best Governour that any King of Scotland did ever injoy this man did Huntly kill without any cause at all but his owne meere envy and malice for these crimes he was againe excommunicate the Earle of Argile at the Kings intreaty and direction persued him with an Army of ten thousand men many hundreds of these good subjects were killed by that Rebell when after Argiles deseat the King himselfe with his prime Nobles went out against him he with displayed banner went to the fields against the King all this Spotswood reports at length Let any conscientious man here be judge King Iames for his owne respects requires a conscientious Minister to consent and concurre with him to obtain from the next ensuing Assembly the absolution of such a man from the censure of Excommunication for this was the main question the honest Minister could not be perswaded to consent unto the relaxation of such a bloody obstinate Apostate confessed by all to be still imponitent from the censures either of Church or State As for the inconveniences his Majesty did alledge the dangers from the Papists of England if Huntly and the Popish party in Scotland were too much irritate was it any great crime for Mr. Bruce to differ in this from his Majesty and to tell him plainly that which was the opinion of all the good Ministers of Scotland though the ground of the Kings quarrell with them That it would prove his best policy to make fast with the Protestant party of England and over-sea renouncing all correspondency either with Papists or Prelates that if he walked upon this ground God and his right would carry him through all both seen and imagined difficulties The world long agoe is satisfied with the wisedome of this advice for it was quickly found that too much connivence and compliance with Papists did bring that Prince upon the very brinke of ruine for the Popish party of England finding themselves disappointed of their great hopes did run to the desperate attempts of the Powder-plot and other Treasons Also the keeping up of the Bishops was a great cause of all the mischiefes which since that time to this day have fallen either upon our Church or State It is true the words you ascribe to Mr. Bruce are very unmannerly but who will beleeve that ever any such phrases proceeded from the mouth of so grave and wise a man your only Author is Spotswood His testimony in this case ought not to be trusted but if you will looke to the matter of Mr. Bruce his counsell I subject it to the touchstone of the severest censurers Upon the fourth head of Generall Assemblies Page 18 19 20 21. The reason of the Authors malice against the generall Assembly you spew out the whole remnant of your gall the wrath of a child does kindle against the whip that scourges him I will not remember you of the dogs snarling at the stone that hath hit him The Generall Assembly for just causes did chastise you with their sharpest rod of Excommunication they did deliver you into the hands of the Father of lyes and Blasphemies if there were no more then what here you write it is a demonstration that the sentence of that Reverend Assembly against you is ratified in heaven and that God in his justice according to the word of his faithfull servant hath delivered your obstinate soule to be acted by that evill spirit who else could move you to blaspheme the crowne of Christ and the holy One of Israel by name and to make the holy Scriptures the ordinary channell through which your profane girds at the Generall Assembly must run What you bring the most of it is so impertinent and so remote from all relation to any Assembly and set downe in such confusion that the very effects though the cause were not knowne may evidence the distraction of your Spirit I shall handle the fieryest of your darts as they come from your furious hands You make us to ascribe to our General Assembly False and rayling slanders against the generall Assembly a jurisdiction universall and infallible you will have it to meddle with all affaires both Spirituall and Temporall you would make the world beleeve that all disobedience thereto is censured with excommunication and that it commands the King to punish iâ— estate body and life all who disobey otherwise that it causes the King himselfe to be dethroned and killed this often you repeat moreover you call this Assembly an untamed furious Beast you advise the King much rather to submit himself to the Pope then to be in the reverence therof what spirit makes you break out into such discourses your selfe will see if ever God give you repentance however it is evident that lyes and malice do here strive which shall predominate The Generall Assembly in Scotland hath no more power then what the Parliaments since the first Reformation have heartily allowed unto them they meddle with no temporall case at all It exercises no power but what the King and the Laws authorize and all the spirituall cases which to this day they have touched may be reduced to a few heads That every disobedience brings with it Excommunication is a wide slander we doe not excommunicate but for a grievous transgression joyned with extraordinary obstinacy This censure is so rare with us that a man may live long and before his death never be witnesse to it What civil punishment the State in their wisedome findes meet to impose on a person who contemnes the Ordinances of God let themselves be answerable But that the Assembly medles with any mans life or goods is like the rest of your Assertions and yet no more false then the other lye you have here That ever any Assembly of the reformed Churches upon the highest provocations did take it so much as in debate to excommunicate much lesse to dethrone any King its most false but the Spirit that leads you must be permitted to breath out his naturall aire and to lye according to his very ancient custome You object it once and againe that the Commissioners of Burroughs and Universities are received as Members in our generall Assemblies behold the greatnesse of this crime The Commissioners of Burroughs and Vniversities are all Elders out of every Classicall Presbytery we allow one ruling Elder to goe as Commissioner to that Nationall meeting and if there be a royall Burgh within the bounds we allow two and three if there be an University What would you say to the Parliament of England who appoints foure ruling Elders out of every Classis to accompany two Ministers to the Assembly though there be neither Burrough not University in the bounds of this we are carefull that whoever comes either from Cities or Universities be not only ruling Elders but also have an expresse approbation from the Eldership What you speak of the Kings presence in our Assemblies We ascribe to the King so much power
make poor people die Traytors to both ibid. p. 68. fancying to themselves that they fight the Lords battels for Religion Liberties they dream they die Martyrs when they die Traytors to God and his Anoynted ibid. p. 132. They set the simple people upon Rebellion against God and his Anoynted to the destruction of State soul and body temporally and eternally That the defensive war of the Parliaments of both Kingdomes is a most reall Rebellion and Treason that all who have dyed in that quared are certainly damned that the Covenant is a damnable Conspiracy that all Covenanters are Traytors and Rebels both to God and the King that their Covenant puts them upon the principles of Ravtitack and Faux to kill Kings and blow up Parliaments (b) Vide supra a. also ibid. 63. This Covenant maketh every man to be armed with power and the way left to himselfe for ought wee know it may be Raviliacks way or Guido Faux his way ibid p. 7. For as bad as the Iesuite is in my conceiving the Puritan is worse That the Armes of the Irish Rebels were no more unjust then these of the British who opposed them that the Irish Cessation was lawfull and commendable (c) Ibid. Preface to Ormond you were assaulted with two of the worst extreames of opinions enraged both of them with the same degrees of madnesse That the Marquesse of Ormond for piety and prudence has not his match upon earth (d) Ibid. You whose piety is admirable whose wisdom and prudence is above the ordinary and all your equals so experienced in matters of State that it is a wonder to them who know you and incredible to them who have not been eye witnesses That for military vertue he is equall to Scipio Hannibal and Caesar (e) Ibid. Your heroicall Acts are worthy of the greatest Caesar you gained so much as their valiant Hannibâ—s and Scipios That the Legislative power is in the King alone That his Monarchy makes him above all Lawes and lets him be tyed to none but gives him power to alter and abolish them at his pleasure (f) Sacro Sanct. p. 180. One of the Sectaries principles wherby they intoxicate the Vulgar is that in a Monarchy the Legislative power is communicable to the subject ibid. p. 94. At the admittance of Saul God giveth to the subject Legem parendi Soveraignity is an undivided entity how can you share it among more To diminish any thing of this Pretogative is to destroy Monarchy to dethrone the King and to take his Crowne from him (g) Ibid p. 141. You totally destroy Monarchy and must say down right our gracious Soveragne is no Monarch p. 142. An impotent King