Selected quad for the lemma: authority_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	act_n	king_n	majesty_n	2,350	5	6.2699	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A11746	A short relation of the state of the Kirk of Scotland since the reformation of religion, to the present time for information, and advertisement to our brethren in the Kirk of England, by an hearty well-wisher to both kingdomes.	Warriston, Archibald Johnston, Lord, 1611-1663.	1638 (1638)	STC 22039; ESTC S116925	12,349	22

their Iudges whereas they offered under the paine of their lives to prove many haynous crymes against them and such as were palpable to the World as their introduction of Poperie and Arminianisme their many publick transgressions against Law The whole Nobilitie Gentrie Burrowes Ministers and Commons who had now so often supplicat and so long attended were cast into great difficulties considering their Religion so well warranted by Gods Word and established by the lawes of the Kirke and Kingdome was now begunne to bee changed both in doctrine and discipline at the pleasure of the fourteene Bishops and the liberties of the Countrie like to bee infringed by their usurpation and that having complained often upon them to his Majestie by his Counsell were answered by the former declaration approving these Popish bookes their wicked unlawfull proceedings and condemning the Supplicants lawfull and peaceable meetings and humble waye of supplicating as prejudiciall to regall authoritie prohibiting also their necessar meetings in time comming All these did move the Supplicants to bethinke the renewing of the nationall Covenant of this Kirke Kingdom the breach whereof hath beene a speciall cause to bring these evills upon them to bee a good meane for obtaining the Lords wonted favour having many examples in holy Scripture that the people of GOD have happily renewed their Covenant with GOD. This their Covenant containeth nothing in substance but that which is contained in the Confession of Faith and generall band formerly made for maintenance of Religion acts of Parliament made at sundie times The Confession of Faith was approved by diverse Acts of secreet Counsell and generall Assemblbes It was first subscribed by King IAMES himself and his whole House-hold after by all his Subjects commanded by publick Proclamation to subscribe Subscription to this Confession hath beene in continuall practise when any persons suspect of Papistrie were to be tryed likewise masters of Schooles Colledges were ordained by act of Assemblye to cause their Schollers subscribe when they were to passe their degrees which hath beene observed to this day The practise of subscribing beeing in continuall use to this time was a sufficient warrant for the Supplicants to subscribe the same for manifesting their affection to GODS trueth and holding out all Popish superstition To the said Confession are subjoyned such acts of Parliament as ratified the heads thereof and were made in favours of Religion professed in the same Together with a part of the generall band formerly made and subscribed by authoritie of King Iames and his Counsell binding all the Subjects to the defence of Religion and his Majesties person and each to other in these two causes The Supplicants bind themselves to forbeare all approbation or practise of corruptions and innovations brought in this Kirk till the forme of their entry their lawfulnes or expediencie be tryed in a free generall Assemblye and to labour by all meanes lawfull to recover the puritie and libertie of the Gospell as it was professed and established before the entrie of the said Novations But withall they declare that the novations and evills contained in their Supplications complaints protestations have no warrant in the word of God and are contrare to the articles of the forsaid confession acts of Parliament They promise to forbeare the practise and approbation of novations already entred till a free assembly and Parliament because they were never condiscended upon but in pretended Assemblies and upon conditions which have not beene observed besides that protestations have beene made contrare to the same This Covenant was subscribed by many thousands in Februarie last yea in a very short time by almost the whole Kingdome It was publickly read and sworne in most Kirks with great motion prayers and teares all professing repentance for their sinnes specially for their breach of Covenant to God in suffering the puritie of his worship to bee thus tainted The desire of true knowledge wrought by it in the hearts of the people may approve it to bee a speciall meane appointed by God for reclaiming this Nation to himself The supplicants having now both by oath subscription manifested their desires to be religious their hearts loyall and faithfull to their Prince beeing now barred from dealing with the privy Counsell who admitted the Bishops to sit as Iudges in the cause after the Supplicants had declined them as parties and beeing desirous his Majestie should bee rightly informed that hee might give a gratious answer they thought it expedient to write to the Duke of Lennox Marquesse of Hamiltoun Earle of Mortoun as speciall members of this state because they had neere accesse to his Majestie not doubting that they could not but bee very sensible of these evills complained upon desired them to learne from his Majestie if hee would bee pleased to receive a new petition from the Supplicants immediatly or if they should make their desires knowne to his Majesty by their Lordships This supplication was sent to have been delivered if his Majestie would have received it and also some articles containing their just desires for their Lordships information His Majestie was not willing to receive the supplication but perusing the articles did remit his gratious answere to bee delivered by the Marquesse of