and other habits weekly or monthly or quarterly as his fancy serv'd he bestowed upon the poor His having a tub of water nightly by his bed-side wherein he by moon-shine bath'd himself to allay some heat that troubled him in his rest And by the latter he so exasperated the young spirits of his pupills that the desperate part of them complotted his murder to obtain their deliverance his apprehension whereof might be the reason that brought him back into his Country with the Scotish treaters that came from England who when they had him at home magnified him for a Prophet and sent him up down under colour of Religion to draw the people to their party What Town soever rejected hâ—m he denounced against it fire and sword by the spirit which judgement they prepared as Gods instruments to fulfill He began at Montrosse and thence passed to Dundee where an inhibition was given him in the Queen and Governours name and they that brought it were told by him that they chaced from them the messenger of God The Lord Marshall and other Noble men whose part he acted would have maintained him in the place or have taken him along with them but some other spirit diâ—ected him to the Westland where the Bishop of Glascow was fain to raise a great party to dispute with Mr. George's disciples for the Church which the Earl of Glencarne and diveâ—s Gentlemen of Kyle would have made good for him but that he thought it as good mustering his men at the Market-Crosse as he did otherwhile about a Mole-hill or some other little piece of rising ground in the fields This itenerant Doctor thus travelled from place to place and wheresoever he lodged thither the devoted Gentry of that quarter address'd themselves with their armed Vassals and Tenants to receive Orders rather for the managing the great design than instructions for the amendment of their lives If any were so addicted to their old Religion or alleageance or so disposed to their quiet that they made no appearance worthy Mr. Georges preaching or presence he would run from his Tet into an invective for an hour or two still brandishing his threats of fire and sword as at Haddington because he could not take from his pulpit an account of an hundred auditors in the Church after which vehemency so dejected in spirit having it may be some other intimations of his being at the end of his prophetick race that the last part of his speech was like a testament at departure and his good-night a taking leave for ever of his acquaintance which howsoever he meant it proved proper enough being seized on before morning at Ormeston by order from the Governour with the Cardinals advice as a person dangerous for his sowing the tares of sedition among the seed of his new Evangel The Earl Bothwel with a guard of House was imployed in surprising him or else he had not been taken nor was he without some resistance and articling with the Earl having some armed Proselytes in the house who observe no orders obey no commands but when they cannot help it who would not have surrendred him but that they saw themselves over-power'd What promise if any the Earl Bothwell had passed for his protection was not judged so obligatory as his alleageance to deliver him up to justice which he did after some better satisfaction than what Knox most ambiguously and maliciously instanceth the Cardinals gold or the Queens undertaking to favour him in all lawfull suits to women Edenburgh was not thought so fit a place for his imprisonment as the Castle of St. Andrews whither he was shortly sent and soon after brought unto his tryall although the bold opportunity of one David Hamilton the speaker for him and his partisans by a mixture of advice intreaty terrour had wrought the Governour into some uncertainty of allowing the proceedings About the end of February 1546. the Iudges Ecclesiastical and Civill sitting in the Abbey Church Mr. Wisheart was sent for to answer divers articles alledg'd against him who going into a Pulpit according to the custome of that place after one Father Lawder a Priest who was to manage the accusation had read the articles against him began an Oration making entrance and advancing what he could into the mindes of his Auditors under the glorious canopy of the Word of God which onely and that purely and sincerely he pretended to have taught and nothing in the mother-tongue beside the ten Commandements the twelve Articles of the Faith and Prayer of the Lord and at Dundee the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans where I do not find he insisted long upon the 13. Chap. at least in the sense the holy Apostle intended it though I censure him not to have deserved the unhandsome titles put upon him by Lawder at the beginning of every Article Thou false Heretick Runnagate Traitor and Thief c. which is not a form prescribed against any person brought before that justice added little force to the sequell of his accusation part of which as to the substance he might Christianly and honourably have acknowledged I mean that wherein the latter Tenents of the roman-Roman-Church superinduced to that purity her great Apostles planted in her carry more weight in the ear than the genuine stalk is able to support But where the accusation was justly laid in behalf of the Government under which he lâ—vâ—d or the Authority of the Church delivered to her by Christ and his Apostles and their incorrupâ—ed Successors I must elevate Mr. Georges answers and leave the rest to the restriction or relaxation of mens â—iâ—â—vate opinions in the world To the first which chargeth him with preaching at Dundee after the Governour had commanded him to desist and again after the Bishop of Brechen had excommunicated for contâ—macy of that kinde he in vâ—in claims the liberty taken and given but not in that latitude by the Apostle in the Acts We shall rather obey God than men which qualifies not every man with a mission that pretends to it of his own head nor with a remission of his passive obedience to higher powers else every bold Heretick rightly so called may assume as much Nor can he wrest that of the Prophet Malachy I shall curse your blessings and blesse your cursings saith the Lord against the after Excommunication in the Christian Church which duly regulated the Romanes may challenge and justifie to be valid in fit cases Nor as to the ninth Article will St. Iohn and St. Peter countenance him in laying hands of Ordination upon himself when the one saith He hath made us Kings Priests the other He hath made us a Kingly Priesthood any more than they will another man in setting the Diadem on his head which he thinks fitter for it than the Kings or taking that Scepter into his hand which he supposeth an infirm
