A Short Memorial of the Sufferings of Presbyterians in Scotland, Floating text 2
TO THE MEETING of ESTATES Of the Kingdom of SCOTLAND.
THE NOBLEMEN, BARONS and BVRGESSES, Lawfully Called and Chosen, now Assembled at Edinburgh, for Establishing the Government, Restoring and Securing the True Religion, Laws and Liberties of the said Kingdom.
The Humble PETITION of the poor People who have Suffered Grievous Persecution, for their Revolt from, and disowning the Authority of James the VII, Pleading for the devolving the Government upon the Prince of Orange, now King of England.
SHEWETH,
THat the sad effects of the Late Arbitrary and Tyrannical Course of Government, which these Nations, and we in a special manner have been groaning under these years past; From which to Relieve them, the Most Serene and Illustrious Prince of Orange was induced by the Propitious Conduct of a very Glorious Providence, to Undertake this Noble and Heroick Enterprise, And for Redressing which, This Honourable Convention is Called and Conveened: Together with the revived hopes, since His Highness Auspicious Arrival, that all honnest men have begun to conceive and entertain, of getting their Grievances freely Represented and Redressed; The denyal whereof, these several years, hath been to us, and many others, a Grievance very grievous: Have necessitate, incited, invited and encouraged us among others (tho of the meanest Figure, and lowest Interest in this great Affair; Yet, as persons pressed to declare, and oppressed for declaring their Consciences, Sentiments and Resentments of the Late abused Government) to take the Boldness, now to open our hearts to this Great and Honourable Meeting; And with all humility, as becomes, to Represent to Your Honours, That, as we conceive, we wanted not Right and Reason upon Consciencious Grounds, to decline the Illegally extorted, and Arbitrarly imposed acknowledgement of our Allegiance unto Iames the VII. Whose Authority we could never own, because of his Illegal Investiture, without taking, or being in Capacity to take the Oath of Coronation (while addicted to Poperie) contrare to the Laws of God and Man, because of his Advancing the Prerogative, unto an Illimited and most Despotical Absolutness, which all were required to obey without Reserve; And because of his Arbitrary abusing it, to the undermining and overturning our Religion, Laws and Liberties, and intended Introduction of Poperie and Slaverie, at the opened gap of the Prelatical Hierarchy, Erastian Supremacy, and the Late vastly extended Toleration. And because we could not own it, our Sufferings have been very great, known to this and other Nations, and we are confident will not now be condemned by any that have espoused the Cause, and have been honoured to concur in the Enterprise of Rescuing these Nations from the Unsupportable Yoke of the Late Popish Domination, upon the same, or equivalent grounds on which we durst not own it: So we prostrate ourselves, yet sorrowing under the smart of our still bleeding wounds, at your Honours Feet, who have a Call, a Capacity, and we hope a good mind to cure them; And offer this our Petition, enforced by all the formerly felt, presently seen, and for the future feared Effects and Efforts of this Throne of Iniquity, and the mischief thereby framed into Law, and practised or projected against all Law, by the Cry of the Blood of our murdered Brethren, by the slavery of the banished free born Subjects of this Realm, by all the miseries that many forefeited, disinhereted, harassed and wasted honest Families have been redacted to (their Estates and Lives being at the mercy of incensed Souldiers) for adhering unto the Ancient Covenanted Establishments of Religion and Liberty; And by all the Arguments of Justice, Necessity and Mercy, that ever could conciliate Commiseration among Men of Wisdom, Piety and Vertue; humbly Beseeching, Requesting and Craving of your H: Now when GOD hath given you this opportunity to Act for His Glory, the good of the Church and Nation, your own Honour, and the Happiness of Posterity, Now when this Kingdom, the Neighbouring, and all other Nations of Europe, have their Eyes upon you, expecting you will acquit your selves like the Representatives of a free Nation, in redeeming it from Slaverie, otherwise ineluctable, following the Noble footsteps of your Renowned Ancestors, and the present Precedent and Pattern of this Honourable Convention and Parliament now sitting in England; That you will proceed, without