he was old, and had done all the ill that he would do, to let him go to the Bass, and be prisoner there during life." It was put to the vote, and Argyle said, 'Let him go to the gallows, and die like a traitor;' which cast the vote upon him to die, as I said before.
The parliament sat down the day following, July 28th 1681, which framed the cursed test, with seven contradictory oaths in it, which Argyle took with explication. This did not satisfy the Duke of York and others, looking upon him with an ill eye, because of his father being active in our reformation; he was immediately clapt up prisoner in the Castle, out of which he escaped the 30th day of December following: He fled south to the border, where he met with Mr Veitch, late minister in Dumfries, who conducted him through the country to the house of Mr. Bitleston, near Newcastle. After they were set down, ⟨his⟩ acquaintance, Argyle being a stranger, diguised in ⟨sparse⟩ clothes, Mr. Bitleston said, I have received a ⟨letter⟩ just now from Scotland, that Argyle has escaped out of the castle; of which I am very glad if it ⟨be⟩ certain. Mr. Veitch said, he doubted not the certainty of it: They insisted both at expressing their (illegible text)y at the news. Mrs. Bitleston being present, said, I ⟨cannot⟩ be so much taken up with that news as you ⟨are⟩; I know that house or Argyle was a good house ⟨for⟩ our Reformation, and his father suffered for it; ⟨but⟩, for himself he hath been a member of that ⟨wicked⟩ bloody council these 18 years, where many a ⟨wicked⟩ thing have been acted and done: But, above, it was his vote that took away the life of our ⟨worthy⟩ dear friend, singular Mr Cargill; and I am ⟨sure⟩ his blood may lie heavy on him now, and make ⟨them⟩ have a melancholy flight and hiding Argyle ⟨made⟩ no reply. After they had got a drink, she conveyed them to different rooms; After some time she ⟨went⟩ to Argyle's room, being the greatest stranger. ⟨He⟩ had laid down a fine watch and night-cap upon ⟨the⟩ table, which did not answer his cloaths; he had
