beginning doth so insinuate and thrust it selfe into the house of God as men can hardly disâ—ern by what secret meanes the light is dimm and dakenesse creeping in got the upper hand and in end unawares all is involved within a mystie cloud of horrible Apostasie And least that any should thinke this our admonition out of time in so farre as it is statute and ordained already by his Majestie with advise of his estates in Parliament that all Ministers provided to Prelacies should haue vote in Parliament As likewise the generall Assembly his Majestie being present thereat hath found the same lawfull and expedient We would humbly and most earnestly beseech all such to consider first that the Kingdome of Iesus Christ the Office bearers and Lawes thereof neither should nor can suffer any derogation addition diminution or alteration besides the prescript of his holy world by any inventions or doings of men Civill or Ecclesiasticall And we are able by the grace of God and will offer our selues to proue that this Bishoprie to be erected is against the word of God the ancient fathers and Canons of the Kirk the moderne most learned and godly Divines the doctrine and constitution of the Kirk of Scotland since the first reformation of Religion within the same countrie the Lawes of the realme ratifying the governement of the Kirk by the generall and Provinciall Assemblies Presâ—yteries and Sessions also against the weale and honour of the Kings most excellent Majestie the weale and honour of the Realme and quietnesse thereof the stablished estate and weale of the Kirk in the doctrine discipline and patrimonie thereof the weale and honour of your Lordships the most ancient estate of this Realme and finally against the weale of all and everie one of the good subjects thereof in soule bodie and substance Next that the Act of Parliament granting vote in Parliament to Ministers is with a speciall provision that nothing thereby bee derogatorie or prejudiciall to the present established discipline of the Kirk and jurisdiction thereof in Generall and Synodall Assemblies Presbyteries and Sessions Thirdly and last the generall Assemblie the Kings Majestie sitting voting and consenting therein fearing the corruption of that office hath subscribed and bounded the same with a number of Cautions All which together with such other as shall be concluded upon by the Assembly were thought expedient to be insert in the bodie of the Act of Parliament that is to be made for confirmation of their vote in Parliament as most necessarie and substantiall parts of the same And the said Assemâ—ly hath not agreed to giue thereunto the name of Bishops for fear of importing the old corruption pompe and tyrannie of Papall Bishops but ordained them to be called Commissioners for the Kirk to vote in Parliament And it is of veritie that according to those Cautions neither haue those men now called Bishops entred to that office of Commissioners to vote in Parliament neither since their engyring haue thâ—y behaved themselues therin And therefore in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ who shall hold that gâ—eat Court of Parliament to judge both the quicke and the dead at his glorious manifestation and in name of his Kirk in generall so happily and well establâ—shed within this Realme and whereof the said Realme hath reaped the comfortable fruit of peace and unitie free from heresie schisme and dissention these 46 yeares bypast also in name of our Presbyteries from which we haue our coÌ„mission and in our own name office bearers Pastors within the same for discharging of our necessarie dutie and disburdening of our consciences in particular We except and protest againâ—t the said Bishoprie and Bishops and the erection confirmation or ratification thereof at this present Parliament Most humbly craving that this our Protestation may be admitted by your Honours and registred among the Acts and Statutes of the same in case as God forbid these Bishoprickes bee erected ratified or confirmed therein Archip. I blesse the Lord for the demonstration of his power in the libertie of his servants and thinkes the course should haue halted there if the protestation had been made good by reasons But they ever object unto you froward affections and great zeale with small knowledge and little actions strong protestations and conclusions upon weak probations and feeble premisses Epaph. A Disputation is one thing and Protestation is another Reasons of the Protestation They had no place theÌ„ nor I pupose now to reason the matter yet for stopping your mouth the mind of the adversarie I shal giue you a view of the reasons that were at that time penned against that first step of Prelacie according to the heads order proponed in the protestation wherein ye will perhaps behold a copie of the plaine pertinent and pithie simplicitie of the Ministers of that time and how new wits with their quiddities are as far