That this Bishoprie is against the confession of faith called the Kings Maiesties confession sworne and subscrived at two divers times viz. in anno 1581 when it was first published and againe anno 1590. published with a general band for the maintenance of true religion and his Maiesties estate and person by his Maiestie his Queen and houshold and all estates of the Realme c. THE words of that confession for this purpose are these We abhorre and detest all contrary religion and doctrine chiefly all kind of Papistrie in generall and particular even as they are now damned and confuted by the word of God and kirk of Scotland and in speciall the Popes worldly monarchy and wicked Hierarchie his crossing annointing c. And finally we detest all his vain rites signes and traditions brought into the kirk without or against the word of God and doctrine of this true reformed kirk to the which we ioyne our selves willingly in doctrine faith religion discipline and use of the holy sacraments as liuely members of the same in Christ our head Promising and swearing by the great name of the Lord our God that we shall continue in the obedience of the doctrine and discipline of this kirk and shall defend the same according to our vocation and power all the dayes of our lives vnder the paines contained in the Law and danger both of body and soule in the day of Gods fearfull judgements And after a few lines Wee therefore willing to take away all suspicion of hypocrisie and of double dealing with God and his Kirk protest and call the searcher of all hearts to witnesse that our mindes and hearts doe fully agree with this our confession promise oath and subscription So that we are not moved for any worldly respect but are perswaded onely in our consciences through the knowledge and loue of Gods true Religion printed in our hearts by the holy Spirit as we shall answer to him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall bee disclosed Then if so be that the setting up of Bishops will throw down the discipline of our Kirk or if that office hath any thing to do with these corruptions of Papistrie Antichristian hierarchy The King our Soveraigne his most excellent and Christian Majestie and his Highnesse most ancient religious noble Estates of Parlament if there were no other reason but this one would not for all the world fall under the danger of so horrible a perjurie against God to set up Bishops again yea and if it were no more but respect of civil honesty honor estimation before the world they would not be inferiour to Herod in releiving the religion of an oath and great name of God interponed namely this Confession of faith being put in print twise within the realme by speciall command and priviledge translated in all vulgar languages throghout Europe yea and at his Maiesties coronation in England put in Latine and published a new againe by that common post of the world in our age Mercurius Gallobelgicus But so it is as all men know that the discipline and government of the kirk exercised by Presbyteries and by Bishops are so opposed one to another that when the one is set up the other must down of force Therefore the subscrivers and swearers of the former confession if they should as God forbid be about to set up Bishops and Episcopall governement they could not eschew the crime of horrible pâ—rjurie execrable Apostasie and most cursed repairing again of Iericho from the which the Lord preserve his most excellent Maiesty and honourable Estates of this present parlaiment And if any man doubteth what was the discipline of the kirk of Scotland at the first subscriving and swearing of that confession let them seek the Register of the general Assembly holden at Glasgow to the which it was presented together with a platforme of the whole Presbyteries to be established throughout the Realme by the Laird of Caprinton coÌ„missioner for his maiestie to the sayd assembly in the yeare of God 1581 they shal find that the Bishopries were wholly abolished in the assembly holden at Dundie the yeare immediatly preceeding So that without al questioÌ„ â—t is meant of the discipline of the kirk exercised by Presbyteries Synods and generall Assemblies directly opponed to the corruption and tyranny of Bishops as vvas clearly defined and ratified in Parliament After the second subscriving anew againe of the sayd confession in the yeare 1592. In end seeing these same men who now would be Bishops haue once or twice sworne and subscrived this confession it marvels me vvith what forehead they can be about a purpose so quite contrary thereto CHAP. VI. That this office of Bishoprie is against the constitutions of the Kirk of Scotland in her Assemblies MAister Knox following the light of holy Scripture and the advice of Theodor Beza as he had preached continually so immediatly before his departure he wrote to the generall Assemblie convened at Striveling in the yeare 1571 in these words Vnfaithfull and traytors to the stockes shall yee bee before the Lord Iesus if that with your consent directly or indirectly yee suffer unworthy men to be thrust in within the ministerie of the Kirke under what