From the National Archives
In the summer of 1679 the army of the covenanters,
Presbyterians who seceded from the Church of Scotland,
whose religious schism was rapidly turning into a political
rebellion, was routed at Bothwell Bridge in Lanarkshire.
Although fatalities on either side were
relatively light, the government troops lead in part by
Graham of Claverhouse (later 'Bonnie Dundee') took many
prisoners.
These prisoners were interrogated, but
treated leniently.
They were asked to sign a bond by which they
renounced rebellion.
However, this did not mean that they
renounced the religious principles which led them to the
'covenanting' cause in the first place.
In the examples shown in this month's
document both Alex Cochran and Matthew Hodge confess their
membership of the 'rebell' forces. However, both refuse to
forswear 'field coventicles' the religious meetings often
held outdoors by covenanting ministers who had been
deprived of their parish churches because of their
opposition to Episcopacy being introduced to Scotland.
Hodge and Cochran had joined the
covenanting sympathisers at Hamilton only a few days before
their arrest. However, it seems that both men had
previously attended meetings, although Cochran claims to
have attended his parish church as well.
Hodge notes that he had heard 'Mr King'
preach, but probably in a vain attempt to protect the
preacher does not recount what was said.
This 'King' is probably John King, chaplain
to Lord Cardross. King was arrested and executed after the
battle.
Transcription
Galstoune [Galston Ayrshire] Alex'
Cochran Wright Declares that he went
to the rebel's on
the Friday before the fight, and had a
halbert [halberd] for
his armer but knew none of his
officers, he says
he has beine at Couventicles, but
declares he kept
frequentlie his owne parish kirk And
resolves to continue so,
but refuses to refraine from
field
Conventicles hereafter,
[signed] Alex cochran
Galstoune
Mathew Hodge Wright, Declares, that
he went in to the
Rebels the Thursday
before they were Defeat, his
armer was a sword
and a halbert he confesses he has
beine at field conventicles and has
heard Mr King. But
will not confesse
what he heard him say.
He refuses to
refraine from from
field conventicles afterwards
[signed] Mathew
Hodge
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