Page images
PDF
EPUB

it for the support of a priest, to perform who had attained a degree of illuminamasses, obits, and dirges, procured a re-tion amidst the general darkness, began laxation of the pains of purgatory for to hint dissatisfaction with the conduct themselves or their relations, in propor- of churchmen, and to propose the cortion to the extent of their liberality. It is rection of abuses, he was immediately difficult for us to conceive how empty, stigmatized as a heretic, and if he did not ridiculous, and wretched those harangues secure his safety by flight, was immured were which the monks delivered for ser- in a dungeon, or committed to the flames. mons. Legendary tales concerning the And when at last, in spite of all their perfounder of some religious order, his won-secutions, the light which was shining derful sanctity, the miracles which he around did break in and spread through performed, his combats with the devil, the nation, the clergy prepared to adopt his watchings, fastings, flagellations; the the most desperate and bloody measures virtues of holy water, chrism, crossing, for its extinction. and exorcism; the horrors of purgatory, and the numbers released from it by the intercession of some powerful saint, these, with low jests, table-talk, and fireside scandal, formed the favourite topics of the preachers, and were served up to the people instead of the pure, salutary, and sublime doctrines of the Bible.

"From this imperfect sketch of the state of religion in this country, we may see how false the representation is which some persons would impose on us; as if Popery were a system, erroneous, indeed, but purely speculative, superstitious, but harmless, provided it had not been accidentally accompanied with intolerance "The beds of the dying were besieged, and cruelty. The very reverse is the and their last moments disturbed, by ava- truth. It may be safely said, that there ricious priests, who laboured to extort be- is not one of its erroneous tenets, or of its quests to themselves or to the Church. superstitious practices, which was not Not satisfied with exacting tithes from the either originally contrived, or afterwards living, a demand was made upon the accommodated, to advance and support dead: no sooner had the poor husband- some practical abuse, to aggrandize the man breathed his last, than the rapacious ecclesiastical order, secure to them imvicar came and carried off his corpse-munity from civil jurisdiction, sanctify present, which he repeated as often as their encroachments upon secular authordeath visited the family. Ecclesiasticalities, vindicate their usurpations upon the censures were fulminated against those consciences of men, cherish implicit obewho were reluctant in making these pay-dience to the decisions of the Church, ments, or who showed themselves diso- and extinguish free inquiry and liberal bedient to the clergy; and for a little science."* money they were prostituted on the most trifling occasions. Divine service was neglected; and, except on festival days, the churches, in many parts of the country were no longer employed for sacred purposes, but served as sanctuaries for malefactors, places of traffic, or resorts for pastime.

"Persecution, and the suppression of free inquiry, were the only weapons by which its interested supporters were able to defend this system of corruption and imposture. Every avenue by which truth might enter was carefully guarded. Learning was branded as the parent of heresy. The most frightful pictures were drawn of those who had separated from the Romish Church, and held up before the eyes of the people, to deter them from imitating their example. 1'any person,

To this very masterly summary of the state of religion in Scotland before the Reformation nothing need be added; and it must convince every reflecting reader, that such a state of matters could not be much longer endured by a people like the Scottish, who, though held in deep ignorance, were naturally shrewd and sagacious, despisers of idleness and luxury, and filled with an indestructable love of liberty, which even their civil feuds and public wars served in no inconsiderable degree to stimulate and confirm. And the more protracted and severe that the burden of spiritual despotism had been, it was to be expected that it would be followed by a correspondingly mighty and extensive revulsion and recoil. Nor should it be forgotten,

* M'Crie's Life of Knox, pp. 9-15, 6th edit.

that widely as Popery had shed its bale- | trine of the Culdees continued to survive ful influence, it had not been able wholly long after the suppression of their forms to exterminate the purer faith and simpler of church government. Sir James Dalsystem of the ancient Culdees, especially rymple refers us to a clause in the bull in Ayrshire, and perhaps also in Fife, of Pope John XXII. in 1324, concedthe districts adjacent to St. Andrews and ing to Robert Bruce the title of King Iona, the earliest abodes and the latest of Scotland, and removing the exretreats of primitive Christianity in Scot-communication; in which clause that land.

CHAPTER II.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE

REFORMATION

TO THE MEETING OF THE FIRST GENERAL AS-
SEMBLY.

of the first General Assembly in 1560-State of Affairs

Patronages-Lollards of Kyle-Patrick Hamilton the

ton-John Knox in the Castle of St. Andrews-His

teries at Perth-Knox at St. Andrews-Growing -Siege of Leith-Death of the Queen-Regent

Meeting of Parliament and Treaty of Peace First Confession of Faith-First General Assembly

of the Church of Scotland.

pontiff makes mention of many heretics, whom he enjoins the king to suppress.* There is every reason to believe that these were the adherents of the Culdees, against whom some of the Scottish Romanized clergy had complained to the pope.

