established by the foresaid Act and to take the Oath of Allegiance under the pain of being deprived of their Churches and losing their Benefices And it is Declared That all Ministers that shall submit and conform to the foresaid Church-Government and to take the Oath of Allegiance without being obliged to take any other Oath shall enjoy their Churches and Benefices and shall not be deprived of the same except for Scandal or Insufficiency But in respect there are several Ministers that were put out of their Churches and Benefices since the year 1662. for not complying wiâ—h and conforming to Prelacy and others since the year 1681. for not taking the Test And now seeing Prelacy is Abolished and all Acts relating thereto it is just and reasonable that these Ministers that went out and were laid aside for not conforming to and complying with Prelacy and for not taking the Test should be restored to their Churches and Benefices Therefore the King and Queens Majesties with Advice and Consent of the saids Estates of Parliament do Ordain the saids Ministers that went out or were laid aside upon the account foresaid to be restored and reponed and do hereby repone and restore them to their respective Churches and Benefices And the King and Queens Majesties and Estates of Parliament declares That they will take care to provide these Ministers that are now serving the Cure at the saids Churches with other Churches and Benefices as occasion shall offer they submitting themselves to the Government of the Church established by this present Act and taking the Oath of Allegiance and being sufficient and qualified for the Office of the Ministry and without Scandal As also it is Declared That Intrants to the Ministry shall not be holden or obliged to take any other Oaths at their Admission but the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath de fideli And in regard that much trouble hath ensued unto the Estate and many sad Confusions and scandalous Schisms have fallen out in the Church by Church-men meddling in matters of State Therefore their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament do hereby discharge all Ministers of the Gospel within this Kingdom to meddle with any State-affairs either in their Sermons or Judicatories publickly or privately under the pain of being holden as disaffected to the Government and proceeded against accordingly And declares That the Jurisdiction of the Church consists and stands only in the preaching of the True Word of Jesus Christ Correction of Manners by Ecclesiastical Censures and the Administration of the Holy Sacraments conform to the 69th Act Iames 6. Parl. 6. And to the effect there be nothing treated or concluded in the Church-Judicatories that concerns the Affairs of Sâ—ate or Civil Matters it is declared That Their Majesties if they shall think fit may have always one present in all the Provincial and Presbyterial Assâ—mblies as well as They have Their Commissioner present in General Assemblies that in case any Affair that concerns the State or Civil Matters that dâ—es not belong to the Jurisdiction of the Church shall come in before the saids Assemblies the said Person appointed by Their Majesties shall inhibit and Discharge the Provincial or Presbyterial Assembly to proceed in any Affair that concerns the State or Civil Matter before Their Majesties and Their Privy Council shall be acquainted with the same that They may declare Their pleasure thereanâ—nt And because there are many things to be settled in relation to the Policy and Discipline of the Church therefore Their Majesties declare That They by the Advice of the Estates of Parliament and Judicatories of the Church will enact such Rules concerning the Policy Discipline and other Matters to be observed by the Church as shall tend most to the curbing of Vice the Advancement of True Religion and Piety and the Preservation of Unity and Peace amongst the Subjects And Their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the saids Estates of Parliament Râ—â—â—inds and Annuls the first Act of the 15 Parl. K. Ia. VI. anent Ministers provided to Prelacies should have Vote in Parliament and the second Act of the 18 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Restitution of the Estate of Bishops and the eighth Act of the 19 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Commissarioâ—s and Jurisdictions given to the Archbishops and Bishops and the first Act of the 21 Parl. Ia. VI. anent the Ratification of the Acts of the Assembly of Glasgow in the year 1610. and the first and second Acts of the 22 Parl. of K. Ia. VIâ— in the year 1617. anent the Archbishops and Restitution of Chapters without prejudice always to the Ministers serving the Cure of any Emoluments allowed to them in part of their Stipends and the first Act of the 23 Parâ— of K. Ia. VI. in the year 1621. anent the Ratification of the Articles of the Assembly holden at Perth And rescinds and annuls all and whatsomever Acts Laws and Constitutions in so far as they derogate and are prejudicial to the Church-Government by General Provincial and Presbyteral Assemblies and Kirk-Sessions and in so far as they are conceived in favour of Archbishops Bishops Abbot Priors and other Prelates or Church-men whatsomever their Dignity Title Power Jurisdiction and State in this Church and Kingdom or in favours of the Civil Places or Power of Church-men or of whatsomever sort allowed or disallowed for their Ruling Sitting and Voting in Parliament either as Church-men or the Clergy or in name of the Church or as representing the Church either in regard of their Ecclesiastical Titles Offices Places and Dignities or in regard of the Temporality or Spirituality of Ecclesiastical Bâ—nefices or other pretexts whatsomever with all Acts and Constitutions of Convention Council or Sâ—ssion or other Judicator whatsomever and all Practices or Customs whatsomever introduced in favours of the saids Offices Titles Benefices or Persons provided thereto and all other Acts Statutes or Practices which are contrary and prejudicial to or inconsistent with this present Act and declares the same to be void and null in all time coming And seeing by the abolishing of Prelacy the is at present no Meeting of the Presbyteries or Provincial Assemblies and it being necessary that there be a time and place appointed for the first Diet of Meeting therefore Ordains the Ministers of the several Presbyteries on the South-side of the River of Tay to meet and convene upon the second Tuesday of August next at the ordinary places where the Presbyters are in use to meet and these Ministers of the Presbyteries on the North-side of the River of Tay to meâ—t and convene upon the first Tuesday of September thereafter at the ordinary places where the Presbyters are in use to meet and appoints these Ministers that shall meet in the respective Presbyteries to chuse their own Moderator and ordains the Moderator first to take and subscribe the Oath of Allegiance himself and then administrate the said Oath to the rest of the Brethren that they may
the Sessions are subject to the Presbyteries so are the Presbyteries to the Synod which meets always at set times twice every Year there the Bishop himself preâ—ides or in case of his necessary absence one commissionated by him and all things are carried by the Plâ—rality of Votes and the Acts made that way are the only Canons or Rules we use for Discipline As the Presbyteries are subject to the Synod so the whole Synods of the Nation are to the General Assembly where by Law the Archbishop of St. Andrews is always to preâ—ide and if I be not mistaken has a negative Voice tho he was never known to use it Now I leave the impartial World to judge whether Presbyterians that had any Moderation would not be well contented and live quietly under such a moderate Episcopacy where indeed except the Power of Ordination which is always to be performed with the consent and assistance if the Brethren of the Presbytery and the Title of Lord which the King is pleased to confer upon them the Bishops are truly but Constant Moderators which the Presbyterians themselves because of the great Divisions which often happened among them at the electing of Moderators were at length necessitated to sit down with Now then let any moderate Presbyterian abroad say whether indeed it be matter of Conscience or Humour that makes Presbyterians with us separate from a Church so Constitute or whether the difference between our Church and their Kirk be such as can justisie Men in raising so many publick Rebellions and drawing so much Misery and Confusion upon the Nation and themselves as our Zealots have often done and whether their own Consciences can plead Not Guilty at the last Great Tribunal where they must answer for all those Murthers and Butcheries all the Cries and Tears of Widows and Orphans and ruined Families which will then testifie against them Or what can they answer now to the World for the many late Barbarities they have committed against their Protestant Brethren themselves knowing not for what and therefore being ashamed of their Practices they are fain to conceal and deny them abroad But to prevent their endeavours that way and that they may appear to the World in their true colours I have here for the proof of this Modest and Impartial Narrative inserted some few Particulars of the Sufferings of our present Episcâ—pal Clergy attested by their own Hands and by the Hands of Gentlemen of great Integrity who were Eye-witnesses to the Proceedings many other of this Parties more cruel Practices against the Clergy might and may hereafter be published and attested by the Hands of the most significant Gentry in the several Parishes where the Ministers were persecuted only here these are singled out now because all these Papers as they are attested and here published were shewed in the original authentick Copies to most of our Governours both in Scotland and England and the greatest part of them sent by a particular Commissioner to King William then Prince of Orange in the beginning of our Troubles The publick Acts and Proclamations are also added that Men may not be deceived by thinking as some would represent it that the Persecution proceeded only from the Rabble and that in a Iumble of the Times when the Government was not in a condition to protect the Leiges and by the fourth Collection of Papers I think it 's plain that the most fatal Blows were all given by the Scots Presbyterians who were and are at the Helm and that without countenance from these the Rabble durst never have attempted what they did against all the Laws of the Kingdom Religion and Humanity which plainly shews that Presbyterians howsoever dignified or distinguished are all of a piece Considering all this one would be apt to think that the present Episcopal Clergy in Scotland needed as much the assistance of the Prayers and charitable Collections of the Church of England as either these Protestants in Piedmont France or Ireland especially since there seems to be something harder in our Case than in any of theirs for in those foreign Parts if a Man complies with the Commands of his Superiors which I confess would be sometimes most irreligious in him to do then he would have the same Protection and Benefit that other Subjects of his quality are allowed to enjoy But with us it 's far otherwise for as it plainly appears by the third Collection of well attested Papers let men comply never so much with the Commands of their Governors yet they are in the same sad Case with those that do not in the least comply for nothing less than the utter and universal ruine of Episcopacy being according to the Covenant designed the Superstructure as well as Foundations must be destroyed and the Presbyters as well as the Prelates quit rooted out like Philistines from the holy Land And is this nothing to you O all you that pass by give Peace in