contradictory to the covenants and 
 work of reformation; and, more particularly, against the 
 sinful silence of ministers in Britain and Ireland, at the 
 command of a bloody, vile, adulterous, perjured tyrant, and 
 his ^ underlings ; against the indulgences and indemnities ; 
 against compounding and conforming, either with a per- 
 jured, tyrannical crew of statesmen, or with base, vile, filthy 
 Prelatists, their blind guides, and Baal's priests; against 
 backsliding ministers and professors, who condemned a poor 
 young generation for adhering to truth, for slaying Christ 
 in his members, for pleasing men, and displeasing a never- 
 enough exalted and glorious Lord. (2.) He disowns all that 
 is contrary to a gospel and apostolic spirit. 8. He proceeds 
 to warn and exhort all classes of persons, and more especially 
 the young generation, to repentance and amendment of life, 
 enforcing his exhortation with the consideration of judg- 
 ments, and strokes to come upon the land, upon which head 
 he is exceeding large, founding his assertions upon the 
 threatenings pronounced in the word against the sins, 
 whereof he demonstrates Scotland, England, and Ireland to 
 have been eminently guilty. Interposing withal sweet and 
 ravishing considerations of God's love to him, and his other 
 suffering witnesses ; and after praises to God for his redeem- 
 ing love, and protesting that he expects salvation not by any 
 merit, but of free grace, he adds, I have been beginning to 
 pray and praise these thirty-six years, weakly as I could; 
 but 'yet I am just to begin this night, both to praise and 
 pray. For I lay no more stress upon all that I have said 
 and done, believed and suffered, than on a straw — God is 
 my witness, so that I must have salvation upon Wednesday, 
 at three or four o'clock, as freely as the thief on the cross. 
 He concludes with these words, — " And what can poor 
 James Nicol say more?" returning again to the considera- 
 tion of God's wrath against the land, to stir up all ranks to 
 repentance. 
 
JAMES NICOL. 335 
 
 After he had concluded his speech, with the usual for- 
 mality of bidding farewell to his suffering brethren, and all 
 sublunary things, embracing and welcoming the heavenly 
 joys, and eternal enjoyment of God the Father, Son, and 
 Holy Ghost, into whose hands he commits his spirit; he 
 adds, by way of postcript : — 
 
 " Now, dear friends, my testimony being finished, and 
 being near the borders of eternity, having forgot that which 
 I see a great necessity to leave my testimony against; I 
 think it a most necessary duty to leave my testimony against 
 James Russel and Mr. John Flint, because James Russel, 
 and those in fellowship with him, have separated themselves 
 from the persecuted suffering remnant of the church of Scot- 
 land, and Mr. John Flint has taken upon him, with their 
 consent, to officiate in the work of the ministry, contrary to 
 the word of God. He has run, although not sent of God, 
 nor called, nor ordained of lawful church members. And 
 now he and they have risen up in opposition to God, his 
 cause and persecuted remnant in the church of Scotland, 
 calling them all perjured, that are suffering death, imprison- 
 ment, or banishment, for precious Christ. And therefore, 
 I, as a dying witness for him, even my Lord Jesus, my only 
 Saviour, who converted me thirty-six years since, and has 
 these twenty-four years helped me to pray to him, to enable 
 me to witness against all error and defection, and has kept 
 me right and straight to this day of my longed-for-desire, 
 do leave my witness and testimony against Mr. John Flint 
 and James Russel, and all that adhere to them." 
 
 On the 5th of March, 1684, Mr. John Dick, student of 
 theology, suffered. His elaborate and judicious testimony 
 had been here inserted, had it not been lately published by 
 itself, and is already in the hands of a great many people ; 
 so the reader may have recourse to the said print for it. 
 Upon perusal, he will find it second to none, for a steady 
 zeal and adherence to the reformation, orderly method, pithy 
 and pertinent defences against the cavils of the adversaries, 
 and proper and necessary advices to fellow-sufferers, abating 
 only his adherence to Hamilton Declaration, wherein he 
 seems to differ from the rest of the sufferers at that time, in 
 owning the king's authority; which yet he does in such a 
 limited and restricted sense, as thereby not to own the 
 
336 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 wicked laws, and exercise thereof; though it is true the 
 restrictions and limitations with which he declared his own- 
 ing it, were such as did no way agree to the tyrant, and con- 
 sequently it was a real, though not a formal, denial thereof. 
 Only in the said printed testimony, there are several errors 
 of the transcriber, or the press, which the judicious reader 
 will not impute to the author. 
 
 Joint Testimony of Thomas Harkness, Locherbane; 
 Andrew Clark, Leadhills, Crawford Parish; and 
 Samuel M'Euen, Glencairn Parish, who suffered at 
 Edinburgh, August 15th, 1684. 
 
 Dear Friends and Relations whatsoeyer, — We think 
 it fit to acquaint you, that we bless the Lord that ever we, 
 who are so great sinners, were ordained to give such a public 
 testimony. Blessed be he that ever we were born to bear 
 witness for him. And blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 that ordained the gospel and the truths of it, which he sealed 
 with his own blood, as also many a worthy Christian who 
 has gone before us. We were questioned for not owning the 
 king's authority. We answered, That we owned all authority 
 that is allowed by the written word of God, sealed by Christ's 
 blood. Now, dear friends, we entreat you to stand to the 
 truth, and especially all ye that are our own relations, and 
 all that love and wait for the coming of Christ. He will 
 come, and will not tarry, and reward every one according to 
 their deeds done in the body. 
 
 We bless the Lord, we are not a whit discouraged, but 
 content to lay down our life with cheerfulness, boldness, and 
 courage ; and if we had a hundred lives, we would willingly 
 quit with them all for the truth of Christ. Good news! 
 Christ is no worse than he promised. 
 
 Now, we take our leave of all friends and acquaintances, 
 and declare, we are heartily content with our lot, and that 
 he hath brought us hither to witness for him and his truth. 
 We leave our testimony against Popery, and all other false 
 doctrine, that is not according to the scriptures of the Old 
 and New Testaments, which is the only word of God. 
 
JAMES LAWSON AND ALEXANDER WOOD. 337 
 
 Dear friends, be valiant for God, for he is as good as his 
 promise, " Him that overcometh, he will make a pillar in his 
 temple." Our time is short, and we have little to spare; 
 having got our sentence at one o'clock this afternoon, and 
 are to die at five this day. And so we say no more ; but 
 farewell all friends and relations; welcome heaven and 
 Christ, and the cross for Christ's sake. 
 
 T. Harkness. 
 
 A. Clark. 
 
 S. M'EUEN. 
 
 Letter from Samuel M'Euen to a Friend, after his sen- 
 tence was pronounced. 
 
 My Dear Friend,— I am this day to lay down my life 
 for adhering to the truth of God, and I bless his holy name 
 that ever he honoured me, a poor country lad, havmg neither 
 father nor mother, to witness for him. And now I can set 
 my seal to all the truths in the Bible, Confession of Faith, 
 Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, National and Solemn 
 League and Covenants, and all the protestations and declara- 
 tions given by the poor remnant, agreeable to the same 
 word of God. Though in much weakness, yet I love all 
 that is for his glory, and desire you not to be discouraged, 
 for I bless the Lord, I am heartily content with my lot. It 
 was my desire, though most unworthy, to die a martyr; and 
 I bless the Lord, who has granted me my desire. Now, 
 this is the most joyful day I ever saw with my eyes. Fare- 
 well all earthly enjoyments, and friends in our sweet Lord 
 Jesus Christ; and fareweU Glencairn, my native parish. 
 Welcome my sweet Saviour, into thy hands I commit my 
 spirit, " for thou art he, Jehovah, God of truth, who hast 
 
 redeemed me." ^ ^,_ 
 
 Samuel M'Euen- 
 
 Joint Testimony of James Lawson and Alexander 
 Wood, who suffered at Glasgow, October 24th, 1684. 
 
 Now, this is the most joyful day that ever we had in all 
 our life. We join our hearty testimony to the written word 
 
 2g 
 
338 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 of God, as it is contained in the Old and New Testaments, 
 and to the Confession of Faith, the Larger and Shorter Cat- 
 echisms, the Engagement to Duties, and Solemn Acknow- 
 ledgment of Sins, and to the Covenants, both National and 
 Solemn League, and to the Causes of God's Wrath. We 
 also join our hearty testimony to the true and faithful 
 preached gospel, by his true and faithful sent ministers, both 
 formerly and of late, commissioned and clothed with his 
 message to declare the whole counsel of God, as it was re- 
 formed from Popery, Prelacy, Erastianism, and Supremacy. 
 We also join our hearty testimony to the testimonies of those 
 that have gone before us, both formerly and of late, who 
 suffered for the cause and interest of Jesus Christ. And 
 likewise to all the appearances of the Lord's people, and 
 their being in arms, for the defence of the gospel, and self- 
 defence, viz., Pentland, Drumclog, Bothwell Bridge, and the 
 Declarations given at Rutherglen, 29th May, 1679, and 
 Sanquhar, and to the papers found upon Henry Hall at the 
 Queensferry, and to that Declaration put forth at Lanark, 
 by the suffering remnant. We also join our hearty testimony 
 to the Christian fellowship-meetings, whereby our souls have 
 sometimes been refreshed. 
 
 Now, likewise, we shall show you what we disown: L We 
 disown and leave our testimony against Popery, and Pre- 
 lacy, Quakerism, Erastianism, and all other errors that are 
 contrary to the word of God. Likewise, we leave our testi- 
 mony against all the indulgences, both first and last ; because 
 they have disowned Christ as head of the church, and have 
 taken their liberty from a mortal man. Likewise, we leave 
 our testimony against all those that have left the standard 
 of Christ, and taken themselves to a sinful quietness, to shun 
 suffering; and also their condemning of the faithful practices 
 and preaching of these two worthies, who sealed the truth 
 with their blood, viz., Mr. Donald Cargil, and Mr. Richard 
 Cameron, who declared the whole counsel of God faithfully. 
 We desire to bless the Lord that ever we heard them preach. 
 Likewise, we leave our testimony against the Declaration at 
 Hamilton, because of the taking in of that tyrant's interest. 
 Likewise, against Charles Stuart, because he hath seated 
 himself in Christ's room, and has taken to himself the pre- 
 rogative of our Lord, to be the head of the church, which 
 belongs to no mortal man on earth, but to Christ only. 
 
JAMES LAWSON AND ALEXANDER WOOD. 339 
 
 Likewise, we leave our testimony against that hell-hatched 
 test, and against that oath, called the oath of allegiance; 
 against compearing at courts and coming out of prison upon 
 bond and caution. Ye will find the unlawfulness of it in 
 John viii. 34, " Verilj, verilj, I say unto you, whosoever 
 committeth sin, is the servant of sin;" in Rom. vi. 20, " For 
 when ye were yet the servants of sin, ye were free from 
 righteousness. What fruit had ye in these things, whereof 
 ye are now ashamed ? for the end of these things is death ; " 
 and in 2 Peter ii. 19, " While they promise you liberty, 
 themselves are the servants of corruption : for of whom 'a 
 man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 
 And against the cess and locality, or paying militia-money, 
 or any other thing, which may strengthen the hands of those 
 open and avowed enemies of Jesus Christ. Likewise, we 
 leave our testimony against those wicked men called judges; 
 they ought not to be called judges, but rather tyrants, be- 
 cause they are thirsting for blood ; for they charge us in one 
 of the articles of our indictment, with murder, and shaking 
 off all the fear of God: but, we bless the Lord we are free of 
 all such crimes as murder. 
 
 Now, dear friends, we exhort you to cleave close to Christ, 
 keep his way, and do not scare at it because of suffering ; for 
 we can assure you, that the cross has not been troublesome 
 to us, but easy ; for he covers the cross all over with roses, 
 and never lays a grain weight of affliction more upon his 
 people, than he gives sufficient strength to bear. This we 
 can say by experience, " He sends none a warfare upon their 
 own charges," but he gives still sufficient strength to carry 
 them through. Therefore it is our earnest desire and re- 
 quest, that ye will follow on to know the Lord, for if ye 
 follow on to know him, he has promised, *' that ye shall know 
 him." Therefore we desire you to follow his way; fear not 
 man, whose breath is in his nostrils ; but fear God, and keep 
 his ways. Keep at a distance from the least sin; for the 
 least sin deserveth death ; but his love hath been great and 
 condescending to us, for he hath taken us, who were the vilest 
 of sinners, for we have destroyed ourselves by original sin, 
 and corrupt nature ; but now he hath redeemed us, and 
 plucked us, like fire-brands, out of the midst of the burning. 
 Now we may say, he hath shown us so much of his con- 
 descending love, that he hath gained our love ; so that we 
 
340 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 dare saj, that if every hair of our heads were a man, and 
 every drop of our blood a life, we would willingly lay them 
 all down for Christ and his cause, if he called for them at 
 our hand ; " for he is altogether lovely, the chief among ten 
 thousands ; " he is without compare, he is incomprehensible, 
 glorious and mighty ; therefore, it is our desire, dear friends, 
 that ye would bestow your love on him, and credit him ; and 
 labour to get the inheritance made sure that Jesus Christ 
 hath purchased. Now, cleave close to him, and close with 
 him, and then lose what ye will in this world, ye shall be 
 noble gainers, and no losers. 
 
 Now, we heartily forgive all men any wrong they have 
 done us, or can do to us, as we desire to be forgiven of the 
 Lord; but what they have done against God and his cause, 
 we leave that to himself, to do in it as may most glorify 
 himself. Now, we bid farewell to all earthly comforts and 
 enjoyments; farewell all christian friends and acquaintances 
 in the Lord ; farewell sweet societies, and christian fellow- 
 ship-meetings ; farewell hearing of the precious gospel ; fare- 
 well reading, singing, praying, and believing ; farewell sweet 
 prison and irons, for our lovely Lord ; farewell holy scrip- 
 tures ; farewell sun, moon, and stars, and all created com- 
 forts in time. Welcome heaven ; welcome singing of praises ; 
 welcome spirits of just men made perfect; welcome Father, 
 Son, and Holy Ghost, into whose hands we commit our 
 spirits. 
 
 J. Lawson. 
 
 A. Wood. 
 
 InteiTogations of George Jackson, Tenant to Pollock, 
 who was apprehended at Glasgow, and suffered at the 
 Gallowlee, December 9th, 1684. 
 
 At Glasgow, after his apprehension, when he had been 
 asked some few questions by them who apprehended him, 
 he was brought before the bishop of Glasgow, who interro- 
 gated him thus: — What now, Mr. Jackson! A. I never was 
 a scholar. Can you read the Bible? A. Yes. Were you 
 at Both well Bridge? A. Yes. What arms had ye? A. A 
 
GEORGE JACKSON. 
 
 3il 
 
 halbert-staff. Were you an officer? A. No, 1 was but six- 
 teen years of age. Who was your captain? A. A young 
 man. How called they him? A. I am not bound to give 
 an account to you. Were you at Bothwell rebeUion or not? 
 A I allow myself in no rebellion against God. Whether 
 was it rebellion against the king, or not'^ A. I have answered 
 that question already. AVould you go to itagain? ^. That 
 question is like yourself; I know not. Will ye say, God 
 save the king?" A. It is not in my power to save or con- 
 demn. Will you pray for him? A. I will pray for all within 
 the election of free grace. Whether is the kmg within the 
 election or not? A. If you were the man you profess to be, 
 YOU would not ask such a question at me: it belongs only to 
 God Do you own the authority as it is now established? 
 A No; but I own all authority, so far as it is according to 
 the written word of God. Do you own the king, and inferior 
 magistrates? A. In so far as they are " a terror to evil-doers 
 and a praise to them that do well." Are they not that? 
 A When the Lord Jesus Christ shall sit Judge, they and 
 you, and the like of you, wiU count for it whether ye be or 
 not. Is the bishop's death murder, or not? A. It your 
 questions be upon matters that I am not concerned with, 
 I wiU keep silence. Then the bishop asked him concerning 
 some papers that were found in the room where he was 
 apprehended; he refused to answer any further anent them, 
 having answered the same question in the guard to those 
 who took him. Whereat the bishop, enraged, said feir, the 
 boots will make you free. To which the said George 
 replied, if my Master think me worthy of them, I will get 
 them; and if not, it is in his power to preserve me. Wi 
 ye subscribe what ye have said? A. ^o Wherefore will 
 ye not? A. Because it is an acknowledgment ot your 
 
 ^^After^thts he was transported from Glasgow to Evandale, 
 on the Lord's day. He relates in his letters, what sweet 
 ioy and consolation he had by the way. After his having 
 tone about the worship of God, in presence of the soldiers, 
 who kept on their hats at first, but ere he had done 
 uncovered; one Bonsay, their commander, came in, and 
 said. Prepare you for a bare horseback to-morrow, and 
 your head and feet shaU be bound hard and fast together. 
 George answered, It is not in your power to do it. Bonsay 
 ^ 2g2 
 
342 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 said, I will let you know, it shall be in my power, and offered 
 liim the king's health: he refused, saying, I am not dry to 
 drink healths, especially on the Lord's night. To-morrow 
 when they were set on horseback, Bonsay caused sound a 
 trumpet, holding it to George's ear, and said, Sound him to 
 hell: at which the martyr smiled. So they came to Edin- 
 burgh, upon the 13th of May, 1684, and being called before 
 a committee of the council, he came with his Bible in his 
 hand. The advocate jeeringiy said. There's he and his 
 Bible : come away, and let us see where the text is. George 
 answered, I never was a seeker-out of texts; that is the 
 proper work of a minister. Then the advocate said. Put up 
 your Bible, for we are not for preaching at this time. He 
 answered, I am not come to preach, for I never could ; but, 
 Sir, this is the word of God, wner(?by I am come here to be 
 judged, and I charge you, and not only you, but all of you, 
 that as ye shall answer one day before our Lord Jesus 
 Christ, when he shall sit and judge betwixt the just and the 
 unjust, that ye judge me by what is written in this holy 
 Bible ; otherwise, remember ye, and the rest of you, shall 
 make account for it in that day when our Lord shall sit as 
 Judge, and ye shall stand naked and bare before him: and 
 if ye do it not, I shall be a witness against you. To this 
 they replied, that he was come to be judged, not to judge: 
 and after a while's silence, when he demanded who were his 
 accusers, the advocate replied, I am your accuser; and 
 interrogated him thus: — Were you at Bothwell? A. I have 
 answered that in my first examination. But, said the advo- 
 cate, you must answer it now. A, It being criminal by your 
 law, you must prove it. Do you hold those that were there 
 as rebels? A. I allow myself to be among no rebels; but 
 whom call you rebels? The advocate said, Those that were 
 rebels to the king, George answered. If they be not rebels 
 to God, the matter is the less. Do you approve of them? 
 A. Yes, in as far as they were for Christ and his cause. Do 
 you allow youself to rise in arms against the king? A. 
 No. Wherefore, then, did ye rise in arms? A. I have 
 warrant in the word of God to rise in arms in defence of 
 the gospel and work of reformation, according to our 
 solemn engagements, wherein we are sworn to uphold and 
 defend, to the utmost of our power, the work of reformation. 
 What! are ye engaged to be against your king? A. You 
 
GEORGE JACKSON. 343 
 
 heard not me say that, but I said, I am for the king and 
 all authority, as far as thej are for the work of God, but 
 no farther. Do jou own the present authority? A. I 
 own no unlawful authority. Will you take the bond of 
 regulation, and you shall be released? A. I will have 
 nothing to do with you, or your bonds either. Being desired 
 to subscribe what they had written as his confession, he 
 refused. 
 
 At his second compearance before the council, after they 
 had read to him and several other prisoners, the Declaration 
 emitted at Sanquhar, they asked, if he approved of that 
 paper, which casts off the king, and all his authority and 
 laws, and declares open war against him, and approves of 
 murdering his soldiers, militia, gentlemen, or intelligencers, 
 wherever they can have the occasion ? He answered, I dis- 
 own all murder. But do you approve of that paper ? A. 
 As far as it owns truth. Knew ye of it before? A. I knew 
 not of it this morning when I arose, no more than the child 
 unborn. Who set it out? A. You have it there, it may 
 have been yourselves, for aught I know. Was you never in 
 the meetings called societies or general correspondencies? 
 A. Since ever the Lord made me to hate sin and follow 
 duty, it was my desire to be in the company of the godly, 
 and to go where I might have edification to my soul. Would 
 you think it lawful to kill the soldiers, if they were going to 
 take you? A. Yes, in self-defence. 
 
 This account is abstracted out of his own letters. As for 
 his large testimony it hath not been thought necessary to 
 publish it ; for the answers which he gave, were his testi- 
 mony before the enemies, and were the grounds of his 
 indictment and sentence of death, and also are the chief 
 points of truth upon which he enlarges his testimony. 
 Moreover, it appears from the many repetitions of the same 
 matter, that the severity of his persecutors has occasioned 
 his large testimony to be written with less accuracy than it 
 otherwise would. He insists much in praising God, for 
 calling him to, and strengthening him under his sufferings : 
 professes a great cheerfulness in laying down his life for the 
 cause of Christ : exhorts others to forsake the love of the 
 world, and embrace the cross of Christ, and undergo the 
 hatred of the world ; he is full in enumerating the heads of 
 truth to which he adheres, and national sins against which 
 
344 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 he bears witness ; so that he passes scarce any point of truth 
 touched in the former testimonies, though thej are not so 
 orderly disposed of as in some others. He forewarns all of 
 the hazard of approaching judgments, encourages the godly 
 with a prospect of Christ's return to the land, and invites 
 them to take hold of him, and wrestle with him for his 
 return ; withal deploring the case of the church, on account 
 of such wrestlers and mourners : and with a solemn farewell 
 to earthly relations, friends, acquaintances, and enjoyments; 
 with a welcome of heavenly ones, he concludes his dying 
 testimony. In the whole he gives evidences of one near and 
 dear to Christ, and supported and strengthened by him. 
 
 Together with the foresaid martyr, William Keagow, in 
 Kilkeagow, received his indictment, specifying the same 
 causes, viz., being at Bothwell, under the command of 
 Robert Hamilton, brother to the Laird of Preston, issuing 
 out treasonable proclamations and declarations, which he 
 owned as his duty in defence of the gospel and covenanted 
 work of reformation, and refusing to call the death of the 
 Archbishop of St. Andrew's murder, and not being free to 
 pay cess to the king, &c. But if he left any testimony, it 
 has not come to the hands of the publishers. 
 
 Upon the 14th day of November, 1684, John Watt, in the 
 parish of Kilbride, and John Semple, in the parish of Glas- 
 sart, suffered, whose testimonies (if they be extant) cannot 
 be found. It is certain, however, from their indictments, 
 that they died for their adherence to the same truths, at the 
 Gallowlee, in the twilight of the evening. While they were 
 singing the 11th section of the 119th Psalm, particularly 
 these words in the 8th verse, " How many are thy servant's 
 days ? when wilt thou execute just judgment on these wicked 
 men, that do me persecute ?" the soldiers made such a great 
 noise, and turned" back so upon the people that were spec- 
 tators of the action, that the people verily conceived they 
 should have been trodden down and massacred on the spot, 
 which occasioned all to flee, so that none of their christian 
 friends durst stay to do the last duty to them, in dressing 
 their dead bodies, but they were left at the insolent soldier's 
 disposal. 
 
JOHN SEMPLE. 345 
 
 Copy of a letter, written by John Semple, in Craigtliorn, 
 while in prison, to his Mother and Sister, who were also 
 in prison. 
 
 LoTiNG Mother and Sister,— -This is to let you know, 
 that on the day I was brought to the tolbooth of the Can- 
 nongate, we were put in irons, and shackles put upon our 
 arms ; and on the morrow about eleven o'clock, I was brought 
 before the council, and they showed me the paper which was 
 found upon the crosses and kirk-doors, and asked if I knew 
 it? I answered. How should I know what is in that paper? 
 The duke having it in his hand, the rest of the council 
 requested him read it to me ; he read some lines of it, and 
 then said to the rest, it would take a long time to read. 
 They offered to give it to me to read, and promised me time 
 to consider it, if I would give my judgment of it. A. I 
 will not have it, neither will I be judge of papers. Own ye 
 the king's authority, as it is now established? A. I own all 
 authority agreeable to the word of God. Will ye own this 
 paper or not? A. I know not what is in that paper. Then 
 they said, To be short with you, own ye the covenants and 
 Presbyterian principles? A. I own the covenants and 
 Presbyterian principles, with my whole heart. Then said 
 they, So, that is a frank and free fellow. Then they caused 
 take me away for a while ; and when I was brought before 
 them again, they said, Come and declare the truth, and give 
 your oath, what you know concerning the contrivers and 
 publishers of these papers '? A. I am not bound to wrong 
 my neighbours, neither will I give an oath. After some 
 questions and answers, the chancellor said. He should make 
 me do it, or make me as small as snuff. I answered. Some- 
 times the persecutors have caused the saints to blaspheme. 
 The bishop's brother said, I was a liar, for the scripture says 
 no such thing. I said, it says the same thing, and told him 
 where the passage was. They again caused take me away ; 
 and a little after brought me before them the third time, and 
 pressed upon me again to declare : I utterly refused. They 
 then caused the executioner to take me a little back, and 
 made me sit down with my back to the bar, and put on the 
 
346 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 thumbkins upon my thumbs, until I fell into a swoon: when 
 I recovered, they were standing about, looking upon me, and 
 bidding me rise, which I did. Then some of them asked 
 what I would say to the chancellor now? I answered, I 
 would say nothing to him. They then took me to the town 
 tolbooth, to the iron-house. 
 
 Now, I desire to bless the Lord, that he kept me ; for in 
 the time of the torture I spake not a word good or bad, but 
 got it borne, until I fell into a swoon. All their counten- 
 ances dashed me nothing; for I did not fear their faces, nor 
 the faces of hundreds who were gazing upon me, from about 
 eleven o'clock, till seven o'clock in the afternoon. I thought 
 that was a sign of God's presence ; but the shining of his 
 countenance was not with my spirit. I was helped to believe 
 and hold fast: for I knew not but that day or to-morrow, 
 might have been my last day. 
 
 The next morning I was brought before one of them, in a 
 chamber. He said. How are ye advised to-day? I said, 
 As I was. What is the reason that ye will not tell the truth 
 to the chancellor? it is a sin not to do it. A. Doeg told the 
 truth, when he told Saul that he saw David come to Ahim- 
 elech, and that Ahimelech gave him bread, and did inquire 
 of God for him ; and yet the scripture calls it lying, Psal. 
 lii. 3. And therefore, there is a sinful, pernicious speaking 
 of the truth, which is a great sin, and accounted as a lie. I 
 said to him also, that I, knowing the terror of the Lord, 
 thought the terror of men was the lighter to be borne ; and 
 that I would say no more than I had said, though they 
 should torture all the fingers and toes that I had, till they 
 were cut ofi^; as the Lord should give me strength, I would 
 stand. 
 
 After this he did not open his mouth, but humbred and 
 rose up, and went his way, and the keeper brought me back 
 to the iron-house, where I remain. I recollect one thing 
 more, he said. That it was for rebellion against the king 
 they were pursuing. I answered. So the persecutors of the 
 Son of God said, it was for rebellion ; for they called him an 
 enemy to Csesar. Moreover, they threatened me with the 
 boots. Now, what the Lord will permit them to do, I know 
 not; but there are hard things determined against me; and 
 I am very weak, for flesh and blood is but weak ; therefore 
 
JAMES GRAHAM. 
 
 347 
 
 forget not my case. I am well contented with my lot, 
 blessed be the Lord, only I am afraid of my own weaknesses, 
 lest I wrong the truth. 
 
 No more at present. The Lord's presence be with you, 
 my dear mother and sister. Give my love to my dear 
 brother and sisters. I am in good health, blessed be God ; 
 my thumbs are not very sore, though somewhat numb; I 
 and others thought, they should scarcely have ever served 
 
 me, at least for a long time. 
 
 John Semple. 
 
 Last Testimony of James Graham, Tailor in Corsmichael, 
 in the Stewartry of Galloway, who suffered at the 
 Gallowlee, betwixt Leith and Edinburgh, December 
 9th, 1684. 
 
 Men and Brethren,— I am come here this day to lay 
 down my life for the cause of Christ, and I bless the Lord 
 that ever he gave me a life to lay down for such a noble 
 cause; and now I wish this day, that every hair of my head, 
 and every drop of my blood, were a life, I would wiUmgly 
 lay them down for him, for all is too little for him. Oh, it is 
 a wonder, that ever he should have chosen me, or the like 
 of me, to witness or die for him in such a cause ; for he hath 
 no need of me, or any of the lost sons of Adam, but he hath 
 testified in his word, that he will make the poor things of 
 the earth to confound the prudent. I bless the Lord, that I 
 die not as a murderer or a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a 
 busy-body in other men's matters. The heads whereupon I 
 am indicted are, because I refused to disown that paper, 
 which is most agreeable to the word of God and to our 
 sworn covenants and work of reformation ; and because I 
 would not swear to that, which I durst not for nay soul do. 
 Now, in giving a short account of what I am indicted for I 
 shall likewise give a hint of what I adhere to:— L I adhere 
 to the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, Con- 
 fession of Faith, Catechisms Larger and Shorter, and to 
 the whole work of reformation, as it was once established in 
 our land, although now, alas! defaced, and denied by the 
 
348 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 most part of this generation. 2. To the Covenants, National 
 and Solemn League, to which we are sworn with hands up- 
 lifted to the most high God, and bound to maintain. 3. To 
 the Sum of Saving Knowledge, the Acknowledgment of 
 Sins and Engagement to Duties. 4. To the preached gospel, 
 as it was faithfully preached in our land bj the sent messen- 
 gers of Jesus Christ, especially by Messrs. John Kid, John 
 King, Donald Cargil, and Richard Cameron, who took their 
 lives in their hands, and went forth at all hazards, when the 
 rest of their brethren turned their back upon the cause. 5. 
 To Mr. James Renwick, as a faithful sent servant of Jesus 
 Christ, who has lifted up the standard where Messrs. Donald 
 Cargil and Richard Cameron left it, who sealed the cause 
 with their blood. 6. To all the appearances in arms in de- 
 fence of the gospel, and our sworn covenants, and the whole 
 work of reformation. 7. To the Excommunications at the 
 Torwood by Mr. Donald Cargil. 8. To the Sanquhar Decla- 
 ration, as a thing most agreeable to the word. 9. To the 
 Declaration at Rutherglen. 10. To the paper that was taken 
 off worthy Henry HaU at the Queensferry. 11. To the 
 burning of that hell-hatched thing called the test, at Lan- 
 ark. 12. To the fellowships of the Lord's people, for read- 
 ing, singing, and prayer, according to the scriptures in Mai. 
 iii. 16, Heb. x. 25 ; and several other scriptures. 13. To 
 all the testimonies of the faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ, 
 from the appearance in arms at Pentland-hills to this day. 
 14. To that paper upon which I was indicted, in so far as it 
 is agreeable to the word of God, and our sworn covenants, 
 and work of reformation. 
 
