assemblies have beene holden from the time of reformation till the year 1603. at least once in the year and oftner pro re nata provinciall Synods twice in the year weeklie meetings for exercises and presbyteries everie weeke for matters to be treated in them respective their liberties were ratified in parliament anno 1592. and by that as a most powerfull meane blessed be God peace and puritie of religion were maintained And in the assemblie holden at Glasgow 1610. when Commissioners voters in Parliament provided to prelacies were made lyable to the censures of the generall assemblie It was acknowledged that the necessitie of the Kirk craved that there should be yearlie generall assemblies And the Ministrie were then assured that libertie would be granted upon their request whereby they were induced to condescend so farre to the act then made as they did which act also beareth in the verie entrie thereof a request to his Majestie that generall assemblies may be holden in all times coming once in the year or precislie at a set and certaine time Nevertheles the wonted libertie of holding generall assemblies is suppressed the order of the provinciall Synods confounded presbyteries in a great part disordered and neglected whereby divisions have entered into the Kirk Ministers are become negligent in their callings and scandalous in their lifes the godlie are heavilie grieved the weake are scandalized erroneous doctrine is delivered in Kirks and Schooles without controlement the Commissioners voters in parliament lye untried and uncensured and atheisme and poperie increase Our humble desire is therefore that the acts of parliament made in favours of the assemblies of the Kirk and speciallie the act of Parliament holden at Edinburgh in Iune 1592. be revised and ratified in this present parliament 4 Notwithstanding the observation of festivall dayes privat baptisme privat communion episcopall confirmation of children have beene rejected by this our reformed Kirk since the beginning of the reformation and it hath beene declared by act of parliament in the year 1567. that such onlie were to be acknowledged members of this reformed Kirk as did participat of the Sacraments as they were then rightlie ministred which was without kneeling in the act of receaving the sacramentall elements of the supper or immediate dispensing of the same to everie communicant by the minister And that it was statute and ordained in the same parliament that all Kings should give their oath at their coronation to meantaine the religion then professed and that forme of ministration of the sacraments which then was used Nevertheles pastors and people adhering to their former profession and practise are nicknamed Puritans and threatned not onlie without any good warrant but beside the tenor of the act of perth assemblie which containeth no strict injunction and contrary to the meaning of the voters and to the proceedings of that assemblie where it was professed that none should be pressed with obedience to that act Therfore we humblie intreat that by ratification of the acts of parliament made before that assemblie and by such wayes as shall seeme good to your gratious Majestie honourable Estates assembled your Majesties good people Pastors Professors may both be purged from such foule aspersions and may be freed from all dangers and fears which may occurre by occasion of that act of perth 5 Albeit it be determined by the generall assemblies of this our reformed Kirk what oathes Ministers should take at the time of their admission or ordination yet there is a new forme of oath devised and urged by the admitters or ordainers upon intrants to the ministrie together with subscription to certaine articles devised by them without direction and warrant from any assemblie of the Kirk yea or act of parliament whereby the entrie to the ministrie is shut upon the best qualified and others lesse able are obtruded upon the people to their great griefe and hazard of their soules Our humble petition therefore is that all such oathes and subscriptioâ—s urged upon ministers at their entrie or transplantation may be discharged 6 Notwithstanding there be constitutions of the kirk and lawes of the countrie for censuring of ministers before the ordinarie judicatours ecclesiasticall yet contrarie to that order ministers are suspended silenced and deprived and that for matters meerly ecclesiasticall before other judicatours which are not established by the authority or order of the countrey and kirk Therefore our humble petition is that ministers deserving censure be no otherwise censured then the order of the kirk doth prescrive and that such as are otherwise displaced be suffered to serve in the ministrie as before The Presenter attended in Edinburg to coÌ„pear if need were before such as were to conveene to consider the articles and petitions which were given in to the Clerk Register But there was no appearance of any such convention The Ministers therefore directed the brother above named to present the supplication following to his Majestie which he did upon the fifteen day of Iunie in the Castle of Dalkeith the same day that he was to make his entrie in Edinburgh This happie occasion with strong desires long waited for by your Majesties most humble and loving subjects the Pastors and Professors of the reformed religion within this your Majesties Kingdome of Scotland The great fame which hath often filled