doubt not but it was attended with much sedition faction and Rebellion p. 41. I daily heartily bewail that too too much idolised Reformation if Knox and his complices had kept in the way of the old Martyrs we had bin more happy sure I am the great and more then ordinary sinnes in them and us and our forefathers have brought us to be plunged in these miseries God so punishing the sins of that first Reformation by this second spurious Reformation All controversies of Religion ought to be decided by the writs of the fathers (s) Sacro sanct p. 59. Would God both sides in this and other controversies would submit to the judgement and determination of the holy Fathers It is but precise Puritanisme to refuse the Apocrypha books (t) p. 39. If our strait laced brethren would be pleased to cast an eye upon Apocrypha I refer them to Ecclesiasticus It is presumption for any man upon earth to meddle with the questions of Election and Predestination (u) Sacro sanct p. 105. These Seraphicall Doctors make so bold with almighty God as to unfold the secrets of Predestination and to define who are the Elect and who the Reprobate All necessity takes away Freedome from the Will (x) Ibid. p. 91. The first act of mans will necessarily fertur in summum bonum this is actus necessarius non liber not so free as it may choose or reject it is elicited by force constraint or necessity the Schoolmen doe rightly teach that the Sacraments conferre grace by some extrinsecall supervenient power (y) Ibid. p. 121. Schoolmen do confesse that the Sacraments doe not confer grace vi naturali physica inhaerente but vi morali supernaturali superveniente mens sins are washed away by doing of Pennance (z) Ibid. p. He was forced to flee and with 40. years penance and repentance wash away that guiltinesse Ministers are Priests (aa) It s high time for Prince and Priest to strengthen one another all who have adhered to the Parliament are Sectaries and mad ones (bb) Ibid. p. 38. No moderate Sectary if any such be p. 68. People thus madded by mad Sectaries and Shebaes By this little taste of the mans Spirit we may see their wisedome who bring in such a witnesse to testifie against the Reformed Churches It is strange that any gracious Englishman should be apt to hear slanders against the Church of Scotland and how good friends they are either to the Parliament or to the true Religion who recommend this writer with so loud praises to the diligent perusall of simple people The 2d circumstance I offered was the object of this calumnious writ whom does it undertake to defame the Church of Scotland It is possible for any gratious Englishman to applaud this injury Who did so heartily concurre and so much assist the first planting of the Church of Scotland as that renounced Queen Elizabeth and the state of England Scotlands old obligations to England our History tells us that in all the assaults of that Church from the Popish and Prelaticall party we were not only comforted by the encouragements of the English Anti-episcopall Divines Cartwright Hildersham and all the rest of the old Non-conformists cordially sympathizing with us but also the Queene and State by continuall Letters and many gracious Embassages did ever support our cause and assist us when we needed both with Armies and Monies knowing that notwithstanding of all our differences with the Prelates yet we were most firme for the Protestant cause and welfare of England against all Enemies both at home and abroad When lately the Canterburian designes were on foot to change the Religion Englands late of ligations to Scotland and inslave the state of all the three Kingdomes to an absolute and Turkish Monarchy or at least such a tyranny as this day is exercised by the French and Spanish Kings did not Scotland at that time when no party at all in England nor Ireland would or durst appeare take their lives in their hands and with courage for the liberty of the whole Isle set their fâ—ces against these Popish Tyrants did they not with such piety prudence moderation and valour mannage that common cause that the blessings of all England and of all Protestants yea of all in Europe of what ever profession who loved the just liberty of the subject did rest upon their heads Thereafter when that wicked faction glad to be rid of them and to give them all their desires according as they were pleased to dâ—mand them did turne their Armes from them upon the good subjects of England and Ireland and in both had well neer accomplished their design Ireland having no considerable Army to oppose the barbarous murtherers and the Army that was after some faint opposition joyning with the Rebells against the Parliament In England the North and West being totally lost the Kings great and victorious Armies ready to swallow up the remnant no friend upon earth appearing for the gracious party their lamentable and desperate condition was by their Commissioners with sighs and teares represented to Scotland Where their Brethren were so touched with compassion that laying aside all thoughts of hazard which was extreamly great they resolved to ingage all they had life wealth peace and what else is deare for to rescue the English out of the pit of their visible imminent and otherwise unavoidable ruine They sent to Ireland an Army of ten thousand well appointed men who banished the Barbars out of Vlster where they were strongest and out of the most of Conaught keeping so much of that Isle in possession of the English as made it easie for them when ever they thought fit to regaine the rest They sent into England a gallant well-armed governed company of twenty thousand effective who by Gods blessing themselvs alone did ruine the Kings main greatest Army under New-castle and joyning with others of the Parliaments forces at Long-Marston did so break and defeat the prime of all the rest of the Kings forces met together that they were never afterable to bring to the fields any Army very considerable either for number or courage Much occasion of action was not thereafter afforded yet the keeping quiet of all the new conquests by North Trent and the holding the neighbouring Associations in awe til the Parliaments forces at their leasure did take up the rest of the country was no small service In these actions the Scots did spend very much precious blood many of them did endure much hardship both in England and Ireland and at home by the Pestilence by a prevailing Enemy by intestine discouragements and divisions all flowing from their friendship with England they were overwhelmed with greater miseries then their fathers had seen for many hundred yeares and which grieved them more then all things else they were entertained by too many of them for whom they suffered all these
Angels that I spoke nothing in that Sermon or any other Sermon made by me tending to the slander or dishonour of the Kings Majesty my Sovereigne any wayes but in the contrary exhorted always all his highnesse Subjects to obedience and reverence of his Majesty whom God in his mercy hath placed lawfull King and supream Magistrate in the Civill government of the Country and most earnestly have prayed at all times and specially in the foresaid Sermon for the preservation and prosperous estate of his Majesty also I protest before God that neither in that Sermon nor any other I spoke these words the King is unlawfully promoted to the Crown or any words sounding thereunto for I put never in question his Majesties lawfull Authority and for his cleering he produced three famous testificats the first under the hand of all the Masters and Regents of the University the second under the hand of all the Magistrates and Common counsell of Saint Andrewes the third under the hands of the whole Classicall Presbytery of the bounds who all were his frequent hearers and the most of them had been present at the challenged Sermon all of them did testifie the Charge to be a vile calumny and that he had spoken no such words as were alleaged w The Collection Whatsoever is laid to our Brothers charge as it is false and fained of it selfe so it is forged of the Devill and his instruments to bring the faithfull servants of God in contempt for as we were continuall and diligent Auditors of his Doctrine so we beare him faithfull record in God and in conscience that we heard nothing out of his mouth neither in Doctrine nor Application which tended not directly to the glory of God and to the establishment of your Majesties Crowne and whensoever the occasion offered it selfe in speciall to speake of your Majesty we heard him never but in great zeale and earnest prayer recommend your Majesty unto his protection exhorting alwayes all manner of Subjects to acknowledge their obedience even to the meanest Magistrate also that both in his Pulpit and Chaire and ordinary discouse it was his custome to presse so much loyalty and obedience as any duty did require x Vide supraw. The witnesse brought in against him did depose nothing to his prejudice though the Chancellour Captaine James his spightfull enemy did sit in the Counsell as his Judge Yea if Spotswood may be trusted he was not found guilty of any the least part of his challeng but the sentence against him proceeded alone upon some alleaged rash words to the King in the heat of his defence y Spotswoods History yeer 1583. fol. 175. be burst forth in undutifull speeches which unreverend words did greatly offend the Counsell thereupon was he charged to enter his person in Blacknesse As for his conscience of any conspiracy he denied it upon Oath neither was any witnesse brought in to say any thing upon that alleageance if any more were needfull for the cleering of his innocence Adamsous Oath and Subscription is extant wherein he condemnes this part of the Narative of falshood and justifies Master Melvill as a most just and honest man z Adamsons Recantation in the second Act there is mention made of Master Andrew Melvill and his Sermon wrongfully condemned as factious and seditious albeit his Majesty hath had a lively tryall of that mans fidelity from time to time true it is he is earnest and zealous and can abide no corruption which most unadvisedly I attribute to a fiery and salt humour which his Majesty findeth by experience to be true for he alloweth well of him and knoweth the things that were alleaged upon him to have been false and contrived treacheries His flight no Argument of guiltinesse yea King James himself when the Commisssioners of the Church did complaine to him of these slanderous imputations did promise them under his hand that they should be rescinded a Kings Declaration always how soone the whole Ministers of Scotland shal amend their manners the foresaid Act shall be rescinded It is true that Master Melvill when he was sentenced did flee to England for his life the time being so evill that according to Spotswoods Relation the King by the practises of the Courtiers in his minority was forced b Spotswoods Story lib. 6. fol. 244. yeer 1600. Your Father said the King I was not