Renestern Swatrenburgh Wertenburgh Hannaw Oeting Glick and Leonstime All in the Baronies of Lenefergh Schenburgh and Wildenfield All the Churches of at least thirty free Cities Many of whose Territories are as ample as Geneva and yet none of them have received the Presbyterian Discipline Add to these the remainder of the Albigenses and Waldenses in Piedmont in the parts adjoyning or of the Taborites in Bohemia the Lutheran Churches also in Poland Denmark and Swethland And indeed Calvin and Beza both are sufficient Judges to prove they were no Enemies to moderate Episcopacy but onely against Romish Hierarchy See Calvin de necessitate reformandae Ecclesiae and Beza de grad Minister Evangel 18. Sect. 3. Themselves well knowing that Episcopacy then did direct the guidance of grave and wise Over-seers which otherwise would fall into Schisms and after grow into Heresies These Items and many more such were put together to set them forth in some measure untill the Day advanced for the Conference at Hampton-court in Iaruary Whether was summoned by Letters the Arch Bishop of Canterbury the Bishops of London Durham Winton Worcester St Davids Chichester Carlile and Peterborough the Deans of the Chapel Pauls West-Chester Salisbury and Westminster On the other part were these Doctors Reynolds and Sparks Mr Knewstubs and Mr Chaderton Agents for the Millenary Plaintiffs says the Book and these four were the fittest that could be found amongst them all The King sent for the Bishops to come before him in private and entered their Assemblying with a grave and princely Declaration of this his general drift By example of all Christian Princes in commencements of their Reign establishing the Doctrine and policy of the Church Henry 8. did it toward the end of his Reign Edward 6. altered more Queen Mary reversed all and Queen Elizabeth settled it as now it standeth His happiness is to have no cause to alter but to confirm what he findeth and which so affects him that he entered into a gratulation to Almighty God for bringing him into the promised Land where Religion was purely professed and to sit amongst grave learned and reverend men not as before elsewhere a King without State Honour or Order where beardless boys would yet beard him to his face acknowledging now the Government Ecclesiastical to be approved by manifold blessings of God increase of the Gospel and a glorious Peace But as nothing could be so ordered but may have additions and in any State as in the body of man corruptions might insensibly grow either through time or persons of which some complaints have pretended Reformation His purpose therefore was to try the complaints and remove the occasions if scandalous or to cure them if dangerous or if but frivolous to take so much knowledg thereof as to cast a Sop into Cerberus his mouth never to â—ark more to give factious spirits no occasion of boasting and to redress what should appear fitting without any visible alteration And in particular the King signified he called them alone about some points to be satisfied himself concerning the Book of Common Prayer and Service Excommunication in Ecclesiastical Courts Providing of able Ministers for Ireland First in the Book confirming of Baptism as if without it the Sacrament were invalid then were it blasphemous Secondly for the use at first indeed upon occasion that Infants being baptized and answering by their Patrini it was necessary they should be examined at years of discretion and confirmed by the Bishop with a Blessing and Prayer but abhorred it as a Popish Sacrament and courleration of Baptism About Absolution that there being onely two kindes General and Particular all Prayers and Preaching import an Absolution the other is to be applied to special parties after a scandal and repentance are resolved Thirdly Private Baptism if private for peace so did the Primitive Church if for persons none ought but a lawfull Minister and therefore was earnest against Women and Layicks Excommunication To consider the matter whether executed in light causes and too often In the persons why Lay-men Chancellours and Commissioners do it why not the Bishops with the Dean and Chapters or Ministers or Chaplains Ireland This for Ireland was referred to a consultation hereafter Confirmation The Arch Bishop shewed the Antiquity of Confirmation from the Apostles till of late some particular Churches had rejected it he declared the lawfull use thereof and affirmed that the Church of England did not hold Baptism imperfect without it or added any thing to the virtue and strength thereof this he manifested by the Rubricks in the Communion Book before Confirmation The Bishop of London said It did not depend onely upon Antiquity as in Cyprian Ep. 73. and Hierom. adversus Luciferian but was one of the particular points of the Apostles Catechism in express words Heb. 6. 2. and so did Calvin expound that very place which was read and approved That we made it not a Sacrament or Corroboration and yet the King was of opinion it might rather be intituled Examination with a Confirmation Absolution It was cleared from all abuse or superstition the Minister does but pronounce Absolution in general after the Confession that in the Communion Book there was another particular and personal Form of Absolution for the Visitation of the Sick and that the Confessions of Augusta Boheme Saxon which be there cited do retain and allow it and so does Calvin approve such a kinde of Confession and Absolution Private Baptism That the Administration by Women and Layicks was not practised of the Church but inquired of by Bishops in their Visitations and censured and although the words in the Book might seem doubtfull yet the Compilers did not so intend them and yet propounded them ambiguously perhaps that it might thereby pass in Parliament and in case of necessity onely and was so agreeable to the practice of ancient Church as Acts 2. where three thousand were baptized in one day impossible for the Apostles to do themselves or improbable and besides them there were no Bishops or Priests and Tertullian and Saint Ambrose in Ephes. 4. are plain in that point laying open also the impious opinions who think there is no necessity of Baptism not as if without it God could not save the Childe and the case being put as incertain if not baptized but if baptized an evident assurance and so rather to ground upon Christ's promise than by omission upon Gods secret judgments The King replied That the place Acts 2. was an act extraordinary the Church then unsettled and ungrounded now stablished and flourishing that he maintained necessity of Baptism as to the place of Saint John Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua c. was meant of Baptism and that fourteen Moneths ago he did argue in Scotland against his Divines there for ascribing too little to that Sacrament so that said he a pert Minister asked him if it were so necessary that being omitted the
the Time and to discharge all Modification advance of stipends to any Minister for a year unless onely to such as have submitted to the Articles and in affection to the Kings service The Ministers thus curbed and the Northern men being come up to Edenburgh for their stipends complain of their Brethren their pride and insolency supplicate the Bishops to intercede and mitigate his Majesties displeasure and so they did and procured Letters from the King for allowance of their stipends And Mr. Simson was now released professing his hearty reluctancy for opposing his Majesty setting his hand to a Supplication which himself framed with all submission But his Brethren not liking any submission but to their Assemblies or Synods his being to the Council he sets out an Apologetick glossing upon each word of his Confession and concludes That whatever frailty or weakness had befallen him heretofore he hoped now to be like Peter Qui ore negavit corde confessus est and never to betray the Lords cause with Judas The Iesuits do even so fast and loose neither tongue hearts nor hands can binde them against their mental secret purposes And yet there being some hope that matters might amend for the Church and their frequent Synods preparing for their better obedience the Bishops procured the Kings consent to another General Assembly to be at Perth in August the next year This royal Progress of pleasure into Scotland and back again gave leasure to the King and advantage to all Attendants for preferment of their persons or other satisfaction for their services by the freedom of their Masters bounty both to Scots and English Especially to our new Favourite now of two years growth in the Kings affection This man George Villiers of an ancient Family in Leicestershire and bears 〈◊〉 on a cross Gu. five Escalops Or. His father Sir George Villiers begat him 1592. upon a second venter Mary Beaumont of noble extraction whom for her beauty and goodness he married By his first he had but one Son rising no higher in honour than Knight and Baronet his disposition not court-like and therefore injoying perhaps the greater greatness self-fruition yet in time he had preferment to the Government of Ulster Province in Ireland The other Sons were three and in order of Birth but not in Preferment Iohn was Viscount Purbech George Duke of Buckingham and Christopher Earl of Anglesey and one Daughter Susan Countess of Denbigh We are told that he came over by chance from his French Travels and sought his Preferment in Marriage with any body but mist of a Match for want of an hundred Marks and so pieces him for the Court like the story of Demetas Caparisons borrowing of each one by piece-meal to put him forward for the Kings Favourite But the truth is thus His Mother a Widow was afterwards married unto Sir Thomas Compton whose Brother the Lord Compton by chance falling upon a wonderfull Match for matchless wealth with the Daughter and Heir of Sir Iohn Spencer Alderman of London and her Father then lately dead this Lord was Master of all which was of more than credible and so might be enabled bountifully to set up a Kinsman without other help or Alms of the Parish It was plotted long before and Villiers sent for to the same purpose by practice of some English Lords to ballance with the Scots who by the help of the last Favourite Somerset and others of great affection with the King had the better of the poor English There had been a private Intertainment of a Supper at Baynards Castle by the family of Herbert Hertford and Bedford and some others by the way in Fleet street hung out Somersets picture at a Painters stall which one of the Lords envying bad his foot-boy fling dirt on the face which he did and gave me occasion to ask my companion upon what score that was done He told me this meeting would discover And truly I waited neer and opportune and so was acquainted with the Design to bring in Villiers who was entred before He had need to be well backed against enough that envyed his neerness and aimed by any affront to discountenance him until he made them know that his courage over mastered his sweetness For having bought the place of Cup-bearer to the King and taking the upper end of the Board at dinner before some other Waiter which not his due was told of it and so removed nor was it done with overmuch kindness for indeed the other was Somersets creature who urging a second incivility Villiers gave him a Box on the Ear. For which the custome of Court condemned him to have his hand cut off And which Somerset as then Chamberlain ought to prosecute the Execution which he did And here the Kings pardon without any satisfaction to the other party made him suspected a budding Favourite Who was indeed raised with or by Somersets ruine so drew envy from him as his competitor and from others his Friends compartners in his fall being then as one cast out of the passions of the King We shall find him come up degrees and to stand firm in favour to the death of this King and his second Master till his assassination The King minding to shew his own power to raise him from nothing and his will to advance him for nothing the others study therefore was the Kings inclination and so to leave on him whose affection was sufficient to hold up his head He waited hard and close his first years rising but having removed all the whole Line of Somersets lincks his Wives interests the Howards being boldly fixed in his Masters favor he would adventure to take leave but not too long to be absent And so by degrees inured the King from his custome of overtyring his Favourites and at last fortifies himself by raising out-works if in case of assault His own mariage with an heir the daughter of the Earl of Rutland rich and Honourable twisting himself and his issue by intermariages with the best and most noble For indeed the brouse boughs cut down or removed to plain the stem Our favorite appears like a proper Palm besides the discerning spirit of the King who first cherished him through his innate virtue that surprized all men Henceforth preserments came thick upon him for the next Saint Georges day after his initiation brought him Knight Bachelour and Gentleman of the Bed-chamber At new-years time Master of the Horse and Knight of the Garter and that Summer in August 1616. Baron of Whaddon and Viscount Villiers the beginning of next year Earl of Buckingham and privy Counsellor and this Summer in Scotland sworn there also Counsellour of that State At Christmass after that favours might be recorded Acts of time and of affection too he was created Marquess Buckingham and Admiral of England chief Justice in Eyre Master of the Kings Bench Office and Steward of Westminster places of profit and Constable of Windsor Castle
