![]() Outside the Highlands, where many retained their Catholic convictions, Scotland’s religion was Presbyterianism, a harsh strict form of Protestantism. They could even go their own way on foreign policy. They each had their own separate parliament, church, law courts and tax-raising powers. At that time Scotland and England operated like two distinct countries ruled by the same monarch. His father James VI of Scotland became James I of England in March 1603. King Charles inherited the throne in 1625. They signed a covenant which stated that only Jesus Christ could hold that position. The Covenanters were Scots who would not accept that King Charles I was head of the church. James Mitchell was a Covenanter, who featured in one of Scotland’s most notorious court cases. One Mitchell clan member is still remembered as a martyr to this day, even though he was executed well over 300 years ago. As part of that deal John Michell, who had led the defence of the castle, was also rewarded. But not before the Earl of Lennox negotiated a full pardon on charges of treason. James almost gave up but he tried one last time in September and on this occasion, the attack, allied to a siege, led to a surrender. Despite having heavy artillery at his disposal, including Mons Meg from Edinburgh, which could fire cannon balls weighing nearly 400lbs each, Dumbarton could not be breached. In July 1489 the King’s army, with James leading from the front, laid siege to Darnley’s stronghold, Dumbarton Castle. The following year he attacked Lord Darnley, the Earl of Lennox, who had been plotting against him. James the IV, the oldest son, supported the uprising and was crowned king when it was successful. He also wanted his younger son to succeed him on the Scottish throne. ![]() The rebels rose against him because James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with England and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family. James IV of Scotland became king on the death of his father, who was killed at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. The other, John Michell, played an important role in a major episode in Scottish history. Of the fifteenth century Mitchells one, John Mitsell, had land in Glasgow in 1496. By the following century these older versions were on the way out and Mitchell was a common name. However, in 1611 Thomas Michell owned lands at Muirtoune, Morayshire. In the sixteenth century we find a record of Andro Mitschell listed in the Barony of Carnwath, Lanarkshire in 1544 and a John Mytschell living in Langside, near Glasgow in 1555. ![]() For example, Michell and Mitsell were being used in the fifteenth century. Through time the name evolved from Michell via Mitsell, Mitschell, Mytschell to Mitchell, but not necessarily in that order. However, the name Michael was popular much earlier than that, earlier even than Roman times and it would be remarkable if it didn’t exist in Scotland long before the French arrived. The most popular view is that was brought by the Normans after William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066. The nature of its introduction to Scotland is obscure. ![]() The name Mitchell is derived from the Hebrew name Michael, which means ‘who is like God’.
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