Ecclesiastical within the Kingdom of Scotland was asserted by the first Act of the Second Parliament began at Edinburgh Octob. 19. 1669. The Kirk-Ministers have ever since rail'd against this Act above all the rest saying that Jesus Christ is quite exauctorat and unkinged by it that it hath overthrown his Prerogative Royal and made the King Supreme in the house of Christ. That the Three Estates have thereby Blasphemously declared that they have no King but Caesar that it is most expresly contrary to the 2d Psalm and that by subjecting all Ecclesiastical matters to the Imperial Scepter they have given a sinful mortal power to King it over the house of God Insomuch that Iesus Christ hath neither name nor thing of Kingly power left him by this Cursed Act by which all power Ecclesiastick is declared to be the intrinsick and inherent Prerogative of the Crown In particular the Author of the Poor Mans Cup c. saith that he admires the Patience of God that the Nation wherein such a wickedness was decreed hath not before this Perished from under heaven and saith that the Question is put by the Governours to the followers of Christ in the fields with greater contempt than Pilate put it What is Iesus than your King And then he crys Oh noble Cause Oh who would not rejoyce to enter the List of contradiction with these his enemies and have once an opportunity to say Yes he is a King and will be a King when you are gone and will prove himself higher than the Kings of the Earth by rescinding your Supremacy that Idol of his jealousie and indignation and object of his revenge Nay he saith that it is a pure perfect and unparallel'd contradiction to the Doxology of the Lords Prayer and that never any thing was so like it in Sence and Sound as what is Recorded by the Holy Ghost of the King of Babylon Isa. 14. 13 14. I will ascend into Heaven I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God I will sit also upon the Mount of the Congregation in the sides of the North I will ascend above the heighths of the Clouds I will be like the most High Supremacy and every thing Original upon and derivate from it 3ly I can but make mention of that honorable and noble practise that this Land was priviledged with viz. that after both defections the Lord put it in the heart of Christs Church and State to renew those Covenants again with the National and Solemn League and Covenants together with an acknowledgment of sin and an engagement to Duty and that in the close of that year which performance was attended with so much of the z So he Blasphemously calls a National Fascination to Rebellion and Schism Lords power and presence that it was like a Resurrection from the Dead to all that were Witnesses thereof both Speakers and Hearers that many were forced to Cry out The joy of the Lord is our strength God of a truth is here 4ly I dare not but add this in the case wherein I now stand viz. I dare not but add my Concurrence with and Adherence to all these publick Testimonies Protestations and Declarations that have been owned evinced and remitted by all the Presbyterian Ministers and Professors that appeared against the publick resolutions for taking in the Malignant Party into Judicatories and Armies as also I joyn my Cordial adherence to and with them that protested against the 2 general Assemblies at Saint Andrews who endeavored to approve what the Commission had done in the year 1650. and 1651. in reference to the intrusting of the Malignant Party which as was said by these protesting worthies laid the foundation of all that has come or may come upon us I hope this will not offend any 5ly I am bound in Conscience in the next place to testifie my dislike and abhorrence of that horrid cruel barbarous unheard of and unparalleld Deportment and practice of that 1 This is the 15th Act of the First Parliament begun at Edinburgh Ian. 1. 1661. whereby all the pretended Parliaments from 1640. to the end of 1648. and by consequence the Established Presbyterian Government were all rescinded and Annulled and they also rail as much against it as against the Act of Supremacy and burnt them like two Idols both together Act Recissory wherewith as at one Lash by an Act of that Precipitate Parliament they endeavored to Rescind Annul and Repel all those great and glorious things that the 2 So he Blaspemously calls a strong hand of Rebellion strong hand of the Lord had done in Scotland for more than 20 years bygone over the belly of so much opposition and standing contradiction of proclaimed and avowed Adversaries upon all hands yea I proclaim my abhorrence of all the Confusion 3 He means the Blood first of those who were Executed soon after his Majesties Restauration as of Wariston Guthrie c 2ly of those who were Executed for the Rebellion at Pentland-Hills 1666 who in Naphtali and Ius populi vindicatum are called Worthies precious Saints and Martyrs c. and lastly the Blood of Mitchel who suffered for attempting the Murder of the late Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews since effected by them whom the Author of the Poor Mans Cup hath Canonized for a Saint and Martyr in this Parallel with Samson which I shall set down in his own words pag. 35. First Samson was a Rackel and Rough handed Saint ready to Pelt the Philistines on all occasions yet Secondly the Holy Ghost for all the faults that followed him hath Recorded his name and Enrolled him in the number even while the names of many others are left out of those Eminent Worthies Heb. 11. And so he hath made the name of Mr. Mitchell Savory 〈◊〉 â—s he took many Testimonies from him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his appearances to the Cause so he owned him in the end and honoured him to die Witnessing a good Confession which will be on Record to Posterity Thirdly as Samson did more mischief to the enemies of the people of God at his death than in all his life for when they sent for him to make themselves merry at a sight of his misery the Lord helped him to spoil their Sport So I judge it is beyond question with every Sober man that Mr. Mitchells death hath done more hurt to its Contrivers and furious drivers than ever his life could have done even though he had shot again and hit that unhallowed Mark c. Blood murder Fineing Confineing Imprisonments Stigmatizing with other unexpressible Cruelties that has issued 〈◊〉 that Cursed Generation there â—9 years by gone and moreover I leave my Testimony against all other Confusions Imprisonments and Blood that is or may be intended against these in the Land who design to 4 He means from Idolatrous revolting from God into the Episcopal Church which is not the house of Christ as they Sacrilegiously teach keep their garments clean whether in
the Spirit of Grace in his most eminent exerting of himself and that it is a sin of the same nature with that of those men who ascribed Christs casting out of Devils to Belzebub but far greater And Mr. Andrew Cant in a Sermon at Glascow 1638 pressing the people to take the Covenant said that he was sent to them with a Commission from Christ to bid them Subscribe the Covenant which is Christ ' s Contract and that he himself was come a woer to them from the Bride-Groom and called unto them to come and be hand-fasted unto Christ by Subscribing the Contract and that he would not depart the Town till he had got the names of all that should refuse to Subscribe it of whom he promised to complain to his Master Christ. But in effect he complained of them to the Committee of Estates and general Assembly to get them Forfeited and Excommunicated But the great Trick of the Kirk-Preachers hath always been to Parallel the Solemn League and Covenant with the Mosaical Covenant which was a Political aswell as a Religious Contract betwixt God and the Jews by which he as it were Espoused himself to that people and that people to himself Hence they are wont to apply whatsoever is said of the Mosaical throughout the Old Test. to the Solemn League and Covenant and the making keeping or breaking thereof Were the Israelites Married to God by the one so were the Scots and English Married to him by the other Was the forsaking of the one the cause of all the judgments which fell upon them so the forsaking of the other and not the Kings blood is the cause of all the judgments that have fallen upon these Were the King aswell as the people obliged to keep the former so his Majesty aswell as his Subjects are obliged to keep the latter Did that oblige the Children in the loyns of their Parents so doth this oblige the people of both Nations and their Posterity for ever more Hence they Sacrilegiously Baptize their Children into it and expresly renew it every time they receive the Communion which was instituted as a Seal of the Covenant of Grace Was the breaking of that a Revolting from God so the rescission of this is an utter Apostacy especially of Scotland from God So that the Whig-Apostles never speak of their Country since the Establishment of Episcopacy but as of an Harlot and Idolatress that hath forsaken her first Love and Married her self to another God It would be endless to recite all their Blasphemies about it They make the last great Plague and the Burning of London to have been judgments for burning this Covenant there by the hand of the Common-Hangman Poor mans Cup of cold water Printed in 