23 July 1637
Scots revolt

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In St Giles cathedral, Edinburgh, Jenny Geddes throws her folding stool at the dean in the pulpit while he is reading from the new prayer book. A riot erupts. The congregation objects to the prayer book because it is modelled on the English one and has been imposed by Charles I – it does not respect the Presbyterian beliefs of the Scots. Objections by clergy and lairds lead to riots in other parts of Scotland.

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The 'kail wife' Jenny Geddes, a pavement cabbage-seller, entered Scottish history and legend when ... she flung her low, three-legged creepie-stool at the bishop of Edinburgh in St Giles church, bawling (as he intoned the collect), 'Deil colic and waame of thee: out, thou false thief. Dost thou say mass at my lug?' Her fellow women followed this militant example by mobbing the dean, whom they roughed up, shouting, 'False anti-Christians! Beastly belly-god! Crafty fox! Ill-hanged thief! Judas!'

From A Century of Troubles by Stevie Davies (Channel 4 Books)

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