lay morals-第15节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ich followed it。 It is； as it were； the evening of the night of persecution … a sort of twilight； dark indeed to us； but light as the noonday when compared with the midnight gloom which followed。 This fact； of its being the very threshold of persecution； lends it； however； an additional interest。
The prejudices of the people against Episcopacy were 'out of measure increased；' says Bishop Burnet； 'by the new incumbents who were put in the places of the ejected preachers； and were generally very mean and despicable in all respects。 They were the worst preachers I ever heard； they were ignorant to a reproach； and many of them were openly vicious。 They 。 。 。 were indeed the dreg and refuse of the northern parts。 Those of them who arose above contempt or scandal were men of such violent tempers that they were as much hated as the others were despised。' （2） It was little to be wondered at； from this account that the country…folk refused to go to the parish church； and chose rather to listen to outed ministers in the fields。 But this was not to be allowed； and their persecutors at last fell on the method of calling a roll of the parishioners' names every Sabbath； and marking a fine of twenty shillings Scots to the name of each absenter。 In this way very large debts were incurred by persons altogether unable to pay。 Besides this； landlords were fined for their tenants' absences； tenants for their landlords'； masters for their servants'； servants for their masters'； even though they themselves were perfectly regular in their attendance。 And as the curates were allowed to fine with the sanction of any common soldier； it may be imagined that often the pretexts were neither very sufficient nor well proven。
When the fines could not be paid at once； Bibles； clothes； and household utensils were seized upon； or a number of soldiers； proportionate to his wealth； were quartered on the offender。 The coarse and drunken privates filled the houses with woe； snatched the bread from the children to feed their dogs； shocked the principles； scorned the scruples； and blasphemed the religion of their humble hosts； and when they had reduced them to destitution； sold the furniture； and burned down the roof…tree which was consecrated to the peasants by the name of Home。 For all this attention each of these soldiers received from his unwilling landlord a certain sum of money per day … three shillings sterling； according to NAPHTALI。 And frequently they were forced to pay quartering money for more men than were in reality 'cessed on them。' At that time it was no strange thing to behold a strong man begging for money to pay his fines； and many others who were deep in arrears； or who had attracted attention in some other way； were forced to flee from their homes； and take refuge from arrest and imprisonment among the wild mosses of the uplands。 （3）
One example in particular we may cite：
John Neilson； the Laird of Corsack； a worthy man； was； unfortunately for himself； a Nonconformist。 First he was fined in four hundred pounds Scots； and then through cessing he lost nineteen hundred and ninety…three pounds Scots。 He was next obliged to leave his house and flee from place to place； during which wanderings he lost his horse。 His wife and children were turned out of doors； and then his tenants were fined till they too were almost ruined。 As a final stroke； they drove away all his cattle to Glasgow and sold them。 （4） Surely it was time that something were done to alleviate so much sorrow； to overthrow such tyranny。
About this time too there arrived in Galloway a person calling himself Captain Andrew Gray； and advising the people to revolt。 He displayed some documents purporting to be from the northern Covenanters； and stating that they were prepared to join in any enterprise commenced by their southern brethren。 The leader of the persecutors was Sir James Turner； an officer afterwards degraded for his share in the matter。 'He was naturally fierce； but was mad when he was drunk； and that was very often；' said Bishop Burnet。 'He was a learned man； but had always been in armies； and knew no other rule but to obey orders。 He told me he had no regard to any law； but acted； as he was commanded； in a military way。' （5）
This was the state of matters； when an outrage was committed which gave spirit and determination to the oppressed countrymen； lit the flame of insubordination； and for the time at least recoiled on those who perpetrated it with redoubled force。
