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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77444	An historicall vindication of the government of the Church of Scotland from the manifold base calumnies which the most malignant of the prelats did invent of old, and now lately have been published with great industry in two pamphlets at London. The one intituled Issachars burden, &c. written and published at Oxford by John Maxwell, a Scottish prelate, excommunicate by the Church of Scotland, and declared an unpardonable incendiary by the parliaments of both kingdoms. The other falsly intituled A declaration made by King James in Scotland, concerning church-government and presbyteries; but indeed written by Patrick Adamson, pretended Archbishop of St. Andrews, contrary to his own conscience, as himselfe on his death-bed did confesse and subscribe before many witneses in a write hereunto annexed. By Robert Baylie minister at Glasgow. Published according to order.	Baillie, Robert, 1599-1662.; Adamson, Patrick, 1537-1592. Recantation of Maister Patrik Adamsone, sometime archbishop of Saint-Androwes in Scotlande.; Welch, John, 1568?-1622.	1646 (1646)	Wing B460; Thomason E346_11; ESTC R201008	133,114	153

ratifies and approves the Presbyteries and particular Sessions appointed by the said Kirke with the whole Jurisdiction and discipline of the same Kirke agreed upon by his Majesty in conference had by his Highnesse with certaine of the Ministers conveened to that effect also determines and declares the said Assemblies Presbiteries and Sessions their jurisdiction and discipline to be in all times comming most just and good notwithstanding of whatsomever Statutes Acts Canons civill or municipall Lawes made in the contrary Item the Kings Majestie and Estates declares that the 129. Act of the Parliament holden at Edinbrough the 22. of May 1584. shall no wayes be prejudiciall nor derogate any thing to the priviledge that God has given to the Spirituall Officers in the Kirke concerning heads of Religion matters of Heresie Ezcommunication collation deprivation of Ministers or any such like essentiall Censures specially grounded and having warrant of the Word of God Also abrogates Cassis and Annuls the Act of the same Parliament 1584. yeere granting Commission to Bishops and other Judges constitute in Ecclesiasticall causes to receive his Highnesse Presentations to Benefices to give collation hereupon and to put order in all Ecclesiasticall causes his Majestie and Estates declares this Act to be expired and in time comming to be null and therefore ordains all Presentations to be directed to the particular Presbiteries More needs not be said for the confounding and filling with shame the faces of them No more is needfull for a satisfactory Answer who in the reprinting of this Pamphlet could have no other intention but to grieve and disgrace them whom by word they call Brethren but in heart and workes they evidently maligne as enemies without any cause Adamson the true Father confesseth it to be a Bastard and supposititious birth wholly composed of lyes and slanders King James disclaimes it and puts a new Declaration in its place the States of Parliament in King James his presence and with his open allowance abolished the Acts whereupon it was founded rooting out Episcopacy which it dothplant and building up Presbyteries and Synods which it professeth to demolish Yet for more abundant satisfaction The points of the wryt let us consider its particular parts It containes first a Preface Secondly an explanation of foure Acts of the Parliament at Edinbrough Pag. 1. It is hazardous for a 〈◊〉 Prince to take ●pon himself ●the faults of ●his Officers 1584. Thirdly an enumeration of some foureteene intentions ascribed to the King In the Preface there is a narrative of the causes of the subsequent Declaration all resolves upon the alledged Lyes of some evill affected persons labouring to impaire his Majesties honour and fame Upon this we remark that the late unhappy tricke of Courtiers and Prel●tes is no lesse ancient then this Declaration it was the ordinary custome of these ungrate and imprudent men to charge the backe of the King with their owne faults the bones of Kings are supposed by Sycophants to be so strong that no burden is able to bow much lesse to breake them As King Charles has ever been ●●o ready and willing to take upon himselfe the guilt of his servants upon what ever hazard the same was his Fathers condition yet with this difference King James was willing to beare his Servants burdens till he found they pinched but so soone as they began to presse him any thing sore he was so wise and just to himselfe and others that he laid them alwayes over upon the neck of those whom in reason it concerned to beare them The people had an high esteeme of Ki. Iames his vertues About that time the fame of Kings James his Learning Piety and personall vertues did florish at home and abroad the wel-affected who chiefly are aymed at were so far from impairing his personall reputation that in their very censure of this Declaration they give unto him an excellent testimony g Vide An Answer to the Declaration Their indignation was onely against the Court and upon just grounds But at that same time his Court was so exceedingly corrupted that the good men in the whole Isle both English and Scots did lament it Captain James Stuart by his cunning crept up to be Chancellour became so insolent a Tyrant that neither the greatest nor the most innocent had security either of their life or Estate h Spotswoods History lib. 6 p. 179. ●eere 1584. this severity was universally disliked but that which shortly ensued was much more hatefull Ibid. Maines and Drumwhassill were hanged the same day in the publick street of Edenborough the Gentlemens case was much pittied Maines his case especially all that were present in their hearts did pronounce him innocent these cruell and rigorous proceedings caused such a feare as all fami●iar society was in a manner left no man knowing to whom be might safely speake Arran in the meane time went on drawing into his owne hand the managing of affairs for he would be sole and supream over all Ibid. p. 177. Master Andrew Pullert Master Patrick Galloway Master James Carmichal Ministers were denounced Rebels and fled into England Master Andrew Hay compeered and nothing being qualified against him was upon suspition confined to the North the Ministers sent Master David Lindsay to the King with their supplication but Arran sent him prisoner to Blacknesse where he was detained forty seven weeks The Ministers of Edenborough hearing of this for sook their charge and fled into England so as Edenbrugh was left without any Preachers Master Robert Pont likewise flying was denounced Rebell The best Ministers were forced to leave the Kingdome The Duke of Lennox whose power with the King was greatest had lately come over from the Guisians in France though the man himself was of a very