A Historical Vindication of the Government of the Church of Scotland, Text

A Historical Vindication of the Government of the Church of Scotland · Text

p. 1THE UNLOADING OF ISSACHARS BURTHEN.

WHen from divers good hands it was brought to me, Iſſ…chars burthen will ſtu…ble no ſolide and adviſed minde.that Presbyteriall Government began to be evil ſpoken of by many, & to be ſuſpected by ſome who hitherto had not been unfriends to it, through the occaſion of a late Pamphlet Intituled Iſſachars burthen; which ſome Sectaries with all care and diligence doe put in the hands of the prime Members of both Houſes of Parliament, and others whom they conceive to have any influence in the affaires either of Church or State, either of City or Countrey: The word of the old Philoſopher came in my mind, a ſhort ſighted man, is a quick judge; who ſees few things, does ſoone and raſhly give out his ſentence.

That this nameleſſe Pamphlet printed by a Malignant at Oxford, and reprinted by the induſtry of Sectaries at London, ſhould be able to open the mouth, or touch the heart of any conſiderate man with the leaſt ſuſpition againſt the Government of the Reformed Churches, ſeemes to me a little ſtrange, and will doe ſo, as I ſuppoſe, to others who ſhall be pleaſed to conſider with me ſome circumſtances of that writ; firſt the Author, ſecondly, thoſe whom he profeſſes to taxe, thirdly, its Publiſhers, fourthly, the matters contained therein.The Author of it is a man infamous, an Excommunicate Prelate and in…endiagy.

The Author, as uncontroverted fame ſince its firſt publication at Oxford makes manifeſt, is Mr Iohn Maxwell late Biſhop of Roſſe, from whoſe gracious pen a little after this, did drop another piece of the like benigne quality, Sacro-Sancta-Regum p. 2majestas; they muſt be of a greater then ordinary credulity, who can admit this mans teſtimony-againſt the Church of Scotland; for by the moſt ſolemn judicatories of that Land, he is declared infamous: by the generall Aſſembly for many grievous offences he with ſome other Prelates were delivered into the hands of Satan, but for more treaſonable crimes this man by the Parliament of that Kingdome was declared an incendiary: a Cenſure put upon no other Prelate but him alone.

Theſe no more heavie then juſt ſentences were ſo farre from bringing him to any ſhew of repentance, A man obſtinate and obdured in wickedneſſe.that they filled his heart with bitterneſſe and rage, to doe, ſpeak, and write what ever maſice, hightned to the uttermoſt, could dictate.

In that moſt ſcurrilous and invenomed Satyre Lyſimachus Nicanor, his pen was thought to be principall; for this he got a warning from heaven ſo diſtinct and loud as any uſes to be given upon earth, to reclaime him from his former errours: with his eyes did he ſee the miſerable man Iohn Corbet, who took upon him the ſhame of penning that rable of contumelious lies againſt his Mother Church, hewed in pieces in the very armes of his poore wife; this Prelate himſelfe in the meane time was ſtriken down and left with many wounds as dead by the hand of the Iriſh, with whom he had been but too familiar: All this did not humble his ſtout ſpirit; ſo dangerous is it to be put in the hands of the Devill by the ſervants of God according to their Maſters warrant; for no ſooner did he recover of his wounds, but he went for Oxford of purpoſe to caſt …oyl in that flame, in the firſt kindling whereof he had beene a prime inſtrument.

How little faith ought to be given to this man I might ſhew by ſeven years old Stories; A man very corrupt in doctrine.its well known that he above all men living did move and encourage Canterbury to force upon Scotland the Liturgy and Canons; what ever Popery or Tiranny is found in either, he was a prime Author and full conſenter thereto: the erroneous Tenents of the Canterburian party, eſpecially their groſſe Popery in the heads of Tranſubſtantiation, Iuſtification and Purgatory, were according to his minde, as the ſupplement of Ladenſium Autocatacriſis demonſtrates: how neare he and his two moſt intimate friends Forbes and Synſerfe were to the open profeſſion of Popery, does appeare by the p. 3avowed defection to Rome of their chiefe Scholars and moſt familiar dependents, Forbes his Sonne, Synſerfe his brother, Menteith the great Achates of all the three Biſhops.

But leaving theſe elder ſtories, The moſt malicious enemy to the Parliament of England that ever yet has written.behold what new ſtuffe he layes out in his two Pamphlets; in matters of State theſe are his maximes; all reſiſtance to Kings in any imaginable caſe of the moſt extreame Tyranny is ſimply unlawfull, though the Religion. Lawes, Liberties of whole Kingdomes were totally ſubverted. Let Princes doe what ever miſenieſe can come in the heart of the worſt men, ſubjects are to ſuffer all, and have no right allowed by God to make any oppoſition farther then by teares and prayers (a)(a)Sacro-Sanct. p. 19. All oppoſition by force, reſiſting of Kings by Armes, whether in a defenſive or offenſive way, is againſt God, and unlawfull, ibid. p. 66. They commit the higheſt Treaſons againſt God & man, & make poor people die Traytors to both ibid. p. 68. fancying to themſelves that they fight the Lords battels for Religion & Liberties, they dream they die Martyrs when they die Traytors to God and his Anoynted, ibid. p. 132. They ſet the ſimple people upon Rebellion againſt God and his Anoynted to the deſtruction of State, ſoul and body temporally and eternally.. That the defenſive war of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes is a moſt reall Rebellion and Treaſon; that all who have dyed in that quared are certainly damned; that the Covenant is a damnable Conſpiracy; that all Covenanters are Traytors and Rebels both to God and the King; that their Covenant puts them upon the principles of Ravtitack and Faux, to kill Kings and blow up Parliaments (b)(b)Vide ſupra. a. alſo ibid. 63. This Covenant maketh every man to be armed with power, and the way left to himſelfe, for ought wee know, it may be Raviliacks way or Guido Faux his way ibid, p. 7. For as bad as the Ieſuite is, in my conceiving the Puritan is worſe.. That the Armes of the Iriſh Rebels were no more unjuſt, then theſe of the Britiſh who oppoſed them; that the Iriſh Ceſſation was lawfull and commendable (c)(c)Ibid. Preface to Ormond, you were aſſaulted with two of the worſt extreames of opinions, enraged both of them with the ſame degrees of madneſſe.. That the Marqueſſe of Ormond for piety and prudence has not p. 4his match upon earth (d)(d)Ibid. You whoſe piety is admirable, whoſe wiſdom and prudence is above the ordinary, and all your equals, ſo experienced in matters of State, that it is a wonder to them who know you, and incredible to them who have not been eye witneſſes.. That for military vertue he is equall to Scipio, Hannibal, and Caeſar. (e)(e)Ibid. Your heroicall Acts are worthy of the greateſt Caeſar, you gained ſo much as their valiant Hannib…s and Scipios.That the Legiſlative power is in the King alone: That his Monarchy makes him above all Lawes, and lets him be tyed to none, but gives him power to alter and aboliſh them at his pleaſure (f)(f)Sacro Sanct. p. 180. One of the Sectaries principles wherby they intoxicate the Vulgar, is that in a Monarchy the Legiſlative power is communicable to the ſubject, ibid. p. 94. At the admittance of Saul God giveth to the ſubject Legem parendi; Soveraignity is an undivided entity, how can you ſhare it among more?. To diminiſh any thing of this Pretogative is to deſtroy Monarchy, to dethrone the King and to take his Crowne from him. (g)(g)Ibid p. 141. You totally deſtroy Monarchy, and muſt ſay down right our gracious Soveragne is no Monarch, p. 142. An impotent King is the ſame with no King.For Parliam…n…s to meddle with any part of this power is a ſacriledge which God will revenge (h)(h)Ibid. p. 144. The worſt bargaine ever ſubject made, was at any rate to purchaſe a poſſeſſion of the ſacred Rights of Kings; till theſe Kingdomes be purged of ſacriledge ſo highly committed againſt God, by wronging his Anointed and he be reſtored to his ſacred Rights, we need look for no effectuall bleſſings of God.. When through weakneſſe or imprudence, a Prince is cheated or enforced to give away to his Parliament any part of his power, himſelfe or any of his poſterity, when ever occaſion offereth, may lawfully take it back, notwithſtanding of any promiſe, oath or law made to the contrary (i)(i)Ibid p. 142. I doubt not to affirme, but if any good Prince or his Royall Anceſtors have been or are cheated, out of their ſacred Right by fraud or force, he may at the firſt opportunity when God in his wiſe providence offereth occaſion reſume it..

You ſee with what a Stateſman we have to doe, A favorer of …roſſe Popery …nd Arminia…iſme.for his Religion heare a part of it, Epiſcopacy is a neceſſary and fundamentall p. 5truth, of Divine. Inſtitution and Commandement (k)(k)Iſſachar, p. 1. In the Edition of Oxford, Epiſcopacy is the true neceſſary and perpetuall Government of the Church inſtitute by Chriſt; wee deceive our ſelves to expect deliverance from our troubles if wee ſubordinate fundamentals in Religion, neceſſary truths to our civill good.. All Eccleſiaſticall Iuriſdiction belongs to the Biſhops alone by Divine Right, no Preſbyter ought to bee a member ſo much as of a Provinciall Aſſembly (l)(l)Ibid. p. 31. Now is forgotten that of the councel of Chalcedon, concilium eſt Epiſcoporum, and that old barbarous but Chriſtian enough verſe, Ite foras laici, non eſt vobis locus ici.. That the Kings conſent to the abolition of Epiſcopacy in Scotland, is the true and great cauſe of all the troubles which ſince that time hath befallen him and his ſubjects (m)(m)Ibid. p. 2. What peace hath King or Kingdome enjoyed here or in Ireland ſince Epiſcopacy by Law in Scotland was damned?. That Abots, Priors and their Religious Houſes of Monks and Fryers are lawfull in the Church (n)(n)Ibid. p. 49. Abbots and Priors to Melvils time were nominate and admitted to Abbeys and Priories as Church men: but this great Doctor found out another Divinity, that for Abbots and Priors there was none ſuch in the Word of God.. That Patriarcks and Cardina's are Church Dignities highly to be reverenced (o)(o)Ibid p. 43. Cardinall Beton a Prieſt and Archbiſhop of ſo high Dignity. That the Pope by Divine Right is as true a Biſhop as any other Biſhop in the world, but by humane Eccleſiaſtick Right he is greater then any other (p)(p)Sacro. Sanct. p. 58. The Pope the Biſhop of Rome hath no more by Divine Right, except it bee in extent then the meaneſt Biſhop in his Dioceſſe; what hee may have by poſitive Eccleſiaſticall right, its not pertinent for us now to examine. Hierome compareth three of the meaneſt Biſhops with three of the greateſt Patriarcks, Priviledged at that time by Eccleſiaſticall Canons.. That Preſbytery is worie then Popery and Ieſuitiſme, that it were much better for any King to put his Dominions under the yoak of the Pope and Ieſuites, then of Preſbyteries and Synods p. 6(q)(q)Iſſachar: Edition Oxford, p. 30. The …ing is in a worſe condition under this ſoveraignty, then under the Pope, ibid p. 45. The Presbytery it or may be in time a mother of as much rebellion and treaſon as any Ieſuitiſme of the higheſt die; if not more: certainly Rome, although a whore, is not ſo bad, nor ſo abominable.. That the firſt Reformation in Scotland, France, Holland, Germany, and where ever the ſupream Magiſtrate was not the Author and Actor of the worke, was unorderly and ſin ull, an action ſeditious and treaſonable, a great cauſe of all the miſchiefes that from that time to this have come upon the Churches, (r)(r)Ibid. p. 36. This gave life to that tumultuary Reformation, we will never wrong Reformed Religion ſo much as to count of that as an orderly Reformation; We doubt not but it was attended with much ſedition, faction and Rebellion: p. 41. I daily heartily bewail that too too much idoliſed Reformation; if Knox and his complices had kept in the way of the old Martyrs, we had bin more happy; ſure I am the great and more then ordinary ſinnes in them and us, and our forefathers, have brought us to be plunged in theſe miſeries, God ſo puniſhing the ſins of that firſt Reformation, by this ſecond ſpurious Reformation.All controverſies of Religion, ought to be decided by the writs of the fathers, (s)(s)Sacro ſanct. p. 59. Would God both ſides in this and other controverſies, would ſubmit to the judgement and determination of the holy Fathers.It is but preciſe Puritaniſme to refuſe the Apocrypha books, (t)(t)p. 39. If our ſtrait, laced brethren would be pleaſed to caſt an eye upon Apocrypha, I refer them to Eccleſiaſticus.It is preſumption for any man upon earth to meddle with the queſtions of Election and Predeſtination. (u)(u)Sacro ſanct. p. 105. Theſe Seraphicall Doctors make ſo bold with almighty God, as to unfold the ſecrets of Predeſtination, and to define who are the Elect, and who the Reprobate.All neceſſity takes away Freedome from the Will. (x)(x)Ibid. p. 91. The firſt act of mans will neceſſarily, fertur in ſummum bonum, this is actus neceſſarius non liber, not ſo free as it may chooſe or reject, it is elicited by force, conſtraint, or neceſſity.the Schoolmen doe rightly teach that the Sacraments conferre grace by ſome extrinſecall ſupervenient power, p. 7(y)(y)Ibid. p. 121. Schoolmen do confeſſe, that the Sacraments doe not confer grace, vi naturali phyſica & inhaerente, but vi morali ſupernaturali & ſuperveniente.mens ſins are waſhed away by doing of Pennance, (z)(z)Ibid. p. He was forced to flee and with 40. years penance and repentance waſh away that guiltineſſe,Miniſters are Prieſts, (aa)(aa)Its high time for Prince and Priest to ſtrengthen one another,all who have adhered to the Parliament are Sectaries and mad ones, (bb)(bb)Ibid. p. 38. No moderate Sectary if any ſuch be, p. 68. People thus madded by mad Sectaries and Shebaes..

By this little taſte of the mans Spirit, we may ſee their wiſedome who bring in ſuch a witneſſe to teſtifie againſt the Reformed Churches; It is ſtrange that any gracious Engliſhman ſhould be apt to hear ſlanders againſt the Church of Scotland.and how good friends they are either to the Parliament or to the true Religion, who recommend this writer with ſo loud praiſes to the diligent peruſall of ſimple people.

The 2d circumſtance I offered was, the object of this calumnious writ, whom does it undertake to defame? the Church of Scotland; It is poſſible for any gratious Engliſhman to applaud this injury.

Who did ſo heartily concurre and ſo much aſſiſt the firſt planting of the Church of Scotland as that renounced Queen Elizabeth and the ſtate of England? Scotlands old obligations to England.our Hiſtory tells us that in all the aſſaults of that Church from the Popiſh and Prelaticall party, we were not only comforted by the encouragements of the Engliſh Anti-epiſcopall Divines, Cartwright, Hilderſham and all the reſt of the old Non-conformiſts cordially ſympathizing with us, but alſo the Queene and State by continuall Letters, and many gracious Embaſſages, did ever ſupport our cauſe, and aſſiſt us when we needed both with Armies and Monies: knowing that notwithſtanding of all our differences with the Prelates, yet we were moſt firme for the Proteſtant cauſe and welfare of England, againſt all Enemies both at home and abroad.

When lately the Canterburian deſignes were on foot to change the Religion, Englands late of ligations to Scotland.and inſlave the ſtate of all the three Kingdomes to an abſolute and Turkiſh Monarchy, or at leaſt ſuch a tyranny as this day is exerciſed by the French and Spaniſh Kings, did not Scotland at that time (when no party at all in England, nor Ireland p. 8would or durſt appeare) take their lives in their hands, and with courage for the liberty of the whole Iſle ſet their f…ces againſt theſe Popiſh Tyrants? did they not with ſuch piety, prudence, moderation and valour mannage that common cauſe, that the bleſſings of all England and of all Proteſtants, yea of all in Europe of what ever profeſſion, who loved the juſt liberty of the ſubject, did reſt upon their heads?

Thereafter when that wicked faction glad to be rid of them, and to give them all their deſires according as they were pleaſed to d…mand them, did turne their Armes from them upon the good ſubjects of England and Ireland, and in both, had well neer accompliſhed their deſign: Ireland having no conſiderable Army to oppoſe the barbarous murtherers, and the Army that was after ſome faint oppoſition, joyning with the Rebells againſt the Parliament. In England the North and Weſt being totally loſt, the Kings great and victorious Armies ready to ſwallow up the remnant, no friend upon earth appearing for the gracious party, their lamentable and deſperate condition was by their Commiſſioners with ſighs and teares repreſented to Scotland. Where their Brethren were ſo touched with compaſſion, that laying aſide all thoughts of hazard which was extreamly great, they reſolved to ingage all they had, life, wealth peace, and what elſe is deare, for to reſcue the Engliſh out of the pit of their viſible, imminent and otherwiſe unavoidable ruine. They ſent to Ireland an Army of ten thouſand well appointed men, who baniſhed the Barbars out of Ʋlster, where they were ſtrongeſt, and out of the moſt of Conaught, keeping ſo much of that Iſle in poſſeſſion of the Engliſh, as made it eaſie for them when ever they thought fit to regaine the reſt.

They ſent into England a gallant well-armed & governed company of twenty thouſand effective, who by Gods bleſſing, themſelvs alone, did ruine the Kings main & greateſt Army under New-caſtle, and joyning with others of the Parliaments forces at Long-Marſton, did ſo break and defeat the prime of all the reſt of the Kings forces met together, that they were never afterable to bring to the fields any Army very conſiderable, either for number or courage. Much occaſion of action was not thereafter afforded, yet the keeping quiet of all the new conqueſts by North Trent, and the holding the neighbouring Aſſociations in awe til the Parliaments p. 9forces at their leaſure did take up the reſt of the country, was no ſmall ſervice.

In theſe actions the Scots did ſpend very much precious blood, many of them did endure much hardſhip both in England and Ireland, and at home by the Peſtilence; by a prevailing Enemy, by inteſtine diſcouragements and diviſions, all flowing from their friendſhip with England, they were overwhelmed with greater miſeries then their fathers had ſeen for many hundred yeares, and which grieved them more then all things elſe, they were entertained by too many of them for whom they ſuffered all theſe evills with ſo great unkindneſſe, they were loadned with ſo many calumnious and contumelious aſperſions, the Reformation of Religion their greateſt aime went ſo farre back before their eyes, that their provocations were great, to provide at laſt for themſelves while ſomething yet at home did remain to them to be preſerved. But beholding viſibly in their retreat and proviſion for themſelves, the certain ruine of their unadviſed friends, they chuſed rather to put up with patience all their ſufferings and quietly to wait on till the ruine of the Enemy, and ſetling of their brethrens eſtate by their help, might open the eyes of all, and bring the moſt perverſe to Repentance for their misbehaviour towards the inſtruments of their welfare; eſpecially when they did ſee the invincible fidelity of the Scots unbrangled with the greateſt temptations.

Though in all their late unexpreſſible extremities they had received no aſſiſtance at all from England, nor much importuned them for it, though to their greateſt griefe they did ſee the Gangren of Hereſie and Schiſme without the application of any true remedy, overſpreading all England ſo faſt, that the infection of Scotland with this Peſtilence ſeemed unavoidable, though the current of affaires did ſeem to run in that channell, that the perſon and family of the King, the authority of the Parliament, the Liberties of the City and Kingdome might be caſt ere long into no mall hazard; our Army alſo and Nation for no other cauſe but their conſtant reſolutions to keep to their firſt principles, did ſeem to ſtand in a very neer poſſibility to be to ally deſtroyed; yet for all this they were farre from any raſh or unjuſt concluſion, their eyes were towards the Lord, they did wait for his deliverance, and when by him an opportunity was put in their p. 10hands to right themſelves with the diſadvantage of others, yet they did mannage that occaſion with ſo much juſtice, wiſedome, dexterity and ſucceſſe, that all the world they hope is ſatisfied with their honeſty, as of men who minded nothing more then the ſaving of the whole Iſle from theſe calamities that viſibly were imminent; the re-eſtabliſhing of the King in his throne, the confirming of the Parliament, City, and Country in all their rights, the ſetling of Religion and peace according to the word of God, and the Lawes of the Land, and their owne quick returne to their homes in very eaſie and equitable termes, enriched with nothing ſo much a with a conſcience of well deſerving, with the bleſſings of all England, with the commendation of Neighbour nations, and with the hopes of the Poſterities favourable conſtruction of their whole deportment in this great action. That ſuch a people as this ſhould be traduced and defamed by contumelious Libels in England, and that at London with the contentment or patience of any, it would ſeeme a matter very ſtrange, if the moſt abſurd and ſtrange things were not here long agoe become common.

