John Knox;  Mary of Guise, Queen Regent; and the First Reformation.   John Knox has been called many things but in the context of the religious reformation then taking place, the comment by  Mary, Queen of Scots, sums him up. She considered him “ the most dangerous man in all the realm”  – meaning his ideas. […]

List of Popes since St Peter 41 AD to 1846. Dates denote when they began their reign. [For large images click on thumbnail] 41-252 AD 253-498 AD 514-687 AD 701-897 AD 898-1004 AD Continued

Monastic Orders (Mendicants) Setting dogma aside, the Church of Rome was wide open for attack by the Reformers. In Scotland Knox raised his voice in Perth 11 May 1559,  against the Grey and the Black Friars – the Order of Friar Preachers. There were, however, many other groups of both lay and clerical fraternities, each […]

INVERARAY  Home of the Duke of Argyll – Mac Cailein Mor and Chief of Clan Campbell I live in the North West of England about 300 miles or so from the Western Highlands of Scotland and Inveraray Castle, home of the Duke of Argyll, and Mac Cailein Mor, Chief of Clan Campbell.  I have been […]

The Ruthven Raid 22 August 1582  The Ruthven Raid, as it was called, was the result of a rising by the people and reaction by nobles who were thoroughly disgusted with the autocratic and offensive antics of the royal favourites, the Earl of Arran and the Duke of Lennox.  A former favourite of the Regent […]

Catholic Missionaries in Scotland 1653-1741. Extracts from The Scotichronicon, Appendix. Rev J F S Gordon (1868) [Click for larger image] pages 6-10

John Knox, his  early days in England. It is very easy to think of John Knox as being involved only in the Scottish Reformation along with the Lords of the Congregation. But Knox  spent several years in England before his appearance on the Scottish scene and had become well known there, sufficient to be appointed […]

Act of Suspension 21 October 1559. [ Reproduced from The Works of John Knox, Ed David Laing (1845) Vol 1, p 444-452] [For large image click on thumbnail ] The Act is somewhat lengthy but important, as it reiterates the Congregation`s position and lists the rationale for the decision to declare Mary of Guise removed […]

James Renwick – Wanted, Dead or Alive. At the close of the year, on December 9th 1686, a proclamation was issued against Renwick, offering a reward of a hundred pounds sterling to any who should bring him in dead or alive. The following were the terms of this Proclamation : —“ Forasmuch as one Mr […]

John MacMillan of Balmaghie, First Minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.  Although the “Killing Times” had passed and Presbyterianism in Scotland was firmly established with the succession of William and Mary to the throne, there were still rumblings in the Church and the wish by some, to maintain a strict form of worship and management […]

SORROW HEALED. Is thy sorrow very great ? Wait, were mortal words to thee!  Wait on God, poor mourner, wait; Thy sole comforter is He. ‘Tis the Maker of the heart, ‘Tis the sender of the grief, Can alone the balm impart That shall yield thee sweet relief. Tell to man thy bitter woes ; […]

Commission for Justiciary, and instructions,September 6th, 1684 “Charles, &c. to all and sundry our lieges and subjects whom it effeirs, greeting: forasmuch as, albeit the many endeavours  used by us to reclaim the disaffected and disorderly people, in several of the western and southern shires of this our kingdom, have not been so effectual as […]

Slavery The despatch of prisoners to be sold into slavery was not common until after James VI/I took the throne of England. Only then were there foreign lands, colonies, to which transgressors could be banished. In Europe slave labour rather than the standard serfdom, was much more common particularly in Germany and Russia where the unfortunates […]

Rev. Richard Cameron The battle of Bothwell Brig on 22 June 1679 had a great effect upon the Covenanters in general and a silence seemed to come down on their protestations with the government. To many it resolved into bickering between themselves and only a few muted voices were raised in support of the ideals […]