the cause of his death it was done in my minority and by a forme of justice to permit and oversee too often the execution of divers good innocent men yet how little displeasing Master Melvils flight was to the King a short time did declare for within a few moneths he returned and was restored both to his Charge and the Kings favour c Vide supra the Collection and Recantation z wherein he did constantly continue till the death of Queen Elizabeth did call his Majesty to the Throne of England A maine cause of the extirpation of Prelacyin England a day very joyfull to both Kingdomes but most sorrowfull to the Church of Scotland for so soon as the English Prelates got King James amongst them they did not rest till Master Melvill and the prime of the Scots Divines were called up to London and onely for their necessary and just defence of the truth of God and liberties of the Church of Scotland against Episcopall usurpations were either banished or confined or so sore oppressed that griefe did break their heart and brought the most of them to their graves with sorrow the whole Discipline of the Church of Scotland was overthrowne to the very great trouble and disquieting of the Church and Kingdome This violence did lye silent under the Prelates Chaires for many yeers but at last blessed be God it has spoken to purpose it has moved the Heavens and shaken the earth to the tumbling of all these Antichristian Tyrants in the three Kingdomes with their seats of pride into the gulph of ruine whence we hope there shall be no more emersion Master Melvils Declinator and Protestation cleeâ—ed The last thing objected to Master Mervill is his declinator of the King when the state of the Question is knowne this will appeare no great crime for the Question was not Whether Ministers be exempt from the Magistrates jurisdiction nor Whether the Pulpit puts men in a liberty to teach treason without any civill cognizance and punishment since the Reformation of Religion d Second Book of Discipline cap. 1. The Ministers should assist their Princes in all things agreeable to the Word Ministers are subject to the judgement and punishment of the Magistrate in externall things if they offend The Answer to the Declaration whereas it is said it is his Majesties intention to correct and punish such as seditiously abuse the Chaire of truth and factiously apply the Scripture to the disturbing of the Common-wealth surely his Majesties intention is good providing true tryall goe before
evills with so great unkindnesse they were loadned with so many calumnious and contumelious aspersions the Reformation of Religion their greatest aime went so farre back before their eyes that their provocations were great to provide at last for themselves while something yet at home did remain to them to be preserved But beholding visibly in their retreat and provision for themselves the certain ruine of their unadvised friends they chused rather to put up with patience all their sufferings and quietly to wait on till the ruine of the Enemy and setling of their brethrens estate by their help might open the eyes of all and bring the most perverse to Repentance for their misbehaviour towards the instruments of their welfare especially when they did see the invincible fidelity of the Scots unbrangled with the greatest temptations Though in all their late unexpressible extremities they had received no assistance at all from England nor much importuned them for it though to their greatest griefe they did see the Gangren of Heresie and Schisme without the application of any true remedy overspreading all England so fast that the infection of Scotland with this Pestilence seemed unavoidable though the current of affaires did seem to run in that channell that the person and family of the King the authority of the Parliament the Liberties of the City and Kingdome might be cast ere long into no mall hazard our Army also and Nation for no other cause but their constant resolutions to keep to their first principles did seem to stand in a very neer possibility to be to ally destroyed yet for all this they were farre from any rash or unjust conclusion their eyes were towards the Lord they did wait for his deliverance and when by him an opportunity was put in their hands to right themselves with the disadvantage of others yet they did mannage that occasion with so much justice wisedome dexterity and successe that all the world they hope is satisfied with their honesty as of men who minded nothing more then the saving of the whole Isle from these calamities that visibly were imminent the re-establishing of the King in his throne the confirming of the Parliament City and Country in all their rights the setling of Religion and peace according to the word of God and the Lawes of the Land and their owne quick returne to their homes in very easie and equitable termes enriched with nothing so much a with a conscience of well deserving with the blessings of all England with the commendation of Neighbour nations and with the hopes of the Posterities favourable construction of their whole deportment in this great action That such a people as this should be traduced and defamed by contumelious Libels in England and that at London with the contentment or patience of any it would seeme a matter very strange if the most absurd and strange things were not here long agoe become common The third circumstance considerable The Independents and Erastians in printing and publishing this book are many waies faulty is the instruments and present publishers of this writâ— That a Bishop at Oxford should have been countenanced in writing a Satyre against the Scots whom all the Malignants did hare as the chiefe and first Authors of the miscarriage of their great designe we doe not marvaile but that at London our sworn and covenanted Brethren should be avowed proclaimers of Scotlands disgrace it is a peece of singular and unexpected unkindnesse Our Brethren whether Independents or Erastians or both who have procured this Edition and with so much sedulity make it passe from hand to hand though they had been pleased to cast behind their backs all the good offices which this last century of yeares have past betwixt the Kingdomes though they had banished all gratitude towards the Scots for their late actions and sufferings though their conscience had permitted them to have trod under foot all the Oaths and Covenants whereby they stand expresly tyed to defend the Reformation of the Church of Scotland against the common Enemy Yet I would know of them how they are become thus unadvised to let their indignation against the Scottish Presbytery swell up so high as for their hatred thereunto to venture the destruction of the Parliament of England to declare all the Members of both Houses at Westminster damnable Traitors because dying in the act of Rebellion without Repentance but all who have perished on the Malignant side to be a kinde of Martyrs as being unjustly killed for their duty to God and the King to bring back Bishops to the house of Lords to put into their hands alone and that by Divine Right all the Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction of the whole Church of England And if they were resolute in their hatred of Presbytery thus far to miscarry I would further know if either the Erastians or Independents have any principles for the reduction of Poperty for the re-erection in England of Abbots Cardinals and Popes And if men against their owne principles must needs run thus mad yet that they should be permitted to act according to their madnes in the day-light under the eye and nose of so wise just and prudent a Parliament it is and will be long hereafter a matter of very great admiration especially to them who at the same time did behold some other writs for much smaller reflections purged with the hand of the Hangman by fire in many publique places and their publishers how well deserving soever otherwise both of Church and State stigmatized with notes of high infamy These three considerations are but proemicall the fourth concerning the particular matter of the Treatise is the principall If I should examine every thing it would be tedious yet shall I touch upon every passage that I conceive to be materiall This second Edition has a new Title Page The title Issachars burthen is a doltish reproach of this present Paliament and some additions in the Preface In the very inscription Issachars burthen there is a salt Gybe at the present Government that which the Proverbe wont to appropriate to the Peasants of France that they were strong Asses willing to beare all Burthens so they might live in peace in that fat soyle by this good Patriot is contumeliously applyed to England it now is the Asse crouching under two burthens if Presbyterie be the one the Parliament must be the other these be the two unsupportable burthens pointed at along all the Authors Writs the two light burthens which he every where cryes up are Monarchy scrued up to the highest pinne of Tyrannicall Prerogative and Episcopacy in all its Papall Priviledges both well fastned upon the Asses back by the cords of a Divine Right who ever for the love of peace in a plentifull Land will set their shoulders under this double burthen are Issachars Asses indeed but truly the Scots have not merited this commendation for their Land is not among the most plentifull nor have their
