mew Fleming
merchant in Edinburgh, who was then in Ireland. In Nov. 1635, he was
again deposed by the bishop of Down, and a little after, by his orders,
excommunicated by one Mr. Melvil minister of Down. This winter, finding
no appearance of liberty either to ministers or professors from the
bondage of the prelates, he, with others of the deposed ministers, took
a resolution to go to New-England; upon which they built a ship for that
purpose, and when all things were ready, they, about the 9th of Sept.
loosed from Lochfergus; but a violent storm arising, they were driven
near the bank of Newfoundland, and were all in danger of being drowned,
and, after prayer and consultation, they were obliged to return back to
Lochfergus. After this he stayed in Ireland, until he heard that he and
Mr. Blair were to be apprehended; and then they went out of the way, and
came over to Scotland. When he came to Irvine, Mr. Dickson caused him
preach, for which he was called in question afterwards. Leaving Irvine,
he passed by Loudon and Lanerk to Edinburgh, where he continued some
time.

About the beginning of March 1638, when the body of the land was about
to renew the national covenant, he was sent post to London with several
copies of the covenant, and letters to friends at court of both
nations; when he came there, Mr. Borthwick delivered the letters for
him; but he had been there but few days until he had word sent him from
the marquis of Hamilton, that he had overheard the king say, He was
come, but he should put a pair of fetters about his feet: whereupon,
fearing he should be taken in the post-way, he bought a horse, and came
home by St. Albans and the western way, and was present at Lanerk and
other places, when the covenant was read and sworn unto; and, excepting
at the kirk of Shots already noticed, he, as himself says, never saw
such motions from the Spirit of God, all the people so generally and
willingly concurring; yea, thousands of persons all at once lifting up
their hands, and the tears falling from their eyes; so that, through the
whole land, the people (a few papists and others who adhered to the
prelates excepted) universally entered into the covenant of God, for the
reformation of religion against prelates and their ceremonies.

After this _anno_ 1638, he got a call both from Stranrawer in Galloway,
and Straiton in Carrick, but he referred the matter to Messrs. Blair,
Dickson, Cant, Henderson, Rutherford and his fath