History of the Covenanters in Scotland
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u HISTORY OF THE COVENANTERS IN SCOTLAND. BY THE AUTHOR OF THE HISTORY OF THE REFORMATION, ETC. " persecuted Scotia, foiled " Thy children, A tyrant's and a bigot's bloody laws." IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. PHILADELPHIA : PRESBYTERIAN BOARD OF PUBLICATION. 4 D Is CONTENTS OF VOL. II. CHAPTER I. Proclamation against conventicles and the assassins of Sharpe dreadful sufferings of the Presbyterians their proceedings at Rutherglen -Claverhouse apprehends Mr. King he is de- feated at Drumclog the Covenanters march to Glasgow, where they are repulsed absurd proclamation of the counc 1 disputes among the Covenanters Duke of Monmouth ap- pointed to command the forces against them position of the two armies battle of Bothwell Covenanters completely rout- ed barbarous treatment of the prisoners savage conduct of Claverhouse trial and execution of Messrs. Kid and King other five of the prisoners put to death at Magus Moor- bond of peace two hundred and fifty Covenanters shipped for America they are wrecked at Orkney renewed persecution in the south and west circuit courts of justiciary Duke of York arrives in Edinburgh M' Ward's remarks on his re- ception in that city, 7 CHAPTER II. Justiciary commissions appointed proceedings of the circuit courts and the military Mr. Cargill and Henry Hall of Haughhead seized at the Queensferry Cargill escapes death of Hall declaration found on him it is disowned by the Cov- enanters they publish a declaration and testimony at Sanqu- har efforts of the council to apprehend those concerned bond of mutual defence agreed upon by Cameron and others sufferings of the indulged skirmish at Airsmoss death of Cameron cruel treatment of Hackston of Rathillet his horrid sentence and execution Archibald Alison and John Malcolm put to death Mr. Cargill excommunicates the king, visits &c , at Torwood the duke of York again Scotland Messrs. Skene, Stewart, and Potter condemned and executed -students burn the pope's effigy 43 CHAPTER III. Disgraceful conduct of Sir George M'Kenzie trial and execu- tion of Isabel Alison and Marion Harvt-y outrages commuted by the military violent proceedings of Kemioway exammu- iii IV CONTENTS. tion of Mr. Blackader barbarous ireatniont of Mr. Spreul- the Gibbites apprehension of Mr. Donald Cargill his trial and execution other four Covenanters put to death proceed- ings of parliament act securing the succession the test act its contradictory nature -opposition to it throughout the king- domprotest given to the Duke of York in Glasgow trial of six Covenanters before the justiciary five of them ex- ecuted, 80 CHAPTER IV. The Duke of York enforces the test reasons by the ministers of Aberdeen for its rejection Bishop Paterson's explanation refuses its futility Argyle takes the test with an explanation to swear it as a commissioner of the treasury he is removed from all offices of trust is imprisoned his indictment he is found guilty of treason escapes from prison his sentence consternation of the Protestants in both kingdoms severe satire on these proceedings by the buys of George Heriot's hospital state of the Covenanters the followers of Cargill form themselves into societies Lanark declaration violence of the council case of Mr. Frazer of Brae, . 119 CHAPTER V. Oppression increases the Duke of York applauded by the pre- lates trial and execution of William Harvey military inqui- sition proceedings of the council case of Robert Gray meeting at Tweedsmuir violent proclamation against the Covenanters inhuman conduct of the military examples trial and execution of James Robertson, John Finlay, and William Cochrane their reasons for refusing to say "God save the king" consistency of the Covenanters case of Alexan- der Hume of Hume of William Martin of Dallurg of William Lawrie of Blackwood of Johu Nisbet, younger enlarged powers granted to the military commissioners instructions to the curates the Rye-house plot other executions field- preaching revived by Mr. Renwick 149 CHAPTER VI. Court of justiciary proceedings trial of Sir Hugh Campbell of Cesnock the evidence against him confounded he is ac- quittedexecutions at Glasgow death of Captain Pa ton Spence and Carstairs tortured trial of Baillie of Jerviswood his striking appeal to M'Kenzie he is found guilty and exe- cuted rescue of a minister and several Covenanters at Kntre- kin Paps increased persecution examples case of Porter- field of Duchal executions in Edinburgh dreadful sufferings CONTENTS. V of the Covenanters Mr. Renwick condemned in absence for holding conventicles Apologetical Declaration its effects proceedings against those who refused to disown it the in- dulgence recalled oath of abjuration, 196 CHAPTER VII. Cruel proceedings of the council and the military examples death of Charles II. accession of James VII. extreme suf- ferings of the Covenanters murder of John Brown and An- drew Hislop by Claverhouse two women drowned at Wigton meeting of parliament iniquitous acts passed by that