of Ambassadours privilege 74 Massacre of Protestants in France 83 Episcopacy in Scotland continued â—â— Babâ—ngton's Treason â—14 Queen of Scots her Trial in England 115 sentenced and 〈◊〉 of Execution 121 Secretary Walsingham's Letter concerning the Execution of the Queen of Scotsâ—â—8 â—â—8 The Spanish Nâ—vies Design against England in the year 1588. 141 King James 6. sends Commissioners first and goes over himself to fetch his Queen from Denmark Concernments of France with the murther of Henry 3. 155 Hacket's horrible Tenets arreigned and executed 162 Ministers mad work 194 Digression how far forrein Titles precede in England 211 Digression concerning the power of Witches and Witchcraft 214 Earl Gowry's conspiracy against King James 225 Earl of Essex his Treason against Queen Elizabeth 233 Irish affairs under Lord Blunt Deputy of Ireland 242 English Commissioners in France dispute Precedency 243 These particular Passages of the Second Part may be read by themselves apart INtroduction to the Second Part page 2 Of Knights Batchelors 271 Of the Order of the Garter and Saint George his story 273 Of Earls and their Dignities 274 Of Barons and their Dignities 275 Knights of the Bath their Creation 276 Digression concerning Imperial Rule and Interest of Christian Princes 277 Of War and Conquest of Success their Consequences 281 Sir Walter Raleighs Treason 282 Of Presbyterians Doctrines 289 Conference at Hampton Court 293 Translation of the Bible and singing Psalms 308 Catechising commended 310 Of Parliaments their beginnings 312 King James first Speech in Parliament 319 The Powder Treason 323 The Oath of Supremacy and K. James his Apology to Forein Princes 329 Of Iesuits how to suppress them 331 Libel against the Lord Treasuer Salisbury and His answer 334 King James Speech and answer to the Arguments concerning the Union 338 Sprots Conspiracy with Gowry his arraignment and Execution 342 Lord Balmerino his treacherous Design 348 King James his second Speech in Parliament 353 Duke of Gelders his Descent and Death 361 Prince of Wales their Dignity 362 Of Chelsey Colledge 365 Of Masks and Comedies 366 Suttons Hospital founded 367 Of Vorstius and Arminius their Books and Doctrines 370 Prince Henries Sickness and Death 377 Treasurer Lord Salisbury his Life and Death 381 〈…〉 〈…〉 James 391 Earl of Northampton's Life and Death 393 Of Duels and Combats 394 Of Plantations in America 400 Of Barâ—nes Knights creation 402 King James wants discussed how to be relieved 404 Earl of Somerset his Countess arreigned 414 His Letter to K. James 420 The case of Commendams 424 Difference between the Chancery and Common Pleas and their Dignities 431 King James his Speech in Star-chamber 439 Sir Thomas Lake and his wives story 446 King James journey into Scotland 450 George Villiers a favourite his story 455 Sir Ralegh's Guiana Voyage and Execution 459 A monstrous Murther in Cornwall 463 Barnevelt's Treason and Execution 466 Of Synodes and Councils Synode of Dort 467 〈…〉 〈…〉 of Bohemia 478 Sir Wootton's Embassy into Germany 485 Marriages with forrein Princes unfortunate to England 487 Earl Marshalls of England their Dignities 505 Of Libells and Pasquils 526 Of Knights Templers 527 Preachers ordered their matter and manner 531 King of Spain's Letter to Oâ—vares and his Answer concâ—rning the Princes Match 539 Prince Charls journey into Spain his Treatments and return 542 Spanish Ambassadour accuses the Duke of Buckingham of Treason 562 Prince Charls Marriage with France treated and affected 566 Treasurer Cranfield put out of Office 573 Of Apprentices of London they are no bond-men discussed 574 Cruelty of Amboyna 576 Famous Siege of Breda 579 The INDEX to the second Part. A. QU Ann sent for out of Scotland her Design to seize the Prince p. 272 Her Death and Character 774 Ambassadour French and Spanish quarrel 320 Weston and Conway Ambassadours into Germany 482 Lord Haies Ambassadour into France 428 Lord Rosse Ambassy into Spain 429 Spanish Ambassadour accuses the Duke of Buckingham of Treason the story 562 Assembly of the Scots Kirk in spite of the King 321 475 Aid-money 363 Arminius and Vorstius their Heresies and story 370 Adamites Heresies 375 Abbot Arch-Bishops Arguments against the Nullity of Essex and his Countess answered 391 Kills his Keeper 530 Arreignment of the Earl of Somerset and Countess for impoysoning of Overbury 414 Arreigning of Peers discussed 414 Lady Arabella marries Seymer 423 Marquess D' Ancre murthered in France 549 Abbot Arch-Bishop his Letters concerning the King of Bohemia 481 Earl Arundel Lord Marshal their Dignities 505 Of Apprentices of London no Bond-men 574 Cruelty of the Dutch at Amboyna 576 B. BArons created 271 their Dignities 275 Beaton Arch-Bishop dies in France 271 Batchelour Knights manner of Creation 276 Bible new translated 308 Balmerino Secretary of Scotland his Treason and story pardoned he and his posterity ungratefull 348 Bishops of Scotland enlarge their power 350 Baronet Knights created and discussed 402 Benevolence and means of the Kings supplies discussed 407 Sir Francis Bacon made Lord Chancellour 437 his submission in Parliament and supplication 501 his Character 503 his Encomium of King James 594 Barnevelt in Holland his Treason and execution 465 Blazing Star their effects discussed 471 King and Queen of Bohemia defeated and fly into Holland 485 Breda that famous Siege 579 and lost 589 Briante Botevile and Beauvoir their several Duels and Combats 582 Bolton's contemplation on King James 594 C. KIng and Queen crowned 275 Corâ—nation-oath 276 Conference at Hampton-court to settle the Discipline of the Church 282 Catechizing commanded 310 Commotion of Commoners 312 Charls Prince created Duke of York 322 High Commission Court 352 356 Chelsey College founded and why 365 Contribution money 367 Car a Favourite and his Countess their story 376 arreigned for impoysoning Overbury 414 the case pleaded 416 condemned reprieved and pardoned 419 his Letter to the King 420 The case of Commendams the Kings right to them pleaded and passages thereupon 424 Lord Chancellour and Lord Cook difference the cause and case 431 the Kings Letters to the Chancellour his sickness and death 432 Common Pleas Court what 434 Chancery Court and power 435 Chancellour Sir Francis Bacon succeeds 437 Church of Scotlands proceedings 475 Cranfield Lord Treasurer 495 questioned in Parliament and put out 572 Calumnies answered 535 Combates at Breda 582 D. DIgression designs for Imperial rule in Christendoâ— 27â— King of Denmark his first arrival to visit the Queen his Sister 333 second arrival 413 E. Dorset Lord Treasurer dies 342 Of Duels 394 Dort Synode 467 Lord Digby Ambassadour to the Empire 495 returns accounts to the Parliament 509 sent into Spain to treat in the Match 524 ordered by Letters how to proceed 536 created Earl of Bristol 539 is to forbear the Espousals 555 takes leave of Spain 556 and is come home to the Parliament 563 Designs at the Siege of Breda 584 E. QUeen Elizabeth not willing to publish her Successour 261 Earls created 274 their Dignities 275 Excommunicatiou absurd in Scotland
some time resented with tears threatning revenge which to avoid they fly to England where Ruthen dies The Noise hereof in the Town caused the Provost to ring the Common Bell or sonner le Tocsen as the French speak assembling 500. and come up to the Court but the King told them all was well The King to strengthen himself after this Action inclined to the Religion and subscribed to a Proclamation that all Bishops Abbats and other Papists should avoid the Town which they did and commands the Provost and those of Lieth and Conogate to be in arms with advice also to other Lords to hasten to him with force And now comes Murray and other banished Lords being sent for as the Covenant against Rizio was subscribed convoyed by Hume with 1000. horse The Earls Cathness Athole Sutherland with all the Bishops being departed the Town In comes the other new faction of Lords and in Council advise the Queen to be satisfied with Rizio's death and take it as good service the Queen dissembling her passion got the remove of all the men in Arms out of the Court and so with some domestiques in the night drew the easy King to fly with her to Dunbar sending for all the Lords to attend in five daies The Religion by these factions ever-more get advantage which otherwise this Parliament now sitting might have lessned being most Papists for a dozen wooden Altars were prepared to be set up in St. Giles Church The Queen now assisted with Bothwell Huntley and others with Proclamation before them march with a thousand back to Edenburgh from whence the united Lords but divided in opinions depart and disperse and Knox we easily believe was not left behind And much troubled were he and his that the King by his Proclamation now excused himself from the Murther of Rizio who offended all men their own words the fact being done for his Honour if he had wisdome to see it and so lost his Credit and Friends by his Inconstancy and trâ—ly it was rumoured and some writ so that Knox had a hand in it Divers Lords were put to the Horn their Lands escheated and many of them executed but Arguile and Murray received into favour and both factions somewhat pieced and reconciled The King and his Father neglected and Bothwell preferred very highly The Ministers Supplicate for their Stipends complaining very humbly not usual of the Officers and Collectors and for redress desire Mandatory Letters for Restitution and to stop it in the Queens Exchequer till farther Order In all she promised very gratious relief The 19. of Iune 1566. the Queen at Edenburgh was delivered of a Son with exceeding joy and great happiness to all the Kingdome and the several assemblies followed assisted by Murray and Arguile wherein Paul Messans formerly excommunicate about his Bastard as aforesaid and now returned out of England was to be received into the Church again Knox invited him home and presuming of his free pardon and forgiveness sent his Apostolique Letters to accompany him to the Assembly and tells them in the words of St. Paul concerning the excommunicate incestuous person It is sufficient that he was rebuked of many c. For this cause I write that I might know your obedience in all things and to whom you forgive I forgive also c. But notwithstanding this Apostolick Command his Repentance is prescribed much like a Penance Presenting himself in Sackcloth bare of Bonnet and bare of Shoon for an hour at the Entry of Saint Giles Church in Edenburgh at seven hours in the Morn till Prayers psalm and Text and then upon the Stool all Sermon and so for three several Church-daies and confesses his Repentance And in this manner also in Iedwart and Dundee which after all performed and received a Repentant He complaining of this rigour and shame without taking leave of any retires back again into England The Bishop of Galloway the Earl of Huntleys Brother being called to Council could not brook his former title of Super-Intendent as he was stiled and thereof formerly well pleased but must be called Bishop of Galloway In August one Harris that had been of the Queens Chapel but lately of the reformed Religion and got into E. Ruthens service having acted in the Murther of Rizio was thereof convict hanged and quartered The King condemned of all and neglected of the Queen wrote to the Pope and to Spain complaining of the Queens ill Government of the Catholiques which she intercepted and resented to his ruin For Bothwel to bring on his Design aimed to be Principal and to effect his Greatness thought good to procure Morton to be called home but not to Court where he might look on and not be seen free from fear and danger and though a Kins-man to the King yet his Power was lessened to nothing Most writers complain of these times and some of them like Noahs blessed Sons overspread with the Mantle of silence the nakedness of these unnatural actions of such as we ought to ow duty and piety unto pittying the Errors of Princes Their excellent endowments of Nature and Morality not to be exampled and yet Shipwrackt in mis-governing I cannot search into all the Causes which drew on these lamentable events Secret Lothings in Wedlock which who knows but the Actors dislike hatred freedom revenge seconded with false shews of Reason and Colour of Law and Justice what will it not do Her Husband had dragged Rizio from her affection and favour to death He was not crowned but made publique by Her Proclamation not acknowledged by Parliament and in law but a Private Man and her Subject and so lyable to judgment But his powerful kindred and Friends prevent that attempt Secret Justice is Justice formalities are for common Causes and the Princes power may dispence with forms in case of necessity or convenience and so he became an object of wicked mens malice And now had Knox procured though heretofore he cunningly refused as fearing prevention or false play when now not overlooked he to his purpose got the Churches of Geneva Bern and Basil with others reformed in Germany and France to send to the Kirk of Scotland the sum of their several Confessions of faith he alleging the dissonant opinions of Scotland which occasioned an Assembly of Knox and his Confidents who having a confused irregulation without any positive Articles concluded as the most cunning way to assent to all without exceptions and so returned answer as if in Spirit to jump in faith and discipline who never could agree amongst themselves in either At this time the Kirks saies so Bothwell was wounded in chace of the Theeves at Liddisdale whom the Queen visited and thereof in grief took sickness in extremity but say they by binding Cords about her shacle bones knees and great Toes a pretty cure for our Mountebanks It seems an od fit of the Mother she revived prayed in English and commends the
