John Welsh, thk Jronguav Covenamkk. 75 



English authorities do not appear to have been more success- 

 ful in capturing Welsh than their Scottish brethren. 



In the spring of 1677 Welsh and other Covenanting 

 preachers wece back in Scotland. With Blackader and 

 Riddel he held a communion at Eckford in Teviotdale (Black- 

 ader, 182 et seq. ; Wodrow, iii., 347), also at Girvan Water in 

 Ayrshire. Lord Dundonald writes to the Uuke of Lauder- 

 dale : — " I am certainly informed yesterday that Mr Welsh 

 has intimat a communion to be celebrat at Girvan Water in 

 Carrick on Sunday next, and a house (is) building on purpose 

 for that effect, and there is a contribution gathering in May- 

 bole to build ane other house there " — Auchants, 24th Oct., 



1677. (Lauderdale Papers, iii., 88.) 



Welsh was in Galloway about this time, for the Council 

 was informed that he had inducted Mr Gilchrist into the Kirk 

 of Carsphairn upon the indulged minister's death, 'i'he in- 

 dulged minister must have been " that worthy and singular 

 man and minister, John Semple of Carsphairn." (Wodrow, 

 ii., 348. There is a note about him in Scott's Heart of 

 Midlothian.) 



Next year His Majesty King Charles II. heard of his 

 rebellious subject ; the Earl of Murray addressed a letter to 

 the Duke of Lauderdale telling him that at Whitehall, May 7, 



1678, "we first read the committee's letter to His Majesty, 

 and then the account of that conventicle held by John Welsh 

 at Chirnside Moor in the Merse." About this time the cele- 

 brated communion was held at East Nisbet in the Merse. 

 Blackader has left a fine account of it (182 et seq.). I cannot 

 quote it ; but I must give in detail his narrative of the Iron- 

 gray Communion. 



Irongray Communion.* 



" After his landing [from Culrossj he [Blackader] is in- 

 formed that a gentleman of Nithsdale called Sund : [Sunday- 

 well] was come from Galloway and Nithsdale to invite him in 



* This account of the Irongray Communion is a true copy of 

 Blackader's MS. in the Advocates' Library. It ditt'ei-s from the 

 printed Memoirs in several details. 