4 o 1678. pag. 19. Nay they Teach that his Majesty like the Revolting Kings of Israel and Iudah hath no right to Govern because he hath Revolted from it and Christ. Nay they damn all the Edicts and Acts of Parliament that are contrary to it as the Act Statuting that no Leagues nor Bonds be made among the Subjects of any degree upon whatsoever Pretence without his Majesties and his Successors Privity and Consent The Act rescinding and Annulling all the pretended Parliaments held 1640 1641 c. The Act for the Reestablishing of Episcopacy The Act concerning the Declaration to be Signed by all in Publick Trust as Privy-Counsellors Members of Parliament Judges Magistrates in Corporations Justices of the Peace c. A Copy of which I think fit to set down here I do sincerely affirm and declare that I judge it unlawful to Subjects upon pretence of Reformation or other pretence whatsoever to enter into Leagues or Covenants or to take up Arms against the King or those Commissionate by him and that all those Gatherings Convocations Petitions Protestations and erecting and keeping of Counsel-Tables that were used in the beginning and for carrying on of the late Troubles were Unlawful and Seditious And particularly that these Oaths whereof the one was commonly called the National Covenant as it was Sworn and explained in the year 1638 and thereafter and the other intituled a Solemn League and Covenant were and are in themselves unlawful Oathes and were taken by and imposed upon the Subjects of this Kingdom against the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the same and that their lieth no obligation upon me or any of the Subjects from the said Oaths or either of them to endeavour any Change or Alteration of the Government either in Church or State as it is now Established by the Laws of the Kingdom The Act for Security of the Persons of regular Ministers The Act against Separation and Disobedience to Ecclesiastical Authority The Act of Supremacy of which more hereafter The Act against unlawful Ordinations The Act for an Anniversary day of Thanksgiving for his Majesties Restauration which the Rebels in their lesser Declaration on the 29th of May last call an Act appointing an holy Anniversary day to be kept on the 29th of May for giving Thanks for the up-setting of an Usurped Power destroying the interest of the Church of Christ in the Land which is to set up the Creature to be worshiped in the room of our great Redeemer and to consent to the assuming of the Power which is proper to the Lord alone And therefore they burnt it publickly at the Cross of Glasgow on the 29th of May last with the Act of Supremacy the Act concerning the Declaration and the Rescinding Act. And as they damn all these Acts upon the account of the Covenant so they also damned the Bond which the Council tender'd in 1677 and 1678. The Author of the poor mans Cup calls it the Bond of Disloyalty to Christ. And Mr. Iohn Dickson in Crambushlane Preaching at a Conventicle May 26th 1678. Said that those who had taken it had committed a greater sin than the sin of the Holy-Ghost and were already in hell To conclude all their other Blasphemies about the Covenant there goes about among them a Manuscript written to prove that it is unlawfull to hear the Church-Ministers wherein the Author most Blasphemously affirms that the Solemn League and Covenant is nothing else but the substance of the Covenant of Grace 2ly I bear my Testimony to the Solemn League and Covenant as it was Professed Sworn in Scotland England and Ireland in the year 1643. Yea as it was timed and taken by the Representatives and Body of these 3 Lands which tie is binding and can by no power on Earth be infringed whether Secular or Ecclefiastical and that it was our glory to be counted a people married to the Lord we and ours from one generation to another from henceforth and for ever so that Prelacy as it is now Established by a pretended Law is destructive down-rightly to the Sworn Covenants yea not only Prelacy Popery x Loyalty Malignancy and Heresie but y His Majesties Supremacy over all persons and in all Causes
Episcopally Ordained is unlawful which Assertion supposeth that if it be lawful then they are justly punished and not Persecuted for not going to Church and either it must be granted to be lawful or else the Ministery of the Universal Church was unlawful for above 1500. years There remains then nothing but to assert That they are punished upon a positive account for serving of God or for Worshipping of him in a true Way That the way by which they publickly Worship God is a true way as to the substance of the Worship were their Presbyterian and Schismatical Ministery valid I would not deny but then because there are many true ways of publick Worship Subjects like the Children and Servants of a Family ought publickly to Worship God in that true way of Worship which the Supream Magistrate the Father of the Nation doth appoint I will put this case to the Covenanters There 's none of them dare deny but that the French and Helvetian Churches Worship God in a true way and that the reformed Church of Scotland likewise worshipped him in a true way when Mr. Knoxes Liturgy which is almost the same with that of the French Church was in Use. Now therefore I desire they would tell me That supposing the Presbyterian Government were legally Established in Scotland together with that unprescribed Formless way of Worship which they now use Whether a Separating Party refusing to come to Church because they would Worship God according to the French Liturgy or that of Mr. Knoxes would be guilty of Schism or no If they say yes as by their own Principles and in common reason they are bound to do then I desire to know Whether the Supream Power may not forbid their Separate Meetings and command them to come to Church under certain Pains and Penalties and might not most justly inflict them if they disobeyed They cannot say no by their own Principles and Practices as well as out of common reason and if they say yes then they acknowledge in another case that they are justly punished and not Persecuted for meeting to worship God in Conventicles against the penal Laws But furthermore It is not sufficient that the substance of publick Worship be true unless the Circumstances of it be also due It would for example be a very punishable exorbitancy for any Party of conforming People in England to meet illegally in Fields or Houses or at Midnight in Churches to Celebrate Divine Service by the Book of Common-Prayer although they pretended for their Vindication That it was against their Consciences to Pray or Communicate with Profane Persons who come to the Churches or to have their Christian liberty abridged by legal confinement to Time and Place This is the very case of the Field-Fanaticks who though they worship God in the same way as the Church-Congregations do as to the substance of the Worship Yet notwithstanding their pretence that they dare not own the Church-Ministery they are justly punished and not Persecuted for their Irregularities and Transgressions in the legal circumstances thereof But lastly Though the way in which they meet to Worship God were not only true but as excellent as they imagine it to be nay were they the only true Christians in the World and their Magistrates Idolaters or Atheists yet they have no reason to say they are Persecuted when they are punished on this account because the Laws which forbid them to meet in such a manner allow every Family with a certain number of Strangers to worship God in what manner they like best and were they of the Principles and Temper of the Primitive Christians they would be so far from complaining of Persecution that they would be thankful to God and the Powers for so much indulgence and strive by their peaceable behaviour to procure more But then If they be considered as a People of Treasonable Seditious and Schismatical Principles and Practices that have long lived in a State of Rebellion and twice actually Rebelled in the space of 13. years The punishments which they complain of will be so far from looking like Persecution that they must be acknowledged by all but themselves the just Demerits of their Crimes They complain indeed of Covenanters great Peâ—secuters and Tyrants Persecution whereas they themselves have been and are the greatest Persecuters in the World It is notoriously known with what violence they formerly Persecuted the Bishops and all who durst adhere to them and the Church They Tyrannically Usurped Authority to depose and Excommunicate them all in 1638. because as the Act bears they had been Consecrated to the Episcopal Office condemned by the Confession of Faith and Acts of that Kirk as having no Warrant in the Word of God wlâ—ereas there is not one syllable against it either in the 1 Called in the Harmony Scoticana Confessio larger or 2 Called in the Harmony Generalis confessio and by the Covenanters The National Covenant shorter Confession of Faith They usurped authority over Mens Consciences in a most Tyrannical Popish manner not only by taking upon them to loose Mens Consciences from the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy to the King and of Canonical obedience to the Bishops the last of which they declared to be unlawful in their Assembly Decemb. 