our eares of your Majesties most pious and princelie inclination to religion and righteousnes whence this Kirk and Kingdome from their singular interesse in your Majesties birth baptisme have reason to looke at this time for a confortable influence the bodie of this Kingdome in heart joyning with us and onelie waiting for the least word from your Majesties mouth The conscience which we have and which we trust is manifest to all men that we are seeking neither riches nor honours to our selfes but that the summe and substance of our desires is to procure the advancement of the Kingdome of Iesus Christ and to see your Majesties flourishing estate in your Kingdomes All these and each of them move us to intreat in all humilitie your gratious Maiestie to be favourable to our petitions which we have delivered to the Clerk of Register to be presented to your Majestie and Estates at the approaching Parliament that they may be considered and receave a gratious answer The King read the petition at length Yet there was no more heard of our grievances either among the Lords of the articles or in open Parliament where nothing cometh in voting but that which first must passe the Lords of the articles and usuallie what passeth through their hands is concluded by the whole Estates in publike Not onlie were our grievances suppressed but also all former acts concerning the Kirk were ratified Howbeit it was wel knowne that sundrie former acts had wrought great disturbance in our Kirk An act also in particular concerning the common habits of Kirkmen not of surplice or other like superstitious vestures as many mistake was ratified and made
that some of theÌ„ have purchased licence by the votes of the counsell albeit we opponed Therefore beseek his Majest to remember the counsell that the confining of these Ministers was for faults done by them to his H. self that they should be acknowledged and confâ—ssed to his Majestie and his H. pleasure understood therein before the grant of any favour otherwise they shall undoe all that hath beene hitherto followed for the peace of the Kirk 4. Touching the erections it is our humble desire to his Majestie that the Noblemen in whose favours the same have beene past may take order for the provision of their Kirks according to the conditions made in Parliament or then discharge their erections which seemes best to be done by an act of this ensuing session of Parliament for which his Majesties warrant would be had And some such like course would be taken for the prelacies erected which have past also the constant plat that the presentation of Ministers to the modified stipends at the vacantie of the Church should be in his Majesties hand whereunto though his Majesties expresse commandement was given of before no heed was taken by such as had the charge of affaires 5. Since this matter of the commissariats importeth so much to the reformation of our Church governement as this being restored in a litle time the rest may be supplied which will be wanting it shall be good to remember it by a serious letter to my Lord of Dumbar that we may know in due time what is to be expected And since our greatest hinderance is found to be in the session of whom the most part are ever in heart opposite unto us and forbeare not to keith it when they have occasion you shall humblie intreat his Majestie to remember our sute for the kirkmens place according to the first institution and that it may take at this time some beginning since the place vacant was even from the beginning in the hands of the spirituall side with some one kirkman or other till now which might it be obtained as were most easie by his Majesties direction and commandement there should be seene a suddaine change of many humours in that estate and the commonwealth would find the profite thereof 6. Anent our conference with the ministrie your L. will declare the time that is appointed and reasons of the continuation of the same 7. Because in the time of Parliament cheeflie it should be expedient to have the Bishops to teach in the pulpits of Edinburgh his Majestie would be pleased to commend this to my Lord of Dumbar by a particular letter and to require also the Ministers of Edinburgh to desire their help at that time if it were for no other end but to testifie their unitie and consent of minds to the Estates 8. Because the Kirk of Leith lyeth destitute in a sort through the Bishop of Rosse his age and the imprisonement of Mr. Iohn Murrey and that the said M. Iohn is no wayes minded as appeareth to give his Majestie satisfaction neither were it meet in respect of his carriage that he should returne to that ministrie and to insist in his deprivation with the Commissioners might perhaps breed us a new difficultie if his Majestie shall be pleased we doe hold it most convenient for the errand that the said M. Iohn be conveened before the counsell by his Majesties command and by them charged to waid in the towne of Newabbey and some miles about having libertie to teach that people among whom he shall find some other subject to worke upon then the state of Bishops And for the provision of Leith that his Majestie would be pleased to command the presbyterie of Edinburgh in regarde of the Bishop of Rosse his age and the said M. Iohns transportation by his H. appointment to have care that the said Kirk of Leith be planted with all convenient diligence by M. David Lindsey sometimes Minister at Sant