make poor people die Traytors to both ibid. p. 68. fancying to themselves that they fight the Lords battels for Religion Liberties they dream they die Martyrs when they die Traytors to God and his Anoynted ibid. p. 132. They set the simple people upon Rebellion against God and his Anoynted to the destruction of State soul and body temporally and eternally That the defensive war of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes is a most reall Rebellion and Treason that all who have dyed in that quared are certainly damned that the Covenant is a damnable Conspiracy that all Covenanters are Traytors and Rebels both to God and the King that their Covenant puts them upon the principles of Ravtitack and Faux to kill Kings and blow up Parliaments (b) Vide supra a. also ibid. 63. This Covenant maketh every man to be armed with power and the way left to himselfe for ought wee know it may be Raviliacks way or Guido Faux his way ibid p. 7. For as bad as the Iesuite is in my conceiving the Puritan is worse That the Armes of the Irish Rebels were no more unjust then these of the British who opposed them that the Irish Cessation was lawfull and commendable (c) Ibid. Preface to Ormond you were assaulted with two of the worst extreames of opinions enraged both of them with the same degrees of madnesse That the Marquesse of Ormond for piety and prudence has not his match upon earth (d) Ibid. You whose piety is admirable whose wisdom and prudence is above the ordinary and all your equals so experienced in matters of State that it is a wonder to them who know you and incredible to them who have not been eye witnesses That for military vertue he is equall to Scipio Hannibal and Caesar (e) Ibid. Your heroicall Acts are worthy of the greatest Caesar you gained so much as their valiant Hannibâ—s and Scipios That the Legislative power is in the King alone That his Monarchy makes him above all Lawes and lets him be tyed to none but gives him power to alter and abolish them at his pleasure (f) Sacro Sanct. p. 180. One of the Sectaries principles wherby they intoxicate the Vulgar is that in a Monarchy the Legislative power is communicable to the subject ibid. p. 94. At the admittance of Saul God giveth to the subject Legem parendi Soveraignity is an undivided entity how can you share it among more To diminish any thing of this Pretogative is to destroy Monarchy to dethrone the King and to take his Crowne from him (g) Ibid p. 141. You totally destroy Monarchy and must say down right our gracious Soveragne is no Monarch p. 142. An impotent King is the same with no King For Parliamâ—nâ—s to meddle with any part of this power is a sacriledge which God will revenge (h) Ibid. p. 144. The worst bargaine ever subject made was at any rate to purchase a possession of the sacred Rights of Kings till these Kingdomes be purged of sacriledge so highly committed against God by wronging his Anointed and he be restored to his sacred Rights we need look for no effectuall blessings of God When through weaknesse or imprudence a Prince is cheated or enforced to give away to his Parliament any part of his power himselfe or any of his posterity when ever occasion offereth may lawfully take it back notwithstanding of any promise oath or law made to the contrary (i) Ibid p. 142. I doubt not to affirme but if any good Prince or his Royall Ancestors have been or are cheated out of their sacred Right by fraud or force he may at the first opportunity when God in his wise providence offereth occasion resume it You see with what a Statesman we have to doe A favorer of â—rosse Popery â—nd Arminiaâ—isme for his Religion heare a part of it Episcopacy is a necessary and fundamentall truth of Divine Institution and Commandement (k) Issachar p. 1. In the Edition of Oxford Episcopacy is the true necessary and perpetuall Government of the Church institute by Christ wee deceive our selves to expect deliverance from our troubles if wee subordinate fundamentals in Religion necessary truths to our civill good All Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction belongs to the Bishops alone by Divine Right no Presbyter ought to bee a member so much as of a Provinciall Assembly (l) Ibid p. 31. Now is forgotten that of the councel of Chalcedon concilium est Episcoporum and that old barbarous but Christian enough verse Ite foras laici non est vobis locus ici That the Kings consent to the abolition of Episcopacy in Scotland is the true and great cause of all the troubles which since that time hath befallen him and his subjects (m) Ibid p. 2. What peace hath King or Kingdome enjoyed here or in Ireland since Episcopacy by Law in Scotland was damned That Abots Priors and their Religious Houses of Monks and Fryers are lawfull in the Church (n) Ibid. p. 49. Abbots and Priors to Melvils time were nominate and admitted to Abbeys and Priories as Church men but this great Doctor found out another Divinity that for Abbots and Priors there was none such in the Word of God That Patriarcks and Cardina's are Church Dignities highly to be reverenced (o) Ibid p. 43. Cardinall Beton a Priest and Archbishop of so high Dignity That the Pope by Divine Right is as true a Bishop as any other Bishop in the world but by humane Ecclesiastick Right he is greater then any other (p) Sacro Sanct. p. 58. The Pope the Bishop of Rome hath no more by Divine Right except it bee in extent then the meanest Bishop in his Diocesse what hee may have by positive Ecclesiasticall right it s not pertinent for us now to examine Hierome compareth three of the meanest Bishops with three of the greatest Patriarcks Priviledged at that time by Ecclesiasticall Canons That Presbytery is worie then Popery and Iesuitisme that it were much better for any King to put his Dominions under the yoak of the Pope and Iesuites then of Presbyteries and Synods (q) Issachar Edition Oxford p. 30. The â—ing is in a worse condition under this soveraignty then under the Pope ibid p. 45. The Presbytery it or may be in time a mother of as much rebellion and treason as any Iesuitisme of the highest die if not more certainly Rome although a whore is not so bad nor so abominable That the first Reformation in Scotland France Holland Germany and where ever the supream Magistrate was not the Author and Actor of the worke was unorderly and sin ull an action seditious and treasonable a great cause of all the mischiefes that from that time to this have come upon the Churches (r) Ibid. p. 36. This gave life to that tumultuary Reformation we will never wrong Reformed Religion so much as to count of that as an orderly Reformation We
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
opposite to the contrary which yet the Parliaments of both Kingdomes now and the rest of the reformed Churches ever did professe was truth and a part of the purity of Religion the affirmation of so much I hope will not be found a very monstrous crime P. 48.49 The Commissioners of the generall Assembly unjustly slandered though you beleeve Episcopacy to be so fundamentall a truth that all its opposits must needs be most properly Hereticks In the remnant of your Booke from the page 48. to the 53. you make your declamatioÌ„s against the CoÌ„missioners of the Generall Assembly you will have them to be the fountaine of all the Treasons Seditions Rebellions of the Land but you should do well to prove this rather then to say it for you know that your assertions have no faith and deserve none in Scotland reason you can have none in the nature of the thing for all established Courts either in Church or State have naturally a power in themselves to make Committees for the furthering of that worke which the Lawes of the Kingdome put in their hands It is true Committees under that name were not early knowne in Scotland the name and a part of the thing we learned from our Neighbours of England but so soon as the Generall Assemblies did thinke meet to appoint some of their number to be a standing Committee to their next meeting the expedient was unanimously embraced and liked of by none so well after a little tryall as by King Iames and the State I did never heare any hurt charged upon these Committees but one that by the Kings extraordinary diligence with some of them they were seduced to lay some ground stones whereupon Episcopall Chaires were afterward set downe but what here you lay to their charge is evidently false Queen Regent was suspended from her authority by the state before there was any Generall Assembly in Scotland Queen Mary was put from the Government and King Iames established therein by the Parliament the Nobility at Ruthven did persuade King Iames to send the Duke of Lenox back to France and remove Captaine Iames from Court before any Commissioners of a Generall Assembly were so much as thought upon Being of necessity must precede all operation It is folly to charge crimes upon a Committee before it had any existence but all these your discourses are used as a preface and introduction to that grand Common place of the bitterest invectives of all your friends the 17. day of December which you make the topstone and close of all your calumnies That much tossed matter P. 50.51.52 A full account of the 17. day of December as I find it in Spotswood and others much more worthy Authors was this After the miscarriage of the Spanish designe upon this Isle in 88. the Popish faction of Scotland did still keep correspondence with Philip and his Ministers both in Spaine and West Flanders Agents Letters Monies were ever going betwixt them great hopes yearly of a new Navy which fayling the Iesuits moved Huntly and his complices to enterprise by themselves these things were all discovered Queen Elizabeth who in all the popish designes was primely aimed at did send frequent advertisements of their plots which by intelligencers in Rome and Spaine she came to understand The Generall Assembly did excommunicate Huntly the head of that turbulent faction The King denounced him Rebell he was often relaxed from the sentence both civill and Ecclesiastick yet he ever relapsed and entered in new conspiracys for the overthrow of the Religion and Kingdome The man was very bloody powerfull and active After Chancellour Maitlands death the prime Courtiers were knowne Papists and drew the Kings mind to receive Huntly againe into favour contrary to the Supplications of all his well-affected Subjects and the manifold Letters of the Queen of England these same Courtiers under pretence of mannaging the Kings rent did graspe into their hands all the Offices of State and favours of the Prince to the extreame discontent of the most of their fellow Courtiers Besides all this they made it their chiefe designe to kindle the Kings wrath against the most zealous of the Ministry they brought matters to such a passe in the beginning of December 1596. that the King in displeasure did Command by Proclamation the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly to dissolve and goe out of Edinborough they presently obeyed the charge So what ever followed thereafter is