his Kingdom and execute Justice by the Counsel of his Nobles All these things should the King swear in his own Person before he be Crowned Mat. Parisien describes the manners of the Countrey at his coming thus The Nobles were given to gluttony and letchery they went not to Church in the Christian maner in the morning but onely had a Priest which made haste with the Mattens and Mass in their Chambers and they heard a little with their ears The Clergy were so ignorant that if any knew the Grammar he was admired by them All men were so given to carousing that both nights and days were spent in that exercise c. This King had no Children and sent for Edward the outlaw he came and died within a year at London leaving one Son Edgar and two Daughters Margaret and Christiana After Edward Harold Earl of Oxford was Crowned then William Duke of Normandy came into England with an Army pretending a right by covenant with King Edward and did so prevail ann 1067. that Harold was slain and he was called William the Conqueror Within a few years he made a great alteration in the Kingdom the most part of his Knights and Bishops were Normans and many English with Edgar fled into Scotland where King Malcolm had married Margaret Edgar's Sister and they incited Malcolm to invade England and he entered into the North part ann 1071. At last a peace was concluded upon condition that a Mark-Stone was set up in Stanmoor as the mark of both Kingdom with the portraict of both Kings on the sides of the Stone Ia. Vsser de Eccles statu c. 6. shews out of sundry Authors that when the Wars were twixt William and Harold William sought the Pope's advice and Harold dispised the Pope So Alexander II. then Pope sent unto William a Standart in good luck or hope of his victory and when William had obtained the victory he sent Harold's Standart unto Alexander Thereafter the Pope writes unto him thus Thy wisdom knows that the Kingdom of England since the Name of Christ was known there hath been under the power and defence of the Prince of the Apostles until some becoming members of that wicked head and following the pride of their father Satan have forsaken God's Covenant and turned away the English People from the way of truth for as thou knowest well while the English were faithful upon account of their pious devotion they gave a yearly Pension unto the Apostolical See of which a part was brought unto the Roman high Priest and a part unto the Church of S. Mary which is called The School of the English for the use of the Brethren c. King William confirmeth the gift and as it follows thereafter some pages until he was established Hildebrand was so affected toward him that he was evil reported by the Brethren grumbling that he had so affected and helped the committing of so many Homicides and that William was devoted unto the Apostolical See above all others of his condition But when the Pope was not content with the King's Liberality and sought an Oath of Loyalty William wrote unto him saying Religious Father Hubert thy Legate admonished me in your name that I should give Loyalty unto thee and thy Successors and that I should be more mindfull of the Money which my Ancestors were wont to send unto the Roman Church the one I have accepted and not the other Loyalty I would not give nor will I because neither have I promised it nor do I finde that my Ancestors have done it unto thy Ancestors While I was three years in France the Money was gathered carelesly but since my returning by the Divine mercy what is gathered is sent by thy foresaid Legate Pray for me and for the standing of our Kingdom c. Hildebrand was not pleased with this Letter and therefore in an Epistle unto Hubert he said Thou knowest very well what account I make of Money without Honor. And then speaking of King William he saith The Roman Church may lay many things unto his charge none of all the Kings even of the Heathenish have presumed to attempt against the Apostolique See what he hath not been ashamed to do to wit that any hath been so irreverent and shameless as to discharge his Bishops and Arch-Bishops from the Churches of the Apostles Therefore we will that thou in our name study to admonish him that as he would take it ill if his Subjects give him not due honor so he would not empair the honor of the holy Roman Church and by giving due thanks he may procure the favor of blessed Peter For we being mindefull of our former love toward him and following the meekness of the Apostle by God's help so far as we can have spared his fault hitherto but if he will not put an end unto this and others his faults that thou knowest let him surely know that he will grievously provoke the wrath of blessed Peter c. Among his other faults that were offensive unto Hildebrand William had imprisoned his own Brother Odo Bishop Baiocen without regard of his Episcopal Order as he writes unto the King saying One thing toucheth us near and by touching vexeth us and among the excellent monuments of thy Royal Vertues doth violently overcloud the joy of our friendly heart that in taking a Bishop thy own Brother not providing for thy honor as it became thee but preferring thy earthly wariness and reason unto God's Law thou hast not taken notice of Priestly dignity The honor of a Brother and Episcopal Dignity are no way to be matched in comparison if you will compare it to the glory of a King or to the Crown of Princes these are more inferior then if you would compare Lead unto Gold So Hildebrand And nevertheless Baronius assureth us that the King made no account of his Intercession nor Argument 4. Before this time were â—o Diocies or Bishopricks in Scotland and sure Alteration of the Church diâ—cipline â—n Scotland it is by Act of Parliament at Scone under Constantine the II. all Church-men were forbidden to meddle with secular business therefore at that time a Church-man could not be a Parliamentary Lord. But King Malcolm Cammore brought in new Titles of honor into the Civil Estate after the maner of other Nations and so he changed the Government of the Church and erected six Bishopricks At that time as all our Historians write many strangers from Hungary and England which both were tributary unto Rome and in great troubles came into this Land with Queen Margaret and by her and their information the King was perswaded unto such changes both in the Civil Estate and Church Here then is a change of the Discipline in the Church of this Land and we see by what means it came even from Rome where things were very corrupt at that time But let us look back into former times and compare all together Bishop potswood in his History would have
embrace this shew of honor that for reverence of the Roman Church they might be the more respected in their own jurisdiction and sometimes the more easily advance themselves above their Competitors Sometimes the Popes sent Legates into other Diocies with such modesty that they had Authority to attempt nothing without concurrence of the Bishops or Synod of that Countrey Albeit these Legations were partly godly and at the worst were tolerable yet they were not potestativae or imperious but charitativae or exhortatory Nevertheless the Popes brought the Churches and Bishops into subjection by such means for afterwards they were sent onely for ambitious usurpation covetousness and worldly affairs The ordinary Legates at Picen Romandiola Bononia Ferraria Avenion and if there be any such others are Provincial Deputies Praetores or Vice-Roys The Nuntio's at the Court of the Emperor or of any King or Prince or State are Ambassadors or Spies for secular affairs The affairs of any Church that are gainful if they be of less account are reserved unto the judgement of the Nuntio yet not definitively but to be determined at Rome and things of more weight are reserved for the Court of Rome wholly In the mean time the power of Metropolitans and Bishops is neglected The ancient Bishops of Rome did severely enjoyn their Legates to acknowledge duly the inferior Bishops within their own jurisdiction but now they pass by the Metropolitans and draw all actions unto themselves and the Court of Rome Also their ambiton and avarice have so provoked some Nations that they will admit no Legate as Sicilie and France hath entrenched their office These particulars are more fully written by Spalatens de Rep. Eccles lib. 4. cap. 12. Of BRITANNY 1. AS I touched in the former Century England was oppressed by the Danes in England Danes so that Swan a Danish King did bear the Scepter of England and when he was a dying he left England to Harald Denmark to Canut and Nor way to Swan his three Sons Harald lived not long After him and the death of the unfortunate English King Agelred great contention was in England for the Crown some were for Edmond â—ronside the Son of Agelred and some for Canut After many bloody fights both parties agree to try the quarrel twixt them two onely in sight of both Armies they make the essay with swords and sharp stroakes in the end upon the motion of Canut they agree and kiss one another to the joy of both Armies ann 10. 6. and they covenant for parting the Land during their lives and they lived as brâ—thren Within a few years a Son of Edrik Duke of Mercia killed Edmond traitorously and brought his two Sons unto Canut and said God save our onely King Thereafter Canut reigned in England twenty years and all the Counsellors swear unto him By their advice he sent the two Sons of Edmond unto his Brother Swan King of Denmark willing him to put them out of the way He abhorring such a fact sent them to Solomon King of Hungarie where Edwin was married with the King's Daughter and left her soon a Widow and the other Brother Edward married Agatha the Daughter of the Emperor Henry III. It is written that Canut established Laws Ecclesiastical as well as Civil among which are these First All men should holily worship God onely throughout all ages they should most religiously hold fast the one rule of Christian Religion they should with due loyalty and obedience honor King Canut We further command that every one of each Order shall diligently and holily keep the Religion of his own Office and Function namely the Servants of God Bishops Abbots Monks Regulars and Nuns and square their life according to their prescribed rule Let them pray oft and much unto Christ both night and day for all Christian People And all the Ministers of God especially the Priests we entreat and command to obey God and keep dear chastity that they may escape God's wrath and hells fire seeing they know certainly it is not lawful for them to have fellowship with women for lust and who shall abstain from them let him have God's mercy and on earth the honor due unto a Thane Let every The beginning of Knâ—ght â—â—oa among Priests one pay his Tithes yearly Each one should prepare thrice a year at least to receive the Eucharist so that he may eat the same to wholesom remedies and not to damnation If any woman commit adultery to the open shame of the world let her nose and ears be cut off c. Spelman in Concil Canut died ann 1039. and his Son Hardiknut reigned four years and his Brother two years Then the Danes failed after they had been Kings of England twenty eight years and vexed it 255. years 2. After the death of Grim King of Scots Malcolm would not accept Troubles in Scotland the Crown until the Law which was made in his Father's time concerning Succession were confirmed with consent of the Parliament He was molested by the Danes and in token of his two victories two stones were set up in Anguise in two several places as yet bearing the name of their Captain Came. At that time Malcolm divided a great part of the patrimony of the Crown among his chief Captains so that from that time the Kings Revenues were small and therefore the Nobility gave unto the King the Wards and Marriages of their Sons if yong He which was so careful of Succession had no Sons Duncan King the Son of his eldest Daughter was killed by Macbeth his Cousen-German and Successor In a word while some strove for the ancient Liberty and others for the priviledge of Succession ten Kings were killed by their Successors until the year 1103. 3. When England was freed from the Danes they sent to Normandy Alteration in England inviting Edward the Confessor and Brother to King Edmund to come He fearing their inconstancy did refuse until they sent pledges to abide in Normandy and then was Crowned ann 1045. In his time was that Law made which concerneth the King's Oath at Coronation A King because he is the Lieutenant of the most High King was appointed to this end that he should regard and govern the earthly Kingdom and People of God and above all things his holy Church and defend her from wrongs and root out Malefactors from her yea scatter and destroy them which unless he do he cannot be justly called a King A King should fear God and above all things love him and establish his command throughout his Kingdom He should also keep nourish maintain and govern the holy Church of his Kingdom with all integrity and liberty according to the Constitutions of his Fathers and Predecessors and defend it against enemies so as God may be honored above all and ever had in minde He should establish good Laws and approved Customs and abolish evil and remove them all out of his Realm He should do right Judgement in
the Bishops to have been more ancient and saith that Amphibal was the first Bishop of the Scots who lived in the Isle of Man where King Cratiliâ—th built a stately Church to the honor why would he not say for the service or worship of our Savior and called it Sodorense Faâ—â—m and that was the Cathedral of the Bishops of the Isles till the Scots were dispossessed of that Isle and from thence the Isle Jona or Icolmkil hath been the seat of the Bishops Then page 7. he telleth of Ninian the first Bishop of Galloway or Candida Casa and of Palladius sent by Eclestin Bishop of Rome and that he ordained Servan Bishop of Orkney and Tervaâ— Bishop of the Northern Picts Page 11. he telleth of a Bishop about Aldham but saith he the story doth not express his name For answer the Histories shew that such men were in Scotland but that they were not Prelates or Bishops in that sâ—nse as of late the name was used is very certain For first All who have written the History of Scotland do testifie that the Church was governed without Bishops and by Teachers who were called Culdees that is The worshippers of God or who taught the worship of God and these were called sometimes Monks for their strictness of life and Priests or Presbyters and sometimes they were called Bishops either in the sense of the Scripture or according to the Custom of other Nations but by that term declaring them to be lawful Teachers or Pastors Boeth li. 6. c. 5. calleth them by these three names Culdees Monks and Priests and Laurentius the second Bishop of Canterbury calleth them Fratres Episcopos Abbates And Bishop Jewel in defense of the Apolo page 122. saith These three names Bishop Priest and Presbyter were all one And it is certain that at Icolmkil was a Colledge of Students and there was one who is sometime called Abbas and sometime Doctor and sometime Episcopus as in that Epistle written by the Clergy of Rome after the death of Pope Severin which is directed unto the Bishops Presbyters Doctors or Abbots These Titles are knit with the particle sive Likewise about the year 600. Columba was the Church-man which was most respected in Scotland and he was the Doctor of Icolmkil for as the King Aidan did use his counsel so when he fought against the Picts Columba did call his Colleagues together and exhorted them to turn their supplications into thanksgiving because the King had got the victory albeit the place of the battel was distant from Jona where Columba lived and was at that time 200. miles at least saith Bishop Spotswood And the same Bishop calleth Convallan Governor of that Monastery after Columba And Buchanan li. 6. in the life of King Kenneth III. saith The ancient Bishops of the Scots were chosen out of the Monasteries and these Monasteries were not for Monks in that sense as they speak afterwards for in li. 7. Buchanan speaking of King Malcolm and the Colledge at Scone saith Malcolm turned the Colledge of Priests that was there into a Monastery of Monks Secondly That the Church of Scotland was not subordinate to Rome and that they loved not the Discipline nor Rites of Rome is most certain by that Contestation which was in Century VII Thirdly That testimony of the Synod at Celicyth in England about the year 816. is without all contradiction that at that time were no Prelates in Scotland seeing they testifie that the Scots gave no honor to Metropolitans nor other Bishops and therefore they forbid the Scots to have any Function in England But in the contrary Bishop Spotswood telleth of Wiro and Plechelm which were consecrate at Rome Bishop of the Scots in the year 632. as it is written saith he in Baron Annal. ad ann 632. and he addeth But by the Cardinals leave our Church had no such Custom before that time nor will it be shewed that before these two any did go to Rome either to be consecrate or confirmed And then he addeth We finde him Wiro shortly thereafter turn Confessor to King Pipin But if he was Confessor to King Pipin he was not Bishop of the Scots nor was Pipin King of France till the year 750. and so Wiro must have been above 160. years old ere he was Confessor I have looked on that place of Baronius and he shews his Author to be Surius ad Maij diem 8. and all both Papists and others hold Surius to be a most fabulous writer as in that particular he writes fabulously for he saith Wiro was Confessor unto Duke Pipin and that Pipin was wont to come unto him with bare feet when he made his Confession This I say is fabulous seeing it is marked as an unmeasureable shew of humility that Justinian II. Emperor made such obedience unto Pope Constantine in falling down at his feet and did not cast off his shoes Nor can it be shewed that any Writer of that Century hath the word Confessor in that sense or that such an Office was at that time In the days of the Emperor Theodosius some such thing had been in use upon a particular occasion but upon a vile scandal it was forbidden Socrat. Hist l. 5. c. 19. And then Baronius ad ann 697. calleth Wiro Episcopum Deirorum when he speaks of the Synod at Utrecht Now it is clear in the life of Pope Gregory I. prefixed before his works that a part of England was at that time called Deira therefore Wiro was not a Bishop of Scotland and therein Baronius Plechelm is called de Candida Massa or Casa But Bishop Spotswood page 4. saith No Bishop in Scotland had any Diocy before King Malcolm III. and so that phrase de candida casa sheweth that Plechelm was born at that place and not that he was Bishop there Likewise Bishop Spotswood page 20. speaks of two Bishops Sedulus and Pergustus who having assisted in a Synod at Rome called by Gregory II. in the year 721. after their return made great disturbance in the Church for erecting of Images It is true in the subscriptions of that Synod such names are there and the one Sedulus is called Episcopus Scotorum and the other is called Episcopus Pictorum And so every Presbyter who went out of Scotland was called a Scotch Bishop but that he was a Prelate of Scotland it is contrary to that testimony of the Synod at Celicyth in Century IX which was near a 100. years after Gregory II. And then see what he did he pressed the worship of Images and the Culdees denied it to be lawful saith Io. Bale Cent. XIV and therefore many of them were deposed such was the fruit of their gading to Rome And Bishop Spotswood page 26. saith expresly that Kellach was the first Bishop of this Kingdom who went to Rome to seek confirmation and that was about the year 904. This instance condemneth what he hath said before of all those others whom he calleth Scotch Bishops Neither
things of the world that the Prince of this world may not finde any thing that is his in thee c. He did oft call the Clergy Syria Edom the calves of Bethel Idols of Egypt Priests of Baal c. In his other Epistles he saith If thou hadst once tasted the sweetness of wisdom i. e. of the holy Scripture thou wouldest loath all other things in comparison for this giveth abundantly the incomparable treasures of pleasure and the grace of all gifts And again It is necessary to read the Scriptures for that is the table of the tabernacle that is the food by which we breath and live Certainly Christ did use the onely testimony of the word against all the tentations of Satan in the wilderness if therefore an host should come against you guard your self with the buckler of a good conscience and with the sword of the Spirit Again The exhortation of man without the grace of God is but as sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal he onely can give a mouth and wisdom which saith Without me you can do nothing Lord take thou away my stony heart and give a new humble contrite and a heart of flesh In the last of his Epistles he reckoneth the Books of Wisdom Ecclesiasticus Esdras III. and IV. Judeth Tobias Maccabees among the Apocrypha Catol test ver lib. 14. 10. Richard de St. Victor a Scot was held for a learned and good man about the year 1140. He wrote much On Cant. c. 2. The reading and meditation of the Scriptures do strengthen the minde and weaken the enemy so long as they keep this in minde and do it they are hereby most expert to encounter with the enemy De statu hom inter cap. 12. How justly is frâ—ewill said to be dead seeing by it self it is never moved unto any good for what good can it do of it self seeing it cannot say Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost and indeed it is often moved unto good but never accept by the holy Ghost De sacrif Abrah Mariae If the grace and protection of God be withheld man is thrown down at every suggestion of the enemy and into whatsoever evil and being once thrown down he can never rise by his own power A man can bring forth no bud of good work of himself without working grace and when he hath begun to work he can no way continue without its cooperation Par. 2. in explanat aliquot locor Apost The Law teacheth onely what we should do and addeth not how we may obey and therefore it can justifie none the Gospel teacheth what should be done how it may be done and how that which is not done may be supplied In Apocaly lib. 3. Onely that prayer is acceptable in heaven which the Son offereth unto the Father Catol test ver lib 15. He was the first which taught that the Virgin Mary was born without original sin Io. Maior in gest Scot. lib. 3. cap. 12. 11. Malcolm IV. King of Scots did command Roger Arch-Bishop of The Pope's Legate is forbidden to come into Scotland York and Roman Legate to depart out of the Realm and said It was not reason that the Land should be oppressed by ungodly men bearing glorious names He. Boet. Hist lib. 13. Again in the year 1188. Pope Clement sent another and he had not better success for all did refuse him except John Bishop of St. Andrews and therefore he was banished and he had refuge unto the Pope who by and by sent unto Henry King of England and gave unto him the right of the Crown of Scotland Io. Bale Cent. 3. § 26. in Appen 12. It is recorded that one Fulco came and said unto the English King King Richard's three daughters Richard with great boldness O King thou hast three very bad daughters take good heed unto them and provide unto them good husbands lest by inconvenient bestowing of them thou run not into damage onely but utter perdition unto thy self The King said Thou art mad foolish hypocrite I have no daughter Fulco replieth I do not lye O mighty King for you have three daughters continually in your Court and wholly possess your person and such whores are they that the like hath not been heard I mean mischievous pride greedy covetousness and filthy letchery therefore I say again beware of them and out of hand provide marriages for them The King then took his words in good part by and by calling his Nobles declared unto them them the words of Fulco whose counsel said he I intend to follow not doubting of your consents my Lords thereunto wherefore here before you all I give my eldest daughter swelling pride to wife unto the proud Templars my greedy daughter avarice unto the Cistertian Monks and filthy luxury unto the riotous Prelates of the Church so severally agreeing with all their natures that the like match is not to be found unto them This was about the year 1198. saith I. Fox in Act. 13. Here it shall not be amiss to remember the example of Simon Thurvey Simon Thurvey an English man of Cornwal for a warning to temerarious Students He was a subtil Logician and expert in all Liberal Sciences he left his own Countrey and was a Doctor in Paris many years and trusting to his Philosophy he vaunted that he knew all Christ's Law and by force of disputation he could disprove it all on a suddain he became forgetful of all learning and could not say the Lord's Prayer nor knew the a b c. Mat. Paris reporteth that when he was writing his History Nicola epi. Danelm told him this and had seen this Simon learning to read from his own bastard son as if he had been a childe of six years onely 14. King William went into England to congratulate the safe arrival of Richard from Judea in the year 1199. at that time Harald Earl of Orknay and Caitnes took the Bishop of the Countrey prisoner because he had stopped some suit he had demanded of the King and bereft him of his eyes and tongue William at his returning would revenge this inhumanity and Harald would defend himself by force but his forces were scattered and he was apprehended it was done unto him by the hangman as he had unto the Bishop and then strangled all his male-children were gelded and many of his friends as accessories were fined in money Buchan lib. 7. When this was reported unto Pope Innocentius III. he sent his Legate John Cardinal de monte Celio with a sword richly set with precious stones a purple hat in form of a diadem and a Bull of large priviledges exempting the Church of Scotland from all censures except onely of the Pope or Legate sent by the Conclave the Bull was dated in the year 1209. H. Boeth Hist lib. 13. cap. 8. THE FOURTH AGE Of the CHURCH OR The History of the Church lurking and of Anti-Christ reigning containing the space of 300. years from the year
to tell you plain too much commoved without cause your Fatherhood may consider that the days be evil 1. The holy Land lieth in misery and peril 2. All the Greek Church is departed from us 3. Frederick the mightiest Prince of Christendom is against us 4. Both your Holiness and we are exiled from your Papal seat and thrust out of Italy 5. Hungary and all the Nations thereabout look for nothing but utter ruine from the Tartars 6. Germany is tossed with intestin wars 7. Spain is fierce and cruel against us even to the cutting out of Bishops tongues 8. France is by us impoverished and like to conspire against us 9. Now wretched England so oft plagued by us much like Balaam's ass goared with spurs begineth to complain of her intolerable griefs and we after the maner of Ismael hating all men do provoke all men to hate us ...... Matth. Parisien ad An. 1246. But Innocentius would relent nothing yea made his exaction more grievous and began to excite Lewis King of France to slay or expel King Henry France remembred former times and Lewis refused to vex his Cousin But saith the before named writer the hearts of all men were provoked to mislike the Pope and Church of Rome whereof the one sought to be esteemed a Father and the other to be the Mother of all Churches but he proved a step father and she a step-dame 4. In the year 1222. the in-dwellers of Caithnes refused to pay tenths unto Adam their Bishop and therefore he excommunicated them all then they came into his house and in his chamber they slew a Monk and his Servant and they drew him into his kitchin and burnt him with all the house Pope Honorius rested not till he had caused King Alexander to hang four hundred of them and the Earl of Caithnes hardly obtained pardon albeit he was not accessory unto the deed Boet. lib. 13. cap. 14. About that William Bishop of St. Andrews brought from France some Dominicans Franciscans Jacobines and some Monks called vallis umbrosae these by their crafty insinuations with people did supplant the credit of Priests and drew unto themselves both credit and means of the Ministry and were maintained by the Popes because they studied especially to advance their designs Spotsw Hist p. 43. 5. Nigellus Vireker a learned and much respected Monk at Canterbury writ a Book De abusu Verum Ecclesiae and sent it unto William Bishop of Ely Chancellour of England a man saith Bale most envious In this Book he rebuked not the proud Prelate only but all Teachers under the Tyranny of the Pope because they committed the cure of souls unto children belly-gods and despisers of the sacred Word 6. Walter Mapez Arch-Deacon of Oxford was once sent by King John unto Rome after his return he did write several books against the Pope and his Clergy closely reproving the Pope somtimes under the name of Goliah somtimes of Pluto and shewing manifestly that then Antichrist was reigning in the World He had a fellow with him who made shew of a Pleasant or Rimer but all his rimes were said to be written by Mapez himself In them he plainly paints forth the Roman Court and calleth the Prelats proud beasts The rimes begin thus Roma Caput Mundi sed nil capit mundum Quod pendet à Capite totum est immundum Trahit enim vitium primum secundum Et de sundo redolet quod est juxta fundum Roma capit singulos res singulorum Romanorum Curia non est nisi forum Ibi sunt venalia jura Senatorum Et solvit contraria copia nummorum In hoc Consistorio siquis causam regat Suam vel alterius hic imprimis legat Nisi des pecuniam Roma totum negat Qui plus dat pecuniae meliùs allegat c. Io. Bale In Catalog test verit lib. 14. we find these rimes ascribed unto this Mapez Vide Deus ultionum Vide videns omnia Quod spelunca vespillonum Facta est Ecclesia Quod in Templum Solomonis Venit Princeps Babylonis Et excelsum sibi Thronum Posuit in medio These words are to no sense unless the Temple signifie the Church of Christ and the Prince of Babylon signifie the Pope of Rome 7. An. 1237. was a conference at York between Henry the III. King of England and Alexander the II. King of Scots where they did accord upon the matters of debate between the kingdoms Then Otto the Pope's Legate would go into Scotland for redressing as he said the affairs of the Church But Alexander said unto him I remember not that evera Legate was in my Land neither have I need of one thanks be unto God neither was any in my Father's time nor in any of my Ancestours neither will I suffer any so long as I may Otto returned with King Henry Matth. Parisien Nevertheless this Alexander did suffer Peter Red to take away 3000. pounds for the Pope which no King of Scotland had suffered before Idem ad An. 1240. But Boet. lib. 13. cap. 20. addeth He sent the Earls of Carrict and Athale to accompany Lewis King of France into Syria and he sent unto the Pope a thousand marks lest he should think himself despised 8. Robert Grosshead alias Capito Bishop of Lincoln was the most renowned Bishop of his time a godly man an admonisher of his King a fearfull rebuker of the Pope a bold reprover of Prelates a corrector of Monks a directer and teacher of Priests a favourer of Students a Preacher to the people a defender of fatherless and widows a persecutor of the incontinent a searcher of the Scriptures a lover of truth a hammerer and contemner of the Romans saith Matth. Paris In the year 1237. his own Clarks gave him poison in a drink but as it pleased God he escaped death at that time by help of medicine The Priests which taught not the word of God but human traditions he called the Ministers of Satan theeves of the night robbers in the day corrupters of manners murtherers of souls and Angels of darkness and he called their exemptions snares of the Divel An. 1253. Pope Innocentius sent unto him a Letter commanding him to provide a Canons place for an Italian in his Diocy nihil obstante He returned answer I am most willing to obey Apostolical commandments but those things which are contrary unto the Apostles command I will gain-stand since I am obliged unto both by the command of God ..... The tenor of your aforesaid Letter agreeth not with Apostolical holiness but plainly disagreeth 1. Because by that word non obstante in that and so many other Letters do abound a deluge of inconstancy shamelesness lying deceiving difficulty of trusting any and innumerable other vices following thereupon shaking and confounding the purity of Religion and the quietness of all sociable conversation ..... 2. Except the sin of Lucifer which is also the sin of Antichrist there cannot be a greater sin nor