good and meeke nature yet he had his instructions and dependance from the Authors and instruments of the French Massacres he made it his worke to further the interest of France to the prejudice of England he corresponded with the French and Scots Traffiquers for Queene Maries deliverance out of prison yea for her returne to the throne of Scotland in an association with her Son k The Collection Sir Esme Stuart was sent by Queen Mother of France and the Guisians to seduce the young King to subvert Religion violate the amity between England and Scotland to procure an invasion for the delivery of the Queen of Scots then in captivity to make the King content to be associate with her in the government to alienate his heart from the Ministry he had his continuall intelligence and instructions from France These things which all the Writers of that time do record did so fill the hearts of all good people with feares for changes both of Religion and Lawes that neither English nor Scots did spare to expresse them in their ordinary discourses l Vide supra h. Unto this frightment of the people the Acts of Parliament procured by the

of Morton sundry Gentlemen of good quality most innocent were hanged many of the prime Noblemen Gentlemen and Ministers were forced to flee for their lives out of the Kingdome till all of them joyning together did ride in Armes to Stirling and by violence though without hurt to any mans person did the second time remove those Courtiers and for ever after kept them from the King to the full quieting both of Church and State This Rode of Stirling was much more cried out upon by the wicked Prelates and Courtiers then the former of Ruthven yet was it approved for good service to the King and State not only as the former by the privie Counse●l and convention of States but also by the ensuing Parliament and so it remaines unquarrelled unto this day Your third complaint is P. 45. The Assembly repeales no lawes but supplicates the Parliament to recall their ratifications of Ecclesiasticall corruptions that the generall Assemblies doe alter what the Law has established all your examples hereof are The Votes of the late generall Assembly at Glasgow condemning the civill places of Church-men pronouncing the very office it selfe of Bishops to be unlawfull in the Church and crying downe the high Commission Court Here you fall upon the Parliament of England as fooles and Traitours for letting themselves bee perswaded by the Scots to swallow downe their wicked Covenant To all this our Apologie is briefe what ever power our generall Assembly possesses is all well allowed by the King and Parliament The acts of that Assembly you complaine of are all ratified by the State the order of our proceeding is appointed by Law all matters Spirituall and Ecclesiastick are first determined by the generall Assembly if the nature of the things require a civill Sanction the Votes of the Assembly are transmitted to the Parliament if a Generall Assembly have voted an Errour or any thing that 's wrong and that corruption hath been ratified by an Act of Parliament a Posterior generall Assembly recognosces the matter and finding an errour in Religion notwithstanding of the prior votes both of the Assembly and Parliament does condemne it and appoints Commissioners to represent the reasons of their vote to the next Parliament with an humble supplication to annull these Acts and Laws which did confirme the condemned corruption This has been the method of proceeding in Scotland since the first erection of a generall Assembly in this way were all the Errours of Popery first condemned in the Assembly before the Parliament did recall their old Lawes whi●●●●nfirmed them The forme of this proceeding established by the Parliament it selfe does not import any subordination either of the lawes or the Parliament to the Assembly P. 46. It meddles with no civill Courts At this place p. 46. you bring us another story whereupon you make tragick out-cryes of the Assemblies insolent usurpations it seems you thought that this your book should never have come from Oxford into the hands of any Scottish man who knew the Custome of the Judicatories of Scotland I doe marvell much at your impudence that you should speake of the Assemblies incroaching upon the Lords of Session or medling with any Civill cause which the Law commits to any temporall Judicatory there is no better harmony in the world then alwayes has been in Scotland between the civill and Ecclesiasticall Judicatories no interfeiring was ever among them but what the Bishops made You indeed in your high Commission did take causes both civill and Ecclesiasticall to your Cognisance from all the Courts of the Kingdome and did at your pleasure without and contrary to all known Lawes finally determine them without any appeale but to the King by whom you were sure ever to be best be●eeved For the story in hand The case of Mr. John Graham I am content Spotswood be Judge as he relates it the matter was thus Mr. Iohn Graham one of the Lords of Session or Judges of the Common Pleas a very false and dishonest man intended an action against some poore men to put them from their Lands for to effectuate his purpose he seduced a publique Notary dwelling at Stirling and perswaded him to subscribe a false Writte upon the which the poore men by a decree of the Lords of Session were removed from their possessions The oppressed soules cryd out of their injurie and intended action against the Notary for his false Writ they got him arrested and imprisoned The Minister of the bounds Mr. Patrick Simpson whom King James and all Scotland knew to be a most learned zealous and pious Pastor as was in the whole Isle dealt with the Prisoner to confesse the truth after some conference he confessed all and declared how Mr. John Graham had sent his Brother to him with a false Writte which hee did subscribe an assize was called the poore Notary upon his own cousession was condemned and hanged Mr. John Graham as covetous and false so a most proud man would not rest satisfied but presently summoned Master Patrick Simpson to appeare before the Lords of Session as a seducer of the honest Notary to lye against his owne life Mr. Patrick was ready to cleare his own innocencie whereof all were well perswaded but shamefully wronged by an impudent man in his good name he caused cite him before the Assembly as a slanderer of a Minister in the work of his calling the Lords of Session not content that any of their number should be called before the Assembly for any action depending in their Court did send som of their number to the Assembly for to debate the whole matter The Assembly told them that they would not meddle with any thing that was civill nor which belonged to their Court that they intended to take no notice of their decrees at Mr. John Grahams instance to cast the poore 〈◊〉 out of their Land whether it was right or wrong nor the notaries Instrument wherefore he was hanged whether it was true or false They told them also that whatsoever they had to say to Mr. Patrick Simpson hee was to answer them as they should thinke fit in due time and place the Assemblies question was alone about the slander of one of their Members whom Mr. Iohn Graham did openly challenge as a Seducer of a Notary to beare false witnesse They had cited Mr. John Graham before them to make this good that so they might censure Mr. Patrick Simpson as a man unworthy of the Ministry or if Mr. John Graham's challenge was found a meere calumny that he might bee brought to repentance for it in acknowledging of his wrong Let any equitable man judge how insolent the Assemblies proceeding in this action was for a time there was some controversie about this matter betwixt the Assembly and the Session but at last all was amicably composed and God decided the question with the violent death and publick disgrace of Mr. Iohn Graham What ye subjoyne of King Iames trouble to the

