English Leiturgy if she would yeeld to him in some other things Cambden in An. 1560. L. Cooke de jure div Reg. Eccles fol. 34. I am sure would willingly authorise and allow provided that the King would grant him such a Headship as must be granted him by such as say their Episcopall jurisdiction is Iure Divino and derive their calling from the Pope And because this Bishop conceived that all other townes in the Kingdome would follow the example of Edenb hee comes therefore himselfe into the Cathedrall Church of purpose to have the said booke there publiekly read but it fell not out according to his expectation for the people not being for merly tanght that that way and manner of Divine Worship which they had ever vsed from the reformaticn of that Church was not fit nor lawfull neither it structed by the BB that the English Popish service Booke (a) This all Reformed Churches tax us for viz. that the Service-booke is the Masse translated into English and the Papist hit us for it in the teeth saying that we are behoulding to them for mattens and Evening song this is known to our people generally which makes their cause theworse before God in that they offer him such a sacrifice as their conscience tels them is an abomination was agreat deale better nor being vsed to heare mattings and evening song and singing service the Scotsmen I say not beeing used to such geare could not digest it For they beleeved and well they might that there was little difference between this booke worship and the Popes masse booke (b) The Scotsmen say very true as appears by the words of K. Edward the sixt It seemes to you sayth he in his Proclamation to the Rebels of the West that you have a new service novv indeed it is no other but the old the selfe-same vvords in English vvhich are in Latin c If therfore the service of the Church vvas good in Lattin it remaineth good in English for no thing is altered but to speak with knovvledge that vvhich vvas ignorantly before uttered Act and Monum vol. 2 pag. 1497. 1498. Edit 5. saving that the one is in Latine the other in English (c) c Q uaer Whether a Papist saying the Masse in Latin and not understanding how foolish false and blasphemous it is doth not lesse offend then he that speakes it in his owne tongue and so knowes what hotch potch galle mawfry it is And howsoever the people generally were greatly offended with the B. for this his bould attempt yet the women (d) Let our Prelates look to it least when justice is not suffered to passe in an ordinary way God raise not up other means to execute his wrath upon them The Dukes death may be a warning for them Bloody and deceitfull men shall not live out halfe their dayes Psa 55 23. Let that Blood-thirsty murderous Butcher Laud thinke of the place not so well able as the men to forbeare open resistance and opposition rose up without any ceremony and droue the B and Deane out of the Church (e) I glad to see them whipt out by the K. Parliam se Psa 69 25. some what like to our Saviours whipping the buyers and sellers out of the Temple The Bishop being vexed that he was thus women beaten and the rest of his brethren being no lesse enrage thereat what doe they now they doe what they can to set more discord between the King and his good subjects and specially they seeke to increase his wrath against the towne of Eden thinking that all other townes in the land would be afliraid to oppose any of the innovations which they sought to bring into that Church if that city suffered some disgrace at his Majesties hands And to accomplish their wicked end this way they procured 1 a recommendation from his Majesly vnto the town-councill to chuse for a Provest or Major he beeing dead that was before in place one Hay who had formerly served under the Townclarke aman well acquainted with all the mercinarie wayes that could bee vsed for working vpon that Community and therefore the fitter man as their Lordships thought to bee chosen for furthering the execution of their deepeplots and designes being Plots and designes so contrary to and against their acts of Parliament Confession of faith and the Publick worship of God in that Church as they durst not discover the same to any one man that was knowne to be honest or religious or free from THAT CORRVPTION you know what I meane which that Hay for these many yeares in the whole course of his life hath beene generally noted for Novi Simonem Simon me 2. They procured a commandement from his Majestie unto the Councill and Session and all civill Courts of instice that they should depart from Eden and sit first at Lythgou afterwards at Starling (a) If there were nothing else to induce our King State to hunt those Vermins away this were sufficient namely their dayly attempts to set strife betweene them Oh that his majestie did see how ungratefull they are this way to him As Screetch-Ovvles whiles they suck the Goats-milke doe marre the Vdder So these never draw any benefit from Prin ces But they wil be fure like unthankfull Owles to abuse thē for it if they can These unreasonable men growing thus worse and worse the better sort at lenght