Relation of the Sufferings of Ministers in Scotland Since 1660, Section 1

Relation of the Sufferings of Ministers in Scotland Since 1660 · Section 1

p. 5SECTION I.

Shewing how the church of Scotland was long governed without Prelats, & after what maner they did arise to their height there, without the Churches consent.

IT is not unknown, that according to the testimonie of Origen & Tertullian the Scots did embrace the faith amongst the first, & probablie (as Buchan: sheweth) they received it from some of Iohn's disciples, who fled by reason of the persecution, caused by that bloudy Domitian: so that about the year 203. which was the 4 year of King Donald the first, Christian Religion was publickly professed, the King himself, his Queen, & diverse of the Nobles being solemnely baptized, after which he purposed to root out Heathenisme out of the Kingdome, but was hindered by wars with the emperour Severus.

There after about the year 277 King Cratilinth intended a Reformation, but was much hindered by the heathenish Priests, (called Druides from their sacrificing in groves under oaks, as some suppose) who by their subtyle insinuations & power, had much influence upon the people; yet the Lord did seconde the intentions of this good King, & sent several worthy men both ministers & privat Christians, from the South parts of Britan, p. 6where the Nynth & Tenth Persecution under Aurelius & Disclesian did rage, & these for their single & retired life, were called Culdees, quasicultores Dei more probably, then because of their living in Cels; and this work continowed till about the year 360 & then did meet with a great interruption, by reason of civill wars, wherby the land was wasted, & all th… Scots banished untill about the year 420 when Fergus the second came into Scotland, whose son Ewen sent for the exiled Culdees, & gave them great encouragement, & they did set themselves to their worke. And this continowed untill about the year 452, when Palladius being sent into Britaine by Pope Celestin, came into Scotland, who by his subtile insinuation… did gaine so much upon the simple people, as that in a short time, he moved them to consent unto a change of the governement of the church, into Prelacy, & himself became the Arch prelate: But befor this Palladius came; Scotland never saw a Prelate, if our ancient Historiographers be to be beleeved, such as Balcus in his Historie of the Britons, &c. cent. 14. cap 6. saying [Ante palladium Scoti &c. befor Palladius came, the Scots had their Bishops & ministers, by the ministry of the word of God, chosen by the suffrage of the people, after the custome of those of Asia, but those things did not please the Romanes. Beda in his History of England Lib. 1. who sayeth [Palladiu… ad Scotos &c. i. e. Palladius was sent unto the Scots, who beleeved in Christ, by Celestin the Pope of Rome, as their first Bishop] Prosper in his Chron, ad An. 436 saying [Ad Scotos &c. i e. unto the Scots then beleeving in Christ, Palladius is ordained by Pope Celestin, & sent thither the first Bishop] Iohn Fordon in his Scottish Chronic. lib. 3. c. 8. saying [Ante Palladis adventum &c. i. e▪ befor the coming of Palladius, the Scots had for teachers of the faith, & ministers of the Sacraments, presbiters onelyonly or Monks, following the customes of the primitive church] Iohannes Major speaking of the same Palladius who sayeth [per sacerdotes & monaches &c. i. e. the Scots were instructed in the Christian faith, by Priests & Monks without any Bishop] and Buchanan who sayeth [nam ad id usque tempus &c. i. e. to that very time [speaking of Palladius coming, into Scotland & changing p. 7the governement) the churches were ruled by monks without Bishops.

It is true Spotiswood, in his late History, would make the world beleeve that in the dayes of the Culdees there was no governement in the Church of Scotland but Prelaticall; because Boetius sayeth that [those priests or Culdees, were wont, for their better governement, to elect some out of their number, by common suffrage, to be chief & principall among them, without whose knowledge, & consent nothing was done in any mater of importance, & that the person so elected, was called Scotorum Episcopus] & farther, as if his bare dissenting from Buchan: would be enongh to blast the reputation & weaken the credite of that Renowned Historian, he sayeth p. 7. of his History [what warrant he (i. e. Buchan:) had to write so, I know not, except he did build upon that which Iohannes Major sayeth. But from the instruction of the Scots in the faith, to conclude that the Church after it was gathered, had no other for me of governement, will not stand with reason, for be it as they speak, that by the travelle of some pions monks the Scots were first converted unto Christ it cannot be said, that the Church was ruled by monks, seing, long after those times, it was not permitted to monks to medle with the maters of the Church, nor were they reckoned among the Clergy] thus he. To which it is easily answered. 1. That the sole word of a late Historian, & of an Excommunicated forsworne Prelate speaking in his own cause will have lesse weight with every rationall man, then the Testimony of so many famous & eminent Historyographers, known through the world. 2. All the Prelat's, logick will not conclude from these words of Boetius that there was Episcopall governement among the Culdees, if Boetius himself may be heard, whom all are bound to beleeve better then this Prelate, who reasoneth according to his skill for he lib. 7. c. 28. sayeth [erat Palladius primus omnium &c. i. e. Palladius was the first of all who did bear holy Magistracy among the Scots, being made Bishop by the great Pope] thus he affirmeth clearly, that Palladius was the first, who had Episcopall Power, or exercised a Magistraticall domineering power in Church maters. 3. Could Buchanan, a man many p. 8stages beyond the Arch-prelate, know no reason or ground for what he said but what this Archprelat could perceave who had no will to open his Eyes? 4. As this Archprelat doeth wrong his own credite as an Historian, when without warrant he contradicteth so many famous Historians; so doeth he discover much weakness in reasoning; for to say that the monks did not governe the Church befor Palladius landed in Scotland, because after Palladius came, they were putt out of all accompt & got not liberty to do so, is such a ridiculous consequence, as can hardly be paralleled; as if one should reason now, & say the Church of Scotland was not governed by Ministers befor the year 1661. becaus after Bishops got all the power into their hands, the Ministers had no power of governement in the Church. Much more might be said here against the reasoning of this late Historian, were it sitt to insist upon every such frivolous argument of his.

So then, from these forocited Historians, & from Baronius in his Annal: it appeareth that the Church of Scotland was severall hundereths of years without a domineering Prelate, & after this time that this Palladius came, she was still in a decaying condition, through the increase of popery, which at length did overspread the whole land, in which Romish darkness she did ly untill about the year 1494.

About which time the Lord began to visite that poor Church with his salvation & to cause some light of the Gospel to break up in severall places of the land: but no sooner did the light appear, but as soon did those Antichristian Prelats & vassals of the Pope begin to rage, & to raise persecution against the young professors of the truth, & followers of the lamb, & so with fire▪ & faggot they sought to destroy all who prosessed the true Religion, untill about the year 1550. when, notwithstanding of all this rage & cruelty of the Beast, & his followers, the knowledge of the trueth did spread through the land, & a farther worke of Reformation, began to he caryed on, by worthies whom the Lord raised up, such as famous Mr Knox & others, who were singularly owned of God in that work. Though Mr Spotiswood, according to his usuall maner of mistaking the works p. 9of God, & of venting his enmity to piety & purity, is pleased in the 60. page of his history to say that this Reformation was violent & disorderly. And albert at that time the Queen was endevouring, by all means possible, to keep up the Idolatry of Rome, & to suppresse the Reformed Religion; so powerfully did the Lord, in his goodness, assist these worthves, that in the year 1560. there was a large Confession of Faith drawn up at the command of the Parlament which did conveen that year, in which Confession all the Popish errours were renounced, & after, it was exhibited to the Parliament & there read, & when it was read, the Prelats who were there present had not one word to speak against it, which when the Earle of Marshall did perceave he said [Seing the Bishops (who by their learning can, & for the zeal they should have to the truth, would gain say, if they knew any things repugnant) say nothing against the said Confession, I cannot but thinke that it is the very truth of God] Thus this Confession was openly avowed & professed by this Parliament, as is clear by the act. 6. parl. 1. King Ja. 6. Au. 1567. & act. 86. par. 6. An. 1579. where these words are found in both acts [and decerns & declairs that all & sundry who either gainesayeth the word of the Evangell receaved & approved, as the heads of the Confession of faith professed in parliament of befor in the year of God 1560.] At this Parliament there are severall acts made against popery, as against the Masse, & against the Popes authority & jurisdiction: for such as were for the Reformation, or the Congregation (as they were then called) did supplicate that they would condemne the Antichristian doctrine, & would restore the Discipline of the ancient Church, & discharge the popes jurisdiction, & accordingly as was said, there is an act made [ordaining that the Bishop of Rome, called the Pope, have no jurisdiction nor authority within the Realme in any time coming and that no Bishop or other prelate of the Realme use any jurisdiction in time coming by the said Bishop of Romes authority under the pain, &c.] which was afterwards ratified by severall acts in the dayes of King James.

