按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a discovery of his concealed wealth。 But； in fact； an instance
of similar barbarity is to be found nearer home； and occurs
in the annals of Queen Mary's time； containing so many
other examples of atrocity。 Every reader must recollect； that
after the fall of the Catholic Church； and the Presbyterian
Church Government had been established by law； the rank； and
especially the wealth； of the Bishops； Abbots； Priors； and so
forth； were no longer vested in ecclesiastics； but in lay impropriators
of the church revenues； or； as the Scottish lawyers called
them； titulars of the temporalities of the benefice； though
having no claim to the spiritual character of their predecessors
in office。
Of these laymen； who were thus invested with ecclesiastical
revenues； some were men of high birth and rank； like the famous
Lord James Stewart； the Prior of St Andrews； who did
not fail to keep for their own use the rents； lands； and revenues
of the church。 But if； on the other hand； the titulars were men
of inferior importance； who had been inducted into the office
by the interest of some powerful person； it was generally understood
that the new Abbot should grant for his patron's benefit
such leases and conveyances of the church lands and tithes as
might afford their protector the lion's share of the booty。 This
was the origin of those who were wittily termed Tulchan*
* A _Tulchan_ is a calfs skin stuffed； and placed before a cow who has
* lost its calf； to induce the animal to part with her milk。 The resemblance
* between such a Tulchan and a Bishop named to transmit the temporalities
* of a benefice to some powerful patron； is easily understood。
Bishops； being a sort of imaginary prelate； whose image was set
up to enable his patron and principal to plunder the benefice
under his name。
There were other cases； however； in which men who had got
grants of these secularised benefices； were desirous of retaining
them for their own use； without having the influence sufficient
to establish their purpose ； and these became frequently unable
to protect themselves； however unwilling to submit to the exactions
of the feudal tyrant of the district。
Bannatyne； secretary to John Knox； recounts a singular
course of oppression practised on one of those titulars abbots； by
the Earl of Cassilis in Ayrshire； whose extent of feudal influence
was so wide that he was usually termed the King of Carrick。
We give the fact as it occurs in Bannatyne's Journal； only premising
that the Journalist held his master's opinions； both with
respect to the Earl of Cassilis as an opposer of the king's party；
and as being a detester of the practice of granting church revenues
to titulars； instead of their being devoted to pious uses；
such as the support of the clergy； expense of schools； and the relief
of the national poor。 He mingles in the narrative； therefore；
a well deserved feeling of execration against the tyrant who employed
the torture； which a tone of ridicule towards the patient；
as if； after all； it had not been ill bestowed on such an equivocal
and amphibious character as a titular abbot。 He entitles his
narrative；
The Earl Of Cassilis' Tyranny against a quick （_i。e。_
living） man。
‘‘Master Allan Stewart； friend to Captain James Stewart of
Cardonall； by means of the Queen's corrupted court； obtained
the Abbey of Crossraguel。 The said Earl thinking himself
greater than any king in those quarters； determined to have that
whole benefice （as he hath divers others） to pay at his pleasure ；
and because he could not find sic security as his insatiable appetite
required； this shift was devised。 The said Mr Allan being
in company with the Laird of Bargany； （also a Kennedy；） was；
by the Earl and his friends； enticed to leave the safeguard which
he had with the Laird； and come to make good cheer with the
said Earl。 The simplicity of the imprudent man was suddenly
abused； and so he passed his time with them certain days； which
he did in Maybole with Thomas Kennedie； uncle to the said Earl：
after which the said Mr Allan passed； with quiet company； to
visit the place and bounds of Crossraguel； ＇his abbacy；＇ of which
the said Earl being surely advertised； determined to put in practice
the tyranny which long before he had conceaved。 And so；
as king of the country； apprehended the said Mr Allan； and
carried him to the house of Denure； where for a season he was
honourably treated； （gif a prisoner can think any entertainment
pleasing；） but after that certain days were spent； and that the
Earl could not obtain the feus of Crossraguel according to his
awin appetite； he determined to prove gif a collation could work
that which neither dinner nor supper could do for a long time。
And so tho said Mr Allan was carried to a secret chamber：
with him passed the honourable Earl； his worshipful brother；
and such as were appointed to be servants at that banquet。 In
the chamber there was a grit iron chimlay； under it a fire；
other grit provision was not seen。 The first course was；…‘My
Lord Abbot；' （said the Earl；） ‘it will please you confess here；
that with your own consent you remain in my company； because
ye durst not commit yourself to the hands of others。' The
Abbot answered； ‘Would you； my lord； that I should make a
manifest lie for your pleasure ？ The truth is； my lord； it is against
my will that I am here； neither yet have I any pleasure in your
company。' ‘But ye shall remain with me； nevertheless； at this
time；' said the Earl。 ‘l am not able to resist your will and pleasure；'
said the Abbot； 'in this place。' ‘Ye must then obey me；'
said the Earl；…and with that were presented unto him certain
letters to subscribe； amongst which there was a five years' tack；
and a nineteen years' tack； and a charter of feu of all the lands
（of Crossraguel； with all the clauses necessary for the Earl to
haste him to hell。 For gif adultery； sacrilege； oppression； barbarous
cruelty； and theft heaped upon theft； deserve hell； the
great King of Carrick can no more escape hell for ever； than
the imprudent Abbot escaped the fire for a season as follows。
‘‘After that the Earl spied repugnance； and saw that he could
not come to his purpose by fair means； he commanded his cooks
to prepare the banquet： and so first they flayed the sheep； that
is； they took off the Abbot's cloathes even to his skin； and next
they bound him to the chimney…his legs to the one end； and his
arms to the other； and so they began to beet ＇_i。e。_ feed＇ the fire
sometimes to his buttocks； sometimes to his legs； sometimes to
his shoulders and arms； and that the roast might not burn； but
that it might rest in soppe； they spared not flambing with oil；
（basting as a cook bastes roasted meat）； Lord； look thou to sic
cruelty！ And that the crying of the miserable man should not
be heard； they dosed his mouth that the voice might be stopped。
It may be suspected