any farther Procrastinations (alwayes, especially now Dangerous, when Papists, and other Malignant Enemies are openly attempting to raise a Rebellion against the State) to declare the late Iniquous Government dissolved, the Crown Vacant, and Iames VII, whom we never have, and resolve with many Thousands, never again to owne, to have really Forfeited, and rightly to be deprived of all Right and Title, he could ever pretend thereunto: And to provide, that it may never be in the Power of any succeeding Governour, for the time to come, to aspire unto or arrive at such a Capacity of Tyrannizing. Moreover since Anarchy and Tyranny are equally to be detested, and the Nation cannot subsist without a Righteous Governour, and none can have a nearer Right, nor fitter Qualifications, than his Illustrious Highness, whom the Most High hath signally Owned and Honoured to be our deliveror from Popery end Slavery; We Cry and Crave that King William, now of England, may be Chosen and Proclaimed King of Scotland, and that the Regal Authority be devolved upon him, with such necessary Provisions, Limitations and Conditions of Compact; as may give Iust and Legal Securities of the Peace and Purity of our Religion, Stability of our Laws, priviledges of Parliaments, and Subjects Liberties Civil and Ecclesiastick, and make our Subjection both a clear Duty, and a comfortable Happiness. And because Kings are but Men mortal, mutable, and fallible; particularly, We crave, that he be bound in his Royal Oath; not only to Govern according to the Will and Command of GOD, and Ancient, Laudible and Righteous Laws, in the Ministration of Justice, punishment of Iniquities, Redressing of just Grievances, and preservation of true Liberties: But above all, that he and his Sucessors, profess persevere in, Protect and maintain the true Protestant Religion, abolish Poperie and all false Religion, Heresie; Idolatrie and Superstition, revive the Penal Lawes against the same, reestablish and Redintegrate the Ancient Covenanted Work of Reformation of this Church, in Doctrine, worship, discipline and Government, according to the Word of GOD, Confession of Faith; Covenants National and Solemn League; upon its old foundations, as Established from the Year 1638. and downward to 1650; And that he restore and Confirme, by his Princely Sanction, the due Priviledges of the Church, granted to her by▪ JESUS CHRIST, her only Head and Supreme, and never assume to himself an Erastian Supremacy over the Church in Causes Ecclessiastick, or Unbounded Prerogative, in Civils, above Law; but, as the Keeper of both Tables of the Law of God, in a way Competent to Civil Authority, interpose his Power, for the Ejecting out of the Church, the Prelats, the main Instruments of the Church and Nations Miseries. And from all Administration of the Power and Trust in the State, such Malignant Enemies as have promoted the Ruine thereof: Upon these or the like Termes, We tender our Allegiance to King William, and hope to give more pregnant Proof of our Loyalty to his Majesty, in Adverse, as well as Prosperous Providences, than they have done or can do, who profess Implicite Subjection to Absolute Authority, so long only as Providence preserves its Grandure.
MAY IT THEREFORE PLEASE YOUR HON. To take the Premises into Your serious Consideration, and put a Favourable Construction on this our Humble and Earnest Request, which sense of Duty, in desire to Exoner our Conseiences, and in Complyance with, and at the Solicitation of the Cries of many Thousands in the Nation, moved and craved, We take the Confidence to present to Your HON. In the Hope, that Zeal for GOD and his Church, regard to Iustice and Mercy, Care of Your own, as well as the Countries Interest, dutiful Love, Loyalty and Gratitude to King William, and even Pity to us, will prevail with Your Wisdom to grant in with all convenient Expedition. And Your Supplicants shall ever Pray &c.
FROM what is above hinted, it may appear, that We are not Enemies to Government; but, that as we have had Occasion, We have given more Evidences of true Loyalty, than any of our Traducers, and of true Zeal to have this Government fixed, on such a Foundation, as may make it Secure and Stable, and Subjection thereunto to be not only a Duty, but a Comfort. And with the same inviolable Zeal, Affection and Fidelity, since others will not, We cannot forbear to Remonstrare those Grievances, that are as well hateful to GOD, and hurtful to the Government, as Grievous to Us.
