Jenny Geddes and the 1637 Prayer Book Riot: The Flying Stool

Each major claim carries one of three labels. established means supported by primary records, official bodies or several independent reliable sources. shared means the core fact is sound but sources disagree on details, dates or interpretation. traditional means widely repeated but not traceable to a primary or independent source.

The riot itself is well documented. The details of who threw the first stool, and what she said, come from later accounts, and some historians doubt Jenny Geddes existed. This card treats her as a figure of tradition.

A king's prayer book

established Charles I wanted the churches of his kingdoms to worship in similar ways. In 1637 he imposed a new Book of Common Prayer on Scotland, drawn up with the help of Scottish bishops and Archbishop William Laud. It was introduced by royal command without the approval of the General Assembly or the Scottish Parliament. Many Scots saw its ceremonies as popish and its imposition as an attack on the Kirk's independence.

The riot

established On Sunday 23 July 1637, the new book was used for the first time in St Giles' and other Edinburgh churches. When Dean James Hannay began to read, the congregation, with women prominent, began to shout and throw objects, including stools. The Bishop of Edinburgh tried to calm the crowd and was also attacked. The magistrates cleared the church, but crowds outside continued the protest, and similar disturbances broke out elsewhere.

shared Many historians believe the protest was organised in advance by Presbyterian ministers and nobles opposed to the prayer book, with women chosen to lead it, partly because they were less likely to be punished.

Jenny Geddes

traditional According to tradition, the first stool was thrown by Jenny Geddes, an Edinburgh market woman who sold vegetables, who shouted, "Deil gie you colic, the wame o' ye, fause thief; daur ye say Mass in my lug?" ("Devil give you colic in your stomach, false thief; dare you say Mass in my ear?"). The name and the words come from accounts written years or decades later. Contemporary reports describe women throwing stools but do not name them. Some historians think Jenny Geddes was an invented or composite figure; others think there may be a real person behind the story.

Consequences

established The prayer book riot began a national movement against Charles's religious policies. In February 1638 the National Covenant was signed in Greyfriars Kirk, pledging to defend the Reformed religion. The Glasgow General Assembly of 1638 abolished bishops. Charles's attempts to impose his will led to the Bishops' Wars of 1639–40, which forced him to recall the English Parliament and helped trigger the civil wars that ended with his execution in 1649.

Memory

established Jenny Geddes became a heroine of Scottish Protestant tradition, celebrated in poems, paintings and songs. A modern sculpture of a three-legged stool stands in St Giles' Cathedral to commemorate the riot.

• The riot took place on 23 July 1637.
• No contemporary account names Jenny Geddes.
• Women led the protest, possibly by design.
• The riot led to the National Covenant within a year.
• A sculpture of a stool stands in St Giles' today.

• Myth: Jenny Geddes threw the first stool and shouted "Daur ye say Mass in my lug?" Her name and the words come from accounts written years or decades later. Contemporary reports describe women throwing stools but do not name them.
• Disputed: whether Jenny Geddes existed. Some historians think she was an invented or composite figure, while others think there may be a real person behind the story.
• Myth: the riot was a spontaneous outburst. Many historians believe it was organised in advance by Presbyterian ministers and nobles opposed to the prayer book, with women chosen to lead it, partly because they were less likely to be punished.