n
in this thy day_, &c. After the blessing was pronounced, some of the
auditors cried, Treason, treason; which surprized Mr. Blackie and the
people, till one col. Blood stood up and said, Good people, we have
heard nothing but reason, reason: and so he took off Mr. Vetch, which
ended the business.

Thus Mr. Vetch travelled from place to place, sometimes at London,
sometimes Nottingham, Chester, Lanchester, sometimes in Northumberland,
especially in Reidsdale, till 1671, that he was persuaded to bring his
wife and family to that county, which he did, and settled for some time
within the parish of Rothbury in Northumberland. But no sooner was he
settled here (though in a moorish place) than the popish gang stirred up
enemies unto him on account of his little meeting, which obliged him to
remove five miles, farther up the country to a place called Harnam hall,
where many, out of curiosity, frequented his preaching. Likewise
Anabaptists, who kept 7th day Sabbaths, were punctual attenders.

Here he had no small success in the reformation of people's morals;
several instances of which, for brevity's sake, must here be
omitted[262]. But the devil, envying these small beginnings, again
stirred him up enemies, particularly one justice Lorrain, who, at the
instigation of the clergy, issued out warrants to apprehend him. But
this misgiving, Lorrain, in one of his drinking fits, promised to go in
person next Sabbath, and put an end to these meetings. But not many
hours after, he by an unusual and strange mean got his leg broke: so
that he could travel none for many weeks after.

This design being frustrated, one parson Ward of Kirkhails went up to
the bishop of Durham, and returned well armed, as he thought, against
Mr. Vetch, having orders to excommunicate all such. But being delayed by
another curate, they drank all night together; and that he might be home
against Sabbath, he so tired his horse, that he was not able to get him
on alone. He hired the herd man of Harnam to lead him, taking his club
to drive him on; but while he so unmercifully was beating the poor
beast, it, without regard to his coat, canon, or the orders he carried,
struck him on the cheek, till the blood gushed out; which made the boy
that led the horse (seeing him fall) run to a gentlewoman's house hard
by, who sent out two servants with a barrow, who carried him in where he
had his wounds dressed, and lay there several weeks under a cure; and so
they were