The third circumſtance conſiderable, The Independents and Eraſtians in printing and publiſhing this book are many waies faulty.is the inſtruments and preſent publiſhers of this writ…. That a Biſhop at Oxford ſhould have been countenanced in writing a Satyre againſt the Scots, whom all the Malignants did hare as the chiefe and firſt Authors of the miſcarriage of their great deſigne, we doe not marvaile: but that at London our ſworn and covenanted Brethren ſhould be avowed proclaimers of Scotlands diſgrace, it is a peece of ſingular and unexpected unkindneſſe: Our Brethren whether Independents, or Eraſtians or both who have procured this Edition, and with ſo much ſedulity make it paſſe from hand to hand, though they had been pleaſed to caſt behind their backs all the good offices which this laſt century of yeares have paſt betwixt the Kingdomes, though they had baniſhed all gratitude towards the Scots for their late actions and ſufferings: though their conſcience had permitted them to have trod under foot all the Oaths and Covenants whereby they ſtand expreſly tyed to defend the Reformation of the Church of Scotland againſt the common Enemy: Yet I would know of them how they are become thus unadviſed to let their indignation againſt the Scottiſh Presbytery ſwell up ſo high, as for their hatred thereunto, to venture the deſtruction p. 11of the Parliament of England, to declare all the Members of both Houſes at Weſtminſter damnable Traitors, becauſe dying in the act of Rebellion without Repentance; but all who have periſhed on the Malignant ſide to be a kinde of Martyrs as being unjuſtly killed for their duty to God and the King; to bring back Biſhops to the houſe of Lords, to put into their hands alone, and that by Divine Right all the Eccleſiaſticall juriſdiction of the whole Church of England. And if they were reſolute in their hatred of Presbytery, thus far to miſcarry, I would further know if either the Eraſtians or Independents have any principles for the reduction of Poperty, for the re-erection in England of Abbots Cardinals and Popes: And if men againſt their owne principles muſt needs run thus mad, yet that they ſhould be permitted to act according to their madnes in the day-light, under the eye and noſe of ſo wiſe, juſt and prudent a Parliament, it is and will be long hereafter a matter of very great admiration, eſpecially to them who at the ſame time did behold ſome other writs for much ſmaller reflections, purged with the hand of the Hangman by fire in many publique places, and their publiſhers how well deſerving ſoever otherwiſe both of Church and State, ſtigmatized with notes of high infamy.

Theſe three conſiderations are but proemicall, the fourth concerning the particular matter of the Treatiſe is the principall: If I ſhould examine every thing it would be tedious, yet ſhall I touch upon every paſſage that I conceive to be materiall.

This ſecond Edition has a new Title Page, The title Iſſachars burthen is a doltiſh reproach of this preſent Paliament.and ſome additions in the Preface: In the very inſcription Iſſachars burthen, there is a ſalt Gybe at the preſent Government; that which the Proverbe wont to appropriate to the Peaſants of France, that they were ſtrong Aſſes willing to beare all Burthens ſo they might live in peace in that fat ſoyle, by this good Patriot is contumeliouſly applyed to England; it now is the Aſſe, crouching under two burthens, if Preſbyterie be the one, the Parliament muſt be the other; theſe be the two unſupportable burthens pointed at along all the Authors Writs: the two light burthens which he every where cryes up are Monarchy ſcrued up to the higheſt pinne of Tyrannicall Prerogative and Epiſcopacy in all its Papall Priviledges, both well faſtned upon the Aſſes back by the cords of a Divine Right: who ever for the love of peace in a plentifull p. 12Land will ſet their ſhoulders under this double burthen, are Iſſachars Aſſes indeed; but truly the Scots have not merited this commendation, for their Land is not among the moſt plentifull, nor have their backs been very patient of ſuch burthens, but rather then to crouch under them, they have kicked at their drivers, and have taught their riders to be more warie then they were wont in overloading their poore Aſſes.

What is added in the Title, The ground…eſſe calumnies of the title-page con…emptible.that the Preſbyteriall Government of Scotland is Tyrannicall, and inconſiſtant with Monarchy, that it is ſo much worſe then Epiſcopacy, as the bite of a Scorpion is worſe then a Rod, we ſhall believe it when the ſubſequent Treatiſe makes it good, which doubtleſſe ſhall bee done when the Author has demonſtrate his aſſertion, that Popery and Jeſuitiſme are burthens much more eaſie and rather to be choſen then the Scottiſh Preſbytery, in the meane while till the proofes come, juſt men will allow us to take all this, but for the bellowes of a ſtomack overcharged with firy and enraged humours.

In the Preface, All the Liber…y he grants to …eople is to be …aves to Ty…ants.to ſhew his skill in the Politicks, he firſt ſets down as two moſt friendly Companions, the Royall Prerogative and the Liberty of the People: but behold wherein here he inſinuats, and elſewhere at length proclaimes the knot and bond of their concord to conſiſt: The King by his Prerogative is the only Law-giver both for Church and State, The people for all their Liberty, by Divine Inſtitution, are appointed to obey and doe their ſervices, though both Church and State were never ſo injuriouſly oppreſſed by the cruelleſt Tyrants. So our Parliaments, our Church Aſſemblies, our defenſive Armes muſt all be buried together in one Pit. This is the firſt eaſe that Iſſachars Aſſe gets of its burthen, by the hand of this mercifull driver.

In the next two Paragraphs he advances the Royall Prerogative to an externall Epiſcopacy, The diſcord a…t …oncord of relates, Era…tians, & Inde…endents, in …e point of …upremacy.no man I know, in this is his oppoſite; but while he makes this externall Epiſcopacy no leſſe then a true headſhip over the Church, and the denyall of it in this ſence to be a dethroning, an uncrowning, a ſtabbing, a trampling under foot of Kings, I know no living man agreeing with him herein. It is certaine, Queen Elizabeth and King James and their Biſhops did reject this odious and Papall Prerogative p. 13of headſhip over the Church; alſo how farre either your Eraſtian or Independent friends will goe along with you in the preſent diſcourſe, you will reckon at your leaſure among your ſelves. You tell the Eraſtians that Kings for all their Prerogative, yet have no more power of Excommunication and Eccleſiaſtick cenſures, then of preaching the Word and Adminiſtring the Sacraments; you tell them alſo that the Royal Prerogative reaches not to the making of a Church Canon, nor to the degrading or ſilencing of a Preacher, but only to the calling of an Aſſembly of Divines for theſe works which are part of their proper and ſpirituall charge. You tell your Independent friends that the Magiſtrate has power aſſigned to him by God, to impriſon and puniſh all, who either by their Hereticall or Schiſmaticall Tenents trouble the peace of the Church: It is like theſe morſells will not be a food of very eaſie digeſtion to their tender ſtomacks.

The next three Paragraphs are but meere invectives (as juſtly you ſtile your own language,) The pubiſhing of this book is a grievous injury to the Parliament.againſt the Parliaments of both Kingdoms, for aboliſhing Epiſcopacy, for defending their own lives and liberties againſt your Malignant Faction; you make them all to be men without any conſcience, without all faith, all Religion, all honeſty, wicked and Rebellious Hypocrites, ſhedders of innocent blood, deſtroyers of many brave ſpirits and Ancient Families, Authors of Maſſacres, murders, rapines; Villaines more cru…ll and bloody then Turks or Infidels, whom God will deſtroy as he did Core and his Complices for their inſurrection againſt Moſes and Aron.

May we not here marvell at your partiality, who having ſeen with your eyes, the practiſes of the Rebels in Ireland, and of the Malignants at Oxford, you ſhould yet have the conſcience to beſtow all this good language upon us and no word of it in all your Writs upon them; or ſhall we marvell at the Independents and Eraſtians wiſdome, who think it fit upon ſome mal contentment with their friends to make themſelves blazers of ſuch railing and curſed calumnies againſt themſelves and their whole party: or ſhall we marvell at the Parliament partence, who permits the Rabſhakehs of Oxford to walk peaceably upon the Streets of London, and to be welcomed within every doore though openly they caſt upon all our faces the excrements of the worſt of their paſſions.

p. 14In the laſt two Sections of the Preface, A Petition extremly unreaſonable, to believe an infamous mans word without any proefe.there is a Prayer and a Propheſie, we are prayed to believe and that without probations, that all the following Hiſtories are meere Goſpel, all moſt true and certaine: of this ſo modeſt a deſire, we have a good reaſon given us fides non extorquetur vi, ſed ratione & exemplis ſuadetur, Ergo we muſt give up our beliefe, and ſorce our faith to aſſent to all that hereafter ſhall be ſaid, though neither Scripture, Reaſon, nor Authority be ſo much as alledged for it; I take this Logick to be none of the beſt.

What is ſpoken of the Authors Gravity and Learning, wee ſhall take it as we find it, he is as others of the faction for learning, neither with the firſt nor with the laſt, but for effronted boldneſſe he is ſecond I dare ſay to none of them all; as for piety none that ever knew him young or old, will ſweare him guilty of any ſuch imputation. That he was an eye witneſſe of the Stories he relates is evidently falfe, for all except a very few of his Relations, are of things paſt before his birth, at leaſt before the yeares of his diſcretion, and what he reports of our late troubles he did not ſee, for then was he buſie executing Canterburies commands in his Dioceſſe of Roſſe, an out corner of our Kingdome, and ſo ſoon as that ſtorme began to blow a little loud, he quickly fled out of the Land, whither he never yet returned, being conſcious of his deſervings, for of all the Scots Clergy, he alone was declared Incendiary, and him only did the juſtice of the Parliament of Scotland appoint to tread in the laſt footſteps of William Laud, as he had done in the former with great joy.

The Propheſie is a Prediction of Englands totall deſtruction, A falſe and mad propheſy.if Epiſcopacy be not reſtored the warrant of this Propheſie is as good as the former prayer a Biſhops jeſt in the Counſell of Trent, and one of Eſops Fables, upon ſuch grounds alone, does this ſevere Prophet pronounce from the heaven, Englands deſtruction, were not a Scotiſh bit, as he calls it very fit for the mouth, The whole Treatiſe is but an extract of the moſt falſe and venemous parts of Spoiſwoods ſtory.and an Engliſh rod or ſpurre for the ſides of ſuch a preſumptuous Prophet? we ſhall ſay no more to the Preface.

In the Treatiſe it ſelfe you draw your diſcourſe to foure heads, the Church Seſſion or Congregationall Elderſhip, the Claſſicall Presbytery, Provinciall Synod, and generall Aſſembly, upon ſome of theſe foure you draw in what ever diſgracefull Story you p. 15have either heard or read of any Churchmen of Scotland oppoſite to your way. The great fountaine of all your bitter waters, is that ciſtern which Spotſwood of St Andrewes did endeavour all his life time to gather together; in that Collection the Authors great intention was to heap up all things he conceived might make the Presbyteriall Government hatefull, and the Epiſcopall lovely; but being certain of great contradiction from many who knew as much in affairs as himſelfe, and were much more willing to ſpeak truth without diſguiſe, he kept in this book while he lived, that it might not ſee the light till after his death, when he was not to be argued with for any of his lying and malicious Narrations. This Manuſcript falling in your hands, you draw out of it what is moſt venemous, and or that ſtuffe make up this preſent booke. There are long agoe in Scotland prepared, ſufficient Antidotes againſt the poiſon of the whole ſtory, wherby any man may be furniſhed without difficulty towards the full confutation of your extracts; but the groſſeneſſe of your Lyes did cry ſo loud at this time for an anſwer, that the patience of many good people admitted not of ſo long a delay as that I could be furniſhed from a far with any materials; yet out of the ſmall ſtore of my knowledge and memory of the affaires you ſpeake of, and by ſome few helps which my preſent accomodations doe furniſh, I will venture to give you a ſudden anſwer, which I hope ſhall prove ſatisfactory enough to all ingenuous Readers, who will not affect to cavill, if there ſhall be found any materiall defect, reply when you will, you ſhall have a rejoynder.

Upon your firſt head of Church Seſſions you ſpend your firſt three pages, wherein you make us aſcribe to our Congregationall Elderſhips much undue and tyrannick power.Page 1. The Church of Scotland gives no more power to congregationall Elderſhips then both the Independents and Eraſtians doe allow.

To this I anſwer in generall; Firſt, That we give no more power to congregationall Elderſhips then the Churches of France, or Holland, of New-England aſcribe to them, both in their doctrine and daily practiſe. Secondly, the power we aſcribe to them cannot be challenged either by Independents or Eraſtians for the Independents great plea with us, is about the defect, that we give not power enough to that Court, with our exceſſe herein they were never offended; as for the Eraſtians they will not queſtion with us about any power which the Parliament will be pleaſed to allow unto that Elderſhip; now your ſelfe doth p. 16know that our Church Seſſions practiſe not any power, but that which the Acts of our Parliament do warrant, our liberty there is not aſtricted to any certaine enumerate caſes, but I dare ſay that in many yeares we will not have occaſion in our Congregationall Elderſhips to meddle in any caſe; which even this Parliament hath not already allowed, or will not (as I conceive) be willing upon the firſt Emergency to allow.

I grant you Prelates are here our oppoſites, The ground of the Prelates quarrell is abſurd.but how juſtly, let equitable men judge; you tell us that congregationall Elderſhips ought to have no power at all, becauſe forſooth, the whole power of all ſpirituall juriſdiction, muſt reſide in the Biſhop alone: It is your principle that in all the Preachers and in all the Congregations of the whole Dioceſſe yea of the whole Kingdome, there is not ſo much power as to give to any man for what ever crime, a publike admonition; yet any Lay man in the Kingdom or out of the Kingdom, whom the Biſhop is pleaſed to make his Officiall or Chancellor, may keep a Court in any part of the Dioceſſe, and therein paſſe a ſentence of Excommunication againſt the beſt Paſtors and chiefe Members of any Congregation; becauſe the Scots ſince their firſt Reformation could never by any Art, nor by any Force, be gotten inſlaved to ſuch a Tiranny; therefore it is, that you, your Colleagues, and your Fathers, have been offended with them, and in your anger have invented theſe calumnies which here you are pleaſed to object.

The firſt particular crime which ye lay to our charge is, The Prelates give much more Eccleſiaſticall power to Laymen, then we to ruling …ldersThat we doe give ſome power of ſpirituall juriſdiction to ruling Elders and that by a Divine Right; We grant the charge, and thinke it eaſie to demonſtrate the warrant of our Tenet both from Scripture, and the practiſe of all the ancient, and all the reformed Churches; but it is needleſſe here to digreſſe into that debate, for this is not your maine quarrell with us that we give ſome power or juriſdiction to thoſe you call Lay-Elders, but that we aſcribe any part of juriſdiction to any at all beſide the Biſhop, for you know it is an Article of the Prelaticall Creed, That a preaching Elder hath no more intereſt in juriſdiction then a lay Elder, that for this kinde of power, Prieſt and people are all alike; That neither of them of themſelves by vertue of their office have any dram thereof, yet by vertue of a Commiſſion from the Biſhop either of them is capable of a pleni-potency, and are p. 17able to doe the acts of the higheſt ſpirituall juriſdiction; what the Ieſuites were wont to aſcribe unto the Pope in the Church univerſall, That the Biſhop takes to himſelf in his own Dioceſſe: he, and he alone, by Divine right, is the head, the ſun, the fountaine, the onelyonly receptacle of all ſpirituall jurisdiction which he keeps to himſelfe, or communicates to be execute by others; for the time, the meaſure, the perſons, according to his own good pleaſure. The Eraſtian principle is only different in this, that they pull the Pope and the Biſhop out of the chaire, that there may be roome to ſet downe the Magiſtrate in their place.

What you ſpeak of the Deacons, it is a miſtake; We grant to Deacons no power of jurisdicton, we wiſh there were Doctors in populous congregations page 2. In ſome few congregations Elders have a diſpenſation for a time.for albeit they be preſent in the Elderſhip to receive their directions for the poore, yet they doe not voice in any well governed Elderſhip, nor do they claime any power in juriſdiction: Concerning Doctors, that populous Congregations wants them, it comes not from any deſigne, but for want either of meanes or of Idoneous and willing perſons.

What you ſpeake of the yearely election of Elders, the matter is this; There is not in any Congregation of Scotland which I doe know, a yearly election of Elders, but in populous Cities, where the Elders are many and diverſe of them unable to attend that charge, without the hurt of their eſtate, the moſt of them being Merchants and Tradeſmen, who muſt travell for their livelyhood; they have a liberty to be free from that ſervice every two yeere, if ſo they be content to attend upon a call every third yeere, the Levites attended the ſervice of the Temple but a few months in the yeare: What is right or wrong in this cuſtome of ſome few of our Congregations, we are willing to debate it, and as it ſhall be found juſt or unjuſt, to keep or change that practiſe, for in ſuch things we love not to be contentious.

In your three laſt Sections yee do caſt upon the Elderſhip in hand, a rabble of incongruous practiſes; Page 3. No Elderſhip inflicts any civill puniſhment although the Magiſtrate in the Elderſhip doth ſo ſometimes.what you bring of pecuniary mulcts, impriſonments, baniſhments, jogges, cutting of haire, and ſuch like, it becomes neither you to charge, nor us to be charged with any ſuch matters: No Church-aſſembly in Scotland aſſumes the leaſt degree of power, to inflict the ſmalleſt civill puniſhment upon any perſon; the Generall Aſſembly it ſelfe bath no power to fine any creature ſo much as in one groat: It is true, the Lawes of the Land, appoint …ecuniary mulcts, impriſonment, joggs, pillories, and baniſhment p. 18for ſome odious crimes, and the power of putting theſe Laws in execution is placed by the Parliament in the hands of the in…eriour Magiſtrates in Burroughs or Shires, or of others to whom the Counſel Table gives a ſpeciall Commiſſion for that end; ordinarily ſome of theſe civill perſons are ruling Elders, and ſit with the Elderſhip: So when the Elderſhip have cognoſced upon the ſcandall alone of criminall perſons, and have uſed their ſpirituall cenſures only to bring the party to Repentance, ſome of the Ruling Elders, by vertue of their civill office or commiſſion will impoſe a Mulct, or ſend to Priſon or ſtocks or baniſh out of the bounds of ſome little circuit, according as the Acts of Parliament or counſell do appoint it. But that the Elderſhip ſhould imploy its Ecccleſiaſtick and Spirituall power for any ſuch end, none of us doe defend. That either in Scotland or any where elſe in the world, the haire of any perſon is commanded to be cut by any Church judicatory for diſgrace and puniſhment, is (as I take it) but a fooliſh fable. That any perſon truely penitent is threatned in Scotland, with Church cenſures for non-payment of Monies, is in the former Category of calumnies.

But ſuppoſe that all your alleagations were true, Biſhops confound miſerably the ſpirituall and civill office.yet how congruouſly does a challenge of this kind come from your mouth? do you think that all civill imployments are incompatible with ſpirituall offices? How many Miniſters did you get to be Iuſtices of Peace? you your ſelfe were a judge of Common-pleas; your colleague S. Andrewes, was Chancellor of the Kingdom; you know the Treaſurers white ſtaffe was very neer to your hands, and for the miſſing of it what ſtir you made: Many of you were Lords of Councel, and all of you Lords both of Parliament, and temporall Lordſhips and Regalities, where your Baylies kept Court in your names, diverſe of your Coat with your good liking, have been Secretaries of State, Keepers of the Privy Seale, Leger Ambaſſadors with forraign Princes: your brethren over Sea in France, and Spaine, Germany and Italy, are Admirals of Royall Navies, are Generals of Land forces, are Princes of Temporall Eſtates, according to theſe principles that I thinke you doe approve, according to your Cannons in Scotland, and your ordinary practiſe in England. Great ſummes of mony were exacted in your ſpirituall Courts, and pocketed up for private uſes; how many have been excommunicate there, for non-payment of a ſhilling, and refuſed abſolution, till their fine was payed with increaſe? what p. 19do you ſpeak to us of a pecuniary mulct, of a very ſmall and unconſiderable value taken up by the Magiſtrate, and imployed only in pious uſes? Why doe you ſpeak to us of cutting of Beards, when your Prelates doe burne the cheeks; how many gracious ſoules have been ſtarved to death in your Epiſcopall dungeous? how many thouſands have you baniſhed out of Bricaine, out of Europe, for no fault at all but their zeale to the truth of God? how many hundred thouſand hath your pride and obſtinacy in error, cauſed to be ſlaine within theſe ſeven yeares; in the next age ignorant men may be pardoned to deny theſe things, but it were great impudence this day to deny them, when yet we do ſticke in the Pit of theſe troubles, wherein the madneſſe of you Prelates hath caſt us.

Your objection about the Baptiſme of Baſtards is vain; We refuſe Baptiſm to no inſant where either of the Parents will undertake for Chriſtian education.for we refuſe not that Sacrament to any of them, if either of the Parents profeſie Repentance, and undertake for the Chriſtian education of their child, but the ground of your quarrelling in this Point is, that we cannot follow your Popiſh Doctrine, that we refute to profeſſe the actuall regeneration of all baptized Infants, and that we dare not put all unbaptized perſons in the ſtate of unregeneration and damnation.

