The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

In the tenth Age things grew worse and worse, The Church-men did so blind the King Constantine the third, That they persuaded him to quit the Royal Crown, and take the Clerical Tonsure of a Monk, which he did at Saint Andrews; There were some Priests in these days, who did strive to have liberty to take lawful Wives, but in vain. A little thereafter, there were new disputes for Priests marriage; one Bernet a Scots Bishop, stood much for that cause in a national Council. In this Age, although that avarice and ambition, had corrupted, and perverted Religion generally, yet there were constantly some godly men, who albeit they could not openly stop and oppose the torrent of these times, given to Idolatry and Superstition, did instruct and teach the people, That Christ was the only propitiation for sin, and that Christs blood only did wash us from the guilt of sin.

In the tenth Age things grew worse and worse, The Church-men did so blinde the King Constantine the third, That they perswaded him to quit the Royall Crown, and take the Clericall Tonsure of a Monk, which he did at Saint Andrews; There were some Priests in these dayes, who did strive to have liberty to take lawfull Wives, but in vain. A little thereafter, there were new disputes for Priests marriage; one Bernet a Scots Bishop, stood much for that cause in a nationall Councell. In this Age, although that avarice and ambition, had corrupted, and perverted Religion generally, yet there were constantly some godly men, who albeit they could not openly stop and oppose the torrent of these times, given to Idolatry and Superstition, did instruct and teach the people, That Christ was the onely propitiation for sin, and that Christs blood onely did wash us from the guilt of sin.

In the eleventh Age, Malcolm gave away a part of the Crown Lands among his Nobles, for their good service against the Danes; the Nobles in recompense thereof, did grant unto the Crown the ward of these Lands, with the benefit that was to arise by the marriage of the Heir. Until the later part of this Age, the Bishops of Scotland, although they had raised their Order unto a great power and riches, yet they were not distinguished in Dioceses, so till then indifferently, wheresoever they came, they did Ministrate their Function, without lording over one particular