History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Book 1 (1 of 2)
THE HISTORIE OF THE REFORMATION Within the Realme of SCOTLAND, from the yeer 1422. Till the 20. day of August. 1567. THE FIRST BOOK.
IN the Records of Glasgow is found mention of one whose name was Iames Resby, Robert the third.an Englishman by Birth,1422. Scholler to Wickliff; He was accused as an Heretike, by one Lawrence Lindors in Scotland, and burnt for having said, That the Pope was not the Vicar of Christ, and that a man of wicked life was not to be acknowledged for Pope. This fell out, Anno 1422. Farther our Chronicles make mention,Iames the first. That in the dayes of King Iames the first, about the yeer of God 1431. was deprehended in the University of Saint Andrewes, 1431.one named Paul Craw, a Boheme, who was accused of Heresie,Paul Craw burnt with a ball of Brasse in his mouth. before such as then were called Doctors of Theologie. His accusation consisted principally, That he followed Iohn H…s and Wickliff, in the opinion of the Sacrament; Who denied that the substance of Bread and Wine were changed by vertue of any words; Or that Confession should be made to Priests; or yet Prayers to Saints departed: While that God gave him grace to resist them, and not to consent to their impiety; He was committed to the secular Judge (for our Bishops following Pilate, who both did condemne, and also wash his hands) who condemned him to the fire, in the which he was consumed in the said City of Saint Andrews, about the time afore written. And to declare themselves to be the generation of Satan, who from the beginning hath been enemy to the Truth, and he that desireth the same to be hid from the knowledge of men, They put a ball of Brasse in his mouth, to the end he should not give Confession of his Faith to the people; neither yet that they should understand the defence which he had against their unjust accusation and condemnation. Both these godly men Resby and Craw, suffered Martyrdome for Christ his Truth, by Henry Ward-Law, Bishop of Saint Andrewes, whom the Prelates place amongst their Worthies▪
But that their wicked practise did not greatly advance their Kingdom of darknesse, neither yet was it able utterly to extinguish the Trueth; for albeit, that in the dayes of King Iames the second and third, we finde small question of Religion moved within this Realm; yet in the time of King Iames the fourth,Iames 4. in the sixth yeer of his Reign, and in the twenty two yeer of his age,1494. which was in the yeer of God 1494. were summoned before the King and his great Counsell, by Robert Blacater, called, Archbishop of Glasgow: The number of thirty persons remaining,30 Persons accused. some in Kyle St…wart, The Professors of the Tru…th at the first b… ginning of the Reform…tion were called in our Iland Lo…lards from on a g…dly man in this Iland named …o…ard, w…o was …n… of the first Teachers of the True…h: what other names they had …lsewh…re, s…e the History of the Albigo…s, Lib. 1. cap. 3. Where you may see what accusations, and calumnies was made against these poor people.some in Kingstyle, and some in Cunninghame: Among whom were George Campbell of Cesnok, Adam Reade of Barskyning, Iohn Campbell of Newmyls, Andrew Schaw of Polkemac, Helene Chalmer, Lady Pokellie, Isabelle Chambers, Lady Stairs.
These were called the Lollards of Kyle, they were accused of the Articles following, as we have received them out of the Register of Glasgow.
1. First, …hat Images are not to be had in the Kyrk, nor to be worshipped.
2. That the Reliques of Saints are not to be worshipped.
3. That Laws & Ordinances of men, vary from time to time, and that by the Pope.
4. That it is not lawfull to fight for the Faith, nor to defend the Faith by the Sword, if we be not driven to it by necessity, which is above all Law.
5. That Christ gave power to Peter, as also to the other Apostles, and not to the Pope his pretended Successour, to binde and loose within the Kyrk.
6. That Christ ordained no Priests to consecrate as they do in the Romish Church, these many yeers.
7. That after the Consecration in the Masse, there remains Bread, and that there is not the naturall Body of Christ.
8. That Tythes ought not to be given to Ecclesiasticall men, as they were then called, to wit, wholly, but a part to the poor, widow, or orphans, & other pious uses.
9. That Christ at his coming hath taken away power from Kings to judge. This Article we doubt not to be the venomous accusation of the enemies, whose practise hath ever been to make the doctrine of Jesus Christ suspect to Kings and Rulers:Conferre this 4. Article with the 16. Article. As if God thereby would deprive them of their Royall Seats; While on the contrary nothing confirms the power of Magistrates more then doth Gods Truth. But to the Articles.
10. That every faithfull man and women is a Priest, in that sence that they are called by the Apostle Saint Iohn, Apoc. 1.6.5.10.20.6.
The Pope did bethink himself at last …o subject Princes unto him, by this tye of invented unction.11. That the Unction of Kings, ceased at the coming of Christ; and truely it was but late since Kings were anointed, namely in Scotland, for Edgar was the first anointed King in Scotland, about the yeer 1100.
12. That the Pope is not the successour of Peter, but where he said, Go behinde me Satan.
13. That the Pope deceives the people by his Buls, and his Indulgences.
14. That the Masse profiteth not the souls, who in those dayes were said to be in Purgatory.
15. That the Pope and the Bishops deceive the people by their Pardons.
16. That Indulgences ought not to be granted to fight against the Saracens.
17. That the Pope exalts himself against God, and above God.
18. That the Pope cannot remit the pains of Purgatory.
19. That the blessings of the Bishops (of dumb Dogs they should have been stiled) are of no value.
20. That the Excommunication of the Kyrk is not to be feared, if there be no true cause for it.
21. That in no case it is lawfull to swear, to wit, idly, rashly, and in vain.
22. That Priests may have wives, according to the constitution of the Law, and of the Primitive Christian Church.
23. That true Christians receive the body of Iesus Christ every day by Faith.
24. That after Matrimony be contracted, and consummate; the Kyrk may make no Divorcement.
25. That Excommunication bindes not, if unjust.
26. That the Pope forgives not sins, but onelyonly God.
27. That Faith should not be given to Miracles, to such namely as the Romish were then, and are to this day.
28. That we should not pray to the glorious Virgin Mary, but to God onelyonly, since he onelyonly hears us, and can help us.
