CLAVERHOUSE IN DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY. 113 
“Tf any person oune these principles or doe not disoune them, 
they must be judged by at least three, and you must immediately 
give them a lybell and the names of the inqueist and witnesses ; 
and they being found guilty are to be hanged immediately upon 
the place, according to law. But at this time you are not to 
examine any women, but such as has been active in those courses 
in a signall manner. And these are to be drouned.’’ 
The death of the King, in February, 1685, temporarily 
spoiled the fortunes of Claverhouse. He had quarrelled with 
Queensberry. He was not placed on the new Council till 11th 
May, and did not take his seat till 16th July. He attended, but 
seldom during the rest of the year 1685. He was leaving his 
indelible mark elsewhere. Although Professor Terry asserts 
that the commission of Claverhouse as Sheriff expired on the 
death of King Charles, yet the Council on 12th February 
announced that James “allowed all his judges and officers to 
act as formerly, until they receive new commissions.’’ Viscount 
Kenmure was notified of this fact, and Claverhouse was at the 
meeting of Council on that date. 
On the 13th December, 1684, Peter Peirson, Episcopal 
incumbent in Carsphairn, a man of doubtful reputation, was 
shot by night in his manse by “ The Black Macmichael,’’ the 
fowler of Maxwelton, and other fugitives. Claverhouse tracked 
them down, and in a skirmish on Auchencloy killed four or five 
of them, capturing two, who were tried and executed at Kirk- 
cudbright, shortly after 18th December—the date of the fight. 
Macmichael and Stewart were buried in Dalry. Claverhouse 
ordered their bodies to be exhumed and exhibited on the gibbet 
there. 
Claverhouse was in Dumfriesshire on 10th May, and shot 
Andrew Hislop at Craighaugh, in Eskdalemuir. It is his 
subaltern, Andrew Bruce, who is credited with shooting James 
Kirko on the White Sands of Dumfries, on 13th May, 1685. 
We do not know where the Colonel was that day. But there is 
a remarkable story which may link him to this very deed, 
although it refers to a double execution of which we have no 
trace yet. John Morrison, an engineer, and native of Terregles, 
recounted to Sir Walter Scott in 1803 a story which he heard 
from his father. Hitherto Claverhouse has always been 
reckoned the beau ideal of a cavalier—handsome as Apollo, 
