secure part of the benefices for himself. The Regent was deeply offended. Printer and poet were put in prison. On his liberation, he lay hid for a time at Kinzeancleugh, Ayrshire, the residence of his friend Robert Campbell. He then retired to the Continent, where he remained for about three years. In 1577, at the urgent solicitation of the General Assembly, Morton permitted his return, and in 1579 he became min. of Liberton. In June 1581, Morton being under sentence of death was visited by Davidson. Going for a tune to London, he became known at the English Court, and from the earnest style of his preaching was called " the thunderer." Returning, he did not resume his charge at Liberton, but officiated in various places, and acted as min. of the Second Charge of Holyrood. In 1595 he became min. of this charge, and built a church and manse at his own expense. He vigorously resented the proposal that certain of the clergy should sit and vote in Parliament, and words that he then uttered were often repeated: " Busk him, busk him as bonnily as ye can, and bring him in as fairly as ye will, we see him well eneuch, we see the horns of his mitre." He was 'summoned before the King at Holyrood, and committed to Edinburgh Castle, but released, and allowed to return home, though interdicted from going beyond the bounds of his parish. He died in Sept. 1604. He left a widow (name unknown). His effects were devoted to the support of the school which he founded. Publications-Ane Breif Commendation of Uprightness (Sanct And., 1573); Dialogue betwixt a Clerk and a Courteour (Sanct And., 1573; D. Bancroft's Rashnes in rayling against the Church of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1590) ; Memorial of the Life and Death of Robert Campbell of Kinzeancleugh, and his Wife (Edinburgh, 1595) ; Some Helpes for Young Scholars in Christianity (Edinburgh, 1602) ; Discouvrie of the Unnatural and Traitorous Conspiracy of Scottish Papists (Preface), (Edinburgh, 1593) ; His Apologie and Several Letters  (Calderwood's Hist., v., vi.); Short Form of Morning and Evening Prayer, etc. (Wodrow Miscell). His Poems were reprinted in 1829. He wrote also Memorials of his Time,

a diary of which Calderwood made use in his History. -[Row's, Calderwood's, and Cunningham's Hists.; Acts Parl., iv.; Wodrow Miscell), Livingston's Charac., Booke of the Turk; M'Crie's Melville, ii.; Rogers' Three Scottish Reformers, Dict. Nat. Biog.]

1605 JOHN KER, born 1576, son of Andrew K. of Faldonside, a cadet of the house of Roxburghe, and Margaret Stewart, widow of John Knox. Had been a gay youth returned from France when he was accosted by the preceding incumbent, who solemnly charged him  to cast off his scarlet cloak, lay aside his gilded rapier, and take to his book, for "you are the man who will be minister of this place after me." He graduated M.A. at the Univ. of Edinburgh, 28th July 1596, and was adm. 11th April 1605. He sympathised with the brethren imprisoned at Linlithgow in 1606, previous to their trial and banishment; signed the Protestation for the Liberties of the Kirk 27th June 1617; was confined within the bounds of his own parish by the Privy Council, 24th June 1624, for disobedience to the Articles of Perth. He was requested by the parishioners, 13th Oct. 1637, to petition against The look of Common Prayer for the lark of Scotland; dem. 7th June 1642, in favour of his son as assistant, with reservation in case of himself surviving, of "right of regress," and died 16th Feb. 1644. He marr. Aug. 1605, Barbara, daugh. and co-heiress of John Johnston of Elvingston, burgess of Edinburgh, and had issue - Andrew, advocate, successively Depute and Principal Clerk of Assembly, died Feb. 1670 ; Robert, his successor; John; Margaret; Jean; Elizabeth.-[Edin. Guild Reg.; Row's, Calderwood's, and Stevenson's Hists. ; Orig. Lett., ii.; M'Crie's Knox, Livingston's Life and Charac., Hope's Diary; Inq. Ret. Edin., 234.]

1638 ROBERT KER, M.A.; ord. (assistant) 11th April 1638 (the first ordination in Scotland, irrespective of the Bishop, since the reintroduction of Bishops