MAY 6, 1685 FIVE men were hanged today on Mauchline Loan.

Peter Gillies from Peebleshire, John Bryce from West Calder, Thomas Young and William Fiddieson, both from Carluke, had been imprisoned by Mauchline Castle along with another man John Bruning. This latter may well have been local man John Browning, or Bruning, the nephew of John Brown, who was summarily executed at his Priesthill farm near Muirkirk five days ago.

Browning had been part of the Covenanter band that attacked Newmilns Tower in April in order to rescue friends.

Gillies, a bleacher, was a well-known Covenanter wanted by the authorities for allowing proscribed ministers preach at his home. He had fled to Muiravonside where he continued on his rebellious path. Pursued by soldiers, he took to the hills but remained within visiting distance of his pregnant wife. It was during one such visit that troops managed to arrest him. Reports suggest that they threatened to kill him on the spot but showed mercy and marched him off to prison.

They also apprehended Bryce, a weaver who happened to visiting Gillies" mill. Covenanter sources have told The Killing Times that the two men were lashed together and marched for a few miles before being halted, forced to their knees and threatened with execution. However, the order was rescinded and they were taken to Carluke.

The same sources also claim that soldiers returned to Mrs Gillies and used intimdatory tactics to force her to reveal where her husband has stashed weapons. When she denied any knowledge of such a store they threatened to burn her home down. Although they did not carry out their threat it is reported that they did remove a number of the family"s personal belongings.

It was at Carluke that the prisoners Fiddieson and Young were added to the party and the four men were marched to Mauchline Castle.

Lieutenant-General William Drummond set up a court comprised of a jury of 15 of his own men. The five men, including Browning, were accused of being Covenanters and duly found guilty.

They were hanged this day on gallows built on Mauchline Loan. After the sentence was carried out, the men were buried in the clothes they had been wearing at the foot of the gibbet.