And thus by act of Parliament the Reformed Religion is established, the church governement by Prelats is virtually discharged; p. 10because Prelats then had no power but what they had from Rome, & when the current is cut off at the head, it must needs cease in the streams. But this will be the more clear if we consider how the Reformers were dealing for the establishment of Discipline, together with the Doctrine, knowing that the doctrine would not be long keeped pure, if the Popish discipline & governement were still retained, & upon this, the great council giveth a charge dated April 29, 1560. requiring & commanding them in the name of the Eternall God, & as they would answer in his presence, to committ to writing, & in a book deliver their judgements touching the Reformation of Religion which heretofore in this Realme [as in others] hath been utterly corrupted. According unto which charge▪ the first Booke of Discipline, as it was called, (in which book the governement of the church by Prelats is overturned, church Sessions are established, the way of Election & tryall of Ministers, contrary to the Episcopall way, is appoynted, & severall other things, tending to the right governing of the church, are determined) is drawne up & presented to the conncell May 20. 1560. Whereupon there is an act of councill to this effect [We who have subscribed these presents, having advised with the Articles therein specified, as is above mentioned, from the begining of this book, thinke the same good & conforme to God… word in all points, conforme to the notes & additions here to eeked: & promise to sett the samme forward to the uttermost of our Power, providing that the Bishops, Abbots, Priors, & other Prelats & Beneficed men, who else have adjoyned them to us, bruik the revenues of their benefices, during their life times, they sustaining & upholding the Ministry and ministers, as herein is specified for the preaching of the word, and administrating of the Sacraments] and this act is subscribed by twenty six Noblemen, & among the rest by Mr. Gordon, who was Bishop of Galloway, & by the Dean of Murray. Spottswood in his History is so convinced that this book was directly against the Prelats, that he sayeth pag. 174. [it was framed by Iohn Knox partly in imitation of the Reformed Churches of Germany, & partly of that which he had seen at Geneva] nather of which Churches did favoure Prelats.

p. 11It is true the late Historian the Archprelate would make the world beleeve that the Superintendents, which are spoken of in that Book of Discipline, were nothing else but Bishops. But his fondo mistake in this, will appear to any who will but consider these particulars 1. What the thoughts were which this Archprelate had of this book which treateth of those Superintendents: as. 1. That it was framed by Iohn Knox, & famous Knox first nor last was never a friend to prelats or prelacy. 2. he sayeth that it was done in imitation of reformed Churches such as Geneva and those of Germany, & these Churches knew no prelats. 3. He sayeth [it was no better nor a dreame & so could never take effect,] but had it been an establishing of Prelacy, it had been no dreame in his accompt, and he would have said, that it had taken effect. 4. He willed & wished that Iohn Knox had retained the old Policie, & so this book contained a policie distinct from the old policie, & a Policie which was not the same with Prelacy. 2. What the thoughts were which such as were for the Reformed Religion, had of it: Now they looked on it, as the Discipline of the ancient Church, & therefor after it was drawn up, they did supplicate the Parliament for the restauration of the Discipline of the ancient Church, & for the discharging of the Popes usurpation & of all that Discipline, which did flow there from, as being inconsistent with the Discipline of the ancient Church, & with the Discipline contained in that book. But 3. It cannot enter into the heart of any rationall man to think that these Reformers were so inconsiderate, as… to sett up Prelats with the one hand, when they were doing what lay in their power to pull them down with the other. It was not popish Prelats alone, which they were labouring to turn out of the Church of Christ, for, when some of those who had been popish Prelats before, had relinquished Popery, & embraced the Reformed Religion, and had subscribed unto the book of Discipline, as Mr Gordoun in Galloway, yet they would not suffer such to exerce the power of superintendents. Mr Gordoun with all his moyen could not obtaine that power, so that Spotiswood when he sayeth in his Latin Pamphlet called (Refutatio libelli de Regimine Ecclesiae Scoticanae, pag. 4. & also in the p. 12Epistle Dedicatorie that [the former Bishops who joyned with the Reformers keeped still their full power & jurisdiction] bewrayeth his impudence & falshood. His words in his Epistle are these. [Et prasulibus pristi…s, modo …idei orthodoxa non restitissent, nec adempt… dignitas, nec imminuta fuisset jurisdictio, quod ita liquet, ut hoc vel in…iciari sit n…gare Solem in ipsa meridie lucere] & in the book he sayeth [quotquot autem a puriore cultu non ab…orrebant, …is j… utendi, fruendi Episcopatuum fructibus & privilegiis omnibus, jurisdictio etiam, quam ante usurpabant, quat…nus Religionis incolum…t as pateretur, continuata.] This is the height of impudency, thus to avow palpable untrueths; & that the faithfulness of this Historian may for ever after be suspected, let it be observed, that in his History which he wrote in English, & which every one might have more easily understood, & so discovered his falshood, he durst say no more but that these Bishops enjoyed the rents of their benefices. See pag. 175. Moreover 4. The book of Discipline it self giveth the clear ground of their appointing of these Superintendents, in these words, [We consider that if the Ministers, whom God hath …ndued with his singular graces among us, should be appointed to severall places, there to make their continuall residence, that then the greatest part of the Realm should be destitute of all doctrine, which should not onelyonly be the occasion of great murmure, but also be dangerous to the salvation of many, and therefor we have thought it expedient at this time—by this means the simple and ignorant, who perchance have never heard of Iesus truelie preached, shall com to some knowledge, and many that are dead in superstition, and ignorance shall attaine to some feeling of godliness, by the which they shall be provoked to seek farther knowledge of God, and his true Religion and worship—and therefor we desire nothing more earnestly, then that Christ Iesus be once universally preached throughout the Realm: &c.] From whence it appeareth that these Superintendents were onelyonly chosen for that present exigent, when there were so few learned & able Ministers, & so many places of the countrey destitute of Ministers; so that the harvest was great, & the labourers very few: Superstition & popery was remaining in many places p. 13of the countrey, & people were in hazard to continow therin, having either no Minister to clear the trueth to them, or such onelyonly who were ready to harden them in their superstitious courses. & therefor there was a necessity, at that time, while the Church was but in si…ri that some of the most able of the Ministry, should be appointed, to travell through such & such places of the countrey, to preach the Gospel, & to see to the planting of faithfull & able Ministers, according to the rules sett down in the book of Discipline. But 5. so cautious were the Reformers, that they would not acknowledge those to be Bishops, either in name, or thing, for as their worke was extraordinary, so they gave them an extraordinary name: They would not suffer any who had been Bishops before in time of popery, to enjoy the place & power of a Superintendent, least the power & place might be abused, & at length degenerate unto the old power of Prelats; but even in those bounds, where such lived, did appoint others to Superintend, as Mr Pont in Galloway. They would not divide the bounds of those Superintendents according to the Prelats Dioceses, but after another manner. They devided the land into ten parts, having respect to the edification & advantage of the poor people. These Superintendents were chosen by the consent of the whole bounds, which they were to visite. They were not consecrated, but onelyonly sett apart to that worke by preaching & prayer, as is to be seen in the order prefixed to the old Psalme-books. They were tryed & examined by the Ministers of these bounds. They had other Ministers conjunct with them, when they ordained any. Nather had they sole power of Excommunication, for Reformed Churches had power by the Book of Discipline to excommunicate the contumacious: & the tractate of Excommunication prefixed to some old Psalme-books sheweth that they might do it without the advyce of the Superintendent. They were subject to the censure of the Ministers & Elders of the Province, who might depose them in some cases. Their maine worke was preaching, for they were to preach at the least thrice every week. They had their own particular flocks beside, with which they stayed always, p. 14save when they were visiting the bounds committed unt… them. They might not try any Minister their alone, but we… commanded to have the neerest reformed Church, & oth… learned men conjunct, by an act of the fourth Nationall Assembly An. 1562. They might not transport a Minister without the consent of the Synod, as is elear by act fourth of the f… Nationall Assemblie 1562. They might not discusse any important question their alone, as is clear by act first of the ninth Nationall Synod, An. 1564. All were at liberty to appeal from them to the Nationall Synod, as is clear by act fifth Assembly sixth. They were to be subject to the Assembly, as is clear by th… fourth Assembly an. 1562. They never did Moderate in Generall Assemblies, unlesse they had been chosen by votes. Who can be so foolish then, as to beleeve Mr. Spotiswood? saying in his H… story pag. 258. that [the power of Superintendents was Episcopall, for they did elect & ordaine Ministers, they did praeside in Synod…, and direct all Church censures, nather was any excommunication pronunced without their warrant] seing the publick acts of the Nationall Assemblies are of more credite then this prelate, who knew as litle what it was to be a faithfull Historian, as he knew what it was to be an accurate Logician. Beside that An. 1562 at the Nationall Assembly, there were some Ministers chosen to assist the five Superintendents (for no moe could be gotten setled for want of maintenance) & had equall power with them, & were commanded to give accompt of their diligence unto every Nationall Synod, & there to lay down their office: And Mr. Spotiswood hath not the face to say that these Commissioners had Episcopall power, & yet their power was equall with the power of Superintendents.

