to tranſport him and his family for Rochel, whither he went, and there ſojourned foa a time This ſtory my lord Kenmure, who was bred in Mr. Welch's houſe told Mr. Livingſton Miniſter at Ancrum, and from him I had it.
After his flock in France was ſcatered, he obtained liberty to come to England, and his friends made hard ſuit, that he might be permitted to return to Scotland becauſe the phyſicians declared there was no other way to preſerve his life but by the freedom he might have in his native air. But to this king James would never yield, proteſting he ſhould never be able to eſtabliſh his beloved biſhops in Scotland, if Mr. Welch were permitted to return thither; ſo he languiſhed at London a conſiderably time, his diſeaſe was judged by ſome to have a tendency to a leproſy, phyſicians ſays he had been poiſoned, a langour he had together with a great weakneſs in his knees, cauſed by his continual kneeling at prayer by which it came to paſs, that though he was able to move his knees, and to walk, yet he was wholly inſenſible in them, and the fleſh became hard like a ſort of horn. But when in the time of his weakneſs, he was deſired to remit ſomewhat of his exceſſive painfulneſs his anſwer was, He had his of God, and therefore it ſhould beſpent for him.
His friends importuned king James very much, that he might not return to Scotland, at leaſt he might have liberty to preach at London, which king James would never grant, till be heard all hopes of life were paſt, and then he allowed him the liberty to preach, not fearing his activity.
Then as ſoon as ever he heard he might preach, he greedily embraced this liberty, and having acceſs to lecturer's pulpit, he went and preached both long and fervently: which was the laſt performance of his life for afer he had ended his ſermon, he returned to his chamber, and within two hour quietly and without pain, he reſigned his ſpirit into his Maker's hands, and was buried near Mr. Deering, the famous Engliſh divine he had lived little more than fifty two years.
FINIS.