best Governour that any King of Scotland did ever injoy this man did Huntly kill without any cause at all but his owne meere envy and malice for these crimes he was againe excommunicate the Earle of Argile at the Kings intreaty and direction persued him with an Army of ten thousand men many hundreds of these good subjects were killed by that Rebell when after Argiles deseat the King himselfe with his prime Nobles went out against him he with displayed banner went to the fields against the King all this Spotswood reports at length Let any conscientious man here be judge King Iames for his owne respects requires a conscientious Minister to consent and concurre with him to obtain from the next ensuing Assembly the absolution of such a man from the censure of Excommunication for this was the main question the honest Minister could not be perswaded to consent unto the relaxation of such a bloody obstinate Apostate confessed by all to be still imponitent from the censures either of Church or State As for the inconveniences his Majesty did alledge the dangers from the Papists of England if Huntly and the Popish party in Scotland were too much irritate was it any great crime for Mr. Bruce to differ in this from his Majesty and to tell him plainly that which was the opinion of all the good Ministers of Scotland though the ground of the Kings quarrell with them That it would prove his best policy to make fast with the Protestant party of England and over-sea renouncing all correspondency either with Papists or Prelates that if he walked upon this ground God and his right would carry him through all both seen and imagined difficulties The world long agoe is satisfied with the wisedome of this advice for it was quickly found that too much connivence and compliance with Papists did bring that Prince upon the very brinke of ruine for the Popish party of England finding themselves disappointed of their great hopes did run to the desperate attempts of the Powder-plot and other Treasons Also the keeping up of the Bishops was a great cause of all the mischiefes which since that time to this day have fallen either upon our Church or State It is true the words you ascribe to Mr. Bruce are very unmannerly but who will beleeve that ever any such phrases proceeded from the mouth of so grave and wise a man your only Author is Spotswood His testimony in this case ought not to be trusted but if you will looke to the matter of Mr. Bruce his counsell I subject it to the touchstone of the severest censurers Upon the fourth head of Generall Assemblies Page 18 19 20 21. The reason of the Authors malice against the generall Assembly you spew out the whole remnant of your gall the wrath of a child does kindle against the whip that scourges him I will not remember you of the dogs snarling at the stone that hath hit him The Generall Assembly for just causes did chastise you with their sharpest rod of Excommunication they did deliver you into the hands of the Father of lyes and Blasphemies if there were no more then what here you write it is a demonstration that the sentence of that Reverend Assembly against you is ratified in heaven and that God in his justice according to the word of his faithfull servant hath delivered your obstinate soule to be acted by that evill spirit who else could move you to blaspheme the crowne of Christ and the holy One of Israel by name and to make the holy Scriptures the ordinary channell through which your profane girds at the Generall Assembly must run What you bring the most of it is so impertinent and so remote from all relation to any Assembly and set downe in such confusion that the very effects though the cause were not knowne may evidence the distraction of your Spirit I shall handle the fieryest of your darts as they come from your furious hands You make us to ascribe to our General Assembly False and rayling slanders against the generall Assembly a jurisdiction universall and infallible you will have it to meddle with all affaires both Spirituall and Temporall you would make the world beleeve that all disobedience thereto is censured with excommunication and that it commands the King to punish iâ— estate body and life all who disobey otherwise that it causes the King himselfe to be dethroned and killed this often you repeat moreover you call this Assembly an untamed furious Beast you advise the King much rather to submit himself to the Pope then to be in the reverence therof what spirit makes you break out into such discourses your selfe will see if ever God give you repentance however it is evident that lyes and malice do here strive which shall predominate The Generall Assembly in Scotland hath no more power then what the Parliaments since the first Reformation have heartily allowed unto them they meddle with no temporall case at all It exercises no power but what the King and the Laws authorize and all the spirituall cases which to this day they have touched may be reduced to a few heads That every disobedience brings with it Excommunication is a wide slander we doe not excommunicate but for a grievous transgression joyned with extraordinary obstinacy This censure is so rare with us that a man may live long and before his death never be witnesse to it What civil punishment the State in their wisedome findes meet to impose on a person who contemnes the Ordinances of God let themselves be answerable But that the Assembly medles with any mans life or goods is like the rest of your Assertions and yet no more false then the other lye you have here That ever any Assembly of the reformed Churches upon the highest provocations did take it so much as in debate to excommunicate much lesse to dethrone any King its most false but the Spirit that leads you must be permitted to breath out his naturall aire and to lye according to his very ancient custome You object it once and againe that the Commissioners of Burroughs and Universities are received as Members in our generall Assemblies behold the greatnesse of this crime The Commissioners of Burroughs and Vniversities are all Elders out of every Classicall Presbytery we allow one ruling Elder to goe as Commissioner to that Nationall meeting and if there be a royall Burgh within the bounds we allow two and three if there be an University What would you say to the Parliament of England who appoints foure ruling Elders out of every Classis to accompany two Ministers to the Assembly though there be neither Burrough not University in the bounds of this we are carefull that whoever comes either from Cities or Universities be not only ruling Elders but also have an expresse approbation from the Eldership What you speak of the Kings presence in our Assemblies We ascribe to the King so much power
ratifies and approves the Presbyteries and particular Sessions appointed by the said Kirke with the whole Jurisdiction and discipline of the same Kirke agreed upon by his Majesty in conference had by his Highnesse with certaine of the Ministers conveened to that effect also determines and declares the said Assemblies Presbiteries and Sessions their jurisdiction and discipline to be in all times comming most just and good notwithstanding of whatsomever Statutes Acts Canons civill or municipall Lawes made in the contrary Item the Kings Majestie and Estates declares that the 129. Act of the Parliament holden at Edinbrough the 22. of May 1584. shall no wayes be prejudiciall nor derogate any thing to the priviledge that God has given to the Spirituall Officers in the Kirke concerning heads of Religion matters of Heresie Ezcommunication collation deprivation of Ministers or any such like essentiall Censures specially grounded and having warrant of the Word of God Also abrogates Cassis and Annuls the Act of the same Parliament 1584. yeere granting Commission to Bishops and other Judges constitute in Ecclesiasticall causes to receive his Highnesse Presentations to Benefices to give collation hereupon and to put order in all Ecclesiasticall causes his Majestie and Estates declares this Act to be expired and in time comming to be null and therefore ordains all Presentations to be directed to the particular Presbiteries More needs not be said for the confounding and filling with shame the faces of them No more is needfull for a satisfactory Answer who in the reprinting of this Pamphlet could have no other intention but to grieve and disgrace them whom by word they call Brethren but in heart and workes they evidently maligne as enemies without any cause Adamson the true Father confesseth it to be a Bastard and supposititious birth wholly composed of lyes and slanders King James disclaimes it and puts a new Declaration in its place the States of Parliament in King James his presence and with his open allowance abolished the Acts whereupon it was founded rooting out Episcopacy which it dothplant and building up Presbyteries and Synods which it professeth to demolish Yet for more abundant satisfaction The points of the wryt let us consider its particular parts It containes first a Preface Secondly an explanation of foure Acts of the Parliament at Edinbrough Pag. 1. It is hazardous for a 〈◊〉 Prince to take â—pon himself â—the faults of â—his Officers 1584. Thirdly an enumeration of some foureteene intentions ascribed to the King In the Preface there is a narrative of the causes of the subsequent Declaration all resolves upon the alledged Lyes of some evill affected persons labouring to impaire his Majesties honour and fame Upon this we remark that the late unhappy tricke of Courtiers and Prelâ—tes is no lesse ancient then this Declaration it was the ordinary custome of these ungrate and imprudent men to charge the backe of the King with their owne faults the bones of Kings are supposed by Sycophants to be so strong that no burden is able to bow much lesse to breake them As King Charles has ever been â—â—o ready and willing to take upon himselfe the guilt of his servants upon what ever hazard the same was his Fathers condition yet with this difference King James was willing to beare his Servants burdens till he found they pinched but so soone as they began to presse him any thing sore he was so wise and just to himselfe and others that he laid them alwayes over upon the neck of those whom in reason it concerned to beare them The people had an high esteeme of Ki. Iames his vertues About that time the fame of Kings James his Learning Piety and personall vertues did florish at home and abroad the wel-affected who chiefly are aymed at were so far from impairing his personall reputation that in their very censure of this Declaration they give unto him an excellent testimony g Vide An Answer to the Declaration Their indignation was onely against the Court and upon just grounds But at that same time his Court was so exceedingly corrupted that the good men in the whole Isle both English and Scots did lament it Captain James Stuart by his cunning crept up to be Chancellour became so insolent a Tyrant that neither the greatest nor the most innocent had security either of their life or Estate h Spotswoods History lib. 6 p. 179. â—eere 1584. this severity was universally disliked but that which shortly ensued was much more hatefull Ibid. Maines and Drumwhassill were hanged the same day in the publick street of Edenborough the Gentlemens case was much pittied Maines his case especially all that were present in their hearts did pronounce him innocent these cruell and rigorous proceedings caused such a feare as all famiâ—iar society was in a manner left no man knowing to whom be might safely speake Arran in the meane time went on drawing into his owne hand the managing of affairs for he would be sole and supream over all Ibid. p. 177. Master Andrew Pullert Master Patrick Galloway Master James Carmichal Ministers were denounced Rebels and fled into England Master Andrew Hay compeered and nothing being qualified against him was upon suspition confined to the North the Ministers sent Master David Lindsay to the King with their supplication but Arran sent him prisoner to Blacknesse where he was detained forty seven weeks The Ministers of Edenborough hearing of this for sook their charge and fled into England so as Edenbrugh was left without any Preachers Master Robert Pont likewise flying was denounced Rebell The best Ministers were forced to leave the Kingdome The Duke of Lennox whose power with the King was greatest had lately come over from the Guisians in France though the man himself was of a very good and meeke nature yet he had his instructions and dependance from the Authors and instruments of the French Massacres he made it his worke to further the interest of France to the prejudice of England he corresponded with the French and Scots Traffiquers for Queene Maries deliverance out of prison yea for her returne to the throne of Scotland in an association with her Son k The Collection Sir Esme Stuart was sent by Queen Mother of France and the Guisians to seduce the young King to subvert Religion violate the amity between England and Scotland to procure an invasion for the delivery of the Queen of Scots then in captivity to make the King content to be associate with her in the government to alienate his heart from the Ministry he had his continuall intelligence and instructions from France These things which all the Writers of that time do record did so fill the hearts of all good people with feares for changes both of Religion and Lawes that neither English nor Scots did spare to expresse them in their ordinary discourses l Vide supra h. Unto this frightment of the people the Acts of Parliament procured by the
