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

PARISH OF CUMNOCK. 365
PARISH OF COLMONELL.
In the churchyard Matthew Meiklewrath, a Covenanter slain by
Claverhouse, is commemorated thus : —
" I, Mathew M'llraith, in parish of Colmonell,
By bloody Claverhouse I fell,
Who did command that I should die
For our Covenanted Presbytery,
My blood a witness still doth stand
'Gainst all defections in this land."
Near the cross-water of Dusk, John Murchie and Daniel Meikle-
wrath, Covenanters, are on their gravestone celebrated in these
lines : —
" Here in this place two martyrs lye,
Whose blood to heaven hath a loud cry ;
Murder'd contrary to divine laws,
For owning of King Jesus' cause ;
By bloody Drummond they were shot,
Without any trial, near this spot."
PAEISH OF CUMNOCK.
In the churchyard of Cumnock a time-worn tombstone and two
aged thorns denote the grave of the celebrated Alexander Peden.
This uncompromising and eloquent upholder of Covenanting prin-
ciples was born in the parish of Sorn in 1626. He was originally
parish schoolmaster of Tarbolton. In 1659 he was ordained pastor
of New Luce, in Galloway, but after three years was ejected for
refusing to acquiesce in the establishment of Episcopacy. In 1666
he was by the Privy Council pronounced a rebel for continuing to
exercise his ministerial functions. Captured in 1673, he was confined
to the Bass till 1678. He was now with sixty others put on board
a vessel for transportation to Virginia. The captain, having refused