28
November 1666 A.D. Killing Times—Scots
Covenanters & Battle of Rullion Green
Archivist. “November 28:
The Battle of Rullion Green.” This Day in Presbyterian History. 28 Nov 2014. http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2014/11/november-28-the-battle-of-rullion-green// Accessed 28 Nov 2014.
November 28: The Battle of Rullion Green
The Time Was
Not Ripe
This
mysterious phrase is found on a stone memorial on the grounds of the Battle of
Rullion Green which is located eight miles south of Edinburgh, Scotland. It
tells the tragic story of defeat in the first battle of the Scot
Covenanters—Presbyterians all—against the English government of Charles II.
This
battle was part of the Killing Times era of Scottish Covenanters. In essence,
the Anglican government had declared war against the Presbyterians of Scotland,
asking for unconditional surrender on their part. Their pastors—some 400
of them—had been ejected from their pulpits, their manses, and their
parishes. When some of them began to preach to their people in the fields
and moors, that whole scene became a dangerous practice, with fines leveled
against the attenders, and imprisonment and death as well. All that was
needed was a spark to ignite the smoldering indignation of the Scottish people
of God.
That spark
occurred on November 13, 1666 when an old man by the name of John Grier was
accosted by the soldiers of the English government. Unable to pay a fine for
his absence from his church with its Anglican curate in the pulpit, he was
beaten severely that day. Four local Covenanters happened upon the
scene, and tried first to reason with the soldiers. When that failed,
words turned to actions, and one of the soldiers was shot. Other villagers
joined in the fray and took the solders prisoners. At this point, the
Covenanters numbered ninety people.
Aware
of the danger posed by their actions, they marched to Dunfries, Scotland, where
they attacked other soldiers, killing one in the process. By this time, their
numbers had reached two hundred and fifty. On the way, they captured Sir
James Turner, the overall military commander in the area. Continuing
further, they encountered a soldier friend by the name of James Wallace, who
had experience in warfare. He and his military subordinates joined the
Covenanter crowd. They then headed to Edinburgh, the capital city, to find
more support for their actions to stop “the killing times,” though to their
surprise, the weapons of the citizens were turned against them. The time
was not ripe for a rebellion against English rule, evidently, despite their
numbers having reached some three thousand or more by this time.
The
English government dispatched General Thomas Daiziel against them, who with an
army of 3000 (some sources say 5000 soldiers), marched after them. The
Covenanter force, with their inadequate weapons and supplies, began to fail,
with many deserting the force, leaving some 900 left to do battle. On the
afternoon of Wednesday, November 28, 1666, on a
long slope in the country side south of Edinburgh, three thrusts by the
government forces eventually brought a crushing of the valiant forces of the
Covenanters. Some fifty were killed, including two Presbyterian ministers
from Ulster. But that was only the beginning of the killing done that
day. A bloody retribution was exacted upon the prisoners, including
starvation, death by handing, and sending many on prison ships to the American
colonies and the West Indies.
Words to Life
By:
On the monument which marks the battlefield, there is carved a biblical text from Revelation 12:11
, which
reads, “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of
the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced
with death.” Another inscription reads,
On the monument which marks the battlefield, there is carved a biblical text from Revelation 12:11
, which
reads, “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of
the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced
with death.” Another inscription reads,
“A cloud of witnesses lyes here,
who for Christ’s interest did not appear,
For to restore true Liberty
Overturned then by Tyrany
and by Proud Prelates who did rage
Against the Lord’s own heritage.
Their sacrifices were for the Laws
of Christ their king, his noble cause,
These heroes fought with great renown,
By falling got the Martyr’ Crown.”
who for Christ’s interest did not appear,
For to restore true Liberty
Overturned then by Tyrany
and by Proud Prelates who did rage
Against the Lord’s own heritage.
Their sacrifices were for the Laws
of Christ their king, his noble cause,
These heroes fought with great renown,
By falling got the Martyr’ Crown.”
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