pretence that ever it be Remember the Iudge before whom yee must make an account and resist that tyrannie as yee would avoyd hells fire And this letter is registrat in the acts of the sayd Assembly In the generall Assemblie convened at Edinburgh in March 1572 sess 7. M. Iohn Spottiswood superintendent of Lawthiane gaue in this article It is neither agreeable to the word of God nor practise of the primitiue Kirke that the spirituall administration of the word and sacraments and the ministration of the civill and criminal justice should be so confounded that one person may occupie both the cures Wherfore the whol Assem refused the Earle of Morton then Regent his desire to make ministers sessioners in the colledge of Iustice From that assembly unto the assembly holden at Dundie Iuly 1580 the corruption of the Bishoprie vvas more and more espect unto the time the vvhole Assem being ripely advised and fully resolved all in one voyce yeelded as followeth Forasmuch as the office of a Bishop as it is now used and commonly taken within this realme hath no warrant authoritie nor ground in the word of God but is brought in by the folly and corruption of mans invention to the great overthrow of the Kirk of God The whole assembly of the Kirk in one voyce after libertie given to all men to reason in the matter none opponing himselfe in defending the sayd pretended office Findes and declares the same pretended office used and tearmed as is aboue sayd unlawfull in it selfe as having neither fundament ground nor warrant in the scriptures of God and ordaines that all such persons as bruikes or shall bruike hereafter the sayd office shall bee charged simply to dimit
necessarie he shall sweare to subscribe and fulfill under the penalties foresayd and otherwise not to be admitted 9 And in case he be deposed by the general Assembly Synod or Presbyterie from his office of the ministery he shall also tyne his vote in Parliament ipso facto and his benefice shall vaike And further caution to be made as the kirk pleases and findes occasion anent his name that for the kirk should vote in parliament it is advised by vniforme consent of the whole brethren that he shall bee called commissioner of such a place It is also statute and ordained that none of them that shall haue vote in Parliament shall come as commissioners to any generall Assembly nor have vote in the same in any time comming except he be authorized with a commission from his own presbyterie to that effect It is moreover found by the Assembly that crimâ—u ambitus shall bee a sufficient cause of deprivation of him that shall have vote in parliament Sess 8. The generall Assembly having reasoned aâ— length the question anent his commission who shall vote in Parliament whether he should endure for his life time except some crime or offence intervene or for a shorter time at the pleasure of the Kirk Findes and decernes that he shall annuatim giue accompt of his commission obtained from the Assemblie and lay down the same at their feet to be continued or altered therefrom by his Majestie and the Assemblie as the Assem with consent of his Maâ— shall think expedient to the weale of the Kirke Whose whole conclusions being read in audience of the whole assembly and they being ripely advised therewith ratified allowed and approved the same and thought expedient that the said Cautions together with such others as shal be concluded upon by the Assemblie be insert in the bodie of the Act of Parliament that is to be made for confirmation of vote in Parliament to the Kirk as most necessarie and substantiall parts of the same Then briefly to assume and conclude but so it is that their new L. B. neither in the entrie to their office nor yet in their behaviour therein hitherto haue kept one jot of these constitutions and cautions but hath broken all therefore such roomes and offices should not be confirmed to them in this present Parliament CHAP. VII That the Office of Bishoprie is against the lawes of this Realme OVr Soveraigne the Kings most excellent Majestie came into the world and entered to his Kingdome of this Realme with the cleare light of the Gospell and the establishing of a reformed Kirk therfore as a most godly and Christian Prince hath in his all Parliaments confirmed ratified and approved the freedome and libertie of the true Kirk of God and religion publickly professed within his Majestie Realme as in his first Parliament holden by his Majesties good Regent the Earle of Murray Likewise in his Highnesse second holden by his grandfather the Earl of Lennox the same is ratified in the first Act of his first Parliament holden after the taking of the governement in his Highnesse own person Also in the first of his sixt Parliament holden at Edinburgh the 20 of October 1579. Our Soveraigne Lord with advice and consent of his three Estates and whole bodie of this present Parliament ratifies approues all and whatsoever Acts Statutes made of before by his Highnes with advice of his Regents in his own reigne or his Predecessors anent the libertie and freedom of the true Kirk of God and religion now presently professed within this realme