Angels that I spoke nothing in that Sermon or any other Sermon made by me tending to the slander or dishonour of the Kings Majesty my Sovereigne any wayes but in the contrary exhorted always all his highnesse Subjects to obedience and reverence of his Majesty whom God in his mercy hath placed lawfull King and supream Magistrate in the Civill government of the Country and most earnestly have prayed at all times and specially in the foresaid Sermon for the preservation and prosperous estate of his Majesty also I protest before God that neither in that Sermon nor any other I spoke these words the King is unlawfully promoted to the Crown or any words sounding thereunto for I put never in question his Majesties lawfull Authority and for his cleering he produced three famous testificats the first under the hand of all the Masters and Regents of the University the second under the hand of all the Magistrates and Common counsell of Saint Andrewes the third under the hands of the whole Classicall Presbytery of the bounds who all were his frequent hearers and the most of them had been present at the challenged Sermon all of them did testifie the Charge to be a vile calumny and that he had spoken no such words as were alleaged w The Collection Whatsoever is laid to our Brothers charge as it is false and fained of it selfe so it is forged of the Devill and his instruments to bring the faithfull servants of God in contempt for as we were continuall and diligent Auditors of his Doctrine so we beare him faithfull record in God and in conscience that we heard nothing out of his mouth neither in Doctrine nor Application which tended not directly to the glory of God and to the establishment of your Majesties Crowne and whensoever the occasion offered it selfe in speciall to speake of your Majesty we heard him never but in great zeale and earnest prayer recommend your Majesty unto his protection exhorting alwayes all manner of Subjects to acknowledge their obedience even to the meanest Magistrate also that both in his Pulpit and Chaire and ordinary discouse it was his custome to presse so much loyalty and obedience as any duty did require x Vide supraw. The witnesse brought in against him did depose nothing to his prejudice though the Chancellour Captaine James his spightfull enemy did sit in the Counsell as his Judge Yea if Spotswood may be trusted he was not found guilty of any the least part of his challeng but the sentence against him proceeded alone upon some alleaged rash words to the King in the heat of his defence y Spotswoods History yeer 1583. fol. 175. be burst forth in undutifull speeches which unreverend words did greatly offend the Counsell thereupon was he charged to enter his person in Blacknesse As for his conscience of any conspiracy he denied it upon Oath neither was any witnesse brought in to say any thing upon that alleageance if any more were needfull for the cleering of his innocence Adamsous Oath and Subscription is extant wherein he condemnes this part of the Narative of falshood and justifies Master Melvill as a most just and honest man z Adamsons Recantation in the second Act there is mention made of Master Andrew Melvill and his Sermon wrongfully condemned as factious and seditious albeit his Majesty hath had a lively tryall of that mans fidelity from time to time true it is he is earnest and zealous and can abide no corruption which most unadvisedly I attribute to a fiery and salt humour which his Majesty findeth by experience to be true for he alloweth well of him and knoweth the things that were alleaged upon him to have been false and contrived treacheries His flight no Argument of guiltinesse yea King James himself when the Commisssioners of the Church did complaine to him of these slanderous imputations did promise them under his hand that they should be rescinded a Kings Declaration always how soone the whole Ministers of Scotland shal amend their manners the foresaid Act shall be rescinded It is true that Master Melvill when he was sentenced did flee to England for his life the time being so evill that according to Spotswoods Relation the King by the practises of the Courtiers in his minority was forced b Spotswoods Story lib. 6. fol. 244. yeer 1600. Your Father said the King I was not the cause of his death it was done in my minority and by a forme of justice to permit and oversee too often the execution of divers good innocent men yet how little displeasing Master Melvils flight was to the King a short time did declare for within a few moneths he returned and was restored both to his Charge and the Kings favour c Vide supra the Collection and Recantation z wherein he did constantly continue till the death of Queen Elizabeth did call his Majesty to the Throne of England A maine cause of the extirpation of Prelacyin England a day very joyfull to both Kingdomes but most sorrowfull to the Church of Scotland for so soon as the English Prelates got King James amongst them they did not rest till Master Melvill and the prime of the Scots Divines were called up to London and onely for their necessary and just defence of the truth of God and liberties of the Church of Scotland against Episcopall usurpations were either banished or confined or so sore oppressed that griefe did break their heart and brought the most of them to their graves with sorrow the whole Discipline of the Church of Scotland was overthrowne to the very great trouble and disquieting of the Church and Kingdome This violence did lye silent under the Prelates Chaires for many yeers but at last blessed be God it has spoken to purpose it has moved the Heavens and shaken the earth to the tumbling of all these Antichristian Tyrants in the three Kingdomes with their seats of pride into the gulph of ruine whence we hope there shall be no more emersion Master Melvils Declinator and Protestation clee●ed The last thing objected to Master Mervill is his declinator of the King when the state of the Question is knowne this will appeare no great crime for the Question was not Whether Ministers be exempt from the Magistrates jurisdiction nor Whether the Pulpit puts men in a liberty to teach treason without any civill cognizance and punishment since the Reformation of Religion d Second Book of Discipline cap. 1. The Ministers should assist their Princes in all things agreeable to the Word Ministers are subject to the judgement and punishment of the Magistrate in externall things if they offend The Answer to the Declaration whereas it is said it is his Majesties intention to correct and punish such as seditiously abuse the Chaire of truth and factiously apply the Scripture to the disturbing of the Common-wealth surely his Majesties intention is good providing true tryall goe before

