their dore for prevention whereof made choyse of one or two of the gravest Ministers in every Presbytery one or two discreet gentlemen of every Shier to present their complaints remonstrances and greviances to the Councill that by their mediation and meanes his Maiesty might be acquanted with the same These Commisioners upon Sept. 23 Oct. 15. and Decem. 7. 27. gave in vnto the Councill such supplications as were fit for his Maiesties information and specially that his subjects feared (a) Our is more then a feare of innovation for wee have sundry innovations established among us and the Prelates set their jornymen on vvork to defend them as Heylen Reed Pocklington and such like Trencher Mates Besides his ungracious graceles Speech in the Star-Chamber an innovation in religion wherby the common wealth was likely to suffer much (b) They set us down a good patterne to follow That is to write up the wicked workes of the Prelates and present them to his Majesty and I verelie thinke if the King were rightly informed what knowne Traitors they are to God to him to the Land and true Religion and how detestable they are in the eyes of his people and how much it doth alienate his subjects affections from his Majesty that such WORKERS OF INIQVITIE are suffered I say if Majestie were thorowly possessed hereof my mind gives me they should not tarie in his sight The Bishops perceiving that their workes of darkenese w now cōming to light that the Commissioners taxed them that to true for many tresonable assaults against their Religion established by law and many yeares peaceable professed and also for seeking by crafty wayes to bring into the Church the rags and dregs of the Babilonian whore the Bb I say perceiving this vse meanes that the King would referre all to the Councell whereof themselves were a great part and truly this was no small point of wisedome in their Lordships for they were not so blind but they could see well enough that unlesse they themselues might bee judges in their owne Case they would bee judged by others to be Vnsavery salt and hence forth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be troden under foot (c) What greater dishonour can it be to our Nation then to suffer such in high and eminent places who in the esteeme of other Natiōs are fitt only for the dunghil And that there ravenous wolues (d) If the Church of Scotland doe so Iudge of them then let them beware that they doe not upon any tearmes admitt of them againe For wolves beeing kept a while from their prey doe afterwards fall a devouring the more eagerlie and greedily so will those spirituall Wolves doe if they can get againe into their places might escape the hands of such as were hunting after them they procure by whose meanes I know not a Proclamation to bee published in Eden sebr 19. 1638. wherein all the aforesaid Commisioners the hunters of the Fox were commanded vnder paine of treason to leaue the townes of Eden and Starling within six houres after the publication of the same the words of the Proclamation are as followes CHARLES c. For so much as we out of our Princery care (a) (a) If Princes will take care for Religion they must doe then what the Word of God directeth the and not what superstitious Prelates for their case profitt pleasure and such worldly respects perswade them to doc See Psal 119.24 Gal. 4 18. of maintaining the true Religion all ready professed so beating downe all superstition Having ordained a booke of common prayer to bee compiled for the generall and vniversall use edification (b) (b) Hoccine credibile aut memorabile Will Satan cast out Satan He were an unwise man that would bee perswaded that the way to get light into his house were by shutting his doorers windows They that should cast aside the true worship of Christ and thinke to edifie themselves better by using the superstitions service-booke would shew themselves were foolish of our subjects within our ancient Kingdome of Scotland the same being accordingly don In the framing whereof we tooke great care (c) (c) I beleeve the Bb. tooke great care paines to have it as full of superstition as they could but blessed be God their labour was as vaine as their worke and I hope the great care paines that Laud and his Mates the Iesuites now take to bring in Poperie will prove so to that is the contrivers either forced to fly into other Countries or hangd up at home for their treacherie and villanie paines so that there is nothing past therein but was seen and approved by us before the same was divulgated or printed assuring all our loving subjects that not only our intention is but even this very booke a ready meanes to maintaine the true Religion already professed and beat out all superstition of which in our owne time we not doubt but in a faire course to satisfie the judgments of our good subjects But having seen and considered some petitions and