Jenny Geddes and Her Revolutionary Stool

Summary

The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told: "Jenny Geddes and Her Revolutionary Stool"

Introduction

In the episode titled "Jenny Geddes and Her Revolutionary Stool," hosted by Mary Kay McBrayer, The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told delves into a fascinating historical true crime story that intertwines religion, politics, and individual rebellion. Released on July 29, 2025, this episode explores how a seemingly small act by a 17th-century Scottish fruit and vegetable merchant ignited a series of events that would shape British history.

Historical Context

Mary Kay McBrayer sets the stage in Edinburgh, Scotland, during the early 17th century—a period marked by religious tension and political upheaval. Scotland and England were under the rule of a single monarch, King Charles I, who ascended to the English throne in 1625 following the death of King James I. The coronation of Charles I in Scotland was not only a ceremonial event but also a flashpoint for ideological conflict between the Anglican Church of England and the Calvinist Church of Scotland (Kirk).

The Incident at St. Giles Cathedral

On Sunday, July 23, 1637, at the Gothic Cathedral of St. Giles on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, a pivotal event unfolded. Mary Kay narrates:

"Jenny Geddes... stood up, grabbed her stool, and hurled it at Dean Hanney's head while yelling in Scots English, loosely translated as, 'Devil. False thief. Do you say Mass in my ear?'” (16:45)

This audacious act was a direct protest against the introduction of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer into the Scottish Church, a move orchestrated by King Charles I to impose religious uniformity. The congregation, led by Jennie Geddes, viewed this as a betrayal and a threat to their religious autonomy.

Immediate Aftermath

Jenny Geddes' rebellion did not go unnoticed. Her defiance sparked an immediate and violent reaction within the cathedral. Congregants began to riot, hurling not just the book but also stools, Bibles, and other objects at Dean Hanney. The chaos extended beyond the church walls as rioters were expelled, likely by royal guards anticipating an uprising.

"I don't know who expelled them from the church, but if I had to guess, royal guards anticipating an uprising. But I couldn't find out for sure." (16:50)

The unrest quickly spread throughout Edinburgh and then across Scotland, signaling a significant rupture between the monarchy and its Scottish subjects.

Broader Historical Impact

The incident at St. Giles Cathedral is often credited as the catalyst for the National Covenant of 1638, where approximately 300,000 Scottish Presbyterians signed a document asserting their opposition to King Charles I's religious policies. This movement laid the groundwork for the Bishops' Wars, which were the initial conflicts in the broader Wars of the Three Kingdoms—a series of interconnected wars that would engulf England, Scotland, and Ireland for 14 years.

"Some argue that this whole revolution was set in motion first by Jenny Geddes. I would argue that King Charles I started it, and Jenny Geddes was the first one to sound the alarm that rallied so many voices behind hers." (21:00)

These wars culminated in the English Civil War, the temporary abolition of the monarchy, and significant shifts in the balance of power between the monarchy and Parliament.

Legacy of Jenny Geddes

Jenny Geddes became a folk hero in Scotland, symbolizing resistance against oppression and the fight for religious freedom. Although historical records about her are sparse and some scholars debate her actual existence, her story has endured through folklore and commemorations.

In the 1990s, St. Giles Cathedral installed a statue commemorating Jenny Geddes, depicting a stool as a symbol of her defiant act. Additionally, the esteemed Scottish poet Robert Burns honored her by naming his horse "Jenny," further cementing her place in Scottish cultural memory.

"If a poet naming his pet after someone is not a ringing endorsement, I've never heard one." (25:00)

Conclusion

"Jenny Geddes and Her Revolutionary Stool" is a compelling exploration of how individual acts of defiance can ignite widespread political and social change. Mary Kay McBrayer masterfully weaves together historical facts, cultural context, and the enduring legacy of a woman whose boldness left an indelible mark on Scottish history. This episode not only recounts a captivating true crime story but also underscores the profound impact of courage and resistance in shaping the course of nations.

Notable Quotes

• Mary Kay McBrayer: “Jenny Geddes... stood up, grabbed her stool, and hurled it at Dean Hanney's head while yelling in Scots English, loosely translated as, 'Devil. False thief. Do you say Mass in my ear?'” (16:45)

• Mary Kay McBrayer: “Some argue that this whole revolution was set in motion first by Jenny Geddes. I would argue that King Charles I started it, and Jenny Geddes was the first one to sound the alarm that rallied so many voices behind hers.” (21:00)

• Mary Kay McBrayer: “If a poet naming his pet after someone is not a ringing endorsement, I've never heard one.” (25:00)

References

For a comprehensive list of sources referenced in this episode, please consult the show's notes.

