Field Meetings. 25 



monument is an obelisk about thirty feet high, about seven feet 

 square at the base, and built of the granite of the district. The 

 side bears the following inscription : — 



Erected in 



Memory of the Martyrs 



R. Fergusson, J. M 'Median 



R. Stuart and J. Grier 



who fell on this spot 18 Dec. 1684 



from a collection made here 



on the 16 Aug. 1835 



and the profits of the sermon 



afterwards published 



preached on that day 



by the 



Rev. R. Jeffray of Girthon 



Daniel III. 17 and IS 



About a dozen yards off, at the foot of the knoll on which the 

 monument stands, there is a little tombstone about two feet high, 

 the inscription on which is still very easily read, thanks to the 

 labours of "Old Mortality," who reiiewed the lettera The inscrip- 

 tion is as follows on one side of the stone :— 



' Here lyes Robert Ferguisson who was surprised and 

 instantly shot to death on this place by Graham of 

 Claverhouse for his adherence to Scotland's ' 



And on the other side surmounted by a skull and cross bones, and 



the legend — 



' Mementi Mori ' 



Reformatione Covenants Xationall and Solemn 



League 1684. 



As we stood on the stejjs of the monument we could not help 

 jnctui-ing to ourselves the scene enacted here on that cold December 

 morning on this desolate moorland as Claverhouse hunted his 

 poor victims to death. The view from the spot is singularly 

 bleak and wild, and there is not a single dwelling within sight. 

 Numerous Swifts were flying about ; and it was thought likely, 

 as there are no other suitable breeding places within miles, that 

 they have their nests in the granite cliffs on the other side of the 

 glen, Avhich are yet occupied by the Raven and Peregrine Falcon. 

 The whole party met again at the boat, the white Avaterj^roof of a 

 non-working antiquaiy being, as at other times during the day, a 

 useful rallying point for wandered Members. Notes were com- 

 pared, and it was found that some interesting sj^ecimens had been 

 obtained. Mr M'Andrew had gathered a large number of Carices, 



