Here he was unexpectedly interrupted.
He had not gone far from the gate before he heard the sound of a drum, and, to his great surprise, met a number of persons, sufficient to occupy the whole front of the street, and form a considerable mass behind, moving with great speed towards the gate he had just come from, and having in front of them a drum beating to arms.

While he considered how he should escape a party, assembled, as it might be presumed, for no lawful purpose, they came full on him and stopped him.
"Are you a clergyman ?" one questioned him.
Butler replied that "he was in orders, but was not a placed minister." "It's Mr.Butler from Liberton," said a voice from behind, "he'll discharge the duty as weel as ony man." "You must turn back with us, sir," said the first speaker, in a tone civil but peremptory.
"For what purpose, gentlemen ?" said Mr.Butler.

"I live at some distance from town--the roads are unsafe by night--you will do me a serious injury by stopping me." "You shall be sent safely home--no man shall touch a hair of your head--but you must and shall come along with us." "But to what purpose or end, gentlemen ?" said Butler.

"I hope you will be so civil as to explain that to me." "You shall know that in good time.

Come along--for come you must, by force or fair means; and I warn you to look neither to the right hand nor the left, and to take no notice of any man's face, but consider all that is passing before you as a dream." "I would it were a dream I could awaken from," said Butler to himself; but having no means to oppose the violence with which he was threatened, he was compelled to turn round and march in front of the rioters, two men partly supporting and partly holding him.