Andrewis for whom both the people is earnest and we may have sufficient assurance to his Majesties service And incase the said presbyterie prove wilfull that another letter to the same effect may be sent to the Commissioners of the generall assemblie who may take order to see that matter ended if such shall be his Majesties pleasure and this would be done with all diligence convenient We cannot but remember also the misorder keeped in the countrie that once was happily repressed wearing of gunnes and pistols and humblie beseech his Maj. that some new course may be established for searching of such persons and delating of them to the counsell that they may be punished and the Thesaurer may have commandement to make choise in everie countrie of certaine that shall be thought fittest to search who shall be knowne onelie to his L. self and satisfie them for their paines to the end this insolence may be restrained Particularlie it would be forbidden in the granting of commissions that this libertie be not permitted for this is one of the causes of their so open dealing as said is These particulars your L. would have care to propone to his Majest at some fit time and see the answers thereof dispatched accordingly Glasgow by the warrant and at the desire of the rest of my Lords the Bishops Master George Glaidstones sent this letter following to the King in August 1612. whereby the reader may perceave what were their plots and preparations before the Parliament following in October where the act of Glasgow was ratified or rather altered Most gratious Soveraigne AS it hath pleased your Maj. to direct mee and my Lord your Majesties Secretarie for advising anent our affairs to be handled in this approaching parliament so happilie did I find him and my Lord of Glasgow both in this towne and conveened them both immediatlie after mine arriving and with good advisement we have made choise of these things which are most necessarie and have omitted these articles which may seeme to carie envie or suspition or which your Majestie by your royall authoritie might not performe by your self But we all hold fast this conclusion that it is most necessarie and convenient both for your Majesties service and weill of the Church that the Day viz. the 12. of October shall hold preciselie to the which the parliament was proclaimed upon the 24. of this instant I will assure your Majest that the verie evill will which is caried to my Lord Chancelor by the nobilitie and people is like to make us great store of friendship for they know him to be our professed enemie and he dissembled it not I thank God that it pleased your M. to make choise of my Lord Secretary to be our Formalist and adviser of our acts For we finde him wise fast secret We shall not be idle in the mean time to prepare such as have vote to incline the right way All men do follow us and hunt for our favour upon report of your Majesties good acceptance of
The grievances given in by the Ministers before the Parliament holden in June 1633. Propositions concerning kneeling before the bread in the Sacrament Master WILLIAM COUPERS Letter to the Bishop of Dumblane The Bishops instruction to Master Gawin Hammiltoun Bishop of Galloway Mr. George Gladstones letter to the King Master William Struthers letter to the Earle of Airth Printed Anno 1635. The grievances given in by the Ministers before the last Parliament in Iune 1633. THE Ministers standing for the preservation of the puritie of religion in Doctrine worship and governement assayed sundrie meanes to have his MAIESTIE rightlie informed of the estate of our Kirk but the successe was not answerable to their expectation Yet having the opportunitie of his Majest coming to his native countrie of Scotland to be crowned and hold his first Parliament they advised upon some grievances to be presented to his Maiestie and Estates It was ordained by act of Parliament 1594. that foure of everie estate should conveene twentie dayes before the beginning of the Parliament to consider all articles and petitions which were to be given in that such things onlie might be put in forme and presented to the Lords of the articles in time of Parliament as were reasonable and necessarie and that such as were impertinent and frivolous might be rejected But it was not determined who should make choice of the persons Yet this was not observed before the last Parliament But upon the 16 of May 1633. intimation was made by Proclamation that all such as purposed to give in any articles or petitions deliver the same to the Clerk Register betwixt and the first day of Iune to be presented by him to such of the estates and counsell as should be appointed to hear and consider them The ministers fearing not to be heard otherwise appointed one of their distressed brethren Master Thomas Hogge to present their grievances to him which he presented and delivered and tooke instruments thereupon in the hands of a Notair Grievances petitions concerning the disordered estate of the reformed Kirk within this Realme of Scotland presented upon the 29 day of May 1633. by me Mr. Thomas Hogge Minister of the Evangell in mine owne name and in name of others of the ministrie likewise grieved to Sir John Hay Clerk of Register to be presented by him to such as ought according to the order appointed consider them that thereafter they may be presented to his Maiestie and Estates which are to be assembled at the next insuing