12th Covenanter Trip 26th—28th May 2010 In association with Ballymoney Independent Christian School

Welcome to our ‘12th’ Covenanter Trip

We take a new route this year travelling further north in where more monuments and places of interest await you on our three day trip visiting several Covenanting sites. We will hold a memorial service to martyred , visit the birthplace of Richard Cameron and also have a very special highlight this year by visiting Dunnotar Castle.

We hope you will be blessed of God, renew fellowship with old friends and make many more new friends on our trip.

“Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word” Ps 119 v161

1 Remembering Heroes of the Faith Inside This Booklet It is good to remember heroes of the faith in fact it is very biblical indeed. Paul in his letter to the He- Pg 3 This Years Trip brews Chapter 11 remembers some of the Old Tes- tament Heroes of the faith and the results of their Pg 4 Richard Cameron faith. From Abel's more excellent sacrifice to Jo- seph having faith that his bones should return with Israel to the promised land and through to Samuel Pg 5 Monument at Cupar and the prophets. 19 get a mention plus the proph- ets. Verse 33 gives the results of their faith for Pg 5 through faith they “ subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions.” Pg 8 The Sanquhar Declaration

In our visits to Scotland in our first 11 years we re- membered many of the Covenanters who were mar- Pg 10 Dunnotar Castle and the tyred but who because of their faith eventually saw Imprisoned Covenanters the freedom to worship and give King Jesus his rightful place at the head of His church after the 50 Pg 11 Dunnotar Church years struggle from the National Covenant in 1638 to the Glorious Revolution in 1688. Last year as well as remembering the struggle of the Covenant- Pg 11 ers we held a service in remembrance of Rev John Blackader who was imprisoned on the Bass Rock Pg 12 Did You Know for ‘Christ’s Crown and Covenant and died of ill health . Pg 13 John Wharry & James All over Scotland lie such heroes of the faith. This Smith year we will visit Falkland, the birthplace of the Lion of the Covenant’ Richard Cameron, Cupar & Dunnotar Castle where Covenanters were impris- Pg 14 About the Covenanters oned and Tortured. We have remembered in the past the many that lie in Greyfriars in who were hung at the Grassmarket. Pg 15 Ballymoney Independent Christian School To them all we owe our religious freedom and to remember their faith as they lived. How they lived for Christ during the struggle should be an inspira- tion to us all. Many great preachers died for their “Blessed are they which beliefs including Rev Richard Cameron and Rev are persecuted for right- John Blackader whose life & death we commemo- rated last year. eousness' sake: for theirs This booklet will hopefully give you a little more is the kingdom of heaven.” insight to what lies behind the headstones to those Matt 5:10 heroes of the faith who stood for ‘Christ's Crown and Covenant’ and we hope you will be compelled to read more of our Reformation and Covenanting heritage.

2 Our 12th Covenanters Trip A very warm word of welcome to this our 12th Covenanters Trip. On our trip this year we will again visit sites never previously visited and we are de- lighted to be able to travel a little further afield by having our two night base in Dun- dee. On our first day we will be crossing from Larne to Troon to enable us to make quicker time to Glasgow. From Glasgow we will head North East on the M80 & then the A80 heading for the Firth of Forth. We cross over the bridge at Kincardine and follow the A977 towards Kinross. Before reaching Kinross we will stop for lunch prepared by some of the ladies on our trip, to whom we are always indebted for their labour of love. After a comfort break near Kinross we turn briefly southeast before heading northerly to our first stop in the historic town of Falkland. Here we will see the birthplace of Richard Cameron and have a little time to explore one of the most visited towns in Scotland. From Falkland we again head northeasterly to Cupar, a town which was a hive of covenanting fervour and where we will visit St Michael’s churchyard to see tha famous headstone with one hand and two heads. The hand is that of David Hackston of whom you can read off later in this booklet. After finishing in Cupar we will make our way to the Landmark Hotel in Dundee where we will stay for two nights bed and breakfast and evening meal, in pleasant surroundings . Day two will see us having an early breakfast and start to give us ample time to go north first of all to Stonehaven (a seaside village) and the memorial in the churchyard there to coven- anters who died trying to escape from Dunnotar Castle. A few miles down the coast we come to our main attraction this year that of Dunnotar Castle where there are lots to see and we hope to have the opportunity to sing a Psalm in the vault where the Covenanters were imprisoned. We will take a leisurely route back down the coast stopping for some time in the town of Montrose where you will be able to get a spot of lunch at your leisure and browse the shops. After some free time we will return to our Hotel for the evening. On Day 3 we will visit Dundee where you will have the choice to shop or visit some of the historical sites in the city such as Rev Murray McCheyne’s church before we leave just after lunchtime.

