History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 3 · Floating text 7 – Floating text 8
An Act against the Masse, and the Sayers and Hearers thereof.
IN the Parliament holden at Edinburgh the tenth of Iuly, the yeer of God, 1560.This Act is particularly confirmed 1567. in the Parliament under Iames 6. holden by the Earl Murr…y.
The said Parliament being continued to the first of August next thereafter following, with continuation of dayes, upon the twenty fourth day of the said monethmonth of August, the three States then being present: The which day, forsomuch as Almighty God, by his most true and blessed Word, hath declared the Reverence and Honour which should be given to him; and by his Son Iesus Christ hath declared the true use of the Sacraments, willing the same to be used according to his Will and Word; By the which it is notorious, and perfectly knowne, That the Sacraments of Baptisme, and of the Body and Blood of Iesus Christ, hath been this long time past, corrupted by the Papisticall Church, and by their Ministers. And at this present time, notwithstanding the Reformation already made according to Gods Word; yet neverthelesse, there is some of the same Popes Church that stubbornly persevereth in their wicked Idolatry, saying Masse, and Baptizing conform to the Popes Church, profaning therethrough the Sacraments aforesaid in quiet secret places, regarding therein neither God nor his Word:
Therefore it is Decreed and Ordained in this present Parliament, That no manner of person or persons, in any time coming, administrate any of the Sacraments secretly, in any manner of way, but they that are admitted, and having power to that effect; Nor say Masse, nor yet heare Masse, nor be present thereat, under the pain of confiscation of all their goods, and punishing of their bodies at the discretion of the Magistrates within whose Iurisdiction such persons happeneth to be apprehended for the first fault; banishing out of the Realme for the second fault, and chastising by death for the third fault. And Ordaineth all Sheriffs, Stewards, Baylies, and their Deputies, Provosts and Bayliffs of Burroughs, and other Iudges within this Realm, to make diligent sute and inquisition within their Bounds, where any such usurped Ministry is used, Masse-saying, or they that be present at the doing thereof, ratifying, and approving the same, and take, and apprehend them, to the effect, that the pains above written may be executed upon them.
Extractum de Libro Parliamenti, per me, &c.
Sic Subscribitur. Iacobus Magill.
The Act for the abolishing of the Pope, and his usurped Authority in SCOTLAND.
This also was confirmed by one particular Act 1567. by the Parliament holden by the Earle Murray.IN the Parliament holden at Edinburgh the tenth of July, the year of God 1560. And thereafter continued to the first day of August next thereafter following, with continuation of dayes upon the 24 of the said MonethMonth of August, the three States then being present, understanding that the Iurisdiction and Authority of the Bishop of Rome, called the Pope, used in this Realm in times past hath been very hurtsome and prejudiciall to our Soveraigns Authority and Common-weale of this Realm. Therefore hath decreed and ordained, That the Bishop of Rome hath no Iurisdiction nor Authority in this Realm in times comming. And that none of our said Soveraigns Subjects, claim, and desire in any time herafter title or right by the said Bishop of Rome, or his sect, to any thing within this Realm, under the pains of Baratrie, that is to say, Proscription, banishment, and never to brook and enjoy honour, office, nor dignity within this Realm; and the contraveners hereof to be called before the Iustice, or his Deputies, or before the Lords of the Session, and punished therefore, confirm to the Laws of this Realm; and the furnishers of them with fynance of money, and purchasers of their title of right, or maintainers or defenders of them, shall incur the same pains: And that no Bishop, nor other Prelat of this Realm, use any Iurisdiction in times to come, by the said Bishop of Romes Authority, under the pain aforesaid.
Extractum de Libro Parliamenti, per me, Ut supra.