our time O Lord because we have none other that fighteth for us but only thou O God Advertisement to the Reader BEcause the Publick Papers in the Fourth Collection have not been printed in their due Order therefore the Reader is desired to take notice that upon the Margin of the second Page of The case of the Present Affâ—icted Clâ—rgy c. instead of Vide first Paper being a Declaration from the Prince read Vide Declaration by His Highness the Prince c. in the fourth Collection of Papers and on the Margin of that second Page for Vide second Paper being a Proclamation read Vide a Proclamation from the Convention in the Fourth Collection and at the foot of Page six on the Margin for Vide first Proclamation read Vidâ— Declaration by His Highness the Prince c. in the Fourth Collection Some other Errors have escaped the Presâ— because of the Authors great disâ—ance from it he living in Scotland but those being not very maâ—â—rial it 's hoped the Reader will be pleased to excuse and correct them himself THE CASE Of the Present Afflicted Episcopal Clergy in Scotland SIR AS nothing but a Charity agreeable to its Divine Original could move you to be so solicitous to know the present Afflicted State of the Episcopal Clergy in Scotland so nothing but your Command could have obliged me to this short and plain account of it Upon what Ground the present Parliament of Scotland have thought â—it to abolish Episcopacy out of that National Church I will not at present strictly enquire into Only I may be allowed to say without offence That since this Parliament has not judged convenient to abolish it as a Government either Antichristian or contrary to reason or Scripture or Antiquity or the Universal opinion of Protestant Churches abroad or Learned Men in all Ages but only as contrary to the Inclination of the People and as such a Grievance It may be considently hop'd That when Presbytery or the Usurped Authority of Presbyters without Bishops shall become
a Grievance to the People for what has been so heretofore may be hereafter and so contrary to their Inclination that then and in that Case Episcopacy may for the same reason by Authority of another Parliament be restored again This is no new thing for before this Revolution Episcopacy in Scotland has been abolished twice by Act of Parliament but so was also Presbytery It 's now abolished the third time and so Presbytery may be But with this difference That Presbytery was never setled by Law in Scotland but when either our Kings were involv'd in Intestine broils or when the Civil Government was under some great convulsion occasion'd most ordinarily by the practises of that Party which put them under a kind of necessity not choice to allow it But no sooner did either our Kings or the Government reassume their just freedom and vigour but as soon was Episcopacy both restored and established by Law So that Episcopacy having been always setled in our Church in time of peace or at the Restoration of it May it please God to restore peace to the State that order in the Church may be it's happy effect And may we make better use of these two blessings then we have done hitherto But as for the inferiour Clergy of Presbyters who were received into the protection of this Government first by a Declaration from the Prince of Orange in Ianuary 1688 9. And in April thereafter by a Proclamation of the Convention of Estates By which Proclamation and Declaration all persons whatsoever were strictly forbid upon the highest pains to molest disturb or by any manner of way interrupt or hinder the Clergy in the exercise of their Ministry and peaceable possession of their Livings They demeaning themselves as it became peaceable and good men As for them I say to be turned out of their Churches in so great numbers may justly make strangers think these men guilty of hainous villanies and crimes which have provoked the Government against them and obliged it to turn them out of their Livings and forbid them all exercise of their Ministry to declare their Churches vacant and to order themselves and families to remove from their dwelling-houses in the middle of winter To Set then this matter in its true light it will be necessary to look a little back upon some things which happened before the proceedings of the Privy Council against the Episcopal Clergy Be pleased therefore to know that there have been Ministers turned out and deprived since the beginning of this Revolution by and under a threefold Authority The first turning out was by the Authority or rather Violence of the Rabble in the Western and Southshires only The Second was by a Committee of the Convention of Estates during the Interval betwixt the Convention and turning it into a Parliament The third was by the Privy-Council since the first Adjournment of Parliament As for the first tâ—rning out by the Rabble it being executed in a time when the Government of the Nation was in a manner quite dissolved there is less wonder that disorders of that kind fell out then it is accountable why they should not be redress'd now upon this Governments assuming its Authority and having Power to make it self obeyed But before I give you the true matter of fact of this highly presumptuous and unparalell'd attempt of the Rabble upon Ministers It will be first convenient to set before you the then State of those Western Shires in matters of Religion What was their behaviour towards the Clergy Established by Law as also how they stood affected to the Presbyterian Ministers then Tolerated by King Iames to hold Meeting-Houses And first Tho' it must be confessed that the Western Shires of Scotland have been and are the most disaffected Party of the Kingdo â— to Episcopal Government and have suffered much for the Rebellions which their prejudices against it occasion'd yet it 's as true that before the last Indulgence granted by K. Iames An. 1687. they were Universally in a good Understanding with their Ministers tho' not in that degree as the Relation betwixt Minister and People doth require it being more in shew then affection For tho' they came generally to Church and owned that they had overcome their Scruple of Conscience of not having freedom to hear them Preach yet they still separated themselves from partaking of the Holy Communion when offered Making it a greater matter of Conscience to receive that Sacramâ—nt from their hands then the other of Baptism for their Children It is also to be presum'd tho' not much to their credit that there was more of constraint for fear of Penal Laws then a willing mind in this little Conformity they yielded in coming to Church all which soon appeared For in the next place upon K. Iames his Declaration of â—â—dulgence or Tolleration to Dissenters the People in those Western Shires run immediately into it accepted of it and 〈◊〉 agreat zeal to build Meeting-Houses to call Presbyteâ—ian Preachers to these Meeting-Houses and to contribute for their Maintenance With this State of Affairs they seem'd so well satisfy'd that they made Addresses of thanks to King Iames in terms which were no less acceptable to the then Court than Scandalons to all Judicious Protestants in both Kingdoms * But these Addresses having been Printed and Published in Gazetts I shall take no more notice of them They were often told by wise Men that they were running a course in accepting of that Tolleration most destructive to the Interest of the Protestant Religion and that it would be much safer for them to continue in their Parochiall Churches as by Law Established since every thing that weakened that fence tended to the letting in of the Popish Party which in time might destroy us both that Tolleration being granted in both Kingdoms in order to bring in Popery and by the means and favour of Papists at Court obtain'd and managed Tho' many yea most of the Inferiour People of these Western Shires at the first went into this snare yet the Persons of greatest Quality and interest among them did not so soon comply And for the other Shires in Scotland in some there were not above two Meeting-Houses in the whole Shire in others none at all which by the by is a kind of demonstration how little fond the Generality of the Nation was then of that way and how the inclination of the People was then set now so much talked of But next to show you how the Presbyterians stood affected to one Another and among themselves be pleased to know That there was a Presbyterian Party then in the West of the meaner sort of the People indeed truly Acting more consequentially to the Presbyterian Principle and Practice in former times who for all that was done would not accept of this Tolleration given by King Iames But did openly by their Sermons and Pens declare their dislike of it and said much more bitter
good Service and are still a part of the standing forces of that Kingdom Upon all this the afflicted Ministers saw clearly there was nothing left for them but to suffer patiently the good will of God which they have done without the least publick complaint waiting with all Christian submission for a reparation of their wrongs from the justice of God and till those in Power shall be graciously pleased to commiserate their condition since they and their poor Families are in very hard and pinching circumstances having been turn'd out of their Livings and Properties in the midest of a hard winter and suffer'd not only the spoiling of their goods but some the loss of their Children and many marks and bruises in their own bodies and now are in a state of desolation not knowing where to lay their heads or to have bread for themselves or their Families This their Case ought the rather to be commiserated there being no Authority upon earth that can be so much as pretended by which they suffer except that of the Rabble They were never since that time either cited accus'd or condemn'd before any Judicature for any fault or crime so that in common Justice they have still a right in their Persons to those Livings of which they had quiet and Legal possession before these troubles and if the wisdom of the Nation in tâ—e next Session of Parliament shall judge it either â—it or convenient to remove them from these their Livings That Law determining this affair if any such shall be made can only take place from the date of it it cannot look back and make men guilty before it was Enacted so that still it must remain without controversy that whatever may be determin'd to be done with the Ministers for the time to come they have still a just and unquestionable title to their Livings until a Sentence pass against them which is not yet done This being their Case it 's not to be imagin'd that there will be found any man of reason or ordinary quality who will so much as open his mouth in favour of these violent and Illegal extrusions in the next Session of Parliament for it 's well known to all how at the time when this Tragedy was acted none of these Presbyterians who are now in Power did either avowedly own or openly countenance these proceedings but did publickly condemn them so that what was morally evill in its originall time cannot make good nor will good men either desend or countenance Whatever may be said for some inconveniences which might have happened in that Country so fermented with passion and prejudice if these Ministers had been ordered to return to their charges there by the present Government yet it 's certain when men are innocent they ought not to suffer and therefore as was just now intimated untill the wisdom of the Nation shall determine this matter they ought to be look'd upon as Legall possessors tho' violently extruded But that which no doubt will seem very extraordinary to any unbyassed thinking man is that these Presbyterian Preachers who so heartily thanked Kind Iames for the liberty of their Meeting-houses with extraordinary and fulsom strains of flattery thereby approving the dispensing Power without