5th 1638. but they imposed the Covenant on all men under the penalty of Banishment Forfeiture of Estates and Excommunication taking away from all those who refused it both Heaven and Earth as far as they could at one Blow Nay as much as they could they forced the Conscience of the late King of blessed Memory not suffering him to Serve God in his own Family according to his own way which was by the Common-Prayer The general Assembly in August 1640. made an Act against Expectants or young Students in Divinity who should refuse to subscribe the Covenant by which they declared them uncapable of Preaching Reading in a Church or Teaching School or Residing in any Colledge or University and if they continned obstinate to be Excommunicated and yet they now complain of the King Parliament and Council for obliging Expectants and Scholars at their Laureation to take the Oath of Allegiance which is their Duty to do They were not only content to declare Episcopacy to be Popish and Antichristian but in an Act of Assembly 1638. they declared That it was abjured in the National Covenant 1581. under these words The Popes wicked Hierarchy a Bull or contradiction in Adjecto which as they cite it from the Council of Trent includes the Orders of Bishops Priests and Deacons so that if Bishops were abjured by them who took the National Covenant under the Popes Hierarchy how came it to pass that they did not abjure Priests and Deacons too They made an Act of Assembly August 3d. 1648. for Censuring of Ministers who spoke not to the corruptions of the time i. e. for not Preaching and Praying against the Engagement for delivering the late
King out of Prison and in Prosecuting this Act Mr. William Colvill was deposed though he was a most learned and worthy man for not reading the Causes of a Fast which they appointed which puts me in mind of what Queen Mary Stuart was used to say That she was as much afraid of a Fast of the Ministers as of an Army of Souldiers In another Act of Assembly July 20. 1649. they Ordained that all that had been accessory to the Engagement 1648. should be processed and made solemnly to renounce it as sinful and unlawful and in their Seasonable warning July 27. 1649. They call the Defeat of this noble and pious Design by Cromwell a great mercy to the People of God and say it ought to be perpetually remembred and that all men ought to bless God for it and page 10. they say That if the King or any for him shall Invade this Land in order to his Establishment it will be a necessary Duty to resist and oppose him and page 11. so long as the King refuses to hearken to the desires of the Kirk and State it is consonant to the Scripture Reason and the Laws of the Kingdom to refuse to admit him to the Exercise of his Government till he give satisfaction in these things and in their Letter to the King page 30. they say That his refusing to satisfie their desires was nothing else but an Opposing of the Kingdom of the Son of God and a Refusing to let him Reign over him and his Kingdoms and That his Entertaining of James Graham will bring on him and his Throne the guilt of all the Blood that be and his Accomplices had shed and page 31. they exhort him to lament for the iniquities of his Fathers House and especially for his opposition to Religion and the Cause of God the permitting and practising of Antichristian Prelacy in the Royal Family it self and the Shedding of so much Blood of the People of God In one of their Acts they inhibit the Lords Supper to be Administred to any Person but who should first subscribe the Covenant which they also forced young Students and fresh men in the Universities to take and if any of them who were insnared in it in their youth chance to be Clergy-men especially Bishops then the Covenanters have a just ground to conspire their Destruction for being Apostates from the Cause They here I include their Predecessors Persecuted Queen Mary King James threatning to Excommunicate him and his whole Council King Charles the First of blessed Memory and his Majesty who now Reigns and whom God preserve from Falling into their hands again knows by former and latter experiences what a Persecuting spirit they are of What cruelty did they use against all those who refused to sign the Covenant or who broke it upon being convinced what a bond of iniquity it was They were declared to be Rebels and denounced Enemies both to God and Man Their Persons were Seized their Goods Confiscate and in Novemb. 1643. when some of the most Eminent Nobility refused to Seal it Commissions were given to Soldiers to bring them in Prisoners and to kill them if they made Resistance What bloody Tribunals were Erected at St. Andrews Glascow and Edinburgh How many Noblemen and Gentlemen of good Quality were most Barbarously Murdered especially the Heroick Montross for obeying their Sovereign's Commission and how did the Covenanters rejoyce when the Scaffolds were reeking with their Blood One of their Ministers Preached then That the work of Reformation went Bonnily on Another in his Prayer Blasphemously said Lord send us more Scaffold-Work A Fanatical Lady in the West said That the Covenant could not be Advanced but by Blood And many Ministers were then Deposed for not Preaching for it and for speaking Civilly to Montross and Praying with him by name Mr. Robert Tran of Eglesholm and many others as their own Registers yet do shew And then for the Rump of the old Faction still remaining how do They Persecute the Church and her Clergy with their utmost Malice and Power There was an Act of Parliament expressly made for Securing the Persons Families and Goods of Ministers 1669. and another against Assaulting of Ministers 1670. And the Author of Naphtali pag. 134. Exhorts all People To acquit themselves like Men and pull the Bishops out of the Sanctuary that the Wrath of God may be averted in the Righteous Punishment of those wicked Men. Accordingly Mr. James Mitchel attempted to Murder the late Archbishop of St. Andrews and in his larger Speech in Ravillac Red. he saith They are all Blessed that shall take the Proud Prelates and dash their Brains against the Stones And what he attempted was at last Successfully Effected by †Viz. by John Balfour of Kinlock David Haxton of Rathillet George Balfour in Gilston James Russel in Kettle Robert Dingwall in Caddam Andrew Guillan in Balmerinoch Alexander Henderson and Andrew his Brother in Kilbrachmont George Fleming in Balbuthy 10. Field-Zelots of the same Principles whereof some had Ridden a long time in the Field-Preachers Guards And in the middle of last October Three Fanatick Ruffians knocked down one Mr. Malne a Church-Minister in the Streets of Glascow when the Justice-Eyre was Sitting there And I profess when I consider in what a Persecuted Condition the Bishops and Clergy of our Sister-Church are my heart bleeds for them and methinks I hear them now crying out with one Voice to his Sacred Majesty as the Disciples cry'd to our Saviour in the Storm Save us or else we Perish Persecuted not only in their Liberties Priviledges and Persons but also in their Lives therefore it was that I joyned with a s Or as some of their great Apologists and Patrons were pleased to represent them at London A Poor Innocent Peaceable fort of People who only desired to serve God according to their own Consciences and truly so they do when they rebell and Murder but how well they deserved this Character the World saw and his Majesty Felt as soon as they got into their great Evangelist Naphtalis probable capacity and had they won the first Battel we should have seen and felt more poor handful The Lord knows who is the searcher of hearts that neither my Design nor Practice was against his Majesties Person and just t No Not against his Majesties Person but against his Evil Counsellors as he would have spoken in the Covenanting Style and not against his Just Government but against his Supremacy and his Legislations against the Covenant which make his Government Unjust and himself a Tyrant an Idolater and an Enemy to Christ and then how the People ought to deal with him under that Notion and Character will be worth the while to see Buchanan in his Dialogue de jure Regni saith That it is as Lawful and Meritorious to kill Tyrants as Wolves and Bears and their Whelps and that those who do such noble Acts ought to be rewarded by all