is the same with no King For Parliamâ—nâ—s to meddle with any part of this power is a sacriledge which God will revenge (h) Ibid. p. 144. The worst bargaine ever subject made was at any rate to purchase a possession of the sacred Rights of Kings till these Kingdomes be purged of sacriledge so highly committed against God by wronging his Anointed and he be restored to his sacred Rights we need look for no effectuall blessings of God When through weaknesse or imprudence a Prince is cheated or enforced to give away to his Parliament any part of his power himselfe or any of his posterity when ever occasion offereth may lawfully take it back notwithstanding of any promise oath or law made to the contrary (i) Ibid p. 142. I doubt not to affirme but if any good Prince or his Royall Ancestors have been or are cheated out of their sacred Right by fraud or force he may at the first opportunity when God in his wise providence offereth occasion resume it You see with what a Statesman we have to doe A favorer of â—rosse Popery â—nd Arminiaâ—isme for his Religion heare a part of it Episcopacy is a necessary and fundamentall truth of Divine Institution and Commandement (k) Issachar p. 1. In the Edition of Oxford Episcopacy is the true necessary and perpetuall Government of the Church institute by Christ wee deceive our selves to expect deliverance from our troubles if wee subordinate fundamentals in Religion necessary truths to our civill good All Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction belongs to the Bishops alone by Divine Right no Presbyter ought to bee a member so much as of a Provinciall Assembly (l) Ibid p. 31. Now is forgotten that of the councel of Chalcedon concilium est Episcoporum and that old barbarous but Christian enough verse Ite foras laici non est vobis locus ici That the Kings consent to the abolition of Episcopacy in Scotland is the true and great cause of all the troubles which since that time hath befallen him and his subjects (m) Ibid p. 2. What peace hath King or Kingdome enjoyed here or in Ireland since Episcopacy by Law in Scotland was damned That Abots Priors and their Religious Houses of Monks and Fryers are lawfull in the Church (n) Ibid. p. 49. Abbots and Priors to Melvils time were nominate and admitted to Abbeys and Priories as Church men but this great Doctor found out another Divinity that for Abbots and Priors there was none such in the Word of God That Patriarcks and Cardina's are Church Dignities highly to be reverenced (o) Ibid p. 43. Cardinall Beton a Priest and Archbishop of so high Dignity That the Pope by Divine Right is as true a Bishop as any other Bishop in the world but by humane Ecclesiastick Right he is greater then any other (p) Sacro Sanct. p. 58. The Pope the Bishop of Rome hath no more by Divine Right except it bee in extent then the meanest Bishop in his Diocesse what hee may have by positive Ecclesiasticall right it s not pertinent for us now to examine Hierome compareth three of the meanest Bishops with three of the greatest Patriarcks Priviledged at that time by Ecclesiasticall Canons That Presbytery is worie then Popery and Iesuitisme that it were much better for any King to put his Dominions under the yoak of the Pope and Iesuites then of Presbyteries and Synods (q) Issachar Edition Oxford p. 30. The â—ing is in a worse condition under this soveraignty then under the Pope ibid p. 45. The Presbytery it or may be in time a mother of as much rebellion and treason as any Iesuitisme of the highest die if not more certainly Rome although a whore is not so bad nor so abominable That the first Reformation in Scotland France Holland Germany and where ever the supream Magistrate was not the Author and Actor of the worke was unorderly and sin ull an action seditious and treasonable a great cause of all the mischiefes that from that time to this have come upon the Churches (r) Ibid. p. 36. This gave life to that tumultuary Reformation we will never wrong Reformed Religion so much as to count of that as an orderly Reformation We
are not void of Errours the greatest mistake of this wise Prince was in his too great affection towards Episcopacy the Presbyterian Nobles and Divines in Scotland set him in his Infancy upon his Throne when his life and Crown without their cordiall assistance was given by all men for gone in all his great feares from Spaine or any where else at home or abroad so long as he remained in Scotland his recourse was only to them and notwithstanding of the very hard measure which oft they had received and still feared from him yet did they never faile to support him in his need neither ever had they any difference with him but that which flowed from the unhappy fountaine in hand Had it been the will of God that this otherwise very wise Prince at his first comming into England had cast over the hedge of that Church the evill weed of Bishops and their Ceremonies he had certainly procured much greater peace to his own minde and in all probability prevented the huge mischiefes which from this neglect above all other causes doe this day overwhelme his house and all his Kingdomes What here you subjoyn to prove the pride of the Presbytery and the state it kept with King Iames is an ill conceived bob Page 7 8. No Presbytery did ever keep any state with the King when the Prince was pleased to honour them with a Message was it not better manners and greater civility for them to returne an answer by some of their owne number then by his Majesties owne Messengers had they sent their mindes otherwise how much more would the Prelatick Courtiers have cryed out upon their saucinesse and pedantick Rusticity The next Tale you tell us is The Presbytery is very tender of the fame of all persons though the Magistrate punish strumpets of the Presbyteries severity and unjustice in bringing shame upon many yong women on groundlesse suspicions of putting them in prison till they confesse their secret sins in forcing them to clear themselves by oathes in the Congregation of needlesse jealousies This tale is delated with many odious circumstances but consider first that you shoot your Arrowes at the wrong Butt You may remember the Classicall Presbytery uses not to meddle with any such matters its true the Congregationall Eldership by clear Divine Right and consent of all differing parties take notice of the manners of the whole flocke if pregnant presumptions of fornication be delated to the Eldership by any Officer they will send to admonish the parties deferred but first in private with all discretion and tendernesse if secret admonitions be contemned and persons willfully will continue in a scandalous behaviour then will they call them before the Eldership and after earnest request if nothing else can do it will at last ordaine them to eschew conversing together in private and suspect places but for calling of any before the Eldership upon light presumptions for prisons for feeding with bread and water for troubling of families it s but a Prelatical calumny This indeed is true some known whores and strumpets when they have brought forth children in fornication and refuse absolutely to name the Father or when they give up such men as all know to be innocent the Magistrate will put them in prison for some time and if a flagrant scandall of fornication arise upon persons who desire themselves to be cleered they will be admitted to purge themselves by their oath in the Eldership or in the Congregation as the flagrancy of the Scandal or the parties themselves do require but what is all this to these odious fables here related it seems you were angry at another matter which I will here speak out for you Scotland however subject to many sins It does not curiously inquire in secret faults but knowne crimes it doth not passe by yet I dare say is much more free of fornications and adulteries among people of any fashion then any Nation I know or have heard of this makes the conversation of persons there to be free and without all suâ—picion except on very good ground but if such crimes be clear there is no sparing of any person of what ever quality all are called to an account that is the matter which seems to burn you Your bosome companion Mr. Menteth having deboshed a prime Lady in his flock when no secret advertisement could break off that wickednesse though a child or two were brought forth the honourable friends of the Knight who was wronged could keep no longer patience but did openly crave justice whereby Menteth was cast out of the Church and Kingdome and the Adulteresse diâ—â—â—ced from her Husband at this and the like procedure you are grieved your meeknesse would have all such abominations covered and remedied only by Auricular confession That this Epiâ—copa l indulgence flowes from no merciful disposition it app ars well by their ordinary rigour pressing the most gracious Minister and others for the smalâ—est opposition to any of their Traditions with their Oaths ex Officio and casting them upon their meere pleasure into the closest prisons and greatest afflictions well may the malevolence of Enemies declame against the severity of Presbyteries and paint them out as most cruell and intollerable inquisitions but beleeve it they that know and have seen them either in France Holland or Scotland