unjustly charged upon that Committee which long before the seventeenth day was dissolved and gone out of Towne On the sixteenth day Huntly who had killed the Earle of Murray had defeat Argyles Army had come to the fields against the King in person conspired with the Spaniard to bring in the Armado solicited often the Prince of Farma for a new Navy plotted the taking of the King and killing of the Chancellour in his presence This man though both banished and excommunicate comming boldly to Court put all Edinburgh in a just feare So much the more as in the morning oâ— the sevententh day some of the Kings chiefe Servants and Bedchamber men who it seems indeed had a reall intention to raise some trouble against the Octavians by whom they were spoyled of their places and meanes did informe the Ministers and others of Huntlies privie conference with the King the evening before till midnight this afterward was found to be but feigned by them yet it was most true that by these mens misinformations that very night the King by Proclamation as he had done before with the Commissioners of the Geneâ—all Assembly commanded in the morning of the 17 Twenty foure of the cheefe and most zealous Citizens of Edinburgh to depart the Towne All these things falling out together put the people in extreame feare of a present Massacre by the hands of Huntly of the popish Courtiers and their faction To prevent this mischiefe Mr. Balcanquall whom it fell to preach that day after Sermon desired the cheefe of them who were present to stay for advisement what was needfull to be done for their owne safety in the meeting nothing at all was resolved upon but a humble supplication to his Majestie that they might be in security from the dangerous plotts of the Papists That the Lady Huntly an excommunicate Papist might be removed from Court and sent home That three of the Counsellours knowne papists and correspondents with Rome as their Letters thereafter found with the Pope did prove might not vote at the Counsell Table in the causes of Ministers That the Citizens banished out of Edinburgh without the allegeance of any cause might be returned to their houses This most innocent Petition was sent to his Majestie by two noble men Lindsay and Forbes two Barons Bargeny and Blachan and two Ministers Master Robert Bruce and Master William Watson Master Robert Bruce did speake to his Majestie so humbly and with so much reason that he gave no offence but when his Majestie
their abolishing of Episcopacy their indicting of solemne Fasts the desert of these crimes we will see when the particulars are opened The Road of Ruthven was a Remonstrance made to his Majesty by a number of the prime and best affected of the Nobility The generall Assemblies approbation of the Road of Ruthven very innocent against the insupportable tyrannies of some few Courtiers to the extream hazard of the Kings person the Church and whole Kingdome His Majesty yet minor was content to follow the Remonstrants advice the men complained of were removed from Court the action of the Noble-men was declared by the King and his Counsell to have been good and acceptable service bbb Collection His Majesty seemed to be well pleased and gave sundry significations of his good liking of that action as of good service done to him by attestations in his Princely word they should never be challenged by Act of Privy Counsell by Act of solemn convention of Estates by publike Proclamations at Market Crosses needfull by desiring the English Ambassadours to testifie to the Queene his owne and his Estates good liking by two legations sent to her Majesty signed by his owne hand and the Counsels by his command to the Ministers in chiefe places to signifie his consent and apprsbation to the people the convention of estates made that same Declaration ccc Vide supra bbb the Kings the Counsels the States approbation of this fact was solemnly proclaimed in the next Market places of the chiefe Burroughs ddd Vide supra bbb at his Majesties desire the Ambassadours of England and France did write so much to their Masters eee Vide supra bbb and it was also promised that the next generall Assembly and Parliament for the Noblemens greater security should give their ample approbations When the generall Assembly came the Noblemen petitioned them for their approbation at the first the Assembly declined to meddle with that matter fff Collection When the Authors of the enterprize sought the approbation of the generall Assembly it was answered that the matter was civill nothing pertaining to them It was replyed that the King and Counsell Estates had approved it and that the King had agreed an Act of approbation should be made in the Assembly whereupon Master James Lauson and Master David Lindsay were directed to his Majesty who after conference with his Majesty and Counsell reported their approbation and the Kings contentment that an Act should passe as was desired but when the Petitioners insisted alleaging it was the Kings pleasure they should take that matter into consideration they sent two of their number to the King to understand his mind his Majesty did not onely fignifie to those Messengers his defire that the Assembly should declare their approbation of that Action at Ruthven ggg Vide fff but also he did send two Commissioners of his owne to require the Assembly in his name to declare so much hhh The Collection The Tutor of Pitcur and Colonell Stuart Commissioners from the King reported that they had speciall command to assent in his name and so the Assembly approved but not till approved before and desired to approve Could the Assemblies obedience to the Kings expresse command be a treason of so high a nature as did merit not onely the persecution of their persons but the abolition of the Court it selfe for ever yet the Prelats and Courtiers rage did intend no lesse for when Captaine James had got againe into the Court whence he had been banished he wrought so upon the minor King that the Noblemen and Gentlemen who had procured his removall at Ruthven were some of them executed as Traitors others forfeit and banished many of the best Ministers were forced to flee for their life not one Pastor durst stay in Edenborough but all fled out of the Kingdome iii Vide supra Such stormes has Satan oft stirred up in Scotland by his instruments yet gracious men there by faith and patience by wisdome and active courage did wrestle through and alwayes in the end prevailed they got the Church the Kingdome the person of the Prince ever at last rescued from the bonds and snares of oppressing Sycophants The memory of our Predecessors sufferings and successes does much encourage us in these evill dayes and permits us not in the greatest tempests to faint but makes us to walk with hope in the midst of despaire for the like glorious issue however this was the sad condition of Scotland for some time till the oppressed Nobility did come to Stirling in a greater number and with a sharper Remonstrance then they had used at Ruthven At their first appearing before the Towne The Road of Stirling the instruments of mischiefe did flee the King and his good people Noblemen Gentlemen Ministers and others were presently reconciled though the authors of these frequent misunderstandings did escape by flight the sword of publick Justice yet did the private judgements of God quickly find them out and sweep them off the face of the earth with their ruine peace and prosperity did flow in both upon Church and Kingdome The other great crime imputed to the generall Assembly It could be necrime in the generall Assembly to vote down Episcopacy is That they had voted downe Episcopacy and had professed the unlawfulnesse of prelaticall Jurisdiction both in the Church and State which prior Assemblies had approved of To this I answer that the crime cannot be very great for any Church meeting especially a generall Assembly to declare their judgement in a point of Religion of great and generall concernment and whether this their judgement was erroneous when they condemned the office of Episcopacy affirming it to be unlawfull for a Minister of the Gospell to be a Lord of Parliament and Counsell to be a Chancellour Secretary Treasurer of a Kingdome or any Officer of State or to take upon him alone the power of Ordination and spirituall Jurisdiction which the Word of God never gives to one ordinary Officer but alwayes to a number joined in a Presbytery the whole Isle thanks be to God now does cleerly see That ever the Church of Scotland or any lawfull Assembly thereof did approve of Episcopall jurisdiction What favour the Earle of Morton procured to Episcopacy at the conference at Lâ—eth 1572. was by the generall Assemblies disclaimed it is alleaged without any ground We grant the Earl of Morton in that necessary correspondence which he did always keep with Queen Elizabeth was entangled in a greater familiarity and affection to the English Prelats then was convenient and at their desire did assay in a conference of some Statesmen and Ministers of his speciall acquaintance in the yeer 1572 at Leeth to have set up in Scotland a kind of Episcopacy but that plant was so strange to our climate that it could take no root in our ground for so much offence was taken in the very next
Apostates ibid. Caesaro papisme is an Antichristianisme worse then that of the Pope p. 33. Prelats and Erastians their Sympathy and Antipathy p. 34. King James against all toleration of heresies or schismes p. 35. Also much contrary to our present Anarchy p. 36. The retarders of government are enemies to themselves and to the welfare of England p. 37. The Recantaâ—ion of Patrick Adamson pretended Archbi of St. Andrews p. 37 Mr. Patrick Adamson's owne Answer and refutation of the Booke falsly called The Kings Declaration p. 41. Two pious and propheticall Letters of Mr. Jo. Welsh which he wrote out of his prison after the sentence of death was pronounced against him and other gracious Ministers for their testimony against Erastianisme Prelacy p. 45. The Authors out of which the chiefe testimonies of the subsequent Vindication are taken The Acts of Parliament printed at Edinborough by Robert Walgrave in the yeer 1597. The Acts of the second Parliament of King Charles printed at Edinborough by Robert Young 1641. The Acts of the generall Assembly at Edinborough 1632. printed at Edinborough by Evan Tyler 1642. One of the Registers of the Church of Scotland Manuscript A collection out of the Registers of the Church of Scotland by Mr. David Catherwood wherein beside other things are Mr. Andrew Melvils processe the Animadversions of the Commissioners of the generall Assembly upon Adamsons Declaration delivered to the King Also a Reverend Divines censure at that time upon the same Declaration Also King James his true Declaration Knox History Altare Damascenum Adamsons Recantation Mr. Welsh his Letters The Ecclesiastick History of Scotland written by John Spotswood pretended Archbishop of St. Andrewes licensed for the Presse under the hands of Secretary Stirling and Windebank