Martin Luther`s Objections. The Humanists, such as Erasmus, and other satirical writers of the day  variously illustrated, commented upon and ridiculed the excesses of the Church of Rome. In their way they contributed to the Reformation, bringing the attention of the people generally to the practices and questioning why they were used. The challenge to […]

A Childrens` Covenant A Covenant Transaction with the Lord, by a society of Young Children, who met together in a meeting in Pentland Town, in the time of Persecution, when  there was no faithful minister in Scotland, anno 1683, ere that great burning and shining light, Mr. James Renwick, came an ordained minister from Holland. […]

Schedule of “dissolved” Monasteries.Extracted “Monks and Monasteries” Samuel Fox. James Burns, London,1845 [ For large image, click on thumbnail, then on expand icon bottom right.] Pages 8-13.

Outed Ministers, Curates, Conventicles. and the Blink. An important indicator of the support for the outed ministers was the absence of successors nominated by the patrons, but this had an unwanted side effect – the appointment of curates to fill the vacancies. The direct consequence of the outing of ministers was their illicit preaching in […]

Rev. Henry Duncan Minister at Ruthwell Moderator of the Church of Scotland  The Rev. Henry Duncan (1774 – 1846) would have earned a place in history even without his efforts to save the Ruthwell Cross. He was also a leading geologist, antiquarian and an accomplished artist. He was the discoverer of the first fossil footprints […]

Peaceful co existence of the Presbyterians shattered. Peaceful co existence was shattered by the resurgence of the Bishops seeking control.  1633 was a watershed in Ireland with the appointment of  William Laud as Archbishop of Canterbury (picture right) and Thomas Wentworth, later the Earl of Strafford, as Lord Deputy in Ireland. Both these individuals became […]

The Placards against the Mass. 24 October 1534. [ Extract from J A Wylie, History of Protestantism,vol 2 p 206-7] Undoubtedly frustration was building among the French Protestants who saw their dream taking place elsewhere in Germany and Switzerland, and a consensus was reached that positive action should be taken. They sought the advice of […]

James Renwick`s Lecture on Psalm XXIII. [ From  “A Choice Collection of the very valuable Prefaces, Lectures and Sermons preached by the Reverend Mr James Renwick”. S & A Gardner, Glasgow (1804) p 36-40.]  Click on thumbnail for larger image. PDF file

Signatories to the Covenant of 1638 in Borgue and Minigaff Parishes, Galloway. These are extracts from “Galloway and the Covenanters” by Alex.S. Morton (1914). They refer to the inhabitants of the two Galloway Parishes that signed a copy of the Covenant. Click on the image to enlarge to 600 pixel width; this image can be […]

Preston 17 – 19 Aug 1648 and Uttoxeter.  In 1647-8 the alliance with the English Parliamentarians and the future of the Solemn League and Covenant were crumbling, with the English unable, or unwilling, to fulfil their end of bargain, Not least they were against the extension of Presbyterianism as the true religion in England and […]

Augsburg Confession In 1529 – 30 The Emperor, Charles V, finally made his way to Germany  having reconciled himself with Francis I of France, the Pope and seen the Turks turn back from the eastern borders. He now envisaged the completion of his work – the extirpation of Luther and Lutheranism decreed in the Edict […]

James Ure of Shergarton Cited in Hewison`s The Covenanters etc The Rev. Robert Wodrow, the historian of the Covenanters, gives a credible account of the hardships endured by James Ure of Shargarton, in the parish of Kippen, in Stirlingshire, a centre of nonconforming disaffection.’ From 1670 Ure was leading the disorderly life of a dissenter, […]

Dunnottar Castle Dunottar Castle, now a ruin, is near Stonehaven and about 15 miles south of Aberdeen. Built on an outcrop of sandstone that juts out into the sea it has a rugged beauty and in its day was a fearsome stronghold. It is thought that St Ninian had been here in the 5th century […]

The Covenanter Ships –  “Eaglewing”, “Crown”  “Rising Sun” and “Henry & Francis”  The flow of Scottish migrants to the Province of Ulster who came in search of land and religious freedom was significant in the Plantation of Ireland. Yet, in a short space of 20 years there was a change in the relationships with the […]