January 17, 1913.
The Reformation. A trouble of the kirk in the Mearns.
It may be doubted whether the greatness of the work of the Reformers and
the Presbyterian kirk in its early years are adequately realised or
appreciated. The Papists had first of all to be contended with, churches
supplied, stipends secured, and then the King and Bishops in the attempt
to set up Episcopacy.
In 1560 Papacy was abolished, and the Reformers held the first General
Assembly on the 20th December of that year, at which the Laird of
Tullyvaird and Fethercairne was present as Commissioner for the Kirks of
the Mearns.
The Assembly even at the first meeting took up the question of dealing
with the Papists, and a watchful eye was kept on them and those who
frequented their company. The language used regarding them and their
faith is always vigorous, and at times strongly picturesque.
In 1538 the Assembly presented an “humblo suto” to the King craving that
the Lairds of . . . '. Glenbervie younger, and others ex-conununicat
Papists should be called before tho King and Council, and such things
laid to their charge as they were guilty of, that the penalties might be
execute against them. In the “Grieves of the Kirk” presented at the same
time it is complained that Jesuits are suffered to pollute the land with
idolatry, and that they and traffickers against the true religion and
also their maintainers had special credit and favor at Court and
Session. A number are mentioned by name who repaired commonly, with
others named, to Young Glenbervie, excommunicat, “Where they have their
house Mass at pleasure.” It was farther complained that ”William
Douglass, sonne to the Laird of Glenbervie, has caused unbeset at
syndrie tymes Mr George Gladstanes and Andrew Myllne, with armit men at
their house, and lying in wait for them about their houses, and were it
not tho relief of God and good men had taken their lyves.” Mr Gladstanes
was minister of St Cyrus and Mr Myllne of Fetteresso.
This Mr William Douglas, “Young Glcnbervie,” became Earl of Angus on the
death of his father in 1591, and was one of the conspirators who invited
the King of Spain to invade Scotland, which they undertook to deliver up
to him. Angus was imprisoned in the Castle of Edinburgh, but escaped.
Row, the kirk historian, says there was but verio small pains taken to
search out the fearful dangers might possiblie and probablie ensue upon
this horrible unpanalelled treason, and far less any civil punishment
inflicted; but the Kirk of God did their part for they found them to be
Appostats, blasphemous enemies to God's glory, and unnatural traitors to
the King and all the professors of God’s blessed word. The leaders
(including Angus) were excommunicated and delivered over to Satan by the
Synod of Fife at St Andrews, September, 1593, presided over by the
redoubtable James Melville. This sentence was unanimously ratified by
the General Assembly on 9th May, 1594, and all the pastors in the realm
ordered to intimate it solemnly at their Kirke. Notwithstanding Row's
statement, it appears that Graham of Fintry was executed for this
treason, and the King, with certain of his nobles, in March, 1592,
entered into a mutual bond for defence of the liberty of true religion,
the Crown, and Country, and the pursuit of the chief authors of the
Conspiracy.
On 5th March, 1597, Lady Angus petitioned the Assembly desiring that
certain of the Ministry might be appointed to confer with the Earl and
resolve his doubts. The Ministers of Angus and Mearns were so appointed,
and to confer with him anent 10 of the articles on which the Earl of
Huntly was to be tried. On 14th May the Brethren of the Mearns gave in
their report, showing that they had enjoined the Earl to remain at
Barras to attend upon the hearing of tho doctrine in the Kirk of Kinneff,
and to attend conferences at Conveth (Laurencekirk) and Aberluthnott,
which he had faithfully observed; he acknowledged tho Kirk of Scotland
to be the true Kirk, and was ready to become a member thereof, and to
participate in tho Sacraments; he solemnly promised by word and writ to
remove all Jesuits, etc. from his company and lands, and had already
done so; he desired absolution, and thereafter was ready to swear and
subscribe the confession of faith; that he would satisfy for his
apostacy in his own Parish Kirk, and there ratify said promises; that he
never meant to harm any man for obeying the laws, but if any will
complain he will grant satisfaction, albeit in very truth, as all the
country knew, he had sustained great loss “qwhilk he has the kirk to
meine”; he is content to provide stipends for his kirks as soon as
absolvit and restored to his living—will most willingly take a minister
and entertain him in his own house, and confessed he most justly
deserved to be excommunicated. The Commissioners were required to see
these promises carried out, and empowered to grant absolution and
receive him again into tho bosom of the Church. In the Assembly of 1593
the whole form of the absolution, satisfaction, and the articles were
appointed to be registered in the assembly books.
In 1601 the Assembly ordained Messrs James Law (afterwards Bishop of
Orkney and Archbishop of Glasgow) and John Spottiswood (afterwards
Archbishop of St Andrews) to await upon the Earl that he and his family
might be confirmed in the truth and the enemies debarred from their
company. In the following assembly (1602) it was reported that the Earl
did neither resort to the hearing of the word nor participate in the
Sacraments, but on the contrary entertained professed enemies to the
religion. Mr Law was appointed to await continually upon tho Earl for
another quarter of a year. James’s succession to the throne of England,
and the strong attempts to foist Bishops on the Church, caused the
meetings of the Assembly to be irregular, and no trace of a report by Mr
Law appears, but in the Assembly of July, 1608, it was testified that
there was no appearance in the Earl of conversion from his errors, but
rather by all evident tokens he was more obstinate and obdurate in
heresic of papistry which he had formerly abjured, and the Assembly
therefore ordained the sentence of excommunication to be pronounced,
conform to the censures of the Kirk with all possible diligence betwixt
then and the 18th September. The Earl went abroad, and died in devout
retirement at Paris in 1611. |