can assure that the fault if any be fals upon the other hand of too great indulgence no man is called before them but for a notorious fault persons of any tollerable civility or circumspection use not to be called all their life time to any account of their behaviour if the Presbytery were able to give so satisfactory an answer for its to great meeknesse unto the Sectaries challenge as it can to the Prelates for its too great strictnesse I should be very glad What is subjoynd of the Presbyteries medling with Trade and commerce of dischargeing men to persue for their debts Page 9 10. The Presbyteries meddle not with matters of trade or debt and Landlords to sue for their Rents are stories so true as the father of lies is wont to dite to his obedient children Possibly in the eighty eight yeare of God when the Spaniards were comming to destroy the Land some godly persons had disswaded their Neighbours to carry victuals to Spaine at that time and some men may have had scruple of conscience for sending of waxe and furnishing of immediate materials for Idolatry I beleeve also that gracious Ministers have given private counsel to rigorous exacters of their Rents and unmercifull persuers of their debts But that ever any Presbytery in Scotland did take cognizance of any such matters to the uttermost of my best knowledge is an Episcopall that is a manifest and malicious untruth The same I say of your next story They never took upon them to change a Market day the Munday markets in some chiefe Towns were an evident occasion of prophaning the Lords holy
ratifies and approves the Presbyteries and particular Sessions appointed by the said Kirke with the whole Jurisdiction and discipline of the same Kirke agreed upon by his Majesty in conference had by his Highnesse with certaine of the Ministers conveened to that effect also determines and declares the said Assemblies Presbiteries and Sessions their jurisdiction and discipline to be in all times comming most just and good notwithstanding of whatsomever Statutes Acts Canons civill or municipall Lawes made in the contrary Item the Kings Majestie and Estates declares that the 129. Act of the Parliament holden at Edinbrough the 22. of May 1584. shall no wayes be prejudiciall nor derogate any thing to the priviledge that God has given to the Spirituall Officers in the Kirke concerning heads of Religion matters of Heresie Ezcommunication collation deprivation of Ministers or any such like essentiall Censures specially grounded and having warrant of the Word of God Also abrogates Cassis and Annuls the Act of the same Parliament 1584. yeere granting Commission to Bishops and other Judges constitute in Ecclesiasticall causes to receive his Highnesse Presentations to Benefices to give collation hereupon and to put order in all Ecclesiasticall causes his Majestie and Estates declares this Act to be expired and in time comming to be null and therefore ordains all Presentations to be directed to the particular Presbiteries More needs not be said for the confounding and filling with shame the faces of them No more is needfull for a satisfactory Answer who in the reprinting of this Pamphlet could have no other intention but to grieve and disgrace them whom by word they call Brethren but in heart and workes they evidently maligne as enemies without any cause Adamson the true Father confesseth it to be a Bastard and supposititious birth wholly composed of lyes and slanders King James disclaimes it and puts a new Declaration in its place the States of Parliament in King James his presence and with his open allowance abolished the Acts whereupon it was founded rooting out Episcopacy which it dothplant and building up Presbyteries and Synods which it professeth to demolish Yet for more abundant satisfaction The points of the wryt let us consider its particular parts It containes first a Preface Secondly an explanation of foure Acts of the Parliament at Edinbrough Pag. 1. It is hazardous for a 〈◊〉 Prince to take â—pon himself â—the faults of â—his Officers 1584. Thirdly an enumeration of some foureteene intentions ascribed to the King In the Preface there is a narrative of the causes of the subsequent Declaration all resolves upon the alledged Lyes of some evill affected persons labouring to impaire his Majesties honour and fame Upon this we remark that the late unhappy tricke of Courtiers and Prelâ—tes is no lesse ancient then this Declaration it was the ordinary custome of these ungrate and imprudent men to charge the backe of the King with their owne faults the bones of Kings are supposed by Sycophants to be so strong that no burden is able to bow much lesse to breake them As King Charles has ever been â—â—o ready and willing to take upon himselfe the guilt of his servants upon what ever hazard the same was his Fathers condition yet with this difference King James was willing to beare his Servants burdens till he found they pinched but so soone as they began to presse him any thing sore he was so wise and just to himselfe and others that he laid them alwayes over upon the neck of those whom in reason it concerned to beare them The people had an high esteeme of Ki. Iames his vertues About that time the fame of Kings James his Learning Piety and personall vertues did florish at home and abroad the wel-affected who chiefly are aymed at were so far from impairing his personall reputation that in their very censure of this Declaration they give unto him an excellent testimony g Vide An Answer to the Declaration Their indignation was onely against the Court and upon just grounds But at that same time his Court was so exceedingly corrupted that the good men in the whole Isle both English and Scots did lament it Captain James Stuart by his cunning crept up to be Chancellour became so insolent a Tyrant that neither the greatest nor the most innocent had security either of their life or Estate h Spotswoods History lib. 6 p. 179. â—eere 1584. this severity was universally disliked but that which shortly ensued was much more hatefull Ibid. Maines and Drumwhassill were hanged the same day in the publick street of Edenborough the Gentlemens case was much pittied Maines his case especially all that were present in their hearts did pronounce him innocent these cruell and rigorous proceedings caused such a feare as all famiâ—iar society was in a manner left no man knowing to whom be might safely speake Arran in the meane time went on drawing into his owne hand the managing of affairs for he would be sole and supream over all Ibid. p. 177. Master Andrew Pullert Master Patrick Galloway Master James Carmichal Ministers were denounced Rebels and fled into England Master Andrew Hay compeered and nothing being qualified against him was upon suspition confined to the North the Ministers sent Master David Lindsay to the King with their supplication but Arran sent him prisoner to Blacknesse where he was detained forty seven weeks The Ministers of Edenborough hearing of this for sook their charge and fled into England so as Edenbrugh was left without any Preachers Master Robert Pont likewise flying was denounced Rebell The best Ministers were forced to leave the Kingdome The Duke of Lennox whose power with the King was greatest had lately come over from the Guisians in France though the man himself was of a very good and meeke nature yet he had his instructions and dependance from the Authors and instruments of the French Massacres he made it his worke to further the interest of France to the prejudice of England he corresponded with the French and Scots Traffiquers for Queene Maries deliverance out of prison yea for her returne to the throne of Scotland in an association with her Son k The Collection Sir Esme Stuart was sent by Queen Mother of France and the Guisians to seduce the young King to subvert Religion violate the amity between England and Scotland to procure an invasion for the delivery of the Queen of Scots then in captivity to make the King content to be associate with her in the government to alienate his heart from the Ministry he had his continuall intelligence and instructions from France These things which all the Writers of that time do record did so fill the hearts of all good people with feares for changes both of Religion and Lawes that neither English nor Scots did spare to expresse them in their ordinary discourses l Vide supra h. Unto this frightment of the people the Acts of Parliament procured by the