3 Richard Cameron—The Lion of slain. Richard’s head and hands were struck off and carried to Edinburgh, and it is said that the the Covenant man who laid them before the Privy Council offered the simple but eloquent tribute, One of the most noble of the “There’s the head and hands that lived pray- Covenanters was a young man ing and preaching, and died praying and named Richard Cameron. fighting.” It is said also that the sad relics Born in Falkland, Fifeshire, were shown to Cameron’s father, who had about the year 1648, he was been imprisoned in the Tolbooth for helping the son of a prosperous mer- the field preachers at Falkland. The old man chant, and in due course went recognised them, and even amid the tears to college and took the usual gave thanks to God. degree. At first he may have had little sympathy with To some modern eyes, Richard Cameron may Covenanting principles. But seem a strange figure. Some people may think he got into the way of attend- him little more than a hot headed fanatic. But ing the ; and at we must remember the darkness of the Cove- last he stood forth, not only as nanting times; the lamentable way in which a whole-hearted Presbyterian, the religious problem in Scotland was mis- but as a Covenanter of the handled by those in authority; and the insen- sternest and most unbending sate folly with which loyal and God-fearing type. He was too forceful a men and women were tormented and exasper- man to escape notice, and af- ated beyond endurance. ter a time he was persuaded to allow himself to be licensed as a preacher of the In many respects, Richard Cameron is a heroic figure. Gospel. Soon after he was on a visit to Holland, In his absolute fearlessness and outspokenness, in his where many of the extreme Presbyterians were liv- scrupulous fidelity to what he conceived to be the will ing as exiles; and while he was there great things happened in Scotland. The Covenanters took up of God, in his determination to carry his principles to arms. their logical issue - in all these things the man was

At , where The Covenanters met Claver- house and his dragoons, they had a short-lived taste of victory. At Bothwell Brig, their cause sank in “Lord, spare the green and what seemed irretrievable defeat. But when Cam- eron came back from Holland in 1680 he struck a take the ripe.” blow of amazing boldness. One day, about a year af- ter Bothwell Brig, he rode into the market-place of Sanquhar in Dumfriesshire. With him were his brother Michael and a few other companions, all truly great. And, withal, he had a tender heart. When fully armed. After praise and prayer, a paper was he was denouncing the iniquities of the Government or produced, solemnly read aloud, and fixed to the the backslidings of his countrymen, he spoke with a Town Cross. After which, prayer was again offered, storm of invective; but when he was beseeching sinners and then the little company rode away as quietly as to be reconciled to God, he poured out his soul in they had come. strains of affectionate and moving solicitude. And, as we shall see, what he did at Sanquhar was only what The paper was the famous Declaration of Sanquhar; the nation itself did a few years after. He had been and in it Cameron, on behalf of himself and all who called “The Lion of the Covenant”; and the name is not might adhere to him, solemnly disowned Charles ill-chosen. Stewart and declared war against him. Now, in the eye of the law, this was treason, and to many it must have seemed sheer madness. Anyhow, it sealed Cam- eron’s fate. A price of 5,000 merks was set upon his “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile head. For about a month he evaded capture, but at you, and persecute you, and shall say all last he and his friends were surprised by large forces manner of evil against you falsely, for my at Airds Moss, in the parish of Auchinleck, .

