berty, which was allowed him. Then he faid, Ye know that youth is a folly, and I acknowledge that in my younger years, i was too much carried down with the fpate of 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 claws of Satan; and now I ftand here before you as a prisoner of Jefus Chrift, for adhering to his cause and interest, which hath been fealed with the blood of many worthies, who have fuffered in thefe lands, and have witneffed to the truths of Chrift thefe few years bygone, and [ do own all the teftimonies given by them, and defire to put in my mite among theirs, and am not only willing to feal it with my blood, but also to feal it with the fharpeft tortures that you can imagine. Then, being interrogate by the Bishop of Edinburgh, what he would answer to that article of the Confeffion of Faith, that difference of religion doth not make void the Magiftrate's right and authority? He answered, he would not answer any perjured Prelate: the Bishop replied, he was in the wrong to him, because he never took the Covenant, therefore he was not perjured, and so deserved not that name: But some of them afked him how he would answer that queftion? He an fwered, That question was answered long ago, by the Solemn League and Covenant, which binds us only to maintain and defend the King in the defence of the true religion; but now the king having ftated himself an enemy to religion, and all that will live religiously, therefore it is high time to shake off all obligation of allegiance to his authority. Thefe interrogations were all read to him in the face of the council, and he owned all. The next day he was arraigned before the council, they asked if he had any more to fay? He answered, That which he had to fay, was faid already in every particular thereof, and, (faid he) I will not only feal it with my blood' but with all the tortures ye can imagine.

Follows the Extract of the proceedings of the Privy Council, Edinburgh, July 19. 1680.

N prefence of the Lords jufticiary, clerk and commiffioners

declines the King's Majefty's authority, the authority of the commiffioners of jufticiary as his judges, and abfolutely refufes to fign this declaration, as being before perfons who are not his judges. He refuses to anfwer concerning the murder of the late Bishop of St. Andrews, and fays, the caufes of his declinement are, because they have ufurped the fupremacy **over the church, belonging alone to Jefus Chrift, and have efta

blished idolatry, perjury, and other iniquities, and in pro "fecuting their defign, in confirming themselves in this ufur"ped right, have shed much innocent blood." Therefore the faid David adhering to Chrift 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 fign this his declaration, Dated from his own mouth, whereupon his Majefty's advocate takes inftruments, and requires the Commiffioners of justiciary to fign the fame in his prefence, as for him; and his Majefty's advocate takes in- *** ftruments, that the faid David has declined his Majefty's authority, and the authority of his Commiflioners, and refufed to deny the murder of the late Bishop of St. Andrews, and re quires Mr. John Vafs, James Balfour, and the men of the court witneffes to the forefaid declaration. Sic fubferibitur, Sir Mobert Maitland, James Fouls, David Balfour, David Falconer, Rodger Hodge.

Upon Friday, July 30 being again brought before the coun cil, it wat asked of him, if he had any other thing to say? He anfwered, that which I have faid, I will feal it. Then they told him they had fomething to fay to him, and commanded him to fit down, and receive his fentence, which willingly he did; but told them, They were all bloody murderers, for all that power they had, was derived from tyranny, and that thefe years bygone, they have not only tyrannized over the Church of God, but have alfo grinded the face of the poor, fo that oppreffion, blood-thed, perjury, and many murders were to be found in their skirts, upon which he was incontinent carried away to the fcaffold at the market cross of Edinburgh, where he died with great torture inflicted upon his body, not being permitted to leave any testimony to the world, except what is comprehended in these miffives directed to fome of his Chriftian acquaintance, from his prifon in the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, which are as follows.

The Copy of a Letter written by DAVID

of Rathillet, to his Chriftian Friend HACKSTOUN

both of Edinburgh, July 25, 1680...

Dear Acquaintance,

*¥ !

N. Dated from the Tol

Know this late difpenfation of providence will occafion much fadness to you, and other lovers of the Lord's truth now in this day, when fo few by their practice prove themfelves to be zealous for God, or lovers of his truth, but instead of that growth in the graces of God's Spirit, and ftedfastness which should be in Chriftians, have made defection from the

H

truth, and are fallen from their first love, to the ftrengthening the hands of ufurpers to the crown of Chrift, in their unlawful encroachments on the privileges of the Son of God. Where fore I entreat you, and all others, as you would not offend God, and provoke him to more anger; do not murmur, but blefs and praise him, and fubmit to him in all humility; for if this be one of the fteps of Zion's deliverance, and God's glory, why thould not we praife him for every thing? If we had the manner of our delivery at our carving, we would spill it. He is the wisdom of the Father, who fits at the helm, and orders all affairs. The faith of this should filence all fuggeftions from Saian, our own hearts, and misbelief I defire you will discharge all that have love or affection to me, not to be faid on my account, but rather to rejoice on my behalf, that God hath fo honoured me in all I have been tryfted with: For as he took me, when I was a flave to Satan, and fin, and caft his love upon me, and plucked me as a brand out of the fire, and brought me into covenant with him. to p promote and carry forward his work, without fear of what man could do unto me; and as he helped me to make the bargain with him in good terms, which was a renouncing of my own ftrength; and a refolution to do all in his ftrength; fo now he hath been faithful in all things to me, and hath furnished me fufficiently for what he hath called me to, and hath paffed by my many grofs failings and breaches of my conditions to him, and hath donè to me above what I could ask of him. O that I could commend him to all, and stir up all to fear, admire and praise him, and believe on him! But the luke warmnefs and want of love to God, and indifferency in Chrift's matters, (which in his condefendency to his Church he hath referved as his declarative glory) and the neutrality in these things are come to fo great height amongst profeffors, that I think God is laying a fumbling block before them, one after another, that when they are fallen (whom he would have to fall) he may he glorified in his justice by bringing that stroke of vengeance that seems to be hanging over thefe lands, because of their fearful idolatry perjury, blood-fhed, blafphemy, and other abominations, the whole land is this day guilty of. Think not ftrange that I fay, all are guilty of, there is none free, nor fhall be reputed free in the fight of God, but mourners in Zion. Lord grant that repentance, and a fpirit of mourning; brokennefs and contrition of foirit is the only facrifice well-pleafing unto God: And I prove all guilty. (First,) our reprefentatives (and fo we in them) eftablished these fins in our national decrees, which we have homologate in owning them ever after and much more have ve homoingate their fins, in contributing, one way or other,

