The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

Impiety, Ignorance and Wickedness came to such height ⟨image 40⟩among the Church-men of all ranks, degrees and professions, that God being, after so long patience, in a manner vexed with them, did stir up the people to chase them from the service of his House, and to put others in their places, as you will see in this following History, whereunto I refer you. And I shall close up this discourse with one or two passages, worthy to be known; whereby you may see the learning of the Church-Doctors in those days, and how they did employ the knowledge they had to abuse the poor people. The first Passage is this: One Richard Marshall Prior of the Blackfriars at Newcastle in England, preached in Saint Andrews, That the Pater-noster should be said to God only, and not to the Saints: The Doctors of Saint Andrews offended at it, made a Grey friar, called Tottis, preach against Marshall his Tenet; which he did thus, (taking his Text out of the fifth of Saint Matthew, Blessed are the poor in spirit) Seeing we say, Good day, Father, to any old man in the Street, we may call a Saint, Pater, who is older then any alive; And seeing they are in Heaven, we may say to any of them, Our Father which art in heaven: And seeing they are holy, we may say to any of them, Hallowed be thy name: And since they are in the Kingdom of Heaven, we may say, Thy kingdom come: And seeing their will is Gods Will, we may say to any of them, Thy will be done. But when the Grey Fryer preaching came to the fourth Petition, Give us this day our daily bread, he was hissed at, and so was constrained not only to leave off Preaching, but also to leave the City for shame. Yet among the Doctors then assembled, the Dispute continued about the Pater; for some would have it said to God formaliter, and to the Saints materialiter; others, to God principaliter, to the Saints minus principaliter; others, primariò to God, secundariò to the Saints; others would have it said to God taking it strictè, and to the Saints taking it latè: Notwithstanding all these Distinctions, the Doctors could not agree upon the business. A fellow, called Tom, servant to the Sub-Prior of Saint Andrews, one day perceiving his Master much troubled with some business, and as he conceived weighty, said to him, Sir, what ⟨image 41⟩is the matter of this your trouble? The Master answered, We cannot agree about the saying of the Pater.

Impietie, Ignorance and Wickednesse came to such height