He Covenanters of the Merse Their History and Sufferings As Found In

HE COV ENANTERS OF THE

MERSE THEIR HISTO RY AND

SU FFERING S AS FOU ND IN

TH E RECORDS OF

V OD TIM} BY THE RE . J O R M A RD N B . G O OWN, . , O

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P R E F AC E.

N beginning his task the Author soon be came aware that it had been undertaken The at least half a century too late . gen eration which has passed away still retain ed man y traditional ta les of Co venanting times

a r w is s r. T s which e n o , it to be feared, lo t foreve hi Th is a wan t which n o cars o r industry can supply . e

s n s o f it r as c as u c e e , howeve , h a ted a powerf l in entive

n n r s di to him, not o ly in seeki g and reco ding uch tra

n r in ex lo r tio s as still lin ger in the count y, but also p in g the origin al sources as these are to be found in

i s r has the publ c records of the time . In thi sea ch he been amply rewarded by the discovery of much n ew matter that has sign iﬁcan ce for the history o f ou r

r r v n an s a n n Bo de Co e ter , d possibly of the ki gdom at

Th r s large. e i e of ﬁeld meetings in the East o f

n r l r Scotla d, the b il iant though b ief campaign which gave the forces of the Coven an t as decided an ad van tage o n the Tweed as Drumclog had don e in the

s r ss r We t, the opp e ive p oceedin gs o f the local Circuit w Cou rts after Both ell, and the last conven ticle at the

r n l u h G ee c e c , all these and man y other matters are n o w s the ﬁrst me told, if not ab olutely for ti , yet with a fuln ess of detail which has n o t hitherto been at tempted ; an d the Author would fain hope that these parts of his work may prove a real con tribution to his of m the tory the ti e. 8 PREFACE.

In ff in his o m es h s o er g v lu e to the public, he tak t i opportu nity of thanking the curators o f the Historica l

a r r fo r Dep rtment in the Registe House, Edinbu gh, the great kindness with which they have placed the re r s s n his co d there at his disposal, and of expres i g r to m g atitude those man y others who, by co muni cating with the greatest courtesy their stores o f notes a n r di m h s d t a tions, have don e so uch to make t i publi

n ss h if has a catio po ible. T e Author feels that he f iled to rise to the height of his subject the fault must — be entirely his own so full and interesting has been the material at his disposal . He cannot close this brief Preface without saying tha t his hope has been to write so methin g which might be read and remembered as a loca l supplemen t to

n s f w n Ma r f the collectio o Wo dro , a d the rty ologies o

H T f to r owie. o be understo od o the peo ple g ow old and smoke-dried in the cotta ge rafters beside the great

r s r classics o f Co venanting histo y ; above all, to e ve however humbly the Kingdom of Christ in the foster — in g o f a Coven an ting spirit the Author can wish his He book no better fate, n o higher success. will be amply satisﬁed if even in a minor measure this success

be attained .

or N Em Mu s: GORDO ,

Jum 190C», 1893 . REF ERENC E S.

IN gen eral an y referen ce to prin ted books that are widely

The followin ta le o f a reviations kn own has been avoided. g b bb may serve to ex plain the footn otes

P A Priv Coun cil Acts . . y ,

Decre a en eral e ister House. P . D. t , G R g

Warran ts P W . .

u sticiar cords J R. J y Re .

MS he Wodrow Man uscri llec ion s in the Ady o W . S . T pt Co t

’ ' ’ Wodrow s Histo r o f he u ﬂerin s Burn s y t S g ,

Edition .

‘ ’ M rie s Memo f William i C irs o Ve tch.

The New Statistical Accoun t.

CHAPTER I

II E events we are about to stu dy lie mostly

s suc eeain 1 in the year c g 660, when the Kin g w as resto red but as it is necessary fo r the right understandin g of these timcs that we should know somethin g of the stru ggles that

r s a s ﬁrst p eceded them, we h ll in the e pages consider brieﬂ r r s r n n y the ea lie hi to y of the Cove a ts, and trace the rise of that party and cause which w as afte rwards c to n r so w alled e du e much, and as crowned at last with so glorious a victo ry.

In s r of s r the di t ict Berwick hire called Lamme moo r,

r s o r a r li whe e it look t wa d L u de dale, e the estate and

n s s Th ma ion of Spotti woode. e house here is in the

r s an d has s r ﬁlle mode n tyle, a mall pa k d with Highlan d

t The a r to s r i cat le . pp oach thi place f om the so uth s lon g an i ff r n s s on f d w ld, o e i g at every point ugge ti s o the time

n s r w as r s n whe thi count y little bette than wa te la d, the common resort of gen tlemen from Lothian who

r n n a used to hunt an d hawk the e, abou di g, s it then

- - id roe r an d in o of k n s. d , in dee mo r fowl all i d

f an in At the west lodge o this hou se, d built over o n e

r n s is s o f the do mer wi dow , a carved to n e with the Spottiswoode arms and the legend 15 96 : gem ” s z x i 1m m r a titers c x i tn ti ma . This is a memo i l of

s f n — n the great Archbi hop o that ame, havi g been

r n r brought from Glasgow, whe e it o ce ado ned the improvements executed by him upon the Episcopal 1 NANT RS OF THE M 4 THE COVE E ERS E .

r palace of that city. We are conce ned with the histo ry

f s n his l was n t h o this Chu rchman, i ce po icy o e of e — — causes thou gh he inten ded n othin g so little which led to the ﬁrst rise o f the Coven an ts in Sco tlan d.

T in ﬂ n o f n n i hrough the u e ce the Le ox family, w th

his ow n r r c n n u n which had an he edita y o ection, yo g

n n w a Spottiswoode made his ﬁrst e try o public life. He s — the son of the Superinten den t of Lothian an o fﬁce which the unsettled state o f the Scottish Church then made necessary an d havin g studied with success under the Melvilles at Glasgow he was presented to the

a n his r livin g o f Calder in West Lothi , which fathe

an d n he n had held before him, where i deed had bee T f s o ro r born . he interest o the Duke o n p cu ed him the

a s an d s more important charge of Gl gow, here he bu ied

f am s a ra himself in raisin g the state o the f ou c thed l,

a r an d in m r then fallen in to some disrep i , the i p ove ’ w s h had n ment o f his patron s to n hou e, w ich bee

s r s a assigned him as a man se . In the e wo k he imit ted

r ss r A s a the piou s care o f his p edece o , rchbi hop Bl ck

r s n n r n n a adde , de ce ded from a othe a cie t f mily of the wh u r s r e Merse, o built, an h nd ed year befo e, the b auti ful south aisle at Glasgow. In 1601 the Duke of L mn ox w as commissioned o n

r s s o ae m an ied an embassy to Pa i , and Spotti wo de co p

Th n n him there in the qu ality of chaplain . e Fre ch ki g had just discovered a n d defeated a conspiracy directed

w as n i n s against his life, the capital thro ged w th oble

' n r ul s n m an d envoys o ﬂerin g their co g at ation , amo g who the Duke and his train appeared to represen t the T n kingdom o f Scotland . hey were exceedi gly well

an s n ss s o f n s n in received, d at olem ma e tha k givi g

an s o f as on r er the churches, d partie ple ure the iv all that the most brillian t city o f the world could THE CO N RS O VE ANTE F THE MERSE . 15 — show of pomp and magn iﬁcen ce Spottiswoode had his to r t introduction the g ea world, an d received ss o s impre i n which he co uld never forget.

' When the embassy returned to Sco tland the aﬂairs

of r that kingdom were in a c itical state. Spottiswoode must have often seen in the shows o f Paris what w as — n ot an uncommon spectacle even at home the antics

of r - s n his a ope dancer, who, tretchi g cord between the

s wi s t r Oppo ite ndow of some lof y street, gathered a c owd

to see him an tread that giddy height, d balance his

r ss n way ac o the arro w bridge in safety. Such, it may w n r w as r ell have see med to this you g courtie , the pa t

r n a which ou Ki g now pl yed, while Scotland, an d

n an o h r E gl d to , looked on . James had in e ited a nervous an d timid disposition from the shocking circumstances hi s H w ch urrounded his birth . e is said to have shud

r r r an de ed whenever he saw a d awn swo d, d in these da ys swords were so commonly carried and so lightly drawn that the King co uld hardly fa il to live in a

n s f r n s r r an n co tant state o app ehe ion . A b ave d sou der s r s i s pi it would have met teel w th teel. Such an appeal ’ to s r was to J arm , howeve quite foreign ames nature , ! , an d l e his r ni , ike all we k men, he fou nd efuge in cun ng

r i —in hi s king c aft he called t w ch he ought, like a s - kilful rope dancer with his pole, to balance one party in the State against an other so that he should him s all T his n s elf remain master o f them . o oble he held o u on stan tl t the bribe of the Church lands, and by c y ” r n as c eating new Lords of Erectio , the men were

l a n d s ca led who accepted these estates revenue , he r s s The r su b uled upreme in their council . Chu ch he dued by even more subtle means ; for he dreaded her

n os s power, and kn ew well that a y but the m t cautiou

l n To po icy would here be throw away. trace the down 16 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERGE . ward steps of this subj ection would be tediou s an d even u n n ecessary in the short survey which is all that

r n hi u ose we can he e attempt. The King attai ed s p rp chieﬂy through the appointment o f commission ers from

s to s s in a n o f the As embly the E tate , the n mi g whom

r r ms An r he ese ved a large right to hi elf. y of the cle gy

r a r o n r ni s an s who proved efr cto y he c t ived to ba h, d thi — fate befel o n e of the royal cha plain s Mr Hen ry — Blyth who w as transferred from his cha rge in Edin

r to r ar s o f cc es the M rs bu gh the emote p i h E l in e e, that the n eighbo u rt of En glan d might tea ch him

n T s s r s a is sa better man ers. hi re olute P e byteri n id to ha ve been so ﬁn e in his tastes an d n ervous in his antipathies that he would fain t on comin g where a ham w as ; yet his spirit proved stron ger than his cir

n c f r n s e a n n n c r m cu msta es, o i t d of lear i g obedie e f o

s n o n r r r a his re ide ce the Bo de , he g eatly helped the p rty ’ who s n s s c — a re there tood out agai t the king poli y, sistan ce which appeared very clearly o n the pa rt of

r s er o f u n s in n the P e byt y D the ext reign . Ja mes desired in fact to govern the Church by re

r n r r s s an sto i g the o de of Bi hop , d in 1610 he judged the

fo r e s n his h time ripe the Op n pro ecutio of design . T e Assembly was accordin gly summon ed to meet at Gla s

s gow, and Spotti woode, who proved perfectly pliable to

r r s an d was r a the oyal pu po e, al eady ppoin te d titular

Ar s see c chbi hop of the in that ity, came down from

u to s r its l r n w Co rt pre ide ove de ibe atio s. Money as freely employed to secure the assen t of the clergy to l the the royal wil , constitution o f the Church w as

r to n t s a a n sh co ruptly voted be he cefor h Epi cop l, d Bi ops

r the of in a we e now order the day Scotland. In few years more the same hand pu shed the work o f in n ova

n s u t ss 1618 tio till f rther, when, at the Per h A embly of , THE N COVE ANTERS OF THE MERSE . 17

r n s o f the s n ﬁrma many ce emo ie Engli h use, such as co ’ ti n s u r an on, kneeli g at the Lord S ppe , d others, were i ntro duced. Before he died the King had the satisfaction o f s e n his e i g plans almost entirely successful .

n r s s m f In the ext eign matter went o ewhat di ferently, the e n t mper of the new King being narrow and fa atical, an d quite without that subtlety which had sto od his father in such good stead in his con ﬂicts with the

r s e n w h is Chu ch . Spotti wood i deed, o had received h

ra n n n r a s er f r t w s t i i g u de th t ma t o kingc af , as till at the

‘ hea d of aﬂ airs in Scotlan d ; but un fortun ately fo r his

s n s the n n n ew n de ig , Ki g had found in E gland a cou

s w as r sello r o n who e advice he mo e apt to rely. This

w a s Ar h s o f er w ho Laud, the c bi hop Cant bury, , in n t n r S s s s co cer with the you ger ace of the cotti h Bi hop , ’ con stan tly pressed Charles to complete his father s work by reducin g the Church of his northern kin gdom to an

rm a exact confo ity with that o f Engl n d. At last their in ﬂu en ce prevailed over the more moderate co u nsels of

r n n Spottiswoode. Laud eceived a commissio e tirely to his min d : he w as ordered to prepare a Liturgy for the Church o f Scotlan d on the model o f the English Prayer

an d in e r s s r s n n Book, being then t m of clo e co re po de ce with the Papal Court (they say that Flood the Jesu it

s n ss to an d w r had co n ta t acce him, as ever well eceived

s n o f hi r at Lambeth), he e t a copy s book thithe that he might compliment the Cardin als by en quirin g their

r T s ri n s h r s Opinion of his wo k. he e p ce of the C u ch eem ’ to have en tertain ed a higher opinion of Laud s erudition i n h n o f h s . r h and devotio t a policy Scotland, whe e t e emissaries of the Pope an d the Jesu its were particula rly

was fa r r n busy at this time, bette u derstood at Rome than at Lambeth ; and the Sacred College gave sign al proo f of their shrewd comprehen sion of the situation B E 18 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERG .

n m n s to r-z s r m te whe , a wer the ove ealou P i ate, they wro ,

n h i d s s u sayi g, t at they l ke well that the Scot ho ld be

n r f an d v b o s n trai ed in a fo m o prayer ser ice, u t, c n ideri g

r the te mper of that people, they fea ed the book would

s an s breed ome stir d u nquietness if impo ed there.

w r is in s a Laud n o evised h Litu rgy, mak g ome ch nges

r s if which brought it neare the Roman u e, as he ’ thought the fain tn ess o f the Cardin al s praise arose from their thin king he had been but half-hearted in l n him n s the work assig ed . I this till more offensive

w as s n to o ss state the book e t down Sc tland, pa ed the

r w in grea t seal of that count y, as prin ted Edinburgh with all the accuracy an d splendou r of which the press

f a w w o that city, then justly f mou s, as capable, and as

s r fo r u se 2 rd r thu eady on the 3 of July in the yea 163 7.

is th n f This, then, e setti g o the histo ric scen e in the High Church of Edi n burgh when Dean Hann ay open ed

n his book and bega the Collect fo r the day . It is easy to misunderstan d the tumult which arose upon the utterance o f this quiet an d even bea utiful pra yer ; but those who thin k that distu rban ce stran ge forget that a

a o st n s w as n a gre t c n itutio al que tion then in kee deb te. What ran g through the church that day was a loud

popular protest, not again st the u se of a form of — prayer fo r Scotland had been more or less accustomed to some Boo k of Common Order ever sin ce the days — o f the Reformation n o r even the suspected Popery ’ of Laud s Liturgy (though we must con fess this notion

w far r ent with the commonalty), but ather again st the

s r a r abu e of the oy l p erogative, which in this case

n as H n s n n t certai ly, e der o acutely poi ted o u , had ex

1 See Some Remarkable Passages relating to Archbishop ’ Lau d : Being the twen ty-secon d chapter of Gage s Survey of ” h est n i su rest in the Octa o sin ce on n t e W I d es, pp v , L do , 1712.

20 NANTERS THE OOVE OF THE MERSE .

’ the bells of St Giles as they n ow ran g their closin g pea l n ot him of as old remind those in Notre Dame, if

n Michael Scott had con jured time away ? The , in the midst of a n assembly far more brillian t than any the

s o s s n ss Scotti h capital c uld how, he had ee the hollowne ’ of the world s homage ; for most o f those who join ed Hen ry in his devotion s that day were at heart dis

‘ aﬂected to his Government, and man y of them had been actually concerned in the plot again st his life . Might there not be just such tempers slumberin g still in the quiet sullen Scotlan d Spottiswoode had so lon g helped to subdue ? Again he saw the gloo m o f Gothic arches ben din g s over a bright play of mingled colour in the window , an d these sen din g a rainbow radiance u pon the rich s an d The ilks gleamin g steel o f n oble worshippe rs. hu sh of a great assembly sudden ly stilled w as aroun d him as in his a n w a n he knelt pl ce, not o a poor chapl i ,

s s mi r n fo r humble and de pi ed, but a ghty Chu chma

w as s r s s r n whom a throne re e ved, the eccle ia tical th o e

f is n r o h country . But did not the old air of u eality, of

w an d n n s a n r hollo ness i trigue, e compas him still, d we e n ot s of s rs a n d his n su b the plot pa t yea , all u worthy servien ce to the royal will n ow to be aven ged in the moment of a sudden downfall an d sore disgrace ? The rough Scottish ton gue of the o ld herb-woman “ ” n r s a m ? sudde ly c ying, Do t thou s y mass at y lug clea red the air o f these mists as speedily an d surely as l a s s o follo w s her f mou t ol, and the tumult that ed, wept

his ass s s an n the Dean and i tant from the desk . St di g

u in his s up very q ietly place, Spo tti woode faced awhile the angry storm in which all his hopes were wrecked

’ 1 See The Stoneﬁeld Saboth- M 2 32 A vo cate s day S. 33 . . , d N F THE COVE ANTERS O THE MERSE. 21

hi s i and all s fears reali ed. Few w ll refuse him in the

n f s s r a r mome t o o u preme a t i l, the t ibute of a certain

r n s admi ation and eve ympathy, con sidering the courage

s dis — i and elf command he now played, order ng the

s r r Provo t to have the chu ch clea ed, and thee takin g coach without a word for his cou ntry house at

l r n r is sai Gi me to , whe e it d a great collation had been

r a ordered to celeb ate the d y. But surely his supper that n ight w as garnished with bitter herbs ; for the

r ss r n n s hour of the royal eckle expe ime t had i deed truck, an d its issue w as in the Scotlan d of the Second Refo r h t e n a s. n r mation, the Scotland of Cove nt What wo de if s ﬂeein to n an as s t Spotti woode, g E gl d he hor ly did, should ha ve utte red in rage an d despair the memorable

r w n wo ds, No all that we have been doi g these thirty ” is n n c years cast dow at o e . HAPT R II C E .

HE events which immediately followed the ’ tumult in St Giles Church are well known

s s r A to all tudent of Scottish histo y.

l s m n r Par iament, um o ed by the popula

a r T s as r will alone, s t down in fou able , they we e

is ss ffa s of an d to called, to d cu the a ir the country, s r s offer a serious remon t ance to the Kin g. The famou ’ u an d a r t rs Coven ant was drawn p, c ried o the Greyfria

r r r w as s b s ds of Chu chya d, whe e it igned y thou an people

s n r a s . n s s Th n n amid a ce e of the g e te t e thu ia m . e atio an d n ow n to r r an the Church bega realise thei powe , d in n o f ﬁerce ra s o h r n s a ki d t n p rt many opened t ei vei ,

s a n s and igned that le gue agai t Prelacy, Popery, and the r Prerogative with thei blood . In 163 8 the ﬁrst Free Assembly held for a gen eration

i s H in Scotlan d gathered n Gla gow. ere the Bishops

r r Ord r n l an d we e impeached, thei e declared u l void, an d several of their n umber deposed and ex co mmu n i

T n o s d os ted . hey had indeed bee men of lo e an evil

s an d n b s n o f r live , had do e much y the ca dal thei immoralities to make Episcopacy un popular with man y

who e n to it. n knew no other obje tio We may here ote, as r r n in s s o r a matte more particula ly concer g thi hi t y, that the ﬁrst man to give his vote upon these great

s w as nis r o f Mr question the mi te Polwarth, Alexan der

a s r s o n a s sa to h C ss, who e rema k th t occa ion are id ave

so so n ed a been very pointed and witty, much , i de , s to THE O N 23 C VE ANTERS OF THE MERSE .

give great offence to those who bewailed the great

s n w o s change o on fo t. Of uch there were n ot a few in

s r an d f m the mini t y, we may con j acture that on e o the w as that Mr Francis Hervie o f Yetholm who was

‘ s As s o f 1 n depo ed in the embly 63 9 . His o ﬂe ces were that he would n ot acknowledge the Assembly o f the

d n his prece i g year, and that he had set up an altar in

r it — s Chu ch with a rail before , a sign how far Ritu ali m r a h had al e dy gone, and ow little sympathy some of the parochial clergy had with the curren ts o f feelin g n ow settin g deep and stron g from the hea rt of the nation

o r s r r t wa d the fo me Presbytery and purity.

s s u s s v r m n s rs Le t it ho ld be uppo ed, howe e , that the i i te o f the Merse followed the example o f Yetholm rather

o f than that Polwarth, we may here allude to a cir cu mstan ce very creditable to ou r county which had

a s ﬁve s r s h ppened ome year befo e. In 163 4 the Bi hop o f Edinburgh wrote to the different presbyteries of his

o s r r n m n a di ce e, equi i g the i isters to observe c refully

A t s th n the r the r icle of Per , and the Ca ons of Chu ch,

an t r s h d in par icula , to ee that t ey failed n ot to minister Holy Communion in their con gregations o n Easter

a n o r to r r r ﬂ ocks s n Sund y, p epa e thei for that occa io by

in ss o n r a s preach g the Pa ion Good F id y. To thi the Presbytery of Dun s sen t a stout refusal by the pen of

ra o r Mr H r n a their Mode t , David ume of G ee l w, who ven tured to tell the Bishop that the wrath of Go d would certain ly come upon him if he pe rsisted in urgin g

s n t H S r r obedience in matter o commanded in oly c iptu e.

H di n A 1 n Mr David ume ed in the mo th of pril 63 7, o ly a very little before his fearless words were fulﬁlled to

r the lette .

‘ In the stirrin g events which followed the sign in g of

the Covenant, Berwickshire took indeed a principal 24 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

sh re . Th n wh ese e the re of a e Ki g, o deeply r nt d volt the Sco tish i his r to t Chu rch and cou ntry, came w th a my the Border and here the forces of the Co venanters met , — him, makin g such a warlike appearance they were

s — n trong that without a blow bei g struck, articles of pea ce very favou rable to their interests were con f . n wh was in o cluded Ge eral Leslie, o command that f r n it n n of o ce, co sented to disband , but o the co dition

r n e to an a F ee Ge eral Assembly being summon d meet, d a free Parliament to sit thereafte r for the ratiﬁcation ’ ’ o f n n s the Assembly s Acts. The Cove a ter camp had

ee set r u sta r s b n on Duns Law, a ci c m nce which gave i e t s o the jest that the Sco ttish Bishops had been depo ed,

n r a n u s . neither by civil, o by c no law, but by D n Law Thus the ﬁrst appeal to arms in that lon g constitutional struggle which issued in o u r modern liberties was made

c s v w as M s in the au e of the Co enant, and it the er e which had the hon ou r o f bein g chosen as the seat of

s n thi righteous resista ce and sign al victory .

The r o f was in s m s a my Duns Law , some way , the o t

a r n The w remark ble that Scotland has eve see . onderful unity in which the nation here sto od to the defen ce of her civil and ecclesi astical liberties appeared in the

r n n o f n numbe o f oblemen then comman di g, and ge tle

r v r n The o fﬁcers h r men who se ed in the a ks. had t ei

r n of the qua te rs in the Castle o f Du s, where a copy

an is r n s o f a n Coven t still preserved, bea i g the name m y l ’ w s a ss is tr00 ho ubscribed it at th t time . Lord Ca il p hoicelee d was qu arte red in the following year at C woo , ’ n betwee Langton and Polwarth . They carried with

1 e Note A S e .

0 In the Register of the Committee for Pu blic Bu rden s there is record o f a commission bein g appoin ted to en quire in to the damag don e to the wood o n the lan ds of Chousley when the army lay last da of anu ar 1648 there . This appointmen t bears date the y J y , f oioelee at which time Christopher Cockburn was the laird o Oh . THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

as r r Mr ohn them thei chaplain the famous preache , J s o in Living t n, of whom we shall have more to say a

. In his M n little emoirs he te lls us that, havi g made known from his pulpit at Stranraer that he w as

to o r his n r appointed g to the a my, a woman in co g ega tion came to him with eight gold pieces fo r the goo d

s s a r a cau e, aying that she had kept them as a m ri ge portion for her daughte r ; but sin ce God had been as to He s o her ple ed take the child to Himself, h uld have m n to o -a n e ar o ey , touchi g proof that the country r g ded

a f r the c use o the Covenan t as that of the Lo d, and the expedition sen t to the Merse as a solemn appeal to the

God o f s Battle . ’ It seems that on e of the soldiers in Lo rd Cassilis tro op had fallen sick while they were en camped at

Choicelee l s a . He a y fo r some time in a hou e of th t n r ha r for his eighbou hood, whither he d been emoved

t an d r r n to ass comfor p ope atte dance. Here he used p his in r a di an d o r w as time e ng, in u own day the book l n fou d which occupied these tedious ho u rs. It was a

S n r s l tion e r e B r evi e eca pe hap the De Con so a , o the D ta te i e i r s a s s V ta , n which that autho pe k almo t like a

h s an s n r n n s C ri ti , aying ma y high and comfo ti g thi g

n rn n f in s f s c men co ce i g the li e of God the oul . O u h we may believe the Coven an tin g army w as in an n u

n r s commo p oportion compo ed . It was in deed their piety n o less than their gen tility and culture which distin guished the soldiers o f the

In a n s a an h i Covenant. the c mp at Du L w d C o celee was heard every n ight the sou nd of praise and prayer

s an d ar from the hut among the gu ds. Every Sabbath able and devout ministers from man y parts of Scotlan d

1 Tr i on re r e b Mr hoolmaster of ad ti , po t d y the late Gow, Sc

m u . 26 F THE COVENANTERS O THE MERS E .

gathemd to the army and drew with them crowds of l l Th r l x r the neighbourin g co u ntry peop e . e e igious e e ’ cises of Cromwell s Iron sides would seem to have been

rr an in r n bo owed hence, d when, the next gene atio , the Covenanters were driven to the ﬁelds that they might

s r n r n s n se there wor hip Go d acco di g to thei co cie ce, tho o f o u r shire could make choice of man y a place which

w a r had been hallo ed in th t way befo e . The success o f the Coven antin g army w as eagerly watched by the leaders o f the Parliamen tary party in

The n s u fo r s En gland . lo g tr ggle con titutional freedom called the Civil Wa r was just commencin g ; an d very

r a s s shortly the popula p rty in the outh, who e interests

r so c se n s o f o u r n n e s we e lo ly joi ed with tho e Cove a t r , entered in to the Solemn League an d Coven an t with

a n n a s c w as r s n n them, u io of he rt whi h p e e tly ceme ted

n s m s e r Ass sat n whe the We t in t embly , u itin g in its

u s r s er n s an d n s r co ncil both P e byt ia Purita togethe .

As s of co n ﬂict r n a r n a r the clo e the d ew e , the Ki g, h d

a r n r r s pressed by the P liame ta y fo ce , too k refuge with

s n N st . T the Scotti h army, the at ewca le his expedition had been sen t under the n ew allian ce to help the cause

a an a n o f the P rliament, d Scotl d gave a somewhat extreme proof of con ﬁden ce in her allies by ren derin g

h n to r rc T the pe rson of t e ki g thei me y. his su r ren der made way fo r a series of even ts which en ded in a situation o f the utmost consequen ce for the

Covenanters.

a as is n was s n r His M jesty, well k own, oo b ought to

an d r a the scaffold at Whitehall, the oyal f mily passed

1 Thus on the 9th of Au ust 1640 the ir Sessi n of , g , K k o Tyn in g ham m ast othian n o te that their min ister Mr ohn au er w E L , J L d , ho had een name to act as cha lain o f the East o thian re imen b d p L g t, in the neld esi e hoicelee The h preached b d C . Churc es of St ” r d in ur h 1883 Bald e , Ed b g , .

28 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . l u r T s n e . r at defeat at D nba he e, on the othe ha d, de sired tha t none should be admitte d to ﬁght fo r the King

nl a n th n u ess they had t ke e Covenant . As the Ki g

ms f r ao s n n l s m hi el had al eady done , thi co ditio wou d ee

to n a n s o n e . In a r have bee ea y f ct, howeve , it proved the cause of a schism which cut deeply in to the unity of

h r s —s n n s n the C u ch her elf, ome of the Cove a ter goi g

i h rt u n r m s n rs w t the Court pa y de the na e of Re olutio e , an d r s r rh s in n rs z al the e t, fewe pe ap umbe , but full of e an d determination, making a stout stan d fo r what seemed to them the only safegu ard of n ation al a n d

m r w religious liberty. Fro the fo m hich their oppo si tion to ok they came to be known by the n ame of the

Prote ste rs. On e o f the chief lea ders of the Protestin g pa rty w as a min iste r who fo r te n years previous to this ti me had ﬁlled o n e of the most importan t charges in Berwick

hi T s was Mr a m s r a f r an d s re. hi J e Guth ie, l te o Laude ,

1 49 n is e s r a c since 6 one of the mi t r of Sti ling, then ity

s m n e e n m an n s of o e ot , where the Court oft ca e, d meeti g

rl m n r s m H was n o f Pa ia e t we e o etimes held . e of ge tle

r so n r o f in r a s ir an d bi th, the of Guth ie that ilk Fo f r h e ,

h r n e t A s r fo r ad been t ai d at S ndrew , whe e a time he

ims l of r In avowed h e f the Episcopal pa ty. a little,

r am n r r in ﬂ uen ce howeve , he c e u de the powe ful of

m R r r s s Sa uel uthe fo d, who had been ent by the As embly

ﬁll r s u n r of 163 8 to the pulpit at St And ew , and co te act

s a e n n s In s r the Epi cop l t de cie of the place. thi ente

s Ru r r was r s c s n t n h pri e, the fo d ve y u ce sfu l, o o ly by is

r n r s r a s p eachi g, which p oved mo t att active, but l o by

s n r an the private meeting he e cou aged in the place, d which formed cen tres of in ﬂ u en ce actin g upo n ma ny

ﬁn er s s in r n h of the pirit the Unive sity . O e o f t ese

as s w Jame Guthrie, whose heart a great disappo intmen t THE CO NANT O VE ERS F THE MERGE. — had just opened he had paid his addresses to Spottis ’ s s t r an — was wood daugh e d had been refused, and who therefore peculiarly apt at this time to seek the help of

s er in v a ma t the di ine way o f life. Rutherford, we i s may bel eve, poke much to him of the love of God, and s u hi w thu fo nd the key to s woun ded heart . This as

n e u r r i deed the p c lia excellence of that great teache , a n d one which appears very clearly in his famous

rs r r s lette , whe e he t eat with melting power of the

N s o f l to s n ] uptial the Sou Chri t, of the heave y delight which breathes in these moments o f conscious un ion

the an f an n ss with Beloved, d o the ease d sweet e with which even desertion a n d lon elin ess ma y be borne fo r ’ a r s a T s a m n w as w on the S viou s ke. hu , a noble ch pio fo r u s n in c — rd the ca e of the Covena t S otland, Rutherfo , w ho attached great importance to the open confession o f s r n his to s n m n an d Chri t, u gi g pupil ig that engage e t,

n c n to so e r i du i g him do b fo e he left St An drews. Guthrie is said to have had perhaps the greatest mixtu re of fervent zeal an d sweet calmn ess visible in

his m a s s n m s ha a n y man of ti e, di po itio which u t ve n ra w as ss m h been partly atu l to him, but doubtle uc ’ heightened by the u se he made of Rutherford s in struo

T s r rr to r tions an d appeals. hi tempe he ca ied the wo k

in r h r w as r n in o f the min istry Laude , w e e he o dai ed

His s an d r n r u n r 1642. gift b eedi g we e p blicly ho ou ed

r he w as s n o n e o f a few years afterwa ds, when cho e the three commission ers from the Assembly to Kin g

r N c s l n n . Charles I. , the with the a my at ew a t e Whe

r n s n Guthrie w as translated to Sti li g, the impo i g and affectin g scene witnessed at his last commu nion in Lauder bore witness to the worth of his services among the peo ple o f our shire .

rl n ot l s In his min istry at Sti ing, Guthrie on y di played 30 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . such courage an d con stan cy amon g his ﬂock tha t he ” w f s r as known there by the name o icke foot, but

h r s a to w c s owed the same qualities on a wide t ge, hi h his n w H r s e position gave him access. e p eached again t

R s n s n e his en s the e olutio , an d eve employ d p in the ame cause drawin g up fo r his party the pa per called The ’ au s s r The m o f s a s C e of the Lord s W ath . Co mittee E t te

him r s he n called to accou n t fo r his bold wo d , but decli ed to ackn owledge their authority in a matter touchin g

r an in c n his the libe ty of the pulpit, d ompa y with

r n n r in his n colleague M Be et, who had concu red actio , w he as sent in to a brief exile beyon d Ta y.

M r s r s r a s r o e e iou pe h p , as indeed the event p oved, w as the collision which occurred between Guthrie an d

M dl n s w a r n s id eto . Thi s a soldie of fortu e, who tood

in an d n u a a n well with the you ng K g, u fort n tely g i ed

r in ﬂ en e in a n su c g eat u c the roy l coun cils. Middleto ceeded in persuading His Majesty to escape from Perth o n e u n n in n r the pret xt of a h nti g expeditio the o th, with the purpose of placin g himself in the han ds of the

Hi n r to r s r ghla d chiefs, who we e pledged i e with thei c a s r Th s l sc m so n l n in the royal in te est. i wi d he e o

s rr a r a r s n r rn n mi ca ied, the King, fte b ief ab e ce, etu i g a r n n d placin g himself in the hands of the Presbyte ia s.

M r s n an d was c n n iddleton w as attain te d of t ea o , o dem ed

m a Th by the ecclesiastical cou rts to be excom unic te d . e s ri h s r pi tual sen te n ce was put in the and of Guth ie, who with great a n d in trepid solemn ity proclaimed it from his rlin pulpit at Sti g . In spite of the advan tage derived from the leadership o f s ma n as r the r s s uch a Guth ie, P ote ter found them se s in n n s lve in a decided minority the natio al cou cil .

T r R s n r rr r a he e the e olutio e s ca ied all befo e them, n d matters being in this posture the misfortunes of the THE OOVENANTERS OF THE MERSE 3 1 army in the ﬁeld were n o t on ly in the i n terest of the

r s ers P ote t , but proved a real advanta ge to the king

r s dom at la ge, by ten ding to compose the e unhappy

ff r n s hi r an ss n di e e ce , w ch in deed g ew less d le evide t 1 under the resolute govern men t of the Protector.

' The more favourable turn which aﬂ airs took under the Common wealth soo n showed itself in the quicken in r li r T g of eligious fe th oughout the cou ntry . he state o f religion had in deed begun to amend some time before

s n o w in th n thi , but , e e force d peace which the stron g

r n s n hand of C omwell k ew how to ecure so well, eve

r e an s r a Th r a c n the g eat r adv ce we e m de . e p e hi g of

r was n s al com Wo d freque t an d earn est, e peci ly at

n ss m o n s munio season s. Great multitudes a e bled the e

s n s a n r w as r s n to in n r occa io , d the e ea o th k that eve sin ce the Reformation itself had so man y souls been

n n co verted to Christ in Scotla d. We owe this testimony to the pen o f o n e well qu ali

ﬁed an s a r n n ma to judge, d who e f vou able opi io y be supposed to rela te to o u r shire at least a s much as to

an r a n r . Mr a s r n y othe p rt of the cou t y J me Ki kto , the “ author of the Secret a n d True History of the Church ” o f a w as in ar s M r Scotl n d, settled the p i h of e ton fo r ﬁve yea rs before the troubles which followed

R r n an his s m n is s r e the esto atio , d te ti o y t ength ned

1 A ter he ttle of un ar romwell a van ce u on in ur h f t ba D b , C d d p Ed b g an d to o he l f cit While in the ca ital he learn e k t cast e o that y. p d shir o lo tha t the Earl of Hu me still deﬁed him in Berwick e . C n el Fen wick was accordin gly se n t o u t to o ur shire with orders to redu ce the castle f Hu m which he resen tl did rin in his tw o e , p y , b g g o n n o cam n Hardacres hill where there are regime ts o fo t to a p o , still m r f heir en tren chmen ts an d then ce atterin the c so e t aces o t , b g astle hi ler The resen t co n walls to the grou n d with s artil y. p dition of this l sho ws tr es of this sie e o f su se u en t ila i atio n an d p ace ac g , b q d p d , o f the ﬂimsy an d preten tious recon stru ction which it suffered in the en u r last c t y. 32 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERGE .

o i by that f Liv ngston, who gives us to un derstand that the ﬂourishin g state of religion was particularly

an vi evident in the Merse d Te otdale. Mr John Livin gston made so great a ﬁgu re in ou r part o f the cou ntry that we may well take some

c u his s f a co nt of po ition and services. Like that o

J s r his r w as his r - ame Guth ie, o igin noble, g eat grand father havin g been the son o f the Lord Livin gston o f r r r a fo me day. His ea ly principles as an adherent o f Presbytery stood in the way o f his obtain ing a

as n as s s in r H charge lo g the Bi hop were powe . e therefore took the situation o f chaplain in the Earl ’ o f Wi to n s s r g hou e at Cumbe nauld, and while here preached his famous sermon o n the Communion Mon

r s r 1 day at Ki k of Shott in the yea 630, when there were such evident signs o f the presen ce of the Holy ’ an d s s r in Spirit, o gloriou a evival of God s work that

r o f r w pa t the count y . Eight years later he as settled

in r r n r a t the chu ch of St a aer, an d in 1648 he c me o

A u n r n r an the ncr m upo a p ese tation by Lo d Lothian, d a l r . H as s c ll of the people the e e became, we hou d

r n r r a expect, a st o g adhe ent of the P ote sting p rty, leadin g that cause in the Synod of Merse and Teviot

as r in dale Guth ie did the north .

T a r he Protesters were f voured in deed by C omwell, and thus en joyed much power an d in ﬂu en ce durin g

Th s w as n ot to the times of the Common wealth. i due any wan t of courage o n their part in decla rin g their sentimen ts o f affection and loyalty towards the ex iled kin g ; fo r when Guthrie w as summoned to preach

the r r s a s in r s before P otecto , he poke boldly that p e ence

i h n as he had formerly done n the court at Pert , defe d

’ in g the Kin g s right to reign with the greatest plain ness

l r n n mi and courage. Cromwel , howeve , had the mag a i ty 3 3 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E.

He to remain unprejudiced by these utterances. con

iv r r f r r fo r n s n ce ed a g eat favou o Guth ie, and Livi g to to o s r r n r , who al o had the honou of p eachi g befo e him, s n r h n s n an d resolv eei g them to be tho oughly o e t me , ing to give them an d the party they represen ted his

u an best co ntenance d help . In 1654 Livingston w as appoin ted o n e of the Pro ’ ” te t r s r rs is o n e s m ﬁt to c o t ie , that , of tho e dee ed examin e the claims of preachers before their admission

is r r in ﬂu en ce to par hes. He had al eady acqui ed much in the surrou ndin g district by the weight of his charac t r hi f s an d s e an d the brilliance of s gi t , the new po ition he n ow enjoyed was one which en abled him to do much towards supplyin g all that cou ntry with like-min ded m r m o f am R s inisters. Mess s So erville Edn , am ay of

M rdi an as H o n r n o ngton, d Dougl of ilt al eady belo ged to the Protestin g party ; Mr Jamieson of Swin ton wa s put upon the commission of trial at the same time as

v n s n an d in 165 5 s r n s r Li i g to , the e b ethre ecu ed the ordin ation of Mr Andrew Rutherford in the parish of

T m s the h Eccles. hu s the ti e of Commonwealt not only secured pea ce and religious prosperity but were a

The r e s e rs true preparation fo r the comin g trials. P ot t

rn s an d s r n were simply Presbyterian s in ea e t, the t o g hold which that pa rty ga in ed in o u r district con tri

n t s see to the s ss buted o a little, as we shall oon , ucce o f in M the good cause the erse. II I CHAPTER .

as s HE shire of Berwick, forming it doe the extreme south -east corner of Scot

h r n b s n land, w e e that ki gdom order upo

n sti a rs c s o f E gland, ll be many tra e T s r ancient wars and of an armed defence . he e we e even more plainly to be seen in 1660 than they n o w ar f s r r e . In that yea r Mr Jo hn Veitch o We t uthe l r ibbald w ote his account of the shire fo r Sir Robert S , praisin g the fertility of the groun d and its pleasan t aspect to ward the su n as little less favourable than

o f r n lan bu t that Yo kshire o r the best parts of E g d, ’ speakin g of the gentlemen s houses o f ou r country as makin g a poor show when compared with those across r r n r the Borde . He desc ibes them as bein g o bette

n e s t in s n r ad tha vault d Peels, if e position of atu al v an d r n r r so r antage, whe e built o lowe g ound, gi dled about with ramparts and fen ced with high w alls as

r n s s s ha dly to be see . Thi defect indeed, he ay , had

n sa a r an d r can begu somewhat to di ppe , the e be little doubt that the hopeful spirit of the times must have grea tly en couraged su ch improvements in the art of

m n m to e n d buildin g. The Com o wealth had co e an

a mw n r M n hi with the de th of Cro ell . Ge e al o k, w le

n str m r s h s n s r lodgi g at Cold ea , had eceived a i cou ello in m r n Mr m s n s r that e e ge cy Ja e Sharp, then mi i te of

1 To be o un in M amon the i tions in the f d S. g S bbald collec A ’ dvocates Library.

36 THE CO EN V ANTERS OF THE MERGE .

At his ﬁrst comin g to Scotland in 1650 it had been feared that the king brought the plague in his s s s u ail , o h rtfu l to that country were the dissensions ’ His Ma est s which j y presen ce awakened. These were

' o w r to suﬂ erin s n thing, ho eve , the g which followed his

u r to r n f ret n B itai at the time o which we now speak . Ou the former occasion he had said to Livin gston at

n n h n im m Du dee, whe t at mi iste r coun selled h to te porise “ the r n m h with Gove nme t of the Co monwealt , Would ’ ” you have me sell my father s blood 1 The same ﬁx ed

r s r n se s to n him s pu po e of eve ge em have a imated till, when n ew for the ﬁrst tims he had the power to carry

n ff c it i to e e t. Those w ho had open ly complied with the Govern ment o f the Protector were n aturally the ﬁrst victims of the

r n n an d as r w as n s e oyal ve gea ce, the e o tatut of indem ’ n it f r a n h w y o Scotl d, t e kin g s an ger en cou ntered fe

s c s in ha n r the n l 1 ob ta le t t cou t y. In mo th of Ju y 660

n n n n n w as s n an Jo h Swi to of Swi to eized in Lo don, d thrown into the Gate house prison there till he should f be sen t down to Scotlan d o r trial . He had sat as one ’ r m l s s h c w as th i r n f o f C o we l judge , w i h e ch ef g ou d o

sa n a n s n r r a accu tio ag i t him ; but, bei g a Quake , g e t in terest w as made o n his behalf by the Queen Mother

s s r a r to an d the Je uits, who made no ec et of their f vou

H w ﬁn all r r r that sect. e as y b ought befo e the Pa liament

1 r he s r con ﬁden ce of 661, whe e tood with a g eat deal of

bar r s n to a off his hat so to at the , efu i g t ke , that it had r His s a w as be removed by an ofﬁcer of the Cou t. e t te

an d r n it forfeited, the Duke of Laude dale e joyed ; but, ’ probably o n the application of Swin ton s inﬂ u en tial

r n s w as r s r a o n h f ie d , it e to ed to the f mily the deat of that n obleman . The same Parliamen t passed a like sentence of for THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE . 37

f i u e t re upon John Hume of Kello,l and Pringle of

w r r a h s Torwoodlee as another suffe e bout t i time, havin g also taken a commission of Ju stice from the ’ r o r r n n s u s n s n P otect . P i gle s so give to u der tand, i deed, that this severity proceeded upon the information of ’ those to whom his father s strict admin istration o f the laws had been an offen ce ; an d the eagern ess of the Governmen t to take up these cases must have greatly

n h r rs T r e couraged the malice of suc info me . he Pa lia ment of 1662 put the crow n on this un worthy work by m s o f n r exa ctin g enormous ﬁn es fro all part the cou t y. The su m then levied is said to have exceeded a million

s n r s r n r e terli g, to which Be wick hi e co t ibut d ’ The King s anger soon appeared not on ly again st those who had served in ofﬁces u nder the Co mmo n

r s in s m wealth, but mo e widely till, the ca e of all who the Prote ctor had favoured ; an d in this way the Pro testin g pa rty at large soon felt the severity of the royal

r ha d h s e n s displeasu e . They indeed a t ed to take a tep

m a l s r u which made the peculi r y odiou at cou t. O the

0 i e o f s s sat 23 rd of Au gust 166 , wh le the Committ e E tate in n u r a ar m n r Edi b gh, twelve of th t p ty, a o g whom we e

s M r n n in Guthrie of Stirlin g an d Ra m ay of o di gto , met

n n a private hou se there to draw up a petitio to the ki g .

s h u n n n n e r His Maje ty, t o gh omi ally a Cove a t , had already shown that he did n ot mea n to keep the oath

r The s r n w as r he had swo n . Epi copal gove nme t al eady

n n rv an restored in E gla d, the Se ice Book d Cere

s n to a a h s an monie bega ppear in the roy l c apel , d there was too good reas on to thin k that great chan ges

r n o w r n n Th in the same di ection th eate ed Scotla d. e

r n i r ss Prote ste rs acco di gly, wh le exp e ing the utmost

’ 1 w ll s h Tru ste es He had een roclaime On e of Crom e Scotc . b p d

tive Octo er 10 1660 with or Wariston an d others. fugi , b , , L d 88 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERGE.

loyalty to the person an d Go vernment of the Kin g, an d

s fo r n the mo t ea rn est wishes his prosperity, ve tu red in

s t n m m a thi pe itio to remind hi of his sole n eng gements.

to r n f and u ge the fulﬁlme t o them . The right of approachin g the Sovereign by petition has ever been regarded as sacred even by the most

r n s in s s w as autoc atic Governme t , but thi ca e it violated

m u o f st es s z without co p nction. The Committee E at ei ed the petition ers while their work was still in scroll, an d d m lo ged the in the castle of Edin burgh . No w began a general persecution directed very widely again st all w ho belonged to the Protesting party o r

in a n s r ls were y way a sociated with thei counci . A letter which the king sen t down to the Presbytery of Edin bu rgh on the 3 rd of September contai n ed some expression s which were eagerly interpreted as an en cou ra emen t t Th g o this action . e Committee emitte d a proclamation on the 2oth of the month den ou ncing

r s r s an d i the pulpit f eedom of the P ote ters, inv ting all men to lodge in formation which might lea d to their

sh n Th u c u rts h w puni me t. e Ch r h Co , w ere there as a m r R s s e r w ajo ity of e olutioner , took up the matt armly, as these men n ow saw some prospect of prevailin g over

r n s h r th M thei old oppo ent . In t is wo k e Synod of erse

Teviotdale w as r a and ve y ctive, and among the min istera whom they now proceeded to deprive of their livin gs a s Protesters were Mr Edward Jamieson o f

S n n Mr s H n an d r wi to , Daniel Dougla of ilto , M Sa muel

Ro w S r s o n s l Mr A of p ou t . It hou d be added that ndrew Ru therford of Eccles 1had already been dealt with in

sam r r the e way befo e the Re sto ation, on which occasion Livin gston and the other Protestin g members o f Synod

r r i ente ed thei dissent from the proceed ngs. An even

t s was of Ra s of M n t n more no able ca e that m ay ordi g o , who was of s r in drawing up the one tho e conce ned _ THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE; 39

n He s his s s an d petitio to the King. lo t rea on in pri on, ’ w as r r s con ﬁn emen t as libe ated afte a few day but, if

to err on s o f n n om they feared the ide le ie cy, the C mittee of Estates sequestrated the stipend of that sh pari .

