Royal Palace of St. James's over which house the same day at noon was seen by thousands a Star and soon after the Sun suffered an Eclipse a sad presage as some then divined that this Princes power should for some time be Eclipsed as it hath been and some Subject signified by a Star should have extraordinary splendor Baptized Was Christened the 27th of June following by the then Bishop of London Dr. Laud. Had for his Godfathers his two Uncles Lewis the 13th King of France and Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhein then called King of Bohemia represented by the Duke of Richmond and Marquis of Hamilton His Godmother being then the Queen Mother of France represented by the Dutchess of Richmond Had for Governess Mary Countess of Dorset In May 1633. he was first Knighted and immediately after he was made Knight of the Garter and installed at Windsor Education At the Age of Eight he had for Governour the Earl afterwards Marquis now Duke of Newcastle and after him the Late Earl of Barkshire and for Tutor or Praeceptor Dr. Duppa then Dean of Christ Church after Bishop of Salisbury and lately of Winchester At the Age of Twelve was with the King his Father at the Battel of Edge Hill and soon after at Oxford was committed to the care of the Marquis of Hertford About Fourteen years old was in the Head of an Army in the West of England At the Age of Fifteen a Marriage was proposed between him and the Eldest Daughter of the King of Portugal the Infanta Joanna since deceased Two years after was from Cornwal transported to the Isle of Scilly and after to Jersey and thence to his Royal Mother to St. Germains near Paris At this time the Parliament in England being at variance with the King A little time after he was at Sea with some Naval Forces endeavouring to rescue the King his Father then in the Isle of Wight out of the wicked hands of his Rebellious Subjects Not many months after upon the sad news of the horrid Murther of his Royal Father he was in Holland first saluted King and soon after proclaimed in Scotland being not yet nineteen years of Age. At the Age of Twenty from Holland he landed in Scotland June 1650. and in January following to the joy of His Loyal Subjects there he was Crowned at Scoone the place where his Ancestors had been Crowned At his Coronation there was this Solemnity A Reverend and Learned Divine Mr. Robert Douglass preaching a Sermon concerning the Dignity and Honour due to Kings all the Nobility being present he was invested with the Regalia The Crown being put upon his Royal Head he was by the joyful Acclamations of his people saluted King all of them present with one voice crying out God save the King God save the King God save the King These precise times not allowing the ordinary Rites of Coronation The third of September 1651. fought the Battel of Worcester whence after the unfortunate loss of his whole Army wandring in disguise about England for six weeks and most wonderfully preserved he was at length transported from a Creek near Shoram in Sussex to Feccam near Havre de Grace in France in which Kingdom with his Royal Brothers and divers Scotish and English Nobility Cleâ—gy and Gentry he was for some years received and treated as King of Scotland and England Afterwards he passed his time in Germany Flanders and Spain in the studies and exercises most befitting a Prince until the year 1660. at which time being at Brussels in the Spanish Territories perceiving a general inclination of his Subjects in England to receive him he providently removed himself to Breda within the Dominions of the United Provinces in the Netherlands and thence in May to the Hague After a little abode there by the humble invitation of his Scotish and English Subjects he imbarked at Scheveling the 23 of May 1660. and with a gallant Fleet and gentle gale of wind landed the 25th at Dover and on the 29th following being his Birth-day and then just 30 years of Age he entered into London being attended with most of the Nobility and Gentry of the Three Kingdoms where he was received with the greatest and most universal Joy and Acclamations and Magnificence that could possibly be expressed And on the 23d of April 1661. was Crowned with great Solemnity Ceremony at Westminster His Majesties life hath been full of wonders But three passages especially seem miraculous First at his Birth a bright Star seen over him at Noon-day by many thousands Secondly His escape in and after the Battel of Worcester when being in the very heart of England forsaken by all a summ of money by publick Act promised to those that should discover him and penalty of High Treason to any one that should conceal him when he was seen and known by many persons of all sorts and conditions whereof divers were very indigent and so very subject to be tempted with the proposed Reward and divers of the Female Sex and so most unapt to retain a secret When he was necessitated to wait so many weeks and appear in so many places and companies before a fit opportunity of Transportation could be found Thirdly His Majesties Restauration quippe impossibile fuit filium tot precationum