Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-08-27
Autes ua fureign gands.
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL IN SCOTLAND.

NplR5 pu JpERlyn gyaA~9'
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL IN SCOTLAND.
BY REV. R. LATHAM.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.]
In going from the railway station at Stir
ling to the Castle, the street, or streets per-
haps I had better say, lead in west or
northwest direction, through the new cem-
etery. The streets are not by any means,
beautiful. They are narrow, dirty and up a
steep hill. In some places the streetWay is
dug down and has the general appearance
of a railroad cut. On the north of this val
lev is the rock on which the Castle stands,
and on the south there is high rock called
the Ladies' Rock. The distance between
them is about three-quarters of mile. The
valley which intervenes is not half so wide
and was used during tho reign of the Stu
arts, as a tilting ground. On the high rock
the ladies of the Court sat and watched the
tournaments. From this circumstance the
rock was given the name, Ladies' Rock, "
which name it still retains. A grand view
is obtained from the Ladies' Rock, of the an
cient royal gardens, of the Kings park, OF
Bannockburn, and of Gillies' Hill.
At what time the valley between Ladies'
Rock and the Castle was converted into
cemetery, do not know, but it is OF COM
parative recent date. In this new cemetery
there are number of ofmemorial monuments.
The most attractive is the "Monument to
the Virgin Martyrs" This consists OF. a
granite pedestal, on which are seated lady
in the bloom Of fresh womanhood, and a
young girl with an exquisitely sweet face.
At their feet and to the right a lamb, with
its head turned toward the martyrs, is lying
resting. To their right and little behind
is an angelic form, standing with the right
hand suspended by its side, the left hand
placed on the top of its head, its wings are
folded and its eyes are fixed on the martyrs
in its front. The whole is covered with a
glass-globe or shade, such as is used in c0v-
ering flowers. This monument to the Vlr-
gin Martyrs displays wonderful ARTISTIC skill.
The marble is made to speak, and although
the individual who gazes upon it may not
be able to decipher its language, he is con-
scious that it repeats a sad story. The an
gelic form which stands viewing the scene
with grief, was executed in Rome. The
other sculpturing was designed by Handy
side Richie, of Edinburgh. On the marble
die of the pedestal there are several en-
blematical designs, none of which was
able, for want of time, to interpret, and all
of which I have forgotten except one. That
appears to be the astronomical sign of the
earth between what resembles the letter M
and one prong of the letter n. Below this
emblematical design is the following in
scription:
MARGARET,
Virgin Martyr of the Ocean wave, with her like
minded Sister,
AGNES.
Love many waters cannot quench. God saves
His chaste impearled one in Covenant true.
O Scotia's daughters earnest scan the page,
And prize this flower Of grace, blood-bought
for you.
Margaret and Agnes were the daughters
of Well-to-do farmer by the name OF Gill
bert Wilson of Wigtonshire in the south
west of Scotland. Such being the case the
monument of the Virgin Martyrs in Stir
ling is designed to commemorate the devo-
ton of Margaret and Agnes Wilson to
Christ's crown and covenant. The partic-
ular event which it is designed to commem-
crate occurred on the 18th Of May, 1855, a
few months more than two hundred years
ago. James the Second, and last OF the
Stuarts, was at that time king of Great
Britain. He was by education papist and
EARNED with persecution the sacred code
OF law he dashed thoughtless to the ground
His progenitor, James the First, was a
strange medley of contradictions. The one
idea which seems to have taken possession
of his mind was the divine right of kings.
His descendants imbibed the same foolish
and wicked notion, and they attempted to
do with the sword what James undertook
to effect by pedantic arguments. James the
Second was prosecutor in the proper
sense of that word. He attempted to rob
his subjects of their birth right-the right
to worship God in accordance with the die
tates of an enlightened conscience. Every
body was required to c0'Jorm1-that is Wor-
ship God as James and his minions prescrib-
ed. His predecessor, Charles the Second,
was prosecutor. The period embracing
the reigns of Charles the Second and James
the Second is known as TIE Killing Time.
Gilbert Wilson and his wife conformed to
the prelacy, but their children, Margaret
and Agnes, refused to conform. Both were
young, but they were forced to seek shelter
from the prosecutors in the bogs and caves
and hills of their native land during the
reign of Charles the Second. When, how
ever, James. the Second succeeded to the
throne there was at first an apparent abate-
ment of persecution. Such being the case,
Margaret and Agnes Wilson ventured to
go to Wigton to see Margaret Maclauchlan,
relative, at that time in prison. The
two girls were betrayed by one Patrick
Stuart into the hands Of the authorities by
whom they were thrust in a place called the
Ihieues-hole. From this disreputable place
they were afterward removed to the prison
in which Margaret M,aclauchlan was con-
fined. Margaret Maclauchlan was a wild
ow and about sixty-three years old. The
only thing Objectionable to Margaret Mac
lanchan was that she was devoutly pious
and refused Ito conform" and take the bun
die of wicked oaths proposed by the popish
The three-Margaret Maclauchlan, sixty
three years old, Margaret Wilson, eighteen
wears old, and her sister Agnes, thirteen
wears old were indicted for rebellion at
Boutwell, Bridge and Airds-moss, and for
attending field preaching. They were tried,
found guilty and condemned to be Tied
to stakes within the food-mark Of the
water of Blendnoch near Wigton, and then
drowned"
The battle of Boutwell, bridge was fought
in 1879. At that time Margaret Wilson was
about twelve years old and her sister Agnes
about seven. That those two sisters took
part in the affair at Boutwell, Bridge scarce
iy comes within the range of the possible.
Gilbert Wilson ransomed his daughter
Agnes, the price paid being one hundred
pounds sterling, or near five hundred dol,
lars. Margaret Maclauchlan and Margaret
Wilson were taken within the flood tide
and there tied to a stake. Margaret Mac
lauchlan was taken in a considerable dis
tance farther than Margaret Wilson. The
result was she was drowned first. The
friends of Margaret Wilson made every
possible effort to induce her to say, "God
save the King" and to take the a6iuration
oath. When nearly dead she was taken up
and when able to speak asked again to take
the aGjmdtion oath. She positively refused