Issachars Burden under the name of an Answer to a Letter c. Also Sacrâ— Sancta Regum Majestas both printed at Oxford 1644. by Mr. John Max well pretended Bishop of Rosse THE UNLOADING OF ISSACHARS BURTHEN WHen from divers good hands it was brought to me Issâ—chars burthen will stuâ—ble no solide and advised minde that Presbyteriall Government began to be evil spoken of by many to be suspected by some who hitherto had not been unfriends to it through the occasion of a late Pamphlet Intituled Issachars burthen which some Sectaries with all care and diligence doe put in the hands of the prime Members of both Houses of Parliament and others whom they conceive to have any influence in the affaires either of Church or State either of City or Countrey The word of the old Philosopher came in my mind a short sighted man is a quick judge who sees few things does soone and rashly give out his sentence That this namelesse Pamphlet printed by a Malignant at Oxford and reprinted by the industry of Sectaries at London should be able to open the mouth or touch the heart of any considerate man with the least suspition against the Government of the Reformed Churches seemes to me a little strange and will doe so as I suppose to others who shall be pleased to consider with me some circumstances of that writ first the Author secondly those whom he professes to taxe thirdly its Publishers fourthly the matters contained therein The Author of it is a man infamous an Excommunicate Prelate and inâ—endiagy The Author as uncontroverted fame since its first publication at Oxford makes manifest is Mr Iohn Maxwell late Bishop of Rosse from whose gracious pen a little after this did drop another piece of the like benigne quality Sacro-Sancta-Regum majestas they must be of a greater then ordinary credulity who can admit this mans testimony-against the Church of Scotland for by the most solemn judicatories of that Land he is declared infamous by the generall Assembly for many grievous offences he with some other Prelates were delivered into the hands of Satan but for more treasonable crimes this man by the Parliament of that Kingdome was declared an incendiary a Censure put upon no other Prelate but him alone These no more heavie then just sentences were so farre from bringing him to any shew of repentance A man obstinate and obdured in wickednesse that they filled his heart with bitternesse and rage to doe speak and write what ever masice hightned to the uttermost could dictate In that most scurrilous and invenomed Satyre Lysimachus Nicanor his pen was thought to be principall for this he got a warning from heaven so distinct and loud as any uses to be given upon earth to reclaime him from his former errours with his eyes did he see the miserable man Iohn Corbet who took upon him the shame of penning that rable of contumelious lies against his Mother Church hewed in pieces in the very armes of his poore wife this Prelate himselfe in the meane time was striken down and left with many wounds as dead by the hand of the Irish with whom he had been but too familiar All this did not humble his stout spirit so dangerous is it to be put in the hands of the Devill by the servants of God according to their Masters warrant for no sooner did he recover of his wounds but he went for Oxford of purpose to cast â—oyl in that flame in the first kindling whereof he had beene a prime instrument How little faith ought to be given to this man I might shew by seven years old Stories A man very corrupt in doctrine it s well known that he above all men living did move and encourage Canterbury to force upon Scotland the Liturgy and Canons what ever Popery or Tiranny is found in either he was a prime Author and full consenter thereto the erroneous Tenents of the Canterburian party especially their grosse Popery in the heads of Transubstantiation Iustification and Purgatory were according to his minde as the supplement of Ladensium Autocatacrisis demonstrates how neare he and his two most intimate friends Forbes and Synserfe were to the open profession of Popery does appeare by the avowed defection to Rome of their chiefe Scholars and most familiar dependents Forbes his Sonne Synserfe his brother Menteith the great Achates of all the three Bishops But leaving these elder stories The most malicious enemy to the Parliament of England that ever yet has written behold what new stuffe he layes out in his two Pamphlets in matters of State these are his maximes all resistance to Kings in any imaginable case of the most extreame Tyranny is simply unlawfull though the Religion Lawes Liberties of whole Kingdomes were totally subverted Let Princes doe what ever miseniese can come in the heart of the worst men subjects are to suffer all and have no right allowed by God to make any opposition farther then by teares and prayers (a) Sacro-Sanct p. 19. All opposition by force resisting of Kings by Armes whether in a defensive or offensive way is against God and unlawfull ibid. p. 66. They commit the highest Treasons against God man
Church does proceed not onely in foro interiori conscientsae but also exteriori â—cclâ—siae to censure as it finds cause Thus far you and the most Monarchik of the Prelates goe No Presbytery did ever enter in any process with a supream Magistrate that in doctrine any Presbyterian Divine went ever further I doe not know but in practise never one of them went so far Some Bishops have actually excommunicate the best of the Emperours upon their enormous Scandalls but that any Presbyterian did ever so much as begin a processe with any Prince when they had the greatest provocations thereto it cannot be shewed to this day The Church of Scotland notwithstanding all the crosse actions of King Iames or King Charles against them in overturning not only the accidentalls but many of the substantials of their Religion and in persecuting them without all cause with fire and sword and all the calamities of a bloody warre yet did they never so much as bethink themselves of drawing against any of them or any of their kindred or speciall servants the sword of Church censures The Church of France alwaies wholly Presbyterian when Henry the fourth one of their Members apostatised from them to the Pope did never so much as enter into a consultation of delivering him into the hands of Satan Without all peradventure Presbyterians are much more tender then any other Christians of what ever name to meddle with Magistrates by the censures of the Church In the next Paragraph you flee out againe upon the ruling Elders as if it were absurd for any of their coat to sit in Ecclesiasticall Judicatories all the ground of your quarrell is their want of an Episcopall Commission with this qualification you can admit any Lay-man not onely to sit in Ecclesiasticall Iudicatories but to sit there as sole and onely judge you can make them your Vicar generalls before whom all the Clergy of your Diocesse must stand to be examined and judged for the discharge of their duty in all Ecclesiastick administrations The Prelates have no question with the Presbyterians about the persons of Laymen as they call them whether they may be Members of Spirituall Courts but about their calling both grant the lawfulness of the thing but the Prelats doe found it upon a Commission from themselves The Presbyterians presse their calling from God and the Church according to Scripture What you object of Lay men moderating our Presbyteries and Assemblies All the moderat is of 〈◊〉 â—â—â—embly are preachers is no more then the ordinary practise of our Prelates how often has Sir Nathaniel Brent and other Gentlemen meerly Civilians sitting not only as Prolocutors but aâ— Vicar generalls and so only Iudges before whom the whole Clergy of the Diocesse of London or of Canterbury have appeared as my Lord Bishops subjects for their tryall and censure albeit in Scotland we never had any such custome as you object for the Moderators of our Church meetings doe begin and end with solemn prayers now ruling Elders have not a calling to pray publickly in the Church also they are but assistants in Discipline the principall charge lies upon the labourers in the Word and Doctrine we doe not allow to an Assistant the place of the Principall As for the men whom you name we grant none of them was in the Orders you speak of neither of Deacon Priest nor Bishop you meane preaching Deacons Orthodox men in Scotland as now in England doe reject all these Orders as Popish further I did never heare that any of the three persons you name did ever moderate any of our Assemblies their is no reason that for this or any thing else we should take your bare assertion or the word of any of your Coleagues for a sufficient proofe but giving all you alledge to be true the first man you name you confesse was a Reader now ye know at the beginning of our Reformation our Readers were Ordained to be truly Ministers to be Priests in your dialect for they did exhort and preach as they were able and celebrate the Sacraments The second man you name Mr Melvil was a Doctor of Divinity and so long as Episcopall persecution permitted did sit with great renoune in the prime chaire we had of that faculty George Buchanan had sometimes as I have heard beene a Preacher at St Andrewes after his long travells he was employed by our Church and State to be a Teacher to King James and his Family of his saithfu nesse in this charge he lest I believe to the world good andisati factory tokens the eminency of this person was so great that no society of men need bee ashamed to have been moderated by his wised me Your next exception against the Presbytery is for their Expectants Expectants are not Lay-Preachers these be the Sonnes of the Prophers who in their preparations for the Ministery at their first exercises for assay and tryall are heard in the Presbytery with this practise no reasonable man can finde fault it is naturally impossible for any without a miracle to attaine the habite of preaching but by divers Initiall and preparatory actions where can these be so fitly performed as in the Classes The Expectants are present in the Classes for their training not as Members for they doe not voyce in any matters of Discipline The true mystery of this controversie is that the Expectants are permitted to preach before the holy hands of a Bishop have conferred upon them the Order of a Deacon and so power to preach and baptize The Church of Scotland did alwayes reject this corruption as clearly contrary to Scripture Your gird at the Presbytery of Edenburgh is weak and unconsiderable The Presbytery of Edingburgh usurp no power over any other for that meeting has no power at all above the meanest Presbytery in the Kingdome notwithstanding of all the service which the gifts of the Members thereof may performe to any who are pleased to crave their advice It s not to be supposed but men of eminent gifts where ever they live must have an influence upon many others we doe remember it to our griefe that you and your Companions while you lived in that Presbytery which you mock did send forth your Episcopall Arminian and Popish poyson to all the corners of the Land East West South and North. That King Iames at Hampton Court Pag. 6. King Iames aversion from Presbytery and affliction to Episcopacy makes not this the better not that the worse and elsewhere did speak his pleasure of the Presbytery makes it nothing the worse his resolution to keep up Eiscopacy in England for his own ends moved him to discountenance what ever opposed it yet so that in his Basilicon doron at divers other occasions he gave luculent Testimonies to many Presbyterian Divines of his own acquaintance preferring them for grace and honesty before all those whom he could make willing to accept of Bishopricks The best Princes