There was little time to be spared, but Cameron sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for lifted up an impassioned prayer, in which he cried great is your reward in heaven: for so per- three times, “Lord, spare the green and take the secuted they the prophets which were be- ripe.” The Covenanters fought with magnificent bravery, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. fore you “Matthew 5 v 11 7 12 Richard Cameron and his brother were amongst the

4 Monument at Cupar

Cupar is an old Market Town situated at a cross- ing of the River Eden. Cupar was first mentioned in documents dating from 1381 when Robert II granted the people of Cupar a free port at Guard- bridge at the mouth of the River Eden.

In the late 1600's, Cupar was renowned as a cen- tre of Covenanter activity. In 1680, Archbishop Sharp was murdered by the Covenanters at nearby Magus Muir. David Hackston of Rathillet was present but took no part in the murder was sentenced to death. His right hand was cut off and displayed in Cupar as a deterrent to other Covenanters. The Covenanters heads were also displayed a year later. The parts were later bur- ied in the churchyard and marked with a stone that is engraved with a hand and two heads.

David Hackston

David Hackston led an exceedingly irreligious life during his earlier years, from which he was reclaimed by attending some of the field preachings of the period. From then he was a sincere and devoted convert. David Hackston was involved in the covenanting struggle and notably was present at the , where he distinguished himself by his bravery. On the alarm being given that Claverhouse was in sight, and approaching the position of the coven- anters, who, though they had met there for divine worship, were all well armed, Hackston and Hall of Haugh-head placed themselves at the head of the footmen, and led them gallantly on against the dragoons of Claverhouse. The result of that encounter is well known. The bravery of the covenanters prevailed. The affair of Drumclog was soon after followed by that of Bothwell Brig, where he again made himself conspicuous by his intrepidity, being, with his troop of horse, the last of the whole army of the covenanters on the field of battle. He had flown from rank to rank, when he saw the confusion which was arising amongst the covenanters, and alternately threatened and besought the men to keep their ground. Finding all his efforts vain, "My friends," he said, addressing his troop, "we can do no more, we are the last upon the field;" and he now, retreating himself, endeavoured as much as possible to cover the rear of the fleeing covenanters. David Hackston sought safety in concealment, for, besides what he had to fear from his having carried arms against the government, he had also to face the consequences of a proclamation which had been issued, offering a reward of 10,000 merks for his apprehension, or any of those concerned in the death of the archbishop of St Andrews. He had been present at the time but had refused to take part in the Archbishops death.

5 For twelve months he kept ahead of the authorities, but was at length taken prisoner at the battle of Airsmoss, by Bruce of Earlshall. He had been there along with around sixty others to attend a preaching by Richard Cameron, when they were surprised by Bruce with a large body of horse, and after a desperate resistance, during which Hackston was severely wounded, he and several others were taken. Richard Cameron himself was killed in this affair, with nine of his adherents. David Hackston himself gives a very interesting account of the battle, and, without the slightest aim at effect, has presented us with as remarkable and striking an in- stance of the spirit of the times, of the almost romantic bravery and resolution which religious fervour had inspired into the covenanters, as is upon record.

The group to which Hackston was attached, had been informed that the military were in search of them, and that, to avoid the latter, they had spent some days and nights, previous to their encountering them, in the moors. On the day on which the skirmish took place, while wandering through the morasses, they came upon a spot of grass, which tempted them to halt. Here they laid themselves down and took some refresh- ment, but while thus employed, they were startled with the intelligence that their enemies were approaching them, made up of at least 112 men, well armed and mounted; while the force of the covenanters did not amount to more than sixty-three, of which forty were on foot, and twenty-three on horseback, and the greater part of them but poorly appointed. Undeterred by those odds, Hackston immediately formed his little host in battle array, and, while doing so, asked them if they were all willing to fight. The reply was readily given in the affirmative, and preparations were in- stantly made for a desperate conflict. In the meantime the dragoons were fast advanc- ing towards them. Hackston, however, did not wait for the attack, but put his little band also in motion, and bravely marched on to meet their enemy.

