Series 1 > Journal of the Hon. John Erskine of Carnock, 1683-1687

JOHN ERSKINE OF CARNOCK
139
1685]
and was edified by Mr. Forrester’s company, whose life was
becoming the Gospel, meditating and praying being his great
work ; he fasted frequently.
9&th.—The country did now seem to he much in quiet, but
Papists did look out too briskly, by their avowed and frequent
meetings, to expect any continued peace before a greater stroke.
There was many arms found hid by papists at Wrights houses
near Edinburgh. This night I left Mr. Forrester in Ballinton,
(John Lamb having desired me to come back there when I
pleased) and came with John Miller, my guide, to Janet
Gillies’s barn, where I found Kipdarroch; we did with some
difficulty find a wadeable place in the water, not knowing the
ford. I did now many ways discern the Lord’s goodness to me,
how travelling in the dark and in unknown ways, he directed
me, and how He did find me out those whom I needed, without
our being discovered to enemies, and doing these things and
whatever was needful for me with far less difficulty and pains
than I could propose, which mercies are not to be thought on
without a thankfull and savory remembrance, and yet alas, even
then, my sins were many, which made me doubt much of my
sincerity in seeking God and closing with him by faith.
29^.—I was now desirous to know if our friends in other
parts of the country did continue to attempt something for
religion suddenly, and if they did, how soon it might come to
action, and if it was delayed a while I thought of going east,
as I was desired, that being private there, I might have some
time to read.
My good-sister had now got letters out of Carolina from my
brother, giving account that 27 of those who went in the ship
with him were dead, occasioned chiefly (as was thought, and
that rationally) by their ill usage at sea, getting little meat or
drink, and what they got being for most part rotten herrings
and corrupt water. My brother had a long fever and was re¬
covered, and that they were now building a town in Portroyal
called Stuarts Town. He expected his Lady over, but I hope
he may or shall see her in Scotland first.
My Mother’s trouble was now greater than ever, there being
both poynding and caption out against her for not paying a
fine, imposed by the Sherriff of Fife, for her not going to