When thus the Church had shaken off (so far as lay in her power) the yoke of Prelacy, she beginneth to exerce that power which Christ had given to her, & that same year 1560. there is a Nationall Assemblie keeped, which did make severall Canons concerning the ordering the affairs of the church, and yearly there after once or oftener prore nata▪ according to, & by vertue of her intrinsick power, she did keep her Courts, notwithstanding that in the meane time the Queen & the court were but smal friends to the Protestant cause.

p. 15Anno 1564 the Nationall Assemblie did send some Commissioners to the Queen to desire among other things [that …o Bishoprick &c. having more Churches then one annexed there unto should be disponed in time coming to any one man, but that the Churches thereof being dissolved should be provided to severall persons, so as every man having charge, may serve at his own Church, according to his vocation.]

Anno 1566 at the eleventh Nationall Assembly the second Helvetian Consession of Faith was presented, & approven in all points (except in the particular concerning festivall dayes) by which Confession prelacy is accompted ane humane devyce, & no ordinance of Christ.

But Satan, envying the faire beginnings of this Infant Church, stirred up some of the Statesmen against her, who, having possession of Church rents, & Prelats Benefices, & fearing to lose the same, did therefor devyse a way for establishing themselves in the possession of those Church rents, by getting in some Tulchan Bishops, (as they were called) who might have the name of the whole Benefice, but rest contented with a small part to themselves, leaving the rest in the hands of these Nobles, and accordingly the Earle of Morton stirred up the Earle of Marr then Viceroy, to convocate an Assembly at Leith, by the means of the Superintendent of Angus: who when they did meet Jan. 12. 1571 did nominate six of their number to meet with six appoynted by the councill, & these twelve did condiscend to severall things tending to the setting up of Prelats. And according to these resolutions the Earle of Morton getteth one Mr. Douglas made Bishop of Saintandrews. Mr. Boyd of Glasgow, Mr. Paton of Dunkel, & Mr. Grahame of Dumblaine.

This was a very sad stroke, but God did not leave that poor church in that case, for within two moneths thereafter A national Assembly did meet who finding that these resolutions gave such offence, did appoint some of their number to examine the same: but the acts of this Assembly were there after taken out of the Registers. And in August. 1572. at the Nationall Assembly there was a Protestation made against these inuovations, … p. 16[that whatever condescension should be yeelded unto, should be onelyonly for the Interim, till a more perfect order might be obtained] So at the Assembly in Aug. 1573. it was decreed that [Bishops should have no more power then the superintendents, had] Mr Paton of Dunkell is accused for taking more, & Mr Gordon of Galloway is condemned. And in the nixt Assembly it is concluded that every Bishop should be subject to the Assembly, & should conferr no Benefice without the advyce of three Ministers. Spotiswood the false Historian thought, that, because of his silence, the world should never have gotten notice of this, which these Assemblies did, of purpose to heme in the power of these prelats, whom the Court was setting up, with such violence, at such a time, when they could do no more.

At length the day breaketh up clearer, & about the year 1575. the Lord stirreth up his servants, & putteth spirit & courage in them, so that in the Assembly it was debated whether these new Bishops, Superintendents, & Commissioners were a honour or a burden to the Church. Mr Iohn Dury protested that they should do nothing in prejudice of what he, & many other brethren had to object against their office. Mr Iames La…son did seconde this, & moved the debate touching the lawfulness of the office it self. Mr Andro Melvin affirmed, [that none ought to be officebearers in the Church, whose titles were not found in the Book of God, and for the title of Bishop, albeit the same was found in scripture, yet was it not to be taken in the sense, that the common sort did conceive, there being no superiority allowed by Christ amongst Ministers, he being the onelyonly Lord of his Church, and all the same servants, in the same degree, having the like power] These beginnings, the Lord was pleased so to seconde with his blessing, that when it was moved by the Regent, whether they would Stand unto the Policie aggreed upon at Leith, or setle some other forme of governement: It was resolved that a constant forme of Church policy should be sett down, & for this …ffect, they nominate twenty of their number to meet at severall times, & places, for the drawing the Modell thereof. And accordingly after some pains the second Book of Discipline is finished, & Anno 1577. at the Generall Assembly. Sess. 13. p. 17approven in all points, except that touching Deacons; which was referred to farther debate but Anno 1578. that head with the rest was approven by the unanimous consent of all, though Spotiswood will not let the world know so much.

When this Second Book of discipline is thus appoven, by the Nationall Assembly, after prayer & fasting they appoint some of their number to exhibite it to his Maj. to the end he might add his approbation thereunto: Unto whom the King (being then about 13. years of age) did promise [that he would be a proctor unto the Church] & caused some of his Counsellours conferr with those Ministers upon that business, (the heads of which conference were once insert in the Registers of the Assembly, but Anno 1584. when the Court had power of the Registers, those leaves were taken a way, & seen no more, as shall be cleared hereafter) and again Anno 1579. the King wrote unto the Nationall Assembly desiring [a farther consultation upon the heads, on which his Commissioners and their delegats did not accord the last year, to the end that when all the particulars are fully aggreed upon, they might be approven in the ensueing Parliament] & in the mean time the Assemblies are going on, prohibiting any moe bishops to be chosen, & ordaining such as were chosen, to submit themselves to the determination of the Generall Assembly, under the paine of Excommunication, & accordingly some then, & all of them afterward, did submit. So Anno 1580. they ordained that all who were called bishops should dimit simpliciter, because that office had no warrand in the word, & they ordained Provinciall Synods to call before them such bishops, as lived in their bounds, & ordaine them to give obedience to this act. His Majesties Commissioners who were present at this Assembly of Dundy did concurr with this Assembly, in appointing some of their number to consult about the Modell of the Presbiteries.

In this same yeer in the monethmonth of March (for as yet the new year did not begin untill the 25. of march) is the Nationall Covenant solemnely taken by the King, his Councill, & Court, & afterwards by the inhabitants of the Kingdome, in which covenant prelacy, under the name of Romish Hierarchy was abjured, p. 18as shall be cleared in due time, & the Doctrine & Discipline of the Church was sworne to be defended.

Anno 1581. in Aprile at Glasgow the Generall Assembly did insert the book of Discipline in their Registers, & did show how the act touching Bishops made at Dundee, Anno 1580. did condemne the estate of Bishops as they were then in Scotland. Unto this Assembly his Maj: Commissioner, William … of Caprintoun presented the Confession of faith subscribed by the King & his houshold, as also a plot of the presbiteries to be erected, mentioning their meeting places, & appoynting the severall parishes, which should belong to such & such presbiteries with a letter to the Noblemen & Gentlemen of the countrey for their concurrence for the erection of presbiteries, & dissolution of Prelacies, & in his Maj: name he promised that his Maj: would set forward the policy, until it were established by Parliament, & thus presbyteries began to be erected throughout the Kingdom.

This was a sweet sun-shine, but it was followed with a very sad showre for when Amate Stuart of Aubignee, afterward Duke of Lennox, obtaineth by the death of the Earle of Mortoun, who was executed, & the banishment of the Earle of Angus, the superiority of Glasgow, & other things, to secure the same to him & his posterity, he aggreeth with Mr. Robert Montgomery Minister at Sterlin, to accept of the bishoprick, & to dispone to him all which belonged to that bishoprick, for the yearly payment of one thousand pound Scots, & some horse-corne, & poultry, which when the Church heareth, he is summoned before the Assembly at St. Andrews, & commanded to leave the bishoprick, under the paine of Excommunication, & the Presbitery of Sterlin is appointed to take notice of his cariage in doctrine & discipline, for they had found him guilty in 14 or 15 points; but he went on, & notwithstanding the presbitery had suspended him from the exercise of the Ministry, he procured an order unto the presbytery of Glasgow, to receive him as their Bishop, under the paine of banishment, & with a company of armed souldiers entred the Church, & pulled Mr. David Weems out of the pulpit, & being summoned to compear befor the Synod of Lothian, the King causeth p. 19summond all the Synod to compear before him at Sterlin the 12 of Aprile. Mr. Pont & some others compeared in name of the rest, & protested [that albeit they had compeared to testify their obedience to his Mat. yet they did not acknowledge him or his council judges in that mater, which was an Ecclesiastick cause, & that nothing done at that time should prejudge the liberties of the Church] But the Council rejected the protestation, & discharged them to proceed any further. And shortely thereafter, when the Generall Assembly is examining his processe, the King sendeth a letter to them, discharging them to proceed any further, & when they went on notwithstanding, they are charged by a Messenger of armes to desist under the paine of Rebellion, but they thinking it better to obey God, then man. ordained Mr. Montgomerie to compeer befor them the next day, who compeered not, onelyonly a Proctor in his name appealed unto the King. The Assembly did reject the appellation, & proceed to examine the libell given in against him, & finding him guilty of many hainous crimes, they ordaine him to be deposed & excommunicated, but ere the sentence be pronounced, they appoint some of their number, to aquaint his Maj. with their whole procedure: And ere long Mr. Montgomery submitteth, passeth from his appellation, acknowledgeth his faults, & professeth repentance, with such solemne obtestations, as affected the whole Assembly. Upon this the sentence is delayed, & the presbitery of Glasgow is appointed to advertise the provinciall Synod of Lothian (who were ordained to excommunicate him) in case he relapsed: And as they feared, so he returned to his vomit, & with violence intended to enter the pulpit, & when the presbitery, according to the appointment of the Generall Assembly, were beginning a processe against him, the Laird of Minto provost of the Town, presented a warrant from his Maj. to stay the processe. & when they were going on, he pulleth forth Mr. Iohn Howeson minister at Cambuslang Moderator, & imprisoned him in the Tolbooth. But for all this Mr. Montgomery is excommunicated by Mr. Iohn Davidson, & the same was intimated in all the Churches. The council declareth the sentence null, against this the Ministers of Edenburgh p. 20give open testimonies in their preaching, & for this cause they are commanded to remove out of the Town, within the space of twenty fowre houres. At this time there was an Assembly sitting at Edenburgh who send some of their number with a supplication to his Majesty wherein they shew, [That indeed he was the Head of the Commonwealth, but onelyonly a member of the Church, & as a ch…f member he should have the chief care thereof, but now it was not so, th…r decrees are res…inded, they are forced by his servants, Ministers are draw…e out of pulpits; that he was playing the pope, & usurping both the swords] and when they come & present it unto the Council the Earle of Arran cryeth out, if there were any that durst subscribe the same where upon Mr. Andro Melvin answereth, we dare & taking a penne out of the clerks hand, sayeth to his brethren who were commissionated with him, comeforward, & so he & they did subscribe the same.

