#scoundral

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On February 11th 1659 William Carstares, the radical Scottish Presbyterian cleric was born in Cathcart.

William was the son of Rev John Carstares who was a member of the Covenanting party of Protestors. He was classically educated by John Sinclair, the minister of Ormiston, before entering Edinburgh University to study for his Bachelor of Arts, which he received in 1667. Due to the dominant Episcopalian nature of the University at the time, his father encouraged him to study theology at Utrecht.

He moved to London in 1672, probably as an agent of William of Orange, and was held in Edinburgh Castle 1674-9. During 1682-3 he helped to organise a rising by the Whigs and the earl of Argyll. He was captured in 1683 and under torture made a partial confession on the promise that it would not be used as evidence; but it was used in the trial of George Baillie of Jeviswood, who was executed.

Carstares was exiled because of his involvement in the “Rye House Plot” to overthrow King Charles II. He became chaplain to William of Orange, and after the Glorious Revolution in 1688, he headed the Church of Scotland during the reigns of William and Mary, and later Queen Anne. Carstares was instrumental in securing Scottish support for the Act of Unification between England and Scotland.

On his release from prison he went to the continent in 1685 and became minister of a Scottish congregation at Leiden. He accompanied William of Orange as chaplain to England in 1688, and on campaigns in Ireland and Flanders, 1689-1702. He took part in drafting the legislation for establishing Presbyterianism in Scotland as part of the “Glorious” evolution Settlement of 1690

From 1695 he began meddling in Scottish politics, earning himself the nickname of 'Cardinal Carstares', though his power waned abruptly on William's death in 1702. He was Principal of the University of Edinburgh, 1703-15, and a minister of Greyfriars Church, then of St Giles, 1707-15. Carstares was also four times Moderator of the General Assembly.

He died in December 1715, a strong supporter of the Union to the last, he is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, he also remembered with a plque in St Giles in the Old Town.

Sister: Here. A lucky quarter.

Me: Did you drop it down someone's pants before giving it to me?

Sister: No.

Me: