came from France with Lewis fell sick and being moved in conscience called unto him some of the English Lords and said unto them I lament your wretched case and from my heart I do pity the desolation come upon your Country the dangerous snares which are laid for your confusion are hid from your eyes but take heed in time Prince Lewis hath sworn a great oath and sixteen of his Nobles of whom I was one that if he obtain the Crown of England he will banish them all which are now against their native King and are Traitors to his noble Person And that ye take not this for a fable I assure you upon my faith being in this condition as ye now see at the mercy of God I have great conscience hereof and I pity your estate and so give you this warning your King hath for a season kept you under but if Lewis shall prevail he will put you from all of two extream evils chuse the least and keep it secret what I have told you Shortly thereafter he departed this life When this was once noised among the Barons they were in great heaviness for they saw themselves betrapped every way on the one side was the Pope's curse and also Lewis dealing to the French all that he purchased either Territories or Castles yea and they heard him say They were all Traitors Then they agree to submit themselves unto King John they were easily pardoned And John recovered Rochester Castle and City London York Lincoln and prevailed in many hazardous adventures against Lewis and Alexander The same year John did lodge two days in the Abbey not far from Lincoln and there died Some say he was poisoned by a Cistertian Monk Matth. Parisien saith he died of an Ague through sorrow and surfeit Rog. Hoveden and 1. Fox in Act. Monim give him this testimony He was indeed a valorous Prince and unfortunate like Marius having experience of both fortunes nor loved he the Mass Then many of the Lords swear obedience unto Lewis But William Earl of Pembroke Marshal of England a grave and wise Counsellor did quietly and friendly call together sundry of the Earls and Barons and set before them Henry the eldest Son of King John being them nine years old and perswaded them to embrace him for their King and he was crowned by Wallo at Glocester with consent of them which had followed his Father and Wallow acccursed them all which did follow Lewis Nevertheless Lewis did more and more harm in the Land until the above named William went against him with an Army and then he fled into London and sent unto his Father for help an hundred Ships were prepared in France but Richard a bastard Brother of King John having onely eighteen Ships for keeping the Cinque-Ports set upon them and by providence fifteen of them escaped not unsunk or taken Then the Ambassades of Lewis writ from Rome unto him If he left not England the Pope would renew the sentence of excommunication against him likewise many of the Nobles forsook him Then he sought a treaty with the King and at last it was concluded that a 1000 l. should be given unto Lewis to depart and should never return So he was honourably convoyed unto the Sea And reconciliation was made betwixt Henry and Alexander with consent of the Legate Then Wallo began his harvest the Kings had dealt for themselves and their Armies and the Legate could wring nothing from them but he calleth the Clergy to account Hugh Bishop of Lincoln paid 1000. marks unto the Pope and as much unto the Legate c. He summoned the Scotch Bishops and Abbots to Anwick some opened their purses and were absolved and the most stubborn as he called them were sent to Rome With the inferior Church-men he took another course he sent for the Prior of Duresm and Westbeck the Arch-Deacon to go into Scotland and call before them the Priests and Canons into every principal Town of the bounds and there partly upon their confessions and partly by wearisome protractions from day to day great sums were squeezed from them They who went to Rome had purchased Letters from the Bishops and Abbots of England against Wallo and accused him before Pope Honorius of avarice and other crimes Wherefore the Pope took from him a part of the prey and the accusers were absolved and sent home with empty purses But the Pope being not yet contented sent Cardinal Aegidius to exact other sums for absolving them from their vow of going into Palestina When Aegidius returned he said he was robbed by the way therefore another Legate was sent to gather as much The King convened his Nobles and Prelates and all in one voice did send and forbid the Legate to come into the Realm G. Buchan Hist lib. 7. Also England groaned under these burthens and sent their grievances unto the Councel at Lions Regrating 1. That the Pope was not content with Peter-pence but extorted from them great sums of money without consent of the King and against all precedent examples 2. Patrons cannot present unto Benefices which are given to Romans ignorant of the language to the great prejudice of souls and spoiling of the Realm 3. Of the frequent recourse of the Pope's Legates by whom faith and fidelity the ancient Customs of the Nation the Authority of the Statutes Laws and Priviledges are abrogated But the Pope's purse had no ears to hear such complaints and anon he sent for more money wherefore a Proclamation was made in name of King Henry the III. that no man should consent to any exaction of money unto the Court of Rome The Pope in a rage directed instantly his Letters unto the Bishop of Worcester charging all England under pain of his curse to obey his Legate before such a day and that Bishop to be executioner of his curse Fear of the curse prevailed against the former Proclamation But the Pope was not yet satisfied he was not ashamed to crave first the tenth then the fifth part and lastly the third part of all Church-revenues within England besides other extraordinary occasions and the yearly revenue of the Pope in England was 60000. marks sterling Whereupon the King sent his Messengers again unto Rome and the Nobles did by writing complain of the scandals arising from the avarice of the Court and spread their complaint through the Christian world professing that they would not suffer the Country to be so rudely abused although the King would wink at it and unless these things said they unto the Pope be speedily redressed by you let your Holiness know for certainty that it may not without cause be feared that such danger is like to ensue both to the Church of Rome and unto our King that no remedy will easily be found for it At that time John a Cardinal and an English man did entreat his Holiness for God's cause to bridle with some temperance the passion of his minde which is here said he
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
playes of robinhood murderers which overflow the Land Item that the Ministers already planted may be provided with sufficient livings Item the Act of annexation to be dissolved the new erections and patronages may be discharged the Act of dissolution of prelacies and Benefices consisting of moe churches to be ratified established The Act of February An. 1587. the exception of Juny 8. being added may have place That small Benefices that are disponed to Ministers may be free of taxation c. XII The next Assembly is appointed to conveen at Aberdien August 17. in the year 1592. but if a Parliament shall be called the brethren being advertised by the presbytery of Edinburgh shall conveen two dayes before in the Town where the Parliament shall be called The contest between the Assembly and the Session is recorded by B. Spotswood to have begun thus John Graham of Halyairds within the parish of Kirklistoun being then L Justice and one of the Colledge of Justice had intended an Action of removing against some fuars and to bear out his plea suborned Ro. Ramsay a Notary in Sterlin to give him an instrument that made for his purpose The defendents offer to disprove the instrument and in the mean time upon a Warrant obtained from his Ma. they apprehend the Notary who confessed that the instrument which he had subscribed was brought to him by William Graham brother to the foresaid John and that he knew nothing of the business and being pursued criminally was upon his confession condemned of falshood and execute to death The pursuer as he was a man bold and impudent to maintain the truth of the instrument did intend Action against Patrick Simson who had dealt with Ro. Ramsay to confesse the truth of that instrument alledging that he Simson had seduced the man and made him deny the instrument The Minister regrates his case unto the Assembly there upon John Graham is summoned to answer for the scandall raised against the Minister He compeares and answereth thaâ— he would prove what he had alledged before the Iudge competent The Assembly replieth He must qualify it befnre them or they would censure him as a slanderer Hereupon followed the contest The issue was the Lords esteeming this an encroaching upon their priviledges and that upon such grounds all actions that touched any Minister might be drawn from their Iudicatory do resolve to send a prohibition unto the Assembly and discharge their proceeding but by the mediation of some well disposed persons that loved not to have questions of Jurisdiction moved the business was setled and both actions ordained to cease