In studying the Scottish reformation, with a view to discovering the origins of the Presbyterian polity, the reforming activities of the Lollards must form our starting-point. For the purposes of our survey the reformation movement in Scotland may be divided into eight periods:- I. The Period of Lollard influence in Scotland appears to have extended from about 1366 to 1525. II. The period of purely Lutheran influence was short - 1525-28. III. From 1528-1543 the example of the martyr Patrick Hamilton was the dominating influence among Scottish Protestants, and Francis La: Ebert may have given a Swiss bias to Hamilton's views. IV. From 1543-46 George Wishart carried on his mission in Scotland. V. In 1547 John Knox ministered to what was apparently the first organised reformed congregation in Scotland, and from that date till 1560 encouraged and guided the Scottish Protestants from England and the Continent. VI. After Knox's return to Scotland, the reformed Church received its earlier constitution in the First Book of Discipline of 1560. VII. Between 1560 and 1574 the attempt was made to apply the principles of this Book of Discipline in the government of the Scottish reformed congregations. During these years the inadequacy of this hastily compiled constitution became apparent, in spite of fuller definition of its institutions in the hats of the General Assembly. VIII. Between 1574 and 1578 a revised constitution was drawn up embodying the new court of the Presbytery. Without waiting for official Parliamentary sanction, the General Assembly began to institute the new Courts,(1). It was in effect this modified form of the reformed church polity which was legally established by Act of Parliament in 1592. Our primary aim then, in following the course of the Reformation movement in Scotland, will be to ascertain the points at which Presbyterian institutions first appeared, and their sources of origin in this earliest form.