The great schism which happened in the Church of Rome, through the contentions of rival popes, gave occasion, as From the Beginning of the Reformation to the Meeting is well known, to those who had secretly in Rome-Introduction of Wickliffe's Opinions disapproved of papal corruption, of asfirst Scottish Martyr-Persecutions in St. Andrews, Sailing Popery more openly than before, Edinburgh, and Glasgow-Cardinal Beaton-Barba and more boldly demanding some mearous Persecution at Perth-George Wishart-His Preaching, and Martyrdom-Death of Cardinal Bea Sure of reformation. Wickliffe, the Confinement in the Galleys-Returns to Scotland-morning star of the Reformation, began Proceedings of the Queen-Regent and the Reformers then openly both to censure the abuses --The First Covenant-The Lords of the Congrega tion-Martyrdom of Walter Mill-Political Intrigues of the Church of Rome, and to proclaim -Final Return of Knox-Destruction of the Monas- those great doctrines of Christianity Strength of the Reformers-Conventions of Estates which it had been the policy of that corrupt Church to conceal. It might have been expected that his doctrines would find a ready reception among the adherents of the Culdees of Scotland, if any were still remaining; and accordingly we find, that John Resby, an Englishman, and a scholar of Wickliffe's, was condemned for maintaining that the pope was not the vicar of Christ, and that no man of a wicked life ought to be acknowledged pope. For holding and teaching these opinions, with certain others deemed also heretical, he was burned to death in the year 1407. It would appear that this cruel deed had for a time prevented at least the avowal of similar doctrines in Scotland; as the next victim of popish tyranny was found at the distance of twenty-five years. This victim was Paul Craw, a Bohemian, and a follower of John Huss. It does not appear on what account he had come to Scotland; but having begun to disseminate the opinions of the Bohemian reformer, he was laid hold of by the instigation of Henry Wardlaw, bishop of St. Andrews, convicted of denying the

[graphic]

IN the preceding chapter a brief sketch has been presented to the reader of the usurpations of the prelatic and corrupt Church of Rome, and the final suppression of the Culdees, which we may regard as having been accomplished in the year 1297, that being the date of the last documents signed by them as a public body. But though from that time the Culdee form of church government and discipline may be regarded as extinct, there is no reason to believe that their religious tenets were consigned to oblivion at the same instant. Indeed, such a result may be regarded as absolutely impossible. All forcible attempts to suppress religion but compel it to burn with increased intensity, and to be retained with increased pertinacity, within the secret heart; unless, indeed, such attempts be carried to the extreme of utterly exterminating the adherents of the persecuted faith, a dire result which has been several times produced in different nations. There is, besides, evidence, although but slight, to prove that the doc

open

* Sir J. Dalrymple's Historical Collections, p. 52. † Spotswood, p. 56,

doctrines of transubstantiation, auricular | proportion of the wealth of the kingdom confession, and praying to saints, then into their own possession, these crafty handed over to the secular powers, and churchmen became anxious to resume by them committed to the flames, at St. the patronages into their own hands ; Andrews, in the year 1432. That he and putting the same machinery of supermight not at the stake promulgate his stition again to work, they prevailed on opinions among the spectators by his last the lay patrons to resign the right of dying declaration, his destroyers adopted presentation to the Church, by annexing the barbarous policy of forcing a ball of it, as it was called, to bishoprics, abbacies, brass into his mouth, then gazing, as priories, and other religious houses. they thought, in safety, on the agonies of The benefices thus annexed or approthe voiceless sufferer. priated were termed patrimonial, and The popish clergy seem to have were not longer subject to the patronage thought their triumph complete, and them- of laymen. The civil power became at selves at liberty to prosecute with even length alarmed at the prospect of the increased energy their schemes of ag- lands and wealth of the kingdom being grandisement. One method in which thus placed in the hands of a body of men this was prosecuted deserves to be par-who were not only beyond the control ticularly noticed, as intimately connected of the civil law, but were in fact the subwith a subject to which we shall have repeated occasion to refer in the course of this work, viz., the subject of patronage. It has not been exactly ascertained at what time the system of lay patronage was introduced in Scotland.

jects of a foreign power. An attempt was therefore made to check this practice of annexation, by a statute in the reign of James III., in the year 1471; but so effectual had the schemes of the clergy been, that at the period of the Reformation there were in Scotland only two hundred and sixty-two non-appropriated benefices out of the whole number, consisting of about nine hundred and forty. Even of these two hundred and sixty-two a considerable number, though not annexed, were in the hands of bishops, abbots, and the heads of other religious houses so that the crafty and avaricious popish clergy might deem themselves secure, being possessed of more than half the wealth of the kingdom, and that, too, placed beyond the power of any control, except that of an appeal to Rome,—a danger which they might well regard as not very formidable.

