s History of the Church of Scotland, we find in one passage George
Gillespie's character and conduct completely misunderstood and
misrepresented, (vol. iii. pages 160-162), and in a subsequent passage an
assertion that the proceedings of that party in the church called the
Protestors were, in the year 1650, "directed by Gillespie, a factious
minister, whose name has been frequently mentioned," (page 196). George
Gillespie was the only person of whom mention was made, or could be made,
in the previous portion of the history, as his brother had not then began
to take any active part in public affairs; but he was dead nearly two
years before the date to which the latter passage refers. It is plain that
Dr Cook confounded George Gillespie with his brother Patrick, and ascribed
to the former the actions of the latter, regarding them both as but one
and the same person. He further asserts, that Gillespie was "suspected of
corresponding with the Sectaries." That Patrick Gillespie corresponded
with the Sectaries, and was much trusted and countenanced by Cromwell, is
perfectly true; but before that time George Gillespie had joined the One
Church and family in heaven. In every period of his life, and in every
transaction in which he was engaged, George Gillespie was far above all
private or discreditable intriguing, which is the vice of weak, cunning,
and selfish minds. And while we do not think it necessary further to
prosecute this vindication of his memory, we yet think it our duty, when
writing a memoir of him, thus briefly to set aside the groundless
accusation, whether it be adduced by prelatic or Erastian writers,--his
baffled antagonists when living, his impotent calumniators when dead.

The tomb-stone, as has been related, was broken in 1661, but the
inscription was preserved. A plain tablet was erected in 1745, by his
grandson, the Rev. George Gillespie, minister of Strathmiglo, on which the
inscription was re-produced, with a slight addition, mentioning both
events. It is still to be seen in the south-east porch of the present
church. The inscription is as follows:--

MAGISTER GEORGIUS GILLESPIE, PASTOR EDINBURGENSIS, JUVENILIBUS
ANNIS RITUUM ANGLORUM PONTIFICIORUM TURMAM PROSTRAVIT: GLISCENTE
AETATE, DELEGATUS CUM MANDATIS IN SYNODO ANGLICANA, PRAESULEM E
ANGLIA ERADICANDUM, SINCERUM DEI CULTUM UNIFORMEM PROMOVENDUM,
CURAVIT; ERASTUM AARONIS GERMINANTE VIRGA CASTIGAVIT. IN PATRIAM
REVERSUS FO