2 E JOHN I? OWN OK PiHESTITlLL. 
 
 Not long after this, he appecired openly in arms 
 at Inverness, and was successful at the battle of 
 Killicrankic — putting William's army to flight ; 
 but while in tho act of raising himself on the 
 saddle, and waving with his arm, pointing to 
 guard the pass of Killicrankie, that his favourite 
 maxim, " no quarter," might bo put into exe- 
 cution, lo ! a mnsket-ball passed into his arm- 
 pit, that proved fatal in a few hours after. His 
 estate was made over to the house of Douglas ; 
 and his widow, marrying to Lord Kilsyth, and 
 returning to Holland, became, along with her 
 children, the victim of a dreadful misfortune 
 The house in which she resided at Utrecht 
 falling suddenly in, a nd overwhelming the whole 
 family, his name and titles became extinct. 
 
 About fifty years ago, a gentleman riding to 
 Edinburgh fell into conversation with a respect- 
 able-looking countrywoman on the road, and 
 learning that she was a grand-daughter of John 
 Brown, he on that account made her ride be- 
 hind him into the citv. So much was the me- 
 mory of the Christian Carrier respected. And 
 what was a proof of the harmony of his familv, 
 she could not tell whether she was of the first 
 ■ or the second wife's children. None of them 
 now reside at Priesthill, but their house stands; 
 and the broad flat stone that covers their 
 father's grave is shewn, with this inscription : — 
 
 In death's cold bed, the dusty part here lies 
 Of one who (fid the earth as dust despise : 
 Here in this place from earth he took departure ; 
 Now he has got the garland of the martyr. 
 Butcher 'd by CI avers and his bloody ban«, 
 Racing most rav'nously o'er all the land, 
 Only for owning Christ's supremacy, 
 AViekcdly wrong'd. by encroaching tyranny. 
 Nothing how near so ever he to good 
 
 Esteem 'd, nor dear for any truth his blood. 
 
 [No. L 
 
 THE H1STOKY 
 
 JOHN BROWN 
 
 OF PRIESTHILL, 
 
 COMMONLY CALLED 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN CARRIER, 
 
 WHO WAS MURDERED BY 
 
 THE BLOODY GLAVERHOUSE. 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY J. BR Y DONE, 
 
 SOUTH HANOVER STREET- 
 
12 
 
 JOHN BKOWN OF PRIfiSTHUL. 
 
 perjury. What can we think of that tree 
 which produced such fruit ? 
 
 It was under such circumstances that tho 
 Apologetic Declaration was published. In it 
 may be seen a spirit, still in Scotland, that 
 dared to be free from tyranny ; a spirit that 
 animated the first Reformers ; that would one 
 day speak terrible things in righteousness. 
 
 Although this effort of freedom was like the 
 child threshing the mountain, and its conse- 
 quence apparently the same, save that the 
 Church on this account suffered much ; the 
 court-party making it a pretence for sending 
 more soldiers on the country, particularly about 
 Lanark, vainly thinking that it would never be 
 well with them till the south and west of 
 Scotland were made a hunting- field ; and the 
 better to execute this, any soldier in the ranks 
 had liberty to shoot all the// thought suspicious, 
 and it was not long till there was scarce a moss 
 or mountain in the west of Scotland but was 
 flowered with martyrs. 
 
 The society that met at Priesthill was soon 
 broken up. John Wilson, and John Smith of 
 Lesmahago, were shot by Colonel Buchan and 
 the Laird of Lee, in February lb"8- r ). John 
 Brown of Blackwood, in the same parish, was 
 shot in the beginning of March following, by 
 Lieutenant Murray, after the promise of quar- 
 ter. The pure snow then on the ground was 
 stained with his blood. His corpse was buried, 
 under cloud of night, near to the spot where ha 
 was treacherously slain. 
 
 After this, John Brown could not continue 
 his business of carrier, though he had no hand 
 in the Apologetic Declaration. His opinion 
 (and his ooncluct was consistent with it) was, 
 
 JOHN BROWN OF PRXESTHJXL. 
 
 13 
 
 that he ought to live as in an enemy's country, 
 and without sin. Yet he was often obliged to 
 betake to the high lands of Kyle and of Lan- 
 arkshire, and to bear the chilling cold of March 
 and April winds, with the more bitter blast of 
 persecution. Still, however, amidst the storms 
 of nature, and of the political heavens, he had 
 the rainbow of the covenant around his head, 
 and enjoyed a freedom and pleasure that his 
 enemies could not rob him of. 
 
