t relates to a considerable family in this country, who made it
their business to trouble and persecute the minister of that parish, an
eminently holy and faithful man, yea, upon account of his faithfulness,
the old laird of that house did pursue him, out of malice, with a false
libel before the synod, either to get him broken and put out of the
parish, or at least to crush his spirit and weaken him in the exercise
of his ministry, but did there meet with a disappointment the Lord
clearing the innocence of his servant, and the malice of the other. At
which time that gentleman, while he went to the stable where his horses
were, being then at the synod on that account, was in the place stricken
with sickness, forced to hasten home, and take his bed; and there seized
with horror of conscience, which made him often cry, intreating most
earnestly for his minister, whom he had thus persecuted, and often said,
Oh! to see his face; and told his friends, that if he would not come to
him, they should carry him to his house. But his lady did out of malice,
in a most rude and violent way, hinder the minister's access to him, and
thus that poor gentleman in great horror and anguish died.

"After his death his lady still pursued the quarrel with no less malice,
until she also fell sick, and had much terror upon her conscience,
crying out for the minister, who was providentially absent, so that she
was denied in that which she kept back from her husband; but he came to
her before her death, and she confessed, with much bitterness, her wrong
to him. After this, a young man, who had been their chaplain, and
engaged by them to appear as a witness against that godly man, was so
terrified in his conscience, that he could get no rest till he went to
the next synod, to acknowledge that horrid sin, in bearing false witness
against his minister; but being by some kept from a public appearance,
he went to another part of the country, where it is reported he died
distracted.

"Last of all the young laird, who succeeded in that estate, would needs
pursue the quarrel, and finding more access through the change of the
times, did so endeavour with some who were in power, that an order was
passed for banishing him out of that parish; and although he was then
otherwise accused upon account of the public cause, yet it was known,
the violent persecution of that gentleman was the main cause of that
sentence, as those who had a hand in passing it did conf