 And now, on the other hand, I witness and testify — 1. 
 Against all breach of Covenant, which is a sin that hath 
 overspread the whole land. 2. Against the acceptors of the 
 indulgence, first and last, because they have fled from their 
 first engagement, which was, to be faithful ministers to the 
 church of Christ, which they have broken and rent. 3. 
 Against the hearers of curates, because they have broken 
 our sworn covenants, and work of reformation. 4. Against 
 Popery, Prelacy, Quakerism, and all heresy, and whatsoever 
 is contrary to the word of God. 5. Against paying of the 
 cess and locality, and against paying of fines, because it is a 
 bearing up of soul-murders, and an acknowledgment that we 
 have done a fault in following our duty. 6. Against Charles 
 
ROBERT POLLOCK. 349 
 
 Stuart, because he hath broken the covenant that he was once 
 sworn to, and put forth his hand against the people of God. 
 7. Against that perjuring and abominable thing called the 
 test, and the oath of allegiance, which is an oath against our 
 covenant. 8. Against Gib, his followers, and all their per- 
 nicious ways. 9. Against the overthrowing of our work of 
 reformation, which we had from our Lord and Master, and 
 his faithful servants, to be comforts to our souls. Xow, the 
 time being short, I shall say no more. Farewell mother, 
 brethren, and sisters ; farewell all christian friends and 
 acquaintances in the Lord ; farewell holy scriptures, which 
 have been my comfort many a day ; farewell meat and drink, 
 sun, moon, and stars. Welcome eternity ; welcome heaven ; 
 welcome holy angels ; welcome God in Christ, into thy hands 
 I commit my spirit. 
 
 James Graham. 
 
 Last Speech and Testimony of Robert Pollock, Cor- 
 diner in Kilbride, who was apprehended at Glasgow, 
 and suffered at the Gallowlee, January 23d, 1685, 
 betwixt eight and nine o'clock, morning. 
 
 [As the body of this Testimony is much of a piece with 
 several of the foregoing, it is only partially given.] 
 
 Dear Friends, — Being sentenced to die by men, I thought 
 fit to leave this short testimony behind me. Now, if I could 
 say any thing in commendation of Christ, I have as much to 
 say to his commendation, as any poor sinner ever had to say. 
 He has done more for me than heart can think or tongue can 
 speak, or hand can write, for he has made good his promise, 
 " When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, 
 and through the rivers they shall not overflow thee. When 
 thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, 
 neither shall the flames kindle upon thee," Isa. xxiii. 2. This 
 promise, I can say, upon good ground, has been made out to 
 me. And I can say with the spouse, "His left hand is under 
 my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. A bundle 
 of myrrh is my beloved unto me." And now I cannot study 
 2h 
 
350 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 to save my life without prejudice to his glory, and vindicat- 
 ing of evil-doers. For I desire to fear and serve him, and 
 also to confess him that hath said in his word, " Whosoever, 
 therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess 
 also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever 
 shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my 
 Father which is in heaven," Mat. x. 32, 33. " No man 
 having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is 
 fit for the kingdom of God," Luke ix. 62, " If any man 
 draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him," Heb. x. 
 38. " But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall 
 be saved," Matt. xxiv. 13. Now, I say, life and death, 
 heaven and hell, even Christ being on the one hand, and the 
 world on the other hand, and Christ holding forth an offer of 
 himself to me, and making me welcome to come to him, I 
 desire rather to suffer any thing he is pleased, than to run 
 after the multitude: and now, truth being so much contro- 
 verted, I think I cannot refuse to be at his disposal in 
 suffering for it. * * * * * 
 
 And now, being somewhat confused in the time of my 
 writing, I could not keep order; wherefore I now leave my 
 testimony to several things that I forgot before : — To the San- 
 quhar Declaration, and to the late Declaration, November, 
 1684. I have also two persons to leave my testimony against, 
 viz., the Duke of York, and the Duke of Monmouth. Against 
 the Duke of York, for marrying a strange woman, and as he 
 s a Papist himself. And against the Duke of Monmouth, 
 for coming down to Scotland to help the enemies of God to 
 kill the Lord's people, for hazarding their lives in defence of 
 the gospel. 
 
 And now I am come here this day to lay down my life 
 for the hope of Israel, of the which hope I am not ashamed 
 this day ; for I desire to bless his holy name, that for twelve 
 years and more my soul has loved him, and many times has 
 been refreshed when I thought upon suffering for him. Now, 
 I do not say I am free of sin, but I am at peace with God, 
 through a slain Mediator, and he shall make my soul as 
 clean of sin as if I had never sinned. And now I am to 
 step out of time into eternity, where I shall be as full of 
 him as my soul desires to be. Again, I take farewell of all 
 created comforts in time ; and let none say that these are not 
 my words, for they are even my last words. Though I cannot 
 
ROBERT POLLOCK. 351 
 
 write myself, being shackled, yet do I subscribe myself, and 
 whether any think it right or not, I have peace in doing it. 
 It may be some will say that I have not been right prin- 
 cipled, and have been in error ; and it may be some will say, 
 that they would not have ventured their life on such grounds ; 
 but I can say, the least of the controverted truths is suffi- 
 cient ground to lay down my life for. And the main thing 
 is, the authority that now is cried up, and Charles Stuart to 
 be supreme; if any join with that, and approve of his deeds, 
 it will never be asked whether they fear God or not ; although 
 they were the greatest blasphemers that ever lived, if they 
 will approve of the acts and laws made by those that are 
 now rulers (though they rule wrong) there is no more sought 
 of them : they never ask whether they fear God or not. and 
 that says they fear him not themselves, and that they study 
 no further than to please Charles Stuart, which will be their 
 ruin in the end. And now I have this to say to the com- 
 mendation of Christ, that he is without parallel or compari- 
 son ; he is altogether lovely, and in the greatest of straits 
 he is most comely; his countenance is refreshing to me, and 
 in the greatest of straits and difficulties his countenance has 
 refreshed me ; it is delightsome to a weary soul. Nor is there 
 any comfort like unto him, " His yoke is easy, and his bur- 
 den light." Yea, he has been so kind to me, that I have 
 not gone one hair's breadth on my own charges. He spares 
 no expense ; he gives enough to all them that are about his 
 work ; for ay when I was put sorest to it, I got enough from 
 my lovely Master to bear my charges with. 'Now, my 
 advice to all them that desire to be upright for Christ is, 
 walk on and do not draw back, for ye will not want enough 
 to do your turn; for he does not stand to ware any thing 
 upon his servants. 
 
 And now I, as a dying man, entreat you all not to fear 
 imprisonment. Fear nothing; for if ye can trust in him 
 there is no fear you shall be left to do the work yourself. I 
 can say no more to make you love him ; but only this I can 
 say, that he has aye made me victorious, since I was his 
 prisoner. I am not afraid to enter on a gibbet for him, 
 and for the vindication of his cause. And now, let none 
 say it is a sore matter that my life should be taken away 
 for such a cause ; for I say unto you, that I would never 
 have had such an offer to quit my life for; and let none be 
 
352 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 sorry that I am taken away out of the gate of God's wrath ; 
 for there are many in Scotland that will not know where to 
 flee from his wrath pursuing them ; yea, many that are not 
 much concerned with these things now. And therefore I 
 say, fly unto Christ, all that would not be trampled down in 
 his fury, and that would not have the wrath of the Lord 
 poured out upon them. My advice is, make your peace 
 with the Prince of peace, for sad will the calamities be 
 that are coming on this land. Oh. prepare for judgment, 
 for he will come and make inquisition for the blood that 
 hath been shed in Scotland, before the controversy end, and 
 the calamity overpass. It looks very like that the fowls of 
 the air will eat the bodies of the dead men and women not 
 being buried. I shall say no more, but study to fly out of 
 the way of God's wrath; fly unto him, and forsake your 
 evil ways. It is not, I declare, upon account of sufi'ering 
 that I expect to be saved, nor any righteousness of my own, 
 but only through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, 
 through his merits and intercession ; for I have no righteous- 
 ness of my own, neither can I merit any thing by my suffer- 
 ing; but it is as sure that he has said, " He that denies me 
 before men, him will I deny before my Father who is in 
 heaven, and before the holy angels." And now I am brought 
 here this day, to lay down my life for the cause and interest 
 of Jesus Christ, and for no other thing; and I desire to 
 bless the Lord that I am not suffering as an evil doer, and 
 that I die not as a fool. And I desire to bless the Lord 
 that ever he honoured me with suffering for him ; for many 
 times my soul has been refreshed, when I saw any thing 
 like that, that I would be a sufferer for him. Now, I desire 
 to take farewell of all things in time. Farewell sweet scrip- 
 tures, reading, singing, praying, and believing; farewell sun, 
 moon, and stars, and all created comforts in time. Welcome 
 heaven and happiness; welcome innumerable company of 
 angels; welcome spirits of just men made perfect; welcome 
 praising, without ceasing or wearying in the least ; welcome 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into thy hands I commit my 
 spirit. 
 
 Robert Pollock. 
 
ROBERT MILLAR. 
 
 353 
 
 Last Testimony of Robert Millar, Mason, parish of 
 Rutherglen, who suffered at the Gallowlee, Edinburgh, 
 January 23d, 1685. 
 
 Loving and Dear Friends,— Being sentenced to die by 
 men, I have thought it fit to leave behind me this mite of a 
 testimony; and to let you know upon what ground I suffer : 
 and it is only because I would not acknowledge the present 
 authority, which is in direct opposition to the word of God ; 
 and also, because I would not take that oath against the 
 Apologetical Declaration, and swear myself an enemy to the 
 covenant and work of reformation ; which I durst not do, no 
 not for my soul. , • r^ i 
 
 Now, I confess I have been a great sinner against bod, 
 but I never acted any thing against man worthy of death, 
 bonds, or imprisonment. Glory to him, for he hath not been 
 wanting to me; I have seen, in some measure, his hand of 
 providence, ay, in less or more from my very infancy, guid- 
 ino- me to this day. It is about fifteen years since he en- 
 gaged me wonderfully to him, although I have many times 
 turned my back on him ; and also, though I followed my 
 duty, with many failings, yet he never suffered me to go, 
 but still kept me with a long respect to him, and his perse- 
 cuted truths ; and aye when I was like to be moved with 
 strong temptations from Satan, the world, and my own 
 wicked heart, " he broke the snare, and I escaped as a bird 
 out of the hand of the fowler." He hath, in a wonderful 
 measure, " made all things work together for my good." Oh, 
 how many times have I turned back, and provoked him to 
 hide his face, and to desert me, and to plague me with hard- 
 ness of heart! but aye when I was ready to sink, he mani- 
 fested his power, and brought me up out of the great depth ; 
 and also made out that word, " When my father and mother 
 forsake me, then the Lord will take me up," Psal. xxvii. 10. 
 Now, I say, glory, glory to him, who hath plucked me as a 
 brand out of the burning, and hath made a prison, and irons, 
 sweet and easy to me. Oh, what an honour is it to tread the 
 same steps that my loving Lord did before me ! Now, he is 
 become " altogether lovely, and the chief among ten thou- 
 sands." I can now say from my experience, " That my be- 
 loved is mine, and I am his." 
 
 2h2 
 
354 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 1. I heartily adhere, and leave my testimony to that cove- 
 nant of free grace, agreed upon, betwixt the Father and the 
 Son, that noble work of redemption ; and desire to take him 
 in all his offices, as King, Priest, and Prophet. 2. I heartily 
 adhere to the holy and sacred word of God, with which my 
 soul many a time hath been refreshed. 3. To the Confes- 
 sion of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms. 4. To the 
 National and Solemn League and Covenant. 5. To that 
 glorious work of reformation, as it was reformed from Popery 
 and Prelacy, and all other errors. 6. I leave my testimony 
 to all the fellowship-meetings of the Lord's people, for keep- 
 ing up of the fallen-down standard of our Lord. 7. I leave 
 my testimony to these worthy men's doctrine, viz., Mr. 
 Donald Cargil, and the rest who jeoparded their lives upon 
 the high places of the earth, for the bearing up of the fallen- 
 down standard of our Lord, when the rest most shamefully 
 left it at the command of men. 8. I heartily adhere, and 
 leave my testimony to that worthy man's doctrine, called 
 Mr. James Renwick, who is now carrying on that great 
 work, when there is so few to own it ; and I desire to bless 
 the Lord, that ever I heard him preach. 9. And likewise I 
 leave my testimony to the excommunication at the Torwood, 
 passed by Mr. Donald Cargil, against these enemies of God. 
 10. I leave my testimony to all protestations and declara- 
 tions given by the Lord's people against his enemies. 11. 
 To the making use of defensive arms. 
 
 I desire now to tell you what I disown, and leave my tes- 
 timony against. 1. I leave my testimony against Popery, 
 and Prelacy, and Erastianism, and all errors not agreeable 
 to the word of God, and against all those that adhere to, and 
 own these abominable practices and principles. 2. I leave 
 my testimony against that tyrant now upon the throne, 
 Charles Stuart, who hath not only broken the covenant, but 
 burned it, and overturned the whole work of reformation, 
 which he was sworn and engaged unto ; and is yet going on, 
 with uplifted hands, in liis perjury, and making others to do 
 the like, according to that of Jeroboam, who made Israel to 
 sin ; and also for liis supremacy over the prerogatives of our 
 Lord. 3. I leave my testimony against those called the 
 council of Scotland, who at this day sleep not, except they 
 have done mischief, and who are now taking away my life, 
 not having any matter of fact against me, either worthy of 
 
ROBERT MILLAR. 355 
 
 death or bonds, but only because I would not perjure myself, 
 and state myself an open enemy to God and his truth, which 
 I durst not do, no not for my soul. 4. I leave my testimony 
 against that wicked thing called the test, invented by Satan. 
 5. And also against all bonds and declarations set forth by 
 those who are called the Council of Scotland. 6. I leave 
 my testimony against cess and locality paying, which is for 
 no other use than to bear down the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 
 7. And also against militia-money, which is for that same 
 use. 8. Against all intelligencers and apprehenders of the 
 Lord's people, Obad. ver. 10. 9. And likewise against all 
 compearing at courts, or coming out of prison upon bond or 
 caution, or paying of jailor's fees; for it says, that we have 
 done them wrong, whereas we have done them none ; and 
 although they be forced to it, yet that will not excuse them, 
 for there is not a liberty in all the word of God, to say a 
 confederacy with his open and avowed enemies. 10. I leave 
 my testimony against the hearing of these tested curates, 
 who are those that are mentioned in God's word, viz., wolves 
 and bears, which would devour the Lord's flock. 11. Against 
 all the blood shed before and since Pentland, in the fields, 
 and on scaffolds, and also in the seas. 12. Against all the 
 indulgences, first and last, who lay down the service of the 
 Lord at the command of men, and have engaged themselves 
 in that wo that is pronounced against such as are at ease 
 when Zion is in trouble ; for since I had any knowledge, I 
 never had any clearness for ministers who acknowledged any 
 to be the head of the church but Jesus Christ. 13. And 
 against all sort of compliance, because I see there are few 
 that ever comply with them, that ever get leave to look 
 behind them, till they be the full length. And now, I must 
 tell you, I have not been free of the thoughts of it this many 
 a day, that the church of Britain and Ireland shall be upon 
 the borders of Babylon before they get a delivery. 
 
 Dear friends, study to be diligent in your duty, and make 
 good use of your Bibles, for I have not got the thoughts of 
 it off my spirits this many a day, that ere long it shall come, 
 that it shall be death to the person with whom a Bible is 
 found. And also I must tell you, that there was nothing 
 more confirming to me, that they were enemies to truth, 
 than to see their carriage when I was before them. Now, I 
 am not taking it upon me to prophesy, but I think they are 
 
356 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONr OF 
 
 blind, who see not sad days abiding these poor lands. Oh, 
 study holiness, and labour to follow your duty in earnest, for 
 there is a black cloud of judgment ready to break upon 
 these lands. I dare not doubt, that Ciirist is upon his way, 
 and will return again to these lands ; and oh, be earnest with 
 him, that he would spare a remnant, and that he would not 
 pass that sad sentence mentioned in Ezek. ix. 6, where he 
 hath given a commission to " slay utterly old and young ;" 
 also ver. 10, where he hath said, " His eye shall not spare, 
 neither will he have pity." Now, I say likewise, be earnest 
 with him, that ye may be marked by the man with the 
 writer's ink-horn by his side, that ye may be kept in the 
 hollow of his hand, in the day of Scotland's sad calamity. 
 
 Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, and 
 employ your strength in the holding up of the fallen-down 
 standard of our Lord, and if ye be found real in this duty, 
 ye shall either be members of the church militant, and see 
 that glory of the second temple, which shall be a glorious 
 sight, or else ye shall be transported, and be members of the 
 church triumphant; so ye shall be no losers, but noble 
 gainers either of the ways; for I dare not doubt, that Christ 
 is upon his way, and that he will keep a remnant even of 
 holy seed, which shall yet be the substance of poor cove- 
 nanted Scotland. Now, I die a Presbyterian, although one 
 of the meanest and poorest sinful things that ever followed 
 him and his way. But oh, praise, praise and glory to him, 
 who hath taken this way of dealing with me, so as to hon- 
 our me with suffering for him, and his controverted truths, 
 and royal prerogatives, kingdom, and sceptre. And now, in a 
 word, I am fully persuaded that it is his truth I am suffering 
 for; and in this case, have both his word and Spirit on my 
 side, so I shall not be disappointed of my expectation. 
 
 I desire heartily to forgive all men what they have done 
 to me, as I am of myself; but what they have done against 
 the image of God in me, that is not mine to forgive, but I 
 leave it before the great Judge to be decided, in his own 
 time, when he shall arise and plead Zion's quarrel. Although 
 men have buried his work, and sworn it shall not rise again, 
 yet the commission shall go forth, " Arise and sing, ye that 
 dwell in the dust." I must leave it, because my time is but 
 short ; but I have one word more to say to the poor remnant: 
 Fear not to venture upon the cross of Christ, for although 
 
ROBERT MILLAR. 
 
 357 
 
 ye see but the black side of it at the beginning, yet when 
 ye come to a trial upon his truth's account, he wiU appear, 
 and be a present help in time of trouble, according to his 
 word. The more sharp your trial, the more he will be seen 
 perfecting strength in your weakness, " He giveth power to 
 the faint ; and to them that have no might he increaseth 
 strength. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their 
 strength," «&c. 
 
 Fear not to contend for the truth, but labour to be as free 
 of self in it as ye can ; for I can tell you, Christ and your 
 idols will not lodge in one liouse together, but if ye can say 
 upon good ground, that it is pure love and zeal to his glory 
 upon which ye are suffering, then I say, come away, for ye 
 shall not want experience to the full. Many scriptures I 
 might instance for your encouragement in this ; I can say 
 from experience, that he is a Prince of his word. Oh, they 
 are not to mean who are in the furnace, if the Son of God 
 be with them I For I may now say with godly Mr. Ruther- 
 ford, " He hath paid me many hundred-fold, and one to the 
 hundred." Oh, who would not praise him, who hath carried 
 through a poor dwarf, mounted upon the wings of omni- 
 potency ! 
 
 My time is but short, but I give glory to the great name 
 of my God, for my interest is now made sure, and I have 
 had much of his sweet presence since I was prisoner for 
 him and his persecuted truths ; and many times before. I 
 bless his great name, he hath perfected his work in me, and 
 I shall have the full enjoyment of him through all eternity ; 
 for I have freely given away myself to be at his disposal, 
 and have taken him to be my King, Priest, and Prophet ; 
 and now, I think I may say with Job, " I know that 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 : whom I shall 
 see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; 
 though my reins be consumed within me," Job xix. 25 — 27. 
 Now, my dear friends, I must bid farewell to you, and 
 leave you to him who hath promised to be a little sanctuary 
 to his own, to be kept by his mighty power unto salvation ; 
 farewell to sun, moon, and stars ; farewell to all the sweet 
 societies of the Lord's people ; farewell reading, singing, and 
 praying; farewell holy and sweet scriptures, with which 
 
358 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 many a time mj soul hath been refreshed ; and farewell all 
 created comforts in time. Welcome the sweet fellowship of 
 angels, and the souls of just men now made perfect, and the 
 sweet fellowship of the first-born ; welcome Father, Son, and 
 Holj Ghost, into whose hands I commit mj spirit, for it is 
 thine. 
 
 Robert Millar. 
 
 Upon the 11th of May, 1684, Margaret Lauchlane, in the 
 parish of Kirkiner, and Margaret Wilson, in Glenvernock, 
 in the shire of Galloway, were sentenced to death for their 
 non-compliance with Prelacy, and refusing to swear the oath 
 of abjuration, by the Laird of Lagg, Captain Strachan, 
 Colonel David Graham, and Provost Cultron. They com- 
 manded them to receive their sentence upon their knees, 
 which refusing, they were pressed down by force till they 
 received it. They were then, by their order, tied to a stake 
 within the sea-mark, in the water of Blednoch, near Wigton, 
 where, after they had made them wrestle long with the 
 waves, which flowing, swelled on them by degrees, and had 
 sometimes thrust them under water, they pulled them out 
 again, to see if they would recant ; but they endured death 
 with undaunted courage, yielding up their spirits to God. 
 The former was a widow woman of about sixty-three years, of 
 a most christian and blameless conversation, a pattern of piety 
 and virtue, who having constantly refused to hear the curates, 
 was much pursued and vexed, and at length taken by the 
 soldiers, while she was devoutly worshipping God in her 
 family; and being indicted of being at Bothwell Bridge, 
 Airsmoss, and twenty field conventicles, and as many house 
 conventicles, after sore and long imprisonment, without 
 necessary refreshments of fire, bed, or diet, she at length 
 suffered this cruel death The other (Margaret Wilson) was 
 a young woman of scarce twenty-three years of age. She, 
 with her brother, who was about nineteen, aud her sister, 
 fifteen years old, had been long driven from their father's 
 house, and exposed to lie in dens and caverns of the earth, 
 wandering through the mosses and mountains of Carrick, 
 Nithsdale, and Galloway ; but when going to Wigton secretly 
 to visit the foresaid Margaret Lauchlane, she was taken by 
 the fraud of one Patrick Stuart, who, under colour of friend- 
 
THOMAS STODDART. 359 
 
 ship, having invited her and her sister to drink with him, 
 offered them the king's health, and upon their refusal of it, 
 as not warranted in God's word, and contrary to christian 
 moderation, went presently out and informed against them. 
 Her sister was dismissed, as being but fifteen years of age, 
 upon her father's paying £100 Sterling for her ransom; but 
 Margaret was detained and examined, whether she owned 
 the king as head of the church? and would take the abjura- 
 tion oath? Not answering to their pleasure, but adhering 
 to the truths of Christ, she was condemned; and after great 
 severities of imprisonment, suffered the foresaid death. 
 Being put off into the water, and when half-dead, taken up 
 again, to see if she would take the oath, she refused to her 
 last breath ; while her fellow-sufferer, who was put in first to 
 discourage her, was wrestling with the waves, the persecutors 
 asked her, what she thought of that sight? She answered, 
 who do I see but Christ wrestling there? One of the times 
 that she was taken out of the water they said, say, " God 
 save the king." She answered with christian meekness, I 
 wish the salvation of all men, but the damnation of none. 
 Upon which one of her friends, alleging she had said what 
 they demanded, desired them to let her go ; but they would 
 not, seeing she refused to take the oath. During her 
 imprisonment, she wrote a long letter to her friends, wherein, 
 besides the lively and feeling expression of her sense of 
 God's love, she doth, with a judgment not usual for her 
 age and education, disclose the unlawful nature of the 
 abjuration oath, hearing of curates, owning the king's 
 supremacy, which was the thing the persecutors meant by 
 his authority. 
 
 Last Testimony of Thomas Stoddart, who suflfered at 
 the Grass-Market, Edinburgh, August 12th, 1685. 
 
 Men, Brethren, and Fathers, hearken, — Being to take 
 my farewell of the world, I leave this my dying testimony, 
 according to the form of the christians of old ; having the 
 same ground for it that Stephen had, who was condemned 
 because he spoke blasphemous words against the law and the 
 temple. So, that because I will not adhere to nor approve of 
 
360 LAST SPEECH AXD TESTIMONY OF 
 
 their laws, who now have power in their hands, they con- 
 demned me to die, though thej could not witness against me 
 for speaking against them, nor ever essayed to prove the 
 sentence upon me ; of which I shall now give you an account. 
 And first, I received my sentence of banishment, and then 
 notwithstanding of that, I was committed to the justices to 
 abide the assize, and they passed upon me the sentence of 
 death, for no other cause, as I can give, but because I could 
 not give such an answer to their questions about the govern- 
 ment and the king's authority (as they call it) as could satisfy 
 their lusts, and that I durst not disown the Apologetic 
 Declaration. So I humbly conceive this is the ground of 
 my suffering, that I could not own Christ's enemies, nor the 
 power th?.t they have taken to themselves against him ; nor 
 disown Christ's friends and their actings, as they required, 
 and therefore I am sentenced, albeit I owned as much of the 
 authority as any christian can be obliged to, that is to say, 
 lawful authority according to the word of God. But I desire 
 to be submissive to his will, who hath called me to this, and 
 to have high thoughts of him. I cannot get words to set him 
 out, but I find something to say to the commendation of 
 Christ, as it is said in Cant. ii. 1, " He is the rose of Sharon, 
 and the lily of the valleys." He is the sweetest rose that 
 ever I smelled, and never sweeter than when under the cross, 
 and suffering upon his account. Now, I shall not be long, I 
 have told you upon what account I suffer; and it is out of 
 love to Christ, and by faith in his mercy, that I venture upon 
 it. I thought it my duty to adhere to the word of God, and 
 to every thing agreeable thereto. And I would suffer for 
 every thing as a ground, which I think is right, and taken out 
 of the word of God, having encouragement from his blessed 
 promise, " But now, thus saith the Lord that created thee, 
 Jacob, and he that formed thee, Israel, Fear not; for I 
 have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou 
 art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be 
 with thee," Isa. xliii. 1, 2. And I have this to say also, that 
 in all my imprisonments, he was wonderfully seen in owning 
 me, and carrying me through all the temptations that I was 
 trysted with. If I would tell you them all, they would take 
 up much paper and time ; and time being very short, I can- 
 not get it done ; but I think I must speak something to the 
 commendation of free grace, that hath made me to suffer all 
 
THOMAS STODDART 
 
 361 
 
 cheerfuUy. " It is a faithful saying, For if we be dead with 
 him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer, we shall also 
 reim with him," 2 Tim. ii. 11, 12. This is good at all times, 
 but especially now. Oh, but the people of this generation 
 be greatly involved in sin, because they are so greatly and 
 deeply involved in the breach of Covenant ; which though it 
 must not be owned by the laws of the land, yet I dare not 
 but own it. I would fain say as it is said, 1 Kings xviii. lo, 
 "And Elisha said. As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom 
 I stand, I wiU surely show myself to him to-day." I own it 
 before aU, and I own myself to have joined, and do allow it 
 heartily in joining, with that poor persecuted party so much 
 disowned. The thing that I did in that case, I thought my 
 duty; and I leave my testimony to my owning of it; and 
 that I have joined myself to that which was most agreeable 
 to the word of God. I leave my testimony in behalf of those 
 I joined with, that little handful in their societies and tel- 
 lowships, which have been veiy refreshing to my soul ; and 
 I have been much delighted in these, for I thought it was 
 the church of God. . 
 
 And therefore I leave my testimony against aU supersti- 
 tion and error, contrary to that way I received of the Lord 
 there; and every thing contrary to the word of God. I 
 leave my testimony against all unlawful deeds, and all 
 murdering acts and actings, whatsoever they be. I leave 
 my testimony against Popery and Prelacy, and whatsoever 
 plant is not of my heavenly Father's planting, and every 
 thing contrary to sound doctrine, and the power of godliness. 
 I leave my testimony also against those that hear the curates, 
 and against all them that have said in effect, the word is a 
 lie; that is, because they will not take it to be their rule; 
 yet that is the only thing we should take to be our rule, m 
 all the steps of our sojourning here. 
 
 Now, I take my farewell of all created comforts, and all 
 the things of the world ; which have been so great a mean 
 to make many of this generation scare at the cross of Christ, 
 which is much mistaken by the world. He was so conde- 
 scending that he paved the way for poor sinners himself, 
 and made it straight and easy. The way that leads to 
 heaven is very straight, and very easy also to those that 
 believe. He is universal king, and lives and reigns for 
 ever ; and all who subject themselves and obey him, and 
 
362 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 consent to liis terms, shall know peace, and shall enjoy 
 his presence which is the chief of all things. It is peace 
 with God that is the matter of the believer's rejoicing, and 
 makes them all to flutter with joj in following him "who is 
 the way, and the truth, and the life ; " and " whom to know 
 is life everlasting ; " who doth and may give great courage 
 to those who love this way of his, that is so greatly 
 reproached by the people of this generation. I think ye 
 may conceive what I mean by the saying of this. And now, 
 my dear friends and fellow-sufferers, and brethren in the 
 Lord, the counsel of the Lord is wise in bringing me hitherto. 
 I shall say no more, but that I join my hearty testimony to 
 all that ever the people of God did in his way, and for his 
 cause in his gospel terms ; to all the blood that has been 
 shed for the gospel, in fields and on scaffolds. Farewell all 
 things under heaven ; farewell to the world, the flesh, and 
 sin ; and also to all friends and relations, and kinsmen, and 
 brethren?; farewell mother, brethren, and sisters ; farewell 
 all my wonted privileges and enjoyments ; farewell all the 
 sweet societies that have been so refreshing to my soul 
 several times ; farewell friends in Christ ; farewell sun, 
 moon, and stars. Welcome heaven : welcome my God, and 
 angels, and glorified spirits ; and so come Lord Jesus, 
 
 Thomas Stoddart. 
 
 Together with this martyr, two others received the sen- 
 tence of death, viz., Matthew Bryce and James Wilkie, who 
 suffered at Edinburgh, July 27th, 1685. The former de- 
 clares in his testimony, that they were interrogated only on 
 these two questions. L Will ye take the oath of allegiance? 
 To which they answered, No, we will not take it. 2. Will 
 ye own the authority? They answered, We will own all 
 authority according to the word of God. Upon which 
 they were immediately all three sentenced to be hanged. 
 Whence the said martyr very justly infers, that they had 
 nothing else to charge upon him as the cause of his death, 
 but that he spoke of the word of God. His testimony, as 
 to all the material heads, is consonant with that of Thomas 
 Stoddart. 
 
EDWARD MARSHAL. 363 
 
 Last Testimony of Edward Marshal, of Kae-muir, in 
 the parish of Morvenside, who suffered at the Grass- 
 Market, Edinburgh, December 4th, 1685. 
 
