his foresaid Colleagues respectivè have taught erroneous and corrupt doctrine themselves and by their pretended power have preferred to the Ministerie men who have taught erroneous doctrine against the Confession of Faith and Acts of Parliament quoted in our Covenant and they cherish and maintaine them who teach Arminianisme and Popery as conditionall Election Free will resistibilitie of effectuall Grace The universality of Christs death The merit of it in Heaven and in hell a finall apostacie of the Saints The locall descent of Christ into hell That Christ came into the world clauso Virginis utero auricular Confession and Papall absolution That the Pope is not Antichrist That the Church of Rome is a true Church That reconciliation with Rome is a thing easie That the Church of Rome erres not in fundamentals and that she differs not in fundamentals from the reformed Churches They call in question the imputation of Christs righteousnesse and they affirme the formall cause of justifying faith to consist in our inherent righteousnesse They affirme that there is a locall and circumscriptive presence of Christ in the Sacrament and they change the Sacrament into a Sacrifice and the Table into an Altar the Ministers into Priests There are other damnable and hereticall points of Doctrine which they maintaine of which we shall give particular information in our particular accusation of each one of them respectivè with the proofes thereof when we shall be required Whereas by the Acts of the Church no oaths or subscriptions should be required from those who enter into the Ministerie but to the Confession of faith and to the book of Policy yet the said Master David Lindsey with his foresaid Colleagues respectivè without a warrant from the Church or Parliament doe exact diverse oathes and subscriptions from them who enter into the Ministerie namely That they should both in publick and private prayers commend the Prelats to Gods mercifull protection That they should be subject to the orders which were now in the Church or by the consent of the Church that is by their consent as they affirme should be established as to the Service Book and to the Book of Canons The heavinesse of this grievance made the most part of his Majesties subjects to complaine in these Articles that worthy men which have testimonies of their learning from Universities and are tryed by Presbyteries to be fit for the worke of the Ministerie and for their gifts and lives were much desired by the people yet these men are kept out because they could not be perswaded to subscribe and swear unto such unlawfull oaths which have no warrant from the Acts of the Church nor the laws of the Kingdome and they were Articles and oaths conceived according to their pleasure and men of little worth and ready to sweare were for by-respects thrust upon the people and admitted to the most eminent places of the Church and of the Schools in Divinity which breeds continuall complaints and moves the people to run from their owne parish Churches refusing to receive the Sacrament from the hands of Ministers set over them against their hearts which makes them not to render unto them that honour which is due from the people to their Pastours and it is a mighty hinderance to the Gospel to the soules of the people and to the peace of this Church and Kingdome Whereas in the Assembly holden at Edinburgh in March ann 1578. it was declared that it was neither agreeable to the word of God nor to the practice of the Primitive Church that the Administration of the Word and Sacraments and the ministration of civill and criminall justice should be confounded that one person could supply both the charges but that a Minister should not be both a Minister and a Senator in the Colledge of justice And in the Assembly holden in October An. 1578. it was reckoned amongst the corruptions of the State of Bishops which they were charged to forgoe that they should usurp a criminall jurisdiction that they should not claime unto themselves the titles of Lords that they should onely be called by their owne names or brethren yet the said Master David Lindsey with his foresaid Colleagues respectivè have assumed to themselves the titles and honours of Lords they did sit as Senators in the Colledge of justice as Councellors in the Privie Councell as Auditors in the Exchequer and have enjoyed prime Offices of State The pretended Bishops have usurped the place and precedencie before all Temporall Lords the pretended Archbishops before all the Noble Earles of the land and the pretended Primate before the prime Officers of State in the land Whereas by the Word of God and Acts of the Assembly namely Anno 1576. 1577. and 1578. no man should be suffered to be a Minister unlesse hee be tied to a particular flocke and congregation and not to be tied to a particular flocke it is condemned as a corruption of the state of Bishops which they were charged to forgoe yet the said Master David Lindsey with his Colleagues respectivè foresaid are Ministers and will not be tied to particular flockes Whereas the office of a Bishop as it is now used within this Realm was condemned by the booke of policie and by the Act of the Assembly holden at Dundee Anno 1580. whereof these are the words Forasmuch as the office of a Bishop as it is now used and commonly taken within this Realme hath no sure warrant from authoritie nor good ground out of the Scriptures but it is brought in by the folly and corruptions of the inventions of men to the great hurt of the Church The whole Assembly of this Church with one voice after liberty given to all men to reason in the said matter no man opposing himself to maintain the said pretended office doe find and declare the said pretended office used and termed as is abovesaid unlawfull in it selfe as having neither ground nor warrant within the Word of God and we doe ordaine that all such persons which doe or shall hereafter enjoy the said office shall be charged simply to dismisse quit and leave the same as an office unto which they were not called by God and that they shall leave off all preaching ministration of the Sacraments or other offices of Pastors untill such time as they receive admission de novo from the generall Assembly under the paine of excommunication to be used against them and if they be found disobedient to contradict this Act in the least point after due admonition the sentence of excommunication shall be executed against them And for the better execution of the said Act it is ordained that a Synodall Assemblie shall be holden in everie Province in which usurping Bishops are 18. August next to come in which they shall be cyted and summoned by the Visitors of the said Countries to compeere before their Synodall Assemblies as namely The Archbishop of S. Andrewes to compeere at Saint Andrewes The Bishop of Aberdene in
bred distraction in the Church and State hath been graciously pleased to take the same into His royall consideration and for the quiet and peace of this countrey hath not onely dispensed with the practice of the saids articles but also discharged all and whatsoever persons from urging the practice thereof upon either laicke or ecclesiasticall person whatsoever and hath freed all His subjects from all censure and paines whether ecclesiasticall or secular for not urging practising or obeying them or any of them notwithstanding of any thing contained in the Acts of Parliament or generall Assembly in the contrary And his Maiesty is further contented that the Assembly take the same so farre to their consideration as to represent it to the next Parliament there to be ratified as the Estates shall finde fitting And because it hath been pretended that oaths have been administrate different from that which is set downe in the acts of Parliament his Maiesty is pleased to declare by me that no other oath shall be required of any Minister at his entry nor that which is set downe in the act of Parliament And that it may appeare how carefull his Maiesty is that no corruption nor innovation shall creepe into this Church neither yet any scandall vice or fault of any person whatsoever censurable or punishable by the Assembly goe along unpunished his Maiestie is content to declare by me and assure all His good people that generall Assemblies shall be kept so oft and al 's oft as the affaires of this Church shall require And that none of His good subiects may have cause of grievances against the proceedings of the Prelates his Maiesty is content that all and every one of the present Bishops and their successors shall bee answerable and accordingly from time to time censurable according to their merits by the generall Assembly And to give all his Majesties good people full assurance that Hee never intended to admit any alteration or change in the true Religion profest within this Kingdome and that they may be truely and fully satisfied of the reality of His intentions and integrity of the same his Majestie hath been pleased to require and command all His good subjects to subscribe the Confession of Faith and band for maintenance thereof and of his Majesties person and Authority formerly signed by His dear Father in ann 1580. and now also requireth all these of this present Assembly to subscribe the same And it is his Majesties will that this be insert and registrate in the books of Assembly as a testimony to posteritie not onely of the sincerity of His intentions to the said true Religion but also of His resolutions to maintain and defend the same and His subjects in the profession thereof Which declaration was by Our speciall command and direction given in and subscribed by Our Commissioner upon protestation made by him that his assenting to the registration hereof should be no approbation of the lawfulnesse of this Assembly nor of any of the acts or deeds done or to be done therein And finding them in like sort no wayes to be satisfied therewith and that nothing else was able to give them contentment except at their owne pleasure they were permitted to overthrow all Episcopall government in the Church and thereby to abrogate Our publike lawes standing in vigour by the space of many yeares by-gone and to alter the fundamentall government of this kingdom in taking away one of the three Estates contrary to expresse acts of Parliament And lest the continuance of their meetings might have produced other the like dangerous acts so derogatory to Royall authority We were forced for preveening thereof and for the reasons and causes above-mentioned and divers others importing true monarchicall government to dissolve and breake up the said pretended Assembly and to discharge them of all farther meeting treating and concluding any thing therein And yet in that calme and peaceable way as Our Commissioner before his removing desired their pretended Moderator for that time to have said prayer and so concluded that dayes session that so they might have had time to thinke upon the just reasons of his refusing to assist or be any longer present at the said pretended Assembly of the causes moving Us to the dissolving thereof and notwithstanding his earnest urging the same and being willing to returne the next morning to heare their answer in place of all other satisfaction to his so reasonable and moderate desires it was refused and met with a protestation of an high and extraordinary straine thereby presuming to cyte and call Our Councell in question for their dutifull assistance and obedience to Us and Our Commissioner And finding their disobedience thus to increase We were constrained to discharge them of new againe the next day thereafter by publike proclamation under the paine of treason And albeit that their contumacie is such as hath not been heard of in former times yet they shall never move Us to alter the least point or article of that We have already declared by proclamation or declaration under Our Commissioners hand All which was publikely read and by Our Commissioner required to be insert and registrate in the books of Assembly therein to remain as a testimonie to posterity not onely of the sinceritie of Our intentions to the true Religion but also of Our resolution to maintaine and defend the same and Our subjects in the profession thereof And perceiving likewise that in contempt of Our proclamation at Glasgow the 29. of November they goe still on to conveene meet and to make illegall and unwarrantable acts We have conceived it fitting to forewarne all Our good subjects of the danger that they may incurre by being insnared by these their unlawfull procedures And to this purpose doe not onely liberate and free them from all obedience to any of the pretended acts made or to be made at the said pretended assembly or Committees direct therefrom but do also free them from all pain and censure which the said pretended assembly shall inflict upon them or any of them And therefore doe discharge and prohibit all Our subjects that they nor none of them acknowledge nor give obedience to any pretended acts nor constitutions made or to bee made at the said pretended meetings under all highest paines And We command charge and inhibite all presbyteries sessions of Kirkes Ministers within this Realme that none of them presume nor take upon hand privately nor publikely in their sessions and meetings nor in their conferences sermons nor no other manner of way to authorize approve justifie or allow the said unlawfull meeting or assembly at Glasgow neither yet to make any Act thereupon nor to do any other thing private or publike which may seeme to countenance the said unlawfull Assemblie under the paine to bee repute holden and esteemed and pursued as guiltie of their unlawfull meeting and to bee punished therefore with all rigour And siclike Wee command all and
after Our advices by Our Letters and Instructions to the rest at home and after many humble advertisements and remonstrances made from them to Us of the reasons of some alterations which they did conceive would remove divers difficulties which otherwise they feared this Booke would encounter with We were contented that the Service Booke should come out as now it is printed being fully liked by them and signed with their hands and perused approved and published by Our Royall command and authoritie In the perusall and approbation whereof We tooke speciall care that the small alterations of it in which it differeth from the English Service Booke should be such as We had reason to thinke would best comply with the mindes and dispositions of Our subjects of that Kingdome For We supposing that they might have taken some offence if We should have tendered them the English Service Booke totidem verbis and that some factious spirits would have endevoured to have misconstrued it as a badge of dependance of that Church upon this of England which Wee had put upon them to the prejudice of their Lawes and Liberties We held it fitter that a new Booke should be composed by their own Bishops in substance not differing from this of England that so the Roman party might not upbraid Us with any weightie or materiall differences in Our Liturgies and yet in some few insensible alterations differing from it that it might truely and justly be reputed a Book of that Churches owne composing and established by Our Royall Authority as King of Scotland And thus conceiving Wee had discharged the duetie of a religious King towards God and of a gracious Prince in accommodating this Booke so that Our subjects of that Kingdome should have no cause to have the least suspicion of any intended dependancie of that Church upon this Wee sent home the Book to the Lords of Our Privie Councell After their receipt consideration of it We by their advice and they by Our Authoritie commanded by publike Proclamation that the said Book should be publikely read and received in all the Churches of that Our Kingdome and should begin to be practised upon Easter next 1637. Disobedience to this Our Proclamation Wee had little reason to expect because this Service-book was no new thing unto them For it not differing from the English Service-book in any materiall point and We supposing that the English Liturgie neither was nor could bee displeasing to them did likewise conceive that this Book should be as little disliked by them Now the reasons inducing Us to a beleefe of their not misliking the English Liturgie were these First many of Our subjects of that Kingdome of all sorts daily resorting to Our Court and the Citie of London did much frequent our Chappell many other Churches in or about the Citie and many Churches during their stay here at the severall places of our residence and many other Churches within this Kingdome upon their way both hither and homeward in all which Churches they did behave themselves during the time of divine Service with that reverence as others of Our subjects of this Kingdome did without any dislike of it or quarrelling against it Now these who resorted hither being for quantitie and number very considerable and for qualitie for the most part of the very best gave Us more then a probable assurance that at home they would never accompt that absolutely in it selfe unlawfull and Antichristian as many of them have since professed unto which they had here of their owne accord by their practise yeelded obedience For neither municipall Law nor variation of time or place nor any other circumstance can allow Us to practise that which we hold in it selfe to be simply unlawfull Antichristian and against the Word of God Secondly in Our owne Chappell at Haly-rud-house ever since the yeere of Our Lord 1617. the English Liturgie hath beene read and according to it divine Service sung and said as it is here said and sung in Our Chappels in England not onely without dislike but with frequent Assemblies of Our Councel Nobility Bishops other Clergie of all sorts Judges Gentrie Burgesses women of all ranks The Bishops or some of them never gave Orders which they did frequently but they used the English Service-book in some Cathedrall Churches of that kingdom as also in the new Colledge of the University of S. Andrewes for some yeeres of late it was publikely read without any distaste much lesse disturbance for divers yeeres it was used in many families and at Our last being in that Kingdome it was read publikely in all Churches to which Wee resorted in which great numbers of all sorts of people were present All which gave Us good reason to conceive that the commanding of this Book by Our authoritie could not in any true sense be called or accounted an innovation all sorts of people and very many of those of all ranks who now inveigh most bitterly against it having been so accustomed to it and acquainted with it and that without any dislike of it or complaint against it Thirdly Wee confesse that one of the chiefest reasons moving Us to beleeve that that Service-book being in substance all one with this of England could not be held by them to containe any thing tending to Idolatrie Poperie or Superstition as since they have pretended was this We did foresee that all objections bending that way must needs strike at the English Service-book aswell as at that and indeed all of them which they have preached or published against that book do so but We did then and do still take it as granted that no man who hath his wits about him can charge the least suspicion of these things objected upon the English Service-book For since it is well knowne to the whole Christian world that the Composers Framers of the English Service-book were those very famous Bishops others who in Queen Mary her dayes delivered up their living bodies to the fire or escaping the fire indured banishment only because they would not yeeld to Poperie and Superstition How these men now whom in their owne judgement they hold to bee ranked amongst the most glorious Martyrs of the Church for resisting even to bloud Idolatry Popery and Superstiâ—ion can with any conscience or honestie be charged by these men with compiling of a Book stuffed full with Idolatrie Poperie and Superstition it requireth more then an ordinarie understanding to apprehend And besides it will be made good that more of the Bishops and learned Clergie of England both for number and weight have opposed Superstition and Popery then can be found in all the reformed Churches besides who all of them have lived in the practise of the English Liturgie and defended the same which they would never have done if they had supposed it to containe Idolatrie or Superstition These now were the grounds which inclined Us to conceive that the Service-book authorized by Us for