declarations given into our counsell against the said Booke and late CANNONS of the booke find our regall authority much iniured thereby both in the matter and the carrage whereby wee certifie these of the Nobility Gentry Barrons Ministers and others who have keept and assisted those meetings and convocations for contriving and subscribing of the said petitions to be liable (d) (d) Better that men censured us for well dooing then that Christ in the last day should passe sentence of condemnation against us for yeelding unto their unjust demaunds to our censure in their persons and fortunes they having conveyned themselves without consent or authority Yet because wee beleeve that they have done herein only out of a preposterous zeale and without disloyalty or disaffection in our Soveraingty Our gracious pleasure so farr as concernes those metings for consulting and subscription of the said petitions or presenting of the same to any judges of this Kingdom is to dispence therewith and with what may bee the fault or error therein to all such as upon signfication or declaration of this our pleasure shall retaine themselves as become good and dutifull subjects (e) (e) As the 3 Nobles in Daniel were the Kings good and dutifull subjects albeit they bowed not before the image So are the Nobilitie Gentry Ministers in Scotland good dutifull subjects although they refuse the service-booke Yea to say the truth they are better subjects to his Majestie then such as conforme to it here in England To which purpose OVR WILL is henceforth and we charge you straghtly and commaund that incontinetly these our letters seene the particulers in our name authority proclamation therof be made to all our leige subjects in all places needfull that soe none pretend ignorance hereof and therewithall in our name and authoroty (a) (a) It is
no new thing for Princes by the instigation of wicked Prelates to have their names and authority abused I has was Consiantines authority abused when he authorized by the perswasion of Bb. the Arrian Haeresie So Theodesius when he established the Haeresie of Entiches So Arcedins when hee banished Chrisostome that ye discharge charge all such convocations (b) (b) The way for his Majestie to have such convocations meetings discharged is to discharge the Bb. of their power and places and in his name authority to call a Parliament and willingly to suffer a legall pro ceeding against the Prelates and in this God shall have glery the King honour the Land peace and the enemies of the Lord their due desert and untill this be neither England nor Scotland wil see good dayes meetings in time to come vnder the penalty of Treason and also that ye command charge and inhibit our leiges and subjects that none of them on any hand presume to resort or repaire to the Burrough of Starling nor to any other Burrough where our counsell and Session sits till first they declare the cause of their comming to our counsell and declare their warrant to that effect And further that wee command and charge all and Sundrie Provosts Bayleives and Magistrates within their Burroughs that they and every one of them have a speciall care and regard to see this our Royall will and pleasure readily and dutifully observed in all points and that no violence bee suffered within your bounds under all the highest penalty crime or offence that they may commit against us in that behalfe And also that ye commaund and charge all and sundry Noblemen Barrons Burgesses who are not actually indwellers within the Burrough neither are of number of the privy counsell and Session and members therof and are already within this Burrough that they and euery one of them remoue themselves and depart and passe forth of the said Burrough and not returne againe without the said warrant within Six houres after the publication hereof vnder the said penalty of Treason (c) (c) It is high time for the Nobilitie both in Scotland England to looke about them considering the monstrous unparaled presumption of Bb. who are growne so impudent as they are not affraid to perswade Kings to proclaime all the great Peeres and Princes of the Land Traitors Rebels if they will not become the which used to bite people and howsoever he was spoken often unto of it yethee reformed it not At last the curre wounded the man himselfe his Children at this he was very angry and caused the curre to be hanged immediately We poore men have been a long time biten by the Prelaticall Dogs and we have complained thereof to your Honours but you 〈…〉 And as concerning any petitions that shall hereafter be given to vs upon this or any otner Subject wee are likewise pleased to declare that wee will not shut our cares there from Soe it bee not prejudiciall to our royall authority Given at Starling vnder our Signet the 19 of Febr 1638. Per actum Dominorum Consily For the safety of religion the honour of the King and the