T s s erse ff n r hi harp p cution a ected ot only the cle gy, but also the principal lan downers belongin g to the

r was s l r t n e s pa ty which o unpopu a at Cour . O of the e w as a Berwickshire gen tleman Walter Pringle o f

Greenkn ow — r n r h , whose suffe i gs we e so notable t at

his r i He was case deserves some particula attent on . the secon d so n o f a con siderable heritor in the shire — R r f titchel w ho . s ar obe t Pringle o S , had taken ome p t

r in the campaign of 1644 un der the Earl of A gyll, the Committe e which sat at Ayton in February of that year havin g appoin ted him to oversee the tran sport of

r ar r n the artille y tow ds Berwick . Robe t Pri gle died in

1 9 a n d his s so n r s n 64 , elde t p edecea ed him, leavi g a

n so n r nkn o w s you g family, that Pri gle of G ee ucceeded

a r Hi to what w s a heavy cha ge indeed. s o wn estate

n s r h n s a s r R mbleto n was exte ive, eac i g in the e d y f om u

n s Cha elﬁelds o f Hu n L o w law o the ea t, by the p tly, to

l an s on s s an sda e d even to Fan the we t, while, be ides

r f s r r a s tu tor to h the ca e o thi p ope ty, he acted is ’ bro ther s orphan children an o ﬁice he afte rwards — fou nd very than kless and admin istered in their in

terest the estate of Stitchel as well . Walter Prin gle had lon g been of a deeply religious

an d s r s r s s temper, u ed to ecall with plea u e the eriou ’ impression s he had received at Guthrie s last com

a r A w as m rr mun ion in L ude . bout that time he a ied

r s n his ow n n i by Guth ie to a cou i of , Ja et Pr ngle, ’ r The m r r To rwoo dlee s daughte . a iage took place at

an d n Stitchel Stow, the you g people came to live at , ’ r r r n s r that they might ca e fo P i gle widowed mothe , an d 40 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERGE .

i r r r . the children o f h s b othe , who had thei home there “ ” T s ol a titchel as she w as l was hi d L dy S , ca led, a

v n hill he dau ghter of Ha milto n of Sil erto . S had a

n s an d her warm attachmen t to the Coven anti g cau e, dower-house of Cu n n in gcarle o n the Stitchel estate became in afte r years a n ote d refuge fo r the perse

o e ut d party . Abou t a year before Guthrie left Lauder Livin gston

a to A r T s r r ben eﬁt to c me nc um . hi p oved a g eat

r n e n him n s e r e r his P i gl , who fou d in a mi i t aft own

r a w n a n n rc hea t, n d o n e ell able to deepe d e fo e the impressions of divin e thin gs he had already begun

n s n in his e s s n to feel . Livi g to , addition to mor ub ta tial

r s an n r r gifts, had the g aciou m e of the Cou t, where

n n a n d s i deed he had often bee , commanded re pect

his r his r n his n an alike by bi th, b eedi g, i tellect, d

h His ma n r r in r n o is piety. ne of p each g P i gle f und

r r ss a s o n e s n ve y imp e ive, that of who had ee the

r in s m v n s n wh s glo y of God o e di i e vi io , and o poke o u t of that hidden kn owledge thin gs which himself ha an a r The n a r ra d both seen d he d . you g l i d t velled

r m titchel to A r m r - f o S nc u eve y Sabbath day, thinking the pain s of his journ ey well spen t for the sake o f su ch co mpan y a n d privilege . l In his M m irs r m h m s r e o , f o w ich o t of these pa ticu lars are r r n s s an n a de ived, P i gle peak of eve t which g ve him ’ c r an d m n s n s mu h conce n, ade Livi g to advice peculiarly

im He had n n a valuable to h . bee e g ged at the fatal

ﬁel ar r d of Du nb , whe e he too k such a promin en t part that it became u n safe fo r him to remain in his o wn house while Cromw ell an d the En glish army occupied

an H a r n Scotl d. e cco di gly ﬁx ed his dwellin g at To r

n s s his woodlee, payi g vi it to wife an d family at Stitchel

1 The Me moirs of alte r Prin le o f Green kn ow e i W g , d ted by Re v oo in r h 184 W. u . W d, Ed b g , 7. 41 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERGE .

as n r s e h he fou d oppo tunity. It thu happen d t at ’ returning then ce o n e n ight in his brother-in -law s ’ c n m s r rs ompany, he met o n e of the e e y t oope , who 1 a him r ﬁ l r s o n his att cked ve y erce y. P ingle tood

n an d r n r s r sm his defe ce, , p ovi g the bette wo d an, killed

o n n — he man s n a r an d opp e t out of hand, t a ki g no qu rte , it bein g impossible to get an y prison ers carried thence to the a rmy in the n orth while the Lothian s were held

n s n w v ss r by the E gli h . This violent actio , ho e er nece a y

a n d u stiﬁable im n s s n s. j , left h u der seriou apprehen io He now reﬂected more than ever o n the sin s of his past

an life, d so n early fell in to a settled melan choly that it

was e th n o n e a matt r o f e greatest mome t to him, and o n which he ever afte rwards reﬂ ected with thankful

n ss a an his n w e , th t he now had the guidan ce d help of e

s r a a r n r pi itu l teacher to save him from desp i . U de the win n in g an d able min istry of Livin gston his un quiet

s r n a n r h n h c pi it fou d peace, d hen cefo t the bo d w i h united him to his chosen pastor w as on e of the closest

s n r n n is s l r n and mo t e du i g ki d. It ingu a , i deed, to remark the n umber an d quality of the n atu res over which the min ister of An crum exercised this commandin g

in ﬂu n H h - th a ha e ce . e owed is pre eminen ce to e rt he d

of r n n men r r r esu s b i gi g to a g eate Leade , even to J ,

1 ’ It would appear that the co n du ct of Cro mwell s tro o ps was mar e b ﬁ le S irit Ou the 15th of k d y a very savage an d u n justi ab p . March 1651 six e n n lish so l iers came to Dr bu r h , te n or seve te en E g d y g , ” where the in so len cies an d woun e o y committe d man y , d d J hn Ers in e of hi lﬁ l his s n Oh their return the oun three k S e e d an d o . y f d o f the Haliburton s o f Merto u n walking peaceably in Bemerside woo whom the attac e illin on e an d wo un in the othe d, y k d, k g d g rs. It is bu t fair to add that the troo per who did the deed was han ge d at Lau der u po n a complain t made to the Colon el by Tho mas Hali urton e he o o thirst tem er of the troo s was su ch as b , y t t bl d y p p fu lly warran te d Pringle in his stern an d fortun ate ly su ccessfu l ” ttitu e o f se l - e n — The Hai s o f B emers de Edin ur h a d f d fe ce . See g y , b g 81 242 2 , pp. , 43 . 42 THE OOVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

His Whom he himself constan tly owned and obeyed . in ﬂuen ce w as perhaps the highest of that time in our

r f th country, and may be clearly t aced in n ot a few o e

events which followed. It might have been supposed that the part which

r Pringle played at Dunba , and in his midnight rencontre, vouched fo r by the fact that his family had paid a ’ s hundred pounds as indemnity fo r the trooper death,

s h s n r- a r should have aved t i te de he rted, b ave, and loyal gentleman from the sufferin gs endured by so man y o f ’ r r how his rank on the king s retu n . On the cont ary,

w as e as of ﬁrst ever, he mark d out one the victims, being cast in to the castle of Edinburgh on the 26th of

1 fo r ﬁ n September 660, where he lay ftee days in the

ir A r Ker o f r Th compan y of S nd ew G eenhead. e charge on which the Committee of Estates proceeded against

s was din ss s n the e gentlemen that of ai g, a i ti g, and partakin g with the remon strators an d seditious persons so close a correspon dence had Pringle kept with

n s o n a n d n w as Livi g t , so soo he made to suffer for that Tw friendship. o years later he shared the general

’ s o f his n ﬁn e losse party, bei g d in £3000by Middleton s

Parliament. Those whom the Committee of Estates had laid in prison on the 23 rd of August were most of them

r e in s i r libe at d a few week ; but the r leade , Mr James

r a s in co n ﬁn emen Guthrie, em ined till t, being reserved m s He as an to . exa ple the re t had indeed, like Pringle, n s ff r fo r his to — bee a u e er loyalty the king, the Common wealth quartering soldiers upon him fo r some S r n s time in ti li g, becau e of the uncompromisin g way in

s n r . This which he upheld the cau e of the mo a chy , r suﬁ ce hi howeve , did not to save m from the malice o f s M was his en emie . iddleton now in power as the Royal r in Commissione Scotland, and Middleton had never

44 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E.

’ the s i r to s ea o f King l fe o liberty. It is u n necessary p k

r s of his n a e e the e t defe ces in det il. They wer very abl ,

n s fo r ot only had he the help of good coun el, but himself showed such knowledge o f the law an d acute ss ne in applyin g it a s to make his advocates wonder.

In n r a r n r m n o he a othe pl ce, o at a othe ti e, doubt,

n s d e would have bee ab olve , but in the Court wher Middleton presided his death w as already determined

o n The is s v ri . King, it aid, would h a e spared Guth e,

a n x r ss s m r n s th d e p e ed o e ese tment at hi doo m, but e

i r w s d H gh Commissione as of an other mind, and pu he affairs relentlessly to the end he had designed.

to n n Es es When sentence came be pro ou ced in the tat , man y rose and left rather than record their votes

m n r r his n s s a o ess . agai t uch a , become acc o y to death Lord Tweeddale ven tured to move fo r a sen tence of

m s r r ban ish ent, a mea u e o f favour to the prisone which ’ w as taken n otice of an d represen ted to his Lo rdship s

s t n T s Was rr di advantage wi h the Ki g. hi ove uled,

r an w v r howeve , d doom as oted in the harshest te ms to which Middleton could secure the assent of the

ha n House. Guthrie d mea while waited without in

ss n s an di n great calmne , otwith t g the confused crowd of

r fﬁ er f s n soldie s, o c s o the Court, and other amo g whom

was s o f his cas he kept, and the critical po ture own e.

as n w r s n e n He w o recalled, and hea d e t ce of death

n s him He s r s in pronou ced again t . aid ve y imply reply, r s n r s s n ff My Lo d , let eve thi ente ce a ect you mor e

n s me tha it doe , and let never my blood be required of ’ ” the kin g s family. A number o f affectin g circumstances occurred durin g ’ r s as s H w the prisone l t day . e as led back from the

to his a con ﬁn emen t T Court pl ce of in the olbooth, and, as m him r for was s r the ti e allowed to prepa e death ho t, he desired his secretary to draw up a fair copy of his THE 45 COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . dyin g testimony that it might be given to his son when

s f Hi a w f r he hould become o age. s est te indeed as o feite d , and he had no other legacy to bequeath his children than the assurance thus given un der his own han d that he had died a faithful Coven anter an d

M T n his w as artyr for the ruth. Whe t done, and the

s n his n h paper igned, taki g bo y o is knee, he said i u Will e, they will tell yo and cast up to you that

was n n s it your father ha ged, but thi k not hame of , fo r is n it i a good cause . ’ The sen tence further ordered Guthrie s coat-o f-arms to s m ss n n n be defaced. In humble ub i io to this i dig ity,

s his s rn n s so he ealed te timony twice, tu i g the eal, that

w as s f the impression of the coat lo t, and that o the cross

a n n m r appeared in stead . I h ve othi g o e to do with ” - - a s o i s s . co t arm , he aid

n r f mi O e mo e act o hu lity remain ed to be performed .

His r was n rr n bi th, which noble, co fe ed o him, at least

s n a by pre criptio , the right to die s the Marqu is o f

Ar r s n an n t gyll p e e tly did, by the axe d o by the cord.

His n n v r n e mn to se te ce, howe e , co d ed him the gallows

a n to his instea d of the block . Spe ki g wife of thi s ex

ra r in a r s v s n r i t o d y e erity, he took occa io to glo y n it. ” r s is e a am A gyll, he aid, to be b he ded, but I to die o n as r s a tree, Ch i t did. It was in deed this thought of con formity to the s ff s r s a e r his m n an u ering of Ch i t, never bs n t f om i d, d sometimes risin g to the pitch of a lon gin g he thought s n l w i fu , hich n ow returned in all its force to sustain Guthrie durin g the supreme hours of his life and

. H w m in r martyrdom e as un com on ly cheerful p ison, and received with unfailin g courtesy the many visitors

n r who came to bid him farewell . Risi g ea ly on the

r of his s n s s in mo ning execution, he pe t ome hour

r v e on saw his for the p i ate d voti , after which he wife 46 THE OOVENANTERS OF THE MERSE.

The r s ran his last time, and bade her adieu. o der that sc ff hands were to be boun d as he went to the a old, but his in ﬁrmity of body made this preten ded precautio n ot nl r was n o y idiculous but impossible, and the cord ff loosed so that he might have the u se of his sta . hs o f so n Bent with age, and weakened by mont pri

s r ea h and sickne s, but ﬁlled with an inwa d p ce whic m his l m ass s wn ade heart ight, the artyr p ed lowly do the few yards of cause way which separated the Tolbooth

was n s r from the Cross. The High Street de ely th onged

h r ws r with m p , and f om the lofty windo on eithe

s e . He is s to hand, many looked ou t to e him die aid have mounte d the scaffold with such surprisin g light

ess r n in his s n of foot, and bea i g so bright a joy look ,

t saw him tha , to the apprehension of those who , he

se l -w a n r n n i emed ha f y to heave al eady, a otio wh ch

s e r s an d m his in s n the pirit d wo d an ner of dy g te timo y,

r an ss now delive ed, did much to in crease d impre . “ ” saw s ff r rn an d I him u e , says Bishop Bu et ; adds,

He w as so fa n r r r from showi g any fea , that he ather

r ss H s r exp e ed a contempt of death . e poke an hou

n s upo the ladder, with the composedn es of a man that was deliverin g a sermon rather than his las t words.

was r a r s r It a g eat hour, n d neve , we may feel u e,

r r r r dr ss eithe at Laude o Sti lin g, had Guthrie ad e ed s r o r s n s c n n a n d uch a c owd, poke with o mu h co victio

His s r s r a r as w as c power. la t wo d we e he d he a tually ’ in n n s an s an d n his rs h the ha gma h d , fell upo heare wit tha t power o f surprise which is the supreme secret

ff s r n n of e ective peech . All eyes we e be t upo the

r s n marty , and every breath stilled in a ile ce which

o s n s r s n s n c uld be e ibly felt, when Gu thrie, ai i g udde ly as r r r in a aptu e the n apkin boun d upon his face, b oke

a w s l n ss r as o n e th t a ful ti l e with a cry of t iumph, of who in the very article o f a great agon y had wrestled '

THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . 47

n r with Go d fo r a blessi g and had p evailed. The

n s d n s s Cove ant , he crie , the Covena t hall yet be ’ ” n an so ss to his r Scotland s revivi g, d pa ed inco ruptible

r n his s r s n c own, leavi g with late t b eath a te timo y w as s r which Scotland not oon to fo get. The scene which followed at the scaffold w as on e of

n n the most affecting ki d . When the ha gman struck — off the head of the corpse fo r none of the barbarous accompan iments o f execution for high treason were — spared in this case the spectators pressed forward to ’ r n r i s m r r s dip thei ha dke ch ef in the a ty blood, holding

fo r n n o n his rs them up to heaven ve gea ce pe ecutors. ’ Guthrie s body w as presen tly dressed for burial in the ’ s St les r b s r s ai le of Gi Chu ch y eve al ladie of quality,

r r who waited the e fo r that pu pose . While they were

s t s s r a n man n m S rl bu y in hi piou wo k, you g a ed ti ing,

s r n n r m a r u m a u geo of the tow , b ought the a phi l of pe f e,

r r so a a w as and b oke it ove the body, th t the whole pl ce

n presen tly ﬁlled with sweet ess. It is in deed impossible to describe the ten sion an d

n a ll c ss s s a n i terest felt by la e at thi time, in terest

c s r n r a n d whi h quickly p ead to the cou t y, probably reached its greatest height in those pla ces where

r a w n Th Guthrie ha d been pe son lly kn o . e even ts of his death an d burial were everyw here spoken of with ’ e r an d n m r r s ea w a bat d b eath , whe the a ty h d s set up o n Netherb w s r s n ran an d w as c m the o , a to y oo , o mon ly

had r e r m believed, that blood d opp d f o it upon the ’ m ss n r s c ma r M le n as a m r r Com i io e coa h to k idd to u de er . Much n otice w a s taken of the fact that the coach of

S e n ew r o n s m an tat had a cove put it about thi ti e, d it w as gen erally sa id that the servan ts ha d don e their

s to s o ff s s a n s in a n be t wa h the e blood t i , but v in . I this excited an d forebodin g temper the n ation waited to

en s n s see what the d of the e thi g would be . T CHAP ER IV.

’ E have already noticed the King s lette r to the Presbyte ry of Edinbu rgh, which came down o n the 3 rd o f Septe mber

1660. It seems that this letter was written

s of r in by the de ire Sha p, who played so great a part overturnin g the Presbyte rian governmen t of the r w Chu ch, though he as highly trusted by that party ﬁrs H at t. e desired the establishmmt o f Episcopacy as

n s n a mea to his o wn a dvan cement, and knew the Ki g w as v it saw His M s r in fa our of , but that aje ty fea ed what effect such a chan ge might have in alien ating the

ff s hi r was r a ection of s no thern subjects. It acco dingly ’ Sha rp s whole study to prevent the King from booom

in in n g aware of the true sta te of feeling Scotla d, while he diligently to ld him that the great body of

r s the people there would welcome the p opo ed change.

was r s It possible, howeve , that thi policy might be overturned in a momen t by some appea l on the part

s sh s S r of the Church, which hould ow the fal e part ha p

w as an d r r s Ki playing them, the efo e he per uaded the ng to send a letter which should keep the Presbyte

r ss n s His Ma s w as ria n s quiet. The exp e io which je ty : f r thus made to u se were in deed most reassuring o , h while he spoke harshly o f the Pro testing party, e declared it to be his purpose to maintain the govern s tis ment of the Church as by law established. So a factory did the Presbytery think this letter tha t they 49 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . ordered a silver box in which it might be kept as the

o f r l palladium thei iberties.

M m n ss s iddleton, who see s to have bee a man le ubtle

his c w as s s in poli y than Sharp, highly di plea ed with

n n as r r m r what had bee do e, if the oyal lette ight p ove an obstacle to the carryin g ou t of the design s then on

s h n a foot at Court in favour of Epi copacy. W e he c me

n r 1 1 r s o n dow to hold the Pa liament of 66 , he e olved a

s n his an d bold troke of policy, hopi g to outdo rival at the same time procu re fa vour with the King by settin g His Majesty free from all obligation to the

s n s s was to ss an Act Pre byteria . His purpo e pa by which all the proceedin gs of Parlia men t sin ce the

n an troubles of 163 7 should be declared ull d void .

s em r a So extravagan t did this proposal e , howeve , th t i M n at ﬁrst n o one would con sen t to t. iddleto laid

s fo r m an n n his n i it a ide a ti e, d the , whe private Cou c l — had dru n k heavily for this kin d of deba uchery w as — w as but to o common un der his govern men t he brought

n s n r r R s r s them to co e t to it. Lo d Cle k egi ter Prim o e, who had indeed the hon our of suggestin g such an

Act to M l n r r r in idd eto , w as o de ed to d aw it up due

an d a H s form, it passed by a majority in the pli ble ou e o f s s n n s n an d E tate , ot however without stro g oppo itio

n r r s r m r n r u de p ote t f o the Presbyte y of Edi bu gh, who n o w began to see how little their cherished letter would s r as n e ve them a defe ce . When Parliament rose the Scottish Coun cil met in

n M n w as r London to advise with the Ki g . iddleto the e, a n d Ro s an d r a the , Laude d le, who outdid each other in their purpose of persuadin g the Ki n g to see n o reason fo r r s n ss r n His M s app ehen io o r delay, a u i g aje ty he might now proceed to ca rry out his wishes in Scotland

r r n had without fea of the con sequen ces. Pa liame t de D 50 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

’ termin ed that it lay in the King s power to o rder the h Th A ss had constitution of the C urch . e ct Re sci ory

l r n s n o c eared the way of all fo mer e gagement , and

n w f s thi g as now required but a sign o the royal plea ure . The Privy Council by which Scotlan d was n o w governed ’ l n s rr n o u t s wou d a wer fo r the ca yi g of the King s purpo e . The Council continued their deliberations in Edin

r f r bu gh on the 5th o Septembe . At that diet a letter w as read from the Ki n g which accorded exactly with

n n H rr the advice that had bee give him . e refe ed to s the pledge granted to the Pre byte ry, but said that s f h ct R s ss ince the passing o t e A e ci ory, the Church as by law established could mean n o other than that o f ’ his r n s s r r w fathe s time, whe the eccle ia tical o de as

s n was h Epi copal . This the the Churc he had promised to w as hi a uphold, and it s roy l will that Presbyte ry s to a hould now give way Prel cy . Next day the Coun cil ’ r s i n made proclamation in te m of the K g s lette r.

No w s s n s s an aro e the que tio of the bi hopric , d who s ﬁll hould be appointed to them . It is somewhat re markable that two o f the new prelates came from o u r

o f Mr of M a part the country, David Fletcher elrose, n d

n s Th r Mr Andrew Fairfoul of Du . e fo mer was a mere

r i man o f s e wo ldl ng, the latter a ome not . Indeed, Fair ’ foul had been chosen by Sharp s advice, in the hope that his shrewdness might do the Court party much ser

No s r ha d n s cra vice. ooner, howeve , he been co e ted, m r was which happened in Dece be , than he as it were

r man r chan ged into anothe , f om the utter fa ilure of

n his intellect. O e may imagine how this was remarked

’ o n in the Merse, where indeed the memory of Fairfo ul s

n us a in cumbency was highly sca dalo , s the whole coun try talked of the crimin al correspon dence he had kept with

n an a lady of great beauty in that eighbourhood. If y

N E 52 THE COVE ANT RS OF THE MERS E .

es to r c e Primacy, thought it b t p o e d by degrees, and to ﬁrst make the attempt with the youn ger ministers. These he supposed would be more pliable than the f 3 8 veterans o 16 , and their submission might secu re o f s the success the whole cheme. His expectation s Th were en tirely disappointed. e Presbyterian clergy

n ow n s n n a had an u der tandi g amo g themselves, n d rema in ed quietly in their places, doin g nothin g indeed

ff o r m n ss r i to o end the G ve n ent u nece a ily, but g vin g n o

e Ac sign of obedien ce to the lat t. Fairfoul of Duns had been appoin ted to the see of

s d s r n o f Gla gow, a ioce e comp ehendi g that part the west of Scotland where the Presbyterian feelin g was

n he m ss n r particularly stro g . T Co mi io e now made a

st an d the Ar is progress in the we , chb hop took the Opportunity o f complainin g to him that n ot o n e of the youn g ministers had yet acknowledged him in any

of o n was rdi n way. A meeting C u cil acco ngly conve ed

s an d l st o f O e at Gla gow, upon the ctob r they emitted

t in c r n w su s n s of Fairfo ul an Ac ac o da ce ith the gge tio , w ho assured them that n o t ten of the Presbyterian

n n to r r clergy would be fou d willi g b ave their th ea ts.

was o f s s n This famous Act, which uch con eque ce to

d s o f every part of the country, prohibite uch the ministers as had not already q u aliﬁed in terms of the

Act of Parliament from exercising an y part of their

n r h to m m functio , and orde ed t em re ove fro their s s e r 1st o f N m churches and man e b fo e the ove ber. The fatal consequen ces of this measure were perceived w M almost a s soon as it as passed. iddleto n regretted that he had lent an ear to the assurances of Fairfo u l

saw s fulﬁlle when he that the e would not be d. Sharp was exceedingly an gry at the false step that had been

s of his Ah h taken at the in tance ithop el, whose coun sel THE CO NANT RS F VE E O THE MERS E . 53 w as n ow rn n tu ed to folly . In the mo th of December the Council sought to repair matte rs a little by ex tending the time fo r submission until the ﬁrst of

r r All w a n Th r m n Feb ua y. s i vain . e Gove n e t had — almost un wittin gly it w a s said in a state of dis — graceful dru n ken n ess e n tered o n what a well-kn own 1 “ author has n ot un ﬁtly ca lled the thirty in famous years that completed the misfortunes an d degradation ” f a n o Scotl d. While these oppressive Acts were passin g in the

n n s r a n Cou cil, mea we e also taken to reach m y of the

' r s rs as n he ﬁrst suﬂ erers w as olde mini te well . O e of t

n s n A r s n for s tM e Livi g to of ncrum . He had fo e ee ome

s a i s m n n i h the on et of the sto rm n d h s la t com u io , wh c

l 12th r is s to n o n e fe l upon the of Octo be , aid have bee

an n of the most rema rkable of that time d cou try .

M r fa r a n d n r n co n any attended f om ea , i deed the cou rse of people an d min isters was so great that the

n i it a ss n Privy Co u c l after wards to ok notice of , p i g an Act which restricted the n umber of as sistan ts to be

o n s as r a e m employed uch occ ion s. It had al e dy b co e usual in these days to hold a than ksgivin g service o n

m n M n s m is sa to the Com u ion o day, a cu to which id have dated from the remarkable revival un der this

1 3 0. n s o n minister at the Ki rk of Shotts in 6 Livi g t ,

o w n r s a n so as he n e te ed the pulpit, mu t h ve do e with

n r He tender recollectio s of that ea ly time. had found it difﬁcu lt to deliver his soul freely o n the previous

was in m n s day, when he occupied the co munio ervice

r ber s n fo r his itself, but now he took g eat li ty, choo i g text the words Whosoever therefore shall co n fess m l M Me before men, hi wil I confess before y Father

1 ’ See Hallam s Histo ry. 54 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERGE.

is in n s r l n Me re which Heave , but who oeve wil de y befo men , him will I den y before My Father. After a brief

n r to s a o f i troduction, the p eacher came at once pe k

s w s v r ill s o f four thing , hich, he aid, were the e y p ar

r st n — w r n a l his Ch i ia ity Faith, he ei man be ieveth with

a R sn s he rt ; ighte ou e s, which is received by that faith

T s his e timony, when a man confesses his faith with

an d n s m n mouth ; Salvatio , the capital and con um atio

a ll of .

In n n r n s ha dli g these heads o f discou se, Livi g ton went o n to say that Satan often prevails by fear when he has

i to win s s n c m n an s n fa led oul by e ti e e t, d added omethi g

n c n r co erni g the awful sin of den ying the Lo d, which he sa id was to religion as poiso n is to the body or treason had to the State. Then hasten in g to treat what the

s mo t immediate interest fo r his hearers and himself, he reminded them of what we in o u r day should neve r ’ r t s a fo ge , that the least encroachment o n Christ b solute and kingly right in His o wn Church is a thin g

He n ot s ff r n n r will u e , and o e which should be i tole able His T m to people also . he Govern ent of the land, he s aid, should in deed be hon oured by all men as ordained of Go d but when the Kin g to ok upon him to appoin t an

r r r as w n n m o de to the Chu ch, he as then doi g i the atter

the s s r n r s s n r of Bi hop , men we e bou d to esi t uch i te feren ce as they would be an swerable to Christ ; an d n o t all the love he bo re to his ﬂo ck at Ancrum would tempt him to s n in s o r to r as n ew be ile t thi case, pu ch e a lease of his min istry there by den yin g his Master in that

. As to r n ess as pulpit the futu e, he co f ed he had yet but little clearness on man y question s o f con duct that

i r were l kely to a ise, but bade his hearers wait upon the

r Who ul s r Lo d, wo d u ely cause light to arise for the ou t of r s upright even da kness. With thi word of ho pe E H RS 55 TH COVENANTERS OF T E ME E .

r n n en n an d rea a u n he p o ou ced the b edictio , the g t die ce,

e r to rr r n r is d eply moved, b oke up ca y ove the cou t y th partin g message from the preacher who was so widely

n an revere ced d deeply beloved.

l t r r s n In a i tle afte wa d , Livi gston had warnin g that

is w as n n n H n m chief i deed i te ded him . e we t at once to

r r rm Edinbu gh that he might gain mo e exact info ation, an d ﬁn din g that n othi n g more serious tha n exile w as

r s rn m n t the pu po e of the Gove e , he resolved to defer his

n i h i tended ﬂ g t.

n 11th r c r O the of Decembe he ame befo e the Council . They complain ed that he had n either observed the 29th o f Ma e n as r s n da y, lat ly appoi ted a yea ly thank givi g y

fo r Re s a n n o r s the tor tio , obeyed the ummon s to take ' ’ his as r s s place a membe of the Bi hop Synod . He could

s s n on r ad fo r i give them no ati factio eithe he , , l ke the

r s of his a r w as n e t p ty, he exceedi gly jealous o f the

n r s be in rs n civil authority whe it p e cri d matte of religio , and found he could not sit in the n ewly constituted Synod witho ut thereby acknowledgin g the Episcopal

rn m n r T n gove e t of the Chu ch . he Cou cil accordin gly

him s a s s s s n a a told he mu t, a u pecte d per o , t ke the o th

n r r H r a o r c n r . s of allegia ce, emove f om the ou t y e e l o,

n r difﬁcult fo r s a h w he fou d a g eat y, , by thi o t he as

c n wl n as s r m n obliged to a k o edge the ki g up e e, o t on ly in m ers w as m s r to civil att , which he o t eady do, but

r as He s r . ove the Chu ch well refu ed the oath, an d

ﬁx e his n fo r s m n s i d dwelli g o e mo th in Leith, t ll he

r as should go ab oad, the Coun cil would by n o mean s allow him to return home even to bid his wife and

a r family f ewell . ’ Livingston s exile w a s delayed till sprin g o n a ccoun t

s a r o f s a r m n ow s ff r of a h p attack ciatic f o which he u e ed .

on ﬁn e to his n h While thus c d lodgi g at Leit , he had the 56 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

‘ sympathy an d aﬁection ate regard of very many who to n 9th came see him before he left the coun try . O the of A s il n l n min to Ro r pril he a ed i to Hol a d, and co g tte his i dam, took up his abode there, where wife and ch ldren s s s o f hortly joined him . In this town he pent the re t his He days very pea cefully till his death in 1672.

t r e m of en p eached in the Scottish Church at Ro tt rda , an d ga ve much of his time to critical studies on the o f s text the Hebrew a n d Greek Scripture , with their rn rs w en o ed mode ve ions, a con gen ial task in hich he j y ‘ rr s n T s the co e pondence of the learned Leusde . hu a

o r as fo r v ice, often and gladly hea d in Scotlan d it pled wa the truth, s silenced there for ever.

1 See n ote B . HA T C P ER V.

HEN the time of grace granted by the

G rn n ha d a ss s n s rs ove me t p ed, tho e mi i te who still refused to obey the Glasgow Act

r r a a were equi ed to le ve their p rishes. The well-known even ts o f en able u s to judge how much sufferin g must ha ve been the con sequen ce of this earlier severity in the case of those who were subjected to it but it is remarkable with what a light han d these days of pain an d an xiety a re treated in the memoirs of

s n The s ff r n s tho e who e dured them . u e i g which followed were indeed o f so much graver a kin d as to make the ﬁrst begin n in gs o f persecution seem hardly worth

n n dwelli g upo . The shire of Berwick showed a good record at this time in the n umber of min isters within o u r boun ds who con tin ued faithful to their Presbyterian prin ciples in spite of the pen alty tha t n o w attached to that way of

n n The r Pr s f n s h rn s thi ki g. th ee e byteries o Du , C i ide,

ar s o n n - ar s s an d and E l t n the co tain ed thirty two p i he , o f these some seventeen were un der the charge o f

n s r T r o f s men mi i te s who refused to con form . h ee the e were already deposed by the Syn od as Protesters three

r r r of Act a mo e were beyon d the di ect each the , bec use

a r 1 48 an d r they h d been ordained befo e 6 , we e gran ted a

1 Se An f h Disru tion E in ur h Macn iven e nals o t e p , d b g ,

allace m. W , passi 58 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

gu arded kind o f toleration in their respective parishes

l a s n of u r o f while they ived ; P ter o Whitsome, B ne

n n an r La gto , d Ra msay o f Mo din gton received the same

n ul n s s s n in si n iﬁcan i d ge ce, the la t of the e charge bei g g t, an d the in cumben t related to a powerful family in the

s r r s o f h s mi is e s n six in n r hi e ; the e t t e e n t r , bei g umbe , rn ou t o f r an d s were tu ed chu ch man e. l Several o f the n on con formin g clergy con trived to

sis r n of Act fo r s re t the ope atio the ome time. On e o f

s w as Mr o hn Har o f o r n w ho n n d the e J dy G do , co ti ue ,

r o f r n o f Green kn w t unde the protection P i gle o , he

a r s prin cipal herito r in th t pa i h, to occupy the pulpit

1 At a v r w there till July 663 . that d te, howe e , he as

n f r his r cited before the Cou cil o t b each of the law. His

s r an sen ten ce bo re that he hould fo thwith remove, d take up his residen ce in some place which should be n o t

his a s six r less than twen ty miles from p ri h, f om Edin

an d r m n r s r n burgh, th ee fro the ea e t bu gh tow . A week or two afterwards these provision s were exten ded to the case o f all the deprived clergy in what w as called

Mile Act s r of G n the , but the pa to ordo had the honour o f bein g the ﬁrst sufferer in this way. The charge which Hardy thu s left vacan t was presen tly ﬁlled by the appoin tmen t o f Mr James

n n r s t s r Stratto , a co fo mi t who had hither o e ved the cur e

T s s m n as s su . s at Eyemouth hi ettle e t, we hould ppo e,

s s c n . The c um tes gave but little ati fa tio to the people , as those were called who fell in with the policy of the

r r n r an d a r s Go vern ment, we e ve y u popula , the p i hion ers o f Go rdon soon began to draw un fa vourable compari son s between their late respected pasto r and the man

w n ow s t r who as e ove them, whom they heartily

1 See n ote 0.

on THE N T COVE AN ERS OF THE MERS E .

a Mr r s n ot f he ring St atton, and thi so much because o

s man h m n f any di like he had to the i self, as o n accou t o the innovation s n ow in tro duced in the public w orship

as r c s in r s r P r p a ti ed the pa i h chu ches. rayers we e o the s h mas r do l read fr m a book by c ool te , the ggggy was sun g at the close o f the Psalms ; an d thou gh it may be said that these chan ges imported no more than a retu rn to what ha d been at least the permissive u se

o f ﬁft a s b r in the S is r n y ye r efo e cott h Chu ch, whe

n n s rs r r o f mm r r ma y mi i te ead f om the Book Co on O de , — yet to the min d o f Prin gle n o rude o r uncultiva te d

ma n r m r — , let it be eme be ed such an inn ovation repro

n s in f s r s n s n H sa w se ted ometh g o e iou co eque ce . e in it the han d o f an a uthority which he a n d man y others refused to ackn o wledge when it made itself felt in the

s ir a s r a n d r s f rs p itu l phe e, a evival of mode o wo hip ’ h s r r w ich Laud Litu gy had en dered odious, and the whole spirit an d practice of the nation had fo r a

n r n n s s n s r r ge e atio co i te tly di ca ded. The p ayers and

r ss in s as doxology might be ha mle them elves, but now i osed they were part of a studied repu diation of that mg_ bright past which man y at least regarded as the golden

o f S s r a n d as s s s o age the cotti h Chu ch, uch thi t ut

n an r an d his r a n m Cove te pa ty would h ve no e of the . It is in deed custo ma ry to take a somewhat false view o f a of s a s w the ritu l the e d y , follo ing the Opinion o f writers who have represented it as the un chan ged

rs o f r s t r t s as Go rn m n wo hip P e by e ian ime , if the ve e t had taken care to avoid offen din g the susceptibilities o f n an d n s s the natio , had, while givi g them Bi hop , allowed the old forms o f service to continue as they were

ul n before. Such wo d i deed have been the most politic

s an d cour e, might have done much to con ceal from the people the magnitude of the chan ges that had passed RS F THE M RS 61 THE COVENANTE O E E .

h r an d s c r n to upon the C u ch, to e ure thei adhere ce the h r n . s s n ew Establis hme t We cannot uppo e, oweve , that the case o f Gordon w a s an exception to the common

an d s s to h l n o ru le, the truth eem be t at whi e attempt w nl ss l r r as made in the meantime, u e at Ho y ood o

n to se n s r o r an n s Salto , u the E gli h Litu gy y co iderable — imitation o f it the Govern ment fea rin g a return o f

l ts— r an d to s ff n s the o d tumul yet a eal, , ome, o e ive, inn ovation was made by restorin g the u se o f rea d l r s an d n n of lor n o as p ayer the cha ti g the G y, doubt

si n tr m r o f the a prelude de g ed to y the te pe people, and prepare them fo r further chan ges so soon as these

a s s the 29th Ma might be judged advis ble . Be ide , of y, which w as ordered to be observed yearly as a thanks ’ ’ i n fo r s r s r n t An s da an g vi g the , S drew y d g _ ” Kin _ e to atio s s r r s r the ar as H s Chri tma we e e to ed to Calend oly day ,

n d s ex tra o rdin ar o f r a , mo t y all, the P ivy Council

l r r s r n to s s repeated y o de ed a t ict Le t be kept, be ide

° ﬁsh- a s v r n r $1351 n a t i three d y e e y week, u de ﬁé 1 y n case

n s n s n n o f disobedie ce . Di pe atio s allowi g the u se of ﬂesh at these forbidden seasons issued from the same

r s t r a s n n c s s e pec able autho ity, but the o ly o e whi h eem to be still extan t was gran ted to a gen tleman o f some — con sidera ble property Thomas Scott o f Whitsla de it is likely that these in dulgen ces were n ot to be had save at a price which put them beyon d the reach o f 2 at a r a n s c ai s n the people l ge. T ki g all u h det l i to

s h w s r n n account, we ee o con siderable the e itual i ova

s r an d h w r s c w as n rm tion we e, o e pe table the no confo ity o f those Presbyterian s w ho refused to fall in with the

r r o f n s new o de thi g .

1 See the case of Ro ert Fairfoul of in i e who w b Newburn F f , as rou ht e ore his Pres ter in f in he lor b g b f by y 1664, or mock g t G y ” b sa in ou is the au l Mess set u a ain y y g y d p g . A b b 2 1 4 P. . Fe . 6 an d 13 1662 Feb 2 Fe . 66 . , ; . 1 , 1663 ; P. W . , 62 THE CO NANT RS OF VE E THE MERS E .

A very complete system was n o w in force for the detection of non conformists : the cu ra tes furnishin g the Go vernmen t with accoun ts o f a ll who absen ted them

se s r m r a s r h Th lve f o thei p ri h chu c es. e stan din g w hich

r in his a Wal ter P ingle had county, and the fact th t he was r s a al eady a uspected person, made it certain th t his case would be dea lt with both speedily an d

r n w as s m n st i gently. He u mo ed before the High

m ss ul 1 4 an h Co mi ion in J y 66 , d t at Court sent him to t to th f the 0p take e oath o allegiance. This he

n m s scr l n as his fou d i pos ible, up i g master Livin gston ’ n afﬁrm n s s r a in had lately do e, to the ki g up em cy the as s Th ecclesiastical as well the civil phere. e Com mission told him he must either pay a ﬁn e o f some

n e s o f n s o r s n r his s n ar hu dr d pou d el e e te per o in w d, a n im i to n s r m r s n d giving h t me co ide the atte , e t him

s co n ﬁn e hi s to his home, de iring he would m elf house of

w r r r s Green kn o till fu the o der . On the 24th o f November a messenger-at-arms ridi n g ’ with three troo pers o f His Majesty s Life Gu ard came

reen kn w r s n r T to G o and took the ir p i o e . hey _ la d m a n r carried hi th t ight to Whitbu n, where they had

n f r s the r an left o e o thei party ick day befo e, d so by

n h r Chan n elkirk to Edi burg , where P ingle lay some

H r s time in the Tolbooth . e e he had the ympathy o f man y frien ds of the family an d cause to which he

n an d ss n m m in th belo ged, doubtle fou d uch co fort e

a an d the in r s r m s visits they p id him, te e t they p o i ed to

n his b Go rn n . The sh s u se o ehalf with the ve me t Bi op ,

r rr r o w n in m howeve , ca ied it all thei way the Com ission

r ri n s h r th ough the P mate who the pre ided in t at Cou t, ’ a n d in a little Prin gle s senten ce was pron ou nced and

n w proved severe e ou gh. He as ordered t o o E1 in o_ g_ _ t co ﬁ d s of and be n ne within the bound that burgh, and THE 63 COVENANTERS OF THE MERGE.

n ot his ﬁn e n m was to if he did pay before Ca dle as, he be kept thereafte r a close prisoner within the Tolbooth o f the town .

A r l l r s to l fte a itt e e pite, which he owed the de icate ’ — state of his wife s health their daughter An na w as — bo rn on the 3 oth o f Ja n n ary he left for his northern t 5 exile in he wild win try weather of February 166 , his heart torn by the pain o f parting from his wife and

an d m i a r children, their aged other . H s f ith, howeve ,

w an r an o n s a as high d st ong, d proved a great c ol tion ’ ” Fo r His N m s s s to to him. a e ake, he kept aying himself as the sto rms o f tha t tempestu ou s season bea t

an h o f A r e upon his cheek d ridin g by t e coast be d en,

n n m in he arrived at last in Elgi , taki g co fort the assuran ce that these su fferings were laid upo n him because he would n ot den y the cause of Christ in

Scotland. While in exile his con solations in creased rather than

The m s n s m diminished. agistrate of the tow oon re oved him f o m T to l ig i r the olbooth a at g, where he al ei odg ‘ n had the comfort 0 in g a Is to wo rship God withou t

r n n a distraction or distu ba ce. I M y the Council allowed him a further measu re o f liberty un der a bon d o f ten

m s r in thousan d pounds Scots, and he took uch plea u e the freedom he n o w had to walk by the fair ban ks of

i n au n in n n the Loss e, ever more be tiful tha ope i g w m H s r n as n n sa h . e s n p i g, Pri gle the t e pe t much time in devotion a n d in the co mggs tign o i his spiritual i _ m r r he si n to e diary, a re a kable wo k which de g ed l ave in him fo r m r o f his ch r n n beh d the co fo t ild e , bei g very doubtfu l whether the severity o f the Govern men t and the repea ted ﬁn es to which he w as subjected wou ld allow of his en riching them with an y other estate than the interest he pra yed they might ever have in the ’ s promises of their father God . 64 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

B r s s n n s o f r y deg ee , al o, he fou d opportu itie a wide

s ss s r s an d li him H u efulne that urp i ed de ghted . e had already made it the subject o f pra yer that God would brin g some good to the cause o f religion o u t of his

s n dl n see te timo y and exile, though har y expecti g to it in hi wn n d r s s o . time It happe e , howeve , that everal others o f the Presbyterian party bein g ban ished to that

r an d r s n n b n count y, a co re ponde ce bei g kept etwee the

s n n o f n an an in exile and the ge tleme Elgi d Moray, m y that n eighbo urhood came to them fo r prayer an d

' reli o u s s s so h r s n r m E di cour e, that t ei ab e ce f om ho e o proved a great means of good in the n orth . S emin ently w as this the case that the Bishop o f Ross wro te to his so n that these exiles in Elgin an d In ver n ess had don e more evil by their comin g n orth than

ha n T n a d if they d bee left at home. hey had alie te ,

s f ma n r f a r he said, the heart o y who we e o nothe

r m n r m prin ciple befo e, and received ore defere ce f o the

n an an s in th n n northern obility th y Bi hop e la d e joyed . The coun try had in deed begun to judge between the men o f prin ciple an d those whose ign oble part n o style n o r title could redeem from con tempt while they a cted

r n to o rn n of da in a mere subse vie ce the G ve me t the y. ’ When Prin gle s exile had lasted almost a yea r his frien ds procured his release by sign iw d fo r his orderly beha viour a n d payin g a ﬁn e o f £200 fo r the

s H a irregularities o f the pa t. e c me home a month

r had b n his o w n s an d late , and li erty withi hou e a

r s r n it r a distance o f th ee mile a ou d , but dea s his

f r en kn w to an d ﬁelds an d woods o G e o were him, dearly

hi i an d r n h s r n r as he loved s w fe child e , is pi it now e du ed

as n a time of trial such he had n ever felt in Elgi . He

his n l n c hi feared that t i du ge e, though unsou ght by m,

u too r He had been bo ght at high a p ice. hated to E RS THE COVENANTERS OF TH ME E . 65 thin k o f the terms of the bo nd which his kinsmen

i h an n r is St tc el d Torso n ce had taken in his i te est. H

o n s was n r an d n him to c cience very te de , co tinually put the question ho w far he was bo und by what had been

fo r him an r i h r to s done , d pe haps obl ged t e eby a mea ure of co mplian ce with the Establishment o f the time which his ul His sn a s an d r s so hated . re t ouble he thought

n n w n n is s were o ly o begin i g, and h ituation became ce rtainly far more perplexing to him than it had been i s so when he lay priso n er at Elg n . These anxietie

n h his r wrought upon him, i deed, t at health b oke — down it had been excellen t while he w as in the — no rth and in less than two years after his return he

i his as r s died, y elding spirit a marty hould, with the m of silent, but eloquent testi ony, that when the liberty ’ God s people to worship Him accordin g to co n scien ce

r u n r too . is taken away, thei life m st eeds be rende ed The knowledge that the la st days of this eminen t

r kn w suffe er for the cause of Christ were spen t in Green o , an d that it was from then ce his pure an d devout spirit r s to od s h a n r as n o w o e G , hould make t at ncie t towe , it s stands lonely an d rooﬂess a mid its shelterin g wood , ’ a holy place for all who count the memory of Scotland s

Co venanters venerable. The case of Prin gle w as no uncommon o n e in these days and in that part of the coun try where perhaps as large a proportion o f the landed in terest was attached to s o the n r ls an d the cau e f Covenan ts a s a ywhe e e e, s ff u ered as much for their principles. The gen tlemen o f this party in the Merse were followed by large n s r n r rm r umber of thei te ant y, fo ing a goodly p oportion o f l a n t to see the who e people, n d it is impossible o in such popu larity a proof of the deep attachmen t which the country must have felt to the doctrin e an d disciplin e of former times. a 66 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

A well-known writer has in deed told u s that under the domin ion of the Coven an ts Scotlan d w as a s t iest ridden had been by the ha ted In q uisition tha t the days o f which Kirkto n bo asted were times when n o man could call his soul his o wn : the whole country then groan in g un der the rule o f an in toleran t

res r is eas r a s f r P byte y. It y to eply th t thi form o Chu ch governmen t w as stron g becau se it was democratic that the o n e man who had but a castin g vote in the parochial session w as the min ister a n d that it w as hardly possible fo r s to rr in s r ts a n y deci ion be a ived at the e cou ,

s n n s n o t e pecially as they were the co tituted, which did fairly represent the conscien tious conviction s o f the people at large. But the facts with which we a re n o w con cern ed would seem to su pply an even more unan swerable ’ r QL r Bu l l s . Had the s o f efutation _ M ggg opinion ca e c n as ha r r s n it S otland bee he s ep e e ted , what, may we

ask u s w a n , m t have follo ed the Resto r tion ? Would o t

n ew s s an d n r s r the Epi copacy, be ide beyo d the e to ed

n ar h a n a a s a ver n c n mo c y, h ve bee h iled deli a e lo g expected an d deeply desired ? The Presbyte rian clergy might in deed ha ve a ttempted 0 keep up a faction s opposition to the order which then supplan ted their

r r t r n n s n m s a n in fo me y a y, but oo they u t h ve go e to

x r a r n r r n s n s m e ile, o ab ted thei i tole able p ete io a id the

a n n r e in a a n n h m n o w joy of e ti e peopl who, b ndo i g t e ,

ta sted fo r the ﬁrst time the delights of liberty. History then is itself en ou gh to su pply the correction

o f s c a m su n ers an n Th r r u h i d t di g . e cle gy who efused to con form to Episcopacy en joyed a very la rge measur e

o f s o n r m r m n o ersu upp rt i deed f o thei people, who p a sion n o r in terest n o r persecu tion could seduce from tha t

t r r r r bu t loved allegian ce. No the efo e in the fo me age,

68 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

rs s n M r n n w e ma r m m r w as s pe ua io . o di gto , y e e be , till

Mr R ms an d h s n an in min is occupied by a ay, t i Cove t g ter retain ed the charge of Lon gforma cus as well un til the

a r 1 8 h n c ra w a s n ye 66 , w e a u te i du cted to that remote

r a n n w as s l s r Mr r pa ish. L gto ti l e ved by Bi ge ; Mr Jo hn Veitch con tin ued to prea ch in Westruther by

n n n 1664 a n d m m w a co iva ce till ; S ailhol , ith the p rts

o f rw s r a d n i w as Be ick hi e jace t to t, equally fortun ate

in the m n s r Mr n a s n h i i t y of Do ld o , w ich con tinued

hi in 1 till s death 673 . Besides these places of public resort for the preachin g

th r s r a n of e Wo d, the pi itu l eeds o f ou r Coven an te rs were n ot a little supplied by private conven ticles held here an d there in the shire by those ministers whom the Glasgow Act had deprived of a more regular o ppo r

r a n Mr tun ity o f p e chi g . Jo hn Veitch set up o n e of these meetin gs in the pari sh of Westruther as soon he w a rn o f t r Th s r m s tu ed out the pulpi the e . i cle gy a n was a arr Hu m s ss n n rel ted by m iage to the e of Ba e dea , an d may a lso have derived some advan tage in his pre carious position from the frien dship of the Duke o f 1 His w r s n s n w as. o n s Laude dale, who e ki ma he po ition — too he w as an heritor in part o f the lan ds o f Bassen — dean may ha ve helped to secure him the sta n din g in that district which he used so lon g an d so well in the

n n n ca s Cove a ti g u e.

n o f s n w as arr o u h Somethi g the ame ki d c ied , thoug ,

r a s in a ss r r in a r s of r pe h p , le egula way, the p i h Lege

w h r m n s e r r w a s Mr ood. T e dep ived i i t he e William._ Calderwood n early related to the grea t histo rian o f

m He had is a n — a that na e. removed to a d t ce prob bly

r sh an n r w h r ﬁn is to the pa i of Ch elki k, e e we d h wife

1 1 4 V. pp. 2 . F THE RS THE COVENANTERS O ME E . — afterwards residin g an d fro m this place he paid fre quent visits to the scen e o f his former la bours that he

n his T u s might encourage a d help peo ple. h two parishes at least en joyed the ben eﬁt of his presen ce and instruction s.

r r s n an More important, howeve , and mo e u eful tha y

n s r w a other con ven ticle i o u r di t ict, as th t held by the famous Mr Henry Erskin e in his own house at Dry Th s n n n r r to burgh . i emi e t Cove ante had been fo ced remove in 1662 fr om his pa ri sh of Cornhill on the

r r He was r n English bo de . a younger brothe of Erski e

ﬁ l n r s i an d s a o f Sheil e d i ou h re, thu found ready refuge

Dr b r h l n a r his a s a e r in y u g , the vi lage e f mily e t t , whe e T m l w as r his brother gave him a house . his fa i y ve y

es a n n r o f r r pectable n d even oble, bei g a b anch the g eat

o s Mar H r rs n had m rr : his h u e of , and en y E ki e a ied well

w as a r r n ar an s a s wife a d ughte of B ow of P k, e t te clo e t hielﬁel s s his n t n ﬁ o that of S d. Be ide ge le birth a d t tin g allian ce Erskin e had the charm o f an exquisite

ul b n a ra s his n c ture, y which the tu l gift of i tellect were

m r . m n men his an d ran much i p oved Like a y of age k,

n s r n a s fo r s a n d w as mse he i dulged a t o g t te mu ic, hi lf n o n r r r in n r s his n s r n mea pe fo me a co ce t of viol , i t ume t

n r r r a e n m c ff c bei g the cithe n o g e t lut , the u h a e ted by 1 o thin in ac u m r u men of taste . N g f t co ld be o e nlike the caricature which has hitherto passed with man y fo r the ven t eﬁ gies of the Scottish Coven anter than this

ul r n m n is far r highly c tu ed ge tle a , yet he a true type o f his pa rty than that which is common ly presen ted and his cabin et of ebon y curiously inlaid with ivory

1 The testamen t of John Hu me Violer Ersilto u n is recor ed , , , d on Jul 1684 an d this cra tsman ma n ot im ro a l have h 8th y , f y p b b y ad ’ rs in e s in strumen t in han ro m time o im hese vio w E k d f t t e . T ls ere elicate an d n ee e co n stan t an d re u n re irs very d , d d care f q e t pa . 70 THE C NANT RS F M OVE E O THE ERS E . — after the Italian manner a shrin e in which his de scen dan ts lon g preserved the thumb-screws with which — he was afterwards to rtured seems a symbol in min ia ’ ture o f the lives that suffered in Scotla n d s grea t perse cu tio n . Such ta len ts an d culture as belon ged to either party in the State were then o n the on e ha n d degraded almost beyond recogn ition by the base co urses to which

an n in the Go vernmen t stooped, d o the other sublimed that heaven ly con stancy o f faith with which Erskine

' r n suﬂ erin s o f r m and his f ie ds met the g the time, t iu phed

r it s n an d sa w s o r s ove s oppo itio , at la t the vict y of tho e prin ciples assured to which they were so sin cerely at tach d F man rs n n Dr bu r h e . o r y yea the co ve ticle at y g con tin ued to dra w great numbers o f people from the s rr n n is r s an d u s m n s of u ou di g d t ict , th proved the ea

r mu ch good in all tha t coun t y. In o u r survey o f the resources of the Covenan ters in Berwickshire we must n o t forget to n otice the itin eran t

n s r s h r Mr mi i t ie w ich were then exercised the e . Edward

amieso n o f S n n n s in 1661 a J wi to , who had bee depo ed s

r s o r m in is w a an d a n r w ho a P ote t , did uch th y, othe ga ve his talen ts to the same kin d of service w as Mr

L u ke e This er c r m n ha d a r a l . latt le gy a held cha ge in the to wn of Berwick from which he w as ejected by

r an d the Act of Un iformity in 1662. Both befo e after

is n r s ff r m n s h bei g dep ived, he u e ed uch at the ha d o f

r r n n a rm n s a Lo d Widd i gto , dete i ed Papi t, whom he h d offen ded by some expression s in a sermon prea ched on

G n r- r s n da in r R s o ra u powde t ea o y the yea of the e t tion . Lord Widdrin gto n w as then a member o f the Council o f

as as rn r o f of State, well gove o the town Berwick, and used his power so relen tlessly that Mr Ogle w as obliged to leave that place an d retire to a property he had at

r Bo u sden in Northumbe land. THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . 71

Both these ministers were hon oured guests at ’ Green kn ow r n s in Walter P i gle time, and, we may

r s T r believe, at many a count y house be ide . hei visits served to keep up a close corresponden ce between the s er r s t a s of s a n d r o f catt ed P e by eri n the hire, we e even greater importan ce as the means of affordin g secret o pportun ities o f non con formist worship which man y

ha a a f n h must ve t ken adv ntage o . We can fa cy o w o n these occasion s wide n eighbourhoods were warned ’ o f s o s s an d in r n s the pa t r vi it, how, the gathe i g du k, little parties must ha ve stolen by twos an d threes

h r n M ss o r n ll o f H thro ug Go do o , by the K ock hi unt l wo o to reen kn o w o r r a in s y d, G , app o ched like tealthy

a s r n s r s in s r w ys ome othe co ide able hou e the hi e, that they might meet the serva n t o f God an d join him in celebrating the simple rites o f the old Presbyterian

th w a l r r v use. When e gatherin g s sma l the lai d ecei ed t in his o wn s n rs a ss m r m hem hou e when umbe e bled, oo w as r a n in s m rn o r r n p ob bly fou d o e ba , othe outbuildi g,

n r l f a n s mm ri n a d the e, with the ight o few ca dle gli e g ’ n r a r a n d his n r a n c an upo the p e che co g eg tio , S otl d s o wn way of divine worship wa s still held with true Scottish determin ation in spite of a ll tha t the kin g

n r it c r and the Bishops could do to hi de . Su h we e the mean s of grace which the Coven a n ters of Ber wickshire

a r s r es an d in a preferred to those of the p i h chu ch , w ys like these the men o f that pa rty were still kept

r an d r a r r a togethe , p ep ed to endu e with p tience the great ﬁght of aﬂ ictio n s which w a s already set against them . CHAPTER W .