Lords as they would be called had the precedency 14. The Jews lived then in England and waxed both in number and wealth The Iews in England An. 1235. they obtained from Pope Gregory the IX that they should not be taxed by Christian Kings and that they might have Christian servants and nurses An. 1257. they murthered a young boy in Lincoln therefore King Henry imprisoned seventy one of them at London The Minorites being hired for money procured their liberty for saith I. Bale Henry did not so much reign as bear the image of the Romish Beast but after that time the name of a Minorite was odious in the ears of English men Edward the I. banished all the Jews and escheated all their goods allowing them only a viaticum One good thing God wrought by them they left many Bibles in England whereby sundry of the learned were stirred to learn the Hebrew language as Gregory Huntington c. This Edward began to restrain the wealth of Monks and the power of Bishops When Lands were given to Monasteries or a Monastery bought any Land they did not acknowledge the Superior of those Lands so the King and Noble men were prejudiced of Wards Reliefs Knight-Service and such other things Edward made a Law that no person religious or any other should buy or sell Lands that might any way come under Mortmain that is in prejudice of the Superior under pain of forfeiture of the same At that time was confusion of Courts the Civil Judges and Bishops endeavoring to enlarge their own and contract their Rivals Authority Edward fixed boundaries unto them both as is more particularly in T. Fuller's Church-History lib. 3. He discharged the Abbot of Waltham and the Dean of Pauls to crave the tithe of any mans goods for the charges of Jerusalems wars albeit the Pope had given them this Commission in three several Bulls The Abbot died and the Dean appeared before the King and his Councel and promised to obey He also summoned the Dean of Wolverhampton because against the priviledges of the Realm he had given a Prebend of his Chappel unto a stranger at the Pope's command The Dean appeared and confessed his fault submitting himself unto the King's clemency K. Iames VI. in Monitio ex archivis Regni 15. Alexander the III. King of Scots fell with his horse over the rocks on the West side of Kingron March 18. An. 1285. His life was remarkable and his death lamentable He had divided the Realm into four parts and abode a quarter of the year in each part giving justice unto all men so he knew his subjects and they knew and loved him The Judges of each part waited upon him within their jurisdiction and when he removed the Judges of the other part received him so his Court was never populous His children died young except one Daughter who was married to Erik King of Norway and she had one Daughter After his much bewailed death a Parliament at Scone named six persons to govern the Country for the time three for the part on the North side of Forth and three for the South The King's Daughter was dead and Edward the I. sent unto this Parliament suing the marriage of their young Queen unto his Son So the Estates consented very readily provision being made that Scotland should be governed by their own Laws and Magistrates In the mean while Margaret died Then competition followed between Robert Bruce Earl of Hastings in England and of Carrict and Garioch in Scotland and John Baliol Earl of Galloway The ground of this plea flowed by their genealogy from King David who died in the year 1153. He had one Son Henry Earl of Huntington he died before his Father leaving three Sons Malcolm William and David So Malcolm surnamed the Maiden succeeded his Grandfather and after him his Brother William the Father of Alexander the II. and Grandfather of this Alexander the III. David the third Son of Henry had three Daughters Margaret Countess of Galloway Isobel married to Robert Bruce surnamed The Noble Earl of Hastings and the third or youngest was Countess of Huntington Margaret had no Sons but three Daughters Dornagilla the Mother of John Baliol and Mary the Wife of John Cumin c. Robert the Noble had a Son Robert the Competitor who married the heretrix of Carrict and had two Sons Robert the King afterwards and Edward Then Dornagilla pleaded first for the Crown but Robert Earl of Carrict alledged that he being of equal degree with her the male should be preferred in the inheritance of Lands and rather of Kingdoms as it hath been lately practised in Burgundy and is usual among Brethren and Sisters as for her Son he is a degree further off and therefore not to be heard in that cause The parties did so increase that no Authority could command either of them and intestin wars were thought dangerous wherefore by common consent Edward the I. was chosen Umpire At the first he omitted no point of formality he called unto Berwick the Competitors John and Robert and the Governors of the Realm he protesteth that he calleth them not as Subjects before their Magistrate but as his Friends before their chosen Arbiter he caused them all to swear that they will stand to his decreet and receive one of the two whom he should name He chose twelve Scots and so many English as his Councellors in that matter and caused them to swear that they shall give their advice uprightly according to their knowledge The mean while he thinketh upon his own advantage and considering that Scotland was divided into two powerful factions it seemed the more easie unto him to work his own point in shew he sendeth for Jurists in other Nations not doubting as that sort is seldom of one opinion but to finde some response conducing to his own end which may appear by his altering the state of the question which he propounded in this maner A King who is not wont to be crowned nor anointed but only set in a chair and be proclaimed King yet not so free that he is not under another King and himself acknowledged so dying without children two of his Cousins and Nephews of his Granduncle Sempronius seek the inheritance c. The most part answered The custom of the Realm is a Law in such a case and if there be not a precedent they should stand at the will of the Superior King Then in another meeting at Norain Edward required acknowledgement of subjection from all the Scotch Commissioners They did all refuse in one voice In a third meeting at Berwick he sent privily for Robert and proferred him the Kingdom if he would swear fealty unto him Robert answered I will never prejudice the liberty of that Realm John Baliol was sent for and accepted the condition So he was proclaimed King six years after the death of Alexander and all the Scots swear Allegiance unto him Afterwards both the King and Nobles gave their
oath unto King Edward in Newcastle on Tine The Nobility were male-contented but they must dissemble It happened after some years that Macduff Earl of Fife was killed by the Earl of Abernethy and because this family was potent Macduffs Brother could not obtain justice in Scotland for the slaughter therefore he appealed unto King Edward who summoned King John to London He appeared and at first sat down with Edward thinking to answer by his Proctor but he must stand at the Bar This indignity begot in him a desire of liberty When variance fell between France and England John thinking this a fit occasion renewed the old league with France and by the Abbot of Arbroth sent into England with consent of the Estates a revocation of his dedition Wherefore Edward resolveth to take Arms against Scotland He sent for Robert Bruce Son of the Competitor being then defunct and profered him the Kingdom if he would go with him to expel King John or cause his Friends in Scotland to desert or not assist John Robert did both At that time four thousand Scots were slain in sundry fights and in the Castle of the Burgh of Montross King John did resign unto the Commissioners of King Edward all right to the Crown Sir Hugh Cressingham was made Governor of Scotland and John was carried into England yet by intercession of Pope Boniface he was let go into France his Son being kept in pledge lest he did attempt any new trouble Then Edward went against France and in his absence the Scots had mutual treaties with France they chose twelve Governors of the Country and many incursions were in the borders on both sides At that time arose the famous William Walace a Gentleman of mean estate but extraordinary in courage and strength he did many rubs unto the English and because the Governors were thought remiss he was chosen to be the only Governor and called the Vice-Roy of King John He recovered many Towns from the English and threw down many Castles and Forts lest his little Army were divided in keeping them The Earl of Warren and the Lord Percey were sent against him but because these had bad success Edward made truce with France and came against Scotland where he prevailed so that in a Parliament at St. Andrews all the Nobility and Estates did acknowledge him only Walace kept himself quiet in the high-Lands When Robert Bruce put the King in minde of his promise Edward scoffed at him saying Had he no other thing to do but fight for a Kingdom unto him Buchan Histo At that time Edward destroyed the ancient Laws of Scotland and sought how to bring the two Nations in amity and affinity He burnt the Chronicles and Books of Divine Service constraining them to follow the Missale of Sarum those who were repugnant unto these changes were severely punished He removed the most learned men into Oxford Briefly he destroyed all the Monuments of Antiquity and upon the least occasion he cut off all who in his judgement could enterprise any insurrection Boeth lib. 14. Walace lurked a while but he stirred again and prevailed both in favor and power among the people as followeth in the next Century THE FIFTH AGE Of the CHURCH OR The History of the Church reverting and of Antichrist raging containing the space of 300. years from the year 1300. until the year 1600. CENTURY XIV CHAP. I. Of POPES 1. BENEDICT the XI was chosen Pope November 1. An. 1304. He absolved Philip King of France from the excommunication of Boniface and restored the Cardinals John and James Columnae which had written against Pope Boniface And Platina addeth Boniface had pursued them more then became a Priest for envy against them and too much respect of the faction of the Guelphs He sate nine months 2. CLEMENS the V. after contention of the Cardinals the space of ten months was elected being in the mean time at his own seat in Burdeaux When it was certified unto him he commanded all the Cardinals to come unto Lions There were present at his Coronation Philip King of France his Son Charles John Duke of Burgundy c. In the midst of the Procession a great wall fell upon them so that John and twelve other persons were killed Philip was hurt the Pope was struck from his horse and lost out of his Mitre a Carbuncle of the value of six thousand crowns Platin. When this unlucky pomp was ended he created many French Cardinals and not one Italian and removed the Court of Rome unto Avenion where it continued seventy four years as in another transportation to Babylon We read not of any which in all this time made exception that Rome was the seat of St. Peter and house of the holy Ghost and therefore the Pope should abide at Rome Clemens avouched openly to keep a Concubine the Daughter of Count de Fuxa P. Morn in Myster ex Villano He sent three Cardinals with Senatorial power to govern Rome and Italy Because Ferraria had revolted and submitted themselves unto the Venetians he excommunicated the Venetians for accepting them and gave all their goods unto spoil wheresoever they could be apprehended the like he did unto the Florentines and other Cities for their revolting Sardinia did belong unto Genua and he gave it unto the King of Sicily for winning it from the Turks How he dealt with the Emperor it followeth But here it is to be remembred how he ordained that none should use the title or exercise the power of Emperor until he were confirmed by the Pope And when the Imperial seat is vacant the Pope shall reign as Emperor until one be chosen He confirmed the Feast of Corp. Christi granting Indulgences of one hundred days unto all who shall be present at the Matins c. Lib. 3. Clement tit 16. de reliquiis ca. Si Dominum .. It seemeth that the people had not regarded the former Institution He was the Author of the seventh Book of Decretals before his death he did condemn them as containing may snares in them and caused them to be burnt saith Io. Naucler But his Successor did confirm them He excommunicated Andronicus the Emperor of the East as an Heretick because he would not suffer the Greeks to acknowledge the Pope for their head c. Because he would not reside at Rome the Romans refuse to give him the patrimony of St Peter and thereby he was brought into the greater exigence But Platina saith A great famine was the cause of his scarcity Then he lived by the money of Bishops which came unto him to be confirmed and by such other shifts and gifts yet by these means he is said to have gained 9500. marks of Silver besides his expense which he bestowed liberally in one year Platina writeth that he ordained the Annates or the first years stipend of all Annates Intrants to be paid unto the Pope out of all Countries But Pol. Virgil. de inven rer lib. 8. cap. 2. saith It
John advertiseth the King by Letter that Robert had such a design and for the more faith he sent the sealed contract Edward summoned Robert upon treason he did purposely nominate a long day that he might also catch his associates if there were any and that Robert may fear the less Robert was not suspicious of the Cumine and would not flie A guard was set to attend him Before the day appointed his Cousin the Earl of Montgomery sent him a pair of gilded spurs whereby he conceived his Cousin advised him to flie The same night he and two others came away quietly in the winter time and on the seventh day lodged in his own house at â—ochmaban There he meeteth with his Brother David and Robert Fleemine as he was telling them the cause of his suddain return they fall upon a Post carrying Letters from John Cumine unto Edward desiring him to hasten the business with Robert seeing delay may prove dangerous Robert hasteth to Dunfrife and finding John Cumine in the Church of the Franciscans he challenged him of the premises Cumine denied all even that these were his Letters which were taken from the Post Then Robert struck him with a dagger and left him as dead In his coming out James Lindsay meeteth him and understanding by his words that the other was dead he goeth into the Church and killed him and his Brother Robert Cumine The Scots would have crowned Robert but such was their belief they thought him uncapable because he had killed a man in a Church Therefore the Abbot of Scone posted to Avenion and brought a pardon in April An. 1306. Then Robert was crowned at Scone The Abbot brought also a dispensation unto the Scots from the oath given unto Edward and withal he assured them of the Pope's favor and assistance As also the Pope wrote unto King Edward that he presume not any more to trouble the Scots because that Kingdom was before permitted unto the Roman Bishop and therefore it belongeth only unto the Pope to give it unto or take it from whom he pleaseth Pol. Virg. Hist l. 17. No monument of Antiquity is extant for the Pope's title to the Crown of Scotland and whether the Abbot made this proffer of subjection or the Pope did so usurp it it is uncertain Nevertheless Odomar Valentine Deputy of King Edward and the Cumines which were potent and numerous took Arms against Robert He feared the power of his adversaries and knowing that many Scots loved him not for his former service against them so he was in no small perplexity but he amassed all the forces that he could He had hard fortune at the first and was sundry times worsted so that only two of his friends Malcolm Earl of Levin and Gilbert Hay abode with him his followers were searched out and put to death his Brethren Nigel and Alexander with his and their wives were sent into England Buchan Hist lib. 8. Then the controversie was hot at Rome between the Pope and Edward for the title of the Crown of Scotland Edward by his Proctors alledgeth that the Kings of Scotland were his vassals and through many ages had done homage to his Ancestors and therefore seeing now they had so hainously trespassed against him he might censure them at his pleasure This claim is manifested before and Baldred Byssate did appear in the contrary as relateth Io. Vsser in Britan. Eccles primord p. 647. The Pope alledged that according to his universal power when there was no Heir the Kingdom did fall unto the patrimony of St. Peter nor did it appertain unto any other in temporalities This debate was not ended in Edward's days Io. Fox in Act. Mon. Robert was then lurking in the West Isles but if he had continued there he feared the Scots would despair of him wherefore he failed to Carrick and took that Castle from the English and spared none of them then fearing to be entrapped by the multitude of them in that part he hasted into the North and took Innerness The Scots hearing that he had taken two such Forts so far distant not his friends only but his enemies were encouraged and drew unto him and he was so potent that he compelled John Cumine Earl of Buchan to seek peace at Glen-esk for the Scots in the Cumines Army durst commend the valor of King Robert and others were discouraged Edward had intelligence and prepared an Army but died at Lancaster Edward the II. surnamed Carnarivan summoned a Parliament to be held at Dunfrife few came and it behoved him to go into France From that time King Robert was diseased in body yet he prevailed against the Cumines and English and his Brother Edward prevailed in other parts of the Countrey Edward the II. was led by a base Minion Peer of Gaviston whereupon variance arose between him and his Nobility until Gaviston was banished but Io an honorable banishment he was sent Deputy into Ireland and within two years was brought back into his former credit then the Lords slew him at Warwick to the great offence of the King Tho. Cooper in Epito But the King was reconciled unto his Nobles and levied an Army of English French Scotch Frisons Gelders and others to the number of three hundred thousand men Robert could gather but thirty five thousand by the providence of God which gave good success unto the wisdom and stratagem of King Robert the English were foiled at Bannokburn An. 1314. forty two Lords two hundred twenty seven Knights and Baronets and fifty thousand Soldiers were slain the rest fled Scotland was delivered and the Scots pursued and wasted England unto York That year was great dearth in England and a great murrain the common people were glad to eat dogs cats and the like Also Ireland sent unto Robert desiring him to come and be their King He sent his Brother Edward with an Army of Scots he was received and crowned After four years the English went against him and slew him and the rest of the Scots return home At that time Pope John sent one Nuntio into England and another into Scotland to treat of peace and for charges he craved four pence of each mark under pain of his curse But neither would the Scotch nor English obey and Edward refused to pay the Peter-pence An. 1323. Edward levied another Army and went into Scotland with 100000 men King Robert remembred the example of Fabius and thought so great an Army could not continue long time therefore he retired into the high Lands Edward wandred from place to place till his Army was like to starve for hunger many died and the rest returning home and tasting meat scarcely escaped death James Douglas followed the English and slew many of them and Edward was almost taken captive I. Fox Then a peace was concluded at Northampton An. 1327. that the Scots should remain in the same estate as in the days of King Alexander the III. the English should render all subscriptions
his Progenitors time out of minde have been possessed with special priviledges and custom observed from time to time that no Legate from the Apostolick See should enter into the Land or any of the King's Dominions without calling petition or desire of the King and for as much as Richard Bishop of Winchester and Cardinal of S. Eusebie hath presumed to enter as Legate not being called nor desired by the King Therefore the said Proctor in presence of the Council of England then in the house of the Duke of Glocester Lord Protector in the King's minority did protest that it standeth not with the King's minde by advice of his Council to admit or approve the coming of the said Legate in any way or to assent to the exercise of this his Legantin Authority either attempted or to be attempted in this respect contrary to the foresaid Laws and custom c. By these Acts it is manifest that the usurpation of the Popes was odious unto the Nations and that their avarice and innovations were restrained but the Kings did not exclude them especially in England the persecution that was begun in the latter days of Edward the III. continued all the time of King Richard the II. and Henry the IV. and V. though not always with a like cruelty But in Scotland their Acts had more strength for when James Kennedy Arch-Bishop of Saint Andrews who founded and perfected the most famous Colledge of Scotland now called the Old Colledge of Saint Andrew's died An. 1466 his Brother of the same Mother Patrick Graham was elected by the Canons to succeed but he could not obtain the King's consent for the Courtiers perswaded him that he should not admit such elections because by such means the greatest honors were in the power of the basest men to wit Canons gave Bishopricks and Monks made Abbots and Priors whereas said they all should depend on the King that he may reward punish and forgive according to the service done unto him Wherefore that Patrick went to Rome and easily obtained The first Arch-Bishop of Saint Andrews from Pope Sixtus the IV. not only confirmation of the election but likewise the Title of Arch-Bishop of Saint Andrew's and that all the other Bishops should be subordinate unto that See and power to be Legate for three years for preventing the dangers insuing unto the Church Notwithstanding all this his authority he durst not return into Scotland for fiye years but abode at Rome for he knew that the people were exclaiming against the contempt of the Laws In the year 1472. he would adventure to return but sent before him the Bull of his Legation They which were advanced or hoped for advancement by the King did fear that this Legation would be to their prejudice and they ceased not to shew the King that his authority was contemned by that Bull his Acts were annulled and the liberties of the Realm were turned into the hands of the Romans Then by Act of Council an Herauld was sent unto Patrick at his landing before he entred into any house to inhabit him from attempting any thing in any of these Offices untill such things as were to be laid unto his charge were examined before the King Thereafter he was reconciled unto the King but with express charge that he attempt nothing beyond the custom of his Predecessors Nor had any in that place so little authority for he was excommunicated by the Rector and then again accursed by Husman the Pope's Inquisitor and the Arch-Deacon Sevez was placed in his Chair and Patrick was hurried from place to place as to a stronger prison whether justly or unjustly it is not certain since the cause nor process is not made known except that he paid not the money for his Bull of priviledges Others were so affraid at his miseries that they attempted not to recover that priviledge of election from the power of the King and whom the King did recommend unto the Pope were all accepted Hence it came to pass that Benefices were bestowed upon unqualified men at the pleasure and suit of Courtiers so great corruptions followed Buchan lib. 12. 7. About the year 1465. a Carmelite preached at Paul's Cross that Christ on earth was poor and begged The Provincial of that Order and others held the same opinion But others did inveigh bitterly against them as teachers of pestiferous errours The fame of this controversie went over the Alps and Pope Paul the II. writ his Bull into England informing his Prelates that it is a pestiferous heresie to affirm that Christ had publickly begged and it was of old condemned by Popes and Councels therefore it should now be declared as a condemned Heresie In the year 1473. John Goose or as some write John Huss was burnt on the Tower-hill for the doctrine of the above-named Martyrs The next year an old Matron about 90. years of age Johan Boughton was burnt at Smith-field and her daughter the Lady Young was in danger An. 1498. a godly man at Babram in Norfolk was burnt and in the same year and place a Priest was burnt whom all the Clarks of Canterbury could not remove from his faith The next year another was burnt at Smithfield Io. Fox in Acts Mon. 8. About the year 1492. Robert Blaketer went to Rome for his confirmation The first Arch Bishop of Glascow a persocuter in the Bishoprick of Glascow he obtained from Pope Alexander the VI. the Title of Arch-Bishop and that three other Diocies should be subject unto him Sevez Arch-Bishop of Saint Andrews would not acknowledge him nor his Title because it was in prejudice of his former Title Upon this occasion both Clergy and Nobility went into factions at last they were reconciled so that they both should be called Arch-Bishops but Saint Andrews should precede In the year 1494. by this Robert was summoned before the King and Councel thirty persons from Kyle and Cunningham among these George Campbel of Cesnok Adam Reed of Barskyning John Campbel of Newmills Andrew Shaw of Polkennet c. The Articles laied unto their charge were 1. Images should not be worshipped 2. Nor Reliques of Saints 3. Christ gave power unto Peter and not to the Pope to bind and loose 4. The Pope is not the Successour of Peter but where it was said unto him Go behind me Satan 5. After the Consecration bread remains and the natural body of Christ is not there 6. The Pope deceives the people by his Bulls and Indulgences 7. The Mass profiteth not the souls which are said to be in Purgatory 8. The Pope exalts himself against God and above God 9. Priests may have wives 10. True Christians receive the body of Christ every day by faith 10. Faith should not be given unto miracles now 11. We should pray unto God only 12. We are not bound to beleeve all that Doctours have written 13. The Pope who is called the head of the Church is the Antichrist They were accused upon other
four dayes after his coming from Dundie that town was infected with the pest Upon this occasion he leaves Kyle with the grief of many and returnes to Dundy being confident that in that visitation they would hearken unto the comfort of the Word Because some were sick and some were clean he stood upon the east port and preached both in the hearing of the sick without and of the cleane within They hearken then unto him with such comfort that they wish to dy rather than live thinking that possibly they could not have such comfort afterwards He spareth not to visite the sick both with bodily and spirituall refreshment The Cardinal was enraged at this preaching and hireth a frier to kill him but Cod made his servant to espy the weapon under the friers goun and to gripe his hand The people would have used violence against the frier but he stayd them saying He hath done mee no wrong but rather good and shewes that I have need to take heed unto myself The frier declares who had sent him and was let go When the plague ceaseth in Dundy he returnes to Montros to visite the Church there and ministreth the Communion with both elements in Dun. From thence he was called by the gentle men of the West to meet them at Edinburgh because they intend to seek a dispute with the Bishops In the way he lodged at Innergoury in the house of James watson there it was revealed unto him that he was to glorify God shortly by martyrdom and not many shall suffer after him When he told these things unto others in that house he said also The glory of God shall triumph clearly in this realme in spite of Satan but alas if the people shall become unthankfull fearfull shall their plagues bee When he came to Edinburg these of Kyle came not he preaches sometimes there and some times in Lieth within privat houses at the entreaty of some he preached now in Brounstoun then in Ormestoun and somtimes in Hadingtoun in that town for feare of the Earle Bothuell few did hear him and he foretold the desolation that came on that town When he returned to Ormestoun he told that he was to be apprehended shortly the same night Bothuell comes with a number of armed men at the instigation of the Cardinal Wishart yeelds himself and is convoyd to Edinburgh and then to Santandrews There he was accused upon the doctrin of justifiâ—ation he defends himself by the Scriptures Neverthelesss he is condemned and burnt March 1. year 1546. When he was in the fire the Captain of the castle went near him and in few words exhorts him to be of good courage and crave pardon of his sins from God He ansvereth This fire is grievous to my body but touches not my soule yet said he pointing at the Card. he who so proudly lookes out of his window shall be shortly layd forth ignominiously Many of the Nobility were rather provoked than afrayd with such cruelty and they began to think Some thing must de attempted with hazert rather than always suffer shamefully So Normand Lesley the eldest son to the Earle of Rothes whom the Card. had much respected and other 16 persones conspire his death Buchanan Lib. 15 Histor saith a private quarrel moved them May 7. in the morning when the masons were wont to be let in to work they kil the porter at the gate and then having locked the gate they kill the Carldinal in his bedchamber A noise ariseth in the City some would climb the walls then the murderers lay the corps forth at the window whence he had beheld the burning of Mr Wishart to shew that their business was too late The report is quickly spred some said God had done justly albeit the attempt was wicked I passe over what was done by the Regent to punish the fact and how they keep the castle If we will judge of the fact by the event some of these murderers died in prison some in the galeys some escaped but all died miserably Nor did the posterity of the Cardinal enjoy long prosperity for his three daughters were Ladies of Crawford Vain and Kelly in Anguise and all these families are now ruined He gave good estates unto his three sons but none of their posterity have any heritage that he gave them but I return to the history Because the Scots were intending a match with France a fleet of ships sent from England arrive at Lieth unaworse they spoile Edinburgh and the country thereabout and sent their ships loadned with spoile again in the same year The Regent and Queen bring some aid from France but the country was a common prey to both the Nations and they were divided among themselves some adhering unto England and their first Contract and others pretending the old league with France but indeed cleaving to idolatry whereupon followed that infortunat battell at Pinky on the tenth of September An. 1547. The warrs continue some years betwixt the two Nations and the Queen was sent to France in April An. 1548. John Knox hapned to be within the castle of Saintandrews when the last siege began and was carried away to France with the others because it was made cleare that he was not at the murder nor did consent unto the other crimes he was set at liberty and went to Geneva thence he was called to the Ministry of Englishes at Frankeford In the year 1553. Mary being Queen of England peace was concluded with France England Scotland The next year the Queen Dowager went to France and procureth that the Regent was moved to dimit his office they terrify him that within a few years he may be called to account of his intromission and in present contentation the King of France gave him the Dukedom of Chatterault So he resigneth his office in Parliament unto the Ambassadour Mons d'Osell in favours of Q. Mary and her Curatours King of France and Duke of Guise The Ambassadour delivereth instantly the same office unto the Q. Dowager Then the Prelates thought that none durst open a mouth against them but the provident eie of God brought from England in time of persecution under Mary some learned men as Wi harlaw John willock c. and Jo. Knox returnes in the end of the year 1555. Before his coming the best Another step of Reformation men thought it not a sin to be present at Masse he by authority of Gods word persuades them to abhor it He abode at Dun and was exercised dayly in preaching then he went unto Calder where the Lord Erskin L. Lorn and James Priour of Sant Andrews son of James V. and sundry other Noble men were his hearers He went to Finlastoun and preaches before the Zealous Earle of Glencairn he ministreth the Lords supper wherever he preacheth When the Bishops heard of this they summon him to appear at Edinburg May 15. An. 1556. The Bishops assemble not and he preaches in the Bishop of Dunkells loding