lawfull liberties and previledges of the subjects the Nobility and Commissioners aforesaid were forced to publish a protestation against the Proclamation and thus they say WEE Noble men (a) (a) It is a thing to bee wished that our Noblemen Barens and Ministers would take to heart the greevances of the time and joyntly seek by a lawful way the redresse thereof We see in Worldly matters what one cannot doe many can So in this case howsoever some few single men have not prevailed with the King to east out the bond-woman her children yet if there be a general seeking by the whole Nation there is no fear but he will give a gracious answere Barrons and Ministers appointed to attend his Majesties answer vnte our humble petitions and to present our gree uances and to doe what else might lawfully conduce to our humble desires Did upon the 13. of September last present one supplication to your Lordships and another upon October following as also a new relatiue to the former in December after the 19. day In all which wee humbly remonstrated our iust exceptions against the Service book booke of Cannons Arch-Bishops and Biships of this Kingdom as the contrivers (b) (b) They may wel be called contrivers for I know not for what use they are in all the world unlesse it bee to contrive wayes how to suppresse Christs Kingdome to advance Antichrist meanteaners urgers thereof against their sitting as our Judges (c) (c) When will theeves murderers c. be punished if none but themselves may judge their cause Might the Bb. be brought to an impartiall triall no doubt but they would be soone condemned for notorious malefactors But if their facts may not be examined any where but where they themselves are Iudges it wil be long enought before they suffer according to their merit until the causes betweene them and us bee decided And withall wee earnestly suplicated to beeridd and delivered frō these evils (d) (d) If the Scotsmen have just cause to seeke his Majestie that they may be rid of Bb. and their Tayle What cause have we then to seeke for it having beene a thousand sould more basely abused by them then ever they were Truely it is to be wondered that we are still but it may be our Nation forbeares to petition his 〈…〉 in earnest from all other innovations of that kind introducted against the laudable lawes of this Kingdome as namely that of the High Commission and other evils particularly and generally mentioned in our lupplications complaints And that these our Parties delinquent against our religion and lawes might be taken order with and these pressing greeuiances bee redressed according to the Lawes of this Realme as in our supplications wee have more largely expressed the which wee gave unto your Lordships upon the 19. December aforesaid against the Arch-Bishops and Bishops our parties who by consequence therefore neither could be nor may be our Iudges Whereupon your Lordships declared by your act given at Dealkieth the said 19 of December that you would present our Petition to his Majestie Royall consideration and that without any prejudice to us the said Supplicants and moreover that wee should bee heard (a) (a) It is a crying none of this Land that the poore mans cry is not heard And this comes to passe through the crast of Prelates who seeke to have their causes justified in all Courts without any triall or examination If a Bat touch a Storkes egge it becomes they say addle after I know not what the secret operation is that Bb. have in their touch But this I know by their touch they make many addle egges or rather addle heads both in Church and Common-wealth in time and place convenient
and in the meane time we should receaue no prejudice as the said act it selfe testifies for us Now whereas wee your supplicants with long patitence and hope grounded upon sundry promises were exspecting an answere unto our fore named humble desires wee understood of some direction from his Majestie to your Lords of his highnes privy counsell touching our complaints and upon the same addmitted the consulting and iudging (b) (b) If the Nobilitie Barons ' Ministers c. had submitted their cause upon the Kings Commaundement to the Bb. their Church had not been so soone purged of Romish Superstition And for our parts unlesse with the Noole Scots we refuse to admitt them for our Iudges we shall never shake them of with their spirituall whoredoms both of our supplication and the Kings answere there to vnto the Arch-Bishops and Bishops our direct par-ties Contrary to our protestation given at Dealkeeth and since renued at Starling and contrary to your Lordships foresaid act (c) (c) It much impeacheth the honour and reputation of Statesmen to comply with Prelates For howsoever they hould up their heads looke bigge upon the matter Blesse themselves yet by good bad they are hated all the Land over and it is a received Maxime among the people that he cannot