THE INTERREGNUM.

the kingdom, however, effectually drowned the growl of thishateful faction. *

The commotion soon reached the neighbourhood of CastleDrummond. Perth found that he was no longer safe amonghis own servants and tenants. He gave himself up to anagony as bitter as that into which his merciless tyranny hadoften thrown better men. He wildly tried to find consolationin the rites of his new Church. He importuned his priests forcomfort, prayed, confessed, and communicated: but hisfaith was weak; and he owned that, in spite of all his devo-tions, the strong terrors of death were upon him. At thistime he learned that he had a chance of escaping on board ofa ship which lay off Brentisland. He disguised himself as wellas he could, and, after a long and difficult journey by unfre-quented paths over the Ochill mountains, which were thendeep in snow, he succeeded in embarking: but, in spite of allhis precautions, he had been recognised, and the alarm hadbeen given. As soon as it was known that the cruel renegadewas on the waters, and that he had gold with him, pursuers,inflamed at once by hatred and by avarice, were on his track.A skiff, commanded by an old buccaneer, overtook the flyingvessel and boarded her. Perth was dragged out of the holdon deck in woman’s clothes, stripped, hustled, and plundered.Bayonets were held to his breast. Begging for life with un-manly cries, he was hurried to the shore and flung into thecommon gaol ofKirkaldy. Thence, by order of the Councilover which he had lately presided, and which was filled withmen who had been partakers in his guilt, he was removed toStirling Castle. It was on a Sunday, during the time of publicworship, that he was conveyed under a guard to his place ofconfinement: but even rigid Puritans forgot the sanctity ofthe day and of the work. The churches poured forth theircongregations as the torturer passed by, and the noise ofthreats, execrations, and screams of hatred accompanied himto the gate of his prison.**

* The Sixth Collection of Papers, 1689; Wodrow, 111. xii. 4. App.150, 151.; Faithful Contendings Displayed; Burnet, i. 804.

„ ** Perth to Lady Errol, Dec. 29. 1688; to Melfort, Dec. 21. 1688; SixthCollection of Papers, 1689.