and specially c. The second act of the same sixt Parliament is expresly for the jurisdiction of the Kirk which is there said to consist stand in the preaching of Iesus Christ correction of manners and adminstration of the holy Sacraments and declares that there is no other face of a Kirk nor other face of Religion then is presently by the favour of God established within this realme And that there be no other Iurisdiction Ecclesiasticall acknowledged within this Realm other then that which is shal be within the same kirk or that which flowes there from concerning the premisses And in his Majesties seventh Parliament at Edinburgh October 1581. In the first Act there is a generall ratification of the libertie of the true Kirk of God and confirmation of all the Actes and Lawes made to that effect before by particular rehearsall and catalogue and amongst the rest The ratification of the libertie of the true Kirk of God and religion and anent the Iurisdiction of the Kirk of God twice And after the Kings perfect age of 21 yeares in the eleventh Parliament At Edinburgh Iuly 1587 there is a cleare and full ratification of all Lawes made anent the libertie of the Kirk Now if any will say what is all these Actes against the Bishops I say direct for whatsoever is for the Ministers Presbyters and Assemblies is against the Bishops But so it is that all these Acts are for theÌ„ because as we haue shown the doctrine and constitutions of the Ministers Assemblies hath been ever since the reformation against the corruption of Bishops and that is the freedom libertie and discipline of the Kirk which is confirmed for verification whereof we alledge first the Confession of faith confirmed by Parliament and registred among the Actes thereof wherein the 19 Article anent the notes of the true Kirk ye haue last Ecclesiasticall Discipline uprightly ministred as Gods word prescrived But so it is that out of the Word the doctrine of the Ministers hath been against the Bishops as also the discipline set down in the Generall Assemblies Next that the first Act of his Majesties Acts of Parliament Our soveraigne Lord with advice of his three estates and whole bodie of this present Parliament hath declared and declares the Ministers of the blessed Evangell of Iesus Christ whom God of his mercie hath now raised up to be the true and holy Kirk Thirdly that golden Act which clearely crownes and formally concludes the cause viz. the first Act of the 12 Parliament of King James the 6. At Edinburgh Iunii 1592 intitulate Ratification of the libertie of the true Kirk of generall and synodall Assemblies of the Presbyteries of Discipline which speakes this plainly in the end Item our Soveraigne Lord and Estates in Parliament foresaid abrogates casses and annulles the Act of Parliament made in anno 1584 granting commission to B. and other Iudges constitute in Ecclesiasticall causes to receiue his Highnesse presentation to Benefices and giue collation thereupon and to put order in all causes Ecclesiasticall which his Majestie and Estates foresaid declares to be expired in it selfe and to be null in time comming and of none availe Force nor effect And therfore ordaines all presentations of Benefices to be direct to particular Presbyteries in all time comming with full power to giue collation thereupon and to put order to all manners and causes
terrour to the rest Archip. What accusation meane yee and of which Ministers Epaph. One was of Mr. Andrew Duncan minister at Crail but holden from the function of his Ministerie by the fine craft of a timorous teÌ„porizer his cunning collegue wrestling betwixt the wind of the world 〈◊〉 the waue of his conscience for presenting the Supplication aboue written who vvas sent for by the B. of S. androes detained by him in his lodging till he delivered him to the Captain of the guard to be presented that same day afternoone before the Counsel where compeâ—â—ing he was accused by the Bishop upon his subscription of the supplication albeit the B. had spokeÌ„ nothing of that to him in private when he sent for him having acknowledged his hand writ he declared his readines at the command of the L. of Counsell upon assignation of a competent time to produce his warrant of grâ—at numbers of Preachers and Profâ—ssors in whose name he had subscribed subjoyning for stopping the mouth of his accuser that Cuivis private â—icet â—gere causam publicam whereupon the B giues out this sentence It is thought good ye be committed presently But because the Defender pleaded the poor mans right An non licâ—â—â—uili et â—â—otestaâ—i â—â—mendicare The Lords not seeing how thâ—y â—ould putâ—â—â—h him for such causes liking better the innocency of the defender then the iniquity of the accuser thought â—eet to cal him in again where the B. Vt quae non prosunt singula mulâ—◠〈◊〉 â—ubent first layd to his charge that he had preached in Crail the vveek before which he confessed That hee was his Maâ— rebel lying at the Horn he denyed that he was ever at the Horn That he had broken ward in Dundie he answered that for obedience he had remained at Dundie the space of half a year upon double charges