A RARE copy of one of the most important documents in Scottish history is expected to fetch thousands when it is auctioned in Edinburgh.
A copy of the National Covenant, a "contract with God" created in Edinburgh in 1638, will go up for sale at Lyon & Turnbull Auctioneers on Friday.
It is a chance to own a genuine record of a time of great political and religious strife in Scotland. The document was created after King Charles I, (pictured in a nifty hat) who saw himself as the "Godly Prince", attempted to introduce an Anglican prayer book into the Scottish Kirk, sparking fierce opposition.
A group of Scottish nobles got together at Greyfriars Kirkyard and drew up the National Covenant, which affirmed Scotland's opposition to interference in their reformed church.
The contract was then copied and dispatched to every shire, presbytery and parish of Scotland for signature.
"It's not known how many copies of the National Covenant were made," said Alex Dove, book specialist at Lyon & Turnbull Auctioneers.
"Frequent audits have been done throughout the 20th century and each time they're done they uncover more and more of them, so we think there are at least 100 still around. The copy we have for sale was sent to and signed by the people of Renfrewshire.
"It was purchased in the 1950s from a bookseller by a private collector of manuscripts for £100, a not inconsiderable sum at the time but by all accounts the collector was extremely happy with the price he paid.
The rest is here-
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Rare-copy-of-39contract-with.5333707.jp
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