Producing the National Covenant

Writers to the Signet over the centuries have frequently been involved in the making of Scottish history, but not always so literally as a case that has recently come to light.

In 1638, the National Covenant was signed by leading members of the Scottish nobility and thereafter reproduced throughout Scotland for signature by the wider population. The National Covenant signified rebellion against the authority of Charles I to impose reforms to the form of national worship in the Church of Scotland. So began the Covenanter movement (albeit its roots lay in the Reformation a century earlier) which in turn triggered Civil War in England. That lead ultimately to the execution of Charles I in 1649 and to the rule of Oliver Cromwell.  

Research of secondary sources has recently revealed that three Covenanter Writers to the Signet were given a monopoly to produce National Covenants to be signed by the Scottish nobility. Multiple covenants signed by the nobility were used to encourage the wider population to sign in their localities. On 5 March 1638, it was ordered by the ruling Covenanter elite that no copies of the covenant were to be signed by nobles unless they were written by James Cheyne, John Nicoll (who became Clerk to the Society 1647-54) or William Henderson. All three were Writers to the Signet then serving as notaries to the covenanters. Giving these writers a monopoly in covenants to be signed by nobility is presumed to have been a reward for their service.

Most of the extant National Covenants are manuscript, such as the one on display today in St Giles’ Cathedral. There were printed versions, however, and one such is in the possession of the Society at the Signet Library. Research is underway to discover its provenance. More to follow.