be honest and be for the Bishopes If a Horse chance to steppe in the track of a Wolfe he is made lame by it These Wolves have the like strange operation for whosoever comes into their way he halts for ever 〈…〉 made at Dealkeeth Least therefore our silence should bee prejudiciall to this soe importunate a cause as concernes Gods Glory and worship our Religion and Salvation the lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome or derogatory to our former supplications and complaints or in briefe not answerable to the trust of our commission wee are forced out of our bounden duty to God our King and natiue Country to take instrument in the no taries and Clarkes hands seeing your Lordships refuse to admit our Declimiter for remouall of these of our parties and to protest in manner following 1. Wee protest that wee may and ought to have a immediate course to present our iust greeviances to our sacred Soverainge and in a legall way and manner to prosecute the same before the ordinarie competent judges Civill or Ecclesiasticall without any offence either offred by us or taken by your Lordships 2. We protest that the Arch-Bishops and Bishops the parties whome wee complaine vpon cannot bee reputed or esteemed lawfull iudges to sit in iudicatory within this Kingdome Civill or Ecclesiasticall upon any of us the said supplicants untill they doe by lawfull tryall iuditiously purge themselves of such crimes as wee have already laid to their Charge offering our selves to prove the same whensoever his Majesty shal be pleased to give vs audience 3. Wee protest that no act (a) (a) Our Land would be happie if it were free from the unjust acts and Censures of Orelates For trulie Israel never sighed more under the Egyptian bondage thē the better sort everywhere cry out complaine of their oppression and crueltie It may be they thinke that our consciences like Sampsons Shouldiers are strong enought to beare all the loads they lay upon us But our State hath learned now of Scot land how to bee eased of their burdē or proclamation whether pasd or here after shall passe in the counsell and by the states of Arch-Bishops and Bishops our par-ties and whome we have declyned to be our Iudges shall in no wise be preiudicall to us that is either to our persons or lawfull meetings proceedings and persuits 4. We protest that neither our selves nor any others (b) (b) It is a sweet Harmony when mē joyn together in good actions Certainly were there such an accord among the Nobilitie Barons Ministers her e in Englād It vvould make these proud Nimrods harts to quake For their hope of standing is in regard of the divisions in the Nobility Ministers c. but my minde gives me God vvill put it into their hearts shortly to shevv thē a Scots trick whose hearts the Lord shall moue to joyne with vs in our supplications against the aforesaid innovations shall incurre any danger either in life lands or any politicall or Ecclesiasticall penaltie For not observing such acts Bookes Cannons Writs judicatories and proclamations introduced without or against the acts of Parliament or statutes of this Kingdome But it shal be lawfull for us and them to use our selves in matters of Religion (c) (c) The Scots Nation is vvorthy of honour above many Nations For that in Religion they have not beene the Servants of men neither follovved their Kings othervvise then their Kings have followed Christ Contrariwise it is the shame blott of our Nation that in matters of Gods worship we are as our Princes are and ready to turne and change as they doe and what doth this argue but that men serve not the Lord Iesus but their owne bellies or the externall worship of God and policie of the Church according to the word of God and the laudable constitutions of this Church and Kingdome 5. Seeing all such as have taken these innovations to heart have by a legall submissiue way of supplications sought redresse and beene calme and quiet in hope of reformation We protest therefore that if inconvenience shall happen to fall out which wee pray God to prevent upon the pressing of the said innouations or evils generally and specially mentioned in our former complaints and upon your Lordships refusall to take order for redresse That the same shall not bee imputed unto vs who most humbly desire to have all things redressed by order 6. Wee protest before God the Heavens and the Angles that these our Request proceding from conscience and our due rerespect to his Majesties honour doe tend to no other end but to the preservation of the true reformed religion the Lawes and Liberties of his Majesties most ancient Kingdome and the satisfaction of our humble desires contained in our supplications according to his Majesties goodnesse and justice From whom we do certainly exspect (a) (a) What they exspect appeares by their petitions and complaints viz. the exercise of true Religion the abolishing of all Popish superstitions a Parliament to arraigne the Bb. upon the crime of Innovations And I beleeve that these things his Majestie will grant them The which if he doe then I doubt not but our Nobilitie Barons and Ministers will sue to his Majestie for the like grant that so this way and not in Antichrists way there may be a uniformity betweene the two Kingdoms that his Maj. wil proceed grant remedy to our iust petitions complaints as may be exspected from so gracious a King towards his loyall and dutifull Subjects calling for redresse of so oppressing greevances praying hartily that his Majesty may long prosperously raigne over us AMEN THis protestation beeing