First, As to the Church, tho' all Honest Subjects have been impatiently expecting the settlement thereof, from the Kings Declaration, his Promises at the Acceptance of the Crown, and his Instructions to D. Hamiltoun; Yet, to this Day, it is neither Settled, nor Purged, nor Planted, but kept in uncertain suspense what to fear, or what to hope. Popery indeed is much suppressed, in a way, wherein much of GOD, and little of Man is to be acknowledged and admired; yet the Ancient Laudable Laws against Papists, Seminary Priests, Sayers and Hearers of Mass are not Revived, Reinforced, nor put in Execution, while many of these Idolaters, and Intycers to Idolatry, are connived at, past without punishment, and favourably Intreated, when some of us have apprehend them, and delivered them into Custody. Whence they are much encouraged where they Cohabite in great Numbers; especially in the Sea Coast of Galloway, where they may open a Door and free Ingress to the Irish, whenever they have a mind to Invade; whereby the Country about, is contiunally Tormented with fears of their Massacres and Murdering Attempts. We can never be freed from the hazard of the Return of Popery, so long as Papists are so much Tolerated, and are bragging of their hopes of getting a Toleraration established, Suspending and Dispensing with the Penal Statutes against them; which will defile the Land with Idolatry, and expose us to the Judgement of GOD.
We desire also to be thankful, that Poperies eldest Daughter, the Episcopal Hierarehy, or Prelacy, hath got such a knock on the head, that it is abolished by Law, & its return so far Legally precluded, that the removal thereof, being one of the Stipulations & Artieles of Compact with his Majesty, at the Disposal and Acceptance of the Crown, it cannot be restored without asignal Violation of the Regal Covenant; the native Consequences whereof, may beforeseen to be so dangerous, that we hope, the Kings Wisdom and Justice, will be proof, against all the Insinuations and Perswasions of the Church of England, to hazard it; yet it is a very burdensome Grievance, that the settlement of the Church Government, is so long suspended, and the Nation kept in Suspense, not knowing what shall be settled in stead of Prelacy abolished; whereby the Land is left to settle in nothing, but to rest and rott in old Crying sins, and new provocations are daylie Multiplied without control; Scandals and Disorders, to the dishonour of GOD, reproach of Religion, stumbling the weak, hardening the perverse, and offending all are not restrained, but much encouraged, and different factions much fomented; while Church Government and Discipline (the only Preservative and restaurative Medicine for such Distempers) is neither established, nor any rule determined, by which it shall be Established, except the Inclinations of the People; which are in themselves very variable, and must be ruled by, and not a Rule unto the Institutions of IESVS CHRIST: And as they are variable, so they are as Various and diverse, as there are Numbers of Persons or Parties, that prefer their own Humours and Interests to the Supreme Law, the revealed will of Christ: Some are for Erastianisme; Some for a constant Moderatorship; some for a Superintendency; some perhaps for Independency; some for a Toleration of all; some are for a continuance of the Curates; either without any Accommodation with them, and secluding them from a share of the Government, but suffering them still to Exercise their Ministry; Or by an Accommodation and Coalition with them in the Government also; some again are for the continuance of Patronages, how ever it be. We and many Thousands are against all these things, as being contrary to the Word of GOD, abjured frequently in our COVENANTS NATIONAL and SOLEMN LEAGVE; condemned in the confession of this, and all other best Reformed Churches; And in the doleful experience of former times, known to be inlets to many wicked inventions, innovations and corruptions in the Church; And in process of time productive of Prelacy again: Which, in the Lords strength, We, and many Thousands, do intend never to submit to, tho for our Recusancy, we should suffer the greatest persecution from Men. We are for the Restauration and Reestablishment of this Churches Ancient Covenanted Reformation, in its Doctrine, Worship, Discipline and Government (according to the Word of God, Confession of Faith, Catechisms Larger and Shorter, National and Solemn Covenants and Acts of General Assemblies) in all its Legall Immunities, Securities and Sanctions, as before the Year 1650. These Different Inclinations, cannot be a Rule of Government and order, but of Ataxie and Confusion; Nor can they be determined by a Lesbian