occasioning their celestiall Covenant as they called it were so highly extolled by their Preachers that they assured their Auditors that their memorials should be eternall whom before they had called the scumme of the people and the base Multitude and that all succeeding generations should call them blessed These high flowne speeches and many others of the like extravagant straine both in the Pulpits and out of them immediately after the first tumult and ever since have beene bestowed and that not sparingly upon that multitude which not long before they called base and rascall But no wonder for many of the better sort having succeeded that multitude in the same madnesse they must needs now give them new high and Heroicall titles such as they would have given to themselves now acting their parts for now their owne actions come next upon the Stage to bee viewed and judged All businesses now for a time seemed to be hushed and calmed by reason of the long vacation which in that Kingdome beginneth alwayes on Lammas day and the Harvest which drew all sorts of people from Edinburgh except the Citizens so that little or nothing was done betweene the last of July and first of October save that some Ministers petitioned the Lords of Our Councell for suspending the Letters whereby they were charged to receive the Service Book and that they of Edinburgh begun a little by the instigation of their two silenced Ministers to relent of their former forwardnesse for receiving the said Booke and to repent themselves of their too eager condemning the raisers of the first insurrection and presented to Our Councell on the 26. of September a Petition humbly desiring not to bee pressed with the Service Booke notwithstanding all their former undertakings but to be continued in the same case with all the rest of the Kingdome untill Our pleasure were further knowne which Petition as they alledged they were necessitated to present by the example and encouragement of all ranks from all parts of the Kingdome But so soone as Harvest was done the conflux of all sorts of Our subjects Nobilitie Gentrie Ministers and Burgesses from all parts of that Kingdome came to be so great at Edinburgh and after such a tumultuous maner as that a present Insurrection was justly feared which forced Our Councell assembled then at Edinburgh upon the day before appointed by them viz. the xvij of October 1637. to make three Proclamations The first to give notice that on that day nothing should bee treated of at the Councell Table concerning Church businesse untill the Lords might see the times and meetings of his Majesties subjects more quiet and peaceable and therefore commanded all who were come thither about any such businesse peaceably to repaire to their owne homes within foure and twentie houres under the paines expressed in the said Proclamation A second for removing the Session which is here in England called the Terme from Edinburgh to Lithcow for feare of present danger if this great concourse of people should not some way be diverted and divided especially considering that those of Edinburgh were now apparently perverted and become very evill affected to Our and Our Councels courses of peace and quietnesse A third for bringing in and burning a certaine seditious Booke newly dispersed amongst our subjects there tending to sedition and the disgrace of Our Ecclesiasticall Government here in England The three Proclamations are here inserted Apud Edinburgh 17. Octob. 1637. FOrasmuch as it hath pleased the Kings Majestie upon divers good respects and considerations to give warrant and direction to the Lords of his Majesties Privie Councell for dissolving the meeting of this Councell day in so farre as concerneth matters of the Church And that everie one that hath come to attend this businesse repaire to their owne dwellings except such persons as shall make knowne to the said Lords of Councell just cause of stay for their particular affaires Therefore the said Lords according to his Majesties speciall warrant and direction sent unto them have dissolved and by the tenour hereof doe dissolve the meeting of this Councell day in so farre as concernes the businesse above written And ordaines a Maissar of Councell to passe to the Mercate Crosse of Edinburgh and to make publication hereof And to command everie one that hath come hither to attend this businesse to repaire home to their owne dwellings within 24. houres after the publication hereof except such persons as shall make knowne to the said Lords just cause of their further particular affaires in manner aforesaid under the paine of Rebellion and putting them off to the Horne with certification to them that if they faile they shall be denounced Rebels and put to the Horn and all their moveable goods escheat to his Majesties use Apud Edinburgh 17. Octob. 1637. FOrasmuch as it hath pleased the Kings Majestie upon divers great and good considerations knowne to his Majestie to remove his Councell and Session from the Citie of Edinburgh to the Burgh of Dundie And whereas it is inconvenient at this time to remove it so farre his Majestie is graciously pleased that this next Session shall be holden at the Burgh of Linlithgow and the next after the ordinarie vacants at the Burgh of Dundie And there to remaine during his Majesties pleasure And therefore the said Lords according to his Majesties speciall direction ordaines Maissars or Officers of Armes to passe and make publication hereof to all his Majesties good subjects by open Proclamation at all places needfull whereby they can pretend no ignorance thereof but may prepare themselves to attend at Linlithgow and Dundie accordingly Apud Edinburgh Octob. 17. 1637. FOrasmuch as the Kings Majestie is credibly informed that there is a certaine booke intituled A Dispute against the English Popish Ceremonies obtruded upon the Kirke of Scotland and hath beene sent abroad and dispersed in this Kingdome purposely to stirre the hearts and affections of the subjects from their due obedience and allegeance And therefore it hath pleased his Majestie to give order and direction to his Councell that diligent inquirie and search be made for the said booke And for this effect the said Lords ordaines letters to be directed to make intimation and publication to all his Majesties subjects that such of them as have anie of the said bookes bring in the same to the Lords of his Majesties Privie Councell betwixt the date of this Proclamation and the day of And the said bookes being brought in that the same be publikely burnt certifying all his Majesties subjects if any of those bookes shall be found or knowne to have beene with any of them after the time aforesaid that they shall incurre the like censure and punishment as the Authour may be found to deserve for any thing contained in that booke ANd whether Wee and Our Councell were not justly necessitated to these Proclamations and whether it were not high time to require obedience to them though none was yeelded let
of advice and Councell for ordering the affaires of the Kingdome without Our authoritie and in contempt of Us and Our Councell established by Us there and by entring into a Covenant and most wicked Band and combination against all that shall oppose them not excepting Our owne Person directly against the law of God the law of Nations and the municipall lawes of that Our Kingdome So that after this their Protestation they perfected that which they had before begun confusedly and as it were in a ruder draught For then contrarie to Our expresse commandement and authoritie expressed in Our last Proclamations and repeated unto them by Our Councell they did erect a great number of Tables as they called them in Edinburgh Foure principall One of the Nobilitie another of the Gentrie a third of the Burroughes a fourth of Ministers and the Gentrie had manie subordinate Tables according to their severall Shires These severall Tables did consult of what they thought fit to bee propounded at the generall Table which consisteth of severall Commissioners chosen from the other foure Tables and what they of the generall Table resolved on was to be put in practice with a blinde and Jesuiticall obedience A rare and unheard forme of Government in a Kingdome whose Government ever was Monarchicall and which they themselves still say continueth to be so Sure these meetings by wise men have been accounted rather Stables of unruly horses broken loose and pulling downe all they can reach then Tables for the consultations of wise and rationall men Now the first dung which from these Stables was throwne upon the face of Authoritie and Government was that lewd Covenant and seditious Band annexed unto it which We here subjoine because We are confident that by the verie recitall and perusall of it every religious and wise man may run and read that sentence of condemnation which it carrieth in its owne front THE CONFESSION OF FAITH OF THE KIRK OF SCOTLAND SUBSCRIBED By the Kings Majestie and his Houshold in the yeare of God 1580. WITH A Designation of such Acts of Parliament as are expedient for justifying the union after mentioned And Subscribed by the Nobles Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons in the yeare of God 1638. JOSH. 24.25 So Joshua made a Covenant with the people the same day and gave them an Ordinance and Law in Sichem 2 KING 11.17 And Jehoiada made a Covenant between the Lord and the King and the people that they should be the Lords people likewise betweene the King and the people ISAIA 44.5 One shall say I am the Lord another shall be called by the name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord c. The Kings Majesties Charge to all Commissioners and Ministers within this Realme in the yeare of God 1580. SEeing that VVe and Our Houshold have Subscribed and given this publike Confession of Our Faith to the good example of Our subjects VVe command and charge all Commissioners and Ministers to crave the same Confession of their Parochianars and proceed against the refusers according to Our Lawes and Order of the Kirk delivering their names and lawfull processe to the Ministers of Our House with all haste and diligence under the paine of fourtie pound to be taken from their stipend that VVe with the advice of Our Councell may take order with such proud contemners of God and Our Lawes Subscribed with Our Hand at Haly-rud-house 1580. the 2. day of March the 14. yeare of Our Reigne The Confession of Faith of the Kirke of SCOTLAND The confession of Faith subscribed at first by the Kings Majesty and His Houshold in the yeere of God 1580. Thereafter by Persons of all rankes in the yeere 1581. by ordinance of the Lords of the Secret Councell and Acts of the Generall Assembly Subscribed againe by all sorts of Persons in the yeere 1590. by a new Ordinance of Councell at the desire of the Generall Assembly With a generall Band for maintenance of the true Religion and the Kings Person And now subscribed in the yeere 1638. by us Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons under subscribing Together with our resolution and promises for the causes after specified To maintaine the said true Religion and the Kings Majestie according to the Confession foresaid and Acts of Parliament The Tenor whereof here followeth WEe All and every one of us underwritten Protest That after long and due examination of our owne Consciences in matters of true and false Religion are now throughly resolved of the Truth by the Word and Spirit of God and therefore we beleeve with our hearts confesse with our mouths subscribe with our hands and constantly affirme before God and the whole World that this only is the true Christian Faith and Religion pleasing God and bringing Salvation to man which now is by the mercy of God revealed to the world by the preaching of the blessed Evangel And received beleeved and defended by many and sundry notable Kirks and Realmes but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland the Kings Majestie and three Estates of this Realm as Gods eternall Truth and onely ground of our Salvation as more particularly is expressed in the Confession of our Faith stablished and publikely confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliaments and now of a long time hath been openly professed by the Kings Majestie and whole body of this Realme both in Burgh and Land To the which Confession and forme of Religion wee willingly agree in our consciences in all points as unto Gods undoubted Truth and Verity grounded onely upon his written Word And therefore Wee abhorre and detest all contrarie Religion and Doctrine But chiefly all kinde of Papistrie in generall and particular heads even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of God and Kirk of Scotland but in speciall we detest and refuse the usurped authoritie of that Roman Antichrist upon the Scriptures of God upon the Kirk the civill Magistrate and Consciences of men All his tyrannous lawes made upon indifferent things against our Christian libertie His erroneous Doctrine against the sufficiencie of the written VVord the perfection of the Law the office of Christ and his blessed Evangel His corrupted Doctrine concerning originall sinne our naturall inabilitie and rebellion to Gods Law our justification by faith onely our imperfect sanctification and obedience to the Law the nature number and use of the holy Sacraments His five bastard Sacraments with all his Rites Ceremonies and false Doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacraments without the VVord of God His cruell judgement against Infants departing without the Sacrament his absolute necessitie of Baptisme his blasphemous opinion of Transubstantiation or reall presence of Christs body in the Elements and receiving of the same by the wicked or bodies of men His dispensations with solemn oaths perjuries and degrees of Marriage forbidden in the VVord his crueltie against the innocent divorced his divellish Masse his blasphemous Priesthood
Act. 99. Parl. 7. Act. 23. Parl. 11. Act. 114. Parl. 12. Act. 160. Parl. 13. K. James 6. ratified by Act. 4. K. Charles So that Act. 6. Parl. 1. and Act. 68. Parl. 6. of K. James 6. in the yeare of God 1579. declares the Ministers of the blessed Evangel whom God of his mercie had raised up or hereafter should raise agreeing with them that then lived in Doctrine and administration of the Sacraments and the people that professed Christ as he was then offered in the Evangel and doth communicate with the holy Sacraments as in the reformed kirkes of this Realme they were presently administrate according to the Confession of Faith to be the true and holy kirk of Christ Jesus within this Realme and decernes and declares all and sundrie who either gainsayes the VVord of the Evangel received and approved as the heads of the Confession of Faith professed in Parlament in the yeare of God 1560. specified also in the first Parlament of K. James 6. and ratified in this present Parlament more particularly do specifie or that refuses the administration of the holy Sacraments as they were then ministrated to be no members of the said kirk within this Realme and true Religion presently professed so long as they keepe themselves so divided from the societie of Christs bodie And the subsequent Act. 69. Parl. 6. K. James 6. declares That there is no other face of kirke nor other face of Religion then was presently at that time by the favour of God established within this Realme which therefore is ever stiled Gods true Religion Christs true Religion the true and Christian Religion and a perfect Religion Which by manifold Acts of Parlament all within this Realme are bound to professe to subscribe the articles thereof the Confession of Faith to recant all doctrine and errours repugnant to any of the said Articles Act. 4. and 9. Parl. 1. Act. 45.46.47 Parl. 3. Act. 71. Parl. 6. Act. 106. Parl. 7. Act. 24. Parl. 11. Act. 123. Parl. 12. Act. 194. and 197. Parl. 14. of K. James 6. And all Magistrates Sheriffes c. on the one part are ordained to search apprehend and punish all contraviners for instance Act. 5. Parl. 1. Act. 104. Parl. 7. Act. 25. Parl. 11. K. James 6. And that notwithstanding of the Kings Majestes licences on the contrary which are discharged and declared to be of no force in so farre as they tend in any wayes to the prejudice and hinder of the execution of the Acts of Parlament against Papists and adversaries of true Religion Act. 106. Par. 7. K. James 6. on the other part in the 47. Act. Parl. 3. K. James 6. it is declared and ordained seeing the cause of Gods true Religion and his Highnesse Authority are so joyned as the hurt of the one is common to both and that none shall be reputed as loyall and faithfull subjects to our Soveraigne Lord or his Authority but be punishable as rebellers and gainstanders of the same who shall not give their Confession and make their profession of the said true Religion and that they who after defection shall give the Confession of their faith of new they shall promise to continue therein in time comming to maintaine our Soveraigne Lords Authoritie and at the uttermost of their power to fortifie assist and maintaine the true Preachers and Professours of Christs Religion against whatsoever enemies and gainstanders of the same and namely against all such of whatsoever nation estate or degree they be of that have joyned and bound themselves or have assisted or assists to set forward and execute the cruell decrees of Trent contrary to the Preachers and true Professours of the Word of God which is repeated word by word in the Articles of Pacification at Pearth the 23 of February 1572. approved by Parlament the last of Aprill 1573. ratified in Parlament 1578. And related Act. 123. Parl. 12. of K. James 6. with this addition That they are bound to resist all treasonable uproares and hostilities raised against the true Religion the Kings Majestie the true Professors Like as all lieges are bound to maintain the K. Majesties Royal Person and authority the authority of Parlaments without the which neither any laws or lawful judicatories can be established Act. 130. Act. 131. Par. 8. K. Ja 6. the subjects liberties who ought only to live and be governed by the Kings lawes the common lawes of this Realm allanerly Act. 48. Parl. 3. K. James 1. Act. 79. Parl. 6. K. James 4 repeated in Act. 131. Parl. 8. K. James 6. VVhich if they be innovated or prejudged the Commission anent the union of the two kingdomes of Scotland and England which is the sole Act of the 17. Parl. of K. James 6. declares such confusion would ensue as this Realme could be no more a free Monarchie because by the fundamentall lawes ancient priviledges offices and liberties of this kingdome not onely the Princely authoritie of his Majesties royall discent hath bin these manie ages maintained but also the peoples securitie of their lands livings rights offices liberties dignities preserved and therefore for the preservation of the said true Religion Lawes and Liberties of this kingdome it is statute by Act. 8. Parl. 1. repeated in Act. 99. Parl. 7. ratified in Act. 23. Parl. 11. and 114. Act. of K. James 6. and 4. Act. of K. Charles That all kings and Princes at their Coronation and reception of their Princely authoritie shall make their faithfull promise by their solemn oath in the presence of the eternall God that enduring the whole time of their lives they shall serve the same eternall God to the uttermost of their power according as he hath required in his most holy VVord contained in the old and new Testaments And according to the same VVord shall maintain the true Religion of Christ Jesus the preaching of his holy VVord the due and right ministration of the Sacraments now received and preached within this Realme according to the Confession of Faith immediately preceding and shall abolish and gainstand all false Religion contrarie to the same and shall rule the people committed to their charge according to the will and command of God revealed in his foresaid VVord and according to the lowable lawes and constitutions received in this Realm no waies repugnant to the said will of the eternall God and shal procure to the uttermost of their power to the kirk of God and whole Christian people true and perfit peace in all time comming and that they shall be carefull to root out of their Empire all Hereticks and enemies to the true worship of God who shall be convicted by the true kirk of God of the foresaid crimes which was also observed by his Majesty at his Coronation in Edinburgh 1633. as may be seene in the order of the Coronation In obedience to the commandement of God conform to the practice of the godly in former times and according to the laudable example