reserve which was the Stile of our Scots Tolleration And did disown these cruell proceedings against the Episcopall Clergy yet they would never consent to Preach against such disorders tho' often desir'd so to do by wise and discreet men yea which is more these same as they called themselves moderate Presâ—yterian Preachers in a little time after very confidently took Possession of the Churches of the Orthodox Ministers thus thrust out of their dwelling houses and Glebes without the least Title or right to them except what flow'd from the consent of some Phanatick People who own'd them and their Meeting-houses which was a Notorious Encroathment not only upon the Property of the Legal Incumbents but also upon the right of Patrons not as yet taken away by Law For when the rest of the Episcopal Cleargy who were in quiet possession of their Churches and in good Understanding with their People were Allarm'd with the hard usage of so many of their brethren thrust out in the midst of a severe Winter by this yet greater and more violent storm in the West with their Wives and Children to seek shelter from these their brethren This gave such a damp and rais'd such a just apprehension in their Spirits what might be the sad and Tragical event of unparallell'd proceedings that it 's no wonder many of them were provok'd to think that the great design of some within the Kingdom who appeared so zealous for this Revolution was more to destroy the Clergy and the whole Episâ—opal Order then to settle the Kingdom upon its Just and Antient basis or to preserve our Religion Liberties and Properties as by Law then Established This Apprehension grew yet more strong when they saw that the Convention of Estates did not take the Ejected Ministers of the West into their Protection by their Proclamation which was extended only to those who were in the Actual Exercise of their Ministry By which it was plain enough that all those Ministers who had been violently turn'd out by the Rabble in the Western-shires were still to be kept out and the advantage the Privy-Council has taken from that Proclamation of late to stop the course of Justice from giving them access to their Tithes and Stipends due to them is a sufficient Indication how some incline to treat them if the ensuing Session of Parliament be not more savourable This was the prospect of Affairs and the temper mens minds were in towards the Clergy when the Convention of Estates having for faulted K. Iames declared K. William and Q. Mary King and Queen of Scotland This great bus'ness being over they next Emitted a Proclamation bearing That whereas K. Iames had for 〈◊〉 his right to Govern that Kingdom they therefore forbid any publick Prayers to be made for him and Ordaiâ—â—â— that in all time coming the Ministors should pray for K. William and Q. Mary as King and Queen of Scotland ordaining also that this Proclamation be read upon the next Sunday after Publication by all the Ministers of Edinburgh and in all other parts of the Kingdom on such certain Sundays as are therein appointed with certification that who-ever should not read the said Proclamation and pray for the King and Queen as therein design'd should be deprived of their Churches and Benefices Upon the not Obeying of this Proclamation it is that all the Ministers of late have suffered and do suffer at this day and therefore that falls next under Consideration And first of all it 's here more especially to be remarked that this Proclamation being Published in Common Form at Eleven a Clock in the Forenoon on a Saturday did not appear in Print till about Seaven that Night So that the Ministers of
for Men of vicious Lives or loose Principles in the Church as they pretend the depriv'd Clergy to be to make great scruple in disputable matters especially when the Penalty is the loss of their Estates they being generally too forward to comply with what 's uppermost and prosperous But Secondly I dare confidently averr that after enquiry made it will appear that there are many of as great Integrity Piety and Learning as are in the Church involv'd without distinction in that Common fate And I dare appeal to the whole Nation to make good against them such Scandalls as their Enemies have thought fit to blacken them with in places where they are not known The Original of all this clamour about the Immorralities of the Clergy at first arose from the too hasty Planting of Churches in the West upon the Restoration of the Government in Anno 1662. by which many Young Men were preferr'd for whom the prejudiced People could not be brought to have that Veneration and respect that they had had for their old Preachers which were deprived for Nonconformity This prejudice together with the Imprudent Conduct of some of these young Men begot a contempt of them which was carryed by far much too high for Universally these Ministers were complain'd of as the occasion of the Western Peoples withdrawing from their Churches But upon Bishops Leightons coming to the See of Glasgow and bringing with him to those parts some very good Men and choice Preachers against whom the People could have no Objection an Experiment was made to remove if possible that Exception yet he found this also ineffectuall The Aversion being more rooted in the Interest of a Party then in the supposed Immoralities of the Clergy And therefore by his singular Example of Piety and Devotion of Humility and Acts of Charity by his frequent Visiting and Preaching in Country Churches thereby taking occasion to converse more intimately and conveniently with the Ministers he sow'd a blessed seed in their hearts gave them juster Notions of the Duties of the Pastoral Charge and thereby through the blessing of God became a burning and shineing light in those parts the Impression whereof remains upon the Consciences of many to this day But passing this It had been a far more fair and Equitable way and as much to the Honour of the Government as the disgrace of the guilty to have Invited People to Accuse their Ministers upon the head of Scandall and after Evidence thereof if they had found any to have Proceeded and deprived rather than Promiscuously to have Condemn'd the Righteous with the wicked It is true their Libells were generally stuft'd with a great many Scandalous and vitious practices alledged against them a malicious design to expose them to the present Age and to blacken them upon Record to the future but it is as true that when the Ministers came to the Bar the Scandalous and Immoral part of the Libell was wholly omitted by their Judges altho' the Ministers themselves craved for their Vindication in those Points to be particularly Tryed upon them but the Sentence passed against them upon the two heads before mentioned and yet in the Accounts they sent to Court the Immoralities of the Ministers Lives which were only pretended in the Summons but never spoke of in the Tryal were represented as the great Grounds of their Deprivation but it were far more easy to give the true reasons for truth tells best and its this The Presbyterian Preachers in Scotland of the old Standing who only can pretend to be own'd in any Church-Meeting if the Government should think fit to call one are but very few in Comparison of the Episcopal Clergy now in Place It was highly debated amongst them what should be their behaviour if the Parliament restored them to their Churches from which they were put out in the year 1662. They could not think it adviseable to meet in Presbyteries by themselves since in some Presbyteries they would make but two in number and in some but one in others none at all So that if they should joyn with the Regular Clergy in such Presbyteries they might reckon to be out-voted in all businesses so signify just nothing Nay if a National Synod should be call'd they would be at the same loss for the Members thereof Chosen by Presbyteries behoov'd to be Episcopal Men the Plurality by far of Voters being of that way So to take off all difficulties attending this matter It seem'd to be the most plausible effectuall way to make as many Vacancies as was possible and that also before the meeting of the next Session of Parliament least other measures should then be taken And for this design the premunire of not reading the Proclamation seem'd next to Rabbling the fittest and shortest Expedient I call it shortest because it was not possible to make greater dispatch for Vacancies then it occasion'd for a dozen of Ministers were ordinarly turn'd out in a Forenoon and as many more sometimes in an Afternoon So that this Method made clear way for the Presbyterian Brethren to be the greater part in all Ecclesiastical Assemblies and by Consequence to carry any thing they please there Hereby also they have a fair opportunity of setting out young Vagrants to take possession of the Vacant Churches by which the number of their Preachers dayly encrcase Thus you have the Present State of the very much Afflicted Clergy in Scotland represented faithfully and with as much brevity as the matter will allow for tho' much more might be added upon this Subject yet since you desired no more but a plain and generall Narrative I here give it according to my Ability However it shall please Divine Providence to order Affairs in our National Church this you in England may be assured of that her Enemies are yours also and it is some comfort to us that those of that way are not like to prevail so far over you as they have done already over us And therefore that God may prosper and preserve the Church of England restore ours to some Order and Decency And Settle the Three Kingdoms upon such Righteous Foundations as may Establish our Temporal and Eternal Peace is the dayly Prayer of SIR Your Most Humble Servant First Collection of Papers Relating to the Practice of the Rabble before the Convention Met. A Iust and True Account how sadly the Regular Ministers within the Presbytery of Air have been Treated since Christmas Last UPon Christmas day about Ninty Armed Men forced the Minister of Cumnock out of his Chamber into the Church-yard where they discharged him to Preach any more there under the highest Peril they took upon them to Command him to remove from his Manse or dwelling House his Gleib and not to uplift his Stipend thenceforth after which they rent his Gown in pieces over his head they made a Preface to their discourse to this purpose that this they did not as States-Men nor as