conserving the peace of Religion to which they were urged by the factious Ministery and which to secure they endeavour to remove Lenox and Arran from the King that was their colour but in their absence they invite the King to Ruthen Castle and their seize him Prisoner with threats of death untill he consented to the imprisoning of Arran banishing of Lenox into France and the return of the fugitive Angus out of England Of this the distressed Queen of Scots Prisoner at Sheffield writes to Queen Elizabeth a long letter full of miserable sadness Exquisitely expressing all her sufferings from the first of her subjects very oft Rebellion against her from which persecution being invited by her Majesty to rest secure upon her Princely succour and defence she is now by length of time drawn on to dispair of release from that hand which lodes her with lingring of a lothed life plainly and justly demonstrates her to be active and passive consenting to all her Mishaps She calls God to witness her Impartial affection to her Person and her innocency from prejudice of her affairs and State Desires justice of God and her and implores the mitigation of her misery and some more freedome though with Imprisonment of her Person Layes all particular differences home to the Conscience of the Queen and signs to her Letter Vostre tres desolei plus proche parente affectionate Seure Mary Reg. Indeed these were sharp and peircing which so much disquieted Queen Elizabeths Conscience that she consults to release her jointly to govern with the King And eight Articles were drawn up even such as they were the world knew she would never refuse for her extremity enforced her to yield to most unreasonable but this was but to spin time till the State could find some other expedients or some exceptions which dayly happened by Examinations Confessions or Suspitions grounded upon slender yet continual attempts of private persons and publique Designes of Forein States for the poor Queens interests which failing for her good she was though innocent sure to smart But because the manner of the Kings restraint in Ruthen is diversly related and which the Kirk justified for their own ends I shall adventure upon the Truth in these particulars hereafter Some of the Lords combining mischief to the King under colour of Religion and Liberty of the Kingdom took occasion and advantage of the Duke of Arrans absence from the Court and detained the King at Ruthen These Conspirators were Iohn Earl of Mar William Earl Gowry Lords Lindsey Boyd Clames and Oliphant Some Abbots and Lairds and stopt the King going to hunting who not being answered to the reason and cause grew in passion which concluded in tears to be thus vilified But it was reproached That better bairns should weep than bearded men This news hastens the Earl of Arran to Court where he was soon secured and bid be patient with safety of his life for his brother William Stuart was wounded by the way and kept Prisoner The like course they take with some Noblemen sent by the Duke of Lenox to enquire of the King Who cried out to them that he was a Captive and desired his good subjects to release him The conspirators excused themselves that their surprize only restrained the King from Arran and from Lenox whose banishment they threatned into France And forcing the King to pacifie the people with a Proclamation That for removing some differences His Majesty interposed himself Mediator and resolved to reside at Perth being his own free and voluntary choice and commanding such as were in Arms upon pretext of his restraint to dissolve within six houres on pain of death The Duke raises Forces but was countermanded by the Kings Letter to depart the Realm within twenty daies yet he retires to Dunbarton where the Noble-men and others flock to defend his Cause These uprores were posted to Queen Elizabeth who sends Sir Henry Cary and Sir Robert Bowes to advise the King to be counselled by the Lords against the Duke and Arran and to restore the Earl of Angus exiled in England since Mortons execution This last was obtained and soon after he was accepted into favour but much ado to incline the King to part with Lenox The Lords carry the King to Edenburgh where the Ministry justifie their act joyfully singing in Procession the 124. Psalm New Israel may say c. And the Assembly then convened ratifie the attempt on the Kings person at Ruthen and published it in all the Churches of the Realm to the regret and grief of all good men to see a bad cause thus coloured over and defended by the Church which made much for their Popedom that by these means of distraction the Lords gave themselves up to be governed by the Others Judgements Many there were that sided herein the most honest refused to subscribe But Arran was detained prisoner till the Duke was gon over Seas to France who fell sick at Sea and had leave to land at Blackness and so to pass by Queen Elizabeths favour though England where his sickness contracted into a Disease of which he died in Paris next year after and confessed the faith of the Church of Scotland which he alwaies maintained though in the Kirks policy he was accounted a Court Papist Two Ambassadors come from France Menvel and la Matt through England with whom was sent Davidson from Qu. Eliz. to undermine their Message being To work the Kings Liberty to confirm him to the French and renew the purpose of Association which was That the Queen of Scots should communicate the Crown with her son and administration of Iustice so that he may be acknowledged a lawful King by all Christian Princes and thereby all domestique factions suppressed This Embassy was voted in the Kirks Assembly to be a special grievance a wicked practice declaming in their Pulpits against la Matt who being a Knight of the Order of St. Esprit wore the badge of the White-Cross upon his Shoulder which they called The badge of Antichrist and him The Ambassadour of the bloody Murtherer meaning the Duke of Guise who sent him thither The King not able to do it otherwaies desired the Magistrates of Edenburgh not to demit them without a Feast at parting which was concluded on the Monday after And all cost prepared in Order thereto When on Sunday the very day before the Kirk proclame in their Pulpits the next day to be kept fast and in malice to the Kings honour therein appointed three Preachers the one succeeding the other to weary the poor peoples attention from Morning till night Thundering Curses Anathema's and Excommunication against all Nobles Magistrates and Others that attended the Ambassadors The good King sees these insolencies but lodges them up in silence till he got power to remedy these wrongs About this time dies Buchanan whose Character is chronicled by the Arch-bishop of Saint Andrews in his History of
ranged them in some Order and sailed towards Graveling but no Parma appearing the English small Ships swift and sure chaced divers of them and sunck the great Gallions of Biscay Two others of Portugall torn and tottered fell upon Flanders and were taken by the Dutch The General returned Soutward with such of his Ships best provided and arrived safe at Biscay in Spain The rest of the Fleet taking the Sea Northwards in distress for Water and hindered with wind ignorant also of those Seas and shoulds that above 40. sayl were cast away on the Coasts of Scotland the Isles Orkneys and so round again Southward between England and Ireland As the great Ship of Florence fell upon the West of Scotland fired by the High-Landers And of all the Numbers of Ships aforesaid onely fifty five came safe to Spain there were lost thirteen thousand five hundred Men and Mariners and as themselves say not a family of repute in all Spain but suffered the loss of some kinsman and in this fray but one English Ship and one hundred men in all missing So that what the Spaniard provided in four year was thus far ruined in four Weeks to the glory of God and everlasting comfort of Great Britain The King on his part first at Court and afterwards through all his Kingdom gave publique thanks to God for this good riddance of so formidable an Enemy Whether the Astrologers were in the right or wrong that foretold of Wonders to happen this year and ment the success glorious to Spain or whether the wonder was that they should be sunck in the Sea as they were certainly they writ of this and the succeeding years full of fatallity as in France it fell out more fearful But for the Western Isles we felt none at all and yet the effects were threatned by them upon all of us The Scots Catholiques were much amazed at this event who Parma comforted with Letters Intimating the loss not great which should been the next Summer by a fresh Fleet prepared before to succour these which now joining will soon make good all the defects of the former Robert Bruce brought this news to Huntley to be communicated unto the rest of that faction and some money was sent amongst them but because Huntleys share was not parted proportionable to his desire and desert he grew cold in the cause and in some discontent the King took the advantage and advised him to subscribe the Confession of Faith and so was reconciled to the Church and neglected by the other ever after But he was put upon it to satisfy the Prince of Parma and by letter That after the escape of Semple as aforesaid he was so beset by the Kings jealousies upon all his actions that either he ought to yield or to depart or to have taken up forces to secure himself which he was not then able to do all hopes failing with the evil hap of the Spaniards But what had evil effect he should endeavour to recover by some good service for advance of the Catholique Cause However God had put him in such good credit with the King as that he hath altered his Guards and added of his own friends by whom he hopes to be assured and at convenient time to be Master of the King And so when the promised support shall arrive he should be able to spoyl the Heretiques and make sure for the Catholiques Besought him to be perswaded of his unchangeable affection though in outward shew he was forced to accomodate himself with the present time January 1589. Edenburgh Another such like was sent over from the Earl of Arrol whom Hay the Iesuit had seduced That since his Conversion he was obliged to advance the Catholique faith and that Religion the greatest and most important cause in the world being now joined to another civil consideration of great affinity to the affairs at Home He was therefore the more intirely obliged to his Catholique Majesty and that in Scotland His Highness had not a more affectionate Servant than ARROL And at the very same time other letters were sent by Huntley Crawford and Morton so did Maxwell stile himself in prison to the King of Spain when after their great regret for the mischance of the Navy they assure that if it had visited them it should not have found resistance in Scotland and with their Support have assisted sufficient against England The blame of all they lodged upon the English Catholiques refugers in Spain who in enmity to others did too much magnifie their own as best able to do all And therefore prayed his Majesty not to over-countenance the one to other neglect but that the ends of all should aim at one And then remitting to the advise and Declaration of some of his own Subjects lately returned from hence for several Commodious advantages how and where to land an Army in Scotland they proposed that with six thousand Spanish and money to levy as many more they might within six hours arrival be well advanced in England to assist the forces that he should send thither They advise him not to make Armies by Sea but to assign some of his forces to Scotland others by the West of Ireland towards England and so the forces divided part at Sea others in Scotland the enemy should be amused therewith referring much more to the bearer Collonel Semples relation The Jesuits of Spain tyred out of their plots and designs against England resolved to work out their way by Sedition in Scotland undermining the affections of any discontented parties and so being put in muteny they might easily restore their decaying Romistry Industry and Secrecy would bring it about To that end were imployed Bruce the old Lieger Jesuit with Creighton and Hay his former Comrades to perswade Huntly bastard son of Iohn the Prior of Coldingham son of Iames the fifth King of Scotland with Arroll Crawford and Bothwell to force the King from the Chancellor and Treasureshands and no difficulty to induce the people to resent their actions supposing the King to be weary of such power about him as reduced him to their dispose The Faction of the English flesht with his Mothers death in time would do so by him and his Friends and no doubt these sufferings would soon justifie their rising to rescue him and the Realm from ruin and no mention being made of Religion the Country would be more calm to resist their enterprize The meeting must be between Lieth and Edenburgh and so to Edenburgh to settle themselves at Court about the King kill the two Counsellers Bothwel aboade at Crichton and kept about him some Souldiers whom he had seduced Crawford and Arrol with their Friends came to the Ferry Montross stay'd six miles off But Huntley came through and the evening of the appointed time assisted by Kinfawnes brother to Crawford and some of Arrolls servants these filling the presence find the Chancellour with the
whom adjoyn the Clanchattons and Dunbars Huntley advertised that Murray and Athol were to confederate with those Glamis in Forres intends to dissolve that knot ere it were hard bound but before he came they fever themselves and Murray returns to Huntley's way lay by the House and some of his men braving thereabout they within discharge some Shot which killed Gordon and for which Huntley invades the other with Forces and Murray assisted by Arroll his Cosin prepare to defend These tidings came to the King whose command separates each one to his own home which served the turn for a time but brake out in disorder after Another of the same nature an antient emulation of the Kers the one of Cesfords Family the other of Farnherst for the Wardenry of the Middle Marches and the Provostry of Iedbury which the Heir of Farnherst William Ker a young Spark maintains to the death and in a Trial of Theft before the Council for English Goods stollen it was taken as done in spleen and derogate to the honour of Sir Robert Ker of Cesford the Fellow being his follower The lady Cesford of an haughty heart never ceased peuling until her Son had basely murthered the other These were men of good repute wise and of great courage and of much loss to the Borders the one dead the other undone who fled for his life until he made a large satisfaction for maintenance of the fatherless children and by Marriage with the Chancellours Niece came again to his Family and into favour We have hinted heretofore of the Northern Nations much inclining to Witchcraft and in Scotland those of great Families this Winter produced many Examinations Agnes Simson the wife of Kieth a Matron of a grave and settled behaviour she declared that her Familiar appeared in a visible form and resolved her doubts concerning the Life or Death of any she used to call him Holla Master Ho la in Spanish Who is there as he directed her and confessed that Bothwell bid her inquire of the Kings Reign Life and Death whom the Devil undertook to destroy but failing confessed to her not to be in his power speaking words in French which she understood not but could repeat them Il est homme de Dieu Another one Richard Graham confessed the like against Bothwell which was the cause of his Commitment out of which he escapes by corrupting his Keeper and so far guilty hath his Doom of Forfeiture and is denounced Traitor the Proclamation speaks That he being tender in bloud to the King and further advanced in