Part 50 (1/2)
---- DOUGLAS, laird of Stenhouse, was another of this fraternity. He a.s.sisted Maxwelton at the murder of William Smith in Hill; and, though but a man of mean estate, for this and his excessive harra.s.sing, spoiling and fining the people of G.o.d, and because a professed papist, he was advanced to the honour of being sometime secretary to king James VII. (whether it was he that was advanced to be earl Milford, I know not) but his wicked honours were short lived; his name soon became extinct, having neither root nor branch, male nor female, for a remembrance left of him. _Their fruit shalt thou destroy from earth, and their seed from among the children of men_.
WILLIAM, Duke of Queensbury, was a prime instrument in managing the persecuting work in that period: he once said, they should not have time to prepare for heaven, h.e.l.l was too good a place for them to dwell in.
He was, while an earl, for his zeal in suppressing the rebels (as they called them) made a chancellor and treasurer in 1679.--Afterwards made a Duke and appointed commissioner by James VII. to the parliament 1685, where he got an act made for taking the test,--act of regularity,--act for taking the allegiance,--and that heaven-daring act declaring it treason to take the covenants,--with a great number banished during the parliament. Such was his vigilance by his factors and emissaries, that saints blood like water was shed; and his own tenants were cruelly spoiled and harra.s.sed; and though he fell somewhat out of king James's favour in the last years of his reign, yet he still retained his persecuting spirit, even after the Revolution; for he opposed Mr.
Vetch's settlement at Peebles, and for seven sessions pleaded it both before the lords and the church, till he {illegible} removed, 1694--But all this did not pa.s.s without a note of observation of divine vengeance even in this life; for, taking a fearful disease, it is said, that, like another Herod, the vermin issued in such abundance from his body, that two women were constantly employed in sweeping them into the fire. Thus he continued, till the fleshy parts of his substance were dissolved, and then he expired.[282]--_M. S. History of the sufferings_, &c.
JOHN MAXWEL of Milton, (commonly called Milton Maxwel) another of the persecuting tribe, caused apprehend George M'Cartny, and was president of the a.s.size who condemned those ten of the Pentland sufferers that suffered at Ayr and Irvine 1666; after which he harra.s.sed the poor persecuted people in Galloway, particularly on the water of Orr. After Neilson of Corsack's execution, he came with a party upon his house and riffled it; carrying away every thing portable, he destroyed the rest, and turned out the whole family with the nurse and sucking child to the open fields (lady Corsack being then at Edinburgh). But, with all this ill gotten gain, then and afterwards he was but ill served; for, after the Revolution, he was reduced to seek his betters, and amongst other places came to the house of Corsack, and cringed for an alms from the same lady Corsack before her window, which she generously gave him; but at the same time reminded him of his former wicked life, particularly, his persecuting the people of G.o.d. He went off, but with small amendment; and some time after ended his wretched life.--_Samson's riddle, A--d--k--n_, &c.
---- NISBET, (commonly called lieutenant Nisbet) a man of no high extraction, but born of creditable parents in the parish of Loudon; being inlisted a soldier, obtained for his good services in the persecuting work some time after Bothwel, a lieutenant's post, which he managed with such fury against the poor persecuted wanderers for the cause of Christ, as made him break over all limits or bonds of religion, reason or natural affection or relation; so that he apprehended James Nisbet, a cousin-german of his own, while attending a friend's burial who was executed at Glasgow; where the said James was also executed; and while ranging up and down the country like a merciless tyger, he apprehended another of his cousins, John Nisbet of Hardhill, and with him George Woodburn, John Fergus.h.i.+ll and Peter Gemmel (in the parish of Fenwick); which three last he took out, and immediately without sentence shot dead; and then carried Hardhill, after he had given him seven wounds, to Edinburgh, where he was executed. He also apprehended severals in the said parish that were banished; and upon their return at the Revolution, he was amongst the first they saw at Irvine after they landed. At first they were minded to have justice executed upon him; but on a second thought referred him to the righteous judgment of G.o.d. After the Revolution, he soon came to beg his bread (as old soldiers oftimes do) and it was said, that coming to a certain poor woman's house in the east country, he got quarters, and for a bed she made him (what we call) a shake-down before a mow of peats (being all her small convenience could afford). On which he lay down, she going out on some necessary errand; a little after, when she returned, she found the wall of peats fallen upon him, which had smothered him to death; a very mean end for such a courageous soldier.--_Wodrow_, &c.