before any Assemblies were in Scotland should be laid to their charge But what may those absurd asserions of Iohn Knox be he sayes as you alledge that the Nobility of Scotland who are borne Counsellours of the Kingdom and by the Laws have great priviledges may represse the fury and madnesse of a misled Prince I grant this to you must be a great Heresie who makes it one of the Articles of your faith that though Princes were as mad as ever Nero and should openly avow their desires to overturn all the sworn Lawes of their State and to kill without any cause all their Subjects yet for the Nobility or whole States of Parliament to make the smallest opposition or to goe one haires breadth beyond a naked supplication were no lesse then a damnable Rebellion and Treason but beleeve it the subjects of Scotland will not take off your hand such maximes without some Argument for their truth Iohn Knox is alledged to say that the Commonalty may bridle the cruell beasts and resorme Religion but what does it concerne the generall Assembly whatever power the Lords or Commons have by the Law or usurpe against the Law The matter whereof Iohn Knox is speaking is this The body of Scotland in the yeare 1557. were true and zealous Protestants the Masse and Images were to them Idols long before the governour and protector of the Kingdom Duke Hamilton was for the Religion At his first Parliament he did authorize some good beginnings of Reformation the Cardinall and Clergy at this grew mad and found means to translate the government from the Duke to the Queens Mother sister to the Duke of Guize and Cardinall of Lorain in the time both of the Duke and Queen Mothers Regency the cruelty of the Bishops was unsufferable They took divers of the most zealous Preachers and Professors men and women and publikely without any Commission from the Magistrate onely for their zeale to the truth of God did burne them quick as Hereticks After many yeers patience the people at last seeing no end of the Prelates fury did cause write Letters to some of their most wicked persecutors telling them that if they gave not over to murther their Brethren themselves should taste of that Cup of which they forced others to drink All the Reformation which the people at that time practised was to keep themselves pure from most vile Idolatry and in private to heare the Word of God purely preached They made no publike Reformation till first they had openly supplicated the Queen and gotten her allowance and a promise of an Act of Parliament in the yeare 1558. which promise when the Protestant Nobility Gentry and Commons did presse in face of Parliament it was not denyed by the Queen but cunningly put off upon assurance that all their desires at the first conveniency should be granted in the meane time she received their Protestation for a Liberty to live in their reformed Churches separate from Popish Idolaters and promised in due time to give to the Protesters full satisfaction Though you have brought together all the malicious a persions which your predecestors the Popish Prelates and Priests were wont at these very times to heap upon the heads of our blessed Reformers yet shall you never be able to leave any stain upon that happy work though here and elsewhere you spue out your dispight against it The Reformation of Scotland was begun by publique Authority in the first Parliament of Queen Mary the yeare 1542. holden by the Governour the Earle of Arran a Protestant for the time the setting up of it in publique was avowed and protested for in face of Parliament 1558. with the Queen Regents evident allowance and without the opposition of any but in the next Paâ—liament 1560. the whole Estates without the contradiction of any but three Popish Lords did set up by Law the whole body of that Religion which since by Gods mercy we have ever peaceably possessed except so farre as wicked Prelates have troubled us It is true The suspension of the Queene Regenâ—s authority was an act of the State which did nothing I rejudice the Soveraignty that Queen Regent notwithstanding of her good countenance and faire promises was forced by the privy Instructions of her wicked Brethren Guize and the Cardinall of Loraine to oppose Reformation wherein fore against her own minde as at her death shee professed shee went so farre as to bring in many thousands of the French to conquer and subdue the Land They began to the terror of the whole Isle to fortifie Leith and other Maritime places they exercised an evident tyranny both in Church and State and overthrew the Laws and liberties of the Nation which forced the cheise of the Nobility for the casting off of this yoak of stavery from the Church and State and preventing the danger which threatned the whole Isle to enter in a covenant of defence both among themselvs and with the Queen of England but without the least prejudice to the just authority of their Soveraign then Queen of France as it after appeared for when by the blessing of God and the helpe of the English they had ejected the French usurpers they did heartily receive and obey the Queen so soon as she came from France For the justification of all this I could bring formall testimonies out of Spotswood himselfe What you say of the deposition of Queen Regent from her Authority it is false that any Church Assembly did ever meddle with it lesse or more it was the Act of the three Estates how just let any judge She was the first woman as I remember that ever in Britain had the government of the State it belonged not to her by any right the Lawes provided that charge for Duke Hamilton but she and the Prelates couzend him out of his right and long possession she became not only a violent persecuter of all the faithful against the Law and her own promises but also went about evidently by violence and force of Arms to subdue the land to the tyranny of strangers much of this shee did albeit at the direction of her Brethren of Loraine yet without all commission from our Soveraigne her daughter When no supplication nor remonstrance could stop her the Estates of the Land being all denounced Rebels and Traitors by her did passe an Act not for depriving her of her Regency but for the suspending of her Authority till the next Parliament or till shee altered the course of her tyrannous government with an expresse protestation that the authority and power of the King and Queen of France their Soveraignes should remain to them sacred and inviolable This act of the Statewhether right or wrong what does it concerne the generall Assembly of the Church be it so that a Minister or two being called for advice did give their assent to this action which is the furthest our Enemies alledge yet what hath this to doe with our Church government
of Morton sundry Gentlemen of good quality most innocent were hanged many of the prime Noblemen Gentlemen and Ministers were forced to flee for their lives out of the Kingdome till all of them joyning together did ride in Armes to Stirling and by violence though without hurt to any mans person did the second time remove those Courtiers and for ever after kept them from the King to the full quieting both of Church and State This Rode of Stirling was much more cried out upon by the wicked Prelates and Courtiers then the former of Ruthven yet was it approved for good service to the King and State not only as the former by the privie Counseâ—l and convention of States but also by the ensuing Parliament and so it remaines unquarrelled unto this day Your third complaint is P. 45. The Assembly repeales no lawes but supplicates the Parliament to recall their ratifications of Ecclesiasticall corruptions that the generall Assemblies doe alter what the Law has established all your examples hereof are The Votes of the late generall Assembly at Glasgow condemning the civill places of Church-men pronouncing the very office it selfe of Bishops to be unlawfull in the Church and crying downe the high Commission Court Here you fall upon the Parliament of England as fooles and Traitours for letting themselves bee perswaded by the Scots to swallow downe their wicked Covenant To all this our Apologie is briefe what ever power our generall Assembly possesses is all well allowed by the King and Parliament The acts of that Assembly you complaine of are all ratified by the State the order of our proceeding is appointed by Law all matters Spirituall and Ecclesiastick are first determined by the generall Assembly if the nature of the things require a civill Sanction the Votes of the Assembly are transmitted to the Parliament if a Generall Assembly have voted an Errour or any thing that 's wrong and that corruption hath been ratified by an Act of Parliament a Posterior generall Assembly recognosces the matter and finding an errour in Religion notwithstanding of the prior votes both of the Assembly and Parliament does condemne it and appoints Commissioners to represent the reasons of their vote to the next Parliament with an humble supplication to annull these Acts and Laws which did confirme the condemned corruption This has been the method of proceeding in Scotland since the first erection of a generall Assembly in this way were all the Errours of Popery first condemned in the Assembly before the Parliament did recall their old Lawes whiâ—â—â—â—nfirmed them The forme of this proceeding established by the Parliament it selfe does not import any subordination either of the lawes or the Parliament to the Assembly P. 46. It meddles with no civill Courts At this place p. 46. you bring us another story whereupon you make tragick out-cryes of the Assemblies insolent usurpations it seems you thought that this your book should never have come from Oxford into the hands of any Scottish man who knew the Custome of the Judicatories of Scotland I doe marvell much at your impudence that you should speake of the Assemblies incroaching upon the Lords of Session or medling with any Civill cause which the Law commits to any temporall Judicatory there is no better harmony in the world then alwayes has been in Scotland between the civill and Ecclesiasticall