Disposition Approve of the said Motion as Dutiful and Necessary at the time And therefore in His Majesties Name and Authority Do Command a Solemn and publick Fast and day of Humiliation to be Religiously and Sincerely Observed throughout this Kingdom both in Churches and Meeting-Houses as they would avert Wrath and procure and continue Blessings to this Kingdom and that all Persons whatsoever may send up their Fervent Prayers and Supplications to Almighâ—y God That He would pour out upon all Ranks a Spirit of Grace and Supplication that they may Mourn for all their Iniquities and more especially that God would pour forth upon King WILLIAM and Queen MARY and upon all inferior Magistrates and Counsellors a Spirit of Wisdom for Government and Zeal for God His Church and Work in this Land as the present Case of both do call for and that God may preserve Them for carrying on that great Work which he hath so Gloriously and Seasonably begun by Them and that God would Countenance and Bless with Success the Armies by Sea and Land Raised for the Defence of the Protestant Religion and more especially that God would pour forth a Spirit of Holiness upon them lest their Sins and ours may provoke God againâ— them in the Day of Battel and that he would Bless all Means for the Settlement of Church and State That God would Bless the Season of the Year and give Seasonable Weather for Cutting Down and gathering in the Fruits of the Earth that the Stroke of Famine which God hath frequently Threatned the Nation with may be Averted And the saids Lords of His Majesties Privy Council do in Name and Authority foresaid Command and Charge that the said Solemn and publick Fast be Religiously and devoutly performed both in Churches and Meeting-Houses by all Ranks and Degrees of persons within this Kingdom on this side of the Water of Tay upon Sunday the Fifteenth day of September next to come and by all others be-north the same upon Sunday thereafter the Twenty second day of the said month of September And to the End that this part of Divine Worship so pious and Necessary may be punctually kept upon the respective Days above-mentioned They Ordain Sir William Lockhart Solâ—icitor in the most convenient and proper way to dispatch and send Copies hereof to the Sheriffs their Deputs and Clerks of the several Shires of this Kingdom to be by them published at the Mâ—râ—at Crosses of the Head Burghs upon receipt thereof and immediately sent to the several Ministers both of Churches and Meeting-Houses that upon the Lords-day immediately preceding the Fast and upon the respective Days of the publick Fast and Humiliation the Ministers may read and intimate this Proclamation from the Pulpit in every Parish Church and Meeting-House and that they Exhort all persons to a serious and devout performance of the said Prayers Fasting and Humiliation as they regard the Favour of Almighty God and the Safety and Preservation of the Protestant Religion and expect a Blessed Success to the carrying on of that Great and Glorious Work of this Nations being delivered from Popery and Slavery so seasonably begun and as they would avoid the Wrath and Indignation of God against this Kingdom and procure and continue maniâ—old Blessings to the same Certifying all these who shall contemn or neglect such a Religious and necessary Duty they shall be proceeded against and published as Contemners of his Majesties Authority Neglecters of Religious Services and as persons disaffected to the Protestant Religion as well as to Their Majesties Royal Persons and Government And Ordains these presents to be printed and published by Macers or Messengers at Arms at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh and other places above-mentioned that none may pretend Ignorance Per actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii GILB ELIOT Cls. Sti. Concilii God save King William and Queen Mary Some of the sad Effects of this Canting Proclamation were particularly felt by Mr. Ramsay who preach'd in the Forenoon in the old Church at Edinb a Man of an unblameable Life a judicious and accurate Preacher gave Obedience in all things to the Act of the Meeting of Estates of the Thirteenth of April read the Proclamation prayed in express Terms for King William and Queen Mary the very first day these things were enjoyned to be done on but that availed nothing for the design was to remove all the Episcopal Ministers from the Pulpits in Edinburgh at any rate and upon any pretence how little soever Mr. Ramsay gets a Citation to appear before the Privy Council By their procedure against his Brethren he knew what would be the event of this and therefore it being his turn to preach on that day he was cited to compâ—ar on and many of his Elders and Parishoners being present he delivered some Advices and Exhortations which made the Sermon look somewhat like a valedictory one after Sermon his Elders attended him to the foot of the Stairs of the Council Chamber Mr. Ramsay is called and interrogated if he did read the Proclamation of the 13th of April he answered I did read it Again he is questioned if he prayed for King William and Queen Mary naming them for it was not enough to use such Expressions as were only to be appropriated to William and Mary he said He had prayed for them by Name But says the President you only prayed for them as Declared King and Queen not as those that were really such Mr. Ramsay replied That he had prayed for William and Mary whom the Estates of the Kingdom had Declared King and Queen and since they had no Liturgy and they had given to them no Form of Prayer he thought being he had pray'd for William and Mary no more was to be required and as for the words Declared King and Queen he had taken them from one of their own Proclamations which when denied he desired the Proclamation might be produced which was done and then it appeared he was in the right When he could not be reached in this point then the President the Earl of Crawfurd said But Mr. Ramsay you pray for the late King James My Lord said he I pâ—ay in these words Lord Bless William and Mary whâ—m the Estates of this Land have Declared King and Queen and Bless all the Royal Family Root and Branch especially him who is now under Affliction Sanctiâ—ie it uâ—to him while he is under it and when it seems good to thee deliver him from it This says he is the Form I made to my self for you prescribe none and is it not a sore matter that when nothing is left to King James in Reversiâ—n of Three Kingdoms but the Prayers of poor Men that you should deny him those They then ordered him to remove and consulted by what other way they might reach him for yet they could not find a pretence against him sufficient to deprive him At last they called him in and the President said But Mr. Ramsay you did not
