three years. But his
friends thinking it necessary, that he should come home to settle some
of his affairs, if possible, his lady returned home in the end of 1669,
and himself soon followed: but to his unspeakable grief, he found, when
he came to Edinburgh, that she was in a fever: She lodged in a woman's
house who was a favourer of the sufferers. And though he lodged in a
more private place, and only used to come in the evenings to visit his
sick lady; yet one Cannon of Mardrogate, who had not yet altogether cast
off the mask, at least his treachery and apostacy was not then
discovered, got notice of it--He soon gave information to the
Chancellor, and orders were procured from Lauderdale then in town, to
search that house on pretence that Mr. John Welch was keeping
conventicles in the Lady Kersland's chamber. But the design was for
Kersland himself, as the sequel will declare. Accordingly, a party came,
and finding no conventicle, were just going to retire. But one
Murray[181] having particular notice from Mardrogate, that when any
company came to the room, Kersland in the evening used to retire behind
a bed; and having a torch in his hand, provided for that end, said, he
behoved to search the room: and so went straight behind the bed and
brought him out, charging him to render his arms. Kersland told him he
had none but the Bible, which he had then in his hand; and that was
enough to condemn him in these times.--At parting with his lady, she
shewed much calmness and composure, exhorting him to do nothing that
might wound his conscience out of regard to her or her children, and
repeated that text of scripture, _No man having put his hand to the
plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God._

He was forthwith taken to the guard, and then to the Abbey; where a
committee of the council, that same night, was gathered for his
examination. When he was brought before them, they asked him concerning
the lawfulness of the appearance at Pentland; which he, in plain terms,
owned to be lawful, and what he thought duty.--Upon which he was
immediately imprisoned. When going away, the Chancellor upbraided him
with what passed betwixt him and his lady, which he suffered with much
patience.

He was near three months prisoner in Edinburgh; and from thence sent to
Dumbarton castle, where he continued near a year and a half. Then he was
ordered for Aberdeen, where he was kept close prisoner without fire for
three months spac