eos quos baptizaverat suos putabat esse non Christi in toto orbe decretum est ut unus de Presbyteris electus super poneretur caeteris ad quem omnis Ecclesiae cura pertinereâ— schismatum semina tollerentur Having now shewed that the Primitive Christians believed the Function of a Bishop to be distinct from that of a Presbyter and Superior to it and that the Bishops were the Successors of the Apostles and of Christs institution as they were I hope it is plain that this Antiepiscopal Deceiver dyed not in the Faith of the Primitive Christians as he hath the impudence here to profess From what I have here said of the Episcopal Office and Authority I may draw some Corollaries First that the Primitive Catholick Church acted in Conformity to its own Profession in declaring Aerius as an Antiepiscoparian an Heretick Secondly that Church-Government is not indifferent but that the †Episcopos esse in Ecclesiâ debere tanquam institutionem Apostolicam ac ordinationem proinde divinam contra Puritanos contraque Bellà rminum semper sensi qui negat Episcopos à deo immediatè suam jurisdictionem accepisse Sed nihil mirum à Puritanis eum stare quum Jesuitae nihil quà m Puritano-papistae â—int This was the Judgment of King James as is observed by Becanus de Prim. regn Angl. c. 7. Jacobi regis praefat Monar Episcopal is immediately of Apostolical and mediately of Christs institution and by consequence at least as unalterable as the Baptism of Infants and observation of the Lords-Day which the Presbyterians with good reason declare that the Magistrate ought not to change or take away Thirdly that it is Blasphemy to say that Episcopacy is an Antichristian usurpation over the Church Fourthly that to assert with the Covenanters that the Presbyterian-Government is of Divine institution is an Unscriptural Heretical and absurd Doctrine contrary to the Word of God and the practice and profession of the Holy Catholick Church And as this Jesuited Presbyterian died not in the Faith or Profession of the Primitive Christians so he died not in the Faith of the Reformed Churches First not of the Church of England which is Governed by Bishops like the Primitive Churches and after the warrant of their example hath Instituted Ceremonies and worships God by Liturgical Forms Nor secondly of the Reformed Church of France which submits to the regulation of the Edict of Nantes which is a pure and Secular Edict and which hath always worshipped God by a Common-Prayer-Book and observes Holy-days as Christmas Easter and Whitsunday and which reverences Protestant Bishops after the example of Calvin and Beza their first Reformers and owns Ministers Ordained by them and are never without some such in their Church And whos 's †The Kings larger Declaration pag. 75. Pastors especially those of Charenton were offended at the Solemn League and Covenant as an indelible Scandal to the Protestant Cause as also the Professors Ministers and Consistory of Geneva and their neighbour Reformed Churches as was certified to King Charles the First by his Publick Ministers abroad Nor lastly died he in the Faith of the Reformed Church of Scotland which never professed Episcopacy to be an unlawful or Antichristian Constitution c. as may be seen in the Larger and Lesser Scoticane Confession in the Harmony but I suppose he means the Covenanted Reformed Church that Schismatical Military Church which was and is the Reproach of the Protestant or Reformed Name by the mighty 9 So he calls the incurable obstination of the Presbyterian Party in Schism against the Episcopal Church and Faction and Rebellion against the State Power Goodness and Wisdom of God I bear my witness and Testimony to the Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government of the Kirk of Scotland by 10 A great * Presbyteries Tryal pag. 50. Apostle of the Covenant said in the Pulpit that the Angels and Saints of heaven if they could leave the sight of God would be glad to come down and see the admirable order of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland by Kirk-Sessions Presbyteries and Synods Which Platform being no where to be found in the Scripture made many that had cryed up the Presbyterian Discipline for a Divine Institution tuâ—â— Independents Quakers and Atheists and condemn it as in truth it is for a meer human invention Which if Mr. Calvin had not hit upon and set up in that exigence in Geneva had never been known to the Western no more than to the Eastern parts of Christendom at least to great Britain where it hath been taught in both Kingdoms without any ground in the Scriptures or Antiquity for the sole indispensable government of the Church †King Charles his larger Declarat pag. 67. The National Covenant is that which in the Harmony is called Generalis Confessio it was first Subscribed by King James of blessed Memory and his Household 1580. and by Persons of all Ranks 1581. by an Ordinance of the Privy-Council and Act of General-Assembly It was Subscribed again by all sorts of Persons 1590. by a new Ordinance of Council at the desire of the General Assembly with a general Bond for maintaining the true Religion and the Kings Person and so far Authority permitting or commanding it all was well But then afterwards in †See the Declaration in w. on the first Speech and the Kings larger Declarat pag. 68 69 70. 1638. without the Kings Authority or Commission from his Council they imposed it again according to a new Interpretation of their own although no Authority can interpret any Oath Law or Rescript but that which made it or those whom they who made it have Constituted Interpreters and Judges thereof The new Interpretation was That this Confession was to be interpreted and understood against all the pretended Innovations as if every one of them had been expressed therein viz. The Five Articles of Perth the Service Book the Book of Canons the High-Commission and Episcopacy it self although these things were neither named nor hinted at in that Confession whereof the first Framers only abjured in it those Romish Corruptions which in their time had infected the Church Besides all this they altered the Bond which was annexed to the former Confession by adding these words without authority A mutual defence of one another against all Persons whatsoever by which what they meant the King by woful experience found The Copy of this Confession may be seen in the forecited larger Declaration of the King Kirk-Sessions Presbyteries Synods and General-Assemblies Also I bear my Witness and Testimony to our Covenants †National and Solemn-League betwixt the three Kingdoms which Sacred and Solemn Oath I believe cannot be dispensed with nor loosed by any person or Party upon earth but are fully binding these Nations and will be so ever hereafter Also I bear my Testimony to our publick Confessions of Sin and engagements to Duty and that either as to what concerns
Marquess of Huntly or Me and yet this Answer is defended by Mr. Robert Bailly in his Dissuasive from the Error 's of the Times It is notoriously known in Scotland That Mr. Robert Duglas of Edinburgh and Mr. Patrick Gillespy of Glâ—scow were more haughty and insolent in their behaviour than all the Bishops I will not except Cardinal Beton that ever were in the Land But to proceed from the Pride of single men let us reflect a little on the Insolence of their Spiritual Judicatories the Presbytery Synod and General Assembly It is notoriously known what great state the Presbytery or Consistory kept with King James and it is upon Record in the Presbytery-Books of Edinburgh how his †Presbytery Displayed pag. 7 8. c. Majesty not once but often hath sent Persons of Honour and great Quality demanding or rather requesting some things of them who have heard the Commissioners propose the Kings mind but then to keep the power and place which the King of Sion had given them in that dignity which was suitable to so high a Trust they have dismissed the Noblemen sent by the King without Answer and by Order of that Spiritual House have appointed one or two as Commissioners of the Presbytery to go to the King with their Will and Pleasure losing nothing of Christs Authority and carrying themselves with the King almost as if two Free States or two Free Princes had met to treat together The Presbytery of Edinburgh as many yet alive remember attempted to censure the Merchants for Carrying Wheat to Spain in a time of Dearth because it was to feed Gods Enemies but above all to Transport Wax to Spain for that was to be accessory to Idolatry because the Wax for the most part was employed in making Tapers and Candles to the Virgin Mary and other Saints The * Presbytery Displaid pag. 9. 10. Presbytery of St. Andrews threatned to Excommunicate a man who had gotten a Judgment from the highest Civil Judicatory in the Kingdom against another who ought him a Sum of Money if he persisted to put the Judgment in Execution and he for fear of this dreadful Court and Sentence desisted from his Pursuit Many instances might also be produced of this holy Sunhedrim's repealing of Royal Grants confirmed by Law and of citeing Noblemen and Gentlemen before them for Commencing Civil Suits against their own Tenants because it bred Strifes withdrew the People of God from their lawful Vocations and hindered the progress of the Gospel as may be seen in the Author cited in the Margin They also undertook to Remove and Transplant any Minister at pleasure though never so learned and unblameable upon a pretence That it was for the Good of the Church or That the Congregation was not edified by his Preaching as may be seen in the same Author and as many yet alive can tell In their Provincial Synods which consisted of Commissioners chosen out of all the Presbyteries within the Province they extended their power in proportion to the dignity of the Court and the Commissioners at their Return home were to see that every Minister of their respective Presbyteries were to Preach as the Synod did direct and command The Nobility and Gentry were forced to court these leading Ministers and make Addresses to them as to so many Popes to strengthen themselves and their Party with the Spiritual Sword In their going to and coming from the Synods the most Eminent of the Nobility and Gentry used to meet them and invite them to their Houses lodge them in their best Chambers and set them at