if the reader be curious, he may consult Mr. Chambers's
Traditions of Edinburgh.
 
33 See Life of Peden, p. 14.
34 This personage, whom it would be base ingratitude in the author to pass over
without some notice, was by far the most zealous and faithful collector and
recorder of the actions and opinions of the Cameronians. He resided, while
stationary, at the Bristo Port of Edinburgh, but was by trade an itinerant
merchant, or pedlar, which profession he seems to have exercised in Ireland as
well as Britain. He composed biographical notices of Alexander Peden, John
Semple, John Welwood, and Richard Cameron, all ministers of the Cameronian
persuasion, to which the last mentioned member gave the name.
It is from such tracts as these, written in the sense, feeling, and spirit of
the sect, and not from the sophisticated narratives of a later period, that the
real character of the persecuted class is to be gathered. Walker writes with a
simplicity which sometimes slides into the burlesque, and sometimes attains a
tone of simple pathos, but always expressing the most daring confidence in his
own correctness of creed and sentiments, sometimes with narrow-minded and
disgusting bigotry. His turn for the marvellous was that of his time and sect;
but there is little room to doubt his veracity concerning whatever he quotes on
his own knowledge. His small tracts now bring a very high price, especially the
earlier and authentic editions.
The tirade against dancing, pronounced by David Deans, is, as intimated in the
text, partly borrowed from Peter Walker. He notices, as a foul reproach upon the
name of Richard Cameron, that his memory was vituperated, »by pipers and
fiddlers playing the Cameronian march - carnal vain springs, which too many
professors of religion dance to; a practice unbecoming the professors of
Christianity to dance to any spring, but somewhat more to this. Whatever,« he
proceeds, »be the many foul blots recorded of the saints in Scripture, none of
them is charged with this regular fit of distraction. We find it has been
practised by the wicked and profane, as the dancing at that brutish, base action
of the calf-making; and it had been good for that unhappy lass, who danced off
the head of John the Baptist, that she had been born a cripple, and never drawn
a limb to her. Historians say, that her sin was written upon her judgment, who
some time thereafter was dancing upon the ice, and it broke, and snapt the head
off her; her head danced above, and her