Honors and Offices above his Birth having heretofore in an unnatural humor committed Slaughters raised Arms against his Majesty and practised with strangers against the Religion and whereof his Conviction in May 1589. was superseded in hope of amendment but since heaping Treasons he concluded with the consult of Witches against the Kings Life as by confession of sundry persons appears and for all being committed he hath broken Prison and thereby taken these Crimes upon him which concludes him a Traitor But he enters band with the Lord Hume and others and being forsaken flies into England his secret Harbours till next year The Archbishop of St. Andrews lies Bed-rid and fallen into some wants by mis-government the Presbyters like Crows about Carrion the common way of the Romish Catholicks to procure Proselytes labour him to leave some Lines under hand his opinion of matters of Discipline they form his words That he did not trouble himself then with thoughts of that nature and had never allowed of any other Bishop of the Church but St. Paul ' s Bishop to which he would sign And so Articles were drawn framed to their Design which he subscribed but whether in truth he did so or some for him or that their charity seldom upon better terms wrought upon his necessity or weakness of his spirits the Recantation came forth in publick of which injury he complained and committing his cause to Gods justice died the end of this year and accounted a man of some scale in Learning as they seldom want to account of themselves one commending another if he dies a Proselyte to them But presently that Church falls into Schism several Assemblies to compose Dissentions set up several Superintendents in one Presbytery or Popedom the Lay Parishioners siding with each Faction and coming to the question most Voyces pretended best interest but the other had gotten a new Paradox Quod suffragia essent ponder anda non numeranda and yet to end strife they part stakes and divide the Presbytery the one to sit at Cowper the other at St. Andrews I mention this for a Note That of all men none could worse endure parity and loved more to command than these which introduced it into the Church We have had to do with Secretary Walsingham of England and may not forget to take our leave of him also that lived not out this year He was industrious wise and religious a searcher in the secrets and mysteries of all States he had an art in past imitation to dive into mens dispositions and something for polite service screw simple Proselytes beyond common danger his Preferment no higher than Secretary and Chancellour of the Duchy of Lancaster and with Honour of the Garter his profuse expence for Intelligence abroad and at home kept him under compass during life and dying so poor that they buried him by dark in Paul's Quier Another of the same Sir Thomas Randolph so near in time that Death might do it with one Dart He was bred a Civilian and taken from Pembroke College in Oxford to Court from thence his Imployments were forein Embassies thrice to the Peers in Scotland and thrice to the Queen seven times to King James and thrice to Basilides Emperour of Russia once to Charls the Ninth of France and again to Henry the Third he was advanced to the Office of Chamberlain in the Exchequer and to be Master of the Ports the first formerly of great profit the later not so till these last times of ours which we make of immense gain but he was rich of children and therefore in my Lord Bacons opinion poor in Purse he had leave to retire some time before his Death to which his advice to Walsingham to leave the Tricks of a Secretary as himself would the deceis of an Ambassadour Sir Henry Wootton afterwards observed as much who could example with the most Hoc tandem didici says he animas sapientiores â—ieri quiescendo To accompany these of the Gown died that gallant man at Arms George Talbot created Earls by Henry the Sixth and he the sixth Earl of Shrewsbury who in Queen Maries Reign with three thousand Foot in the Scotish Wars rescued the Earl of Northumberland at Lowick he was of the appointed Guard of that Queen whilest here in Prison and succeeded the Duke of Norfolk and Marshal of England and in much honour
Ministers in prudence to make address to his Majesty and to understand his displeasure and also to offer on their parts terms of satisfaction and so modestly and mannerly to lay open the Grievances and to offer means of redress Somewhat they did not as they were advised or ought to have done The King tells them There could be no agreement till bounds of Marches are designed â—or reconcilement till Iurisdictions are distinguished Their preachings censured Councils of State They convocate General Assemblies without him or his Warrant and conclude as they please without his consent They meddle with all matters in their Synods Presbyteries and Sessions and under colour of scandals usurp that Notion to offend in all Besides he could sum up several sorts of their disorders which would take up time their own guilt should study means to amend otherwise things may become remediless neither to agree nor to last long without But to come to their points what could it be to kindle such fires and fears The Kings favour to the Popish Lords at Falkland and confirmed at Dunferlin His countenance to the Countess of Huntley whatâ— that She is invited to the Princess baptism The Education of the Princess to the Lady Levingston a Papist And to smooth all they condescended to say They were sorry for his Majesties displeasure The last he took up first That their abusive Sermons had given him in particular just cause To the Popish Lords what he granted was by General Convention and consent of Estates as needful for peace to the Realm The Lady Huntley was discreet and deserved more and that she is a Papist they are too blame that never taught her the Truth The Princess is intrusted to the Wisdome and Government of the Lord Levingston not to his Lady he to command she to conform Good God! their History of the Kirk stories many and many such Medlings which I forbear to mention By these and the like may be measured out their malice pride vanity and their cunning to colour all with conscience and zeal of Truth But it becomes dangerous Mr. David Blake Minister of St. Andrews rails in his Sermon against the King Council and Session of Estates and called the Queen of England by name an Atheist of no Religion Bowes the Ambassadour complains and Blake is cited before the Council Melvil meets him and makes it the common cause as a preparative against all to bring down the doctrine of Christ under the censure of the King and Councel And so far was it plotted with the Council of the Church that they desert the day of his Diet or appearing That it would be ill taken to question Ministers upon trifling delations When as the Enemies of Iesus Christ were spared and protected Telling the King who was descended to shew them Huntleys condition That both he and the rest should either satisfy the Church in every point or be pursued with Extremity and so no cause to complain of their oversight of Papists And though the Articles were framed and Printed satisfactory to all Yet they Publish That Papists were favoured the Ministers rebuked for siding against sin And that the Scepter of Christ was sought to be overthrown And if Master Blake should submit his doctrine to the triall of the Council the liberties of Church and spirrituall Government of Gods House be quite subverted And by all means a Declinator is designed to protest against such proceedings And in this fire of zeal in opposition to better Councell They answered that the cause of God concern'd them to withstand all future hazards It was trusted to Blake himself to present in presence of the King I know not whether prudentiall in me to suppresse it for fear of evil President But that it is a record Take it in the Breef That howbeit his innocent conscience maintained him sufficient against the Calumnies of whomsoever and that he was able and ready to defend his doctrine uttered in opening the words or application iâ— matter Yet seeing he was convened before the King and his Council to be judged for his doctrine and that his answering might be suspected a submission and so imputed a prejudice to the Churches liberties and to be taken as an acknowledgment of the Kings jurisdiction in matters spirituall He was constrained to decline that judicature First because the Lord Jesus Christ of whom we had the grace of his calling had given him his word for a rule to his Preaching And that he could not fall in reference of any Civill Law but so farr as he should be tryed to pass his instructions Which tryal belonged only to the Prophets and Pastors the spirits of the Prophets being subject to them alone c. Secondly in regard the liberties of the Church and discipline were confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliament and the Preachers office bearers thereof peaceably possessed therein perticularly in the indicature of the word He ought to be remitted to the Ecclesiastick Senate as the only compitent Iudges For which and other weighty consideracons inconveniences to Religion the State and Nation and to the King himself by the appearance of destraction and Alienation of his mind from the Ministery and the cause of God in their hands He for himself and in Name of the Commissioners of the generall Assembly who had sâ—bscribed this Declinator Besought that the Church of God might receive no diminution but rather manifest care to maintain the same The diet came and he required to make answer Said That albeit he might object against the Citation it being directed Super Inquirendis contrary to form yet he would take himself to the remedy of Law and to be remitted to his own Ordenary Being asked whom he meant He answered the Presbytery where the doctrine was taught The King told him the matters charged were civill and that the Summons had reference to the particular letter of the English Ambassadour He replyed that speeches in the Pulpit must be judged by the Church in prima instantia Being asked whether the King might not judg of facts of Treason as well as the Church did matters of Heresie That whether speeches in the Pulpit though but pretended Treasonable could not be judged by the King till the Church had remitted thereof But he answered That he was not come thither to resolve questions and so offered his Declinator The King not able to amend what was amiss meant to work it otherwise by remitting of further proceedings to Nov. 30. Mean while the Commissioners send copies of all transactions to the several Presbyteries requiring them for Corroboration to confirm the same by their subscriptions To commend their doing as the cause of God in publick fasts and Humilliation for the sins of the Nation by prayer and preaching The meaning thereby was to tell the stories to the people for maintenance of this their ill manners And which the King interpreted a direction to dangerous Mutenie and future
Rebellion And therefore Proclaims all their particular proceedings with remonstance of their Misdemeanors and to prevent disorder now and confusion to follow by advise of his Councill discharges the commissioners and dissolves their convention illegal in it self and worse unlawfully executed by them Whom he commands by Name to depart home in 24 hours to attend their flocks and duties in their Ministery And no wayes to return to convene either within or without the Burroughs of Edenburgh under the pain of Rebellion But we tire the reader and yet hereby we may discover what they did in such like many more for to the death they will proceed Hereupon they consult that seing they had been convened by the warrant of Christ to take care of hazard to the Church Et ne quid ecclesia detrimenti caperet They should obey God rather than man And notwithstanding any charge to the contrary to continue together and to send to the Octavians those 8 Councellors of State formerly mentioned that seing at the entrance to their places the Church was in quiet and peace and now to be imbroyled the Enemies to truth overpowring and all by their councels and connivance The event of evil must fall upon them the Contrivers or Connivers The President hastily made answer As they began so let them end the Councills advice neither was desired nor given on either part and therefore would not meddle between the King and them but leave it to his Majesty and Nobles This answer taught them fresh advice to remonstrate to the King himself by Messengers of their own and fearing the effects the Kings anger humbly interceed for surcease of Processe against Master Blake Until his Majesty should be pleased to convoke an Assembly for deciding all controversies to the Kings content To which he consented provided they would passe by the Declinator or at least to declare that it was not a Generall but a particular Declinator used in Blakes case only as being a cause of slander and so appertaining to the judgment of the Church This by the wiser was held fit to be received as an end of contention No! Rather to stand to their tacklings Gods cause Against worldly powers Ravelling into former examples of prevailing against Princes Others argued to try Mastery with Majesty may faile of effects as yet the Court stand in some fear of the Church and to keep up their concept let us take the best conditions we can least our weaknesse appear if we have the worst and so the terror of the Church despised or neglected Much will portends little wit and as it is often seen who gripes at all grasp nought but wind and to levy all their wills is to lose all their wits of which God send them more plenty than appears by their proceedings But not prevailing the King proceeds to proclaim their departure and Blakes appearance as afore ordered The next day sunday solemnized the christning of the Princesse Bows Ambassadour gave Her name from his Queen Elizabeth and the Town of Edenburgh by their Majestrates assisted as other witnesses Yet all that day in the Churches were bitter invectives The Commissioners of the Church presented a Petition to the King and Council That seing the decision of intricate questions could work no good and was subtilly urged to ingender discention between his Majesty and the Church he would be pleased to remit the discision to a lawfull Assembly and not to incroch upon the limitts of Christs Kingdom upon any pretence but to bend his actions against the