Historical Perspectives

I love reading history, especially through biographies. When I read about the personalities involved in a particular era of history, I find it much easier to remember what actually happened than if I tried to recall a list of dates and events. Right now I am reading a biography of James I of England and VI of Scotland, called James I: The Fool as King by Otto Scott He does a very nice job in setting the stage for the conflict between Church and State that resulted in the need for the Solemn League and Covenant and the writing of the Westminster Confession of Faith which directly attacked and undermined James' doctrine of Divine Right of Kings.

Otto Scott does something in this book which is refreshing to me -- he destroys the mystique around Mary, Queen of Scots, and Elizabeth I of England. Instead of being figures of romance, Mary is presented as a foolish, conniving adulterous and murderous woman who was responsible for the death of her first husband. Elizabeth is portrayed as a vain, vaccillating pragmatist whose glory came, not from her wisdom, but depended more on the happy Providences of God which she was quick to claim the honor for.

After the Second Reformation in Scotland, the land fell back into unfaithfulness to her Covenants and so the judgement of God fell upon that land in the form of Jacobite rebellions and the clearing of the Highlands among other things. The hand of the Lord has been heavy on Scotland since that time, but like James Renwick, I believe that the Covenants will again be the means of blessing Scotland again.

I not only like to read history, but I also enjoy watching it. In the last few weeks there has been a very interesting history of the Medici family on PBS. The Medici's were from Florence, Italy, and some of them became famous as corrupt Popes. It was the Medici popes who were in power when Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door in Wittenburg and it was the Medici's who were the sponsors of artists like Michelangelo. Another infamous family member was Catherine de Medici, who was mother to kings of France, and one of the architects of the slaughter of French Reformed Christians during the St. Bartholomew's day massacre.

" For 20 years, Catherine[aka "Madame Serpent" -- CG] is the pawn of powerful men. Daughter of a playboy who dies of syphilis, she is orphaned at birth and raised by illegitimate cousins and papal uncles. She is threatened during the siege of Florence, and finally handed to her new husband, the future King of France.

Humiliated by her husband's older mistress, Diane, and despised as an Italian “shopkeeper’s daughter“, Catherine spends a decade trying to conceive. In desperation, she ends up having to ask her husband's mistress for help - and finally gives birth to 10 children, including four sons.

When her husband is killed in a hunting accident, Catherine takes control and rules France by proxy through her sickly, deranged and deviant sons. But she can't control the religious tensions sweeping the country, and starts the blackest event of French history - the St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572.

Obsessed with the prophecies of Nostradamus, whom she pursues around France, Catherine is told that no heir of her sons will rule France. The idea terrifies her.

A true godfather, Catherine rules her court through the whispers of her “flying squadron“ - ladies who use their bodies to get information. She’s certainly not afraid to get her hands dirty. "


For amusement, I took the Medici quiz they offered to see which of the Medici's I most resembled. I am...

LORENZO THE MAGNIFICENT -


It must be tough to be you: good at sports, ladies desire you, guys want to be you, - you're smart as a whip with the Midas touch. You live a charmed life. Everyone around you benefits from your largesse, friends and family alike share in your good fortune. You never back away from a just fight and stand up for what's right every time. We want to hate you but can't, you're Lorenzo the Magnificent.

Heh heh...

If I had no family responsibilities and could devote myself solely to being a professional student, one of the subjects I would immerse myself in would be history.