Page:Life and prophecies of Mr. Alexander Peden (1).pdf/43

 upon these men, that they shall not harm us." When they met, they were courteous, and asked the way: Mr Peden went off the way, and shewed them the ford of the water of Tit. When he returned, the Laird said, "Why did you go with them? You might have sent the lad with them." He said, "No, no, it was more safe for me; for they might have asked questions at the lad; and he might have fainted and discovered us. For myself, I knew they would be like the Egyptian dogs, they would not move a tongue against me; for my hour of falling into their hands, and the day of trial is not come that is abiding me." There is an old Christian gentlewoman yet alive in Edinburgh, a daughter of the said Laird's, who told me of late, that she had several times heard her father give an account of this. She also told me, that since Bothwel-bridge fight, she heard him preach in the fields, in the foresaid parish; and a woman sitting before the tent, looking up to him, he said, "How have you the confidence to look up? Look down to hell, where you are going; the devil has a fast grip of you, and will not lose it." That woman lived and died under the mala fama of a witch, and presumptions of the same.

2. About the year 1670, he was in Armagh in Ireland. One John Goodale with his wife, two serious zealous Christians living in Armagh, who had gone from Scotland, who was a wheel-wright to his employment; his zeal was such against the superstitious worship, and keeping so many holidays, that when the people were going and coming by his shop-door, he wrought most hard; for which he was excommunicated: When he told Mr Peden, he said, "Rejoice John, that you are cast out of the devil's count-book." After this, he was preaching privately in John's house; in his preface he said, "Our Lord has been taking great pains on you in Ireland, to get you to learn your lesson per quire; and few of you have been brought to say your lesson off the book. He has got