chief points or articles insisted on which I am concerned to observe were these That it is not lawful to fight for the faith nor to defend the faith by the sword Knox to save the reputation of his own proceedings adds if we be not driven to it by necessity which is above all law By the former clause the sword is taken out of the Kings hand who must be no military Defender of the Faith by the latter it is given to the people whose safety having a supremacy above the law may frame an arbitrary necessity to rebell That Christ ordained no Priests to consecrate as they do in the Romish Church these many years The sense whereof is best interpreted by another That every faithfull man and woman is a Priest So that every one consequently even of either Sex may administer the Sacrament of the Altar or at least that no ordination is necessary to endow or qualifie him that consecrates Or lastly That no particular form of words proceeding from his mouth have by Christs institution any speciall efficacy to the transmutation of the common elements into mystical and Sacramental essences conferring grace upon or operating it in the worthy receiver That Tythes ought not to be given to Ecclesiastical men as they were then called to them that since are called Classical I think they are not due to wit wholly saith Knox but a part to the Poor Widow or Orphans and other pious uses and good reason surely for if the widow hath them these pharisaical hypocrites know whence to fetch them and under what pretence to devour the houses where they are As great impiety may be cloaked under the name of pious uses when the principal must be supposed the advancement of the discipline toward which if a chargeable rebellion be found necessary not onely the tenth but the whole stock must be piously imployed and the Poor with the Orphan set out of the way That Christ at his comming hath taken away all power from Kings to judge and That the unction of Kings ceased at the comming of Christ Of this Knox is ashâ—med and will therefore needs have the article not to be the Lollards their Ancestors but the venemous accusation of the enemies whereas both in his time and ours howsoever disguised according to this doctrine hath proceeded the whole practice of the Presbytery against their Princes That the blessings of Bishops are of no value which passeth onely with this charitable animadversion by the same hand of dumb dogs they should have been styled That the excommunication of the Kirk is not to be feared That in no case it is lawfull to swear That true Christians receive the body of Iesus Christ every day by faith So no need of the Sacrament That after Matrimony be contracted and consummate the Kirk may make no divorcement That faith should not be given to Miracles so that it should seem Christ was mistaken in his means to propagate the Gospel That we are no-more bound to pray in the Kirk than in other places That they which are called Princes and Prelates in the Church are thievs and robbers These men Knox calls the servants of God whose merciful providence he magnifies in preserving the register of their tenents who without publick doctrine he means by the authority of a general Assembly gave so great light to the Kingdom of Scotland The importunity used by some of their faction about the King prevailed for their pardon the rather because some ridiculous apertnesse in their answers rendred them men not of depth to carry on a design and this discovery was thought enough to awe them and the check they had from Court to restrain them for many years after was little controversie had about Religion untill Patrick Hamilton Abbot of Ferne a man though devout yet of an hot and violentspirit discontented at home passeth over into Germanie where at Wittenberg meeting with Luther and Melancthon as he encreased his dislike of the doctrine he left professed in Scotland so he did his animosity against the persons of Bishops and such as had the government of that Church The zeal of Gods glory as Knox writeth did so eat him up that he could not long continue to remain there but to ease his stomack he returns into his Country and as if he had been vested with Apostolick Commission he solicites disputes and with too much virulenâ—y declaimes against the divinity of the times taking the Reformation both of Pulpit and Schools into his care The sound hereof comes soon to the ears of the Archbishop of S. Andrews the particulars were chiefly debated by Cambell a Dominican Frier and learned Thomist with whom he had disputed at large and being somewhat pleased that he had as he thought and the other professed made him his convert he was beyond expectation by the same man accused of Heresie and upon his articles condemned to be burnt for trifles as Knox saies viz. Pilgrimage Purgatory Prayer to Saints and for the dead Yet as great a Martyr as he was his printed work shewes him to have been a more subtil Sophister than orthodox Divine To omit the great discouragement he gives to Christian endeavours by this assertion in terminis The law bindeth us to do that which is impossible for us and the cold water he casts upon practick obedience by this The law doth nothing but command thee explaining it to be onely to inform our knowledge God not requiring nor expecting performance putting off that obligation upon Christ His perverting the sense of many texts in Scripture from which he draws two ungrounded licentious conclusions Faith onely saveth Increduliâ—y onely condemneth whereby good works are cashir'd and a salve is found for all bad ones the world the flesh the Devill can suggest to His bold enlargement of the Apostles assertion excluding from our Iustification Charity which is the work of the Gospell which we act by the benefit of Christs passion and by the assistance of his grace because he exempts the works of the law His sophistry in an antithetical argument No works make us righteous Ergo No works make us unrighteous whereas S. Paul saith That the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of heaven and he declares such unrighteous as do the works of the flâ—sh Mismâ—kâ—ng works onely characters of a good or evil man and the reward to bear by consequence no proportion unto them which is contrary to the Evangelicall doctrine That God will reward every man according to his works Beside that through the whole series of his wriâ—ing he makes Christianity an idle speculative profession a mere perspective of the passion of Christ For all which I impute not to him the guilt of heresie nor excuse them that executed him as such The reverence that had been paid him for his strictness of life and
