On February 28, 1638, the National Covenant was signed in opposition to King Charles I and Archbishop Laud's attempts to impose the Book of Common Prayer, including the episcopacy on the Kirk of Scotland.According to this site,
The document contained an intriguing mixture of citations from the law and allusions to the Bible. It concluded by calling "...the LIVING GOD, THE SEARCHER OF OUR HEARTS" to be a witness..." God, they said, knew their sincere desire and that they weren't faking their determination. They knew they had to give an account to Jesus Christ in the judgment day, and said so. To break the covenant would be to come under God's everlasting wrath, and to lose the respect of the world. Therefore, they humbly pleaded with the Lord to strengthen them by his Holy Spirit, "and to bless our desires and proceedings with a happy success; that religion and righteousness may flourish in the land, to the glory of GOD, the honour of our King, and peace and comfort of us all."
It was read and signed at Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh. The subsequent Covenants in Scotland continued to protest and unite in opposition against Charles I's drive for unity in the Church of England and Scotland.
Greyfriars Church, obviously named after previous Franciscan friars, is also famous for "Greyfriars Bobby" the faithful Skye Terrier who remained at his master's grave in the churchyard for many years.
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