thomas_ross – The Reformation
THOMAS ROSS. Executed 1618.
Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, H Scott (1915) rev 1917, 1920
vol 4 p 149 Cargill, 1606
THOMAS ROSS, born about 1575, third son of John R. of Craigie and Agnes Hepburn; educated at Univ. of Edinburgh; M.A. (10th Aug. 1595); licen,by Presb. of Perth before Nov.1602; pres. by James VI. 26th July 1606; probably dem. in 1615. He went to England, having been recommended to the King by some members of the Privy Council and Bishops, that as a scholar he might be placed in one of the colleges. While at Oxford, about the commencement of the term, in great indigence and possibly in a fit of insanity, the result of disappointed hopes, he affixed to the door of St Marys Church there a Pasquil or Thesis, ” with ten several abhominable articles or appendices, confirmeing the samyn, that all Scottismen audit to be schote furth of the Court of Ingland, excepting his gracious Majestie, his sone, and ane verrie few utheris.” For this offence he was apprehended, shipped to Scotland, where he was imprisoned, and brought to
trial before the Lord Justice-General 20th Aug. 1618.
He was convicted upon his own confession, and notwithstanding a plea of
insanity, was sentenced 10th Sept
.” to be taen to the Mercat Croce of Edinburgh, and thair upone ane scaffold, first his rycht hand to be struk aff, and thairefter his heid to be struck in frome his body; and his heid to be thairefter afhxit and set upone ane irne prik upon the Nether Bow Port; and his rycht hand to be
also affixit upane the Wast Port of the said Burgh.”
This sentence was carried out the next day.