Generall Assembly were these actions either decreed or allowed by any Church meeting but the truth is you are gathering togither a confused masse of all the odious fables which you can either find or invent to the prejudice of Protestant Religion since it came first in Scotland to this day As for the Cardinalls slaughter Cardinall Beton by all Law and reason deserved death yet Knox did not defend the way of his slaughter all good men who heard it did heartily rejoyce at the judgement of God in taking away that cruell persecuter a most vicious wretch as Spotswood himselfe relates the story his crimes were many for which his life by all Law and reason was forfeit the suborning of a false Testament to King Iames the fifth for his owne advancement the burning quick by his owne Ecclesiastick authority the most holy Martyrs the marring with all his might the Reformation of Religion that such a man was removed in the indignation of God according to Mr. Wisheard the martyrs prophesie the whole Land did greatly rejoyce As for the manner of his slaughter that it was by the hands of privat men and not of the publick executiooner this no man did defend of Mr. Knox disallowing thereof Spotswood testifies expresly but that which troubles you is not the killing of a man but as you speake of a Preist of an Arch-Bishop of high dignity that is a Cardinall of Rome these circumstances are but poore agravations of that fact The other horrible fact at Edinburgh how detestable it was P. 31. An account of the tumult at Edinburgh for the Service-booke Let all the Isle judge When a company of base men were come to that height of insolency as to tread on the necks of the whole Kingdome as to make it an Act of high treason for the greatest of the Nobility to keep albeit very secretly in their Cabins a Copy of a Petition presented to his Majesty in person Vide the large Declaration against some new illegall usurpations of the Prelats to get Noblemen condemned to lose their heads only for this action and to avow in print the great Justice of such a sentence and the extraordinary favour in pardoning so high and treasonable an attempt When they became so extreamly malapert without so much as once acquainting the Church to bring in three or foure whole books full of Novations in Religion and withal to proclaime the absolute unlawfulnesse for the whole Land to make the smallest opposition if to morrow they should bring in upon the back of their former Novations the Masse in Latine or the A coran in Arabick when they came with a high hand to put in practice this their lawlesse Tyrannie that good zealous people whom you maliciously and falsly stile whoores and coale stealers should have their patience so far tempted as to break out in violence against you was it any wonder when atrocious injuries are multiplyed upon a Nation and by a few openly vicious and corrupt persons the current of Justice is stopped all the world will not be able to hold the passions of a people not totally subdued from breaking out into unjustifiable insolencies which a little Justice might easily have prevented What ever wrong might accompany the zeale of that very good people the reverend Answerers to the corrupt Doctors of Aberdeen doe openly disavow it and all of us were ever very well content that the whole action of that famous infamous day might have come to a perfect tryall That all persons according to their demerits might have suffered legall punishments That you and your associats the professed Authors of these popish books and violent introducers of them in our Church against all our Laws and Customes might have been brought to answer before your Judge competent a lawfull generall Assembly also that the interrupters of your shamefull usurpation might have come to an accompt for all their words deeds that day but you and your Colleagues knowing well your legall deserts would never bee pleased to come to any tryal You pressed very hard for some dayes that a number of very honest men and women might have bin put to bodily tortures and that all your abominable Novations might have been quietly without any scruple every where thereafter received upon these conditions your clemencie was content to intercede with his Majestie That the horrible and monstrous uprore might be pardoned but when this your overture was not hearkened unto your Antichristian furie broke out so high that nothing could satiate your rage but the destruction with an English Army of all your opposites in the whole Nation and the fastning upon the neck of the Country with undissoluble bands the yoke of a perpetuall slavery Though in opposition to this your horrid designe many thousands in both Nations be already destroyed though the King himselfe be brought in extream danger both of his Crown and person yet so matchlesse is your rage and that of your friends that unlesse your pride avarice and errors may be satisfied except Bishops books and a Turkish royaltie may be gotten established you are willing the King his Family the remnant of his people should all bee destroyed with you and turned into water to quench the fire of your ashes It 's a great mercy of God to these Lands that such unparalelled furies are not buried below the ground or beaten off to so remote corners that they may no more bee seene in the societies of men either of Church or State From your 32. page P. 32. Our Assemblies did ever deferre all loyall subjection to the King as a man distracted ye ramble up and downe backward and forward you rayell in so many things old and new that to follow you with any orderly cleere and distinct answer I think it impossible Your first gybe is at the power of the Generall Assembly which the King and Parliament has allowed unto it and whereof they are in a quiet possession to wit that in matters meerely Spirituall they are the last ordinary Iudges but if they should miscarry that the King and Parliament should not have power to make them reforme their errours it never came in any of our minds Your next calumny is that wee count it but a curtesie and no necessary duty to Petition for the civill sanction to our Acts and that if our Petitions bee not granted we are ready by Excommunication and rebellion to force the King and the State to our will These are but Symptomes of a spirit in which Excommunication has wrought its first effect I wish it might worke farther for your repentance and salvation For proofe of the Assemblies usurping over the King Mr. Hinderson is farr from all disloyall and papall humours you alledge first the late Sermon of the Scottish Pope at Westminister and then you run backe upon our first reformation It is true that Scottish Pope was the man whom the Generall Assembly made their instrument to deliver
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
the worst of all your Mothers children must have leave to poure more of your excrements upon her head From your page 41. to the 46. you would make the world believe that the Church of Scotland does excommunicate good men and tender consciences for a dissent in the smallest points of Religion and does persecute for such differences with all the rigour of temporall afflictions Secondly you affirme that the Assemblies of that Church take upon them to make Traitours whom they will and to cast out of the Court whether the King will or not the greatest and best men with whom they are displeased Thirdly that these Assemblies doe alter the Lawes of the Kingdome at their pleasure Surely if strangers who know not the Constitution and customes of that Church were disposed to believe all you say they could not but by your relations he brought to a very evill opinion of your mother whom you an unnaturall son so vildly slander but it is good that men here are so rationall as not to take upon trust the naked assertions of a malicious enemie The discipline of Scotland is farre from all rigour and Tiranny For the first a complaint of rash Excommunication and persecution therupon is very impertinent from your mouth it is not so long that yet it can be forgotten since you and your Colleagues did allow your Officialls and others to excommunicate good people for trifles yea for no offence at all but their zeale to God and the good of their Country your Cannons in all the three Kingdomes are extant your cruelties are fresh in imprisoning banishing Pilloring stigmatizing the worthiest men for contradicting you in any one of your numerous ceremonies and traditions As for the Church of Scotland that it did ever meddle to trouble any in their goods Liberties or persons it 's very false what civill penalties the Parliament of a Kingdome thinkes meet to inflict upon those who are refractory and unamendable by the censures of a Church the state from whom alone these punishments doe come are answerable and not the Church That Excommunication in Scotland is inflicted upon those who cannot assent to every point of Religion determined in their confession there is nothing more untrue for wee know it well that never any person in Scotland was Excommunicate only for his difference of opinion in a Theologick tenet Excommunication there is a very dreadfull sentence and therefore very rare these last forty yeares so farre as I have either seen or heard there has none at all been Excommunicate in Scotland but some few trafficking Papists and some very few notoriously flagitious persons and five or six of you the Prelates for your obstinate impenitency after your overturning the foundations both of our Church State and one most rigid and pragmatick Brownist who for all that could be done or said would needs make it his worke to perswade all he was able by discourse Letters and spreading of books that in Scotland there was neither a Church nor any Ministery nor any Ordinance In Scotland wee count the spirituall Judgement of Excommunication most heavie but any temporall inconvenience that follows upon it is not very considerable for first there is not any civill hazard at all to any excommunicate man who will suffer himselfe to be brought to any measure of repentance Secondly were they never so impenitent ther is no harme can come to them as I remember a whole yeare after the long processe and finall sentence of ExcoÌ„munication Thirdly after a yeares coÌ„tumacy though the Letter of the Act of Parliament be heavy