248 Sanquhar Burgh Cross. 



now, but I have one of the copies, and from it I take the following 

 lines which give a fair idea of the work : — 



The Rebels proclaimed their declaration, 



On Sanquhar Cross fixed such publication. 



To the King they knew the old burgh had sworn 



Allegiance and service evening and morn. 



This old burgh therefore forfeited its claim 



To municipal privileges Royal, 



Tainted, perjured, corrupted, disloyal. 



Such deeds to perpetuate and preserve, 



A monument granite such end would serve. 



By our Modern Magnates carnally wise 



Erected, and thus it testifies 



Of Rebels unholy who seized the town. 



And of Burghal Authorities who in sooth 



Were sworn to the King to defend his cause 



And fight for his crown and country's laws. 



Behind the Cross still stands the old prison of the Burgh. 

 Its walls are of great thickness, and in some parts the mortar used 

 appears to have been clay. The house is now used as a dwelling- 

 house, and is probably the oldest building within the Burgh. 

 During the troublous times which followed the execution of King 

 Charles in 1649 a prisoner in this old prison was the means of 

 causing a great tumult in the town. This prisoner was David 

 Veitch, brother of the Laird of Dawick, and a member of the same 

 family that afterwards had possession of Eliock estate. This Veitch 

 had been actively engaged on the side of King Charles II., and 

 had been arrested and confined in the old prison in Sanquhar. It 

 so happened that as he was lying there two troops of English 

 Dragoons serving under the Commonwealth happened to meet in 

 the town, the one troop, under Captain Mason, coming from 

 Carlisle, and the other, under Captain Palmer, coming from Ayr. 

 They met opposite the Burgh Cross, and Veitch, hearing them, 

 rushed to the window and shouted to them to fight for King 

 Charles. Each troop thought that he was exhorting the other 

 and that the other Avas composed of King's men. The result 

 was that they started to fight, and the party from Ayr being 

 the stronger, the other was driven back. They made their 

 wav to Christon Peel, where there was an English garrison, and 



