published the Prelates hereat were so daunted as their courage began to faile (b) So will the hearts faile of our Bb. if the State deale roundly with them For they may be well compared to the Crocodile who is feirce and terrible to such as feare her run from her But of no courage in standing out against strong oppostion Or rather like the Asse that wrapt himselfe in the Lyons skin and marched a farre of to strike terrour in the hearts of the Beasts but when the Fox drew neere he not only perceived his long ears but likewise discovered him made him a jest to all the Beasts of the forrest them what to doe they know not for they perceive that their Kingdome of Darknes is now falling (c) Mise perceiving that the House wherin they are is about to fall do incontently leave the place These Bb. shewed the wit of a Mouse in running away in time and for my part I cannot blame them much for it neither would be very sory if ours would doe so too considering they know that their cause is so ill as they cannot with comfort stay and suffer for it and out they must Hereupon some of them secretly fled away into England and these poore hearts being full of greefe used sundry episcopall meanes or antidotes to expell the venemous desease which they brought with them from Scotland and among other chose helpes as fitting best their place and calling two or three of them made themselves starke drunke and in one night brake 12 or 14 dozen of venice glasses in drinking healths over and over to the confusion of their enemies Others of them in the mean time imployed themselves in the affaires of their state and craued his Majesties ayd and assistance and to prevaile this way they made greevious complaints against the Scotts and perswaded the King to take up armes against them (a) The Peast Duron perceiving her selfe almost takē avoyds a great deal of dung thinking by the noy somnes thereof to hinder the hunters from following her This filthy shift d ee the Bb. use for when they see that the State hath almost eatch them they seeke to eseape by avoiding their dung that is secrerly reporting to the King many lies and vile slaunders against the hunters of them for seeing faire meanes would not doe it fowl meanes might moreover they would perswade him that it could not stand with his honour (b) I know not any Honour or good Service that ever his Majesty had by them but rather Iosse prejudice for as the ivie claspes the oake only to suck out sap from it for her leaves her ries so these seeke to be in Princes favour only thereby to rayse themselves and for nothing else safety to suffer (c) The finer parts being severed from the grosser there followes clearenes sweetnes purenes c. So when our Land is once purged from the infection of the Prelacie both King and Subjects will doe the better after that Kingdome to bee without Bb. Great joy (d) The like cause of rejoycing the Lord send to England For I am sure they have occasioned sorrow greife to her these many yeares there was in Scotland when they heard the Bitesheepes had left them and the saying every where was The Lord hath don great things for vs. And now they found that true in Prav and that in the Poes Venit post multos vnaserenae dies And because they resolved to keepe peace (e) Our Prelates are like Nahash the Ammonite who would not be at peace with Iabesh Gilead unlesse he might trust out all their right eyes So they cannot abide any man neither will have accord with him but persecute him to the death Who will not sinne against knowedge conscience in yeelding to their filthy baggage trash with holines among them they tooke counsell what was best to bee don for the effecting hereof If was at last by mutially consent agreed vpon to renew their ancient Covenant with God one with another the which band or Covenant being composed it was generally subscribed too by all the better sort in the Kingdome And as I have heard one maine reason wherefore they were so carefull to take such a course as the Prelates should no more come among them was in regard they saw such cruelty and basenese in the English Bb. (f) Such is there basenes that they are spoken of everywhere and in truth sorraigne nations doe admire that so generous a nation as the English can suffer such Dunghill Wormes to exercise the crueltie that they doe over them But I beleeve England will vindicate her Honour shortly this way and like Scotland will drive away these Locusts from her Coast And then it will truely be said of both Kingdomes what is commonly said Great Brittaine the most renovvne and famous I le in the World for said they howsoever hetherto Ours have not don so wickedly as they yet who knowes what they may doe in time therefore it is good to keepe them out whiles they are The Confession followes THis Covenant beeing made and order given for subscription to it throughout the Land the Bb. hereat reged beyond measure And like Athaliah cryed out Treason Treason (a) The Prelates are like him who beeing only guilty of follome Yet in the persuru cries out as mainly as he can stop the theefe stop the theefe not caring who is apprehended so himselfe may escape without daunger So they howl it the Arch traitors to God and the King notwithstaning are so impudent as to chardge others with such crimes as themselves only are guilty of And because they saw it was in vaine for them to use the courses which they had done before viz. of silencing banishing imprisoning fining c. for no man now would be so used by them b We doe much dishonour the Gospell to obey any of the Bb. Articles Canons Censures c. the same beeing against Gods Law and Acts of Parliament Bur rather stand fast as the brave Scots in our Christian Libertie and say to those workers of iniquitie as Christ will say one day to them depart yee cursed of the Lord we know you not they be ganne to make ojbections against the Covenant as thus (c) If the Prelates could not helpe themselves mere by their Pursevants Iayles Pillaries c. then they can by disputation as no man now loves them so then no bodie woald feare them For assoon may a man perswade ihem to hang themselves in their Courts as to reason by the Word of God with any godly man that comes before them All their abilitie lies in this terrible argument Take him away Jaylor 1. They produce an Act of Parliament An. 1585. which prohibited all leagues and bands made by subjects without the Kings consent under paine as beeing holden and punished as movers of Sedition and such is this Covenant and subscription to this