But the instrument was sustained by the Lords and judged to make faith which in end turned to the pursuers undoing So far he XXIX The King was diligent to remove the broils of the Nobles by calling them before the Counsell and causing them submit their quarells and partly by making strict lawes against the troublers of the common peace but it was long work and new troubles wereay breaking out as in the end of the year the Earle of Bothwell and some others envying the credite of the Chancelor made a conspiracy and sturre in the Kings palace and on February 7. year 1592. the Earle of Huntly killed the Earle of Murray in Dunibrissell and the Papist Lords were plotting a traiterous comspiracy 1592. with the King of Spain by means of Scots Jesuites some lying in Spain and some in Scotland interchanging letters for assistance to invade first Scotland and then England as the Letters were intercepted in the end of that year that were some written and some blank and appointed to be filled up by the Jesuits in Spain as the trustees in that business and all subscribed by Huntly Anguse and Erroll These Letters were printed and the discovery of the Confession of George Ker and David Graham of Fentry who was arraigned and be headed at Edinburg February 16. year 1593. These being Civil I would have omitted but these are the ground of other things following The Nationall assembly conveenes at Edinburgh May 22. Robert Bruce is chosen Moderator I. It was considered to The 54. Assembly propound unto the King Parliament these petitions 1. That the Acts of Parliament in the the year 1584. against the disciplin of the Church and their liberty be annulled the same disciplin whereof the Church hath been now in practise may be ratified 2. Abolition of the Act of annexation and restitution of the patrimony of the Church 3. That Abbots Priors and others pretending the title of the Church and voting in name of the Church without their power and commision be not admitted to vote in name of the Church neitherin Parliament nor other convention 4. That the Country may be purged of fearfull idolatry and blood-shed Commissioners were named for this end II. It is referred to consultation whither is be lawfull that the Ministry should succeed in the place of Prelates to vote in Parliament III. It is ordained that Ministers receiving Commissions from the Church if they be slothfull in execution shall be rebuked in the face of the Assembly for their negligence IV. The Church considering their duty to God and the necessity of the charge layd upon them and seeing the dayly decay of religion and lack of justice whereof the effects to the regrate of all true Christianes do more and more fall-out in miserable experience And that the duty of their office burdeneth them to discharge their consciences in this behalf unto their Soveraigne unto whom it chiefly appertaines to procure remedy there of Therefore they direct certain brethren to passe immediatly unto his Ma. and to lament the dayly decay of religion disorder and lack of justice within this realm and to admonish gravely that he will do for remedy of these evills as he will answer unto God and like wise to admonish in name of the Eternall to have respect in time unto the estate of true religion perishing and to the manifold murders oppressions enormities dayly multiplied through impunity And to discharge his Kingly Office in both as He would eschue the fearfull challenge of God and turn his wrath from his Ma. and the wholl Land And to the end his Ma. may be the better enformed they are ordered to declare the particulaâ—es V. Alexander dickson being summoned compeares he is asked whither he had subscribed the articles of religion presently professed established within the realm and whether he had communicat at the Lords Table He answereth he had done both when he was a Student in Santandrews Then he is asked In what heads he differeth now He answereth There be sundry heads wherein he agrees not with the Confession of faith He is bidden either now by word or too morrow by writ declare the specialls He plainly avoweth and protests he differeth from them in all the substantiall points of religion wherein the Papists controvert with them Upon this his confession the Assembly findes that
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
Christ The same night he was taken with a whore It was so notorious that it could not be denied saith the same Author 2. DAVID the third Son of Malcolm Cammore did erect four Alterations in the Church of Scotland Bishopricks and seven Abbeys and other religious places as they called them and repaired sundry decayed Monasteries therefore the Clergy called him Saint David but his Successor called him a good Saint to the Church and an ill Saint to the Crown The fruit of so large donations saith Buchan Hist lib. 7. was As the use of the members faileth in them who stuff their bellies with too much meat so from thenceforth the small sparks of wit being oppressed with luxury did dayly decay the study of learning failed piety was turned into a formality and superstition and as in untilled land the seeds of all weeds and vices sprang up And the Prelates shook off the care of preaching as a work not beseeming their Dignity and because the Monks had the favor of the people for preaching the Prelates gave unto them liberty above the Parish Priests to the end that the Monks might the more recommend them in their preachings 3. When HENRY I. King of England died without a Son Steven Earl of Bolonia and his Sisters Son usurpeth the Crown about the year 1133. His Brother Henry Bishop of Winchester procured the first Law that ever was in England for appealations to Rome Ia. Vsser de stat succes eccle Appeals to Rome cap. 8. ex Hen. Hunting Hist but Steven reserveth to himself the right and power of bestowing Benefices and investing Prelates In the beginning of his reign William Dean of London Ralph Longford Richard Belmeys and others of the Chapter did elect a Bishop without the King's recommendation wherefore he causeth to be imprisoned not their persons but their wives until they had satisfied for their contempt Io. Bale ex Rad. de Dicet Whence it appeareth that as yet the Priests had wives notwithstanding all former Acts. Thereafter Albericus Bishop of Ostia was sent by Pope Innocentius II. and in a Synod at Westminster condemned the marriage of Priests again and ordained that Christ's body as they spoke should not be kept above eight days lest it become hoary and rot At that time Robert Pully deserved commendation for restoring or erecting the University of Oxford and was Rector thereof 4. HENRY II. Nephew of Henry I. by his Daughter Maude disclaimed â—â— forbidden all the Authority of the Pope refused to pay Peter-pence and interdicted all appealation to Rome At that time Philip de Brok a Canon of Bedford was questioned for murther he used reproachful speeches to the King's Justices for which he was censured and the Judges complained unto the King that there were many robberies and rapes and murthers to the number of an hundred committed within the Realm by Church-men The King commanded that justice should be executed upon all men alike in his Courts But Thomas Becket Arch-Bishop of Canterbury would have the Clergy so offending judged in the Spiritual Court and by men of their own coat who if they were convicted should at first be deprived of their Benefice and it they were found guilty again they should be judged at the King's pleasure The King stood for the ancient Laws and Customs and in a Ancient Laws are restored general Assembly at Clarendon in the year 1164. with consent of the Arch-Bishop Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons and great men was a rehearsal and acknowledgement of some ancient Customs and Laws among which that were authorised being sixteen in number were these 1. If between a Lay-man and a Clark were any strife for Church-goods the plea should be in the King 's Court. 