Carslaw, who also edited Scots Worthies, notes in his preface:

"When we speak of the Scottish Reformation, we should never forget that the name is applicable to two great religious and national movements, separated from each other by the greater part of a century. The one, which reached its culmination in 1560, when the first Reformed Assembly met in Edinburgh, was the Reformation from Popery. The other, which found expression in the National Covenant of 1638, was the Reformation from Prelacy and all its works. The former was preceded by the martyrdom of such men as Patrick Hamilton, George Wishart, and Walter Myln. The latter was followed by the fifty-years' struggle of the Covenanters..."

Beside setting forth the testimonies of the three martyrs of the first Reformation noted above, Carslaw has also selected three from the second Reformation, these being James Guthrie, Marquis of Argyll and Sir Archibald Johnstone, Lord Warriston (who helped Alexander Henderson in the preparation of the Scottish National Covenant [1638] against the polices of Charles I and was one of the Scottish commissioners appointed to the Westminster Assembly).

Three appendices are also included.