;

The Late Dr. Mc'Crie, whose opinions on all matters of church history are of the very highest authority, held that it could not have been introduced before the tenth century. The first mention of Scottish patronages and presentations with which we are acquainted occurs in the Book of Laws of Malcolm II., who ascended the throne in the year 1004;* and although the critical acumen of Lord Hailes has succeeded in casting considerable doubt upon the genuine antiquity of these laws, this much may at least be said, that no claim more ancient can be pretended for the asumed right of patronage in Scotland, at the same time that by these laws the [1494.] But while the priesthood right of deciding respecting "the advo- were thus strenuously endeavouring to cation of kirks and the right of patron- consolidate their power, and to increase age," pertains to the jurisdiction of the their splendour, obtaining the erection of Church. For a time, it would appear, an archbishopric, first at St. Andrews, the Scottish clergy followed the usual and then at Glasgow, they did not seem policy of the papal Church, holding out to be aware that the spirit of religious reevery inducement to men to bequeath formation was diffusing itself silently but large sums for the erection and endow-rapidly throughout the kingdom, especialment of churches, monasteries, &c., as ly in the western districts of Kyle, Carthe best mode of securing their salvation; and allowing to such donors and subsequently to their heirs, the right of presenting to the benefices thus bequeathed. But when they had obtained a very large

* Regiam Majestatem, pp. 2, 11.

rick, and Cunningham. At length they began to take alarm, and shaking off their golden dreams, they prepared to crush their hated antagonists. Robert Blacater, the first archbishop of Glasgow, prevailed on James IV. to summon be

result was, that they were dismissed, with an admonition to beware of new doctrines, and to content themselves with the faith of the Church.

the kingdom with considerable ability during the minority of the young king, James V. According to Spotswood, Beaton" was neither violently set, nor much solicitous, as it was thought, how matters went in the Church.' Still, notwithstanding their political cares, the clergy were aware that the writings of the Con

fore the great council about thirty persons, male and female, natives mostly of the above-named western districts; the chief of whom was George Campbell of Cessnock, Adam Reid of Barskimming, No new persecutions for heresy ocJohn Campbell of New-mills, Andrew curred during the reign of James IV., Schaw of Polkemmet, and the Ladies of and after his death on the fatal field of Stair and Polkellie.* This memorable Flodden, the attention of the nobility and trial of the Lollards of Kyle, as they the clerical dignitaries was too much ocwere opprobiously termed, took place in cupied with the prosecution of their own the year 1594. The articles which selfish and factious designs, to bestow they were accused of holding have been much regard upon the progress of relirecorded both by Knox and Spotswood gious opinions. James Beaton had been with little variation, except that Knox's translated from Glasgow to the archaccount is rather more full than the other. bishopric of St. Andrews, and, in conTheir main tenor is chiefly in condem-junction with the Douglas faction, ruled nation of the worship of the Virgin Mary, of saints, reliques, images, and the mass; and also of the various arrogant pretensions and licentious abuses of the prelates and the priesthood, without any very clear statement of the leading doctrines of pure Christianity. It appears, indeed, exceedingly probable, that the Lollards of Kyle did little more than re-tinental Protestant divines were beginvive the old contest between the Culdees ning to be introduced, as appears from and the prelates; and that the designa- an act of parliament passed in 1525, tion given to them by their popish ene- strictly prohibiting the importation of all mies was not in consequence of their hav- such writings, and also forbidding all ing actually imbibed the tenets of Lollard public "disputations about the heresies the Waldensian, but that it was applied of Luther, except it be to the confusion to them partly as a term of reproach, and thereof, and that by clerks in the schools partly with a view to prejudge their alenarlie" [alone.] Nor was their anxi cause. For it has always been the policy ety unfounded. There is great reason of those who were engaged in persecut-to think that some of these Protestant ing religion, to slander, misrepresent, writings had about this time fallen into and affix to it a calumnious name, and the hands of a youth whose rank and then to assail it under this maliciously-talents shed lustre on the cause which he imposed disguise. Few men have ever espoused. persecuted religion avowedly as such; Patrick Hamilton, a youth of royal but how often have they called religion lineage, and not less distinguished by the fanaticism, and then persecuted its ad-possession of high mental endowments, herents under the calumnious designation was the chosen instrument by means of of fanatics! whom "the Father of lights" rekindled in Scotland the smouldering beacon of eternal truth.