established by the foresaid Act and to take the Oath of Allegiance under the pain of being deprived of their Churches and losing their Benefices And it is Declared That all Ministers that shall submit and conform to the foresaid Church-Government and to take the Oath of Allegiance without being obliged to take any other Oath shall enjoy their Churches and Benefices and shall not be deprived of the same except for Scandal or Insufficiency But in respect there are several Ministers that were put out of their Churches and Benefices since the year 1662. for not complying wiâ—h and conforming to Prelacy and others since the year 1681. for not taking the Test And now seeing Prelacy is Abolished and all Acts relating thereto it is just and reasonable that these Ministers that went out and were laid aside for not conforming to and complying with Prelacy and for not taking the Test should be restored to their Churches and Benefices Therefore the King and Queens Majesties with Advice and Consent of the saids Estates of Parliament do Ordain the saids Ministers that went out or were laid aside upon the account foresaid to be restored and reponed and do hereby repone and restore them to their respective Churches and Benefices And the King and Queens Majesties and Estates of Parliament declares That they will take care to provide these Ministers that are now serving the Cure at the saids Churches with other Churches and Benefices as occasion shall offer they submitting themselves to the Government of the Church established by this present Act and taking the Oath of Allegiance and being sufficient and qualified for the Office of the Ministry and without Scandal As also it is Declared That Intrants to the Ministry shall not be holden or obliged to take any other Oaths at their Admission but the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath de fideli And in regard that much trouble hath ensued unto the Estate and many sad Confusions and scandalous Schisms have fallen out in the Church by Church-men meddling in matters of State Therefore their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament do hereby discharge all Ministers of the Gospel within this Kingdom to meddle with any State-affairs either in their Sermons or Judicatories publickly or privately under the pain of being holden as disaffected to the Government and proceeded against accordingly And declares That the Jurisdiction of the Church consists and stands only in the preaching of the True Word of Jesus Christ Correction of Manners by Ecclesiastical Censures and the Administration of the Holy Sacraments conform to the 69th Act Iames 6. Parl. 6. And to the effect there be nothing treated or concluded in the Church-Judicatories that concerns the Affairs of Sâ—ate or Civil Matters it is declared That Their Majesties if they shall think fit may have always one present in all the Provincial and Presbyterial Assâ—mblies as well as They have Their Commissioner present in General Assemblies that in case any Affair that concerns the State or Civil Matters that dâ—es not belong to the Jurisdiction of the Church shall come in before the saids Assemblies the said Person appointed by Their Majesties shall inhibit and Discharge the Provincial or Presbyterial Assembly to proceed in any Affair that concerns the State or Civil Matter before Their Majesties and Their Privy Council shall be acquainted with the same that They may declare Their pleasure thereanâ—nt And because there are many things to be settled in relation to the Policy and Discipline of the Church therefore Their Majesties declare That They by the Advice of the Estates of Parliament and Judicatories of the Church will enact such Rules concerning the Policy Discipline and other Matters to be observed by the Church as shall tend most to the curbing of Vice the Advancement of True Religion and Piety and the Preservation of Unity and Peace amongst the Subjects And Their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the saids Estates of Parliament Râ—â—â—inds and Annuls the first Act of the 15 Parl. K. Ia. VI. anent Ministers provided to Prelacies should have Vote in Parliament and the second Act of the 18 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Restitution of the Estate of Bishops and the eighth Act of the 19 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Commissarioâ—s and Jurisdictions given to the Archbishops and Bishops and the first Act of the 21 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Ratification of the Acts of the Assembly of Glasgow in the year 1610. and the first and second Acts of the 22 Parl. of K. Ia. VIâ— in the year 1617. anent the Archbishops and Restitution of Chapters without prejudice always to the Ministers serving the Cure of any Emoluments allowed to them in part of their Stipends and the first Act of the 23 Parâ— of K. Ia. VI. in the year 1621. anent the Ratification of the Articles of the Assembly holden at Perth And rescinds and annuls all and whatsomever Acts Laws and Constitutions in so far as they derogate and are prejudicial to the Church-Government by General Provincial and Presbyteral Assemblies and Kirk-Sessions and in so far as they are conceived in favour of Archbishops Bishops Abbot Priors and other Prelates or Church-men whatsomever their Dignity Title Power Jurisdiction and State in this Church and Kingdom or in favours of the Civil Places or Power of Church-men or of whatsomever sort allowed or disallowed for their Ruling Sitting and Voting in Parliament either as Church-men or the Clergy or in name of the Church or as representing the Church either in regard of their Ecclesiastical Titles Offices Places and Dignities or in regard of the Temporality or Spirituality of Ecclesiastical Bâ—nefices or other pretexts whatsomever with all Acts and Constitutions of Convention Council or Sâ—ssion or other Judicator whatsomever and all Practices or Customs whatsomever introduced in favours of the saids Offices Titles Benefices or Persons provided thereto and all other Acts Statutes or Practices which are contrary and prejudicial to or inconsistent with this present Act and declares the same to be void and null in all time coming And seeing by the abolishing of Prelacy the is at present no Meeting of the Presbyteries or Provincial Assemblies and it being necessary that there be a time and place appointed for the first Diet of Meeting therefore Ordains the Ministers of the several Presbyteries on the South-side of the River of Tay to meet and convene upon the second Tuesday of August next at the ordinary places where the Presbyters are in use to meet and these Ministers of the Presbyteries on the North-side of the River of Tay to meâ—t and convene upon the first Tuesday of September thereafter at the ordinary places where the Presbyters are in use to meet and appoints these Ministers that shall meet in the respective Presbyteries to chuse their own Moderator and ordains the Moderator first to take and subscribe the Oath of Allegiance himself and then administrate the said Oath to the rest of the Brethren that they may