yet I appeale to any who has lived in Scotland among the very few whom they have knowne Excommunicate how many did they ever heare to have been hurt in their goods imprisoned or banished I am sure that Huntly Arrole and Angus and the other popish Lords though for their plotting to undermine the State their persons after Excommunication have been secured yet no penny of their estates went to the Kings Exchequer or to the hands of any of their unfriends but as the ordinary custome is upon the pretext of a small composition what ever the Letter of the Law takes from them it is all put in the hand of such of their friends whom they doe most trust Scotlands guilt may well be too much indulgence but of any excessive rigour towards spirituall oftenders they will bee condemned by none that knowes them P. 42.43.44 A narration of the roads of Ruthven and Stirling Your other imputation that our generall Assembly takes upon it to be judge what is Treason and who are fit to bee Counsellours nothing is more false But here you doe us the favour to prove your Alleageance by a long story to which I have given a full answer in the other Treatise At that time of King James minority Spotswood himselfe being witnesse our State was miserably misguided the Tyrannie of Captaine Iames supported too much by the favour of the Earle of Lennex was very grievous both to Church and State I touch but upon one instance The greatest subject of the Kingdome and at that time neerest to the King in blood was Iames Hamilton Earle of Arran a very gracious and most brave man before his sicknesse without any fault at all so much as alleaged for he was uncapable at that time of any crime being vinted with a distemper that made him keep his house and hindred him from meddling with any affaires of State yet was he spoiled by the fraud and violence of Captaine Iames Stewart of all his Lands and honour This violent oppressour was made Earle of Arran and Chancelour of the Kingdome At that time the designe was cleere and confessed to bring Queen Mary out of her prison in England to set her againe upon her Throne to advance the Catholique League which then was newly made betwixt the Guises King Iames his grand Uncles and the King of Spainâ— for the destroying Queen Elizabeth and the whole Protestant party For the preventing of these mischiefs the prime Nobility found it absolutely necessary to have the advancers of these counsels removed from the minor King What ever fault was in this action the Assembly is unjustly charged therewith Their advice was never sought thereto only halfe a yeare after it was done his Majesty sent a speciall Command to the Assembly for their approbation thereof for as by divers of his Letters to all the neighbour Princes he did signifie his good liking of that action so in all the great Courts of the Kingdome hee required it to be approved The privy Councell the convention of Estates the generall Assembly by his Majesties expresse Commission did all assent to his will It is true Captaine Iames so soon as he crept in againe into Court did change the young Kings mind but the event of that alteration was a more horrible confusion both of Church and State The Earle of Gowry was beheaded as a littâ—e before the Earle
shedding of teares I take it for your meere invention P. 47. The greaâ— controversie betwixt the King and the Church was about the infinite extent of the Prerogative for Spotswood the fountaine of all your stories who never failes to relate to the full what ever is meete to draw any envy upon the good Ministers who opposed the Episcopall designes makes no mention at all of King Iames teares I grant he reports that advice of the Chancellour and some such reply to it as you speake of but how tâ—uly I cannot tell onely this is most certaine that what ever difference King Iames had with the Ministers it was alone about the great Idoll of his Prerogative to do as a Monarch in Church and State what he thought convenient with his prerogative in matters of State they did never meddle but his designe to bring Bishops and Ceremonies in the Church as they conceived against law and reason the most honest of the Ministry did ever oppose it to their power albeit in a humble and warrantable way others for their own gain and advancement did yeeld to his desires and assisted him with all their power to advance his Prerogative so high as to do without any resistance all his pleasure both in Church and State But the Lord now has cleered that controversie and has made the righteousnesse of these oppressed men shine as the light and the basenesse of these flatterers appeare in its owne base and vile colours Concerning his Majesties discourses at the Conference of Hampton Court The Presbiterie is a great barre to keep out Democracy and Tyrannie both from Church and State we confesse they cannot be very favourable to any who opposed Episcopacy which these of your Coat long before that time had made him believe was the maine pillar of his Throne and had perswaded him to looke upon all that was disaffected thereunto as enemies to his Crowne But how farre you are here mistaken in fastning upon Presbiteriall government any furtherance of Democracy not reason alone but now also ample experience makes it evident there is not such a barre this day as both friends and foes doe well know against the Sectaries designes to bring in a popular government in the Church as Presbitery And if your rules be right enemies to Democracie in the Church will never be instruments to bring it in to the State If Presbitery could be partiall towards any one civill Government more then another It is 〈◊〉 singular help both to Parliaments Iust Monarchie its similitude and consanguinity with the constitution of a Parliament might make it suspected to be inclinable to the rights of that Court more then a Prince or the multitude could desire but the truth is it medles not to the prejudice of any civill Government which it finds established by Law but what ever that be it supports it to its power and how serviceable it has ever been to Monarchy in Scotland examples both of old and late doe demonstrate Who were the prime instruments of settling King Iames in his infancy upon his Throne who kept him into his Throne against all the assaults of his potent enemies to whom in all his great straits had he ever his recourse during his abode in Scotland to no other but to the Presbiterian Nobles Gentry Ministers if these had been disposed to have changed the government of the state there was oft no considerable impediments upon earth to have opposed them but such a desire never entered into their thoughts And of later times when the Presbitery in Scotland hath attained its highest aimes and is in capacity as you say to make what factions it will when its provocations to aâ—ger were as great as readily can be againe and the madnes of you Malignant Prelates had laid the Crowne in Scotland very low at such a season did the least disloyalty appeare in any of the Presbiterian side were not they and they only the men which setâ—ed that throne which you had caused to shake and astened the Crowne upon that head from whence you hands by your extreame unjustice pride and folly had weâ— nere pulled it away And at this very houre when you and all your friends are able to make no helpe at all to releive not only the King and his house but the Royalty it selfe from that extreame hazard of ruine wherein you alone both have cast them and with all your hearts would stil continue them upon some phantastick hope which yet you have of attaining all your former desires or else to revenge your disappointments though all the world should perish At this time when you have cast the Crown the Throne and Scepter in the dust who is able who now is willing to save the King or to keepe Monarchy on foote I hope albeit your dementation be great yet even you must see and confesse that it is the Presbiterians and these alone by whose hearts and hands this worke must be done which indeed your goodnes and wisdome has made extreamely difficult and well nere unfeasible You fall very needlesly on Mr. Catherwood the Author of that Booke altare darna scenum P. 18. Mr. Catherwoods vindication a man of greater worth then all the Prelates that ever Scotland bred put them all in one Durst ever any or all of you looke that man or his Booke in the face you had long twenty yeares leasure to answer but was ever the courage among you all to assay it I doe not love to speake or when it is spoken by others to defend any thing that may rub upon authority yet when sycophanticall Prelates make it their worke to bring most honest and gracious men in disgrace with Princes for some incomodious phrases which in the heat and current of large discourses have escaped their pens who shall but vindicate their innocency from such flaterers accusations Is it a crime for Master Catherwood to write that in all Kings naturally their is a hatred to Christ what doe you here intend to censure are not all men naturally enemies to God unto this natural Corruption that is CoÌ„mon to all flesh does not great places in the world especially Crowns and Throns adde many provocations from which poverty and meannes gives exemption what would you here reprove speake out plainly your Pelagian tenet deny originall sin make it one of the Royall Prerogatives in vertue of the Crowne to be naturally gracious and an advancer of Christs Kingdome The other word you make your adversary to say albeit you professe you speake per cur is that King Iames was a most insense enemy to the purity of Religion If such tearmes were ever expressed of what thinke you must they be understood what is the subject of that speech and of the whole Booke wherein you say it stands Is it not of the Government of the Church and the English Ceremonies alone to say that King Iames was a great friend to these and agreat