Your next head concerns the Claſſicall Presbytery; Page 4, 5. No Prince pleads for any exemption from Eccleſiaſtick juriſdiction.your firſt Objection againſt it, which a little thereafter, and oft elſewhere you do ingeminate, is, That the King and his family are ſubject to its Jurisdiction: I would gladly know if among the reſt of the Prelaticall abſurd ties this were one: That Chriſtian Princes and Magiſtrates are fully exempted from all Eccleſiaſtick jurisdiction; ſometimes your party would ſeem to ſpeake ſo, as if every Magiſtrate, at leaſt every Prince were ſuch a God upon earth that none might ſay to any of them, Sir, what are you doing, though they were running to hell themſelves, and drawing at their heels, all they were able: This is ſo groſſe a flattery, that all adviſed Princes abhorre it, and confeſſe themſelves to be ſubject to Eccleſiaſticall Diſcipline as well as others; for they know if they ſhould exempt themſelves from this part of Chriſtian religion, they ſhould preſently be in hazard or looſing the benefit of all the reſt; for Chriſtianity is a body of Articles ſo ſtraitly joyned, that either all muſt be received or none.

You your ſelfe (though among the abſurdeſt of all your faction) p. 20do confeſſe ſo much as any Presbyterian in the world did ever thinke of: you ſay that the Crowne and Scepter is ſubject, not only to the directive power of the Church (expound the Church as you will, for a Congregationall Claſſicall or Nationall Elderſhip, it is alike for the preſent Queſtion) but alſo to the authoritative power of the ſame whereby the Church does proceed not onelyonly in foro interiori conſcientsae but alſo exteriori …ccl…ſiae to cenſure as it finds cauſe.

Thus far you and the moſt Monarchik of the Prelates goe; No Presbytery did ever enter in any proceſſ with a ſupream Magiſtrate.that in doctrine any Presbyterian Divine went ever further, I doe not know, but in practiſe never one of them went ſo far: Some Biſhops have actually excommunicate the beſt of the Emperours upon their enormous Scandalls; but that any Presbyterian did ever ſo much as begin a proceſſe with any Prince, when they had the greateſt provocations thereto, it cannot be ſhewed to this day. The Church of Scotland notwithſtanding all the croſſe actions of King Iames or King Charles againſt them, in overturning not only the accidentalls, but many of the ſubſtantials of their Religion, and in perſecuting them without all cauſe, with fire and ſword, and all the calamities of a bloody warre, yet did they never ſo much as bethink themſelves of drawing againſt any of them, or any of their kindred or ſpeciall ſervants, the ſword of Church cenſures. The Church of France alwaies wholly Presbyterian, when Henry the fourth one of their Members apoſtatiſed from them to the Pope, did never ſo much as enter into a conſultation of delivering him into the hands of Satan. Without all peradventure, Presbyterians are much more tender then any other Chriſtians of what ever name, to meddle with Magiſtrates by the cenſures of the Church.

In the next Paragraph you flee out againe upon the ruling Elders, as if it were abſurd for any of their coat to ſit in Eccleſiaſticall Judicatories; all the ground of your quarrell is, their want of an Epiſcopall Commiſſion; with this qualification you can admit any Lay-man not onelyonly to ſit in Eccleſiaſticall Iudicatories, but to ſit there as ſole and onelyonly judge; you can make them your Vicar generalls before whom all the Clergy of your Dioceſſe muſt ſtand to be examined and judged, for the diſcharge of their duty in all Eccleſiaſtick adminiſtrations. The Prelates have no queſtion with the Presbyterians about the perſons p. 21of Laymen as they call them, whether they may be Members of Spirituall Courts, but about their calling, both grant the lawfulneſs of the thing, but the Prelats doe found it upon a Commiſſion from themſelves, The Presbyterians preſſe their calling from God and the Church according to Scripture.

What you object of Lay men moderating our Presbyteries and Aſſemblies, All the moderat is of … …embly are preachers.is no more then the ordinary practiſe of our Prelates; how often has Sir Nathaniel Brent and other Gentlemen meerly Civilians, ſitting not only as Prolocutors, but a… Vicar generalls, and ſo only Iudges, before whom the whole Clergy of the Dioceſſe of London or of Canterbury, have appeared as my Lord Biſhops ſubjects for their tryall and cenſure: albeit in Scotland we never had any ſuch cuſtome as you object; for the Moderators of our Church meetings doe begin and end with ſolemn prayers, now ruling Elders have not a calling to pray publickly in the Church; alſo they are but aſſiſtants in Diſcipline, the principall charge lies upon the labourers in the Word and Doctrine; we doe not allow to an Aſſiſtant the place of the Principall.

As for the men whom you name, we grant none of them was in the Orders you ſpeak of, neither of Deacon, Prieſt, nor Biſhop, you meane preaching Deacons; Orthodox men in Scotland, as now in England, doe reject all theſe Orders as Popiſh; further I did never heare that any of the three perſons you name, did ever moderate any of our Aſſemblies; their is no reaſon that for this or any thing elſe, we ſhould take your bare aſſertion or the word of any of your Coleagues for a ſufficient proofe: but giving all you alledge to be true, the firſt man you name, you confeſſe was a Reader, now ye know at the beginning of our Reformation, our Readers were Ordained to be truly Miniſters, to be Prieſts in your dialect; for they did exhort and preach as they were able and celebrate the Sacraments. The ſecond man you name Mr Melvil, was a Doctor of Divinity and ſo long as Epiſcopall perſecution permitted, did ſit with great renoune in the prime chaire we had of that faculty: George Buchanan had ſometimes as I have heard, beene a Preacher at St Andrewes, after his long travells, he was employed by our Church and State to be a Teacher to King James and his Family: of his ſaithfu neſſe in this charge, he leſt I believe to the world good andiſati factory p. 22tokens: the eminency of this perſon was ſo great, that no ſociety of men need bee aſhamed to have been moderated by his wiſed me.

Your next exception againſt the Presbytery is for their Expectants, Expectants are not Lay-Preachers.theſe be the Sonnes of the Prophers who in their preparations for the Miniſtery, at their firſt exerciſes for aſſay and tryall are heard in the Presbytery; with this practiſe no reaſonable man can finde fault; it is naturally impoſſible for any without a miracle, to attaine the habite of preaching but by divers Initiall and preparatory actions; where can theſe be ſo fitly performed as in the Claſſes? The Expectants are preſent in the Claſſes for their training not as Members, for they doe not voyce in any matters of Diſcipline. The true myſtery of this controverſie is that the Expectants are permitted to preach before the holy hands of a Biſhop have conferred upon them the Order of a Deacon, and ſo power to preach and baptize: The Church of Scotland did alwayes reject this corruption as clearly contrary to Scripture.

Your gird at the Presbytery of Edenburgh is weak and unconſiderable; The Presbytery of Edingburgh uſurp no power over any other.for that meeting has no power at all above the meaneſt Presbytery in the Kingdome, notwithſtanding of all the ſervice which the gifts of the Members thereof may performe to any who are pleaſed to crave their advice. Its not to be ſuppoſed but men of eminent gifts where ever they live muſt have an influence upon many others; we doe remember it to our griefe, that you and your Companions while you lived in that Presbytery which you mock, did ſend forth your Epiſcopall, Arminian and Popiſh poyſon to all the corners of the Land, Eaſt, Weſt, South and North.

That King Iames at Hampton Court, Pag. 6. King Iames averſion from Presbytery and affliction to Epiſcopacy makes not this the better not that the worſe.and elſewhere did ſpeak his pleaſure of the Presbytery, makes it nothing the worſe: his reſolution to keep up Eiſcopacy in England for his own ends, moved him to diſcountenance what ever oppoſed it; yet ſo, that in his Baſilicon doron & at divers other occaſions he gave luculent Teſtimonies to many Presbyterian Divines of his own acquaintance, preferring them for grace and honeſty before all thoſe whom he could make willing to accept of Biſhopricks.

The beſt Princes are not void of Errours, the greateſt miſtake of this wiſe Prince was in his too great affection towards Epiſcopacy, p. 23the Presbyterian Nobles and Divines in Scotland ſet him in his Infancy upon his Throne, when his life and Crown without their cordiall aſſiſtance was given by all men for gone; in all his great feares from Spaine, or any where elſe at home or abroad, ſo long as he remained in Scotland, his recourſe was only to them, and notwithſtanding of the very hard meaſure which oft they had received and ſtill feared from him, yet did they never faile to ſupport him in his need, neither ever had they any difference with him but that which flowed from the unhappy fountaine in hand. Had it been the will of God, that this, otherwiſe very wiſe Prince, at his firſt comming into England had caſt over the hedge of that Church, the evill weed of Biſhops and their Ceremonies, he had certainly procured much greater peace to his own minde, and in all probability prevented the huge miſchiefes which from this neglect above all other cauſes doe this day overwhelme his houſe and all his Kingdomes.

What here you ſubjoyn to prove the pride of the Presbytery and the ſtate it kept with King Iames, is an ill conceived bob; Page 7, 8. No Presbytery did ever keep any ſtate with the King.when the Prince was pleaſed to honour them with a Meſſage, was it not better manners and greater civility for them to returne an anſwer by ſome of their owne number, then by his Majeſties owne Meſſengers; had they ſent their mindes otherwiſe, how much more would the Prelatick Courtiers have cryed out upon their ſaucineſſe and pedantick Ruſticity.

The next Tale you tell us is, The Presbytery is very tender of the fame of all perſons, though the Magiſtrate puniſh ſtrumpets.of the Presbyteries ſeverity and unjuſtice in bringing ſhame upon many yong women on groundleſſe ſuſpicions, of putting them in priſon till they confeſſe their ſecret ſins, in forcing them to clear themſelves by oathes in the Congregation, of needleſſe jealouſies: This tale is delated with many odious circumſtances; but conſider firſt that you ſhoot your Arrowes at the wrong Butt: You may remember the Claſſicall Presbytery uſes not to meddle with any ſuch matters; its true, the Congregationall Elderſhip by clear Divine Right, and conſent of all differing parties, take notice of the manners of the whole flocke, if pregnant preſumptions of fornication be delated to the Elderſhip by any Officer, they will ſend to admoniſh the parties deferred, but firſt in private with all diſcretion and tenderneſſe; if ſecret admonitions be contemned, and perſons willfully p. 24will continue in a ſcandalous behaviour, then will they call them before the Elderſhip, and after earneſt requeſt, if nothing elſe can do it, will at laſt ordaine them to eſchew converſing together in private and ſuſpect places: but for calling of any before the Elderſhip upon light preſumptions, for priſons, for feeding with bread and water, for troubling of families, its but a Prelatical calumny. This indeed is true, ſome known whores and ſtrumpets when they have brought forth children in fornication, and refuſe abſolutely to name the Father, or when they give up ſuch men as all know to be innocent; the Magiſtrate will put them in priſon for ſome time: and if a flagrant ſcandall of fornication ariſe upon perſons who deſire themſelves to be cleered, they will be admitted to purge themſelves by their oath in the Elderſhip or in the Congregation as the flagrancy of the Scandal, or the parties themſelves do require, but what is all this to theſe odious fables here related? it ſeems you were angry at another matter, which I will here ſpeak out for you.

Scotland however ſubject to many ſins, It does not curiously inquire in ſecret faults but knowne crimes it doth not paſſe by.yet I dare ſay is much more free of fornications and adulteries among people of any faſhion, then any Nation I know or have heard of, this makes the converſation of perſons there to be free and without all ſu…picion except on very good ground; but if ſuch crimes be clear, there is no ſparing of any perſon of what ever quality, all are called to an account; that is the matter which ſeems to burn you: Your boſome companion Mr. Menteth having deboſhed a prime Lady in his flock, when no ſecret advertiſement could break off that wickedneſſe, though a child or two were brought forth, the honourable friends of the Knight who was wronged, could keep no longer patience, but did openly crave juſtice, whereby Menteth was caſt out of the Church and Kingdome, and the Adultereſſe di…ced from her Husband; at this and the like procedure you are grieved, your meekneſſe would have all ſuch abominations covered, and remedied only by Auricular confeſſion. That this Epi…copa l indulgence flowes from no merciful diſpoſition, it app ars well by their ordinary rigour, preſſing the moſt gracious Miniſter and others, for the ſmal…eſt oppoſition to any of their Traditions, with their Oaths ex Officio, and caſting them upon their meere pleaſure into the cloſeſt priſons and greateſt afflictions; well may the malevolence of Enemies p. 25declame againſt the ſeverity of Presbyteries and paint them out as moſt cruell and intollerable inquiſitions; but beleeve it they that know and have ſeen them either in France, Holland, or Scotland, can aſſure that the fault if any be, fals upon the other hand of too great indulgence; no man is called before them but for a notorious fault, perſons of any tollerable civility or circumſpection, uſe not to be called all their life time to any account of their behaviour; if the Presbytery were able to give ſo ſatisfactory an anſwer for its to great meekneſſe unto the Sectaries challenge, as it can to the Prelates for its too great ſtrictneſſe, I ſhould be very glad.

What is ſubjoynd of the Presbyteries medling with Trade and commerce, of diſchargeing men to perſue for their debts, Page 9, 10. The Presbyteries meddle not with matters of trade or debt.and Landlords to ſue for their Rents, are ſtories ſo true, as the father of lies is wont to dite to his obedient children: Poſſibly in the eighty eight yeare of God when the Spaniards were comming to deſtroy the Land, ſome godly perſons had diſſwaded their Neighbours, to carry victuals to Spaine at that time; and ſome men may have had ſcruple of conſcience for ſending of waxe, and furniſhing of immediate materials for Idolatry; I beleeve alſo that gracious Miniſters have given private counſel to rigorous exacters of their Rents, and unmercifull perſuers of their debts; But that ever any Presbytery in Scotland did take cognizance of any ſuch matters to the uttermoſt of my beſt knowledge, is an Epiſcopall, that is a manifeſt and malicious untruth.

The ſame I ſay of your next ſtory; They never took upon them to change a Market day.the Munday markets in ſome chiefe Towns were an evident occaſion of prophaning the Lords holy Sabbath; this to all the godly was a matter of griefe; both particular perſons, and whole Presbyteries have oft regrated it, and offered their Petitions to the Councel and Parliament for the remedying thereof; but that they ever of themſelves did attempt to make any change of Market dayes, it is ſo falſe as any thing can be; you our Prelates as you were taught by your Fathers in England were alwaies paſſionately deſirous to have Sunday counted no Sabbath, both by your doctrine and example, you laboured to ſeduce the people to prophane that day with all kinde of publike paſtimes, all ſtrictneſſe about the Sabbath you cryed downe, as Puritanick Iudaiſme, ſo long as your p. 26Kingdome ſtood, this evill was remedileſſe; but ſo ſoon as we got your chaires and thrones as you call them overturned, the firſt Generall Aſſembly thereafter made it one of their chiefe cares to cauſe draw a humble petition to the next enſuing Parliament for tranſlating of the Markets of the cheife Burroughs from Munday to Wedneſday: The Parliament being purged of Epiſcopall, Popiſh and Malignant Members, who oft before had obſtructed this gracious worke, unanimouſly did agree to the Petition; ſo that now, bleſſed be God, with the good liking of all, and to the prejudice of none, theſe market dayes are changed.

What follows of the Presbyteries violent tranſporting of Miniſters from better places to worſe at the pleaſure of Noblemen, Nor to tranſport Miniſters at any mans pleaſure.I have known this done by Biſhops and their High Commiſſion, (for no men ever in Scotland did ſo much flatter the Nobles and aſſiſt them, if they were reſolved to oppreſſe a Miniſter, as the Prelates) but while the Presbyteriall government had any vigour, that every man was in this faſhion tranſported, I take it to be exceeding falſe; for by the Laws and practiſe of the Presbyrery, diſgracefull Tranſportations are of ſo great difficulty, that ſince the Biſhops were caſt out from among us, I did never hear of any; for no man with us can be put from a better place to a worſe but for a fault, which as it puts him from one place, ſo readily it will keep him from all others.

The knaviſh example he brings of this practiſe in the Presbytery of Couper, They …ever did dilapidate any benefice.I take it to be a meer Epiſcopall invention, no man with whom I have conferred ever heard of any ſuch matter; Spotswood the fountaine of his fables is here mute, I am confirmed in this opinion by that which he makes the maine ſcope of the tale, the Presbyteries conſent to the dilapidation of a Perſonage; ſuch an action is ſo farre contrary to the rules of all our Presbyteries, and to any practiſe that ever I heard, that it makes me take all the reſt but for a tale of Robin Hood. The Biſhops indeed when they profeſſed their greateſt zeale to recover all the Church rents out of the hand of the Laity, were found to be but too ready to dilapidate unto Noblemen and others too much of the remnant of the Churches patrimony; your ſelfe may remember what bargaine you made as I thinke with the Earle of Seaforth, which you know was the firſt occaſion p. 27of diminiſhing your reputation with your great Patron Land of Canterbury: I am ſure your Colleague Spotſwood did ſell the whole Abacy of Killwinning to the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Cuningham, to the great prejudice and griefe of the Univerſity of Glaſgow, and the Miniſters of the bounds who had great intereſt therein.

At the Parliament of Lithgow 1606. our good Biſhops for their owne baſe ends did conſent in the name of the Church, though they had never ſo much as conſulted here in that buſineſſe, to the greateſt dilapidation that ever was heard of in Scotland, the impropriation to Noblemen and Gentlemen at one time, of no fewer then ſixteen Abbacies, every one whereof had incorporate the rents of a number of Pariſh Churches. Too many pranks of this kinde have been plaid by the Prelates and Clergy men of their way, but that ever any Presbytery was guilty of ſuch ſacrilegious tricks, it will never as I imagine be proved.

What you ſpeake of a Gentlemans confeſſion in Teſtament of his griefe, for deceiving good Miniſters, is to no purpoſe; Page 12. Nor favour Gentlemen in their wickedneſſe.did not Hypocrites deceive the Apoſtles? but that Miniſters did keep him from Church cenſures for his knowne uncleanneſſe, you know there is no reaſon to beleeve you upon your bare word; the Gentlemans hypocriſie was but ſmall, if his villanies were ſo open that juſtly he could be challenged for them.

For your laſt imputation I know that feuds in Scotland were frequent and lamentable; They never did countenance any feud; all theſe were the Prelates crimes.alſo that King Iames labours in ſuppreſſing them were happy and ſucceſſefull; but that any Presbytery did ever entertain them, its a lye ſo groſſe that for all your Cretian Art, you are not able to bring ſo much as the colour of on inſtance to prove it. I finde in Spotswood, Letters of King Iames to Presbyteries and Synods for their aſſiſtance in that gracious work; and it is certaine that all the Kings in Chriſtendome had never been able to have aboliſhed theſe feuds without the helpe of the Miniſtry. Can you tell me of any Biſhop that either did endeavour or had ſuch power in the heart of any people, as to promove that work one haires breadth? I know that the chiefe Biſhops for all their open fauning, were yet ever eſteemed ſo great haters of the Nobility and prime Gentry, that they did little regard how many of them periſhed; p. 28your ſelfe I think knowes that in the feud betwixt the Grahams and the Sandilands, none was a better ſwordman, then your Metropolitan Spotswood.

Your laſt Paragraph is but a recapitulation of theſe things which I hope I have demonſtrate to be cleer untruths.

Your next head is of Provinciall Synods; Page 13. Prelaticall principles take away the very being of Elderſhips and Aſsemblies.upon theſe you are briefe, and yet might have ſpared much of that you bring; for the moſt hath no more relation to Provinciall Synods, then to any other Church meeting. In the beginning you make the Provinciall Synod to be an apiſh imitation of an ancient Provinciall Councell, conſiſting of the Metropolitan and his ſuffragane Biſhops, intimating hereby what elſewhere you have publiſhed, and in your declinator of the Aſſembly at Glaſgow ſubſcribed, That the very conſtitution of all our Synods is vitious, as conſiſting of Members whom reaſon and Antiquity does exclude; all Iuriſdiction belongs to Biſhops, a preaching Presbyter has no more to do with it then a ruling Presbyter, without an Epiſcopall commiſſion; by vertue hereof a man of any coat, may ſit and voice in a Synod; without this none but Biſhops themſelves may have place there.

That which you make the politick ſtratagem of the Gamaliels as you call them of our Land, Presbytetians would not uſe wicks to cor…upt the Aſſembly; there…ore Biſhops were ſe…p to ….is nothing but that which in all ſocieties Eccleſiaſtick and civill, nature makes neceſſary: in every multitude ſome men by their gifts and diligence will fall to be leading; but that the moſt leading men among us, had ever any authority to command the weakeſt of their Brethren, you dare not alledge it, though every Prelate by vertue of his office pretend to a power of commanding all his Clergy. That the moſt eminent men among us could ever carry an Aſſembly after them, farther then their reaſon did perſwade the minds of their Brethren, it is very untrue.

How little able Noblemen have been to ſway the Votes of a Synod to their owne deſires, you and your Brethren know as well as any others: for the difficulty and impoſſibility of this practiſe was the maine ground whereupon your Antichriſtian order behoved to be brought back again from Rome to Scotland: When King Iames by many experiments, had found that neither himſelfe nor all the Noblemen of the Land were able either by Art, or allurements, or terrors to ſway the Aſſemblies p. 29of the Church to their owne appetites, the reſolution was taken to deſtroy theſe meetings, to overturne their orders, to ſpoile them of their power, to put all in the hand of Biſhops upon this confidence, wherein they were not deceived, that although they had found it impoſſible to make the multitude of the Miniſters ſo long as their Aſſemblies injoyed their old and juſt priviledges, obſequious to the will of the Court; Yet if once that order of Synods were overturned, and their power ſetled in the Biſhops hands, it would be an eaſie matter to make the whole Clergy very tractable and obnoxious. What therefore here you object of the Synods ſerving the luſts of great men, was neither true nor poſſible, ſo long as the Presbyteriall government ſtood intire; but ſo ſoon as that was overthrowne and changed into Epiſcopacy, that game was gained. We never knew any Biſhop oppoſe himſelf in any thing to the Court, nor to the deſires of any Nobleman how unreaſonable ſo ever, if the Court was for him.

