any of them from their own manufcripts, (except it be in the Grammar, wherein they took fome little freedon, where necelity required it) they are to impute it to the variety of Copis; whereof they had feveral, and chofe that which they conceived moft genuine.

2. As for the leftimonies of the banished, they being much the fame, as to all material points, with thefe of the dying witneffes, they are omitted, and a lift of their names added in the Appendix.

3 The laft Speeches of thofe who fuffered on account of the earl of Argyle's attempt, in the year 1685, are advitedly pretermitted, both because fome of them are already published in a book intituled, The Western Martyrology, and likewife becaufe 'tis the opinion of the encouragers of this work that their Teftimony was not fo directly concert, according to the true fate of the quarrel, for the covenanted intereft of the Church of Chrift in Scotland, as it ought to have been; tho' they intend not hereby to rob them of the glory of Martyrdom for the proteftant religion Nor can this be any prejudice to others who may incline more fully to publish the tranfactions of thefe times.

May the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Christ, who enabled his people to witnefs fo good a confeffion for his truth and caufe, make thefe dying Speeches ufeful to animate all the lovers of the reformed Religion, with the like Chriftian magnanimity and refolution, to ftand up for its defence, against a Popish, Prelatic and Jacobitifh faction, endeavouring its overthrow. May he unite us in the way of truth and duty, to ftrive together for the valuable interests of our Religion and Liberty.

A Dif

A Dilmal account of the Form of burning the Solemn League and National Covenant, with God, and one another at Linlithgow, May 29th, 1661. Being the Birth-day of King Charles the Second."""

Ivine Service being ended, the Streets were fo filled with Bon-fires on every fide, that it was not without hazard to go along then: The Magiftrates about four a Clock in the Afternoon went to the Earl of Linlithgow's Lodging, inviting his Lordhip to honour them with his prefence at the Solemnity of the day. fo he came with the Magistrates accompanied with many Gentlemen to the market place, where a Table was covered with Confections; then the Curate met them, and praved and fanga Pfalm, and fo eating fome of the Confections, they threw the reft among the People. The Fountain all that time running French and Spanith Wine of divers Colours, and continued running three or four hours. The Earl, the Magiftrates and Gentlemen, did drink the King and Queen their good Health, and all royal Healths. not forgetting his Majefty's commiffioner his Health, Lord Middleton, and braking several baskets full of Glaffes.

2

At the market place, was erected an Arch ftanding upon four Pillars on the one fide whereof was placed a Statue in form of an old Hag-mare, having the covenant in her hands, with this Superfcription A glorious reformation:" on the o ther fide was plac'd a Statue in form of a Whiggie- mare, having the Remonftrance in her hand, with this Superfeription, "No Affociation with Malignants," within the arch on the right Hand was drawn A Committe of Eftates with this Superfcrip tion, An Act for delivering up the King Upon the left Hand was drawn, the Commiffion of the Kilk with this Superfcription, A Commiffion of the Kirk and Committee of Eftates, and Act of the Weft Kirk of Edinburgh, and upon the top of the arch ftood the Devil as an Angel of Light, with this Superfcription, "Stand to the Caufe;" and on the top of the arch hung a Table with this,

From Covenanters with their uplifted hands,
From Remonftrators with their affociate bands,
From fuch Committes as govern this Nation,
From Kirk-Commiffions, and from their Profeffion,

Good Lord deliver us

On the Pillar of the Arch beneath the Covenants were drawn Kirk-ftools, Rocks and Reels; upon the Pillar beneath the remonftrance were drawn Brehams, Cogs and Spoons; on the back of the Arch was drawn the Picture of Rebellion in a reli gious habit, with turned up Eyes, and with a fanatic Gefture and in its right Hand holding Lex-Rex, that infamous (rather famous) Book, maintaining defenfive arms, and in the left hand holding that pitiful Pamphlet, (rather excellent Paper) The caufes of God's Wrath, and about its wafte lying all the Acts of Parliament, Committe of Eftates, and Acts of General Affemblies and Commiffion of the Kirk their Proteftations and Declarations during thefe twenty two Years rebellion, (fo they called the time of Reformation) and above, with this Superfcription, Rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft, Then t the drinking of the King's Health, Fire was put to the Frame, which gave many fine Reports, and foon burnt all to ashes: Which being confumed, there fuddenly appeared a Table fupported by two Angels, carrying this Superscription, ›

Great Britain's Monarch on this Day was born,
And to his Kingdom happily reftor'd;
His Queen's arriv'd, the Matter now is known,
Let us rejoice, this Day is from the Lord;
Flee hence all Traitors that did marr our Peace.

