Note 367 — THE PREFACE. (continued 2)

Archbishop Spotiswood, in his History of the Church of Scotland, (edit. 1655, pp. 152-174,) has also introduced a copy of the Book of Discipline, and assigns the following reason for doing so: "In the Convention kept at Edinburgh in January preceding [1560-1], a form of Church-policy was presented, and desired to be ratified. Because this will fall to be often mentioned, and serveth to the clearing of many questions which were afterward agitated in the Church; I thought meet word by word here to insert the same, that the Reader may see what were the grounds laid down at first for the Government of the Church, so we shall the better decerne of the changes that followed." (Hist. p. 152.)

Spotiswood does not state from what authority he has given it; but it is undeniable that he has curtailed various passages which will be pointed out in the Appendix, in the note on the Book of Discipline. At the conclusion he adds,—"This was the Policy desired to be ratified: It had been formed by John Knox, partly in imitation of the reformed Churches of Germany, partly of that he had seen in Geneva; whence he took that device of annuall Deacons for collecting and dispensing the Church rents, whereof in the sixth head he speaketh; I cannot say." (Ib. p. 174.)

It is scarcely necessary to remark, that the Second Book of Discipline, forming part of Calderwood's edition, was of a subsequent date, having been agreed upon in the General Assembly 1578, inserted in the Registers of the Assembly 1581, and recognised by Parliament in 1592.