 On one of those days, when driven from his 
 home, he fled for refuge to a deep ravine, or 
 moss-hag, that had been formed by the current 
 of a water-spout, carrying shrubs, soil, moss, 
 and all before it, to the dale-land beneath, 
 leaving a frightful chasm, amidst a vast field 
 of heath. Its deep mossy sides made it inac- 
 cessible to strangers ; only the neighbouring 
 husbandmen knew where the brackens hid the 
 rocks, whose shelvy sides conducted to the 
 bottom. In the sides of this natural alley 
 were dens and caves sufficient to hide a large 
 company. In one of these, Priesthill intended 
 to spend the day in prayer; and had begun to 
 pour out his soul, in the words of Lamenta- 
 tions iii. 40, and downwards, when a sweet 
 sound reached his ear, that seemed to proceed 
 from another part of the moss-hag. At first 
 it was in a soft under voice, as afraid to bo 
 heard, but soon rose above all fear, joined with 
 others ; and the verses of the Psalm were 
 distinctly sung. 
 
 " It is the hallowed sound of praising God, 
 and by some fellow- sufferers," said John 
 Brown, as he arose from his knees to search 
 them out. And to his no sma'l joy found out 
 David and William Steel, his neighbours, and 
 
20 
 
 JOHN BROWN' OF PRIESTITILL. 
 
 and her children, born and unborn, as one 
 refreshed by the influence of the Holy Spirit, 
 when he comes down like rain upon the mown 
 grass, as showers upon the earth/ 1 
 
 When Claverhouse could bear his prayers 
 no longer, and had succeeded, after interrupt- 
 ing him twice with the most blasphemous 
 language, to raise him from his knees, John 
 Brown said to his wife, Isabell, this is the day 
 I told you of before we were married ; and 
 added, with his usual kindness, you see me 
 summoned to appear in a few minutes before 
 the court of heaven, as a witness in our Re- 
 deemer's cause against the ruler of Scotland ; 
 are you willing that I should part from you ? 
 Heartily willing, said she, in a voice that spoko 
 her regard for her husband and her submission 
 to the Lord, even when he called her to bow 
 before His terrible things. * That is all I wait 
 for ; death, where is thy sting ? grave, 
 where will be thy victory V said John Brown, 
 while he tenderly laid his arms around her, 
 kissed her and her little boy, and lastly Janet, 
 saying to her, my sweet bairn, give your hand 
 to God as your guide, and be your mother's 
 comfort : he could add no more, a tide of ten- 
 derness overflowed his heart. At last he 
 uttered these words, " Blessed be thou, Holy 
 Spirit ! that speaketh more comfort to my 
 heart than the voice of my oppressors can 
 speak terror to my ears !" Thus, when the 
 Lord brought his witness to be tried, he dis- 
 covered such a magnanimity, that, as he fell, 
 Ke conquered his persecutors. 
 
 If, in the christian's life, there is a light that 
 discovers the spots of the wicked ; so, in tho 
 martyr's heroic grappling with death, th&£<e wis 
 
 JOHN CROWN OF PRIESTIJILL. 
 
 5 
 
 it was a benefit to the youth for miles around 
 him, who were then much neglected. No faith- 
 ful minister was left to instruct them. The 
 fathers who used to tell the children what great 
 things the Lord had done for Scotland, were 
 cither banished or had suffered death. To 
 counteract the bad example of the wicked, who 
 now walked on every side, since vile men were 
 high in place, every Monday night he met with 
 these young persons, and instructed them from 
 the Bible and the Confession of Faith. In summer 
 they assembled in a sheep-bught, and in winter 
 they formed a circle wide around a large fire of 
 peats and cannel-coal, that blazed in the middle 
 of the spence-floor. The effects of the substan- 
 tial information these rustics got, is felt to this 
 day in that neighbourhood. John Brown was 
 not alone in this good work ; David and 
 William Steel were helpmates. 
 
 It was about the year 1680, that Priesthill 
 got acquainted with Isabell Weir, in the parish 
 of Sorn. She was a very superior woman, 
 though her disposition was the very reverse of 
 his : she was lively and humorous, and could 
 cheer up his grave countenance till he was as 
 animated as herself ; at other times she would 
 sit and listen to the good sense of his conver- 
 sation with the simplicity of a child. She saw 
 him often, for he had frequently business to 
 transact with her father, when he passed to 
 and from Ayr. They often talked of Zion'a 
 trouble ; and what was remarkable, when ho 
 sought her in marriage, he told her he felt a 
 foreboding in his mind that he would one day 
 be called to seal the Church's testimony with 
 his blood. If it should be so, she nobly an- 
 swered, through affliction and death 1 will bo 
 
4 
 
 JOHN BROWN OF PKIESTHJU.. 
 
 Satan's kingdom. The gospel flourished, 
 though driven from temples made with hands. 
 Many date their conversion from the glad 
 tidings they heard in these wilds, saying with 
 the Psalmist, Lo ! we heard of thee at Ephra- 
 tah, we found thee in the field of the wood. 
 
