Blind Archibald Scaldee and the Stool of Repentance

Yesterday I read in this history book about "blind Archibald Scaldee, a scintillating preacher." Also: "a stool of repentance" where you sat to be "shamed publicly for prescribed lengths of time." Oh yeah, and "I am lyk a pelican of the wilderness: I am lyk ane oule of the desart." So that's an owl, right? I also like the next part, where the guy says "I watche, and am as a sparrou alone upon the house top." He is like so many birds!