_anno_ 1662. Middleton sent a band of soldiers to apprehend him, who,
coming to the church, found him not, he having providentially just
stepped out of the one door, a minute before they came in at the other;
whereupon they took the keys of the church-door with them and departed.
In the mean while the council passed an act of confinement, banishing
him unto the north side of the Tay, under penalty of being imprisoned
and prosecuted as a seditious person: But this sentence he no way
regarded.

During this time, partly by grief for the ruin of God's work in the
land, and partly by the toils and inconveniences of his labours and
accommodation, his voice became so broken, that he could not be heard by
many together, which was a sore exercise to him, and discouragement to
preach in the fields; but one day, Mr. Blackater coming to preach near
Glasgow, he essayed to preach with him, and standing on a chair (as his
custom was) he lectured on Isa. xliv. 3. _I will pour water on him that
is thirsty_, &c. The people were much discouraged (knowing his voice to
be sore broken) lest they should not have heard by reason of the great
confluence. But it pleased the Lord to loose his tongue, and restore his
voice to such a distinct clearness, that none could easily exceed him;
and not only his voice, but his spirit was so enlarged, and such a door
of utterance given him, that Mr. Blackater, succeeding him, said to the
people, "Ye, that have such preaching, have no need to invite strangers
to preach to you; make good use of your mercy." After this he continued
to preach without the city, a great multitude attending and profiting by
his ministry, being wonderfully preserved in the midst of danger, the
enemy several times sending out to watch him, and catch something from
his mouth whereof they might accuse him, &c.

In the month of October 1665, they made a public search for him in the
city. But he, being informed, took horse, and rode out of town, and at a
narrow pass of the way he met a good number of musketteers. As he passed
them, turning to another way on the right hand, one of them asked him,
Sir, What-o-clock is it? he answered, It is six. Another of them,
knowing his voice, said, There is the man we are seeking. Upon hearing
this, he put spurs to his horse, and so escaped.

For about three years he usually resided in the house of one Margaret
Craig, a very godly woman, where he lectured morning and evening to such
as came to he