unfolding that mystery. In fine, the aim of the Covenanting teacher was to impress men with the elementary idea of the Holy Word, and of the Reformers, that Justification is by faith of the individual sinner.

EPITAPHS ON THE MONUMENTS OF SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS OF THE MARTYRS

THE inscriptions upon the gravestones of many martyred Covenanters are entitled to respect as far as their credibility is concerned. So early as 1686, the Societies had under consideration a proposal for collecting and publishing the testimonies of the martyrs, and on 21st April 1697, a resolution to this effect was come to, 'that a true and exact account of the persecutors' be brought to the next General Meeting. In April 1699, it was enjoined that an Index of the Martyrs' Testimonies should be made. In October 1701, it was resolved that 'all the Correspondences provide and make stones as signs of honour to be set on the graves of our late Martyrs,' with their names furnished, 'in order for the epitaphs, and also an account of these Martyrs' carriage and behaviour in the time of their martyrdom.'

Thus about fifteen years after the time of the hottest persecution, steps were being taken to record the facts of the case, so long as eye and ear witnesses were alive. Some of the inscriptions written in metre, probably by one of the Secretaries to the Societies, suggest the idea that they were to be sung, to such a melody as the Old 124th Psalm tune, when the wanderers met beside the dust of their departed friends.1

James Currie and others erected the monument to the Martyrs in Greyfriars' Churchyard, Edinburgh.2

'OLD MORTALITY'

Robert Paterson, stone-mason, the prototype of Sir Walter Scott's 'Old Mortality,' was the youngest son of Walter Paterson and Margaret Scott, and was born at Burnflatt or Haggiesha', a mile out of Hawick, on the 25th April 1716. He became lessee of Gatelawbridge Quarry, Morton, Dumfriesshire, about 1745. In his peregrinations through the south-west of Scotland erecting tombstones he also re-cut the inscriptions on the gravestones of the Covenanters. He died at Bankend, Caerlaverock, on the 14th February 1801. For an account of his work see a series of articles by the author in the Dumfries Standard, in 1898-1900, entitled 'Chiselprints of Old Mortality.' His monument, executed by John Currie, Dumfries, is erected in the grounds of Dumfries Observatory. A replica, of which a photograph appears in this volume, stands in the grounds of Holm, Balmaclellan.

1 Thomson, A Cloud of Witnesses, Introd. x.; Hutcheson, The Reformed Presbyterian Church, 132.

2 Edin. Town Council Minutes, 28th August 1706; Passages in the Lives of Helen Alexander, etc., q.v. The original slab is preserved in Edinburgh Corporation Museum. A photograph of it appears in this volume, p. 220.

HERE LYETH ROBERT STEWART SON

TO MAJOR

ROBERT STEWART OF ARDOCH AND JOHN GRIERSON WHO WERE MURDERED BY GRAHAM OF CLAVER

BEHOLD! BEHOLD! A STONE'S HERE FORCED TO CRY

COME SEE TWO MARTYRS UNDER ME THAT LY

AT WATER OF DEE WHO SLAIN WERE BY THE HAND

OF CRUEL CLAVERHOUSE AND'S BLOODIE BAND

NO S'OONER HAD HE DONE THIS HORRID THING

BUT'S FORCED TO CRY STEWART'S SOUL IN HEAVEN DOTH SING
YET STRANGE! HIS RAGE PURSUED EVEN SUCH WHEN DEAD

AND IN THE TOMBS OF THEIR ANCESTORS LAID

CAUSING THEIR CORPS BE RAIS'D OUT OF THE SAME

DISCHARGING IN CHURCHYARD TO BURY THEM

ALL THIS THEY DID 'CAUSE THEY WOULD NOT PERJUre

(See Photograph, p. 448)

DALRY, KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE

INSCRIPTION ON MONUMENT IN ST. JOHN'S CHURCHYARD,

HOUSE ANNO 1684 FOR THEIR ADHERENCE

ENTOS ON TVNOILVN SLNVNHAO NV NOI AN OL

INSCRIPTION ON STONE AT CLAREMONT FARM

MAGUS MOOR, ST. ANDREWS

The Grave Ston of
Andreu Gullin who Suffred
At the Gallowlee of Edinburgh
July 1683 & Afterward was
hung upon a pol in Magus
Muir and lyeth hiar

A faithful martyr her doth ly
A witness against perjury
Who cruelly was put to death
To gratify proud prelates wrath
They cut his hands ere he was dead
To Magus Muir they did him bring
His body on a pole did hing
His blood under the altar cries

For vengeance on Christ's enemies

EPITAPH ON FLAT SLAB AT PRIESTSHIEL (PRIESTHILL), MUIRKIRK (See Photograph, p. 470)

CLAVERHOUSE FOR HIS TESTI

BROWN WHO WAS MURDERED IN THIS PLACE BY GRAHAM OF

INSCRIPTION ON SLAB AT MAUCHLINE

HERE LIES THE BODIES OF PETER
GILLIES, JOHN BRYCE, THOMAS YOUNG
WILLIAM FIDDISON, & JOHN BRUNING
WHO WERE APPREHENDED AND HANGED
WITHOUT TRIAL AT MAUCHLINE ANNO
1685. ACCORDING TO THE THEN WICKED'S

LAWS FOR THEIR ADHERENCE TO THE
COVENANTED WORK OF

REFORMATION. REV. XII. II

BLOODY DUMBARTON, DOUGLAS AND DUNDEE

MOVED BY THE DEVIL AND THE LAIRD OF LEE

DRAGGED THESE FIVE MEN TO DEATH WITH GUN AND SWORD
NOT SUFFERING THEM TO PRAY NOR READ GOD'S WORD

OWNING THE WORD OF GOD WAS ALL THEIR CRIME

THE EIGHTY FIVE WAS A SAINT KILLING TIME

Erected by subscription in 1850. The old decayed tombstone from which the above inscription is copied lies below.

INSCRIPTION ON MONUMENT AT CRAIGHAUGH, DUMFRIESSHIRE ERECTED IN 1702, REPAIRED IN 1825

INSCRIPTION ON STONE IN CROSSMICHAEL CHURCHYARD

KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE

HERE LYES

WILLIAM GRAHAM

WHO MAKEING HIS

ESCAPE FROM HIS
MOTHER'S HOUSE

WAS PERSUED AND
TAKEN AND INSTANT
LY SHOT DEAD BY

A PARTY OF CLAVER
HOUSE'S TROOP FOR

(other side)

MEMENTO MORI

HIS ADHERENCE
TO SCOTLAND'S

REFORMATION CO

VENANTS NATION
AL AND SOLEMN
LEAGUE 1682

INSCRIPTION ON STONE IN COLMONELL CHURCHYARD

I MATTHEW M'ILWRAITH IN THIS PARISH OF COLMONELL

BY BLOODY CLAVERHOUSE I FELL

WHO DID COMMAND THAT I SHOULD DIE

FOR OWNING COVENANTED PRESBYTERY

MY BLOOD, A WITNESS STILL DOTH STAND
'GAINST ALL DEFECTIONS IN THIS LAND

INSCRIPTION ON STONE IN SORN CHURCHYARD
COMMEMORATING THE LAST OF THE MARTYRS

HERE LYES GEORG

WOOD WHO WAS SHOT

AT TINKHORNHILL BY BL
OODY JOHN REID TRVPER
FOR HIS ADHERANCE TO

THE WORD OF GOD AND
THE COVENANTED WORK
OF REFORMATION 1688