Spottiswoode Society > History of the affairs of the Church and State of Scotland from the beginning of the reformation to the year 1568 > Volume 1

00 THE HISTORY OF THE AFFAIRS [1542.
as said is, nor shall be accused therefor in time coming ;
and that no persons dispute, argue, or hold opinions of the
same, under the said pains contained in the foresaid Acts of
Parliament. 1
It seems this draught of an Act, for having and reading
the Holy Scriptures in the vulgar language, had not been
so privately concerted but that the clergy had got notice
of the design ; and, therefore, immediately after reading
of it, the Archbishop of Glasgow, then Chancellor of the
kingdom, offered to the Parliament these following reasons
why the Act should not be passed into a law at that time,
viz. —
" The which day, a most reverend Father in God, Gavin
Archbishop of Glasgow, Chancellor, for himself, and in name
and behalf of all the Prelates of this realm, being present in
Parliament, shows that there was an Act instantly read in
face of Parliament, that the Holy Writ may be used in our
vulgar tongue, and that no crime should follow thereupon
through the using thereof ; and alleged in the said Act that
the three Estates concluded the same ; which he, for him-
self, and the remanent of the Prelates, being present, as one
of the three Estates of the said Parliament, dissented thereto
simpUciter, but opposed themselves thereto, unto the time
that a Provincial Council might be had of all the clergy of
this realm, to advise and conclude thereupon, if the same be
necessary to be had in vulgar tongue, to be used among the
Queen's lieges, or not ; and thereafter to show the utter de-
termination that shall be done in that behalf ; and thereupon
asked instruments." 2
But notwithstanding this protestation, the Lord Max-
well's bill was certainly enacted, seeing that, within two days
after the Parliament had risen, the Governor, who found
himself best supported by the adversaries of the established
religion, thought fit to cause issue out a proclamation for
notification to all the lieges of the Act concerning the Holy
Scriptures. Here follows the order for the proclamation : —
1 [Acta Pari. Scot, folio, vol. ii. p. 415.— E.] 2 [Ibid.— E.]