the Sessions are subject to the Presbyteries so are the Presbyteries to the Synod which meets always at set times twice every Year there the Bishop himself preâ—ides or in case of his necessary absence one commissionated by him and all things are carried by the Plâ—rality of Votes and the Acts made that way are the only Canons or Rules we use for Discipline As the Presbyteries are subject to the Synod so the whole Synods of the Nation are to the General Assembly where by Law the Archbishop of St. Andrews is always to preâ—ide and if I be not mistaken has a negative Voice tho he was never known to use it Now I leave the impartial World to judge whether Presbyterians that had any Moderation would not be well contented and live quietly under such a moderate Episcopacy where indeed except the Power of Ordination which is always to be performed with the consent and assistance if the Brethren of the Presbytery and the Title of Lord which the King is pleased to confer upon them the Bishops are truly but Constant Moderators which the Presbyterians themselves because of the great Divisions which often happened among them at the electing of Moderators were at length necessitated to sit down with Now then let any moderate Presbyterian abroad say whether indeed it be matter of Conscience or Humour that makes Presbyterians with us separate from a Church so Constitute or whether the difference between our Church and their Kirk be such as can justisie Men in raising so many publick Rebellions and drawing so much Misery and Confusion upon the Nation and themselves as our Zealots have often done and whether their own Consciences can plead Not Guilty at the last Great Tribunal where they must answer for all those Murthers and Butcheries all the Cries and Tears of Widows and Orphans and ruined Families which will then testifie against them Or what can they answer now to the World for the many late Barbarities they have committed against their Protestant Brethren themselves knowing not for what and therefore being ashamed of their Practices they are fain to conceal and deny them abroad But to prevent their endeavours that way and that they may appear to the World in their true colours I have here for the proof of this Modest and Impartial Narrative inserted some few Particulars of the Sufferings of our present Episcâ—pal Clergy attested by their own Hands and by the Hands of Gentlemen of great Integrity who were Eye-witnesses to the Proceedings many other of this Parties more cruel Practices against the Clergy might and may hereafter be published and attested by the Hands of the most significant Gentry in the several Parishes where the Ministers were persecuted only here these are singled out now because all these Papers as they are attested and here published were shewed in the original authentick Copies to most of our Governours both in Scotland and England and the greatest part of them sent by a particular Commissioner to King William then Prince of Orange in the beginning of our Troubles The publick Acts and Proclamations are also added that Men may not be deceived by thinking as some would represent it that the Persecution proceeded only from the Rabble and that in a Iumble of the Times when the Government was not in a condition to protect the Leiges and by the fourth Collection of Papers I think it 's plain that the most fatal Blows were all given by the Scots Presbyterians who were and are at the Helm and that without countenance from these the Rabble durst never have attempted what they did against all the Laws of the Kingdom Religion and Humanity which plainly shews that Presbyterians howsoever dignified or distinguished are all of a piece Considering all this one would be apt to think that the present Episcopal Clergy in Scotland needed as much the assistance of the Prayers and charitable Collections of the Church of England as either these Protestants in Piedmont France or Ireland especially since there seems to be something harder in our Case than in any of theirs for in those foreign Parts if a Man complies with the Commands of his Superiors which I confess would be sometimes most irreligious in him to do then he would have the same Protection and Benefit that other Subjects of his quality are allowed to enjoy But with us it 's far otherwise for as it plainly appears by the third Collection of well attested Papers let men comply never so much with the Commands of their Governors yet they are in the same sad Case with those that do not in the least comply for nothing less than the utter and universal ruine of Episcopacy being according to the Covenant designed the Superstructure as well as Foundations must be destroyed and the Presbyters as well as the Prelates quit rooted out like Philistines from the holy Land And is this nothing to you O all you that pass by give Peace in our time O Lord because we have none other that fighteth for us but only thou O God Advertisement to the Reader BEcause the Publick Papers in the Fourth Collection have not been printed in their due Order therefore the Reader is desired to take notice that upon the Margin of the second Page of The case of the Present Affâ—icted Clâ—rgy c. instead of Vide first Paper being a Declaration from the Prince read Vide Declaration by His Highness the Prince c. in the fourth Collection of Papers and on the Margin of that second Page for Vide second Paper being a Proclamation read Vide a Proclamation from the Convention in the Fourth Collection and at the foot of Page six on the Margin for Vide first Proclamation read Vidâ— Declaration by His Highness the Prince c. in the Fourth Collection Some other Errors have escaped the Presâ— because of the Authors great disâ—ance from it he living in Scotland but those being not very maâ—â—rial it 's hoped the Reader will be pleased to excuse and correct them himself THE CASE Of the Present Afflicted Episcopal Clergy in Scotland SIR AS nothing but a Charity agreeable to its Divine Original could move you to be so solicitous to know the present Afflicted State of the Episcopal Clergy in Scotland so nothing but your Command could have obliged me to this short and plain account of it Upon what Ground the present Parliament of Scotland have thought â—it to abolish Episcopacy out of that National Church I will not at present strictly enquire into Only I may be allowed to say without offence That since this Parliament has not judged convenient to abolish it as a Government either Antichristian or contrary to reason or Scripture or Antiquity or the Universal opinion of Protestant Churches abroad or Learned Men in all Ages but only as contrary to the Inclination of the People and as such a Grievance It may be considently hop'd That when Presbytery or the Usurped Authority of Presbyters without Bishops shall become
