Edinburgh: Painted by John Fulleylove; described by Rosaline Masson — John Shaqi
Edinburgh: Painted by John Fulleylove; described by Rosaline MassonMasson, Rosaline
History
Edinburgh: Painted by John Fulleylove; described by Rosaline Masson
Masson, Rosaline
Edinburgh (Scotland) -- Description and travel
“Since the days of John Knox,” says Professor Hume Brown in his _History
of Scotland_, “the citizens of Edinburgh had been noted for their
stubborn adhesion to Presbyterian doctrine and polity. With no other
section of his subjects had James VI. found greater difficulty in
enforcing the Articles of Perth. In 1584, Bishop Adamson, as the
representative of Episcopacy, had been violently interrupted while
conducting service in the church of St. Giles. If, therefore, Edinburgh
should patiently endure the new Liturgy,[27] its example could not fail
to have a good effect on the rest of the country. It was in the same
church of St. Giles that the experiment with the new Service-Book was
now made; and, unluckily for its promoters, Edinburgh even surpassed its
evil record. Every precaution was taken to ensure the decorous behaviour
of the congregation. The two archbishops with several of their
suffragans, the Lords of Privy Council, and the Lords of Session, were
present to give solemnity to the occasion. No sooner, however, had the
dean opened the new Liturgy than the tumult began. There arose ‘such an
uncouth noise and hubbub in the Church that not any one could either
hear or be heard. The gentlewomen did fall a tearing and crying that the
Masse was entered among them and Baal in the Church. There was a
gentleman who standing behind a pew and answering Amen to what the dean
was reading, a she zealot hearing him starts up in choler, “Traitor
(says she), dost thou say Mass at my ear,” and with that struck him on
the face with her bible in great indignation and fury.’[28] It was in
vain that Archbishop Spottiswoode endeavoured to allay the tumult, and
the service closed amid uproar and confusion--the bishop being pursued
to his residence with volleys of stones and imprecations. Such was the
discouraging reception of Laud’s Service-Book in the leading church of
Scotland.”[29]
And during this uproar tradition avers that a “kail-wife,” when the
collect was given out, hurled her stool at the Dean, crying, “Deil colic
the wame o’ ye!”
It is all very well to cast doubt on whether Jenny Geddes existed in
mortal life: none can doubt her claim to immortality. If tangible proof
be demanded,--is not the very stool she aimed at the Dean to be seen in
the Scottish Antiquarian Museum to this day?
It is difficult now for a stranger to understand fully the very strong
antagonism between the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians.
’Piscy, ’Piscy, Amen!
Doon on yer knees and up agen!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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