the head of their Tables and never any Bishops in Scotland entered Cities with such Convoys and attended with such great Personages as these Arch-Presbyters used to do When Mr. Robert Bruce came from his Visitation in the West or South he made his Entrance into Edinburgh like a Prince or like an Ambassador or like the Pope into Rome insomuch That King James once looking out of the Window in his Palace and seeing his Cavalcade said with indignation which extorted an Oath from him Mr. Robert Bruce I am sure intends to be King and declare himself Heir to King Robert Bruce Their General-Assembly was composed of Commissioners sent from all the Presbyteries of the Kingdom It was the Supream Sanhedrim wherein the King of Sion sate in the highest power and glory he could upon Earth It was there where Ecclesiastical Sovereignty and Infallibility was to be found and concerned it self in all Temporals in ordine ad Spiritualia The authority they exercised in it they pretended to have by immediate Trust from Christ and declared That whosoever obeyed not this Sovereignty be he King or Subject it was all one was to be Excommunicated They allowed the King or his Commissioner to sit there but he had only one affirmative Voice and if the greater part of Voices determined contrary to his Voice or his Conscience he was bound to put it in Execution In this Court the Spiritual legislative power was seated it was the highest Tribunal and Judicatory of Christ upon Earth from which no Person no Office no Condition of Creature was Privileged and from whence no Appeal could be had The King had no power to appoint the time or place of this Assembly but once a Year it must necessarily meet and oftner if the Commissioners of Assembly thought fit They Contemned Usurped and renounced the Sovereign Authority as it served their Turn they denounced the same War against their Enemies which God commanded Israel to execute against the Canaanites all the Ministers of the Church were to Preach as they directed and a Minister Preaching Treason was to be censured by none but themselves They challenged to themselves a power of Condemning Annulling and Repealing Acts of Parliament and of subjecting the Supream Civil Judicatory of the Nation to them as in the case of Graham one of the Lords of the Session and if any man doubt of the truth of these Assertions let him read the 6th Book of Spotswood's History or the Author of Presbytery Displayed in the General-Assembly In their General-Assembly 1648. July 28. pag. 7. they made an Act and Declaration against the Act of Parliament and Committee of Estates and against all Oaths and Bonds imposed in the common Cause without the Consent of the Kirk They also Ordained all that engaged in the late Kings Relief to incur the wrath of God and to be processed with the highest Censure of the Church which was the heighth of Blasphemy Insolence and Pride This Self-Conceit and Persuasion which they had of their own Spiritual Excellence and dearness to God is the true reason why they indulge themselves the liberty of speaking so Contemptibly Disdainfully Slanderously and Reproachfully of the Church and all that are of Episcopal Communions without any regard to the Functions or Qualities of Men. Naphtali rails at the late King of Blessed Memory for a
Papist and having an hand in the Irish Rebellion and at his Present Majesty for not punishing the Papists for Burning of London and compares him to Nebuchadnezzar for setting up a Golden Image to be Worshipped and to Saul and Uzziah for Usurping the Priests Office and to Julian the Apostate for destroying the Christian Religion pag. 9. 26 28. He also calls the Appointing the 29. of May a Profane Institution and saith That the Native issue of the Prerogative is the Establishing the Kingdom of Antichrist and an Usurpation of the Prerogative of Jesus Christ and saith That the King Erects a Papacy in himself more absurdly than the Pope did and saith That he is a stated Antichrist Pages 39 40 41 90. He Reproaches the Parliament pag. 86. saying That they made the Kings Throne the foundation of Perjury and Apostacy and pag. 87. he saith That they Blaspheme the Spirit and Work of the Lord in the Act For the Anniversary Remembrance of his Majesties Birth and Restauration and pages 2. 93 and 94 he accuses them all of horrid Apostacy and Rebellion against God and of appointing a Declaration of high Impiety to be Signed and saith They were the Rebuilders of the Kingdom of Antichrist As for the Privy-Council he calls them Murderers Pag. 123. and pag. 91. he saith That they have set the King in Christs Throne He rails at the City of Edinburgh for the Engagement they took of their Burgesses against the Rebels at Pentland Hills p. 166 167. and accuses them of Apostacy and Rebellion against God and threatens them with the Burning of London and pages 177 178. he tells them They had made a Conspiracy against the Lord and against his Annointed As for the Church-Ministers he calls them Wolves Thieves Graceless Hirelings and Plants which God never planted and saith It is the indispensable Duty of the People to drive them away and root them up page 108. The Author of the Apologetick Narration calls the Honourable Senators of the College of Justice Perjured Men and the Vilest of Men from whom no Justice can be expected and who are not worthy to be Judges among the Heathens c. and all because they have taken the Declaration against the Covenant Pages 328 329. The General-Assembly 1648. in their Supplication to the late King August 12. who was then under imprisonment hath these words It shall be your Majesties Wisdom in this as in all that hath befallen you these Years past to read the righteous hand of the Lord writing bitter things against you as for all your provocations so especially for your resisting his Work and authorizing by your Commissions the shedding the bloud of his People for which it is high time to repent that there may be no more wrath against You and Your Realms And page 58. of that Supplication they say Had your Majesty hearkened to our Counsel some years ago the bloud of many thousands that now lies upon your Throne might have been spared The Assembly and Parliament in their Declaration against Montross Printed 1649. pages 7 8 c. call him Excommunicate Traitor Viperous Brood of Satan Child of the Devil perfidious proud Atheist and Traitour though he had the Kings Commission for all that he did and was a man of as eminent Piety as Valour The Assembly of Divines at London with the Scottish Commissioners drew up a Letter in Latine and the same did the General-Assembly in Scotland which by order of the English House of Commons for so they called themselves they sent to the Belgick French Helvetian and other Reformed Churches wherein they assure them That the King made it his whole business to root out the Protestant Religion and used all means possible to reduce the Nation to Popery again I know a Gentleman who hath a Letter pretended to be written from Paris in the name of the French-Church dated June 5. 1662. wherein they call the Parliament of Scotland an ungodly Assembly a Seed of Evil Doers that gather themselves together against the Souls of the Righteous and condemn Innocent Bloud that slay the upright and breath out Blasphemies against the Heavens c. But the Style of this Letter demonstrates That it was written by some Western Fanatick and Fathered on the French Church In the Declaration of the Lords and Commons of England sent to the General-Assembly 1643. page 9. they affirm That the King and the Prelatical Party in England were in Arms for the ruining and destruction of the Protestant Religion and all the Professors thereof and in the English Ministers Letter to the Assembly page 10. they call the King and his Party a generation of Brutish Hellish Men and page 17. they affirm That the Prelatical Party are combined for the universal depression of the true Protestant Religion in Europe Naphtali pag. 117 118. saith That the Bishops are favourers and encouragers of all Profaneness Drunkenness Adultery Blasphemy and that they have heaped together in their own Persons the Dunghill of vilest Vices and transmitted the same over all the Land and the whole Fanatical Gang rail just now at the present Bishops as their Predecessors did at the Bishops 1638. Page 300. he accuses Archbishop Burnet now the most worthy Archbishop of St. Andrews of furious Zeal Pride Ambition and Contempt of his Clergy and domineering over them though he is known in both Nations to be one of the most Moderate Meek and Humble Men on the Earth and one that loves and cherishes his Clergy like a Father and as a Father is beloved and reverenced by them again He also calls the Bishop of the Iâ—les who is a man of eminent Temperance a Glutton and the Bishop of Dunkell who was a most Pious Man and lover of true Piety in other Men an hater of Godliness and Good Men. And as for the Curates as he calls the regular Clergy he calls them in general Men void of the Fear of God Drunkards Whoremongers and what not pag. 302. And at this rate the whole Sect talks of Bishops Episcopacy the Clergy and the Church and he that can speak with most Venom and Malice against them and the King and the Duke of Lauderdale is counted the greatest Saint Mr. Andrew Cant Eldest Son of old Mr. Andrew Cant and the true inheritor of his Fathers violent Spirit was deposed by the Synod of Aberdeen from his Ministery at Banchrie for railing at the King the Queen and the Bishops not long after his Majesties Restauration He said The Maintaining of Bishops against Gods Will had tried the Kings Predecessors and if he should be so foolish as to set them up again down he should go do what he could He said That her Majesty was a Vagabond Woman compassing Sea and Land to prosecute her wicked Designs and like a true Presbyterian Cursing Meroz Wisht the Cross if not the Curse of God to accompany her Mr. Welsh as Ravill Rediv. relates
