Scottish Covenanters

At the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679, over 1200 covenanters were taken prisoner and taken to Edinburgh. Approximately 400 of these prisoners were held in the Covenanters Prison in Greyfriars Churchyard. 

Here they were kept out in the open, exposed to the elements for the winter months. They were kept under guard by tyrant George "Bluidy" MacKenzie. 

The prisoners were given 4 ounces of bread and water each day. Those that died under these conditions were buried in the part of the kirkyard reserved for criminals. Those that survived the winter were either executed come spring, or shipped off to Barbadosas slaves.  Of those who were executed, some 100 were burned and their ashes buried under the Martyrs Memorial. 

Although quite weathered, the inscription reads:

Halt passenger take heed what thou dost see

This tomb doth shew for what some men did die

Here lies interr'd the dust of these who stood

Gainst perjury resisting unto blood

Adhering to the Covenants and Laws

Establishing the same which was the Cause

Then their lives were sacrificed unto the Lust

Or Prelatist's abjur'd though here their dust

Lies mixt with murders and other crew

Whom justice did justly to death pursue

But as for this in them no cause was found

Worthy of death but only they were found

Constant and steadfast zealous witnessing

For the prerogatives of CHRIST their king

Which truths were feared by famous Guthrie's head

And all along to Mr Ranwick's blood

They did endure the wrath of enemies

Reproaches torments deaths and injuries

But yet they're these who from such troubles came

And now triumph in glory with the LAMB

From May 27th 1661 that the noble Marquess of Argyle suffered to the 17th of Febr 1688 that Mr James Ranwick suffr'd were executed at Edinburgh about an hundred of Noblemen Gentlemen Ministers & others noble martyrs for JESUS CHRIST. The most part of them lies here.

This Tomb was erected anno 1706.

If you have covenanter ancestors:

http://search.ancestry.ca/search/db.aspx?dbid=7021