This storme is not yet blowne over, for the next year 1583. Mr. Andro Melvin is summoned before the Council, for saying in his preaching, [That ministers should presente to princes the example of their predecessours, as Daniel did the exemple of Nebuchadn…zar to Belteshar: But now if any should hold forth what evill King James the third got by a company of flatterers, it would be presently said that he had gone from his text, & must be accused of treasone.] But when he compeareth, he declineth their judgement, aff…ming that what was spoken in pulpit ought first to be tried by the presbytery, & that they could not in primâ instantià medle therewith: But they proceed, & though they could get nothing proven, for his declining, he is commanded to the Castle of Edenburgh, & then to Blackness, but being advertised of his danger by his friends he retireth unto Berwick.

Ann… 1584. the storme groweth to a height, for in May there is a parliament suddainly, conveened which dischargeth all Church judicatories, giveth the King power over all causes civil and ecclesiastick, & dischargeth all declining of the King & his Council in any mater, civil or ecclesiastick, under the paine of treason, & also all Ministers to meddle in sermons with the p. 21affairs of his Highness & his Estate, see act 129, 130, 131, & 134. of the 8. parl. of King James sixt, when Mr David Lindsay Minister at Leith was sent by his br…thren to intreat…the King to pa…e no act in prejudice of the Church, he is committed to Blackness & there detained prisoner 47. weeks. And Mrs Andro Polwart, Patrick Galloway, & Iames Carmichel, are denounced rebels, & are forced to flee into England: So are the Ministers of Edinburgh forced to retire, leaving an Apology behinde them. But for all this when the acts of this Parliament were publishing, Mr Robert Pont protested, taking Instruments, that the Church should not be obliged to yeeld obedience thereunto, & being denounced rebell he fleth into England. Now is Mr Montgomery established Bishop of Glasgow, & one Mr Adamson (as naughty & vicious as any) is setled in St Andrews, & no sooner get they up their head, but as soon they execute their tyranny, & rage against the rest of the Ministry, compelling them to promise obedience to them, as their ordinaries, under the paine of banishment, confinement, imprisonement, deposition, & sequestration of their stipends: Whereupon many, in this day of trial, did faint & subscribe, thinking it a sufficient salvo to adde (according to the Word of God) but afterward mourned for it. Now none durst pray for the Ministers who had fled, under the paine of treason, so dark a day was this.

But neer the end of the next year, there is a change as Court, & the Ministers returne, a Parliament is called at Lithgow, but nothing is done in favours o… the Church. At length 1586. the King was desirous to have some setling in the Church, & appointeth a Conference in February at Haly…od house, where some articles were drawne up, & referred to the General Assembly. As 1. That the Bishop should have a care of one flock. 2. That some Ministers should be added to him, without whose counsell he should do nothing. 3. His doctrine should be examined by the meeting. 4. His power should be of Order & not of Jurisdiction. 5. Beside his own Church, he might have the inspection of moe. when the Assembly meeteth in May, they could not assent to all these articles, p. 22yet at length, seeing they could not have all which they desired, they accorde to this, that both Bishops, and Commissioners should be subject to the triall of the Generall Assembly, & that, where they did reside, they should moderate provinciall Synods & Presbyteries, & in the meane time the order of the Presbyteries was sett down, & they proceed to examine the processe of Mr Adamson, who had declined the provincial Synod of St Andrews, & he submitteth. And the next year Anno 1587. Mr Montgomery resigned his place, & so was absolved from the sentence of Excommunication by the Assembly.

When the Parliament doth conveen this year Anno 1587. there are some Prelats who would sit there in name of the Church: but when the Church perceived this, Mrs David Lindsay & Robert Pont were sent to desire, that they might be removed as having no authority from the Church, & the most of them no function in it at all. The prelats finding themselves now in a staggering condition, thought it was their best to ingratiate themselves in his Majesties favour, & thereby secure themselves in their places, & therefore condiscended unto the Act of Annexation of all the Temporalites of benefices unto the Crown, which was a dilapidating of the Church rents. It is true Spotiswood putteth another face upon this busines in his History, but the man could change with the times, & speake another thing in his English History, then he durst speak in his Latine refutation, for there he sayeth: [In summâ Ecclesiasticorum persidià, proximis Comit…is Anno 1587. transacta, & decreto ordinum actibus intervenientibus insinuata. Nam Episcopi durissima quaeque à fratr…bus passi, non aliud perfugium ha…bant, quam ut A…licorum libid…i se deder…nt,] he sayeth, The Bishops were so hard put to it, that they had no other refuge, but thus to satisfie the Court, & give away their revenues to their lusts.

Anno 1590. The Generall Assembly doeth abrogate the power of Commissioners, & devolveth the work on Presbyt…ries.

p. 23Anno 1591. The Recantation of Mr Patrick Adamson is presented unto the Assembly, where, among other things, he confessed he had e…red, in thinking, the governement of the Church was like other civil governements, & in labouring to have the Church in maters Ecclesiastick, subject to the Kings lawes: And with all he confesseth that the Earle of Arran had a minde to have burnt the Registers of the Assembly Anno 1584. & that at Falkland before they were delivered to his Maj. a Bishop & Mr Henry Hammilton took out some leaves, which spoke against the Governement by Bishops, & that he had consented thereunto.

Anno 1592. in May the Generall Assembly doth meet, & resolveth on some propo…itions to be presented to the ensuing Parliament. As 1. That the Acts of Parliament made Anno 1584. against the discipline, liberty, & authority of the Church, be annulled. 2. That the Discipline of the Church be ra…isied. 3. That the Act of Annexation be repealed, and 4. That the Abbots, P…iors, & other Prelats, bearing the titles of Churchmen, & giving voice in Parl. in name of the Church without her consent, be discharged to vote any more. When the parliament conveeneth in June. The liberties of the Church are ratified, & all her Courts, Generall, provinciall, and presbiteriall Assemblies, & Church Session…: & the Ju…sdiction & Discipline thero […s declared to be just, good, & godly in it self, in all time coming, not …anding of whatsoever s…atutes, acts, canons, …vilier municip…ll lawes made in the contrare] All acts fomerly made for establishing the Popes authority, are abolished. It is likeways declared that the 129. act Anno 1584. anent the Kings Supremacy, & against declining of the King & his Councill in Church maters [shall be no wayes prejud…iall, nor der…gate any thing, to the previledge that God hath given to the s…rituall office-bearers in the k…k, concerning heads of Religion, maters of heresy, Excommunication collation, or deprivation of Ministers, or any such like … …all censures, specially grounded, & having warrant of the word of God] Item they abrogate & annull that act of parl. 1584. which did [grant Commission to Bishops, & other Iudges constitute i… p. 24Ecclesiasticaell causes, to receive his Highness presentations to benefices, to give collation there upon, & to put order to all causes Ecclesiasticall] And they ordaine [that all presentations to Benefices be directed to the particular Presbiteries in all time coming, with full power to give Collation thereupon, & to putt order to all maters & causes Ecclesiasticall within their bounds, according to the Discipline of the Kirk.

