clerical authority to such a height. Accordingly, we find
the nobles complaining of it to Alexander III. who reigned after the
middle of the thirteenth century, but he was so far from being able to
afford them redress, that when they were excommunicated by the church on
account of this complaint, to prevent greater evils, he was obliged to
cause the nobility satisfy both the avarice and arrogance of the clergy,
who had now resolved upon and begun a journey to Rome, with a view to
raise as great commotions in Scotland, as Thomas Becket had lately made
in England.

The Pope's power was now generally acknowledged over Christendom,
particularly in our nation, for which, in return, the church of Scotland
was declared free from all foreign spiritual jurisdiction, that of the
"Apostolic fee only excepted." This bull was occasioned by an attempt
of one Roger bishop of York, in the year 1159, to raise himself to the
dignity of Metropolitan of Scotland, and who found means to be Legate of
this kingdom, but lost that office upon the remonstrance of the Scottish
clergy: which likewise procured the above bull in their favours, with
many other favours of a like nature at this time conferred upon them, by
all which they were exempted from any other jurisdiction than that of
Rome, in so much that we find pope Boniface VIII. commanding Edward of
England to cease hostilities against the Scots, alledging that "the
sovereignty of Scotland belonged to the church;" which claim seems to
have been founded in the papal appointment for the unction of the Scots
kings, which was first used on king Edgar, A. D. 1098. and at that time
regarded by the people as a new mark of royalty, but which, as it was
the appointment of the Pope, was really the mark of the beast.

There were now in Scotland all orders of Monks and Friars, Templars, or
Red Monks, Trinity Monks of Aberdeen, Cisternian Monks, Carmelite, Black
and Grey Friars, Carthusians, Dominicans, Franciscans, Jacobites,
Benedictines, &c. which shows to what a height Antichrist had raised
his head in our land, and how readily all his oppressive measures were
complied with by all ranks.

But the reader must not think that during the period we have now
reviewed, there were none to oppose this torrent of superstition and
idolatry; for from the first appearance of the Romish Antichrist in this
kingdom, God wanted not witnesses for the truth, who boldly stood forth
for the defence of the blessed and