The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

but albeit this Prince did much for the regaining the absolute Authority to the Crown again, in chasing away the Romish Pontiff, yet, he did it not fully, in so far as he kept still the Romish Rites, and the Hierarchy, ⟨image 35⟩or Prelacy, wherein the Romish Fox lurking, hath kept himself in these Countries unto this day; and now having acted the Fox long enough, he is acting the Woolf by destroying the people of God; if the Successors of King Henry had not kept in the Romish Superstitious Rites and Hierarchy, they, and we all had had better times, then we have all tasted of. Although King Henry for his Vices, be blame worthy to all posterity, yet I must say, in all humane appearance, That if the Prelate-Bishops, to whom he trusted the reforming of the abuses of the Church, had been as forward, as he was willing, there had been a better Reformation then was in his time, witness this instance, The People desired freedom to read the Scripture, the then Bishops refused this unto the People. Whereupon the King was petitioned in the name of the People, the King grants their Petition; the Bishops hearing of the Kings grant, thus limit it, not daring to deny it flatly, That all Gentlemen should have liberty to read the Scripture, since it was the Kings pleasure; but for others, the permission was stopped: As if Yeomen and Tradesmen, had not as much interest in Gods Word, as Gentlemen. Then remark all those that were put to death for the testimony of the Truth in Henry the eighth his days, were persecuted by the Bishops of the time, although the blame lieth upon the Prince; for albeit they had in compliance to the King renounced the Pope by word of mouth, yet in effect they kept up his tyranny, by his doctrine (with small alteration changed) his Rites and Ceremonies, Canons and Laws, Prelacy or Hierarchy maintained: And seeing the King so opposite to the Pope, they condescended that the King should bear the blasphemous Title of the Pope, Head of the Church, although with reluctancy: and so it proved; for notwithstanding all the Statutes that were made in favour of this Title taken from the Pope, and attributed to the King, the Bishops with cunning and subtle proceedings, kept a foot the power of the Pope; and so soon as they saw the occasion of Queen Mary her Reign, they freely and easily brought all back again to Rome, without Mask or Limitation:

but albeit this Prince did much for the regaining the absolute Authority to the Crown again, in chasing away the Romish Pontiff, yet, he did it not fully, in so farre as he kept still the Romish Rites, and the Hierarchy,