of every condition and quality in the Kingdome began to take the matter as high time it was home to heart (b) We have more cause a great deale considering what visiose and senceable miseries the Land lies under by their meanes Besides there is now a faire apportunity offered to his Majestie to free his three Kingdomes at once from the hurtfulst plagues that they have If some sormer Kings of this Land had secne the way so cleare and the work so easie as now it is they would soone have taken off their corner Caps and set a Tyburn Tipper in the place there of and perceiving that vnlesse there were some speedie course taken to take these little foxes (c) Their Bb may well be called Little Foxes and ours the great Foxes for in respect of villanie mischeife to ours theirs are no-bodies Witnes Laud who is more Fox wise then all the Bb. in Scotland and cast them out head and tayle from the Lords Vineard (d) Some may thinke that such a worke wil be difficult here with us but I am otherwise minded For these creatures are like nettles which being softly handled doe sting but if they are crust the smart not soe these are least hurtfull when they are most crusht there would certainly come and that soon great preiudice to their religion to the honour of their King and to to themselves and their posterity many wayes They here upon perceiving I say as men doe the raine in a black cloud that senceable and visible dangers lay at
their dore for prevention whereof made choyse of one or two of the gravest Ministers in every Presbytery one or two discreet gentlemen of every Shier to present their complaints remonstrances and greviances to the Councill that by their mediation and meanes his Maiesty might be acquanted with the same These Commisioners upon Sept. 23 Oct. 15. and Decem. 7. 27. gave in vnto the Councill such supplications as were fit for his Maiesties information and specially that his subjects feared (a) Our is more then a feare of innovation for wee have sundry innovations established among us and the Prelates set their jornymen on vvork to defend them as Heylen Reed Pocklington and such like Trencher Mates Besides his ungracious graceles Speech in the Star-Chamber an innovation in religion wherby the common wealth was likely to suffer much (b) They set us down a good patterne to follow That is to write up the wicked workes of the Prelates and present them to his Majesty and I verelie thinke if the King were rightly informed what knowne Traitors they are to God to him to the Land and true Religion and how detestable they are in the eyes of his people and how much it doth alienate his subjects affections from his Majesty that such WORKERS OF INIQVITIE are suffered I say if Majestie were thorowly possessed hereof my mind gives me they should not tarie in his sight The Bishops perceiving that their workes of darkenese w now cōming to light that the Commissioners taxed them that to true for many tresonable assaults against their Religion established by law and many yeares peaceable professed and also for seeking by crafty wayes to bring into the Church the rags and dregs of the Babilonian whore the Bb I say perceiving this vse meanes that the King would referre all to the Councell whereof themselves were a great part and truly this was no small point of wisedome in their Lordships for they were not so blind but they could see well enough that unlesse they themselues might bee judges in their owne Case they would bee judged by others to be Vnsavery salt and hence forth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be troden under foot (c) What greater dishonour can it be to our Nation then to suffer such in high and eminent places who in the esteeme of other Natiōs are fitt only for the dunghil And that there ravenous wolues (d) If the Church of Scotland doe so Iudge of them then let them beware that they doe not upon any tearmes admitt of them againe For wolves beeing kept a while from their prey doe afterwards fall a devouring the more eagerlie and greedily so will those spirituall Wolves doe if they can get againe into their places might escape the hands of such as were hunting after them they procure by whose meanes I know not a Proclamation to bee published in Eden sebr 19. 1638. wherein all the aforesaid Commisioners the hunters of the Fox were commanded vnder paine of treason to leaue the townes of Eden and Starling within six houres after the publication of the same the words of the Proclamation are as followes CHARLES c. For so much as we out of our Princery care (a) (a) If Princes will take care for Religion they must doe then what the Word of God directeth the and not what superstitious Prelates for their case profitt pleasure and such worldly respects perswade them to doc See Psal 119.24 Gal. 4 18. of maintaining the true Religion all ready professed so beating downe all superstition Having ordained a booke of common prayer to bee compiled for the generall and vniversall use edification (b) (b) Hoccine credibile aut memorabile Will Satan cast out Satan He were an unwise man that would bee perswaded that the way