John Welsh, the Irongray Covenanter. 191 



Kirkton's estimate of him is probably not far from the truth: 

 — " He must have ane extraordinary character, as he had ane 

 extraordinary province. He was grandchild to that incomparable 

 man, Mr John Welsh, minister of Ayr. His father, Mr Josias, 

 was likewise ane excellent gospel minister, and because of his 

 mighty, rousing, wakening preaching gift, he was called in the 

 North of Ireland ' The Cock of the North.' This Mr Welsh was 

 a godly, meek, humble man, and a good popular preacher; but 

 the boldest undertaker that ever I heard a minister in Christ's 

 Church old or late : for notwithstanding the threats of State, the 

 great price set upon his head, the spite of the bishops, the dili- 

 gence of all bloodhounds, he maintained his difficult post of 

 preaching in the mountains of Scotland, many times to many 

 thousands, for near twenty years' time, and yet always kept out of 

 his enemies' hands. It is well known that bloody Clavers, upon 

 intelligence that he was lurking in some secret place, would 

 have ridden 40 miles in a winter night, yet when he came to the 

 place lie always missed his prey. I have known him ride three 

 days and two nights without sleep, and preach upon a mountaui 

 at midnight in one of the nights. He used to say to his friends 

 who counselled him to be more wary, that he believed God would 

 preserve him so long as he continued among dangers, but that 

 whenever he should betake himself to safety then his time should 

 come, which accordingly came to pass ; for, after Bothwell Bridge, 

 when all people forsook field meetings, he went to London and 

 there died; but was honourably buried near the King's palace, 

 as was his grandfather." (Kirkton's History, 219, 220.) Sir 

 George Mackenzie, " the bloody Mackenzie " of the Covenanters, 

 described Welsh as " a person of much courage, but no parts." 

 His life speaks for his courage, and his sermons and pamphlets 

 rather bear out the Lord Advocate's opinion of his parts. Beyond 

 great earnestness and sincerity they show no striking originality. 



The events of Welsh's life must be sought for in the pages of 

 \Vodrow and Kirkton and in the letters and State papers of the 

 reign of Charles II. After spending a fortnight hunting him in 

 the British Museum, I have come to sympathise with Clavers and 

 his dragoons. Mr John Welsh is a most elusive gentleman. 

 Though I have by no means a full account of his life to offer you, 

 still I feel justified in giving what I have, and hope that some 