â—â—ing separate from his vvife and six children the approaching Winter made him to draw homeward thinking that either they had forgot him or would pitty him after so long trouble Like as he had received a letter from the B to be at Santand at a meeting of some Brethren of the Ministers In end he besought the L. not to imprisone him upon his own charge to consider that it vvere greater mercie to kill them vvith the bloudie sword then to pine them to death vvith hunger But his doom was dight before his coÌ„peirance Archip. What was the other accusation Epaph. Mr. Alex. Simson minister at Drieburgh not having any such intention was earnestly desired by a brother serving in one of the ordinary places of the Ministers of Edin to preach for him upon the Saboath vvhich was the 22 of Iuly immediately going before the day appointed for holding the Parliament Wherunto he was perswaded upon sufficient reasons alledged by his requester He Preached upon Ezech. 3.16 according to his own custom the present occassion in the good old Scottish fashion CaÌ„dide mâ—â—â— and not after the new Laodicean forme more plainly to all then pleasantly to some in greater simplicie of heart then vvisedome of words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He spake against the manner of the entrie of many yong men into the holy calling of the Ministerie against the negligence of watchmen vvho because of the fear of men of loue to the wages of iniquity and their own guiltines of the same sin are silent in censuring the sinnes of others and especially against the defection of Bish All which much more spoken not in a corner but in the publick audience of so great variety of hearers as were in that town at that time I need not record Vpon the day next following he vvas called before the Counsell and when he had confessed all that he had preached in publick At last the former Minister and he vvere convoyed by the guard to the Cannongate where they were forced to stay that night without libertie to goe to their own lodging plaâ—â— and upon the morne were led by three of the guard to the Castle of Dunbartane vvhere they entered upon Thursday Iuly 26. Archip. I see not how the proclamation could passe with any probabilitie against the whole Ministerie more upon this pretence then the first for by vvhat propagation could their personall actions be derived to the rest Epaph. Ye vvill know that best and will be put out of all your doubts when yee haue seene the Copie of the Proclamation itselfe in these vvords AT Halvroode-house 23 Iulie 1621. Proclamation charging the Ministers to depart one of Ediâ—â— Forasmuch as it is understood by the Lords of secret Counsell that some reâ—tlesse and busie persons of the Ministrie enâ—glecting the care charge of their own Kirkes and flocks over the which they are bound in conscience before God and in duetie before men to be careful diligent watchmen Overseers haue lately made their redresse to this Burrow of Edinburgh where the Estates of the Kingdom in the soveraigne and high Court of Parliament are now assembled and that some of their Ministers haue not onely engyred and in a manner intruded themselues in the Pulpits thereof without any lawfull warrant or calling but in stead of wholesome doctrine for edification of the present Auditors haue fallen out into most injurious and undutifull speeches against the sacred person of the Kings Maj labouring thereby so far as in them lay to possesse the hearts of the Auditors with some bad opinion and construction of his Maj. unspotted life and conversation And not content herewith th y haue their privie Conventicles and Meetings within this Burrow haue obtruded themselues upon some of the Estates of Parliament and in publick audience haue prejudged his Maj. most religious sincere and lawfull proceedings using sollicitations against his Maj. just intentions And haue not onely directly manifestly and avouchedly done vvhat in them lyes to cal the sinceritie of his Maj. disposition towards the true Religion in question but to incultate and fasten the same bad opinion into the hearts of his Maj good subjects and so crosse and hinder all his Maj. proceedings in the Parliament which hath no other ayme but the glorie of God puritie of Religion and weale of this Kingdome In which three points the bypast experience of his Maj. happie governement will cleare the sincerity of his Maj. most religious disposition towards the glorie of God and weale of his people and will vindicate his Majestie from the malignant aspersions of his Majesties undutifull subjects And whereas this forme of doing in a Kingdome where the puritie of Religion hath such a free and uncontrouled libertie and progresse as it hath in this Kingdome under his Majesties most godly wise just and happie governement is not suffred nor allowed and hath no warrant of law custome nor observation elsewhere but may draw with it many dangerous consequences and raise up emulation and distastes betwixt his Majestie and his good people to their danger and
