-■'■■/•■ 
 
 ■•'• 
 
THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LIFE snd DEA TH 
 
 O F 
 
 Mr. John Welch ^ \ 
 
 ii 
 
 Miniftcr of the Gofpel at AIR. 
 
 _ — — *. ! — : > — ,. &* 
 
 Rev. ii. 4. Ncvertheleff I have fome what ogawJilQ 
 thee, becaufe thou haft left thy firft Love. \(] 
 
 Vcrfe, 5. Remember therefore from whence thou\& 
 art fall en, and Repent and do thy fir Ji Wort 
 or elfe I will come unto thee quickly, and re 
 move \hy Candle ftk\ out of his Place, caa 
 thou Repent. 
 
 Glafgow, Printed by Jamex Duncan, and aretojQ 
 
 be Sold in his Shoo in the s^t-market, near jo 
 
 Qlbfon^WyrJ. M.DCC. XXXV. K 
 
( 2 ) 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 L Thc LIFE and DEATH of Mr. JOHN WELCH 
 Minifter of the Gofpel at Air. 
 
 MR. John Wckbi was born a Gentleman, his Fa- 
 ther being Laird of Coliejloun ( an Eftate ra- 
 ther competent than large, in the Shire of blUhf- 
 dale ) about the Year 1570. The dawning of our Re- 
 formation being then but dark ; he was a rich Example 
 of Grace and Mercy, but the Night went before the Day, 
 being 2 moft bopelefs extravagant Boy; it was not e- 
 nough to him, frequently when he wat a young Stripling, 
 to run away from the School, and play the Trowant : 
 But after he had paft his Grammar, and was come to be 
 a Youth he left the School and his Fathers Houfe, and 
 went and joined himfelf to the Thieves on the Englifh* 
 Border, who lived by robbing the two Nations, and a- 
 mengft them he flayed till he fpent * Suit of Gloatbs. 
 Then when he was cloathed only with Rags, the Prodi- 
 gals Mifery brought him to the Prodigal* Resolutions, fo 
 herefolvedto return to his Fathers Houfe,- butdurft 
 not adventure, till he fliould interpofe a Reconciler. So 
 in his Return homeward he took Lumfrlct in his Way, 
 where he had a Friend one Agnts "Forfyib. itid with her 
 fee diverted toaz Vapi carnelily t&tf$xtlii$ her to re- 
 concile 
 
( 3 ) 
 oncile him to his Father. While he lurked in her Hoofe, 
 hit Father came providentially to the Houfe to falure his 
 Coufin, Mn. Forfyfb, and after thej had talked a while, 
 /he asked him whether ever he heard any News of hif 
 Son John?. To her he rcplyed with great Grief, O 
 ' cruel Woman : How can you name hit btam: to me, the 
 fit ft Newt I expeel to bear of bim, it that he it Hanged 
 for a thief, (he anfwered, many a profligate Boy bat 
 become a virtuout Man, and comforted hiqj. He infifted 
 upon his fad Complaint, bot aske.-i whether fhe knew 
 hit loft Son was yet alive : Sne anfwered yes, be Wat, 
 and fhe hoped he fhould pr: ve a better Man thin he wai 
 a- Boy, and with that me called upon him to come to hit 
 Father, he came weeping and kneeled, befeeching hit 
 Father for thrift's Sake to pardon his Misbehaviour, 
 and deeply engaged to be a new Man. His Father re- 
 proach'd him, and threaded him : Yet 2t length by the 
 Boys Tears, and Mrs. Forfytht Importunities, he was 
 petTwaded to a Reconciliation. The Boy entreated bit 
 Father to put him to the Coiledge, and there to try his 
 Behaviour, and if ever thereafter he fhould break, he 
 faid he fhould be content hit Father fhould difelaim him 
 for ever , f j hjs Father carried him home, and put him 
 to the Colledge, and there he became a diligent Student 
 of great Expe&aticn, and flawed himfeJf a fincere Con- 
 vert, and fo he proceeded to the Miniftry. 
 
 His firftPoft in the Miniftry wai at Selkirk, while he 
 wai yet very young, and the Country rude, while he 
 was there, his Miniftry was rather admired by fome, 
 than received by many : For he was always attended 
 with the Frcphets 5hadk>w,the Hatred of the Wicked, yea 
 even the Miniftera of that Country were more ready to 
 pick a Quarrel with his Perfon, than to follow hif Doc- 
 trine, as may appear to this Day in their Synodal Re- 
 cordi, wherein we find he had many to Cenfure him, 
 and only fome to defend him : Yet it was thought his 
 Miniftry in that Place was not without Fruit, though he 
 flayed but fhort Time there, being a young Man un- 
 married, he tabled himfelf in the Houfe of one' Mitcbet 
 and took a yonng Boy of his to be his Bedfellow, Who 
 to his dying Day retained both a RefpeeY to Mr. Welch, 
 
' A ) 
 and hisMiniftry, from the Inapreffions Mr. HWcA hit be- 
 tJsviour made upon his Appreheofi'^n though bat a Child. 
 His Cuftom was when he went to Bed at Night, to lay a 
 Sea// Plaid above his Bed-Cloafhs, and when he wtnt to 
 his Night- Prayers, to fit up and cover hfcrifelf negligent- 
 ly therewith ; and (o to continue. For from the Begin. 
 ning of his Miniftry to his Death, he reckoned the Day 
 ill i pent if he ft ay ed not feven or eight Hours in Pray- 
 er, ind thit the tioy would never forget even to Hoary 
 Haiti. 
 
 1 had once the Curiofay travelling through the Town 
 to call for an old Man £ his Name was Evjart ) who re- 
 E embred upon Mr. Welch his being in that Place, and af- 
 ter ether Difcourfes, enquired of him, what foit a Man 
 Mr. Welch was, his anfwer was, O Sir I He was a Type of 
 Chri/t 9 an Expreffi.cn more Significant then proper, for 
 his meaning was that he was an Example that imitated 
 Chrift, as indeed in many things he did, he told me al- 
 fo, that his Cuftom was to preach publickly once every 
 Day, and to fpend his whole Time in fpiritual Exercifcs, 
 tfcatfomc in that Place waited well upon his Minjliry with 
 great tcndcxntU, but that he v:^» conftrained to leave 
 tint Place, becaufe of the Malice of the Wicked. 
 
 Tie fpecial Caufe of his Departure was a prophane 
 Gentleman in the Country ( One Scot of Headjhaw % 
 whofc Family is now extinct J but becaufe Mr. Welch had 
 either reproved him, or meerly out of Hatred, Mr Welch 
 wis moft unworthily abufed by the unhappy Man, and 
 amongft the reft of the Injuries he did him, this was one 
 Mr. Welch keept always two good Horfes for his Ufe, 
 and the wicked Gentleman when he could do no more, 
 either with his Own Hand or his Servants, cut off the 
 Rumps of the two innocent Beafts, upon which follow- 
 ed fuch Eflufion of Blood thst they both Died/ which 
 Mr. Welch did much rcfent, a>nd fuch bafe ufageas this 
 perfwaded him to liften to a Call, to the Miniftry at 
 Kitcudbr'tght, which was his next Poft. 
 
 But when he was to leave Selkirk, he could not find 
 a Man in all the Town to tranfport his Furniture, except 
 only Ewart who wa« it that Time a poor young Man 
 
 but 
 
but Mafler of two Horfri , with which he tranfported 
 Mr. Wtlck his Good; and fo left him, but as he took hii 
 leave, Mr. Welch give him his Elcning, and a piece of 
 Gold for a Token, exhorting him to tear God, and pro- 
 wifed he friould never want, which promife Providence 
 made good through the whole Courfe of the Man's Life, 
 as wai obferved by all hit Neighbour!. ' • r 
 
 At Kirkcudbright he flayed not long, but there he 
 reaped a Harveft of Converts, vrhich fubfifted long after 
 his departure, and were a Part of Mr. Samuel Rutbtr- 
 foords Flock ; though not his Parift, while he was 
 Minifter at Anwith. Yet when his Call to Air came to 
 him, the People of the Parifh of Kircudbright, never of- 
 fered to detain him, fo hii Tranfportation to Air was the 
 more eafy. r . 
 
 While he was in Kirkcudbright he met with a young 
 Gallant in Scarlet and Silver Lace, ( the Gentleman's 
 Name Was Mr. Robert GUnioning ) new come home 
 from his Travels, and much furprized the young Man, 
 by telling him he behoved to change his Garb and Way 
 of Life, ind betake himfelf to the 5tudy of the Scriptures, 
 v hich at that time was not his Bufmeff, for he fkould 
 be his Succeffor in the Miniftry at Kirkcudbright, which 
 accordingly fcame to pafs fome time thereafter. 
 
 Mr. Welch was tranfported to Air in the Year 15 9°* 
 and there he continued till he was banifhed. There he 
 had a very hard Beginning, but a very fweet End ; For 
 when he came firft to the Town, the Country was fo 
 Wicked, and the Hatred ot;Godlinefs (o gveat, that there 
 could not one in all the Town be found who would fet 
 him a Houfe to dwell in, fo he was conftrained to acco- 
 modate himfelf the beft he might in a Part of a Gentle- 
 man's Houfe for a Time, the Gentleman's Name was 
 yobn.Sttwart Merchant, and fometimes Provoft of A:r, 
 an eminent Chriftian- aad great Affiftant of Mr. Welch. 
 
