Blair Collection > Book of Common Order, commonly called John Knox's Liturgy

xviii Notices of Bishop Carswell.
' reasonable I was in my ansuer to him, I wonder that
' he reportit nocht the samin to zow. Bot becaus I
' am vtherwayis occupyit, I vill nocht impesche zow
' with vrittingis to contene the haill mater thairin, bot
' vilbe weill content, owther to continew, or ellis to
' forgif the haill mater. Howbeit, I can nocht forgif to
' do my sobir diligens in furderance of the Kirk : For
' this standis the mater in this cuntrie ; gif we craif our
' stipendis, and remitt tham nocht at thair plesouris,
' than our preching is unprofitable ; and gif we remitt
' tham, than the travell can nocht be sustenit, for fait
' of sustentatioun of the travellaris ; and of sum our
' travell nocht the better allcwit, altho we became
' beggaris.'
On the 24th March 1566, Carswell was formally pre-
sented by Queen Mary to the Bishopric of the Isles and
to the Abbey of Icolmkill. The words of the presentation
are as follows : — ' Per presentes facimus, constituimus, et
' creamus dictum magistrum Joannem, episcopum dicti
' episcopatus insularum, et abbatem dicta? abbatire de
' Ycolumkill, — simili modo, et adeo libere in omnibus re-
' spectibus, causis, et conditionibus, ac si dictus magister
' Joannes ad dictum episcopatum et abbaciam in curia
' Romana provideretur.' 1 ' By these presents we make,
' constitute, and create the said Master John, Bishop oi
' the said diocese of the Isles, and Abbot of the said Abbej
' of Icolmkill, — in the same manner, and as freely in
' all respects, causes, and conditions, as if the said
' Master John had been preferred to the said diocese
1 Keith's Bishops.