common Enemie of the Church and state the Papists Then they exhort the Noblemen to give his Majesty faithfull Counsel and not to be subject to the guilt of sin by the craft of such as seek the thraldom of the Gospel who intend to exite their honours to be the Executors of their malitious devises With order to those that presented this Petition that if the same was refused to enjoyn them to protest against the preceeding of the Councel The King rejects it as not worthy of Answer commanding to call Blake to his summons First That he affirmed in Pulpit that the Popish Lords were returned with his Majesties knowledg and further assurance wherein he had detected the treachery of his heart Secondly that he called all Kings the Divells barns and that the Divel was in the court and in the Guiders thereof Thirdly That in his prayers for Queen Ann he had used these words we must pray for her in fashion but we have no cause she will never do us good That he called the Queen of England an Atheist That he had discussed a suspention granted by the Lords of Session in Pulpit and called them Miscreants and Bribers That the Nobillity were degenerate godlesse dissemblers and enimies to the Church That the Council were Holliglasses Cormorants and men of no Religion And that he had convocated divers Noblemen and others within Saint Andrews in June 1594. caused them to take arms in troops of Horse and Foot and thereby usurped the power of King and Council After reading of the summons Robert Pont their Minister protested that the processe in hand should not prejudice the Church To which the King answered that he meant not to meddle with matters of doctrine but to censure the treasonable speeches of a Minister which he and his Councel would judg except that by scripture it could be held forth that Ministers were not subject in these cases to judicatures Blake makes answer that the accusations were false calumnies producing testimonies of two which he alleged should be preferred to aâ—y report whatsoever Next he said That to the first six points the Council were not lawfull Iudges of speeches in Pulpit but the Presbytery where the sermon was uttered And so presents a second Declinator But being put to voyces it was sentenced That the crimes and accusations mentioned in the summons were seditious and treasonable and that the King and Council were competent Judges in all matters criminall or civill as well to Ministers as other subjects The Council dissolved the King willing to conserve peace and amity to the Ministers offered terms of reconciliation and to return Blake to his charge and Pastorage Bruce answered That if it concern'd only Master Blake the offer might be accepted but the liberty of Christs Kingdom being wounded by the Proclamation and by usurping spiritual Iurisdiction of greater consequence then Master Blakes life and twenty more and that if those things were not retreated they would oppose during the last aspiration of breath The King the next morning treated with some of theirs Shewing how far he was from impairing spiritual Jurisdiction that he would amplifie and inlarge the same but said he to discourse of State in Pulpits is intollerable I clame to judg in matters of sedition and civil and criminal causes and of speeches that may import such crimes and if the Pulpit should be a place of privilege under
colour of doctrine to stir up sedition no good man will grant If Treason and sedition be crimes punishable much more comitted in the Pulpit where the word of truth only should be taught I am not ignorant what France of late and England formerly have suffered by the violence of such spirits And I may not indure it Hereupon the Church finding the King resolved desire some Declaration to be made to the people in favour of Church Assemblies which they feared was hereby of late somewhat weakned which the King assented unto and it was accordingly published to give finall conclusion to these differences Blake was required only to acknowledg his offence to Queen Ann. And to be pardoned of all This he would not do and was therefore sentenced To have falsely sâ—andered and treasonably calumniated the Kings Majesty his consort the Queen his Neighbour Princesse the Queen of England the Lords of the Council and Session and that till his Majesties further pleasure he should be confined beyond the North water enter ward within six dayes and Ten daies more were taken up to decide these differences and the King condiscends to lesser submissions than before But the Commissioners refuse to agree to any censure of Master Blake as not done by the proper Iudg. And so they ordain a fast and pray and preach complaints of wrong done to the Kingdom of Christ. The King on his part made the grounds of his displeasure known to his people by Declaâ—ation setting forth particulars of the last Transactions Ordaining all Ministers to subscribe their obedience to his Majesty and to set their hands to the bonds presented to them to that effect under pain of sequestring their rents and stipends till they submitted Blake to go to ward and the Commissioners to remove out of Town They increase Aspersions upon the King who willingly would have recalled these sentences and Publications and some Ministers were treated therein till a scandalous Letter was devised and sent by under hand advise that Huntley had private reception by the King over night and caused the charge against the Ministers Balcanqual takes his text out of the Canticles and so to present the troubles of the Church relates the late proceedings which he calls treacherous forms of the Council naming particular officers The President and Controuler and Advocate with reproachfull raylings and concludes to advise the Barons and Nobles to meet in the little Church for assisting the ministry From them came a petition to the King in behalf of his Ministers and presented to him in the uper house of session with complaints uttered by Bruce of all which had passed The King declining the petition and remonstrance asked who they were that durst convene against his proclomation The Lord Lindsey passionatly replied That they durst do more than so and would not indâ—re destruction of Religion Numbers of people thronging into the Room the King removed the people seduced by Lindsey and others some said arm others called out to bring forth Haman others cry'd out the sword of the Lord and Gideon And with much adoe to appease the peoples rage at they knew not what The Lords and Ministers meet propose Articles to the King and whilst they design who shall present them each one refusing The King and Councel remove out of Edenburgh into Linlithgow Ordering a Proclamation to signifie the reasons of this departure the Town being unsafe for his person and Council and unfit for the administration of justice by the late in sufferable Tumults commanding all Lords of session Commissioners c. and their Deputies to remove out of the Town of Edenburgh and be in redinesse to that place they should be after assigned And the Noblemen and Barons to withdraw to their own Houses and not to covene or Assemble under pain of the Kings displeasure The City is amazed with these proceedings not knowing what to do or whom to trust unto The Ministers night and day restlesse to get subscriptions and to covenant to call in certain Noblemen of note Hamelton Backlugh and others Fast and pray and preach what stuffe best befits their projects one amongst many others Iohn Welch takes his theam the Epistle sent to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus rayl'd against the King who he said was possessed of a Divel and one Divel the King put out seven worse are entred in That the Subjects might lawfully rise and take the sword out of his hand by example saies he Of a father faln into frenzie might be bound hand and foot by his family from doing mischief Yet this execrable doctrine was received by some nay they preach that the Earl Arrol had come to the Ferry with four hundred horse the day of Tumult but the rising of the people as a providence of God for good scattered his forces in fear of the Town so prepared And being Masters of all they undertake to send Messengers to the Earl Hamelton with letters that the people animated by motion of Gods spirit had taken Arms with the patronage of such Godly well affected Noblemen and Brethren then at Edenburgh for the cause of God Only they wanted a Head an especial Nobleman to countenance their cause And having made chioce of him they invite him to Edenburgh with all convenient speed and thereby to signifie his affection and to accept the honor which the Church of God had offered unto him It was writ and subscribed by Bruce and Balcanquall and sent to Hamelton who receives the Messenger with all shew of kindness and seems to prepare his journey for Edenburgh but by the way better advised he turns to Linlithgow and presents the King with the letter who wondered at the modesty of the man accounted more ambitious than to neglect such a rise to tempt his humour by whom had the letter taken effect it might have caused strang Rebellions when the Church had begun to act their part with so much power a bloody issue alwaies following the pretended zeal for Religion as the most part of Christendom have felt the miserable effects and great Britain most of all The insurrection and letter made work for speedy Counsel to act for the King and the Provost had order for imprisoning the Ministers who got loose and fled to New Castle in England The Town send Commissioners to purge themselves protesting their Innocencâ—e and offer their obedience for repairing the indignity and dishonor done to the King but served not for their purgation for the next day the Tumult was by the Counsel declared Treason and the devisers Actors and Partakers to be Traytors Edenburgh smarted for all the inhabitants in fear of desolation the law-Courts removed to Lith the Session to Perth the Ministers fled the Magistrates dispised and all men without the walls their enemies And again most humbly supplicate the King with the best excuse for themselves The King told them that he would proceed with them
to trouble the Church with thorny questions nor yet to claim to himself any tirany over the same Only to have these doubts solved to prevent debate to him or his Successors and to settle the policie of the Church that so the corruption being removed a pure Harmony might be fixed between him and the Ministers to Gods glory c. The Articles were at first drawn up to fifty five and to be supposed that those questions were never decided but effectually they were in use to the prejudice of the King and people which no man till now durst dispute being left loose for the Ministers mental reservation Many of them were much troubled to submit their discipline to dispute which they had assured the people to be part of the Gospel and therefore mightily endevoured to prevent examining but the business so far forward the King had his party to press it on A note of observation what packing there was of voices for eithers advantage the policie of some the late Generall Counsels of Christendome having taught the way and these are apt 〈◊〉 to learn And therefore the Northern Conscientious Ministers not as yet tainted with the Iesuitical tenents were delt with by a Message from the King to be distinguished from the Mutineers of Edenburgh not esteeming them guilty of reproach with such evil subjects How well the King intended to them in particular and so hopes that their behaviour would evidence their resentment of his Majesties favour and affection They are desired to subscribe to the bond in acknowledgment of the Kings royal power and to accept the E. Huntleys offers to absolve him from excommunication and reasons enow given for these And lastly they receive the Copy of the fiftie five questions and are desired to send Commissioners to the Assembly appointed at Perth They with reverence make answer That as they were ignorant of the Tumult and the Ministers flight so they were silent in their judgment and censure This though in the general The Authors of that insurrection were Traytors and if Ministers to be double punished They had sworn to his Majesties power and regallity when they were admitted Ministers and would never decline it The bond mentioning Master Blakes speeches in Pulpit concerning application of doctrine which his Majesty had pronounced as a question to be decided in the next Assembly they humbly reserved themselves til that time And for the Earl Huntley his repentance should be most acceptable and they were content to conferr with him and use all means for his resolution fearing they should not find him earnest for absolution And least the Ministers should have cause to hank upon jealousies of the Kings favour and affection to the Popish Lords especially to Huntley for whom in truth he had earnestly endeavoured reconciliation He therefore writes to him peremptorily either to make faith and satisfie the Church or be banished for ever The day come the Assembly meet But not to trouble them with all those fifty five Queries formerly printed the King remits them to the future contenting himself for the present with a dozen Articles to be determined possitive 1. That it be lawfull to the Prince or any pastor to move doubts and crave reformation of any points in external policie and discipline of the Church not concerning salvation nor defined in scripture and to be done decenter animo aedeficanti non tentandi 2. That the civil and politick goverment of the Realm belongs properly to the Kings office and his Counsellors and not pertinent to the spiritual Ministry of the word nor to meddle in matters of state nor his Majesties Laws Statutes or Ordinances in the Pulpit 3. That Ministers shall not name particular men in Pulpit except upon notorious crimes as of fugitive or excommunication 4. That in application the Minister have respect to his flock without extravagant discourses impertinent 5. That every Presbytery take diligent accompt of the doctrine of their ministry 6. That Summary excommunication be utterly discharged and the sentence to follow three Citations at eight days distance 7. That no sentence or censure proceed from any Assembled but of those within their bounds 8. That all summons containe speciall cause and crime and not super inquirendis quod est mere tiranicorum 9. That no meeting be without the Kings consent except the ordinary session Presbyteries and Synods 