him very uncivilly giving him very opprobrious Language and taxing him with the beggarly appearance of him and his Men whereupon Keil being provok't with a lusty Cane he had in his hand struck Lendal to the ground whereupon some other inferiour Officers made up and laying hold of Kiel they presently made him prisoner and carried him forthwith to the Main-Guard Keil being a man well known and belov'd in the Town had hundreds of the Mobile presently resorting with sticks and staves and threatning to pull down the Guard-house unless they did presently release Keil in the mean time comes up a Magistrate of the town and immediately got Keil releas'd but the Gentlemen Mobs blood being up they would not be satisfied without doing some injury to the Guard which occasioned the Souldiers to stand to their Arms and to threaten extremity to any that would dare to approach all this however would not serve but pressing on with vigorous insolence on them the Centinels were obliged to defend themselves and hapned to kill two of the daring Fellows and wounded others the Magistrates hereupon went up to the Guard and prevailed with them to go in and keep themselves close and in the mean time got two or three Companies of the Earl of Levens Regiment who were quartered in the Cannongate to come up and immediately shutting the City Gates they in a little time clear'd the streets and drove the Sparks into their Houses without further harm though they were obliged to keep Guards in many parts of the City for that Night for fear of a relapse The Captains are both of them confin'd and 't is believed he that gave the first provocation will be severely punished The Earl of Pearth had been long a Prisoner in the Castle of sterling for his high misdemeanours in the last Reign together for his disaffection to the present establishment and but now by the representation of the Earl of Crawford it was mediated that he might have his liberty provided he would procure the coming back and safe return of the young Lord Drummond his Son the Earl of Wigtown and his brother who during the Guardianship of him the said Earl of Pearth and the Earl of Melfort were sent over Seas by their especial order on purpose to be bred up in the Romish superstition and that the Earl of Pearth should give allowable security to do so as also for his peaceable behaviour without plotting or conspiring against the present Government And now at last the long expected Act for settling of the Church Government came to be passed and touch'd with the Scepter Which is at large as followeth An Act Ratifying the Confession of Faith and Settling Presbyterian Church-Government in Scotland In a Parliament at Edinburgh the 7th of June 1690. OUR Soveraign Lord and Lady the King and Queens Majesties and Three Estates of Parliament Conceiving it to be their bound Duty after the great Deliverance that God hath lately wrought for this Church and Kingdom As first To settle and secure therein the true Protestant Religion according to the truth of Gods Word as it hath of a long time been professed within this Land as also the Government of Christ's Church within this Nation agreeable to the Word of God and most condusive to the advancement of true Piety and Godliness and the Establishing of Peace and Tranquillity within this Realm And that by an Article of the Claim of Right it is Declared That Prelacy and the Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters is and hath been a great and insupportable Grievance and Trouble to this Nation and contrary to the Inclinations of the generality of the People ever since the Reformation they having Reformed from Popery by Presbyters and therefore ought to be abolished Likewise by an Act of the last Sessions of this Parliament Prelacy is Abolished Therefore their Majesties with the Advice and Consent of the said three Estates do hereby Revive Ratifie and perpetually Confirm all Laws Statutes and Acts of Parliament made against Popery and Papists and for the Maintainance and Preservation of the true Reformed protestant Religion and for the true Church of Christ within this Kingdom in so far as they confirm the same or are made in favour thereof Likewise they by these presents Ratify and Establish the Confession of Faith now read in their presence and Voted and Aproved by them as the Publick and a vowed Confession of this Church containing the sum and substance of the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches which confession of Faith is subjoyned to this present Act. As also they do Establish Ratify and Confirm the Presbyterian Church-Government and Discipline That is to say the Government of the Church by Kirk-Sessions Presbyteries Provincial Synods and General Assemblies Ratified and established by the 114 Act Ja. 6. Parl. 12. Anno 1592. Intituled Ratification of the Liberty of the true Kirk c. And thereafter received by the General consent of this Nation to be the only Government of Christs Church within this Kingdom Reviving Renewing and confirming the foresaid Act of Parliament in the whole Heads thereof except that part of it relating to Patronages which is hereafter to be taking into Consideration And Rescining Annulling and making void the Acts of Parliament following Act anent Restitution of Bishops Ja. 6. Par. 18. Cap. 2. Act Ratifying the Acts of the Assembly 1610. Ja. 6. Par. 21. Cap. 1. Act anent the Election of Arch-Bishops and Bishops Ja. 6. Par. 22. Cap. 1. Act Intituled Ratification of the five Articles of the General Assembly at Pearth Jam. 6. Par. 23. Cha. 1 Act Intituled For the Restitution and Re-stablishment of the antient Government of the Church by Arch-Bishops and Bishops Cha. 2. Par. 1. Sess 2. Act 1st Act anent the Constitution of a National Synod Ch. 2. Par. 1. Sess 3. Act 5. Act against such as refuse to Depone against Delinquents Charles 2. Par. 2. Sess 2. Act Intituled Act Acknowledging and an Asserting the Right of Succession to the Imperial Crown of Scotland Ch. 2. Par. 3. Act. 2. Act Intituled Act anent Religion and the Test Ch. 2. Par. 3. Act. 6. With all other Acts Laws Statues Ordinances and Proclamations and that in so far allenary as the said Acts and others generally and particularly above-mentioned are contrary or prejudicial to inconsistent with or derogatory from the Protestant Religion and Presbyterian Government now Established and Allowing and declaring That the Church Government be Established in the hands of and exercised by these Prebyterian Ministers who were Outed since the first of January 1661. for Nonconformity to Prelacy or not complying with the Courses of the Time and are now Restored by the late Act of Parliament and such Ministers and Elders only as they have admitted or received or shall hereafter admit or receive And also that all the said Presbyterian Ministers have and shall have Right to the Maintenance Rights and other Priviledges by Law provided to the
