30 Transactions. 



It bears to be imprinted at Edinburgh by the King's 

 printer of date MDCXXXVii. This is tlie date on the first 

 title page. But the Royal Proclamation by King Charles I. 

 for the general use of the Prayer Book throughout Scotland is 

 dated 20 Dec, 1686, and the "Psalter" which is by the 

 King's printer at Edinburgh, and the " Fsalmes of King 

 David " which is printed at London by Thomas Harper, are 

 of the same year, 1636. 



It thus appears probable that the work was sometime in 

 preparation ; and the same fact is also apparent from the 

 Royal Proclamation, in which the King states that he had 

 " divers times recommended to the archbishops and bishops 

 here the publishing of a publicke forme of service in the wor- 

 ship of God, and the same was now condescended upon." 



King James 6 had already set up Episcopacy, thinking the 

 Monarchy could not stand without Episcopacy. His son King 

 Charles went farther and considered Episcopacy an essential 

 in church government. 



And, now, in order to put the church in proper harness, 

 he became fanatic for a Liturgy. 



At an early period of his reign the subject of a Liturgy 

 for Scotland was agitated ; and the adoption of the English 

 Prayer Book, which appears to have been in use here, natur- 

 ally suggested itself. But the Scottish prelates were averse 

 to this. 



Conceiving that the use of the English Prayer Book 

 would operate as an acknowledgment of some superiority on 

 the part of the hierarchy. And also, it may be, desiring an 

 opportunity to express views respecting the presence of the 

 Saviour at the Communion which are commonly regarded as 

 relishing of popery. 



So, out at last came the famous Service Book in the 

 great Church of St. Giles at Edinburgh, on Sunday, 23d 

 July, 1637. 



How long the people of Scotland had been without a 

 Liturgy in public worship seems very uncertain. Knox's 