NOTH R s ad e enjoyed by E in lar l ﬂ A m gu o ~ t‘ ag s the Covenanters of Berwickshire, aro e from their close neighbourhood to North m rlan d n t n si r u be , where o a few co de able

i a n r r w n men of their M fou d efuge, and f om he ce the fugitives exercised a powerful and favourable in ﬂu en ce upon the adjacent parts of the Scottish border.

s m n s n Mo t of these e came from the We t cou try . In

f n r r n o f m n ste rs that part o Scotla d, the p opo tio i i

a s Act in r r o r reached by the Gl gow be g g eate , the heritors of the Presbyteri an party less able to protect

r r n s s s in a s thei cle gy tha they howed them elve the E t,

ffa s r ff r n r r ﬁ a ir took a ve y di e e t tu n f om the rst. When

a m ri n s r r Mr G briel Se ple, the dep ved mi i te of Ki k

n r e n r a in rs patrick Iro g ay, b ga to b e ch the hall of Co ock in r wee s ha d n ot ss house Dumfriesshire, th ee k pa ed till the con co urse of the pe ople to hear him beca me so r n r e o r to g eat that the co gregation we e oblig d _t esort r T s in m s n ra ss t e o en . h p hu , the o t atu l way po ible, ﬁ H ai an d from the very necessities of the case in a part of the coun try where the n umber of non con formists w as

r s r n in as r o not pe hap mo e tha the E t, but thei ppo r tun ities r n r s r a n s r r of hea i g P e byte i e vice certainly fewe , the custom of ﬁ eld meetin s arose which was destined _ g , to have so great a n in ﬂu en ce in dete rminin g the future ’ f o u r u s s s a s r o co ntry eccle ia tic l hi to y . The immediate effect of these meetin gs upon their THE CO NANT R F THE M VE E S O ERS E . 73

ﬁrst appearance in the West w as that the Go vernment took alarm an d resolved to put them down by armed f r orce. Fo this purpose they gave a commission to

Sir J s T r r s i r ame u ne , a old e of fortune, and sent him to su ppress m they were pleased to call an in su m r n rrection . Turner ade some th ee expeditio s to that part of the coun try durin g the years immediately f ss n s A t an s ollowing the pa i g of the Gla gow c , d at la t,

1665 rs n about , the pe ecutio there became so hot that

Mr S Mr o hn s s emple and J Wel h, who had ucceeded him in n s r n to n n rs mi i te i g the co ve ticle at Co ock, together with other min isters of the same way of

n r li to a r u in N rt r thinki g, we e ob ged t ke ef ge o humbe land.

Haselrid e a in a s r n ow g , a vill ge th t hi e, became the ri r s of man r s ri n h m n s favou te e ort y P e byte a s, bot i i ters an d H r H r Ha had his s a n . d people e e en y ll hou e, entertain ed the members of the Coven an tin g party

s r r H w as a for eve al yea s together. e the l ird of

Ha u hhead in Tevi t ale r a s ff r so g o d , but had al e dy u e ed s r f r his n n n rm s to r ss eve ely o o co fo ity, that he cho e c o

” v : Hall at Haselridge when they ordain ed Richard

to m n s r a n d h a r nsi ra Cameron the i i t y, we e of a co de ble communion held here in these early years at which

an n r r s r n cler man Welsh assisted, d a othe P e byte ia gy ,

r w m s v besides Mr Gilbe t Rule, of ho we hall ha e much to say in a little. Mr Semgle w as the so n o f Sir Bryce Semple of marr a e r ir Cathcart . He had ied a d ught of S Patrick

tle she n s Murray of Bla ckcas , but bei g by thi time

as his s n r dead, he to ok eco d wife the daughte of Sir in hi s n Walte r Riddel of that ilk . Fix g s re ide ce at ~ for s e s Ford, near Berwick, he preached ome y ar in 4 THE E E F RS 7 OOV NANT RS O THE ME E . the church of that place : the incumben t bein g weakly

u n ﬁt his the as and for o e, and Semple much desired their ministe r by the people of the neighbour hood : man y indeed atten ding even from Scotlan d to

n partake of the Sacramen t at his ha ds. While in

rr m his Northumberland he ma ied a third ti e, wife f being the daughter o f Sir Robert Ker o Ital.

n r Another, who w as eve more nea ly concerned in the Covenanting in terest of ou r shire than those we

v n s w i ha e hitherto co idered, as Mr W lliam the

r H b other of Mr John Veitch of Westruther . is fortun es were so uncommon and he became so marked

ﬁ u re o f ts o f a g in many the movemen that time,

s rw s r e pecially in Be ick hi e, that we may well devote some atte ntion to the stran ge course o f even ts which

s n brought him to thi eighbourhood. ’ At r m the time of the Kin g s resto ation, Willia Veitch w as living as tutor in the family of Sir Andrew Ker of

( g ead as n n o f s h eny , without the le t inte tio tudying fo r the ministry : in deed he had begun to turn his

t i n s i r n f attention o med ci e, the time be ng ve y u avour able for those preachers who did n ot choose to con form

t s a At r o . n c Epi cop cy Gree head, howeve , he ame

r in n ce n s An r unde the ﬂu e of Livi g ton of c um, who persuaded him to con tin ue faithful to his original purpose in spite o f all the inconvenien ces which o f promised to attend him in that way life. He presen tly took service as chaplain at the house of

r n r o u t of a fo r his Calde , and bei g tu ned that pl ce n t n Mai s non con formity, we t o live o a farm at the n

an o f Dunsyre in the upl ds of Tweeddale. By this time the sufferin gs of the West u nder Sir n r s r James Tu r e had become intolerable. The in ur ection — — of Pentland began it w as in the year 1666 and some

76 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

his frien ds just as they were at their last stan d on the

Th a n w Rul r n . e r o slope of lion G ee Coven nting a my,

m n n r s r men w as reduced to so e ni e hu d ed de pe ate , draw n up o n this van tage groun d with con side rable

s ll an d r s s m r n o n e ss u r a ki , e i ted o e tha a a lt of the oy l

n o n e n r r v l troops. O the ha d, appea ed the b a e Wa lace of Au chen s in his lon g military cloak an d ﬂapped

m n r hat n r m r 0 n ra n o te o , ridi g f o t oop to tr0 p, e cou gi g

n r n s as r n w an the i su ge t , they a g o ut ith heart d voice

r deﬁan ce sa m o n r r the g ave of a p l ; the othe , Gene al

r his r s f r ﬁn al c ar Th Dalziel gathe ed fo ce o a h ge. e

r arm n n in s r n ﬂan ked oyal y adva ced i deed full t e gth, by

r r a n d r r thei caval y, delive ed a volley befo e which the

s n an e s n ac u sto m w a r sca e r hor e of the Cove t r , u c ed to , tt ed m al r n s an w s s. in l di ectio , m y ith e pty addle

r n ss n w r o u a n a r The da k e o d ew , d f vou ed the escape

s r n men V ms w as u r o f the e b oke . eitch hi elf E su ed by ra e rs m h n seve l troop , but left the be i d in boggy groun d

s r a is m at n s r h r la and afely e ched h ho e Du y e, w e e he y

in in ll ﬁrst a rs ha a s hid g ti the he t of the pu uit d p s ed .

T n r n s wn Tw a he he t avelli g cautiou ly do eedd le, took up

his w S r she had r e e r ife at tobo, whithe emov d b fo e him, ’ an d so came with her by Torwoodlee to his brother s

house at Westruther. James Hume of Fla ss in that ’ r s hn eitch s r r-in - set o ff n pa i h, Jo V b othe law, at o ce fo r

n r w n r s n r rn Edi bu gh, he ce he p e e tly etu ed with the

n s r s s l pri ted li t of p o cribed fugitive . Wi liam Veitch

n his o w n n m in it a n d m fou d a e , i mediately left fo r the

s ss n r n a n d s ew castle outh, pa i g by Go do Kel o to N , ’ n r his r s n m u de mothe a e of Jo hn sto n . In NM ELG in the compan y of several other

s s s an d r ms s his o wn fugitive who e cau e ci cu tance , like , made them the objects of kin dly in te rest to man y

rs s s in h pe on of di tinction that neig bourhood. THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

After some years of a wan dering life Veitch had a ca ll from the in habitan ts o f Reedsdale. He a ccordin gly ﬁx ed his abode in the village of Falalies in the parish o f R r a n d b r his m r : othbu y, ought fa ily thithe the childr en travellin g o u t of Scotlan d in creels slun g on

a r dr n who the back of a p ck horse. Lo d Wid ingto , had

r r r s n al eady dwelt so hardly with M Ogle, p e e tly began to s c m r m give Veitch ome trouble, whi h ade him e ove

a H a few miles away to a place called Harn am H ll . ere the En glis h indulgence of 1671 afforded him greater

e n an d s n n lib rty o f preachi g, he oo fou d his services attended by a large con grega tion which assembled

all r rs s m ra n dis a n from q ua te , o e t velli g a t ce of twen ty m s ile to hear him .

The r s r s r an rs r exe ci e of the P e byte i wo hip at Fo d, at

Haselrid an Ha rn a Ha w as n ot ge, d at m ll without its effect o n that pa rt o f the coun try with w hich we a re

r r m r a n r . ﬁrst ma mo e particul ly co ce ned F o the , we y

r r ar rs w ho n r w a believe, the e we e he e fou d thei y, as

as n s r an d ma r s in n an av occ io e ved, the ket E gl d g e them an s fo r it r m M rs a n d Te vio t ale excu e , f o the e e d to o n e o r other of these places where the deprived min isters

r fﬁce an d e r ma n rs ha d a s used thei o , b fo e y yea p sed the

r i n to a c n r ca m r r an att act o th t ou t y be e g eate , d the Coven an ters of our di strict had n ew rea son to respo n d

i c ss n n r s t o n to t. Su h a ble i g, i deed, e ed the n on

r m n s r in N hu m er a n a confo mist i i t y ort b l d, th t a great

r r a revival of religion b oke out the e, j u st s we have seen it do in the n orth of Scotla n d while Prin gle w as at

n so a r m r r e Elgi , th t f o Cheviot to Ca te F ll, an d even

as fa r as l s Kielde rhead Wheelcau sewa the wi d of , y, a n d Deadwater in Cumberlan d the coun try showed

a ﬂame of newly awaken ed interest. The news of this spiritual movement reached even Livingston in distant 78 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

s r m n r r r r his Am te da , a d he w ote a ema kable lette to

ris n s ru m s n so to pa hio er of Anc , advi i g all who could do cross the Border an d seek a blessin g fo r their souls in seein g for themselves this mighty work of God in their n r a n in ﬂu en ce eighbou hood. We know how wide the

in m n s r c s r as as exile had a y part of Be wi k hi e, well

r T vi tdale s is m ss th ou gh the whole of e o , o that it i po ible

w as r an d to doubt that his advice la gely followed, that many of our Coven an ters derived much en couragemen t from the close corresponden ce they n o w kept with

i r r r an d s r the r b ethren ove the Borde , with tho e dep ived ministe rs whose labours in that coun try were so largely

blessed. In deed the state o f the Presbyterian cause in the Merse at the close of this the ﬁrst pe riod of its ex isten ce un der the ban of n on con formity w as fa r from a n

n a u f vourable o n e . The n umber of min iste rs in dulged

r r the e, o at least con n ived at in the more o r less regula r

s o f r o fﬁce in r s ar s a s r exerci e thei va iou p t of th t hi e,

w as r a r an d ma s ha n n cr as ve y l ge, y be aid to ve bee i e ed

in r n Mr m s c r w as the yea 1669 , whe Ja e Flet he allowed to resume the ministry in Nen thorn of which he ha d

n a bee deprived in 1663 . There were s yet n o meetin gs

in the ﬁelds s as a n , uch had called the tte tion of the

o rn n s u n r a n d rn G ve me t to the we t co t y, fu ished an

u s f r r n h exc e or their oppressive in te fe e ce t ere . Man y

r s — n ma m n n of the lai d , amo g whom we y e tio the houses of St Leon ards in Lauderdale ; of Bassen dean

an d asa ﬁ l a n r M rr n r n Fl of Shiel e d d Pa k of o isto , G ee

an d titc ell Ken n etsideheads Redbra s know, S h ; of , e , and Haliburto n ; of Thorn ydikes and Bla ckburn ; o f

Blackcastle n n an n n T s , Edi gto , d Edri gto ; of oft and

Mellerstain n c s an of Lo gforma u d Langton, were

o or ss r m re le attached to the P esbyterian interest. THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . 79

The chief heritable au thori ty in the shire w as in the

s of r s of H who e hand the Ea l ume, though they follow d

r the party of the Go vernment an d the Established Chu ch, were yet so closely conn ected with all these families

f r n o the lesse ge try whom we have just men tioned, that their in ﬂ u en ce w as n ecessa rily o n e of protection

r rathe than o f oppression . Matte rs were n o t as yet s a n e to r s n c an d tr i d the pitch they p e e tly rea hed, the

i s f r st t e o blood, neighbou hood an d natural in tere , s ll u fo r s i an r fo r ti co nted ometh ng, d se ved to protect a time those who chose to persist in a quiet an d resolute

nonconformity. Nor were the n en an tegg at all un reason able in t r m Th hei de ands. e prin ciples of religious liberty and

as n ow n rs a n m r equality, we u de t d the , we e absolutely

unkn own in these times. There can be little doubt that if the Go vernmen t had con te n ted itself with declarin g

s c r n e an d n n Epi copa y the eligio of the Stat , had co ti ued to conn ive at a reason able in dulgen ce of Presbyterian

ri n n c n m s s worship by the local autho ties, the o o for i t of o u r shire at an y rate would have given them little

h r n r ms n s r tro uble. T e t ai of ci cu ta ce which b oke up

a r in m s n rs this tru ce, n d b ought ti e of Ope pe ecution,

an is n ot n r to bloodshed, d death, i deed altogethe be

ss n a s in fa r w r r an d regretted, i ui g it did a ide libe ty, a far better solution of the religiou s difﬁculties of the coun try than could have been reached in almost an y

r can n rs n in d s o f othe way, yet we u de ta d how, the ay

n s n so s n o r a s strife an d co fu io oo to follow, u foref ther would look back with regret to the times of which we

n w n ss ss n a i are o speaki g, po e i g s they d d a quiet

interest that w as a ll their ow n . Re ligion in ou r bo rders then proﬁted by the impulse which co mes from a great sacriﬁce resolutely carried HE so THE COVENANTERS OF T MERS E .

s th o u t. The poorest peasan t who attached him elf to e cause so well represen ted by the depri ved ministers an rd n ew n r s d the resolute Coven an tin g lai s, felt a i te e t in the faith fo r which this supreme testimon y had

n r n n n n e r s d n bee e dered, a d fou d that i t e t eepe ed by the very disadvan tages atten din g the n ew position he had s a n his ris r w as s thu t ke u p . If pa h chu ch clo ed to him so s ﬁn e r s r s that, at the ri k of a , he e o ted el e

' r s n r o r ii n n in hi . whe e, , e joyi g own eighbou hood the s r an s r a w e vices of a Presbyteri mini te , he s from Sabbath to Sabbath the fa ces of stran gers gathered

r n in r as w f om distan t parts of the cou ty, eithe c e he as kept contin ually in min d of his principles a n d made to

m n er s his feel the to be of immediate i t e t, both to countrymen an d to himself. If this w as the ca se with the congregation s of the

r s a a P e byteri n way, we may believe th t these matters

r n r r s n rn r r c s we e of eve mo e ea ne t co ce to thei p ea her , most of whom' had ma de great pe rson al sacriﬁces in that cause . Thus it was that in these days the pastors an d people of the Coven an t met fo r the service of Go d

n r n s n s an n s u de feeli g of awe, i te re t, d expectatio uch as had n ot probably been kn own before in the memory

an m w as a r a r a n of y of the . It em k ble time i deed, an d the very absen ce of particular details which marks

s s n n in u r s es u s the e year of the Cove a t o hire, giv to un dersta n d the quiet n ature of the good work that w as n n o n a n d r r r the goi g , the eality of the p epa ation thus afforded fo r the more emin en t an d n otable trials so soon to follow.

82 THE CO NANT RS F THE VE E O MERS E .

HOTE A.

Nn u s or Smu rom s To run Dun s CASTL E Corr or rm;

Rothes ; Mon trose ; Cassilis ; Wemyss ; Home ; Lin dsay Lothian Melville Johnsto u n ; Fo rrester ; Boyd ; Sin clare Balmerin och ;

B a ron s.

Arskin e Erskin e r of cotsc i D Hume of Wadderburn ; , po . S ra g ; . e ; m Hu me A n e Cam e of weris B illia to A. ll ﬁar L a W ; y ; pb , ; . ' I O us K e li a mmin gto un ; Bish ptoun ; Pulho Sir G. ir ; Stir n g f W Ri ell S Ro wallan oun o Ga r en . r d dd ; . , y ge

n W. Riccartou n e S . avi Au hin re c J Ga rthla d D d c b k ; . ;

Killmah w Murra L a Crai arro ch J. rum o J. y ; g ; gd ; D

u o hei Wm Mon crieﬁ J. Co c urn s Clarken t n q ha g 8 . . ; kb ; y e ; avi Ha Grin ok A Cam ell for u m arto n D d y ; S. J ; . pb D b W r f un P Mu rra Rollo ﬁar of m. G aham o Hilto ; . y ; J , Dun crub Murra of Th lis of Stratht rum Thomas uch n y os. Ing y ; B ana ,

Mr Harris Rolloc Mr Samu el Cu n n in ham mr. at Portin cr i k ; g , a g , Mr Ro ert Murra min iste r of Methven Mr Ro ert Scrim eo ur b y, ; b g , min ister in horn s Mr Ro ert o u las mi f , K g ; b D g , n ister o Kim rie Alex Hen erso n L u charis Mr G eslie i b . d , ; . L , m n ister o f o nar Mr Wm Ar thur at Westkirk J B ; . , ; Mr ames Porteous ; — r Lawren ce Skinn e .

Commons.

Thomas — art avi Ha ohn Gra J Wm. Paterso n ; p ; D d y ; J y ; ohn Bu chanan s ; Semon e Smith An drew Pate rson Pate rso n s Wm o urla alte r Ramsa ohn Do nkan e Ge o r e h r . G y ; W y J g S a p. An drew Bowie ; Archibald Walker ; John John Ramsay ; erme vi Miller Al msa Wm. a ex M James Ra y ; F ; D d ; . iller ; James Hen erso n James Adieson avi arcla d ; ; D d B y. i Ha ohn Co lvin e Simeon Tail o r Dav d y ; J ; y ; Alex .

ohn ott Thos. Scott Thos Ha Miller ; J Sc ; ; . ye ; James Haye ; m imeon e m rm W . S ; Ja es Fe e ; John Walker ; James errie Hen rie Ramsa Wm Robe B ; y ; . rtson e ; David Farley ; John Thomson s ; Thomas Ste nson e Thomas Norris ; — Wm Wm x an er er . Ro er . un can . De Ale d p ; g ; D man dat. e ersonarh scri ers re uisitus et— e o m uli di t. p b q g . G elmus

84 THE OOV ENANTE RS OF THE MERS E .

NOTE C.

N n nr mn sr o co o Rom. 1663 . Passar'rx ams or un s Camu n D , sm , AND Eams ror .

Pnsssm r or un s D , consisting of ten — Eccles An re w Ruther ord A. H e osed b S n o s er d f , d p y y d as a pro te t ,

1660. — Green la w Ro ert Hume ord . 1645 co n tin u e till his e th in 1 b , , d d a 673 . M l h mH ohn urn e A . to erate l hi L a n . ere ti l in 1 g B , , d s death 673 . w was un ited to Mor in n l L oagformam d gto un ti 1666.

r r n n i i h Pax snrm o Om n sm , consisti g of th rteen par s es.

— M e ri b w Ac o in h nv a i Hume A . ve he Gl s f Cold g a D v d , . d p d y t a go t

1662. — d illiam J hnston e A M d . d L mn W o . . o o . — M in t Thomas Ramsa A. M. to lerate here till 1 th ord g ow y, , d 682 : e char e ein er small an d the sti en o r g b g v y p d p o . — M E war J8 111168011 A. e se b he n o Swinton d d , . , d po d y t Sy d as a

Protesto r 1661. — , Simprim No min ister seems to have been placed here from 1654 to 1 it was ro a l se ro m Swin to 668 p b b y rved f n . — t An rew Paterso n A M. ie 1 Whi some d , . d d 667. His conformity be matte r of so me ou seems to a d bt. — o l s A H e ose as a Pro s er a u 1 Hilton Dan iel D ug a , . . , d p d te t bo t 662.

' Passsm ar or Eam o n consistin o n i , g f n e pan dm. — M r v John Har ie A. . e rive b the Gla w of 1 2 Go dm d , , d p d y s go Act 66 . — illiam al erwoo A M do L e m ooodr W C d d, . . . do . g — mes ir ton L M do . do Merto a J a K k , , . — m homas onal son A. H. ordain e 1 4 n ﬁn ed Sma ilhol J D d , , d 6 0, co to his

till 1 3 when he ie . parish 67 , d d — l la M J ohn C e n A. . or ain e 1 4 n in h Stow d, d d 6 0, co t u ed ere till his m 1 death 665 . — W ther ohn Veitch A. M e ri estru J , . d p ved bythe Glasgow Act of 1662.

In all there were thirt -two w y parishes, of hich some seven teen were o ccu ie b Non nf m p d y co or ists.

HA T R I C P E .

BOUT ten years after the Resto ration a great chan ge affected the aspect o f affairs

in a s o f n the e t Scotla d . Persecution n ow

am m m r an bec e uch o e active, d the Cove n an ters o n r ar an to a n ew thei p t beg t ke a attitude, an d to show a resistan ce to the Government such as they had n r r eve befo e attempted. The first appearan ce o f this new state of things was seen in the passin g of an Act against field conventicles in r n The nis ffi the Pa liame t of 1670. mi ters o ciatin g at s n s an uch meeti g , d all who took a con siderable part in

n n n w co trivi g them, were o to be pun ished by death and

n ﬁs i T v the co cat on of their goods. he Pri y Co uncil did not hesitate to follow up this legislation by gran tin g a large indemn ityto the troops to be en gaged in the work t Th r o f his A t o f ou . e c ss n carrying it d aft t , a ig ed to

n e 1 0 has r s r s r the mon th of Ju 67 , been p e e ved in the e ies 1 s s n of the Council Warran ts. It how very plai ly the

s n an strain ed temper of the time , bei g blotted d in ter lined in severa l places so a s to ma ke it more compre ’ His Ma est s r hen sive in its severity. j y fo ces were thereby required to W whom they

ﬁn d a ﬁel o n ven ticle whether in arms or might w c , n ot r r . They were furthe empowe ed to u se armed force fo r is s o n n r s r s s n th purpo e e counte ing the lea t e i ta ce,

s i r l d in el de e m tter t we e on u se s n ce. n o a f y ﬁ f Finally,

1 P W. 3oth un e . , J 88 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . they were assured that if in the execution of their duty

a s al they in ﬂ icted woun ds o r cau sed de th, uch fat vio len ce should n ever be allowed to become the ground of an r ss a n s r in o r y p oce gai t them, eithe the civil the crimin lbb rts a u .

It is probable that n o lon g time elapsed before these

rs m a n In ha h e sures were felt to be u wise. 12 the 16 . s n in du l en ce w as r n as r eco d g g a ted, it we e by way of r A epairin g the mistake that had been committed. la rge n umber o f Presbyterian min isters were now

i to r r s an d e ran wd d rected epai to the we t, ther g liberty to ex ercise their cﬂice within the limits of e r in r s n e of s w as Mr r o o f c ta pa i hes. O the e Ki kt n M r s s a rs ass to e to n, who had the pari h of Car t i igned him Th n r n . e i dulgence, howeve , i volved so many con ditioﬁs o f submission to the orders of the Government that Kirkto n found himself unable to take advan tage of it : a refusal in which he w as supported by man y

r r others. A yea afte rwards he was denounced ebel for

s s di n At as n f M r 16 4 thi di obe e ce. l t, in the mo th o a ch 7 , an indemn ity w as gran ted fo r all past offen ces in the

o f n n n a way holding o r atten di g co ve ticles, and now p peared a remarkable change in the attitude of ou r

n n - n hi os Cove a ters. The ﬁeld conve ticles, w ch had alm t s s cea ed in the west o f Scotland ince the indulgence,

c n as be ame commo in the e tern borders, where they ha d n n bee alto gether unk own before .

The ses of s n r cau thi cha ge dese ve some co nsideration .

On e s s r n sa of the e, t a ge to y, may be found in the very Act of 1670which was design ed to suppress ﬁeld-mee t

s Th r m - ing . e Pa lia en t had deﬁn edﬁeld meetin gs so as to n t s ul i clude any which, hough held in a house, ho d be so numerously attended that a single person stood to hea r

r outside the doo . When we remember that j ust such THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . 89

u r h H E s at meetings, held at Dryb g by enry r kine, ass a c s r s of B ende n by John Veit h, and in eve al part the r r s of count y beside, we e the common re ort our

P s n s n rs re byteria , we can u de tand what an important

n i r mea ng this Act held fo them . Several other circumstan ces combined about this time to ll m render the situation sti ore urgent. Mr Donald son in 1 s of Smailholm died 673 , and that pari h, which s w as had hitherto been a refuge of the Presbyterian , presently occupied by Mr Gideon Brown of Legerwood who made himself noto rious as a persecu tor of the o e Covenanters . Mr Burne of Langt n had already b en forced to leave his charge there on the pretext of his

n n s as f havi g employed deprived mi i ters, such Veitch o s f m at Westruther and Dougla o Hilton, to assist hi commun ion seasons. These chan ges must of them selves have thrown ou r Covenanters in greater num bers upon the care of the Presbyterian ministers who still kept up service in the shire, and there was yet hi e another reason w ch t nded in the same direction. The visits paid by ou r countrymen to the borders of England on the advice of Livingsto n were n ot long of producing their effect, so that the ﬂame of religious en thusiasm n ewly kindled there soon spread to Ber w h wickshire. If there were any ho by this tim0 ad grown cold in their attachment to the good cause, that

r in terest w as now revived, and they natu ally drew in larger numbers than ever to the places where their s religious wants were still upplied. It was in such circumstan ces then that the operation of the new laws against field-conventicles was felt to be T w intolerably oppressive. here as probably n ot on e of all the indulged meetings now held in Berwickshire which did not amply fulfil the n ew defin ition of a 90 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

eld-con ven i s s n o w at ﬁ t cle, by rea on of the multitude

e r s s s t nding these se vice , crowding the hou e where they

n ts h r a n were held, and even sta ding ou ide, t at th ough Open door or window they might hear the voice o f their R e as a r. favourite pre che ender d desperate, it would se r h i em, by the pen alty of death now hanging ove t e r

n r of a heads, the Presbyte ria cle gy and others that p rty who were concerned in the con vocation of these gather ings began very naturally to thin k of taking what w as

s an n r a bold tep indeed, d o e which they had hithe to

d In s s h n ju ged unnecessary. pa t year t ey had depe ded much upo n the religious services held almost in a

r i private way in emote country ho uses, farm bu ldings, ’ or s s wn r n s s to the mini ter o eside ces, putting them elve no little in conven ien ce in the ho pe that the Govern

n r s me t would respect their conscien tious sc uple , would un derstand the restraint to which they thus volun tarily s e s ubject d themselves, and would tolerate them, o long as they did not make any open appearance of opposition

s as r r n T n w uch thei breth e in the West had done. hey o fou nd that all these precautions and concession s were to

i an of s ava l them nothing, d seeing the dark cloud per e cu tio n hanging with its deadly threat o ver their heads they began to entertain the idea of mW w d r n t ﬁ T r u s of n um e i he elds. he e the conco r e large ang ’ rs s as w ass m r r r be , uch n o embled o e f equently than eve

r m r s to hear the Presbyterian ministe s, ight be mo e ea ily

n l the n was r r ma aged, and whi e pe alty incurred no g eate

an ul than in the old way, the preachers d people wo d be much more easily secured from interruption and appre

h n ei h u rin en sio . Watches might be set on the n g bo g s u a hills, the ituation of such conventicles would nat r lly

r s n be chosen so as to favou escape, and thu the da ger implied in maintaining that form of worship to which

92 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

imitated ; the Merse and Teviotdale n o w breaking loose

as s u r s i n s Kirkton ays, with conventicles. O Pre byter a seem to have been en couraged in their boldness by the

o s o f rep rt then widely pread, that the Duke Lauder ha dale d secre tly given his cou nten ance to the attempt.

is ain r n n It cert , howeve , that there can have bee nothi g but a stroke o f policy intended by that nobleman in

a r any such dvice, fo as soon as he returned to Court

n matters began to wear a very differe t aspect. On the 19th of May the Kin g wrote a letter to the

in r ﬂ r n s Co uncil, which he e ected se ve ely o the e new

s r i his mi s t ff di o ders, and requ red ni ters to ake e ectual

n s T measures agai t them . his new threat of per secu tion engaged the Presbyterian party to try what t it they could do o avert . Petitions were now highly

d r s f s t ange ou , but a number o women o f good po i ion s to em i re olved att pt one, relying on the respect wh ch

a r h d hithe to been shewn to their sex . They assembled

in s athe the Parliament Clo e of Edinburgh, and g md about the coach which co ntained the Chan cellor and

s of St An r the Archbi hop d ews, presenting their paper

r s r s to the forme , and aluting the A chbi hop with a min gled raillery and invective from which he shrank ’ n and sought refuge in the Co u cil house. Sharp s nerve had probably been severely shaken by the late attempt M u s o f o n his life, in which itchell wo nded the Bi hop He was Orkney by mistake. the great enemy of the

an d had so l in n Presbyterians, appeared open y ma y acts conceived to their preiu dice that they attributed

his a i in ﬂ en c any new severity to m l gn u e . While the

n n r ll Archbishop we t i doo s, the Chance or remained talking pleasantly enough with Mrs Livingston of had es e e n to Ancrum, who pr ent d the p titio him with

an d s no little grace addres , and with the other ladies THE CO NANT RS OF E VE E TH MERSE . 93 who n s accompa ied her, peaking in a jeating way of the t had Ar error they put the chbishop under. Meanwhile that prelate was in conversation with the other mem

s r n ber of Council in thei meeti g place, and the result of their deliberations w as that the signature of the w as e petition det rmined to be a high misdemean our . T e of s hr e the petitioner were accordingly laid in priso n , an d some others were banished the town of Edin burgh and its liberties for their bold in terference in affairs of ” S . n e s was ersin n tate O of the e the elder Lady M gto , the widow of a landed proprieto r in the pa rish of s Eccle .

wa From the way in which this petition s received, the Presbyte rians could n ot but un derstand that serious

s w as l mi chief intended them . In a little the Counci matured their measures and resolved upo n a n ew w ay which led to nothin g less than the seizing on private f houses and castles o gentlemen, wherever these were found in central and co mmanding positions in the

r ni m w s f various shires, and ga riso ng the ith partie o soldiers who should have the neighbouring district f s m assigned to each o them, and keep at the a e time a close correspondence with on e another throughout was the co untry generally. In this way it hoped that the laws against conven ticles might be effectually s e s n i carried out, and the e illegal m eting e t rely pre

vented. 1 f 1 5 This Act was passed on the 3 th o July 67 , and mentions the house of Blan ern e as that which w as s rw s designed fo r a garri on in Be ick hire, appointing a s n re company of foot and twelve horsemen to be e t the , and ordering the sheriff to convene the commissioners o f supply that all necessaries for men and horse might

forthwith be provided. 94 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

We have already taken note of the great n umber of herito rs in Berwickshire who were interested in various degre es in the Presbyterian cause. These gen tlemen natu rally regarded this n ew expedien t o f the G-ovem

n r n s was men t with o very f iendly feeli g . It thought illegal to settle such garrisons on the coun try in time ’ w as a n s n in of peace. The Archbishop s hand pl i ly ee

w s an d r s n m n w as what as propo ed, high e e t e t felt by those who found that their property w as to undergo a new tax fo r the su ppression of the religious opin ion s

n n The to which they were co scie tiously attached.

a n d a r s to r s s commissioners met, by a m jority e olved e i t

m T r the imposition made upon the . hey d ew u a — t an d chose o n e of their number Sir Patrick petii on, — t n i Hume o f Polwarth o lay it before the Cou c l . l The case o f Lady Mersin gto n an d her frien ds left indeed little reason to hope that this new petition

s ir r would be more successful than the la t. S Pat ick Hume can hardly have failed to foresee his ow n fate

h n ss w as r s to in t at busi e , yet he cou ageou enough

m ss n ff him to accept the com i io o ered , and execute it

z He r r in spite o f all ha ard. p oceeded to Edinbu gh an d ﬁn din g that the Coun cil would n o t receive the

n n s r n ts had ff r it petitio , took i t ume that he o e ed , and

n to r in o n i presen ted a bill of suspen sio Lo d Col t , wh ch

r as . The n w as design ed to sist p ocedure in the c e Cou cil, mm to T01 as he probably expected, co itted him the booth fo r what they were pleased to call his insolen t

n m r a n r r h s co te pt of Cou t, d o de ed t at he hould lie there ’ i n n t ll the Ki g s pleasu re could be k own . On the 5th of Octo ber the Royal will w as sign iﬁed by

r he a lette from the Court. T King approved what had

1 rt in cl r of n rm us was oin e with Polwarth Sir Robe S ai , Lo gfo ac , j d

b i is how far he ro cee e in it. Possi l in this duty, ut t doubtful p d d b y suﬁ ci n for sacriﬁce it may have been thought that on e was e t a . THE RS F 95 COVENANTE O THE MERS E .

’ be P wa en done in ol rth s apprehension . He reminded the Council how highly that gentleman had already offended the crown by his faction s carriage on several

s s n previou occa ions, and co cluded by desiring the Lo rds r him of all rus would decla e incapable public t t, and would commit him prison er to Stirlin g castle un til further orders. The malice of Lauderdale appeared very clearly in this reply ; fo r the reference of the letter w as to certain well known circumstan ces of the preceding

The n r year . Duke had the come down from cou t to

His Ma s w r secure supply for je ty, but as met in pa lia men t by a strong Opposition led by the Duke of

s s n h Hamilton. In thi oppo itio Polwart took a con siderable part and expressed himself with a freedom which the haughty Commissioner neither forgot n or Th s r ff forgave. e pri one felt the e ects of that resent

n his conﬁn emen t to S ir s me t in t ling Ca tle, where he

n n of H w co tinued till the mo th February 1676. e as

n r e s i r s the libe at d but t ll fo bidden all public ervice . On the o ccasion when the Commissioners o f Supply vote d their oppo sition to the garrison at Blan ern e and sent Polwarth and Sir Robert Sin clair of Lon gformacus

n n r w to prese t their petitio in Edinburgh, the e as a s a n of h minority who oppo ed th t li e action . T e courtly

a r s o p rty, led by the lai d of Langt n and Cockburn, r s n now drew up a paper fo the Council, ig ifyin g their

ss n o r di e t fr m what had been done by the majo ity, and at their o wn instan ce gave warrant fo r supplyin g what was n ecessary fo r the troops at Blan ern e : an

n rn n r actio which the gove me t took in ve y good part. We must not conclude however that the family o f Cockbu m had become opposed to the Presbyterian h Mr u interest . T e protection they had given B rne for 96 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

fo r many years in his ministry at Langton should be enough to exempt them from such a suspicion an d to suggest the most favourable inte rpretation of their

Th n u co nduct in this in stance. e times now brought common trials for persons of position and in ﬂu en ce who showed an open interest in the persecuted cause

Th ﬁn es o H of the co ven an ts. e levied by L rd ume in 1675 from Berwickshire fo r non conformity were most m s of o ppressive, and even reached the enor ou total l ts of n o ss h 13 8. 4d. Sco , which le t an

r n n were paid by the parish of Go do alo e, being pro bably exacted in grea t part from the devoted house

f n kn w was l s s o Gree o . It not wonderfu if uch a train began to reveal the stren gth of some characters an d s the weakness of other , and while not a few, like

r h se h uni the brave lai d of Polwart , u d t at opport ty to declare themselves with decision on the side of l se r sh liberty, others, ike the hou of Cockbu n, owed

iff s r n r as a d erent pi it, henceforth appeari g ather the secret friends than the open supporters of the Cove

n ff r nant. That pa rty indeed had now othing to o e but

s f n s s s s the pro pect o ru inous ﬁ e , tediou impri onment ,

and the risk of a violent death at the hands of the law .

1 Rev. x iii. 18. HA C PTER II.

HE Du ke of Lau derda le seems to have felt that the n umber o f con ven ticles n ow held everywhere in the east o f Scot

an a n d n n n r a ar l d, begi i g to e ppe in the

s a s r n ew n r s We t l o, togethe with the i te est which the e meetin gs excited in the capital an d throughout the 1 n r w a s a s r s n his n s r cou t y, e iou blot upo admi i t a

n a n d o n e m en d in s r n w tio , which ight di g aci g him ith

n He ac rd n n the Ki g . co i gly co trived a n act and had

a ss in n i o n 26th o f i 1 hi it p ed Cou c l the r l 676, w ch 'Ap W “ w w a s s n an en d s r de ig ed to put to the e i regu larities. By this a ct a pen alty of £50 sterlin g w as laid upon every heritor w ho should hen cefgrth suffer a con ven ticle to a ssemble o n his lan ds : bein g an extension to the whole kin gdom of an act which had been passed in 1669 for n s n a r A r Ren r w the cou tie of La k, y , f e ,

r a n a e re a n d Kirkcudb ight lo e. It pp a d to the Chan cel lo r tha t he ha d thus assumed effective con trol of the

n . The n r o f n a situatio ge t y Scotla d, wh tever their s r an n s w n o w n a ec et le i g , ould be e g ged by their o w n in terests to act a s a kin d of police fo r the detection a n d ss a n e a a r n s a n d an di ip tio of ill g l g the i g , if y were so s rn a s s ll sta n tubbo ti to d out, the law provided a m ean s r n n s r ple m of ui i g them at lei u e. Nea rly the sa me view w as taken of their prospects

o u r na n rs s s r by Cove te them elve . Shortly afte the

1 ir ton - K k pp . 343 353 . G F 98 THE COVENANTERS O THE MERS E . passing of this act a number of those who had been forward in calling an d attending the ﬁeld meetin gs of Be rwickshire to ok advan tage of the presence of Willia m Veitch a t the village of Hume to gather there and h old a co n feren ce with that n oted con ven ticle 1 r r T r ts e r f r p eache hei hear wer ve y heavy, o they saw n o hope of bein g able to con tin ue the resolu te attitude and open appearan ce o f non con formity which fo r some years had don e so much to provide the mean s of grace amon g them a n d to en courage their hopes

f r an n o n fo r the future o thei cause d party. Whe e and an other had given utterance to these gloomy fore

rn s to sa t l bodin gs they tu ed at la t Veitch, who quiet y all m an d as his n n in ma r this ti e, ked opi io the tte . To the surprise of all that heard him he declared that in his judgmen t the best thin g to be don e w as the

n s a n r n boldest, amely that they hould ppoi t thei ext co n v l m e a szds l p d a dd entiss e tsek ud siasm am . ing that it w as but fair play that the author o f so

r ss a n s ﬁrst s ff r it opp e ive act hould be the to u er unde . The ready wit of this proposal w as as eviden t a s ’ in n t r ssa s Veitch s an d n ma y o he pa ge of life co duct, but those who n o w admire d it foun d great practica l difﬁcu lty in a doptin g his advice a n d ca rryin g it in to ” ho s r m m r n r s effect. W , aid they, e e be i g pe hap the

l s a n d u r r tale of o d Dougla La de B idge, will bell the ” cat ? They pressed this duty o n the proposer him s r m n d n V his r s n in n a n elf, e i i g eitch that e ide ce E gl d in a man n er secured him from the dan ger that a n y

r u n r in s a n n e r r s an d othe wo ld encou te uch e t p i e, afte r s s a n r to as w sh n ome he it tio he ag eed do they i ed, o ly bin ding them to u se their utmost efforts to keep up “ n s n as s n the meeti g o soo it hould be set o foot . I will

1 120 V. pp. .

100 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

of V as h r of m t an u r al eitch the aut o that atte p , d La de d e replied with an aston ishmen t an d passion that were “ ” “ er s ff d as so ? sa m w p hap a ecte , W it he id, y o n ’ ” r ! 11 n n is n elation I thi k u po him. It i deed not u n likely that he felt some pride that so darin g a coun ter stroke to his policy had come from the han d of o n e who

was r a ms fo r r can n n el ted to hi elf, ha dly we u dersta d in an y other way the remarkable fact that though some

w as ma fte r r r m n de a the p eache , yet the eeti g he n u at the Blue Ca irn con tin ued without in te rru p

s ra s an d V hims n ss eve l year , eitch elf fou d it po ible

n r s a r n a n o ce to p e ide in th t gathe i g .

n u r su ss of s m E co aged by the cce thi bold atte pt, the Presbyterian s o f Berwickshire ven tured to set u p several other meetin gs of the same kin d in differen t

a r An u n r o n e p ts of the coun ty . a the tic t ace of of these

se ms to n in r r n e be give a dec eet of the P ivy Cou cil,

e m r 5th r s a r dated Sept be , F om thi p pe it appears

h s m r n r H o n t at Jame Bow ake , portio e of utt ; Willia m

r n r o f Chim side A n r Ma w B own, portio e ; lexa de o f

as m s r H m m r ain to E t ain ; Geo ge o e, cha be l the Lord

n n hn H r r in r s Mordi gto ; Jo a pe Chi n ide, and Jo hn

n m n s w r Yeaman in Edi gton ai , e e cited before the

r fo r r a en n n n s M rse Cou t thei tt da ce at co ve ticle in the e , an d a ccu sed of havin g their children baptised at these

c a re sa to a n meetin gs, whi h id h ve bee held by Mr 2 l ms n an s Mr d rs . Ge r Jo hn Wel h, David Wi lia o othe o ge

Home an d Al exan der Maw had appeared to stan d their

r l an d w r sc r u n r n t ia , e e di ha ged po oath, the e bei g n o The r s o proof a gain st them. e t f the accused were

r e s n s n proclaimed eb l i ab e ce. The Govern men t n o w began to u se a n ew severity again st the ministe rs of the Presbyterian party who

1 A Se tem er 5th . Se e P . . , p b 2 w s th well- n wn mi ster o S Cu h er This a e k o ni f t t b ts. 1 TH E C OVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . 10

were thus distinguishin g themselves by their ex e r ﬁ l i s A r ar tion s in support of the e d meet ng . em kable

' aﬁair n 1 76 in i happen ed in the mo th of Ju n e 6 , wh ch

s n rn a n d Mr Kirkto n of Merto n wa prin cipally co ce ed, it affords a plain in stance of the temper of these times

as regarded the min isters a n d all who supporte d them . 1 r t n as ms ls s w s n o n e Ki k o , he hi elf tel u , a walki g day about n oon in the High Street of Edin burgh when he w as accosted by two gen tlemen who desired to speak

T arr fo r a r s with him . hey c ied him th t pu po e to the

r r lodgin g of o n e of them, which p oved to be a da k

a r a n d r o r s c w as n of cell , he e Carstairs, f u h the ame

n r r s r m n his r s r the co t ive of thi plot, e ai ed with p i one ,

a n Kir n a n n n n busi g kto d dema di g mo ey, while the

ff r the other wen t o to summon the est of band. In a ’ r s r o n s r n s n little, howeve , ome of Ki kt f ie d had otice of

a w as n n a his r r-ih - wh t bei g do e, n d b othe law, Baillie

o f er visw a t n J o o d n d two others came o his assista ce,

r a n n r a n d n h n b e ki g dow the doo , appeari g fo r is defe ce

a a m n rs rs w m Kir o n at the f t l mo e t when Ca tai , ho kt

had r w r w as r n a s n him ove po e ed, j ust d awi g pi to l upo to hi take s life.