Jurisdiction given to Bishops The 1. Act of 21. Parl. of K. J. 6. concerning the Ratification of the Acts of the Assembly at Glasgow Anno 1610. and the 1. and 2. Acts of the 22. Parl. of K. J. 6. Anno 1617. concerning the Archbishops and Restitution of Chapters and the 1. Act of the 23. Parl. of K. J. 6. An. 1621. about the Ratification of the Articles of the assembly of Perth And all Acts and Constitutions whatever prejudicial to the Church-Government by General Provincial and Presbyterial Assemblies and Kirk-Sessions or so far as they are in favour of Archbishops Bishops Abbots Priors or other Prelates whatever c. or in favor of the civil places and power of Church-men their ruling and voting in Parliament c. by vertue of their Titles or any other pretence whatever c. And all other Acts inconsistent with this present Act. Concluding with an appointment of the Time and Places for the first meeting of the Presbyterial Assemblies and empowring them to choose their Moderator with orders to give him the Oath of Allegiance and to return the Oath taken and subscrib'd to the Clerks of the Privy Council The Act presented by the Lord Cardross was the same for the settling the Church Government by General Assembles Presbyters and Provincial Synods but made no mention of rescinding the many Acts mention'd in the Lord Commissioners draught It was the same for restoring the deprived Ministers but differed in the addition of Clauses for sentencing and depriving all that gave not Obedience to the Act against the owning the late King It also made void all Patronages and Presentations to Churches an Intolerable servitude upon the Church of God with all Laws made in favour of them and particularly the 9th Act of the 1. Parl. of Charles the Second Nevertheless that the Tithes of the said Churches whereof the Patronages were abolished should belong to the Patrons and be inserted in their Infeoffments in lieu of the said Patronages with the burden always of the Ministers Right and Stipend There was also another Clause for suspending all Ministers called Conform Ministers who entered by and still continued under the Prelacy from the Exercise of any part of the Presbyterian Government only that they might continue to exercise their Pastoral Charge within their respective Parishes and hold their Kirk-Sessions for Discipline therein till farther order Declaring in the last place that their Majesties and the Estates would with all conveniency take the advice of such Ministers as were known to be of the Presbyterian Perswasion and by their advice lay down such methods as should be judged most effectual for purging the Church of all Scandalous Erroneous insufficient and disaffected persons and providing for the particular Churches with able and well qualified Ministers and establishing the Exercise of the Presbyterian Government according to the true intent of the Act. While the settling the Church Goverment was thus in debate an Address presented from the Presbyterian Ministers and Professors to the Kings Commissioner was by him given into 〈◊〉 House and there read upon the 〈◊〉 of July Wherein after they had made all due acknowledgements to God and his Majesty for their wonderful and unexpected deliverance from the Great Oppressions which they had suffer'd under the Cruelty and Ambition of the Prelacy of that Kingdom they humbly beseech the Commissioner and the Estates of Parliament seeing the King had declared and their Lordships with him had zealously appeared for the Protestant Religion That they would be graciously pleased by their Civil Sanction to establish and ratifie the late Confession of Faith with the larger and shorter Catechisms which contained the Substance of the Doctrine of the reformed Churches the directory of Worship and Presbyterial Church Government all agreeable to the Word of God and formerly received by the General Consent of the Nation And in regard that Prelacy and all who had entered under Prelacy had been imposed upon the Church without her Consent in any of her free General Assemblies and that Presbyterian Government could not be safe in the hands of those who were of contrary Principles therefore they humbly petitioned that the Church Government might be established in the hands of such only who by their former carriage and sufferings were known to be sound Presbyterians and well affected to His Majesties Government and that those Ministers yet alive who were thrust from their Churches might be restored They also pray that they might be allowed by Civil Sanction to appoint Visitations for the purging out of insufficient and scandalous Ministers and that Patronages which had their Rise from the most corrupt and latter times of Christianism might be abolished and the Church establish'd upon its former good foundations confirmed by many acts of Parliament 1560. And that all Acts ratifying Ceremonies and imposing Punishments upon Presbyterians for Non-conformity might be abolish'd and lastly that their Lordships would take care that learned sound and Godly men might be put into the Universities and Seminaries of Learning humbly submitting to their Lordships wisdom the method of considering and effectuating these their desires But neither did either of the two draughts please neither could the farther consideration of the Address be at that time entered upon For the House had made an order the day before by reason of a Letter from the King to the Privy Council and a Proclamation thereupon by them issued forth for opening the Signet not to proceed any farther in the affair of Church Government till the Letter and Proclamation were considered that in the mean time there should be a stopt put to the opening of the Signet Only they were so farr willing to gratifie the Addressers that they Voted and approved an Act for restoring Presbyterian Ministers to their Churches which was presented by Sir William Hamilton To this effect That whereas in pursuance of the Claim of Right Prelacy c. was abolished and that many Ministers of the Presbyterian perswasion since the first of January 1661. had been deprived of their Churches or banished for not Conforming Therefore their Majesties with advice of the Estates ordained that those Ministers should forthwith have free access to their Churches and exercise the Ministry in those Parishes without any new call thereto and enjoy the benefits and stipends thereto belonging with som reserve to the incumbent of the last years rent as if the Churches were not vacant But then the business of the Lords of the Sessions coming on the Question was put Whither the Nomination of the Lords of the Sessions made by His Majesty in case of a Total vacancy required the Authority of Parliament And whither it were requisite by the consitution of the Colledge of Justice that the President of the Session should be Elected by the Lords of the Session These two Points occasioned a long debate at the end of which the draught of an Act was brought in declaring the methods of naming and admitting the
or distinction rescinded all its Proceedings Lastly to testifie their unparallel'd Submission and Resignation to the King's Pleasure and how that according to the usual Flattery of those times all that was dearest to them was to him surrendred although the Nation since its first restoration from Popery had in a manner continually oppos'd Prelacy and after having ejected it with the most rigid Exclusions had for many years enjoyed a Church Constitution and Ministry which at last was highly commendable for the advancing of true Knowledge and Piety and in the worst of Times appeared the fairest Bulwark of Monarchy yet out of compliance to the King's Will the Parliament consented and the People silently acquiesced in the unexpected overthrow of Presbytery and the re-establishment of Prelacy not that the consequences of the Alteration which afterward ensu'd were unforeseen but in short because that to a King so acceptable to them and to whom they had already given all things they could refuse nothing This was the Posture of Affairs in Scotland soon after the Restauration of Charles II. at what time the Earl of M. was the first who was honoured with the King's Commission wherein he bestirred himself with extraordinary vigour