II. THE LAST BLAST, &c. The Last Blast of the Trompet of Godis Worde,' was, as the title-page indicates, directed "aganis the vsurpit auctoritie of Johne Knox and his Caluiniane brether intrudit Precheouris," &c. It declares its aim to be "to cal abak the scoleris (of the Reformers) frome the plaig of Godis justice" (p. 38). The author proceeds to show how divine punishment overtook those who unlawfully assumed priestly functions, and to lay down the principles which underlie the election and ordination of priests and bishops (pp. 40, 41). The fragment of this tract breaks off in the middle of a fierce animadversion upon schismatics and heretics (p. 45). It is dated "Edinburgi vltimo Iulij 1562." 1 III.—THE BUKE OF FOUR SCOIR THRE QUESTIONS, &c. "The Buke" is a manual of dogmatic theology thrown into the shape of 83 questions bearing upon those subjects which formed the chief matters of dispute between the Romanists and the Reformers. It is practically a rejoinder to 'The Confessione of the fayht and doctrin beleued and professed by the Protestantes of the Realme of Scotland,' &c., published at Edinburgh in 1561. It is addressed "To the Caluiniane Precheouris." It is a more concise statement of the principal doctrines of the Catholic Church than Quintin Kennedy's ' Compendius Tractive,' which was probably in the author's hand as he wrote his revised MS.2 1 Winzet, 'Certain Tractates,' vol. i. p. 35. 2 Randolph, in a letter to Cecil, of date February 28, 1562, refers to another similar work by Kennedy, which was in circulation in Edinburgh, thus: The propositions maintained by Winzet are amply supported by references to the Scriptures and to the Fathers, evidencing the author's intimate acquaintance both with the Bible and the best commentaries upon it. The preface "To the Christiane Reidar," gives the reasons which called forth the treatise, with interesting particulars regarding the private life of the author (pp. 49-63). The "Buke" breathes a fairer spirit than was to be expected in these excited times in which it was composedand even the address of "the faythful sones of the haly catholik Kirk in Scotland" to Knox and his associates is made to "wiss his helth and illumination of the Haly Gaist" (p. 64). The subjects treated of may be arranged and classified under the following heads : The Church, its position, doctrines, and members. Doctrine of sin, sanctification, real presence, sacraments, prayer for living and dead, priesthood, and obedience to rulers. The sacraments, their number, efficacy, and to whom to be administered. The priesthood, not laymen or ministers, but clerics ordained by bishops; priest, bishop, and pope; church ornaments, vessels, and consecrated goods; images, solemn seasons, fastings, and prayers, encouraged by Scripture; definitions of disputed terms. The people ought to obey sovereigns; the result of not obeying those in authority; free-will. "There came lately a book from the Abbot of Crosraguel (the 'lypperie' abbot, who made the book that the old Bishop of Durham so greatly delighted in), sent unto Mr Knox, containing eighty-three articles requiring them to be answered, wherein both Mr Knox and the most part of the noblemen of Scotland are accused of sedition, murder, and treason. Cecil shall receive it and the answer."-'Cal. Stat. Pap. (For.),' 1562, p. 539. IV. VINCENTIUS LIRINENSIS. This is a translation of the well-known treatise on Dogmatics, entitled 'Commonitorium pro Catholicæ fidei antiquate et universitate, adversus profanas omnium Hæreseōn nouationes,' or 'Peregrini adversus Hæreticos,' written by Vincentius, Abbot of Lerinum, a monastery in the island of Lerins, in the Mediterranean. He was a pupil of Cassian. The Commonitorium' defines Catholic doctrine as "that which was always, everywhere, and by all men believed." The 'Commonitorium' is a manual of dogmatics. It was written after the Synod of Ephesus in 434 A.D., and condemns, in its arguments, such heresies as those of Novatian, Arius, Eunomius, Macedonius, Photinus, Pelagius, Nestorius, and others. Winzet, in marginal notes, draws occasion to the similarity or identity he fancied he marked in those heresies and the teachings of Luther, Calvin, and other reformers. The translation consists of thirty-three chapters, to which is prefaced an address “To the Maist Gratious Souerane, Marie Quene of Scottis." There is also appended a "recapitulation," to which Winzet adds a Latin epigram. The translation is close and well executed. V. THE FLAGELLUM AND THE VELITATIO. These treatises, being in Latin, do not come within the scope of this edition of Winzet's works. A short description of these works, and of their aim, is given in the account of the original editions of the abbot's writings, at pp. lxxxiii-lxxxvii. THE LANGUAGE. Winzet wrote in what is termed the Middle-Scottish language, as spoken by Lowlanders, like the author of 'The Complaynt of Scotlande'-"auld plane Scottis," as Winzet, "nocht acquyntit with gour Southeroun," himself styled it. On account of the close relationship between France and Scotland, many French words were in common use, and these, along with terms borrowed from Latin, with very little transformation, appear in Winzet's works. The author's diction in the maternal tongue is more natural than when he affects to express his ideas in classical terminology. Archaic forms, both of Old and Middle English, frequently recur,—al, ar, aucht, barne, beleve, breder, brether, childer, erar, erast, eine, forget, fader, faderris, moder, ma, twelf, wrayith (old Northumbrian wrædo), werray. A trace of inflection also lingers, as in,-fewis days, saidis idolatouris, materis ellis, the auchtin day (i.e., eighth), be Gode, baernes. Substantives in the plural number terminate in -is and in -es,-chenzeis, citeis, couponis, effeiris, sones, nationes, questiones, "all countreis and collegis dois deplore." The use of self as a substantive is common,—the self, me self, our Salviour self, veritie self. The present participle frequently ends in -and,―hawand, beand, desyrand. The past participle terminates generally in -it,—cariit, inunit. The form a of the early period, as well as ane for a, one, of the middle period, is found. The verb in the plural sometimes terminates in -is, agreeing with substantive,— zour awin scoleris thinkis. In plural forms the consonant preceding the terminal -is is often doubled,—nobillis, magistrattis, sonnis, tabillis. Sometimes a consonant ending a word is doubled,— perrell, titill, forzett, Paull, reull, houss. Latin words, very little transformed, appear in abundance, amittis, astrict (to bind), contrarius, corroboring, detrect, distinctis (verb), to infirm, ingerit, intend (incline), object (oppose), opponis, passible, præsens, promitt (substantive), promittand, segregat, supponis. Words showing a French parentage are of frequent occurrence, burgeonis, citeis, couponis, fine (end), gloir, gre, liberte, mariage, pance, pray (praie=prey), prayair (prière), puissant, puldre, ransoun, renegat, sangleris, sauff, verite. The author has had no definite rule to guide him in spelling, and consequently in his works the same word appears in several forms, often, too, on the same page, thus― ressoning, reassonis, resonis, reasonis; awalke, awalk; precheour, prechour, prechores. The conjunction of the auxiliary with the substantive verb is very common, as-salbe, wilbe, &c.; and the printer joins words together on no fixed principle, but apparently as space allows, as-tobe safer, insafer, setfurth, &c. This reprint exemplifies this in one or two instances. Terminal -e was freely used by the author,-ande, Lorde, worde, zoure, quhate, thate; but probably in many cases the -e was simply a finial, which the printer mistook for -e and sometimes -l. The letters u, v, w, seem to have been used after no rule, festual, pover, sewin (seven), sow. The letters y and i, simi |