29. That we are no more bound to pray in the Kyrk then in other places *Although the Temple be set a part for divine service, yet we are not so tied to the place as the Iews were, yea, not so much as the Rominists would have us to be, according to that of S. Ioh 21.22 23 for wheresoever 2 or 3 are gathered together in my N…r, I am in the midst of you..
30. That we are not bound to beleeve all that Doctors of the Kirk have written.
31. That such as worship the Sacrament in the Kyrk (we suppose the Sacrament of the Altar) commits Idolatry.
32. That the Pope is the head of the Kirk of Antichrist.
33. That the Pope and his Ministers are murtherers of souls.
34. That they which are called Princes and Prelates in the Church, are Theeves, and Robbers.
By these Articles which God of his mercifull providence caused the enemies of his truth to keep in their registers, may appear how mercifully God hath looked upon this Realm, retaining within it some spark of his lyght, even in the time of greatest darknesse. Neither ought any man to wonder, albeit that some things be obscurely, and some things doubtfully spoken. But rather ought all faithfull to magnifie Gods mercy, who without publike Doctrine gave so great light. And further, we ought to consider that seeing that the enemies of Jesus Christ gathered the foresaid Articles, thereupon to accuse the persons aforesaid, that they would deprave the meaning of Gods servants so far as they could; as we doubt not but they have done, in the heads of Excommunication*Witnesse the Princes and people, that the Pope put to the Interdict without cause, to say nothing of private persons., Swearing*So that many do think it a liberty of Religion to swear and curse., and of Matrimony*Witnesse the divorce of Mary Stuart, daughter to James 2. from her lawfull husband Tho. Boyde, and ma… ried to Iames Hamilton… Also of Mary, mother to Iames 5. who married after K. Iam. the fourths death, Ar…hibald Douglas Earle of Angus, & was divorced from him, and married to Henry Stuart, Lord Meffen.: In the which it is no doubt but the servants of God did damne the abuse only, and not the right Ordinance of God: for who knows not that the Excommunication in these dayes was altogether abused? That Swearing aboundeth without punishment or remorse of conscience: And that Divorcements was made, for such causes as worldly men had invented. But to our History. Albeit that the accusation of the Bishop and of his Complices was very grievous, yet God so assisted his servants, partly by inclining the Kings heart to gentlenesse (for divers of them were his great familiars) and partly by giving bold and godly answers to their Accusators; that the enemies in the end we…e frustrate of their purpose. For while the Bishop in mockage said to Ad…m Reade of Barskeiming; Reade, beleeve ye that God is in heaven? He answered; Not as I do the Sacraments seven: Whereat the Bishop thinking to have triumphed, said; Sir, lo, he denies that God is in heaven? Whereat the King wondring, said; Adam Reade! What say ye? The other answered; Pleaseth your Majesty to hear the end betwixt the churle and me: and therewith he turned to the Bishop and said; I neither think nor beleeve, as thou thinkest that God is in heaven; but I am most assured, that he is not onelyonly in heaven, but also in the earth: But thou and thy faction declare by your works, that either ye think there is no God at all, or else that he is so set up in heaven, that he regards not what is done upon the earth: for if thou firmly beleevedst that God were in the heaven, thou shouldest not make thy self check-mate to the King,Adam Reade, his bold a…d godly answer. and altogether forget the charge that Jesus Christ the Son of God gave to his Apostles, which was, To Preach his Gospel, and not to play the proud Prelates, as all the rabble of you do this day: And now, Sir, said he to the King, judge ye, whether the Bishop or I beleeve best that God is in heaven. While the Bishop and his band could not well revenge themselves, and while many taunts were given them in their teeth.Note. The King willing to put an end to further reasoning, said to the said Adam Reade; Wilt thou burn thy bill? He answered; Sir, the Bishop and ye will. With these and the like scoffs, the Bishop and his band were so dashed out of countenance, that the greatest part of accusation was turned to laughter. After that Diet, we finde almost no question for matters of Religion, the space neer of thirty yeers; for not long after, to wit, in the yeer of God 1500. the said Bishop Blaktar departed this life,1500. going in his superstitious devotion to Ierusalem: Unto whom succeeded Master Iames Betone, son to the Laird of Balfor in Fife, who was more carefull of the world, then he was to Preach Christ, or yet to advance any Religion, but for the fashion onelyonly, and as he sought the world it fled him not: For it was well known that at once he was Archbishop of Saint Andrews, Abbot of Dunfermeling, Aberbrothe, Kylwinning, and Chancellour of Scotland: For after the unhappy field of Flowdonne, 1513.in the which perished King Iames the fourth, with the greatest part of the Nobility of the Realm, the said Betonne with the rest of the Prelates, had the whole Regiment of the Realm. And by reason thereof held and travelled to hold the truth of God in thraldome and bondage, till that it pleased God of his great mercy in the yeer of God 1527. to raise up his servant Master Patrick Hammilton, 1527.at whom our History doth begin:Brothers son to Iames Hamilton Earle of Arran and sisters son to Iohn Stuart Duke of Althai. Of whose progenie, life, and erudition, because men of fame and renown have in divers works written; we omit all curious repetition, sending such as would know further of him then we write to Francis Lambert, Iohn Frith, and to that notable work lately set forth by Iohn Fox, English man, of the lives and deaths of Martyrs within this Isle in this our age.