it is answered 1. Seeing the band and union is for the maintenance of true Religion the Kings Authoritie and Lawes and for the publick welfaire and peace of the whole Realme against such as seeke the ruine thereof It cannot be justly tear med such a league among subjects as by the foresaid act is prohibited 2. Ours is no private band of some particular persons but a publick one of the collective bodie of the whole Land Now it may not be thought that they who made the Act intended to prohibite themselves from entering into Covenant with God and for God and the King 3. This is no band against Law but a renuing only of a Confession of Faith which King lames authorized both by proclamation and his practice too But admitt there were some inform alitie in it in regard they craved not his Majeties consent before they made the Covenant Notwithstanding rebus sic stantibus considering to what extreame miseries (a) What Mariners a case either they can not crane the maisters ayd or if they craue it cannot optaine it I say in such a case what mariners will not indeauour to preserve the vessel from drowning rather then sit still so maister men peerish together I leaue the application to the wise reader many wayes the Bb. had brought them it was as necessarie and lawfull for them to doe wnat they did for the good of the Church as was Hesters approaching to King Assuerus before he held out his goulden Scepter made necessarie and lawfull by reason of the eminent daunger that they were in through Hammous suggestion to the King Another thing objected by the Adversarie is that all such as subscribe to this Covenant oblidge themselves to practice such things as by the act of Perth Assembly was appointed to be used To this they answer 1. For Perth Assembly they say as Ambrose said of the Councill he 'd at Ariminum illud ago concilium exhorreo That Convocation was not Lawfull For the moderators and other members thereof were not rightly chosen Againe the carriages of all businesses went by craft and guile (b) After such a manner are their innovations brought into the English Church that is either by craft or violence or both For the Bb. know that they are so wel beloved in England that it is not possible that any thing should be don for their meantenance in a faire legall way As Wolves take the advantage of the darke night for to kill deuour the Sheepe so these Wolves make use of in justice violence for to praey upon Christe poore lambes and not legallie and impartially Besides seeing their cheife pretence for the introduction of genu-cultus then ordained was because the memory of superstition was past It must follow that they who forbeare the practice have as good or rather a better reason for it Namelie because the practice of it will revive thememory of superstition Lastly it is well knowne that sundry of the innovations concluded at Perth have not been by the Prelates themselves yet practised (c) Howsoever the Prelates doe presse conformitie yet it must not be thought that they doe it of any conscience but they invent certaine Ceremonies Canons Articles c. Unto which they thinke no honest man will subscribe so hope by keeping out all able faithfull men from the ministerie giving others just occasion to leaue their Churches they hope I say in a little time to bring the whole nation to be Athests and Papists they omnia samilia as birds of a feather they will agree well enought Now by the same reason and ground that they omitt some of those innovations the subscribers may forbeare the practice both of them and the others also And the rather seeing most Churches (d) As the Lyon in the Greek fable would needs have the Asse and fox to be of his Councill because he knew they would doe any thing that he should command them so the Bb. place abroad in the parish Churches of the Land either Knaves or Fooles for they know that such fellowes like Foxes Asses will doe any thing at their courmaund I say any thing so that it be for advantage As that lewd fellow professeth in the poet Dorio the Baud non pudet vanitatis minime dum ad rem Had we such in the Kingdome have not to this day acknowledged the things there concluded for the constitutions of a lawfull assembly It is further objected