William Sawtrey , or Sautre or Chatris. a Parish Priest. Burned. William Sawtrey was the parish priest of St Scithe the Virgin in London. and a zealous man inflamed with religion who sought to be heard by Parliament in 1401. He was, however, intercepted by the prelates and referred to a convocation which met on […]
Patrick Hamilton. Patrick Hamilton is often quoted as the first martyr of the Scottish Reformation which came to fruition with the overthrow of Popery and the Church of Rome in 1560. Hamilton was born of noble parentage about 1503, his father being Sir Patrick Hamilton of Kincavel and Stanehouse and brother germane of the Earl […]
Sir Thomas More (1478 – 1535) Thomas More was born in London ca 1478. The son of a judge he had a reasonably comfortable youth and was sent to Oxford University. Later he completed his legal studies at New Inn and Lincoln’s Inn. He went on to teach law at Furnival’s Inn before becoming a […]
The First Admonition to Parliament 1572. Following the succession of Queen Elizabeth I to the throne of England in 1558, very many dissenters and non conformists returned from exile on the continent. Among them were many who had been in Geneva who were keen to bring a Calvinist reformation to the Church of England. As […]
Thomas Wolsey ( 1471-1530 ) Thomas Wolsey was the son of a butcher in Ipswich who made his way through Oxford before gaining the support of Sir Richard Nanfan, treasurer of Calais, to obtain employment as King Henry`s almoner. But ambition drove Wolsey to seek the friendship of those around the king. These included the […]
The Waldensians [ Sources: History of Protestantism, Rev J A Wylie (1889) his references including Histoire General des Eglises Evangeliques des Vallees de Piedmont, ou Vaudoises. Jean Leger (1669); Israel of the Alps, Alexis Muston (1854); History of the Vaudois Church, Antoine Monastier ( 1848). The Never Failing Light, Capt R M Stephens (1957). […]
The Covenanters, Who Were They ? A snapshot view. The history and the changes that occurred in Scotland – and subsequently in Ireland – through the 17th and early 18th centuries are highly charged by one word: Covenanters. So who were they and why were they so influential? It is easy to say that they […]
Rev. James Sharp, Archbishop of St Andrews. His mausoleum. James Sharp has been the subject of much criticism and indeed venom, for his part in the persecution of the Covenanters. A more humane man doing his duty is painted by his supporters as evidenced in the memorial his brother erected. James King Hewison wrote in […]
Gravestone decorations and symbols. The Pelican feeding its young with drops of its own blood. The symbol of Piety. A superb example of it by Alice Meredith Williams will be found in the National War Memorial, Edinburgh. The Bannantyne tomb in Greyfriars Kirk Yard, Edinburgh dates from 1635 and was at one time much larger. […]
Children in the Industrial Revolution to Today Literature gives us some examples of the cruel way children were exploited during the Industrial Revolution. Several of Charles Dickens novels give vivid descriptions of the schools and the workhouse, and Charles Kingsley’s ” Water Babies” gives some idea of the miserable life of the young boys […]
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 […]
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 Torwood Excommunications by the Rev Donald Cargill. of King Charles II, James, Duke of York; James, Duke of Monmouth, John, Duke of Lauderdale; John Duke of Rothes; Sir George MacKenzie ; and Thomas Dalziel of the Binns. Cited in A Cloud of Witnesses. Ed J H Thomson (1871). Wherefore in September 1680, after sermon […]
John Spreul – Torture and conviction by a special Act of Council. Spreul was again brought before the Privy Council on Wednesday 17 November and again he refused to subscribe to previous answers. He was sent back to his cell while the hangman was summoned and the instruments of torture made ready. Returning to the […]