Parliament THE opportunitie of this solemne meeting of your gratious Majestie and the honourable Estates conveened in this high court of Parliament and the conscience of our dutie to God and the reformed Kirk within this Realme of Scotland where we serve by our ministrie constraines us to present in all humilitie to your Highnes and Estates presentlie assembled those our just grievances and reasonable petitions following 1 Albeit vote in Parliament was not absolutlie granted to ministers provided to prelacies but onlie upon such conditions as his Highnes of happie memorie and the generall assemblies of the Kirk should agree upon which is evident by the remit and provision expressed in the act of Parliament holden at Edinburgh in December 1597. And albeit the manner of their election and admission to the office of Commissionarie and the particular conditions and cautions to be observed by Ministers vote in Parliament in name of the Kirk after long disputation were agreed upon by his Maiestie present in person and the generall assemblie and were appointâ—d by them to be insert in the bodie of the act of Parliament which was to be made concerning that purpose Some Ministers notwithstanding have beene and are admitted to vote in parliament in name of the Kirk as absolutlie as if the act of Parliament did containe no such reference and as if his Majestie with the generall assemblie had not agreed upon the manner of their election and admission to that office or upon any limitations wherby the Kirk hath sustained great hurt prejudice in her liberties and priviledges and speciallie by their frequent transgressing the first of the conditions although grounded upon the verie law of nature and nations That nothing be proponed by them in parliament counsell or convention in name of the Kirck without express warrant direction from the Kirck under the paine of deposition from their office Neither shall they keep silence nor consent in any of the said conventions to any thing that may be preiudiciall to the libertie weal of the Kirck under the said paine And the second That they shall be bound at every generall assemblie to give accountâ—ment the discharging of their commission since the assemblie preceeding and shall submit themselfes to their censure and stand to their determination whatsoever without appellation and shall seek and obtaine ratification of their doings at the said assemblie under the paine of infamie and excommunication Therefore our humble supplication is that the execution of the acts of Parliament of matters belonging to the Kirk to which they have voted in name of the Kirk without any authoritie or allowance from the generall assemblies of the Kirk be suspended till the Kirk be heard and that in time coming ministers have no otherwise vote in parliament but according to the provision of the act of parliament and the order of their entrie to the office of that commissionarie and limitation foresaid agreed upon as said is 2 Seing ratifications of acts and constitutions of the Kirk can not be construed to be a benefite or favour to the Kirk unlesse the ratifications passe according to the meaning of the Kirk and the tenor of the said acts and constitutions without omission addition or alteration of clauses articles or words of importance and that in the ratification of the act of the assemblie holden at Glasgow anno 1610. which past in Parliament holden 1612. under the name of explanation sundrie clauses and articles were omitted as the subjection of Bishops in all things concerning their life conversation office and benefice to the censure of the generall assemblie the censure of Bishops incase the stay the censure of excommunication the continuing of the exercise of doctrine weeklie the necessitie of the testificat and assistance of the ministrie of the bounds for the admission of ministers and other clauses and articles are added and insert as the different degrees of Archbishops and Bishops the power of giving collation of benefices granted to Bishops the disponing of benefices falling in their hands jure devoluto the appointing of Moderators in diocesan Synods incase of their absence and some words of the oath are changed By all which omissions additions and alterations the Kirk hath sustained and doth sustaine great hurt in her Iurisdiction and discipline Our humble desire therfore is that the Kirk may be liberat from the prejudice of those omissions additions and alterations of the act foresaid 3 Notwithstanding the generall
a point of the royall prerogative Small hope had we of any better event considering the dependance either of Noblemen upon the Kings favour for the recoverie of their brocken estates or of some other men for preferment or the fear of others to lose it all knowing verie well the Kings bent and inclination For the better clearing of the equitie of our grievances I will set downe these few observations Great opposition was made by manie worthie men of the ministrie to Ministers vote in Parliament convention or counsell and not without reason When it was carried by pluralitie of procured voces in a generall assemblie holden at Dundie anno 1597. against which and the two former assemblies M. Iohn Davidson protested the nixt care of the sincerer sort was to have the Commissioner voter in Parliament tyed to a certaine forme of admission and to some cautions that he degener not into a Roman or Anglican Bishop He was to be recommended