"Our horse," says Hackston, "advanced to their faces, and we fired on each other. I being foremost, after receiving their fire, and finding the horse be- hind me broken, rode in amongst them, and went out at a side without any wrong or wound. I was pursued by severals, with whom I fought a good space, sometimes they following me and sometimes I following them. At length my horse bogged, and the foremost of theirs, which was David Ramsay, one of my acquaintance, we both being on foot, fought it with small swords without ad- vantage of one another; but at length closing, I was striken down with those on horseback behind me, and received three sore wounds on the head, and so falling, he saved my life, which I submitted to. They searched me and carried me to their rear, and laid me down, where I bled much,—where were brought severals of their men sore wounded. They gave us all testimony of being brave resolute men."

Hackston with several others were now, his little party having been defeated, carried prisoners to Douglas, and from thence to Lanark. Here he was brought before Dalyell, who, not being satisfied with his answers, threatened in the brutal manner peculiar to him to roast him for his contumacy. Without any regard to the miserable condition in which Hackston was—dreadfully wounded and worn out with fatigue—Dalyell now ordered him to be put in irons, and to be fastened down to the floor of his prison, and would not allow any medical aid to alleviate his sufferings. On Saturday, two days af-

6 ter the affair of Airsmoss, Rathillet, with three other prisoners, were brought to Edin- burgh. On arriving at the city, they were carried round about by the north side of the town, and made to enter at the foot of the Canongate, where they were received by the magistrates. Here the unparalleled cruelties to which Hackston was subjected commenced.

Before entering the town he was placed upon a horse with "his face backward, and the other three were bound on a goad of iron, and Mr Cameron’s head carried on a halbert before him, and another head in a sack on a lad’s back." And thus disposed, the procession moved up the street towards the Parliament Close, where the prisoners were loosed by the hands of the hangman. Rathillet was immedi- ately carried before the council, and examined regarding the murder of archbishop Sharpe, and on several points relative to his religious and political doctrines. Here he conducted himself with the same fortitude which had distinguished him on other per- ilous occasions, maintaining and defending his opinions, however unpalatable they might be to his judges. After undergoing a second examination by the council, he was handed over to the court of justiciary, with instructions from the former to the latter, to proceed against him with the utmost severity.

On the 29th of July he was brought to trial as an accessory to the murder of the pri- mate, for publishing two seditious papers, and for having carried arms against his sovereign. Rathillet declined the jurisdiction of the court, and refused to plead. This, however, of course, availed him nothing. On the day following he was again brought to the bar, and in obedience to the injunctions of the council, sentenced to suffer a death unsurpassed in cruelty by any upon record, and which had been dictated by the council previous to his trial by the justiciary court, in the certain anticipation of his condemnation. After receiving sentence, he was carried directly from the bar and placed upon a hurdle, on which he was drawn to the place of execution at the cross of Edinburgh. On his ascending the scaffold, where none were permitted to be with him but two magistrates and the executioner, and his attendants, the cruelties to which he had been condemned were begun. His right hand was struck off; but the hangman performing the operation in a tardy and bungling manner, Rathillet, when he came to take off the left hand also, desired him to strike on the joint. This done, he was drawn up to the top of the gallows with a pulley, and allowed to fall again with a sudden and violent jerk. Having been three times subjected to this barbarous proceeding, he was hoisted again to the top of the gibbet, when the executioner with a large knife laid open his breast, before he was yet dead, and pulled out his heart. This he now stuck on the point of a knife, and showed it on all sides to the spectators, crying, "Here is the heart of a traitor." It was then thrown into a fire prepared for the purpose. His body was afterwards quartered.

One quarter, together with his hands, were sent to St Andrews, another to Glasgow, a third to Leith, and a fourth to Burntisland; his head being fixed upon the Netherbow. Thus perished Hackston of Rathillet, a man in whose life, and in the manner of whose death, we find at once a remarkable but faithful specimen of the courage and forti- tude of the persecuted of the seventeenth century, and of the inhuman and relentless spirit of their persecutors.

7 The Sanquhar Declaration

David Hackston was present at two Declarations - the Sanquhar Declara- tion and the Declaration and was likely to have been at many other important events doing his duty as the able lieutenant and bodyguard.