2. No Bishop nor Clark should go forth of the Realm without the King's licence and then he shall swear upon the Book that he shall procure no hurt to the King nor any of his Subjects 3. None who holdeth of the King in chief or in service shall be accursed without the King's licence 4. All the Bishopricks and Abbeys when they be vacant should be in the King's hands until a Prelate be chosen and he should be chosen out of the King's Chappels and before he be confirmed he should do his homage unto the King 5. If any plea were brought to the Consistory a party might appeal unto the Arch-Deacon and from him to the Bishops Court and thence unto the Arch-Bishop and from him to the King and no further 6. All debts that were owing of truth-plight should not be pleaded in Spiritual but Temporal Courts 7. The Peter-pence which were gathered for the Pope should be collected for the King 8. If any Clark were taken for felony and it were so proved he shall first be degraded and then after judgement be hanged or if he were a traitor he shall be drawn in sunder They did all sweâ—r and by word of mouth faithfully promise to observe these Laws unto the King and his Heirs simply and without fraud Mat. Parisi calleth them wicked and detestable Acts But Tho. Becket's testimony is the stronger de facto Tho. Becket sent unto the Court of Rome to signifie the grief of the Church and his own for consenting unto these Laws and asked absolution from the bond which he had unwisely entered into and he obtained it The same year the King required to have punishment of some misdoings among the Clergy The Arch-Bishop would not permit and when he saw in his judgement the liberties of the Church troden under foot he without the King's knowledge took ship and intended toward Rome but by a contrary winde he was brought back Then he was called to account for his receipts that came to his hand while he was high Chancellor He appealeth to the See of Rome and under pain of excommunication forbad both Bishops and Nobles to give sentence against him seeing he was both their Father and their Judge Nevertheless they without his confession gave sentence against him Then he seeing himself forsaken of all the other Bishops lifted the cross which he held in his hand aloft and went away from the Court and the next day got him over into Flanders and so to the Pope Matth. Parisien hath many Letters betwixt the Pope and this King and the King of France and sundry Bishops of France and England for reconciliation betwixt the King and this proud Prelate but all to no purpose till Henry of his own accord did cause his Son Henry III. to be crowned and then he being in Normandy was content by the mediation of the French King to accept the Prelate Thomas returning into England excommunicateth all the Bishops which had been at the Coronation of the yong King because it appertained unto him forsooth to inaugurate the King The King sent unto him and required to absolve them seeing what was done unto them was done for his cause The Prelate refuseth On Christmas day he solemnly excommunicateth
cutteth off the nose of the yong Empress and throweth her mother out at a window into the sea Robert could not revenge it for at that time he must go to Rome for confirmation and in his returning he died at Macedonia His Brother Baldwin was received Emperor and because he was yong the Pope sent John de Bregna to be Governor there He contracteth Baldwin with his second Daughter governeth the Empire six years and leaveth it in peace unto his Son in law John Duca married the onely Daughter of Lascaris and did reign thirty and three years but dwelt at Nice in Bithynia He was peaceable and dischargeth his subjects from wearing any clothes but what their own Countrey did afford and he caused them to be industrious in husbandry by which two means as Nic. Gregoras witnesseth his subjects became very wealthy and amassed plenty of Silver and Gold from their neighbors round about which at that time were necessitated to come and buy victuals from them Unto John succeeded Theodor Lascaris he put Baldwin to such stress that he went unto his Brother in law Frederick the II. for aid when Innocentius the IV. was chosen Then Lascaris died and Baldwin returned but had not long peace for Michael Palaeologus the Nephew of Alexius was first chosen Governor of the Empire and then Crowned Emperor for the time of his pupil John the Son of Lascaris his minority he would be Lord of the whole Empire Caesar Brother of Michael was sent against Epirus by the way he came near Constantinople with eight hundred men without his expectation the Greeks being wearied with the Government of the Latins envite him to come in Baldwin was not able to resist and fled so that Empire returned unto the Greeks An. 1260. but sore weakened and after that it decayed also 5. WILLIAM Earl of Flanders and CONRADE the Son of Frederick now strove for the Empire of Germany the one was confirmed by the Pope and Conrade was aided by the Gibelines so that Italy and Germany had not peace for many years At last Conrade considering the difficulty of holding Germany and that the Kingdom of both Sicilies were more sure appertaining unto him by his Grand-mother Constantia he left Suevia and such Cities of Germany as had accepted him under the tuition of his Father in law the Duke of Bavier and went into Italy still keeping the title of Emperor He was received in Verona and being accompanied with Enceline Captain of the Gibelines he was made welcome in sundry places on the coast of the Golf and passing by Romandiola he sailed into Pulia where he was heartily received by all except the Cities of Naples and Capua he besiegeth them and took them and punisheth them severely Not long thereafter he dieth at Naples and left his Son Conradine Heir of both Sicilies and Suevia under the protection of his wife and some German Princes But Manfred the bastard Son of Frederick behaving himself at first as one of the Tutores endeavoreth by all means to possess himself of both Sicilies Pope Innocentius the IV. and his Successor did alledge that Kingdom appertained unto the Church of Rome because Frederick and Conrade had died under excommunication But Manfred with the help of the Gibelines prevaileth so that he was Crowned King of Sicilies his Nephew living in Suevia and did invest Bishops and Arch-Bishops without consent of the Pope and they all contemning the Papal prohibition gave obedience unto their King Matth. Parisien ad An. 1258. William then was onely Emperor and they which had adhered unto Conrade sought his peace He thought to be Crowned at Rome but being in a Diet at Colein saith Naucler he heard that the Frisons had rebelled and invaded Holland this rumor made him stay his journey He went against them as he with one or two went to spie a place to encamp his horse fell thorow the ice and he was so pestered that he could not come out some Frisons perceiving him and not knowing who he was slew him and drowned him After him not any Emperor was of such authority as the former had been 6. The Princes could not agree in the election at last three choose Alfonso King of Castile three were for Richard Earl of Cornwal Brother of Henry King of England and the King of Bohem was for himself Alfonso was glad but could not come into Germany because of his business with the Moors in Spain and to keep the Pope's favor he gave him some Cities upon the river Po he gave what he never had and in so doing he did deplume the Eagle saith Crantz in Saxo. lib. 8. cap. 21. Richard had the assistance of his Brother and was Crowned at Aken Some Towns received him others wait for Alfonso and many were neutral usurping liberty so miserable Germany was kindled again with Civil wars Richard died after he had remained in Germany seventeen years If Alfonso had come then he might have been Emperor But the Gibelines in Italy do invite Conradine Duke of Suevia now about eighteen years of age and of good expectation to come and they would aid him in recovering his Father's inheritance from Charles Duke of Anjow Pope Clemens the IV. hearing of his preparation declareth Charles King of Sicilies to be Vicar of the Empire and wrote unto all the Nations that they should not aid Conradine against Charles and that the German Electors should not name him to be King of the Romans On the other side Conradine publisheth a deploring declaration shewing how injuriously Innocentius the IV. had dealt with him being at that time very innocent for his Father Conrade had recommended him unto the tutory of the Roman Church especially and Innocentius as one of his Tutors had taken possession of the Kingdom of Sicilies and then divided it among his own friends 2. When Manfred had in his name recovered that Kingdom Pope Alexander did stir up other men to invade that Kingdom 3. Pope Urban had dealt unmannerly with him for first he would have confirmed that Kingdom unto Manfred and his Heirs and then he inviteth Charles to take it 4. Pope Clemens now dealeth unclemently with him in establishing a King within that Kingdom against him and as if that were not enough he thundereth a process against him and hath declared Charles to be Vicar of the Empire throughout all Italy to the end he may have the more power against him and he concludeth that upon these grounds he taketh arms against Charles Naucler gener 43. About that time Henry who was banished out of Castile by his own Brother King Alfonso and having insinuated himself into favor with the Romans was created Senator of Rome and had great authority there sent unto Conradine and promised him aid not for recovering his Kingdom onely but to attain the Imperial Crown Conradine with all haste marcheth into Italy and was accepted as Emperor by them of Sena Pisa and the Gibelines of Lombardie and Romandiola He overthrew