tot lacrymarum tot miraculorum periisse that after so many years dispossession his most inveâ—erate potent subtle enemies in full and quiet possession on a sudden the desire of him should like Lightning or a mighty Torrent run over his Kingdoms in such a manner that he should be solemnly invited magnificently conducted and triumphantly received without blood blows bargain or any obligation to any Forein Prince or Potentate This was the Lord's doing and must for ever be marvellous in our eyes Justly might the Great Turk hearing of His Majesties Restauration declare if he were to change his Religion he would adore and worship the God of the King of Great Britain Of His Sacred Person of His Life and Safety the Laws of Scotland are so tender that it is High Treason only to imagine or intend the Death of the King And because by imagining or conspiring the Death of the King's Counsellors or great Officers of his Houshold the destruction of the King might ensue the Law hath provided they should be punished with Death The King's Person is in so high an esteem that to offend against those persons that represent the King as to kill some of the Crown Officers or the King's Judges or to counterfeit the King's Seal or his Moneys is made High Treason because by all these the King's Person is represented and High Treason is so horrid that besides loss of Life and Honour Real and Personal Estate to the Criminal His â—â—irs also are to lose the same for ever and to be ranked amongst the Peasantry and Ignoble till the King shall please to restore them The Law by no means will suffer an Idiot or Lunatick to go
was made a Privy Councillor in 1662. and in 1666. being joyned Admiral with the Duke of Albemarl first attackt the whole Dutch Fleet with his Squadron in such a bold resolute way that he put the enemy soon to flight He enjoyes a Pension from His Majesty of 4000 l. per annum After Prince Rupert the next Heirs to the Crown of Scotland are three French Ladies Daughters of Prince Edward deceased who was a younger Son of the Queen of Bohemia whose Widdow the Princess Dowager Mother to the said three Ladies is Sister to the Late Queen of Poland Daughter and Coheir to the last Duke of Nevers in France amongst which three Daughters there is a Revenue of about 12000 l. sterling a year There was two Daughters of Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine who being unmarried are deceased The last is the Princess Sophia youngest Daughter to the Queen of Bohemia Born at the Hague 1630. and in 1659. wedded to John Duke of Lunenberg and free Prince of Germany Heir to the Dutchy of Brunswick by whom she hath Sons and Daughters she is said to be one of the most accomplisht Ladies in Europe Having this particular Account of all the nearest in Blood to the Crown of Scotland being the Issue of King James the Sixth and King Charles the First it will not be amiss to relate these that are descended of the Daughter of King James the Second since whom till the Queen of Bohemia no collateral branch sprung from the Royal Family of whom any Issue remains James Lord Hamilton was married to the Daughter of King James the Second and had Issue first James created Earl of Arran whose Son was the Duke of Chastelherault from whom by Two Sons are descended the Families of Hamilton and Abercorn and by Two Daughters the Families of Huntley and Lauderdale And by an Act of Parliament signed by all the Three Estates the Original whereof is yet extant in the Reign of Queen Mary The Duke of Chastelheraults Family is declared next the Queen and her Issue the Rightful Heir of the Crown The Sister of King James the Third bare likewise to the Lord Hamilton a Daughter married to the Earl of Lennox from whom descended the Family of Lennox There is no otther branch of the Royal Family since it was in the Line of the Stewarts except the Earl of Cassils his Family whose Ancestor the Lord Kennedy married King James the firsts Sister from which Marriage that Family is descended And so much of the Royal Family CHAP. V. Of the Chief Officers of State of the Court of Justice The Manner of Elections of the Members in Parliament and Riding of Parlialiament Of the Privy Council Of the Senators of the Colledge of Justice Of the Justice Court of the Exchequer THE Government of the Kingdom being wholly in the Crown the King administers it by his officers of State and Privy Council The Officers of State are Eight The first is the Lord Chancellour who is Keeper of the Great Seal and President in all Courts where-ever he is This Office was in the Person of John Duke of Rothes lately deceased The Second Officer is the Lord High Treasurer who governs the Revenue and presides in the Exchequer This Office is now in Commission The Third Officer is the Lord Privy Seal who is at present John Duke of Athol These Three take place of all the Nobility The Fourth Officer is the Lord Secretary who keeps the Signet and is a Lord by his Office and takes place of all of his Rank The Office of Secretary is executed by the Right Honourable Alexander Earl of Murray The Fifth Officer is the Lord Clerk of Registers