Picture the scene — Richard Cameron with twenty men enter the burgh of Sanquhar; and marching in solemn procession, with drawn swords and pistols in their hands, went to the market-cross.

When they had sung the words from the psalms of David, Michael Cameron Richard’s Brother stepped forward and read aloud a Declaration, which he afterwards affixed to the market-cross. These men were disowning Charles Stuart as their king: -

The Declaration and Testimony of the True Presbyterian, Anti-prelatic, Anti-erastian, persecuted party in Scotland. Published at Sanquhar, June 22, 1680

“It is not amongst the smallest of the Lord’s mercies to this poor land, that there have been always some who have given their testimony against every cause of defection that many are guilty of; which is a token for good, that He doth not, as yet, intend to cast us off altogether, but that He will leave a remnant in whom He will be glorious, if they, through His grace, keep themselves clean still, and walk in His way and method as it has been walked in, and owned by Him in our predecessors of truly worthy memory; in their carrying on of our noble work of reformation, in the several steps thereof, from Popery, Prelacy, and likewise Erastian supremacy—so much usurped by him who, it is true, so far as we know, is descended from the race of our kings; yet he hath so far de- based from what he ought to have been, by his perjury and usurpation in Church mat- ters, and tyranny in matters civil, as is known by the whole land, that we have just reason to account it one of the Lord’s great controversies against us, that we have not disowned him, and the men of his practices, whether inferior magistrates or any other, as enemies to our Lord and His Crown, and the true Protestant and Presbyterian inter- est in this land—our Lord’s espoused bride and Church. Therefore, although we be for government and governors, such as the Word of God and our covenant allows; yet we, for ourselves, and all that will adhere to us as the representative of the true Presbyte- rian Kirk and covenanted nation of Scotland, considering the great hazard of lying un- der such a sin any longer, do by these presents, disown Charles Stuart, that has been reigning, or rather tyrannising, as we may say, on the throne of Britain these years by- gone, as having any right, title to, or interest in, the said Crown of Scotland for govern- ment, as forfeited, several years since, by his perjury and breach of covenant both to

8 God and His Kirk, and usurpation of His Crown and royal prerogatives therein, and many other breaches in matters ecclesiastic, and by tyranny and breach of the very leges regnandi in matters civil. For which reason we declare, that several years since he should have been denuded of being king, ruler, or magistrate, or of having any power to act or to be obeyed as such. As also we, being under the standard of our Lord Jesus Christ, Captain of Salvation, do declare a war with such a tyrant and usurper, and all the men of his practices, as enemies to our Lord Jesus Christ, and His cause and covenants; and against all such as have strengthened him, sided with, or anywise acknowledged him in his tyranny, civil or ecclesiastic; yea, against all such as shall strengthen, side with, or anywise acknowledge any other in like usurpation and tyr- anny—far more against such as would betray or deliver up our free reformed mother Kirk unto the bondage of Antichrist the Pope of Rome. And, by this, we homologate that testimony given at Rutherglen, the 29th of May, 1679, and all the faithful testimo- nies of those who have gone before, as also of those who have suffered of late: and we do disclaim that Declaration published at Hamilton, June, 1679, chiefly because it takes in the king’s interest, which we are several years since loosed from, because of the aforesaid reasons, and other which may, after this, if the Lord will, be published. As also we disown and by this resent the reception of the Duke of York, that professed Pa- pist, as repugnant to our principles and vows to the Most High God, and as that which is the great, though not alone, just reproach of our Kirk and nation. We also, by this, protest against his succeeding to the Crown, and whatever has been done, or any are essaying to do in this land, given to the Lord, in prejudice to our work of reformation. And to conclude, we hope, after this, none will blame us for, or offend at, our reward- ing those that are against us as they have done to us, as the Lord gives opportunity. This is not to exclude any that have declined, if they be willing to give satisfaction ac- cording to the degree of their offence.”

This move by Richard Cameron brought the full weight of the authorities upon this group which resulted in Richard Cam- eron’s death along with 8 others at Airds Moss and others including David Hack- ston being captured and Martyred.

