The case of the present afflicted clergy in Scotland truly represented to which is added for probation the attestation of many unexceptionable witnesses to every particular, and all the publick acts and proclamations of the convention and Parliament relating to the clergy / by a lover of the church and his country.

The Sufferings of Gideon Brown.

Sir,

TO obviate all Misrepresentations of my Treatment at Smelholm, I give you this true and impartial account according to your desire.

Upon the first Saturday of February 1689. George Dickson Cottar to the Lair of Smelholm a profest Cameronian, brought to me an un∣subscribed Paper in the presence of my Family, in the which he, in name of the Parochine, ordains me to cease from the Exercise of my Ministry there, pretending in it, that I had no call from the People, and that I was an Intruder, and had brought Troopers among them; with this certification, that they would force and compel me to do it. This much troubled me, to be upbraided for that of which I was never guilty, and that by Persons whom often I kept from the lash of the Law, and who had constantly heard me till the late Tolera∣tion, and frequently taken the Sacrament from me, but from the consideration of our Saviours Treatment from those to whom he was ever doing good, I comforted my self, and resolved patiently to bear and undergo this present Disaster, and whatever might follow thereupon. This being represented to the Laird Smelholm, he ad∣vised me for a day to cease from Preaching, and withdraw, which accordingly I did: The next Lords day I returned (laying aside all Fears, not willing so easily and suddenly to be put from the Exer∣cise of my Ministry) and it pleased the Lord to grant to me, and to continue with me, a safe Exercise of my Ministry without distur∣bance, until the fourteenth of April hereafter, which was the Lords day, on which day the Scum of that People, most of them not above the quality of a Servant, yet all dwelling under the Laird of Smel∣holm, except two, and newly ins••igated by one George Dickson Preacher in a Meeting-house near by (as I am credibly informed) did assemble with Staves and Battoons (having, on Saturday before, warned me by a second Summons, and taking away the Bell-rope) to oppose me that day; the Laird of Smelholm being acquainted by me, of the said intended Uproar, at the ordinary time of convening, came to the Church-yard, I following with my Family, and after some communing with the said Rabble, his Tenants, who had been

there from six a Clock in the morning, prevailed to make patent Doors, and having enter••d the Pulpi•• and begun to Pray, imme∣diately the said George Dickson (having received the Hire of eighteen Pence from the rest, as he himself confess'd afterwards in my Beadles hearing) approached furiously to draw me out of the Pulpit, which a Son of mine (of sixteen years of Age) observing, stop'd him be∣fore he came near me; upon which there came t••n about the Boy, pulling the Hair off his Head, tearing his Hat, Cloak and Neck∣cloth, which extorted from his Mother these words in the midst of the Church, Murder! Murder! and forced me from the Pulpit, at length the Laird quieted them. Upon all this I took Witnesses, and withdrew with my Family, to the Neighbour Church, ever after that they put Cattle of all sorts into the Church, frequently threatned my self, watched every Lords day for my coming, to Church, not to Hear me but Harm me: O the Sin of Stoning of the Prophets, which brought sad Judgments on the Guilty of Old, is now frequently among us practised, the Lord grant Amendment. This forced me to Preach in my own House, while after Whitsunday, and then it being reported to me by some, that if I preached any more in the House, the said Rabble would eject me and my Family, I ceased there, and preached in some Neighbour Churches: At length they caused cite me before the Council, Sept. 28. where for not praying for K. W. Nominatim, in my House, and not reading the Proclamation there, I was deprived by the Council, and appointed to remove from my * 1.1 Manse at Mertimas, to which I gave Obedience at the time (the Laird assuring me that he could not keep his People off me, and that some had sworn to him, that they would eject me, be the event never so Hazardous) and came to the City of Edinburg with my whole Family, intending there the Education of my seven Children at Colledge and Schools: This is a true Narration of what befel me at Smelholm, among that People, who kindly received and joyned with me in all the parts of my Ministry, until the said Dickson and others of that Perswasion had conversed with them and frequently preached among them; yea, I am credibly informed that this George Dickson on a Saturday night as he came from Edinburg, lighted in a Change House, and then the People desiring him to preach to morrow, he answered, He would preach no more until they put away the Curate from among them.

Sir, I doubt not but what I have here written, will find credit with you on my single Testimony, yet to this the Laird of Smelholm, with many others, can bear witness, I rest (wishing the Lords Grace and Mercy ever to attend you)

Your humble Servant G. B.

Notes

• * 1.1

  i. e. Parsonage House.