THE BEAST IS WOVNDED OR Information from Scotland concerning their Reformation Wherein Is breifly declared the true cause and ground of all the late Troubles there and the reasons why they have rejected the Bishops with their Courts Canons Ceremonies and Service-booke Hereto Is added some fruitfull observations upon the former declaration by Io Bastwicks younger Brother JVDG 5.31 So let thine Enemies perish O Lord. The first part Printed in the yeare that the Bishops had their downefall in SCOTLAND TO THE READER COurteous Reader it is a note as the Wise-man noteth it of a foole to beleeve every thing I doubt not but thou hast heard much of the Troubles in Scotland Now that thou mayst not justifie the wicked and condemne the just which are both abomination to the Lord. I have thought fitt for thy good to publ sh this short relation It came to me from such persons as doe well know the proceedings of things there from first to last and therefore thou mayst be confident that the same is trùe It seemes by some notes which I finde in the margent that it was sent from a Scotsman to some good freind that he had in England and in likelihood a strict Nonconformist who shewes his good desire that England might bè reduced unto Scotlands Reformamation and not Stotland to Englands Deformation But not beeing willing to write of things whereof I have no cerraine knowledge I will therefore be silent and leave thee to the reading of the discourse IT was the desire of King Iames by whose instigation I know not (a) It was some Bish a thousand to one else For what mischiefe is there specially if done against the true worship of God but these Creatures of the Earth have their hāds chiefly in it See Syons-plea A Looking glasse for the Prelates the Abreviate c. that the Church of Scotland would admitt that such men as stood Ministers to those Churches which in the time of Poperie were called Bishopricks might have the Title of Lord-Bishops and voyces in Parliament (b) Parliaments will doe better without these men For they well resemble that filthy bird which caries this motto contactu omnia faedat To this the people consented (c) Better they had not for they have smarted for it ever since as their owne relation here manifesteth As the Trōians in consenting to take the Horse into their Citie had their citie spoyled by it So from the Hierarchy as out of the Troians Horses belly hath issued the cause ground of al their late troubles Se Pro. 29 2. and in the yeare 1602. it was by a Parliament confirmed Yet so as with certaine provisoes and conditions then and there expressed That is that all such as were then resident in such places and all such as afterwards should happen to be presented to them should by solemne Oath and publick subscription sweare and be obliged neither to propound nor give consent to any thing propounded in Parliament without a precedent Commission of a generall assembly Moreover that they should not pretend any authority or jurisdiction above other Ministers and that they should be as lyable and subject as any other Ministers to the Sentence and Censure of Presbyteries Provinciall and Nationall Synods To bee short if they transgressed either against those rules or any other institution which the Church tyed them unto they might be and should be excommunicated by the Pres-bytery and Synod and deposed a beneficio officio (d) Jf we had such Law with us in Englād executed we should not be troubled long with Bb nor any of that Brood downward to the Parater For their blasphemies treasōs murders c are so obvious to all mens eyes As the severest punishmēts in any civil Court would be light enought to be laid upon them See Quench-Coale Epist Remonst the last Parl. Howsoever at the first thus they were sworne to doe And were admitted no otherwise neither upon other tearmes but what is before expressed Notwithstanding they having gotten a footing it was not long ere they brake their Oath and attempted many unlawful actions to the great dishonour of Gods name the scandall of the Gospell and to the likely dissipation of the whole Church had not the Lord prevented it by a wonderfull deliverance (a) Such a deliverance God grant England and when we see it we will say thy right hand O Lord is become glorious in power thy right hand O Lord hath dashed in peeces the enemies and good cause too for this would prove to our Land a greater blessing thenwas our deliverance from the Gunpowder treason And therefore wee would nor faile to keepe a day of thankesgiving in remembrance of it as did the Iewes after Hamon and his Sonnes were hangd It would required a large volume to set downe all the particular evils and troubles which those Lordly Prelates brought upon that Church And more would have brought had not their hornes (b) By the Hornes of the Beast is meant the Antichristiā power which they exercise over their brethren By which as a Beast with hornes they push