Sandy Peden's mask

Image: © kim traynor Taken: 15 May 2007

An exhibit in the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street. Peden was a leading Covenanter who spent years as a fugitive, holding illegal conventicles (unlicensed church services, often in the open air) while dodging the authorities. This was his disguise. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Peden "Where is the Kirk of God in Scotland the day? It is not among the great clergie folk. Sirs, I'll tell you where the Kirk of God is, wherever there is a praying lass or lad at a dyke-side in Scotland." -- from one of Peden's sermons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Covenanters%27_Conventicle,_from_a_children%27s_history_book.jpg "Their meeting-places are most commonly at the side of a moss or at the side of a river, and they have their spies at a distance on all hands, who give warning if any party appear, which makes them run, were the party never so small; but the truth is, the cause of most of this trouble we receive in this kind is occasioned by some outed ministers, against whom both [privy] council and commission has proceeded against, and they have put themselves in disguise, so as when they preach they are in gray clothes and long pediuicks [periwigs], and it is alleged some of them preaches in masks and these rogues stirs up the women so as they are worse than devils; yea, I dare say if it were not for the women we should have little trouble with conventicles or such kind of stuff, but there are such a foolish generation of people in this country who are so influenced with their fanatic wives as I think will bring ruin upon them." -- letter from the Earl of Rothes to the Earl of Maitland, 1665 Image Image

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