that Perth Assembly was ratified by an Act of Parliament Ann. 1621. and therefore the Subscribers obleidge themselves to forbeare to practice that which by Parliament they are commaunded to practice To answer it 1. Parliamentarie Ratifications can no way alter Church Canons concerning the worship of God For it beeing but a Counsell the Parliament cannot turne it into a precept No more then it can change precepts into Counsels For that were rather to make Lawes and Canons in matters of Religion then to confirme them 2. There are no commanding words in the ratification which can simplie bind the greater and better sort of subjects to a literall obedience of the Articles made in that assimbly the reason is because there was a supplication given to the members of that Parliament before they sate that they would be pleased to heare such grounds and reasons as should be exhibited to them against the ratification of Perth Assembly Moreover when the Supplicators were suppresd they made their protestation in due time and place according to order of law Besides his Majesty Commissioners in that Parliament solemnly promised never to presse (a) They have had more fauour shewen them then we have had for Ceremonic here are so vrged as that the Omission of them is more seve relie punished the the breach of any law of God yea the truth is so men we be Ceremonioush supestitious It is aâ— the religion the Bb care or and it is aâ— much religioÌ„ as the have themselves the execution of the act no penalty should bee exacted and that there should not be any further of conformity to the English Ceremenies in short the a foresaid Subscribers have protested against iurisdiction of Prelates and inparticular against their high Commission (b) The City of Alexandria in Aegypt nourished the greaâ— bird this to denoâ— garbage offall â—â— it and to cleanse thâ— streets but he left 〈◊〉 his own fithines at beaslines morâ— noysome behind him the high Comissiâ—â— Court is allowed under a pretence cleanse the hand the Offals of sinn but the truth is thâ—â— it doth not but bâ—â—ther like that bâ— voyds so much duâ—â— filthines as 〈◊〉 the whole Kingdome is annoyed therewith our state therfore shall doe wel to 〈◊〉 downe this house of Baal as losiah did the house of the Sodomites turne it to a laâ— or draught-house and so it shall keepe still its nature and kind and all other their Courts Canons Articles and proceedings
no doubt but these and other such like objections were suggested to his Majestie seing he heard not the ansers (c) Princes should be like the sunne which casteth her shining beemes upon all a like his Majestie wil be pleased to receineÌ„our charges proofes against the Bb. in as fâ—â— and favourable a way as he doth their charges without preffe against us we doubt but to make it cleare yea and his Majestie shall conseld it that they are neither fitt Church or Common wealth d It hath been the overthrow of maine brave princes to take things upon the 〈◊〉 of the reporter for by this meanes dissentions have fallen out between them their best subjects here upon treacherous men as the Prelats are have taken 〈◊〉 time advantage to hurt both parnies it is possible he might be offended with his best subjects specially considering that his Majesty hath things presented to him in such shapes and lineaments as the Prelates conceive to to bee most for their owne ends and advantages notwill standing such was his Maisties wisdome and loue to his ancient Subjects as that he refused to attempt the actions which some perswaded him unto (a) What Prelates are the Spun of God showeth in Rev. 16.13 viz. the unclean pirits which goe unto the Kings of the hearth together them to battle against the Saints Now as Aliad beeing encouraged by his false Prephers to goe against Raniath Gilead was undone by it So many in mking the Bb. counsell to warre against the Gespell have been undone by the meanes in their state honour posteritie But sent the Mar of Ham down into Scotland to heare what they could say for themselves how they could justifie the band they had made and So to certifie his Majestie how all things stood And no doubt but his Maiestie did this the rather as conceaving in his royall breast that it was not possible that so many of his best suband men of the greatest integrity and prudence would have agreed together in an action of such a nature without Some considerable reason and cause The Marques being come into Eden much speech passed between him and the commissioners for the Land they craved the indiction of a free Aslembly and Parliament as the only remeady of their miseries hee required a rendring up of the whole copies of the Subscribed Covenant telling them that this would bee a meanes to remove all feares of the Kings wrath against the subscribers and If they refused to doe soe the King b The same remedy we crave here in England the which being