Church-Men but by violence and in a Military way of Reformation In this manner in the same place and at the same time used they the Minister of Authinleck who dwelleth in Cumnock From Cumnock the foresaid day they marched to Machlin missing the Minister were rude beyond expression to his Wife finding the English Liturgy burnt it as a Superstitious and Popish Book thereafter they went to the Church-yard where they publickly discharged the Minister from his Office and Interest there Upon the twenty seventh of December the more considerable part of the foresaid number went to Galston where they apprehended the Minister and taking him out of his house into the Church yard they rent his Cloak missing his Gown and thereafter forced him to wade upon and down through the water of Irwine for a considerable time in a severe Frost Upon the said day they went to Rickarton whence they brought the Minister of the place to Torbolton where they kept for a whole night the Ministers of these two Parishes under a Guard and next Morning brought them to the Church-yard of Torbolton where they rent the Minister of Torboltons Canonical Coat and put the one half of it about each of the Ministers necks commanding the Church-Officer of the Place to lead them thereby per vices as Malefactors discharging them from all Exercise of the Ministry from their Houses Gleibs and Stipends under the highest peril Upon the Eleventh of Ianuary 1689. The First Minister of Air received a written Paper Commanding him and all his Brethren to leave their Miniâ—tery against the fifteenth under the pain of death and because he did not regard this there came to his House upon the fifteenth about Eight of the Clock at night Eleven Armed Men of them who Commanded him under pain of Death to Preach no more in the Church of Air till the Princes further order And at the same rate did they treat his Collegue that same night Much about the same time these Armed Men with their Associats went throughout all the Ministers Houses within that Presbytery and diâ—charged them any more to Exercise their Ministry and appointed them to remove from their Manses or Parsonage Houses and Gleibs and discharged them to meddle with their Stipends under the penalty aforesaid So that now thâ— most of the Clergy through force and Violence have left the Countrey none in it undertaking their Protection but all the Rabble of it in Arms against them And to Compleat their Miserie 's those who are Indebted to them resuse to pay even so much as may carry them to places of shelter which exposeth them to the greatest hardships Imaginable To obviate the Impudent denial of these things the under Subscribers are able and shall if called in due time produce sufficient Proof of the whole and that both by writing and Witnesses Given under our hands at Edenburgh upon the Twenty and Sixth dayof Ianuary One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Nine years Gregory Parson of Aire Will. Irwine Minister at Kirk Michael Fran. Fordyce Parson of Cumnock An Account of the Grievances of the Presbytery of Dunbarton IMprimis Upon the twenty fifth of December last Anno 1689 a Party of Dissenters about 9 a Clock at Night entered vioâ—entlâ— into the House of Mr. Walter Stirling Minister of Badernock threatned most Barbarously his Wife and Servants himself being from home saying that they would cut off her Papish nose and rip up her Prelaticall belly but by a good Providence they were hindered by the coming in of some Friends 2. They having Assaulted Mr. Will. Duncan Minister of Kilpatrickeaster several times before did on the Sixteenth of Ianuary instant come to his House about the number of Thirty Armed Men some whereof were his Parishioners and violently took from him the keys of the Church struck and abused himself broke down and overthrew all his Furniture and did cast all out of doors so that he and his Family were forced to go elsewhere and live upon the Charity of Friends 3. On Sunday last being the 20 Instant a little before the time the Sermon should have begun about Thirty Armed Men came to the Church of Boiall threatned the Minister who was to Preach Mr. Will. M'Kenzie Minister of that Church being of a long time dangerously sick most barbaroâ—sly saying that he should lose his life if he should offer to Preach there or any other sent from the Presbytery to supply his Place And on the morrow thereafter about fourscore armed men some whereof were his Parishinoers came to his house abused his Wife by reviling and beating her the Minister himself the night before for fear of his life having gone out of the way spoil'd some of his Furniture and threatned to throw all out of doors if he and his Family wou'd not go away from Church and House within Eighâ— days 4. Each day adds new ground of Complaint most part of the Brethren fearing that before the next Lords day they shall be thrust from their Churches and Houses by Armed force for they have been often threatned to that effect This Account was sent to the Prince of Orange for then he was no more attested by the hands of the Presbytery of Dunbarton Feb. 1688 9. A true Account of those Abuses and Affronts that were committed upon the Person of Mr. Robert Bell Parson of Kilmarnock by a Party of the Presbyterians now in Arms in the West of Scotland MAster Robert Bell Minister of Kilmarnock being desir'd by his Neighbour Minister at Richardtown to celebrate the Marriage of two Persons at that Church in the Ministers necessary absence as he was walking thither was seized by two Armed Men who came from a great Party which he saw at some distance one of them as he came near to him presented a Musket to his Head whereupon he told him he was his Prisoner and would go where he had a mind to carry him He having recovered his Musket and placed him betwixt himself and his Fellow Companion in Arms in this posture he was brought to the Minister of Ritchardtown's House where he was commanded to pluck off his Hat they calling him Rogue and Rascal and treating him very rudely But assoon as he perceived they had filled their Bellies with the Meat that the good Gentlewoman had set before them and their Passion and Rancour was thereby a little asswaged he began to ask the Commander of the Party by what Rule and Law they proceeded in their appearing thus in Arms He told him By the Rule and Law of the Solemn League and Covenant by which they were obliged to extirpate Prelacy and bring all Malignants to condign Punishment Mr. Bell replied they would do well to take care that those their proceedings were justifiable by the Word of God and conformable to the practice of Christ his Apostles and the Primitive Church in the propagation of the Christian Religion He answer'd him That the Doom of all Malignants is clearly set down
in the Word of God and their appearing thus in Arms was conformable to the Practice of the Ancient Church of Scotland From this House the Minister was carried Prisoner to Kilmarnock and in his Journey thither there was a Gentleman the Laird of Bridgehouse who having come to meet him took the courage to tell the Party that their appearing in Arms and abusing the Clergy in this Hostile manner were but insolent outrages against all the Law of the Nation and that they would do well to remit their Illegal forwardness together with their pretended grievances unto the Parliament that was now very quickly to be assembled by the care and affection that his Highness the Prince had of all the Subjects of this Kingdom They answered him To stand off and forbear giving Rules to them for they would take none from him nor any Man and that they would not adhere to the Prince of Orange nor the Law of the Kingdom any further than the Solemn League and Covenant was fulfilled and prosecuted by both By this time they were come near the Town and they commanded the Minister to pluck off his Hat which he obeyed yet at the same breath they threatned to throw him in the River And coming to the Bridge they met the whole Body of the aforesaid Party returning from the Mercat place where they had caused the Church Officer to deliver up the Keys of the Church And they discharged by way of Proclamation the Minister whom in an opprobrious manner they called Curate of Kilmarnock from all intromission with the Benefice and Casuality of the Church or the least exercise of the Ministerial Function Assoon as they saw Mr. Bell and understood that he was the Parson of the Parish he could see nothing in their Faces but the most insulting joy nor find in thâ—ir discourses but the most reproaching Language that ever the greatest Criminal in the World was treated with After a long Consultation amongst themselves one of their chief Commanders came and asked him if he had a Book of Common Prayer the Minister desired to know of him why he asked the Question He answered That sure be could not want that Book since he was educated at Oxford and trained up to all the Superstition and Idolatry of the Church of England The Minister told him perhaps he had half a dozen of Common Prayer Books he commanded him to produce one of them for that would do their business From this place they carried him back to his House and there compelled him to deliver unto their hands the Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England after this they led him as a Prisoner bare headed betwixt four Foiles of Musketeers through a great part of the Town unto the Market-place where the whole Party was drawn up in Battallia Which appeared to be about the number of two hundred well Armed with fire Lock Muskets of a very large size most of them had also a pair of Pistols but all of them one In Kilmarnock after the fashion of most Mercat places in Scotland there is a Cross erected unto which one goes up by steps on all sides after the form of a broad Stare-case with which it is invironed It was on the uppermost step that these rude Guards placed the Minister two of them on the same step one on both hands and so on every step as you go down from the Cross they ranged themselves before him After this they called for Fire which was brought then one of their Commanders made a Speech to the People that were gathered together in great numbers from the Town and Country He told them That they were come there to make the Curate of the place a Spectacle of Ignominy and that they were obliged so to do by virtue of the Solemn League and Covenant in Obedience unto which they were to declare here their abhorrency of Prelacy and to make Declaration of their firm intentions and designs to fulfill all the ends of that Oath The propagation of the Discipline of the Government of the Church of Scotland as it is express'd and contained in the foresaid Solemn League and Covenant And all this they attempted to do not by virtue of any Civil Power nor Ecclesiastical Power but by the Military Power and the Power of the posture they were now in These are the very words of this Speech After this another of their Commanders taking the Book of Common Prayer reading the Title Page of it and extending his voice very high he told the People That in pursuance of the forementioned League and Covenant they were now to burn publickly this Book of Common Prayer which is so full of Superstition and Idolatry and then throwing it into the Fire blowing the Coals with a pair of Bellows after that catching it from amidst the flames they fixed it on the Spear of a Pike and thence lifting it up on high far above the top of the Cross. Which Elevation was attended with Shouts and Acclamations down with Prelacy Idolatry and Superstition of the Churches of England and Scotland After all these indignities and impudent reproaches offered to the most reformed and best constituted Churches in the World they turned themselves to the Minister again and rudely in a very menacing manner asking him if he was an Episcopal Prelate's Man and of the Communion of the Churches of England and Scotland he answered he was and did there confess it to the whole World Then they tore his Gown one of the Guard first cutting up the Skirt of it with his Sword and throwing it amongst their feet telling him It was the Garment of the Whore of Babylon One of them bid him promise never to Preach nor Exercise the Office of a Minister any more but he refused telling them that such a Promise lay not within the compass of his own will and could not be extorted by force and that tho they should tear his Body as they had done his Gown they would never be able to reach his Conscience Well well says he do it at your Peril the Minister answer'd that he would do it at his Peril And so they gave over troubling him any more only asking what he had to say to them he told them he was extremely sorry to see Protestants so ingratefully exasperated against the best Protestant Church in the World that had done such Eminent Service to our Common Religion and Interest against Popery And withal praying God to forgive them and not to lay these things to their Charge So the Minister was dismissed they telling him he was an ignorant and obdured Curate and Malignant This is a true Copy of that Account of those indignities and affronts that were done unto me Robert Bell by the Presbyterians now in Arms in Scotland Glasgow Ian. 8. 1689. Robert Bell Disorders and Outrages done upon the Persons and Families of Ministers within the Presbytery of Hamiltown upon 27 and 28 days of Dec. 1688. IMprimis Mr.