but over-hastning as the Cause is given and over-prizing his Work he render'd himself at length obnoxious so that upon the mutual Jealousies between the Duke tho then but Earl of L. whom he caus'd to be sentenc'd uncapable of publick Trust L. got the Advantage and managing it personally at Court by a crafty insinuation of the Earl of M's Disdain of his unworthy Practices which perhaps at that time were thought good Services at Court in a short time prevailed to M's Overthrow and shaping a course less obnoxious to Envy obtain'd his Commission to be given to the Earl of Rothes whom L. accompanied from Court into Scotland in order to concluding the Parliament then sitting In the last Sessions of which Parliament it was that by L's Industry an humble Tender was made of Twenty Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Horse to be in readiness as they should be call'd for by the King to march to any part of his Dominions of England Scotland or Ireland for the suppressing of any Foreign Invasion Intestin Trouble or Insurrection or for any other Service wherein the King's Honour Authority or Greatness might be concern'd which though it were look'd upon as too superfluous in the Expression and too suspitious in the Distinctions yet such was the Style and Humour of those times as easily shrowded it from particular notice But what L. who was the chief Contriver of it intended by it succeeding time sufficiently discover'd For now the Parliament being Dissolv'd the new-erected Bishops finding themselves so numerously guarded and Authoriz'd by the Laws so lately made drave on like Jehu's during the years 64 65 and 66. inforcing Conformity at such a rate that in all probability had not the Earl of Twedale and Sir Robert Murray stept in for the Relief of the oppressed Dissenters the whole Kingdom might have been reduced to great extremities through the Tumults excited and Tragedies acted in those years In the year 1669. L. himself was made the King's Commissioner a Grandeur which he had long aim'd at from the Date of which Commission the Scots are said to calculate the date of all the ensuing mischiefs that caus'd the same Revolution in that Kingdom as in England For having undertaken to make the King's Power Absolute and Arbitrary in Scotland he strain'd the Royal Prerogative to all the Excesses imaginable Coming therefore into Scotland he assum'd to himself a lawless Administration of Affairs which no doubt was readily granted him to exercise upon the large Promises he had made and apprehending more the controul of other Men's Officious medling then distrusting his own Abilities he took particular care and caution to make himself his Majesties Sole Informer as well as his Sole Secretary and by that means not only upon pretence of the King's Prerogative the Affairs of Scotland were dispos'd of in the Court of England without any notice taken of the King's Council in Scotland but strict Observation was also made of all Scottishmen that came to the English Court and to attempt an Addsess or Access to his Majesty otherwise then by L's means was to hazard his perpetual Resentment By these ways he made himself the only significant person of the whole Scottish Nation and in Scotland it self procured to himself that Sovereign Authority as to name the Privy Counsellors to place and remove the Lords of the Session and Exchequer to grant Gifts and Pensions to levy and disband Armies to appoint General Officers and to transact all matters of Importance as he thought good to advise and direct Nor was he less industrious in minding his own Business which was to inrich Himself his Kindred and Favorites and where the Law gave any stop the Kings Prerogative made way In all which as there is a necessity to make use of Force and Violence to which Law must of necessity yield those breaches of the Law were attended with most violent Oppressions of the People Monopolies and Rapes upon their Priviledges and other dreadful Miseries the Concomitants of Tyrannic Rule which occasioning loud Complaints without redress drive the Oppressed to Insurrection and Rebellion many times wish'd for by some Tyrants that they may have an opportunity to destroy Insomuch that the Rebellion which was quell'd at Bothwel-Bridge was deem'd to be a piece of L's Matchiavilianism having by his cruel Oppressions of those People drawn them to seek their own Redress to the end they might be ruin'd by their ill Success which the severity of their Persecution after the Defeat sufficiently justified In short The chiefest and most deserving Glories of L's Administration as they were represented to the King were Ignorant and insufficient Judges for the most part a light and base Coyn imposed upon the Nation Gifts of Wards and Marriages General Gifts of the Pains of Penal Statutes the Accumulation of Great Offices upon single Persons and those of no Merit Gifts of the Reversions of Offices Invasions upon Liberty and Property by the procuring of private Letters unnecessary long and frequent Adjournments of Parliament mismanagement and profusion of the Revenue and the excessive greatness of a State-Minister to the exclusion of all others from free Application to the King by some of which he did the Kings by others his own and his Friends Business tho the People suffered all this while But that which L. most valu'd himself upon was his obtaining a Confirmation of the Kings Supremacy over all Persons and in all Causes within the Kingdom of Scotland and by vertue of that Act the ordering of the External Government and Policy of the Church as properly belonging to him and his Successors and the procuring a new Act of Militia ordaining that all Persons that should be therein enroll'd should be particularly reserv'd for that Employment and
that the Officers and Souldiers should take the Oaths of Allegiance which in Scotland comprehends that of Supremacy Which being done in the Year 1672. when the Cabal at Court for the advancement of Popery and Arbitrary Power was in its Ascendent and Matters were come to a manifest Crisis was a shrewd Argument that L. was deep in the Plot. Nor was his Administration in Church Affairs less grievous and terrible to the Nation For that after the extream Distress where into the Episcopal Persecutions had brought the Country had mov'd the Compassion of some more moderate Persons to obtain for it the ease of a small Indulgence in 1669. L. in 1670. commands Conformity again prohibiting Praying to God in any Meeting or Preaching without Licence under Forfeitures of Life and Confiscation of Goods And by other Acts enjoyning all the Kings Subjects to keep to their own Churches and to make discoveries upon Oath of what Conventicles they knew and what Words they heard spoken therein under the pains of Banishment and Imprisonment All which the People lookt upon to be a Tyranny beyond that of the Inquisition Nor is it in the last place to be omitted that he had also enlarg'd the Power of the Lords of the Articles to the subversion of the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliament So that his Administration was not only Cruel and Tyrannical but he had in a manner over-turn'd the whole Frame of the Scotch Government However after he had thus serv'd and assisted in the Popish and Arbitrary Designs then on Foot both to his own Infamy and greatly to the depopulation of his Country yet because he demurr'd to act on still for the eradication of Protestantism and erecting Popery to be the National Religion he was discharged from his Ministry and Offices and grew despis'd and contemn'd in his Person