76 John Welsh, the Irongray Covenanter. 



to that country with whom when he met he told his errand, 

 that he was come of purpose to invite him in the name of the 

 country to assist at a Communion intended by the people and 

 Mr W[elsh] at Irongray against Sabbath that day 8 days ; and 

 missing him at Edinr he had come that length resolving still 

 to hold on till he had met with him : He told him also that 

 the country and well affected gentlemen in it (who had 

 formerly fainted) were resolved to countenance that solemn 

 work as publickly and avowedly as they could on their peril. 

 Upon which hearing Mr Bid. being surprised was astonished, 

 and withall not a little comforted that the Lord had so wonder- 

 fully raised up and revived again the spirits of his people in 

 that corner, who had so long time been under a Damp of 

 Discouragement, and that this was in some part the Return 

 of prayer. He cheerfully resolved that night to go, and went 

 with him on the morrow being Monday toward Edini' to make 

 himself ready for his journey to Irongray which was near 60 

 miles from Edini'. His wife, who desired to be a witness and 

 partaker of that benefit, with his son Robt. , went with him, it 

 being such a rare opportunity. They got not out of Edinr 

 till Thursday about 10 or 11 in the forenoon, yet they with 

 the gentlemen rode that night to Gilkerscleugh, [a] place 

 about 30 miles, and from that to Caitloch in Glencairn, about 

 17 miles on Friday. As they rode by Leadhills on their way 

 towards Enterkin and Nithsdale they found the way full of 

 people, many on horse, others on foot. It was told also that 

 about eighty horse whereof were many gentlemen from Clyds- 

 dale and other parts had been drawn up in a body with officers 

 and marched down Enterkin path in good order a little before 

 him. They were also reasonably well appointed. All which 

 was to him a surprisal and observed as a singular providence. 

 He desired those he met with to carry sober under it. That 

 party of horse, after they were down the braes of Enterkin, 

 which was a large mile, they drew up again at the foot of it 

 and marched in order all along down Nithsdale till they came 

 to Cluden water, where they rode through (it being great with 

 rain before) straight into the parish of Irongray, where they 

 took up their quarters, kept out watches, the rest of the multi- 

 tude came after and quartered up and down as they might 



