At the General Assembly of the Church, holden the twenty-fifth of December, the year of God 1562, great complaints were made that churches lacked ministers; that ministers lacked their stipends; that wicked men were permitted to be schoolmasters, and so to infect the youth. One, Master Robert Cumin, schoolmaster in Arbroath, was complained upon by the Laird of Dun, and sentence was pronounced against him. It was farther complained that idolatry was erected in divers parts of the realm; and some thought that new supplication for redress should be presented to the Queen's Grace. Others demanded, What answer was received on the former occasion? The Superintendent of Lothian confessed the deliverance of it. "But," said he, "I received no answer." It was answered on behalf of the Queen--for her supporters were ever there--that it was well known to the whole realm what troubles had occurred since the last Assembly; and, therefore, that they should not wonder that the Queen had not answered: but they doubted not but that order would be taken betwixt that and the Parliament which was appointed for May, and all men should have occasion to stand content. This satisfied the whole Assembly for that time. And this was the practice of the Queen and of her Council to drive time with fair words.... [Sidenote: The Protestants deal with Idolaters and the Mass.] The Papists, at Easter, 1563, had erected that idol, the Mass, in divers parts of the realm; amongst these being the Archbishop of St. Andrews, the Prior of Whithorn, with divers others of their faction.... The brethren, universally offended, and espying that the Queen did but mock them by her proclamations, determined to put to their own hands, and to punish for example to others. So some priests in the West-land were apprehended, and intimation was made by the brethren to others, as to the Abbot of Crossraguel, the Parson of Sanquhar, and such, that they should not proceed by complaint to Queen or Council, but should execute the punishment that God, in His Law, had appointed to idolaters, by such means as they might, wherever these should be apprehended. The Queen stormed at such freedom of speaking, but she could not amend it; for the spirit of God, of boldness, and of wisdom, had not then left the most part of those whom God had used as instruments in the beginning. They were of one mind to maintain the truth of God, and to suppress idolatry. Particularities had not divided them; and therefore could not the Devil, working in the Queen and Papists, then do what he would. [Sidenote: Queen Mary and John Knox at Lochleven.]