Religion & morality > Cloud of witnesses, for the royal prerogatives of Jesus Christ, or, The last speeches and testimonies of those who suffered for the truth in Scotland, in the years 1681-1688, with an appendix, containing the Queensferry paper, Torwood excommunications, &c

EPITAPHS.
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My blood a witness still doth stand,
’Gainst all defections in this land.
Upon a. stone in the church-yard of Straioun, on the body of Thomas M’H af-
fie, who was taken out of his bed, being sick of a fever, and shot by Cap¬
tain Bruce, in that parish, 1685.
Though I was sick and like to die,
Yet bloody Bruce did murder me ;
Because I adhered in my station
To our covenanted reformation.
My blood for vengeance yet doth call,
Upon Zion’s haters all.
Upon a stone in the church-yard of Tweed's-muir, lying on the body of John
Hunter, who was shot at Corehead, by Col. James Douglas, 1675.
When Zion’s king was robbed of his right,
His witnesses in Scotland put to flight;
When Papists, Prelates, and Indulgency,
Combin’d ’gainst Christ to ruin Presbytry,
All who would not unto these idols bow,
They sought them out, and whom they found they slew :
For owning of Christ’s cause I then did die,
My blood for vengeance on his enemies doth cry.
Upon the* gravestone of Thomas Burn, James Wood, Andrew Sword,
John Waddell and John Clyde, who suffered martyrdom at Magus-
muir, Nov. 25th, 1689, and lye buried in a corn-field near Magus-muir, is
this inscription.
’Cause we at Bothweli did appear,
Perjurious oaths refused to swear ;
’Cause we Christ’s cause would not condemn,
We were sentenc’d to death by men,
Who rag’d against us in such fury,
Our dead bodies they did not bury ;
But up on poles did hing us high,
Triumphs of Babel’s victory.
Our lives we fear’d not to the death,
But constant prov’d to the last breath.
' When the grave-stone was set up, in October, 1738, the chains were ta¬
ken out of their graves, and some of their bones and clothes were found un¬
decayed—49 years after their death.
Upon the gravestone of Andrew Guilline, who suffered at the Gallowlee of
Edinburgh, July 20th, 1683, and afterwards was hung upon a pole in
Magus-muir, and lies buried in the Long-cross of Clermont, near Magus-
A Faithful martyr here doth lye,
A witness against perjury ;
Who cruelly was put to death,
To gratify proud Prelates’ wrath ;
They cut his hands ere he was dead,
And after that struck off his head.
To Magus-muir then did him bring,
His body on a pole did hing.
His blood under the altar cries,
For vengeance on Christ’s enemies.