 And when he had fit ft taken up his Rcfidence in that 
 Town, the Place was divided /nto Factions, and nlled 
 With Bloody Conflicts, a Man could hardly walk the 
 Streets with fafety: Wherefore Mr- Welch made it fan 
 firft undertaking to remove the bloody Quarrelling! 
 bat he found it very difficult tf ork > Tct fuch was his 
 A 3 carneftneu 
 
(6) 
 farneftnef* to purfue his dffign,that many times he would 
 tu(b betwixt two Parties of Men fighting^ even in the 
 midft of Blood and Wounds, he ufed to cover hii Head 
 with a Head-piece, before he went to fepcrate thefe 
 bloody Enemies, but never ufed a Sword, that they might 
 fee he came for Peace and not for War, and fo by little 
 and little he made the Town a peaceable Habitation. 
 
 Hi* tnaonei wai after he had ended a Skkmift. a- 
 mOGgft hi* Neighbour! and reconciled thefe bitter Ene- 
 mies to caufe cover a Tabic upon the Street, and there 
 brought the Enemiei together and beginning with Prater 
 he peri waded them to profefs themfeJves Friends, and 
 then to eat and drink together ; then laft of ^U he ended 
 the Work with Tinging a Pfalm, fcr after the rede People 
 began to obfervc his Example and liflen to fcif Heaven- 
 ly Doctrine, he came quickly to thit Refpclt amcrgft 
 them that he became not only a neceilary Counceller, 
 without Whofe Oounfel they wouM do nothing but one 
 Example to imitate, and fo he buried the bloody Quarrels- 
 He gave himfelf wholly to tf inifterial Exrrdfes, he 
 preached once every Day, he prayed the third Part of 
 his Time, was unwearied in his Studies, and for a Proof of 
 this, it was found amongft his Papers; that he bad a- 
 bridged Saorcz his Metaphyfiks when they came firft 
 to his Hand, even when he was well ftricken in Years 
 By all which it appears that he was not only a Man of 
 . great diligence, but alfo of a ftrong and robuft Natural 
 Conftitution-. atherwife he had never endured the Fatigue 
 But if his Diligence was great,fo it is doubted whether 
 his fowing in painfulJnef* or his Earyeft in Succefs was 
 greater, for ix cither his Spiritual Experiences in feeking 
 the Lord or his Fruitfullnefs in converting Souls be con- 
 fidered ; They Will be found nnparalled in Scotland 
 And imny Year? after Mr. Welch his Death, Mr, 
 David DkJefon, at, that Time a Flourifhing Mtniffer at 
 Irvine, was frequently heard to fay, when People talked 
 to bim of the fuccefs of his Minifiry , tfpt the Qraftglear^ 
 ingi in Aire, \n Mr. Welch his Time were far above the 
 Vintage of Irvine in his ozvn- Mr. Welch his Preaching 
 was fpiritual and fearchiog: his Utterar.cc tender and 
 moving: He did not much infift upon Scholaflick Pur- 
 
 pofei 
 
( 7 ; 
 
 pofes. He made no fhew of his Learning. I heard once 
 one of his Hearcn ( who vai afterwards Minifter at 
 Muirkirk in Kyle ) fay that no Man could hardly hear 
 him, and forbear weeping, bit Conveyance was fo affect- 
 ing, There it a large Volume of hii 5eraioni now in 
 Scotland, but never any of them came to the Prefs, nor 
 did ever appear in Print, except in hii Difpute with Abbot 
 Brown the Papift, wherein he makes it appear ; his 
 Learning was not behind hii other Virtues. And in a- 
 nother Piece called Du. Welch bis Armageddon, Printed 
 I fuppofe in France* wherein he give* his Meditation* u- 
 pon the Enemiei of the Church, and their Deflrudion, 
 but the Piece it felf ii rarely to be found. 
 
 Sometimet, before he went to Sermon, he would fenJ 
 for his Elders and tell them he was afraid to go to Pulpit, 
 becaufe he found himfelf fore deferted : And thereafter 
 defire one or more of them to Pray, and then he would 
 venture to the Pulpit. But it was obferved, this humbling 
 Exercife ufed ordinarly to be followed, with a Flame of 
 extraordinary A/Eflance ; fo near Neighbours are many 
 Times contrar Difpofitionsand Frames. Ee would many 
 Times retire to the Ghurch of Air, which was at fome 
 diftance from the Town, and there fpend the whole night 
 in Prayer; for he ufed to alJow hii Affcdioni full Ex- 
 preffions, and prayed not only with audible, but fomc- 
 times loud Voice, nor did he irk in that folitude, aJJ the 
 Night over ; Which hath it may be occafiooed the con- 
 temptabie Slander, of fome malicioui Enemies, who were 
 fo hold, 2$ to call him no lefs than a Witch. 
 
 There was in Air before he came to it an aged Man a 
 Minifter of the Town, called Porterfield, the Man wai 
 judged no bad Maa for his perfonal inclination!, but of 
 fo eafie a Difpciltion that he ufed many Times to go too 
 great a Length with his Neighbours in many dangerous 
 Pra&ifeSi and amongft the reft, he ufed to go to the 
 Bow-buts and Archery, on Sabbath Afternoon, to Mr* 
 Welch his great Difatisfatfion. But the Way he ufed to 
 reclaim him was not bitter Severity : but this gentle Po- 
 licy : Mr. Vfe.rb to/e'her with John Stewart and Hugh 
 Kennedy bit tw^ intimate Friends, ufed to fpcad tht Sab- 
 bath Afternoon in rtligiofli Coaferance, and Prayer, 
 
 and 
 
( 6 )- 
 and to this Exercife they invite Mr. Porterfidd, which he 
 could not refufc, by which Meam he wai not only dir 
 verted from hi* former iinful Praclife, but likewife 
 brought to a more watchful and edifying behaviour, in 
 fais Courfe of Life. 
 
 He carried Elizabeth Knox Daughter to the famous Mr. 
 yohn Knox Miniiler at Edinburgh, the Apoftlc of Scot- 
 land, and (he lived with him from his Youth till his 
 Death. By her I have heard that he had three Sons. 
 The firft was called Doelor Welch, a Dr. of Medicine 
 who Wis unhappily kilPd upon an innocent miftake in 
 thtLow-countricf* and of him I never heard more. Ano- 
 ther Son, he had moil lamentably loft at Sea, for when 
 the Ship in which he was funk, he fwam to a Rock in (he 
 Sea, but ftarved there for want of ncceffary Food, aid 
 Refrefhment, and when fometime afterward his Body 
 was found upon the Rock they found him dead in a pray* 
 ing Pofture upon his bended Knees, i with bis Hands 
 Wretched out, and this was all the Satiifaftion Uis Friends 
 and the World had upon his lamentable Death, fo bitter 
 to his Friends. Another Son he had who was Heir to his 
 Father's Graces and Bleflings, and this wai Mr. °}ofiai 
 W*/c6Miniiier at Temple- Patrick in the North of Ireland, 
 commonly called the Gock of the Gonfcicnce by the 
 People of the Country, becaufe of his extraordinary 
 wakening and rotfRng Gift, he was one of that bleft So- 
 ciety of Minifters, which Wrought that tmpar ailed Work 
 in the North of Ireland about the Year 1639. But was 
 himfelf a Man moft fadly exercifed with Doubts about his 
 own Salvation all his Time, and would ordinarly fry, 
 That Minjjitt wat much to be fitted, whi was called to 
 comfort weak Sainlt, and had no Comfort himfelf He 
 di>d in his Youth, and left for h\s Succeftor Mr. John 
 Welch Miniflcr at Iron Gray, in Galloway, the Place of 
 his Grand Fatheri Nativity. What Boffinefs this made in 
 Scotland, in the time of the late Epifcopal Perfection, 
 for rhe Space of twenty Years \$ kn^wn to all Scotland. 
 He maintained his Dangerous Po$ of Pre-ching the Gof- 
 pelnpbn the Mountains of Scotland, noiw'thftandiog of 
 ihe thrcatning of the Stare, the Hatred of the Biflh^ps, 
 the ^rice fet upon his Head, and ail the fierce Induftry 
 
 of 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 of hit cruel Enemies, lc is well known the bloody Cla- 
 'vtrboyf* upoa fecret Information from bis Spye»> that 
 Mr. Welch wai to be found in fome larking Place, at 40 
 milei diftir.ee, would make all that long Journej in one 
 Winters Ki^ht, that he nvght catch him, but when he 
 came he milled always his Prey, I never heard of a Man 
 endured more Toyle, adventured upon more Hazard, 
 efcapt To mnch Hazard not in the World. He u r ed to tell 
 his Fr en-is wno counfeUed him to be more cautious, and 
 not to h?zerd himfelf fo much. That he firmly believed 
 . dangerous Undertakings would be his Security, and that 
 when ever he fhou!dg.ve ov*r that Courfeand retire hitn- 
 felr, his Alitiiftrjr fh^uid come to an Er;d- Which accord- 
 ingly cj-e to pad, f >r when ^f.er BothwlAridgc he retir- 
 ed to Lindon, ^£ Lord called him $y Death, and there 
 be was honouriffy buried, not far from the Kings Palace. 
 But to retorn to our old Mr. Welch, as the Duty where- 
 in he abounded and excelled moft was Prayer, fo his 
 greatest Attainments fell that Way ; He ufed to fay, He 
 wondred how a Chriftfan could ly in a Bed aU Night and 
 not rife to Pray, and many Times he rofe, and many 
 Timts he watched- One Night he rcfic from his Wife and 
 vent into the next Room, where he ftayed fo long at 
 fecret Prayer, that his Wife fearing he might catch cold, 
 was conftrained to rife and follow him, and as Che heark- 
 ned, fhe heard, him fpeak as by interrupted Sentences, 
 Lord wilt thou not grant me Scotland, .and after a Paufc 
 enough Lord enough, and fo fhe returned to her Bed, 
 and he f blowing her, not knowing (he had heard &uja, 
 but when he was by her, {he asked him what he meant 
 by faying, enough Lord enough, he flhewed himfelf dif- 
 fiiisfied with her Cariofity, but told htr^ he had been 
 wreftling with the Lord for Scotland, and found there wai 
 a fad Tjme at Hand, but the'Lord would be gracious to a 
 Remnant. This wjs about the Time when Bifhcps fix ft 
 overfpread th- Land, and corrupted the Church * This 
 is m )f€ wonderful [ am to relate. I heard once an honeft 
 lifter, who was a Parithoner of Mr Welch., many a 
 Diyfay, That one Night as he watched in his Garden 
 very h*e, and forae Friends diking i/pGn him in the 
 Eoufe, and wearying bcciufe of his long StayjOne of f hem 
 B chanced 
 
chanced to open a Window towards the Flace where he 
 walked, and faw clearly a Light furround him, & heard 
 him (peak ftrange Words about his fpiritual Joy. I do 
 neither add nor alter, 1 am the more induced to thit 
 having heard it from as good a hand as an/ in Scotland, 
 that a very Godly Man ( though not a Mmifter ) fay 
 that after he had fpent a whole Night in a Countrey 
 Houfe of his, at thtHoufe in the Muir^ declareth con- 
 fidently, he faw fuck an extraordinary Uight as this h\m- 
 fclf % which was to him both Matter of Wonder and Afton- 
 ijhment But though Mr. Welch had upon the Account 
 of his Holinefs, Abilities, and Succefs, acquired among 
 his fubdued People, a very great Refpeft yet was he ne- 
 ver in fuch Admiration, as after the great Plague which 
 raged in Scotland about the Year.—- 
 
