tators. The last words of this venerable minister and patriot were: " Farewell all relatives and friends; fare"well reading and preaching; praying and believing; "wanderings, reproaches, and sufferings-I forgive all "men their wrongs-Now welcome Father, Son, and 66 Holy Ghost-into thy hands I commend my spirit."

And Renwick, too, was one of the group. His small stature and blooming countenance, seemed ill to comport with that masculine, unsubdued soul, with which he braved the thunders of tyranny; and fearlessly supported the falling standard of liberty and truth. Laird Thomas was tenderly attached to him, and lost no opportunity of profiting by his instructive conversation. He lived also to see him ascend, on a fiery wheel," to the martyr's crown, amidst an universal burst of anguish from the public.

Among the distinguished laymen who took an active part in the conversations of this group, my manuscript mentions sir Robert Hamilton; a man of noble descent, and of liberal education. But the sufferings of his bleeding country had preyed on his fine mind, and had rendered his manners too severe for the ideas of those who never knew the feelings of the patriot, or the pangs of the martyr.

There was also general Hackstone, of Rathillet, a man of tall frame, and reserved manners. He had been accused of the murder of archbishop Sharpe; but it is a fact well known among those fiery spirits, who never thought that action culpable, that he was entirely innocent. He opposed it from the first with warmth. He had not physical power to prevent it; but he kept aloof from the company, and implored the party to spare "those gray hairs."

There was also, sometimes, seen laird Balfour, of Burly, a military character of great skill and enterprise. He had made great sacrifices to the idol of his country's independence and the liberties of the church. He was the leader of the party who slew the archbishop. Laird Thomas never admitted him into his protection or hospitality after this "accursed deed," as he always termed it. But uncle John insisted on comforting him he called it a military execution; and sternly defended him on the law

of retaliation, and military reprisals in open war. "It is to be deeply regretted that such things become necessary," said the covenanter, "but it is well known that war has "been publicly carried on by us, according to our declara❝tion. That priest had been merged in the civil officer. "We called him one of Charles's executioners. It is cer"tain that his hands have been dipped in human gore up "to the wrists. Now they shoot down our men in the fields without form of trial. The most likely way to "stay those sanguinary executions, is to let them see that "our troops shall do the same, if they stop not."

Burly went to Holland, and became a favourite at the court of the prince, afterwards king William. He was returning, charged with a commission, but he died on board of the vessel, before he reached the shores of his country.*

Besides, I see the names of captain Nesbit of the horse, the gallant colonel Hall, and captain Paton, who served in the wars against Cromwell, in England and in Scotland; who were intimately acquainted with the state of the religious parties of the day.

In fine, from principal Bailey, and from John, earl of Loudon, with whose conversations he had been honoured, he received many valuable communications.

We naturally wish to know something of an author whose works we are reading; we want to know not only his character, but his features and appearance.

The laird's studies had been interrupted by the horrid din of civil war. He had been a bookworm; but he had thrown by his pen for his sword. He was enrolled among the horse of the covenanters. His figure was tall and martial; his face was long and full; his nose was formed on the Roman model; his full lips disclosed through a smile a row of double teeth in front, as white as ivory; his brow rose high over a pair of nobly arched eyebrows, as black as jet; his eyes were of a bright chesnut colour,

* In the inimitable " Old Mortality," that enchanting writer has practised the ingenious barbarity of the ancient persecutors. He has dressed Burly in the skin of a wild beast, and has let slip the furious dogs on him. The fact is, he mistook Burley's character. He was no fanatic; he never was reckoned religious; he had no cant of it He was ambitious only of the character of a romantic and daring military chieftain, on the weak side. See Burley's Life, in the Scots' Worthies.

and sparkled with uncommon lustre; he wore his dark beard long, with a liberal correspondence of whiskers. He wore a high steel head piece, surmounted by a black feather. His large chest and square shoulders were enveloped in a buff coat. His armour was a short carbine, and a massy andro-ferrara; his jackboots, made in the terrible fashion of the day, came over his knees; a gray cloak was thrown carelessly around him-and borne along on his gray steed, he felt as much at home on a field of battle, as at an argument in the parlour, or a dissertation in the cave of the wanderers.

