Thomas Hog – The Reformation

THOMAS  HOG  
Conventicler, Prisoner on the Bass, banished

 Fast iEcclesiae Scoticanae, H Scott (1915) rev 1917, 1920

vol 7 p 40 Kiltearn, 1654.

THOMAS HOG, born Tain, 1628, “of honest parents, native highlanders somewhat above the vulgar rank” educated at Grammar School, Tain, and Marischal College, Aberdeen; M.A. (1650) became chaplain at Dunrobin to John, Earl of Sutherland; licen. in 1654; had calls from Golspie and other parishes; ord. 24th Oct. that year. He oined the Protesters; dep. by the Synod July 1661; deprived by Act of Parliament and Decreet of Privy Council 1st Oct. 1662. He retired to the farmhouse of Knockoudie in Auldearn, where he continued to preach and dispense the sacraments, and memorable communions were observed in a sheltered hollow of the Hills of the Arstill, known as ” Hog’s Strype.” In 1668 a complaint was made to the Privy Council by Murdoch, Bishop of Moray, whereupon H. was imprisoned in Forres, but after some months was liberated unconditionally through the intervention of the Earl of

Tweeddale.

            Orders were again given for his imprisonment in June 1674, and Letters of Intercommuning were issued against him on 6th Aug. 1675, forbidding all persons to harbour or assist him in any way. In Jan. 1677 he voluntarily surrendered to the Earl of Moray, was removed to Edinburgh Tolbooth and sent to the Bass Rock, where he became seriously ill. An Edinburgh physician who was called to see him, petitioned the Council for his release, to which some of the members were disposed, but Archbishop Sharp stated ” the prisoner did and was in a capacity to do more hurt to their interests sitting in his elbow chair than twenty others could, and if the justice of God was pursuing him to take him off the stage, the clemency of the Government should not interpose to hinder it.” He was accordingly confined more closely than before. On hearing his sentence he exclaimed in bed, “It was as severe as if Satan himself had penned it.” On 9th Oct. that year he was brought back to the Tolbooth, but was again returned to the Bass until set at liberty with others in July 1679, cont] July 1679, giving bond for 10,000 merks to appear before the Council when called. He remained unmolested till 8th Nov. 1683 when he was fined £277 and committed prisoner at Edinburgh till the fine was paid. Having decided to quit the country he petitioned to that effect and was enjoined to depart

within forty-eight hours.

           He lived for a year in Berwick-upon-Tweed and in 1685 found his way to London, intending to sail to Carolina, but he was apprehended on suspicion of being concerned in the Rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth. On being freed he fled to Holland, where he became chaplain to William, Prince of Orange. He returned to Scotland early in 1688, and being restored by Act of Parliament, 25th April 1690, was a member of Assembly that year. He was appointed one of the King’s chaplains and was preparing to remove to London, but died after a long and painful sickness, 4th Jan.1692, He was buried by his own request in the doorway of the parish church, where may be seen the following inscription on his tomb “This stone shall bear witness against the parishioners of Kiltearn if they bring ane ungodly minister in here.” A commemorative slab was placed in the parish church and the Hog Memorial Church was erected in the village of Evanton. He marr. after 12th April 1656, the sister of John Hay of Inshock and Park, cadet

of Errol (she died s.p.).