degenerate in knowledge as in affection CHAP. I. That the Office of this new sort of Bishops is against the the word of God Argum. I. THat the Ministers of God separate from the common affaires of the world sanctified and consecrated to the service of God and salvation of his people should haue a publick office and charge in the Common wealth and worldly affaires is flat repugnant to the word of God and particular places of Scripture following Numb c. 3 v 4445 And the Lord spake unto Moses saying take the Levites for all the first borne of the children of Israel and the Levits shall be mine I am the Lord. Numb c. 18. v. 6. For loe I haue taken the Levites from among the children of Israel who as a gift are given to the Lord to doe the service of the congregation and tabernacle thereof Deut. 18 12. The Priests and the Levits shall haue no part nor inheritance with Israel for the Lord is their inheritance as he hath said unto them Deut. 10 8 The same time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to beare the Arke of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister unto him and to blesse in his name unto this day Act. 13 2. Now as they ministred unto the Lord and fasted the Holy Ghost said separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I haue called them Rom. 1 v. 1. Paul a servant of Iesus Christ put a part or separat to preach the Gospell of God These and many more places of Scripture proues the proposition Then to assume But so it is these Bishops are ministers of God by their profession are counsellers in the Common wealth Lords in Parliament and conventions of the estates Lords of Townes Barones of Lands c. They run to Court leaving their Ministerie to get Bishopricks which they haue obtained with all priviledges of the old Bishoprickes which they pride them in publicklie in the sight of all and presence of the greatest Therefore all against the word of God Argum. II. That the
as Tertullus or they who care not for the losse of much inward peace of their sâ—â—leâ— and consciences so that they may gaine their supposed victorie Yet holding our selves within the bounds of that Christian moderation which followes God without iniurie done to any man â—t is not beseeming our ministeriall calling to secret the truth whereof wee are persuaded and by a cowardly kinde of silence and truthlesse modestie to betray a good cause As touching our owne grievances and others concerning our selues wee haue locked up our hearts with patience and our lippes with taciturnitie rather then wee should impeshe your Honours at this time with our just complaints of wronged innocencie by so many great reproâ—hes shamelesse calumnies of sedition disobedience hypocrites sectaries c. Deprivations and rigorous practises inflicted upon some as if wee alone had troubled Israel by holding for saith these principles and maintaining these opinions whereupon Scâ—â—smatickes and Puritanes build their heresies and despise better then themselves and for no other causes knowne to us but for our constant care as God hath dealt to every man his measure of faith to build the house of God according to the liuely paterne prescribed fâ—om his holy mountaine our conformitie with the Kirk of Scotland and the best reformed kirkes of other Couatries and our loyall obedience to hiâ— Maiâ—sties lawes declaring and approving the true Kirke the true members and Ministers thereof and the doctrine sacrament and disâ—ipline to bee ministred and professed within the same As for the vehement outcries against our cause and the sundry foule matters layd to our charge in word and writ wee passe them all as swines flesh dressed after a divers fâ—shâ—on and wee looke for equall hearing at your Honours hands and for Pauls libertie from King Agrippa Thou art permitted to speake for thy selfe In this confidence of our good cause and persuasion of your Honours loue to the truth knowne â—y your selves wee prâ—esse not to offend any but being provoked to dâ—pend our selveâ— leaving to the Lord. Who shall iudge the quiâ—k and the dead to persuade them that haue their eyes upon us unpaâ—tially to iudge our labours in the ministerie for the true religion and against the enemies and adversaries therof our harmlesse conversation and blamelesse aâ— it pleases the Lord to assiâ—t us under our infirmities The reasons whereby wee are upholâ—en in our course and protestations and iust defence against the oppositions intended are all made patent to the eyes of the world â—to wayes to lay open the nakednesse of our mother to the scandall of the enemie or justly to offend any otherwayes minded but that the multitude of our professors bee not tainted with the venome of malitiousnesse contrary to the sincere milke which they haue receiued by a swift running speaâ— of humane eloquence more fitting to deceiue the eare then to worke gâ—â—eâ— in the heart If a câ—sing â—â—â—e sorâ—orne wee should desâ—â—t