HUGH MILLER 75 



Its laic element was strong and was emphasised from 

 the beginning. To six ministers there were thirty-four 

 elders, and it met by no sanction of the Crown, but 

 by its own authority. At its second meeting, Maitland 

 of Lethington could craftily raise the question as to the 

 legality of such conventions without the consent of the 

 Queen. It was retorted that, if they were dependent 

 merely upon the Queen for their liberty of meeting, they 

 would be deprived of the public preaching of the gospel. 

 ' Take from us,' said Knox, ' the freedom of assemblies, 

 and take from us the Gospel ' j but it was left to her to 

 send a commissioner. So early was the doctrine of the 

 Headship maintained by the Church of Scotland. In 

 1560, no less than 1843, the question was clear. In 

 1557 they had resolved that the election of ministers, 

 according to the custom of the primitive church, should 

 be made by the people ; and in the First Book of Dis- 

 cipline of 1560, re-enacted in 1578, it was laid down 

 that ' it appertained to the people and to every several 

 congregation to elect their minister, and it is altogether 

 to be avoided that any man be violently intruded or 

 thrust in upon any congregation.' The fabric was laid : 

 three hundred years have not started a plank. 



The difference of the Reformation in England and 

 in Scotland at once emerges. Knox had the nation 

 at his back ; and, besides being, as Milton said, ' the 

 Reformer of a nation,' he had found the people by mental 

 temperament, or by concurrent historical reasons, 

 anchored to a doctrinal system with a political side 



' 