principles in the service of Jesus and in the Ministeries of that Church Wherefore my Lord if any thing of that nature have pass'd my Pen in the vacancie of a Synod I submit to any Canon of retractation or penance shall be prescribed me by your Reverence together with that joint primitive Oracle and most worthy person whoâ— the Doctor took and I do by his wary precedent for the other Pillar of his Sanctuary the Lord Bishop of Sarum whose countenaâ—ce and favour I some years since was honoured with more I presume for the integrity of my principles than any meritorious pregnancie in my parts But my Lord if some timorous or superstitious Caâ—tâ—le in my Grave Censour would keep me so far from Rome as to thrust me into the precincts of Geneva I confesse to him and all the world that upon demonstrative reasons I am much more affraid in Christianities behalf of the Leman Lake than Tiber and look with more horrour on the rebellions sprung and reprobatory damnation denounc'd from thence than on any encroachment upon Kings or indulgencies unto the people so prodigally made by and defused from the Papal See In fine my Lord the glosses are not many I have upon points controverted between the Church of Rome and us if those few be so short as to render my sense suspected I will enlarge them when call'd upon to the full state I have made of them deliberately unto my self For the gall in my ink I shall say onely with your Lordships leave I know not where more commendably or excusably I may affect to give it a deeper black than in the relation of their proceedings whose souls were as red as scarlet and the issue of all their enterprises died in bloud I may be no lesse concerned to anticipate an after câ—nsure incident from persons of another rank I mean such of the Scotch Nobility or related to them whose faith and gallantry hath effaced such their ignoble progenitours impeachments in their coates and yet may conceive their Names and Families purposely tainted by my Pen where I make a blot in some branch of their pedigree or descent To whom I professe I searched not their Heraldry for a distinction but as I intended no man injury or disrepute so I preferred necessary truth to his or their vulgar honour in my design Which being in that respect a case of Conscience craves likewise your Lordships cognisance though as it regards the rule of prudence I must answer it at my hazard For the rest my Lord til it appear by more than an obscure single suffering that I have infringed the canon of Christian Charity or deviated from the doctrine and practice of the Ancient Church I humbly crave your Lordships favourable protection of this essay and of my name in that communion into the Ministery whereof your ordination introduced me which no new discoveries nor discourses in forreign parts have obliged my reason to desert nor doth any self-conviction discourage me in my subscription as that Churches and My Honoured Lord Caen Aug. 27. 1657. Your Lordships most humbly obedient Son and Servant Ri. Watson HISTORICALL Collections IF the sacred Oracles and Records which Christ with his Apostles Evangelists Disciples delivered unto the ears and deposited in the hands of the primitive-Primitive-Church had been at large in every particular preserved and by the same authority successively transmitted whereby that smaler volume of their writings hath been manifested to our knowledge and commended to our belief the errours and abuses in Christianity had been fewer or refomation whensoever necessary more regular such a standing rule giving sudden Evidence against the least obliquities which Schism and Heresie could transgresse in and being a Bar against the boldness of those spirits which when the letter of Scripture is not as it never but is in the sense clear and powerfull to confound them rather multiply than rectifie things amisse upon their pretended priviledge of prophesie or revelation The mystery of Gods providence in withholding this succour from his people is not so much to be repin'd at as his mercy to be magnified in administring the remainder of those helps which is compleat to the support and satisfaction of any moderate inquirer after the general of doctrine and particulars of discipline the explication of the former and enlargement of the latter being ever taken into the power of the Catholick-Church which in its orginal purity so studied a visible communion of Saints that either by expresse dispensation or indulgent connivance many national provincial yea inâ—eriour corporate or collegiate Congregations had that latitude of difference and singularity of profession or practiceâ— for which any proper 〈◊〉 pretence could be produced before a general Council or in lesse matters before their Patriarch and Bishops vested with authority to such purpose as wherein their content and complacency kept all devout well-meaning Christians from Schism and a scandalous separation Others whose pride ambition or covetousnesse carried them beyond the canon of moderation and peace were severely censur'd curs'd excommunicated cut off from Christs body which like rotten members they might otherwise have corrupted and gangrand having no re-admission or re-union to that holy sound continuity without serious and open repentance humble submission to the high authority of the Church which if they persisted obstinately to contemn or neglect the power of truth subdued their doctrines the storm of Gods wrath dispersed their conventicles the sword of his vengeance executed their persons in some exemplary temporal death if it pursued them not to eternal damnation How far the visible Church whether Romane or Greek made at any time a general defection from her self in a manifest detortion of or declention and deviation from her own canon is neither my design nor duty in reference to my present undertaking to search no more than to condemn or vindicate particular Churches in their separate condition The Sum of what I intend in this my Treatise is to shew how the Scotch-Presbyterian Kirk which when time was would have fain been accepted as the pattern of purity and clearest extraction of Christian Religion began Reformation upon no deep sense no deliberate Examen how corruption crept in nor proceeded according to any other rule than the Anomalie of a prejudicate fancy or premeditated malice which intended rather the destruction of persons than composition of minds â—o a due temper and sobriety in worship having no other commission but what was given out by the spirit of disobedience and errour nor the countenance of any precedent beside what might be cited from the unhappy successe in the attempts of Rebellion and Schism The first Sect of preparatory Reformers their History pretends to were the Lollards of Kyle who in the reign of King Iames the fourth about the year 1494. becoming numerous and troublesome both to Church and State were accused to the King not onely as Hereticks but Rebels The
