with K Iames Soe againe when the 5. Articles were introduced by a most illegall injurious and violent way in the Assembly at Perth who were then present with the King but Buckingam and B. Land twosit instruments as could bee to bring such an evill worke to passe They having thus begun to spoyle the Lords Vineard afterwards they caused many idle pamphlets to be published against that good old way of Government (a) Our Bb. have a trick which the Scot. never used that is to cast men into prison and there deprive them of all meanes of writing and then ser then Parasites and Sycophants to rayle against them Now truly these are wise in their generation or they know had their opposites the liberty that they have they were better be hāgd out of the way then suffer the just shame which they would doe for their filthy lies blasphentiess of that Church by which Government before their Lordships ruled the corrupt Doctrines and ill liues of Preachers were severely corrected and suppressed But for their parts they gave way and liberty unto evill doers and sought only to curbe and suppresse the better sort Add hereunto their procuring from the K a warrant for to exercise such a jurisdiction in the civil Government (b) Forgs the Tipe of Bb. are said to have 2 small threads hanging neere their eyes wherwith they make trapps lay them in muddy places for to devoure the Fish these tove threads signifie the civill and spirituall functions of Bb. wherwith as the Frog with her tvvo threads they take the godly and devoure them as is inconsistent with the Lawes of that Relame the honour of the Soveraigne peace of that Country Nay not here withall are satisfyed but seeke further for a Commission from King Charles and under shew or colour of which warrant (c) As the Scribes Pharisees never left Pilate till he had passed sentence of death against Christ So the Prelates are earnestly importunate with the Kings of the Earth to have Commission and vvarrant from them for to crucifie Christ dayly in his members they make many greevious acts of injustice and greatly oppresse many of his Majesties loyall good subjects (d) If you complaine of oppression and thinke you have just cause for it to vvound the Beast What may wee say of our oppressions which are more for number more heinous for nature longer for continuance and more common and generall For what condition is there of men among us but are horribly abused by them See the Abbreviate These abuses are not all for besides they have vys modis used meanes to gert another Commission from his Majestie whereby to cover their unlawfull wayes unto benefices for themselves and their freinds and withall got a colour of an Act of Parliament to bring the Surplusse into the Church they caused fome Popish Lords to sit upon the Articles of the Parliament An 1633. they were also the instruments that procured an act to be contrived beeing a racification of the Kings prerogative and power to impose such apparell upon Church-men in divine service as he should thinke su Yea and to bring this to passe they moved the King to presse all men either to consent or dissent to the whole Act as it was framed thereby cunningly to draw all the Parliament-men either to deny the K prerogative or else to consent to their plott for the Surplusse More then this they perswaded his Majesty to sett downe with his owne hand the names of all the Noblemen that should discent from the aforesaid Act and that they should be taken as men disrespecting his Majesty and his Service and that hee should not heare them to give any reason for their dislike of the thing And whereas there was found afterwards with the Lord Balmerin a certaine writing containing some reasons wherefore the Noblemen could not ascent unto the said Act And some other passages expedient to vindicate their persons and cariages from the reproach of beeing dis-affectionated to his Majesties Service and this set downe in a Potition with an intent that it should be presented to the King by the Noblemen but was not The Bishops getting a sight of this Copie according to the rest of their doings caused this good Nobleman for having this Perition to be condemned of Legis Majestatis And it went neere with his life (a) Our English Preates this way are None-such For if they perceive a man to bee an enemie to their unblessed Kingdome they will bee sure to have his blood for it if they can this our Noblitie know well enough the which makes thē the unwillinger to power out their vials upon the throne of the Beast Their Lordships having gone thus farre are not affraid to publish a Booke of most wicked Canons (b) Consider O Englād what cause thou hast to free thy selfe out of the hāds of these theeves murderers who have many yeares bound thee as Tyrants and Turkes doe Gally-slaves to their oars I say bound thee with their Canons Articles Injunctions as so many irons fetters to row for them Romes Boat So that Scotlād bath nor the cause which thou hast to putt those Amalekites to the sword among which one is that