Judicatories no interfeiring was ever among them but what the Bishops made You indeed in your high Commission did take causes both civill and Ecclesiasticall to your Cognisance from all the Courts of the Kingdome and did at your pleasure without and contrary to all known Lawes finally determine them without any appeale but to the King by whom you were sure ever to be best beâ—eeved For the story in hand The case of Mr. John Graham I am content Spotswood be Judge as he relates it the matter was thus Mr. Iohn Graham one of the Lords of Session or Judges of the Common Pleas a very false and dishonest man intended an action against some poore men to put them from their Lands for to effectuate his purpose he seduced a publique Notary dwelling at Stirling and perswaded him to subscribe a false Writte upon the which the poore men by a decree of the Lords of Session were removed from their possessions The oppressed soules cryd out of their injurie and intended action against the Notary for his false Writ they got him arrested and imprisoned The Minister of the bounds Mr. Patrick Simpson whom King James and all Scotland knew to be a most learned zealous and pious Pastor as was in the whole Isle dealt with the Prisoner to confesse the truth after some conference he confessed all and declared how Mr. John Graham had sent his Brother to him with a false Writte which hee did subscribe an assize was called the poore Notary upon his own cousession was condemned and hanged Mr. John Graham as covetous and false so a most proud man would not rest satisfied but presently summoned Master Patrick Simpson to appeare before the Lords of Session as a seducer of the honest Notary to lye against his owne life Mr. Patrick was ready to cleare his own innocencie whereof all were well perswaded but shamefully wronged by an impudent man in his good name he caused cite him before the Assembly as a slanderer of a Minister in the work of his calling the Lords of Session not content that any of their number should be called before the Assembly for any action depending in their Court did send som of their number to the Assembly for to debate the whole matter The Assembly told them that they would not meddle with any thing that was civill nor which belonged to their Court that they intended to take no notice of their decrees at Mr. John Grahams instance to cast the poore 〈◊〉 out of their Land whether it was right or wrong nor the notaries Instrument wherefore he was hanged whether it was true or false They told them also that whatsoever they had to say to Mr. Patrick Simpson hee was to answer them as they should thinke fit in due time and place the Assemblies question was alone about the slander of one of their Members whom Mr. Iohn Graham did openly challenge as a Seducer of a Notary to beare false witnesse They had cited Mr. John Graham before them to make this good that so they might censure Mr. Patrick Simpson as a man unworthy of the Ministry or if Mr. John Graham's challenge was found a meere calumny that he might bee brought to repentance for it in acknowledging of his wrong Let any equitable man judge how insolent the Assemblies proceeding in this action was for a time there was some controversie about this matter betwixt the Assembly and the Session but at last all was amicably composed and God decided the question with the violent death and publick disgrace of Mr. Iohn Graham What ye subjoyne of King Iames trouble to the
Angels that I spoke nothing in that Sermon or any other Sermon made by me tending to the slander or dishonour of the Kings Majesty my Sovereigne any wayes but in the contrary exhorted always all his highnesse Subjects to obedience and reverence of his Majesty whom God in his mercy hath placed lawfull King and supream Magistrate in the Civill government of the Country and most earnestly have prayed at all times and specially in the foresaid Sermon for the preservation and prosperous estate of his Majesty also I protest before God that neither in that Sermon nor any other I spoke these words the King is unlawfully promoted to the Crown or any words sounding thereunto for I put never in question his Majesties lawfull Authority and for his cleering he produced three famous testificats the first under the hand of all the Masters and Regents of the University the second under the hand of all the Magistrates and Common counsell of Saint Andrewes the third under the hands of the whole Classicall Presbytery of the bounds who all were his frequent hearers and the most of them had been present at the challenged Sermon all of them did testifie the Charge to be a vile calumny and that he had spoken no such words as were alleaged w The Collection Whatsoever is laid to our Brothers charge as it is false and fained of it selfe so it is forged of the Devill and his instruments to bring the faithfull servants of God in contempt for as we were continuall and diligent Auditors of his Doctrine so we beare him faithfull record in God and in conscience that we heard nothing out of his mouth neither in Doctrine nor Application which tended not directly to the glory of God and to the establishment of your Majesties Crowne and whensoever the occasion offered it selfe in speciall to speake of your Majesty we heard him never but in great zeale and earnest prayer recommend your Majesty unto his protection exhorting alwayes all manner of Subjects to acknowledge their obedience even to the meanest Magistrate also that both in his Pulpit and Chaire and ordinary discouse it was his custome to presse so much loyalty and obedience as any duty did require x Vide supraw. The witnesse brought in against him did depose nothing to his prejudice though the Chancellour Captaine James his spightfull enemy did sit in the Counsell as his Judge Yea if Spotswood may be trusted he was not found guilty of any the least part of his challeng but the sentence against him proceeded alone upon some alleaged rash words to the King in the heat of his defence y Spotswoods History yeer 1583. fol. 175. be burst forth in undutifull speeches which unreverend words did greatly offend the Counsell thereupon was he charged to enter his person in Blacknesse As for his conscience of any conspiracy he denied it upon Oath neither was any witnesse brought in to say any thing upon that alleageance if any more were needfull for the cleering of his innocence Adamsous Oath and Subscription is extant wherein he condemnes this part of the Narative of falshood and justifies Master Melvill as a most just and honest man z Adamsons Recantation in the second Act there is mention made of Master Andrew Melvill and his Sermon wrongfully condemned as factious and seditious albeit his Majesty hath had a lively tryall of that mans fidelity from time to time true it is he is earnest and zealous and can abide no corruption which most unadvisedly I attribute to a fiery and salt humour which his Majesty findeth by experience to be true for he alloweth well of him and knoweth the things that were alleaged upon him to have been false and contrived treacheries His flight no Argument of guiltinesse yea King James himself when the Commisssioners of the Church did complaine to him of these slanderous imputations did promise them under his hand that they should be rescinded a Kings Declaration always how soone the whole Ministers of Scotland shal amend their manners the foresaid Act shall be rescinded It is true that Master Melvill when he was sentenced did flee to England for his life the time being so evill that according to Spotswoods Relation the King by the practises of the Courtiers in his minority was forced b Spotswoods Story lib. 6. fol. 244. yeer 1600. Your Father said the King I was not the cause of his death it was done in my minority and by a forme of justice to permit and oversee too often the execution of divers good innocent men yet how little displeasing Master Melvils flight was to the King a short time did declare for within a few moneths he returned and was restored both to his Charge and the Kings favour c Vide supra the Collection and Recantation z wherein he did constantly continue till the death of Queen Elizabeth did call his Majesty to the Throne of England A maine cause of the extirpation of Prelacyin England a day very joyfull to both Kingdomes but most sorrowfull to the Church of Scotland for so soon as the English Prelates got King James amongst them they did not rest till Master Melvill and the prime of the Scots Divines were called up to London and onely for their necessary and just defence of the truth of God and liberties of the Church of Scotland against Episcopall usurpations were either banished or confined or so sore oppressed that griefe did break their heart and brought the most of them to their graves with sorrow the whole Discipline of the Church of Scotland was overthrowne to the very great trouble and disquieting of the Church and Kingdome This violence did lye silent under the Prelates Chaires for many yeers but at last blessed be God it has spoken to purpose it has moved the Heavens and shaken the earth to the tumbling of all these Antichristian Tyrants in the three Kingdomes with their seats of pride into the gulph of ruine whence we hope there shall be no more emersion Master Melvils Declinator and Protestation cleeâ—ed The last thing objected to Master Mervill is his declinator of the King when the state of the Question is knowne this will appeare no great crime for the Question was not Whether Ministers be exempt from the Magistrates jurisdiction nor Whether the Pulpit puts men in a liberty to teach treason without any civill cognizance and punishment since the Reformation of Religion d Second Book of Discipline cap. 1. The Ministers should assist their Princes in all things agreeable to the Word Ministers are subject to the judgement and punishment of the Magistrate in externall things if they offend The Answer to the Declaration whereas it is said it is his Majesties intention to correct and punish such as seditiously abuse the Chaire of truth and factiously apply the Scripture to the disturbing of the Common-wealth surely his Majesties intention is good providing true tryall goe before
