Monastic Buildings Extracts from The Monasticon, Rev J S F Gordon (1868) Following the destruction of the Monasteries under Henry VIII and the ransacking of establishments by the people in the Scottish Reformation, there remains only the skeletons of what must have been marvellous buildings in their own right. In Scotland we have but […]
The English Reformation – Introduction. The Reformation in England, that is the establishment of a national Protestant church, is often blurred by the essentially personal act of Henry VIII to facilitate his divorce to Catharine of Arragon. However, the Reformation was not exclusively about religion, change was already taking place driven by new thinking, art, […]
The Monasteries in Scotland. From ca 1100 to the end of the thirteenth century Scotland, that is the lands outside the Highland Line, were ruled by the Norman dynasty of Malcolm Canmore who introduced Southern and European ways to the Court when he acceded to the throne in 1057. A major contribution to the establishment […]
MARTYRS. Martyrs Memorial, Greyfriars Kirk Yard, Edinburgh. Patriots have toiled, and in their country’s cause Bled nobly ; and their deeds, as they deserve, Receive proud recompense. We give in charge Their names to the sweet lyre. Th’ historic Muse, Proud of the treasure, marches with it down To latest times ; and Sculpture, in […]
The Pope`s laws rescinded 1534. Certain Acts provided concerning the Pope’s Laws.’ First, as concerning the laws, decrees, ordinances and constitutions made and stablished by the pretended authority of the bishops of Rome, to the advancement of their worldly glory, that whoso did or spake any thing either against their usurped power, or against the […]
The Scottish Reformation – An Overview. The tragedy of Flodden Field on September 9 ,1513 not only destroyed James IV and his entourage but it had a disastrous effect on the growing economy. James V came to the throne a child of two years. The country was exposed to the selfish and cruel ambitions of […]
A Letter from James Cargill to his brother of 8 May 1679 referring to the death of Sharp and hinting at Rebellion. Dearly beloved Brother,—I am glad to hear your welfare, and that you continue in the faith, which I wish you may retain, and persevere in to the end. You shall know that our […]
The Bishop`s Dragnet and the Cess. The Bishops Dragnet was another name for a law passed by Parliament on 10 July 1663 “ An Act for Separation and Disobedience to Ecclesiastical Authority “. It ran hand in hand with the infamous Middleton`s Act which evicted ministers who had not obtained patrons and presented themselves to […]
Holland`s role – a refuge for the persecuted. [Extract from Exiles of the Covenant, W.D. Carslaw, Alexander Gardner, Paisley,1908.[ As early as the reign of David I, who died in 1153, a considerable number of the industrious and enterprising inhabitants of the Netherlands had already settled in Scotland and carried on trade in its eastern […]
Ayrsmoss 22 July 1680 Richard Cameron`s defiance and declaration of war through the Declaration at Sanquhar in June 1680, raised the stakes considerably and the search for him intensified. His location was given away by an indulged minister, one Millar of Ochiltree, who ran as fast as his legs could carry him to Sir John […]
The monasteries, their role; an overview . Extracts from The Monasticon; Rev J F S Gordon DD (1868). The following extracts are the opening pages from The Monasticon, a work that looks in particular at the Monasteries of Scotland as recorded in the seminal work by Spotiswoode, the Archbishop of Glasgow, then St Andrews, in […]
The Roman Catholic Church in Scotland after the Reformation of 1560. Despite the stringent action against the Catholics, the abolition of the Pope`s authority, and dire penalties for hearing the Mass, there remained an influential core of its supporters. The nation had not been unanimous in its acceptance of Presbyterianism; the northern parts of Inverness, […]
James VI of Scotland and James I of England. It is ironic that in 1603 James VI of Scotland succeeded to the English throne and became James I of England . Thus a Scotsman ruled three independent nations (England, Ireland and Scotland ; Wales being subject to English law by an Act of Union in […]
Henry Forrest – Martyr, St Andrews 1532. Henry Forrest was a native of Linlithgow, possibly the son of Thomas Forrest, and a young monk in the Benedictine monastery there. He had seen and heard Patrick Hamilton preaching and was secretly taken up with what he heard. In his opinion the execution was a step too […]