History of the Catholic Church of Scotland; From the Introduction of Christianity to the Present Day Volume 3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 edition. Excerpt: ... DECAY OF FAITH AND MORALS. 65 venture to wear the ecclesiastical dress. Gouda-causes of the decay of the old religion. mis attributes the success of the new doctrines oftheoia in great measure to the abuses in presenting to benefices, together with the ignorance and low morality of the clergy; and he urges, as the only hope for the revival of Catholicism, the education of a new and better generation of priests, and the presence of a Catholic regent sufficiently powerful to protect the Catholic cause.1 The interesting narrative which we have been considering may justly inspire us with regret that no similar account of the condition of the Scottish Catholics at this time has been left to us by one of their own number. Such an account would, it cannot be doubted, contribute greatly to remove the prejudices which have hitherto so widely prevailed, not only against Queen Mary, but also against the episcopate of the ancient Church. i Stimmen aus Maria Laach, pp. 96-99. Forbes-Leith, Narratives, loc. cit. VOL. III. E CHAPTER II. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN SCOTLAND UNTIL THE DEPOSITION OP QUEEN MARY (1562-1567). Hunt1y Prominent in wealth and influence among the rival re-Scottish nobility had been for many years the ligious " . parties. illustrious house of Huntly, whose chief at this time was George, the fourth Earl, and Chancellor of the kingdom under Mary Stuart. This powerful noble, who ruled the districts lying beyond the river Dee with almost kingly sway, had, as we have seen, played a somewhat dubious part in the long and bitter contest between the Congregation and the queen-regent, and had in consequence-lost to some extent the confidence of Protestants and Catholics alike. Whilst he alienated the former by his refusal openly to espouse the...