JAMES GIBSON, (called sometime bailie Gibson of Glasgow) brother to the merchant, but one qualified to barter the bodies of Christ's suffering members. He got the command of his brother's s.h.i.+p with those sufferers that were banished to Carolina in the year 1684. The inhumanity he exercised upon them in their voyage is incredible: they were thrust below hatches, and a mutchkin of water allowed them in 24 hours: so that some of them died of thirst, although they had 14 hogsheads to cast out on their arrival.--These who were sick, were miserably treated; and two endeavouring to escape, were by him beat 8 times a-day, and condemned to perpetual slavery. Nor could they have liberty to serve G.o.d; when they began to wors.h.i.+p, they were threatened by him in an awful manner.
After their arrival, they were by him sold for slaves, and for the most part died in that country. He returned to spend their price till 1699, that he again set out captain of the Rising Sun, with that little fleet for the settlement at Darien.--But being one of the most wicked wretches that then lived, and some of the rest nothing better, the judgment of G.o.d pursuing him and them, they fell from one mishap into another, until put off by the Spaniards from thence, they went to Jamaica; from thence every one made the best of their way to their own country. Captain Gibson set off from Blue-fields July 21, 1700: but before he made Florida their masts were off by the boards, which made them with much difficulty come up to Carolina, and making Charleston bar, the very place where he landed Christ's prisoners, just as one of the ministers were gone out, and some more with him, a hurricane came down Sept. 3.
and staved the s.h.i.+p all in pieces, where Gibson and 112 persons every soul perished in the surges of the rolling ocean. _The Lord is known by the judgments which he executeth_.--_Wodrow, History of Darien_, &c.
JAMES, Duke of York, a professed papist and another excommunicated tyrant, used no small cruelties while in Scotland 1679, 1681 and 1684; but after his ascension to the crown 1685, he threw off the mask, and set himself might and main to advance popery, and exterminate the protestant in-religion in these nations, and for that purpose set all his engines at work to repeal the penal statutes against papists; but that not speeding to his wish, he had recourse to his dispensing power and to an almost boundless toleration; of which all had the benefit, except the poor suffering remnant in Scotland who were still harra.s.sed, spoiled, hunted like partridges on the mountains and shot in the field.
Nay, such was his rage, that he said it would never be well, till all the west of Scotland and south of Forth were made a hunting field; and to recite the cruelties by his orders exercised in the west of England by shooting, heading, hanging, and banis.h.i.+ng ever seas those concerned in Monmouth's affair, beggars all description. However matters go on; he sends Castlemain to the pope; the pope's nuntio arrives in England; the king declares himself a member of the royal society of jesuits, imprisons the seven bishops in the tower, and threatens to convert England to popery or die a martyr.--But the prince of Orange arriving in England and his army forsaking him, he sets off in a yacht for France, but is taken for a popish priest by some fishermen and brought back. His affairs becoming desperate, he sets off again for France; from thence, with 1800 French, he landed next year in Ireland being joined by the b.l.o.o.d.y Irish papists. He, like his predecessors, had no small art in dissimulation. Now he told them in plain terms, he would trust or give commissions to no protestants; they stank in his nostrils; he had too long caressed the d.a.m.ned church of England; but he would now do his business without them. Accordingly a popish parliament was called, wherein 3000 protestants were forfeited, and to be hanged and quartered when taken, whereof many were plundered and killed, his cut-throats boasting they would starve the one half and hang the other. In short, they expected nothing but another general ma.s.sacre. But being defeated on the banks of the Boyn by king William, July 1, 1691. he set off to France never to return. Here he continued till 1700, or by some 1701, that he took a strange disease, which they were pleased to call a lethargy, wherein he became quite stupid and senseless, and so died at St. Germains in that situation, after he had lived ten years a fugitive exile. _He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness_, &c.--_History of popery under James_, _Martyrs in flames_, &c.
