Protestantism in Scotland - James Aitken Wylie

disliked, the longer they knew it, the prelacy which
was being thrust upon them. But the wishes of the
people, one way or other, counted for little with the
king. His Grace of Canterbury was bidden try his
hand at framing canons for the government of the
Scottish Church, and a Liturgy for her worship.
The primate, nothing loth, addressed himself to
the congenial task. The Book of Canons was the
first. fruits of his labors. Its key-note was the
unlimited power and supremacy of the king. It laid
the ax at the root of liberty, both in Church and
State. Next came the Liturgy, of which every
minister was enjoined to provide himself with four
copies for the use of his church on pain of
deprivation. When the Liturgy was examined it
was found to be alarmingly near to the Popish
breviary, and in some points, particularly the
Communion Service, it borrowed the very words of
the Mass Book.[1] The 23rd of July, 1637, was
fixed on for beginning the use of the new Service
Book.
As the day approached it began to be seen that
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