Providentially for the Lollards of Kyle, James IV. himself presided at the trial,-a monarch who, with all his faults, had yet too much of manliness and candour to permit his judgment to be greatly swayed by the malignity of the prelates. Adam Reid appears to have taken the chief part in the defence, and to have answered with such spirit, point, and humour, as to amuse James, and baffle the bishop completely. The

* Knox's History of the Reformation, p. 2; Spotswood, p. 60.

Being designed by his relations for the Church, there had been conferred on him, even in infancy, the abbacy of Ferne,a foretaste of the wealth and honours to which he might aspire, and a stimulus to quicken his ambition. But while his friends were anticipating for him a splendid career of worldly pomp and power, a very different path was preparing for him. The ambitious and worldly, yet ignorant

* M'Crie's Life of Knox, p. 23, 6th edit.

priesthood, by whom he was surrounded, | caused him to be apprehended under began to mark with jealous eye his al night, and committed to the Castle. tered manner, to note suspiciously the The very next day he was brought bepraise he gave to the study of ancient lit- fore the archbishop, and a large convenerature in preference to the dry logic of tion of bishops, abbots, priors, and other the schools, and the severe terms in which dignitaries and doctors of the Church, and he condemned the abounding corruptions there charged with maintaining and proof the Church. Partly, perhaps, to avoid pagating certain heretical opinions. Johr the danger to which he was thus expos- Knox declares, that the articles for which ing himself, but chiefly to obtain a more he was condemned were merely those of complete knowledge of the doctrines of "pilgrimage, purgatory, prayers to the Reformation, he resolved to visit the saints, and prayers for the dead," alContinent in 1526. With this view he though matters of greater importance had naturally directed his course to Wittem- been in question. Spotswood, on the berg, where he was speedily honoured other hand, specifies thirteen distinct artiwith the friendship and esteem of Luther cles, of much graver character, which and Melancthon. After enjoying the bene- were condemned as heretical, and he confit of their society for a short time, he pro- | demned for holding them. The probaceeded to the University of Marbourg, bility is, that both statements are true; where he obtained the instructions of the that the articles specified by Spotswood celebrated Francis Lambert. But the are those "matters of greater importance" more that his own mind acquired of the to which Knox alludes; but that in deknowledge of divine truth, the more ear-claring the sentence publicly, no mention nestly did he long to return and communicate that knowledge to his beloved countrymen.

was made of any but the four topics stated by Knox, because for his accusers to have done otherwise would have been to have The return to Scotland of this noble published tenets themselves, which they youth at once attracted all eyes, as if a wished to consign to oblivion. Such, innew star had appeared in the heavens. deed, has been the policy of persecutors His instructions were listened to with the in all ages,-to fix the attention of the deepest attention, and the doctrines which public, as far as possible, on the external he taught began to spread rapidly through- aspect and the nonessentials of the subout the kingdom. His high birth, repu- ject in dispute, thereby to conceal the tation for learning, the attractive elegance truth, while they are destroying its deof his youthful aspect, and the persuasive fenders. So acted the Romanized Enggraces of his courteous demeanour, ren-lish prelates towards the Culdees, as we dered his influence almost irresistible; have already seen; and so, as we shall and the popish clergy saw no safety to afterwards see, acted the persecutors of their cause but in his destruction. They the Church of Scotland in different periframed their murderous plans with fiend- ods of her history. like ingenuity. Being apprehensive that [1528.] The sentence of condemnathe young king might not readily be per- tion was pronounced; and, to give it all suaded to sanction the death of one who the weight of authority, every person of stood to him in the near relationship of name and rank, civil and ecclesiastical, cousin, they contrived to send him on a was induced to sign it; amongst whom pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Dothess, was the Earl of Cassilis, a boy of thir or Duthack, in Ross-shire. They next teen years of age. Arrangements were decoyed Patrick Hamilton to St. An- then made to carry it into effect, that very drews, on the pretence of wishing to have day. The pile was erected in front of | a free conference with him on religious the College of St. Salvador, and the youthsubjects. Pursuing their perfidious plot, ful martyr hurried to the stake. Before they caused Alexander Campbell, prior being bound to the stake, he divested of the Blackfriars, to hold several inter- himself of his outer garments, and views with him, and even to seem to con- gave them to his servant, who had attendcede to his opinions so far as to draw from ed him faithfully and affectionately for a him a full avowal of them. Their meas-number of years, accompanying the gift ures being new ripe for execution, they with these tender and pathetic words:

« EelmineJätka »