to get light into his house were by shutting his doorers windows They that should cast aside the true worship of Christ and thinke to edifie themselves better by using the superstitions service-booke would shew themselves were foolish of our subjects within our ancient Kingdome of Scotland the same being accordingly don In the framing whereof we tooke great care (c) (c) I beleeve the Bb. tooke great care paines to have it as full of superstition as they could but blessed be God their labour was as vaine as their worke and I hope the great care paines that Laud and his Mates the Iesuites now take to bring in Poperie will prove so to that is the contrivers either forced to fly into other Countries or hangd up at home for their treacherie and villanie paines so that there is nothing past therein but was seen and approved by us before the same was divulgated or printed assuring all our loving subjects that not only our intention is but even this very booke a ready meanes to maintaine the true Religion already professed and beat out all superstition of which in our owne time we not doubt but in a faire course to satisfie the judgments of our good subjects But having seen and considered some petitions and declarations given into our counsell against the said Booke and late CANNONS of the booke find our regall authority much iniured thereby both in the matter and the carrage whereby wee certifie these of the Nobility Gentry Barrons Ministers and others who have keept and assisted those meetings and convocations for contriving and subscribing of the said petitions to be liable (d) (d) Better that men censured us for well dooing then that Christ in the last day should passe sentence of condemnation against us for yeelding unto their unjust demaunds to our censure in their persons and fortunes they having conveyned themselves without consent or authority Yet because wee beleeve that they have done herein only out of a preposterous zeale and without disloyalty or disaffection in our Soveraingty Our gracious pleasure so farr as concernes those metings for consulting and subscription of the said petitions or presenting of the same to any judges of this Kingdom is to dispence therewith and with what may bee the fault or error therein to all such as upon signfication or declaration of this our pleasure shall retaine themselves as become good and dutifull subjects (e) (e) As the 3 Nobles in Daniel were the Kings good and dutifull subjects albeit they bowed not before the image So are the Nobilitie Gentry Ministers in Scotland good dutifull subjects although they refuse the service-booke Yea to say the truth they are better subjects to his Majestie then such as conforme to it here in England To which purpose OVR WILL is henceforth and we charge you straghtly and commaund that incontinetly these our letters seene the particulers in our name authority proclamation therof be made to all our leige subjects in all places needfull that soe none pretend ignorance hereof and therewithall in our name and authoroty (a) (a) It is
no doubt but these and other such like objections were suggested to his Majestie seing he heard not the ansers (c) Princes should be like the sunne which casteth her shining beemes upon all a like his Majestie wil be pleased to receineÌ„our charges proofes against the Bb. in as fâ—â— and favourable a way as he doth their charges without preffe against us we doubt but to make it cleare yea and his Majestie shall conseld it that they are neither fitt Church or Common wealth d It hath been the overthrow of maine brave princes to take things upon the 〈◊〉 of the reporter for by this meanes dissentions have fallen out between them their best subjects here upon treacherous men as the Prelats are have taken 〈◊〉 time advantage to hurt both parnies it is possible he might be offended with his best subjects specially considering that his Majesty hath things presented to him in such shapes and lineaments as the Prelates conceive to to bee most for their owne ends and advantages notwill standing such was his Maisties wisdome and loue to his ancient Subjects as that he refused to attempt the actions which some perswaded him unto (a) What Prelates are the Spun of God showeth in Rev. 16.13 viz. the unclean pirits which goe unto the Kings of the hearth together them to battle against the Saints Now as Aliad beeing encouraged by his false Prephers to goe against Raniath Gilead was undone by it So many in mking the Bb. counsell to warre against the Gespell have been undone by the meanes in their state honour posteritie But sent the Mar of Ham down into Scotland to heare what they could say for themselves how they could justifie the band they had made and So to certifie his Majestie how all things stood And no doubt but his Maiestie did this the rather as conceaving in his royall breast that it was not possible that so many of his best suband men of the greatest integrity and prudence would have agreed together in an action of such a nature without Some considerable reason and cause The Marques being come into Eden much speech passed