[3] After university, he thought about becoming a church minister but could not, in good conscience, sign the Five Articles of Perth.
[4] On 14 September 1660, Spreul was imprisoned in Edinburgh, along with Provost John Graham, for refusing to subscribe to the bond condemning the Western Remonstrance.
[11][12][13] After petitioning to the council to be more compassionate towards his old age and frailty, an order was issued for his liberation, and he died within a year or two.
(p 86)[2]James Sproule continues: When original documents speak of "Mr. John Spreull", it is as good as certain that the records refer to the town clerk.
The other John Spreull who was a merchant of Glasgow seems to have led a very quiet life, so he is naturally named less frequency in any records.
[2]Perhaps understandably, Thomas Howell, in his Cobbett's complete collection of state trials..., seems to conflate the two at times.