who has the charge of all the publick Records Rolls and Registers and Names of all the Clerks of Parliament and Session and the Keepers of Publick Registers This Office is executed by Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick The Sixth Officer is the King's Advocate who is also called the Lord Advocate He is commonly a Judge except in cases in which the King is concerned and in these he pleads in the King's Name The present Lord Advocate is Sir George Mackenzie of Rose-haugh The Seventh Officer is the Lord Treasurer Deputy who is Assistant to the Lord High Treasurer and is a check upon him and presides in the Exchequer in his absence This Office is executed by Charles Maitland of Hatton The Eighth Officer is the Lord Justice Clerk who assists the Lord Justice General in Criminal Causes The present Justice Clerk is Rich. Maitland Esq All these have the Title of Lord and the Precedency of all under Noble men and their Eldest Sons Of the Courts of Justice The Chief and Supream Court of Justice is the High Court of Parliament which is made up of Three Estates The first is the Ecclesiastical that of Old consisted of Bishops and Miter'd Abbots but since the Reformation consists only of arch-Arch-Bishops and Bishops The second Estate is the Nobility who were antiently divided into the greater Barons and the lesser for every man that holds Lands of the Crown with a priviledge of holding a Court much like the Lord of a Mannour in England is called a Baron and all were obliged to appear personally in Parliament Proxies never being allowed by the Law of Scotland and give the King Counsel This proved a very hard burden to the small Barons upon which they desired to be excused from their Attendance in Parliament And this was granted them as a favour in King James's the first Reign And though by that Act they might have sent two or three or more to represent them from every Shire yet they made no use of that for above 150 years But King James the Sixth to ballance the Nobility got them restored to that Right so that ever since there are two sent from every Shire who are Commissioners of the Shires The third Estate is the Burroughs every one of which chuseth one Commissioner or Burgess only the City of Edinburgh as the Metropolis chuseth two Elections of Members of Parliament The Parliament is summoned by Proclamation made at the Head Burrough of every Shire forty daies before they meet upon which the Shires and Burroughs meet about their Elections Every one that holdeth Lands of the Crown that in the Rolls of the Taxation the Antient Name of Subsidies and Assessments are valued at forty shillings Scottish Money of Taxation to the King which will be in real value about ten pounds sterling a year is an Electour or may be Elected so he be rightly vested in the Land or according to the Scottish terms infeoft and seized and be not at the King's Horn that is under an Outlawry The Electours subscribe the Commissions they give and so their Commissioner is returned and if there be Cross Elections the Parliament is only Judge In the Burroughs the Common Council of the Town makes the Election The Manner of the Riding of the Parliament When the day comes in which
place D. Atkins now governs the See The Diocess of Galloway hath under its jurisdiction the Shire of Wigton Stewartry of Kirkudbright Regality of Glen-Luce and part of Dumfreis shire Bishop of Dunkeld About the year 1606. James Nicolson Parson of Meigle was preferred to the See to whom succeeded Alexander Lindsay Rector of St. Madoe This Bishop being threatned with the Censures of the Assembly at Glasgow did abjure Episcopacy and submit to the Presbyterian Government 1639. and betook himself to the Charge of a particular Parish Anno 1662. George Halyburton Preacher at Perth was preferred to the Sea a very worthy person he sate little above two years Upon his Death Henry Guthry was promoted to the Bishoprick Now Dr. Bruce governs this See The Chapter of Dunkeld consists of the Persons following The Rector of Kinclevin Dean Tibbermire Cantor Couper Arch-Deacon Lethindy Chancellor Dunkeld Treasurer Fungart Inch-mack Grannoch Logio Alachie Blair in Athol Eliot The Parson of Rattary Sub-Dean The Parsons of Ruffill Kepitmack in Athol Monady The Prebendary of Fearne Menmure Aberdaigy The Diocess of Dunkeld contains the most part of Perth shire part of Angus and part of West Lothian The Bishops of Aberdeen After the Restauration of the Episcopal Government His most Sacred Majesty King Charles the Second preferred David Mitchell one of the Prebendaries of Westminster to the Bishoprick of Aberdeen This worthy man was Anno 1638. one of the Preachers of Edinburgh and being thrust out by the Assembly of Glasgow retired into England he lived not a whole year after his Consecration To him succeeded Alexander Burnet Rector of in Kent who sate little above a year being translated to Glasgow which was then void by the death of Arch-Bishop Fairfoul Upon his Translation Anno 1664. the Reverend Patrick Scougal Parson of Salton was promoted to the Bishoprick of Aberdeen who wisely and piously governs