suffered to fall down a
considerable way upon the lower scaffold three times with his whole
weight, and then fixed at the top of the gallows. Then the executioner,
with a large knife, cut open his breast, and pulled out his heart,
before he was dead, for it moved when it fell on the scaffold. He then
stuck his knife in it, and shewed it on all sides to the people, crying,
Here is the heart of a traitor. At last, he threw it into a fire
prepared for that purpose, and having quartered his body, his head was
fixed on the Nether-bow; one of his quarters, with his hands at St.
Andrews; another at Glasgow; a third at Leith; and the fourth at
Bruntisland.----Thus fell this champion for the cause of Christ, a
sacrifice unto prelatic fury, to gratify the lust and ambition of wicked
and bloody men. Whether his courage, constancy or faithfulness had the
pre-eminency it is hard to determine.--But his memory is still alive,
and it is better to say no more of him, than either too much or too
little.

_The Life of ROBERT KER of Kersland, Esq._

Robert Ker of Kersland being born and educated in a very religious
family, began early to discover more than an ordinary zeal for religion.
But the first public appearance that we find he made for the cause, and
interest of religion, was in the year 1666, about Nov. 26, when he,
Caldwell and some others of the Renfrew gentlemen, gathered themselves
together, and marched eastward to join Col. Wallace and that little
handful who renewed the covenant at Lanerk. But, having heard that
General Dalziel was, by that time got betwixt them and their friends,
they were obliged to dismiss. But this could not escape the knowledge of
the managers: for the laird of Blackstoun one of their own number, upon
a promise of pardon, informed against the rest, and so redeemed his own
neck by accusing his neighbour.--But of this he had nothing to boast of
afterwards[179].

Kersland was after this, obliged to retire out of the way; and the next
year he was forfeited in his life and fortune, and his estate given to
Lieut. General Drummond of Cromlie, and his lands in Beith to William
Blair of that ilk, which estate they unjustly held until the
Revolution[180].

After this, to elude the storm, he thought fit to retire and go over to
Holland; and there chose to live with his family at Utrecht;--where he
had the advantage of hearing the gospel and other excellent
conversation. In that place he continued near