George Minister of the Barony Church of Glasgow broke his Doors with great Hammers and notwithstanding he was at that time tyed to his Bed by a very dangerous Sickness they thrust into his Chamber and had undoubtedly drag'd him from his Bed and perhaps murthered him had not the Provost of the City with eight or ten Men come to his relief On the Lords day thereafter being the 20th of Ianuary there was no Sermon in any of the Churches of the City On the 22th a Copy of a Letter was sent to each Minister in the City the Tenour whereof followeth We are credibly informed that our pretended Provost Walter Gibsone and his Malignant Associates are upon a design of having you restored to your Churches sometime this or the next Week but if you will take advice and prevent your own Trouble and perhaps Ruine do not listen to their Motion for they are but laying a Snare for you without reflecting upon their own being taken in it themselves Therefore consider what you are doing and if you desire Safety forbear to attempt any thing suggested upon that head for assure your selves that it will not be now the Female Rabble you have to engage with but must resolve in all time coming for such a Guard as will be so sufficient and diligent as to protect you not only in the Church which even we doubt of but also in your Houses and that both by night and by day if you take this warning you will both save your selves and prevent the Effusion of much Blood but if not stand to your peril which in all probability will be more formidable than that of Mr. Milne Let this be a sufficient warning to you from those who by this desire to exoner themselves We doubt not but there are other Instances of the foresaid Violence within our Bounds before this time but because of our present Dispersion we cannot give any more particular accounts only as to the Instances above-named we can make them fully appear when called to it In Testimony whereof we subscribe thir presents at Edinburg Ian. 26. 1689. Al. George Minister of the Gospel at the Barony Church of Glasgow Iohn Sage One of the Ministers in the City of Glasgow An Account of the Insolencies and Outrages committed upon the Ministers in the Presbytery of Pasley Glasgow Jan. 22. 1689. Imprimis UPon Saturday being the Twelfth instant about three of the Clock in the Afternoon there went several of the Inhabitants of the Town of Pasley accompanied with a numerous Rabble to the Beadle who is a Man above Seventy years of Age and in his own House treated him barbarously wounding him and taking the Keys of the Church from him which they still keep whereby they hinder the Ministers there to exercise their Office Item Upon the Thursday thereafter the 17th a company of armed Men came to the Ministers House requiring him within two days to get him thence and to Transport his Family certifying him if he should offer to preach any more there or should not void the Manse it should be on his utmost Peril Item On Sunday the 13th of the said month Mr. Honstown one of the Mountain Preachers as they are called usurped the Pulpit of the Parish Church of Eastwood several times formerly the Minister had been required by armed men to remove Item Upon Monday being the 14th instant about 200 Men and Women came at eight of the clock at night in a Tumultuary manner to the Minister at Kulbarchan House with Battoons in their hands made that same day for the purpose whereof three only entred the rest standing without doors and the Minister himself being providentially from home they treated his Wise most opprobrlously and commanded her instantly to remove her self and her Family from that place certifying her otherwise it should be at her utmost peril And to omit more particulars all the several Ministers in the above-mentioned bounds are now forced for the safety of their Lives to fly from their several Habitations and to leave their Wivâ—s and Children exposed to their Cruelty and to add to their Calamity their Parochoners a very few discreet Persons only excepted refuse to pay them any part of the stipend or any other Debts they owe them by which cruâ—l usage many of our number are reduced to extream necessity Io. Fullerton Moderator I. Taylor Minister in Pasley Commiss r. A Letter concerning the Persecution of several other Ministers Reverend Sir SInce our last we received yours and for a return you are to understand that our Circumstances are still worse and the opposite Party more Insolent Cruel and Barbarous The Particulars are as follows 1. That Party invaded the Minister of Balantra's House in open day before many of his own People beat to the ground his Wife big with Child with the butt end of a Musket dragged himself to the Church-yard and back again to his House tare his Cloaths to his Shirt wounded him with a small Sword and for warding off the Thrust beat him severely with Cudgels and then commanded him under the pain of Death never to preach any more in that place 2. Six of the Meeting-house Men came to the Minister's House of Kirk Michael himself being at Edinburg beat batter'd and bruised his Man-Servant commanded him after they had lain two days and three nights upon him to go immediately from the House with all that belonged to his Master therein 3. They have possessed the Churches of Straton Ochiltriâ— Cumnock Torboltown Galston and Sorn 4. They have ejected the Minister of Rickarton's Wife Family and whole Furniture This is the account of the Presbytery of Air. In Irwin Presbytery both the indulged and Mountain-men have possessed several of the Churches have gone to the Ministers Houses given them their last Summons of removal with all the effects thereof under pain of death In Pasley Presbytery they have outed the whole Ministers as they have in all the West of Scotland they have particularly ejected the first Minister of Pasley's Wife and Family burnt his Gowns and Hat at the publick Cross and thrown all his Goods to the open Street From that they went to Renfrew where the Ministers Wife was but nine days lain in of a Child pull'd her out of the Bed threatned the Families present ejection had not one Cranford of Corsburn who being occasionally there prevailed with them for ten days respite the Ministers Wife upon this cruel usage fell into an high and dangerous Fever under which according to our last information she yet labours The whole Presbytery of Dunbarton are banished from their Charges In Glasgow the Ministers are not secure of their Lives for some nights age they beat Mr. Miln in the Street the second time They went to the Minister of Calders rent his Gown in the Church-yard himself being from home and commanded his Wife and Family to be gone immediately under the Penalty aforesaid Sir We who are here are patiently
and that the Magistrates could not without doing infinite injury to the Service of God the Honour of the Prince and the Authority of Government forbear commanding the Officers and Towns Servants to beat off the Rabble that opposed their entry into the Church And to this it was subjoyned That if they would lay down their Arms or go home in peace and forbear the encouraging and protecting of the Rabble in those Vproars they could return in the same peaceable way from the Church that they came into it But this they absolutely refused to do telling us They could not desert their Sisters the Women that by this time were assembled in great numbers upon the Streets and in the Church-yard After this they took up the Names of the People of the best Quality in Church and then they hurried us out by Fives and Sixes at several Doors of the Cathedral and so exposed us to the Fury of the Rabble which we had escap'd if thâ—y had pâ—rmitted us to go out in a Body Others of us they pretended to conduct by Guards but carried us no further than into the very midâ—le of the Rabble The whole Congregation being thus maliciously dissipated very few of them did escape without Wounds or Blows and particularly the Lord Boyd was rudely treated and had his Sword taken from him Sir Iohn Bell had above a hundred Snow-balls thrown at him The Laird of Borrowfield and his Lady together with his two Brothers Iames and William Walkinshawes were five or six several times beaten to the Ground Iames Corbeit was very dangerously wounded in the Head with the stroke of a Syth George Graham one of the late Bailies of the Town was dâ—eply cut on the Head in two places Doctor Wright and his Lady and together with them her Mother and Sisters and several other Women were very roughly handled and beaten Mrs. Anna Paterson Daughter to the Archbishop of the Place Mrs. Margaret Fleiming and several other Gentlewomen were cruelly pinch'd after their Cloaths were torn off them There was Scores of others severely beaten and bruised which would be tedious to make mâ—ntion of here but only this we must observe There was a certain Carpenter who was so dangerously wounded so that he lyeth now beyond hopes of Recovery by four armed Men that promised to conduct him through the Rabble and to whose protection he innocently committed himself This is a true Account of what pass'd upon Sunday last being the 17th of February 1689. which I as Mâ—gistrate of Glasgow in absence of my Lord Provost give under my Hand as Truth Iames Gibsone For the further Testification of the Premises we under Subscribers attest the same Io. Gillhagie Patrick Bell. The Sufferings of Gideon Brown Sir TO obviate all Misrepresentations of my Treatment at Smelholm I give you this true and impartial account according to your desire Upon the first Saturday of February 1689. George Dickson Cottar to the Lair of Smelholm a profest Cameronian brought to me an unsubscribed Paper in the presence of my Family in the which he in name of the Parochine ordains me to cease from the Exercise of my Ministry there pretending in it that I had no call from the People and that I was an Intruder and had brought Troopers among them with this certification that they would force and compel me to do it This much troubled me to be upbraided for that of which I was never guilty and that by Persons whom often I kept from the lash of the Law and who had constantly heard me till the late Toleration and frequently taken the Sacrament from me but from the consideration of our Saviours Treatment from those to whom he was ever doing good I comforted my self and resolved patiently to bear and undergo this present Disaster and whatever might follow thereupon This being represented to the Laird Smelholm he advised me for a day to cease from Preaching and withdraw which accordingly I did The next Lords day I returned laying aside all Fears not willing so easily and suddenly to be put from the Exercise of my Ministry and it pleased the Lord to grant to me and to continue with me a safe Exercise of my Ministry without disturbance until the fourteenth of April hereafter which was the Lords day on which day the Scum of that People most of them not above the quality of a Servant yet all dwelling under the Laird of Smelholm except two and newly insâ—igated by one George Dickson Preacher in a Meeting-house near by as I am credibly informed did assemble with Staves and Battoons having on Saturday before warned me by a second Summons and taking away the Bell-rope to oppose me that day the Laird of Smelholm being acquainted by me of the said intended Uproar at the ordinary time of convening came to the Church-yard I following with my Family and after some communing with the said Rabble his Tenants who had been there from six a Clock in the morning prevailed to make patent Doors and having enterâ—d the Pulpiâ— and begun to Pray immediately the said George Dickson having received the Hire of eighteen Pence from the rest as he himself confess'd afterwards in my Beadles hearing approached furiously to draw me out of the Pulpit which a Son of mine of sixteen years of Age observing stop'd him before he came near me upon which there came tâ—n about the Boy pulling the Hair off his Head tearing his Hat Cloak and Neckcloth which extorted from his Mother these words in the midst of the Church Murder Murder and forced me from the Pulpit at length the Laird quieted them Upon all this I took Witnesses and withdrew with my Family to the Neighbour Church ever after that they put Cattle of all sorts into the Church frequently threatned my self watched every Lords day for my coming to Church not to Hear me but Harm me O the Sin of Stoning of the Prophets which brought sad Judgments on the Guilty of Old is now frequently among us practised the Lord grant Amendment This forced me to Preach in my own House while after Whitsunday and then it being reported to me by some that if I preached any more in the House the said Rabble would eject me and my Family I ceased there and preached in some Neighbour Churches At length they caused cite me before the Council Sept. 28. where for not praying for K. W. Nominatim in my House and not reading the Proclamation there I was deprived by the Council and appointed to remove from my Manse at Mertimas to which I gave Obedience at the time the Laird assuring me that he could not keep his People off me and that some had sworn to him that they would eject me be the event never so Hazardous and came to the City of Edinburg with my whole Family intending there the Education of my seven Children at Colledge and Schools This is a true Narration of what befel me at Smelholm among that People who kindly received and
