Adam Hepburn's Vow: A Tale of Kirk and Covenant

  *CHAPTER V.*

  *THE FIRST MARTYRS.*

  As several weeks passed, and Mr. Guthrie was still left to peaceableministrations in his church and parish, his friends at Inverburn beganto hope that his direful prophesies regarding his own fate might, afterall, prove themselves to be but vain imaginings. The most noble Marquisof Argyll repaired to London according to arrangements, in response tothe urgent solicitations of the king that he should present himself atCourt, and for a space nothing was heard of him.

  In the month of August a number of the ministers met in Edinburgh, byspecial appointment, for the purpose of drawing up a petition to theking. The Reverend Mr. Gray of Inverburn had hoped and expected to bepresent at that gathering, but was prevented by a severe chill caughtafter a long walk in the heat of the day. As it afterwards turned out,it appeared as if the Lord had specially preserved him in safety athome, for no sooner was the conference gathered together in Edinburghthan they were all apprehended, with the exception of one who verymiraculously escaped. They were first imprisoned in the Castle ofEdinburgh, but Mr. Guthrie was afterwards removed to Stirling Castle, asif to be taunted with his confinement in the place where he had longexercised so much liberty both of person and conscience. And sodesolation and mourning fell upon the people of Stirling because of thestrange and grievous affliction which had befallen their minister.

  A very bountiful harvest blessed Scotland that year; nevertheless it wasingathered with a strange foreboding that ere long the dark cloud ofwant and misery would overshadow the now plentiful and peaceful land.

  One evening early in the bleak month of December, when the minister ofInverburn was returning from visiting a sick parishioner, a shepherdamong the hills beyond Rowallan, he met the laird riding between themanse gate and the entrance to Inverburn. Sir Thomas Hamilton was afine, handsome-looking man, but, owing to his haughty and overbearingmanner and his well-known leanings towards the side of Prelacy, he wasnot greatly beloved in the parish. The minister gravely and courteouslysaluted him, but, somewhat to his surprise, the laird drew rein, withthe intention of speaking to him.

  "Good evening, Mr. Gray. I have been to the manse seeking you," he saidin his quick, imperious way. "Having missed you there, I am fortunatein meeting you. You were preaching in your own kirk on the Sabbath Day,I am told?"

  "I was, Sir Thomas," answered the minister, in tones of mild surprise.

  "And they tell me you preached a very disloyal discourse, calculated tostir up strife against the king and his honourable counsellors andrepresentatives in Scotland," said the laird, with a peculiar smile.

  "Nay, Sir Thomas; whoever carried such a tale to you grievously andwilfully misrepresented me," said the minister, quietly. "I said thatthese were woeful and troublous times for the Kirk and country, whensuch good men as James Guthrie of Stirling were imprisoned forfearlessly advocating the principles of civil and religious liberty, andprotesting against the many strange and heathenish innovations which theking, through his representatives, is seeking to force into the worshipof the Kirk of Scotland."

  "Heathenish! By the powers, Andrew Gray, have a care, and keep a betterbridle on thy prating tongue, or it will get thee into mischief yet,"said the laird, rudely. "The time is coming when a man may get hismouth closed for less."

  "Nay, it now is," said the minister, mournfully. "Truly, I know notwhither this poor country is drifting nor what will become of herChurch, unless the God of the Covenant stretch out to her a helpinghand."

  "See here, Andrew Gray," said the laird, leaning down from his saddleand speaking in very significant tones; "you are a prating old fool.Let me advise you, for your own safety and that of your household, totake a leaf out of the book of your neighbour, the minister of Lochlee.He is a wise man, now, who can seal his lips and obey the reasonabledesires of the king, without making so much ado."

  "You speak truly, Sir Thomas. John Methven is indeed a wise man forthis present life, but woe is me for the lustre of his crown in glory.I fear me the fear of man is much more before his mind than the fear ofGod."

  "But tell me, Andrew Gray," said the laird, impatiently, "what harm canthere be in using the new prayer book in the service of the Church? Itis a very holy and good book, and there is nothing in it even to offendthe most fastidious taste."

