hat with which he closeth this sermon, "As for my part (saith he)
as a poor member of this church of Scotland, and an unworthy minister in
it, I do this day call you who are the people of God to witness, that I
humbly offer my dissent to all acts which are or shall be passed against
the covenants and the work of reformation in Scotland. And _2dly_, I
protest that I am desirous to be free of the guilt thereof, and pray
that God may put it upon record in heaven."

The noise of this sermon quickly flew abroad, and Mr. M'Ward was brought
to Edinburgh under a guard, and imprisoned. Very soon after, he had an
indictment given him by the king's advocate, for treasonable preaching
and sedition. What the nature of his indictment was, we may easily guess
from the scope of his excellent sermon. He was allowed lawyers, whereby
his process became pretty long and tedious. Upon the 6th of June, he was
brought before the parliament, where he had a very public opportunity to
give a proof of his eminent parts and solid judgment. His charming
eloquence was owned here by his very adversaries, and he defended, by
scripture and reason, his expressions in his sermon before the bar of
the house.

And although his excellent speech had not the influence that might have
been expected, yet doubtless it had some, for the house delayed coming
to an issue at this time. He indeed expected a sentence of death, which
no way damped him; but his Master had more, and very considerable work
too, for him elsewhere. Whether it was from orders from court to shed no
more blood, or for other certain reasons, it is not known; but his
affair was delayed for some time, and upon some encouragement given him
of success, he, upon the Monday following, gave in a supplication to the
parliament, wherein he exchanges the words protest and dissent, which he
had used in his sermon, with those of testifying, solemnly declaring and
bearing witness, and yet at the same time declares he is not brought to
this alteration, so much for fear of his person, &c. as from an
earnest desire to remove out of the way any, or the least occasion of
stumbling, that there may be the more ready and easy access, without
prejudice of words, to ponder and give judgment of the matter, &c.,
and withal humbly prostrates himself at their honours feet to be
disposed of as they shall think meet.

This supplication, with what went before, might have softened the
persecutors (as the forecited historian