Chapter XVII

_History of Protestantism in Scotland,
and the Conflict of the Clergy with the Crown._

⭘ State of Parties――Moray’s Interview with the Queen――He assumed
the Government, and endeavoured to restore order――Ratification
of the Acts establishing the Reformation――Meeting of the General
Assembly――The Regent’s Difficulties

⭘ Mary’s Escape from Prison――An Army rallied round her; Battle of
Langside; Flight of Mary to England

⭘ The Regent struggled to maintain order――The Preachers petitioned
him to punish vice and suppress the Catholics. During Moray’s
absence in England his enemies multiplied, when he returned the
struggle was desperate――The Regent shot, his Character

⭘ The Factions of the King and Queen distracted the Kingdom
――Earl of Lennox elected Regent――Efforts of the Reformed
Clergy――Execution of Archbishop Hamilton――Both Parties issued
proclamations and held Parliaments――The Regent slain――Earl of
Mar elected Regent

⭘ The Earl of Morton elected Regent――The Queen’s party reduced
――The Castle of Edinburgh surrendered, and the Governor tried
and executed――Death of Lethington, his Character

⭘ Polity of the Reformed Church――Leith Concordat touching titles
and orders of the Clergy, and Disposal of the patrimony of the
Church; opposed by the General Assembly

⭘ Knox resumed Preaching in Edinburgh――He denounced the Authors of
the Massacre of St. Bartholomew――Knox’s last Public Sermon; his
Death, his Work, and Character

⭘ Efforts of the Ministers to improve the Organisation of the
Church; difficulties of Reconstruction――The Struggle between the
Clergy and Crown was founded upon Theocratic Ideas

⭘ Morton’s Policy――The Bishops subjected to the Discipline of
the General Assembly――Discussion of Episcopacy in the General
Assemblies――A Form of Polity to be drawn up――Episcopacy abolished

⭘ An Address to the King

⭘ Second Book of Discipline contrasted with the First――This
Treatise presented the definite Polity of Presbyterianism

⭘ Difficulty of carrying this Polity into effect――Scarcity
of qualified Ministers; the Reformed Doctrines only partly
introduced into the Highlands

⭘ Morton’s enemies pursuing him――New Court favourites――The Negative
Confession――Trial and Execution of Morton

⭘ The King’s Favourites Supreme――A Plot against them――Attempt to
revive Episcopacy――The Preachers attacked the Favourites and the
Court――The Plot matured; the King and the Earl of Arran taken
Prisoners

⭘ The dominant party held a Parliament, and passed a Vote of
thanks to themselves; the Clergy also approved of the Enterprise
――Attitude of the Preachers toward the French Ambassadors

⭘ Escape of the King――Return of Arran――A new Plot――Capture of the
Earl of Gowrie――Arran Supreme

⭘ Andrew Melville――Conflict between the Clergy and the Crown――A
Scheme of Episcopacy――A series of Acts passed――Flight of a number
of Preachers――Entire submission of the Clergy to the Required
Conditions

⭘ Peculiarities of the History of Scotland――Lord Maxwell and
the banished Lords surprise the King――Return of the Preachers
――Conceit of the King――Violent Language of the Clergy――Meeting
of the General Assembly――French Protestant ministers

⭘ Execution of Queen Mary

⭘ Act of Annexation of Church lands――Defensive Preparations against
the Armada――Revolt of the Roman Catholic lords――Vehement Speeches
――Position of the King――Establishment of the Presbyterian Polity