 First, I leave my testimony against all that have joined 
 with the Malignant party, either in rising in arms, or in 
 paying of cess, or any manner of way contrary to our cove- 
 nants, and work of reformation, once famous, and maintained 
 by the whole ministry, noblemen, gentlemen, and commons 
 of all sorts, but now opposed and borne down by the gen- 
 erality of this kingdom. And particularly against such as 
 once owned the covenant, and avowed the cause of Christ, 
 but are now employing their strength for the overturning of 
 the same, as it is in Psal. Ixxiv. 6. Now, the things upon 
 which I was accused and sentenced were, my joining in 
 arms with that party at Bothwell, and owning of the trutli 
 and covenants, and for adhering thereunto: for they ques- 
 tioned me, if I would call it rebellion ? But I would not, 
 but accounted it my duty. Then they asked me, if I would 
 own James VII. as king of Britain? And I told them, I 
 owned him, as far as he owned God, his cause and people. 
 Then some of them said, That was not aU. Then they 
 asked. If I would pray for the king of Britain ? I answered, 
 This is not a place appointed for prayer. Then they laughed, 
 and said. Remove him. 
 
 Now, dear friends, be not discouraged although they 
 threaten you with imprisonment or death for the cause of 
 Christ ; for he that calls you to suffering, is able to support 
 and bear you up under it ; for I found more of his presence 
 since I came to prison than I did heretofore. Christ suffered 
 imprisonment and death for us, and ought not we to suffer 
 for him? As concerning this, that my enemies and carnal 
 friends reproach me with self-murder, I am conscious to my- 
 self, that it is not so, but out of love to Christ and his 
 covenanted work. Now, I recommend my wife and seven 
 children to the good guiding of my God, who hath hitherto 
 protected me ; for he has promised to be " a husband to the 
 widow, and a father to the fatherless," providing they will 
 " walk in his ways, and keep his commandments." Now, I 
 recommend my soul to God, who hath preserved me hitherto, 
 and who unexpectedly has singled me out to suffer for him, 
 
364 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 who am the unworthiest of all sinners ; and I never thought 
 that he should have so highly privileged me, as to account 
 me worthy to give a testimony for him ; though sometimes 
 it entered into my thoughts, oh, if I would be called to it ! 
 Now, farewell dear wife and sweet children; farewell all 
 friends and relations, especially such of you as have given 
 up your names to Christ ; farewell sun, moon, and all worldly 
 enjoyments. Welcome Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, into 
 whose hands I commit my spirit. 
 
 Edward "Marshal. 
 
 On the 4th of December, 1685, John Nisbet of Hardhill, 
 in the parish of Loudon, suffered, whose testimony, although 
 omitted in some of the former editions of this book, is now 
 inserted immediately after this short account concerning 
 him. 
 
 John Nisbet of Hardhill, in Loudon parish, Ayrshire, was 
 lineally descended from Murdoch Nisbet of Hardhill, one of 
 those who, in the latter end of the 15th century, were styled 
 the Lollards of Kyle. He spent his youth in military ser- 
 vice on the continent; but returning at the recall of Charles, 
 he swore the covenants at Scoone, where he was at the coro- 
 nation of that prince, but afterwards joined the Protestors, 
 and appears shortly after to have left the army and settled 
 in Hardhill. He was a man of a very decided character, 
 and was united to Margaret Law, a woman who proved her- 
 self a true yoke-fellow in the day of trial. 
 
 About the year 1664, having received the sacrament of 
 baptism to his child, from one of the ejected ministers, he 
 came to be troubled by the enemies on that account; and 
 the curate declared out of the pulpit, his purpose to excom- 
 municate him the next Lord's- day, but was prevented by 
 sudden death. When that handful of the Lord's people 
 renewed the covenant at Lanark, and appeared in arms at 
 Pentland-hills, he engaged in the covenant with them, and 
 was severely wounded in the fight, insomuch that he was left 
 for dead; but by God's goodness he recovered. All along 
 he testified against the abominations of prelacy, supremacy, 
 arbitrary government, and indulgence, and at the rising in 
 arms at BothweU, he did good service, being not only a 
 
JOHN NISBET. 
 
 365 
 
 zealous Christian, but a courageous soldier. After Botli- 
 weU,he was denounced as a rebel; the enemies seized all his 
 goods, expelled his wife and four small children from house 
 and hold, and offered a large sum of money (3,000 merks) 
 for himself; but the Lord preserved him while he had work 
 
 °^He was a close foUower of the gospel, faithfuUy preached 
 in the fields, was kept steadfast in the truth from extremes 
 on right or left hand; and was assistant m publishing the 
 declarations for truth, emitted during that time. At length, 
 in November, 1683, having been concealed for some weeks 
 in Darwhilling, in the parish of Fenwick, his lurkmg-place 
 was discovered, and he retired on a Saturday evening, for 
 safety and prayer, to a house in the same parish, m the 
 Mains of Loudon, called Midland, accompanied by Peter 
 Gemmel, a younger brother of the house of Horsehill, m the 
 same parish, George Woodburn, a brother of the Woodburns 
 and John Fergushill from Tarbolton, three of his faithtul 
 brethren; intelligence was received that Lieutenant Nisbet, 
 with a party of Colonel Buchan's dragoons was out m quest 
 of the wanderers, as they were sometimes called. On hear- 
 inff this they resolved to leave on Sabbath morning, but 
 owing to the infirmity of old John Fergushill, they were 
 unable to effect this, and were apprehended the same day. 
 The following is an account of his apprehension and 
 examinations as written by himself. 
 
 " First, when the enemy came withm sight of the house, 
 we, seeing no way of escape, John Fergushill went to the 
 far end of the house, and the other two and I followed ; and 
 ere we were well at the far end of the house, some of the 
 enemy were in the house. And then, in a little after, they 
 came and put in their horses, and went to and fro m the 
 house for more than an hour, and we four still at the far 
 end of the house ; and we resolved with one another to keep 
 close till they should just come on us, and if it should have 
 
 * This Lieutenant Nisbet was his cousin, and a native of the parish of 
 Loudon. He enlisted as a soldier, and for his fury against the poor perse- 
 cuted wanderers for Christ's cause, he was raised to the rank of Lieutenant 
 Besides John Nisbet, he apprehended several others m his native parish, ^vho 
 were banished. After the Revolution, he was compelled, through poverty, 
 to beg his bread. It is reported that in the east country, a poor woman 
 accommodated him with a shake-down bed beside a quantity of peats, which, 
 during his sleep, fell, and smothered him. 
 
 2 I 2 
 
366 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 pleased the Lord to have hid us there, we resolved not to 
 have owned them, but if they found us out, we thought to 
 fight, saying one to another, it was death at length. They 
 got all out of the house, and had their horses drawn forth, 
 but in a little time came back, tittling one to another, and at 
 last cried for a candle to search the house with, and came 
 within a yard of us with a light burning in their hand. 
 According to our former resolution, we did resist them, hav- 
 ing only three shot, and one of them misgiving, and they 
 fired above twenty-four shot at us ; and when we had nothing 
 else, we clubbed our guns, till two of them were quite broke, 
 and then went in grips with some of them ; and when they 
 saw they could not prevail, they all cried to go out and fire 
 the house. Upon which we went out after them, and I 
 received six wounds in the going out. After which, they 
 getting notice what I was, some of themselves cried out to 
 spare my life, for the council had offered 3,000 merks for 
 me. So they brought me towards the end of the yard, and 
 tied my hands behind my back, having shot the other three 
 to death. He that commanded them, scofiingly asked me. 
 What I thought of myself now? I smiled, and said, I had 
 full contentment with my lot, but thought that I was at a 
 loss, that I was in time, and my brethren in eternity. At 
 which he swore he had reserved my life for a farther judg- 
 ment to me. When we were going towards Kilmarnock, 
 the Lieutenant called for me, and he and I went before the 
 rest, and discoursed soberly about several things. I was 
 free in telling him what I held to be sin, and what I held 
 to be duty ; and when he came to Kilmarnock tolbooth, he 
 caused slack my arms a little, and inquired if I desired my 
 wounds dressed; and at the desire of some friends in the 
 town, he caused bring in straw and some clothes, for my 
 brother John GemmeF and me to lie upon, but would not 
 suffer us to cast off our clothes. On Monday, on the way 
 
 * This John Gemmel was a brother to the martyr, and being lying of a 
 fever in Darwhilling, he was that day apprehended by some of the same 
 party, together with the goodman of the house, William Wylie, and his son 
 William, for reset. They were all taken to Ayr, and imprisoned, where the 
 said William ^Vylie, sen., died. AVhile in Ayr, it is said, this John Gemmel 
 dreamed one night, that he should be banished, and his fellow-sufferer 
 Hardhill should be hanged: which accordingly came to pass. They were 
 taken to Edinburgh and examined, and the foresaid William Wylie, younger, 
 was required to take the oath of allegiance, but refused. They ordered 
 him to take the test oath. This he refused also. They asked his reasons. 
 
JOHN ^'ISBET. 367 
 
 to Ayr, he raged against me, and said that I had the blood 
 of the three men on my head that were killed yesterday; 
 and that I was guilty of all, and the cause of all the troubles 
 that were come on the poor barony of Cunningham, first and 
 last. But when we came near the town, he called me out 
 from the rest, and soberly asked me. What he should say to 
 the superior officers in my behalf? I told him, That if the 
 Lord would keep me from wronging truth, I was at a point 
 already in what he put me to as to suffering. When we first 
 entered the tolbooth of Ayr, there came two, and asked 
 some things at me, but they were to little purpose. Then I 
 was taken out with a guard, and brought before Buchan. 
 He asked me — 1. If I was at that conventicle? I told him, 
 I looked upon it as my duty? 2. How many armed men 
 were there ? I told him, I went to hear the gospel preached, 
 and not to take up the account of what men were there. 
 3. Where away went they ? &c. I told him. It was more than 
 I could teU. 4. Do you own the king? I told him, While 
 he owned the way and work of God, I thought myself bound 
 both to own and fight for him ; and when he quitted the way 
 of God, I thought I was obliged to quit him. 5. Will you 
 own the Duke of York as king? I told him, I would not, 
 for it was both against my principles and the laws of the 
 nation. 6. AVere you clear to join with Argyle? I said, 
 No. He held me long, and spake of many things. We 
 had the musters through hands. Popery, Prelacy, Presby- 
 terianism, Malignants, defensive, and offensive arms, there 
 being none in the room but he and I. I thought it remark- 
 able, that all the time from Sabbath and to this present, I 
 had and have as much peace and quietness of my mind as 
 ever in my life. Oh, help me to praise him! for he alone 
 did it. Xow, my dear friends and acquaintances, cease not 
 to pray for me while I am in the body, for I may say, I 
 fear nothing but that through weakness I wrong truth. 
 
 He said, He had taken more oaths already than he had well kept; and if 
 there should come a change of government, where stood he then? Bishop 
 Paterson's brother came, and clapping his hand on his shoulder, said, 
 " William, as sure as God is in the heavens, you'll never see a change of 
 government." But in this he proved a false prophet. He and John Gem- 
 mel were, with eleven more, banished to Barbadoes, and sold for slaves, 
 where they continued for about three years, and at last purchased their 
 liberty, and returned home at the Revolution. The first known person they 
 saw, after their landing at Irvine, was Lieutenant Nisbet, by whom they 
 had been apprehended. 
 
368 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 And my last advice is, that je be more diligent in following 
 Christian duties. Alas! that I was not more sincere, 
 zealous, and forward for his work and cause in mj day. 
 Cease to be jealous one of another, and only let self-examina- 
 tion be more studied; and this, through his blessing, shall 
 open a door to more of a Christian soul-exercise ; and more 
 of a soul-exercise, through his blessing, would keep away 
 vain jangling, that does no way profit, but gives way to 
 Satan and his temptations. 
 
 " When I came to Edinburgh, I was the first night kept 
 in the guard. The next night I was brought into their 
 council house, where were present Drummond, (viz., Perth,) 
 Linlithghow, and one Paterson, together with some others. 
 They first said to me, that they looked upon me as one 
 acquainted with all that was done amongst these rebellious 
 persons ; therefore the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council 
 would take it as a great favour, that I would be free in tell- 
 ing them what I knew, that might most conduce to the 
 peace and security of the nation. I told, that when I came 
 to particulars, I would speak nothing but truth, for I was 
 more afraid to lie than to die ; but I hoped they would be 
 so much Christians as not to bid me tell any thing that 
 would burden my conscience. They then began thus: — (1.) 
 What did ye in your meetings? I told them, we only sung 
 a part of a psalm, read a part of the scriptures, and prayed 
 time about. (2.) Why call ye them fellowship and society 
 meetings? A. I wonder why you ask such questions, for 
 these meetings were called so when our church was in her 
 power. (3.) Were there any such meetings at that time ? 
 A. There were in some places of the land. (4.) Did the 
 ministers of the place meet with them in these? A. Some- 
 times they did, and sometimes they did not. (5.) What 
 mean you by your general meetings, and what do you do at 
 them? While I was thinking what to answer, one of them- 
 selves told them more distinctly than I could have done, 
 and jeeringly said, looking to me. When they have done, 
 then they distribute their collections. I held my peace all 
 the time. (6.) Where keep ye these meetings? A. In the 
 wildest muirs we can think of. (7.) Will you own the 
 king's authority? No. (8.) What is your reasons? you 
 own the scriptures, and your own Confession of Faith. A. 
 That I do, with all my heart. (9.) AVhy do you not own 
 
JOHN NISBET. 369 
 
 the king's authority? (naming several passages of scripture, 
 and that in the 23d chapter of the Confession.) A. There 
 is a vast difference ; for he being a Roman Catholic, and I 
 being not only brought up in the Presbyterian principles 
 from my youth, but also sworn against popery. (10.) What 
 is that to you, though he be Popish, he is not bidding you 
 be a Papist, nor hindering you to live in your own religion? 
 A. The contrary does appear; for we have not liberty to 
 hear a gospel preaching, but we are taken, killed, and put 
 to the hardest sufferings. They said it was not so, for we 
 might have the gospel, if our wild principles would suffer us 
 to hear it. I said they might say so, but the contrary was 
 well known through the land; for ye banished away our 
 faithful ministers, and thrust in such as live rather like prof- 
 ligates than like ministers, so that we poor things neither 
 can nor dare join with them. (11.) Are ye clear to join 
 with Argyle? No. Then one of them said, Ye will have 
 no king but Mr. James Renwick, and asked if I conversed 
 with any other minister upon the field than Mr. Renwick? 
 I told them I conversed with no other. — And a number of 
 other things passed that were to little purpose." 
 
 Upon the 26th he was ordered by the council to be prose- 
 cuted before the justiciary. Accordingly, on the 30th he 
 was before the justiciary, and arraigned, his own confession 
 being the only proof against him, which runs thus : — " John 
 Nisbet of Hardhill, prisoner, confesses, when examined be- 
 fore the Council, that he was at Drumclog, had arms, and 
 made use of them against the king's forces, and that he was 
 at Glasgow, and that he was at a field meeting within these 
 two months, betwixt Eaglesham and Kilbride, &c. The 
 which being read, he adhered to, but refused to subscribe it. 
 The assize brought him in guilty, and the Lords sentenced 
 him to be hanged at the Grass-Market, December 4th, be- 
 twixt two and four in the afternoon, and his lands, goods, 
 and gear, to be forfeited to the king's use." 
 
370 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Last and dying Testimony of John Nisbet, of Hardhiil, 
 which he delivered to a Friend in the Iron-house, when 
 he was taken out to the Scaffold in the Grass-Market, 
 Edinburgh, Friday, December 4th, 1685. 
 
 I HAVE always thought, that to live for Christ, and die for 
 Christ, is a sufficient testimony for truth ; yet now when I 
 am within a few hours of eternity, to prevent mistakes, to 
 satisfy my dear friends, and let them know how it is with 
 me, and to let the world know what I die witnessing for, 
 and testifying against, I judge it proper to leave a few lines 
 behind me. 
 
 As for myself, it hath pleased the Lord Jehovah, of his 
 superabundant goodness, and infinite mercy, powerfully to 
 determine my heart to close with, and embrace the Lord 
 Jesus Christ, as he is made offer of in the everlasting gos- 
 pel, for my King, Priest, and Prophet. And that conquest, 
 captivating me to his obedience, who was an heir of wrath, 
 and mass of sin and sinful corruption, is the fruit of electing 
 love, according as it is manifested in the covenant of free 
 grace, will evidently appear from these scriptures following ; 
 which, he, by the power and concurrence of his Holy Spirit, 
 hath made effectual to the convincing, converting, strength- 
 ening, and enabling of me to be his, and to be for him 
 through weal and through wo, through good report and 
 through bad report ; and they are so many sweet cordials to 
 my soul, when stepping out of time into eternity. 
 
 " Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power," 
 Psal. ex. 3. " For the children being not yet born, neither 
 having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God 
 according to election might stand, not of works, but of him 
 that calleth. For he saith to Moses, (See Exod. xxxiii. 19,) 
 I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy ; and I will 
 have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So 
 then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him than runneth, 
 but of God that showeth mercy," Rom, ix. 11, 15, 16. " God 
 hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, through 
 sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the truth," 2 Thess, 
 ii. 13. " Then was I by him, as one brought up with him : 
 and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him. 
 
JOHN NISBET. 371 
 
 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights 
 were with the sons of men. Now therefore," &c. Prov. viii. 
 30 — 32. " For whom he did foreknow, he also did predes- 
 tinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he 
 might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, 
 whom he did predestinate, them he also called ; and whom 
 he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, 
 them he also glorified. Who shall separate us from the love 
 of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or 
 famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these 
 things we are more than conquerors, through him that loved 
 us," Rom. viii. 29, 30, 35, 37. " In whom ye also trusted, 
 after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your sal- 
 vation ; in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed 
 with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our 
 inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased posses- 
 sion, unto the praise of his glory," Eph. i. 13, 14. " Who 
 hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling: not accord- 
 ing to our works, but according to his own pui-pose and 
 grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus, before the world 
 began," 2 Tim. i. 9. " Not by works of righteousness which 
 we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by 
 the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy 
 Ghost ; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ 
 our Saviour," Titus iii. 5, 6. " God is faithful, by whom ye 
 were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our 
 Lord," 1 Cor. i. 9. " Being justified freely by his grace, 
 through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ ; whom he 
 hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, 
 to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that 
 are past, through the forbearance of God," Rom. iii. 24, 25, 
 *' Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man 
 unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works," 
 Rom. iv. 6. " How much more shall the blood of Christ, 
 who through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot 
 to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the 
 living God," Heb. ix. 14. " To wit, that God was in Christ, 
 reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their tres- 
 passes unto them," 2 Cor. v. 19. " That Christ may dwell 
 in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded 
 in love," &c. Eph. iii, 17. " Knowing that a man is not jus- 
 tified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus 
 
372 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 Christ ; even we have believed in Jesus, that we might be 
 justified by the faith of Christ, and not bj the works of the 
 law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified," 
 Gal. ii. 16. " For by one man's offence death reigned by 
 one, much more they which receive abundance of grace, and 
 of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one Jesus 
 Christ," Rom, v. 17. " AU that the Father giveth me shall 
 come to me ; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise 
 cast out. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, 
 that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, 
 but should raise it up again at the last day," John vi. 37, 39. 
 " For the kingdom of heaven is not meat and drink, but 
 righteousness and peace, and joy in tlie Holy Ghost," Rom. 
 xiv. 17. " There is therefore now no condemnation to them 
 which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but 
 after the Spirit," Rom. viii. 1. " These things have I written 
 unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that 
 ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may 
 believe on the name of the Son of God," 1 John v. 13. 
 " And be renewed in the spirit of your mind," Eph. iv. 23. 
 " And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness 
 which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of 
 Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith ; that I 
 may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the 
 fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto 
 his death," Philip, iii. 9, 10. " Therefore we are buried 
 with him by baptism unto death, that like as Christ was 
 raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even 
 so we also should walk in newness of life," Rom. vi. 4. 
 " But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth 
 more and more unto the perfect day," Prov. iv. 1 8. " Be 
 confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a 
 good work in you wiU perform it unto the day of Jesus 
 Christ," Philip, i. 6. "Nevertheless, my loving-kindness 
 will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness 
 to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing 
 that is gone out of my lips," Psa. Lxxxix. 33, 34. " There- 
 fore being justified by faith, we have peace with God 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ. By whom also we have 
 access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and 
 rejoice in the hope of the glory of God," Rom. v. 1, 2. 
 " Who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto 
 
JOHN NISBET. 
 
 373 
 
 salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time," 1 Peter i. 
 5. " And if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint 
 heirs with Christ ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we 
 also may be glorified together," Rom. viii. 17. " For I am 
 not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of 
 God unto salvation, to every one that believeth, to the Jew 
 first, and also to the Greek," Rom. i. 16. " To whom God 
 would make known what is the riches of the glory of this 
 mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the 
 hope of glory," Col. i. 29. " Take my yoke upon you and 
 learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart ; and ye shall 
 find rest unto your souls," Matt. xi. 29. " Cast thy burden 
 upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee ; he will never suffer 
 the righteous to be moved," Psal. Iv. 22. " For the weapons 
 of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to 
 the pulling down of strongholds," 2 Cor. x. 4. " I will cry 
 unto God most High ; unto God that performeth all things 
 for me," Psal. Ivii. 2. " He that covereth his sins shall not 
 prosper ; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have 
 mercy," Prov. xxviii. 13. " But I will sing of thy power ; 
 yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning; for thou 
 hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. 
 Unto thee, my strength, will I sing ; for God is my defence, 
 and the God of my mercy," Psal. lix. 16, 17. " Thou hast 
 ascended on high ; thou hast led captivity captive ; thou hast 
 received gifts for men ; yea, for the rebellious also, that the 
 Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord 
 who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our sal- 
 vation, Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation ; 
 and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death," Psal. 
 Ixviii. 18 — 20. " For we know, that if our earthly house of 
 this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, 
 an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," 
 2 Cor. V. 1. " To the general assembly and church of the 
 first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge 
 of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to 
 Jesus the Mediator," &c., Heb. xii. 23. Also Psal. xly. 1—9. 
 John i. 1 — 15. and chap, xviii. throughout. Isa. liii. to the 
 end, with many more. 
 
 Let none reflect upon me for citing so much; for the 
 scripture hath been to me from my youth, the living 
 oracles of his divine and sacred lips. When I was crying, 
 
 2k 
 
374 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 •' What shall I do to be saved ? " and when I was saying, 
 " How shall I know the way of the Lord, that I may walk 
 tlierein?" then his word was a "light to my feet, and a lamp 
 to my path," exhorting me as it is in Isa. Iv. 1 — 8, " Ho, every 
 i)ne that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath 
 no money: come ye, buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and 
 milk, without money, and without price. Wherefore do ye 
 spend your money for that which is not bread, and your 
 labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently 
 unto me, and eat ye that which is good ; and let your soul 
 delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear and come unto 
 me : hear and your soul shall live ; and I will make an ever- 
 lasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 
 I^ehold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a 
 leader and commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt 
 <;all a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew 
 not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, 
 and for the holy One of Israel ; for he hath glorified thee. 
 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him 
 while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the 
 luirigliteous man his thoughts ; and let him return unto the 
 Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God for 
 he wiU abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your 
 thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." 
 " i^nd Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life ; he that 
 cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that belie veth on 
 me shall never thirst," John vi. 35. " Behold, I stand at the 
 door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the 
 door, I will come in to him, and sup with him, and he with 
 me," Rev. iii. 20. " Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that 
 thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast 
 scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, 
 and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, 
 backsliding children, saith the Lord, for I am married unto 
 you, and I will take you, one of a city, and two of a family ; 
 and I will bring you to Zion. Return, ye backsliding chil- 
 dren, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come 
 unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God. Truly in vain is 
 salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude 
 of mountains; truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of 
 Israel," Jer. iii. 13, 14, 22, 23. " Israel, return unto the 
 Lord thy God, for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take 
 
JOHN NISBET. 375 
 
 with YOU words, and turn unto the Lord ; say unto him, Take 
 away all iniquity, and receive us graciously, so will we render 
 the calves of our lips," Hos. xiv. 1, 2. " I have surely heard 
 Ephraim bemoaning himself thus ; Thou hast chastised me, 
 and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke : 
 turn thou me, and I shall be turned ; for thou art the Lord 
 my God," Jer. xxxi. 18. " Jesus saith unto him, I am the 
 way, and the truth, and the life: no. man cometh unto the 
 Father but by me," John xiv. 6. " And the Spirit and tlie 
 bride say. Come. And let him that heareth say. Come. 
 And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let 
 him take of the water of life freely," Rev. xxii. 17. 
 
 When I was grappling with sin, Satan, and the world, and 
 my own wicked and deceitful heart, the enemies of my sal- 
 vation, his words were as props and pillars to me : so that 
 though I got wounds, and was oft sorely beat; yet at the 
 last I came off victorious, by the help of him who is C4od 
 all-sufficient to all who, through grace, lay hold on him for 
 help. It is by him that I fought the good fight, that I have 
 finished my course, and that I have kept the faith ; and 
 henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, 
 which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at this 
 day. It is by him shining in his word, that I know all my 
 manifold sins and transgressions are freely pardoned, and 
 that I have a just right and title to what is expressed in 1 
 Cor. i. 30. So that now the guilt and condemning power of 
 sin being fully pardoned by a judicial act of God's free and 
 sovereign grace, through the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 especially applied ^and witnessed unto by the Holy Spirit, 
 upon, and to my spirit, there is no room left me to doubt 
 any more of my being freely justified by him, or my being 
 in union with him, and in a state of grace ; or the power, 
 dominion, and filth of sin, original and actual, being subdued, 
 taken off, and washed away, by the virtue of the Spirit of 
 sanctification, being created anew in Christ Jesus, unto good 
 works, and being sanctified throughout in soul, body, and 
 spirit, and made meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of 
 the saints in light, by him who loved me, and gave himself 
 to the death for me, and redeemed me by power and price. 
 
 Now, being in such a case of communion with him, I am 
 pained till I be freed of the remains of a body of sin and 
 death, tiU I be freed of the world and all things therein, and 
 
376 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 also of this natural life, and be possessed of himself, and with 
 himself in his eternal inheritance, which is incorruptible, 
 undefiled, and that fadeth not away ; a place which he hath 
 provided for all whom he hath chosen, for all whom he hath 
 called, for all whom he hath justified, for all whom he hath 
 sanctified. Oh, to be there, where I shall sin no more, where 
 I shall be tempted no more, neither feel any more the with- 
 drawings of his Spirit's presence, and light of his glorious 
 countenance ; but shall be ever with him, see him as he is, 
 and serve him for ever and ever. 
 
 Now, mv dear friends in Christ, I have always, since the 
 public resolutionists were for bringing in the Malignants and 
 their interest, thought it my duty to join with the Lord's 
 people, in witnessing against these sinful courses ; and now 
 we see clearly that it has ended in nothing less than making 
 captains, that we may return to Egypt by the open doors 
 that are made wide to bring in Popery, and set up idolatry 
 in the Lord's covenanted land, to defile it, and thereby to 
 provoke him to pour down fierce wrath upon it, and the in- 
 habitants thereof. Wherefore it is the unquestionable and 
 indispensable duty of all who have any love to God, to his 
 Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to the thriving of his kingdom, 
 to their own soul's salvation, and to the following generation, 
 to act a close, constant, and needy dependance on the Lord 
 Jehovah's all-sufficiency, for light, for counsel, for direc- 
 tion, for strength and ability, to make conscience in bearing 
 testimony for him, for his persecuted truth, work, and 
 interest, in these lands, which was sworn to with uplifted 
 hands to God, the searcher of hearts ; and oh, that herein all 
 could act a faithful part for him who hath done so much for 
 poor wretched us ; when we were lying dying and rotting 
 in our sins, when passing by us in his love and life-giving 
 visit, saying unto us Live! And, on the other hand, to 
 witness faithfully, constantly, and conscientiously, against all 
 that the enemies have done, or are doing, to the overthrow 
 of the glorious work of reformation ; and banisliing Christ 
 out of these lands, by robbing him of his crown-rights, (for 
 he, and he alone, is head of his own church,) and by burn- 
 ing the covenants, which are the marriage bond betwixt him 
 and these lands; and by persecuting his gospel ministers 
 and members who are labouring to keep their garments 
 clean, and their hands free of all the corruptions and com- 
 
JOHN NISBET. 377 
 
 pliances in these evil times. And however it be, that many, 
 both ministers and professors, are turning their backs upon 
 Christ and his cross, reproaching you and the testimony of 
 the day, yet let not this weaken your hands, stumble, or dis- 
 courage you from going on in the strength of the Lord 
 your God, to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered 
 to the saints, and witness a good confession for him and his 
 cause, resisting unto blood, striving against sin. And herein 
 let your souls possess themselves with patience ; for I assure 
 you, it will not be long to the fourth watch ; and then he 
 will come with garments dyed in blood, to raise up saviours 
 upon the mount of Zion, to judge the mount of Esau; and 
 then the house of Jacob and Joseph shall be for fire, and the 
 Malignants, Prelates, and Papists, shall be stubble, the flame 
 whereof shall be great. 
 
 But my work being done with time, I go to him who 
 loved me, and washed me from all my sins, — to him who ha< 
 counted me worthy to suffer for his name. And oh that I 
 had many lives to lay down for him, and much blood to seal 
 his noble and honourable cause with, even his, who graciously 
 pitied, and hath now given me the full assurance of being a 
 member of his church triumphant, which is the Xew Jeru- 
 salem, and the city of the living God. 
 
 I die adhering to the scriptures of the Old and Xew 
 Testaments, as the undoubted word of God, an unerring rule 
 of faith and manners, and a firm foundation for principle and 
 practice in the ways of godliness and true holiness. " All 
 scripture is given by inspiration of God: and is profitable 
 for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in 
 righteousness," 2 Tim. iii. 16. To the Confession of Faith, 
 Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, as agreeable thereunto, 
 and safely founded thereupon. " Hold fast the form of sound 
 words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love, which 
 is in Christ Jesus," 2 Tim. i. 13. Therefore leaving the 
 principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfec- 
 tion, not laying again the foundation of repentance from 
 dead works, and of faith towards God," Heb. vi. 1. To the 
 Sum of Saving Knowledge, the Directory for Church 
 Government, in her doctrine, worship, and discipline. I own 
 all the attained-unto-pieces of reformation in the Church of 
 Scotland, particularly betwixt the years 1638 and 1649; the 
 Covenants, National and Solemn League ; the Acknowlede- 
 
 2k2 
 
378 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 anent of Sins and Engagement to Duties. I own the Pro- 
 testation given by the Remonstrators against the Public 
 Resolutions, the Apologetical Declaration, and all declara- 
 tions hitherto emitted at Ruthergien, Sanquhar, and Lanark; 
 with all dying speeches and testimonies of those who have 
 sealed the truth with their blood, so far as thej agree with 
 God's holy word. 
 
 I own all the appearances in arms that have been at 
 Pentland, Drumclog, Bothwell, Airsmoss, and elsewhere, 
 against God's stated enemies, and the enemies of the gospel, 
 as it hath been preached by all Christ's faithful ambassadors 
 in Scotland, since the reformation ; and now by that faithful 
 servant of Christ, Mr. James Renwick; and the testimony 
 of the day, as it is stated and carried on by him, and his 
 adherents at home and abroad; and civil government, as 
 appointed and emitted in the word of God, with covenant 
 qualifications. But I am persuaded, Scotland's covenanted 
 God will cut off the name of the Stuarts, because they have 
 stated themselves against religion, reformation, and the 
 thriving of Christ's kingdom in these lands. And although 
 men idolize them much now, yet ere long there shall none 
 of them exist to tyrannize in covenanted Britain. 
 