Hamiltoun who was to bee sent as his Majesties Commissioner with instructions and power for settling the peace of this kingdome Vpon the thirtie day of May a ship arrived at the road of Leith carrying a great deale of munition as Cannon powder with Cannon ball musquets Pikes and match for the Castle of Edinburgh foretold threatned by the Bishop of S. Andrewes and his followers who affirmed the providing that Castle and fortifieng the towne of Leith to bee the onely meane to beate down Edinburgh and force them to undergoe any thing should bee injoyned as also to hold the supplicants out of it c. Upon suspition that the putting of this munition in the Castle would be stayed the Lord Thesaurer did convey it quyetly to Mussilburgh harberie and from thence to Dalkeith The people remembering the threatnings preceeding and considering that such provision had not beene made for these places these thirtie yeares by past began to suspect danger The Supplicants suspecting that the same would bee imployed against the bodie of the Kingdome who were ayming at no thing but the preservation of Religion and the Subjects libertie resolved without giving offence to keepe a watch lest any of that provision should bee conveyed into these places against the wonted custome For these are the greatest forts in the Countrie appointed for her sastetie and not for her hurt The Marquesse of Hamilton being appointed his Majesties Commissioner did send a number of missives to his friends followers acquaintance in Scotland from Court to meet him at Haddingtoun and Dalkeith the fifth day of Iunij Where-upon the Papists applauding to the Service booke bragged that they with some neutralls and such as

in place there of a number of articles in favours of Bishops never mentioned nor agried upon in Assembly These Ministers who would have entred the Parliament-house to discover that falshood and protest against it were holden out from protesting publickly but they delivered their protestati win write to the Estates severally All this time these pretended prelats laboured that there should be no generall Assembly at all to censure them for transgressing their cautions that they might the more boldly contraveene And whereas in these generall assemblies before their dissolving the kings Majestie or his Commissioner beeing present did appoint the time and place of the next assemblie His Majestiie beeing moved by these Kirkmen who could not endure the censure of generall Assemblyes by his owne warrant first shifted the time solemnely appointed by the last assembly to another time and then to no certaine time which made some of the speciall and ablest Ministers to keepe the time last prescribed for preserving the Kirks right These were conveened before the civill Iudge by commandement and sentenced with baniment although only the Assembly shuld have judged whether their meeting had beene a lawfull assembly or not some others of these were for that same cause imprisoned The Kirkmen presented to Bishoprickes were restored to their civill estate and dignitie in Parliament voyces beeing obtained by consenting to erections of sundry Abbacies and other corrupt meanes in the year 1606. Thereafter they began to encroach upon the kirk government First they affected to be constant moderators to the end they might effectuat this point the more easily they procured a meetting of Ministers at Linlithgow not long after while as their chiefest opposites in the Ministerie were either banished imprisoned confyned or drawne up to Court being sent for by his Majestie to give their advice or best overtures for the peace of the Kirk as was pretended That meetting consisted of such as were sent for by his Majesties missives without mention of any generall assemblies At this meeting these who were styled Bishops in respect of their benefice were made constant Moderators of the Presbyteries where they were resident but were unwillingly admitted by the presbyteries Yet this did not content them and therefore they accepted the power of the high Commission allowed them onely by his Majesties command and Lords of Counsell against the act of Parliament inhibiting any judicatories but such as should bee established by parliament Thereafter they procured an Assembly to be holden at Glasgow consisting of such as were given in note to the presbiteries and corrupted by sowmes of money or hopes of preferment or awed with the terrour of the high Commission At this pretended assembly some power in Presbyteries and moderation in provinciall Synods upon an assurance by word and an implicite condition in the Act it self for set or yeerely assemblyes was graunted to those who were styled vulgarlie Bishops in respect of their benefice But the office of a Bishop was not re-established which before had beene damned by former Assemblies Yet went some of them to England and received consecration to the office of a Diocesian Bishop returned and consecrat their Fellowes deserted their flocks and governed as diocesian Bishops without respect to the limitations of the act of the pretended assembly And this their usurpation they maintaine by the power and authoritie of the high Commission Finding that yet they wanted meanes to make the people stumble so to be brought under their censure a nationall assembly was called 1618. Whereunto his Majesty invited by his letters above thirtie Noblemen Gentlemen wanting Commissions who voted to the conclusions of that pretended assembly Ministers were brought in from the streets and some were written for to assist though never chosen for Commissioners These who had Commissions were neither suffered to reason nor vote freely There they concluded the five articles which had beene formerly condemned by our Kirk as superstitious promising then to leave the practise of them arbitrarie These they procured by the like indirect meanes to bee ratified