These and other things orderly done in lawfull and free Parliament, we directed to France to our Soveraign Sir Iames Sandelandes Lord of Saint-Iohn, with the Acts of the said Parliament, that by them they might be ratified, according to the promises of their Majesties Commissioners made to us, as by the Contract of Peace may evidently appear. But how the said Lord of Saint Iohn was received and used, we list not to rehearse: But alwayes no ratification brought he unto us, but that we little regarded, or yet do regard; for all that we did, was rather to shew our dutifull obedience, then to beg of them any strength to our Religion,Note this diligently. which from God hath full power, and needed not the suffrage of man, but in so far as man had need to beleeve it, if that ever he shall have participation of the life everlasting. But somewhat must we answer to such as since hath whispered, that it was but a pretended Parliament, a privie Convention and no lawfull Parliament.Quest. Their reasons are, The King and Queen were in France, there was neither Scepter, Sword, nor Crown born, &c.Answ. And some Principall Lords were absent. We answer, That we rather wish the Papists to be quiet then too curiously to travell in that Point: for it may be, while they thinke to hurt us, they give the Queene and her authority a great blow, and yet amend themselves nothing. For in whose default we pray you was the Queen absent from this Realm? We think they will not be so shamelesse as that they will blame the Protestants thereof. Her person was absent, and that to no small grief of our hearts: But were not the States of her Realm assembled in her name? Yea, had they not her full power and Commission, yea, the Commission and commandment of her head the King of France, to convocate that Parliament, and to do all things that may be done in lawfull Parliament?Note this I pray you for these dayes sake. Even as if our Soveraigns had been there in proper persons: If they will limit the power of Princes to the places onelyonly where their bodily presence is, it will be thought strange; for so not onelyonly shall Kings be compelled to content them with one Realme, but also with one Citie: For the bodily presence of Kings can no more be in divers cities at one instant, then that they can be in divers Realms. Hitherto we have understood, that wheresoever the great Councellers of the King with his power and Commission are assembled, to do any thing at his just commandment, That there is the Kings sufficient presence and authority, wheresoever his own body be living at freedome and liberty; which if the Papists deny, we will finde faults with them, and with the Princes whom they have abused, that more will annoy them, then any thing that we can lose by the insufficiencie of that Parliament: Which neverthelesse we are bold to affirme to have been more lawfull and more free, then any Parliament that they are able to produce this hundred yeeres before it, or yet any that hath ensued since it was, (he meanes untill 1566. when this Book was written) for in it the voices of men were free, and given in conscience, in others they were bought, or given at the devotion of the misled Prince. All things in it concluded, are able to abide the triall, and not to be consumed at the proofe of the fire: of others the godly may justly call in doubt things determined. To the Sword and Scepter, nor yet to the absence of some Lords, we answer nothing. For our adversaries know well enough that the one is rather a pompe, and vaine-glorious ceremonie, then a substantiall point of necessitie required to a lawfull Parliament: And the absence of some prejudges not the powers of the present duely assembled: Providing, that due advertisement be made unto them. But now we return to our History.
The Parliament dissolved, consultation was had, how the Church might be established in a good and godly policie, which by the Papists was altogether defaced. Commission and charge was given to Master Iohn Winram Sub-priour of S. Andrews, Master Iohn Spottiswood, Iohn Willock, Master Iohn Dowglas Rectour of S. Andrews, Master Iohn Row, and Iohn Knox, to draw in a Volume the Policie and Discipline of the Church, as well as they had done the Doctrine, which they did, and presented it to the Nobility,See how this agree… with the worldlings now adayes. who did peruse it many dayes. Some approved it, and willed the same to have been set forth by a Law, others perceiving their carnall liberty and worldly commodity somewhat to be impared thereby, grudged, in so much that the name of the Book of Discipline became odious unto them. Every thing that repugned to their corrupt imaginations was termed in their mockage, Devout imaginations. The cause we have before declared, some was licentious, some had greedily griped the possessions of the Church; and others thought that they would not lack their part of Christs Coat, yea, and that before that ever he was Crucified, as by the Preachers they were oft rebuked. The chief great man that had professed Christ Jesus, and refused to subscribe the Book of Discipline,What blessings hath been since in the house of Erskin, they know best. was the Lord Erskin. And no wonder, for besides that, he had a very evill woman to his wife, if the Poore, the Schooles, and the Ministerie of the Church had their owne, his Kitchin would lack two parts and more, of that which he unjustly now possesseth. Assuredly some of us hath wondered how men that professe godlinesse could of so long continuance hear the threatnings of God against theeves and against their houses, and knowing themselves guilty, in such things as were openly