Tâ—â— Course of Conformitie As it 〈◊〉 proceeded Is concluded Should be refused PSALM 94.20 Shall the throne of iniquitie haue fellowship with me which frameth mischiefe by a law Printed in the yeare 1622. THE PREFACE TO THE READER IN the restlesse revolution of this troublesome 〈◊〉 driving everie person and purpose to their app◠〈…〉 all being under vanitie one generation passe◠〈…〉 other succeedeth with as many grievous novelti◠〈◊〉 â—ge alterations Mutation the inseparable companion of â—â—â—â—on like a Princesse presuming upon the kingdome kirks and families of the earth But by the soveraigne providence of that unchangeable God who directeth the steps of man and â—â—th put in his own power the time to plant and the time to pluck up that which is planted is so oversweyed in the most variable and different humors of men so limited that some as the scoffers of the last dayes laughing at mutation say Where is the promise of his comming Others to wit the wicked man in his prosperitie persecuteth the poore saying he shall never be moved A third sort viz. the slavish time-server like soft waxe flexible to every nâ—w forme boweth to mutation making her variant colours his crowne and contentment And the best sort the wise Christian hating change and loving constancie striveth to walk circumspectly redeeming the time from the dangerous currant All these and others whatsoever whether by sinne irregular or by grace sincere and straight by supreme wisedome are so disposed that they must needs serve the holy proiects of Iustice and Mercie for the honour of God and salvation of his chosen In this continuall course Mutation so prevaileth upon succeeding generations that as they are distant from the first times they decline from primitiue innocencie and as they approach to the later dayes they participate of their evils Yea so forcible is Defection the daughter of this Mutation in the congregations of the faithfull that the vacant places of the righteous departed are seldome or never filled againe their labours followeth them and they are forgotten If the kirk bee in Aegypt Ioseph dieth and there ariseth a new king there who knew not Ioseph When the people enters into the land Iosua and that generation is gathered to their fathers and another generation ariseth up after them which neither knoweth the Lord nor the works which he had done for Israel by Moses and Iosua in Aegypt at the red sea in the wildernesse and at the entrance into the promised land And in the land it selfe after Athaliahs troubles Ioash whose life was saved by Iehoiada and in whose dayes he did that which was righteous in the sight of the Lord after his death hâ—arkneth to the Princes who make obeysance to the King and leaving the house of the Lord God of their fathers serve idols but Ioash remembreth not the kindnesse done by Iehoiada but slayeth his sonne As by these strange alterations fearfull eclipses were brought upon the face of common honesty likely to banish religion out of the earth so under the ends of the world surpassing the preceeding generations in loue decayed and iniquitie multitiplied if it were not the rich mercy and undeserved loue of the Lord not to suffer the rod of the wicked to rest upoÌ„ the lot of the righteous but now and then in the middest of confusions brought on by Mutation to refresh them under the sweet shadowes of peace and prosperitie the very elect could hardly escape If adversitie beare the sway the people of God are in hazard to put out their hands to evill and if prosperitie prevaile then the kingdome of heaven is likened unto a man who sowed good seed in his field but while men slept his enemie came and sowed tares among the wheat which may not be gathered up till the harvest lest the wheat also be rooted up with them When the Lord his field shall be once infected with such venemous mixture of false teachers their foolish disciples renouncing their own libertie slavishly submitting themselues without triall to follow their seducers in lasciviousnes and avarice for atchieving their own vitious hopes if Israel were not poured from vessel to vessel they should freeze upon their dreggs like Moab so loose not only their comely countenance but the health and life of their substantiall estate the deceitful colours of these supervenient weeds so dazling the eyes of the common sort for the most part more naturall then spirituall and either vailed with black ignorance or blind hypocrisie that religioÌ„ in her natiue simplicitie purity seemeth to them an handmaid rather then a mistres if she bee not busked with some new guise of one alteration or other In this change if a Priest or a Levit or any of the ancient shall happen to weep for the first Temple by the meanes of mutation thus dâ—faced or enquire for the old way by ignorance in the reasonlesse multitude by pride in high places and perversitie of reputed learning he maketh himselfe a prey a troubler of Israel and not meet to liue There ariseth no small stirre about that way whole cities are filled with confusion and the cry goeth up for the Diana of the time If Paul himselfe were gotten he would not passe with pestilent fellow but stone him to the death before he be heard yea when the furie of Mutation inflameth the minds of