Declaration Concerning the Late Tumults in Scotland, Letter 1 – Letter 3
Most Reverend Father in God and our verie good Lord,
WEe regrait from our hearts that tumult which did fall out in our Churches that day of the inbringing of the Service Booke, wherein now these of his Majesties Councell, who have laboured the tryall thereof, will give testimonie of our innocencie: Since that time and the rising of his Majesties Councell in this feriall time, we have daily concurred with our Ordinarie, and our Ministerie for settling of that Service Booke, as the right Honourable the Earle of Traquair Lord Treasurer, with the Bishops of Galloway and Dunbleane will beare witnesse; who have spared neyther paines nor attendance to bring that purpose to a good conclusion: And although the povertie of this Citie be great, being almost exhausted with publicke and common workes, yet we have not beene lacking to offer good meanes, above our power, to such as should undertake that service; and in all things wherein we have beene required, we have ever beene ready really to approve our selves obedient and loyall subjects to his Majestie, in all his Royall commandements, which we have vowed ever to second to our lives end. And we being infinitely obliged to your Graces favours, we now presumed by these lines to give your Grace that assurance of obedience upon our part, in this purpose and in all other purposes wherein we may contribute to the advancement of his Majesties service, or can be expected of good subjects: VVhereof if his Majestie by your Grace shall be pleased to rest assured, whatsoever any other shall suggest, we will accept it from you as a great accumulation of favour; for all which your Grace shall ever finde us most thankfull Remembrancers, and most ready really to expresse our thankfulnesse, whenever we shall be made so happy as that your Grace shall have occasion to use our service. Thus from our hearts wishing you all happinesse, we kisse your Graces hands.
Edinburgh this 19. of August, 1637. Your Graces most affectionate and humble servants the Bailliffes of Edinburgh.
J. Cochrane, Bailly.
An. Ainslie, Bailly.
J. Smith, Bailly.
C. Hammilton, Bailly.
THE SECOND LETTER.
Most Reverend Father in God and our very good Lord,
WEe did receive your Graces kind letter, and from our hearts we do render your Grace most hearty thanks; and as wee have hitherto found your speciall favour in this matter, concerning the laitly imprinted Service Booke, whereanent we did write to your Grace formerly, shewing our dutifull and obedient resolution, not onelyonly in our selves, but in the greatest and best part of our Inhabitants, of whom from time to time we had most confident assurance; so now we must againe become new suiters at your Graces hands to receive from us a true information of the difference of the present time, and of that when we did presume to write the occasions thereof, which is, that since our last there hath beene such an innumerable confluence of people from all the corners of this kingdome, both of Clergie and Laitie, and of all degrees by occasion of two Councell dayes, and such things suggested to our poore ignorant people, that they have razed, what we by great and continuall pains had imprinted in their minds, and have diverted them altogether from their former resolutions, so that now when we were urged by our selfes alone, we could not adventure, but were forced to supplicate the Lords of Councell to continue us in the state they had done the rest of the kingdome; having hitherto forborne either to combine with them, or to countenance them in their supplications, yet we duplicate page duplicate page will not forbeare to doe our Masters service to our power, but shall studie to imprint in their minds what hath beene taken away; in the interim we will humbly beg your Graces favour and intercession with his Majestie, that we may be keeped still in his favour, which we doe esteeme our greatest earthly felicitie, and that what course shall be taken with the rest of this kingdome in that matter, who have presented many supplications, and with whom we have in no wayes combined, that the same and no other may be taken with us, wherein we are confident to prevaile as much as any other within the kingdome, and in all things shall endevour nothing more, then that we may approve our selves most dutifull and obedient subjects. Thus relying upon your Graces favour, as our most assured refuge, we kisse your Graces hands, and rests,
Edinburgh this 26. of September, 1637. Your Graces most affectionate and humble servants, the Bailliffes of Edinburgh.
J. Cochrane, Bailly.
J. Smith, Bailly.
C. Hammilton, Bailly.
James Rucheid.