cast off all care to recruit it and measuring the shortnesse of his daies by the extremity of his grief he becomes too true a prophet of his death Some six dayes before his Queen was delivered at Linlitquow of a daughter whom Iohn Knox very civâ—lly calls the scourge of that Realm as her mother one that brought continuing plagues upon the same and that hâ—r whole life declared hâ—r to be such No lesse did his brethren spare the deceased King but call'd him Murtherer and rejoyced at the taking away of such an enemy to Gods truth In the Kings last will were four Protectors oâ—Regents of the Kingdome appointed the Cardinall of S. Aâ—drews the Earls of Huntley Arguyle and Murray but these were men especially while in the Cardinals company very unlikely to promote the new Religion or the more unjustifiable ends of the pretended Reformers of the Church The young Earl of Arran was found a fitter subject to work on the facility of his nature rendring him very flexible to their desires and the narrownes of his judgment admitting in no latitude an abilitie to counterplot at any time their designs or a discovery of their purposes but what they laid directly in his sight His pretence of the second place in succession to the Crown gave him colour and the Lord Grange furnished him with courage to claim the government during the minority of the Queen which that faction of the Nobility soon bestowed upon him who had more will to rule with him than reason to suppose that in his hands lay the best security for her person Yet to enable him for that or some other more secret ends were presently delivered up to him the Kings Treasure Jeweâ—ls Plate Horse c. which notwithstanding they scarcely give him liberty to look on before they set him to study controversies in Religion and tutor him as well in the polemick divinity as politicks of that party And to point the bluntness of his nature by some new animosity of spirit they shew him his own name among others in a private Schedule of the K. being a memoriall of such as of whose disaffection to his person government religion good notice being taken as good care might be had to prevent the â—ll effects of that humour which they suggested to be a destination of them unto ruin This was called the bloudy Scroll and the discovery of it a great deliverance of Gods which some godly men as they term'd themselves that is such as whose guilt made them conscious how much concerned they were in it fearing the execution of their ends and intents thereof being left to the Cardinal as a Legacy by the King pressed the Governour to â—ake notice of to betake himself for what puâ—pose God had exalted him to that honour and how great expectation was had of him The principal of their meaning being to depose the Cardinal for their own security he understood not and therefore they put upon him one Guilliame a lapsed Friar with some others to be priviledged in the preaching down Superstition a word of as great extent in those times as since from which was taken as much advantage for a licentious and violent Reformation But the Friars arguments being more powerfull to draw the people into sedition than the Bishops to a dispute one of their servants thought to rime down the ridiculous part of the practice in a ballad for which he had like to have lost his life as the Cardinal his liberty who for some time was their prisoner in Dalkeith and Seaton but this project being advanced and another pass'd the vote in Parliament about a marriage between Prince Edward of England and their Queen whether by command or connivance of the Governour or intercession of the Queen Mother to which they adde the bribing of his keeper the Lâ—rd Seaton and Lethington he was soon after set free About this time they obtained with some difficulty the use of the Bible in the vulgar tongue not to leaâ—n out of it the duty of obedience to the supreme Magistrate not to study the sincere doctrine and sense of the holy word but to have the same advantage with the hereticks of old to wrest the authority of sacred writ out of the hands of the Catholick Church and to serve their purposes at any time rend the letter from the meaning of the holy Spirit For this they cited the pattern of primitive Christians whom they never meant to imitate and the authority of some Fathers who countenanced that indulgence to humble holy men but in canvasing the question I finde not them calling upon Tertullian who spake his minde too freely adjudging them for Hereticks who came short of them in pertinacy and errour and excluded all that were so from any benefit of the Bible in their oppositions unto the Church The first good use they made of it was the garnishing their libells and rebellious Pamphlets and the first fruits of the new amity between England and them was the lâ—berty of getting thence in great numbers the most angry Treatises penned in favour of King Henries fury against the Church The contract of Marriage was made solemnly in the Abbey of Hallirud-house to the confirmation of which howsoever the Governour was prevail'd with to have Christs sacred body bâ—oken between him and Mr. Sadler the Ambassadour from England yet the Queen and Cardinal and what they call the faction of France which was the principal nobility are confessed to have no consent in it upon which the Commissioners were afterward questioned for their proceedings but being maintained by the great politick Patriot the pretended Parliament it mattered not what the Holy spiritual father or natural mother had to say against them the young Queen must be disposed of as they thought fittest and the great Seals of both Kingdomes for a second ratification interchanged But soon after came out of France I. Hamilton the Abbot of Paisly and Mr. David Painter afterward Bishop of Rosse men formerly cried up by the Reformers for their learning life religion and expected by them to become pillars of the new Temple they were building but their private instructions directed them to the Court with new advice to the Governour to consider whither his petty Counsellors were carrying him what the consequences might be of the alterations in religion what commodity in continuing the ancient League with France and what hazzard of his own â—ightful succession to the crown under the displeasure of the Pope who legitimated his birth by favouring the marriage of his mother after the divorcement of his father from Elizabeth Hume then alive although he might have had security as to the last from the Reformers who acknowledged afterward they would with their whole force have fortified him in the place that God had given unto him and would never have called in Question things done in time of darkness