assistance and were ever in a possibility to be assisted by their Princes and Magistrates but if the Magistrate himself will turn Pope and take upon him to dispence the spirituall Jurisdiction one part thereof to civill Commissioners another part to the Congregationall Eldership a third to the Classis a fourth to whom he will and in the end as all did flow from him make all againe to returne by a finall appeale to himselfe when the servants of Christ are necessitate to oppose and preach against this usurpation of their Masters royall Prerogative and for their labour are persecute as opposers of the Magistrate to whom shall they flee for defence Thirdly The simpathy and antipathy of Bishops Erastians consider how in these intentions Prelacy and Erastianism are linked together it is true the genuine principles of Episcopacy doe overturne Erastianisme and Prelats where ever they conceive themselves bottomed and rooted in a Land will be loath to fetch their pedegree from any Princes will and Commission but will stand upon a divine institution or at least such an Ecclesiasticke right as depends not upon the Magistrates pleasure this was the case of the English Hierarchy of late Yet where Episcopacy is not so firmly grounded as it conceives it selfe immoveable and secure it is a very devout handmaid to Erastianisme and this was the condition of Prelacy in England when these intentions were written for at that time the Bishops were glad to keepe not onely their Civill but all their Ecclesiastick Courts in the name and by the Commission onely of the Prince deriving all their Jurisdiction and whatever they had peculiar above and differing from any Minister of their Diocesse from the Prince onely ascribing to him not onely an Architectonick but a truly Ecclesiastick power as a chiefe part of the royall Supremacy and Prerogative of the Crowne Adamson the very yeer before he wrote his intentions learned these Lessons in England from the Prelats and Courtiers of the Queen with whom he confessed at last to his griefe he had been too intimate albeit when he came to Scotland he thought it not expedient to vent to that people or possibly he was not perswaded in his owne mind of the whole body either of the Erastian or of the Episcopall maximes for in this Writ the Presbyterian Erastian and Episcopall maximes are so inconsiderately intermixed that the man seems not to have been very carefull how their contrary qualities should be so contemperated as the whol lump might not be dissolved by repugnancies It can be pretty well demonstrate how Episcopacy as it was for a long time in England may well stand upon an Erastian bottome also how handsomly the Erastian principles may in a short time bring back the Bishops Deanes and Chapters from their banishment Both agree against the Presbyterians but how a true and solid Apostolick Presbytery is compatible either with Episcopacy or a Magistraticall Popedome though there were not a Covenant I doe not conceive Our last remark upon the intentions is King James against all toleration either of heresie or schisme that however they be spotted with many and grosse both Prelaticall and Erastian errours yet they demonstrate so much orthodoxie and zeale remaining in these worst times among the Courtiers and Prelats of Scotland as will beare witnesse if it be not imitate against our times where much more piety and that upon stronger obligations is profest for first the King is made to avow his resolution to set up in the whole Kingdome Ecclesiasticall Assemblies for the suppressing of whatever by the Word of God should be found either heresie or schism qqq Kings Declaration p. 22. His Majesties intention is if any question of faith and doctrine arise to convocate the most learned godly wise and experimented Pastors that by conference of Scriptures the verity may be tryed and all heresie and schisme by that meanes be repressed but how many yeers shal we see both begin and end before the pittifull complaints of the godly both here abroad shall procure the least restraint to heresies or schisms which now in this Kingdom are become more grosse and impudent then ever in any Kingdome before or at this day in all the Kingdomes of the earth together This monstrous toleration cannot eschew to draw the displeasure of the God of truth upon the Authors fomenters and favourers thereof such a long indifferency and lukewarmnesse such a misregard of the truth of God such a connivence and compliance with errours of all kind in a people ever before famous for zeale is most mervailous Secondly Also contrary to our present hatefull Anatchy the King in that very houre of his darknesse is made to professe his intention to countenance all the ordinary Judicatories of the Church and in no wise to hinder any good order which from the Word of God in these meetings should be established rrr Ibid. His Majesties intention is not to derogate unto the ordinary judgement of matters of the Church by the ordinary Bishops their Counsels and Synods nor to hinder or stay any godly solid order grounded upon the Word of God Why then in our dayes of so great light should the whole Church lye still in a totall Anarchy did ever any Christian Nation for seven yeers without any compulsion abide without all Ecclesiastick government If men had taken a Commission from the Father of lyes and author of wickednesse to be his avowed agents in propagating errours vice and all mischiefes could they for their life invent a better meanes for furthering these designes then to continue this Anarchy then to be pragmatick and pregnantly instrumentall in putting one impediment after another in the way I hope there are many in the Parliament Assembly and Kingdome whose heart bleeds in their brest to see their hands so long tyed that they cannot get the hedge of the Church set up to keep out the devouring Beasts from the flock Thirdly Further he promises all assistance and â—untenance 〈◊〉 Church-Assemblies by these intentions we may see King James his resolution which so long as he was in Scotland he did indeed performe Not onely was he content that Ecclesiastick judicatories should proceed in all spirituall causes as the Word of God did warrant them but also he promises to countenance the superiour Assemblies of the Church with his owne royall presence and allowes to the meanest Church-meetings the assistance of the inferiour Magistrates and Church officers that their religious and just orders might not be contemned without deserved punishment Å¿Å¿Å¿ Ibid. It is his Majesties intention to assist this Assembly himself or by a Noble man of his Counsell his Deputy and for the keeping of good order in every Parish there shall be certaine appointed to be Censors of the manners of the rest who shall have his Majesties authority and Officers of Armes concurring for the punishment of vice These men are afraid of their owne
Common-Counsell of London the Houses of Parliament the Kings Majesty himselfe and whosoever else lyes crosse in their way large as uncivilly as they have done us the companions we have in our sufferings make our other wayes insupportable injuries the more tolerable But of all the kinds of injustice whereby they have been pleased to deal against us this now in hand seems to be most strange they rest not satisfied with all they are able of themselves to speak write or print for the disgrace of our Church unlesse they scrape together and with their owne hands cast upon our face the falsest of the most wicked calumnies which our common enemies the Prelats either of old or of late have invented against us We esteemed our selves secure of this kind of dealing from those whom we knew to have solemnly sworne the defence of our Church-Government against the common enemy I professe I cannot deny myamazement to see men who pretend to more then ordinary piety fall upon their wel-deserving Brethren so openly before the Sun in contempt of God and his solemn Oath to enforce upon them old rotten calumnies which cannot but fall back upon the head not onely of the first Authors but also with encrease of shame upon the face of the malicious repeaters so much against all piety charity and wisdome You know that one of the most false and wicked pieces that of old was written against the Church of Scotland was Adamsons Declaration in the yeer 1584. it was so vile that the Author was brought to an ingenuous confession of the shamefull and wicked lyes whereof it was full King James at that very time did disclaime it under his hand divers of our Parliaments did condemne the matter of it as erroneous and wrong That pestiferous carcasse which with all possible infamy was buried so soon as borne and did lye quiet in its grave of shame till a full Climaterick of three score and three yeers our good friends have been so wise for themselves and kind to us as to dig up its stinking bones and to carry it from house to house from shire to shire over all England and where over else a printed pamphlet can goe serving their Brethren of Scotland with this curtesie according to their Covenant And least the antick face of so long buried a body should not have been looked upon by the multitude with any contentment they did choice to be at the cost of putting it in a fine new English dresse and setting upon its head the Cape of a royall title All to draw the eyes of the vulgar upon it who otherwise might have passed by it wiâ—h neglect and disdaine In this they have put themselves to a peece of pains which I never knew or heard used with any other book they do print it first in Master Adamsons owne old Scottish language and thereafter translated it in good moderne English setting before both the Title of A Declaration made by King James in Scotland concerning Church-government and Presbyters When all this was told us we made our addresse to the worshipfull Lycenser intreating that a Pamphlet so extreamly injurious to our whol Church and Nation might be smothered upon the Presse and returned to its pit where so