me of you that pride and avarice are two evils that have wrought much
woe to the church of Christ, and as they are grievous faults in any man,
they are especially so in church-men, &c.--I hope every man here,
shall walk by the square and rule which is now set before him, observing
duty, 1. To superiors. 2. To equals; and 3. To inferiors.--Touching our
duty to superiors, there needs nothing be added to what has been wisely
said by the moderator. Next, concerning equals, there is a case much
spoken of in the church, _i. e._ the power of ruling elders, some
ministers apprehending it to be a curbing of their power; truly it may
be some elders are not so wise as there is need for.--But as unity ought
to be the endeavour of us all, let neighbouring parishes and
presbyteries meet together for settling the same, &c. And thirdly, for
inferiors, I hope ministers will discharge their duty to their flocks,
and that people will have a due regard to those that are set over them
to watch for their souls, and not to think, that because they want
bishops, they may live as they will, &c."[93]

After this, when the Scots covenanters were obliged to take arms in
their own defence, _anno_ 1639, and having marched towards the borders
of England, under the command of general Leslie, this noble lord being
set to guard the western coast, contributed very much by his diligence
and prudence to preserve peace in these parts, and that not only in
conveening the gentlemen in these quarters, and taking security of them
for that purpose, but also raised four hundred men in the shire of
Argyle, which he took in hand to maintain at his own charges. Which
number he afterward increased to nine hundred able men, one half whereof
he set on Kintyre to wait on the marquis of Antrim's design, and the
rest on the head of Lorn to attend the motions of those of Lochaber, and
the western isles. From thence he himself went over to Arran with some
cannon, and took the castle of Brodick, belonging to Hamilton; which
surrendered without resistance.

He was again, in the absence of the covenanters army, _anno_ 1640,
appointed to the same business, which he managed with no less success,
for he apprehended no less than eight or nine of the ring-leaders of the
malignant faction, and made them give bonds for their better behaviour
in time coming. Which industrious and faithful conduct in this great man
stirred up the malice of his and truth's adversaries, that they fought