between him and the commissioners for the Land they craved the indiction of a free Aslembly and Parliament as the only remeady of their miseries hee required a rendring up of the whole copies of the Subscribed Covenant telling them that this would bee a meanes to remove all feares of the Kings wrath against the subscribers and If they refused to doe soe the King b The same remedy we crave here in England the which being granted we feaoe not that but Church and Common-wealth shall be both the better for it What Children seeing Serpents creeping in their Fathers and Mothers bosome will not kill them to preserve their Parents Those Bb. as so many venemous snakes lie in the bosome as it were of our Abimelech Father King and of the Church Now the Parliament-men as good Children will kill those Serpents that so both Father and Mother may live and prosper it might by would not grant them an affemblie or parliament for establishing religion and setling the Peace of Kirk and Kingdome But they answered that thus they could not doe for if they should they should not bee free of the great guiltines of peruirie before God (a) Note the wickednes of our Bb it is their order to have infams in baptisine to vow and promise by their sureties to fight againct the devil al his vvorkes yet afterwards they doe what they can to make them perinted foresworne in requiring them to fight for the Devil his workes that 〈◊〉 for them and the Pope Againe in this they should destroy what they had before built confesse themselves to be trespassers bfore they saw it besides they should shew great unthankefulnes vnto God for a worke which by his good spirit they were moved to doe Moreover the demaund was more then the Commissioners could doe in regard many thousands in the Land besides themselves had subscribed To be short they said and that truely if they should grant this all the World would wonder at their inconstancy and their enemies would mock at them and traduce them as periured Covenant-breakers and Troublers of the peace of the Kirk and Kingdome And whereas there were many promises made of great matters that the King would doe for them if they would render up the Copies to him Their answere was that this was not the first time (b) It is the property of the fox to come towards the sheep upon his bellie to shew him selfe a farre off as if he meant no harme but being gotten with in them and where he would be then like a fox he kils spares not so the Prelates till they become where they defire to be they are very freindly full of faire promises but having gotten what they seeke for then like soxes as they are they spoile ane devour the Lords sheep that fair promises had beene made them for not vrging of of Articles already concluded and for not trouble them with any further innovation the which beeing credited did ensnare manie and drew them on to doe that which otherwise they would not have don all which promises have beene broken and denyed when the per formance was craved and why may they not exspect the like in this case especially where the thing wil bee found more hard and difficult There beeing much time spent and no conclusion made of any thing at the last there comes downe a Proclamation from the King The which was problished at the Mercate Crosse of Edinburg the 4 of July 1638. the effect whereof was this That his Majestie was not ignorant of their great desorders (a) If there be disorders among them the greatest ault lies on the Proclates who have been the cheife Authors and causers of it And therefore his Majestie shall doe verie well to se them severelie punished who have by their attempts to bring peoperie into that Church occasioned much trouble in that Kingdome we use to blame such as set the house on syer not the good people which seeke to quench it so c. here occasioned as is pretended upon the introduction of the Service-booke Booke of Canons c. thereby fearing innovation of Religion and Lawes At this his Majestie professeth to greeve to see them runne headlong into ruine Yet out of his innative indulgence to his people he desires to reclay me them from their faults in a faire way Rather then let them perish in the same And for further clearing of scruples he promiseth not hereafter to presse the practice of the said Service booke Canons but in a faire and legall way (b) That which is against the cÌ„omaundement of God cannot lawfullie be vrged in any way what soever now there is nothing more sure then that the service booke booke of can are accursed thinges and therefore ought