all the abrupt Information that now in haste can be given but you may have a further account afterwards Mr. Iohn Maubray Minister at Vphall did comply with all that was required of him by the Council yet the Rabble came â—pon him did cast out his Plenishing tore his Gown affâ—ighted his Wife so that she died shortly after Being thus violently thrust from his Wife he came to his Patron Lord Cardrose one of the present Privy-Council and desired that his Lordship would allow him but to shelter himself in some Chamber of his Lordships House of Kirkhill till he provided himself of some other place but my Lord denied his request He then adventured again to lodge in the Manse to preach to his People but the Lord Cardrose commanded him to forbear and when he would not promise to abstain his Lordship did take from the said Mr. Iohn the Keys of the Church-doors so that he has excluded him the Kirk This can be proved by many famous Witnesses as is now attested by W. S. I. M. The Persecution of Mr. Francis Scot. MR. Francis Scot Minister of the Gospel at Tweedmore was ejected by the Rabble and his whole Family turned out of doors his Wife having been delivered of a Child four days before tho he complied in all Points Mr. William Alison Minister of the Gospel at Kilbocho was ejected about the same time by the Rabble to wit the middle of Summer they holding Pistols to his Breast having given all Obedience to the Laws yet was cited by his Parochioners before the Council and was absolved and warranded to return to his Charge after a number of Women in his own Parochie rose up and went to his Manse wherein he had some plenishing standing and threw it out and broke it all in pieces and drove away his Cows that was pasturing in his own Glebe and destroyed all his Corn and now a Meeting-house Preacher possesseth his-Church preaching in it daily albeit he be authorized himself by Authority and after all this no care is taken to repossess him Witness our Hands F. S. W. A. A Letter to the Lord E ne Airth Octob. 14. 1689. May it please your Lordship WE your whole Neighhour Heretors concern'd in the Parish of Airth considering the Vacancy of our Church through the removal of Mr. Paul Gellie our Minister by the rash Depositions of two or three insignificant Persons and the great Insolencies of the Rabble thereupon without Law or Order in abusing and violently possessing the Church conceived our selves obliged to intreat your Lordship to see what may be done for the Redress and Satisfaction of orderly People And seeing we have nothing to object against the Life or Doctrine of our Minister who is well beloved by the whole Body of the Parish whose Loyalty and Painfulness in the Ministry your Lordship knows It is our â—arnest desire that you interpose your endeavour to get him repossess'd again in this Church if possible in doing of which you may be instrumental for promoting the good of this place and not only oblige the whole Body of the Parish but particularly us who are Your Lordships humble Servants Alex. Bruce Ia. Bruce of Powfouls Ionas Bruce of Letham Al. Elphinstone as Tutor of Stone-house Rob. Rolles of Panhouse I. Wright of Kersie I. Forssithe of Polmais Taillertowne A Letter to the Right Honourable the Lord E ne at London Barnton Octob. 17. 1689. My Dear Lord YOUR Lordship knows how Mr. Paul Gellie your Minister has deported himself in his Ministry at Airth and has gained the Affections of all the Parish except three or four of the very worst of them and how he was removed from his Charge upon the Depositions of two flagitious Fellows who had resolved to Damn themselves to get him out of his Ministry If your Lordship can get his Casâ— fairly represented and him reponed to his Charge I hear that the Hail Heretors and the most substantious Tenents will take it as a singular Favour And albeit I have no Interest but as a Tutor to Airth I will esteem it for a singular Kindness My most humble Service to my Lady and I am My Lord Your Lordships most humble and faithful Servant Ro. Mylne A Letter to the Lord E ne in London Edin Nov. 19. 1689. My Lord I Have sent the Testimony of the Heretors of your Lordships Parish with Barnton's in my Favours hoping your Lordship on their Testificat with your own Knowledge may procure an Order of Reinstallment from His Majesty to me especially considering that to your certain knowledge I have given full Obedience to the Government and have in my Custody the Testimonies of an hundred and fifty Heads of Families subscribed by them ready to depone the truth of my Obedience and Innocency of what these two infamous Persons witnessed against me Yea I have a subscribed Testimony of honest Men offering to prove these two Witnesses by whom I was deposed really perjured and before credible famous Witnesses one of them has confessed his Perjury And if His Majesty be informed of the manifest Injury done me by two perjured Persons contrary to the Testimony of the whole Parish I doubt not of an Order of Reinstallment and truly the Falsehood Malice and Cruelty of that Party in your Lordships Parish is so known to the Presbyterian Ministers themselves that scarcely any one will come and preach to them for tho they violently possess the Church which they have greatly abused they had not a Sermon these divers Sabbaths So that our People not only want the preaching of the Gospel but likewise the Ordinances of the Lords Supper and Baptism If I were present I am assured to prevail and if you judge it expedient send me word by a Line and with the help of God I shall come on my own Horse by Land for I am afraid to venture by Sea I would have sent the Testificat of the whole Parish contrary to these two false Depositions against me but I am afraid they may be miscarried and it would be hard for me to recover them again at this juncture of time but I think your Lordships own Testimony will be sufficient with what I have done My Lord I need not use motives to perswade your Lordship to move herein all are confident you both may and will prevail for an Order from His Majesty for my Reinstallment which will be for your Lordships Honour who is Patron and for His Majesties Interest as well as my Advantage I shall add no more but pray for the Blessing of God on your Lordship Lady and the whole Children which shall ever be continued by My Lord Your Lordships most faithful and Obedient Servant Paul Gellie The Fourth Collection of Papers containing Proclamations Acts of Convention and Council A Proclamation against Owning of the late King Iames and Commanding Publick Prayers to be made for King William and Queen Mary THE Estates of this Kingdom of Scotland having proclaimed and declared
the Possession of the Places and Offices abovementioned We do hereby require them to leave the said Offices and Places and to retire to their several Dwelling-houses where we forbid and discharge all Persons to disquiet disturb or molest them any manner of way and we appoint the next immediate Protestant Officers in the Fortresses where the Governours Deputy-Governours or other Officers are Roman Catholicks to take upon them the Custody of the saids Fortresses and in the same manner that the Protestants concerned in the Collecting and managing of the Revenue and the keeping of the Peace do supply by their diligence the Vacancies that are or may happen to be in places of the like Nature This our Declaration to be of Force and to take effect till the said Meeting of Estates in March next and to be without prejudice to any other Orders we may think fit to give to any Person or Persons for the ends abovementioned And we do farther order this our Declaration to be printed and published at Edinburgh and printed Copies of the same to be given or sent to the Sheriffs and Stewartry Clerks of the several Shires and Stewartries whom we do hereby require to publish the same upon the first Mercat day after the receipt thereof at the Crosses of the Head Burghs of their respective Shires and Stewartries in the due and usual manner Given at St. James's the Sixth day of February in the Year of our Lord 1688 9. W. H. Prince of Orange The Effects of this Declaration were that these Gentlemen who had taken Arms to defend themselves and the Regular Clergy from the Fury of the Rabble disbanded and laid down their Arms as the Declaration required whereupon the Phanatick Mob became much more Insolent and Outragious despising the Declaration and destroying all the Clergy they could reach for which they had the following Act of Thanks An Act approving of the good Services done by the Town of Glasgow Shire of Argyle and other Western Shires in this Conjuncture with a return of the Thanks of the Estates to them AT Edinburgh March 28. 1689. The Meeting of the Estates of this Kingdom taking into their Consideration that by the sending of the standing Forces into England the Estates were destitute of that Guard and Defence which was proper and necessary in this Conjuncture and that several Persons well affected to the Protestant Religion at the Dyet of the Meeting of the said Estates having repaired to this City of Edinburgh from Glasgow the Shire of Argyle and other Western Shires did at the Desire and by Warrand of the Estates put themselves to Arms and since have so continued Watching and Warding under the Command of the Earl of Levin and demeaned themselves Soberly and Honestly and been Active and Instrumental to prevent Tumults and to secure the Peace and Quiet of this Meeting and Place and there being now some Scots Regiments arrived here under the Command of Major General Mâ—cay The Estates do therefore hereby declare That what is past was good acceptable and seasonable Service and do approve the same and hereby gives Order to the said Earl of Levin to Disband them and allows them to return with their Arms to their respective Homes and do return their Thanks to the Persons who have been imployed Extracted out of the Records of the Meeting of Estates by me Ja. Dalrymple Cls. This is the Act that in the Narrative is called An Act for Thanks to the Rabble The Persons to whom it relates being these Zealots who contrary to all the Laws of Religion and Humanity contrary to the Laws of all Nations and particularly to the standing Laws of this Kingdom and contrary to the Prince's own Declaration Feb. 6. 