rebuked, and that they never had remorse of conscience, neither yet intended to restore any thing of that which long they had stollen and reft. There were none within the Realme more unmercifull to the poore Ministers then were they which had greatest rents of the Churches. But in that we have perceived the old Proverb to be true; Nothing can suffice a wretch. And again, The belly hath no eares. Yet the same Book of Discipline was subscribed by a great part of the Nobility; To wit, The Duke, the Earle of Arrane, the Earles Argyle, Glencarn, Mershell, Menteth, Morton, Rothesse, Lord Iames after Earle of Murray, Lords Yeaster, Boyd, Uchiltrie, Master of Maxwell, Lord Lindsay elder, and the Master after Lord Barrons, Drunlaurige, Lothingwar, Garleisse, Bargany, Master Alexander Gordon Bishop of Galloway, (this Bishop of Galloway, as he renounced Popery, so did he Prelacie, witnesse his subscription of the Book of Discipline, as the rest of the Prelats did who did joyne to the Reformation) Alexander Campbell Deane of Marray, with a great number moe subscribed and approved the said Book of Discipline in the Town-Buith of Edinburgh, the 27 day of January, the yeere of our Lord God 1560. by their approbation; In these words: WE which have subscribed these presents, having advised with the Articles herein specified, and as is above-mentioned from the beginning of this Book, thinks the same good and conforme to Gods Word in all points conforme to the Notes and Additions thereto,Note how although the Prelats being convinced of the truth, did subscribe unto it, yet it was with this Pro…iso, That they should enjoy their rents for their lives. asked, and promise to set the same forward at the uttermost of our powers. Providing that the Bishops, Abbots, Priors, and other Prelates and Beneficed men which else have adjoyned themselves to us, brooke the revenues of their Benefices during their life times, they sustaining and upholding the Ministerie and Ministers, as is heerein specified, for Preaching of the Word and Ministring of the Sacraments.
What be the contents of the whole Book, and how that this promise was illuded from time to time we shall after heare.
Shortly after the said Parliament were sent from the Councell Ambassadours to England, the Earles Morton and Glencarne, together with William Maitland of Lethington, yonger. The chief point of their Commission was earnestly to crave the constant assistance of the Queens Majestie of England, against all forraigne invasion and common enemies.
That same time was the Castle of Semple hard besieged and taken. Because the Lord thereof disobeyed the Lawes and Ordinances of the Councell in many things, and especially in that, that he would maintain the Idolatrie of the Masse, and also, that he beset the way to the Earle of Arrane, with a great gathering, as he was riding with his accustomed company. The Papists were proud, for they looked for a new Armie from France at the next Spring, and thereof was no small appearance, if God had not otherwise provided. For France utterly refused the confirmation of the Peace contracted at Leith, would ratifie no part of our Parliament, dismissed the Lord of Saint Iohn, without a resolute answer, began to gather new Bands of throat-cutters, and to make great preparation for Ships. They further sent before them certain practisers, (amongst whom the Lord Seaton who had departed with the French out of Leith was one) to raise up new troubles within this Realme.Note men to their owne countrey. And all this came partly of the malice of the house of Guise, who had avowed to revenge the displeasure of their sister both upon England and Scotland, and partly by instigation of proud Beton, falsly called Bishop of Glasgow, of Dury Abbot of Dunfermeling, and Saulles Seaton, and Master Iohn Sinclair Deane of Restalrige, with such others of the French faction, who had openly spoken, That they had refused all portion of Scotland, unlesse that it were under the government of a French-man. Recompence them (O Lord) as thou knowest most expedient for thine owne glory, and for the perpetuall shame of all Traitours to their Common-wealth. The certain knowledge of all these things came to our eares, whereat many were afraid, and divers suspected that England would not be so forward in times to come, considering that their former expences were so great. The principall comfort remained with the Preachers,Note this for our dayes. for they assured us in Gods Name that God would performe in all perfection that worke in our hands. The beginning whereof he had so mightily maintained, because it was not ours, but his own. And therefore exhorted us, That we should constantly proceed to reform all abuses, and to plant the Ministery of the Church, as by Gods word we might justifie it; and then commit the successe of all to our God,Let this teach us to seek God. in whose power the disposition of Kingdoms standeth. And so we began to do, for troubles appearing, made us give eare to the admonitions of Gods servants. And while that we had scarcely begun again to implore the help of our God, and to shew some signes of our obedience unto his Messengers, and holy Word, Lo the mighty hand of God from above sent unto us a wonderfull and most joyfull deliverance:The death of the yong King of France husband to our Queen. For unhappy Francis, husband to our Soveraigne, suddenly perished of a rotten eare. But because the death of that young man was not onelyonly the cause of joy to us in Scotland, but also by it were the faithfull in France delivered as it were from the present death. We think expedient to speak of the same somewhat more largely.
