A Covenanter's Narrative. 147 



Jesus Christ helpit me with strength that night and many 

 more since, bleisit be his worthy name. My friend came up 

 to me the morn again about eleven hours and the sogers with 

 him, and askit me what I was resolvit to do now. I said 

 again to him I had not a mind other ways than I had told him 

 formerly, and that I thought strange that they chargit at me 

 only and that [sic] no other in all that corner but me, or yet 

 in any other place of this Kingdom, to press that upon anie 

 but those who tuik it willingly to win in to places of public 

 trust. He answered me then very roughly and said that I 

 and Sundaywell were the ringleaders in all that corner where 

 we lived. I thankit him for his good report and said we were 

 weak to be leaders, and that we never consulted or lead anie 

 on in anie evil or sinful way or work. Weel, said he, do as 

 ye please, ye will not get long time to advise. I said I apre- 

 hended no other ways, but I was resolved to byde the worst 

 of it through the Lord's grace and strength, and hopit to be 

 as soon ready as they, be as hastie as they pleased ; and then 

 he went away in an humour ; but he was an miserable com- 

 forter. Yet, notwithstanding, out of love he desyrt me to 

 send to Theophilus Rankine where he quarterit, and ask as I 

 needed for any thing I pleased for my diet for meat and drink, 

 for he had given orders to answer whether I had silver or not. 

 I thankit him heartily for his kindness, but I said to him that 

 I thought I had as much monie as I thought would do my 

 turn. About one after noon the prisoners^o were brought to 

 Air that had been in Dumfries, and they were brought to that 

 prison where I was, and I was removit to another prison^i 

 where there were four prisoners into ; but I was sorry for that 

 I got not leave to keep that prison where I was myself alone. 

 But there was an honest man in that prison where I was taken, 

 and the rest weel mindit; and another guide man was brought 

 into me afterward. Into our prison at the beginin we keepit 

 up exercise. This honest man was a burgess of Air who had 



40 John Grier in Fourmerkland and William Welsh in Cars- 

 phairn were tried and condemned at Ayr on 24th December, 1666, 

 and were executed at Dumfries on 2nd Januaiy, 1667 (Wodrow, 

 Hidory. ut svpr. cit., i., p. 260, and M.S'. Justiciar)/ Becorda). 



41 The tolbooth of Ayr (Wodrow, ib., i., p. 266). 