long it had lyen in infamy we were told by him that divers persons of eminency at least for their place and present Station had strongly moved him with great importunity to give his License for its reprinting Yet that upon our so just and reasonable desires he would doe his best to stop it hereupon we rested satisfied being assured of its suppression notwithstanding within two dayes after this promise it came abroad the importunity and eminency of the persons who had drawne from the Licenser his Imprimatur with greater ease did draw from the Presse some thousands of the printed Copies and made them to be sold publikely to our small contentment While this not very pleasant morsell is lying in our stomack scarce halfe digested behold a second dish is presented to us for to helpe our concoction of the first Master Jo. Maxwell late Bishop of Rosse Excommunicate by our generall Assembly declared Incendiary by our Parliament and made unpardonable in the Propositions of Peace did write in the gall of his bitternesse a wicked Satyre against all the parts of the Government of our Church This some three yeeres agoe the Author did print at Oxford under the Title of an Answer by Letter shewing how inconsistent Presbyteriall government is with Monarchy The Cavaliers there received it with great joy being extreamly satisfactory to their spight and revengefull humour against Scotland which they did ordinarily damne and curse as the first and greatest Fountaine of all their woes In this the Lord gave testimony for us against them for by a sudden and unexpected fire almost all the Copies of that wicked Booke were destroyed before they were brought from the Printers Shoppe by the strange and remarkable accident the mouth of the Author and of his malignant friends at Oxford were so stopped that we heard very little more of that Booke from them But behold our Covenanting Brethren at London I meane some of our Antipresbyterian friends tooke the courage and charity to plucke out of the fire the remainder of the Prelats labours and misregarding not onely the sentence of men the Acts of the generall Assembly of Scotland and of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes making the man an excommunicate and unpardonable Incendiary but also the judgement of God from Heaven who to their knowledge had burnt the most of that Impression to ashes notwithstanding they will gather what was left out of the fire as a holy relict and hug it in their bosome till by a new Impression at London of some thousand copies they be enabled to make it run over all the Kingdome and so much farther as a Pamphlet hugely cryed up by their voices could flee Our diligence to search and find out the Presse the Licenser and if we had pleased the Solicitors of their former Writ made them a little more cautious in the reprinting and publishing of this but for all their warinesse it was visible enough by whose industry the Books were dispersed to the Members of Parliament and over all the City it was knowne by whose serious recommendations wings were set to the sides of that Fowle that it might flee with all diligence much farther and more quickly then the art and malice of the Malignants at Oxford were able to have carried it For my part all the revenge I wish of so grievous a wrong all the penance I would put upon the Authors and Actors therein beside the weight of that sin and shame which they have drawne upon themselves by spreading so false and so wicked lyes of them who by solemne oath they were obliged to have defended against such injuries shall be onely to collation at their conveniency my subsequent Answer with their owne beloved Writs when they have
compared page with page if they find not a satisfactory reply to every materiall passage then with my good leave let them rejoyce in their work and goe on to recommend to more hands the serious perusall of these two notable peices but if so it fall out that they find it demonstrate to their owne hearts satisfaction that these imputations whereby they esteemed the honour of the Scottish Presbytery to be most grievously and irrecoverably wounded to be nothing but most impudent calumnies then I trust they will be entreated to repent of their rashnesse and hereafter to be more slow in publishing or recommending infamous Libels against Nations and Churches to whom justice though piety and charity had both been lost did oblige them to be friendly before they have tryed from some who can informe what truth may be in these things which onely enemies in the heat of their rage and revenge of supposed and mis-apprehended wrongs have invented and spread It had indeed been convenient that this Answer had come sooner abroad and followed the lyars closer at the heels but the delay was none of my fault The Work for some time was in another far fitter hand when necessary diversions had hindred it there to be so much as begun and I was called unto it before I could purchase and cast over a good many Writs whereupon my discourse was necessarily to be grounded time did slide over when I came to be ready I found the Presse so much in work or the work-men in idlenesse that I was much dis-appointed of my hopes of so quick a dispatch as sometimes I have found but if what I have done be well it will not I hope come so late as to be quite out of season I may confesse to you to whom I was wont to communicate the greatest of my secrets that although at the beginning I was much averse from medling at all with this taske yet when once I entred upon it it became to me a very pleasant labour not onely in regard of the pregnant occasion it put in my hand to make the lyes and malice of the malignants the impudence and rashnesse of the Sectaries against us cleere as the noon day but specially for the opportunity which divine providence did offer so faire as I could have wished of bringing to light before the whole Isle the oppressed innocency of many most precious Divines who had been halfe martyred in Scotland and lay still buried too much in oblivion under their sufferings also of rectifying the mis-apprehensions which the Prelaticall party had bred in many well meaning minds both in this Isle and over Sea by their grosse mis-representations of all the opposition which in the Church of Scotland had heen made to their tyrannous oppressions I was glad to be drawn by unadvisednesse of adversaries to let the world know the plaine truth of that 17. day of December of the Assembly at Aberdeen 1505. of the tumult at Edinborough 1637. and of many more remarkable passages of our Ecclesiastick History which the Prelats during their Reigne and lately also in their rage for their ruine were wont to set out in no other habit then of monstrous tragedies I was also glad of this nick of time when the Presbyteriall Government was comming to be set up over all England and when a little stumbling-block was apt to make many fall to be put to the cleering of a number of practicall passages in all the parts of that government wherein the experience of Scotland cannot but give light to all who will follow not them so much as the Word of God and sound reason which first led them into their way of Presbytery and still has kept them therein notwithstanding of all the fraud of all the force which the Court and clergy has imployed sometime to cheat sometime to beat them out of that path It was to me a pleasant service and abundantly recompensive of it selfe to open the prisons wherein the unjustice of Prelats had too too long inclosed the names and reputations of the most gracious instruments in our Church condemning them so far as was in their power to lye in darknesse and stink unto the worlds end I was not a little glad to be imployed in bringing forth and ushering up to the stage of this vast theater whereupon now we stand those great and noble names of John Knox John Willock Andrew and James Melvils Robert Bruce John Welsh Thomas Smeiton Iames Lauson David Black and divers others from whose saces a great light does shine and from their fame a most fragrant odour for the refreshing of all that comes neer them whose senses are not either very dull or much corrupted I was also content with another part of my taske to throw downe to the dust of just contempt and wel-deserved disgrace the unhappy and infamous wretches Adamson Spotswood Maxwell Balcanquell and others who by the steps of very evill actions and great disservices to their mother Church and Country had all of them at least in hope perked themselves up upon the pinacles of the highest honours both of our Church and State that in the indignation of God whom they had greatly provoked they might be tumbled downe into the more fearfull and exemplary pits of ruine Many of these stories I learned from your loving and kind discourse in my very childhood of late I have endeavored to my power to encrease and make certaine that part of my knowledge by searching the chiefe Fountaines thereof as I had opportunity for all that I say in my answer I beleeve if I be put to it I can give good enough authorities and if any more be needfull to be said if I were beside you and that living magazine of our whole Ecclesiastick History most Reverend Master Catherwood I know whence I should be abundantly furnished however what here I subjoine out of the little store I had at hand I submit it to your judgement and rest Your most deservedly loving Brother and Scholler R. BAILY Worster-House Iuly 29. 1646. The Contents of the first Treatise Issachars Burden will stumble no solid and advised mind p. 1. The Author of it is an excommunicate Prelat and Incendiary obstinate in wickednesse p. 2. The most malicious enemy to the Parliament of England that ever yet has written p. 3. A favourer of grosse Popery and Arminianisme p. 4 5 6. Scotlands old Obligations to England p. 7. Englands late Obligations to Scotland p. 8 9. The Independents and Erastians in publishing this Book are many wayes faulty p. 10. The Title Issachars Burden is a doltish reproach of this present Parliament p. 11. the groundlesse calumnies of the title Page p. 12. the discordall concord of Prelats Erastians and Independents in the point of Supremacy ibid. the publishing of this Book is a grievous injury to the Parliament p. 13. a false and mad prophesie p. 14. the whole Treatise is but an extract of the most false and venomous
