Richard Cameron
Falkland , in Fifeshire, was the birthplace of Richard Cameron. The passer by may still see the house in which he was born. His father , who was a merchant in the burgh, appears to have been very eager to secure for his son the benefit of a good education. However sanguine the father's hopes may have been , he probably little dreamt of the prominent part his son was destined to take in the affairs of both the Church and nation. Neither could he have anticipated that touching scene at that prison in Edinburgh when the head and hands of his son Richard were handed to him, having been carried from Ayresmoss, where he fell:- "I know, I know them ,"said the aged father as he kissed them; "they are my son's , my own dear son's ; it is the Lord; good is the will of the Lord, who cannot wrong me or mine, but has made goodness and mercy to follow us all our days."
Richard was born an Episcopalian, and for many years remained in connection with that Church .He was for a time schoolmaster and precentor to the curate of Falkland, and attended the ministrations of the indulged. He was induced , however to hear one of the intercommuned at a field preaching. The sermon was blessed to the awakening of his soul and the quickening of his intellect. He was drawn "with cords of a man , and bands of love ." By the Spirit of truth , his mind was enlightened to perceive the evils of Prelacy and the scriptural character of the cause of the persecuted. His soul was set on fire to witness against the king's unrighteous claims, and for the royal rights of the Lord's Anointed. What things were gain to him , he counted loss for Christ. On account of the treatment to which he was subjected by the time- serving party and their dupes, Cameron was constrained to leave his native parish- left it never to return.
When he began to preach, Cameron embraced frequent opportunities of lifting his voice against indulgences and other sinful compromises of the times. For this he was summoned to several meetings of the indulged, and was entreated to forebear his offensive mode of preaching. After frequent remonstrances and threats , Cameron's boldness was overborne . He was prevailed upon to be silent on these matters , and not to denounce those who accepted the indulgences . This was an evil moment for Richard Cameron. Many a sigh did he heave and many a tear did he shed because of it . Cranmer would often look at the hand with which he signed the recantation, and say "that unworthy hand", and when he came to the fire , he thrust forth into the flame "that unworthy hand." Similarly did remorse , with terrible intensity , seize upon Cameron after he made this unworthy promise Years afterwards, when he was asked why he was so melancholy, he replied "That weary promise I gave to these ministers has lain heavy upon me , and for this cause my carcase shall dung the wilderness , and that ere it be long."
Cameron went to Holland and met with the comforting and strengthening fellowship of a number of ministers who had been banished, one of whom was McWard. On one occasion McWard said to him :-" Richard, the public standard is now fallen in Scotland, and if I know anything about the mind of the Lord, you are called to undergo your trials before us, and go home and lift the fallen standard, and display it publicly before the world; but before you put your hand to it , you shall go to as many field ministers as you can find, and give them your hearty invitation to go with you; and if they will not go, go alone, and the Lord will be with you." He was accordingly ordained , and when the hands were lifted from his head, McWard is reported to have said," Behold, all ye beholders , here is the head of a faithful minister and servant of Jesus Christ, who shall lose the same for his Master's interest, and it shall be set up before sun and moon and in view of the world.
In the spring of 1680, Cameron returned to Scotland. The fires of persecution were raging The issues though diverse , of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge , supplied much fuel for the flames -
"Claverse and his bloody band
Were raging rav'nously o'er the land."
Cameron sought to join himself to all the "field" ministers. With two of them only was he successful - Donald Cargill and Thomas Douglas. After serious and lengthened deliberation , they resolved to prepare and publish a statement and declaration renouncing allegiance to Charles 11.,and declaring that by his perjury and tyranny he had forfeited the crown. On 22nd June , Richard Cameron and his brother Michael, with a small band of armed men, appeared in the streets of Sanquhar and nailed their declaration to the Sanquhar Cross:-"We do by these presents", so ran the document, "disown Charles Stewart , that has been reigning , or rather tyrannizing on the throne of Britain these three years bygone, as having any right , title to, or interest in the Crown of Scotland for government ............We do declare a war with such a tyrant and usurper and all men of his practices." Some eight years afterwards the principles of this declaration were embraced by the nation at large; the Stuart House was driven from the throne and William 3rd was crowned king.