change the Sabbath day of Luthers conference with the Devill When you have over-wearied both your selfe and us P. 53.54 A Declaration upon all the 12. Articles imputed to us you will yet adde as a mantissa and appendix two other points first you set down the twelve Articles of our Creed Since you are so good at the confessing of your Neighbours I would gladly know what your own faith may be what you ascribe here to us ye doe it without any ground either of reason or Authoritie your simple assertions must be the very Articles of your Creed Some yeares agoe we did see a book called Ladonsium Autocatacrisis wherein by formall and expresse testimonies not the articles of your faith for you are an avowed paucifidian but such opinions as you and your companions did preach and print are set down at large Wherein it was demonstrate that you and your bosome friends in Aberdeen and Edinburgh did hold grosser Arminianisme Popery and Tiranny then the worst of the Canterburians in England also in the beginning of this Treatise we did see under your owne hand such a confession of your faith as few of the most malignant of your party will have the impudence to subscribe it with you But be your faith what it may for it is like that times and occasions may make you hide or open yea vary and change as you find it most convenient for your purpose I am content freely to tell you my mind in all these Articles as you stile them of our Creed I never heard of the first but in your Pamphlet no Presbiterian ever dreamed of any necessity to change the government of the State that it might be conforme to the Church but many Episcopall and all Erastians doe hold the government of the Church to bee a matter of so indifferent arbitrary and changeable a nature that it may well comply and ought to be conformed to the model of every State wherein it requires to be entertained The true tenet of all approved among us so farre as I know is that the government of the Church and State are two really distinct policies both ordained of God which without his displeasure may not bee confounded nor ought not to encroach one upon another That the wrath of God will be on that Church and on these Church-men who for any advantage they apprehend can come either to the Church or to themselves will go to trouble or change any civil State be it Monarchy Aristocracie Democracy or what ever els which by the just lawes of any people is setled in a Land on the other side that God will be angry with every State and all those Statesmen who for the advancement of their owne or the States interest will goe to impede trouble or change that government of the Church which Christ in his Testament has left to his servants unto his second comming For the second we doe maintaine a parity among Ministers courting it an Antichristian ambition for any one to make himselfe Lord Bishop over the rest but this is farre from any Democracy for wee put all the Ministers of a Kingdome under the jurisdiction of a Nationall Assembly the rules whereof use to be so just and exact that where they are reverenced there is no danger of any popular confusion much lesse then where Episcopall either Tiranny or Obligarchy does prevaile For the third to our Consistories we give no Independent power these with us are all subordinate to Classicall Presbiteries and to our Nationall Assemblies wee give no power to meddle with any temporall things at all nor any Legislative power about things spirituall When they have past their Votes upon a matter spirituall according to the rules of the word of God If any Law or civill Sanction bee needfull they supplicate the Magistrate whom they never presume to command to be an executioner of their Decrees these be but your calumnies only they intreat him to make such Laws as hee finds the equity of the matter in his own conscience to require You indeed professe an inthronization of Bishops and give to them not only a directive power over the King but an authoritative to excommunicate him and if he to save his Crowne will be content that his Parliaments doe with your Thrones and Myters what they thinke expedient you print to the world that this shall bring a remedilesse and perpetuall ruine both on the King and his people themselves and their posterities For the fourth the Lawes of Scotland allow to the Generall Assembly a power to Judge of all divine truths and heresies so that if they find popish Episcopall or what ever Errours established by Acts of Parliament yet they are authorized to proceed to give their sentence from the word of God not of the Law but of the Errour to which Church-men in their ignorance have procured a Sanction as for the Law the Parliament when they sit take it into their owne consideration never any Assembly of the reformed Church dealt either with Prince or Parliament for the reclaiming of a Law otherwise then by humble supplication What you speake of a corrective power the Church of Scotland did ever disclaime it all compulsion by outward inconvenients they remitted ever to the State As for the censures of the Church no faction ever has been more prodigall of them both in doctrine and practise then you and your gracious Brethren the Prelats For the fifth we exeem no Minister who preaches Treason from the cognisance and punishment of the Magistrate only by the Laws of our Kingdome the judgement of Ministers doctrine in the first instance belongs to the Ecclesiastich Judicatory For the sixth we pretend no power to make the Magistrate adde the civill Sanction to any of our Assemblies Decrees further then his own conscience the Justice of the thing the former Laws of the Land the humble and earnest desire of the Subjects does plead for but you before your Tippets and Rotchets be laid aside will permit three Kingdomes to be consumed with fire and sword without any remedy unlesse your thrones may bee re-established King and people must be destroyed for ever And this you tell us must be and shall be but in many things wee have found you false prophets and feare not your causelesse curses For the seventh we maintain no power of the Church to reforme and preserve Religion but such as does well consist with that duty which God has laid upon the Magistrate both for the reformation of Religion and preservation of it when it is reformed For the eight wee maintaine that the sins of the Magistrate does not excuse the people for their neglect of any duty that God has laid upon them and when Superiours are resolved to live and dye in Idolatrie we thinke that every inferiour Magistrate and every person is obliged to keepe himselfe free of corruption and so farre as he is able to reforme his owne soule but not to be a publick
unlawfull correction follow after according to the Word of God no man in Scotland did ever assert such things but the Question was as Spotswood himselfe states it Whether the Counsell was a competent Judge to Malter Melvils doctrine in prima instantia these were the expresse tearmes e Spotswoods Story fol. 175. yeer 1583. l. 6. he affirmed that what was spoken in Pulpit ought first to be tryed by the Presbytery and that neither the King nor Counsell might in prima instantia meddle therewith Master Melvill did protest for the liberties of the Church ratified by law avowing that as civil actiōs could not be called from before the ordinary Judicato ies to the Counsell Table though the King by his Letters should command it so causes meerly Ecclesiasticall should not be brought from the Presbyteries and Synods at least in the first instance He did also protest that the liberties of the Vniversity should not be violate for it was a priviledge of old conferred and very lately confirmed both by King and Parliament that no member of the University should be called before any Judicatory to the time their cause was heard and discussed within the University it selfe f Second Book of Discipline p. 25. Although Kings and Princes that be godly sometimes by their owne authority when the Kirk is corrupted and all things out of order place Ministers and restore the true service of the Lord after the example of some godly Kings of Juda and divers godly Emperours and Kings also in the light of the new Testament yet where the Ministry c. whether these Protestations were treasonable and dissonant from the Lawes and constant practice of Scotland will appeare more anon so much of the narrative The Ordinance pretended to be made upon occasion of Master Melvils misbehaviour What Supremacy is Irwfull was the Act of the Kings Supremacy over all persons That none should decline his Highnesse Authority Where it is to be observed that the contrivers of this Declaration while they endeavour to shew the occasion and rise of that second Act from Master Meloil and other Ministers their stirring up of people to Rebellion against their native King and their refuling to acknowledge the Soveraigne judgement for a godly quietnesse and order in the Common-wealth to appertaine to his Highnesse care and solicitude And it being professed in the same Declaration concerning that Act that his Majesties intention was onely to represse that immunity priviledge and exemption invented by the Pope to exempt himselfe and his Clergie from all judgement of Princes Yea the Declaration expressy waveth th Question of the Kings Supremacy in judging of cause Ecclesiasticall as not belonging to that present condition of affaires the Question being neither concerning heresies interpretation of Scripture the lawfull and ordinary Ecclesiasticall Judgement for preserving and maintaining Church Discipline nor concerning the power of Synods but concerning some of the Ministry joyning themselves as is there pretended to Rebels and disquieting the State These things considered it will appeare that as this Declaration infinitely wrongeth these learned and godly Ministers who were far from any disloyall doctrines or popish tenents concerning the immunity of Ministers from all judgement of Princes in matters belonging to quietnesse and order in the Common-wealth so it doth not cleerly hold forth that which peradventure was intended and is endeavoured in point of the Magistrate his supremacy in Ecclesiasticis by some who were very solicitous to have this Declaration reprinted whose principles suffer them not to rest satisfied with that measure of power which in a reformed and well constructed Church doth by the Word of God and by the Doctrine of the ancient and reformed Churches belong to the civill Magistrate in reference to Religion and causes Ecclesiasticall wherein also their power is further enlarged in extraordinary cases when the ordinary wayes and meanes of reformation cannot be had Some hopes it seemes there were to find in this Declaration another kind of Supremacy which is now the idol of many mifinformed minds which is also hightned farre above the moderate interpretations which were given by Doctor Bilson and Doctor Vsher I meane such a supremacy The Erastian Supremacy is more then a Turkish tyranny as makes the Magistrate the head and fountaine of all Jurisdiction Civill and Ecclesiastick which makes all powers within His Dominions to be but rivolets and streames derived from his Ocean making all the members of all Courts Spirituall and Civill to be but Commissioners at pleasure of the Prince putting all Lawes under his arbitrement and the Legislative power in his brest alone changing Parliaments into his arbitrary Counsels for matters of State as generall Assemblies for matters of the Church putting it in his free will to lay aside for ever both Parliaments and Assemblies and to set up in their places what Courts they thinke expedient for all causes of all persons that they may if so it be their pleasure commit the finall decision of all Ecclesiastick causes to some few Church and Statesmen of their owne nomination under the title of a High Commission or to two or three either of the Church or State under the name of Delegats or to any one Gentleman alone under the name of a Vicar generall also they may devolve the last determination of all civill causes upon a few favourites whether of the long or short Robe under the stile of a Star Chamber or Counsell Table or Cabinet counsell or private Juncto If this be the supremacy which the reprinters of the Declaration aime at we grant that many Prelats and Courtiers have alwayes been of their mind but I assure them the Scots Divines did ever abhorre such slavish maximes such a supremacy has alwayes been the fundamentall Law in the grand Segniors Port at Constantinople it has been for many yeers the possessed Prerogative of the French and Spanish Monarchs also from their example it has been the aime and endeavour not onely of other Kings but almost of all Princes and Soveraigne States how pettie soever so much is a sovereigne despotick and uncontroleable Domination naturally beloved by all who are in any neernesse or hope to attaine it But it is a morsell that has stuck with so many in the swallowing and poysoned so many in the digestion though swallowed downe that few who are wise will adventure any more to taste of it notwithstanding if the appetite of the publishers of this Writ will not be satisfied with any thing lesse then such a Supremacy let them be pleased to consider First If either King or Parliament admit of it it wil overthrow both and the whole Nation with them that this kind of supremacy will fall upon a subject where their harts wil be loath it should lodg it wil be found rather a part of the royall Prerogative then any Priviledge of Parliament and although according to their good friends last warning to the City the Crowne were broken