  "It savours too strongly of the popish breviary, Sir Thomas, besidesbeing the thin end of the wedge which will drive the pure worship of Godfrom every Scottish pulpit. As such I humbly pray it may be asresolutely kept without the church doors as it has been hitherto,"returned the minister, fearlessly.

  "I tell you, Andrew Gray, it is useless to resist the will of the king,who has might as well as right upon his side. And think you that whensuch men as Archibald of Argyll are not reckoned too high in influenceand station to be punished for treason, that the king will regard withleniency lesser lights like you?"

  The minister started.

  "Then the spirit of prophecy which was vouchsafed to James Guthrie hashad its double fulfilment and His Grace is a fellow-captive with hisministerial brethren?" he said sadly.

  "Even so," replied the laird. "I have had intelligence from London thatArgyll is confined in the Tower, awaiting trial for treason. I tell youthis in confidence, to warn you, Andrew Gray, for, obstinate though yoube, I have no desire to see any harm befall your grey hairs. And takemy word for it, Episcopacy must sooner or later be established inScotland, and it is simple madness to attempt to swim against the tide."

  With these significant words the Laird of Inverburn gave his horse therein, and rode rapidly away, leaving the minister to pursue his solitaryway in sad meditation over the difficulties and dangers daily thickeninground the path of God's people.

  Turning a bend in the road, he beheld in the distance the figure of hisson David, the minister of Broomhill, advancing to meet him. He was notsurprised, having been duly apprised of his intention to come with hiswife and child that day to spend a brief season at the manse. DavidGray was now a tall and fine-looking man, although his figure was veryslim and slenderly built, and his face wore that thoughtful and evencareworn aspect common to the scholar and the earnest minister of theGospel. Although only in his thirty-fifth year, his black locks werealready tinged with grey, and there were not a few wrinkles on his highand thoughtful brow.

  A warm greeting passed between father and son, mutual inquiries for eachother's health and welfare, and then both plunged into the subject whichwas occupying the minds of all thinking people at that time. Theywalked slowly on to the manse, engaged in earnest discussion, and wereso deeply absorbed that they stood outside the door, heedless of thechill and biting evening air, until Jane Gray, hearing voices, came andperemptorily ordered them in.

  In the family room David Gray's wife was sitting by the hearth with herbaby on her knee. She was a fair-faced, flaxen-haired young woman,without much depth of character or soundness of understanding. She wasthe only daughter of a little laird, in the parish of Broomhill, and hadbeen brought up to think of little except her own pretty face. She wasnot in any way fitted to be the wife of a minister, especially of such aone as David Gray, and many had marvelled at his choice. The Grays hadnot much approved his marriage with her, but seeing his heart was setupon the maiden, they had kept their thoughts to themselves, and hopedthat under his influence Lilian Burnet would become a better woman.

  "And how is it with thee, my daughter?" queried the minister ofInverburn in his fatherly manner, and at the same time laying his handin blessing on the fair head of the child sleeping on her knee.

  "Oh I am very well, grandfather," she answered, flippantly; "and glad tocome here for a change. David has harped so long about coming to themanse of Inverburn. I wanted to go home to my father's house atHaughhead and let him come alone, but he would not listen to me."

  The minister readily guessed the cause of his son's desire to separatehis wife as much as possible from the influence of
her own kinsfolk.Although they followed an outward form of Presbyterianism they were atheart attached to Episcopacy, solely because it was the form of religionmost favoured then by royalty and great folk, for whom the needy Burnetshad a great admiration. In the presence of Mrs. David Gray there wasnot much said anent the affairs of the Church; but as there were manyother matters relating to family and social life interesting to them,the conversation did not flag. Also, later in the evening, Adam Hepburnand his wife walked over from Rowallan and joined the family circle atthe manse. And so the night sped on swift and pleasant wings.