Thus did the Lord cary on his work unto this period, notwithstanding of much opposition which was made thereunto by men of corrupt principles, wicked lives, & who loved not to part with the Church rents, the sweet morsell which they desired alwayes to enjoy: & now is the Chur…h there become a shineing Church, being reformed both in Doctrine & in Discipline now is she become a pleasant vineyaird well dressed, & hedged about, & defended from the wilde boars of the forrest. King Iames himself was convinced of this, when he gave this reason to an English divine why that Church was not troubled with heresie viz [because if it spring up in a parish, there is an Eldership there to take notice of it, & suppresse it; if it be too strong for thē the psesbitery is ready to crush it; if the presbitery cannot provide against the obstinate heshall finde moe witty he ads in the Synod; if he be not convinced there, the Generall Assembly will not spare him] yea seldome or never did any errour trouble all those Courts, for usually it was crushed by presbiteries, except what some Bishops did maintaine. And thus that Church was indeed as an army with banners, & terrible to the adversaries of the truth. Then were there endevours to have a through worke of Reformation caried on; the iniquities of the land were searched out, corruptions in Ministers, & other ranks of people were taken notice of, effectuall courses were laid down for preventing such abuses in time coming. Publick Fasts were indicted & keeped whole eight dayes together. And thus [the Lord created upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, & upon her Assemblies, a cloud & smoak by day, & the shineing of a flaming fire by night, for upon all the glory was a defence], Isai. 4. 5.

But this faire Summer Suneshine did not long last. The infinitely wise God saw it sitt to bring that Church unto a wilderness p. 25againe, & to cause her meet with a dark, dreadfull, & long lasting winter night. Satan stirreth up Papists upon the one hand, who saw that if this hedg, of discipline were keeped up, they could not enjoy the liberty & peace they desired; & prophane politicians & Courteours upon the other hand, who saw that by this Discipline their licentiousnes would be curbed, to bestirre themselves against this established discipline: And accordingly they use their power with the King, & at length prevaile to get him to oppose the discipline, & to prosecute that designe piece & piece till at length Prelats were established in all their power, as the following discourse will clearly evince.

When Anno 1596. the Popish Lords who had conspired with Spaine against the countrey, and had been upon that acount banished viz: Huntly Arrol & Angus were called home, the Church saw Religion in danger, & ordained that particular flocks should be advertised hereof, & indicted a Fast, & appointed that some out of each Presbitery should concurre with the Presbitery of Edenburgh in considering of the most expedient way for securing, of Religion: and now because the Church would not consent unto the Kings calling home those popish Lords, he is stirred up by his popish Courteours against the Church, & incroacheth dayly more & more upon her liberties. For Mr D. Black minister at St Andr. is cited before the Councill for some alledged expressions in his sermon. The ministry, seeing that the spirituall Governement of the house of God was intended to be quite subverted, thought it best that he give in a Declinatour & there in shew [that though he was able to defend all that he spoke; yet seing his answering to that accusation before them might import a prejudice to the liberties of the Church, & be taken for an acknowledgement of his Maj: jurisdiction in maters meerly spirituall; he was constrained to decline that Judicatorie. 1. because the Lord Jesus had given to him his word for a Rule, & so he could not fall under any civill law, but in so farr as he should be found, after triall, to have passed from his Instructions, which triall belongeth onelyonly to the prophets. 2. The libertie of the Church and Discipline p. 26presently exercised was confirmed by diverse acts of Parliament,: and the office-bearers were now in peaceable Possession thereof] And this he did, and a Copy hereof was sent through the Presbiteries, to see if they would owne the same, and in testimonie of their chearfull & hearty owning therof, it was subscribed by three or fowre hundereth Ministers. This displeased the King so, that he by open proclamation commanded the Commissioners of the Church to depart out of Edenburgh within twenty fowr houres, under the paine of rebellion: but notwithstanding of this, they resolve to stay, & to see that the Church priviledges should not be wronged, & send some of their number to speake to his M…j. unto whom he answered, that if Mr. Black would passe from his Declinature, or if they would declare that the Declinature was not a generall, but onelyonly a particular one, used in Mr. Blacks case alone, as being a cause of slander, & pertaining to the judgement of the Church, he would passe from the pursuite of Mr. Black, But, after consultation, the Comissioners resolved to adhere unto the Declinature, unlesse his Maj. would passe from the processe, & remitt the same unto the Church Judicatory, & would make an act of Councill, declareing that no minister should be charged for his preaching, &c. Whereupon the King charged the Commissioners of new to depart, & caused cite Mr. Black unto the last of November, & withall dischargeth all Barons, Gentlemen & others to meet with ministers in their Church assemblies; without his licence. When the day of Mr Blacks compearance cometh, the Commissioners presente a supplication, desiring them to remitt the question unto the Judge competent, but the Councill goeth on, & therefore they protest that the processe in hand, & whatsoever followed thereupon should not prejudge the liberty of the Church, in maters of Doctrine. Afterward the King sendeth unto the Commissioners, shewing he would be content with Mr. Blacks simple declaration of the truth. But worthy Mr. Bruce answered [That if the mater did touch Mr Black alone, they were content: but the liberty of Christs Kingdome had received such a wound by the Proclamations published the last Satterday, p. 27& that day by the usurpation of the Council; that if Mr Blacks life, & the life of twenty others had been taken, it had not grieved the hearts of the godly so much—& that either these things behoved to be retreated, or they would oppose so long as they had breath.] Then the King condiscended to publish by a Declaration, that he would not diminish any lawfull power or liberty, which they or their Assemblies had, either by the Word of God, or lawes of the land, & that the proclamation discharging Barons & others to meet with ministers was onelyonly meaned, of their meeting in armes, & that the Interloqu…tor of the Council should not be used against Mr Black or any other minister, untill a lawfull General Assembly, providing that Mr Black would declare in his presence the truth of the points libelled before some ministers. But afternoon the Kings minde was found changed, & because Mr Black would not acknowledge an offence, he is condemned by the Council, & his punishment is remitted to the King, & till his pleasure were known, he is confined. Then there is a bond devised to be subscribed by all the ministers, under the paine of the lose of their stipends. The tenor wherof followeth.

Wee the Pastors, & ministers of Gods word undersubscribing humbly acknowledging our duty to God, & obedience to the King our Souveraigne Lord, whom for conscience cause, we ought to obey; Confesse that his Grace is soveraigne Judge to us, & each one of us in all causes of sedition, & treason, & other criminal & civill maters, & to all our speaches, which may import the saids crimes. albeit uttered by any of us publickly in the pulpits (which God forbid) or in any other place, & that the said pulpits, nor any other place whatsoever, hath not that priviledge & immunity to be occasion or pretence to any of us, of declining of his Maj? judgement, in any of the saids civill or criminall causes, intended against us, in any time coming: but rather that our offence is the greater, incase (which God forbid) any of us commit such crimes, in the saids pulpits, before the people where the word of Gods truth & salvation should be preached p. 28by us to our flocks. In witness wherof, & of the humble acknowledgement of our duty in the premisses, we have subscribed these presents with our hands, & are content that the famine be registrat in the books of secret Councell in futuram rei memoriam.

But faithfull ministers refused upon all hazards to subscribe the same, seeing that it was a crossing of their Declinatour, contrarie to the acts of the Generall Assembly, & to the acts of Parliament, made in favours of the Church; yea & to the word of God, because by this bond they should have acknowledged the King to be both supreme & onelyonly Judge over ministers in all causes, & so to have power of Judging; & deposing them, yea & of judging & trying their preaching, if it be but coloured with treason & sedition; & of schisme in the Church which is sedition: and seeing thereby they should be bound up from faithfull dealing in the name of the Lord; & because they saw it was devysed of purpose as a snare to their consciences.

After this Anno 1596. the king driveth on his designe, & indicteth an Assembly at perth, & formeth 55 problemes, by which the Discipline of the Church, formerly established, was questioned, to be there debatéd (these problems with the following Historie at more length are to be seen in the Historie penned by Reverend & laborious Mr Petry, & therefore a short relation shall suffice here) & being perswaded by his Courtiours, that he should never gaine his purpose, till first he took some course to breake the Union of the Church, he prevaileth with Mr Patrik Galloway & Mr Iames Nicolson, who had been chief, a little before, in advising Mr Black to decline, & causeth Sr Patrick Murray deal with the ministers of the North to subscribe the bond, & to choose such & such persons to the meeting at Perth: and when the time of meeting cometh, these Commissioners from the North were seen going in companies to the king, & Mr Nicolson was with the king till mid-night. They were for all this; two dayes in debating whether they were a lawfull Generall Assembly; but honest men protested against it. The meeting at length condiscendeth to these particulars. 1. That no minister should reprove his maiesties p. 29lawes, acts, or ordinances, untill such time, as first he had, by advyce of Presbitery, Synod, or Assembly, complained or sought remedy of the same. 2. That none should be named in pulpit, except the fault were notour by the persons being fugitive, convicted by ane Assise, Excommunicated, contumacious after citation or lawfull admonition: and none should be vively described, except by publick vices alwayes damnable, 3. That there should be no summary Excommunication, untill the next Generall assembly. 4. That there should be no meetings among ministers, except in Church judicatories: and afterward they appoint fourteen of their number to reason upon the rest of the questions.