of our worthy and religious Progenitors and of many yet living amongst us which was warranted also by Act of Councell commanding a generall Band to bee made and subscribed by his Majesties subjects of all ranks for two causes One was for defending the true Religion as it was then reformed and is expressed in the Confession of Faith above written and a former large Confession established by sundrie acts of lawfull Generall Assemblies and of Parlament unto which it hath relation set downe in publicke Cathechismes and which had beene for many yeeres with a blessing from heaven preached and professed in this Kirk and Kingdome as Gods undoubted truth grounded onely upon his written Word The other cause was for maintaining the Kings Majestie his Person and Estate the true Worship of God and the Kings authoritie being so straightly joyned as that they had the same friends and common enemies and did stand and fall together And finally being convinced in our minds and confessing with our mouthes that the present and succeeding generations in this Land are bound to keep the foresaid nationall Oath and subscription inviolable We Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Burgesses Ministers and Commons under subscribing considering divers times before and especially at this time the danger of the true reformed Religion of the Kings honour and of the publicke peace of the Kingdome by the manifold innovations and evils generally contained and particularly mentioned in our late supplications complaints and protestations doe hereby professe and before God his Angels and the World solemnely declare That with our whole hearts wee agree and resolve all the daies of our life constantly to adhere unto and to defend the foresaid true Religion and forbearing the practice of all novations already introduced in the matters of the worship of God or approbation of the corruptions of the publick Government of the Kirk or civill places and power of Kirkmen till they bee tryed and allowed in free Assemblies and in Parlaments to labour by all meanes lawfull to recover the purity and libertie of the Gospel as it was established and professed before the foresaid novations And because after due examination wee plainly perceive and undoubtedly beleeve that the Innovations and evils contained in our Supplications Complaints and Protestations have no warrant of the Word of God are contrary to the Articles of the foresaid Confessions to the intention and meaning of the blessed Reformers of Religion in this Land to the above written Acts of Parlament and doe sensibly tend to the re-establishing of the Popish Religion and tyranny and to the subversion and ruine of the true Reformed Religion and of our Liberties Lawes and Estates VVe also declare that the foresaid Confessions are to bee interpreted and ought to be understood of the foresaid novations and evils no lesse then if everie one of them had beene expressed in the foresaid Confessions and that wee are obliged to detest and abhorre them amongst other particular heads of Papistrie abjured therein And therefore from the knowledge and conscience of our dutie to God to our King and Countrey without any worldly respect or inducement so farre as humane infirmitie will suffer wishing a further measure of the grace of God for this effect VVe promise and sweare by the Great Name of the Lord our GOD to continue in the Profession and Obedience of the foresaid Religion That we shall defend the same and resist all these contrarie errours and corruptions according to our vocation and to the uttermost of that power that God hath put in our hands all the dayes of our life And in like manner with the same heart we declare before God and Men That we have no intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may turne to the dishonour of God or to the diminution of the Kings Greatnesse and Authoritie But on the contrarie we promise and sweare that wee shall to the uttermost of our power with our meanes and lives stand to the defence of our dread Soveraign the Kings Majestie his Person and Authoritie in the defence and preservation of the foresaid true Religion Liberties and Lawes of the Kingdome As also to the mutuall defence and assistance everie one of us of another in the same cause of maintaining the true Religion and his Majesties Authoritie with our best counsell our bodies meanes and whole power against all sorts of persons whatsoever So that whatsoever shall be done to the least of us for that cause shall be taken as done to us all in generall and to everie one of us in particular And that we shall neither directly nor indirectly suffer our selves to be divided or withdrawn by whatsoever suggestion combination allurement or terrour from this blessed and loyall Conjunction nor shall cast in any let or impediment that may stay or hinder any such resolution as by common consent shall be found to conduce for so good ends But on the contrarie shall by all lawfull meanes labour to further and promove the same and if any such dangerous and divisive motion be made to us by VVord or VVrit wee and everie one of us shall either suppresse it or if need be shall incontinent make the same known that it may bee timously obviated neither do we feare the foule aspersions of rebellion combination or what else our adversaries from their craft and malice would put upon us seeing what we do is so well warranted and ariseth from an unfained desire to maintaine the true worship of God the Majestie of our King and the peace of the Kingdome for the common happinesse of our selves and the posteritie And because we cannot look for a blessing from God upon our proceedings except with our Profession and Subscription we joyne such a life and conversation as beseemeth Christians who have renewed their Covenant with God VVee therefore faithfully promise for our selves our followers and all others under us both in publike in our particular families and personall carriage to endevour to keep our selves within the bounds of Christian libertie and to be good examples to others of all Godlinesse Sobernesse and Righteousnesse and of everie dutie we owe to God and Man And that this our Union and Conjunction may bee observed without violation VVee call the living God the Searcher of our Hearts to witnesse who knoweth this to be our sincere Desire and unfained Resolution as we shall answer to JESUS CHRIST in the great day and under the paine of Gods everlasting wrath and of infamie and of losse of all honour and respect in this World Most humblie beseeching the LORD to strengthen us by his holy Spirit for this end and to blesse our desires and proceedings with a happie successe that Religion and Righteousnesse may flourish in the Land to the glorie of God the honour of our King and peace and comfort of us all In witnesse whereof we have subscribed with our hands all the premisses c. TO dispute against this Covenant scholastically or otherwise then by
that companie which attended Our Commissioner from Dalkeith but stayed for him on the way in a farre grosser bodie by themselves was assembled to doe honour to Our Commissioner or for shewing their owne power and strength by way of comparison with the companie whom they met which they farre exceeded Wee will not determine But thus Our Commissioner was conducted to Our Palace of Holy-rood-house where he was received by the Lord Provost Bailiffes Magistrates and citizens of Edinburgh with outward demonstrations of being welcome And this was all the entertainment which at any time he had from the body of the Covenanters during the time of his abode in that Kingdome which whether it were hearty and sincere or but onely in show and to shew their owne power Wee leave it to be judged by the entertainment and respect which afterward he received from them which will be found to bee just none at all For during the time of his continuance amongst them though he found that they gave civill respects to him as Marquesse of Hamiltoun yet his being cloathed with Our authoritie and commission did much diminish them as shall appeare now in the next place by those perpetuall affronts which they ceased not to offer daily to him and Our Councell in all their proceedings concerning the businesse for which he was sent Our Commissioner now being settled at Our palace with the assistance of Our Councell hee fell presently upon the maine businesse with the Covenanters whom hee desired to dismisse their great multitudes which they did being indeed necessitated thereunto for the ease of their great charge The two maine Propositions which hee offered to their consideration were these First what they should expect from him in Our name for satisfaction to their complaints and accommodating their grievances Next what might be expected from them for returning to their former obedience especially in renouncing and delivering up their late Covenant Both which propositions they did receive with so much sleighting and contempt as that they avowed no satisfaction from Us should be accepted which contained any particulars but that they expected first a Generall Assembly of the Church and then a Parliament that in these two Judicatories they would represent and discusse their grievances And no wonder for in both these they knew that themselves were to be both Judges and parties For the second they answered that they could not returne to their former obedience from which they would never acknowledge that they had departed in the least degree having done no act but that which became good and dutifull subjects And for their Covenant that they would rather renounce their Baptisme then renounce it or abate one word or syllable of the literall rigour of it it being more availeable and usefull unto them then all the Lawes and Acts of Parliament which had beene enacted in that Kingdome since the time of Fergus the first King thereof And that it was a proposition which though they had now heard they were resolved never to heare a second time And accordingly after Our propositions thus made and rejected they presently filled the people with such misreports of the intentions and ends of Our Commissioners comming as they wrought them to a greater height of furie then before as if now their Religion and Lawes were brought to the stake For now new Guards were clapt upon Our castle of Edinburgh the Guards and Watches of the citie multiplied the Preachers Prayers and Sermons grew to be so many Libells and admonitions that they should take heed of craftie compositions or yeelding in the least point of their intended reformation for if they should abate in any one thing it would be thought that they might be mistaken in all They presently printed their weake Reasons against their rendring up of their Covenant nay they grew to that rage that on the Saturday having knowledge that Our Commissioner attended with Our Councell was to heare divine Service and Sermon in Our owne chappell at Our owne palace the day following being Sunday they sent him word that whosoever should read the English Service in Our chappell should never read more and that there were a thousand men provided for the disturbance of it which forced Our Commissioner that night to repaire to Dalkeith being unwilling to heare Sermon but in Our owne chappell or there without hearing the English Divine Service it having beene continually read there by the space of twentie yeares in the audience of Our Councell manie of the Nobilitie Judges and persons of all qualitie without any interruption or dislike Nay more they grew to that boldnesse as to write letters to everie one of Our Councell requiring them to subscribe their Covenant which Letter sent to everie one of them severally but in the same words here followeth May it please your Lordship WEe the Ministers of the Gospel conveened at this so necessarie a time doe finde our selves bound to represent as unto all so in speciall unto your Lordship what comfortable experience we have of the wonderfull favour of God upon the renewing of the Confession of faith and Covenant what peace and comfort hath filled the hearts of all Gods people what resolutions and beginnings of reformation of manners are sensibly perceived in all parts of the kingdome above any measure that ever we did finde or could have expected how great glorie the Lord hath received thereby and what confidence we have if this sunshine be not eclipsed by some sinfull division or defection that God shall make this a blessed kingdome to the contentment of the Kings Majestie and joy of all his good subjects according as God hath promised in his good Word and performed to his people in former times And therefore we are forced from our hearts both to wish and entreat your Lordship to be partaker and promover of this joy and happinesse by your subscription when your Lordship shall thinke it convenient And in the meane while that your Lordship would not be sparing to give a free testimonie to the truth as a timely and necessarie expression of your tender affection to the cause of Christ now calling for helpe at your hands your Lordships profession of the true Religion as it was reformed in this land the nationall oath of this kingdome sundry times sworne and subscribed ablishing us who live at this time the dutie of a good Patriot the office and trust of a Privie Councellour the present employment to have place amongst those that are first acquainted with his Majesties pleasure the consideration that there is the time of tryall of your Lordships affection to Religion the respect which your Lordship hath unto your fame both now and hereafter when things shall be recorded to posteritie and the remembrance that not onely the eyes of men and Angels are upon your Lordships carriage but also that the Lord Jesus is a secret witnesse now to observe and shall be an open Judge hereafter to reward and confesse everie
State excuseth our uncessant and importune calling for these present remedies Doth insinuate the continuance and execution of any pretended Lawes for these innovations of worship and corruptions of Church government and civill places of Church-men which by our Covenant wee have obliged our selves to forbeare and the re-establishment of these evils in an Assembly and Parliament which hee will call in his best convenience to wit for that and this other end of satisfying his subjects judgements anent the Service Booke and Book of Canons Doth condemne all our former proceedings even our supplicating complaining protesting subscribing of our Covenant together and our continuall meetings as great disorders increase of disorders deserving justly a powerfull rather then a perswasive way a running headlong into ruine a perishing in our faults a blind disobedience under pretext of Religion and doth threaten denounce Now once for all If we be not heartily satisfied and give testimony of our obedience after this Declaration but continue as by our former proceedings to draw on our owne ruine that albeit unwillingly he must make use of that power which God hath indued him with for reclaiming of so disobedient people THerefore we in our own name and in name of all who will adhere to the Confession of Faith and reformation of Religion within this Land are forced and compelled out of our bound duty to God our King native Country our selves and our posterity lest our silence should be prejudiciall to so important a cause as concernes Gods glory and worship our Religion and salvation the Lawes and Liberties of this Church and Kingdome or derogatory to our former supplications complaints protestations Articles and proceedings or unanswerable to the solemne oath of our nation covenant with God To declare before God and man and to protest Primo That we doe and will constantly adhere according to our vocation and power to the said Reformation in doctrine use of Sacraments and discipline And that notwithstanding of any innovations introduced therein either of old or of late Secundo we potest That we adhere to the grievances supplications and protestations given in at Assemblies and Parliaments and to our late supplications complaints protestations and other lawfull proceedings against the same and particularly against the Service book and booke of Canons as maine innovations of Religion and Lawes and full of Popish superstition and so directly contrary to the Kings Declaration And against the High Commission as a judicatory established contrary to the Lawes and Liberties of this Church and Kingdome and destructive of other lawfull judicatories which both in respect of the nature of it and manner of introduction without consent of the three Estates of Parliament cannot be any wayes rectified but absolutely discharged Tertio we protest That we adhere with our hearts to our Oath and subscription of the Confession of Faith the solemne Covenant betweene God this Church and Kingdome and the clauses particularly therein expressed and generally contained and to our last Articles for the peace of this Kirke and Kingdome drawne out of it and to all the matters therein contained and manner of remedy therein desired Quarto We protest that this Proclamation or act of Councell or any other act or Proclamation or Declaration or ratification thereof By subscription or act or letter or any other manner of way whatsoever or any precondemnation of our cause or carriage before the same be lawfully heard and tryed in the supreme judicatories of this Kirk and Kingdome the onely proper judges to nationall causes and proceedings or any certification or threatning therein denounced shall no waies be prejudiciall to the Confession of Faith lawes and liberties of this Kingdome nor to our supplications complaints protestations articles lawfull meetings proceedings pursuits mutuall defences nor to our persons and Estates and shall no wayes be disgracefull either in reality or opinion at home or abroad to us or any of us But on the contrary that any act or letter or subscription of the Councell carrying the approbation of the declaration and condemnation of our proceedings indicta causa is and ought to be repute esteemed unjust illegall null as here before God and man we offer to clear to verifie both the justice of our cause and carriage and the injustice of such acts against us in the face of the first generall Assembly of the Church Parliament of the Estates unto whom with all solemnities requisite we do publikly appeal Quinto We protest that seeing our former supplications last Articles our last desire and petition to his Majesties Commissioner which petitioned for the present indiction of a free general Assembly Parliament according to the law and custome of all nations of this nation in the like case to hear the desires ease the grievances settle the fears of the body of the Church Kingdome are thus delayed in effect refused to wit Once for all till his Majesties conveniency for the end contained in this Proclamation that We continue by thir presents to supplicate his Majesty again and again for the granting of the same And whatsoever trouble or inconvenience fall out in this land in the mean time for want of these ordinary remedies and by the practice of any of these innovations evils contrary to our supplications articles confession it be not imputed unto us who most humbly beg these lawfull remedies but also that it is shall be lawfull unto us to defend and maintain the Religion lawes and liberties of this Kingdome the Kings Authority in defence thereof every one of us one another in that cause of maintaining the Religion and the Kings foresaid Authority according to our power vocation and Covenant with our best counsel bodies lives means whole strength against all persons whatsoever against all externall or internall invasions menaced in this Proclamation Like as that in the great exigencie of the Church necessitating the use of this ordinary and lawfull remedies for settling the commotions thereof it is and shall be leasome unto us to appoint hold and use the ordinary means our lawfull meetings and Assemblies of the Church agreeble to the Law of God and practice of the primitive Church the Acts of the generall Assemblies and Parliaments and the example of our Worthy Reformers in the like case Sexto We protest that our former Supplications Complaints Protestations Confessions meetings proceedings and mutuall defences of every one another in this cause as they are and were in themselves most necessary and orderly meanes agreeable to the lawes practice of this Church and Kingdome to be commended as reall duties of faithfull Christians loyall Subjects and sensible members of the body of the Church and Kingdome and no wise to be stiled nor accounted great disorders misdemeanors blind disobedience under pretext of Religion and running headlong into ruine c. So they proceeded only from conscience of our duty to God our King native
