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them for their own use； without having the influence sufficient
to establish their purpose ； and these became frequently unable
to protect themselves； however unwilling to submit to the exactions
of the feudal tyrant of the district。
Bannatyne； secretary to John Knox； recounts a singular
course of oppression practised on one of those titulars abbots； by
the Earl of Cassilis in Ayrshire； whose extent of feudal influence
was so wide that he was usually termed the King of Carrick。
We give the fact as it occurs in Bannatyne's Journal； only premising
that the Journalist held his master's opinions； both with
respect to the Earl of Cassilis as an opposer of the king's party；
and as being a detester of the practice of granting church revenues
to titulars； instead of their being devoted to pious uses；
such as the support of the clergy； expense of schools； and the relief
of the national poor。 He mingles in the narrative； therefore；
a well deserved feeling of execration against the tyrant who employed
the torture； which a tone of ridicule towards the patient；
as if； after all； it had not been ill bestowed on such an equivocal
and amphibious character as a titular abbot。 He entitles his
narrative；
The Earl Of Cassilis' Tyranny against a quick （_i。e。_
living） man。
‘‘Master Allan Stewart； friend to Captain James Stewart of
Cardonall； by means of the Queen's corrupted court； obtained
the Abbey of Crossraguel。 The said Earl thinking himself
greater than any king in those quarters； determined to have that
whole benefice （as he hath divers others） to pay at his pleasure ；
and because he could not find sic security as his insatiable appetite
required； this shift was devised。 The said Mr Allan being
in company with the Laird of Bargany； （also a Kennedy；） was；
by the Earl and his friends； enticed to leave the safeguard which
he had with the Laird； and come to make good cheer with the
said Earl。 The simplicity of the imprudent man was suddenly
abused； and so he passed his time with them certain days； which
he did in Maybole with Thomas Kennedie； uncle to the said Earl：
after which the said Mr Allan passed； with quiet company； to
visit the place and bounds of Crossraguel； ＇his abbacy；＇ of which
the said Earl being surely advertised； determined to put in practice
the tyranny which long before he had conceaved。 And so；
as king of the country； apprehended the said Mr Allan； and
carried him to the house of Denure； where for a season he was
honourably treated； （gif a prisoner can think any entertainment
pleasing；） but after that certain days were spent； and that the
Earl could not obtain the feus of Crossraguel according to his
awin appetite； he determined to prove gif a collation could work
that which neither dinner nor supper could do for a long time。
And so tho said Mr Allan was carried to a secret chamber：
with him passed the honourable Earl； his worshipful brother；
and such as were appointed to be servants at that banquet。 In
the chamber there was a grit iron chimlay； under it a fire；
other grit provision was not seen。 The first course was；…‘My
Lord Abbot；' （said the Earl；） ‘it will please you confess here；
that with your own consent you remain in my company； because
ye durst not commit yourself to the hands of others。' The
Abbot answered； ‘Would you； my lord； that I should make a
manifest lie for your pleasure ？ The truth is； my lord； it is against
my will that I am here； neither yet have I any pleasure in your
company。' ‘But ye shall remain with me； nevertheless； at this
time；' said the Earl。 ‘l am not able to resist your will and pleasure；'
said the Abbot； 'in this place。' ‘Ye must then obey me；'
said the Earl；…and with that were presented unto him certain
letters to subscribe； amongst which there was a five years' tack；
and a nineteen years' tack； and a charter of feu of all the lands
（of Crossraguel； with all the clauses necessary for the Earl to
haste him to hell。 For gif adultery； sacrilege； oppression； barbarous
cruelty； and theft heaped upon theft； deserve hell； the
great King of Carrick can no more escape hell for ever； than
the imprudent Abbot escaped the fire for a season as follows。
‘‘After that the Earl spied repugnance； and saw that he could
not come to his purpose by fair means； he commanded his cooks
to prepare the banquet： and so first they flayed the sheep； that
is； they took off the Abbot's cloathes even to his skin； and next
they bound him to the chimney…his legs to the one end； and his
arms to the other； and so they began to beet ＇_i。e。_ feed＇ the fire
sometimes to his buttocks； sometimes to his legs； sometimes to
his shoulders and arms； and that the roast might not burn； but
that it might rest in soppe； they spared not flambing with oil；
（basting as a cook bastes roasted meat）； Lord； look thou to sic
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；
（wh