 It was from these banished ministers that 
 John Brown received his superior education. 
 He was intended for the Church, had not an 
 uncommon difficulty of expressing his senti- 
 ments to strangers prevented him from prose- 
 cuting his studies. But what was strange, in 
 prayer he was gifted in an extraordinary mea- 
 sure. In such scriptural language did he pour 
 forth his soul, and at the same time with such 
 variety, fluency, and affection, that he appeared 
 like one superhuman. Many have a gift of 
 prayer, whose lives bespeak them far from the 
 kingdom of heaven. Such was not Priesthill. 
 His actions with men were just and judicious ; 
 so much so, that he was intrusted, when a very 
 young man, with the produce of the neighbour- 
 ing shepherds, to carry to market and dispose 
 of, and bring back what they required in 
 return. In this capacity he got the name 
 of the Christian Carrier ; and was often the 
 first that brought them tidings of the mis- 
 chief that was framed by law r against the Pres- 
 byterians. 
 
 He wan merely a youth at the rising of Pent- 
 land ; and not having been either at the battle 
 of Drumclog or Bothwell, he could evade with 
 ease the ensnaring questions that every travel- 
 ler was required to answer ; by which means 
 he passed to and fro unmolested. 
 
 John Brown's good education was not lost ; 
 besides being a source of enjoyment to himself, 
 
 joiin nnow.x or PmtimmiitJ. 
 
 21 
 
 a heat that scorched past enduring. It was, 
 doubtless, under this feeling that (Jlaverhouse 
 ordered six of his dragoons to shoot him ere 
 the last words were out of his mouth ; but his 
 prayers and conduct had disarmed them from 
 performing such a savage action. They 
 stood motionless. Fearing for their mutiny, 
 Claverhouse snatched a pistol from his own 
 belt, and shot him through the head. * * * 
 And, while his troops slunk from the awful 
 scene, he, like a beast of prey that tramples 
 and howls over a fallen victim, insulted the 
 tender-hearted wife, while she gathered up the 
 shattered head, by taunting jeers : — " What 
 thinkest thou of thy husband now, woman V 
 u I ever thought meiklo good of him," said she, 
 " and now more than ever." He, seeing her 
 courage, said, " It were but justice to lay thee 
 beside him." She replied, " If ye were permit- 
 ted, I doubt not your cruelty could go that 
 length ; but how will ye answer for this morn- 
 ing's work." With a countenance that belied 
 his words, he answered, " To men I can be 
 answerable, and as for God I will take him in 
 my own hands." Thus saying, he hastily put 
 spurs to his horse, and left her with the corpse. 
 She tied up his head with her napkin, composed 
 his body, covered it with her plaid, and when 
 she had nothing further to do or contend with, 
 she sat down on the ground, drew her children 
 to her, and wept over her mangled husband. 
 
 The mourners of Priesthill did not long want 
 friends. The report of the foul deed circulated 
 rapidly, creating dismay and abhorrence. Who 
 now could think themselves safe, when John 
 Brown was thus treated, who w>s not other- 
 wise obnoxious to Government than in not at- 
 
i (> JOHN BROWN OF PRIES I'll I LL. 
 
 heard, passing over the ravine, singing these 
 words : — 
 
 Oh ! let the prisoners' sighs ascend 
 
 Before thy sight on high ; 
 Preserve those by thy mighty power, 
 
 That are ordained to die. 
 
 And again, while they still stood speechless, 
 
 another voice sung, in tones of exultation : — 
 
 Though ye have lain among the pots, 
 
 Like doves ye shall appear, 
 Whose Avings with silver, and with gold 
 
 Whose feathers covered are. 
 
 After standing for some time looking at one 
 another, some of them thought they had left 
 other worshippers in the moss-hag; others 
 thought that the sound echoed from a greater 
 distance. " Whoever or wherever the words 
 come from, we have little concern, " said John 
 Brown; '* one tiling we may take comfort from; 
 li le v are God s words to his Church in affliction ; 
 and that is our situation. AV ho lie among the 
 pots I We scullions, black in the opinions of 
 our enemies. But God sees us not as man 
 sees us, but compares us to doves — doves on 
 the wing, whose feathers of gold and silver aro 
 best seen when they fly. It may be, we are 
 on the wing to an eternal world, and this Be- 
 thel meeting is preparing us to mount up with 
 wings like eagles. If so, let us keep in mind 
 that we have nothing to boast of, but grace, 
 grace ; unto it is our acknowledgement. 11 While 
 lie spoke, his countenance beamed the pleasant- 
 e?t ever they had seen ; and when he parted 
 from them, they stood and looked after him. 
 It was the last time they saw him in life, and 
 the last time they heard him speak. " He had 
 a most uncommon talent in communicating 
 information and consolation to others, and 
 
 JOHN BROWN or PUIUHTJIILL. 
 
 f) 
 
 ami speech he seemed of a superior rank. 
 While the servants gazed on him, the gudewife 
 did not know whether she should welcome 
 him as a sufferer, or consider him as a spy ; 
 so she left Janet to perform the kind offices 
 which the stranger required, while she lulled 
 her boy to sleep, by singing a verse of an old 
 song. 
 