1688 9. convened and continued in Arms till they drove out all the regular Clergy in the West and many in the South and being in number about 8000 or above overawed and threatned those concerned to elect Members for the Convention and at the Meeting of Estates rushed in a Tumultuary and Hâ—stile manner into Edinburgh planted themselves without any publick Order or Commission about and in the Parliament house where at every turn they rail'd at threatned baffled and affronted the Bishops nor were the ancient Nobility and Gâ—ntry who generally adhered to the â—piscâ—pal Cause better treated by them the Terror whereof made many of the most eminent Members never come near the House and made many who came at first soon after desert it all this was considerably before the Earl of Levin was by the Convention appointed to Command them This being Matter of Fact well known to the Estates I leave the World to judge how well these Men deserved this Act of Approbation A Proclamation for a General Fast. At Edinb August 24. 1689. Present in Council E. Crafurd P. M. Douglas E. Southerland E. Leven E. Annandale L. Rosse L. Carmichell Sir Hugh Campbel of Calder Sir Iames Montgomerie of Skelmorly Sir Arch. Murray of Blackbarrony Iames Brody of that Ilk. Sir Iohn Hall L. Provost of Edinb FOrasmuch as the great and long abounding of Sins of all sorts amongst all Ranks of Persons with the continued Impenitency under them and not Reforming therefrom The falling from their first Love and great Faintings and Failings of Ministers and others of all Ranks in the hour of Temptation in their Zeal for God and his Work and that although there be much cause to Bless God for the Comfortable Unity and Harmony amongst the Ministers and Body of Christian Professors in this Church Yet that there are such Sad and Continuing Divisions amongst some is also matter of Lamentation before God The great Ingratitude for his begun Deliverance of this Nation from Popery and Slavery and unsuitable Walking thereunto The Contempt of the Gospel not Mourning for former and present Iniquities nor turning to the Lord by such Reformation and Holiness as so great a Work calls for The many Sad and long continued Tokens of Gods Wrath in the hiding of his Face and more especially in his Restraining the Power and presence of His Spirit with the preached Gospel in the Conversion of Souls and Edifying the Converted And the Lord 's Threatning the Sword of a Cruel and Barbarous Eenemy in the present great Distress of Ireland by the prevailing of an Anti Christian Party there and Threatning the Sword of the same Enemy at Home and the great and imminent Danger of the Reformed Protestant Religion not only from an open Declared Party of Papists Enemies to the same but from many other professed Protestants who Joyn Issue with them in the same Design besides the sad Sufferings and Scatterings of Reformed Churches Abroad Having Seriously and Religiously moved the Presbyterian Ministers Elders and Professors of the Church of Scotland Humbly to Address themselves to the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council for a General Fast and Day of Humiliation to be kept throughout the whole Kingdom The saids Lords Do out of a Pious and Religious
Disposition Approve of the said Motion as Dutiful and Necessary at the time And therefore in His Majesties Name and Authority Do Command a Solemn and publick Fast and day of Humiliation to be Religiously and Sincerely Observed throughout this Kingdom both in Churches and Meeting-Houses as they would avert Wrath and procure and continue Blessings to this Kingdom and that all Persons whatsoever may send up their Fervent Prayers and Supplications to Almighâ—y God That He would pour out upon all Ranks a Spirit of Grace and Supplication that they may Mourn for all their Iniquities and more especially that God would pour forth upon King WILLIAM and Queen MARY and upon all inferior Magistrates and Counsellors a Spirit of Wisdom for Government and Zeal for God His Church and Work in this Land as the present Case of both do call for and that God may preserve Them for carrying on that great Work which he hath so Gloriously and Seasonably begun by Them and that God would Countenance and Bless with Success the Armies by Sea and Land Raised for the Defence of the Protestant Religion and more especially that God would pour forth a Spirit of Holiness upon them lest their Sins and ours may provoke God againâ— them in the Day of Battel and that he would Bless all Means for the Settlement of Church and State That God would Bless the Season of the Year and give Seasonable Weather for Cutting Down and gathering in the Fruits of the Earth that the Stroke of Famine which God hath frequently Threatned the Nation with may be Averted And the saids Lords of His Majesties Privy Council do in Name and Authority foresaid Command and Charge that the said Solemn and publick Fast be Religiously and devoutly performed both in Churches and Meeting-Houses by all Ranks and Degrees of persons within this Kingdom on this side of the Water of Tay upon Sunday the Fifteenth day of September next to come and by all others be-north the same upon Sunday thereafter the Twenty second day of the said month of September And to the End that this part of Divine Worship so pious and Necessary may be punctually kept upon the respective Days above-mentioned They Ordain Sir William Lockhart Solâ—icitor in the most convenient and proper way to dispatch and send Copies hereof to the Sheriffs their Deputs and Clerks of the several Shires of this Kingdom to be by them published at the Mâ—râ—at Crosses of the Head Burghs upon receipt thereof and immediately sent to the several Ministers both of Churches and Meeting-Houses that upon the Lords-day immediately preceding the Fast and upon the respective Days of the publick Fast and Humiliation the Ministers may read and intimate this Proclamation from the Pulpit in every Parish Church and Meeting-House and that they Exhort all persons to a serious and devout performance of the said Prayers Fasting and Humiliation as they regard the Favour of Almighty God and the Safety and Preservation of the Protestant Religion and expect a Blessed Success to the carrying on of that Great and Glorious Work of this Nations being delivered from Popery and Slavery so seasonably begun and as they would avoid the Wrath and Indignation of God against this Kingdom and procure and continue maniâ—old Blessings to the same Certifying all these who shall contemn or neglect such a Religious and necessary Duty they shall be proceeded against and published as Contemners of his Majesties Authority Neglecters of Religious Services and as persons disaffected to the Protestant Religion as well as to Their Majesties Royal Persons and Government And Ordains these presents to be printed and published by Macers or Messengers at Arms at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh and other places above-mentioned that none may pretend Ignorance Per actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii GILB ELIOT Cls. Sti. Concilii God save King William and Queen Mary Some of the sad Effects of this Canting Proclamation were particularly felt by Mr. Ramsay who preach'd in the Forenoon in the old Church at Edinb a Man of an unblameable Life a judicious and accurate Preacher gave Obedience in all things to the Act of the Meeting of Estates of the Thirteenth of April read the Proclamation prayed in express Terms for King William and Queen Mary the very first day these things were enjoyned to be done on but that availed nothing for the design was to remove all the Episcopal Ministers from the Pulpits in Edinburgh at any rate and upon any pretence how little soever Mr. Ramsay gets a Citation to appear before the Privy Council By their procedure against his Brethren he knew what would be the event of this and therefore it being his turn to preach on that day he was cited to compâ—ar on and many of his Elders and Parishoners being present he delivered some Advices and Exhortations which made the Sermon look somewhat like a valedictory one after Sermon his Elders attended him to the foot of the Stairs of the Council Chamber Mr. Ramsay is called and interrogated if he did read the Proclamation of the 13th of April he answered I did read it Again he is questioned if he prayed for King William and Queen Mary naming them for it was not enough to use such Expressions as were only to be appropriated to William and Mary he said He had prayed for them by Name But says the President you only prayed for them as Declared King and Queen not as those that were really such Mr. Ramsay replied That he had prayed for William and Mary whom the Estates of the Kingdom had Declared King and Queen and since they had no Liturgy and they had given to them no Form of Prayer he thought being he had pray'd for William and Mary no more was to be required and as for the words Declared King and Queen he had taken them from one of their own Proclamations which when denied he desired the Proclamation might be produced which was done and then it appeared he was in the right When he could not be reached in this point then the President the Earl of Crawfurd said But Mr. Ramsay you pray for the late King James My Lord said he I pâ—ay in these words Lord Bless William and Mary whâ—m the Estates of this Land have Declared King and Queen and Bless all the Royal Family Root and Branch especially him who is now under Affliction Sanctiâ—ie it uâ—to him while he is under it and when it seems good to thee deliver him from it This says he is the Form I made to my self for you prescribe none and is it not a sore matter that when nothing is left to King James in Reversiâ—n of Three Kingdoms but the Prayers of poor Men that you should deny him those They then ordered him to remove and consulted by what other way they might reach him for yet they could not find a pretence against him sufficient to deprive him At last they called him in and the President said But Mr. Ramsay you did not
read from the Pulpit the Proclamation for the Fast. Now my Lord replied Mr. Ramsay you have nick'd me indeed I did not intimate that Fast. But why did you not For many Reasons my Lord said he But pray said my Lord let us hear some of those Reasons Excuse me my Lord replied he it 's sufficient that I confess that I did not read it But according to the method of their Inquisition of Screwing out Mens minds and provoking them to speak that they might get occasion against them they press'd him to name some of his Reasons he said being they urged he would give them one That it was against the Practice of the universal Church and primitive Canons to Fast on Sunday And he said Tho there were no other Reasons but that oneâ— he could not intimate that Fast. He gave this Reason as that which he thought would give them least Offence They ordered him to remove till they had deliberated what to do with him and then cause call him in and deprived him for not reading the Proclamation for the Fast. Dr. Gardner a Man of great Parts and Piety and one of the Ministers of the Talâ—â—ooth Church in Edinburgh was deprived upon the same account of not intimating that Fast tho he had complied in every thing else which they demanded A Proclamation Discharging the Payment of the Rents of the Bishopricks to any but the Persons named by the Council At Edinburgh September 19. 