The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

These new Bishop-Prelates, having pretty well settled their own condition for maintenance, which although it did exceed much the allowance of former Ages to Churchmen, yet it was very moderate in regard of the following times: Next, they obtained great Lands and Revenues from Prince and People, for other Presbyters and Ministers, who formerly had been very little burdensome to the people; for by their own industry and work of their hands, did provide for themselves, necessaries for the most part; by this means, the Prelates tie the other Presbyters and Ministers to them, and secondarily bring in, by little and little, idleness, and slackness in discharging their calling, from whence are risen all the evils we have seen since in the Church.

These new Bishop-Prelats, having pretty well setled their own condition for maintenance, which although it did exceed much the allowance of former Ages to Churchmen, yet it was very moderate in regard of the following times: Next, they obtained great Lands and Revenues from Prince and People, for other Presbyters and Ministers, who formerly had been very little burdensome to the people; for by their own industry and work of their hands, did provide for themselves, necessaries for the most part; by this means, the Prelats tie the other Presbyters and Ministers to them, and secondarily bring in, by little and little, idlenesse, and slacknesse in discharging their calling, from whence are risen all the evills we have seen since in the Church.

After the beginning of the fifth Age, to wit, 521. years, in this Island began (the old Saturnalia of Rome, which was first kept in honour of Saturn; but by the Successors of Julius Caesar, it was ordained to be kept, to the memory of him, and was called Julia) to be celebrated unto the honour of Christs Birth, in the later end of December. The occasion was this, Arthur that renowned Prince wintering at York (whereof, he newly had made himself Master) with his Nobles, bethought himself with them, to pass some days in the dead of winter in good cheer and mirth, which was done forth with, as it is given out for devotion to Christ, although, that then true Devotion was very little regarded; for as these men did exceed the Romans during this Feast in Riot and Licentiousness; So they continued the Feast double the time that the Ethnic Romans were wont to kept it; for the Romans kept it only five days, but these kept it ten days with their new devotion; yea, those of the richer sort in time following have kept it fifteen days. Thus was the beginning of the profane idleness and riot of Christmas, now kept twelve days with foolish excess and riot. As these Christmas keepers did mistake the way of honouring Christs Birth, by this kind of solemnity; so did they mistake the time of his Birth; for the most exact Chronologers tells us, that Christ was born in October, and not in December.