granted we feaoe not that but Church and Common-wealth shall be both the better for it What Children seeing Serpents creeping in their Fathers and Mothers bosome will not kill them to preserve their Parents Those Bb. as so many venemous snakes lie in the bosome as it were of our Abimelech Father King and of the Church Now the Parliament-men as good Children will kill those Serpents that so both Father and Mother may live and prosper it might by would not grant them an affemblie or parliament for establishing religion and setling the Peace of Kirk and Kingdome But they answered that thus they could not doe for if they should they should not bee free of the great guiltines of peruirie before God (a) Note the wickednes of our Bb it is their order to have infams in baptisine to vow and promise by their sureties to fight againct the devil al his vvorkes yet afterwards they doe what they can to make them perinted foresworne in requiring them to fight for the Devil his workes that 〈◊〉 for them and the Pope Againe in this they should destroy what they had before built confesse themselves to be trespassers bfore they saw it besides they should shew great unthankefulnes vnto God for a worke which by his good spirit they were moved to doe Moreover the demaund was more then the Commissioners could doe in regard many thousands in the Land besides themselves had subscribed To be short they said and that truely if they should grant this all the World would wonder at their inconstancy and their enemies would mock at them and traduce them as periured Covenant-breakers and Troublers of the peace of the Kirk and Kingdome And whereas there were many promises made of great matters that the King would doe for them if they would render up the Copies to him Their answere was that this was not the first time (b) It is the property of the fox to come towards the sheep upon his bellie to shew him selfe a farre off as if he meant no harme but being gotten with in them and where he would be then like a fox he kils spares not so the Prelates till they become where they defire to be they are very freindly full of faire promises but having gotten what they seeke for then like soxes as they are they spoile ane devour the Lords sheep that fair promises had beene made them for not vrging of of Articles already concluded and for not trouble them with any further innovation the which beeing credited did ensnare manie and drew them on to doe that which otherwise they would not have don all which promises have beene broken and denyed when the per formance was craved and why may they not exspect the like in this case especially where the thing wil bee found more hard and difficult There beeing much time spent and no conclusion made of any thing at the last there comes downe a Proclamation from the King The which was problished at the Mercate Crosse of Edinburg the 4 of July 1638. the effect whereof was this That his Majestie was not ignorant of their great desorders (a) If there be disorders among them the greatest ault lies on the Proclates who have been the cheife Authors and causers of it And therefore his Majestie shall doe verie well to se them severelie punished who have by their attempts to bring peoperie into that Church occasioned much trouble in that Kingdome we use to blame such as set the house on syer not the good people which seeke to quench it so c. here occasioned as is pretended upon the introduction of the Service-booke Booke of Canons c. thereby fearing innovation of Religion and Lawes At this his Majestie professeth to greeve to see them runne headlong into ruine Yet out of his innative indulgence to his people he desires to reclay me them from their faults in a faire way Rather then let them perish in the same And for further clearing of scruples he promiseth not hereafter to presse the practice of the said Service booke Canons but in a faire and legall way (b) That which is against the cÌ„omaundement of God cannot lawfullie be vrged in any way what soever now there is nothing more sure then that the service booke booke of can are accursed thinges and therefore ought
not to be rged or received by any He that drinkes povsen out ofa goulden cup kils himselfe assoon as if he tooke it our of an Iron or Wodden Vessell So Superstition brought into the Church in a plausible and peaceable way is as deadly a poyson vnto the receivers of it as if they were compelled and forced to take it c. And for the High Commission he will rectifie it (c) It is as possible to wash the Black-moore vvhite As by any rectifications to make the high commission a lawfull court If his Majestie doe take the advise of his Council about it I am sure if they be not Bb or Athests or Papists they wil Counsell him to pull it all down for there is not one stone in that building which God allowes with the helpe and advile of the privy Counsell c. And for geuerall Assemblies