Memorial Type:

Memorial - Funerary

Does the monument still exist?

Yes

Installation Date:

1771

Inscription:

Halt, passenger, take heed what you do see

This tomb doth shew, for what some men did do

Here lies interr’d the dust of those who stood

‘Gainst perjury, resisting unto blood.

Adhering to the Covenant, and laws

Establishing the same, which was the cause

Then lives were sacrificed unto the lust

Of Prelatists abjured. Though here their dust

Lies mixt with murderers, and other crew

Whom justice justly did to death pursue.

But as for them, no cause was to be found

Worthy of death, but only they were found.

Constant and stedfast zealous as

For the Prerogative of CHRIST their KING.

Which truths were sealed by famous Guthrie’s head

And all along to Mr Renwick’s blood

They did endure the wrath of enemies'

Reproaches, torments, deaths and injustice

But yet they‘re those who from such troubles came

And now triumph in glory with the LAMB.

From May 27th 1661, that the most noble Marquis of Argyle was beheaded, to the 17th of Febry 1688 that Mr James Renwick suffered, were one way or other Murdered and Destroyed for the same Cause, about

Eighteen thousand of whom were execute in Edinburgh about a Hundred of Noblemen, Gentlemen, Minister, and Others noble

Martyrs for JESUS CHRIST. The most of them lie here.



For a particular account of the cause and manner of their Sufferings we

The Cloud of Witnesses, Crookshanks and Defoe’s Histories.

Rev.VI.9 AND WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE

FIFTH SEAL, I SAW UNDER THE ALTER THE

SOULS OF THEM THAT WERE SLAIN

FOR, THE WORD OF GOD, AND FOR

THE TESTIMONT WHICH THEY HELD;

AND THEY CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE,

SAYING, HOW LONG, O LORD, HOLY

AND TRUE, DOST THOU NOT JUDGE &

AVENGE OUR BLOOD ON THEM THAT

DWELL ON THE EARTH? AND WHITE

ROBES WERE GIVEN TO EVERY

ONE OF THEM AND IT WAS SAID

UNTO THEM THAT THEY SHOULD REST

YET FOR A LITTLE SEASON UN

TIL THERE FELLOW-SERVANTS ALSO

AND THEIR BRETHREN, THAT SHOULD

BE KILLED AS THEY WERE, SHOULD

BE FULFILLED.

REV.VII.14. THESE ARE THEY

WHICH CAME OUT OF GREAT

TRIBULATION, AND HAVE WASHED

THEIR ROBES, AND MADE THEM

WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.

CHAP.2nd.10. BE THOU

FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL

GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE.

Allegiance:

Scots Covenanter

Condition:

Poor

Condition Description:

Because the tomb is incorporated into a listed building, no recutting or replacing of the stonework has been allowed. The Scottish Covenanter Memorial Association and Greyfriars Kirkyard Trust has paid for maintenance of the stone, by injecting silicon solution to bind the stonework together, to varying degrees of success. The Bible inscription below the main plaque, has been replaced with a brass plaque.

Memorial Notes:

Submitted by Warwick Louth