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 Persecution of Mr. Archibald Ferguson Minister at Kirkpatrick.

SIR,

SInce you are so earnest to hear from me a true account of the Bar∣barities committed by the pretended Godly Presbyterians here, upon the Person and Family of Mr. Archibald Ferguson Minister at Kirkpatrick, in the Stueartry of Annandale, where I live; as I am

able so I am willing to satisfie you in this matter to the full, for I was an Eye-witness to some part of the Tragedy, and had the rest from some very honest Persons who were Spectators of the whole: The matter of Fact in short was this; Upon the Festival of Easter last (a day observed with much Religious Reverence by all the Christi••n World, except our Presbyterians, who seem to have sepa∣rated from that Catholick Society) eight Men in Arms with about an equal number of Women, much in the same posture, came to the Ministers Dwelling-house early in the morning; and having forced open his Ga••e, the good Minister, who was then busie in pre∣paring himself to serve God and his People in the Church, surprized with the extraordinary noise, and hearing them ask so furiously for him, came calmly to them, and modestly ask'd what business they had with him; Whereupon one of them took him by the Gorget, commanding him to surrender himself up to them as their Prisoner: He ask'd them what he had done for which he should be made Prisoner, and by what Authority they made him theirs: He was an∣swered by a severe blow upon the Head with a Pistol, the stroke knock'd him flat to the ground, and the Wound it made, would in all probability proved mortal, if his Head had not been gaurded by a thick Velvet Cap, which by kind Providence he had then upon it: The Miscreant who wounded him, ordered him immediately to be drag'd out from his Gate, which two of his Blood-thirsty Accom∣plices as readily performed, beating him afterwards down into a nasty Puddle; his poor Wife (then so big with Child that she expected every day to be brought to Bed) running out to save, if she could, her Husbands Life, was, at her first Appearance, knock'd down with the Butt end of a Musket; she received many merciless blows, and had her Head and Body severely bruised among the Stones where she was beat down. Then Iames Harcannass their noble Captain at this honourable Expedition, gave the word of Command to his Female Janizaries, which was, Strip the Curate (for they think this a most Disgraceful App••llation, and therefore they apply it to all Episcopal Ministers) the order was no sooner given, than these Amazons pre∣pared to put it in execution, for throwing away their Plaids, (i. e. loose upper Garments) each of them drew from her Girdle a great sharp pointed Dagger, prepared, it seems, for a thorough Reforma∣tion. The good Minister lying panting and prostrate on the ground, had first his Night-gown torn and cut off him, his close Coat, Wast∣coat and Britches ript open with their Knives; nay, their Modesty

could not so far prevail against their Zeal, as to spare his Shi••t and Drawers, but all were cut in pieces and sacrificed to a broken Cove∣nant: The forementioned Captain gave the finishing stroke himself, with a great Reforming Club, the blow was design'd for the Mini∣sters Head or Breast, but he naturally throwing out his Hands to save those vital parts, occasioned it to fall upon his Shin-bones, which he had drawn up to cover his Nakedness; the blow was such, as greatly bruised both his Legs, and made them swell extraordinarily after; however the Captain thinking that they were broke, and finding it uneasie for himself and his Companions to stand longer in a great Storm of Wind and Snow which happened to fall out that morning, he drew off his Company, and left the Semi-Martyr, who afterwards by the assistance of his Servants, crawled home to his Bed, and but a little after, the whole Herd of his Persecutors broke in again upon him, and told him, They had treated him so, because he prayed for the Tyrant York, (so these People ordinarily called King Iames, tho he was too kind to them) and because he had presumed to preach, and visit the Parishioners as if he had been their Minister, which they had formerly forbid him to do; they required him also to be gone from their Covenanted Lands, under pain of death, before that day Sevennight, and never again to meddle with the Ministry. And tho•• Application was afterwards made by some who might have been supposed to have had Interest with that Crew, yet nothing could prevail to obtain so much as but a delay till his poor Wife should be brought to Bed, and himself a little recovered of his Wounds: So that he was forced to fly for his Life, from his Parish, Wife and Children, without any hopes of returning, till it shall please God to bring some order out of our present Confusions, to open the Eyes of blind and fiery Zealots, and to stop the Fury of our ungoverned Rabble: I may say, that our Judgments begin at the House of the Righteous, for this Man is a Person of extraordinary Parts and Piety: I think it not strange, that some Men with you are so unready to believe the Fanatick Practices here, since few Men can suppose any People so Barbarous as our Bigots indeed are, but I ad∣mire that these ill Instruments about Court, who give Encourage∣ment, Life and Motion to the Faction here, should so impudently deny the Matters of Fact, which themselves know to be but too true. If this particular Passage should be contradicted, I am ready and willing my self to attest it, and to prove it by several other un∣exceptionable Witnesses; and tho it be dangerous to have particular

Mens Names published, the Faction we have to deal with being Mer∣ciless and Bloody; yet if nothing else can serve, I allow you to use my Name, but do it no further than the Cause requires, and with all that Discretion and Caution that is expected from you by

SIR,

Your sincere Friend and humble Servant G. M.