you over to the Divel and therfore your rage against him for that necessary and good service is great out of his Sermon you dare cite nothing and it is well known that no or thodox Divine in any of the reformed Churches is more willing to give to Soveraign Princes all their due then that most worthy man is and ever has been In your scoffe of a Scottish Pope the smoke of ignorance goes up with the fire of malice these many years for your old stinging you have bin removed to dark Cavernes though sometimes for a Breathing you have cropen out to Oxford Dublin but had your crimes permitted you to have walked a little either at Lond. or Edinburgh or any where in this Isle where the Sun of Truth Justice did shine or any where over Sea where the affaires of this Isle with any ingenuity use to be represented you would not have called that most gracious man a Pope For how ever you have declared your selfe for Scottish Cardinalls and a Pope over the whole Church Catholick through al the world and all who know you will beare you witnesse that in Scotland so proud and arrogant a Prelate did not breath in our dayes yet the venerable divine whom you slander is so farre from the note you would put upon him that a more modest and humble spirit of so great parts and deserved authority with all the greatest of the Isle lives not this day in the reformed Churches But it is our first Reformation that chiefely grieves you Our first reformation was authorized by Parliament you continually breake out upon that and repeate very oft the same most bitter slanders The reformation in Scotland as has been said began long before the yeare 1558. when the Queens Mother was not yet come to the government in the yeare 1542. the Protestant Regent Duke Hamilton with the consent of Parliament did then authorize it and set it on foot albeit the compleat and publick Reformation of the whole Land was not till the yeare 1560. when the Parliament convened by the authority of our Soveraigne and after ratified by her did authorize it fully Her delay for a little to ratifie that Parliament makes nothing against its validity especially since now for fourscore and five yeares it has stood firme as one of our most happy Parliaments not questioned by any but some few eminently malignant Papists and Prelates That which here you scorne in Knox is a truth uncontroverted by any reasonable man that Religion has its own proper intrinsecall strength from God its only Author that Princes and states may and ought as servants to God their Lord make way for it in their Dominions by their good Lawes but this does not adde any more internall truth and strength to Religion then it has of it selfe before the Magistrate confirmed it and which it cannot lose although the Magistrate doe cry it downe and persecute it for errour Concerning the debates in the yeares 1558. and 1559. betwixt Queen Regent and the States for the just Liberties of the Kingdome for both agreed that this was the chiefe quarrell we repeat not what we have said before What you being from the thirty third p. to 39. P. 33.34.35 Episcopaâ—â—e was never â—pproved by any lawfull Assembly in Scotland I have met with it a most all in my answer to the other Treatise In the yeare 1571. a Committee of the generall Assembly at Leeth deceived by some prime Courtiers too much engaged unto the Prelates of England did advise to set up Bishops in the Church of Scotland with the name and some shadow of the things which then were in England but the thing it selfe a sole power of Ordination and Jurisdiction over the whole Diocesse in one mans hand they never dreamed of Yea the very name and shadow whereto that Committee was drawne was never allowed of by any act of a lawfull generall Assembly for the very next Assembly did disclaime it and ever after the matter was in debate till both name and thing was totally exploded Your discourse of the Negative confession and Church-government in the yeare 1580. and 1581. and of the platforme of Presbiteries as set up by Mr. Melvil without the Kings Authority with much stuffe of this kind demonstrates your mind to calumniate with a great deale either of ignorance of the times or malicious resolution to lye In the yeare 1580. some prime Courtiers The short confession of Faith was subscribed by King James 〈◊〉 the year 1 〈◊〉 and others truly popish in their heart yet for their own ends was content to dissemble and to abjure popery with their owne equivocations and mentall reservations The King desiring to stop all starting holes caused Mr. Craige the Pastor of his Familie to draw up a confession every particular rejecting expresly the most of the Romish errours this King James himselfe did Signe and permitted none to live at his Court who did not sweare it he ordained it also to goe through the whole Land Towards this confession scornfully called negative the Prelaticall party did ever carry an evill eye for it was a stronger barr against popery and their intended innovations then their designes could well admit The whole sixe yeares before that Confession The Presbiterian government was fully agreed to before that 〈◊〉 the Generall and provinciall Assemblies were much exercised in perfiting the second booke of discipline wherein the whole body of the Presbiterian Government is fully set downe nothing in our Church did ever passe with so great deliberation nor with greater unanimity In the year 1578. it was all agreed unto in the Generall Assembly Mr. Melvill was a gracious instrument in that worke but all the Divines of the Kingdome did joyne with him therein With the states they had some controversie but not for the matter of Government in this the Harmony betwixt the Church and State was full but for the Church Patrimony wherein the King did joyne heartily with the Assembly against the Court and wherein your selfe cannot but beare witnes to the honesty of the Divines at that time For it was their mind that Church rents ought not to be impropriat to Courtiers nor given to Prelats nor serve the ambition and avarice of any Church-men but ought to be imployed for the Honorable and comfortable maintenance of all that served at the Altar and for the reliefe of the poore and strangers and what was above to go to the publicke uses of the state But in this gracious designe the cunning first of the Court and after of the Prelates did Crosse both the King and the Assembly so that for peace they behoved to yeild albeit upon occasion both his Majesty and the Church did often protest for their rights The King and his Counsell did set up the Presbyteries over all the Land at the same time But for any parts of the Presbiteriall Government which in that Booke of discipline was set downe
there was no controversie in the year 1580 betwixt the Church and the Court The privie counsell had subscribed all that book with some reservation about Church rents the Generall Assemblies oft did agree to it without any exception his Majestie himselfe in the fore named year did send to the Assembly with an expresse commissioner the platform of all the Presbiteries which therafter were erected over all Scotland which against all the Prelats assaults have ever stood firme to this day so your alleagencies are exceeding false that the Presbiteries were erected without the Kings authority and that in the yeare 1580 the Government of our Church was Episcopall these are putide thredbare lyes The Generall Assembly did never allow of Abbots and Priors as Churchmen and though they pressed the great unjustice that Popish Bishops and lay Abbots should 〈◊〉 in Parliament in name of the Church to vote as the third estate The Generall Assembly did never approve of Abbots and Priors Estate without any Commission from the Church yet it was never their intention to have any of their owne number appointed by themselves to vote in Parliament in name of the Church of Scotland For when King Iames a little before his going to England was very earnest with the generall Assembly to accept of that as a favour they forseeing the snare did resolutely reject it ever til his Maje by very great dealing did draw a plurality of an unadvised Assembly to embrace that power of voting in Parliament but with a nuÌ„ber of Caveats which wise men foresaw would never be kept That Master Melvil or any Presbitery of that Land had ever any hand in impropriating or disapidating any part of the Church Rent is farre from truth But that your good Colleagues the Prelats in the Parliament 1606. made a bargaine for alienating from the Church for ever no fewer then 16. Abbays at one time I declared before About that time what the practises of the disciplinarians aâ— London might be I doe not know but this is certaine that Mr. Cartwright and all the old nonconformists in England were our deare Brethren and made a waies the Government of the Church of Scotland the measure of their desires that betwixt us and the Antiepiscopall party here was never any difference till the unhappy Separatists and their Children the Independents did make it Your invenomed invective against the present Reformation of both Kingdomes as a monstrous deformation we let it lye in your owne bosome to keep you warme till you be pâ—eased to bring all of it abroad in that Anatomie which here you promise but we expect no performance till you first have had leasure as likewise you stand engaged by your word to put the foure Limbes unto that Gorgons head of your Turkish Monarchy which some yeares agoe you set up at Oxford P. 36. The Ministers in Scotland were wont to give the King seasonable Counsell but in all wisdome and humility In your 36. p. you run upon our Assemblies for appointing Ministers to Preach pertinent doctrine and advising them who did Preach to the King and State to speake a word in season for the wee ll of Sion at that time as I shew before their was a mighty designe to advance the Catholick League for the overthrow of Queene Elizabeth and all Protestants the prime Courtiers were diligent Agents herein the men who were trusted to be watchmen to the Kings person and Family if at such a time they should have beene silent they could not have answered it either to God or man You and your gracious companions who never had a mouth to divert a Prince from any evill course were yet loud trumpets of fury in the most of your Sermons and Prayers to inflame him against his two Puritan Parliaments of Britaine but to calme him towards his innocent and Catholick trusty Subjects of Ireland That any Assembly in Scotland ever challenged the sole power of indicting fasts is in the ordinary predicament of your assertions under the spece of palpable untruths P. 37.38 No affront was offered to the King by the fast at Edinburgh Of the feast at Edinburgh p. 37. I have given in the other Treatise a full accompt only I add here that in this your relation you makeit more false then any other of your friends who write thereof the King was neither invited nor present the originall of the motion was not from the King but the French Merchants for their owne ends the Magistrates of Edinburgh did not countenance the feast for of their foure Bailies three kept the fast the appointers of that abstinence were not the Ministers but the Magistrates and the Congregationall Eldership not the supreame but the lowest judicatory of the Church the Processe against the Magistrates and the Kings great Solicitation that it might be Superceeded ar meerly fabulous I have also given a large account of your next calumnie in the other Treatis If any should Preach Treason with us he is censurable both by Church and state no man in Scotland did ever maintaine that a Minister Preaching Treason might not be conveened