undique et ano Etpene erupit qui tibi Carle cruor Non tuus iste cruor sanctorum at caede cruorem Quem ferus hausisti concoquere haud poteras III. So soon as Henry king of Poland heard of his Brothers death he Troubles of Henry â— returned privily and quickly and was crowned King of France He renewed the warres against the Reformed Church he took Mons Monmorancy and quartered him for Religion Nevertheless they increased in number for the Duke Alanchon the Kings Brother and the Duke of Condee joyned with them so that a peace was granted and proclamed with liberty of Religion in the year 1576 but that peace endured not long Then Henry king of Navar joyned with the Reformed again yet they were all in great danger in the year 1586. The Pope Sixtus 5. excommunicated the King of Navar and the Prince of Condee and declared them uncapable of the crown of France and ordered King Henry 3. to persue them with arms The King of Navar sent unto Frederik king of Denmark and unto the Princes of Germany for aid They sent their Ambassadors unto the King of France to interceed for the Protestants He returned answer that they should medle with his subiects no more then he did with theirs Wherefore those Princes assembled at Luneburgh where were also the Ambassadors of Navar England Scotland of the Duke of Pomer c. They concluded that the King of Navar should not be forsaken Chytrae Lib. 28. So they sent 5000. horse-men and 20000. foot but unhappily for the Guises and other confoederats in Liga aurea gave them the foil in Lorrain An. 1587. The next year Henry III. understood of the presumption and intention of the Guises and he called a Parliament professing that he would give the chief Commande of his Army against the Hugonots unto Henry Duke of Guise The man doubted of the Kings favor and yet upon those fair words he went unto the Parliament he was killed in his bedchamber and his body was first burnt then his asshes were thrown into Ligeris His brother Lewes a Cardinal was hang'd and his son with some Bishops were imprisoned Within twelve dayes the Queen-mother died through sorow for the death of the Guises Ibid. Behold how God then brought peace unto his Church They who before favoured the Guises secretly do then profess open rebellion against the King the Parisians create Charles Duke of Mayen and Brother of the Duke of Guise to be Governor of Paris and of the Isle of Francia the Sorbonists deny the kings authority and absolve all men from the oath of allegiance Many cities joyn themselves unto Duke Charles to wit Lions Roan Orleance Ambian c. The King assembleth the Nobility he proclames unto all his subiects pardon of all former trespasses if now they shall return into obedience and he threatneth loss of Goods and life if they return not Henry king of Navar craves pardon obtaines it and is made General of the Army against the traitors the Dukes of Mayen and Aumale in Aprile An. 1589. And the same sommer he granted by edict at Nantes Liberty of the Religion liberty unto the Reformed to assemble not only for exercise of their Religion in their churches but also for holding their Synods yearly and so to be free from the jurisdiction of Bishops Which liberty no king of France hath impeded untill this present time and unto all who were under the former Edicts of exile he restored their honors and goods upon their submission Then the followers of Duke Charles called the king an enemy of the Apostolical Roman Church and August 1. new style a Jacobin Monk having purchased leave to deliver a Letter unto the king stabbed him as he was reading the Letter in the belly with a poisoned knife the villan said he was commanded by an Angel to kill the tyrant and his death would bring peace into France The king feared not death at the first and immediatly dispatched Posts to all the chief parts of the realm giving them notice of what was done and exhorting them to constancy and loyalty as is due unto their Soverain Before midnight he apprehendes death and the next day he caused proclaim Henry king of Navar to be his heir After the Henry 4 King of France kings death the Peers of the realm then in the lieger require an oath of the king of Navar to defend the Roman Religion and he swore to maintain even to hazert of his life the Catholick Apostolical and Roman Religion within the kingdom of France and that he will make no change in the exercise thereof and for his own person he will obey the decrees of a godly and lawfull general or National Councel and promiseth to procure it with all diligence and he swear to permit no other Religion but what is already allowed untill peace being restored it shall be otherwise provided and he confirmed all the Officers of State On the other side these and the Ptinces of the blood the other Peers and many others acknowledge Henry 4. king of France and Navar and swear lojalty and fidelity unto him Then both he and they swear that they shall revenge the villanous murder of the late king and the disturbance of the realm against all the rebels Then the Duke Mayen being at that time called Duke of Guise and the king of Spain dealt with the Pope that the king of Navar should not be absolved from the former Sentence and that faction declares Charles Duke de Mayen king of France but the Senat of Paris not admitting that any should be king who were not of the blood royal he was not proclamed there In the year 1593. Henry 4. took his oath to defend the Roman Religion he wrot an abiuration of the doctrine of the Reformed Church and sent it unto the Pope then he received a pardon and the Popes blessing and was absolved in the Church of S. Denis by the arch Bishop of Bourges upon condition to embrace the Acts of the Councel of Trent and to cause them to be observed within his realms to hear Masse to choose Mary for his advocate before God to breed the young Prince of Condee in the Romish religion c. But though for earthly peace he professed Popery yet in the Parliament at Roan An. 1597. he gave liberty of Religion within his dominions One day he said unto a Noble man I saw you tooday at the Masse Yes said the other I will follow your Majesty The King replied But you shall not have the Crown of France for it IV. Some variances arose amongst them of the Augustan Confession The causes of variance amongst the Lutherans 1. Whereas in the year 1547. theâ— were pressed by the book called Interim to accept that article Good works are necessary unto salvation the Divines of â—itteberg for peace sake did yeeld unto it but those of Iena as being more wary thought good to wave that phrase
who teach that the erroneous should be forced to return unto the Church albeit the antient scandals be not removed and new ones are multiplied c. He speaks also of their means of alluring men of their policies and corruptions more particularly Another saith The four wings of these locusts are arrogancy of learning their flattering of Princes and wealthy persons impudence in denying and the great power that they have purchased CHAP. IV. Of BRITANNE 1. I Left at the gracious providence of God towards Queen Elisabet in God protected Queen Elisabeth continuance thereof is here to be remembred 1. that Pope Pius V. did accurse her An. 1569. and caused the Breve to be affixed on the Bishop of London's palace An. 1570. by John Felton yet neither did her subjects love her the less nor other Princes leave off correspondence with her and the worst effect was Felton was hanged and. 2. The Earls of Northhumberland and Westmerland hearing of the curse and trusting to the promises of aid from the Pope and from Spain raised a rebellion in the North the one was taken and beheaded and Westmerland escaped into Flanders and died in a poor condition 3. The next year Leonard Dacres began to revive the rebellion in the same Shiers and was soon defeated 4. About the same time Iohn Story a Doctor of law and one Prestol were apprehended and convinced of treason for giving information unto Duke d'Alva how he might invade England and cause Irland revolt 5. John â—esley bishop of Ross plotted with sundry Englishes to intercept the Queen and set Queen Mary at liberty An. 1571. God turned their plots to their dammage 6. John Duke of Austria aiming at that kingdom sought Queen Mary in marriage in the midst of his projected plots he died suddenly An. 1567. 7. Thomas stuckly plotted first with Pius V. and then with Gregory XV. to conquer Irland unto the Pope's son he was made General and sent away with 800. Italians but God disposed so that Stukly was first employd to aid Sebastian King of Portugal against the Mauritanians and died there 8. Nicolas Sanders a priest entred into Irland with an Army of Spaniards An 1580. and ioyning with other rebellious Papists made a great insurrection they were soon quasshed 9. The next year numbers of Seminaries and Jesuits came from Rome to prepare the subiects unto a change and to take part with forrein powers when they shall come into the Land for this cause greater restraint was layd upon Papists of those incendiaries some were executed for treason and many were sent out of the kingdom 10. In the year 1583. John Somerwill was taken when he was going to kill the Queen he confessed that he was persvaded to do so byreading books written by the Seminaries he was condemned and strangled himself in New-gate 11. An. 1585. William Parry having an absolution from the Pope vowed to kill her but God struck him with such terror that having opportunity he could not do it his purpose was discovered and he received the reward of a traitor 12. An. 1586. John Ballard a priest stirred up some gentle men to kill Her when she went abroad to take the air this was discovered before they had opportunity they confessed their plot to bring-in forrein forces fourteen was executed as traâ—tors 13. William Stafford a young gentle man and one Moody were persvaded by a forrein Ambassador lying in England An 1587 to kill Her this was discovered 14. An. 1588. Philip King of Spain sent an hudge navy which he supposed as it was called invincible the Lord of land and sea heard the prayers of both kingdoms England and Scotland and dissipated that naâ—y by stormy winds 15. An. 1593. Lopez a Iew and the Queen 's ordinary Physician undertook to poison her upon promise of 50000. crouns from King Philip but before the hyre came the traitor was punished 16. The next year Patrik Cullen an Irish fencer was hired by English fugitives in Flanders to kill Her intelligence was given and he was apprehended 17. The same year other two undertook the â—ame fact as also to set her Navy on fire with bals of wild-fire and received the like reward 18. An. 1598. Edward Squire was suborned in Spain by a Iesuit to poison Her by laying strong poison on the pommel of the sadle whereon she was wont to ride that she laying her hand on it might carry the sent of it unto her nose Squire followed direction and did the deed on a day when she was going to ride and if She had touched the pommel it had been her death but Divine providence so ruled that she touched it not the treason was discovered and rewarded 19. The Earle of Tyron came from Spain An 1599. and raised the greatest rebellion in Irland that was in her time yet he was overthrown 20 An. 1600. a plot was layd to remove some chief Officers and Counselors from her and then the Papists thought to find their opportunity this project was discovered and prevented 20. Henry Garnet Superior of the Seminaries in England and others had another plot and sent Thomas winter into Spain An. 1601. King Philip embraced the motion and promised to help them but before it came the Queen ended her dayes in peace Seing so many plots were discovered it may not improbably be iudged that moe were intended but she was so safe under the wings of the Almighty that neither open hostility nor privy conspiracy could annoy her The remembrance hereof may teach others to trust in God as the safest policy I return unto Church-affaires First we may profitably observe the cause of the difference in the Reformation of the Churches in those two Kingdoms It is true both looked unto the Worde as the rule of Reformation but they varied in the manner of application for England held that whatsoever in discipline and rites is not contrary unto Gods word should be retained for in the twentieth article of the Convocation An. 1563. it is said The Church hath power to decree rites or ceremonies and authority in matters of faith and yet it is not lawfull for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary unto Gods word neither may it so expound one place that it be contrary unto another wherefore although the Church be a witness and keeper of holy Writ yet as it not ought not decree any thing against the same so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of salvation But Scotland applied the Rule more closs in this manner What soever hath not a warrant in the Word should be abolished as in the fourtienth article of Confession they say Evill works are not only those that are done expresly against Gods commandement but those also that in matters of religion and inworshipping of God have no other assurance but the invention and opinion of man which God hath ever from the beginning rejected as by the prophet Isaiah and
of the offender was by his publick pennance satisfied now absolution shall be pronounced thogh that be not accomplished Then the party offending should in his own person hear the Sentence of absolution pronounced now Bishops archdeacons Chancelors officialls commissares and the like absolve one man for another And this is that order of ecclesiasticall disciplin which all godly wish to be restored to the end that every one may by the same be keept within the limits of his vocations and a great number may be brought to live in godly conversation Not that we mean to take away the authority of the Civil Magistrat and chief Governor to whom wee wish all blessedness and for the increase of whose godliness wee pray dayly but that Christ being restored into his Kingdom to rule in the same by the scepter of his word and severe disciplin the Prince may be the better obeied the realm flourish more in godliness and the Lord himself more sincerely and purely according to his word served than heretofore he hath been or yet at this present time is Amend therefore these horrible abuses and reform Gods Church and the Lord is on your right hand you shall not be removed for ever For he will deliver and defend you from all your enemies either at home or abroad as he did faithfull Jacob and good Jehoshaphat Let these things alone and God is a righteous Judge he will one day call you to your reckoning Is a reformation good for France and can it be evill for England Is discipline meet foâ— Scotland and is it unprofitable for this realm Surely God hath set these exampls before your eies to encourage you to go forward to a thorow and speedy reformation You may not do as heretofore you have done patch and peece nay rather go backward and never labor or contend to perfection But altogether remove whole antichrist both head body and branch and perfectly plant that purity of the word that simplicity of the sacraments and severity of disciplin which Christ hath commanded and commended to his Church And here to end wee desire all to suppose that we have not attempted this enterprise for vain glory gain preferment or any worldly respect neither yet judging ourselves so exactly to have set out the estate of a Church reformed as that nothing more could be added or a more perfect form and order drawn for that were great presumption to arrogat so much to ourselves seing that as we are but weak and simple souls so God hath raised up men of profound judgement and notable learning But hereby to declare our good wills towards the setting forth of Gods glory and the building up of his Church accounting this as it were but an entrance into further matter hoping that our God who hath in us begun this good work will not only in time hereafter make us strong and able to go foreward herein but also move others upon whom he hath bestowd greater measure of his gifts and graces to labor more throughly and fully in the same The God of all glory so open your eyes to see his truth that you may not only be enflammed with a love thereof but with a continuall care seek to promote plant place the same among us that we the English people and our posterity enjoying the sincerity of Gods gospell for ever may say always The Lord be praised To whom with Christ Jesus his son our only Savior and the H. Ghost our only Conforter be honor praise and glory for ever and ever Amen Now excepting these whose faults are here touched who can say but this was a wholsom admonition and certainly it doth concern all in power which shall read it untill the end of the would But what followed upon it the Bishops rage and persecute the Ministers which dar speak against their dominion or will not conform unto their toyes I will here remember one passage An. Archpriest Blackwell being about that time prisoner in the Clink where sundry Ministers were also prisoners said to one of them he marvelled of what religion the Bs of England were us they committ said he because we are papists and you they commit because yee will not be papists that they persecute us it is not much to be marveled because there is some seeming difference betwixt them and us though it be not much but that one Minister of the gospell should persecute another or that one protestant doth pursue another to bonds and imprisonment for religions sake is a strange thing but of the two they love us better a Papist they like well enough if they durst shew it but Puritanes they hate with their heart and that all the world may see So said he It was their custom to revile with the name of Puritanes all who did oppose their course What the Priest said tauntingly was the lamentation of many I will name the testimony but of one a learned and piousman as his works yet extant do demonstrate I mean John Udall somtimes Minister at Kingstown upon Thames who in the year 1588. ended his life in the Whyte-lion in Southwerk as prisoner for opposing episcopacy among other pieces he The testimony of I. Vdal concerning the practises of Bb. describeth The estate of the Church of Enlgland in a Conference there he shewes 1. That a Bishop and a Papist were sent by the other Bishops into Scotland to subvert their Generall Assemblies and the rest of their jurisdiction for fear that if the Ministers in Scotland had got up their disciplin the Soverainety of Bishops had fallen in England also he saith they prevailed a while in Scotland but the whole Land cried out for diciplin again and the Noble men did so stiffly stand to it and the Ministers that came home from England dealt so boldly with the King that I said the Bishop was utterly cast out without all hope ever to do any good there again 2. He telleth of a Minister declaring unto the Bishop as not knowing one another three abominations committed by the Bishops in England first rhey bear such enmity against the kingdom of Jesus Christ that they put to silence one after another and will never cease if God bridle them not untill they have rooted out of the Church all the learned godly and painfull teachers The second is that they enlarge the liberties of the common enemies the Papists The last is that they committ the feeding of the flocks of Christ unto those that prey upon them and either can not or will not labor to reclaim the wandring sheep So that the conclusion may be gathered upon their actions it must needs be the eversion and overthrow of the gospell and so consequently the bringing-in of popery and atheism 3. a gentle man askes the Bishop Why he had taken a Papist with him into Scotland seing if he be a right Papist he would labor to erect the Popes Kingdom The B. answered That man was thought fit above all
Spotswood P. 306. where he declares that in the end of the preceeding year many Icsuits and Priests he nameth ten of them came to deal with the Popish Noble men for assisting the Spanish Armada which was then in preparing to invade England if they shall land in Scotland for their hope was to find the King favorable because of the Queens proceedings against his mother and that he would joyn his forces with the Spanish for revenge of that wrong But the King considering his own danger if strangers set foot in in the â—sle and not trusting that the Spaniards would take such paines to purchase the Crown of England for him for that also was profered refused to give eare unto such motions But the Bishop as an aduersary of Assemblies failes in sundry particulars here namely that he saith This Assembly was called by the Ministers whereas the Letter that was sent unto the King saith expressly that they were conveened at his command and his Commissioners were present in the first Session and were Assessors in the Privy Conference as also the King gave the Noble men thankes for that they had conveened so solemly Then he saith Robert Bruce was chosen Moderator though he had not as yet entred into the Ministeriall function I know not what year he was admitted into the Ministry but he was not only a member of the Assembly in the year preceeding but was chosen an Assessor unto the Moderator vvhich certainly had not been done if he had not been an eminent Minister seing he vvas not Commissioner from a Province or Burgh but he never loved Bishops nor did the Bishops love him The vanity of some other particulares appeares by vvhat is vvritten out of the books of the Assembly â— Concerning Rob. Mongomery the Presbytery of Glasgovv vvas called to an account of their admitting William Erskin unto the Bishoprick of Glasgovv seing he vvas not a Minister but only titulare Parson of Campsy They ansvvered Seing church-men vvere not permitted to enjoy the Bishoprick as is said before they esteemed it better that he have the title than any other and he had given his bond to renounce the title if the Generall Assembly did not allovv his admission This vvas not allovved and they vvere ordained to persue him to renounce according to his bond and Robert Mongomery having renounced episcopacy before the Assembly was thereafter planted at a church in Cunigham Of Pa. Adamson and Ja. Gibson more followes After this Assembly the King intended an expedition into the West Marches against the Lord Hereis of whom the Assembly had complained but he came and offered himself unto the King and upon his pâ—omise to amend and surety given that he shall resort to Sermons and suffer nothing to be done in his Wardenry in prejudice of religion he was â—ent back to his charge At the same time the Lord Maxwell who had gotten licence to go into other countries and with assurance that he shall not return without licence having seen the preparation of Spain for invading England returneth by advice of some Scots Papists and landeth at Kirkudbry in Aprile and immediatly gathereth men The L. Hereis advertiseth the King Maxwell was charged to appear before the Counsell he disobeyd Wherefore the King went with such force as he could for the time against him he fled to sea and was brought back prisoner to Edinburgh In this sommer that Spanish Navy which had been some years in preparing and was called Invincible was overthrown by weak means of men and principally by storm when they were lying at anchor in the road of Callais So it pleased God to disappoint the attempts of Papists with great losse unto them and no harm unto this Island Before the report The 50. Assembly of this overthrow came the Assembly conveenes at Edinb August 6. Thomas Buchanan is chosen Moderator I. The Assembly considering the dangers imminent to the Church generally and specially unto the realm by the intended coming of Spainards as also the decay of religion by the rarity poverty of Ministers appointes that a fast be proclamed to morrow by the ordinary Teacher in the Church to be continued all this week II. Because universally throughout this realm there is no religion nor disciplin among the poore but many live in filthy adultry or incest and their children are nor baptised nor do they resort unto the preaching of the word Therefore Ministers shall make intimation and denounce unto all the poor that either be parishoners by birth or resort unto their parishes if they have woman children that they shew testimoniall of their mariage or els shall be refused of almes by all godly persons And that they exhort their parishoners to extend their liberality rather unto these that are of the household of faith and judge discreetly in giving almes unto others who have not such evidents as is said III. A citation was directed by the Moderator of the preceeding Assembly against Pa. Adamson called Bishop of Santandrews making mention that seing by an Act of the Presbytery of Edinburg it was ordained concerning the marriage of George Earle of Huntle his bans should be proclamed upon his subscribing certain articles of religion and under promise that he shall subscribe the rest before his marriage and inhibition was made unto diverse of the Ministry and namely to the foresaid Patrick that they should not celebrate the foresaid marriage untill the foresaid Earle had subscribed the Confession of faith contained in the Acts of Parliament With certification unto every one of them if they do so they should be called for disobedience to the voice of the Church Before the G. Assembly And notwithstanding the said inhibition the said Patrick hath proceeded to solemnize the said marriage upon Iuly 21 thereby disobeying the foresaid inhibition Now the said Patrick is called and for him compeares his proctor Tho. Wilson producing a testimoniall of his sicknes subscribed by Do. Robert nicoll and two of his Bailives and craves that they would not disquiet him in time of his sicknes This testimoniall is judged not to be sufficient IV. For somuch as since the late Act of annexation his Majesty hath transferred the right of patronage of sundry Benefices from himself unto Earles Lords Barons and others and hath annexed them to their lands of whom some have gotten confirmation in Parliament others have obtained them since the Parliament and a third sort hath gotten gift of the naked patronage to the evident hurt of the Church Wherefore it is thought expedient to entreat his Majesty by earnest sute that the said dispositions may be annulled in the next Parliament and in the mean time that it may please his Majesty to deny the disposing of patronages which remain as yet undisposed and that his Majesty would provide that the Commissioners and Presbyteries unto whom the Collation of these Benefices appertaineth be not processed nor horned or outlawed for not giving admission thereupon Inhibiting in