WEe confesse that these large undertakings of the Magistrates, moved Us to remit much of Our intended rigor against the offenders in the first uproare, hoping that their acknowledgment of Our clemencie, would have produced effects quite contrarie to those which We have found: And now We shall desire the Reader to observe, that this first tumult was owned by none, condemned and cryed down by all, the authors of it, and actors in it called by all sorts, by no better names then Rogues, and the base Multitude: What will you then think, if that within verie few daies you shall see the verie same liberall bestowers of these names entring upon the same Stage, repeating and acting over againe the parts of that madd Multitude; OnelyOnly the Stage you shall see a little better hanged, and the Scenes better set out, and the Play having a more specious name of Pietie and Religion? For soon after, these base and unruly people, who were so much out in their first act of Rebellion, (as Actors at the first are not commonly perfect) were in the Pulpits, even for that their first and foule act so much of late hissed at and decryed, afterwards magnified for the most heroicall Sparkes that ever God inspired and raised up in this last age of the world; and though they were but Asses, yet they were cryed up for having their mouthes opened immediately by God, as the mouth of Balaams Asse was, to the upbraiding of all the rest of the Land, who held their peace when they should have cryed and brayed as they did: Their happy mouthes and hands, which God was pleased to honour that day with the beginning of their new blessed Reformation, and occasioning their celestiall Covenant (as they called it) were so highly extolled by their Preachers, that they assured their Auditors that their memorials should be eternall, whom before they had called the scumme of the people, and the base Multitude, and that all succeeding generations should call them blessed. These high flowne speeches, and many others of the like extravagant straine, both in the Pulpits and out of them, immediately after the first tumult, and ever since, have beene bestowed, and that not sparingly, upon that multitude, which not long before they called base and rascall: But no wonder, for many of the better sort having succeeded that multitude in the same madnesse, they must needs now give them new, high, and Heroicall titles, such as they would have given to themselves now acting their parts; for now their owne actions come next upon the Stage to bee viewed and judged.
All businesses now for a time seemed to be hushed and calmed, by reason of the long vacation, which in that Kingdome beginneth alwayes on Lammas day, and the Harvest, which drew all sorts of people from Edinburgh, except the Citizens; so that little or nothing was done betweene the last of July and first of October, save that some Ministers petitioned the Lords of Our Councell for suspending the Letters whereby they were charged to receive the Service Book, and that they of Edinburgh begun a little by the instigation of their two silenced Ministers to relent of their former forwardnesse for receiving the said Booke, and to repent themselves of their too eager condemning the raisers of the first insurrection, and presented to Our Councell on the 26. of September a Petition, humbly desiring not to bee pressed with the Service Booke notwithstanding all their former undertakings, but to be continued in the same case with all the rest of the Kingdome, untill Our pleasure were further knowne; which Petition, as they alledged, they were necessitated to present, by the example and encouragement of all ranks from all parts of the Kingdome.
But so soone as Harvest was done, the conflux of all sorts of Our subjects, Nobilitie, Gentrie, Ministers, and Burgesses from all parts of that Kingdome, came to be so great at Edinburgh, and after such a tumultuous maner, as that, a present Insurrection was justly feared; which forced Our Councell, assembled then at Edinburgh upon the day before appointed by them, viz. the xvij. of October, 1637. to make three Proclamations; The first, to give notice that on that day nothing should bee treated of at the Councell Table concerning Church businesse, untill the Lords might see the times, and meetings of his Majesties subjects more quiet and peaceable; and therefore commanded all who were come thither about any such businesse, peaceably to repaire to their owne homes within foure and twentie houres, under the paines expressed in the said Proclamation: A second, for removing the Session (which is here in England called the Terme) from Edinburgh to Lithcow, for feare of present danger, if this great concourse of people should not some way be diverted and divided, especially considering that those of Edinburgh were now apparently perverted, and become very evill affected to Our and Our Councels courses of peace and quietnesse: A third, for bringing in and burning a certaine seditious Booke newly dispersed amongst our subjects there, tending to sedition and the disgrace of Our Ecclesiasticall Government here in England: The three Proclamations are here inserted.
