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say1
that they thought the oppression and insolencies of some of
the Scots army that came over was to them worse than the rebellion.
That winter following,
many2
came flieing over to Scotland,
sundry came to Ayr and Irvine, and other places of the West, by
sea; but the greatest number came by Portpatrick and Stranrawer,
and were for the most part in a very destitute condition.
There had been collected in Edinburgh, and some other places
about, considerable soumes of money for their supply, of which
there was sent to me the matter of a thousand pound Scots, to
distribute to needy persons at their first arriving. All this in a
few weeks was distribute in presence of some of our elders. The
most that was given to any was half ane crown, only ane very few
got five shilling sterling; but for the most part they got bot one
shilling or eighteen pence, the number was so great. Of all these
numbers that came our Avay, I hardly observed one person sufficiently
sensible of the Lord's hand in it, or of deserving on their
part, except one Englishman, so far had the stroak seised on spirits
as weel as on bodies.
In Aprile 1642, I was sent by order of the Councill of Scotland
to Ireland, to wait on the Scots army that then went over with
Major-Generall Monroe, and stayed for six weeks, most part in
Carrickfergus, where the head-quarters were; and for other six
weeks, most part at Antrum, with Sir John Clatworthie and his
regiment, who had obtained ane order from the Councill for me so
to doe. I preached for most part in these two places, but sometymes
in other paroches of the coast-side about; and before I left
Antrum, we had the communion celebrate there, where sundry that
had taken the oath did willingly, and with great expressions of
grief, publickly confess the same. I found ane great alteration in
Ireland. Many of these who had been civill before,
became3
many wayes exceeding loose; yea, sundry who, as was conceived, had true
grace, were declyned much in their tenderness; so as it would
seem the sword opens ane gape, and makes almost every body
**************
1
"Complain."
2
"Severall."
3
"Were become."
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PAGE 167
worse than they were before, ane inward plague coming with the
outward; yet some few were in a very lively condition. I went
with the army to the fields when they took in Newrie; a party of
the rebells that made some opposition by the way, at the entrie of
ane wood, were killed. They were so fat that one might have hid
his fingers in the lirks of their breasts.
The people in the North of Ireland sent Commissioners to the
next General! Assembly of Scotland, in the year 1642, petitioning
for ministers to be sent to them; for now they had none at all.
The Assembly thought not fitt to loose any; but for four or five
year thereafter, ordered some eight ministers in the year to goe
over for visits, two for three moneths, and after them other two;
and, in the meantyme, some godly and
eminent1
young men to be dealt with to goe over and
settle,2
and that these ministers might
in parishes erect elderships, and, with the presbytery of the army,
try and admitt ministers. These ministers that went used for most
part to separate themselves to diverse paroches, in severall parts of
the countrey, there being such a great number of vacant paroches,
yet so as the one would also visite the places where the other had
been. By this appointment, I was
sent3
over to Ireland three moneths in the summer 1643, and as long in summer 1645,
and4
1646 and 1648. In the5
1646, I went thither with the Marqueis
of Argyle and some other Commissioners, who went to desyre
some of the
Scots army6
in Ireland to be sent to Scotland. In the
year 1648 I was desired by the Commission of the
Church7
to deal with the army not to send any to joyn with the engadgers.
For the most part, dureing all these three moneths, I preached
every day once, and twice on the Sabbath. The destitute paroches
were many, the hunger of the people was become great, and the
Lord was pleased to furnish otherwise than usually I was wont to
get at home.
I went8
ordinarly the night before to the place
where I was to preach the next day, and commonly lodged in some
**************
1
"Able."
2
"Over for settling."
3
"Went."
4
"In summer."
5
"Year."
6
"That was."
7
"Kirk."
8
"Came."
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