more contrary unto the Apostles or more hateful unto Christ Jesus then to destroy souls by defrauding them of the Ministry ..... In a word the holiness of the Apostolical seat cannot do any thing but unto edification and not to destruction for this is the fulness of power to edification But those things which they call Provisions are not to edification but most manifest destruction The Pope hearing this Letter foamed as in a rage and sware by Peter and Paul that he would hurl such a phrenetick wretch into confusion which durst so boldly controle his command and make him a fable unto the world Is not the King of England our vassal yea and slave whom I at my nod may thrust into prison The Cardinals namely Aegidius a Spaniard and some others touched in conscience could scarcely appease his fury and among other words they said To confess the truth unto your Holiness it is true what he saith and we cannot condemn him for it he is a Catholick man more holy and religious then we our selves are and as it is judged amongst all the Prelates there is none better nor his equal this is not unknown universally nor can our contradiction avail against him wherefore we think best to pass by such a thing lest perhaps some tumult arise thereupon especially seeing it is manifest unto all men that once must come a defection and departure from the Church of Rome When Robert lay on his death bed he said unto the brethren coming to visit him Heresid is an opinion taken up by human sense contrary Heresie white unto the holy Scriptures openly avowed and pertinaciously maintained Is not Innocentius therefore an Heretick and since Christ came into the The Pope an Heretick and Antichrist World to save souls may not the Pope be justly called the Antichrist who feareth not to destroy souls The Pope doth impudently annul the priviledges of his Ancestours .... and therefore the contemner should be contemned according to that saying of Esay Wo to thee who despisest ..... Matth. Parisien 9. In the year 1240. a Carthusian Monk at Cambridge said openly before Otho the Legate Gregory is not the head of the Chutch but there is another head thereof Satan is loosed the Pope is an Heretick Gregory which is called Pope defileth the Church and the World The Legate said unto him Is not power given from above unto the Pope to loose and bind souls and to exerce the charge of Peter on earth The Monk replied How can I think that such power as was given unto Peter is given to a Simoniack and Usurer yea and who is defiled with greater crimes The Legate did blush for shame and said We may not strive in words with a fool Idem 10. Seval Arch-Bishop of York followed in the same footsteps when he saw the pride of the Pope usurping and tyrannizing above the Kings he was astonished and in the grief of his heart he intreated Pope Alexander the IV. by Letters that he would leave off from such daily enormities or at least refrain himself and follow the example of good men that he would feed Christ's Lambs as Peter did and not pull the skins off them and devour them like an hungry Wolf The Pope had given the fattest of his Benefices unto some wanton young men and ignorant of the language as he made Jordanus Dean of York c. Seval would admit none of them wherefore the Pope excommunicated him with bells and candles He could suffer these ceremonies but he could not suffer strangers to be set over the people and the more he was cursed by the Pope he was the more beloved of the people and they did bless him yet quietly for fear of the Romans Although he was not murthered yet for his sufferings he was called a Martyr Idem ad An. 1257. 11. Matthew of Paris whom I have often named was a Benedictine of Saint Alban he wrote the History of England from the days of William the Conqueror until the year of his own death 1260. where he describeth how others spoke against the abomination of Antichrist to the end that posterity might know and abhor it and thereby he giveth us to understand what were his own thoughts as here and there he expresseth himself e. g. ad An. 1237. he saith It is manifestly known that the Church of Rome alas hath deserved the wrath of God for the guides thereof seek not the devotion of people but their full purses not to gain souls unto God but to collect revenues to themselves to oppress the religious and many ways impudently to catch other mens goods ...... hence ariseth grumbling among men and the wrath of God is provoked dayly Ad An. 1238. he calleth the Pope the Successor but not the imitator of Peter Ad An. 1245. he saith The Pope sent unto the King of Arragon and then unto the King of England craving that he may come and abide in their Kingdoms and the Nobility did refuse because the Papal Court was so infamous that the strength thereof went up unto the clouds Ad An. 1251. he saith The threatning of the Apostle may be thought to be fulfilled Vnless there be a departing the son of perdition shall not be revealed Behold that mens hearts depart and not their bodies from the Pope who is enraged like a step-father and from the Church of Rome which is cruel in persecuting like a step-mother 12. John Russel an English Gentleman who married the Widow of Walter Cumin Earl of Lenox about the year 1262. afterwards he purchased Letters from the Pope to summon a number of Scots to appear in England before the Legate for slandering his wife of witchcraft and poisoning her first husband The Scots dispised the citation alledging their ancient priviledge that Scotch men cannot be charged to answer without their own Country and so the summons turned to nothing saith Buchan Hist lib. 7. 13. Within some few years King Alexander the III. was encombred with The Lords and Bishops strive for precedency the pride of Priests and Monks saith the same Author there he understandeth certainly Bishops and Abbots which being enriched saith he by former Kings and enjoying long prosperity began to grow rank and would go before the Nobility as in wealth so in all other things or at least be equal with them The Noble men took this in ill part and dealt roughly with them wherefore they complain unto the King Whether he thought these injuries not to be so hainous as the Priests called them or if he thought that they were not without cause yet he made no account of them therefore the Bishops did excommunicate all the Noble men excepting the King only and with many threats do prepare themselves to go unto Rome Then the King calling to minde what broils Tho. Becket had raised in England by his ambition called the Bishops from their journey and compelled the Nobility to yeild unto their pride Thus the spiritual
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
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
licence nor enact constitutions without his consent Item that all cases that were before reserved from the power of the bb unto the Pope were declared to appertain unto the King and his commissioners as to dispense with Canons to divide or unite bishopricks Item all annats or first year's fruits and tyths of Benefices were forbidden to be carried out of the Country and An. 26 c. 3. they were ordained to be payd unto the King as before unto the Pope Item no appellation should be made to Rome Item Peter-pence pensions all such exactions shall cease With express provision that the King nor his subjects shall not intend to vary from the articles of the Catholick faith of Christendom Item the degrees of consanguinity affinity that are prohibited by the law of God were explained published The Kings marriage with Catherin was declared unlawfull and his marriage with Anna daughter to the Earle of Wiltshire was approved The excommunication of the King was affixed on the church-doors of Dunkirk because the Nuntio durst not come into England But the King proceeds in parliament An. 26. c. 1. renouncing and causing the subjects to renounce the Pope and establishing the Papal authority in his own person The oath of the clergy unto the Pope is made void and they are ordained to give their oath unto the king The bb and Doctours of Divinity and of both lawes do both by word write and in their Convocations confirme all that the king had done in Parliament Jo Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Thomas Moore refuse to subscribe therefore they were committed Pope Paul hearing of Fisher's constancy as they called it there creates him a Cardinall for he said The King will not put hands in a Cardinal but ere the Bull came the king had intelligence of it and caused to execute the Bishop and Thomas Moore An. 1535. It was the just judgement of God on them for they had incensed the king against many Martyrs namely Fisher caused his Dean Do. Parker to take up and burn the body of William Tracy an Esquire in Rochester-shire after it had lyen in the grave three years because he said in his latter Will he would have no pompe at his buriall and he trusted in Christ only hoping to be saved by Him and by no Saint Tho cooper at An. 1532. Likewise lest the Pope did provoke other Princes against king Henry he sent Ambassadors with Letters and informations unto the Emperour the kk of France .... entreating them to keep amity The summe of his Letter unto James V. king of Scotland was Forasmuch as the Pope without the knowledge of the Emperour or French king or Germane Princes hath excommunicated King Henriâ—â— Letter uâ—â—o king Iamâ—â— V. against the Pope and Card. mee and now the Popes Nâ—ntio the Cardinal of Scotland is arrived with commission as I hear it brooted but have no intelligence to practâ—ze some anoisance by his pretended censures against mee thy uncle Therefore I premonish and require thy Grace and most heartily pray thee to consider 1. the Supremacy of Princes granted by the holy Scriptures unto mee and other Princes in their Churches 2. to weigh what Gods word calleth a Church 3. what superstitions idolatries and blind abuses have crept into all realmes to the high displeasure of God 4. what is to be understood by the censure excommunication of the Church and how no such censure can be in the power of the Bishop of Rome or of any