The a ffa r n n a s i , which seems i deed to have begu a

r l r n n o w a iffe ren me e vu gar plot to ex to t mo ey, took d t n r . rkleto n the h r co tu n Ca rstairs an d Scot of E , ot e

s irato r a s n s o f r Tr s r r p , h te ed to the hou e Lo d ea u e 2 Ha n n e n a n d sw r a n n r tto , o of the Cou cil, o e i fo ma tion before him to the effect that they ha d caught a n

n s r r s te r an s ha d ﬂo w n outlawed mi i te , but the P e by i

n r m r T to arms a d defo ced the of their prison e . he

n r s w a s mm a rr ed Cou cil, befo e whom the ca e i edi tely ca i , seem to have ha d some diﬂicu lty in determin in g wha t to

1 Secret Histo r 6 y, p . 3 7. ’ 9 ir Charles Mai lan of Ha n au er ale s ro ther who S t d tto , L d d b , me thir l beca the d Ear . 102 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

r c e r o f m r n too n do, the cha a t the atte pt appea i g plai ly.

The Ar s r s rs w as chbi hop, howeve , told them that Car tai

a s an d mus s so a t r a u eful tool t be upported, f e hot deb te ’ Kirkton s friends were foun d gu ilty of resisting lawful

a r a n d r ﬁn ed ervisw oo d in 9000 m r s utho ity, we e , J e k ,

an d rs in 1500 a n d 1000 m r s r s c the othe e k e pe tively .

is sa a to s r s s n rs rs s It id th t uppo t thi deci io , Ca tai , who e

m ss n ru n w r com i io had out, as supplied by Sha p with a n other so a n teda ted a s to cover the a pprehen sion he

As f w s m . o r r n a a a s t had ju t ade Ki kto , a w rr n t o u

a s him an d his r ds in n r ﬁn e gain t , f ien , additio to thei s, were ordered to lie in prison till he should be fou nd to Th r . e ffa r e r n take thei place whole a i excit d g eat feeli g, a n d furn ished a clear proof that where these preachers were con cern ed n o pain s would be spared to ﬁn d la w

m s ra r r n s e r r which ight di cou ge thei f ie d , r wa d thei

n m s an d r n e e ie , b i g themselves un der hardship a n d

s ff r n u e i g. No t long after this plot the spirit which a ppears

in n r x r ss n s u rd it fou d wide e p e io till . O the 3 o f

A s rs of n e rc m n ugu t lette i t o muni g, importin g the high

est rm a r fo of outl wry, we e issued a ga in st ﬁfteen of the ministe rs who had most distin guished themselves

r s rv s a t ﬁ l s Am n by thei e ice the e d con ven ticle . o g these were three whose n ames w ere well-kn own to the

r s r s rw s r —M ssrs r n H P e byte ian of Be ick hi e e Ki kto , ume,

a n d a mieso n J . This severity made it hardly possible fo r those who

s ff r n n in Sc n r n u e ed it to co ti ue otla d, and acco di gly

m n n r mm n r as a y of the i te co u ed took efuge, others

n r in n r n a n ho s i had do e befo e them, the eighbou i g d p t

a s e r hic N r m ble helt w h o thu berlan d afforded. Ther e thus came to be quite a con siderable n umber of the

r r in m r s dep ived cle gy living co pa ative afety, yet so near the border of ou r shire that they could readily

104 THE OOV ENANTERS OF THE MERS E . bran ches that wa ved by the ban ks of the streams a n d in the secret vales where the Covenan ters gathered

s o f r a r a s rr an d a r the a pect the p e che , , hu ied e ge , he

r to r zv s n his a as ode up the ende ou , unbuckli g clo k

m r n h s - rn he ca e, d awi g from is saddle bag the well wo

an d n i to s m all s Bible, haste ng give out the p al ; the e

s a n s r a r a s n n s r s a r circum t ce , t ivi l pe h p whe co ide ed ep

n in r c a o r in ately, were ot so thei ombin tion, the profound in ﬂ u en ce w hich they exercised upon the

Th ar s o u r people who submitted to them. e he t of Coven an ters w ere full of stran ge thou ghts con cern ’ in c rs an d g God s judgmen ts upon perse uto , of the scan dalous lives led by the curates of the Esta blished

r n n ess n s had e n Chu ch. They kn ew how ope co f io be made o f such crimes at ﬁeld meetin gs where a gu ilty conscien ce had sometimes con strain ed the errin g to appear ; how o n e had died in a momen t of profane

o ff n n n a l r n w a r levity, cut by a ca o b l du i g the Dutch , a fter distin guishin g himself at home as a persecutor of the Coven an ters ; how others of the same pa rty had been smothered in a fallin g house ; had fallen suddenly over a bridge ; o r ha d died fo r wan t of breath while the ca n dles beside them burn ed lo w o r

r in s m r rr went out altogethe , y pathy with thei ho id 1 m en d. S s a r as re n uch thought , we e su d by o e of the

s a r s n selve , m de the P e byterian s prize these con ve ticles

a n d m n a highly, expect uch of the Divin e prese ce n d

w in r m po er that way of worship . Se ious i pression s

o f r a n d ra ar n rs n s the powe g ce of God, he ty co ve io ,

an d m s r a ediﬁca tio n re n r uch pi itu l , we , by the ge e al testimon y of those who kn ew the in n er history of

s m s a n d t a r m n r the e ti e hat p ty, the co mo esult of

n on n n attenda ce co ve ticle preachin g . 1 M l Wodrow SS. 8170 vo 2 N m . 9 o . 20 ress ar Ro b. , , , p k III . 6, 15 . ’ A voca L i r d te s bra y. HA T R C P E III.

ORD H M m r e U E, to who the Council w ot desiring he would u se his utmost diligen ce in suppressin g the Border con ven ticles

in his n s ms av n r cou ty, ee to h e bee ve y 1 c in s n s r an d n ee a tive thi ki d of e vice, i d d received 11 the than ks of the Govern men t fo r what he had don e .

T s a r n s r n w r he e g the i g we e so umero us ho eve , that ’ n er his r s s r s n o r c eith Lo d hip exe tion , the help whi h w as doubtless forthcomin g from the ga rrison settled ’ in s n s s at Blan ern e w as Lady Lum de hou e , judged su fﬁcien t to me n s o f u 3 oth et the eed the case. O the of No vember 1676 the Council commun icated with the ’ Comman der-in -chief of His Maj esty s horse an d foot in

Sc an who w as m inli w otl d, at that ti e the Earl of L thgo , desirin g him to sen d fourscore foot to quarte r at

An r m an d edbu r h an n a x c u J g , d to joi with th t e pedi tion the squad o f horse then lyin g at Dalkeith a n d

a r n rn Musselburgh un der comman d of the E l of Ki gho , whose place they desired should be taken by the troop

a r th t had been quartered at Sti lin g . A lette r from the Coun cil to the Court records the ﬁ ill success o f this ex peditio n It wou ld seem that o n a a r n s r s in s n r the ppe a ce of the e fo ce the outh cou t y, the Presbyte rian preachers had the address to a ppoin t

1 dr M f li l No 2 Wo ow SS. o o o x x x h 1 c r , , v . . , . 7 , nstru tion s to Lo _ I d ” er cu rio us Hu me , v y . 2 Ma 2n d 1 A. 6 i1 1 P. . . A. 4th A r , y , 77 P , p 677. I (B THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . their con venticles at places ju st within the En glis h

r s r to m bo der. There the pe ople con tinued to re o t the in s r s as r a as an d G rn number pe hap g e t ever, the ove

n c n n as r s n w as co n me t ould do othi g, thei juri dictio

ﬁn ed to n Scotla d . The most picturesque a n d remarkable in sta n ce of this evasion of the la ws w as seen in the con duct of

Mr s 1 T s n r r n o w s d John Wel h . hi oted p eache ettle

n Tw e d a n d himself in a house o the banks of the e ,

er ra w n u a n n c mm n the wint d i g o , d proving u o o ly

s r r s o n eve e, he cont ived to preach for some week the

r r ts w as o as to ff r ive i elf, which then frozen over s a o d standin g groun d fo r the crowds of people who ca me

to n c s r d in a that con ve ti le, uppo ting them in eed position so exactly o n the march between the two coun tries that a t the least hint of dan ger they cou ld

as s fﬁ T r is n n e ily e cape the o cers o f the law. he e othi g perhaps in the history o f the Covenante rs which a ppeals so po werq y to the imagin a tion as this remarkable

s n r h s a n d ce e, whe e, amid t e stilln ess of inten se fro t,

n d the hu shed sile ce of a multitude deeply move , the voice o f the intrepid preacher must have r un g out like that o f a trumpet of Revelation set to the lips

o f n r r f r s n s an a gel, while the uddy ays o an ea ly u et

s s r an d ice hon e reﬂected from the heet of clea level , till it seemed as if that whole multitude stood already on the sea of glass min gled with ﬁre as

t s it an d r ad r r m s S John call , al e y pa took the p o i ed glories of which perhaps their min ister even then told

n o w n r r them . We need t o de if those who found thei best in terests served amid such surroundings a n d un der

s ss s as s of uch impre ion the e, thought much that way

1 Kir to 42 k n , p. 3 .

108 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

’ n r u n r William Erskin e obtain ed a mo th s libe ty, de a bon d of ﬁve thousan d merks fo r his return to co n ﬁn e m n rn w er his r h r r r e t. As it tu ed out, ho ev , b ot e ecove ed,

m e w as s i in r s n a c a n d even survived hi . H t ll p i o at Bl k

s in 1 84 n e s m r a ne s, 6 , whe he b gged to be allowed o e elax

n Th n c c n n m s a ss n tio . e Cou il o te ted the selve by p i g a n order that he should have liberty to go a bout the

r T n ﬁn emen t w c castle with a keepe . his lon g co , hi h s m n r ee s to have laste d almost till the Revolutio , b oke ’ r s n r s w 1690 to the p i o e health . He as restored in his c a r G r n is r a n r old h ge at i tho , but it p ob ble he eve r r d fo r his h ac etu ne there ; at deat , which took pl e a r 1 93 is scr as n s er a t bout the yea 6 , he de ibed mi i t

r hi lﬁeld was n Edinbu gh . James Erskin e of S e the s r his r an d u s s c to a n s e ved hei , th uc eeded the l d of

N r H n tl w in G r n an d of ethe u y o o d the parish of o do ,

l n s in r rm m B ai lie Laude dale, which had fo ed Willia ’ s n s st an n n how Er ki e e ate . We c well u dersta d the

a so n r an d s c r c pture of i t epid uccessful a prea he , and the imprison men t which secured his silen ce fo r so many years an d hin dered him from makin g the ﬁgu re ’ in his party s in terest that he might otherwise have

l r s done, wou d be ve y welcome to those who then tudied to oppress the Presbyteria n s a n d reduce them to

n T r r w obedie ce . hat pa ty, howeve , as too w ell provided an d ha d too stron g a hold of the coun try to suffer

n s r ss an o n e a r r co ide ably by the lo of y le de , howeve brillia n t his gifts an d con siderable his services had

n an d s m as bee , it ee ed if the removal of Willia m

rs n n s f E ki e, i tead o puttin g a check upon the Coven a n ters of r s n the bo der , o ly made them more determin ed than ever in the open oppo sition they now offered to

s r s r r me s a n the law which p o c ibed thei eting , d threatened

m ss of r r a n the with the lo libe ty, fo tune, d life. THE CO NANT RS OF THE M VE E ERS E . 109

The complaint which the Coun cil made to the Du ke

a r a n n s of L ude d le, co cerni g the eva ion of the preachers a n d r rs n n othe Covenante i to E gland, received im

a a r medi te ttention at Cou t . The Kin g an d the Bishop of Durham wrote letters to the gentry of

N r s r orthumbe land, de i ing they wou ld take action

n s S s s in r rs 1 agai t the cotti h fugitive thei borde , and so con ﬁden t were the Coun cil that these exiles would be forced to remove northward that they sen t a letter to a r H in whi the E l of ume, ch, havin g than ked his lordship fo r the diligence he ha d shown in suppressin g

n n s him s his r as co ve ticle , they bade be till on gua d, they un derstood the Presbyterian s were leavin g En glan d 11 an d m a t to r rn to r r ight be p etu thei old quarte s. At the same time and in the same manner they wrote to

a of the Re e r s o n the B ilie gality of Bun le and P e t , warn in g him to keep watch against these meetin gs 11 a r in th t part of the count y . These alarms seem to have been ju stiﬁed by what

a A r a n n ss m a a ctu lly occurred. g e t co ve ticle a e bled t

r in l a n d s r Eckfo d Tevio tda e, other we e held at the

s Bla castl a n d in a r r r Mr hou e of ck e, L mme moo , whe e

a r rs n s Jo hn Welsh was the pre cher . Seve al pe o were ﬁn ed an d imprisoned a year afterwards fo r their

n s accession to these gatheri g .

w v r w as s n b No great diligence, ho e e , how y the En glish gen try in carryin g out the Royal and Episcopal 1 B s cha rges they had received . y thi time they had become fa miliar with the person s again st whom they

a n d n were n o w desired to act, had see the widespread good these preachers were the means of effectin g in w as that coun try . Indeed it rather of their o w n

r s n c s r m s a a cco d, i e they thought the time p o i ed f vour

1 2 M i n 3 9 P . A zu d a r to . 16 K k , p 7 0 ., y 770 110 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

h o r min s s n ow ably for such an attempt, t at u i ter began to push more boldly in to Scotlan d and to hold their meetin gs at a greater distance from the

r Borde . But to those gen tlemen w ho feared and disliked the hold which the covenan tin g preachers ha d gain ed in

r n e n ot s Northumbe la d, and there wer a few who e a ttachmen t to the Ro man Catholic faith obliged them

to s an d or c s to take uch attitu e, who ho e adopt it ’ f r r easo n s n s n s ru c n s r o othe r , the Ki g i t tio were ve y

m r Sir T m s H n welco e. Such we e ho a orsley of Lo g

rs ll a n s r w ho ho ley, and Wi i Ogle of Cau eway Pa k, took this opportun ity of attemptin g the capture of

Mr Willia m Veitch . Mr Veitch w as n ow settled at a place called Stan ton

H in s of o n s Th s as all the pari h L ghor ley . e hou e w o n e

o f n s r s z n co ide able i e, havi g a great hall w ithin doors where the n eighbo urhood used to assemble fo r Divin e

S r . H r o n s Sa A s 1677 e vice ithe , the econd bbath of ugu t ,

H rs an d in came o ley Ogle, their quality of Justices of

c a r to r the Pea e, prep ed b eak up the meetin g an d secure

e s n of m nis r H r the p r o the i te . o sley with his men rode

to r r as r ha boldly up the g eat doo , but Ogle, if the e d

n n rs n him an d r bee an u de tanding betwee the othe , made his w a y more quietly to the postern gate an d broke suddenly a n d violen tly in to the house with his

r n ﬁrst to s r r s pa ty, hopi g to be the u p i e the prey. He

n r c r r m w h r V c w as eve ea hed the ve y oo e e eit h , but Mrs Veitch shut the door and held it fa st a gain st him fo r m m n hi a o e t, w ch gave her husba nd time to Th escape . e min ister slipped in to a hidin g pla ce con trived in the w in dow behin d a pan el of the

a n s r m was r a w i cot with which the oo cove ed, n d lay there very safely till the pursuit pa ssed else

112 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

Early in the followin g year an other act w as passed s m n r n n upple e ta y to the Bo d, amely that fo r the s r n l c in hi n w a ecu i g of the Pub ic Pea e, w ch the Ki g s made to ta ke the extrao rdin ary step of givin g his oath that he dreaded harm from such as refu sed to ta ke the

n an d r n r r s Bo d, acco di gly equi ed that they hould be come boun d to keep the peace w ith him un der pen alty

r N r M s f n m o f outlaw y . eve had the aje ty o the ki gdo

l w an d n r so a in s n sun k so o , eve had pl a sugge tio been offered that the un fortun a te differen ces between the King an d his subjects were such as might provoke an appeal to arms. The whole procedure of the Governmen t at this time

s m a r n a n d s m a poin ted in the a e fat l di ectio , even ee ed s if the authorities desired to provoke a n armed resis

n ar n a n s u 1 tan ce o the p t of the Cove ter . O the 7th of ’ an ar 1678 r rs m to r n s n s r J u y o de ca e Lo d Ki g to t oop,

Ha din n r a a then lyin g at d gto , to be e dy to m rch fo r the 1 ss n c n n s In suppre io of o ve ticle . Ju n e the Coun cil

- i ha r r . n sb m t w ote to Lieut Col . Co y, who d co e o Be wick ’ m a n s ir n n m with eight co p ie of S Lio el Walde s Re gi en t, tellin g him he might shortly be requ ired to serve in 1‘ n an d in w n n h n n n Scotla d, the follo i g mo t the Co ve tio of Estates voted a Cess o f to the Kin g fo r the

a n n ew r m n o f hr r main ten ce of a egi e t foot, t ee t oops of

m ra s rs an d s n . ho e, o e d goo If the coun try had resen ted the imposition o f the

d a ss n o w n d Bon , th t of the Ce ki led the gen eral in digna

a M n tion to a ﬂ me . i isters of the presbyterian party received requests from their people to preach again st

n ew m s n w a a m the i po itio , and it s l ost un iversally co n demn ed a s a o r s r b a s m s illeg l de c i ed i politic, ave by

1 A 2 P A n 2 h R . . . , Ju e ot . 113 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

those who really desired to see the religious dissensions

n r s r r of the cou t y ettled by fo ce of a ms. The ea rly mon ths of 1678 showed that the Cove n an ters of the Borders were n o t un prepared to wel

c m s an a a to a rms an d two c n n c s o e uch ppe l , o ve ti le in o u r shire attracted some atten tion from the n u

c mm n w w o o boldn ess ith which they ere managed. It seems that the Presbyte ria n s livin g in the ex treme east of Berw ickshire found it highly in con ven ien t to atten d the services still kept up regularly a t the

a rn Th s r a a m r c n r c Blue C i . ey de i ed th t o e e t al pla e

m h a e a s s a m n a n d ig t be dopt d the ite of th t eeti g, in complia n ce with their request a con ven ticle w as

s m n to ss m a t m r a n d W m u mo ed a e ble Fogo oo , illia

ch s ms as r in r Veit , who ee to have acted leade eve y n ew en terprise where un common skill an d courage

r r r a m r t n Ha to a ct as we e equi ed, c e f om S an to ll the

r r o n h s c s n p eache t i o ca io .

The n w r had n n a w as Cou cil, ho eve , i tellige ce of wh t

s n a n d s a s n r rs o r de ig ed, eem to h ve e t o de to L d Kin gston to lead his men from Ha ddin gton through

a mm m a L er oor n d fall upon the con ven ticle . Veitch tells u s tha t he took his text that day from the 102n d

s m a n d a man n c r n r P al , th t y fou d the do t i e of the Wo d

n s s T r w as n s very refreshi g to their oul . he e i deed ome thin g sin gula rly a ppro priate in the choice of such

a a cr r o n a c s n as a n n e p ss ge of S iptu e th t oc a io , y o

w r rs s r ill see who efe to the P alm itself. Go d ve ily loo ked dow n from His Sa n ctua ry to behold His people sittin g like pelican s of the wildern ess a n d ” s r He n owls of the de e t. took accou t of their en emies ” a r mad n s h a n d s rn s th t we e agai t t em wo again t them, a n d even as the strain s of that pre phetic son g were soun ding over the wastes of Fogo He hea rd the H 114 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . groaning o f the prison ers and loosed those that were

n t appoi ted o die . The tr00ps mu st have fou nd the hill ro ads lon g an d

r a n n as r m n wea y, d we can fa cy how, they t od the i

s r s mm r m ha te, the plovers and cu lew of La e moor see ed to mock with their shrill cries the progress of men “ ” s whose feet were swift to hed blood . When the force had passed Da n skin e a n d Lo n gformacus a n d a t len gth descen ded fro m the hills it w as already even

n ing. The solem Benediction had been pronoun ced

th r o f r s r a n s at Fogo, and e c owd P e byte i they had hoped to disperse was now dissolved.

rd w The pursuit passed westwa . Veitch as kn ow n t n Falside a n o have frien ds at Bassendea , , d Green

s r w as ma r as l as H m know, and ea ch de the e we l at u e, s r t s where he also accustomed to re o t. A la t the soldiers

ti hel s n came to S tc , and even made ome e quiry a bout

n n in carle r s h st Cu g , the dowe hou e of t at e ate, but hear in g that the on ly in ha bitan t there w as old Lady

titchel she was in ﬁrm s S , and that and ickly, they

u r r a en n to s paid no f the tt tio the hou e. In that very

r man for m place, howeve , the who they sought lay

n r safely concealed, having bee b ought there by James

r Hume of Flsss. Lo d Kin gston ha d thrown aw a y his

an d in s in n er r s n time pa that e t p i e, and o e more in stan ce ’ of God s protectin g care w as thus given to revive the

a n c n ﬁden ce His courage d o of people . The other conven ticle which we must n o w notice presen ts u s with n o such details of thrillin g dan ger

r r s is r and hai b eadth e cape, but pe haps as remarkable

r s in 1 in othe way . It met the sprin g o f this year

la s o f s N sbe n on the nd Ea t i t, the in the possession

1 There is some ou t a out the ex t ate b d b b ac d , ut Wodrow places it at this time .

6 11 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E.

more solemn and devout than ksgivin g than ordin a ry

‘ n r occasions of Co mmunio aﬁo d.

The s M rs s R a preacher were ess Wel h, iddell, Bl ck

T s r c n a n d Rae . n s r adder, Di kso , oke we e di t ibuted

n a u s usual at the Saturday service. O Sabb th the

T r r s two m s ables we e set out o n the g a s, of the oppo ite

a a s n r ss r en e ch other and horter o e ac o the uppe d. In this way there w as room fo r two hun dred to sit

w a n an d as Ta s r s r s e n do n t o ce, the ble we e e ved ixt e times durin g the da y it w as reckon ed that three thousan d persons must have partaken of the Sacra

n a The A n S rm n was me t at th t time. ctio e o preached

Mr s w ho s s r ﬁrst s by Wel h, al o e ved the two table . The other min isters then ca me forward in their turn to n all mm n ca e that duty u til the people had co u i t d, w hen Mr Welsh closed the service with a partin g ex

r n an d dis ss ho tatio , mi ed the assembly by pron oun cin g

n the Be ediction . The memory of this great con ven ticle lin gered lon g in the coun ty an d has been con tinued a mon g u s even

n to r s n da A r s n - r dow the p e e t y. i i g g oun d n ear the scen e of the con ven ticle is still kn own as the Watch

n s r m rc ms n c a w a K ow , f o the ci u ta e th t it s then ocen 1 s n n s a n d r is ra pied by the e ti el , the e a t dition that m m s n n rs who so e ene ie of the Cove a te , would fain ha ve in te rrupted the service an d had drawn n ea r fo r that purpose retired again in dismay when they heard the

us u s s n a sa n s l ty m ic of the p alm upbor e by thou d voice , testifyin g by its susta in ed a n d deep-ton ed volume to

n m r men n ss m d r the u be of the a e ble togethe . In deed it would be difﬁcult to ﬁn d a n y part of o u r co ven ant in g history which gives a more impressive view of the con dition of the Presbyterian s at this time in o u r

1 Re o rte b Mr ohn er uson p d y J F g , Duns. 11 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . 7 s re h hi . T e n umbers of people sincerely attached to that party ; the fa milies of station an d in ﬂu en ce who un hesita tin gly ga ve their support to the cause ; the leaders amon g both gen try a n d clergy who were always rea dy to serve the growing movemen t with singular a r a n d r ss all s are r re re bility, cou age, add e ; the e he e p s n in the m s m r ss a c n an e ted o t i p e ive life and tio , d we gain in particular a remarkable view of the prepara

n s n n n Ou r n a rs tio then bei g take fo r defe ce. Cove nte were eviden tly determin ed that the liberties of their

n r r n o t to sacriﬁced w a ru cou t y we e be ithout st ggle, in which they would u se their best stren gth to main

A r m r s n o w n ta in them. e a kable po ition had beyo d a l s n n n in s er l que tio been gai ed, whe , pite of the p s u tin aw s s c c n n an d ec g l , u h a o ve ticle could be held, , n ot in some remote refu ge of the shelterin g hills but o n the ban ks of a peaceful stream in the very hea rt

n s m s er fo r r of the cou ty, uch ultitude could gath th ee

an d n w s n r days together, e joy ithout the lea t i ter uption a form of service which had been declared illegal a n d

c a s a even pun ishable with death . Su h itu tion could

o n r s s r a s m on ly issue in e of two e ult , eithe the l w ust be vin dica ted by force a gain st those w ho thus ven tured to m o r s rt s a n m s defy the , el e the libe y thu t ke u t be

n T r a main ta ined by the sa me desperate mea s. he e c n be n o dou bt that o u r Covenan ters were n o w ready to do their be st in the securin g of that liberty of worship w hich their conscience deman ded as right a n d

ss r n ece a y . HA T C P ER IV.

OME curiosity ma y naturally be felt as to the behaviour of Lord Hume a t this

n r He w as ju ctu e . the Sheriff of the

n a n d cou ty, had already shown himself willi n g to do much in the w a y of suppressin g illegal meetin gs ; how w as it that he did n ot in terfere o n this

a Blacka dder hims n occ s ion ? , elf o e of the preachers

s N s r rts was s m at Ea t i bet, epo what aid at the ti e,

a s r a s a s h r ff th t thi amp youth, he c ll the S e i , had in deed made it his boast that he would sca tter the

n a n d his rs o n meeti g, feed ho e the con secrated bread

n n M a n s m s n r a d wi e . e u t have bee foun d to f u strate

s n n a n d a n n r thi i te tion, e t y in the Privy Coun cil Record seems to i ndicate what these ma y have 1 been.

o f s c s n At the dat e thi de i io the Coun cil were pleased ’ to r m e n his r s s a n d to r n hea a hu ble p titio of lo d hip , g a t him protection again st his creditors till Novembe r of

r r H m m s ms a that yea . Lo d u e told the , it ee , th t the diligen ce he had shown in seein g the laws ex ecuted again st disaffected person s had exposed him to the

m n s rr hi r malice of a y, who ti ed up s c editors to pu rsue

He r a him fo r debt. had p ob bly followed the custom of the time in borrowin g somewhat freely from the gen tle

men his ow n of family throughout the county, man y

s e rt of whom were of the Pre byt rian pa y. Again st

1 P A Jan . 2l s . . , t 1678.

120 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

Northumbe rland had already been the cause of much

s r n as w s n di quiet to the Gove nme t, who, e have ee ,

s r e s tried to stir up that coun try again st the e efug e , ’ wi c er a r a s thout mu h success. Shortly aft L ude d le

r to r in n e rn s e retu n Cou t, o of the jou ey he mad to

o n in 1 8 s in n n al L don 67 , he ucceeded gai i g the roy assen t to a n ew measure design ed to be more effectual

h The r r s r r r to t an the last. oyal fo ce we e o de ed

rth m rlan r r th No u be d, and ma ched the e to be at e

s s r s n di po al of Colonel St uther , o e of the Deputy

n f s r fo r r n s n h Lieutena ts o the hi e, the app ehe io of t ose

v r t t T whom the Governmen t called ag an S co s. hese

r s s s r r s s m m rs fo ce con i ted of seve al t oop o e of the ho e,

m n b Ma r M n an d s m r n s com a ded y jo ai , ome of the d agoo ,

M r l h r T u a ct w a s under ajo Og et o p . hey wo ld , it

m fo r the n n c n rm s thought, without that sy pathy o o fo i ts

a r rm r s n a n which the local utho ities had fo e ly how , d in deed a campaign more determin ed than a n y before

m w as n ow s n to r s r s e r n s atte pted, de ig ed c u h the P e byt ia o f r r the Bo de s. At this jun cture of affairs when the times were full of n n w n s n fo r r n a n rs o n e u k o n co eque ce o u Cove te , of

r H m r n r c a n that party, Geo ge u e of G ade , e eived

H rs A invitation to din e w ith his chief at the i el . fter

n r o r H m o his s a s a n d o him di ne , L d u e t ok gue t ide, t ld

ha n e w n s n s a rra n n him that he d i tructio , w ti g to

r n n n r r app ehe d all of that way of thi ki g, whe eve he

la n s o n m u r n s r n could y ha d the . O hea i g thi , G ade probably made as if he mean t to call fo r his horse an d s n ff n a e cape at o ce, but the Sheri detai ed him momen t lon ger to add that it w as of n o u se his

n ﬂi ht to N r n r attempti g g orthumbe la d, hithe to the refuge of so man y n on con formists un der fear of

s . n s r apprehen ion Intelligence had come dow , aid Lo d 121 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

H m s s a u e, that the e borders al o were to be swept cle n

r s n r r rs an r n n by the t oop u de St uthe , d if G ade k ew tha t an y of his frien ds were trustin g to their residen ce in tha t coun try fo r safety he had better warn them

r a n r of thei d ge . This in forma tion w as received in the same spirit of gen erous con ﬁden ce in which it seems to have been m ar . Gr n s n m n to i p ted ade , without lo i g a mo e t, got

rs an d r f r Tw r n ha r b ho e ode o eed, c ossi g t t rive y the

n ar s r a n d ma n his w a all s e e t fo d, ki g y with the peed

c a r a m r n m e r he ould to the vill ge of C ookh , whe e a u b of o u r Presbyterian gentry were livin g in a fan cied s c r n hi a e u ity. O s rrival amon g them with the n ews

an r he at n c sc r n s i of d ge , t y o e atte ed, seeki g afety n

mm a ﬂi ht w i ra n r w n i edi te g , h le G de , wea ied ith wa t

s an d a n a n a rr of leep, the xiety d f tigue of his hu ied

rn t r w mse o n o n e r s sn a jou ey, h e hi lf of thei bed to tch a rs r s few hou e t.

M an r s s ms a e while St uther , who ee to have h d exa ct in formation of this colon y of n on con formists within his r s c n a n d w h c r n s n ju i di tio , o e tai ly lo t o time in

r c n rs a a n s m a r a di e ti g the pu uit g i t the , pp o ched

r a m rces n r his co mman T C ookh with the fo u de d . he

u s to ﬁn d w r n sca f gitive he hoped e e i deed e ped, an d n o t a m m n s n m ss n em o e t too oo , but, i i g th , he

n m ra n a n d a rr r s n fell upo Hu e of G de , c ied him p i o er

r r H m w ho n ow in s ms as befo e Lo d u e, , pite of hi elf

se m a s ran r d it would e , pl yed the t ge pa t of ju ge to the man whom he had en tertain ed a few hou rs before ’ a t his ta B r f s r rs r n w ble . y the She if o de G ade a s c rr e as H a n d s r in a i d to the c tle of ume, ecu ed a vault w hich would seem to have remain ed as pa rt of the ru in that the a rtillery of Colon el Fen wick had left

r rs r T s w as u s a thi ty yea befo e . hi vault probably ed s 122 THE N T COVE AN ERS OF THE MERS E . the common place of co n ﬁn emen t for prisoners of ’ n s his r s s co equence under lo d hip jurisdiction . When news of what had taken place reached the refugees in Northumberland they were n aturally con cern ed to hear o f the apprehen sion of their frien d

m so s lﬁshl in r n er s who had exerte d hi self un e y thei i t e t. They met a n d formed the plan o f an armed raid having ’ f r The r en dezvou s o f the prison er s release o its object.

s w a s a r m thi expedition ppointed at C ookha , but when the m n few r n ti e came, o ly a of the pa ty had fou d

r r rs n ss m n thei way thithe , the othe havi g mi ed eeti g

T is il s n them by some mistake . h fa ure occa io ed delay while the question w as in debate what should n o w

r o f s be don e in the matte their enterpri e, and the dela y gave Struthers time to hear of what w as in te n ded and to direct his forces on ce more to that

a r qu ter . The ﬁrst to perceive the approach of the en emy w as T s Ker Ha ho e r r Ker r homa of y p , b othe to of Che ry tr s w ho s r sm n o f o a ee , tood at the doo oki g a pipe t b cco .

He s n to a rm tayed but a mome t give the al , then ran

r to his horse and moun ted fo r ﬂight. Befo e he had gone fa r a horseman rode out from the En glish tr00p

rs n r n in hot pu uit, and, bei g bette mounted, the E glish

— r M n so n th man who was Squi e arti , to e Ma yor of ’ N s rs n — s n ewca tle, and Struthe ephew oo overtook

Ker n r s n ot n to , the latter bei g pe hap unwilli g abide “ ” n r e n M r n the e counte . B take , Dog, cried a ti , to ‘ w c Ker r r is r a rra hi h eplied, Whe e you w n t l

s r Without answerin g thi demand, the pu suer shot

Ker r v m m in the body, ecei in g at the sa e omen t the ’ con tents of his assailant s pistol in the head which

him n th killed o e spot. Ker n o w found his woun d likely to prove mortal he

124 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

’ r n We have no account of Graden a release from p iso .

H r m m n s e p obably co n tin ued in con ﬁn emen t for so e o th , indeed it seems to have been part of the po licy followed by the governmen t at this time to con ﬁn e the prin cipal leaders of the Coven an ters in order that they might be

n aff rs a r A u able to help in the ai of th t pa ty . bout the mon th of Ju ly 1678 this fate befel Hume of Polwarth fo r s n m He w as r n n m r the eco d ti e. app ehe ded o ce o e, an d la y in prison for a year without a n y rea son bein g

fo r s f r r r A alleged thi exercise o arbit a y powe . bout September his health bega n to suffer from the close co n ﬁn emen t in Stirlin g castle to which he was con demn a n n w as r s rr to ed, d upon petitio he t an fe ed Dumbarton where his wife was allowed to atten d him fo r n T s n n s n a a mo th . he e i dulge ce wou ld seem to i dic te tha t what w as design ed in this imprison men t w as n o t

n s m n an ff n n n h s n the pu i h e t of y o e ce, othi g of t i ki d

n n n s him r r i deed bei g alleged agai t , but athe the removal from public activity of a man w ho might prove

n r s as r ff s n a s da ge ou a leade of the disa ected. As oo the govern men t thought themselves safe from such a s set P rt r m his co n ﬁn emen t ttempt they olwa h f ee fro . This extraordin a ry a buse of power w as much n oticed a n m T s w it d a n o f. h r s r co pl i ed ho e o p acti ed , howeve ,

n o t men to triﬂ ed a n d se m to ha were be with, e ve resolved to govern the coun try a t this time by a species

M s rr r n s u a r to n of u covy te o , in which one ho ld d e ope

r m s iﬁa ble r c n s his mouth again st thei ost u n ju t p o eedi g .

n 19th m r a m s a s o f n O the of Dece be , J e D e Cowde kn owes w as brought before the Coun cil o n a charge of

' disaﬁectio n in ferred from his ha vin g spoken again st the ’ n ew Militia a n d the Polw arth s imprison men t. He w a s

ﬁn ed n m n w as r m o r , but delayi g pay e t, o dered to ake it else go to prison . TH 125 E COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

The Militia beca me in deed a great cause of oppression to n r Tw r s the cou t y in these days. o hun d ed of the e

r s s s n r n to fo ce , be ide a umbe of horse, were apportio ed o u r shir a en d a 1 T r e bout the of the ye r 678 . hei

ar e rin w as a k n ﬁn e n a n rs an d qu t g i d of upo the l dholde ,

r r s n c a l ass s thei p e e e a te rror to presbyterian s of l cl e . They were design ed to do in Berwickshire the sa me w ork that Struthers an d his soldiers were busy with in

o rthu mberla n d so b n s N , that y the actio of both the e forces to gether o u r Coven an ters might be pu t a s it were

w n w ﬁr T s a r c s m n s bet ee t o es. hu the ye lo ed with ill o e fo r the peace of Scotlan d force more an d more ta king the pla ce of right an d justice in the policy of the

rn men an d n met o n r n n n gove t, bei g the pa t of the o co s n fo rmists by a still more resolute attitude of resi ta ce . CHAPTER V.

IL L IAM TR TH R w m a S U E S, ho we h ve already n oticed as a n a ctive comma n der of the forces sen t to apprehen d Coven

e n s in o rthu mberlan d n w r s ter N , o e olved upon makin g a capture which he n o doubt thought would be both importan t an d gratefu l to those w ho

m in s s n ss n 2l st e ployed him thi bu i e . O the of November 1678 he an d another Ju stice of that n eigh b rh r ss t r t Ma r Ma n hen o u o od add e ed a let e o jo i , t at

r a n n him r n c a m Woo le , cquai ti g of the eside e of Willi

n Ha w m s n h Veitch at Sta ton ll, ho he de ig ed by is

s m n o hn s n a n d s r n a c as u ed ame of J o , de i i g th t for e might be used to a pprehen d him a n d keep him in

n s z cu stody till the ex t a si es. This w arran t w a s sen t o n by Main to Major Ogletho rp

M r as a r ofﬁcer ha d his r rs n at o peth, the l tte qua te o ly

r mi s r m ta n n Hal Th some three o r fou le f o S to l . e

r m s an n r weather w a s ve y te pestuou , d deep s ow cove ed

r n r u w c r ch r the g ou d, th o gh hi h the pa ty a ged to make this a pprehen sion struggled with difﬁcu lty towards

r a n lethor mse was in m n thei destin tio . Og p hi lf com a d,

h his n an an d n s and with him wen t Grifﬁt lieute t, E ign

r n Owen together with a n umber of dismoun ted d agoo s . It w as the early morn in g of Sa bbath the 19th of

r a c n o H Jan n ary 1679 when the party e hed Sta t n all. ’ ' h r ff s Bailiﬁ r T eir gu ide, a She i of that count y, completed

r a He r u to his work by a n in gen ious st at gem . c ept p

128 THE CO NANT F VE ERS O THE MERS E .

’ - ru s s n r the kettle d m ou ded the ma ch at eight o clock,

a n d as s a es fo r r by e y t g , the oads were ﬁlled with sn ow

a n d s rm s n cr as n c m r m M r the to till i e i g, they a e f o o peth

to A n c a n d n c to r an rw l wi k the e Belfo d d Be ick . While

r n n Al n c c r s n sta n they we e di i g at wi k, a u iou i ce of ’ Veitch s r cc rr n s a t eady wit o u ed . Bei g pre sed table to

r n a as r s h r u n Ma n d i k to t, he efu ed, w e e po i , callin g ’ S r rs t n t n s : see n w t uthe a te io , aid You , Colo el, hat a ’ r e s man is a w n t n eb l thi , th t ill o eve drin k the Kin g s ” to w c V r r ir health, hi h eitch eplied ve y coolly, S , if you un derstood the law you would ﬁn d you rself the rebel

a n n ms o u n w n t d o t me . s o a n It ee y k o th t the Ki g,

r c am n has disc a r a t s r n n a n d by p o l atio , h ged he l h d i ki g,

his o w n in a r a r w c w l ﬁn in p ticul , hi h you i l d the book ’ ” s A r s n ellers shops a t Newcastle . fte thi o o n e asked

him rin a a a n o r n tu r to r ss s r to d k a he lth g i , ve ed c o wo ds with his ready wit ; in deed he w as more than a match

fo r his c m n in r w a his r an r o pa y eve y y, bi th d b eedin g

a s a s fﬁ r an d his r s n good s tho e of the o ce s, pa t a d piety

in ﬁn itel a v rs so a ere r nf r y bo e thei , th t, thei e o ced

c m n s r a s s rm was n t o pa y the e th ee d y of to do e, hey

c n t re a rdin r r s n r r ould o help g g thei p i o e with espect. When the party reached Berwick they hoped to ha ve got their business don e at on ce by ha n din g over the

s r H m r s a r . ho w p ison er to the Scotti h utho itie Lo d u e,

r r s r c him sh u a w rr n eve , efu ed to e eive till he o ld h ve a a t ’ i a T s s m n to that effect from H s M jesty . hi cau ed a o th s

r n V la c m r n u i delay, du i g which eitch y o fo tably e o gh n the Crown in n ; the mayor of the town sayin g that he

a m r s n him so n h d n o authority to i p i o , that the E glish o fﬁcers were forced to put him un der a close guard in

The m s r n in n s his lodgin g . aid e va t of the hewed Veitch the proverbial kin dn ess of that good town by con triving means whereby he correspon ded with his THE C NANT S 129 OV E ER OF THE MERS E .

r n s a n a r s an i ill f ie d l yi g p pe , pen , d nk under his p ow a s she m a n d rr n ade the bed, ca yin g his letters the ce

n whe he had written them . She even spo ke for him to the Duke of Hamilton who passed that way from

n n a n d mm Lo do , he i ediately sen t to hear how he could ’ s r r s n s n r s s t ll e ve the p i o er i te e t . Vei ch civi y declined ’ ’ his rac s ff r fo r n at G e o e , i deed such a time Hamilton s protection would have done him ill rather than good ; the Duke o f Lauderdale bein g very jealous of that n m n an d n o w c rr n all r him r oble a , a yi g befo e at Cou t.

At s on 2oth r r r m la t, the of Feb ua y, Lo d Hu e havin g si n iﬁed his r n ss c w a s r t n g eadi e , Veit h emoved o Scotla d. This transaction w as man a ged with a good deal of pomp a n d r ms - rn r ci cu tance, the Deputy Gove o of Berwick,

M r H an d m n r fﬁ rs rr n ajo ope, a y othe o ce , ca yi g the prison er to the boun dary of the kin gdoms between

c m n s s i rs H r w as r c two o pa ie of old e . e e he e eived by ‘ av H m N t n heriﬂi De u te r c D id u e of ew o , the S p of Be wi k s r a n n m r n m n an hi e, tte ded by a u be of other ge tle e , d ’ 1 rl A r by a party of Lord Ai y s horse . fte readin g the ’ n s a rra n a n ﬁrin s r s ki g w t d g volley of e pect, the whole

m an m A n r En fﬁ co p y ca e to yto , whe e the glish o cers

r n r a n a n d s a s m rs r n n r we e e te t i ed t yed o e hou d i ki g cla et, after w hich the party in charge of Veitch took leave

a n n r The ff a n d brought him th t ight to Du ba . Sheri

ch a n d a h r a Depute kn ew Veit well, beh ved wit g e t

r s n n ss n r hi civility to his prisone , e di g a me e ge at s desire to a cquain t his brother at Westruther to expect ’ c c n In him in the Can on gate about two o lo k ext day.

1 Hu me o f Newto n as a se cret rien o f the Co ven an te rs an d so w f d , n t He la in e c ail in cu rre d the en mity of the Go vern me . y B rwi k J u rin the 1685 havin een ordere to that co n ﬁn emen t b d g year , g b d y o r Hu me who su s ecte d his rin ci les an d esire to reven t his L d , p p p , d d p — A 23 A . 1685 fo he P . vo tin g in the electio n o f a member r t cou n ty. . p , t ie M x liii. . 204. A v o cate s L i rar . co in S . o p d Wodrow S , v l. , p d y 13 ) T F HE OOV ENANTERS O THE MERS E .

s m tin w thi way a ee g between the brothers as arranged, an d they en joyed some conversation w ith each other

r w as in s n befo e William Veitch laid pri on agai .

V c to T n n in a eit h drove the olbooth that eve i g coach, an d was r a r r eceived there with g eat deal of espect.

The a r s n fo r his r r j ilo e t wife at thei a rival, who dran k ’ a gla ss of wine to the prison er s health with much

i a n n him sh h civil ty, d the told e ad orders to let him

n fo r n n The m s n f r h wa t othi g . roo de ig ed o is con

ﬁn emen t w as n s in r n i deed the be t the p iso , bein g ’ n n as M n r s s m r an d his that k ow o t o e Cha be , at en try

r hi r s ss o f T the e, w the the mi tre the olbooth paid him

s m m n s n w a the unu ual co pli e t of howi g the y, Veitch found ﬁre burn ing in the chimn ey an d can dle-light

s a an d h s as l a s r be ide, with bed, a table c air , we l g eat s r r v s all n s n t n to e of p o ision of ki d , eve o a pigeo pie

s an d - rn s which tood on the shelf, a well fu i hed cellarette in rn r l s she him w as the co e . Al thi , told , done by the

r rs o n e re s a s in o de of of the g ate t l die the kingdom,

s n n t r v s who e ame she would o e eal, o that Veitch could n ot then learn to whom he w as in debted fo r such

n s n n r rc ms n s a u u ual ki d ess. Seve al ci u ta ce lead n to s s r his n r ss w as n o r u pect, howeve , that be efact e othe

He w as r l d as w a r a . than L dy Laude d le e ate , we kno , to that family ; it is doubtfu l if a n y other in the kin g

n r a s c in his n r s dom dared then have ve tu ed mu h i te e t, a n d we hear of a letter penned by Veitch from Berw ick t s so n ma n a r o the Du ke him elf, of i ti te a tu e that the

r V c s w it e Govern o of Berwick, to whom eit h ho ed , lift d “ m n sa n n up hi s han ds in amaze e t, yi g, Will you i deed s n s to m r ? so r r ms an s a re e d thi y Lo d If , you ci cu t ce ” T r w as r a not so ba d as men thin k . his lette g e tly

in n m ss n a n d n ot r a delayed tra s i io , did e ch the Duke

r r w h s hi till afte he had anothe , ich Veitch en t m from

132 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . o n him thirteen years before when he ﬂed the kingdom

l n N w n th s w as to . o d e ss afte r Pent a d , i dee , bu ine like

a e n n a n d his s a the h ve b e do e, life mu t have p id forfeit

fo r a r ss his n Mr er l r but the dd e of age t, Gilb t E liot, afte

n n a n w a rds Lo rd Min to . Elliot posted up to Lo do d

a ms n o t to Sh es u r pplied hi elf, to Lauderdale, but aft b y,

a e r n s r n s u a i n to who, ft co ide i g the ca e, bro ght petit o the Kin g to have the prison er sen t back to En glan d

i r n r of his d i that he m ght be t ied i the co unt y a opt on,

w r n an d here in deed he had been app ehe ded. His Maiesty made great difﬁcu lties about granting the

a rra n a n w as s d es n ecessary w t, h vi g, it ai , fully r olved ’ itch s l ha e s u r s n o n takin g Ve ife, but S ft b y e t Elliot to

mm n s s n a n d the Hou se of Co o with copie of the petitio , the matter w as taken u p so warmly there that the Kin g

el ed a r n to r his ow n n e es s yi d , fe i g p ejudice i t r t with o fa to a rliam n . n e e s r s r as P e t I d ed, Shaft bu y had gone

e His Ma s a r t n w as he t ll je ty th t if thei pe itio refused,

a n d s m rs w l a a r H o e othe ou d t ke c e that the new ou se,

h n s n s ul s a r n her r s n r s t e itti g, ho d p e eit p ote tant o po pi h

n n n rm s s an d s n s e rn o co fo i t , thu the Ki g, who e t nde ess

fo r a s s w as n w n s r the p pi t well k o , hould have pea s for

lu his p ms. The dark cloud of death which had hung so long over ’ Veitch s hea d w a s ﬁn ally removed by a Royal letter to

1 h 1 9 In n c da e J 3 t 67 . s e the Cou il, t d uly , a few day mor

w a s ra e a s ir r H l h s he libe t d, S Pat ick ume of Po wart al o

w a a am m a n d so r u r to his s bout the s e ti e, et ned home

n n a He u n s r n n at Sta to H ll. fo d a t a ge awe mi gled with

ul m ha d r m u n r the joyf welco e he f o all that co t y. They

him r a ho w his s r told , with bated b e th, chief per e cu to ,

an d ma n w ho ha d r u his r n s the p oc red app ehe ion, was

a d a n d had met his en d de , in a way that w as very

w an d str n a ful iki g. S 133 THE COVENANTER OF THE MERSE .

T s was T s a r hi the Rev . homa Bell, l te Vica of

n s a r Lo ghor ley, the p rish whe e Stanton Hall was situ a e an a man t d, d of evil reputation through all that di s r He wa s son of o n e s r a n t ict. the who had ecu ed in terest in the esta te of Spottiswoode through the

r l s m s ff r n t oub e of that fa ily, but who himself u e i g

rs n a a adve ity, had bee t l st obliged to put out his boy

r a in ar s r r Mr to he d c ttle the p i h of Westruthe . He e

o hn V c n la n a c n J eit h took otice of the d, both o cou t ’ his a h r s m s r n s a n hi w H of f t e i fo tu e d s o n abili ties. e procured him the bu rsary furn ished by the Presbytery

n s an d his r wa n of the bou d , when cou se at College s do e,

n r s T r an d rs in is an i te e ted o woodlee othe th expect t, so tha t they con tributed money for his support un til he s ﬁn d a a hould pl ce in the Church . ’ Un fortun ately Bell s character was not equal to his

t s s r n ss his r s abili ie , nor did he de e ve the ki dne of f iend .

