whatsoever
doth not tend to God's glory and the edification of the souls of his
scattered people, of which that congregation is a part. And besides, my
Lords, it is known to many, that I pretend to lay claim to the light of
patronage of that parish, and have already determined therein with the
consent of the people to a truly worthy and qualified person, that he
may be admitted to exercise his gifts amongst that people; and for me to
countenance the bearer of your Lordship's letter, were to procure me
most impiously and dishonourably to wrong the majesty of God and
violently to take away the Christian liberty of his afflicted people and
enervate my own right, &c."[164]

This was, without question, what the managers wanted, and so his trouble
began: for, on the 30th of July following, "the lords of council order
letters to be directed, to charge William Gordon of Earlstoun to compear
before them--to answer for his seditious and factious carriage:" that
was, his refusing to comply with prelacy, and hear the curates, and for
his favouring and hearing the outed ministers. And further, Nov. 24th,
same year, "The council being informed, that the laird of Earlstoun kept
conventicles and private meetings in his house,--do order letters to be
directed against him to compear before this council to answer for his
contempt, under the pain of rebellion." But all this no-ways dashed the
courage of this confessor of Christ in adhering to his persecuted and
despised gospel; which made these malignant enemies yet pass a more
severe and rigorous act against him; in which it was exhibited that he
had been at several conventicles (as they were pleased to call the
preachings of the gospel) where Mr. Gabriel Semple, a deposed minister,
did preach in the Corsack wood and wood of Airds; and heard texts of
scripture explained both in his mother's and in his own house by outed
ministers; "--and being required to enact himself to abstain from all
such meetings in time coming, and to live peaceably and orderly, conform
to law," he refused to do the same: They did, therefore, order the said
William Gordon of Earlstoun to be banished, and to depart forth of the
kingdom within a month, and not to return under pain of death, and that
he live peaceably during that time, under, the penalty of 10,000 l. or
otherwise, to enter his person in prison.

Here it would appear, that he did not obey this sentence. And although
we have little or no particular ac