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cruelty！ And that the crying of the miserable man should not
be heard； they dosed his mouth that the voice might be stopped。
It may be suspected that some partisan of the King's ＇Darnley's＇
murder was there。 In that torment they held the poor man；
till that often he cried for God's sake to dispatch him； for
he had as meikle gold in his awin purse as would buy powder
enough to shorten his pain。 The famous King of Carrick and
his cooks perceiving the roast to be aneuch； commanded it to be
tane fra the fire； and the Earl himself began the grace in this
manner：…‘_Benedicite； Jesus Maria_； you are the most obstinate
man that ever I saw； gif I had known that ye had been
so stubborn； I would not for a thousand crowns have handled
you so； I never did so to man before you。' And yet he returned
to the same practice within two days； and ceased not till
that he obtained his formost purpose； that is； that he had got
all his pieces subscryvit alsweill as ane half…roasted hand could
do it。 The Earl thinking himself sure enough so long as be
had the half…roasted Abbot in his awin keeping； and yet being
ashamed of his presence by reason of his former cruelty； left the
place of Denure in the hands of certain of his servants； and the
half…roasted Abbot to be kept there as prisoner。 The Laird of
Bargany； out of whose company the said Abbot had been enticed；
understanding； （not the extremity；） but the retaining of the
man； sent to the court； and raised letters of deliverance of the
person of the man according to the order； which being disobeyed；
the said Earl for his contempt was denounced rebel； and
put to the horne。 But yet hope was there none； neither to the
afflicted to be delivered； neither yet to the purchaser ＇_i。e。_ procurer＇
of the letters to obtain any comfort thereby ； for in that
time God was despised； and the lawful authority was contemned
in Scotland； in hope of the sudden return and regiment of that
cruel murderer of her awin husband； of whose lords the said
Earl was called one； and yet； oftener than once； he was solemnly
sworn to the King and to his Regent。''
The Journalist then recites the complaint of the injured
Allan Stewart； Commendator of Crossraguel； to the Regent
and Privy Council； averring his having been carried； partly by
flattery； partly by force； to the black vault of Denure； a strong
fortalice； built on a rock overhanging the Irish channel； where
to execute leases and conveyances of the whole churches and
parsonages belonging to the Abbey of Crossraguel； which he
utterly refused as an unreasonable demand； and the more so
that he had already conveyed them to John Stewart of Cardonah；
by whose interest he had been made Commendator。 The
complainant proceeds to state； that he was； after many menaces；
stript； bound； and his limbs exposed to fire in the manner already
described； till； compelled by excess of agony； he subscribed the
charter and leases presented to him； of the contents of which he
was totally ignorant。 A few days afterwards； being again required
to execute a ratification of these deeds before a notary and
witnesses； and refusing to do so； he was once more subjected to
the same torture； until his agony was so excessive that he exclaimed；
‘‘Fye on you； why do you not strike your whingers into
me； or blow me up with a barrel of powder； rather than torture
me thus unmercifully？'' upon which the Earl commanded
Alexander Richard； one of his attendants； to stop the patient's
mouth with a napkin； which was done accordingly。 Thus he
was once more compelled to submit to their tyranny。 The petition
concluded with stating； that the Earl； under pretence of
the deeds thus iniquitously obtained； had taken possession of
the whole place and living of Crossraguel； and enjoyed the profits
thereof for three years。
The doom of the Regent and Council shows singularly the
total interruption of justice at this calamitous period； even in the
most clamant cases of oppression。 The Council declined interference
with the course of the ordinary justice of the county；
（which was completely under the said Earl of Cassilis' control；）
and only enacted； that he should forbear molestation of
the unfortunate Comendator； under the surety of two thousand
pounds Scots。 The Earl was appointed also to keep the
peace towards the celebrated George Buchanan； who had a pension
out of the same Abbacy； to a similar extent； and under the
like penalty。
The consequences are thus described by the Journalist already
quoted。
‘‘The said Laird of Bargany perceiving that the ordiner
justice could neither help the oppressed； nor yet the afflicted；
applied his mind to the next remedy； and in the end； by his servants；
took the house of Denure； where the poor Abbot was
kept prisoner。 The bruit flew fra Carrick to Galloway； and so
suddenly assembled herd and hyre…man that pertained to the
band of the Kennedies； and so within a few hours was the house
of Denure environed again。 The master of Cassilis was the
frackast ＇_i。e。_ the readiest or boldest） and would not stay； but
in his heat would lay fire to the dungeon； with no small boasting
that all enemies within the house should die。
‘‘He was required and admonished by those that were within
to be more moderate； and not to hazard himself so foolishly。 But
no admonition would help； till that the wind of an hacquebute
blasted his shoulder； and then ceased he from further pursuit
in fury。 The Laird of Bargany had before purchest ＇obtained＇
of the authorities； letters； charging all faithfull subjects to the
King's Majesty； to assist him against that cruel tyrant and
mansworn traitor； the Earl of Cassilis； which letters； with his
private writings； he published； and shortly found sic concurrence
of Kyle and Cunyngbame with his other friends； that
the Carrick company drew back fra the house： and so the other
approached； furnished the house with more men； delivered the
said Mr Allan； and carried him to Ayr； where； publicly at the
market cross of the said town； he declared how cruelly he was
entreated； and how the murdered King suffered not sic torment
as he did； excepting only he escaped the death： and； therefore；
publickly did revoke all things that were done in that extremity；
and especially he revoked the subscription of the three writings；
to wit； of a fyve yeir tack and nineteen year tack； and of a
charter of feu。 And so the house remained； and remains （till
this day； the 7th of February； 1571；） in the custody of the said
Laird of Bargany and of his servants。 And so cruelty was disappointed
of proffeit present； and shall be eternallie punished； unless
he earnestly repent。 And this far for the cruelty committed；
to give occasion unto others； and to such as hate the monstrous
dealing of degenerate nobility； to look more diligently upon their
behaviuours； and to paint them forth unto the world； that they
themselves may be ashamed of their own beastliness； and