He n ow r fell into a cou se o f in temperance, and when

Mr w a r to r m n s t t im John Veitch s eady e o tra e wi h h , an d require at his han ds an accoun t of the mon ey he had m ss n n r to so n m n i pe t, bei g requi ed do by the ge tle e who had furnished these su pplies a t his recommen ds

n a n n r a n d r in tio , Bell avoided th t e cou te , took efuge

n n r m l rn m n E gla d. He e he co p ied with the gove e t of

a an d s n r ﬁrst the Episcop l Church, thu obtai ed a cu e ;

rs His a t Allen ton a n d then at Lon gho ley. whole min d w rn ess a a n s his n c r as n o w turn ed to bitte g i t be efa to , a n d be in cluded in that resen tmen t Mr Willia m Veitch a s w w as s rr rs a n st ell . It he who ti ed up the pu uit gai

in 1 an d h n an d s r Veitch 677, , t at faili g, he other afte wards stron gly represen ted to Lauderdale the in ﬂu en ce

f he s r ac rs N r m r a n a n d o t Scotti h p e he in o thu be l d, how

r needful it w as that coun try should be clea ed of them . When the forces came down and Veitch w as fallen 1 THE ME 34 COVENANTERS OF THE RS E .

n ir n n o r f his t i to the ha ds, Bell made sec et o ex ul a

n He a tio . h d formerly sworn in a dru n ken co m ’ n it r s pa y that he would be Ve ch s ruin yet, o el e be

n n to s ff a e i co te t u er u n doin g himself in that tt mpt. H s

s s n o w see s c ssfu m n o co n cheme med u ce l, and he ade cea lmen t o f the relief an d sa tisfaction he foun d in what ” rr r a n din had occu ed . Go , get a p e chi g in E burgh, he cried w ith bitte r scorn to o n e who had forsaken his

m n s r fo r a a n d l be i i t y th t of Veitch, added, he wil ” a a n s T a T n r r t s his h nged ag i t uesd y. o a othe he p o e ted won der how an yone cou ld expect that such a rebel as

s ul s a m of thi co d e c pe the j u st judg ent God. When Bell spoke these words he was o n the point o f

s n fo r N u hi rn s tarti g ewcastle. O s retu he tayed at

Pon tisla n d in h a s n o f , a deep deba uch with t e p r o that ’ an d r s n at ten c n in s place, , i i g o lock at ight, pite of all

r n s ran s s m h s w a m r emo t ce , he et out to ake i y ho e unde

r a r n ss a n d n n Tw a s a r g eat d k e threate i g storm . o d y fte wards he wa s foun d dead in a horrid posture his body

zen r i n an fro up ight n the ice of the river Po t, d his boots an d gloves worn through with the vain struggles

m to The rs r he had ade escape. neighbou gathe ed to see that stra n ge sight with a sen sible aw e u pon their

s ts an r r a r piri , d, d awing him out of the rive , they c ried ’ r s m n a s s c the co p e ho e bou nd with ropes o hor e ba k .

The r s s n e r a ha th eat thi ma had utt ed, and the f te he d

m r r r n i p ecated o n himself in case of failu e, we e o w

r m r a n ma n r r e embe ed, n d when at le gth the y p aye s

ff r in a an d o e ed th t cau se were answered, William Veitch return ed to his home and his work a t Sta nto n

H o n as all, all that country looked him a living miracle, and sin gular in stan ce of the favour an d prote ction bestowed by God in these times of trouble on His true

s on s in r f w servant , and tho e particula who were or ard

a s and courageous in the Coven nting cau e.

136 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

w elcome refuge from the hot pursuit of their en emies . Not a little of the peculiarity which more an d more

to n a n r a came distin guish ma y of that party, d e ched in some those heights of en thu siasm so much relied o n as an n r an sm r evide ce of thei f atici , may be t aced to f r s rs an d the en o ced olitude, the haunting fea , the con stant self-commun in gs in which these men passed

in ﬂ n n a r their days. That the u en ce of such u tu al con ditions w as not yet more severely felt w as surely due to the wide an d high outlook which the faith of

n n e r m n ts these wa derers fou d in their most secret r ti e e , an d to the fact that their in ward commun in gs w ere d An not so much with themselves as with Go , the gel o f s r s n n who e P e e ce we t with them, and in whom they f ound rest. To the trials o f this wild and wandering life were f soon added suf erin gs o f a still sharper edge. Lord

m r Ho e, who had easons of his own for showing some cooln ess in pursuin g the Covenan te rs of his o w n

n n w a co u try, o held command in the n ewly embodied

r s was t oop , and employed in a different part of Scot l n r his embarra a d, whe e ssmen ts did n ot inte rfere so

c n his M mu ch with the exe utio of duty. eanwhile, the Governmen t had foun d an agent perfectly fr ee

m a n di a n d n n r w fro y local preju ce, o e whom no a ro scruples of human ity restra in ed from carryin g o u t their wishes to the uttermost again st the Presby

an s M rs an d Teviotdal T s ma n teri of the e e e. hi , whose sin ister ﬁgu re n ow fo r the ﬁrst time throws its shadow

r ss s o u r s r r s ac o the tage of hi to y, dese ve indeed a pla ce

s r s an d is r be ide Clave hou e Lag, and h name, we e the story of our Eastern Borders as well known as that

- r o f the West, would be a by wo d in Scotland even as

rs i d thei s to ay. 137 THE COVENANTERS OF TH E MERSE .

A m r a r M s w as s da U quh t of eldrum, for uch the tyle

i s s u w - n r r of th per ec tor, as a north cou t y lai d, who probably held a commission in the n ewly embodied

M a n d m r r a iliti , a it ay have been in this cha acte th t

ﬁrst m to to s n is ms he ca e the South, di ti gu h hi elf by the u n ﬂin chin g harshn ess with which he put in

r a w a n s n n n m n fo ce the l s ag i t o con formity. I the o th ” A r r Ma 9 is n ra of p il o y 167 , Meldrum, as he ge e lly

s r rs n s ha d n c n rn called, ecu ed ten pe o who bee o ce ed in n The r w an m r an o n e a con ve ticle. captu e as i po t t ,

n an d gain ed Meldrum much credit with the Cou cil,

r s n rs especially as they fou n d that two of the p i o e ,

s c r rm a r o f Robert Neil on and Ni ol Sto y, had fo ed p t ’ hn s r a r s r s men Jo Wel h the p e che bodygua d . The e were

r s therefore treated with more severity than the e t, an d r w n n st ictly examined, when a roll as fou d upo Neilson con tain in g a list of the con tribution s taken s from conven ticle hearers for the support of the cau e .

T s w as t r as rn s hi hou ght a g eat prize, it fu i hed the Governmen t with in formation which incrimin ated

n n n s M ru m w as n ma y leadi g Cove anter , and eld at o ce

a r promoted to a place of very extraordin ry powe , bein g n omin a ted Justica of the Pea ce for the three sh r s rw c R r a n r i e of Be i k , oxbu gh, d Selki k .

he sa da Ma 2 th n r s s a T me y, y 7 , whe these p i oner c me

r u r r s s befo e the Co ncil, the eco d of that Court how a n r n am r s m an d in othe e, that of Clave hou e hi self, su ch a way a s to lead o n e to suppose that fo r a little these two great persecutors of the East a n d the West had n n in a n bee e gaged be tin g over the same grou d.

r s a Clave hou e, newly appoin ted to command in the

rm h n s n a y, ad bee tatio ed as lately as the mon th of

Mar in u m s ﬁ ch D frie , where rst he tried his han d at the work of oppression with which he afterwards 138 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

am a li A s a r r s bec e much more f mi ar . few week fte wa d , as r n r it would appea , he came to ou r part of the cou t y, s r r s n n n s an d e n u p i i g a co ve ticle at Gala hiels, del ti g man y persons of quality to the Coun cil fo r their

r s Th w ss e p e ence at that meetin g. e Council n o i u d a summons again st the more importan t of these

e M r s . p ople, and directed eldru m to take n otice of the e t

n o n r w a s n w n U f rtu ately, the e a closer bo d bet ee the two ofﬁcers than the mere fact of their simul ta n eou s employmen t in the same district would

m l m r c n s i p y. Both, if we may ju dge fro thei a tio , pa rtook that spirit of the soldier of fortun e boun d in a blin d devotion to the Governmen t o f the day

a s r r which admits n o reply to the o rders of upe io , a n d uses the most violen t mea n s without compun ction to a s an d carry them out. Such is in f ct the be t the

n i r o ly defen ce which the case admits o . We e we to adopt another solution o f the problem which the s a m n r s s s be n av ge conduct of these e ai e , it mu t o e

r m n a r s r n s rr n th f o which hu ma n tu e h i k , abho i g e

ra i c in s ffe r n thought of a dep vity wh ch ould delight u i g,

in ﬂict n n or it wa to ly.

M r s s r a n Certain it is that eld um, with who e pi it d

m t rn m con duct we are more i media ely conce ed, ca e little short of his bette r kn own comrade in the cruelties 1 i ﬂ n s n it is s w as dis he n icted. On o e occa io , aid, he a ppointed in an a ttack he hoped to make on a co n ve n ticle a r n a c r n rs n s n , but he i g th t e tai pe o had bee

m t a r n o fa r th r s h o d . e the e, he cau ed t e be pp ehe ed S story is in accord with what we have already n ote d in

s a n d ma r s r the Council record , y ve y pos ibly elate to the

s c s r an M ru same occa ion, in whi h ca e Clave house d eld m must have acted together at Galashiels ; a combin ation

1 20 n ﬁ srin s in Merse an d Teviotdale . W. , vol. 1 1. No . , S g

140 THE COVENANTERS OF TH E MERS E .

hi n r ﬁn d r s thin k o f s masters i the Council, o how wo d black en ough to denoun ce the cruelty of those secret orders which in that case mu st have stood a s a supplemen t to the open statute boo k of persecution ? The sha rpn ess of these sufferin gs n o w put a n ew edge m T o n the Spirits of those who en dured the . hey felt that in tolerable oppression which is said to make

is men mad a n s ri fo r w e , d soon resolved to t ke a blow The their ancien t liberties an d their proscribed faith .

r r s times were pecu liarly favoura ble fo r such a n en te p i e .

On 3 rd Ma Ar s S had a n n r the of y, chbi hop harp f lle u de

r T s the hand o f his assassin s o n Magu s Mui . hi deed of blood w as certain to be imputed to the whole Presby

r a r ma r t fo r s te i n pa ty, and to be de the p e ext uch a perse cution o f noncon formity as Scotlan d had n o t yet

w w m m n r in seen . No o r never as the o e t to appea

r s e s a m . So thought th Coven anters of the We t who n ow r n 29 h Ma gathe ed, and issued o the t of y the

Ru ther len l r ti a r s as en e r m g Dec a a on . Cl ve hou e h t d f o his employmen t at Gala water to Gla sgow that he

h n in s l n i s He met mig t quell these growi g o e c e . the a r n h a s ﬁ ld o f r mc a n d med co venticle at t e f mou e D u log,

ﬂed b r hi n s ni n t r efo e s resolute Oppone t , decli g hei ’ ” n i n to s rn n rm n i v tatio tay and hear the afte oo s se o .

At s n f a s e n a rr thi mome t, the hope o their c u e b i g c ied by the late success to a great height an d the roya l

r s ra w to s n n ers r fo ce d n the we t, the Cove a t of ou Borders resolved to a ppear open ly in their o w n defen ce a n d to ma rch fo r the help of their fellow Presbyte rian s o n s n the other ide of Scotla d.

The rendezvous w as appointed to be a t L iliesleaf 1 r n r moo o F iday the 6th of June . This place w as already a favourite resort fo r con ven ticles a n armed

1 R. 13th Jan . 1681 an d ollo win ie e o J , , f g d ts. D p sitio ns o f

Wm. Turn ull o f har law d ther b S p , an o s. THE C NANT R F TH OVE E S O E MERS E . 141 gathering had resisted the royal troo ps successfully

r in s m 1 s s the e the um er of 677. Strategic rea ons al o ma y probably have in ﬂu en ced those who made the s n T s i r n to s f electio . hi h gh moo lyi g the outh o the Eildon hills is a comman din g position from a military

n i w an h s a n poi t of v e , d ad peci l adva tages for the

r o s ou r n an rs T d s n h r pu p e of Cove te . hey e ig ed to gat e a n a rm r an m w n y the e, d the oor as withi con ven ien t r su n r s a s s Jedbu r h H c each of ch local ce t e Kel o, g , awi k,

M r s a n r el o e, d Selki k . They hoped to lead the ex

editio n s r an d s t s ff r a n p we twa d, the i e they cho e o e ed easy route by the valley of the Tweed to that of the

r m n n s in rms w r a r a Clyde, where thei co pa io a e e l e dy

ss m n Th m n r in S an a e bli g. e ost skilful ge e al cotl d could

aff rs n o t ha ve helped them to a better disposition of ai . At the a ppoin ted time an d pla ce a conventicle duly met an r w as n d Mr v , d Divin e se vice co ucted by Da id

a m n h n m r in a rms w as n ot as Willi so . T e u be yet

er n s ra m n n a n o m r v y co ide ble, a ou ti g th t day to o e

s m r n r men an d s ro than o e two or th ee hu d ed , the e p

a d s r b bly but in differen tly equippe , but the pi it with w a f r all deﬁcien cies hich they cted made a men ds o .

T rn l of N us u bull of Sharplaw a n d Ridde l ewho e, two lairds who seem to have passed that way that they m s o n m n r n L iliesleaf ight py the eeti g, we e met betwee a n d Halen do u n by an ar med party of Coven an ters

T s men comin g a s it were from the Lothians. he e st T r rr n to opped u n bu ll an d Riddell, ca yi g them back the moor a n d deta in in g them there un der gu a rd till s r c w a r as n s s r is n o t e vi e s over . The e o of thi eve ity difﬁc lt n w as m e r a n d u to co jecture. It att of life death to the in surgen ts that n o in telligen ce of their movemen ts shou ld reach the Cou ncil ; hence the su spi cion with which they viewed all tra vellers to the n orth

an d r ward, the care with which they inte cepted their 42 N R 1 THE OOVE ANTE S OF THE MERSE .

ssa n as s in es pa ge, havi g, it would eem, set guards th e

o s fo r r s r ad that ve y purpo e. It is even said that ’ lo d s s s a s bu t a ed pi tol were held at the prisoner he d , this w as probably no more than a threat called out by some attempt at escape for w hen the con ven ticle was

r w d s ss u n rm a s ove , they ere i mi ed ha ed, though on foo t, the t s f Coven an ers kept the hor es o r u se in their troop . The Lothian men who stopped Turnbull an d Riddell had already provided two horses more which they to ok w at Lindean o n their a y to the moor.

The s the n n c as e r s s r cene of co ve ti le, aft rwa d de c ibed by these two pri son ers of w a r who were the u n willin g

n it s s s w man n er s n a n d wit esses of , pre ent u ith y i t e ti g

r The a n w rs picturesque featu es. m i body of the o hip

s r r in h r m s s m per , with the p eache t ei id t, ee to have been drawn u p a t some little di stan ce from their a rmed 1 r an rr n m n n o t n rm r gua d, a a ge e t uncommo at fo e

n n s r v wa gatherings of that ki d. When Divi e e ice s

r s s r r an d a a r ove , the e troop , who ca ried a d um p i of

s s s m in r s o n m r colour , pent ome ti e exe ci e the oo ,

few bo w s s a ofﬁcer in c mm n while, a hot aw y, the o a d,

tan ill n i w ar His Turnbull o f S dh , held a cou c l of . sta ff w as composed of such men as Walter Turn bull of

n d r H e n r H m Ra Bowly ; Alexa e um , portio e of u e ; lph Davidson of Greenhouse ; Geo rge Dun of Peilhill ; a n d

r r s n Tu r n w s w h Ja mes Ke of P e to while nbull of K o , o ’ rn n s a n s a s afterwards tu ed ki g evidence ag i t the c u e,

o n his little l a r t ou sell ma r e passed here and there y ,

an d as s s c a n wea ring a sword, yet un u pe ted of y treachery.

rs n w The o fﬁce , who o paced back and forward o n

r r r n - s r n the moo , thei long g ay ridi g cloak cove i g their accou trements so they might have appeared un a rmed

J h eu 1681 . e osition of John B alide in in ea R. 13t J . , . D p y L d n .

144 THE NANTER COVE S OF THE MERSE .

w as r a u n e Next day, which Satu d y, the seventh of J , a nu mber o f these oﬁicers an d men gathered thei r forces

H c The r n at awi k . att actio they fou n d in tha t place

in s r m a n n lay the ca tle, whe e the ar s d colours belo g in to a m li a fo r r a n g the loc l i ti , the p esen t disb ded, had n s r T s r a bee to ed . hey be ieged the castle f om S tur da m rn n Sa n i n s r y o i g till bbath ght, whe the gate we e 1 n to m m n ope ed the without the u se of uch viole ce .

Mr o hn rd n the sc as r f n w a J Pu a , hoolm te o the tow , s the on ly person wou n ded that da y of whom the courts 11 r r s a n n f rm n so we ma con could afte wa d get y i o atio , y clu de that there had been little occa sion fo r the u se o f r r on a r a ssa an s B s a med fo ce the p t of the il t . y thi most fortun a te attempt both the courage an d prestige o f the Coven an ters n ow u n der a rms w a s immen sely

s d an d m n s o f w a r r n f r in crea e , u ition we e fou d o the

m n m c a r r equip e t of a u h l ger fo ce . The n u mber of those comin g in to the stan dard o n

L iliesleaf m o r s ms n a n cr a se o ee i deed to h ve i e d daily . Another con ven ticle w as held in that pla ce o r its 3 mm dia n r o o n Sa a 8th u n e i e te eighbou ho d bb th the of J , when the force tha t assembled w as already double tha t

r ﬁrst m n in s which appea ed at the eeti g, pite of the fact tha t man y o f the insurgents were detain ed tha t

M n a day at the siege of Hawick Castle . o d y se ems to ha ve been chosen as the proper time fo r a ra id

s r c s Al a n r H design ed to rou e Be wi k hire . ex de ume of

m n d the n n at L ili Hu e, who had atte ed co ve ticle esleaf

a r n ow set off fo r his o wn n r the d y befo e, cou t y . He rode very bra vely o n a bright bay mare atten de d by his body servant and followed by a troop whose

1 81 e ositio n o f h T . R. 13 th Jan . 16 . t e own Cler o f Hawi J D p k ck . 2 it Alex n oth Dec. 1682. ta a ainst a er Hu m R. 2 e J . , D y g d . 3 J th Dec 1682. e ositio n of Tu rn u ll of n o ws . R. , 2o . D p b K . THE OOVENANTERS F T O HE MERSE . 145

numbers are very variously reckoned by differen t 1 s v s s i ob er er . Probably the p rit with which they

v d an d mo e , the unexpectedness of their appearance

an d r here there in the count y, may have made some

h n m m r us t i k the more nu e o than they actually were.

H m r s in v o f his r u e ode ome way ad ance t oo p, his His ﬁn . e r accompanied by footman alone ho se, his black velvet riding cap an d dark cloak lined an d

f red a o s u s ﬁ u r aced with a royal , m de him a c n picuo g e, an d in this guise he ca me that day to the house o f 1 Maker to n r s u , while his men sp ead themselves about in

r s an d t wn s m s ein r s a the pa k o , o e ho g thei teeds, n d some kin dling ﬁres about which they encamped to cook M d their even in g meal . acdougall, the lair , who had

r s H r p obably heard o f the iege at awick, ba ricaded his

s an n s s r gate , d a wered but hortly to the pa ley which

The n a hi rr Hu me offered him. Covena ter b de m su ender

a n w m to the good caus e d join it while there as ti e, and as he w as still spea kin g another rode up with the

s s w as a n Ma new that Hawick Ca tle t ke . cdougall replied that he w as n ot afraid of their takin g Makers

o so s n was er n n o t to i t un, , eei g that he det mi ed jo n

m ha d r n o t s n n i n the , Hume, who p obably the lea t i te t o

in m r ffe r hi m m n f r of usin g violen ce the atte , o ed o ey o ’ r s This a s was a horse of the young lai d . l o met with

a n s s ss refusal, and the Cove anter eem to have pa ed

a w hO in to m ay quietly enough, p g, no doubt, be ore 1 su ccessful in rousin g other parts of the country .

A m m T r o f Bewl w as bout the sa e ti e, u nbull y, who

fﬁcers n n rs o n e of the most spirited o the Cove a te had,

M r f him made his way deeply in to the erse. We hea o

n s m h his o o f at Eccles ma e, where he ca e wit tr op armed followers and to ok away for the u se of the

1 J. R. , 20Dec. 1682. K F M S 146 THE COVENANTERS O THE ER E . insu rgents two horses an d fou r saddles belon ging to

r m h wn n f ss n the minister. This cle gy an, by is o co e io , had been eminent in the appea rances he made aga in st

s to r s s the Presbyte rians, and seem have felt these epri al 1 r s n r n e w bitte ly. Affair had i deed taken an altogethe

li r r r r s n tu rn, when mi tary fo ce and the a bit ary equi itio o f goods and chatte ls fo r the u se of their ca use appear ed

r s f n o n the side of the Presbyte ian . Enough o that ki d of oppression had been practised on the part of the Government du rin g past years to excuse a grea t dea l m more violence than the Covenanters ever e ployed, and it must be remembered that their situation a t this time was o n e o f such desperation that almost an y measures they took are justiﬁable as the action of men pressed to an extremity in defence of their liberties

an d their lives. Turnbull and Hume would appear to have visited

of o r s r a n d n o r s most parts u hi e, doubt the e ult of their ﬂyin g expedition w as a considerable a ddition to

of r men m n the forces their pa ty, both in and equip e ts .

f r n w w n o f George Hume o G ade , ho as certai ly their

r n a s his m a n pa ty, probably joi ed the c u e at t ti e, d h s w 2 must have broug t other ith him . The ren dezvous to which all these differen t parties con verged seems

T s to M r s . v n c a wn have been el o e hi quiet pro i i l to ,

a a s it r a u s g thered under the w ll of s uined bbey, m t then have presen ted the a ppea rance of an a rmed ca mp

its s to of r m n street echoing the feet eage horse e , while

n the Tweed, whose ge tle murmur was heard even in the

c ls of r o fﬁc rs coun i thei e , called them with quiet in sist e n ce to follow up the guidan ce of her streams to the camp that was set by the sister waters of Clyde in the

West.

1 P. A. e ruar 2n d 1 , F b y , 683 . Petition o f Mr John Co ok . 2 H di e r e ed this y a .

148 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

‘ oo te of w to ss p d disaﬂ ectio n . He as then pa by way of Jedburgh to Selkirk where he would meet with a ﬁn d u nother deta chment of the royal fo rose, and f rther orders awaiting him ; the master of Ross with his troop havin g been ordered to march thither fo r the pu rpose

The plan upo n which these orders proceeded seems

su fﬁci n tl to r e y plain . The Coun cil designed gathe a con siderable force for the purpose o f intimidating an d scattering the Covenan ters who had lately met in arms

L iliesl f s in s c at ea , and desired to place their troop u h a position as might enable them to cut o ff the insurgen ts

r r to from the rest of their party, by closing thei oute

the great camp that w as now gathering in the west. Before Major Main had the opportun ity of playin g

his s s r rr part in thi t ategy, however, an event occu ed

s r of which mu t, if we ead it rightly, have put the key s rs the po ition into the han d o f the Co ven an tin g leade , an d open ed for them without much difﬁcu lty the way by which they undou btedly succeeded in gain in g the

a s rm sh camp at Hamilton. On the l oth of June ki i w n ing party as thrown o u t from Selkirk, comma ded by ” B kam 1 w as r s Captain uc e . This advance pe hap de

“ 1 This oﬁ cer is so styled in the Accou n t of sufferers in Teviot ms to have e en the e W. M . vc. vol N He see dal ( SS , 8 , . x x ix . o . b n e Mr Rae a western Captain George Bu ckham who apprehe d d , r t 10 ste rli fo h t ca tu re Treasur Recor s ministe , an d go £ ng r t a p ( y d , ” Geor e Bu ckhame or 2n d March From 1682 to 1687, g , h e name is in diﬁeren tl s elle had the ost o f Bu c an e, as th y p d, p Brigadier of the 1st Lieu tenan t squadron of the Royal Ho rse Gu ards Muster Ro lls of T h n e 1682 to 13 th ul 168 at which ( roo p, 8t Ju J y 7, t ate howe h a transferre to the 4th las d , ver, e ppears to have be en d

Ge n eral Bu chan of Au chmacoy in Aberdeenshire who espoused the of Kin William a the volu o mman cause g t Re ti n , co ded the forces

r s i n o Marchmon t Herald fo the ubstance of th s te. 149 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE.

n n signed for the purpose of meeti g Major Mai , either

r h a n n at Kelso or Jedbu g , but it h ppe ed that o the way s a Bewl s s outhward, at a pl ce called y Bog, the e troop fell in with a pa rty o f Coven anters whom Stan dhill had s r r s ss b fo r v r r s ent ou t f om Mel o e, po i ly the e y pu po e of

n r s i te rupting such communication . The opposin g forces seem to have been somewhat

ll n h s s n unequa y matched o t i occa io . Those of the

s s tw o r s o f s il royal party con i ted of t oop hor e, wh e one who wen t with the Covenan ters 1 says they were ” s l n s o f w r c r a ma l party . Whe the hock a oc u red it therefore proved decisive in favour o f the Govern ’ tan dhill s men s s v r n er ment. S lo t e en of thei umb ,

r r ﬁ l some killed o n the spot, othe s ca ried off the e d to

i s r s s d e, besides eve al more who were eriou ly though ’

n . t n u n s h w not mortally wou ded Cap ai B cha party, o

r n ot n r eve , did obtai thei advantage without feeling ff s r s the e ect of that encounte . Jame Mitchell, a

r r s w as s r n corpo al in the Scots G ey , eve ely wou ded at l s r rds r s Bew y Bo g. Seven year afte wa he ecited thi fact ass had in a petition to the Coun cil, uring them that he been at great expen se ever sin ce with the physician s

n his e an d c an d apothecaries employed o cur , o m

n so r in m s an d plainin g that n o w, bei g educed ean ,

h m an n o s even dismissed is co p y, he could by mean keep the causeway unless somethin g were allowed im 2 h .

The skirmish at Bewly Bo g had more importan t con sequen ces than the magnitude o f the affair itself

The Mas r f ss n i would su ggest. te o Ro lost o time n

n his s ss to un an d his communicati g ucce the Co cil, , if letter read at the meeting of that Court on the 11th

2 P . 1 th . W , 3 May 1686. 150 THE ANT R COVEN E S OF THE MERSE . o f u n e r r to s ff r r s J efe thi a ai , it th ow a curiou s light

n in r i o the way which he egarded t. He estimates

r n su r n s 150 m n n the fo ce of the i ge t at e , a d asserts that sixty of these were killed an d ten taken prisoners ” n r r Th r c ea Gala wate . e account which edu es the

er s a v n w as r n numb of the l in to se e , w itte by a Cove n an ter who penn ed it with every motive to make the

s ff s his r a n mo t of the su erin g of pa ty at that time, d 1 m s m r u t be taken as the li it of the t uth . But the

M s er of ss s e n n n o n a t Ro , who mu t have b e depe de t the

n r n u a n a n d rs a him i fo matio which B ch othe g ve , s ems n m e m s l n e to have bee co plet ly i led, be ievi g that his pa rty had met an d broken the ma in body of the

n n rs h in a in s r n ts r n Cove a te , w ile f ct the u ge we e lyi g

M s r r a set o n a r at elro e, o had al e dy out th t ma ch of

r s w as s n ss thei s to the We t, which it the bu i e of the

s a r r n is n ss force t Selki k to p eve t. It eve po ible that the expedition sen t by Sta n dhill to Bewly w a s design ed f r s r s an d so r a s o thi ve y purpo e, if , it p oved mo t

mm an d s ss n ra s Th con su ate u cce ful piece of ge e l hip . e troops of the Govern men t were dra wn southwa rds

ca m n a n d in rs at a criti l mo e t, kept hot pu uit of a

f r s er n s n m r n small party o P e byt ia , followi g the ou d

n H s rds a s e s l n the Eildo ill towa Gal hi l , whi e the mai body of that a rmy ma de their w ay westwards without

lt r n is a s t m much diﬁicu y. Ce tai it , that bout thi i e

n s a r in r the Cove ante r ppea ed fo ce at Selkirk, where

Ma s r o f R ss had e en Al r H m the te o lat ly be , exande u e still a conspicuous ﬁgu re a s he rode a mon g them o n his - n n ba s his s ers l s s well k ow y hor e, hol t ful of pi tol , and the black an d red o f his un iform a ttra cting much 2 n n In a a rm atte tio . a few d ys more the little y ha d

1 W MSS o vol Acco u of suﬁ . . , 8v , . x x ix . No . 20. n t erers in ” Teviotdale. 2 R. 20Dec. 168 e ositio f Wm. liot in Sel ir . J , 2. D p n o E k k

152 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

fa was 22n d of tal day itself, which Sabbath the

un J e. At daybreak it became evident that the decisive

The of o n s moment drew near. army the C ve anter ,

r so as la tely increased by a compa n y f om Galloway, men to reach the respectable n umber of some 4000 , w as n o w drawn up on the west side of the river

in r n s n n n an d n Clyde, a st o g po itio , comma di g, i deed

n l n ss occupyi g the bridge of Bothwe l, the o ly pa age Ou the which offered itself to the royal forces. opposite ban k appeared the advanced co rps of that

r n s s n o f n r s a my, co i ti g four compa ies of d agoon the ’ Kin g s troop of the Royal Guard and that of Duke

T r s r t n n t William . hese fo ce ma ched o a positio o far

r hi th m n arm f om the bridge, w le e ai body of the y

an r n m in r r wheeled d g ou ded arms about a ile the ea ,

r l ﬁred s r r . s r uppo ted by thei artille y A ha p vo ley, by the advance guard an d replied to by the

n s wh r n n n Covena ter o kept the b idge, a ou ced the

n se war B i actual o t of . y these d scharges o n e of the

s r n w n in an d r o f in u ge ts as wou ded the foot, seve al

ul rs the reg a killed .

H i an n ow wn to am lton d Hume came do the front, and s r m r n r ss ent over a d u me , who, beati g a pa ley, pa ed to ’ the Duke s quarters with the petition . A retu rn came

m e r n n a s c n an r i mediat ly, g a ti g afe o duct, d desi ing the Covenan ters would commission some of their chief men

r His Hi ss H n s e to t eat with Ro yal ghne . amilto e ms to

s to s ss r have refu ed be of thi emba y, though u ged to it

o his ow n r w b th by party and the othe , so that it as left to s r nis r H di m a Berwick hi e mi te , David ume of Col ngha ,

r Kaitloch s sa o hn ls and the Lai d of , with, ome y, J We h, to a s o f s r n ple d the cau e the in u ge ts with the Duke. They had instructions to deman d the free ex ercise of THE C NANT RS OF THE M OVE E ERS E . 153

r thei religion ; a new Parliament, and Gen eral As sembly of the Church with an in demn ity fo r all then

in arms.

m r m r Mon outh eceived the ve y courteously, tellin g them he con sidered what they asked was n o more than

s din just and rea onable, but ad g that on his own part he must require the insurgents to lay down their arms

s as a prelimin ary to any action of the kind they de ired. In that case he promised his utmost in terest with the

n al ss e m s ul Ki g, and l but a ur d the their demand wo d

r n s r to be g an ted. With this a we they were obliged

o n is s d s m si is return, encountering the way, it ai , o e n ter

s as t glances from Claverhou e, hey came down to the

r s ﬂi r steml m an d b idge. Thi o ce looked y upon the ,

m n m as r even addressed the by a e, if to assu e them he

n would ot forget the part they had played, and would remin d them of it as soo n as the safe conduct gran ted

by his chief had expired . It is as unnecessary as it is un grateful to follow in

r minute detail the fo tunes of that fatal day. While the embassy were engaged with Monmouth Hamilton rode through the Covenanting ran ks inﬂ amin g the min ds o f

i n s r s h s me again t the p opo ed accommodation. The

c n n n w w onditio , i deed, whe it became kno n, as n ot o n e which even the moderate party among the Presby

terian s r n to we e willing at o ce accept . The o fﬁcers n ow fell to their discussion s again ; the brief half hou r allowed fo r these deliberation s slipped away all too

s n r m n had a oo , befo e any agree e t been arrived t, and

s s u es r s s r while the e di p t we e till in progres , Lo d n s n o Livi g to , at the head of the Fo t Guards, advan ced to r s fo ce the pa sage of the bridge. Fo r a time the defen ce of this strong position was con ducted with great spirit under Hackston of TH 154 THE COVENANTERS OF E MERS E .

Rathillet re har arto n o f , while U of S g , at the head s s r f men fr m his o wn n r ome co es o well armed o cou t y,

n his hi eve made the en emy give back, w te horse

r in o f his r T car y g him bravely at the head t oop. hen ammun ition began to fail in the ﬁerce ﬁre carried o n at the front, an d now the army of the Co venant felt more than ever the wan t of a commander-in -chief ; for there w as no o n e to order supplies or send forward r is s t a H mil ein forcemen ts. It even aid h t a ton, who

men w preten ded to the chief command, recalled the ho

r an d w n m held the passage so b avely, allo ed the e e y to ’ cross the bridge un hindered . Lord Livin gston s tr00ps were n ot lon g of takin g the advan ta ge thus offered t ss r r hem. They pa ed the b idge, p otected by the

r r k w as r a tille y of the Du e, which brought fo ward ’ a n d played with some effect o n the Coven an ters left

n s m n s n wi g . A clum ily executed move e t de ig ed to pu t this part o f the in su rgen t army u n der cover n o w threw their whole body in to disorder ; a pan ic broke o u t

m n r n rms a o g them, and, th owi g down the a they had

s s r n r in a wa ju t refu ed to e de a pe ceable y, they broke in ﬂi t to sudden an d disastrou s gh .

The e ms n to n r ds Duke exert d hi elf obly hi de bloo hed, o n ﬁeld a n d but man y were killed the , about twelve

n r r n r ms s ris n rs r hu d ed e de ed the elve p o e , while the est escaped a piece of good fortun e which the broken and wooded nature of that cou n try helped n o t a little to

r m The r s n s r ar in secu e the . p i o er we e m ched to Ed ’ an c n ﬁn ed in ri rs r r burgh d o the Greyf a chu chya d . Here they remained fo r several mon ths exposed to m r a r s s. r set r n s m g e t ha d hip So e we e free du i g thi ti e, u pon takin g a bon d again st futu re in su rrection ; others con trived to esca pe ; in the mon th of November the

ain der two r ﬁft r o rem , about hund ed and y, we e put n

T F 156 THE COVENAN ERS O THE MERS E .

Thus ended the most considerable attempt in defence of their liberties ever made by the Coven anters in their own cou ntry : a disaster due to divided counsels rather

n o r than to any wa t of courage military skill . The sufferings which accompanied an d followed that fata l day were unfortun ately on ly the beginnin g o f a period when persecution reached a far greater height than

so as t it had ever done before, o call ou t that won der ful constancy and patience in which the Presbyterian party still refused to accept an y deliverance but that which ﬁn ally secured them in the enjoymen t o f their

Th a e religious liberty. e St t had mean]y yielded con stitu tion al right in deference to the royal pre rogative the Church alone in these dark days kept the cha rge ’ o f Scotland s national liberty till it was again aﬂirmed

r s with triumph in happie time .

160 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

had be as s en able yet to identify. Among the e the

T lls of tan hill B wl H f ra n an d urnbu S d and e y, ume o G de ,

H l of Hau an a l ghhead obtain ed this distin etion, d Ker of r G aden, a Ro xburgh laird who n o w began to follow in the foo tsteps of Meldrum by proving himself a use

ful o r r t ol of the Co uncil, eceived an orde to apprehend

them .

The Go vernment were not content, however, with noticing those who had taken an active part in the insurrection they pro posed a general persecution

o f an d o n in c r s n o the whole party, e whi h all nice di ti i s e t ons, depending on the preci e part men had play d

in as far as ss their nonconformity, should, po ible,

o ut r ou r s be left o f account. A large numbe of Pre by

terian s had r e n s rre n held aloof f om the lat i u ctio , s r T ha ing the Opin ion of Pringle of orwoodlee, that

was - n a it , like that o f Pentland, a little ill ma ged ” s r ss o f n r t uggle, a view which the ill succe the ve tu e

n o T s men r ho w doubt helped to co n ﬁrm. he e we e,

r a eve , as stron gly attached to their proscribed f ith as i who had taken a more active part in ts defence. abstention from an open appearance in defence o f the Presbyterian cause w as therefore to serve them

Th n o a s to h m little. e et must be swept s include t e all . In the mon th immediately succeedin g Bothwell the

' sheriﬂ s o f the differen t coun ties were directed to furnish lists of those who had disobeyed the su mmons requirin g the heritors to appea r in arms fo r the suppression o f

the insu rgents. Man y in deed who did not thin k it

r r to the s in r to rms p ope join Covenanter thei appeal a ,

r us to do so s n had ef ed in the cau e of the Governme t, ma r a t r h and by king exact enqui y f e t eir names, the Co uncil provided material which w as afterwards used to the uttermost in a widespread persecution dir ected THE 161 COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

n s n u a s r agai t that u fort nate p rty. A to ou common

wh s r s H had a people o were Pre byte ian , Lord ume alre dy his orders to press those in Berwickshire with a bond again st future in surrection n early resemblin g that 1 ff to r s r s s t o ered the G eyfriar p i oner . If hey would swear to take up arms n o more against His Majesty they should now en joy all the ben eﬁts of the Ro yal

n he s n r n in cleme cy . T ig atu e of Paul Cowa , wright

r n n in is P esto , who took the bo d at Duns the only in stance of this submission which has been pre s r u r can n e ved, tho gh the e be little doubt that ma y others must have yielded an d given their oath in the

m r war a m n r sa e sense. M Ed d J ieso had u ged the

r rs s n rs to n His in ﬂu en ce G eyfria pri o e take the bo d. may probably have still coun ted fo r somethin g in

r c s an d n w as n n Be wi k hire, i deed it not u commo among the Co ven an ters at this time to assert that the in su r

n n r s m s rectio had bee di ecte d, not o uch again t the

n as n n s n an Ki g, agai st the u con titutio al courses d ’ n s s r s is Ma s s r n u ju t mea u e of H je ty Gove nme t. In this way man y recon ciled their subscription to the bond with a con tin ued adheren ce to those prin ciples o f civil a n d religiou s liberty which had led them either

r s n o r as to to en gage in the Bothwell i i g, at le t sym

a w it T s n sn r n an d n s p thise ith . hi e a i g oath, the mea r s n s s taken to force it upon the P e byteria , mu t be regarded as amon g the most oppressive persecutions o f the time. On the 14th of August a proclamation w as issued for several circuit courts of Ju sticiary to sit in various parts o f the cou n try : that fo r o u r district bein g

mm n m edbu r h o n 15 r su o ed to eet at J g the th o f Octobe . The historian of the persecution s has told u s that these

1 2 P W h e tem r A. A ril rd 16 8. . 16t S e R p 3 , 7 . , p b . L 162 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . cou rts w ere design ed to make the work of ﬁn in g easy in r r th a n r s ms m n o de at, by the ex ctio of la ge u of o ey

r m r s r a n s n s the a r f o P e byte i , the eed of Court p ty might 1 m an d h r r n s r w a r m co n ﬁrma be et t ei exe tio e ded . So e

n h s a a rs in a ma n Th tio of t i ppe the procl tio itself. e clerks of Court were directed to go dow n to the coun try

e r han a n d n n o t n all rs n s b fo e d take otice, o ly of pe o who might be represen ted to them a s ﬁt subjects fo r

r c ss r s as w a n s m n p o e , but of thei estate ell, both l d , o ey, a n d moveables arrestin g these properties in the ha n ds of respon sible person s to be disposed of by the

r n rs e r r s i courts should thei ow e be aft wa d found gu lty .

r ma s m m s n ss r To reward in fo mers y o eti e be a ece a y,

s a a s a a r l though it mu t lw y be doubtful p t of po icy, but to hold up the esta te s of suspected person s as an inducemen t to their en emies to secure their con viction

n n o r s The ca n either be defen ded excu ed . love of mon ey n o w combin ed with all the other causes already

r to s a r n rs n a n d to at wo k h pe the edge of pe ecutio , cast ’ a da rk shadow in deed over this pa rt of o u r coun try s

n ff history a d su erin gs. In their purpose to ren der the situation of the

n n rs as fﬁ ult a s ss s n i Cove a te di c po ible, the Scotti h Cou c l

n n a n in ﬂ u n r m r had to co te d with e ce f o the Cou t, ’ ascribed with much probability to Mon mouth s in te rest

n a n n n in the r n in with the Ki g, d te di g di ectio of

l n The n mn n w c His Ma s du ge ce . i de ity, i deed, hi h je ty

n th 2 th u l n ot n c ll rs sign ed o e 7 of J y, did give the cou i o

n c as s r rs much con cer . It ex epted the c e of he ito ; of mini ste rs an d ringleaders of a ll kin ds ; as well as of ’ those who had refused to atte n d the King s host in their quality of la n dow n ers summon ed fo r that inten t an d provided that n on e should an jo y the ben eﬁt of

1 oo . ch. iii. 4 W. , B k III , , .

164 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . rather than that o f a n in dulgence : provin g in the end o n e o f the greatest occasions of sufferin g to the

r s e a r t The P e byt rian p y that the time presen ted . caution to be given o n the en try o f such min iste rs w as ﬁx ed at the exorbitan t su m of six thousan d merks an d under this pen alty the pa rishes were held boun d to produce their preachers to the Council fo r pun ish

r h s ran s ment wheneve t ey hould t gress the laws.

s f r m n s r In pite o these discou age ents, a co ide able number of places were bold enough to apply to the

n e r s Act n res n Cou cil in t m of the of I dulgence. P to kirk gave a bond fo r Mr Gilbert Rule ; Mr John Veitch w as s s r r r ss n n ettled in We t uthe , p obably at Ba e dea ,

r a s h u s n where he may pe h p ave ed the ancie t chapel, the people o f tha t parish having already been accustomed to gather there fo r Divine service before

r of s t r w as in 1 the chu ch We tru he built for them 650.

ir n r At Langto n, S Alexa de Cockburn showed himself

s a s o f r s r n w a a earne t in the c u e P e byte y, o th t the l w

r him s c r H a p omised to give e u ity . e built a ch pel at

a Bi an d r Mr r m H ining g, b ought Luke Ogle f o his r r Bo u sden to rn s r et eat at fu i h it with a preache . There is also rea son to suppose that Mr Dan iel

w n r h s n in Douglas n o ente red o a cha ge of t i ki d, the

n s r r s neighbourhood of Du , pe haps in the pa i h o f

c rn ss n a Whitsome . Su h eage e to take adva t ge of a doubtful indulgen ce shows that the Covenan tin g party were as yet far from bein g extreme in their attitude preferring to act un der the law where there w as a

ss of n so an d - po ibility doi g , becoming law breakers, n o t f n as h r o choice, but o ly t ey were u ged by what w as indeed a comman di n g necessity of the times in

The s s s which they lived. di po ition hown by the Pres byterian s to brave a ll inconveniences imposed for THE 165 COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

r is r m s r s thei d cou agement, u t have p oved omewhat

rr ss n r n T n i s emba a i g to the Gove nme t . he Cou c l eem to have determin ed that if they could n ot pre

n s s m n s a o r as h rh s ve t the e ettle e t lt gethe , t ey pe ap

a s hoped to do, they would a t lea st keep clo e

o n n s r w m watch the mi i te s ho took advan tage of the , an d thus secure their dismissa l at the earliest possible opportunity. Meas ures fo r the inten ded persecution of the Presby

r n a r r n w r s a r in te ia p ty we e o edoubled, an d tho e l eady

r ff At fo ce were n ot allowed to fail of their e ect. the

e n n n a r 1 80 n ew mm ss n s ss b gi i g of the ye 6 , co i io pa ed the s s fo r M m Ker ra n an d R Ha n eal eldru , of G de , iddel of i in n m i m w rs s g, who lost o ti e n aking u se of the po e thu ’ n r s e m fo r n s s r a n d dis e t u t d to the the Ki g e vice, the

m r r an s n r s o n co u rage en t of the P esbyte i o the Bo der . C siderable n umbers of Coven an ters were n o w brou ght

u sticia r in n r c r before the J y Court Edi bu gh, ha ged with

r m A a c ss s absen ce f o the Host. little l ter these pro e e

am R a rr n r u n n c e by oy l wa a t befo e the Co cil, whe the

f ﬁn in r r n work o g p ope to that Court wen t busily o .

m s T i r s an s 2775 r c r a w Ja e Scott of h l t e lo t £ Pat i k Wa dl ,

r n ac rn 12 n £4000; Robe t Brow of Bl kbu , £ 00; Pri gle

Green kn o w £1500 A a n r H m in St a n s of , lex de u e Bath ,

£200 S m S n £400 Cla erto n o f W liecleu ch a uel pe ce, ; pp y ,

1000 m r s r H m ss n a n 1000 m r s e k ; Geo ge u e of Ba e de , e k ;

am ra n s n r n r o f Hu n tl w o o while Willi C to , po tio e y d,

an m r n r o f t o f Alex der Hu e, po tio e the New on Whitsome an s r rs n s h r d eve al othe , o ly e caped t ei pen alties by sign in g the decla ration again st Coven an ts which ha d be en adopted in

Mean while the Coun cil had n o t lost sight of the

m n rs The ﬁrst h in dulged i iste . o f t ese who suffered 1 P. W. , 1680. 166 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

w as Mr i r R e had n rr to G lbe t ule. H a iece ma ied

o hn n n A r in n r a n d at J Ke edy, potheca y Edi bu gh, , the

r f s r a n s his w n n r o equest o the e el tio of o , he u de t ok

a h r An r a journ ey to the capita l to b ptise t ei child. othe

s rian a mi a r n his r s s r Pre byte f ly, he i g of pu po e, de i ed A n to sha re the privilege of that sacra men t. pplicatio ’ w s m s r t i s ar s as made to the Epi copal in i te of S G le p i h,

rn r a n hi n s n a r w as Mr Tu e , d with s co e t th t chu ch

n fo r t e r m n w h c a o n the l st Ope ed h ce e o y, i h took pl ce

o A ril an d w as a n s a r n r f p , tte ded by the u u l P ece to of

’ h n r n n d r Tr as r r t e Co g egatio , a by the Ki k e u e of the

a r a r n n P ish . A week fte wards the Cou cil took otice

s r r n n c n n n in of this e vice, p o ou i g it a Co ve ticle held ’ a n n n e ar n viol tio of Mr Rule s en gageme t. O of the p e ts

w ﬁn d 100 s th r a mi s as e £ Scot , e othe f ly lo t double

a m an d s r w as s n a ss th t su , the mini te e t to the B , the

n a In i usual prison fo r No n co n fo rmists i these d ys. th s

ma n f r r m n s w n dis l co nﬁ n eme t he lay o th ee o th , he he

r n m r r c a n was s n appea ed o ce o e befo e the Coun il, d e t

n He ﬁx d his r s n in n o f i to exile . e e ide ce the tow

e c -o n -Tw an d r a r a r s n B rwi k eed, , a yea fte w d , petitio ed the Coun cil to be allowed to practise there as a

r f M n s n f w as Docto o edici e, a profes io o r which he

u aliﬁe v n n his r in a well q d, ha i g take deg ee that f culty 1 a at Leyden some seven teen ye rs before.

1 This tition was r n te an d a curious tale is pe g a d, ’ h o o H told of Rule s practice dur ing t e yea rs that f ll wed. e was mu ch calle u t in to e rwic shire amon the amilies of the e n tr d o B k g f g y, an d o beye d these comman ds with all the more alacrity that he o te n o un in the m an r u n it o f retu rnin to his ormer u ti f f d oppo t y g f d es, an d con du ctin g divin e service u n der the guise of family wo rship h h i The lair of u n in the ouses e vis ted . d Ho dwoo d was ﬁn ed in n hu n re mer s for rmittin su ch a service in his ho use th u h a d d k pe g , o g there were n o stran ge rs presen t on that o ccasion ex cept Dr Ru le

l who acte as cha lain . The arl o f H lv u himse f, d p E ume reso ed to p t a sto to these irre ularities b seizin the erso n o f the r cher p g y g p p ea .

168 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

1 The o n i r r n ow Do den M ss . Easte r An st uthe , g o C u c l 5th a n d as summon ed him to their diet o f October , he

r r r him to n r did n ot appea , they o de ed be de ounced ebel

rn Tra di n sa s his i - c an d put to the ho . tio y that hid ng pla e

in ss s o f ordan law M ss a bo be la y the rece e J o , deep g 11 n s The an rs tween Westruther a d Spotti woode . Coven te in deed were not less ready to resort to such con ceal ments at this time than they had been in the da ys P o tshaw immedia tely precedin g the last in surrection . y , ’ m i h n - w as s in a wood n o t fa r fro Ve tc s hidi g place, u ed the s m w a n e f s s a re a e y by o o the e people, who thu cqui d the ” n r w n o r m a r s r so s n reputatio of a b o ie, fa ili pi it, ile tly did he steal out at n ight to receive the provision which

an to r the kin dn ess o f his frien ds supplied, d equite 11 s s their consideration by the performan ce o f useful ta k .