the godly sometime into prison other-while to the Pillary many times into forreigne Countries so that untill these hornes bee cut off there is no keeping house with them beene cut off Among other acts of their Lordly Government they tooke upon them to depose Ministers as they pleased and when they pleased And admitted sundry scandalous persons (c) The Prelates in Scotlād never shewed so much prophanes this way as ours have done For whereas idolaters adulterers lyars forcerers whoremonngers theeves drunkards quid non are allowed and liked off On the contrary they suppresse all them who will not be their Drudges to serve thē and their great Landlord the Pope witnes Wren the Norridge Beast See the unbish of Timot. and Tit. like themselves to the Ministery and chardge of Soules And kept back from the Ministery all honest and able men what they could And not contented with this they procured from the King a warrant under the shew or pretence whereof they silenced the most Godly learned and faithfull Ministers in the Kingdome And also by the same authorities they brought into the Church many Popish Ceremonies to the generall greife of the godly both there and in many other places And these great abuses of theirs they brough the sooner easier to passe in regard there were some Courtiers and Counsellers about his Majestie that were Popishly affected and bore ill will to Sion this is cleare in the cause of Melvin Forbes Bruce and others Worthies of that Church who were exiled (d) Doth the Church of Scotland reckon it for one of her greevances that they have unjustly banished some of her Ministers How then would they have taken it had they seene them whipt in their streetes stood on Pillaries burnd-marked 〈…〉 about the time that the Earl of Northhamton and B. Bancroft had greatest acceptation
their dore for prevention whereof made choyse of one or two of the gravest Ministers in every Presbytery one or two discreet gentlemen of every Shier to present their complaints remonstrances and greviances to the Councill that by their mediation and meanes his Maiesty might be acquanted with the same These Commisioners upon Sept. 23 Oct. 15. and Decem. 7. 27. gave in vnto the Councill such supplications as were fit for his Maiesties information and specially that his subjects feared (a) Our is more then a feare of innovation for wee have sundry innovations established among us and the Prelates set their jornymen on vvork to defend them as Heylen Reed Pocklington and such like Trencher Mates Besides his ungracious graceles Speech in the Star-Chamber an innovation in religion wherby the common wealth was likely to suffer much (b) They set us down a good patterne to follow That is to write up the wicked workes of the Prelates and present them to his Majesty and I verelie thinke if the King were rightly informed what knowne Traitors they are to God to him to the Land and true Religion and how detestable they are in the eyes of his people and how much it doth alienate his subjects affections from his Majesty that such WORKERS OF INIQVITIE are suffered I say if Majestie were thorowly possessed hereof my mind gives me they should not tarie in his sight The Bishops perceiving that their workes of darkenese w now cōming to light that the Commissioners taxed them that to true for many tresonable assaults against their Religion established by law and many yeares peaceable professed and also for seeking by crafty wayes to bring into the Church the rags and dregs of the Babilonian whore the Bb I say perceiving this vse meanes that the King would referre all to the Councell whereof themselves were a great part and truly this was no small point of wisedome in their Lordships for they were not so blind but they could see well enough that unlesse they themselues might bee judges in their owne Case they would bee judged by others to be Vnsavery salt and hence forth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be troden under foot (c) What greater dishonour can it be to our Nation then to suffer such in high and eminent places who in the esteeme of other Natiōs are fitt only for the dunghil And that there ravenous wolues (d) If the Church of Scotland doe so Iudge of them then let them beware that they doe not upon any tearmes admitt of them againe For wolves beeing kept a while from their prey doe afterwards fall a devouring the more eagerlie and greedily so will those spirituall Wolves doe if they can get againe into their places might escape the hands of such as were hunting after them they procure by whose meanes I know not a Proclamation to bee published in Eden sebr 19. 1638. wherein all the aforesaid Commisioners the hunters of the Fox were commanded vnder paine of treason to leaue the townes of Eden and Starling within six houres after the publication of the same the words of the Proclamation are as followes CHARLES c. For so much as we out of our Princery care (a) (a) If Princes will take care for Religion they must doe then what the Word of God directeth the and not what superstitious Prelates for their case profitt pleasure and such worldly respects perswade them to doc See Psal 119.24 Gal. 4 18. of maintaining the true Religion all ready professed so beating downe all superstition Having ordained a booke of common prayer to bee compiled for the generall and vniversall use edification (b) (b) Hoccine credibile aut memorabile Will Satan cast out Satan He were an unwise man that would bee perswaded that the way to get light into his house were by shutting his doorers windows They that should cast aside the true worship of Christ and thinke to edifie themselves better by using the superstitions service-booke would shew themselves were foolish