And then it was that the D. of York retiring into Scotland from the Dangers that threaten'd him in England built upon the Foundations that L. had laid and driving on in the concerns of Popery and Slavery with his wonted Phaetonic Fury thought to have compleated his Work but made way for the following Revolution So soon as the Duke got into Scotland a Parliament was summon'd and great Industry us'd to choose the Commons to cajole some of the Lords and to make D. Hamilton believe and trust the Court for the future And so soon as the Parliament sate the Duke of York entred as his Brothers Commissioner without any regard to the Laws of the Realm or the Qualifications necessary for taking the Oaths However his Brothers Indulgence bore him out and when he was in he obtains the succession of the Crown to be confirmed by an Act and gets a Test pass'd by which all were to swear not to endeavour to alter the Government either in Churh or State and all such as refus'd to take it to lose their Employments This Test was generally dislik'd as not conformable to the Scotch Confession of Faith several of the Scotch Synods rejected it and many of the Laity refused it Among the rest the E. of Argyle declin'd the taking it unless he might make his own Explanation of the sense and meaning in which he took it Which being at first allow'd him by the Duke and his Party yet afterwards when he had deliver'd in his Explantion which was no more then what the Privy Council were forc'd to do for the satisfaction of the People The Duke having a particular Animosity to his Person and resolv'd to remove him out of the way as a Grand Obstacle to his Designs caus'd his Interpretation to be scan'd and sifted to that degree with a particular encouragement to his Advocates to try whether it might not be wrested to Treason that at length a latent piece of High-Treason was found in it upon which he was Indicted Arraign'd and Condemn'd and had been put to death had he not made his escape out of Edinborough Castle Popery then began to triumph bare-fac'd in Scotland to that degree that Mass-Houses were publickly erected both in Edinborough and divers other Towns and Cities of that Realm while the Protestant Non-conformists were every where punished with the utmost severity And such was the Dukes inveterate hatred of those People that in his publick Declarations he stigmatiz'd them as a sort of Caitiffs not fit for Human Converse and scrupl'd not to testifie his Resolutions to eradicate them for refusing to conform to his Will and Pleasure as the Pests of Mankind Affirming withal that it would never be well with Scotland till all the Country on this side the Forth were made a Hunting Field Which Rigorous and indeed Inhuman Proceedings in leaving these poor People at the Mercy of his Souldiers to be not only disturb'd in the Exercise of their Divine Worship but to be Arraign'd and Condemn'd by Military Judges without any Form or Process of Law wholly alienated the Affections of a great part of the Scotch Nation from his Person and Government But the Duke encompass'd with a standing Force and encouraged by his continu'd Success in carrying all things before him thought he could meet with no Obstruction which he could not Conquer and therefore resolv'd to remove what ever Impediments that he found in his way Which run him upon that no less Impolitick then unjust and violent Prosecution of the E. of Argyle for the taking away of whose Life he could find no other pretence but his refusal to take an insnaring Test which the generality of the Clergy and Laity refus'd For if the whole Body of Refusers had had but one Neck he might have cut it off for the same Reason as well as the single Head of the Earl Many others also were prosecuted and condemned at the same rate for Crimes made such for their Destruction rather then that they were really so The citing Sir John Scot of Ancrum and bringing him before the Council upon pretence of Treasonable Words alledg'd against him by an avow'd Enemy and which had certainly done his business considering he was lookt upon as a true Lover of his Country had he not been so fortunate as to have four or five Persons of great Worth and Credit by when the Words were pretended to have been spoken who clear'd and acquitted him The seising and putting to the Torture one Hamilton meerly because he was of the contrary Party and consequently barely suspected who nevertheless after his enduring his Torments with an extraordinary Patience was at length acquitted and declar'd Innocent by the Justice Court The putting under Bail or in Prison almost all the Honest Protestant Worthy Gentlemen or forcing them to abscond or withdraw out of the Kingdom of whom the Lord Melvil was one who never could be induced to act in publick under the Government of the Duke but was forc'd to abandon his Relations and Native Country and flie into Holland where and in Germany he remain'd seven Years The sending away of above sixty Men at
December his Holiness was burnt in a true orderly manner by the Students themselves marching with their Swords in their Hands every Classis under their particular Captain and the College Mace carry'd before them by the Under-Porter bare the Haut-boys playing all the while besides the Honour which the Privy Council and City Magistrates did them to be Spectators of their Show But in the attempt of the Multitude the next day upon the Abby which is the Kings House wherein there was at that time a Popish Chappel they had at first but course Entertainment For the Chancellor of Scotland tho he found Edinborough too hot to hold him yet such was his Kindness being himself a Papist for the Popish Relicks which he left behind that he gave particular order to one Captain Wallace to defend the Abby with his Company which the Captain with a true Papistical Zeal readily undertook to do So that when the Boys went thither tho without any other Arms then their Links and Battoons upon their pressing too close upon him the Captain ordred his Men to let fly among 'em so that many were wounded and some died of their Wounds Of which complaint being made to the Council they sent six Heralds to command Wallace and his Men to lay down their Arms and surrender themselves and the Guard of the Place to the Magistrates of the City But the Heralds were answer'd in the same Language with the Boys Thereupon the Council ordred a sufficient number of the Train'd Bands to remove him by force who accordingly fell upon Wallace and constrain'd both him and his Men to betake themselves to flight And then it was that the Boys to revenge the loss of their Mates broke in pell-mell into the Abby and burnt all that they found in the Chappel fir'd the Jesuites College the Popish Printing-House the Abby Church and in a word all that they found in the Papists Houses in the Suburbs and Cannigate sparing nothing but what was purloyn'd away by such as bore them Company with a design to plunder During these Extravagances in Edinborough the Chancellor of Scotland had withdrawn himself to Castle-Drummond but not thinking himself safe there he resolv'd for France and with that resolution with all the secresie imaginable himself in Womans Habit and his Wife in Mans Apparrel upon the 10th of December got on board a Vessel bound from the Frith of Castle-Drummond and was just under Sale with a fair Wind. At what time a certain Person on Horse-back riding by Kirkalden where the Seamen us'd to walk call'd to them and inform'd them That there was a good Prize in the Ship which they saw under Sale meaning the Chancellor of Scotland