inst him (and several of the ejected ministers); wherein he
was charged with holding conventicles, preaching and baptizing children
at the Ralstoun in Kilmarnock parish in October last, and another in
Castlehill in Craigy parish, where he baptized 25 children. But upon his
non-appearance at this citation, he was next year declared a rebel, and
forfeited in both life and fortune.[219]

After this, he joined with that faithful party, which, in the same year,
was broke at Pentland hills; and with them he came the length of Clyde,
where he had a melancholy view of their end, and parted with them there.
Afterward, when one of his friends said to him, Sir, You did well that
left them, seeing you was persuaded that they would fall and flee before
the enemy, he was offended, and said, Glory, glory to God, that he sent
me not to hell immediately, for I should have stayed with them, though I
should have been all cut in pieces.

In the same year he met with a very remarkable deliverance. For he, Mr.
Welch and the laird of Gler-over, riding together, they met a party of
the enemy's horse whom there was no evading. The laird fainted, fearing
they should be taken. Mr. Peden, seeing this, said, Keep up your courage
and confidence, for God hath laid an arrest on these men, that they
shall do us no harm. 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 Titt. When he returned, the laird said, Why did you go? you might
have let the lad go with them. No, said he, they might have asked
questions of the lad, which might have discovered us; but as for me, I
knew they would be like Egyptian dogs; they could not move a tongue
against me, my time not being yet come, &c.

He passed his time sometimes in Scotland and sometimes in Ireland[220],
until June 1673, that he was by Major Cockburn taken in the house of
Hugh Ferguson of Knockdew in Carrick, who constrained him to stay all
night. Mr. Peden told them it would be a dear night's quarters to them
both, accordingly they were both carried prisoners to Edinburgh. There
the said Hugh was fined in 1000 merks for reset, harbour and converse
with him. Some time after his examination he was sent prisoner to the
bass one sabbath morning. Being about the public worship of God, a young
girl, about the age of fourteen years, came to the chamber door mocking
with loud laughter. He said, Poor thing, thou laughest and mockest at
the