 While the gudewife sang, the stranger's 
 face brightened up, and he more cheerfully 
 accepted the child's endearing attentions, who 
 placed him in the warmest corner, helped him 
 off with his dreeping plaid, imitating all the 
 kind offices she had seen her mother perform to 
 her father, to the no small amusement of the 
 rest of the family. On the stranger it had a 
 different effect. He burst into tears, and 
 cried, " May the blessing of him that is ready 
 to perish rest upon you, my dear bairn. Surely 
 God has heard my cry, and provided me a place 
 to rest my head for a night. O that I had in 
 the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring 
 men, that I might leave my people and go from 
 them ; for they be an assembly of treacherous 
 men. 11 
 
 Just as he had finished, John Brown entered. 
 He gazed at him, and with great deference 
 bade him welcome to his house. Do you 
 know me, 11 said the stranger. u I think I do, 11 
 said John Brown. " It was in this house that 
 the societies met that contributed to send you 
 to Holland, and now I fear they have not 
 received you (at least some of them) as they 
 ought." " Their reproach has not broken my 
 heart, 11 said Mr lionwick, (for it was he, though 
 he was not named before the family.) \\ but the 
 excessive travelling, night wanderings, un- 
 
8 
 
 JOHN 14R0WX OF PItlESTHJ LL. 
 
 him homo, and help fokii off with his horsed 
 load. 
 
 The domestic peace and comfort of Priesthill 
 are talked of to this day ; and many anecdotes 
 are told, and one among the rest, that illus- 
 trates the precept of hospitality to strangers, 
 for thereby some have entertained angels un- 
 awares. The second year after his marriage, 
 one night in the beginning of winter, John 
 Jirown had gone to a neighbour's house : the 
 family at home were preparing the wool of 
 their Hocks for hodden grey cloth, to sell at 
 Lowrie's fair in Hamilton. The shepherd 
 carded the black and white wool together, for 
 the women to spin ; Janet and the herd-bov 
 were teasing for the carder ; the gudewife sat 
 nursing her first-born son at one side of the 
 lire ; when the dog, which lay at full length at 
 the other, started up, and ran to the door, 
 barking at the approach of a stranger. Isabel 1 
 thought it would be her husband returned, and 
 was about to rise to meet him. Janet and tho 
 herd were almost as soon at the door as the dog, 
 and calling to him, tl Whisht, Collie, whisht, 
 ye mu na speak to the unco man. 11 The herd 
 caught the dog in his arms, and returned with 
 him into the house, while Janet followed, lead- 
 ing a stranger, first looking to her mother for 
 encouragement, and then to her guest. She 
 led him to her father's chair with a courtesy 
 that seemed to give rise to strong emotions in 
 his heart. 
 
 The stranger was young in years, of a little 
 stature, and fine fair countenance, but ho was 
 pale with fatigue and sickness. His shoos 
 were worn out ; a shepherd's plaid hung round 
 him, seemingly for disguiso, for by his drei&s 
 
 JOHN BROWN OF PRI ESTHILL. 17 
 
 when he came himself to be tried, he was not 
 left a cast-a wav. 11 
 
 Among the last of the needy adventurers of 
 Charles HJs reign, who could swim through the 
 blood of their more conscientious countrymen 
 to favour and emolument, was Graham of 
 Claverhouse. " He was descended from tho 
 house of Montrose, and was educated in 
 France, the best school for dissolute manners 
 and cruelty. He fought against the French 
 in the Low Countries, under tho Prince of 
 Orange ; but being refused the command of 
 one of the Scottish regiments then in tho Dutch 
 service, he left it in disgust and came over to 
 England. His dissolute manners and vivacity 
 soon got him notice at court, and the command 
 of a party of Highlanders. 11 His first appear- 
 ance on the stage of Scotland's tragedy was in 
 167S, taking free quarters for himself and men 
 in tho house of Gilbert M'Michen, in Now 
 Glen luce ; and when they went off, besides what 
 they consumed, they took with them three 
 horses, worth ten pounds each. In every suc- 
 ceeding appearance he may be marked as rising 
 in cruelty and exaction. 
 
 " What Bishop Burnet says of Dalziel, may 
 be affirmed of Claverhouse with equal, or per- 
 haps with greater truth : that he acted the 
 Muscovite too grossly, threatening to spit men 
 and roast them alive. He pleaded, in excuse, 
 that terror w-as true mercy, if it put an end to, 
 or prevented war. 11 
 
 Charles being now dead, James Duke of 
 York required such instruments to compel 
 submission to his system of cruelty. Having 
 now thrown off the mask, the suspicion of the 
 Beformers, that Prelacy was to be handmaid 
 
JOll.N KKOWN OF- 1'RIES'J'IIJI.L. 
 
 your comfort. The Lord has promised me 
 grace, and he will give you glory. 
 