What here you ſubjoyn of the great honour deferred to ſome of the Miniſtry, Page 14. Miniſters generally were ever and ſtill are more honoured in Scotland then any where elſe.however your exaggerations be invidious and Satyricall, yet we are not aſhamed to profeſſe that no where in the World, the Nobility and Gentry carry greater reſpect to Miniſters then in Scotland. The Biſhops did much envy this; for how ever the King and Courtiers did countenance them, yet the whole Country where ever they went, did juſtly deſpiſe them: but the Miniſters, thoſe eſpecially who with any zeale did oppoſe their evill courſes, were alwayes by the greateſt of the Land before their faces highly honoured. It is true, Miniſters of the Epiſcopall cut were no more prized then their Maſters; but this I may affirme that the pooreſt and weakeſt Miniſter of what ever ſide, was ever more honoured by the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland then by the beſt of the Biſhops, even thoſe who made it their glory to be the Patrons of poor Miniſters againſt the Nobilities oppreſſion. Though our Scottiſh Biſhops were not come to the height of the Engliſh Prelates grandour; and the pooreſt of the Scots Miniſters that ever I knew, were of a much better faſhion then many hundreds of the Engliſh Curates and Prieſts; yet I have often ſeen the meaneſt of the Scottiſh preachers get more reſpect from the prime Earles of that Land, then the chiefe and beſt deſerving p. 30Miniſters could have from their ordinary Biſhops, either within their private walls or in the face of their Provinciall meetings. So what you object of the contempt of the Miniſters in Scotland, if it be underſtood from their Brethren or from the Nobility or Gentry, it is very falſe; but if from you and your Colleagues it was too too viſible.

Your next Storie concernes Mr. Robert Bruce Miniſter of Edinburgh, P. 15, 16, 17. Mr. Robert Bruce vindicated.a gracious and Heroick Divine as Scotland ever bred. Though the quarrell of Epiſcopacy did at laſt alter King Iames countenance towards him, yet all the Biſhops of the three Kingdomes had never ſo much reſpect from that Prince as this man. What you ſpeak of his great attendance, is either a very ignorant, or a very malicious miſtake; neither he nor any Miniſter of Scotland, though nobly borne and of good Eſtates, uſed ever to be attended by any more ſervants then one at moſt, but in their journeying to Presbyteries, Synods or Viſitations, the Noblemen and Gentlemen members of theſe meetings, were alwaies glad of the Miniſters company, and when their way fell to be one, they were wont to travell together; doth it from hence follow, that the Noblemen and all the Gentlemen of their Traine, were the Miniſters attendants?

The long relation you make of King Iames conference with Mr. Bruce anent the Earle of Huntly, you take it out of the ſtory of Spotswood, who at firſt was a domeſtick ſervant but therafter a great unfriend to Mr. Bruce; The tale of your Author you doe much enlarge, and adde unto it many circumſtances whereof you have no warrant; the matter as I gather it, out of your owne Author was thus. The Earle of Huntly all his life time was the head of the Popiſh faction in Scotland, he was oft excommunicate, and oft he gave ſatisfaction to the Church, abjuring his Popery, and joyning to our Church, but alwaies he plaid the Hypocrite or Apoſtate; when the Catholique league was firſt framed in France, betwixt the Pope, King Philip of Spaine and the Guizians for the rooting out of all Proteſtants, this man made himſelfe quickly of that party: When in the eighty eight the Spaniſh Armada came to conquer this whole Iſle, no man was ſo ready as he with his whole ſtrength to have joyned with them, when after the miſcarriage of that Navy, the enterpriſe was renued, divers times he ſent his Meſſengers p. 31to the Prince of Parme at Bruſſels, and to Philip at Madrid, aſſuring his readineſſe to concurre for the deſtruction of Queene Elizabeth and all the Proteſtants in the Iſle; though all theſe horrible Treaſons were proved under his owne hand, and acknowledged, and all were pardoned, yet nothing could amend his evill nature, he was ſtill ſound plotting the delivery of the Iſle, into the Spaniards hands; and when all hope of forraigne invaſion was paſt, yet he could not give over, but was proved to have new plots upon the Kings perſon, for making of him priſoner, and killing before his face Chancellor Maitland, his prime and beſt Counſellour: This alſo was pardoned, notwithſtanding he remained the ſame man, and quickly thereafter in the ſight of the Court, and all the Town of Edinburgh, he burnt the Earle of Murrays houſe above his head, (Murray was a prime Noble man of the Land, the Kings neer Kinſman, the heire of the good Regent, the beſt Governour that any King of Scotland did ever injoy) this man did Huntly kill without any cauſe at all, but his owne meere envy and malice; for theſe crimes he was againe excommunicate; the Earle of Argile at the Kings intreaty and direction perſued him with an Army of ten thouſand men; many hundreds of theſe good ſubjects were killed by that Rebell, when after Argiles deſeat, the King himſelfe with his prime Nobles went out againſt him, he with diſplayed banner went to the fields againſt the King; all this Spotſwood reports at length. Let any conſcientious man here be judge, King Iames for his owne reſpects requires a conſcientious Miniſter to conſent and concurre with him, to obtain from the next enſuing Aſſembly, the abſolution of ſuch a man from the cenſure of Excommunication, for this was the main queſtion; the honeſt Miniſter could not be perſwaded to conſent unto the relaxation of ſuch a bloody obſtinate Apoſtate, confeſſed by all to be ſtill imponitent, from the cenſures either of Church or State: As for the inconveniences, his Majeſty did alledge the dangers from the Papiſts of England, if Huntly and the Popiſh party in Scotland were too much irritate; was it any great crime for Mr. Bruce to differ in this from his Majeſty, and to tell him plainly that which was the opinion of all the good Miniſters of Scotland, though the ground of the Kings quarrell with them, That it would prove his beſt policy to make faſt p. 32with the Proteſtant party of England and over-ſea, renouncing all correſpondency either with Papiſts or Prelates, that if he walked upon this ground, God and his right would carry him through all, both ſeen and imagined difficulties? The world long agoe is ſatisfied with the wiſedome of this advice; for it was quickly found that too much connivence and compliance with Papiſts, did bring that Prince upon the very brinke of ruine; for the Popiſh party of England finding themſelves diſappointed of their great hopes did run to the deſperate attempts of the Powder-plot and other Treaſons: Alſo the keeping up of the Biſhops was a great cauſe of all the miſchiefes which ſince that time to this day have fallen either upon our Church or State; It is true, the words you aſcribe to Mr. Bruce are very unmannerly; but who will beleeve that ever any ſuch phraſes proceeded from the mouth of ſo grave and wiſe a man? your only Author is Spotſwood, His teſtimony in this caſe ought not to be truſted; but if you will looke to the matter of Mr. Bruce his counſell, I ſubject it to the touchſtone of the ſevereſt cenſurers.

Upon the fourth head of Generall Aſſemblies, Page 18, 19, 20, 21. The reaſon of the Authors malice againſt the generall Aſsembly.you ſpew out the whole remnant of your gall; the wrath of a child does kindle againſt the whip that ſcourges him; I will not remember you of the dogs ſnarling at the ſtone that hath hit him: The Generall Aſſembly for juſt cauſes did chaſtiſe you with their ſharpeſt rod of Excommunication, they did deliver you into the hands of the Father of lyes and Blaſphemies; if there were no more then what here you write, it is a demonſtration that the ſentence of that Reverend Aſſembly againſt you is ratified in heaven, and that God in his juſtice according to the word of his faithfull ſervant, hath delivered your obſtinate ſoule to be acted by that evill ſpirit? who elſe could move you to blaſpheme the crowne of Chriſt, and the holy One of Iſrael by name, and to make the holy Scriptures the ordinary channell through which your profane girds at the Generall Aſſembly muſt run: What you bring, the moſt of it is ſo impertinent, and ſo remote from all relation to any Aſſembly, and ſet downe in ſuch confuſion, that the very effects, though the cauſe were not knowne, may evidence the diſtraction of your Spirit. I ſhall handle the fieryeſt of your darts as they come from your furious hands.

p. 33You make us to aſcribe to our General Aſſembly, Falſe and rayling ſlanders againſt the generall Aſſembly.a juriſdiction univerſall and infallible, you will have it to meddle with all affaires both Spirituall and Temporall, you would make the world beleeve that all diſobedience thereto is cenſured with excommunication, and that it commands the King to puniſh i… eſtate, body and life all who diſobey; otherwiſe that it cauſes the King himſelfe to be dethroned and killed, this often you repeat; moreover you call this Aſſembly an untamed furious Beaſt, you adviſe the King much rather to ſubmit himſelf to the Pope then to be in the reverence therof; what ſpirit makes you break out into ſuch diſcourſes, your ſelfe will ſee, if ever God give you repentance; however it is evident, that lyes and malice do here ſtrive which ſhall predominate.

The Generall Aſſembly in Scotland hath no more power then what the Parliaments ſince the firſt Reformation have heartily allowed unto them, they meddle with no temporall caſe at all; It exerciſes no power but what the King and the Laws authorize.and all the ſpirituall caſes which to this day they have touched, may be reduced to a few heads: That every diſobedience brings with it Excommunication, is a wide ſlander, we doe not excommunicate but for a grievous tranſgreſſion joyned with extraordinary obſtinacy; This cenſure is ſo rare with us, that a man may live long and before his death never be witneſſe to it. What civil puniſhment the State in their wiſedome findes meet to impoſe on a perſon who contemnes the Ordinances of God, let themſelves be anſwerable: But that the Aſſembly medles with any mans life or goods, is like the reſt of your Aſſertions, and yet no more falſe then the other lye you have here. That ever any Aſſembly of the reformed Churches upon the higheſt provocations did take it ſo much as in debate to excommunicate, much leſſe to dethrone any King, its moſt falſe; but the Spirit that leads you muſt be permitted to breath out his naturall aire, and to lye according to his very ancient cuſtome.

You object it once and againe that the Commiſſioners of Burroughs and Univerſities are received as Members in our generall Aſſemblies; behold the greatneſſe of this crime, The Commiſſioners of Burroughs and Vniverſities are all Elders.out of every Claſſicall Presbytery we allow one ruling Elder, to goe as Commiſſioner to that Nationall meeting, and if there be a royall Burgh within the bounds, we allow two, and three if there be an Univerſity: What would you ſay to the Parliament of p. 34England who appoints foure ruling Elders out of every Claſſis, to accompany two Miniſters to the Aſſembly, though there be neither Burrough not Univerſity in the bounds? of this we are carefull, that whoever comes either from Cities or Univerſities, be not only ruling Elders, but alſo have an expreſſe approbation from the Elderſhip.

What you ſpeak of the Kings preſence in our Aſſemblies: We aſcribe to the King ſo much power in the Aſſemblies as the Lawes allow, albeit not ſuch a Tyranny as Prelats would flatter him into.it is true, it was ever our wiſh, and oft our happineſſe to have the King or his Commiſſioner amongſt us at theſe meetings, we never did diſpute their capacity; no more was craved then the place of a civil Preſident, and this no man did ever deny either to him or them, nor a power to propound what ever they thought expedient; but ſome of your flattering Prelates doe aſcribe to the Prince a power which neither we nor our Laws may owne. You give him a power to call ſo many as he will, without all Commiſſion from any Church, to voice in all Aſſemblies, and by the multitude of their voices to carry all: You give him alſo a power to hinder the Aſſembly to debate any matter which he miſlikes, were it never ſo neceſſary for the very being of the Church: You give him a Negative Vote to ſtop any concluſion, were it never ſo conſonant to the Word of God; yea, an affirmative Vote to carry all things in the Aſſembly, abſolutely according to his owne minde, The Aſſembly being but his Arbitrary Court in things ſpirituall, by whoſe advice the Prince who is the ſupream judge in all cauſes does determine as he findes it expedient; ſometimes according, ſometimes contrary to their judgement. Such a power, no ordinary either Eraſtian or Prelate will willingly grant to any Prince upon earth; but this was one of the late Canterburian extravagancies, wherein your ſingular zeale did much help you to your Biſhoprick.

What you adde of our preſſing the King to execute all our Acts under the paine of Excommunication, we have oft told you it is a great untruth; for all Scotland knowes that the furtheſt we went ever with any Prince in our Aſſembly Acts, was, humbly to ſupplicate for their civill Sanction; i… we obtain it, we bleſſe God and them; if we cannot by any prayers perſwade, we ſit down in grief and wait patiently upon their good pleaſure.

Our taking in of all things temporall upon ſome ſpirituall p. 35relation, The Aſſembly alters no Laws, but only ſupplicates the King and Parliament to alter ſuch …aws as confirm evident errors,and forcing the King to change his Laws though never ſo prejudiciall to the State, your report in this will be beleeved, when you have gotten grace to forſake in ſome meaſure the Spirit that now leads you. The matter here you aime at, but keeps it in the clouds is the proceeding of the Aſſembly at Glaſgow againſt your offices and perſons. According to the Lawes of Popi… times, The Biſhops were Lords of Parliament, of Councell, of Exchequer, of Seſſion: The Aſſembly did finde all this contrary to the Word of God and therefore did diſcharge under the paine of the cenſures of the Church, any Miniſter of the Word, to take upon him theſe civill imployments; I hope the hindering of perſons meerly Eccleſiaſtick to drowne themſelves in a ſea of temporall affaires, is not to take cogniſance of all things temporall, in ordine ad ſpiritualia. The Aſſembly did ſupplicate the King and Parliament for the abolition of the Popiſh and corrupt Lawes which did countenance the ambition of the Clergy; the Parliament finding the Aſſemblies ſupplication juſt, joyned with them to deale with the King to paſſe it, his Majeſty for a time miſled by the flattery of Prelates refuſed; but at laſt ſeeing the earneſtneſſe and cleer equity of the Aſſembly and Parliament their deſires, he was perſwaded to conſent to theſe Acts, wherein all Churchmen are forbidden to take upon them civill places. This is it that you call the forcing of the King and Parliament to change the Laws for the great trouble of the State; this is all the Aſſemblies tyranizing over the King and Parliament, a meer ſupplication to alter Popiſh and corrupt Lawes, which both the King and the State, after a little debate did finde neceſſary to be done.

To the abſurdities which you call monſtrouſly groſſe, Your oftrepeated quarrell againſt ruling E…ders is abſurd.p. 21.22. we have ſpoken already, you are impatient that any ruling Elder, that any Commiſſioner from Burroughs or Vniverſities ſhould voice in Church. Aſſemblies; your expreſſe reaſon is becauſe concilium eſt Epiſcoporum; ſee the mans abſurdity, no Miniſter more then a ruling Elder muſt voice at any Aſſembly; the deciſive voice there belongs only to Biſhops; yet any Lay men veſted with the Biſhops commiſſion, may very lawfully exerciſe all Eccleſiaſticall jurisdiction over the whole Clergy of the Dioceſſe; neither is there any Gentleman of the Shire, not any Burgeſſe of the City, nor any Student in the Vniverſity to p. 36whom a Prelate can purchaſe a Letter from the King, but he may ſit and voice deciſively in all ſpirituall cauſes as a conſtituent Member of the Generall Aſſembly as well as the Biſhop himſelf; this is the doctrine and was the practiſe of our Prelates in Scotland.

You are angry p. 22. Page 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. The Aſsembly and Parliament with us, uſe not to differ.that the acts of our Aſſemblies ſhould get ſo ready obedience, but the matters themſelves are ſo clear, that none uſes to refuſe them, and it is the Law of the kingdome that the Aſſemblies determination in matters proper to its cogniſance ſhould be obeyed; if any thing new be acted, which requires a civill ſanction, the Commiſſioners of the Aſſembly ſupplicate the next enſuing Parliament for their ratification, which for common is eaſily obtained, the cleer equity of the matter purchaſes a ready grant. If there happen to be cauſe why the Parliament ſhould not be ſatisfied, the Aſlembly by their reaſons is perſwaded to be of the Parliaments minde; no ſuch unanimous Courts in the Univerſe, as the Parliament and Generall Aſſembly of Scotland, they never had any difference, but what bad Courtiers and Prelates procured for their owne intereſts: put theſe peſts of the Church and State to a corner, the King, Parliament and Aſſembly ſhall never differ, but alwayes concurre for the ſtrengthening and comforting one another.

From your 22. page to 31. Your invectives againſt our firſt Reformation are wicked.you heap together what ever extream malice can invent, to bring diſgrace upon the firſt and cheife reſormers of Religion from Popery; you openly avow your diſlike of the firſt Reformation in Scotland, you are not aſhamed to proclaim all the Reformation both of Scotland, France, Holland, and Germany, and whereſoever the work was not done by the hand of the Soveraign Prince, to have been Sedition and Rebellion.

The firſt thing you undertake to prove, is, That we give our Aſſemblies power to depoſe and kill Kings; The Vindication of Iohn Kno…, and the firſt Reformers of Scotland, from baſe calumnies.for this you alledge Martin mar Prelate, whoyet ſays no ſuch thing, and though hedid what is that to us? then you cite a number of paſſages out of Iohn Knox his writings; but is it juſt that John Knox Aſſertions, long before any Aſſemblies were in Scotland, ſhould be laid to their charge? But what may thoſe abſurd aſſerions of Iohn Knox be? he ſayes as you alledge, that the Nobility of Scotland who are borne Counſellours of the Kingdom, and by the Laws p. 37have great priviledges may repreſſe the fury and madneſſe of a miſled Prince; I grant this to you muſt be a great Hereſie who makes it one of the Articles of your faith, that though Princes were as mad as ever Nero, and ſhould openly avow their deſires to overturn all the ſworn Lawes of their State, and to kill without any cauſe all their Subjects, yet for the Nobility or whole States of Parliament to make the ſmalleſt oppoſition or to goe one haires breadth beyond a naked ſupplication were no leſſe then a damnable Rebellion and Treaſon; but beleeve it, the ſubjects of Scotland will not take off your hand ſuch maximes, without ſome Argument for their truth.

Iohn Knox is alledged to ſay that the Commonalty may bridle the cruell beaſts and reſorme Religion, but what does it concerne the generall Aſſembly whatever power the Lords or Commons have by the Law, or uſurpe againſt the Law? The matter whereof Iohn Knox is ſpeaking is this, The body of Scotland in the yeare 1557. were true and zealous Proteſtants, the Maſſe and Images were to them Idols: long before the governour and protector of the Kingdom Duke Hamilton was for the Religion, At his firſt Parliament he did authorize ſome good beginnings of Reformation, the Cardinall and Clergy at this grew mad, and found means to tranſlate the government from the Duke to the Queens Mother, ſiſter to the Duke of Guize, and Cardinall of Lorain; in the time both of the Duke and Queen Mothers Regency, the cruelty of the Biſhops was unſufferable. They took divers of the moſt zealous Preachers and Profeſſors, men and women, and publikely without any Commiſſion from the Magiſtrate, onelyonly for their zeale to the truth of God, did burne them quick as Hereticks: After many yeers patience, the people at laſt ſeeing no end of the Prelates fury, did cauſe write Letters to ſome of their moſt wicked perſecutors, telling them that if they gave not over to murther their Brethren, themſelves ſhould taſte of that Cup, of which they forced others to drink. All the Reformation which the people at that time practiſed, was to keep themſelves pure from moſt vile Idolatry, and in private to heare the Word of God purely preached: They made no publike Reformation till firſt they had openly ſupplicated the Queen and gotten her allowance, and a promiſe of an Act of Parliament in the yeare 1558. which p. 38promiſe when the Proteſtant Nobility, Gentry and Commons did preſſe in face of Parliament, it was not denyed by the Queen, but cunningly put off, upon aſſurance that all their deſires at the firſt conveniency ſhould be granted: in the meane time ſhe received their Proteſtation for a Liberty to live in their reformed Churches ſeparate from Popiſh Idolaters, and promiſed in due time to give to the Proteſters full ſatisfaction. Though you have brought together all the malicious a perſions which your predeceſtors the Popiſh Prelates and Prieſts were wont at theſe very times to heap upon the heads of our bleſſed Reformers; yet ſhall you never be able to leave any ſtain upon that happy work, though here and elſewhere you ſpue out your diſpight againſt it.

The Reformation of Scotland was begun by publique Authority in the firſt Parliament of Queen Mary, the yeare 1542. holden by the Governour the Earle of Arran a Proteſtant for the time; the ſetting up of it in publique was avowed, and proteſted for in face of Parliament 1558. with the Queen Regents evident allowance, and without the oppoſition of any; but in the next Pa…liament 1560. the whole Eſtates without the contradiction of any, but three Popiſh Lords, did ſet up by Law the whole body of that Religion, which ſince by Gods mercy we have ever peaceably poſſeſſed, except ſo farre as wicked Prelates have troubled us.