His temper was impetuous in argument, and more so in the field; and sometimes when reason and remonstrance could not prevail in putting a stop to cruelty, his strong arm would interpose with his ferrara. There was an instance of this after the battle of Drumclog. When Burley and two other officers moved the host to put the prisoners (soldiers of Clavers) to death, by way of reprisals for the murder of some of their men; and when the ministers (Douglas and King) and laird Thomas could not succeed in putting down the clamour of Burley, by any argument from usage and from holy writ, the laird drew his sword, and declared that if Burley should dare to touch a hair of their heads, his sword should sever his head from his shoulders.*

The MS. proceeds to detail the personal adventures and escapes of the laird and his brother. The following are specimens:

The laird and his benevolent spouse were one day entertaining their guests, in the best manner that their house, so often pillaged by the licensed freebooters of Clavers, could afford, when the herd callan came running in. "Speak quickly," said the laird, "what you have to say with that gaping mouth. "The foemen are drivin' heevy sceevy doon the Snabe Craft," said the stammering lad, "and they'll be here in a giffy-rin, sirs."

The throwing on of their cloaks and hats was the work

*The poor fellows who were witnesses of this debate, were dismissed. "We met here to worship God," said the laird, "You come to murder us. See, we return you good for evil! Your hands are stained with "blood-Go wash them, live and repent." They gave three cheers to their deliverers, and fled like Indians.

of a moment; they made towards the willow thicket in the adjacent marsh, and the cautious dame hastened to remove all traces of guests having been at her board. John led the way; the laird, in his eagerness to help on the venerable Cargil and Peden, was the last who approached the covert. They were all safely in shelter, when the laird discovered, by a shout from the neighbouring height, that he was seen. A trooper, who acted as sentinel, had taken his station on a knoll above the old mansion house, and his keen eyes fell on the laird struggling through the swamp. To have gone forward would have detected all. "Better lose one life," said he, "than sacrifice all"keep close in your retreat; your host is the scape-goat; "leave me to my fate." He had instantly formed his plan. He stretched his course, at a slow pace, toward the southern extremity of the swamp. The trooper coursed around on the highlands to receive him. He had rode a semicircle of about a mile. The laird gained his object. Before he came within reach of the life-guard's carbine, he faced about, and made a swift retreat to the plains on the lower part of his dairy lands, at the junction of the Aven and the Geel. The intrepid soldier saw, and took a course which would have carried him directly through the bushes where the sufferers were uttering a prayer for their host. He plunged forward; but after a few vain struggles, the horse and his rider sunk beneath the green sward, and rose no more. The laird, not supposing that the soldier would attempt the marsh, had calculated that he would return by the same course; and he was sure that he could gain a covert before his pursuer could overtake him. On seeing his fate, he was returning, with a speedy step, to the retreat of his friends; but before he could gain it, the other troopers, having by this time finished their search in the house, perceived him, and set out in full chase after him. "That wild bugle note, that roused "to the fierce chase, rung on my ear," the laird often repeated," as my death note." He instantly turned about again; he had gained the plain; he had waded the dark stream of the Aven; he was struggling up a steep defile, when a trooper came up with him. Unfortunately the laird was unarmed. He faced about to meet his fate. "I have at least saved my friends," said he, "and I am

"at peace with my God." The dragoon, in turning an angle, was suddenly on him; he was too near him to shoot; he felled him with his carbine to the ground. At that moment he heard the loud shouts of his comrades, who had discovered a conventicle, at that moment, dismissing; or some of the wanderers fleeing to the mountains on the opposite side of the Aven, in consequence of the approach of the dragoons. His speedy retreat to join his companions saved the laird's life, for the blow was not repeated.

"Can a

The next adventure represents the laird and his brother John taken prisoners, but not by the life-guards; it was by some of Inglis' troops. They were marched on Kilmarnock. As they passed the defiles near Lochgate, and were approaching Loudon hill, in a dark evening, they effected their escape from the dragoons who had the charge of them. It was in consequence of the laird's exciting an interest in the bosoms of these more humane fellows in behalf of their prisoners. "My poor lady and "my babes will bless you for the favour," said the laird, grasping his hand, and enforcing his petition. "man-a soldier, refuse me my life? You have no more “to do than slip us off from this bandage, and fire a pistol "over our heads; we shall give you no further trouble." A tear fell from the eyes of the dragoon, as he made the appeal in behalf of his wife and babes; and a smile lighted up his face at the conclusion of the laird's speech. "You are too clever a fellow to go before the council," said he, while he and his companion (who had fallen into the rear) secretly unbuckled the belt by which they had lashed their prisoners to their bodies. They slipped off, and rushed down from the narrow path into a steep defile. The dragoons gave the instant alarm, and fired over their heads; the place, and darkness of the night, rendered all search vain. "Never doubt my powers of argument after this," said the laird; " if I can reach the heart of one of "Charlie's dragoons, I surely can touch Fox's con"science." The laird often told this anecdote while he sat beside his dame, with a babe on each of his knees, and he delighted to add how his andro-ferrara saved the life of this same dragoon, at the battle of Bothwell, from the sword of Burley, which was descending on his head,