No less than 1000 merks were now offered for the apprehension of Richard Cameron. He went here and there throughout the country for safety . His last sermon was preached near Drumclog , at Avondale. The text was from Psalms ;"Be still and know that I am God ; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."In the course of that sermon he uttered these words."Let Christ reign; that is a standard that shall overthrow the throne of Britain and all the thrones of Europe that will not kiss the Son." Cargill was present at that sermon, and he and Cameron agreed to meet on the second Sabbath after at Darmead. Before that day came , Cameron had been summoned to a happier meeting ; and Cargill ,sorely bereaved , preached from the words :" Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?"
Cameron spent the last night of his life at Meadowhead on the water of Ayr. In the morning when he washed his hands , he looked on them and said ," this is their last washing ; I had need to wash them clean, for there are many to see them."And to one present who began to weep, he said ,"Weep not for me , but for yourself and yours, and for the sins of a sinful land ,for you have many melancholy , sorrowful, and weary days before you."
That day was the 22th of July , one month after the event of Sanquhar. Bruce of Earlshall was in the district with about one hundred and twenty troopers having heard that Cameron was in the district. With Cameron there were about sixty companions, many ill-equipped for fighting. But flight was impossible , and the enemy must be met. Cameron gathered his band around him and prayed thrice ," Lord, spare the green and take the ripe." Then he said to his brother, "Come , let us fight it out to the last; for this is the day that I have longed for , and the day that I have prayed for , to die fighting against our Lord's avowed enemies; this is the day that we will get the crown." Cameron's heroes stood their ground firmly , refusing to shrink before the superior numbers by whom they were at length overpowered . When the slaughter was over, Cameron's body was found upon the ground. The head and hands had been cut off, and by the retiring troopers borne away. They were taken to Edinburgh and there presented to the council by one who , though an enemy , said , ""There are the head and hands of a man who lived praying and preaching, and died praying and fighting."
"I am sure ", said John Malcolm, a martyr who often heard Cameron, "The gospel preached by Mr. Richard Cameron especially was backed with the power and presence of Christ. As much of Christ and heaven was found as finite creatures on earth were able to hold ; yea ,and more than they could hold." As a patriot Cameron was loyal and fearless. He was ready to hazard all for the interest of his beloved land - a land in covenant with his God. For the sake of God and his country , he openly renounced at Sanquhar the authority of his sovereign , and at Ayrsmoss fought and fell. Deservedly he stands in the front rank of that noble army of martyrs who , "overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and loved not their lives unto the death."
From Sermons in Times of Persecution in Scotland.
Richard was born an Episcopalian, and for many years remained in connection with that Church .He was for a time schoolmaster and precentor to the curate of Falkland, and attended the ministrations of the indulged. He was induced , however to hear one of the intercommuned at a field preaching. The sermon was blessed to the awakening of his soul and the quickening of his intellect. He was drawn "with cords of a man , and bands of love ." By the Spirit of truth , his mind was enlightened to perceive the evils of Prelacy and the scriptural character of the cause of the persecuted. His soul was set on fire to witness against the king's unrighteous claims, and for the royal rights of the Lord's Anointed. What things were gain to him , he counted loss for Christ. On account of the treatment to which he was subjected by the time- serving party and their dupes, Cameron was constrained to leave his native parish- left it never to return.
When he began to preach, Cameron embraced frequent opportunities of lifting his voice against indulgences and other sinful compromises of the times. For this he was summoned to several meetings of the indulged, and was entreated to forebear his offensive mode of preaching. After frequent remonstrances and threats , Cameron's boldness was overborne . He was prevailed upon to be silent on these matters , and not to denounce those who accepted the indulgences . This was an evil moment for Richard Cameron. Many a sigh did he heave and many a tear did he shed because of it . Cranmer would often look at the hand with which he signed the recantation, and say "that unworthy hand", and when he came to the fire , he thrust forth into the flame "that unworthy hand." Similarly did remorse , with terrible intensity , seize upon Cameron after he made this unworthy promise Years afterwards, when he was asked why he was so melancholy, he replied "That weary promise I gave to these ministers has lain heavy upon me , and for this cause my carcase shall dung the wilderness , and that ere it be long."
