Alexander Henderson, Churchman and Statesman. By Sheriff R. L. Orr.
(Hodder and Stoughton. 15s. net.)—This is a well- written and well-informed biography of the Covenanting leader in the revolt of the Scottish Presbyterians against Charles I. His personal popularity as the minister of Leuehars, Fife, was a great asset to the Covenanters, but Sheriff Orr is honest enough to admit that the Scottish nobles opposed the King largely because he had threatened to inquire into their dubious dealings with Church lands. The picturesque story of the Edinburgh citizens crowding to sign the Covenant on a flat tombstone in Greyfriars Churchyard seems to be untrue ; it was apparently invented by Robert Chambers, perhaps under the influence of the " Waverley Novels." Henderson was one of the Scottish Commissioners sent to London to co-operate with Parliament during the Civil War. It is strange that this able man should have exaggerated the strength of English Presbyterianism so far as to think that a Kirk on the Scottish model could be set up in England. The author, however, insists, rightly or wrongly, that Henderson did not want to force Presbyterianism upon us, and that he was misled by the English fanatics. To Cromwell and the Independents, of course, " New Presbyter was but old Priest writ large."
Previous page