Apud Edinburgh 17. Octob. 1637.
FOrasmuch as it hath pleased the Kings Majestie, upon divers good respects and considerations, to give warrant and direction to the Lords of his Majesties Privie Councell, for dissolving the meeting of this Councell day, in so farre as concerneth matters of the Church: And that everie one that hath come to attend this businesse, repaire to their owne dwellings, except such persons as shall make knowne to the said Lords of Councell just cause of stay for their particular affaires; Therefore the said Lords, according to his Majesties speciall warrant and direction sent unto them, have dissolved, and by the tenour hereof doe dissolve the meeting of this Councell day, in so farre as concernes the businesse above written; And ordaines a Maissar of Councell to passe to the Mercate Crosse of Edinburgh, and to make publication hereof; And to command everie one that hath come hither to attend this businesse, to repaire home to their owne dwellings within 24. houres after the publication hereof, except such persons as shall make knowne to the said Lords just cause of their further particular affaires in manner aforesaid, under the paine of Rebellion, and putting them off to the Horne; with certification to them, that if they faile they shall be denounced Rebels, and put to the Horn, and all their moveable goods escheat to his Majesties use.
Apud Edinburgh 17. Octob. 1637.
FOrasmuch as it hath pleased the Kings Majestie, upon divers great and good considerations knowne to his Majestie, to remove his Councell and Session from the Citie of Edinburgh to the Burgh of Dundie: And whereas it is inconvenient at this time to remove it so farre, his Majestie is graciously pleased that this next Session shall be holden at the Burgh of Linlithgow, and the next after the ordinarie vacants at the Burgh of Dundie: And there to remaine during his Majesties pleasure: And therefore the said Lords, according to his Majesties speciall direction, ordaines Maissars or Officers of Armes to passe and make publication hereof to all his Majesties good subjects by open Proclamation at all places needfull, whereby they can pretend no ignorance thereof, but may prepare themselves to attend at Linlithgow and Dundie accordingly.
Apud Edinburgh Octob. 17. 1637.
FOrasmuch as the Kings Majestie is credibly informed, that there is a certaine booke intituled, A Dispute against the English Popish Ceremonies, obtruded upon the Kirke of Scotland, and hath beene sent abroad and dispersed in this Kingdome, purposely to stirre the hearts and affections of the subjects from their due obedience and allegeance: And therefore it hath pleased his Majestie to give order and direction to his Councell, that diligent inquirie and search be made for the said booke; And for this effect the said Lords ordaines letters to be directed to make intimation and publication to all his Majesties subjects, that such of them as have anie of the said bookes, bring in the same to the Lords of his Majesties Privie Councell betwixt the date of this Proclamation and the day of And the said bookes being brought in, that the same be publikely burnt, certifying all his Majesties subjects if any of those bookes shall be found or knowne to have beene with any of them after the time aforesaid, that they shall incurre the like censure and punishment as the Authour may be found to deserve for any thing contained in that booke.
ANd whether Wee and Our Councell were not justly necessitated to these Proclamations, and whether it were not high time to require obedience to them, though none was yeelded, let that barbarous insurrection which was raised the next day, sufficiently testifie.