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to the ftrengthning of their hands against God: as alas! but few be free of this. this day O that preachers would preach repentance, and profeffors would exhort one another to mourn in fecret, and together, becaufe of fin, and with their mourning would believe, for thefe are very confiftent together, I find fleth and blood great enemies to faith, and friends. yea, fotterers of finful fears fis above nature to believe, efpecial ly when difpenfations feem to contradict our faith: But if any had faith towards God concerning me, let not this brangle their faith, but rather strengthen; there is nothing can contradict. what God hath determined; but over the belly of all oppofition he will perfect his work in and by me. either to a remarkabe delivery, or throw-bearing, as he fees most for his own glory.

Wherefore let us fub nit to his will, and lye before his throne in behalf of Zion and her children, And O! that ye yourfeif would and defire others, that are faithful, to hold up my care to Zion's God that he would glorify himself, in me; and let your prayer be in faith o hin that believeth all things are poffible." There are many fecklefs, mitb lieving prayers, that prevail not with God; because of unbelief I know, these fufferings will be a great frumbling to many, otherwife gracious, but let it not be to you I blefs God it is not (as) yt) fo to me, but rather the power yea, the love of God to me; for it was not altogether unexpected unto me; (for not to reflect upon any that have fealed that, truth and cause, as we stated it, with their blood: I cannot deny, but it was over the belly of confcience, that I joined with fome of our party; for fome of them had not their garments clean of their ate defections, and there was too much of pride amongit us: Neither dare I allow, that taking of fitisfaction for practices, which are the homologating of the publick fins, which w about half an hour before our break, which checked ine exceedingly in the time: I think real forrow would make men like the prodigal, to think them elves not worthy to be employed in that work; real evidences of reconciliation with God, fhould be feen before admiffion to fuch an imployment. () that all would take warning, by my reproof, not to-venture to follow any man over confcience! There were choice godly men among us, but one Achan will make Ifrael to fail I fear the want of faith among us, first and laft, and all alongst our late business: I know many mouths will be opened again me Because of what I did before this bnfinefs, but I dare not but fpeas it, this is a tumbling block laid to drive them to more fia; and alas! that I did not more to purge us of every fin; especial-" ly known fin among us. ihese that abode within, and came

did

God thinks them not free of our blodd, for not joining to our help.

And now knowing ye will be anxious, to know how it was then, and how it hath been fince with me. First, We getting notice of a party out feeking us, fent two on Wednesday night late, to know their motion, and lay on mure-fide all night, and Thursday about ten hours, we went to take fome meat, and fent out other two, and defired them to confult with the first two, who had not come to us, but were lying down to fleep, who all four returned and told us, it was unneceffary to fend any for intelligence, they having fecured it. Whereupon after we had gotten fome meat, we came to a piece of grafs, and lay down, and prefently we were all alarmed, that they were upon us; and fo making ready, we faw them coming faft on and that about three or four hours in the afternoon, and each one refolving to fight, I rode off, to feck a ftrength for our advantage, and being defired by a country man, to go into fuch a they followed; but

place for the best ftrength; I went, and go into fuch a

coming to it, I found we could go no further; and so turning and drawing up quickly eight horie, on the right hand, with R. D. and fifteen on the left with me, being no more; the foot not being forty, and many of them ill armed in the midft: I afked all, if they were willing to fight? who all faid. Yes; efpecially I. G. The enemy advanced faft, whom I took to be above an hundred and twelve, well armed and horfed, who fending firft about twenty dragoons on foot, to take the wind of us, which we feeing fent a party on foot to meet them, and the reft of us advanced faft on the enemy, being a strong body of horse coming hard on us, whereupon when we were joined our horse fired firft, and wounded and killed fome of them, both horfe and foot: our horfe advanced to their faces, and we fired on each other, I being foremost after receiving their fire, and finding the horse behind me broken, I then rode in amongst them, and went out at a fide, without any wrong or wound: I was pursued by feverals, with whom I fought a good space; fometimes they followed me, and fometimes I followed them at length my horfe bogged, and the foremost of theirs, which was David Ramfay, one of my acquaintance: We both being on foot, fought it with fmall fword, without advantage to one another; but at length clofing, I was tricken down with three on horfe-back behind me; and receiving three fore wounds on the head, and fo falling, he faved my life, which I fubmitted to: They fearched me, and carried me to their rear, and laid me down, where I bled much; where were brought severals of their men fore wounded They gave us all teftimony of brave refolute men. What more of our men were killed, I

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