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them from rebelling; at the report of this, they were discouraged: Mr Peden came above the deck and said, 'Why are ye discouraged? You need not fear, there will neither thumbkins nor bootkins come here; lift up your hearts and heads, for the day of your redemption draweth near; if we were once at London, we will be set at liberty.' And when sailing on the voyage, praying publicly, he said, 'Lord, such is the enemies' hatred at thee and malice at us for thy sake, that they will not let us stay in the land of Scotland, to serve thee, though some of us have nothing but the canopy of thy heaven above us, and the earth to tread upon; but, Lord, we bless thy name, that will cut short our voyage, and frustrate thy enemies of their wicked design, that they will not get us where they intend; and some of us will go richer home than we came from home.' James Pride, who lived in Fife, an honest man, being one of them, he said many times, he could assert the truth of this, for he came safely home; and beside other things, he bought two cows: and before that he never had one. I had these accounts both from the foresaid James Kay and Robert Punton, a known public man, worthy of all credit, who was also under the same sentence, and lived in the parish of Dalmeny, near Queensferry.