Divine Right with the allowance of King James and K. Charles in divers Parliaments Concerning the discharge of Church meetings not authorized by Law the Commissioners did shew the King that Church meetings were necessary to be kept being mm Animadversions we offer Vs to prove by good Warrants of the Word of God that it is lawfull to the Ecclesiastiall Estate to Convocate Assemblies and to hold the same and to appoint and order place and time for convening of the same to troat upon such matters as concerne the Kirk affaires which no wayes impaireth your Majesties civill and royall jurisdiction but rather fortifieth and decoreth the fame cōmanded of God and being such means without which the Churches and societies of the Saints could not subsist in their necessary purity and order in the time of the greatest persecutions Christians did meet in their Assemblies both for worship and discipline though the imperiall Lawes did discharge such conventions In France and Poland where the Princes are enemies to Religion yet the Protestants are permitted to keep their Assemblies for Discipline greater and smaller of all sorts as they have occasion no lesse then their meetings for the Word and Sacraments His Majesty in his reply does not deny the Commissioners allegeance onely he required a intermission of the named meetings for a short time till the whole plat-forme of Church government according to the Word of God might be finished hereby nn The Kings Declaration My meaning and Declaration is that they shall cease while a setled Policie and Jurisdiction be established according to the Commission and line of Gods Word yeelding that he beleeved the Church ought to have its owne government according to the prescription of the holy Scripture to which he purposed to submit and agree as indeed he did the yeer following agreeing to that course which the Assembly at Saint Andrewes tooke with Bishop Adamson without all contradiction and ever thereafter permitting the Ministers without any interruption to enjoy all their Ecclesiastick meetings in peace yea some few yeeres after as oft I have said he did establish by Act of Parliament the whole plat-forme of government according to their mind which abode untouched till the evill advice of the English Prelats moved him to make some breaches in that wall which thanks be to God are now fully repaired King Charles in person having lately ratified in Parliament the meeting of all our Assemblies from the lowest to the highest so fully as our hearts could wish Beside the divine right of our Church meetings for Discipline the Commishoners did demonstrate to the King the good humane right thereof in Scotland producing to him an Act of his owne first Parliament for the nationall Assembly and finall determination of all Ecclesiasticall appeales therein oo Anamadversions concerning the generall Assembly of the Kirke there is an Act the first year of your highnesse reigne ratifying the authority thereof and decerning appellations to be devolved thereto as to the last judgement of matters concerning the Kirk his Majesty likewise could not but well remember that the whole modell of Presbyteries and their proceedings had been oft in debate before him and the Counsell Table also that some few yeeres before he had sent to the generall Assembly at Clasgow his expresse order for the erection of Presbyteries in all the Shires of the Kingdome pp The Acts of the generall Assembly Instructions to our trusty and welbeloved William Cunningham of Caprinton directed by us with the advice of the Lords of our secret Counsell to the generall Assembly conveend at Gasgow April 20. 1581. followes the List of 50. Presbiteries 12. Parishes or thereabouts making up one Presbitry whence the Church came to be in a very peaceable possession of all her Assemblies nationall provincial classicall and congregationall without any controlment onely in that houre of darknesse as generally then it was called there was a short eclipse but that did quickly passe over neither did any interruption of these Church meetings come thereupon However The reprinters of this Declaration seem to be contemners of Oaths Lawes and al rights divine and humane we cannot but observe the disposition of those who with so great care and zeale set out in this paper to the world for imitation the example of a Prince although in the hour of tentation out of the which he was immediately delivered for pulling down and discharging of Presbyteries and Assemblies when established by Law and quietly possessed by a cleere Right both divine and humane We trust the honourable Houses of Parliament are farre from their mind else we should have but small comfort though we should see the Ghurch government here setled both by Law and possession for it seems that the publishers of this Writ would have us to despaire of any security to keep whatever now may be gotten Oaths Covenants Lawes Possessions must be no stronger then bonds of flax and ropes of straw which the fire of these mens wrath when ever it comes upon them will easily burne and burst asunder but it is well that Princes and Parliaments are not capable to be miscarried by the private passions of so unconstant and perfidious persons The reasons of the Act doe follow for the putting downe of the Classicall Presbytery a great misbehaviour is alledged The Presbytery of Edinburgh took upon them to diswade the Feasting of the French Embassadour and did enter in Processe with the Magistrates who at the Kings desire contrary to their advice did keepe that Feast a long and odious story of that matter is here deduced and borrowed from hence both by Spotswood in his History and Maxwell in his Issachars burthen but the truth is this A full account of the French Banquet as I finde it extracted out of the Records of the Church of Scotland by a very reverend and faithfull hand That time was one of the most sad and dangerous seasons that this Isse hath seene it was but a little after the Massacres of France and a little before the Spanish Armada about the very instant when the Catholicke League was hatched for the rooting out of Protestant Religion and all Protestant Princes especially Queene Elizabeth At this time it was when two or three French Embassadours one after another came over from France to Scotland with Instructions from the chief contrivers of that unholy League qq Vide supra Also Spotswoods history lib. 6. fo 180. year 1585. then came that holy League as they called it to be discovered which the Pope the Spanish King with the Guises and others had made to extirpate reformed Religion the Queene of England understanding her selfe to be principally aymed at c. Also the Collection Monsieur de la Motfenellon and Maningvill were sent from the King of France to strengthen the Kings faction to procure Lenox his returne to withdraw the King from the Lords The Court was then very corrupt exceeding tyrannous