as- sembly Argyle's invasion precautions used by the council to defeat it prisoners sent from Edinburgh to Dunnotter castle their barbarous treatment Argyle defeated and taken prisoner his execution Rumbold and Archer put to death James exempts the papists from all religious oaths declaration of the Cameiomans against the accession of James to the throne continued severities execution of John Nisbet of Hardhill, 232 CHAPTER VIII. State of the persecution death of Mr. Peden growth of popery riot in Edinburgh divisions among the Covenanters proceedings of parliament regarding the Roman Catholics James. grants toleration to the papists by his own prerogative proclamation against Mr. Renwick continued persecution examples Informatory Vindication published James's first and second indulgences rejected by the Presbyterians a third indulgence proclaimed it is accepted by the greater part ot the ministers their address to the king reasons of the society people for refusing the indulgence their sufferings, . 279 CHAPTER IX. Sufferings of the indulged ministers apprehension of Mr. Renwick his trial and sentence his behaviour in the prison and on the scaffold his triumphant death Mr. Renwick is succeeded in his ministerial labours by Mr. Shields outrages of the military rescue of Mr. Houston antipathy of govern- ment to Presbyterianism arbitrary conduct of James birth of the Prince of Wales the Protestants look for deliverance to William, Prince of Orange examination of Mr. Gordon announcement of an invasion by the Prince of Orange ad- dress of the bishops to James William lands in England James abandons the kingdom, and flies to France riot in Edinburgh the curates expelled from their churches conven- tion of estates the Revolution completed conclusion, 311 1* HISTORY THE COVENANTERS, CHAPTER I. Proclamation against conventicles and the assassins of Sharpe dreadful sufferings of the Presbyterians their proceedings at Rutherglen Claverhouse apprehends Mr. King he is de- feated at Drumclog the Covenanters march to Glasgow, where they are repulsed absurd proclamation of the council disputes amone the Covenanters Duke of Momnouth ap- pointed to command the forces against them position of the two armies battle of Bothwell Covenanters completely routed barbarous treatment of the prisoners savage con- duct of Claverhouse trial and execution of Messrs Kid and King other five of the prisoners put to death at Magus Moor bond of peace two hundred and fifty Covenanters shipped for America they are wrecked at Orkney renewed persecution in the south and west circuit courts of justici- ary Duke of York arrives in Edinburgh M'Ward's re- marks on his reception in that city. INTELLIGENCE of the assassination of Sharpe having reached Edinburgh on the 4th of May, the privy council assembled, and is- sued a furious proclamation not only against the individuals concerned, but the whole body of the Presbyterians. Having stigmatized the deed as exceeding in cruelty "the bar- barity of pagans and heathens," they ab- surdly enough add, "daily instances whereof 7 8 HISTORY OF we are to expect, whilst field conventicles, those rendezvouses of rebellion, and forges so of all bloody and Jesuitical principles, are frequently followed." A reward often thou- sand merks was next offered for the appre- hension of the assassins, in order to discover whom, every person in the county of Fife was ordered to appear at a certain place, on a given day, to be confronted with the bish- op's servants. The instructions which at the same time were given to the sheriff-deputies are too important to be passed over, namely, "That all males from sixteen years of age and upwards, in each Presbytery, meet on the days appointed : that all the ministers be there, and bring with them the communion rolls : that they mark all of them who come not to church on the account of fanatic or popish principles, and that these be set aside : that all such as are of that tribe be examined and obliged to give an account where they were all the 3d of May, and that they prove what they say by sufficient wit- nesses: that such as cannot prove a good account, of themselves, in manner foresaid, be secured, and their goods seized and se- jured till the issue of their trial : that such be absent the said day be holdeu as 1679. THE COVENANTERS. 9 probably guilty of the horrid act," &c. These instructions being carried into execution with the utmost rigour, multitudes who knew nothing of the assassination except by re- port, were subjected to persecution, and robbed of whatever property they possessed. Another proclamation was issued on the 8th of May, against travelling with arms license but the most act without ; disgraceful which was published at this time was one against conventicles. The sanguinary sta- tutes which had been enacted against these meetings had hitherto been executed only in part, but this Unity giving great offence to the prelates, orders were now given to the ma- gistrates and military to show no mercy, but to persecute to death every genuine Cove- " nanter throughout the realm.