The New Student's Reference Work/Covenanters

Covenanters, a body of the Scottish people, including the greater part of the nation, who during the 16th and the 17th centuries bound themselves by Covenants to make and keep the Presbyterian church as the only religion of Scotland. The first was drawn up by John Craig in 1581 and signed by James I. Others like it followed, and in 1638 was drawn up the Solemn League and Covenant, a bond between those opposed to the Catholic and Episcopal churches in Scotland, England and Ireland. It was adopted by the English Parliament. But in Charles II's reign, the covenant-oaths were declared unlawful and, later, treasonable; yet many of the Covenanters kept on taking these paths until the Revolution of 1688 made it no longer necessary for the Scots to band together for the liberty of their church.