10. That in principal Burghs no Minister be placed without the consent of the King and the flock 11. That seven or eight discreet Ministers be authorized to reason upon the rest of his Majesties Questions till time serve 12. That the Northern Ministers absolve the Earl Huntley fromexcommunication if he satisfie the Church Their answers to each were not received satisfactory and therefore they attend the King and Counsel where his Majesty reasons with them the justness of his desires and after serious consideration they conclude to the Kings liking A commission was granted to some of them to reconcile the Popish Lords to the Church And Articles ordained for Huntley Angus And Arrol to subscribe which they did The Ministers taken into protection and grace and all Papists in general except the Lords to depart the Realm before Iune And all the former offenders and Mutineers remitted to pardon which hapily concluded the end of this year And to shut up all with the time let us take leave of Iohn Lesly Bishop of Ross who took leave of this life at Bruxells in Flanders his constant abode since the execution of his Excellent Princess Queen Mary of Scotland a man memorable with reverence for his faith and constant service to his Sovereign and his extraordinary care and trouble travelling to most Princes in Câ—ristendom to interpose their credit with Queen Elizabeth for her relief induring all hardships for her sake examinations disputes imprisonings and at last banishment out of England as you have heard leaving his Mistriss without hope of redemption from her Captivity And therefore administers his last and best service spiritual consolations which he purposely writ to her in a Treatise printed and published full of piety and learning those no doubt composed his own mind with patience and comfort after her sad and miserable death which he bore off for some time till sorrow seized him into a languishing sickness He composed the Gests of his Native Countrey into Latine from the beginning of that Nation to his last time He was servent in his faith zealous and charitable and died as he alwaies professed a Juditious learned Romish Catholick And so let us see the affairs in England The Queen to divert the growing greatness of the Spaniard had assisted the Netherlands ten years in their rebellion as some stile it against him and now considered that whilst she established their tottering territories her self became poor and they had plenty And therefore by Bodly her Ambassadour she demands to be eased of her charge in her
Origen yet as men they might have failings which made the Apostles themselves to leave them when they left the Hebrew letter A few hundred of years after Christ the Roman Conquests having mastered many Nations East West North and South the Old Testament spake Latine Latini Interpretes nullo `modo numerari possunt too man to be good being all from the Greek which moved Saint Hierom the best Linguist and most learned of his age to translate the Old Testament out of Hebrew into Latine most admirable Thus was it in Greek and Latine before that the faith of Christ was generally embraced in the Roman Empire but afterwards most Nations under Heaven followed their Conversions not by voice onely but by the written Word So then followed Gothick Arabick Beda into Saxon Vallus into French and after two hundred years Charls the Fifth Sur le nome Prudente and Iohn Trevisa about Richard 2. his time into English The Gospels also by many and afterwards we had it in Henry 8. his time in English that all men may say As we have heard so have we seen The Church of Rome of long time would not admit them vulgar in the Mother-tongue of any Nation but onely in Latine untill of late permitted onely to some Professours of Papistry by licence of their Confessor who must be sure to be soured with the Leven of their Superstition And would you think now at this time of Translation that our own Brethren were better content with the ancient English so long say they in use without any more Supervising alteration or quaint perusal To answer them it was said That all ancient Translatours did review their former Works and so got credit even with the Iews as accurately done So did Origen joyned with the Hebrew Original and the Seventyes Translation And Saint Austin exhorted Saint Hierom to a Palinodia or Recantation I am sure the Papists have least cause of offence from us How oft have they altered their Service-books Of late Pius Quintus did so that every several Bishop had a different Officium These were the justifiable Reasons that moved King Iames to command this Translation of such men as might say of themselves with Saint Hierom Et Hebraeum sermonem ex parte didicimus Latinum pene ab ipsis incunabilis Nor was it hastily huddled up as it is said the Seventy did it in seventy days but it was done over and over again the pains of seventy times seventy days out of Originals Hebrew Greek Latine consulting with the Translators Commentators of Chalde Hebrew Syrian Greek Latine nor neglecting the several Translations of all the Nations of Europe untill now that it comes out most perfect The Psalms of David turned into Meeter usually sung in our Churches are the very same done into the Court English then of King Edward 6. days by two or three godly men but not learned who took them from the Latine Translations commonly read in our Liturgy these Psalms the King wished might then receive more proper Language and more congruous with the Text. Himself afterwards versified som so did others very acute and learned such particular Psalms proper to their affections but the whole body was afterwards done by one and the phrase not pleasing some peoples humours who were versed in the old and mostly gotten by heart they could never be admitted publick reception by command to be bound with the Bible If fame hath nor over-spoken our Hierarchy of his time there were not other soils that yielded either so frequent flocks or better fed and went not on more happily in those high steps of true blessedness to save themselves and others in the main helps of tender Pastures and still waters by the one I mean an inuring of the people to the principles of Orthodox Doctrines by the other an immunity from factions and disturbance of the publick peace of the Church It was the Kings observation That partly the miscarriage of our People into Popery and other Errours was their ungroundedness in the points of the Catechism How should such souls be other than turned about with every winde of Doctrine that are not well ballasted with solid informations From whence it was that the King gave publick order for bestowing the later part of the Religious Day in familiar Catechizing It was the ignorance and evil disposedness of our Cavillers that taxed this course as prejudicial to Preaching yet in truth the most usefull is Catechetical this lays the Grounds the other the Walls and Roof this informs the judgment that stirs up the affection What use is there of those affections that run before the judgment or of those Walls that want Foundation And when that was in use I have heard it confessed by some that have spent the greater half of their aged life in the station of Gods holy service they repent nothing so much as not bestowing more hours in this Exercise of Catechism and might justly quarrel their very Sermons and wish the greater part of them had been thus exchanged for this speaking conference Those other divine discourses enrich the brain and the tongue at best this settles the heart these but the descant to the plain song And if herein Ministers be too much curious to satisfie the roving appetite of the tickling ears of curious Auditours their favour will be no better than injurious So may you observe an indiscreet School-master whilest he affects the thanks of an over-weening Parent mar the progress of a forward childe by raising him to an higher Form and Authour ere he have well learned his first Rules Heat of zeal to hear is as natural heat to the body there is no life of Religion without it but as the kindest heat if it be not tempered with a due equality wasts it self and the body too so doth zeal not moderated with discretion It is hard to be too vehement in contending for main and evident truths but litigious and immaterial verities may soon be over-striven for needless seeking a scruple of truth to spend a pound of peace The Church of England in whose motherhood we had just cause to pride our selves hath in much wisdom and piety delivered her judgment of all necessary points in so compleat a body of Divinity as all hearts might rest therein not their truths onely but their sufficiencies the voice of God in holy Scriptures the voice of the Church in her Articles As for her Rules Forms and Dress in Discipline let it be examined whether the Luminaria magna the Bishops were so severe as to introduce antiquated Orders or to impose novel Ceremonies rather did they institute and discontinue some though of use yet superfluous offensive to weak capacities whose judgments could not concoct such fulsom matter though palliated heretofore under lively names of Order and Decency And yet see what Sir Walter Ralegh said then prophetically writing the effects after such Ceremonies should cease The reverend care saith he which
to turn Martial his Apostrophe upon me Tu male jam recitas incipit esse tuus And first he discovers his real constitution and thankfulness in three Forms and Reasons of his Convention of them In the first he renders to them the Representatives of his People his Princely thanks for their affection in receiving him in his Right to the Crown The other two he describes by the effect of his Actions and shews them the blessing of his Person in their outward Peace with his Neighbours with whom he found this State imbroiled Secondly Peace within issuing not onely by his lineal descent from Henry 7. in the union of the two Houses of Lancaster and York but also the union of these two Kingdoms illustrated in the conformities of Religion Language and Manners in their security of salvation encompassed with a Wall of Water and therefore Quae Deus conjunxit nemo separet And he being the Husband Head and Shepherd advises them to a joyfull Union by comparison of this blessing in the Union of the petty Principalities heretofore of this Nation into one Kingdom as also the composure of divers Duchies in the entire Monarchy of France those being happy though conjoyned by the Spear of Bellona but we the greater blessing being bound up by the Wedding-Ring of Astrea having an appearance of perpetuity in the blessing of hâ—s hopefull Issue and his profession of true Religion which he distinguishes from the Catholick Papist and also from another Sect rather than a Religion which he calls a Puritan Novellist differing from Truth in a confused Form of policy and parity insufferable He acknowledgeth the Roman-Church to be our Mother-Church defiled with some Infirmities as the Iews Church before Christ Crucified But as not wishing a sick man dead but his body to be purged Excusable in the Laicks either as well minded subjects inured thereto by birth and custom of Age or young by evil Education and therefore not to punish their Bodies for the Errors of their Mindes As for their Clericks their doctrine and practice insufferable The Arrogancie of the Popes Supremacie in the One and Murthering Kings in the other Otherwise he doth reverence Antiquity in the points of Ecclesiasticall Policie and so cleers himself from Heresie in Faith or Schism in Government But with this Caution to all as he is a friend to their Persons so an Enemy to their Errors Advising the Bishops by their Exemplary Life to convince the others doctrine The third Reason of calling this Parliament in the action of his thankfullness is first in making Some Laws by preserving the weal of the Kingdom and in discretion of not making too many because In corruptissima Republica plurimae Leges Secondly in execution of them by the Iudges and Magistrates whom he advises not to utter their affections in that Office of Hate to a Foe or Love to a Friend fear to offend the Great or pitty to the misery of the meaner but to be blind in distinction of Persons Handless for bribes and therefore describes them three principall qualities Knowledge to discern Courage and Sincerity to execute And thus having told them the three causes tending only to his thankfullness but in divers forms The first by Word the Other by Actions he concludes himself to be Inutilis servus His felicity consistâ—ng in their prosperity and gives them his Apologie for three things expected from him by so many advancement of Honor preferment of credit and reward in Land In all he hath been reasonable and honorable for refreshing some persons that were Members of a Multitude and if his infirmity hath exceeded He blames the Importunity of Suters which experience time and labour shall recover to teach his Subjects not to crave nor he to grant The Parliament unused to Princely Eloquence and Learning withall contracted their dutyfull affections to his Eminent virtues and willingly understood the Kings ayme to unite also the two Kingdomes which was soon put forward by proclamation of his Title of Great Britain our coins all Ensignes of honor quartering this Conjunction of crosses Red cross for England and Saint Andrews white for Scotland And the Parliament by act Commissionate eight Lords and twenty Commons to treat with other Commissioners Scotchmen for the honour and profit of both Nations The King thus far setled with his Parliament and people not without wonder of all our Neighbour Nations having lain at watch for conveniencie and honor to piece with so potent a Prince the advantages alike to either They came almost together The Constable of Castile from Spain and another from the Arch-Duke Rory Duke of Solia from France to treat of Peace Barnevelt from the Netherlands Solia was a gallant Man an excellent Courtier as they are all His business needed no other policy of State but to congratulate the Kings peacable and happy Possession for they had a Leiger in Scotland that came in with the King But the other two were Enemies and were to treat for establishing a firm Peace which was granted and do doubt they might make up of their Masters bounty to be so soon dispatcht for France mightily opposed and with little cunning of our Counsel the Spaniards dealt their golden Pistols to hit the mark And as they lay equally ready so their desires for Convoy hither came together and had order accordingly Sir Robert Mansell Vice-Admiral for the Narrow-Seas attended at Graveling for the Spaniard And his Vice-Admiral of the Fleet Sir Ierom Turner at Calais for the French who coming first disputed the choice and desired the Admirals ship but being told that he was commanded by Commission for the Other Monsieur in much disdain put himself in the French Passage-boat and in a brave bore his flag on the Top. Mansel commands Turner to shoot a warning and after to hit who took in his flag but complained at Court where his faction was powerfull yet the Justice and honor of that old Custom and Authority maintains his Act against them all being in himself besides a gallant brave Commander The Puritan was much troubled to be ranked with the Papist in the Kings Parliament Speech and to be termed so and somewhat they said too saucy and therfore were to expect more cause to chaw the cud for the King proclames all Conformity to the form of Gods Service established in Doctrine and Discipline to Gods Word and the Primitive Church that the Conference of late at Hampton Court concluded no cause of alteration notwithstanding the fiery pretended Zelots renewed the Question in Parliament and had been satisfied by the Kings Speeches and otherwise that particular and personal abuses are remediable other ways than by general alteration That all shall conform and have warning till the last of November next oâ— otherwise to dispose of themselves or Families to other meet persons in their places July 1604. These men were now stark mad and intelligence hereof they send to their dear
