s who watched Mr. Hackston all night, persuading him to the
contrary. So that he did not know till at the place of execution.

It would appear, he was not put in the irons then until some time after,
that a young woman, who was taken at the Ferry when Hall-head was
killed, who having liberty to come into the lady Gilkerclugh then in
prison, was conveyed out in a gentleman's habit, of which he and another
got the blame, though entirely innocent; for which they were laid in
irons: the other got his liberty, but Robert continued his alone
sometime, till they intended to send him off with some soldiers to
Tanguirs. But the Lord having other ways determined, they could not get
as many of the council conveened, as to get an order made out: and so he
was continued in prison, during which time he endured sore conflict with
those his fellow prisoners, who still complied and got off, and others
came in their place who set upon him afresh: So that he and any one who
was of his own judgment, could scarcely get liberty to worship God in
the room without disturbance, calling him a devil, &c. And those who
were faithful and a comfort to him, were still taken from him and
executed, while he was retained (his time not being yet come) in prison
where he was sometime with one John Scarlet, who, he says, was one of
the basest of creatures.

To relate all the trials and difficulties he underwent, during the time
of his imprisonment near the space of two years and a half, with his
various exercises, with the remarkable goodness of God towards him all
that time, will be more than can conveniently be accomplished at
present. I shall only notice one or two very strange occurrences of
divine providence towards him; which he observes, with a few of his own
expressions concerning himself and exercise, and his condition toward
the end of his narrative and life also, which follows in his own words.

"I have no reason (says he) but to go through with cheerfulness,
whatever he puts me to for owning of his cause: for if it had not been
his sweet love to me, I might have been a sufferer for the worst of
crimes: for there is in me what is in the worst of creatures: a
remarkable instance of which I was tristed with long since;--which,
while I live, I will not forget. Being at home working with my father,
and having mended a chest-lock to an honest woman, I went home with it
to put it on: the woman not being at leisure, there was a gun standing
besides m