Richard Cameron's grave can be visited at Airds Moss where he fell, and the other 8 are also commemorated on the stone tab- let at the grave.

9

Dunnotar Castle and the Imprisoned Covenanters

Dunottar Castle, now a ruin, is near Stone- haven and about 15 miles south of Aberdeen. Built on an outcrop of sandstone that juts out into the sea it has a rugged beauty and in its day was a fearsome stronghold. It dates to at least the 5th century and the castle was be- sieged by William Wallace in 1297. In 1685 Dunnottar's became a prison for 122 men and 45 women. In particular they were thrown into the "Whigs Vault", which was a room about 55 ft long, 15.1/2 ft wide and 12 ft high with two tiny barred windows. Here they were packed so tight that they could not sit, lean or lie down, and many of them died where they stood. We hope to gather in the vault to sing a Psalm during our visit there.

The incarceration of the Covenanters in Dun- notar stemmed from fears that the staunch Covenanters would support a rebellion and, perhaps, a rescue attempt might be made, when the Duke of Argyll arrived from Holland with troops. Because of this 224 Covenanters from the Tolbooth prisons in Edinburgh were hurried away to an assembly point across the River Forth at Burntisland in in May 1685. Here they were interrogated and some were released on taking oaths of allegiance and giving bonds for their good con- duct. Of these some 36 men and 4 women were able to convince the authorities that they were not dangerous and were returned to Edinburgh. Of the remainder, some escaped and others died on the march through Fife and Forfar to their prison in the dungeons of Dunnotar Castle. The cell was described as cramped without room to sit down , the floor ankle deep in mire, and little fresh air to breath. Their keep was rudimentary and they were even forced to pay for water to drink. Forty of the Covenanters were later trans- ferred to a deep dungeon, and some relief was afforded the women who were allot- ted two rooms to themselves.

There was an attempt by 25 of the prisoners to escape by descending the steep cliff overhanging the sea but in their feeble condition 15 of their number were soon re- captured. Despite their poor condition the escapees were lashed to low benches and tortured for three hours by placing burning slivers of wood between their fin- gers. For some, this treatment was too much and they lost fingers or subsequently died from their injuries.

10 Dunnotar Church We hope to visit Dunnotar Church in Stonehaven where the Covenanter who per- ished on the cliff's of Dunnotar castle are buried. A Memorial stone at the church reads: - HERE LYES JOHN STOT ATCHISON JAMES RUSSELL & WILLIAM BROUN AND ONE WHOSE NAME WEE HAVE NOT GOTTEN AND TWO WOMEN WHOSE NAMES ALSO WEE KNOW NOT AND TWO WHO PERISHED COMING DOUNE THE ROCK ONE WHOSE NAME WAS JAMES WATSON THE OTHER NOT KNOWN WHO ALL DIED PRISONERS IN DUNNOTTAR CASTLE ANNO 1685 FOR THEIR ADHERENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD AND SCOTLAND’S COVENANTED WORK OF REFORMATION REV JJ CH J2 VERSE. The missing names are John White, William Breadie, Marie Gipsone and Jeane Muffet.

Memorial Stone at the Church

Old Mortality

Old Mortality and his Gravestones. and something of a collector of anec- dotes, tales and traditions of the Cov- Robert Paterson was born in 1713 on the enanters. Train told Scott about farm of Haggis Ha, in the parish of Robert Paterson Senior, and that (at Hawick. A stonemason by trade and owner that time ca 1816) his son Robert , of a small quarry, he spent most of his life then aged about 70, was living in Bal- touring the lowlands of Scotland visiting maclellan. and maintaining Covenanter grave sites. His method of cutting or incising of letters Paterson and Scott actually met and the ability to get so much into a lim- when he was on one of his longer jour- ited space makes his work very distinc- neys and cutting a headstone in Dun- tive. He gained some fame as ‘Old Mortal- nottar Churchyard. Sir ity’, the character in the book of the same was on a visit to Dunnottar Castle name by Sir Walter Scott. and was collecting material for what His connection with Scott is said to have became the Waverley Novels, includ- stemmed from a Joseph Train who was the ing "Old Mortality" local excise supervisor in Newton Stewart

