A third instance of the bloodshed of the day, I have before me, attested by two persons called to be witnesses to it, in terms of the council's act, though I find it not used almost anywhere but in this case. It was committed at Polmadie, about a mile south of the city of Glasgow. I shall give the narrative in the words of the signed declaration. This violent and hasty murder, for any thing I know of, hath not been distinctly narrated hitherto, and yet it is as barefaced an instance of the barbarity of this period as many; and I hope it will be acceptable in the plain and natural narrative of the two country people yet alive, attesting it. "We, under-subscribers, John Reid and Andrew Cochran, do declare, that we being then servants in Shawfield, were about our master's business at Polmadie mill, May 11th, 1685, saw major John Balfour, captain James Maitland, Menzies, Mackenzie, and some others upon horseback come to Polmadie: major Balfour seeing us at the mill, asked us to whom we belonged. We answered, we were servants to Sir James Hamilton's, tenants in Shawfield. The major commanded us to stand still till he told us what to do. We saw them apprehend three men, two whereof were weavers, whom they brought off their work-looms, Thomas Cook and John Urie, who had nothing upon them but their working clothes. Thomas Cook was first taken, and because he went out to Balfour at the first cry, the major struck him on the face with the horse-whip as the blood so gushed out that he could hardly speak. Then staving a cocked pistol in his face, keeping his thumb on the dog cried, blood and wounds, he was a rebel. Within a little there came up one and twenty footmen and a serjeant, who ran through the houses, and apprehended Robert Tom a land-labourer, upon whom Balfour set a guard, saying he was a strong man and called for match to bind him, but found none. When all the three were taken the officers consulted among themselves, and withdrawing, to the west side of the town questioned the prisoners, particularly if they would pray for kings James VII. They answered they would pray for all within, the election of grace. Balfour said, Do you question the king's election?, They answered, sometimes they questioned their own upon which he swore dreadfully, and said, they should die presently, because they would not pray for Christ's vicegerent, and so without one word more, commanded Thomas Cook to go to his prayers, for he should die. Thomas desired the major he would let him live. The major asked how long. Thomas answered, two days. The major swore again, he should live no longer. The other said he could not help it then. And immediately Balfour drew out three musketeers, and placed them behind him, while he sat upon his knees praying. They took some cravats from some of the countrymen standing by, and covered their faces. Then the major ordered two of the musketeers to fire, and if Thomas stirred after that the third was to fire, which was done, and he slain outright. Then he commanded the other two to bequeath themselves to God, for they were immediately to die, and straight did with them as with the first. All the three men were murdered within an hour after they were apprehended. When dead they drew off some of their clothes, saying they might do good to a soldier; but when they perceived their dogs licking the I slain men’s blood, they cast them on the corps again, and ordered us to go our way and tell what we had seen. We remember further, that Captain Maitland said to the rest of the men of Polmadie, why did you harbour those men so near a garrison? And holding up his hands said, 'As the Lord liveth I have no pleasure in the death of those men. The rest of the men in Polmadie were carried prisoners to Glasgow, and from thence near to Dunotter, were some of them could win off.