 And one Gaufe was this, The Magiftratei of Ayr, for- 
 afmoch as this alone Town was free, and the Country a* 
 bout infecled, thought fit to guard the Ports with Senti- 
 nels, and Watchmen, and one Day two Travelling Mer- 
 chants, each with a Pack of Cloath upon a Horfe, came to 
 the Town defiring Entrance that they might Sell their 
 Goods, producing a Pafs, from the Magiftratei of the 
 Town whence they came, which was at that Time found 
 and free ; yet notwithstanding all the Sentinels ftopt them 
 till the iVf agiftrates were caUed, and when they came 
 they would do nothing Without their Minifters Advice: 
 So Mr. Welch was called, and his Opinion askt: He 
 demurred, and put off' his Hat, with his Eyes towards 
 Heaven for a pretty Space, though he uttered no audible 
 Words yet continued in a praying Gefture: And after a 
 little Sfiace tcJd the Magiftrates they would do well to 
 difcharge thefe Traveler! their Town affirming with a 
 great Affevcration, the Plague was in thefe Packs, fo the 
 Magiftrates commanded them to be gene and they went to 
 Cumnock, a Town fome ten MiJcs diftant, and there 
 fold their Goods which kindred fuch an Infection in that 
 Place,that the living were hardly able to bury their dead. 
 This made the People begin to think Mr. Welch as an O m 
 facte* Yet as he walked with God and kept clofs with 
 him, fo he forgot not iVlan, for as he ufed frequently to 
 dine abroad with fuch of his Friends, as he thought were 
 ^^erfoni with whom he might maintain in thit Communion 
 
( » ) 
 
 Of Saints, and once in the Year he ufei alwajri to in- 
 vite all hit Familiar! in rhe Town to a Treat in hit Houfe, 
 where there was 4 Banquet of Holinefi and Sobriety. 
 He continued the Courfe of his Mmiflry in Air till 
 ing James his Purpofe of deftroying ihe Church of 
 atland by eftabliflhing Siihops was ripe, and then it 
 fell to be his Duty to edifie the Church, by his Suffer- 
 ings 1% formerly he had by his Dodrine, 
 
 The Reafon why King Jamts % vrit fo violent for Bifti- 
 ops, was neither their divine lnftitution ( which he de- 
 nied they had ) nor ytt the Profite the Church fhould 
 reap by them (for he knew weU both the Men and their 
 . Communications ) but meeriy becaufe he believed they 
 were ufeful inftruinents to turn a Limited Monarchy in- 
 to Absolute Dominion, a nd Subjects into Slaves ; the 
 De/ign in the World he minded moil. Alway a in the Pur- 
 fuite of hi$ Defign he followed this Method, in the firit 
 Place he refolved to deftroy a General A ffembly, know- 
 ing well that fo long as Aflemblies might conveen irf 
 Freedom, Biftiops could never get their defigned Autho- 
 rity in Scotland, and the DifTolution of AiTemblies he 
 brought about in this Manner. 
 
 The General AKtmbXy at Holy-Rude-Houfc in the 
 Year i6o2, with the Kings Confent Indid, their next 
 meeting to be kept at Aberdeen, the laft Tuefdoy of 
 jfcty, in the Year 1604. And before that Day came, 
 the King by bis Commiflioner the Laird of 'Laurtflouni 
 Mr. Patrick Galloway, Moderator of the laft Aflembly, 
 in a Letter direded to the feveral Presbytries, continu- 
 ed the meeting till the firft Tuefday of jfvly % 1 605, at 
 the fame Place : Laft of all in June 1605, the expell- 
 ed meeting to have been kept in July following, is by 
 a new letcer from the Kings Commiffioner and the Com- 
 mit! oners of the General Ailembly ; difcharged and pro- 
 hibited, but without naming any Day or Place for any 
 other Atfembiy abfolutely ; and fo the Series of our Af- 
 femWy expired, never to teviwe again,in our Poinrrill the 
 Covenant was renewed in the Year 1633, however ma- 
 ny of the Godly Minifters of Scotland, knowing well if 
 once the Hedge of the Government was broken, the 
 Corruption of the Doftiine would foon follow, refolved 
 
 not 
 
C 12 ) 
 
 not to quite their Atfembly fo, and therefore a Num- 
 ter of them conveeaed at Aberdeen*, upon the 6rft Tuef- 
 day otjuly* 1605. being the laft Day that was diftintt- 
 ly appointed by Authority : And when they had met, 
 ijd no more butconftitute themfelves, and difolvcd, and 
 that was all. Acnongfttnofe was Mr Welch, who tho^tic 
 had not been prefent upon that Prr cife Day, yet becaufe 
 he came to the Place, and approved what his Brcthern 
 had done, he was accufed as guilty of the treafonable 
 Fa^t coinmited by his Brethren. So dangerous a Point 
 was the Name oi a General Afi'embly, in King James hit 
 jealous Judgment. 
 
 Within a Month, after this meeting, manyofthefe 
 Godly Men were incarcerate, fome to one Prifon, (bme 
 to another, Mr. Welch was fen t iTrft to Edinburgh Tol- 
 bootb, and then to Bfocknefj> and fo from Prifon to Pri- 
 fon, till he was banifhed to France, nc?cr to fee Scotland 
 again. 
 
 And now the Scene cf his Life begins to alter, but be- 
 fore his Bleffed Suffering!, he had; this ftrange Warning, 
 
 After the meeting at Aberdetn was ever, he retired im- 
 mediately to Air, and one Night he rofe from his Wife, 
 and went into his Garden, (as his Cuftom was ) but 
 itayed longer thin ordinary, which troubled his Wife, 
 ,who when he returned Expoflulalt with him very hard, 
 •for his flaying (o long to wrong his Health, he bid her, 
 be quiet, for it fhoold be well with them. But he knew 
 well, he fhould never preach more in Air, and accord- 
 ingly before the next Sabbath, he was carried Prifoner 
 ito Bladznef/Czfilc. After that, he with many others 
 Who had met at Aberdeen, were brought before the: 
 Council of Scotland, at Edinburgh, to anfwer for the 
 Rebellion and Contempt, in holding a General Affembly 
 cot authorized by the King. And becaufe they declin- 
 ed the fecret Council, 2s Judges competent in Caufes, 
 purely fpiritoal, fach as the Nature and Conftitution of 
 a General Aftembly is, they were flrft remitted to the 
 Prifon at Blac\neft, and other Places. And thereafter: 
 fix of the moft considerable of them, were brought un- 
 der Night from Blacknefs to Linlithgow, before the cri* 
 miualjudges, toaofweran Accufation of high Tceafon, 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 at tbc Inftance of Sir Thomas Hamilton Kings Advocate, 
 for declining ( a he alJedged ) the Kings lawful Au- 
 thority, in refufing to admit the Council Judgei compe- 
 tent, in the Caufe of the Nature of Church Judicatories 
 and after their Accufation, and Anfwer was read, by the 
 , Verdict of a Jury of very considerable Gentlemen, con- 
 demned as guilty of high Treafon, the Punifhment con- 
 tinued till the Kings Pleafure fhould be known, and there- 
 after their Punifhmcnt was made Baniftiment; that the 
 cruel Sentence might fome Way feem to foften their fe- 
 vear PuaiChment, as the King had contrived it. 
 
 While be wai in Blacknefs, he wrote his famous Letter 
 to Dam Itillioi Graham, Qounufs of Wigtoun, which 
 here I haveinferted; 
 
 the Confolation of the Holy Ghoft, be multiplied unto 
 you.be JESUS CHRIST. 
 
 OFten and many Times, Ghriftian and Elecft Lady, 
 I have defired the Opportunity to be comforted 
 with that Confolation, wherewith it hath pleafed GOD 
 of his free Grace and Mercy ,to fill and furnifh you. Your 
 Remembrance is very fweet 2nd comfortable ro my very 
 Soul; Since the Time 1 knew you in Chrift Jefus, I 
 have ever been mindful of you unto the Lord, and now 
 not being able to refrain any longer, I could not omitt 
 this Occafion; not knowing how long it may pleafc 
 tbc Lord, to continue my Beeing in this Tabernacle, or 
 give me further Occafion of writting to any. 
 