rule, unconstant and uncertain; But somewhat, to which all must vail and and submit, and which must claim the last Appeal. Tho we might, with as great Confidence as others, Venture the success of our Plea for Presbyterie, upon the decision of a Poll and Plurality of Votes, providing (which could not be denied) none be admitted to Vote, but such as are well affected to the Government of King William and Queen Marry. Yet we cannot subject the determination of that Plea, to any other Rule, than he Institution of CHRIST; considering, that either the Lord IESVS, who is anointed only King and Head of his Church, and is faithful in all his House, must not have appointed any Government or order thereof at all (which would exceedingly Reflect upon His Wisdom and Faithfullness and the Perfection of his Law) or this Government which he hath appointed, must not be Arbitrary and Ambulatory, indifferently determinable▪ by the will and inclinations of Men, no more than others of His Institutions can be. We plead for no Government, and for nothing in this of Presbyterie, but what we have the Lawes of CHRIST in his Word, the Ancient Lawes of the Nation, the Constitutions of the Church, never yet repealed, by any subsequent Authority Ecclesiastick, and the Covenant Eengagements of all ranks in the Land, of Indespensible obligation, for: Nor do we plead for any exercise, or extent of this order, further then is necessary for the purging of the Church, of every Antichristian, or Erastian Corruption and Invention, Defection or Schism, Error or Scandal in Officers or Members impartially; And for the Planting of the Church with Godly, able and Faithful Ministers, for the Instruction, conviction conversion, Edification and Consolation of the Members thereof. But now, not only is this Government not established, but even that of Prelacy is not effectually, nor can be abolished, while the many iniquous Laws against Presbytery, and pressing submission to Prelacy are not rescinded; And while our National and Solemn League Cevenants for Preserving and Promoting Reformation, are so far forgotten and trampled upon, that the Acts Antiquating and Discharging them to be owned, are not only not Abrogated, but so far yet observed, that it is hardly allowed they should be publickly mentioned: While also, the Ecclesiastical Supremacy, a feather likewise of Antichrists wing, and a Blasphemous and Sacrilegious Encroachment upon Christs Prerogatives, and His Kingdoms Priviledges, is not revocked, nor declared void, whereby it stands declared by wicked Laws, to be the inherent Right of the Magistrate, to Order, Dispose, Alter or Innovate the external Government of the Church, and to plant, or transplant Ministers, and give them Instructions, to Regulate them in the Exercise of their Function; which, if not Abolished, will not only optn a Door to the Introdnction of Prelacy or Popery again: But if the Protestant Religion be never so well Established, this will in process of time, unhinge all possible Settlements thereof. There is nothing more the Interest of the Church, than to seek that this Mountain in the way of its Reformation, be removed; and all Acts confirming the same repealed; and Indulgences following therefrom, be declared to be Usurpations. Another Pillar of Prelacy, the constant support of it, and stop to Reformation, does yet continue, while the burdensome Bondage of Patronages is not removed; whereby the Church is Robbed of the Liberty of choosing her own Guides intrusted with her greatest concerns, & the Great-men have open access Implicity to impose, and Prey upon, and Pester the Church with Corrupt Teachers: But if all these things were Rectified, it is impossible the Church can ever be settled, or purged, or planted, as long as the Episcopal Curats, intruded by the Prelats Collation and Patrons Presentation, contrare to the Institutions of Christ, and the Constitutions of this Reformed Church, without the Call, and contrare to the Inclinations of the People in many places, but every where the Bane of the Nation, the Scandal of the Church and the cause of all our Confusions, are continued in the Churches. How can the Church be settled, when those that unsettled it continue in the same Capacity to oppose all Righteous Settlements of Reformation? How can the Church be purged, when the greatest Corrupters, and the most corrupted Members, remain in Power? Either they must be looked upon, and Subject themselves as Members of the Presbyterian Church, and then Discipline cannot but strike against them, in such a measure of Severity, as may be some way proportioned to the greatness of their Scandal, their Obstinacy, Impenitency, and Continuance in it as long as they could, and the