Thereupon about six and thirty common Sea-men commanded by one Wilson that had been a Buccaneer in Jamaica furnish'd themselves with Muskets and having got a light Boat without any Provision only a little Brandy and without any otder from any Magistrate set sail immediately and coming up with the Ship that Night boarded her and enquir'd for the Chancellor who was at first denied to be in the Ship but after some little search they found Him and his Lady in the disguise already mention'd Upon which they brought the Ship back and carry'd the Prisoners together with one Nicholson a Priest and Regent of the Colledge at Glasgow to the Prison of Kirkaldy from whence the Council order'd the Chancellor to be remov'd to Sterling Castle The face of Affairs being thus alter'd in Scotland as well as in England there was only a Council of the prime Persons of that Kingdom to watch over the safety of the Nation at such a Ticklish Conjuncture Nevertheless they took care that several Personages of the highest rank in the Kingdom of Scotland and most eminent for their Zeal for the Protestant Religion should be in a readiness in England to make their Address to the most Excellent of Princes his Highness the Prince of Orange so soon as he arriv'd in London This was the least Deference that could be expected they should give to a Prince who by a particular Declaration to the People of that Kingdom had signify'd his Resolutions to be no less careful to restore the Laws and Liberties of Scotland and to maintain the Protestant Religion there then he was to pursue the ends of his Declaration to the people of England Nor is the recital of that Declaration to be here omitted as being so full and generally satisfactory to all the good People of Scotland that there was nothing more welcom to their Ears nor any thing next under God wherein they more entirely placed the Assurances of their Deliverance more espcially when they saw it attended with an armed Force under the Conduct of Prudence and Fortitude to make it good The Declaration it self ran thus The Declaration of His Highness William Henry by the Grace of God Prince of Orange c. of the Reasons inducing him to appear in Arms for preserving of the Protestant Religion and for Restoring the Laws and Liberties of the ancient Kingdom of Scotland IT is both certain and evident to all men that the publick Peace and Happiness of any State or Kingdom cannot be preserved where the Laws Liberties and Customs established by the Lawful Authority in it are openly Transgressed and Annulled More especially where the alteration of Religion is endeavoured and that a Religion which is contrary to Law is endeavoured to be introduced Vpon which those who are most immediately concerned in it are indespensably bound to endeavour to preserve and maintain the Established Laws Liberties and Customs and above all the Religion and Worship of God that is Established amongst them And to take such an effectual care that the Inhabitants of the said State or Kingdom may neither be deprived of their Religion nor of their Civil Rights Which is so much the more necessary because the Greatness and Security both of Kings Royal Families and of all such as are in Authority as well as the Happiness of their Subjects and People depend in a most especial manner upon the exact Observation and Maintenance of these their Laws Libertie and Customs Vpon these grounds it is that We cannot any longer forbear to declare That to Our great Regret We see that those Counsellors who have now the chief Credit with the King have no other Design but to overturn the Religion Laws and Liberties of those Realms and to subject them in all things relating to their Consciences Liberties and Properties to Arbitrary Government and that not only by secret and indirect ways but in such an open and undisguised manner that their Designs are now become visible to all that consider them And indeed the lamentable Effects of an Arbitrary Power and of Evil Counsels are so manifest in the deplorable State of the Kingdom of Scotland that both our Reason and Conscience do prompt us to an Abhorrence of them For when We consider the sad Condition of that Nation though
the business of supernumerary Officers the draught of an Act was given into the House and read that no persons who were imployed in the late Government and were grievous to the Nation or had shown their dissatisfaction to the happy Change or had been Retarders or Obstructers of the good designs of the late Meeting should be allowed to possess or be admitted to any publick Trust Place or Employment of any kind under their Majesties within that Kingdom But this Act likewise being brought in the 26th of June met with several Remora's occasioned by certain clauses which some thought required explanation Persons who had onely shewn dissatisfaction was thought too comprehensive and severe Those who had been obstructers and Retarders of the Good design of the Estates was deemed too liable to bad construction And there were exceptions taken at the words Grievous to the Nation as being too restrictive without a farther interpretation But at length upon the second of July Explanations being added in the Statutory part to every of the clauses excepted against the Act was brought in and passed in the terms that follow The King and Queens Majesty considering that the Estates of this Kingdom have by their Vote declared their sence and opinion that such have in the former evil Government been grievous to the Nation or have shewn disaffection to the happy Change by the blessing God now brought about or have been Retarders or Obstructors of the good designs of the said Estates in their Meeting are not fit to be employed in the management of the Affairs of this Kingdom do with the Advice and Consent of the Estates in Parliament now Assembled Statute and Ordain that no persons of whatsoever rank or degree who in the said former evil Government have been grievous to the Nation by acting in the incroachments mentioned in the Articles of the Claim of Right which are declared to be contrary to Law or have shown disaffection affection to the happy Change by the Blessing of God now brought about by acting in opposition thereunto since the time that the King and Queen now raigning were Proclaim'd or who has been a Retarder or or Obstructor of the good designs of the said Estates viz. The securing the Protestant Religion the settling the Crown the establishing the Rights of the Leiges and redressing their Grievances by acting contrary to the good designs since the time they became publick by Votes and Acts of the Meeting be allowed to possess or be admitted into any publick trust place or imployment of whatever kind under their Majesties in this Kingdom But whither it were that some persons in power thought themselves too deeply within the reach of the Act or for what other cause is unknown neither would this Statute be admitted to the touch of the Royal Scepter So that instead of a Living Law it only became a dead peice of Writing Which was a surprize to many that were concern'd in the passing it as well as to several others that were zealous for the King and the Kingdoms interest that there should be men found who could spy out any thing in this Statute which deserv'd to be clamoured at or was worthy to be complained of more especially since every line breathed forth that lenity and moderation that it savoured rather of a defect then any excess of Justice and that the utmost thereby designed was only a disabling a few wicked men from ruining the Nation for the future but nothing