would be most willing to indict a free generall Assembly and call a Parliament for those good ends but that your Grace as His Majesties Commissioner hath conceived the Confession of faith and Covenant latelie renewed by us His Majesties subjects to be an unlawfull combination against Authority thereby to cast off our dutifull obedience and not a Covenant for maintaining of true Religion of His Majesties Person and Authority and of the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdome And we being most willing to remove that as the maine hinderance of the obtaining of our desires Therefore and for clearing of our loyaltie and vindicating our selves from so great an imputation Wee do now in all humility remonstrate to your Grace as His Majesties Commissioner and declare before God and men that we are heartily grieved and sorrie that any good man but most of all that our dread Soveraigne should so conceive of our doing And that we were and still are so faâ—re from any thought of withdrawing our selves from our dutifull subjection and obedience to His Majesties government which by the descent and under the raigne of 107 Kings is most chearfully acknowledged by us and our predecessours that we never had nor have any intention or desire to attempt any thing that may turne to the dishonour of God or diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authority But on the contrary we acknowledging our quietnesse stability and happinesse to depend upon the safety of the Kings Majestie as upon Gods Vicegerent set over us for maintenance of Religion and ministration of Justice have solemnly sworne not onely our mutuall concurrence and assistance for the cause of Religion but also to the uttermost of our power with our meanes and lives to stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne the Kings Majestie His Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion Liberties and Lawes of the Kingdome And therefore we His Majesties loyall subjects free from that and all other imputations of that kinde most humbly beseech your Grace to esteeme that our Confession of Faith and Covenant to have been intended and to be the largest testimony of our fidelity to God and loyaltie to our King And that hinderance being removed must still supplicate that your Grace would be pleased to indict a free generall Assembly and Parliament which will undoubtedly redresse all our evils settle the peace of the Kirk and Kingdome and procure that chearfulnesse of obedience which ought to be rendred to His Majesty carrying with it the offer of our fortunes and best endeavours for His Majesties honour and happinesse as a reall testimony of our thankfulnesse and our hearty prayers to God that His Majestie may long and prosperously raigne over us NOw doth this Petition deserve the name of an explication of their Covenant much lesse of such an explication as should give either Us or Our Commissioner any satisfaction No for it containeth neither more nor lesse then this that they doe not meane to shake off their obedience if We will give way to all their courses which by this Petition they justifie so that their meaning is that they will continue obedient subjects if We will part from Our Soveraigntie which is in effect that they will obey if Wee will suffer them to command But where it was expected that to these words of their Covenant whereby they binde themselves to mutuall maintenance against all persons whatsoever should have beene added except the King and his successors that was refused though even that could have given no satisfaction unlesse We should give way to that which divers Acts of Parliament have made sedition and punishable with death Upon notice given by Our Commissioner of his intended departure the debatements at their Table grew very hot and fierie upon this point Whether they should presently indict a Generall Assembly and fall upon the violent courses intended by them or that they should grant some short time for his journey his stay with Us his returne to them againe with Our finall answer and last resolution and in the meane time promise that they would behave themselves quietly and peaceably and continue all things in statu quo untill his returne This last was agreed unto though not without much contrarietie of voices and so some of the principall Covenanters came and acquainted him with this their resolution which was That they would expect Our answer and his returne upon the fifth of August next at the furthest untill which time they would breake up their great meeting containe themselves and the people in quietnesse and peace but if by that day he did either not return or not bring with him from Us such an answere as they expected then they would hold themselves free and goe on to prosecute the courses which they had resolved upon And so Our Commissioner begun his journey towards Us. After Our Commissioner had at Greenwich made Us fully acquainted with all their insolencies We speedily dispatched him with new Instructions and commanded him to returne so that he might be backe in Scotland by the fifth of August and gave him order for the indicting both of a Generall Assembly and a Parliament but so that he should first be fully satisfied by all informations which he could conveniently receive of the constitution of a Generall Assembly with which perhaps many were not acquainted none having beene kept for divers yeares And therefore it did require good deliberation to agree both upon the members of the Assembly not for their persons but for their qualitie and of what things were usually treated and handled there No sooner was he returned into Scotland but he found all things in much worse case and in a farre greater combustion then he left them For he found that the heads of the faction being affraid that he might bring backe with him some satisfactory accommodation which Our subjects might like well but they themselves resolved to reject had in the time of his absence assured their followers that they might compasse their ends by such means and upon such conditions as themselves desired Nay they proceeded so far as to make the people beleeve what they knew to be most untrue viz. That Our Commissioner was well satisfied with all their proceedings and especially with their Covenant in regard of the late explication they had made of it and were so impudent as to use that inducement for an argument whereby they perswaded many of all sorts especially of the Ministers who had formerly stood out against their Covenant to enter into it in this short time of his absence from them And the three Ministers in their answers to the Queries of the Divines of Aberdene had the boldnesse to print that Our Commissioner rested satisfied with their Covenant according to their explication of it With which their notorious calumnie he found himselfe so highly injured in a point which so much concerned his loyaltie to Us and the trust reposed in
this to be any hinderance of the indiction of a Generall Assemblie but rather a powerfull and principall motive with speed to conveene the same as the proper Judicatorie wherein to determine such dangerous and universall differences of the Church Neither do wee heare that any Ministers are deposed but onely suspended during this Interim till a Generall Assemblie for their erroneous doctrine and flagitious life So that it were most offensive to God disgracefull to Religion and scandalous to the people to restore them to their places till they be tried and censured And concerning Moderators none of them as we understand are deposed but some onely changed which is verie ordinarie in this Church The fourth concerning the repairing of Parishioners to their owne Church and that Elders assist the Ministers in the discipline of the Church ought to be cognosced and judged by the particular Presbyteries to which the Parishioners and Elders are subject since the cause may bee in the Ministers no lesse then in the Parishioners and Elders And in case they finde no redresse there to assent till they come to a Generall Assemblie the want whereof maketh disorders to bee multiplied both in Presbyteries and particular Parishes To the sixth That ministers wait upon their owne Churches and that none of them come to the Assemblie or place where the same is kept but such as shall bee chosen Commissioners from Presbyteries we answer That none are to come to the place of the Assemblie but such as are either allowed by Commission to have voice or otherwise have such interesse as they can justifie to his Majesties Commissioner and the Assemblie conveened To the seventh Concerning the appointing of Moderators of Presbyteries to bee Commissioners to the Generall Assemblie onely constant Moderators who have ceased long since were found in the Assemblie 1606. which yet was never reputed by the Church to be a lawfull nationall Assemblie to be necessarie members of the Generall Assemblie And if both the Moderators who if they be necessarie members need not to bee chosen and the chosen Commissioners repaire to the Assemblie the Assemblie it selfe can judge best of the members whereof it ought to consist To the ninth That no lay-person whatsoever meddle with the choosing of Commissioners from the Presbyteries and no Minister without his owne Presbyterie we say That according to the order of our Church discipline none but Ministers and Elders of Churches ought to have voice in choosing Commissioners from Presbyteries and that no Minister or Elder should have voice in Election but in his owne Presbyterie The rest of the particulars are concerning civill matters As the fifth concerning the paying of Rents and Stipends to Ministers and Bishops concerning which we can say no further but that the lawes are patent for them as for his Majesties other subjects and that the General Assemblie ought not to be delaied upon any complaint in that kinde The eighth requiring that Bishops and Ministers be secured in their persons we think so reasonable that wee will promise everie one of us for our own parts they shall suffer no violence from us and that we shall hinder others so farre as wee may And if any trouble them otherwise or make them any kinde of molestation in that attendance but by order of Law the parties are justly punishable according to the degree of their fault as other subjects are To the tenth concerning the dissolving of all Convocations and meetings and the peaceablenesse of the Countrie These meetings being kept for no other end but for consulting about lawfull remedies against such pressing grievances as threaten the desolation of this Church and State cannot be dissolved till the evils be removed And we trust that nothing in these our meetings hath escaped us which carrieth in it the smallest appearance of undutifulnesse or which may seeme to tend to the breach of the common peace But although our adversaries have herein calumniated us yet we have alwayes so behaved our selves as beseemed his Majesties most humble and loyall subjects petitioning his Majestie for a legall redresse of our just grievances To the last concerning the Covenant the Commissioner his Grace having many times and most instantly pressed us with that point we did first by invincible arguments make manifest that wee could not without sinning against God and our owne consciences and without doing wrong to this Nationall Church and all posteritie rescind or alter the same And thereafter did at large cleare the same of all unlawfull combination against Authoritie by our last Supplication and Declaration which his Majesties Commissioner accepted as the most readie and powerfull of all other meanes which could come within the compasse of our thought to give his Majestie satisfaction The subscription of this our confession of Faith and Covenant being an act so evidently tending to the glorie of God the Kings honour and happinesse of the Kingdome And having alreadie proved so comfortable to us in the inward of our hearts It is our ardent and constant desire and readie wish that both his Majestie and all his good subjects may be partakers of the same comfort Like as we finde our selves bound by conscience and by the Covenant it selfe to perswade all his Majesties good subjects to joyne with us for the good of Religion his Majestes honour and the quietnesse of the Kingdome which being modestly used by us without pressing or threatning of the meanest we hope shall never give his Majestie the least cause of discontent Seeing therefore according to our power and interesse wee are most willing to remove all hinderances that things may bee carried in a peaceable manner worthy our Profession and Covenant doe aime at nothing but the good of the Kingdome and preservation of the Church which by consumption or combustion is like to be desperately diseased except remedy some way bee speedily provided And wee delight to use no other meanes but such as are legall and have beene ordinarie in this Church since the Reformation Wee are confident that without further delay for preventing of greater evils and miseries then wee can expresse our just desires shall be granted So shall we be encouraged in the peace of our souls still to pray for his Majestie all encrease of true honour and happinesse UPon their refusall he sent for some of the chiefe Lords Covenanters and told them of his resolution for a new journey that he found their wayes such as he could not goe along with them that he had power to grant them a free Generall Assembly but that he could not conceive that to be a free one in which they should bring in everie man to have a voice whom they had a minde to If they would let him know what manner of persons should sit there and what they intended to doe there he would give his best concurrence if he found their intentions to be agreeable to the lawes and customes of that Church and
of benefices visitation and other points of Ecclesiasticall government without a lawfull warrant from the Church in exercising power to suspend deprive command and inhibite excommunication at their pleasure to fine confine imprison banish Ministers and other professours without the warrant of the lawes of the Countrey appointing their Moderators over Presbyteries and Synods prorogating their Diets staying their proceedings against Papists Sorcerers Adulterers and other grosse offenders by exacting of contributions to such Commissioners as hee pleased to send to Court for his owne and his Colleagues affaires by depriving and ordaining of Ministers not onely without the consent of the Presbyteries and Synods but by ordaining of scandalous and unqualified Ministers and depriving of learned and religious Pastours by ordaining Ministers after a forme not allowed of in this Church by silencing Ministers for not reading the Service Book and Book of Canons by interdicting after a Popish manner the exercises of Morning and Evening prayer in their Churches by releasing of excommunicated Papists by contradicting and crossing the votes of the Presbyteries at their pleasure by their pretended negative vote directly contrary to this caution by enacting decrees of Synods without demanding their votes by changing and falsifying their Acts when most votes had carried the contrary by many wayes have they failed in this caution which are so notorious to the whole Church and to your Wisedomes that wee shall condescend upon the same when we are required Whereas in the seventh caution it was provided That in Presbyteries and in Provinciall and generall Assemblies he shall behave himself in all things as one of the brethren of the Presbyterie and be subject to their censure yet the foresaid Master David Lindsey with his foresaid Colleagues respectivè hath not behaved himselfe as a brother at these meetings he disdaines to sit in Presbyteries or to bee subject to their censures he sitteth and over-ruleth in Provinciall Assemblies rather as a Lord then a Moderatour and in stead of behaving himself as a brother in the generall Assemblie hath by threatning and silencing prejudged the liberties of the lawfull Commissioners when they propounded reasoned or concluded matters conducing to the libertie of the Church he forced them to conclude things contrarie That whereas it was concluded at Mount Rose That none of them who should have vote in Parliament should come Commissioners to the generall Assembly or have vote in it in time to come unlesse they had authority or Commission from their owne Presbyteries for that purpose yet the said Master David Lindsey with his foresaid Colleagues respectivè though they had no authoritie by commission from any Presbyteries have usurped to give votes in the last pretended Assemblies Whereas in the seventh chapter of the book of Policie registrated in the register of the Acts of the Assembly it was concluded That in all Assemblies a Moderatour should be chosen by common consent of the whole brethren assembled together and it hath beene so practised since the beginning of the Reformation till he and his fellowes began to break the Cautions yet the said Master David Lindsey with his foresaid Colleagues respectivè have usurped the place of moderation in the last pretended Assemblies and rather domineered then moderated to bring in novations yea further have directed Mandats from themselves as from the representative Church of Scotland which name and power is only competent to generall Assemblies he hath brought in the practice of many Innovations in the Royall Chappell in the Abbey Church and his pretended Cathedrall he hath laboured not onely to hinder the ordinary meetings of generall Assemblies of this Church by obtaining letters and charge from Authoritie to that purpose but also hath laboured what in him lay to take away from the Church the priviledge of holding general Assemblies yeerly belonging to Her by the Word of God Acts of this Church and lawes of this kingdome Whereas it is provided by another caution That Crimen ambitus shall be a sufficient cause of deprivation of him that shall have vote in Parliament yet the said Master David Lindsey with is foresaid Colleagues respectivè are guilty of the said crime in seeking of the said offices and promising and giving good deeds for them Whereas it was provided by the book of Discipline and acts of the Assemblie Feb. An. 1569. and December 1565. 