 After this, the indulged ministers had gone 
 so far in the course of defection, that the more 
 conscientious sufferers had none they could 
 hear after the death of Cameron and Cargil. 
 They resolved to form themselves into societies, 
 to meet quarterly, of members delegated from 
 their weekly prayer-meetings. The second of 
 these quarterly meetings took place at Priest- 
 hill, February" 1682, where they made a con- 
 tribution to send a young man to Holland, to 
 be licensed as preacher to them. The fruits 
 of this brought forward Mr Ren wick, of glo- 
 rious memory. And these meetings^ for no 
 other end than to enjoy the liberty of serving 
 God, free from the impositions of men, were 
 •counted seditious, and the members punished 
 with death. What a dreadful state was Scot- 
 land in then, when God s people were counted 
 her enemies ! 
 
 About two months after this, Priesthill was 
 married by Mr Peden, who happened to be in 
 Kyle baptizing cniidren. The marriage took 
 place in a glen near the house. When Isabell 
 and her company arrived at the spot, they 
 were surprised at the assembly gathered. 
 Mr Peden welcomed her, and said, these are to 
 be witnesses of your vows ; they are all friends, 
 and have come at the risk of their lives to hear 
 God's Word, and to countenance his ordinance 
 of marriage. After all was over, Mr Peden 
 took Isabell aside, and said, " You have got a 
 good husband, value him highly, keep linen for 
 a winding-sheet beside you, for in a day when 
 you least expect it, thy master will be taken 
 from iky head. In him the image of our Lord 
 
 JOH.V lilMNVN 01' Pifl IC.STIIIU.. 19 
 
 posure, and walked down before them more 
 like a leader than a captive. 
 
 Meanwhile, Janet had alarmed her mother 
 by telling her that a great many horsemen 
 were coming down the hill with her father. 
 " The thing that I feared is come upon me ; 
 give me grace for this hour !" said her mo- 
 ther, hastily taking up her boy, and wrapping 
 him in her plaid, and taking Janet by the hand, 
 she went out to meet her foes, praying in secret 
 as she went. 
 
 Claverhouse asked John Brown, — Why he 
 did not attend the curate, and if he would pray 
 for King James? It was remarkable, that, 
 though a stammerer in speech to strangers, 
 this morning he answered Claverhouse dis- 
 tinctly. He said he acknowledged only Christ 
 as supreme head of the Church, and could not 
 attend the curates, because they were placed 
 there contrary to His law, and were mere crea- 
 tures of the bishops, and the bishops were 
 creatures of the king, — and he being a Papist, 
 and himself a Protestant Presbyterian, who, 
 along with all ranks in the nation, had sworn 
 and covenanted to God that no Papist should 
 bear rule over these lands, — so that he neither 
 could nor would pray for him. But if he re- 
 pented and turned from his wicked way, he 
 would acknowledge, obey, and pray for him. 
 
 Upon hearing this, Claverhouse said, Go to 
 your prayers, for you shall immediately die, 
 which he' did in such a manner as filled the 
 troops with amazement. On his family it had 
 a different effect. His wife, who was great 
 with child, with another in her arms, and Janet 
 at her side, stood while he prayed " that every 
 covenanted blessing might be poured upon her 
 
14 john rmowx or priksthilt. 
 
 Joseph Wilson from Lesmabago, in the cleft 
 of a rock that jutted half-way into the ravine. 
 David Steel had a narrow escape the day be- 
 fore this. When just about to begin the 
 morning worship, one cried out, " There is the 
 enemy coming." He arose with the Bible under 
 his arm, and, without knowing what he was 
 about, went into the byre, and laid himself 
 down in an empty cow-stall, putting the Bible 
 on his breast. His wife, equally unconscious, 
 turned over him a heap of bedding, just as the 
 soldiers entered the place.' They stabbed the 
 straw where he lay, but the Bible received the 
 point of the sword, and they left the house 
 without finding their victim. William Steel's 
 house was near at hand, and was also searched. 
 His wife had locked him in her clothes-press. 
 After they searched every place without suc- 
 cess, and had left the house, a soldier returned, 
 and said to the gudewife, " Mistress, next time 
 you hide, hide better; part of your husband's 
 coat is locked without your press ; 11 and with 
 these words, he left her, to join his company. 
 After he was gone, to her amazement, she found 
 it as the soldier had said. It was- to avoid 
 such harassing scenes that they had all fled to 
 the ravine ; and they found, to their sweet ex- 
 perience, this dreary waste a Bethel ; and in 
 their harassings and hidings, as it was with 
 Moses on the Mount, nearest God when far- 
 thest from creature comforts. All day, they 
 read God's Word, and prayed by turns ; and 
 during the dark and silent watches of the night, 
 by turns they prayed and praised. 
 