  Next day Betty McBean's brother, a carrier by trade, and who had been atEdinburgh on some errands for various people in the parish, brought wordto the manse that the Marquis of Argyll had been brought a closeprisoner by sea from London to Leith, and was confined in EdinburghCastle. So the laird's statement, which Mr. Gray had partlydisbelieved, was true after all. It was with deep anxiety that Mr.Gray, in common with all other God-fearing people throughout Scotland,awaited the results which must follow upon these significantproceedings.

  On the 13th of February the Marquis of Argyll was arraigned before thebar of the Parliament in Edinburgh, charged with high treason. Theevidence against him was of a very slender character, and was chieflymade up of a number of vile and baseless slanders gathered together forhis condemnation. Upon the 20th of the same month the Reverend JamesGuthrie was put upon his trial, charged with a similar offence. But thereal cause of offence against these two great and good men was that theywere the two most influential Protestants in Scotland, and musttherefore be removed out of the way.

  Therefore both, after a mockery of a trial, were put on their defence,which not being satisfactory to their base accusers and unjust andperjured judges, they were both condemned to die, Argyll on the 28th ofMay, and Mr. Guthrie on the 1st of June. When the grievous news wasbrought to Inverburn, Mr. Gray at once rose and prepared himself for ajourney to Edinburgh, in order to be present with his beloved friendduring the last days of his life, to comfort him with the sweet counselof brotherly and Christian sympathy. Jane Gray saw her aged fatherdepart with some forebodings of mind, and was indeed moved to tears, asshe bade him God-speed and farewell.

  "Weep not for me, my daughter," said the minister, sadly, "but ratherfor our harassed and persecuted land. Know, Jane, that except it be ofthe Lord's good pleasure, wicked men shall not lay a hand upon me. Andif his friends desert him in his hour of need, the soul of the Lord'sservant may sink within him in his extremity."

  Owing to his age and somewhat infirm health, the minister of Inverburnfound it impossible to make the journey in one day, and had therefore torest by the way at the house of a friend, about fifteen miles west fromEdinburgh. And on the following morning he rode with speed intoEdinburgh, arriving about noon at the house of his brother-in-law, inthe Grass-market. His sister Jane was now dead, but her one child, grownto womanhood, ministered with kind heart and capable hands to herfather's wants. The minister was warmly greeted by Ailie Kilgour andher father and made heartily welcome under their roof-tree. As was tobe expected, the merchant was able to furnish his brother-in-law withall the particulars of the two trials, which had occasioned suchexcitement and sorrowful indignation in the city. He also assured himthat he would have no difficulty in obtaining access to Mr. Guthrie,because he had been allowed to enjoy the fellowship of several friends,as well as some of his kinsfolk from Guthrie. So, before the day wasspent, Mr. Gray betook himself to the tolbooth, or gaol, and was withoutado admitted to the presence of his condemned friend. As was natural,the minister of Inverburn expected to find him somewhat cast down, forhe was not yet stricken in years, and had many sweet ties to bind him tolife; but he was agreeably surprised to find him not only composed andcheerful, but encompassed with a holy joy, a blessed and wondrousserenity, which seemed to have been specially vouchsafed to him fromabove.

  "Ah, friend Gray," he said, as he affectionately embraced him, "hastthou come to see how our God can uphold His servants in the veryswelling of Jordan? Wicked men can lay hands on and torment this poorbody indeed, for which I am not ungrateful, since they will do me a goodturn by giving me a quicker introduction to my Father's house, where aremany mansions."

  In that state of mind Mr. Guthrie continued up to his execution. Norwas the Marquis of Argyll less wonderfully upheld in his extremity. Hedied upon the Monday with triumphant courage, and it seemed as if theLord's arm were veritably around him.

  On the Friday following Mr. Guthrie followed his illustriousfellow-sufferer into glory. The minister of Inverburn was among thosewho accompanied him to the scaffold, and who witnessed (not without apassing feeling of envy, that he had reached the end of his troubles)the holy and triumphant joy with which he met the King of Terrors.

  His last words, "The Covenants will yet be Scotland's reviving," weredestined to be gloriously fulfilled, but not until the blood of thesaints, of which his was but the earnest, was made to run like water onthe ground.