and Parliament it shal be indicted and called with his conveniency In conclusion he requires and hartely wisheth all is good Subjects not to suffer themselves to be seduced and misled under Religion into disobedience and draw on infinitely to his greefe their owne ruine Which he hath and still shall strive to save them from so long as he sees not Royall authority shaken off The Kings Proclamation beeing published the Noblemen Barrons Gentlemen Burrowes Ministers and Commons made a Protestation against it to this effect 1. That they will constantly adhere according to their vocation and power to their Reformation at first Notwithstanding of any innovations introduced either of old or late 2. That they will adhere to their supplications given in at Assemblies and Parliaments against the Service-booke Booke of Cannons the High Commission c. 3. That they will adhere with their hearts (a) As I rejoyce to see such constancy in the Scotsmen so it greeves me to the heart to think what reeds shaken with the wind our people generally are As Ioab after he had fought many battles bravely stoutly yet died himselse at last in shame digrace Even so many Preachers Professors having a while refused conformitie to the Beast have afterwards basely yeelded to the Bb. and so gone to their graves with shame dishonour to their Oath and subscription of the Confession of Faith 4. That this Proclamation or Act of Councill or any other Act or Proclamation c. shall no wayes be prejudiciall (b) If it be held a base thing among men not to keepe a mans Word Promise it is much worse to breake Covenant with the Lord yet so doe all those who promise to feare God and doe his worke in his owne way and yet doe the commaundements of the Prelates to the Confession of Faith Lawes and Liberties of their Kingdome nor to their supplications Lawfull meetings c. 5. Seeing their Supplications for Reformation are delayed and in effect refused whatsoever trouble or inconvenience fall out in the Land in the meane time for want of those ordinary remedies not to be imputed to them In short they protest that it shal be Lawfulll for them to defend and maintaine that Religion Lawes and Liberties of their Kingdome the Kings authority in defence thereof and every one of them one another in that cause of meantaining the Religion and the Kings fore-said authority according to their power vocation and Covenant with bodies lives meanes c. against all persuits whatsoever or against all externall or internall invasions menaced in this Proclamation 6. They protest that their former Supplications meeting and mutual defences are to be commended as real duties of faithfull subjects (c) Que. Whether England hath not as much Previledge to reject the Service-book Canons High Commission and all other such like Idolitries and to establish maintaine the true worship of God as hath Scotland and not to be stiled great disorders misdeamenours blinde disobedience under pretext of Religion and running headlong into ruine c. In conclusion they exspect that his Majesty will presently indict these ordinary remedies of a free Assemblie and Parliament to their iust supplications which may be exspected from so iust and gracious a King (a) When the men of Isreel were offended with their Brethren for that they had brought the K. his Household over Iordan Iudah answered the K. is neere of Kin to us Wherefore then be yee angry for this matter This may serve as a reason why the Scots are first in bringing the King home from his enemies the Bb. the K. is neere of kin to them Now for the State of England if they have any zeale of God and love to the King they will further this good worke of Iudah so happily begunne for the Kings safety and honour This don Iohn Earle of Caffles c in the name of the Noblemen Master Alexander Gipson younger of Durie in name of the Barrones Master Iohn Ker Minister at Salt Prestoun in name of the Ministers and Master Archbald Iohnston Reader hereof in name of all who adheres to the Confession of Faith Covenant lately renewed within this Kingdome Tooke Instruments in the Hands of three Notars present at the said mercat crosse in Edenburgh beeing invironed with Numbers of the aforesaid Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Borrows Ministers and Commons Before many Hundred witnesses craved the extract thereof And in token of their dutifull respect to his Majesty confidence of the equity of their cause and innocencie of their carriage and hope of his Majesties gratious acceptance They offred in humility with submise reverence a Copy thereof to the Herauld These things being ended the Marquesse leaves Eden and goes back to London now what followed touching those afaires you shall-know in the next part Rev. 18.9 Reward her even as shee rewardeth you and double vnto her double according to her workes in the cup which shee hath filled fill to her double FINIS