11 The Covenanters had many flags with most being a St An- drews cross. This one however, carried by in the Coven- anter’s army by William Cleland at the Battles of Drum- clog and Bothwell Brig in 1679 was made of blue silk, the banner is inscribed at the top with gilded Hebrew charac- ters, which read ‘Jehovah-Nissi’ (The Lord is my Banner). . Cleland was scarcely eighteen years of age, fighting at Drumclog as an Officer of Foot and at Bothwell Brig as Captain. Written in blood red the bottom reads ‘No Quar- ters for Ye Active Enemies of Ye Covenant’.

Extract from the National Covenant 1638 Did you Know? In 1678, the renowned Rev Richard We all, and every one of us underwritten, do pro- test, that after long and due ex- Cameron "The Lion of the Covenant" amination of our own con- was accused by the Presbytery of Dun- sciences in matters of true and score in Scotland of having preached a false religion, we are now thor- virulent sermon at Strabane, County oughly resolved of the truth, by Tyrone, in which he called indulged the word and spirit of God; and ministers "idolators and persecu- therefore we believe with our tors" and "guilty of all the blood hearts, confess with our shed since Abel". mouths, subscribe with our Richard Cameron had a sister Marian hands, and constantly affirm who was also martyred with to other before God and the whole ladies. They were on what is now world, that this only is the true Christian faith known as the Martyrs' Moss, which and religion, pleasing God, and bringing salva- lies between Carsgailoch Hill and Ben tion to man, which now is by the mercy of God Beoch. They were caught by dragoons revealed to the world by the preaching of the who tried to get them to burn their bi- blessed evangel, and received, believed, and de- bles in return for sparing their lives. fended by many and sundry notable kirks and Martyrdom was the inevitable outcome realms, but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland, the for the saintly three, they were shot on King's Majesty, and three estates of this realm, the spot and their bodies buried in as God's eternal truth and only ground of our sal- their clothes in the moss where they vation; as more particularly is expressed in the fell. confession of our faith, established and publicly confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliament; and Richard Cameron’s head & hands were now of a long time hath been openly professed by shown to his father in prison and he the King's Majesty, and whole body of this realm, was asked did he recognise them Tak- both in burgh and land. ing his son’s head and hands which were very fair — being a man of fair To the which confession and form of religion we complexion like himself — he kissed willingly agree in our consciences in all points, as them, and said, 'I know — I know unto God's undoubted truth and verity, grounded only upon His written Word; and therefore we them; they are my son's — my own abhor and detest all contrary religion and doc- dear son's. It is the Lord — good is trine, but chiefly all kind of papistry in general the will of the Lord, who cannot and particular heads, even as they are now wrong me nor mine, but hath made damned and confuted by the Word of God and goodness and mercy to follow us all Kirk of Scotland. our days.'

12 John Wharry and James Smith

There is much poetry about the Covenanters whether as an epitaph, or in song or in memorial inscriptions. This inscription on a marker on the road from Kirkintilloch to Kilsyth gives a flavour:

In this field lies the corpse of John Wharry and James Smith, who suffered in Glasgow, 13 June 1683, for their adherence to the Word of God, and Scotland’s Covenanted Work of Reformation: ‘And they overcame them by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death’” (Rev. xii. 11)

Halt, courteous passenger, and look on Our bodies dead, & lying under this stone. Altho’ we did commit no deed,** nor fact That was against the Bridegroom’s contract, Yet we to Glasgow were as prisoners brought, And against us false witness they sought. Their sentence cruel and unjust they past, And then our corps on scaffold they did cast. There we our lives and right hands also lost. From Glasgow we were brought unto this place In chains of iron hung up for certain space. Then taken down interred here we ly– From ‘neath this stone our blood to heaven doth cry. Had foreign foes, Turks, or Mahometans, Had Scythians, Tartars, Arabian Caravans, Had cruel Spaniards, the Pope’s blood seed, Commenced the same, less strange had been the deed; But Protestants, profest our Covenants to, Our countrymen, this bloody deed could do. Yet notwithstanding of their hellish rage The noble Wharry stepping on the stage With courage bold and with a heart not faint, Exclaims, This blood now seals our covenant– Ending, They who would follow Christ should take Their cross upon their back, the world forsake

