Chapter XIX: Dissolution of the Monastery, 1547-1571
Silence was therefore the only policy that was safe. [11] When he saw how complete was the destruction of the old ecclesiastical system proposed by the reformers, he ventured to remonstrate. He had endeavoured in his own way to reform the Church, and was by no means insensible to its faults ; but the utter destruction of the ecclesiastical polity filled him with horror. He actually condescended to send a friendly message to John Knox himself on the subject. His messenger was John Brand, a monk of Holyrood, who afterwards became minister of the Canongate of Edinburgh. “He willed him to say” to the Reformer, “that albeit he had innovated many things, and made a reformation in the doctrine of the Church, whereof he could not deny but there was some reason, yet he would do wisely to retain the old polity which had been the work of ages, or then put a better in place thereof before he did shake off the other. Our Hielandmen,” he said, “have a custom when they break young colts to fasten them by the head with two strong tethers, one of which they keep ever fast till the beast be thoroughly made. The multitude, the beast with many heads, should just be so dealt with. Maister Knox, I know, esteemeth me an enemy, but tell him from me he shall find it true that I speak.” [12]
The time for compromises was past, and nothing but extreme measures were likely to prevail. The Archbishop had his livings taken from him by a decree of Parliament. [13] His Cathedral of St. Andrews was sacked, [14] and, finding things too hot for him in the east, he retreated to the Abbey of Paisley for refuge. Here he was surrounded by staunch friends, who adhered to the old religion, and to whom his presence was welcome. His enemies soon followed him to his retirement, and he had to fly for his life. The final overthrow of the Monastery is thus chronicled by John Knox, and having followed its fortunes through so many vicissitudes, we may be pardoned if we cannot read of its fate without a pang of sorrow:—“The Lords of the Secret Council made an act that all places and monuments of idolatry should be destroyed, and for that purpose were directed to the west, the Earl of Arran having joined with him the Earl of Glencairne, together with the Protestants of the west who burnt Paisley. The Bishop of St. Andrews, who was Abbot thereof, narrowly escaped.” [15] This account of the final overthrow of the Abbey, from the pen of the great Reformer, is the only one that has come down to us. Crosraguel was destroyed at the same time.
The people of Paisley still continued firm: in their adherence to the old faith, and their Abbot was soon back among them again. John Knox preached in the neighbourhood, but there is no trace of his ever coming to Paisley. In the same year that Paisley and its cell of Crosraguel were overthrown, he disputed with the able and learned Quintin Kenedy, [16] Abbot of the latter house, but he never confronted the Superior of the Mother Abbey. Bold preachers of the new doctrine came to Paisley, but they met with a poor reception. They were refused admission to the church ; and the General Assembly denounces those who “steyked” the doors against them “when they presented themselves to have preached the Word,” and demanded their punishment. [17] The Archbishop himself was the great offender. He treated the denunciations of Parliament against those who said mass with contempt, [18] and at last he was summoned before the Supreme Court to answer for his offences. He appeared accordingly before the Court of Session, under the presidency of Argyll, the Justice-General, on 21st March, 1563, accompanied by a number of priests, probably monks of the Abbey who still lingered around their ruined Convent.
[11] Throckmorton (quoted by Burton) says that when the Confession was proposed for ratification, “the Bishop of St. Andrews said it was a matter that he had not been accustomed with, and had no sufficient time to consider or confer with his friends, howbeit, as he would not utterly condemn it, so was he loath to give his consent thereunto.” According to Keith, the Duke of Chatlerhault had threatened the Archbishop with death if he dared to exert himself against it.—Pp. 150, 487.
[12] Spottiswood, Vol. II., pp. 372.
[13] Tytler, p. 132, Vol. II.
[14] June 11th, 1561.
[15] 1561. Knox's History, Wodrow Soc. Vol. I., p. 238.
[16] A full account of his dispute is given in the Wodrow Society's publications. The discussion took place at Maybole, 28th September, 1561.
[17] Book of the Universal Kirke, Vol. I., p. 53.—Bannatyne Edition.
[18] “The Bishop of St. Andrews and Abbot of Crosraguel kept secret convention that same tyme in Paislay, to whom resorted diverse Papists.”—John Knox, Vol. I., p. 87.