from speaking If the sword of pursuite were put up wee could bee soone discharged of our baâ—kler But being pursued if wee defend not wee die with shame and are guiltie of our owne ouerthrow The praise of all paines wisely taken the steppe of all callings and crowne of commendiâ—d sâ—fferings is to doe and suffer in the causes of Christs spouse and for the maintenance of the salvation of our own soules That one thing we cannot suppresse our hearts desire to haue and hold religion in libertie and puritie And for that effect better like of the single forme of policie in the Kirk of Scotland and the reformed kirkes in other Countries then the many Ceremonies retained by some Yea loue and feare compelleth vs to put your Honours in minde that as it hath been in all ages the holy disposition and happy practise of all Gods people to set continually before their eyes his inestimable goodnesse towards his Kirke her case and condition in her militarie troubles and in consideration of the one and the other dutie required and eâ—sâ—â—cted at your 〈◊〉 Where through in the riches of Gods mercie they haue been safe from that dreadfull ruine that hath iustly overtaken the carelesse and the wicked So now in time of dangerous distâ—â—ction it would please your Honours to set before your eyes how wonderfully the Lords loue and with grace hath been powred upon his Kirk in this nation and by the meanes of religion vpon our gracious Soveraigne your Honours auncestors of blessed memorie your selves your friends and upon this estate the present estate of such a loving mother crying in her bloody distresses for helpe at your hands And in regard of blessings abundantly received in the dayes of her libertie and health what is due from your son-like affections places of credit and honourable callings in your high conventions where God stands in the assembly of Gods high iudges among the Gods to your well deserving mother in whose wombe wee were conceived and brought up on her knees to the condition wherein we now stand at ease and peace in the dayes of her distresse Our hurable petition to your Honours is that as yee respect the glorie of Christs kingdome to be continued in this land the adorning of his Maiesties crowne and the quietnesse of his loving and loyall subiects the endlesse prayse of your selves and the flourishing of your Honourable estates with the particular comfort of so many ministers and congregations within this Realme This poore Kirk in the day of her teares griefe and feare by your timous intercession at his Maiesties hands and the Lord give you favour in the presence of the King and your uttermost indeavours debtfull to Gods honour and Christs kirk in this happy occasion now presented may obtaine in this parliament her most reasonable desires A sufficient and ready execution of former acts of Parliament made against the fearfull blasphemy of Gods name profaning of the Lords day and contempt of his Sanctuarie and service so vniversally over-flowing in this land not onely in the persons of poore ignorants in a manner tyed to these horrible crimes by a cursed custome and beggarly necessitie but even in the more honourable sort whose damnable example encourages their followers to sinne without fear with such additions as may represse and restraine these crying abominations in all without respect of persons A safe libertie to enjoy the profession of our Religion as it is reformed in doctrine Sacraments and discipline and hath been openly professed sworne and practised by Prince Pastors and people of all rankes your predecessors of worthy memorie your selues and wee all yet living these threesâ—ore yeares bygone and aboue A full deliverance from and a sufficient defence against all novations and novelties in doctrine Sacraments and Discipline and specially such as by constitutions of the Kirk confessions of faith liberall Lawes of the Countrie Oathes and Subscriptions and long continued practise hath been condemned and cast out as idle rites and Romish formalties under whatsoever pretence they
Constantines course was more commendable Perfecit Constantinus quod Philippus jam caeperat It were our dutie if our fore-beears had done wrong to practise the rule Quae illicita à Praedecessoribus invenitintur admissa in melius revocari oportet 4 Observation of dayes kneeling c. as they are straitly enioyned are voyd of the necessarie properties required by the wisest fathers in a lawfull ceremony ut fidei congruat saluti proficiat disciplinae conducat So in this kirk neither are they necessary expedient nor sitting the frame of our reformation they edifie not they divide and destroy in so far as ceremonies being testes religionis they are signes to the adversaries of the truth that we repent our reformation which is not and presages to returne to their damned corruptions which by the grace of God wee meane not in substance or ceremony To reinduce them say the divines of