to his Majestie by the generall assemblie and to be admitted by the Synod as it then stood in integritie The first two cautions ye have heard in the grievances By the third the commissioner voter in Parliament was bound not to prejudge the provision of other Kirks planted or to be planted By the fourth he was bound not to delapidar or dispone any part of his benefice without the advice and consent of his Majestie and the generall assemblie and to interdite himselfe to that effect By the fifth He was bound to attend faithfully upon his own particular congregation where he shall be minister in all the points of a pastor and hereanent to be subject to the triall and censure of his own presbyterie and provinciall assembly as any other minister that beareth not commission By the sixt caution In the administration of discipline collation of benefices visitation and all other points of ecclesiasticall government he shall neither usurpe nor acclaime to himselfe any power or jurisdiction farther then any of the rest of his brethren under the paine of deprivation By the seventh That in presbyteries provinciall and generall assemblies he shal behave himself in all things and be subject to their censure as any of the brethren of the presbyterie By the eight At his admission to the office of commissionarie thâ—se and all other points necessarie he shall swear and subscrive to fulfill under the penalties foresaid otherwise not to be admitted By the ninth In case he be deposed by the generall assembly synod or presbyterie from his office of the ministrie he shall lose his vote in Parliament ipso facto and his benefice shall vaike Such as plotted the course of Episcopacie and aspired to prelacies were constrained for the present to condescend to these cautions but were not minded to stand to one jot of them longer then they saw occasions to breake loose Because they were made countable by these cautions to the generall assemblies they procured first a prorogation of the diets of the assemblies by the Kings authoritie and at last the bereaving of the Kirk of all libertie to indict any assemblies that so they might bee freed from making any count at all After they had gathered strength and power to overrule assemblies of their owne devising and after that some of the Ministrie were banished others confined a third sort drawen up to court they procured a convention at Linlithgow anno 1606. of Noblemen and Ministers nominat by them and recommended by the King to the presbyteries to be sent to that meeting The name of a generall assemblie was concealed in the Kings missives But soone after presbyteries were charged with letters of horning to accept the constant moderators chosen by that meeting such as were styled vulgarly Bishops in respect of their benefices to be moderators of the presbyteries where they made residence Synods likewise were urged to accept these Bishops for constant moderators howbeit no such thing was concluded at that meeting but their acte falsified This moderation did not satisfie their ambitious humour nor was it well accepted by presbyteries or the Synodes In the yeare 1610. they were armed with the power of the high commission of which they were not capable and without consent of the Estates contrairy to an act of Parliament Anno 1584. to silence deprive fine and incarcerat Ministers to command them to excommunicat such as in their judgement deserved that censure and to fine and imprison other whatsoever subjects After that they become thus great and terrible and now able to extort any thing from servile ministers they procured an assemblie to be holden at Glasgow soone after like that other at Linlithgow but that there was more gold delt among mercenarie ministers at this assemblie Soone after three of their number went to court to be consecrat Bishops returned consecrated the rest of their fellowes no such thing being concluded at that meeting as the office of a Diocesan Bishop Anglican or Roman that is to be the proper Pastor of all the congregations within the Diocie the power of ordination residing in him and of jurisdiction flowing from him The presbyteries and Synods were onlie tyed to these who were called Bishops in respect of their benefices in the points and in the manner expressed upon trust that they should be lyable to the censure of ordinarie and set generall assemblies But they were not content with sundrie articles of that act howbeit the assemblie was overruled by themselfes and they consented to the end that the Ministers there conveened might be induted to yeeld so farre as they did Therefore when the act was ratified anno 1612. they consented in Parliament to additions alterations and omissions of sundrie clauses as no doubt they had devised themselfes before In the yeare 1617. they consented in Parliament to the election of Bishops by Deans and Chapters which was inhibited by the acts of the assemblie holden 1578. and condemned in the second booke of policie as popish It was likewise farre different from the forme of election and admission agreed upon with their owne consents in the generall assemblies What was proponed in Parliament for their advancement was granted by the Estates and consented to be themselfes as no doubt they had devised So they were their owne carvers In end they brought in popish ceremonies to vex the Ministers and Professors and to give them some other subject to worke upon then to medle with themselfes and their usurped authoritie Because they are conscious to themselfes of the nullitie of their assemblies and fear to want the concurrence of Synods and presbyteries they draw Ministers Professors before their court of high commission But if this court were not fortified and assisted by the Lords of secret counsell by whom it was first authorised their power in the high commission would be litle regarded Our bondage then resolves upon the counsell Whatsoever be the usurpation of the Prelats the Ministrie and Professors are not to be
