Grampian Club > Monuments and monumental inscriptions in Scotland > Volume 1

PARISH OF KIRKCUDBRIGHT. 337
" Sexum animis, pietate genus, generosa locumque
Virtute exsuperans, conditur hoc tumulo."
William Hunter and Eobert Smith, two of the six Covenanters
captured by Graham of Claverhouse, at Auchencloy, were e xecuted
at Kirkcudbright, and interred in this churchyard, A tombstone
placed on their graves was thus inscribed : —
" This monument shall show posterity
Two headless martyrs under it do ly,
By bloody Graham were taken and surpris'd
Brought to this town, and afterwards were seiz'd ;
By unjust law were sentenced to die,
Them first they hang'd, then headed cruelly.
Captain Douglas, Bruce, Graham of Claverhouse,
Were those tliat caused them to be handled thus :
And when they were unto the gibbet come,
To stop their speech, they did beat up the drum,
And all because they would not comply
With Indulgence, and bloody Prelacy.
In face of criiel Bruce, Douglas, and Graham,
They did maintain, that Christ was Lord supreme ;
And boldly owned both the covenants.
At Kirkcudbright thus ended these two saints."
John Halkin, another Covenanter, who was also tried and exe-
cuted in Kirkcudbright, is interred in the churchyard. The
inscription on his tombstone reads thus : —
" Here lyes John Halkine, who was wounded in his taking and
by unjust law sentenced to be hanged. All tliis was done by
Captain Douglas for his adherence to Scotland's Keformation
Covenants national and solemn league 1685."
A tombstone in memory of Andrew Ewart bears these lines : —
" Welcome soft bed, my sweet repose,
And so for Christ from Heaven arose ;
Welcome sweet sleep from to awake
Of endless joys for to partake ;
Welcome fair night, thy fairest morrow
Drives from mine eyes eternal sorrow ;
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