with him met; some
continuing whole nights and days, without intermission, in the wildest
places of the country, for many miles together, without so much as a
possibility of escaping the sight of those who pursued them.

This year Sept. 24. letters of intercommuning were issued out against
him, commanding all to give him no reset or supply, nor furnish him with
meat, drink, house, harbour or any thing useful to him; requiring all
sheriffs &c. to apprehend and commit to prison his person, wherever
they could find him; by virtue of which the sufferers were reduced unto
incredible straits, not only in being murdered, but by hunger, cold,
harrassing, &c. in which perplexity, having neither a possibility to
flee nor ability to fight, they were forced to publish an apologetical
representation of their sentiments, shewing how far they might,
according to the approven principles and practices, and covenant
engagements of our reformers, &c. restrict and reduce into practice
that privilege of extraordinary executing of judgment, on murdering
beasts of prey, professing and prosecuting a daily trade of destroying
innocents, &c.----When this declaration was first proposed, Mr.
Renwick was somewhat averse to it, fearing the sad effects it might
produce; but, considering the necessity of the case would admit of no
delay, he consented and concurred in the publication thereof.
Accordingly, it was fixed upon several market-crosses and parish
church-doors Nov. 8. 1684.

After the publication of this declaration, rage and reproach seemed to
strive which should shew the greatest violence against the publishers
and owners of it. The council published a proclamation for discovering
such as own, or will not disown it; requiring that none above the age of
fifteen travel without a pass, and that any who could apprehend any of
them should have 500 merks for each person, and then every one should
take the oath of abjuration; whereby the temptation and hazard became so
dreadful, that many were shot instantly in the fields, others, refusing
the oath were brought in, sentenced and executed in one day, yet
spectators at executions were required to say, whether these men
suffered justly or not. All which dolorous effects and more, when Mr.
Renwick with a sad and troubled heart observed, he was often heard to
say, though he had peace in his end and aim by it, yet he wished from
his heart that declaration had never been published.

Neither was the yea