evills with so great unkindnesse they were loadned with so many calumnious and contumelious aspersions the Reformation of Religion their greatest aime went so farre back before their eyes that their provocations were great to provide at last for themselves while something yet at home did remain to them to be preserved But beholding visibly in their retreat and provision for themselves the certain ruine of their unadvised friends they chused rather to put up with patience all their sufferings and quietly to wait on till the ruine of the Enemy and setling of their brethrens estate by their help might open the eyes of all and bring the most perverse to Repentance for their misbehaviour towards the instruments of their welfare especially when they did see the invincible fidelity of the Scots unbrangled with the greatest temptations Though in all their late unexpressible extremities they had received no assistance at all from England nor much importuned them for it though to their greatest griefe they did see the Gangren of Heresie and Schisme without the application of any true remedy overspreading all England so fast that the infection of Scotland with this Pestilence seemed unavoidable though the current of affaires did seem to run in that channell that the person and family of the King the authority of the Parliament the Liberties of the City and Kingdome might be cast ere long into no mall hazard our Army also and Nation for no other cause but their constant resolutions to keep to their first principles did seem to stand in a very neer possibility to be to ally destroyed yet for all this they were farre from any rash or unjust conclusion their eyes were towards the Lord they did wait for his deliverance and when by him an opportunity was put in their hands to right themselves with the disadvantage of others yet they did mannage that occasion with so much justice wisedome dexterity and successe that all the world they hope is satisfied with their honesty as of men who minded nothing more then the saving of the whole Isle from these calamities that visibly were imminent the re-establishing of the King in his throne the confirming of the Parliament City and Country in all their rights the setling of Religion and peace according to the word of God and the Lawes of the Land and their owne quick returne to their homes in very easie and equitable termes enriched with nothing so much a with a conscience of well deserving with the blessings of all England with the commendation of Neighbour nations and with the hopes of the Posterities favourable construction of their whole deportment in this great action That such a people as this should be traduced and defamed by contumelious Libels in England and that at London with the contentment or patience of any it would seeme a matter very strange if the most absurd and strange things were not here long agoe become common The third circumstance considerable The Independents and Erastians in printing and publishing this book are many waies faulty is the instruments and present publishers of this writ● That a Bishop at Oxford should have been countenanced in writing a Satyre against the Scots whom all the Malignants did hare as the chiefe and first Authors of the miscarriage of their great designe we doe not marvaile but that at London our sworn and covenanted Brethren should be avowed proclaimers of Scotlands disgrace it is a peece of singular and unexpected unkindnesse Our Brethren whether Independents or Erastians or both who have procured this Edition and with so much sedulity make it passe from hand to hand though they had been pleased to cast behind their backs all the good offices which this last century of yeares have past betwixt the Kingdomes though they had banished all gratitude towards the Scots for their late actions and sufferings though their conscience had permitted them to have trod under foot all the Oaths and Covenants whereby they stand expresly tyed to defend the Reformation of the Church of Scotland against the common Enemy Yet I would know of them how they are become thus unadvised to let their indignation against the Scottish Presbytery swell up so high as for their hatred thereunto to venture the destruction of the Parliament of England to declare all the Members of both Houses at Westminster damnable Traitors because dying in the act of Rebellion without Repentance but all who have perished on the Malignant side to be a kinde of Martyrs as being unjustly killed for their duty to God and the King to bring back Bishops to the house of Lords to put into their hands alone and that by Divine Right all the Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction of the whole Church of England And if they were resolute in their hatred of Presbytery thus far to miscarry I would further know if either the Erastians or Independents have any principles for the reduction of Poperty for the re-erection in England of Abbots Cardinals and Popes And if men against their owne principles must needs run thus mad yet that they should be permitted to act according to their madnes in the day-light under the eye and nose of so wise just and prudent a Parliament it is and will be long hereafter a matter of very great admiration especially to them who at the same time did behold some other writs for much smaller reflections purged with the hand of the Hangman by fire in many publique places and their publishers how well deserving soever otherwise both of Church and State stigmatized with notes of high infamy These three considerations are but proemicall the fourth concerning the particular matter of the Treatise is the principall If I should examine every thing it would be tedious yet shall I touch upon every passage that I conceive to be materiall This second Edition has a new Title Page The title Issachars burthen is a doltish reproach of this present Paliament and some additions in the Preface In the very inscription Issachars burthen there is a salt Gybe at the present Government that which the Proverbe wont to appropriate to the Peasants of France that they were strong Asses willing to beare all Burthens so they might live in peace in that fat soyle by this good Patriot is contumeliously applyed to England it now is the Asse crouching under two burthens if Presbyterie be the one the Parliament must be the other these be the two unsupportable burthens pointed at along all the Authors Writs the two light burthens which he every where cryes up are Monarchy scrued up to the highest pinne of Tyrannicall Prerogative and Episcopacy in all its Papall Priviledges both well fastned upon the Asses back by the cords of a Divine Right who ever for the love of peace in a plentifull Land will set their shoulders under this double burthen are Issachars Asses indeed but truly the Scots have not merited this commendation for their Land is not among the most plentifull nor have their