 On the other hand, I die protesting against, and disown- 
 ing Popery, in all its superstitious bigotry, and bloody 
 cruelty ; and Prelacy the mother of Popery ; and all that 
 depends upon that hierarchy ; and the unhinging and over- 
 throwing of the glorious work of reformation, by the woful 
 x^LCt Rescissory: burning the Covenant, turning out gospel 
 ministers, filling their places with profane, erroneous curates, 
 and setting up Charles Stuart to be head of the church ; and 
 so robbing Christ of his royal and incommunicable preroga- 
 tives, by their cursed act of supremacy. 
 
 I protest against the putting Malignants in places of 
 power and trust in church, state, and armies: and all declara- 
 tions any where published tending thereunto; and against 
 all paying of stent, cess, and locality, to strengthen the ene- 
 mies' hands to persecute Christ's people in fields, prisons, or 
 any other ways ; and robbing, plundering, or spoiling them 
 of their goods: and all raising of the hue and cry after tliem: 
 and all sinful oaths, such as the oath of supremacy, the bond 
 of peace, the test, the oath of conformity, the abjuration 
 oath, and the oath super inquheiidis. 
 
JOHN NISBET. 379 
 
 I die testifying against the woful indulgences, the fruits 
 and consequences of which have so much strengthened the 
 enemy, increased our divisions, widened our breaches, and 
 deadened the spirits, and cooled the zeal of the Lord's 
 people, stumbled and offended the weak, and in a great 
 measure retarded the carrying on of a testimony for truth, 
 by condemning the things contended for, and reproaching 
 those that contend for truth. 
 
 Wherefore I leave my testimony against all the acceptors 
 thereof, and all ministers and professors who are any way 
 guilty of any of the woful defections, and sinful compliances 
 with the enemies of truth, or any way guilty of condemning, 
 reproaching, and ridiculing Mr. James Renwick, and his 
 correspondents, or the testimony which they are carrying on. 
 And let all such ministers and professors know, that this 
 their practice, at the best, is a denying of Christ, and a 
 shifting of his cross ; therefore let them take warning, and 
 ponder these scriptures: — "Whosoever therefore shall con- 
 fess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father 
 who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, 
 him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven, 
 (See Luke xii. 8, 9.) He that loveth father or mother more 
 than me, is not worthy of me ; and he that loveth son or 
 daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that 
 taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy 
 of me," Matth. x. 32, 33, 37, 38. " Then said Jesus unto 
 his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny 
 himself, and take up his cross, and follow me," (See Mark 
 viii. 34, Matth. xvi. 24.) " For whosoever will save his life 
 shall lose it ; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake 
 and the gospel's, the same shall save it," (See Matth. x. 39, 
 also, chap. xvi. 25,) Mark viii. 35. " For what is a man pro- 
 fited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 
 or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (See 
 Mark viii. 36, 37,) Matth. xvi. 26. " Whosoever therefore 
 shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him also shall the 
 Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of 
 his Father, with the holy angels," ^lark viii. 38. " For the 
 Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed 
 me, that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, 
 Say ye not, a confederacy, to all them to whom this people 
 shall say, a confederacy ; neither fear ye their fear, nor be 
 
380 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 afraid. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be 
 jour fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for 
 a sanctuary ; but for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of 
 offence to both the houses of Israel ; and for a gin and for a 
 snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among 
 them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, 
 and be taken," (as it is expressed ver. 9, 10,) Isa. viii. 11 — 15. 
 " My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they 
 say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk 
 privily for the innocent without cause ; let us swallow them 
 up alive as the grave ; and whole, as those that go down into 
 the pit: we shall find all precious substance, we shall fiU our 
 houses with spoil ; cast in thy lot among us ; let us all have 
 one purse. My son, walk not thou in the way with them ; 
 refrain thy foot from their path : for their feet run to evil, 
 and make haste to shed blood," Prov. i. 10 — 16. " Woe 
 unto them that call evil good, and good evil : that put dark- 
 ness for light, and light for darkness: that put bitter for 
 sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them that are wise 
 in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. Which 
 justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteous- 
 ness of the righteous from him. Therefore as the fire 
 devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff; 
 so their root shall be rottenness, and their blossom shall go 
 up as dust, because they have cast away the law of the Lord 
 of hosts, and despised the word of the holy One of Israel," 
 Isa. V. 20, 21, 23, 24. " He that justifieth the wicked, and 
 he that condemneth the just, even they both are an abomina- 
 tion to the Lord," Prov. xvii. 15. " They hate him that 
 rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh 
 uprightly," Amos v. 10. " For if I build again the things 
 which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor," Gal. ii. 
 18. " But unto the wicked, God saith. What hast thou to 
 do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my 
 covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, 
 and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a 
 thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been par- 
 taker with adulterers. Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and 
 thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest 
 against thy brother, thou slanderest thy own mother's son. 
 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou 
 thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself; but 
 
JOHN NISBET. 381 
 
 I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine ejes," 
 Psal. 1. 16 — 21. The prophecy of Obadiah throughout, the 
 first and last chapters of Isaiah to the end, with many more. 
 
 Now, it is my last request and soul's desire that all who 
 have made Moses' choice, " to suffer affliction with the 
 people of God, rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a 
 season ; " and are true lovers of Zion's righteous cause ; that 
 you set much time apart, and mourn, and afflict your souls, 
 for your original sin, heart-plagues, sins of persons and 
 families, sins of kings and kingdoms ; and for all the dread- 
 ful apostacies, hateful compliances, and sinful sidings of 
 ministers and people with the enemies of God and godliness, 
 and mourn that there is not more faithfulness and zeal for 
 the cause of God amongst his people. Read Ps. 1. Ezra ix. 
 Neh. ix. Jer. ix. Lam. iii. and Ezek. ix, to the end. 
 
 My dear friends, forbear your contentions and censuring 
 one of another; sympathize with, and love one another, for 
 this is his commandment; keep up your sweet fellowship- 
 meetings, and desirable general meetings, with which my 
 soul has been often refreshed ; and let what is agitated in 
 them, for carrying on a testimony for truth, and against 
 defections, be managed with scripture light, with zeal, tem- 
 pered with knowledge, and with the spirit of meekness, 
 accompanied with patience and humility. Be always ready 
 to give a reason of your faith, and be much denied to the 
 world, to yourselves, and to your natural life; and when 
 God in his providence calls you to lay it down for him, do 
 it cheerfully, and embrace the cross of your sweet Lord 
 Jesus with open arms ; for he will not send any a warfare 
 on their own charges. 
 
 Take for your rule and encouragement these scriptures, 
 with others that I leave to your own search : — " Now the 
 works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, 
 fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, 
 hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 
 envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like, of 
 the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time 
 past, that they which do such things, shall not inherit the 
 kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, 
 peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, 
 temperance ; against such there is no law, and they that are 
 Clirist's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts. 
 
382 
 
 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit, let us 
 not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one another, envy- 
 ing one another," Gal. v. 19—26. " Be not deceived, God 
 is not mocked ; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he 
 also reap : for he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh 
 reap corruption ; but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of 
 the Spirit reap life everlasting: and let us not be weary in 
 well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 
 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all 
 men, especially unto them that are of the household of faith," 
 Gal. vi. 7 — 10 " Then they that feared the Lord spake 
 often one to another ; and the Lord hearkened and heard it ; 
 and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them 
 that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. 
 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day 
 when I make up my jewels, and I will spare them as a man 
 spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return 
 and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between 
 him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not," Mai. 
 iii. 16 — 18. " Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well 
 with him ; for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe 
 unto the wicked, it shall be ill with him ; for the reward of 
 his hands shall be given him. The show of their counten- 
 ance doth witness against them, and they declare their sin 
 as Sodom, they hide it not : AVoe unto their soul for they 
 have rewarded evil unto themselves," Isa. iii. 10, 11, 9. 
 " To the law and to the testimony, if they speak not accord- 
 ing to this word, it is because there is no truth in them," 
 Isa. viii. 20. " But unto you that fear my name, shall the 
 Son of righteousness arise with healing in his wings ; and ye 
 shall go forth and grow up as calves of the stall," ^lal. iv. 2. 
 " And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from 
 the house of Jacob, and I will look for him," Isa. viii. 17. 
 " Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel 
 of Christ, that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, 
 I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, 
 with one mind, striving for the faith of the gospel. And in 
 nothing terrified by your adversaries ; which is to them an 
 evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that 
 of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, 
 not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake," 
 Phil. i. 27 — 29. " And he said unto me. Thou must pro- 
 
JOHN NISBET. 383 
 
 pliesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, 
 and kings," Rev. x. 11. Heb. x. from the 11th verse to the 
 end. " Now, no chastening, for the present, seemeth to be 
 joyous, but grievous : nevertheless, afterward, it yieldeth the 
 peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exer- 
 cised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang 
 down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your 
 feet, lest that which' is lame be turned out of the wav, but 
 let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and 
 holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking 
 diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God ; lest any 
 root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many 
 be defiled," Heb. xii. 11 — 15. "And I looked, and, lo, a 
 Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred 
 forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written 
 in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as 
 the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thun- 
 der; and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their 
 harps; and they sung as it were a new song before the 
 throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders ; and no 
 man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and 
 four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These 
 are they which were not defiled with women ; for they are 
 virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whitherso- 
 ever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, 
 being the first-fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. And in 
 their mouth was found no guile ; for they are without fault 
 before the throne of God," Rev. xiv. 1 — 5. " Beloved, when 
 I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salva- 
 tion, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, 
 that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once 
 delivered to the saints," Jude 3. " Finally, my brethren, be 
 strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on 
 the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand 
 against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against 
 flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, 
 against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spir- 
 itual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you 
 the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand 
 in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand there- 
 fore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on 
 the breastplate of righteousness : and your feet shod with 
 
384 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 the preparation of the gospel of peace ; above all, taking the 
 shield of faitli, wherewith je shall be able to quench all the 
 fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, 
 and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God," 
 Eph. vi. 10—17. 
 
 And scare not at his sweet, holy, and desirable cross ; for 
 although I. have not been able, because of the wounds I re- 
 ceived at my taking, to lift up or lay down my head, but as 
 I was helped, yet I was never in better case all my life ; he 
 has not given me one challenge since I came to prison, for 
 any thing less or more ; but, on the contrary, he has so 
 wonderfully shined on me with the sense of his redeeming, 
 strengthening, assisting, supporting, through-bearing, par- 
 doning, and reconciling love, grace, and mercy, that my soul 
 doth long to be freed of bodily infirmities and earthly 
 organs, that so I may flee to his royal palace, even the 
 heavenly habitation of my God, where I am sure of a crown 
 put on my head, and a palm put in my hand, and a new 
 song put in my mouth, even the song of Moses and the 
 Lamb, that so I may bless, praise, magnify, and extol him 
 for what he hath done to me, and for me. Wherefore I bid 
 farewell to all my dear fellow-sufferers for the testimony of 
 Jesus, who are wandering in dens and caves. Farewell my 
 (children; study holiness in all your ways, and praise the 
 Lord for what he hath done for me, and tell all my christian 
 friends to praise him on that account. Farewell sweet 
 Bible, and wanderings, and contendings for truth. Welcome 
 death ; welcome the city of my God, where I shall see him, 
 and be enabled to serve him eternally, with full freedom ; 
 welcome blessed company, and angels, and spirits of just 
 men made perfect; but, above all, welcome, welcome, wel- 
 come, our glorious and alone God, Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghost; into thy hands I commit my spirit, for thou art 
 worthy. Amen. 
 
 John Nisbet. 
 
JAMES RENWICK. 385 
 
 Last Speech and Testimony of the Rev. James Renwick, 
 Minister of the Gospel, who suffered in the Grass- 
 Market, Edinburgh, February 17th, 1688. Emitted 
 from his own hand the day before he suffered. 
 
 My Dear Friends in Christ, — It hath pleased the Lord 
 to deliver me into the hands of men, and I think fit to send 
 you this salutation, which I expect will be the last. When 
 I pose my heart upon it, before God, I dare not desire to 
 have escaped this lot, for no less could have been for his 
 glory, and the vindication of his cause on my behalf And 
 as I am free before him of the profanity which some, either 
 naughty, wicked, or strangers to me, have reported, that I 
 have been sometimes guilty of, so he hath kept me from the 
 womb free of the ordinary pollutions of children, as those 
 who have been acquainted with me through the track of my 
 life do know. And now, my blood shall either more silence 
 reproaches, or more ripen them for judgment. But I hope 
 it shall make some more sparing to speak of those who sliall 
 come after me ; and so I am the more willing to pay this 
 cost for their instruction, and my succeeders' ease. Since I 
 came to prison, the Lord has been wonderfully kind to me ; 
 he hath made his word to give me light, life, joy, courage, 
 and strength; yea, it hath dropped with sweet smelling 
 myrrh upon me, particularly these passages and promises, 
 " For now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast 
 not withheld thy son, thine only son," Gen. xxii. 12. " Neither 
 be you sorry, for the joy of the Lord is your strength," Neh. 
 viii. 10. " There the wicked cease from troubling, and there 
 the weary are at rest. There the prisoners rest together; 
 they hear not the voice of the oppressor," Job iii. 17, 18. 
 " But he knoweth the way that I take ; when he hath tried 
 me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his 
 steps ; his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have 
 I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have 
 esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary 
 food. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and 
 what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he per- 
 formeth the thing that is appointed for me ; and many such 
 things are with him," Job xxiii. 10 — 14. " The word of 
 
 2l 
 
386 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 the Lord tried him," Psalm cv. 19. " But before all these 
 they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, deliver- 
 ing you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought 
 before kings for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you 
 for a testimony. In your patience possess ye your souls," 
 Luke xxi. 12, 13, 19. " To the general assembly and church 
 of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God 
 the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect," 
 Heb. xii. 23. " Blessed is the man that endureth tempta- 
 tion ; for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life 
 which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." 
 James i. xii. " Casting all your care upon him, for he 
 careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adver- 
 sary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking 
 whom he may devour," 1 Pet. v. 7, 8. " I know thy works ; 
 behold 1 have set before thee an open door, and no man can 
 shut it ; for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my 
 word, and hast not denied my name. Because thou hast 
 kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the 
 hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to 
 try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold I come quickly ; 
 hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 
 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of 
 my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon 
 him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my 
 God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of 
 heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new 
 name," Rev. iii. 8, 10 — 12. " And the beast was taken, and 
 with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before 
 him, with which he deceived them that had received the 
 mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. 
 These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with 
 brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of 
 him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of 
 his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their flesh," 
 Rev. xix. 20, 21, and many other scriptures. 
 
 Oh, what can I say to the Lord's praise! It was but little 
 that I knew of him before I came to prison ; I have found 
 sensibly much of his divine strength, much of the joy of 
 his Spirit, and much assurance from his word and Spirit, 
 concerning my salvation ; my sufferings are stated upon the 
 matters of my doctrine, for there was found with me the 
 
JAMES RENWICK. 387 
 
 sum of mj last two sermons at Braid's-Craigs, which I wrote 
 after I preached them ; the former whereof was from Psalm 
 Ixvi. 10, — " Be still and know that I am God ; I will be ex- 
 alted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." 
 And the latter from Heb. x. 38, — " Now the just shall live 
 by faith ; but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no 
 pleasure in him." And so I was examined upon the appli- 
 cation made therein unto the sins of the time ; all which I 
 owned once and again, as may be seen in my indictment; 
 and being tried, and an assize set, I adhered to my former 
 confession explicitly; so my sentence of death was drawn 
 forth upon these heads : — 
 
 1. Because I could not own James VII. to be my lawful 
 sovereign. 
 
 2. Because I taught the unlawfulness of paying the cess, 
 expressly exacted for the suppressing the faithful and free 
 preaching of the gospel. 
 
 3. Because I taught that it was the people's duty to 
 carry arms at the preaching of the gospel, now when it is 
 persecuted, for defending themselves, and resisting of unjust 
 violence. 
 
 I think such a testimony is worth many lives, and I praise 
 the Lord, for his enabling me to be plain and positive in all 
 my confessions: for therein I found peace, joy, strength, and 
 boldness. I have met with many assaults in prison, some 
 from some of the indulged party, and others from some of 
 the prelatic ; but by the strength of God, I was so enabled 
 to stand, that they could neither bow me nor break me. I 
 was also assaulted by some of the popish party, (I suppose 
 they were some of the ecclesiastic creatures,) but they found 
 none of their own stuff in me. I told them, after sundry 
 debatings, that I had lived and should die an enemy to 
 their way. However, some that knew me not, reproached 
 me with Jesuitism. I was pressed by sundry to seek a 
 reprieve, and my answer was always, that I adhered to my 
 former confession, and if they pleased to let that appointed 
 time of my death stand, let it stand ; and if they pleased to 
 protract it, let them protract it; for I was ready and willing 
 both to live and die ; howbeit, there came a reprieve to me 
 for eight days, but I had no hand in it. They still urged, 
 would I but say, that I desired time for conference with 
 some persons anent my principles; I answered, that my 
 
388 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 time was in the Lord's hand, and I was in no hesitation 
 about mj principles myself; I would not be so rude as to 
 decline conference with any, so far as it might not be incon^ 
 venient for me in mj present circumstances, but I would 
 seek it with none. I have no more to say on this head, but 
 my heart doth not smite me for any thing in the matters 
 of my God, since I came to prison. And I can further 
 say to his praise, with consciousness of integrity, that I 
 have walked in his way, and kept his charge, though with 
 much weakness, and many infirmities, whereof ye have been 
 witnesses. 
 
 Now, my dear friends in precious Christ, I think I need 
 not tell you, that as I have lived, so I die in the same per- 
 suasion with the true reformed and covenanted Presbyterian 
 church of Scotland; and I adhere to the testimony of the 
 day, as it is held forth in our Informatory Vindication, and 
 in the Testimony against the present toleration; and that 
 1 own, and seal with my blood, all the precious truths, even 
 the controverted truths, that I have taught. So I would 
 exhort every one of you, to make sure your personal recon- 
 ciliation with God in Christ: for I fear many of you have 
 that yet to do ; and when ye come where I am, to look pale 
 death in the face, ye will not be a little shaken and terrified, 
 if ye have not laid hold on eternal life. I would exhort you 
 to much diligence in the use of means, to be careful in keep- 
 ing up your societies, to be frequent and fervent in secret 
 prayer, to read much the written word of God, and to 
 examine yourselves by it. Do not weary to maintain, in 
 your places and stations, the present testimony ; for when 
 Christ goes forth to defeat Antichrist, with that name 
 written on his thigh, and on his vesture. King of Kings, 
 AND Lord of Lords, he will make it glorious in the earth. 
 And if ye can but transmit it to posterity, ye may count it 
 a great work. But beware of the ministers that have 
 accepted of this toleration, and all others that bend that 
 way ; and follow them not, for the sun hath gone down upon 
 them. Do not fear that the Lord will cast off Scotland; 
 for he will certainly return again, and show himself glorious 
 in our land. But watch and pray, for he is bringing on a 
 sad overthrowing stroke, which shall make many say, that 
 they have easily got through, that have got a scaffold for 
 Christ; and do not regard the present sufferings of this 
 
JAMES RENWICK. 389 
 
 world, for "they are not worthy to be compared to the 
 glory that shall be revealed." 
 
 I may say to his praise, that I have found his cross sweet- 
 and lovely unto me, for I have had many joyful hours, and 
 not a fearful thought since I came to prison; he hath 
 strengthened me to outbrave man, and outface death, and I 
 am now longing for the joyful hour of my dissolution; and 
 there is nothing in the world that I am sorry to leave but 
 you: but I go to better company, and so must take my 
 leave of you all. Farewell beloved sufferers, and followers 
 of the Lamb ; farewell christian intimates ; farewell chris- 
 tian and comforting mother and sisters; farewell sweet 
 societies ; farewell desirable general meetings ; farewell 
 night-wanderings in cold and weariness for Christ ; farewell 
 sweet Bible, and the preaching of the gospel ; farewell sun, 
 moon, and stars, and all sublunary things ; farewell conflicts 
 with a body of sin and death. Welcome scaffold, for precious 
 Christ; welcome heavenly Jerusalem; welcome innumerable 
 company of angels; welcome general assembly, and church 
 of the first-born; welcome crown of glory, white robes, 
 and song of Moses and the Lamb ; and above all, welcome 
 oh thou blessed Trinity, and One God! Oh, Eternal One! 
 I commit my soul unto thy eternal rest. 
 
 James Renwick. 
 
 Letter to his Christian friends, written during the time of 
 his reprieval. 
 
 My Dear Friends in Christ, — I see now what hath been 
 the language of my reprieve; it hath been, that I might be 
 further tempted and tried, and I praise the Lord, he hath 
 assisted me to give further proofs of steadfastness; I have 
 been often assaulted by some Popish priests ; but the last 
 time they came, I told them, I would debate no more with 
 such as they were, and that I had lived and would die a 
 Protestant, and testify against the idolatries, heresies, super- 
 stitions, and errors of that Antichristian way. But yester- 
 day I was cast into a deep exercise, and made to dwell under 
 an impression of the dreadfulness of every thing that might 
 grieve the Spirit of God. I found sin to be more bitter 
 than death, and one hour's hiding of God's face, more insup- 
 portable. And then at night I was called before a part of 
 2l2 
 
390 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY OF 
 
 the council, and the chancellor produced the Informatorj 
 Vindication, and asked, if I knew it? I answered, I know 
 it. And being interrogated, I confessed that I had a great 
 hand in writing it. The j pressed me to tell my assistants : 
 I told them they were those whom they persecuted; but 
 would satisfy them no further. They also urged me, upon 
 pain of torture, to tell where our societies were ; who kept 
 our general correspondences; and where they were kept? 
 I answered, though they should torture me, which was con- 
 trary to all law, after sentence of death, I would give them 
 no farther notice than the books gave. I was, moreover, 
 threatened to tell my haunts and quarters, but I refused to 
 make known to them any such thing. So I was returned to 
 prison. Such an exercise as I had was very needful for such 
 a trial; and I would rather endure what they could do unto 
 me, than have dishonoured Christ, offended you, and brought 
 you into trouble. But I hope, within less than three days, 
 to be without the reach of all temptations. Now, I have no 
 more to say: farewell again, in our blessed Lord Jesus. 
 
 A short Account of his last Words upon the Scaffold. 
 
 Before he went out of the tolbooth, he was at dinner with 
 his mother and sisters, and some christian friends, when the 
 drum beat the first warning for his execution. So soon as 
 he heard it, he leapt up in ravishment of heavenly joy, say- 
 ing, *' Let us be glad and rejoice, for the marriage of the 
 Lamb is come ; and I can say in some measure. The bride, 
 the Lamb's wife, hath made herself ready." And till dinner 
 was over, he enlarged upon the parallel of a marriage, and 
 invited all of them to come to the wedding, meaning his 
 execution. When he was come to the scaffold, the drums 
 being beat all the while, none of the distant spectators could 
 hear any thing that he said ; only some very few, that were 
 close by him did hear it, whereof one has collected the follow- 
 ing account: — 
 
 Spectators, or if there be any of you auditors, I must tell 
 you, I am come here this day to lay down my life for adher- 
 ing to the truths of Christ, for which I am neither afraid nor 
 ashamed to suffer; nay, I bless the Lord, that ever he 
 counted me worthy, or enabled me to suffer any thing for 
 him; and I desire to praise his grace, that he hath not only 
 
JAMES RENWICK. 391 
 
 kept me free from the gross pollutions of the time, but also 
 from many ordinary pollutions of children ; and such as I 
 have been stained with, he hath washed me from them in his 
 own blood. I am this day to lay down my life for these 
 three things — 1. For disowning the usurpations and tyranny 
 of James, Duke of York. 2. For preaching, that it was 
 unlawful to pay the cess, expressly exacted for bearing down 
 the gospel. 3. For preaching, that it was lawful for people 
 to carry arms for defending themselves in their meetings 
 for the persecuted gospel-ordinances. I think a testimony 
 for these is worth many lives, and if I had ten hundred, I 
 would think it little enough to lay them all down for the 
 same. 
 
 Dear friends, spectators, and if any of you be auditors, I 
 must tell you that I die a Presbyterian Protestant. I own 
 the word of God as the rule of faith and manners. I own 
 the Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms, 
 Sum of Saving Knowledge, Directory for Worship, &c. 
 Covenants, National and Solemn League, Acts of General 
 Assemblies, and all the faithful contendings that have been 
 for the work of reformation. I leave my testimony approving 
 the preaching of the gospel in the fields, and the defending 
 of the same by arms. I adjoin my testimony to all that hath 
 been sealed by blood, shed either on scaffolds, fields, or seas, 
 for the cause of Christ. I leave my testimony against Popery, 
 Prelacy, Erastianism, &c. Against all profanity, and every 
 thing contrary to sound doctrine; particularly against all 
 usurpations made on Christ's right, who is the Prixce of 
 THE KINGS OF THE EARTH, who aloue must bear the glory of 
 ruling his own kingdom — the church. And, in particular, 
 against the absolute power usurped by this usurper, that 
 belongs to no mortal, but is the incommunicable prerogative 
 of Jehovah ; and against this toleration flowing from that 
 absolute power. 
 
 Upon this he was bade have done. He answered, I have 
 near done. Then he said, Ye that are the people of God, do 
 not weary in maintaining the testimony of the day, in your 
 stations and places ; and whatever ye do, make sure an inter- 
 est in Christ ; for there is a storm coming that shall try your 
 foundations. Scotland must be rid of Scotland, before the 
 delivery come. And you that are strangers to God, break 
 
392 LAST SPEECH AND TESTIMONY, &C. 
 
 off your sins by repentance, else I will be a witness against 
 you in the day of the Lord.. 
 
 Here they caused him desist. Upon the scaffold he sung 
 a part of the ciii. Psalm, from the beginning, and read the 
 19th chap, of the Revelation. And having thus finished his 
 course, served his generation, and witnessed a good confes- 
 sion for his Lord and Master, before many witnesses, by the 
 will of God, he yielded up his spirit into the hands of God 
 who gave it. 
 
 He was the last that sealed the testimony of this suffering 
 period in a public way upon a scaffold. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 No, I. 
 
 A short Account of the Rev. Richakd Cameron, Minister of the 
 Gospel, who was killed in a rencounter at Airsmoss, July 22d, 
 1680. 
 
 In the foregoing speeches, frequent mention is made of the Rev. Richard 
 Cameron, and testimony given to the faithfulness of his ministry; it may 
 therefore be interesting to some, to insert the following particulars respect- 
 ing his call to the ministry, recited by himself a little before his death:— 
 
 After ha^dng gone through the ordinary course of University learning, for 
 some time he was schoolmaster and precentor to a curate at Falkland. On 
 some occasions he attended the sermons of the indulged ministers. At 
 length it pleased the Lord to incline him to go out to the field-meetings; 
 the curates hearing this, set upon him — partly by flatteries, partly by men- 
 acing threats, and. at length, by more direct persecution, to cause him for- 
 bear attending such meetings. But such was the powerful and wonderful 
 working of the Lord by his Spirit upon him, that he entirely deserted the 
 prelatic curates — having got a lively discovery of the sin and hazard of that 
 abominable Prelacy. No sooner was he enlightened respecting the evils of 
 Prelacy, than he began more narrowly to search into the state of things, 
 that he might know what was his proper and necessary duty; and the Lord 
 was pleased to discover to him the sinfulness of the indulgence, as flowing 
 from that ecclesiastical supremacy, usurped by the king; and being zealously 
 affected for the honour of Christ, wronged by that Erastian acknowledgment 
 of the magistrate's usurped power over the church, he longed for an oppor- 
 tunity to give a testimony against it. Accordingly, being in the family of 
 Sir William Scott, of Harden, who attended the indulged meetings, he took 
 opportunity (notwithstanding many strong temptations from Satan to the 
 contrary) to witness in his station against the indulgence. Particularly, one 
 Sabbath, after he was called to attend the lady to the church, he returned 
 from the entry, refusing to go that day, and spent the day in his chamber, 
 where he met" with much of the Lord's presence, (as he testified,) and very 
 evident discoveries of the nature of those temptations and suggestions of 
 Satan, which had like to have prevailed with him before. And upon the 
 Monday, while giving a reason to the said Sir William Scott and his lady, 
 why he went not to church with them, he took occasion to be plain and 
 express, in testifying against the sinfulness of the indulgence, in its 
 complex natui'e, and of the original rise and spring from whence it flowed; 
 and thereupon leaving that service, being no further acceptable to them, 
 because of his faithfulness, he came to the south, and having met with the 
 Rev. John Welch, he stayed in his company a considerable time ; who, find- 
 
394 APPENDIX. 
 
 ing him a man qualified for the ministry, pressed upon him to receive a 
 license to preach, which he refused for some time, chiefly upon this reason, 
 that he having such clear discoveries of the sinfulness of the indulgence, 
 could not but testify it explicitly, so soon as he should have opportunity to 
 preach in public; and considering that none of the ejected ministers, who 
 had been of standing and experience in the ministry, had yet expressly 
 declared the sinfulness thereof in public, he was afraid that his being singular 
 in it, considering his youth, and his being but newly entered upon the work 
 of the ministry, might perhaps make his doctrine the less useful and weighty 
 to the people. But the force of this objection being removed by Mr. Welch's 
 serious solicitations, he was prevailed with to accept a license from some of 
 the ejected ministers, who had not complied with the indulgence, and were 
 as yet preaching the gospel in the fields. And having preached occasionally 
 with Mr. Welch and others, in several places of the western shires, and find- 
 ing the people warmed and affected with his doctrine, by the good hand of 
 God blessing the word, he adventured sometimes, as the Lord assisted him, 
 to be express and clear in declaring the sinfulness of the indulgence, and of 
 joining with the acceptors thereof; whereupon the ministers who had licensed 
 him to preach, conceiving it prudent not to be so explicit anent that step of 
 compliance, began to prosecute him with censure for his freedom in preaching 
 against it; and called three several meetings upon that account; one at Dun- 
 score in Nithsdale, another at Dendough in Galloway, and a third at 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 After his return from Holland, where he received ordination to the exer- 
 cise of the ministry, he went to some of those ejected ministers, inviting them 
 and pressing them much to come out and preach in the fields, as they had 
 done before the overthrow at Bothwell. But the persecution being then 
 very hot against all such as had not accepted the indulgence and indemnity, 
 they refused to adventure upon that hazard. Wherefore, notwithstanding 
 such sad discouragement from professed friends, and violent persecutions by 
 the declared enemies of the reformation, he adventured, upon all hazard, to 
 preach publicly in the fields, in order to discharge the dispensation of the 
 gospel, which the Lord had intrusted him with; and continued so doing, till 
 he sealed that cause and testimony with his blood; being, after some valiant 
 resistance in his own defence, killed by a party of soldiers, under the com- 
 mand of Earlshal, and his head and hands, cut off by one Robert Murray, 
 were brought and laid before the council, who ordered them to be placed 
 upon the Netherbow-port, Edinburgh. 
 