whosoever shall affirme that the Service-booke which was not yet out but in hatching containes any thing erronious shall be excommunicated ipso facto it was not long after this ere they caused the said Service-booke to be published Which hath in it not only the Superstition and Popery contained in the English Leiturgis but some thing more and that they might bring the Church nolens volens to use this Jdol-booke they procured a Proclamation (c) Quae whether the Scotsmen did well to refuse the Service-booke being commaunded by the K. to use it quid sequitur to be published wherein al his Majesties subjects were commanded to conforme strictly thereunto as to the only forme of Gods publick worship for that Church Beeing thus swollen (d) Nor like Ours For their insolencies are intollerable specially that little great Laud but this gives me hope that their shame fall is at hand drosse assoon as ever it hath gotten up to the top and elevated it selfe above the pure mettall is then scummed off cast away These like drosse scumme are risen up above their betters therefore c. See Psa 119 199. with a presumptuous conceit of their power and thinking now that neither great nor small had either the courage or wisedom to stand in their way (e) As the Scots Bb. were deceived so I trust will Ours be the Bishop of Ederb in July 1637. gives order to the Ministers of that Citty that they read the aforesaid Service-booke in their Congregatious Which would be such a Masse in Scotland as the Pope himselfe (f) Pope Pius 4 sent Vincentio Parpatia Abbot of S. Saviours to Qu. Eliz offering her to confirme the
it is answered 1. Seeing the band and union is for the maintenance of true Religion the Kings Authoritie and Lawes and for the publick welfaire and peace of the whole Realme against such as seeke the ruine thereof It cannot be justly tear med such a league among subjects as by the foresaid act is prohibited 2. Ours is no private band of some particular persons but a publick one of the collective bodie of the whole Land Now it may not be thought that they who made the Act intended to prohibite themselves from entering into Covenant with God and for God and the King 3. This is no band against Law but a renuing only of a Confession of Faith which King lames authorized both by proclamation and his practice too But admitt there were some inform alitie in it in regard they craved not his Majeties consent before they made the Covenant Notwithstanding rebus sic stantibus considering to what extreame miseries (a) What Mariners a case either they can not crane the maisters ayd or if they craue it cannot optaine it I say in such a case what mariners will not indeauour to preserve the vessel from drowning rather then sit still so maister men peerish together I leaue the application to the wise reader many wayes the Bb. had brought them it was as necessarie and lawfull for them to doe wnat they did for the good of the Church as was Hesters approaching to King Assuerus before he held out his goulden Scepter made necessarie and lawfull by reason of the eminent daunger that they were in through Hammous suggestion to the King Another thing objected by the Adversarie is that all such as subscribe to this Covenant oblidge themselves to practice such things as by the act of Perth Assembly was appointed to be used To this they answer 1. For Perth Assembly they say as Ambrose said of the Councill he 'd at Ariminum illud ago concilium exhorreo That Convocation was not Lawfull For the moderators and other members thereof were not rightly chosen Againe the carriages of all businesses went by craft and guile (b) After such a manner are their innovations brought into the English Church that is either by craft or violence or both For the Bb. know that they are so wel beloved in England that it is not possible that any thing should be don for their meantenance in a faire legall way As Wolves take the advantage of the darke night for to kill deuour the Sheepe so these Wolves make use of in justice violence for to praey upon Christe poore lambes and not legallie and impartially Besides seeing their cheife pretence for the introduction of genu-cultus then ordained was because the memory of superstition was past It must follow that they who forbeare the practice have as good or rather a better reason for it Namelie because the practice of it will revive thememory of superstition Lastly it is well knowne that sundry of the innovations concluded at Perth have not been by the Prelates themselves yet practised (c) Howsoever the Prelates doe presse conformitie yet it must not be thought that they doe it of any conscience but they invent certaine Ceremonies Canons Articles c. Unto which they thinke no honest man will subscribe so hope by keeping out all able faithfull men from the ministerie giving others just occasion to leaue their Churches they hope I say in a little time to bring the whole nation to be Athests and Papists they omnia samilia as birds of a feather they will agree well enought Now by