Month: November 2022

Two young Scottish women were caught in the British wars of religion and executed for little more than being present at a Covenanter’s open-air revival meetings. Both women were uneducated. Marion Harvie was a servant to the wealthy, and so little is known of Isabel Alison that she is described simply as “living in Perth.” Their deaths signaled no victory for the British crown, no gain in the battle to suppress the Scottish spirit. Caught in events to which they were quiet observers, nonetheless they went to the gallows singing. The first of the Scottish covenant bands appeared in 1557, and fora century these religious dissenters preached a clear gospel, whilesimultaneously mounting a military campaign for independence fromEngland. A “killing time” followed the 1679 assassination of the king’sarchbishop, James Sharp. Charles II had restored the monarchy inEngland in 1662, and was not about to allow another rebellion like theone that severed the head of Charles I. The Covenanters must bestopped — annihilated. So in late 1680 the crown’s agents conductedraids against commoners who had any association with the likes ofDonald Cargill or Richard Cameron. Alison was taken from her home in Perth and Harvie from Borrowstounness. Each was interrogated concerning