It is true, The ſuſpenſion of the Queene Regen…s authority was an act of the State which did nothing I rejudice the Soveraignty.that Queen Regent notwithſtanding of her good countenance and faire promiſes, was forced by the privy Inſtructions of her wicked Brethren, Guize and the Cardinall of Loraine, to oppoſe Reformation; wherein fore againſt her own minde, as at her death ſhee profeſſed, ſhee went ſo farre as to bring in many thouſands of the French to conquer and ſubdue the Land. They began to the terror of the whole Iſle, to fortifie Leith, and other Maritime places; they exerciſed an evident tyranny both in Church and State, and overthrew the Laws and liberties of the Nation, which forced the cheiſe of the Nobility for the caſting off of this yoak of ſtavery from the Church and State, and preventing the danger which threatned the whole Iſle to enter in a covenant of defence both among themſelvs and with the Queen of England, but without the leaſt prejudice to the juſt authority of their Soveraign then Queen of France, as it after appeared: for when by the bleſſing of God and the helpe p. 39of the Engliſh, they had ejected the French uſurpers, they did heartily receive and obey the Queen ſo ſoon as ſhe came from France. For the juſtification of all this I could bring formall teſtimonies out of Spotswood himſelfe.

What you ſay of the depoſition of Queen Regent from her Authority, it is falſe that any Church Aſſembly did ever meddle with it leſſe or more; it was the Act of the three Eſtates; how juſt let any judge. She was the firſt woman as I remember that ever in Britain had the government of the State; it belonged not to her by any right, the Lawes provided that charge for Duke Hamilton; but ſhe and the Prelates couzend him out of his right and long poſſeſſion; ſhe became not only a violent perſecuter of all the faithful againſt the Law and her own promiſes but alſo went about evidently by violence and force of Arms to ſubdue the land to the tyranny of ſtrangers: much of this ſhee did, albeit at the direction of her Brethren of Loraine, yet without all commiſſion from our Soveraigne her daughter. When no ſupplication nor remonſtrance could ſtop her, the Eſtates of the Land being all denounced Rebels, and Traitors by her, did paſſe an Act not for depriving her of her Regency, but for the ſuſpending of her Authority till the next Parliament; or till ſhee altered the courſe of her tyrannous government with an expreſſe proteſtation that the authority and power of the King and Queen of France their Soveraignes ſhould remain to them ſacred and inviolable.

This act of the Statewhether right or wrong, what does it concerne the generall Aſſembly of the Church? be it ſo that a Miniſter or two being called for advice, did give their aſſent to this action which is the furtheſt our Enemies alledge, yet what hath this to doe with our Church government? it ſeems the conſcience of the Queen did approve of this ſentence againſt her; for ſhe did much repent of all thoſe actions which did procure it, as ſhe did evidence in that conference which a little before her death ſhe required and did obtain with the prime Proteſtant Nobles, and the Miniſter Mr. Willocks, whoſe hand in her ſuſpenſion was alledged to be chiefe.The Presbyterians have often ſupported but never hurt …oyalty.

That abominable calumny which continually you fall upon, as if our doctrine did tend to the killing of Kings, demonſtrates the ſuperfluity of your naughty malice, whereby your fellowes p. 40and you above any one, were wont to poiſon the eares and heart of the King, while you were about him, till at laſt you did precipitate him in theſe dangers that very readily might have taken away from him both his life and his crowne. I deſire to know of you who charges us with this abominable crime of deſtroying Kings who were the men that ſaved the life and authority of King Iames ſo long as he was in Scotland? and who be theſe who have preſerved King Charles from utter ruine, wherein your wicked companions and your ſelfe with the firſt, by your pernicious wayes did caſt him, and would hold him ſtill therein, if you might be heard? Did either of theſe Kings in the daies of their danger have their recourſe to any but to Presbyterians, or was any other party either able or willing to preſerve them?

What you ſpeak of Mr. Knox preaching for the pulling down of Churches, Knox did never preach for the pulling down of any Church.is like the reſt of your lies, he did indeed oft times preach downe the worſhiping of Images, and the idle bellies of the prophane Monks: one day after his Sermon the people in Perth being ſtirred by the injurious violence of an idolatrous Prieſt, did pull downe the Images which daily were worſhipped, and from that action did run to the caſting down of two or three dens of Friers, which your Orthodox pen ſtiles religious houſes; but that Mr. Knox or any Preacher was the Author of theſe actions, it is ſo falſe that the day thereafter when the Biſhop of Murrays ſon by his miſchievous inſolency had provoked the people againſt the Monaſtery of Scoon, Iohn Knox in perſon with all the Nobility he could perſwade went out to ſave thoſe irreligious walls to his power from all violence. Some few Monaſteries and two or three Cathedrall Churches, were caſt down by the idle provocations of ſome Popiſh Prieſts, who were ſo mad upon their Idolatry that they would keep theſe places to be Caſtles and forts to preſerve and propagate their abominations; But quickly that fury of the Prieſts was gotten ſuppreſt and the Churches peaceably purged, ſo that I have not heard that in all our Land, above three or foure Churches were caſt down.

I ſhould be very tedious if I went through all the odious narrations of this enraged Prelate; Page 17, 28.I muſt touch but upon ſome of his principall paſſages: in his 27 page, he makes the Reformers to diſclaime Soveraign Authority, to denounce warre, to enter it to a covenant for mutuall defence, to command the Nobility to p. 41joyne with them under the paine of excommunication, &c. A waſpe out of the ſweeteſt hearbs ſucks venom, the matter as all our Hiſtorians relate, was this.

When Queen Regent was marching with the French Army to Perth, to kill as ſhee had openly vowed, The Armes of Scotland againſt the Tiranny of the French were neceſſary and juſt.men women and children; to raze unto the ground that antient City and to ſow it with ſalt, only for the pulling down of ſome images and ſome Monkes dens: the Nobillity did meet to ſtop that Horrible rage, they did deprecate violence with humble ſupplications, and when theſe were in vaine, they ſtood upon their defence againſt the French Bands: this is that which you call the diſclaiming of Soveraignty. They write a threatning Letter to the Biſhops and Prieſts, the great Incendiaries of the time, to kindle the Queenes wrath againſt her beſt Subjects: this you call denouncing of Warre. Some members of their owne Congregation did come with the Queen againſt them, namely the Earles of Argyle and Murrey, Them they intreated not to ſhed their Brethrens blood, otherwiſe they ſhewed them their deſerving to be excommunicate out of that ſociety, which without cauſe they did perſecute; The ſeaſonablenes of this reproofe did quickly appeare, both the Noblemen beholding the Loyalty of their Brethren and their unjuſt oppreſſion by others, did leave the Queene and joyne with the Proteſtant party. A demonſtration of their Loyalty wa… given to the world at that very inſtant, when they came to ſuch ſtrength that the French and the Prelates and all their oppoſits, could ſcarce have been a Breackfaſt to them, they were content to let them all goe in peace and upon the Queenes word did diſſolve their Army only ſuſpecting, which did fall out, that no promiſes would be made conſcience of to Hereticks, before they disbanded they gave aſſurances of mutuall defence, if by their Treacherous enemies contrary to promiſes they ſhould againe for their Religion be invaded: was ſuch a Covenant any more then nature requires of every ſociety of men for their own neceſſary preſervation. As for your invectives againſt the firſt reformation and that which you profeſſe is the cauſe of your anger, The … very wicked and Popiſh.the removall of the beauty and order of p. 42the Church, that is the putting away of the maſſe with all its ornaments, the removall of the Pope, Cardinalls, Biſhops, the Monks and Friers, for all this you muſt be diſpenced with: for herein you but follow your Canterburian principles. Yet I cannot but marvell that your paſſion towards theſe trinckets of Popery ſhould be ſo great, as to make you affirme that all our preſent troubles are, but Gods judgements upon us for their removeall, and to propheſie that thoſe evils cannot end, except we returne to that vomit: our condition is hard if we muſt redeem peace with the reimbracing of the Maſſe Booke and all its ornaments, if for the right ordering of our Church, wee muſt take backe our Biſhops, Patriarchs, Cardinalls, and Popes (for non of all theſe you doe ſcruple) if all our Abacies and Nunneries muſt again be peopled, and which is worſt of all, if we muſt reſolve never more to permit the whole eſtates of a land or a Parliament to oppoſe a Prince when ſeduced by a popiſh Prelate or a Turkiſh darviſch, he takes a conceit to ſet up the whole body of popery or of Mahometiſme in all his Dominions: this is the divinity which your piety and orthodoxie here inſinuates.

Your long diſcourſe of the Generall Aſſemblies Soveraignty above the King is cloſed with two other ſtories, P. 29.30.the killing of Cardinall Beton, and the tumult in the Church of Edinburrough at the reading of the Liturgie. What belongs theſe things to the Generall Aſſembly, were theſe actions either decreed or allowed by any Church meeting; but the truth is, you are gathering togither a confuſed maſſe of all the odious fables which you can either find or invent to the prejudice of Proteſtant Religion ſince it came firſt in Scotland to this day.

As for the Cardinalls ſlaughter, Cardinall Beton by all Law and reaſon deſerved death, yet Knox did not defend the way of his ſlaughter.all good men who heard it did heartily rejoyce at the judgement of God in taking away that cruell perſecuter, a moſt vicious wretch: as Spotswood himſelfe relates the ſtory, his crimes were many for which his life by all Law and reaſon was forfeit: the ſuborning of a falſe Teſtament to King Iames the fifth, for his owne advancement, the burning quick by his owne Eccleſiaſtick authority the moſt holy Martyrs, the marring with p. 43all his might the Reformation of Religion: that ſuch a man was removed in the indignation of God, according to Mr. Wiſheard the martyrs propheſie, the whole Land did greatly rejoyce. As for the manner of his ſlaughter, that it was by the hands of privat men and not of the publick executiooner, this no man did defend: of Mr. Knox diſallowing thereof, Spotſwood teſtifies expreſly: but that which troubles you, is not the killing of a man, but as you ſpeake, of a Preiſt, of an Arch-Biſhop of high dignity, that is a Cardinall of Rome, theſe circumſtances are but poore agravations of that fact.

The other horrible fact at Edinburgh, how deteſtable it was, P. 31. An account of the tumult at Edinburgh for the Service-booke.Let all the Iſle judge. When a company of baſe men were come to that height of inſolency, as to tread on the necks of the whole Kingdome, as to make it an Act of high treaſon for the greateſt of the Nobility to keep, albeit very ſecretly in their Cabins, a Copy of a Petition preſented to his Majeſty in perſon, Vide the large Declaration.againſt ſome new illegall uſurpations of the Prelats: to get Noblemen condemned to loſe their heads only for this action and to avow in print the great Juſtice of ſuch a ſentence, and the extraordinary favour in pardoning ſo high and treaſonable an attempt: When they became ſo extreamly malapert without ſo much as once acquainting the Church to bring in three or foure whole books full of Novations in Religion, and withal to proclaime the abſolute unlawfulneſſe for the whole Land to make the ſmalleſt oppoſition if to morrow they ſhould bring in, upon the back of their former Novations, the Maſſe in Latine, or the A coran in Arabick; when they came with a high hand to put in practice this their lawleſſe Tyrannie, that good zealous people (whom you maliciouſly and falſly ſtile whoores and coale ſtealers) ſhould have their patience ſo far tempted as to break out in violence againſt you was it any wonder? when atrocious injuries are multiplyed upon a Nation, and by a few openly vicious and corrupt perſons, the current of Juſtice is ſtopped, all the world will not be able to hold the paſſions of a people not totally ſubdued, from breaking out into unjuſtifiable inſolencies, which a little Juſtice might eaſily have prevented What ever wrong p. 44might accompany the zeale of that very good people, the reverend Anſwerers to the corrupt Doctors of Aberdeen doe openly diſavow it, and all of us were ever very well content, that the whole action of that famous infamous day might have come to a perfect tryall, That all perſons according to their demerits, might have ſuffered legall puniſhments. That you and your aſſociats, the profeſſed Authors of theſe popiſh books, and violent introducers of them in our Church againſt all our Laws and Cuſtomes might have been brought to anſwer, before your Judge competent, a lawfull generall Aſſembly: alſo that the interrupters of your ſhamefull uſurpation might have come to an accompt for all their words & deeds that day: but you and your Colleagues knowing well your legall deſerts would never bee pleaſed to come to any tryal. You preſſed very hard for ſome dayes, that a number of very honeſt men and women might have bin put to bodily tortures, and that all your abominable Novations might have been quietly without any ſcruple every where thereafter received: upon theſe conditions your clemencie was content to intercede with his Majeſtie, That the horrible and monſtrous uprore might be pardoned; but when this your overture was not hearkened unto, your Antichriſtian furie broke out ſo high, that nothing could ſatiate your rage, but the deſtruction (with an Engliſh Army) of all your oppoſites in the whole Nation, and the faſtning upon the neck of the Country with undiſſoluble bands, the yoke of a perpetuall ſlavery. Though in oppoſition to this your horrid deſigne, many thouſands in both Nations be already deſtroyed, though the King himſelfe be brought in extream danger, both of his Crown and perſon: yet ſo matchleſſe is your rage, and that of your friends, that unleſſe your pride, avarice, and errors may be ſatisfied except Biſhops, books, and a Turkiſh royaltie may be gotten eſtabliſhed: you are willing the King, his Family, the remnant of his people ſhould all bee deſtroyed with you, and turned into water, to quench the fire of your aſhes. It's a great mercy of God to theſe Lands, that ſuch unparalelled furies are not buried below the ground, or beaten off to ſo remote corners, that they may no more bee ſeene in p. 45the ſocieties of men, either of Church or State.

From your 32. page, P. 32. Our Aſſemblies did ever deferre all loyall ſubjection to the King.as a man diſtracted ye ramble up and downe, backward and forward you rayell in ſo many things old and new, that to follow you with any orderly, cleere and diſtinct anſwer, I think it impoſſible. Your firſt gybe is, at the power of the Generall Aſſembly, which the King and Parliament has allowed unto it, and whereof they are in a quiet poſſeſſion: to wit, that in matters meerely Spirituall, they are the laſt ordinary Iudges: but if they ſhould miſcarry, that the King and Parliament ſhould not have power to make them reforme their errours, it never came in any of our minds. Your next calumny is, that wee count it but a curteſie, and no neceſſary duty to Petition for the civill ſanction to our Acts, and that if our Petitions bee not granted, we are ready by Excommunication and rebellion, to force the King and the State to our will; Theſe are but Symptomes of a ſpirit in which Excommunication has wrought its firſt effect, I wiſh it might worke farther for your repentance and ſalvation.

For proofe of the Aſſemblies uſurping over the King, Mr. Hinderſon is farr from all diſloyall and papall humours.you alledge firſt the late Sermon of the Scottiſh Pope at Weſtminiſter, and then you run backe upon our firſt reformation. It is true, that Scottiſh Pope was the man whom the Generall Aſſembly made their inſtrument, to deliver you over to the Divel and therfore your rage againſt him for that neceſſary and good ſervice is great: out of his Sermon you dare cite nothing, and it is well known, that no or thodox Divine in any of the reformed Churches, is more willing to give to Soveraign Princes all their due, then that moſt worthy man is, and ever has been. In your ſcoffe of a Scottiſh Pope the ſmoke of ignorance goes up, with the fire of malice: theſe many years, for your old ſtinging, you have bin removed to dark Cavernes, though ſometimes for a Breathing you have cropen out to Oxford & Dublin: but had your crimes permitted you to have walked a little, either at Lond. or Edinburgh, or any where in this Iſle, where the Sun of Truth & Juſtice did ſhine, or any where over Sea, where the affaires of this Iſle with any ingenuity uſe to be repreſented: you would not have called that moſt gracious man a Pope. For how p. 46ever you have declared your ſelfe for Scottiſh Cardinalls, and a Pope over the whole Church Catholick through al the world: and all who know you, will beare you witneſſe, that in Scotland ſo proud and arrogant a Prelate, did not breath in our dayes: yet the venerable divine whom you ſlander is ſo farre from the note you would put upon him that a more modeſt and humble ſpirit of ſo great parts, and deſerved authority with all the greateſt of the Iſle, lives not this day in the reformed Churches.

But it is our firſt Reformation that chiefely grieves you, Our firſt reformation was authorized by Parliament.you continually breake out upon that, and repeate very oft the ſame moſt bitter ſlanders. The reformation in Scotland, as has been ſaid, began long before the yeare 1558. when the Queens Mother was not yet come to the government, in the yeare 1542. the Proteſtant Regent, Duke Hamilton, with the conſent of Parliament did then authorize it, and ſet it on foot; albeit the compleat and publick Reformation of the whole Land, was not till the yeare 1560. when the Parliament convened by the authority of our Soveraigne, and after ratified by her, did authorize it fully. Her delay for a little to ratifie that Parliament makes nothing againſt its validity, eſpecially ſince now for fourſcore and five yeares it has ſtood firme, as one of our moſt happy Parliaments, not queſtioned by any, but ſome few eminently malignant Papiſts, and Prelates.

That which here you ſcorne in Knox, is a truth uncontroverted by any reaſonable man: that Religion has its own proper intrinſecall ſtrength from God, its only Author; that Princes and ſtates may and ought as ſervants to God their Lord, make way for it in their Dominions by their good Lawes; but this does not adde any more internall truth and ſtrength to Religion then it has of it ſelfe, before the Magiſtrate confirmed it, and which it cannot loſe although the Magiſtrate doe cry it downe, and perſecute it for errour.

Concerning the debates in the yeares 1558. and 1559. betwixt Queen Regent and the States, for the juſt Liberties of the Kingdome, for both agreed that this was the chiefe quarrell, we repeat not what we have ſaid before.

p. 47What you being from the thirty third p. to 39. P. 33.34.35. Epiſcopa…e was never …pproved by any lawfull Aſſembly in Scotland.I have met with it a moſt all in my anſwer to the other Treatiſe. In the yeare 1571. a Committee of the generall Aſſembly at Leeth, deceived by ſome prime Courtiers, too much engaged unto the Prelates of England, did adviſe to ſet up Biſhops in the Church of Scotland, with the name, and ſome ſhadow of the things which then were in England: but the thing it ſelfe, a ſole power of Ordination, and Juriſdiction over the whole Dioceſſe in one mans hand, they never dreamed of. Yea, the very name and ſhadow whereto that Committee was drawne, was never allowed of by any act of a lawfull generall Aſſembly: for the very next Aſſembly did diſclaime it, and ever after the matter was in debate till both name and thing was totally exploded.

Your diſcourſe of the Negative confeſſion, and Churchgovernment, in the yeare 1580. and 1581. and of the platforme of Presbiteries, as ſet up by Mr. Melvil without the Kings Authority with much ſtuffe of this kind, demonſtrates your mind, to calumniate with a great deale either of ignorance of the times, or malicious reſolution to lye.

In the yeare 1580. ſome prime Courtiers, The ſhort confeſſion of Faith was ſubſcribed by King James … the year 1 ….and others truly popiſh in their heart yet for their own ends was content to diſſemble, and to abjure popery with their owne equivocations and mentall reſervations. The King deſiring to ſtop all ſtarting holes, cauſed Mr. Craige the Paſtor of his Familie to draw up a confeſſion, every particular, rejecting expreſly the moſt of the Romiſh errours: this King James himſelfe did Signe, and permitted none to live at his Court, who did not ſweare it, he ordained it alſo to goe through the whole Land. Towards this confeſſion ſcornfully called negative, the Prelaticall party did ever carry an evill eye, for it was a ſtronger barr againſt popery, and their intended innovations, then their deſignes could well admit.

The whole ſixe yeares before that Confeſſion, The Presbiterian government was fully agreed to before that ….the Generall and provinciall Aſſemblies were much exerciſed, in perfiting the ſecond booke of diſcipline, wherein the whole body of the Presbiterian Government is fully ſet downe: nothing in our Church did ever paſſe with ſo great deliberation nor with greater unanimity. In the year 1578. p. 48it was all agreed unto in the Generall Aſſembly: Mr. Melvill was a gracious inſtrument in that worke, but all the Divines of the Kingdome did joyne with him therein. With the ſtates they had ſome controverſie, but not for the matter of Government, in this the Harmony betwixt the Church and State was full, but for the Church Patrimony, wherein the King did joyne heartily with the Aſſembly againſt the Court, and wherein your ſelfe cannot but beare witnes to the honeſty of the Divines at that time. For it was their mind that Church rents ought not to be impropriat to Courtiers nor given to Prelats, nor ſerve the ambition and avarice of any Church-men, but ought to be imployed for the Honorable and comfortable maintenance of all that ſerved at the Altar, and for the reliefe of the poore and ſtrangers, and what was above, to go to the publicke uſes of the ſtate. But in this gracious deſigne, the cunning firſt of the Court, and after of the Prelates, did Croſſe both the King and the Aſſembly, ſo that for peace they behoved to yeild, albeit upon occaſion both his Majeſty and the Church did often proteſt for their rights.The King and his Counſell did ſet up the Presbyteries over all the Land at the ſame time.

