Local Experiences of National Covenanting, 1638–1643
This article explores how the covenants were experienced by those who subscribed them in 1638 and 1643. Building on the recent historiographical focus on the role of ordinary people in the covenanting movement, this article argues that there were a range of standpoints on the ground which resulted in large part from the ambiguous wording of these national oaths. The role of women in the early covenanting years is also examined, with covenant subscriptions and instances of female-led protest highlighted to suggest the emergence of a more assertive and radical form of female activism.