ical authority which even the best men of the age had ceased to
venerate. But the Archbishop felt that he had a duty to discharge, and he
applied himself to the task with commendable vigour. It may be well to
explain that there are two forms of excommunication--_excommunicatio
major_ and _excommunicatio minor_. The former mode of excommunication is
one of which we in these days happily know nothing, as it can only be
effectively carried out with the approval and assistance of the State,
which in modern times would never be granted. But the latter form is still
common. It has been retained in the Church as a point of discipline, or,
to use a well known and significant theological phrase, as a _poena
medicinalis_. The major excommunication was a frightful weapon, and might
well be dreaded. Those who suffered the greater excommunication were
excluded from the Mass, from burial in consecrated ground, from
ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and practically from all intercourse with
their fellow Christians. They were, in short, handed over body and soul to
the devil.

The "Monition of Cursing," issued by the Archbishop of Glasgow against the
Border thieves, was ordered to be read from every pulpit in the diocese,
and circulated throughout the length and breadth of the Borders. It is a
curious document, and will, doubtless, be read with interest, if not with
profit. It was expressed in the following terms:--

"GUDE FOLKS, heir at my Lord Archibischop of Glasgwis letters under his
round sele, direct to me or any uther chapellane, makand mensioun, with
greit regrait, how hevy he beris the pietous, lamentabill, and dolorous
complaint that pass our all realme and cummis to his eris, be oppin voce
and fame, how our souverane lordis trew liegis, men, wiffis and barnys,
bocht and redemit be the precious blude of our Salviour Jhesu Crist, and
levand in his lawis, ar saikleslie[108] part murdrist, part slayne, brynt,
heryit, spulzeit and reft, oppinly on day licht and under silens of the
nicht, and thair takis[109] and landis laid waist, and thair self banyst
therfra, als wele kirklandis as utheris, be commoun tratouris,
revaris,[110] theiffis, duelland in the south part of this realme, sic as
Tevidale, Esdale, Liddisdale, Ewisdale, Nedisdale, and Annanderdaill;
quhilkis hes bene diverse ways persewit and punist be the temperale swerd
and our Soverane Lordis auctorite, and dredis nocht the samyn.

"And thairfoir my said Lord Archibischop of