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AFter that Richard Mershal Doctour of Diuinitie and Priour of the blacke Friers at the new Castle in Eng∣land, had declared in his preachings of S. Andrewes in Scotland, that the Lordes Prayer (commonly called the Pater noster) should be done only to God & not to Saints▪
neither to any other creature:* 1.1 the Doctours of the Uniuer∣sitie of S. Andrewes together with the Gray Friers, who had long ago taught the people to pray the Pater noster to Saints, had great indignatiō that their old doctrine shuld be repugned, & stirred vp a Gray Frier called Frier Toit∣tis, to preach again to the people that they should & might pray the Pater noster to Saintes. Who finding no part of the Scripture to founde his purpose vpon, yet came to the Pulpit, the first of Nouember, being the Feast of All hal∣lowes, an. 1551. and tooke the text of the Gospell for that day read in their Masse, written in the 5. of Mathew, con∣teining these wordes: Blessed are the poore in spirite, for to them pertayneth the kingdome of heauen.* 1.2
This feeble foundation being layde, the Frier began to reason most impertinently,* 1.3 that the Lordes Prayer might be offered to Saints: because euery petition therof apper∣taine to them. For if we meete an old mā in ye streete (sayd he) we will say to him: good day father, and therefore much more may we call the Saints our fathers: and because we graunt also that they be in heauen, we may say to euery one of them: Our father which art in heauen. Father, God hath made their names holy, and therefore ought we as followers of God to holde their names holy, and so we may say to any of the Saints:* 1.4 Our father which art in heauen, hallowed be thy name. And for the same cause, sayd the Frier, as they are in the kingdome of heauen, so that kingdome is theirs by possession: and so praying for the kingdome of heauen, we may say to them and euery one of them: Thy kingdome come. And except their will had bene the very will of God, they had neuer come to that kingdome, and therefore seeing their will is Gods will, we may say to e∣uery one of them: Thy will be done.
But when the Frier came to the fourth petitiō touching our dayly bread, he began to be astonished and ashamed, so that he did sweate abundantly, partly bicause his sophistry began to fayle him,* 1.5 not findyng such a colour for that part as for the other which went before: and partly because he spake against his owne knowledge and conscience and so was compelled to confesse that it was not in the Saintes power to giue vs our daily bread, but that they shoulde pray to God for vs (said he) that we may obtaine our dai∣ly bread by their intercession, and so glosed he the rest to the ende. Not standing yet content with this detestable doc∣trine, hee affirmed most blasphemously, that S. Paules napkyn and S. Peters shadow did miracles, and that the vertue of Eliseus cloke deuided the waters, attributing nothing to the power of God: with many other errours of the Papistes, horrible to be heard.
Upon this, folowed incontinent a daungerous schisme in the Church of Scotland: for not onely the Cleargie, but the whole people were deuided among themselues, one defending the trueth, and an other the Papistry, in suche sort, that there rose a Prouerbe: To whome say you youre Pater noster?* 1.6 And although the Papists had the vpper hand as then, whose words were almost holdē for law (so great was the blindnes of that age) yet God so inspired ye harts of the common people, that so many as could get the vn∣derstanding of the bare words of the Lords prayer in eng∣lish (which was then saide in Latin) vtterly detested that opiniō, holding that it should in no wise be said to Saints: So that the craftes men and their seruauntes in theyr boothes, when the Frier came, exploded him with shame enough,* 1.7 crying, Frier Pater noster, Frier Pater noster, who at the last being conuict in his owne conscience, and asha∣med of his former Sermon, was compelled to leaue the Towne of S. Andrewes.
In the meane time of this brute, there were two Pas∣quils set on the Abbay Churche, the one in Latin beatyng these words.
* 1.8The other in English, bearing these words.
Doctors of Theologie, of fourescore of yeares, And old iol••e Lupoys the bald gray Friers, They would be called Rabbi and Magister noster, And wot not to whome they say their Pater noster.
