Kilts and Covenanters

[JonathanB]

Whatever they wore, the Covenanters would have been deeply disapproving of the Jacobites and probably seen their defeat at Culloden as God's judgement on their idolatrous religion. (Jacobites were not only Roman Catholic, but also Episcopalian, equally anathema to Calvinists.)

The Jacobites, by contrast, would have seen the Covenanters as disloyal to the Lord's Annointed and deserving all they got.

[kilted scholar]

JonathanB

(Jacobites were not only Roman Catholic, but also Episcopalian, equally anathema to Calvinists.)

.

You are quite right of course in that the Covenanters held episcopacy as anathema, and I suppose this is your intention here.

On the other hand, it does not follow that Calvinists as such held episcopacy in such disdain. There was a group of theologians in the seventeenth century known as the Aberdeen Doctors who were both Reformed and episcopal. Beyond Scotland, the puritans in England who formed the Westminster Assembly were all ordained ministers of the Church of England and had, until 1643 when episcopacy was abolished by Parliament, served in an episcopal church. There were not a few who shared their theology who nevertheless continued in the Church of England after the restoration of the monarchy and the episcopal system in 1660. In Scotland, there was Robert Leighton, who signed the Solemn League and Covenant in 1643 but, without changing his overall theology, served as Bishop of Dunblane and then as Archbishop of Glasgow under Charles II. So, as in many cases, the reality is a little more awkward.

However, I agree - whatever they thought of episcopacy - that it is more than highly unlikely that they ever wore kilts!

[JonathanB]

Thank you, ks. I'm commenting as an Anglican whose been reading a lot of Walter Scott, who isn't probably that reliable on details. The Church of England was probably far more Calvinistic before the 1662 Restoration than modern Anglicans like to think. By "Episcopalian" I meant the Episcopal Church of Scotland, who wouldn't have been Covenanters, surely?

But my point is Calvinism and Jacobitism would have been typically inconsistent.

[JonathanB]

On consideration, I should have said "Presbyterian" rather than Calvinist.

[Phil]

CharlesII tried to impose a system of religion upon Scotland where he was the supreme head of the church controlled through an episcopacy (bishops). The Scottish covenanters believed that no-one other than Jesus Christ himself could be spiritual head of a church, not a king through his bishops.
This was not just a whim but something thousands of Scots died for.

[JonathanB]

Fair enough. But equallly, the Jacobites would have held that Jesus Christ is the only head of the church and his anointed was the divinely planned means of governing it. Thousands of Scots died or were persecuted because either they, or certainly their clan chief, held that view.

[BoldHighlander]

Did anyone else notice the token highlander seated at the signing table wearing a blue bonnet and plaid tossed over his left shoulder? He is next to the group signing the document (far left of the table):

Here are the pictures from Google images - this one in 1838 -

If you follow the link below and click the picture you can see an enlarged version that more clearly shows the lone highlander:

Here is the link to the painting of the kilted ancient in the bottom right hand corner: http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpainti...s-kirkyar93072

[MacRobert's Reply]

Yes indeed Terry, I did spot him but whether or not he is kilted below the waist ..... and of course the painting is of an event long past.

[georgeetta]

see painting battle dunkeld and church meetings in hoolw under armed guards .

my family were Douglasses and Morrisons ..likely of Buchanans .

I assume being nearer bog towns cities ..money flower free-er than amongst highlanders ..

look for an armed farmer of the time ..I see a checked blanket in brown ..over shoulders .. a big tam o shanter farmers bonnet for rain ..wool outer clothes for warmth if wet ..I say buckled shoes ..no beards . scissor cropped hair ..

maybe the jerkin style farm garment or leggings .

farm weapons ..muskets ..swords as available ..think farmers ..

NOT ..Guy Fawkes or Sir Walter Raleigh .

what soldiers there had been were the young men or look outs ..

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[georgeetta]

sorry a kilt is perfect for being cheapest garment ..available ..no sewing cept ..in half ..in army plaids ..

and ..ideal for not getting chewed up by ..bracken and underbrush unlike a more expensive ..pair of breeks ..or even trews .

and they made their bedding out of them ..never seem to see pictures of highlanders carrying backpacks ..

or sorry, utility kilts !


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look for painting of a dutch or English townsperson or farmer of the same times ..dutch seem to have painters who painted regular folks ..than rich ..clients only .

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