hazard of their Leavening the whole Lump; or they must be looked upon as Pure and Perfect Schismaticks, seting up a distinct Church, and seperate Communion, within a well Constitute National Church, and as such they ought to be Censured and Restrained. How can the Church be planted, when those Plants that the LORD never planted, fill so much of His Vineyard, and continue in so many Paroches, either to sterve them with the hungry Husks of Ethick Homilies and Harangues of Moral Vertues, instead of Gospel Holiness (not knowing to Preach the Mystery of the Covenant of Grace, or declare the Counsel of GOD, to the Conversion of Sinners unto CHRIST or so poyson them with points of Popery, Arminianisme, Socinianisme: Yet many of them do yet Peaceably possess the places they were intruded into; and others dispossessed, are reponed by Force, contrare to the inclinations of the Paroch, and notwithstanding their opposition in some places, as for instance in Colintown and in Peebles, where great Insolences were committed, affronting the Magistrates, and disturbing the Presbyterian Meeting, which have been overlooked; but the least Accession to any Opposition that was made, hath been severely punished, one Francis Beatie upon this account being for these many weeks kept in prison, and his Petitions for Liberty ejected. This hath discouraged many, and opened their mouths to reflect; That tho this Government be as much admited for Acts of Mercy to Rebells, as the former was for Cruelty, yet wherever any Presbyterian can be apprehended in any fault, he must expect the rigour of Severity. We do not justifie illegal Tumults, nor do we approve that people should transgress their Line and Station in endeavours of Reformation, when there is a Magistrate to be applied unto: But as Magistrates ought to interpose their Power for extruding, and easing the people of Intruders; so when they abuse it, to the re inforcing of these intrusions, honnest and zealous people can as hardly be restrained from resisting such Invasions and Impositions against the Laws of GOD and Man, as they can be kept from withstanding a violent Invader of their Property, or Intruder on their Heritage. For our part, as we thought it a seasonable duty, to take the opportunity of the Interregnum, before the settlement of a Government that we could subject our selves to, for cleansing the Western Shiers of these Creatures (which was done with all the discretion that the confusions of that time, and the feared shortness of that opportunity could admitt. And whatever clamour they make of their Persecutions, in their Late Printed Account and Information to the Church of England, stuft with Lies, we defy them to give an instance of any hurt done by us to any of their Persons or Families, or to charge us with one Six-pence worth of their Goods: If any have, let it be proven and punished) which, if others in other places had imitated, in that season, with the like discretion, the Nation might have been much eased, and the Government prevented of a great deal of trouble: So, tho we are not for Persecuting them who were our greatest Persecuters, nor rendering them any evil for their evil, farther than to restrain them from coming back again to Persecute us, and from Intruding, where they have no Right; Yet we are resolved, through Gods Assistance, to endeavour by all approven means, to hold them out now when they are out; And sooner to die, and venture the loss of all things temporal, than to suffer any of them to repossess themselves of the Churches, whence they are thrown out; or any other within our reach, untill after sufficient Evidences of their remorse they shall come in at the door of CHRISTS Appointment. If in this we Offend the Malignants in the Parliament or Council, we cannot help it, it is not the first time, nor perhaps the last: But for the Noble & Honoured Patriots among them, who are well affected to the Cause of Reformation the Nations good, and his Majesties Honour and Happiness, we are confident they will construct of our ingenuity in good part; as flowing from conscience and Candor. And we are hopeful his Majestie will Compassionat us in this matter; and consider the Case, that it is more for his Honour and Interest; to have respect to the Consciences of so many People, than to the humor and haughtiness of a few debauched Lords and Gentlemen, who delight in these vexations, and who by Custom, as it were, have it for their Element to impose upon poor Peoples Consciences. And we hope his Majesty will think upon the Redressing of this Grievance, of the Continuance of these Episcopal Curates, who took notice of this, as one of the Grievances, in his Declaration, that he came to relieve the Nation from.