of our subjects within our ancient Kingdome of Scotland the same being accordingly don In the framing whereof we tooke great care (c) (c) I beleeve the Bb. tooke great care paines to have it as full of superstition as they could but blessed be God their labour was as vaine as their worke and I hope the great care paines that Laud and his Mates the Iesuites now take to bring in Poperie will prove so to that is the contrivers either forced to fly into other Countries or hangd up at home for their treacherie and villanie paines so that there is nothing past therein but was seen and approved by us before the same was divulgated or printed assuring all our loving subjects that not only our intention is but even this very booke a ready meanes to maintaine the true Religion already professed and beat out all superstition of which in our owne time we not doubt but in a faire course to satisfie the judgments of our good subjects But having seen and considered some petitions and declarations given into our counsell against the said Booke and late CANNONS of the booke find our regall authority much iniured thereby both in the matter and the carrage whereby wee certifie these of the Nobility Gentry Barrons Ministers and others who have keept and assisted those meetings and convocations for contriving and subscribing of the said petitions to be liable (d) (d) Better that men censured us for well dooing then that Christ in the last day should passe sentence of condemnation against us for yeelding unto their unjust demaunds to our censure in their persons and fortunes they having conveyned themselves without consent or authority Yet because wee beleeve that they have done herein only out of a preposterous zeale and without disloyalty or disaffection in our Soveraingty Our gracious pleasure so farr as concernes those metings for consulting and subscription of the said petitions or presenting of the same to any judges of this Kingdom is to dispence therewith and with what may bee the fault or error therein to all such as upon signfication or declaration of this our pleasure shall retaine themselves as become good and dutifull subjects (e) (e) As the 3 Nobles in Daniel were the Kings good and dutifull subjects albeit they bowed not before the image So are the Nobilitie Gentry Ministers in Scotland good dutifull subjects although they refuse the service-booke Yea to say the truth they are better subjects to his Majestie then such as conforme to it here in England To which purpose OVR WILL is henceforth and we charge you straghtly and commaund that incontinetly these our letters seene the particulers in our name authority proclamation therof be made to all our leige subjects in all places needfull that soe none pretend ignorance hereof and therewithall in our name and authoroty (a) (a) It is
no new thing for Princes by the instigation of wicked Prelates to have their names and authority abused I has was Consiantines authority abused when he authorized by the perswasion of Bb. the Arrian Haeresie So Theodesius when he established the Haeresie of Entiches So Arcedins when hee banished Chrisostome that ye discharge charge all such convocations (b) (b) The way for his Majestie to have such convocations meetings discharged is to discharge the Bb. of their power and places and in his name authority to call a Parliament and willingly to suffer a legall pro ceeding against the Prelates and in this God shall have glery the King honour the Land peace and the enemies of the Lord their due desert and untill this be neither England nor Scotland wil see good dayes meetings in time to come vnder the penalty of Treason and also that ye command charge and inhibit our leiges and subjects that none of them on any hand presume to resort or repaire to the Burrough of Starling nor to any other Burrough where our counsell and Session sits till first they declare the cause of their comming to our counsell and declare their warrant to that effect And further that wee command and charge all and Sundrie Provosts Bayleives and Magistrates within their Burroughs that they and every one of them have a speciall care and regard to see this our Royall will and pleasure readily and dutifully observed in all points and that no violence bee suffered within your bounds under all the highest penalty crime or offence that they may commit against us in that behalfe And also that ye commaund and charge all and sundry Noblemen Barrons Burgesses who are not actually indwellers within the Burrough neither are of number of the privy counsell and Session and members therof and are already within this Burrough that they and euery one of them remoue themselves and depart and passe forth of the said Burrough and not returne againe without the said warrant within Six houres after the publication hereof vnder the said penalty of Treason (c) (c) It is high time for the Nobilitie both in Scotland England to looke about them considering the monstrous unparaled presumption of Bb. who are growne so impudent as they are not affraid to perswade Kings to proclaime all the great Peeres and Princes of the Land Traitors Rebels if they will not become the which used to bite people and howsoever he was spoken often unto of it yethee reformed it not At last the curre wounded the man himselfe his Children at this he was very angry and caused the curre to be hanged immediately We poore men have been a long time biten by the Prelaticall Dogs and we have complained thereof to your Honours but you 〈…〉 And as concerning any petitions that shall hereafter be given to vs upon this or any otner Subject wee are likewise pleased to declare that wee will not shut our cares there from Soe it bee not prejudiciall