of punishment for what they had done for that there were none excepted as to Life onely the few that were designed to be debarred from Offices were described and charactered after such a manner that the very employing them would dishonour their Majesties and disgrace the Government Then a draught of an Act was brought in for abolishing of Prelacy and all superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbytery and for the abrogating all former Statutes establishing Prelacy and all others contrary to the Act intended Reserving to their Majesties to settle the Presbyterian Government in the way most agreeable to the peoples inclinations and the Word of God Which being Read the Commissioner desired he might see the Act to consider of it against the next day The next day being the 3d. of July the same Act was Read again together with the Act of Parliament 1662. For the restoring of Prelacy with the second Act of the year 1633. and the fourth Act in the year 1681. Which were rescinded by the Act intended with some amendments in the Narrative part adjusting and fitting it to that Article in the claim of Right to which it related and the following clause was added to the rescinding part In so far Allenarly as those rescinded Acts are inconsistent with the present Act and do establish Prelacy or Superiority of Church Officers above Presbyters In the next place the Clause in the Act reserving to their Majesties and the Estates to settle the Government of the Church was taken into Consideration and it being agreed that the Word Presbyterian should be left out the Commissioner mov'd that in the room of the Words To settle the Government of the Church c. the alteration might be to settle such a Government c. upon which a debate arose upon the importance of those words which was put off till the next day Then the Act was again brought in and Read with the amendments and without the paragraph of the rescinded Acts. And after some debate concerning the Clause objected against the settling and Government of the Church being exprest in the terms following That they with the Advice and Consent of this Parliament will settle by Law that Church Governmenu in this Kingdom which is most agreeable to the Peoples Inclinations the Act was put to the Vote and Approved And then the Act ran thus Whereas the Estates of this Kingdom in their Claim of Right the Eleventh of April last declared that Prelacy and Supremacy in any Office in the Church above Presbytery is and has been a great Grievance to this Nation and contrary to the inclinations of the people since the Reformation they having reform'd from Popery by Presbyters and therefore ought to be rescinded Our Soveraign Lord and Lady the King and Queens Majesties do hereby abolish Prelacy and Superiority in any Office in the Church above Presbyters in this Kingdom and hereby rescind ease and annul the First Act of the Second Session of the First Parliament of King Charles the 2d And the Second Act of the Third Session of the Second Parliament of King Charles the 2d And the Fourth Act of King Charles the 2d and all other Acts Statutes and Constitutions in so far allenarly as they are inconsistent with this Act and do establish Prelacy or the Superiority of Church Officers above Presbyters And the King and Queens Majesties do declare That They with the advice of the Estates of this Parliament will settle by Law that Church-Government
in this Kingdom which is most agreeable to the inclinations of the People This Act was touched with the Scepter the 12th of July There was also another Act which had been made by another Parliament of K. Charles the 2d in the year sixty nine whereby the Parliament did enact assert and declare that the supream Authothority and Supremacy over all persons and in all Ecclesiastical causes within the Kingdom of Scotland by vertue of which the ordering and disposal of the external Government of the Church was properly lodged in the King and His Successors as an inherent Right to the Crown This was lookt upon to be such a Law that never any Law before gave a greater power to a Prince and the ill use of it in the Execution of King Charle's power by the Bishops of Scotland and by King James in claiming by it a power to introduce Popery made it so terrible to the Generality of the Scotch Nation that after the Estates had numbered it among the Chief of their Grievances the Parliament past an Act immediately after that for abolishing Prelacy whereby they declared That the first Act of the second Parliament of King Charles the 2d Intitled An Act asserting His Majesties Supremacy over all persons and in all causes Ecclesiastical was inconsistent with the Establishment of the Church Government then desired Therefore their Majesties with the Advice and Consent of the Estates in Parliament did thereby rescind abrogate and annul the foresaid Act and declared the same in all the Heads Articles and Clauses thereof to be of no force or effect in all time coming But notwithstanding this Act past without any contradiction yet was it never touched with the Scepter Which was the more wondred at in regard his Majesties instructions were express to his Commissioner in these words You are to pass an Act establishing that Church Government which is most agreable to the Inclinations of the people rescinding the Act of Parliament 1669. and all other Acts inconsistent therewith There were two great things more in Agitation during this Session the one was the settling of the Church Government since Presbytery was abolished and the other about admitting the Lords of the Session and Electing the President of the Colledge of Justice As to the first there were two draughts brought into the House and form'd into Acts for the consideration of the whole Parliament the One by the Lord Commissioner himself and the other by the Lord Cardross The first which was presented by the High Commissioner the 22th of July ran in these Words For as much as the King and Queens Majesties and the Estates of Parliament by their Act of the first of July Instant Abolishing Prelacy c. did declare That they would settle that Church Government which is most agreeable to the Inclinations of the People and considering that Church Government by General Provincial and Presbyterial Assemblies with the Sessions of the Kirk as it was established by the first Act of the twelfth Parliament of King James the sixth holden in June 1592 is most agreeable to the Inclination of the people Therefore the King and Queens Majesties with the Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament revive and renew the said Act of Parliament in all the Heads Poynts and Articles thereof with this express Declaration That the Necessity of Occasional Assemblies be first represented to His Majesty by humble Supplication And Statute and ordain That it shall be lawful for the Presbyters of this Church to admit Ministers upon presentation from the lawful Patrons or Jure de voluto which shall happen hereafter or into Churches which fall not under Patronages but were Mensal and Patrimonial Churches belonging to the Bishops and ordain all Ministers in this Kingdom to submit and conform to the Church Government established by the foresaid Act and to take the Oath of Allegiance under the pain of being deprived of their Churches and losing their Benefices And it is declared That all Ministers that shall submit and conform to the foresaid Church-Government and take the Oaths of Allegiance without being oblig'd to take any other Oath shall enjoy their Churches and Benefices c. in such manner