The next year Anno 1597. there is another Assembly at Dundee which being corrupted, doth grant 1. That Ministers in their exercises at Presbyteries should make no application of doctrine. 2. That Presbyteries should meddle with nothing, but what, without all question, is Ecclesiasticall. 3. That summare Excommunication be suspended, & 4. That Presbyteries should desist upon his Majesties desire. Also at the kings desire they choose fourteen of their number, giving power to them, or any seven of them to advise with his Maj. about a way of setling stipends unto ministers, to provide ministers to eminent places of the Countrey, to present petitions & grievances of the Church to his Maj. & to give his Maj. advice in maters serving for the good of the Church. These pretexts seemed plausible to many, but the event will shew what was really intended: For ere long these Commissioners, as they were called, incroach upon the power of Presbyteries, & Synods, & whether the Presbytery of Saint Andrews would or not, did put both Mr Wallace & Mr Black from the Church of Saint Andrews, & put in one Mr George Gladstons, & then at their own hand, they did supplicat the Parliament, which conveened in December. That ministers, as representing the Church, the third Estate of the Kingdome, might have liberty to vote in Parliament (an evill, under which the Church had been groaning, before, of a long time) The parllament, thinking (but without ground) that the ministers would never p. 30take upon them the titles of the former Prelats, passed this Act.

That such ministers as his Maj: should be pleased to provide to the place, title, and dignity of a Bishop, Abbot, or other prelate, should have that liberty: and as concerning their office in the spirituall policy of the Church, it was remitted to be advised by his Maj: & aggreed upon with the Generall Assembly; & that without prejudice of the spirituall Jurisdiction & Discipline of the Church, permitted to Generall Assemblies, Synods, Presbiteries, & Sessions, & established by Law. Then they move the King to call an Assembly at Dundee before the time appoynted, to the end they might get their own deed approven; where, after much worke, & after many threatenings to some, & promises to others, made by the King himself who was there present, & had commanded Mr Melvin & Mr Iohnston Professours of Theology in St. Andrewes forth of the town, under the paine of banishment, their deed is approven. But zealous & faithfull Mr Davidson arose & protested in his own name, & in name of all the ministers of Scotland who would adhere to his protestation, against that Assembly, & the two last preceeding Assemblies, as null, & not lawfull, & when he removed severall of the ministers followed him, & subscribed the same. The meeting went on, & renewed the former Commission unto twenty Commissioners, whereof nine should be a quorum, among whom was Mrs Iames Nicolson, George Gladstones, David Lindsay, Alexander Lindsay, Andro Knox, Gavin Hamilton, & Alexander Douglas, (whom the king by any means would have named) who were all bishops afterward. Thereafter there were severall meetings, as one at Falkland Iuly 29. 1598. where were some debates about this mater. & some cautions condiscended on, limiting these Parliamentary Ministers, To propone nothing without expresse warrant from the Church. To be accomptable to the Generall Assembly, & subject to their Presbitery & Synod. To usurp no power of Jurisdiction or Ordination, but every way else to cary themselves as other ministers, & the like; & to all these, & other points necessary they were bound to swear & subscribe. But how litle p. 31regard was had to these Cautions, sworne, & subscribed, may be seen by what Spotiswood sayeth in his History pag. 453. viz [That it was neither the Kings intention, nor the mindes of the wiser sort, to have these Cautions stand in force, but to have matters peaceably ended, & the Reformation of the policy made without any noise, they gave way to these conceits] So was there another Meeting at Halyrood house in November 1599. but in all these meetings the honest party could prevail nothing, the king did so violently cary on his purpose.

Anno 1600. There is a Generall Assembly at Montrose, where the matter is againe debated, but no answer made to the arguments of the honest party, onelyonly the Kings authority is made use of, as an answer to all: And so at length, what by menaces, what by flatterings made by the king himself, who was there present, the former resolutions are concluded, onelyonly they allow of the Cautions condiscended on at Falckland, & will have these Parliamentary Ministers to give an accompt yearly unto the Generall Assembly, & lay down their Commission. But these Commissioners, or Parliamentary ministers, being mounted up so high, thought it below them to stand to any promise, or condition, having never resolved so to do, as we have heard out of Spotiswood, who in his latine pamphlet called Refutatio libelli, &c. sayeth also the same [Conditiones quod attinet, quas foede violatas clamitat, in nonnullas, utpote aequas & jujlas facile assensum, aliae pro tempore magis, quo contentiosis, omnis rixands ansa praeriperetur, quam animo in perpetuum observandi, acceptae.] that there were some of these Cautions which they never intended to keep, onelyonly they did accept of them, that more peaceably they might be put in poss…ssion of that which they were gapeing for. Thus it is undenyable that these men arose to Prelacy by open and avowed perjury, as their successours of late have done.

Anno 1601, & 1602. The Assemblies follow forth his Maj. designe, for there was a complaint given in by the Synod of …ife against these Parliamentary ministers, as breaking all bounds & cautions, but they are not heard. That assembly 1602. do indict their next meeting at Aberdeen in July p. 321604. but the Parliamentary ministers, fearing that they should be called to an account, move the king to prorogue the same, unto July 2, An. 1605. yet the Commissioners from St Andrews presbitery viz Mrs Iames Melvin, William Erskin, & William Murray went to Aberdeen the day appoynted, & presented their Commissions, taking Instruments in the hands of two publick Notars, before some ministers of the towne, & others. When the next dyet, Anno 1605. was approaching, they move the King to prorogue againe the Assembly unto an indefinit time, & therefore from London he sendeth to the Commissioners to stay the meeting of the Assembly, untill he gave advertisement, wherupon they write to severall Presbiteries in the South pairts, adviseing them not to choose Commissioners to meet at Aberdeen the fifth day of July, (of purpose to deceive them concerning the day, which was the second, & not the fifth: that so, such as would meet the second day, being so few, might easily be moved to dissolve, before the rest came, who would intend onelyonly to keep the fifth day) But the honest party, perceiving how their liberties were now in danger, did resolve to meet at Aberdeen, & accordingly there cometh from parts neerby some against the second of July, unto whom Lawreston his Maj. Commissioner presented a letter from the Councell, & desired an answer. They replyed, that they behooved first to constitute themselves, & after he had withdrawn, they choosed a moderator & Clerk, & then read the letter, wherein there were two things desired, first that they would dissolve the meeting, & next that they would appoint no other day, untill his Maj. were advertised. As to the first they answered that they were ready to dissolve the meeting, there being so few present. To the next they answered that if Lawreston as his Maj. Commissioner would name a day, they would aggree thereto, if not, they behooved to preserve their liberty, & so, seeing Lawreston refused, they appointed the next Assembly to be at Aberdeen the last Tuysday of Sept. & advertised Presbiteries therof. When Lawreston seeth this, he protesteth against them as no lawfull Generall Assembly, & giveth his reasons, which were answered, & they protest to the contrary, & thereupon p. 33by a messenger of armes he chargeth them to depairt under the paine of treason, & because, as he alledged; he had discharged them, the night before, by open proclamation at the mercat Crosse to conveen under the paine of treason, he causeth denounce them rebells. Whereupon in Septr. Mr Welsh & Mr Forbes were imprisoned by the Councill in Blackenesse, & in Octr. others were incarcerat. In the mean time, there is a Declaration dated at Hampton Court Septr 26. indicting an Assembly at Dundy the last Tuysday of July next. Now the imprisoned ministers petitioned that the triall of that Generall Assembly might be referred to the indicted assembly at Dundee, but are not heard. And therefore, when they are sisted before the Councill Octr 24. seeing that certainly the Assembly would be condemned, they give in this Declinature following [please your Lo: The approbation or disallowance of a Generall assembly hath been, & should be a matter spirituall, & alwayes cognosced & judged by the Church, as Judges Competent within this Realme, & seing we are called before your Lo: to hear & see it found & declared, that we have contemptuously, & seditiously conveened, & assembled our selves in a Generall assembly at Aberdeen, the first Tuysday, of July last, & the said assembly to be declared unlawfull, as an more length is contained in the summonds, executed against us. We in consideration of the premisses, & other reasons to be given in by us, have just cause to decline your Lo. judgement, as no wayes competent in the Cause above specified- & by these presents we simpliciter decline the same, seing we are most willing to submit our selves unto the triall of a Ge nerall Assembly which is onelyonly the Judge competent.] When the King heareth of this Declinature, he lent down directions to the Councell to proceed against them according to the lawes, & sent down the Earle of Dumbar for that effect. Whereupon six of them viz Mrs Iohn Forbes, Iohn Welch, Andrew Duncan, Iohn Sharp, Robert Dury, & Alexander Strachan, are endited of high treason upon the act of Parliament. 1584. & sisted before an Assise at Lithgow and what by illegall procedures, & threatenings, with fair promises, used by the p. 34Earle of Dumber unto the Assisers, some of whom were his own near kinssolk, & particularly by assurances that the king would not take their life, they are declared guiltie of treason by nine of the fifteen Assisers, & so sent back to their prisons. Then doth the king send for Mrs Andro Melvin, Iames Melvin, Iames Balfour, William Watson, William Scot, Iohn Carmichel & Adam Colt, & detaineth them long at London, seeking to intangle them with questions & at length Mr Andro Melvin, is imprisoned in the Tower, till the Duke of Bulloigne three years thereafter procureth liberty to him to go with him Mr Iames Melvin, dieth at Berwick, & the rest are confined to severall places, of the countrey. While these ministers are at London, the king signifieth his minde, that the six condemned ministers should be banished out of his Dominions, & the other eight should be consined as followeth. Viz; Mr Farme in Bute, Mr Monro in K…ntire, Mr Youngson in Arran, Mr Irvine in Orkney: Mr VVilliam Forbes in Yetland, Mr Gray in Caitnesse, Mr English in Southerland, & Mr Rosse in Lewes.