1689. WHereas the Meeting of the Estates of this Kingdom in their Claim of Right of the Eleventh of April last Declared that Prelacy and the Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters is and hath been a great and insupportable Grievance to this Nation and contâ—air to the Inclinations of the Generality of the People ever since the Reformation And that their Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament have by their Act of the Date the Fifth day of Iuly last bypast abolished Prelacy and all Superiority of any Office in the Church above Presbyters And His Majesty considering the prejudice it may be to His Interest if fit Persons be not appointed to look after and receive the Rents and Emoluments particularly those consisting of Tiâ—hes which formerly did belong to the Bishops Hath therefore signified His Royal Pleasure That the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council should give Warrand to Alexander Hamilton of Kinkell for Drawing and Upliâ—â—ing the Tithes and other Rents of the Archbishoptick of St. Andrews he giving sufficient Security for his Faithful performance of his duty in the said Office and hath also left it to the Council to appoint fit persons for Drawing and Uplifting the Tithes of other Bishopricks for this present Cropt and Year of God 1689. that none concerned suffer prejudice Excepting the Bishoprick of Orknay which His Majesty is resolved to have Uplifted with the Rents of the Lordship And the saids Lords of Privy Council having in Obedience to His Majesties Commands Nominat and Appointed fit and qualified persons for Drawing of the Tithes and Uplifting of the Rents formerly belonging to the Bishops Deans or any other person of superior Order and Dignity in the Church above Presbyters And least before the time that some of them can be able to come to this place and find Caution for their faithful discharging of that Trust and make Intimation of their respective Commissions to Uplift the saids Rents for the said Cropt and Year of God foresaid to the persons lyable in payment thereof The Teinds and other Rents of the Archbishopricks and Bishopricks and others foresaids may be Imbazled and Intromâ—tted with by persons who have no Right thereto Therefore the saids Lords of Privy Council in their Majesties Name and Authority foresaid prohibit and Discharge all and sundry Heretors Feuers Liâ—erenters Taxâ—-men of Teinds Tennents and others whose Teinds were formerly in use to be drawn and who were lyable-in payment of any Rent or Duty to the saids late Archbishops or Bishops or others foresaids to draw or suffer their Teinds to be drawn and from payment of any Rental-Bolls Feu Blench or Tack-Duties and other Rents Casualties and Emoluments formerly payable to the saids late Archbishops Bishops and others foresaid except to such persons as shall be authorized by the saids Lords of Privy Council for uplifting thereof with Certification to them if they do any thing in the contrary hereof they shall be lyable therefore notwithstanding if any pretended Discharge that may be Impetrat or Obtained from any other person or persons for the said Cropt and Year of God foresaid And Ordains these presents to be printed and publishâ—d by Macers of Privy Council at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh and by Messengers at Arms at the Mercat-Crosses of the Heâ—dâ—Burghs of the other Shires within this Kingdom that none may pretend Ignorance Per actum Dominorum Secreti Consilii GILB ELIOT Cls. Secreti Concilii God Save King William and Queen Mary This Alexander Hamilton who is here appointed to uplift the Rents of St. Andrews Archbishoprick was taken in actual Rebellion at the time of Bothwell bridge Rebellion and by the Clemency of the Government then had his Life spared altho he was always a great Ring-leader of that Rebellious Rout which so much plagued the Nation before and since that time A Draught of an Act for Establishing the Church-Government Presented by his Majesty's High-Commissioner July 22. 1689. FOrasmuch as the King and Queens Majesties and the Estates of Parliament by their Act the Fifth of Iuly instant Abolishing Prelacy and the Superiority of any Church-Officers above Presbyters in this Kingdom did declare That they would settle that Church-Government in this Kingdom which is most agreeable to the Inclinations of the People And considering That the Church-Government by General Provincial and Presbyterial Assemblies with the Sessions of the Kirk as it was established by the first Act of the Twelfth Parliament of King Iames VI. holden in Iune 1592. is most agreeable to the Inclinations of the People Therefore the King and Queens Majesties with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament Revives and Renews the said Act of Parliament in the whole Heads Points and Articles thereof with this express Declaration That the necessity of occasional Assemblies be first represented to His Majesty by humble Supplication And Statutes and Declares That it is and shall be lawful to the Presbyters of this Church to admit Ministers upon Presentations from the lawful Patrons or Iure de voluto which shall happen hereafter or into Churches which fall not under Patronages but were Mensal and Patrimonial Churches belonging to the Bishops sicklike and as freely as they did or might have done of before by the foresaid Act of Parliament in the Year 1592. and to do all and every thing which before pertained to Presbyteries and were exercised by the Bishops And Ordains all the Ministers in this Kingdom to submit and conform themselves to the Church-Government
take and subscribe the same And ordains the Moderator of the respective Presbyteries to return the said Oath so taken and subscribed to the Clerks of Privy Council betwixt and the first of October next and orduins the first Diet of Meeting of the several Provincial Assemblies of this Kingdom to be upon the second Tuesday of October next at the ordinary places where the Synâ—ds and Provincial Assemblies were in use to meet And ordains the Church-Sessions to be elâ—cted and chosen both in Burgh and Landward at the ordinary times and after the ordinary manner Tho King William desired the Presbyterians to pass this Act for the Settlement of their Government in the Church yet because it seemed to restrain them from controling the State when they pleased as they had been always wont to do when in power for sometimes the Parliament and General Assembly flatly contradicted one another as in the year 1674. when King Charles â— was kept Prisoner at the Isle of Wight the Convention of Estates voted that an Army should be sent as it was under the Command of Duke Hamilton to relieve His Majesty but the General Assembly pass'd an Act at the same time flatly contradicting that and accordingly after the King's Forces were defeated by the Rebels in England the Kirk to show their absolute Supremacy in the State forced the Nobily and Gentry who were Officers under the Duke to make their Repentance before the Congregations publickly in Sackcloth I say because this Act seemed to restrain them from meddling in State Affairs as they had been wont to do leaving them no power in the State and the King some power in the Church as that they could not call a General Assembly without acquainting him with the necessity of it therefore this Act was rejected with great Contempt and Indignation and the Presbyterian Minister who was then in Quality of a Chaplain in the Parliament said that they would rather than admit of such a Mangled Mungril Presbytery beg back the Bishops again and that it was Nonsence not to allow the Clergy to impose other Oaths as well as that of Allegiance The Conclusion SOme may perhaps think it an unkindness done to the Nation of Scotland thus to expose the publick Acts of the Kingdom which were never ridiculous or afraid of the light but only when some Men Govâ—rned who are indeed the far least and most inconsiderable part of the People otherways why should they so violently now oppose the Dissolving of this Parliament and the Calling of a new one since it is certain that the Humour of the Nation cannot be so well known by a thin Convâ—ntion which was called in an extraordinary Hurry in a great Confusion and Fermentation of the People and which proceeded with equal Heat and Precipitancy Others may think that by publishing the Names as is here done of some few of these good Men who have suffered they shall be thereby dangerously exposed to the Fury and Violence of these Zealots whose greatest Mercy is Cruelâ—y Indeed there is too much Ground for this Conjecture But our Enemies have put us upon this Necessity for the late account that was given in some Letters of the present Persecution of the Church in Scotland tho it was exactly true in all the Matters of Fact relating to that Persecution yet in England where these things are not so well known some Men being ashamed of these Barbarities to which they gave all the Life they could at such a distâ—nce have industriously represented by their Tongues and Pens that account as altogether False and Fabulous altho even themselves are but too well satisfied that it contains sad Truths Their Mercurius Reformatus as he stiles himself wanting Advertisements and good News from Ireland to fill up his Weekly Papers stuffs two or three of them with Reflections on that former account of our Persecution First He doubts the Matters of Fact are not true and it 's something strange that one who has conversed so intimately with and been most of his Life bred up amongst Scotch Fanaticks should so much question their natural and customary Practices Secondly He imputes all the Mischief if says he there has been any wholly to the Rabble and wonders that any part of it should be charged upon the Godly Patriots to whom the Government of that Kingdom is now intrusted But now if the Matters of Fact so fully attâ—sted in this Book and the publick Acts so faithfully transcribed do not satisfie him and those few whom he may have led into these his willful Mistakes they must be allowed to doubt on till one come from the Dead to inform them if even that can perswade them to believe But Thirdly which shows that he is indeed but a new Observator he seems to grant what he would deny for acknowledging the Persecution he says That it was occasioned by the Severities wherewith the â—piscopal Party had treated the Presbyterians in the by-gone Reigns as if their new Gospel could adopt Revenge into a vertue and as if all the Punishments inflicted upon Rebels by the State for its own Security were to be charged only upon the Church and revenged now upon the Clergy the poor helpless Prelates and their Curates Fourthly He 's confident that the whole Book is but a malicious Design to Bespatter the present Government if the Government be bespattered when the true account of their open Proceedings is fairly published to the World then the faultlyes originally in that Government not in the Historian It 's a strange Severity in any Government not to suffer Men to groan under Burthens because it imposed them and to knock Men in the Head for but clattering those Chains wherewith the Government Fetters them Fifthly He quarrels at the Stile of the Letters for the Authors he says do no where express any thing of duty or Allegiance to the present Governours but according to Mercurius's own Principles of Policy there 's time enough for that when they find themselves according to the Articles of the pretended Original Contract and many fair promises secured in their Religion Liberties and Properties for now it 's a received Axiom it seems that Protection and Allegiance are reciprocal Again He 's offended at the Sharpness and Severity which he discovers in the Expressions then he runs out in many Rhetorical Commendations by way of new reformed Observation upon Moderation and recommends it from the great Example of a famous Roman Catholick Prince whereas at another turn he will not allow either Popish Prince or People to be capable of the least Moderation meerly because they are Papists It 's hard to think why this Gentleman should be so much offended with the Stile of those Letter's it 's not I hope for the Scoticisms in them for that 's a Fault that neither he nor we can so easily help in our Writing perhaps he 's angry that he as a Scotch Doctor was not entrusted to purge out their sharp Humour before