Transcript

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Kelly Harnett]

The girlfriends is back with a new season and this time I'm telling you the story of Kelly Harnett. Kelly spent over a decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit. As she fought for her freedom, she taught herself the law. He goes oh God. Harnett Jailhouse Lawyer and became a beacon of hope for the women locked up alongside her.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

You're supposed to have your faith in God, but I had nothing but faith in her. I think I was putting here to save souls by getting people out of prison.

[Kelly Harnett]

The Girlfriends Jailhouse Lawyer listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ian Pfaff]

My Uncle Chris was a real character, a garbage truck driver from South Carolina who is now buried in Panama City alongside the founding families of Panama. He also happens to be responsible for the craziest night of my life. Wild stories about adventure, romance, crime, crime, history and war intertwine as I share the tall tales and hard truths that have helped me understand Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did it occur to you that he charmed you in any way?

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Yes, it did.

[Ian Pfaff]

But he was a charming man.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

It looks like the ingredients of a really grand spy story.

[Ian Pfaff]

Because this ties together the Cold War with the new one. I often ask myself now, did I.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Know the true Jan at all?

[Ian Pfaff]

Listen to Hot Agent of chaos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Erica Lance]

Hi everybody, I'm Erica Lance from the Turning River Road. I'm excited to share that you can get access to all episodes of seasons 1, 2 and 3 of the Turning 100% ad free and access all episodes of the Turning River Road one week early through the I Heart True Crime plus subscription. To celebrate the summer season, we're offering a 30 day free trial to the I Heart True Crime plus channel. This offer is available for a limited time, so don't wait. Head to Apple podcasts, search for iHeart True Crime plus and subscribe today.

[Kelly Harnett]

Diversion Audio.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

The time is Sunday 23rd of July, 1637. The place is the incredible Gothic Cathedral of St Giles on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland. The person is a fruit and vegetable trader and the rout she caused during church service arguably set in motion a series of wars that would change British history forever. But before I tell you about Ginny Geddes, let me set the scene, because what she did is so much more badass with appropriate conte. Welcome to the greatest true crime stories ever told. I'm Mary Kay McBrayer, author of the true crime book Madame the Life and Crimes of Harlem's Underground Racketeer, Stephanie Sinclair. Today's episode, we're calling Jenny Geddes and Her Revolutionary Stool. It's the story of a 17th century Scottish fruit and veg merchant who triggered a revolution. I'll tell you all about it after this. Quick. St Giles Cathedral today is on the Royal Mile. I would argue it's one of the most memorable edifices on a whole street of memorable architecture. Today. The inside is a local artisan market. But in 1637, when our story takes place, it was a church proper. Specifically, it was the Church of Scotland. Outside, in the front courtyard was where the market happened every Sunday. Jenny Geddes, our main character, was one such traitor. If you're thinking, wait, what? And woman entrepreneur in the 17th century. It gets a lot more empowering than. Here's a little context. Up until 1625, just 12 years earlier, both Scotland and England had been ruled by one monarch. That's King James I of England, AKA King James VI of Scotland. If you heard our last bonus episode about the real witches of Macbeth, then you already know a little bit about King James. For a quick recap, he's the one who oversaw the English translation, still known and often used by Protestants today as the King James Bible. He also set the stage for the worst witch hunts in history, which was platformed by his pamphlet on demonology. It might interest you to know that although King James I6 married Anne of Denmark and had five children with her, it's an open secret that he was also romantic with men. King James moved from Scotland to England the moment he came to power there. That was 1603, when Queen Elizabeth died. He only returned to Scotland once in 1617. When King James died in 1625, Charles I came to the English throne. But he didn't get around to being crowned in Scotland until 1633, eight years later. It's almost like the British kings didn't care that much about their Scottish subjects. Charles I's coronation happened in St. Giles Cathedral. That's the setting of our drama too. It was a church where post Reformation Puritan, Protestant, Protestant Scots worshiped. By the way, I always thought of the Scottish Revolution as, you know, a revolution in which religion became more tolerant. I was exactly wrong. The 1560 Reformation's thesis regarding religion was essentially these Catholics and Anglicans are soft. Time to Crack down. And by that I mean that the Presbyterians of the time thought that Catholic rituals were blasphemous. So in 1633, when King Charles I was crowned in St. Giles, a church of Scotland with full Anglican rights, it was not well received. This is relevant to our story because that was a huge clash of ideology because one sect was Anglican, that's Church of England, and one was Calvinist, that's Church of Scotland. In very general terms, the Anglican Church was a liberal reaction to predestination. The man who performed the Scottish coronation was Charles new Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud. History knows Laud as one of the, quote, corrupt bishops who, quote, misinformed the king of the liturgy and ecclesiology of the Scottish Kirk. King Charles I, by the way, thought that he might try to liberalize his new kingdom. His plan did not go well. I'll tell you all about it right after this quick break.

