Encyclopaedia Britannica, or, a Dictionary of arts, sciences, and miscellaneous literature : enlarged and improved. Illustrated with nearly six hundred engravings > Volume 18, RHI-SCR

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morufhing them to oppofe the reftoration of the mafs.
A fupplication was pretented to the queen, complaining
of idolaters, and intifting on their puniftiment. In the
prefent junfture of affairs it was received with unufuai
refpe&j and Mary inftru&ed the Popifh ecclefiaftics to
abltain from giving offence of any kind to the Protef-
tants. A prieft, however, having celebrated the mafs,
was taken by the brethren, and expofed to the infults
and fury of the populace at the market-place of Edin¬
burgh, in the garments of his profefffon, and with the
chalice in his hand} and the queen having given a
check to this tumultuous proceeding, the Proteftants,
rifing in their wrath, were the more confirmed in the
belief that fhe meant to overthrow their religion. The
molt learned and able of the clergy held frequent con-
fultations together; and while the nation was difturbed
with dangerous ferments, the general affembly was call¬
ed to deliberate on the affairs of the church. Their
hope of fuccefs being proportioned to the difficulties in
the Gtuation of the queen, they ware the lefs ferupulous
in forming their refolutions; and the commiffioners,
whom they deputed to her, were ordered to demand a
parliamentary ratification of their defires.
They infifled, that the mafs, with every remnant of
popery, fhould be univerfally fuppreffed throughout the
kingdom; that in this reformation, the queen’s perfon
and houfehold fhould be included; and that all Papifts
and idolaters fhould be punifhed on conviclion accord¬
ing to the laws. They contended, that perfons of every
defcription and degree fhould refort to the churches on
Sunday, to join in prayers, and to attend to exhortations
and fertnons; that an independent provifion fhould be
affigned for the fupport of the prefent clergy, and for
their fucceffors; that all vacant benefices fhould be con¬
ferred on perfons found qualified for the miniftry, on
the trial and examination of the fuperintendants; that
no bilhopric, abbey, priory, deanery, or other living,
having many churches, fhould be bellowed on a Angle
perfon; but that, the plurality of the foundation being
diffolved, each church fhould be provided with a mini-
frer; that glebes and manfes fhould be allotted for the
refidence of the minifters, and for the reparation of
churches; that no charge in fchoolsor univerfities, and
no care of education, either public or private, fhould be
intrufted to any perfon who was not able and found in
doftrine, and who was not approved by the fuperxntend-
ants; that all lands which had formerly been devoted
to hofpitality, fhould again be made fubfervient to it;
that the lands and rents which formerly belonged to
the monks of every order, with the annuities, alterages,
obits, and the other emoluments which had appertained
to priefts, fhould be employed in the maintenance of
the poor and the upholding of fchools ; that all horrible
wrimes, fuch as idolatry, blafphemy, breaking of the
fabbath, witchcraft, forcery, inchantment, adultery, ma-
nifeft whoredom, the keeping of brothels, murder, and
oppreffion, fhould be punifhed with feverity; that judges
fhould be appointed in every diftridt, with powers to
pronounce fentences and to execute them; and, in fine,
that for the eafe of the labouring hufbandmen, fome or¬
der fhould be devifed concerning a reafonable payment
of the tythes.
lo thefe requifitions, the queen made an anfwer full
of moderation and humanity. She was ready to agree
with the three eftates in eftablifhing the reformed reli-
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gion over the fubje&s of Scotland; and fhe was fleadiiy Scotland,
refolved not to hazard the life, the peace, or the fortune,
of any perfon whatever on account of his opinions. As
to herfelf and her houfehold, fhe was perfuaded that her
people would not urge her to adopt tenets in contradic¬
tion to her own conlcience, and thereby involve her in
remorfe and uneafinefs. She had been educated and
brought up in the Romifh faith; fhe conceived it to be
founded on the word of God; and fhe was defirous to
continue in it. But, felting afide her belief and religi¬
ous duty, fhe ventured to affure them, that file was con¬
vinced from political reafons, that it was her intereft to
maintain herfelf firm in the Catholic perfuafion. By de¬
parting from it, lire would forfeitthe amity of the king of
France, and that of other princes who were now ffrong-
ly attached to her; and their difaffeftion could not be
repaired or compenfated by any new alliance. To her
fubje&s fire left the fulleft liberty of conference; and
they could not furely refufe to their f’overeign the fame
right and indulgence. With regard to the patronage of
benefices, it was a prerogative and property which it
would ill become her to violate. Her neceffities, and
the charge of her royal dignity, required her to retain
in her hands the patrimony of the crown. After the
purpofes, however, of her ftation, and the exigencies of
government, were fatisfied, fhe could not object to a
fpecial aflignment of revenue for the maintenance of the
miniflry; and, on the fubjett of the other articles which
had been fubmitted to her, fhe was willing to be direft-
ed by the three eftates of the kingdom, and to concur
in the refolutions which fhould appear to them moft rea¬
fonable and expedient. ^
The clergy, in a new affembly or convention, expref- ihe '^rote-
fed great difpleafure with this return to their addrefs.ftants are
They took the liberty of informing the queen, that thedifP!eafe^
do&rines of the reformation which fhe refufed to adopt, ^'fwer^
were the religion which had been revealed by Jefus
Chrift, and taught by his apoftles. Popery was of all
perfuaf»ms the leaf! alluring, and had the feweft recom¬
mendations. In antiquity, confent of people, authority
of princes, and number of profelytes, it was plainly in¬
ferior to Judaifm. It did not even reft on a founda¬
tion fo folid as the doctrines of the Koran. They re¬
quired her, therefore, in the name of the eternal God,
to embrace the means of attaining the truth, which
were offered to her in the preaching of the word, or
by the appointment of public deputations between them
and their adverfaries. The terrors of the mafs were
placed before her in all their deformity. 1 he performer
of it, the a&ion itfelf, and the opinions expreffed in it,
were all pronounced to be equally abominable. To
hear the mafs, or to gaze on it, was to commit the
complicated crimes of facrilege, blafphemy, and idolatry.
Her delicacy in not renouncing her opinions from the
apprehenfion of offending the king of France and her
other allies, they ridiculed as impertinent in the higheft
degree. Thev told her, that rhe true religion of Chrift
was the only means by which any confederacy could en¬
dure; and that it was Par more precious than the al¬
liance of any potentate w hatever, as it would bring to
her the friendihip of the King of kings. As to patro¬
nages, being a portion of her patrimony, they intend¬
ed not to defraud her of h r eights: but it oas their
judgment, that the fiiperintendant" em 1 > to make a
trial of the qualifications of candidates for the miniftry;
and .