These cruell and conjured enemies of God and of all godlinesse, the Duke of Guise, the Cardinall of Loraine, and their faction, who then at their owne appetite plaid the Tyrants in France, had determined the destruction of all that professed the true knowledge of Jesus Christ within that Realme. What tyrannie late before they had used at Amboyse, the History of France doth witnesse: now in Orleance in the monethmonth of November, conveaned the King, unhappy Francis, the Queen our Soveraigne, and the Queen mother of the King, the Duke of Guise, with all his faction: The King of Navarre, and the Prince of Condie, his brother.
So that great was the confluence of the Nobilitie, but greater was the assembly of the murtherers, for there was not a Hang-man in all France which was not there. The prisons were full of the true servants of God: The King of Navarre, and the Prince of Condie were constituted Prisoners. The Sheriffe of Orleance, a man fearing God, was taken, and so were many others of the Towne. Briefly, there was none that professed God or godlinesse within that Towne, that looked not for the extremity, for the Walles and Gates were night and day kept with the Garisons of the Guysians, miserable men were daily brought in, to suffer judgement, but none was suffered to depart forth, but at the devotion of the Tyrants.
And so they proceeded till the tenth or twelfth of December, when that they thought time to put their bloody councell in execution, and for that purpose conclusion was taken, That the King should depart out of the Towne, and lie at a certaine place; which was done to this intent, That there should no suite be made to the King for the safetie of any mans life, whom they thought worthy of death. And so was the Kings house in Orleance broken up, his beds, cofers, and tapistrie sent away, his owne bootes put on, he sitting at the Masse immediately hereafter to have departed, and so their tyrannie to have begun.
When all things, we say, were in this readinesse to shed the blood of innocents, the eternall, our God, who ever watcheth for the preservation of his owne, began to worke, and suddenly did put his own work in execution, for as the said King sat at Masse, he was suddenly stricken with an Aposthume, in that deaf ear that never would hear the Trueth of God, and so was he carried to a void and empty house, laid upon a palliase unto such time as a Cannaby was set up unto him, where he lay till the fifteenth day of December,15. December 1560. in the yeere of God 1560. When his glory perished, and the pride of his stubborne heart vanished in smoke; And so was the snare broken; The Tyrants disappointed of their crueltie; Those that was appointed to death, raised, as it were, out of their graves; And we, who by our foolishnesse had made our selves slaves to strangers, were restored againe to freedome and libertie of a free Realme.
O that we had hearts deepely to consider what are thy wondrous works (O Lord) that we might praise thee in the midst of this most obstinate and wicked generation, and leave the memoriall of the same to our posterities, which alas, we feare shall forget these thy inestimable benefits.
Some in France, after the sudden death of Francis the 2. and calling to minde the death of Charles the 9 in blood; and the slaughter of Henry the 2. did remark the Tragicall ends of these three Princes, who had persecuted Gods servants so cruelly by their instruments the Guisians, and by their Pens both in Prose and Verse, did advise all other Princes not to authorize any Persecution or wrong done unto Gods servants, left they should have the like end. And indeed the following Kings of France unto this day, hath found this true by their infortunate and unexpected ends.
