withal threatened with the most severe usage if he
did not satisfy them. Whereupon he gave in a minute in writing, wherein,
after a short preamble, he says, "The result of my thoughts is in the
sincerity of an unfeigned conscience and in the fear of God, that I do
renounce and disown that and all other declarations, in so far as that
they declare war against the king expresly, proposedly or designedly,
and assert that it is lawful to kill all employed by his majesty or any,
because so employed in church, state, army or country." When they read
this, they said it was satisfactory, and required him to hold up his
hand. This he still refused, till allowed to dictate to the clerk what
words he should swear. Which being done, he protested, that it might not
be constructed to any other sense than the genuine words he delivered in
the minute he did subscribe and swear. That which induced him to this,
he says, was, "They gave it in his own meaning, and so far was his mind
deceived, that by a quibble and nice distinction they thought that the
word might bear, That this was not a disowning of that nor no
declaration that ever he saw (save one of their pretending) nor that
neither but in so far, or if so be; which different expressions he was
taught to confound by scholastic notions infused into him by the court,
and some of the indulged ministers while in prison, &c." Having so
done, the justiciary dismissed him, but, on pretence he was the
council's prisoner, he was sent back to his now more weary prison than
ever. For he had no sooner made this foolish and unfaithful step of
compliance (as he himself expresses it) than his conscience smote him,
and continuing so to do, he aggravated his fall in such a sort as he
wanted words to express.

Yet after all this his dangers were not over, for having wrote a letter
to John Balfour to be by him transmitted to some friends in Holland
declaring his grief and sorrow, and his mind anent his former
compliances, &c. it fell into the enemies hands; whereupon he was
again brought before the lords of council, and though much threatening
ensued, yet he owned the letter, and declared his sorrow for what he had
formerly done. After which they appointed him to confer with the
arch-bishop of St. Andrews, and the bishops of Glasgow and Dunkeld. With
them he had a long reasoning, and among other things they objected that
all powers were ordained of God, be they what they will. He answered,
"All power