take his leave without attempting some revenge upon a Territory belonging to the Hamiltons wherein he gratified his passion more than justified his prudence or satisfied his friends who were so sensible of the losse sustained by it that he could not prevail with them to engage again yet having an affected fondnesse to keep up the reputation of a party against the malignity of fortune they importuned the Earls retirement to Dunbarton Castle but his own courage being conquered he thought no place inexpugnable and so weather-beaten at land he put himself upon the mercy of the sea and King Henries kindness who furnished a pillow for his disquiet and dejected thoughts the breast of Lady Margaret Douglasse his fair Nâ—ece whom he propounded acceptably unto him for a Wife The headlesse company he left behinde him fearing more the extremity of rigour from the Hamiltons which by their rashness they had merited than knowing how to protect themselves like desperate persons stood prepared to do mischief though with no hopes to survive it Upon consideration of whose perversness or compassion unto their persons the Queen Mother rescued them from their enemies and themselves taking them under her particular command and care and so preserved their lives against their hopes if not their wills but could â—ot secure their goods which by their incensed enemies were seized on and set to sale Several incursions were made afterward by the English with such successe that at last the Nobility some of whom were not so sensible of the publick dishonour and detriment done to their Countrey as of the damage themselves suffered in their private possessions which could not well be secured in a common devastation applied themselves more obsequiously to the Governour uniting their strength and compromising their counsels which helpt them to a little victory and that after their chasticement invited some auxiliaries from France commanded by Monseiur Montgomery de Lorge who had instructions to enquire after the disorders unnecessarily caused by the Earl of Lenox and his party and to rebuke them as well as cherish others who had shewed more conscience in continuing loyal than curiosity in searching reasons and opportunity how or why they might not be so The countenance of these French forces much hastened the Scotch levies so that in a short time was raised an Army of 15000. men with which they marched to the borders of England where in the spoil of the Countrey they quitted some old scores and might have made a farther inroad if not divided in their counsels but they returned home with the reputation and booty they had gotten as soon after did De Lorge into France The late successe against the publâ—ck enemy upon whose preparation or approach Scotland was never free from intestine tumults and disorders gave the Governour and Cardinal opportunity for a progresse and visitation through the Countrey to compose the ruptures in the Ecclesiastick and Civil body to encourage the hearts of such as were any way inclinable to peace and duty and to castigate persons whom they found refractory against the law and establishment of the Kingdom wherein though some of their proceedings may be censur'd for too much rigour yet somewhat must be indulged to humane infirmity that not alwaies in Rulers whether temporal or spiritual is guided by the sweet influence of Christian charity the perfection whereof is not onely to pardon but to do good for evil at least in judicature not to be over ballanced by the sense of any personall affronts so as to recompence them with revenge and make the sword of justice to execute more by the authority of their passion than the Law Beside whatsoever were the abuses crept into Religion when they finde improper persons and uncommission'd for that purpose not onely lopping off the superfluous boughs but laying the Axe unto the root of all with design to plant nothing of the word of God that they pretend to but wilde fancies of their own and not onely to argue out works but fight up their Faith and claim by their doctrine a propriety in all possessions whose owners submit not to it what prevention is used especially by persons in present government may in charity be hoped to ensue as well from a godly zeal to maintain the better part as a barbarous cruelty and perversness to keep up the worse which being all the apology I intend for them passing my word and promise that howsoever prejudiced I will relate no circumstance partially much lesse falsely to the disadvantage of the Reformers I will briefly instance the proceedings against such pâ—rsons as occur most notorious in their story Somewhat before this time in the year 1540. one Sr. Iohn Borthwick commonly called Captain Borthwick was in the Cloisters of S. Andrews before a multitude of the principal Clergy and Nobility process'd and condemned though absent and out of reach The articles are publish'd but because too succinctly and it may be not indifferently or impartially by his accusers and Judges I conceive it no injury to him to lay down for his sense and the substance of that he scattered before what I collect from the answers himself framed afterward and commended to his friends The first Article was His levelling the Pope of Rome with any other Bishop or Prelate whatsoever Where as he might have enlarged hâ—s Christian moderation to the allowance of some precedence and priviledges granted him by the submission and Canons of unsuspected Councils and given him for S. Peters sake a Patriarcâ—ate at least so much more might he have abstained from comparing the whole communion of that Religion to common Thieves and Robbers having the Pope for their Captain and bâ—cause they called him Holy Father a Title from Antiquity rendred to the dignity not only of that but other Sees affixing to the persons of all successively invested with it the guilt of Treason Murder Rapine and all kind of such evils A branch of the third Article for I omit all wherein he is to be commended for asserting the truth or not condemned for speaking modestly and prudently his own opinions that I say was concerning the lawfulness for all Bishops to be coupled and joyned in Matrimony In answer to which his business was not onely to exclaim against the practice of the Romane Church for prohibiting their Clergy marriage who cannot have the confidence to deny that a greater enlargement was left to them by S. Paul whose doctrine he chiefly urgeth and by the Cannons of the Christian Church a long time after which themselves have not expunged in their editions but rather ingeniously to clear this point and scruple Whether Saint Paul having said That all things which are lawfull are not convenient whensoever the Governours of a Church finde inconvenient what they know lawfull they may not innocently lay a restraint upon that liberty since they force no man unto the function but