The death of this King made great alteration in France, England and Scotland; France was erected in some esperance that the tyranny of the Guisians should no longer raigne above them, because God at unawares had broken the staffe whereupon they leaned; but alas, they were deceived: For the simplicity of some was so abused, that against the Lawes of the Realm, to the Queen mother was committed the Regiment, which lifted up as well the Duke of Guise, as the cruell Cardinall, for a season. The Queen of England, and the Councell, remitted our Ambassadours. The pride of the Papists of Scotland began to be abated, and some that ever had shewn themselves enemies unto us, began to think, and plainly to speak (amongst whom the old Sheriff of Ayre was one) That they perceived God to fight for us. The Earle of Arrane having suffered repulse in his designe to marry the Queen of England, he began to fancie unto himselfe that the Queen of Scotland bare unto him some favour: And so he wrote unto her, and sent for credit a Ring, which the said Queen our Soveraign knew well enough. The Letter and Ring were both presented to the Queen, and by her received: Such answer was returned to the said Earle, after the which he made no further pursuit in that matter: And yet neverthelesse he did bear it heavily in heart, and more heavily then his friends would have wished; for grief he was troubled in his understanding.
The certainty of the death foresaid was signified unto us both by Sea and Land. By Sea received Iohn Knox (who then had great intelligence both with the Churches abroad, and some of the Court of France) That the King was mortally sick, and could not well escape death. Which Letters received that same day at afternoon he passed to the Duke to his own lodging at the Church of Field, with whom he found the Lord Iames in conference alone: The Earle of Arrane was in Iedburgh, to whom he opened such news as he had received, and willed them to be of good comfort; for, said he, the advertiser hath never deceived me: It is the same Gentleman that first gave us knowledge of the slaughter of Henry King of France; and shewed unto them the Letter, but would not expresse the mans name. While they were reasoning in divers purposes, and he comforting them: For while (we say) they three were familiarly communing together, there came a messenger from the Lord Gray forth of Barwick, assuring him of the death of the K. of France. Which noysed abroad, a generall Convention of the Nobility was appointed to be holden at Edinburgh the fifteenth day of Ianuary following, in the which the Book of discipline was perused newly over againe, for some pretended ignorance, by reason that they had not heard it. In that assembly was Master Alexander Anderson Subprincipall, and Under-Master of one of the Schools of Aberdein, a man more subtill and craftie than either learned or godly, called, who refused to dispute anent his faith, abusing a place of Tertullian, to cloak his ignorance. It was answered unto him, That Tertullian should not prejudge the Authoritie of the Holy Ghost, who by the mouth of Peter commandeth us to give reason of our faith to every one that requireth the same of us; It was farther answered, that we neither required him, neither yet any man to dispute in any point concerning our faith▪ which was grounded upon Gods Word, and fully expressed in his holy Scriptures, for all that we beleeved without controversie. But we required of him, as of the rest of Papists, that they would suffer their Doctrine, Constitutions, and Ceremonies to come to triall. And principally, that the Masse and the opinion thereof by them taught unto the people,Note this well might be laid to the square rule of Gods Word, and unto the right Institution of Jesus Christ, That they might understand whether that their Preachers offended, or not, in that, that they affirmed. The Action of the Masse to be expresly repugning unto the last Supper of the Lord Jesus, The sayer of it to commit horrible blasphemie in usurping up-him the Office of Christ, The hearers to commit damnable Idolatry, and the opinion of it conceived to be a derogation, and as it were a disanulling of Christs death. While the said Master Alexander denied, that the Priest took upon him Christs office, to offer for sin, as he alleaged, a Masse book was produced, and in the beginning of the Canon were these words read, Suscipe Sancta Trinitas hanc oblationem quam ego indignus peccator offero tibi vivo Deo & vero, pro peccatis meis, pro peccatis totius Ecclesiae vivorum & mortuum. Now said the reasoner, if to off…r for the sinnes of the whole Church, was not the Office of Christ Jesus, yea that Office