6th February in Covenanter History

On this day, 6th February 1685, King Charles II died at Whitehall Palace in London. He had taken ill suddenly on the 2nd February and died four days later. The night before his death he was received into the Roman Catholic church by a Benedictine Monk named Father John Huddleston whom he had known for several years.

Charles II had been proclaimed king and restored to the throne in 1660. It was known as “The Restoration” of the monarchy, as it followed Oliver Cromwell’s rule. Right away he began to hunt down the Covenanter leaders and had the Covenants publicly burnt. His reign had seen much persecution and bloodshed for the Covenanters in Scotland.

Charles II’s death never brought that persecution of the Covenanters to an end. Immediately following his death, his brother James VII/II was declared King. James was a Roman Catholic, and under his rule the Covenanters were persecuted more than ever. The years James reigned (1685-88) became known in Scotland as the “Killing Times”.