d to retire to
Barndennoch in Glencairn parish. But there he and his numerous
family[227] met with further troubles: for in the year 1665, a party of
Sir James Turner's men came in quest of him; but happily he and his wife
were at Edinburgh. However with great fury and terrible oaths and
execrations in the middle of the night they turned out the children from
their beds, caused one of them to hold the candle till they searched his
book and papers, and took what they lifted. They stabbed the beds with
their swords, and threatened to roast the children on the fire, and
caused one of them to run near half a mile in a dark night in his shirt.

After this he went and preached in the fields, where he had numerous
meetings, particularly at the hill of Beeth in Fife in the year 1670. He
had been before this, by the council's letter, put to the horn; and
after this, came west about the year 1675, and preached in the parish of
Kilbride and other places. The same year being in the Cow-hill in Mr.
Livingston parish, he went out in the evening (being in the month of
August) unto a retired place. When he came in again, he seemed somewhat
melancholy. Being asked by some friends, what was the reason? He said he
was afraid of a contagious mist that should go through the land in many
places that night, which might have sad effects, and death to follow;
and as a mean he desired them to keep doors and windows as close as
possible, and notice where it stood thickest and longest: which they
did; which was upon a little town called the Craigs, wherein was but a
few families; and within four months after that, thirty corpses went out
of that place: great dearth and scarcity followed for three years space
after. Mr. Blackadder was in his judgment against the indulgence, and
preached sometimes with Mr. John Dickson, they being both of one
sentiment. He continued under several hardships until the year 1678,
that he went over to Mr. M'Ward in Holland. Having continued sometime
there, and then returned home, he was about Edinburgh in the time of
Bothwel[228]; and, after that, was of no small use to the prisoners in
dissuading them from taking the bond, and other compliances; which he
did by letters.

After he had endured a series of hardships, and surmounted a number of
difficulties, he came to discharge his last public work at a moor side,
at the new house in the parish of Livingston, March 28th, 1681. He
lectured upon Micah iv. chapter from the