A a a n n in the M rs n ow arr c ve ne r Edi gto Mains e e, qu ied

a i n n r aw y, s said to have bee occupied by a othe of the s m a an d o n e o n i a d r a e p rty, the banks of the Wh t d e at Nin ewells is remembe red as the favourite resort of Hen ry Erskin e when he left his service at Drybu rgh s w ‘ T to pa s that ay. he most remarkable in stan ce o f s n n w r w r uch co cealme t, ho eve , as that of a coope in

v o f Gar s a mm r the illage vald, who used to cro s the L e m s an d n w a rs i w as oor , hide behi d a aterf ll till the pu u t

s T s s o n u r s il s o n the pa t. hi place lie o ide of the h l ,

1 See the New Statistical Accoun t i f ruthe , p. 63, par sh o West r. It would se em that these mosses were n amed from the religio us ho use at Hal burto n to which r y , pe haps they belo nged the western stro ther or estruther an d the eastern stru h r o r r W , t e Easte An struther. ‘ Both Wodrow an d M Crie ﬁn d a diﬁ culty in accoun ting for the ’ terms of Veitch s sen ten ce o n this oc casion , bu t the matter is er e ctl ex lain e b this local n ame which s p f y p d y , eems to have escape d ‘ ’ ” h au tho rs M Crie s t ese . See i e of Veitch . L f , p 6. 2 Re orte b Mr A am Lothian p d y d , Houn dslow. 8 Re o rte b Mr Ge or e rtu n p d y g Fo e, Duns. 1 Re orte b Rev Geo r e il n p d y . g W so , Glen lu ce . lw THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E.

is s ll Sn ailscleu ch Burn near Millkn owe Farm, an d ti ’ e h 1 call d t e couper s loup. We shou ld greatly mistake the attitude of the

n n e r r to r m as Cove a t s, however, we e we rega d the mere

r n s r to s s r b oke fugitive , o uppo e that thei late defeat at Bothwell had so quelled their spirit as to render them

in n In r n s o f capable of any resista ce . the late mo th the

a 1 80 n s in Tw n ye r 6 , a umber of tho e eeddale, amo g

whom the laird of Philiphau gh took a lea din g part, combin ed to make matte rs as un pleasan t fo r Meldrum a s Lord Hume had foun d them a few years before in

er s r im n B wick hi e. They accused h before the Cou cil i an d o f gross oppression s in the ex ercise of h s duty, o n e as in deed the case was a su fﬁcien tly shameful , it w as reckon ed he had exa cted n o less than o n e hun dred

s n m The n i thou a d pounds fro that district alone. Cou c l did their best to browbea t the witnesses fo r the prose

cu tio n n s n , by as king ensnarin g qu estions about co ve ticle

an d r to ss- m n the like, and we e about admit a cro exa i a n tion o f the same kind by Meldrum o n his own accou t, when Philiphau gh very adroitly turned the tables by PrODOSin g an en quiry as to the con formity of the

a r n is in accused himself. Was he P otesta t or a Pap t

a disguise ? Was it true that he had heard mass l tely, an d who had been his companion s at that un lawful service ? These were question s which it did n o t su it

M r to n s w s u an d eld um a wer, so the process as hu hed p, the gen tleman who had so courageously open ed it received the than ks of his party for the check he had

on s u n T r n put the e iust proceedings. o p eve t such attempts in the future the Coun cil gave Meldru m a

rr 2oth 1 81 a n new wa ant, dated the of Jann ary 6 , d

1 Mr S Tra ition re orte b . ertram haws m th d p d y J B , Crans , fro e

rlin aw late Miss Da g, Priestl . 170 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . accompan ied it with in struction s which they probably hoped would hin der so valua ble a servan t from exce ed in g his duty out of a mistaken zea l fo r the ca use which

an d a u l oth a n u a r both he they had at he rt. O the of J y a process had ah‘ eady been open ed before the Lo rds of Jus ticiary again st a la rge n umber of person s belon gin g to the Merse a n d Tevio tdale accused of takin g part in 1 n s n w a man the late i ur re ctio . On e of these as dead George Hume of Graden ; an other w as a woman

a r Ha s n am a a rs in n di c m n Be t ix ll, who e e ppe the i t e t as n s n r a hh a d eare t of kin to He y Hall of H u g e , who had been killed in a scu fﬂe at Queen sferry seven

n s a r r a him an d r mo th before, when a p ty t ied to t ke M 11 n a r il m a r w as an n Do ald C g l, his co p n ion . P oo f w ti g,

r in s m s f s e s n s an d howeve , the ca e of o t o the e p r o , the proceedings again st them dragged o n from day

da ll s r Ad o e s r to y, ti at la t the Lo d v cat ecu ed the

a r u Bewl lli conviction of W lte Turnb ll of y, Wi am

ers n r r in H an d T s Tu rn u Pat o , he ito awick, homa b ll of

n dhill r es in a s ms c a n Sta , p ot t g, with wh t ee a ruel w t of

a r m m fo r a n ss z leg l deco u , that he would ove a i e of

r r s s to r n in r c erro , if the ju y hould refu e b i g a ve di t 11 ed T is r n ss a r fo r again st the accus . h ele tle ple de the rights of the Crown w as n on e other than the well

n z s b m kn own Sir George Macke ie of Ro e augh, who

an has r s n c s ria s n w n n am Scotl d , eve i e the e t l , k o by the e ” n h of the bloody Macken zie . I this in s tan ce is tactics

as r n n were so far successful, the Cou t pro ou ced

u r n T r u s n n sen ten ce of forfeit e upo the u nb ll , but o e of the accused havin g as yet fallen in to the han ds of the

in m Govern men t, they escaped the eantime with their

1 J R. 2 worth six hu n re mer s earl was hel b His estate, d d k y y, d y

ears while ife an d chil ren starve . Meldru m f or man y y , his w d d See 2 iv 62. R. 24th an uar 1681. W . J , J y

172 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . fallin g back o n the o ld lette rs of in tercommu n ing which had been raised agains t Semple fo r his accession to the

n n r s n ir r c H r Pe tla d i i g, they brought S Pat i k epbu n before them to an swer for his crime in harbo urin g such

e n o t a declared rebel in his house. Th fact could be

n an d rn w as s n n ﬁn e de ied, Hepbu e te ced to pay a of £200 sterlin g and lie in prison till he should ﬁn d

s a t caution to do o within six d ys of his leaving i . These proceedin gs in the Ju sticiary an d the Coun cil

r us as in a s n s m m s have b ought before , ce e, o e of the o t

n an n m Th promin e t persons d circumsta ces of the ti e . e ’ cou rse of the n ation s history resembled in deed n othin g

an ill-m n in hi man so much as a aged play, w ch y of the proprieties o f life in its ordinary course seemed to be

In n s n con stan tly violated . the o e court we have ee the Lo rd Advocate pleadin g fo r the Ro yal maste r as if he ’ n r o f Kin s un had bee af aid the g life, while the Co cil, in s c n r m n t r its feveri h ha ge f o le ity o seve ity, has taught

sus r n n w n u s to pect the p ese ce of a e in ﬂ u e ce there .

was n n r n k r n This o e othe tha the Du e of Yo k, soo to

s n r n n r m s II. an d to a ce d the th o e u de the title of Ja e V ,

d an d s rn n his col tubbo atu re, which kn ew no pain a t

s r an d n o r m rse f r ti n the ight of c uelty, e o o its in ﬂic o , may well be ascribed some of the worst excesses o f that dreadful period HAPT R C E II .

HE great work done by the Duke of York in the Parliamen t of 1681 was the passing

f f s T s Act o the amou e t , which ga ve the

r so n as count y much u e iness. The Test w as in effect very much like those other en gagements w ith which the Presbyterians had formerly been

s as the O A n e e pressed, uch ath of llegia c , the Declar

n ts . had tion again st Cove an , and the Bond It ,

r s sa s diﬁ cu lties h r howeve , ome di dvantage and t at we e n t so - all its o wn bei g, in fac , ill drawn an d self con tradictory that man y of the Episcopalian party

r s u es in s n i themselves had g ave cr pl igni g t. The imposition of the Test upon those holding public 061068

s r diﬁ cult w as thus the cau e of g eat y, and brought

s in n r T about n ot a few change the cou t y. he Earl of Argyll lay in pris on some time because he refused to

an d s s n r is i w take it, at la t, eei g g ave m ch ef as in tended

sca in s s an d c m T r him, he e ped di gui e, a e by o woodlee to ’ s n William Veitch s hou e at Sta to n Hall. w as m m Veitch fro home at the ti e, and the sto ry of his return in has te to brin g Argyll to Lon don is a

n s s m curious o e . It eem that a gentle an o f Berwick had

pressed him to come there and than k his frien ds in the good town for the kindness they showed him while he He did n r . so w as a priso e there , and was about to

r m n s - leave again fo ho e, when ew reached the post house

r had s s n that the Ea l e caped from pri o , and the 174 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

Governor of Berwick immediately ordered all the

r s He a w as gua d to be doubled . knew th t Veitch in

o n an d r s ed s r him s s c n s the t w , e olv to ecu e , u pe ti g ome

s n n n n rs collu io betwee these two leaders of the Co ve a te . To escape the sea rch which w as n o w made fo r him

V c n n n his n s an d eit h we t i to the house of o e of frie d ,

M r w as c n rn ed f r s the ayo , who mu h co ce o his afety, man aged matters so well that n o search -warran t could

had fo r a a r a w as be d y o two . It h ppen ed that a child

r n i o rchl an d s the bu ied that ght by t ight, everal of Presbyteria n s who had been in vited to atten d the fun eral made it their excuse fo r meetin g to co n cert ’ min s r s a T n o n e mean s fo r the i te s e c pe . hey fou d that

M l sk r n r itche l, a ippe of the tow , had a g eat tobacco shi n r r r a to dis r r p lyi g at the ha bou gate e dy cha ge ca go, which gave them an excellen t opportun ity o f 61uding

a Tw m the u r s. o rc n ss n g d e ha ts, pa i g the gate without challen ge as if they would ha ve taken a sample o f

o acc n V n to t b o, co veyed eitch betwee them the quay, an d n r r s shi the ce to the fu the ide of the p, where, by

v s rr m n sm a w n f r pre iou a ange e t, a all bo t as lyi g o his

so c m sa to T o n passage, that he a e fely weedmouth the ’ s an d r a Mr s s Bo u sden En glish ide, e ched Ogle hou e at

In a s m r a i that n ight. two d y o e, a del y wh ch the

r m o n him severity of the weathe i po sed , he got home, much hasten ed in his jou rn ey by an un easy dream of

an n H c m him a n to ﬁre at St to all, whi h ade imp tie t be

n rr un Ar l there . O his a ival he fo d that gy l had come, an d that his household w ere sen din g far an d n ear to s n him fo r m n n H ummo that occasion . Fro Sta to all

r his s n ﬁ cult to Veitch b ought gue t, o t without di y,

T ro n n . b n s r Lo do hey de y un freque ted way , the Ea l ” ss n n r n m Mr H an d n n i pa i g u de the a e of ope, ru ng at

n e ar s a n n least o n row e cape from being t ke , a da ger in

176 ANT THE COVEN ERS OF THE MERS E .

to h r s n r t at wo k, and ayi g that though he were assu ed his life would n o t last an other hour he would resign that charge in to n o other ban ds than those of the great Head o f the Church from Whom he had received

it He w as n sm ss f r r . the di i ed o the time, but unde a bon d to return an d plead w hen ever the Coun cil

should call fo r him . His ﬁn al appearan ce before their Lordships took

o n the 6th o f u n e n r place J , whe he sto od fo mally

r his r n c n n c s an d r cha ged with f eque t o ve ti le , the celeb a tion of the baptisms an d marriages he had solemnised

s n s In r the s o f his o n the e occasio . eply he pled tate

n e m him r u n a to health, which had i d ed ade ve y ble

n r r In a s n preach fo r ea ly a yea past. the b e ce o f ’ witn esses the matter was referred to the prisoner s

mm n r o f in s as s oath, a co o p actice that time uch c e , though o n e which even then w as thought contrary

n n H to the maxims of a sou d jurisprude ce. e refused

sw r in s s n s a n d r r r to ea uch a e e, without fu the p oof, the Cou n cil ordered him to be sen t to the Bass till he

a ﬁn e ﬁve s n m r s should p y a of thou a d e k , and give a

n t r a n m r bon d that he would o p each y o e. Before this sen ten ce w as carried in to effect he petition ed to have

il r m it commuted fo r o n e of ex e f o the kingdom, kn ow in g that to go to the dun geon s o f the Bass in such s i l in firm health was likely to co t h m his ife. On Shielfield becomin g caution alon g with him in another su m five s n r s hi s w as ra d of thou a d me k t petition g nte , an d Erskin e sto od committed to leave Scotlan d in a

a his a i him t fortn ight. He c rried f mily w th o Park

a s m ten s r a r is ridge, place lying o e mile f om C l le, an d in fo r ar o r two m contin ued there peace a ye ore. When Erskin e appea red before the Coun cil be had

O n in r a M n t a compan io that t i l, , a minister d l I. “ hﬁoy THE CO NANT RS OF E VE E TH MERS E . 177

n n an n n r w s r belo gi g to a cie t Be ick hi e family, the 1 L ith ow s Dr ra n g of yg ge . He had been settled in 1646 as n s r r ss r Pa s mi i te of the Dumf ie hi e mh Qt Ewe ,

w as l to in 1 4 n which he ob iged leave 66 , o accoun t of his r n r s r n n adhe e ce to P e byte ia pri ciples. He then

ﬁx ed his r s n v cf Red ath n r e ide ce at the lla , ea g _ i e _ ﬂ “ g r s n r n had an s e an d Ea l to , whe e i deed he e tat , it is probable that Meldrum had foun d him there about . s m n r n n r h the ame ti e whe he took E ski e priso e . T e same sen ten ce w as passed by the Coun cil upon both

s m n s e rs as r is n o r r a n the e i i t , but the e eco d of y ' ’ r n n aﬁe in L ith o w s s is ] eductio bei g cted g ca e, it like y

had n r sm n n s he to e du e the di al du geo of the Bass,

s s ff r n s m in his n beside u e i g o ewhat mea s. We may add that he was restored to his Paris h of Ewes at the

R n an d n n r a r r n evolutio , co ti ued the e a ye or two, reti i g 1 in 694 to his Berwickshire property. While these min isters were awaitin g their sen te n ce

r r e rs r m o n a befo e the Cou t, matt of wide i p rta ce appe red

s n r s r n to aggravate the ituatio of the P e byte ia party .

On 5th Ma n r m r act the of y, the Cou cil, by a e a kable , ’ prohibited the Writers to His Majesty s Sign et from dr awin g up an y papers of a ppeal to the Court of Session in the in terests of those whom the inferior judicatures

f n n s T s s had ﬁn ed o r their presen ce at co ve ticle . hi eems a very high-han ded in te rferen ce with the ordin ary course

s a n w of ju tice, d it as presen tly followed by further m s r A n s ea u es of the same ten den cy. dditio al power were

n rr en M r in a an d in A an d co fe ed eld um M y ugust, by his latter commission he w as required to con cur with the

u tic r d s r fo r s r ss n J s e Courts of o u i t ict, the upp e io of the

n c n fo r B e en act r n t No o rmists the e. y the r c t elati g o

’ ” 1 “ men See t n d the vol. o f su le tar lates to Scott s Fas i, a pp y p ’ ” Nisbet s e r l ith ow of Dr ran e . H rald y artic e , L g yg g 178 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . appeals these courts had been made in a man ner supreme in n an n w in ﬂu en ce was to the cou try, d a e now brought bear upon them in the person of this already n otorious

s r n n m t n in per ecuto , so that othi g igh be wa t g to the s r r The s r in eve ity of their p oceedin gs. moving pi it this policy seems to have been the Duke of York . His Ro yal Highn ess had gon e to Court early in the s an i e rs n n eason, d B shop Pat o returned fro m Lo don

m s di r a r n was el al o t imme ately the e fte , beari g, it b ieved, ’ the King s comma n ds to the Co uncil for a n ew pe r secu ti n s r s ic a n r o . The mea u e wh h were then t ke appea

c n ﬁrm n o r m to o this co j c tu e, and were at the ti e r The r s n in egarded in that light. g eat comet ee the summer o f 1682 seemed to the coun try a da rk presage

s ff a n s in of u ering d blood hed Scotland. So threatenin g in deed w as the aspect of the times tha t a n umber of o u r n oted Presbyterians formed the

r n r a r l p oject of goi g ab o d to escape worse t oub es. Their thoughts were directed to America as the most

r a r e r f r n a n d favou able qu t o such an e terprise, they

es n s n r d ig ed it hould take the form of a colo y the e. Sir John Cochran e of Ochiltree a n d Sir George

m sc m Ca pbell were the chief promoters of the he e. They wen t up to Court an d obtain ed a letter from

n in w s n the Ki g, hich His Majesty de ired the Cou cil

rw r n r i -six n would fo a d the e te prise . Some th rty ge tle men took shares of twen ty poun ds ea ch in the n e w

m a n r in a a s it w as r w as to co p y of Ca ol , called ; fo it

a c n s n r The th t olo y that they de ig ed to p oceed. project

n ot o an r r a t s bu t n did g y fa the thi time, we may ote that two of the subscribers to the fun ds were Sir Pa trick Hume of Polw a rth and Sir Alexander

rn n Cockbu of Langto . On e of the worst cases of persecution which too k

E F TH COVENANTERS O THE MERS E . H s occassion . e a s s s an thi m de a tout re i t ce, and, over

s w a a powered at la t by force, it s s a sorely woun ded man that he surren dered himself in to the han ds of the law w r . He as b ought to his trial before the Lords of

u sticiar in n u o n th m r J y Edi b rgh the 15 of Nove be ,

r w n in n s rr cha ged ith having bee the late i u ection ,

as n o r the b re but p oof of li el appea d, the case again st

im a n d mi h fell to the ground, he ght have regain ed his er n ot r s to T s T lib ty had he efu ed take the e t. his

n s him ar adhere ce to principle co t de ly, the court keep

n s c n ﬁn men t an r i g him till in o e , d p esen tly movin g fo r a n ew trial. On the 2oth of December the prison er again stood

a r He w a s n o w at the b . accused much more in

a i r A t l n a det l, the Lo d dvoca e a legi g th t he had besieged Makersto u n House ; had a ppeared in arms

s r an d H s a at Kel o, Selki k, awick, e peci lly at the las t

w r n c n r place, he e he had bee o ce n ed in the seizu re of

s r s an d in the Militia to e , the woundin g of the school

a n w as master of th t tow , who o n e of those that

The r r defen ded the Castle . eco ds of eviden ce offer ’ a s in r s n r s r much th t hould have told the p i o e favou . Non e of the witn esses alleged that an y violen ce had

n s akersto u n an d s n bee u ed at M , ome depo ed they

' had heard Hume o ﬁer mon ey fo r the horse he wished

ir r H m . c to have fro the laird S Pat ick ume, the oun sel f s ms u stiﬁed in his o r the defen ce, ee j plea that this w as n o more than an ordin ary bargain which Hume

r to eﬁect. The r n in a r r t ied p oof of ide tity, p ticula , w a w n s exceedin gly eak . Ma y of the witn esses seem

n n e rr e o n s n not to have bee i t ogat d thi poi t at all. Several were pressed to recogn ise the prison er an d r s r a s ta n a n d n m efu ed, o gave but he i ti g i co plete

n n in r assertio . O e, William Eliot Selki k, said he E 181 TH COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . had seen him ridi n g in Selkirk when the rebels came

r a n r T rn ha r la w the e ; othe , u bull of S p , thought the prison er w as like a man whom he had seen at Lilies lea f Moor o n the occasion of the con ven ticle held

r e r n s rr c n T r n u the e b fo e the i u e tio . u b ll of Know,

s l o n e n s r n da w as him e f of the i u ge ts that y, base

n r a n ss f r r e ough to appea s a wit e o the C own , and gave his adheren ce to the eviden ce furnished by Sharp l aw .

The r s a s n as cou t , we have had freque t occ ion to r mar r far r n e k, we e f om scrupulous whe they dealt

r s r n s wa n n r with P e byte ia , but it s a thi g u hea d of that a man should be con demn ed to die o n the eviden ce

n ss T n n his s Ma of on e wit e . o this weak poi t i ca e c ken zie n ow directe d himself with all that polished but r n ss a rt w so m s r ele tle of which he as much the a te . On e of these haltin g witn esses must be brought to

a tan dhill spea k more plain ly o r the libel would f il. S ’ was chosen as the subject of the Lord Advoca te s

r s H a s w as like add es . e had said that the ccu ed the man saw l r he at L ilies eaf, but added that the othe

r his w n a r was c r s n r wo e o h i , which bla k, while the p i o e appea red in court that day dressed with some care

r a n z had an d with a powde ed periwig . M cke ie the

H w r a n OE an d n r n to wig which ume o e t ke , the , tu ni g

tan hill n n s s as d him r S d with mea i g empha i , he ke whethe ” t r w him n o s him n . H r s he did ecogni e o e is like , aid

n ss an d n a s the li the wit e , whe J me Scott, Bai e of

h s n s n a Hawick had added is te timo y, ayi g th t, to the ” s his n H w as man be t of k owledge, ume the he had

r in n A a seen amon g the ebels that tow , the Lord dvoc te

r His c n w as con ten t to let the case go to the ju y . o

n c ss r n r n s r ﬁde e, a u ed by a lo g expe ie ce of uch p oceed

m B a r s s did n ot hi s . in g , play fal e y a m jo ity of vote 182 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

ss H w as ui an in the a ize ume found g lty, d o n the

a 22n d m r w followin g d y, the of Dece be , he as sen ten ced

die s r n s f su fﬁci to , with all tho e agg avatio o that en t pen alty which the severity of the times w as accustomed

u se in s n m his s n a to the ca e of ge tle en of po itio , n mely,

an s an d the forfeiture of his l d , the proscription o f his ’ r s in r s hereditary a m the he alds book .

r as s rr The cou t, if they wi hed to hu y through the

s ra s n ss as s eedil as ss r r mi e ble bu i e p y po ible, o de ed

n la o n 29th the executio to take p ce Friday, the o f

r H m m re h Dece mbe . u e begged o time, that is case

n might be laid before the Ki g. This appeal w as

his r n s s n r s of refused, but f ie d , fore eei g the e ult the

s n r ss to n n an d trial, had already e t an exp e Lo do , it is said a retur n came with a reprieve in time to have

' s r r s n r s had n o t mm ss n pa ed the p i o e life, the Co i io er,

o d r s r a w as L r Pe th, kept it ec et till the fat l day past. Lady Perth showed at the same time an inhumanity

c c s n her sex r n rs if oss whi h the ircum ta ce of e de , p ible, more repulsive than even this cruel action of her ’ n H s . n s r s n s w hu ba d Whe I obel ume, the p i o er ife, came o n the morn in g of his execution to plead fo r his r n a s o n e m r w m life, u gi g othe ell ight with another the s rr her ar r he r ﬁve h d n o ow of he t ove little c il re , r ss r soon to be left fathe le , Lady Pe th spurn ed her

n s r s f r r away with an a we so avage, that o ve y shame

r r r the page of histo y efuses to reco d it. The mere

a l an n s w as s r n den i , without y added i ult, u ely e ough to s am c ra e r an d a r r t p the ha ct of the time p ty whe e,

s r ul s r k a s r un c up ou c uelty, li e p eading plague, infected

m y r m r an r in al ost e e y me be , d b oke out forms the most

uls hi n r n sex r n rep ive, w ch eithe ature, , nor b eedi g, were s r powerful en ough to re t ain. The last momen ts of this Coven an ter were marked by

an s as s s calmness d erenity, hi dying testimon y u ﬂi

184 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

The fear un der which the Coven an ters of Scotla n d

n o w s e s in r ﬁeld c n n c s lay, hew d it elf the arity of o ve ti le ,

w are ss r had at s ims a m s c as hich, we a u ed, thi t l o t e ed, an d in the difﬁculty felt even with regard to the co n

in a The m s t u n ce of those held in houses. co et of the la t summer w as n o w follow ed by a celestial appeara n ce

m s as r ma r s n n n u ite r al o t e kable, the clo e co ju ctio of J p din with Saturn in the sign of L eo porten din g, accor g

to s r w a r r n a n d the a t ology of the day, , evolutio ,

s ff r n Th w hi es u e i g of all kin ds . e ready respon se ch th e gloomy prediction s found amon g all classes of the people shews very plain ly the fear un der which they

n ow n n n ew ers s laboured, expecti g nothi g but p ecution , and even the utte r extermin ation of the Presbyterian

r in d pa ty Scotlan .

T a i w r hese s d thoughts d d not, ho ever, abate thei

c r an d r m r a n en ou age, a e a k ble eve t which happ ed about

s m s n s w a in rw c thi ti e hould be e ough to he th t, Be i k

hi a n r e r w n s rs n t s re at y at , the e ere still mi i te willi g o

ru n an r s in r an d y i k the discha ge of their duty, people sin cerely a ttached to the ca use of the Coven an ts in spite t of the difﬁculties an d da n gers which atten ded i . Sometime in the year 1682 a vacan cy had occurred in

r Hi n r m a to the chu ch of lto , by the e ov l Fogo of the T n r i m M n . his Episcopal in cu mbe t, M W llia ethve

an s a n n rs vac cy la ted till the year 1683 , d duri g the cou e

r shi n rs n ir ld n s r Mr of it the pa i o e i vited the o mi i te ,

n w n in n Da iel Douglas, ho still con ti ued that eighbour

T w a M y the pulpit at Hilton . here s co n

siderable r s in s an t n an d i k uch in vi atio attempt, as

rs n n an s s w matte the we t, d the re ult he ed that the

v r n e T dan ger thus in curred was a e y rea l o . he

in a r s o se h ohn sto n principal heritor the p i h, J p J of

e r as s in his a Hilton , app a ed u ual g llery on the day

r m t an d w n u s ro chosen fo r this bold expe i en , he Do gla 185 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

to m n s rv Hil stoo an d co me ce the e ice of Go d, ton d up ’ c m n n m The o ma ded him to stop in the King s a e. m n s r wh a s e r i i te , o felt th t he tood ther unde a c mm ss n m hi sh o i io fro the Kin g of Kin gs, w ch ould be

at sts w as r ee in the obeyed all co , quietly p oc d g with s r i n m his c an d e v ce when Hilton , desce din g fro pla e

n c h n n hi an d l him goi g up the hurc , laid ha ds o m pul ed

t r mm n a ou of the pulpit by fo ce. Su i g up the rem in in s ﬁ t had him g tren gth which age and in rmi y left ,

s n w s ﬂ r r Dougla , who o to od on the oo of the chu ch,

h his s ﬁ an n f w rin t rew a sailan t o , d, in prese ce o the onde g a win emar e n d awestruck people, uttered the follo g r kabl

r s l n m e r t wo d , o g reme bered by those that h a d hem ” H n s n to su ff the ilto , he aid, k ow what you are er for assault you have made on the servan t of God in the t hi s discharge of his du y. Wit n a short time you hall ” n his l w be carried i to t p ace ounded basely un to death.

The r es o f r r rs n w as e t oubl ea lie yea , whe he depriv d of

ar a n d s es r] n a that ch ge lo t b ides a dea y loved so , h d, it ’ w n n in his i ist r as well k ow , u nh ged for a time t m n e s r n a ul e w a r easo , a s d res t of the p rsecution hich appe ed

in n M also the case of another of o ur mi isters, r Ra msay

M din ss u of or gton . It may po ibly have occ rred to so me then presen t that the sudden assault to w hich he w as subj ected had fo r a momen t disturbed on ce more the

n his n rs n n ma w l bala ce of u de ta di g, but we y e l believe that somethin g in the solemn ity of this prediction im essed r n a we s n m m the cong egatio with , i ce fro that hour John sto n of Hilton lived as a marked man amon g his n s eighbour , who waited to see whether the dark ’ s n o s ss n ayi g of G d me e ger would be fulﬁlled or no . The sprin g of 1683 w as marked by n ew preparations fo r rs n M r pe ecutio . eld um had fresh in struction s given him on ﬁrst M r a n h the of a ch, d on the 13 t of April a

r r i r s w as ss M p oclamation for ci cu t cou t i ued, eldrum, lzw F TH THE COVENANTERS O E MERSE .

H n n an d r d n n s r to a en an ai i g, G a e bei g de i ed tt d them, d

' r t n r rdi n ﬁen der The give info ma io ega g o s. in struction s which acco mpan ied this proclamation were very com

r r n i s s . ss s a p ehen ive and eve e If wit e e f led, accused pa rties were o n n o accoun t to be dismissed till they had become boun d to reappear when ever they should be

l f r Th n ses the s ffs in r ca led o . e expe of heri the va ious coun ties w ere to form a ﬁrst charge upon the ﬁn es

ed r n n exact du i g the sitti g of the court, a provision w n o n s r s s in hich, doubt, put co ide able um of money the

m e n empty pockets of Lord Hume. A co p te t party of

r was n the fo ces desired to atte d the courts, an d

c n in h r r ui a compa y them t ei ci c t, that the majesty of

la w m n di d the ight be vi cate , and a check p ut upon r s n n n i F r ebel a d No co form sts. o the fu ll detection of such pe rso n s spe cial in struction s were issued to the

n n s ris r s a n m i cumbe t of the pa h chu che , d it ust be to the en durin g sha me of the Establishmen t of the day that in very man y cases these comman ds were promptly a n d m T s m n s a ply obeyed. he e i i ters fu rn ished lists of

r a r sh n rs n s a n thei whole p i io e , taki g peci l otice of certain

ss s m n s as cla e a o g them, uch those who did n ot come to church o r receive the Sacrament ; those who had been con cerned in an y disorders and rebellion s all who had withdrawn from their parishes without su fﬁcien t reason

n an d r rs an d a n m all chapme t avelle , y who ight be able to give their lordships more exact in formation than the

r s s r rd n N n rm cle gy them elve ega i g the o confo ists. It w as ss u se a s , doubtle , the they m de of the e Opportun ities tha t earn ed fo r the min iste r of Smailholm a n d others of his stamp the reproa ch of bein g great persecutors ”

r s r an s. s n o of the P e byte i We hould otice, to , that the Test had a position of con sequen ce given to it in these

s Th n s r n s ran proceedin g . e i t uctio that if Non co n formists

s s s would but wear thi oath, they hould be free from

188 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

h s r r H m s o f Jo n Veitch of We t uthe , and the u e

n n an d Falside all o f m ar Bas se dea , the ch ged with harbourin g the late Alexander Hume of Hume before

hi a s pprehen sion . Prin gle con trived to escape these troublesome a n d

n s t is s his dangerous proceedi g , hough it aid that

r n s n w as r n n an s a n to app ehe io dete mi ed o , and me t ke

ff it As r o f s rs a r is e ect . the pa ty oldie ch ged with th

w n r reen kn ow r rs duty dre ea G , a favou ite ho e of the ’ a r s a an d r c l i d n ighed loudly, the app oa h of the hostile - h party was perceived by a quick eyed servan t girl . S e

r w a r m l an d ss was on he y back f o the we l, adroitly pre ed

e r s rs n r her in b fo e the oldie , blocki g up the doo with

a n r a rr person d the wate stoups she c ied, so that the

rm n r a n d l s r ala bei g thus fai ly given , a litt e time ecu ed,

rin was a to n r s s n i P gle ble e te the clo et, lift the to e wh ch

s cr r a n c n l hims lay above the e et chambe , d o cea elf in ’ ” 1 has r s n c n n n as a r what eve i e bee k ow the l i d s hole. When the pursuit w as past he wen t over the border a n d

r in n m n ﬁ i n h to ok efuge E glan d . So e co rmat o of t is story may be foun d in the plea offered fo r him at the

bu r h n w r n Jed g circuit, whe it as p oved that he had bee o u t of the coun try some time be fore the summon s to

n h r r c him an d n atte d t at Cou t ea hed , the lay at the Bath

- . A r er r s n s w as in ill health yea aft wa d , whe the ca e ’ a n e r u s iciar in n r n called ag i b fo e the J t y Edi bu rgh, P i gle s

n re r s n s m rs r s s age t p e e ted the e atte to their lo d hip ,

n w as l r r r addi g that it doubtfu if he would eve ecove , an d o n this ground the proceedin gs again st him were given u p. Hume of Bassendean took a like course to esca pe

r n s n r app ehe io . Somewhe e in the n eighbourhood of

1 Tra ition vou che for b sever ol eo le in r n o f d d y al d p p Go do , n e o hem the escen an t of a amil lo n in service with th l t d d f y g e Pring es, ill os n me relics o f h l kn an d st p seﬁ g so t e ast Lady Green o w. TH E COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . 189 his s r w as ul r s w s hou e the e a va t, pe hap that hich till

s s n r rn a r s ass n n exi t u de the mode f mhou e of B e dea ,

an d r d his r fo r s m h the e he ma e efuge ome ti e, while is wan ts were diligen tly a n d a ffection a tely supplied by his w a s a r n n s s r wife, who K tha i e Pri gle, a i te of the

a r r n kn w H r a L i d of G ee o . e delic te situation an d eviden t trouble at last made the agen ts of the Govern men t suspect that Bassen dean himself w as n ot far off a n d r n disc r n r , d eadi g ove y, he co t ived to leave his h di n - rv a n d s r d w i g place unobse ed, e cape ab oa , here he ﬁx ed his residen ce in the frien dly States of H 1 ollan d .

Mr ohn V H Falside w r J eitch, and ume of , ho eve ,

r actually appea red befo e the Circu it. They refused to a T s an d w r dis ss r n t ke the e t, e e mi ed unde bo d to

r s n s s at u sticia r in din r p e e t them elve the J y E bu gh, on the 2n d A s At di r s s n of ugu t . that et the Lo d e t

T in n r them to the olbooth, compa y with Geo ge Ramsay of Edin gton ; while Alexander Hume of Abbey w as im r s n in H d n n n s m p i o ed ad i gto . O the a e day the diet of court w as deserted in the case of Mr Ja mes Deas of o ldi n kn w r n kn w an d B a ss n n C o s. G ee o g Like e dea , he had been fortun ate en ou gh to escape out of the

' n m An r w s H rn ki gdo . othe su ﬁerer a epbu of Black

as s c s r s r n c tle, al o a cu ed of e et, p obably on accou t of

n e r n m n rm r v n to his n the e t tai e t he had fo e ly gi e u cle,

Mr G r m In n n ab iel Se ple. compa y with a umber of other gen tlemen he w en t to prison in Edi n burgh s Ca tle . There is a stron g tradition al impression that Ramsay of Edin gton suffered the loss of all his la n ds by fo r f i e tu re . No ra c s a rs in c r r s t e of thi ppea the publi eco d ,

n so far as s n a n i deed, the e have yet bee ex mi ed, but man y acts of this kind were then done in such a

1 See the N w t P ish of struther e Sta istical Accoun t, ar We . 190 NANT RS F E ME THE COVE E O TH RS E .

su mmary fashion that they escaped the notice of the

The s s R s fo r r w clerks. ca e again t am ay eset as

n n n r in s of s aba do ed in the followi g yea , but pite thi ,

' he may well have been o n e of the greatest su ﬁerers

f his sh r o i e, and it is certainly in this way that his

has n name come dow to u s. Perhaps the truth may be that his ﬁn es were so heavy as to compel him to

h r r sell is estates, a p actical fo feiture then much

studied by the ruling party, and one which had the

n r n r as ta adva tage of a ce tai p ivacy, the de ils o f these

n s r r r r r in r s exactio we e a ely eco ded the egi ters.

H m Falside w as set r in fe w u e of f ee a days, a petition which he addressed to their Lordships bein g

i s f M r m supported by the om nou name o eld u , who assured the Court that he had found him a peaceable ” ’ 1 n man an d se in His M s s rv mea , u ful ajesty e ice. Next year the Committee of Privy Council took Meldrum to task fo r dealin g with Presbyterian s who had n o t

n T t m n take the es , and aki g u se of the information

s s r r n ff rs a r thu upplied him ega di g the a ai of th t pa ty. They ordered that such person s should be pressed to

T a n d s s take the est at once, in case of refu al hould

i As s se to be put n prison . Faleide doe not em have

h is ma r s been dealt wit in th way, we y pe hap conclude “ ” that his service had n ot been one implyin g any treachery to his party : he w as possibly con n ected in

M The affa r has some w a y with the ilitia. whole i ,

r s su s c s r a n d is howeve , a mo t pi iou appea ance, it much to be desired in the in terests of a n a me so closely con n ected as that of James Hume w as with man y of

r n n rs bs the best of o u Cove a te , that the o curity

c r surroun din g this petition of his should be lea ed u p,

n At so as to leave his hon our un stai ed. the diet of

s Falside w as n in £100 Justiciary in Augu t, held bou d

1 t t J. R. , 8 h Augus 1683 .

192 THE ANT HE COVEN ERS OF T MERS E .

Moristou n ha d never employed him as a domestic s rv 1 e ant. In the end o f the year 1683 an event occurred o f so remarkable a kin d that the attention it excited in

s s l r in u r the e day may we l be epeated o own, as we observe how stran gely it relates to several matte rs w c m r n hi h have already co e under o u otice. Lord

H m w h w a n w in s c r ms u e, o s o more ea y i cu tances and

a r u n hims l n o had become a gre t courtie , fo d e f u able t

w as c m leave Lo n don until the new year o e in . The

ss r r s s n Counte , howeve , e olved that the ab e ce o f her husband should not inte rfere with the due observance

is c s n th of Christmas at h hief eat ; i deed, e custom o f the times and of that party almost made such feastin g a matte r of civil an d religiou s duty. Thus it ca me about that a compan y of the neighbourin g gentry assembled at the Hirsel to pass a week together in all kin ds of diversion . On e of this Christmas party w as Joseph Jo hn sto n of

n r u n fulﬁlled r Hilto , ove whom the p ophecy of Douglas still hun g like a dark shadow ; an other w as William ’ r too n Hume the Earl s brothe , but well k own for his

i rs n the r s e n s activity n pu ui g P e byt ria . This con

n n r s s w m ju ctio appea ed of it elf ome hat o inous, and as

s ss s n r the day of carele fea ti g and revel y went on , they r approached the 29th of Decembe , the fatal anniversary ’ Al an H s lli H of ex der. ume execution, whom Wi am ume

s r n to sad had been the mean of b i ging that end. It is s r sa t w to c s aid that the pa ty do n that night ard , and m n that play ran high a o g them . William Hume lost heavily an d repeatedly ; at last he lost his temper as

his an d r ss s well as money, , add e ing him elf to John ston

s l . o o f Hilto n, accu ed him of foul p ay S u ngentlemanly an insult w as n ot to be borne for a moment by a man

1 th A ril 1684. Her mai en name was w J . R. 25 p d S in to n . THE 93 COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . 1

’ of H n s e i fier fl ilto bre d ng and y temper. He ung it back with some circumstan ce of added contempt ; s r s fl e w r n n wo d out, and the e wou ld have bee blood o

s ha s ra the pot, d n ot the rest of the company epa ted the

n r m n s n a g y e , and pressed them to conclude a ulle and

n n n fo r u willi g truce. When the party had broke up

n li m w h was ﬂu stered the ight, Wil am Hu e, o probably

n n n s l r n with wi e, and certai ly broodi g ti l with a g owi g

ss n o n n him pa io the injury he con ceived had bee done , r s r his an d a n in an an d o e f om bed, , with ca dle one h d ’ ra r in r s s s n him a pie the othe , ought Hilton room, layi g A foully as he lay with repeated sword thrusts. little ’ n r w as n n s lo ge , and Hume mou ted on the dead ma

rs ﬂ in s r n for n an d ho e, y g outhwa d, bou d Engla d the

n n G r Co ti en t in the very way which he, and the ove n

n r r n s n a r s me t he ep ese ted, had compelled o ma y P e by ’ r a to n r s s i r ss te i n take ; while Hilto s co p e, ha t ly d e ed fo r m an d d n s l w as m a n d the to b, blee i g ti l, carried ho e,

is sa to r r laid, it id, await the burial in that ve y chu ch

a n an d where little befor e he had acted so tyran ically, received so solemn a warn in g from the servant of Go d. It would be difﬁcult to ﬁn d in the whole ran ge o f Scottish history a more strikin g scene than that which s rr n n r o n e a s u ou ded the death of Hilto , o which ppeal

r r n its s r n mo e fo cibly to the imagin atio , by t a gely min gled suggestions of the n atural and the super

r a o f natu al worlds. On e lon gs to see picture that dim

n parlour at the Hirsel drawn by a master ha d, which should shew u s the oak wainscot of the walls fain tly relieved by the gleam o f can dles nearly burn t out in

r s n s ﬂ r as a dis thei co ce , the oo th t ordered company left it n s r c s , stain ed with wine spilt amo g the catte ed pa k ,

‘ an d the table itself where two ca rds of differen t suits s l lie n f dia n s r s hou d alone, the te o mo d for the iche of the world that tempted that age an d party to their 194 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE .

an d s s for s s r ruin, the knave of pade the hort h ift, the

n m an d n s n sudde doo , the arrow di ho oured grave in r which all their hope a n d policy so soon lay bu ied, while above all should look down from the pargetted

H a rdin ceilin g the an cient and solemn coat of ume, reg g in grave displeasure the shame o f his race in these ’ r an d n his s r in . degene ate times, the ome of party u Such a piece would ﬁttin gly presen t to ou r age a scene

n w of Al never to be forgotte , hen the death exander

m n Hume w as indeed aven ged with a double judg e t, an d the word o f God by Douglas w as most exactly

ﬁll s he r it fu l ed, o that t whole count y wondered at , and han ded dow n these circumstances to posterity in a tradition which has en dured even to o u r o wn days. The story r uns that in after years Hume sicken ed of

n a n d r s see fo r hi se f h his lo g exile, e olved to m l whet er

an he might n ot ven ture to return to his native l d . The so n of the murdered John sto n was presen t at some

r n n r an s him public gathe ing, whe o e of the se v t brought

ssa n a w n r a a me ge, desiri g he would spe k ith a stra ge t

r n a n s the doo . He fou d this m n to be of a disti gu i hed

n s m to r s . e appea a ce and addre He had co e, he said, t ll

n n H m met r a w Joh sto that ume, who he had ab o d, as

r r fo r his ras n s n sin ce ely sor y h act, a d wi hed to k ow

r ul r n m c n rs whethe he co d be fo give . So e a ce t of pe o n al feelin g in this plea must have defeated the car efully

n s ise fo r o hn s n n ] r pla n ed di gu , J to su dde y c ied, You a re ’ ” r m r n H s s r s z . my fathe urdere , and p a g to ei e him ume n o w n w a his was in n n n k e th t hope vai , a d avoidi g the

man r adr u t f young ve y oitly, he slipped o o the still Open door an d to ok his ﬂight a secon d time to the n n r i Con ti e t, whe e he s said to have died shortly after w s o n e o f r s s n as s ard in the fo eign war , ervi g a oldier of fortune.

196 THE NANT OF THE M COVE ERS ERS E . thousand merks that he would present himself before 1 n m r T r r s the court in the mo th of Nove be . hei Lo d hips

r a lat o n r r s m n p ob bly calcu ed the fo feitu e of thi o ey, an d w as so r n o t e H if it they we e d ceived . ume w as

ro in s an s s r r r n ab ad afety, d cho e to tay the e athe tha

is his n a n ran in S n n r k life by maki g appea ce cotla d, eve though his contin ued absen ce should cost him that 11 n s ra s m co ide ble u . As if they had grounded their procedure on the order o f m t r r n s mm n l w s s ili a y ope atio co o ly fo lo ed in tho e day , the Govern men t gen erally chose sprin g o r the open in g of summer fo r their n ew a ttempts a gain st the No n

s mm r 1 4 sa w r a ra n con formists . The u e of 68 p ep tio s ma de which w ere design ed to issue in greater severities

h Ma Ro n r . Ou 5t tha eve the of y the Fugitive ll came out, con tain in g ma n y hun dred n ames a n omin ous publica

n fo r res r n s m n o w s tio the P byte ia , who ight ee very 3 a r a w as n n m cle ly wh t i te ded again st the . A little la ter orders were sen t to Meldrum a n d Lord Cha rles Murra y to r Tevio tdale w r r s rs a p oceed to ith thei t oop of ho e, th t

r m r n r n r a the cou n t y ight be tho oughly u de co t ol, n d ﬁn ally the Govern men t determin ed to issue a n e w

mm ss n fo r r r s s s r in co i io ci cuit cou t , tho e of la t yea hav g

n proved so usefu l in the work of persecutio . The preparation s fo r this n ew procedure were more

n r Sh ma s rs m exa ct an d complete tha eve . ip te ight n o t leave port sa ve un der a n oath that they carried n o 4 s a ss s r r r in ca s a ll w h fugitive , p e we e equi ed the e of o 6 v m n r n r a n r n tra elled fro o e pa t of the cou t y to othe , a d w am n fo r u s wa s m on hen the procl atio the co rt ade, the

m r n s r n s m a n n 6th of Septe be , the i t uctio acco p yi g it

n s an d r s n T were of a very comprehe ive e olute ki d . he

1 a 8 A ril J. R. J. R. 4th u l 168 . See Note A 25th p , , J y 7 . 4 a w . 1 e w . 16th Se t 5th S pt , p , 1 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . 97

Commission ers bein g atten ded with a competen t body

R a r s r in ﬁrst n s n to of the oy l fo ce , they we e the i ta ce disarm the whole coun try w here they ca me that there m n o ss r s s n Th a w s r ight be po ibility of e i ta ce. e l we e to n n s n n s s be put i to force agai t all No co formi t , and

s l s as n n n s s e pecia ly uch atte ded co ve ticle , while tho e leavin g their homes to esca pe justice were to be n oted a n r r r mm n l d epo ted to the Sec et Co ittee of Cou cil . Al Presbyteria n min isters still prea chin g un der in dulgen ce were to be strictly examin ed whether they had obeyed

r n s r uc n s a s r w as r s o f thei i t tio , eve ity which the e ult ’ the Coun cil s determin a tion to turn these men out of their charges o n o n e pretext o r an other. Pedlars an d

n t v n m ss n r s o posts o ha i g co mi io we e to be t pped, and

an a r r ir r in those who had taken y p t, eithe d ectly o

in as n su rr n m s li n directly, the l t i ectio , u t be di ge tly

an r an dr n rn searched out, d thei wives d chil e tu ed out of hou se a n d home if it a ppeared that they had held

n m i a n The r a y co mun c tio with them . cle gy of the

s sh n r to s of s e r E tabli me t we e be the object p cial ca e, an d everythin g must be don e to support them in their

the m s ri u r ﬁre a n d sw r wa o e, while the ut o t go of o d s to

a n s ff n rs the r n n be employed gai t o e de , P ivy Cou cil bei g empowered to gra n t an in demn ity fo r an y excesses

s n s as n which thi lice e might occ io . The shire of Berwick had already experienced the

m s i ﬁn 1 6 3 r n e 66 1 s. 4d. seve ity of the ti e a of £ , , levied from the parish of Legerwoo d in the mon th of August 1 r n n s w as n ow to ﬁn d fo co ve ticle , but it the same rigour applied o n a far la rger a n d more comprehensive s a The mm ss n usticiar fo r s r c le. co i io of J y thi pa t of the

n r w as in n s r rr s cou t y the ha d of Lo d Balca e , Lord

d Ha f z r M s r an o . r Al Ye te , William y Drummel ie ex

n r r s r c r r a de Fo be , thei le k, went down befo e them, 1 P W W 2 . . an d . S. A. 198 THE CO NANT R OF VE E S THE MERS E .

rd n to s r t a n d r s acco i g the u ual p ac ice, took a Po teou Roll o f the local Non con formists to make the a fte r

r r s r p ocedu e ea ie . This roll is dated the 2oth o f 1 Se m e r an d n m w pte b , co tain s the n ames of so e t o

n r an d ﬁft e s n s u hu d ed y p r o , but we sho ld be much mistaken in supposin g that these were all the No n

n rm s s in s r The n d r co fo i t the hi e. Cou cil had or e ed the names o f person s of quality to be kept out of the 2 n s rr r O le an d had s s in commo li t of i egula pe p , be ide structed the Commission ers to be careful not to pun ish ‘ 3 multitudes but on ly the most n otorious o ﬁen ders. To this wise rule their Lo rdships added an other on their ow n n e n Mr r s r who r accou t, t lli g Cha le G ay, pled befo e

a s f r r wn r r his l them s coun el o the c o , to est ict libe s to 4 n h offen ces committed withi t e last two years . It is also to be noted that the Porteous Ro ll w a s largely framed from the in forma tion furn ished by the clergy o f

s a s r h ‘ m h s r the E t bli hed Chu c . So e of t e e we e ready

' en o u gh i in deed to give in forma tion a gainst their

r sh n rs a s n l s s r Sma m Merto u n pa i io e , the lo g i t f om ilhol , , 1 an d ar s n su ﬂicien tl e s rs n E l to y t tify, but othe had e ough human ity to make them feel such work degrading a n d

s s ul an d n m r m n an r di ta tef , to preve t the f o doi g y mo e

in a r T s s than they could help the m tte . hu the mall n umber of n ames returned from some of the parishes is to be taken a s a sign rather of this clemen cy than o f

a n n ss s r n a s in s rts y weak e of the Pre byte ia c u e the e pa , a n d o n the whole the Be ll must be held as exhibitin g but

a sma r r n n c n rm t r c sh r ll p opo tion of the o o fo i y of Be wi k i e . Un derstood in this w a y it gives u s r eason to thin k that therew as n o t a pari sh in the shire where the Presbyterian s

h s c n s r d h r n had not at t i time a o ide able bo y of ad e e ts.