other man against mee or any other Prince having so just ground to avoide from the root and to abolish so execrable authority which the Bishop of Rome hath vsurped and vsurpes upon all Princes to their great dammage My request therefore to my nephew is to consider of what moment it should bee unto yourself having your subiects evill instructed in the premisses if you agree unto such censures and by such example give upper-hand over yourself and other Princes unto that vsurper of Rome as is like to happen in other places of Christendom where the true declaration of the word of God shall have free course to scourge them unless they will adore and kiâ—â—e the foot of that corrupt holiness which desireth nothing but pride and the vniversall thrall of Christendom under Rome's yoke I aâ—so premonish your Grace that you would not receive the Popes Cardinal into your Countrie for he will not be content to be next unto you but assuredly he will be equall yea and usurp over you and be a heavie burden unto your conntrie as experience teaches in England c. After this Henry enioyeth peace notwitstanding all that the Pope wrought against him Jo. Fox Act. moni But upon this occasion the King of France was persuaded by the Pope not to pay as he was wont yearly 95000 Crowns and other 10000. crowns as a Treatie of peace betwixt the kingdoms did specifie In the year 1536. Q. Catherin died Q. Anna and her brother were beheaded with Henry Norreys and Francis Weston and other two gentle men of the bedchamber for what cause it is not known â—aith Jo. Foxe but within three Dayes the king married Lady Jane Seimer First by a Convocation and then by Parlament An. 32. Henry VIII his marriage with Lady Anna was declared unlawfull no reason is alledged in the Act and he excludes his daughters Mary and Elisabet from succession and declareth the Crown to appertain uâ—to the heirs to be begotten In the next year prince Edward was borne and within 12. dayes his mother died Then by determination of Synods and Sentence of both Universities it was acknowledged that unto the king did belong the title The Supream head of the Church that is as they expounded it under Christ the Supream member of the Church within his own dominions to commande for trueth and not against trueth Fran. Mason lib. 3. c. 3. According to this title he began Steps of Reformation to consider the estate of the Church by advice and prudence of the godly Lord Cromwell and others of his Counsell he understood that the corrupt estate of the Church had need of Reformation in many things yet because so many superstitious persons were to be turned from their olde customs he procures an Act of Parlament An. 32. of his reigne that whatsoever article of faith and declaration of other expedient points the Archbb. Bishops and a great number of the learned Doctors with consent of the King shall think needfull expedient together with their determination of other points and ceremonies in Divine Service shall have the strength of an Act of paâ—liament Then he would not Reforme all at once but purposing to lead them softly he intendeth to proceed by degrees First he publisheth a litle book bearing the inscription Articles deuised by his Highness to estable Christian quietnes vnity In this were 1. the articles of the Creed necessary to be believed by all men 2. the doctrine of
all the conditions but craves this as a favour only or at least that they will permit the Masse there before or after noon They answer They will never yeeld that the Masse enter there again or if violence shall be used they must suffer and use the next remedy Then another device was invented the French Captains and Souldiers made their walks in time of prayer and preaching and did laugh and talk all the time that the preachers could not be heard This was patiently disgested knowing that they sought an occasion of trouble In Lieth they cut the pulpite into pieces and set up the Masse and in the Abbey-church by force they hindred the Common prayers and wheresoever they came they made disturbance and withall they dispersed a rumor both in France and in the Country that the Congregation intends an open rebellion and to set up Lord James in place of the lawfull Queen At the same time letters were brought from the King and Queen unto L. James full of exprobrations and menacings Ere the Letters were delivered the Lords had drawn up a third band at Sterlin August 1. in this manner Wee foreseeing the craft A third bâ—nd and slight of our adversaries who try all wayes to circumveen us and by privy means intend to assault every one of us particularly by fair heights and proâ—â—ses thereby to separate us one from another to our utter ruin and destruction For remedy thereof wee faithfully and truly binde us in the presence of God and as wee tender the maintaining of true Religion that none of us shall in time coming pass to the Queen Dowager to talk or commune with her for any Letter or message sent by her unto us or yet to be sent without consent of the rest or common consultation thereupon and how soon either Writing or message shall come from her unto us with all diligence wee shall notify the same one to another so that nothing shall proceed there in without common consent of us all And because they had observed that the Regent and Bishops intend nothing but deceit they resolve to seek the aid of Christian Princes if they shall be any more pâ—rsued and first they would begin with Queen Elisabet as nearest and of the same Religion and sent two Messengers into England They appoint the next meeting at Sterlin September 10. and go to their own houses for the most part Now what were the contents of the Kings Letters which for brevity I omit may appear from the answer of Lord James which is L. Iames his Letter to the King thus SIR my most humble duty remembred Your Majesties Letters I received from Parise July 17. importing in effect that your Ma. doth marvell that I being forgetfull of the graces and favours shewed mee by the King of bl memory your Ma. self and the Queen my Soverain have declared myself head and one of the principall beginners of these alledged tumults and seditions in these parts deceiving heerby your Ma. expectation in all times had of mee with assurance that if I do not declare by contrary effect my repentance I with the rest that have put or yet put hand to this Work shall receive that reward which wee have deserved Sir It grieves mee very heavily that the crime of ingratitude is laid to my charge by your Ma. and the rather that I perceive the same to have proceeded of sinister information of them whose part it was not to have reported so if true service past had been regarded and as for repentance and declaration of the same by certain effects that your Ma. desireth I shew my conscience persuades mee in these proceedings to have done nothing against God nor the dutifull obedience toward your Ma. nor the Queen my Soverain Otherwise it should not have been to be repented and also it should have been repented already according to your Majesties expectation of mee But your Ma. being truly informed and persuaded that the thing which wee have done makes for the advancement of Gods glory without any manner of derogation to your Majes due obedience Wee doubt not but your Ma. shall be well contented with our proceedings which being grounded upon the commandement of the eternall God wee dare not leave the same unaccomplished only wishing and desiring your Ma. might know the same and the trueth thereof as wee are persuaded in our consciences and all them that are truly instructed in the eternall word of our God upon whom wee cast our care from all dangers that may follow the accomplishment of his eternall will and to whom wee commend your Ma. beseeching him to illuminate your heart with the gospell of his eternall truth to know your Majes duty toward your poor subiects Gods chosen people and what you ought to crave justly of them again for then wee should have no occasion to fear your Majes wrath and indignation nor your Majes have suspicion of our obedience The same God have your Ma. in his eternall safeguard At Dumbartan August 12. 1559. This Letter was delivered unto the Regent she opened it and having read it said So proud an answer was never given to King nor Princesse and Buchanan saith but contrarily many did judge it within the bounds of modesty especialy where he was upbraided with graces and favours whereof he had not received any but such as were common unto all strangers At that time came a thousand souldiers from France to Lieth and reporte that moe were coming and the Earle of Arran eldest son to Duke hamilton came thorough England having heard in France that the Cardinall of Lorrain the Qeen Regents brother had said in the Parliament of Paris as he was inveying against the Protestants that they shall shortly see punishment executed on some who is in honour equal to Princes and calling to minde that lately he had spoken freely with the Duke of Guise in the cause of Religion came away privately and after his departure his younger brother was apprehended and imprisoned And he dealeth with his father to forget old quarrells and joyn with the Lords of the Congregation and so both came to the meeting at Sterlin Where the Lords understand that the Queen was fortifying Lieth for a Magazin and a safe haven for receiving French ships as again 2000. men were landed under the command of Mon. de la Bross and with him the Bishop of Amiens under the colour of Ambassadours When these were come the Regent was heard say Now shall I be avenged on the enemies of the Saints and of Authority And the French men began to brag as if all were their own one was called Monsieur de Argile another Monsieur Le Prior c. and the indwellers of Lieth were put forth both Protestants and Papists And nevertheless the Regent caused to make a proclamation that she intendes not to violate the Appointment in the least point but only to preserve peace and dutifull obedience if the Congregation will likewise keep