Treatise is but an extract of the most false and venemous parts of Spoiswoods story and an English rod or spurre for the sides of such a presumptuous Prophet we shall say no more to the Preface In the Treatise it selfe you draw your discourse to foure heads the Church Session or Congregationall Eldership the Classicall Presbytery Provinciall Synod and generall Assembly upon some of these foure you draw in what ever disgracefull Story you have either heard or read of any Churchmen of Scotland opposite to your way The great fountaine of all your bitter waters is that cistern which Spotswood of St Andrewes did endeavour all his life time to gather together in that Collection the Authors great intention was to heap up all things he conceived might make the Presbyteriall Government hatefull and the Episcopall lovely but being certain of great contradiction from many who knew as much in affairs as himselfe and were much more willing to speak truth without disguise he kept in this book while he lived that it might not see the light till after his death when he was not to be argued with for any of his lying and malicious Narrations This Manuscript falling in your hands you draw out of it what is most venemous and or that stuffe make up this present booke There are long agoe in Scotland prepared sufficient Antidotes against the poison of the whole story wherby any man may be furnished without difficulty towards the full confutation of your extracts but the grossenesse of your Lyes did cry so loud at this time for an answer that the patience of many good people admitted not of so long a delay as that I could be furnished from a far with any materials yet out of the small store of my knowledge and memory of the affaires you speake of and by some few helps which my present accomodations doe furnish I will venture to give you a sudden answer which I hope shall prove satisfactory enough to all ingenuous Readers who will not affect to cavill if there shall be found any materiall defect reply when you will you shall have a rejoynder Upon your first head of Church Sessions you spend your first three pages wherein you make us ascribe to our Congregationall Elderships much undue and tyrannick power Page 1. The Church of Scotland gives no more power to congregationall Elderships then both the Independents and Erastians doe allow To this I answer in generall First That we give no more power to congregationall Elderships then the Churches of France or Holland of new-New-England ascribe to them both in their doctrine and daily practise Secondly the power we ascribe to them cannot be challenged either by Independents or Erastians for the Independents great plea with us is about the defect that we give not power enough to that Court with our excesse herein they were never offended as for the Erastians they will not question with us about any power which the Parliament will be pleased to allow unto that Eldership now your selfe doth know that our Church Sessions practise not any power but that which the Acts of our Parliament do warrant our liberty there is not astricted to any certaine enumerate cases but I dare say that in many yeares we will not have occasion in our Congregationall Elderships to meddle in any case which even this Parliament hath not already allowed or will not as I conceive be willing upon the first Emergency to allow I grant you Prelates are here our opposites The ground of the Prelates quarrell is absurd but how justly let equitable men judge you tell us that congregationall Elderships ought to have no power at all because forsooth the whole power of all spirituall jurisdiction must reside in the Bishop alone It is your principle that in all the Preachers and in all the Congregations of the whole Diocesse yea of the whole Kingdome there is not so much power as to give to any man for what ever crime a publike admonition yet any Lay man in the Kingdom or out of the Kingdom whom the Bishop is pleased to make his Officiall or Chancellor may keep a Court in any part of the Diocesse and therein passe a sentence of Excommunication against the best Pastors and chiefe Members of any Congregation because the Scots since their first Reformation could never by any Art nor by any Force be gotten inslaved to such a Tiranny therefore it is that you your Colleagues and your Fathers have been offended with them and in your anger have invented these calumnies which here you are pleased to object The first particular crime which ye lay to our charge is The Prelates give much more Ecclesiasticall power to Laymen then we to ruling ●lders That we doe give some power of spirituall jurisdiction to ruling Elders and that by a Divine Right We grant the charge and thinke it easie to demonstrate the warrant of our Tenet both from Scripture and the practise of all the ancient and all the reformed Churches but it is needlesse here to digresse into that debate for this is not your maine quarrell with us that we give some power or jurisdiction to those you call Lay-Elders but that we ascribe any part of jurisdiction to any at all beside the Bishop for you know it is an Article of the Prelaticall Creed That a preaching Elder hath no more interest in jurisdiction then a lay Elder that for this kinde of power Priest and people are all alike That neither of them of themselves by vertue of their office have any dram thereof yet by vertue of a Commission from the Bishop either of them is capable of a pleni-potency and are able to doe the acts of the highest spirituall jurisdiction what the Iesuites were wont to ascribe unto the Pope in the Church universall That the Bishop takes to himself in his own Diocesse he and he alone by Divine right is the head the sun the fountaine the onely receptacle of all spirituall jurisdiction which he keeps to himselfe or communicates to be execute by others for the time the measure the persons according to his own good pleasure The Erastian principle is only different in this that they pull the Pope and the Bishop out of the chaire that there may be roome to set downe the Magistrate in their place What you speak of the Deacons it is a mistake We grant to Deacons no power of jurisdicton we wish there were Doctors in populous congregations page 2. In some few congregations Elders have a dispensation for a time for albeit they be present in the Eldership to receive their directions for the poore yet they doe not voice in any well governed Eldership nor do they claime any power in jurisdiction Concerning Doctors that populous Congregations wants them it comes not from any designe but for want either of meanes or of Idoneous and willing persons What you speake of the yearely election of Elders the matter is this There is