[Ian Pfaff]

My Uncle Chris is definitely somebody worth talking about. He was the kind of guy that used Confederate flags as window curtains, lived in a trailer with an ex con and a retired stripper, left loaded machine guns laying around, drank a bottle of whiskey a night, claimed he could kill a man with his bare hands, drove a garbage truck for a living, spoke fluent Spanish with a thick Southern accent, and is currently buried in a crypt alongside the founding families of Panama. Listen to the Uncle Chris podcast to hear all about him and a whole lot more. This collection of stories will make you laugh, it'll make you cry, and if I do my job right, they'll let you see the world and your place in it in a whole new way. I can't wait to tell you all about Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Kelly Harnett]

Kelly Harnett spent over a decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I'm 100% innocent.

[Kelly Harnett]

While behind bars, she learned the law from scratch. He goes, oh, God. Harnett, jailhouse lawyer. And as she fought for herself, she also became a lifeline for the women locked up alongside her. You're supposed to have your faith in.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

God, but I had nothing but faith in her.

[Kelly Harnett]

So many of these women had lived the same stories.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I said, were you a victim of domestic violence?

[Kelly Harnett]

And she was like, yeah, but maybe Kelly could change the ending. I said, how many people have gotten other incarcerated individuals out of here? I'm gonna be the first one to do that. This is the Story of Kelly Harnett, a woman who spent 12 years fighting not just for her own freedom, but her girlfriend's daughter, too.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I think I have a mission from God to save souls by getting people out of prison.

[Kelly Harnett]

The girlfriends, Jailhouse lawyer. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

From.

[Erica Lance]

Iheart Podcasts and Rococo Punch. This is the turning river road.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I knew I wanted to obey and submit, but I didn't fully grasp for the rest of my life what that meant.

[Erica Lance]

In the woods of Minnesota, a cult leader married himself to 10 girls and forced them into a secret life of abuse.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Why did I think that way? Why did I allow myself to get so sucked in by this man and thinking to the point that if I died for him, that would be the greatest honor?

[Erica Lance]

But in 2014, the youngest of the girls escaped and sparked an international manhunt.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

For all those years, you know, he was the predator and I was the prey. And then he became the prey.

[Erica Lance]

Listen to the turning river road on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ian Pfaff]

Jan Marsalek was a model of German corporate success.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

It seemed so damn simple for him.

[Ian Pfaff]

Also, it turned out a fraudster.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Where does the money come from?

[Ian Pfaff]

That was something that I always was questioning myself. But what if I told you that.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Was the least interesting thing about him?

[Ian Pfaff]

His secret office was less than 500 meters down the road.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I often ask myself now, did I know the true Rian at all? Certain things in my life since then have gone terribly wrong. I don't know if they followed me to my home. It looks like the ingredients of a really grand spy story because this ties.

[Ian Pfaff]

Together the Cold War with the new one. Listen to hot agent of chaos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