Majesties Forces to their faces speaking in their hearing reproachfully and disdainfully of the King the Privy-Council and the Bishops which made all considering men forebode the Rebellion at the same time that some of our Countrey-men at London bore the World in hand that the accounts of these disorders which were sent up from time to time were all Fictions or Hyperboles and that there was no danger of Rebellion at all While they were in this evil Disposition and committed these Cruelties and Disorders there was published a Libel said to have been spoken in the House of Lords March 25. 1679. it hath been Printed twice already once in a single sheet shortly after it was said to have been spoken and afterwards in a Collection of divers remarkable Proceedings in Parliament and because it accidentally had such a mighty influence in stirring up this People to the Murder and Rebellion I think my self bound by my undertaking to give it a third Edition in this place The SPEECH My Lords YOU are appointing of the consideration of the State of England to be taken up in a Committee of the whole House some day next Week I do not know how well what I have to say may be received for I never study either to make my Court well or to be Popular I always speak what I am commanded by the Dictates of the Spirit within me There are some other Considerations that concern England so nearly that without them you will come far short of Safety and Quiet at home We have a little Sister and she hath no Breasts what shall we do for our Sister in the day when she shall be spoken for If she be a Wall we will build on her a Palace of Silver if she be a Door we will inclose her with Boards of Cedar We have several little Sisters without Breasts the French Protestant Churches the two Kingdoms of Ireland and Scotland the Foreign Protestants are a Wall the only Wall and Defence to England upon it you may build Palaces of Silver glorious Palaces The Protection of the Protestants abroad is the greatest Power and Security the Crown of England can attain to and which can only help us to give check to the growing greatness of France Scotland and Ireland are two Doors either to let in Good or Mischief upon us they are much weakened by the Artifice of our cunning Enemies and we ought to inclose them with Boards of Cedar Popery and Slavery like two Sisters go hand in hand sometimes one goes first sometimes the other in a doors but the other is always following close at hand In England Popery was to have brought in Slavery in Scotland Slavery went before and Popery was to follow I do not think your Lordships or the Parliament have Jurisdiction there It is a Noble and Ancient Kingdom they have an illustrious Nobility a gallant Gentry a learned Clergy and an Understanding Worthy People but yet we cannot think of England as we ought without reflecting on the Condition therein They are under the same Prince and the Influence of the same Favourites and Councils when they are hardly dealt with can we that are the Richer expect better usuage for 't is certain that in all Absolute Governments the poorest Countreys are always most favourably dealt with When the Ancient Nobility and Gentry there cannot enjoy their Royalties their Shrievaldoms and their Stewardaries which they and their Ancestors have possessed for several hundreds of years but that now they are enjoyned by the Lords of the Council to make Deputations of their Authorities to such as are their known Enemies Can we expect to enjoy our Magna Charta long under the same Persons and Administration of Affairs If the Council Table there can imprison any Nobleman or Gentleman for several years without bringing him to Tryal or giving the least reason for what they do can we expect the same men will preserve the Liberty of the Subject here I will acknowledge I am not well vers'd in the particular Laws of Scotland but this I do know that all the Northern Countreys have by their Laws an undoubted and inviolable Right to their Liberties and Properties yet Scotland hath out-done all the Eastern and Southern Countreys in having their Lives Liberties and Estates subjected to the Arbitrary Will and Pleasure of those that Govern They have lately plundered and harrassed the richest and wealthiest Countries of that Kingdom and brought down the barbarous High-Landers to devour them and all this without almost a colourable pretence to do it Nor can there be found a reason of State for what they have done but that those wicked Ministers designed to procure a Rebellion at any Rate which as they managed was only prevented by the miraculous Hand of God or otherwise all the Papists in England would have been Armed and the fairest Opportunity given in the just time for the Execution of that wicked and Bloody Design the Papists had and it is not possible for any man that duely considers it to think other but that those Ministers that acted that were as guilty of the Plot as any of the Lords that are in question for it My Lords I am forced to speak this the plainer because till the pressure be fully and clearly taken off from Scotland 't is not possible for me or any thinking man to believe that good is meant us here We must still be upon our guard apprehending that the Principle is not changed at Court and that these men that are still in place and Authority have that Influence upon the mind of our Excellent Prince that he is not nor cannot be that to us that his own Nature and Goodness would incline him to I know your Lordships can order nothing in this but there are those that hear me can put a perfect Cure to it until that be done the Scottish Weed is like Death in the Pot Mors in olla But there is something too now I consider that most immediately concerns us their Act of Twenty two thousand Men to be ready to invade us upon all occasions This I hear that the Lords of the Council there have treated as they do all other Laws and expounded it into a standing Army of Six thousand Men. I am sure we have reason and right to beseech the King that that Act may be better considered in the next Parliament there I shall say no more for Scotland at this time I am afraid your Lordships will think I have said too much having no concern there But if a French Noble man should come to dwell in my House and Family I should think it concern'd me to ask what he did in France for if he were there a Felon a Rogue a Plunderer I should desire him to live elsewhere and I hope your Lordships will do the same thing for the Nation if you find the same cause My Lords Give me leave to speak two or three words concerning our other Sister Ireland thither I
Converted Butcher and his Wife 34 35. Cardinal Beton his Murder and Melvils Speech to him 66. John Balfour the Assassin 36. Bestiality Seven or Eight Conventiclers put to death for that Crime 34. Bishops The Successors of the Apostles their Office distinct from that of a Priest and of Divine Institution 38 39 40. they had a new Ordination distinct from that of Presbyters 41. Mr. Robert Blaires Divinity 30. John Bridgeford his Adultery and Blasphemy 34. The Bond for the Peace 44. Rebels choose to be Hanged and Transported rather than take it 16. The Bond tendred in 1677. and 1678. what the Covenanters said of it 50 51. Mr. Blake his Pride and Blasphemy 53. Mr. Robert Bruce his saying to King James 50. what the King said of him 51. Buchanan 13. in Marg. his Doctrine of Kings 29. and of Ehuds Dagger or Heroical Murders 69. in Marg. Burning of London assigned as a Divine Judgment for burning the Covenant there by the hands of the Common-Hangman 8. C. Mr. Cameron 70. Mr. Calderwoods Altare Damascenum 24. 30. Mr. Andrew Cant 7. Mr. Alexander Cant 53. Solemn League and Covenant the great Scandal to Foreign Reformed Churches 42. The National Covenant 43. Churches Greek and Latin attributed as great a Supremacy in Ecclesiastical matters to the Christian Emperors as the English and Scottish do to the King 23. Church of Scotland hath no Liturgical Forms or Ceremonies 26. is in a state of Persecution 28. Covenanters They refuse to answer when examined by Authority 1 12. their blasphemies about the Covenant 7. 26 4â— and against the Act of Supremacy 9. 25. They reckon Wariston Guthry and Mitchel c. for Martyrs 10. their ignorance and wickedness 12. Their Jesuitical Doctrines 13 14. 66 67 68. They impose new Articles of Faith 13 14 25. They Preaâ—â— against the Five-Months Tax 16. 