and punished by the Magistrate according to the Lawes All Mr. Melvils plea was that a Minister of the Church of Scotland and a member of the University of St. Andrews being priviledged by the antient and late Lawes of the Kingdome was not necessitate at the first instance to answer before the privy counsell for a passage of his Sermon which most falsly was said to be treasonable The whole case I have opened at large else where The acts of Parliament you speake of warranting an unreasonable Supremacy were procured in the yeare 1584. by that insolent Tyrant Captain Iames and the Declaration upon them was penned by Bishop Adamson also both the Acts and the Declaration were recalled by the King and Parliament That any invectives against his Majesties person for these acts were spread abroad we doe deny it we think it very possible that much might both have been spoken and written against the matter of these acts but that any man was so unmannerly as to fall upon the King himselfe before we beleeve it we must have a greater evidence then a Prelates Testimony What you say of the fugitive Ministers The Erastian and Prelaticall principles brought great trouble on the Ministers of Scotland as Spotswood relates it was thus The acts of that Parliament 1584. were so bitter and grievous to all the gracious Ministers of Scotland that many of them fled out of the Kingdome and diverse of the prime laid downe their life as it seemes of meere greife Mr. Smeeton Principall Mr. of the Uniuersity of Glasgow and Mr. Arbuthnot of the University of Aberdeen both dyed that yeare all the Ministers of Edinburgh fled to England and the cheife of them Mr. Lawson went to London Adamson Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews at that time kept great correspondence with the Bishops of England who without any
complaint of the Scottish Ambassadour were able easily to get an affront put upon a Presbiterian fugitive but if ye will beleeve Spotswood Mr. Lawson was a man so eminent both for piety and prudence that it can hardly be supposed any thing could escape him in preaching which might deserve the Queenes displeasure how ever that excellent man did dye at that time in London as it seemes martyred by the injuries of the Scottish and English Prelates which doubtles did helpe to bring downe that vengeance upon the Prelaticall State in England which our eyes now doe behold For the further evincing of the intollerable miscarriages of the General Assemby P. 39. The case of Iames Gibson you bring three other stories p. 39.40 all are faults alleadged against single Mininisters which were they never so great and true ought not to be laid upon the Assembly but see how all are misreported the first concernes Iames Gibson a zealous Country Minister who Preaching in a very troublesome time spoke more rashly of the King then became him the words that you ascribe to him we may not take them at your hand for in the same matter by Spotswoods owne Testimony you are guiâ—ty of a great untruth you avow that the King caused complaint to be made to the Assembly of this man But by no intreaty could obtaine any punishment to be inflicted upon him Spotswood says the contrary that the Assembly did proâ—ounce the mans words to be slanderous and therefore suspended him from his Ministry and while they were in further agitation of his cause that he fled into England doubtles for feare of his life what became of him thereafter I know not only I have read in a good Author that what here you insinuate of his favouring Hacket and Copinger is a very false calumny The next you speak of is Mr. Master David Black his case David Blacke Minister of St. Andrews a man of great piety and prudence his name is yet very savoury in that Towne though there be in it some three or foure thousand people yet so great was the zeale wisdome and diligence of Mr. Blacke that during all the time of his Ministry there no person was seen either to beg or prophane the Sabbath day in all that Congregation This man being delated to the secret counsell by a very naughty person that in a Sermon he had spoken disgracefully of the King was willing to have appeared and cleered himselfe of that calumny but finding that it was not his person which was aimed at but a quarrell with the whole Church in him sought for by the misleaders of the Court he thought meet to appeale not simply from the King but from the King and secret counsell to the King and Generall Assembly as to the proper and competent Judge appointed by the Law for matters of Doctrine While this question is in agitation a great storme did fall upon the Church from the seventeenth day of December which made Mr. Blacks cause be laid aside yet a little thereafter for to please the King the Commissioners of the generall Assembly did passe upon that gracious man a sentence severe enough removing him from St. Andrews to some obscure corner where he passed the rest of his dayes P. 40. A cleaâ—e vindication of the assembly at Aberdeen in the yeare 1605. Your third story is of the Ministers who went to Aberdeen the year 1605. upon them you make a tragick Narration a guâ—â—ty of the most treasonable rebellion Your rashnes is great at these times to bring up to the sight these things which for the honour of many did lye long buried but since it is your wisdom to make the world know whereof with your friends advantage they might have been ignorant the matter was this It was the custom of Scotland ever from the Reformation to keep generall Assemblies twice or at least once every yeare After some debates in the yeare 1592. it became a Law and an Act of Parliament agreed to unanimously by the King and States and accordingly it was practised without any interruption that the Generall Assembly should meet at least once a yeare and appoint when all other actions were ended the day and place for the next yeares meeting In the yeare 1602. the Assembly in the Kings presence and with his advice did appoint the day and place of their next meeting in the yeare 1603. His Majestie at that time going to England tooke upon him to prorogat the Assembly till the same day and place of the yeare following 1604. of this prorogation there could be no necessity but his Majesties meere pleasure When the Dyet of the yeare 1604. did come the affaires of the Church did greatly call for an Assembly yet it was his Majesties will to make a second prorogation 〈◊〉 the fifth of July 1605. This was much to the hurt griefe and feare of all the godly yet they indured it but when the Dyet of the yeare 1605. was come His Majestie did not only prorogate the third time but also made the day of the next meeting â—â—tertaine and inderinite This gave an allarme to the whole Kingdome all the world did see the Kings designe to bring the English Eâ—iscopacie and all their Ceremonies upon the Church of Scotland also the mistery of popery was then working vehemently a mighty faction of popish Lords were still countenanced among us immediate correspondence with the Pope by the chiefe States-men was much surmised and afterward was found to be too true Scotland had no considerable Bâ— warke either against English or Romish corruptions but their generall Assemblies if these were removed the poore Church lay open to the inundation of what ever Antichristianisme the Court was pleased to send in The generall Assembly besides its divine right was grounded upon so good Lawes as Scotlanâ couâ—d afford but â—o that at the end of the present Assembly the Dyet of the next should alwayes be appointed however his Majesties designe to put downe the generall Assembly was evidently seen by aâ— intelligent men yet so long as he prorogate it to a certaine day men were quiet but so soon as he commanded the third dyet to be deserted and that to an uncertaine and infinite time they to whom the welfare of the Church was deare did awaken and found it necessary to keepe the Dyet appointed in the second prorogation at Aberdeen Iuly 2. or 5. 1605. The Commissioners of the Presbiteries in their way to Aberdeen advised with Chancellor Seaton the prime Magistrate of the Kingdome in the Kings absence and were incouraged by him to goe on yet so soon as any of them came to the place A Gentleman the Lord of Lauristone came to them with a warrant from the King and privy Counsell and discharged them to keepe any Assembly there yet the will of the King and Counsell was not intimated to them in convenient time for when the King and Counsells Letter was presented they shew
they were not in a capacity to receave it till once they were an Assembly so with Lauristons good liking they did pray and chose their Moderator and Clerke thereafter they did receive and read the Letters discharging the Assembly to which they gave present obedience and did no more at all but appointed the next meeting according to the expresse act of Parliament Lauriston after the Assembly was dissolved was so officious as by a Lyon herauld with a publike Proclamation to command them to be gone this Proclamation most falsly he did antidate as if it had beene used before the Ministers sat downe hereupon the Ministers were convened before the secret Counsell for keeping of a Conventicle contrary to the Kings command they answered as Spotswood says that they had done nothing but according to the Laws both divine and humane That the Generall Assembly had right to meet in the great necessities of the Church and the Laws of Scotland gave them expresse warrant to meet Lauriston told them that the King might delay all meetings both of Church and State Parliaments and Assemblies so long as he pleased they replyed that they could doe nothing against the Kings mind so long as they followed the expresse order of his standing Lawes When the King and state has past an act for Trienniall Parliaments and the Commissioners of shires doe meet at the day appointed to fence a Parâ—iament according to Law and long uncontroverted custome if by evill Counsell the King should not only delay but by a Proclamation put of the meeting to an uncertaine and infinite time ought these Commissioners for following the instructions of their shires according to Law and custome be lyable to any censure the case now in hand is just the same The Ministers did plead further that the privie Councell was not a competent Judicatorie to the question what was a lawfull or unlawfull Assembly that by the Lawes of the Kingdome such questions were to be decided by a lawfull Generall Assembly and not elsewhere At that time Doctor Bancroft was Patron to the naughty Preacher of Scotland who were panting for Bishopricks and as after the conference at Hampton Court he had moved the King to crush the most of the gracious Brethren of England who could not submit to Episcopacie and its Ceremonies So then did he hasten a Message to the Councell of Scotland for the condemning all who adhered to the Assembly of Aberdeen of high Treason To maintaine a power in the Church to keep an Assembly or in the State to keep a Parliament whether