 The following Bond of mutual defence, was found on him when 
 he was killed ; subscribed by him, his brother Michael C aimeroN' 
 Archibald Stewart, John Potter, and several others: — 
 
 We, under subscribers, bind and oblige ourselves to be faithful to God, 
 and true to one another, and to all others who shall join with us in adhering 
 to Rutherglen Testimony, and disclaiming the Hamilton Declaration, chiefly, 
 because it takes in the king's interest, which we are loosed from by reason 
 of his perfidy and covenant-breaking, both to the most High God, and the 
 people over whom he was set, under the terms of his propagating the main 
 ends of the covenants; to wit, the reformation of religion; and instead of 
 that, usurping to himself the royal prerogatives of Jesus Christ, and encroach- 
 ing upon the liberties of the church; and so stating himself, both in opposi- 
 tion to Jesus Christ the Mediator, and the free government of his house. 
 
 And also, in disowning and protesting against the reception of the Duke 
 of York, a professed Papist, and whatever else hath been done in this land 
 (given to the Lord) in prejudice to our covenanted and universally sworn to 
 
APPENDIX. 395 
 
 reformation. And although, as the Lord who searcheth the heart knows, 
 we be for government, and governors, both civil and ecclesiastic, such as 
 the word of God and our covenants allow; yet by this, we disown the present 
 magistrates, who openly and avowedly are doing what in them lies, for 
 destroying utterly our work of reformation from Popery, Prelacy, Eras- 
 tianism, and other heresies and errors. And by this we 'declare also, that 
 we are not any more to own ministers indulged, and such as drive a sinful 
 union with them: nor are we to join anymore in this public cause with 
 ministers or professors of any rank, that are guilty of the defections of this 
 time, until they give satisfaction proportioned to the scandal and offence 
 they have given. 
 
 Richard C.nmeron, M. Cameron, 
 A. Stew^art, J. Potter, &c. 
 
 Acrostic upon the name of that godly, faithful, and zealous 
 
 Minister and Martyr of Jesus Christ, JMr. Richaed Cameron, 
 
 written by a true lover of his memory, and owner of the 
 
 honourable cause which he sealed with his blood. 
 
 M osr noble Cameron of renown, 
 
 A fame of thee should ne'er go down; 
 
 S ince truth with zeal thou didst pursue, 
 
 T o Zion's King loyal and true. 
 
 E v'n when the dragon spew'd his flood, 
 
 R esist thou didst unto the blood; 
 
 R an swiftly in thy Christian race, 
 
 I n faith and patience to that place, 
 
 C hrist did prepare for such as thee, 
 
 H e knew would not his standard flee. 
 
 A pattern of valour and of zeal, 
 
 R ather to suffer than to fail; 
 
 D idst show thyself with might and main, 
 
 C ounting that dross, others thought gain, 
 A faithful witness 'gainst all those 
 M en of all sorts did truth oppose; 
 E v'n thou with Moses didst esteem, 
 R eproaches for the God of heaven; 
 O n him alone thou didst rely, 
 N ot sparing for his cause to die. 
 
 ToRFOOT, November 28tL 1749. 
 
 W. W. 
 
 No. II. 
 
 An Account of some remarkable Passages in the Life of the 
 
 Rev. Donald C argil. 
 
 As the foregoing testimonies every where make honourable mention of 
 the Rev. Donald Cargil, as a faithful minister of Jesus Christ, a true and 
 full account of his life, and more especially of his ministry, would be very 
 necessary to a right understanding of their testimony; but as the publishers 
 
396 APPENDIX. 
 
 have not such well-attested narrations thereof, as might furnish them with 
 an exact and full history thereof, let it suffice at present to set down the fol- 
 lowing accounts, collected by Sir Robert Hamilton, of Preston: — 
 
 Mr. Cargil was of a most holy, strict, tender, and composed practice and 
 conversation, and also affectionate, affable, and tender-hearted to all he 
 judged had any thing of the image of God in them; sober and temperate in 
 his diet — sajang commonly, *' It was well won that was won of the flesh;" 
 generous, liberal, and most charitable to the poor, a great hater of covetous- 
 ness, a frequent visitor of the sick, much alone, loving retirement, except 
 when about his Master's public work; laying hold of every opportunity to 
 edify; in converse, still dropping what might minister grace to the hearers; 
 his very countenance was edifying to beholders; often sighing with deep 
 groans; preaching in season and out of season, upon all hazards; ever the 
 same in judgment and practice. 
 
 There were several things remarkable in the manner of his calling to the 
 ministry. After he had completed his philosophy course at the University 
 of St. Andrews, his father, a godly and religious gentleman, pressed much 
 upon him to study divinity, in order to fit him for the ministry; but he, 
 through his great tenderness of spirit, constantly refused, telling his father, 
 ^' that the work of the ministry was too great a weight for his weak 
 shoulders;" and requesting him to command him to any other employment 
 he pleased. But his father still urging, he resolved to seek the mind "of the 
 Lord therein, and for that end set apart a day for private fasting, and, after 
 long and earnest wrestling with the Lord by prayer, the third chapter of 
 Ezekiel's prophecy, and chiefly these words in the last verse, "■ Son of man, 
 eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel," made a strong impres- 
 sion upon his mind, so that he durst never after refuse his father's desire, 
 to betake himself to that study, and dedicate himself wholly to that office. 
 And having got a call to the Barony Parish of Glasgow, divine providence 
 ordered it so, that the first text upon which the presbytery ordered him to 
 preach, was in these very words of the third of Ezekiel, from which he had 
 got clearness before; whence he was the more confirmed that he had God's 
 call to that parish. The parish had been long vacant, by reason that two 
 ministers of the public resolution party, viz., Mr. George Young and Mr. 
 Hugh Blair, had still opposed the settlement of such godly men as had been 
 called by the people, and had practised secretly with the Council of Glas- 
 gow, not to suffer any to be settled there that might be against the public 
 resolutions. But in reference to Mr. Cargil's call, they were, by God's 
 good proxidence, much bound up from their wonted opposition. Mr. Cargil 
 perceixing the lightness of the people, and their unconcernedness under the 
 word, was much discouraged, and resolved to return home and not to accept 
 the call ; and when urged by the godly ministers not to do it, and his reason 
 asked, he answered, " They are a rebellious people." The ministers solicited 
 him much to stay, but could not prevail. At last, when his horse was 
 drawn, and he just about to take journey, being in Mr. James Durham's 
 house, when he had saluted several of the Christian friends that came to 
 see him take horse, as he was bidding farewell to a certain godly woman, 
 she said to him, " Sir, you have promised to preach on Thursday, and have 
 you appointed a meal to poor starving people, and will ye go away, and not 
 give it? If you do, the curse of God will go with you." This so commoved 
 him, that he durst not go away as he intended; but sitting down, desired 
 her and others to pray for him. So he remained, and was settled in that 
 parish, where he continued to exercise his ministry with great success, to 
 the unspeakable satisfaction of his own parish, and of all the godly who 
 heard and knew him, till after the introduction of Prelacy, when he was 
 first put from the exercise thereof in public, and likewise chased and pur- 
 sued for exercising it privately, by the bloody ^iolence of persecutors. 
 
APPENDIX. 397 
 
 For, upon the 29th of May, which was then consecrated to King Charles, 
 in commemoration of his happy (unhappy Q restoration, he had occasion to 
 preach in his own church, it falling upon the ordinary week-day whereon 
 he used to preach. An unusual throng of people came to hear him, think- 
 ing he had preached in compliance with that solemnity; upon his entering 
 the pulpit, he said, " We are not come here to keep this day upon the ac- 
 count for which others keep it. We thought once to have blessed the day 
 wherein the king came home again; but now, we think, we shall have 
 reason to curse it. And if any of you be come here in order to the solem- 
 nizing of this day, we desire you to remove." And he enlarged upon the 
 unlawfulness of solemnizing it, with several weighty arguments. This did 
 extremely incense the Malignant party against him, so that being hotly pur- 
 sued and searched for he was forced to abscond, remaining sometimes in pri- 
 vate houses of his parish, sometimes lying all night among broom, near by 
 the city, yet never omitting any proper occasion of private preaching, exer- 
 cising, catechising, visiting families, and other ministerial duties. And after 
 a while he returned to his church, and preached publicly, and gave the com- 
 munion, not without great fear, among the people, lest he should have been 
 taken out of the pulpit by the persecutors. At length, when the churches 
 were all vacated of Presbyterians, by an act of council, commonly known by 
 the name of the Act of Glasgou; Middleton sent a band of soldiers to appre- 
 hend him; who, coming to the church, found him not, he having providen- 
 tially just stepped out of the one door a minute before they came in at the 
 other; whereupon they took the keys of the church with them, and departed. 
 Mean time, the council passed an act of confinement, banishing him to the 
 Korth; but he did not regard it; and so, being at length apprehended at 
 Edinburgh, was brought before the council and strictly examined; being 
 signally strengthened to bear faithful testimony to his Master's honour, and 
 his persecuted cause and truths. But, by the interposition of some persons 
 of quality, his ow^n and his wife's relations, he was liberated. And he re- 
 turned presently to Glasgow, and there performed all the ministerial duties, 
 as when he was in his own church, notwithstanding the diligence of perse- 
 cutors in searching for him. 
 
 During this time, partly the great grief he conceived for the ruin of the 
 work of God in the land, partly the toils and labours of his calling, and in- 
 conveniences of his accommodation, did so break his voice, that he could 
 not be heard by many people together, which was a sore trial to him, and a 
 discouragement to come and preach in the fields. But one day, Mr. Black- 
 adder coming to preach at Glasgow, he essayed to preach with him, and, 
 standing on a chair, as his ordinary was, he lectured on Isa. xliv. 3, " I Avill 
 pour water on him that is thirsty, and floods on the dry ground," &g. The 
 people knowing that his voice was sore broken, were very much discouraged 
 lest they should not have heard by reason of the great confluence; but it 
 pleased the Lord so to loose his tongue, and restore his voice to that distinct- 
 ness and clearness, that none could readily exceed him in that respect ever 
 after; and not only his voice, but his spirit was so enlarged, and such a door 
 of utterance given him, that Mr. Blackadder, succeeding him, said to the 
 people, " Ye that have such preaching as this, have no need to invite 
 strangers to preach to you. Make good use of your mercy." 
 
 After this, he continued to preach within a very little of the city, a great 
 multitude still attending upon, and profiting by his ministry, being wonder- 
 fully preserved in the midst of dangers; the enemies several times sending 
 out some to watch him, and catch something from his mouth, whereof they 
 might accuse him. Particularly, one day the Archbishop of Glasgow sent 
 one of his domestic servants to take notice what he would say concerning 
 the prelates; he, knowing nothing thereof, was directed of the Lord to have 
 these words in prayer, while he was bewailing the overthrow of the work of 
 
 2m 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 God; "What shall we say of the prelates? The good Lord quit us of them, 
 for we will never have a day to do well, till once the Lord remove that 
 abominable party, that has destroyed the vineyard of the Lord ;" which was 
 all that the spy had to return to his master with. 
 
 To relate all the surprising deliverances he met with, in escaping very 
 narrowly from his enemies, would take much time. Take only a few in- 
 stances: — 
 
 In the month of October, 1665, they made a public search for him in the 
 city; being informed of it, he took his horse and rode out of the town, and, 
 at a narrow pass of the way, he met a good number of musketeers, and as he 
 passed by them, turning into another way upon the right hand, one of them 
 asked him. Sir, what of the clock is it ? He answered, It is six. Another 
 of them, knowing his voice, says to his fellows, " There is the man we are 
 seeking;" which hearing, he put the spurs to his horse, and escaped. 
 
 He most usually resided, for the space of three years and upwards, in a 
 chamber in the house of one Margaret Craig, a godly and honest woman, 
 lecturing evening and morning to such as came to hear him; where, 
 though they searched frequently for him, yet Divine Providence so ordered 
 it, that all the times he was either casually, or purposely absent; they man- 
 aged their searches with much closeness, but the Lord was so graciously 
 kind to him that he left him not without some peculiar notices of approach- 
 ing hazards. Our atheistical wits will, perhaps, call this enthusiasm; but 
 " the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him." As, for instance, on a 
 certain Sabbath, when he was going to Woodside to preach, as he was about 
 to mount his horse, the one foot being in the stirrup, he turned about to 
 his man, and said, "I must not go yonder to-day;" and within a little, a 
 party of horse and foot came in quest of him, and not finding the mark 
 they aimed at, fell upon the people, apprehending and imprisoning many of 
 them. 
 
 _ Another remarkable escape was, at a search purposely made for taking 
 him, in the city, they came to his chamber, and found him not, for he was 
 pro^'identially in another house that night. The search was so strict, that 
 several other ministers were taken, but they were not permitted to come 
 near the house whei'e he was. 
 
 The following is yet more remarkable: — One day, while he was preaching 
 privately in one Mr. Callender's house, they came and beset the house; the 
 people within put him and a friend with him out at a window, closing the 
 window up Avith books; and they two stood at the outside of the window all 
 the while of the search, which was so strict, that they searched the very ceil- 
 ing of the house till one of them fell through to the lower loft. Had the 
 searchers removed but one of the books, they had infallibly apprehended 
 him, but the Lord so ordered it that they did it not; for when one of the 
 soldiers was about to take up one of them, a maid cried to the commander 
 that he was going to take her master's books, so he was ordered to let them 
 alone. Thus narrowly he escaped this danger. At another time he was 
 hotly pursued upon the street, and being obliged to flee into the first house 
 he could reach, which happened to be a soldier's house; yet the soldier's 
 wife was so far from discovering him, that she kept him safe till the search 
 was over. 
 
 A little before the fight at Bothwell, he was pursued from his own cham- 
 ber out of the town, and forced to go through several thorn-hedges; and no 
 sooner was he out, than he saw a troop of dragoons, in rank, right opposite 
 to him ; he could not go back, soldiers being every where posted to catch 
 him; wherefore he went forward near by the troop, who looked to him, and 
 he to them, till he was gone by; but coming to the place of the water where 
 he intended to go over, he saw another troop standing upon the opposite bank 
 of the water, who called to him; he made them no answer: but, going a 
 
APPENDIX. 399 
 
 mile farther up the water, he escaped to Langside, and preached there next 
 Sabbath without interruption. At another time, being in a house beset with 
 soldiers, he escaped through the throng of them, they taking him to have 
 been the goodman of the house. 
 
 After Both well, he fell into deep exercise anent his call to the ministry; 
 but, by God's grace, he happily emerged out of that, and had also much 
 light anent the duty of the day, being a faithful contender against the ene- 
 mies' usurped power in granting, and ministers and professors' lukewarm- 
 ness, and sinful compliance in accepting indulgences and indemnities, oaths, 
 and bonds, and other corruptions and abominations of the time, till at length 
 he suifered for his testimony. 
 
 Of his contendings against the enemies of truth and godliness, that which 
 exasperated the enemies most was the Torwood Excommunication; wherein, 
 moved with zeal against the indignities done to the Son of God, by overturn- 
 ing his work, and destroying his people, he delivered up to Satan some of 
 the most scandalous and principal promoters and abettors of this conspiracy 
 against Christ, as formally as he could, in his circumstances: for, haN-ing 
 earnestly sought the concurrence of his brethren, he could not obtain it; 
 and was therefore left to do the work alone, or leave it undone, which he 
 could by no means think of; considering that all other sorts of weapons had 
 been used against them, save that of ecclesiastic censure, and the neglect of 
 it might bring upon this church that severe reproof given to Pergamus, ( Rev. 
 ii. 14, 15,) for having in her communion the Nicolaitans, and them that held 
 the doctrine of Balaam; and that sore animadversion made upon the church 
 of Thyatira, for suffering that woman Jezebel, &c. And lest the Lord might 
 come and fight against his church with the sword of his mouth, on account 
 that such were not expressly cast out of her communion. In September, 
 1680, after sermon upon Ezek. xxi. 25 — 27. " And thou profane wicked 
 prince of Israel, whose day is come," &c. He made a short and pertinent 
 discourse on the nature, subject, causes, and ends of excommunication, and 
 declared the motives leading him to it, not to be any private spirit of passion, 
 but conscience of duty, and zeal to God, and then pronounced the sentence 
 as follows : — 
 
 " We have spoken of excommunication, of the causes, subject, and ends 
 thereof, we shall now proceed to the action, being constrained by the con- 
 science of our duty, and zeal for God, to excommunicate some of those who 
 have been the committers of so great crimes, and authors of the great mis- 
 chiefs of Britain and Ireland, but especially those of Scotland: and in doing 
 of this, we shall keep the names by which they are ordinarily called, that 
 they may be the better known. 
 
 " I, being a minister of Jesus Christ, and having authority and power from 
 him, do, in his name, and by his Spirit, excommunicate Charles II., king, 
 tfcc; and that upon the account of these wickednesses: — 1. For his high 
 mocking of God, in that after he had acknowledged his own sins, his father's 
 sins, his mother's idolatry, and had solemnly engaged against them, in a 
 declaration at Dunfermline, the 16th of August, 1650, he hath, notwithstand- 
 ing of all this, gone on more avowedly in these sins, than all that went before 
 him. 2. For his great perjury, after he had twice, at least, solemnly sub- 
 scribed that covenant, did so presumptuously renounce, disown, and com- 
 mand it to be burned by the hand of the hangman. 3, Because he hath 
 rescinded all laws for establishing of that religion and reformation, engaged 
 to in that covenant, and enacted laws for establishiag its contrary: and is 
 still working for the introduction of Popery into these lands. 4. For com- 
 manding of armies to destroy the Lord's people, who were standing in their 
 own just defence, and for their privileges and rights, against tyrannies, op- 
 pressions, and injuries of men; and for the blood he hath shed in fields, on 
 scaffolds, and in the seas, of the people of God, upon account of religion and 
 
400 APPENDIX. 
 
 righteousness, (they being most willing in all other things to render him 
 obedience, if he had reigned and ruled them according to his covenant and 
 oath) more than all the kings that have been before him in Scotland. 5. 
 That he hath been still an enemy to, and a persecutor of, true Protestants, 
 a favourer and helper of the Papists, both at home and abroad, and hath 
 hindered, to the utmost of his power, the due execution of just laws against 
 them. 6. For his relaxing of the kingdom, by his frequent grant of remis- 
 sion and pardons for murderers, (which is in the power of no king to do, 
 being expressly contrary to the law of God ) which was the ready way to 
 embolden men in committing of murders, to the defiling of the land with 
 blood. Lastly, to pass by all other things, his great and dreadful unclean- 
 ness of adultery and incest, his drunkenness, his dissembling with God and 
 man; and performing his promises where his engagements were sinful, tfec. 
 
 " Next, by the same authority, and in the same name, I excommunicate, 
 cast out of the true church, and deliver up to Satan, James, Duke of York, 
 <fec., and that for his idolatry, (for I shall not speak of any other sins but 
 what have been perpetrated by him in Scotland) and for setting up idolatry 
 in Scotland, to defile the Lord's land; and his enticing and encouraging 
 others to do so, &c. 
 
 " Next, in the same name, and by the same authority, I excommunicate, 
 and cast out of the true church, and deliver up to Satan, James, Duke of 
 Monmouth, ttc, for coming into Scotland, upon his father's unjust command, 
 and leading armies against the Lord's people, who were constrained to rise, 
 being killed in and for the right worshipping of the true God, and for his 
 refusing that morning at Bothwell Bridge, a cessation of arms, for hearing 
 and redressing their injuries, wrongs, and oppressions, &c. 
 
 " Next, I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same name, ex- 
 communicate, cast out of the true church, and deliver up to Satan, John, 
 Duke of Lauderdale, &c., for his dreadful plasphemy, especially that word 
 to the prelate of St. Andrews, ' Sit thou at my right hand, until I make 
 thine enemies thy footstool.' His atheistical drolling on the scriptures of 
 God, scoffing at religion, and religious persons. His apostacy from the cove- 
 nant and work of reformation; and his persecuting thereof, after he had 
 been a professor, pleader, and presser thereof: for his perjury in the business 
 of Mr. James Mitchell, who being in council, gave pubhc faith, that he 
 should be indemnified, and that to life and limb, if he would confess his 
 attempt upon the prelate; and notwithstanding of this, before the justiciary 
 court, did give oath, that there was no such act in council: for his adulteries 
 and uncleanness: for his counselhng and assisting the king in all his tyran- 
 nies, overturning and plotting against the true religion: for his gaming on 
 the Lord's day; and lastly, for his usual and ordinary cursing. 
 
 " Next, I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same name, cast 
 out of the true church, and deliver up to Satan, John Duke of Rothes, ttc, 
 for his perjury in the matter of Mr. James Mitchell; and for his adulteries 
 and uncleanness; for allotting the Lord's day for his drunkenness: for his 
 professing and avowing his readiness and willingness to set up Popery in 
 this land, at the king's command: and for the heathenish, barbarous, and 
 unheard-of cruelty, (whereof he was the chief author, contriver, and com- 
 mander, notwithstanding that he had otherwise engaged lately,) to that 
 worthy gentleman, David Hackstoun of Rathillet; and"" lastly, for his ordinary 
 cursing, swearing, and drunkenness. 
 
 *' Next, I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same name, ex- 
 communicate, cast out of the true church, and deliver up to Satan, Sir 
 George M'Kenzie, the king's advocate, for his apostacy, in turning into a 
 profligateness of conversation, after he had begun a profession of holiness; 
 for his constant pleading against, and persecuting to death, the people of 
 God, and alleging and laying to their charge things which in his conscience 
 
APPENDIX. 401 
 
 he knew to be against the word of God, truth, reason, and the ancient laws 
 of this kingdom; and his pleading for sorcerers, murderers, and other 
 criminals, that before God, and by the laws of the land, ought to die; for 
 his ungodly, erroneous, fantastic, and blasphemous tenets, printed to the 
 world in his pamphlets and pasquils. 
 
 " And, lastly, I do, by virtue of the same authority, and in the same name, 
 excommunicate, cast out of the true church, and deliver up to Satan, 
 Thomas Dalziel, of Bins, &c., for his leading armies, and commanding the 
 killing, robbing, pillaging, and oppressing of the Lord's people, and free 
 subjects of this kingdom; and for executing of lawless tyrannies, and lust- 
 ful laws; for his commanding to shoot, at a post, one Finlay, at Newmills, 
 without any form of law, civil or military, he not being guilty of any thing 
 that they themselves counted a crime; for his lewd and impious life, led in 
 adultery and uncleanness from his youth, with a contempt of marriage, 
 which is the ordinance of God ; for all his atheistical and irreligious con- 
 versation; and, lastly, for his unjust usurping and retaining of the estate of 
 that worthy gentleman, William Muir, of Caldwell; and his other injurious 
 deeds, in the exercise of his power. 
 
 " I think none that acknowledge the word can judge these sentences to 
 be unjust; yet some, it maybe, to flatter the powers, will call them dis- 
 orderly and informal, there not being warning given, nor probation led. 
 But, for answer, there has been Avarning given, if not of all these things, at 
 least of a great part of them; and for probation, there needs none, the 
 deeds being notorious and public, and the most of them such as they them- 
 selves do avow and boast of. And as the causes are just, so being done by 
 a minister of the gospel, and in such a way as the present persecution would 
 admit of, the sentence is just; and there are no kings nor ministers on earth, 
 without repentance of the persons, can reverse these sentences upon any 
 (such) accounts; God who is the author of that ordinance, is the more en- 
 gaged to the ratifying of them; and all that acknowledge the scriptures 
 ought to acknowledge them. Yet some, perchance, will think, that though 
 they be not unjust, yet that they are foohshly rigorous. We shall answer 
 nothing to this, but that word which we may speak with much more reason 
 than they did who used it, ' Should he deal with our sister as with an har- 
 lot? Should he deal with our God as wdth an idol? ' * Should they deal 
 with his people as murderers and malefactors, and we not draw out his 
 sword against them? ' " 
 
 No. III. 
 
 A brief account of the Persecutions and Death of that worthy 
 gentleman, He^try Hall, of Haughhead, who suffered martyr- 
 dom at Queensferry, June 3d, 1680. 
 
 Henry Hall, of Haughhead, having had a religious education, began 
 early to mind a life of holiness, and was of a pious conversation from his 
 youth; he was a zealous opposer of the public resolutions, insomuch, that 
 when the minister of the parish where he hved complied with that course, 
 he refused to hear him, and went to Ancrum, to hear Mr. John Livingston. 
 Being oppressed with the mahcious persecutions of the curates, and other 
 Malignants, for his nonconformity with the profane courses of abonaination 
 that commenced at the unhappy restoration of that most wicked tyrant, 
 Charles the Second, he was obliged to leave his native country, and go over 
 
 2m2 
 
402 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 the border into England, in the year 1665, where he was much renowned 
 for his singular zeal in propagating the gospel among that people, who, be- 
 fore his coming among them., were very rude and barbarous; but many of 
 them afterwards became famous for piety. In the year 1666, he was taken 
 in his way to Pentland, coming to the assistance of his covenanted brethren, 
 and was imprisoned with some others in Cessford castle, but by the Divine 
 goodness he soon escaped thence through the favour of the Earl of Rox- 
 burgh, to whom the castle pertained, the said Earl being his friend and re- 
 lation; from which time, till about the year 1679, he lived peaceably in 
 England, much beloved of all that knew him, for his concern in propagating 
 the knowledge of Christ in that country; insomuch, that his blameless and 
 christian conversation drew reverence and esteem from his very enemies. 
 But, about the year 1678, the heat of the persecution in Scotland obliging 
 many to wander up and down through Northumberland and other places, 
 one Colonel Struthers intended to seize any Scotsman he could find in those 
 parts; and meeting with Thomas Ker, of Hayhope, one of Henry Hall's 
 nearest intimates, he was engaged in an encounter upon account of the said 
 Thomas Ker, who was killed there. For this he was forced to return to 
 Scotland, and wandered up and down during the hottest time of the perse- 
 cution, mostly with Mr. Richard Cameron and Mr. Donald Cargil; during 
 which time, besides his many other christian virtues, he signalized himself 
 for zeal in defence of the persecuted gospel preached in the fields, and gave 
 several proofs of his valour and courage, particularly at Rutherglen, Drum- 
 clog, Glasgow, and Bothwell Bridge. After this he was forefaulted and 
 violently pursued; to escape the violent hands of his indefatigable per- 
 secutors, he was forced to go over to Holland, where he had not stayed long 
 when his zeal for the persecuted interest of Christ, and his tender sympathy 
 with the aflaicted remnant of his covenanted brethren in Scotland, then 
 wandering through the desolate caverns and dens of the earth, drew him 
 home, choosing rather to und. rgo the utmost efforts of persecuting fury, 
 than to live at ease when Joseph was in affliction; making Moses' generous 
 choice, rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, that he might be 
 a partaker of the fellowship of Christ's sufferings, than to enjoy that momen- 
 tary pleasure which the ease of the world could afford. He was not much 
 concerned with the riches of the world, for he gave his ground to hold the 
 prohibited field preachings upon, when none else would do it. He was a 
 lover and follower of the faithfully preached gospel, and was always against 
 the indulgence; he was with Mr. Richard Cameron at these meetings where 
 he was censured. 
 
 About a quarter of a year after his return from Holland, being in company 
 with the Rev. Donald Cargil, they were taken notice of by two blood-hounds, 
 the curates of Borrowstounness and Carriden, who went to IMiddleton, 
 governor of Blackness-castle, and informed him of them; Avho, having con- 
 sulted with these blood-thirsty ruffians, ordered his soldiers to follow him at 
 a distance, by two or three together, with convenient intervals for avoiding 
 suspicion; and he (the said Middleton) and his man riding up, observed 
 where they alighted and stabled their horses; and coming to them, pretended 
 a great deal of Idndness and civilities to Mr. Donald Cargil and him, desiring 
 that they might have a glass of wine together. When they were set, and 
 had each taken a glass, Middleton laid hands on them, and told them they 
 were his prisoners, commanding, in the king's name, all the people of the 
 house to assist, Avhich they all refused, save a certain waiter, through whose 
 means the governor got the gates shut, till the soldiers came up; and when 
 the women of the town, rising to the rescue of the prisoners, had broke up 
 the outer gate, Henry Hall, after some scuffle with the governor, in the 
 house, making his escape by the gate, received his mortal blow upon his 
 head, with a carabine, by Thomas George, waiter, and being conveyed out 
 
APPENDIX. 403 
 
 of the town by the assistance of the women, walked some pretty space of 
 way upon his foot, but was unable to speak much, save only that he made 
 some short reflections upon a woman that interposed between him and the 
 governor, hindering him from kiUing the governor, and from making his 
 escape timeously. So soon as he fainted, the women carried him to a house 
 in the country, and notwithstanding the care of surgeons, he never recovered 
 the power of speaking more. General Dalziel being advertised, came with 
 a party of the guards, and carried him to Edinburgh; he died by the way: 
 his body they carried to the Cannongate tolbooth, and kept it there three 
 days without burial; though a number of friends convened for that effect, 
 and thereafter they caused bury him clandestinely in the night. Such was 
 the fury of these limbs of antichrist, that having killed the witnesses, they 
 would not sufter their dead bodies to be decently interred. 
 
 There was found upon him the rude draught of a paper, containing a 
 mutual engagement to stand to the necessary duty of the day, against its 
 stated enemies; which was called by the persecutors, Mr. Cargil's Covenant; 
 and frequently in the foregoing testimonies, the Queensferry paper, because 
 there it was seized by the enemies. This paper divine proA-idence seems to 
 have made, as it were, the dying words and testimony of that worthy gentle- 
 man; and the enemies made it one of the captious and ensnaring questions 
 they constantly put to the sufferers, and therefore it will not be impertinent 
 here to insert the heads of it, as they are compendized in the " Hind let 
 loose." For it was still owned by INIr. Donald Cargil, that the draught was 
 not digested and polished, as it was intended, and therefore it will be so far 
 fi'om being a wrong to recite the heads of it only, that it is really a piece of 
 justice done him, who never intended it should see the world, as it was when 
 the enemies found it. I shall not pretend to justify every expression in it, 
 but rather submit it entirely to better judgments, nor did the sufferers for 
 most part adhere to it, without the limitation, " so far as it was agreeable to 
 the word of God, and our national covenants," and in so far as it seems 
 to import a purpose of assuming to themselves a magistratical authority, 
 their practice declares all along, that they did not understand it in that 
 sense. 
 
