e's memoirs_, &c.

ALEX. GORDON of Kilstuers in Galloway set out amongst the suffering
remnant, joined the united societies who followed faithful Mr. Renwick,
and was for some time most zealous for that cause; for which he was
apprehended, but rescued at Enterkine-path, August 1684, when going to
Edinburgh; at which some of the sufferers were not a little (if not too
much) elated. But never being right principled, as Mr. Peden perceived,
when he refused to sail the sea with him from Ireland before this. He
first fell in with Langlands and Barclay in favour of Argyle's attempt,
1685, and from that time he became a most violent traducer and
reproacher of Mr. Renwick and the faithful party both by tongue and pen
to render them odious: then he fell into a kind of profligate life, (as
Mr. Renwick often said, that these who fell from strictness in principle
would not long retain strictness of practice) at last being at
Edinburgh, he got drunk, and then must needs fight, as is usual with
such miscreants; and, having in the squabble lost much blood, his head
became light, so that when going up stairs, he lost his feet and falling
down brained himself, and so expired.--_Faithful Contendings_, _Walkers
Remarks_.

SIR GEORGE M'KENZIE of Rosehaugh, was another notorious apostate; for
after he had made no small profession of presbyterian principles and
holiness of life, he after the restoration, not only apostatized from
that profession, but fell into a most wicked and flagitious life and
conversation; which were qualifications good enough then to gain him the
post of an advocate. Sometime after Pentland, he pleaded the sufferers
part; but afterwards shifted sides (being advanced to be king's
advocate) and pleaded most strenuously against them, and even with such
a degree of fury that neither prelate nor bloody manager could ever
charge him with the least thing that looked like moderation. It were
needless to relate what hand he had in the bloody work at that time,
seeing he pleaded away almost the lives of all that were executed from
1677 to 1688. Nay, such was his rage at the cause of Christ and his
people, that before they escaped his hands, he would charge them with
what in his conscience he knew was false: and, if they would not answer
questions to his mind, he would threaten to pull out their tongues with
pincers. At the same time pleaded that murderers, sorcerers, &c. might
go free. In one of his distracted fits, he took the