In the netxt place, as to the State, tho we desire to be more abstract from these Administrations that are above our reach; yet it is obvious and Grievous to all that desire the Establishment thereof in Righteousness and Peace, that the settlement of Church and State both is Retarded and Obstructed, by the frequent Adjournments of Parliaments, in so Critical a Season when the Government is not well settled, the Enemies thereof are prevailing, the Friends thereof are sore discouraged and devided, and the Forces have no Maintenance. If ever there … of Parliaments, now it must be when the greatest Interests, … King and People, are in so eminent Hazard: And yet it is more Grievous, that when they Conveen, and have opportunity to Act for the good of the Nation, the settlement of the Church Government, and the Redress of Grievances, the Disputes of divided Factions, about things of lesser Moment, do hinder their Establishing of those things, that all agree are Absolutely necessary. Time might be afterwards spared for many of these Debates, with which the present precious opportunity is wasted, and they might with more Advantage and Facility be Adjusted and Composed afterwards, if once the Establishment of the Church, and the Security of the Nation were provided for, and these things, for which they have his Majesties Instructions, were Settled and Enacted: But we fear these Differences are much Fomented by Self-seeking Malignant Incendiaries, who love to Fish in troubled Waters, and to pursue their selfish and sinistrous ends of Undermining the Church, supplanting the King's Interest, and betraying the Countries Liberties, from whom these Disorders and Grievances have proceeded, which are now desired to be Rectified and Redressed, and from whose Influence all these Retardments and Disapointments do flow, which the Nation so much complains of. For as the open and avowed Enemies of the King and Country, owning the late King Iames his Interest (all consisting either of the Popish or Prelatical and Malignant Faction, not so much as one Presbyterian being among them) are very many, Insolent and Prevalent; not only in the Highlands, but in all the hires of the Kingdom; and no doubt have their Active Agents, Correspondents and Abetters in the Parliament, Council and all the Supreme Judicatories of the Kingdom; so there are far moe secret undermining Enemies, who for the time are not appearing in opposition to the Government, that are as great Enemies to the King and Country, and all Righteous Interests, as any that do most appear, who are now desiring Places, and ingyring themselves into publick Trust, not to serve King William, whose Advancement to the Throne they opposed, with all the Power and Policy they had; nor simply to satisfy their Insatiable Ambition, but to put themselves in better Capacity to serve King Iames, in Retarding all Righteous Establishments, Rending the Parliaments, and Ruining Us all: Yea, however some may account it Policy, it is not only a Grievance, but a Sin dishonouring God, and destructive to the Nation, and a dangerous Politick, threatning hazard to Religion and Liberty and the Government, that many wicked Malignants, Enemies to Reformation, are admitted & imployed in the publick Administrations, as Officers of State, Members of Council & Parliament, and other Judicatories and places of Trust; who not only were our cruel Persecuters, and Murderers of our Bretheren, whose Blood cries for Vengence against them; but were the professed and sworn Tools of the late Tyranny, and Instruments of the Nations Slavery, Ministring to King Iames, and cooperating with him in all his Encroachments upon our Religion, Laws and Liberties, as absolute Vassals of his Despotical Will, under Oaths and Pensionary Obligations to obey without reserve, and to this day, are either evil Counsellours to perswade the King to some degrees of Arbitrariness, or very disaffected to the Government, Counsellers to, Encouragers of, or Connivers at Rebellion against it. It had been worthy Service to the Nation, to have at first exposed these Men in their own Colours, and represented the danger of trusting them, to the King; who being much a Stranger to Men, at his first coming over, might be easily deceived in the choose of such as were to be Imployed; and then it had been easier to keep out, then now to put out of Places: But it is never too late to seek to be Rid of these that were, and are like to be Instruments of our Ruine; whose Exclusion from Trust and Power to play their old Tricks, is necessary for the King's Interest as well as the Kingdoms, which are inseperable. And since the King declared against these evil Counsellours; and on their Crimes and Mal-administrations, founded the Righteousness and Necessity of his Expedition, neither King nor Parliament can justly offend at; or refuse the Nations Demands, to be eased of them, nor find it convenient, that the Betrayers of our Laws, and Robbers of our Priviledges under the last Government, be excluded from all share of Administration in this. We have experience of their Conduct and Administration already, wherein we found nothing but Tyranny, Rapine and Violence, and such Justice and Law as is discovered above; and therefore can never