Barbarians if they see a viper of adversity on a mans hand they say surely he is a murtherer and if no inconvenience follow he is a God So madly are the hearts of men set in them privily to blind themselues with the beams of their own particulars and the world with open shew of seeming zeale for justice and religion The toyles tossings of these Circaean changes are ever so unsavourie to a man of a quiet spirit that if the wronged innocencie of a just cause shamelesse violence done to the rights priviledges of religion and the intolerable pride practised against famous kirks vnheard could be closed up in any tolerable silence honest men knowing very well that the railings of reprochers never woundeth a good conscience could rather choose to sustaine a legion of bitter aspersions for peace to preach the Gospell then either to interrupt their owne tranquilitie or giue the least cause of suspition to any that they were brought from the sweet course of their pure peaceable and simple wisedome to contend for their impured fame and reputation and so to hinder the preaching of Christ For what matter is it though men be despised disgraced and scorned so long as the Lord may bee honoured thereby But when the night of securitie shall bee so dark and shamelesse pride ascend to such a height that not onely the lower sort but men of great spirits and places can with a deafe eare passe by the wrongs done to sincere professours faithfull ministers and martyrs of good memorie but by a sort of brutish patience suffer a substantiall truth to be borne down
as best expressing the causes of that honorable meeting Epaph. Left you or I either should be mistaken behold the true copie thereof Proclamation of the Parliament IAMES by the grace of God King of great Britaine France and Ireland defender of the faith Forasmuch as we know â—â—â—ll that the happinesse strength and glory of a Monarchy free from tyranny and confusion is builded upon the mutuall loue betwixt the king and his subiects expressed by the one in a fatherly care to maintaine his countries in a secure peace flourishing with religion and iustice and by the others in a loyall and submissâ—e obedience to their Princes will and commandement accompanied with a heartie and affectioned offering of all supply and ayd to the vpholding and increase of his estate and honour with their goods and bodies Which reciprocall bonds as layd in by nature and birth upon king and people albeit no new contract can tie or shike off yet are they with solemnitie in a sort renewed at the Assemblies of Parliaments wherein the subiects according to the occurrent necessities of the Princes affaires offer to him their best supply and helpe and hee returneth to them satisfaction and ease of their just grievances pardons for transgression of the lawes ratifications and acts in favours of particular persons estates and corporations with the establishment of such new lawes as the time doth require And wee having now appointed a Parliament in our kingdome of Scotland to be holden and begin vpon the first day of Iune next wherein as the importance and necessitie of our adoâ—s givâ—th â—s just hope for to looke for a supply to bee granted to us by our suâ—jects in our sayd kingdome in a greater measure then hath been at any time heretofore So are we most willing that they should haue all contentment in having either generall lawes or particular acts authorized by our royall consent which being ripely advised shall bee found expedient to passe But because our long experience hath taught us how that divers persons partly by ignorance and partly by fraud are accustomed presuming upon the short time of the sitting of our Parliament to giue in many â—illes and articles to those who are appointed to sit upon the same conteining matter preiudiciall to our crowne or other our good subiects which shortnes of time and multitude of businesse permitteth not to be so narrowly examined as need were And for this cause we haue appointed a certaine number of our counsell to meet some dayes before the sayd parliament and to consider of all billes petitions and articles which shall be exhibit to them by our Clerk of Register Therefore our will and pleasure is that all such at intend to giue in any articles to be past in this approching Parliament deliver the same to our Clerk of Register before the twentie day of May next Otherwise the same shall not bee receiued read nor voted in our sayd parliament except the same be past under our own hand And that yee make publication hereof at the market crosse of our Burgh of Edinburgh to the end that none of our subiects pretend ignorance Given at our palace at Westminster the 21 of Aprill 1621. Archip Was there no further done for convocation Epaph. Missiue letters and precepts were directed according to the ordinary custome from his Maiesties Counsell to all Noblemen of the land Marquises Earles Vicounts Lords Barons Commissioners of Shires Bishops and Burrowes Archip. I see not a word in the proclamation of the fiue Articles and I see a faâ—re occasion offered to the kirk or any of her members to give in their petitions according