13 About the Covenanters "conventicles" in the open air or in barns and houses. This became an offence pun-

ishable by death. Citizens who did not at- The Covenanters are generally regarded as those tend their local churches (which were now people in Scotland who signed the National in the charge of Episcopalian "curates") Covenant in 1638 . They signed this Covenant could be heavily fined, and such offenders to confirm their opposition to the interference by were regarded as rebels, who could be the Stuart kings in the affairs of the Presbyte- questioned, even under torture. They rian Church of Scotland. There were of course could be asked to take various oaths, previous covenants including that of which not only declared loyalty to the the previous century. king, but also to accept his as head of the church. Failure to take such an oath could The Stuart kings harboured the belief of the Di- result in summary execution by the mus- vine Right of the Monarch. Not only did they be- kets of the dragoons, who were scouring lieve that God wished them to be the infallible the districts looking for rebels. rulers of their kingdom - they also believed that they were the spiritual heads of the Church of The persecutions became more frequent Scotland. This latter belief could not be accepted and cruel on the of Charles II by the Scots. No man not even a king, could be in 1660. As time went on more and more spiritual head of their church. Only Jesus Christ ordinary folk became involved, and skir- could be spiritual head of a Christian church. mishes and battles took place against This was the nub of the entire Covenanting Government troops. In 1678 the Govern- struggle. The Scots were, and would have been, ment raised an army of 6,000 Highland- loyal to the Stuart dynasty but for that one stick- ers, who had no love for the Presbyterian ing point, and from 1638, when the Covenant lowlanders. This army swept through the was signed, until the Glorious Revolution - when west and south of Scotland, looting and Prince William of Orange made a bloodless inva- plundering. They remained for many sion of Great Britain in 1688 - a great deal of suf- years, quartering themselves on the al- fering, torture, imprisonment, transportation ready impoverished Covenanters. and executions would ensue.

King Charles I had introduced the Book of Common Prayer to Scot- land in 1637 to the fury and re- sentment of the populace. He de- clared that opposition to the new liturgy would be treason, and thus came about the Covenant.

There followed a period of very se- vere repression. Ministers with Covenanting sympathies were "outed" from their churches by the authorities, and had to leave their parishes. Many continued to preach at

14 BALLYMONEY INDEPENDENT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

This trip has been brought to you in association with Ballymoney Independent Christian School as part of our fundraising Efforts. The school is funded on the main by School fees, Covenants, gifts and some fundraising events like this trip.

Our school has it’s own website and this can be accessed at www.bicschool.co.uk

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22 v 6

Ballymoney Independent Christian School is a privately run; fee paying Nursery and Primary school administered by Hebron Free Presbyterian Church Ballymoney. Our school is open to all parents who have an interest in the spiritual as well as the aca- demic, personal and social development of their child.

Children in the care of Christian teachers, in a loving, well-disciplined environment. The school aims to provide a traditional education founded upon God’s Word using the National Curriculum as its framework.

Have you considered…

Children spend an average of 30 hours a week for at least 12 years of their life at school. Parents cannot afford to be apathetic concerning who educates their child, and how and what they are taught during that time.

In B.I.C.S parents in the Ballymoney area have the opportunity to place their children in the care of Christian Staff, in a Christian environment, with a Bible orientated cur- riculum.

15

In association with Ballymoney Independent Christian School

The Lord Giveth Wisdom

www.bicschool.co.uk

Thank You for joining us on our 12th Covenanter Trip

For 12 years now we have been running this trip to raise funds for Ballymoney Independent Christian School. Starting as a one day trip, progressing then to a two day trip. As it became more popular we tried a three day trip for our 10th anniversary trip. By popular demand we have continued with this format this year. We wish to thank you in the Lord’s name for all your support.

16