Sanquhar Burgh Cross. 243 



rebels was made. P'rom the roval proclamation we also learn 

 that several persons belonging to the district were concerned in 

 the affair. These included a " brother-in-law of Robert Park, 

 Bailie (afterwards Provost) of Sanquhar." Crocket, in his "Men 

 of the Moss Hags," has given a novelist's version of the publishing 

 of the declaration. 



In addition to the first Sanquhar declaration no less than 

 other five were published at the Cross of the old 'burgh. The 

 chief of these was that published bv Rev. James Renwick on 28th 

 May, 1685. The members of the Covenanting faction in the 

 district met at Friarminnon, in Kirkconnel, and after deliberation, 

 proceeded to Sanquhar, where at the Cross they declared that 

 " Although a few wicked and unprincipled men had proclaimed 

 James Duke of York a professed Papist and excommunicated 

 person to be iN^ing of Scotland, we the contending and faithful 

 remnant of the Church of Scotland do hereby deliberately jointly 

 and unanimously protest against the foresaid proclamation." 

 Renwick's declaration was published with more pomp than 

 Cameron's, for as he made his way to the Cross Renwick was 

 attended by no fewer than 200 armed men, and we can well 

 believe the words of the historian, " Their sudden appearance 

 without warning in the heart of the town caused considerable 

 alarm in the townfolk at the unceremonious intrusion of so large a 

 force." 



The other four declarations were published at the Cross. 

 The first on 10th August, 1692; the second on November 6th, 

 1695; the third on May 21st, 1703; and the fourth on 2nd Octo- 

 ber, 1707. These were all after the Revolution Settlement of 

 1689, and all protested more or less vigorously against the same. 

 Regarding the publishing of the last of these declarations a very 

 interesting account has been preserved in the " Memoirs of Ker of 

 Kersland." It appears that the Covenanters met at Kelloside, 

 near Sanquhar, and from there marched to the Cross. Their 

 protest related to the Union of the Parliaments, and in no 

 measured terms did they denounce it, showing to their own satis- 

 faction that it was a breach of Divine law, a forsaking of the 

 Almighty, and a " plain subversion of the fundamental ancient 

 constitutions, laws, and liberties of this kingdom which we, as a 

 free people, have enjoyed for the space of about two thousand 

 years without ever being fullv conquered. We have thought fit to 



