Religion & Church attendence in 1550's Scotland

["M. Stewart" <ms154@cornell.edu>]

Poster: "M.  Stewart" <ms154@cornell.edu>

Greetings all -

	This will be only a point or two and written with a very broad pen,
my texts are at home, so please feel free to clarify any over
generalizations.

	In Scotland under the reign of Mary Stuart (Mari Stewart if you
stick to the Scots)  there were two major influences in the nation.

	The Highlands tended to lean towards Catholicism.
	The Lowlands in general, followed Knox
	(and later became known as Presbyterian)

	This sets up much of the strife that filled the 1500's of Scotlands
history.  This is also one of major causes for the Clan wars that started
in the mid 1500's.
	Not to forget that there was also a power struggle.   Between Mary
(Catholic) and her  (augh) cousin? -Duke of ?(wanna say Norfolk), who was
backed by Knoxian forces that had ruled the country while Mary was in
France.   She had to sign an agreement with them guarding the rights of
Knoxian followers before she was allowed to take the throne.

	The reaction of Knoxians to Catholicism in Scotland was very
severe.  Catholic churches were over turned and  the ornaments stripped.
Such accoutrements were seen as "papist pride"  and "the deil's
fripperies".    Even the church organ was banned for a  time as "an effiete
and decadent agent of the deil" .

1.  Were their services then as they are now? (I'm speaking from the
Catholic side of things, since that's what my persona is.)

	Catholic masses were spoken in Latin.  This proved to be a useful
thing in that most leaders of nations spoke some Latin.  In the case of
Grania O'Malley (Irish Pirate - Leader of her quarter of Ireland) and her
famous meeting with Elizabeth I of England,  Latin was the only language
that the two women shared.  But I digress.

	Knoxian services consisted of the sermon (this could be a long
essay into the nature of sin)  God was generally seen as a stern and
demanding father,  the weaknesses of man were also a common theme.  Knox
preached covertly (and not so covertly) against Mary.  Among other things
he called her were "the French Mermaid".   (so politics were also a topic.)

	The second part of the Knoxian service was often the perlique.
This was in general a shorter sermon tied to the theme of the day, or an
example of sin in the community.
	Singing, in Knoxian churches,  (I believe was banned,  anyone know
for sure)

2.  How would they have prayed?
	I have a copy of the Lord's Prayer from 1569 (89?) which was
written by the group of church leaders  led by Knox.  This is very close to
what we (Episcopalians) say now.

4.  What did they do aobut the un-educated peasents that fell asleep
durring the service?  Was it considered a sin to allow that to happen to
you, or did they jsut ignore it?
	In Knoxian prayer services,  this was considered a grave offence.
Of course Knox was rumored to be a very strident preacher, so I also guess
it was pretty unheard of.   Penalties could range fom being placed upon the
cutty stool,  to warming the pillar.  Both of these were places of public
shame located in the church, near the pulpit at the front,  so everyone
could see you.

6.  Do you think they'd lookat me strange and through me out if I went to
church in Garb?  Has anyone ever tried that before?  Might we have a
service of our own in gard, to reinact a church service from period?
	Yes, I think they would look at you strangely.   No,  I don't think
they would toss you.  Unless you wore a coat hardie to a couple of very
Baptist churches I know of.
Service in garb...   I'm not going to touch that one.  There is a very
strong current in the SCA to keep religion out of things, so that everyone
can play in comfort.

	Pax,
	Bridgette Kelly MacLean
	The MacLean of Atlantia

Bridgette Kelly MacLean
The MacLean of Atlantia


(mka   Mari Stewart
	Ithaca, NY
	ms154@cornell.edu)


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