and as freely as they ought or might have done before by the Act in the Year 1592. and to do all and every thing which before pertain'd to Presbyters and were exercised by Bishops except for Scandal or Insufficiency But in regard there were several Ministers deprived of their Benefices since the Year 1662. for not conforming to Prelacy and others since the Year 1681. for not taking the Test Therefore seeing that now Prelacy is abolished and all Acts relating thereto it is but reasonable that those Ministers should be restored Therefore the King and Queens Majesties with the advice c. Ordain the said Ministers c. to be restored And the King and Queens Majesties and Estates declare That they will take care to provide those Ministers now serving the Cure at the said Churches with other Benefices as occasion shall offer they submiting and confirming c. And it is farther declared that Intrants to the Ministry shall not be obliged to take any other Oaths at their admission then that of Allegiance and the Oath de Fideli And in regard that many Confusions and Scandalous Schisms have happened by Ministers meddling in Matters of State Their Majesties with advice c. do hereby discharge all Ministers of the Gospel to meddle with any State Affairs under pain of being held dis-affected to the Government and to be proceeded against accordly And declare That the Jurisdiction of the Church consists onely in Preaching the Word of Jesus Christ correcting of ill Manners by Ecclesiastical Censures and administration of the Sacraments conformable to the 69th act of James 6. Parliament 6. And to prevent that nothing be treated in the Church Judicatories that concern affairs of State or Civil matters it is declared that their Majesties if they think fit may have always one present in all the Provincial and Presbyterial Assemblies as they have their Commissioner present in General Assemblies to inhibit the proceeding in any such affairs if it should be offered at until their Majesties and Privy Council be first acquainted therewith And for that there are many things to he settled in relation to the Discipline of the Church c. their Majesties declare that they with the advice c. will enact such Rules as shall tend most to the curbing Vice and advancement of true Piety and Religion and the preservation of Peace and Vnity Their Majesties also with the advice c. rescind and annul the 1. Act of the 15. Parl. of King James the 6. for Prelates voting in Parliament and the 2. Act of the 18. Parl. of K. J. 6. for the Restor of Bishops the 8. Act of 19. Parl. of K. J. 6. about the Chapter of St. Andrews The 6. Act of 20. Parl. of K. J. 6. concerning the
Innerlochy in Lochaber and until such time that Lochaber were reduced and some Fortifications rais'd for the security of the Garrison in Innerlochy he had the Government of Dunstaffage conferr'd on him he is extreamly well affected to their present Majesties and very exquisitely acquainted with all the methods and ways of the Highlanders as well as the places and it was hoped that in a little time he should be able to give as good account of them as when he was Governour there before and had there a Garrison of about eight hundred men having by his knowledg and industry reduc'd it to a regular compliance with the Laws of the Kingdom His Grace Duke Hamilton was about this time made Lord President of His Majesties Council and first Commissioner of the Great Seal the Council having by the majority of Votes put an end to some former disputes about signing Warrants of Council it being Voted now that the subscription of the President alone should in all Orders and Warrants serve as fully as if they had all Signed it The Countess of Arrol having upon the proffer of the Council Liberty upon her Parol of Honour to be any where within ten Miles of Edinburgh would not agree to it which gave a just occasion to have a guard set upon her 'T is the nature of some people to be peevish and stubborn even when they are best us'd they are uneasie in their natures and discontented for trifles and love to be clashing with Authority we have seen very lately the least dislike even of the known irregularities of the Government sufficient to give one an apprehension of being indicted for High Treason and as the sinfulness of one Reign will not nor ought to be made use of as a President for another to tread the same steps so I must be bold to say that the abuse of Mercy in this ought to be as severely prosecuted against some sorts of people as the abuse of Justice in the other The Highlanders upon the approach of the Summer season according to their usual Customs were now preparing to make incursions upon the borders and forming themselves into a body of four or five hundred made a Descent upon Strathglass and assaulted the Garrison of Erchless which was as I aforementioned kept by about two hundred or less of the Laird of Grants Regiment but by the industry courage and zeal of their old plague Sir Thomas Levinstone who commanded a considerable body of Horse and Foot at Inverness they were forc'd from a strong Hold they were possessed of routed pursued and kill'd and a considerable Booty of Cattel recovered these Rebels or rather Robbers or both seeming even from their only pretending to assert the interest of the late king to partake by way of plague of his ill Fortune Though many people were dissatisfi'd with the several adjournments of the Parliament from time to time from whose Meeting they doubted not of all the satisfaction they had so long gaped after yet now upon the certainty of His Majesties Resolutions to let them sit at the time appointed all their fears and scruples vanished in a moment it being on all hands especially confirm'd that his Grace the Lord Commissioner had full and authentick instructions from His Majesty to redress all Grievances and to settle the Church Government as it should appear most suitable to the Will of God expressed in his Word and to the inclinations and usage of the people And they were much better assured of this when at the opening of the Parliament they had fresh assurances of the same from his Majesties own hand in his Royal Letter dated at Kensington the 18th of April within a week after their Meeting Wherein he assures them That it shall be their own fault if they had not all matters of Church and State settled now upon such sure and lasting Foundations as may render them reciprocally happy in one another during His Reign and in all human probability secure from any the like encroachments they lay under for the future And now the long expected day being come the High Commissioner attended by a splendid Train of Coaches of the Nobility and Gentry and followed by His Majesties Life Guards went from the Palace of Holy Rood House about Eleven of the Clock on the Fifteenth day of April 1690. Where after the usual Ceremonies His Grace deliver'd himself in a most Elegant Speech to this effect That though the pressing Affairs of Ireland requiring His Majesties personal Expedition thither had deprived them of the happiness of his Royal presence as he intended yet such was his regard to the inclinations of the good Subjects of that his Ancient Kingdom that he would no longer delay their Meeting to the end such a settlement might be established to that Nation as might be a real security to its most valuable concerns of True Religion and Just Liberty He put them in mind of the great things His Majesty had done under God for the rescuing them by the eminent danger of his own person and fortunes from Popery and Slavery That as his own Expedition