A man with whom we have already made acquaintance was now for eight years to play a prominent part in Scotland, and to contend energetically against the Reformation. This was David Beatoun, one of the members of the Fifeshire family, and nephew of archbishop James. He belonged to the class of minds which take their place with enthusiasm under an absolute government, and become its most formidable instruments. Thoroughly at home and highly esteemed at the court of France, it was he who had conducted the negotiations for the king’s marriage, first with Madeleine of Valois, afterwards with Mary of Lorraine. But his intent was to devote his life to a union more sublime--that of Scotland and the papacy. Animated with hearty sympathy for Gregory VII., Boniface VIII., and Innocent III., he believed, as they did, that Rome, formerly mistress of the pagan world, should now be mistress of the Christian world. In his eyes all authority emanated from her, and he was resolved to consecrate to her his life, his energies, and everything that he possessed. As he meant to fight with carnal weapons, he must attain some dignity which would invest him with authority to make use of them. He speedily attained his end. Paul III., alarmed at seeing the separation of England from Rome, and fearing lest Scotland, as she had a nephew of Henry VIII. for her king, should follow her example, was anxious to have in that country one man who would be absolutely devoted to him. David Beatoun offered himself. The pope created him cardinal in December 1538, and thenceforth the _red_, a color thoroughly congenial with him, became his own, and as it were his symbol. Not that he was by any means a religious fanatic; he was versed neither in theology nor in moral philosophy. He was a hierarchical fanatic. Two points above all were offensive to him in evangelical Christians: one that they were not submissive to the pope; the other, that they censured immorality in the clergy, for his own licentiousness drew on himself similar rebukes. He aimed at being in Scotland a kind of Wolsey, only with more violence and bloodshed. The one thing of moment in his eyes was that everything in church and state should bend under a twofold despotism. Endowed with large intelligence, consummate ability, and indomitable energy, he had all the qualities needed to insure success in the aim on which his mind was perpetually bent without ever being diverted from it. Passionately eager for his projects, he was insensible to the ills which must result from them. One matter alone preoccupied him: the destruction of all liberty. The papacy divined his character, and created him cardinal.