Germany is to disturbe the peace of the kirk to grieve the godly to wound the weak to countenance Poperie by shew of inclination towards it or commoderation with it In neighbour kirks where they most prevaile their removall is most earnestly sought 5 In Perth assembly they are concluded not as lawes binding either to fault or pain but as admonitions or institutions Magnum est discrimen inter ecclesiastica decreta politica quorum necesse est illa minus obstringere conscientias Nam in ecclesiasticis spectanda est 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In politicis auteÌ„ parenduÌ„ est quamvis tu eam eutaxiam non videas Such ceremonies are juris privari non publici Ilk man is bound in conscience by the word first to discern what is indifferent and then to direct himself in the right vse of every individuall thing for his own edification And if ministers and professors be restrained from that search and brought under a compelled obedience by the law that were to revive the ancient servitude of the Germanie Adiaphorisme wherewith the godly would never suffer themselves to be intangled Nulla lex sibi solam conscientiam justitiae suae debet sed ijs a quibus obsequium exspectat 6 Our forebears finding the controâ—â—ted ceremonies to be the monseâ—ebs of Popery like the mowdiworts in Thessaly that overtheâ— a whol toâ—ne Quod in Papatu dolendum in reformatione auferendum â—utaâ—ent They not onely took away Beal but the calves of Dan and Beâ—hel They thought it no wayes meet to follow Pilats policie to please the Iewes with scourging of Christ that they might keep him aliue And will the Papist be pleased with scourging the doctrine by invoctions c. And taking againe some of these ceremonies will that preserve us against their heat breathed out against us as heretikes and make us lurke under mitigation as if we were now but schismatikes Non est ad hunc modum in religione agendum sayth one tota enim repurganda est ad vivum emendanda And another sayth Atqui praestaret sâ— pultam esse doctrinam ad tempus quam sic slagellari Jt is to be feared that before it be long that men disaffected to the ancient order shall further presume ere it be long to giue out other doctrine as well as new ceremonies 7 Ratification would compasse a great many Ministers and professors of this Kirk between two dangerous straits either to practise against the truth as they vnderstand it and haue walked in it and against the personall band whereby they haue oblished themselues to stand constantly to the obedience of it or else to fall under the breach of a civill law more hardly perhaps to be persued then the lawes against heresie blasphemie breaking of the sabbâ—th day c. In such a case as wee are alwayes ready in our goodâ— and â—oâ—ies to the increasing and upholding of his maiesties honour and estate so according to our possibilitie and the occurrent necessitie of his Highnesse affaires we cheerfully offer our best supplies and helpe And for ease of our iust grievances and feares of our Christian libertie from constraint of ceremonies we humbly beg to haue returned ratification of our ancient liberties of religion Ceremonies should bee persuaded by reason and not inforced by compulsion Propter externoritus disciplinae homines pios ferire neque domini est voluntas neque purioris Ecclesiae mos. In the name of the Lord Iesus wee require your Honours that at this time ye walk in the matters of the kirk as one day yee shall be iudged dutifull according to the Scriptures following Beware of men beware of evill workers Let no man beguile you with entising words Stand fast in the faith quit you like men Be strong Stand fast in the libertie wherewith Christ hath made you free and bee not intangled againe with the yoak of bondage Hold fast the forme of sound words That good thing which is committed unto thee keepe Contend earnestly for the faith which was once given to the Saints Seing ye know these things before beware lest yee fall from your owne stedfastnesse Strengthen the things which remaine that are ready to die Remember how thou hast received and heard And hold fast and repent If thou watch not I will come upon the suddenly like a thiefe in the night and thou shalt not know what houre They haue no courage for the truth upon earth Jerem. 