On the eighteenth of October 1637. the Bishop of Galloway and Sir VVilliam Elfinston Lord chiefe Justice of that Our Kingdome, being appointed by the Lords of Our Councell to examine witnesses in a cause depending before them, betweene Francis Stuart sonne to the late Earle of Bothwell, and divers others, the Bishop was peaceably passing along the street towards the Councell-house where the examinations were to be taken: But suddenly an inraged multitude surrounded him, and followed him with fearfull cursings and exclamations close to the Councell-house doore, where hee was againe incountred afresh with a new troupe, who watched, and lay in wait for his comming thither, and whose furie exceeded words; for in all probabilitie the Bishop had beene pulled in peeces by them, if by divine providence he had not beene defended by the said Francis Stuart, who with much adoe got the Bishop within the doores of the Councell-house, where Our Lord chiefe Justice staied for him: But when hee was there, that place of highest Reverence within that Our Kingdome, was no Sanctuarie for him; for they continued demanding his person, and threatning him with death: The report hereof, and the danger of their Lords life, was brought by some of the Bishops servants presently to the Earle of Traquair Our Lord Treasurer, and the Earle of Wigton, one of the Lords of Our Councell, who were then at a lodging not farre from thence: They came presently with their followers to the reliefe of the Bishop, but verie hardly for the croud of the mutiners could approach the Councell-house where hee was; at last, when with much adoe they got entrance, they found themselves in no better case then the Bishop was, for the peoples furie meeting with no proportionable resistance, increased the more: The Lords thus beset in Our Councell-house, sent privately to the Lord Provost, Bailiffes, and Councell of Edinburgh, who were then assembled in their owne Councell-house, requiring them to come to their rescue, and to take some present order for their safetie: They, by one Sir Thomas Thompson, who indeed was an eye witnesse of the truth of it, returned this answer; That they were in the same, if not a worse case themselves, if the Lords without did not presently pacifie the inraged multitude; that the whole streets were pestred with disorderly people; that their Councell-house was beset without, and thronged within, with their owne threatning Citizens, who had vowed to kill all within their house, unlesse they did presently subscribe to a paper presented to them, which for feare of their lives they were forced to doe: Which paper contained these three particulars: First, that they should joyne with them in opposition to the Service Book, and in petitioning Us for that purpose: Secondly, that by their authoritie they should presently restore unto their Pulpits and places Master Ramsey and Rollock, their two silenced Ministers: Thirdly, that they should restore unto his place one Henderson a silenced Reader: No doubt three most important grounds for such a fearfull sedition: No better answer being returned, the Lord Treasurer and the Earle of Wigton, with their followers, resolved to go up to the Towne Councell-house, and to use the uttermost of their authoritie, or (if that found no respect) their best perswasions for settling the present sedition: When they came thither, they found the Magistrates verie much discomposed, & greatly perplexed, as much doubting whether they should ever escape from the place with their lives; yet they presently entred into consultation with them about what was fittest to be done in such an exigent; and finding now that the publike divulging of that paper which the Magistrates and Councell of the Citie had subscribed, and that the open proclamation of it throughout all their turbulent troupes, and at the Crosse, had a little asswaged their furious rage, the Lords begun to advise with the Magistrates what was best to bee done for the safetie of the Bishop of Galloway, whom they had left besieged in the Councell-house: It was thought fit by all, that the Lords should returne to Our Councell-house, and containe themselves therein, till the Magistrates might try what they could do for calming the commotion in the streets: But no sooner had the Lords presented themselves to the streets, but they were received with such violence as they were forced to retire, untill such time as two of the Bailiffes with their Serjeants and Officers, and such others as they got to attend them, accompanying the Lords, and repeating to the multitude what had beene yeelded to in the paper exhibited to them, a little way was made at first; But presently when they entred upon the great street, the barbarous multitude run most inragedly upon them: Their out-cries were horrible and confused, but were (as much as in such a confusion could be distinguished,) God defend all those who will defend Gods cause, and God confound the Service Book, and all the maintainers of it. The Lords being in present and imminent danger, assured the people that they would represent their grievances to Us; for when they perceived that the people refused to obey any commandement which was laid upon them in Our name, and that they sleighted their requiring of them to retire unto their owne houses, and to behave themselves as quiet and good subjects; under paine of Our highest displeasure, they were glad then to betake themselves to intreaties and plausible perswasions; but all