that to him onelyonly might, and may appertaine, let the Scripture judge. And if a vile Knave, whom ye call Priest, proudly taketh the same upon him, let your own Books witnesse. The said Mr. Alexander answered, Christ offered the propitiatory, and that could none do but he; but we offer the remembrance.Note. Whereto it was answered, We praise God that ye have denyed a sacrifice propitiatorie to be in the Masse; and yet we offer to prove, that in moe than a hundreth places of your Papisticall Doctors this proposition is affirmed, The Masse is said to be a Sacrifice propitiatory. But the second part, where ye alleage that ye offer Christ in remembrance; we ask first, Unto whom do ye offer him? and next by what authority are ye assured of well-doing? In God the Father there falleth no Oblivion: And if ye will shift and say, that ye offer it not as God, were forgetfull, but as willing to apply Christs merits to his Church. We demand of you, What power & commandment have ye so to do? We know that our Master Christ Jesus commanded his Apostles to do that which he did in remembrance of him, But plain it is, that Christ took bread, gave thanks, brake bread, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take ye, eate ye, this is my body which is broken for you, do this in remembrance of me, &c. Here we finde a commandment, to take, to eat, to take and to drinke; but to offer Christs Body either for remembrance or application, we finde not: And therefore we say, To take upon you an Office which is not given unto you, is unjust usurpation, and no lawfull power. The said Master Alexander being more then astonished, would have shifted; but then the Lords willed him to answer directly, whereto he answered, That he was better seen in Philosophie, then in Theologie.Note Lesley his answer. Then was commanded M. Iohn Leslie (who then was Parson of Une, and now Abbot of Londors, and after was made Bishop of Rosse) to answer to the former Argument; and he with great gravity began to answer, If our Master have nothing to say to it, I have nothing; for I know nothing but the Cannon Law: And the greatest reason that ever I could finde there, is, Nolumus and Volumus, and yet we understand that now *That is, An. 1566 when this book was written.he is the onelyonly Patron of the Masse. But it is no marvell, for we understand that he is a Priests get and Bastard, and therefore we should not wonder, albeit that the old truan Verse be true, Patrem sequitur sua proles. The Nobility hearing that neither the one nor the other would answer directly, said, We have been miserably deceived heretofore; for if the Masse may not obtaine remission of sins to the quick and to the dead, Wherefore were all the Abbies so richly doted and endowed with our Temporall lands.
Thus much we thought good to insert here, because that some Papists are not ashamed now to affirm, That they with their reasons could never be heard, but that all we did, we did by meer force; when that the whole Realme knoweth, That we ever required them to speak their judgements freely, not onelyonly promising unto them protection and defence, but also that we should subscribe with them, if they by Gods Scriptures could confute us, and by the same Word establish their assertions. But who can correct the leasings of such as in all things shew them the sons of the Father of all lies. Preserve us, Lord, from that perverse and malicious Generation. Amen.
At this same Assembly was the Lord Iames appointed to go to France to the Queen our Soveraigne, and a Parliament was appointed to begin the 20 of May next following; for at that time was the returne of the said Lord Iames looked for: and so was that Convention dissolved, without any other thing of importance concluded. The said Lord Iames prepared him for his journey (for albeit he past in the publike affairs, he sustained the charge of his own expences; and yet there never past from this Realme in the company of one man so many, and so honest thorow England to France. Note the liberality of the Earle Murray.) Before he departed, he was forewarned, as well of the danger in France, as of the Queens craft (not that we then suspected her nature, but that we understood the malice of her friends) he was plainly premonished, That if ever he condescended that she should have Masse publikely or privately within the Realme of Scotland, that then betrayed he the Cause of God, and exposed the Religion even to the uttermost danger that he could do.Note this diligently. That she should have Masse publikely, he affirmed that he would never consent: But to have it secretly in her Chamber, Who could stop her? The danger was shewn, and so he departed.