1 s A ril 1 8 P see No te B . 16th 683 w . W P W . . 1 . p , , 684. W 5 I n u te o o f uit 2 th e t P . . Mi B k o Circ , 5 S p , bid. 0 See Note B .

ﬂ !) THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

n d rn an d i s o u t to Edinburgh, a tu their wives fam lie

f a n m s o house d ho e. As so me of the fugitive were r stron gly suspected of hidin g in the town of Be wick, c their Lordships wrote to the Mayor of that pla e, desirin g he would search for and apprehen d any

s was whom he could ﬁn d. Nothing in hort left undone 1 to root Presbyterianism out of the country altogether. On an examination o f the particular cases which ’ u follow in the jou rn als of the court s proced re, it must be allowed that the Commissioners did n ot give a false pictu re of their diligen ce and rigour against the

N s s r e as on con formists. Mr Dan iel Dougla , de c ib d a ” r n r w as an d m n vag a t preache , apprehended exa i ed regarding his preachin g an d administerin g the Sacra

a w a to a a r ment of Baptism, n d s held bound ppe again 1 This w as under a pen alty of two thousand merks.

r a a r s n s p ob bly forfeited, s Douglas did not p e e t him elf

o n n rtiﬁcate s n e the appoi ted day, but sent a ce ig d by

a w as ill the minister of Whitsome, s yin g he too to

e n an d n o t s in his i att d, would preach ave own fam ly, a promise which the broken state of his health en a bled ! him to give without doin g violen ce to his con scien ces

s n s n n n It would eem, i deed, that mi chief had bee i te ded

him fo r r a , the Coun cil sen t out an answe to referen ce “ o f r in r s - As the Ci cuit Court, the following te m to

Mr n n n e Da iel Douglas, he must be bou d up o way o r

r a n d othe , those who make u se of his manufacto ry well ” 4 payed .

o hn H s m n J ume, the chool aster of Hutto , had co n

rs s R s n ve ed with Jame e to , one of those con cerned in

1 See the Pre ace to the Min u tes of this Cou rt rin te at l f , p d en gth ’ in the A e n ix to urns itio n pp d B Ed of Wodrow. 2 Min u te oo 2 m 3 7th Se te er. P. W. 2n d Octo r B k, p b , be . 1 Min u te oo 1st Octo er B k, b . THE C N 201 OVE ANTERS OF THE MERSE .

n s rr t n w m a s the i u ec io . He as put in prison fo r so e d y , a n d on ly obtain ed his freedom o n ta kin g the Test an d be comi n g boun d to appear in Edi n burgh when called

fo r n s . Al exa der Hume of Abbey surren dered him elf to a n swer to the cha rge of reset formerly made again st 1 a n d w m r s him, as dismissed o n the sa e te m . A n umber of person s of less note n ow occupied the

n n rui cks l r atte tion of the court. Al exa der C , the mil e

o f r w as ﬁn ed ﬁft s S s fo r a Polwa th, y pound cot le vin g

his a r s r l m n n p i h chu ch, and in defau t of pay e t we t

to r s n r r s t r o p i o . In a little, he ep e ented o thei L rd ships that he w as a poor deaf man who had not

n s w as r w u der tood what said to him, whe eupon he as

s ss n r n The s r d r w as di mi ed u de bo d . ame p oce u e

l s hn a n r r n r fo lowed in the ca e of Jo Bl ck, u de ga de e at

Bla cka er Al r s Green ri dd , and of exande Dod , in the g

n n t of Swi to , the ﬁrs of whom made faith he had

n n r N n othi g but the agged clothes on his back . othi g

r m s c r s so e could be got f o u h poor creatu e , they wer A w ill m isc r . n s a h d ha ged g e D lgleis , the ife of W ia

a o r a r rai walls in r s Bl ck Cl k in C g , the pa i h of Edrom, w as n ot s r n u o fo tu ate, though she told the co rt her

an ha n ﬁ a r an d was husb d d bee twice n ed l eady, very

he w a s to ﬁn e ﬁft n s S o ts poor . S held a of y pou d c , 1 n r s an d cast i to p ison till it should be paid. I obel

1 u oo 2 th Se te m er Min te B k, 7 p b . 2 o e time sin ce when alt i n ere in ro r s u n th S m , erat o s w p g es po e buildin gs which o ccu py the site o f the Tolbooth a stran ge discovery

ma e . Three cells a eare su n in the ro un an d uilt li e was d pp d , k g d b k s bu t set close to ether f diam t r On of th well , g an d o small e e . e em had its massive sta le fix ed in e w ll wai -hi h thro u h still p th a st g , g which a chain might be passe d for the purpose of confining a riso n er in tha t ismal lace This iro n is n o w in the ossefi on of p d p . p Mr eor e o rtu n e un s wh u rn ishes m with these articulars G g F , D , o f e p , havin g been himself in charge of the works when the celh were o f u n d . 202 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

s r f ohn Ell n e r All n in w Fi he , wi e of J o o a Corabie, as

ﬁn ed n n s h r n twe ty pou d , but e husba d paid that su m

s her r m r s n so he w a to ave f o p i o , s s set at liberty 1 r n fo r h r unde a bo d good be aviou .

M r n r the s s Mrs ean H o e otable we e ca e of J ome, Lady ” “ ” St n r s a n n n Leo a d , d of Lady Basse dea . Lady St Leona rds w as foun d to be livin g in a mean con dition

n o t r n n s of h with mo e tha forty pou d jointure, while er son w as r n he m th bu de ed with debt. S ca e un der e usual

a n an d s n her Mr Al an c utio , thu obtai ed liberty . ex der

r w Tho rn dikes a m n his B o n of y bec e bou d for relative,

d ss an she s r n La y Ba en de , that hould appea whe called fo r sm In s w as i ss . s , o this cas e also d i ed a omewhat s r w a i i hirrila w o r Shillin law n imila y W ll am S g , te ant in his r H a n r n l . e Ch pel o Leade , obtai ed ibe ty had

n n r r bee imprison ed in Dun s Tolboo th, u de a cha ge of r s n an r r n r m o e etti g Alex de B ow , a fugitive f o the B thwell

n s rr n am s r a r r s n e t i u ectio . J e Pete of Ch pel ep e e t d o

u r a r w n l Birken sid h the co t th t B o , who ived in e, a d been rela xed before Shillin glaw had an ythin g to do

him s r s r w a s t r n with , o the p i one s e f ee whe he had come under an obligation of eleven hun dred merks to

m r al r r w n ac n fo . R r rn co pea whe c led obe t B o of Bl kbu ,

H H n an d a m s H m Falside r ume of ou dwood, J e u e of we e m s n n r r a r . T um o ed, but o ly the two fo me compe ed hey offered proof that their ﬁn es fo r non con formity were 11 r n r s s r . paid, whe eupo the Lo d di cha ged them The on ly in du lged min ister within these bounds at

s w as Mr a me c r N n n thi time J s Flet he of e thor . In

n c to r r rs er r obedie e thei o de , which w e ve y exact on this

d r c him a n am n hea , the Cou t alled up d ex i ed him . Hi s

n s rs r n o t r m n so a we we e to thei i d, they to ok his licen ce

1 Min u te o o 3oth Se tem er an d l st O r B k, p b cto be . 2 Min u te o o 2n d an d rd B k, 3 Oct.

204 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

the exposed a n d fatiguin g journey thither from the She r m a r s n n r r she r s . e ote p i h of Cha elki k, whe e e ided n ow appea red w ith a certiﬁcate that she had been

n t r an wa s ss d n r u able o t avel, d s di mi e u de a bond for

her r h r 1 orde ly be aviou . On e of the greatest severities used by this Court

r in r n Riselaw in appea ed the case of Alexander Ma ti of ,

H w m ss r r f the parish of Fogo. e as the Com i a y Cle k o

r an d c n to his en t Laude , , ac ordi g libel, had be guil y of

s n s fo r ﬁn f m n n an d teppi g decreet es, o co pou di g

n n r sts an d s c n tran sacti g with No con fo mi , thu ou

He r a s his te n an cin g irregu larities. had p ob bly u ed position in a way which sympathy an d human ity

s ss d s e r n s i toward the oppre e Pre byt ia d ctated to him, an d the gravity of his pun is hmen t is a n other reason fo r h w a s n . e as in thin king th t thi ad bee the case H , fact,

n s n r s r s ﬁn ed eightee thou a d me k , cha ged be ides with

n ses w n ra w ll n the expe of it esses, at the te of t enty shi i gs a day fo r the horsemen a n d half as much fo r those w ho

n a n d w as in s came o foot, put pri on till his ﬁn e should 11 r m s s r se n n n be paid . F o thi eve e te ce he obtai ed n o

s n r r s n e n remi sio , though he ep e e t d that it mea t his 3 r n a w n r r in c s an d utte ruin ; y, the court e t fu the the a e, accused others of bein g art an d part with Martin in the

a a r T a crime with which he w s ch ged. hom s Davidson ’ m an d am Ha n r ff s in Hu e, Willi rdy in Gordo , the She i

s n r s to c r messe n gers e t to cite pa tie the ou t, sto od charged with havin g tampered with their in struction s

w a T r w in the sa me y. hey we e thro n in to Dun s

n the 3 rd O to er a Tolboo th o of c b , and two d ys later an order came to Lord Home desirin g he would sen d them to Jedbu rgh fo r pu ni shmen t. To this his Lordship

1 t oo of ourt 11th Oct. Min u e B k C , 2 2 u te oo 15th Oct. 1M 1 th t Min B k, , 7 Oc . THE CO NANT RS OF E 205 VE E TH MERS E .

replied in te rms which seem to discover a scen e of

s a n d r s o r r rs a n everity, pe hap of t tu e, wo e than y we a s r h ve yet noticed in the e p oceedin gs. An d whereas the Earl w as appoin ted to sen d the sheriff o fﬁce rs to

edbu r h if r a J g they recove ed, n d if they recovered not to put them out of their o fﬁces an d punish them

m aril a r a a exe pl y, the E l h th lready deprived them of

r office s an d h are n o t r c r d an d so thei , t ey yet e ove e , soon as they recover he shall in fli ct such pun ishmen t upon them a s the Lo rds of Privy Coun cil shall thin k fi ” 1 t. The r a s n Ge r r cou t l o fou d that o ge Ogilvy, cle k to a r M r m n n n the L i d of eld u , had bee guilty of compou di g with the whole of the Noncon formists in the pa rish of

Sm lm m had ran n r ailho , to who he g ted a ge e al dis 11 3 r Thi a w a r r i ti . s r s d n r eten s cha ge p pe o e ed to be kept , but there is n o account of an y sen ten ce bein g passed o n

O t r a in ﬂu en ce his gilvy because of i . P ob bly the of ma s r w m r m a rm te as en ough to protect hi f o h . Mr John Veitch of Westruther had been cited to

m His n s m n n sw r to s m n s. s n Du , but ade o a e that u o o

r r h a Geo ge n o w appea red fo r him a t Jedbu g , n d obtain ed

sc a r r s n n ﬁv a di h ge of the p oces , by givi g a bo d of e thousan d merks tha t his father would compear when he 4 f r might be called o .

s ms a in n s r r to s m n It ee th t, a we p obably ome co plai t rega rdin g fugitives who had crossed the border in to

n n n c r n r s E gla d, the Cou il had w itte to the autho itie of

in Th that kin gdom requestin g their help the matter . e Lord Advocate sen t to the Commission ers of the circuit court a duplicate warran t he had received from the

1 W 4 Su lemen tar Port olio . P . 168 . , , pp y f 2 u o o n d ct Min te B k, 2 O . 3 M 1 i P . 13th a 168 . Ex tat n .W , y 4 in u oo l oth Oct. M te B k, 206 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

s to all oﬁ cers Chief Ju stice of En gland, addre sed the

es rin be n in s r n fo r there, d i g them to dilige t ea chi g 1 Scots rebels within the boun ds of their jurisdiction . On e can n ot help remarkin g that this foun ta in of justice

' ﬁ s n t n e as was n o other than the in fa mous Je rie , o i de d

r t r fo r yet kn own in the full barba rity of his cha ac e , the m Western Circuit of n ext year w as yet to co e, but already Spoken of as o n e whose impuden t an d cruel perversion of justice might be relied on when ever the

n w as s man as Ki g had need of a victim . It with uch a this that the Coun cil of Scotlan d were now in corr e

S n den c an d n r r rts w a s po e, i deed the p ocedu e of both cou

' a her eﬂ ries but too n early alike fo r if En gla n d h d J , Scotla n d shewed in the person of Sir George Macken zie o n e who with perhaps more polish of ma n n er sought n o less ea gerly to stretch the law to the uttermost against w ’ those hom be rega rded as the Kin g s en emies. The agen da written by Forbes to prepa re fo r each ’ day s proceedi n gs of the circu it presen t u s with some in terestin g matters which a re wan tin g in the Min utes 2 r T s a ear a n n r w a s m of Cou t . hu it pp s that e qui y ade what prison ers belon gin g to Berwickshire then la y in

T n r h n a n o n ate an d in the olbooths of Edi bu g a d the C g ,

r t c ar re a r n r H m a r in s w h pa i ul g di g Geo ge o e, feu Dun , o h r Ar r an d ad gon e to live in the capital. Ge o ge che

m s e ha s ﬂ ed bu t n t s m r Ja e Wedd ll d al o , i o o e fo eign

n r a r a a n d n a n cou t y, while M g re t Agn es Watso , d Robert

R r s n w r a n n r w h icha d o , e e gon e to En gl d . A othe o had taken the same mean s of escapin g trouble w as Al exa n der

r in a r Guth ie, the p rish of Edrom an d Geo ge Allan in

o n i w as s n to r m s Paxt ( ) al o fou d be a fugitive f o ju tice .

1 Min ute o 1 . P W c h o 3th Oct see also . . O t. 9t an d P A B k, ; , , . . ,

3 rd Dec. 2 To be un in P W. u l fo d . S pp .

E R 2B THE COVENANTERS OF TH ME S E .

Such severity seems to have provoked a n o t n u natural resistance o n the part of those w ho witn essed

r u 24t c r— c r u and suffe ed it. O the h of O tobe the i c it “ n s i s— r r s n n r the itt ng at Peeble thei Lo dship , upo i fo ma ' ” n disaﬁectio n u r r s r n n th tio of , tho ght p ope to t e gthe e

n d H m in r hir T r n ha ds of Lor u e Be wicks e. hey acco di gly

mm ss n a n A n r r 1 a n d his r co i io ed C ptai lexa de B uce, t oo p to proceed thither a n d search fo r those cited but n o t c m ea r n u s an arr m T o p i g at D n , d c y the to the olbo o th in r is n Edin bu gh . In the l t which accompa ied this

m n r n s f m s T rn r ﬁ Com issio appea ed the ame o Ja e u e , she r in Dr r h ohn r n s m r an ybu g J Lea mo th, hoe ake , d Jo hn

Shillin law a r an d t n n in a r s n an g , t ilo e a t, both E l to ; d

Mr Sm i h m r s William Elliot in a l ol C aig . This Mr Elliot had been settled as min ister of Yarrow in In a r 1662 was con ﬁn 1641 . the f tal yea , , he ed to his

a r s n n r s p i h, bei g beyo d the each of the Gla gow act, an d

n n e to r r in 1 eve received lice c p each the e 679 , but seems to have lost that in dulgen ce abo ut the time of which we ar w s a n w n s rm n e n o pe ki g, he o dete i ed a n attempt w as made to get rid of all those Presbyteria n ministers who s n ﬂiciate in r ar till co tin ued to o a egul way. The laird o f a s c r fo r to a a n r Ch tto gave e u ity Elliot C pt i B uce,

t fﬁcer u r r n which tha o d ly epo ted to the Cou cil, addin g

a a s s w as an a man an d in ﬁ rm th t, thi but ged , , their

o r s s m s s ss him w ﬁn L d hip ight be plea ed to di mi ith a e , which he thou ght the minister w ould pa y witho ut difﬁcu lt s a r a n n n c l y to e c pe furthe oya e. E liot in fact

a r a t r wa r s d s - an died about yea f e d , age ixty eight, d n o doubt worn out before his time by the hardships to

n which he had bee subjected. As to the others we have

1 This see ms to be the same so ldier who was guilty of a barbaro us mu r er in the ﬁelds n ex t ear the sufferer on that o ccasi d y , on bein g

m irho in the rish of eir . a es a See W . l. vo iv. J K , p K , , p. 251 . THE CO NANT F H 209 VE ERS O T E MERS E . n oticed Captain Bru ce foun d that L ea rmo n t a n d Shill in law ha d a r n s s n to H as g l eady give ati factio Lord ume, ’ the min iste r of the parish testiﬁed in L ea rmo n t s case at 1 s an d a T rn r n w t n r r lea t, th t u e o at e ded chu ch egularly. The mean s so carefully ta ken for the ca pture of

u s n ow r r n n s n f gitive led to furthe app ehe sio . O the 12th of No vember the Coun cil had before them

G r T rn a r s n r r m rw eo ge u bull, p i o e f o Be ick . They posed ’ him ocieties a er 28 h with the S p p of October t , but he dis w n it ar n s s a o ed , decl i g be ide th t the in surrection at

w as r lli n a n a a ss ss n n Bothwell ebe o , d th t the a i atio of

Ar s w as r r a n d a r s n in r s the chbi hop mu de , th t all i i g a m a n s n w as n a da s gai t the Ki g u l wfu l . Next y the ame

r r w as in a m sto n p ocedu e followed the case of J es Re ,

r in H n an m s n r in elde utto , d Ja e Reston , you ge Whit

m T s r s r r n r e so e. he e p i on e s we e already den ou ced eb ls in r o n r n t e r the fugitive oll, which g ou d h ci cuit court had formerly proceeded again st Hu me an d The Bow ma f r n r r n kers o holding co ve se with the youn ge Resto , who seems in deed to ha ve been actually in arms at

w a r an d so n s n s Both ell . Both f the ig ed the ame formu la of a bjuration which ha d been presen te d to

rn i diff ren r s l The r m n an d Tu bull, but w th e t e u t. t e bli g disordered sign a ture of the elder Reston suggests the

r in his as a n d w a s r m e u se of tortu e c e, he e itt d to

w his so n w as rn r to m r s prison , hile tu ed ove the e cie of

iar him s in n the Ju stic y, who kept some week custo dy o

had n rr s e in n n the pretext that he bee a e t d E gla d, a

' l n u d e eﬁries an d fru it of the di ige ce of J g J , obliged him to take the Test twice over before they would set 2 him at liberty.

In n n s r n r r in s expla atio of the e ext aordi a y p oceed g ,

1 ’ P W . 1684 Su l. Portf. See also tt s . co , , pp S Fasti. 2 P W . Su l an d . R. 1 th Nov an d 2n d Dec . , pp , J 7 . . 0 21 0 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

we must remark that it had been decided to count ’ adheren ce to the Societies declaration an eviden ce o f

r i n a n to t a ebell o , d pun ish with exile o the Plan t tion s all who should refuse to agree with the views of the Go vern men t regardin g Bothwell an d the death o f 1 ar T n w m to be ot S . s s n o n h p hu the que tio ca e , what a man had don e but what he thought ; the prin ciples o f

s n r s r n r a d a r s n rs a ou d ju i p ude ce we e d ily violate , s p i o e

stiﬁe fo r o r a n r te d gai st themselves, a n d we e absolve d

o r c n n r in en r f h r r ss n o dem ed acco d g to the t o o t ei p ofe io , while this in q uisitorial procedure w as con ducted by the

r u r s w m n s rs to r m m e r aid of to t e hich the i d hudde e e b . The boot a n d the thumbscrew were the usual mean s o f obtain in g eviden ce from obstin ate Co ven an ters in the

u n c m r s as c w a m co il cha be , ju t the mat h s e ployed in the ﬁeld accordin g to the r ough a n d ready ferocity o f

cr s r T ma r a uel oldie y. o ke su e that this last mea n s of compulsion shou ld n o t be wa n tin g in o u r district the Lords of Cou n cil recommen de d to Gen era l Dalziel a n arran gemen t fo r the quarteri n g of o n e half of the Life

u a r s in s r s T vi al r G d the hi e of e o td e, Selki k an d 2 r Berwick . If o u Coven an ters had n ot bee n susta in ed

in e r a fﬂictio n b n s n rs an d th i y u ee powe , by the p re sen ce of Go d Himself w ith the m in tha t furn a ce a n d

a r h m n o w a n all fo r l s fe , t ey ight h ve give up o t. That they did n o t do so must ever be rega rded as o n e o f the most sign al in sta n ces of protectin g an d susta in in g

r g ace .

2 P W l th ecem er . 0 D b .

212 THE CO NANT RS F VE E O THE MERS E .

n r n n r s an d e te tai i g ebel , the Cou n cil ﬁn ed him six 1 n n s s e rl n T r m thousa d pou d t i g . h ee on ths late r he had

n da s m r v a n m s evide tly but a few y o e to li e, d that u t ever be regarded as o n e of the most in iquitous proceed ings of the time which in stru cted the Lo rd Advoca te to

u s li s n man r u sticiar p r ue the fe of thi dyi g befo e the J y . Several circumsta n ces of addition al severity made the trial a still more remarkable in sta n ce of malicious

n o n e w a s a l w persecution . O ly day l o ed Jerviswoo d to

his n s n s a n a w prepare defe ce , i te d of a fort ight s a s

s a an d a s l n u ra u u l, two of the l wyer he wou d at lly have retain ed to plea d fo r him were associate d with the

r w n so m n o case fo r the C o , that he ight t have the

r s The G rn m n r be n eﬁt of thei coun el . ove e t fea ed tha t death would sn atch their expecte d victim out of their

n s an d so k s s m r n r a ha d , li ely did thi ee du i g the t i l, ’ at n s n e n c w a s r n n r s n r th whe e t e p o ou ced, the p i o e s ’ execution w a s ﬁx ed fo r tha t very da y at two o clock

rn n visw a e . er oo d sat n e at a in the ft oo J , i de d, the b r

his n n n a s a n r in bedgow , bei g u ble to t d th ough

n ss an d w as a n b his s s er a weak e , tte ded y i t , the L dy

a n s him c r a s r m m Gr de , who upplied with o di l f o ti e to

He ea r the s eec the r A v a e w time . h d p h of Lo d d oc t ith

n s a s n shm n a n d ra n a r man y sig of to i e t, c vi g le ve f om

s a rn r s n t the Presiden t to pe k, he tu ed p e e tly o Sir

a c n z an d sa M r n George M ke ie id, y Lo d, I thi k it very stra n ge that you should cha rge me with such abomin able thin gs you ma y remember that when you

me in r s n o u me s n s came to p i o , y told uch thi g wer e

m c ar e a n o t e m laid to y h g , but th t you did beli ve the .

n m r m la s c s a n How the , y Lo d, co e you to y u h a t i upon me with so much violen ce ? Are yo u n o w co n vin ced in your con scien ce that I am more guilty tha n 1 W . H M 213 THE COVENANTERS OF T E ERS E .

before ? You may remember wha t pa ssed between u s ” in r s n n o n s n r A p i o . With little co fu io the Lo d dvocate, upon whom the eyes of the whole court were n ow

ﬁx ed r e r visw o o d ow n a sa . , eplied J , I wh t you y

M r r a r ma n y thoughts the e we e s a p ivate , but what

sa r is i c n r n I y he e by special d re tio of the P ivy Cou cil, ” ” a s 1 l ervisw o o d r W s . r the cle k ill te tify Well, ep ied J , If your Lordship have o n e con scien ce fo r yourself

a n d n r fo r n c r Go d r a othe the Cou il, I p ay fo give you ; ” T s n e the r a s m n his m I do . hu died o of g e te t e of ti e, . a n d in a w a y which provoked Bishop Burn et to

r m r ha s s s r ss s to a e a k, t t the tep of thi p oce eemed h ve been ordered by o n e who w as very exactly practised

n m s n n i the ethod of the I quisitio itself. An other Presbyteria n who had been con cern ed in

r n s n s an in n r s f the Ca oli a bu i es , d the i t igue o the

n lis r cc m n it w ir r E g h pa ty which a o pa ied , as S Pat ick

H m w r Th r r u e of Pol a th . e day befo e the Ci cuit Court

mm n its s s in n s l m Ha s co e ced itting Du , Wi lia tie the

m ss n s r Redbr s as an d e e ger ought Polwa th at ae C tle, ” ﬁn din him r m m his s m n s a t s . g f o ho e, left um o the hou e It seems that a search party w a s then sen t to

a T a e r r r n him. in s pp ehe d hey f il d thei pu po e, but ’ ﬁn din n w a r ir a r s s son o g you g Pol th, S P t ick elde t , t ok

him r s n r in r a s s o r p i o e to Ed bu gh a ho tage f his father .

The bo c n n in ris n 1 r y o ti ued p o till the 3 th of Decembe , w he n he w a s set free un der a bon d of ﬁve thousan d 3 n s r e bu r h s n . pou d , which Lo d J d g ig ed

1 This was Sir illiam Paterso n whose lo o se life was the ec W , su bj t o f scu rrilou s es a th ver o u n il Se e h re f j ts t e y C c table . t e verse o a cer tiﬁcate reserve in the series o f the u n cil w r d p d Co a ran ts, an 2n d r It was th f dated Jan u a y 1685 . at e han ds o men like these hat o ur n o lest Sectamen su ffere he l t b d t ex tremity o f in iquito us aws . 2 W. 4 h e m e r 1 4. P . 2 t S te 68 , p b 2 P . W . e m n o w a o or aﬁlicted o u n bo wan in h I p y g y, t g a fat er to care fo r me please to set me at liberty to co mfort my mother. 214 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

The Lords of Circuit put themselves in commu n ica tion w ith the Go vern or of Ber wick to see if he ha d an n rm His r y i fo ation regardin g this fugitive . eply is n r in r a e O r e te ed the Min ute of Cou t, d t d ctobe

1 1th edbu r h n r , at J g , be in g to the effect that he u de

s w a r h n a a n d tood Pol th ad o t yet esc ped, that the min iste r of that parish could proba bly give some

n o f his m Holiw ell fo r accou t ovemen ts. Mr Ge orge , ’ s w as m n st r s n m r r uch the i i e a e, appea ed befo e the ’ court a n d den ied all kn owledge of the la ird s hiding

s in place. We ha ve every reason to thin k he poke

o w a r ha d r r go d faith, but the fact w as that Pol th eti ed

to r i an d s la a efuge n his fa mily burial va ult, thu y almost immediate ly below the pulpit where Ho liw ell

r c v r a a n n fo r m n p ea hed e e y S bb th . Here he co ti ued a y

s a m s n e r week , havin g the u se of a bed which J e Wi t ,

ru s n r a mi u an d ssin the t ty joi e of the f ly, put p, pa g much of his time in tha t tedious an d gloomy co n ﬁn e ’ m n b r sa ms His e t y epeatin g Bu cha n an s La tin P l . hardships a n d a n x ieties w ere much lighten ed by the ff T a ection ate ca re of his eldest da ughte r Grizzel . his

n c mm n fo r sh w as et rs u o o child, e y but twelve yea old, played the chief part in a ll tha t w as don e fo r he r ’ r s c m r a n d n u n r his s r fathe o fo t, eve de took at de i e a

rn T f n r she m jou ey to the olbooth o Edi bu gh, that ight

con vey a messa ge from him to Jerviswoo d. It w as in

a sh ﬁrs s w r s n d r this way th t e t a her futu e hu ba , Geo ge ’ e rvisw st so n m she t r Baillie, J ood s elde , by who af e

r s ca m n c s r ss Mellerstain wa d be e the a e t e of the family, whose late r gen era tion s ha ve su cceedet o the Earldom f 1 o Haddin gto n .

' ’ 1 These m'ticulars are erive rom a Murra s n arrativ p d d f L dy y e, an d the same so u rce may supply n a with the famou s sto ry o f the ’ sheep s head in its most au then tic fo rm There was also difﬁcu lty

216 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

r r n r r sa get eady fo r the oad. Whe the pa ty we e fe

in rs an d s r cas - es with doo , bu y with the g eat e bottl which Haliburto n w as ca reful to set down befo re

m r s a n d n fo r rs the , thei host lipped out, calli g the ho e,

hi cc r n m w h his n r w ch, a o di g to the agree en t it eighbou ,

r n he kept con stan tly saddled for such a n eme ge cy, he ’ sen t o n e of his servan ts to Polw arth s house as hard a s l t h he cou d ride. Before the soldiers had well lef t eir

a m n r r r s a r c rouse, the esse ge eached Redb ae , the fe the , fo r this it w as which Haliburto n had given the ma n

rr an n ﬂ tte re u t the to ca y in e velope of paper, u d o on air as n an d a d to a sign al to be go e, Polw rth prepare 1 ﬂee fo r his n st life. Whe n ight fell he epped out by a s n o f his u s o table win dow to escape the otice ho eh ld, a n r r d rode straight fo r the Bo de . Mean while the party from Halybu rto n rea ched Red

T r r n ﬁn r ﬂown . ss o n his b aes, o ly to d the bi d hey p e ed

r c a n d r r r n v t a k ove took a solita y ho sema , who pro ed, ’ r w T o hn Alla n P l a rth s st w d . howeve , to be J , o e ar his man s a r e n to r t his m s er had t t d, i deed, ide wi h a t , but in the gatherin g gloom of tha t December night they had s ar e a n n n n ep at d, d, u k ow to each other, had taken

ff r r s m t a n o n r di e en t oad . They e ag i the othe side o f

T an d a n f a r weed, gave th ks to God o r g ea t deliver

n a s Alla n r a ce, told how the t oopers had sto pped a n d

s n him r wa que tio ed , how fea ful he s till he missed hi s

e a n d h w ha n to v mast r, o he d bee able di ert their suspicion s by sayin g he was o n his way to do business 1 r a r at Mo peth F i .

1 Tra ition re or te to the au thor b an old sh h d p d y ep erd . It will ’ also be o u n in Sco tt s Woo dsto c Note f d G. 2 There is a tradition that u o n o n e o ccasion when ir , p , S Patrick Ho me o f Po lwarth (afterwards created Earl o f Marchmon t) was o li e to ﬂe e Redbraes House n o w calle Marchmon t b g d , d , he crossed THE C 21 OVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . 7

Travellin g by quiet coun try roa ds in the character of

s r n w c ha d m s i s r w a u geo , hi h he a ple k ll to uppo t, Pol arth

a m n n n an sa t r of c e at le gth to Lo do , d iled o the po t

r T n c w s Bou deaux . he e he made his a y o n foot acros

ran c an d n e r L o w n r s r his F e, e t ed the Cou t ie , whe e wife

an d ami r s n n him T set s f ly p e e tly joi ed . hey up hou e

in the r n r n a n s n city of Ut echt, livi g ve y quietly o pe io

of £150 ar w m a e a ye allo ed the from their est t , which had been forfeite d to the Crow n an d bestowed on Lord

S r T eafo th . he lan ds of Mellerstain were dealt with

in s m w a an hn Tr r w as a n the a e y, d Jo otte ppoi ted

c a m r a n s a s h be l i to these two estate . A year afterw rd this Commission er ha d reason to en ter a compla in t before the Coun cil of oppressive exaction s on the part

r H m ﬁn es a r n an of Lo d u e by double , qu teri g o f troops d

l s r Th u r rr a the ike eve ities. e Co ncil efe ed the m tter to

the cou n tr . a little a o ve Green law where he m h man of y b , et wit a the n ame of Bro o mﬁeld the miller of re nlaw mill who was , G e ,

re airin a sla in the mill cau l. Sir Patric a ressin him b p g p k, dd g y the o ccu ation in which he was en e la have o u an p gag d, said, S p, y y mon ey 2 upo n which Broomﬁeld su pplied him with what was co n sidered n ecess r for his resen t ex i en ir Patric was o li e a y p g cy. S k b g d a o u t this time to o over to Hollan an d when he came ac with b g d, b k

Kin illiam did n o t o r et his o rmer n e acto r . It is n ot n o wn g W , f g f be f k what retu rn h ma e him bu t the amil were se ttle in a ree ho u se e d , f y d f on t liv re tain e the n am o f la The so l g as hey e d, an d always d e S p. last o f the amil i o u t o ur teen ears a o an d re u en t f y d ed ab f y g , f q ” n Re f B ro mﬁ ld f la men tio n is made in the Kirk Sessio co rds o o e o S p . h ri h A further evelo men t of (Ne w Statistical Acco u n t of t e Pa s ). d p the legen d asserts that there were two men who built u p the ' baron et u l hat the were clo sin u n til his u rsu ers assed b in a do b e dyke t y g p p y. ” B eild in re nlaw calle of the Slo e is an en tr in Ro bert runf G e , d p , y the a tismal Re is er o f r o n Parish at the 2oth Se tem er B p g t Go d , p b 1668 which is su fﬁcien t to is o se of this stor alto ether at le , d p y g , ast

in the a ove o rm. If Bro o mﬁeld was a Covenan ter ho wever b f , , an d if Sir Patric met him as he sto r sa s he woul n aturall ca ll k t y y , d y him la ro m the n ame of his lan s an d this cir m e h S p f d , cu stan c may ave su ggested the in ven tio n o f the o ther details to some on e who did n ot tan wh the e was u s u n ders d y nam ed . 218 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

Hu m h ms r m c ho w Lord e i elf, f o whi h we may judge m 1 uch redress the complain ers were likely to get. The ea rly pa rt o f the yea r 1685 w as rema rkable fo r

a a n f r c ss n to the de th of the Kin g, d o the a ce io the thron e of that n ota ble persecutor of the Presbyter ian s

t n n a la ely k ow s the Duke of York. As might have

n t s n G rn m n w as l to bee expec ed, thi cha ge of ove e t ittle

a va n ta a a r an d n e w as s o res the d ge of th t p ty, c e of pp

s ma n o ion a ppea red every da y. Amon g these we y tice

a am s R s n r in H n be n th t of J e e to , elde , utto , who had e co n ﬁn ed as it w ould a ppear ever sin ce he stoo d before

n the l 6th of ru a r the Coun cil i No vember . Ou Feb y the committee appoin ted to con sider the case of the prison ers reported con cern in g him as follow s James

R s n in H n er o r n r d r e e to alto , h it , fugitive, u elaxe , emitt d ” to r s n H r s ems to n n ll p i o . e e he e have co ti ued ti the 3 8 Ma 1 8 The r u stice r a n d o r th of y 6 6. Lo d J Cle k L d

as e n ami r s n r a n d n C tl hill the ex n ed the p i o e s, fo u d James Reston a n old ma n of sixty-n in e who had been

Ou appre hen de d fo r bein g in the Fugitive Roll . be in g

m n e n r a n n sum n a n exa i d, he de ied eve h vi g bee mo ed to y

u rt w n n ra f r him c a co , o ed the Ki g, p yed o , de l red he thought the ta kin g of a rms a gain st His Majesty w as

a w n r n so mse n o r s un l ful ; had eve do e hi lf, would do uch

He a s assu r c r had s rn a thin g. l o ed the le k that he wo the Oath of Allegia n ce both a t his ﬁrst a ppearan ce before the Cou n cil a n d also w hen exa min ed by the

r a r 5 The r s n r s n committee in Feb u y 168 . p i o e ig ed this deposition in a much ﬁrmer ha n d than that which he w as a ble to comman d a fter the Coun cil ha d their ﬁ rst

n w t him t r r fo r his r n w deali g i h , ye the o de libe atio as

n o t ass t 1 Ma n he w as r p ed ill the 3 th of y, whe equired

1 W P W e m er 1 1 an r 1 . . 0 u 26 685 ce 685 . J a y , , D b , 2 W 3 P W . . .

220 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

Lord Grey givin g him a warran t to the steward o f his Northumberlan d estates fo r the raisin g of the ten an try

r His r in w a a m n n an d the e . exe tion s this y bec e k ow ,

r rs r s n in n n d an d to o r o de we e e t to Stru thers E gla , L d

n an d M r m w h r r s in Lothia to eld u , o lay with thei fo ce

Teviotdale s n r s s f , to cour the cou t y o n both ide o the

r r in s r a n r man T bo de ea ch of this d ge ous . o escape

rs r r f r r pu uit Veitch eti ed to the wilds o Ca te Fell, where the kin dn ess of a go od frien d of the cause

T m s S m r n t Ma r s ho a teel, cha be lai o the qui of Do uglas

in r s— h r him these pa t ad p ovided with a refuge . This

w a r n n n n r a s a tu f hut, cu i gly co t ived to esc pe obser va

n set in a i an d tio , though the f ce of the h ll, here the fugitive lay while the en emy passed like a hun tin g

r an e w him a m his a pa ty above d b lo . Wh t ade situ tion more dan gerous w as tha t the pursuers availed them

s s s of n r n as in r elve of the dog the cou t y, the , fo mer

m m f r i s ti es, fa ous o r thei sk ll in tracin g fugitive , but

his a r n s n r a though pp ehe io s were very g e t, yet all the

r n s a r s n o n a rr n r in n exe tio of the p ty e t th t e a d we e vai , 1 a n d to r rn r e r they had etu without thei expect d p ey . ’ The defeat of Argyll s expedition resulte d in n e w severities to those who had been chieﬂy con cerned in it r n in its 4oth . Pa liame t Act published an other

r t r a a n s a r T r a n d fo fei u e g i t Polw th, o woodlee, Je rvis

r u n a r i wood . Death o vol t y ex le had put these men

n r a law a s r r r rs n s beyo d the e ch of the ega ded thei pe o , but the Go vern men t took ren ew ed possession o f their ’ s s a n d a n a r n Polw a rth s son w h w e tate , gai pp ehe ded , o as 11 n m r e r n s m o ce o e h ld to a a o . It shou ld also be men tion ed that a price of eighteen thousa n d merks had ’ 11 n set n v s a ds a n d a ass n n bee upo the fugiti e he , th t B e dea ,

1 2 V . . 148 149 . 18th Au . £500sterlin , pp , g , g, W . 3 24th u n e J , W. TH 221 E COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

w as a s n rn in n w as who l o co ce ed the late expeditio , r err i ia fo r r l 1 in hi ef ed to the Ju st c ry court t ia , but s cas r s ms as r n o r of e p oof ee to have failed, we hea mo e him a t s m an d w n r r s c m r thi ti e, he he afte wa d o pea ed before their Lordships it w as o n a differen t charge

r altogethe . No attempt seems to have been made to con ﬁn e the severity of the Govern men t to those who had a ctu ally ta n a r in n s rr n a n d r r s r ke p t the i u ectio , the e we e eve al min isters who suffered fo r their con n ection with the

r s er a n On e o f s w as Mr H P e byt i party . the e enry

rs n H ha d n o t n tw o rs in his E ki e . e bee above yea r r a a r n n an n a n r et e t t Park idge, whe , upo i vit tio f om

ra r s n c m o n a r Philip G y of P e to , he a e to live th t p o

m r an an d r n s n his a m perty in Northu be l d, , t a porti g f ily

as w r his r s n a c M n e t a d, took up e ide ce at a pl e called o i

hi ﬁrst c a r rn h a fa r r m s . l ws, n o t f o h ge at Co ill He w r in u l 1685 w n r r as livin g he e J y , he eight t oope s of

M l a r s n r rr n him ﬁrs the i iti took him p i o e , ca yi g the t

r a il an d n to Fo wberr r n ight to Woole J the y, whe e

rs la M a n h s rs Colon el Stru the y. e w ile the oldie had

r Mr so a n r n w app ehen ded Luke Ogle, th t whe E ski e as

r a c r m Fo wberr er n b ought b k f o y, to Wool , he fou d his

r n ha d c m his w - r s n r On 4 h old f ie d be o e fello p i o e . the t of July they tra velled un der a gu a rd of n in e troopers

a m an d n in a r to Eglin gh , the ce day o two more to

a s rs n su ff r n r f m Newc tle, E ki e e i g c uelly ro sickn ess, w hich w as n o doubt brought o n by the an xiety of his a pprehen sion actin g o n a con stitution n ow for

a r r n a n in ﬁrm H man y ye s b oke d . e lay in a private house fo r a fortn ight till his health reco vered some w a an d n r n ed O in r s n th 22 h t, the ejoi gle p i o till e n d

m n n o r s n s of the o th, whe b th p i o er obtained their

1 Parlt l h u . , 6t J n e . 222 THE C N OVE ANTERS OF THE MERSE .

r n d r n s Act o f n mn as h libe ty u e the E gli h I de ity, t ey l r s s r s n in m we e ubject e ide t that kin gdo . Mr John Veitch o f Westruther w as another w ho

s ff e s m a n m c m e rel u er d at the ame ti e, d u h ore sev y, the atten tion o f the Govern men t bein g pro ba bly ’ directed to him on accoun t of his brother s well ’ n n n r i n H w k ow i te est n Mo mouth s expedition . e as apprehen ded o n the 4th of Septe mbe r by a party riding

u n r mma n ir a m la r n r o f a r de co d of S Ad B i , you ge C 11 b rr o n w a rr n m n r e y, up a a t fro Lord Cha cello Pe rth. They brou ght him to Holyrood gua rd-house the ﬁrst

n a t r la i T f ight, f e which he y n the olbooth o Edin

r in c s co n ﬁn emen t a n d n r e r s i s bu gh, lo e u de gr at ha d h p ,

as w a s a w n r n n o r ﬁr n o r i he llo ed eithe ca dle, e, l berty

see his r n s il 5th a n u a r to f ie d t l the of J y, when he

r s n t a n s r n hi ms as r p e e ed petitio de c ibi g elf you poo r,

in ﬁrm su c n so s an d w a old, ppli a t ickly eak th t his ” is in da n r a n n life ge , d beggi g that he might be

w a a n m a r w n f r allo ed to t ke bo d to co pe he called o ,

o a n his r T s n w as e f s a n d s obt i libe ty . hi petitio r u e d, but the Coun cil ga ve orders to the jailer to a dmit 3 h r en s see him r is m r s n is f i d to f eely. H i p i o men t 4 v m s a o r a te r h w la sted ﬁ e on th lt gether. Sho tly f e as

n e the n c ha d him r to ir a pprehe d d, Cou il b ought the

r a n d x a m n e him w r r to cu e o f ba , e i d ith ega d the 15 h n n d n r Lord Melville, t e pe i g before the Cou ts. This

’ ’ 1 ‘ ' l s ditio n of lh skin e s i e 1 . 135 136. Asse mb y E L f , 846, pp , 2 W .

8 8 . P . Jan . 16 6 . W , 5, 4 mar s tha i ou n tain hall cision s i. re t t was F , in his De ( k , thou ght stran ge o f the Co u n cil to allow Veitch n o other medical ir Ro ert Si ald who had advice in his sickn ess than that of S b bb , m however to have ee n an an cien t tu rn ed Papist. There wou ld se e , , b ’ shi et een as it was to Sibbald s Collection s that frien d p b w them,

r c shire in 1660. See Veitch con tribu ted his acco u n t of Be wi k p . 84. 5 W t 21 an d Oct. 1 1685 . . , Sep . 7,

224 THE OOVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

s m an w as s r e e v o ewhat ru de, d it ob e v d that what er differen ces an d qua rrels ha d occurred durin g the pas t

a r n r ll n r su ﬁ cien t s n in ye , ge e a y fou d thei ettleme t some way o r other a t the football ma tch ; but so wholesome w as this reddin g 4 1p of grievan ces reckon ed that the same respectable person s who tell u s o f the immemorial custom a re ca reful to add that the Sheriff had n ever been in the habit of takin g n otice o f a n y

n a r in s e s riots o r tumults the is g. In pit of thi well un derstood rule a case w as ca rried before the Co un cil

s a r in o hn a n S ff in Ma rch thi ye , which J B i , the heri

c s r c se Al an r M r n o f Clerk of Berwi k hi e, a cu d ex de a ti

w a m a r a his s rva n Risela , an d Willi Edg , l tely e t, and

o hn a s n r in n s an a r a ss J W t o , Dye Du , of gg av ted a ault

a m n sses r co mmitted in the course of the g e. Wit e we e brought to prove that w hile the Sheriff Clerk w as

s a n n c at s s n c r m the s t di g pea eably ome di ta e f o player , Edga r an d Wa tson set o n him at the in stigation o f

a r n a n d a him r n Ma M ti be t to the g oun d, whe rtin

v n a n d o ff his w an d ad a ced pulled peri ig, the others

s r c him a a n l ca m his t u k g i til blood e out of mouth, “ a n him a ra o r to t w n an d r n c lli g t it the o , c yi g, Lay, ” ’ In Ma r n s n r s n him. e lay upo ti defe ce, how ve , que tion s w ere put w hich presen t the matte r in a somewha t

ff s ms ha the arr di eren t light. It ee t t qu el had begun

a mm ssa u r r a s rc at Co i ry Co t, pe h p the Ci uit, held at

s s mm r w n n r Jedbu rgh the previou u e , he Bai t eated

Ma in in r ss ff n s v w a an d n ra n rt a g o ly o e i e y, the to

r ma n n s r a n s him in the cou t, de di g ecu ity gai t , case

s r n he hould take futu e otice of the in sult. Relyin g

n his im n n r s law - rr s o pu ity u de thi deed of bo ow , as it

w as a r a e his s n c lled, he epe t d piteful co duct at the foot ’ a ma in n s s n in M in s a b ll tch Du , by pitti g art f ce, a n action which n o t un n aturally provoked the assault an d THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

e r i f r w n ss s ro batt y n ﬂicte d on him . As o the it e e he p du ced n s em at the Co u cil, it would e he had examined o f them beforehan d by the help of the min ister Dun s.