to our royall authority Given at Starling vnder our Signet the 19 of Febr 1638. Per actum Dominorum Consily For the safety of religion the honour of the King and the lawfull liberties and previledges of the subjects the Nobility and Commissioners aforesaid were forced to publish a protestation against the Proclamation and thus they say WEE Noble men (a) (a) It is a thing to bee wished that our Noblemen Barens and Ministers would take to heart the greevances of the time and joyntly seek by a lawful way the redresse thereof We see in Worldly matters what one cannot doe many can So in this case howsoever some few single men have not prevailed with the King to east out the bond-woman her children yet if there be a general seeking by the whole Nation there is no fear but he will give a gracious answere Barrons and Ministers appointed to attend his Majesties answer vnte our humble petitions and to present our gree uances and to doe what else might lawfully conduce to our humble desires Did upon the 13. of September last present one supplication to your Lordships and another upon October following as also a new relatiue to the former in December after the 19. day In all which wee humbly remonstrated our iust exceptions against the Service book booke of Cannons Arch-Bishops and Biships of this Kingdom as the contrivers (b) (b) They may wel be called contrivers for I know not for what use they are in all the world unlesse it bee to contrive wayes how to suppresse Christs Kingdome to advance Antichrist meanteaners urgers thereof against their sitting as our Judges (c) (c) When will theeves murderers c. be punished if none but themselves may judge their cause Might the Bb. be brought to an impartiall triall no doubt but they would be soone condemned for notorious malefactors But if their facts may not be examined any where but where they themselves are Iudges it wil be long enought before they suffer according to their merit until the causes betweene them and us bee decided And withall wee earnestly suplicated to beeridd and delivered frō these evils (d) (d) If the Scotsmen have just cause to seeke his Majestie that they may be rid of Bb. and their Tayle What cause have we then to seeke for it having beene a thousand sould more basely abused by them then ever they were Truely it is to be wondered that we are still but it may be our Nation forbeares to petition his 〈…〉 in earnest from all other innovations of that kind introducted against the laudable lawes of this Kingdome as namely that of the High Commission and other evils particularly and generally mentioned in our lupplications complaints And that these our Parties delinquent against our religion and lawes might be taken order with and these pressing greeuiances bee redressed according to the Lawes of this Realme as in our supplications wee have more largely expressed the which wee gave unto your Lordships upon the 19. December aforesaid against the Arch-Bishops and Bishops our parties who by consequence therefore neither could be nor may be our Iudges Whereupon your Lordships declared by your act given at Dealkieth the said 19 of December that you would present our Petition to his Majestie Royall consideration and that without any prejudice to us the said Supplicants and moreover that wee should bee heard (a) (a) It is a crying none of this Land that the poore mans cry is not heard And this comes to passe through the crast of Prelates who seeke to have their causes justified in all Courts without any triall or examination If a Bat touch a Storkes egge it becomes they say addle after I know not what the secret operation is that Bb. have in their touch But this I know by their touch they make many addle egges or rather addle heads both in Church and Common-wealth in time and place convenient
and in the meane time we should receaue no prejudice as the said act it selfe testifies for us Now whereas wee your supplicants with long patitence and hope grounded upon sundry promises were exspecting an answere unto our fore named humble desires wee understood of some direction from his Majestie to your Lords of his highnes privy counsell touching our complaints and upon the same addmitted the consulting and iudging (b) (b) If the Nobilitie Barons ' Ministers c. had submitted their cause upon the Kings Commaundement to the Bb. their Church had not been so soone purged of Romish Superstition And for our parts unlesse with the Noole Scots we refuse to admitt them for our Iudges we shall never shake them of with their spirituall whoredoms both of our supplication and the Kings answere there to vnto the Arch-Bishops and Bishops our direct par-ties Contrary to our protestation given at Dealkeeth and since renued at Starling and contrary to your Lordships foresaid act (c) (c) It much impeacheth the honour and reputation of Statesmen to comply with Prelates For howsoever they hould up their heads looke bigge upon the matter Blesse themselves yet by good bad they are hated all the Land over and it is a received Maxime among the people that he cannot be honest and be for the Bishopes If a Horse chance to steppe in the track of a Wolfe he is made lame by it These Wolves have the like strange operation for whosoever comes into their way he halts for ever 〈…〉 made at Dealkeeth Least therefore our silence should bee prejudiciall to this soe importunate a cause as concernes Gods Glory and worship our Religion and Salvation the lawes and Liberties of this Kingdome or derogatory to our former supplications and complaints or in briefe not answerable to the trust of our commission wee are forced out of our bounden duty to God our King and natiue Country to take instrument in the no taries and Clarkes