John Knox's blasts from the past go on show

Published on Wednesday 1 September 2010 14:15

A COLLECTION of historic manuscripts marking the establishment of the Protestant church in Scotland and its formal break with the Papacy have gone on display in Edinburgh.

• The manuscripts going on show by John Knox, right, include The First Blast of the Trumpet, attacking Catholics Mary Tudor, Mary of Guise, Catherine de Medici and Mary Stuart

The assortment, including John Knox's Scottish Confession of Faith and his First Blast of the Trumpet, marks the 450th anniversary of the Reformation in Scotland.

They are being shown at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh as part of a series of "treasures" displayed from their collection.

The Scottish Reformation is widely dated to 1560, when Knox's confession abolishing the Pope's authority in Scotland was ratified by the Scottish Parliament.

First Blast of the Trumpet, published in 1558, is directed against the "monstrous regiment" of Catholic women rulers in Europe - Mary Tudor, Mary of Guise, Catherine de Medici and the youthful Mary Stuart - and claims that women should not bear rule over men.

It was originally published anonymously, as Knox wanted to conceal his identity until he issued another two "blasts", but no more were published.

Also on display is the Bassandyne Bible of 1576 - the first complete vernacular Bible printed in Scotland - and a collection of Protestant popular songs, Good and Godly Ballads.

A tract published by Mary Queen of Scots confessor Ninian Winzet in 1562 arguing against the Reformation and a Papal Bull issued by Pope Leo X in 1517 threatening Martin Luther with excommunication will also be shown.

Anette Hagan, senior curator of rare book collections at the National Library of Scotland, said the Reformation was "one of the most important events" in Scottish history.

"It marked a switch in international alliances away from Catholic France and towards Protestant England, enabling the Union of the Crowns in 1603, and established Calvinism as one of the dominant influences of Scottish life, leading to centuries of hellfire sermons - but also to a society with a strong sense of social responsibility and the highest rate of literacy in Europe.

"Our latest display is a fantastic showcase of key artefacts relating to the Scottish Reformation, which is one of the most important events in our country's history and had repercussions reaching far beyond the dramas of John Knox's quarrels with Mary Queen of Scots."

The Rev Douglas Somerset, secretary of the Scottish Reformation Society, which aims to "resist the attempts of the Church of Rome to recover the power that she lost at the Reformation", said: "We're very pleased these items have gone on show

"Not to be able to display them because they might offend some people would be like white-washing history."Peter Kearney, spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: "With the Papal visit to Scotland and the 450th commemoration of the Scottish Reformation, 2010 is turning out to be a memorable year for this Christian nation."

The exhibition will continue until 31 October.