 Altho' I have not great Matter at this Time, yet in 
 Remembrance of your Labour of Love, Hope and Pati- 
 ence, I muft needs falnte your Lady/hip, knowing t ffur- 
 edly,' you are the chofen of God, fet apart before ever 
 the World was, to that Glorious and Eternal Inheritance, 
 being thus comforted in your Faith and Bope,I am fully 
 affured, tho' we never have the Occafion of meeting 
 here, yet we fhaU reign together in the World to come. 
 
 My Defire to remain here is not great, knowing, that 
 fo long as I am in this Houfc of Clay, 1 am abfent from 
 God, And if it were difolved, I look for a Building not 
 made with Hands, Eternal in the Heavens; In this i 
 gronc, defiring to be clothing upon, with my Houfc 
 
 which 
 
which it in Heavenjf fo dc that being clothed I iTiaH nbt 
 be found naked ,• For i that am within this Tabernacle, 
 do often groneand figh within my felf, being oftentimes 
 burthcned, not that 1 wouJd be unclothed, but clothed 
 upon ; that Mortality might be fwallowed up of 
 Life- 1 long to Eat of that "free which it planted in the 
 midft of the Paradice of God, and to Drink of the pure 
 River clear ai Criftal that rum tbroogh the Street of the 
 new *}trufalem. 1 know that my Redemer liveth, and 
 that he ftiatt tfand the laft D*y upon the Eartii, and tho' 
 after my Skin Worms deftroy my Body, yet in my Flefh 
 fhall IkeGod,whom IfhalT fee for my felf,and not another 
 for me, and mine Ejei fhall behold Him, though my 
 Reins be confumed within me, I Jong to be rcfrefhed, 
 with the Souls of them that are under the Altar, who 
 were ilain for the Word of God, and the Teftimony they 
 held, and to have thefc long white Robs given me, that 
 I may walk in White Raymcnt,with thofe glorioua Saints 
 Who have waflhed their Garments, and have made them 
 white in the Blood of the Lamb, Why fhould 1 thiok it 
 a Grange Thing, to be removed from this Place to that ; 
 wherein my Hope, my Joy> my Grown, my Elder Bro- 
 ther, my Head, my^atber, my Comforter, and all the 
 glorious Saints are i And where the Song of lAofcs and 
 the Lamb are Sung Joyfully, where W£ /hall not be 
 compelled to fit by the Rivers of Babylon, and to hang 
 oar Harps on the Willow Trees, but (hiU take them up 
 and Sing the Hallelujah. BldTing, Honour, Glory, and 
 Power, to him that fits upon the Throne, and to the 
 Lamb for ever and ever ? What is there under the old 
 Voult of the Heavens, and in this old worn Earth, which 
 is under the Bondage of Corruption.groning and travel- 
 ing io Pain and fhooting out the Head, looking, waiting 
 & longing, for the Redemption of the Sons of God: What 
 is there I fay that fhould make me defire to remain here, 
 I expect that new Heaven, and that new Earth* wherein 
 Rightcoufnefs dwelleth, wherein Ifhail reft for evermore, 
 I look to get Entry into theN* w ^trufaltm^t one of thtfe 
 twelve Gitts 9 whereupon are written the Names of the 
 twelve Tribes of theGhildr en oilfrail, 1 know that Cftrift 
 Jefus hath prepared them for me, why may I not then 
 
 witfc 
 
("15 ) . 
 
 With Boldaefr, in hf. Blood, ftep into that Glory, where 
 * Bad and Lord hath gone before me i Jefus Chr.ft 
 h^he Doc and the rorter,who then (hall hole me out J 
 WiU he I« them Peri(h tor whom he Dyed will he let 
 , h l" sheep be pluck'd out of hii Hand, for whom 
 he tKid do'wa hi. Life » Who ft* condemn the 
 Mao ihom God hath Joftified, who (haU la, anything 
 "the Charge of the Man for whom Cbnft hath dyed or 
 «ther rifen again, I know I have gnevoufly tnofgref- 
 ea but where g Sl n abound^, Grace will «*"*««* 
 1 know my Sin. are Red a. Scarlet and Crimfon, yet the 
 red Wood^f Ghrift my Lord, can make them a. »lutt 
 « Snow or Wool, whom have 1 in Heaven hot him or 
 "hSTiefire in 'the Earth bcHde, him? Othoothe farr- 
 Tft among the Children of Men, PW?, 2 5 ; The 
 ?tht of The G#nf/7«. the Glory of the 'Jew,, the Life 
 o the Dead, the Joy of Angel, and Saints,*, Soul pant- 
 rthtobVwi h thee, I WiU pot my Spirit .nto thy Hand, 
 and thou Wilt not pot m« out of thy Prefence.I w.Il come 
 uniothee, for thou caft. none away that comes unto 
 See, Othoothe Delight of Mankind, thou comeft to 
 feck and to fave that which was loft, thou (eek.ng me haft 
 found me, and now being found by thee 1 hope O Lord 
 hou wilt not let me perifc, 1 deiire to be with thee, and 
 do long for the Fruition of th, bleffed Prefence, and 
 ?°y of th, Countenance, thou the only good Shepherd 
 Irt full Of Grace and Truth, therefore 1 truft thou Wilt 
 not thruft me out of the Door of Grace, the L'wwasg.- 
 ?enby Mofes, bot Grace and Trn.h came by thee, who 
 flail fepcrate me from thy Love, fcaU Tribulation or 
 Diftrefs, or Perfection, ofPamine. or Nakedneft, or 
 PerU, or Sword } Nay in all thefe Things, I am more 
 than Conqueror, through thy Majefty who ha b loved 
 me, for I am perfwaded, that neither Death, nor Life.nor 
 Pnncipalities, nor Powers, nor any other Creature, «« 
 able to feperate me from the Love of the Majefty, which 
 is i„ Chrift Jefo, my Lord. I t*o<e not to die with thee, 
 that 1 may live with thee, I refufe not tofi.fierw.tfa thee 
 that I may rejoice with thee. ShaU not all Thing, be. 
 pleafant tome, which ™J bc the ** Stt ?> b ' A wh, . Ch » 
 Ud upon which, 1 m.y come unto ihee, when Aa 1 J^e 
 
f \6 ) 
 fatisHcd with thy Face ? When ftiali I be drunk, with 
 thy Pleafures ? Gome, Lord Jefui and tarry not. The 
 Spirit fays 9 Gome, the Bride iayi Come, Even fo Lord 
 Jefas Conic quickly and tarry not. 
 
 Why fhoald the multitude of my Iniquities, or great- 
 cefi of them afright me ? Why fhould 1 faint in this my 
 Defire to be With thee ? The greater Sinner 1 have been, 
 the greater Glory will thy Grace be to me unto all E- 
 ternity, O unfpeakable Joy, endlefs infinite and bottom- 
 led Compaffion, O Sea of never fading Pleafurc I O love 
 of Loves J O the breadth- & height^ depth, & length of 
 that love of f hinejhat pafteth all Knowledge I The love 
 of Jonathan was great indeed to David. It pafleth the 
 Love of Women, but thy Love O Lord pafferh all crcaed 
 Love J O uncreated Love.' Beginning without Beginning, 
 and ending without End: Thou art my Glory, my Joy, 
 and my Gain, and my Crown, thou hall fet me under 
 thy Shadowy with great Delight, and thy Fruit is fweet 
 unto my taSe, thou haft brought me into thy Banqueting 
 Houfe^and placed me in thy Orchyeard, flay me with 
 Flagons and comfort me with Apples, for I am fick and 
 my Soul is wounded with thy Love, behold thou art fair 
 my Icve, behold thou art fair, thou haft Doves Eyes, 
 behold thou art fair my Beloved, yeapleafant; Aifo 
 our Bed is green, the Beams of our Houfc are Cedars, 
 and our Rafters are of Firr, how fair, and how pleafant 
 ait thou O full of all Delights, my heart is ravifhed with 
 thee, O when (hall I fee thy Face, how long- wilt thou 
 dd*y to be with me as a Roe, or a young Hart, leap- 
 ing upon the Mountains, and Skipping upon the Hills, 
 as a Bundle of Myrrhe be thou to me, and \y all Night 
 betwixt my Breafts, becaufe of the Savour of thy good 
 Ointments, thy Name is as Ointment pouered forth, 
 therefore defire [ to go out of this Defert. and to come 
 to the Place where thou fiteft at thy Repaft, and where 
 thou makeft thy Flocks to reft v at noon, when frull I 
 be filled with his Love ? Surely if a Man knew how pre- 
 cious it were, he would count all things Drofs and Dung, 
 to gain it truel ? I would long for that ScaftoIJ, or that 
 Axe, or that Cord, that might be to me that laft Step of 
 this my wearifome Journey) to go to thee my L R D. 
 
 thou 
 
, C 17 ; 
 
 thou who knows the meaning of the Spirit, give Anfwer 
 to tht fpeakiog, fighiog and groaning of the Spirit, thou 
 who haft enflamed my Heart fo fpeak unto thee in this 
 Silent, yet lovely Language of ardent and fervent De- 
 fires, fpeak again unto my Heart, and anfwer my De- 
 fires, which thou haft made me fpeak to thee. I Cor. 
 15.55. Death where is thy Sting, Qrave where ir 
 thy ViHory i the Sting of Death it Sin, the Strength of 
 Sin is the Law- hut thanks be to God who giveth to mc 
 the Vittory through Jefus Ghrjjl. What can be trooDle- 
 iome to me, fincc my Lord looks upon me with fo lov- 
 ing and amiable a Countenance, and how greatly do I 
 long for thefe Embracementfa of my Lord, O that he 
 would kiCs me with the Kiffes of hij Mouth. Cant. 1 3. 
 Tor his ~Lovc is better than Wne. O that my Soul were 
 the Throne wherein he might dwell eternally J O that 
 my Heart were the Temple wherein he might be mag- 
 nified, and dwell for ever .' All Glory be unto my God, 
 Angels and Saints praife ye him, O thou Earth, yea, 
 Hill* and Mountains be glad ; you (hall not be wearied 
 any more with the Burden of Corruption, whereunto 
 you have been Subject through the wickedneff of Man- 
 kind. Lift up your Heads and be glad for a Fire fhall 
 make you clean from ail your Corruption and Vanity 
 wherewith for m2n,y Years you have been infected, let 
 the Bride rejoice, let all the Saints rejoice, for the Day 
 of the Marriage with the Bridegroom ( even the Lamb of 
 God ) it at.hand, and hi* fair white Robs fhall be given 
 her, fhe (hall be arrayed with the golden Vcftrie and 
 Needlework of his manifold Graces that (hall be put o- 
 pon her, be who is her Life fhall quickly appear, and 
 the fhall quickly appear with him in the Glory and Hap- 
 pinefs of a confjmate Marriage. But 1 muft remember 
 my felf, I know I have been greatly lengthened and 
 fuftained by your Prayers, ( Honourable Lady and dear- 
 ly beloved in our Lord Jrfus^ continue I pray you, at 
 you have begun, in wreftliag with the Lord for me, that 
 Chrift may be magnified in my mortal Body, whether 
 living or dead, that my Soul may be lifted up to ihe 
 third Heavens, that I may tafte of thefe Joys that are at 
 the Right Hand of my Heavenly Father, and that W*ih 
 Gladnefs 1 may let my Spirit go thither where my Body 
 C ii«H 
 
( i3 ; 
 
 ftiall fhorttly follow. Who am 1 that he fhould firft have 
 called me, and then conftitute me a-Minifter of the glad 
 
 Tidings of the Gofpel of Salvation thefe— — ^-- *— 
 
 Years already, and now liA of all to be a Sufferer for his 
 Caufe and Kingdom. Now let it be fo that 1 have fought 
 my Fight, and run my Race, and now from henceforth 
 is laid op for me that Crown of Righteoufnefs* which 
 the Lord that righteous God will give, and not to me 
 only, but to all that love his Appearance, and choice to 
 Witnefs this, that Jcfus Chrift is the King of Saints, and 
 that his Church is a moft free Kingdom yea as free as any 
 Kingdom under Heaven, not only to convocate, hold 
 and keep her Meetings and Conventions and Arlembliei » 
 but alfo to judge of all hef Affairs, in all her Meetings, & 
 Conventions ainongft her Members and Subje&s. Thefe 
 two Points firft, That Chrift is the Bad of his Church, 
 ftcondly, Thzt fhe is free in her Government from all other 
 . jurifdidion except Chrift 's : Thefe two Points I fay, are 
 the fpecial Caufes of our Imprifonment, being now Con- 
 vict as traiton for maintaining thereof: We have been 
 ever waiting with Jo} fulncfa to give the laft Teftimony 
 of our Blood in Confirmation thereof, if it fhould pleafe 
 our God to be fo favourable, 2$ to Honour us with that 
 Dignity : Yea J do affirm, that thefe two Points above- 
 written, and all other Things which belong to Chrift'f 
 Crown, Scepter and Kingdom, are not Subject, nor 
 cannot be to any other Authority, but to hit own alto- 
 gether. So that 1 would be moft glad to be offered up 
 as a Sacrifice for fo glorious a Truth : But alas .' 1 fear 
 that my Sins and the Abufe of fo glorious Things, zs 1 
 have found deprive me of fo fair a Crown, yd mj Lord 
 doth know, if he would call me to it, and ftrengthen me 
 in it, it would be to me the moft glorious Day, and glad- 
 eft Hour, 1 ever faw in this Life, but I am m his Hand 
 to do with me whatsoever fhall pleafe his Majefty, It may 
 fuffice me, 1 have had fo long a Time in the Knowledge 
 of the Gofpel, and that I have feen the Things that I 
 have feen, and heard the Things that I have heard, and 
 through the Grace of God I have been fo long an Witnefs 
 of thefe glorious and good News, in my weak Miniftry, I 
 and that my Wi nei£ng hath not been altogether without 
 
 Fruit, 
 
L 
 
 ^roit, and Ble/Tmg, fo tnat I hope *t that Day, I fhail 
 
 V, 
 
 ( *9 ) 
 
 have him to be my Grown, my Glory, my Joy, and Re- 
 ward, and therefore boldly 1 fay with Simon, Lord now 
 lettejl thou thy Servant depart in Peace, ( not in a peace- 
 able dying in my Bed ) but by rendering op to him my 
 Spirit, i&d the fealing and damping this Truth With my 
 Blood, I defire not to have it remedied, but let my 
 LORD'S Will be done. 
 
 Now that Prophecy is at hand, which thefe two worthy 
 Servants of ine Lord. Mr. George Wtfebart and Mr. John 
 Knox my Father in Law fpake, which war That Cbrijt 
 jboula be crucfid in thit Kingdom, but glorious Jbould 
 be bis R furrtHnm. a? Mr Knx with his own Hand o- 
 pon the Marg p o Cilwr^s Harmony upon the Pafiion 
 did write, which if yet extant $ but alas for this Kingdom. 
 My Testimony now doth not differ from that of m2ny 
 before this Time, who faid th<t the Kingdom of Scotland 
 1 fh >uid y- BIooJ, the Kingdom ihaH be drawn in Blood, 
 a fburbifocd and glittering Sword, is already drawn out 
 of the Scabbard, which (lull not return untill it be made 
 drunk with the Blood of the Men of this Land, flrft the 
 heavy in'cfline Sword, & then the Sword of theStranger. 
 O doleful Scotland, well were he thzi were removed 
 from thee, that his Eyes might not fee, nor his Eari 
 | hear all the Evils that is to come upon thee ; Neither the 
 ftrong Man by his. Strength, nor the rich Man by his 
 Riches, nor the N obleman by Blood, fhail be delivered 
 from the Judgment. There is a great Sacrifice to be made 
 in Bozrab, in thee O Scotland, of the Blood of all Sorts in 
 the Land; Efbram (hall confume Manoffch, and Mtf- 
 \mfftb Ephraim: Fresher agamft Brother, and every 
 |Man in the Judgment of the Lord fhall be armed to thruft 
 Ihis Sword in the Side of his Neighbour, and all for the 
 Contempt of the glorious Gofpel : And that Blood which 
 was offered to thee O Scotland in fo plenteous a Manner, 
 that the like thereof hath cot been ofered to any Nati- 
 on,therefare thy Judgment Aal be greater; But the Sane* 
 tuity muft be begun at, and the Meafure is not fulfilled, 
 till the Blood of the Saints be fhed, then the Cries will 
 i>e great and will not flay, till they bring the Lord down 
 row HcaveQ his Throne, to fee if the Sins of Scotland, 
 G 2 b* 
 
( 2o 1 
 be according to the Cry thereof* Neither fhall there be 
 any Subjcd: in the Land from the greateft to the meaneft 
 guihlcfi. The Gailt of oor Blood fhall not only ly opca 
 onr Prince, but aifo upon our own Bretheren,Bifhops, 
 CoUnccilrrs and CommifTioueri,itis they even they, that 
 hzve ftirred up our Prince againft us; We rauft therefore j 
 lay the Blame and Burden of our Blood upon them efpe- 
 cially, however the reft above-written be Partaken of 
 their Sim With them : And as to the reft of our Bretheren 
 who cither by filence approve, or by crying Pcace,Pe3ce, 
 ftrengthen the Ann of the Wicked, that they cannot re- 
 turn, in the mean Time mike the Heart* of the Righteous 
 fad, they fhaU aU in like Manner be gufJty of high Trea- 
 fbn againft the KING of Kings, thcLord Jefus Chrift, His 
 Grown and Kingdom, Next unto them, all cur Commif- 
 fioners, ChanccIJor, Preftdent, Comptroller, Advocate, 
 and next unto them all that firft or laft fat in the Counc/1, 
 and did not bear plain Tcftimony for Jefus Chrift, and 
 his Kingdom, for which we do foffer. And next unto 
 them all thofe who fhould have at prefent, and who 
 fhould at fuch Times have come, and made open Tefti- 
 mony of Chrift faithfully^ although it had been con- 
 trary to plain Law, and with the Hazard of their Lives. 
 When the poor Jews were in fuch Danger, that nothing 
 wai expeded but utter Deftru&ion, Queen EJthtr( after 
 three Days fafting ) concluded thu* with her fclf, IwM 
 ( faid fhe )go in to the King ^though it be not according 
 to Law ) and if Ifcrifb Ipcrijb. EJfber 9. 16. with thii 
 Refolution, fuch as are born C©uncellor* fhould have 
 faid, Chrift's Kingdom is now at Hand, and 1 am bound 
 alfo and fworn, by a fpecial Covenant, to maintain the 
 Doctrine and Difcipline thereof, according to my Voca- 
 tion and Power, all the Days of my Life ; under all the 
 pains containing in the Book of God, and Danger of Bo- 
 dy and Soul, in the Day of God's fearful Judgment, and 
 therefore though 1 fhould perifh in the Caufe, yet will 
 I fpeak for it, and to my Power defend it, according 
 to my Vocation. Finally, all thofe that counfel, com- 
 mand, confent and allow, are guilty in the Sight of our 
 God, but the Mourners for thefe Evils, and the faithful 
 
 of 
 
( 2 * 3 
 of the Land, and thofe who arc unfeignedly gritted in 
 
 Heart, for alJ thefe Abominations, thofe fhall be marked 
 
 at not guilty. Ezek. 9. 
 