or in name of any of the Brethren 3. Because Mr Craig is old he craves that shey would give in liete five or sixe Ministers out of which he may chuse two to serve his house 4. Seing the standing of religion and the welfare of his Ma s person are so inseparably joyned that whosoever are enemies to the one are common enemies to both therefore let some be appointed in every Presbytery to advertise inform him diligenly for the more speedy remedy not only of whatsoever practises they can hear of Papists and the Spanish faction but of their receipters and of the practises of Bothwell whose wholl courses as they are directly against his person so they tend wholly to the subversion of religion With directjon also unto them to inform all the Barons and honest men tenderers of his Ma s wee fair to atrend and give inteligence of these practises as they can learn from time to time 5. That where is any port or landing place some brethren be specially appoinred to deal so with the Burghs that they take sufficient tryall according to the law made of all who shall come into or passe forth of this eountrey from whence they came whither they intend what is their purpose and so after good and sufficient tryall if there be any thing of weight importance that they fail not to acquaint his Majesty there with to the end he may the more readily discover all forrein or intestiue practises which are or shall be plotted against the estate of the present religion And this he craves to be done so faithfully as he hath good opinion of their earnest affection no less to the preserving of his person as to the defence of the common cause As also he promiseth to aid and assist you in all your good resolutions that may tend to the furtherance of peace and quietness with the advancement of true religion presently professed within this realm The humble answers of the assembly 1. Unto the first it is agreed according to the Act of Parliament which was delivered with the Articles 2. It is ordained by the wholl Church that no Minister utter from pulpit any rash or unreverent speaches against his Majesty or Counsell or their proceedings but that all their publick admonitions proceed upon just necessary causes sufficient warrant in all fear love and reverence Under the pain of deposing those that do in the contrary from the function of the Ministry 3. The Commissioners that are directed unto his Majesty shall nominate the Brethren and whom he shall chuse shall be admitted by the presbytery where his Majesty makes residence for the time The 4 5. are condescended unto and order taken as the Commissioners will give particular information V. No Colledge shali make disposition of their rents or livings by tack or any other title without the advice consent of the Generall assembly Vnder the pain of deposition of the persons disponing VI. For furtherance of the residence of Ministers it is appointed that all parishes shall build manses where are none or where they be ruinous upon their own expences or if they refuse after they are duly required not only shall they be judged the only cause of the Ministers not residence but it shall be lawfull unto the Minister his aires exequitors or assignayes departing to retain the possession of the Manse built by him if he build or repair the same upon his own expences ay and whill the Intrant Minister refound unto him or his foresaids the wholl expences at least so much as the Parish can not be moved to refound And that the presbytery at the Intrants admission take order for performing this providing that the expences exceed not 400. marks And the presbytery after the repairing or bigging of the Manse shall take exact tryall and account of the expences and give him their allowance to be registred in their books And likewise the Minister succeeding shall have â—he like title to crave of the Intrant after him the like expences ay untill the Parish shall outquite the Manse VII Commissioners are appointed to attend the Parliament with the petitions of the Assembly VIII As the books of Presbyteries are tryed in rhe Provinciall assemblies so the books of the Synods should be brought unto every Generall assembly for the better understanding of their proceedings Under the pain of the censure of the Church IX For remedying controversies among Ministers it is concluded that where any plea thogh in a civill matter ariseth betwixt two brethren if they be both of one presbytery they shall chuse what number they please thereof and the elected shall chuse an overman and they shall summarly decide and give Sentence which shall be irrevocable or without appellation And if they be of sundry presbyterics they shall chuse equall number out of them both and the elected shall elect an Overman and these shall give Sentence as said is without appellation And if any shall refuse this form submission he shall be held by the Church to be contumatioâ—s X. The Generall assembly by the authority given by God unto them dischargeth all and every Christian within the Church of Scotland from reparing to any of the King of Spain his dominions where the tyranny of Inquisition is used for merchandice negotiation or exercing of sea-faring occupation Untill the Kings Majesty by advice of Counsell have fought and obtained speciall liberty from that King for all his subje s to negotiat there without danger for the cause of religion Under the pain of incurring the censures of the Church untill the last Sentenee of excommunication The reader may judge of the fyve articles and the answers B. Spotswood saith the first two articles were savouring of discontent but he gives not a reason and he saith the King esteeming the second answer to be no restraint but rather to Minister an excuse to the unruly sort when they transgressed rejected it as not satisfying his demand whereupon the petitions of the Church against the Papists at the same time and against the erections of tyths into temporalities were not regarded And the merchants saith he offending at the Act made concerning them did petition his Majesty and Counsell for mantaining their liberty which was granted and nevertheless the Church proceeded in their censures till the merchants promised to surcease their trade with Spain how soon their accounts were made and they be payd of their debitors in these parts As for Bothwell he had fled into England when his treasonous attemps were discovered and when the English Ambassador did interceed for him the King said His offenses were unpardonable and to be abhorred of all Christian Princes In Juny he returned privily into Scotland and found rhe means to surprise the King within Halirud house and caused him subscribe articles which the King afterward did revoke in a Convention of the Estares as dis-honorable and made offer to grant the same upon a new
two Gentlemen for cutting his horse tail On the fifth day four Gentlemen did kill him in the year 1171. At Easter Pope Alexander canonized him as a Saint and would have excommunicated the King for his death but the King by his Ambassadors purged himself that he knew not of his death yet because he did carry grudge at him he was forced to renounce the investiture of Bishops and thereby his Kingdom became more slavish then before And the Pope in token of his victory to the shame of the King and credit of the Clergy did pretend some miracles as done by this Thomas after his death and commanded his feast to be kept throughout the Kingdom and the Cathedral which before was called Christ's Church was after that called St. Thomas Becket's and to the end the King might suffer this infamy the more patiently and also to make Ireland the more subject unto the See of Rome Pope Alexander confirmed again unto King Henry the Lordship of Ireland and ordained that the Bishops there should obey the Laws of England For in the year 1155. Murchard or as some call him Dermot mac Morrog King of Leinster being exiled by O. Roricy King of Midia sought aid from Henry II. he sent Richard Strongbow Earl of Penbrok who had married the onely Daughter of Murchard with a considerable Army into Ireland and within a short space he restored his father in law and conquered other Lands so that Henry was jealous of his power and commanded by open Proclamation him and all his Army to return under pain of forfeiture In obedience Richard gave into the King's hand all his purchase and his wifes inheritance and again received as his vassal Weisford Ossoria Carterlogia c. But in the year 1172 Henry went personally into Ireland and the most part submitted themselves unto him as unto their onely and lawful Soveraign whereas in former times that Nation was divided into four petty Kingdoms and several Dukedoms and one of them was chosen Monarch The same Henry did claim the Lands of Northumberland and from the Scots Malcolm the maiden and his Brother William at two several times went to London and did acknowledge the King for these Lands whereas in former times the Heir of the Crown did onely perform that ceremony But then Henry would have more that all the Bishops of Scotland should be under the yoke of the Arch-Bishop The Bishops of Scotland will not submit to the Primate of York of York as their Metropolitan At the first meeting at Norham the Scots put it off but with slender delays The next year Hugo Cardinal de S. Angelo sent into England was for Henry in this purpose and did cite the Bishops of Scotland to compear before him in Northampton they went thither and the Cardinal had a speech of humility and obedience all to perswade the Scotch Bishops to submit themselves unto the Primate of York who was a Prelate of great respect and whose credit in the Court of Rome might serve them to good use A yong Clerk stood up and spake in name of the others his speech is written diversly I shall shew it as I have copied it out of an old Register of Dunkel by the favor of Bishop Alexander Lindsay It is true English Nation thou mightest have been noble and more noble then some other Nations if thou hadst not craftily turned the power of thy Nobility and the strength of thy fearful might into the presumption of tyranny and thy knowledge of Liberal Science into the shifting Glosses of Sophistry but thou disposest not thy purposes as if thou wert lead with reason and being puft up with thy strong Armies and trusting in thy great wealth thou attemptest in thy wretched ambition and lust of domineering to bring under thy jurisdiction thy neghbor Provinces and Nations more noble I will not say in multitude or power but in linage and antiquity unto whom if thou wilt consider ancient records thou shouldest rather have been humbly obedient or at least laying aside thy rancor have reigned together in perpetual love and now with all wickedness of pride that thou shewest without any reason or law but in thy ambitious power thou seekest to oppress thy mother the Church of Scotland which from the beginning hath been Catholique and free and which brought thee when thou wast straying in the wilderness of heathenism into the safe-guard of the true faith and way unto life even unto Jesus Christ the Author of eternal rest she did wash thy Kings and Princes and people in the laver of holy Baptism she taught thee the commandments of God and instructed thee in moral duties she did accept many of thy Nobles and others of meaner rank when they were desirous to learn to read and gladly gave them dayly entertainment without price books also to read and instruction freely she did also appoint ordain and consecrate thy Bishops and Priests by the space of thirty years and above she maintained the primacy and pontifical dignity within thee on the North side of Thames as Beda witnesseth And now I pray what recompence renderest thou unto her that hath bestowed so many benefits on thee is it bondage or such as Judea rendered unto Christ evil for good it seemeth no other thing Thou unkinde vine how art thou turned into bitterness we looked for grapes and thou bringest forth wilde grapes for judgement and behold iniquity and crying If thou couldest do as thou wouldest thou wouldest draw thy mother the Church of Scotland whom thou shouldest honor with all reverence into the basest and most wretchedst bondage Fie for shame what is more base when thou wilt do no good to continue in doing wrong even the serpents will not do harm to their own albeit they cast forth to the hurt of others the vice of ingratitude hath not so much moderation an ungrateful man doth wrack and masacre himself and he dispiseth and minceth the benefits for which he should be thankful but multiplieth and enlargeth injuries It was a true saying of Seneca I see The more some do owe they hate the more a small debt maketh a grievous enemy What sayest thou David it is true They rendered me evil for good and hatred for my love It is a wretched thing saith Gregory to serve a Lord who cannot be appeased with whatsoever obeysance Therefore thou Church of England doest as becomes thee not thou thinkest to carry what thou cravest and to take what is not granted seek what is just if thou wilt have pleasure in what thou seekest And to the end I do not weary others with my words albeit I have no charge to speak for the liberty of the Church of Scotland and albeit all the Clergy of Scotland would think otherwise yet I dissent from subjecting her and I do appeal unto the Apostolical Lord unto whom immediately she is subject and if it were needful for me to die in the cause here I am ready to lay down my
all deceiving tyranny fraud and oppression of truth I will not speak of their filthiness more then Sodomitish did these high Priests employ their times so that then Rome did deserve to be called the synagogue of Satan or seat of the Divel and justly might be reputed the habitation of foul spirits and the sink of all uncleanness Revel 2 18. Wherefore when they went to their general Councels or their Legates were sent unto the Nations under colour of reconciliation and reformation it may seem that so oft did Satan come out from the presence of the Lord to smite Job for whatsoever he is said in the Scriptures to have done the same did these his hooded Vicars nor did their hellish madness spare the most puissant Princes but hereafter shall the Kingdom of Abaddon which is the King of Locusts or Friers of the begging Order by their sophistry lay waste and destroy all things until Pope Julius the II. that is the space of 260. years but that the Lord will have sparks of honesty to be seen here and there 6. So many Cardinals were poisoned at the last election that they which were alive would not conveen until the Emperor did charge them to go on with the election with certification that if they would not he would cause his Soldiers to plunder their Lands Cities and houses and until the French King told them that he would choose a Pope for the Church of his own Kingdom Mat. Paris INNOCENTIUS the IV. was then chosen he was one of these whom the Emperor had under arrest and had been familiar with him but now he forgot his kindeness and without delay did confirm the sentence of Pope Gregory against the Emperor so the wars did continue He profered the Kingdom of Italy unto Edmund for a certain sum of money but his father Henry King of England was scant of money saith Mat. Par. that he could not perform what was required because he had foolishly tied his Kingdom unto the Popish Merchants In the Councel at Lions which Bellarmin calleth the thirtieth general Councel he would not delay his curse three days against the Emperor albeit he understood that the Emperor was upon his journey to come before him and satisfie He ordained the feast Octava festivitatis Mariae And that Cardinals should ride with foot-mantles ◠〈…〉 ◠garments and red hats and red clokes for honor of their Order saith Platina or in imitation of the Jewish Priests saith Po. Virg. de inven rer lib. 4. cap. 9. or rather it came so pass that the prophecy might be fulfilled and the Beast be cloathed in scarlet Revel 17. 3. He added unto the Decretals and honored the Dominicks with apostatical they say Apostolical honors and priviledges and advanced them unto Bishopricks and in favor of Curates he discharged all begging Friers to exercise any of their function Mortous Appeal lib. 5. cap. 4. § 6. ex Azor. Iesui Thus he did ramverse the priviledge granted by Pope Honorius the III. After the Councel when he heard that the Imperial forces did prevail in sundry places he like a lion robbed of his whelps rageth and leaveth no means unessayed to cut off the Emperor especially he enticeth some of his domesticks Theobald Francis James de Mora Pandulf de Fasanellis and William de S. Severino to lie in wait for his life either by poison secretly or by weapons violently it was made known unto the Emperor and yet he could not be so watchful but he was poisoned in Pulia as appeareth by his Letters unto his Brother in law Henry the III. King of England The doers of this fact saith he being accompanied with a number of Friers Minorites do openly avow that they are about the affairs of the Mother Church of Rome and that they are signed by Apostolical Letters against us and the Pope is the Author of our death and disinheriting Matth. Parisien So soon as the Pope heard of the Emperor's death he taketh his journey into Italy when he went from Lions the Bishop and other chief men of the City did accompany him and unto them he said I have done much good in this City since I came into it At that time were but three or four Stews in it now is but one howbeit a large one from the East-gate to the West-gate Idem ad An. 1251. He coming into Italy ceased not to draw the Cities cleaving unto the Emperor from his Son Conrade yea at the same time when Lewes the French King and his Navy were in great peril of the Turks in Syria he caused to proclaim greater pardon unto all who would fight against Conrade then he or any Pope had profered to fight against the Turks for he caused it to be preached in all the pulpits of Italy If any will fight against Conrade both the signed that is the fighter under the sign of the Cross and his father and mother shall have pardon of all their sins When he heard of Conrades death he laughed loudly and said I am glad and let all the Church of Rome rejoyce for now our two greatest enemies are out of the way Conrade King of Siciles and Robert Bishop of Lincoln And immediately he went unto Naples to take possession of that Kingdom Not long thereafter he directeth Letters into England to take up the dead body of the before named Robert and cause him to be proclaimed an Heathen the same night after this direction he thought that the same Robert did smite him on the side and for his impiety did threaten him with the judgement of God the next day his side was very sore and within few days he died Matth. Paris 7. ALEXANDER the IV. was chosen at Naples when the See had been vacant two years His first exploit was to follow the wars moved by his Predecessors against Manfred then King of both Sicilies to this effect he sent his locusts the Friers to preach that every one should send Subsidy unto the holy wars against the enemy of the Church Some did see the Pope's insatiable greediness and others were perswaded and so all Italy was in an uproar He rewarded his Friers with red hats and cornered caps He gave the Kingdoms of Sicily and Pulia unto Edmund Son of Henry III. King of England for the conquering and for this effect he sent Legate Rostand to collect all the tenths of England and Scotland against Manfred still prevailing not onely in Naples but in Hetruria and Lombardie and many abominable things saith Matth. Paris did flow from the sulphurous fount of the Roman Church fie for sorrow to the dammage of many Such an exaction was not heard as the Pope craved at that time Rostand said in the Assembl◠at London All the Churches belong unto my Master the Pope One Leonard in name of the Bishops said It is true for defence but not for possession nor dissipation as all things belong unto the King In a word at three several meetings he
received a universal nolumus Therefore the Pope sent two Minorites Arlotus and Mansuetus with some Bishops and with full power to exact tenths of Benefices to absolve for money all perjured persons all convicted of adultery sodomy c. Whereupon an old woman in the Church oâ— St. Alban is said to have seen a fearful vision and heard a voice crying thrice Wo wo unto the inhabitants of the earth Matth. Paris ad An. 1259. saith This was not a dream but a fearful threatning from heaven This Alexander added unto the Decretals and turned the ancient Temple of Bacchus to the service of St. Constantia He sat seven years 8. URBAN the IV. Patriarch of Jerusalem a French man never entered into Rome because of factions Because the Ancestors of Conradin King of Sicilies had been adversaries unto former Popes he sent unto Lewes King of France requiring to send his brother Charles Duke of Aniow with an Army to expel Manfred and his pupil Conradin and he will give him and his heirs to the fourth generation both Sicilies in fee as the inheritance of the Church Lewes prepareth an Army but Urban saw it not He ordaineth the feast of the Rood or Cross Pol. Virg. de inven rer lib. 6. cap. 8. as also The feasis of the Cross and Corp Christi the feast of Corp. Christi upon this occasion as Onuphrius writeth A Priest was saying Mass in urbe vetere where Urban was residing and doubted of the transubstantiation as he was holding the hostie in his hand hot blood dropped down and coloureth the Corporale Urban taketh this as a true miracle and ordaineth the second Thursday after Whitsunday to be kept holy for confirmation of transubstantiation as also he commandeth the bread should be adored and the Corporale should be carried in the procession that day It is no wonder to see men believe lyes and deceive others Onuphrius testifieth in the same place that a Nun Eva did bleed in that Mass he saith It was a common report and calleth it a fable Io. Bale ex Arnol. Bost pe premonstrat sheweth how Urban appointed that feast at the request of a Nun Eva which had been acquainted with him and did alledge that she had seen a vision for institution of such a feast And the same Bale hath an Epistle of Urban unto her concerning that feast both long and impious Whatsoever was the occasion we may say with Po. Virg. lo. cap. 1. feasts were heaped upon feasts for very small causes and we scarcely know whether it was profitable seeing it is manifest the maners of Christians are become such that if it was profitable unto Religion in former times to appoint them it is now more profitable to abolish them Urban sat three years 9. CLEMENS the IV. of a Lawyer in the Court of France was made Bishop of Podio and at last Pope In his time Charles Duke of Anjow overthrew Manfred and Conradin as followeth and at Rome was Crowned King of both Sicilies and Jerusalem upon these conditions 1. He shall pay yearly four thousand crowns to St. Peter 2. He shall never accept the Empire although it were offered unto him unless he be pressed by the Pope Whereby the intention of the Conclave is manifest that they sought by all means to bring the Empire low to the end they might the more easily lift up their heads The Guelphs then did insult over the Gibelines Clemens sat three years and died in Viterbio and had given order to bury him in a Cloister of the black Friers and so would many of his Successors for the honor of that Order The Cardinals could not agree in the election for the space of two years and nine moneths many strove for it and so great was their prertinacy saith Naucler that neither the fear of God nor prayers of men could move them at last by procurement of Princes especially of Philip King of France they agree to choose one not as yet named So Theobald Viscount of Placentia and Bishop of Leodium being then Legate with Edward Long-shanks in Syria was chosen upon advertisement he made haste into Italy This was 10. GREGORY the X. who never saw Rome In his first year he summoneth a Councel which they call the XIV general Councel at Lions and was held An. 1274. He calleth four Bishops from Germany four from France four from England two from Spain from Sicily the Kingdom of the Church Hungary Dacia Bohem Poland Suionia Norway and Scotland from each of these one Bishop Spotswood in Hist lib. 2. ex Scon. lib. 10. cap. 34. saith There were two Patriarchs Cardinals 15 Bishops 500 and 1000 mitred Prelates besides the King of France the Emperor of Greece and many other Princes The first proposition was for the holy war and for it they decree that a tenth part of all Benefices in Christendom the priviledged Churches not excepted should be paid for six years that all Penitentiaries or Confessors should urge offenders to assist that holy business with their wealth and riches and that every Christian without exception of sex or quality should pay a peny yearly during that space under pain of excommunication 2. For remedying abuses in the Church it was ordained 1. That no procurations to Bishops nor Arch-Deacons unless they do visit the Churches in their own persons Here is still a postern for the Bishops 2. No Church-man should possess more Benefices then one and should reside at the Church he retaineth 3. None of the Clergy shall without the Pope's licence answer the impositions which shall be laid upon them by any Prince or State 4. The Mendicant Friers shall be reduced to four Orders the Minorites Predicants Carmelites and Hermites of St. Augustin who shall continue in their present estate until the Pope shall otherwise think good 5. A prohibition was made to advise or admit any new order besides these named Some other Acts of less moment were passed whereof the extract under the hands of the publick Notaries were sent unto this Church saith he but all these Statutes turned in a short time into smoke pluralities being of new dispensed with the clause of Non obstante which then first came in use The Orders of Friers and Monks were restored one by one the Cistertians redeemed their liberty by payment of 500000 marks the Bernardines paid 600000 crowns and other Orders made their composition Whereby it appeareth that the Statutes which were enacted were onely devised to raise sums of money and not of any purpose to redress these abuses They did profess at that time that upon these charges alone they would redeem Asia and Africa from the Turks Saracens and Barbarians and for this effect the Emperor Rodulph gave unto the Pope Bononia and the revenue of Romandiola which paid yearly 700000 drach of gold Howbeit Gregory died the next year yet these taxes were paid In that Councel also Canons were prescribed for the maner of electing the Pope especially that the Cardinals
eat the sins of the people and they spake as assuredly of the apparitions adjurations and responses of the dead as if they had learned them from the books of Tundalus and Brandarius or from St. Patrick's cave they play the Tragedies of them in Purgatory and the Comedies of Indulgences in Pulpits as on a Stage with so Soldier-like boldness so thrasonical boasting so arrogant eys changing their countenances stretching out their arms with so various gestures as the Poets feign Proteus transforming themselves they thunder unto the people with windy tongues and Stentor's voice But they which are more ambitious among them and would have the gallantry of eloquence and perfect knowledge these in crying I would say declaring sing poesies tell stories dispute opinions cite Homer Virgil Iuvenal Persius Livius Strabo Varro Seneca Cicero Aristotle Plato and for the Gospel and word of God they prattle meer toys and words of men preaching another gospel adulterating the word of God which they preach not in sincerity but for gain and reward and they live not according to the truth of the word but after the lusts of the flesh and when in the day they have spoken of vertue erroneously they bestow the night in the Stews and this is their way to go unto Christ c. Erasmus in his Annotations on 1 Tim. 1. at the word Vaniloquium speaketh of the School-men at that time thus What shall I say of ungodly questions which are made concerning the power of God and of the Pope whether God can command any evil as to hate himself and forbid all good even the love and worship of himself whether he can make a thing infinite in respect of all dimensions whether he could have made this world even from eternity in a better condition then he hath made it whether he could have made a man that cannot sin ..... There is more work concerning the power of the Pope while they argue of his two-fold power and whether he may abrogate what is decreed in the writings of the Apostles whether he may decree what is repugnant unto the doctrine of the Gospel whether he may make a new Article of faith whether he hath more power then Peter had or equal power whether he hath power to command the Angels whether he can make empty that which is called Purgatory whether he be a man only or as God whether he partaketh of both natures as Christ doth whether he be more merciful then Christ seeing we do not read that Christ did ever bring any out of Purgatory whether among all men the Pope alone cannot err Six hundred such questions are disputed in great volumes ...... and their schools are earnest about such questions and time the swiftest of all things is wasted with these questions which are propounded ridiculously and determined timerariously our time is short and it is a difficult thing to act the duty of a Christian rightly The third power of the Friers was to proclaim and sell Indulgences Because this falleth in often I will here only repeat the Indulgences words of Pa. Paulo in the first book of the Councel of Trent This manner of giving money for pardons was put in practise after the year 1100. for Pope Urban the II. having granted plenary Indulgences and remission of all sins to whosoever would fight in the holy Land to recover and set free the Sepulchre of Christ out of the power of the Mahumetans it is followed by his Suceessors of whom some as always new inventions are inlarged granted it unto those who would maintain a Soldier if they could not or would not go personally in these wars and thereafter Indulgences were granted unto such as would take Arms against Christians not obeying the Church of Rome and many times infinite exactions under these pretences And lib. 8. he saith It is sure and cannot be denied that in no Christian Nation of the East either in ancient or modern times was ever any use of Indulgences of any kinde whatsoever and in the West no proof of them can be brought before Pope Urban the II. from his time until the year 1300. it appeareth that the use of them was sparing and only imposed by the Confessor to free men from punishment after the Councel at Vienna the abuses did increase mightily Pol. Virg. de inven rer lib. 8. cap. 1. saith They reap no small harvest by these Indulgences especially Pope Boniface the IX in whose time such pardons were granted with a full hand not only at sometimes but as Platina witnesseth were sold dayly and every where as any other merchandise not without the dammage of the giver and receiver seeing by these as the vendible remedies or soul diseases many did the less abstain from sin and the power of the keys became contemptible and that was not without cause because as Jerome saith where a reward is the means or interveneth spiritual gifts become the more vile which oh if that age only had seen So far he 31. When the Tartars prevailed first in Asia the Kingdom of the Turks was overthrown and they were divided among themselves into seven families at last they became all subject unto the house of Othoman or Otman Laon. Chalcocon lib. 1. de Reb. Turc He was a victorious and cruel Tyrant and was declared first Emperor of the Turks about the year 1300. all his Successors have kept his name He conquered Prusa a City of Mysia An. 1303. and made it the seat of the Empire His Son Orcanes expelled the Tartars and others of them through dissensions among Christians have raised that great Empire of Asia and subdued the Empire of Constantinople as partly is said and more followeth CHAP. IV. Of BRITAIN 1. KIng Edward sent the marble Chair of the Scots unto London and Troubles between England and Scotland left nothing that he thought could excite the mindes of our Nation to any remembrance of former condition so he promised unto himself a final conquest but a fresh trouble ariseth upon occasion of his tyranny Robert Bruce the Son of the former competitor and John Cumine the Cousin-German of John Baliol beholding at Court the contempt which the Scots did suffer and considering how Edward had abused them against their native Countrey they thought upon a revenge yet they they durst not communicate their thoughts At last John perceiving the other pensive and thinking the same might be the cause of his sadness adventured first to discover his minde and he blamed himself and the other also that their Countrey-men had fallen into such miseries by their procurement and in the mean time were both frustrated There they promise taciturnity and mutual fidelity and they covenant that John shall never pretend any title unto the Crown but assist Robert to recover it and he shall have all the Lands belonging unto Robert and be second unto him in the Kingdom these things were written sworn and sealed Robert followeth King Edward still waiting opportunity Behold