hands seeing your Lordships refuse to admit our Declimiter for remouall of these of our parties and to protest in manner following 1. Wee protest that wee may and ought to have a immediate course to present our iust greeviances to our sacred Soverainge and in a legall way and manner to prosecute the same before the ordinarie competent judges Civill or Ecclesiasticall without any offence either offred by us or taken by your Lordships 2. We protest that the Arch-Bishops and Bishops the parties whome wee complaine vpon cannot bee reputed or esteemed lawfull iudges to sit in iudicatory within this Kingdome Civill or Ecclesiasticall upon any of us the said supplicants untill they doe by lawfull tryall iuditiously purge themselves of such crimes as wee have already laid to their Charge offering our selves to prove the same whensoever his Majesty shal be pleased to give vs audience 3. Wee protest that no act (a) (a) Our Land would be happie if it were free from the unjust acts and Censures of Orelates For trulie Israel never sighed more under the Egyptian bondage thē the better sort everywhere cry out complaine of their oppression and crueltie It may be they thinke that our consciences like Sampsons Shouldiers are strong enought to beare all the loads they lay upon us But our State hath learned now of Scot land how to bee eased of their burdē or proclamation whether pasd or here after shall passe in the counsell and by the states of Arch-Bishops and Bishops our par-ties and whome we have declyned to be our Iudges shall in no wise be preiudicall to us that is either to our persons or lawfull meetings proceedings and persuits 4. We protest that neither our selves nor any others (b) (b) It is a sweet Harmony when mē joyn together in good actions Certainly were there such an accord among the Nobilitie Barons Ministers her e in Englād It vvould make these proud Nimrods harts to quake For their hope of standing is in regard of the divisions in the Nobility Ministers c. but my minde gives me God vvill put it into their hearts shortly to shevv thē a Scots trick whose hearts the Lord shall moue to joyne with vs in our supplications against the aforesaid innovations shall incurre any danger either in life lands or any politicall or Ecclesiasticall penaltie For not observing such acts Bookes Cannons Writs judicatories and proclamations introduced without or against the acts of Parliament or statutes of this Kingdome But it shal be lawfull for us and them to use our selves in matters of Religion (c) (c) The Scots Nation is vvorthy of honour above many Nations For that in Religion they have not beene the Servants of men neither follovved their Kings othervvise then their Kings have followed Christ Contrariwise it is the shame blott of our Nation that in matters of Gods worship we are as our Princes are and ready to turne and change as they doe and what doth this argue but that men serve not the Lord Iesus but their owne bellies or the externall worship of God and policie of the Church according to the word of God and the laudable constitutions of this Church and Kingdome 5. Seeing all such as have taken these innovations to heart have by a legall submissiue way of supplications sought redresse and beene calme and quiet in hope of reformation We protest therefore that if inconvenience shall happen to fall out which wee pray God to prevent upon the pressing of the said innouations or evils generally and specially mentioned in our former complaints and upon your Lordships refusall to take order for redresse That the same shall not bee imputed unto vs who most humbly desire to have all things redressed by order 6. Wee protest before God the Heavens and the Angles that these our Request proceding from conscience and our due rerespect to his Majesties honour doe tend to no other end but to the preservation of the true reformed religion the Lawes and Liberties of his Majesties most ancient Kingdome and the satisfaction of our humble desires contained in our supplications according to his Majesties goodnesse and justice From whom we do certainly exspect (a) (a) What they exspect appeares by their petitions and complaints viz. the exercise of true Religion the abolishing of all Popish superstitions a Parliament to arraigne the Bb. upon the crime of Innovations And I beleeve that these things his Majestie will grant them The which if he doe then I doubt not but our Nobilitie Barons and Ministers will sue to his Majestie for the like grant that so this way and not in Antichrists way there may be a uniformity betweene the two Kingdoms that his Maj. wil proceed grant remedy to our iust petitions complaints as may be exspected from so gracious a King towards his loyall and dutifull Subjects calling for redresse of so oppressing greevances praying hartily that his Majesty may long prosperously raigne over us AMEN THis protestation beeing
