Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies) Part 43

[139] Wodrow's history, Vol. I. page 111.

[140] In the form of a crooked boy who laughed in his face, _&c_, fulfilling of the scriptures, Vol. I. page 357.

[141] His own memoirs, page 11, and 13.

[142] Fulfilling of the scriptures, Vol. I. page 375.

[143] It seems to have been about this time, that Mr. Blair married his first wife Beatrix Hamilton, a very gracious woman, of the house of {illegible}.

[144] See the {illegible} of Mr. {illegible}

[145] See his testimony in Naphtali and Samson's riddle.

[146] Mr. Crookshanks. This was about the Nov. 1662, when the council commenced a process against Sir James Stuart for entertaining him in that family. See his history, vol, II, page 134.

[147] Bishop Guthrie says, That the chief managers here were Mess.

William Ardir, William Guthrie, and John Nevay; and that the covenanters were of foot 2000 and horse 500 strong (but this is more than probable).

See his memoirs, page 177. Bailie's letters adds Mssrs. Mowet, Thomas Wylie, Gabriel Maxwel, and Alexander Blair, and says they were some 800 foot and 12 horse strong, Vol. II. page 295,--299.

[148] See the fulfilling of the scriptures, part I. page 434. Wodrow's history, vol. I. page 143.

[149] See the process and his answers at large in Wodrow's history, vol.

1. page 144.

[150] Wodrow's history, vol. I. page 113.

[151] See Stevenson's History, vol. III. page 223.

[152] It is generally told, that when his mother was ready to be delivered of him, his father, being in the next room, intreated the midwife, if possible, to stop the birth a few minutes, but she answered, She could not. Afterwards, being asked the reason of it, he answered, He would not die an ordinary death.

[153] Wodrow's history, vol. I. page {illegible}92.

[154] Mr. Wodrow thinks he was at Pentland; but in his answers before the committee he says otherwise.

[155] Crookshank's history, vol. 1. page 343.

[156] The author of the narration of his torture, which is inserted at large in Naphtali.

[157] Wodrow's history, vol. I. appendix, No. 93.

[158] In his history, page 415.

[159] See this pet.i.tion inserted in Naphtali.

[160] See this testimony at large in the same book.

[161] Wodrow's history, Vol. I. page 443.

[162] Mr. Crookshanks, in his history page 419, calls him Mr. James Welwood, which alteration proceeds probably from a mistake in P.

Walker's remarkable pa.s.sages of the lives of Semple, Welwood, &c. page 26. edit. 1728.

[163] Vid. Rutherford's letters, epist. 139.

[164] Here observe that though this worthy gentleman mentions the right of patronage, yet it is with this proviso and limitation, the choice or consent of the people; otherwise says he it would wrong the majesty of G.o.d, take away the Christian liberty of the people, and invalidate his own right; and how unlike is this to the species of patronage and claim of patrons at the time, when nothing but absolute power and arbitrary measures will satisfy them.

[165] His son Alexander Gordon here narrowly escaped being taken, by means of one of his tenants, who knowing him as he rode thro' Hamilton, made him dismount, put on woman's cloaths, and rock the cradle. After this he went over to his brother in law Mr. Hamilton, to represent the low case of the united societies to the churches of the Netherlands; he was by them called home, and when returning back a second time, he was apprehended by the enemy and put to the torture, but by means of his friend the duke of Gordon, his life was spared. However, he was sent to the Ba.s.s, and from thence (I suppose) to Blackness, where from 1683, he continued till he was liberated at the Revolution.--It is to be lamented, that neither he, after this, nor his son Sir Thomas, fully followed the steps of their ancestors.

[166] Since the publication of the above, I received the following account of the taking of Mr. King in a letter from a correspondent.

