Facts and traditions collected for a family record

1 1 FACTS AND TRADITIONS.
four Wanderers, (as those of the Nonconformists were then called, who were
obliged to seek refuge from persecution by betaking themselves to a vagrant
life,) who were under hiding together in the hilly region of Glenkens. From this
arose the battle of Pentlands, near Edinburgh, which was so disastrous to the
Covenanters, not only in their defeat, but in the treacherous death of all the
prisoners, to whom quarter had been promised. The property of those known to
have been party to the conflict was also confiscated.
The year 1676 witnessed an almost universal prostration. Masters were en-
joined to see that none of their servants or dependants attended conventicles ;
otherwise, they were instantly to dismiss them. Landlords were to enforce upon
their tenants subscription to a bond, obliging themselves not to atteud con-
venticles ; and on the latter failing so to subscribe, their property and possessions
were to be forfeited, and the forfeiture to fall to the landlord, as his bribe for
enforcing the bond.
Garrisons were stationed in the most disaffected districts ; and were intention-
ally and maliciously placed in the mansions of eminent Presbyterian gentlemen.
Is it to be wondered at that the Covenanters staggered under these merciless
blows ? Only figure to yourselves the situation of an individual who still adhered
to the old national creed and worship. For every Sabbath he was absent from
the homily of the ignorant, dissipated curate of his parish, there was a heavy fine.
If he attended in a house, or in the open air, to hear the gospel according to the
way of his forefathers, that was a conventicle, and he was liable to be fined,
imprisoned, transported, sold as a slave in Barbadoes or Virginia. He might at
any time be dragged before the Secret Committee, who owned no law, were
amenable to no appeal, and seized, not to try, but to destroy. There was no
security for person or property, no redress for injustice or oppression. He was
shut out, by the dreadful ban of intercommuning, from the common hospitalities
and courtesies of life. Neighbour, friend, relative — all must shun him, all must
close the door upon him. He was civilly, socially dead. Trying, awful situation
for an individual ! for a nation !
In the year 1677, not fewer than seventeen thousand persons were harassed in
this way for the crime of frequenting conventicles.
Still further to harass the Covenanters, the Highland host was let loose upon
them. Thus writes Quintin Dick of Dalmellington, a sufferer of that period, in
a little diary left behind him : — ' The Highlanders were sent in swarms through
the country, there to lie and to plunder, pillage, and await orders for more havoc,
against all who should seem to scruple whatever should be enjoined them. In
such a shock, when all refuge failed me, I thought it high time to make haste to
the Rock of Ages.' It was an incursion of ten thousand ticket-of-leave men with
licence from the Government to exercise their vocation to the uttermost. During