Battles of the Covenanters – a background note. The Scots Worthies by John Howie of Lochgoin (1775) has many references to the battles and skirmishes throughout the 17th century although a goodly proportion are but passing references that an individual was there. He gives more detail of the confrontations that have passed into Covenanter lore […]
A Waldensian Time Line. Pope Event 2nd Century Manichean heresy – belief in two Gods; later attributed to Cathari or Albigenses. 314-316 Sylvester Break from Church of Rome. 364 Vigilantius preaching in Cottian Alps. 800 Waldensian forebears in the Valleys of Piedmont. 817- 839 Claude Bishop of Turin; opponent of images etc.Taught Justification by […]
The Sense in which the Covenanters refused to say “God save the King.” The arguement is sometimes made that Margaret Wilson, one of the Solway Martyrs who was executed by drowning in May 1685 for refusing to take the Abjuration Oath, could have saved herself by saying “God save the king”. But that is over […]
Laud`s Liturgy – the Book of Common Prayer (1637) The Liturgy or “ The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other parts of Divine Service for the use of the Church of Scotland “ was published at Edinburgh in 1637. This was the sister package which, with the Canons published in […]
The murder of Richard Hun.[ Foxes Acts and Monuments vol iv, p 183-205 etc ] Richard Hun was a freeman and merchant tailor in London who habitually spent time each day reading his Bible. To all intents and purposes he was a good man and a conforming Christian who carried his beads (rosary) with him at […]
August – October 1559 Following the rabbling of the churches and monasteries there ensued a war of words – allegations and counter allegations, both on grounds of differences in religion and allegations of treason. The Regent Mary attempted to paint a picture of traitorous rebellion against her and her daughter, Mary (Queen of Scots); while […]
John Knox, his formative years. Knox was born in 1505 probably in the village of Gifford, near Haddington, Midlothian. His father was descended from an ancient family who owned the lands of Knock, Ranferly and Craigends in Renfrewshire. His mother was a Sinclair. He was educated at Glasgow University where he had John Mair or […]
A selection of books about Presbyterians and the Ulster Scots in Ireland. Many churches in Ulster have produced publications about their history. A selection is included below. Carson, John T. Presbyterian and Proud of It. Belfast: The Sabbath School Society for Ireland, 1948. Corish,Patrick J. Ed. A History of Irish Catholicism. Dublin: Gill & MacMillan, […]
The East Nisbet Conventicle. John Blackadder`s account . ( quoted in Men of the Covenant, Alexander Smellie, vol I p 260-2.) But more remarkable and more beautiful than the ordinary conventicle was a Communion in the fields. John Blackader will describe to us one of these, which he, in company with ” Mr. Welsh […]
Further Reading on Presbyterianism, the Kirk and the Covenanters The bibliography below includes some small pamphlets as well as major scholarly works. It is offered as a source of further reading. Many of the books are out of print but may be available from antiquarian booksellers and companies specialising in re prints. It is always […]
The Killing Time – Scotland 1685 Carslaw in The Life and Letters of James Renwick emotively describes the Killing Time thus. Extirpation ! that was now the word of the powers of darkness who ruled the country. The execution of the laws was committed wholly and absolutely to the soldiers. They had no limited instructions: […]
Rev John Blackadder John Blackadder was one of the most zealous and popular of the Covenanter`s field preachers and preached at many conventicles, often in the companionship of John Welch of Irongray, the great grandson of John Knox. Like many of the other Covenanter ministers Blackadder came from a reasonably well off family – the Blackadders […]
The reign of James VI from 24 July 1567 to 1603 – a time of discord and uncertainty for Scotland. With Queen Mary in exile and the Protestant Lords in the ascendancy a period of Regency existed and the institution of the Presbyterian Kirk experienced some stability. But, there was still much scheming and dissent […]
THE COVENANTER BANNER. A verse by an Ayrshire Elder sent to Rev Mr Steele of Dalry, and read at a bi centenary. Johnson`s Treasury p565-6. Blow softly, ye breezes, by mountain and moor, O`er the graves of the Covenant men, By the muirland and flood that were red with their blood, Can ye waft the […]