being so
strictly guarded, he sometimes kept company with his brethren, but was
at last committed to the tower of London, where he remained for the
space of four years.

While he was in the tower, a gentleman of his acquaintance got access to
him, and found him very pensive and melancholy concerning the prevailing
defections amongst many of the ministers of Scotland, and, having lately
got account of their proceedings at the general assembly held at
Glasgow, _anno_ 1610, where the earl of Dunbar had an active hand in
corrupting many with money; the gentleman, desiring to know what word he
had to send to his native country, got no answer at first, but, upon a
second enquiry, he said, "I have no word to send, but am heavily
grieved, that the glorious government of the church of Scotland should
be so defaced, and a popish tyrannical one set up; and thou, Manderston,
(for out of that family Dunbar had sprung), hadst thou no other thing to
do, but to carry such commissions down to Scotland, whereby the poor
church is wrecked, the Lord shall be avenged on thee; thou shalt never
have that grace to set thy foot in that kingdom again." These last words
impressed the gentleman to that degree, that he desired some who
attended the court, to get some business, which was managing through
Dunbar's interest, expeded without any delay, being persuaded that the
word of that servant of Christ should not fall to the ground, which was
the case, for that earl died at Whitehall a short time after, while he
was building an elegant house at Berwick, and making grand preparations
for his daughter's marriage with Lord Walden.

In 1611, after four years confinement, Mr. Melvil was, by the interest
of the duke of Bolloigne, released, on condition that he would go with
him to the university of Sedan, where he continued, enjoying that calm
repose denied him in his own country, but maintaining his usual
constancy and faithfulness in the service of Christ, which he had done
through the whole of his life.

The reader will readily observe, that a high degree of fortitude and
boldness appeared in all his actions; where the honour of his Lord and
Master was concerned, the fear of man made no part of his character. He
is by Spotswood styled the principal agent or apostle of the
presbyterians in Scotland[45]. He did indeed assert the rights of
presbytery to the utmost of his power against diocesan episcopacy; he
possessed great presence of mind, and was