simply make it a condition obliging any man that will enter in who upon conscience of his infirmity hath room enough to bestow himself otherwise in the world And those who since pleade for Sir Iohns are to frame some distinction between that general Canon of the Romane Church and those particular Statutes or laws in divers or all the Reformed which oblige beside individuals several Colledges and Corporations of people to an unmarried life who make a forfeiture of their preferments and profits whensoever they enter into that state Secondly Sir Iohn citing the doctrine of S. Paul was to take notice of his advice to all men to be as he was which argued a possibility they might be so much more that out of all men a selected number might be called to serve God at his Holy Altar with pure hands and hearts and after to make up the Lambs speciall train which St. Iohn tells him were virgins not defiled with women redeemed from among men being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb As to that Sr. Iohn pretended That S. Paul where he described the perfect image of a good Bishop did reckon and account marriage amongst the other good gifts which he required to be in them yea that he numbred Matrimony among the principal vertues pertaining unto a Bishop it is very ridiculous the most thereby imported being a toleration to such as cannot lye alone or will not trust a Steward with their accounts and unworthy a reply In his answer to the fourth Calling the Pope Antichrist among them which made him Pro-Christ by succession and Vicar general of the Church whatsoever in the eyes of some men it had of truth undeserving the imputation of Schism it had little of prudence nor could it produce lesse than a condemnation by those Judges whose Religion and interest was to keep up the Tradition of their Fathers In the fifth preferring his particular faith before that of the whole National Clergy yet rendring no account of it but in the destructive part of what he disliked nor declaring of what other communion he was primitive or modern but rather that he mean'd to be of none by his crying down material Temples and Chapels wherein the Papists puting an Image or Crucifix will not excuse him he savours of too much insolence and self-conceit sending every man to a separate subsistence by himself for which God in his holy Scripture gives no authority unto any beside that it dissenteth from the Article which the Apostles put in their Creed To the sixt Article about the Temporal Iurisdiction of the Clergy he might have so far condescended as to permit it where their spiritual function was not interrupted by it or if it were where the King supreme in spiritual and temporal dispenced with it their office being supplied by others as likewise where the cases of conscience were so involved with the points of propriety interest and profit that any difficulty arising required the resolution rather of a Priest than Lawyer such as which are to be found in Deut. 17. The places he cites against it implies onely a singular humility without ambition or vain-glory to be enjoyn'd them and may as well be used against the composing any differences the greatest act of Christian Charity as judging Controversies and Suits in law In the seventh about The Kings sequestring the revenues of the Church whatsoever may be the Royall power in reserved cases to assume or transfer the whole from one name to another as from Priests to Ministers if the name must be so reformed from Convents to Colledges yet to rend in pieces the wills and testaments of the dead and to take their Legacies from a lazy Clergy to throw them upon a luxurious Laity hath not hitherto been so approved by God in a blessing upon the persons or posterity of them that gaped for this holy morsel but that many instances have been made of prodigious ends taking away the possessors ruining their families with an insensible losse of such lands and inheritances as more justifiably descended on them What comparison Sr. Iohn makes between the Priests of Baal or Iezabel and those of Rome sparkles out from the fervency of his zeal which too much transports him when he pretends to the same commission with Daniel and Elias Upon the ninth about the power of the Church in making Canons he â—aies too much restraint or rather indeed nulls it in pretending it onely declarative of what was made by God for the Nation of the Iews or what was published by Christ to his Apostles sent among them and the Gentiles whereas the abolishing most part of the former left room for a new Law to be inserted in its place nor when Christianity had entred onely into private houses was it proper to have so many orders issued out as when it should after spread it self openly throughout the world The authentick limitation which he fancieth out of 23. Iohn may give a greater liberty than the Church of Room hath yet taken for granting him what he may expect but calls not for that the seventh verse bringeth all intended within the compass of the Morall Law yet that as to the practice both in the first and second Table brancheth it self into several parts of the positive as well sacred as judicial then proper for that Nation which since being abolished by Christ some Evangelical constitutions were to succeed whereof all the Texts in the Gospel against Traditions do not deprive the Church The conditions he annexeth to the Levites priviledge Malachy 2 reach not unto the Christian Priests unlesse he can demonstrate them as compleatly furnished out of the 4. Evangelists which rather represent and that but very briefly even when they are drawn into an harmony the state and discipline of the Church at that time than make provisional Cannons in all cases for all Christian Congregations in succeeding ages As to what power the Prophets had universally which he saith is so very lively dâ—scribed Ezek. 33. that they should hear the word out of Gods own mouth and declare it unto the people When he can prevail with God to speak viva voce as lively to Christian Priests or but whisper to them in dreams or shew them Hieroglyphicks of his pleasure in frequent visions it may be the Church of Rome will lay down her necessity of calling Councills and suspend the execution of her Cannons The summe of what passed between Christ and his Apostles as to matter of faith he might believe to be comprehended in the history of the New Testament whereupon no question the Apostles did more dilate in their dispertion than is preserved for our reading and the like was done by their successors in the institution of the Church But as to matters of practice considering how many years Christ conversed with them Sir Iohn could not but conceive many particulars unregister'd or fallen short of