bodily pains in this world which after their own sayings are far less and the Pope may go down to hell as another man and whereas he taketh upon him to absolve any man without inward repentance he extolleth himself above God This complaint is at length in the Act. Monim written by Io. Fox and these are the chief heads of it 11. In the twenty fifth year of King Edward the III. which was 1364. Laws against the power of the Pope Statutes were made If any procured from Rome a provision to any Abbey Priory or Benefice in England which is said to be in destruction of the Realm and holy Religion or if any man sued out of the Court of Rome any process or procured any personal citation upon causes whose cognifance and final discussion pertaineth to the King's Court these shall be out of the King's protection and their lands goods and cattels shall be forfeited unto the King The narrative of the Act sheweth the cause of it and the King and Commons of the Realm had oft complained that his Realms were impoverished by the Pope giving Benefices to strangers which never dwelt in England the King and Nobility were robbed of their right of patronage the cure was not served and the will of the first founders was not followed The King had oft complained but in vain therefore he resolved to make his Kingdom free from this bondage Morn in Myster pag. 480. sheweth that when Pope Gregory the XI heard of it he cried This enterprise is a renting of the Church a destroying of Religion and usurpation of his right and priviledge Wherefore he sent immediately unto Edward requiring him to annul these Acts. But when the Schism arose no Pope did insist in it until Pope Martin the V. sent more sharp Letters unto King Henry the VI. And he answered An Act of Parliament cannot be annulled but by another Parliament and he would assemble a Parliament within a short space for the same cause but he did it not saith Pol. Virg. Hist lib. 19. In the thirteeth year of Richard the II. this Act was revived in these words If any person within or without the Realm shall seek from the Court of Rome preferment to any Benefice of Cure or without Cure the preferment shall be null and the person shall be banished and his goods shall appertain unto the King and the same punishment shall strike against them which receive or entertain any such person As also it was ordained If any person shall bring or send any summons sentence or excommunication or if any shall make execution of any such summons sentence or excommunication against any person whatsoever shall forfeit all his lands and goods for ever and himself shall be imprisoned and incur the pain of death yea although such a person had obtained the King's licence for petitioning at the Court of Rome he shall sorfeit a years rent It is also observed that before the year 1367. the high offices in England Offices of State as the Lord Chancellor the Lord Treasurer the Lord Privy Seal c. were wont to be for the most part in the hands of the Clergy as also in Scotland until the Reformation but about that time the English Nobility procured that all these offices should be given unto temporal Lords 12. At that time God raised up John Wickliff a couragious witness of Iohn Wickliff truth he was Fellow of Merton Colledge and Master of Baliol Colledge in Oxford and Reader of Divinity there about the year 1370. He began first to oppose in questions of Logick and Metaphysick but such as strawed the way to other things which he intended When he set upon controversies of Divinity he protested publickly in the Schools that his aim was to bring the Church from Idolatry to some amendment In his book entituled The path-way to perfect knowledge near the end he sheweth what travel he had in translating the Bible into English he gathered many old Latine Bibles for saith he the late books are very corrupt and he conferred the translations with the ancient Doctors and common Glosses and especially he was helped by the late translation of Lyra in the old Testament and the fourth time he employed many cunning men at the correcting of his fourth translation Then he wrote that book which I have now named wherein he giveth the sum of every book of the old Testament with some general and useful observations He reckoneth the books according to the Hebrew and sheweth also some use of the Apocrypha for examples of piety patience constancy c. and denieth that they are for proof of faith In chap. 2. he saith The truth of the Gospel sufficeth to salvation without keeping the ceremonies made of God in the old Law and much more without keeping the ceremonies of sinful and unknowing men that have been made in time of Antichrist and unbinding of Satan as it is Apocal. 20. and he calleth it heresie to say otherwise In chap. 1. he saith Christian men and women old and yong should study fast in the new Testament for it is of full authority and open to the understanding of simple men as to the points that be most needful to salvation and the same sentence in the darkest places of holy writ is both open and dark which sentence is in the open places and each place of holy writ both open and dark teacheth humility and charity and therefore he that keepeth humility and charity hath the true understanding and perfection of all holy writ as Augustine proveth in his Sermon of praising charity therefore no simple man of wit should be feared unmeasurably to study the text of holy writ for they are the words of everlasting life as Peter said to Christ Iohn 6. and the holy Ghost stirred holy men to speak and write the words of holy writ for the comfort and salvation of meek Christian men as Peter in his Epistles and Paul Rom. 15. witness And no Clark should be proud of the very understanding of holy writ for that very understanding without charity which keepeth God's hests maketh a man deeper damned as Christ Jesus and James witness and the pride and covetousness of Clarks is the cause of their blindeness and heresie In chap. 10. Though Kings and Lords knew no more of holy writ then three stories of 2 Chron. that is of Jehoshaphat Hezekiah and Josiah they might learn sufficiently to live well and govern their people well by God's Law and eschew all pride and idolatry and other sins But alas alas alas whereas King Jehoshaphat sent his Princes Deacons and Priests to each City of his Realm with the Book of God's Law to teach openly God's Law unto the people ..... some Christian Lords send general Letters unto all their Ministers and Liege-men that the pardons of the Bishop of Rome which are open lies for they grant many hundred years of pardons after doomsday be preached generally in their Realms
and thieves none so wicked or vile who though he be charged with a manifest crime should we think to condemn before we hear him and do ye think it equal to pass sentence on a King anointed and crowned giving no leave to defend himself how unjust is this let us consider the matter it self I say ye openly affirm that Henry Duke of Lancaster whom ye are pleased to call your King hath most unjustly spoiled Richard as well his Soveraign as ours of his Kingdom While he was speaking the Lord Marshal enjoyned him silence and the other Bishops said He discovereth more Covent-devotion he had been a Monk then Court-discretion in dissenting from his Brethren Yet at that time his integrity was so respected that no punishment was imposed upon him but the next year 1400. when some discontented Lords arose against King Henry this Thomas was taken prisoner and judicially arraigned for High Treason for which he was condemned and sent to St. Albans But what shall the King do with him he could not with credit keep him nor dismiss him and to take his life was dangerous when Prelates were thought sacred The Pope did help the King by giving unto Thomas another Bishoprick in Samos a Greek Island But before his translation was compleated he died THE FIFTH AGE Of the CHURCH OR The History of the Church reverting and of Antichrist raging containing the space of 300. years from the year 1300. until the year 1600. CENTURY XV. CHAP. I. Of POPES 1. INNOCENTIUS the VII was crowned An. 1404. Before that time none spoke more against the ambition of the Antipopes and he had sworn to renounce his place if the union of the Church did so require but now he could not hear any speaking of taking away the Schism yea because some Romans bewailed the dammages of it he sent them to his Nephew Lewis whom he had made Marquess of Piceno and Prince of Firma as to a Burreo saith Platin. and he caused in his own sight eleven Romans to be thrown out of an high window and said This Schism cannot be otherwise taken away therefore he was called the bloody Tyrant Tho. Cooper For this cause the Romans called for the aid of Ladislaus King of Naples and the Pope fled unto his Nephew in Viterbio thereafter the Romans fearing that Ladislaus would usurp over the City brought back the Pope and he did accurse Ladislaus Pope Benedict sent unto Pope Innocentius for a safe conduct unto his Cardinals that they may treat of an union Innocentius slightly refused Wherefore Benedict made his vaunts in sundry missives that he was desirous of union and Innocentius had denied a treaty Then Innocentius became paralytick and his own Clergy said unto him It happened unto him justly according to his demerits He sate two years Then the French Nation did represent unto Pope Benedict the inconvenients of the Schism and they craved that he would willingly lay down his Dignity for the welfare of the Church if the Pope that shall be chosen at Rome shall do the like He promised to do so The Cardinals at Rome in consideration of the enormities waxing every where by this Schism took this order they promise each one with solemn vow to God to Mary to Peter and Paul and the blessed company of Saints that if any of them were called to that high place whensoever the other Pope will quit his place and his Cardinals will condescend unto the Cardinals at Rome upon a new election that one may be chosen by them together in that case he who shall be now chosen shall renounce his Papacy And they provided that none shall ever take absolution from this oath All did subscribe 2. GREGORY the XII being eighty years old was chosen and the same day in presence of all the Cardinals confirmed the same oath by a new subscription The union was attempted again by Letters from the one Pope unto the other they consent to meet on Michaelmass day at Savona in Liguria but Gregory objected sundry impediments and when these were removed by Bishops and Princes he coined more as may be read at large in Morna Myster pag. 497. ss Benedict still made shew of readiness when he heard that Gregory made new delays he went unto Catalonia in Spain where he was born professing his desire of union but there was no appearance of it In truth he was necessitated to go thither for the French King and University of Paris would bear no longer with him and called him a Schismatick c. Gregory thought then that the field was won He called a Councel to assemble at Aquileia and to the end he may attain his designs he created more Cardinals Benedict practised the like in Arragon both of them still pretending unity The Church of Rome had of late broached Experience sheweth that Popes are not infallible this conceit That the judgement of the Pope is infallible but now it pleased God to check that fond opinion and by lamentably sensible examples teach them their error that if reason cannot perswade them experience should convince them or if they will believe none who had written that the Pope may er yet they shall see it with their eys and then let them hold him the rule of faith at their peril So the Cardinals of both these factions began to distaste the ambition of their Popes and first some of the Spanish Cardinals withdrew themselves and came to Pisa and others of the other side assembled with them to the number of 124 Divines and 300 Jurists They with one consent call a Councel to be held there An. 1409. and by their Letters they require the Emperor the Kings of France Hungary England Poland Sicily Arragon and other States to give their concurrence Only the nearer part of Spain Scotland and the Count Armeniacus followed Benedict The Councel was assembled to the number of 1000 Divines and Lawyers as some write They summon both Popes to appear either personally or by their Proctors They both contested against the lawfulness of the Assembly as not having authority from the head The Councel replied A Councel cannot be called by one of the Competitors for a party cannot make a general but a particular Councel but neither of the two would yield to the other so the Councel goeth on and because none of the two Popes would appear after many Sessions and after long disputation of their power and after canonical process they all without exception condemn Pope Benedict and Pope Gregory and absolve all men from obedience unto them they annul all their Acts promotions ..... In the tenor of deprivation they call these two notorious Schismaticks obstinate maintainers of Schism Hereticks departed from the faith scandalizing the whole Church unworthy the Papacy and cut off from the Church And they elected unto the Papal Chair a Greek by birth Peter Philargus the Bishop of Millain who was called 3. ALEXANDER the V. Of him it is said He was a
Priests are worse than hypocrites since they are so far from hiding their wickedness before men that they openly avow it and they are permitted by their Prelates because they pay yearly some money unto their Officials And that the condition of the Church is more dangerous now than ever it was for in time of persecution were good men but now the Church hath liberty and decaies for want of zeal and knowledge c. Catol test ver lib. 19. 4. Felinus Accursius Petrus de bella pertica Bartolus Johannes Igneus and many other Lawyers are recorded to have testified against Emperours and Princes for their weakness in suffering Bishops to usurp the Temporal Sword and Dominion of Lands and Cities and against the imprudence of them who had given so many priviledges unto the Clergy by which the Popes and Bishops do inlarge their power and oppress the Laity At that time Volquin in a Sermon called the Monks Monsters a Monster said he is a head with two bodies or a body with two heads and such are Monks they are Monks and Lawyers or Monks and Courtiers c. And so are Priests and Canons who have many Benefices Prebendaries c. ibid. 5. Vincentius a Venetian was then famous in Italy for opinion of holiness He left some Prophecies against the Clergy which in the end of that Century were Printed at Paris with the Prophecies of some others In one he saith Antichrist is in the World in another he saith Antichrist shall be a Pope but to allay the word he adds a Pope not lawfully chosen We may now add Many Popes have not been chosen lawfully In another he saith If we speak of those who are called Religious there is not one in all the World that keeps his Religion as he should they are all become corrupt and scandalous yea they are the instruments of perdition who should be instruments of the salvation of souls Ibid. 6. When the Antipopes would not remove the Schism a Parliament was in Paris An. 1406. Septemb. 11. where Charls the VI. ordained That The Acts of France against the Popes none should pay Tithes to Pope nor Cardinals and if they attempted to exact them no former provisions should be acknowledged In the Narration of this Act it is said That the Deputy of the University did apply unto Pope Benedict these sayings Withdraw you from every Brother that walks inordinately And I know that after my deaarture Wolves shall come in amongst you not sparing the Flock And Because my Flock was spoiled and my Sheep were deavoured by all the Beasts of the Field having no Shepheard neither do my Shepheards seek my Sheep but the Shepheards seek themselves and feed not my Sheep therefore thus saith the Lord I will cause them to cease from feeding my Sheep and I will deliver my Sheep from their mouths and therefore all paiment yea and all obedience should be denied unto the Pope And so they promised for their own part Fascic rer expeten fol. 195. In February following was another Edict discharging the paiment of Annates and other things that were called Minuta servitia In January 1408. in presence of the King and Peers and people of the Realm and of the Embassadours of England Scotland Sicilia and Galicia John Cartehusius a Norman in the name of the University had a Sermon on Ps 7. His sorrow shall turn upon his own head c. There he deduceth six conclusions 1. Peter de Luna or Pope Benedict is an obdured Schismatick an Heretick and disturber of the peace and union of the Church 2. He should not be called Pope nor Cardinal nor named with any Title of Honour and who obey him are worthy of the punishment pronounced against the abettors of Hereticks ..... Wherefore the University with one consent do wish that neither the King nor any of the Realm would accept any Bulls from Peter de Luna that the University be commanded to publish the truth throughout the Kingdom that a Bull of Excommunication which was lately brought from him unto the King should be torn as injurious to his Majesty that the Bishop of St. Flora and M. Peter de Corsellis and Sancienus de Leu Dean of St. German in Altisiodore be apprehended and punished because they consulted with Peter de Luna and the University promised to shew weightier things concerning the faith and prove them before competent persons These petitions were all granted to the University Benedict hearing these things fled with four Cardinals into Spain In August all Prelates and Church-men were commanded to publish the Neutrality of the Popes in their several jurisdictions P. Morn in Myster pag. 516 518. And then he sheweth how France stood for the like Neutrality in the time of Pope Alexander the V. 7. At the same time Francis Zabarella a famous Lawyer of Padua wrote de Schismate where he spareth not to aver The followers of the Pope have corrupted the Canon Law with their Glosses nothing is so unlawful but they think it lawful unto them they have exalted the Pope above God himself whence hath flowed a deluge of evils the Pope draweth unto himself all the authority of other Churches and despiseth inferior Prelates unless God provide for the estate of the Catholick Church it is in danger but in a Councel remedy must be provided and the Papal power must be curbed since he is subject unto the Church for that power resideth not in the Pope but in the Church or in a general Councel representing her the Church neither can now nor at any time could transfer that power unto one man but the same remaineth wholly unto her the Church may depose a Pope it is a fond thing that they say commonly The Pope cannot be judged by men since he who is judged by the Church is not judged by men but by God The power of calling Councels belongeth unto the Emperor as is clear by the examples of Constantine Justinian Charls the Great c. The Emperor should be present in the Councel as was in Nice and others when matters of faith are treated in them Laicks if they be worthy and prudent may be present in Councels The Pope cannot hinder the calling of them since through want of them the Church hath fallen into so great mischief and Bishops usurp government as secular Princes Seeing the Emperor is the principal Advocate and defender of the Church he may and should ask account of the Pope's faith so oft as the Pope is suspected and he may proceed against him by Law Peter never had the fulness of power but unto him in the name of the Church the keys were given We are not obliged to obey the Pope but when he requireth just things we should not give unto him such honor as to equalize him unto God nor should adoration be given unto him which Peter refused Acts 10. Whereas it is said The Church cannot er it is not to be understood of the Pope nor of the
Thief and Son of perdition nor is he the Head of the holy militant Church since he is not a member thereof 21. The grace of predestination is the bond wherewith the Church of Christ and every member thereof is united unto Christ the Head insolubly 22. A Pope or Prelate being wicked or praescitus is equivocally a Pastor and truly a Thief and Robber 23. A Pope should not be called most holy no not in respect of his Office for then a King may be called most holy yea an Hang-man may be called holy yea the Divel may be called holy for he is the Officer of God 24. If a Pope live contrary unto Christ although he be chosen lawfully according to the institution of men yet he entereth otherwise then by Christ even although he enter by election prescribed by God for Judas was lawfully chosen by Christ unto the Apostleship and yet he went the wrong way into the sheepfold 25. The condemnation of the forty five Articles of John Wickliff made by the Doctors is unreasonable and unjust and a feigned cause is alledged by them to wit none of them is Catholick 26. Whether one be chosen lawfully or unlawfully we should believe the works of the elected for in so far as he worketh unto the edification of the Church so far hath he authority from God 27. There is no appearance that there should be an head governing the Church in spiritual things who should always remain with the militant Church 28. Christ can rule his Church better without these monstrous heads to wit by his Apostles and true Disciples who are spread through the World 29. The Apostles and faithful Priests of the Lord did diligently rule the Church in things necessary unto salvation before the Office of a Pope was known and so might they until the day of judgement although there were not a Pope 30. None is a Civil Lord none is a Prelate none is a Bishop so long as he is in mortal sin These Articles were condemned partly as notoriously heretical and rejected by the holy Fathers partly as scandalous and offensive unto pious ears partly erroneous and partly as timerarious and seditious Then the condemnatory Sentence of John Huss was read The Deputies of the four Nations and the President the Cardinal of Ostia and the Emperor cried Placet Item This assertion any Tyrant may and should be killed meritoriously by any of his Subjects either by privy plots or glozing flattery notwithstanding any covenant or oath of fidelity and not waiting the sentence of any Judge This assertion was condemned as heretical scandalous and strewing a way unto perjuries lies falshood and treasons In Sess 16. July 11. Commissioners were sent into Arragon to deal with Benedict for renouncing his Title Item None may go from the Councel without licence granted by the Presidents of the four Nations under pain of deprivation In Sess 17. July 15. The Emperour undertook to go into Arragon to deal with Pope Benedict and excommunication was denounced against every hinderer of his journy Item Prayers and Processions should be made in Constance every Sunday for his happy success with pardon for a hundred daies to all such as should be present at the Processions and all Prelates should be present in their Pontificals granting also unto every Priest who should say a Mass for the same success another hundred daies indulgence and to every person saying devoutly a Pater noster and an Ave Maria for the Emperour's safety a pardon of forty daies after the wonted manner in the Church In Sess 18. August 17. Two Judges were deputed to hear causes and grievances that were to be presented unto the Councel untill the definitive Sentence exclusivè Item As great faith and obedience should be given unto the Acts of the Councel as to the Bulls Apostolical In Sess 19. September 23. Jerom of Prague who had been accused imprisoned and constrained to abjure read his recantation forsaking all those articles that were called the heresies of Wickliff and Huss and consenting unto the Roman Church and the present Councel especially in the Articles concerning the power of the Keys Sacraments Orders Offices Censures and Indulgences Reliques Liberty of the Church and all other things belonging unto Religion and he consented unto the condemnations and the Sentences pronounced against Wickliff and Huss Item Notwithstanding any Safe-conduct given or to be given by Emperours Kings or others inquisition may be made against an Heretick or any suspected of heresie and process may be made according to Law even although such a person would not have come without such a Safe-conduct This is indeed Nulla fides servanda haereticis In Sess 20. November 21. Frederick Duke of Austria was summoned under pain of excommunication and forfeiting of all his Lands that he held of the Pope or Emperour to render the Cities Castles and Lands that he had taken from George Bishop of Trent January 20. An. 1416. in a general Congregation appeared the Commissioners who had been sent unto Pope Benedict and they presented twelve Articles penned and consented unto at Narbon December 13. between the Emperour and King of Hungary and the Commissioners of the Councels on the one part and the Kings and Princes following Pope Benedict on the other part for union of the Church to wit That a new Process should be intended against Pope Benedict and in case of contumacy he should be Canonically deposed and a Pope should be chosen by the Councel whom they all should acknowledge as only and lawfull Pope In another general Congregation February 4. these Articles were approved and subscribed by the Fathers of the Councel and by the Embassadors and Proctors of the Kings of England Scotland Cyprus Navar Norway of the Dukes of Burgundy Britain Savoy Austria Holland Zealand c. and by the Proctors of Bishops Generals of Orders Priors c. In Sess 21. May 30. James Bishop of Lauda made a Sermon and Jerom of Prague stood up in a high seat and craving and having obtained audience he professed that he had wickedly consented unto the condemnation of Wickliff and Huss that he had lied in approving that Sentence and he revoketh now and for ever his consent thereunto affirming that he had never found any heresie or error in the books of Wickliff nor Huss although he had said so before c. Wherefore he was presently condemned and indured the fire constantly In Sess 22. October 15. The Ambassadors of Arragon were accepted into the Councel In Sess 23. November 5. Commission was given unto certain Deputies to go into Arragon and there to examine Witnesses in the cause of Pope Benedict who will not renounce In Sess 24. November 28. Citation was directed against Pope Benedict In Sess 25. December 14. The Church Glomucen in Bohemia was given in Commenda unto the Bishop Lutomisten for a certain space In Sess 26. December 24. The order of Ambassadors from Princes in this Councel shall not prejudice their
Edward and Zealous of the Reformed religion Henry would not suffer Gardener to come into his presence in time of his sicknes but called oft for Cranmer to receive spirituall confort Jo. Foxin Acts. Great joy was among the Fathers at Trent and Rome when they heard of his death Pe. Soave But they where disapointed as followes IV. Pope Paul seeing that England had left him and fearing the like departure â— Light persecution continue in Scotland of Scotland creates David beton one which was not entred into the order of priesthood Cardinal S. Stephani de Monâ—e Coelio and sent him as his Legat to prevent defection Strict inquisition was made at his command in the year 1538. many both in Edinburgh and Sant Andrewes for fear did abjure the reformed Religion Notwithstanding his opposition the light of the Trueth spreads in the cloisters and the Friers preach against the ignorance and malice of the Bishops In February 1538. the bishops held a meeting at Edinburgh There two Friers Killore and Beverage two priests Duncan Simson and Thomas Forrest and a gentle man Tho. Forrester were condemned and burnt upon the Castle-hill Thomas Forrest had been Vicar of Dolor and was delated unto the Bishop of Dunkell for preaching every sunday to his parishoners upon the Epistles Gospels of the day the Bishop desireth him to forbear seing that diligence brought him into suspicion of heresy but said he if you can find a good Gospell or a good epistle that makes for the liberty of the holy Church teach that and leave the rest Thomas answereth I have read both the New testament and the old and I never found an ill epistle or an ill gospell in any of them The Bishop replieth I thank God I have lived well these many years and never knew the old nor new I content mee with my Portuise and Pontificall and if you leave not those fantasies you will repent when you can not mende it He answered he thought it his duty to do as he did and had layd his account with any danger that may follow The sommer following Jer. Russell a gray frier and Thomas Kennedy a young man of Aire not above 18 years of age were at Glascow accused of heresy because the Bishop Gawin Dumbar was thought cold in the business Mrs John Lawder And. Oliphant and frier Maltman were sent from Edinburgh to assist him The young man would have saved his life by denying the pointâ— layd to his charge but when he heard Russel's answers he falls upon his knees and saith Wonderfull o Lord is thy love and mercy towards mee a miserable wretch for even now I would have denied thee and thy son the Lord Jesus Christ my only Saviour and so have thrown myself into everlasting condemnation thou by thy own hand hast pulled mee back from the bottom of hell and given mee to feell most heavenly comfort which hath removed the ungodly fear that before oppressed my mind now I defy death do what yee please I praise God I am ready The Frier reasoneth a long time with his accusers and when he heard nothing from them but bitter and menacing speeches he said This is your houre and power of darknes now yee sit as Judges and we stand and wrongfully are condemned but the day comes which will shew our innocency and yee shall see your own blindness to your everlasting confusion go on and fulfill the measure of your iniquity At these words the Bishop was moved and said These rigorous executions hurt the cause of the Church more than wee think of and therefore in may opinion it were better to spare the mens lives and take some other course with them These which were sent to assist said If he will follow any other course than which had been kept at Edinburgh he could not be esteemed a friend of the Church So he consentes to their cruelty All the time the fire was a preparing Rusell comforts the young man and useth such speeches Fear not brother for he is more mighty which is in us than he who is in the world the pain which wee shall suffer is short and light but our joy consolation shall never have an end death can not destroy us for it is destroyed already by him for whose sake wee suffer let us strive to enter by the same straite way which our Saviour hath taken before us The hearers were wonderfully moved with these and such words and seeing their constancy Spotswo in the Histo Lib. 2. At that time Geo. Buchanan was imprisoned for his poësie written against the Franciscans but he escaped out of prison The Bishops intend to use the like cruelty in all parts of the realme nevertheless day by day not only the learned but even those of whom such gifts could scarcely have been expected began plainly to paint forth the hypocrisy of friers and ignorance of priests Bishop Beaton becomes sick and commits his charge to his nephew the Cardinal which did succeed him At his first entring to shew his grandure he calleth to Sant Andrews in Maje 1540. eight Earls Lords 5 Bishops In May Anno 1540. 4 Abbots with a great number of Barons Priours Deans and Doctours and sitting in a chaire somewhat above them all because he was a Cardinal he speaks of the danger of the Catholick Church by the increase of hereticks and their boldnesse even in the Kings Court where they finde too great countenance He named Sir John Borthwick commonly called Captain Borthwick and some call him Provest of Lithgow whom he had caused to be summoned for dispersing the English New Testament and books of Jo. Oecolampade Melanthon and Erasmus and for maintaining diverse heresies and the Cardinal craves their assistance in proceeding in justice against him Among other articles these were read 1. The Pope hath no greater authority over Christians then any other Bishop hath 2. Indulgences granted by the Pope are but to deceive poor souls 3. bb priests and other clerks may lawfully marry 4. the heresies commonly called the heresies of England and their new liturgy is commendable and should be embraced c. He appeares not and is condemned for these particulars as an heresiarch and is ordained to be burnt in effigie if he can not be apprehended He sled into England and King Henry imploieth him in a commission to the Protestant Princes in Germany for a confoederation in defense of their common profession Some years preceeding King Henry had sent the Bishop of S. Davids with some English books unto his nephew K. James aiming to induce him unto the like Reformation and in that year he craves a meeting at York to treat of the common good of both kingdoms The King was advised by the Nobility to prepare for that journy and he returnes answer that he will come But the Cardinal and clergy fearing the effects of that Conference set themselves against it they cast the seed of discord among the Counsellers
