his protest and a
letter sent by him to the assembly 1601, in Calderwood, pages 420 and
450.) This protest and letter was the occasion of farther trouble to
him. For in the month of May following, he was charged to compear before
the council on the 26th, and answer for the same, and was by the king
committed prisoner to the castle of Edinburgh; but, on account of bodily
infirmity, this place of confinement was changed to his own dwelling
house; after which he obtained liberty to exercise his office in his own
parish. When the king was going for England _anno_ 1603, as he was
passing through Preston-pans, the laird of Ormiston intreated him to
relieve Mr Davidson from his confinement to the bounds of his own
parish, but this could not be obtained.----He likewise, in some
instances, shewed that he was possessed in a considerable measure of the
spirit of prophecy.--He was, while in Preston, very anxious about the
building of a church in that parish, and had, by his own private
interest, contributed liberally to it; Lord Newbattle, having
considerable interest in that parish, likewise promised his assistance,
but afterwards receded from his engagements; upon which Mr. Davidson
told him, That these walls that were there begun should stand as a
witness against him, and that, ere long, God should root him out of that
parish, so that he should not have one bit of land in the same; which
was afterwards accomplished. At another time being moderator at the
synod of Lothian, Mr John Spotswood minister at Calder, and Mr James Law
minister at Kirkliston were brought before them for playing at the
foot-ball on the sabbath. Mr Davidson urged that they might be deposed,
but the synod, because of the fewness of the ministers present, &c.
agreed that they should be rebuked, which, having accordingly done, he
turned to his brethren and said, "Now let me tell you what reward you
shall have for your lenity, these two men shall trample on your necks,
and on the necks of the ministers of Scotland." How true this proved was
afterwards too well known, when Spotswood was made arch-bishop of St
Andrews, and Law of Glasgow. Being at dinner one time with Mr Bruce, who
was then in great favour with the king, he told him, he should soon be
in as great discredit; which was likewise accomplished. At another time,
when dining in the house of one of the magistrates of Edinburgh with Mr
Bruce, in giving thanks, he brake forth in these words, "Lord, this good