in pieces and the whole royall Prerogative devolved upon the head of the Parliament yet the aforementioned supremacy is so high an injustice that no gracious member of either House would ever be perswaded to touch it though it were put in their fingers for beside the everting of all the Lawes whereupon Monarchy since the first foundation has stood it would so shake the groundstones of all the Lawes of the Kingdome as would hazard the overthrow no lesse of the Parliament then of the King and with them all the Judicatories and rights of the Land our unhappy Brovilons fit for nothing so much as to confound all things would be in a faire way to bring the whole Church and State to such a Chaos and hodge podge as no creature without Gods extraordinary assistance should ever againe be able to bring their confusions to any tolerable order Secondly The Supremacy here mentioned favours Episcopacy but not Erastianisme they should doe well to consider that whatever supremacy is aimed at in the Writ yet the Erastian designe will not be much helped thereby for it is expresly provided therein that the ordinary Ecclesiastick Judicatories shall cognosce all Ecclesiasticke causes g Printed Declaration p. 3. Neiis it his Majesties intention to take away the lawfull and ordinary judgment of the Church but rather to preserve encrease and maintaine the same and as there is in the Realme Justices Constables Sheriffes Provosts Bailiffes and other Judges in temporall matters so his Majesty alloweth that all things may be done in order and a godly order may be preserved in the whole Estate the Synodall Assemblies by the Bishops or Commissioners for the places vacand to be convened twice in the yeere to have the Ordering of matters belonging to the Ministry and their estate no word at all to import that any civil Commissioners may determine upon any affaires meerly Ecclesiasticall it is true that the ordinary Judicatories here named are put under the foule feet of the Prelats and this seems to have been the maine aime both of the Act and of its interpretation yet hereby the Erastian principles are nothing furthered for as by the Covenant and Laws of both Kingdomes the roots of Episcopacy are now pluked up so it s well knowne that neither Presbiterians nor Independents were ever more zealous for the establishing of Ecclesiastick jurisdiction by a divine right in the hand of Church Officers then the Episcopall party at least those of them who understood and minded their owne principles Thirdly King James against the Erastians if all this will not satisfie we desire those who hold out this passage as advantageous for the Ecclesiastick power of the Magistrate in prejudice of the Presbytery to know that when the Ministers did complaine to King James of this seeming prejudice he gave them his owne Declaration which he promised should be as authentick as that Act of Parliament hh Kings Declaration Now I say and declare which Declaration shall be as authentick as the Act it selfe that I for my part shall never neither my Posterity ought ever cite summon or apprehend any Pastor or Preacher for matters of Doctrine in Religion salvation beresies or true interpretation of the Scriptures but according to my first Act which confirmeth the liberty of Preaching the Word Ministration of the Sacraments I avow the same to be a matter meere Ecclesiasticall and altogether impertinent to my calling therefore never shall I nor never ought they I meane my Posterity to acclaime any power of jurisdiction of the foresaid which caused their griefe and much more authentick then Adamsons Interpretation of that Act assuring them that neither himselfe nor any of his successors should ever claime the Cognizance nor the power to determine in any cause meerly Ecclesiasticall ii Vide sapra hh avowing that Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction did belong onely to the Church officers which neither himselfe nor any of his heires should ever crave nor ever ought to crave as belonging to them King James revoked what here is published Finally we desire them to know if Princes promises and Declarations under their hands seeme not to them sufficient security that whatever in the present passage does appeare to spoile the Church Assemblies of a full and plenary Jurisdiction was all recalled and past from by King James the very next yeer for he did consent unto that transaction of Archbishop Adamsons whereby the Arch-prelate devests himselfe of all jurisdiction and submits himselfe to the authority of the Assembly renouncing all liberty of appeale to any other person or Judicatory in the earth kk Spotswoods History lib. 6. p. 184. yeer 1586. A transaction was made in this sort That the Bishop by his hand writing should labour to carry himselfe as a moderate Pastor ought labouring to be the Bishop described by Saint Paul submitting his life and Doctrine to the Judgement and censure of the generall Assembly without any reclamation provocation or appellation from the same in any time comming what should have moved the King to hearken to a mediation so prejudiciall both to his owne authority and the Episcopall jurisdiction cannot well be conjectured whatsoever the reason was the Bishop did set his hand to the things proposed by the Assembly But to stop all mouths which from Scotland would bring any colour of warrant King Charles also for an Erastian Supremacy in the last Parliament of Scotland which was ratified by King Charles with the hearty consent of his good Subjects of England the finall determination of all Ecclesiasticke Causes whatsoever is referred to the Nationall Assembly as to the onely proper and competent Judge ll Second Parliament of K. Charles Act 4. p. 6. 8. The Kings Majesty having graciously declared that it is his royall will and pleasure that all questions about Religion and matters Ecclesiasticall be determined by the Assemblies of the Church and that for preservation of Religion generall Assemblies rightly constitute as the proper and competent judge of all matters Ecclesiasticall hereafter be kept yeerly and oftner pro renata as also that Kirk Sessions Presbyteries and Synodall Assemblies be constitute and observed according to the order of this Kirk which Act the estates now convened by his Majesties indiction raâ—ifies approves and confirmes in all points and gives thereunto the strength of a Law and Act of Parliament whoever will call this Act of Parliament into question must be content to have the King and his Parliaments of both Kingdoms for their first and chiefe opposites The explanation of the next Act is also large and confused The sum of the next Paragraph it contains a discharge of all Church Assemblies and meetings not authorized by Law particularly it discharges the Nationall Assemblie and Classicall Presbytery upon the allegeance of some enormous practises of these two meetings Consider first the discharge and then its reasons Church-assemblies established in Scotland on a
Divine Right with the allowance of King James and K. Charles in divers Parliaments Concerning the discharge of Church meetings not authorized by Law the Commissioners did shew the King that Church meetings were necessary to be kept being mm Animadversions we offer Vs to prove by good Warrants of the Word of God that it is lawfull to the Ecclesiastiall Estate to Convocate Assemblies and to hold the same and to appoint and order place and time for convening of the same to troat upon such matters as concerne the Kirk affaires which no wayes impaireth your Majesties civill and royall jurisdiction but rather fortifieth and decoreth the fame cōmanded of God and being such means without which the Churches and societies of the Saints could not subsist in their necessary purity and order in the time of the greatest persecutions Christians did meet in their Assemblies both for worship and discipline though the imperiall Lawes did discharge such conventions In France and Poland where the Princes are enemies to Religion yet the Protestants are permitted to keep their Assemblies for Discipline greater and smaller of all sorts as they have occasion no lesse then their meetings for the Word and Sacraments His Majesty in his reply does not deny the Commissioners allegeance onely he required a intermission of the named meetings for a short time till the whole plat-forme of Church government according to the Word of God might be finished hereby nn The Kings Declaration My meaning and Declaration is that they shall cease while a setled Policie and Jurisdiction be established according to the Commission and line of Gods Word yeelding that he beleeved the Church ought to have its owne government according to the prescription of the holy Scripture to which he purposed to submit and agree as indeed he did the yeer following agreeing to that course which the Assembly at Saint Andrewes tooke with Bishop Adamson without all contradiction and ever thereafter permitting the Ministers without any interruption to enjoy all their Ecclesiastick meetings in peace yea some few yeeres after as oft I have said he did establish by Act of Parliament the whole plat-forme of government according to their mind which abode untouched till the evill advice of the English Prelats moved him to make some breaches in that wall which thanks be to God are now fully repaired King Charles in person having lately ratified in Parliament the meeting of all our Assemblies from the lowest to the highest so fully as our hearts could wish Beside the divine right of our Church meetings for Discipline the Commishoners did demonstrate to the King the good humane right thereof in Scotland producing to him an Act of his owne first Parliament for the nationall Assembly and finall determination of all Ecclesiasticall appeales therein oo Anamadversions concerning the generall Assembly of the Kirke there is an Act the first year of your highnesse reigne ratifying the authority thereof and decerning appellations to be devolved thereto as to the last judgement of matters concerning the Kirk his Majesty likewise could not but well remember that the whole modell of Presbyteries and their proceedings had been oft in debate before him and the Counsell Table also that some few yeeres before he had sent to the generall Assembly at Clasgow his expresse order for the erection of Presbyteries in all the Shires of the Kingdome pp The Acts of the generall Assembly Instructions to our trusty and welbeloved William Cunningham of Caprinton directed by us with the advice of the Lords of our secret Counsell to the generall Assembly conveend at Gasgow April 20. 