T s w a l a m r rm n hi s Mr Wil i G ey, so dete i ed a n adheren t o f the Episco pal order that he refused to pra y for

il a m a Ma r n His W li n d y at the Revolutio . eldest son ’ s ms to e n c l a f a n s as a ee have b e a o le gue o B i , he be c me

r R s f r n T s Cle k egi ter of Sasin es o the cou ty. he e matters help a s to un derstan d the part which the min ister

a in so s . w pl yed the case with much pirit It as, indeed, but an other in stan ce of the disadvan tage which Non

n M co formists so much felt at this time. artin had su ffered very severely fo r his past action in favou r of

a n n w w th t party, an d o doubt Bai , ho as attached to

n s w n the prevaili g in tere t, thought that this as a broke m wh c su i n an o ould be in lted with mpu ity. The sou n d chastisement which t ’ ’ Fastern s E en w as n o is on ly to o great reason sen te

a view, n d that Martin would

a Th res ts u s stran wh t he did . e whole p en with a ge

r o f m an d u s s w n t at pictu e the ti e, may be eful in ho i g h

s u n a to r at t n o per ec tio , though c rried a g e heigh , had t,

n s s in eve in the e day , succeeded the Coven an ters o r hindering them with commen dable zeal in defen ce of their

s ff occa ion o ered. CHAPTER V.

what may be regarded as the extreme left — win g o f the Presbyterians those con cern ed ’ ’ A l s an d M s ex in rgy l onmouth pe ditions. — We must n ew survey the extreme right co n sisting of

h e n a w at is commonly call d the Camero ian p rty. These

is n chieﬂ to the s o f Sco la n men, it true, belo ged y We t t d, a n d there it was that most o f their conten dia a had s wi o ur appe red, yet they connection th Bo rders

so o f w e s al do to so al , which h l well take me notice . The rise of the Camero n ian s may be traced to the

u r n ffe s s ss n nfo tu ate e ct of the ucce ive i dulgences, a n d to the acceptan ce which these ensn aring measures met

m s o f r s r s The with fro ome the P e byte ian . Rutherglen r n in s c m Decla atio , which uch o pliance with the state d w as w as clear]y denounce , the ﬁrst con sidera ble

r a T appea rance this new pa ty m de. he Declaration was

n published o n the eve of Bothwell, a d the diss ension s o f that unha ppy camp were due in no small meas ure to the un ben ding spirit which the westlan d men dis

H r H l o f Hau hhead played . en y a l g belonged to the Cameron ia n party : the paper found on him when he wa s killed at Queen sferry con tinuing the testimony n the e which had been begu y ar before. In 1681 these people had alrea dy formed themselves fo r defen ce and

rn m r ociet gove ent into what we e called the S ies. Their

ss i n e so s in 1683 r o f a r s n a ociat o gr w fa t, that Go don E l to , r m e rs o n e of thei chief me b , told the Coun cil that they

THE N NT 228 COVE A ERS OF THE MERSE .

n w as o u r shire. We know at any rate that his atte tion

r in n 1 a called hithe the mo th of July 686, when r range men ts were made fo r the assembling of wha t w as 1 r s s n n in r f an pe hap the la t co ve ticle o u part o Sco tl d. The place chosen fo r this pu rpose w as remote an d

n n r ir n Green cl u ch lo ely, bei g a et ed gle called the e ,

a r B raidshaw Bi am rm r ne g in L me oo . Within half a ’ s l m n r s n mile lay Elliot We l, a i e al pring the as much

' resorted to by the sick as the Moﬁat wate rs were, an d

s ma e r n wh thi y have b en the easo y, both in past — yea rs for it ha d already been customary to hold 1 n n r 1—an d res n s n c co ve ticles he e in the p e t in ta e, this spot

r N t w as the o n e chosen fo such a purpose. o on ly w as

r r s r n s wh it emote f om ob e vatio , but tho e o came there to worship Go d had a rea son to give for their presence in these solitudes if met an d challen ged by the military :

n T a they were goi g to the well . here is, indeed, tra di tion of a family called Aitchiso n in the parish o f Duns w ho took their child to re ceive baptism at o n e o f these

n s s s in rm of re e r meeti g di gui ed the fo a g yb a d. It seems likely that this trick w as but part o f the stratagem we have j u st been suspecting fo r it w as the

s m n m m r rs n s n cu to , withi the e o y of pe o yet livi g, that the shepherds of Lammermoor carried supplies of this m n c in eral water to sick people at a dista e, and visite d the sprin g with bottles fo r this purpose. To prepa re fo r the inten de d meetin g at the Gre en

c s er s a n o f cleu h, Jame Baxt , a mith in the C lto Edin

r r r bu gh, t avelled out on Satu day night to the parishes

r r in n H ha d o f Ba a an d Ga vald East Lothia . e formerly

r an d n n l w as lived the e, k owi g the people wel , a very ﬁt

n to s r n s w as o n perso p ead the ew of what foot. With B ax ter came a youn g man whom he w as heard to call

1 - P u l 2026 an d Se te m er 21 1686. . W. , J y , p b , 2 e r l Por ou s Roll in P 2 th e Se p eamb e to te . W., o S ptember 1684. 229 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

” an d w h s r hims to s n William, o oon p oved elf be a per o

o f s m r n r s T s o e pa ts an d conseque ce to the enterp i e . he e two messen gers carried with them to the southward ’ n e w r m n e man r r Joh St a t, the i ist r s f om Ba a, and John

n s r r s Brow , e van t to the farmer of Kirkhill in that pa i h . The party set off o n the Sabbath morn ing an hour

r s s an ss amm r befo e unri e, d cro ing L ermoo by the well n s R i n k own pa s of the edstan e R g, they fell in upo

B recleu ch an d Hu n d sw d y e oo , where they broke their

s an d c a r r a fa t de l ed thei err nd. Ere this the southern glen s had been warned in a

s m r an d s r Ma shiel an d l s i ila way, thu f om y C int , from

T r s n a n a a r an d m n n r hi l ta e n d dista t Gal w te , a y a othe

w s m n s of S pot in that ide district be ides, little co pa ie people were gatherin g by twos and threes on the Gairmu ir and droppin g in to the Green cleu ch by ’ m fo r Elliot s Well . Some carried ar s with them, the times were desperate and the business they were on

n n T n re might be a da gerous o e. welve, i deed, we

m n s n r n rn s ou te d in the fa hio of a gua d, bei g fu i hed

s r s o r r s. n s r with wo ds, pi tols ca bine I the way cu toma y

n t s s n n r n ow s on o he e occa io s, watchme we e po ted the h u hi s o f ss to neig bo ring lls, while the re t the a embly, the

n umber of about a hun dred or a hundred a n d twenty,

a in r f al g thered safely the shelte o the v ley beneath . ’ It was about n in e o clock when these preparation s

r an r we e fully made, d, the ministe whom they expected

o n m n t bei g yet co e, the young man William took his

c mm n place and o e ced the service with prayer, afte r

r r an s m n as which he ead the Scriptu e d san g a P al , acti g

s to e Reader to what u ed be call d the of the Kirk, according the an cient an d n o w obsolete form o f Scottish worship in w hich a prelimin ary service of this kind w as always con ducted by the schoolmaster o r some suitable person

r n s hief befo e the mi i ter began the e work of the day. 23 ) E THE COVENANTERS OF TH MERS E .

As the strains of the Psalm were dying away amon g

s a r s Re w f the hill the great pre che , Jame n ick himsel ,

re on sc in n s appea d the ene, hav g ridde by Ea t Lo thian an d the Redstan e Rig to keep his en gagement with the con gregation he had summon ed to meet him at the

reen cl u r w an d G e ch. His fo m as slight his appea ran ce so youthful as to surpris e those w ho saw him fo r the

ﬁrs r t time, an d indeed he was yet n o mo e than twenty six rs of a e m e r als an d yea g , though ultipli d t i responsi bilities had given him a ripe experien ce far be yond his

o f a n d s his o h n time life, the hadow of appr ac i g death,

n a r an not u foreseen, m de him g ave d anxiou s as o n e w ho knew that his time w as short an d what ha d to be

n l done must be do e quick y.

Th had s m ff n rn ough he ju t co e o a lo g jcu ey, Renwick threw himself at on ce in to the service o f the day with

his s i c r n r all accu tomed v gour, le tu i g, p aying, and preachin g with little intermission fr om the momen t of ’ his rr a w as a - s ten a iv l, which about h lf pa t o clock, till

rn Tw n in the afte oon. o shepherds belo g g to Byre

an d a r r in r s n r cleuch G la wate we e brought p i o e s, p ro

b a n s s had bably y the vigil ce of the cout , who observed

m s n the m n a n in s the pyi g on eeti g, d ca e they should s e n li c was in o h pr ad i tel gen e of what go g , they were

n n l s r w as detai ed u ti the e vice over. From the depo si

n s te rw r s r h tio they af a d made befo e the aut orities, we learn that the n ames o f two person s were proclaimed at the con ven ticle in order to marriage with e ach

r m s Cresw a rt o r r r othe , Ja e Kede in Ca nwath, and

Ma a n in s r — a n d ry D i ty We t Calde , that the min iste r took his te xt that day from these words in the fourth “ rs ﬁrst a r a n c es : r m ve e of the ch pte of C ti l D aw e, we

l ru n a e r T The n a r wi l ft hee . Ki g h th b ought me in to w His chambers. We ill be glad a n d rejoice in Thee : we will remember Thy love more than wine : the u p

N E 232 THE COVE ANTERS OF THE MERS .

lordship returned from a visit he had been payin g at

T a T s n m in in o n yn in gh me . weeddale lo t o ti e act g

n H l Ran n this in te llige ce. e cal ed the shepherds ki e

an laiki as o hn d B e before him at Yester, as well J ’ n ma n an s s Stewart the mi ister s , d took their depo ition

n m s m at great le gth, with the na es of some person who they professed to have seen and recognised at the

n teill s a of co ven ticle James S , on to the ten nt

Ma l n s me in Thirls a e ysheil ; Patrick Faw e , chap n t n ;

‘ i r s r to i l n Dav d Smell, fo merly e vant W l iam Brow in Hal da s n res di in Clin ts ; Adam y y and Jame Lyo , i ng n r l u ch Athelstan eford, but the wo king on Byrec e .

se ehe h r Tweeddale dismis d the p e ds, but considering ’ n c that Stewart s attenda e at the conventicle, unlike

e u r s to H n o n theirs, had b en vol nta y, he ent him addi gt r sm n the s l cc t jail, t an itti g at ame time a ful a oun to l an of what he had done the Counci , d advisin g

u n r th h them to call p and exami e Baxte e smit , as o n e likely to be able to give in formation about Re nwick “ ” n l li w a n d the you g man cal ed Wil am, ho seemed to

a T be so intim te with him . weeddale confessed to their Lordships that as yet he had been un able to secure

r w H s the person of John B o n . e had en t ou t some

n s n fo r s w of his serva t i deed thi purpose, ho had found

r i the man wo king at a l mekiln, under the borrowed

r r m n ame of A mou , and had taken him ho e, as Bro wn

to rr h r mi begged be ca ied thit e , that he ght see his as an d of wife for the l t time, get a change lin en .

The s r ts w l s n e van , hi e they allowed him thi i dulgence, had a r s the kept a gu d all the time out ide house , w hich they did with the greater assuran ce as they

r was o n e r saw that the e but doo . When Bro wn

is a r n n r an d delayed h ppea a ce, they e te ed found that

had v r rl m in s s he e y cleve y eluded the by go g up tair , in an breaking a hole the thatch, d ta kin g to the woods 2 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE . 33

r ﬁn d behind, whe e all their attempts to him were in

a v in .

The n n r n T Cou cil, acti g ve y promptly o Lo rd weed ’ a s s s m r n s o f d le ugge tion, put the atte in the ha d

n - n r r n m n r f Lieutena t Ge e al D ummo d, the co ma de o

r s wh n the fo ce , o sen t Lieutena t Somerville with a

a p rty to scour the coun try in search o f the fu gitives. Mean while the coun cillors met in committee o n this busin ess an d summoned before them James Baxter ” r m H v s f o the Calton . e pro ed ob tinate, which probably mean s that n either threats n o r torture could in duce him to disclose what he kn ew regardin g

R n w c r hi i m an s w as sm ss e i k o s frien d W llia , d o di i ed

to c s r s n r h r r s hi r lo e p i o till fu t e o der , of w ch, howeve ,

r is n r the e o reco d. Lieuten a n t Somerville an d his party ca me by Yester

to r r r An w B a Ba a, whe e they took a bond f om dre y,

en an r ill to r M S s n the t t of Ki kh , p oduce arion ander o ,

u r o f m u n r n the da ghte the bell an there, de a pe alty of £100 Scots an d his ow n compearance in case

a r T n s r s of f ilu e. hey the made ea ch in the ca tle of

Ma u m f r o hn r an n a o f cu o J B own, d eve left a p rty ’ men who paid a surprise visit to Brown s house at

m s i a r him r s idn ight, but t ll f iled to discove . F om Ea t

m a n d his m cl u ch Lothian So erville en passed to Byre e ,

r A m Hal da s an d whe e they found da y y, Jame Lyal, James Staill ; and con tin uing their progress as fa r

s n a r f r as Thirl ta e Mill, they m de enqui y o Patrick

s n to ﬁn d d rs w Fawne , and faili g him, left or e ith ’ La uderdale s chamberlain fo r his apprehen sion as soon

r l a s he should appear. By ec eu ch un dertook the same

s ri ara a n a duty in the ca e of Pat ck K , d s for James

' Moﬁat R e r r an d i maill , ob t W ight, Dav d S , they con ten ted themselves with reportin g that these were

1 Perhaps Morham. 234 THE OOV ENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

but broken and homeless men whose dwellin g n o man knew a state to which the sharpn ess of perse cution

had o t o f the ven n e by this time reduced n a few Co a t rs.

Hal da an d teill w n n r y y, Lyal, S , hom the Lieute a t car ied

r s s to r dis ss o Tw e p i oner Yeste , were mi ed by L rd eddale w hen Byrecleu ch an d Maysheill had become bou n d

to r ll f r p oduce them if ca ed o .

On 2 th f r i r to Edi n the 6 o July, Some v lle retu ned

r r n m bu gh, b i gin g with him John Stewart, who he

in a n a T H riso n lodged the C on g te olbooth . ere the p er

2l st f e m r n n i t lay till the o Sept be , whe the Cou c l se ’ r he n s r him free afte had owned the Ki g autho ity,

fo r His M s a n s t n prayed aje ty, d promi ed o atte d n o

m n c T s n ff f ore conve ti les. hu e ded the a air o the ’ li s n n re o El ot Well meeti g. We have li ge d ver the

ls rn s s s c s res n n a in detai it fu i he , in e the e p e t a very graphic w ay with a picture of the state in which the

s n ow s o d mo t resolute of the Covenanters t o , the

r a n ext emities to which they were reduced, d the eagern ess the Govern men t showed to complete their

r s an wo k o f these man y years pa t, by making end

o f a ss m a that p rty altogether. Doubtle they ight h ve

s h n ow s e ucceeded in their purpose, whic e med so

r its fu lﬁlm n t n ot n fo r r m r a nea e , had it bee the e a k ble

ar w as se even ts o f the n ext few ye s. It preci ly at

s r s n u n es thi , the darkest hou of Pre byteria fort , that light began to dawn fo r that oppressed party ; but both in the time an d the man n er of its appearance there w as much to cha sten the joy even of the su fferers

m s a r s the selve , n d to ma ke them feel that thei alvation o f came n o t by an y wisdom o r policy their own, but ms Wh n w w as the mighty work of God Hi elf, o o appeared o n their behalf an d turned for them the n ight of their afﬂictio n in to the morn in g o f their

r un expected a n d bloodless victo y .

236 THE OOVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

id the ﬁrst of all dissenters. In this stran ge way d dawn of liberty begin to gladden the hearts o f the

r s persecuted Presbyte ian . The Act of In dulgence relating to Scotlan d w as given ’ r forth there on the day after Bassen dean s discha ge . w r ved It as very liberal, and a la ge number of the depri ministe rs immediately took advantage of a law which allowed them to conduct public worship fre ely wher

r u s s s es u fo r eve they liked, in ho e , chapel , or plac b ilt

r n as o f ﬁeld the pu pose, so lo g they gave up the holding con venticles an d an n oun ced the place of their meeting to the n earest magistrates that it might be reco gn ised w in an o rderly a y.

w ir an rn d rs e rall Ber icksh e, d the easte bor e gen y, shared to the full in this n ew advan tage which the la w

a r a h h r ccorded. M Willi m Veitch, o f whom we ave ea d

n w e v l to the nis er o f a so much, o r cei ed a ca l be mi t large chapel-oi-e ase built at Whitton to acco mmo date

six a s n r d n the p rishe of Ox am, C ailin g, Eckfor , Li ton , 1 M r a n d H n An r s m o ebattle ow am . othe place of the a e

w as s w o kind et u p in the to n f Berwick, and the con grega tion there obtain ed the ser vices of Mr Luke ” The m f ersin n in the a s o f E Ogle . fa ily o M gto p ri h ccles had lon g been distin guished as presbyterian s, and had 1 s r in s h - i- as w as n o w even uffe ed that cau e. A c apel o e e

n n an d Mr m e built o these la ds, Ja es Balfour, a nativ o f

n s n s e r 15 The s e es n Du , became their mi i t . mo t int r ti g

r n s n r w as and impo ta t of these ettleme ts, howeve , that

c N o n in s ts which took pla e at ewt the pari h of Whi o me .

H n r s n r to an e y Er ki e eceived a call the chapel here, d, r vin his a n d r m Mon ilaw s to Rave la w emo g wife family f o , con tin ued to min iste r un der the in du lgence till a larger ' 6 liberty o ﬂered itself.

1 h W 2 1 - 8 V ‘ u l 5t . V. . 82 184 . . 130 n ote b M J y , , pp . , p , y Crie . 2 ’ ” 2 See . 93 . Scott s asti. i e . 13 an d n o p F L f , p 7 te . THE CO NANT R OF E VE E S TH MERS E . 237

’ This part of Erskine s life and labours w as perhaps n ot s r f i the lea t f uitful o good. H s preaching drew

r s m u n n r c owd fro all the neighbo ri g cou t y, an d among

s a r rshi rs m w the e e ge wo ppe ca e a boy, ho afterwards proved n o small ﬁgu re in the religious history of

r s r n of w Be wick hi e and i deed Sco tland. This as Thomas

s n s r the r r f sma Bo to , who e fathe , p oprieto o a ll estate n ear

n s w as r r Du , a Covenante and a suffe er un der the late

se n h h h per cutio . As he ad ad is so n fo r a companion in

m s n s the i pri onme t he endured in Dun Tolbooth, so now

n m s r r d h whe a ea u e of liberty appea e , he to ok t e bo y

him to ar rs n N an with he E ki e preach at ewton , d the impression s then made proved very en durin g in the

s n m n s ca e of that you g i d, e pecially a sermon from the ” m o f Go n s text, Behold the La b d, which the mi i ter of

im rin a r s m S p n d Ettrick, fo uch did Tho as Boston after

r s r r . r s wa d become, could neve fo get In afte year he became the father of a clergyman w ho w as called to the

r ﬁ t R n r in edbu r h cha ge of the rs elief co g egation J g , and it is in terestin g to notice ho w covenan tin g times are w t s who as thus lin ked with o u r o n and hat tho e , the

s ff red fo r n s n s dissen ters of a later day, u e co cie ce ake,

in n n s could trace their spiritual, and even ma y i tances

n r m s an d their natural, desce t f o the heroe worthies of ’ n Scotland s great persecutio . The true origin of the in dulgen ce in the te nderness of the Kin g fo r his Roman Catholic subjects w as well

r s e n s of S who understood by the P e byt ria cotland, , while

r takin g every advan tage of thei new liberty, made no secret o f their apprehen sions for the future o f the

n Protestant succession an d faith in the realm. O e of those who spoke out with the grea test boldn ess on this

r n i occasion w as Mr John Hardy o f Go do , now at Ed n st a of o a burgh. On the ﬁr S bbath Oct ber he pre ched E NANT RS OF THE M 238 TH COVE E ERS E .

a sermon in the prin tin g house of that city wherein he

rs n an expressed these fea very Ope ly, d in such a way

as to ra a of n so w att ct a good de l otice, that he as summon ed to answer fo r his bold speech before the

o r s ti iar in r r L d of Jus c y the following Feb ua y. The defen ce offered in this case by Sir Patrick Hume is very

e r s n as s n ss int e ti g, it throw light o some pa ages of ’ ’ s r Ha rdy s past life. It eems that in C omwell s time this min ister had taken a warm in terest in the cause o f

n r is n a o f rs fo r the mo archy, a i g th t troop ho e Kin g

w as r ds n b Prin le of To rso n ce which afte war comma ded y, g ,

N c H his r r t an d sen din g i ol ardy, brothe , to car y in elli

n n in s r c gen ce an d !ammu itio the Royal e vi e, while he

r T s himself acted as co net in the troop. he e circum ’ d r rd s stan ces were now allege to p ove Ha y loyalty, an d

a r he w as dismissed from the b , the judges holdin g that the particular expression s with which he was charged l r did n o t imply t eason . There can be n o doubt that the fears en tertain ed by Hardy an d the party to which he belon ged were on ly to o

n . r s n r r well fou ded It gave ea o , the efo e, of deep a n d

n f ln ess to r s r n s an d universal tha k u the P e byte ia , in dee d

to all r n s o f R rm n r who held the p i ciple the efo atio dea , that William o f Oran ge a t last decided to a n swer the expectation s of his supporters in Great Britain a n d make a n attempt to sea t himself o n the thron e of o u r

No r r n in su s n s a coun try. we e they left lo g pe e s to the

s i n . On ﬁfth N m r re ult of that exped tio the of ove be , m m r fo r a s a da y e o able the defeat of popi h plot, Willi am

T r an d r a r w as lan ded at o bay, befo e the ye out, James

r n hi r w as s had ﬂed to F a ce, w the he oon followed in

u r n r that shamef l exile by Lo d Cha cello Perth, his right

a a n d n han d man in Scotl nd, o e who had taken a dreadful

1 J R. e ruar 1 th 1 88 , F b y 3 , 6 .

240 THE O NANT RS O THE M C VE E F ERS E.

w as attended by much excited feelin g and e ven by co n

r t n w siderable io s . Erski e as gen erally chose n to ca rr y

u t s diﬁ cu lt m r a n o uch atte s, d is said to have shown a n admirable power of securin g peace an d quietn ess in the

f a performan ce o them . He rem in ed at Chirnside till his

a an d is r r to -da n ot n f r de th, emembe ed y o ly o his o w n

s u as r tw excellen t qualitie , b t the fathe of o distin guished

s n R a n d Eb n z r rs n w h o s, alph e e e E ki e, o became the

founders of the Se cession Chu rch . The parishes o f Mordin gton an d Hilton were as fortun ate as tha t of Chirn side fo r after all their

rac n r s Ra s an d s dist ti g t ouble , m ay Dougla n o w o btain ed

r r ld the right to retu n to thei o charges. The memory

of the min ister o f Hilton w as in deed mu ch cherished o n account o f the great ben evolence he showed amon g his r s n s an c people, and a cu iou i t e of that charity has been

re r r n to ou r ow n s po ted by t aditio time . It is said that

a r n ba d r s on in the ye followi g a ha ve t, e of the small fa rmers in his parish came to Mr Douglas in great diﬁ cu lt : his s r w as s en fo r r y eed co n p t b ead, and he so w hi ﬁelds Th m had non e left to s . e in ister listen ed to his tale an d gave him the seed that had bee n kept

' s n a s s n w fo r the glebe, owi g th t ea o ith chaﬁ in stea d o f

rn a n d r a n in ar s co , yet e pi g h ve t time the better return

is r a n r o f the two . It ce t i that if M Douglas had plen ty

when other farmers were o u t of seed he must have been

n ma n r Hi an excelle t age . s lan d was probably fo r the

s m r s n in e r ar n a o f his bo s a e ea o bett he t tha th t neigh ur , an d if we suppose that what he kept fo r his own u se

' w as chaﬁ n r r r n not but the i fe io part of the g ai , w e can an r s ho w n underst d ve y ea ily , u der his good man agemen t

ss n Go d o n his a and the ble i g of ch rity, the crop in the glebe might easily surpass that in other hands and

h rm ﬁelds. T e n has fo which the lege d taken, an d its 241 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . pe rsistence in the country shows n a the high character this co ven an tin g worthy bore among his ow n people who as a man o n whom the favour of God rested, and

i s loved to aboun d n good work . An other who returned to his former charge was Mr

h f w s n r ex Jo n Veitch o Westruther, ho had the i gula

rien ce o f n as h r an d n ow pe bei g twice c t ou t of is cu e, return in g to it for the secon d time sin ce the famous

a o i s s s o f s d ys f 1663 . It s aid that he felt o ure thi

y n fa on rable turn in the affairs of the Church that, whe

e his m n s f r the s i r he l ft a e o la t t me, he bade the cu ate w ho tame to replace him notice how large the peat

w a n s n ss his sta ck as, d ee that it should be o le at

e a r ss h n return . H l bou ed in Westruther for no le t a

s n in 1703 on ﬁfteen year after the Revolution, dyi g , s m hi way home from the Co mmission of Asse bly, and la yin g his bon es in the old buryin g ground o f his m l fa ily at Da keith . A rather remarkable case w as that o f Mr James

Ki r n an o n w kto , d e to which much atten tion as drawn 1 he u s s m m by t malicio Epi copal pa phlets of the ti e.

tu rn in r m his in r a m Re g f o exile Rotte d , u nder the

1687 s m n s Toleration of , thi i i ter began to ser ve a chapel

n u fo r ss n s in i n the b ilt di e ter Ed burgh . Mr An drew ’ r m Meld u , who then occupied Kirkton s old charge at

M o n w as man o f roﬂi a r c r an ert a p g te cha a te , d when ministe rs were restored to their former livin gs by the

1 90 Ki r n Act of 6 , kto , though under call to an Edinburgh

r n law chu ch, took adva tage of the that he might open the way fo r a better settlemen t among his former

“ 1 An Accoun t of the late Es tablishmen t an d Scots It Presbyterian Eloqu en ce . is remarkable that both the chief am hleteer on the isco al side—Ro ert r ura e o p p Ep p b Calde , c t f n th rn 1689—an d Prin ci al Ru ]e who Ne o p , replied to him fro m the Pres terian si e had ex rcise their mi r i by d , e d nist y n Berwickshire . Q E 242 THE COVENANTERS OF TH MERS E .

pa rishion ers. He preached himself in once more at

n n rn his s in in r Merto , and the retu ed to dutie Ed bu gh, leavin g the presbytery o f the boun ds to see tha t a ﬁt

man w a s in n a r o f settled the vaca cy thus made. C lde Nen thorn attacked him fo r this action in his scurrilous ” c ts r s r n n s book, S o P e byte ia Eloque ce Di played, but

w ho a re r n n d his o d Prin cipal Rule, ppea d in p i t to defe l

w as r n comrade, able to put anothe complexion o the

a m s affair than th t which alice had uggested. Kirkton had in deed accepted the stipen d of Merton in additio n

r e t o n to that which he ec ived in Edin burgh, bu e half

h M d m n an he ad paid to eldrum, the ol incu be t, d the

r r s a other to the poo of the pa i h. We may dd tha t a

s m n charge of the a e ki d, an d with as little foundation

w as a a n s Mr V in fact, made g i t William eitch . This

r w n w se in min iste as o ttled Peebles, whence he w as

r n in 1 94 m r H i s e 6 to u s. d in 1 2 t a lat d D f ie ere he ed 72 ,

s r n his a n d u vivi g wife but by one day, having obtained with her that crown of old age which is righteou sness

an d peace.

As had s n to s of Dr R we have occa io peak ule, it may be a s well to add here that his distin gu ished ta len ts

u n r ﬁttin r ni n n fo d thei g ecog tion whe , o the 26th o f

S r 1690 w as n e n eptembe , he appoi t d Pri cipal o f the

r r H Un ive sity of Edinbu gh . e acted at the same time

as m n s e r the ld Gr r i i t of O eyf iars Church, an d w as in

o fﬁce r n in 169 1 the e whe , , the body of Sir Ge orge Macken zie of Ro sebau gh w as carried to its burial in the great vault which still marks its dread restin g -place

in a c r r . T s n th t hu chya d hu , while the to gue which had

fo r m s w as s pled the doo of the per ecuted ilent for ever, r n fo r di u the doct i e which they ed lived o , and was still

witn essed by some of their o wn number to succeedin g

n r s . All ﬂesh is ra ss rass w ge e ation g the g ithereth,

244 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

a l t r r n . neighbou hood, we e expecte d to be prese t In it le the session began to un derstan d that a great conco urse

n n n s of people wou ld atte d the ordi a ce, and that pe cial f mm i The provision mu st be made o r their acco odat on.

m n n th n air n t n l Sa cra e t must be dispen sed i e ope , o o y to provide room for the crowd of people who would

fill hu rch to overflowin have ed the C g, but in a happily co n ceived memorial of the field con ven ticles of fo r mer

n s r m m an d days. The commu ion cup f o S ailholm the

s s n f r as w as tw tables from Westruther mu t be e t o , ell o

r r r Green kn ow g eat salvers fo the b ead, which Lady o n offered to len d the pa rish . An d thus, the 3 rd o f

A as w as a t a s set on r u gust , the fe t held t ble the g een

r i rm a r ar e g ass n the fo o f a squ e, and gu ded by ight

‘ iﬁ - r r i six s o ce bearers at the fou en t ies, wh le other , among

h w as r en kn w s s r r a a w om G e o him elf, e ved the b e d n d the

n n s r r his m in wi e. So the mi i te celeb ated ho ecom g amid

r s ri n s a n d his w as ar n m t oop of f e d , voice he d o ce ore in his ow n r s s n rs a pa i h, u pported by ma y othe th t had grown weary in waken in g the echoes of moorlan d an d

n n a s s n a s mou tai while yet the d y of per ecutio l ted .

Ha r n n d a n d a r in Go n l 1 dy co ti ue to live l bou rdo til 707.

ri s While an exile in the L o w Coun t e , he had studied — medicin e probably at Leyden under the great Boer — haave an d he n o w fou n d his skill o f the grea test service a t home where his people were gla d to consult him in their ailmen ts of the body a s well as those of

The a r a n d m as s the sou l . pl gue of feve e le , which raged

s re n r n a r a t r his so eve ly i Go do the ye f e death, must have made man y in that amicted parish wish that their old pa sto r was still goin g a bout a mon g them with his

n m 1 well kn own skill a d sy pathy .

’ ” 1 co tt s asti ix t rson s esire ra er to S F . S y pe d d p y be ma de for th m on e Sa ath an d ei h an other. e bb , g ty 245 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

It is ﬁt we should close o u r survey of these times by

n s m n w an m wh taki g o e otice of Pol arth d his fa ily, o were n ow restored to their old home at Redbraes or

Ma r m n as n ow a n to n ch o t, it beg be called, havi g come

r m n The ove fro the Low Cou tries in the royal train . ’ r d M rr ir s pictu e which La y u ay, S Patrick Hume grand

a r has d ughte , left u s of their life and occupations while yet residen t in Utrecht is very lively and full of

n e s s i t re t. Polwarth him elf appears there as Dr ” 1 l n al s n Wal ace, the ge i ho t, e tertainin g crowds of co m pan y in his great house and unwearied in showing

i n ss to S s r s r k nd e the cotti h efugee . His cha acter as the

r of rm n mil is s r fathe that cha i g fa y not les att active, and their devotion to him repaid the unwearied interest he

in s ies m took their tud and amuse en ts. Their mea n s — — were narrow not above £ 150 a year yet by careful m n a m n in G zze a ge e t, which Lady ri l to ok a chief part,

had n they e ough to live comfortably, to en te rtain

n s m to s m hi ha d o ely, and pend so et n g in charity too .

w had his m r n s r Pol arth o ni g po set without fail, the gi ls

i R r s r an wh the r uca harp icho d, d the young men , o ’ r zze s r r a n d h r we e Lady Gri l b othe e lover, George

a n ﬁn el B illie, we t y enou gh in their collars of point

a n r n lace, ext avaga ce which their position in the

R r oyal gua d obliged them to, while a glass of a la bast

w as a s s r s beer lway at the ervice of thei vi itors. On his r r to his n i at etu n native cou try and fam ly est e , Sir Patrick Hume spen t his last years in the enjoyment of

r ac u r g eat pe e and m ltiplied honou s. He w as succes sivel r e m r fo r n r y c eat d me be the cou ty, Privy Co uncillo , r h S iff of rw s r Ba on Polwart , her Be ick hi e ; an extra

r r ss n o r Hi n o dinary Lo d of Se io , L d gh Cha cellor of the

Ki as in 1697 a r o f M ngdom, and at l t E l archmont, under

1 His mm de gum e. 24 6 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E . which title he became Lo rd High Commission e r to the f a e Assembly o f the followin g year. Full o g an d honour he passed away very quietly in his tow n ho use

w - - his se n w lies at Ber ick o n Tweed in 1724, and corp o in that very vault under Polwarth church w hich shelte red him so safely while yet he lived an d persecu ti l s n is v e ra on a ted . His best mo ument the en ble his ve chu rch itself, which stan ds above gra . This

n be u to fall in building, already very a cient, had g n to decay at the time when the Marchmon t family retu rned

T c s e to eal from their exile. heir eyes, ac u tom d the w thy

r saw w as neatness of Dutch a chitecture, what needful, and n o mean s were spared to make the n ew buildin g comfortable and even magn iﬁcen t accordin g to the

n T is s a rs c notio s of the day. his lav h intere t appe hieﬂy in the western to wer which Marchmon t n ow added to

n s cco rdin the origi al plan , hanging a peal of bell a g to — the fashion o f Hollan d where that kin d of mu sic is better heard perhaps than in an y other cou ntry of — Europe an d con trivin g there a private room fo r his

wn r m an d an o devotions f o which, by a window p el in

s a n d ar r in the wall, he cou ld ee he the preache the

r b h Hi mi s to sh r chu ch eneat . s fa ly eem have a e d the

n r s i in a i te e t he took n the new build g, and L dy Grizzel — Hume now married to the ma n of her choice an d — become Mrs Baillie of Mellerstain made the pulpit her

fin rs h peculiar care, busying her fin e ge upon t at cu rious w han gin g of green velvet with a flo ral patte rn, here the foundation is o f muir -fowls feet co vered with da in ty e h silk stitchin g, which still remains to t ll of er skill an d devotion . If in these days the so und of the l 26th Psalm was

h r be s ever ea d in Polwarth church, we may ure that none join ed more heartily in the sin gin g than those

248 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

th ha r hall reat e past has secu red na, t t neve s the g q uestions of civil an d religious liberty be raise d a gain in the cruel form under which ou r forefathers had to

s n as face them . Surely this al o we may co unt o the

l s ha r s e th resu t of past co ntending , t t, whateve hap e u i a s ose str ggle may yet take, there w ll lway be th in Scotland who will refuse to let pass fro m them the an d w sacred heritage of Truth an d Freedom, hom ’ ” cr s wn an d n an the glorious y, For Christ Cro Cove t, shall yet stir in the day of comin g need like a trumpet ’ l a to ca l fro m their co untry s hero ic age, c lling them die if need be in the goo d old cau se for which their fathers suffered an d bled so bravely

The Solemn League an d Covenan ts Co st cotlan loo co l n S d b d, cost S t a d tears ’ But the seale Free om ca y d d s sacre d use, ’ ! If thou rt a slave in u th sn r , d lge y ee s.

5 0 THE E OOV NANTERS OF THE MERS E .

NOTE A.

Tm: Fu orrm Rom M th 1 4 , ay b , 68 .

Rox bur h hire —Michael Shiel so n to J g , ames Shiel in Haughhew Mr avi Hu me D d , preacher. M ire Paterso n so n to Geor e Paterson in u r , g Bo t y John Lin lithgow in Earlston ; Thomas Flebairn there ; Tho mas Carter in L i ertwood Mr Alex an der hiel son to ames g ; S , J Shiel in Hau hhead ohn Naim rvan t in Hume arish g ; J , se p ; Ro bert e ich late se rvan t the r ill r tailor in L , re ; Geo ge M e , Middle thir ohn Prin le se rvan t in L i ertwood An re w torie d ; J g , g ; d S , tailor in Bassin dean vi ro wn euar in hitso me Da d B , f W ; James ro wn there Al x an er l i so n to Alex an er B e d Ga bra th, d Galbraith in Chirnside ; James Reston in Hutton ; George Alla n in Pax to n eor e Turn u ll so n to Hector Tu rn ull t ; G g b , b here ; ames Resto n o n er in Whitsome Paul Co wan in r J , y u g , P esto n ; Alex an der Brown in Birken side ; Thomas Steil in Martin ; Jo hn lac ie so n to l ie in ittle -n a ed war B k , B ack K k Ed d Lilbu rn in Hackslie Thomas Prin le so metime in est-Struther ; g , W ; James ai le in Weatherlie Thomas Tait so metime at Flash a L d y ; , J mes Galbraith in Mo rdington ; William an d John Yeo ma ns in in to n Ro ert ilso n in itholm Geor e ic so n Id g ; b W Le g D k , se rvan t to the Re lict o f Al ex an er Hume ortion er of Hu me d , p ; John ri ht smith in est- o r on ohn Sim son so metim W g , W G d ; J p , e in in to n n o w in erwic un s illiam Tun och in Id g , B k bo d ; W West Stro ther arish hn ld r so metime in hitsome p ; Jo Ca e , W ; David ro wn latel there a we ste r an d few ames Co w B , y , b ; J an , armer in 1din t n ohn Hastie armer there An re w oo f g o ; J , f ; d W d, rvan in enlaw Allan Go w ie so me se t to John Woo d Gre ; d , time in a ir n o w in ls eth o rain in Mor in to n f L dyk k, E p L d g o r reset ; Tho mas Service in Birghame ; Thomas Y eoman in n avi Co w n Idin gton ; Ge orge Forrester in Pax to ; D d a , servan t

to illiam Ker un cle to Greenhea . W , d in bur h hire— or e Prin le latel in Cowslan d so metim M g s Ge g g , y , e in W her oolstru t .

252 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERS E .

Mar aret R o r there g utherf d . Isobe ll Ru the r there rfo d . m Y illia ou there . B A W n g . ohn B n J ird in West Mersingto , Nioholas Air his s , pous ; Thomas Hind n , his so .

A n es h l er N w ed ur h . H . g C a m s in e tou n . (Satisﬁed at J b g )

m H in R An d ohn H. A. Ja es ann a yselae . A. ( J )

m in u itive an d re bel. Ja es We ddell Ednam. (Den oun ced f g )

Mar aret Ru ther or his s ouse . g f d, p

in l u rnri B Patrick Denholm Se b gg. .

e h B . Georg Co ckburn t ere .

ruicks miller. B . Alex an der C ,

Wm Turn ull ailie o f the Re alit or ere to wa h [ . b , B g y, d d tc the ehavio u r o f these erson s an d ex act securit for it b p y . ]

ohn Turn u ll miller at in tlaw A. B J b , L . .

ean Pe n n ie his s o use . J , p Mar an d Mar ar e t Turn ulls th ir hter y g b , e daug s.

m oo in Blan ern . illia e A. W W d B . schell Martin se rvitrix or l I , to Ge ge Dar in g there . Mar r t u lan th ga e Co p d ere . Mar r t Turn ull siste r to Ro u r ga e b , bert T n bull in Lin tlaws. Mar r t O ill s use to P tri a e o a c ei h in u n . g g , p k K t Presto

A n es Turn u ll au hter to Harie Turn ull r. of ickﬁ ld g b , d g b , p Cru e . mes Turn ull mill er t Bl e a a an ern . J b , B . Ro ert Turn u ll in L in tlaws b b . A. B .

Harie Foulto n there . B .

ohn Coc u rn in Presto n J kb . A. B . an et ill his s ou J Og , p s. illiam Ka in osterlan W y F d. M r arcla his s a aret us. g B y, po

P arish Ab of bey 8? Ba lka ns .

Alex an er Ho me of A e . For re se t. oun cau tion to com e d bb y ( F d p ar . )

Thomas A amson in Rae u rn an d b , d his spouse , athrin e Fidlestain e th re K e . THE CO NANT F E VE ERS O TH MERS E .

o hn Fidlestain e there an J , d essie Tu n n och his s ou se B , p . Thomas ortu n e in re n shes an F C , d B . Mar aret Tu nn och in Rae g burn .

P a h r is of Chan nelbirk.

Tr otar s u se to M o r Wm. Cal rw l , p de ood, ate e erwoo n ow in Gin lekirk N o L g d, g Parish. ( ot f un d. x cu se at edbur h o n testiﬁca E d J g te an d B . )

schell Thomso n their servan t. I ,

(P arish of Gordon 1)

f en kn w James Prin gle o Gre o .

illiam Tu rn ull. Not to be hear of W b ( d . H. ) e William Wallac .

c t. Not to be he r i Thomas S ot ( a d o . E . )

ls eth Shan ran satisﬁed at edbur h. E p k (F k, J g H. )

essie Cul ertso n their servan ts . Cuth ertson sat t edb r h B b , ( b , . a J u g . H. Marion as et servan t to ohn i son s in ree w B k , J G b G n la (l). i Robertson e s ouse to ames Mill Bess e , p J er there .

illi m Sco t. B W a .

n co . Ja et S t. 5 hristian Co rsbie servan ts to the a F de C , L dy alsy . b. Wm n A nes Gibson e ten an t to . Cran sto e r. of Hu n l g , , p t ywood . am s Miller se rvan t to ohn Miller in Stan dalan J e , J e .

i u s i owhouse . Edward Fairbairn n B e . ( ) (B . B ) l x n s in Bellitaw an d his wife A A A e . Wilso ( ) . . by . W.

P a ri sh of S win ton .

i n ri . B William Gray n Gre e g . l an d Iso be ll Halli a s in Swin tou n e Miln Archi a e . B . b d d y ( A. H.

an d paid £20Scots . ) ittle win Ro bert Woo d at L S to n .

Al ex an er o s in Green ri . in e £1 co ts. d D dd g (F d 5 S B . ) n m in Swin toun e [I arg , tian Co wstou n e to o hn Swin u n in Chris , J to e Co wstou n e . o hn Sim son s so n to ohn Sim son s ar en er in Weilbak J p , J p , g d (l). Marie Idin tou n e s ous to ohn Watson e ili of g , p J , ba e Swin to un e . on in Ne wn e of hi m John Paters wto W tso e .

in m Ge orge Chalmers S elholm.

essi ra i his s o use . B e Co b e , p

sche ull co ttar in Smelholm. 5. I ll Turn b , an et word cottar there J S , . 254 THE CO NANT F THE VE ERS O MERS E .

ll Agn es E iot there . 6. Th v r d e smith ther omas Be e a g , e . illiam Sim so n e cottar to the sires of onal Sim W p , D d pson e . A K nn edie servitrix d gnes e , an 5. h Wm. Malcolmstoun t ere .

Wm Hu n ter ro ther to ohn Hun ter or. th d . , b J , p ere. (Coul n o t be h ou o f u n so ug t as t Co ty. H. B . Jed. J. H. )

Isobe ll h t their mo th r. W y e, e Mar Co rne r e eus to Mathew Richardson en n t to y , p , t a Sir Wm. co tt el er an d he for his uti S , d , d es.

illiam ric or . W B k , p

Mar Tenn en t his s ouse. gt. , p

n ot ric his au hter. 5. J B k, d g essie Ramsa se rvitrix to o hn Hun ter ortion er then B y, J , p . B . by

f r sel ser an d amil . J H. o f, vt , f y

Isobe ll h s use to Geo r e Dun can . B b G D W yte, po g . y . .

M t h t servitrix to Ro o there. t ed r are e t 5. a bu r h a g W y , . B yd J g . Wm co co ohn Thurba n an t Tho mso n s o us to . S tt tter to d . J e , p , J Grisse ll Hall a s ouse to An rew Coats el er cottar r yd y, p d , d , the e. B . at e d A J . . C. n es ill s o us N than ill r s t h Ag Os s , p to a C an toun e, tenan t ere. ames Tait co ttar to Ro e rt o B J , b B yd. . h te o r in Sm olm George W y , p . ailh .

A n e s Hal bur toon e ona to . hit el er c ar h g y , p Geo W , d , ott t ere . 5. at edbu r h J g .

illiam Scott co ttar to ohn Thurburn . B . W , J ‘ an et Ten n en t e on a to ames M Do u all tenan t to Sir J , p J g , Wm.

Sco tt.

w lliot ten nan t in Smelholm B An dre E , . . r e re n d Geo rge Hu n te th , a Iso bell atso n his s o use W , p .

Wh s use to Ro t o . . b R. B. for sel an d Mar t. t o . B amil g y , p B yd y f f y . r Tu rn er au hte r to Mar t Kell at Smailholm Miln Ma gt . , d g g . y e .

In acted an d dismist.

Wm o r n r an co t s use to . a miln e there d h Jan et S t , po F g , , e for his mil t B . b W . F for his a . in teres . y . f y

omas Wh t servan t to Ro t. o there. Th y , B yd

W o n h 8 . bel ou las s o use to eo r e ils e t ere . b G. Isso D g , p G g y W .

Mar t Mac o u all servitrix to ames Tait there . 5. at edbu r g . d g , J J gh .

[P arish of Merton

a Marten . Boyd, L dy t ir Wm co tt an d ou t of co un i Ramsa ten an to S . S t s Rot. y, , ( )

Sim so n his s o use . Margaret p , p

256 NANT RS OF T THE COVE E HE MERS E .

n m r ere . A m ohn Learmo th shoe ake th ean n e o n . H. J , perso , gav b d Mar t his s o use uld n ot be h of y Why , p . Co eard . H.

ohn Sh ll wea r in r sfoord an d n t foun . H . J ei , ve C ag , ( o d )

an et l n his s use . A mean rso ve bon . H. J C apperto , po pe n , ga d

Helen Wh t mo w ma n . y , his yr . An e old in ﬁrm o . H

Helen Wh relict o f e or e ere. Not ou yt, G ge Fleabu rn th f n d. H. ohn Shillin la w tailor d to Ro ll o r A J g , an tenan t 000. y , p . there . mean erso n to o on p , k b d. H . H elen isher relict o f u m ll. ll in Hau heid. Not . F , q Jas. Shei g foun d. E

avi enho lm er . R d D d D , p in ei peth. ohn Prin l tailor in J g e, Fan es. B . M arion Paterso n s o use hn i ord . , p to Jo B e po in Cragf

A n es P g ate rso n s in Fau n es.

ed u r J b gh. )

P a rish of Westruther .

r hn Weitch la in r uth r M Jo , te m iste at Westr e , an d (den oun ced u itive and re el bu t r on e edbu r h w n f g b , ep d at J g , hen his so

his spouse . The an d ad assen ean an d L aird L y B d ,

their servan ts .

ir Fran cis Fa bairn in Easterhouses. rin le ther Adam P g e. es ck in Re id a h an d Jam Ja p t , h ill in Earls u John S a to n . s ous to Th Tai so metime in Flass p omas t, .

An n a Sheill s ous to Thos. Prin le sometime in ( ) p g , Westru ther .

Robert Weir of Easterhousea Not fo u n d. H.

x r in Wh mire . Ale . Watson e , tailo yt

' A n es Dal liesh s o use to Wm. Clar in rai walls . g g , p k C g B .

ohn la i Blaikater the airdn er an d servan t. A J B ck n , g . B . h Jean Kelly t ere . 257 THE COVENANTERS OF THE MERSE.

h l ver there ou l n ot be oun . H. Jo n L idde , wea . C d f d

ie Grierson e his e o n a. Bess , p

tt Co u l n o t be ou n . II . Christian Potter in Westn isbe . d f d

h Horn to u n e a maso n . B . Wm. Cu n n ing am in ( ) W ell th re m. B e . mri Tro r s use to Alex . Paterso n e in Ra . te , po g

Geo ell so n o hn e ll o r. in Ho rn tou n e . B . . B , to J B , p m James H rn e ten an t there ames Ho e B . o , . (J )

Ro H n re B . t. ( u tso ) the .

Th s d o hn Ho arth se rvan ts there . B . B . o . an J g , m Hu n m n . W tch B . W . Richartso e , po r there . ( . eso

Hellen Home his s o use . , p h h o f ir B John Smit in t e tou n Ladyk k. . ohn i J Hog n Satlin gto u n (in Upsatlin gto n . his use spo . Wm an d . Cun nin gham, W ell in Hom m. B to un .

P ar ish o Mozd in t f g on .

r u h id Ma gt. Bro wn in Bo e . Arch h f r M . Nishet at t e miln e o este ordin d W gtoun e .

ean r i his s ouse . J Fe g e, p vi miln e of Edrin t n Da d Fergie at the g o e .

Hellen B o his s use . gart, po

M No ar t Hu me in Hu tto u n hall. t oun H. g . f d . Char edwith reset o f am R g J es eston , Rot owma er in Hu tto n an d their master a rin te . B k , , p d fugitive ;

ames o wma er his rother . enie on oath at edbur J B k , b d d J gh, l oth

Oct. an d were is r , d cha ge d. P arish Qf Hilton . d Ho me , Lady Jordan ﬁel . eth Paterso n e her servan Elisab , t. G— an d in Hilto un an d James , ar t ic so n s his s use M g . D k , po . Mar Ru h t. t erfoo rd e o n to Alex ib g , p a . G son e in Yeaman in Hil n M r si to y e de . avin Nis et in G b Hilto un . B .

Rot. Nis et r en r h b , p es te t ere .

e ona to wn f p Bro o Blackburn . Tho mas Anguis there . B . 258 THE C NANT R F OVE E S O THE MERS E.

Tho M ir mas u u rn there . Ale b ( x . Muirbu rn B . ) M ar t. Si al s o us to ohn Swan stoun in Ri g bb d, p J ddo y. M h ar t. Aitc ison e s o us to ames wansto h g , p J S un t ere . an et Swansto u n e s o to W o J , p us m. Ro berts n there . Marion aur s o us to Geor e Beu hl l in Aul L y, p g g y ( ) dcambu s. an et au r s ous to ames Beu hl J L y, p J g y there . s o us to Thomas Miller — p , ooall ter there .

Thomas Wh t n y , the in Ne thorn .

rish P a of Whitsome.

Ale x . Haitl fermar in Whitso me in e 6 s rlin an d y, . (F d £ te g, took

fo sel an d amil . B . r f f y ) Aliso n Russel his s ouse , p . Els eth Purves his u hter-in -l w p , da g a . ‘ hn M N u ht his n B . Jo a g , serva t.

Helen ir his servan t. t . Ba d,

Thos. oo co ttar there an d his s o use . B . T. W . W d , , p

P arish of L en nel

Mr amen letcher in u l e minister at Nen thorn e . J F , d g d

Alex Stevin N w l n o H. . e in e toun of Co dstream. Service, t foun d . ” r t s Ma g . Stevin , his sister Service Mario n le ther Sin clair Had y e.

ha P arish of Colding m.

Mar t u n in A g . Cran sto yton . ohn Pax ton in Fairs de J y .

W w in heid an d B u llah . Mr m. an L oan Go , ( . G

an et Home his s o use . (J ) , p

li h le s ou s to Patric Home of est Resto un . b. E sabe t Ly , p k W

ls h re lict of ceas e Home there . E pet Gaitts, de d m Marion u on s us to Rot. Grierson e in Co ldin ha e. 5. D dge , po g

Marion W on e wi ow in ast Restou n . A mean erso n on . H. ils , d E p , b d

Mar i al s u s to ame s Booklaws in L umsdean . gt S bb d, po J u n Co u l n ot be oun H miln er in Westerto . d f d. . B R t. o u las airdn er there . . o D g , g

o r there . B . Wm. Pu rves, tail

o m a t eonar s. ean H e , L y S L J d d B - - n s her son in law. A Thomas Gibso ,

A n s el s ous to o o in Woodheid. g e Wadd , p F gg

in w n an t to ames Potter o f Cha ell. Test at William Shill gla , te J pp

t 3 . Du n s, Oc .