1567. that marriage should not be solemnized without asking of banes three severall Sabbath daies before yet the said Master David Lindsey and his foresaid Colleagues respectivè have given licence to sundry Ministers to solemnize marriage without asking three severall Sabbaths before upon which have followed divers inconveniences a man hath been married to a woman her husband being alive and they not divorced some have been married to persons with whom they have committed adultery before and some have been married without the consent or knowledge of their parents Whereas by the book of Fasting authorized by the generall Assemblie and prefixed before the Psalmes no set or yeerly Fasts are allowed but disallowed as contrary to the libertie of the Church and to the nature of the exercise a Fast yet the said Master David Lindsey and his foresaid Colleagues respectivè have appointed yeerly Fasts and troubled some godly Professors for not observing the same Whereas the office of a Deacon is set forth in the book of Discipline and book of common order before the Psalmes according to the Word of God to have no medling with the preaching of the Word or the ministration of the Sacraments and by the first Confession of faith ratified in the Acts of Parliament chapter 23. Ministers called unto particular flocks have only power of the Ministration of the Sacraments yet the said Master David Lindsey with his foresaid Colleagues respectivè have given a power to certain Divines whom they make Deacons men not admitted to the calling of the ministerie to administer the Sacrament of Baptisme under the names and titles of preaching Deacons and they refuse to admit diverse men to the calling of the Ministerie before they be admitted to that Order Whereas it is ordained by the booke of Policie and Acts of the Assemblie that no man should receive ordination to the Ministerie without a present admission to a particular flock yet the said Master David Lindsey with his foresaid Colleagues respectivè have separated the Act of Ordination from the act of Admission Whereas according to the established order of the Church and the Acts of the Assemblie the ordination and admission of Ministers should be publick in the presence and with the consent of the Congregation yet the said Master David Lindsey with his foresaid Colleagues respectivè have given ordination to some men in other places not in their own Congregation violently have thrust upon them scandalous Ministers Whereas Ministers who teach erroneous and corrupt doctrine should be censured by the book of Discipline and by the Acts of the Assemblie yet the said Master David Lindsey and
of attestation called God to witnesse to it It had like to have growne to a hot contestation but that that night the Assembly was dismissed The next day upon their first sitting down they urged presently the choice of a Moderatour but Our Commissioner desired first Our Letter to the Assembly to be read which was done and it was thus ALthough Wee be not ignorant that the best of Our actions have beene mistaken by many of Our subjects in that Our ancient Kingdome as if Wee had intended innovation in Religion or Lawes yet considering nothing to be more incumbent to the duty of a Christian King then the advancement of Gods glory and the true Religion forgetting what is past We have seriously taken to Our Princely consideration such particulars as may settle and establish the truth of Religion in that Our ancient Kingdome and also to satisfie all Our good people of the reality of Our intentions herein having indicted a free Generall Assembly to be kept at Glasgow the 21. of this instant Wee have likewise appointed Our Commissioner to attend the same from whom you are to expect Our pleasure in every thing and to whom Wee require you to give that true and due respect and obedience as if Wee were personally present Our selves And in full assurance of Our consent to what he shall in Our name promise We have signed these and wills the same for a testimonie to posterity to bee registred in the Bookes of the Assembly At White-Hall the 29. of October 1638. THen they called againe for the choice of a Moderator at which time one Doctor Hammilton presented to Our Commissioner a Declinator and Protestation in the name of the Bishops against the Assembly containing the nullities of it with a desire that it might be read and a publique Act entred for the production of it Upon this there arose a very great heat in the Assembly they alledging that nothing could be done untill a Moderator was chosen and they did directly refuse to reade the said Declinator upon which both Our Commissioner entred a Protestation in Our Clerke of Registers hands against the refusall of it and tooke instruments thereupon and so likewise did Doctor Hammilton in the name of the Bishops At last they proceeded to the choice of a Moderator to which before Our Commissioner gave way hee entred as before another Protestation that their Act of chusing should neither prejudice Our Prerogative and Authoritie nor any Law or Custome of that Church and Kingdome nor barre him when he should see cause from taking legall exceptions either against the person elected or the illegalitie of his election And so they having put divers other stales upon the List accordingly as it was resolved upon before at their Tables in Edinburgh without one contrarie voice except his owne who could not chuse himselfe one Master Alexander Henderson the prime and most rigid Covenanter in the Kingdome was chosen Moderator The third day Our Commissioner at their first meeting required againe that the Bishops Declinator and Protestation might be read which hee conceived they had promised after the Moderator should be chosen but they rejected it againe adding then that the Assembly must be fully constituted of all it members and bee once an Assembly before any thing could be presented to it To which it was answered by Our Commissioner That hee required it onely to be read not to be discussed untill the members of the Assembly were constituted by allowing of their severall Commissions because this Declinator contained reasons why either all or at least some elected should not be admitted Commissioners in the Assembly because of the nullities of the elections expressed in the Declinator which reasons containing the said nullities might perswade as they hoped with them for the rejecting their Commissions which could not bee done after their approving and allowing of them and so by vertue of these Commissions admitting them for constituted members of the Assembly The reason why Our Commissioner did so earnestly urge the reading of that Declinator was because he did fore-see the fallacie which they meant to use viz. The Declinator cannot be read before the Assembly bee constituted and they fearing that the Declinator contained reasons against the constitution of it by such members as were elected and that after they were once admitted it was too late to alledge any reasons for then they were sure to answer that all elections were discussed and the members of the Assembly received and therefore nothing then to bee heard against either which indeed afterward was their very answer There was nothing left here to Our Commissioner but entring a Protestation as formerly and solemnly calling themselves to witnesse whether with any shew of justice the reading of the Bishops Protestation could bee denied before the elections were admitted the principall aime of it being to shew reasons why they could not be admitted wondering with what colour or face they above all men could doe it who had read and published so many Protestations both against Our Proclamations and Acts of Our Councell and so how they could denie to Our Commissioner a thing required in Our name and by Our authoritie which they themselves had practised without any warrantie or authoritie at all But all in vaine for not the least resolution taken at Edinburgh must suffer any abatement and therefore rejecting the reading of the Declinator they first put by the Clerke of the Assembly his sonne who by reason of his fathers sicknesse had a lawfull deputation from him and whom as it seemeth they afterward wrought to a demission and went on to the election of a new Clerke whom without one contrarie voice they did chuse viz. one Master Archibald Johnston an Advocate the Clerke of their Tables at Edinburgh against whose election Our Commissioner likewise protested as formerly At his admission hee made a short speech declaring against his conscience his unwillingnesse to accept that charge but yet affirming that at this time hee would not bee wanting to contribute his part towards the defence of the prerogative of the Sonne of God as if that now had been in any danger The fourth day they begun the reading of the severall Commissions Our Commissioner as formerly entred a Protestation to take exception against their elections in his owne due time onely hee was content they should goe on that he might see their justice in allowing or disallowing the elections of which he knew many to be very untoward and made with violence Now the Reader is carefully to observe their partialitie in admitting or rejecting elections for wheresoever there was a Non-covenanter chosen of which number there were not above two or three or any moderate Covenanter not designed by them at Edinburgh and chosen according to their secret instructions with which the Reader shall afterward be made acquainted them they either quite rejected or suspended from voice untill some exceptions made against their election should bee discussed
traduced doth redound to the reproach of Church and State and of the Gospell whereof they are Preachers 6. Lastly to omit many other informalities against their owne consciences which wee charge in the sight of God as they must answer before his great and fearefull tribunall if they suspect and know not perfectly according to the judgement of charitie them whom they thus accuse to bee free of these crimes wherewith they charge them at least of many of them as appeares evidently by the 11. Article of the said instructions having therein libelled the generall and have yet to seek the specification thereof from the malice of their neighbours if so bee they can furnish it By which informall and malicious proceeding it is most apparent that our said parties do seek our disgrace and overthrow most maliciously and illegally And therefore wee call heaven and earth to witnesse if this bee not a barbarous and violent persecution that all circumstances being considered hath few or none to parallel it since the beginning of Christianitie and if wee have not just cause to decline the said pretended Commissioners as our partie Moreover can these men expect but in a lawfull Assemble they were to bee called and censured for their enorme transgressions foresaid And will any man thinke that they can bee judges in their owne cause It is alleadged out of the Canon-Law against the Pope that if the Pope be at variance with any man he ought not to bee Judge himselfe but to chuse arbitrators And this may militate against them except they be more unruly then Popes Ludovicus Bavarus and all the Estates of Germanie with him did plead this nullitie against the sentence and proceeding of Pope John 22. and of his Councell And the Archbishop of Cullen 1546. did plead the nullitie of Paul 3. his Bull of excommunication because hee protested that so soone as a lawfull Councell should be opened hee would implead the Pope as partie being guiltie of many things censurable by the Councell But the late Protestation doth shew the authors thereof to bee no lesse injurious to our place and authority then they are over-weening of their owne For it is against reason and practice of the Christian Church that no Primate Archbishop nor Bishop have place nor voice deliberative or decisive in generall Assemblies except they be authorized and elected by their Presbyteriall meetings consisting of preaching and ruling Elders as they call them and without warrant or example in the Primitive and purest times of the Church This also doth inferre the nullitie of an Assemblie if the Moderator and President for matters of doctrine and discipline shall bee neither the Primate Archbishop nor Bishop but hee who by pluralitie of Presbyters and Lay-mens voices shall bee elected which happely may be one of the inferiour Clergie or a Lay-person as sometimes it hath fallen out Whereas canonically according to the ancient practice of the Church the Primate should preside according to the constitution of the first Councell of Nice Can. 6. of Antioch Can. 9. and of the Imperiall Law Novell constitut 123. cap. 10. and according to our owne Law For what place in Assemblies Archbishops and Bishops had in other Christian Nations the same they had no doubt in Scotland and yet still do retaine except by some municipall Law it hath beene restrained which cannot be showne For the restraint of their authoritie by the Act of Parliament 1592. is restored by the Act of Parliament 1606. and 1609. and all Acts prejudiciall to their jurisdiction abrogated Neither doth that Act 1592. establishing generall Assemblies debarre Bishops from presiding therein nor the abrogation of their Commission granted to them by Act of Parliament in Ecclesiasticall causes imply and inferre the abrogation of that authoritie which they received not from the Parliament but from Christ from whom they received the spirituall oversight of the Clergie under their charge whereto belongeth the Presidentship in all Assemblies for matters spirituall alwayes with due submission to the supreme Governour which is so intrinsecally inherent in them as they are Bishops that hoc ipso that they are Bishops they are Presidents of all Assemblies of the Clergie as the Chancellour of the Kingdome hath place in Councell and Session not by any Act or Statute but hoc ipso that he is Chancellour By Act of Parliament Bishops are declared to have their right in Synods and other inferiour meetings but by no Law restrained nor debarred from the exercise of it in Nationall Assemblies and the law allowing Bishops to bee Moderators of the Synods doth present a list in absence of the Metropolitan to whom of right this place doth belong as said is out of which the Moderator of the generall Assemblie shall be chosen For is it not more agreeable to reason order and decencie that out of Moderators of Synods a Moderator of the generall Assemblie should be chosen then of the inferiour Clergie subject to them As concerning that Act of the generall Assemblie 1580. whereby Bishops are declared to have no warrant out of Scripture if corruption of time shall bee regarded the authoritie of that Assemblie might bee neglected no lesse then that at Glasgow 1610. But it is ordinarie that prior Acts of Assemblies and Parliaments give place to the posterior for Posteriora derogant prioribus And there past not full six yeares when a generall Assemblie at Edinburgh found that the name of Bishops hath a speciall charge and function annexed to it by the word of God and that it was lawfull for the generall Assemblie to admit a Bishop to a benefice presented by the Kings Majestie with power to admit visite and deprive Ministers and to be Moderators of the Presbyteries where they are resident and subject onely to the sentence of the generall Assemblie As for that Act at Mont rose let them answer to it that have their calling by that Commission Wee professe that wee have a lawfull calling by the election of the Clergie who are of the Chapiter of our Cathedrals and consecration of Bishops by his Majesties consent and approbation according to the laudable Lawes and ancient custome of this Kingdome and of the Church in ancient times and do homage to our Soveraigne Lord for our Temporalities and acknowledge him solo Deo minorem next unto God in all causes and over all persons Spirituall or Temporall in his owne Dominions supreme Governour But now wee may take up Cyprian his complaint Lib. 3. Ep. 14. Quod non periculum metuere debemus de offensâ Domini quando aliqui de Presbyteris nec Evangelii nec loci sui memores sed neque futurum Dei judicium neque praepositum sibi Episcopum cogitantes quod nunquam omnino sub antecessoribus factum est cum contumelia contemptâ praepositi totum sibi vendicent Atque utinam non prostratâ fratrum nostrorum salute sibi omnia vendicarent Contumelias Episcopatûs nostri dissimulare ferre possem sicut