9.3 Five reasons wherefore the fiue Articles of Perth ought not to be ratified in this present Parliament Other reasons FIrst because that assembly was not lawfully constitute wanting a fundamentall priviledge of a lawfull assembly in respect that contrary to the act of the generall Assembly holden anno 1600 and anno 1568. Bishops Barons and Burgesses voted not being authorized with Commissioners from Synods Presbyteries nor Sessions of Kirks His maiesties letter direct to particular Barons and Burgesses without commission from their incorporations could not giue them vote in Parliament much lesse in the generall Assembly Secondly putting the case that those Articles were indifferent yet the Assembly hath erred in respect it hath concluded contrary to the Apostolick rule in things in different which is that the practise should not onely not compell him that for conscience refuseth to practise but also least hee offend him should forbeare to practise himselfe Propter conscientiam non tuam sed ipsius dico 1. Cor. 10.29 If thy brother be grieved for thy meat now walkest thou not charitably destroy him not for thy meat for whom Christ hath died Rom. 14. vers 15. Thirdly because the foresaid Articles being determined in alteram partê per circumstantias impeditivas in themselues are unlawfull The observation of it drawing with it a revolt and returning back againe to Popish rites and ceremonies a violation of our profession suâ—â—â—tions and othes whereby we renounced them a confirming of Papists in their errours and putting them in hope of our comming to them in more substantiall poynts a grieving of the hearts of all zealously affected a
he neither can finde out the cause nor make any good use of the particulars Archip. Ye know both the truth of the generall and the true cause thereof and therefore let me know the particular Epaph. Vpon that last day of the Parliament before foure houres after noone vvhen all the Actes vvere now concluded and mens hearts vvere insulting upon the Defenders glorying in their own vvittie counsels rejoycing in their great successâ— gaping for great thankes and reward and wishing every one he vvere the first reporter that he might be carver of his own praise as if he had recovered the Kingdom of Bohemia and the Palatinat The Lord Commissioner rising from his throne for ratifying all that vvas done by touch of the Scepter vvas trysted by the God of heaven For at the verie moment of that ratification the heavens send in through the vvhole vvindowes of the house an extraordinarie great lightning after the first a second more glancing and then a third most terrible of all Immediately after the lightnings an unâ—outh and extraordinarie darkenes for the suddennesse and greatnesse therof astonishing all and couching the insolent joyes of some The lightning vvere seconded vvith three louâ— blasts of thunder in sound and short continuance of every blast like the shot of some Cannon extraordinary great and were taken by many vvithin the house of Parliament to be shotts from the Castle It appeared to all that dwelt within ten or twelue miles that the clowdes stood right aboue the town and that the darkenesse overshadowed that part onely By one of the blasts the Beacon standing in the entry of Leith haven vvas beaten down After the lightnings darknes and thundering their fell down a shoure of haile stones extraordinary great and last of all a strange raine making the streetes to runne like rivers imprisoning the Lords about the space of an houre and a halfe and straitly forbidding to honour these fiue Articles vvith ordinarie pompe and solemnity So that the servants rode home on the footmantles and the Masters vvith drew themselues some by coach and some on foot through the neerest privie wayes Next as if the heavens had resolved never to countenance these ill-gotten creatures upon Munday the 20 of August vvhen the Actâ—s vvere proclaimed the same mâ—â—gâ—ation vvas renewed by thunder si◠〈◊〉 and great raine coâ—â—â—â—ing all the time of the riding at the Crosse And thirdly vvhat hath followed since yee can vvitnesse your selfe The tempests of vvind and raine bâ—gâ—n at that time haue so continued through the uâ—â—outh unseasonaâ—â—â—nesse of the â—â—e harvest in many places S Luke gat not a stâ—wâ—k and the â—â—â—ne universally are shaken and rotten in such measure that never was there in this Country such it equality of â—riâ—es in 〈◊〉 short time never greater feare of famine vvant of â—â—ed to sâ—â— the ground for the next crop It is pittifull to remember if it could be forgotten so long as there is a Kirk in Scotland the impetuous inundations of vvater carrying away vvith their violenâ—e not onely cornes cattle and bridges but houses plenishing people and all Perth hath good reason to call to mind the month of May the yeare 1591 vvherein by certaine commissioners they confessed to the Generall Assembly their rash and suddain receiving of the apostat Lords troublers of Kirk and Kingdome and promised never to giue suâ—h occasion in time comming but to assist and maintaine the Kirk of God and the true Religion presently professed vvithin thâ—â— Realme as at more length is contained iâ— theâ—â— own confesâ—ion From the months of March 1â—â—6 and August 1618 vvherein râ—sâ—eâ—â—â— vvas both begun and câ—ncluded that unhappie chaâ—ge whâ— iâ— hath been and is a cursed mother of many miseries to this Kirk and Kingdome unto vvhich howsoever they were disposed it vvas openly spoken in the publiâ—k meeting that they were inclinable And if it were so they 〈…〉 as farre from their first promâ—sâ— as thâ—y inclined to that altâ—â—ation Item Item the moneth of Octob. 