In this same year Anno 1606. there is a parliament conveened in July, which acknowledgeth his Maj. soveraigne authority, princely power, royall prerogative, & priviledge of the Crowne over all Estates, persons, & causes, & promiseth to maintaine the same with their lives, lands & goods, & restoreth the bishops to their ancient, & accustomed honour, dignities Prerogatives, Previleges, livings, lands, teinds, rents thirds, & estates, & rescindeth the act of annexation. Unto this Parliament the Commissioners from Synods & presbiteries gave in a protestation, desiring them to keep within their due bounds, & reserve unto the Lord that glory, which he will communicate neither to man nor angel viz: to prescribe from his holy mountaine a lively patterne, according to which his own tabernacle should be framed, & that they would not bring into the kirke of God, the Ordinance of man, which hath been found the ground of much evill, & of that Antichristian Hierarchie. That they would not build Iericho againe, contrare to their oath & subscription, nor suffer that Estate of Bishops to arise, which they offered to prove p. 35to be against the word of God, the ancient Fathers, & Canons of the Church, the moderne most learned, & godly Divines, the Doctrine & Constitution of the Church of Scotland, the lawes of the Realme, the well & honour of the kings Maj. the peace & quyetness of the realme & the well of all & every one of the subjects, and then. In the name of the Church in generall, & of their presbyteries, & in their own name & of all other pastors, for discharging of their duety & consciences, they did protest against bishopry & bishops, & against the Erection, Confirmation, or Ratification thereof, requireing the famine to be Registrated. This protestation was subscribed by many ministers, & among others by Mr Adam Banatine, Mr Iohn Abernethy, & Mr VVilliam Couper, who afterward became bishops themselves.

When prelats are thus advanced to their civill dignities, there are wayes essayed for advancing them in their spirituall power: and this same year there is an assembly indicted at Lithgow the 10 of December; but onelyonly some presbyteries, in whom the king confided most, were advertised hereof, & the businesse was carried so closely that the moderator of the last assembly knew nothing of it. Here, after some debate, the overture propounded by his Maj. in his letter, viz: that there should be constant moderators in presbyteries chosen, & that where the bishops did reside, they should moderate, both in Synods & presbyteries, is concluded, & some cautions added, but to no purpose for there was a clause annexed, which did cast all loose, viz that if, either upon his Maj. advyce & proposition to the assembly, or upon their own supplication, the Generall assembly were moved to grant a relaxation of any of the Caveats, that then their promise should make no derogation to their liberty. Synods & presbyteries refused to owne this Act, but at length were charged to obey under the paine of treason.

Anno 1608. There was another Assembly at Lithgow July 26. but did no good, thereafter there were some conferences at Falkland & Sterlin, but to no purpose, the intended businesse was still carried on.

p. 36Anno 1610. Juny 6. There is a meeting at Glasgow, unto which resorteth all the constant Maderators, who had their hundreth pounds per annum, and they bring with them other two ministers, such as they liked, & whom the king desired by his letters. The king had three Commissioners there. The Earle of Dumber was sent thither with a strong guard to affright the ministers, so as severall ministers; coming out of the west with a purpose to protest were forced to returne back againe. There was also money brought thither to hire votes. Mr Spotiswood sayeth it was to pay the constant Moderators their due. But Mr Lawder in Coberspath was no moderator, & yet he came to the Earle & complained that though he travailed furdest, and had least to live upon, & though his vote was as good as the best; yet he was neglected, to whom the Earle replyed, that he was too late in coming, & asking his purse-master what was left, he findeth there was nothing but seventeen Shillings Sterlin to give him: Come (sayeth Mr Lawder) let me have it, it will help to bear my charges homeward: And the Non-liquets got nothing. At this corrupt meeting it is concluded 1. That the indiction of all Generall Assemblies belonged to the king, by the prerogative of his Crowne, & without his license all such meetings were unlawfull. 2. That Synods should be moderated by the Prelats, or some appointed by them. 3. No excommunication or absolution without the Bishops approbation, & direction, who is answerable to God & to his Maj. for his proceedings 4. All presentations must be directed to the Prelats. 5. That he with some associated, should silence & depose ministers 6 That every minister, at his entry, should swear obedience to his Maj. & to his ordinary as it was ordained Anno 1571. 7. If any minister absente himself from the Bishops visitation, he shall be suspended, & if he amend not, deposed. 8. That the exercises (or quondam presbyteries) should be moderated by the bishops, or whom they will appoint. And 9. That no minister speak against any of the foresaid acts in publick, nor dispute about the equality or inequality of ministers.

This yeer also was the High Commission instituted, & proclamed p. 37by a Herald giving power to the Archbishops to depose, excommunicat, imprison, fine & confine, for causes Ecclesiastick, whether in Doctrine, or manners, whether in Noblemen, ministers, or common people.

When the meeting at Glasgow is dissolved, Mr Spotiswood of Glasgow, Mr Lamb of Brichen, & Mr Hamilton of Galloway, go to London & there are consecrated the 21 of Octob. & when they returne, they consecrate the rest, & then all of them domineer over the people, & over the faithfull ministers.

Anno 1612. a Parliament conveened, which ratified all the acts of that meeting at Glasgow, & inserted in their Registers the oath which every minister, at his admission was to swear thus, I A, B. admitted to the Kirk of D. testify & declare in my conscience, that the right excellent, right High, & mighty Prince, Iames the sixth, by the grace of God King of Scotland, &c. is the onelyonly lawfull supreme Governour of this Realme, as well in matters Spiritual & Ecclesiastick, as in things temporall, & that no forraigne Prince, State, nor Potentate, hath or ought to have any Jurisdiction, Power Superiority, Preheminence, or authority, Ecclesiasticall, or Spirituall within Realme. And therefore I utterly renunce & forsake all forraigne Jurisdiction, Power, Superiorities, & authorities, & promise that from this forth, I shall & will bear faith & true allaidgeance to his Highnesse, his aires, & lawfull successours: And to my power shall assist & defend all Jurisdictions, Privileges, Preheminences, & authority, granted & belonging to his Highnesse his aires & lawfull successours, or united & annexed to his Royall Crown. And furder, I acknowledge & confesse to have & to holde the said Church, & possession of the same, under God, of his Maj. & his Crown Royall of this Realme. And for the saids possessions I do homage presently to his Highnesse in your presence, & to his Majesty, his aires, & lawfull successours shall be true. So help me God. And also I A, B. now admitted to the Church of C. promiseth & sweareth to E. F. p. 38Bishop of that Dioecy obedience, & to his successours in all things lawfull. So help me God.

Anno 1616. There was a meeting of the ministers at Aberdeen, appointing that a book of Common Prayer be made, & that children should be confirmed by the bishops or visitors in their name.

But the year before this, the former commission, for the High commission was renewed, & instead of the two Courts in the two Provinces of Saint Andrews & Glasgow, there is one appointed, consisting of 55 or 56. one of the Archbishops is sine quo non, & he & other five may do all; Such as refuse to compeer are sisted by force, by the Sherifs, & other magistrats. They meddle with blasphemie, heresy, schisme, errour, Idolatry, simony, lotry, absence from the Liturgy on holy Dayes, perjury, incest, adultery, fornication, rapes, clandestine marriages, stricking of clergy men, speaking against their meetings. They have power to excommunicat, silence, depose, sine, imprison, & confine as long as they please, & the Secret Councell must pursue the contumacious as rebells.

Anno 1617. A Parliament conveeneth, at which the King himself is present, & maketh an act [That whatsoever his Maj. should determine in the externall governement of the Church with the advyce of the archbishops, Bishops, & a competent number of the ministry, should have the strength of a law] when the honest ministry hear of this, & see thereby a door opened for bringing in all the English-popish Ceremonies, they give in a Protestation against the same, which when the king heareth he causeth the Clerk passe by that act, when he was to read all the rest. And now the king is violent for the Ceremonies, & chideth the Archbishops for not receiving the five articles, as he commanded the former year: and they promise to do it, if he would indict a Generall assembly. And upon Mr Galleway's undertaking the king indicteth a meeting at St Andrews Nov. 25. 1617. At this assembly no more could be gotten yeelded to, but private Communion, & that ministers should give the Elements in the Lords supper out of their own hands to p. 39each Communicant. But all this did not satisfy his Maj. & therefore he wrote sharpe letters, to the Archbishops & commanded them to preach on Christ-masse day, & to celebrat the Lord's supper with all the solemnities.

