n, another of the same
stamp, much better.--This and more was declared anent them by Mr. Row
before the assembly at Glasgow, 1638.--_Stevenson_.

MR. WILLIAM COOPER, sometime minister at Perth, witnessed no small zeal
against prelacy, both doctrinally and from the press, and yet through
covetousness and court preferment, he was made bishop of Galloway: after
which none was more forward for the corruption of the times.--He left
his diocese, says the historian, and took up his residence in the
Cannongate of Edinburgh, and committed his ministerial affairs to
others, by whom was extorted the enormous sum of 100,000l. In his visits
once in two years he behaved most impiously, thrust in ignorant persons
to cures, and admitted his servant unto the ministry at his bed-side,
desired the presbytery of Kirkudbright to dispense with one who kept a
woman with him in fornication, and above all, was a fervent presser of
the king's injunctions for keeping Christmass, &c. and sent up his
advice 1619, for punishing those who did not comply. Some time before
his death, he took a hypochondriack distemper, apprehending his head was
all glass, which much affrighted him.--Some brought his former
discourses to him to reconcile, which disquieted him more. Being at his
pastime at Leith, he apprehended he saw armed men coming upon him; the
company shewing him the contrary, he fell a-trembling, went home and
took bed; and being in great anguish and trouble of spirit, he would
often point with his finger to the earth, and cry, "A fallen star, a
fallen star." And so he ended his life in great horror and anguish of
mind.[273] On his court-advancement Mr. Simson of Stirling made the
following line,

_Aureus, heu! fragilem confregit malleus urnam._

MR. PATRICK GALLOWAY was another of this fraternity; for when minister
of Perth, he was not only a strenuous opposer of prelacy in the church;
but also for his faithful and free rebukes to Arran and Lenox, who
carried on the court affairs then, he was persecuted and obliged to
abscond some time, about 1584. But afterwards being carried down with
the current of the times, he was transported to Edinburgh, where he
became a mighty stickler for prelacy, especially, the five articles of
Perth; insomuch that by the year 1620, he pressed kneeling at the
sacrament with much impudence and indecency; and though he would not
preach on Sabbath, yet he behoved to preach on Christmass.--At his
Christmass sacram