of the gravel; yet he must needs have the
mother of the children too, though she could not leave them in that
condition. While he insisted, one of the dragoons said, The devil ding
your back in twa: have ye a coach and six for her and the children?
Wylie, with cursing, answered, She shall go, if she should be trailed in
a sledge; which was his common bye-word when hauling poor people to
prison. However, he got Archer and five small children to Kirkaldy
tolbooth. But what then? In a little after, having taken a gentleman
prisoner, he went with him to a public house near Clunie in the parish
of Kinglassie to see some public matters accommodated; but not agreeing,
Wylie made a great splutter, and amongst other imprecations said, The
devil take me, if I carry him not to Couper tolbooth this night. The
gentleman's man, a young hardy fellow, told him roundly, his master
should not go there. Upon which, Wylie gave him a blow: the fellow ran
to a smith's shop, and getting a goad of iron, made at Wylie. A scuffle
ensued, in which he broke Wylie's back in two; which obliged them to get
two sledges and tie him across on them, and so carry him home; and in a
short time he died in great agony. _The Lord shall break the arm of the
wicked_--_Wodrow_.

MR. FRANCIS GORDON, a volunteer in the Earl of Airly's troop, but
chiefly so from a principle of wickedness. He had committed several
outrages upon the suffering people of God, and intended more (as
appeared from several of their names in his pocket to be taken at his
death) had not God cut his days short; for he and another wicked
companion left their troop at Lanerk, and came with two servants and
four horses to Kilkcagow, searching for sufferers. Gordon rambling
through the town, offering to abuse some women, at night coming to
East-seat, Gordon's comrade went to bed, but he would sleep none,
roaring all night for women. In the morning, he left the rest, and with
his sword in his hand came to Moss-plate. Some men who had been in the
fields all night, fled; upon which he pursued. In the mean time, seeing
three men, who had been at a meeting in the night, flee, he pursued and
overtook them: one of them asked, why he pursued them? He said, to send
them to hell. Another said, That shall not be; we will defend ourselves.
Gordon said, Either you or I shall go to it just now: and so, with great
fury, run his sword at one of them, which missed his body, but went
through his coat. The said pe