Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Pilgrimage To The Preceptory Of St. John's, Torphichen.
period and these occasions , "that the desire of sharing in the spoils of the Popish church , together with the intrigues of the Court of England , engaged the Scotch nobles on the side of the Reformation . It is reasonable to think that at a later period , this was in so far true ; but at the time of which we now speak , the prospect of overturning the established Church was too distant and uncertain to induce persons , merely from cupidity , to take a step by which they exposed their lives and fortunes
to the most imminent hazard ; nor had the English monarch then extended his influence in Scotland , by the arts which he afterwards employed . " But whatever opinions may be entertained as to his motives , certain it is that Sir James Sandilands early attached himself to the reformed views , and throughout protected their preachers and professors ; nor does it appear that he was rendered obnoxious hy this course , to the Knights and members of the religious and military body
, who probably also coincided in his views , or prudently appeared to do so . Be this as it may , the Order in Scotland became from thenceforth virtually broken up , and in process of time the Knights of this country were formally anathematized and excommunicated by a bull of the Grand Master , at Malta . Lords of the political ascendant , the Protestants passed an Act of Parliament , in 1 . 5 G 0 , by which it was decreed and enactedthat no subject should have recourse to the Papal Seeor
, , acknowledge its authority or jurisdiction , under pain of forfeiture or banishment . This struck at once , and for ever , at the existence of the Order of the Hospital . By it the prerogative of the Grand Chapter abroad , to appoint and ordain preceptors in Scotland was utterl y extinguished and annulled , and all their right dissolved from them and devolved upon the Crown , Jure dcvoluto , and vested in arbitrio
Principis , to dispose thereof at will . It was not then unnatural or unfair , if the Past Grand Preceptor of the Order , cherishing as he must have done a partiality to the place , and the feudal vassals whose superior he had so long been , did seek to retain , by every lawful means , the whole or part of his previous possessions and privileges . The estate had fallen in right to the Crown , —was there any thing criminal in trying to repurchase it ? This point he , after considerable negotiation , effected ; hut we think it will also presently appearthat the denuded preceptor
, , by no means so greatly enriched himself , as some would have us to suppose , but , on the contrary , that he rather became involved in pecuniary difficulties and distress in consequence . Although Sir James Sandilands had , for a number of years , filled various situations of honour and trust , both in a civil and political capacity , ( for it was quite common for the Preceptors , whether of the Hospital or Temple , to accept of such situations ) he could hardly on the
mere plea of merit or service expect a gratuitous grant from a Court whose coffers had long been impoverished by the distracted state of the country . It might have had some effect , no doubt to memorialize that the petitioner had entered young into service , at the Court of King James , —that he wis the Master Usher of the House , and Chamber of Her Majesty , the Queen Mary Regent , and that he had continued his servicelaceand credit with her daughterQueen Mary ; who in
per-, p , , sonal acknowledgment of his worth and sufficiency , had been pleased to employ him in divers weighty affairs , and had at sundry times scnthhn , as her representative , to foreign states . These claims might , or might not , have procured him some consideration ; but he added to them , what had more weight with the court , an offer of a large pecuniary
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Pilgrimage To The Preceptory Of St. John's, Torphichen.
period and these occasions , "that the desire of sharing in the spoils of the Popish church , together with the intrigues of the Court of England , engaged the Scotch nobles on the side of the Reformation . It is reasonable to think that at a later period , this was in so far true ; but at the time of which we now speak , the prospect of overturning the established Church was too distant and uncertain to induce persons , merely from cupidity , to take a step by which they exposed their lives and fortunes
to the most imminent hazard ; nor had the English monarch then extended his influence in Scotland , by the arts which he afterwards employed . " But whatever opinions may be entertained as to his motives , certain it is that Sir James Sandilands early attached himself to the reformed views , and throughout protected their preachers and professors ; nor does it appear that he was rendered obnoxious hy this course , to the Knights and members of the religious and military body
, who probably also coincided in his views , or prudently appeared to do so . Be this as it may , the Order in Scotland became from thenceforth virtually broken up , and in process of time the Knights of this country were formally anathematized and excommunicated by a bull of the Grand Master , at Malta . Lords of the political ascendant , the Protestants passed an Act of Parliament , in 1 . 5 G 0 , by which it was decreed and enactedthat no subject should have recourse to the Papal Seeor
, , acknowledge its authority or jurisdiction , under pain of forfeiture or banishment . This struck at once , and for ever , at the existence of the Order of the Hospital . By it the prerogative of the Grand Chapter abroad , to appoint and ordain preceptors in Scotland was utterl y extinguished and annulled , and all their right dissolved from them and devolved upon the Crown , Jure dcvoluto , and vested in arbitrio
Principis , to dispose thereof at will . It was not then unnatural or unfair , if the Past Grand Preceptor of the Order , cherishing as he must have done a partiality to the place , and the feudal vassals whose superior he had so long been , did seek to retain , by every lawful means , the whole or part of his previous possessions and privileges . The estate had fallen in right to the Crown , —was there any thing criminal in trying to repurchase it ? This point he , after considerable negotiation , effected ; hut we think it will also presently appearthat the denuded preceptor
, , by no means so greatly enriched himself , as some would have us to suppose , but , on the contrary , that he rather became involved in pecuniary difficulties and distress in consequence . Although Sir James Sandilands had , for a number of years , filled various situations of honour and trust , both in a civil and political capacity , ( for it was quite common for the Preceptors , whether of the Hospital or Temple , to accept of such situations ) he could hardly on the
mere plea of merit or service expect a gratuitous grant from a Court whose coffers had long been impoverished by the distracted state of the country . It might have had some effect , no doubt to memorialize that the petitioner had entered young into service , at the Court of King James , —that he wis the Master Usher of the House , and Chamber of Her Majesty , the Queen Mary Regent , and that he had continued his servicelaceand credit with her daughterQueen Mary ; who in
per-, p , , sonal acknowledgment of his worth and sufficiency , had been pleased to employ him in divers weighty affairs , and had at sundry times scnthhn , as her representative , to foreign states . These claims might , or might not , have procured him some consideration ; but he added to them , what had more weight with the court , an offer of a large pecuniary