John Welsh, the Irongrav Covenanter. 81 



I know what sort of folk they are !" " Go your way, 

 Ritchie," answered Welsh, " set the fire of hell to their tail." 



Cameron appears to have fulfilled Welsh's injunction 

 faithfully, but shortly after he was engaged in plunging" Welsh 

 and Semple into hot water. Cameron had been true to his 

 word ; he had not only preached against indulgence, but had 

 preached when ordained ministers were present, and had 

 opposed even W'elsh himself. He was also accused of causing 

 trouble even among Welsh's old parishioners in Irongray. 

 For all this he was libelled. A Presbytery was held on 

 November 14th, 1678, at Sundaywell in Duscore, at which 

 W^elsh presided. Cameron appeared before it and practically 

 admitted he had done and said what was libelled, though he 

 questioned the competency of the Presbytery to judge him. 

 Next day the Presbytery again met, Gabriel Semple presiding. 

 Cameron objected to Welsh sitting as one of his judges, as 

 he was involved in the accusation against him. Welsh 

 declined to withdraw ; the Presbytery supported Welsh, so 

 Cameron walked out. Cameron now took the right of preach- 

 ing into his own hands and preached openly against indul- 

 gence. Another meeting of Presbytery was held a week after 

 at Irongray, and Cameron's doings were reported to them. 

 This wandering and vexed Presbytery again met on December 

 26th, 1678, at Dundeugh, between Carsphairn and Dairy. 

 Welsh and Semple were again present. Cameron apparently 

 was absent, but Robert Hamilton, brother of the Baronet of 

 Preston, of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge fame, denounced 

 the Presbytery for their Erastianism. The Presbytery did not 

 deprive Cameron of his licence, though they tried to prevent 

 people going to hear him preach. 



It was an unfortunate moment for the Covenanters to 

 quarrel among themselves, for the Government were devising 

 more active measures and had acquired a more vigorous agent 

 to carry them out. The Earl of Linlithgow, the Commander 

 of the Forces in Scotland, had now as his deputy in Dumfries 

 and Galloway 