to their feares or desires Epaph. The cover of the subsidie will not let you see them grope rather Videndi ficultas omnes attingit attrectandi vero pâ—â—â—â—s duntaxat Machiavel What was done in the petition yee shall see The corporations of the kingdome in privat persons as they had their publick or privat affaires to be done in Parliament as they were wakened and warned by this occasion according to their customable priviledges appointed and kept their ordinary meetings for preparing their petitions and articles to be timously presented according to the wil of the proclamation But a necessarie corporation divers ministers and members thereof under great necessities and need of support from the compassion at hands of that high and honourable meeting being deprived not onely of the ancient vigorous generall assembly but of the weak image thereof and in that respect of wonted order and Councell for preparing their desires and authorizing commissioners to present the same vvas left unrespected and desolate Archip. Yet his Maiesties proclamation not onely permitting but inviting and the concurrence of so many weightie causes inforcing as the great growth of corruptions boldnesse of Papists and increase of Paâ—â—stry rather plaistered then punished and the distractions of the Kirke now turned into persecution of the Ministers and grievous offenâ—e of the faithfull professors like a fire devouring and wasting all vnitie order and brotherly kindnesse with no small danger to the state of religion the ministers of dutie ought and without wrong or offence to any might haue presented their humble â—etion Epaph. Chien oâ— chaudè â—aâ—t lâ— causroide Ye may guesse at the difficultie of that dutie by your owne disposition and retirednes at that time yet it pleased the Lord to move the ministers in most quiet and peaceable maner to joyne their hearts and hands in this forme of supplication Supplication presented to the Parliament in name of the Kirk May it please your Honours in this present Parliament assembled under the high and excellent Maiestie of our deare and dread Soveraigne to accept and consider the humble petition of your wearied and broken hearted Brethren Ministers and people obsieged under higher paines then â—â—sse of life libertie goods and fame for Sions sake not to hold their tongue but to call and cry to the God of Heaven and the gods of the earth that peace may be within her walles and prosperitie within her palaces ALthough it were more expedient to weepe then to say ought when we see the Lords armie disordered his companie broken and in the chock betwixt Christian and Turke Protestant and Papist some of his worthies put from their places and others turned if not to the enemies campe yet labouring for his cause Neverthelesse having this happy occasion of his Highnesse fatherly care providence and inclination to distribute iustice and mercie among his Maiesties people to whom by right pertâ—ines the worthy comforts and advantages which the King of Kings hath inclosed in hiâ— Royall scepter to bee delivered forth and disposed according to the occasions presented and the reciprocall consideration in his Highnesse lâ—t proclamation expressed as also of this high Court and of your Honours compassionate intercession for our quietnesse and deliverance from injuries alreadie felt and further feared wee are even forced to speake though not
Perth Assembly and the Proclamation and preparatorie moneths betwixt the moneths appointed in the Proclamation and the keeping of the Parliament so also that the proportion may be fall there were daies of preparation betwixt the day appointed and the riding of the Parliament Archipp Know ye vvhat vvas done in that last time of preparation immediatly going before the work it selfe Epaph. Albeit it was not the first it was not the last After the long expected comming of his Majesties Commissioner Iames Marqueshe of Hammilton vvho upon the 18 of Iulie fiue daies before the appointed day of the Parliament was accompanied vvith divers of the Nobilitie and some of his own friends but not so many as would haue vvaited on him vvillingly in a better errand to Halyroodehouse his Majesties owne palace prepared royally for the Commissioner according to the affection carried to the commission a great part of the Nobilitie having feasted with him that night upon the morne the 15 of Iulie he had his first meeting in private with the Officers of Estate and Plot-maisters of Perth Assembly vvhere according to their loue to the conclusion and feare of impediments all their heads were set on vvork for the fore-casting preventing or removing opposition and purchasing the victorie Vpon the 20 day there was an universall Counsell meeting vvhere all things for peaceable resorting to the Parliament were concluded and the day destinate prorogated from Monday the 23 till Wednesday the 25 that they might yet once againe assay the foord fill up holes and remoue rolling stones before the riding Archip. Ye tell me of great preparation against the Kirk upon worldly respects on the one side but I heare of no diligence for the Kirk upon better