But for any parts of the Presbiteriall Government which in that Booke of diſcipline was ſet downe, there was no controverſie in the year 1580 betwixt the Church and the Court: The privie counſell had ſubſcribed all that book with ſome reſervation about Church rents; the Generall Aſſemblies oft did agree to it without any exception, his Majeſtie himſelfe in the fore named year did ſend to the Aſſembly with an expreſſe commiſſioner the platform of all the Presbiteries, which therafter were erected over all Scotland, & which againſt all the Prelats aſſaults have ever ſtood firme to this day; ſo your alleagencies are exceeding falſe, that the Presbiteries were erected without the Kings authority and that in the yeare 1580 the Government of our Church was Epiſcopall, theſe are putide thredbare lyes.

The Generall Aſſembly did never allow of Abbots and Priors as Churchmen and though they preſſed the great unjuſtice that Popiſh Biſhops and lay Abbots ſhould … in Parliament in name of the Church to vote as the third eſtate p. 49The Generall Aſſembly did never approve of Abbots and Priors.Eſtate without any Commiſſion from the Church, yet it was never their intention to have any of their owne number appointed by themſelves to vote in Parliament, in name of the Church of Scotland, For when King Iames a little before his going to England was very earneſt with the generall Aſſembly to accept of that as a favour, they forſeeing the ſnare did reſolutely reject it, ever til his Maje. by very great dealing, did draw a plurality of an unadviſed Aſſembly to embrace that power of voting in Parliament, but with a nū ber of Caveats, which wiſe men foreſaw would never be kept.

That Maſter Melvil, or any Presbitery of that Land had ever any hand in impropriating or diſapidating any part of the Church Rent, is farre from truth: But that your good Colleagues, the Prelats, in the Parliament, 1606. made a bargaine for alienating from the Church for ever, no fewer then 16. Abbays at one time, I declared before.

About that time what the practiſes of the diſciplinarians a… London might be, I doe not know: but this is certaine, that Mr. Cartwright and all the old nonconformiſts in England, were our deare Brethren and made a waies the Government of the Church of Scotland the meaſure of their deſires, that betwixt us and the Antiepiſcopall party here, was never any difference, till the unhappy Separatiſts, and their Children the Independents did make it.

Your invenomed invective againſt the preſent Reformation of both Kingdomes as a monſtrous deformation we let it lye in your owne boſome to keep you warme, till you be p…eaſed to bring all of it abroad in that Anatomie which here you promiſe but we expect no performance till you firſt have had leaſure (as likewiſe you ſtand engaged by your word) to put the foure Limbes unto that Gorgons head of your Turkiſh Monarchy which ſome yeares agoe you ſet up at Oxford.P. 36. The Miniſters in Scotland were wont to give the King ſeaſonable Counſell, but in all wiſdome and humility.

In your 36. p. you run upon our Aſſemblies for appointing Miniſters to Preach pertinent doctrine, and adviſing them who did Preach to the King and State to ſpeake a word in ſeaſon for the weell of Sion, at that time as I ſhew before their was a mighty deſigne to advance the Catholick League, for the overthrow of Queene Elizabeth and p. 50all Proteſtants, the prime Courtiers were diligent Agents herein, the men who were truſted to be watchmen to the Kings perſon and Family, if at ſuch a time they ſhould have beene ſilent, they could not have anſwered it either to God or man: You and your gracious companions, who never had a mouth to divert a Prince from any evill courſe, were yet loud trumpets of fury in the moſt of your Sermons and Prayers to inflame him againſt his two Puritan Parliaments of Britaine, but to calme him towards his innocent and Catholick truſty Subjects of Ireland.

That any Aſſembly in Scotland ever challenged the ſole power of indicting faſts is in the ordinary predicament of your aſſertions under the ſpece of palpable untruths. P. 37.38. No affront was offered to the King by the faſt at Edinburgh.Of the feaſt at Edinburgh p. 37. I have given in the other Treatiſe a full accompt, only I add here that in this your relation you makeit more falſe then any other of your friends who write thereof: the King was neither invited nor preſent; the originall of the motion was not from the King, but the French Merchants, for their owne ends; the Magiſtrates of Edinburgh did not countenance the feaſt, for of their foure Bailies three kept the faſt: the appointers of that abſtinence were not the Miniſters, but the Magiſtrates and the Congregationall Elderſhip, not the ſupreame, but the loweſt judicatory of the Church: the Proceſſe againſt the Magiſtrates and the Kings great Solicitation that it might be Superceeded ar meerly fabulous.

I have alſo given a large account of your next calumnie in the other Treatis: If any ſhould Preach Treaſon with us he is cenſurable both by Church and ſtate.no man in Scotland did ever maintaine that a Miniſter Preaching Treaſon might not be conveened and puniſhed by the Magiſtrate according to the Lawes. All Mr. Melvils plea was that a Miniſter of the Church of Scotland, and a member of the Univerſity of St. Andrews being priviledged by the antient and late Lawes of the Kingdome, was not neceſſitate at the firſt inſtance to anſwer before the privy counſell for a paſſage of his Sermon, which moſt falſly was ſaid to be treaſonable. The whole caſe I have opened at large elſe where.

The acts of Parliament you ſpeake of warranting an unreaſonable Supremacy were procured in the yeare 1584. by p. 51that inſolent Tyrant Captain Iames, and the Declaration upon them was penned by Biſhop Adamſon, alſo both the Acts and the Declaration were recalled by the King and Parliament, That any invectives againſt his Majeſties perſon for theſe acts were ſpread abroad we doe deny it: we think it very poſſible that much might both have been ſpoken and written againſt the matter of theſe acts, but that any man was ſo unmannerly as to fall upon the King himſelfe before we beleeve it, we muſt have a greater evidence then a Prelates Teſtimony.

What you ſay of the fugitive Miniſters, The Eraſtian and Prelaticall principles brought great trouble on the Miniſters of Scotland.as Spotſwood relates it, was thus. The acts of that Parliament 1584. were ſo bitter and grievous to all the gracious Miniſters of Scotland, that many of them fled out of the Kingdome, and diverſe of the prime laid downe their life, as it ſeemes of meere greife, Mr. Smeeton Principall Mr. of the Uniuerſity of Glaſgow, and Mr. Arbuthnot, of the Univerſity of Aberdeen both dyed that yeare; all the Miniſters of Edinburgh fled to England, and the cheife of them Mr. Lawſon went to London: Adamſon Arch-Biſhop of St. Andrews at that time kept great correſpondence with the Biſhops of England, who without any complaint of the Scottiſh Ambaſſadour were able eaſily to get an affront put upon a Presbiterian fugitive: but if ye will beleeve Spotſwood, Mr. Lawſon was a man ſo eminent both for piety and prudence, that it can hardly be ſuppoſed any thing could eſcape him in preaching which might deſerve the Queenes diſpleaſure: how ever, that excellent man did dye at that time in London, as it ſeemes martyred by the injuries of the Scottiſh and Engliſh Prelates, which doubtles did helpe to bring downe that vengeance upon the Prelaticall State in England, which our eyes now doe behold.

For the further evincing of the intollerable miſcarriages of the General Aſſemby, P. 39. The caſe of Iames Gibſon.you bring three other ſtories p. 39.40. all are faults alleadged againſt ſingle Mininiſters which were they never ſo great and true, ought not to be laid upon the Aſſembly; but ſee how all are miſreported the firſt concernes Iames Gibſon a zealous Country Miniſter, who Preaching in a very troubleſome time, p. 52ſpoke more raſhly of the King then became him, the words that you aſcribe to him, we may not take them at your hand for in the ſame matter by Spotſwoods owne Teſtimony, you are gui…ty of a great untruth you avow that the King cauſed complaint to be made to the Aſſembly of this man, But by no intreaty could obtaine any puniſhment to be inflicted upon him: Spotſwood ſays the contrary, that the Aſſembly did pro…ounce the mans words to be ſlanderous and therefore ſuſpended him from his Miniſtry, and while they were in further agitation of his cauſe, that he fled into England, doubtles for feare of his life: what became of him thereafter I know not, only I have read in a good Author, that what here you inſinuate of his favouring Hacket and Copinger is a very falſe calumny.

The next you ſpeak of is Mr. Maſter David Black his caſe.David Blacke, Miniſter of St. Andrews, a man of great piety and prudence, his name is yet very ſavoury in that Towne: though there be in it ſome three or foure thouſand people, yet ſo great was the zeale, wiſdome, and diligence of Mr. Blacke, that during all the time of his Miniſtry there, no perſon was ſeen either to beg or prophane the Sabbath day, in all that Congregation. This man being delated to the ſecret counſell by a very naughty perſon, that in a Sermon he had ſpoken diſgracefully of the King was willing to have appeared, and cleered himſelfe of that calumny; but finding that it was not his perſon which was aimed at, but a quarrell with the whole Church in him, ſought for by the miſleaders of the Court, he thought meet to appeale not ſimply from the King but from the King and ſecret counſell to the King and Generall Aſſembly: as to the proper and competent Judge appointed by the Law for matters of Doctrine. While this queſtion is in agitation, a great ſtorme did fall upon the Church from the ſeventeenth day of December, which made Mr. Blacks cauſe be laid aſide yet a little thereafter for to pleaſe the King the Commiſſioners of the generall Aſſembly did paſſe upon that gracious man a ſentence ſevere enough, removing him from St. Andrews to ſome obſcure corner where he paſſed the reſt of his dayes.P. 40. A clea…e vindication of the aſſembly at Aberdeen in the yeare 1605.

Your third ſtory is of the Miniſters who went to Aberdeen p. 53the year 1605. upon them you make a tragick Narration a gu…ty of the moſt treaſonable rebellion. Your raſhnes is great, at theſe times to bring up to the ſight theſe things which for the honour of many, did lye long buried: but ſince it is your wiſdom to make the world know, whereof with your friends advantage they might have been ignorant, the matter was this. It was the cuſtom of Scotland, ever from the Reformation, to keep generall Aſſemblies twice, or at leaſt once every yeare; After ſome debates in the yeare 1592. it became a Law, and an Act of Parliament, agreed to unanimouſly by the King and States, and accordingly it was practiſed without any interruption, that the Generall Aſſembly ſhould meet at leaſt once a yeare, and appoint when all other actions were ended, the day and place for the next yeares meeting. In the yeare 1602. the Aſſembly in the Kings preſence, and with his advice did appoint the day and place of their next meeting, in the yeare 1603. His Majeſtie at that time going to England, tooke upon him to prorogat the Aſſembly, till the ſame day and place of the yeare following 1604. of this prorogation there could be no neceſſity, but his Majeſties meere pleaſure. When the Dyet of the yeare 1604. did come the affaires of the Church did greatly call for an Aſſembly yet it was his Majeſties will to make a ſecond prorogation … the fifth of July, 1605. This was much to the hurt griefe, and feare of all the godly, yet they indured it, but when the Dyet of the yeare 1605. was come. His Majeſtie did not only prorogate the third time, but alſo made the day of the next meeting …tertaine and inderinite. This gave an allarme to the whole Kingdome, all the world did ſee the Kings deſigne to bring the Engliſh E…iſcopacie and all their Ceremonies upon the Church of Scotland: alſo the miſtery of popery was then working vehemently, a mighty faction of popiſh Lords were ſtill countenanced among us, immediate correſpondence with the Pope by the chiefe States-men was much ſurmiſed, and afterward was found to be too true. Scotland had no conſiderable B… warke either againſt Engliſh or Romiſh corruptions, but their generall Aſſemblies: if theſe were removed, the poore Church lay open to the inundation of p. 54what ever Antichriſtianiſme the Court was pleaſed to ſend in. The generall Aſſembly beſides its divine right, was grounded upon ſo good Lawes as Scotlanâ cou…d afford; but …o that at the end of the preſent Aſſembly, the Dyet of the next ſhould alwayes be appointed, however his Majeſties deſigne to put downe the generall Aſſembly was evidently ſeen by a… intelligent men, yet ſo long as he prorogate it to a certaine day, men were quiet: but ſo ſoon as he commanded the third dyet, to be deſerted and that to an uncertaine and infinite time they to whom the welfare of the Church was deare, did awaken and found it neceſſary to keepe the Dyet appointed in the ſecond prorogation at Aberdeen Iuly 2. or 5. 1605. The Commiſſioners of the Preſbiteries in their way to Aberdeen adviſed with Chancellor Seaton the prime Magiſtrate of the Kingdome in the Kings abſence, and were incouraged by him to goe on, yet ſo ſoon as any of them came to the place, A Gentleman the Lord of Lauriſtone, came to them with a warrant from the King and privy Counſell and diſcharged them to keepe any Aſſembly there: yet the will of the King and Counſell was not intimated to them in convenient time, for when the King and Counſells Letter was preſented, they ſhew they were not in a capacity to receave it, till once they were an Aſſembly, ſo with Lauriſtons good liking they did pray and choſe their Moderator and Clerke: thereafter they did receive and read the Letters diſcharging the Aſſembly, to which they gave preſent obedience, and did no more at all but appointed the next meeting according to the expreſſe act of Parliament. Lauriſton after the Aſſembly was diſſolved, was ſo officious as by a Lyon herauld with a publike Proclamation to command them to be gone; this Proclamation moſt falſly he did antidate as if it had beene uſed before the Miniſters ſat downe, hereupon the Miniſters were convened before the ſecret Counſell for keeping of a Conventicle contrary to the Kings command, they anſwered as Spotſwood ſays, that they had done nothing but according to the Laws both divine and humane, That the Generall Aſſembly had right to meet in the great neceſſities of the Church, and the Laws of Scotland gave p. 55them expreſſe warrant to meet: Lauriſton told them that the King might delay all meetings both of Church and State, Parliaments and Aſſemblies ſo long as he pleaſed, they replyed that they could doe nothing againſt the Kings mind ſo long as they followed the expreſſe order of his ſtanding Lawes. When the King and ſtate has paſt an act for Trienniall Parliaments, and the Commiſſioners of ſhires doe meet at the day appointed to fence a Par…iament according to Law and long uncontroverted cuſtome, if by evill Counſell the King ſhould not only delay but by a Proclamation put of the meeting to an uncertaine and infinite time, ought theſe Commiſſioners for following the inſtructions of their ſhires according to Law and cuſtome, be lyable to any cenſure: the caſe now in hand is juſt the ſame.

The Miniſters did plead further, that the privie Councell was not a competent Judicatorie to the queſtion, what was a lawfull, or unlawfull Aſſembly: that by the Lawes of the Kingdome ſuch queſtions were to be decided by a lawfull Generall Aſſembly, and not elſewhere.

At that time Doctor Bancroft was Patron to the naughty Preacher of Scotland, who were panting for Biſhopricks, and as after the conference at Hampton Court, he had moved the King to cruſh the moſt of the gracious Brethren of England, who could not ſubmit to Epiſcopacie, and its Ceremonies; So then did he haſten a Meſſage to the Councell of Scotland, for the condemning all who adhered to the Aſſembly of Aberdeen, of high Treaſon. To maintaine a power in the Church to keep an Aſſembly, or in the State, to keep a Parliament whether to begin, or to continue it, when the King did diſcharge (though the Law did expreſly warrant it) was to oppoſe the Royall prerogative and could be no leſſe then the higheſt treaſon, eſpecially if any did decline the Judgement of the Privy Counſell, or any other Judicatorie, to which the King was pleaſed to referre the deciſion of this caſe: though the nature of the thing and the Law, did require the queſtion to bee determined in another Court.

For this plea a number of gracious Miniſters were condemned p. 56by an Aſſize to be executed as Traitours, but thereafter as it were of great favour, and ſpeciall grace their lives were ſpared, yet were they all preſently baniſhed, never to returne to any of the Kings Dominions while they lived. All the godly and wiſe in the Land did cry out upon this Act of the Candidats of Epiſcopacie, as of the higheſt unjuſtice and Tyranny.

All the ſufferers were men exceedingly beloved, Mr. Welſh, and Maſter Forbes, their oppreſſion.but ſome of them were very eminent, Maſter Forbes was a man of ſo great learning and prudence, that in Germany both higher and lower, yea with King Iames himſelfe, and King Charles he was held while he lived in ſingular reputation. Maſter Welſh was a man altogether Apoſtolike, of rare both learning and piety. The fame of this mans zeale was ſo great, that not only the Proteſtants of France, but the very Popiſh Prieſts and Souldiers, yea, the prophaneſt of the Court and King Lewis himſelfe, at the very time of his hotteſt perſecutions, did much prize and reverence him: yet ſo great was the rage of the Biſhops againſt him, that when in his old age and great ſickneſſe he came over to England, and according to the direction of his Phiſitians did ſupplicate to be permitted to breath a little in his naturall aire, though he was altogether unable for preaching, or making any more ſturre in the world, it was peremptorily denyed him unleſſe he ſhould give aſſurance of putting his necke under the Epiſcopall yoke: not being able to doe this, he was forced to dye out of h… Country, a baniſhed man.

Who would not have th…ht that the ruine of ſo many gracious men might ha… …lly ſatiate the malice of a few ambitious perſons, Bancroft a perſecutor of the Scottiſh Preſbiterians.bu… they were not content: they proceeded farther in their cruelty, they moved the King to call up to London a number of more Divines, who for piety, zeale and learning, were of greateſt reputation. The pretext was faire and his Majeſties Letter to them courteous, he required them to come up to give him their beſt advice how the Church of Scotland might beſt be ſettled in peace, but behold Bancrofts, and the Scottiſh Epiſcopaturians fraud they are brought before the King and Councell, and there are poſed with a number of dangerous and inſnaring p. 57queſtions to which they declined to anſwer, yet being much preſſed, they gave in their mind in writing ſo humbly and prudently as was poſſible: no quarrell could be picked againſt any of their words, yet were they all arreſted to ſtay at London, till contrary to Law and the order of the Church, and the heart of all the godly, their adverſaries were ſet downe in Scotland, upon their Epiſcopall Thrones.

Mr. Andrew Melvil, The undoing of Mr. Andrew and Mr. James Melvils.a great Light to the Scottiſh Nation, for his free ſpeeches after great provocation, againſt the Engliſh Biſhops and Ceremonies, to which he (a ſtranger called up by the Kings friendly Letter) did owe no ſubjection, was kept priſoner three whole yeares, and then was ſent over to Sedan, where he lived to his death a baniſhed man. His Nephew Mr. Iames Melvil, for his excellent parts in great favour with the King, but unable to comply with Epiſcopall deſignes, was kept out of Scotland till his dying day; the reſt were at laſt ſent home, but all of them as Priſoners, confined to certaine places. Theſe were the firſt fruits of the Engliſh Prelacie in Scotland, but yearly thereafter that tree did bring forth ſuch grapes of Gomorrha among us, that the Land could be at no peace, till it was cut downe, yea plucked up by the rootes.

It might have ſatisfied the unnaturall malice of a very wicked child, P. 41. Prelaticall calumnies.to have beſpattered the face of his innocent mother, with the halfe of the former very injurious and falſe calumnies, yet you the worſt of all your Mothers children, muſt have leave to poure more of your excrements upon her head. From your page 41. to the 46. you would make the world believe, that the Church of Scotland does excommunicate good men, and tender conſciences for a diſſent in the ſmalleſt points of Religion, and does perſecute for ſuch differences with all the rigour of temporall afflictions. Secondly you affirme that the Aſſemblies of that Church, take upon them to make Traitours whom they will, and to caſt out of the Court, whether the King will or not the greateſt and beſt men, with whom they are diſpleaſed. Thirdly, that theſe Aſſemblies doe alter the Lawes of the Kingdome at their pleaſure; Surely if ſtrangers who know not the Conſtitution and cuſtomes of that p. 58Church, were diſpoſed to believe all you ſay, they could not but by your relations he brought to a very evill opinion of your mother whom you an unnaturall ſon ſo vildly ſlander: but it is good that men here are ſo rationall, as not to take upon truſt the naked aſſertions of a malicious enemie.The diſcipline of Scotland is farre from all rigour and Tiranny.

For the firſt, a complaint of raſh Excommunication, and perſecution therupon, is very impertinent from your mouth: it is not ſo long that yet it can be forgotten, ſince you and your Colleagues did allow your Officialls and others to excommunicate good people for trifles, yea, for no offence at all, but their zeale to God, and the good of their Country: your Cannons in all the three Kingdomes are extant, your cruelties are freſh, in impriſoning, baniſhing, Pilloring, ſtigmatizing the worthieſt men for contradicting you in any one of your numerous ceremonies and traditions.

As for the Church of Scotland, that it did ever meddle to trouble any in their goods, Liberties, or perſons, it's very falſe: what civill penalties the Parliament of a Kingdome thinkes meet to inflict upon thoſe who are refractory, and unamendable by the cenſures of a Church, the ſtate from whom alone theſe puniſhments doe come, are anſwerable, and not the Church.

