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one Mr. Paton, from the north of Ireland to Dublin, to present it to the Lord-Lieutenant: the which when Mr. Peden heard, he said, "Mr. Gowans and his brother Mr. Paton are sent and gone the devil's errand, but God will arrest them by the gate." And, accordingly, Mr. Gowans, by the way, was struck with a sore sickness, and Mr. Paton fell from his horse and broke or crushed his leg; and both of them were detained beyond expectation. I had this account from some worthy Christians when I was in Ireland.
In the year 1682, he married John Brown in Kyle, at his own house in Priesthall, that singular Christian, upon Marion Weir. After marriage he said to the bride, "Marion, you have got a good man to be your husband, but you will not enjoy him long: prize his company, and keep linen by you for his winding-sheet, for you will need it when you are not looking for it, and it will be a bloody one." This came sadly to pass in the beginning of May, 1685, as afterwards shall appear.
After this, in the year 1682, he went to Ireland again, and came to the house of William Steel, in Glenwharry, in the county of Antrim; he enquired at Mrs. Steel if she wanted a servant for threshing victual? She said they did, and enquired what his wages were a-day, or week. He said the common rate was a common rule; to which she assented. At