a Grievance to the People for what has been so heretofore may be hereafter and so contrary to their Inclination that then and in that Case Episcopacy may for the same reason by Authority of another Parliament be restored again This is no new thing for before this Revolution Episcopacy in Scotland has been abolished twice by Act of Parliament but so was also Presbytery It 's now abolished the third time and so Presbytery may be But with this difference That Presbytery was never setled by Law in Scotland but when either our Kings were involv'd in Intestine broils or when the Civil Government was under some great convulsion occasion'd most ordinarily by the practises of that Party which put them under a kind of necessity not choice to allow it But no sooner did either our Kings or the Government reassume their just freedom and vigour but as soon was Episcopacy both restored and established by Law So that Episcopacy having been always setled in our Church in time of peace or at the Restoration of it May it please God to restore peace to the State that order in the Church may be it's happy effect And may we make better use of these two blessings then we have done hitherto But as for the inferiour Clergy of Presbyters who were received into the protection of this Government first by a Declaration from the Prince of Orange in Ianuary 1688 9. And in April thereafter by a Proclamation of the Convention of Estates By which Proclamation and Declaration all persons whatsoever were strictly forbid upon the highest pains to molest disturb or by any manner of way interrupt or hinder the Clergy in the exercise of their Ministry and peaceable possession of their Livings They demeaning themselves as it became peaceable and good men As for them I say to be turned out of their Churches in so great numbers may justly make strangers think these men guilty of hainous villanies and crimes which have provoked the Government against them and obliged it to turn them out of their Livings and forbid them all exercise of their Ministry to declare their Churches vacant and to order themselves and families to remove from their dwelling-houses in the middle of winter To Set then this matter in its true light it will be necessary to look a little back upon some things which happened before the proceedings of the Privy Council against the Episcopal Clergy Be pleased therefore to know that there have been Ministers turned out and deprived since the beginning of this Revolution by and under a threefold Authority The first turning out was by the Authority or rather Violence of the Rabble in the Western and Southshires only The Second was by a Committee of the Convention of Estates during the Interval betwixt the Convention and turning it into a Parliament The third was by the Privy-Council since the first Adjournment of Parliament As for the first tâ—rning out by the Rabble it being executed in a time when the Government of the Nation was in a manner quite dissolved there is less wonder that disorders of that kind fell out then it is accountable why they should not be redress'd now upon this Governments assuming its Authority and having Power to make it self obeyed But before I give you the true matter of fact of this highly presumptuous and unparalell'd attempt of the Rabble upon Ministers It will be first convenient to set before you the then State of those Western Shires in matters of Religion What was their behaviour towards the Clergy Established by Law as also how they stood affected to the Presbyterian Ministers then Tolerated by King Iames to hold Meeting-Houses And first Tho' it must be confessed that the Western Shires of Scotland have been and are the most disaffected Party of the Kingdo â— to Episcopal Government and have suffered much for the Rebellions which their prejudices against it occasion'd yet it 's as true that before the last Indulgence granted by K. Iames An. 1687. they were Universally in a good Understanding with their Ministers tho' not in that degree as the Relation betwixt Minister and People doth require it being more in shew then affection For tho' they came generally to Church and owned that they had overcome their Scruple of Conscience of not having freedom to hear them Preach yet they still separated themselves from partaking of the Holy Communion when offered Making it a greater matter of Conscience to receive that Sacramâ—nt from their hands then the other of Baptism for their Children It is also to be presum'd tho' not much to their credit that there was more of constraint for fear of Penal Laws then a willing mind in this little Conformity they yielded in coming to Church all which soon appeared For in the next place upon K. Iames his Declaration of â—â—dulgence or Tolleration to Dissenters the People in those Western Shires run immediately into it accepted of it and 〈◊〉 agreat zeal to build Meeting-Houses to call Presbyteâ—ian Preachers to these Meeting-Houses and to contribute for their Maintenance With this State of Affairs they seem'd so well satisfy'd that they made Addresses of thanks to King Iames in terms which were no less acceptable to the then Court than Scandalons to all Judicious Protestants in both Kingdoms * But these Addresses having been Printed and Published in Gazetts I shall take no more notice of them They were often told by wise Men that they were running a course in accepting of that Tolleration most destructive to the Interest of the Protestant Religion and that it would be much safer for them to continue in their Parochiall Churches as by Law Established since every thing that weakened that fence tended to the letting in of the Popish Party which in time might destroy us both that Tolleration being granted in both Kingdoms in order to bring in Popery and by the means and favour of Papists at Court obtain'd and managed Tho' many yea most of the Inferiour People of these Western Shires at the first went into this snare yet the Persons of greatest Quality and interest among them did not so soon comply And for the other Shires in Scotland in some there were not above two Meeting-Houses in the whole Shire in others none at all which by the by is a kind of demonstration how little fond the Generality of the Nation was then of that way and how the inclination of the People was then set now so much talked of But next to show you how the Presbyterians stood affected to one Another and among themselves be pleased to know That there was a Presbyterian Party then in the West of the meaner sort of the People indeed truly Acting more consequentially to the Presbyterian Principle and Practice in former times who for all that was done would not accept of this Tolleration given by King Iames But did openly by their Sermons and Pens declare their dislike of it and said much more bitter