in Parliament Anno 1621. Against the which articles and ratification thereof in Parliament without the desire and consent of the assemblyes had thereunto the most religious and judicious of the Ministerie did solemnely protest in name of the reformed Kirk of SCOTLAND whereunto the most part of the particular Congregations have adhered and never practised these Articles Notwithstanding heereof the Bishops did presse them violently and when any refused practise there was matter for their high Commission to worke on This their usurpation even without any pretended warrant of corrupt assemblyes and their crueltie encreased For they usurpe the moderation of general Assemblyes which are holden only at their pleasure at diocesian Synods they sit as Iudges rather than simple moderators They ordaine Ministers not in the presence or with consent of the Congregation but in some remote place and sometimes without the presence of any Minister of the Presbyterie or bounds where the Minister is to serve They give orders to sundrie without the charge of any flock they suspend and deprive Ministers usually for none conformitie not in Pres-byteries and in Synods where-unto they are tyed but in the Court of high Commission wherein they fyne confyne or imprison Preachers or professors at their pleasure They stay pres-byteries from proceeding to the sentence of Excommunication They exact subscripiton from intrants to the Ministerie unto articles framed by themselves alanerly and debarre the best qualified for refusing to subscribe It doth not content them to admit according to the oath contained in the Act of Parliament They convocate Ministers to promiscuous meetinges and direct their mandates from these as from the representative Kirk of Scotland They consecrate Bishops and ordaine Ministers according to a forme not allowed by this Kirk They debarre persons presented by lawfull Patrons because they refuse to enter by the degree of a baptizing Deacon They sit in Counsell Session and Exchequer contrare to the word of God and acts of the Kirk They staye processe against Papists They teach Popish and Arminian pointes of doctrine or preferre such as teach the like They bring in practise of novations in the royall chappell not warranted so much as by any pretended acts of corrupt Assemblies But to relate their particular insolencies and usurpations were fitter for a Volume than for this short information And although at Conventions and Parliaments their oppressions were complained upon yet neither parliament Convention or Counsell would heare any plaint against them By direction of his Majesties private letters the Counsell all wayes interposed their authoritie to all their sentences in the high Commission when it was craved and assisted them so far as lay in them which did increase their pride and encourage their undertaking all novelties which seemed good in their owne eyes Thus thinking themselves by thirtie one yeares experience sufficiently persuaded of the passive disposition of the people to

were indifferent in matters of Religion would assist the Bishops used all their meanes to conveene the greatest numbers they could The Supplicants moved with the provision intended for the Castle and these frequent meetings of Papists neutrals resolved not to joyne with them at their meeting with the Commissioner because they would impudently ascribe the most part of these whom hee had required to themselves and these neutralls for these and some other important reasons the Supplicants resolved to send out some few of their number to make their excuse to my Lord Commissioner The Supplicants together the Towne of Edinburgh apart by their request procured his comming to Haly-rood-house as the most convenient place for their attendance Vpon the seventh of Iunij at his entrie hee was attended by a great number of the Supplicants on horse meeting him three myles from Haly-rood-house and all the way betwixt by many thousands on foot amongst the which were six or seven hundreth of the Ministerie In hope that the Commissioner would not offer to furnish the Castle with munition during the treatie the numbers appointed for watching were diminished even before his entrie The Supplicants renewed their former desires of a generall Assembly and Parliament to the Commissioner as the only meane to redresse the evills complained upon He acknowledged himselfe unable to grant either till first the Countrie were in a peaceable condition till they should first rescind and render their subscribed Covenants to his Majestie To the first it was answered the Cuntrie was not unpeaceable there was many humble supplications desiring remedie of these pressing grievances the Supplicants could not be moved to stay from meeting and supplicating till they should receive a gratious answere and the onely meane to content them was the granting of a free generall Assembly and a Parliament for the second they could not draw on themselves the guilt of perjurie before God gave the Commissioner sufficient reasons of their refusall which are extant in print The Commissioner excepted against that clause in the Covenant bearing mutuall defence as if the Supplicants had combyned themselves to maintaine each other in their owne private quarrells howbeeit the clause bee cleare eneugh of itself yet for his Majesties satisfaction they gave in a Supplication to the Commissioner wherein they declared their mutuall defence of each other was only in the defence of true Religion of the lawes and liberties of this Kirk and Kingdome and of his Majesties person and autoritie in preservation thereof where-with his Grace acquiesed The Commissioner professing that all his instructions did runne on the hope of having the Covenant surrendred and this failing hee could doe no more but returne and deale with his Majesty for obtaining a free generall Assembly and Parliament