opposite conclusions Many Lords retracted their subscription to the Discipline and drew into question the expedience of Assemblies This put them upon offering the Discipline to the Queen which Her Majesty absolutely refused Hereupon the state of the question is altered and Burrowes a bold fellow is set in the front of a seditious party to put up articles about maintenance for the Ministry of the Reformation For quietness sake to this purpose the Bishops relinquish the third part of their revenues to settle which Commissioners are ordered and to satisfie any of the discontented faction proclamation is made that it shall be dispatched with all possible speed Some makes jests upon it as the Earl of Huntley bids Good morrow to the Lords of the two parts But Knox who gap'd at the whole said in earnest That the Spirit of God was not the author of it for he saw two parts freely given to the Devil and the third must be divided between God and the Devil The regret at this so sticks in the stomachs of him and his Assembly brethren that they are fain to have recourse to their usual remedy and disgorge it in a filthy supplicate to the Queen part of the contents were these Gods hands cannot long spare in his anger to strike the head and the tayl the inobedient Prince and sinful people They presse the Queen again to forsake the practice of her Religion and revile it as the fosterer of whores adluterers drunkards blasphemers of God c. threaten that the obstinate maintenance of it shall in the end be to her destruction of soul and body if she repâ—nted not declare They could no longer keep silence unlesse they would make themselves criminal before God of her bloud perishing in her own iniquity and they plainly admonish her of the danger to come They humbly require that Bishops may not be set up again to empire above the people of God for they fear that such usurpation of their former estate will be neither in the end pleasant to themselves nor profitable to them that would place them in that tyranny That if the Papists think to triumph where they may and to do what they list where there is not a party able to resist them that some will think that the godly must begin where they left But the equity and civility of tendring such language was discussed between Secretary Lethington and the Brethren who advised them upon any grievance to make complaint and appeal to the Law Here one mends the matter and saith If the sheep shall complain to the Wolfe the Queen That the wolfes whelps have devoured the lambs the complainer may stand in dangeâ— c. After such cautious reasoning as Knox calls it the supplication was left to the Secretary to review who moderated the language but not so as to gain a grant from the Queen nor indeed did the Brethren expect it but took advantage hereby to pursue their design to stirre up the people by certain emissaries sâ—nt from the Assembly of whom the great incendiary Knox must be one whose gospel had the usual successe in Kyle and Gallowoy the chief Professors meeting at Ayre where they covenanted to maintain the Ministers of the evangel against all persons power and authority that should oppose themselvs to the doctrine propounded So that whosover should hurt molest or trouble any of their bodies should be reputed enemies to the whole except he submit to the government of the Church then established they say not by whom At the next Assembly were great complaints made about the Churches lacking Ministers and Ministers their stipends c. For redress hereof some thought of a new Supplication others mentioned that no answer had been given to the former So that for such things which could not be done without the Queen they â—eem'd to express themselves dutifull subjects in waiting her pleasure the rest that could they did by themselves not craving her consent or approbation unless in mockery to make sport But because the law kept not pace with the Brethrens haste nor as they thought the Queen with the law they take an easie occasion for a quicker dispatch Having discovered some Priest that said Masse at Easter avow'd by the Bishop of St. Andrews contrary to the Queens Proclamation they take justice into their own hands clap him up in prison whose pardon the Queen could scarcely obtain with abundance of tearâ— punish others and give intâ—mation to the Abbot of Cosragnel the Parson of Sangohar c. that they should neither complain to the Queen nor Council but should execute the punishment that God had appointed to Idolaters in his Lâ—w by such means as they might wherever they should be apprehended This incensed the Queen yet put her not beside a temper'd discourse with Iohn Knox whose you may be sâ—re had been this bloudy advice to whom Her Majesty propounds this question Will ye allow that they shall take my sword in their hand who answered The sword of justice is Gods and they that in the fear of God execute judgement where God hath commanded offend not God althoâ—gh Kings do it not neither yet sin thâ—y that bridle Kings to strike innocent men in their rage The Queen yielded not to his reason she did to his power with her poor deceived lieg people And so strickt she was in observing her laws made against her own interest that she suffered the Bishops and dâ—vers other Priests to be summoned before the Earl of Argile accus'd and committed to prison In requital for which act of impartial justice writes Iohn Knox All this was done of a most deep craft to abuse the simplicity of the Protestants that they should not presse the Queen with any other thing concerning matters of Religion A good encouragement for Princes to grant any thing to the Presbytery when by their largest concessions they shall obtain nothing but the character of politick deceivers gain neither upon their affection nor duty Indeed the more reasonable part of the Nobility and people did somewhat reverence the Queen for her great largeness and declâ—n'd for some time being further importunate instruments of her trouble or the Clergies imperious tyranny upon her conscience which made an absolute breach between the Earl of Murray and Knox who denounced Gods judgements upon him for his coldness in his service The like he did publickly in a Sermon to the rest that should consent to the Queens Marriage with an Infidel for such are all Papists with the Presbytery though they hold the same Creed which he said was to banish Christ Iesus from the Realm These and other his exâ—travagancies were such as disliked both parties who concurred to have him question'd by the Queen which poor Lady she could not do according to his desert for the passionate cries and tears which this Tiger confesseth burst out in such abundance that