not to be rged or received by any He that drinkes povsen out ofa goulden cup kils himselfe assoon as if he tooke it our of an Iron or Wodden Vessell So Superstition brought into the Church in a plausible and peaceable way is as deadly a poyson vnto the receivers of it as if they were compelled and forced to take it c. And for the High Commission he will rectifie it (c) It is as possible to wash the Black-moore vvhite As by any rectifications to make the high commission a lawfull court If his Majestie doe take the advise of his Council about it I am sure if they be not Bb or Athests or Papists they wil Counsell him to pull it all down for there is not one stone in that building which God allowes with the helpe and advile of the privy Counsell c. And for geuerall Assemblies and Parliament it shal be indicted and called with his conveniency In conclusion he requires and hartely wisheth all is good Subjects not to suffer themselves to be seduced and misled under Religion into disobedience and draw on infinitely to his greefe their owne ruine Which he hath and still shall strive to save them from so long as he sees not Royall authority shaken off The Kings Proclamation beeing published the Noblemen Barrons Gentlemen Burrowes Ministers and Commons made a Protestation against it to this effect 1. That they will constantly adhere according to their vocation and power to their Reformation at first Notwithstanding of any innovations introduced either of old or late 2. That they will adhere to their supplications given in at Assemblies and Parliaments against the Service-booke Booke of Cannons the High Commission c. 3. That they will adhere with their hearts (a) As I rejoyce to see such constancy in the Scotsmen so it greeves me to the heart to think what reeds shaken with the wind our people generally are As Ioab after he had fought many battles bravely stoutly yet died himselse at last in shame digrace Even so many Preachers Professors having a while refused conformitie to the Beast have afterwards basely yeelded to the Bb. and so gone to their graves with shame dishonour to their Oath and subscription of the Confession of Faith 4. That this Proclamation or Act of Councill or any other Act or Proclamation c. shall no wayes be prejudiciall (b) If it be held a base thing among men not to keepe a mans Word Promise it is much worse to breake Covenant with the Lord yet so doe all those who promise to feare God and doe his worke in his owne way and yet doe the commaundements of the Prelates to the Confession of Faith Lawes and Liberties of their Kingdome nor to their supplications Lawfull meetings c. 5. Seeing their Supplications for Reformation are delayed and in effect refused whatsoever trouble or inconvenience fall out in the Land in the meane time for want of those ordinary remedies not to be imputed to them In short they protest that it shal be Lawfulll for them to defend and maintaine that Religion Lawes and Liberties of their Kingdome the Kings authority in defence thereof and every one of them one another in that cause of meantaining the Religion and the Kings fore-said authority according to their power vocation and Covenant with bodies lives meanes c. against all persuits whatsoever or against all externall or internall invasions menaced in this Proclamation 6. They protest that their former Supplications meeting and mutual defences are to be commended as real duties of faithfull subjects (c) Que. Whether England hath not as much Previledge to reject the Service-book Canons High Commission and all other such like Idolitries and to establish maintaine the true worship of God as hath Scotland and not to be stiled great disorders misdeamenours blinde disobedience under pretext of Religion and running headlong into ruine c. In conclusion they exspect that his Majesty will presently indict these ordinary remedies of a free Assemblie and Parliament to their iust supplications which may be exspected from so iust and gracious a King (a) When the men of Isreel were offended with their Brethren for that they had brought the K. his Household over Iordan Iudah answered the K. is neere of Kin to us Wherefore then be yee angry for this matter This may serve as a reason why the Scots are first in bringing the King home from his enemies the Bb. the K. is neere of kin to them Now for the State of England if they have any zeale of God and love to the King they will further this good worke of Iudah so happily begunne for the Kings safety and honour This don Iohn Earle of Caffles c in the name of the Noblemen Master Alexander Gipson younger of Durie in name of the Barrones Master Iohn Ker Minister at Salt Prestoun in name of the Ministers and Master Archbald Iohnston Reader hereof in name of all who adheres to the Confession of Faith Covenant lately renewed within this Kingdome Tooke Instruments in the Hands of three Notars present at the said mercat crosse in Edenburgh beeing invironed with Numbers of the aforesaid Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Borrows Ministers and Commons Before many Hundred witnesses craved the extract thereof And in token of their dutifull respect to his Majesty confidence of the equity of their cause and innocencie of their carriage and hope of his Majesties gratious acceptance They offred in humility with submise reverence a Copy thereof to the Herauld These things being ended the Marquesse leaves Eden and goes back to London now what followed touching those afaires you shall-know in the next part Rev. 18.9 Reward her even as shee rewardeth you and double vnto her double according to her workes in the cup which shee hath filled fill to her double FINIS