Mr King having come to pay his respects to the Laird of Blair, (in Dalry parish near Kilwinning to whom formerly he had been some time chaplain) one Bryce Blair, a farmer, who had been groom there while Mr. King was about that house, getting notice, came and desired Mr King to pay him a visit, to which he consented. Accordingly, he went where he preached a short word on the Sat.u.r.day night following. But on the Sabbath morning, a party of the enemy (according to some, Crighton's dragoons) being in quest of him, and getting the scent, two of them in disguise came to an old man feeding cattle near Bryce Blair's house, and asked him, whether he knew where that G.o.dly minister Mr. King was; for they were afraid he would be taken, as the enemy were in pursuit of him; and if they knew where he was, they would secure him from them. The old man having more honesty than policy, cried out, I'll run and tell him. Whereupon they rode full speed after him to the house. Finding a servant of the house waiting on Mr King's and his servant's horses, they immediately dismounted, and having driven their own horses into the standing corn, threatening him not to stir from the spot on pain of death, one of them took his saddle, and putting it on Mr. King's horse said, Many a mile have I rode after thee, but I shall ride upon thee now.

By this time the rest had surrounded the house, and Mr. King and his servant being in bed they immediately commanded them to rise and put on their cloaths. While his servant was putting on his spurs, one of the soldiers d.a.m.ned him, saying, was he putting a spur on a prisoner? To whom he replied, He would put on what he pleased: For which he received from him a blow: then another gave that soldier a blow, saying, d.a.m.n you, sir, are you striking a prisoner, while making no resistance. In the hurry, Mr. King's servant threw his master's wallees into a peat loft. Thus they were both carried off. They hired one David c.u.mming in the same parish to be their guide to Glasgow, who willingly consented.

They pressed a horse for him to ride upon; but they had not gone far, when the horse ran stark mad, and, jumping and striking all around him with such violence as affrighted the beholders, they were obliged to let him go; but no sooner was he returned home, than he became as calm as ever. c.u.mming had to go on foot to Glasgow. From thence Mr. King was sent to Edinburgh. After which his servant was set at liberty. For what afterward became of c.u.mming see the Appendix.

[167] See a short hint of their advocates pleadings and pet.i.tion in behalf of Mr. King, Crookshank's history, vol. II. page 27.

[168] Crookshank's history, vol. I. page 255.

[169] M'Ward, in his earnest contendings, page 541.

[170] The Rev. Mr. George Barclay, who was very public at this time, and had his hand at many a good turn, and was a blessed instrument to the edification of many souls, but got a waft of that murthering east wind, in the year 1679--said, The best days that ever he had in preaching of the gospel was in the bounds belonging to the laird of Haugh-head, worthy Henry Hull, &c.

[171] Those who dispensed the sacrament of the Lord's supper here, were Messrs. Archibald Riddel, John Welch, Andrew Morton, Patrick Warner, George Barclay and others.

[172] Probably this was Mr. Henry Erskine, the late Mr. Erskine's grandfather.

[173] King James II. never took the coronation oath of Scotland.

[174] Another account bears, that his last sermon was preached at the water of Renan in Galloway, and that it was a very prophetical one. But though he might have preached there, yet, according to the order of time and place as above specified, it does not appear to have been the last sermon that he preached.

[175] It was said, Earshall got 500 l. and Ochiltree 10,000 merks.

However some time after, one morning about break of day, a fiery pillar of a b.l.o.o.d.y colour seemingly about two yards long, was seen hanging above that house. The same day about two o'clock after noon the castle took fire, and was with charters, plate and all, burnt down to the ground. The son said to the father while it was burning, "This is the vengeance of Cameron's blood." That house was never built. For the new house, estate and all, they are gone from that race to others.

[176] See Wilson's impartial relation of Bothwel-bridge, p. 67.

[177] Some of these b.l.o.o.d.y enemies said, That that handful were men of the greatest courage that ever they set their faces to fight against, although they had been at battles abroad; and that if they had been as well trained, horsed and armed as they were, they would surely have been put to flight. And few of them escaped, for their shots and strokes were deadly, of which few recovered; for though there were but nine of the covenanters killed, yet there were twenty-eight of the enemy killed or died of their wounds in a few days.

Walker's memoirs, p. 56.

[178] See his letters and answers in the cloud of witnesses.

[179] See more of this laird of Blackstoun, in the appendix.

[180] For a particular account of this gift, see Samson's Riddle, &c.

page 139, 144.

[181] See more of Murray in the Appendix.

[182] It would appear, he was retaken about the end of that year, by the acts of council; and liberate without any conditions: which was a thing uncommon at this time. Vid. Wodrow's history, Vol. {illegible}, page 146.