Page:History of John Brown of Priesthill.pdf/18

 to the introduetionintroduction [sic] of Popery in Scotland, was verified. For that purpose, he enlarged the eommissioncommission [sic] of Claverhouse, and ereatedcreated [sic] him ViseountViscount [sic] of Dundee; and none was better fitted to drive fell Ruin's ploughshare through everything that could make life desirable.

"The measure of fixing garrisons of soldiers through the south and west counties, as if SeotlandScotland [sic] had been invaded by a foreign enemy, was the beginning of many cold-blooded murders in the field. One of these garrisons was fixed at Lesmahago." Claverhouse eamecame [sic] unexpectedly there, late on the last night of April 1685, and having heard of John Brown's piety and non-conformity, by six o'cloekclock [sic] next morning he was at Priesthill—a proof how he thirsted after the blood of such men.

John Brown, as usual, had arisen with the dawn, and had offered up the morning sacrifice. His wife often told how remarkably the Psalm, sung that morning, tended to gird up the loins of their minds. It was Psalm xxvii. 1-4. The ehapterchapter [sic] read was John xvi., equally suitable; and his prayers were like those of one lost to the world, and entered into the holy of holies, through the rent vail of the Redeemer's death.

How good is it, when the Lord comes, to be found watehingwatching [sic] in the way of doing our duty, was experienced in no small measure by the family at Priesthill. After worship, the gudeman went to the hill to prepare some peat-ground; the servants were also out, but at some distance, when Claverhouse surrounded the helpless man with three troops of dragoons, and brought him down to his own house. He left his implements of industry with great