Somerset that he had changed the lawes of the realme and had secret intelligence with forrein Ambassadours without their knowledge c. And for these causes he was beheaded in the Tower An. 1552. So variance entereth among them and coldness of Religion repossesseth many and some have written that the King was poisoned Certainly for a clearer manifestation of mens hearts the King was visited with long sicknes and died July 6. An. 1553. In time of his sicknes he aduised with his Privie Counsell who should have the government after him for albeit his Father had appointed Mary to succeed yet seing she is of a contrary religion and it is doubted of the lawfulnes of her birth and himself is of lawfull years he accounts it proper unto him to name his heire and the rather that it is to be feared that she will not only subâ—ert religion but the realm shall be thralled to a stranger as Scotland is unto France After deliberation it was decreed to chuse Lady Jane daughter of the Earle of Suffolk and of Mary daughter of King Henry 7. So foure dayes after Edwards death Lady Jane was proclamed Queen by authority of the Counsel Many of the Nobility and people were much displeased not so much for love of Mary as for hatred to the Duke of Northumberland because Lady Jane was married unto his fourth son At this time Mary goeth into Norfolk and Suffolk and promiseth unto them of the Reformation that she shall change nothing in Religion as it was established by her brother They take her part She writes abroad for aid and carryeth her self as Queen The Counsell câ—â—vâ—eâ—ing at London sendeth somâ— forces under the conduct of Northumberland to apprehend her But then the Counsell perceiving the Mary the Popâ—sh Queen overthrows all for a time inclination of the people and hearing that the Reformed of Norfolk and Sâ—â—folk were for her change their Sentence they cause proclaime Mary Queen and keep La. Jane in the Tower When these newes were brought into the Campe all men forsook the Duke but when they receive Letters from the Counsell in name of Queen Mary they take him and bring him to London Then he made open profession of Popery under hope to gaine the Queen's favour and liberty but was beheaded Ja. Thuan lib. 13. ad An. 1553. Cardinal Reginald Pool hearing at Rome that King Edward was dead hasteneth towards England hoping to have the Crown by râ—gâ—t for he had pretensions or by marriage with Mary The Emperour inuites him to come into Germany by his way and entertaines him with great shew of honour untill by his Ambassadour he had finished a Contract of marriage betwixt his son Philip Mary and by the Queens patent he became archbishop of Canterbury Then another world was to be seen processions of joy were in Italy for regaining England uâ—to the Romane Seâ— Pe Soave in Coâ—â— Trud. Gardener Tonstall and other Popish Bishops were aâ—vanceâ— Cranmer Latimer Ridley and other Reformed Bishops were committed to prison and burnt reading and printing of English Bibles and of late bookâ— were discharged the Supremacy of the Pope was ploclaimed the Latine â—asâ—â— was uâ—ed the clause of prayer that God would deliver the kingdom from sedition and tyranny of the â—ishop of Rome was blotted out of the Lâ—taâ—â— the Queen would not suffer her fathers name in publick prayers because he â—ad made apostaâ—y from the Church Ja. Thua lo. cit All temporaries turâ— their clockâ— wicked men reioice good men are oppressed some fiâ—d maâ—y were imprisoned some sterve in prison many hundreds were bâ—rnâ— in a word in no Kings time beeing free from waâ—â—e were so many killed as in the five years reigne of Q. Mary by beheading hanging burning racking and sâ—erving That cruel Bishop Bonner beholding how joyfully the Martyrs suffered said to one of them They call mee bloody Bonner a vengeance on you all I would fain be rid of you but yee have a delight in burning if I might have my will I would sew your moâ—ths put you in sacks and drown you all Gods revenging hand was â—pon these pâ—rsecuters Gardener the archpersecuter being at dinner with the Duke of Norfolk and hearing that Bishop Ridley and Mr. Latimer were burnt at Oxford shewes no litle joy and by and by was so smitten none knowing how that he was carryed from table to a bed where he lay 15. dayes in such intolerable torments that in all that space he could voide neither by urine nor otherwise his tongue hangeth out and so died Do. Morgon who condemâ—ed Ferrare Bishop of S. Davies and vsurped his place was sâ—itten that when he would eat nothing went down but it bursted out again somtime at his moâ—th and somtime at â—is nose Do Dunning the bloody Chanceller at Norwich was taken away suddenly the like befell Bâ—rrie Commissarie of Norfolk c. Mary had her kingdom diminished by losse of Cales which eleven English kings had kept and the countrie was plagued with famine that the subiects were glad to eat ackorns she was never able to put the Crown on her husbands head of all things both he and shee was most desirous to have children but she had none once she was thought to be bigg with child but of what she was delivered it was known to few then Philip left her and she had neither the love of hâ—r subiects nor his company nor could marry another at last she was diseased some called it a tympany others call it melancholy because of her deep and continuall groanes she died November 17. An. 1558. and her cousine the Card. died within sixteen hours after her Jo. Foxe in Acts. Enduring her reigne La. Elisabeth was kept in the Tower Gardener and others sought her death often they accuse her of treason and would have stirred up King Phillip against her but he preserveth her not for any love to her person or religion but for reason of State lest she being taken out of the way and the Queen dying without children the kingdoms of Scotland England and Irland might be annexed unto the Crown of France by means of Mary Qu of Scotland next heire of â—ngland and at that time affianced to the Daulphin of France than which the Spaniard thought no thing could happen more adverse to his affectation of greatnes At first when She was locked up she was much daunted but being comforted afterwards she said The skill of a Pilot is not known but in a tempest and a true Christian appeares best in time of tentation In the year 1558. they condemne her to be beheaded and went to bring her to execution by miraculous providence she was preserved The lieutenant of the Tower will not give them credite and goeth to ask the Queen whether it was her will Mary saith Not and commandeth to set her at liberty And is proclamed Queen On the very day of Marie's death Elisabeth was proclamed Queen and so of a prisoner was acknowledged by
an end of the work and draw up a supplication unto the Queen and Parliament for promoting the Reformation The Prelats hearing of it were highly enraged that any man durst presume to appear in so great a crime and said They would not depart a jote from the decrees of Trent But a little afterwards they made offer to commit the cause to dispute trusting to carry it because they were to be the Judges The Congregation accepts the disputation with two conditions 1. the controversies in debate shall be decided by Scripture 2. such of the brethren who were exiled or condemned might savely bee at the dispute Both these were refused they would admit no other Canon but the canon-law nor would they dispence with any Sentence that they had pronounced Then the priests propound other articles but so unworthy saith Buchan that they are unworthy of an answer to wit if the Congregation would continue in former reverence acknowledge purgatory prayers to Saints and prayers for the dead they shall be permitted to use the common language in prayers and administration of the Sacraments They therefore did entreat the Queen to present their Supplication unto the Parliament publickly She answered I think it not expedient at this time for it will make the Ecclesiasticall persons adverse unto the main business in hand but how soon order shall be taken heerin yee shall know my good mind They were content to give place for a time but withall they thought good to make protestation ere the Parliament were dissolued in this manner IT IS not unknown unto this Honourable Parliament what controversy is A Protestation made in Parliament 1558. lately risen betwixt those that will be called the Prelats and Rulers of the Church and a great number of us the Nobility and Commonaltâ— of the Realme for the true worship of God for the duty of Ministers and the right administration of Christ Jesus his holy sacraments How wee have complained by our supplication unto the Queen Regent that our consciences are burdened with unprofitable ceremonies that wee are compelled to adhere unto idolatry That such as take upon them the ecclesiasticall office discharge no part thereof as becomes true Ministers to do And finally that wee and our brethren are most jujuriously oppressed by their usurped authority And wee suppose it is sufficiently known that wee were of mind to seek redresse of these enormities at this present Parliament But considering that the troubles of the time do not suffer such Reformation as wee do by Gods plain word require wee are enforced to delay that which wee most earnestly desire And yet lest our silence may give occasion unto our adversaries to think that wee repent of our former enterprises wee can not cease to protest for remedy against that most uniust tyranny which heretofore wee have most patiently sustained And so I. wee protest that seing wee can not obtain a just Reformation according to Gods word that it be lawfull unto us to use ourselves in matters of Religion and conscience as wee must answer unto God untill such time our adverfariers be able to prove themselves the true Ministers of Christs Church and to purge themselves of such crimes as wee have already layd unto their charge offering ourselves to prove the same whensoever the Sacred Authority shall please to give us andience II. Wee protest that neither wee nor any other of the godly that list to join with us in the true faith which is grounded upon the inuincible word of God shall in cur any danger of life or lands or any politicall pain for not observing such Acts as heretofore have passed in favours of our adversaries nor for violating such rites as man without Gods commandement or word hath commanded III. Wee protest that if any tumult or uprore shall arise among the members of this realme for the diversity of Religion and if it shall chance that abuses be violently Reformed that the crime thereof be not imputed unto us who now do most humbly seek all to be reformed by Order but rather whatsoever inconvenient shall happen to follow for lack of Order taken it may be imputed unto those that do refuse the same IV. and lastly wee protest that these our requests proceeding from conscience do tend to none other end but to the Reformation of abuses in Religion only Most humbly beseeching the sacred Authority to take us faithfull and obedient subiects into protection against our adversaries and to shew unto us such indifferency in our most just petition as it becometh Gods Lieutenant to do unto those who in his name do call for defense against cruell oppressors and blood-thristy tyrants This Protestation was publickly read and they craved to have it inserted in the common Register but that was denied by the adversaries nevertless the Q. Regent said VVee will remember what is protested and wee shall put good Order after this to all things that now be in controversy With this answere they depart in good hope of her favour and praising God that she was so well enclined But when the Parliament was closed and a generall Peace was concluded betwixt Spain France England and Scotland the Regents countenance was altered against these which were for the Reformation and she said Seing now wee are free from these vexations which most troubled my mind wee will labour to restore the Authority by some notable example unto that reverend esteem which it hath lately lost Then she takes the names of all the Mâ—nisters and caused summon them to compear at Sterlin May 10. 1559 and the Prelates become more insolent And they devised to send the Earle of Argile and L. James Stuart Priour of Santandrews into France with the matrimoniall Diademe But these considering how all the Comissioners were cut off or returned not which were sent unto the solemnization of the marriage and what mightfall out at home in time of their absence delaid to take voiage from time to time VIII In the next Spring the Earle of Glencairn and Sir Hugh Cambell Troubles arise 1559. Shireff of Aire weresent unto the Regent to enquire the reason of that summons and to entreat her not to molest the Ministers unless they could be charged of false doctrine or behaving themselves disorderly The Regent said with vehemency of passion Maugre your hearrs and all that will take part with them these Ministers shall be banished Scotland though they preached al 's soundly as ever S. Paul did The Noble men besought her in a humble manner to think of the promises Shee had made from time to time In greater choler She saith Promises of Princes should be no further strained than it seemes unto them convenient to performe Then said they If this be your resolution to keep no promises unto the subjects wee can not any more acknowledge your authority and will henceforth renounce all obedience unto you and what inconveniences may arise of this you may bethink yourself This answer
suffrages 6. concerning the general Reformation 7. and the communion of both kinds When the Pope and Princes saw that they could not compass their particular designes by this Councel each one began to search other means And first the Pope sent Cardinal Moron unto Ispruc with propositions that the Emperour would not go unto Trent and consent to transfer the Synod unto Bolonia c. And he promised concurrence in effectuating his designes But Ferdinand trusting to obtain his desites in the Councel in respect of his vicinity and partly hoping to prevail with other Princes would not consent and yet refused not absolutly Charles King of France sent one Ambassador to Spain another to Trent a third to Germany and fourth unto the Pope to make proposition of removing the Councel unto Constance or Worms or some other place of Germany because respect must be had unto the Germans England Scotland and a part of France and other Nations who will never accept that of Trent The Legates permitted many Prelats to depart especially them who were for residence and all the Frenches went away excep one or two Benedictines who lived for the time in the Monastry of Trent Charles Cardinal of Lorrain shew unto Ferdinand and his Son King of the Romans that seing the Princes and Prelats had different designes it is impossible the Synod can satisfy all their desires in matters of the Chalice use of the vulgare language marriage of priests and such propounded by his Majesty and the French King the King of Spain nor the Princes of Italy will never consent in the Reformation every Nâ—tâ— one would reform others and himself be untouched and each would have the glory of Reformation and continue in the abuses laying the blame upon the Pope alone Therefore seing the Synod can do no good it is necessary to dissolve it the best way they can Thus the Princes layd aside all hope and they resolve not to oppose the dissolution yet so that they will not make a suddain retrait The Cardinal of Lorrain was the chief Actor in all that followes The Pope hearing how so many Princes and Bishops hearkened unto his words envited him to come unto Acceleration to an end Rome and made liberal promises unto him After the 19 day of May all doctrines were slipped-over lightly with little or no resistance except that the Venetians strove for and obtained a correction of a decree that was framed against the lawfulness of marriage after divorce because their Republick hath the Isles of Cyprus Candy Corfu Zante and Cephalonia where the inhabitants are Greeks and from all antiquity have put away their wife 's for fornication and taken another wife neither were ever condemned for this cause by any Synod Some difficulty was for reformation for the Ambassadors urge the Reformation of the clergy because their corruptions had been the fountain of all the heresies The Vltramontans imputed all the corruptions unto the Roman Court The Courtiers willing to satisfy the Pope and do no prejudice to themselves did consult how to divert that purpose and to this end they propound the Reformation of Princes The Orators give notice of this unto the Princes and in the Synod they say The Fathers were assembled at first for extirpation of heresies and Reformation of the clergy and not for any Secular cause The Legats reply The Reformation of the Church in all her members appertaines unto the Synod And they advertise the Pope Then the Pope hastened to finish more then ever before and of this he wrote unto his Nuâ—tij in Germany Spain and France and spake of it unto the Ambassadors lying at Rome With the Oratours of the Italians he used this conceit he said he would think him more obliged unto them in this particular then if they had aided him with Arms in a great necessity Then he instructeth the Legats that they should aim at the finishing of the Synod and grant whatsoever is necessary thereunto yet admitting so few things prejudicial as is possible all which he referres unto their prudence They did so gaining prelats by private colloquies satisfying Orators with promises according to their several interests and making shew to please all parties by plausible and ambiguous canons These were amassed privatly and the prelats being preoccupied were propounded publickly for consent only But the most prudent did sufficiently understand that there was no purpose to remove nor moderate the former abuses some smal errors of the remote Churches were noted only so that it was verified They strain out gnats and remove not beams Some shewes were made of reforming some greater abuses but with reservation of the Pop's interest Before the Cardinal of Lorrain returned from Rome De Ferriers the French Ambassador according to his instructions protested against their proceeding in Reformation of Princes and so did the Spaniard But Ferdinand was fully persuaded by his Son to give way of finishing the Synod because there is no hope of any quietnes unto Germany by it and it hindereth other courses that may be had at home The Pope was glad of his consent but those protestations vexed him untill the Car. of Lorrain said De Ferriers had done so not by new instruction from the King Charles but an older from the King of Navar and he undertook to procure the Kings consent Then the Pope sent this Cardinall with order to finish albeit with distast of the Spaniard for he knew how to appease him As for Reformation of princes in patronages presentations power over the clergy and subiects .... They should not descend to any particulare but renew the antient canons without anathematism If any difficulty shall arise in other particulars reserve that unto him and he will provide â—ufficiently When he was gone the pope sent a form of finishing the Councel to wit All things that were defined under Paul and Julius should be confirmed and it should be declared that all those were done in this one Councel and in all thing the authority of the Apostolical See should be preserved confirmation of the decrees should be demanded of the pope All the Fathers should subscribe and after them the Ambassadors and leaving in the power of the Legats and the Car. of Lorrain to ad diminish or change according to opportunity All those were done so but this information was kept secret untill the Councel was dismissed XV. In Session 24. November 11. the decrees were read of marriage Precipitation of the decrees and of Reformation Because some opposition was made some canons of marriage were omitted and some of Reformation as if these had been precipited it was appointed to correct them in the congregation and the next Session was appointed to December 9. with power of anticipation November 14. Lorrain in a privat conference with the Legats and some Bishop of every Nation propounded the ending of the Councel they all excep the Spaniards upon the above-named motives do consent Then the matter of
be said on holy and unholy daies and the other belongeth unto the yearly recourses of Easter and other movable feasts and Pope Pius had perfected and published the former and the other had been oft attempted by Pope Pius but could not be effectuat untill Anton. Lilius a Doctor of Medecin brought now unto the Pope a book written by his brother Aloisius wherein is a new Calendary which the Pope had caused to examin and found it to be perfect Therefore the Pope by his authority dischargeth all men from using the old calendare any more Under pain of Gods indignation and of bl Peter and Paul c. This Bull is prefixed unto that Calendare Hence began the difference of Stylo vetere novo or Gregoriano which do differ in this age in ten daies for exemple the elleventh day of January in stylo novo is the first day in the old style and so forth of all other dayes and ther is more uncertain difference in the movable feasts Hence many contentions arose and different opinions for some find faults in both Some said The Pope had no warrant from God to charge men to forsake the old and accept the new Vnder pain of Gods wrath some said the change would make many confusions in civill contracts and negotiatioÌ„s Especially when the Emperour Rodulph at command of the Pope did commend this calendare unto the Princes and Estates of the Empire they of the Reformed Church refused it not that they would disobey Caesar but because of the Popes Bull which they would not acknowledge He died Anno 1585. III. SIXTUS V as if he had a purpose to reform the Romane Church enjoynes residence to Bishops and he ordaines that adulterers shall be beheaded and gave hope in other particulares to reduce the Church into antient purity But he had been Generall of the Franciscanes and Head of the Inquisition in Spain and in the year 1587. he caused renue the Ligasancta or ungodly and bloudy league wherein he and his confoederates did engage themselves to destroy all Protestants VVhereupon the King of Spain by aid of the Pope made that attempt agaâ—nst England Scotland in the year 1588. The Pope did blesse that Navy and God did curse it The Councell of Trent had declared the old Translation of the Bible to be only authenticall and albeit there were many different editions of it yet it was not declared what edition they did approve Before the Councell many had published the old Latine with severall alterations after the Councell the Vniversity of Lovan corrected it by adding many words on the margine whereof some are noted by W. Whitaker de Scriptura controver 1. qu. 2. c. 10 and he calleth that the latest edition of the Bible Then Pope Sixtus taking into consideration that there were abroad above 60 sundry editiones of it each differing from other therefore by advice of his Colledge he causeth compare severall copies and out of them publisheth one which he straitly commandeth to be received as the only true Vulgare Translation and by his bull abolishes all others that did not exactly agree with that Edition ad literam Under pain of his curse He died An. 1590. August 26. IV. URBAN VII was elected Septemb. 15 and died on â—he 27 day of the same month V. GREGORIE XIV was crowned Decemb. 5 and died October 15 in the year 1591. VI. INNOCENTIUS IX Sate two months and died Decemb 29. These were so soon taken away not without suspicion of poison for many were ambitious of the triple mitre VIII CLEMENS VIII Observes many defects and faults in the Edition of the Bible that was authorized by Sixtus V therefore he publisheth another edition with a new declaration whereby he authorizeth his own edition So that now all Papists ly under the curse of the one Pope or the other and are involued into a pitifull necessity either to use no Bible or then to ly under one Popes curse I have seen an edition at Antwerp whereunto is added a catalogue of the differences betwixt these editions of the two Popes to the number of some hundreds the author professes to have collected them for the use of Printers and to discern what books shall afterward be corrupt but he clearly demonstrats the opposition of the two Popes and how they both condemned the canon of TreÌ„t in establishing the edition that was then in use In clemens time Alfonso Count d'Este died without Children and left the Dutchy of Ferraria unto his brothers bastard sonne Caesar a Cardinall but clemens as supreme Lord of the fue would not consent wherefore these two took armes An. 1598 but the Cardinal was fain to yeeld and a peace was concluded that the Pope shall have Ferraria and give the other the lands of Mutina Regium Lepidi c. With the tittle Duke of Mutina About Marsiles great whales troubled the sailers that they durst not go to the sea the Chanons of that City sent unto Clemens and craved that all the whailes may be excommunicated The Pope grants the petition and sendeth unto the Bishop of Marsiles a power to excommunicate the whales but whither the fishes understood of this overture it is not great matter yet they were seen no more In the beginning of the year 1660. Tibris did overflow and did much harm unto the City wherefore the Pope sent Monsorius a priest to say some prayers and cast a hostie into the river but the inundation was not so obedient He keeped the Jubilee the same year and received into the hospitall of Rome 1400. men and women coming to buy indulgences some Cardinals and others of good quality and noble matrones served the strangers but they excommunicate all which will not worship the Beast Among others Pet. Mendoza Master of Malta come to kisse the Popes foot When the year was ended the Pope commanded to shut the golden porte where he had given the Indulgences he said the last Masse of that yeare and layd the first stone at the shutting of the porte and die Concordiae he gave his blessing unto all who sought the grace of the Jubilee many came from that place creeping on their knees Hee sate 13 years CHAP. IJ. Of EMPEROVRS â— MAXIMILIAN II. before his election was thought to be alienated from the See of Rome therefore Cardinal Marcus altemps Pope Pauls nephew was directed to persuade him unto obedience with tender of honor especially of the Empire after his father which else he could not attain He answered His souls savety was dearer unto him than all the world This was called a Lutheran answer Pe Soavâ— in hist Conc. Tride Lib. 5. Again when he was crowned King of the Romanes An. 1563 the Pope demanded that he should swear obedience as other Emperours had done before He answered other Emperours had their own difficulties for which they did swear what the Popes did require but he would consent to nothing in prejudice of his successours and to swear