（1） THEATER of MORTALITY； p。 10； Edin。 1713。 （2） HISTORY OF MY OWN TIMES； beginning 1660； by Bishop Gilbert Burnet； p。 158。 （3） Wodrow's CHURCH HISTORY； Book II。 chap。 i。 sect。 I。 （4） Crookshank's CHURCH HISTORY； 1751； second ed。 p。 202。 （5） Burnet； p。 348。
THE PENTLAND RISING CHAPTER II … THE BEGINNING
I love no warres； I love no jarres； Nor strife's fire。 May discord cease； Let's live in peace： This I desire。
If it must be Warre we must see （So fates conspire）； May we not feel The force of steel： This I desire。
T。 JACKSON； 1651 （1）
UPON Tuesday； November 13th； 1666； Corporal George Deanes and three other soldiers set upon an old man in the clachan of Dalry and demanded the payment of his fines。 On the old man's refusing to pay； they forced a large party of his neighbours to go with them and thresh his corn。 The field was a certain distance out of the clachan； and four persons； disguised as countrymen； who had been out on the moors all night； met this mournful drove of slaves； compelled by the four soldiers to work for the ruin of their friend。 However； chided to the bone by their night on the hills； and worn out by want of food； they proceeded to the village inn to refresh themselves。 Suddenly some people rushed into the room where they were sitting； and told them that the soldiers were about to roast the old man； naked； on his own girdle。 This was too much for them to stand； and they repaired immediately to the scene of this gross outrage； and at first merely requested that the captive should be released。 On the refusal of the two soldiers who were in the front room； high words were given and taken on both sides； and the other two rushed forth from an adjoining chamber and made at the countrymen with drawn swords。 One of the latter； John M'Lellan of Barscob； drew a pistol and shot the corporal in the body。 The pieces of tobacco…pipe with which it was loaded； to the number of ten at least； entered him； and he was so much disturbed that he never appears to have recovered； for we find long afterwards a petition to the Privy Council requesting a pension for him。 The other soldiers then laid down their arms； the old man was rescued； and the rebellion was commenced。 （2）
And now we must turn to Sir James Turner's memoirs of himself； for； strange to say； this extraordinary man was remarkably fond of literary composition； and wrote； besides the amusing account of his own adventures just mentioned； a large number of essays and short biographies； and a work on war； entitled PALLAS ARMATA。 The following are some of the shorter pieces 'Magick；' 'Friendship；' 'Imprisonment；' 'Anger；' 'Revenge；' 'Duells；' 'Cruelty；' 'A Defence of some of the Ceremonies of the English Liturgie … to wit … Bowing at the Name of Jesus； The frequent repetition of the Lord's Prayer and Good Lord deliver us； Of the Doxologie； Of Surplesses； Rotchets； Canonnicall Coats；' etc。 From what we know of his character we should expect 'Anger' and 'Cruelty' to be very full and instructive。 But what earthly right he had to meddle with ecclesiastical subjects it is hard to see。
Upon the 12th of the month he had received some information concerning Gray's proceedings； but as it was excessively indefinite in its character； he paid no attention to it。 On the evening of the 14th； Corporal Deanes was brought into Dumfries； who affirmed stoutly that he had been shot while refusing to sign the Covenant … a story rendered singularly unlikely by the after conduct of the rebels。 Sir James instantly dispatched orders to the cessed soldiers either to come to Dumfries or meet him on the way to Dalry； and commanded the thirteen or fourteen men in the town with him to come at nine next morning to his lodging for supplies。
On the morning of Thursday the rebels arrived at Dumfries with 50 horse and 150 foot。 Neilson of Corsack； and Gray； who commanded； with a considerable troop； entered the town； and surrounded Sir James Turner's lodging。 Though it was between eight and nine o'clock； that worthy； being unwell； was still in bed； but rose at once and went to the window。
Neilson and some others cried； 'You may have fair quarter。'
'I need no quarter；' replied Sir James； 'nor can I be a prisoner； seeing there is no war declared。' On being told； however； that he must either be a prisoner or die； he came down； and went into the street in his night…shirt。 Here Gray showed himself very desirous of killing him； but he was overruled by Corsack。 However； he was taken away a prisoner； Captain Gray mounting him on his own horse； though； as Turner naively remarks； 'ther
