Balnaves

Balnaves, Henry, born at Kircaldy in Fifeshire, Scotland, of poor parents, early in the sixteenth century, was educated at St. Andrew's and in Germany, where he adopted Lutheran principles. On his return to Scotland he took up the profession of law, and the regent Arran made him secretary of state. In 1543 he was imprisoned for his Protestantism. He now openly joined the reformer, was supposed to be privy to the murder of Cardinal Beaton, and in 1547 took refuge in the castle of St. Andrew's. He was captured and sent to Rouen, but in 1554 Mary of Guise recalled him, and he was one of the commissioners to revise The Book of Discipline. He died in 1579, and his book, The Confession of Faith, was published posthumously.