 The tenor of it was an engagement: — 
 
 1. To avouch the only true and living God to be their God, and to close 
 with his way of redemption, by his Son Jesus Christ, whose righteousness is 
 only to be relied upon for justification: and to take the scriptures of the Old 
 and New Testament to be the only object of faith, and rule of conversation 
 in all things. 2. To establish in the land righteousness and religion, in the 
 truth of its doctrine, purity, and power of its worship,,discipline, and govern- 
 ment; and to free the church of God of the corruption of Prelacy on the 
 one hand, and thraldom of Erastianism on the other, 3. To persevere in 
 the doctrine of the reformed churches, especially that of Scotland, and in 
 the worship prescribed in the scriptures, without the inventions, adornings, 
 and corruptions of men ; and in the Presbyterian government, exercised in 
 sessions, presbyteries, synods, and general assemblies, as a distinct govern- 
 ment from the civil, and distinctly to be exercised, not after a carnal 
 manner, by plurality of votes, or authority of a single person, but according 
 to the word of God, making and carrying the sentence. 4. To endeavour 
 the overthrow of the kingdom of darkness, and whatsoever is contrary to 
 the kingdom of Christ, especially idolatry and Popery, in all its articles, and 
 the overthrow of that power that hath established and upheld it; and to 
 execute righteousness and judgment impartially, according to the word of 
 God, and degree of offences, upon the committers of these things; especially, 
 to wit, blasphemy, idolatry, atheism, sorcery, perjury^, uncleanness, profana- 
 tion of the Lord's day, oppression, and malignancy. 5. Seriously considering, 
 — there is no more speedy way of relaxation from the wrath of God, that 
 
404 APPENDIX. 
 
 hath ever lien upon the lands since it engaged with these rulers, but of 
 rejecting them, who have so manifestly rejected God, — disclaiming his cove- 
 nant — governing contrary to all right laws, divine and human — and contrary 
 to all the ends of government, by enacting and commanding impieties, 
 injuries, and robberies, to the denying of God his due, and the subjects 
 theirs; so that, instead of government, godliness, and peace, there is nothing 
 but rapine, tumult, and blood, which cannot be called a government, but a 
 lustful rage — and they cannot be called governors, but public grassators 
 and land judgments, which all ought to set themselves against, as they 
 would do against pestilence, sword, and famine, raging amongst them — 
 seeing they have stopped the course of the law and justice against blas- 
 phemers, idolaters, atheists, murderers, incestuous, and adulterous persons 
 — and have made butcheries on the Lord's people, sold them as slaves, 
 imprisoned, forfeited, &c., and that upon no other account, but their main- 
 taining Christ's right of ruling over their consciences, against the usurpa- 
 tions of men. Therefore, easily solving the objections: — 1. Of our ancestors 
 obliging the nation to this race and line; that they did not buy their liberty 
 with our thraldom, nor could they bind their children to any thing so much 
 to their prejudice, and against natural liberty, (being a benefit next to life, 
 if not in some regard above it) which is not an engagement to moral things; 
 they could only bind to that government which they esteemed the best for 
 common good ; which reason ceasing, we are free to choose another, if we find 
 it more conducible for that end. 2. Of the covenant binding to defend the 
 king; that that obligation is only in his maintenance of the true covenanted 
 reformation, — which homage they cannot now require, upon the account of 
 the covenant which they have renounced and disclaimed ; and upon no other 
 ground, we are bound to them — the crown not being an inheritance that 
 passeth from father to son, without the consent of tenants. 3. Of the hope 
 of their returning from these courses, whereof there is none; seeing they 
 have so often declared their purposes of persevering in them. And suppose 
 they should dissemble a repentance, — supposing also they might be pardoned 
 for that which is done — from whose guiltiness the land cannot be cleansed, 
 but by executing God's righteous judgments upon them, — yet they can- 
 not now be believed, after they have ^•iolated all that human wisdom could 
 devise to bind them. 
 
 Upon these accounts they reject that king, and those associated with him 
 in the government, — and declare them henceforth no lawful rulers, as they 
 had declared them to be no lawful subjects, — they having destroyed the 
 established religion, overturned the fundamental laws of the kingdom, taken 
 away Christ's church-government, and changed the civil into tyranny, where 
 none are associated in partaking of the government, but only those who will 
 be found by justice guilty as criminals; and declare they shall, God giving 
 them power, set up government and governors according to the word of God, 
 and the qualifications therein required, — and shall not commit the govern- 
 ment to any single person or lineal succession, being not tied, as the Jew's 
 were, to one single family, — and that kind being liable to most inconveniences, 
 and aptest to degenerate into tyranny; and, moreover, that these men set 
 over them, shall be engaged to govern, principally by that civil and judicial 
 law, (not that which is any way typical) given by God to his people Israel — 
 as the best, so far as it goes, being given by God — especially in matters of 
 life and death, and other things so far as they reach, and are consistent with 
 christian liberty — exempting divorces and polygamy, &c. 6. Seeing the 
 greatest part of ministers not only were defective in preaching against the 
 rulers for overthrowing religion — but hindered others also who were willing, 
 and censured some that did it — and have voted for acceptation of that 
 liberty, founded upon, and given by virtue of that blasphemously arrogate 
 and usurped power — and appeared before their courts to accept of it, and to 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 405 
 
 be enacted and authorized their ministers-whereby they have become 
 ministers of men, and bound to be answerable to them as they will, and 
 have preached for the lawfulness of pajing that tribute, declared to be 
 imposed for the bearing down of the true worship of God, and advised poor 
 prisoners to subscribe that bend -which if it w-ere universally subscribed - 
 thev should close that door, which the Lord hath made use of in all the 
 churches of Europe, for casting off the yoke of the whore,-and s op all 
 egress of men, when once brought under tyranny, to recover their liberty 
 a|ain.-They declare they neither can nor will hear them, &c nor any ^^ho 
 encouraged and strengthened their hands, and pleaded for them and traf- 
 ficked for union with "them. 7. That they are for a standing gospel mini try 
 rightly chosen, and rightly ordained,-and that none shall take upon them 
 the preaching of the word, &c., unless called and ordamed thereunto 
 
 And whereas schism might be imputed to them, they repel both the mal- 
 ice and the ignorance of the calumny; for if there be a separation, it must 
 be where the change is, and that was not to be found m them, who were not 
 separating from the communion of the true church nor setting up a new 
 ministrv, but cleaving to the same ministers and ordinances that formerly 
 they followed, when others have fled to new ways, and a new authority, 
 which is like the old piece in the new garment. 8. That they shah defend 
 themselves in their civil, natural, and divine rights and liberties; and if any 
 assault them, they shall look on it as a declaration of war, and take all 
 advantages that one enemy does of another; but trouble and injure none but 
 those that injure them. 
 
 ^^. IV. 
 A List of the Banished. 
 
 To speak nothing of those whom the cruelty of the persecutors forced to a 
 voluntary exile, of whom no particular account can be given; besides the six 
 or seven ministers that were banished, and went to Holland, and seven or 
 eight countrv people to France, several others to Barbadoes, before the year 
 1666- after the year 1678, there were banished, to be sold for slaves, for the 
 same cause for which others suffered death at home, of men and women, 
 about 1700, viz., anno 1678, to Virginia 60, whereof three or four were 
 ministers, who were all. by the mercy of God, delivered at London Anno 
 1679 of the prisoners taken at Bothwell, were banished to America ^^0, who 
 
 were taken awav by Paterson, merchant at Leith, who transacted for 
 
 them with Provost Milns, Laird of Barnton, the man that first burnt the 
 covenant whereof 200 were drowned by shipwreck, at a place called the 
 Mulehead of Darness, near Orkney, being shut up by the said Paterson s 
 order beneath the hatches, 50 escaped, whereof the names, so many ot them 
 as could be had, follow; the names of those who escaped are printed m 
 Italic characters. Out of the shire of Clydesdale, and city of Glasgow, 
 Francis Wodrow, Walter M'Keohnie, Alexander Pirie, ^^ lUiam Millar Out 
 of the parish of Govan, Andrew Snodgrass. Out of the parish of Kilbride, 
 Robert Auld, John Struthers, James Clark, John Clark, William Rodger. 
 Out of the parish of Shots, Peter Lermont, Robert Russel, John Aitken, 
 Robert Chalmers, John Thomson, John KiUen, Alexander ^^ alker. Out ot 
 the parish of Cambusnethan, William Scular. Out of the Monklands, 
 Willicim Waddel, William Grinlaw, Thomas Mathie, WUliam Miller, John 
 Wynet James Waddel, Jo// « 6'a;T/«er, Thomas Barton. Out of the parish 
 
 of Bothwell, More, AVilliam Breakenrig. Out of the parish ot Lvan- 
 
 dale, John Cairnduff, John Cochran, Robert Allison, Andrew Torrence, 
 
406 APPENDIX. 
 
 Thomas Brownlee, John Watson, William Alison, Andrew Aiton. Out of 
 the parish of Calder, William Fram. Out of the parish of Glassford, John 
 Miller, John Craig. Out of the parish of Carnwath, Thomas Crichton, 
 James Couper. Out of the parish of Cathkin, James Penman^ James Thom- 
 son, Thomas Wilson. Out of the parish of Carstairs, Thomas Swan. Out of 
 the parish of Biggar, John Rankin. Out of the parish of Lesmahagow, 
 George Weir, Robert Weir, George Drafin. Out of the shire of Ayr, and 
 parish of Fen wick, James Gray, Andrew Buckle, Da-sad Currie, Daxid 
 Bichet, Robert Tod, John White, Robert Wallace, John Wylie, William 
 Bichet. Out of the parish of Loudon, Thomas Wylie. Out of the parish of 
 Dalmellington, Hugh Simpson, Walter Humper, Walter Hiimper^ younger, 
 Hugh Cameron^ Quintin M'-Adam. Out of the parish of Cumnock, John 
 Gemil, James Mirrie. Out of the parish of Ochiltree, Andrew Welsh. Out 
 of the parish of Auchinleck, Andrew Richmond. Out of Dundonald, Andrew 
 Thomson. Out of ]\Iauchline, William Reid, William Drips. Out of the 
 parish of JNIuirkirk, John Campbell, Alexander Paterson. Out of the parish 
 of Digen, James Bouston. Out of the parish of Galston, James Young, 
 George Campbell. Out of the parish of Kilmarnock, Thomas Finlay, John 
 Cuthbertson, William Brown, Patrick Watt, Robert Anderson, James 
 Anderson. Out of the parish of Stewarton, Thomas Wylie, Andrew AVylie, 
 Robert Wylie. Out of the parish of Bar, Alexander Burden. Out of the 
 parish of Colmonel, Thomas M'Lurg, John M'Cronock, John M'Lellen. Out 
 of the parish of Girvan, William Caldwell. Out of the parish of Dairy, 
 David M'Cubin, William M'Culloch. Out of the parish of Maybole, William 
 Rodgers, Mungo Eccles, John M'Whirter, Thomas Horn, Robert M'Garron, 
 John M'Harie. Out of the parish of Craigie, George Dunbar. Out of the 
 parish of Straiten, James M'Murrie, Alexander Lamb, George Hutcheson. 
 Out of the parish of Kirkmichael, John Brice, Robert Ramsay, John Doug- 
 las, John M'Tire, James M'Connel. Out of the parish of Kirkoswald, John 
 White, Thomas Germont. Out of the shire of Fife, and parish of Newburn, 
 James Beal. Out of the parish of Largo and Kilconquhar, Andrew Prie, 
 James Kirk. Out of the parish of Ceres, John Kirk, Thomas Miller. Out of 
 the parish of Strathmiglo, Robert Bog. Out of the town of Kinross, James 
 Lilburn. Out of the parish of Orwell, Robert Kirk, Robert Sands. Out of 
 the shire of Perth, and parish of Kilmadock, John Christison. Out of the 
 parish of Kincardine, Patrick Keir, John Donaldson. Out of the pai'ish of 
 Glendovan, John Murie, Andrew Murie. Out of the shire of Renfrew, and 
 parish of Eastwood, James Cuningham. Out of the parish of Neilston, John 
 Govan. Out of Paisley, William Buchan, William Auchincloss. Out of 
 the shire of Lennox, and parish of New-Kilpatrick, James Finlayson. Out 
 of the shire of Stirling, and parish of Drummond, Daniel Cuningham. Out 
 of the parish of Kippen, James Galbraith. Out of Gargunnock, Thomas 
 Miller, Patrick Gilchrist, James Sands, Thomas Brown, James Buchanan. 
 Out of the parish of St. Ninians, Thomas Thomson, Andrew Thomson^ John 
 Neilson, John M'Lure. Out of the parish of Denny, James M'Kie. Out of 
 the parish of Airth, Andrew Young, John Morison, Robert Hendrie. Out 
 of the parish of Falkirk, Hugh Montgomery. Out of Morrenside, Thomas 
 Phalp. Out of the shire of West Lothian, in the parish of Torphichan, John 
 Allan, John Thomson, John Pendar, James Easton, John Easton, Andrew 
 Easton, John Addie, Alexander Bishop. Out of Dalmannie, John Thomson. 
 Out of Livingstoun, Thomas Ingles, Patrick Hamilton, John Bell, Patrick 
 Wilson, William Younger, William Henderson, John Steven. Out of the 
 parish of Kirkliston, John Govan. Out of Bathgate, Da%'id Ralston. Out of 
 the parish of Abercorn, John Gib, James Gib. Out of the parish of Linlith- 
 gow, Thomas Barthwick. Out of the parish Kinneill, Andrew Murdoch. 
 Out of the shire of Mid-Lothian, and parish of Calder, James Steel, Thomas 
 Gilchrist, James Graze, John Russel. Out of Mid-Calder, John Brown, 
 
APPENDIX. 407 
 
 Alexander Mutray. East-Calder, David Samuel, Alexander Bissit. Out of 
 the parish of Stow, Thomas Pringle. Out of the parish of Temple, James 
 Tinto. Out of the parish of Liberton, Thomas M'Kenzie. • Out of the parish 
 of Crichtoun, James Fork. Out of the parish of Cranstoun, Thomas Wil- 
 liamson. Out of the town of Musselburgh, William Reid. 
 
 Out of the shire of East-Lothian, and parish of Dunbar, James Tod. 
 Out of the shire of Nithsdale, and parish of Glencairn, David Mackervail, 
 John Ferguson, Robert Milligan, Jolm Milligan, John Murdoch, John Smith, 
 William Ferguson^ James Colville, Thomas Rosper. Out of the parish of 
 Closeburn, Thomas Milligan, John Kennedy. Out of the shire of Gallo- 
 way, and parish of Kii-keudbright, James Corsan, Andrew Mucquhan, John 
 Machratney, John Macgie. Oii|pf the parish of Balmaghie, Robert Caldow, 
 James Houston. Out of the parish ofH^gkon, James Donaldson. Out of 
 the parish of Kilmackbrick, Robert Brow^ Samuel Beck, Samuel Hannay. 
 Out of the parish of Peningham, John Mactaggart, Alexander Murray. 
 Out of the parish of Borgue, Andrew Sprot, Robert Bryce, John Richard- 
 son, John Martin, John Bryce, William Thomson. Out of the parish of 
 Girthon, Andrew Donaldson. Out of the parish of Dairy, John Smith, John 
 Malcolm. Out of Irongray, Andrew Wallet. Out of Balmaclellan, John 
 Edgar. Out of Lochrutan, Andrezc Clark. Out of Ettrick or Forrest, 
 John Scot. Out of the parish of Gallashiels, RobeH Macgill, Robert 
 Young. Out of the shires of Merse and Teviotdale, and parish of Nethen, 
 Samuel Nisbet, John Deans, James Atchison. Out of the parish of Cavers, 
 James Leidon, John Glasgoic, William Glasgoiv, John Greenshields, Richard 
 Young, Samuel Douglas, Jajnes Young, James Hobkirk. Out of the town 
 of Kelso, AVilliam Hardie. Out of the town of Jedburgh, John Mather. 
 Out of the parish of Ancrum, George Rutherford. Out of the parish of 
 Sprouston, Walter Waddel, and Thomas Cairns. Out of the parish of Mel- 
 rose, John Young, and Andrew Cook. Out of the parish of Castletoun, 
 AVilliam Scot, John Pringle, Alexander Waddell, and John Unnes. Out of 
 the parish of Askirk, William Herd. Out of the parish of Bandon, Andrew 
 Newbigging. Out of the parish of Sudon, James Couston, William Swan- 
 ston, John Elliot. Out of the parish of Hobkirk, John Oliver. 
 
 The folloAving seven were sentenced and banished to West Flanders, and 
 left the kingdom, March 4th, 1684: — Thomas Jackson, George Jackson, 
 James Forrest, elder, James Forrest, younger, John Coline, James Gourlay, 
 Gillies. 
 
 Afterwards, thirty were banished to Carolina, and were transported in 
 James Gibson's ship, called sometime Bailie Gibson, in Glasgow, of whom 
 it is observable, that in God's righteous judgment he was cast away in Caro- 
 lina bay, when he commanded in the Rising Sun. They received their sen- 
 tence, June 17th, 1684. The names of such as subscribed the joint testi- 
 mony are these, Matthew Machan, James M'Clintock, John Gibson, Gavin 
 Black, John Paton, William Ingles, John Young, John Gait, John Edwards, 
 Thomas Marshall, George Smith, William Smith, Robert Urie, John Bu- 
 chanan, Thomas Bryce, John Symon, Hugh Symon, William Symon, Archi- 
 bald Cunningham, John Alexander, John Marshall. 
 
 In July 19, 1684, John Mathison, John Crichton, James M'Gachen, John 
 M'Chesnie, James Baird, were banished to New Jersey, in America. They 
 were taken away by one Robert Malloch, and fourteen men, whose names 
 are not recorded, anno 1685. In the time of Queensberry's parliament, two 
 hundred men and women were sent to Jamaica. And the same year, one 
 Pitlochie transported to New Jersey one hundred, whereof twenty-four 
 were women. And in the same year, thirteen more were sent to Barbadoes. 
 Their names are not in the hands of the publishers, if they be at all re- 
 corded. Anno 1687, twenty-one men and women were sent to Barbadoes, 
 whose names that subscribed the joint testimony are as follows:— John Ford, 
 
408 APPENDIX. 
 
 "Walter M'Min, Adam Hood, John MacGhie, Peter Russel, Thomas Jackson, 
 Charles Dougal, James Griston, John Harvie, James Forsyth. George John- 
 ston, John Steven, Robert Young, John Gilfillan, Andrew Paterson, John 
 Kincaid, Robert Main, James Muirhead, George Muir, John Henderson, 
 Anaple Jackson, Anaple Gordon, Jean Moffat. Anno 1687, March 30th, 
 were banished to Barbadoes, John Stewart, James Douglas, John Russel, 
 James Hamilton, William Hannay, George White, Gilbert M'Culloch, 
 Thomas Brown, John Brown, AVilliam Hay, John Wright, John Richard, 
 Alexander Bailie, Marion Weir, Bessy AVeir, Isabel Steel, Isabel Cassils, 
 Agnes Keir. 
 
 A Short Account of those who were killed in the open fields, 
 without trial, conviction, or any process of law, by the execu- 
 tioners of the Council's murdering edict. 
 
 To give an account of the many hundreds who either died or contracted 
 their deaths in prisons, by the severities they met with from cold, hunger, 
 thirst, want of room and air, fetters, tortures, stigmatising, whipping, &c.', 
 would be a work of immense labour; nor can any full account thereof be 
 had, considering both the vast numbers of such, and the neglect of writing 
 memoirs of these things, or their being seized by the persecutors, who were 
 industrious to suppress such accounts of their own villanies from the view 
 of posterity. The number of such as suffered under colour of law, and 
 judicial trial, from Mr. James Guthrie, the first, to Mr, James Renwick, the 
 last, has been computed to amount to about 140. But the councillors, will- 
 ing to ease themselves of that lingering way of doing business, not content 
 with Popery's gradual advancement, were for doing their work all at once; 
 and, accordingly, authorized captains, lieutenants, Serjeants, and single 
 soldiers, to shoot all suspected persons, wherever they could catch them, 
 without further trial for their pretended crimes. And, accordingly, betwixt 
 the years 1682 and 1688, when a revolution of affairs put a stop to their 
 career of bloodshed, there were murdered in the open fields the following 
 persons, (besides others of whom no certain list has been got,) as they are 
 enumerated in a print, entitled, " A Short Memorial of the Sufferings and 
 Grievances of the Presbyterians in Scotland," printed in the year 1690: — 
 
 John Graham, of Claverhouse, Viscount of Dundee, in the year 1682, 
 
 \vith a party of his troop, pursued William Graham, in the parish of 
 
 in Galloway, making his escape from his mother's house, and overtaking 
 him, instantly shot him dead, Claverhouse, together with the Earl of Dum- 
 barton, and Lieutenant-general Douglas, caused Peter Gillies, John Bryce, 
 Thomas Young, (who was taken by the Laird of Lee,) AYilliam Fiddison, 
 and John Bulening, to be put to death upon a gibbet, without legal trial or 
 sentence — suffering them neither to have a Bible, nor to pray before they 
 died, at Mauchline, 1684. Claverhouse coming to Galloway, in answer to 
 the Viscount of Kenmuir's letter, with a small party, surprised Robert 
 Stewart, John Grier, Robert Ferguson, and James MacMichael, and instantly 
 shot them dead, at the water of Dee, in Galloway, December, 1683. Their 
 corpses being buried, were, at his command, raised again. In May, 1685, he 
 apprehended John Brown of Priesthill, in the parish of Muirkirk, in the 
 shire of Ayr, being at his work, about his own house, and shot him dead 
 before his own door, in presence of his wife. He also authorized his troops 
 to kill Matthew Micklewrath, without any examination, in the parish of 
 Colmonel, in Carrick, anno 1685. 
 
 Colonel James Douglas, brother to the Duke of Queensberry, together 
 with Lieutenant John Livingston, and a party with them, surprised five 
 
APPENDIX. 409 
 
 men in a cave at Ingleston, in the parish of Gleneaim, being betrayed by 
 Andrew Watson. Their names were John Gibson, Robert Grierson, Robert 
 Mitchell, James Bennoch, and John Edgar— all of whom were, at the com- 
 mand of said Colonel Douglas, brought forth, and immediately shot dead, 
 without giving them so much time as to recommend their souls to God. 
 One John Ferguson, sometime a professed friend, thrust one of them 
 through, supposing he was not dead. This was done in the year 1685. In 
 the same year. Colonel James Douglas and his party shot to death John 
 Hunter, for no other alleged cause but the running out from the house at 
 Corehead, in the parish of Motfat. Colonel, or Lieutenant-general, James 
 Douglas, with Lieutenant Livingston, and Cornet James Douglas, surprised 
 six men at prayer, at the Calduns, in the parish of Minigaf, viz., James 
 Dun, Robert Dun, Andrew Mackale, Thomas Stevenson, John MacCloud, 
 and John Stevenson, in January, 1685. He also caused to take Andrew 
 Maequhan out of his bed, sick of a fever, and carry him to Newtown of 
 Galloway, and the next day shot him dead. In the same year, he com- 
 manded Thomas Richard, an old man of seventy years, to be shot in time of 
 prayer, (he was betrayed and taken by Peter Inglis,) anno 1685, at Cum- 
 nock, in Kyle. 
 
 Captain Douglas, finding one Mowat, a tailor, merely because he had 
 some pieces of lead belonging to his trade, took him, and vvithont any 
 further trial, shot him dead, between Fleet and Dee in Galloway. The said 
 
 Captain Douglas and his men, finding one Achenleck, a deaf man, for 
 
 not making answer, through defect oi his hearing, instantly shot him dead 
 off horseback, near Carlin-work, anno 1685. 
 
 Sir Robert Dalziel, and Lieutenant Straton, having apprehended Daniel 
 M'Michael, not able to flee, by reason of his being sick; after having detained 
 him twenty-four hours prisoner, took him out, and shot him at Dalveen, in the 
 parish of Durisdeer, in Nithsdale, January, 1685. The said Captain Dalziel 
 and Lieutenant Straton, with their men, found William Adam hiding in a 
 bush, and instantly killed him, at the Wallwood, in Kyle, February, 1685, 
 
 Captain Bruce, captain of dragoons, apprehended James Kirko, at the 
 intelligence of one James Wright, carried him to Dumfries, detained him 
 prisoner one night, next day brought him forth to the water sands, and, 
 without any process, shot him dead. The dying man desired a little time 
 to make his peace with God, but the captain answered, oftener than once or 
 twice, " Devil a peace ye get more made up." Some gentlewomen coming 
 to beg his life, were hindered by one John Craig of StewartOtJi, The fore- 
 said Dalziel's second son was one of them that shot him, though, without 
 command, June, 1685. The said Captain Bruce surprised at Lochtenkithil, 
 in the parish of Kirkpatrick, in Galloway, six men, and instantly killed four 
 of them, viz., John Gordon, William Stewart, AVilliam Heron, and John 
 Wallace: and carried the other two, Edward Gordon, and Alexander Mac- 
 Ubin, prisoners, and the next day, he and monstrous Lagg, without any 
 trial, caused them hang upon a growing tree, near the kirk of Irongray, and 
 left them hanging there, February, 1685. The said Captain Bruce, and his 
 men, took out of his bed William MacHaffie, sick of a fever, and shot him 
 instantly, in the parish of Straton, in Carrick, January, 1685. 
 
 James Douglas, cornet of dragoons, commanded to shoot John Semple, 
 essaying to escape out of a window, in the parish of Daily, anno 1685. Kil- 
 kerron shot him. He also apprehended Edward Mackeen, and by search, 
 finding a flint stone upon him, presently shot him without any further trial, 
 February, 1685. 
 
 Lieutenant-General Drummond, commanded, without any process of 
 trial, John Murchie, and Donald Miklewrock, to be instantly shot, after 
 they were taken, in the parish of Colmonell, in Carrick, anno 1685. At the 
 same time his soldiers shot Alexander Lin. 
 
 2n 
 
410 APPENDIX. 
 
 Captain Inglis, and his dragoons, pursued and killed James Smith, at 
 the burn of Ann, in Kyle, 1684. Peter Inglis, his son, killed one John 
 Smith, in Cunningham, 1685. The said Peter, or Patrick Inglis, killed one 
 James Whyte, struck off his head with an axe, brought it to Newmills, and 
 played at the football with it; he killed him at little Blackwood, the fore- 
 said year, 1685. 
 
 The following account of this murder is extracted from an old M.S., not 
 hitherto published, in the possession of James Mitchell, Esq., of Darwhilling, 
 whose ancestor, William Wylie, of DarwhilUng, is noticed as a sufferer in 
 page 366. 
 
 An Account of what happened in the house of James Pato>', 
 Tenant in Little Blackwood, in the parish of Kilmarnock, 
 and shire of xVyr, in the beginning of May, 1685, in the night 
 time. 
 
 Twelve men being met in a fellowship-meeting for prayer, in that house, 
 in the interval of duty, James Paton, being standing behind the back of the 
 rest — they being warming about a hearth-fire, he heard some noise, as he 
 thought, about the house; he went but the floor towards the door, and 
 coming ben, told the rest, " Friends, I wish we be not in a snare;" at which 
 they all started up and went but the house. James White was the last in 
 going but, and haxing a firelock (which was all the fire-arms that was 
 amongst them) lying upon a chest at the side of the house, took it in bis 
 hand as he went but; and just as he came betwixt the doors, the partie 
 commanded by Patrick Inglis, son to Captain Inglis, (who then kept the 
 garrison at Newmills,) having surrounded the house, knockt at both doors 
 at once, and broke them open ; upon which, James White offering to fire, 
 his gun burnt primin, and did not go off; the light of which, did let them 
 see to shoot him, which they did, and he fell betwixt the doors. Nine of 
 them went ben to the spence, where thinking to make their escape, they 
 pulled out a hole in the end of the house in the thatch, at which two only 
 got out, and escaped; but the hole being soon perceived by the enemy, the 
 other seven where stopped. The other two had gone toward the byre. 
 John Gemmell, in Blackbyre, being one of the two, fell in grips in the 
 entrie to the byre, with one of the partie, and got him down. The fellow 
 was drawing his bayonet, to thrust in him, which he wrested from him, 
 and stabbed^ into himself, and then getting up ran straight out at the door, 
 and dong oure the centinal); and it being so very dark, they could not 
 catch him again. The partie took the fellow that was stabbed, and threw 
 him into a bed in the side of the house above three young children of six, 
 four, and two years of age, bleeding in his wounds. The other seven were 
 still in the spence with Janet Wylie, James Paton's wife, with a sucking 
 child in her arms. As soon as she knew that it was Patrick Inglis that 
 commanded the partie, she called him by name, that he would, for God's sake, 
 give them quarters. He curst her what she was that knew him? She told 
 him she was a daughter of William AVylie's, of Darwhilling, where he, with 
 some others, had been quartered a whole summer some years before. He 
 told her, upon her request, he would give them quarter, if they would all 
 come but one by one, upon their bare knees; which they consented to do. 
 The first that came but, was an old man, one James Findlay, in Dykes. 
 They cut the yarn of the reels, and tyed him with, and set him dovra on a 
 stool in the side of the house. One of the partie coming ben with his 
 bayonet screwed upon his gun, stabbed him' below his bellie, till the point of 
 it came out at the thick of his thigh behind; at which, he cryed he was 
 
APPENDIX. 411 
 
 murdered. Patrick Inglis gave a ourse, how he came to stab a man after 
 he had given him quarters; which was all the mends the poor man got. 
 The rest all came but upon their knees, and were all tyed with the yarn 
 and other materials, as they found in the house. After this, they got 
 candles, and searched all the house, and finding James Paton in the byer, 
 bound him, and set him dowTi with the rest. They also searched the barn 
 and kiln, and every place about the house, and when they could find no 
 more persons, they fell about the spoiling of the house ; out of which they 
 took every thing, both bed-clothes and body-clothes — not leaving so much 
 as a spoon, or the worth of it; driving the cows and horses over the dead 
 man betwixt the doors, and emptying the chaff beds above him. James 
 Paton, being a wright to his employment, they took all his working tools — 
 among which was a big aixe for felling timber, which they took, and with 
 it cut ofi" the head of the above James White, who was shot bet^\axt the doors, 
 and took it to Newmills, and next day played with it as a foot-ball, on the 
 green thereof. There was nothing left in or about all the houses belonging to 
 the above James Paton, but a big coat, which had some how or other escaped 
 them. Some person took it up, and threw it into the barn of the very next 
 neighbour, not above a gunshot from the house, but as soon as the man to 
 whom the barn belonged, knew it was there, he threw it, or caused it to be 
 thrown out, for fear of coming to danger, in case it should be found there, 
 though he was a very near relative of the above James Paton's. When this 
 party had gathered all together, they went off with their booty, with eight 
 men prisoners, to Newmills. On the way, James Findlay, who was wounded, 
 complained that he was not able to walk, whereupon Patrick Inglis gave 
 orders, when he could walk no farther, to shoot him, and let him lye, 
 which made hun do the best he could, till he got to Newmills, and there 
 they put all the eight men in prison, in [the] porter lodge. The next day. 
 Captain Inglis caused bring them all out to the back close, and caused them 
 all sit down upon their knees, and tyed a napkin on each of their faces, and 
 placed two firelocks to each of their breasts, in order to shoot them, but 
 some man who was present with Captain Inglis, said to him, no doubt but 
 he was secure enough in what he was doing, as [while] the present Govern- 
 ment stood upon the same footing, but if there came any change, he might 
 be called in question for giving men quarters, and executing them without 
 any shadow of law, adding he might be in no difficulty, for if he sent a letter 
 to the Counsell at Edinburgh, there was no doubt of an order to shoot them. 
 Upon considering of which, he caused them all be raised and put in prison, 
 where they had been, and immediately sent his son to Edinburgh, to the 
 Counsel, for an order, which he readily obtained. But in the interval, the 
 friends of the prisoners made a concert to come and relieve them upon a 
 certain night, but they mete a night sooner than the concert was made, for 
 •which none of them ever could account, but that in the pro\'idence of God 
 it had been ordered so. For it was remarkable, that the very night in 
 which they were relieved, Patrick Inglis was lying under a dyke in the 
 precincts of the town, in time of the action, with the order in his pocket to 
 shoot them to-morrow. The friends who relieved them, came into the town 
 in a very courageous manner, and placed two ambushments, one behind a 
 dyke, betwixt the fore and back castle, the other opposite to the fore castle. 
 Upon their coming in, they shot the centinall, and then went into a smith's 
 shop, and took his forehammers, and broke open the gates. One of the 
 soldiers who was in the fore castle, put his firelock through the iron 
 staunchers, and levelled it along the side of the house, thinking to shoot 
 him who was breaking open the gate, but the ambushment which was 
 placed opposite to it, shot him, and his gun fell down to them. As soon as 
 the gates were opened, they carried off the prisoners with themselves, who 
 went all in a body together, till they came to a muir about two miles east 
 
412 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 from the town, where they parted in twos. As soon as they were out of the 
 town a little, the bailie caused beat the town drum, and ring the bell, and 
 came with the townsmen to the gate of the castle, and called upon Captain 
 Inglis to follow the prisoners, or yield up the arms to him that he might do 
 it; but he refused, having crept in below a bed in the time of the action. 
 As soon as it was day, he commanded his men to search all the town, if 
 they could find any of the prisoners, or relievers, or any that belonged to 
 them, and to follow after them. They tracket their way out of the east end 
 of the town, it being wet weather, and that day shot two innocent men, as 
 they were in search of them, but found none, either of prisoners, or relievers, 
 though they went as far east as Tintock. And thus ends the account of this 
 tragical story, from which we may see the wickedness of wicked men, and 
 their malice against the people of God. Oh, that every one who reads this 
 may resolve ******* 
 
 Captain Ixglis shot John Burrie, with his pass in his hand, in Evandale, 
 April, 1685. 
 