When we left off, King Charles I had just been crowned and he had decided, along with his Anglican clergy, to catch Scotland up to England's more liberal practices. He did so by printing the quote Book of Common Prayer in Edinburgh. And then he or someone in his entourage, more likely bribed the dean of St. Giles Cathedral. What he wanted was for Dean John Hanney to sneak in this new book in place of the Church of Scotland prayer book before Service on Sunday 23rd July, 1637. And Dean Hanney did it. I think Charles's belief that no one would notice this significant change in liturgy illustrates how little he knew his Scottish subjects. Maybe he thought that the congregants would let it slide because they were in church and people tend to be on their best behavior in church. But when Dean Hanney started reading from the new prayer book and it detailed quote, the government of the new church and how the king ruled by divine right and how ministers, kirk sessions and presbyteries would all be renamed, the congregation immediately realized what was happening. The altar was at the front, of course, and then the pews were seated according to class. Some of the wealthier people though, paid so called waiting women to arrive early and save them seats. When their patrons arrived, the waiting women moved to the back waiting. The street sellers sat. The merchants sat behind the pews on portable three legged stools that they brought to the church themselves. Jenny Geddes was among these stool sitters, but she didn't stay seated for long. In fact, no one did. There might have been a murmur of disbelief or confusion through the church first, but as soon as Ginny Geddes realized what was happening, she stood up, grabbed her stool and she hurled it at Dean Hannie's head. At the front of the church she yelled in Scots English, loosely translated, devil. Causewolic false thief. Do you say mass in my ear? Whether the churchgoers thought the prayer book was heretical or they were just angry at being tricked, everyone followed suit. I don't know about y', all, but I've definitely wanted to cause a riot in church before. I've never been brave enough to do it. In small groups, sure, but not in the church in front of God and everybody. All of this congregation was brave enough to do it. And it wasn't just fear of being rude that might have stopped them. The king ordered those prayer books in church. And by rioting against the prayer books, they were essentially committing treason. They still threw everything they could get their hands on. They literally threw the book at the podium. Bibles, stools, everything got hurled at Dean Hanney. Even after the rioters were expelled from St. Giles Cathedral, kept pounding on the door. I don't know who expelled them from the church, but if I had to guess, royal guards anticipating an uprising. But I couldn't find out for sure. What I did learn was that the riot spread through Edinburgh and then through Scotland and it didn't let up. More after the break.

[Kelly Harnett]

Kelly Harnett spent over a decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I'm 100% innocent.

[Kelly Harnett]

While behind bars, she learned the law from scratch. He goes, oh God. Harnett jailhouse lawyer and as she fought for herself, she also became a Lifeline for the women locked up alongside her. You're supposed to have your faith in.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

God, but I had nothing but faith in her.

[Kelly Harnett]

So many of these women had lived the same, same stories.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I said, were you a victim of domestic violence?

[Kelly Harnett]

And she was like, yeah, but maybe Kelly could change the ending. I said, how many people have gotten other incarcerated individuals out of here? I'm going to be the first one to do that. This is the story of Kelly Harnett, a woman who spent 12 years fighting not just for her own freedom, but her girlfriends, too.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I think I have a mission from God to save souls by getting people out of prison.

[Kelly Harnett]

The girlfriends Jailhouse Lawyer listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ian Pfaff]

My Uncle Chris is definitely somebody worth talking about. He was the kind of guy that used Confederate flags as window curtains, lived in a trailer with an ex con and a retired stripper, left loaded machine guns laying around, drank a bottle of whiskey a night, claimed he could kill a man with his bare hands, drove a garbage truck for a living, spoke fluent Spanish with a thick southern accent, and is currently buried in a crypt alongside the founding families of Panama. Listen to the Uncle Chris podcast to hear all about him and a whole lot more. This collection of stories will make you laugh, it'll make you cry, and if I do my job right, they'll let you see the world and your place in it and a whole new way. I can't wait to tell you all about Uncle Chris. Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to Podcasts.

[Erica Lance]

For my Heart podcasts and Rococo Punch. This is the turning river road.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I knew I wanted to obey and submit, but I didn't fully grasp for the rest of my life what that meant.

[Erica Lance]

In the woods of Minnesota, a cult leader married himself to 10 girls and forced them into a secret life of abuse.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Why did I think that way? Why did I allow myself to get so sucked in by this man and thinking to the point that if I died for him, that would be the greatest honor?

[Erica Lance]

But in 2014, the youngest of the girls escaped and sparked an international manhunt.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

For all those years, you know, he was the predator and I was the prey. And then he became the prey.

[Erica Lance]

Listen to the Turning river road on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ian Pfaff]

Jan Marsalek was a model of German corporate success.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

It seemed so damn simple for him.

[Ian Pfaff]

Also, it turned out, a fraudster.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Where does the money come from?

[Ian Pfaff]

That was something that I always was questioning myself. But what if I told you that.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Was the least interesting thing about him?

[Ian Pfaff]

His secret office was less than 500 meters down the road.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

I often ask myself now, did I know the true Jan at all? Certain things in my life since then have gone terribly wrong. I don't know if they followed me to my home. It looks like the ingredients of a really grand spy story because this ties.