no doubt but these and other such like objections were suggested to his Majestie seing he heard not the ansers (c) Princes should be like the sunne which casteth her shining beemes upon all a like his Majestie wil be pleased to receineÌ„our charges proofes against the Bb. in as fâ—â— and favourable a way as he doth their charges without preffe against us we doubt but to make it cleare yea and his Majestie shall conseld it that they are neither fitt Church or Common wealth d It hath been the overthrow of maine brave princes to take things upon the 〈◊〉 of the reporter for by this meanes dissentions have fallen out between them their best subjects here upon treacherous men as the Prelats are have taken 〈◊〉 time advantage to hurt both parnies it is possible he might be offended with his best subjects specially considering that his Majesty hath things presented to him in such shapes and lineaments as the Prelates conceive to to bee most for their owne ends and advantages notwill standing such was his Maisties wisdome and loue to his ancient Subjects as that he refused to attempt the actions which some perswaded him unto (a) What Prelates are the Spun of God showeth in Rev. 16.13 viz. the unclean pirits which goe unto the Kings of the hearth together them to battle against the Saints Now as Aliad beeing encouraged by his false Prephers to goe against Raniath Gilead was undone by it So many in mking the Bb. counsell to warre against the Gespell have been undone by the meanes in their state honour posteritie But sent the Mar of Ham down into Scotland to heare what they could say for themselves how they could justifie the band they had made and So to certifie his Majestie how all things stood And no doubt but his Maiestie did this the rather as conceaving in his royall breast that it was not possible that so many of his best suband men of the greatest integrity and prudence would have agreed together in an action of such a nature without Some considerable reason and cause The Marques being come into Eden much speech passed between him and the commissioners for the Land they craved the indiction of a free Aslembly and Parliament as the only remeady of their miseries hee required a rendring up of the whole copies of the Subscribed Covenant telling them that this would bee a meanes to remove all feares of the Kings wrath against the subscribers and If they refused to doe soe the King b The same remedy we crave here in England the which being granted we feaoe not that but Church and Common-wealth shall be both the better for it What Children seeing Serpents creeping in their Fathers and Mothers bosome will not kill them to preserve their Parents Those Bb. as so many venemous snakes lie in the bosome as it were of our Abimelech Father King and of the Church Now the Parliament-men as good Children will kill those Serpents that so both Father and Mother may live and prosper it might by would not grant them an affemblie or parliament for establishing religion and setling the Peace of Kirk and Kingdome But they answered that thus they could not doe for if they should they should not bee free of the great guiltines of peruirie before God (a) Note the wickednes of our Bb it is their order to have infams in baptisine to vow and promise by their sureties to fight againct the devil al his vvorkes yet afterwards they doe what they can to make them perinted foresworne in requiring them to fight for the Devil his workes that 〈◊〉 for them and the Pope Againe in this they should destroy what they had before built confesse themselves to be trespassers bfore they saw it besides they should shew great unthankefulnes vnto God for a worke which by his good spirit they were moved to doe Moreover the demaund was more then the Commissioners could doe in regard many thousands in the Land besides themselves had subscribed To be short they said and that truely if they should grant this all the World would wonder at their inconstancy and their enemies would mock at them and traduce them as periured Covenant-breakers and Troublers of the peace of the Kirk and Kingdome And whereas there were many promises made of great matters that the King would doe for them if they would render up the Copies to him Their answere was that this was not the first time (b) It is the property of the fox to come towards the sheep upon his bellie to shew him selfe a farre off as if he meant no harme but being gotten with in them and where he would be then like a fox he kils spares not so the Prelates till they become where they defire to be they are very freindly full of faire promises but having gotten what they seeke for then like soxes as they are they spoile ane devour the Lords sheep that fair promises had beene made them for not vrging of of Articles already concluded and for not trouble them with any further innovation the which beeing credited did ensnare manie and drew them on to doe that which otherwise they would not have don all which promises have beene broken and denyed when the per formance was craved and why may they not exspect the like in this case especially where the thing wil bee found more hard and difficult There beeing much time spent and no conclusion made of any thing at the last there comes downe a Proclamation from the King The which was problished at the Mercate Crosse of Edinburg the 4 of July 1638. the effect whereof was this That his Majestie was not ignorant of their great desorders (a) If there be disorders among them the greatest ault lies on the Proclates who have been the cheife Authors and causers of it And therefore his Majestie shall doe verie well to se them severelie punished who have by their attempts to bring peoperie into that Church occasioned much trouble in that Kingdome we use to blame such as set the house on syer not the good people which seeke to quench it so c. here occasioned as is pretended upon the introduction of the Service-booke Booke of Canons c. thereby fearing innovation of Religion and Lawes At this his Majestie professeth to greeve to see them runne headlong into ruine Yet out of his innative indulgence to his people he desires to reclay me them from their faults in a faire way Rather then let them perish in the same And for further clearing of scruples he promiseth not hereafter to presse the practice of the said Service booke Canons but in a faire and legall way (b) That which is against the cÌ„omaundement of God cannot lawfullie be vrged in any way what soever now there is nothing more sure then that the service booke booke of can are accursed thinges and therefore ought