71. Their Pseudo-Martyrs dyed Drunk 18 19. They aggravate the common infirmities of Human nature and take no notice of their own presumptious Sins 21. They by their Principles must have separated from all Churches since Christs time till the Reformation 23. They call Episcopal Churches Erastian Churches and their Ministers Court-Parasites 24. They assert the use of the Lords-Prayer Creed and Ten Commandments to be Superstitious and Idolatrous 25. They condemn the Oath of Allegiance and Supremacy 25. The true cause of their hatred to Montross and the late Lord Primate 25. in Marg. g. They are not Persecuted but justly Punished 25 26 27. They are great Persecutors and Tyrants 27. 28. They and their Predecessors Persecuted Queen Mary Stuart King James King Charles the First and the Second 28. Their Treasonable and Jesuitical Principles about Government 29 30 31. They mock at the Doctrine of Passive Obedience 32. They speak great things about the holiness of their own Party 33. Their wickednessess and debaucheries 12. 34 35. They Murder at Houses as well at Field-Conventicles 36. Their incivility and inhumanity 47. Their Sawciness and Impudence 49. Their Pride and Spiritual Fast Lying Slandering c. 51 52 53. Their agreements with Arrians Novatians Donatists and Papists 50. Their Assassinating and Massacring Principles 66 67 68. Cess granted by the last Convention The Field-Preachers Preach against it 16. 47 71. Jesuitical Letter Post finem Primitive Christians and Christian Churches the common Doctrines wherein they all agreed 33. All Protestants ought to confess them as the common notions of Christianity 16. Consistory of Geneva and Charenton Scandalized at the Covenant 42. Cup of cold Water a Book vid. Poor Mans Cup. D. Desertion The Doctrine of Desertion not grounded in Scripture 34. The Scottish Declaration against the Covenant 8. Mr. John Dickson his blasphemies 8. 12 45. Jannet Duglass 35. Mr. Robert Duglass his Papal Pride 50. Earl of Dundonalds Servant the cause of his Distraction 16. E. Episcopacy proved to be a Divine Institution 38. 39. c. Christian Emperors Their Supremacy and Power in Ecclesiastical Matters and over Ecclesiastical Persons 23. City of Edinburgh railed at by Naphtali 52. F. Field-Meetings proved by many instances to be Randevouzes of Rebellion against Mr. Kid 11. Lord Forrester his Tragical End 35. James Foyer the holy Beggar 34. The right notion of Free-Grace 4. 5. The fulfilling of the Scriptures the blasphemies of that Book 19 20. French-Church scandalized at the Covenant 42. a Letter forged by the Western Covenanters in the name of the French-Church 52. G. Gallows of two sorts invented by the late Rebels one for the common Enemies of Christ and the other for the Nobles 54. Geneva The Reformed Church there scandalized at the Covenant 42. General Assembly the Papal Tyranny thereof 51. Sir Edmondbury Godfreys Murder parallel'd 50. Goodman Knoxes Companion his Rebellious and Murderous Principles 30. 66. Causes of Gods wrath a Book so called 43. Mr. Alexander Gibson Clerk of the Privy Council his Certificat 12. Grayham the Apostat Bishop of Orkney 16. Mr. Patrick Gillispie his Papal Pride 50. H. Mr. Hamilton Captain of Mr. Welshes Guard afterwards General of the Covenanted Army his Debaucheries 35. Robert Hamilton of Barnes 35. Mr. William Houston 34. I. King James His opinion of Bishops 42. in Marg. he complains of the Sawciness of the Presbyterian Ministers 49. The Papal State which the Presbyterian kept with him 50. His Sarcasm against Mr. Robert Bruce 51. Incest Eight Fanaticks convicted of that Crime in one Parish 34. Indulgence The Field-Preachers absolutely against Indulgence 6. 14 47. Addit post finem they write and preach against the Indulged 16. The Information for Defensive Arms 14. 31. The Irish justified their Rebellion by the example of Scotland 30. Jus populi Vindicatum 68. K. Mr. John Karstaires 34. Mr. Kid pretends to miraculous assistance 2 3. The King no otherwise to be obeyed than according to the Covenant 31. Mr. John Kings Jesuitical way of answering 20. his blasphemous applications of Scripture 21 22 23. got his Wife with Child before Marriage 34. dyed not in the Faith of the Primitive Christians 37. nor of the reformed Churches 42. as he told the People he did King Charles the First his larger Declaration 42 43. Knoxes Hist 13 14. in Marg. 30. 66. Knoxes Liturgy 27. L. Duke of Lauderdale 11. 47 73. Andrew Lesly his Murder Adultery and Blasphemy 33. Leightons Sions plea 14. Archbishop Leighton censured for his Articles of Accomodation 15 16. Lex Rex The treasonable and blasphemous Doctrines of that Book 30. it commends Mariana the Jesuit 16. mocks at the Doctrine of Passive Obedience 31. A Letter in the name of the French Church forged by the Fanaticks 52. London The burning of London and the last great Plague assigned as a Judgment for burning the Covenant there 8. Lords-Prayer Called a Papistical Charm 25. Bishop Lindseys Narration of the Assembly at Perth 25. Covenanting-Lords They wrote a Letter to the French King which Montross penned 30. Lords discontented who went to London March 1678. prayed for at a Field-Fast 11 Chancellor
by a Shot betwixt the second and third Rib which the Author of the False Narrative did industriously deny and for the truth of his Assertion impudently appealed to William Borthwick one of the three Chirurgeons who subscribed the Certificate above written The reason why that malicious man had a mind to make the world believe That the Bullets did not pierce the Archbishops Body was to insinuate to the People that he was Shot-free and by consequence had that priviledge from the Devil or at least had recourse for his security against Bullets to Magical Talismans and Charms The Privy-Council had no sooner received the news of this horrid Mur 〈…〉 they proceeded with all imaninable care and diligence to dis 〈…〉 ation of the Archbishops Ser 〈…〉 out the following Proclama 〈…〉 wn A PROCLAMATION Ordered by His Majesties Privy-Council of Scotland upon the Horrid Murder of JAMES late Lord Archbishop of St. Andrews Primate and Metropolitan of all Scotland and one of his Majesties Most Honourable Privy-Council of that Kingdom At Edenburgh Sunday the Fourth of May 1679. CHARLES By the Grace of GOD King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To our Lyon King at Arms and his Brethren Heraulds Macers or Messengers at Arms Our Sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute Greeting We being fully and by legal Proofs assured of the late Horrid and Bloody Murther committed upon Saturday last being the Third Day of May instant by Ten or Eleven Fanatick and Execrable Assassinates upon the Person of the most Reverend Father in GOD JAMES late Archbishop of St. Andrews Primate of all Scotland which Barbarous and Inhumane Assassination will we doubt not spread Harrour and Amazement in the Hearts of such as believe that there is a GOD or a Christian Religion A Cruelty exceeding the Barbarity of Pagans and Heathens amongst whom the Officers and Ministers of Religion are reputed to be Sacred and are by the respect born to a Deity whom they Adore secured against all such Bloody and Execrable Attempts A Cruelty exceeding the belief of all true Protestants whose Churches have justly Stigmatized with the Marks of Impiety all such as defile with Blood those Hands which they ought to hold up to Heaven and a Cruelty equal to any with which we can reproach the Enemies of this True and Reformed Church By which also not only the Principles of Humane Society but our Authority and Government the Archbishop of St. Andrews being one of Our Privy-Council is highly violated and Example and Incouragement given for Murthering all such as serve Us faithfully according to the Prescript of Our Laws and Royal Commands Daily Instances whereof We are to expect whilst Field-Conventicles those Rendezvouses of Rebellion and Forgers of all Bloody and Jesuitical Principles are so frequented and followed to the scandal of all Government and the Contempt of Our Laws and which Murther is as far as is possible rendered yet more detestable by the unmasked Boldness of such as durst openly with bare Faces in the midst of Our Kingdom at Mid-day assemble themselves together to Kill in Our High-Way the Primate of Our Kingdom and one of Our Privy-Council by so many Stroakes and Shots as left his Body as it were but one Wound and many of which being given after they knew he was Dead were remarkable Proofs they were acted by a Spirit of Hellish and Insatiable Cruelty Have therefore with Advice of Our Privy-Council thought fit hereby to Command and Charge all Sheriffs Stewards Bayliffs of Regalities and Bayliaries and their Deputies Magistrates of Burghs and Officers of Our Standing Forces to Search Seek Take and Apprehend the Persons Guilty of the said Horrid Murder or any saspected by them until they be brought to Justice and all Our good and faithful Subjects to concur in the Taking and Securing as far as is in their power those Assassinates And in respect there is a Company of vagrant and skulking Ruffians who to the great Contempt of all Government do Ride through this Our Kingdom Killing Our Soldiers Deforcing such as put Our Laws in Execution and Committing such Horrible Murders who might be easily Discovered if all such amongst whom they Converse did according to their Duty endeavour to Apprehend them or give Notice of their Residence We have therefore thought fit Conform to the 144 Act of Parliament 12 King James 6. to Command and Charge all Our Subjects that whenever any unknown Men or Vagabonds happen to repair amongst them That they with all possible