rr6 Reply to Mr T. S, on Tythes, Bs^ 



hierarchy was overturned, tjthes; like forfeited lands, re- 

 verted to the crown, as trustee for the public, and were af- 

 terwards gifted to the titulars in the same v^mv as those be- 

 longing to the monasteries and abbacies in England, were con- 

 ferred by Henrj VII i. upon the lay impropriators. From 

 1560 to 1628, tythe was levied by the titulars precisely as is 

 done in Engl .nd at this day ; but the severity of their exac- 

 tions (it was greater than under the clerical administrators) 

 occasioning general discontent, and the crov/n threatening 

 to bring forv.ard an act of resumption, a compromize was 

 judged necessary on all hands. This produced the celebrated 

 submission to Charles I. which it is believed was signed by 

 the whole body of titulars ; and under that circumstance I 

 must maintain, that the proceedings were in every respect 

 fair and regular, especially as they were afterwards sanctioned 

 by an act of Parliament. Indeed^ the decreet-arbitral pro- 

 nounced by king Charles, appears to be the only measure of 

 his reign, that afforded satisfaction to his subjects. Perhaps, 

 after all, Mr T. S. means to go deeper into the question, and 

 to deny the right of the titulars ; though he so eagerly sup» 

 ports the lay impropriators of our sister kingdom. If some- 

 thing of this nature is not in his view, pray what does he 

 mean by alleging that tythes were wrested from the church, 

 or tacitly given up by her, in the phrenzy of fanaticism? The 

 Church of Scotland at no period possessed the tythes, there- 

 fore could not give them up ; nor had she a right to them, 

 unless it can be made out that the reform.ed clergy w^ere the 

 legal heirs of their Roman Catholic predecessors. Vv^hen the 

 Scottish legislature abolished popery, and established a new 

 system of church government, they certainly had it in their 

 power, nay, tiiey had the right to fix upon the terms and 

 conditions under which the new government was to be admi- 

 nistered. Whether they madt a wise and prudent use of the 

 revenues of the ancient establishment, shall not at this time 

 be investigated; though it may be remarked, that a division 

 of the spoils among the principal actors, was perhaps the 

 means of securing the Reformation in both countries. If th« 

 Reformation in England had gone the length it did in Scotland, 

 x\\^ crown would, in like manner, have seized upon the whole 

 tythes ; but a part of the old fabric being preserved, the for- 

 feiture was of less extent. Had it gone the like length, I am 

 clear that the English clergy, as a whole body, might Iiave 

 been benefited. The church, to be sure, would have been 

 deprived of iier rich dignitaries, but tlie condition of the 

 lower orders, those who dispense the ordinances of religion, 

 vtnd Lear the heat and bu*dcB of the day, would have beeti 



improved. 