[Ian Pfaff]

Together the Cold War with the new one. Listen to Hot Agent of Chaos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Before the break, Charles I had bribed Dean John Hannay to switch out all the prayer Books in St. Giles Cathedral with new books detailing Anglican rites. The Protestant congregation had realized it right away and Jenny Geddes stood up and hurled her stool at the Dean while cursing him in church. From there the riot happened and the congregation was expelled. But the riot didn't stop just because they were out of the church. Instead, it snowballed, building steam all through the streets of Edinburgh, and the sentiment spilled over into the rest of Scotland, especially when the Scottish Protestants realized that King Charles I had not consulted the Scottish General Assembly. So Presbyterians expanded their 1581 covenant into the National Covenant in 1638. It had around 300,000 signatures around the country, though it was first signed in Greyfriars churchyard. Rather than listen to his subjects, Charles I tried to force his new doctrine through Britain, through the Bishop's War. See, the widely held belief of Scottish Protestants was that they could talk directly to God. They didn't need a king or any papal hierarchy to intercede on their behalf, which sounds like they didn't believe in Charles I's divine right, which sounds like heresy. The first two battles of the Bishop's War ended in a truce in June of 1639, but just two months earlier, Scottish Parliament passed acts that undermined the Crown. So Charles mobilized, but this time the Scots won. They seized Northumberland and Durham. I'm generalizing this next part a lot because for the sake of clarity and time, the Bishops War is considered the first conflict in the wars of the Three Kingdoms. Those wars covered a lot of ground, figuratively and literally, and spanned 14 years to name drop. A few wars that those encompass, let me say, the first and second English Civil wars, the Irish Confederate Wars, Cromwell's Conquest of England, and the Anglo Scottish War of 1650-52. That period ended with the beheading of Charles I and Then came Oliver Cromwell. Although Cromwell's years were pretty much bad by any standard, the Scottish Church or Kirk remained free until King Charles II came to power, which is when the persecution of the covenanters continued through three rebellions over the course of 27 years. Some argue that this whole revolution was set in motion first by Jenny Geddes. I would argue that King Charles I started it, and Jenny Geddes was the first one to sound the alarm that rallied so many voices behind hers. Not everyone is convinced that Jenny Geddes actually existed, but any true crime listener knows that poor records can just as much mean an omission of fact as an absence of it. At the very least, Jenny Geddes is a folk hero. In the 1990s, St Giles Cathedral installed a statue commemorating Jenny Geddes, and the statue is of a stool. But her story was so ubiquitous until recently that that even the Scottish poet Robert Burns honored her by naming his horse Jenny. If a poet naming his pet after someone is not a ringing endorsement, I've never heard one in my I referenced so many sources in the researching of this mini episode and all of them are listed in our show's notes. The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told is a production of Diversion Audio. I'm Mary Kay McBrayer and I hosted this episode. I also wrote this episode. Our show is produced by Leo Culp. Theme music by Tyler Cash Executive Producer Scott Waxman One more thing before I go, if you haven't already, I'll love you forever. If you pre order my forthcoming true crime book Madame the Life and Crimes of Harlem's Underground Racketeer Stephanie Sinclair. There's a link to do it at your favorite retailer in our show's notes.

[Kelly Harnett]

The Girlfriends is back with a new season, and this time I'm telling you the story of Kelly Harnett. Kelly spent over a decade in prison for a murder she says she didn't commit. As she fought for her freedom, she taught herself the law. He goes oh God. Harnett Jailhouse Lawyer and became a beacon of hope for the women locked up alongside her.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

You're supposed to have your faith in God, but I had nothing but faith in her. I think I was put here to save souls by getting people out of prison.

[Kelly Harnett]

The Girlfriends Jailhouse Lawyer listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ian Pfaff]

I'm Ian Pfaff, the creator and host of the Uncle Chris podcast. My Uncle Chris was a real character, a garbage truck driver from South Carolina who is now buried in Panama city alongside the founding families of Panama. He also happens to be responsible for the craziest night of my life. Wild stories about adventure, romance, crime, history and war intertwine as I share the tall tales and hard truths that have helped me understand Uncle Chris Listen now to Uncle Chris on Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Did it occur to you that he charmed you in any way? Yes, it did, but he was a charming man.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

It looks like the ingredients of a really grand spy story because this ties.

[Ian Pfaff]

Together the Cold War with the new one. I often ask myself now did I.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

Know the true Jan at all?

[Ian Pfaff]

Listen to Hot Agent of chaos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever.

[Erica Lance]

You get your podcasts Hi everybody, I'm Erica Lance from the Turning River Road. I'm excited to share that you can get access to all episodes of seasons 1, 2 and 3 of the Turning 100% ad free and access all episodes of the Turning River Road one week early through the I Heart True Crime plus subscription. To celebrate the summer season, we're offering a 30 day free trial to the I Heart True Crime plus channel. This offer is available for a limited time, so don't wait. Head to Apple podcasts, search for iHeart True Crime plus and subscribe today.

[Mary Kay McBrayer]

This is an iHeart podcast.