their order be put to the
torture, the said boots and thumbkins be applied to them, as it shall be
found fit and convenient."

Lauderdale on this occasion found it fit and convenient to apply the
torture to another man in the presence of Black, in order that the
latter might fully appreciate what he had to expect if he should remain
contumacious. The poor man referred to had not been gifted with a
robust frame or a courageous spirit. When asked, however, to reveal the
names of some comrades who had accompanied him to a field-preaching he
at first loyally and firmly refused to do so. Then the boot was
applied. It was a wooden instrument which enclosed the foot and lower
limb of the victim. Between it and the leg a wedge was inserted which,
when struck repeatedly, compressed the limb and caused excruciating
agony. In some cases this torture was carried so far that it actually
crushed the bone, causing blood and marrow to spout forth. It was so in
the case of that well-known martyr of the Covenant, Hugh McKail, not
long before his execution.

The courage of the poor man of whom we now write gave way at the second
stroke of the mallet, and, at the third, uttering a shriek of agony, he
revealed, in short gasps, the names of all the comrades he could recall.
Let us not judge him harshly until we have undergone the same ordeal
with credit! A look of intense pity overspread the face of Andrew Black
while this was going on. His broad chest heaved, and drops of
perspiration stood on his brow. He had evidently forgotten himself in
his strong sympathy with the unhappy martyr. When the latter was
carried out, in a half fainting condition, he turned to Lauderdale, and,
frowning darkly, said--

"Thou meeserable sinner, cheeld o' the deevil, an' enemy o' a'
righteousness, div 'ee think that your blood-stained haund can owerturn
the cause o' the Lord?"

This speech was received with a flush of anger, quickly followed by a
supercilious smile.

"We shall see. Get the boot ready there. Now, sir," (turning to
Black), "answer promptly--Will you subscribe the oath of the King's
supremacy?"

"No--that I wull _not_. I acknowledge nae king ower my conscience but
the King o' Kings. As for that perjured libertine on the throne, for
whom there's muckle need to pray, I tell ye plainly that I consider the
freedom and welfare o' Scotland stands higher than the supposed rights
o' king and lords. Ye misca' us rebels! If ye ken