the same reason and ground that they omitt some of those innovations the subscribers may forbeare the practice both of them and the others also And the rather seeing most Churches (d) As the Lyon in the Greek fable would needs have the Asse and fox to be of his Councill because he knew they would doe any thing that he should command them so the Bb. place abroad in the parish Churches of the Land either Knaves or Fooles for they know that such fellowes like Foxes Asses will doe any thing at their courmaund I say any thing so that it be for advantage As that lewd fellow professeth in the poet Dorio the Baud non pudet vanitatis minime dum ad rem Had we such in the Kingdome have not to this day acknowledged the things there concluded for the constitutions of a lawfull assembly It is further objected that Perth Assembly was ratified by an Act of Parliament Ann. 1621. and therefore the Subscribers obleidge themselves to forbeare to practice that which by Parliament they are commaunded to practice To answer it 1. Parliamentarie Ratifications can no way alter Church Canons concerning the worship of God For it beeing but a Counsell the Parliament cannot turne it into a precept No more then it can change precepts into Counsels For that were rather to make Lawes and Canons in matters of Religion then to confirme them 2. There are no commanding words in the ratification which can simplie bind the greater and better sort of subjects to a literall obedience of the Articles made in that assimbly the reason is because there was a supplication given to the members of that Parliament before they sate that they would be pleased to heare such grounds and reasons as should be exhibited to them against the ratification of Perth Assembly Moreover when the Supplicators were suppresd they made their protestation in due time and place according to order of law Besides his Majesty Commissioners in that Parliament solemnly promised never to presse (a) They have had more fauour shewen them then we have had for Ceremonic here are so vrged as that the Omission of them is more seve relie punished the the breach of any law of God yea the truth is so men we be Ceremonioush supestitious It is aâ— the religion the Bb care or and it is aâ— much religioÌ„ as the have themselves the execution of the act no penalty should bee exacted and that there should not be any further of conformity to the English Ceremenies in short the a foresaid Subscribers have protested against iurisdiction of Prelates and inparticular against their high Commission (b) The City of Alexandria in Aegypt nourished the greaâ— bird this to denoâ— garbage offall â—â— it and to cleanse thâ— streets but he left 〈◊〉 his own fithines at beaslines morâ— noysome behind him the high Comissiâ—â— Court is allowed under a pretence cleanse the hand the Offals of sinn but the truth is thâ—â— it doth not but bâ—â—ther like that bâ— voyds so much duâ—â— filthines as 〈◊〉 the whole Kingdome is annoyed therewith our state therfore shall doe wel to 〈◊〉 downe this house of Baal as losiah did the house of the Sodomites turne it to a laâ— or draught-house and so it shall keepe still its nature and kind and all other their Courts Canons Articles and proceedings
and in the meane time we should receaue no prejudice as the said act it selfe testifies for us Now whereas wee your supplicants with long patitence and hope grounded upon sundry promises were exspecting an answere unto our fore named humble desires wee understood of some direction from his Majestie to your Lords of his highnes privy counsell touching our complaints and upon the same addmitted the consulting and iudging (b) (b) If the Nobilitie Barons ' Ministers c. had submitted their cause upon the Kings Commaundement to the Bb. their Church had not been so soone purged of Romish Superstition And for our parts unlesse with the Noole Scots we refuse to admitt them for our Iudges we shall never shake them of with their spirituall whoredoms both of our supplication and the Kings answere there to vnto the Arch-Bishops and Bishops our direct par-ties Contrary to our protestation given at Dealkeeth and since renued at Starling and contrary to your Lordships foresaid act (c) (c) It much impeacheth the honour and reputation of Statesmen to comply with Prelates For howsoever they hould up their heads looke bigge upon the matter Blesse themselves yet by good bad they are hated all the Land over and it is a received Maxime among the people that he cannot be honest and be for the Bishopes If a Horse chance to steppe in the track of a Wolfe he is made lame by it These Wolves have the like strange operation for whosoever comes into their way he halts for ever 〈…〉 made at Dealkeeth Least therefore our silence should bee prejudiciall to this soe importunate a cause as concernes Gods Glory and worship our Religion and Salvation the lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome or derogatory to our former supplications and complaints or in briefe not answerable to the trust