Anno 1618 there is another meeting called at Perth August. 25 unto which the king sent seven Noblemen, & fifteen Barons, & Gentlemen, Spotiswood took upon him to moderate, & read the kings minacing letter, & named a Committee for the articls, nothing regarding the liberty of the assembly, to gratify the king. The honest party offered reasons both for a delay, & against the Ceremonies, but all in vaine: Spotiswood told them that he would send all the names of such as refused, unto the King, & asked the votes of many who had no Commission, & so obtained what the desired, for all accorded unto the five articles viz: kneeling at the Communion, private Communion, private Baptisme, observation of Holy dayes, & Confirmation of children, except one Nobleman, one Doctor. 45. ministers. But when the honest party looked back to the many informalities at this meeting. 1. No lawfull premunition, but onelyonly 20 dayes, by which meanes many were absent. 2. No liberty to choose a moderator. 3. No free disputing or voteing, but members overawed, 4. The assembly prelimited by the votes of the articles. 5. Such as wanted Commissions did vote, & others who had Commissions, were not suffered to vote &c. they looked upon it as no lawfull Generall assembly, & published their reasons in print.

After the dissolving of this meeting; Spotiswood, to make all sure; ratifieth all these things in the High Commission, & though he & others had said, that if they would give way to the passing of the act to humore his Maj. no man should be compelled to obey, yet now by the power of their High Commission, they force many to obey, under the paine of deposition, imprisonement, & confinement, & so they rage without all law.

But at length Anno 1621. there is a parliament conveened, unto which the Honest ministers give in a supplication for safe liberty to enjoy the true Religion, as Reformed in Doctrine, Saoraments, p. 40& discipline, & openly professed, sworn, & practised, by Prince, Pastor, & people of all ranks, without Innovations: and that they would not suffer the faithfull honest ministers to be smitten, & the stocks to be committed to wolves: & blinde guides. But Iuly 24. they were all discharged forth of the towne by open proclamation: The presenter of the petition Mr Andrew Duncane minister ar Crail was incarcerated. When the ministers remove conforme to the proclamation, they leave in write behinde them strong reasons why the Parliament should not ratify the acts of the pretented assembly at Perth, & shew both the nullity of the assembly in point of formality, & the illegality of any such Ratification, as being against severall acts of Parliament, his Maj. proclamation published & printed, & the Nationall Covenant, & upon severall other grounds. As also they leave a most Christian & faithfull admonition to the well affected Nobility, Barons, & burgeses members of Parliament, unto constancy & faithfulnesse. Yea moreover in case all this should not prevaile, they leave a Protestation in write: but the minister who had it to present gote not accesse, & so was forced to affix Copies thereof upon publick places of the towne.

But notwithstanding of all this, there is a fixed resolution to have these articles ratified, which made some honest members with draw: severall informalities are used, contrary to the usuall freedome of Parliament, much pains taken to gaine some, & after the report was made to go, that the Parliament would not rise for severall dayes to come, which made severall members the more secure; Saterday the 4 of August. was pitched upon, as the fittest time, for closeing of the business, & all the articles are put together, & the question stated Aggree or Disaggree, & what by one way & another the acts are ratified. But observable it was how the Lord did give his Protestation against this ratification from heaven (though Spotiswood blasphemously paralleleth it unto the Lords shewing of himself at the giving of the Law) for at the very instant when the kings Commissioner arose to touch this act with the Scepter, there came in at the windowes a great lightening, & after p. 41that another greater, & then a third most terrible: Immediatly there followed an extraordinary darknesse astonishing all. The lightenings were seconded with three terrible claps of thunder, & then their came an extradinary great showre of haile, & after all this such a terrible showre of raine, that made the streets to run like rivers, by which meanes the parliament was constrained to stay within doores, an howr & an half, & went home thereafter without their robes.

Upon the 20 of August, when these acts were published at the Crosse, the minister, who was intrusted with the Protestation, affixed a copy thereof upon the Church door, & another upon the Crosse, & a third upon the Palace gate of Haliroodhouse, & took Instruments in these words [Here in the name of the brethren of the ministry, professing the Religion, as it hath been practised in our Church, since the Reformation of the same, I protest against all these things, that have been concluded, in prejudice of our privileges, since the first Reformation thereof, & adhere to my former Protestation made & fixed on the Tolbooth door, & other places, & to all the Protestations made in favours of the Church, in the time of the preceeding Parliaments] And God from heaven did declare his dissent, for dureing the time of the reading of these acts there was nothing but thunder, fire, lightenings, & raine. And thereafter the Lord made the whole countrey feel the weight of his anger, for the cornes did rott through excessive raines: waters became so great that they sweeped away in severall places cornes, cattell, houses, plenishing, people & all. The great bridge of Perth where these acts were first concluded was taken away, & never repaired to this day, yea & the whole towne almost drowned, many of the Sea-townes which favoured the Articles, received great dammage by Sea. And there followed three years dearth & famine, & Epidemick diseases, wherof many died. Thus did the Lord plead from heaven his controversy, & testify his displeasure against those courses.

But notwithstanding of all this, the Prelats, having now all power in their hands, prosecute their worke, & tyrannize over all ranks, so as the inhabitants were more affrayed of p. 42crossing their commands, then the commands of the king himself, for they banished out of their bounds such gentlemen as they pleased, imprisoned what magistrates they thought fit, upon any light occasion, were it but the hearing of their own old minister, after he had been silenced by the bishop, or the not sisting of one, though their own father, before their tyrannicall Court.

Now is there a black cloud over the Church for many years, piety is dayly decaying, formality, & profanity increasing, the godly are mourning & lamenting, & the wicked rejoyceing. But the Prelats have not yet ended their purpose.

For Anno 1633. when King Charles was present at a Parliament, there is an Act carried through (but not without some opposition made thereunto by some of the Nobles) granting power to his Maj. to command what habits he pleaseth for all men in office, whether in Church or State, & that as a priviledge annexed to the Crowne, & by this means a door was opened to bring in the Surplice, the Corner cap, & other trash. These worthies being traduced by the Prelats, as contemners of authority, & sowers of sedition in Church & State, procure the kings displeasure by their freedome; For the king did not onelyonly chide them openly, but with his own hand he wrote down their names, as disloyall subjects; which made these Nobles thinke of drawing up a supplication, which being drawn up by William Haig his Maj. solicitour, was committed to the trust of the Earle of Rothes & Lord Loudoun to present it as they found conveniency, but they perceiving that it would not be well accepted resolved to keep it up: But at length some way or other a copy thereof cometh to the Bishops hands, & they deliver it unto the king, & withall complaine of those Noble-men, as standing in the way of his subjects yeelding chearfull obedience: And upon their importunat requeests, there is a Commission granted to certaine persons, as a committee to proceed against the Authors & abettors of that supplication, as guilty of sedition & treason. Whereupon William Haig fleeth, & all his goods are confiscat. Some Noblemen p. 43are questioned, & the Lord Balmerino who had the supplication in his custody, is imprisoned & at length condemned to die, but obtaineth pardon.

Now the prelats do reigne, there being none who durst peep, or move a wing against them. The Achprelate of Saint Andrews was Chancellour, other eight of the prelats were in great places, being either Lords of the privy Councell, or Lords of the Exchequer: & being thus lifted up in power & honour, they are puffed up with pride, & what durst they not attempt now (thinke they) Therefore they proceed to do more wickedness, & draw up a book of Canons, which was printed, & approven by the Kings Maj. & all were commanded to obey the Bishops in all points. By this book that which remained of presbyterian governement is taken away. Parochiall Sessions, & Classicall Presbyteries are accounted Conventicles; Ruleing Elders & Deacons are cast out of the Church, & all Ecclesiasticall causes are brought only to the Pelats tribunall. So were they about the drawing up of a Liturgy, & a Book of Ordination, against which, before ever they were printed, or seen, all were discharged to speak under the pain of Excommunication. And at length, the book of Common Prayer is published & imposed on the Church by the kings command, as the onelyonly forme of publick divine worship. Every Parish is commanded to have two at least of these books, under the paine of horning & being punished as rebells: And a strict command cometh forth, enjoyning the same to be used from Pasch & forward Anno 1637. But some of the Prelats as of Rose & Dumblaine, did anticipate the day, & made use of it in their Cathedralls, Others of the Prelats propone the matter to their Synods: but the Ministers replyed that such a change should not be made without a Nationall Assembly; but it was answered that they were the Representatives of the Church: However some prelats gave Ministers liberty to advise untill. Octob. but through the furious importunity of some a letter is procured from his Maj. commanding the useing of the Liturgy with all expedition in the Churches of Edinburgh: The Ministers being called p. 44to see what they would do, such as refused are presently suspended.