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part did, and sent Mr. Thomas Gowans a Scotsman, and one Mr. Paton, from the north of Ireland to Dublin, to present it to the Lord. Lieutenant.—When Mr. Peden heard of it, he said, Mr. Gowans and his brother Mr. Paton are sent and gone the devil’s errand, but God will arrest them by the gate. Accordingly, Mr. Gowans was struck with a sore sickness by the way, and Mr. Paton fell from his horse, and broke or crushed his leg. I had this account from some worthy Christians when I was in Ireland.
18. In the year 1682, he married John Brown, that singular Christian, upon Marion Weir, at his own house at Priesthall, in Kyle. After marriage he said to the bride, Marion, you have got a good man to be your husband, but you will not enjoy him long; prize his company, and keep linen by you for his winding-sheet, for you will need it, when you are not looking for it, and it will be a bloody one.—This came sadly to pass in the beginning of May, 1685, as afterwards shall appear.
19. After this, in the year 1682, he went to Ireland again, and came to the house of William Steel, in Glenwharry, in the county of Antrim. He enquired at Mrs. Steel, if she wanted a servant for threshing victual? She said she did, and asked what his wages a-day or a-week were? He said, The common rate was a common rule; to which she assented. At night he was put to the barn, to lie with the servant lad; and spent the night in prayer and groaning up and down the barn. Next day he threshed victual with the lad, and spent the night the same way.—In the morning the lad said to his mistress, This man sleeps none, but groans and prays all night; I get no sleep for him. He threshes very well, and is not sparing of himself, but I think he has not been used with it, for he can do nothing to the botteling and ordering of the barn. When I put the barn in order, he goes to such a place, and there be prays for the