considerations on the other In that troublesome time of the vvorld so dangerous for Kirkes Kingdomes and Common-weales vvherein all vvits and hearts vvere aloft and every minde of friend and foe as he respected the publick estate or his own particular vvas bended for his own intention It seemes ye and others of credit in the Ministerie should not haue been negligent but at least should haue backed your own supplication and waited upon the occasions of doing good Epaph. Not onely Noblemen Comissioners of Shriefdomes Bishops and Burrowes vvere present but from all the quarters of the Countrie according to the common libertie so many of the free Lieges of the land as had to doe in that highest Court. And amongst them multitudes of Ministers some to be idle beholders of the celebritie others vvith greater desire of the ratification of their own erronious facilitie then of the puritie of Gods worship and reformation of the Kirk Papists of both sorts Iesuites and Dominicanes vvise in their own generation It had been a wonder then if there had not resorted thither a number of faithfull Ministers to doe their best Pastorall endevours for the liberty of the Kirk and at least for manifesting to the after ages that the truth vvas not altogether deserted to help to make up Catalogum Testium veritatis Archip. Their interest was not meanest in the eyes of God neither could that giue just offence to any person his gracious Maj. never refused that libertie to any of his free subjects nor to them at the last Parliament vvhere he vvas present in proper person Epiph. Yet my Lord Commissioner by suggestion of his vvisest counsel searching the safest vvay for successe had learned that the presence of the Ministers might be verie prejudiciall to the ratification of Perth Articles at least might be a powerfull mean to stay many from giving their consent to the making of such a Law therfore by their advice he findeth it verie speedfull that thâ—se Messengers of God be straitly charged commanded by opeÌ„ proâ—lamation at the Market cross to passe out of the town of Edin Archip. That seemeth to haue been but a boast for their more peaceable behaviour or for preventing their dealing and suspected Protestation they vvere not called let be convinced of any fault and therfore could not be punished vvith deprivation of that libertie vvhich the verie law of nature yeeldeth and vvas not denyed to the enemies of Religion and meanest of the subjects Epaph. Yet upon tuesday the 24 of Iuly the letters vvere execute against them allanerly among all the subjects of the Kingdome Onely there was joyned at the same instant a Proclamation for bringing in Allane Machonil Doâ— chiefe of the Clancaâ—ron Laird of Lochaber known for a vvitch and sorcerer and declared to be an infamous murtherer a rebell and despiser of Authoritie vvhereupon it vvas ordinarie in the mouthes of the people that the Parliament could not end vvell because at the beginning therof they vvere banishing God and bringing in the devill But perhaps ye vvill be as incredulous as that Papist who feared his fellow professors in forrain parts should be upon the report of that proceeding against the pastors of the Kirke albeit your incredulitie theirs arise upoÌ„ diverse grounds Ye think it too evil to be true they will thinke it too good to be true for one of the Papists in the time of the riding of the Parliament bursted out upon the open street into these words with great exultation When I come to Rome and Avinjon to report how I haue heard the Ministers of Scotland discharged out of Edinburgh by open proclamation at the Market crosse in time of Parliament the newes will be so joyfull that scarsly will they bee beleeved by the Catholickes Archip. All goeth wrong Que vâ—â—â— tâ—â—r sâ—nchiâ—â—â— luy met a rage suâ— when they rejoyce vvho should be made to weep they do weep who should be made to rejoyce with what colour of pretence could that uncouth proceeeding be plaistered Epaph. He that would haue his dog fell'd will soon find a cudgel One pretence vvas their a sence from the charge of their flocks wherof they are bound before God and man to be diligent Overseers God and the vvorld knowes whether they who used this pretence are carefull of the fidelity of Ministers whether they oâ— the other sort who were permitted to stay wait better upon their vocation and whether it was not a principall point of their charge to attend at such a time wherin such matters were to be handled as could not but fall under their own their peoples practise in the ordinarie worship of God Another was a shew of mitigation in the and of the Proclamation excepting so many of the Ministers as â—ight procure a warrant from a Bishop to stay still that is to say according to the Bishops own interpretation vvhen some craved leaue of tâ—eâ— so many as would promise to make no interpellation intercession private or publicke nor protestation against their beloved articles wherof they were so jealous The third and sidest cloak was the twofold accusation of two brethren in the Ministerie vvho vvere deceiued by the Counsell to be patternes of extremitie and preparatiues of