SIR ARCHIBALD KENNEDY of Colzen, another violent persecutor in Carrick and parts adjacent; for having got the command of a troop of militia, he ranged the country in quest of the sufferers, (a very puny employment for a gentleman) and amongst other cruelties killed one Wm. M'Kirgue at Blairquachen mill 1685, and the same year surprized a meeting for prayer near Kirkmichael, and shot Gilbert M'Adam for essaying to escape. And, though he got over the persecuting work, he obtained no reformation of a cruel and wicked life for some time after the Revolution.--The remarkable occurrence at his burial is sufficient to indicate in what circ.u.mstance he died; for, if we shall credit one present, as soon as the gentlemen lifted his corpse, a terrible tempest of thunder arose, to the terror of all present: when going to the church-yard it ceased a little; but when near the place of interment it recurred in such a fearful manner, that the flashes of fire seemed to run along the coffin, which affrighted them all: nay, from the lightness of the bier, it is said, that some were apt to conclude the body was thereby consumed, or else taken away by the devil from among their hands, before they gained the place of interment. A note of G.o.d's fiery indignation on such a fiery persecutor. _Upon the wicked he shall rain fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest._--_Crookshanks, A--d R--n_.
DUNCAN GRANT, a cripple with a tree leg who vaunted of his wickedness, was another of this h.e.l.lish crew, (for so I may by this time call them).
His leg did not hinder him from running, or rather riding up and down the country oppressing and killing G.o.d's people. In Clydesdale he uplifted 1500l. of fines. And being one of lord Airly's petty officers, he got a commission 1683, to hold courts in East Kilbride parish, upon which he quartered his party and harra.s.sed them in a cruel manner. He spoiled the house and goods of John Wilson in High-Flet, to the value of 673l. seizing crops and land and all: and, though he got the gift of some land there, he did not long possess it; for, after the Revolution, he was reduced to extreme poverty, and went through the country now begging, (instead of robbing) until the day of his death, which was a very terrible one, if we may believe what I have often heard related by several judicious old men of good credit and reputation. He at last came to a kind of gentleman's house in the east country for quarters. The gentleman, coming to the hall, and seeing him in a dejected melancholy situation, asked the reason. At last, Grant told him, That, by a former paction, the devil was to have, him soul and body that night. Whether the gentleman believed the reality of this or rather took him to be crazed, I cannot say: but it was said, he gave him such advices as occurred to him, to break off his sins by repentance, and implore G.o.d's mercy, who was able to pardon and prevent his ruin, &c.--What answers he gave we know not; but he went to bed in the gentleman's barn. It appears, he asked no company, else they were not convinced fully in the matter. However, he was not like to open the door next morning, which made them at last break it open; where they found his body dissected on the floor, and his skin and quarters in such a position, as I shall forbear to mention, lest they should shock the humane reader's mind.--_History of the sufferings_ &c. _A--d R--n_.
ALEXANDER HUME, commonly called sheriff Hume, probably because employed by the sheriff or sheriffs depute in Renfrew, as a kind of inferior officer, and of that kind to persecute, pursue and oppress the sufferers, in which he proved a most industrious labourer, wherein he would run upon the least notice of any field preaching, and harra.s.s people, particularly, in the parish of Eglesham, where he mostly resided: for instance, hearing that Mr. Cameron was preaching at a place in that parish called Mungie hill, he and one R--t D--p, another of these va.s.sals, set off, and, while in the tent, they laid hold on it to pull it down, because he was on Eglinton's ground. Mr. Cameron told them, he was upon the ground of the great G.o.d of heaven, unto whom the earth and its fulness did belong, and charged them in his Master's name to forbear; and so they were detained by the people till all was over.
