The Children of the Underclass or “The Dustbin Kids” In previous articles I wrote of the abuse of children brought about by a hostile environment and ignorance which over time translated into the use and abuse of children throughout the industrial era. There is now a third stage in history – that with social […]
Three Roberts and Clarinda The ancient Canongate Kirk was built in 1688 with funds left by Thomas Moodie of Edinburgh who intended it to be an additional place of worship for the people of the Burgh of Canongate. Nearby is the older Canongate Tolbooth built in 1591 which served many needs as the Council […]
James Stuart, Earl of Moray (Murray). “The Good Regent.” Following the death of Francis II , Lord James Stuart visited his half sister, Mary, now widowed but of age to succeed to the throne of Scotland. He was coldly received by the Guise family and the French Court where he received many insults. It was […]
Religious Orders in Scotland ca 1560 On the eve of the Reformation the religious houses of Scotland were represented by : Four houses of Benedictine monks – Coldingham, Dunfermline, Iona and Pluscarden. Two houses of Cluniac monks – Crossraguel and Paisley. Five houses of Tironensian monks – Arbroath, Kelso, Kilwinning, Lesmahagow, and Lindores. Eleven houses […]
MARTYRS. Martyrs Memorial, Greyfriars Kirk Yard, Edinburgh. Patriots have toiled, and in their country’s cause Bled nobly ; and their deeds, as they deserve, Receive proud recompense. We give in charge Their names to the sweet lyre. Th’ historic Muse, Proud of the treasure, marches with it down To latest times ; and Sculpture, in […]
General Monk consults with Archbishop Sharp and plan for episcopacy. Extract from The Scotichronicon, Rev J F S Gordon DD (1867) Vol 2. Note: At this time General Monk was Vice Regent of Scotland and Commander of the Parliamentary Army ( the relic from Cromwell`s rule). Lt General Lambert was a colleague of Monk but […]
Transportation Extracts from the records of the Edinburgh Tolbooth (The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club Vol V, VI ) Transportation took place for civil crimes, prisoners of war, as well as for Covenanting activities and rebellion, with prisoners being sent as slaves for sale, and as bondsmen having given themselves to labour for a […]
A period of relative tranquillity, 1560-1638. It is easy to be swept along on the emotive issues of the Covenant and the persecution of its adherents in the seventeenth century, and thus overlook the cementing of the building blocks of the new church which underpinned the worship of the majority of ministers and the people. […]
David Hackston. Although a lesser light among the Covenanters in terms of preaching , David Hackston of Rathillet, stands tall among the soldiers of the Covenant as the leader of “The Cameronians “ as the armed supporters of Richard Cameron became known. Hackston came from an old Scottish and reasonably well off family in the Parish of […]
Holland`s role – a refuge for the persecuted. [Extract from Exiles of the Covenant, W.D. Carslaw, Alexander Gardner, Paisley,1908.[ As early as the reign of David I, who died in 1153, a considerable number of the industrious and enterprising inhabitants of the Netherlands had already settled in Scotland and carried on trade in its eastern […]
The Surrender of Charles I. Valiant though the endeavours of Montrose were, he received disservice from Charles I who was negotiating with the Covenanters even while Montrose and his forces were fighting. Ever the opportunist, Charles still hoped to swing the country to his side by leaving Montrose to wage war; and there can be […]
John Middleton (1619-1674), Soldier, Covenanter, Royalist, Earl of Middleton, King`s Commissioner, and `outer` of Ministers. John Middleton, later Earl of Middleton, is remembered primarily for his role as King`s Commissioner in Scotland following the Restoration of Charles II in 1661. On the political front he was driven by the desire to establish the Kings absolute […]
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 […]
Notes from “The Kirk above Dee Water, Rev H M B Reid (1895). The Last words of the Rev Mr John Macmillan on his death bed, November 1753” .. Prayer being ended, he inquired where that word was, ‘Yea, mine own God is He ?’ and being told it was the last line of the […]