 Major Balfour, together with Captain Maitland and their party, appre- 
 hended at their work, Robert Tom, John Urie, and Thomas Cook, and 
 instantly shot them, at Polmadie, near Glasgow, May, 1685. 
 
 Colonel Buchan, wdth the Laird of Lee and their men, shot John Smith, 
 in the parish of Lesmahagow, February, 1685. 
 
 Lieutenant Lauder shot to death William Shillilaw, at the Woodhead, 
 on the water of Ayr, anno 1685. 
 
 Lieutenant Nisbet and his party also shot John Ferguson, George 
 Whiteburn, and Patrick Gemmil, in the parish of Fen wick, in the same 
 year. 
 
 Lieutenant Murray and his party shot one John Brown, after quarters 
 given, at Blackwood, in Clydesdale, March, 1685, 
 
 Lieutenant Crichton did most barbarously, after quarter, shoot David 
 Steel, in the parish of Lesmahagow, December, 1686. 
 
 Sir Robert Laurie, of Maxwelton, the Laird of Stenhouse, and John 
 Craig, of Stewarton, did instigate and urge Cornet Bailie's party of dragoons, 
 to shoot William Smith, in Hill, after he had been prisoner one night, (it 
 was the day of Maxwelton's daughter's marriage.) who also refused to let 
 him be buried in the churchyard. This Douglas of Stenhouse, being a 
 laird of mean estate, was advanced for such services as this, and his exces- 
 sive harassing, spoiling, and fining of the people of God, and because he was 
 a Papist, to the honour of being secretary for Scotland, to James YII. But 
 the wicked's honour is short-lived; his name is extinct, ha^^ng neither root 
 nor branch, male nor female, nor any remembrance left unto him. The 
 said Laurie of Maxwelton's steward reported, that a cup of wine delivered 
 that day into his hand, turned into congealed blood; be that as it may, it is 
 certain he died by a fall from his horse some years after. 
 
 Sir James Johnston, of Westerhall, caused apprehend Andrew Hyslop, 
 in the parish of Hutton, in Annandale, and delivered him up to Claverhouse, 
 and never rested until he got him shot by Claverhouse's troops. Claver- 
 house would have delayed it, but Westerhall was so urgent, that Claverhouse 
 was heard say. This man's blood shall be upon Westerhall. At length, upon 
 his urgency, Claverhouse ordered a Highland captain, who was there, to do 
 it, but he refused; and drawing off his Highlanders to a convenient distance, 
 swore, " That her nainsell would fight Claverhouse and all his dragoons 
 first." Whereupon he caused three of his own dragoons do it, Maj, 1685. 
 It is observable of this Westerhall, that he was once a great professor, and 
 one who had sworn the covenant; when the test was framed, he bragged 
 that he was an actual covenanter, and scorned the test; but when he had 
 the trial, he embraced it, and became a bitter enemy to the work and people 
 
APPE^'DIX. 413 
 
 of God. This man ha\'ing been taken on his ground, he would have him 
 shot, to give proof of his loyalty. He died about the revolution, in great 
 torture of body, by the gravel, and horror and anguish of conscience, inso- 
 much that his cries were heard at a great distance from the house, — a warn- 
 ing to all such apostates. 
 
 Sir Robert Griersox, of Lagg, hanng the command of a part of Claver- 
 house's troop, and Strachan's dragoons, surprised John Bell, of Whiteside, 
 Dand Halliday, portioner, of Mayfield, Andrew M'Crabit, James Clement, 
 and Robert Lenox, of Irlintoun, and barbarously killed them, after quarter, 
 without time allowed to pray. "When John Bell, of Whiteside, begged a 
 little time to pray, Lagg answered, " What the devil have ye been doing? 
 Have ye not prayed enough these many years in the hills?" and so shot him 
 presently, in the parish of Tongland, in Galloway, February, 1685. The 
 said Laird of Lagg, with the Earl of Annandale, having command of some 
 troops of heritors, pursued another David Halliday, and George Short, and 
 apprehended, and shot them, under cloud of night, in the parish of Twy- 
 name, in Galloway, 1630. The Laird of Lagg, who was so wicked an 
 oppressor and destroyer of the people of God, in Galloway and Nithsdale, 
 was afterwards made a justice of the peace, notwithstanding his being ex- 
 communicated for his adultery and impenitent obstinacy. 
 
 The Laird of Colzean, for that time captain of a troop of miUtia and 
 heritors, killed William M'Kergue, at Blairquhan Mill, anno 1685. He 
 also, -s^-ith the Laird of Ballochmiln, shot Gilbert M'Adam, in the parish of 
 Kirkmichael, July, 1G85. 
 
 A party of Highlanders killed Joseph Wilson, David Dun, Simeon Pater- 
 son, and other two, near the water of Kyle, in a moss in Kyle, 1685. 
 
 The Laird of Ardixcaple, commanding a party of Highlandmen, killed 
 Robert Lockhart and Gabriel Thomson about that time also. Likewise 
 William Paterson was shot at Strathaven, by whom is unknown, 1685. Also 
 John M'Clorgan was killed at Drummellian's house in the night time; it is 
 not known by whom. 
 
 John Reid, belonging some time to Craigie's troop, did, under cloud of 
 night, kill by a shot, one George Wood, about sixteen years old, without 
 asking one question at him, in Tinkhorn hill, in Kyle, June, 1688. The 
 number of such murders amounts to seventy-eight. 
 
 Besides these cold-blooded murders, there were many killed at several 
 skirmishes, at Pentland, Bothwell, Airsmoss, &c., while fighting in their 
 own defence, and the defence of the field-meetings; the number whereof 
 amounts to upwards of 400. 
 
 A short Account of the Oppressive Exactions. 
 
 Expecting that others, who have the particular informations of matters 
 of fact by them, will be concerned to publish a more full account of these 
 illegal fines and robberies, it may sufl&ce at present, to transcribe only the 
 general account of some of them, out of the forementioned " Memorial of 
 Grievances." 
 
 For fines, and other exorbitant and illegal exactions of money, the par- 
 ticular sums cannot be here enumerated; but their vastness, when calculated 
 together, may be easily collected, by the scraps already gathered off" some 
 poor famiUes of farmers, cottars, servants, &c., (many of these are omitted, 
 or not known, which would very considerably augment the sum,) in some 
 few shires, viz., Clydesdale, Renfrew, Ayr, Galloway, Nithsdale, and A7inandale, 
 
 2n2 
 
414 APPENDIX. 
 
 since Bothwell Bridge insurrection, amounting to above £288,000 Scots. 
 Besides about 200 honest families which have been cast out of their houses, 
 harassed and spoiled of their all ; some of their houses being thrown down, 
 some burnt, some shut up, their goods and moveables seized upon, their 
 crop and cattle also disposed of, at the will of their persecutors, in the fore- 
 mentioned shires. 
 
 The immediate authors, actors, and instruments of these oppressions, 
 were principally the curates, instigating the privy council, which empowered 
 the forces, and noblemen and gentlemen of the country to prey upon the 
 poor people. All cannot be here expressed, but some of the most noted in 
 the western shires may be mentioned, who were the greatest persecutors 
 and oppressors, by fining and other exactions. Of othcers of the forces, 
 Colonel Douglas, brother to the Duke of Queensberry, exacted above £2,000 
 Scots money, in Galloivay, Nitlisdale, shire of Ayi\ and other places. Lieu- 
 tenant-General Drummond, besides the forefaulters of gentlemen, did also 
 exact monies of the poor in the shire of Ayr. The Earl of Linlithgow, and 
 his soldiers, spoiled much in Galhvxiy. The Earl of Airly, and his troop, 
 in the same shire. Lord Balcarras was a great oppressor in Gallotmy, 
 besides all the robberies he commited in Fife. James Graham, of Claver- 
 house, afterwards Viscount of Dundee, with his brother and subaltern 
 officers in Gallou-ay, NitJisdale^ and A/mandale, exacted by fines and other- 
 wise, above £13,500 Scots money. Colonel Buchan, a most violent perse- 
 cutor in Gallotray, and shire of Ayr, by robberies, took from the people 
 upwards of £4,000 Scots. Major Cockburn, a great oppressor in Galioicay, 
 Major AVhite in Clydesdale^ and shire of Ayr^ exacted by fines and otherwise, 
 above £2,508 Scots. Major Balfour, a great oppressor and persecutor in 
 Clydesdale, Captain Strachan in Galloicay, Inglis in Galloway, Ayr, and 
 Clydesdale, Douglas in Galloway^ Dalziel in Annandale, and Bruce in Nith- 
 dale, oppressed and spoiled the people much. Meldrum in Clydesdale, took 
 from poor families upwards of £2,800, and vast sums in Merse and Teviot- 
 dale, with the Earl of Hume, and Ker of Grandoun, with the Laird of 
 Hayning and Bindle, and in TiceeddaJe, with the Laird of Possa. Lieutenant 
 Winram and Barns were very vigilant persecutors in Galloicay, and took 
 much spoil. Lieutenant Lauder in Ayr, Bonshaw, a highwayman, and 
 Duncan Grant, a cripple, with a wooden leg, in Clydesdale, oppressed the 
 people excessively; this last exacted in Clydesdale, £1.500. The chief of the 
 oppressors among noblemen and gentlemen were, in Clydesdale, Summervail 
 of Spittel, who exacted from the poor people above £1/200. Halyards more 
 than £5,800. Bonytoune and Symme were also great and violent exactors. 
 In the city of Glasr/o7i\ Provosts Johnston and Barns; Bailies Anderson, 
 Zuil, Graham, and Stirling, exacted above £20,000. In JRei/freu; the Earl 
 of Glencairn exacted above £2,400. Likewise Semple, a Papist, Alexander 
 Hume, in Eaglesham, and Ezekiel Montgomery, were all great exactors. In 
 the shire of Ayr, the Earl of Dumfries exacted above £1,000. Likewise the 
 Lord Craigie, William Crichton, Sheriff-Depute, Crawford of Ardmillan, 
 Montgomery of Bozland, the Laird of Broyche, and Clerk Ogilvie, were all 
 great and wicked persecutors. In Galloicay, Grierson of Lagg, who exacted 
 there, and in Niihsdale, above £1,200. Liddesdale, Isle and Cannon of 
 Merdograte, were also great oppressors. In Nithsdalc, Queensberry and his 
 sons, and John Alison, his chamberlain, who, when dying, said, '' he had 
 damned his soul for the duke his master:" George Charter, another of his 
 factors, who vaunted, he had made twenty-six journeys in a year in pursuit 
 of the Whigs, and John Douglas, of Stenhouse, a Papist, exacted £15,000. 
 The Laird of Closeburn above £700. Sir Robert Dalziel £400 from a few 
 families. Sir Robert Laurie, of Maxweltoun, was also a great oppressor and 
 persecutor. In Annandale, the Earl of Annandale persecuted much; and 
 likewise in Galloivay, the Laird of Westerhall exacted above £11,000. Sir 
 
APPENDIX. 415 
 
 Patrick Maxwel, of Springkel, was also a very active and %dolent persecutor. 
 The Lairds of Powden and Castlemilk, Robert Carruthers of Remarskel, 
 Thomas Kennedy, of Heybeiths, were also most violent persecutors of the 
 poor people. 
 
 From these short accounts of the oppressions, bloodshed, and illegal 
 tyranny exercised in this land, it may be conjectured what the total would 
 amount to, if a history thereof were published. But all these, however 
 great persecutions, are but little in comparison of what the mother of harlots 
 and her children intended against us; which, that the Lord may prevent, 
 ought to be the serious prayer and strenuous endeavour of all who have a 
 regard to the greatest interests of themselves and posterity. 
 
INSCRIPTIONS 
 
 rPO.\ THE 
 
 TOMBS OF THE MARTYRS, 
 
 I.N SEVERAL CHURCHYARDS, AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THEY LIE BURIED. 
 
 Epitaph upon the Monument in the Greyfi-iars' Churchyard at 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 On the tomb-stone, an open Bible is drawn, with the following scripture 
 citations and verses: — 
 
 " And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls 
 of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which 
 they held; and they cried with a loud voice, saying. How long, O Lord, holy 
 and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on 
 the earth? And white robes were given unto evei-y one of them; and it 
 was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their 
 fellow-servants also, and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, 
 should be fulfilled," Rev. vi. 9—11. "These are they which came out of 
 great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the 
 blood of the Lamb," Rev. vii. 14. 
 
 Halt, passenger, take heed what you do see, 
 
 This tomb doth show, for what some men did die. 
 
 Here lies interr'd the dust of those who stood 
 
 'Gainst perjury, resisting unto blood; 
 
 Adhering to the covenants, and laws 
 
 Establishing the same ; which was the cause 
 
 Their lives were sacrific'd unto the lust 
 
 Of Prelatists abjur'd. Though here their dust 
 
 Lies mixt with murderers, and other crew. 
 
 Whom justice did justly to death pursue: 
 
 But as for these, no cause in them was found 
 
 Worthy of death, but only they were found 
 
 Constant and steadfast, zealous, witnessing 
 
 For the prerogatives of Christ their King. 
 
 Which truths were seal'd by famous Guthrie's head, 
 
 And all along to Mr. Renwick's blood. 
 
 They did endure the wrath of enemies. 
 
 Reproaches, torments, deaths, and injuries. 
 
 But yet they're these who from such trouble came, 
 
 And now triumph in glory with the Lamb. 
 
 * As these Epitaphs are mostly composed by illiterate country people, the reader 
 will readily pardon any harshness he may meet with in the phrase or metre. 
 
418 EPITAPHS. 
 
 From May, 27, 1661, that the noble Marquis of Argyle suffered, to the 
 17th of February, 1688, that Mr. James Renwck suffered, were executed at 
 Edinburgh, about an hundred of noblemen, gentlemen, ministers, and others, 
 noble martyrs for Jesus Christ. The most part of them ly here. 
 
 Upon the foot of the monument stands a crown, with this inscription, — 
 " Be thou faithful unto the death, and I will give thee a crown of life." 
 
 Upon a Grave-stone in the Churchyard of Hamilton, lying on 
 the heads of Johx PaeivER, Gavix HAiin.Tox, James H.iiiiL- 
 TON, and Christopher Strang, who suffered at Edinburgh. 
 Dec. 7th, 1666. Their Testimony is extant in Naphtah. 
 
 Stay, passenger, take notice what thou reads, 
 At Edinburgh ly our bodies, here our heads; 
 Our right-hands stood at Lanark, these we want, 
 Because with them we sware the covenant. 
 
 Upon a Stone m the High Churchyard of Glasgow. 
 
 Here lies the corpse of Robert Bunton, John Hart, Robert Scot, Matthew 
 Patoun, John Richmond, James Johnston, Archibald Stewart, James Win- 
 ning, John Main, who suffered at the Cross of Glasgow, for their testimony 
 to the covenants and work of reformation, because they durst not own the 
 authority of the then tyrants, destroying the same, betwixt 1666 and 1688. 
 
 Years sixty-six, and eighty-four. 
 Did send their souls home into glore. 
 Whose bodies here interred ly. 
 Then sacrific'd to tyranny; 
 To covenants and reformation 
 'Cause they adhered in their station. 
 These nine, with others in this yard, 
 Whose heads and bodies were not spar'd, 
 Their testimonies, foes, to bury, 
 Caus'd beat the drums then in great fury: 
 They '11 know at resurrection day, 
 To murder saints was no sweet play. 
 
 Inscription on the Stone lying on John Wharry and James 
 Smith, who are buried at Inchbelly Bridge. 
 
 Halt, passenger, read hear upon this stone 
 
 A tragedy our bodies done upon. 
 
 At Glasgow Cross we lost both our right hands, 
 
 To fright beholders, th' en'my so commands: 
 
 Then put to death, and that most cruelly, 
 
 Yet where we 're slain, even there we must not ly ; 
 
 From Glasgow town we're brought unto this place. 
 
 On gallow-tree hung up for certain space : 
 
 Yet thence ta'en down, interred here we ly 
 
 Beneath this stone: our blood to heaven doth cry. 
 
 Had foreign foes, Turks or Mahometans, 
 
 Had Scythian Tartars, Arabian Caravans. 
 
 Had cruel Spaniards, the pope's bloody seed, 
 
 Commenc'd the same, had been less strange their deed: 
 
EPITAPHS. 419 
 
 But Protestants, once covenanters too, 
 Our countrymen, this cruel deed could do; 
 Yet notwithstanding this their hellish rage, 
 The noble Wharry leapt upon the stage, 
 With courage bold, he said, and heart not faint, 
 Tim blood shall noiv seal up our covenant. 
 Ending, Tliey who would follow Christ should take 
 Their cross tipoti their back, the world forsake. 
 
 Inscription on James Nisbet, Jajsies Lawsox, and Alexander 
 
 Wood, buried at the Gallows-foot, Glasgow. 
 
 Here ly martyrs three, 
 
 Of memory, 
 
 AVho for the covenants did die ; 
 
 And witness is 
 
 'Gainst all these nations perjury. 
 
 Inscription on a Stone in Eastwood Parish, lying upon the 
 
 Corpse of James Eagle and John Park, who suffered at 
 
 the Cross of Paisley, for refusing the Oath of Abjuration, in 
 
 the year 1685. 
 
 Stay, passenger, as thou goes by, 
 
 And take a look where these do ly, 
 
 Who, for the love they bare to truth. 
 
 Were depriv'd of their life and youth. 
 
 Tho' laws made then caus'd many die, 
 
 Judges and 'sizers were not free; 
 
 He that to them did these delate. 
 
 The greater count he hath to make; 
 
 Yet no excuse to them can be: 
 
 At ten condemned, at two to die. 
 
 So cruel did their rage become, 
 
 To stop their speech caus'd beat the drum. 
 
 This may a standing witness be 
 
 'Twixt Presbytry and Prelacy. 
 
 Inscription on the Grave-stone at Cathcart, lying on the Bodies 
 
 of Robert Tam, Thomas Cook, and John Ukie, who were 
 
 shot at Polmadie, May 11th, 1685. 
 
 The bloody murderers of these men 
 Were Major Balfour and Captain Maitland. 
 And with them others were not free, 
 Caus'd them to search in Pomadie. 
 As soon as they had them out found, 
 They murder'd them with shot of gun; 
 Scarce time to them did they allow, 
 Before their ^laker their knees to bow. 
 Many like in this land have been, 
 Whose blood for vengeance cries to heaven. 
 This horrid wickedness you see 
 Was done in lone of Pomadie; 
 Which may a standing witness be 
 'Twixt Presbytry and Prelacy. 
 
420 EPITAPHS. 
 
 Inscription on a Stone in the Churchyard of Eaglesham, upon 
 the Bodies of Gabriel Thomson and Robert Lockhart, shot 
 by a party of Highlandmen and Dragoons, under the com- 
 mand of Ardincaple, May 1, 1685. 
 
 These men did search through moor and moss, 
 To find out all that had no pass. 
 These faithful witnesses were found. 
 And murdered upon the ground. 
 Their bodies in this grave do lie, 
 Their blood for vengeance yet doth cry: 
 This may a standing witness be 
 For Presbytry 'gainst Prelacy. 
 
 Inscription on the Monument at Airsmoss, lying upon the Bodies 
 of them that fell there, July 20th, 1680, namely, the Rev. 
 Richard Cajieron, Michael Cameron, John Hamilton, John 
 Gemmel, JAifES Gray, Robert Dick, John Fuller, Robert 
 Paterson, Thomas Watson, &c. 
 
 Halt, curious passenger, come here, and read: 
 Our souls triumph with Christ, our glorious head. 
 In self-defence, we murder'd here do ly, 
 To witness 'gainst this nation's perjury. 
 
 Inscription on a Grave-stone in the Churchyard of Strathaven, 
 on the Corpse of WnxiAM Paterson, who lived in the Parish 
 of Cambusnethan, and John Barrie, in Evandale, anno 1685. 
 
 Here lye two martyrs, severally who fell 
 By Captain IngUs, and by bloody Bell. 
 Posterity shall know they 're shot to death 
 As sacrifices unto Popish wrath. 
 
 Acrostic upon a Stone lying on the Corpse of John Brown, who 
 lived in the Parish of Muirkirk, and was shot by Grahame of 
 Claverhouse, at his own door. May 1st, 1685, and lies buried 
 there in the open fields. 
 
 I N death's cold bed, the dusty part here lies 
 O f one who did the earth, as dust, despise. 
 H ere, in this place, from earth he took departure : 
 N ow he has got the garland of the martyr. 
 
 B utcher'd by Clavers and his bloody band, 
 R aging most rav'nously o'er all the land. 
 O nly for owning Christ's supremacy, 
 Wickedly wrong'd by encroaching tyi'anny. 
 N othing, how near soever, he too good 
 Esteem'd; nor dear, for precious truth, his blood. 
 
EPITAPHS. 421 
 
 Inscription on the Stone lying at Blackwood, in the Parish of 
 
 Lesmahagow, upon the Corpse of John Brown, who was shot 
 
 by Murray, without sentence of law, anno 1685, and 
 
 buried there in the open fields. 
 
 Murray might murder such a godly Browii, 
 But could not rob him of that glorious crown 
 He now enjoys. His credit, not his crime, 
 Was non-compliance with a wicked time. 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone of David Steel, in the Churchyard of 
 Lesmahagow. 
 
 David, a shepherd first, and then 
 
 Advanced to be king of men. 
 
 Had of his graces in this quarter, 
 
 This heir a wand'rer, now a martyr; 
 
 Who, for his constancy and zeal, 
 
 Still to the back did prove good Steel; 
 
 Who, for Christ's royal truths and laws, 
 
 And for the covenanted cause 
 
 Of Scotland's famous reformation, 
 
 Declining tyrant's usurpation; 
 
 By cruel Crichton murder'd lies, 
 
 Whose blood to heav'n for vengeance cries. 
 
 Inscriptions upon three several Grave-stones, lying on John 
 Gibson, James Bennoch, Robert Edgar, and Robert Mit- 
 chell, who were shot at Inglistoun, in the Parish of Glen- 
 cairn, by Colonel Douglas and Lieutenant Livingston, anno 
 1685. 
 
 1. On John Gibson. 
 
 My soul's in heaven, here's my dust. 
 By wicked sentence, and unjust. 
 Shot dead, convicted of no crime, 
 But non-compliance with the time, 
 When Babel's bastards had command, 
 And monstrous tjTants ruled the land. 
 
 2. On jAiiES Bennoch. 
 Here lies a monument of Popish wrath; 
 Because I'm not perjur'd, I'm shot to death 
 By cruel hands; men, godless, and unjust. 
 Did sacrifice my blood to Babel's lust. 
 
 8. On Robert Edgar and Robert Mitchell, both under one 
 
 Stone. 
 
 Halt, passenger, tell, if thou ever saw 
 Men shot to death, without process of law. 
 We two, of four who in this churchyard ly, 
 Thus felt the rage of Popish tyranny. 
 
 2 
 
422 EPITAPHS. 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone of Akdrew Hislop, lying in Craickhaugh, 
 
 in Eskdale Mooi% being the place where he was shot by Claver- 
 
 house and Sir James Johnstoun, of "Westerhall. 
 
 Halt, passenger, a word with thee or two. 
 Why I ly here wouldst thou truly know? 
 By wicked hands, hands cruel and unjust, 
 Without all law, my life from me they thrust; 
 And, being dead, they left me on the spot, 
 For burial this same place I got; 
 Truth's friends in Eskdale, now rejoice their lot, 
 To wit, the faithful, for truth my seal thus got. 
 
 Ill the Churchyard of Dumfi-ies, upon the Grave-stone of JoHX 
 
 Geiersox, who lived in the Parish of Irongray, and suffered 
 
 January 26, 1667, is this Inscription. 
 
 Underneath this stone doth ly 
 
 Dust, sacrific'd to tyranny: 
 
 Yet precious in Immanuel's sight. 
 
 Since martyr'd for his kingly right. 
 
 When he condemns these hellish drudges, 
 
 By suff'rage, saints shall be their judges. 
 
 Epitaph upon the Grave-stone of William Welch, in the same 
 
 Churchyard, who lived in the same Parish, and suffered at the 
 
 same time with the former. 
 
 Halt, passenger, read, here interr'd doth ly 
 A wdtness 'gainst poor Scotland's peijury, 
 Whose head once fixt upon the bridge-port stood, 
 Proclaiming vengeance for his guiltless blood. 
 
 In the same Churchyard, on the Grave-stone of Ja3IES Kirko, 
 
 who lived in the Parish of Kier, and was shot dead on the 
 
 Sands of Dum&'ies, by Captain Bruce, June, 1685. 
 
 By bloody Bruce, and wretched Wright, 
 I lost my life in great despite; 
 Shot dead without due time to try, 
 And fit me for eternity; 
 A witness of Prelatic rage, 
 As ever was in any age. 
 
 On the Grave-stone lying on Edward Gordon and Alexander 
 
 M*Ubixe, executed at the Church of Irongray, at the command 
 
 of the Laird of Lagg and Captain Bruce. 
 
 As Lagg and bloody Bruce command. 
 We were hung up by hellish hand ; 
 And thus, their furious rage to stay, 
 We died at Kirk of Irongray: 
 Here now, in peace, sweet rest we take, 
 Once murder'd for religion's sake. 
 
EPITAPHS. 423 
 
 Upon a Stone lying in a Muir near Lochenkithil, on the Grave 
 of JoHX Gordon, Williaji Stewart, William Heron, and 
 John Wallace, shot by Captain Bruce. 
 
 Behold, here in this wilderness we ly 
 
 Four witnesses of hellish cruelty. 
 
 Our lives and blood could not their ire assuage, 
 
 But when we're dead, they did against us rage ; 
 
 That match the like, we think, ye scarcely can, 
 
 Except the Turk's or Duke de Alva's men. 
 
 Upon a Stone in TjTiron Churchyard lying on William Smith, 
 
 a Youth of Eighteen Years of age, who was shot at the 
 
 Bridge-end of Moniaive, by the command of Sir Robert Lawrie, 
 
 Laird of Maxwelton, and John Douglas, of Stenhouse, May, 
 
 1685. 
 
 I, William Smith, now here do ly, 
 Once martyr'd for Christ's verity. 
 Douglas of Stenhouse, Lawrie of Maxwelton, 
 Caus'd cornet Bailie give me martjTdom; 
 What cruelty they to my corpse then us'd, 
 Living may judge; me burial they refus'd. 
 
 Upon Daniel MacMichael, who was shot by Dalziel, of Kirk- 
 michael, January, 1685, lying in the Churchyard of Durisdeer. 
 
 As Daniel cast was into lions' den, 
 
 For praying unto God, and not to men ; 
 
 Thus lions cruelly devoured me. 
 
 For bearing unto truth my testimony. 
 
 I rest in peace, till Jesus rend the cloud. 
 
 And judge 'twixt me and those who shed my blood. 
 
 Epitaph upon the Grave-stone in the Churchyard of Balmaghie, 
 
 upon the Corpse of David Halliday, portioner, of Maj-field, 
 
 shot by the Laird of Lagg, February, 1685, and of David 
 
 Halliday, in Glenap, shot by the Laird of Lagg and the Earl 
 
 of Annandale, in the same Year, 1 685. 
 
 Beneath this stone two David Hallidays 
 
 Do ly, whose souls now sing their Master's praise. 
 
 To know, if curious passengers desire. 
 
 For what, by whom, and how they did expire? 
 
 They did oppose this nation's perjury. 
 
 Nor could they join with lordly Prelacy. 
 
 Indulgence favours from Christ's enemies 
 
 Quench'd not their zeal : this monument then cries, 
 
 These are the causes, not to be forgot, 
 
 Why they by Lagg so wickedly were shot. 
 
 One name, one cause, one grave, one heaven do tye 
 
 Their soul to that one God etemallv. 
 
424 EPITAPHS. 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone in the Churchyard of Anwoth, lying on 
 the Corpse of JoHX Bell, of Whiteside, who was most bar- 
 barously shot to death at the command of Douglas, of Morton, 
 and Grierson, of Lagg, in the Parish of Tongland, in Gallo- 
 way, anno 1685. 
 
 This monument shall tell posterity, 
 
 That blessed Bell, of Whiteside, here doth ly; 
 
 AVho at command of bloody Lagg was shot; 
 
 A murder strange, which should not be forgot. 
 
 Douglas, of Morton, did him quarters give; 
 
 Yet cruel Lagg would not let him survive. 
 
 This martyr sought some time to recommend 
 
 His soul to God, before his days did end; 
 
 The tyrant said, " What, devil! ye've pray'd enough 
 
 These long seven years, on mountain and in cleugh.^^ 
 
 So instantly caus'd him, with other four, 
 
 Be shot to death upon Kirkconnel muir. 
 
 So thus did end the lives of these brave saints, 
 
 For their adhering to the covenants. 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone lying on the Corpse of Robert Stewart, 
 
 Son to Major Robert Stewart, of Ardoch, and John Grierson, 
 
 who were murdered by Graham of Claverhouse, at the water 
 
 of Dee, in Galloway, anno 1684. 
 