generall Assembly after that conference at the name of Episcopacy kkk The Acts of the Assembly third Session of the Assembly at Perth 1572. In the heads agreed upon at Leeth are found certaine names as Archbishop c. which were thought scandalous and offensive to the ears of many of the Brethren appearing to sound towards Popery therefore the whole Assembly with one voice protests that they intend not by the using of any such names to consent to any kind of Popery or Superstition and wishes rather the said names to be changed into others that are not slanderous nor offensive And likewise protests That the said heads agreed upon be onely received as an interim till further and more perfect Order may be obtained at the hands of the Kings Majesty Regent and Nobility for the which they will presse as occasion shall serve and ever after at any shadow of the thing that the following Assemblies did not rest till both â—â—e name and thing till both the shadow and all the parts of the substaÌ„ce were disavowed They had indeed for a time some wrastling with the Court about this matter yet at last as I have said in the yeer 1592. they got the King and Parliament perswaded to passe such Acts as did cast out of our Church and State Episcopacy both root and branch substance and shadow As these Acts of Parliament were first made by King James and the States of Scotland and now also ratified by King Charles so both the Houses of the Parliament of England cannot but approve thereof having joyned themselves by Oath and Covenant with Scotland to extirpate the unhappy root of Episcopacy which has been the great cause of the most mischiefes which in this last Age hath befallen Brittaine The third crime for which the general Assembly behoved to be put down It was no fault in the Assemblies that they called to Fasting was their indicting of soleme Fasts in which seditions tumults against the King were promoved consider that the quarrell is not simply for the Fasts but their evill use to raise seditions and tumults certainly that custome of our Church wherby from the beginning of the Reformation to this day every Church meeting from the general Assembly to the smallest Congregationall Eldership had power as they found cause to indict a publick Fast within their owne bounds is very innocent and necessary for the well being of the Church As for the alleaged abuse of these Fasts to sedition and tumults Guilty Consciences hate Fasts without cause it is a meer calumny the matter I beleeve was this About the time of the penning of this Writ the â—â—alous Ministers in all their exercises especially in the dayâ—â— of publick Fasting did make mention in their Sermons and Prayers of the wickednesse of the Land for which the wrath of God was much feared by the godly the Leaders of the Court conscious of their owne guiltinesse took themselves to be particularly pointed at and for this did hate extreamly every zealous Preacher as if all their Sermons and Prayers had been invectives for stirring up of the people against them while in truth these gracious men did nothing but their duty containing themselves within the lines of all needfull moderation but to wicked men in their pride and impatience the least touch of the Word of God is an intolerable wound The explanation of the last Act The sum of the next Paragraph containes the maintainance of Episcopacy in the highest degree it puts in the hand of the Bishop the whole spirituall Jurisdiction of his Diocesse to be exercised by him alone although with the advice of some few whom he shall please to choose for his Counsellours it imports that all his Jurisdiction flowes from the King and in the exercise thereof it makes the Bishop answerable onely to the King and them whom his Majesty shall appoint in an Assembly of his owne framing it makes the Bishops also Lords of Counsell and Parliament Upon this passage I marke first The Reprinters of this De claration make no conscience of their Covenant the conscience and honour of these men who with so great importunity required the reprinting of this Declaration and to make its operation the more effectual in the hearts of simple people would be at the cost to change the language thereof to set it downe first in Scotch and then in English a piece of paines so farre as I know never taken with any other Writ this diligence demonstrates the mens humour I can hardly say whether more scornfull of the Scots and their language or passionately desirous to disgrace that Church though it were with the exalting of Episcopacy and if as I suppose they have taken the Covenant this encreaseth my wonder how any who have solemnly sworne to defend the reformation of the Church of Scotland and to endeavour the extirpation of Prelacy can in a sudden become so zealous and put themselves to so great pains in disgrace of the Scottish reformation to advance Presacy If either Independency or Erastianisme have power to let loose the Reines of conscience so far we confesse the Scots have been too simple in beleeving that Oathes and Covenants in plaine matters which admit no ambiguity nor plurality of senses had beene farre straiter bonds among all who had the estimation of honest men and in whom there could be found the least sparkle of any ingenuity or truth Consider secondly that King James as I have said did give it under his hand to the Commissioners of the Church the yeer following that this Declaration was none of his but the work of Adamson of Saint Andrewes lll Vide supra and that this man at last was convinced of his errour confessing upon Oath and subscription Episcopacy to be a grosse corruption a stirrop for the Pope to ascend to his Antichristian saddle an errour which he had learned and wherein from time to time he was entertained by the English Prelates mmm Adamsons Recantation The last Article contained the establishing of a Bishop which hath no warrant in the Word of God but is grounded upon the policy and invention of man whereupon the primacy of the Pope or Antichrist is risen which is worthy to be disallowed and and forbidden Thirdly whatever here is said of Bishops is not now controverted in the Parliaments of both Kingdomes and in the solemne League of both Nations it is expresly condemned as all doe confesse if any anti-covenanting Malignant require a further debate when they will they may have a hearing and an answer Fourthly when the Commissioners of the church did declare to King James King James his ful and honest Declaration against Erastianisme that the government of the Church was not a Matter civill which did belong to the Magistrate to exercise and that it was unlawfull for his Majesty to appoint any of his Commissioners to governe the House of God that this were with the
Pope to take in his hand both the Swords nnn Animadversions To confound the Jurisdiction Civill and Ecclesiasticall is that thing wherein all men of good judgement have justly found fault with the Pope of Rome who claimeth to himselfe the power of both the swords which is as great a fault to a Civill Magistrate to claime or usurpe and especially to judge upon doctrine errours and heresies he not being placed in Ecclesiasticall function to interpret the Scriptures the warrant hereof out of the Word of God we are ready to bring forth his Majesty did put it under his own hand that these things were far from his thoughts that he was no Judge either of doctrine or heresie or of the interpretation of Scripture that neither he nor his Parliament did meddle w th Excommunication that they had pronoūced the excommunication of Mountgomery to be null not as Judges of the cause but as witnesses of the informality of the processe he confessed that Jesus Christ was the onely head and Law-giver of his Church and that if he should claime to himself or his heirs any thing meerly Ecclefiastick which the Word of God has put in the hands of Church officers that if he or any man should suspend or alter any thing which the Word of God did remit onely to them he avowed that these attempts in himselfe or any other would be nothing else but as he speaks the sinne of Idolatry and a transgression against all the three Persons of the Trinity against the Father in not trusting the words of his Son against the Son in not obeying him but taking his place over his head ooo Kings Declaration Never shall I nor ever ought my Posterity