1621 vvherein the 〈◊〉 and rumbling of vvaters and fear and danger vvithin their 〈◊〉 sends them to seek their safety by the losse of their faâ—â— â—â—â—ly bridge vvith such affection as the merchant casts his goods in the sea or the owner runnes his ship on ground for safety of mens lâ—ues The Lord had an eye to the teares of their sorrow and hâ—ard their cryes from the depths he releeved and saved them and they stand his debters of themsâ—lues for their great redemption and that wonderfull deliverance And likewise the town of Berwick did see the unresistable rage of Tweed by whose violence was hurled away not onely their ancient vvodden bridge but that new and strong one sinely builded of stone no lesse destinate to beare that honourable remembrance Hoc uno ponte duo regna conjunxi Deus diu conjuncta consâ—rvet then to be a common servant to the North and South parts of this Iland It is moreover pittifull to heare the lamentation of vvidowes children and friends at home for the lâ—sse of their deere husbands loving fathers and trustie and tender friends by sea and specially in those townes that are most zâ—alous to follow novelties in religion and also pittiful to remember the great regrat of Borgh and Land for vvant of fewel to prepare their meat and drinke and refresh their persons against the injuries of the vehement cold And yet few strikes upon the thigh and askes why are all these things come upon us But for further humiliation the Lords hands is yet stretched out to see if any vvill repent and returne For before the vvearisome end of this unseasonable harvest and the vvheat seed which farre by the ordinarie custome of this Country vvas not begun in December there is come on a heavie Winter vvith great hunger and cold striking all that haue fore sight vvith feare and care to ease themselues of such persons as they may spare and to liue as retired as possible they can and daily increasing pittifull cryes not onely of vagabond beggars but of many honest persons who if they had employment as before were able to succour themselues by the fruit of their labours What the spring and summer following may bring forth of such beginnings it is hard for us to inquire 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Read Euseb l. 9. cap. 7. after him Niceph. l. 7 cap. 28. Rules for reducing the iudgements of God to their own proper causes and best for all To watch and pray to be zealous and amend and to resolue to exercise their patience and charitie as the Lord hath measured unto them Archip. I know that the providence of God ruleth and the fin of man procureth all judgements and afflictions And I thank my God I haue learned against the Atheisme of the times some rules to direct me how to reduce particular judgements to particular causes and to father them right upon their owne deserving sinnes As 1 by denunciation in the word
acts of Parliament paâ—t in favors of the same with sorrow and sore against our harts we will be constrained to use the remedy of Protestation Like as aâ—hering to the protestations made to the Parliament holden at Pâ—rth in the yeare of God 1606 and to the Protestation used in the last Parliament holden at Edinburgh and to all other Protestationâ— whatsoever made in favour of this Kirk and against all hurts and injuries intended against the same By these presents we solemnly protest all and whatsoever Articles â—â—ctes and others whatsoever shall be propoued concluded and publâ—shed in or from this present Parliament in prejudice of the iurâ—sdiction and libertie of the Kirk Assemblies therof order stâ—â—â—â—shed or any part therof or in favours of usurped governement and damned Hierarchie of Ceremonies and alterations whatsoever concerning the ministration of the Sacraments or any other point or practise of discipline received in this Kingdome And for due execution hereof wills and request our welbeloved Brother _____ to subscribe and to present the same as offâ—cers in open face of Parliament to the Lords of Articles being conveened and if need bee to affixe the same upon the Parliament house dore or Market crosse of Edinburgh To the effect that our reasonable dissâ—ssent from all and whatsoever may in any sort preâ—udge the forme of Religion established in this Kingdome may be not oâ—ly knowen At Edinburgh the 25 day of Iuly 1621. Archip. Ye haue shewed me evident testimonies of their fidelitie vvhich maugre oblivion and malice vvill bide after them vvhen they are gone out of â—his vvorld as they lâ—ft â—hem behind vvhen they vvere put out of that Towne I would now know vvhat vvas the successe Epaph. The former reasons and admonitions took impression in many hearts few vvere in any doubt vvhat to doe if they had been left to their own libertie for there was not one vvhâ— either respected these fiue Articles for their own good qualitie or for