Sometimes he, with the foresaid D--p, would go to the outed people's houses, and offer to throw them down or inform against them, whereby he got sums of money or other considerations. But all this, besides a large patrimony by his parents of some thousands of pounds, did not serve him long; for he came to beggary, wherein he was so mean as to go to some of these men's houses he had before offered or laid hands on to cast down, some of whom served him liberally. We ought not to be rash in drawing conclusions on the occurrences of divine providence; but people could not help observing that, having a little pretty girl, who was one moon-s.h.i.+ne night playing with the children in the village and a mad dog came and pa.s.sed through them all, and bit her; whereof she grew mad, and it is said was to bleed to death, whereby his name and offspring of a numerous family of 17 or 18 children became extinct. At last she died in misery and was buried. Upon his grave the school-boys cast their ashes, (the school being then in the church) till it became a kind of dunghill, and so remains to this day. This needed be no observation, were it not that such a nauseous and infamous monument is suitable enough unto such nauseous service and an infamous life.--_A--d R--n_.
JOHN GIBB, (from the largeness of his body commonly called meikle John Gibb) s.h.i.+p-master and sailor in Borrowstoness, set out amongst the most zealous part of the sufferers; but being but badly founded in principle, about the year 1681, he a.s.sociated three men and twenty-six women to himself, and on a pretence of religious zeal to serve G.o.d, took to the decent places towards the west of Scotland; where from their often singing the mournful psalms, they were called the sweet singers. But they had not long continued there, till they fell into fearful delusions, disowning all but themselves; for, laying more stress upon their own duties of fasting and devotion than upon the obedience, satisfaction and righteousness of Christ, they soon came to deny part of the scripture, and to reject the psalms of David in metre; which began first to be discovered at Lochgoin in Fenwick parish. But returning eastwards towards Darmead, faithful Mr. Cargil had a meeting with them, and used all means with this mad-cap and his hair-brained followers to convict or reclaim them; but to no purpose. And when some asked his mind anent them, he said, he was afraid some of them would go great lengths, but be happily reclaimed; (which came to pa.s.s). ”But for Gibb, there are many devils in him (said he), wo be to him; his name will stink while the world standeth.” They were all taken to Edinburgh tolbooth, and about the first of May gave in a paper to the council, shewing how many days they had fasted all at once, how they had burnt the psalms,--and renounced the confession of faith, covenants, reforming acts of a.s.sembly, the names of days, months, &c. These extravagancies pleased York then in Edinburgh well, who dismissed them: after which, Gibb, the three men and two women went west to the Frost moss betwixt Airth and Stirling, where they burnt the holy bible (one night with a great light around them) with the most fearful expressions. Gibb and some of them were again apprehended and taken to the Canongate tolbooth, where they took such fits of fasting for several days, that their voices changed like to the howlings of dogs. Gibb became so possest of a roaring devil, like another demoniack, that the sufferers could not get exercise made in the room, which made two of them by turns lie upon him that time, holding a napkin to his mouth. But George Jackson, martyr, coming there, he asked, if that was his fas.h.i.+on? they said, it was. He said, he would stay his roaring.--After threatening to no purpose, he caused them stop in wors.h.i.+p, till he beat him severely: after which, when they began, he would run behind the door, and with the napkin his mouth, sit howling like a dog. About 1684, he and one D. Jamie were banished to America, where it was said, Jamie became an atheist, and Gibb came to be much admired by the poor blind Indians for his familiar converse with the devil and sacrificing to him (a thing then more common than now in these parts). In consequence of such a wretched life, he died a dismal death as far down as 1720.--_Wodrow, Walker's remarks_.