of our commission wee are forced out of our bounden duty to God our King and natiue Country to take instrument in the no taries and Clarkes hands seeing your Lordships refuse to admit our Declimiter for remouall of these of our parties and to protest in manner following 1. Wee protest that wee may and ought to have a immediate course to present our iust greeviances to our sacred Soverainge and in a legall way and manner to prosecute the same before the ordinarie competent judges Civill or Ecclesiasticall without any offence either offred by us or taken by your Lordships 2. We protest that the Arch-Bishops and Bishops the parties whome wee complaine vpon cannot bee reputed or esteemed lawfull iudges to sit in iudicatory within this Kingdome Civill or Ecclesiasticall upon any of us the said supplicants untill they doe by lawfull tryall iuditiously purge themselves of such crimes as wee have already laid to their Charge offering our selves to prove the same whensoever his Majesty shal be pleased to give vs audience 3. Wee protest that no act (a) (a) Our Land would be happie if it were free from the unjust acts and Censures of Orelates For trulie Israel never sighed more under the Egyptian bondage thē the better sort everywhere cry out complaine of their oppression and crueltie It may be they thinke that our consciences like Sampsons Shouldiers are strong enought to beare all the loads they lay upon us But our State hath learned now of Scot land how to bee eased of their burdē or proclamation whether pasd or here after shall passe in the counsell and by the states of Arch-Bishops and Bishops our par-ties and whome we have declyned to be our Iudges shall in no wise be preiudicall to us that is either to our persons or lawfull meetings proceedings and persuits 4. We protest that neither our selves nor any others (b) (b) It is a sweet Harmony when mē joyn together in good actions Certainly were there such an accord among the Nobilitie Barons Ministers her e in Englād It vvould make these proud Nimrods harts to quake For their hope of standing is in regard of the divisions in the Nobility Ministers c. but my minde gives me God vvill put it into their hearts shortly to shevv thē a Scots trick whose hearts the Lord shall moue to joyne with vs in our supplications against the aforesaid innovations shall incurre any danger either in life lands or any politicall or Ecclesiasticall penaltie For not observing such acts Bookes Cannons Writs judicatories and proclamations introduced without or against the acts of Parliament or statutes of this Kingdome But it shal be lawfull for us and them to use our selves in matters of Religion (c) (c) The Scots Nation is vvorthy of honour above many Nations For that in Religion they have not beene the Servants of men neither follovved their Kings othervvise then their Kings have followed Christ Contrariwise it is the shame blott of our Nation that in matters of Gods worship we are as our Princes are and ready to turne and change as they doe and what doth this argue but that men serve not the Lord Iesus but their owne bellies or the externall worship of God and policie of the Church according to the word of God and the laudable constitutions of this Church and Kingdome 5. Seeing all such as have taken these innovations to heart have by a legall submissiue way of supplications sought redresse and beene calme and quiet in hope of reformation We protest therefore that if inconvenience shall happen to fall out which wee pray God to prevent upon the pressing of the said innouations or evils generally and specially mentioned in our former complaints and upon your Lordships refusall to take order for redresse That the same shall not bee imputed unto vs who most humbly desire to have all things redressed by order 6. Wee protest before God the Heavens and the Angles that these our Request proceding from conscience and our due rerespect to his Majesties honour doe tend to no other end but to the preservation of the true reformed religion the Lawes and Liberties of his Majesties most ancient Kingdome and the satisfaction of our humble desires contained in our supplications according to his Majesties goodnesse and justice From whom we do certainly exspect (a) (a) What they exspect appeares by their petitions and complaints viz. the exercise of true Religion the abolishing of all Popish superstitions a Parliament to arraigne the Bb. upon the crime of Innovations And I beleeve that these things his Majestie will grant them The which if he doe then I doubt not but our Nobilitie Barons and Ministers will sue to his Majestie for the like grant that so this way and not in Antichrists way there may be a uniformity betweene the two Kingdoms that his Maj. wil proceed grant remedy to our iust petitions complaints as may be exspected from so gracious a King towards his loyall and dutifull Subjects calling for redresse of so oppressing greevances praying hartily that his Majesty may long prosperously raigne over us AMEN THis protestation beeing