acclaime any power or Jurisdiction in a matter meerly Ecclesiasticall as to the Commissioners not Ecclesiasticall they are joyned to give their advices and not to interpose their authority while Christ sayes Dic Ecclefias and one onely man did steale that dint against the Bishop of Glasgow in a quiet holl the Act of Parliament reduceth the sentence for informality and nullity of processe not as Judges whether the excommunication was grounded on good and just causes or not but as witnesses that it was unformally proceeded and to end shortly this my Declaration I mind not to cut away any liberty granted by God to his Church I acclaime not to my selfe to be judge of doctrine or true interpretation of Scripture my intention is not to discharge any Jurisdiction in the Kirke that is conforme to Gods Word nor to discharge any Assembly but onely that these shall be holden by my License and Counsellours my intention is not to meddle with excommunication neither acclaime I to my selfe or my heirs power in any thing that is meere Ecclesiasticall and not adiaphoron nor with any thing that Gods Word hath simply devolved in the hands of his Ecclesiasticall Kirk and to conclude I confesse and acknowledge Christ Jesus to be head of his Church and Lawgiver to the same and whatsoever persons doe attribute to themselves as head of the Church and not as members to suspend or alter any thing that the Word of God hath onely remitted to them That man I say committeth manifest Idolatry and sinneth against the Father in not trusting the words of his Son against the Son in not obeying him and taking his place against the holy Ghost the said holy spirit bearing the contrary record to his conscience against the holy Ghost because against the Spirits Testimony in his own conscience I hope they who are so earnest to have King James heard in this cause though in a false and suppositious Writ will be content to hear him in his true Declaration under his own hand The third part of the Writ containes an enumeration of his Majesties intentions The pretended intentions were not the Kings but the Prelats concerning them we need adde little to what is said onely consider first that Adamson the Author of the Writ assures us that there is nothing or little here of the Kings intentions ppp Recantation I have enterprized of meere remorse of conscience to write against a Book called The Declaration of the Kings Majesties intentions albeit it containeth little or nothing of the Kings intentions but of my own in the time of the writing thereof and the corrupt intentions of such as for the time were about the King and abused his minority in the whole Book is nothing contained but assertions of lyes ascribing to the Kings Majesty that whereof he was not culpable I grant I was more busie with some Bishops in England in prejudice of the discipline of our Kirke partly when I was there and partly since by mutuall intelligence then became a good Christian much lesse a faithfull Pastor being that he did here set downe onely his owne intentions and these of the Courtiers and Prelates at that time of their highest pride and greatest oppression of the religious party Secondly The Reprinters of this Writ seeme to bee perjured men and either hypocrits or Apostates the errours and faults that appeare in these intentiōs are of two kinds Prelaticall and Erastian For the first not onely the Author did recant them but also as we have now often said King James with the States Assembled in Parliament did expresly condemne them and at this time they stand condemned in the whole Isle by King Charles in his Parliament of Scotland and by both the Houses of the Parliament of England who ever now wil tak the patrociny of the Prelaticall war doth set his face against the King and Parliaments of both Nations and if he be a member of Parlia in either Nation whoaccording to his place must needs have sworn the National Covenant for his endeavor to establish what by his Covenāt he was boūd to his power to have extirpated Let him be cast with ignominy out of these honourable Senates as a false and perjured hypocrite planting by deed what by Oath and Covenant he promised to eradicat or else an Apostate repenting and retracting while now he is set in Parliament what at his entry upon oath he promised that he might be permitted to sit downe such perjured whether hypocrisie or apostacy cannot but be abominable both to God and all ingenuous men As for the Erastianisme of these intentions Cesaro-Papisme is Antichristianisme worse then that of the Pope whereby the Bishops are made pleni-potentiaries in the Church by vertue of a Commission from the Magistrate we have shewed at length how farre King James disclaimed this errour as a grievous sinne against the Father Son and holy Ghost for the thing it selfe makes the Magistrate head of the Church and fountaine of all Ecclesiastick Jurisdiction This Cesaro-papisme is an Antichristianisme so much worse then that of the Pope as more uncontrolable and remedilesse the servants of God in their wrastlings against the Antichistianisme of the Pope and Prelats had often times great
nothing except a Commentary upon the first Epistle of Paul to Timothy which I did direct to the Kings Majesty and kept no example beside me and understand that Master John Geddy got the same from the King and lent it to Master Robert Hepburne Further I wrote nothing but onely made mention in my Preface upon the Apocalips that I should write a Booke called Psyllas which being prevented by disease God would not suffer me to finish and the little thing that was done I caused to destroy it And likewise I have set forth the Book of Job with the Apocalyps and the Lamentations of Ieremy all in Verse to be printed in English As for my intention I am not disposed or in ability to write any thing at this time and if it please God I were restored to my health I would change my Style as Cajetanus did at the Councell of Trent As for Sutlivins Booke against the forme and order of the Presbyteries so far am I from being partner in that worke that as I know not the Man nor ever had any intelligence of the Worke before it was done so if it please God to give me dayes I will write in his contrary to the maintenance of the contrary confession Prayes the Brethren to be at unity and peace with me and in token of their forgivenesse because health suffereth me not to goe over to the Colledge where presently ye are assembled which I would gladly doe to aske God and you forgivenesse that it would please you to repaire hither that I may doe it here Moreover I condemne by this my subscription whatsoever is contained in the Epistle Dedicatory to the Kings Majesty before my Book on the Revelation that is either slanderous or offensive to the Brethren Also I promise to satisfie the Brethren of Edinborough or any other Kirk within this Realm according to good conscience in whatsoever they find themselves justly offended and for what is contrary to the Word of God in any speeches actions or proceedings which have past from me And concerning the Commentary upon the first Epistle of Paul to Timothy because there are divers things therein contained offensive and that tend to allow of the estate of Bishops otherwise then Gods Word can suffer I condemne the same The pages before written directed by me Mr Patrick Adamson and written at my commandement by my servant Mr Samuel Cunninghame and by his hand drawne in the blanks I subscribe with my own hand as acknowledged by me in sincerity of conscience as in the presence of God before these witnesses directed to me from the Synodall Assembly because of my inability to repaire toward them James Monypenny younger of Pitmilly Andrew Wood of Strawthy David Murray Portioner of Ardet Mr David Russell Mr William Murray Minister of Dysart Mr Robert Wilkie David Forgison with divers others Sic subscribitur Mr PATRICK ADAMSON David Forgison witnesse Master Nicol Dalgleish James Monypenny of Pitmilly witnesse Andrew Wood witnesse Master Ro. Wilkie witnesse David Murray witnesse Master David Russell Master David Spence Master John Caldcleuch Master William Murray Master Patricks owne Answer and Refutation of the Bookfalsly called The Kings Declaration I Have enterprized of meere remorse of conscience to write against a Booke called A Declaration of the Kings Majesties intentions Albeit it containeth little or nothing of the Kings intentions but my owne at the time of the writing thereof and the corrupt intentions of such as were for the time about the King and abused his Minority Of the which Booke and contents thereof compiled by me at the command of some chiefe Courtiers for the time as is before written I shall shortly declare my opinion as the infirmity of sicknesse and weaknesse of Memory will permit First in the whole booke is nothing contained but assertions of lyes ascribing to the Kings Majesty that whereof he was not culpable For albeit as the times went his Majesty could have suffered these things to have been published in his Realme yet his Majesty was never of that nature to have reviled any mans person or to upbraid any man with calumnies whereof there is a number contained in that Book Secondly in the Declaration of the second Act of Parliament there is mention made of Master Andrew Melvill