 Behold ! behold ! a stone here's forced to cry. 
 
 Come see two martyrs under me that ly, 
 
 ^t water of Dee, who slain were by the hand 
 
 Of cnjel Claverhouse and's bloody band. 
 
 No sooner had he done this horrid thing, 
 
 But's forced to say, Steicarfs soul in heaven doth sing. 
 
 Yet strange, his rage pursu'd ev'n such when dead, 
 
 And in the tombs of their ancestors laid; 
 
 Causing their corpse be rais'd out of the same, 
 
 Discharging in churchyard to bury them. 
 
 All this they did, because they would not abjure. 
 
 Our covenants and reformation pure ; 
 
 Because like faithful martyrs for to die 
 
 They rather chose than treacherously comply 
 
 With cursed Prelacy, the nation's bane. 
 
 And with indulgency, our church's stain. 
 
 Perjur'd intelligencers were so rife, 
 
 Shovv'd their curs'd loyalty, to take their life. 
 
 Upon a Grave-stone lying on the Corpse of Wellmm Hunter 
 and Robert Smith, who were sentenced and hanged at Kirk- 
 cudbright, anno 168-1, by Captain Douglas, Graham of Claver- 
 house, and Captain Bruce. 
 
 This monument shall show posterity. 
 
 Two headless martyrs under it do ly. 
 
 By bloody Graham were taken and'surpris'd. 
 
 Brought to this town, and afterwards were 'siz'd; 
 
EPITAPHS. 425 
 
 By unjust law were sentenced to die, 
 
 Then first they hang'd, then headed cruelly. 
 
 Captain Douglas, Bruce, Graham of Claverhouse, 
 
 Were these that caused them to be handled thus: 
 
 And ^vhen they were unto the gibbet come. 
 
 To stop their speech, they did beat up the drum. 
 
 And all because they would not comply 
 
 With Indulgence, and bloody Prelacy/ 
 
 In face of cruel Bruce, Douglas, and Graham, 
 
 They did maintain, That ChrM uxis Lord stipreme; 
 
 And boldly owned both the covenants, 
 
 At Kii'kcudbright thus ended these two saints. 
 
 Upon a Stone in the Churchyard of Balmaclellan, on the Body 
 of Robert Gkiersox, who was slain by command of Colone 
 James Douglas, at Inglistoun, in the Parish of Glencairn 
 1685. 
 
 This monument to passengers shall cry. 
 
 That godly Grierson under it doth ly, 
 
 Betray'd by knavish Watson to his foes, 
 
 Which made this martyr's days by murder close. 
 
 If ye would know the nature of his crime, 
 
 Then read the story of that killing time, 
 
 When Babel's brats, with hellish plot conceal'd, 
 
 Design 'd to make our south their hunting-field, 
 
 Here one of five at once were laid in dust, 
 
 To gratify Rome's execrable lust. 
 
 If carabines, with molten bullets, could 
 
 Have i-each'd their souls, these mighty Ximrods would 
 
 Them have cut off; for here could no request 
 
 Three minutes get, to pray for future rest. 
 
 Besides these mottoes in verse, there are in the stewartry of Kircudbright 
 in Galloway, several other monuments both in churchyards and open fields, 
 the mottoes whereof are in prose, intimating, that they died for their adher- 
 ence to the covenants and work of reformation, viz., in the churchyard of 
 Kircudbright, upon the corpse of John Hallum, who was wounded when 
 taken, and sentenced by Captain Douglas to be hanged, in the year 168.5, 
 In the churchyard of Borgue, upon the body of Robert Macquae, shot in 
 that parish by the ^aid Captain Douglas, anno 1685. In the churchyard of 
 Girthon, upon the body of Robert Lennox, sometime in Irlintoun, shot by 
 the Laird of Lagg, anno 1685. In the same parish, in the muir of Auchen- 
 cloy, upon the body of Robert Ferguson, shot by Graham of Claverhouse, 
 in that place, anno 1684. In the parish of Tongland, in Kirkonnel-hill, 
 upon the body of James Clement, shot by the Laird of Lagg, anno 1685. 
 In the churchyard of Balmaghie, upon the body of George Short, shot by 
 the same Laird of Lagg, anno 1685. In the churchyard of Kells, upon the 
 corpse of Adam MacQuham, who, when sick of a fever, was brought from 
 his own house to Xevvtoun of Galloway, and next day shot by command of 
 Lieutenant-General Douglas, brother to the Duke of Queensberry, 1685. 
 And upon the corpse of William Graham, who was shot while making his 
 escape from his mother's house, by a party of Clavei'house's troop, anno 
 1682. 
 
 2o2 
 
426 EPITAPHS. 
 
 Upon a Stone in the Churchyard of Ayr, lying on the Bodies of 
 
 James Smith, Alexander MacMillan, James MacMillan, 
 
 G-EORGE MacCartxey, John Short, John Graham, and John 
 
 Muirhead, who suffered Martyrdom at Ayr, December 27th, 
 
 1666. 
 
 Here lye seven martyrs for our covenants, 
 A sacred number of ti'iumphant saints. 
 Pontius MacAdam th' unjust sentence past; 
 What is his own the world shall know at last. 
 And Herod Drummond caus'd their heads affix; 
 Heav'n keeps a record of the sixty-six. 
 Boots, thumbkins, gibbets, were in fashion then; 
 Lord, let us never see such days again. 
 
 Upon a Stone lying beside the Gallows of Ayr, upon the Body 
 of Andrew Mac Gill, who was apprehended by the informa- 
 tion of Andrew Thom, and suffered there, November, 1684. 
 
 Near this abhorred tree a sufferer lies, 
 Who chus'd to fall, that falling truth might rise. 
 His station could advance no costly deed, 
 Save giving of a life the Lord did need. 
 AVhen Christ shall vindicate his way, he'll cast 
 The doom which was pronounc'd in such a haste. 
 And incorruption shall forget disgrace, 
 Design'd by the interment in this place. 
 
 Upon the Stone at Mauchline, lying on the Bodies of Peter 
 
 GiLLLEs, John Bryce, Thojias Young, William Fiddison, 
 
 and John Bruning, who were apprehended, and hanged up 
 
 there without trial, anno 1685. 
 
 Bloody Dumbarton, Douglas, and Dundee, 
 Mov'd by the devil, and the Laird of Lee, 
 Dragged these five men to death with gun and sword, 
 Not suffering them to pray, nor read God's word; 
 Owning the work of God was all their crime. 
 The eighty five was a saint-killing time. 
 
 Upon the Tombstone at Irvine, lying on the Bodies of James 
 
 Blackwood and John M'Coul, who suffered there, December 
 
 31st, 1666. 
 
 These honest countrymen, whose bones here ly, 
 A victim fell to Prelates' cruelty; 
 Condemn'd by bloody and unrighteous laws, 
 They died martyrs for the good old cause, 
 AVhich Balaam's wicked race in vain assail; 
 For no enchantments 'gainst Israel prevail. 
 Life and this evil world they did contemn. 
 And dy'd for Christ, who died first for them. 
 
EPITAPHS. 427 
 
 Upon a Stone at Kilmarnock, lying on the Heads of John Ross 
 and JoHX Shields, who suffered at Edinburgh, the 27th of 
 December, 1666, and had their heads set up at Edlmamock. 
 
 Our persecutors mad with wrath and ire; 
 
 In Edinburgh members some do lye, some here; 
 
 Yet instantly united they shall be, 
 
 And witness 'gainst this nation's perjury. 
 
 Upon another Stone at Kilmarnock, lying upon the Corpse of 
 JOHX NiSBET, who suffered there the I4th of April, 1688. 
 
 Come, reader, see, here pleasant Nisbet lies. 
 His blood doth pierce the high and lofty skies; 
 Kilmarnock did his latter hour perceive, 
 And Christ his soul to heaven did receive. 
 Yet bloody Torrenee did his body raise. 
 And buried it in another place; 
 Saying, Shall rebels lye in f/raves icith me ? 
 We'll bury him ivhere evil doers be. 
 
 Upon a Grave-stone at Fenwick, lying on the Dust of John 
 Fergushill and George Woodburx, who were shot by Nisbet 
 and his party, anno 1685. 
 
 When bloody prelates, once this nation's pest,' 
 Contriv'd that curs'd self-contradicting test; 
 These men for Christ did suffer martyrdom. 
 And here their blood hes waiting till he come. 
 
 Upon another Grave-stone there, lying on the Corpse of Peter 
 Gemmel, who was shot by the same Nisbet and his party, anno 
 1685. 
 
 This man, like holy anchorites of old. 
 
 For conscience sake was thrust from house and hold, 
 
 Blood-thirsty red-coats cut his prayers short, 
 
 And ev'n his dying groans were made their sport. 
 
 Ah, Scotland! breach of solemn vows repent; 
 
 Or bloody crimes will bring thy punishment. 
 
 Upon a third Stone, lying on the Body of James White, shot by 
 Peter Inglis and his party, 1685. 
 
 This martyr was by Peter Inglis shot, 
 
 By birth a tyger rather than a Scot; 
 
 Who, that his monstrous extract might be seen, 
 
 Cut off his head, and kick'd it o'er the green. 
 
 Thus was that head, which was to wear a crown, 
 
 A foot-ball made by a profane dragoon. 
 
428 EPITAPHS. 
 
 Upon a Stone in the Churchyard of AYigton, on the Body of 
 
 Margaret Wilson, who Avas drowned in the water of Bled- 
 
 noch, upon the 11th of May, 1684, by the Laird of Lagg, &c. 
 
 Let earth and stone still witness bear, 
 There lies a virgin martyr here, 
 Murder'd for owning Christ supreme, 
 Head of his church, and no more crime, 
 But her not owning Prelacy, 
 And not abjuring Presbytery, 
 Within the sea, ty'd to a stake, 
 She suffered for Christ Jesus' sake. 
 The actors of this cruel crime, 
 Was Lagg, Winram, Strachan, and Graham. 
 Neither young years, nor yet old age, 
 Could quench the fury of their rage. 
 
 Upon a Stone in the Churchyard of Cohnonel, on the Body of 
 
 Matthew Meiklewrath, who was killed in that parish by 
 
 Claverhouse. 
 
 In this parish of Colmonel, 
 By bloody Claverhouse I fell, 
 Who did command that I should die, 
 For owning covenanted Presbytery. 
 My blood a witness still doth stand, 
 'Gainst all defections in this land. 
 
 Upon a Stone in the Churchyard of Stratoun, on the Body of 
 
 . Thomas M'Haffie, who was taken out of his bed, being sick 
 
 of a Fever, and shot by Captain Bruce, in that Parish, 1685. 
 
 Though I was sick and like to die, 
 Yet bloody Bruce did murder me; 
 Because I adhered in my station 
 To our covenanted reformation. 
 My blood for vengeance yet doth call, 
 Upon Zion's haters all. 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone of Andrew Guilline, who suffered at the 
 Gallowlee of Edinburgh, July 20th, 1683, and afterwards was 
 hung upon a pole in Magusmuir, and lies buried in the Long- 
 cross of Clermont, near Magusmuir. 
 
 A FAITHFUL martyr here doth lye, 
 A witness against perjury; 
 Who cruelly was put to death, 
 To gratify proud Prelates' wrath ; 
 They cut his hands ere he was dead, 
 And after that struck off his head. 
 To Magusmuir then did him bring. 
 His body on a pole did hing. 
 His blood under the altar cries. 
 For vengeance on Christ's enemies. 
 
EPITAPHS. 429 
 
 Upon a Stone in the Churchyard of Tweed 's-Muir, lying on the 
 
 Body of JoHX Hunter, who was shot at Corehead, by Colonel 
 
 James Douglas, 1675. 
 
 When Zion's king was robbed of his right, 
 
 His witnesses in Scotland put to flight; 
 
 When Papists, Prelates, and Indulgency, 
 
 Combin'd 'gainst Christ to ruin Presbytry, 
 
 All who would not unto these idols bow, 
 
 They sought them out, and whom they found they slew: 
 
 For owning of Christ's cause I then did die, 
 
 My blood for vengeance on his enemies doth cry.* 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone of Thomas Buhx, James Wood, Andrew 
 
 Sword, John Waddel, and John Clyde, who suffered Mar- 
 
 t}Tdom at Magusmuu-, November 25th, 1689, and lye buried 
 
 in a corn-field near Magusmuir, is this Inscription. 
 
 'Cause we at Bothwell did appear, 
 
 Perjurious oaths refused to swear; 
 
 'Cause we Christ's cause would not condemn, 
 
 We were sentenc'd to death by men. 
 
 Who rag'd against us in such fury. 
 
 Our dead bodies they did not bury; 
 
 But up on poles did hing us high, 
 
 Triumphs of Babel's victory. 
 
 Our lives we fear'd not to the death, 
 
 But constant prov'd to the last breath. 
 
 When the grave-stone was set up, in October, 1738, the chains were taken 
 out of their graves, and some of their bones and clothes were found unde- 
 cayed — 49 years after their death. 
 
 Monumental Inscription on a Grave-stone at Rullion Green, 
 
 Pentland-Hills. 
 
 Here, and near to this place, lies the Rev. John Cruikshanks, and Mr. 
 Andrew M'Cormack, ministers of the gospel, and about fifty other true 
 covenanted Presbyterians, who were killed in this place, in their own inno- 
 cent self-defence, and defence of the covenanted work of reformation, by 
 Thomas Dalziel of Binns, upon the 28th of November, 1666. Rev. xii. 11. 
 " And they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their 
 testimonv, and they loved not their lives unto the death." Erected Sep- 
 tember 28th, 1738. 
 
 On the opposite side of the Stone is the following Verse. 
 
 A CLOUD of witnesses lye here, 
 
 AVho for Christ's interest did appear, 
 
 For to restore true liberty, 
 
 O'erturned then by tyranny; 
 
 And by proud Prelates who did rage 
 
 Against the Lord's own heritage; 
 
 They sacrificed were for the laws 
 
 Of Christ their King, his noble cause. 
 
 These heroes fought with great renown, 
 
 But falling got the martyr's crown. 
 
430 EPITAPHS. 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone of John MmcHiE and Daniel Meikle- 
 
 WRATH, near the Cross-water of Dusk, in Colmonel Parish. 
 
 Here, in this place, two martyrs lye, 
 Whose blood to heaven hath a loud cry; 
 Murder'd contrary to di^-ine laws, 
 For owning of King Jesus' cause; 
 By bloody Drummond they were shot, 
 Without any trial, near this spot. 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone of James SmiH, in Muirkirk Churchyard. 
 
 When proud apostates did abjure 
 
 Scotland's reformation pure, 
 
 And fill'd this land with perjurj', 
 
 And all sorts of iniquity. 
 
 Such as would not with them comply, 
 
 They persecute with hue and cry. 
 
 I in the chase was overta'en, 
 
 And for the truth by them was slain. 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone of John Law, in a Kail-yard at Xewmills. 
 
 'Cause I Christ's prisoners reliev'd. 
 
 I of my life was soon bereav'd. 
 
 By cruel enemies %\-ith rage. 
 
 In that rencounter did engage. 
 
 The martjT's honour and his crown, 
 
 Bestow'd on me, oh, high renown I 
 
 That I should not only believe, 
 
 But for Christ's cause my life should give. 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone of WiLLiAii Dingwal, in the Churchyard 
 
 of Strathaven. 
 
 This hero brave, who here doth lye, 
 Was persecute by tjTanny; 
 Yet to the truth he firmly stood, 
 'Gainst foes, resisting unto blood. 
 Himself and th' gospel did defend, 
 Till for Christ's cause his Ufe did end. 
 
 An Epitaph upon the Grave-stone of the Eev. John Wellwood, 
 who, after he had endured a gi-eat fight of affliction and per- 
 secution, died at Perth, April 1679, and lies buried in the 
 Churchy ai"d of Avon. 
 
 Here lies a follower of the Lamb, 
 Thro' many tribulations came ; 
 For long time of his Christian race. 
 Was persecute from place to place. 
 A Scottish prophet here behold. 
 Judgment and mercy who foretold: 
 The gospel banner did display. 
 Condemned the sins of that sad day, 
 And valiantly for truth contended. 
 Until by death his days were ended. 
 
EPITAPHS. 431 
 
 Upon the Grave-stone of James Thomson, in Stenhouse Church- 
 yard. 
 
 This hero brave, who doth lye here. 
 In truth's defence did he appear, 
 And to Christ's cause he firmly stood, 
 Until he seal'd it Avith his blood. 
 With sword in hand upon the field, 
 He lost his life, yet did not yield. 
 His days did end in great renown, 
 And he obtain'd the martyr's crown. 
 
 iVb^e.— The famous Mr. Samuel Rutherford was cited to appear before 
 that parliament which rescinded the covenanted work of reformation, when 
 he was in a dying condition; but soon afterwards he was called to answer at 
 that tribunal where his Judge was his Saviour. Though he did not actually 
 suffer martyrdom, being called home to the joy of his Lord, before his per- 
 secutors got their wicked devices put in execution against him, yet since he 
 was a martyr both in his enemies' design and his own resolution, the epitaph 
 upon his grave-stone, written above 74 years after his death, by a true lover 
 of his memory, and owner of the honourable covenanted cause which he 
 faithfully contended and sufiFered for, deserves a place among the martyrs' 
 epitaphs. 
 
 An Epitaph upon the Grave-stone of the Rev. Sami^el Ruther- 
 ford, Minister of the Gospel, and Professor of Divinity in St. 
 Andrews, who died February 20, 1601, and lies buried in the 
 Churchyard of St. Andrews. 
 
 What tongue, what pen, or skill of men, 
 Can famous Rutherford commend? 
 His learning justly rais'd his fame; 
 True godliness adorn'd his name. 
 He did converse with things above, 
 Acquainted with Emmanuel's love. 
 Most orthodox he was and sound, 
 And many errors did confound. 
 For Zion's King and Zion's cause. 
 And Scotland's covenanted laws, 
 Most constantly he did contend, 
 Until his time was at an end, 
 That he wan to the full fruition, 
 Of that which he had seen in vision. 
 October Wi, 1735. W. W. 
 
 Upon a Head-stone in Galston Churchyard. 
 
 Here lies Andrew Richmond, who was killed by bloody Graham of 
 Claverhouse, 1679, for his adherence to the word of God, and Scotland's 
 Covenanted work of Reformation. 
 
 When bloody tyrants here did rage, 
 Over the Lord's own heritage, 
 To persecute his noble cause. 
 By mischief framed into laws; 
 'Cause I the gospel did defend, 
 By martyrdom my life did end. 
 
432 EPITAPHS. 
 
 RECENT ERECTIONS IN MEMORY OF THE MARTYRS. 
 
 The following is the Inscription on the Monument of Capt. 
 Paton, Fenwick. 
 
 SACRED 
 
 TO THE MEMORY OF 
 
 Captain John Paton, late in Meadowhead, of this parish, who suffered Mar- 
 tyrdom in the Grass- Market, Edinburgh, May 9th, 1684. 
 
 He was an honour to his Country; on the Continent, at Pentland, Drum- 
 clog, and Bothwell, his heroic conduct truly evinced the gallant officer, brave 
 soldier, and true patriot. In social and domestic life he was an ornament, a 
 pious Christian, and a faithful witness for truth, in opposition to the en- 
 croachments of tyrannical and despotic power in Church and State. 
 
 Who Antichrist do thus oppose. 
 
 And for truth's cause their lives lay down. 
 
 Will get the victory o'er their foes, 
 And gain life's everlasting crown. 
 
 The mortal remains of Captain Paton sleep amid the dust of kindred Mar- 
 tyrs, in the Greyfriars' churchyard, Edinburgh. 
 
 Near this is the Burying-place of his Family and descendants. 
 
 On a Stone erected in Galston. 
 
 {On one side of the Stone,) 
 
 1823. 
 
 In Memory 
 
 of 
 
 John Richmond, younger, 
 
 of Know, 
 
 Who was executed at the Cross of Glasgow, March 19th, 1684, and interred 
 
 in the High Churchyard there ; 
 
 and 
 
 James Smith, 
 
 East Threepwood, who was shot near Bank of Burnaun, 1684, 
 
 By Captain Inglis and his dragoons, 
 
 and buried there. 
 
 Also, 
 
 James Young, and George Campbell, who were banished in 1679, 
 
 and the 
 
 Rev. Alex. Blair, who suffered imprisonment, 1673. 
 
 {On the opposite side.) 
 
 This stone is erected by public contribution, in the parish of Galston, in 
 honour of those belonging to it, who suffered at the glorious era of Scot- 
 land's covenanted Reformation. May it stand for ages as a monument of 
 abhorrence at tyranny in church and state; as a grateful and well-merited 
 tribute to those illustrious men, who successfully struggled to resist it; may 
 it excite in the breasts of posterity an attachment to the noble cause of Re- 
 ligious and Civil Liberty ; and if ever circumstances should require it, an 
 ardour to emulate the heroic deeds of their Ancestors. 
 
EriTAPiis. 433 
 
 Formerly only two stones were erected in Kilmarnock, which recorded 
 the names of Nisbet, Ross, and Shields. In 1823, a third was erected, to 
 record the names of all the other persons belonging to this parish who 
 suffered during the eventful period of the persecution. 
 
 The newly erected stone has a semicircular top, on which is cut the figure 
 of an open Bible, on the left page of which is engraven the 17th verse of the 
 xliv. Psalm, and on the right page the last clause of the 10th verse of the 
 ii. chapter of Revelations. — Then follows, 
 
 SACRED 
 
 TO THE MEMORY OF 
 
 Thomas Finlay, John Cuthbertson, William Brown, Robert and James 
 Anderson, 
 (Natives of this Parish,) 
 Who were taken prisoners at Bothwell, June 22d, 1679, sentenced to Trans- 
 portation for life, and drowned on their passage 
 near the Orkney Isles. 
 
 Also, John Finlay, who suffered Martyrdom, 15th December, 1682, in the 
 Grass-^Iarket, Edinburgh. 
 
 Peace to the Church, her peace no friends invade; 
 Peace to each Noble ]\Iartyr's honour 'd shade ; 
 They, with undaunted courage, truth, and zeal, 
 Contended for the Church and Country's weal. 
 We share the fruits, we drop the grateful tear. 
 And peaceful altars o'er their ashes rear. 
 
 On a Stone erected in Newmills. 
 
 To the Memory of John Nisbet, of Hardhill, who suffered martyrdom at 
 the Grass-Market, Edinburgh, 4th December, 1685. 
 
 Animated by a spirit 
 
 To which genuine religion alone could give birth, 
 
 And the pure flame of civil and religious liberty 
 
 Alone could keep alive; 
 
 He manfully struggled, for a series of years, 
 
 To stem the tide of national degeneracy. 
 
 And liberate his country from the tyrannical aggressions 
 
 Of the perjured 
 
 House of Stuart; 
 
 In an age, distinguished above all others 
 
 For unbounded licentiousness, and dereliction of principle, 
 
 He stood the firm friend of the real interests of his country: 
 
 And as a leader of the Persecuted Patriot Band, 
 
 E\dnced a courage which no hardships could sudue. 
 
 His conduct in arms at Pentland, Drumclog, and Bothwell, 
 
 In opposition to Prelatic encroachments, 
 
 And in defence of Scotland's Covenanted Reformation, 
 
 Is recorded in the annals 
 
 Of these oppressive times. 
 
 His remains lie at Edinburgh; 
 
 But the inhabitants of this, his native Parish, 
 
 Grateful for the pri^•ileges his exertions tended to procure, 
 
 And friends to the cause for which he fought and died, 
 
 Have caused this Monument 
 
 To be erected, 
 
 2p 
 
434 EPITAPHS. 
 
 On the Monument lately renewed at the Coal-Basin, 
 Glasgow. 
 
 Behind this stone lyes James Nisbet, who suffered martyrdom at this 
 place, June 5th, 1684; also, James Lawson and Alexander AVood, who 
 suffered martyrdom, October 24, 1684; for their adherence to the word of 
 God, and Scotland's covenanted work of reformation. 
 
 Here lye martyrs three, 
 Of memory, 
 
 who for the covenants did die; 
 And witness is, 
 
 'Gainst all these nations perjury. 
 Against the covenanted cause 
 Of Christ, their royal king; 
 The British rulers made such laws. 
 Declared 'twas Satan's reign. 
 As Britain lyes in guilt you see, 
 'Tis ask'd, oh, reader! art thou free? 
 
 This stone was renewed by the Proprietors of the Monkland Nangation, 
 April, 1818. 
 
 On a Tomb-stone at North Berwick. 
 
 Here lies the body of Mr. John Blackadder, minister of the gospel at 
 Troqueer, in Galloway, who died on the Bass, after five years' imprisonment, 
 anno Dom., 1685, and of his age sixty-three years. 
 
 Blest John, for Jesus' sake, in Patmos bound, 
 
 His prison Bethel, Patmos Pisgah found; 
 
 So the blest John on yonder rock confin'd. 
 
 His body suffered, but no chains could bind 
 
 His heav'n aspiring soul; while day by day, 
 
 As from mount Pisgah 's top he did survey 
 
 The promis'd land, and view'd the crown by faith 
 
 Laid up for those who faithful are till death : 
 
 Grace form'd him in the christian hero's mould, 
 
 Meek in his own concerns, in 's Master's bold, 
 
 Passions to reason chain'd, prudence did lead, 
 
 Zeal warm'd his breast, and reason cool'd his head. 
 
 Five years on the bare rock, yet sweet abode. 
 
 He Enoch-like enjoyed, and walk'd with God; 
 
 Till, by long living on this heavenly food. 
 
 His soul by love grew up, too great, too good 
 
 To be confin'd in jail, or flesh and blood; 
 
 Death broke his fetters, oft' then swift he fled 
 
 From sin and sorrow, and by angels led, 
 
 Enter'd the mansions of eternal joy. 
 
 Blest soul! thy warfare's o'er; praise, love, enjoy; 
 
 His dust here rests till Jesus come again, 
 
 Ev'n so, bless 'd Jesus! come, come, Lord! Amen. 
 
EPITAPHS. 435 
 
 On a handsome Monument erected on an eminence near the 
 Village of Minnyhive, Dumfries-shire, there is the follo^nng 
 Inscription : — 
 
 In Memory of 
 
 the late 
 
 Rev. James Renwick, 
 
 The last who suffered to death • 
 
 for 
 
 Attachment to the Covenanted Cause of Christ 
 
 In Scotland: 
 
 Born, 
 
 Near this spot, 
 
 15th February, 1662, 
 
 and executed 
 
 At the Grass-Market, Edinburgh, 
 
 17th February, 1688. 
 
 " The Righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." 
 
 ERECTED BY SUBSCRIPTIO-V, 
 A. D., MDCCCXXVIII. 
 
 The following lines were composed by a shepherd, named James Hislop, 
 a native of the district to which they refer, and although said to have been 
 written by him while he was yet a very young lad, they evince a power of 
 imagination, and contain flights of genuine poetry, which would do no dis- 
 credit to names of higher pretensions. The concluding stanzas cannot be 
 read without intense interest. The only exception we feel disposed to make 
 is to the sentiment contained in the second line of the eighth stanza. At 
 the time to which the poem refers, the covenanters believed it to be their 
 duty to defend their lives hy arms against unjust violence; but it is un- 
 warrantable to ascribe to them vindictive feelings. They were not ignorant 
 of the divine injunction, — " Dearly beloved avenge not yourselves; for it is 
 written, vengeance is mine^ I will repay, saith the Lord." AVe are sincerely 
 gratified, however, in doing something to preserve the piece from being lost, 
 by inserting it in a volume where it is well entitled to have a place. 
 
 CAMERONIAN DREAM. 
 
 In a dream of the night I was wafted away. 
 To the moorland of mist where the martyrs lay; 
 Where Cameron's sword and his Bible are seen, 
 Engraved on the stone where the heather grows green. 
 
 'Tvvas a dream of those ages of darkness and blood, 
 "When the Ministers' home was the mountain and wood ; 
 When in Welwood's dark moorlands the standard of Zion, 
 All bloody and torn 'mong the heather was lying. 
 
 It was morning, and summer's young sun, from the east. 
 
 Lay in loving repose on the green mountain's breast; 
 
 On Wardlaw and Cairn-Table, the clear shining dew 
 
 Glistened sheen 'mong the heath-bells, and mountain flowers blue. 
 
436 CAMERONIAN DREAM. ' 
 
 And far up in heaven, near the white sunny cloud, 
 The song of the lark was melodious and loud; 
 And in Glenmuir's wild solitudes, lengthened and deep, 
 Was the whistling of plover, and the bleating of sheep. 
 
 And AVelwood's sweet valley breatli'd music and gladness, 
 The fresh meadow blooms hung in beauty and redness; 
 Its daughters were happy to hail the returning, 
 And driiik the delights of July's bright morning. 
 
 But ah! there were hearts cherished far other feelings, 
 
 Illumed by the light of prophetic revealings, 
 
 Who drank from this scenery of beauty but sorrow, 
 
 For they knew that their blood would bedew it to-morrow. 
 
 'Twas the few faithful ones who, with Cameron, were lying 
 ConceaPd 'mong the mist, where the heath-fowl were crying; 
 For the horsemen of Earlshall around them were hovering. 
 And their bridle reins rung through the thin misty covering. 
 
 Their faces grew pale, and their swords were unsheathed, 
 But the vengeance that darkened their brow was unbreathed ; 
 With eyes raised to heaven in meek resignation. 
 They sung their last song to the God of Salvation. 
 
 The hills with the deep mournful music were ringing, 
 The curlew and plover in concert were singing; 
 But the melody died 'midst derision and laughter. 
 As the host of ungodly rushed on to the slaughter. 
 
 Though in mist and in darkness and fire they were shrouded. 
 Yet the souls of the righteous were calm and unclouded ; 
 Tlieir dark eyes flashed lightning, as firm and unbending — 
 They stood like the rock which the thunder is rending. 
 
 The muskets were flashing, the blue swords were gleaming; 
 The helmets were cleft, and the red blood was streaming; 
 The heavens grew dark, and the thunder was rolling. 
 When in Welwood's dark moorland the mighty were falling!— 
 
 The righteous had fallen, and the combat was ended, 
 When a chariot of fire through the dark cloud descended, 
 The drivers were angels on horses of whiteness. 
 And its burning wheels turned upon axles of brightness. 
 
 A seraph unfolded its doors bright and shining. 
 All dazzling like gold of the seventh refining. 
 And the souls that came forth out of great ti'ibulation. 
 Have mounted the chariot and steeds of salvation. 
 
 On the arch of the rainbow the chariot is gliding. 
 Through the paths of the thunder the horsemen are riding: 
 Glide swiftly, bright spirits, the prize is before ye, 
 A crown never fading — a Kingdom of glory! 
 
 BELL A>'D BAIS, PRINTERS, 15 ST. K.NOOU SQUARE. 
 
DATE DUE 
 
 
 . 
 
 
 
 
 "-•^^^^..i^^ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 GAYLORD 
 
 
 
 PRINTED IN U.S.A. 
 

 BW5420.A1C6 
 
 A Cloud of witnesses for the royal 
 
 Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer Library 
 
 
 
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