That Excommunication in Scotland, is inflicted upon thoſe who cannot aſſent to every point of Religion determined in their confeſſion, there is nothing more untrue, for wee know it well, that never any perſon in Scotland, was Excommunicate only for his difference of opinion in a Theologick tenet, Excommunication there, is a very dreadfull ſentence, and therefore very rare: theſe laſt forty yeares, ſo farre as I have either ſeen or heard, there has none at all been Excommunicate in Scotland, but ſome few trafficking Papiſts, and ſome very few notoriouſly flagitious perſons, and five or ſix of you the Prelates for your obſtinate impenitency, after your overturning the foundations both of our Church & State, and one moſt rigid and pragmatick Browniſt, who for all that could be done or ſaid, would needs make it his worke to perſwade all he was able by diſcourſe, Letters, and ſpreading of books, that in Scotland there was p. 59neither a Church, nor any Miniſtery nor any Ordinance.

In Scotland wee count the ſpirituall Judgement of Excommunication moſt heavie, but any temporall inconvenience that follows upon it, is not very conſiderable: for firſt there is not any civill hazard at all to any excommunicate man, who will ſuffer himſelfe to be brought to any meaſure of repentance. Secondly, were they never ſo impenitent, ther is no harme can come to them (as I remember) a whole yeare after the long proceſſe and finall ſentence of Excōmunication. Thirdly after a yeares cōtumacy, though the Letter of the Act of Parliament be heavy, yet I appeale to any who has lived in Scotland, among the very few whom they have knowne Excommunicate, how many did they ever heare to have been hurt in their goods, impriſoned, or baniſhed. I am ſure that Huntly, Arrole, and Angus, and the other popiſh Lords, though for their plotting to undermine the State, their perſons after Excommunication have been ſecured, yet no penny of their eſtates went to the Kings Exchequer, or to the hands of any of their unfriends: but as the ordinary cuſtome is, upon the pretext of a ſmall compoſition, what ever the Letter of the Law takes from them, it is all put in the hand of ſuch of their friends whom they doe moſt truſt; Scotlands guilt may well be too much indulgence, but of any exceſſive rigour towards ſpirituall oftenders, they will bee condemned by none that knowes them.P. 42.43.44. A narration of the roads of Ruthven and Stirling.

Your other imputation, that our generall Aſſembly takes upon it to be judge what is Treaſon, and who are fit to bee Counſellours, nothing is more falſe. But here you doe us the favour to prove your Alleageance by a long ſtory, to which I have given a full anſwer in the other Treatiſe: At that time of King James minority, Spotſwood himſelfe being witneſſe our State was miſerably miſguided, the Tyrannie of Captaine Iames, ſupported too much by the favour of the Earle of Lennex, was very grievous, both to Church and State: I touch but upon one inſtance. The greateſt ſubject of the Kingdome, and at that time neereſt to the King in blood was Iames Hamilton Earle of Arran, a very gracious and moſt brave man before his ſickneſſe: without p. 60any fault at all, ſo much as alleaged for he was uncapable at that time of any crime, being vinted with a diſtemper that made him keep his houſe, and hindred him from meddling with any affaires of State, yet was he ſpoiled by the fraud and violence of Captaine Iames Stewart, of all his Lands and honour. This violent oppreſſour was made Earle of Arran, and Chancelour of the Kingdome. At that time the deſigne was cleere and confeſſed, to bring Queen Mary out of her priſon in England, to ſet her againe upon her Throne, to advance the Catholique League which then was newly made, betwixt the Guiſes, King Iames his grand Uncles and the King of Spain…, for the deſtroying Queen Elizabeth and the whole Proteſtant party; For the preventing of theſe miſchiefs, the prime Nobility found it abſolutely neceſſary, to have the advancers of theſe counſels removed from the minor King. What ever fault was in this action, the Aſſembly is unjuſtly charged therewith. Their advice was never ſought thereto, only halfe a yeare after it was done, his Majeſty ſent a ſpeciall Command to the Aſſembly for their approbation thereof: for as by divers of his Letters to all the neighbour Princes, he did ſignifie his good liking of that action, ſo in all the great Courts of the Kingdome hee required it to be approved. The privy Councell, the convention of Eſtates, the generall Aſſembly by his Majeſties expreſſe Commiſſion did all aſſent to his will. It is true Captaine Iames, ſo ſoon as he crept in againe into Court, did change the young Kings mind, but the event of that alteration was a more horrible confuſion both of Church and State. The Earle of Gowry was beheaded; as a litt…e before the Earle of Morton, ſundry Gentlemen of good quality, moſt innocent, were hanged; many of the prime Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Miniſters, were forced to flee for their lives out of the Kingdome; till all of them joyning together did ride in Armes to Stirling, and by violence. though without hurt to any mans perſon, did the ſecond time remove thoſe Courtiers, and for ever after kept them from the King, to the full quieting both of Church and State. This Rode of Stirling was much more cried out upon by the wicked Prelates and Courtiers, then the former p. 61of Ruthven, yet was it approved for good ſervice to the King and State, not only as the former by the privie Counſe…l, and convention of States, but alſo by the enſuing Parliament and ſo it remaines unquarrelled unto this day.

Your third complaint is, P. 45. The Aſſembly repeales no lawes, but ſupplicates the Parliament to recall their ratifications of Eccleſiaſticall corruptions.that the generall Aſſemblies doe alter what the Law has eſtabliſhed: all your examples hereof are, The Votes of the late generall Aſſembly at Glaſgow, condemning the civill places of Church-men, pronouncing the very office it ſelfe of Biſhops to be unlawfull in the Church, and crying downe the high Commiſſion Court. Here you fall upon the Parliament of England as fooles and Traitours for letting themſelves bee perſwaded by the Scots to ſwallow downe their wicked Covenant. To all this, our Apologie is briefe, what ever power our generall Aſſembly poſſeſſes, is all well allowed by the King and Parliament. The acts of that Aſſembly you complaine of, are all ratified by the State: the order of our proceeding is appointed by Law, all matters Spirituall and Eccleſiaſtick, are firſt determined by the generall Aſſembly, if the nature of the things require a civill Sanction, the Votes of the Aſſembly are tranſmitted to the Parliament, if a Generall Aſſembly have voted an Errour, or any thing that's wrong, and that corruption hath been ratified by an Act of Parliament: a Poſterior generall Aſſembly recognoſces the matter, and finding an errour in Religion, notwithſtanding of the prior votes both of the Aſſembly and Parliament, does condemne it, and appoints Commiſſioners to repreſent the reaſons of their vote to the next Parliament with an humble ſupplication to annull theſe Acts and Laws which did confirme the condemned corruption. This has been the method of proceeding in Scotland, ſince the firſt erection of a generall Aſſembly: in this way were all the Errours of Popery firſt condemned in the Aſſembly before the Parliament did recall their old Lawes whi… …nfirmed them. The forme of this proceeding eſtabliſhed by the Parliament it ſelfe, does not import any ſubordination either of the lawes, or the Parliament to the Aſſembly.P. 46. It meddles with no civill Courts.

At this place p. 46. you bring us another ſtory whereupon you make tragick out-cryes of the Aſſemblies inſolent uſurpations, p. 62it ſeems, you thought that this your book ſhould never have come from Oxford into the hands of any Scottiſh man, who knew the Cuſtome of the Judicatories of Scotland: I doe marvell much at your impudence, that you ſhould ſpeake of the Aſſemblies incroaching upon the Lords of Seſſion, or medling with any Civill cauſe, which the Law commits to any temporall Judicatory; there is no better harmony in the world, then alwayes has been in Scotland between the civill and Eccleſiaſticall Judicatories; no interfeiring was ever among them, but what the Biſhops made. You indeed in your high Commiſſion did take cauſes both civill and Eccleſiaſticall to your Cogniſance from all the Courts of the Kingdome, and did at your pleaſure, without, and contrary to all known Lawes, finally determine them, without any appeale, but to the King, by whom you were ſure ever to be beſt be…eeved.

For the ſtory in hand, The caſe of Mr. John Graham.I am content Spotſwood be Judge, as he relates it, the matter was thus, Mr. Iohn Graham, one of the Lords of Seſſion, or Judges of the Common Pleas, a very falſe and diſhoneſt man, intended an action againſt ſome poore men, to put them from their Lands; for to effectuate his purpoſe, he ſeduced a publique Notary dwelling at Stirling, and perſwaded him to ſubſcribe a falſe Writte, upon the which the poore men by a decree of the Lords of Seſſion were removed from their poſſeſſions. The oppreſſed ſoules cryd out of their injurie, and intended action againſt the Notary for his falſe Writ; they got him arreſted and impriſoned: The Miniſter of the bounds, Mr. Patrick Simpſon, whom King James and all Scotland knew to be a moſt learned, zealous, and pious Paſtor as was in the whole Iſle, dealt with the Priſoner to confeſſe the truth; after ſome conference, he confeſſed all, and declared how Mr. John Graham had ſent his Brother to him, with a falſe Writte, which hee did ſubſcribe; an aſſize was called, the poore Notary upon his own couſeſſion was condemned and hanged. Mr. John Graham, as covetous and falſe, ſo a moſt proud man would not reſt ſatisfied, but preſently ſummoned Maſter Patrick Simpſon to appeare before the Lords of Seſſion, as a ſeducer of the honeſt Notary to lye againſt his owne p. 63life; Mr. Patrick was ready to cleare his own innocencie, whereof all were well perſwaded, but ſhamefully wronged by an impudent man in his good name, he cauſed cite him before the Aſſembly, as a ſlanderer of a Miniſter in the work of his calling: the Lords of Seſſion not content that any of their number ſhould be called before the Aſſembly for any action depending in their Court, did ſend ſom of their number to the Aſſembly for to debate the whole matter. The Aſſembly told them that they would not meddle with any thing that was civill, nor which belonged to their Court; that they intended to take no notice of their decrees, at Mr. John Grahams inſtance to caſt the poore … out of their Land, whether it was right or wrong: nor the notaries Inſtrument wherefore he was hanged, whether it was true or falſe. They told them alſo, that whatſoever they had to ſay to Mr. Patrick Simpſon, hee was to anſwer them as they ſhould thinke fit, in due time and place; the Aſſemblies queſtion was alone about the ſlander of one of their Members whom Mr. Iohn Graham did openly challenge as a Seducer, of a Notary to beare falſe witneſſe; They had cited Mr. John Graham before them to make this good, that ſo they might cenſure Mr. Patrick Simpſon, as a man unworthy of the Miniſtry, or if Mr. John Graham's challenge was found a meere calumny, that he might bee brought to repentance for it in acknowledging of his wrong. Let any equitable man judge how inſolent the Aſſemblies proceeding in this action was; for a time there was ſome controverſie about this matter betwixt the Aſſembly and the Seſſion, but at laſt all was amicably compoſed, and God decided the queſtion with the violent death, and publick diſgrace of Mr. Iohn Graham.

What ye ſubjoyne of King Iames trouble to the ſhedding of teares, I take it for your meere invention: P. 47. The grea… controverſie betwixt the King and the Church, was about the infinite extent of the Prerogative.for Spotſwood the fountaine of all your ſtories, who never failes to relate to the full, what ever is meete to draw any envy upon the good Miniſters, who oppoſed the Epiſcopall deſignes, makes no mention at all of King Iames teares. I grant he reports that advice of the Chancellour, and ſome ſuch reply to it as you ſpeake of, but how t…uly I cannot tell, onelyonly this p. 64is moſt certaine that what ever difference King Iames had with the Miniſters, it was alone about the great Idoll of his Prerogative, to do as a Monarch in Church and State what he thought convenient, with his prerogative in matters of State they did never meddle, but his deſigne to bring Biſhops and Ceremonies in the Church as they conceived, againſt law and reaſon, the moſt honeſt of the Miniſtry did ever oppoſe it to their power, albeit in a humble and warrantable way: others for their own gain and advancement, did yeeld to his deſires, and aſſiſted him with all their power, to advance his Prerogative ſo high, as to do, without any reſiſtance, all his pleaſure both in Church and State. But the Lord now has cleered that controverſie, and has made the righteouſneſſe of theſe oppreſſed men ſhine as the light, and the baſeneſſe of theſe flatterers appeare, in its owne baſe and vile colours.

Concerning his Majeſties diſcourſes at the Conference of Hampton Court, The Presbiterie is a great barre to keep out Democracy and Tyrannie, both from Church and State.we confeſſe they cannot be very favourable to any who oppoſed Epiſcopacy, which theſe of your Coat long before that time had made him believe was the maine pillar of his Throne, and had perſwaded him to looke upon all, that was diſaffected thereunto, as enemies to his Crowne. But how farre you are here miſtaken in faſtning upon Presbiteriall government any furtherance of Democracy, not reaſon alone, but now alſo ample experience makes it evident, there is not ſuch a barre this day, as both friends and foes doe well know againſt the Sectaries deſignes to bring in a popular government in the Church, as Presbitery: And if your rules be right enemies to Democracie in the Church, will never be inſtruments to bring it in to the State.

If Presbitery could be partiall towards any one civill Government more then another, It is … ſingular help both to Parliaments & Iuſt Monarchie.its ſimilitude and conſanguinity with the conſtitution of a Parliament might make it ſuſpected to be inclinable to the rights of that Court, more then a Prince or the multitude could deſire: but the truth is it medles not to the prejudice of any civill Government which it finds eſtabliſhed by Law, but what ever that be, it ſupports it to its power, and how ſerviceable it p. 65has ever been to Monarchy in Scotland, examples both of old and late doe demonſtrate. Who were the prime inſtruments of ſettling King Iames in his infancy upon his Throne, who kept him into his Throne againſt all the aſſaults of his potent enemies? to whom in all his great ſtraits had he ever his recourſe during his abode in Scotland? to no other but to the Presbiterian Nobles, Gentry & Miniſters if theſe had been diſpoſed to have changed the government of the ſtate there was oft no conſiderable impediments upon earth to have oppoſed them; but ſuch a deſire never entered into their thoughts. And of later times when the Presbitery in Scotland hath attained its higheſt aimes, and is in capacity as you ſay to make what factions it will, when its provocations to a…ger were as great as readily can be againe and the madnes of you Malignant Prelates had laid the Crowne in Scotland very low at ſuch a ſeaſon did the leaſt diſloyalty appeare in any of the Presbiterian ſide, were not they and they only the men which ſet…ed that throne which you had cauſed to ſhake and aſtened the Crowne upon that head from whence you hands by your extreame unjuſtice pride and folly had we… nere pulled it away? And at this very houre when you and all your friends are able to make no helpe at all to releive not only the King and his houſe but the Royalty it ſelfe from that extreame hazard of ruine wherein you alone both have caſt them, and with all your hearts would ſtil continue them upon ſome phantaſtick hope which yet you have of attaining all your former deſires, or elſe to revenge your diſappointments though all the world ſhould periſh: At this time when you have caſt the Crown, the Throne and Scepter in the duſt who is able who now is willing to ſave the King or to keepe Monarchy on foote? I hope albeit your dementation be great yet even you muſt ſee and confeſſe that it is the Presbiterians and theſe alone by whoſe hearts and hands this worke muſt be done which indeed your goodnes and wiſdome has made extreamely difficult and well nere unfeaſible.

You fall very needleſly on Mr. Catherwood the Author of that Booke altare darna ſcenum, P. 18. Mr. Catherwoods vindication.a man of greater worth then all the Prelates that ever Scotland bred, put them p. 66all in one. Durſt ever any or all of you looke that man or his Booke, in the face? you had long twenty yeares leaſure to anſwer, but was ever the courage among you all to aſſay it? I doe not love to ſpeake, or when it is ſpoken by others, to defend any thing that may rub upon authority, yet when ſycophanticall Prelates make it their worke to bring moſt honeſt and gracious men in diſgrace with Princes for ſome incomodious phraſes which in the heat and current of large diſcourſes have eſcaped their pens, who ſhall but vindicate their innocency from ſuch flaterers accuſations.

Is it a crime for Maſter Catherwood to write, that in all Kings naturally their is a hatred to Chriſt; what doe you here intend to cenſure? are not all men naturally enemies to God? unto this natural Corruption that is Cōmon to all fleſh does not great places in the world eſpecially Crowns and Throns, adde many provocations, from which poverty and meannes gives exemption; what would you here reprove? ſpeake out plainly your Pelagian tenet, deny originall ſin, make it one of the Royall Prerogatives in vertue of the Crowne, to be naturally gracious and an advancer of Chriſts Kingdome.

The other word you make your adverſary to ſay (albeit you profeſſe you ſpeake per cur) is, that King Iames was a moſt inſenſe enemy to the purity of Religion: If ſuch tearmes were ever expreſſed, of what thinke you muſt they be underſtood, what is the ſubject of that ſpeech and of the whole Booke wherein you ſay it ſtands? Is it not of the Government of the Church and the Engliſh Ceremonies alone? to ſay that King Iames was a great friend to theſe, and agreat oppoſite to the contrary, which yet the Parliaments of both Kingdomes now, and the reſt of the reformed Churches ever did profeſſe was truth, and a part of the purity of Religion: the affirmation of ſo much I hope will not be found a very monſtrous crime, P. 48.49. The Commiſſioners of the generall Aſſembly unjuſtly ſlandered.though you beleeve Epiſcopacy to be ſo fundamentall a truth that all its oppoſits muſt needs be moſt properly Hereticks.

In the remnant of your Booke from the page 48. to the 53. you make your declamatiōs againſt the Cōmiſſioners of the p. 67Generall Aſſembly, you will have them to be the fountaine of all the Treaſons, Seditions, Rebellions of the Land; but you ſhould do well to prove this rather then to ſay it, for you know that your aſſertions have no faith and deſerve none in Scotland: reaſon you can have none in the nature of the thing, for all eſtabliſhed Courts either in Church or State have naturally a power in themſelves to make Committees for the furthering of that worke which the Lawes of the Kingdome put in their hands. It is true, Committees under that name, were not early knowne in Scotland, the name and a part of the thing we learned from our Neighbours of England, but ſo ſoon as the Generall Aſſemblies did thinke meet to appoint ſome of their number to be a ſtanding Committee to their next meeting, the expedient was unanimouſly embraced and liked of by none ſo well after a little tryall, as by King Iames and the State. I did never heare any hurt charged upon theſe Committees but one, that by the Kings extraordinary diligence with ſome of them, they were ſeduced to lay ſome ground ſtones, whereupon Epiſcopall Chaires were afterward ſet downe; but what here you lay to their charge is evidently falſe. Queen Regent was ſuſpended from her authority by the ſtate before there was any Generall Aſſembly in Scotland, Queen Mary was put from the Government and King Iames eſtabliſhed therein by the Parliament; the Nobility at Ruthven did perſuade King Iames to ſend the Duke of Lenox back to France, and remove Captaine Iames from Court before any Commiſſioners of a Generall Aſſembly were ſo much as thought upon: Being of neceſſity muſt precede all operation, It is folly to charge crimes upon a Committee before it had any exiſtence, but all theſe your diſcourſes are uſed as a preface and introduction to that grand Common place of the bittereſt invectives of all your friends, the 17. day of December which you make the topſtone and cloſe of all your calumnies.

That much toſſed matter, P. 50.51.52. A full account of the 17. day of December.as I find it in Spotſwood and others much more worthy Authors, was this. After the miſcarriage of the Spaniſh deſigne upon this Iſle in 88. p. 68the Popiſh faction of Scotland did ſtill keep correſpondence with Philip and his Miniſters both in Spaine and Weſt Flanders: Agents, Letters, Monies were ever going betwixt them; great hopes yearly of a new Navy, which fayling, the Ieſuits moved Huntly and his complices to enterpriſe by themſelves; theſe things were all diſcovered. Queen Elizabeth, who in all the popiſh deſignes was primely aimed at, did ſend frequent advertiſements of their plots, which by intelligencers in Rome and Spaine, ſhe came to underſtand. The Generall Aſſembly did excommunicate Huntly, the head of that turbulent faction, The King denounced him Rebell, he was often relaxed from the ſentence both civill and Eccleſiaſtick, yet he ever relapſed and entered in new conſpiracys for the overthrow of the Religion and Kingdome. The man was very bloody powerfull and active.

After Chancellour Maitlands death the prime Courtiers were knowne Papiſts, and drew the Kings mind to receive Huntly againe into favour, contrary to the Supplications of all his well-affected Subjects, and the manifold Letters of the Queen of England; theſe ſame Courtiers under pretence of mannaging the Kings rent, did graſpe into their hands all the Offices of State, and favours of the Prince, to the extreame diſcontent of the moſt of their fellow Courtiers: Beſides all this, they made it their chiefe deſigne to kindle the Kings wrath againſt the moſt zealous of the Miniſtry; they brought matters to ſuch a paſſe in the beginning of December 1596. that the King in diſpleaſure did Command by Proclamation the Commiſſioners of the Generall Aſſembly to diſſolve, and goe out of Edinborough, they preſently obeyed the charge; So what ever followed thereafter is unjuſtly charged upon that Committee, which long before the ſeventeenth day was diſſolved and gone out of Towne.