to begin or to continue it when the King did discharge though the Law did expresly warrant it was to oppose the Royall prerogative and could be no lesse then the highest treason especially if any did decline the Judgement of the Privy Counsell or any other Judicatorie to which the King was pleased to referre the decision of this case though the nature of the thing and the Law did require the question to bee determined in another Court For this plea a number of gracious Ministers were condemned by an Assize to be executed as Traitours but thereafter as it were of great favour and speciall grace their lives were spared yet were they all presently banished never to returne to any of the Kings Dominions while they lived All the godly and wise in the Land did cry out upon this Act of the Candidats of Episcopacie as of the highest unjustice and Tyranny All the sufferers were men exceedingly beloved Mr. Welsh and Master Forbes their oppression but some of them were very eminent Master Forbes was a man of so great learning and prudence that in Germany both higher and lower yea with King Iames himselfe and King Charles he was held while he lived in singular reputation Master Welsh was a man altogether Apostolike of rare both learning and piety The fame of this mans zeale was so great that not only the Protestants of France but the very Popish Priests and Souldiers yea the prophanest of the Court and King Lewis himselfe at the very time of his hottest persecutions did much prize and reverence him yet so great was the rage of the Bishops against him that when in his old age and great sicknesse he came over to England and according to the direction of his Phisitians did supplicate to be permitted to breath a little in his naturall aire though he was altogether unable for preaching or making any more sturre in the world it was peremptorily denyed him unlesse he should give assurance of putting his necke under the Episcopall yoke not being able to doe this he was forced to dye out of hâ—â— Country a banished man Who would not have thâ—â—â—ht that the ruine of so many gracious men might haâ—â—â—â—lly satiate the malice of a few ambitious persons Bancroft a persecutor of the Scottish Presbiterians buâ—â—â— they were not content they proceeded farther in their cruelty they moved the King to call up to London a number of more Divines who for piety zeale and learning were of greatest reputation The pretext was faire and his Majesties Letter to them courteous he required them to come up to give him their best advice how the Church of Scotland might best be settled in peace but behold Bancrofts and the Scottish Episcopaturians fraud they are brought before the King and Councell and there are posed with a number of dangerous and insnaring questions to which they declined to answer yet being much pressed they gave in their mind in writing so humbly and prudently as was possible no quarrell could be picked against any of their words yet were they all arrested to stay at London till contrary to Law and the order of the Church and the heart of all the godly their adversaries were set downe in Scotland upon their Episcopall Thrones Mr. Andrew Melvil The undoing of Mr. Andrew and Mr. James Melvils a great Light to the Scottish Nation for his free speeches after great provocation against the English Bishops and Ceremonies to which he a stranger called up by the Kings friendly Letter did owe no subjection was kept prisoner three whole yeares and then was sent over to Sedan where he lived to his death a banished man His Nephew Mr. Iames Melvil for his excellent parts in great favour with the King but unable to comply with Episcopall designes was kept out of Scotland till his dying day the rest were at last sent home but all of them as Prisoners confined to certaine places These were the first fruits of the English Prelacie in Scotland but yearly thereafter that tree did bring forth such grapes of Gomorrha among us that the Land could be at no peace till it was cut downe yea plucked up by the rootes It might have satisfied the unnaturall malice of a very wicked child P. 41. Prelaticall calumnies to have bespattered the face of his innocent mother with the halfe of the former very injurious and false calumnies yet you
generall Assembly after that conference at the name of Episcopacy kkk The Acts of the Assembly third Session of the Assembly at Perth 1572. In the heads agreed upon at Leeth are found certaine names as Archbishop c. which were thought scandalous and offensive to the ears of many of the Brethren appearing to sound towards Popery therefore the whole Assembly with one voice protests that they intend not by the using of any such names to consent to any kind of Popery or Superstition and wishes rather the said names to be changed into others that are not slanderous nor offensive And likewise protests That the said heads agreed upon be onely received as an interim till further and more perfect Order may be obtained at the hands of the Kings Majesty Regent and Nobility for the which they will presse as occasion shall serve and ever after at any shadow of the thing that the following Assemblies did not rest till both â—â—e name and thing till both the shadow and all the parts of the substaÌ„ce were disavowed They had indeed for a time some wrastling with the Court about this matter yet at last as I have said in the yeer 1592. they got the King and Parliament perswaded to passe such Acts as did cast out of our Church and State Episcopacy both root and branch substance and shadow As these Acts of Parliament were first made by King James and the States of Scotland and now also ratified by King Charles so both the Houses of the Parliament of England cannot but approve thereof having joyned themselves by Oath and Covenant with Scotland to extirpate the unhappy root of Episcopacy which has been the great cause of the most mischiefes which in this last Age hath befallen Brittaine The third crime for which the general Assembly behoved to be put down It was no fault in the Assemblies that they called to Fasting was their indicting of soleme Fasts in which seditions tumults against the King were promoved consider that the quarrell is not simply for the Fasts but their evill use to raise seditions and tumults certainly that custome of our Church wherby from the beginning of the Reformation to this day every Church meeting from the general Assembly to the smallest Congregationall Eldership had power as they found cause to indict a publick Fast within their owne bounds is very innocent and necessary for the well being of the Church As for the alleaged abuse of these Fasts to sedition and tumults Guilty Consciences hate Fasts without cause it is a meer calumny the matter I beleeve was this About the time of the penning of this Writ the â—â—alous Ministers in all their exercises especially in the dayâ—â— of publick Fasting did make mention in their Sermons and Prayers of the wickednesse of the Land for which the wrath of God was much feared by the godly the Leaders of the Court conscious of their owne guiltinesse took themselves to be particularly pointed at and for this did hate extreamly every zealous Preacher as if all their Sermons and Prayers had been invectives for stirring up of the people against them while in truth these gracious men did nothing but their duty containing themselves within the lines of all needfull moderation but to wicked men in their pride and impatience the least touch of the Word of God is an intolerable wound The explanation of the last Act The sum of the next Paragraph containes the maintainance of Episcopacy in the highest degree it puts in the hand of the Bishop the whole spirituall Jurisdiction of his Diocesse to be exercised by him alone although with the advice of some few whom he shall please to choose for his Counsellours it imports that all his Jurisdiction flowes from the King and in the exercise thereof it makes the Bishop answerable onely to the King and them whom his Majesty shall appoint in an Assembly of his owne framing it makes the Bishops also Lords of Counsell and Parliament Upon this passage I marke first The Reprinters of this De claration make no conscience of their Covenant the conscience and honour of these men who with so great importunity required the reprinting of this Declaration and to make its operation the more effectual in the hearts of simple people would be at the cost to change the language thereof to set it downe first in Scotch and then in English a piece of paines so farre as I know never taken with any other Writ this diligence demonstrates the mens humour I can hardly say whether more scornfull of the Scots and their language or passionately desirous to disgrace that Church though it were with the exalting of Episcopacy and if as I suppose they have taken the Covenant this encreaseth my wonder how any who have solemnly sworne to defend the reformation of the Church of Scotland and to endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy can in a sudden become so zealous and put themselves to so great pains in disgrace of the Scottish reformation to advance Presacy If either Independency or Erastianisme have power to let loose the Reines of conscience so far we confesse the Scots have been too simple in beleeving that Oathes and Covenants in plaine matters which admit no ambiguity nor plurality of senses had beene farre straiter bonds among all who had the estimation of honest men and in whom there could be found the least sparkle of any ingenuity or truth Consider secondly that King James as I have said did give it under his hand to the Commissioners of the Church the yeer following that this Declaration was none of his but the work of Adamson of Saint Andrewes lll Vide supra and that this man at last was convinced of his errour confessing upon Oath and subscription Episcopacy to be a grosse corruption a stirrop for the Pope to ascend to his Antichristian saddle an errour which he had learned and wherein from time to time he was entertained by the English Prelates mmm Adamsons Recantation The last Article contained the establishing of a Bishop which hath no warrant in the Word of God but is grounded upon the policy and invention of man whereupon the primacy of the Pope or Antichrist is risen which is worthy to be disallowed and and forbidden Thirdly whatever here is said of Bishops is not now controverted in the Parliaments of both Kingdomes and in the solemne League of both Nations it is expresly condemned as all doe confesse if any anti-covenanting Malignant require a further debate when they will they may have a hearing and an answer Fourthly when the Commissioners of the church did declare to King James King James his ful and honest Declaration against Erastianisme that the government of the Church was not a Matter civill which did belong to the Magistrate to exercise and that it was unlawfull for his Majesty to appoint any of his Commissioners to governe the House of God that this were with the