Protestantism in Scotland - James Aitken Wylie

strides. The people were deserting the mass; little
companies of Protestants were forming in all the
leading towns, the Scriptures were being
interpreted, and the Lord's Supper dispensed
according to the primitive order; many of the
nobles were sheltering Protestant preachers in their
castles. It was clear that Scotland was going the
same road as Wittemberg and Geneva had gone;
and it was equally clear that the champions of the
Papacy must strike at once and with decision, or
surrender the battle.
But what specially emboldened the hierarchy at
this hour was the fact that the queen regent had
openly come over to their side. A daughter of the
House of Lorraine, she had always been with them
at heart, but her ambition being to secure the
crown-matrimonial of Scotland for her son-in-law,
Francis II, she had poised herself, with almost the
skill of a Catherine de Medici, between the bishops
and the lords of the Congregation. She needed the
support of both to carry her political objects. In
October, 1558, the Parliament met; and the queen
regent, with the assistance of the Protestants,
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