Scotland's Forgotten History Podcast

Why did William Reid promise to give himself up to the authorities as a wanted field preacher? And why did he once preach in church with a loaded pistol hung around his neck? There are other stories of narrow escapes even in his death when he escaped the malice of the leader of the Jacobite troops, Lord George Murray who wanted “to have the old dog’s bones to bristle in the flames of his own manse”. We can see why Thomas Boston described Reid  as “a worthy man, one of the old sufferers in the persecution”. Note: Cover Photograph by Simon Warren. This depicts the Rollo Standard referred to in the podcast episode. It was captured at the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679 by Major Archibald Rollo, 3rd Lord Rollo (d. 1701), who fought for the royalists. It now hangs in the private collection of the home of the present Lord Rollo, who lives near Dunning in Perthshire and is not readily accessible (information from the Scottish Covenanter Memorial Association).

People suffered a lot for attending the preaching of Alexander Pitcairn. For many years he continued to minister near Perth without compromise or capture. We find out how. Returning again to Dron near Perth, we discover more about its minister and his experiences. Cover Photo © Becky Williamson (cc-by-sa/2.0)

We explore the story behind a secret burial at dead of night.  The deceased young man was only 30 years old but his brief life is worth remembering and some of his dying words retain a unique power. It was the field preacher John Welwood, and he left an abiding influence on another young man Richard Cameron.

How did hissing pupils lead their teacher to discover Reformation teaching? And how did the number 7 feature in the life and ministry of Archibald Simson of Dalkeith? We explore his imprisonment and attempted murder along with other incidents in this episode.

We conclude our series about the Solemn League and Covenant in Ormiston and we discover how and why the international covenant made an international journey from here. What abiding significance did the covenant have after it was publicly burned by the authorities?

More than 370 years ago two men were in deep conversation as they walked on the hill now known as the Necropolis in Glasgow. The impact of those deliberations still endures in a publication that they planned together. We also find out how it had a close connection with the final moments on the scaffold for some Covenanters.

The Royal Mile was the trunk of Old Edinburgh with a large number of small alleyways called closes, courts or wynds branching off on each side. Most of the alleyways are called “closes” which tend to be narrow with tall buildings on both sides and access private property. They all have their own names. One of them is called Covenant Close and as you might have guessed there is a story behind this.

You would never realise that this neglected spot within the grounds of Newbattle Abbey witnessed considerable events of such historical significance. Our story weaves around Robert Leighton and the leading Covenanting noble the Earl of Lothian. But there are some other famous Covenanters that share some connection with the location too.