dissimulavi semper pertuli sed dissimulandi nunc locus non est quando decipiatur fraternitas nostra à quibusdam vestrûm qui dùm sine ratione restituendae salutis plausibiles esse cupiunt magis lapsis obsunt Lastly it is most manifest by the premises how absurd it is and contrarie to all reason and practise of the Christian Church that Archbishops and Bishops shall bee judged by Presbyters and more absurd that they should bee judged by a mixt meeting of Presbyters and Laicks conveening without lawfull authoritie of the Church How and by whom they are to bee judged according to the custome of ancient times may be seene by the Councell of Chalcedon Can. 9. and Concil Milevit Can. 22. and Concil Carthag 2. Can. 10. Nor do wee decline the lawfull triall of any competent judicatorie in the Kingdome especially of a generall Assemblie lawfully constitute or of his Majesties High Commissioner for any thing in life or doctrine can be laid to our charge onely we declare and affirme That it is against order decencie and Scripture that we should be judged by Presbyters or by Laicks without authority and Commission from Soveraigne authoritie For the reasons foresaid and many moe and for discharge of our dutie to God to his Church and to our Sacred Soveraigne lest by our silence we betray the Churches right his Majesties authoritie and our owne consciences We for our selves and in name of the Church of Scotland are forced to protest That this Assemblie bee reputed and holden null in Law Divine and humane and that no Church-man bee holden to appeare before assist or approve it and therefore that no letter petition subscription interlocutor certification admonition or other Act whatsoever proceeding from the said Assemblie or any member thereof be any wise prejudiciall to the Religion and Confession of Faith by Act of Parliament established or to the Church or any member thereof or to the jurisdiction liberties priviledges rents benefices and possessions of the same Acts of generall Assemblie of Councell and Parliament in favours thereof or to the three Estates of the Kingdome or any of them or to us or any of us in our persons or estates authoritie jurisdiction dignitie rents benefices reputation and good name but on the contrarie that all such Acts and deeds above mentioned and everie one of them are and shall be reputed and esteemed unjust illegall and null in themselves with all that hath followed or may follow thereupon And forasmuch as the said Assemblie doth intend as wee are informed to call in question discusse and condemne things not onely in themselves lawfull and warrantable but also defined and determined by Acts of generall Assemblie and Parliaments and in practice accordingly to the disgrace and prejudice of reformed Religion authoritie of the Lawes and Liberties of the Church and Kingdome weakning his Majesties authoritie disgracing the profession and practice which hee holdeth in the Communion of the Church where hee liveth and branding of Reformed Churches with the foule aspersions of Idolatrie and superstition wee protest before God and man That what shall bee done in this kinde may not redound to the disgrace or disadvantage of Reformed Religion nor be reputed a deed of the Church of Scotland Wee protest that wee imbrace and hold that the Religion presently professed in the Church of Scotland according to the Confession therof received by the Estates of this Kingdome and ratified in Parliament the yeare 1567. is the true Religion bringing men to eternall Salvation and do detest all contrarie errour Wee protest that Episcopall government in the Church is lawfull and necessarie and that the same is not opposed and impugned for any defect or fault either in the government or Governours but by the malice and craft of the Devill envying the successe of that government in this Church these many yeares by-past most evident in planting of Churches with able and learned Ministers recovering of the Church rents helping of the Ministers stipends preventing of these jarres betwixt the King and the Church which in former times dangerously infested the same keeping the people in peace and obedience and suppressing of Poperie which in respect either of the number of their professors or boldnesse of their profession was never at so low an ebbe in this Kingdome as before these stirres We protest that seeing these who for scruple of conscience did mislike the Service Book Canons and High Commission which were apprehended or given forth to be the cause of the troubles of this Church have now received satisfaction and his Majestie is graciously pleased to forget and forgive all offences by-past in these stirres that all the subjects of this Kingdome may live in peace and Christian love as becommeth faithfull subjects and good Christians laying aside all hatred envie and bitternesse And if any shall refuse so to do they may beare the blame and be thought the cause of the troubles that may ensue and the same bee not imputed to us or any of us who desire nothing more then to live in peace and concord with all men under his Majesties obedience and who have committed nothing against the Lawes of the Kingdome and Church that may give any man just cause of offence and are so farre from wishing hurt to any man in his person or estate notwithstanding all the indignities and injuries wee have suffered that for quenching this present combustion and setling peace in this Church and Countrey wee could bee content after clearing of our innocencie of all things wherewith wee can bee charged not onely to lay downe our Bishopricks at his Majesties feet to bee disposed of at his Royall pleasure but also if so bee it pleased God to lay downe our lives and become a sacrifice for this attonement We protest in the sight of God to whom one day we must give account that we make use of this Declinator and Protestation out of the conscience of our dutie to God and his Church and not out of feare of any guiltinesse whereof any of us is conscious to himselfe either of wickednesse in our lives or miscarriage in our callings being content everie one of us for our owne particular as wee have never showne our selves to be otherwise to undergo the lawfull and most exact triall of any competent judicatorie within this Kingdome or of his Majesties High Commissioner And we most humbly intreat his Grace to intercede with the Kings Majestie that he may appoint a free and lawfull Generall Assemblie such as Gods word the practice of the Primitive Church and Lawes of the Kingdome do prescribe and allow with all convenient speed to the effect the present distractions of the Church may bee setled And if there be any thing to be laid to the charge of any of the Clergie of whatsoever degree either in life and manners or doctrine or exercise of his calling and jurisdiction hee may bee heard to answer all accusations and abide all triall
of your Soveraignes gracious promises let this paper which I deliver to the Clerke to be read witnesse it to you all which I am sure you cannot chuse but receive with all thankfulnesse and dutifull acknowledgement of his Majesties pietie goodnesse and clemencie unlesse all Religion and goodnesse be quite banished out of this Land Here the Clerke publiquely read the paper which followeth THe Kings Majesty being informed that many of his good subjects have apprehended that by the introducing of the Service Booke and Booke of Canons the in-bringing of Poperie and Superstition hath been intended hath been graciously pleased to discharge like as by these he doth discharge the Service Booke and Booke of Canons and the practice of them or either of them And annulleth and rescindeth all Acts of Councell Proclamations and all other Acts and Deeds whatsoever that have been made and published for establishing them or either of them And declareth the same to be null and to have no force nor effect in time comming The Kings Majestie as he conceived for the ease and benefit of his subjects established the high Commission that thereby justice might be ministred and the faults and errours of such persons as are made liable thereto taken order with and punished with the more conveniencie and lesse trouble to the people But finding his gracious intentions therein to be mistaken hath been pleased to discharge like as by these presents he doth discharge the same and all acts and deeds whatsoever made for establishing thereof And the Kings Majestie being informed that the urging of the five Articles of Perthes Assembly hath bred distraction in the Church and State hath been graciously pleased to take the same to his Royall consideration and for the quiet and peace of this Countrie hath not onely dispensed with the practice of the said Articles but also discharged all and whomsoever persons from urging the practice thereof upon either Laicke or Ecclesiasticall person whatsoever And hath freed all his subjects from all censure and paines whether Ecclesiasticall or Secular for not urging practising or obeying them or any of them notwithstanding of any thing contained in the Acts of Parliament or generall Assembly to the contrary And his Majestie is further contented that the Assembly take the same so far into their consideration as to represent it to the next Parliament there to bee ratified as the Estates shall find fitting And because it hath been pretended that oathes have been administred different from that which is conceived in the Acts of Parliament his Majestie is pleased to declare by Me that no other oath shall be required of any Minister at his entry then that which is set downe in the Act of Parliament And that it may appeare how carefull his Majestie is that no corruption or innovation shall creep into this Church neither yet any scandall vice or fault of any person whatsoever censurable or punishable by the Assembly goe unpunished his Majestie is content to declare by Mee and assure all his good people that generall Assemblies shall be kept so oft as the affaires of this Church shall require And that none of Our good subjects may have cause of grievances against the proceedings of the Prelates his Majestie is content that all and every one of the present Bishops and their Successors shall be answerable and accordingly from time to time censurable according to their merits by the generall Assembly And to give all his Majesties good people full assurance that he never intended to admit any alteration or change in the true Religion professed within this Kingdome and that they may bee truly and fully satisfied of the reality of his intentions and integritie of the same his Majestie hath been pleased to require and command all his good subjects to subscribe the confession of faith and band for maintenance thereof and of his Majesties person and authority formerly signed by Our deare Father in anno 1580. and now likewise requireth all those of this present Assembly to subscribe the same And it is his Majesties will that this be inserted and registred in the Bookes of Assembly as a testimony to posteritie not onely of the sinceritie of his intentions to the said true Religion but also of his resolution to maintaine and defend the same and his subjects in the profession thereof Subscribitur HAMILTOUN AFter the reading whereof Our Commissioner went on and added I have you see subscribed that paper with mine owne hand and to make his Majesties Religion Grace Goodnesse and the Zeale which hee hath to settle the peace of this Church and Kingdome knowne to all succeeding generations I doe require that it bee entred into your ordinarie Bookes of Assembly but with this provision That this my assent to the Act of registring this his Majesties Declaration shall be no approbation of the lawfulness of this Assembly or of any other Act made or to be made in it but that all Protestations made or to be made against this Assembly in all other acts and proceedings thereof shall stand in full force and effect And of the delivery of this paper containing his Majesties gracious offers into the hands of the Clerke of the Assembly and of my requiring it to be registred in the Bookes of the same as also of my Protestation against the lawfulnesse of this Assembly in all other Acts I take publique instruments in the hands of the Clerke of Our Soveraigne Lord his Register and require him to make an act thereof Which being done the Moderatour in a short speech acknowledged Our speciall goodnesse in granting the particulars contained in the paper promising it should be registred in the bookes of assembly and desired to goe on with the businesse of the assembly But Our Commissioner told them hee must goe on with them no more for now the sad part was behind viz. That since they had brought Lay-Elders to give voices in this assembly a thing not practised before or at least dis-used so long that no man present had seen it the Ministers sitting here as Commissioners were chosen by Lay-Elders a thing never heard of before in this Church all the persons having voices here were before the elections designed by the Tables at Edinburgh all others by their expresse directions barred these few Commissioners sent hither but not chosen according to their designation were by their cavills made for that purpose set aside and not admitted to have voices the Bishops cyted hither were to bee judged by the very same persons who had pre-judged and condemned them at their Tables hee attested heaven and earth whether this could bee imagined to be any way a free Assembly and therefore called God to witnesse that they themselves were the cause and the only cause why this Assembly could not have that happy issue which We heartily wished and why the Bishops could receive no censure from them in regard of these their sinister proceedings for how could any man expect justice
disorders absolutely forgotten and forgiven and for the more full and cleare extirpating all ground and occasion of feares of innovation of Religion We had commanded the confession of faith and band for maintenance thereof and of authoritie in defence of the same subscribed by Our deare Father and his houshold in anno 1580. to bee renewed and subscribed againe by Our subjects here Like as for settling of a perfect peace in the Church and Common-wealth of this Kingdome We caused indict a free generall Assembly to bee holden at Glasgow the 21. of this instant and thereafter a Parliament in May 1639. By which element dealing We looked assuredly to have reduced Our subjects to their former quiet behaviour and dutifull carriage whereto they are bound by the Word of God and Lawes both nationall and municipall to Us their native and Soveraigne Prince And albeit the wished effects did not follow but by the contrary by Our so gracious procedure they were rather emboldened not onely to continue in their stubborne and unlawfull waies but also daily adde to their former procedures acts of neglect and contempt of authority as evidently appeared by open opposing of Our just and religious pleasure and command exprest in Our last Proclamation anent the discharge of the Service Booke Booke of Canons high Commission c. protesting against the same and striving by many indirect meanes to withdraw the hearts of Our good people not onely from a hearty acknowledgement of Our gracious dealing with them but also from the due obedience to those Our just religious commands notwithstanding We had been formerly so oft petitioned by themselves for the same By their daily and hourely guarding and watching about Our Castle of Edinburgh suffering nothing to bee imported therein but at their discretion And openly stopping and impeding any importation of ammunition or other necessaries whatsoever to any other of Our houses within that Kingdome Denying to Us their Soveraigne Lord that libertie and freedome which the meanest of them assume to themselves an act without precedent or example in the Christian world By making of Convocations and Councell Tables of Nobility Gentry Burrowes and Ministers within the Citie of Edinburgh where not regarding the Lawes of the Kingdome they without warrant of authoritie conveene assemble and treat upon matters as well ecclesiasticall as civill send their injunctions and directions throughout the countrey to their subordinate Tables and other under-ministers appointed by them for that effect And under colour and pretext of Religion exercing an unwarranted and unbounded libertie require obedience to their illegall and unlawfull procedures and directions to the great and seen prejudice of Authority and lawfull Monarchicall government And notwithstanding it was evidently manifest by the illegall and unformall course taken in the election of their Commissioners for the Assembly whereof some are under the censure of this Church some under the censure of the Church of Ireland and some long since banished for open and avowed teaching against Monarchie others of them suspended and some admitted to the Ministerie contrary to the forme prescribed by the Lawes of this Kingdome others of them a long time since denounced Rebels and put to the Horne who by all law and unviolable custome and practique of this Kingdome are and ever have been incapable either to pursue or defend before any Judicatorie far lesse to be Judges themselves some of them confined and all of them by oath and subscription bound to the overthrow of Episcopacie And by this and other their under-hand working and private informations and perswasions have given just ground of suspicion of their partiality herein so made themselves unfit Judges of what concerneth Episcopacie And also it was sufficiently cleared by the peremptorie and illegall procedures of the Presbyteries who at their own hand by order of law and without due forme of processe thrust out the Moderatours lawfully established and placed others whom they found most inclinable to their turbulent humours associate to themselves for the choosing of the said Commissioners for the Assembly a Laick-Elder out of each Paroch who being in most places equall if not moe in number then the Ministerie made choice both of the Ministers who should be Commissioners from the Presbyteries as also of a Ruling-Elder being directed more therein by the warrants from the foresaid pretended Tables then by their owne judgements as appeares by the severall private instructions sent from them farre contrary to the Lawes of the Countrey and lowable custome of the Church by which doings it is too manifest that no calme nor peaceable procedure or course could have been expected from this Assembly for settling of the present disorders and distractions Yet We were pleased herein in some sort to blindfold Our own judgement and over-looke the saids disorders and patiently to attend the meeting of the said Assembly still hoping that when they were met together by Our Commissioner his presence and assistance of such other well disposed subjects who were to be there and by their owne seeing the reall performance of all that was promised by Our last Proclamation they should have been induced to returne to their due obedience of subjects But perceiving that their seditious disposition still increases by their repairing to the said Assembly with great bands and troupes of men all boddin in feare of warre with guns and pistolets contrarie to the lawes of this Kingdome custome observed in all Assemblies and in high contempt of Our last Proclamation at Edinburgh the 16. of this instant As also by their peremptory refusing of Our Assessors authorized by Us although fewer in number then Our dearest Father was in use to have at divers Assemblies the power of voting in this Assembly as formerly they have done in other Assemblies and by their partiall unjust and unchristian refusing and not suffering to bee read the reasons and arguments given in by the Bishops and their adherents to Our Commissioner why the Assembly ought not to proceed to the election of a Moderatour without them neither yet to the admitting of any of the Commissioners of the saids Commissioners from Presbyteries before they were heard object against the same though earnestly required by our Commissioner in our name And notwithstanding that our Commissioner under his hand by warrant from us gave in a sufficient declaration of all that was contained in our late proclamation and declaration the same bearing likewise our pleasure of the registration of the same in the books of assembly for the full assurance of the true religion to all our good subjects And yet not resting satisfied therewith lest the continuance of their meeting together might produce other the like dangerous acts derogatorie to royall authoritie we have thought good for preveening thereof and for the whole causes and reasons above-mentioned and divers others importing the true monarchicall government of this estate to dissolve and breake up the said assembly And therefore OVR will is and we