not in any Congregation of Scotland which I doe know a yearly election of Elders but in populous Cities where the Elders are many and diverse of them unable to attend that charge without the hurt of their estate the most of them being Merchants and Tradesmen who must travell for their livelyhood they have a liberty to be free from that service every two yeere if so they be content to attend upon a call every third yeere the Levites attended the service of the Temple but a few months in the yeare What is right or wrong in this custome of some few of our Congregations we are willing to debate it and as it shall be found just or unjust to keep or change that practise for in such things we love not to be contentious In your three last Sections yee do cast upon the Eldership in hand a rabble of incongruous practises Page 3. No Eldership inflicts any civill punishment although the Magistrate in the Eldership doth so sometimes what you bring of pecuniary mulcts imprisonments banishments jogges cutting of haire and such like it becomes neither you to charge nor us to be charged with any such matters No Church-assembly in Scotland assumes the least degree of power to inflict the smallest civill punishment upon any person the Generall Assembly it selfe bath no power to fine any creature so much as in one groat It is true the Lawes of the Land appoint ●ecuniary mulcts imprisonment joggs pillories and banishment for some odious crimes and the power of putting these Laws in execution is placed by the Parliament in the hands of the in●eriour Magistrates in Burroughs or Shires or of others to whom the Counsel Table gives a speciall Commission for that end ordinarily some of these civill persons are ruling Elders and sit with the Eldership So when the Eldership have cognosced upon the scandall alone of criminall persons and have used their spirituall censures only to bring the party to Repentance some of the Ruling Elders by vertue of their civill office or commission will impose a Mulct or send to Prison or stocks or banish out of the bounds of some little circuit according as the Acts of Parliament or counsell do appoint it But that the Eldership should imploy its Eccclesiastick and Spirituall power for any such end none of us doe defend That either in Scotland or any where else in the world the haire of any person is commanded to be cut by any Church judicatory for disgrace and punishment is as I take it but a foolish fable That any person truely penitent is threatned in Scotland with Church censures for non-payment of Monies is in the former Category of calumnies But suppose that all your alleagations were true Bishops confound miserably the spirituall and civill office yet how congruously does a challenge of this kind come from your mouth do you think that all civill imployments are incompatible with spirituall offices How many Ministers did you get to be Iustices of Peace you your selfe were a judge of Common-pleas your colleague S. Andrewes was Chancellor of the Kingdom you know the Treasurers white staffe was very neer to your hands and for the missing of it what stir you made Many of you were Lords of Councel and all of you Lords both of Parliament and temporall Lordships and Regalities where your Baylies kept Court in your names diverse of your Coat with your good liking have been Secretaries of State Keepers of the Privy Seale Leger Ambassadors with forraign Princes your brethren over Sea in France and Spaine Germany and Italy are Admirals of Royall Navies are Generals of Land forces are Princes of Temporall Estates according to these principles that I thinke you doe approve according to your Cannons in Scotland and your ordinary practise in England Great summes of mony were exacted in your spirituall Courts and pocketed up for private uses how many have been excommunicate there for non-payment of a shilling and refused absolution till their fine was payed with increase what do you speak to us of a pecuniary mulct of a very small and unconsiderable value taken up by the Magistrate and imployed only in pious uses Why doe you speak to us of cutting of Beards when your Prelates doe burne the cheeks how many gracious soules have been starved to death in your Episcopall dungeous how many thousands have you banished out of Bricaine out of Europe for no fault at all but their zeale to the truth of God how many hundred thousand hath your pride and obstinacy in error caused to be slaine within these seven yeares in the next age ignorant men may be pardoned to deny these things but it were great impudence this day to deny them when yet we do sticke in the Pit of these troubles wherein the madnesse of you Prelates hath cast us Your objection about the Baptisme of Bastards is vain We refuse Baptism to no insant where either of the Parents will undertake for Christian education for we refuse not that Sacrament to any of them if either of the Parents profesie Repentance and undertake for the Christian education of their child but the ground of your quarrelling in this Point is that we cannot follow your Popish Doctrine that we refute to professe the actuall regeneration of all baptized Infants and that we dare not put all unbaptized persons in the state of unregeneration and damnation Your next head concerns the Classicall Presbytery Page 4 5. No Prince pleads for any exemption from Ecclesiastick jurisdiction your first Objection against it which a little thereafter and oft elsewhere you do ingeminate is That the King and his family are subject to its Jurisdiction I would gladly know if among the rest of the Prelaticall absurd ties this were one That Christian Princes and Magistrates are fully exempted from all Ecclesiastick jurisdiction sometimes your party would seem to speake so as if every Magistrate at least every Prince were such a God upon earth that none might say to any of them Sir what are you doing though they were running to hell themselves and drawing at their heels all they were able This is so grosse a flattery that all advised Princes abhorre it and confesse themselves to be subject to Ecclesiasticall Discipline as well as others for they know if they should exempt themselves from this part of Christian religion they should presently be in hazard or loosing the benefit of all the rest for Christianity is a body of Articles so straitly joyned that either all must be received or none You your selfe though among the absurdest of all your faction do confesse so much as any Presbyterian in the world did ever thinke of you say that the Crowne and Scepter is subject not only to the directive power of the Church expound the Church as you will for a Congregationall Classicall or Nationall Eldership it is alike for the present Question but also to the authoritative power of the same whereby the