good Service and are still a part of the standing forces of that Kingdom Upon all this the afflicted Ministers saw clearly there was nothing left for them but to suffer patiently the good will of God which they have done without the least publick complaint waiting with all Christian submission for a reparation of their wrongs from the justice of God and till those in Power shall be graciously pleased to commiserate their condition since they and their poor Families are in very hard and pinching circumstances having been turn'd out of their Livings and Properties in the midest of a hard winter and suffer'd not only the spoiling of their goods but some the loss of their Children and many marks and bruises in their own bodies and now are in a state of desolation not knowing where to lay their heads or to have bread for themselves or their Families This their Case ought the rather to be commiserated there being no Authority upon earth that can be so much as pretended by which they suffer except that of the Rabble They were never since that time either cited accus'd or condemn'd before any Judicature for any fault or crime so that in common Justice they have still a right in their Persons to those Livings of which they had quiet and Legal possession before these troubles and if the wisdom of the Nation in tâ—e next Session of Parliament shall judge it either â—it or convenient to remove them from these their Livings That Law determining this affair if any such shall be made can only take place from the date of it it cannot look back and make men guilty before it was Enacted so that still it must remain without controversy that whatever may be determin'd to be done with the Ministers for the time to come they have still a just and unquestionable title to their Livings until a Sentence pass against them which is not yet done This being their Case it 's not to be imagin'd that there will be found any man of reason or ordinary quality who will so much as open his mouth in favour of these violent and Illegal extrusions in the next Session of Parliament for it 's well known to all how at the time when this Tragedy was acted none of these Presbyterians who are now in Power did either avowedly own or openly countenance these proceedings but did publickly condemn them so that what was morally evill in its originall time cannot make good nor will good men either desend or countenance Whatever may be said for some inconveniences which might have happened in that Country so fermented with passion and prejudice if these Ministers had been ordered to return to their charges there by the present Government yet it 's certain when men are innocent they ought not to suffer and therefore as was just now intimated untill the wisdom of the Nation shall determine this matter they ought to be look'd upon as Legall possessors tho' violently extruded But that which no doubt will seem very extraordinary to any unbyassed thinking man is that these Presbyterian Preachers who so heartily thanked Kind Iames for the liberty of their Meeting-houses with extraordinary and fulsom strains of flattery thereby approving the dispensing Power without reserve which was the Stile of our Scots Tolleration And did disown these cruell proceedings against the Episcopall Clergy yet they would never consent to Preach against such disorders tho' often desir'd so to do by wise and discreet men yea which is more these same as they called themselves moderate Presâ—yterian Preachers in a little time after very confidently took Possession of the Churches of the Orthodox Ministers thus thrust out of their dwelling houses and Glebes without the least Title or right to them except what flow'd from the consent of some Phanatick People who own'd them and their Meeting-houses which was a Notorious Encroathment not only upon the Property of the Legal Incumbents but also upon the right of Patrons not as yet taken away by Law For when the rest of the Episcopal Cleargy who were in quiet possession of their Churches and in good Understanding with their People were Allarm'd with the hard usage of so many of their brethren thrust out in the midst of a severe Winter by this yet greater and more violent storm in the West with their Wives and Children to seek shelter from these their brethren This gave such a damp and rais'd such a just apprehension in their Spirits what might be the sad and Tragical event of unparallell'd proceedings that it 's no wonder many of them were provok'd to think that the great design of some within the Kingdom who appeared so zealous for this Revolution was more to destroy the Clergy and the whole Episâ—opal Order then to settle the Kingdom upon its Just and Antient basis or to preserve our Religion Liberties and Properties as by Law then Established This Apprehension grew yet more strong when they saw that the Convention of Estates did not take the Ejected Ministers of the West into their Protection by their Proclamation which was extended only to those who were in the Actual Exercise of their Ministry By which it was plain enough that all those Ministers who had been violently turn'd out by the Rabble in the Western-shires were still to be kept out and the advantage the Privy-Council has taken from that Proclamation of late to stop the course of Justice from giving them access to their Tithes and Stipends due to them is a sufficient Indication how some incline to treat them if the ensuing Session of Parliament be not more savourable This was the prospect of Affairs and the temper mens minds were in towards the Clergy when the Convention of Estates having for faulted K. Iames declared K. William and Q. Mary King and Queen of Scotland This great bus'ness being over they next Emitted a Proclamation bearing That whereas K. Iames had for 〈◊〉 his right to Govern that Kingdom they therefore forbid any publick Prayers to be made for him and Ordaiâ—â—â— that in all time coming the Ministors should pray for K. William and Q. Mary as King and Queen of Scotland ordaining also that this Proclamation be read upon the next Sunday after Publication by all the Ministers of Edinburgh and in all other parts of the Kingdom on such certain Sundays as are therein appointed with certification that who-ever should not read the said Proclamation and pray for the King and Queen as therein design'd should be deprived of their Churches and Benefices Upon the not Obeying of this Proclamation it is that all the Ministers of late have suffered and do suffer at this day and therefore that falls next under Consideration And first of all it 's here more especially to be remarked that this Proclamation being Published in Common Form at Eleven a Clock in the Forenoon on a Saturday did not appear in Print till about Seaven that Night So that the Ministers of