having interess That none of them take in hand to hold any consistory for administration of the said wicked lawes or assist there to in any way from thence forth Vnder the pain of death As yee will answer to us thereupon The which to do we commit to you conjunctly and severally our full power Given under our signet at Dundy the 14 day of December and of our reignes the second and 18 years These two Proclamations are not that I have seen in print but I have them by mee as yet with the Signet whole and entire which I received as I have hinted before among the papers of John erskin of Dun. The difference of the time in the Date is clear for the Queen was marryed in the beginning of Decemb. An. 1558. And I make use of them here against the impudent slaunders of An observation out of the premisses that malevolent Author who in that Latin History lately printed calleth the Reformation of the Church of Scotland a tumultuous and Vandal Reformation howbeit out of these Proclamations and all other proceedings heertofore it appeares clearly that whatsoever was done had the authority of the Publick Convention of the Estates and lesser things were done by the Counsell but the Queen being a Minor and not in the Country ftom her infancy and being under the tutory of her Vncle a stranger and an enemy of Religion who had given his power unto strangers for opposing Religion And all the antient Churches as yet standing both in burroughs and country do bear witnes that they did not at that time throw down any necessary church but only the abbeyes and monasteries and their churches IX About the 20. of December Robert Meluill of Raith who was sent with Lethintoun into England returnes and shewes that the Queen of England had granted a supply and appointed the Duke of Norfolk A treaty with England and the Frenches make trouble to their own losse to treat at Berwick with the Commissioners of the Scotish Nobility When the Regent was advertised of this conclusion she with her Counsell resolves to make an end of the warre before the English support could be in readiness and to begin at Fife Thereupon the French men take their journy by Sterlin and spoil where they come when they had passed the bridge the storm was so bitter and the snow had fallen so deep that they could not passe thorough the midle of the country but resolve to march by the coast and so unto Santandrewes and to have fortified the castle and City The Lord James stuart and others hearing that they were passed Sterlin sent some Forces with the Lord Ruthuen to withstand them and in his company was the Earle of Sutherland being directed as he professed by the Earle of Huntly to offer his assistance but his principall commission was for the Regent as afterward was made known But he was not long time in their company for in the first rancounter of the Scots and French men at Kingorn Sutherland was hurt in the arme and went back to Couper The French men being the greater number took Kingorn and the Scots return to Dysert where they continued skirmishing for three weeks that the enemies could not march further and the country was preserved from the spoil so soon as the Regent heard that Kingorn was taken she sent post to France shewing that thousands of the hereticks were slain and the rest were fled and requiring that some of her friends would come and take the glory of that Victory So Martiques was sent again with two ships A day was appointed by the Noble men to meet at Couper for sending Commissioners to treat with the Duke of Norfolk unto this meeting went the Noble men that were at Dysert and sixe were sent to Berwick both parties did quickly agree upon a league for defense of both kingdoms whosoever shall inuade either of them The contract was dated Fabruat 27. The capacity of a Treaty with England shewes what a considerable part of the kingdom the Congregation was at that time The Frenchmen at Kingorn hearing that the Noble men were gone from Dysert march a long the coast and at Kincraig they see a fleet of ships they apprehend them a supply from France but they were by and by informed that it was a fleet of Englishes and also that an Army was coming by land Wherefore they fearing to be severed from their fellowes at Lieth made the greater hast by night and day and came to Lieth on the third day losing more of their company by the way than they had killed of their adversaries as they had done more evill to their friends for of all that were professed enemies unto them only the Laird of Grange had his house blown up with powder but others of their faction were forced to furnish them or the souldiers took the readiest they could apprehend When complaints were made to the French Captaines they scornfully answered These were the Congregation-mens goods Or if they made faith that these were their own goods they were railed upon as unworthy and niggard cowards that made more account of their goods than of their friends And the professours of religion had put their goods out of the way But this spoil made that faction joyn the more willingly with the defenders of their liberty At that time the Barons of the Merns were busy in the Reformation of Aberdien The Earle of Huntly withstood but when he heard of the advancing of the Englishes he sent unto the Lords craving to be admitted among them as also he heard that Proclamations were sent through all the country charging all the subjects to meet in arms at Lithgow the last day of March and thence to passe in persuite of the French enemies At that time the English forces consisting of two thousand horse and 600 foot entred into Scotland and the Scots army joyned with them April 4. An. 1660. The same day the Regent removes her family to the castle of Edinburgh the Lord Erskin knowing that she was of intention to have the Frenches Masters of that strength would not deny her entry but he was so circumspect that both she and the castle were still in his power X. The Noble men then wrote unto her humbly again and again entreating Mediation of peace An. 1560 that she would dismiss the French souldiers and profering that they shall be safely conveyed into France and promising never to forsake dutifull obedience unto their Queen nor resist the King her husband in any thing that shall not tend to the subversion of the liberties of the Kingdom and beseeching her to weigh the equity of their petition and the inconveniences of warre The English Generall did in like manner direct two gentle men unto the French men in Lieth for the same purpose Both were answered with delayes but would not be delayed and assault the town and were repulsed twice with the losse of two men The King of France hearing
weak instruments to make his glory so sensibly appear in the Land that I may boldly say Mercy and trueth righteousness and peace had never since Christs coming in the flesh a more glorious meeting and amiable embracing on earth even so that the Church of Scotland justly obtained a name among the chief Churches and Kingdoms of the world A people sitting in darknes hath seen a great light and unto them who sate in the region of death light did spring up As the darknes evanishes at the rising of the Sun so God made all adverse power give way unto these weake instruments by degrees as followes more clearly To what Nation under heaven since the Sunne of righteousness had shined upon the most part of Europe hath the Lord communicated the Gospell for so large a time with such purity prosperity power liberty and peace The hottest persecutions had not greater purity the most halcion times had not more prosperity and peace the best reformed churches in other places scarcely parallelled their liberty and unity And all these with such continuance that not only hath He made the trueth to stay there as He made the Sun to stay in the dayes of Josua But when the cloud of iniquities did threaten a going down in his mercy he hath brought back the glorious sunne by in any degrees Christ not hath only been one and his name made known in respect of his propheticall office for information of his priesthood for the expiation of sins and for intercession But also had displayd his banner and hath shewd himself few can say the like a Soveraigne King in the Land to govern with his own Scepter of the Word to cutt off with the Civill sword all moniments of idolatry and superfluity of vain rites and to restore all the meanes of his Worship in doctrine Sacraments and discipline to the holy simplicity and integrity of the first pattern shewed in the mount from which by that wisdom of man which ever is