and oppressive both of the Nobility and Ministers Jesuites and Priests did flocke from beyond Sea in greater numbers then ever rr Collection hee procured Protections for Jesuites and trafficking Papists St. Andrews story li. 3. fol. 165. yeare 1579. this dissention betwixt the King and the Church brought with it many evils for upon the notice of it divers Jesuites and Priests did resort into the Country and at home such as were Popishly affected began openly to avow their profession the professed negotiation of the French Agents was to restore Queen Mary the trafiquers in that businesse were received with extraordinary curtefies All this did fill the hearts of the people both with griefe and feare for the undermining of their Religion for the destruction of their King and ruine of the Kingdome These passions increased when they did see the English Embassadors at that same time used in a much divers fashion railed upon by rascals in the streets vexed with infamous Libels fixed upon the doores of their Lodgings endangered in their persons by Pistols shot in at their windowes ſſ Spotswoods History lib. 6. fol. 173. yeare 1582. La Mot came by England having the same Instructions to renew the purpose of the Association which was set on foot the yeere before and almost concluded in this sort that the Queene of Scots should communicate the Crowne with her Son and both be joyned in the administration of affaires but upon the Dukes sequestring from Court it was left off and not mentioned againe till now The Collection The Queen of Englands Ambassadour Master Randall was abused with infamous Libels affixed upon the doore of his Lodging the chiefe Courtiers withdrew their countenance from him such as resorted to him were observed an Harquebus charged with two bullets was shot in at his chamber window where he usually sate and all this without any punishment upon the authors of such atrocious contumilies In this posture of affaires to tempt yet further the patience of honest people some French Merchants did move the King to desire the Magistrates of Edenborough to invite the French Agent to a publick Feast tt Collection While La Mot is thus practising some French Merchants in Edenborough for their owne commodity caused it to be motioned to the King to send one to the Counsell of Edenborough to give the French Ambassadour a Banquet the Counsell refusing the King was offended and alleaged the motion came from themselves the matter was againe debated in Counsell in end the best part of the Counsell contradicting it was concluded the Banquet should be made whereupon the Session of the Kirke resolved upon a Fast or rather abstinence that day the Presbytery knew nothing of it the unseasonablenesse of the time made the desire grievous to the Magistrates and therefore they declined it with a faire excuse yet the King was moved to presse them againe the motion being brought to the Common Counsell of the Town the Plurality yeelded though the most of the Magistrates and best part of the Counsellours were dissenting w Vide supra tt This matter being offensive to the Church Session or Congregational Eldership the day of the French Festival by the joint advice of the Magistrates Ministers and the rest who were present was appointed to be a day of Preaching and prayer xx The Censure The Allegeance that the Presbytery of Edenbrough did appoint a Fast to be kept upon the day that the French Ambassadour was Banqueted by the Towne of Edenborough is false for not the Towne but some French factioners in the Towne Banqueted the Ambassadours three Bailies the greatest part of the Counsell and some of the Kings Privy Counsell were in the Church in the time of the Banquet not the Presbytery but the particular Session of the Kirke of Edinborough with the advice of so many Magistrates and Counsellours as were not contrivers of the Banquet appointed a voluntary abstinence this was thought to be the fairest way with the least offence to hinder if it might be that offensive and unseasonable Banquet as for any processe of excommunication intended against them who choosed rather to feast with the French then to pray with the City and most of the Magistrates I take it but for a meer fable for albeit the Author therof Adamson had not acknowledged his Narration of the Banquet to be false as he does expresly yy Adamsons Recantation My good will was I protest to have condemned every point yea even to the false Narration of the Banquet and all the rest contained in that little Treatise called the Declaration of the Kings Majesties intentions as I acknowledge they deserve to be condemned by the censure and judgment of the Kirk yet why should we have taken it in any other sense then the other passages of the same Pamphlet wherein he avowes the Presbyteries to have put out innumerable Orders directly opposite to the King and have sent Lawes and Commands to his Majesty under the paine of Excommunication zz Vide the printed Declaration which all the world sees setting aside the Authors confession to be meer lyes and notorious calumnies aaa The Censure that the Assembly was accustomed to prescribe Lawes to the King and Counsell under paine of Excommunication to appoint no Bishops in time to come such calumnies are not worthy to be answered for to draw out of the pure fountaines of Gods word an Ecclesiasticall Canon agreeable to the same and to suit like humble Suppliants the approbation of the same is the dutie of the Kirke this is not a prescribing of Lawes to the King and Estates But suppose that all the alledged circumstances of that sad festivall The extreame unjustice of the Prelats of old and Era 〈◊〉 now against the Presbytery had beene all true yet could this trespasse be no otherwise expiate then by the very abolition not onely of that Judicatory whence the overture did proceed but also of all the Judicatories of that kinde in the whole Kingdome being altogether ignorant and innocent of the transgression and though the Episcopall rigour should have been thus transcendent yet what shadow of reason could be brought for the overthrow of the Classes for the trespasse of the Congregadonall Eldership It was not the Classicall Presbytery of Edinborough but the Towne Session that was alledged to be the delinquent We wonder not when Prelates are Counsellors to see strange and unheard of rules of Justice but of this we marvaile that the Leaders of the Independent or Erastian party should be so well pleased with such patternes as not to have patience to have them at this time concealed but will needs have them brought forth of the grave of oblivion where long they lay buried to be looked upon by the State at this time as ruled cases for their imitation As for the abolition of the generall Assembly three of their offences are named their approbation of the road of Ruthven