Flee hence all Schifmaticks who our Church did rent,
Flee hence Covenanting Remonftrating Race,
Let us rejoice that God, this day hath tent.

Then the Magiftrates Accompanied the noble Earl to his Pa lace, where the faid Earl had a bon-fire very magnificent Then the Earl and Magiftrates, and all the reft, did Drink the King and Queen and all royal Healths: Then the Magiftrates made proceffion through the Burgh, and faluted every man of Ac count, and so they spent the Day rejoicing in their labour.

N

ENCOMIUM

On the following

MARTYRS

Q! here of faithful Witneffes a Cloud,
For Chift their King refifting unto blood,
Lo! here upon their Pilgah top they stand:
Juft on the Confines of Emmanuel's Land:
Leaving th' ungrateful World, longing to be
Poffefs'd of bleffed Immortality.

Lo! here they ftand, accofting cruel Death
With Chriftian bravenefs, to their lateft breath;
The views they have of Heav'n's eternal joys,
So far Eclipfe all fublunary toys.

Their Souls are only charm'd with Things above,
Exulting in their fweet Redeemer's love.

Lo! here they ftand, and will not quite the Field,
They'll die upon the Spot, before they'll yield.
Lo! with what courage and brave Refolution
They bear the fhock of bloody perfecution.
Hell's Rage, Rome's Fury, not the fcorn of thofe
Pretending Friendship, tho' the worst of Foes,
Could never fhake their fteady Loyalty
To Zion's King, for whofe Supremacy
Over his Church, thus boldly they contend,
And by his Grace endure unto the end,
Refufing e'er to make a bafe Surrender
Of Chrift's Regalia to a vile Pretender;
Who fwoll'n with more than Luciferian Pride
Could not in his own Princely Place abide :
But would ufurp the fp'ritual Pow'r and throne
Of God JEHOVAH, gi'n to Christ alone.
And having thus 'gainst Heav'n display'd a Banner,
The Covenant he swore in folemn Manner,

He broke and burnt; Divine and Human Laws,
Trod under Foot; and to advance his Caufe,
Made bloody Violence the only claim,
Whereby he wore the royal Diadem.

Being ferv'd with Beafts devoid of human Senfe,
Much more of Honour and of Conscience;

Who flew God's deareft Saints in Field and City,
'Gainft Law and Reafon, without fenfe and pity;
Whole fharpeft fufferings could not affwage.
Nor Death itself allay their hellish Rage.
And if their bodies dead felt fenfe of pains,
Cut all in Parts they hung them up in Chains.
Heads, Legs, and Arms, they plac'd on ev'ry Port
Of Burghs, or other Places of refort,

As ftanding tophies of their Victory,
C'er Divine Truth, and Human Liberty.
Well, have they kill'd, and ta'ne poff ffion too?
Is this the utmoft that their Rage cou'd do?
Only to fend Chrift's loving Subjects home,
To their dear Country where they long to come,
What matter where their dusty parts do ly
Interr'd in Earth, or lifted up on high?
While as their Souls eternal Anthems raife,
In fweet Accents to their Redeemer's praife,
And will not Zion's King regain his crown
Throwing fuch vain, afpiring Mortals down
Into their direful Pit, from whence did flow
The Mifts of Pride, which did enchant them fo.
Come then, behold thefe Witneffes

Adorn'd with holy Zeal and Faithfulne fs;
Who like a Cloud, do us inviron round,

Viewing (as 'twere what way we'll ftand our Ground
Let's run our race with equal patience,

With Eyes intent upon our Recon penic.