estates and degrees committed to their charge by God whether they be ecclesiastical or temporal and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and ill doers So far they If it be here obiected that the autority of the Convocation is not a sufficient ground for that which was enacted in Parliament I answer These articles stand confirmed by Royal assent of the Prince for the establishing of whose supremacy the oath was framed and also by a special Act of Parliament in the 13. year of Queen Elisabet ch 12. Seing therefore the makers of the law have full authority to expound the law and they have sufficiently manifested that by Supream Government given unto the Prince they understand that Government only which is exercised with the Civil sword I couclude that nothing can be more plain then this That without all scruple the Kings Majesty may be acknowledged in this sense to be the supream Governor of all his dominions and Countries aswell in all spiritual or ecclesiastical things as temporall And so I have cleared the first main branch of the oath So far In Vsher And because this oath was so understood excluding all forrain power I have not found that any man excep the Papists did object against it And albeit Scotland used not this title in formality of words yet they did ever acknowledge the same power in their Soveraigne as is clear in the Confession of faith which was presented unto the Parliament An. 1567. where in Article 24. it is said We confess and acknowledge that such persons as are placed in authority are to be beloved honored feared and holden in most reverent estimation because they are the Lieutenents of God in whose seats God himself doth sit and judge yea even the Judges and Princes themselves to whom by God is given the sword to the praise and defence of good men and to revenge and punish all malefactors Moreover to Kings Princes Rulers and Magistrats we affirm that chiefly and most principally the conservation and purgation of religion appertaineth so that not only they are appointed for Civil policy but also for mainteinance of true religion and suppressing of idolatry and superstition whatsoever As in David Josaphat Ezechias Josias and others highly commended for their zeal in that case may be espied And therefore we confess and avow that such as resist the Supream power doing that thing which appertaines to his charge do resist Gods ordinance and therefore can not be guiltless c. Next it is remarkable that howbeit the Missal The Servicebook was not pressed was abolished and the Service-book was authorized in England yet the the Ministers were not astricted unto the full prosecution of it from the beginning the one might not be used and the other might be used yet they were not tiedunto it for many were for that Principle of Scotland whereof mention is made before and would have put away all ceremonies that had no warrant from the word of God and they did forsake them Neither did Mathew Parker Archbishop of Canterburry press any of his diocie to use those rites It is true he required them to use the Service book as we find he required John Fox to subscribe the old man produced the new Testament in Greek and said To this I will subscribe But when the subscription of the Canons was required he refused and said I have nothing in the Church but a prebend at Salisbury and much good may it do you if you will take it from mee So he was dismissed and continued in his Ministry till the day of his death And Ed. Grindal succeeding in that See was so far from pressing any unto Conformity as it was then called that he incurred the Queen displeasure for his connivence yea he not only connived but he was a favourer of the Not-conformists and when they began to use prophecying which in Scotland is called The. Exercise he resorted with them and commended them as appeares by that his Letter which he being under restraint wrote and sent unto the Queen in the year 1580. of which I have transcribed a part from Thom. Fuller's Church-Histor Lib. 9. he beginneth thus With most humble A Letter of Grindai in defence of many Ministers and of Prophecying remembrance of bounden duty unto your Majesty It may please the same to be advertised that the speeches which it pleased you to deliver unto mee when I last attended on your Highness concerning the number of preachers and the utter snbuersion of all learned Exercises and conferences amongst the Ministers of the Church allowed by the bishops and Ordinaries have exceedingly dismayd and disconforted mee not so much for that the said speeches sounded very hardly against my own person being but one particular man and not so much to be accounted of but most of all for that the same might tend to the publick harm of Gods Church whereof your Majesty by office ought to be Nutricia and also the heavy burden of your conscience before God if they should be put to execution ....... I thought it my duty by writing to declare some part of my mind unto your Highness beseeching the same with patience to read over this ........ If I should use dissembling silence I should very ill requite so many your Majesties and so great benefits for in so doing both you might fall into perrill towards God and I my self into endless damnation ...... I beseech your Majesty thus to think of mee that I do not conceive any ill opinion of you although I can not assent unto those two Articles then expounded I do with all the rest of your good subjects acknowledge that we have received by your government many and most excellent benefits as amongst others freedom of conscience suppression of Idolatry ...... I am also persuaded that ever in those matters which you seem to urge your meaning and zeal is for the best the like hath hapned to many the best Princes that ever were yet have not refused afterwards to be better informed ...... David hath not evill meaning when he commanded to number the people ...... Yet saith the Scripture his own heart stroke him and God by the Prophet reprehended him ........ And so to come to the present case ..... Surely I can not maruell enough how this strange opinion should once enter into your minde that it should be good for the Church to have few preachers Alas Madam is the Scripture more plain in any thing then that the Gospel of Christ should be plentifully preached and that plenty of laborers should be sent into the Lords harvest which being great and large stands in need not of a few but of many workmen There was appointed to Solomons material temple artificers and laborers besids 3000. overseers and shall we think that a few preachers may suffice to the building of the spiritual temple of Christ ...... I beseech your Majesty to note one thing necessary If the Holy Ghost prescribeth expressly that
entertainment of their Ministers and the â—uperplus thereof if any shall by to bee distribute unto the poore and hospitalls within the burgh as the almes of Minister and elders thereof 1566. The XI Assembly IV. In Marth An. 1566. arose more strife twixt the King and Queen for killing David Rizio her Secretary and Juny 19. she was deliver of a sone Juny 25. the Nationall assembly conveenes in Edinburg by plurality of voices J. Erskine is continued Moderator A supplication was sent unto the Lords of Counsell and Session that no excommunicate person have process before them untill they be reconciled unto the Church especially when excommunication is notorious and objected against them II. Paul Meffan came and openly with great expression of grieff for his adultery craves to be absolved from the sentence of excommunication he is conforted and ordained to declare his repentance in some churches and the next assembly shall decerne III. In respect of the dangers where The later Confession of Helvetia is approved with this Church is assaulted by mighty enemies the Assembly ordaines a publick fast in all the Churches Some mo particulares were handled The Churches of Helvetia Geneva and other Reformed Churches in France and Germany sent unto the Church of Scotland the sum or Confession of faith desiring to know if wee agree in uniformity of Doctrin Wherefore the Superintendents together with many other most qualified Ministers conveen in September at Santandrews and having read the Letters and Confession sent answer that wee agree in all points with these Churches and differ in nothing from them except that wee assent not in keeping festival days seing the Sabbothday only is keeped in Scotland Decemb. 17. Prince James was baptized in Sterlin in time of the solemnity the Queen subscribe a writing for mantenance of the Ministers by assignation of a part of the thirds of Benefices The Nationall assembly conveened Decemb. 25. at Edinburgh John Erskin is continued Moderator 1. The assignation The XII Assembly granted by the Queen is delivered by Alexander called Bishop of of Galloway and at that time Lord of the privy Counsell The answer of the assembly is They having just title to crave their bodily sustentation at the hands of the people which heare the doctrine of salvation from them they are content with what it will please them to give for their sustentation thogh it were but bread and water nor will refuse nor desist from their vocation but to take from others against their will whom they serve not they judge it not their duty nor reasonable And the assembly protests that the acceptation of that assignation shall not prejudge the liberty of the Church to suit the patrimony thereof in time and place convenient Then it was demanded Whither the tiths appertaine properly unto the Church and should only be employd to the sustentation of the Ministers of the poore mantaining of schools repairing of churches and other godly uses at the discretion of the Church Answered affirmativè without contradiction Then it was demanded Whither Ministers may with safe conscience keep silence when the patrimony of the Church is most unjustly taken up and wasted on vain things by these that have no office in the Church and in the mean time the ministry failing for necessity the poor perishing for hunger and churches falling to the ground Answered they should not be silent but earnestly admonish every man of his duty Thirdly Whither the Church men may require all possessors to pay tiths unto the Church only and inhibite all others to intromet therewith Answered After due admonitions used and no obedience following they should use the censure of the Church 2. Albeit the Church wanted not their own troubls yet they were not unmindfull of the affliction of Jacob elswhere and especially their afflicted Brethren in England as witnesseth this Letter sent by this Assembly with Jo. Knox The Superintendents with other Ministers and Commissioners of the Churches of God in the Kingdom of Scotland unto their brethren the Bishops Pastors of Gods Church who have renounced the Roman Antichrist and do professe with them the Lord Jesus Christ in syncerity desire the perpetuall increase of the Holy Spirit By word and writ it is come to our knowledge Reverend Pastors that diverse of our deare Brethren of whom some are the best learned within that realm are deprived from ecclesiasticall function and forbidden to preach and so are hindred by you to promote the kingdom of Jesus Christ because their conscience will not suffer them to take upon them at command of authority such garments as idolaters in time of blindenss have vsed in their idolatry which bruit can not but be dolorous unto our hearts mindefull of that sentence of the Apostle If yee bite and devour one another take heed lest yee be consumed one of another Wee intend not at this time to enter into the ground of that question which wee hear is agitated with greater vehemency by either partie than well lyketh us to be accounted among things tha are simply indefferent But in the bowells of Christ Jesus wee crave that Christian charity may prevail in you wee say the Pastors and leaders of Christ's flock in that realm that yee do not to others what yee would not have others do unto you yee can not be ignorant how tender a thing the conscience of men is all that have knowledge are not alike persuaded your conscience reclaimes not at the wearing of such garments but many thousands both godly learned are otherwise persuaded whose consciences are continually strucken with these sentences What hath Christ to do with Belial what fellowship hathlight with darknes If Surplice cornercape and tippet have been badges of idolaters in the very act of idolatry what hath the preacher of Christian liberty and the rebuker of all superstition to do with these dregs of that Romish beast yea who should not fear either to take in his hands or forehead the print and marke of that odious beast Our brethren that of conscience refuse that unprofitable apparel do neither condem nor molest you that use such vaine triffls If yee shall do the like to them wee doubt not but yee shall please God and confort the hearts of many who are wounded by the extremities used against these godly welbeloved brethren Colour of rhetorick or humane persuasion wee will use none but charitably wee desire you to call that sentence of Peter to minde Feed the flock of God which is committed to your charge caring for it not by constraint but willingly not as if yee were Lords over Gods heritage but that yee may be exempls unto the flock And moreover wee desire you to meditate on that saying of the Apostle Give no offence neither to the Jewes nor Greeks nor to the Church of God In what condition of time yee and wee both travell in the promoting of Christs Kingdom wee suppose yee are not ignorant
two desire to be marryed because they have attestation of two insuspect witnesses which testify that they heard the first mans Captain declare that he was slain in Denmark on such a day of Aprile last Whither may these parties be married In respect they are guilty of adultery and so had sinned before they knew of the mans death they should not be marryed II. A. man being forewarned that he should not marry his uncl's wife was marryed in the Chapell-Royall What order should now be taken with them Their names should be delated unto the Migistrate that they may be punished as incestuous III. Severall persons are divorced for adultery and the offending parties seek marriage Ans All Ministers should be admonished that they marrie none such under pain of deprivation 5. It is ordained that every Superintendent shall cause summon all bishops abbots or whatsoever Benefiâ—â—d persons being of the Church who receive tiths and feed not a flock as their charge and where no Superintendent is that the nearest Superintendent shall send his letter to the Minister next adiacent To summon such persons to compear at the next generall assembly to hear and know the ordinance of the Church in that case By the first particular of this assembly and the Supplication it appears that the Queen would yeeld somewhat to Protestants and Papists for her own ends and The history of Reformat shewes that the arch b. went to Edinburg in January following having the company of 100. horsemen or more intending to take possession according to his late gift but when three or four of the Counsell went to him and told him if he attempt to do it trouble may arise he was persuaded to desist Next from that Letter unto the Bishops of England it appeares what sturre was there at that time as also the same year 5. cal Jul. Beza wrote his eight epistle unto the Bishop of London Against the reinducing of Popish abolished rites it is long but I shall only touch some passages of it I think saith he that men should not desert their churches for such vestures but first I do judge that many things in themselves indifferent are to be reckoned among superstitions or certainly among these things that tend to superstition because of the opinion of worship which can not be eschued Next it is to observed that some things may be suffered for the infirm Not a These rites had bin left off which when they are once removed should not be restored at all because thus were not to trke away weakness but rather to increase it when it is in some measure taken away and as it were to recall it when it is away and therefore I marvell not that some are more nice to restore things than they were before these were removed And further it is a vainthing to pretend infirmity in that Kingdom where the Gospell had been preached and received so many years and confirmed with the blood of so many excellent Martyres for if the Apostle did justly rebuke the Galatians that when they had begun in the Spirit they would return to the flesh how much tather might that be said of you Englishes if when yee have begun in the Spirit yee would fall back not as they unto flesh that is the rites of Moses whereof God was the Author but unto nugas quisquilias the trifles of humane traditions which God forbids And this I will not say that if these do sin which chuse to leave their churches rather than suffer such things to be thrust upon them against their consciences these are far more guilty before God and his Angels who will have flocks deprived of their Pastors and the foundation of horrible dissipation laid in the Churches being deprived of their Pastors rather than see ministers otherwise blameless cloathed in this habite rather than that and hungrie sheep shall have no food if they will not take it with geniculation or bowing of knees Beza speakes there as also in his twelth epistle more largely and of other particulares but all such writing was in vain for some bishops continued in their wilfulness as appeares by an epistle of Zanchius written from Heidlberg Septemb. 10 1571. at the order of that religious Prince Palatine as he writes unto Queen Elisabeth where he saith To bring back these rotten raggs and other rubbish of the Popish Church at this time into the Church what is it els but to give a fair occasion unto the Papists to harden themselves and their followers in their superstitions and truly as it were to push them thereunto let us then hearken what the Prophet said unto Josaphat aiding A chab Dar thou help the wicked and love them which hate the Lord therefore wrath from the Lord shall be upon thee And what other is this but to call back the weak from the studie of pure religion and privily bid them return into Egypt for infirm persons are easily brought back into impiety seing naturally wee are inclined unto superstition c. V. Before I goe fore ward let us mark the speciall providence of God in The admirable providence of God seen in the Reformation of Scotland Reforming the Church of Scotland as hath been declared and that in two particulares I. the Ministers were wrestling in zeal of the Reformation both of Doctrine and manners wrestling I say with pouerty and against wordly power yet not by violence but by cleaâ—ing fast to Gods word by supplications both unto God and to the aduerse power for excepting John Erskin who was an antient Baron all or most part of these Ministers were of no patrimony John Knox had waited on George wishart the Martyre John rowe was a Frier at Rome and was sent An. 1559. as Nuntio into Scotland and when he sawe the differences in the country in steed of agenting the Pope's business he turned preacher John Craig was a Dominican at Bononia where finding the Institutions of John Caluin he embraces the truth in them and one day conferring with an old man in the Monastery he was confirmed by him in the same truth but withall was warned that he make not his mind known because the times were perilous nevertheless he would not dissemble and was as an heretick sent to Rome and after examination was imprisoned and lay there in great misery the space of nine months then giving a clear confession of his faith before the Inquisitors he was condemned to be burnt August 19. The same night Pope Paul IV. dieth and in a tumult of the people all the prisons were broken up and the prisoners set free among others this man escapes and at last comes home Iohn Willock and Christopher Goodman had been preachers in England and in Queen Marie's persecution fled into Scotland Iohn Dury had been a Monk in Dumfernlin and so many others were Monks in severall parts of the Nation So they had no earthly riches nor authority and yet it pleased God by such
these persons at their request 2. If their marriage were slanderons and hurtfull I did well to warn all men of it in time 3. as I had of duty declared unto them the Princes will so did I faithfully teach them by word exemple what God craved of them But on tuysday next I was called before the Counsell and accused that I had passed the bounds of my commission in calling the Queens marriage odious scandalous before the world I answered The bounds of my commission which is the Word of God good lawes naturall reason was able to prove whatsoever I spake yea that their own consciences could not but bear witnes that such a marriage could not but be odious and scandalous to all that shall heare of it if all the circumstances be rightly considered But when I was coming to my probation my Lord put mee to silence and sent mee away Upon wednesday I repeated all things before spoken and exhorted the Brethren not to accuse mee if that marriage proceed but rather themselves who for fear would not appose it but sharpned their tongues against mee because I admonished them of their duty and suffered not the cankred consciences of hypocrites to sliep in rest Protesting at all times to them that it was not my proclaming but rather their silence that gave any lewfulnes unto that marriage for as the proclaming Did take all excuse from them so my privat and publick impugnation did save my conscience sufficiently And so far I proceeded in this marriage as the Church of Edinburgh Earls Lords and Barons that heard will bear witnes Now seing I have been shamefully slandered both in England and Scotland by wrong information false report of them that hated my Ministrie I desire first the judgement of the Church and next the same to be published that all men may understand whither I be worthy of such imputation or not 5. A complaint is given against the Countess of Argile that she being a prosessor of the Euangell and having been admitted to the Lords Table had revolted in giving her assistance presence at the baptizing of the King in a Popish manner This Lady compeares and confesses her fault and submitts herselfe unto the discipline of the Church They ordain her to declare her repentance in the Chappell-Rojal of Sterlin upon a sunday and this to be don at such time as the Superintedent of Lothian shall appoint Providing it be before the next assembly 6. Ministers John Craig David Lindsay and Ge. Buchan or any two of them are ordained to send edicts not only throgh Fife but to the adiacent parts that Ministers and Elders might compear in Couper January 22. with their complaints against the Superintendent of Fife and to try them and to repoâ—t unto the next Assemybl 7. Alexander gordon called b. of Galloway and Commissioner is accused that he hath not visited the Churches these three years or there by that he doth altogether hant the Court and hath procured to be one of the Priuy Counsell and of the Session which can not stand with the office of a Pastor and also hath resigned the Abbey of Inchaffray in fauors of a young child and hath set lands in fue He personally confesseth his fault in al these that they had layd to his charge Upon some considerations the Assembly continueth him untill the next Assembly upon condition of his diligence in his Visitation VII In the Spring the Q. escapes out of Lochlevin and soght to repossess 1568. The XV. Assembly the Governement An Army flocketh unto her and was routed by the Regents Army at Langside May 13. Then she fled into England The Assembly conveenes at Edinb July 1. J. Willock is chosen Moderator Because heertofore all Ministers that would come were admitted to have vote and now the number is increased and Commissioners of Shyres were chosen in the Shiref-Court this Assembly makes an Act of three parts concerning the admission of members 1. That none shall have place to vote but Superintendents Commissioners for visiting Churches Min. and Commiss of Shyres and burghs chosen as followes together with Commissioners of Universities 2. Ministers and Commissioners of Shyres shall be chosen at the Synode of the boundes by the Ministers and gentle men conveening there and the Commissioners of Burghes shall be chosen by the Counsell and church-session of each town 3. None to be received without commission in write and lest this turn to a monopoly and perpetuall election of a few it is prouided that the persons be changen at every Assembly Wee will bear that this act and some other concerning the satisfaction of delinquents were afterwards changed again 2. It was delated that Thomas Bassenden Printer in Edinburgh had printed a booke entituled The fall of the Roman Church naming the King The Supream Head of the Church And he had printed at the end of the Psalm-book a bawdy song He is ordained to call-in all these books that he hath sold and sell no moe untill he change that title and delete the bawdy song And that in time coming he print not without licence of the Supream Magistrate and revising the books appertaining to religion by those that shall be appointed by the Church for that purpose and they appoint Alex. Arbuthnot to revise that book and report his judgement of it 3. It is ordained that Papists refusing to adjoin themselves unto the Church after they have received sufficient admonitions and remaining obstinat shall be declared publickly in all churches requisite to be out of the society of Christs body and excommunicated 4. Seven Articles were sent unto the Regent to wit 1. That the assignations of Ministers stipends are not answered nor are able as they be ordered to pay the half of the stipends and in some places not the fourth part 2. It is thoght unreasonable that Papists which are enemies to Gods Church and the Commonwealth and others who labor not in the Ministry do possesse two parts of the Benefices without any imposition and the Ministers do not possesse the third heerfore they propound humbly that the charges of the Commonwealth may be layd upon the two parts of the Benefices and the third remain free unto the Ministers and the superplus to be allowed for help of Schools the poore So that account thereof be made yearly unto the Counsell 3. where as many Churches are now vaking that he would present qualified persons unto them or suffer the Church to dispose of them and namely the Churches that did appertain to Nunneries 4. To give commmission for reforming the Colledge of Aberdien that corrupt teachers may be removed and qualified persons placed in their rooms 5. That order be taken for suppressing of vice and justice be execute against odious crimes 6. That such as were appointed by the Counsell may conveen with these that were appointed by the Assembly to decide the questions of the jurisdiction of the Church and that time and place
of these propositions not with that addition Physicè probabiliter or the like Under the pain of the censure foresaid XI In Sess 16. His Ma s answers were returned from Sterlin 1. Understanding the first point to be meant of granting the benefit of pacification unto David Chalmers his Master and knowing that man to have been fotfeited only for that common action of his being at the field of Langside for which pardon was granted to so many he thought it no new or strange thing at the request of such as moved him to grant unto him the same benefit which many others had obtained yet no way intending to spare the due punishment of him or any other that may be charged or found guilty of the murder of his dearest Father or that are or shall be adversaries to the religion or impugners thereof against the lawes the execution of which he hath been is and will be willing to further 2. The second head being particularly mean'd of Fintry his M. wisheth the assembly to remember how he hath dealt in that matter and what testimoniall the Church of Edinb gave him nor hath his Majesty hindered the proceedings of the Church against him nor any other but mindeth to hold hand thereunto according to the lawes The third being meant of Wi. Holt an English man escaping out of the castle of Edinburgh his Majesty hath answered the Queen's late Ambassador and it is no strange thing to hear of a mans escaping but what they understand by indirect means of letting him depart his Majesty being specially informed thereof will after due tryall see the offenders punished according to their deservings The fourth head being very Generall his Majesty thinks the assembly will not judge it pertinent unto them to have vote in chusing his servants or to be too curious of the occasions of placing or removing them nor of the intelligence twixt him and other Countries for entertaining Civill peace from which no Princes or Common wealths abstain though being diverse in religion The 5. Head containing a generall complaint upon some specialls appearingly expressed in the matters following his Majesty wisheth the Assembly as they would be specially directly answered so to form their petitions forbearing particular exampls to ground their generall propositions and to remember that since he took the Government in his own person moe good lawes have been made for advancement of the Church and true religion then were before and the defect of the execution hath not been his default The sixth concerning the tack set to Seagy of certain victualls out of the superplus of the thirds which he had before in pension that is no new thing nor any way prohibited he could alswell content him with the pension as he had before free of all paiment of duty the necessary considerations moving to grant it are well enough known to many he is employd in publick service wanting the living whereunto he is provided in title during his father's life and his service is and may be necessary both to his Hi. and the Church For any thing that may be thought omitted in the provision of Ministers serving at the Churches annexed to Abbeys in the late disposition of them that is well supplied by the Act of Parliament The execution whereof is stayed these two years in their own default rather then any other way whill they have been craving their assignations continued as before and as yet have not answered his message sent by his Master of requests unto the Assembly at Santandrews Nevertheless his Ma. made choise of certain Barons and others of good qualification known to be zealous to the furtherance of that good work hoping to have had the assignations formed before the Assembly but being uncertain of the time appointed thereunto this year is doubtfull if they come to Edinburgh But if they come his Maj. shall sent them direction to proceed and also other things most needfull shall be resolved without delay Concerning the giving of church-livings to children and translating them to temporall Lordships his Majesty considereth his own losse and hinderance of his service there-in Whatsoever abuse hath entred before he accepted the government time and the approbations of these provisions by decriets of the Session have brought the matter unto that estate as it can be helped no other way but by the Parliament unto which when it shall be propounded his Majesty shall hold hand to have all possible reformation thereof The default of punishing vices mentioned in the. 9. head and of the provision of the poor and punishing vagabonds can not justly be imputed unto his Ma. who was ever willing to give commission unto such as the Ministers thought meetest to execute the same The. 10. head being generall his Majesty would be glad not only to have it explained but to hear all good advices that shal be offered for reformation of that which may be found amiss and how his lawes may have place and justice administred to the confort common benefit of all his good subjects The 10. head is also very generall as for that one exemple the removing of the Principall of Aberdien to be Minister of Santandrews his Majesty trusteth the assembly will not think that matter the substance being well considered to be either so proper to the Church or so improper unto the Civill estate but that his Hi. and Counsell had good ground and reason to direct his Letters as he did upon the generall respect of the north country wherein none was prejudged seing there was no charge containing power to denounce at the first but rather to do the thing required or compeare and show a cause in the contraty What is said before briefly of a process against Pa. Adamson is cleared by The Historicall Narration that he had a long and filthy sicknes and for curing it he had sought help of a witch and recovering health in some measure he in a preaching before the King declared against the Lords which lately had guarded the King and against the Ministry for which he was warned by the Presbytery of Santandrews and the witch with whom he had consulted and from the Presbyrery the cause was brought before the Synod of Fife In the Assembly the processe was found orderly deduced and he had been warned by the Synod apud acta to compear before the Generall assembly in October for contumacy in not compearing by the assembly he was suspended from the office of the Ministry and it was appointed that farther tryall should be taken of his life and corrupt doctrine But he pretending that he was going to the well of Spae for his health purchased from the K. security that during his absence the church should not proceed against him yet it was his purpose to stay in England and there to seek the advice of the most corrupt sort for the overthrow of disciplin in the Church of Scotland for he thoughr that the surest course to keep his Benefice At