Cameron went to Holland and met with the comforting and strengthening fellowship of a number of ministers who had been banished, one of whom was McWard. On one occasion McWard said to him :-" Richard, the public standard is now fallen in Scotland, and if I know anything about the mind of the Lord, you are called to undergo your trials before us, and go home and lift the fallen standard, and display it publicly before the world; but before you put your hand to it , you shall go to as many field ministers as you can find, and give them your hearty invitation to go with you; and if they will not go, go alone, and the Lord will be with you." He was accordingly ordained , and when the hands were lifted from his head, McWard is reported to have said," Behold, all ye beholders , here is the head of a faithful minister and servant of Jesus Christ, who shall lose the same for his Master's interest, and it shall be set up before sun and moon and in view of the world.
In the spring of 1680, Cameron returned to Scotland. The fires of persecution were raging The issues though diverse , of Drumclog and Bothwell Bridge , supplied much fuel for the flames -
"Claverse and his bloody band
Were raging rav'nously o'er the land."
Cameron sought to join himself to all the "field" ministers. With two of them only was he successful - Donald Cargill and Thomas Douglas. After serious and lengthened deliberation , they resolved to prepare and publish a statement and declaration renouncing allegiance to Charles 11.,and declaring that by his perjury and tyranny he had forfeited the crown. On 22nd June , Richard Cameron and his brother Michael, with a small band of armed men, appeared in the streets of Sanquhar and nailed their declaration to the Sanquhar Cross:-"We do by these presents", so ran the document, "disown Charles Stewart , that has been reigning , or rather tyrannizing on the throne of Britain these three years bygone, as having any right , title to, or interest in the Crown of Scotland for government ............We do declare a war with such a tyrant and usurper and all men of his practices." Some eight years afterwards the principles of this declaration were embraced by the nation at large; the Stuart House was driven from the throne and William 3rd was crowned king.
No less than 1000 merks were now offered for the apprehension of Richard Cameron. He went here and there throughout the country for safety . His last sermon was preached near Drumclog , at Avondale. The text was from Psalms ;"Be still and know that I am God ; I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."In the course of that sermon he uttered these words."Let Christ reign; that is a standard that shall overthrow the throne of Britain and all the thrones of Europe that will not kiss the Son." Cargill was present at that sermon, and he and Cameron agreed to meet on the second Sabbath after at Darmead. Before that day came , Cameron had been summoned to a happier meeting ; and Cargill ,sorely bereaved , preached from the words :" Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?"
Cameron spent the last night of his life at Meadowhead on the water of Ayr. In the morning when he washed his hands , he looked on them and said ," this is their last washing ; I had need to wash them clean, for there are many to see them."And to one present who began to weep, he said ,"Weep not for me , but for yourself and yours, and for the sins of a sinful land ,for you have many melancholy , sorrowful, and weary days before you."
That day was the 22th of July , one month after the event of Sanquhar. Bruce of Earlshall was in the district with about one hundred and twenty troopers having heard that Cameron was in the district. With Cameron there were about sixty companions, many ill-equipped for fighting. But flight was impossible , and the enemy must be met. Cameron gathered his band around him and prayed thrice ," Lord, spare the green and take the ripe." Then he said to his brother, "Come , let us fight it out to the last; for this is the day that I have longed for , and the day that I have prayed for , to die fighting against our Lord's avowed enemies; this is the day that we will get the crown." Cameron's heroes stood their ground firmly , refusing to shrink before the superior numbers by whom they were at length overpowered . When the slaughter was over, Cameron's body was found upon the ground. The head and hands had been cut off, and by the retiring troopers borne away. They were taken to Edinburgh and there presented to the council by one who , though an enemy , said , ""There are the head and hands of a man who lived praying and preaching, and died praying and fighting."
"I am sure ", said John Malcolm, a martyr who often heard Cameron, "The gospel preached by Mr. Richard Cameron especially was backed with the power and presence of Christ. As much of Christ and heaven was found as finite creatures on earth were able to hold ; yea ,and more than they could hold." As a patriot Cameron was loyal and fearless. He was ready to hazard all for the interest of his beloved land - a land in covenant with his God. For the sake of God and his country , he openly renounced at Sanquhar the authority of his sovereign , and at Ayrsmoss fought and fell. Deservedly he stands in the front rank of that noble army of martyrs who , "overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and loved not their lives unto the death."
From Sermons in Times of Persecution in Scotland.
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