 The seventy-fourth Psalm was deeply im- 
 printed on their memories, from its being re- 
 markably descriptive of their situation. Tho 
 
 JOHN BROWN OF PR 1 i ILL. H 
 
 was a time of refreshing to the family from on 
 high. 
 
 In those days, hospitality was with many 
 in reality what it ought to be — purely exercised 
 for God's glory, and without display of gran- 
 deur. The motives were like silver tried ; it 
 was at the risk of all, even life. Henoe, the 
 joy of such pure intercourse was sweet beyond 
 description. As iron sharpeneth iron, so doth 
 the face of man his friend. Ren wick and 
 Priesthill talked of the sufferings of the Church, 
 her testimony, her covenanted cause, and her 
 ultimate triumph. Yes, they had more com- 
 fort in the faith that Christ would one day be 
 head over all things, King of kings, and Lord 
 of lords, than the wicked have, when corn and 
 wine do most abound. 
 
 Soon after Mr Renwick left Priesthill, his 
 followers and he published their Apologetic 
 Declaration. Mr Renwick was at first aver. ' 
 to the measure, but at last agreed. 
 
 The circumstances of the times were dismal, 
 says Crookshanks' History. The societies that 
 had made choice of Mr Renwick for their 
 minister were now exposed to the whole ven- 
 geance of the government. The sea-ports were 
 shut, that none could leave the kingdom. They 
 were pursued by bloody and merciless soldiery. 
 The whole country was sworn to discover them, 
 and bound from giving them meat, drink, or 
 lodgings. Secret spies were hired to find out 
 their haunts, or any who shewed them the least 
 kindness. They were put from under the pro- 
 tection of the laws of their country. No terms 
 were allowed them but a renouncing of prin- 
 ciples, and swallowing those oaths by which 
 thousands were involved in the horrid gu It of 
 
HISTORY OF JOHN BROWN. 
 
 John Brown of Priesthill was only a boy 
 when upwards of three hundred ministers were 
 deposed, in one day, by Charles II. ; because 
 they, in conscience, could not submit that the 
 Church should be lorded over by bishops. 
 Often did he describe the distress that pre- 
 vailed in the country on that occasion ; and 
 the anguish and weeping throughout the 
 churches, on the Sabbath their ministers 
 preached their farewell sermons. It was 
 heart-rending to part with such men, so re- 
 markable for grace, eminent for gifts, many of 
 thorn learned, and all of them singularly dear 
 to their people. " None of them were scandal- 
 ous, insufficient, or negligent, and the fruits of 
 their ministry were everywhere conspicuous. 
 You might have travelled many miles without 
 hearing an oath. You scarce could lodge in a 
 house where God was not worshipped. But 
 what a dreadful reverse was felt when Prelacy 
 was introduced by arbitrary means. It was 
 like King Saul's change — a bad spirit after a 
 good." 
 
 " It is something remarkable, that every 
 time that Prelacy was established in Scotland, 
 it was accompanied with persecution of the 
 Church, taking away the rights of the people, 
 and degeneracy in the moral character of the 
 nation. The discipline of the Presbyterians 
 was too strict for the king and his councillors. 
 The bishops were ambitious, and attained 
 power and riches, by flattering the great, and 
 passing over their sins. They justified the 
 wichdfor reward; and their curates were tha 
 
 JOHN l{ ; .OWN OK miESTJULL. 23 
 
 to have seen John Brown's soul from "insult 
 springing," at the moment his body fell a 
 mangled corpse, he would have seen himself 
 changed from a powerful oppressor, like Ha- 
 inan, to a mean servant, only fit, as an instru- 
 ment, to clothe the humble sitter at the king's 
 gate in royal robes and a glorious crown, and 
 usher him into the city of Shushan as a man 
 whom the King delights to honour. It was not 
 granted that his eyes should be opened by a 
 miracle, or by faith in God's written testimony, 
 to see himself as he really was ; but God's 
 vicegerent, conscience, even in this life, speaks 
 out awful things of righteousness and judgment 
 to come. " He afterwards acknowledged that 
 John Brown's prayer made such an impression 
 on his spirit, that he could never get altogether 
 worn off, when he gave himself liberty to think." 
 Thus, mischief haunts the violent man, and the 
 u bloody and deceitful man shall not live half 
 his days." This was eminently exemplified in 
 the lives and death of the persecutors of that 
 ago ; and in none more than in Graham of 
 Claverhouse. 
 
 His maxim, of terror being true mercy, if it 
 prevented or put an end to war, like every other 
 attempt to do evil that good may come out of 
 it, proved fallacious ; and acting up to it was 
 the means of bringing on the Revolution of 1 688, 
 and of u banishing James VII. from the throne 
 and hearts of the people of Scotland." Claver- 
 house, for various reasons,, had no alternative 
 than to follow the fortune of his benefactor. 
 When he found a lar^e majority in the Scots 
 Convention on the side of William, he left 
 Edinburgh with the determination of exerting 
 > ; naself in the cause of James, in the field. 
 