Withall did shew that before his parting hee behoved to publish his Majesties gratious declaration and so first made that proclamation of returning the Counsell and Session to Edinburgh to make a faire way for the other professing also that the other should bee full of goodnesse promising only a generall Assembly and parliament and discharging all novations introduced Where upon a protestation was provided only to give thanks to his Majestie and to protest that some short and convenient time might bee appointed for holding the Assemblye and Parliament But the Supplicants attending the publishing of this faire and smooth declaration when it was proclaimed upon the fourth of Iulij they found it so grievous as it necessitat the Supplicants to make that protestation which is extant in print As the Supplicants were grieved at the Proclamation so their griefe was augmented when they heard that the Lordes of Counsell had approved the Proclamation by a particular Act. For the Counsell had approved that proclamation as satisfactorie and so full of grace and goodnesse so that it might satisfie all men Whereas it gave saisfaction to none of the Supplicants desires and did condemne their lawfull meetings Therefore they prepared a supplication for the Commissioner which did bear their just exceptions at the Proclamation and farre more against the Counsells act of approbation But the Counsell considering better of their Act did teare it after it was subscribed and before it was put upon record The next day the Commissioner was supplicated and earnestly desired to make some act to cleare that the Counsells subscribing of the Kings Majesties declaration was no approbation thereof from them but only a warrant for the Clerke to cause proclaime it The Commissioner and most of the Counsellers declared the same solemnely by their oaths wherein the Supplicants acquiesced My Lord Commissioner promised to recomend their desires earnestly to his Majestie and returne at the fifth of August next or before the twelft at the furthest The Commissioner reported that it was written from England that these of this Nation were comming with armes towards them The Supplicants protested bef●re God it never entred in their mindes to doe them the least harme but that they carried toward them all due respect of Brethren if they should not bee first invaded by them which was as farre from their expectation as it was without their deservings But on the contrare whereas such of the Bishops as were chiefe authors of these evills apprehending danger from the Panick terrours of their guiltie consciences not from any just occasion offered by the Supplicants when they and their adherents had acted the part of Incendiaries at the Court of England betwixt the Kings Majestie and his Subjects did thereafter retire themselves out of Scotland as hopelesse to find a partie for them there these who have not subscribed the Confession excepting Counsellers not beeing a considerable part and the most part of them no favourers of Bishops And they bragged that his Majestie will make the people of England come in armes against Scotland which is neither to bee expected from so just a King against his own native subjects only supplicating for the preservation of true Religion and liberties of the Countrie established by lawes nor from so good and wise a people with whom the Kingdom of Scotland is not more neerely conjoyned by marches than all true Scotish hearts have beene these many yeares past It should be an high and fearefull dissimulation if any such spytefull intention were keeped up against brethren whose naturall freedome and ingenuitie cannot admit the least suspition of any such thoughts seing they live in one Iie under one King have intertained commerce with as litle contoversie or debate with as much affection and peace as ever was betwixt two Nations yea they are so far from intention to offer wrong to the English that they are resolved never to suffer England to be wronged by any other Nation so long as their lives and meanes shall laste and doe expect the like br●therly duetie from them least they bee found even to f●ght against God himself How can they have any purpose to wrong that Countrie wherein so many worthie Preachers and professours have given both by writing and suffering abundant testimonie to the cause they plead for in all the particulars thereof which now they maintaine My Lordes of the Clergie in Scotland as they have borrowed somethings from England to wit high Commission Canons and such other stuffe not warranted by law as in England thought to have repared that loane by establishing the new Service booke first heere that thereafter their confederats might thrust out that service so long continued in England for if it had not been for that end it shuld not have goten so much help and approbation from thence and perhaps from Rome But that current is stopped heere praised be God and we wish it might be also there If some English Bishops seeming to compassionate their Brethren heere have a desire to further the plot though it were upon Nationall Perills so may move the English Catholicks as persons furthest disappointed to undertake the recoverie of their cause by giving their whole assistance against Scotland which beeing once suppressed all may bee setled there and then undoubtedly in England The kingdom of Scotland with reservation of all due respect to the true English craveth they maye not onely have help from good Christians there in case of such invasion but also leave to root out these Cananits who are pricks in their sides And this much shortly to give satis-faction to the better sort that there bee no mistaking amongst brethren Cursed bee these that doe not wish and pray for peace if it can bee had without that great losse of the Gospell of peace in the purity and power thereof according to the word of God FINIS