law, was indeed very civil to Mr. Welch, but being for
a long time, through the multitude of affairs, kept from visiting Mr.
Welch in his chamber, as he was one day walking in the court, and
espying Mr. Welch at his chamber window, asked him kindly how he did,
and if in any thing he could serve him? Mr. Welch answered him, He would
earnestly intreat his lordship, being at that time to go to court, to
petition king James in his name, that he might have liberty to preach
the gospel; which my lord promised to do. Mr. Welch answered, My lord,
both because you are my kinsman, and for other reasons, I would
earnestly intreat and bidest you not to promise, except you faithfully
perform. His lordship answered. He would faithfully perform his promise;
and so went for London. But though at his first arrival, he was really
purposed to present the petition to the king, when he found the king in
such a rage against the godly ministers, that he durst not, at that
time, present it; so he thought fit to delay it, and thereafter entirely
forgot it.

The first time that Mr. Welch saw his face after his return from court,
he asked him what he had done with his petition. His lordship answered,
He had presented it to the king, but that the king was in so great a
rage against the ministers at that time, he believed it had been
forgotten, for he had got no answer. Nay, said Mr. Welch to him, My
lord, you should not lie to God, and to me; for I know you never
delivered it, though I warned you to take heed not to undertake it,
except you would perform it; but because you have dealt so unfaithfully,
remember God shall take from you both estate and honours, and give them
to your neighbour in your own time: which accordingly came to pass, for
both his estate and honours were in his own time translated to James
Stuart, son of captain James, who was indeed a cadet, but not the lineal
heir of the family.

While he was detained prisoner in Edinburgh castle, his wife used for
the most part to stay in his company, but upon a time fell into a
longing to see her family in Ayr, to which with some difficulty he
yielded; but when she was to take her journey, he strictly charged her
not to take the ordinary way to her own house, when she came to Ayr, nor
to pass by the bridge through the town, but to pass the river above the
bridge, and so get the way to his own house, and not to come into the
town, for, said he, before you come thither, you shall find the