the See The Chapter of Aberdeen consists of the Persons following Since the Rectory of St. Machar was annexed to the King's Colledge the Principal thereof is Dean The Parsons of Auchterless Cantor Rayne Arch-Deacon Birse Chancellor Daviot Treasurer The Rector of St. Peters Subcantor The Parson of Kinkell who is the Patron of 7 Churches Kinkell Drumblait Monkeigie Kintor Kemray Kinnellar and Dyce The Parson of Morthlick The Rector of Monimusk Kincairden of Neil Turreff Belhelveis Banchory-Devoneif Logie Buchan Coldstane The Parson of Clatt Methlick Innernochty Oyn Crowdane Tillinessil Forbes Phillorth Lonmay The Prebendary of Deir Ellon Several Learned and Worthy men in the Diocess of Aberdeen were thrust out of their Livings by the Covenanters The most considerable were John Forbes of Corse Doctor and Professor of Divinity in the King's Colledge of Aberdeen Robert Baron Doctor and Professor of Divinity in the King's Colledge of Aberdeen Alexander Scrogie D. D. Minister in Old Aberdeen Patrick Dune Dr. of Physick Principal of the Marischal Colledge of Aberdeen Alexander Rosse D. D. Parson of St. Nicholas James Sibbald D. D. Minister in Aberdeen John Forbes Parson of Auchterless Andrew Logie Parson of Rayne John Ross Parson of Birse John Gregory Rectour of Drummaok John Logâ—e Rectour of Raphan Thomas Thoires Minister at Vdny The Cathedral of Aberdeen dedicated to St. Machar was founded by Bishop Kinninmouth who died before the work was raised six cubits high several other Bishops were at the charge in carrying on the Building some whereof laid the Foundation of the great Steeple and the two lesser Steeples others paved the floor with free-stone another adorned the Chancel with many brave Ornaments Bishop Elphingstone did perfect the great Steeple which was a mark for Sailors in those days and furnished it with costly and tunable Bells 1489. Bishop Dumbar did perfect the two lesser Steeples cieled the Church and built the South-Isle 1522. and his Successor Bishop Stewart built the Consistory House An. 1539. This glorious structure being near 90 years in Building did not remain twenty years in its integrity when it was almost ruined by a crew of sacrilegious Church Robbers for Anno 1560. The Barons of Mernis accompanied with some of the Tounsmen of Aberdeen having demolished the Monasteries of the Black and Gray Friers fell to rob the Cathedral which they spoiled of all its costly Ornaments and Jewels and demolished the Chancel having shipped the Lead Bells and other utensils intending to expose them to Sale in Holland all this ill gotten wealth sunk not far from the Girdleness The Body of the Cathedral was preserved from utter ruine by the Earl of Huntley afterwards An. 1607 the Church was repaired and covered with State at the charge of the Parish and so continues yet in pretty good repair The Diocess of Aberdeen contains the Shire of Aberdeen most part of Bamff shire and part of Mernis Bishops of Murray Anno 1662. Murdack Mackenzie Rectour of Elgine was preferred Bishop of Murray since translated to Orkney â—octor Atkins was preferred to this See and since translated to Galloway Mr. Collen formerly Minister of Steres was preferred and now governs the See His predecessor was John Guthry one of the Preachers in Edinburgh in whose time fell out our second Reformation most of the Bishops left their Bishopricks having wisely withdrawn themselves into England to avoid the storm which threatned them whereas this Bishop staid at home till his Bishoprick left him being thrust out from his benefice by the Covenanters he retired to his antient Inheritance of Guthry in Angus where he lived very contentedly and hospitably exercising his Charity amongst the Poor he died much lamented during our Civil Wars The Cathedral of Elgine founded by Andrew Bishop of Murray 1230 was one of the rarest Monuments that this Kingdom afforded equal in length almost to St. Pauls in London but surpassing it in breadth It was demolished at the Reformation yet some of the stately Ruins are still to be seen and admired The Parish-Church dedicated to St. Peter was founded by George the Second Earl of Huntly about the year 1490. The Diocess of Murray contains the Shires of Elgine Nairn and part of Ennerness and Bamf shires Bishops of Brichen Anno 1662 David Strachan Parson of Fettercairn was pâ—â—fâ—â—â—ed Bishop of Brichen he sate 〈◊〉 years and dying 1671. was buâ—â—â—d in the Cathedral his Successor was Robert Lawry Dean of Edinburgh Anno 1639. Walter Whitefurd of the House of Milntoun Bishop of Brichen was outed by the Covenanters and plundered The Cathedral Church of Brichen is a pretty handsom Fabrick it hath on the South-side a small Steeple not unlike the Monument on Fish street-hill London save that it is broader at the top than at the bottom The Chancel was demolished by the first Reformers The Diocess of Brichen contains part of Angus and Mernis Bishops of Dumblane Robert Leighton Principal of the Colledge of Edinburgh was promoted Anno 1662 to the Bishoprick of Dumblane He was a man of singular and wonderful Piety and of great Learning and in him most of the