They had no arms about them,
and denied they had any. But being asked if they would take
the abjuration, the eldest of the two, called John Brown,
refused it; nor would he swear not to rise in arms against
the King, but said he knew no king. Upon which, and there
being found bullets and match in his house, and treasonable
papers, I caused shoot him dead; which he suffered very
unconcernedly. The other, a young fellow and his nephew,
called John Brownen, offered to take the oath, but would not
swear that he had not been at Newmills in arms, at rescuing
of the prisoners. So I did not know what to do with him. I
was convinced that he was guilty, but saw not how to proceed
against him. Wherefore, after he had said his prayers, and
carabines presented to shoot him, I offered to him that, if
he would make an ingenuous confession, and make a discovery
that might be of any importance for the King's service, I
should delay putting him to death, and plead for him. Upon
which he confessed that he was at that attack of Newmills,
and that he had come straight to this house of his uncle's
on Sunday morning. In the time he was making this confession
the soldiers found out a house in the hill, under ground,
that could hold a dozen of men, and there were swords and
pistols in it; and this fellow declared that they belonged
to his uncle, and that he had lurked in that place ever
since Bothwell, where he was in arms.
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