Paul Methven, originally a baker in Dundee, afterwards minister of
Jedburgh, for an immorality of a gross kind, was excommunicated by the
General Assembly in 1563. He was from the first penitent, offering to
submit to any punishment which the church might impose for his offence,
‘even if it were to lose any member of his body.’ After two or three
years of troubles and buffetings to and fro, he succeeded in inducing
the Assembly to look mildly on his case. ‘It was ordainit that he
present himself personally before the Assembly, and, being entrit,
[he] prostrate[d] himself before the whole brethren with weeping and
howling, and, being commandit to rise, might not express farther his
request, being, as appeared, so sore troublit with anguish of heart.’
The penance imposed gives a striking idea of the discipline of these
Calvinistic fathers: ‘The said Paul upon the twa preaching-days betwixt
the Sundays, sall come to the kirk door of Edinburgh when the second
bell rings, clad in sackcloth, bareheaded and barefooted, and there
remain while [until] he be brought in to the sermon, and placed in the
public spectacle above the people ... in the next Sunday after sall
declare signs of his inward repentance to the people, humbly requiring
the kirk’s forgiveness; whilk done, he sall be clad in his awn apparel,
and received in the society of the kirk as ane lively member thereof.’
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1566.