John Welsh, the Irongray Covenanter. 79 



staying- on the place and dismissing the body of the people, 

 the Troops and foot companies as they were in order divided 

 themselves and took up their quarters respectively as near 

 to one another as could conveniently be within the bounds, 

 where the bulk of the people were quartered, which was 

 within little more than a mile and a half or thereby, yet all 

 were wonderfully and well accommodated with lodging in 

 houses, barns, and otherwise. Horse meat and man's meat 

 so little bounds, and that which made it the more 

 remarkable was that it was in the Moors of Irongray, where 

 fewer houses were, but the people had cheerfully and largely 

 provided themselves for the purpose before hand ; Parties 

 were sent forth on several airts and watches kept that night, 

 which was a very rainy night. Horse and foot guards kept 

 in barns, Minrs. and Gentlemen were provided with good 

 quarters at houses. In point of prudence no intimation was 

 made where the morning's meeting was to be kept, but only 

 appointed by the minr. of the parish, and some four others, 

 who kept right close till the Tent was set up on a hillside in 

 the head of Irongray parish about 4 miles from the place of 

 Sabbath meeting. Yet the people resorted all thither from 

 their respective quarters and made up a very great assembly, 

 more than would have been believed, especially after such an 

 alarm. The troopers and foot companies who were drawn 

 up the night before, drew up in posture round about the 

 meeting, the foot nearest the people, and the horse outmost. 

 Some Minrs. (I forgot who) and Mr D. preached first, and Mr 

 Bid. preached last on Heb. 13, i. Let brotherly love continue. 

 'I his meeting was also dismissed without disturbance. The 

 whole work from the beginning on Saturday till the close on 

 Monday about one in the afternoon was much countenanced, 

 and the people much refreshed in their spirits notwithstanding 

 of all the occasion their poor bodies had to be wearied thro' 

 sore travell, watchings, alarms, other straitnings and diss- 

 accommodations which could not be shun'd among such a 

 multitude keeping so closely together among moors and moun- 

 tains, yet it was thought by several that this occasion was 

 short of that remarkable and singular shining Influence that 

 appeared at East Nisbet. Notwithstanding all the noise and 



