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"In deaths cold bed the dusty part here lies Of one who died the earth as dust despises Here in this place from earth he took departure Now he has got the garland of the martyr"
the florid language used evokes the passion felt at the time. Brown was a staunch supporter of the Covenant and was known to Alexander Peden,
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The grave of John Brown lies in a remote and desolate spot,
a mile or so from the farm of Priesthill not far from Muirkirk near Cumnock.There is a sign just outside Muirkirk on the Muirkirk - Strathaven road that indicates where the grave is.From there you follow the road to Priesthill farm then a path of sorts leads to the actual site.The terrain is not too difficult and the walk from the farm to
the grave is probably less than a mile.The main inscription on the graveslab shown in the photograph reads as follows,
indeed Peden conducted Browns marriage ceremony and visited Brown at his small farm, the remains of which can still be seen today close to his grave and memorial.Peden the so called
"Prophet of the Covenant" it is said told Browns wife to ready linen to wrap her husband in for
burial as he would be killed when they least expected it.
Brown was well known as a supporter of the Covenant and his farm was used for meetings of those involved in the struggle. Apparently Brown and his nephew were surrounded by soldiers whilst cutting peat. The soldiers asked them why prominent Covenanters visited them and asked Brown to swear an oath of allegiance to the King. Brown refused to do this and was taken back to his farm and shot and killed in front of his family by Graham
of Claverhouse or "Bluidy Clavers" as he was known.
John Brown was fifty eight years old when he died.