 I know not, whither I fhall hare Occasion to write a- 
 gain. and therefore, by this Letter ai my Letter-Will and 
 Teftament, I give Teftimony, Warning and Knowledge, 
 of thefe Things to all Men, according to the Lord's Di- 
 rection to the Prophet, Son fif Man I have made thee 
 Watch-man, Ear**, 33. 7. &c. Therefore I give Warn- 
 ing to all Men hereby, that no Man's Blood be required 
 at my hand. Thas defiring the Help of your Prayers, 
 with ray humble Commendations, and Service in Chrift 
 to my Lord your Hufband, and all the Saints there, the 
 Meffenger of Peace be with you all for evermore. Amen. 
 
 Blackntft January^ 
 6tb y 1606. 
 
 Tour j to my full Vovstr^for 
 the fimt Gbrijf y j Prifoner. 
 
 Mr. John Welch. 
 
 THIS is my Copy of this Prophetical Letter, and as 
 it is a Queftion whether the great Prophecy concern- 
 ing Scotland be yet fulfilled, or to receive it's Accom- 
 plishment: So there i» no doubt, part of it is fulfilled. 
 For of ail thofe, who were falfe Judges in that cruel 
 Sentence, there is now no Remnant nor Memory, as it 
 commonly obferved. 
 
 Another famous Prophetical Letter he wrote to Sir 
 William 'Living floun of KHfytb, one of the Lord's of the 
 Colledge of Juftice, whereof this is my Copy. 
 
 • 
 Right Honourably 
 
 MY hearty Salutations remembred in the Lord: Your 
 Love and Care m*ny Times have ceuainly com- 
 forted me- And having no other Thing to requite, I fhall 
 ( as I may ) defae him who is able to do, and Hath un- 
 dertaken 
 
( 22 J 
 dertaken it, to meet you and yonri with Confolat[ons,in 
 hit good Time, 
 
 As for the Matter ft felf, the Bearer will /hew yon, 
 that what is required is fuch a Thing, as in the Sight of 
 our Lord we may not do, without both the Hazard of 
 our Confcienceij and Liberty of (Thrift's Kingdom t which 
 {hould be dearer to us than any Thing elfe. What a flave- 
 ry Were it to us to bind our Gonfcience, in the Set vice of 
 our God 5 in the meaneft Point of our Callings, to the Will 
 of Man or Angels, and we are fullyrefolved that what we 
 did was acceptable Service to our God, who hath put it up 
 as Service done to him, and has allowed and fealed it to us 
 by many Tokens, fo that it were more than high Impiety 
 & Apoftacy^tD teftific the mine or undoing of any Thing 
 which our God hath ordained to be done. Wc Sir, if the 
 Lord will, are ytt ready to do more in our Galling, and 
 to fu&er more for the fame, if fo be it will plcafc our 
 God to call us to it, and ftrengthen us in it, for our felves 
 we dare promife nothing, but in our God all Things, 
 
 As tor that Inflrumcnt S pot fweo J, we are furc the Lord 
 will never blefs that Man, but a Malediction lyes upon 
 him, and fhall accompany all his Doings ; and it may Sir, 
 your Eyes (hill fee 2s great Gonfufion covering bim, ere 
 he go to his Grave, as ever did his PredeccfTors ; Now 
 furely Sir, I am far from Bitterncfs: . But here I denounce 
 the Wrath of an everlafting God ag^inft him, which alTur- 
 edly fhall fall, except it be prevented. Sir, Dagon (hall not 
 ftand before the Ark of the Lord, and thefe Names of 
 Btafphemy that he wears of Lord Bifhopand Arch-btthop 
 will have a fearful End. Not one Beck is to be given to 
 Uaman, fuppofe he were as great a Courtier as ever he 
 was, fuppofe the Decree were given out, and fealed with 
 the King's Ring, Deliverance will come to us eifewhere, 
 and not by him, who has been fo fore an Inftrument, not 
 againftour Perfons that were nothing, but 1 proteft to 
 you Sir, in the Sight of my God, I forgive him all the 
 Evil he has done, or can do to me, but unto Chrift's poor 
 Kirk- in ftamping under Foot, fo glorious a Kingdom, 
 and Beauty, as was once in this Land: He has helped 
 to cut Sampfons Hair and to cxpofe him to mocking? but 
 the Lord will not be mocked? he (hall be caA away « » 
 
 Stone 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 Stone out of a Sling, his Name fhall rot, and a Maledieli- 
 on (hall fall upon hi* Pofterity after be is gone. Let this 
 Sir, be a Monument of it that it wag told before, that 
 } : when it (hill come to pafs, it may be fcen there was War- 
 r ning gi* cn n * m ; And therefore Sir, feeing I have not the 
 Accefr my felf, if it would plcafe God to move you, I 
 wifh you did deliver this hard WefTage to him, not as 
 from me, but from the Lord. 
 
 Black nc ft 1605. 
 
 Mr. JOHN WELCH: 
 
 TH E hjan upon whom he complains and threaten! 
 h fore, was Biftiop Sfotfwood, a that Time dc- 
 fign'd Arch-Bifhop of Glcfgow, and this Prophecy, wai 
 punctually accomplifbed though after the Space of four- 
 ty Yean : For firft the Biftaop himfelf dyed in a ftrange 
 L*od and ( as many fay ) in Mifery , next his Son Sir Ro* 
 bcrt Spotfwood, fometime Prefident of thz Seflion, waf 
 beheaded by the Parliament of Scotland at the Mercau 
 Crofs of St. Andrews in the Winter after the Battle of 
 Pbilipbaugb, to which I my felf ( with many Thou- 
 fandi ) was Witneffes and 11 foon is ever he came to the 
 Scaffold, Mr. Blair the Minifter of the Town told him, 
 that now Mr^Welch hit Prophecy was fulfilled upon him, 
 to which he replyed in Anger, that Mr- Welch and he 
 both were falfe Prophets. 
 
 But before he left Scotland, fomc remarkable Paffagei 
 ; in his Behaviour are to be remembred. And flrft, when 
 the Difpute about Church Government began to warm, 
 2$ he Was Walking upon the Street of Edinburgh, be- 
 twixt two honeft Citizens, he toM them thej had in their 
 Town, two great Minifters, who were no great Friends 
 to thrift's Caufe prefently in Controverfy, but it fhould 
 be fcen. The World /hould never hear of their Repen- 
 tance' The two Men were Mr Patrtck Galloway^ and 
 Mr. John Hj//, and accordingly it came to pafs. For 
 Mr. Patrick Crallow^y died eafihg himfelf upon his Stool, 
 and Mr. John being at that Time in luitth. and his Ser- 
 vant Woman having left him alone in hii Houfe, while 
 ihe went to (he Mcrcat, he wai found Jead al] alone at 
 her return* ge 
 
( 24 ; 
 
 He wis fomefime Prifoner in Edinburgh Caftlc, before 
 he went into Exile, where one Night fitting at Supper 
 with the Lord Qcbiltry ( who wai Uncle to Mr. Welch's 
 Wife ) as bis Manner was, he entertained the Company 
 With Godly and Edifying Difcourfe, which wai well 
 receiv'd by all the Company, fave only one tfe-bauched 
 Popijh young Gentleman, who fometimes laugh'd, and 
 fometimei mocked' and made Faces : Whereupon Mr. 
 Welch brake out into a fad abrupt Charge upon all the 
 Company to be iilent, and obferve the Work of the Lord 
 upon that prophane Mocker, which they fhould prefent- 
 ly behold Upon w:uch inimediatly the prophane wretch 
 fell down and dyed beneath the Table, but never return- 
 ed to Life again, to the great Aftonifihment of all the 
 Company. 
 
 Another wonderful Story they tell of him, at the fame 
 Time, the Lord Qcbiltry the Captain, being both 5on to 
 the good Lord Qchilty, and Mr. Welch his Uncle in Law, 
 was indeed very civil to Mr. Welch, but being for a long 
 Time through the Multitude of Affairs kept from vifiting 
 Mr. Welch in his Chamber, as he was one Day walking in 
 the Court and efpying Mr- Welch at his Chamber Window, 
 asked him kindly how he did, and if in any Cafe he 
 could (erve him. Mr Welch anfwered him, he would 
 earneftly entreat his Lord/hip, ( being at that Time to 
 go to Court ) to petition King James in his Name that 
 he might have Liberty to preach the Gofpel , which my 
 Lord promifed to do. Mr. Welch anfwered, My Lord 
 both becaufe you are my Kinfman, and for other Rea- 
 fons, I would earneftly entreat and obteft you, not to 
 promife except you faithfully pcrform.my Lord anfwer- 
 ed, he would faithfully perform his Promife* and fo went 
 for ILondon. But tho* at his firft Arrival he was really 
 purpofed to prefent the Petition to the King, but when 
 he found the King in fuch a Rage againft the Godly Mi- 
 nified that he durft not at thit Time prefent it, fo he 
 thought it fit to delay it, and therefore fully forgot it. 
 
 The firft Time Mr, WeUh Czw his Face after his Re- 
 turn from Court, he asked him what he had done with 
 his Petition, My Lord anfwered, he had prefentcd it to 
 
 the 
 
( 2 5 ) 
 the King, but that the King was in fo greata Rage a- 
 gainft the Miniiicrs at that Time, he believed it had 
 been forgotten, for he had gotten no Anfwer. Nay faid 
 Mr. Welch to hitn. my Lord, you fhould not 1 ye to God, 
 and to me, for I know you never delivered if, though I 
 warned y oo to ts ke heed not to undertake it, except you 
 Would perform, but becaufe you have desk fo unfaith- 
 fully, remember God fnall take from you both Eftate 
 and Honour*, and give them to your Neighbour in your 
 own Time. Which accordingly came to pafs, tor both 
 hif Eftate and Honour! were in his own Time tranflatcd 
 upon Jime/ Stewart Son to Captain Jamct^ who was in- 
 deed a Cadet, but not the lineal Heir of the Family. 
 