foolishness with God they were fearfully and shamefully swerving II. Another particulare is Some Noble men namely Lord James Steward and others were very zealous for the Reformation at the first but when they were accustomed with the aire of the Court they cooled were for toleration of the Masse and relented for their preferment as hee was made Earle of Morray and others became officers of State The Ministers admonished them and threatned them for their lukewarmness They despised admonitions and would not use the preachers so familiarly as before they were wont though none of them turned Papist excep the Earle of Bothwell and they heard the preachings When the Queen intended to marry Henry Stuard sone to the Earle of Lennox and sought not the consent of the Parliament they oppose her marriage and therefore were all exiled and fled into England Thus God made the threatnings true but in mercy to the Land he wondrously brought them back when variance fell betwixt the King and Queen the King recalleth the exiled Noble men of purpose to make himselfe the stronger by them And when the King 1567. was murthered on February 9. by the Earle of Bothwel and the Queen married that Earle these same Noble men with other stood in defence of the young Prince that he came not into the hands of him who had killed his father They went to the fields with armies on both sides and the Queen's Army was the stronger but they were strucken with such feare that without stroak of sword the Earle fled away into Denmark and the Queen went to the Lords Juny 11. and renounced the Crown in favors of her sone and did chuse the Earle of Murray to be Regent of the Q. Mary renounced the Croâ—n Kingdom enduring her Sone's minority And then the Religion was established as followes So it pleased God to change things beyond the expectation of men VI. Soon after the Queens marriage a proclamation was made wherein the Queen declares that She will confirm all that She had promised at her arrivall concerning the Reformed Religion This was to stop the peoples mouths But all in vain For the people universally were against Bothwell For some declared openly against him some were Neuters and a few of the Nobility did join unto him especially the Bishop of Santandrews and the Earle of Huntly who had been lately restored by the Queen Within few dayes after the Queen came unto the Lords she would have gone from them but they fearing what she might attempt convoy her into the Castle of Lochlevin then the Earle of Glencarn with his domesticks went to the Chappell-Royall and break down the Altars Images This fact did content the zealous Protestants but did offend the Popish party The Histor of Reformat Lib. 5. On Juny 25. The Nationall Assembly conveenes at Edinburgh George Buchanan then The XIII Assembly Principall of S. Leonards Colledge was chosen Moderator 1. The Superintendent of Anguise and Bergany were sent unto the Lords of the Secret Counsell to request their L. L. to conveen with the Assembly and give their assistance in such things as shall be thought good for establishing true Religion and supporting the Ministry 2. It is thought good by all that are conveened that this assembly shall conveen Iuly 20. next to come for setting foreward such things as shall then be propounded and for that purpose ordaines to write Missives to all and sundry Earles Lords and Barons requiring them to conveen at that day And to this effect appoints Commissioners to deliver the Missives and to require answer according to their Commissionâ— The tenor of the Commissions given to every one followes For so much as Satan this long time in his memberâ— had so raged and perturbed the good success proceedings of Christs Religion within this realm by crafty meanes subtile coâ—spiracyes that the same from time to time doth decay and in hazard to be altogether subverted unlesâ— God of his mercy find hasty remedy and that mainly through extream poverty of the Ministers who should preach the word of life unto the people and are compelled thereby some to leave that Vocation alluterly some others so abstracted that they can not insist so diligently in the exercise of the word as they would Therefore the Church presently conveened in this generall Assembly hath thought it most necessary by these presents to request admonish most brotherly all such persons as do truly professe the Lord JESUS within this realm of whatsoever estate or degree either of the Nobility Barons and Gentle men and all others true professours to conveen in Edinburgh July 21. next in their personall presence to assist with their counsell power for order to be taken alswell towardâ— the establishing of Christs religion universally throughout the realm and abolishing the contrary which is Papistry as the sustentation of the Ministers not only for the present time and instant necessity but also for a perfect order to be taken and
that time the Civill estate was more and more troubled for they who in the convenion of Estates Oct. 8. year 1582. vvere declared to have don good necessary Service unto the K. and Country and they with all their partakers were exonered of all action that might be intended against them for what they had done at Ruthven these I say aâ—ter Arran's returning to Court were charged to enter into warde particularly designed unto them This they obeyd not except the Earle Auguise and therefore were denounced rebells and when harder course was intended against them they fled some to England others ro France and some to Irland The Ministers were not silent at this time Among others John Dury said in a Sermon As the blind man whose eies Christ had opened Joh. 9. when the the pharisies said Wee know this man to be a sinner did reply Whither he be a sinner I know not one thing I know that though I was born blind yet now I see So whatsoever sort of men these be I knowe not but this I know that the Church was misetably vexed and almost oppressed but by theyr meanes it was delivered For these words likely otherwise delated he was summoned to compear before the Counsell he stood to the defense of what he had spoken and therefore he was confined in the town of Montros soon after this the Min. there died and the Church made choise of Jo. Dury to succeed then the King gave him and his eldest son enduring their lifes a pension of 200. pounds out of two Abbeys There was more work with Andrew Melvin in a Sermon as Santadr he said Daniel propoundes unto Baltazar the example of his grand father Nebuchadnezar and so it is the duty of the Ministers of God to lay before the Prince and people of their time the examples of their ancestors if need require But in our time if any would speake before the Court what evill came unto James the fifth by familiarity of flatterers that so the King would take heed of that kind of beasts they will say That preacher leaves his text and possibly he shall be accused of treason For these words he was charged to appeare before the Counsell He appeares and when worse words were layd unto his charge he said His doctrin in pulpit should first be tryed and judged by the Presbytery He was bidden submit himselfe unto the King and Counsell by no persuasion could he be induced to submit The K. and Councell as his lawfull Judges proceed to examine witnesses He appeales unto the judgement of the Church and saith If the Church shall condem what he had spoken he shall willingly suffer whatsover torment shall be inflicted on his body At eight a clock at night he is charged to enter as prisoner into the castle within twelve hours In the morning Arran changeth his warde and before seven a Messinger of armes chargeth him to enter into Blackness withim 24. hours at that time his friends said to him They would take his life â—efore mid-day he went away to Berwick After this summons were directed against Andrew Hay Andrew Polwart Patrick Galloway and Ja. Carmichel Ministers to answer before the Counsell for keeping correspondence with the rebells An. Hay compeares nothing could be qualified against him but upon suspicion he was confined in the north The others for not compearing were denounced rebells and fled into England XXI What Pa. Adamson did in England we shall have a hint of it anone 1584. The Current Parliament he returned in May year 1584. by Act of Counsell a Parliament was appointed to sit May 22. Because there was no proclamation preceeding they called it A current Parliament The Historicall Narration saith They who were privy to it were of Arrans faction or such as durst not oppose any thing the Lords of the Articles were sworn to be secrete they had fyve Sessions in three daies the doores were keept so closse that none of the Ministry could find accesse Pa. Adamson and Ro. Mongomery sat as representing the third Estate and gave votes forsooth to make themselves Bishops The King and Parliament suspecting that the Ministers of Edinb would preach against their proceedings sent a charge unto the Provest and Bailives to pull the Ministers by force out of the pulpit and committ them to prison if they did so What was done in the Parliament appeares by the Acts Spotswood hath the sum of them saying The King's authority over all persons in all causes was confirmed The declining of his Ma s judgement and the Councels in whatsoever matter declared to be