Protestantism in Scotland - James Aitken Wylie

shall the power of the throne be limited by the
chartered rights of the people?
This led to the swearing of the National
Covenant. It is only ignorance of the great conflict
of the sixteenth century that would represent this as
a mere Scottish peculiarity. We have Already met
with repeated instances, in the course of our
history, in which this expedient for cementing
union and strengthening confidence amongst the
friends of Protestantism was had recourse to. The
Lutheran princes repeatedly subscribed not
unsimilar bonds. The Waldenses assembled
beneath the rocks of Bobbio, and with uplifted
hands swore to rekindle their "ancient lamp" or die
in the attempt. The citizens of Geneva, twice over,
met in their great Church of St. Peter, and swore to
the Eternal to resist the duke, and maintain their
evangelical confession. The capitals of other
cantons also hallowed their struggle for the Gospel
by an oath. The Hungarian Protestants followed
this example. In 1561 the nobles, citizens, and
troops in Erlau bound themselves by oath not to
forsake the truth, and circulated their Covenant in
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