the Kirks authoritie neithâ—r ever to this day were they honoured with the name of an Act of the generall Assembly but beare the note of basenesse in the title of Articles All the perplexity was vvhat to doe in so great extremitie and urging importunitie for the Masters of vvork both for compassing the purpose and keeping themselues from censure set their wits by all meanes to vvorke so many as they might to be of their mind And for this effect there vvas no small businesse in the beginning to single out and set inclinable Lords and Noblemen and so to make way for their Election who vvere to sit upon the Articles that therby might be gained in hope of further victorie thirty and two Votes at least in their judgement vvho had made prosperous tryall of such cunning first at Perth and now knowing vvith vvhom they dealt had no lesse hope of successe here Archipp That would seeme to be like the policie of our late Ecclesiasticall Assemblies in chosing of the privie conference But after so full preparation vvhether vvas the day appointed for holding the Parliament now at last observed vvith the vvonted solemnitie Epaph. It vvas Riding of the Parliâ—ment for upon Wednesday the 25 of Iuly 1621 at the Palace of Halvroode-house there is first a Majesticall appearance of high honour and splendor glancing from that glorious convention prepared for the sacred and high Court of Parliament the most excellent person of the mightie King and Head of this Monarchie being resembled by the potent and noble Lord Iames Marquesse of Hammilton his Highnesse Commissioner and the Estates of Parliament ranked according to the worth of their persons and the deserved and unspotted dignitie of their places And then they marched in state from the said palace with honourâ— borne according to thâ— custome of this ancient Kingdome the Crown by the Earle of Angusâ— the Scepter by thâ— Earle of Marâ— the Sword by the Earle of Rothesse to the Parliament house where they entred and set themselues in their honourable places neither Papists nor any other sort of persons desirous to heare and see being excluded Archipp Why passe yee the Prelacie vvho of dutie ought to haue beene first remembred in this their owne Ceremoniall Parliament Epaph. Neither ye not I can remember them vvith such acclamation of joy as a Papist did who before many Gentlemen cryed aloud in the street vvith lifted up hand directing his speech to the Bi hop of Santandroes God blesse you my Lord with all your Brethren and favourers of your course for you and they are furthering the way to content his Majestie and us all that are Catholickes which God prosper and none resists except a number of evill disposed Ministers But the clamour of the multitude and the accustomed noise at suâ—h times suppressed the bablings of the seditious Parasite and buried them in their eares vvho vvere neerest unto himselfe Archipp Seeing Papists tooke the boldnesse both to speak upon the street and to be present in the house modest Ministers would haue been overseen notwithstanding of the straitnesse of the Proclamation against them Epaph. Yet there vvas speciall care recommended to the double guard vvithout and vvithin and as great attendance given that no Mâ—nister vvanting the Bishops licence should be suffered to enter And after that the members of the Parliament vvere placed a second search made for Ministers that if any had been permitted to enter they might be removed Archip. How can yee be able to lead me through to the end seeing ye were neither an actor nor permitted to be witnesse of the remanent proceeding Epaph. The Lyâ—ian ring is worne away long since Any of the beholders could relate all that vvas done openly every one of the members of the Court could not see vvhat vvas done secretly Lookers on many times see more then gamesters and in the valâ— the hill is best seen Archip. If ye take upon you to tell me the truth I will cease to be curious about the mean of your information vvhat was done in that first meeting Epaph. First the B. of Santandroes after a verie short prayer read a part of Scripture Speeches in â—â—e house of Parliament Rom. 13.7 and delivered a discourse chiefly intending to perswade the taxation After him my Lord Commissioner had a speech declaring to the Estates his Maj. great and extraordinary troubles and continuall debursements in supporting the King of Boheme his Queen their mother and in continual sending of Embassadors to France Germany and Spaine to travel for peace among the Christian Princes besides the extraordinary aids given to the Germane Princes to retain them vvithin the compasse of the band of friendship and alliance the charges of maintaining a sea Navie under the conduct of Sir Robert Mansfield adding also that his Maj. suslained and suffered more for the persecutions afflictions of the Protestants and for the defence of the Reformed Kirk then all the Princes in the world besides with divers