could wee have any other intention or meaning being clearely warranted and expresly commanded by his Majesties instructions to exact the said Oath and take order that it should bee sworne throughout the Kingdome in that faire and lawfull sense and none other Neither in this point did we deliver our owne words or his Majesties minde ambiguously or doubtfully so as any other sense to our thinking could bee picked or wrung out of either the one or the other for we do attest the Lords of the Councell whether wee did not to manie or all of them upon severall occasions in conference with them ever since our comming into this Kingdome constantly declare unto them that his Majesties resolution was not to suffer Episcopall government to be abolished Wee attest all the Lords of Session whether before our tendering of that Oath to them or their Lordships taking of it wee did not fully and freely declare to them that his Majesties minde in commanding us to see this Oath taken and our own minde in requiring them to take it was onely to settle and secure the Religion and Faith professed in this Kingdome but was not to bee extended to the abjuring of Episcopall government or any other thing now in force by the Lawes of this Church and State at the time of administring this Oath which their Lordships being the reverend and learned Judges of the Lawes knew well could not bee abjured after which perspicuous predeclaration of our minde their Lordships undoubtedly in that same sense and none other took the said Oath And now good Reader having heard his Majesties minde and intention and in pursuance of them the minde of his Majesties High Commissioner concerning this Oath the reasons to repell the former objection seeme to bee needlesse the knowne minde of the supreme Magistrate who urgeth an Oath being to be taken for the undoubted sense of it yet for as much as that objection hath of late beene mainly urged for alienating the mindes of many of his Majesties good subjects and well affected to that government from adhering unto it be pleased to know that the former objection hath neither shew nor force of reason in it and that by the said Oath and that explanation set down in the Act of Councell Episcopall government neither was nor possibly could bee abjured and that for many reasons but especially these five which we having seen and approved have caused to bee here inserted and leave them to thine impartiall consideration First God forbid it should be imagined that his Majestie should command his subjects to take an Oath which in it selfe is absolutely unlawfull but for a man to sweare against a thing which is established by the Lawes of Church and Kingdome in which he liveth unlesse that thing be repugnant to the Law of God is absolutely unlawfull untill such time as that Kingdome and Church do first repeale these Lawes and therefore Episcopall government not being repugnant to the Law of God nay being consonant unto it as being of Apostolicall institution which shall be demonstrated if any man please to argue it and standding fully established both by Acts of Parliament and Acts of generall Assemblie at the time when this Oath was administred to abjure it before these Acts be repealed is absolutely unlawfull and against the word of God and it is to be hoped no man will conceive that his Majestie meaned to command a thing absolutely unlawfull And if it should be said as it is said by some who not being able to avoid the force of reason do betake themselves to pitifull shifts and evasions that these Acts of Parliament and Assembly establishing Episcopall government were unlawfully and unduly obtained certainely if they have any reasons for this their bold assertion which is of a more dangerous consequence then that it ought to be endured in any well setled Church or Common-wealth these reasons may bee presented lawfully to these judicatories to entreat them to reduce the saids Acts if there shall be strength and validitie found in them But to hold that untill such time as these judicatories shall repeale the saids Lawes they either ought to bee or can possibly bee abjured is a wicked position and destructive of the verie foundation of justice both in Church and Common-wealth Secondly it cannot bee imagined that this Oath should oblige the now takers of it farther then it did oblige the takers of it at first for doctrine and points of faith it did oblige them then and so doth it us now perpetually because these points in themselves are perpetuall immutable and eternall But for points of discipline and government and policie of the Church that Oath could binde the first takers of it no longer then that discipline and government should stand in force by the Lawes of this Church and Kingdome which our Church in her positive Confession of Faith printed amongst the Acts of Parliament Artic 20.21 declareth to bee alterable at the will of the Church it selfe and so repealable by succeeding Acts if the Câ—â—rch shall see cause When a King at his Coronation taketh an Oath to rule according to the Lawes of his Kingdom or a Judge at his admission sweareth to give judgement according to these Lawes the meaning of their Oaths cannot be that they shall rule or judge according to them longer then they continue to be Lawes but if any of them shall come afterwards to bee lawfully repealed both King and Judge are free from ruling and judging according to such of them as are thus lawfully repealed notwithstanding their originall Oath Since therefore if the first takers of that Oath were now alive they could not bee said to have abjured Episcopall government which hath been since establshed by Lawes of this Church and Kingdom especially considering that this Church in her Confession holdeth Church government to bee alterable at the will of the Church certainely we repeating but their Oath cannot be said to abjure that government now more then they could be said to do it if they were now alive and repeating the same Oath Thirdly how can it be thought that the verie Act of his Majesties commanding this Oath should make Episcopall government to bee abjured by it more then the Covenanters requiring it of their associats in both Covenants the words and syllables of the Confession of Faith being the same Now it is well knowne that many were brought in to subscribe their Covenant by the solemne protestations of the contrivers and urgers of it that they might subscribe it without abjuring of Episcopacie and other such things as were established by Law since the time that this Oath was first invented and made and the three Ministers in their first answers to the Aberdene Quaeres have fully and clearely expressed themselves to that sense holding these things for the present not to bee abjured but onely referred to the tryall of a free generall Assemblie And likewise the adherers to the last Protestation against his
represented the third Estate since the Reformation beginning no higher then the yeare 1579. In which the Reader must note that the Abbots were secular men who had got the Abbey-lands but yet retained their names and places in Parliament Parliament 23. Octob. 1579. Sederunt pro Clero Archb. S. Andrews Sederunt pro Clero Glasgow Sederunt pro Clero Dunkell Sederunt pro Clero Murray Sederunt pro Clero Orknay Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 15. Parliament penult Octob. 1581. Sederunt pro Clero Archb. S. Andrews Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Orknay Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 12. Parliament 2. Octob. 1583. Sederunt pro Clero Archb. S. Andrews Sederunt pro Clero Dunkell Sederunt pro Clero Aberdene Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Orknay Sederunt pro Clero Dumblane Sederunt pro Clero Argyl Sederunt pro Clero Iles. Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 13. Parliament 22. May 1584. Sederunt pro Clero Archb. S. Andrews Sederunt pro Clero Dunkel Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Orknay Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 11. Parliament 26. August 1584. Sederunt pro Clero Archb. S. Andrews Sederunt pro Clero Dunkel Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Aberdene Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 4. Parliament 1. Decemb. 1585. Sederunt pro Clero Archâ— S. Andrews Sederunt pro Clero Dunkel Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Orknay Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 9. Parliament 13. July 1587. Sederunt pro Clero Archb. S. Andrews Sederunt pro Clero Aberdene Sederunt pro Clero Dunkell Sederunt pro Clero Orknay Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 13. Parliament 3. Aprill 1592. Sederunt pro Clero Orknay Sederunt pro Clero Dunkell Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 6. Parliament 3. Aprill 1593. Sederunt pro Clero Aberdene Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 6. Parliament 22. Aprill 1594. Sederunt pro Clero Dunkell Sederunt pro Clero Aberdene Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 5. Parliament 1. Novemb. 1597. Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 5. Parliament 1. Novem. 1600. Sederunt pro Clero Dunkell Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 6. Parliament 12. Aprill 1604. Sederunt pro Clero Glasgow Sederunt pro Clero Dunkell Sederunt pro Clero Rosse Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Caithnes Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 3. Parliament 3. July 1606. Sederunt pro Clero S. Andrewes Sederunt pro Clero Glasgow Sederunt pro Clero Dunkell Sederunt pro Clero Rosse Sederunt pro Clero Galloway Sederunt pro Clero Orknay Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 1. Sederunt pro Clero Priors 1. Parliament 3. August 1607. Sederunt pro Clero St. Andrewes Sederunt pro Clero Glasgow Sederunt pro Clero Murray Sederunt pro Clero Brechin Sederunt pro Clero Caithnes Sederunt pro Clero Orknay Sederunt pro Clero Abbots 3. ABout this time Our Commissioner resolved to aske Our leave for his returne to Us seeing there was no good to bee expected from Our faire and gracious proceedings with them of the pretended Assembly and wrote unto Us accordingly When he had received Our leave for his returne hee hearing of the great stirres which were now raised at Edinburgh and the strong and great guards which were since his leaving of Glasgow put upon Our Castle there repaired thither to Our Palace at Holy-rood-house where he found the people of that Citie horribly abused by the mis-reports of all the passages of the Assembly whilst he continued at Glasgow especially with a false information that We had there made good nothing of all which was contained in Our last gracious Declaration made at Edinburgh the 22. of September last past herewith hee made Us presently acquainted which moved Us by a very speedie dispatch to command him by Our Proclamation to make known to all Our subjects at Edinburgh the summe of his whole proceedings at Glasgow which Our Commissioner presently performed by causing this Our ensuing Proclamation to bee published at the Market Crosse of that Our Citie Charles R. CHARLES by the grace of God King of Scotland England France and Ireland defender of the Faith To Our Lovits Maissars Heraulds Pursevants Our Sheriffes in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute greeting Whereas for the removing of the disorders which had happened of late within this Our Kingdome and for setling of a prefect peace in the Church and Common-wealth thereof We were pleased to cause indict a free generall Assembly to be holden at Glasgow the one and twentieth of November last And for Our subjects their better content and assurance that they should bee freed of all such things as by their petitions and supplications given in to the Lords of Our Privie Councell they seemed to be grieved at We in some sort preveened the Assembly by discharging by Our Proclamation the Service Book Booke of Canons and high Commission freed and liberate Our subjects from the practising of the five Articles eximed all Ministers at their entry from giving any other oath then that which is contained in the act of Parliament made all persons both Ecclesiasticall Civill lyable to the censure of Parliament generall Assembly or any other judicatorie competent according to the nature of their offence had declared all by-gone disorders absolutely forgotten and forgiven and last for securing to all posteritie the truth and liberty of Religion did command the Confession of Faith and band for maintenance thereof and of authoritie in defence of the same subscribed by Our deare Father and his houshold in anno 1580. to be renewed and subscribed againe by Our subjects here And albeit that this Our gracious and pious command in stead of obedience and submission rancountred open and publicke opposition and protestation against the same And that they continued their daily and hourely guarding and watching Our Castle of Edinburgh suffering nothing to be imported therein but at their discretion stopping and impeding any importation of ammunition or other necessaries whatsoever to any of Our houses within this Kingdome Denying to Us their soveraigne Lord that libertie and freedome which the meanest of them assume to themselves an act without precedent or example in the Christian world Like as they spared not boldly and openly to continue their conventions and Councell tables of Nobility Gentrie Ministers and Burgesses within the citie of Edinburgh where not regarding the laws of the Kingdome without warrant of Authority they conveened assembled and treated upon matters as well Ecclesiasticall as Civill sent their injunctions and directions throughout the countrey to their subordinate tables and other under Ministers appointed by them for that effect And under colour and pretext of Religion exercing an unwarranted libertie required obedience to their unlawfull and illegall directions to the
seen prejudice of Authority and lawfull monarchicall government And notwithstanding it was evidently manifest by the illegall and unformall course taken in the election of the Commissioners for the Assembly whereof some of them were under the censure of this Church some under the censure of the Church of Ireland some long since banished for open and avowed teaching against Monarchie others of them suspended and some admitted to the Ministerie contrary to the forme prescribed by the lawes of this Kingdome others of them rebells and at the Horne some of them confined and all of them by oath and subscription bound to the overthrow of Episcopall Government And by this and other their under-hand working and private informations and perswasions have given just ground of suspicion of their partialitie and so made themselves unfit judges of what concerneth Episcopacie And al 's albeit it was sufficiently cleared by the peremptory and illegall procedures of the Presbyteries who at their owne hand by order of Law and without due forme of processe thrust out Moderatours lawfully established and placed others whom they found most inclinable to their turbulent humours associate to themseves for chusing of the Commissioners to the Assembly a Laick-Elder out of each Parish who being in most places equall if not moe in number then the ministerie made choice both of the ministers who should be Commissioners from the Presbyteries as also of a Laick-Elder which in time will prove to be of a dangerous consequence and import a heavie burthen to the libertie of Church and Church-men being more directed therein by the warrants of the foresaid pretended Tables then by their owne judgements as appeared by the severall instructions sent from them farre contrary to the Lawes of this Country and lowable custome of this Church some whereof were produced and exhibit by Our Commissioner and publikly read One whereof direct to the Noblemen and Barons of each Presbyterie doth among many other odde passages require diligence lest say they by our owne sillinesse and treacherie wee lose so faire an occasion of our libertie both Christian and Civill a strange phrase to proceed from dutifull or loyall hearted subjects The other to the Moderatours of the severall Presbyteries under the title of Private Instructions August 27. first containeth that these private instructions shall be discovered to none but to brethren well affected to the cause secondly order must be taken that none be chosen ruling Elders but Covenanters and those well affected to the businesse thirdly that where the Minister is not well affected the ruling Elder be chosen by the Commissioners of the shire and spoken to particularly for that effect fourthly that they be carefull that no Chappelmen chaptermen or Minister justice of peace be chosen although Covenanters except they have publikly renounced or declared the unlawfulnesse of their places fifthly that the ruling Elders come from every Church in equall number with the Ministers and if the Minister oppose to put themselves in possession notwithstanding of any opposition sixthly that the Commissioner of the shire cause conveen before him the ruling Elder of every Kirk chosen before the day of the election and enjoyne them upon their oath that they give vote to none but to those who are named already at the meeting at Edinburgh seventhly that where there is a Nobleman in the bounds of the Presbyterie he be chosen and where there is none there be chosen a Baron or one of the best quality and he onely a Covenanter eighthly that the ablest man in every Presbyterie be provided to dispute de potestate supremi magistratus in Ecclesiasticis praesertim in convocandis conciliis c. Whereby it is most evident what prelimitations indirect and partiall courses and dangerous propositions have beene used in the preparations and elections to this pretended Assembly By which unlawfull doings although Wee had sufficient reason to have discharged the meeting of the said Assembly yet We were pleased patiently to attend the same still hoping that when they were met together by the presence of Our Commissioner and assistance of some well affected subjects who were to be there and by their own seeing the real performance of what was promised by Our Proclamation they should have bin induced to return to the due obedience of subjects But when We perceived that their turbulent dispositions did increase as was manifest by their repairing to the said pretended Assembly with great troups and bands of men all boddin in fear of war with guns Pistolets contrary to the lawes of this Kingdome and in high contempt of Our Proclamation at Edinburgh the 16. day of Novemb. last And also by the peremptory refusing to the assessors authorized by Us although fewer in number then Our dearest Father was in use to have the power of voting in this Assembly as formerly they had done in all others openly averring that We nor Our Commissioner had no further power there then the meanest Commissioner of their number by their partial and unjust refusing not suffering to be read the reasons arguments given in by the Bishops their adherents to Our Commissioner why they ought not to proceed to the election of a Moderatour neither yet to the trying and admitting of the Commissioners before they were heard though in Our name they were earnestly required thereto by Our Commissioner and notwithstanding that Our Commissioner by warrant from Us gave in under his hand a sufficient Declaration of all that was contained in Our late Proclamation bearing likewayes Our pleasure of the registration of the same in the books of Assembly for all assurance of the truth and puritie of Religion to all Our good subjects as doth clearly appear by the declaration it self wherof the tenor follows The Kings Majesty being informed that many of his good subjects have apprehended that by the introducing of the Service Book and Booke of Canons the inbringing of Superstition hath been intended hath been graciously pleased to discharge like as by these he doth discharge the Service Booke and Booke of Canons and the practice of them and either of them and annulls and rescinds all Acts of Councell Proclamations and other acts and deeds whatsoever that have beene made or published for establishing them or either of them and declares the same to be null and to have no force nor effect in time comming The Kings Majestie as he conceived for the ease and benefit of the subject established the high Commission that thereby justice might be administrate and the faults and errours of such persons as are made lyable thereto taken order with and punished with the more conveniencie and lesse trouble to the people But finding his gracious intention therein to be mistaken hath beene pleased to discharge like as by these Hee doth discharge the same and all acts and deeds whatsoever made for establishing thereof And the Kings Majesty being informed that the urging of the five Articles of Perth Assembly hath
