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judgement I relyed, much disswaded me; only they advised¹ I should first make ane visit to Ireland. Therfore, in summer 1656, I went over, and our friends in Teviotdale put themselves to the trouble of sending Collonel Ker, and Mr John Scot of Oxnam, along with me, to see the case of Ireland. When I came, I could not get preached at Killinshie any wayes as in former tymes, and that I took as ane declaration of the Lord's minde, that I should not goe to settle there. Yea, I did not find above two or three families, nor above ten or twelve persons, that had been in that paroch when I was there; so great ane change had the Rebellion and devastation brought, that all almost were new inhabitants. I stayed some nine or ten weeks in Ireland, and visited and preached at severall parts, and was at some communions, and was at ane great meeting of their presbytrie in the North, which was more like an synod, where were some thirty or thirty-six ministers, but ruleing elders from sixty or eighty parodies, and that presbytrie was divided to² three committees, that mett apart in three severall³ places of the countrey. One of the committees had some twenty or twenty-four vacant parishes, which they supplyed, sending two or three ministers at once to visit for two or three moneths, and after that⁴ others by turns. The chief of these ministers that I was acquainted with were, Mr John Greg⁵ at Newton, Mr Andrew Stewart at Dunachadie, Mr Gilbert Ramsay at Bangour, Mr David Buttle at Ballemenoch, Mr John⁶ Gordon at Cumber, Mr William Ritchison at Killileah, Mr Andrew M'Cormick at Maclu'allie, Mr John Drysdaill at Portferrie, Mr Thomas Peebles at Dondonald, Mr Anthonie Kennedie at Templepatrick, Mr Thomas Crauford at Donagor, Mr John Douglass at Bread, Mr James Ker at Bellimony, Mr Jeremiah Aquin at _______, Mr Gabriel Cornwell at _______, Mr William Semple at Kilkennie, Mr Hugh Cunninghame at Ry, Mr William Moorcroft at Newton-Stewart. Afterward, some more ministers were planted in the north of Ireland, so that in all they were above⁷ sixty, and Killinshie was well provided with Mr

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¹    "That."

²    "In."

³    "Sundry."

⁴    "These."

⁵    "Minister."

⁶    "James."

⁷    "About."

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Michael Bruce. As I came home, I stayed some few dayes to see friends in Galloway, amongst whom I had dwelt before, and I was at an communion at Stranrawer, and ane other at Air, before I came home. Dureing my abode in Ireland, being occasionally at Dublin, the councill there urged me to accept ane charge in Dublin, and offered L.200 sterling ane year; but that was to me no temptation, seeing I was not loosed from Ancrum; and if I had been, I was resolved to settle rather at Killinshie, among the Scots in the North, than any where else.

When, in the summer 1660, the word came of the king's being called home, I clearly foresaw there would be ane overturning of the whole work of reformation, and ane tryall to all that would adhere therto. In the year 1662, after that the parliament and councill had, by proclamation, ordered all ministers, who had come in since 1649, and had not kept their holy day of the 29th of May, either to acknowledge the prelats or remove, I might weell foresee ane storme was coming. At the last communion we had at Ancrum, on the 12th of October, and which was more frequent than any before, after sermon on the Munday, it pleased the Lord I got my mouth opened in ane reasonable long discourse, anent the grounds and encouragement to suffering for the present controversies of the kingdome of Christ, in appointing the government of his house,¹ and in ane manner took my leave, although I knew nothing what was then in hand, and followed shortly after. But on the 20th of November, I got letters from some friends in Edinburgh, that on the 18th of the² moneth, the councill had ordered some twelve or sixteen ministers to be brought before them, wherof I was one. I went presently to Edinburgh, and keeped myself closs for some dayes, till I should in ane privat way search and get some notice what they were minded³ to doe; for if they should only proceed to banishment, as they had the year before done to Mr M'Ward and Mr Simsone, I resolved to appear, although the citation had not come to me; but if I had found they were on such ane design as

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¹    "Appointing governours for his own house."

²    "That."

³    "What they intended."