within this realm And seeing we are called before your L. L. to hear and see it found and declared that we have very contemptuously conveened and Assembled ourselves in a generall Assembly at Aberdien the first tuysday of July last and therefore that Assembly to be declared unlawfull as at more length is contained in the summons Wee in confideration of the premisses and other reasons to be given by us have just cause to decline your L. Ls judgement as no way competent in the cause above specified and by these presents simpliciter decline the same seing we are most willing to submit ourselves to the tryall of the generall assembly the only Judges competent By these presents subscribed with our hands October 24. And it was subscribed by all the fourthien They were nevertheless required to answer unto the summons and they did answer for clearing themselves but with protestation of adhering to their declinature In summa they declare that they had done nothing but according to an Act of Parliament in the year 1592. and they offred to disprove the indorsation of the charge and whereas their declinature was taken in ill part they do acknowledge themselves willing to submit unto the judgement of the Counsell in any matter wherein any other subject ought to submit neither is it a new thing to decline their judgement in some cases seing there is extant a declinature subscribed by moe then 300. Ministers and namely by some of these who now are their greatest adversaries And it it usuall unto the subjects in some Civill causes to decline the judgement of the Counsell and to take them unto the judgement of the Lords of the Session or of the Justice generall or even of a Regality They were sent to their severall prisons and Robert Youngson who that day had joyned with them confessing his trouble of conscience for his former oversight was imprisoned in Sterlin After that time they published an Apology wherein they enlarged their answers and the reasons of their declinature whereof a touch followes and in end they say Let it be supposed that it was an offence to hold the Assembly yet it should not be imputed unto them particularly but unto the presbyteries unto whom the Letters of the generall Commissioners were directed and who had ordered them to go and keep the Assembly and afterwards had approved their proceedings Notwithstanding all their allegations John Forbes John Welsh Robert Dury Andrew Duncan Iohn Sharp and Alexander Strachan were brought by the Guard from Blackness to Lithgow to be arraigned January 10. before the Counsell of treason because they had declined the Counsell It was said commonly that the extraordinary discovery of the powder plot at London would have moved the King to desist from troubling Ministers either in England for their not conformity unto the rites or in Scotland for standing to their ratified liberty when all the churches were required to give thanks unto God for that Benefit But the Earle of Dunbar was sent from Court to manage that business Ere the Ministers were brought to the Bar some Counsellers were sent unto them to move them take up their declinature After advice with some other Ministers there present they answered They would take up the declinature if the Counsel would delete the process and decreet standing against them The Lords replied The Counsell could not annull their decreet which was registred Others were sent unto them again to advise them to pass from the declinature pro loco tempore assuring them that the Counsell would pass from all process persute They would not answer without advice of their Brethren who were there about thretty and then they answerd The testimony that was given could not be recalled without prejudice of the Trueth And they craved licence to advice with their own presbyteries upon caution that they shold return into prison This was denied All that number of Ministers accompanied the imprisoned unto the Bar about one a clok There were present in the Counsell the Earles of Montrose Dunfernlin Chancellor Mar Lithgow Dunbar and Lords Glams Elphinston Abercromy Scoon Balmerino Newbotle Tullibairn Blantyre Haliroodhous and Barons Whittingam Pennicook Clerkinton Murdo-Cairny Kilsyth and Master of Elphinston to assist the Justice Deput as Assessors in the cause Sir Thomas Hamilton the Kings Advocat compeared to accuse The Dittay was read importing their treasonable declinature of the Royal authority grounded upon an act of Parliament in the year 1584. I omit the particular aggravations because they may be known by the answers The substance of their defence by their Advocat Thomas Hope afterwards the Kings Advocat and Lord Craig-hall was The declinature is not against either the title nor intention of the law which was made only against such as derogat from the K. royall authority but this declinature left his authority fully The law served only against such as were summoned super inquirendis but these were accused and committed to prison for a deed or action Their declinature was propounded by way of defence and therefore can not be accounted treason The law naming the penalty of treason is odious and therefore should not be enlarged but rather restrained That which is treason in a case expressed may not be extended unto other cases not expressed That law judgeth not such a case to be treason but only forbids such a thing under the pain of treason The act bearing only the incurring of treason the penalty can never be justly inflicted unless the fact be found treasonable by law But no law defineth the declinature of an incompetent Iudge to be treason Neither did these decline the Kings judicatory simply but the Counsels and that only in this and and such causes They were ever and yet are content to be judged by his Majesty and the Generall assembly seing according to God's Word and the lawes of the realm which have distinguished the Civil and Ecclesiasticall jurisdictions the matters of the Church should be judged and cognosced by the Church and it's assemblies which were aswel ratified confirmed by the lawes of the countrey as any other Iudicatory To judge of the lawfuldess or unlawfulness of a gen assembly belongs unto a generall assembly and hath been the practise of our Church even when his Majesty was present as the Assembly at Perth in the year 1596. was controverted notwithstanding his Majesties presence at it and then he was so far from judging the lawfulness of it by himself or his Counsell that in the next generall Assembly at Dundy he did require the question to be decided there as properly pertaining to that Judicatory It hath been lawfull and in continuall practise that his Majesty and Secret Counsell have in sundry causes been declined and the cause drawn to the ordinary and competent Judge as in matters Civill unto the Session in matters criminall unto the Justiciary matters of divorce unto the Comissaries yea the meanest Regalities have power to decline suprem
276 nor in Africa 280. nor in antient Britain 282. nor in Ireland 304. It is questioned whether at the first there were Bishops in Rome 283. The ground and first platform of Prelacy 285. m. their ordination at first 285. e. the rise of their Jurisdiction 286 289. their Election 15. m. 8â— b. The tendency of Episcopacy S. 338. m. a Supâ—lication of Scotland against it 350. another of England against Bishops and their Rites 461 462. Obj May not Bishops be good men Answ S. 459. Obâ— May not a good man take a Bishoprick Ans 460. They got the Power of the Sword in England and used it cruelly 556 Three sorts of Bishops S. 374. m. other three sorts of them S. 390. b. They were cast off in Scotland 402. e. 491. b. The first step of bringing them in agaâ—n S 540. the second step 541. Boniface Bishop of Mentz was opposed in Tyranny and Rites 99 100. The Insurrection of the Bowrs in Germany S 90. Bulgaria becometh Christian 184. Bread and Wine in the Lord's Supper representeth his Body and Blood 92. m 98. e. and both were distributed 29. m. 566. b. 572. m. the mixing of the Wine with Waâ—er was a departing from the Institution 93. m. See the Supper of the Lord. Britain became Christian 283. b C The new Calender S. 282 m. The Greeks had espied an Error in the Calender but because of inconvenients would not change 411. m. Calo Johannes Greek Emperor his Oration before his death 307. False Calumnies aspersed on Professors of Truth 334. e. 350. e. 424. m. 472. e. S. 81. m. S 134. e 206. e. 227. Candles and Torches in Churches 93 m. The Canons that are called Apostolical are not such 266. e. the Canonical hours 251. e. The Canon of the Mass must be read with a low voice 143. m. The beginning of the Canons or Chanons 289 291. The Canonization of Saints 81 e. 328. b The beginning and rise of Cardinals 422. their Colledge hath power over all Men and all Causes 388. m. go in Scarlet 391. m. The Order of Carmelites 416. m Carolstad and Luther fell into variance S. 76. The unjust Censure of two Cardinals revenged by God 360. â— The indifferency of Ceremonies 304. they may be judged variously but not reinduced S. 351. â— Charls the Great his Authority in Rome 80. m. 81. b e sundry Articles of Doctrine which he held 112. Charls the Hard Duke of Burgundy 526. Charls Prince of Spain Martyred S. 156. m. The Church The Church is built on the Rock Christ 89. m. 97. m. 113. b. 131 e. 133. b. it consisteth of the Elect 176 m. 340. b. or of Believers 348. e. S. 25. b. Why called Catholick 97. m. 340. b. 348. e. S. 11. m. In what sense the Church cannot err 529. e. how it is led by the holy Ghost 551. b. It hath certainty from the Faith and not contrary 173. e. S. 20. m. sometimes lurketh 175. b. 210 211 231. e. In her worst times thousands bowed not their hearts unto Baal 541. m. 551. e. 558. b. Church-affairs should be judged in Ecclesia non in palatio nec ex authoritate humana S. 336. m. e. The main grounds of corruption in the Church 38. e. 412 b. 421. m. e. Satan sought to undo the Church first by Heathens and then by Heresies Schisms c. 267. b. m. 343. m. S. 16. e. The Discipline decaieth in the Church 105. b. 115. m 334. e The corruption of the Church was seen and bewailed 156 252. m. 266 267 268 324. e. 339. e. 334 m. 343 398 527. e. S. 19. e. 25. m. e. 26. The difference of the Church in several ages 482. e. 485. m. The division of the Christian Churches 22 23 102. m. The division of the East and West Churches 429. 430 483. Church-Men The dissolute lives of Church-men 190 191 210 325. e. 329. e. 330. m. 332. b. 335 342 345 358 359 360. Canons were made strict in favors of Church-men but it had been good these had not been so strict 259 260. The gross ignorance of Church men S. 26. e. 27. b. 29. e. They were exempted from taxations unto Princes 388. Churches for the Houses Churches were dedicated to Saints 15 e. were made places of refuge 16. e. Processions about them 17. b Chaplains 131. e Confession of sin unto men was not judged necessary 133. b. Auricular Confession was established 387. e. and pressed with new circumstances 418. m. and was opposed 499 e Confession of Faith in use about the year 840. 133 134. The Confession of Ausburgh S. 97. e Conrade Bishop of Utrecht his Oraâ—ion against the Pope 267 268. A Contention betwixt the Bishops and Friers 421. another between the Sorbonists and Friers 434. another between the two Arch-Bishops in Scotland for their titles 563. m. one between the Bishop of Mentz and the Abbot of Fulda for precedency 312. e. one between the Sorbonists and R. Stephanus S. 123. one in Scotland between the Noble men and the twenty three Bishops for the place 449. m The word Consecration is dangerous 145. e The Commandments of God imply not mans ability now to obey 28. m. All the commandments of God are turned into two words Give money 497. e Commenda's how begun and abused 560. No Comedy nor other Play should be made of the Sacred Scriptures S. 385. b The consultation of G. Cassander with the occasion and some heads of it S. 286. A rare example of religious Constancy in a Prince S. 108. e Constantinople taken by the Turk 525. b. 554. there the Christians were troubled contrary to their granted liberties S. 311. Councels or Synods General and National At Bracara An. 610. p. 62. in Bojaria 63. at Toledo 63. at Altiâ—idior 64. at Toledo 64. at Cabilon 64. at Herford in England 65. the sixth general Councel at Constantinople 65. at Toledo 66. at Rome 78. e. under Carloman 104. e. at Clonesho in England 105. at Constantinople about Images 105. another there 106. at Nice 106. at Frankford 106. e. at Paris 107. at Rome for Reformation 1. 8. b at Constantinople 123 124. at Carisiac 158 165. e. at Bonoil 166. at Saponaria 166 e. at Celicyth in England 185. at Mentz 188. at Worms 189. at Rhems 190. at Cabilon 190. at Aken 190. at Melda 191. at Rome 191. at Valentia 191. at Macra 193. a great Synod at Rome 198. c. at Worms 235 236. at Brixia against the Popes 238 as also at Rome 239. at Garstung and at Mentz both against the Popes 267 268. at Papia against the Popes 327. at Rhems for Reformation 345 at Lateran under Innocentius the III. 386. at Lions 391. at Pisa against the Popes 507. at Pisa called A General Councel 564. at Rome this was dissolved by an Owl 564. at Constance 565. at Papia and Sena 571. at Basile 571. at Ferraria and Florence 576. at Towrs against the Pope and another at Lions S 2. at Pisa against the Pope
S. 32. at Lateran 33. at Trent S. 243. seqq a dispute at Rome concerning the confirmation of the Decrees of Trent 276. and how they were questioned by the Nations 278. sixty and five National Synods in Scotland after the Reformation which are set down according to the order of years Councels did consist of Bishops and Presbyters 542. m. One Councel hath been corrected by another 542. A Councel condemneth another although confirmed by a Pope 128. e 578. e. the Councel at Pisa depriveth two Popes and chuseth a third 564. the Councel at Constance depriveth three Popes and chuserh a fourth A Councel is not the universal Church and may err 497. b A Councel is above a Pope 509. m. 513. e. 542. b. e. 544. b. 548. m. 556. e. 573. b. 575. b. 579. m. S. 17 b. the Church of Rome loveth not Councels for fear of Reformation 540. The Culdei in Scotland 186. how born down 281 282. The order of Crucigeri 416. Custom contrary unto truth should be abolished 29 b. 366. e. 470. m. D The Danes become Christians 224. they were reformed S. 69. e Why God suffereth his Church to come into extremity of danger S. 214. m The three Daughters of Richard King of England pride covetousness and letchery how bestowed 383. David Black a Minister's process before the Privy Council of Scotland S. 520 524. David Straton a Martyr's trial S. 172. m The name of Deacon remaineth in England but not the Office S 404. The Decretals were ordained to be burnt by one Pope but confirmed again 454. The causes of Defection of Piety in a Nation S. 556. The Devotion of antient times 61 62. Dictatus Papae Gregorii VII 249. The use of Church-Discipline S. 464 465. The Presbyterian Discipline was opposed by what sort in Geneva S. 129. the Discipline Presbyterian is better then Episcopacy S. 492. â—â—pecially it is more effectual against Heresie and Schism 493. The second Book of Discipline in Scotland was oâ—t debated S. 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 399 406. again approved and ordained to be subscribed 483. m. 485. e. the Act of Parliament ratifying it S. 489 490. The Popes Dispensations in degrees of Marriage was scandalous 74 e Dominicus the first Author of Dominicans 412. their priviledges 413. e. their first Rules were soon forsâ—ken 414. m. e. they first brought Aristotle into Christian Schools 416. e. they have little or no truth 439. m. the Dominicans Franciscans and other Friers were brought into Scotland 446. m. The Donation of Constantine unto Pope Silvester is forged 93. e. 208 b. 473. m. 475. m. 541. m. 543. b. A publick Disputation in cause of Religion An. 1521. at Basile S. 74. another An. 1528. at Bern. 94 95. another at Fountainbleau S. 134. another betwixt a Papist and a Turk S. 151. Dunstan Bishop of Canterbury his wickedness and cruelty 227 228. Durand's overtures of Reformation 470. E Easter 17. m. 58. m. Eberhard Bishop of Salzburgh his Oration against the Pope 431. Edmond King of England martyred by the Danes 184. e Edmond Bishop of Canterbury sheweth the corruption of the Church 381. e Edward the I. King of England restraineth the wealth of Bishops and Monks 450. The form of Christian Religion in Egypt about the year 1560 S. 322. The Elect cannot be deceived nor perish 28. e. 175. m. 176 e. 274. m. 546 e. they are chosen to believe and not because they believe 98. b. 174 b The manner of Electing the Bishop of Rome was often changed 13 m. 17 m. 19 e. 21. m. e. 80 e. 117 e. 118. b e. 122 b. 129 b. 200 e. by a whore 205. e. 206. b. e. 242. m. 243. m. e. 245 e. restrained to the election of Cardinals 246 m. 318. b 456. b. 459. m. 461. m. 508. b. 566. m. 569. e. S. 281. m. Elfrik's Sermon concerning the presence of Christ's Body in the Supper 228. Elipant Bishop of Toledo's Errors 102 103 107. Elizabeth Queen of England was imprisoned by her Sister strangely preserved from death and crowned S. 188. The Roman Empire decayeth 5. e. 6. e. 8. b. 68. m. 70 m. 71 710. It is transferred into France 109 111. and then into Germany 196. the Election of the Emperor 202 209. the Emperor is constrained to submit unto the Pâ—pe 236. even to hold his stirrop and lead his horse 310. b. the greatest hurt of the Empire 467. England was converted to Christianity 55. when it was first so named 104. m. was conquered by the Danes 273. and then by the No mans 274. began the Reformation S. 185. the title of England unto France 495 558. e The English Service Book was not written to be pressed on men S. 333. m. The Epistles of the old Bishops of Rome are forged 93. e Equivocation is maintained by the Jesuits S. 325. The sum of Erasmus his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 S. 27 29. The wicked Book of the Friers the Eternal Gospel 434 435. Excommunicated persons should be punished civily 194. e. An example of absolution from Excommunication S. 503 505. The use of Exercise unto Ministers S. 335. F Faith is the gift of God 214. b. 216. b. m. it is a certain knowledge and not a conjecture 341. b. it is not grounded on natural reason 361. b. neither Pope nor Councel can make an Article of Faith but at most may press obedience unto God's word 546 m. the relation between Faith and good Works 214. b. true Believers cannot perish 214. m Christ appointed not a Feast-day 547. The abuses of Feast daies 359. b. 541. b. The beginning of Feasts to wit of the Rood or holy Cross 6. All-hallow day 16 118. m. the Purification of Mary 205. b. All Souls 242. of John Baptist and S. Laurence 243. of Thomas Becket 337. m. Octava festivitatis Mariae 390. of the Cross of Corp. Christâ— 392 m. 454. of Christ's transfiguration 513. b. of the Conception of Mary 516. b. of the Visitation of Mary 578. m. All Festivals or Feast daies forbidden in Scotland S. 386. b The first Duke of Florence S. 3. b How the Kingdom of France came into the hands of King Pipin 86 87. In France was a beginning of Reformation S. 89 90. A Letter of Catharine Queen Regent of France unto the Pope concerning Religion S. 143 144. Liberty of Religion was granted in France S. 140. e. 141. e. 304 b. troubles in France for Religion under King Charls 9. S. 299. and under Henry the III. S. 303 m Francis Assisias the Father of Franciscans 413. Francis Ximenius the publisher of Biblia Complutensia S. 26. m The Fray in Edinburgh December 17. in the year 1596. S. 526. Flanders became Christian 51. Friseland became Christian 61. m East Friseland began Reformation S. 70. m The Doctrine of the preaching Friers 491. m Ferchard the II. King of Scotland was brought to repentance 60. m G The Popish Gades began 271. The first Glass in Britain
b The Order of Knights among the Clergy began in England 273. e Three Orders of Religious Knights at Jerusalem 37. e Knowledge even of the Scriptures without obedience makes guilty 501. e L The Latin language was first authorized in Churches 19. b The first Latine Mâ—â—s in Constantinople 19 e The Latine Translation of the Bible is not authentical 49 it was corrected by Alcuin 3. e. by Erasmus S. 23. m again by Pope Sixtus V. S. 283. and again by Pope Clemenâ— VIII S. 283 e God's Lâ—w or Writings are unchangeable by men 336 e The reconciliation of the Lantsgrave with Charls the V. S 122. Divine Service was in the vulgar Language 142 143 154 187. Laws concerning Church-men 186 e. 188 190 194. 19â— 292. The League between France and Scotland 99. Several Lawyers testifie against Princes for giving civil power unto Prelates 528 b The Laying-on of hands by the Bishops S. 471 472. Leonard Caesar was burâ—t and why S. 94. m Legati à latere how they began and usurped 272. they were more desirous of gold than of doing good to souls 324 m A Letter of Sir Francis Knols concerning Bishop S. 471 472. A Letter of the Assembly of Scotland unto the English Bishops concerning the prâ—ssing of Rites S. 348 349. A Letter of Andrew Melvin unto Beza concerning the Church of Scotland in the year 1579. S. 401. another of his to the some purpose S. 444. A Letter of the L. James Stuart unto Francis King of France S 209. A Letter of Richard the II. King of England remarkable by Kings 460. e The Author of Lent is unknown 93 m. it is urged upon men 265 266. The Battel of Lepanto S. 285. m Liber Concordiae how contrived and carried S. 308. Life eternal is not by debt or merit but only of grace 175. m Litargies were manifold in England 61. m. and in Italy 91 Livonia became Christian 374. e Lituania became Christian 486. Luithpert Bishop of Mentz complains of the Doctrine corrupt at Rome 566. The causes of variance amongst the Lutherans S. 305. M The Offices of Magistrates and Ministers are distinct S 297. m. 298. e. 331 332. Marriage was forbidden within known degrees of kinred 189. e. and then restrained â—o seven degrees 278. The Marriage of Priests 19. b 26. e. 51. b. 64. e. 65. m. 66. b. 154. e. 261 262 265 329 b. 340. m. liberty thereof was sought by the Emperour and Duke of Bavier S. 278. e. 279. Mahumet's beginning and religion 53. The Manichees 278. The blood of Marâ—yrs is the seed of the Church S. 169. e. 170. 191. e Martin Luther the occasion of his first contradicting the present courses S. 56. his first assault against the manner of selling Indulgences S. 57. a remarkable discourse between him and a Legate Vergerius S. 103 104. a Popish tale of his death 120. e. he forbad that any should be called Lutherans 121. m. the manner of his death 122. The Virgin Mary was not free of sin 212 e how the worshipping of her began and increased 345 347. The Fraternity of â—he Virgin Mary began S. 282. b Mary Queen of Scotland her reasons for her Religion S. 343. they were answered by the Assembly 344. The Mass The Mass was made by Pope Gregory the I. 12. and opposed 91. it hath been oft changed 136 m. 145. e. trouble for receiving it 91. b the original and signification of the word 140. b. 145. b. the catalogue of them who give is rehearsed in the Mass 144. b. the Letany 141. e. and other Rites are marked in the pages following The breaking of the Bread is turned into a new Mystery 147. b. the manner of receiving is changed 148 m. the uses of receiving at the Mass 148. m. the Canon of the Mass confutes the Doctrine of a Sacrifice 151. and of Transubstantiation 152. and of denying the Cup 153 and also the opinion of Merit 153. m. an impious trick devised lately in the Mass 154. b Some Meats forbidden by the Pope 75. m There is but one Mediator 101 e The Merit of works is rejected 27. m. 101. e. 133. b 183. b m. 211 m. 337. e. 338. b. 340. b. 369. m. 478. e. 479. b. S. 16. Meritum or Mereri what it signifieth 27. m. 153. m. 331. m. 371. m. S. 291. m Michael the Greek Emperour would submit unto the Pope but the people would not 409 411. Many Ministers or Preachers are necessary S. â—34 m The causes of depriving Ministers S. 419. e. corruptions in the Ministry S. 462. Pleaâ— among Ministers how to be composed S. 426. m Miracles are not to be sought when the Gospel is established 95. e. 215. e. 487. e Late Miracles how they have been wrought 112. m The Miracles of Christ's child-hood are forged 213. m Monkâ— 47 49. they are described to be Monsters 528 b. they got liberty to hear Confessions c 295. m. more Orders of them were forbidden 387 e. their pernicious diversity should be reformed 541. b. their Revenues in England 557. m. their Jugleries S. 7 b 102. m e Monothelites 7. e. 65. m A Conference at Moupelgart between the Reformed S. 311. N In Navar Reformation was proclaimed and again it was forbidden S. 301. e In the Netherlands some light of the Gospel before the Reformation 550. S. 156 157. the Reformation began there 159. they were persecuted S. 72. m. they are more persecuted and indeavour their liberty S. 292. their first Synods S. 293. m. 295. e. their first union which continueth S. 295. m Some Doctrines of Nicolaus de Lyra 486 488. Nicolaus Tribunus Romae attempted to command the Pope and the Emperor 438. m Norway becomes Christian 269. 374. O The Oath of Fidelity unto the King 64. A Coronation Oath 274. The Oath of Fidelity unto the Pope 73. m. another 251. m S. 50 51. The Pope craves an Oath of Fidelity of William the Conqueror who refused to take it 275. The Oath ex Officio made and also condemned 556 b The prayer Offertorium in the Mass 144. b Offices of State were forbidden in England to be bestowed on the Clergy 501. b The Bishop's Official is described 382. The first Organs in Christian Churches 19. b None is without Original sin but Christ 17 338. m A Parliament at Orleans for Religion S. 141 142. P The Pall or Metropolitan Bishop's Coat 12 e. 20. m Patrick Adamson Bishop of Santand was excommunicated by the Synod of Fife and upon considerations was absolved by the National Assembly S. 450 451. again he was excommunicated 480. and before his death sought absolution 481. Patrick Graham the first Arch Bishop in Scotland that title he got from the Pope 562. Patrick Hamilton Martyr the Articles laid to his charge S. 169. The Temple Pantheon in Rome is dedicated to all Saints 15. Patriarks are multiplied 53. the correspondence of the three first Patriarks 363. m Paul was equal unto Peter 415 e A brief narration of
the year 1541. S. 101 102. and again An. 1545. S. 116 m. 117 e Christ's Redemption is of the Elect 97. m The reasonableness of Redemption by Christ 294 295 348. b. 361 362. A Reformation of the Church was intended 223. b. 345. b. 359. m. 471. m. 501. m. 550. b. 553. m. 565. m. it was propounded 454. e. 470. m. 547. e. and it was pretended to be one of the causes in assembling the Councel at Constance 565. m. and at Basile 571. m. and at Trent S. 243. m. 245 b. many thousands were desirous of a Reformation 541 574. it was attempted in Scotland but stopped by all the Bishops except one 559. m. it was foretold 426. m. 474. m. 477. m. 479. m. 480. e. 530. b. 552. b. e. 553. m. S. 7. e. 8. m. 17. b. e. it was promised by Pope Adrian S. 37. e. by Pope Paul the III. S. 43. b. God made preparations unto the Reformation 527. m. S. 26. m. 31. b. 35. e. Reformation should be made according to the word of God 470. m The talking of Reformation was odious at Rome 541. m. S. 7. b 277. m. heads of Reformation propounded at Rome S. 44. m. the occasion of the Reformation S. 55. m. the progress of Reformation S. 64. m. 69. e. 70. b. m. 72. m. 77. e. 78. 81 e 89. e. 92. m. 94. m. 114. m. c. The cause of the difference in Reformation between England and Scotland S. 328 329. False calumnies raised against the Reformed S. 134. Religion seldom ariseth from Princes S. 228 330. b The distinction between Regulars and Seculars 227. e. 290. e. a contention between them and how it was ended 227 228. Reliques are superstitious 18 42 45 69. e Reprobation 260. m. 370. b Richard Armacanus opposeth the Friers 496. The Righteousness of man is imperfect 276 337 e The multitude of Rites was opposed 381. e Men should not be tied to follow any Church in Rites 25. e. S. 92. e Responsorium of the Mass 143. e Robert Bruce King of Scotland 493. his three advises before his death 495. m Troubles in Riga for the new Calender S. 311. A Letter of the Emperor Rodolph the II. shewing the condition of many Nations in Europe at that time S. 320. The Roman Church receiveth Paganism by degrees 15. e. 39. e. 42. b. 43 b. 46. m. e. 73. b. 75. b. 79. e. 81. e. 141. m. 142. m. 146. b. 347. m. her corruption is lamented 24. 25. b. 156. b. 231. b. 485. m. S. 20 21 29. e. 287. b. the Roman Church receiveth temporal Lands 22. b. 70 71. b. e the Roman Church is not the Mother of all Churches 55 84 85. nor head of other Churches 503 she hath departed from the primitive Church 212. m. 231. b. 367. e. 470. e. she becometh worse and worse 529. e. 485. m. 547. e. the Roman Church is called Babylon 330. e. 355. m. 358. e. 423. e. 426. m. 548. m. S. 2. e. 30. e The Bishop of Rome should not be called the Prince of Priests nor universal Bishop 363. m. 367. e. The Roman Church hath her Authority from Councels 437. e. 476 e. in Rome truth is the greatest crime 477. b. her estate is described in a Vision 481. e. and again 482. m. 544. e The Romans aim at their Civil Liberty 318. b. 319. m. 328. e. The first Holy Rose 459. b Russia becomes Christian 224. S How the solemn keeping of the Sabbath was revived in England S. 529. Many do speak but of two Sacraments 133. m. 331. e. 335. b How the Papists prove the number of seven Sacraments S. 256. m The Councel of Trent was afraid to define a Sacrament S. 256. m Many Sacraments were not of God 495. e. 547. e A Sacrament is not a Sacrifice 136. e. yet were so called for certain reasons 137 b. 272. e. the beginning and progress of the opinion of a Sacrifice in the Mass 137 139. None can offer Christ in a Sacrifice but he himself 217. m Our Sacrifice is but one and was once offered 217. e. 294. m. 349. e. the Papists profess to offer a Sacrifice but with some difference S. 221. The Saints hear not Prayers 344. b Salvation is of God only 215. b. 223. b The Saracens spoil Italy 11. b. 115. b. m. 116. m. 117. m. 119 m. 197. m. 202. m. Scanderbeg King of Epirus 524. The black Saturday S. 543. The Schism between the Greeks and the Latines 11. m. 129. b 259. The School-men their first age 416. e. their second age 417. b. the opposition among them 419 420. their third age 488. they despised the Scriptures and cried up Aristotle 488. Scotland became Christian 55. the Scots conquer the Pichts 185. the change of a circumstance in the Succession of their Kings was the occasion of much bloodshed 226 227 274. an Oration for the liberty of the Church of Scotland 378. the Scots despise a summons sent unto them by the Pope's Legate 449. m. after the death of King Alexander the III. was much trouble for the right of the Crown 450 452. the King forbiddeth to seek a Benefice from the Pope 560 561. how the Reformation began in Scotland S. 169 173 179. the first publick step of Reformation 182. another step 184. a third step of it 192. a protestation made in the Parliament in the year 1558. 194. a Supplication of the Nobility unto the Queen Regent 196. their Letter unto their Adversaries and Neutrals 198. another unto the Prelates 201. a parley between the parties 201. the conditions were broken by the Popish party 204. a Sentence of deposition denounced against the Queen Regent but not executed 210. she dieth repenting of her violence 217. the Religion is established by Parliament 219. the first Assembly of the Church 222. Queen Mary returning ratifieth the Religion by Act of Councel 224. two remarkable points concernin the providence of God in the Reformation of Scotland S. 352 353. the Office of a Superintendent in Scotland S. 218. m the power of Provincial Synods in Scotland S. 454. m. Presbyteries or Classical meetings ordained there S. 400 m. and more fully designed 407 e. 410. m. 413. m. Rules for ordering them 424. e. 448. e. the power of Presbyteries 454 e. the Order and Model of Synods S. 566 Rules for Visitation of Ministers S. 562. and of Congregations S. 562. and of Presbyteries S. 563. The Holy Scriptures The Scripture is God's Letter to be read of all men and the Book of Life 26. e. 104. b. 222 e. 253. m. 332. b. 487. b. 501. e. it is perfect containing all things necessary 27. e. 88. m. 95. e. 132. b. e 173. b. 335 e 435. e. it answereth unto every mans doubts 28. b. it should be read publickly for edification of the people 64. b. these Books were written from God 96. b. 214. b. 332. m. 333. e. 501. e. S. 22. m. the Writers of them could not err in