and Records that the Castle of Edinburgh was given in keeping to the house of Erskine by the King and Estates of Parliament hac lege expressa conditione ut nulli nisi conventui ordinum reposcenti traderent Eighthly this Act is not unexampled in the Christian world but hath many presidents both in the History of other Kirks and Kingdomes and of our own which hath many such examples even done by the Estates themselves whose fact doth make our right and whose authority is ratified conforme to the ancient and loveable custome in punishing rebellious subjects and preserving the faithfull Act 130. Par. 8. James 6. In the next place we are upbraided for our meetings which in the Proclamation are called Councell Tables only by that name which by ordinary expression is due to judicatories to make it beleeved that we have arrogate to our selves some unwarrantable power and authority which we neither have nor intends to doe God willing whereas the truth is that in a matter so highly importing all of us as the preservation of Religion and purity of Gods worship it was most necessary for us to meet and that in a sober modest and quiet way for deliberating with joynt advice upon those weighty businesses for the good of the Kirke his Majesties honour and peace of the Kingdome And those meetings did never emit nor send forth any authoritative command or injunctions but conclude upon such advices as might be most expedient for advancing that great businesse and facilitating the way of supplication to his Majestie and overtures for the Assembly and Parliament which was an Act lawfull and approvable in the selfe albeit the conclusions thereof did not carry the force or validity of a binding law or command which was never aimed at nor intended Which meetings they might warrantably keepe for that end being for Gods glory and removing the iust grievances of the subiects no waies prohibited by any of our municipall Lawes which disapproveth such conventions as are for disturbance of the peace or usurpation against Authority whereof neither of the two can bee alledged against these meetings Not the first because no invasion violence offer of wrong by word or deed to any person no even to those upon whom they justly complaine ensewed upon the same notwithstanding of their provocations and their feares falsly represented to his Maiesty and maliciously pretended for their stay out of the Countrey Not the second because their meetings was to consult in manner foresaid upon the most fitting and humble way of supplicating his Maiestie and for the most convenient propositions to bee represented to his Maiesty the Parliament and Assembly all which acts are most compatible with the loyalty and duty of good subjects and doe no waies intrench upon Authority seeing they can never be challenged to have assumed to themselves any judiciall determination in any matter of State Civill nor Ecclesiasticall but by voluntary instructions and opinions every one to another in a common cause of Religion did resolve what might be most conducible to their lawfull and iust ends And yet those conventions want not the warrant of Law and Authority because they consist of the Nobility Barons Burrows and Ministerie which by the fundamentall Lawes of the Land have place of proponing reasoning and voting in Parliament and Assemblies Act 113. King James the 6. Parl. 11. wherein is acknowledged that it is necessary to the King and his Estates to be truly informed of the needs and causes pertaining to His loving subjects in all estates and therefore ratifieth the Act made by King James 1 anno 1427. Giving power to Barons to propone all and sundry needs and causes and to heare treat and determine all causes to be proponed in Parliament which necessary and true information cannot be made to his Majestie and Estates without privy meeting and consultation and consequently it being granted to them to informe the King and Estates and to propone heare treat and finally determine all needs and causes to be proponed in Parliament there must be necessarily understood to be a sufficient power granted to them for meeting and advising upon that information Quia aliquo concesso omnia concessa videntur sine quibus concessum expediri nequit And as to the Ministers they have likewayes power granted to them not onely by the word of God and constitutions of the Kirke but by the King and laws of this land to propone reason and vote in Assemblies and be the samine parity of reason to keep preceding meetings not to determinate or execute but to consult upon their necessary propositions So that these lawfull meetings for the religious end suffer wrongously the invidious designation of Councell tables which is onely done for procuring misconstruction against them because at these meetings and consultations they sat about a table which posture is no wayes prejudiciall to Authority the meanest of mechanik crafts having their own tables where about they sit when they consult upon the smallest businesse importing their trade And farder these same meetings consisting of Commissioners from each Sheriffedome and body of this Estate were allowed by his Majesties Councel first and thereafter by the Commissioner his Grace In so farre as the whole subjects of this kingdome out of their resentment of the weight of this cause having numerously conveened at Edinburgh from all the parts of the kingdome that confluence of people was desired to be dissolved and directed to make choose forth of that great number of some Commissioners from each shire who might meet to represent their just grievances and desires and attend the answers thereof The third particular challenge in the Proclamation is for the illegall and unformall course taken in the election of Commissioners to the Assembly whereof some are alledged to have beene under the censure of this Kirke some under the censure of the Kirke of Ireland some banished for teaching against Monarchie others being suspended some admitted to the Ministery contrare to the laws of this kingdome others at the Horne some confined and all by oath bound to the overthrow of Episcopacie Whereunto although no answer be requisite seeing the persons thereby meaned are not specially condescended upon yet for clearing all mens mindes and showing the warrantablenesse of our proceedings it is of truth that the Assembly after particular triall which they took upon some such surmises could not finde any censured by the Kirke of Scotland or Ireland by a lawfull manner in a lawfull judicatory or for a lawfull cause but on the contrary the Assembly after carefull searching and examination found that any censure inflicted upon any of these persons in Scotland was only by a Bishop who ought to be punished for taking arrogantly on him the name of the Kirke of Scotland and that without the advice of any Presbytery but sitting in his high commission which was condemned by the laws of this Kirke and
sharpest warre was rather to be endured then the least errour in doctrine or discipline Another in his Sermon wished That hee and all the Bishops in that Kingdome were in a bottomlesse boat at sea together for he could bee well content to lose his life so they might lose theirs Thousands more such beastly barbarous and profane speeches were delivered by them not onely in their Pulpits but in their Sermons For the Reader must know that in these times of tumult where the Churches were not able to containe the great multitudes they did usually preach in common and profane places in roomes which are yet in building and not finished intended for Lawyers to plead in in the Halls of the Taylors and other mechanicall tradesmen of Edinburgh in some private houses in the Hall of the Colledge of Edinburgh where one Sunday Rollock being to preach but finding the crowds of people to be too great for that place mounted upon the top of a paire of staires which went up to an upper ground in an open place which was onely covered by the heavens and from thence preached to a great troupe or multitude whose breath is the onely aire hee desireth to live in being shot quite through the head with popularitie Others preached in the free-Schoole at Edinburgh where boyes use to play and bee punished If these speeches and many as bad or worse then these and delivered in such places be fit to perswade the people that their Covenant comes from God the Reader may easily discerne The second meanes which they used for blind-folding the eyes of the people were their many false reports which both in their Pulpits and out of their Pulpits they vented amongst the people which their Leaders knew in their owne consciences to be most false They gave it out that We intended to bring in Poperie in all Our Kingdomes or at least a toleration of it It was preached that the Service Book was framed at Rome and brought over by a country-man of theirs when they doe know that every Papist by the Popes Bull is prohibited to heare the Service Booke read Others preached that all England was of their opinion and judgement and that they had good intelligence from hence that no man would adhere to Us against them Another preached that no man would have protested against the generall Assembly but for money and that none had protested but they who had received some when they did know that many had protested who had received none It is true indeed that some poore Ministers being thrust out of their Benefices by them for adhering to Us were petitioners to Our Commissioner for relieving the necessities of them and their families some of those who were most necessitated he did a little relieve but some of that number were none of the protesters and many who were protesters were none of that number It was preached ordinarily in their Pulpits that neither We nor Our Commissioner in Our name did ever intend to hold the generall Assembly or if We did hold it did never intend to performe any thing which We had promised in Our gracious Declaration though they now know that We have performed both Within these few daies some desired the people publiquely in their Pulpits to give thankes to God for that overthrow which the Hollanders had given to the Spanish Fleet before Dunkirke assuring their auditours that it was no lesse to be celebrated by them then their deliverance from the Spanish Invasion in 88. because all that Fleet was prepared at Our charge for their ruine and subversion Besides many thousands more such reports and counterfeited letters scattered by them of which some no doubt were devised by themselves whereby they kept Our people in that ignorance in which at the very first they had resolved to involve them Now what a fearfull and terrible thing is it for men in the house of God and in those places of these houses of God which they call the chaires of truth to deliver such things as either they doe not know to be true or doe know to be false Besides these dictates of the Ministers the lay-Elders since they came to thinke themselves Ecclesiasticall persons for so now they doe and will not be called lay but ruling-Elders they have found new inspirations and delivered doctrines as like their Divines as may be one of them We cannot chuse but rehearse An ancient Knight and a lay-Elder intruded himselfe and his fellowes upon a Presbyterie for chusing the Ministers Commissioners for the Assembly and the Ministers of that Presbyterie not being able to keep them out though they earnestly desired it fell to intreat these lay-Elders that if they would needs intrude themselves in their election they would have a speciall care to chuse the ablest Ministers and who were most inclined to moderation and peaceable courses because the Church at this time stood in great need of such Commissioners The old Knight in great zeale replyed That whosoever at this time gave his voice to a moderate or peaceable minded Minister hee was a betrayer of Christ and his cause because these times required no luke-warme Commissioners which barbarous and unchristian speech of his being related by way of complaint to the Tables at Edinburgh was so far from being censured as it was approved for a high and heroicall ejaculation The third meanes whereby they have perverted Our people and continued them in their disobedience to Us and Our Lawes have been their strange and damnable positions whereby they have impoysoned Our subjects some whereof We shall now declare unto you First What subjects doe of their owne heads is much better then what they doe in obedience to Authoritie the one savouring of constraint but the other being voluntarie and cheerfull obedience This proposition is delivered in their Protestation bearing date the 22. of September 1638. made against Our gracious Declaration it is in their fifth reason against the subscription to the Confession of faith urged by Us. A second The Parliaments power doth no more reach to the placing of Officers originally in the Church then the Church hath power to make States-men in the Common-wealth This position is in their answer to Our Commissioners Declaration concerning Our sense and meaning in commanding the Confession of faith to bee subscribed Where they have added the word Originally onely to puzzle the Reader For certainly their meaning must bee That the Parliament hath no power for confirming of Officers placed in the Church by the Church it selfe for no Act of Parliament in that Kingdome doth make any Officers in the Church originally but onely ratifieth and confirmeth such as were established by the Church in her generall Assemblies A third position is this The Parliament can make no law at all concerning the Church but onely ratifie what the Church decreeth and after it hath ratified it yet if the Assembly of the Church shall prohibit it and repeale that decree of the Church all
the subjects are discharged from yeelding obedience to the Act of Parliament which either made any such law or ratified any such decree of the Church This position they deliver in their answer to the 5. reasons in the said Declaration and would be well weighed A fourth position is this The Assembly hath power to discharge all subscription to the confession of faith commanded to be subscribed by Us and as it is interpreted by Us or Our Commissioner so leaving Us no power at all in Ecclesiasticall causes which all Reformed Churches give their Princes according to Gods Law This position is in the same place in their conclusion of their answers to the five reasons A fifth position is this The Assembly without Us is the Church and the onely Judge competent fit to interpret and explaine all doubts arising upon the confession of faith commanded by Us which they put in practice by explicating Our confession of faith against Our owne meaning and after We had dissolved the assembly This position is set downe in the beginning of their conclusion after their answers to the five reasons A sixth position is this Though the Law be interpreted yet if it be interpreted in a sense disliked by most of the Kingdome the body of the Kingdome for whose good the Law was made may crave the lawfull redresse of the grievances sustained by that Law This position is in the fifth of their ten Articles propounded before the indiction of the assembly A strange position that they shall crave redresse of a Law and before a Parliament which onely can redresse it and though they call it a craving to redresse it yet they meane an actuall redressing of it for they before a Parliament was at this time indicted have actually done many things against Acts of Parliament and stand upon their justification that they may lawfully doe so The seventh position is this The Assembly is independant either from King or Parliament in matters Ecclesiasticall This position is in their Protestation against Our Proclamation of the 18. of December 1638. in their third reason against Our gracious offers delivered into the Assembly by Our Commissioner and is a position delivered not onely in the sense but in the very words of the Jesuites The other positions following generally dispersed throughout their Protestations and Pamphlets are so obvious to any one who hath read them as the particular cytation of them may bee forborne such as are these following An eight position is That in all matters determined in an assembly We are to receive them as the son of the Church and have no further interest in them though they be not matters of faith but matters of government and those concluded by them against Acts of Parliament established by Us and Our three Estates nay though they concerne secular businesse as making of Salt and fishing for Salmons on Sundaies changing of Markets from one day in the weeke to another and such like for in their late pretended Assembly they have determined of many such things as doth appeare by the Index of their Acts. They will not find many Papists who have said so much for the Church of Rome nor any Jesuites which have said more A ninth position is this It is lawfull for subjects to make a Covenant and combination without the King and to enter into a band of mutuall defence against the King and all persons whatsoever though by two Acts of Parliament before cyted all such persons as shall be found either contrivers of or adherers to any such league are punishable with death A tenth position is this That it is lawfull for themselves sitting in an assembly to indict a new assembly without Our consent as they have now indicted a new assembly to bee held in July next or out of the assembly when they please as they professed that now they would have done if We had not indicted one though this be directly and expresly against two Acts of Parliament before cyted An eleventh position is this If subjects bee called before Us and Our Councell for any misdemeanour if they who are called doe any way conceive that the matter for which they are called doth concerne the glory of God or the good of the Church and a wonder it is if any cause can be found which doth not concerne one of these two then they may appeale from Us and Our Councell to the next generall Assembly and Parliament and in the meane time before these appeales be either heard or discussed they may disobey Us and Our Councell although by an Act of Parliament before cyted it is expresly made treason and the Ministers who appealed from Our Royall Father and his Councell were upon that Act arraigned and found guilty of treason The twelfth position is this That when We are intreated to indict a generall Assembly it is not that there is any need of Our indiction but rather to doe Us honour and to beget some countenance to their proceedings alledging that the power of indiction is in Us but cumulativè not privativè which if We shall refuse then that power is suppletivè in the collective bodie of the people as it is alwaies say they in all other cases if the Prince shall either neglect or refuse to doe his dutie Nor are they ashamed to averre that all Soveraigne authoritie was originally in the collective bodie of the people by them conferred with their owne consent upon the Prince and therefore if the Prince shall omit to doe his dutie he either falls from his right or his right is interrupted untill he returne to his dutie but that in the meane time the Soveraigne right and authoritie doth returne to and remaine with the people from whom it was at the first derived upon the Prince A prettie matter it were if Princes Crownes and Soveraignties should depend upon such notionall and pedanticall distinctions and wonder it is that these men who professe themselves to be the greatest enemies to Poperie in all the World should borrow the very words and termes of this ridiculous distinction from the Jesuites which distinction if it had ever been used in those primitive and purest Councels of the Church all of which were onely called by the Emperours and in which all matters were ordered and disposed by their Presidents and Deputies it would have made those Emperours out of love with the Councels and Assemblies of the Church But they were never robbed of that speciall prerogative of their Crowne untill the Bishops of Rome by their tyrannie and usurpation and by animating and arming their owne subjects against them dispossessed them of it And now We and Our Successors being repossessed of it againe by the Lawes of that Our Kingdome and the usurpation of the Pope in that very particular being by many of Our Acts of Parliament excluded wonder it is to see these men take upon themselves that usurped and cashiered Papall authoritie The thirteenth position is this If We or