Scotlands Public Acknowledgment of Gods Just Judgment, Text
SCOTLANDS PUBLICK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF GODS JUST JUDGEMENT upon their NATION For their frequent BREACH OF FAITH, LEAGVES, and SOLEMNE OATHES made to their Neighbours of England, in former Ages, to gratifie their treacherous Confederates of FRANCE.
Recorded in their own publick Liturgie, Printed at Edenborough by Thomas Baſſandine, Anno Dom. 1575 page 54. 57. 58. under this Title, Prayers uſed in the Churches OF SCOTLAND in the time of their Perſecution by the FRENCHMEN (in the year 1560.) from whoſe Tyranny and Vaſſalage, they were then delivered by the Free Brotherly Aſsiſtance and Forces of the ENGLISH, to whom they had been formerly ſo Perfidious.
Publiſhed to prevent the like Breach of Solemn Leagues, Oaths, and Covenants between both Nations now (for fear of of incurring the like, or a worſe Judgement,) by a Well-wiſher to both Kingdomes.
BUT Now, O Lord, the dangers which appeare, and the trouble which increaſeth, by cruell Tyranny of forſworne Strangers, compelleth us to complain before the Throne of thy Mercy, and to crave of thee protection and defence againſt their moſt unjuſt perſecution. That Nation, O Lord, for whoſe pleaſure, and defence of whom, we have offended thy Majeſty, and Violated our Faith, *See Tho. Walſingham, Hiſt. Ang. an. 1383 p. 133. & Antiquitates, Eccleſ. Brit. p. 295. 296.oft breaking the Leagues of unity, and concord which our Kings and Governours have contracted with our *To wit, of England.Neighbours, that Nation, O Lord, for whoſe alliance our Fathers and predeceſſours have ſhed their blood, and we (whom now by tyranny they oppreſſe) have oft ſuſtained the hazard of battaile, that Nation finally, to whom alwaies we have been faithful, now after then long practiſed deceit, by manifeſt tyranny doe ſeek our deſtruction:
Worthily and juſtly may thou, Note.O Lord, give us to be ſlaves unto ſuch Tyrants; becauſe, for the maintenance of their Friendſhip, wee have not feared TO BREAK OƲR SOLEMN OATHES, made unto others, to the great diſ-honour of thine holy Name; and therefore juſtly mayeſt thou puniſh us by the ſame Nation, for whoſe pleaſure we feared not to offend thy Divine Majeſty. In thy preſence, O Lord, we lay for our ſelves no kinde of excuſe, but for thy deare Sonne Jeſus Chriſt his ſake, we cry for mercy, pardon, and grace; Thou knoweſt, O Lord, that their crafty wits in many things have abuſed our ſimplicity: For, under pretence of the maintenance of our Liberty, they have ſought, and have found the way (unleſſe thou alone confound their Councells) to bring us in their perpetuall bondage, &c.
This Text needs no Commentary: the ſumme of it is: Nationall perjury will certainly … puniſhed with Nationall Miſery; and thoſe who break their Solemn Oathes, and Leagues wi… their neighbour Brethren, to gratifie any other Nation or Party, ſhall by Divine Juſtice bee betraed, enſlaved, or endangered to be deſtroyed by that very Nation and Party, for whoſe ends they th… violated their Oathes and Covenants.
A ſtrong engagement both to our Brethren of Scotland and us, to take heed of Covenant breaking one with another, leaſt thereby we expoſe our ſelves to Heavens Vengeance, and to th… Tyranny and ſlavery of the Common Enemy.
AMOS 1. 9. 10.
Thus ſaith the Lord; for three tranſgreſsions of Tyrus, and for foure, I will not turn away the puniſhment thereof, … they delivered up the whole Captivity to Edom, and REMEMBRED NOT THE BROTHER… COVENANT. Therefore will I ſend a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which ſhall devoure the palaces thereof.
Printed at London for M. S. 1646.
End of the text · William Prynne, Scotlands Public Acknowledgment of Gods Just Judgment (1646)