I 
 
 22 JOHN BROWN OF PRIESTIIILL. 
 
 tending the curate, and he several miles dis- 
 tant ? The first who arrived on the spot was 
 David Steels wife, one well fitted to comfort in 
 the most trying dispensation. She ran up to 
 the group, and throwing her arms around them, 
 saluted Isabell thus, " Wow, woman ! and has 
 your master been taken from your head this 
 day \ and has God taken you and your children 
 under his oumi care, saying, I will be a husband 
 to the widow, and a father to the fatherless ? 
 No wonder though ye are overcome and aston- 
 ished at his doings. 11 This salutation aroused 
 and strengthened the widow. She remembered 
 the words of Mr Peden, and she arose from 
 the ground to search out the linen he had 
 warned her to prepare. About this time, David 
 Steel, and William Steel with his wife, arrived, 
 and assisted Isabell to bring in and wrap up 
 the precious dust. All was done, while the 
 silence of death reigned over the household. 
 
 As was said of the proto-martyr Stephen, 
 devout men carried him to his burial : in like 
 manner was John Brown, for literally Gods 
 hidden ones carried him forth, and laid him in 
 his grave, on the very spot where he fell. 
 
 Renwick writes, on one occasion, to Sir 
 R. Hamilton, after a field-preaching, " that if 
 ever God could be tied to any place, I think it 
 is to the muirs and mountains of Scotland. 11 
 Rutherford many a time declares, " Sweet, 
 sweet is the cross ; and no wonder, when Christ 
 bears both us and it. 11 The sorrow of the 
 righteous is better far than the joys of the 
 wicked, that are only like the crackling of 
 thorns under a pot, and worketh death. Had 
 a miracle opened the eyes of Claverhouse, 
 as it did the eyes of the prophets servant, 
 
 JOHN BROWN OP PRIESTHILL. $ 
 
 dregs of society, ignorant and wicked. Many 
 of the bishops had sworn, along with the king 
 and his nobles, to support the Church they had 
 overturned. It was no wonder though they 
 were regarded as coming in with perjury writ- 
 ten on their foreheads ; where holiness to the 
 Lord had formerly been. 11 The consequence 
 was, that the churches were deserted ; and the 
 ministers, still bound by God's laws to their 
 people, taught them from house to house. 
 This the bishops could not bear, and fell to 
 their former practice of making laws against 
 them. The laws against non- conformity, says 
 Defoe, were so extraordinary, and savoured so 
 much of a spirit of persecution, were in them- 
 selves so unjust, and in some things so unna- 
 tural, that none can wonder though they some- 
 times drove the poor people to desperation. 
 44 They suffered extremities that cannot be 
 described, and which the heart can hardly 
 conceive of, from hunger, nakedness, and the 
 severity of the weather ; where it is known how 
 unsufferable the cold is, lying in damp caves, 
 without covering, fire, or food. None durst 
 harbour, speak to them, or relieve them, but 
 upon the pain of death. 11 
 
 The whirlwind of persecution carried the 
 seeds of salvation where the influence of the 
 Reformation had not reached. The Scottish 
 border, proverbial for freebooters or robbers, 
 felt the divine effects of the banished ministers. 
 They were there harboured without fear or 
 dread of laws, and kindly entertained. The 
 inhabitants of the heath-covered moors, and 
 the distant isles of the sea, were made glad, 
 and blossomed as the rose. Thus, the scatter- 
 ing of the ministers made new inroads upon 
 
10 JOHN BROWN OP PRIESTHILL. 
 
 seasonable sleep, frequent preaching in all 
 weathers, especially in the night, has so debili- 
 tated me, that I am unlit often for my work. 
 The reproach of those who called me to the 
 ministry, I look upon as the device of the 
 enemy to stop the Lord's work ; but blessed be 
 his grace that has kept me from mixing anger 
 or scorn of them with my sorrow. Some have 
 declared that I will never be honoured of the 
 Lord to do his poor remnant good. But one 
 thing I know, and may say, that the Lord has 
 done me good. Oh ! let none fear a suffering 
 lot. E nemies think themselves satisfied that 
 we are put to wander in mosses, and upon 
 mountains ; but even amidst the storms of 
 these last two nights, I cannot express what 
 sweet times I have had, when I had no cover- 
 ing but the dark curtains of night. Yet, in 
 the silent watch, my mind was led out to 
 admire the deep and inexpressible ocean of 
 joy, wherein the whole family of heaven swim. 
 Each star led me to wonder what He must be 
 who is the Star of Jacob, of whom all stars 
 borrow their shining. Indeed, if I may term 
 it, I am much obliged to enemies ; they have 
 covered me many a table in the wilderness, 
 and have made me friends where I never ex- 
 pected them.'" 
 