Shortly, the Christians were so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 offended, and the Papistes on the other side so proud and wilfull, that neces∣sary it was, to eschew greater incōueniences, that ye Cler∣gy at least should be assembled to dispute and conclude the whole matter, that ye lay people might be put out of doubt.* 1.9 Which being done, and the Uniuersitie agreed, whosoeuer had bene present might haue heard much subtile sophistry. For some of the popish Doctours affirmed that it shoulde be sayd to God formaliter, and to Sayntes, materialiter, O∣thers vltimatè, & non vltimatè. Others sayde it shoulde be said to God principaliter, and to sayntes minus principaliter. Others, that it should be sayd to GOD primariè, and to saintes secundariè, Others that it would be sayd to GOD capiendo strictè, & to sayntes capiendo largè. Whiche vayne distinctions being heard and considered by the people they yt were simple, remayned in greater doubtfulnes thē they were in before: so that a well aged man, and seruaunt to ye Suppriour of S. Andrewes called ye Suppriours Thome being demaunded to whome hee sayde hys Pater noster: he answered, to God onely. Then they asked agayne what should be sayd to the sayntes, he answered, geue them Aues and Credes inough in the deuils name, for that may suffice them wel inough: albeit they doe spoyle God of his right. Others making their vauntes of the Doctours, sayd, that because Christ (who made the Pater noster) neuer came into the Ile of Britaine, & so vnderstood not the English tonge therefore it was that the Doctors concluded it shoulde be sayd in Latine.
This perturbation and open sclaunder yet depending it was thought good to call a principal Councell to decide the matter. Whiche being assembled at Edenbrough,* 1.10 the Papistes being destitute of reason, defended theyr partes with lyes, alledging, that the Uniuersitie of Paris had cō∣cluded that the Lordes Prayer should be sayd to Saintes. But because that could not be proued, and that they could not preuayle by reason, they vsed theyr wil in place of rea∣son, & sometime dispitefull and iniurious talke. As Fryer Scot being asked of one to whō he shuld say the Pater no∣ster, hee aunswered, saying: say it to the deuill, knaue. So the Councel perceauing they could profite nothing by rea∣soning, they were compelled to passe * 1.11 voting.
But then incontinent they that were called Churchmē, were found deuided and repugnaunt, among themselues. For some Bishop with the Doctours and Friers, consen∣ted that the Pater noster should be sayde to sayntes: but the Byshops of S. Andrewes, Caitnesse and Atheins, wyth other moe learned men, refused vtterly to subscribe to the same. Finally, with consent of both the parties, Commis∣sion was geuen by the holy churche to Dane* 1.12 Iohn Win∣rame, then Suppriour of S. Andrewes, to declare to the people how and after what maner they shoulde praye the Lordes prayer. Who accepting to the commission, declared that it should be sayd to God, with some other restrictions which are not necessary to be put in memory. And so by li∣tle and little, the brute and tumulte ceased, Ex testimonio è Scotia allato.
〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
Math. 5.
The doc∣trine of the Papistes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the Pater noster may be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Saintes. and why?
Blasphe∣••••us doc∣trine against the glory & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 name of God.
A Fryerly glosing vpō 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Pater ••o••ter.
The Fryers sophistry 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fayled 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
A Scottishe prouerbe.
Fryer Pater noster driuē out of S. Andrewes.
M. Dauid ••aw and M. Thomas ••••ruy, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 procu∣••••tors.
Disputation in Scotland to whom they should say their Pater noster Pater noster to be sayd to God formaliter & to Saintes materi∣aliter.
Vltimatè to god non vltimatè to Sayntes.
Principaliter to God minus principaliter to Saintes.
Primariè to god secundariè to Saintes.
Strictè to God largè to Saintes.
The aunswere of an olde man, to whom they should say their Pater noster. A doctorly rea∣son why the Pater noster should be sayd in Latine. The Councell of Edenbrough could not agree to whom they should say theyr Pater noster. The Papistes mainteyne their cause with lyes and rayling, when reason lacketh.
That is to the numbring of voyces.
The Fryers and Prelates could not agree amōg themselues a∣bout saying the Pater noster.
This Winrame is now become a godly minister in the Church of God, and a maried man. Walter Myll••▪ Martyr.