CCXVIII.—To John Bell, Elder

CCXVIII.—To John Bell, Elder.

[There is in the churchyard of Anwoth a tombstone to one of this name, who died a martyr, and who lived at Whiteside. This person may have been related to him. His name appears at a petition of the elders and parishioners of Anwoth, presented to the Commission of the General Assembly, against the removal of Rutherford from that parish, when applications were made from St. Andrews and Edinburgh respectively to obtain him. He is designated "John Bell of Hentoun" (Murray's "Life of Rutherford," p. 356). Rutherford here reminds him that "old age was come upon him." He appears, however, to have lived many years after this; for so late as January 13, 1657, Marion Bell is retoured "heir of John Bell of Hentoun, her grandsir," who was probably Rutherford's correspondent. On the same day she is retoured heir of "James Bell of Campbelltown in (Twynholm parish), her guidsir;" and of "John Bell of Campbelltown, her father." Henton is a small croft, close to the school-house at Laggan, as you go toward the sea-side from Ardwell to Kirkdale. It was once a separate property. Before old Anwoth church was pulled down (see Murray's "Life of Rutherford"), there stood a seat or pew, on which were cut the letters "J. B." and the date "1631," understood to belong to this same person. And (though his martyrdom occurred after Rutherford was gone to his rest) it may be interesting here to notice that the ancestor of the martyr, John Bell of Whiteside, in Anwoth, was connected with this family. Whiteside is half a mile N.E. from Rutherford's Witnesses on the Skyreburn Road. The ruins of the house where Bell stayed are pointed out, half a mile from the modern farm; and almost in the bed of the burn. Near the old ruin is a cave where he died. The martyr's mother, too, was the grand-daughter of "The guidwife of Ardwell" (see Letter CI.). His tomb (renewed a few years ago) is a flat stone near the west end of the old church, with the date 1685.

"This monument shall tell posterity That blessed Bell of Whiteside here doth lie; Who at command of bloody Lag was shot, A murder strange which should not be forgot. Douglas of Morton did him quarters give, Yet cruel Lag would not let him survive. This martyr sought some time to recommend His soul to God, before his days did end: The tyrant said, 'What, Devil? Ye've prayed eneuch These long seven years on mountain and in cleugh.' So instantly caused him, with other four, Be shot to death upon Kirkconnel Moor. So thus did end the lives of these dear saints For their adhering to the Covenants."

On the wall is an old slab which contains what seems to be a general motto for the Bells' burying-ground.]