On the ſixteenth day, Huntly, who had killed the Earle of Murray, had defeat Argyles Army, had come to the fields againſt the King in perſon, conſpired with the Spaniard to bring in the Armado, ſolicited often the Prince of Farma for a new Navy, plotted the taking of the King, p. 69and killing of the Chancellour in his preſence, This man though both baniſhed and excommunicate, comming boldly to Court, put all Edinburgh in a juſt feare. So much the more, as in the morning o… the ſevententh day, ſome of the Kings chiefe Servants and Bedchamber men (who it ſeems indeed had a reall intention to raiſe ſome trouble againſt the Octavians, by whom they were ſpoyled of their places and meanes) did informe the Miniſters and others, of Huntlies privie conference with the King the evening before, till midnight: this afterward was found to be but feigned by them; yet it was moſt true, that by theſe mens miſinformations, that very night the King by Proclamation as he had done before with the Commiſſioners of the Gene…all Aſſembly commanded in the morning of the 17 Twenty foure of the cheefe and moſt zealous Citizens of Edinburgh to depart the Towne. All theſe things falling out together put the people in extreame feare of a preſent Maſſacre by the hands of Huntly, of the popiſh Courtiers and their faction. To prevent this miſchiefe Mr. Balcanquall whom it fell to preach that day, after Sermon deſired the cheefe of them who were preſent to ſtay for adviſement what was needfull to be done for their owne ſafety: in the meeting, nothing at all was reſolved upon, but a humble ſupplication to his Majeſtie that they might be in ſecurity from the dangerous plotts of the Papiſts, That the Lady Huntly, an excommunicate Papiſt, might be removed from Court and ſent home, That three of the Counſellours knowne papiſts and correſpondents with Rome, (as their Letters thereafter found with the Pope did prove) might not vote at the Counſell Table in the cauſes of Miniſters, That the Citizens baniſhed out of Edinburgh without the allegeance of any cauſe might be returned to their houſes. This moſt innocent Petition was ſent to his Majeſtie by two noble men, Lindſay and Forbes, two Barons, Bargeny and Blachan, and two Miniſters, Maſter Robert Bruce, and Maſter William Watſon. Maſter Robert Bruce did ſpeake to his Majeſtie ſo humbly and with ſo much reaſon that he gave no offence, but when his Majeſtie did enquire at the Noblemen how they durſt p. 70conveene without his expreſſe warrant; Lindſay, by kind a zealous Spirit, but ever moſt Loyall, being in paſſion at this, queſtion, that when their Lives and Religion (as they conceaved) were in extreame and preſent hazard, they ſhould be quarrelled for meeting in a peaceable manner, only to draw a modeſt ſupplication, did ſay, that they durſt doe more then meet, to ſupplicate; with theſe words his Majeſtie was offended but not in that degree as to caſt downe his countenance on the Noble man therefore; only he went away without giving any anſwer to their petition.

What here you add of your owne, of craving juſtice againſt the Counſellors, of laying hold upon ſome of their garments, all is groſly falſe even Spotſwood being Judge; who had much better reaſon to know the Acts of that day then you, who then was ſcarce borne, but he was one of the moſt diligent of all the company, to arme himſelfe and all others he could, eſpecially his pat…on Tarfichen.

The Meſſengers returning to them that ſent them, reported the matter as it was, that his Majeſtie had not deigned them with any anſwer at all this did much increaſe the feare of the whole company, while they are in conſultation what to doe, ſome without the doors ſuborned by the malecontent Courtiers did cry, that Huntly and the Popiſh Lords were comming upon them to make a maſſacre: Maſter Robert Bruce did what he was able to compoſe the people, but amazement had ſtopped their eares, all got to their Arms, in which they did not continue a full half houre: for before the Sermon ended it behoved to be nere ten, and before they could conveene draw up their ſupplication, goe to the King and returne, doubtles it was more then eleven, and long before twelve all the tumult was quieted, the King on foot went downe the ſtreets in peace, to his dinner in the Abby, and came up againe to Counſell, before two of the clocke, no violence at all was ſo much as offered to any man. The people being frighted, and apprehending upon very probable grounds a preſent ſurpriſe of their towne and perſons, run to their Arms for defence, but finding no Enemie to appeare, preſently they laid aſide their weapons without any compulſion either from the p. 71Hammer men or any other: for ſuch a poore reſiſtance, as all their oppoſits were able then to have made, could have ſaved no man out of their hand, to whom they had intended any reall harme. No tumult in the world was ever more harmeles in the effects, nor more innocent in the cauſes, if you conſider all thoſe who did openly act therein.

What you ſpeake of a Letter to Hamilton, you are extreamely malitious therein: when you have told us two great untruths, firſt that the reſult of the Miniſters deliberation was to goe to armes: Secondly that they did conclude to pull the Counſeliours from His Majeſties ſide, in both which, Spo…ſwood who was preſent at all theſe Counſells is againſt you; you will contradict him in this third alſo: for he tells us that there was no word of any Letter to any man that day of the tumult: but to morrow, when at Court their was nothing heard, but hanging of Miniſters and Citizens, heading of Noblemen and Barons, razeing of the Towne of Edinburgh, and plowing of it to be ſowen with Salt: then ſome Letters were appointed to be ſent to Hamilton, Bacleugh and others to come and countenance their Brethren, that Religion might not be ruined, this was all the direction as your Author ſetts it downe. He ſays indeed that Maſter Robert Bruce wrot ſome more to my Lord Hamilton, but who dare truſt a Prelates word when his deſigne is to diſgrace his enemy, or if all were true, what does the Letter of any particular Miniſter concerne the Church of Scotland or the Generall Aſſembly.

This was the 17. day of December, the Courtiers and Prelaticall faction did exaggerate it to the moſt horrid rebellion that ever was upon the earth, but how unjuſtly. Queen Elizabeth by her wiſe Letters recorded by Spe…ſwood, does well declare. It was indeed a moſt ſad day to all the Godly; but moſt joyfull to all their enemies; for as they did inſolently but too truly boaſt, it paved them a very faire way, to bring Prerogative to its Throne, yea to ſet it up upon the higheſt pinacle of power they could deſire, and withall to make Biſhops get upon their kicking horſe which before would never receave them; It put into the hand of the Prince a facility without any hazard p. 72of future reſiſtance, to doe in the Church and State what ever ſeemed good in his eyes. Such advantages are exceeding ſweet in the mouth, and are ſwallowed downe with a great deale of greedineſſe by thoſe who long have been lying in waite to catch them; but ere all bee done, they become in the belly wormwood and gall, as the royall family to our griefe, but the Prelates and Malignant Courtiers to our good enough liking, doe feele this day.

Wee are come at laſt to the end of your Calumnious ſtories which your ſelfe upon very good reaſon confeſſeth to be weariſome. Mr. Iames Melvil vindicated from aſſiſting of Bothuel againſt the King.But yet before you can be drawne off, you muſt hint at on another as falſe and malicious as any of the former. Your Author in this and the reſt of your narrations, is only Spotſwood, whom in this wicked fable though you and he both would ſweare it, no intelligent Scotſman would beleeve.

Who will believe that Maſter James Melvil, a moſt gracious and wife man very much in favour with the King, more then any of thoſe who then were hunting after Biſhopricks; that this faithfull man having in his hands the religious aimes and charitable contribution of the Country, to the diſtreſſed towne of Geneva, the City in the whole world, which Scotland at that time loved beſt ſhould ſend it to the Earle Bothwell to raiſe an Army againſt the King at a time when his Majeſtie was in ſo good tearmes with the Church as ever either after or before: when the Towne of Edinborough, was moſt ready for one word of the Kings mouth to run out preſently with him and fight with Bothwell, who then was much hated by all the god…y for his adulteries and other perſonall crimes, and was knowne to bee confederate with the popiſh Lords againſt the Church, and who lately in the eighty eight, had been a forward perſwader to invade England by Land, as the Spaniards did by Sea that ſuch a man ſhould be aſſiſted againſt the King and Town of Edinborough, by any moneys much leſſe by the almes gathered for Geneva, and that al this ſhould be done by Maſter Iames Melvil, is ſuch a calumnie, as Satan could not fancie a falſer, but a farre more fooliſh lyar then either you or Spotſwood, might eaſily have contrived a more p. 73probable fable, this is like the Tale of Beza's converſion to poperie, of Calvins conſultation to change the Sabbath day; of Luthers conference with the Devill.

When you have over-wearied both your ſelfe and us, P. 53.54. A Declaration upon all the 12. Articles imputed to us.you will yet adde as a mantiſſa and appendix, two other points, firſt you ſet down the twelve Articles of our Creed, Since you are ſo good at the confeſſing of your Neighbours, I would gladly know what your own faith may be: what you aſcribe here to us, ye doe it without any ground, either of reaſon or Authoritie: your ſimple aſſertions muſt be the very Articles of your Creed. Some yeares agoe we did ſee a book called Ladonſium Autocatacriſis, wherein by formall and expreſſe teſtimonies, not the articles of your faith, for you are an avowed paucifidian, but ſuch opinions as you and your companions did preach and print, are ſet down at large. Wherein it was demonſtrate, that you and your boſome friends in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, did hold groſſer Arminianiſme, Popery and Tiranny then the worſt of the Canterburians in England: alſo in the beginning of this Treatiſe, we did ſee under your owne hand, ſuch a confeſſion of your faith, as few of the moſt malignant of your party will have the impudence to ſubſcribe it with you.

But be your faith what it may, for it is like that times and occaſions may make you hide or open, yea, vary and change, as you find it moſt convenient for your purpoſe: I am content freely to tell you my mind, in all theſe Articles (as you ſtile them) of our Creed. I never heard of the firſt, but in your Pamphlet; no Presbiterian ever dreamed of any neceſſity, to change the government of the State, that it might be conforme to the Church; but many Epiſcopall and all Eraſtians doe hold the government of the Church to bee a matter of ſo indifferent arbitrary and changeable a nature, that it may well comply, and ought to be conformed to the model of every State wherein it requires to be entertained. The true tenet of all approved among us, ſo farre as I know is, that the government of the Church and State are two really diſtinct policies, both ordained of God, which without his diſpleaſure may not bee confounded, nor ought not to encroach one upon another. p. 74That the wrath of God will be on that Church, and on theſe Church-men, who for any advantage they apprehend, can come either to the Church, or to themſelves, will go to trouble or change any civil State, be it Monarchy, Ariſtocracie, Democracy, or what ever els, which by the juſt lawes of any people is ſetled in a Land; on the other ſide that God will be angry with every State, and all thoſe Stateſmen who for the advancement of their owne, or the States intereſt, will goe to impede, trouble, or change that government of the Church, which Chriſt in his Teſtament has left to his ſervants unto his ſecond comming.

For the ſecond we doe maintaine a parity among Miniſters, courting it an Antichriſtian ambition for any one, to make himſelfe Lord Biſhop over the reſt, but this is farre from any Democracy, for wee put all the Miniſters of a Kingdome under the juriſdiction of a Nationall Aſſembly, the rules whereof uſe to be ſo juſt and exact, that where they are reverenced, there is no danger of any popular confuſion, much leſſe then where Epiſcopall either Tiranny, or Obligarchy does prevaile.

For the third to our Conſiſtories we give no Independent power, theſe with us are all ſubordinate to Claſſicall Presbiteries, and to our Nationall Aſſemblies wee give no power to meddle with any temporall things at all, nor any Legiſlative power about things ſpirituall. When they have paſt their Votes upon a matter ſpirituall according to the rules of the word of God. If any Law or civill Sanction bee needfull, they ſupplicate the Magiſtrate whom they never preſume to command to be an executioner of their Decrees, (theſe be but your calumnies) only they intreat him to make ſuch Laws as hee finds the equity of the matter in his own conſcience to require. You indeed profeſſe an inthronization of Biſhops, and give to them not only a directive power over the King, but an authoritative to excommunicate him, and if he to ſave his Crowne will be content that his Parliaments doe with your Thrones and Myters what they thinke expedient; you print to the world, that this ſhall bring a remedileſſe and p. 75perpetuall ruine both on the King and his people, themſelves and their poſterities.

For the fourth, the Lawes of Scotland allow to the Generall Aſſembly a power to Judge of all divine truths and hereſies, ſo that if they find popiſh, Epiſcopall or what ever Errours eſtabliſhed by Acts of Parliament, yet they are authorized to proceed to give their ſentence from the word of God, not of the Law, but of the Errour, to which Churchmen in their ignorance have procured a Sanction; as for the Law, the Parliament when they ſit, take it into their owne conſideration; never any Aſſembly of the reformed Church, dealt either with Prince or Parliament, for the reclaiming of a Law otherwiſe then by humble ſupplication. What you ſpeake of a corrective power, the Church of Scotland did ever diſclaime it, all compulſion by outward inconvenients they remitted ever to the State. As for the cenſures of the Church, no faction ever has been more prodigall of them both in doctrine and practiſe, then you and your gracious Brethren the Prelats.

For the fifth, we exeem no Miniſter who preaches Treaſon, from the cogniſance and puniſhment of the Magiſtrate, only by the Laws of our Kingdome, the judgement of Miniſters doctrine in the firſt inſtance, belongs to the Eccleſiaſtich Judicatory.

For the ſixth, we pretend no power to make the Magiſtrate adde the civill Sanction to any of our Aſſemblies Decrees, further then his own conſcience, the Juſtice of the thing, the former Laws of the Land, the humble and earneſt deſire of the Subjects does plead for: but you before your Tippets and Rotchets be laid aſide, will permit three Kingdomes to be conſumed with fire and ſword, without any remedy: unleſſe your thrones may bee re-eſtabliſhed, King and people muſt be deſtroyed for ever; And this you tell us muſt be and ſhall be, but in many things wee have found you falſe prophets, and feare not your cauſeleſſe curſes.

For the ſeventh, we maintain no power of the Church to reforme and preſerve Religion, but ſuch as does well conſiſt p. 76with that duty which God has laid upon the Magiſtrate, both for the reformation of Religion, and preſervation of it when it is reformed.

For the eight, wee maintaine that the ſins of the Magiſtrate does not excuſe the people for their neglect of any duty that God has laid upon them, and when Superiours are reſolved to live and dye in Idolatrie, we thinke that every inferiour Magiſtrate, and every perſon is obliged to keepe himſelfe free of corruption, and ſo farre as he is able, to reforme his owne ſoule, but not to be a publick reformer of a Country without a lawfull calling.

For the ninth, all the Covenants of our Land are warranted by Acts of Parliament, and how ever by the miſinformation of Prelats, the King for a time judged them illegall, yet at laſt he found them juſt and neceſſary, according to the Laws and Cuſtomes of the Kingdome; wee indeed doe maintaine, when a handfull of wicked Prelats doe ſeduce a Prince to deſtroy himſelfe and whole Kingdomes, that in that caſe it is lawfull for the Nobles and States of a Land to ſtand upon their guard, and wee cannot ſubſcribe to theſe prime fundamentall Articles of your faith, That the Supremacie of Britaine is ſo farre exalted above all Law divine and humane, that the Parliaments of both Kingdomes for their moſt neceſſary defenſive Armes, are to be condemned by God and all men, for Traitors and Rebels, yet your good friends, the Idolatrous murtherers of Ireland, muſt be regiſtred to poſterity for good Catholick ſubjects. No marvell you beleeve all this, when you profeſſe your advice to all Princes, rather to admit of the worſt whordomes of Rome, the very Jeſuitiſme of Raviliack and Faux, then of the Presbiteriall government. Behold whither deſpite may carry the ſpirit of an excommunicate Prelate.

For the tenth, our Aſſemblies meddle not with queſtions of State, if the originall of royalty be ſo from heaven, that men on earth had never any hand in making of a King: if in any immaginable caſe, a King be cenſurable ſuch queſtions were never propoſed ſo much as for debate in any Aſſembly of Scotland; unhappy Biſhops, who muſt needs p. 77prophane the Crowns of Kings, by making their Soveraignty and myſterious Prerogatives, their ordinary quodlibets to be toſſed as Tennis balls in their common diſcourſe, Sermons and Pamphets. It was a very unhappy day for the Kings of Britaine, when the feet of Prelats got firſt leave to touch the threſhold of the Court, and their evill eyes to behold the Jewels of the Crown, or their ſoule hands to touch the hemme of the royall Robes: ſuch infauſt harppies polute all things though moſt ſacred, to which they approach.

For the eleventh, though it never came to be ſcanned in any Aſſembly, yet I know no honeſt man of Scotland that makes queſtion of the thing. The King and Parliament has inacted the lawfulneſſe of our late defenſive Armes; but the Acts of that Parliament are not much to your mind, for they caſt you out of your native Country, as a prime incendiary unfit to breath more in that Aire.

The twelfth is, but to make up the number, being the ſame with the former.

The concluſion of your Articles, is but a malicious railing invective, very ſutable to your mouth: it's contrary to reaſon and experience, as oft wee have ſaid before, but you cannot ſpare Tauttologies.

The ſecond part of your Appendix is your Poſtſcript, P. 55.56. No ſhadow of Epiſcopacie remaines in any well reformed Church.wherein you make a large muſter of your Epiſcopall Territories and tell us that the major part of the reformed Churches in Chriſtendome, doe retaine Epiſcopacie alſo that the removall thereof from England, is the fountaine of all our preſent Sects: you may know that all our Hereſies and Sects, did breed under the wings of Epiſcopacie, the reaſon why now they appeare ſo thick in publick, is not the removall of Epiſcopacie, but the retarding of Presbiteriall government, and the plague of our too too long annarchie.

That your Epiſcopacie is to be found in any reformed Church, is a great untruth, we grant it is to be ſeen in your Eaſterne and Weſterne Churches, the firſt of your Catalogue: but you would ſpeake a little more plainly, that p. 78people may underſtand your mind, what Weſterne Church is this that you propone unto us for a patterne of Epiſcopacy? is it any other then the good old Mother Church of Rome, which many of you cry up for ſo true a Church, that all Proteſtants are Shiſmaticks, for their needleſſe ſeparation-there-from, and that among Princes thoſe are moſt happy, who ſhall heale that breach, and once againe make us all to be one: under our holy Father the Pope, the firſt Biſhop of Chriſtendome, whom all the Biſhops in Britaine, and in the whole world, ought by a good Eccleſiaſtick right, to reverence as the firſt Patriarch, the conſtant moderator of all Oecumenick Counſells.

Your Eaſterne Churches are thoſe of Greece and Aſia, whoſe corruptions, albeit not like to theſe of Rome, yet are ſo many and groſſe, as none, but ſuch as you will propone them for patternes of imitation.

In the reſt of you… Catalogue you are pleaſed to play the Herauld and Coſmographer, of purpoſe to terrifie ſimple people, by the many names of your large territories. You know the world ſcornes the Rodomontades of Spain, their King muſt not be ſtiled as his neighbours of France, and great Britaine: but he will be called the King of Caſtile, the King of Arragon, the King of Portugall, the King of Leon, and a large & caetera of many Kingdomes, yet all in Spaine. Might you not have ſaid that Epiſcopacie was continued in all the Lutheran Churches of Germany, which will not make the third part of that Country, deducing the Calviniſts and Papiſts.

In your great vanity you reckon up the Earldome of Henneberg, Lenning, and theſe that follow to the number of Thirteene, as if they were all great, and conſiderable Provinces: and yet put them all together, they will ſcarce make up one fifth part of ſome Engliſh ſhires.

But for the matter, are the Lutheran Churches eſteemed by any well adviſed Proteſtants the beſt reformed, whereof our Covenant ſpeaks; It ſeems, the worſe Churches be reformed you like them the better, for they are ſo much neerer to your beſt beloved in Rome, but true Covenanters are not of your mind.

p. 79Further, what you ſpeake of the Lutheran Churches is altogether falſe: That in Germany, or any where elſe among Proteſtants, any thing which you call Epiſcopacie is to be ſound, I marvell if you ſhould beleeve it: for I pray whereever, except in England, did any Proteſtants ſpoile all Paſtors of all power, both of Ordination and Juriſdiction to put it in the hand of one Prelat: to be exerciſed either by himſelfe, or by any depute Eccleſiaſtick, or civill, as he thought fitteſt.

The Dutch Superintendens are as like to Engliſh Biſhops, as an Emperour in the dayes of Fabius Maximus, The Dutch Superintendents are very farre from the Engliſh Biſhops.when the Senate ruled all, to an Emperour in the dayes of Tiberius or Nero, when an abſolute Prince, I will not ſay a Tirant, did governe all at his pleaſure. The name is one, but the things are eſſentially different, and ſo farre diſtant as the Eaſt is from the Weſt.

While you caſt your ſelfe upon the Smectymnians, and will ſtill raile upon our Covenant, we deſiderate your piety, but while you appeale to Calvin and Beza for your Epiſcopacie, we miſſe your Common ſence. All the Epiſcopacie, which ever you had or ever aimed at, was moſt immoderate, and the moſt moderate Epiſcopacie that can be conceived, is a meere human invention, which has no ground at all in the word of God; which in all times and places has proved unhappy to the Church, and which at this time is talked of by ſome for no other end, but to be a new beginning and ſtep to ſuch a Prelacie as may be ſerviceable to the Prince as before, for the advanceing of his Prerogative in Church and State, above all Law and reaſon. How ridiculous is it to heare moſt immoderate ſpirits talke of moderation: to ſpeake of a moderate Epiſcopacie, a moderate Popedome, a moderate Tyranny, is to tell us of a chaſt Bordell an honeſt couſinage a meeke murther, and ſuch like repugnancies: men now are no more childiſh to be couzened by your diſtinctions out of their Covenant.

FINIS.