beleive while only Interest hath made them change their way, that ever they shall Administer Righteous Judgement. And whatever Confidence others may have, we cannot be without fears, while we are under the power of our old Persecuters. But above all; it is most offensive to God and all Good men, that Murderers of innocent People, without and against all Law, particularly several of these above Named, should not only be Connived at, and past without punishment, but Encouraged and Intertained in Favour and Trust; some of them Discovered and Apprehended as Traitors to the present Government, are notwithstanding over looked and suffered to escape Justice, and Liberate upon Bale, as Major or Lieu. Col. Balfour, and Lieu. Nisbet; others of them are Members of Parliament, as the Commissioners for the Shire of Nithsdale and Stewartry of Anandale, Sir Ia. Iohnstoun of Westerhal, and Iohnstoun of Corehead, who is notourly known to have of late several times in Caballs with Iacobines drunk the late King's Health. Blood is a crying Sin, defiling the Land, which cannot be cleansed but by the Blood of them that shed it. We thirst for the Blood of none, nor crave the sheding of any, but of these who are so guilty of Blood, that they are Condemned to the punishment of Murderers, by the Law of God and all Nations, having shed the Blood of War in Peace, without all shaddow of Law. But as for those that Murdered our Bretheren, without all Process, Accusation, Trial, Conviction, Assise or Sentence, as is observed in his Majesties Declaration for Scotland, We should not be free of the Guilt of their Impunity, if we did not seek Justice against them. Yet we wonder the less at this, that such Criminalls as were Authorized under the former Government, by Arbitrary orders, tho without Law, to perpetrate their Crimes, are not Punished, when open avowed Traitors, Speakers of Treason, and Rebells against the Present Government, taken in ovett Acts of Lese-Majestie, discovered in Plots and Projects, and Apprehended in Armes against his Majestie, are Indemnified, Connived at, let out of Prisons and Tolerated, and thereby Encouraged and Tempted to go on in their Conspiracies, and return to the same Crimes, when ever they find Opportunity; for they will not ascribe this to his Majesties Clemency, but to the weakness of the Government, that dare not draw its Sword of Justice. In the former Government, there was nothing but Severity against those that in the least Discented from it: In this there is nothing but Mercy to Rebels; both these are Extremes.
In the Third place we cannot but have sad Reflections upon the bad success of the War: Which we think is not so much to be imputed to the bad Conduct of those to whom it is intrusted, as to the Wickedness and Malignancy of the Army, laying them and the Land open to the danger of the wrath of GOD; while the Abominations of Swearing, Cursing, Profaning the Sabbath, Whoredom, Drunkenness, and all debaucheries (which are severely interdicted by Military Lawes, if they were put in execution) and are so abounding among Officers and Souldiers, that the honest hearted among them, whom only Conscience did prompt to engage in the service, are exceedingly discouraged, & all the fearers of GOD affrighted, to whom the abounding of, and continuance in these sins is a greater terror, than all the Numbers of Enemies. This is the more to be adverted, that all that acknowledge GOD, are astonished with His signall and stupendous stroks, so observably wasting many Thousands of the English Army in Ireland, within these few Moneths past for these same Abominations. But not only are our Armies filled with the Profane end Profligate Skum of Mankind; But to the great Reproach of the Cause, wherein Religion is so nearly concerned, to the dishonour of GOD and offence of all the Godly, many Malignant Enemies to Reformation, avowed Adversaries and Persecuters of Truth and Godliness, are encouraged, imployed and intrusted for the defence of the Interest, which, within this short time, they professedly opposed, and by many Dreadful Oaths were engaged to Suppress. For the old Dragoons, the Late Kings Lieveguard and others, after by Executing their old Masters cruell and Arbitrary Orders, they had enriched themselves with the spoylls of the oppressed Country, and imbrewed their hands in the Blood of innocent and Righteous People, when they saw the Prince of Orange like to prevail, forsook their King and crouded into his Highness Armies: Not for love to his Cause, which with the greatest keenness they contended against, as long as they could; But to prevent the just Vengance of his Victorious Armes, then threatened. Hence they are yet intertained among the Forces, and there tho they have not occasion to exert their fury, as formerly; Yet they cease not to express their Malice against us, in boasting that they hope yet to Persecute us as much as ever; And bragging they are, and shall be for Prelacy as long as they Live, not fearing to impugn the Act of Parliament against it. It is certainly a Landsin to be witnessed against, as well as a Grievance, that such Enemies of Truth and Godliness, should be admitted unto, or continued in Power and Trust in the Army, or imployed and intertained therein. It