numbers taken which were brought in prisoners on the
11th; whereby they were very much thronged. Here he continued till the
break at Bothwel on the 22d, after which there was no small confusion by
tendering and pressing of a bond of conformity against offensive arms,
wherein he got his share during that time.

Upon the 13th of July, he was brought forth and in company with about
100 more prisoners under a strong guard of red coats taken from Stirling
to Edinburgh, and put into Gray-friar's church-yard, amongst the Bothwel
prisoners: there he was more vexed both by the enemy and his
fellow-sufferers than ever. A specimen of which I shall give in his own
words: "Some of my neighbours desired the bond, so they put it to me;
but I refused. However, the most part of them took it. Nay, there were
some of them supplicated for any bond. This made some of us conclude it
was our duty to testify against it; which piece of employment was put
upon me, against which some of the prisoners obtested.--So I was
rendered odious; but many a-day the Lord was kind to me in that yard,
and kept me from many a fear and snare; his love was sweet unto me. The
men complained of us to the commanders, who sent for me and examined me
on the bond and other things: they said, I should be gagged, and every
day I was vexed with them; until almost the whole prisoners petitioned
for it--And there was as good as seventy ministers sent unto the ward to
take it, and they said, it was not a head to suffer upon: when they had
done, they sent in two gentlewomen with the commission; and they set
upon me: I told them, if every one of them had as much of it as I had,
they would not be so busy to press it: for before this, the bloody crew
came to the yard, and called on me, and asked, If I would take the bond.
I said, No. They said, I would get no other sentence.--So I was sore put
to it: I would often have been at the doing of something; but the Lord
would not suffer me. So, in his strength, I fought on against my own
heart and them all, and overcame. But O! the cross was sweet unto me and
easy. There needs none fear to venture on suffering in his way and
strength. O happy day, that ever I was trysted with such a thing. My
bargaining with lovely Jesus was sweet unto me. It is true, affliction,
for the present, seems not joyous but grievous; but afterwards _it
yieldeth the peaceable fruits of righteousness to those who are
exercised thereby_. I never knew the treach