In my research of the Covenanters I have come across some rather odd events and variations on several Covenanter Tales. But even if gilded on occasion by retelling - and particularly where recounted with much biblical quotation and attribution of individuals dying words - there is always a germ of truth.

Sadly I have also seen some comments that cynically deny the events took place at all. To me death is a pretty finite event so I mock not.

Of the hundreds of deaths that took place, that of the Solway Martyrs Margaret Wilson and Margaret Lachlan, is one where definite attempts were made by the Sheriff of Wigtown to deny it took place. The rejection was on the basis that a reprieve had been granted, although the Sherrif doesn't clarify that the documents were sent to Edinburgh, not Wigtown.

In later years there have been allegations that the event did not occur because the whole of Wigtown would have been there so where were the eyewitness reports and the accusation that there were variations in the dying testimony which was reported forty years after the event.

The author in that case clearly had not done his research and possibly did not know that the Kirk Sessions had been requested by the General Assembly in 1711 to provide testimony "for the record". Here is what was recorded in the minutes of the Kirk Session.