and his preaching wrongfully condemned in speciall as factious and seditious albeit his Majesty hath had a lively tryall of that mans fidelity and truth in all proceedings from time to time True it is he is earnest and zealous who can abide no corruption which most unadvisedly I attribute to a fiery and salt humour which his Majesty findeth by experience to be most true for he alloweth well of him and knoweth things that were alleaged upon him to have been false and contrived treacheries There are contained in that second Act of Parliament diverse other false inventions for to defame the Ministry and to bring the Kirk of God in hatred and envy with their Prince and Nobility burthening and accusing the Ministers falsly of sedition and other crimes whereof they were innocent As likewise it is written in the same act and Declaration thereof that soveraigne and supreame power pertaineth to the King in matters Ecclesiasticall which is worthy to be condemned and not to be contained among Christian acts where the power of the Word is to be extolled above all the power of Princes and they to be brought under subjection to the same The fourth act condemned the Presbyteries as a judgement not allowed by the Kings Lawes which is a very slender argument for as concerning the authority of the Presbytery we have the same exprest in the Gospell of Matthew chap. 18. where Christ commandeth to shew the Kirk which authority being commanded by Christ and the Acts of Parliament forbidding it we should rather obey God then man and yet the Presbytery lacked never the Kings authority for the allowance thereof from the beginning save onely in that hour of darknesse when he was abused through evill company As for any other thing that is contained in this Act against any Order or proceedings of the Presbytery it is to be esteemed that nothing was done by the Presbytery without wisdome judgement and discretion And so hath received approbation againe by the Kirk whereunto also I understand his Majesty hath given allowance ratifyed and approved the same which should be a sufficient reason to represse all mens curiosity that either have or would yet finde fault with the same The last Article containeth the establishing of Bishops which hath no warrant of the Word of God but is grounded upon the Policy of the invention of Man whereupon the Primacy of the Pope or Antichrist has risen which is worthy to be disallowed and forbidden because the number of Elderships that have jurisdiction and oversight as well of visitation as admission will doe the same farre more Authentickly godly and with greater zeale then a Bishop whose care commonly is not upon God and
and his duty but upon the world whereupon his chiefe attendance is Consider how that Office hath been used these five hundreth yeeres by gon with what cruelty and tyranny it hath been exercised ye shall finde it to have been the chiefe cause that hath in every Countrey suppressed the Word of God which shall be evident to all that read the History of the Kirk As for my own opinion it seemeth to be neerest the truth and farthest from all kind of ambition that the Brethren in equall degree assemble themselves under their Head Christ and there every man discharge his Office carefully as he is commanded And because weaknesse of memory and sicknesse suffereth me not at length to discourse on these matters as I would I must request the good Reader to assure himselfe that I have written this without coâ—â—pulsion or perswasion of any Man with an upright heart and have delivered the same with a perfect fincerity of minde so far as infirmity of flesh and blood did suffer As God shall judge me at the latter day And that the same Reader account of whatsoever things are omitted that they are to be imputed to my imbecility of memory the present ficknesse and not to any good will which was I protest to have condemned every poynt yea even to the false Narration of the Banket and all the rest contained in that little Treatise called The Declar tion of the Kings Majesties intentions As I acknowledge they deserve to be condemned by the censure and judgement of the Kick to the which also I submit my selfe in whatsomever thing I have either in word or writ attempted either in that foresaid Declaration or otherwise by these presents subscribed with my hand at St. Andrewes the 12. of May 1591. before these witnesses Master Daviâ— Blake Minister at St. Andrewes Master Robert Wilkie Principall of St. Leonards Colledge Master John Aiton of Enmath Master William Rufiell Sic Subseribitur PATRICK ADAMSON Master David Black witnesse George Ramsay Mr. John Auchinfleck William Lermonth Patrick Guthrie Charles Watson Scribe I Master Patrick Adamson declare that this Confession and Declaration before written is my owne Confession given with my heart and subscribed with my hand before the witnesses underwritten underscribing with me at my request and desire at St. Andrewes the 10. day of June 1591. M. PATRICK ADAMSON David Carnegie of Colluthie witnesse William Scott of Abbotshall witnesse Alexander Bruce of Earleshall witnesse Borthick of Gordounshall witnes William Bussell William Lermouth Thomas King Mr. Robert Wilkie Mr. Andro Moncreif Mr. David Black Mr. Andro Hunter Scribe of the Provinciall Assembly Two pious and Propheticall LETTERS of Master Jo. Welch which he wrote out of his Prison after the sentence of Death was pronounced against him onely for his testimony against Erastianisme and Prelacy The first to the Lady Flemming a This was Dame Iâ—alias Graham Countesse of Wigton one of the most gracious soules of that Age. The consolation of the holy Ghost be multiplyed upon you in Christ OFten and many times Christian and Elect Lady have I desired the opportunity to be comforted and refreshed with that consolation wherewith it hath pleased God of his free grace and mercy to fill and furnish you Your rememberance is very sweet and comfortable to my soule since the first time I knew you in Christ I have ever been mindfull of you to the Lord and now not being able to refraine any longer I could not omit this occasion not knowing how long it may please the Lord to continue my being in this Tabernacle or give me further occasion of writing to any Although I have not great matter at this time yet in the remembrance of your labour of Love Hope and Patience I must needs salute your Ladiship knowing assuredly ye are the chosen of God set apart before ever the world was to that glorious and eternall inheritance Being thus comforted in your Faith and Hope I am fully assured though we never have the occasion of meeting here yet we shall reigne together in the world to come My desire to remaine here is not great knowing that so long as I am in this house of clay I am absent from God 2 Cor. 5. and if it were dissolved I looke for a building not made with hands eternall in the heavens In this I groane deftering to he cloathed upon with my house which is in heaven if so be that being cloathed I shall not found naked for I that am within this tabernacle doe oft-times groane and sigh within my selfe being often-times burdened not that I would be uncloathed but cloathed upon that mortalitie might be swallowed up of life I long to eat of the fruit of that tree which is planted in the midst of the Paradise of God Revel 22. and to drinke of the pure river cleere as Cristall that runs through the street of the new Jerusalem Job 19.25 I know that my redeemer liveth and that he shall stand at the last day upon the earth and that though after my skinne wormes destroy my body yet in my flesh shall I see God whom I shall see for my selfe and not another for me and my eyes shall behold him though my reines be consumed within me I long to be refreshed with the soules of them that are under the Altar Revel 6.9 who were slaine for the word of God and the testimony they held And to have these long white robes given me that I may walke in white rayment with those glorious Saints who have washed their garments Revel 7.14 and have made them white in the blood of the Lambe Why should I thinke it a strange thing to be removed from this place to that wherein is my hope my joy my crowne my eldest Brother my head my Father my comforter and all the glorified Saints and where the Song of Moses and the Lambe are sung joyfully where we shall not be compelled to sit by the rivers of Babylon nor to hang up our Harpes on Willow-trees but shall take â—em and sing the new Halelujah Revel 5.13 bleffing honour glory and power to him that sits upon the throne and to the Lambe for ever and ever What is there under this old vault of the heavens and in this old worne earth which is under the bondage of corruption groaning and travailing in paine and as it were still shooting out the head looking waiting and longing for the redemption of the Sonnes of God what is there I say 2 Pet. 3.13 that should make me remaine here I expect that new heaven and that new earth where righteousnesse dwelleth wherein I shall rest for ever more I looke to get entrie into the new Jerusalem at one of those twelve Gates whereupon are written the names of their welve Trybes of the children of Israel I know Christ Jesus hath prepared them for me may I not then with boldnesse in his blood step in into that glory where