THE EXECUTION OF MONTROSE The veracity of events during 17th century, and especially the persecution of the people, is poorly documented and thus always contentious. Opinions vary greatly and were especially inclined to the romantic in Victorian times. The arguements whether any particular event even took place, let alone the common day to day atrocities  […]

Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Regent for Henry VI The Duke was the son of Henry IV and brother to Henry V, and thus uncle of Henry VI. He was appointed as Regent and defender of the boy king. Reputedly a mild and gentle man, the learned Duke was a friend of the people but was […]

Rev. Thomas Guthrie and “The Ragged Schools”    Thomas Guthrie was another man of vision and philanthropy who in his day did much for the children of Scotland. Guthrie was born in Brechin on July 12, 1803, the 12th child and sixth son of David Guthrie and Clementina Cay. His father was a merchant and […]

The “Drunken” Parliament. At the Restoration in 1661 John Middleton – Earl of Middleton, was appointed as the King`s Commissioner and General of the Forces to be raised in Scotland. A valiant soldier and in that context a  leader of men, he was however possessed of a vile temper, he was cynical, boorish, a scandalous […]

Lays of the Kirk and  Covenant Mrs A. Stuart Menteath. Sime,Glasgow 1892. “Some think if it were Jesus Christ, and if it were a fundamental  point they were called to confess, they would stand for it with life and estate ; but it is thought that Christians now stand upon some things that are but […]

Ruthwell It is easy to unknowingly pass by the village of Ruthwell in the sense that you need to know where it is and why you should visit. Let me put you in the picture. Ruthwell  is a village on the minor road (B724)  that skirts the coast of the Solway Firth. If coming from […]

Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Thomas Wentworth was the second son ( and third of twelve children) of William Wentworth of Wentworth Woodhouse, Yorkshire and was born on Good Friday, 13 April 1593 at a house in Chancery Lane, London, owned by his father in law. His father was a wealthy […]

THE DECLARATION OF BREDA, 1660 CHARLES, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. To all our loving subjects of what degree or quality so-ever, greeting. If the general distraction and confusion which is spread over the whole kingdom doth not awaken all men to a […]

The Bishops Wars and Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639-1646)  The best known events of the Covenanters tend to be the pivotal National Covenant (1638), the Solemn League and Covenant (1643) and the horrors of “The Killing Time” (1684-5). But in between there were other events of significance which should not be overlooked. Not least […]

The impeachment and execution of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford. Wentworth knew the risk he was taking by returning to London but was swayed both by his concept of duty to the King and his own confidence that he could explain all satisfactorily to Parliament. He had previously done so and expected to be able […]

TABLE OF THE CHIEF BATTLES FOUGHT BY THE ENGLISH, : and  THE KINGS AND QUEENS AND THEIR SPOUSES. 1066 Hastings  1513 Flodden 1797 Camperdown 1106 Tenchebrai  1588 Armada          defeated 1800 Marengo 1191 Capture of             Acre 1596 Cadiz 1805 Trafalgar 1214 Bouvines  1642 Edge Hill 1809 Corunna 1265 Evesham  1643 Chalgrove           Field 1812 […]

JOHN FORBES – Prisoner at Blackness and Banished. Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, H Scott (1915) rev 1917, 1920 vol 6 p 117 Alford, 1593 JOHN FORBES, born about 1568, was third son of William F. of Corse and Elizabeth, daugh. of Alexander Strachan of Thornton. He graduated M.A. at St Andrews in 1583, and was settled […]

The Rebellion of the 9th Earl of Argyll, 1685. Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll , son of the Marquis of Argyll executed in 1661, came to notice of the government through his objection to the “ Test Act “ of 31 August 1681. This imposed another Oath on the people of Scotland ( but […]

Biggar  Covenanter Museum The Covenanter Museum in Biggar is further down the road from the main museum at the church. The old farm building is impressive and must have been the property of a reasonably well off farmer, given its size and very solid brick construction. It has been sited under the lea of a […]