 While he wat detained Prifoncr in Edinburgh Gaftle, 
 his Wife ufei for the moft Part to hay in his Company, 
 but upon a Time Veil, a longing to fee her Family in Air, 
 to which with fome Difficulty he yeilded ; But when fhe 
 was to take Journey he ftritfly charged her, not to tske 
 the ordinary Way to her Houfe when fhe came to Air % 
 nor to paGby the Bridge through the Town, bur to pafs 
 the River above the Bridge, and fo get the Way to her 
 own .Houfe, and not to come into the Town, for he faid 
 before you come thither^ you fball find the Plague 
 broke out in Afr, which accordingly came to paff. 
 
 The Plague was 2t that Time very terrible? and he be- 
 ing neceffarly feparate from his People, it was rohim the 
 more grievous. But when the People of Air came to 
 him to bemoan tbemfeJves, His Anfwer was iha Hugh 
 Kennedy ( a Godly Gentleman in their Town ) fhc uld 
 pray for them, ^nd God fhoold hear him This Coun- 
 sel they accepted, and the Gentleman conveemsg a 
 Number of the honeft Citizens, proved fervently for 
 the Town ( as he wis a mighty wreftler with God ) and 
 accordingly after that the Plague decreafed. 
 
 Now the Time is corn* he mull leave Scotland, and 
 never to fre it again, fo upon the 7th of NovemSer 1606 
 in the Morning, he with hij Neighbours took Ship at 
 'Ltith, and though it was but two a Clock in the Morn* 
 ing, many were Wiitwg on vtith their affiled Faru 
 to hid them farewel. Afte* Prayer they fung the 23 
 vu, ana fo with the great Grief of the Spec/tatoisfet 
 D Sail 
 
( & ) 
 
 Sail for the South of France, and landed in the River of 
 Burdeaux. Within Fourteen Wecki after his Arrival, fuch 
 wa* the Lord't Ble&ng on his Diligence, he was able 
 fo preach in French, and accordingly was fpecdiljr cal- 
 led to the Miniftery, firft in one Village, then in another 
 ( one of them Was tierac ) and thereafter was fettled in 
 Saint Jean d" Angely, a considerable walled Town, and 
 there be continued the reft of the Time he fojourned in 
 France, which was about Sixteen Years: When he began 
 Grft to preach, It was obferved by fome of his Hearers, 
 that while he continued in the Doctrinal #art of his Ser- 
 mon, he fpokc very corred French, but when he came 
 to his Application, and when his Affections kindled: his 
 Fervour made him, fometimes neglect the Accuracy of 
 the French Conftruclion ; but there were Godly young 
 Men, who admonished him of this, which he took in ve- 
 ry good Part fo fer *«he preventing Miftakes of that kind, 
 he dffired the young Gentlemen, When they perceived 
 him beginning to decline to give him a Sign and the Sign 
 was, thev were both to ftand up upon their Feet, smd 
 thereafter he w^s more exa*3 in his Exprefliions, through 
 his whole Sermon, fo defirous was he not only to deliver 
 good Matter, but to recommend it in neat ExpreiTion, 
 
 There were many Times Berfons of great Quality in 
 his Auditory before whom he was joft as bold as ever 
 he had been in a Scots Village, which moved Mr. Boyd of 
 Trocb.Rig once to aik him, after he had preached before 
 the University ofSaumure with fuch Boldnefs and Autho- 
 rity, as it he had been before the meaneft Congregation, 
 how he could be fo confident amongStrangers, and Per- 
 fons of fuch Quality ? to which he anfwered, that he was 
 fo filled with the dread of God, he had no Apprehenfion 
 from Man at all . And this Anfwer* faid Mr: Boyd % did 
 not remove my Admiration, but rather encreafc it. 
 
 There was in his Houfe, Jmongft many others, who 
 tabled with him for good Education a young Gentleman 
 of great Quality and fuitable Expectation^ and this was 
 the Heir f the Lord Ochiltty, who was Captain of the 
 Oftle of Edmburgk. So that this young Nobleman, af- 
 ter he had gained very much upon tor Welch 9 / Affecti- 
 on i fell fick of a grievous Sicknefs, and alter he hadj^ 
 
 been 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 ; been long wafted with it, clofed bis Eyes> and expired 21 
 dying Men ufa to do, fo to the Apprehcnfion and Scnfe 
 01 alJ Spectators, he was no more but a Carcafe, and 
 wai therefore taken out of hit Bed and laid upon a Pal- 
 lit on the Floor, that hii Bodj might be the more con. 
 veniently drefled, af dead Bodies ufe to be. This wai to 
 Mr- Welch a very great Grief, and therefcre he fbyed 
 with the young Man's dead Body fuli Three Hourt, la- 
 menting over him with great Tenrfernefs. After Twelve 
 Hours, Friendi brought a Coffine, whereinto they defir- 
 ed the Corpi to be put, as the Cuftom is, but Mr, Welch 
 i defired, that for the Satisfaction of hit Affections, they 
 1 would forbear the Youth for a Tione : . which they grant- 
 ed, and returned not till Twenty Four Hours after his 
 3 Breath was expired, then they returned, defiriog with 
 great Importunity, the Corps might be coffined, that it 
 ' might be fpeedi/y fcuired? the Weather being extreamJy 
 3 hot, yet be petfified in his Requeft, earneftly begging 
 them to excufe him for once more. So they left the 
 i Youth upon his PaUat for full thirty fix Hours .* But 
 even after all that, though he urged, rot only with 
 great Earneftnefs, but Difpleafure, they were contain- 
 ed to forbear for Twelve Kouri yet more, after Foorty 
 Eight Hour* were paft Mr, Welch was ftill where he was, 
 i- and then his Friends, perceived he believed the young 
 \ Man was not rcaly dead, but under fome Apopledick 
 j git, and therefore proponed to him for his Satisfaction, 
 thatTryal fhould be made upon his Body by Doctors, 
 I and Chirurgeons, if poffibly any Spark of Life might be 
 j found in him and with this he was content , fo the Phy- 
 Ificians, were f^t at Wark, who pincht him with Pincers, 
 lin the rlefby Par^s cf his Body, and twitted a Bowftring, 
 ^aboot his Head with great Fores, but no Sign of Life ap- 
 peared in him, fo the Phyficians pronounced him ftark 
 dead, and then there was no more Delay to be defired, 
 yet Mr: Wf/cAbegged of them once morc,thatthey woold 
 bat ftep into the next Room for an Hour or two, and 
 leave him with the dead Youth, & this they granted, then 
 Mr/ Welch fell down before the Pallat, and cryed uoto 
 :he Lord with all his Might for the laft Time, and fome 
 imrslookiog upon the dead Body> continuing in Wrcflling 
 D 2 With 
 
C 23 ) 
 Wth the Lor d, till at length the dead youth open'd hij 
 Eyes, and cryed out to Mr. Welch who he difiin&ly knew 
 O Sir I am all whole kut my Head andT>tg$\ And thefe 
 Were the Palccs they had Fore hurt, with their pinching. 
 When Mr. Welch perceived this, he called upon hi* 
 Friends, and flhewed the dead young Man reftoredto 
 Life again, to their great Aftonifhm*m. and this young 
 Nobleman though his Father loft the Eftate of Ocbtl- 
 try, jjvedro acquire a great Eftate in Ireland, and wa» 
 Lord Gaiikftcwart, and a Man of fuch cxceOent Farts, 
 that he was courted by the Earl of Strafford to be a 
 Counceler in Inland which he refofed to be, untill the 
 Godly fileaced Scotijh Minivers* who fullered under the 
 Bifhopa in the North of Ireland, were reftored to the 
 Excercifc of their Miniftry, ana then he engaged, and fo 
 continued for all his Life, not only in Honour, and 
 Power, but in the Profeffion and Praclife of Godlinfs, 
 to the great Comfort of the Country where he lived. 
 Tina Story the Nobleman communicated to his Friends 
 in & eland, and from them 1 had it. 
 
 While hjr, Welch wasMinifter in one ofthefe French 
 Villages, upon an Evening a certain Popifli Frier travel- 
 ling through the Country, becaufe he '-could not find 
 Lodging in the whole Village, addreft himfelf to Mr: 
 Welch hit Houfc for one Night. The Servants acquainted d 
 their Mafter, and he was content to receive this Gueft. 
 The Faitnily had fupt before he came,and fo the Servants 
 convoyed the Frier to hi$ Chamber, and after they had 
 made his Supper, they left him to. his Reft. There was 
 but a Timber Partition betwixt hijn and Mr. Welch, and 
 after the Frier bad fiept hiifirft Sleep, he was furprized 
 with the Noife of a Silent hut conftant whifpering Noife, 
 at which he wondered very much, and was not a little 
 troubled with it. The next Ijrlorning he walked in the 
 Ficldi where he chanced to meet a Country Man, who 
 fainting him becaufe of his Habit, asked him where he 
 had lodged that Night ? The Frier anfwercd he had lodg- 
 ed witft the Hugenot Miriijter^ then the Country Mao 
 askt hiovfthat Entertainment he had. the, trier anfwer- 
 ed very b*d, for ( faid he ) I always held there was De- 
 vil* haunting thefe Miniflcrs Houfe*, and 1 zm pcrfwad- 
 
 ed 
 
( 29 ) 
 (here was one with me this Night, for I beard a con- 
 uai Whifper all the Night over, which 1 believe was no 
 ler Thing than the Minifter and the Devil converging 
 gether: The Coontr y Man told him he was much mil- 
 ken, and that it was nothing elfe bat the Minifter at his 
 ight Prayers, .0 faid the Frier doei f Minifter pray any * 
 ej, more than any Man in France, anfwered the Coun- 
 y Man, and if yoo'l pleafe to flay another Night with 
 imyoa may be fatisiied. The Friet got him home to 
 lr Welch's Houfe, and pretended Indifpofition, entreat* 
 d another Nighti Lodging which was granted him. 
 
