The Court of High Commission, The original Court of High Commission was created by Elizabeth I in 1559 by which she gave authority to a mixed committee of knights, counsellors and clerics to enforce `an Act for the uniformity of Common Prayer` and An Act restoring to the Crown the ancient jurisdiction` [of the […]
Time Line: Political events during The Reformation in Europe 1493-1621. This is only a snapshot of a hugely busy period throughout Europe and beyond. If copying/printing off do so in landscape. Holy Roman Empire Papacy & Italian states. France Spain Year Portugal Netherlands Austria (HRE) Turkey Hungary Maximilian of Austria (and Netherlands) Emperor. 1493 […]
The Reformation in Europe . Index Please note that this section is `work in progress` and pages may be edited from time to time. The Reformation in Europe. The Eucharist explained. Different interpretations. The Waldensians. Waldensian Time Line. The Noble Lesson. The Inquisition. Martyrdom in Piedmont and Provence 16C. European Reformers. Bohemia, Jan Hus, Master […]
The events leading up to the `outing` of ministers. With the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, his supporters in Scotland lost no opportunity of bringing into contempt what the Covenanters looked upon as the saving grace of the country—the Solemn League and Covenant. On 29th May, Restoration Day ( the date of Charles landing […]
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 […]
John Wyckcliffe (1329-1384), published two especially influential works based on his views of the Augustinian doctrine of predestination. In these works – “On the Kingdom of God” and “De Dominia Divino“, he elaborated his theory that – All power was derived from God alone. The King was as much God`s Vicar as the Pope. The […]
Knox and his Doctrine Knox did not mince his words when he denounced the Church of Rome as Antichrist and proposed nothing less than a reconstruction of the doctrines and ecclesiastical system of Scotland. As a student of John Calvin in Geneva he, like the other Protestant Reformers, held to three main principles. God had […]
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 […]
Letter of Queen Elizabeth to James VI February 1589, about the treasonous letters discovered. Quoted in Calderwood`s History. vol v, p7-8 “ MY DEERE BROTHER,- I have ere now assured you, that als long as I found you constant in aimitie towards me, I would be your faithfull watche, to shunne all mishappes or […]
Extracts from the Records of the Edinburgh Tolbooth (The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, Vol 12.) Transportation to Jamacia. Although the records may indicate that transportation was to eg Jamacia, the prisoners could easily end up in other of the islands in the West Indies such as Barbados. But sometimes weather, or greed ( […]
Crimes and sufferings of the Scottish Clergy from 1560 – 1690Cited as an appendix in Hewisons The Covenanters Vol.1 (1908) 1560-1638 1638-1660 1660-1690 Executed 2 2 8 (laity 197) Murdered 2 4 2 Killed 1 2 3 Imprisoned 31 21 78 Banished or made fugitive 18 13 17 Deposed 35 126 46 Deprived 14 […]
Thomas Forrest – the Vicar of Dollar and the Stirling Martyrs, 1538. The burnings of Straiton and Gourlay in 1534 had the desired effect of striking terror in the populace but succeeded only in driving the new Evangel underground, with greater caution exercised among its adherents. It also served to heighten the concern, even fear, […]
England in the 15th century – a snapshot. Fifteenth century England was mostly overshadowed by the divide between the Houses of Lancaster ( Henry IV, Henry V and Henry VI : 1399-1461) and York (Edward IV, Edward V and Richard III: 1461-1485). The Wars of the Roses divided loyalties, and military priorities largely distracted attention […]
Sir James Turner, inter alia, a soldier. Sir James Turner (1615-1686), was a Scottish soldier and in retirement a military writer, but is remembered mostly for his cruelty and rapaciousness when ordered to enforce the law against the West of Scotland Covenanters. The son of a minister in Borthwick and Dalkeith, he was educated, like […]