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the Covenant at Lanark； were sent to the people of that town to expiate that crime； by placing these arms on the top of the prison。' （6） Among these was John Neilson； the Laird of Corsack； who saved Turner's life at Dumfries； in return for which service Sir James attempted； though without success； to get the poor man reprieved。 One of the condemned died of his wounds between the day of condemnation and the day of execution。 ' None of them；' says Kirkton； 'would save their life by taking the declaration and renouncing the Covenant； though it was offered to them。 。 。 。 But never men died in Scotland so much lamented by the people； not only spectators； but those in the country。 When Knockbreck and his brother were turned over； they clasped each other in their armes； and so endured the pangs of death。 When Humphrey Colquhoun died； he spoke not like an ordinary citizen； but like a heavenly minister； relating his comfortable Christian experiences； and called for his Bible； and laid it on his wounded arm； and read John iii。 8； and spoke upon it to the admiration of all。 But most of all； when Mr。 M'Kail died； there was such a lamentation as was never known in Scotland before； not one dry cheek upon all the street； or in all the numberless windows in the mercate place。' （7）
The following passage from this speech speaks for itself and its author：
'Hereafter I will not talk with flesh and blood； nor think on the world's consolations。 Farewell to all my friends； whose company hath been refreshful to me in my pilgrimage。 I have done with the light of the sun and the moon； welcome eternal light； eternal life； everlasting love； everlasting praise； everlasting glory。 Praise to Him that sits upon the throne； and to the Lamb for ever！ Bless the Lord； O my soul； that hath pardoned all my iniquities in the blood of His Son； and healed all my diseases。 Bless Him； O all ye His angels that excel in strength； ye ministers of His that do His pleasure。 Bless the Lord； O my soul！' （8）
After having ascended the gallows ladder he again broke forth in the following words of touching eloquence： 'And now I leave off to speak any more to creatures； and begin my intercourse with God； which shall never be broken off。 Farewell father and mother； friends and relations！ Farewell the world and all delights！ Farewell meat and drink！ Farewell sun； moon； and stars！ … Welcome God and Father！ Welcome sweet Jesus Christ； the Mediator of the new covenant！ Welcome blessed Spirit of grace and God of all consolation！ Welcome glory！ Welcome eternal life！ Welcome Death！' （9）
At Glasgow； too； where some were executed； they caused the soldiers to beat the drums and blow the trumpets on their closing ears。 Hideous refinement of revenge！ Even the last words which drop from the lips of a dying man … words surely the most sincere and the most unbiassed which mortal mouth can utter … even these were looked upon as poisoned and as poisonous。 'Drown their last accents；' was the cry； 'lest they should lead the crowd to take their part； or at the least to mourn their doom！' （10） But； after all； perhaps it was more merciful than one would think …unintentionally so； of course； perhaps the storm of harsh and fiercely jubilant noises； the clanging of trumpets； the rattling of drums； and the hootings and jeerings of an unfeeling mob； which were the last they heard on earth； might； when the mortal fight was over； when the river of death was passed； add tenfold sweetness to the hymning of the angels； tenfold peacefulness to the shores which they had reached。
Not content with the cruelty of these executions； some even of the peasantry； though these were confined to the shire of Mid…Lothian； pursued； captured； plundered； and murdered the miserable fugitives who fell in their way。 One strange story have we of these times of blood and persecution： Kirkton the historian and popular tradition tell us alike of a flame which often would arise from the grave； in a moss near Carnwath； of some of those poor rebels： of how it crept along the ground； of how it covered the house of their murderer； and of how it scared him with its lurid glare。
Hear Daniel Defoe： （11）
'If the poor people were by these insupportable violences made desperate； and driven to all the extremities of a wild despair； who can justly reflect on them when they read in the Word of God 〃That oppression makes a wise man mad〃？ And therefore were there no other original of the insurrection known by the name of the Rising of Pentland； it was nothing but what the intolerable oppressions of those times might have justified to all the world； nature having dictated to all people a right of defence when illegally and arbitrarily attacked in a manner not justifiable either by laws of nature； the laws of God； or the laws of the country。'
Bear this remonstrance of Defoe's in mind； and though it is the fashion of the day to jeer and to mock； to execrate and to contemn； the noble band of Covenanters … though the bitter laugh at their old…world religious views； the curl of the lip at their merits； and the chilling silence on their bravery and their determination； are but too rife through all society … be charitable to what was evil and honest to what was good about the Pentland insurgents； who fought for life and liberty； for country and religion； on the 28th of November 1666； now just two hundred years ago。
EDINBURGH； 28TH NOVEMBER 1866。
（1） CLOUD OF WITNESSES； p。 389； Edin。 1765。 （2） Kirkton； p。 247。 （3） Ibid。 p。 254。 （4） IBID。 p。 247。 （5） IBID。 pp。 247； 248。 （6） Kirkton； p。 248。 （7） Kirkton； p。 249。 （8） NAPHTALI； p。 205； Glasgow； 1721。 （9） Wodrow； p。 59。 （10） Kirkton； p。 246。 （11） Defoe's HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND。
THE DAY AFTER TO…MORROW
HISTORY is much decried； it is a tissue of errors； we are told； no doubt correctly； and rival historians expose each other's blunders with gratification。 Yet the worst historian has a clearer view of the period he studies than the best of us can hope to form of that in which we live。 The obscurest epoch is to…day； and that for a thousand reasons of inchoate tendency； conflicting report； and sheer mass and multiplicity of experience； but chiefly； perhaps； by reason of an insidious shifting of landmarks。 Parties and ideas continually move； but not by measurable marches on a stable course； the political soil itself steals forth by imperceptible degrees； like a travelling glacier； carrying on its bosom not only political parties but their flag…posts and cantonments； so that what appears to be an eternal city founded on hills is but a flying island of Laputa。 It is for this reason in particular that we are all becoming Socialists without knowing it； by which I would not in the least refer to the acute case of Mr。 Hyndman and his horn…blowing supporters； sounding their trumps of a Sunday within the walls of our individualist Jericho … but to the stealthy change that has come over the spirit of Englishmen and English legislation。 A little while ago； and we were still for liberty； 'crowd a few more thousands on the bench of Government；'