if they escape there and go disguised yet they may be disclosed by many if the punishment were not death but only immuring in dead walls The penalty of Recusants in a stock would pay the charges Perdat fiscus ut capiat Christus Here we finde extremes in both Councils certainly there is a medium neither Execution nor civill destruction for perpetual Imprisonment renders a Man civily dead a better way may be if we could hint it And why not thus Let Preachers use the spirit against them not as usual to wast an houre-glass to skirmish against government and discipline How can we draw others to our Church without a foundation of our own not like undiscreet Dogs to bark at all but to distinguish A child that sucks Popery from the breast must needs speak the voice of Papists It was the Kings saying and distinction A great cause of continuance of Papistry in common people is That being fuller of Pagentry than Doctrine and the old sent of Roman perfume The common obedience of coming to Church more expected than the instruction of private families or by publick Catechising The first Elements are to be learn'd at home and were orderly contained in the Book of Common-prayer by instruction first and then Confirmation of the Bishops This excellent foundation laid by the fathers of the Church should not be despised by their children In former times Ministers haunted the Houses of worthyest men Countrey-Churches with the best of the Shire Prayer and preaching hand in hand together then Papists smelled ranck therefore for shame they resorted to our Churches and Exercises This was the Counsel then but start-ups with intemperate zeal and indiscretion fore-ran the authority of the Magistrate censuring whatever agreed not with their conceits and now a days we finde the effect The King removes to Greenwich where amongst the ranting Riders at Court one Io Lepton of York Esquire and the Kings Servant made Matches of Horsmanship with the most in Court and to approve his skill and strength for a good Wager rode five several days together between London and York and so back again the next for May 20. Munday he set out from Alders-gate at three of the clock in the morning and came to York between five and six at night the next morn sent him to London at six and seven the next morn he set out to York and came thither at eight and so within half an hour the same time performed it and the last day came also to Greenwich to the King by nine of the clock as spritely and lusty as at the first day to the wonder of all till another do the like The King of Denmark out of singular affection to his Sister Queen Anne arrives in England and anchors at Gravesend where King Iames boards him unexpected and brings him a Guest to Greenwich for a Moneth with such entertainment as Peace and Plenty could possibly afford and so curious he was to take a view of things within his Level about London that disguised sometimes he took that advantage but most unwilling to visit the Tower when he found it a Prison though from thence he rode in triumph through London presented with Pageants and costly complements to shew him the wealth and love of this People He might be shy to shut up his Person having by the Law of Nations submitted his freedom by entring the bounds of another Prince without leave The Earl of Flanders found the effects when in his return from thence to possess his Inheritance of the Kingdom of Spain and being by storm cast upon our Coast King Henry 7. disputing some unkindnesses formerly received not usual with welcome Guests the Earl suspecting the danger was fain to yield to all the Kings demands which was hard in one point being to deliver up the Countess of Warwick and other Fugitives resident in Flanders that took Sanctuary in his Countrey and so had leave to depart The other and worse success may be from Mary Queen of Scots who forfeited her freedom by entring into England and afterwards her life by pretence of Treason as you have heard before though indeed she wrote to Queen Elizabeth for admittance but hastily landed without leave The Earl of Northumberland Henry Lord Mordant and Edward Lord Sturton not coming to Parliament according to Summons by Writ were more than suspected of the Pouder Treason and were committed to the Tower the Barons were fined in Star-chamber and after some durance paid the money and were released The Earl being deeply engaged was fined there also thirty thousand pounds and imprisonment during pleasure as all such Delinquents are which severity of Fine towards him was thought more extreme than usually since the erection of that Court he continuing Prisoner till 1619. and then paid but eleven thousand pounds in all the fate of that Family evermore false to the Crown as Sir Iocelin Piercy was used to say Seldom Treason without a Piercy Camera stellata belonging to the old Palace at Westminster and the 28 Henry 8. called the Starred Chamber then as now had one great Star affixed to the Roof and one over the Door The Court seems to have beginning from the Statute of 3 Henry 7. cap. 1. It is ordained that the Lord Chancellour Treasurer Privy Seal or two of them calling to them a Bishop and a Temporal Lord of the Kings Council and the two Chief Justices of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas or other two Justices in their absence should have power to punish Routs Riots Forgeries Maintenances Embraceries Perjuries and such like not sufficiently provided for by the Common Law But Queen Elizabeth enlarged the number of the Judges And so now it was honoured with all the Kings Privy Counsellours See Powel's Att. Acad. And though Delinquents were severely censured in terrorem Populi yet there was usually a day after every Term where they met to mitigate the Fines and Punishments afterwards to a reasonable summ and Penance This I put to memory because that Court is suppressed for ever by the late long Parliament There was much ascribed to the Kings wisdom in the discovery of this Pouder Treason but the Iesuits had a note of Cecil's name in their Register not against them as a Day-labourer that carried some few stones or sticks but the Master Workman whose forein and domestick Engineers wrought in this Mine of discovery And therefore was he calumniated with many contumelious Papers and Pasquils dispersed like Iob's Messengers one at the others heels He takes time to consider whether to begin a warfare of words against those with whom disputes are endless because their end is clamor untill it was fit to express himself in clear terms lest any of these clouds which are unjustly cast upon him might darken the brightness of his Masters royal minde which hath been always watered with the mildest dew of Mercy and Moderation Amongst many he undertakes one directed to
with sickness and thereby unable to receive the Holy communion at the Church and shall declare in his conscience his sicknes deadly desire to receive the same in his house the Minister shall not deny him so great comfort there being three or four communicants to join with him according to the Order of the Church The Parents nor Pastor shall not defer the Baptism of infants longer than the next Sunday after the Birth unless upon reasonable cause nor shall they use private Baptism in their Houses but when great need requires and then the Minister shall not deny it in the form as at Church and the next Sunday declare the same and that the infant ought to be received into Christs fold That according to the primitive integrity care was ever taken for educating of children and catechising of them now altogether neglected The Minister shall therefore catechise them and in the rehearsal of the Lords Prayer Belief and ten commandments as in the Church-catechism is used and expressed And afterwards the said children shall be confirmed by Prayer and Blessing of the Bishop for the continuance of the grace of God in them That the inestimable benefits by our Saviours Birth Passion Resurrection Ascension and sending down the Spirit hath been at certain times remembred by the whole Church of the World And therefore the Minister shall observe those times and form his Doctrine according to the Text purposely to be chosen and proper for the day These were thus obtained proclaimed and obeyed and to this day called the five Articles of Perth ratified in Parliament there the next year and the last Parliament of this Kings time when a monstrous storm thickned the face of Heaven and the factious sort said it was a sign of Gods anger against those Articles others in derision of that sense said it was rather an approbation from heaven like thunder and lightning at the giving of the Law to Moses The Bishops had much ado to go on to Action for Papistry being a Disease of the Minde and Puritanism of the Brain the Antidote of both ought to be a grave and well-ordered Church to reduce them either simply or wilfully erring But those that were refractory and factious got the more of the mad crew swarming to such to seek the Communion and to receive their Doctrine and those that would not were excommunicate upon every ordinary and frivolous occasion Excommunication the greatest Judgment upon Earth that which is ratified in Heaven a precursory or prelasory Judgment of CHRIST in the end of the World and therefore not to be used irreverently as an ordinary Process derogate to Gods honour and the power of the Keys contemtible It is urged indeed not so much for the thing it self as for the contumacy and as God's judgment seizes on the least sin of the impenitent so Excommunication may in case issue out upon the smallest offence and not upon the greatest in another case But are these contumacies such as that the party as far as the eye of the Church can discern standeth in statu reprobationis damnationis given over to final impenitence It is therefore to be wished that this Censure were restored to the true Divinity and use in cases of weight To this purpose a Bill was drawn in Parliament 23 Eliz. the gravest Assembly of her time and recommended by the gravest Counsellour but for some politick Reasons was retarded We reade of three degrees of Excommunication in the New Testament the first called Nidui A casting out of the Synod Iohn 9. 22. A separation from all commerce society eating or drinking with any person from the Marriage-bed from washing and these according to the pleasure of the Judg and quality of the offence for thirty days or more he may be present at divine Service to teach or to learn others if impenitent his punishment was increased doubling or trebling the Sentence for time or to his death His male-children were not circumcised And if he died unrepentant a stone was cast upon his Coffin as deserving to be stoned and was buried without lamentation or ceremony and not in common Burial The second was called Cherem A giving over to Satan 1 Cor. 5. 5. It differed from the first degree because it was not sentenced in a private Court but in the whole Church and Maledictions and Curses added out of the Law of Moses At the publishing Candles were lighted and when the Curses were ended then the Lights were extinct even so the Excommunicate deprived of the Light of Heaven And thus against the incestuous person 1 Cor. 5. 5. and against Himenaeus and Alexander 1 Tim. 1. 20. The third was named Maran-atha viz. The Lord cometh and was instituted they say by Enoch Iud. 14. An Excommunication to death and so the phrase 1 Iohn 5. 16. There is a sin unto death viz. to deserve Excommunication to death In the Greek Church four degrees of this Censure 1. Those who were onely barred the Lord's Table all other benefits of the Church they might nay to stand by and see the Communicants and therefore called stantes 2. But he is admitted into the Church his place behinde the Pulpit and must depart with the Catechumeni such persons as were not yet baptized and so might not pray with other Christians 3. Degree admitted but into the Church-porch to hear but not to pray with others and therefore called Audientes 4. Degree such were onely permitted to stand quite without the Church weeping and requesting those that entered in to petition the Lord for mercy towards them whence called Plorantes So then they say Cain's Censure was the first and the last Enoch's The three sorts were borrowed from the three sorts of uncleaness which excluded people out of the three Camps 1. Nidui out of the Camp of God alone those defiled with the touch of the Dead 2. Cherem out of the Camp of God and Levi defiled of an issue 3. Maran-atha out of all three Camps God Levi Israel defiled with Leprosie From the Iews Greeks and Latines took the degrees of Excommunication The Emperour of the House of Austria with interwoven Marriages of Spain as aforesaid had so settled the Empire from other interests that no obstacle interposed their excessive ambition but their jealousies of the Protestant Princes and States whom they intend by degrees to reduce and in over-doing of this began the German miserable Distractions And because the Palatines too sudden accepting the Crown of Boheme was the immediat occasion I shall let in the Reader into that story The Kingdom of Boheme for many hundred years past enjoyed Sanctuary and Privileges to impower the free election of their King which is manifest in their Chronicles in many Bulls of their Emperours in their Kings Reversal Letters and divers other Examples and Antiquities Sundry practices have been against this free Election but never managed with more wiles than now Matthias the Emperour two
