Brian J Orr

John Ballard and his constant companion Barnard Maude were spies seemingly living by the motto `Trust no One`. Ironically, they appear to have trusted one another and claimed to be soldiers surveying possible road routes. Under the tutelage of Ayrshire farmer, Mackenzie Cunninghame, they learnt to be cattle drovers and travelled Scotland establishing the strength and location of support for Mary, Queen of Scots. Ballard, a Jesuit Priest, Catholic missionary and advocate of restoring Mary to the throne of England also favoured a Spanish invasion and the assassination of Queen Elizabeth I. He was much involved in the Babington Plot and was executed for it. He trusted Barnard Maude who was in fact an English spy for Sir Francis Walsingham, who thus knew of Ballard`s intrigues, and those of Sir Anthony Babington, which enabled Walsingham to entrap Mary Queen of Scots for treason. Mackenzie Cunninghame, the enigmatic farmer from Coylton, unwittingly became a part of the English spy network.

A historical novel and prequel to "Wide Ears and Short Tongues are Best", the continuing story of the Cunninghame family of Coylton, Ayrshire and Corstorphine ( Edinburgh). With factual history of the turbulent times of the Reformation, and the Stuart Kings. Events of the 15th, 16th and early 17th century are used by way of illustrating the life and times of the people.

An historical novel about the fortunes of the Cunninghame family in Scotland. Set against the 17 century background of the trials and tribulations of the Presbyterian Kirk and the persecution, imprisonment and execution by the government of the day headed by Kings who ruled by Divine Right. Despite the ongoing wars the family progressed to become bonnet lairds and were at the tip of the Enlightenment of Scotland. Hard work and risk taking saw them become leading merchants with Holland, the Baltic and the American Colonies as well as the farmers that supplied a hungry Edinburgh.

A review of the Fastii Ecclesiae Scoticanae, the succession of ministers of the Church of Scotland, and the contribution they and their children made to Scotland, Britain and the British Empire 1560 - 1929.The outcome is a big what if they had not been around to pull the chestnuts out of the fire.

John Knox is known as a Reformer, rather than of a man who feared God and Richard Cameron as the opponent of tyranny, more so than a man of prayer. James Guthrie and James Renwick were very public martyrs in their Declarations and on the gallows. In common, they were witnessing for Jesus Christ as Head of their Church. Their testimony was passive by way of confession and martyrdom, and sufferings and verbal contendings, and witnessing against the prevailing corruptions of the time. This illustrated book has appendices of relevant documents, and examples of devotions and witnessing sermons. Quotations are fully referenced, along with a bibliography and a full Name Index. It seeks to explain the "why" in the story of the Covenanters of Scotland in the 17th century.