The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

In the eighth Age, the poor people were so blindly enslaved and intoxicate with the Cup of Rome, that they thought it a truly holy Martyrdom to suffer for the interest of Rome; yet, although most men had left God, to worship the Beast, in these days God raised up sundry great Lights in our Church, as Alcuin, Rabanus Maurus his Disciple, John Scot, and Claudius Clemens. In this we shall remark the constant goodness of God towards his people, ⟨image 29⟩who made his Light shine in some measure through the greatest and thickest darkness, by raising up these men, who did bear witness to the Truth, both by word and writing; so that God did not altogether leave off his people. The Bishop of Rome caused to declare Alcuin (for his Book of the Eucharist) many years after his death an Heretic. So Rome persecutes the Saints of God, even after their death.

In the eighth Age, the poor people were so blindly inslaved and intoxicat with the Cup of Rome, that they thought it a truely holy Martyrdome to suffer for the interest of Rome; yet, although most men had left God, to worship the Beast, in these dayes God raised up sundry great Lights in our Church, as Alcuin, Rabanus Maurus his Disciple, Iohn Scot, and Claudius Clemens. In this we shall remarke the constant goodnesse of God towards his people, ⟨image 29⟩who made his Light shine in some measure thorow the greatest and thickest darknesse, by raising up these men, who did bear witnesse to the Truth, both by word and writing; so that God did not altogether leave off his people. The Bishop of Rome caused to declare Alcuin (for his Book of the Eucharist) many yeers after his death an Heretike. So Rome persecutes the Saints of God, even after their death.

In the ninth Age, both Prince and People, by doleful experience, did find the idleness, pride, ambition, avarice and riot of Church-men, occasioned by the indulgence of Prince and People; wherefore, at Scone under King Constantine the second, there was had a convention of States for reforming the disorders in the Church. In this Assembly it was ordained, That Church-men should reside upon their charge; have no meddling with secular affairs; that they should instruct the people diligently, and be good examples in their conversations; that they should not keep Hawks, Hounds, and Horses, for their pleasure; that they should carry no Weapons, nor be pleaders of civill Causes, but live contented with their own provisions: in case of failing in the observance of these points; For the 1, time, they were to pay a pecuniary mulct or fine; for the 2, they were to be deprived from Officio and Beneficio. Thus you see, in these most blind and confused times, That resolute Princes and People did oppose manifestly the Popes omnipotency, and highest Sovereignty. In the later part of the same Age, King Gregory was most indulgent to Church-men; he was so far from curbing and keeping them under, that he granted them many things they had not had before. Then in a convention of States holden at Forsane, it was ordained, That all Church-men should be free of paying Taxes and Impost; from keeping watch, and going to warfare. Item, They should be exempt from all Temporal judicature. Item, All Matrimonial Causes were given over to be judgement of Church-men; as also Testaments, Legative Actions, and all things depending upon simple faith and promise. Likewise, the right of Tithes, with liberty to make Laws,