treason the impugning of the authority of the three Estates or procuring the innovation or diminution of the power of any of them was inhibited under the same pain All jurisdictions and judicatures spirituall or temporall not approved by his Higness and the three Estates were discharged and an ordinance was made that none of whatsoever function quality or degree shall presume privatly or publickly in Sermons declamations or familiar conferences to utter any false untrue or slanderous speaches to the reproach of his Majesty his Counsell and proceedings or to the dishonor hurt or prejudice of his Highness his parents progenitors or to medle with the affaires of his Hi. and Estate under the paines in the Acts of Parliaments made against the makers reporters of lies While these statutes were in framing the Ministers who were informed thereof sent David Lindsay to entreat the King that nothing should passe in Act concerning the Church till they were first heard Arran getting intelligence of this caused arrest him as one that keeped intelligence with England and he was not permitted to come unto the King The first night he was keept in Halirudhouse and the next morning sent prisoner to Blackness where he was detained 47 weeks Ja. Lowson and Wa. Balcanquall Ministers of Edinburgh hearing that he was committed fled into England leaving a short writing behind them to shew the reasons of their departing So Edinburgh was left without any preacher Ro. Pont Minister of S. Cutberts and one of the Senators of the Colledge of justice because of the misregarde of the Church as he pretended in concluding these Acts when the Heralds were proclaming them took instruments in the hands of a Notary of his dissenting and that they were not obliged to give their obedience thereunto Which done he likewise fleeing was denounced rebell and put from the place in Session Hereupon rumors being dispersed that the King was enclined to Popery had made diverse Acts to hinder the free passage of the Gospell and abolish all order and policy of the Church Command was given to form a brief Declaration of his Ma s intention and to publish it for detecting these false rumors In this declaration the occasion that enforced the King to make these statutes were set down as the allowance of the fact at Ruthven by the Assembly of the Church Andrew Melvins declining the
of deprivation And if there be not actuall Ministers presently at the said churches that the said Moderators deal effectuously with other qualified persons to accept presentations and to prosecute the same by law 2. That all Beneficed persons here present be moved presenly to interdite themselves from all setting and disponing any part of their Benefice to whatsoever persons without the speciall allowance of the Generall Assembly and the interdiction to be subscribed by them and others which are absent be urged by their presbytery to do the like immediatly after this assembly 3. Because churches in many places sustain great hurt throgh want of qualified Ministers instructed in the Schools of Divinity therefore it is craved that an Act be made ordaining every Provinciall assembly to furnish all sufficient entertainment unto a Student in the New colledge of Santandr this 1596. year and so forth yearly in all time coming and that every Provinciall assembly shall have the priviledge to present their Student so oft as the said place shall vaik and if any Minister within the Province have a son of meet gifts that he be preferred to all others And after the expiring of his course in the study of Theology that he be bound to employ his travells within the Province to the which his gifts may be answerable and that it be not leesom unto the said Student to employ his travells in any other place but by the speciall advice and consent of that Province 4. Seing the necessity of the common affaires of the Churches craveth that there bee a continuall attendance at Court both for the furtherance of the present work in hand for planting the churches as also in respect of the continuall diligence of the enemy waiting all occasions specially when they find any slackness upon the part of the Church in the discovery and resisting the enterprises of the said enemies Therefore it is craved that a care and burden of the common cause be layd on some brethren by the Gen. assembly either of them who are residents here about Court or some others to be appointed out of sundry parts of the Countrey because otherwise none find themselves bound in conscience to have any care heerof or to take paines heerin The assembly accordeth unto all four but ordain the third to be first moved in the Synodes XXXIV Here I adde what is written in The Historicall Narration at the title The first course of episcopacy and first of the occasions of altering the Ecclesiasticall Government The beauty of this Church both for purity of doctrin and order of disciplin was becom admirable to the best Rrformed Churches The Assemblies of the believers were never more glorious and confortable the parochiall and Classicall elderships the Provinciall and Nationall Synods never in greater authority than in the beginning of the year 1596. For when the apostat Earles traffickers with the King of Spain were excommunicat and at procurement of the church at home and of the Queen of England were for their unnaturall conspiracy forfeited and expelled out of the Countrey their chief care was to was to search out the sins of the Land corruptions and abuses in whatsoever estate Calling or Judicatory that they might be repented-of and amended and to advert unto the savety and preservation of religion and liberties of the Church which at that time required opposition to the reentry and restoring of these Earles Whereupon in this Assembly the corruptions and enormities found in Ministers their calling and conversations as also the offenses of others without any partiality were considered as is above written On thuysday March 30. they had that humiliation wherein were present 400. persons Ministers Commissioners and others professors within one hour they looked with another countenance then that wherewith they entred being moved at the Exhortation such sighes and groanes were not heard at any other fast since the Reformation for any imminent danger and teares were shed such inabundance that the place might justly been called Bochim They testified their new entring into leagve with God by holding-up their hands ............ Their next care was to â—dvert that the Church were not endangered by any enemy as is written before Commission was given unto some btethren to assemble as they shall find urgent occasion To consult reason and advise upon and propound articles unto the King for preventing all dangers which in all liklyhood might befall the estate of religion It is clear before that this The beginning of the variance next the K. and Church course was motioned first by the Lords of the Plat and as followes was ill taken by Courtiers The Devill envying the happiness and laudadle proceedings of our Church stirreth up Papists and Politicianes to disturb her peace and to deface her beauty The Pipists saw there was no peace for them in Scotland if that power of the Church shall continue Politicians feared that their craft and trade which is to use indifferently all sorts of men and means to attain their own ends and to set up themselves in the thron of Christ should be undone ...... Huntly returnes secretly in Juny whereof the King was advertised in July at the entreaty of his Lady the King calleth a Convention of the Nobility specially such as favored the exiled Lords at Falkland in August Offer was made in his name and it was concluded that he shall return and remain in the Country upon the performance of such conditions as his Majesty propound to be performed by him Notwithstanding that Ministers An. Melvin Ja. Nicolson Pa. The first debate Galloway Da. Lindsay and other Ministers protested in the contrary in respect it could not stand with the Kings honor to hearken unto any conditions till first it were manifest that he is not in the Countrey as they do alledge who sute for him nor could it stand with the assurance of religion and peace of the Countrey in respect his apostasy which was the ground of his excommunication or his conspiracy with the Spaniard the ground of his forfeitry were not confessed offences by him Another Convention was held at Dunfernlin in Septenber where the conditions were agreed upon which were tendred unto him without consent of the Ministry Arroll returnes in the same month Their friends and abbettors vanted that they had obtained his Majesties protection and peace passed and subscribed in Counsell and that they hoped assuredly for advancement to Offices charge of guards and Lieutenentâ—ies as they had before Some Commissioners of the Generall assembly and some other Ministers The next debate conveening at Couper directed some of their number unto the King at Falkland namely An. Melvin Ja. Melvin Ia. Nicolson and Pa. Galloway to crave that the dangerous enterprises of the enemies might be prevented The King seemed to be offended at their meeting and commission And. Melvin answered with great liberty Sir there are two Kings and two kingdoms in Scotland Christ is a King and the Church