1581. followes the List of 50. Presbiteries 12. Parishes or thereabouts making up one Presbitry whence the Church came to be in a very peaceable possession of all her Assemblies nationall provincial classicall and congregationall without any controlment onely in that houre of darknesse as generally then it was called there was a short eclipse but that did quickly passe over neither did any interruption of these Church meetings come thereupon However The reprinters of this Declaration seem to be contemners of Oaths Lawes and al rights divine and humane we cannot but observe the disposition of those who with so great care and zeale set out in this paper to the world for imitation the example of a Prince although in the hour of tentation out of the which he was immediately delivered for pulling down and discharging of Presbyteries and Assemblies when established by Law and quietly possessed by a cleere Right both divine and humane We trust the honourable Houses of Parliament are farre from their mind else we should have but small comfort though we should see the Ghurch government here setled both by Law and possession for it seems that the publishers of this Writ would have us to despaire of any security to keep whatever now may be gotten Oaths Covenants Lawes Possessions must be no stronger then bonds of flax and ropes of straw which the fire of these mens wrath when ever it comes upon them will easily burne and burst asunder but it is well that Princes and Parliaments are not capable to be miscarried by the private passions of so unconstant and perfidious persons The reasons of the Act doe follow for the putting downe of the Classicall Presbytery a great misbehaviour is alledged The Presbytery of Edinburgh took upon them to diswade the Feasting of the French Embassadour and did enter in Processe with the Magistrates who at the Kings desire contrary to their advice did keepe that Feast a long and odious story of that matter is here deduced and borrowed from hence both by Spotswood in his History and Maxwell in his Issachars burthen but the truth is this A full account of the French Banquet as I finde it extracted out of the Records of the Church of Scotland by a very reverend and faithfull hand That time was one of the most sad and dangerous seasons that this Isse hath seene it was but a little after the Massacres of France and a little before the Spanish Armada about the very instant when the Catholicke League was hatched for the rooting out of Protestant Religion and all Protestant Princes especially Queene Elizabeth At this time it was when two or three French Embassadours one after another came over from France to Scotland with Instructions from the chief contrivers of that unholy League qq Vide supra Also Spotswoods history lib. 6. fo 180. year 1585. then came that holy League as they called it to be discovered which the Pope the Spanish King with the Guises and others had made to extirpate reformed Religion the Queene of England understanding her selfe to be principally aymed at c. Also the Collection Monsieur de la Motfenellon and Maningvill were sent from the King of France to strengthen the Kings faction to procure Lenox his returne to withdraw the King from the Lords The Court was then very corrupt exceeding tyrannous
and oppressive both of the Nobility and Ministers Jesuites and Priests did flocke from beyond Sea in greater numbers then ever rr Collection hee procured Protections for Jesuites and trafficking Papists St. Andrews story li. 3. fol. 165. yeare 1579. this dissention betwixt the King and the Church brought with it many evils for upon the notice of it divers Jesuites and Priests did resort into the Country and at home such as were Popishly affected began openly to avow their profession the professed negotiation of the French Agents was to restore Queen Mary the trafiquers in that businesse were received with extraordinary curtefies All this did fill the hearts of the people both with griefe and feare for the undermining of their Religion for the destruction of their King and ruine of the Kingdome These passions increased when they did see the English Embassadors at that same time used in a much divers fashion railed upon by rascals in the streets vexed with infamous Libels fixed upon the doores of their Lodgings endangered in their persons by Pistols shot in at their windowes ſſ Spotswoods History lib. 6. fol. 173. yeare 1582. La Mot came by England having the same Instructions to renew the purpose of the Association which was set on foot the yeere before and almost concluded in this sort that the Queene of Scots should communicate the Crowne with her Son and both be joyned in the administration of affaires but upon the Dukes sequestring from Court it was left off and not mentioned againe till now The Collection The Queen of Englands Ambassadour Master Randall was abused with infamous Libels affixed upon the doore of his Lodging the chiefe Courtiers withdrew their countenance from him such as resorted to him were observed an Harquebus charged with two bullets was shot in at his chamber window where he usually sate and all this without any punishment upon the authors of such atrocious contumilies In this posture of affaires to tempt yet further the patience of honest people some French Merchants did move the King to desire the Magistrates of Edenborough to invite the French Agent to a publick Feast tt Collection While La Mot is thus practising some French Merchants in Edenborough for their owne commodity caused it to be motioned to the King to send one to the Counsell of Edenborough to give the French Ambassadour a Banquet the Counsell refusing the King was offended and alleaged the motion came from themselves the matter was againe debated in Counsell in end the best part of the Counsell contradicting it was concluded the Banquet should be made whereupon the Session of the Kirke resolved upon a Fast or rather abstinence that day the Presbytery knew nothing of it the unseasonablenesse of the time made the desire grievous to the Magistrates and therefore they declined it with a faire excuse yet the King was moved to presse them againe the motion being brought to the Common Counsell of the Town the Plurality yeelded though the most of the Magistrates and best part of the Counsellours were dissenting w Vide supra tt This matter being offensive to the Church Session or Congregational Eldership the day of the French Festival by the joint advice of the Magistrates Ministers and the rest who were present was appointed to be a day of Preaching and prayer xx The Censure The Allegeance that the Presbytery of Edenbrough did appoint a Fast to be kept upon the day that the French Ambassadour was Banqueted by the Towne of Edenborough is false for not the Towne but some French factioners in the Towne Banqueted the Ambassadours three Bailies the greatest part of the Counsell and some of the Kings Privy Counsell were in the Church in the time of the Banquet not the Presbytery but the particular Session of the Kirke of Edinborough with the advice of so many Magistrates and Counsellours as were not contrivers of the Banquet appointed a voluntary abstinence this was thought to be the fairest way with the least offence to hinder if it might be that offensive and unseasonable Banquet as for any processe of excommunication intended against them who choosed rather to feast with the French then to pray with the City and most of the Magistrates I take it but for a meer fable for albeit the Author therof Adamson had not acknowledged his Narration of the Banquet to be false as he does expresly yy Adamsons Recantation My good will was I protest to have condemned every point yea even to the false Narration of the Banquet and all the rest contained in that little Treatise called the Declaration of the Kings Majesties intentions as I acknowledge they deserve to be condemned by the censure and judgment of the Kirk yet why should we have taken it in any other sense then the other passages of the same Pamphlet wherein he avowes the Presbyteries to have put out innumerable Orders directly opposite to the King and have sent Lawes and Commands to his Majesty under the paine of Excommunication zz Vide the printed Declaration which all the world sees setting aside the Authors confession to be meer lyes and notorious calumnies aaa The Censure that the Assembly was accustomed to prescribe Lawes to the King and Counsell under paine of Excommunication to appoint no Bishops in time to come such calumnies are not worthy to be answered for to draw out of the pure fountaines of Gods word an Ecclesiasticall Canon agreeable to the same and to suit like humble Suppliants the approbation of the same is the dutie of the Kirke this is not a prescribing of Lawes to the King and Estates But suppose that all the alledged circumstances of that sad festivall The extreame unjustice of the Prelats of old and Era 〈◊〉 now against the Presbytery had beene all true yet could this trespasse be no otherwise expiate then by the very abolition not onely of that Judicatory whence the overture did proceed but also of all the Judicatories of that kinde in the whole Kingdome being altogether ignorant and innocent of the transgression and though the Episcopall rigour should have been thus transcendent yet what shadow of reason could be brought for the overthrow of the Classes for the trespasse of the Congregadonall Eldership It was not the Classicall Presbytery of Edinborough but the Towne Session that was alledged to be the delinquent We wonder not when Prelates are Counsellors to see strange and unheard of rules of Justice but of this we marvaile that the Leaders of the Independent or Erastian party should be so well pleased with such patternes as not to have patience to have them at this time concealed but will needs have them brought forth of the grave of oblivion where long they lay buried to be looked upon by the State at this time as ruled cases for their imitation As for the abolition of the generall Assembly three of their offences are named their approbation of the road of Ruthven