the said George Robertsone am able to prove sufficiently as Witness these presents Written by the said Mr. Iohn Park and subscribed with my Hand at Edenburgh Feb. 13. 1689. George Robertson Minister at Westcalder Jo. Park Clerk Syn. The Second Collection of Papers relating to the Practice of the Rabble after the Prince's Declaration against some Ministers who were afterwards deprived by the Council A true Account of that Interruption that was made of the Service of God on Sunday last being the seventeenth of February 1689 at the Cathedral of Glasgow by the Presbyterians both from the Hills and the Meeting-houses to the Contempt of the Princes Declaration AS soon as His Highness the Prince of Orange's Declaration was proclaimed at the Mercat Cross of Glasgow for the Preservation of the Peace of the Kingdom and the Maintenance of the Free Exercise of Religion as it was established in October last The Magistrates and Ministers of the City assembled themselves in order to the laying down such fit and united Methods as would give punctual Obedience to His Highness's Declaration and procure the publick and undisturbed Exercise of their Religion which has now been interrupted these four or five Weeks by-past by the illegal unchristian Outrages of the Rabble in this place And after a prudent Deliberation about the present State of Affairs it was the result of their Counsels That the Service of God should be restored on the Sunday immediately subsequent to the Publication of the Prince's Declaration being the Seventeenth of February according to the usual and legal Methods by ringing of Bells and the publick use of all other accustomed Solemnities But for the greater Security of the Exercise of Religion and the Preservation of the Peace of the Town the Magistrates thought themselves obliged in Conscience and Honour to go to Thomas Crawfurd Younger Merchant being then Captain of the Guard at that time and one of the Chief Commanders of that Party in this place that keep up themselves in Contempt of the Law of the Kingdom and the Prince's Declaration to the 〈…〉 the Magistrates and all good and peaceable People in 〈…〉 to require the said Thomas Crawfurd to lay down his Arms and dismiss his Company which accordingly was performed by Baillie Iames Gibson he being the chief Magistrate in absence of the Provost telling him at the same time That he would provide for the Peace and Security of the Town in Obedience to the Prince's Declaration Upon the absolute refusal of Obedience unto this command by the said Thomas Crawfurd Baillie Gibson took Instruments in a publick Nottars hands how far he had his duty to the Law of the Kingdom and the Prince's Declaration and how far the said Thomas Crawfurd the pretended Captain of the Guard did despise and contemn them both After this Intercourse between the foresaid Baillie and Thomas Crawfurd both those Parties of the Presbyterians that go to the Hills and the Meeting-houses began to whisper about their illegal and bloody Designs against the Ministers of the Town and that great Body of the People that keep still very stedfast in frequenting the Assemblies of the Church threatning publickly all kinds of Persecution unto them in the legal Exercise of their Religion On the Sunday morning the Promiscuous Rabble gathered themselves together upon the Streets and hindered the ringing of some of the usual Bells for calling the People to Church Yet the Magistrates thought fit to connive at the first Insolence being willing upon any Terms to have the Exercise of their Religion and give Obedience to the Prince's Declaration But the more moderation the Magistrates shewed on this occasion the more the Rabble were inraged publickly threatning the People as they went to Church to pull them out by the Ears And particularly they seeing a certain Minister going to Church they pursued him with Sticks and Clubs but he taking a House escap'd their Fury When the Magistrates were come near the Church they found it surrounded with a promiscuous Rout Upon this they desired the rude People to go home in peace but they returned Scolding and Bloody Language and flinging from them their Cloaks and Plaides that is Mantles they gave the Assault with Staves and Battoons in their hands unto the Magistrates and particularly one of them giving a severe blow to Iohn Bell one of the late Bailies and at this time in company with the Magistrates Upon which unsufferable and scandalous Attack the Magistrates gave order to the Towns Servants and Officers to clear their way to the Church and beat off the Rabble which being effected the Magistrates together with all the People entered peaceably into the Church seating themselves according to their Ranks and Qualities in the usual postures of Devotion in which the Service of God is performed in our Church After Prayers were ended towards the middle 〈◊〉 of the Sermon the forementioned Thomas Crawsurd the pretended Captain of the Guard came into the Church and cry'd aloud to the People That the Town was in Arms. He was answered That five or six hundred People of the best Quality in Town were assembled in Church to the Service of God according to Law and the Prince's last Declaration That they were naked Men without Arms or the least intention to make any resistance And if the Town was in Arms he was more concerned to look to it than they he being the pretended Captain of the Guard And likewise he was told That if the People in Church had designed any opposition to such as might disturb them in the Exercise of their Religion they would have appeared in an armed posture which out of a due respect to the House of God and the Prince's Declaration they did forbear to do and then he should have found them too strong for any Party that durst have assaulted them But they came not thither to fight but to serve God The Parson continued Preaching until he finished his Sermon Towards the latter and of the Prayers after Sâ—rmon the Meeting-houses being dismiss'd and joyning the Hill Party that appeared by this time in Arms upon the Streets and together with the Company that was upon the Guard they formed themselves in a great Body and then marched off under the Conduct of the Laird of Carsland taking their way straight to the Cathedral Church when they came to it they fired both upon the People that had fled to the Pinacles and Buttrâ—sses of the Church and through the Door where there was a little Boy dangerously wounded on the Face but at last they broke open the Doors of the Church and searching diligently for the Parson they found him They were disired by the Magistrates to dismiss the armed Men and go in peace but they refused it telling They would have out those People that beat off the Women and the Men from the Church-door upon the first Vprâ—ar They were answered That the Disorders were begun by the Rabble against the Prince's Declaration
