f the same stamp, coming forth to agent a
curate's cause in that country, and travelling through Irongray parish
found Mr. M'Bryar, in the fields very dejected and melancholy like, and
concluding him to be one of the sufferers, commanded him to go with him
to Dumfries. But M'Bryar, fearing nothing but his debt, refused:
whereupon Gordon drew his sword, and told him he must go. He still
refused, till in the struggle Gordon run him through the body, and so he
expired. Gordon made it no secret, that he had killed a whig (as he
called him) but when they saw the body, they soon knew who it was, and
immediately Gordon was taken to Dumfries himself, and hanged for killing
one as honest as himself. Here remark a notable judgment of God: M'Bryar
was killed under the notion of one of those he persecuted, and then one
persecutor was the instrument to cut off another.--_Wodrow_, _Fulfilling
of the Scriptures_.

SIR WM. BANNANTINE, another of this wicked persecuting gang, having got
a party under command, took up garrison in the castle or house of
Earlston after Pentland, where he committed such cruelties upon the poor
people in these bounds who would not comply with prelacy as are shocking
to nature to relate: In the parishes of Dalry, Carsphern and Balmagie,
he fined and plundered numbers. He tortured a poor woman, because he
alledged, she was accessory to her husband's escape, with fire matches
betwixt her fingers, till she almost went distracted and shortly after
died. He also tortured James Mitchel of Sandywell the same way, though
nothing but 16 years of age, because he would not tell things he knew
nothing of. Sometimes he would cause make great fires, and lay down men
to roast before them, if they would not or could not give him money, or
information concerning those who were at Pentland. But his cruel reign
was not long-lived; for the managers not being come to that altitude of
cruelty as afterward, an enquiry was made into his conduct, and he laid
under two hundred pounds of fine; and, because Lauderdale would not
remit this, it is said, he attempted to assassinate him. However, he was
obliged to leave the king's dominions, and go over to the wars in the
low countries, where, at the siege of Graves, as he was walking somewhat
carelesly, being advised to take care of himself, he said, canons kill
none but fey folk. At that very nick of time, a canon ball came, and
severed his heart from his body to a considerable distance ac