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In 1684, another instrument of torture was introduced; according to Fountainhall, by Generals Dalziel and Drummond, who saw it used in Muscovy. So much were the Council impressed with its value, that they put the following Act upon record:-"July 23, 1684. -Whereas the 'boots' were the ordinary way to expiscate matters relating to the Government, and that there is now a new invention and engine, called the thumbkins,' which will be very effectual to the purpose and intent foresaid, the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council do therefore ordain, that when any person shall, by their order, be put to the torture, that the said boots and thumbkins both be applied to them, as it shall be found fit and convenient."

A smaller instrument of torture for the fingers had already existed, made of two pieces of iron, that were screwed up with finger and thumb, but it was of no great power. William Carstairs, the first upon whom the new thumbkins were used, says they were of a size so large, that the whole hand could be used in turning the screw. He bore their torture for an hour and a-half, with great firmness. After the revolution, when Principal Carstairs, he got hold of the instrument that had caused him such suffering, and showed it to King William. The king put his thumb into it, and desired Carstairs to give the screw a turn. This he did with such vigour that the king cried out, "Hold, hold! Principal; another turn, and I would confess anything!"

There are several thumbkins in the Museum of the Society of Antiquaries in Edinburgh.-ED.]

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HE TESTIMONY of ARCHIBALD STEWART, who lived at Borrowstounness, and suffered at the Cross of Edinburgh, December 1, 1680.

"MEN AND BRETHREN,-It is like, the most part of you are come here to gaze and wonder upon me, rather than to be edified; but I hope there are some here that are witnessing and sympathising with me. But while ye are strangers to God, and ignorant of His word, and of what our Lord has suffered for us, and that He has told us, 'That

through many tribulations and afflictions we must enter into the kingdom of God,' it is no wonder ye count us fools; for while I was in black nature myself, I was as mad as any of you all. But, blessings to His glorious and holy name, that, whereas once I was blind, now I see; and therefore I abhor myself in dust and ashes, and I desire the more to magnify His free grace, for all that He hath done to me. It is nothing in myself; therefore, why should I not be content to follow the footsteps of my blessed Master, that has gone before me, from time to eternity. Though, in this manner, it is unpleasant to natural sense.

"And He is calling for my mite of a testimony for His despised truth. For it was, by the hearing of the Gospel by His suffering servants, both here and in Holland, that I was brought to the love of God, and His only son Jesus Christ; since which time He has engaged my heart to seek Him in the same way. I found Him where He was most eminently holden forth and witnessed for, and my sins, and the sins of the land holden forth to me; and it is for this, that I am accused and condemned of men--for my following the Gospel preached in the fields; because I was following that poor handful that fell at Airsmoss, where Mr Richard Cameron had been preaching, and was to preach; and because, when the bloody soldiers came upon us, we offered to defend ourselves-whatever other causes they have to lay to my charge.

"And that ye be not mistaken with me, and the Lord's people and His way; though they allege that we are of bloody principles (as the indulged ministers give it out, that we are of Jesuitical and bloody principles); yet the Lord knows, and I declare, that I have desired to know His will, and walk in it; and I have been studying that which all the land are obliged to; which is to hear and keep up the Gospel, and defend my own life, and the lives of my brethren, who have been so long hunted, and to defend the Gospel, which has been so long borne down.

"So then, however I and that suffering remnant be inistaken; in that they give out in their Declaration [issued Nov. 22, 1680; the charge is repeated in a letter of the Council to the king-ED.], that I said I would kill the king, or any of the Council; it is an untruth and forged calummy to reproach the way of God; more like themselves and their own principles, who have killed so many of the people of God, both in the fields and upon scaffolds, and us amongst the rest, to please that bloody tyrant Charles Stuart's brother, who

has been thirsting for the blood of these three nations; and to make men believe that we have been contriving a plot to murder them; though indeed, if they were brought to any trial of a just law, according to the Word of God, or the laws of the land, most of them have done, or consented to more, than might take their lives, both against the people of the Lord, and His borne-down truths, and against the commonwealth, and laws of the land.

"But I never said that I would do it; and when I was before them, especially in the Justiciary-court, upon trial of my life, they would hardly give me leave to speak for, or explain myself; more like men designed to catch advantage, and to cheat me out of my life, than just judges. I know they must answer to their great Judge for what they do.