speed Certifie any of Our Privy-Council Officers of Our Forces or any having Trust under Us thereof With Certification to them That if they omit the same they shall be punished with all Rigor Conform to the said Act. And since several of the said Assassinates are known to have been Tenants in the Shire of Fisse whose Faces will be known to such of the Witnesses as were present We hereby Require and Command all the Heritors and Masters of the said Shire of Fisse and Kinrosse to bring their Tenants Cottars and Servants living in the respective Presbyteries upon the several days and to the places following viz. To St. Andrews c. There to be seen by the said Witnesses and to continue there until they be Examined With Certification to such of the said Tenants Cottars and Servants as shall be absent they shall be reputed as accessory to the said Crime And the Masters if they produce them not or if hereafter they harbour any that shall not Compeer they shall be reputed as Favourers of the said Assassination And whereas there are several Persons under Caption and Intercommuning in the said Shire for several Causes and lest Persons who are innocent may be thereby debarred from appearing We have thought fit hereby to sist and supersede all Execution upon any Letters of Caption or Intercommuning or any other Warrant for securing of Persons for the space of Forty eight hours after the said Diets of appearance And to the end the said cruel Murther may be the more easily discovered We do hereby offer and give full assurance of Our Indempnity to any one of the said Assassinates who shall discover his Complices and such as hounded them out and present payment of the Sum of Ten Thousand Merks to any who shall inform who were the said Assassinates if upon his Information they or any of them can be Apprehended that they may be brought to condign Punishment And We Ordain these Presents to be Printed and Published at the Market-Cross of Edenburgh and other Places needful Given under Our Signet at Edenburgh the Fourth Day of May 1679. and of Our Reign the One and Thirtieth Year GOD save the KING But though this Proclamation Printed at Edenburgh by Authority and Reprinted at London was sufficient to convince the World of what Principles and Sect the Lord Primates Murtherers were yet the Patrons and Favourers of the Scottish-Presbyterians at London had
the Confidence to give this Publick Act the Lye and say as indeed they dare take the Confidence to say any thing That it was drawn up at Whitehall by the Duke of Lauderdale and sent by him to the Privy-Council of Scotland who will Publish any thing which he shall order and in any Form which he shall prescribe After the issuing out of this Proclamation the Privy-Council were very diligent in Examining the Inhabitants of Magus and many others upon Oath whose Depositions are extant in the Registers of the Privy-Council and very many were Examined also in the Sheriff-Court of Fiffe according to the tenure of this Proclamation and their Examinations are kept in the Records of that Court From whence it was made apparent that the Bloody Assassins and many others who were strongly presumed to have been Abetters and Contrivers of the Murder were notorious Fanaticks Frequenters of Field-Conventicles and Followers of Mr. Welsh and other Traiterous Intercommuned and Rebellious Preachers Nine of the Actors in this Tragedy were discovered by their Names and Sirnames which as it is fitting to set forth the horror of such a Murder I shall here set down in Letters of Blood John Balfour of Kinloch David Hackston of Rathillet George Balfour The Names of the Murderers in Gilston James Russel in Kings-kettle Robert Dingwall a Farmers Son in Caddam Andrew Guillan Weaver in Balmerinoch Alexander Henderson and Andrew Henderson Sons to John Henderson in Kilbrachmont George Fleming Son to George Fleming in Balbuthy The Depositions of the Witnesses who upon Oath proved these Persons to have been Actors in the Archbishops Murder ly upon Record as abovesaid to satisfie any who perhaps may doubt of the truth of what is here said more particularly it was deposed by one James Anderson Farmer at a Farm called Teuchits That George Balfour abovementioned came after the Murder to his Brothers House at Gilston and told him it was done and that the rest of the Murderers waited for him on Taces-Moor and that he having returned to them they went all Nine and possessed themselves of the Barn at Teuchits about Three in the Afternoon from whence they parted about Seven when all of them spoke with the said James Anderson who knew them all particularly and named them as they are above-mentioned Thus far the Discovery was made when the late Rebellion broke out on the Twenty ninth of May which forced the Privy-Council to desist from their vigorous pursuit of the Murderers and apply themselves to the Suppression of that Insurrection which carried with it the fate of the three Kingdoms and would have certainly very much shaken the Government if the Rebels had got the first Victory or could but have maintained their ground But they were no sooner Beaten and the Kingdom Resetled but the Privy-Council resumed their care in pursuing the Discovered Murderers of the Lord Primate who also had all taken Arms in the Rebellion and issued out this following Proclamation the Twentieth of September following for the Apprehension of them A PROCLAMATION Anent the Murtherers of the late Archbishop of St. Andrews and appointing Magistrates and Councils of Burghs Royal to Sign the Declaration at Michaelmas next CHARLES by the Grace of GOD King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith To Our Lovits Heraulds Macers Pursevants or Messengers at Arms Our Sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute Greeting We taking to Our Consideration how much the Protestant Religion and the Honour of this Our Ancient Kingdom are stained by that Barbarous and Horrid Assassination and Murther of the late Archbishop of St. Andrews whereof We have by several Proclamations expressed Our Abhorrency and prohibited the reset of these Murtherers whom We have excepted from Our late Gracious Pardon and Indemnity And albeit it was the Duty not only of those in Authority under Us but of all Our Subjects to use their endeavours for discovering and bringing to Justice these execrable Persons Enemies to all Humane Society yet We understand that these Murtherers and likewise divers Heritors and Ministers who were engaged in the late Rebellion and are excepted from Our Indemnity have been harboured and reset in some places of this Kingdom to the great Reproach of the Nation and Contempt of Our Authority and Laws Therefore We with advice of Our Privy-Council do Command and Charge all Sheriffs Stewarts Bayliffs of Regalities and Baylieries and their Deputes Magistrates of Burghs and others in Authority under Us to Search for Seek Take and Apprehend the Persons afternamed viz. John Balfour of Kinlock David Haxstoun of Rathillet George Balfour in Gilstoun James Russel in Kettle Robert Dingwal a Tenents Son in Caddam Andrew Guillan Webster in Balmerinoch Alexander and Andrew Hendersons Sons to John Henderson in Kilbrachmont and George Fleming Son to George Fleming in Balbuthy who did perpetrate and commit the said horrid Murther and also any Heritors and Ministers who were in the late Rebellion and any Persons who have Reset and Harboured these Murtherers and Rebells wherever they can be found within the Bounds of their respective Jurisdictions and put them in sure Ward and Firmance until they be brought to Justice And in case these Persons flee out of the Shire That they give notice thereof to the Sheriff or other Magistrate of the next Shire or Jurisdiction that they may in like manner Search for Apprehend and Secure them until they be brought to Justice With Power to the Sheriffs and other Magistrates aforesaid if they shall find cause to call to their Assistance Our Subjects within their Jurisdiction or such a number of them as they shall think fit who are hereby Required to Concur with and Assist them under all highest Pain and Charge And We expect That the Sheriffs and other Magistrates aforesaid will use exact diligence in the Premises as they will be answerable on their highest Peril And seeing by the Fifth Act of the second Session and the second Act of the third Session of Our first Parliament The Magistrates and Councils of Burghs are Ordained at and before their Admissions to the exercise of their Offices to Sign the Declaration appointed to be Signed by all Persons in Publick Trust under the Certifications therein exprest Therefore We with Advice aforesaid do Command and Require the Magistrates and Councils of the respective Burghs of this Kingdom who shall be chosen at the next ensuing Elections to Sign the foresaid Declaration as is prescribed in the said Acts and to return the Declarations so Signed by them to the Clerks of Our Privy-Council betwixt and the third Thursday of November next certifying such as shall not give Obedience that they shall be proceeded against and censured conform to the said Acts of Parliament Our Will is Herefore and We Charge you strictly and Command that incontinent these Our Letters seen ye pass to the Market-Cross of Edinburgh and remanent Market-Crosses of the Head Burghs of the several