the Lawyers in the House to make a good Commentary upon it For so did the Puritan Ministers in Scotland bring all kind of Causes within compass of their jurisâ—iction saying that it was the Churches Office to judge of slander and there could no crime or fault be committed but there was a slander in it either against God their King or their Neighbour and by that means they looked into themselves the cognizance of all Causes or like Bellarmines Distinction of the Popes power over Kings in ordine ad spiritualia whereby he gives him all Temporall Jurisdiction over them But to give you a direct answer to the matters of War for which you are so earnest We confesse we rather expected you should have given us thanks for the so long maintaining a settled Peace in all our Dominions when as all our Neighbours about are in miserable combustion of War but dulce bellum inexpertis and we indeed find by experience that a number of our Subjects are so pampered with Peace as they are desirous of change though they know not what It is true that we have professed and in that mind with Gods grace we will both live and die that we will labour by all means possible either by Treaty or force to restore our Children to their antient dignity and Inheritance and whatsoever Christian Princes and Potentates will set themselves against it we will not spare any lawful means to bring ouâ— so just and honourable purpose to a good end Neither shall the Match of our Son or any other worldly respects be preferred to this our Resolution For by our credit and intervention with the King of Spain and the Arch-Dutchess and her Husband now with God we preserved the Lower Palatinate one whole year from any further conquering in it which in any eight dayes space in that time might have easily been swallowed up by Spinola's Army without any resistance and in no better case was it now at our Ambassadour the Lord Digby's coming through Heidleburgh if we had not extraordinarily succoured it But because we conceive that ye couple this War of the Palatinate with the cause of Religion we must a little unfold your eyes herein The beginning of this miserable War which hath set all Christendome on fire was not for Religion but only caused by Our Son in law his hasty and rash Resolution following evil Counsel to take to himself the Crown of Bohemia and that this is true himself wrote Letters to Us at that time desiring Us to give assurance both to the French King and to the State of Venice that his accepting of the Crown of Bohemia had no reference to the cause of Religion but only by reason of his right of Election as he called it And we would be sorry that that aspersion should come upon our Religion as to make it a good pretext for disthroning of Kings and usurping their Crowns And we would be loath that our people here should be taught that doctrine No let Us not so far wrong the Jesuits as to rob them of their sweet Positions and practice in this point And upon the other part we assure our selves so far of your charitable thoughts of us that we would never have constantly denyed our Son in Law both the title and assistance in that point if we had been well-perswaded of the justice of his quarrel But to conclude this unjust usurpation of the Crown of Bohemia and Hungaria from the Emperour hath given the Pope and all that party too fair a ground and opened them too wide a Gate for curbing and oppressing of many thousands of our Religion in divers parts of Christendom And whereas you excuse your touching upon the King of Spain upon occasion of the incidents by you repeated in that place and yet affirm it is without any touch to his Honor. We cannot wonder enough that ye are so forgetful both of your words and writs for in your former Petition you plainly affirm that he affects the Temporal Monarchy of the whole Earth then which there can be no more malice uttered against any great King to make all other Princes and Potentates both envy and hate him But if you list it may be easily tryed whether that speech touched him in honour or not if we shall ask him the question Whether he means to assume to himself that Title or no For every King can best judge of his own Honour we omit the particular Ejaculations of some foul-mouthed Oratours in the House against the honour of his Crown and State And touching your excuse of not determining any thing concerning the Match of our dearest Son but only to tell your opinion and lay it down at our feet First we desire to know how you could have presumed to determine in that point without committing of High Treason And next you cannot deny but your talking of his Match after that manner was a direct breach of our Commandment and Declaration out of our own Mouth at the first sitting down of this Parliament where we plainly professed that we were in Treaty of his Match with Spain and wished you to have that confidence in our Religion and Wisdom that we would so mannage it as our Religion should receivt no prejudice by it And the same we now repeat unto you professing that we are so far ingaged in that Match as we cannot in honour go back except the King of Spain perform not such things as we expect at his hands and therefore we are sorry that ye should shew to have so great distrust in us or to conceive that we should be cold in our Religion otherwise we cannot imagine how our former Publick Declaration should not have stopped your Mouths in this point And as to your Request that we would now receive your former Petition We wonder what could make you presume that we would not receive it whereas in our former letter we plainly declared the contrary unto you and therefore we have justly rejected that suit of yours For what have you left un-attempted in the highest points of Sovereignty in that petition of yours except the striking of Coin for it contains the violation of Leagues the particular way how to govern a War and the Mariage of our dearest Son both Negative with Spain nay with any Popish Princess and also Affirmatively as to the matching with one of our Religion which we confess is a strain beyond any Providence or Wisdom God hath given to us as things now stand These are unfit things to be handled in Parliament except your King should require it of you For who can have wisdome to judge of things of that nature but such as are dayly acquainted with the particulars of Treaties and of the variable or fixed connexion of Affairs of State together with the knowledge of the secret ways ends and intentions of Princes in their several Negotiations otherwise a small mistaking in matters of this Nature may produce more effects than can
aids Navaâ— Spain interessed Asâ—iâ—ts France with more money 101560 071165 020000 033333. 226058. Crowns And the Dutch 125000. 260000. 385000. Florins See after She raises her Custom-Farm She ballancâ—â—h her neighbour interests The Assembly petition the King His Answer and advice to suppress â—eâ—dâ— Huntley and Murray quarrel Another of the Kers Witches accuse Bothwel who is committed to Prison and escapes Archbish. of St. Andrews dieâ— and abused by the Ministery Secretary Walsingham dies his Character And so does Randolph 18. times Embassadour abroad And the â— of Shrewsburyâ—dies An Epitaph Irish Rebells Essex expedition into France with 4000. Hackets horrible Tenents and Treasons Mad-headed Hypocrites Anno 1591. His disciples apprehended his blaspemy and execution puny Jesuits Their Seminaries Confirmed by the Pope Botâ—wels Treason to seize the King and Court The manner theâ—eof Fire the Qâ— lodgingâ— and 〈◊〉 Huntley and Murray fall into the mischief The Sheriff killed Anno 1592. Murray miserably slain The cause of Murrays death put upon others Murry lamented Huntley is at Liberty Uchiltry abused The Chuâ—ch interfeers the State Affairs And Articles agreed Bothwells other attempts at Faulkland is defeated and flies to England Lindsey Lord Spinie is susspected and becomes a companion of Bothwells A love trick of a Woman Faction against the Chancellour Clanhattons against Huntly Angus committed Ker his Comâ—mission to Spain Plots of Papists The French King relieved by Q. Eliz. Turns Papist Duke of Parma dies The Queens message by L. Burroughs The Kings Answer the Ambassadours reply Anno 1593. Church Assembly Munday Market to be altered Bothwel seises the King at Holy rood-house And enforces Articles The King complains of Bothwels insolencies The Lords râ—sent it and send to him Denounced Rebell Proceedings against Popish Lords by the Ministers The King displeased with the Assembly Their farther proceedings in Tumult Commissioners to try the Popish Lords and conclude these Articles Maxwells and Johnstons fewds The Kinds sad condition Popish Lords come not in Pr. Henry born in Feb. Lord Zowch Ambassadour from England and Ministers assist Bothwels attempt and so do Arguile and Arrol Anno 1594. The King pleads to the people after Sermon for assistance Bothwel dissipated Colvil Ambassadour to England complains of Zowch The Queens â—nswer Papists banished Remonstrance of the Assembly against Papists And the Remedies The Solemnities of the Princes Baptism named Henry Fredâ—rick At the Chaple The King sends to England for money Bothwel and the Popish Lords join in Rebellion Arguile and Athol against Huntley and Arrol Arguile discomfited The K. comes to the Good-speed they are banished Bothwel flies into France and dies at Naples some years after Assemblie of the Church in Scotland Answer the K. Articles Anno 1595. Q. Anns Design to seize the Prince The Kings letter to Mar. The Chancelor sick and why The Kings letter to him full of grace Chancellour dies his character The King assigns Commissioners of his Treasury Papists private plots Devising sundry other Titles to both Crowns of E. of Essex Of Spains Pâ—actice to impoyson Q. Eliz. by Loper Cullen York and Willians and other fugitive trayâ—ors Ant Perez infected Essex Spanish deâ—ignes invasion of Scotland or England Spaniards pooâ— successe upon England Sr. W. Raleghs Guiana voyage and other attempts in the weâ—â— Indies Anno 1596. Armstrong taken prisoner in a treaty of the Borderers Backlugh complains to the Lo. Scroop Backlughs designe to take the Castle of Carlile And frees Armstrong Bows the Ambassador complains hereof the Qâ—een offended Backlugh commiâ—â—ed â—â—bellion in the Orcades Assemblies make things worse Policie to call home the Popish Lords Mr. Bruce an enemy to Huntley The Popish Lords return home upon Conditions Princess Elizabeth born August 16. 1596. Ministers make work The Counâ—il of the Church and the Kings Councel confer The King is offended with them Their complaints Which the K. answers The Minister Blake his muteny and story Blakes râ—monstance Blake brought to his Answer The Ministsters factious courses The King by proclamation dissolves their Assembly The Ministers Counterappose the King The Commissioners of the Church petition the K. Is rejected Articles against Blake His answer The King treats witâ— them Both partâ—eâ— bandie A Dangerous tumult The King and Council retire from danger Proclaim Mad preaching Their letter to Lord Hamelton to be Their head Hamelton comes to the King proceedings against those disorders Citizens brought to submit Is rejected And humbly propose Queen Elizabeths letter to the King The Kingâ— mercâ— The Octavians yield up their office The Northern Ministers are Courted Their answer The King writes to Huntley Twelve Articles from the King to the Assembly Submitted unto in effect And all ends in content Bishop 〈◊〉 death and â—haracter The Netherlands called to account 400001 per annum in ten years 4000001 dept Irisâ—â— rebells increasing Norris goes over assistant Callis taken by the Spaniard the English Navy Publick form of prayer for success of the Navy Take Cadiz Called Cales voyage Digression how farr foreign titles preceed at home In England At Rome Genoa Venice and Scots The Popish Lords submit to the Church Proclamation against Gaurdon a Jesuite Barcklayes de sign discovered he drownes himself Blake the Minister 〈◊〉 out of all Excellent reformation in the Vniversity Witches discovered Margaret Atkin 〈◊〉 Digresses concerning witches and witchcraft Maintainers Several Authors in this subject Expedition of Earl of Essex to the Isles of Azores Essex and Ralagh differ Come home and quarel at Court A Parliament at Edenburgh Ministers voice in Parliament Bruce refuseth imposition of hands but at last is so admitted The King sends Ambassadors to the German Princes Their Answer France craves aid of England against Spain and comes to a Treaty France and Spain dispute precedency and make peace Disputes of peace or war with England Queen Elizabeth strikes Essex His angry letters 〈…〉 King of 〈◊〉 dies One Squire impoysons the Queens saddle Tomas falsâ—accusation of K. James to Q. Elizabeth K. James his prudence to suppress false rumours Ashfield surprized Prisoner to Barwick Colvil Recants his treatise against the Kings title The Kings Basilicon doron the occasion of it in publick The new year altered from 25. of March to 18. Ianuary The state of Bishopricks at that time Irish Rebellion with Tirone Essex and Caecils Intelligence with King Iames. Caecil Essex Gowries conspiracie See anno 1608. Court and châ— of King James paâ— 8 Hist Gr Br Pa 12. Vide ante 1568. et 1582. Earl Gowry retires home The manner of the conspiracie 4. of August Hendersons Examination and confession Alexander treats with the King The King takes to Henderson Alexander 〈◊〉 with the King The King cries Treason John Ramsey comes up and Sir Thomas Erskin follows Ramsey wounds Alexander Henderson slips away Earl Gowry comes up to the fray Gowry astonished is killed by Ramsey Others hurt The Lords and company come in Gowries Spels of Enchantment Two other brothers William and Patrick beyond