the Laws and Customes of Nations that have been or can be brought for or against Poligamy are urged and answered interchangably by two persons Daphnis and Chloe a most sweet amarous and pleasant Pastoral Romance for young Ladies Translated out of Greek by George Thornly Gentleman A Physical Dictionary or an interpretation of such crabbed Words and Terms of Art as are derived from the Greek or Latin and used in Physick Anatomy Chirurgery and Chymistry With a definition of most Diseases incident to the Body of Man and a description of the Marks and Characters used by Doctors in their Receipts The Wise mans Crown and the Way to Blisse two Books of Chymical and Rosie-Craâ—ian Physick will be Published for the benefit of Posterity by Iohn Heydon a servant of God and Secretary of Nature G. Buchan Epig. ad Mariam illustriss Scotorum Reginaâ— {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} cap. 13. Archbishop Spotswood At Schidam in Holland ' Dr. Ier. Taylors Epist. Ded. before his Further Explic. of the Doctr. of Orig. sâ—n H. Scripture more at large had been the best rule to reform by That we have suffiâ—ient The supplement from the Catholick Church which is indulgent enough to keep all in a Christian communion Gods judgement and hers upon Schismaticks and Separatists The defection and division of Churches not here handled The Scotch reformation irregular and impious K. Iames 4 The Lollards Accus'd for Rebels Against War Priests consecrating Tythes Episcopal benediction Excommunication Sacrament of the L. Supper Divorce Miracles Praying in Churches Prelates K. Iames 5. 1657. The King pardoned them Patrick Hamilton goes for Germany Returns to reform Scotland Is accused by Cambell False doctrine in his boâ—â— abouâ— tâ—e law Faith Iustification Works 1 Cor. 6.9 Gal. 5.19 Mat. 16.27 Speculative Christianity Some young students and Friars his sectâ—ries Logie Maire Friar Arithe Lindseys advice to the Archbishop of S. Andrews Al. Seton the Kings Confessor pâ—t from him His Letter to the King Hi retraction The Reformation interrupted in Scotland Begins in England 1534. Straton denies Tyth-fish Is anathematized Instructed to maintain his errouâ— by Dun Arskin Mat. 10.33 Mar. 8 38. Matth. 23.23 Matth. 10.33 David Straton executed Friâ—r Killors play He and others burnt G Buchanan encourageth schism and rebellion 1539. Escapeth out of prison K. Iames deâ—lines an interview with K. Hen. 8. A war between them The Scotch Army defeated This discomfiture wâ—s called Gods fighting agaiâ—st pride for his own little flock Knox saith God as evâ—dently here fought against K. Iames as K Bâ—nhadad buâ—â—n his parralell he findes out nothâ—ng for the detectâ—on of the Nobles out of distast at the General chosen by the King The King dies 1542. Q Mary A Protector or Râ—genâ—s by the Kings will They are rejected by the Reformers and the Earl of Arran declared Governour The Kings treasurâ— c. delivered to him They set him to study controversies Shew him the bloudy Scâ—olâ— and instruct him by it Friar Guilliame a pointed to preach down Superstition A Ballad made against his doctrine by Witsow servant to the Bishop of Dunkell The Cardinal of S. Andrews imprisoned Set free The Bible in the vulgâ—r tongue The ill use made of it qui estis quando unce venistis quid in meo agitis non mei mea est possessio olâ—m possidâ—o prior possiâ—eo Ego sum haeres Apostolorum Vos certe exhaeredaverunt semper as dicaverunt ut extraneos ut inimicos De Praescr c. 37. The contract of Marriage between Prince Edward of England and Q Mary celebrated The Commissiners questioned for it The Abbot of Paisly and Mr. D. Painter come from France with advice to the Governour The Courtiers confâ—ont the Reformers Fr. Guilliame forbid to preach He and others Banisht The Governor lesse resolved than formerly Prepares for war with England An opportunity to break the Leâ—gue Earl of Cassils kept parrole The Scotch ships seiz'd on in England A wâ—r proclaimed Earl of Lenox comes from France His pretences against the Governour His address to the Q. Dowager His heading with the Reformers They challenge the Cardinal The Earl leaves them and resigns himself Yet withdraws again and garrisons The English invade Scotland having a party there Earl Lenox sends his Apology into France to no purpose Castle of Glascow taken by the Governour Earl Lenox makes a rash attempt upon the Hamiltons Flies into England where he marâ—ies K. H. Niece Q. Mother protects the party he leaves behinde The Scotch Nobility weary of their English friends De Lorge brings over French forces They with the Scots march to the borders and return with booty The Governour and Cardinal make a â—rogress to set all in order A moderate sense of their proceedings Sr. Jo. Borthwick procâ—ss'd and condemned when absent He is unjust as to the Pope and uncharitable to the best of that Religion His answer for Bishops marriage not very apposlic 1 Cor. 6 12. A question put in behalf of the Romane Church The Reformed Churches restrain from marriage 1 Cor. 7.7 S. Paul misinterpreted Sir John impetuous against the Pope A separation from all Churches In some cases spiritual men may have temporal jurisdiction A limitation in sequestring Church revenues An unchristian comparison The Church hath power to make Canons The reasons why The Reformation in England no good paâ—tern for Scotland Monks in the primitive Church And reverence given to Relicks My opinion of the sentenâ—e against Sr. Jâ—hâ— Borthwick Vnlikely stories about the Bishop of Dunkelden The Priests at Dundee Dean Thomas and six Friars 4. Hanged in St Iohns town The Reformers abuse the Image of St. Francis and raise tumults An impartial censuâ—e of the Râ—formed Martyrs Knox and Buchanan a â—loudy couple The Scotch Reformation raked out of Mr. George Wishearts ashes His course of life at Cambridge His return to Scotland where he passed for a Prophet Inhibited to preach Divers Noblemen encourage him The Gentry flock to him He envies and threatens where they do not He is seiz'd on by Earl Bothwel And imprisoned in the castle of St. Andrews He is brought to his Tryall He makes an Apologetical Oration With what moderation he might have demeand himself He cannot pretend to the same liberty with the Apostles Chap. 5.29 Chap. 2.2 Nor to self Ordination Rev. 1.6 1 Pet. 2.9 The abstinence and feasts of the Church to be observed His extream insolence in renouncing obedience to General Councils and professing his neglect to read their Canons What reason his Iudges might have to condemn him Yet they are to be blamed for the pomp And he for popularity and want of charity at his execution His disciples make great haste to murder the Cardinal They do it barbarously Melvins grave speech in the act non solum factum probarunt sed gratulatum ad libertaâ—is publicae auctores venerunt quidam etiam vitam â—ortunasque cum illis conjunxerunt Knox professeth himself merry