is dangerous that the Royal Standart should be a Sanctuary to them, whom Divine Justice will pursue; And absurd, that the Army should be polluted, and in danger to be infected with the Contagion of such an unhappy conjunction and unholy Association. It were more profitable and promising like, that the Tears and Cries of the many Widows and Orphans, whom their bloody Sword have beraved of their Husbands and Parents, might prevail with the Justice of the Government, to find them out and give them their reward. It were no loss, but a great advantage to the King and Countrey both, that the Army were throughly purged of those who betray the Interest in stead of serving it, and whose carriage declares they are in the interest of the Enemy, and were filled up with such as have another principle prompting them to serve, than the prospect of Pay, which will make them venture their dearest Blood in the Cause, with Resolution and Confidence, when those that are pursued with a guilty Conscience are afraid to look Death and Hell in the face. Hereby, as his Majesty would be far from all fears of the like Treasons and Treacheries, in some discovered already; so all Honest Men having no other Interest or End, but the Glory of God, the Peace and Prosperity of their Country, and the Honour and Happiness of the King, would be exceedingly Encouraged and Engaged to be Zealous and Resolute in the Service, when they should know they have none to Associate with, but such as are of Aproven Fidelity and good Affection to the Cause. It is yet the more Grievous, that not only so many wicked and Treacherous Men are intertained in the Army; but Men of Principle and Conscience, who are willing and Zealous to serve in the Warrs with the utmost Fidelity, can find little Encouragement; and some are put out of Trust and Employment in the Army, who had given Good proof of their Zeal, fidelity and courage, by the Malignants procurement, to the end they might be rid of the fears and Iealousies they had of their opposing their sinistrous designs: Some there are we acknowledge in several Regiments and Troups, that are Men of principle, Conscience, Courage and Honour; but these labour under very many Discouragements, being very much Maligned by the rest. Particularly, we cannot but complain of the Treatment of the E. of Angues's Regiment, which was sent to Dunkeld (as would seem) on design by some to be betrayed and destroyed; For, being there posted alone in the mouth of the Highlands, the whole body of Canons Army marched towards them, the very day they came thither, and within three days gave them a general assault: where that Regiment was left in the chock, denuded of the success that my Lord Cardross brought them, who were recalled; and denyed the assistance they sought from Col. Ramsey lying at Perth▪ After which, getting the honor of that Victory, by the goodness of GOD, they were more then ever envyed, by the remaining malice of their old enemies; who, when they durst do no more to destroy them openly; & their Arts failed them to get them destroyed by the common enemy, sought by all means to break them, or to blast their Reputation.
Finally, The Country is much languishing in their jealousies, thinking their sufferings cannot be over, as long as not only the instruments, of their oppression, their Persecuters are in so much power: but the Laws and Acts of Parliament, &c. impowering them, & condemning the grounds of former sufferings, are yet standing unrepealed. Yea, they complain their sufferings still continue, while Forefaultries & Fines are not redressed; while many are impoverished by loss of Law suits, and Decreets past against them, through their Non-appearance in their own defence, in times of hazard▪ to their persons; while many Widows and Orphans of those that lost their Lives in Fields and Scaffolds, and of those that died in banishments, are in great distress, having none to provide for them; and while many are yet in servitude in forraign Plantations, whither they were banished & sold as Slaves, who are not yet partakers of this reviving, we have got in our bondage.
Moreover, As the unrestrained debaucherie and dissoluteness of Country People is very grievous, occasioned by the want of Church Government and Discipline; So the insolence of many Gentlemen, professedly Jacobins, owning the Authority of K▪ James, drinking his health, and forcing others to it where they are numerous, impugning the present Authority, and openly speaking Treason, is an intollerable Affront to the Government: For the Honour of which, Zeal for our GOD, Loyalty to the King, and Love to our Country; observing the deficiency of others that could do it better, we could not forbear to suggest these complaints; In the hope that such as are not sensible of them, may open their eyes and see their distempers and dangers; And those that are sensible of them, may be moved to represent them to those that are in Authority, to redress and remove them. But whether Men will hear, or not hear; we are confident there is a GOD that ruleth in Jacob, to the ends of the Earth, who will hear thecry of the Humble, in His own time.
FINIS.
End of the text · Alexander Shields, A Short Memorial of the Sufferings of Presbyterians in Scotland (1690)