 When he ceased speaking, every one of the 
 family strove to do him some kindness. The 
 shepherd brought him clean hose and shoes ; 
 the herd his new nightcap ; the lasses left their 
 wheels and washed his feet ; the gudewife pre- 
 pared him a warm supper ; while little Janet, 
 worn out, was fast asleep at his side. 
 
 He remained another night with them, 
 and was greatly bettered in his health. It 
 
 joiin biiown of rrurcsTini.L. 15 
 
 whole of it was sung about midnight ; and while 
 the wind carried the sound to the dale land 
 below, faith carried the matter up to heaven. 
 It entered the ear of the God of sabaoth, through 
 the highly exalted Intercessor for His suffering 
 Church. And though the Lord waited to be 
 gracious, as the cup of wickedness that the 
 Stuart race was to fill had not come to the 
 brim, they were to fill it : but he sent the Com- 
 forter to uphold them with peace and joy, in 
 believing that it was Jesus" cause they were suf- 
 fering for. And though counted as slaughter- 
 sheep, they were fed in green pastures, and 
 drank of that river of life, whose divine influence 
 refreshed their souls passing all understanding. 
 They felt a peace that made them loath to 
 part. Every one was sensible that the presence 
 of God had been with them. It was in this 
 spirit that these poor haunted saints spent the 
 time till morning dawned ; and the lark arose 
 above their heads, joining his notes with theirs 
 in praise to God for the light of another day. 
 
 William Steel, who escaped death from the 
 persecutors, and lived many years after the 
 Revolution, said often, if ever there was a time 
 in his life that he would wish to enjoy over 
 again, it was that in which he suffered perse- 
 cution, especially that day and night he spent 
 in the moss-hag. They all thought it would be 
 their last meeting on earth. He was the first 
 that ascended from the ravine to look if the 
 enemy were in view ; and it being a clear morn- 
 ing, and no person in sight, they all followed, 
 and were standing to consult on the separate 
 paths they would take home, to prevent them 
 from being seen, when they were struck silent 
 by a voice, sweeter than anything they had ever 
 
JOIIX BROWN OF PRIESTHILL, 
 
 to the introduction of Popery in Scotland, was 
 verified. For that purpose, he enlarged the 
 commission of Claverhouse, and created him 
 Viscount of Dundee; and none was better fitted 
 to drive fell Ruin's ploughshare through every- 
 thing that could make life desirable. 
 
 " The measure of fixing garrisons of soldiers 
 through the south and west counties, as if Scot- 
 land had been invaded by a foreign enemy, 
 was the beginning of many cold-blooded mur- 
 ders in the field. One of these garrisons was 
 fixed at Lesmahago." Claverhouse came un- 
 expectedly there, late on the last night of 
 April 1685, and having heard of John Brown's 
 piety and non-conformity, by six o'clock 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 
 chapter 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 watching in the way of doing our duty, 
 was experienced in no small measure by the 
 family at Priesthill. After worship, the gude- 
 man 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, 
 :md brought him down to his own house. He 
 left his implements of industry with great com- 
 
 JOTIX BROWN OF PRIESTHILL. 7 
 
 and Saviour is too visible to pass unnoticed by 
 those who drive the chariot wheels of persecu- 
 tion through the breadth and length of bleed- 
 ing Scotland. But fear not, thou shalt be 
 comforted. ,, 
 
 There is something in the human heart that 
 puts the evil day far away. She could not 
 think it possible that one so blameless as her 
 husband could be considered an enemy to any. 
 However, the kind warning had this good effect 
 on them both, that none of the trifles that make 
 such havoc upon domestic peace were regarded 
 by them. 
 
 John Brown had, by a former wife, a little 
 girl about five years of age, who, on the morn- 
 ing after his marriage, lifted the latch of the 
 spence-door, and finding Isabell alone, said, 
 while she covered her face shyly with her arm, 
 " They say ye are my mother.*" " What if I 
 should be your mother f replied Isabell. 
 " Naething ; but if I thought ye were my mo- 
 ther, I would like to come in aside you a wee," 
 said Jennie, with artless simplicity. " I hope 
 I will be your mother, my bairn, and that God 
 will give me grace to be so, and that you will 
 be a comfort to me and your father.'" And 
 she proved so. When but a child, she was a 
 help and pleasure to them. She would watch 
 her father's return, and as soon as she saw 
 his pack-horse (there being no carts in those 
 days) at a distance, coming along the bent, 
 she would announce the joyful tidings. Then 
 the gudewife hasted, and made ready his 
 milk porridge, had them dished, covered with 
 a clean cloth, and warm water to wash his 
 weary feet, a blazing fire, a clean hearth ; 
 and she and Janet would go out and welcome