of the Meeting of the Estates and the Act of Council pursuant thereof may attain their intended Design and Effect with the greater Expedition and least Expenses to the Leidges The Lords of His Majesties Privy Council in their Majesties Name and Authority do invite and allow not only the Parochioners and Hearers of such Ministers as have Disobeyed but also the Heretors of these Parochines and the Shâ—riffs or their Deputs and Magistrates of Burghs Respective and the Members of this Currant Parliament within their Respective Bounds to cause Cite such Ministers before the Privy Council and hereby grants Warrand to Messengers at Arms for Citing them and such Witnesses as are necessary they delivering a Copy of these Presents either in Print or in Writ Signed by their Hand to each Minister that shall be Cited by them to any Tuesday or Thursday six days after the Citation for all on this side the River Tay and Fifteen days for all beyond the said River That such Ministers who have not given Obedience to the said Act of the Meeting of the Estates may by a Legal Sentence be Deprived according thereto and Appoints the Returns of these Executions to be Inrolled by the Clerk of Privy Council and called before the Lords at their respective days of Compearance Declaring that these Presents are but prejudice of any Citations already given or to be given either upon the former Act of Council or upon Warrands from the Council-Board And Ordains these Presents to be printed and published by the Macers of Privy Council at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh that none may pretend Ignorance Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii GILB ELIOT Cls. Sti. Concilii God save King William and Queen Mary I John Dickson Macer by virtue of the above-written Proclamation and Warrand Summond Warne and Charge you Mr. James Gray Minister at Kelso to Compear before the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council at Edinburgh or where it shall happen them to be for the time upon the Third day of September next to come in the hour of cause to answer at the instance of Sir John Dalrymple Younger of Stairs his Majesties Advocate for his Highness's Interest and John Laidlaw Tayler in Maxwel-heugh and John Laidlaw Wright in Kelso for themselves and in Name and behalf of the Parochine of Kelso to the effect and for the cause above written with Certification conform to the above-written Proclamation and Warrand direct to me their anent Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Consilii DICKSON Messenger This is the Form of the Summons appointed by the Council to be given to the Ministers or left at their Houses if they happened to be from home A Declaration by His Highness the Prince of Orange for the keeping of the Peace c. in the Kingdom of Scotland William Henry by the Grace of God Prince of Orange c. WHereas the Lords and Gentlemen of the Kingdom of Scotland met at Whitehall at our desire to advise Us what was to be done for Securing the Protestant Religion and Restoring the Laws and Liberties of that Kingdom have desired us to Call a Meeting of the Estates in March next and in the mean while to take upon Us the Administration of publick Affairs both Civil and Military the Disposal of the publick Revenue and Forâ—râ—sses and the doing every thing necessary for the Preservation of Peace We being desirous to omit nothing that may tend to the publick Good and Happiness of that Kingdom have in pursuance of the said Advice issued forth our Orders for Calling of the said Meeting of the Estates And to the end that in the mean time the publick Peace and the Fortresses may be secured and the Revenue collected we do hereby Will and Require all Persons being Protestants that are at present in the Possession of the Offices of Sheriffs Justices of Peace Marshals of Burghs Bailies of Regalities Stewards of Stewartries Governours or Lieutenants of Fortresses Keepers of Prisons or Prisoners or in the Possession of any Inferior Offices and â—aces of the like Nature and likewise all Persons being Protestants that are in the Possession of any Office or Imployment in Collecting Receiving Managing or Ordering of the publick Revenue to take upon them and to continue in the Exercise of the saids Offices and Places respectively doing and ordering every thing which the Trust reposed in them according to the Nature of the saids Offices requires to be done and ordered in the usual Manner Form and Method And we do in a particular Manner Authorize Impower and Require such of them to whom the Care of Preserving the Peace and Quiet of the Nation belongs to use all diligence for Supprâ—ssing all Routs Tumults Disorders Violencies and such other unwarrantable Practices as are contrary to it And we do hereby expresly prohibit and discharge all Disturbance and Violence upon the account of Religion or the Exercise thereof or any such like Pretence and that no Interruption be made or if any hath been made that it cease in the free and peaceable Exercise of Religion whether it be in the Churches or in publick and private Meetings of those of a different Perswasion Requiring like as we do hereby require all Protestants as they love the good of their Country and Religion and are willing in their several Stations and Capacities to concur with Us in our Endeavours to bring Matters to a happy and desirable Settlement that they will live peaceably together and without disquieting or molesting one another Enjoy their several Opinions and Forms of Worship whether according to Law or otherways with the same Freedom and in the same manner in which they did enjoy them in the month of October last till such time as by regular and legal Methods a due Temper may be fallen on for composing and settling those Differences And to the end that the Peace may be the more effectually secured We require all Men or numbers of Men in Arms by vertue of any Order or Authority and under any Title and Designation whatsoever whether they be standing Forces or Militia Forces modelled into regular Troops and kept on foot as standing Forces to separate dismiss and disband themselves Likewise we do hereby Disband them and appoint them to retire to their respective Dwellings with full assurance to them that care shall be taken in due time for their having their Pay if any shall be found due to them And we do farther prohibit and discharge all Persons in time coming to take Arms or to continue in Arms upon any pretence whatsoever with a Commission or express Order from Us. Excepting from what is above written likeas we do hereby except the Garisons of the Fortresses and the Company of Foot entertained by the Town of Edinburgh for the Guard of the said Town whom we do appoint to continue in the Exercise of their Duty they being Protestants in the said Garisons and Towns And whereas several Roman Catholicks have been and are still in
