Leighton Library, Dunblane

Scotland's oldest purpose-built independent library founded in 1687

The persecution of Robert Leighton's father was described as "one of the most disgraceful incidents of the reign of King Charles I"

Added at 07:14 on 16 June 2024

The father of Robert Leighton was Alexander Leighton who came from Montrose. He studied at the University of St Andrews and Leiden University in Holland, Netherlands. He worked as a medical doctor in London (though was twice prohibited from practice). He moved to Holland for one to three years, during which time he published a controversial pamphlet "Zion's plea against Prelacy: An Appeal to Parliament" in 1628. In this publication, he criticised the church, and in particular the Bishops who then ruled the Church of Scotland, condemning them as "antiChristian and satanic". He branded Queen Henrietta Maria herself as "the daughter of Heth". As a result he was sentenced to public whipping, to having the letters 'SS' branded on him (for 'Sower of Sedition'), and having one of his ears cut off and his nose slit, and permanently banned from further practice as a doctor. He had been put in irons in solitary confinement in an unheated and uncovered cell for fifteen weeks, in which the rain and snow beat upon him. He was condemned to life imprisonment, and was only released from jail when his son Robert was ordained as a Minister at Newbattle. His persecution was described as "one of the most disgraceful incidents of the reign of King Charles I". The Long Parliament released him from prison in 1640, when they cancelled his fine, and paid him £6,000 for his suffering. In 1642, He was appointed Keeper of Lambeth House, which had been converted into a prison.