From the time of the Reformation to
that of the Revolution, which placed William, Prince of Orange, and his
wife, Mary, on the Throne, Glasgow was the theatre of frequent struggles
between the two contending ecclesiastical parties as one instance of this
unseemly strife the following incident may suffice:
About the end of the sixteenth
century, the Rev. Mr. Montgomery of Stirling was presented to the
Cathedral as Bishop. The provost and several of the leading burgesses
proceeded to the church on a Sunday to have him inducted, and found the
pulpit already occupied by the Rev. John Howieson of Cambuslang, who
refused to vacate the pulpit in favour of the Bishop. A scuffle thereupon
ensued in the sacred edifice between the supporters of the rival divines
and parties, wherein some blood was spilt; and in this case it ended with
the reverend preacher from Cambuslang being dragged from the rostrum and
maltreated, his beard being torn and several of his teeth knocked out.