in vaine: For the people still increased their furie, and that to such a height, as that the Lord Treasurer was throwne downe, his hat, cloak, and white staffe pulled from him, so that if by the strength of some about him, he had not beene presently pulled up againe upon his feet, he had undoubtedly been trode to death, and in that posture without hat or cloak, like a notorious malefactour, was he carried by the croud to Our Councell-house doore, where the Bishop of Galloway and others of Our Councell were imprisoned, in great feare, and expecting the Lords returne for their reliefe: Not long after the Provost and Bailiffes came thither to them, told them they had used their uttermost power and perswasions with the best, ablest, and of the prime esteeme of all their Citizens for the appeasing of the present tumult, and securing their Lordships persons, but could finde no concurrence nor obedience: Whereupon the Lords resolved to send for some of the Noblemen, and Gentrie, and others who were now frequently assembled for assisting the petition against the Service Book, to try what help they would or could contribute for quieting the inraged people, and what assistance they might expect from them in freeing them from the present danger: They, being sent for, came to the Lords and declared unto them how much they were unsatisfied with the present mutinie, offered their persons and power for securing them from all violence; which the Lords in Our Councell-house accepting of, with much adoe (being guarded by them whom the people would not offend) the Lord Treasurer got to Our Palace at Haly-rud-house, and the Bishop of Galloway to his lodging: But the Lord Provost was againe set upon as he was entring his owne house, and was so pressed upon by the multitude, that they crouded with him into his owne yard, railing upon him and throwing stones at his windowes, untill some of his servants discharging a Peece which had nothing but powder in it, they retired for feare: In this tumult none were more forward and inexorable, then two who were Bailiffes the yeare before, and who had subscribed the two Letters to the Archbishop of Canterburie.
This mornings storme being a little blowne over, Our Councell in the afternoone met at Our Palace at Haly-rud-house, and commanded a Proclamation presently to bee made at the Crosse of Edinburgh; the tenour whereof here followeth.
At Haly-rud-house the 18. of Octob. 1637.
FOrasmuch as a number of the Lords of his Majesties Privie Councell, as likewise the Towne Councell of Edinburgh, being this day conveened in their severall Judicatories for his Majesties speciall affaires and service, they were most rudely interrupted in the course of their proceedings, by a tumultuous gathering of the promiscuous and vulgar multitude, by whom his Majesties Councell and servants in an open way was shamefully environed: VVhichWhich being a matter verie disgracefull to his Majesties Authoritie and lawfull Government, and which in the consequence thereof may produce dangerous effects, if the like bee not prevented in the time to come; Therefore the Lords of secret Councell, according to the dutie of their place and charge incumbent unto them, Ordaines a Maissar of Councell to passe to the Mercate Crosse of Edinburgh, and there by open Proclamation to discharge all publike gatherings and convocations of his Majesties subjects within the Citie of Edinburgh, and upon the streets thereof; As likewise all private meetings tending to faction and tumult: And in his Majesties name and authoritie, to command and charge all his Majesties lieges and inhabitants within the said Citie, to containe themselves in peace and quietnesse; And for that effect to keepe their houses, except when their lawfull businesse doth otherwise call them, Under all highest paine and charge that by rigour of law can be inflicted upon the contraveeners of the premises in manner above expressed.
TO this Proclamation so little obedience was yeelded, and they of Edinburgh so farre from conceiving that they had any way misdemeaned themselves by that horrible insurrection, as that the next Councell day they had the impudence to send their Commissioners publikely to Our Councell Table, and there to require that their Ministers and Reader might be restored to them, and that they might have assurance for the performance of what was promised to them by their Magistrates at this last Rebellion, and before the pacification of it.
From this Relation joyned to the Narration of the first insurrection in the Churches, it is easie to judge whether this their intended glorious Reformation, which, according to their religious intentions and ardent prayers, they say, God, even to a miracle, hath so graciously prospered in their hands, be like to proceed from God, the first act whereof was begun in the Church, with contempt of God and profanation of the house where his honour dwelleth, and the violation of those persons who serve at his Altar; and the second Act whereof, was presented on the streets of the capitall Citie of the Kingdome, with the contempt of the highest Authoritie under God, viz. Us and Our lawes, and offering violence to the persons of Our Councellors and chiefe Officers of State, not forbearing the verie houses and places where Our Councell for that Kingdome, and Our Magistrates of that Citie doe usually sit, and were then sitting; which places have alwayes been accounted sacred, and have duely challenged all respect and reverence.