not to be rged or received by any He that drinkes povsen out ofa goulden cup kils himselfe assoon as if he tooke it our of an Iron or Wodden Vessell So Superstition brought into the Church in a plausible and peaceable way is as deadly a poyson vnto the receivers of it as if they were compelled and forced to take it c. And for the High Commission he will rectifie it (c) It is as possible to wash the Black-moore vvhite As by any rectifications to make the high commission a lawfull court If his Majestie doe take the advise of his Council about it I am sure if they be not Bb or Athests or Papists they wil Counsell him to pull it all down for there is not one stone in that building which God allowes with the helpe and advile of the privy Counsell c. And for geuerall Assemblies and Parliament it shal be indicted and called with his conveniency In conclusion he requires and hartely wisheth all is good Subjects not to suffer themselves to be seduced and misled under Religion into disobedience and draw on infinitely to his greefe their owne ruine Which he hath and still shall strive to save them from so long as he sees not Royall authority shaken off The Kings Proclamation beeing published the Noblemen Barrons Gentlemen Burrowes Ministers and Commons made a Protestation against it to this effect 1. That they will constantly adhere according to their vocation and power to their Reformation at first Notwithstanding of any innovations introduced either of old or late 2. That they will adhere to their supplications given in at Assemblies and Parliaments against the Service-booke Booke of Cannons the High Commission c. 3. That they will adhere with their hearts (a) As I rejoyce to see such constancy in the Scotsmen so it greeves me to the heart to think what reeds shaken with the wind our people generally are As Ioab after he had fought many battles bravely stoutly yet died himselse at last in shame digrace Even so many Preachers Professors having a while refused conformitie to the Beast have afterwards basely yeelded to the Bb. and so gone to their graves with shame dishonour to their Oath and subscription of the Confession of Faith 4. That this Proclamation or Act of Councill or any other Act or Proclamation c. shall no wayes be prejudiciall (b) If it be held a base thing among men not to keepe a mans Word Promise it is much worse to breake Covenant with the Lord yet so doe all those who promise to feare God and doe his worke in his owne way and yet doe the commaundements of the Prelates to the Confession of Faith Lawes and Liberties of their Kingdome nor to their supplications Lawfull meetings c. 5. Seeing their Supplications for Reformation are delayed and in effect refused whatsoever trouble or inconvenience fall out in the Land in the meane time for want of those ordinary remedies not to be imputed to them In short they protest that it shal be Lawfulll for them to defend and maintaine that Religion Lawes and Liberties of their Kingdome the Kings authority in defence thereof and every one of them one another in that cause of meantaining the Religion and the Kings fore-said authority according to their power vocation and Covenant with bodies lives meanes c. against all persuits whatsoever or against all externall or internall invasions menaced in this Proclamation 6. They protest that their former Supplications meeting and mutual defences are to be commended as real duties of faithfull subjects (c) Que. Whether England hath not as much Previledge to reject the Service-book Canons High Commission and all other such like Idolitries and to establish maintaine the true worship of God as hath Scotland and not to be stiled great disorders misdeamenours blinde disobedience under pretext of Religion and running headlong into ruine c. In conclusion they exspect that his Majesty will presently indict these ordinary remedies of a free Assemblie and Parliament to their iust supplications which may be exspected from so iust and gracious a King (a) When the men of Isreel were offended with their Brethren for that they had brought the K. his Household over Iordan Iudah answered the K. is neere of Kin to us Wherefore then be yee angry for this matter This may serve as a reason why the Scots are first in bringing the King home from his enemies the Bb. the K. is neere of kin to them Now for the State of England if they have any zeale of God and love to the King they will further this good worke of Iudah so happily begunne for the Kings safety and honour This don Iohn Earle of Caffles c in the name of the Noblemen Master Alexander Gipson younger of Durie in name of the Barrones Master Iohn Ker Minister at Salt Prestoun in name of the Ministers and Master Archbald Iohnston Reader hereof in name of all who adheres to the Confession of Faith Covenant lately renewed within this Kingdome Tooke Instruments in the Hands of three Notars present at the said mercat crosse in Edenburgh beeing invironed with Numbers of the aforesaid Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Borrows Ministers and Commons Before many Hundred witnesses craved the extract thereof And in token of their dutifull respect to his Majesty confidence of the equity of their cause and innocencie of their carriage and hope of his Majesties gratious acceptance They offred in humility with submise reverence a Copy thereof to the Herauld These things being ended the Marquesse leaves Eden and goes back to London now what followed touching those afaires you shall-know in the next part Rev. 18.9 Reward her even as shee rewardeth you and double vnto her double according to her workes in the cup which shee hath filled fill to her double FINIS