The ancient Greyfriar's Kirk in Edinburgh is dear to the memory of the Covenanters and the Reformation of the Church in Scotland because it was within the Kirk itself that "The National Covenant" was first read and signed on Wednesday, February 28, 1638.

Time has added the embellishment - including a painting by Sir William Allan c. 1840 - that the Covenant was taken outside for signature by the common people gathered there, but truth is that the flat gravestones did not then exist and it was not taken outside. Rather, the following day, March 1, 1638, it was taken to the Tailor's Hall in the Cowgate where burghers and ministers signed and on subsequent days it was taken to other churches for signature.

There were, however, many copies made which were sent to the principal towns of Scotland and to Ireland where local people were able to sign. The original is thought to be that in the Huntley House Museum, but Greyfriars has its own copy in pride of place in the Kirk Session room.

The National Covenant was drafted by Sir Archibald Johnston of Warriston, who was executed in 1663, and Archibald Henderson which they did in three parts- a reproduction of the Confession of King James I (later King James VI of England) of 1580; a detailed list of the Acts of Parliament which confirmed Presbyterianism and condemned Popery; and, thirdly, a protest about the changes in worship which was an attempt to force Episcopal reforms on the nation. The protests were a ban on extempore prayer, the General Assembly could not meet; the furnishings of churches were specified and a specific liturgy was ordered to be used. With this was a revised Book of Prayer introduced in 1637 which gave rise to a celebrated event at the nearby St. Giles Cathedral.

On Sunday, July 23, 1637 at St. Giles Cathedral in the Old City of Edinburgh a woman by the name of Janet Geddes objected to the use of a new prayer book written by Scottish Bishops that was used for the first time. It is said that she threw her small stool at the Dean of the church. Her stool is on display in the Museum of Scotland and the spot from which she threw it is marked by a plate in the floor which reads:

Constant oral tradition affirms that near this spot a brave Scotswoman Janet Geddes on 23 July 1637 struck the first blow in the great struggle for freedom of conscience which after a conflict of half a century ended in the establishment of civil and religious liberty

The signing of the document was certainly a momentous occasion and took place in the centre of the Kirk alongside the pulpit. A description of the event is quoted in "The Greyfriars Story - A Celebration", by Padi Mathieson (1990).

"....after it had been read over publicly and a long speech had been made by the Lord Loudoun in commendation thereof, Mr. Alexander Henderson seconded him with a prayer, and then all fell to swear and subscribe, some of the nobility leading the way. The first was John Gordon, Earl of Sutherland, and the next was Sir Andrew Murray, Lord Balvard, minister at Ebdy in Fife: two noblemen who, out of zeal to their profession... thought it a happiness to be amongst the first subscribers and swearers to the Covenant. All who were present at Edinburgh at that meeting in the month of February, subscribed and swore to the Covenant before they went from thence; and at their parting, ministers, and noblemen, and gentlemen, who were well affected to the cause, carried copies thereof along with them, or caused them to be written out after their return to their several parishes and counties of Scotland."

On June 22, 1679 the Covenanter army was crushed at the Battle of Bothwell Brig, near Glasgow, and about 1000 prisoners were taken and imprisoned in Greyfriars Yard - since called the Covenanter Prison. Here they were held in the open with little food for months. Some signed a bond and were released but a hard core of over 300 remained. Five were hanged in reprisal for the murder of Archbishop Sharp despite their having nothing to do with it: some were moved to the Tolbooth Prison and the balance of 257 were sentenced to slavery in the Colonies. These were shipped aboard the ill fated "Crown" in which 211 of them met a watery grave. The survivors were later transported to America.

Within the Kirk yard stands the "Martyrs Memorial" which commemorates some 18,000 Covenanters who died for their faith . It also marks the area where the remains of those executed in the nearby Grassmarket are buried. The inscription reads:

Halt passenger take heed what thou dost see
This tomb doth shew for what some men did die
Here lies interr'd the dust of these who stood
Gainst perjury resisting unto blood
Adhering to the Covenants and Laws
Establishing the same which was the Cause
Then their lives were sacrificed unto the Lust
Or Prelatist's abjur'd though here their dust
Lies mixt with murders and other crew
Whom justice did justly to death pursue
But as for this in them no cause was found
Worthy of death but only they were found
Constant and steadfast zealous witnessing
For the prerogatives of CHRIST their king
Which truths were feared by famous Guthrie's head
And all along to Mr Ranwick's blood
They did endure the wrath of enemies
Reproaches torments deaths and injuries
But yet they're these who from such troubles came
And now triumph in glory with the LAMB

This Tomb was erected anno 1706.

Ironically, nearby the "Prison" stands the mausoleum of Sir George MacKenzie who, as Kings Advocate, was responsible for the zealous prosecution of the Covenanters and gained for himself the title "Bluidy" MacKenzie.

Meet the Author, Brian Orr, Researcher with The Guild of One Name Studies

Back to The Covenanters, Main Page

Part One: The Covenanters: Who Were They?
Part Two : The Kirk and its Impact on the People
Part Three : Tales of the Covenanters
Part Four : What's in a Name?
Part Five : The Sanquhar Declaration
Part Six : Covenanter Ships: The Eaglewing, The Crown and Henry & Francis
Part Seven : Female Covenanters: Execution by Drowning
Part Eight : Covenanter Prisons: Bass Rock and Dunnattor Castle
Part Nine : Greyfriars Kirk and the National Covenant
Part Ten : Battle of Rullion Green
Part Eleven : Rev. James Renwick, Martyr
Part Twelve : Presbyterians in Ireland
Part Thirteen: The Final Word on the Solway Martyrs
Part Fourteen: The Margaret Wilson Statue
Part Fifteen: After the National Covenant

Covenanters Time Line
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