the Possession of the Places and Offices abovementioned We do hereby require them to leave the said Offices and Places and to retire to their several Dwelling-houses where we forbid and discharge all Persons to disquiet disturb or molest them any manner of way and we appoint the next immediate Protestant Officers in the Fortresses where the Governours Deputy-Governours or other Officers are Roman Catholicks to take upon them the Custody of the saids Fortresses and in the same manner that the Protestants concerned in the Collecting and managing of the Revenue and the keeping of the Peace do supply by their diligence the Vacancies that are or may happen to be in places of the like Nature This our Declaration to be of Force and to take effect till the said Meeting of Estates in March next and to be without prejudice to any other Orders we may think fit to give to any Person or Persons for the ends abovementioned And we do farther order this our Declaration to be printed and published at Edinburgh and printed Copies of the same to be given or sent to the Sheriffs and Stewartry Clerks of the several Shires and Stewartries whom we do hereby require to publish the same upon the first Mercat day after the receipt thereof at the Crosses of the Head Burghs of their respective Shires and Stewartries in the due and usual manner Given at St. James's the Sixth day of February in the Year of our Lord 1688 9. W. H. Prince of Orange The Effects of this Declaration were that these Gentlemen who had taken Arms to defend themselves and the Regular Clergy from the Fury of the Rabble disbanded and laid down their Arms as the Declaration required whereupon the Phanatick Mob became much more Insolent and Outragious despising the Declaration and destroying all the Clergy they could reach for which they had the following Act of Thanks An Act approving of the good Services done by the Town of Glasgow Shire of Argyle and other Western Shires in this Conjuncture with a return of the Thanks of the Estates to them AT Edinburgh March 28. 1689. The Meeting of the Estates of this Kingdom taking into their Consideration that by the sending of the standing Forces into England the Estates were destitute of that Guard and Defence which was proper and necessary in this Conjuncture and that several Persons well affected to the Protestant Religion at the Dyet of the Meeting of the said Estates having repaired to this City of Edinburgh from Glasgow the Shire of Argyle and other Western Shires did at the Desire and by Warrand of the Estates put themselves to Arms and since have so continued Watching and Warding under the Command of the Earl of Levin and demeaned themselves Soberly and Honestly and been Active and Instrumental to prevent Tumults and to secure the Peace and Quiet of this Meeting and Place and there being now some Scots Regiments arrived here under the Command of Major General Mâ—cay The Estates do therefore hereby declare That what is past was good acceptable and seasonable Service and do approve the same and hereby gives Order to the said Earl of Levin to Disband them and allows them to return with their Arms to their respective Homes and do return their Thanks to the Persons who have been imployed Extracted out of the Records of the Meeting of Estates by me Ja. Dalrymple Cls. This is the Act that in the Narrative is called An Act for Thanks to the Rabble The Persons to whom it relates being these Zealots who contrary to all the Laws of Religion and Humanity contrary to the Laws of all Nations and particularly to the standing Laws of this Kingdom and contrary to the Prince's own Declaration Feb. 6. 1688 9. convened and continued in Arms till they drove out all the regular Clergy in the West and many in the South and being in number about 8000 or above overawed and threatned those concerned to elect Members for the Convention and at the Meeting of Estates rushed in a Tumultuary and Hâ—stile manner into Edinburgh planted themselves without any publick Order or Commission about and in the Parliament house where at every turn they rail'd at threatned baffled and affronted the Bishops nor were the ancient Nobility and Gâ—ntry who generally adhered to the â—piscâ—pal Cause better treated by them the Terror whereof made many of the most eminent Members never come near the House and made many who came at first soon after desert it all this was considerably before the Earl of Levin was by the Convention appointed to Command them This being Matter of Fact well known to the Estates I leave the World to judge how well these Men deserved this Act of Approbation A Proclamation for a General Fast. At Edinb August 24. 1689. Present in Council E. Crafurd P. M. Douglas E. Southerland E. Leven E. Annandale L. Rosse L. Carmichell Sir Hugh Campbel of Calder Sir Iames Montgomerie of Skelmorly Sir Arch. Murray of Blackbarrony Iames Brody of that Ilk. Sir Iohn Hall L. Provost of Edinb FOrasmuch as the great and long abounding of Sins of all sorts amongst all Ranks of Persons with the continued Impenitency under them and not Reforming therefrom The falling from their first Love and great Faintings and Failings of Ministers and others of all Ranks in the hour of Temptation in their Zeal for God and his Work and that although there be much cause to Bless God for the Comfortable Unity and Harmony amongst the Ministers and Body of Christian Professors in this Church Yet that there are such Sad and Continuing Divisions amongst some is also matter of Lamentation before God The great Ingratitude for his begun Deliverance of this Nation from Popery and Slavery and unsuitable Walking thereunto The Contempt of the Gospel not Mourning for former and present Iniquities nor turning to the Lord by such Reformation and Holiness as so great a Work calls for The many Sad and long continued Tokens of Gods Wrath in the hiding of his Face and more especially in his Restraining the Power and presence of His Spirit with the preached Gospel in the Conversion of Souls and Edifying the Converted And the Lord 's Threatning the Sword of a Cruel and Barbarous Eenemy in the present great Distress of Ireland by the prevailing of an Anti Christian Party there and Threatning the Sword of the same Enemy at Home and the great and imminent Danger of the Reformed Protestant Religion not only from an open Declared Party of Papists Enemies to the same but from many other professed Protestants who Joyn Issue with them in the same Design besides the sad Sufferings and Scatterings of Reformed Churches Abroad Having Seriously and Religiously moved the Presbyterian Ministers Elders and Professors of the Church of Scotland Humbly to Address themselves to the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council for a General Fast and Day of Humiliation to be kept throughout the whole Kingdom The saids Lords Do out of a Pious and Religious