me and the Bishop of Cathnes and sending for my Lord of Glasgow and the procurement of this Parliament without advice of the Chancellar And if your Majestie will continue these shining beames and showes of your Majesties favour doubtlesse the purpose that seemes most difficill will be facilitat to your Majesties great honour and our credit which if it were greater then it is your Majestie could receave no interesse For besides that no estate may say that they are your Majesties creaturs as we may say so there is none whose standing is so slipperie when your Majestie shall frowne as we For at your Majesties nodde we must either stand or fall But we referre the more ample declaration of these purposes and other points of your Majesties service to the sufficencie of my Lord of Glasgow and my good Lord Secretarie the fourteenth Bishop of this Kingdome But my Lord of Glasgow and I am contending to which of the two Provinces he shall appertaine Your Majestie who is our great Archbishop must decide it Thus after my most humble and heartie thanks for your Majesties good acceptance and gratious dispatch lately which hath filled the eares of all this Kingdome I beseech God to heape upon your Majestie the plentie of all spirituall and temporall blessings for ever I rest Edinburgh the last of August 1612. Yours Majesties mosthumble subject and Servitour S. Andrewis Master William Struther one of the Ministers of Edinburgh and a Conformitane howbeit he was content to accept a fat Bishopricke yet was content in end to forgoe the lean ceremonies to live in the greater ease and peace as this letter following directed to the Earle of Airth to be presented to his Majestie testifieth My very good Lord I Visite your L. with this letter and that for the end which I spoke mcore largelie in conference ever for the peace of this poore Kirk which rent so greevouslie for ceremonies There is also some surmises of farther novations of organes Liturgies and such like which greatly augments the grief of people but the wiser sort assure themselfes of his Majesties royall wisdome and moderation that his Majestie would impose no new thing if his Majestie were timouslie informed of these and the like reasons 1. Because King Iames of happie memorie made the Marques of Hammilton promise in his Majesties name to all the Estates of this Land solemnely in face of Parliament that this Church should not be urged with any moe novations then these five articles that then were presented to the Parliament upon which promise the Parliament rested and gave way the more chearfully that these articles should passe in act of Parliament 2. Nixt because the motion that is said to be made to his Maiestie of these novations is made by and beside the knowledge and conscience of the kirk of this land who are heavily displeased for that motion and more because it is alleadged to have been in their name who knowes nothing thereof but by report 3. Because our church lyes already groaning under two woundes the first of the erection of Bishops the other of kneeling But if a third be insticted there is no appearance but of a dissipation of this church In the first people were onely anlookers on Bishops state The second touched them more in celebration of the holy sacrament but yet lest arbitrarie to them But this third will be greater because in the whole body of publike worship they shall be forced to suffer novelties 4. Because the Bishops are already publici odii victimae and borne down with contempt and that vexation is intollerable when they depose any brother for not conformitie they scarcely can finde an expectant to fill the empty place and that because they become so odious to the flock that they can doe no good in their ministrie But if any farther novation be brought in the Bishops will finde ten for one to be deposed and that of those who have already given obedience to the five articles who will rather chuse to forsake their places then to enter in a new fire of combustion 5. Lastly because it is observed by such as are judicious that the former shismes have shaken the hearts of the people in religion and hath produced odium vatinianum among brethren poprie is encreased in the land and if any farther come in it will be seen that universally people will be made susceptible of any religion and turne Atheists in grosse Your L. knowes I am not one of these who stand out against order but doe suffer for mine obedience and therefore the more boldly I suggest these reasons unto your L. I dwell in the most eminent part of this land and so have occasion te see more what is the fruit of a shisme I professe an unspeakable griefe to see any thing done that may trouble the peace of a church and devide the hearts of a good people from a good king Our fire is so great already that it hath more need of water to quench it then oile to augment it Edinburgh the 28 of Ianuar. 1630.