And now it is verie observable by what degrees this Rebellion hath risen, as if it had been before-hand well studied and contrived, everie rank entring upon the Stage in their due turns, in which they served and answered one another: The first tumult was begun by the basest sort of that Citie, whom the Authors of this second insurrection did then, even for that first tumult, condemne by the name of Rascalls and scum of the people: This second uproare, farre more seditious and dangerous then the former, was made by the best sort of Citizens, excepting onelyonly the Magistrates and some few others, yet disavowed and disliked (at least in shew) by the Nobilitie, Gentrie, and the Magistrates of the Citie; but these last Mutiners were not so cryed downe by them as the former, nor did they put such vile names of Rebels and Rascals upon them, nor did they shew any signification of their desire to have them questioned or punished for that tumult, because now the qualitie of these last mutiners persons gave some good countenance to the designes which they themselves had in hand: For these Noblemen, Gentrie, and Magistrates being themselves to performe the third Act of that Tragedie, at the first whereof they had hissed, and seemed to dislike the second, held it not fit to be too severe in condemning of that which it seemes they meant shortly after to act themselves, and in a more dangerous way: For first, their Protestation against Our Proclamation, and then their Covenant against Us and Our Authoritie, were next to come upon the Stage; which though they were of the same plot and piece with the two other former insurrections, yet because they were to be better acted, and the Actors men of greater eminencie, they hoped their parts should not finde such foule names as the former had found: As if the things being the same, the names of Protestation or Covenant could alter the nature of insurrection and Rebellion; like those of that bloudie League in France, who hoped that the verie name of the HOLIE LEAGUE would cause in the world a mistake of their meaning, and palliate their most wicked and unnaturall treasons, for rooting out their lawfull Soveraigne and the true Religion. And now this highest and worst part commeth next to be related.
After these tumults, there were presented to Our Chancellour and Councell, two Petitions, one a verie weake and childish one, in the name of all the men, women, children, and servants of Edinburgh, onelyonly against the Service Booke; another in the name of the Noblemen, Gentrie, Ministers, Burgesses, against the Service Booke and Booke of Canons: That to the Lord Chancellour was as followeth.
My Lord Chancellour,
UNto your Lordship humbly shewes, we, men, women, and children, and servants, Indwellers within the Burgh of Edinburgh: That whereas we being urged with this Book of Service, and having *Observe that the children as well as the rest considered this.considered the same, VVe finde many things therein so farre different from that forme of Gods publike worship universally received and professed within this Kingdome: And we Burgesses, being at our entrie and admission deeply sworne for the maintenance thereof, that now makes our hearts to tremble, and our weak consciences will not suffer us to imbrace and practise this urged Service: VVe have this long time past, winked at some former alterations, being put in hope that no further novations should follow. But now we being oppressed, with our just feares to see our selves deprived of that libertie in serving God which ever hath beene approved by Church and Kingdome: In place whereof we are now like to be constrained to imbrace another, which hath neither been agitated nor received either by generall Assemblie or Parliament: In such extremitie we are most humbly to supplicate your Lordship to consider our present estate, and that this businesse is a matter of so great weight and consequence as should not appeare to bee a needlesse noyse of simple women, but it is the absolute desire of all our hearts for preservation of true Religion amongst us, which is dearer to us then either estate or life: And therefore we do humbly crave, that as the rest of the Kingdome, so we may have a time to advise, and that your Lordship may find out some way whereby wee may be delivered from the feare of this and all other innovations of this kinde, and have the happinesse to injoy the true Religion, as it hath beene by the great merciemercy of God reformed in this land, and authorised by his Majestie, who may long and prosperously Reigne over us: And your Lordships answer.
Their Petition to the Councell followes.