 Before Dinner Mr- Welch came from his Chamber* and 
 jade his Family Excercife, according to his Cnftom, and 
 irft he fang a Pfalm, then read a Portion of Scripture, 
 nd difcourfed opon it, thereafter he prayed with great 
 "crvour, as his Cuftom was; To all which the Frier 
 vas an aftoniflied Wittnefs. After thi Exeircife, they went 
 ,o Dinner t where the Frier was very civilly entertained, 
 Mr, Weleh forbearing all (£jcftion and Ditputc for that 
 Time, when the Evening came, Mr, Welch made his Ex- 
 ercife as he had done in the Morning, which cccsfioned 
 yet more wondering in the Frier and after Supper to Bed 
 they aH went, bat the Frier, longed much to know what 
 the Night Whifper was, and in that he was foon fatisfi* 
 cd, for after Mr. Welch his firft Sleep, the Noife began, 
 and then the Frier refolved to be fure what it was, fo he 
 creep't iilently to Mr. Welcb Chamber Dcor, and there 
 he heard not only the Sound but the Words exadly^ and 
 Communications betwixt God and Man. and f-ch as he 
 knew not had been in the World. Upon this the next 
 Morning as foon as Mr, Welch was ready the Frier went 
 to him, and told him that he had been in Ignorance, and 
 lived in Darknefs all his Time, but now he was refolved 
 to adventure his Soul with Mr, Welch, and thereupon de- 
 clared himfelf protejtant. Mr. Welch welcomed him, and 
 encouraged him, and he continued a conftant Protjfant 
 to his dying Diy. This Story 1 had from a Godly Mini- 
 fter;, who was bred in Mr* Welch his Koufe in France, a- 
 bout the Year 16 — -, When Lewis the 13/A o( France 
 made War with tbe Prote&ants there becaufe of theiff 
 Religion, the City of Saint- Jean </> A»g*?y was by him. 
 
 and 
 
& 
 
 ( 30 ) 
 
 w and hii royal Army befiged, and brought into extrearc 
 E ; Danger. Mr. Welch wai Minifler in the Town, and migh 
 q* s tily encouragei the Citizens to hold oot,afIuring then 
 Wcr ^ God fhouid driver them, in the mean Time of the Siegf 
 ^ a Gannon Ball pierced the Bed where he was lying, u 
 p fi pon which he got up, but would not leave the Room til 
 £ he had by foleoin Prayer acknowledged hii Deliverance 
 Jj during thii Siege, the Townfemen made ftout defence] 
 Jr till once one of the King'* Gunners placed a great Gun 
 yj fo conveniently upon a rifing Ground* that therewith 
 .j he could command the whole wall; upon Which the 
 £ Townfmen nude their greiteft Defence. Upon thii thejr 
 were constrained to forfake the whole Wall in great 
 Terrour, and though they had feveral Guns plaated u- 
 pon the Wail, no Man durft undertake to manage them: 
 This being told Mr* Welch with great Afirightment he 
 not withftanding encouraged them ft ill to hold out, and 
 running to the Wall himfelf found t^e Cannonier( who 
 was a Burgundien ) near the Wall, him he entreated to 
 mount the Wall promiiing to affift him in Perfon, fo to 
 the. Wall they got, the Gannonier told Mr. Welch that 
 either they behoved to difmount the Gun upon tht rifing 
 Ground, or elfe we are furely loft. Mr Walcb de&ted 
 him to aim well,and he fhouid ferve him and God (boold 
 help him, fo the Gunner falls a fcouring his Piece, and 
 Mr- Welch runs to the Powder to fetch him a Charge but 
 as foon a* he was returning, the Kings Gnnner fires his 
 Piece, which carried both the Powder and Lead out of 
 Mr. Welch's Hands, which yet did not difcourage 
 him, for having left the Ladle, he filled his Hat with 
 Powder Wherewith the Gunner loaded his Pe ; ce, and 
 difixiounted the King's Gun at the firft Shot, fo the Citi- 
 zens returned to their Poft of Defence. 
 
 This difcouraged the King lo, that he fent to the Ci- 
 tizens to offer them fair Conditions, which were, that 
 they fhouid enjoy the Liberty of their Religion, their 
 Civil Privileges, and their walls fhouid be Demolished, 
 Only the King De fired for his Honour, that he might en- 
 ter the City with his Servants in a Friendly manner This 
 the City tbought fit to grant, and the King with a few. 
 more entered the City for a fhort Time: 'But while the 
 King was in the City Mr. Welch preached as was hit ordi- 
 par, which much offended she French Court, fo one Day. 
 
N while he was it Sermon, the King fent the Duke Jt'E/^ 
 5' fcrnon to fetch him ou: of the Pulpit into his Prefence. 
 ect the Duke went with his Guard, and as foon at he enter- 
 s ed the Church whcie Mr. Welch was preaching. Mr 
 
 I V/elcb commanded to make Way, and to fee a Seat that the 
 
 II Duke might near the Word of the Lord, the Duke inftea* 
 c - of interrupting him fat down, *nd gravely hrard the Ser- 
 : V monto an End and then told Mr Welch he behoved to 
 jV go With him to the King, which Mr. Welch willingly did. 
 [ When the Duke came to tht King, the King ask'd him 
 ^ ; why he brought not the Mioifier with him, and why he 
 H did notinterrup him ? The Duke anfwered, never Man 
 a fpake like this Man, but that he had brought him with 
 
 - him Whereupon Mr. Welch is c*Ue£, and when he en- 
 • tered the King's Room, he kneeled upon his Knees, and 
 
 - filently prayed for Wifdom and Afliftance. Thereafter 
 the King challenged him, how he durft preach where he 
 
 ^ was, fi.icc it was againft the Law of France, that any Mao 
 : ftruld preach within the Verge of his Court, ? Mr. Welch 
 anfwered, Sir, if you did right, you would come and 
 s hear me preach, and make aU France hear me likew'fe, 
 for ( faid he )l preach not as thofe Men you hear preach, 
 my preaching diften from heirs, in thefe two Points,? 
 Firft, I preach you mufi be faved by the Death and Me- 
 rits of Jcfus Chrift, and not your own. Next I preach 
 ( faid he ) that as you are King of France, you are under 
 the Authority and Command of no Man on Earth, thofe 
 Men faid he whom you hear fubjec^t you to the Pope of 
 Rome, which I will never do. The Kingrepfyed no more, 
 but 6c Bieri vou? Setter mon Minijtre, well, -well, you /hall 
 be myMin:ftcr, and fome fay caJied him Father, which 
 is an Honour the King of France beftows upon few of the 
 greateft Prelats in France, however he was favourably 
 difmilTcd at that Time, and the King alfo left the City in 
 Peace- But Within a fhort Time thereafter (he War wag 
 renewed, and then Mr. Welch told the Inhabitants of the 
 >#ity that now their Cup wai full, and they fhould no 
 more efcape, which accordingly came to pafs, for the 
 King took the Town.aofl as foon as ever it fell into hit 
 Hand, he commands: Vitry the Captain of his Guard to 
 enter the Town, and j>reiexve his Mm fter from all I 
 
 Danger \ 
 
C 32 ) 
 Danger, and then were Horfes and Waggons provided 
 
 J for, Mr. Welch to tranfport him and hit Family for Ro 
 
 ? chtU ^^ tJlcr nc went, arj d fh«re fojourncd for a Time, 
 This$orymy Lord Kenmuire who was bred at Mr. 
 yelrffs Houie, told Mr Living fioun Mihifter at ^in- 
 tff»j», and from hjm I had it y 
 
 I After hij Flock in Francs wat fcatred, he obtained 
 
 Liberty to come to England, and his Friends made hard 
 fnit that he might be permitted to return to Scotland, be- 
 caufe the Phyficianf declared there wat no other way to 
 preferve his Life, but by the Freedom be might have in 
 his Native Air, But to this King James would never 
 yield, prote'fting he fhould never be able to cftablifh hit 
 beloved Biiiops in Scotland, if Mr. Welch were permit- 
 ted to return thither So he languished in London a 
 
 1 con fiierahie Time, his Difeafe was judged by fome to 
 have a Tendency to a fort of, Lcproile, Phyftcans laid 
 'he had been poyfoned, a Languor he had together with 
 1 a great Weaknefg in hit Knees, Caufed with his continual 
 kneeling at Prayer, by which it came, to pafs that, tho* 
 he was able to move hit Kneei, and to walk yet he wai 
 wholly infenfible in them, and the Flefh became hard 
 like a fort of Horn. But when in the Time of his Weak- 
 nefs, he was defired to remit fome what of his exGe/Tive 
 painfullnefs, hit Anfaer was He bad his Life of Qod^ and 
 tktrtfore itjhould be ff em for him 
 
 His Friends importonatcd King Jamet very mach 
 if he might not return into Scotland at lcaft he might 
 have Liberty ro preach at London, which King Jomti 
 wonld never grant till he heard all Hopes of Life Were 
 paft, and then he allowed him Liberty to preach, not 
 fearing his A#svity. Then asfoonas ever he heard he 
 might preach, he greedily embraced this Liberty, and 
 having Accefs to a Ledurer'j Pulpit he went and preach- 
 ed both long and fervently, which was the lift Perform* 
 ance of his Life, for after he had ended Sermon* he re- 
 turaed to his Chamber, and within two Hours, quierty 
 and without Pain, he refigned his Spirit into hit Maker* 
 HandMrfd Ms buried near Mr.Derltng the famous Brig* 
 lilb Diviae^fies; he had bfenJittlc mere than g4 Year* 
 S' I N 1 S. 
 
 b 
 
 inucii