Lesmahagow

We pass over, with simple mention, the brilliant career of Montrose in defence of his faithless masters, Charles I. and II., the successes of Oliver Cromwell, the surrender of Charles I. to the Scottish army, and their surrender of him to the English Parliament, the King's confinement at Hampton Court, his escape and imprisonment, the treaty with the Scotch known as the " engagement," the High Court of Justiciary appointed to try the King, his trial, and finally his execution in 1649.

The proclamation of Charles II. as King by the Scottish Parliament, and the Confession of Faith as agreed upon by an Assembly of Divines at Westminster, and ratified by the General Assembly of the Scottish Church in 1647, can only be mentioned in passing. The trial of the Marquis of Argyle, the Act of Conformity, the burning of the Solemn League and Covenant by orders of the Scottish Parliament, the arbitrary measures of the Privy Council, and their determined efforts to force Episcopacy upon the Scottish nation, are historical facts so well known as to make it out of place here to dwell upon them. Posterity has acknowledged that Scotland owes nearly all that she possesses of civil and religious liberty to the dauntless bearing of our Covenanting forefathers at a critical period of her history. That they were but men is admitted; but while the timid and faint?hearted quailed, they stood forth, as the Puritans and Roundheads did in England, the champions of their country's rights. The last princes of the Stewart dynasty, like the Bourbons of later times, were in reality incapable of learning anything, or of forgetting anything. They did appear at times to abandon their arbitrary and high?handed measures in obedience to State policy when rebuked by the national voice, but at heart it is feared they were but traitors to their country. The Revolution of 1688 brought to a termination the miserable discord and oppression which had so long ?existed, and under William and Mary and their successors on the throne, such toleration has been extended to all parties in religious matters, that the remark is occasionally heard that a " Solemn League and Covenant" is required as a safeguard against the encroachments of Popery.

The historian of the " Sufferings of the Church of Scotland" informs us that the people of Lesmahagow were steadfast in their adherence to Scotland's covenanted work of Reformation; that they suffered spoiling of their goods, that a strong body of soldiers was quartered within the parish to overawe them, and put down the fieldpreachings, and that the whole inhabitants above sixteen years of age, both men and women, were ordered in 1680 to appear before appointed authorities, and make oath whether or not they had "resetted " or relieved any of those who were proscribed by Government. No fewer than thirty?nine persons were compelled to flee for their lives, and sixty were criminally charged for having received into their houses or held conversation with their persecuted brethren.
In 1660, orders were given for the seizure and imprisonment of Mr. Andrew Hay of Craignethan and some others, for having met to draw up "an humble supplication and address" to Charles II. on matters of religion. Hay made his escape, and his offences were forgotten or forgiven, as in 1678 he was so far in favour with the Government as to be named a Commissioner of Supply. He was retaken and imprisoned, probably circa 1684. In 1685 he was liberated in consequence of sickness, but was kept on parole in the town of Edinburgh, under the penalty of 10,000 merks. In 1666, the Presbyterians of the West marched by Muirkirk, Douglas, Lesmahagow, and Lanark, to Pentland. William Lawrie of Auchenheath, Tutor of Blackwood, although a friend to the Presbyterian cause, strenuously endeavoured to induce them to desist from the enterprise, but without avail. Many of his tenants were at the battle of Pentland, and his offence in the eyes of the Government was, that after their defeat he had countenanced the rebels, i.e., allowed them to farm his lands, and held intercourse with them. Lawrie was tried in 1683, was found guilty, and adjudged "to be taken to the merkat cross of Edinburgh, there to have his head severed from his body; his name, memory, fame, and honours to be extinct, and his lands to be forfeited to his Majesty for ever." He was however respited, and about a year afterwards pardoned, through the influence of the Marquis of Douglas, but was fined in £600 Scots.

On the 30th of March 1679, there was a field?preaching at Cumberhead, and a large concourse of people assembled. Soldiers were sent to disperse them, and a skirmish ensued, in which their captain was wounded and a few of his men taken prisoners, but soon dismissed. On the other side, a few women lost their plaids and pocket Bibles. This scuffle, as Wodrow terms it, formed the pretext for quartering troops upon the parish, and a commission, consisting of four noblemen, was appointed to sit at Lanark, with powers to inquire into "the horrible rebellion," and to punish the so?called rebels. Among others imprisoned and tried was John Williamson of Lesmahagow, but they failed in apprehending William Weir, servant at Bourtries, who was suspected of having wounded the officer before mentioned. The others were set at liberty. The Lauderdale version of this affair will be found in Appendix, Note P.