SIR ROBERT GRIERSON of Lag, was another prime hero for the promoting of Satan's kingdom. I think that it was sometime after Bothwel that he was made sheriff or sheriff depute of Dumfries. But to relate all the sining, spoiling, oppression and murders committed by this worthy of Satan, or champion of his kingdom, were beyond my intention. I must leave it to his elegy, and the histories of that time, and only in a cursory way observe, that besides 1200l. of fines exacted in Galloway and Nithsdale s.h.i.+res, he was accessory to the murdering, under colour of their iniquitous laws, Margaret McLauchlan aged sixty-three years, and Margaret Wilton a young woman, whom they drowned at two stakes within the sea-mark, at the water of Bladnock. For his cold blood murders, he caused hang Gordon and Mr. Cubin on a growing tree near Irongray, and left them hanging there 1686. The same year, he apprehended Mr. Bell of Whiteside, D. Halliday of Mayfield, and three more, and, without giving them leave to pray, shot them dead on the spot. Whiteside, being acquainted with him, begged but one quarter of an hour to prepare for death; all he got from him was, ”What the devil, have ye not got time enough to prepare since Bothwel?” and so he was shot. The same summer, Annandale having apprehended G. Short and D. Halliday, and having bound them, after quarters granted, the monster Lag came up, and, as they lay on the ground under cloud of night, caused shoot them immediately, leaving their bodies thus all blood and gore. Nay, such was their audacious impiety, that he with the rest of his bon companions, persecutors, would over their drunken bowls feign themselves devils, and those whom, they supposed in h.e.l.l, and then whip one another as a jest on that place of torment. When he could serve his master this way no longer, he wallowed in all manner of atheism, drunkenness, swearing and adultery, for which he was excommunicated by the church after the revolution, and yet by the then powers was made justice of the peace sometime before 1714; a disgrace to any civilized nation, not to mention a presbyterian profession. Thus he continued in his wicked obstinate courses to an old age, although his name and estate are now extinct. But death's pangs at last arresting him, and all other refuges failing him under the views of his former wicked nefarious life, in imitation of his master Charles, he feigned himself of the popish profeshon, because a popish priest made him believe, for money, he could pardon all his sins, and even when in purgatory for them, he could bring him to heaven. And so we must conclude he died 1733, Dec. 23d, and went down to Tophet with a lie in his right hand, and so remains in spite of all the priest could mutter or mumble over him, as the author of his Elegy in his master's name well expresses it:
For when I heard that he was dead, A legion of my den did lead Him to my place of residence, And there he'll stay and not go hence.
This Lag will know and all the rest, Who of my lodging are possest.
On earth they can no more serve me; But still I'll have their companie, &c.
_To the foregoing List I shall subjoin a few more of these Satannical Heroes of inferior note, who also persecuted the Followers of the Lamb during the suffering period._
CORNELIUS ANDERSON, who was one of those ten sentenced to die at Air and Irvine, 1666, to save his own life became executioner to the rest (when the executioner poor Sutherland a native of the highlands would not do it) for which divine vengeance did pursue him; for coming down from the gibbet, the boys stoned him out of the town, and the noise of such an infamous action running faster than his feet could carry him, made him be hated of all honest men. This and horror of his own conscience haunting him made him go over to Ireland, where he was little better: almost no man would give him work or lodging. At last, he built a little house upon some piece of common ground, near Dublin, which in a little after accidently took fire, and so he and it were both burnt to ashes.--_Crookshank's history_, _Walker's remarks_.
---- MURRAY who, lest Kersland should escape, went behind the bed with a light and catched him standing with his Bible, while waiting on his sick lady in 1669, in a few days after became distracted, and in his lucid intervals (while alive) would cry and roar out under that agony, Oh, that ever he was instrumental in that matter.--_Wodrow_, &c.
---- one of these cursed wretches, who carried Mr. King from Glasgow 1679. After he had, with his companions on horseback, drunk to the confusion of the covenants and destruction of the people of G.o.d, rode off with the rest; and meeting one of his acquaintance at the Stable-green Port who asked where he was going, he said to carry King to h.e.l.l; and then galloping after the rest, whistling and singing on the Lord's-day: But before he had gone many pace, behold, the judgment of Divine Omnipotency, his horse foundered on somewhat in the path, and his loaded carabine went off and shot him, and so he tumbled from his horse dead.--_Wodrow_.
DAVID CUNNING, or c.u.mming, being willingly hired by that b.l.o.o.d.y crew (who took Mr. King in the parish of Dalry near Kilwinning) to be their guide to Glasgow: but the horse they provided for him going stark mad, he was obliged to go on foot (after which the horse became as calm as ever.) But after c.u.mming's return, it was observable, that every person on meeting him started back, as if they had seen an apparition; for which they could give no other reason. However he had no success in the world, and died despicably.--_Missive in Ma.n.u.script_.