and the necessary Defence they were still to make against the remainder of their implacable Enemies were immensly chargeable so he did not doubt now of their ready concurrence in bearing their just parts in the Expence especially since they were assured that all their contributions would be expended for their own security That as at his first coming his chief aim and design was to relieve them from the oppressions they groaned under so he would be willing to pardon all those that would live peaceably and quietly in their several stations He tells them at last that nothing remains but that they laying aside all animosities and private disputes unanimously fall on to the redressing bad and Enacting good Laws to consider how the eyes of all Christendom are upon them expecting in this juncture especially mighty things from them that now it was fully in their own power to propose the surest remedies could be thought on for their future Peace and Happiness and that his most gracious Majesty was ready and willing to approve them The Earl of Crawford seconded the High Commissioner with a most florid and pious Speech wherein after he had set forth and demonstrated the wonderful works of God in his so signal delivery of them from that deluge of misery that was just breaking in upon them he earnestly presseth them to a sincere reliance on the protection of their Majesties and to evidence a true and hearty zeal for his service but above all he exhorts them to moderation in their disputes and unity in their Counsels that their Enemies may never have reason to ground their hopes on their divisions And lastly he tell them that though they have the misfortune to be at some distance from the person of His Majesty yet that he was assur'd they should ever find the influence and comfortable warmth of his favours and therefore if
Ministers of Christ's Church within this Kingdom as they are or shall be Legally admitted to particular Churches Likewise in pursuance of the Premisses Their Majesties do hereby appoint the first meeting of the General Assembly of this Church as above Established to be at Edinburgh the third Thursday of October next to come in this instant year 1690. And because many conform Ministers either have deserted or were removed from Preaching in their Churches preceding the thirteenth day of April 1689. And others were Deprived for not giving Obedience to the Act of the Estates made the said 13 of April 1689. Intituled a Proclamation against the owning of the late K. J. and appointing publick Prayers for King William and Queen Mary Therefore Their Majesties with Advice and Consent foresaid do hereby Declare all the Churches either deserted or from which the Conform-Ministers were Removed or Deprived as is said to be vacant and that the Presbyterian Ministers exercising their Ministery within any of these Parishes or where the last Incumbent is dead by the Desire or Consent of the Paroch shall continue their Possession and have Right to the Benefices and Stipends according to their Entry in the year 1689 and in the time coming ay while the Church as now Establish take further Course therewith And to the Effect the Disorders that have hapned in this Church may be Redressed Their Majesties with Advice and Consent foresaid do hereby allow the General Meeting and Representatives of the foresaid Presbyterian Ministers and Elders in whose hands the Exercise of the Church Government is Established either by themselves or by such Ministers and Elders as shall be appointed and Authorised Visitors by them according to the Custom and Practice of Presbyterian Government throughout the whole Kingdom and several parts thereof to try and purge out all insufficient Negligent Scandalous and Erroneous Ministers by due course of Ecclesiastical Process and Censures And likewise for Redressing all other Church-Disorders And farther It is hereby provided that whatsoever Minister being Convened before the said General Meeting and Representatives of the Presbyterian Ministers and Elders or the Visitors to be Appointed by them shall either prove Contumacious in not appearing or be found Guilty and shall be therefore Censured whether by Suspension or Deposition they shall Ipso Facto be Suspended from or Deprived of their Stipends and Benefices And Ordains this Act to be Printed and Published Extracted out of the Records of Parliament by me Th. Burnet Cls. Reg. Thus after so much disorder so much Tyranny and Oppression in a Kingdom the ill successes of Rebellion and the Return of Law and Justice into their ancient Channel one would think should be sufficient to regain the Affections of Men wandring after Chimera's and unite them to a Prince who has laid such Foundations of their Tranquillity But Rebels and Robbers very seldom lissen to these charms let the charmer charm never so wisely Which is the reason that the remains of Rebellion cannot yet be extinguish'd and that their are several Trayterous Conspiracies and Correspondencies found out of such as make it their business to disturb the peace of the Government However in regard those Discoveries are not yet ripe for publick view and that we can say nothing more of the Highlanders but that they Rob and plunder where they can find any advantage it is time here to conclude this accompt of the Revolution in Scotland no less memorable then that in England FINIS Books lately Printed and Sold by Tho. Salusbury at the sign of the Temple near Temple-Bar in Fleet-street 1690. THE History of the late Great Revolution in England with the Causes and Means by which it was accomplish'd Together with the Settlement thereof under their most Serene Majesties King William and Queen Mary by the Lords and Commons assembled in the late Parliament With an exact List of the Members of both Houses then Sitting The Second Edition To which is added the Effigies of their Present Majesties curiously Engraven on a Copper Plate A new Art of Brewing Beer Ale and other sorts of Liquors so as to render them more healthful to the Body and agreeable to Nature and to keep them longer from souring with less trouble and charge then generally practised which will be a means to prevent those torturing Distempers of the Stone Gravel Gout and Dropsie With easie Experiments for making excellent Drinks with Apples Currans Goosberries Cherries Herbs seeds Hay c. and the way to preserve Eggs 5 or 6 Months from being musty or rotten With an Appendix how to make Fruit-trees constantly fruitful Miscellany Poems viz. I. Remarks on the Death of K. C. II. II. On the Success of K. J. II. III. Upon Faith IV. Upon Patience V. Ambitioh VI. To the University of Oxford VIII The Soul to a good a Conscience VII The Soul to a bad Conscience By J. Whitehall The Declaration and Manifesto of the Protestants of the Vallies of Piedmont called the Vaudois to all Christian Princes and States of the Reasons of their taking up Arms against the Duke of Savoy And why they have put themselves under the protection of WILLIAM King of Great Britain and of the Evangelick Cantons of Switzerland An exact Collection of many Wonderful prophesies relating to the Government of England c. Since the first year of the Reign of K. James I. to this present time 1690. All which have been truly fulfilled and accomplished Also many Prophesies yet foretelling what Government is to succeed to make this Kingdom happy With the certain time of the Downfal of Antichrist throughout the World Remarks upon the Dream of the late abdicated Q. of England and upon that of Madam the D. of La Valiere late Mistress to the French King c.