"And this being the testimony of a dying man, they that fear the Lord will believe my declaration before their proclamation; which may be easily seen to be a plot in them, and not in us, to blind the eyes of a secure generation and make strangers approve of their persecution, and believe that they do it justly, and laugh at our calamity, until they can win [i.e., get] to bring about that bloody Popish design against all that will not follow them in the three nations. Although they now spare some men, and flatter them to take favours from them, whereby they engage them to lie by, till they destroy His remnant, that dare not but witness against them, and the common sins of the land; for which I desire to mourn, and pray the Lord's people to mourn over them, and witness against them, as they desire to be marked with the mourners' mark; when a holy God shall come to take vengeance on all ranks that have so forsaken and betrayed His Christ, and set up a man in His place, which will be found to be the great idol of jealousy, besides the many other idols that have drawn away the true and kind love and fear, that the generation owes to God. And because we desire to love and fear God, and to follow His sweet Christ, we are reproached and staged [i.e., accused without formal trial] with tongues of many, as these that are out of the way, and are of Jesuitical principles.

"I declare I have in some measure been desiring and intending to know, love, and follow the truth, both in obedience to His commands, and for the hope of glory; though, I confess, through much weakness and infirmity. I am a Presbyterian in my judgment, though I be looked upon as otherwise, because of my declaring my thoughts freely before men; and I own, and adhere to that work of

Reformation, the Larger and Shorter Catechisms, the National and Solemn League and Covenant, the Acknowledgment of Sins and Engagement to Duties, and the Causes of God's Wrath. Also, I own all the testimonies of our worthy sufferers that have gone before us; as also, I own the Sanquhar Declaration, and that Excommunication at the Torwood. At the writing hereof, I prayed that the Lord would open their eyes, and let them see their sins, and grant them repentance; all of them that are of the election of free grace; and they that are not, I pray that the Lord would ratify in heaven what was done on earth by His faithful servant, as it is according to His will; which has been all our desires.

"Now, I leave my testimony against the cursed prelates, and all their hirelings, who have been the instigators and drivers on of the Council and bloody soldiers to all the tyranny, oppression, and blood, which they have shed.

"And I leave my testimony against the woful Indulgences, and all that have been either embracers of them, or any that have been strengtheners of their hands, or their favourers; they have broken and divided the people of the Lord, more than all the former persecution could ever do.

"I leave my testimony against all lukewarm and unfaithful ministers and professors, that have turned their back upon Christ and His cause, and have fallen away from their first love, and the doing of their first works; for they are pulling down what they first builded.

"I leave my testimony against the oppression, tyranny, and robbery, done against the people of God, either by one or other; and especially by these wretches [Earl of] Glencairn and [John Skene of] Halyards, whose names shall be recorded for generations to come, as robbers of the widow and fatherless; who have lain in wait against the dwellings of the righteous, and have spoiled his resting place, and have turned many a widow and orphan out of their dwellings.

"I leave my testimony against those tyrants that have forefaulted [i.e., forfeited] all the rights that they now lay claim to, and usurp over the people of the Lord, and the whole land; and all their unjust laws; but especially that accursed Supremacy; by which they set up a miserable, adulterous, wretched man in Christ's room, who thinks to wrong our Lord and carry His crown; but it will be too heavy for him; though all the wicked lords, prelates, malignants, and indulged

be joining hand in hand to hold it on, down it shall come, and whosoever wears that crown. And it is because of his wearing my lovely Lord and King's crown, and wronging Him, that I am contending; and as he and they have proclaimed me a rebel and traitor to man, so I disown him and them, and declare him and them traitors and rebels to God, and His Christ; my desirable and holy Lord and King.

"But let me entreat you, that desire mercy, to forsake your wicked ways, and fall in love with Christ, and seek peace with God through Him, who is the only peacemaker; for there are sad judg ments coming on the land; and all your peace with these wicked men will not keep you from the dreadful wrath of God coming on the land, because of slighting of the Gospel when it was to be had in God's own way, and the perjury, covenant-breaking, idolatry, profaneness, treacherous backsliding, apostacy and other abominations, that all ranks of the land are guilty of; and because of their receiving and entertaining of this bloody Popish Duke; who must be welcomed with a draught of our blood now, as he was the last time with the blood of our brethren.

"I bless the Lord, I have great satisfaction in my owning this despised way of God, for which I lay down my life; and also, that the Lord has drawn my heart after Him, and made me heartily willing to be at His disposing; I have sweet peace in what I have done, and would entreat all to more tenderness, and to watch over all their ways; for there are many looking on us, and waiting for our halting in the way of God. Oh! that the Lord would help you to wait on Him, until the day break, and the shadows and all these clouds flee away! For this is a heavy day upon the Church of God. Oh! to be labouring to lie in the dust, and to hide ourselves, and shut our mouths, and be silent; for the Lord hath rubbed shame on all faces, because of many backslidings and upsitting [i.e., indifference] in duty (and that both public and private), which I think the Lord is contending for this day.

"Oh! dear friends, all ye that desire to keep the way of God, and be carried faithfully through amidst all these tribulations and astonishing dispensations, forsake not your Christian fellowships, wherein so much of the power and presence of God hath been found among those that met together out of love and zeal for God, to pour out their hearts before Him, and converse one with another. I think the forsaking and upsitting of [ie., indifference for] Christian meet

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