November 28, 1666 GOVERNMENT troops today put down a rebellion by Covenanter forces in the hills above Edinburgh.

The army of Westlandmen, from Galloway, Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, clashed with Sir Thomas Dalyell"s command at a spot known as Rullion Green in the Pentland Hills.

The poorly-armed insurgents numbered around 900 but were no match for the 3,000 well-equipped government troops. The number of rebel dead is estimated at between 50 and 100 on the field, with many more succumbing to their injuries or cut down as they fled west. Over 100 men were taken prisoner.

The flashpoint for the uprising was an attempt to obtain fines for non-appearance at the King"s Episcopalian church from an elderly man in the village of St John"s Town of Dalry in Galloway on November 13.

One witness, who refused to be named, told us: 'The soldiers started to torture the old fellow by stripping him naked and roasting him over a hot gridiron. It was horrific.' The soldiers were stopped by four Covenanters then taking their ease in a local inn. The four men, it is believed, were on the run from the authorities for non-payment of fines and adherence to the Covenanting cause which resists the imposition of the new religion.

One pistol was fired and Corporal George Deanes was wounded. From there, word spread throughout the neighbourhood and the revolt was born.

The next incident was the abduction of King"s man Sir James Turner from his lodgings in Dumfries. He was then carried north west with the forces. The apparent leader at this stage was a man named Andrew Gray, who took charge of Sir James" cash. He had helped fan the flames of rebellion but subsequently vanished during the march, along with the 6000 merks.

Rumours suggest that the man Gray was a government agent whose duty it was to force insurgent forces into some sort of action that could then be forcefully put down by the King"s troops.

Having decided to march to Edinburgh, the Covenanter force entered Ayrshire by way of Dalmellington. All the time, their zealots tried to convert Sir James to their cause. 'I told them that it would be hard to turn a Turner,' he told the Killing Times.

Men joined their cause as they passed through Ayr, Tarbolton, Ochiltree and Cumnock. They then proceeded across the Aird"s Moss towards Muirkirk.

Sir James continued: 'The way was exceedingly bad,a very high wind, with a grievous rain in our faces. The night fell very dark before we could reach the place where the foot were quartered, with no meat or drink, and with very little fire. I do confess, I never saw lustier fellows than these foot were.' Perhaps the inclement weather dampened the spirits but their numbers were depleted by the time they reached Lanark, where the ejected Tarbolton preacher, Reverend John Guthrie, ministered to them.

Now led by Ayrshire man Colonel James Wallace, they pushed on to Edinburgh, where they hoped Covenanters from the north and east would join them, as had been promised by the mysterious Andrew Gray. No reinforcements arrived and they were fired on at Colinton by local soldiers. To make matters worse, more of their party deserted.

Discouraged and disappointed, Wallace led his men into the Pentland Hills above Edinburgh and there met with Sir Thomas Dalyell"s forces.

Colonel Wallace spoke to the Killing Times from hiding, saying: 'Being oppressed with multitude we were beaten back, and the enemy came in so full a body, and with so fresh a charge, that, having us once running, they carried it strongly home, and put us in such confusion that there was no rallying.' The Covenanter commander managed to flee the field and is now believed to be hiding abroad. Ayrshire man Thomas Paton, a veteran of the Civil War and conflicts abroad, also escaped with his life. During the affray he attempted to shoot his former commander - Sir Thomas Dalyell - but failed. He was pursued across a boggy ditch by three soldiers, one of which he killed with his sword.

Speaking from his hiding place, he said: 'I told them to give their compliments to their master but I could not sup with him that night.' One Covenanter was found mortally wounded by a farmer. The dying man asked if he could be buried on a high hill within sight of his beloved Galloway hills.

The authorities refused to allow those who fell on the field to be buried. However, local women are rumoured to have come to the bloody spot at night and buried them secretly.

The authorities are now preparing to try the prisoners and it is believed that dire punishments are in store.

FOR PART TWO, SEE THE CHRONICLE DECEMBER 10 EDITION